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Do you see someone new around the FHS campus? Introduce yourself to Benz from Thailand and Mujtaba from Pakistan! These two international students are living with Fillmore AFS Host Families and are working hard their senior year at Fillmore High. Both have enrolled in challenging and enriching classes and have already made many friends in Fillmore. It's an exciting school year for them... and they would like to meet you! Pictured above are Benz and Mujtaba FHS’s two international students riding in this year Homecoming parade on Thursday, September 26th. For Hosting or Studying Abroad information, please visit https://www.afsusa.org/

Fillmore Unified School District is offering a Summer Meal Program from July 18th to August 9th Monday – Friday 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., at Sespe School, 425 Orchard Street. For more information visit https://www.fillmoreusd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID
=369903&type=d&pREC_ID=831985

(l-r) Molly Gallagher, Declan Feeney (Helen Yunker’s great nephew) and his mother Amy Feeney (niece of Helen Yunker) who presented the Helen Yunker Music Scholarship.
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(l-r) Erick Pina and Lydia Martinez-Collins who presented the Martinez y Ewens Anasazi Annual Scholarship.
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The Ventura College Foundation presented scholarships to 140 students during its 32nd Annual Scholarship Awards luncheon and ceremony, Saturday, May 4 at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach.

Ventura College students received $326,529 in scholarship funds. Some earned multiple scholarships. "I've had the opportunity to observe and interact with hundreds of scholarship recipients," says Dr. Ruth Hemming, the vice chair of the VC Foundation Board and the chair of the Scholarships & Grants committee. "Many have completed their education and returned to the community committed to giving back. Some have established scholarships of their own. 'Life-changing' is not too strong a term to describe the impact on them."

Speaking at the luncheon was Ventura College student, Erick Pina, 31, winner of the Martinez y Ewens Anasazi Scholarship, and the Niamatullah SA and A-Ishah MA Memorial Scholarship. This is the second year that Pina has received scholarships for his high level of academic work.

Attending Ventura College has made a big impact on Pina's life. Addiction to drugs had set him back. Once clean, he enrolled in Ventura College hoping to, at most, earn Cs in his classes. The now straight A student and a campus Circle Kiwanis International board member, Pina graduated this spring with a AA in sociology, and will have earned two more degrees in social behavioral science and in criminal justice next spring. He was selected to be a First Year Experience Peer Leader for Ventura College and a Ventura College Foundation Student Ambassador for the coming fall semester. "Being awarded the scholarships means someone out there believes in me," says Pina. "Donors can see that I can truly overcome obstacles in my life."

Pina says attending college changed how he looked at the world. "My success at Ventura College saved my life," says Pina. "I had no confidence in myself. That all changed. I'll be the first person to graduate from college in my family. I'll be setting a good example for nieces, nephews and my daughter."

Honored in memoriam during the luncheon were endowed scholarship creators who have left a lasting legacy to the school. Honored were Helen Yunker, George Tillquist, Miriam Schwab, Michael A Ewens and Frank Cavola.

Molly Gallagher, 20, was one of the recipients of the Helen Yunker Music Scholarship. Gallagher plays the viola. She aspires to be a professional musician and to teach the next generation of musicians. Yunker, who passed away in 2018, was passionate about music. Over almost three decades, Yunker awarded numerous scholarships and donated more than $945,000. Upon her passing, the VC Foundation received $2 million from her estate to establish endowments for the Ventura College Music Department and the Opera and Musical Theatre program.

"This is the second time I've been honored with the Helen Yunker Music Scholarship," says Gallagher, who will be transferring to a four-year university in the fall. "She was such an incredible and generous woman and I will forever be grateful for her support. The scholarships have lessened the financial burden of going to college. With the support of the foundation, I was able to buy a new viola which otherwise wouldn't have been possible. I have become a better student because of the generosity of the foundation. Being a successful student makes me a better person and gives me the courage to make my dreams possible."

"The individuals and foundations that have created these scholarships derive benefits from their generosity as well, both from receiving the heart-felt gratitude of the students but also from knowing that they are impacting the future in a positive way," says Hemming. "Many students stay in touch with their donors and keep them informed of their progress through their education and beyond."

Established in 1983, the Ventura College Foundation provides financial support to the students and the programs of Ventura College to facilitate student success and grow the impact and legacy of Ventura College as a vital community asset. The Foundation also hosts the Ventura College Foundation Marketplace; an outdoor shopping experience held every weekend on the Ventura College campus east parking lot. For more information, contact Julie Harvey at (805) 289-6502 or jharvey@vcccd.edu or visit www.VCgiving.org.

Kiana Hope (center), of Fillmore, graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin on May 4 after being inducted into the Order of Engineers during a separate ceremony that morning. The induction ceremony is a way for graduating engineering students to show pride in their new profession and unity with other engineers. Participating students recite a pledge to uphold honor, workmanship and ethics in the engineering field. Hope earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering and graduated cum laude. She is pictured with Dr. Shadow Robinson (left), dean of the UT Martin College of Engineering and Natural Sciences, and Dr. Bob LeMaster, chair of the Department of Engineering. For more information about the UT Martin engineering program, call 731-881-7571.

Ventura College announces the first annual Miriam and Henry Schwab Academy of Music – a highly intensive, three-week summer program of courses designed to develop & introduce chamber music & orchestral repertoire skills, attract advanced young artists and develop musicianship through many types of ensembles.

Classes are scheduled June 17 – July 7, 2019 and focus on brass, keyboard, percussion, string, classical guitar and woodwind instruments. Application for admission to Ventura College is open now and registration for the Academy opens on April 28, 2019. Auditions to determine intermediate or advanced class placement are scheduled for June 13 & 14, 2019 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center.

“Students will study with music faculty who are Internationally recognized experts in their field. We encourage students from Ventura and Santa Barbara county high schools to register.” Robert, E. Lawson, Music Director

Throughout the three weeks, students will study and rehearse alongside academy music faculty. Chamber and Orchestral performance will take place every weekend in Ventura Colleges Helen Yunker Auditorium. Performances are open to the public.

The full class schedule, faculty biographies and steps to participate can be found on our website at http://www.venturacollege.edu/schwab. A short video regarding the Academy can be viewed at https://youtu.be/7QKPxZQ-poM

About Miriam & Henry Schwab
Miriam Schwab was a local philanthropist, a long-time Ventura College supporter and a gentle presence on campus. She was also a music lover who played the violin with the Ventura College Symphony Orchestra for over a decade.

Henry Schwab, was concert-master of the Ventura Symphony and Mr. Robert E. Lawson was the associate conductor. Mr. Schwab was also a concert violinist who had begun violin study in New York at a young age. His talent prompted his parents to send him to Europe in 1924 to continue his training. After completing his education, he returned to the United States for a brilliant career as a concert violinist, concertmaster, and collector of instruments. He was also a dedicated violin and viola teacher who strove to instill in his students a love of classical music.

About Robert E. Lawson
Robert E. Lawson, Music Director/Conductor of the Ventura College Symphony Orchestra has been involved in many areas of music. As a composer, Mr. Lawson’s compositions have been performed throughout the United States. His Harp Sonata has received premieres at Florida State University, the XII Foro Internacional de Musica Nueva in Mexico City, and in Paris at the International Harp Festival. His String Trio was selected as one of the most innovating composition for the Ernest Bloch Music Festival. He has composed and performed several symphonic works over his career. In May 2018 was a premier of a new work for orchestra Symphonic Elegies.

Mr. Lawson served as Music Director of the Santa Clarita Symphony for Seven years, was the director of the Ventura City Hall Concert Series for eleven seasons, was the founding Music Director/Conductor of the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra for twelve seasons. He was Music Director/Conductor of the Santa Clarita Valley Youth Orchestra for eighteen years. Developed the International Youth Orchestra exchange program with the Harlow Youth Orchestra in London, England for over ten years. Began international talks with the Hangzhou International School in China, to have an exchange Youth Orchestra program. From 1981 through 1988 he served as associate conductor of the Ventura County Symphony, known now as the New West Symphony and was principle conductor of the Ventura Civic/Youth Orchestra. This will be his tenth season as music director /conductor with the Ventura County Ballet Company and its performance of Tchaikovsky’s the Nutcracker Ballet. Mr. Lawson has been guest conductor of numerous orchestras both here in the United States and Europe.

Mr. Lawson is currently Department Chair of Performing Arts at Ventura College where he continues to develop and expand the department’s current student population of over 1000 students and 26 faculty positions. This summer 2019 he will launch and serve as director of the Schwab Academy of Music, along with fourteen internationally known faculty members, in a three-week intensive program of chamber music and orchestral training, with performances every weekend.

About the Ventura College Music Department
The Ventura College Music department is recognized as a leader in music education and has a comprehensive course schedule through the year providing professional instruction and leadership to students that register for courses including, theory, history and literature, Vocal, Instrumental, Jazz, Technology, and ensembles including opera, choir, orchestra, chamber, and jazz, designed to educate and enhance the knowledge of music.

About Ventura College
Started in 1925, Ventura College is an accredited two-year institution of higher education within the Ventura County Community College District. The 112-acre campus has an enrollment of 14,500 students. It serves a diverse student body through credit and non-credit offerings. The college offers associate’s degrees in 33 majors, certificates of achievement in 35 career and technical education fields and proficiency awards in 26 fields.

Oxnard College will host the Environmental Justice Summit: Climate Action Now on Monday, April 29, at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Building (4000 South Rose Avenue, Oxnard). Exhibits with local environmental groups open at 5:30 p.m. Presentations, beginning at 6 p.m., will be followed by workshops at 7:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Spanish, Mixteco, and American Sign Language interpretation will be provided.

Oxnard College Associated Student Government leaders are hosting the summit in collaboration with 350 Ventura County Climate Hub. The summit agenda provides attendees with opportunities to learn about the benefits of sustainable living and individual and group actions to fight climate change throughout the community. Oxnard College student leaders and guest speakers are collaborating to foster a positive impact toward the fight against climate change.

The summit will also feature information about Environmental Science degrees offered at Oxnard College. The Associate in Science in Environmental Science for Transfer degree (AS-T) prepares students to transfer into the CSU system to complete a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Science and Resource Management, Environmental Studies, or a major deemed similar by a CSU campus. With an environmental science degree, an individual can pursue a career in a wide range of areas such as environmental, marine, nature conservation, waste, and sustainability.

Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) Board Member Joshua Chancer looks forward to the summit and states, “The urgent realities of climate change are an existential threat to our youth, and even more so for our youth. The Associated Student Government of Oxnard College plays a primary role in producing this event with the goal of mitigating climate change and helping to ensure environmental justice. This summit provides an extraordinary opportunity for the college and the community to offer students our fullest measure of support.”

Environmental Physicist, Dr. Omar Clay, keynote speaker, will present, “Confronting Climate Change: Connecting the Cycles and Closing the Loops to Build a Sustainable Future.” Following Dr. Clay’s presentation, there will be short presentations from local leaders. VCCCD Trustee Chancer and City of Oxnard Mayor Pro Tem Carmen Ramirez are among local elected officials to participate in the activities. Others speakers include Tomas Morales Rebecchi, Senior Central Coast Organizer for Food and Water Watch, Adam Vega, Organizer with the Ventura County Coalition Advocating for Pesticide Safety , and Lucia Marquez, Community Organizer with Central Coast Alliance for Sustainable Economy.

Oxnard College Geography and Environmental Science Professor Jim Danza, along with Kitty Merrill of 350 Ventura County Climate Hub, will moderate the event. Attendees can choose from several different action-oriented Spanish and English language workshops and learn about opportunities to make a difference in the community.

“Oxnard College is delighted to host the Environmental Justice Summit and we are proud of our Associated Student Government for taking a strong advocacy role in protecting our natural environment,” shared President Luis Sanchez. “We believe that the great weight of scientific evidence presents a compelling argument that climate change is real, that much of it is caused by human activity, and that we are running out of time to act for the benefit of future generations. We look forward to helping identify practical solutions for course correction.”

For more information on the event, please contact Gabriela Rodriguez at 805-678-5187 or ocasg@vcccd.edu

About Oxnard College
Established in 1975, Oxnard College is a fully accredited California Community College (part of the Ventura County Community College District), providing 10,000 students a year with academically excellent undergraduate study and career technical education programs. Students may choose from over 60 educational disciplines, culminating in transfer degrees, associate degrees and certificates. Oxnard College has strong articulation agreements established with the University of California and California State University systems, as well transfer partnerships with private universities and colleges. Oxnard College is also home to some of the state’s leading athletic programs, including a championship soccer team. To learn more, please visit www.oxnardcollege.edu

About 350.org
350 Ventura County Climate Hub is part of the national organization 350.org and works to create a renewable energy future by working for renewable energy and for clean air and water in our county. Inspired by the urgent need to stem the climate crisis, 350 Ventura County fights to keep water aquifers free of oil toxins, railroad lines free from oil “bomb” trains, and to save our communities from being environmental sacrifice zones-through the toxic discharges from oil production, air quality degradation from power plants, and other emitters. The word Hub in Climate Hub describes how the group connects with other local environmental groups on current issues facing our county. Meetings take place the second Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura at 5654 Ralston St. in Ventura.

Ventura College students interested in careers in the medical and health fields received the first annual Allied Health Scholarship awards from the Ventura College Foundation at an April 13 ceremony at the college.

A total of $93,300 in scholarships were awarded to 42 students who are currently taking or plan on taking courses in the college's Holistic Health Studies, Kinesiology Program, Paramedic Studies, Nursing Science, Certified Nursing Assistant or Emergency Medical Technology programs.

"Medical careers are always in the top 25 most needed careers in California," says Debbie Newcomb, Ventura College Career Education I Dean overseeing the Allied Health curriculums. "Students in our medical programs are able to train for careers that are needed, provide at least a living wage and are satisfying and fulfilling. Local healthcare facilities count on us to make available well-trained students to fill their employment openings. We work collaboratively with hospitals, physicians and emergency services providers to ensure that we are training our students in the up-to-date skills they need."

Now part of the Allied Health Scholarship umbrella, this is the 20th year that Paramedic Studies has been offered at Ventura College. Scholarships have been awarded to students in the program since its inception. Students who complete their course work receive a paramedic certification that meets state and national licensing requirements.

"Scholarship funds mean students don't have to work extra shifts to pay monthly bills while in the program. This allows them to focus on their studies," says Thomas O'Connor, Paramedic Studies Department Chair. "Having scholarships that cover the costs of the program and assist with living expenses has an immense impact on student success."

Clarissa Swallows from Oxnard is one of this year's scholarship winners. In fact, she received scholarships from two different donors. She was in her early 20s and a single mom when both her parents became seriously ill. She cared for them and managed their healthcare needs until they eventually passed away. "The experience made me want to jump right into school and become a nurse," says Swallow, now 38, "but I knew that I had to focus on emotional healing and building a stable life before I could manage going back to school."

Eventually, Swallows did return to school and this May, she will be graduating with three Associate Degrees—in Liberal Studies Natural Sciences, Math and Behavioral Science. Her educational goals are to become a Certified Nursing Assistant, be accepted into Ventura College's Nursing program, obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and eventually earn a Master's degree.

"The scholarship awards will be a great help for me. All these programs have lots of expenses outside the cost of the units themselves," says Swallows. Swallows hopes to one day open a facility that provides care and resources for patients who require home healthcare as well as resources for their caregivers.

Seventy percent of California nurses receive their education at a California community college. Students who complete their Ventura College Nursing courses and become licensed enjoy a 100 percent employment rate and 86 percent of students attain a regional living wage. In existence for 55 years, Ventura College's nursing program is the largest in the county, graduating the majority of the county's nursing students.

"Our students were raised here, live here, go to our program and stay here to work. Many are bilingual and the first to attend college in their family," says Ventura College Nursing Program Director Sandra Melton Ph.D. "We are one of the primary suppliers of nurses to area hospitals, medical offices and clinics. Scholarship assistance to students is life changing. The amount could help pay for such items as textbooks, childcare and the high costs associated with taking the licensing exam."

Headed for a career in nursing is scholarship recipient Edward Ramirez from Santa Paula. He is currently enrolled in the Ventura College Nursing program. "In high school, I had an epiphany that what I wanted to do with my life was to help people," says Ramirez. "I had been trying to work and go to school. These scholarships are the difference between being able to sleep at night before an exam and needing to use those late hours to study. Words can't convey how much this means to me and how much assistance it really is."

Ramirez will graduate at the end of this year as a Certified Nursing Assistant. He plans to commission into the Army Officer Nurse Corp.

"These scholarship students will be providing healthcare services to our communities in the near future," says Rob van Nieuwburg, Ventura College Foundation board chair. "It's exciting to see them beginning this important educational journey right here at Ventura College. They will graduate with the skills to obtain necessary, high-demand jobs. We're proud that the Ventura College Foundation can help them achieve their career goals."

The 2019 Allied Health scholarship recipients are Monika Ahluwalia, Jacqueline Alvarado, Vanessa Apodaca, Jessica Aubrey, Katheryn Black, Shy Burgess, Rosa Celis-Aguirre, Christiane Craig, Devin Davis, Lauren Davis, Houda Eazizayene, Sophie Elliott, Katja Godebu, Clara Gonzalez, Renee Grimes, Brenda Guillermo, Jessica “Blueberry” Hahn, Michelle Hamm, Holley Hatcher, Anna Heaton, Zoe Holder, Steven Keller, Jeremy Kohlhepp, Aubrey Lehr, Katherine Martinez Cruz, Ana Mena, Mayra Mendez, Gabriela Moreno, Johnathan Munoz, Hector Orozco, Amber Paz, Edward Ramirez, Diego Renteria, Andrea Rodriguez, Jonathan Ruiz, Jarobi Ruley, Angela Scott, Kelly Smyth, Liliana Solis, Clarissa Swallows, Meagan Wilson and Ila Marie Woods.

Established in 1983, the Ventura College Foundation provides financial support to the students and the programs of Ventura College to facilitate student success and grow the impact and legacy of Ventura College as a vital community asset. The Foundation also hosts the Ventura College Foundation Marketplace; an outdoor shopping experience held every weekend on the Ventura College campus east parking lot. For more information, contact Julie Harvey at (805) 289-6502 or jharvey@vcccd.edu or visit www.VCgiving.org.

California Lutheran University Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Leanne Neilson and her husband, George, have donated $100,000 to establish an Emergency Support Scholarship Endowment.

This scholarship will provide, in perpetuity, annual funding to students in any major or degree program at any Cal Lutheran campus location who need financial assistance to continue their education. The donation was made Wednesday during Cal Lutheran Giving Day, which raised $540,000 for various programs.

“After 25 years working, learning and leading in this community, Cal Lutheran has a deeply meaningful place in my heart,” said Leanne Neilson of Simi Valley. “My husband, George, and I are grateful that our careers have allowed us both to see the difference that quality education makes in the lives of students. We want to make sure there are always funds available to students who just need a little extra help to finish their college degrees.”

George Neilson was a theatre professor for 40 years in Canada and the United States. Leanne Neilson began her Cal Lutheran journey as a faculty member in psychology in 1993 and has served as chief academic officer since 2008. She has never been shy when it comes to speaking up for students. Her commitment is clear — provide the best learning experiences possible for the university’s nearly 4,400 students whether their major is art, theatre, business, education, psychology, religion, exercise science or something else.

When her father, Morris Womack, attended Freed-Hardeman College in the 1940s, he was planning to drop out of school after a successful freshman year because he couldn’t afford to pay off his student account. A donor named Harland Hooper provided funds to sponsor a student, and the college chose Womack as the recipient that year.

“My father had a challenging pathway to complete his own degree,” Neilson said. “Someone was generous enough to make a donation that paid his tuition.”

That one gift kept Womack in college, and he continued his education through to the completion of a doctoral degree. He spent the rest of his life talking about the impact of that donation, which Neilson said made an impression on their entire family about the importance of supporting others. After her parents left an inheritance, she and her husband decided to pass on funds to continue the spirit of helping others.

“This legacy gift to support degree completion for students experiencing financial difficulty is particularly inspirational,” said Cal Lutheran President Chris Kimball. “Leanne and George have decided to invest in current and future students in a tremendous way, and I want to express my sincere appreciation to both of them.”

Ventura College will be hosting the 2019 Ventura College Career Fair Tuesday, April 16, from 10 a.m. -2 p.m. The event will take place at Ventura College (4667 Telegraph Road, Ventura, Ca 93003) in the MCE/ MCW Quad located at the Northeast corner of the campus.

There will be more than 60 local employers participating in the career fair to connect with students about job opportunities, internships and potential careers. Employers participating in the career fair include California Water Service, County of Ventura, Haas Automation, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and many more.

The Ventura College Career Center organizes this event along with others during the school year to inspire and support students throughout their life-long career journeys. In hosting the Ventura College Career Fair, the Career Center aims to create a wonderful networking opportunity for both employers and students. “We support our students at VC to get jobs in the community so they stay within the region and contribute to the economic vitality of our County. This is a great opportunity for our employers and a transformative experience for our students,” shared Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Damien Peña.

Ventura College is an ideal location for industry recruitment across all sectors. The college offers over 70 degrees and 25+ Career Education programs that teach students hands-on practical training need to earn a certificate to start a career or to get started on a pathway toward a bachelor’s degree.

Local employers are invited to register to participate in the Career Fair. The Career Center will be accepting employer registration through April 3. Employers can sign-up by going to: https://vcccd-csm.symplicity.com/events/vccareerfair. For more information, call the Ventura College Career Center at 805-289-6473.

Ventura College
Ventura College, an accredited two-year institution of higher education, has been a part of the beautiful seaside community of Ventura, California, since 1925. It is conveniently located approximately 60 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Santa Barbara. The 112-acre campus, set in the rolling hills of Ventura, has an enrollment of 14,500 students. Ventura College offers Associate of Arts and Associate of Sciences Degrees in 33 majors, and Certificates of Completion and Proficiency Awards in 61 areas of study. Ventura College also has Transfer Guarantee Agreements with CSUCI, CSUN, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz. Class schedules are posted at www.venturacollege.edu. For more information, contact the Ventura College Welcome Center at 805.289.6420.

The Ventura College Foundation is seeking sponsors for several Ventura College student scholarship award events scheduled for April and May.

The inaugural Allied Health Scholarship Awards ceremony will be held Saturday, April 13 at Ventura College's Wright Event Center. This new scholarship event will honor Ventura College students interested in paramedic, nursing and other medical fields.

The 20th Annual Phoenix Scholarship Awards will be held Thursday, April 18 also at Ventura College's Wright Event Center. The Phoenix Scholarship Program was established in 1999 by VC Foundation board members to support Ventura College re-entry students. Phoenix Scholarships are designed to assist students who have minimal or no resources to pay for their education and have chosen to return to school after a break in education. The recipients are selected based on each student’s academic goals and progress, together with their financial need.

The 32nd Annual Scholarship Awards luncheon will be held Saturday, May 4 at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach. All currently enrolled Ventura College students have access to just under 300 different scholarships through the VC Foundation.

"These events are a way to show our students how much the community appreciates their commitment to their education," says Rob van Nieuwburg, Ventura College Foundation board chair. "Our sponsors' support makes these events truly memorable for these students who have worked so hard to succeed despite sometimes daunting odds."

Sponsorship opportunities range from Gold Chest sponsors ($500) to presenting Black Pearl sponsor ($10,000). For more information, contact Gerry Pantoja at 805-289-6158, gpantoja@vcccd.edu.

Ventura College Foundation
Established in 1983, the Ventura College Foundation provides financial support to the students and the programs of Ventura College to facilitate student success and grow the impact and legacy of Ventura College as a vital community asset. The Foundation also hosts the Ventura College Foundation Marketplace; an outdoor shopping experience held every weekend on the Ventura College campus east parking lot. For more information, contact Julie Harvey at (805) 289-6502 or jharvey@vcccd.edu or visit www.VCgiving.org.

Submitted By Jeremiah MacMahon, robotics advisor

Greetings robot fans! For the third, time the 20 members of the Fillmore High School Flash Drives journeys to Ventura College for the Ventura Regional Competition for FIRST robotics. This exciting tournament features 42 teams from around the world facing each other in randomized three vs. three matches. Teams earn ranking points for scoring and performing tasks in a space exploration themed environment.

This celebration of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing requires teams to build robots from scratch using engineering design principles and power tools for machining. The team has 6 weeks to create a functioning, mobile, robot that can place “cargo”, 13” rubber balls, up to 8 feet in the air on a rocket and “hatches”, 20” discs, to the same height. Additionally, the robot has to survive a 6” drop at the beginning of the match and must climb a 19” platform at the end of the match. The field is the size of a basketball court and high speed, full contact between robots is a feature of the event.

The student-centered competition is not just robotics. The team is responsible for and learns valuable employment, public relations, finance, and mechatronics skills. Students also have the opportunity to earn scholarships for trade schools and college through FIRST. Locally, the Gene Haas Foundation provides Fillmore High Students scholarships for futures in machining, whether the goal is college or a trade skill. The program is a fantastic blend of practical hands on skills and academic learning.

The Ventura College Foundation is seeking sponsors for several Ventura College student scholarship award events scheduled for April and May.

The inaugural Allied Health Scholarship Awards ceremony will be held Saturday, April 13 at Ventura College's Wright Event Center. This new scholarship event will honor Ventura College students interested in paramedic, nursing and other medical fields.

The 20th Annual Phoenix Scholarship Awards will be held Thursday, April 18 also at Ventura College's Wright Event Center. The Phoenix Scholarship Program was established in 1999 by VC Foundation board members to support Ventura College re-entry students. Phoenix Scholarships are designed to assist students who have minimal or no resources to pay for their education and have chosen to return to school after a break in education. The recipients are selected based on each student’s academic goals and progress, together with their financial need.

The 32nd Annual Scholarship Awards luncheon will be held Saturday, May 4 at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach. All currently enrolled Ventura College students have access to just under 300 different scholarships through the VC Foundation.

"These events are a way to show our students how much the community appreciates their commitment to their education," says Rob van Nieuwburg, Ventura College Foundation board chair. "Our sponsors' support makes these events truly memorable for these students who have worked so hard to succeed despite sometimes daunting odds."

Sponsorship opportunities range from Gold Chest sponsors ($500) to presenting Black Pearl sponsor ($10,000). For more information, contact Gerry Pantoja at 805-289-6158, gpantoja@vcccd.edu.

Established in 1983, the Ventura College Foundation provides financial support to the students and the programs of Ventura College to facilitate student success and grow the impact and legacy of Ventura College as a vital community asset. The Foundation also hosts the Ventura College Foundation Marketplace; an outdoor shopping experience held every weekend on the Ventura College campus east parking lot. For more information, contact Julie Harvey at (805) 289-6502 or jharvey@vcccd.edu or visit www.VCgiving.org.

Corporate charisma, managing your manager, and the business climate in Santa Barbara and Ventura County are among the topics on the menu Tuesday, March 26 during CSU Channel Islands’ (CSUCI) inaugural “Taste of the MBA” event.

The mixer, followed by a moderated panel, will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Alhecama Theatre at 215-A, E. Cañon Perdido Street in Santa Barbara.

Another “Taste of the MBA” will be held on April 8 from 6 to 7 p.m. in Room 2515 of the Bell Tower on the CSUCI campus. This event will feature another selection of topics and speakers.

Both events are designed to let prospective students in both Ventura and Santa Barbara counties know what a master’s in business administration (MBA) can do for a career and how the CSUCI MBA program can help students reach their goals.

“We are incredibly excited to offer our first ‘Taste of the MBA’ series of events this spring,” said Interim Dean of the Martin V. Smith School of Business & Economics Susan Andrzejewski, Ph.D. “The events will give prospective students the opportunity to hear from some of our faculty and to learn a little bit more about our outstanding MBA program. The event also provides a great opportunity for MBA alumni and community partners to reconnect with the program.”

The public is welcome at both events. The Santa Barbara event will begin with light refreshments and networking followed by a panel of CSUCI faculty who will discuss hot topics in business and marketing.

“How to Manage Your Supervisor,” “The Art & Science of Being Charismatic” and “How the Real Estate Market is affected by Economic Trends in Ventura & Santa Barbara” will be discussed by the panel, which will be moderated by KZSB “AHA for Education” radio host Neil Kreisel.

“CSUCI is an important asset to Santa Barbara and we want everyone in town to understand how great an opportunity it is to get a first-class MBA locally,” Kreisel said.

The program includes evening and online classes as well as classes at the main campus in Camarillo and a campus in Goleta.

Assistant Professor of Economics Miguel Delgado-Helleseter, Ph.D, will discuss how fluctuating economic trends affect the real estate market and vice versa — economic data MBA students will learn how to interpret.

“Some of our big issues are labor market trends,” Delgado-Helleseter said. “A lot of the type of work that grows in our counties is low-paying work, so there are questions about the long-term sustainability of that. Especially when it’s work involving construction as we don’t build a lot of housing and there’s very little construction work. We will also talk about the impact of the mudslides on the rental and home sales markets.”

The panel for the “Taste of the MBA” event on April 8 event on the CSU campus will be moderated by MBA Alumnus Ramesh Lori.

Topics include: “This Ad’s for You,” “Effectuation Theory of Entrepreneurship: Principles & Process,” and “What an MBA Can Do for Your Career.”

MBA instructor Doug Lane will discuss how he started his career as a lab technician at a small hospital in Chico and never had an interest in business until the day his boss asked him to approach a CEO about a sale of some technical equipment.

“He looked like a deer in the headlights,” Lane said. “It was then I realized business is all about communication. I wanted to be able to communicate with business people in their own language.”

After Lane earned his MBA, it held the key to all kinds of opportunities.

“I realized having a strong science background with an ability to understand business is a phenomenal thing,” Lane said.

Lane and others involved in “Taste of the MBA” hope to inspire prospective students interested in entrepreneurship, but also those in various fields from science to engineering to performing arts to consider the value of pursing an MBA at CSUCI.

To RSVP, visit: go.csuci.edu/sb-tastemba.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) is reimagining higher education for a new generation and era. We are an innovative higher education institution that enables students to succeed and thrive – serving as an engine for social and economic vitality that provides the intellectual resources necessary for a thriving democracy. With more than 7,000 students, 1,200 employees and 14,000 alumni, CSUCI is poised to grow in size and distinction, while maintaining one of the most student-focused learning environments in public higher education. Connect with and learn more by visiting www.csuci.edu or CSUCI’s Social Media.