SMCC MESSENGER
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President's Message
April 2011
Dr. Joyce Elsner
Dear South Mountain Colleagues,
As the spring semester draws to a close and commencement nears, I want to take a few moments to once again share my thanks and appreciation for all of the warm comments and kind words that have come my way since announcing my retirement.
South Mountain has always had a reputation as being “the college with a heart,” and never has the truth behind those words shone so brightly than in recent days. Serving as a member of your administration since 2003, and your Interim President for the past year, has truly been one of the highlights of my career.
And let me tell you, this year has been a singular period in the history of our institution. Never before have Dickens’ words rung so true: we are indeed experiencing the best of times, and the worst of times! We have more students than at any time in our 31 years, and our faculty and staff are accomplishing tremendous things. Yet our funding and resources continue to shrink, and it will take unprecedented levels of innovation and creativity in the very near future to maintain the high level of service to our students for which SMCC has become widely known.
But think a moment—how is that so different from what this college faced back in 1980, when we first opened the classrooms of an institution many felt was “built to fail?” The odds were against us then too, but we were greeted by a community thirsting for knowledge and opportunity! Those of you who were here at the very beginning can remember what we were up against---and can bear witness to the fact that what South Mountain has achieved has been truly astounding. This institution has battled every step of the way, and is certainly not going to stop now!
You are poised on the brink of extreme challenge, there’s no doubt---but also, with that, comes a great opportunity, to respond to the higher education needs of our community with new ideas, strategic thinking, fresh energy and a renewed sense of vigor---all vital in responding to the needs and opportunities of a world in which the ground rules are now changing daily, even hourly.
As my time at South Mountain draws to a close, I want to express my absolute faith and confidence in the ability of all of you to rise to these challenges. Under the direction of our new President, Dr. Shari Olson, I foresee continued great things for our college…and will look forward to following your continued success in the days, months and years to come.
I wish you all the best, and, again, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve as your President. Sincerely,
Dr. Joyce Elsner |
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5/24/2011
Many members of the SMCC family and dozens of special guests celebrated the career of Interim President Dr. Joyce K. Elsner at her retirement reception on May 10.
Among those returning to South Mountain to pay tribute to Dr. Elsner were former SMCC Vice Presidents Dr. Linda Lujan (now President of Chandler-Gilbert Community College) and Dr. Ken Roberts (now retired.)
Several members of Dr. Elsner’s family were able to attend as well, including her son Warren Smitheran and daughter Erin Elsner, shown here helping her cut the official retirement cake.
Dr. Elsner’s tenure as SMCC President officially ends on June 30, with Dr. Shari Olson assuming the office on July 1.
TRIO Director Ruben Saenz reports a very successful year for our Upward Bound students.
They celebrated their accomplishments at their annual end-of-the-year banquet, this year held at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Phoenix on May 14. The theme was a quote from Mahatma Gandhi: “Be the Change You Want to See in the World.”
The keynote speaker was: Mr. Irv L. Coin, ASU Dean of TRIO Programs.
“We had 40 seniors graduating this year,” Ruben reports.
“They are the original cohort from 4 years ago,” he adds.
“Students have been accepted to Georgetown University, Hampton University, Howard University, Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University.”
There were awards galore, and many proud students and families on hand, at the annual SMCC Student Life Spring Awards Ceremony, held May 4 and overseen by Student Life Director Buddy Cheeks and Office Coordinator Linda Torres.
Hostess and emcee Lara Collins presided over the presentation of more than a dozen awards to students, faculty, staff and community members. Here’s a rundown of who won what:
Leadership Award
Celestina Muñoz
Silver and Blue Student Service Award Cougar Ambassadors: Mohamud Adeys
Alison Binford
Peter Do
Esteban Guardado
Manuel Hernandez
Candice Johnson
Lakreysha Kirkendal
Jessica Lilly
Club Organization Award
MEChA
Pictured, from left: Maria Marquez, Flor Chavez, Dr. Carlos Caire (advisor), Karla Perez.
Club Advisor Award
Dr. Carlos Caire, MEChA
Community Service Award
Tin Do
Cougar Student Employee Award
Talon Leon (pictured with fellow nominees, from left: Manuel Hernandez, Jose Galindo, Talon, and Rudy Tamayo.)
Humanitarian Award
Barbara Kutnick
Student Academic Athlete, Male
Jordan Burgess
Student Academic Athlete, Female
Ariel Siegel
Student Athlete of the Year, Male
Troran Brown
Student Athlete of the Year, Female
Sabeana Romero
 Student Governance Board Pictured, from left: Maria Marquez, Cynthia Carrillo, Flor Chavez , Karla Perez , Iris Arevalo, Alvaro Villagomez, Celestina Muñoz.
Congratulations to South Mountain’s newest batch of graduates of the Maricopa Leadership Advancement Program!
The Leadership Advancement Program is an internal program intended to develop current employees to improved effectiveness within their current position while preparing them to be more competitive for roles at the senior leadership level.
2011 SMCC grads are: Michael Burtch, Dr. Cheryl Crutcher, Chris Haines, Suzanne Hipps, and Cindy Odgers.
Great job and Cougar Congrats, all!
Students will have a little easier time finding their way around campus this year…thanks to five new college directories installed at the most used points of entry to the 24th Street campus this spring.
Each of the five new monument signs feature a detailed map of the main campus, including the location of emergency phones, AED’s, rest rooms, and key college offices.
The directories are located near the north campus entrance; the SMCC gym; the elevator at the main entrance; the new Library; and the Performing Arts Center.
And soon to come---large two- and three-letter identification signage, which will be positioned high atop our campus buildings, for quick and easy identification to students and college visitors.
For those who may have missed her recent college-wide e-mail, our intrepid Dr. Sian Proctor is off to Cambodia, to assist in the local education efforts of the Aogaah Foundation. Here’s a little more about that effort, and some ways you can help:
Hello Everyone,
I am going to Cambodia on Thursday, May 26 to visit a school called the Aogaah Foundation. This school was started by a former MCC math faculty member (Rick Meyer). I will be traveling with a math instructor from SCC (Donna Gaudet) and I am asking for your help.
We will be carrying extra suitcases to bring donated school supplies to the Aogaah Foundation School for vulnerable children in Phnom Penh.
Suggested items to donate: • Money (no surprise there). You can donate at the web site: http://www.aogaah.org/page05a.html or give it to me to bring over. For $60, you can sponsor a child for the whole school year! • Pencils (non-mechanical), pens, writing tablets, colored pencils, white board markers. • Arithmetic work sheets (K-6), arithmetic paperback workbooks, calculator application problems. • Did you get a new camera recently? What are your plans for your old camera? Each teacher at the Village 15-16 School could use a camera to capture events at the school and on their journeys around Cambodia. Please consider donating your old camera and battery charger to Aogaah Foundation. • Do you have a microscope and slides of bacteria from a child's old 'Biology Kit'? • Small calculators are needed too. VERY simple (not scientific) - - add, subtract, multiply, divide and percent. Do you know a car dealer, plumber, dentist, or other entrepreneur who may be willing to donate a set of 30 calculators? • Think: All things educational - - Kindergarten through Grade 6.
Do you have something to donate? I will come by to pick up donated items or you can drop them into the box in my office. If you donate something of value, I will get a receipt for you - - Aogaah is 501(c)3 certified so donations of money and/or items of value are tax deductible.
That's not all!
As an encore, Donna and her friend, Kate Helms-Tillery, an Arizona State University graduate student, will swim across Lake Pend Oreille in Northern Idaho this summer, a distance of 5.3 miles. The purpose of the swim is to raise money for the Phnom Penh Community School.
Watch the video I edited at:
To help sponsor Donna and Kate, you may send a check to: Aogaah Foundation, PO Box 62012, Phoenix, AZ 85082 or donate by credit card or PayPal at: www.aogaah.org/page05a. For more up to date information, you are invited to read Aogaah's monthly electronic newsletter at www.aogaah.org/eNews.
Thanks for all your support!
Sian
Counseling Faculty Tom Kirsch is always a great source for interesting information on behavioral, social and educational issues.
He’s sent us a couple of new links this month---an interview with Wray Herbert, author of On Second Thought: Outsmarting Your Brain's Hard-Wired Habits; a video on John Hunter’s World Peace Game; and a link to Sal Khan's Khan Academy website.
All are worth your time---check 'em out!
There’s nothing like a royal wedding to bring out the British in us all…..
Linda Torres of Student Life and Barbara Kutnick of the Marketing Office donned their finest royal wedding hats to celebrate the union of England’s Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29. 4/22/2011
SMCC Interim President Dr. Joyce Elsner has been selected as a recipient of the 2011 Maricopa Community Colleges Employee Recognition Award.
In part, her nomination read: "By setting the highest example of collegiality and professionalism, through her years of commitment to the Maricopa District, Dr. Elsner has served as one of the District's strongest role models for any and all employees seeking to advance in the pursuit of higher education...She is forthcoming with advice and assistance whenever requested, and leads by example, forging a professional pathway that any Maricopa worker would be wise to emulate."
As part of the award, Dr. Elsner will have the opportunity to award one $1,000 scholarship in her name to a Maricopa Community College student for the 2011-12 academic year.
Her award will be presented at the Annual Foundation Luncheon on Tuesday, April 26.
Congratulations, Dr. Elsner, and thank you for your exemplary service to South Mountain Community College!
Six SMCC employees were nominated for the 2011 Maricopa Women's Leadership Group Recognition Award, in recognition of the many women who exemplify leadership at our college.
Through this year's nomination process, several remarkable women were acknowledged by their co-workers for their stellar achievements: Dr. Joyce Elsner, Yvette Espinoza, Erica Hallum, Suzanne Hipps, Barbara Mendez, and Dr. Sian Proctor.
Each of these very special women were honored during the SMCC Women’s Luncheon on March 23, with Dr. Joyce Elsner selected and honored as this year's SMCC recipient of the "2011 Woman of Distinction Award.” She was then honored at the district-wide WLG Luncheon on April 6, at GCC.
All of the award nominees deserve to be lauded for their accomplishments and contributions. Here are some of the highlights of their individual nominations, as submitted by colleagues throughout the college.
Dr. Joyce Elsner, Interim President
“Dr. Joyce Elsner has this year capped a career in service to the students and employees of the Maricopa Community College District with an appointment to a position of great responsibility and import to the institution. Under her leadership, the college has not only maintained its current high levels of performance, but improved upon them, something above and beyond the requirements for an interim leader. She truly merits the title of “Woman of Distinction” for South Mountain Community College and the Maricopa District.”
Yvette Espinosa, Biology Faculty
“Yvette Espinosa has tireless dedication to students and creating and advocating for the BioScience Summer Camp. Yvette is a dedicated faculty member who sees her role as one that extends beyond the classroom. She is an active member of the Math, Science, and Engineering Division and ensures that the SMCC Biology Department is present at all Instructional Council and articulation meetings. Her role as a course coordinator in several courses, along with additional Biologists, ensures that professional conversations are held so that students can benefit from courses that are up-do-date, using current technology and pedagogy. I believe that Yvette possesses the attributes of what we want for our students: hard working, dedicated, continuously learning, and service to the community.”
Erica Hallum, Student Services Specialist, Advisement and Recruitment
“Erica has taken leadership on Graduation initiatives, helping build an advisement training manual, and helping out with recruitment. The training manual streamlines the advisement process and make training consistent for the SMCC student.”
Suzanne Hipps, Director of Career Services, Service Learning, and University Transfer
“In many years of service to higher education Suzanne has exemplified dedication to not only meet, but exceed, the needs of students, her colleagues, and the community she serves. She is passionate about students and about student success. Suzanne has served as a mentor to countless students and co-workers. She has served in a variety of student affairs professional areas. Suzanne has provided guidance and support to young professionals. She participates in student affairs professional organizations at the state and national level.”
Barbara Mendez, Student Services Specialist, Advisement and Recruitment
“Barbara took over the ESL advising program in Advisement and Recruitment and helps significantly with recruitment. Barbara has been innovative in all her Maricopa opportunities, first in recruitment of international students and now with ESL and international students at SMCC. She is very student oriented and has great customer service skills.”
Dr. Sian Proctor, Geology Faculty
“The educator and scholar Thomas Armstrong in his book, Awakening Genius in the Classroom, links the word ‘genius’ to such words as creativity, vitality, potential, motivation, wonder and the joy of learning. Dr. Sian Proctor keeps us in touch with these qualities and what it means to learn something new. She is a risk taker and she realizes her potential every day. Her actions have the capacity to transform lives; she reminds us that we all possess ‘genius’--or the intrinsic joy of learning. Dr. Sian Proctor reawakens the ‘genius’ in all of us.”
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