MountainTop 10: April 16, 2012

by Barnes,Donna C. on April 18, 2012

1.	Pat Manarin and LynnAnn Wojciechowicz Awarded Faculty EmeritusTwo long-time South Mountain family members received special recognition from the Maricopa Community Colleges Governing Board this spring, when they were each awarded Faculty Emeritus status. Art Faculty Pat Manarin and Storytelling Faculty LynnAnn Wojciechowiczboth retired a couple of years ago, after serving SMCC students with distinction for many years. We’ve invited both Pat and LynnAnn to attend our end-of-the-year luncheon on May 1 as our honored guests, so be sure to ask them if retirement is all it’s cracked up to be. (We’re guessing it is.)
2.	Computer Commons To Becomes Student Success CenterIt’s official—as South continues pursuit of the many new initiatives unveiled at last January’s Convocation, we will be seeing the Computer Commons evolve into a new Student Success Center later this year. What will that look like? We don’t know yet—you tell us! We will be hosting a Town Hall meeting in May to get your feedback and ideas. Meantime, a task force led by Christopher Erranis assembling this month to begin the process. Check in with Christopher for more info, at x55607.
3.	Raul Monreal, Amy MacPherson Receive Maricopa Employee Recognition Awards The annual Maricopa Employee Recognition Awards, presented by the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, are among the most prestigious awards presented annually by our District, and South is proud home to two of this year’s eight recipients: Interim Vice President of Student Affairs Raul Monreal and Library/TLC Division Chair Amy MacPherson. Raul and Amy will be recognized at the Foundation’s annual luncheon on April 24. Congratulations to these two exemplary employees, and thanks for all your service to SMCC and our students!
4.	And Still More Awards…. Nominate a Deserving Student!One of South Mountain’s favorite annual award programs is our Spring Student Awards, which will be presented on Wednesday, May 2 at 6 p.m. in the Student Union (in a ceremony presided over by our Hostess with the Mostest, Lara Collins.) There’s still time to submit a nomination for a deserving SMCC student—come on, it’ll just take a few minutes! Award categories include the Cougar Student Employee Award, the Silver and Blue Volunteer Service Award, the SMCC Humanitarian Award, and the Student Leadership Award. Deadline is April 20! Contact Linda Torresat x38065 for the details on how to nominate your favorite shining student.
5.	And Speaking of Students…We Need You to Speak of StudentsAs per usual this time of year, the Marketing Office is seeking stories about graduating students with a special story to tell. It could be someone who’s had a particularly rocky road to the finish line, or a graduate who never expected to be here, or even a parent-child graduation combo (we have at least one of those this spring, in Cheryl and Laura Rutherford.) Got a hot tip for us? Contact Rob Priceat x38030 with the skinny.
6.	Scholarships Available for Laid-Off Students Do you know someone unemployed due to a layoff? Someone downsized by their employer, or whose employer closed up altogether? The City of Phoenix Workforce Connection has scholarships available to provide training for a skills upgrade, or even a career change. They’ll be hosting a free information session this Wednesday, April 18. For more details, contact Anne Lukszain our Career and Technical Education Office, at 602.243.8034.
7.	Ph.D. in Public Administration for Dr. Cate McNamara Library Faculty Cate McNamarahas become the latest member of the South Mountain family to earn her doctoral degree. Cate earned her Ph.D. in Public Administration from Arizona State University (a program ranked 16th out of 300 in the nation.) Cate successfully defended her dissertation this month, entitled “Citizen Evaluation of Local Government Performance and Service.” Cougar Congratulations to Doc Mac!
8.	SMCC Celebrates Creative Writing Day, April 24All SMCC students are invited to join in South Mountain’s annual celebration of creative writing—Creative Writing Day on Tuesday, April 24 on the LRC Patio. Adjunct Faculty Toni Eubankswill oversee activities that day from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.—including writing a South Mountain short story, and hosting student readings from any and all original creative sources (even Tweets!) Encourage your students to join in, and stop by that morning for a healthy dose of creative energy.
9.	South Mountain/Laveen Festivals Donate to SMCC Scholarship FundCommunity partnerships are a way of life at South, and the latest contribution toward the success of our students came this month in the form of a $500 gift from South Mountain/Laveen Festivals and Events, to the Officer Shane Figueroa Memorial Scholarship Fund. Qualified South Mountain High School graduates interested in pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice studies and starting their college career at SMCC are eligible for this scholarship. Presenting the check to Lt. Darrin Viner of the South Mountain Precinct are Steve Glueck, Director, South Mountain/Laveen Chamber of Commerce (left) and George Young, President, SML Festival Events Inc. (right.)
10.	Relay for Life Rocks the Mountain! It was an all-nighter like no other this past Saturday night at SMCC, as college employees, students and community members combined forces to stage the first-ever South Mountain Relay for Life, “Putting Cancer to Sleep.” None of the relayers camped out in the Graduation Amphitheatre did much sleeping, though, and the payoff was huge—more than $11,000 raised for the American Cancer Society. A highlight of the event was the “Survivors Dinner,” honoring those who have survived their battle with the disease (below). Another high point was the screening of this memorable video, featuring four members of the SMCC family—Lara Collins, Faye Hill, Pat Mooney and Eufemia Amabisca—recounting their own personal battles with cancer. You can view it here: http://youtu.be/z-C5hAYUevw