News

The Harvest of the Three Sisters Garden at Mesa's Organic Garden on November 20

Native American Garden of Corn, Beans, and Squash, is Learning Experience for Campus and Community

The Green Garden on the Mesa celebrates fall with the Harvesting of the Three Sisters Garden on Friday November 20, 2 to 5 p.m. The college's organic garden was originally planted in March 2009 by Mesa College students and faculty. On harvest day, individuals from the campus and community will come together and learn about sustainable practices while creating environmental and cultural awareness.

The “Three Sisters” (corn, beans, and squash) have been planted by traditional Native American gardeners in many different regions of North America. The garden forms an ecosystem by creating a community of plants and animals. This system creates a beneficial relationship between the three plants-- each plant helps the others grow.

Participants will also learn how to cook typical dishes using the harvested crop from a local youth group from the San Diego's County American Indian Health Center.

Mesa College has a strong commitment to environmental sustainability. The harvesting of the Three Sisters garden is only one of the many events from the Eco Awareness Series, taking place at Mesa College.

Revoluciones de Las Americas on stage at the Apolliad Theatre

At San Diego Mesa College

Four short plays – written and performed in Spanish by advanced Language students of San Diego Mesa College – explore politics and culture in Twentieth Century Latin America.

Based on research by the student playwrights, with guidance from Professor Dora Schoenbrun-Fernandez, the plays examine various aspects of societies in Latin America, from Zapata in Mexico and Che Guevara in Bolivia to changing social mores as viewed through the prism of shifting cultural icons of the era, such as Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Carlos Santana, and Sammy Sosa. Directed by Drama Professor John Polak, the show is produced by Experimental Theater students of Mesa College. A Talkback Q &A with the actor/playwrights follows the performance.

The show is one night only, Friday, December 11, 2009; 7:30 at the Apolliad Theater at San Diego Mesa College, at 7250 Mesa College Drive, San Diego 92111. $5.00 Admission is requested to aid continuing funding of the program. Call 619-388-2228 for further information. Visit for directions http://www.sdmesa.edu/drama/index.cfm.

Contact: Lina Heil FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Telephone: 619-388-2759

Email: lheil@sdccd.edu

Hundreds of High School Students Expected to Compete in The Amazing GPS Race

Geocaching Game Headlines GIS Day at Mesa College

Held Nov. 18 during National Geography Awareness Week

With GPS systems in hand, 400 high school students are expected to participate in the popular geocaching GPS game, The Amazing GPS Race, during GIS Day at Mesa College on November 18. Prizes aside, the event hopes to peek the interest of students, and especially young girls, in the flourishing field of GIS, or Geographic Information Systems.

In the morning, high school teams will use GPS tracking devices and clues to reach destinations throughout the 104-acre college campus to the finish line. More importantly, the students will learn about global positioning and GPS technology. A similar competition for college student teams will be held in the afternoon.

The event is part of National Geographic Society's Geography Awareness Week -- an international forum for users of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to demonstrate real-world applications that are making a difference in our society. The hot new technology is not only changing the way we live, it's changing the jobs we do, too. GIS Technicians are one of the most sought after careers in 2009, and the demands for this career continually on the rise.

Mesa College offers one of the most comprehensive GIS programs in Southern California, in close collaboration with San Diego State University. The two institutions are joint recipients of a major National Science Foundation grant to promote GIS education through certificates and degree programs offered at Mesa College. The program is unique because it is the only program in San Diego County specifically designed to prepare students to enter the workforce as a GIS technician.

Contact:

Janna Braun, Professor, Journalism 619-388-2338

jbraun@sdccd.edu

Lina Heil 619-388-2758

lheil@sdccd.edu

PHOTO AVAILABLE

Mesa College student journalists earn awards at regional conference

The Mesa Press, San Diego Mesa College's student newspaper, earned four awards at the Journalism Association of Community Colleges Southern California regional conference at Cal State Fullerton on October 23-24.

Co-editor-in-Chief Sarah Swasey, 20, of Mission Hills, captured one of the top individual prizes, first place in the on-the-spot News Writing competition, during the convention that drew about 400 students, teachers and professional journalists from all over Southern California. This award marks the first time a Mesa Press staff member has earned first place in any JACC on-the-spot writing competition.

In addition, past and present Mesa Press staff members earned awards in the prestigious mail-in competition. Swasey again was honored for her work in the News Writing category, earning honorable mention for her story about the arrest of a convicted sex offender on the Mesa campus who was volunteering with a youth music group. Additional mail-in competition honors went to former Mesa Press staff members Brittany Wiczek (Honorable Mention – Editorial Writing) and BJ Grieve (Honorable Mention – Column Writing).

About 27 colleges competed in the mail-in categories and events at the conference. The conference also included dozens of workshops and training seminars, including a powerful keynote speech by Orange County Register photo editor Kari Rene Hall and Kim Komenich, assistant professor of multimedia at San Jose State University, in association with the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma.

The Mesa Press is advised by Janna Braun, associate professor of journalism, and is currently edited by Sarah Swasey, Brook Dailey, and Danny West.

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MESA COLLEGE PRESIDENT DR. RITA M. CEPEDA TO SERVE

ON NSF “COMMUNITIY COLLEGE PRESIDENTS' PANEL”

TOPIC: Transitioning Community College Science and Engineering Students

to Four-Year Institutions

Dr. Rita M. Cepeda, President of San Diego Mesa College, will serve on a “Community College Presidents' Panel” at a National Science Foundation supported “Workshop on Best Practices for Recruitment and Transition of Engineering and Science Students from Community Colleges to Four Year Institutions” on Monday, October 5. Dr. Cepeda is one of three community college presidents to serve on this panel.

Two former San Diego Community College District students will serve on a student's panel. The workshop will be held at The University of Alabama at Birmingham October 4-6, 2009 and will include representatives of the National Science Foundation Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation Program and their community college partners.

Among the largest community colleges in California and the nation, San Diego Mesa College is a fully accredited two-year college offering more than 170 associate degree and certificate programs. With its premiere fine art and music programs, robust language offerings and rigorous math and science curricula, Mesa ranks as San Diego's top transfer institution. The college also serves as an important economic catalyst for the region. Its career programs include allied health fields, biopharmaceutical, multimedia, animal health technology, American Sign Language, hospitality, fashion, architecture, interior design and more. Situated on a sprawling, suburban 104-acre mesa in the geographic center of San Diego, the college's small classes, outstanding faculty, diverse student population and reputation for quality offer an unparalleled academic experience. Mesa College is the largest of three colleges in the San Diego Community College District, which also includes City College, Miramar College and San Diego Continuing Education. www.sdmesa.edu.

Contact:

Alessandra Moctezuma, Gallery Director, 619-388-2829; amoctezu@sdccd.edu <mailto:amoctezu@sdccd.edu>

Lina Heil 619-388-2758, lheil@sdccd.edu

www.sdmesa.edu/art-gallery

Great photo opportunities!

Art exhibition EXPANDING-EEL-DEVOURER closes with premiere of collaborative modern Polynesian opera

Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 7:00 PM Art Gallery Courtyard, Mesa College

(San Diego, Calif.) -- Artist Alexander Lee collaborates with composer Keith Moore, singer and musicologist Juliana Snapper, and Polynesian dancers on the closing night of his exhibition at Mesa College to present a unique, collaborative project bringing together music, dance and art of the South Pacific.

The grand finale of the EXPANDING-EEL-DEVOURER exhibition is a "modern opera" that expands on the Polynesian theme incorporating the culture of the island of Hawai'i. The premiere of this original performance is a new chapter in artist Alexander Lee and composer Keith Moore's collaborative project THE GREAT FISH CHANGING SKIES, an intriguing sequel to their exploration of the Tahitian creation myth.

The performance will feature music by composer Moore and performances by the artist and the dance group Halau Hula 'O Malulani led by Hula Kapena Malulani Perez and Kumu A'o Ann Parker.

The composition weaves Lee and Moore's larger project of THE GREAT FISH CHANGING SKIES with Halau Hula `O Malulani 's performance of the Hula of Ancient Hawai'i. Powerful, graceful and engaging, the dance company will offer a rare look into hula kahiko, the ancient dance of Hawai'i. Using authentic instruments, chants and dance, the performance is in striking contrast with much of what has been popularized as Hawaiian, revealing instead, the simplicity, natural dignity, and diversity, of Hawai'i itself.

Lee's latest installation, Expanding-Eel-Devourer, with its constellation murals and volcanic landscape will serve as a stage and a backdrop where Moore will premiere compositions based on his recent research on sound and water (what he calls hydrophonics), incorporating material by underwater performer Juliana Snapper, a trained opera singer with an undulating voice.

Past collaborations between Alexander Lee and Keith Moore include Drawing Recitations from the Great Fish Changing Skies, at Kinkead Contemporary, Los Angeles, 2009, a video and sound piece titled Forever Young, which was presented at the Merce Cunningham studio in 2004, and Overtime (2001), at the Electronic Music Center, Columbia University, New York.

The performance is free and open to the public. Tours of the exhibit are available during gallery hours: Monday through Thursday from noon to 4 pm. Visitors may schedule appointment to view exhibits at times when the gallery is closed. Call 619-388-2829 or visit www.sdmesa.edu/art-gallery.

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PARKING IS FREE ON EVENT NIGHT. Visitors can park in student lots and upper parking area adjacent and across from the flagpole (Lot A). During regular gallery hours, use the visitors' metered spaces or park free in the student lots, Monday thru Friday, 12-4 pm. Call 619-388-2829.

BIOGRAPHIES

Artist Alexander Lee was born in Stockton, CA, and grew-up in Mahina, on the island of Tahiti, French Polynesia. He earned his MFA from Columbia University and MPS from New York University before being Studio Manager for artist Matthew Barney. Lee 's first solo exhibition, The Departure of the Fish, premiered at Kinkead Contemporary, Los Angeles in 2006 and its follow-up project, The Departure of the Fish REDUX, at Clementine Gallery, New York in 2007. Lee has received a fellowship from the Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop, New York, and is represented by Kinkead Contemporary, Los Angeles. He currently lives and works in New York City.

For more information on the artist go to his gallery page:

www.kinkeadcontemporary.com/artists/alexander-lee/

Composer Keith Moore's work moves imperceptibly between materials of acoustic, electronic and environmental origin, exploring the sheer physical beauty of sound in dramatic formal designs. Recently he is complementing his concert work with a series of large-scale collaborations in other media. Wake, his collaboration with Danish choreographer Schjoenning was produced at the Merce Cunningham Studio in 2003. Currently, Mr. Moore is creating a series of performances with visual artist Alexander Lee; the first three collaborations have shown in the United States and Europe. Moore has composed five works for saxophonist Taimur Sullivan. Last season, the latest of these pieces, the Manhattan Sinfonietta, was performed at New York City's Merkin Hall, conducted by Jeffrey Milarsky.

Keith Moore is internationally renowned with his works performed in Europe and the U.S. Leading artists recently performing his work include Ensemble 21, the S.E.M. Ensemble, the CRASH ENSEMBLE (Ireland), violinist Mieko Kanno (London), pianist Tomas Bächli (Berlin). He has been a fellow at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival and Foundation Royaumont (Asnières-sur-Oise, France), and was a President's Fellow at Columbia University; further distinctions include the Martirano Prize, the ASCAP Raymond-Hubbell Award, the NMC Outstanding Composer Award, and honors from SPNM (United Kingdom). He lives with his wife and daughter, dividing time between New York City and Athens, Greece.

Halau Hula `O Malulani is a diverse and evolving group of dancers in the San Diego community, striving to preserve and share the ancient and modern practices of Hawaiian dance, language, music, and culture. http://www.halauhulaomalulani.com/about.html

Contact: Lina Heil 619-388-2758

lheil@sdccd.edu

Mesa College Students Celebrate Constitution Day with Reenactment of

“Great Supreme Court Justice Moments”

In celebration of the signing of the Constitution and to increase awareness of the duties and responsibilities of citizenship, the internationally acclaimed Olympian Speech and Debate Team at San Diego Mesa College will present oral interpretations of some of the most compelling moments in the history of the Supreme Court of the United States.

“Great Supreme Court Justice Moments” will be held Thursday, September 17, at the ASG free speech stage (between H-500 & H-600) at 1:00 p.m. Celebrated each year on this date, Constitution Day commemorates the day the U.S. Constitution was revealed to the American people in 1787.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information please see www.sdmesa.edu.

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Mesa College Celebrates Reopening of Merrill Douglas Stadium

SAN DIEGO – San Diego Mesa College celebrates the grand reopening of Merrill Douglas Stadium on Saturday, September 26. Festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. At 6:00 p.m., the Mesa College Olympians will play against the Mt. San Jacinto Eagles.

The Mesa College football field and surrounding areas received a major face-lift after it was paved over last year to accommodate the construction of the now-complete parking structure and other east entry projects at Mesa College.

The renovation of the Merrill Douglas Stadium project includes new artificial field turf with regulation-size fields for football and soccer, an upper field event area, ADA-compliant pedestrian ramp, restrooms and seating for 4,500 spectators. In November, a nine-lane synthetic rubber track will be installed, suitable for world-class track and field events, with areas for events such as long/triple jump, the steeplechase water jump, pole vault, high jump, shot put, hammer/discus, and the javelin.

The stadium is located on Mesa College Circle at the east gateway entrance to Mesa College. It is home to the Mesa College Olympian football, and women's and men's soccer and track teams.

The community will also benefit from the new field. Football teams from Kearny, Clairemont, Horizon and St. Augustine high schools regularly practice and compete at Mesa College. Francis Parker and Horizon high school track teams will also use the track.

Among the largest community colleges in California and the nation, San Diego Mesa College is a fully accredited two-year college offering more than 170 associate degree programs. With 20 women's and men's sports teams and serving 500 student athletes per year, Mesa College ranks as one of the largest intercollegiate athletic programs in California.

MESA COLLEGE ADVENTURER HERMES CASTRO TO SPEAK AT NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ‘BREAKING THE BARRIERS' CONFERENCE

Sept. 15, 2009 -- Hermes Castro, Mesa College student and future hydrologist, continues to break barriers. Castro, 30, will be a featured speaker at the National Park Service conference, “Breaking the Color Barrier in the Great American Outdoors,” next week in Atlanta.

The lifetime athlete and outdoors man had a life-altering experience when he was hit by a drunk driver while cycling to work in 2006. Told that he would be paralyzed for life, Hermes battled his way back and is determined to walk again.

Following a chance meeting at Mesa College, the Antarctic adventurer Sir Robert Swan was so impressed that he invited Hermes to be part of his 2041 Expedition to protect the frozen wilderness of Antarctica. Mesa College students rallied to his cause and raised $10,000 to cover expedition expenses. Hermes spent two weeks in Antarctica as part of the expedition in March 2009.

While still wheelchair bound, Hermes has spent the summer rehabilitating his legs. His message to the conference attendees is simple and powerful: "If I can navigate some of the most inhospitable territory without use of my legs, you can turn off the light and put your cans in a recycling bin."

More information can be found at http://www.breakingthecolorbarrier.com. You can follow Hermes' blog at http://hermescastro.weebly.com.

Mesa College Students Celebrate Constitution Day with Reenactment of

“Great Supreme Court Justice Moments”

In celebration of the signing of the Constitution and to increase awareness of the duties and responsibilities of citizenship, the internationally acclaimed Olympian Speech and Debate Team at San Diego Mesa College will present oral interpretations of some of the most compelling moments in the history of the Supreme Court of the United States.

“Great Supreme Court Justice Moments” will be held Thursday, September 17, at the ASG free speech stage (between H-500 & H-600) at 1:00 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information please see www.sdmesa.edu.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Photograph available

Contact: Lina Heil 619-388-2758

lheil@sdccd.edu

Tim McGrath New Vice President of Instruction at San Diego Mesa College

Tim McGrath is the new Vice President of Instruction at San Diego Mesa College where he oversees six schools and all instructional programs. Mesa College, one of the largest community colleges in the state and the nation, has a long tradition of serving students in the San Diego area. Mr. McGrath is coming to Mesa from Moorpark College in Ventura County, California, where he served most recently as Dean, Student Learning.

“Tim McGrath is a seasoned professional whose in-depth knowledge of the community colleges' mission and processes that has allowed him to ‘hit the ground running' and to exercise effective leadership in the role of Vice President, Instruction,” said Dr. Rita M. Cepeda, president of Mesa College.

Mr. McGrath has a strong record of success in community college administration. Since 2001, he has held the position of Dean of Student Learning at Moorpark College. His responsibilities have included budget, curriculum and program development as well as supervision for all division faculty and staff.

In addition to his tenure at Moorpark, he has also served as Dean of Business and Technology at Rio Hondo College, and has held previous positions as an adjunct instructor Moorpark and at the College of the Canyons.

Mr. McGrath's academic credentials include a J.D. (Juris Doctorate) degree from Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, California; an M.S.A. (Master of Science in Administration) from Pepperdine University; a B.S.L. (Bachelor of Science in Law), also from Western State University College of Law; and an A.A. (Associate of Arts) degree from Santa Monica Community College.

"I am excited to be a part of Mesa College's leadership team at an unprecedented time of change and economic challenges for California Community Colleges,” says McGrath. “I am pleased to offer my experience and background to this effort."

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About Mesa College

Among the largest community colleges in California and the nation, San Diego Mesa College is a fully accredited two-year college offering more than 170 associate degree and certificate programs. With its premiere fine art and music programs, robust language offerings and rigorous math and science curricula, Mesa ranks as San Diego's top transfer institution. The college also serves as an important economic catalyst for the region. Its career programs include allied health fields, biopharmaceutical, multimedia, animal health technology, American Sign Language, hospitality, fashion, architecture, interior design and more. Situated on a sprawling, suburban 104-acre mesa in the geographic center of San Diego, the college's small classes, outstanding faculty, diverse student population and reputation for quality offer an unparalleled academic experience. www.sdmesa.edu.

White House Comes to Mesa College for Latino Education Needs

White House Initiative administrators asked San Diego area educators, community and business leaders, and elected officials how to attain education excellence for Hispanic Americans. The responses were plentiful and passionate at a forum held recently (August 16) at San Diego Mesa College.

Mesa College was selected by the Initiative as the site of the first community forum on the West Coast and the only one in the county.

Despite being held on a Sunday, the half-day event drew nearly 200. All participated in roundtable discussions facilitated by Juan Sepulveda, director of the White House Initiative (WHI) on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans.

He told the audience that the educational success of the Latino community is “directly tied to the future of the American economy and the kind of people we are producing."

Community input will help drive reforms on the federal level, Dr. Sepulveda reported. “We will literally be stealing your ideas to rewrite and carry out the Executive Order.”

Both San Diego Community College District Chancellor Constance Carroll and Mesa College President Rita Cepeda pointed to the alarming Latino high school drop out and low college enrollment rates as major problems that need considerably more attention from the federal government.

In California and San Diego County, the high school drop out rate for Latinos runs about five percent higher than for all students.

The Latino student population of the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) is well over 35 percent. At the same time, the overall Hispanic American community is also the fastest growing in Southern California and the largest in the nation.

Chancellor Carroll described the Initiative as "a critical conversation for the San Diego community and the nation. It was wonderful to see the range of practical ideas and priorities that emerged from this meeting to advise the Obama Administration. Policies, standards, outreach, funding, and educational methods must all be factored in to a successful effort, and those responsible for these elements were all represented in the meeting."

As part of the conversation, Sepulveda selected several members of the audience to come forward and state what they believe are the most critical issues facing Latinos within K-12 and postsecondary education. Increased parental involvement, mentoring by teachers, more accountability of teachers and the need for more bilingual teachers were among the suggestions.

Latino parents, President Cepeda stated, “must have a direct and authentic voice in this process.”

The Mesa College president and California Assembly Member Lori Saldaña, a former community college instructor, noted that immigration reform and rampant poverty among Hispanic American communities are major stumbling blocks.

Many Latino parents, Saldaña said, “remain in the shadows, afraid of becoming involved for fear of deportation and other issues.”

Regarding the need for more Latino instructors, several speaking at the WHI forum echoed the remarks this remark made by the state legislator: “Latino children need role models in the classroom – teachers that look like them.”

Others participating in the WHI community conversation included SDCCD Trustee Peter Zschiesche, Parent Institute for Quality Education President David Valladolid, San Diego Unified School District Board President Shelia Jackson, SDSU Professor Roberto Ochoa, City College President Terry Burgess and City College Professors Ternot MacRenato and Francisco Moreno.

Also taking part: Mesa College Professors Rita Sanchez and Maria Bolivar, City Schools Superintendent Terry Grier, retired UC Professor Julio Racine, San Diego Continuing Education President Anthony Beebe, retired high school teacher Javier Aviles, Toltec Media President Linda Caballero Sotelo, and community activist Olivia Puentes-Reynolds, who is also a member of the SDCCD Trustees Advisory Council.

WHI forums were also scheduled through August 23 at five other California community colleges, three state universities and L.A. Unified School District.

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John Nunes, Asst. Director, Public Information & Govt. Relations, San Diego Community College District, 619.388.6557

Lina Heil, Information Officer, San Diego Mesa College 619-388-6557

MESA COLLEGE ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ASPIRING JAZZ MUSICIANS

San Diego Mesa College is now accepting applications for seven $1,000 scholarships which will be awarded to incoming students who plan to study jazz music at the Mesa College campus this fall.

The seven merit-based scholarships are offered to incoming students at Mesa College who desire to continue playing jazz with the Mesa College Jazz Band. The scholarships are the E. F. K. Music Scholarships (three $1000 scholarships); the Gustavo Romero Music Scholarships (three $1000 scholarships), and the Shellist Memorial Music Scholarship (three $1000 scholarship).

Students who are new to the Mesa College Jazz Band and plan to be enrolled full time at Mesa College are invited to apply. Auditions will be held Friday, August 7, and you must be preregistered to audition. An online application and complete eligibility requirements can be found at www.sdmesa.edu/music, or by calling 619-388-2221.

Mesa College offers one of the most the most comprehensive music theory programs in San Diego County. The music program offers both an associate degree and certificates of completion, and is designed for students with interests in continued study and in a wide range of careers in academic, vocational and commercial music. The department is chaired by jazz performer and saxophonist James J. Romeo, and its faculty includes world-class performing musicians such as jazz artists Bob Magnusson and Bob Boss, classical guitarists George Svoboda and Randy Pile, and pianist/vocalist Jaeryoung Lee. More information is available at www.sdmesa.edu/music.

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Lina Heil

Information Officer

San Diego Mesa College

PH: 619.388.2759

FAX: 619.388.2969

7250 Mesa College Drive

San Diego CA 92111-4998

lheil@sdccd.edu

www.sdmesa.edu

Most Radiologic Technology Graduates Going

From August 10 Pinning Directly to Jobs

Twenty-nine newly minted graduates of the San Diego Mesa College Radiologic Technology program will participate in a special pinning ceremony at 7 p.m., Monday, August 10, at the Apolliad Theater at Mesa College.

At least 75 percent of the graduates will move directly into employment in their clinical practice settings following program completion.

“The practicum experience is the jewel of the Mesa College program,” according to George Ochoa, Administrative Director of Ancillary Services, Scripps Mercy Hospital, “For us, it's like a two-year interview... I know if the students are committed, if they are gentle with my patients. I know their work habits. It makes it easy to make a hiring decision.” Himself a Mesa graduate, Ochoa has hired more than 50 Mesa graduates during his 24 years at Scripps.

A pinning ceremony is held every August following final clinical practice commitments and marks the completion of the intensive, 24-month program. At the ceremony, graduates will be recognized by faculty, administrators and clinical instructors who represent 14 major health care centers in San Diego that supervised the clinical practicums.

Many students enrolled in the program are mid-career individuals who have already earned a bachelor's degree and are looking for a career change. “The students change dramatically during those two years,” said Jeffery Sammons, who teaches at Mesa. “They come in very ‘wet behind the ears' and leave as confident professionals.”

“The public can be assured that graduates from the San Diego Mesa College Radiologic Technology Program are the best,” adds Lori Covington, Radiologic Technology Program Director. For the last two years, 100 percent of Mesa graduates passed the ARRT National Registry Exam examination.

The Mesa College Radiologic Technology Certificate Program prepares students for a high-demand career. The two-year program features an integrated plan of classroom work and closely supervised clinical practicum at a partnering healthcare facility. Partners include Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, Sharp Grossmont Hospital, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Scripps Mercy Hospital, Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista, Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, Sharp Memorial Hospital, Sharp Rees-Stealy, Mira Mesa, Tri-City Medical Center, Veterans Administration San Diego Medical Center, UCSD Medical Center, UCSD Thornton Hospital, UCSD Women's Center and Palomar Medical Center.

Upon completion of the program, students receive an Associate of Science Degree or Certificate in Radiologic Technology and qualify to take the ARRT National Registry Exam. Mesa is the only community college in the region to offer an associate degree and certificate in this field. The Mesa College program is certified by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.

Persons interested in the Radiologic Technology diploma program offered at Mesa College, can call 619-388-2684 or go to www.sdmesa.edu/allied-health.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Lina Heil 619-388-2759; lheil@sdccd.edu

Kelvin Crosby, a resident of Clairemont, is available for interviews.. Please contact Lina Heil 619-388-2759

White House Photo Available at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/images/deaf_blind_PS-0602.jpg

Caption: President Barack Obama meets with a group from the Helen Keller National Center in the Oval Office . June 26, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Mesa College Student Kelvin Crosby Among Deaf-Blind Students Welcomed Friday at the White House by President Obama

Event part of Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week

On Friday, June 26, Mesa College student Kelvin Crosby, was one of five young adults to meet President Barack Obama, who became one of the very few sitting American Presidents to personally greet and welcome persons who are deaf-blind to the White House Oval Office.

The group featured five young adults (Kelvin Crosby, Crystal Morales, Virginia Jordan, Divya Goel, and Jason Corning) affiliated with the Helen Keller National Center ("HKNC"). They included a musician with two CDs to her credit, a surfer and aspiring field goal kicker, a Cum Laude graduate who wants to start a school, an aspiring restaurant manager, and a winner of the Wisconsin Council for Exceptional Children "Yes I Can" award for Advocacy and Independent Living. Two staff members and three volunteers from the HKNC also joined the young adults.

They were in D.C. to celebrate Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week. This year's theme for the week was Deaf-Blindness Didn't Stop with Helen Keller. The focus of the week was to demonstrate that successful deaf-blind persons are still thriving and excelling long after Helen Keller. The deaf-blind activist was born June 28, 1880.

Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy, reported on the group's visit on the White House blog. They visited the White House in the morning, where they received a tour of the public residence. From hanging out in the First Lady's East Reception Room, to playing the same piano played by Stevie Wonder, to visiting the China Room, the tour was a major hit with the young adults. They returned in the afternoon for the icing on the already incredibly rich cake to take a photo with the President in the Oval Office. The President congratulated the young adults on their accomplishments and reminded them that we remain committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities.

"The experience was a rush – a life-changing one for me,” said Kelvin, now back on campus and resuming summer classes. “I'm honored to be able to represent deaf-blind people all over the USA,"

“He shook my hand, asked me my name, where went to school, and my major,” reported Kelvin of his meeting with the President, who wondered about proper protocol when the President reached down to pet Jerry, Kelvin's working dog. (Petting or talking to the seeing-eye dog is not proper etiquette because it distracts the dog from his job, which is important for the safety of its owner.) “I thought about correcting him… but decided to let it go,” said the young diplomat.

Kelvin has the communication disorder known as Usher Syndrome, which affects both hearing and vision. He is a former student of the Helen Keller School in New York, and was picked to be a part of the group because of his passion to motivate people and the impact he made on others while at the school.

If you haven't guessed, the 21-year-old Clairemont resident is also the surfer and aspiring field-goal kicker. He tries out for the Mesa College Olympian football team on July 13.

Mesa College opens 1,100 space parking facility
“Green structure” grand opening thanks to $1.555 billion Propositions S & N

What: San Diego Mesa College this week officially opens a $31 million parking facility at the campus' east entrance on Mesa College Drive. San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) leaders join Mesa College administrators, students, and distinguished guests to celebrate the opening of the much-needed parking structure for the approximately 22,000 students who annually attend Mesa, one of the largest community colleges in the region and the nation.

When: Wednesday, March 11, 10:30 a.m.

Where: 7250 Mesa College Dr., San Diego, CA 92111-4998
(Parking structure third level entry, Mesa College East Entrance. Directions at: http://www.sdmesa.edu/7shared-files/directions.cfm)

Who: (order of speakers)
Rita M. Cepeda, President, San Diego Mesa College
Rich Grosch, President, Board of Trustees, SDCCD
Constance M. Carroll, Chancellor, SDCCD
Donna Frye, San Diego City Councilmember, District 6
Terrie Teegarden, Mesa College Academic Senate president
Sebastian Law, President, Mesa College Associated Students Government
Arthur “Tex” Barnhart, CEO, Barnhart, Inc

Other: Architects Delawie Wilkes Rodrigues Barker
Faculty, staff and students

Background:
Parking has been a perennial issue at Mesa College, which serves approximately 22,000 students. This facility, funded through Proposition S, a $685 million construction bond passed by San Diego voters in 2002, is key to future construction projects on the 104-acre Kearny Mesa campus. In addition to the parking structure, the project includes a 7,000-square-foot police office building and a major realignment of the campus' east entry. The police substation will open this summer.

Architects Delawie Wilkes Rodrigues Barker, a San Diego-based firm, was commissioned by the San Diego Community College District to provide full architectural services for the project. Barnhart, Inc., a Heery International Company, served as contractor. Construction began in December 2006 and was completed in 14 months.

Sustainable Features:
All construction and major renovations by the San Diego Community College District are designed and built to obtain the highest possible certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. The Mesa College Parking Structure/Police Station project is no exception, and is expected to obtain a Silver LEED upon completion – one of only a few LEED-certified public safety facilities in San Diego County. Once complete, the five-level structure will accommodate 1,100 cars, and will include spaces for alternative-fuel vehicles used by the Mesa College Police.

The parking structure project includes a number of “green” design strategies, materials, products and construction practices designed to conserve water and energy, reduce waste and preserve natural resources:
•Photovoltaic panels will be installed on the top level to harvest solar energy – offsetting the energy needs for the new Police Station and Allied Health Buildings, both set to open later this year.
•The concrete includes the addition of fly ash - a commonly-used coal combustion product – as a strengthening agent. When fly ash is added to concrete, the amount of concrete necessary can also be reduced.
•As an ‘open' parking structure, there is no need for mechanical ventilation systems.
•The landscape plan utilizes a water-efficient irrigation system and low water use plants and shrubs.

Visuals•Official ribbon-cutting with giant scissors
•Student Government leaders lead mini-convoy into the parking structure
•Construction equipment used for completion of Police Station
•Full-color architectural renderings of Mesa College Parking Structure

To obtain high-resolution renderings and/or construction photographs, please contact Ursula Kroemer at (760) 705-6919 or ukroemer@gafcon.com

Media Contact:
Lina Heil
Public Information Officer
San Diego Mesa College
(619) 388-2759
lheil@sdccd.edu

Media Contact:
Ursula Kroemer
Communications Director
Propositions S & N
(cell) (760) 705-6919
ukroemer@gafcon.com

McCARTHY BEGINS DRYWALL INSTALLATION FOR
$20 MILLION ALLIED HEALTH BUILDING AT SAN DIEGO MESA COLLEGE

SAN DIEGO – (February, 2009) – McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. (www.mccarthy.com), one of the nation's leading healthcare and education facility builders, has achieved the two-thirds completion benchmark for the new three-story, 49,000-square-foot Allied Health Building at San Diego Mesa College, located at 7250 Mesa College Dr. in the Clairemont area of San Diego, Calif.
According to McCarthy Project Director Robert Betz, work to fully enclose the building is underway. The in-wall and overhead rough-in is nearly complete on all levels, and the project team is preparing to enter the interior drywall installation stage.
"This step will require a substantial amount of material, including 20,000 square feet of drywall to cover 160,000 linear feet of metal stud framing material," said Betz. "The project has experienced an especially low change order rate of less than one percent, and remains on schedule and within budget."
The new $20 million San Diego Mesa College Allied Health Building is being funded by the Proposition S Construction Bond, which was approved by San Diego voters in 2002. Construction began last September, and is slated for completion this August. The road realignment, considered phase three of the project, is scheduled for completion in November.
Situated off Mesa College Drive at the main campus entry, the Allied Health facility will serve as a prominent landmark for San Diego Mesa College. It is the second instructional building to be built at Mesa College utilizing Proposition S funds. The building will house a computer lab, classrooms, a clinical dental lab, physical therapy lab, medical lab, plus faculty and staff offices.
Designed by San Diego-based Architects | Delawie Wilkes Rodrigues Barker, the Allied Health Building incorporates a three-story layout to accommodate all of the uses required by the faculty, staff and students on the compact site. To reduce the vertical emphasis of the building, the exterior design incorporates multiple horizontal design elements, such as a continuous ribbon window curtain wall system with integral horizontal window eyebrows. The curtain wall plays a significant role in shading the glass and reducing the amount of internal solar gain inside the building.

Another important design element is the stone cladding on the more powerful vertical elements such as stairs and entry areas. This will be the first building on the campus to use stone elements on the exterior.
An important objective for all construction projects undertaken by the San Diego Community College District is to meet the highest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification possible. The Allied Health Building is designed to achieve LEED Silver certification status.
Among the sustainable design elements of the building are low-water use landscape, recycled materials content, high-efficiency energy systems, Energy-Star roof systems, and construction water recycling. The Allied Health Building's power requirements will be offset in part by energy provided by solar panels located on the roof of the adjacent parking structure.
Phase three of the project, involving the extensive realignment of an existing roadway, posed the challenge of deciphering how to perform the majority of the work without interrupting the access/egress requirements of the campus. The McCarthy project team worked with the District to save several months on the District's original schedule and sequencing plan. Collectively they came up with a shorter phasing plan that will significantly reduce the campus disruption and ultimately save the District a considerable amount of money.
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is the construction manager for the Allied Health Building construction project, with Ron Hall as principal-in-charge, Robert Betz serving as project director, Ross Malik as senior project manager, and Randal Gustine as the superintendent. Gil Camarena is assistant project manager, with Austin Kettlewell as project engineer and Lauren Jacoby as project secretary.
Project team consultants include Hope Engineering for structural engineering, RBF Consulting for civil engineering and Xnth for mechanical and electrical engineering. Wimmer Yamada & Caughey is the landscape architect, and Churchill Engineering, Inc., is the code consultant. Gafcon is the program manager for the school district.
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is the nation's 10th largest domestic general contractor (Engineering News-Record, May 2008) and among the top 10 education builders (Engineering News-Record, October 2006). The firm has been building in the education market for the last 50 years. Committed to the construction of high performance buildings, the company has managed construction or built more than 300 K-12 school projects nationwide, totaling more than $2 billion in construction value, and nearly 100 higher education projects on more than 50 campuses. In addition to San Diego, McCarthy has offices in Newport Beach, Sacramento and San Francisco, Calif.; Phoenix; Las Vegas; St. Louis; Dallas and Atlanta. McCarthy is 100 percent employee owned. More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com

CONTACT: Bonnie Kutch, (619) 299-1010, bkutch@kutchco.com


Among the largest community colleges in California and the nation, San Diego Mesa College is a fully accredited two-year college offering 160 Associate degree and certificate programs. Recognized in 2007 as one of the top 100 producers of associate degrees in the nation, Mesa College ranks as San Diego's top transfer institution. The college also serves as an important economic catalyst for the region. Its career programs and industry alliances offer graduates almost immediate job placement in the fields of allied health, biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, business technology, consumer studies, and more. Other top specialized career programs include fashion, architecture, multimedia, animal health technology, American Sign Language, interior design, and hospitality and event management. More information is available online at www.sdmesa.edu.

Construction to Begin on Rosa Parks Memorial Project at Mesa College

San Diego, Calif. (February 3, 2009) – Just in time for what would have been Rosa Parks 96th birthday tomorrow, San Diego Mesa College announces that construction is about to begin on an MTS transit stop and surrounds honoring the civil rights activist. The memorial project will be located at the new east gateway entrance to Mesa College and incorporates the first MTS stop to be built on campus grounds.

The memorial project honors the legacy and teachings of civil rights activist Rosa Parks, who had a special relationship with Mesa College. Mrs. Parks first visited the college in 1992, and later that year named Mesa as the San Diego-Mexico branch of the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development. Mrs. Parks continued to visit the college through 1995.

“Mrs. Parks was not only an iconic figure of the Civil Rights Movement, she was a warm and caring presence to many people,” said Dr. Constance M. Carroll, Chancellor, SDCCD, and former Mesa College President. “Our students and faculty looked forward to her visits to Mesa College, and all of us were overwhelmed by her combination of humility and courage.”

Rosa Parks died in 2005 at the age of 92. At that time, the Mesa College Foundation explored the possibility of honoring the late civil rights activist, and provided funding to explore a memorial on the grounds of Mesa College.

In 2007, Mesa College reviewed eight proposals from a variety of interested artists. In November, 2008 the project was awarded to a trio that includes San Diego Public Artists Nina Karavasiles and Mario Lara, and diversity specialist Dr. Gerda Govine-Ituarte, Ed.D.

Construction of the project will commence in the spring. The transit stop will be unveiled and dedicated in fall 2009. A commemoration of the 54th anniversary of Rosa Park's act of civil disobedience will be held on December 1, 2009.

Interested persons are invited to attend a community forum with the artists on Thursday, March 26, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Joe and Vi Jacobs Community Center, Market Creek Plaza, 404 Euclid Avenue.


About the Rosa Parks Memorial Project
The Rosa Parks Memorial Project celebrates the legacy and attributes of civil rights activist Rosa Parks and especially the “Quiet Strength” that all people have within them to take a stand against repression and injustice. Adjacent to the transit stop will be a “Quiet Strength” reflection area. The augmented MTS bus shelter will be located on Mesa College Drive at the east entrance to the college campus and will feature panels displaying the history and images of Rosa Parks. Photographic transparencies of actual Mesa College students laminated in between safety glass will be displayed above the benches. The reflection area will feature Terra Cotta colored cast concrete curved walls, seating and a rose vessel. The unique design of the project incorporates a fully functioning MTS transit stop and surrounds. Total cost of the project is $150,000. Funding for the Rosa Parks Memorial Project was provided by the Mesa College Foundation with support from Propositions S and N funds.

Campus and Community Forums
Campus Forum: 6:30-8:00 p.m., Thursday, Feb 26, Room G-101, San Diego Mesa College, 7250 Mesa College Drive, Kearny Mesa.
Community Forum: Date TBD, Joe and Vi Jacobs Community Center, Market Creek Plaza, 404 Euclid Ave. San Diego, near the corner of Market Street and Euclid.

About the Public Art Team
Dr. Gerda Govine-Ituarte, Ed.D. is C.E.O. of Govine Consulting specializing in human resources/diversity/organizational development, labor, and workplace issues. www.govineconsults.com
Nina Karavasiles, Public Artist is currently working on commissions for the Colfax Bridge in Studio City, Los Angeles. She recently completed an African-American Legacy Project for Lillian Place in San Diego as well as the 70th Street Trolley Station. www.ninak.info
Prof. Mario Lara, Public Artist is currently a member of the Department of Fine Arts faculty at Mesa College. Professor Lara's most recent public art project is the trolley station at 25th and Commercial Trolley Station, San Diego. www.mariolara.us

69 International Students from 26 Countries Begin College Life at San Diego Mesa College

This week, 69 international students from Oman, Kazakhstan, Australia, Brazil, Korea and other countries across the globe are getting an introduction to college life, and daily life in the US and San Diego, at San Diego Mesa College.

Twenty-two students -- 31 percent of the incoming cohort -- come from two countries, Brazil, 12, and Korea, 10. The other 47 students come from 24 countries, broken down as follows: Australia, 1; Belgium, 2; Britain, 1; Canada 1; China, 3; Finland, 1; France, 5; Germany, 2; Indonesia, 2; Israel, 1; Italy, 2; Japan, 2; Kazakhstan, 2; Kuwait, 1; Laos, 1; Mexico, 1; Oman, 1; Pakistan, 1; Philippines, 1; Poland, 1; Spain, 2; Sweden, 1; Taiwan, 5; Vietnam, 5.

Each year, Mesa College welcomes more than 100 international students representing dozens of countries. The applicants find out about Mesa College through online searches, word of mouth and recommendations from educational institutions in their home countries, and especially from family who live in San Diego and Southern California. The spring semester count of 69 international students is an increase of 22, or 31 percent, over last spring's enrollment.

All incoming international students are required to attend a three-day orientation session. The orientation, held this week, acquaints students with required immigration assessments, academic requirements, application processing and registration. Students are introduced to student support services and resources available at Mesa, one of San Diego and the nation's largest community colleges. They also learn daily life skills, such as how to get auto insurance, bus routes, finding a place to live, and money matters.

“At first, the students are quiet and wide-eyed,” says International Student Admissions Supervisor Ivonne Alvarez, “but by the third day of orientation, they are confident and relaxed, comfortable among new friends, and eager to begin their studies.” The college has a dedicated counselor for international students, and an International Student Club to offer support and camaraderie.

Spring classes begin at Mesa College on January 26. For more information on the Mesa College program for International Students, call 619-388-2717. For general registration information, log on to www.sdmesa.edu.

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PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. Media are invited to attend the closing luncheon, Friday 1/9 at 12 p.m.

CONTACT: Lina Heil 619-388-2759
linaheil@sdccd.edu