News from the Front: Produced by the Office of Institutional Advancement PVCC
Campus News  | Faculty & Staff News  | Student News  | Projects
 
In This Issue … October 23, 2009
Black Mountain Campus Opens to the Public...Spring Registration Begins...
Happy Howl-O-Ween!...
PVCC Empty Bowls Project Funds Foothills Food Bank...Puma Jazz Ensemble Performance in Anthem...PVCC Classical Music Ensembles Concert...Creative Reflections/Ineffable Expressions...PVCC Festival of Tales...LSC Serves Record Number of Students...Whybrow Lecture Packs the House...MCCCD United Way Giving Goes Green...Don't Miss Prelude to a Kiss...
Poetic Dialogue Project on the Road...S.L.I.C.E. Leaders Present at Conference... Puma Baseballers Shine as ACCAC All-Stars...Women’s Soccer Team is on a Roll...
 
Campus News



Black Mountain Campus Opens to the Public
A multitude of Northeast Valley residents attended the Grand Opening celebration of the Black Mountain Campus on Saturday, Oct. 17. It was an exciting opportunity for PVCC to showcase our college programs to the community.

More than 1,000 people toured the new Desert Foothills Family YMCA, the Foothills Community Foundation-Holland Community Center and PVCC at Black Mountain. Local dignitaries, benefactors and guests were invited to a private ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday evening followed by the energizing public opening Saturday. PVCC Vice President of Administrative Services Jacalyn Askin cut the blue ribbon while Interim President Paul Dale, faculty, staff, students and the Puma mascot cheered her on. See a short video of the event on the PVCC home page.

Community members praised the beautiful facilities, technology and programs offered by the synergistic partnership. They inquired about both credit and Continuing Education classes at PVCC and noted interests ranging from general education, nursing, business and computer classes to art, photography, music and Kids College.

The YMCA opened for business last Monday with more than 900 memberships, and FCF has handed out more than 500 packets of literature about its local programs, which suggests great promise for the community's involvement in the Black Mountain Campus.

Spring Registration Begins
Don't forget registration for spring semester begins Oct. 28. Tuition is due Dec. 4 or on the day of registration thereafter. Applications for financial aid also are due on Dec. 4. Spring semester classes start Jan. 16, 2010.

Happy Howl-O-Ween!
If you’re looking for a good scare this Halloween and also want to benefit the non-profit Phoenix Zoo, head to the new Howl-O-Ween event at the zoo from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Oct. 30 and 31. Tickets cost $6 for zoo members and $8 for nonmembers.

Thirty PVCC volunteers will be there to help scare up a good time for trick-or-treaters. These students, faculty and staff answered Interim President Paul Dale’s call to participate in a day of service each month. They will help the zoo event by greeting guests, passing out candy, wearing  costumes and assisting with spooky activities.

PVCC Empty Bowls Project
 Funds Foothills Food Bank
The 9th Annual Empty Bowls event at PVCC last week was a great success for the Partners in Art Club, which sponsors the annual fundraiser.
The handmade ceramic bowls represent the millions of poverty-stricken people in the world who live on only 500 calories per day.

Art Faculty David Bradley said 200 bowls were purchased during the two-day sale, raising $1,000 for the Foothills Food Bank. Despite the down economy, this year’s bowl sales increased by a third over the previous year. This is especially noteworthy at a time when food bank shelves are being emptied by the greater needs of the community.

Puma Jazz Ensemble Performance in Anthem
The Puma Jazz Ensemble is performing at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, during the Anthem Autumnfest at Anthem Community Park, 41703 North Gavilan Peak Parkway, Phoenix. The Arts Council of the North Valley presents the free, weekend-long event. Go to www.acnv.org for details and additional performers.

The 18-piece Puma Jazz Ensemble is one of the top show bands in the North Valley with a repertoire that includes the very best in contemporary and timeless jazz classics performed originally by bands such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich, Doc Severinsen and Gordon Goodwin. If you haven’t had a chance to see the ensemble, you can view video clips of their performances on YouTube: Come Fly with Me; I’m Getting Sentimental Over You; and Begin the Beguine.

PVCC Classical Music Ensembles Concert
The North Valley Chamber Orchestra, the PVCC Flute Choir, the PVCC Guitar Ensemble and the PVCC Community Choir perform at 7:30 p.m. tonight in the Center for the Performing Arts Mainstage Theater. Admission is free. For more information, go to www.paradisevalley.edu/cpa or check out PVCC Fine Arts on Facebook.

Creative Reflections / Ineffable Expressions
The artwork of Retired PVCC and Phoenix College Faculty Artist Joan M. Ritsch are on display in the Lobby/Gallery of the Center for the Performing Arts until Thursday, Oct. 29. Stop by to see her abstract, mixed–media assemblages and drawings in the gallery Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment.

PVCC Festival of Tales
Mark your calendars for the Nov. 14 Festival of Tales “Exploring Our World” event with storytelling by PVCC students and community members. The event is sponsored by The Art of Storytelling class, the Cultural Diversity in Education class, Club Ed and H.A.N.D.S.

There will be free story-related arts and crafts, a “Read and Tell” parenting workshop, music in motion activities and more from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the KSC Student Union. Food is available for purchase. RSVP by Nov. 1 via e-mail to Meggin Kirk, meggin.kirk@pvmail.maricopa.edu, or call Harriet Betts at 602-787-6562.

LSC Serves Record Number of Students
The Learning Support Center broke its record for most students in the center at one time with 107 students seeking assistance, according to Interim Director Richard Morales. Administrative Secretary Alison Livingston rewarded the 100th student with a free cup of coffee. The previous record was 73 students in the center at one time. The LSC also has provided 4,000 more hours of tutoring to students this semester over the same time last year.

"We're seeing really record numbers. This is the place to get help and really study. It's like a safety net. We're here when you need us. It's a really positive place to be,"" said Morales, who noted his appreciation for faculty and staff who are directing students to the LSC.
 
Whybrow Lecture Packs the House
It was a full house at the PVCC Honors Forum luncheon Thursday featuring Dr. Peter Whybrow, director of the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA. He spoke on “Finding Balance with the Challenge of Affluence.” The topic addresses the theme selected by Phi Theta Kappa, "Paradox of Affluence: Choices, Challenges & Consequences."

Whybrow is an international authority on depression and manic-depressive disease and the effects of thyroid hormone on brain and human behavior. Honors students gain insights from the lecture series and examine how the issue affects their lives.

MCCCD United Way Giving Goes Green
The Maricopa County Community College District United Way Campaign runs through Dec. 11 to make a difference for people in our community who are struggling even more during these difficult economic times. MCCCD’s campaign is “going green” this year by replacing paper pledge forms with an online giving tool. This convenient process maintains the confidentiality of your gift and reduces the administrative workload. To give, click on the Maricopa County Community Colleges' Live United site and enter your MEID user name and the password: MCCCD2010. To learn more about the United Way, visit www.vsuw.org.

Don't Miss Prelude to a Kiss
Tickets are now on sale for the acclaimed Craig Lucas play, "Prelude to a Kiss," directed by PVCC Faculty Gary Zaro. It's the story of a couple that falls in love despite the girl's pessimistic outlook on life and the supernatural event that tests the strength of their love and commitment to each other.
A film version starred Alec Baldwin and Meg Ryan.

          7:30 p.m., Nov. 19, 20 and 21
          2:00 p.m., Nov. 22
          Tickets:  $10 adults|$8 seniors & staff|$5 students|$3 Children
          Studio Theater, M-East Building
          www.paradisevalley.edu/cpa

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Faculty & Staff News
 
Poetic Dialogue Project on the Road
Collaborative Vision: The Poetic Dialogue Project, a collaboration of artists and poets including PVCC English Faculty Lois Roma-Deeley and artist Beth Shadur, was exhibited at Bowling Green State University in Ohio last week. The event included a workshop on the process of collaboration and ekphrasis, which is writing inspired by art.

Shadur has created a series of works interpreting Roma-Deeley’s poetry. PVCC’s Chris Scinto, Division Chair of Fine and Performing Arts, was included in their latest work with Roma-Deeley’s voice set to his music for a multi-layered dimension to her poem, “Arguing with Angels,” which is etched into the glass of Shadur’s painting. View the project online: www.poeticdialogueproject.com

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Student News
 
S.L.I.C.E. Leaders Present at Conference
PVCC’s 2010 S.L.I.C.E. leaders are presenting at the 21st annual MCCCD Student Success Conference on Oct. 30. The conference offers opportunities for student affairs personnel, faculty and administrators to discuss Maricopa’s student success initiatives. Students Lyndsey Grinstead, Sierra Schnoebelen and Tyler Mitchell will share their experiences, roles and responsibilities of becoming team leaders.

Forty students from Paradise Valley and Glendale Community Colleges chose to spend their 2009 spring break making a difference in the lives of others. S.L.I.C.E. stands for Serve. Learn. Inspire. Change. Educate. In its fourth year, S.L.I.C.E seeks to raise awareness of global issues through education and intensive service experiences. The program fosters kinship between PVCC and GCC while addressing the need for students to become involved in thoughtful action toward the resolution of social issues. Four teams, led by eight student leaders, performed service in the areas of environment, kids, family and immigration in Phoenix and San Diego.

Puma Baseballers Shine
as ACCAC All-S
tars
Twelve Puma baseball players represented PVCC at the 2009 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Sophomore All-Star game Oct. 17 at the Peoria Sports Complex. Head Coach Victor Solis, ACCAC Baseball Coach of the Year, led one of the two Division II teams with the help of assistant coach Troy Gerlach.

The Puma sophomores chosen to play in the All-Star game Eric Bond, Selby Brummett, Mario Carrasco, Michael Ciombor, Tim DeVito, Ben Dorman, Jake Saylor, Greg Solomon, Jake Swift, Devin Thaut, Kyle Weber and Payden Yarmer.

Women’s Soccer Team is on a Roll

PVCC Women’s Soccer is on a seven-game winning streak and ranks second in the Arizona Collegiate Athletic Conference with 13 wins and 3 losses. They wrap up the 2009 season at home Saturday against Glendale. The game starts at 9:30 a.m.

Amy Eyden and Mimi Salazar took ACCAC Player and Keeper of the Week honor on Oct. 10 for their shutout performances. Eyden has five goals and six assists this season. Salazar received her second nod as Keeper of the Week for two saves and no goals against her.

Photographer Doug James has posted photos of the
Oct. 14 Puma Women’s soccer game on his blog: www.alphadogphoto.wordpress.com. Scroll down for
a look at these nice action shots of our players taking
on Phoenix College.



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 Projects Update
 

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Do you have an interesting program, or outstanding accomplishment or student to highlight?
If so, e-mail the institutional Advancement Office at institutional.advancement@pvmail.maricopa.edu.

A publication of the Paradise Valley Community College Office of Institutional Advancement
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