Campus News  |  Faculty & Staff News  |  Student News   In This Issue … May 4, 2007 Year-End Employee Celebration … Commencement … PVCC Acknowledged in National Center for Teacher Education Newswire … Child of the Kosmos … Science Symposium … Hispanic Convocation Speaker   Campus News   Year-End Employee Celebration Please join me on Friday, May 11 at our year-end luncheon which is scheduled at 11:30am, followed by the unveiling of the new college sculpture, titled Gateway to a Lifelong Journey of Learning, at the CPA at 12:40pm. This beautiful sculpture includes a yellow bird that represents the student, and the horse represents the gateway to lifelong learning Thanks to Jane Kelsey-Mapel, sculptor, faculty member David Bradley and students who created this public art project for our campus. The sculpture dedication is followed by our year-end Employee Recognition Program in the CPA from 1-2pm. Commencement Students, faculty and staff have been working hard to finish the academic year and prepare for commencement, which will be held on campus Friday, May 11.  The landscape project surrounding the CPA will be finished on the south side of the berm so the view from the parking lot during the graduation ceremony will give a completed appearance.  The orange fencing in that area will remain as it is required for safety reasons. PVCC Acknowledged in National Center for Teacher Education Newswire The April issue of this national education e-publication honored PVCC for our work with the Motheread program.  The journal noted:  “Thanks to the collaborative efforts and financial support from the Arizona Humanities Council, Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) Children’s Center, PVCC’s Early Childhood Education Department, and PVCC’s Service Learning Center, Motheread classes have been offered at Echo Mountain School in the Paradise Valley Unified School District for the past two years…Each week, PVCC instructors Harriet Betts and Kara Cossel who have been trained in literacy techniques present parents with a new free bilingual children’s book to take home and read with their children.”  Faculty & Staff News   Child of the Kosmos The Division of Fine & Performing Arts and the Science Division are collaborating on a fall production in the Center for the Performing Arts titled “Child of the Kosmos.”  A first reading of this play by Alan Tongret was held on May 3 in the Studio Theatre. Science Symposium The13th annual Science Symposium will be held on Thursday, May 10 at 1 p.m. in the Center for the Performing Arts.  In addition, our students will have a poster session of their Honors projects in the CPA Lobby prior to the Symposium.  I encourage you to attend this session to learn from and support our young science students. Student News   Hispanic Convocation Speaker Congratulations to PVCC student Gabrielle Contreras who was named keynote speaker for this year’s Hispanic Convocation.   Gabrielle will speak to the Hispanic graduates at Phoenix College at the ceremony on May 4.  Gabrielle served as a Student Ambassador for two years and was also a student employee at the Information Center.  Besides earning her Associate in Arts degree from PVCC, Gabrielle will also be earning her high school diploma.  Gabrielle is the daughter of Cecelia Contreras, secretary for the Division of Social & Behavioral Sciences.  We are approaching the final week of our academic year.  Best wishes in accomplishing all of your class, course and program goals.  I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming year-end events in the week ahead. Cordially, Mary Kay Kickels President Do you have an interesting program, or outstanding accomplishment or student to highlight? If so, e-mail the News Desk at pvcc.news@pvmail.maricopa.edu A publication of the Paradise Valley Community College Office of the President 2007 © Maricopa County Community College District