Monthly Archives: January 2012
Transforming Lives Award nominees inspire others
Two exceptional Pierce College students were honored in Olympia on Jan. 22 as nominees for the Trustees Association of Community and Technical Colleges’ Transforming Lives Awards. The nominees were selected by the college presidents for their inspiring stories, commitment to education, and continued work in the community. Representing Pierce College Fort Steilacoom was Brandon Stogsdill; representing Pierce College Puyallup was JungHee Cho.
Brandon Stogsdill
Brandon Stogsdill
For Brandon Stogsdill, once a troubled teenager with a difficult home life, it was four years in prison that provided the motivation for dramatic, inspiring change.
“While incarcerated, I thought about what I would change and decided I would change everything,” he said. “My purpose in life was to prevent youth from ending up in prison.”
While still in prison, Brandon began taking Pierce College classes. Once free, he started at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom and, with the help of scholarships, he graduated with honors, earning an associate degree. He then transferred to the University of Washington and ultimately earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in clinical psychology.
Today, Brandon uses his inspiring story to change the lives of other young people. He volunteers with at-risk youth and as a prisoner advocate, sharing his story across the state. He is currently implementing The REAL Project, a three-phased systematic program he designed while incarcerated to help at-risk youth understand the repercussions of destructive behavior. Brandon is also a clinician and case manager for high-risk children and adolescents.
JungHee Cho
JungHee Cho
Two days after coming to the US from South Korea in August 2005, JungHee Cho joined a conversation class. The next month, she started taking ESL courses and, within five months, began working towards a career as a nursing assistant. She often spent eight hours a day studying, but JungHee was determined.
“Through all of my accomplishments and disappointments, I have always been especially proud of the dedication and fervor I possess to learn,” she said. This has been especially true in applying myself to learn the English language and pursue an education in America.”
In 2007, JungHee began taking ESL courses at Pierce College Puyallup. She exceled and, in June 2010, she completed Pierce’s I-BEST Business Technology program. She now works at Pierce College Puyallup as a peer tutor and is on track to earn an associate degree this June.
“I never expected to find so many doors opening up for me to continue with my own lifelong learning as I have found at this college,” she said.
Both students represent the transformative power of education and the necessity for access to opportunities for transformation. Congratulations to them for all their success!
Tuesday, Jan. 31
Fort Steilacoom
8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. – Blood Drive. The mobile unit is parked in the courtyard.
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Open auditions for the Pierce Factor Talent Competition. Dining bay, Cascade building.
Puyallup
4 to 7 p.m. – Volunteer Opportunity: Tacoma Rescue Mission. Sign up in the Welcome Center, Fort Steilacoom.
Look ahead…Enjoy a three-course meal and a performance by comedian Mike Winfield at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Pierce Puyallup. Tickets are available in C210. Cost is $3 for students, $5 for couples with at least one Pierce student, and $25 for non-students.
Monday, Jan. 30
Fort Steilacoom
8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. – Blood Drive. The mobile unit is parked in the courtyard.
Puyallup
5 to 8 p.m. – Nursing Skills Lab Open House. All welcome. Arts and Allied Health Room 137. Free.
Look ahead…A student group will be volunteering at the Tacoma Rescue Mission from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Sign up to go in the Welcome Center, Fort Steilacoom.
Raider baseball hosts dinner auction Feb. 4
The Raider baseball team has joined with the Pierce College Foundation for a fundraising dinner auction from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, in the Health Education Center at Pierce Fort Steilacoom, 9401 Farwest Dr. SW, Lakewood. Cost is $40 per ticket. The event will feature a buffet dinner and both live and silent auctions. Items up for bid include overnight stays, tickets to sporting events, and rounds of golf at several local courses. All proceeds will go to the Pierce College Foundation to support the Raider baseball team. Get tickets by calling Rachel Kalac at (253) 964-6613 or visit the ticket office in H308. Go Raiders!
Friday, Jan. 27
Fort Steilacoom
All day – Food Drive. Proceeds benefit FISH Food Banks of Pierce County. Donation bins are scattered around campus.
Puyallup
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Henna and Tea. Connection Cafe, College Center. Free.
Look ahead…Raider basketball takes on Lower Columbia College at the Health Education Center at Fort Steilacoom on Saturday. The women tip off at 5 p.m.; the men follow at 7 p.m. Free.
Thursday, Jan. 26
Fort Steilacoom
All day – Food Drive. Proceeds to benefit FISH Food Banks of Pierce County. Drop bins are scattered throughout campus.
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Serve and Connect Volunteer Fair. Fourth level Cascade building. Free.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Clubs Rush. Learn about campus clubs. Library lobby, Cascade building.
Puyallup
Noon – Student Council Meeting. All welcome. C278, College Center.
4:30 p.m. – Let’s Go BINGO! Sign up to play in C210. Watch in the Connection Cafe. Free.
Look ahead…Relax with Henna and Tea from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday in Puyallup’s College Center. Ommmmm.
Wednesday, Jan. 25
Fort Steilacoom
All day – Veteran Student Center Open House. Stop by for coffee and donuts at 8 a.m. and pizza at noon. Meet other veterans and learn about campus resources. Free. Sunrise 118.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Clubs Rush. Get connected with campus clubs. Library lobby, Cascade building.
Puyallup
Noon – Instant Ramen Noodle Cooking Class. Transform this cheap and easy food into a gourmet meal. Sign up in C210. Free.
5 p.m. – Evening Student Success Fair. Get information on campus resources, time management and study skills, and more. Free food. Connection Cafe, College Center.
Look ahead…Interested in volunteering? Come to the Serve and Connect Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday in the Cascade building (Fort Steilacoom) to learn about projects and local efforts.
Common book takes a humorous, scientific look at the brain
Dr. John Medina will be the featured speaker at Pierce College Puyallup on April 26.
Think of it as a really big book club. Pierce College Puyallup is reading a common book, Brain Rules, by John Medina, for winter quarter. Students and employees are invited to be part of this shared experience, and all are invited to participate in a huge variety of events planned throughout the quarter.
For those not familiar with Brain Rules, it is a bestselling book that tackles the way our brains react to and organize information, and how our environments can be modified for peak brain performance. Author Dr. John Medina, brain researcher and professor of bioengineering at the University of Washington School of Medicine, makes brain science fun and interesting.
Join us for any or all of the following Brain Rules events:
Brain Rules: Learning Style Games
Tuesday, Feb. 28, Noon and 4:30 p.m., Multipurpose Room, College Center
This fair-style event will provide interactive games of the different ways our brains learn. Based on Dr. John Medina’s book, you will be able to explore the importance of understanding your own and others’ learning styles for optimum learning and communication.
Brain Rules: Student Book Discussion
Wednesday, March 7, Noon, Connection Café, College Center
Books available in C210: $4 Pierce students; $9 Non-students
Student leaders will deliver questions to guide a conversation on how the student experience connects to the twelve Brain Rules outlined in the book.
John Medina*
Thursday, April 26, 7 p.m., Arts and Allied Health Theatre (AAH 100)
$2 Students; $5 Non-students
Tickets in C210 or by calling (253) 840-8416
Dr. John Medina, brain researcher and professor of bioengineering at the University of Washington School of Medicine, makes brain science fun and exciting in this high-energy presentation. His bestseller Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School tackles the way our brains react to and organize information, and how our environments can be modified for peak brain performance. An engaging speaker, Medina uses humor and fascinating stories to bring the brain to life.
Tuesday, Jan. 24
Fort Steilacoom
All day – Food Drive. Donation bins are scattered throughout campus. Donations benefit FISH Food Banks of Pierce County.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Clubs Rush. Learn about campus clubs. Library lobby, Cascade building.
Puyallup
No activities scheduled.
Look ahead…Sign up today in C210 (Puyallup) for the free Ramen Noodle Cooking Class at noon Wednesday. Yum!
Monday, Jan. 23
Fort Steilacoom
All day – Food Drive. Donation bins are scattered throughout campus. Donations benefit FISH Food Banks of Pierce County.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Clubs Rush. Learn about campus clubs. Library lobby, Cascade building.
3 p.m. – Student Government Meeting. All welcome. Dining bay, Cascade building.
Puyallup
Noon and 4:30 p.m. – Year of the Dragon Celebration. Fun free activities. Connection Cafe, College Center.
Look ahead…Clubs Rush continues at Fort Steilacoom from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday in the library.
