CGCC Presents A Tribute to Acclaimed Writer Sandra Cisneros

Award winning  and best-selling Mexican American author Sandra Cisneros will be honored at a tribute event at Chandler-Gilbert Community College's (CGCC) Pecos Campus on Friday, October 23 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. During the event, Cisneros will read excerpts from work including her acclaimed first novel, "The House On Mango Street" published in 1984.

Cisneros was born in Chicago in 1954 and received her BA in English from Loyola University of Chicago in 1976. Her novel "The House on Mango Street," about a young Latina woman coming of age in Chicago, has sold more than two million copies. She is the recipient of numerous awards including a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, and is regarded as a key figure in Chicana literature and culture.

"Sandra's work is an important part of Mexican American literature. Her book, The House On Mango Street remains a popular book for young adult readers, and continues to be a required reading in middle school, high school, colleges and universities around the country," said David Muñoz, Residential Faculty Philosophy & Religious Studies at CGCC. "Sandra's visit to CGCC is an opportunity for our students and the public at large to see her in person and view some of her award winning work. You don't want to miss this event!"

Cisneros' visit to CGCC is part of the college's Latino American history program to provide unique educational opportunities to students to learn about the history and cultural impact of Latino Americans in the United States. Earlier this summer, CGCC was awarded Latino Americans: 500 Years of History grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association.  As one of 203 grant recipients selected from across the country, CGCC received an award of $10,000 to produce public programming about Latino history and culture.

This free event will be held inside the Arnette Scott Ward Performing Arts Center and is open to the public. A formal book signing will take place immediately following the event. The Pecos Campus is located at 2626 E. Pecos Rd., Chandler, AZ 85225. For more information please contact David Muñoz at david.munoz@cgc.edu.

CGCC president to present at national climate change summit

Maricopa Community Colleges will be well represented at the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) 2014 Summit on Climate Leadership in Boston on October 1-3. Chandler-Gilbert Community College President Linda Lujan will join Irene Kovala and Jan Gehler, presidents of Glendale Community College and Scottsdale Community College respectively as well as more than 250 college and university leaders from across the nation.

Lujan, who serves on the ACUPCC Steering Committee, will present two sessions at the summit including Sustainability in Conservative Communities and Presidential Reflections and Summit Conclusion: A Central Question About Scaling Up.

The ACUPCC Summit reflects the centrality of higher education’s role in preparing new generations to meet the challenges of climate change. The program focuses on ways to build on the success of climate action plans and sustainability initiatives on ACUPCC campuses and develop solutions to the most pressing environmental problems facing our communities.

"Sustainability is a far-reaching, complex concept and topic that has far more relevancy to education than many people realize,” said Lujan, who also serves on the American Association of Community Colleges Sustainability Task Force. “Not only can higher education directly influence sustainability research and practice in classrooms and labs, but as business entities, colleges and universities can model best practices in sustainability. We can also serve as a catalyst and convener for important conversations all dimensions of the subject. It's an honor to represent the Maricopa Community College District in this work."

More than 680 colleges and universities in the U.S. are current ACUPCC signatories, representing all 50 states, D.C., and every category of public and private higher education institution. These signatories are committed to achieving carbon neutrality and represent more than 6.5 million students – one third of all college students in the nation.

“The summit is a key opportunity for ACUPCC presidents and their sustainability teams to work together to shape higher education’s critical role in advancing sustainability and addressing climate change at the national level,” said Portland State University President Wim Wiewel, chair of the ACUPCC Steering Committee. “The launch of the National Climate Assessment this past spring has given us a clear mandate and an excellent springboard for climate action. It’s imperative for higher education to respond and help lead our society in defining and achieving a sustainable future.”

The summit was designed by a group of 30 college and university presidents with the support of a committee of seven local institutions, and is organized into five tracks . CO2 impact from attendee travel, meeting space, and guest accommodations is being offset through purchase by The Revere Hotel of carbon offsets from Native Energy, Inc.

Three receive honors scholarships

CGCC President Linda Lujan (left) with
honors scholarship recipients Justin
Fordham, Jacquelyn Rose Lupo and
Heather King. William Guerriero, CGCC vice
president of Academic Affairs was
also present.

Three Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) honors students were awarded scholarships during the Honors Program ​Scholarship Reception and Academic Showcase on April 28. The students were selected from a group of honors program applicants based on a holistic review of their academics as well as contributions to the college and the community.

"Often scholarships are given to students as a recruiting tool," said Shirley Miller, faculty and co-director of the honors program at CGCC. "In this case, these students have proven themselves to excel beyond the requirements of the general classroom and to maintain a consistently high standard of performance. To be recognized as outstanding among fellow honors students is a significant honor."

Justin Fordham was awarded the Chancellor's Scholarship​,​ which is offered to one student at each Maricopa County Community College annually to acknowledge and reward students who demonstrate the very highest academic achievement and participate in service. ​It covers up to 18 credit hours of in-county tuition and fees for two semesters. In addition, the scholarship includes a cash award of $250 for books and supplies each semester.​ Fordham will continue his studies at CGCC next semester but plans to earn his associate degree and transfer to University of Arizona to study nursing.

Heather King and Jacquelyn Rose Lupo received a Foundation Scholarship, which rewards and encourages highly motivated, academically gifted students with a $500 award. In addition to excellence in academics, King has participated in the Chandler-Gilbert Dance Company, has served at the Save the Family Thrift Store, and works part-time. She plans to become a pediatric nurse. Lupo, a business management major, will complete her bachelor’s degree with Northern Arizona University by enrolling in the Connect2NAU program in business at CGCC. Lupo earned the award based on her honors program achievements in the classroom and many volunteer hours in the community. She also works part-time.