CAA 2021 News
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June 2021 CAA 2021 News We are Different. We are Able. Mission CAA provides an equitable collegiate experience to adults with special needs who historically have not had access to college education. Vision Empowering the student body to creatively transform the way CAA Student Raymond proudly displaying his new CAA college location at West Valley College the world views individuals with disabilities. CAA creates successful contributing citizens CAA spring quarter blooms with opportunities for students through inclusive collegiate The past months have seen momentous traction of Six Figure Fundraising, to Luis Pedro Castillo partnerships. for College of Adaptive Arts. In December CAA Pictrues for his video and editing mastery, and to conducted its first online graduation with grace, ABC7 for capturing the essence of this Mountain integrity, and the celebration of intellectual inquiry Moving story in their Localish segment. and accomplishment. CAA’s valedictorian Oliver Founders The community is concertedly rallying to help Dr. Pamela Lindsay, EdD/CI M. gave an inspirational speech on how his CAA get the new school site set up for re-opening at DeAnna Pursai, Exec. Dir. classes are helping him through the pandemic. West Valley College Campus. Cris Zepeda of C&E Chancellor Brad Davis of West Valley Mission Remodeling and his team have donated hundreds Board of Directors Advisory Council Community College District delivered the of hours of construction prep. Ramon Coria of Joe Siecinski, Chair David Cross honorable keynote address, and CAA salutatorian Color Pros Inc. set up socially-distanced painting Toni Cook Bradley Davis Bernard S. shared his moving journey with being Stephen A. Fiss Rod Diridon, Sr. areas for companies and teams who want to come a student and professor while battling cancer with in and paint the walls. MyProGroup business Mimi Giannini Piero Dusa grace, love and family during these tenuous times. Sandee Raval-Kiehl Fleet Easton leaders volunteered their time painting the site at Nicole Matarangas Omair M. Farooqui For the spring quarter of CAA classes student the end of May, and 8 Rotary Clubs around the Bay JoAnn Gines Hubert Gotuaco enrolled how now topped 160 adult students Area under the leadership of Stuart Rosenberg, Leann Cherkasky-Makhni Geri Jewell across five Regional Centers in Californian and immediate past president of the Cupertino Rotary Lorie Reichel-Howe Sam T. Liccardo four states in the US. CAA continues to forge a came together to raise funds electric cart (full story Sharon Dahnert Michael Pritchard strong partnership with the San Andreas Regional on page 3). Darla Carter Case Swenson Center led by visionary leader Javier Zaldivar who Onboarding: Blair Williamson CAA is truly grateful the ever-growing base of new Jerome Dees Gail Williamson spearheaded CAA’s vendorship on this lifelong and returning supporters who give meaningfully education model in 2016. Since this time CAA’s and believe in this innovative lifelong model of Editorial Staff student enrollment has almost doubled. CAA collegiate education for adults who historically Editor-in-Chief: DeAnna Pursai conducted some wonderful informational sessions have not had access. Editor: Anthony Nguyen with the San Andreas service coordinators who Graphic Designer: Michael Reisman each quarter send CAA more and more of the most eager and willing adult lifelong learners who never thought that a collegiate experience was @CAACardinals within their reach. caacardinals In April, CAA hosted its first online Impossible collegeofadaptivearts Dream fundraiser, raising much-need funds for this expanding collegiate model in lieu of the collegeofadaptivearts wildly popular Golf Classic that had been so effectively conducted for the past 8 year (and will Chancellor Brad Davis conducting a CAA Superstaff @collegeofadaptivearts Professional Development certainly return when it is safe to do so). CAA www.collegeofadaptivearts.org salutes the brilliant services of Dee Dee Kiesow ** Thanks for your patience with our photo quality [email protected] during these online pandemic times ** Thank you mountain Student highlight: Jenni Pencer demonstrated the kind of well-rounded and movers Joe and Toni robust intellectual curiosity that fuels a college This June CAA board chair Joe Siecinski student’s pursuit and completion of multiple & CAA vice chair Toni Cook will be diploma tracks and brilliant recognition that leaving the CAA Mountain Movers there is always so much more to learn. board after six years of incredible service. We are proud of her continual pursuit of These two individuals have dedicated ever-expanding goals and the diversity of her their hearts, souls, and profound service learning journey within CAA’s ten schools of to moving the needle for College of study. She has served in student leadership, Adaptive Arts, gaining traction in on CAA sports teams, and as a member of resources, marketing, development, and our Cardinal Cheer Team while raising school strategic growth. CAA Post Graduate Jenni Pencer spirit and her inspirational voice as well as Joe, as the board chair for the last two The first time we watched Jennifer “Jenni” advocacy of love and acceptance wherever she years has guided the organization to Pencer step through the doors of CAA, we goes. develop a level of business sophistication knew that she was a college woman to be reckoned with! When you first meet her, you Jenni is also a fierce athlete who enjoys all never before established. In the past sports, with countless Special Olympics gold two years the board has developed task will find her infectious joy shines through sparkling eyes and radiates from her core. medals to her name in many different events. forces, and board handbook, standing Her incredible energy and that thousand- exec & finance committees, and an She easily and enthusiastically shares her watt smile lights up all of our perspectives, organizational infrastructure guided by love of learning with all. This strong and perceptions, and horizons. We can’t wait to see his astute skills as a Business Coach with beautiful connection to others is a big part what the future has in store for this shining BrainSHARE. He has been one of the of her ongoing achievements of success star…or, should we say, what she has in store founding recurring donors (still recurring and excellence. Although her true loves for the future! to this day) since 2014, from one of CAA’s are the performing and visual arts, she has first Golf Classics. He has a true gift at analyzing numbers and implementing processes for strategic growth. From the dean's desk Toni has been board secretary, vice Incredibly, the CAA community continues This set of priceless qualities generates success, chair, and all-around brain trust for the to sail forward every day toward ever- affects change, and provides the currents co-founders for the past six years. She exciting goals and an ever-brightening future. that sustain upward momentum. It prompts nominated Dr. Pam and De, who received Meanwhile, a recurring theme among all the others to not only look up but also become the state educator's award from Delta students is ‘flight.’ Their motto reads, “When lifted themselves. You just can’t keep Cardinals Kappa Gamma Women’s Professional Cardinals support each other, everyone flies.” down. They were born to defy gravity and Educational organization in 2018. She This includes the whole Cardinal family of demonstrate every day to those around them has worked tirelessly at golf events, Scott teachers and learners, everyone in their circles that when we joyfully support each other, we Seafood events, donating live and silent of support, and our friends who so graciously all fly together! auction items, bringing her network of open the doors to their hearts and community Dr. Pamela Lindsay friends and educational leaders on tours, environments. The ever-growing circle of and so much more. She was the visionary friendship, support, and commitment to behind the Mountain Mover graphic the success of CAA’s amazing and inspiring saliently displayed on our website and student body continues to be a testament to Donor page. the power of this motto. Will the Mountain continue to Move There are some other words we live by in our without these two leaders? Yes, because learning and performance spaces as well. We they leave their legacy for us to enjoy. are going to be GLAD (going to leave it at the Will CAA miss them dearly? The answer door). CAA Cardinals have embraced this is most genuinely also a resounding Yes. acronym, maintaining focus on the beauty of each moment we are able to learn and the sheer delight of endless new and fresh experiences enjoyed throughout the past change-filled year. We also recognize our ARTS learning model for maintaining a productive and positive attitude, striving for constantly increasing abilities of interpersonal respect, dependable demonstrations of trust, and continual support of the needs and works of others. Such outward-facing focus is like magic dust Dr. Pamela Lindsay, that has kept CAA classrooms increasingly Board Members Joe & Toni at CAA’s Impossible Co-Founder/Dean of Instruction Dream Gala connected, hopeful, and contributional. Local rotary clubs unite New campus CAA’s project of securing an electric drive- about for their new West Valley site at was underwriters to date submitted to be the recipient of this year’s Site Painting: Cupertino Rotary Club Golf Tournament. Tirado Family This honor was bestowed on another very Atkinson Family deserving cause, and the immediate past President of the Cupertino Rotary Club, Stuart General Projects: Rosenberg and the vetting committee was Yurtin Family so intrigued with this submission that they formed a committee to see if there would be interest among the various local clubs to raises Dance Wall Mirrors: fund for this cause. Example of Electric Cart to be Purchased Gonzalez Family The support was overwhelming and spectacular.