Projects  |  Campus News  |  Faculty & Staff News  |  Student News   In This Issue … October 18, 2007 Accident Update...Trip Reduction Surveys....Child of the Kosmos...Kudos for  Dr. David Rubi...Arizona Town Hall.....Carpeting Project Status...Scholarship Recipient...   Campus News   Accident Report On Tuesday of this week, Oct. 17, 2007, I sent you a message about a traffic accident involving one of our PVCC students. The incident took place at the intersection of Union Hills Drive and 34th Street, which is the north entrance onto our campus. The student was airlifted to a local hospital and is said to be in critical condition. I ask you to please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.  As of today, we were informed that the young man remains in the ICU in serious condition. I want all of you to know that we are working with the City of Phoenix to conduct a traffic study of that intersection.  There have been a number of accidents at the same spot over the years.  Our number one concern is the safety of our students, employees, vendors, and visitors who enter and exit campus at that spot every day.  We will also request a traffic camera be installed there to reduce red-light running.  Additionally, we’ll ask for a readjustment of timing on the lights and the left turn arrow, along with a possible widening of the left-turn lane.  It is, of course, the City of Phoenix’s ultimate decision, but we know that it is critical for the college to recommend this matter of public safety. Clean Air Campaign If you find that the air quality in our wonderful Valley of the Sun sometimes leaves something to be desired, then now is your chance to do something about it.  The Annual Trip Reduction Survey has arrived on campus, according to Jeanette Saxon, PVCC’s Trip Reduction Coordinator.  This survey is mandated by the state legislature and is part of Arizona’s Clean Air Campaign. There are two parts:  the employee survey, and the student survey.  The employee piece is online, and I ask you to please complete it as soon as possible.  It’s quite simple and only takes a few minutes.  The student portion requires that we survey 600 students.  And a 100% response is required.  Each Faculty Division Chair will be responsible for 54+ student surveys.  Thank you for your cooperation.  New Campus Theatre Production Tickets are now on sale for the upcoming production at PVCC’s Center for the Performing Arts.  Dates for the production are Nov. 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17,and 18. The work is a world premiere by our faculty member Alan Tongret entitled:  “Richard Feynman: Child of the Kosmos and the Quest for Scientific Adventure.”  Alan has long been a fan of Feynman and his work. But it was PVCC’s Science Division that suggested he feature the Nobel laureate in a full-length play. Fine & Performing Arts Division Chair Chris Scinto composed the original music, and faculty member Gary Zaro is director.  Tickets are on sales at the CPA box office, 602-787-7738. The subject of the play, Richard Feynman, was a Nobel Prize-winning physicist. He was also a flamboyant wild man, a practical joker from whom no acquaintance was immune, and a sleight-of-hand artist who could pick locks and crack safes. A child prodigy, at the age of 24 Feynman became the youngest Group Leader in Los Alamos’s legendary Manhattan Project.  One of the most admired scientists of the 20th Century, Feynman helped pioneer quantum electrodynamics and predicted the future of nanotechnology. And after the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster in 1986, Feynman served on the Presidential Commission that investigated the explosion, and on national television, demonstrated to millions of grieving Americans how the O-rings had failed the astronauts. “Some scientists consider Feynman second only to Einstein,” Tongret says. “I’d read one of Feynman’s books, The Meaning of It All: Thoughts of a Citizen-Scientist, and was very excited about the science department’s idea.” Faculty & Staff News   Community Service Awards Once again, it is my pleasure to congratulate one of our PVCC faculty who has been recognized for service to the community. I am always grateful to learn that—in addition to very full commitments at work—our PVCC family reaches out, making deep commitments to organizations outside the campus.  This is truly a reflection of the exceptional people we are honored to call PVCC colleagues. Dr. David  Rubí, of our Spanish and Humanities faculty received two awards from the Arizona Hispanic Community Forum:  one award for his service as President of the Arizona Hispanic Community Forum and a separate award for “Service to the Community for 2006-2007.”   We are very proud of David’s contributions.   Student News   National Scholarship Recipient Dean of Student Services, Shirley Green, has notified us that a PVCC student, Sydney Layne Tonsfeldt, has been awarded a United States Achievement Academy (USAA) scholarship grant. Each year, the Foundation awards 250 national scholarship cash grants of up to $1,500. The nonprofit USAA Scholarship Foundation selection committee is comprised of educators and former educators representing all levels of education. Winners are selected based on the following criteria: Grade point average, School activities, Scores on scholastic aptitude tests (if applicable), and honors and awards.  Arizona Town Hall PVCC student Rebecca Martos, has been selected to attend the next Arizona Town Hall, October 28-31, 2007.  The topic of this Town Hall is “Land Use Trade-offs in the Context of Growth.”   It is a distinct honor for this college and for Rebecca, as only five community college students are invited to this biannual event. A total of 150 invitees are considered from among more than 2,000 recommendations for each session.  The Arizona Town Hall is a private, nonprofit civic organization created in 1962 to establish, through research and discussion, an ever-increasing body of Arizona citizens accustomed to the processes of searching analysis and well-informed on the many facets of the state's economic, cultural and social life. Congratulations, Rebecca! Projects Update   Carpeting Project David Matus and Bob Metivier have informed us that the floor-covering replacement project in KSC Building will be finished by next week.  The only part of the job remaining is installation of floor covering on the stairwells.  The E Building carpeting project is 100% complete.  We express thanks to all the affected departments who were inconvenienced in preparing for this process.  The finished result looks lovely and adds to our campus’s deserved reputation for an attractive appearance. Spring Semester Enrollment Institutional Advancement informs us that the eagerly anticipated Spring 2008 Class Schedules will be on campus next week.  Registration for spring semester opens on Oct. 31.   The new direct mail piece, PVCC Spring Enrollment Guide, will be printed shortly and will be mailed to every residence and business mailbox in our service area (approximately 180,000 pieces). 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