THOUSAND OAKS, CA - The California Lutheran University Community Leaders Association will hold its fifth annual Hats and High Tea to raise money for student scholarships and educational grants from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, April 26.

The event will be held on the grounds of the university, overlooking Kingsmen Park. Guests will enjoy high tea with sandwiches, fruit and desserts in a garden-party setting. The afternoon will include a champagne reception.

Vonette Yanaginuma will play the harp and music major Megan McDonald of Moorpark will sing. A silent auction and raffle will be held. Willa Sandmeyer, a broadcast news anchor, will emcee.

Attendees are encouraged to wear their finest tea party attire capped off with a fancy hat. Table sponsors and party hosts will decorate each table in a festive theme. Awards will be presented in categories including most creative table setting and wildest and most elegant hats.

CLA was founded in 1963 to stimulate community interest in Cal Lutheran’s academic, athletic and cultural programs. Members organize fundraising and social events throughout the year to support academic departments and student scholarships. The organization has provided more than $1.8 million through the years.

Scholarship recipients are selected for their community service, leadership potential and academic achievement. The grants purchase classroom materials, equipment and technology.

Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center, MyCorporation, University Village, DJ’s Catering and Lister Party Rental, Inc. are premier sponsors. Deborah Sweeney, a Cal Lutheran regent and CEO of MyCorporation, is the event chair.

Tickets are $50. Sponsorships are available. For reservations or for more information, visit CalLutheran.edu/cla or contact the University Relations office at 805-493-3151 or fielding@callutheran.edu.

California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA - The implementation of Common Core standards in California schools makes this a perfect time to address physical and mental health practices that are vital to a student's academic achievement.

The role of good health practices in a pre-school through 12th grade environment will be among the topics discussed at a conference themed "Brave Questions: Health and Academic Achievement" scheduled for Saturday, April 18 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Grand Salon on the CI campus.

"Health has a significant link to a student's success," said Dianne Wilson-Graham, Executive Director of the California Physical Education Health Project, which has its state headquarters at CSU Channel Islands (CI).

Wilson-Graham is one of the keynote speakers at the 7th Annual Conference for Social Justice in Education, a day-long seminar that is free and open to the public.

This time of national reform in schools across America has educators focused on academics, but Wilson-Graham stresses that good physical and mental health practices are critical to any successful educational reform effort.

Students' academic achievement is more than test scores, she said. Poor health, lack of nutrition or sleep deprivation will erode a student's memory and cognitive skills.

The other keynote speaker will be Rigoberto Vargas, Public Health Director for the Ventura County Health Care Agency.

Just as health helps education, education helps health, Vargas said, pointing out that those with a higher level of education tend to have better health outcomes later in life.

Each year, the Conference for Social Justice in Education addresses inequities and barriers in education. In the past, the conference has fielded subjects such as bullying; education for incarcerated youth; racial bias and learning disabilities, to name a few subjects.

This year's conference is sponsored by: CI's School of Education; the Martin V. Smith School of Business & Economics; Extended University; the Center for Community Engagement; the Center for Multicultural Engagement and the Provost's office.

Funding is also provided by the Ventura County Social Justice Fund and Project Vista, a grant designed to strengthen CI's graduate culture and to better serve, retain and graduate Hispanic and low-income students.

Break-out sessions in Del Norte Hall will provide opportunities for participants and presenters to discuss the day's topics in greater depth.

Complimentary event parking is limited and only available in the designated parking lot. Once on campus, follow the directional signage to event parking then follow the walking signage to the event location. Free parking is available at the Camarillo Metrolink Station/Lewis Road parking lot with bus service to and from the campus for a cash-only bus fare of $1.25 each way. Buses arrive and depart from the Camarillo Metrolink Station every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday. For exact times, check the schedule at: www.goventura.org.

RSVP at: http://education.csuci.edu/justice-conference/.

For additional information, contact Wendy Olson at 805-437-8553.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI's strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master's degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI's Social Media.

The California State University (CSU) will reach a significant milestone of 3 million alumni during commencement in spring 2015 and has launched the world's largest yearbook. The Class of 3 Million online yearbook is an interactive platform where alumni can create a profile and connect with the millions of other alumni from the 23 CSU campuses across the state. Alumni who sign up for the yearbook will also be entered into a special contest to win one of three $10,000 scholarships for a current or future student, sponsored by Herff Jones. For more information about the yearbook and the Class of 3 Million, visit https://classof3million.calstate.edu/

Camarillo, CA - Scientists, environmentalists, policymakers, public health officials, students and community members will converge at CSU Channel Islands (CI) on Friday, April 17, in a Climate Symposium tackling climate change effects and responses in our region. The event will take place from 12:30 to 6 p.m. in Aliso Hall 150.

Presented by CI's Center for Integrative Studies, the symposium is free, open to the public and includes a dinner reception. Advance registration is required at: https://csuci.qualtrics.com/jfe3/preview/SV_74INs9LipHsFk2N.

"The climate we are accustomed to is shifting in ways that will have severe and lasting repercussions for people and ecosystems," said Nitika Parmar, Associate Professor of Biology and Director of the Center for Integrative Studies. "This symposium will provide the public with substantial information about the crisis we are facing and ensuing responses, and also explore practical solutions for adapting our lifestyles for a better tomorrow."

The panel features seven speakers who bring a wide range of perspectives and expertise on the issue of climate change, including policy makers, scientists, public health and planning officials, documentary filmmakers, and a CI student whose research is contributing to understanding changes in the climate. Audience Q&A sessions will follow each speaker. A complete schedule of speakers, topics and times is included below.

CIS Climate Symposium Schedule
Friday, April 17, 2015
12:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Aliso Hall 150

12:30 p.m. Opening remarks by Dan Wakelee, Associate Provost, and Nitika Parmar, Director, Center for Integrative Studies

1:00 p.m. Chris Williamson, AICP, Principal Planner, City of Oxnard Planning Division
"The Climate Change Paradigm Change: From IPCC to You"

1:40 p.m. Jonathan Parfrey, Executive Director of Climate Resolve
"Climate Change in Southern California - Addressing our Era's Extraordinary Challenge"

2:20 p.m. Julie Bursek, Team Lead for Education and Outreach, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (NOAA)
"Understanding the Vulnerability of Deep Sea Coral to Ocean Acidification in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary"

BREAK

3:10 p.m. Christopher Phillipp, Director of e-Learning, The Climate Institute, Washington, D.C.; Emmy winning film producer
"Climate Change and Human Health"

3:50 p.m. Mary Byrd, Community Programs Supervisor, Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District
"Local to Global: The Changing Relationships between Issues in Air, Water, and Climate Change"

4:30 p.m. Alex Greene, CI Environmental Science & Resource Management student
"Port Hueneme Coastal Inundation in an Era of Rising Seas"

5:10 p.m. Ann Hancock, Executive Director, Center for Climate Protection
"Mobilizing for Action: Sonoma County's Climate Story and Solutions"

6:00 p.m. Reception and dinner

Limited parking is available on campus with the purchase of a $6 daily permit; follow signs to the parking permit dispensers. Free parking is also available at the Camarillo Metrolink Station/Lewis Road parking lot in Camarillo with bus service to and from the campus. Riders should board the CI Vista Bus to the campus; the cash-only fare is $1.25 each way. Buses arrive and depart from the Camarillo Metrolink Station every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. For exact times, check the schedule at www.goventura.org.

Register at https://csuci.qualtrics.com/jfe3/preview/SV_74INs9LipHsFk2N. For more information, contact Nitika Parmar at 805-437-8873 or nitika.parmar@csuci.edu.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI's strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master's degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI's Social Media.

The California State University (CSU) will reach a significant milestone of 3 million alumni during commencement in spring 2015 and has launched the world's largest yearbook. The Class of 3 Million online yearbook is an interactive platform where alumni can create a profile and connect with the millions of other alumni from the 23 CSU campuses across the state. Alumni who sign up for the yearbook will also be entered into a special contest to win one of three $10,000 scholarships for a current or future student, sponsored by Herff Jones. For more information about the yearbook and the Class of 3 Million, visit https://classof3million.calstate.edu/

Vicki L. Ruiz

Camarillo, CA - CSU Channel Islands (CI) will host Latina scholar, historian and author Vicki L. Ruiz for "The Right to Remember: Latina Labor Leaders in California Agriculture, 1939-1961," Wednesday, April 1, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the John Spoor Broome Library, Room 1320. The presentation is free and open to the public and light refreshments will be served.

Ruiz is a Distinguished Professor of History and Chicano/Latino Studies at the University of California Irvine and the author, editor, and/or co-editor of several national award-winning books, including "From Out of the Shadows: Mexican Women in Twentieth-Century America," "Unequal Sisters: An Inclusive Reader in U.S. Women's History," "Latinas in the U.S.: A Historical Encyclopedia," and "Cannery Women, Cannery Lives."

A past president of the Organization of American Historians, the American Studies Association, the Berkshire Conference of Women Historians, and the Pacific Coast Branch of the American Historical Association and current president of the American Historical Association, she is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Society of American Historians. She currently serves on the advisory board of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

Limited parking is available on campus with the purchase of a $6 daily permit; follow signs to the parking permit dispensers. Free parking is also available at the Camarillo Metrolink Station/Lewis Road parking lot in Camarillo with bus service to and from the campus. Riders should board the CI Vista Bus to the campus; the cash-only fare is $1.25 each way. Buses arrive and depart from the Camarillo Metrolink Station every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. For exact times, check the schedule at www.goventura.org.

This event is sponsored by CI's Instructionally Related Activities fund, and the History and Chicana/o Studies Programs. Contact CI Professor of History Frank Barajas at 805-437-8862 or frank.barajas@csuci.edu for additional information.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI's strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master's degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI's Social Media.

The California State University (CSU) will reach a significant milestone of 3 million alumni during commencement in spring 2015 and has launched the world's largest yearbook. The Class of 3 Million online yearbook is an interactive platform where alumni can create a profile and connect with the millions of other alumni from the 23 CSU campuses across the state. Alumni who sign up for the yearbook will also be entered into a special contest to win one of three $10,000 scholarships for a current or future student, sponsored by Herff Jones. For more information about the yearbook and the Class of 3 Million, visit https://classof3million.calstate.edu/

Anne Andrews

THOUSAND OAKS, CA - Scientists will discuss cutting-edge research in brain science at a free symposium at California Lutheran University on Friday, April 10.

“The Brain: In Sickness and in Health” will run from 8 a.m. to noon in Lundring Events Center. Cal Lutheran’s third annual Cell Biology Symposium is free and open to the public.

Dr. Lorne Label of UCLA Health will present “A Glimpse Into the Future of Neurology” at 9 a.m. UCLA professor Anne Andrews will discuss “How Can We Know Who Will Benefit From Antidepressants?” at 10 a.m. Stephen Wood, a principal scientist at Amgen, will present “Alzheimer’s Disease: The Confluence of Genetics, Molecular Structure and Drug Design” at 11 a.m.

Label began a Thousand Oaks private practice in adult and pediatric neurology in 1983, and it became part of UCLA Health last year. He joined the neurology faculty at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in 1983 and taught and served as an attending physician at the UCLA Neuromuscular Clinic and General Neurology Clinic for more than 30 years. He earned an MBA in healthcare management from Cal Lutheran.

Andrews’ interdisciplinary team at UCLA researches how the serotonin system modulates neurotransmission to influence complex behaviors including anxiety, mood, stress responsiveness, and learning and memory. She helped shape the White House BRAIN Initiative launched in 2013. Andrews’ many honors include the National Institute of Health Fellows Award for Research Excellence.

Wood’s primary focus for the last 25 years has been Alzheimer’s. At Amgen since 1997, he has led drug development programs at all stages. He now leads a team of scientists focused on developing therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. The department’s flagship Alzheimer’s disease program is targeting beta-secretase, a key enzyme believed to be involved in early pathogenic events.

The program will begin with a continental breakfast. Lundring Events Center is located north of Olsen Road between Campus Drive and Mountclef Boulevard on the Thousand Oaks campus.

UCLA Health and the Cal Lutheran Community Leaders Association and Department of Biology are sponsoring the symposium. RSVP to catalyst@callutheran.edu. For more information, contact assistant professor of biology Chad Barber at cbarber@callutheran.edu.

On March 26-28, 2015, Ventura College will host the Latina Leadership Network’s (LLN) 28th Annual Conference, “Latina Leadership: Pursuing Equity in the 21st Century.” The conference will focus on the impact that student equity funding will have on Latina students, how Latinas are represented at the faculty, classified, and management level at California Community Colleges, and how to develop strategies to address Latina underrepresentation. Approximately 200 members will be in attendance at this three-day conference.

County Supervisor, Kathy Long, and Ventura County Community College District Chancellor, Dr. Jamillah Moore, will welcome this year’s Keynote speaker, Maricela Morales. Morales was the first Latina elected to the Port Hueneme City Council, became the city’s first Latina Mayor, and is currently Deputy Director for the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) where she works on a variety of issues ranging from living wage, health coverage, green economy, and women’s economic justice.

Over 20 workshops will be offered by both local and statewide leaders in the Latina community. Additional activities include student scholarship, employee, and regional awards and a special tribute to the late, Michelle Serros, Ventura County native, author of Chicana Falsa, and life-long supporter of the LLN. Networking opportunities include a welcome reception with music by Xavier Montes, a dinner dance with music by INSTONE, and morning exercises by the Ventura beach. In addition, there will be a silent auction and opportunities to shop and meet vendors and exhibitors.

Conference registration fee of $300 includes full 2015 conference attendance (March 26-28), all meals during the conference, and one year Latina Leadership Network membership.

To register visit: http://latina-leadership-network.org

Camarillo, CA - The Art Program at CSU Channel Islands (CI) is pleased to announce the opening of the exhibition "CI: It's All In The Name Santa Rosa Island – An Innovative Teaching and Research Site" on the second floor of the John Spoor Broome Library.

The exhibit opened March 12 and will continue through April 12. A free public reception will take place on Thursday, April 2, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

The exhibition organized by Irina D. Costache, Ph.D., Dan Wakelee, Ph.D. and Cause Hanna, Ph.D. and curated by Costache, celebrates the innovative educational and research projects developed by CI students, faculty and staff at the Santa Rosa Island Research Station (SRIRS). The research station is a primary example of what makes CI a unique institution and is possible with CI's partnership with the National Park Service and a host of other research and educational institutions. SRIRS offers a pathway for CI students to explore one of North America's unique places and actively cultivates a community of Channel Islands stewards across disciplines, socio-economic backgrounds, and academic levels.

Numerous CI programs participating in the show include: Anthropology, Art, Biology, Business, Communication, English, ESRM, Political Science and Sociology, as well as the 2014 Faculty Writing Retreat and the Student Affairs/ Student Life Orientation. The diverse projects presented underline the immense value of this unique "classroom." Santa Rosa Island is not only a site that enhances knowledge about various disciplines taught on campus, but it is also as a place to reflect about nature, the world, and oneself. The powerful, beautiful and thoughtful images, texts, artworks, and objects in this exhibition highlight interdiscilinarity and community engagement and illustrate the commitment of the SRIRS and the Broome Art Gallery to support the mission of the University.

Limited parking is available on campus with the purchase of a $6 daily permit; follow signs to the parking permit dispensers. Free parking is available at the Camarillo Metrolink Station/Lewis Road with bus service to and from the campus. Riders should board the CI Vista Bus to the campus; the cash-only fare is $1.25 each way. Buses arrive and depart from the Camarillo Metrolink Station every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. For exact times, check the schedule at www.goventura.org.
The John Spoor Broome Library Art Gallery is located on the second floor of the John Spoor Broome Library. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. For additional information, contact the Art Program at 805-437-2772; Irina D. Costache at irina.costache@csuci.edu; or the John Spoor Broome Library at 805-437-8561.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI's strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master's degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI's Social Media.

The California State University (CSU) will reach a significant milestone of 3 million alumni during commencement in spring 2015 and has launched the world's largest yearbook. The Class of 3 Million online yearbook is an interactive platform where alumni can create a profile and connect with the millions of other alumni from the 23 CSU campuses across the state. Alumni who sign up for the yearbook will also be entered into a special contest to win one of three $10,000 scholarships for a current or future student, sponsored by Herff Jones. For more information about the yearbook and the Class of 3 Million, visit https://classof3million.calstate.edu/

Kathryn Leonard, Ph.D

Camarillo, CA - The Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) has awarded CSU Channel Islands (CI) Associate Professor of Mathematics Kathryn Leonard, Ph.D. their Service Award for the support she has given other women in a traditionally male-dominated field.

Established by the AWM Executive Committee in November of 2012, the award recognizes individuals for helping to promote and support women in mathematics through exceptional voluntary service to the AWM. The award is given to volunteers like Leonard based on the time and effort they devoted to the AWM over the past seven years.

"I owe a lot to the previous generation of women mathematicians who were willing to be the only woman in every mathematical activity they did," Leonard said. She also credits her female "math friends" for their support during graduate school.

Helping other women in mathematics is a passion for Leonard, because she has heard too many horror stories from women in math, she said—if the women even make it to higher level math courses.

"The phenomenon is know as the 'leaky pipeline' where non-white, non-male people drop out of math at various levels starting around middle school," Leonard said. "And those who stay in math are often sidelined at the higher levels. This is becoming a problem for the U.S. Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (S.T.E.M.) workforce as foreigners who are educated here are more likely to return to their own countries."

U.S.-born men with mathematical interests are more likely to go for higher-paying jobs in business or banking, she said.

Despite the need for women in STEM, there are hurdles for those who do last into the higher education courses with many encountering subtle and not-so-subtle sexism, she said. Women are still an extreme minority in most US mathematics departments.

CI is unusual in that the mathematics department chair is a woman, and more than half of the department's permanent faculty are female. Leonard said this is one of the qualities that attracted Leonard to the department.

Leonard served as a mentor for mathematics grad student Dana Cochran, who earned a spot at "Posters on the Hill" in Washington D.C., which means she will present her research to members of Congress on April 22-23.

Leonard has been tireless in her involvement with AWM, chairing committees, organizing workshops and setting up a system for pairing mentors with workshop participants, among other efforts.

The AWM is a non-profit organization founded in 1971 with the goal of encouraging women and girls to study and have active careers in the mathematical sciences, and to promote equal opportunity and the equal treatment of women and girls in the mathematical sciences. AWM currently has more than 3,000 members (women and men) representing a broad spectrum of the mathematical community — from the United States and around the world.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI's strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master's degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI's Social Media.

The California State University (CSU) will reach a significant milestone of 3 million alumni during commencement in spring 2015 and has launched the world's largest yearbook. The Class of 3 Million online yearbook is an interactive platform where alumni can create a profile and connect with the millions of other alumni from the 23 CSU campuses across the state. Alumni who sign up for the yearbook will also be entered into a special contest to win one of three $10,000 scholarships for a current or future student, sponsored by Herff Jones. For more information about the yearbook and the Class of 3 Million, visit https://classof3million.calstate.edu/

Camarillo, CA - The Division of Student Affairs at CSU Channel Islands (CI) has been named one of the "15+ Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs 2015" by a national research and policy center based in Ohio.

The Center for Higher Education Enterprise (CHEE) at Ohio State University published the list in the Feb. 26 edition of "Diverse: Issues in Higher Education."

CI Vice President for Student Affairs Wm. Gregory Sawyer, Ph.D. said he is "extremely proud and honored" to have the division chosen because "the vision has always been to place our students at the center of everything we do and every decision we make."

The commissioned study examined the extent to which diversity and inclusion is practiced in all aspects of Student Affairs, including administrative structures, work environments and staffing practices, among other areas.

CHEE is directed by Ohio State University Professor of Higher Education Terrell Strayhorn.

"I'm really humbled because I know how competitive this is," Sawyer said. "When you see campuses like the University of Alabama and Florida State University on the list and then us? We haven't been around that long, and Florida State's been around since 1870, so I look at that and think wow, we got it right in a short period of time."

Sawyer added that this distinction is a tribute to the dedicated and committed staff in the Division of Student Affairs at CI.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI's strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master's degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI's Social Media.

The California State University (CSU) will reach a significant milestone of 3 million alumni during commencement in spring 2015 and has launched the world's largest yearbook. The Class of 3 Million online yearbook is an interactive platform where alumni can create a profile and connect with the millions of other alumni from the 23 CSU campuses across the state. Alumni who sign up for the yearbook will also be entered into a special contest to win one of three $10,000 scholarships for a current or future student, sponsored by Herff Jones. For more information about the yearbook and the Class of 3 Million, visit https://classof3million.calstate.edu/

Camarillo, CA - Expanding CSU Channel Islands (CI)'s co-teaching program is one item on the list of initiatives now possible, thanks to CI's portion of a $3 million grant awarded to eight campuses in the CSU system.

The grant from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation went to eight CSU teacher education programs at Channel Islands, Fresno, Fullerton, Long Beach, Northridge, San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus and CSU's CalStateTEACH program.

The grant funds the CSU initiative, "Preparing a New Generation of Educators for California."

The initiative is aimed at preparing future teachers and enhancing the skills of working teachers for the state's new K-12 curriculum based on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

CI is laying out its plan for its $230,000 share of the grant, which will involve other primary, secondary and special education classrooms in Ventura County.

CI is already working with two schools in the area that they have identified as "professional development schools," according to CI Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Director of the School of Education Gary Kinsey, Ed.D.

"These professional development schools are schools that have exemplary practices, and we know we have some great mentor teachers we can put our students with," Kinsey explained.

The University Prep School and Phoenix Academy in Camarillo and Laguna Vista Elementary School in the Oceanview School District are the schools that have had co-teaching since CI launched its pilot program in 2011.

The co-teaching model pairs a CI teaching student with a so-called "master teacher" when that school starts, rather than having the student teacher come later, as in the traditional student teaching model.

"They'll do planning together. They'll meet the students together," Kinsey said. "The bright shiny faces coming through the door on the first day of school, they'll meet them simultaneously."

The grant will allow CI to include other schools in the program. Some of the schools under consideration right now in Oxnard are Pacifica High School and the new Rancho Campana High School and University Charter Middle School in Camarillo.

Kinsey said the CI team is also looking at Buena High School and Cabrillo Middle School in the Ventura Unified School District.

Co-teaching is just one aspect of a multi-pronged strategy, Kinsey said, that will also address the need for recruiting and enhancing the skills of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) teachers; supporting teachers who want to get national board certification and other initiatives.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI's strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master's degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI's Social Media.

The California State University (CSU) will reach a significant milestone of 3 million alumni during commencement in spring 2015 and has launched the world's largest yearbook. The Class of 3 Million online yearbook is an interactive platform where alumni can create a profile and connect with the millions of other alumni from the 23 CSU campuses across the state. Alumni who sign up for the yearbook will also be entered into a special contest to win one of three $10,000 scholarships for a current or future student, sponsored by Herff Jones. For more information about the yearbook and the Class of 3 Million, visit https://classof3million.calstate.edu/

La Reina High School is the winner of the 2015 Ventura County Mock Trial. This is the fifth year in a row the school, which is located in Thousand Oaks, has won the competition. The Mock Trial results were announced this evening at an awards ceremony at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center.

1st Place: La Reina High School
2nd Place: Trinity Pacific Omega
3rd Place: Santa Susana Troubadours
4th Place: Westlake High School
5th Place: Grace Brethren Lancers
6th Place: Newbury Park Gold
7th Place: Trinity Pacific Kappa
8th Place: Agoura High School

Thirty-three Ventura County teams participated in this year's competition. La Reina will advance to the California Mock Trial, which will be held March 20-22 in Riverside. La Reina has won the state championships four times since 2008.

About Ventura County Mock Trial
Ventura County Mock Trial gives local students a firsthand look at the criminal justice system by having them portray the principals in a cast of courtroom characters. The roles played by the students include attorneys, witnesses, bailiffs, court clerks and sketch artists. Student teams study a hypothetical case, conduct legal research, receive guidance from volunteer attorneys in courtroom procedure and trial preparation, and present their case before volunteer judges. Close to 500 Ventura County students in grades nine through 12 participate. More than 150 local attorneys volunteer their time to score the competition.

The Ventura County Office of Education and the Ventura County Superior Court host the event with support from the Constitutional Rights Foundation.

Additional information about Ventura County Mock Trial is available at: http://www.vcoe.org/Default.aspx?tabid=685

About the Ventura County Office of Education
The Ventura County Office of Education provides a broad array of fiscal, training and technology support services to local school districts, helping to maintain and improve lifelong educational opportunities for children, educators and community members. VCOE also operates schools that serve students with severe disabilities and behavioral issues, provides career education courses, and coordinates countywide academic competitions including Mock Trial and the Ventura County Science Fair. Learn more at: www.vcoe.org

Join the Project Unify Club at FHS by helping to eliminate the demeaning use of the R-Word (retard or retarded) and replace it with RESPECT. “Spread the Word to End the Word” is a pledge signing campaign that raises awareness of the harmful effects of the R-Word on people with Intellectual Disabilities, as well as, changes the attitudes of segregation and fear, to attitudes of acceptance and respect. Join us on March 4 in a pledge signing campaign at www.r-word.org.

Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo

Camarillo, CA - A trailer headed for the junk pile was transformed into a community health center that will open to the public on Saturday, March 7, thanks to muscle, imagination, and a little seed money from a CSU Channel Islands (CI) allocation.

The project was a collaboration between about 50 CI nursing students and Assistant Professor of Nursing LaSonya Davis, DNP, and the B.A. Huggins Outreach and Worship Center in Oxnard.

Davis had always wanted to create a health center for the working poor and homeless, and so did the minister of the church she attends, St. Paul Baptist Church in Oxnard.

St. Paul minister Broderick Huggins had grown up on the south side of Stockton to a single mother.

"We weren't poor, we were po'!" Huggins said.

Although she had little for herself and her children, Huggins' mother, Frances, worked as a nurse's aide for those less fortunate.

In 2014, Huggins purchased a building at 840 South G Street in Oxnard so he could set up an annex to minister to the working poor and homeless in the area. The property came with a weary-looking trailer riddled with dry rot.

"I said 'This is an eyesore, I'm going to have it hauled away,'" Huggins said. "And LaSonya said 'mobile health clinic!'"

Davis was the advisor to a group of students seeking a "capstone" project, which is a multi-faceted project that culminates the academic experience for undergraduates.

She suggested the Nursing students transform the trailer into a health center as their capstone project.

CI senior Nursing student Andrea Ives was enthusiastic to hear Davis' idea, but it was going to be a challenge.

"We had no budget at all, so I applied for one of the student seed grants," Ives said. "A lot of our work was getting down and dirty, then getting donations of paint, supplies and so forth."

Ives applied for $500 of seed money available from $45,000 allocation from California State University Office of the Chancellor.

The money goes to each CSU campus with the goal of funding service learning programs, which are programs that combine learning with providing a service to the community.

CI's Center for Community Engagement granted the Nursing students the $500 and they got to work, tearing out rotted wood, hammering, sawing, painting and even getting help from CI's Art students, who painted a mural on the outside of the trailer.

The project was completed in December of 2014 with a dedication of the new Frances Huggins Community Health Clinic.

March 7 marks the first time CI Nursing students have ever held a health fair for the community.

Health organizations such as the Ventura County Health Department; the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Association will be there with the Nursing students offering information and presentations.

Nursing students will provide free health screenings for blood pressure, hemoglobin and blood sugar.

Guest speakers will address health concerns like Alzheimer's disease; strokes; cardiovascular disease; and mental illness.

The First Annual Free Health Fair will be Saturday, March 7 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the Frances Huggins Community Health Clinic at 840 South G Street in Oxnard.

Spanish translators will be available.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI's strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master's degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI's Social Media.

The California State University (CSU) will reach a significant milestone of 3 million alumni during commencement in spring 2015 and has launched the world's largest yearbook. The Class of 3 Million online yearbook is an interactive platform where alumni can create a profile and connect with the millions of other alumni from the 23 CSU campuses across the state. Alumni who sign up for the yearbook will also be entered into a special contest to win one of three $10,000 scholarships for a current or future student, sponsored by Herff Jones. For more information about the yearbook and the Class of 3 Million, visit https://classof3million.calstate.edu/