Pat Wright & The Total Experience Gospel Choir along with guest soloist Nichol Eskridge, will grace the stage again at Shoreline Community College, in the Little Theater, Mon., Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m. for the 27th year of the “Soulful Sounds of Christmas” musical concert, most of these years being sell out performances. This high-spirited evening of Gospel & Christmas music has been a mainstay at Shoreline Community College benefiting athletics for years.
Wright and The Total Experience Gospel Choir are no strangers to the Pacific NW, with 30 plus years of performing hand-clapping, foot-stomping, toe-tapping gospel music at various venues in the northwest. The choir is very well known nationally and internationally and have travelled and performed in 38 states, on 5 continents and 22 countries. The choir consists of persons ages 6-72. The choir has been credited with numerous awards and 7 recordings.
Tickets for The Soulful Sounds of Christmas XXVII range from $15- $20 and can be purchased by calling 206-403-7859 or visiting the website at www.kcwoc.org – click on the events link and download the order ticket form.
From student to project lead by Madeline Patton, Published December 9, 2015
In her first year as the inaugural director of the Clean Energy Technology & Entrepreneurship program atShoreline Community College in Washington, Louise Petruzzella doubled enrollment from 20 to 40 students, reactivated the industry advisory committee and placed all 10 graduates in jobs.
She attributes her accomplishments to several things: a MentorLinks grant, her experience as a graduate of the associate degree program and the subject matter expertise of her five faculty colleagues.
“I have an edge because I was a student in the program,” said Petruzzella, who enrolled in winter 2012 and finished her associate degree in clean energy technology in 2014.
“Without MentorLinks, it wouldn’t have been possible. It’s not about the money. It’s about the cachet,” she said.
A new career path
While Petruzzella was a clean energy technology novice before enrolling at Shoreline, her 15 years of teaching philosophy as a part-time instructor at various colleges gave her an unusual perspective of the program’s potential and how to instigate organizational changes to improve it.
Shoreline Community College Clean Energy Tech students assess a site for a vegan farmer’s solar energy project.
Her experience in construction — having worked for her dad’s general contracting business as a teenager and used home renovation jobs to pay her college tuition — made her acutely aware of the challenges employers face and their expectations for employees.
Ironically, it was her difficulty finding steady employment in both those fields that led her to become a student at Shoreline.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in religious studies and philosophy from University of San Diego and a master’s degree in theological studies from Emory University, Petruzzella taught philosophy as an adjunct faculty member at several colleges, including Metropolitan Community College in Nebraska and Pima Community College in Arizona, where she began her postsecondary education as a transfer student.
When she moved to Washington several years ago, the recession was setting in and she could not find a teaching job. To pay her bills, she went back to construction until she was laid off. When an unemployment office staffer offered retraining, Petruzzella chose the clean energy technology (CET) program at Shoreline.
She liked what she was learning in her CET courses, but was frustrated by the lack of program leadership and structure to help students obtain internships and jobs.
Input from a student’s perspective
“I thought, ‘This is not right. We’re not supporting our students as they need and deserve,’” she explained.
Midway through the program, even as she picked up adjunct teaching assignments (including the CET program), Petruzzella began formulating ways to improve Shoreline’s program and use her unusual skill set. She started talking to anyone on campus who would listen to her. Her message: “You have a potentially wonderful program, but you need someone to run it and I suggest you hire me.”
College administrators were persuaded and started a formal search for the program’s first leader. Shortly after she was hired, Petruzzella and the college’s grant writer completed the MentorLinks grant application. “I already had a vision of what I wanted to happen in the program,” she said.
Kenneth A. Walz, Petruzzella’s MentorLinks mentor, points out that most new faculty members spend their first year getting their bearings, not remaking a program. Walz teaches chemistry and engineering instructor at Madison Area Technical College(MATC) in Wisconsin and is principal investigator of Career Education in Renewable Energy Technologies, an ATE project at MATC.
Petruzzella added three new courses, revised several introductory courses for online delivery, led with Walz a multi-day biofuels workshop for educators, hosted a regional renewable energy industry conference and established partnerships with a neighboring community college and university.
During the second year of the MentorLinks grant, Petruzzella plans to involve the industry advisory committee (which she grew from four to more than 30 members) in a formal curriculum review to shift the program’s focus to high-performance buildings as a state-funded solar energy initiative ends in 2016. She hopes to grow enrollment to 60 students.
“When I say it helped that I was a student in the program, I mean that. I want the success of my students. I saw where the program wasn’t doing what it should be doing for our students. So that’s what really inspires me. To make sure they are getting relevant training, that they are going to be employed, that they are going to have an internship if they want. That’s what’s really driving me,” she said.
Her one-year contract was extended through June 2016 with support from the college’s Innovation Fund, and the ongoing status of the position is currently under consideration.
The 10-quarter nusring student cohort raised $980 for nursing students in need.
Each year, the Shoreline Community College Association of Nursing Students (SCCANS) raises money to help one student with financial need. Funds are distributed anonymously and can be used for tuition or to help with living expenses that may be barriers to a student’s success. This year SCCANS raised a record amount and was able to distribute funds to several students.
The students held a competition to see which of the nursing cohorts could raise the most funds, with the winning cohort earning a pizza party. The part-time student group (attending for 10 quarters instead of the 6 that full-time students attend) won the competition, raising $980 between just 19 students. Together, all the cohorts raised over $1800. In past years, SCCANS has raised an average of $5-600 for the fund.
“The 10-quarter cohort is really a phenomenal group this year,” Nursing professor and advisor Corinne (Corki) Budnick said. “While they’re juggling so much – work, family, school – and coming to campus at night after most everyone else is gone, it can be harder for part-time students to bond with the campus community. But these students dove right in and really rose to the occasion to show that they care about their fellow students and the program.”
The SCCANS club contributes to a variety of events on campus each year, including helping plan nursing graduation ceremonies and nurses’ day celebrations and organizing blood drives. The club also runs a winter clothing drive that collects warm clothes for the community at large.
“Our students knock our socks off every year,” said Budnick. “And this year’s group is no exception. We’re so proud of them and how they’ve rallied around each other and the program. Part of nursing is about caring for the community, and these students are truly caring for theirs. It’s great to see.”
Some of the objectives of the club are to contribute to nursing education; provide programs of social, educational and political import; provide an opportunity for students to participate in leadership roles and to provide a supportive network to students enrolled in the nursing program.
Shoreline Community College will be closed to the public from Dec. 21-25, 2015, President Cheryl L. Roberts has announced. All offices on campus will be closed. College employees will be taking leave and no services will be available to the public during the campus closure.
Please note the campus will continue to be patrolled during the closure by College Safety & Security personnel. A handful of specific employees may be on campus completing assigned essential work.
This week is meant for the college to be closed and only those employees working on pre-approved essential projects are to be on campus during this closure. The college will reopen on Monday, Dec. 28.
A study of service utilization determined low and high usage periods during winter break 2014. The first week of winter break showed low utilization of services, however, the following week was very busy for registration and advising as students get ready to start winter-quarter classes.
This is the first year the college has closed during winter break beyond the traditional Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 holidays. “Our study showed we are able to give our employees an opportunity to recharge and be ready to come back and serve our students,” President Roberts said. This year, winter term begins on Jan. 4, 2016.
On Friday, Dec. 11, 2015, the presidents of all 34 community and technical colleges, including Shoreline President Cheryl Roberts, signed the following letter reaffirming their commitment to diversity and safe campuses.
Religious and racial tensions are high in the United States right now and our communities are feeling the effects deeply.
As presidents of Washington’s community and technical colleges we issue this clear response on behalf of our students and colleagues: We stand together. Harassment and prejudice of any type defies the very values of pluralism and religious freedom that we hold dear in this country.
Community and technical colleges are truly “Democracy’s colleges” — not just because of our open-door policies, but because of the diverse community of students we serve. Our colleges are proud to be the educational homes to students of different faiths, races, national origins, sexual orientations and gender identities. We also strive to provide a working and learning environment that values civility, mutual respect and rigorous intellectual inquiry.
We believe our very differences strengthen our bonds of understanding and community. The tapestry of American life is woven by the intersection of people from all backgrounds. We have been, and will continue to be, a system of colleges committed to human dignity and social justice. As such, we have zero tolerance for anything but safe campuses for our students and colleagues.
During these difficult times, when fear breeds hatred, we resolve to embrace humanity in all of its rich diversity.
Shoreline Dolphins Women’s Basketball team has played 4 games so far in the 2015-16 season and have come away with a 1-3 record. Head Coach Darnellia Russell begins her second full season at the helm of the program and her first full recruiting class has the staff excited about what is to come in 2015-16. The new class has already made their presence felt with a big win on the road at Green River and a great showing against perennial NWAC Tournament team Highline College.
Last season the Phins were unable to win a game, but Russell worked hard to turn the roster over with an eye on the future. The Phins are young with only two sophomores, Russell stated she is “very excited with the girls we have playing this year. We are a young team but we have plenty of room and time to grow.” Sharpshooting Sophomore Fatuma Abu is the only returner from last year’s roster. She is currently averaging 6 points per game and is 100% from the free throw line in the early season.
In the back court the Phins boast two tough Freshmen Point Guards in Janaya Williams and Dani Hayes. Williams played high school ball at Renton High School and is currently 7th in the NWAC with 4.5 assists per game. She turned in a near tripple double against Pierce with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists. Hayes was a 4a State Champion at Lynwood High School and starred for the Women’s Soccer team in the Fall. The two sport athlete is currently 4th in the NWAC with just over 3 steals per game. Russell had this to say about her point guards, “Hayes and Williams bring tons of energy on the court for our team both defensively and offensively.”
On the wing the Phins have two swiss army knives capable of affecting the game in a number of ways. Darrien Dolquist-Larson is a transfer from Skagit Valley College where she played in 14 games in the 2012-13 season. Dolquist-Larson is is 10th in the NWAC with 3 steals per game and leads the team in scoring with 13.5 points per game. Enjunay Jones-Lee played high school basketball at Franklin and is currently scoring 8 points per game to go with 6 rebounds per game.
The front court is loaded with depth highlighted by Betty Alem, Paris Sanders and Zolviz Keilani. Alem was a high school teammate of Williams’ at Renton High School. Keilani played her high school ball at Rainier Beach and Sanders was a stand out at Cle Elum Roslyn High School. Sanders leads the team with 6.5 rebounds per game and marked her first start of the season with a double-double against Pierce. About her front court Russell said, ‘We are also excited about the post presence Alem, Keilani and Sanders bring to the roster. They are capable rebounders on both ends and provide a defensive presence against opposing bigs.”
With a great recruiting class Russell has turned the program in the right direction. Asked about her feelings regarding the upcoming season she had this to say, ” We have the pieces to make a competitive team. We just need to put it all together in practice, play as a team on the court and make some noise in the NWAC.”
The Phins participate in the Everett Classic and the Peninsula Crossover to close out 2015. After the Winter break the Phins will begin North Region play with a home game against Bellevue College at 2pm on Saturday, January 9th.
The following message from President Cheryl Roberts was sent on Dec. 10. 2015 to all students and all employees at Shoreline Community College.
From the clearly hateful comments of a presidential candidate to the still uncertain details in a tragic death of a Seattle College student this past weekend, the language and actions of intolerance are on the rise.
As Martin Luther King, Jr., said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Together, we are making Shoreline Community College a place of light and love.
A year ago in separate incidents, posters for two student clubs, Project Pride and the Muslim Student Association, were defaced with the scrawls of hateful speech. College faculty, staff and students immediately responded. Together, we talked, we listened, and we reflected. Together, we crafted a statement – a standard – about the values we hold dear, the values of our community.
That statement, our Community Standard, was adopted this fall, and it says:
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly …”
— Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Shoreline Community College is a place for students, employees, and the community to pursue excellence in education in an environment dedicated to equity, inclusiveness, and self-reflection. We value respectful, dynamic interactions and lively discussion. We strive to create an environment where everyone is supported and valued. Shoreline Community College does not tolerate hateful, violent, or discriminatory actions that target any person or group based on their beliefs, customs, identity, or affiliations. When one of us is diminished, all of us are diminished.”
When we state our values clearly, loudly, and with conviction, our light pushes back against the darkness of intolerance and hate. For winter quarter, we are posting our Community Standard in every building across the campus for all to see, along with our Title IX messages. Also for winter quarter, I am asking our faculty, staff, and student leaders to come together and create an opportunity for our light to shine, an opportunity for our values to be discussed as well as examine the factors that contribute to this lengthening shadow of intolerance.
This Friday (12/11): The Customized Cover Letter
1-2:30 p.m. in Workforce Education (FOSS, 5000 bldg.)
The dreaded cover letter: As if building a carefully worded and detailed resume alone isn’t time consuming and tedious enough, additionally we’re forced to address in a short narrative the reasons why we believe we’re perfect for the position. And even if the process doesn’t require a cover letter, we should try to include one nonetheless.
I’ve seen plenty of letters that seem like they were lifted right off the Internet and don’t address very well the requirements to whatever job position the candidate is applying. Responding to an ad? Before whisking off our resume and letter, we need to make sure we’ve studied the ad to determine how our qualifications match the employer’s requirements. Armed with this information, you can craft a cover letter that positions you as the ideal candidate.
There’s a great method afloat and I’ll show you what it’s about!
We’ll go through a near perfect example of a customized cover letter and discover what those who are selected for interviews are doing, what they aren’t, and why. Bring your letter on a thumb drive, or email it to me (rcarnell@shoreline.edu), and we’ll project a few and go through them.
Also: Please take a couple hours to join us on Friday, December 18 – it’s a Holiday Treats Potluck and Social! I know there are a few connoisseurs of goodie-baking (or just procuring) on these lists, so I’m expecting some holiday sugary greatness.
Got a good job hunting story from this year? Share it at the party! J
Shoreline Community College will be closed to the public from Dec. 21-25, 2015, President Cheryl L. Roberts has announced. All offices on campus will be closed. College employees will be taking leave and no services will be available to the public during the campus closure.
Please note the campus will continue to be patrolled during the closure by College Safety & Security personnel. A handful of specific employees may be on campus completing assigned essential work.
This week is meant for the college to be closed and only those employees working on pre-approved essential projects are to be on campus during this closure. The college will reopen on Monday, Dec. 28.
A study of service utilization determined low and high usage periods during winter break 2014. The first week of winter break showed low utilization of services, however, the following week was very busy for registration and advising as students get ready to start winter-quarter classes.
This is the first year the college has closed during winter break beyond the traditional Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 holidays. “Our study showed we are able to give our employees an opportunity to recharge and be ready to come back and serve our students,” President Roberts said. This year, winter term begins on Jan. 4, 2016.
