Pierce College News

May 28, 2004

For immediate release
Media contact: Dale Stowell, (253) 964-6780 or dstowell@pierce.ctc.edu

Last day to get discounted garden tour tickets – June 1

> The last day to purchase the pre-sale discounted tickets to “Celebrating Steilacoom Gardens, 1854-2004″ garden tour is Tuesday, June 1. Tickets are $12.50 ($15 after June 1).
>
> To purchase your tickets call (253) 964-6441. You can also purchase tickets at any of the outside tickets outlets: Gordon’s Garden Center in Yelm; Countrywide Home Loans in Lakewood, Olympia and Puyallup; Lakewold Gardens in Lakewood, or the Town of Steilacoom office.
>
> This year’s tour promises to be exciting with beautiful and historic gardens and excellent speakers including Peter Hatch, garden and grounds director at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Virginia. To learn more about “Celebrating Steilacoom Gardens, 1854-2004″ visit http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/foundation/events.
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> “Celebrating Steilacoom Gardens, 1854-2004″ is sponsored by the Pierce College Foundation, the Town of Steilacoom, Gordon’s Garden Center and Countrywide Home Loans. Proceeds benefit the Pierce College tutoring program.
>
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> May 26, 2004
>
> For immediate release
> Media contact: Dale Stowell, (253) 964-6780 or dstowell@pierce.ctc.edu
>
> Graduation ceremonies to feature motivational speaker Bob Moawad June 11
>
> Popular motivational speaker Bob Moawad, chairman of Edge Learning Institute, will give the commencement address at Pierce College> ‘> s 2004 Graduation Ceremonies at 3:30 p.m., Friday, June 11, in the main arena at the Tacoma Dome, 2727 East “D” Street, Tacoma.
>
> Some 2,900 students are eligible to participate, graduating with associate of arts and sciences degrees, professional and technical degrees and certificates; and high school diplomas. Between 500 and 550 graduating students are expected to walk in the processional, according to Nancy Houck, director of student success who oversees planning of the graduation ceremonies.
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> “> The college has come a long way from our first graduation in 1968 when eight students graduated,> “> she said.
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> The Pierce College Concert Choir and the Concert Band will perform during the event.
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May 20, 2004

For immediate release
Media contact: Dale Stowell, (253) 964-6780 or dstowell@pierce.ctc.edu

Raiders summer basketball camp offered July 5-9

Pierce College Raiders athletics is offering a summer youth basketball camp July 5-9 for boys and girls ages 7-14, and an elite players camp Aug. 9-13 for boys ages 15-18 at Lakewood Community Center, 9112 Lakewood Dr. S.W. The youth camp will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily and will culminate with an awards ceremony Friday, July 9 at 2 p.m.

Raiders head basketball coach and camp director Bill Mendelson has 27 years of experience, including 19 years directing camps. He offers valuable instruction to participants through various clinics and drills. Mendelson’s emphasis on mastering the fundamentals of the game has helped countless athletes.

Ron Sheets, camp coordinator, is entering his second year as the Raiders’ assistant coach. Sheets is a former All-American at Saint Martin’s College and coached at Tumwater High School for six years.

Youth camp check-in begins at 8 a.m. on Monday, July 5, at the Lakewood Community Center. Each player needs to bring a lunch daily. Pre-registration is due July1 and must include the application and a $75 deposit. The cost is $125 for each participant and includes a T-shirt and camp basketball.

For more information or to obtain an application, contact the Pierce College athletics office at (253)964-6612 or visit http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/athletics.

May 19, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Dale Stowell, (253) 964-6780 or dstowell@pierce.ctc.edu

Pierce College executive/Tacoma native assumes Grays Harbor presidency
Tacoma native Ed Brewster has been named President of Grays Harbor College in Aberdeen. Brewster will begin as president after June 30.
Brewster, who is currently the executive vice president of Extended Learning for Pierce College District, said he’s looking forward to the challenge of leading the college of nearly 2,000 full-time equivalent students, but also is sad to leave behind old friends. He has worked at Pierce in a variety of roles since 1986.
“It’s not an easy thing to leave Pierce, but it’s exciting to go to Grays Harbor,” Brewster said.
In 18 years at Pierce, Brewster had both seen and led dramatic changes in the district. The district has grown from one to two colleges, and has developed facilities and programs to serve increased need. Workforce development programs have been established. Enrollment at education centers at McChord and Fort Lewis has tripled, and the college has become one of 38 institutions nationwide to provide instruction through eArmyU, the Army’s on-line education resource.
Grays Harbor has established a strong reputation as being a college at the center of its community, said Brewster, and the opportunity to provide leadership at the presidential level was “the natural next step” in his career.
Brewster has held his current position since 1999. His responsibilities have included oversight of the workforce, contracts, international students, distance learning and continuing education. Prior to this job, he served as Pierce’s executive dean of student services, dean of extended learning and associate dean of continuing and contracted education.
He received his doctorate from Oregon State University in 1999, a master’s from Whitworth College and bachelor’s from the University of Puget Sound.
Brewster will replace Jewell Manspeaker, who is retiring after being Grays Harbor president since 1989.

May 17, 2004

For immediate release
Media contact: Dale Stowell, (253) 964-6780 or dstowell@pierce.ctc.edu

Karen Harding honored with
2004 Faculty Achievement Award

Pierce College Fort Steilacoom chemistry instructor Karen Harding is the 2004 Faculty Achievement Award recipient. Puget Sound Energy established the award, which carries a $1,000 prize. The award is given annually through the Pierce College Foundation to honor a faculty member who has made significant contributions to teaching and learning at Pierce College.

Harding, the senior member of the Chemistry Department, has led many efforts to improve science education. She participated in Chem Links, a nationwide effort with the National Science Foundation to change the way general chemistry is taught by focusing on real-world problems. She has served as vice president of Washington College Chemistry Teachers Association and is an active member of North American and Washington Associations for Environmental Education. She is passionately committed to environmental issues, and has led a group of 27 students to Costa Rica for an eight-week study of Spanish and Environmental Science.

Harding’s most recent work has centered on exploring and incorporating the writings of Parker Palmer’s The Courage to Teach. “In a nutshell, good teaching depends on understanding who you are and using that understanding to inform your teaching,” said Pierce College Fort Steilacoom President Michele Johnson, who presented the award May 14 at the annual Employee Recognition Day awards ceremony. “Karen has committed herself to her own self-exploration. Her widely attended workshop called The Dancing Stillness softly and powerfully speaks to the role of self-reflection on teaching and learning.”

Outside the college, Harding is well known in various running clubs in Pierce County and throughout the state. She has helped host and participated in many events and each year raises money for the American Cancer Society through the American Cancer 24 hour run.
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May 18, 2004

For immediate release
Media contact: Dale Stowell, (253) 964-6780 or dstowell@pierce.ctc.edu

Monica Nucciarone to present electronic portfolio concept
at national academic advisors conference

Monica Nucciarone, the educational advisor/transfer coordinator for Pierce College Fort Steilacoom, has been selected to present a session on creating and using electronic portfolios at a national convention of academic advisors this fall.

She will introduce the concept of developing and using electronic portfolios for career and college transfer planning. Nucciarone will make the presentation to some 2,000 of her colleagues during the 2004 national conference of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) in Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 6-9.

Electronic portfolios are becoming popular in today’s professional and educational environment,” Nucciarone said. “They are visual alternatives to text-based resumes or college admissions essays.”

A portfolio displays and demonstrates past learning and achievements by showcasing “artifacts” accompanied by brief captions, she explained. In this context an artifact is a documentation of ability, accomplishment or learning, such as a certificate of completion, a written evaluation, or a news article featuring the portfolio’ s author.

Organizing personal artifacts or work samples follows a process similar to organizing facts for a resume, Nucciarone said, forcing the author to be very clear about what to communicate to the targeted viewer. “Whether preparing for a job interview or applying to a transfer institution, portfolios can assist in making one stand out in the crowd of competition,” she said. “Portfolios allow for creativity, yet exhibit . . . substantiated evidence of one’s ability, talent and passion in his or her field.”

The completed portfolio can then be posted to a Web site, sent as an attachment via e-mail, submitted on a Zip disk, or if needed, printed and displayed in a notebook.

Nucciarone already has made a similar presentation on electronic portfolios to the regional NACADA conference. She offers portfolio training workshops to students at Pierce College as part of the Student Success Workshop series.

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May 17, 2004

For immediate release
Media contact: Dale Stowell, (253) 964-6780 or dstowell@pierce.ctc.edu

Karen Harding honored with
2004 Faculty Achievement Award

Pierce College Fort Steilacoom chemistry instructor Karen Harding is the 2004 Faculty Achievement Award recipient. Puget Sound Energy established the award, which carries a $1,000 prize. The award is given annually through the Pierce College Foundation to honor a faculty member who has made significant contributions to teaching and learning at Pierce College.

Harding, the senior member of the Chemistry Department, has led many efforts to improve science education. She participated in Chem Links, a nationwide effort with the National Science Foundation to change the way general chemistry is taught by focusing on real-world problems. She has served as vice president of Washington College Chemistry Teachers Association and is an active member of North American and Washington Associations for Environmental Education. She is passionately committed to environmental issues, and has led a group of 27 students to Costa Rica for an eight-week study of Spanish and Environmental Science.

Harding’s most recent work has centered on exploring and incorporating the writings of Parker Palmer’s The Courage to Teach. “In a nutshell, good teaching depends on understanding who you are and using that understanding to inform your teaching,” said Pierce College Fort Steilacoom President Michele Johnson, who presented the award May 14 at the annual Employee Recognition Day awards ceremony. “Karen has committed herself to her own self-exploration. Her widely attended workshop called The Dancing Stillness softly and powerfully speaks to the role of self-reflection on teaching and learning.”

Outside the college, Harding is well known in various running clubs in Pierce County and throughout the state. She has helped host and participated in many events and each year raises money for the American Cancer Society through the American Cancer 24 hour run.
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