CGCC Biology Professor Dr. Pushpa Ramakrishna Appointed Program Director of National Science Foundation

Biology professor will advance STEM in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Pushpa Ramakrishna

Chandler-Gilbert Community College Biology Professor Dr. Pushpa Ramakrishna is acting as Program Director at the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) until September 2018. She was appointed the prestigious role earlier this year, and relocated to Washington D.C. in September 2017.

DUE programs are intended to strengthen STEM education at two- and four-year colleges and universities by improving curricula, instruction, laboratories, infrastructure, assessment, diversity of students and faculty, and collaborations.

As Program Director, Dr. Ramakrishna will be working on the Advanced Technology Education program, Improving Undergraduate STEM Education program, NSF Scholarships in STEM program, and the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program.

We wish Dr. Ramakrishna the best of luck and cannot wait to hear more about all of her exciting projects.

CGCC & Intel Educate Latina Students in STEM

Over 200 East Valley middle school students attended the annual Hermanas: Diseña Tu Futuro (Design Your Future) Conference on Friday, November 18 at the CGCC Williams Campus in Mesa. The event aimed to raise awareness of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education and Latinas in STEM related career fields.

Students participated in a variety of fun, interactive workshop activities about solar cells, DNA, coding, physics, astronomy and chemistry. During lunch, the students had the opportunity to visit with representatives from local colleges and universities during the college fair.  They also engaged in the Latina Town Hall session with special guest speakers Anna Tanguma-Gallegos with the Arizona Science Foundation and Erika Diaz a former Hermanas participant, University of Arizona graduate and current medical school applicant.


12 News’ JR Cardenas spent the morning chatting with Hermanas founder Gabriela Gonzalez and students about the importance of Hermanas and STEM education. 

Click here to view. 

Hermanas Conference Promotes Science, Technology, Engineering and Math to Latina Middle School Students

This Friday, over 200 middle school Latina students from surrounding East Valley school districts will participate in the annual Hermanas: Diseña Tu Futuro (Design Your Future) Conference at the Chandler-Gilbert Community College Williams Campus in Mesa. The one-day conference hosted by the Intel Corporation in partnership with CGCC, introduces underrepresented Latina students to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) related careers, interact with successful Latinas in STEM fields, receive encouragement to finish school, attend college and to pursue their goals. 

 During the Hermanas Conference students will engage in fun, interactive workshop activities about solar cells, DNA, coding, physics, astronomy and chemistry. In addition to the activities, students will have the opportunity to attend a college fair, participate in the Latina Town Hall and listen to encouraging words from special guest speakers Anna Tanguma-Gallegos, Arizona Science Center and Erika Diaz; former Hermanas participant, University of Arizona graduate and current medical school applicant. 

 

Click here to read more information about the Hermanas Conference

 

CGCC Computer Science Students Win 1st Place at Avnet Tech Games Competition

Two computer science students from Chandler-Gilbert Community College won first place at the 11th Annual Avnet Tech games on Saturday, April 2nd at the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe. Alec Everson and Lining Lin each received a $1,000 scholarship for their “Java Bliz” competition entry. Both students developed an IT application using Java code, the dominant software development language in the market.

“On behalf of all CGCC faculty, we couldn’t be more pleased to see our students work so hard on their applications and come home a winner,” shared Rameen Khaliqi, Computer Science Adjunct Faculty and Faculty Coach for winning team.  “Alec and Lin formed a focused and capable team which represented CGCC and our commitment to STEM education.”

Everson and Lin worked diligently to create an application code using Java 7 to successfully pass the competition with a perfect score. As far as our CGCC winners are concerned, it was all in a day’s work.  “Alec and I have a very effective partnership, the Java language and we solve problems well together,” answered Lin when asked to what they would credit their win.  “Also, we have an awesome coach in Professor Khaliqi.  He was always there for us, giving us the confidence and help that we needed to succeed,” beamed Iverson.  “It was a great experience!”

The Avnet Tech Games is an annual technology competition that provides college students with an opportunity to win scholarships by applying what they learn in school to real-world IT business scenarios. This year students competed for $34,000 in scholarships. Students also connected with IT professionals and learned more about what it takes to succeed in today’s highly competitive business market.

Careers in STEM fields are full of opportunities.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 8.65 billion jobs will be needed in STEM-related fields in the U.S. by 2016.  In addition, STEM workers receive 26% higher earnings than their non-STEM counterparts.

“The statistics are compelling,” said Patricia Baker, Computer Science lead faculty member at CGCC. “This is why CGCC is committed to preparing students for a world that is in high demand for STEM skills. Our performance at this year’s Avnet Tech Games is a promising sign that we are making progress in the right direction.”

In total, 27 students from 12 Arizona colleges and universities were awarded scholarships and nine faculty advisors received $2,700 in honorariums for leading the winning teams to victory.  The participating schools included: Arizona State University, Chandler/Gilbert Community College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Estrella Mountain Community College, Glendale Community College, Grand Canyon University, ITT Technical Institute, Mesa Community College, Northern Arizona University, Scottsdale Community College, South Mountain Community College and The University of Advancing Technology.

Hermanas Conference Promotes STEM Careers to Latina High School Students

Last Friday, over 150 Latina high school students gathered at the Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) Pecos Campus for the Hermanas: Diseña Tu Futuro (Design Your Future) Conference sponsored by CGCC and the Intel Corporation. Students participated in a day of discovery in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

The conference, which promotes STEM careers as a viable option for young Latinas, was broken out into career workshops, a town hall meeting and a college fair.  The workshops focused on topics such as chemistry, solar and bioengineering and provided an atmosphere for participants to learn about the subject matter and career paths that may correspond in that area.  The town hall allowed Latina professionals in STEM careers to interact with a room full of inquiring students by both answering questions and sharing their stories. 

"The goal of the Hermanas Conference is to introduce the opportunities available in STEM careers so students have an understanding of what it takes to be an engineer, scientist or a technical professional," said Maria Reyes, Dean Career and Technical Education at CGCC. "Many of the participants are first generation high school students and are not aware of such careers. We want students to leave this conference feeling inspired about STEM and the many opportunities related to its professions.” 

The college fair placed students in front of participating school representatives as an opportunity to learn about programs offered after high school and to begin building a network into key institutions.  These institutions included Arizona State University, Grand Canyon University, Northern Arizona University and the Phoenix Science Center among others. 

“We certainly pack a lot into one day, but we make an effort to approach STEM from many different angles in order to give these students every opportunity to make a connection with this rich subject matter and potential career path,” explained Reyes.

Hermanas Conference Promotes Science, Technology, Engineering and Math to Latina High School Students

Chandler-Gilbert Community College, in partnership with Intel Corporation and Arizona Public Service, will host more than 200 Latina high school students for the Hermanas: Disena Tu Futuro (Design Your Future) conference on Friday, February 19th from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Pecos Campus, Community Room in Chandler. Students from Arizona College Prep, Basha, Casteel, Hamilton, Higley, Perry and Williams Field high schools will participate in the one-day conference which promotes Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to underrepresented Latina middle school students.

The Hermanas Conference provides a supportive environment in which young women can interact with successful Latinas in STEM careers, explore technological careers, receive encouragement to finish school, attend college and to pursue their goals.  "Many young Latinas are not aware of the opportunities available in technology, or what it takes to be an engineer, scientist or a technical professional," said Maria Reyes, Dean Career and Technical Education at CGCC. "All too often, there is the perception that these professions are not considered “traditional careers” for Latinas. The Hermanas conference is aimed to educate young Latinas about careers in STEM, as well as to prepare these women to be successful in education and the workforce."
The one-day conference introduces students to various engineering disciplines, provides hands-on experiences to build their problems-solving and teaming skills, and includes informational sessions on preparing for academic and professional success in an interactive environment.  Participants engage in hands-on activities in chemistry, math, physics and bioengineering hosted by CGCC STEM faculty.

About Chandler-Gilbert Community College
Chandler-Gilbert Community College is one of ten Maricopa County Community Colleges, the largest community college system in the country. CGCC serves the higher education needs of over 19,000 students at four locations in the Southeast Valley of the Phoenix metropolitan area - the Pecos Campus in Chandler, the Williams Campus in Mesa, the Sun Lakes Center in Sun Lakes and at the Communiversity in Queen Creek. CGCC offers degrees and certificates in a variety of fields, university transfer, workforce development programs, and continuing education, along with nationally recognized programs in service learning, learning communities, and civic engagement. For more information, visit cgc.edu or call 480-732-7000.

Hermanas Conference Promotes Science, Technology, Engineering and Math to Latina Middle School Students

Chandler-Gilbert Community College, in partnership with Intel Corporation will host more than 200 Latina middle school students for the Hermanas: Disena Tu Futuro (Design Your Future) conference on Friday, October 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Williams Campus in Mesa. Students from Chandler, Gilbert, Higley, Mesa and Queen Creek school districts will participate in the one-day conference which promotes Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to underrepresented Latina middle school students.
                                      
The Hermanas Conference provides a supportive environment in which young women can interact with successful Latinas in STEM careers, explore technological careers, receive encouragement to finish school, attend college and to pursue their goals.

"Many young Latinas are not aware of the opportunities available in technology, or what it takes to be an engineer, scientist or a technical professional," said Maria Reyes, Dean Career and Technical Education at CGCC. "All too often, there is the perception that these professions are not considered “traditional careers” for Latinas. The Hermanas conference is aimed to educate young Latinas about careers in STEM, as well as prepare these women to be successful in education and the workforce."

The one-day conference introduces students to various engineering disciplines, provides hands-on experiences to build their problems-solving and teaming skills, and includes informational sessions on preparing for academic and professional success in an interactive environment.  Participants engage in hands-on engineering design activities coordinated by college faculty, dialogue with Latina engineers in the Latina Town Hall and attend a college fair.