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| Campus News | Faculty & Staff News | Student News |
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| In This
Issue … |
September15, 2006 |
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| Campus
News |
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Valley of the Sun
United Way campaign gets underway
As co-chair with Vice Chancellor Dr. Steven Helfgot of the
district-wide 2006 Valley of the Sun United Way Campaign, we
were privileged to kick off this year’s fund-raising campaign, “Results
That Matter,” with a luncheon Sept. 6. College coordinators,
district leaders, and Valley of the Sun United Way representatives
attended the luncheon, at which Chancellor Dr. Rufus Glasper
signed a ceremonial check for $315,300 representing the District’s 2006
giving goal, an 8 percent increase over the 2005 campaign
target. Dr. Glasper, a Valley of the Sun United Way “Opinion Leader,”
also announced his Chancellor’s Challenge Step-Up program and
Maricopa’s ACE Program. Thank you to Alexis Thielke who is
serving as the district campaign assistant this year. Additionally, Sue
Isackson, our PVCC campaign coordinator, held a kickoff meeting
with the PVCC campaign committee to launch our college’s fundraising
efforts. Stay tuned for more details.
Free
wireless Internet now available on campus
Thanks to IRTS staff members David Preston and Corey Weidner
for bringing Wi-Fi to our campus. The wireless network will allow
anyone with a Wi-Fi device – such as a computer, telephone or PDA – to
connect to the Internet within the proximity of an access point or
“hotspot.” The wireless network is available in all of KSC, E and A
buildings, and the courtyard/eating area between KSC and E
buildings. Other buildings and areas will be brought online within the
next month.
Channel 11’s “On the Issues” to feature PVCC
topics
I was a guest on Phoenix Channel 11’s television show “On the
Issues”
with host District 2 Phoenix City Councilwoman Peggy Neely. In
addition
to discussing college programs and services, I told District 2
constituents about PVCC’s collaboration with the city of Phoenix on the
Weed & Seed initiative (see News From the Front, Aug. 18, 2006),
upcoming events at the Center for Performing Arts and the Student
Success Pilot Project, including iGoal.
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| Faculty
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Phoenix Bach Choir performs PVCC faculty works at
sold-out 9/11 concert
To commemorate the fifth anniversary of 9/11, the Phoenix Bach Choir
performed “Songs of Remembrance” before a packed house at the PVCC Center
for the Performing Arts. The concert featured the world premiere of
Voices From the Aftermath: A New York Requiem,
a composition by Fine
& Performing Arts Chair Dr. Christopher Scinto based on
four poems authored by English faculty member Dr. Lois Roma-Deeley.
The Arizona Republic called Voices
>From the Aftermath the “high point”
of the evening. It was an extraordinary performance, and we are very
proud of our artists, Drs. Scinto and Roma-Deeley.
Math faculty has
immediate impact on new PVCC student
As educators, we hope that we make an impact on our students every day.
However, we don’t always get direct feedback about the fruits of our
labor. After the first week of school, a Math faculty member received
the following letter from the father of one of our students.
“My daughter is 19 years old and attends
your beginning Algebra class. Throughout elementary and high school,
she has always found it necessary to work harder than most other
students just to achieve average grades in most subjects. Math in
particular, has absolutely terrified her. As each of her high school
years began, it seemed that about all her mother and I were able to do
for her was to offer lots of encouragement but little qualified
assistance. It was only her strong work ethic and desire that enabled
my daughter to get by to this point.
For these reasons, it was with great concern that we watched her go off
to college this year. We suffered along with her, knowing the
apprehension she feels about whether she’ll be able to keep up at
college level, particularly in 'evil' math.
As of this writing, my daughter has attended only two of your classes,
but the change in her attitude toward math is remarkable. Never before
has she said that she actually enjoyed going to math class. Never! It
is evident that your teaching style and the techniques you employ have
uplifted her confidence and stimulated her interest to conquer math. I
believe her overall academic confidence has benefited from your
influence as well.
Anyway, the difference in her is so profound that I just felt it
deserved acknowledgment. You should know the impact you are having
upon at least one student."
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Student News |
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PVCC Business Club unveils impressive Web site
about China adventures
Congratulations to members of the PVCC Business Club and
faculty advisor Dina Preston-Ortiz for producing a Web site
about the club’s trip to China last May. For two weeks, the Business
Club traveled to Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai and Hong Kong to conduct a field
study of the international business environment in the Pacific Rim
region. The students were divided into four groups, with each group
covering a different study area: culture, economics,
importing/exporting and law/politics. CIS faculty member Gary Smith,
who also traveled to China with the group, helped design the Web site,
which includes photos, diary entries and a day-by-day itinerary.
Honors students
attend annual retreat
Honors students boarded buses Friday, Aug. 25, to venture to Sky-Y Camp
in Prescott for their second Honors Retreat. Returning Saturday
evening, participants shared tales of inspiration, teamwork and new
friendships. The retreat was organized and implemented largely by Robert
Roshau, retreat coordinator, and returning Honors students who
served as facilitators. Faculty members Rick Vaughn, David Harbster
and Sherry Adams, as well as staff member Diane Wrightman,
were “honored” to participate in the event. Honors student leadership
has been instrumental in the growth of the Honors Program for this
2006-2007 school year.
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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote: “How wonderful it is that nobody need
wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” It’s
important to remember that, as educators, we can help improve the world
one student and one mind at a time.
Dr. Mary Kay Kickels
President
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Do you have
an interesting program, or outstanding accomplishment or student to
highlight?
If so, e-mail the News Desk at news@pvmail.maricopa.edu.
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A publication of the Paradise Valley
Community College Office of the President
2006 © Maricopa County Community College District
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