MountainTop 10: July 2, 2012

by Barnes,Donna C. on July 3, 2012

1.	Fall Student Orientation Programs Bigger Than Ever Studies confirm that a thorough new student orientation yields positive results when it comes to student success, and preparations are already underway for our biggest orientation ever. New iStartSmart Coordinator Calvin DeVoll reports that the annual “Passport to the Mountain” event and the iStartSmart program have been combined—“Passport” has been expanded and will multiply, taking place four times during the week of August 13. And iStartSmart, now mandatory for all students new to college, will follow suit, and will include more than 30 new AAA115 (Creating College Success) course offerings.
2.	SMCC Goes Tobacco FreeThe time has come to snuff those butts forever—starting this week, South Mountain, and all Maricopa Community College facilities and grounds, are smoke-free and tobacco-free. Ashtrays are being removed from all campus locations, and Public Safety staff will begin enforcing the new policy, working to educate, first and foremost, the college community about the new restrictions. More information about the new policy can be found at the Maricopa District website, here:http://wellness.maricopa.edu/breathe-easy/ Click here for Dr. Glasper’s video message
3.	250 New Citizens To Be Sworn In at July 4 Fiesta of Independence It’s become one of the Valley’s most popular Independence Day traditions, and we’re once again expecting every TV news crew in town to cover our 24th annual “Fiesta of Independence,” taking place Wednesday, July 4, at 10 a.m. in the SMCC Gym. The annual ceremony will see 250 new citizens from more than 60 countries take their oath and become new citizens of the United States–many of them specifically request to take their oath here at South.All are invited to attend—for a taste of what it’s all about, check out our SMCC YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJK54VbKEE0&list=FLrZ_2BQ4OQKdNVBT50Z7_AQ&index=11&feature=plpp_video
4.	SMCC Programs Cited as Examples of Excelencia In a recent collection of key programs across the nation that support learning and student success objectives for their respective communities, South Mountain scored a pair of mentions in this year’s Excelencia in Educationpoints of pride: Maricopa’s ACE (Achieving a College Education) program, which originated at South, and ourBilingual Nursing Fellowship Program. Congrats to all involved in these signature SMCC programs!
5.	It’s Muggle Mania! “Harry and the Potters” Visit SMCL The South Mountain Community Library will rocking and “Rowling” on Friday night, July 20, when traveling musical troupe Harry and The Potters take center-stage in a concert of tunes based on the 21stcentury’s most popular series of children’s books. A full-house is expected for this first-ever after-hours concert at the new Library, set to kick off at 6:30 p.mAdmission’s free, but if you’re a fan, get there early, as Hogwarts takes over South Mountain for one night. Here’s a sneak preview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1rXEorE_Ao&feature=plcp
6.	Public Art Award for SMCL’s PassageIt’s another award for the new Library, this time for our Passage public art installation, which features poetic pergolas, chattering chairs, and lettering laid into the landscape. The piece, created by artists Mags Harries and Lajos Héder, was selected as one of the nation’s top 50 public art projects for 2011 by the Public Art Network of Americans for the Arts. Here’s a link to more info, and a well-timed shot of one of our “shadow poems” in all its glory:http://www.artsusa.org/networks/public_art_network/year_in_review/default_001.asp
7.	A Busy Summer for Dr. Crutcher Associate Dean Dr. Cheryl Crutcher is literally all over the map this summer. In addition to overseeing the SMCC Ahwatukee Foothills Center’s relocation to its former home at the Horizon Charter Learning Center on the corner of 48th Street and Frye, Cheryl also reports that she has been elected to the ASU College of Public Programs Community Advisory Board for the School of Social Work. In addition, she also presented at the “Arizona Women in Higher Education” Conference at Northern Arizona University June 6 and 7, on Maricopa’s WLG Mentor Program.
8.	Fall 2012 Class Schedule Goes OnlineIf that seems to be a familiar face on the cover of SMCC’s online fall class brochure, it is—that’sJosecarlos (J.C.) Pedraza from our College Business Services Office, posed on the new pedestrian canal bridge—providing a literal depiction of a “Summer Bridge Program.” Students can check out the more than 400 classes offered at SMCC this fall by visiting our website, or just clicking right here: http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/476bcaec#/476bcaec/1
9.	Summertime Blues? Learn the Guitar! Got the summertime blahs? Need a new challenge? Why not start learning to play the guitar?Angie Glick reports that SMCC Guadalupe is featuring a four-week class taught by Manuel Torres to get you started. It happens every Tuesday night, July 10-31, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Guadalupe Center, and the cost is a mere $40. Guitar’s not included—you need to bring your own, Elvis.
10.	SMCC Athlete Fights Leukemia We were saddened to hear that a recent member of SMCC’s baseball team,Taylor Kaczmarek, was diagnosed with leukemia just prior to the June Major League Baseball draft. A fund-raising event took place this past Sunday to help Taylor’s family cover the costs of treatment, but contributions are still needed, and are most welcome. If you can help, please contact Athletic Director Todd Eastin, at x38245.Taylor’s story was featured in a recent edition of the East Valley Tribune, which you can view here: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/local/health/article_a5f0fcfe-c240-11e1-b2cf-001a4bcf887a.html