Archive for the ‘Academics’ Category

For the second time in as many years, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program has named Pierce College Fort Steilacoom to its list of the nation’s 120 best community colleges for its high standards for learning, college completion without delay, and service as a training ground for jobs that pay competitive wages.

Pierce is one of only six colleges in Washington to be named to the prestigious list.

“Earning this recognition from the Aspen Institute for the second year in a row validates the quality of people and programs we have here, as well as the motivation and hard work of our students. It’s an honor to be recognized on a national level for the work we do at Pierce College,” said Denise Yochum, president of Pierce College Fort Steilacoom.

Inclusion on the list makes Pierce College Fort Steilacoom eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

“The success of our nation’s community colleges is more important than ever before,” said Aspen Institute College Excellence Program Executive Director Josh Wyner on Tuesday at the annual convention of the American Association of Community Colleges in Orlando, Fla.  “At a time when a college degree is essential to entering the middle class, community colleges like Pierce College Fort Steilacoom offer the most promising path to education and employment for literally millions of Americans.”

Pierce College Fort Steilacoom is now eligible to submit an application to compete for the prestigious honor, sparking a year-long research process into how well students learn, complete degrees, and get jobs with competitive wages after graduating.

The Aspen Institute will conduct site visits to each of the eight to 10 finalists in September. Based on the evidence, the prize jury will select a grand prize winner and four runners-up, to be announced in March 2013.

The full list of eligible institutions can be found at www.AspenCCPrize.org.

Pierce College Puyallup is hosting the following free workshops during spring quarter. All are free and open to everyone. They are designed to help students navigate college life and be successful.

Spring 2012 Strategies for Success Workshops

• 2 p.m. April 9: Pierce College Scholarship Tips. Get insider advice on creating a strong scholarship application packet. Room L224.

• 2 p.m. April 10: How to Engage on Campus. Learn about campus support systems. Room A106F.

• Noon April 16: Transfer 101. Learn how to prepare to go on to a four-year college. Room A106F.

• Noon April 19: Outlining Your Textbook for Fun and Profit. Understand how to read and outline effectively. Room A106F.

• 3 p.m. April 19: Improve Your Test Scores. Learn how to turn notes into practice questions, and the dos and don’ts before and during a test. Room A016F.

• Noon April 23: Winning at Math. Get tips for improving your math skills. Room A106F.

• Noon April 25: Overcoming Test Anxiety. Get information on coping techniques. Room A106F.

• 1 p.m. April 25: Writing Essays. Learn how to express and organize your ideas on paper. Room A106F.

• Noon May 3: Effective Resumes. Learn how to make a good first impression. Room A106F.

For more information, contact Ericka Morales at (253) 840-8314 or emorales@pierce.ctc.edu

Four Pierce College students will be honored as members of the 2012 All-Washington Academic Team at noon Thursday, March 22, at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia. The ceremony recognizes top scholars from community and technical colleges from all over the state with scholarship prizes.

This year, the team members representing Pierce College Fort Steilacoom are Zoila Pina and Evan Lish. The team members representing Pierce College Puyallup are Zachary and Brandon Hawn.

Pierce Fort Steilacoom

Zoila Pina

At age three, Zoila Pina’s family moved to Mexico, where she attended school in a small town. When she was 16, her family returned to the U.S. and Zoila had to learn English and adjust to American life. She thrived and graduated high school with honors. Now 27 and living in Lakewood, Zoila is working towards an associate degree in business management at Pierce. Her goal is to earn a master’s degree and own a clothing store. She credits her son for being her biggest inspiration. Said Zoila, “I am all that my son has to look up to, so I decided to go back to school. He gives me enthusiasm, courage, strength, and the ability to keep progressing toward a brighter future.”

Evan Lish

An eager learner, Evan Lish, 29, of Lakewood, never understood why he scored highly on aptitude tests, but didn’t do well in school. During his 10-year career in the military, Evan was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, allowing him to understand his unique challenges and find new ways to succeed.  Explained Evan, “ I began to attend college while I was still enlisted, and found that I was now very good at it. My natural energy and enthusiasm aided me in pursuing my goals, and meeting those goals drove me to create news ones.” Now, he works 10-hour days to support his family while balancing a busy academic life and working toward a career in industrial/organizational psychology.

Pierce Puyallup

Zachary Hawn

A lifelong animal-lover, Zachary Hawn, 19, of Puyallup, is committed to animal education. When he’s not studying, he works part-time as an educator at Tacoma’s Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, and volunteers for the Tacoma Nature Center and the Tahoma Audubon Society. Said Zachary, “I am a person who would rather stand out in a marsh looking for owls or waist-deep in water counting amphibian eggs than go to a party.” Zachary is studying science at Pierce and plans to transfer to a four-year university to study biology. His career goal is to become an environmental educator or zoologist.

Brandon Hawn

Brandon Hawn, Zachary’s twin brother, always enjoyed nature, but he didn’t know what he wanted to do as a career until his internship at the Tacoma Nature Center’s summer camp. A troublesome young camper announced he wanted to become just like Brandon, and Brandon suddenly understood the value of environmental education. He continues to motivate and inspire others as a volunteer with the Tacoma Nature Center and the Tahoma Audubon Society. Brandon is studying biology at Pierce and plans to transfer to a four-year university to study marine biology or environmental science. His career goal is to become an environmental educator or marine biologist.

All four students, by virtue of their inclusion on the state team, will receive $750 scholarships from Washington State Employees Credit Union, Key Bank, and the Northwest Education Loan Association. In addition, they are now nominated for the 2012 All-USA Academic Team. Officials from Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for students of two-year colleges, will select students for the All-USA team.

For more information on the All-Washington Academic Team and the ceremony, visit www.spscc.ctc.edu/allwa

The Pierce College Fort Steilacoom Pioneer won second place in the community college division at the Associated Collegiate Press’ Best of Show category during the ACP national student journalism convention March 1-4 in Seattle.

In addition, the Pioneer websitetook fifth place in the website division for small colleges.

The Pioneer is led by editor Sydney Conrad and adviser Michael Parks.

To see a full list of winners from the convention, visit the ACP website.

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!

Local businesses seeking to galvanize their workers with new or expanded skills have a new resource in Pierce College.

In partnership with Tacoma Community College, Bates Technical College, and Clover Park Technical College, Pierce College now offers Invista Performance Solutions, a workforce training resource that provides customized, targeted worker training for businesses.

Invista pools the resources of all five Pierce County colleges with a larger network of schools across the country and Canada to provide high quality, diverse training for business owners and managers. For example, businesses wishing to expand in a specific overseas market would be able to get targeted language training for its workers, or a business that’s changing to a new accounting system would receive training for its workers in the new system.

“As the economy improves and businesses begin to grow and expand their workforce, access to high-quality, targeted training becomes especially important,” explained Dr. Patrick Schmitt, president of Pierce College Puyallup. “Pierce College is pleased to collaborate with the other Pierce County community and technical colleges to provide businesses the tools they need for economic recovery and continued success.”

Invista is based on a model used successfully by Tacoma Community College’s Corporate Education Department. In the last year, TCC Corporate Education completed $1.7 million in training contracts with businesses in the region.

For more information on Invista and the new training opportunities available locally, call (253) 583-8861.

Students needing help with basic math skills are encouraged to register for the winter quarter math review workshop at Pierce Puyallup. This refresher course is designed for students who have been out of school for a while and need help warming back up to math, specifically with skills up to pre-algebra (MATH 54).

In addition to a thorough review, students will also receive information on Pierce resources that can help with the transition back to school after an absence.

The workshop meets from 6 to 9 p.m. on Jan. 24 and 31, and Feb. 7, 14, and 21. Students who complete four of the five sessions will receive a voucher for the COMPASS test at Pierce Puyallup’s testing center. Cost for all five sessions is $15.

Registration Info

Item: #8996 WA 0 Math Review
Dates: Jan. 24 and 31, Feb. 7, 14, and 21
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Location: AAH130
Fee: $15

For additional information, contact Ericka Morales at (253) 840-8314 or  emorales@pierce.ctc.edu.

Pierce College Continuing Education is on the move! To better serve students, the entire program is moving from its South Hill Park location to more spacious quarters at the main Pierce Puyallup campus. The move is set to begin Dec. 12.

“We will be able to offer more courses in state-of-the-art classrooms, and take advantage of specialized art and music rooms and a commercial kitchen for cooking workshops,” explained Lisa Reeves, director of Continuing Education. “This is a great opportunity for us to grow and improve. We’re very excited!”

To celebrate the move, Continuing Education is offering a series of free classes Jan. 12-14. Classes range from narrowing down a career choice to buying a computer to choosing the best fitness program. For more information and a full schedule of free classes, visit the Continuing Education website at www.pierceCE.com and click on the winter bulletin.

Continuing Education can also be reached by phone at (253) 840- 8452 or by email at ce-questions@pierce.ctc.edu. The new offices at Pierce College Puyallup will be in the Gaspard Building, Room A102, 1601 39th Ave. SE.

Parents and children learn together in Pierce's preschool classes.

Pierce College Fort Steilacoom’s cooperative preschool is now enrolling children ages 18 to 36 months for its fall Parent and Child class.

In this unique program, parents attend class with their children, exploring a wide range of topics, including nutrition, guidance, and child development. This approach allows parents to learn firsthand how best to teach and care for their child, build relationships with other parents, and earn two college credits.

A parent education instructor and other parents in the class provide parents a network of resources and support. At the same time, children are working in a developmentally appropriate preschool, exploring their world and developing physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially. Each environment is designed to capture the child’s interest and help their development in each area.

Starting Jan. 18, the Parent and Child preschool class (Early Childhood Education 148) meets from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays for 10 weeks at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom. Cost is $66.50 (lab fee) and $28 for registration. Enrollment is capped at 12 children, so interested parents are encouraged to reserve their child’s spot immediately.

Pierce College’s parent co-op preschool has been operating for more than 35 years, providing critical support and care to thousands of families in Pierce County. For more information or to reserve a spot, call (253) 964-6691.

Deb Ramirez

When English as a Second Language professor Deb Ramirez gets excited about something, you can be sure she’s going to take as many people as she can along for the ride. This is certainly true for a recent project, which is helping ESL and basic skills students prepare for disaster.

In cooperation with the Center of Excellence for Homeland Security, Ramirez has been writing new curriculum that combines traditional ESL and basic skills subjects (math, reading, and writing, for example) with disaster preparedness. For example, students may use math skills to determine how much to pack in a family disaster kit or to calculate when a hurricane will arrive.

“The previous curriculum was written for adults. It needed to be adapted for ESL, ABE, and GED students,” Ramirez explained. “It came down to boiling down the critical information and teaching students what to do before, during, and after a disaster.”

In addition to classroom training, the new program asks students to take their work home with them. They are asked to prepare an emergency kit, develop and practice a home evacuation plan, and maintain an emergency contact list with a designated contact located outside the state.

“My main goal is to create awareness in a way that our teachers and students become first responders during an emergency,” Ramirez said.

The program was piloted at Pierce during spring quarter and is now part of the mandatory student orientation for all transitional education students.  In addition, it was presented to community college ESL teachers from around the state at a recent conference.

Ramirez’s next project is getting the material online in an interactive format using software, such as Soft Chalk. In this way, the material could be even more widely accessible nationwide, she said.

Ramirez’s work on this project aligns with Pierce College’s mission of creating quality educational opportunities for a diverse community of learners, allowing them the opportunity to thrive in an evolving world.