Category Archives: Campus Life

Pierce College Puyallup choirs to highlight Northwest composers

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choirbluePierce College Puyallup choirs will celebrate the work of Northwest composers in a collage-style performance Friday, June 7.

Instead of the traditional set-up of singers performing on stage, members of the Puyallup Concert and Chamber choirs will be stationed at a variety of places within the Arts and Allied Health Theater, choir director Ken Owen explained.

The spotlight will move from location to location as segments of the choirs perform. The audience will be asked to hold applause until the end of the concert.

The program, called “A Northwest Collage,” also offers a rare opportunity to hear an entire concert devoted to the work of Northwest composers.

“Return to the Forbidden Planet” features huge cast, elaborate costumes and live band

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Forbidden-Planet-WEBPierce College Theatre blasts off on a rock-and-roll flight to “Return to the Forbidden Planet” May 29 to June 1.

This family-friendly musical tells the story of mad scientist Doctor Prospero, who’s unknowingly jettisoned into space with his infant daughter. Their craft crashes into D’Illyria, the Forbidden Planet, and the adventure begins.

Winner of the Olivier Award for Best Musical, the play by Bob Carlton is loosely based on the 1956 film, “Forbidden Planet,” which was a sci-fi version of William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.”

The production features a 35-member cast of Pierce students and community members. A live, five-piece band directed by Nate Benson accompanies the cast as they belt out a raft of golden oldies, including “Good Vibrations” and “Born to be Wild.”

New registration form seeks students’ sexual orientation, gender identity

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rainbowribbonPierce College registration forms now include two new questions:  “What is your sexual orientation?” and “What is your gender identity?”

The questions aren’t meant to pry into students’ private lives. Instead, they are part of a student-driven, statewide commitment to make community and technical colleges welcoming to all students, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Students aren’t required to answer the questions, and an individual student’s information will remain confidential, said Sonja Morgan, student life coordinator at Pierce College Puyallup.

Greta Matassa, Thomas Marriot among headliners at Pierce College Jazz Expo

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PierceJazzExpo13-new#24D7A6Artists on the national jazz scene will perform at the Pierce College Jazz Expo on June 2.

In addition, four of the bands will offer mini-workshops.

The event will be at the college’s Puyallup campus. Tickets are just $10.

Artists scheduled to perform include: McTuff, Thomas Marriot Sextet (Tribute to Art Blakey), Greta Matassa quartet, Pierce College Jazz Ensemble and Pete Christlieb Quartet.

Adopt an adorable pet

Tazmania
Tazmania

Tazmania

Simba and Sydney want a window sill, Maddie likes to watch TV and Jasper loves to lay in the sun.

Most of all, these doggies and kitties are looking for new homes through the Pierce College Veterinary Technology Annual Adoption Event in Lakewood.

In conjunction with National Pet Week, the Annual Adoption Event is happening Monday, May 6, through Thursday, May 9. The program seeks homes for the animals that helped students prepare for careers as veterinary technicians the past academic year.

Activist Annie Leonard speaks on Tuesday about our excess stuff

Annie Leonard poster

Annie Leonard posterAnnie Leonard says people are stuck on the treadmill of buying stuff, keeping stuff and working to buy more stuff.

It’s a way of life that hurts the environment, wastes resources and robs people of time they could spend nurturing relationships with loved ones.

Leonard will discuss the consumer treadmill and how to get off of it on Tuesday, May 7, at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom.

Win the job race: Employment and education fairs 2013

EmploymentFair

EmploymentFairPolish those resumes and iron your suit.

More than 20 employers and institutions will be recruiting at the Pierce College Employment & Education Fairs.

The fairs will be at the Fort Steilacoom campus on Wednesday, May 8, and at the Puyallup campus on Wednesday, May 15.

Job-hunters can meet face-to-face with employers to make the insider connections critical to landing a job. Participants can also check out career education programs from several colleges and training institutions.  (To see the list of employers and institutions at the fair go to:  www.pierce.ctc.edu/dist/workforce/fair .)

See play about Anne Frank, listen to a Holocaust survivor at Fort Steilacoom

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May-roland-weis-WEBA one-person play and a survivor’s talk at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom will invoke the pain and inspiration of the Holocaust.

“Through the eyes of a friend,” a production exploring the life of Anne Frank as told by her fictional best friend, will be presented three times on Tuesday, May 7. The next day, Holocaust survivor Josh Gortler of Seattle will recount how he and his family evaded capture by the Nazis in Poland.

Pierce College Fort Steilacoom Student Programs is sponsoring the events as part of the Roland Weis Lecture Series.

Drunken Driving Awareness Month: See how a drunk sees the road

WALKtheLine

Ever wonder how coordinated you are after a couple of drinks?
Find out this Thursday and next Tuesday at “Walk the Line: Drunken Driving Awareness.”

WALKtheLineParticipants can try on a pair of “drunk goggles,” which simulate the impaired vision of an intoxicated person. While wearing the goggles, they can try to walk through an obstacle course.

In observance of Drunk Driving Awareness Month, the event will be Thursday, April 25, at the Fort Steilacoom campus, then repeated Tuesday, April 30, at the Puyallup campus.

Free jazz workshop and performance Thursday

Trumpeter Lew Soloff

World-class jazz musicians on a West Coast tour will stop at Pierce College Puyallup Thursday night to give a free workshop and performance.

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Trumpeter Lew Soloff

Jazz lovers, musicians and the general public are invited to attend the April 18 event, featuring trumpet player Lew Soloff, drummer Sylvia Cuenca, bassist Essiet Essiet and guitarist and Cornish College of The Arts educator Milo Petersen.

The performers will discuss jazz improvisation, play music and answer audience questions.