APRIL 2021 citruscollege.edu CITRUSVIEW LATEST NEWS FROM CITRUS COLLEGE

Celebrating our Dream Resource Center launches resilience and success at Citrus College Did you know that Citrus College has a Dream The Dream Resource Center will be located Resource Center dedicated to fostering a inside the Ross L. Handy Campus Center. welcoming and inclusive environment for During the campus closure, services are undocumented students? available virtually to students. Established in January 2021, “Establishing a Dream the center is staffed by Resource Center for UndocuLiaison Amayrani undocumented students is Ochoa Almeida, who supports a wish come true for many students through various students and employees, services and programming. who have already reached out As you know, we recently reached the one -year Some of the services offered about enrolling in classes mark since the outbreak of COVID -19. Although at the center include as a result of this new this anniversary elicits a wide range of feelings, individualized guidance program,” said Dr. one strong emotion I have is gratitude for our and assistance related Maryann Tolano-Leveque, college community. to financial aid, in-state dean of students. Citrus College’s faculty and staff have overcome tuition and Deferred Action “Providing resources to many challenges this year, while also facing for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). support undocumented students is critical in stressors unique to each of them. Despite The center can also promote and connect promoting their sense of belonging, academic these difficulties, everyone has come together students to free legal services, including success and completion at the college. to ensure that the needs of our students are education and outreach activities, through I feel privileged to be in a position to lead met. From the very start of the pandemic, our the Community College Immigration Legal these efforts, and I am incredibly grateful to goal has been to continue providing excellent Services program. The services, which are have an experienced advocate like Amayrani academic opportunities to our students. also available to Citrus College faculty and Ochoa coordinating the center’s programs and services.” This issue of the Citrus View demonstrates that staff, include legal consultations to screen we have been doing just that. Whether it is for immigration relief, DACA renewals, For more information on the Dream Resource innovative visual and performing arts offerings, family-based petitions and U.S. citizenship/ Center and upcoming virtual events, visit a virtual high school counselor conference or naturalization applications. www.citruscollege.edu/stdntsrv/drc. the academic success of our student athletes, Additionally, the Dream Resource Center offers the college community has worked hard to an ally training for students and employees make great things happen. In fact, Citrus every fall and spring. Once completed, College has continued to earn recognition and participants receive an “UndocuAlly” decal. awards, the most recent of which is the Military Friendly School honor, which is highlighted in “The Dream Resource Center is an this newsletter. extraordinary addition to the list of support services that Citrus College offers to its While preparing to return to a more normal students,” said Superintendent/President Perri. way of life, Citrus College’s commitment to “I am hopeful that students and staff will take academic excellence and student success advantage of the ally training, which will help will endure. foster a better understanding of the challenges The Dream Resource Center ofers a two-part ally training that undocumented students face, as well as for Citrus College employees and students every fall and Geraldine M. Perri, Ph.D. spring. Note: this photo was taken before the campus Superintendent/President the ways in which we can offer support.” closed due to COVID-19.

The Citrus College campus is currently closed. Faculty and staff are working remotely. Visit www.citruscollege.edu/covid19 and follow the college’s social media accounts for more information. Alumna to provide leadership for pathway improvement initiatives

However, Ms. Bermudez noted that none In addition to settling into her new role, of this would have been possible without Ms. Bermudez is also planning on pursuing a Citrus College. doctoral degree. “It took the investment of an amazing group of According to Superintendent/President Perri, faculty and staff to transform me from a scared Ms. Bermudez’s story demonstrates the and overwhelmed first-generation college transformative role that community colleges student to a woman who felt empowered to take plays in the lives of students. on anything that came her way,” she said. “Ms. Bermudez’s advancement as a student and The most recent opportunity to come Ms. as a professional demonstrates the importance Bermudez’s way is the chance to serve as of community colleges. Her years at Citrus the K-14 technical assistance provider for the College provided a strong foundation for future Rancho Santiago Community College District. success,” Superintendent/President Perri said. In this role, she will provide regional leadership “On behalf of the entire college community, in the development, administration and I wish her well in this new venture. We are all organization of the K-12 pathway improvement very proud of her!” initiatives for Los Angeles County. She will Ms. Bermudez added that the encouragement Ms. Bermudez, a former Citrus College student trustee, is also serve as the region’s K-14 representative settling into her new community college leadership position. she continues to receive from Citrus College for the Los Angeles/Orange County Regional It is hard to imagine Linda Bermudez being means a lot to her. Consortium’s Strong Workforce program, of intimidated by anything. which Citrus College is a member. “My academic and career path is, in many Since graduating from Citrus College in 2008, ways, a reflection of those that invested in me “I came across this position last fall and it the former student trustee has earned a during my years as a Citrus College Owl,” she felt like the job was written uniquely for me,” Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree from said. “Nearly 16 years later, that support system Ms. Bermudez said. “My career has been driven the University of California, Los Angeles, and remains. It is extremely special to be able to say by my desire to open opportunities a Master of Public Administration degree from that the college’s faculty and staff remain my and resources for others. Ultimately, my calling the University of Southern California. She has biggest supporters to this day. I truly believe the to work in the field of education is a result of also acquired more than 10 years of experience impact that Citrus College has on the lives of how education has changed my life, especially holding leadership positions in a variety of students can never be fully captured.” how access to resources, programs and public, nonprofit and community organizations. mentors opened doors for me.”

Citrus College earns ‘Military Friendly’ honor for 11th consecutive year services, from academic counseling and orientations to mental health support and vocational rehabilitation. The center also helps student veterans navigate military tuition assistance programs. Throughout the pandemic, the Veterans Success Center has maintained its commitment to veterans virtually through Zoom drop -in lounge times; communications through Canvas, email and the Citrus Mobile app; and via phone. “I want to thank the incredible employees who work in our Veterans Success Center – they make sure our student veterans and active service members receive the support they need to excel in the The Citrus College Veterans Success Center organized a career panel in November 2019 in classroom and in their future careers,” said Superintendent/President which a handful of veterans spoke about their transition from military to civilian life. Note: this photo was taken before the campus closed due to COVID -19. Perri. “Citrus College is grateful to receive this honor.” A longtime supporter and champion of student veterans, Citrus College The list of 2021- 2022 Military Friendly Schools will be published in the recently earned its 11th consecutive Military Friendly School designation. May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine. Home to more than 400 student veterans, Citrus College received the “On behalf of the board, I want to thank Citrus College faculty and staff 2021- 2022 award from VIQTORY, a service -disabled and veteran -owned for their dedication to student veterans,” said Dr. Patricia A. Rasmussen, small business that owns and operates the Military Friendly brand. president of the Citrus Community College District Board of Trustees. Schools receiving the honor were evaluated from survey responses and “This important honor is an affirmation of the important work being public data sources. done, as well as a sign to veterans considering higher education that Citrus College is a fantastic destination.” One shining example of Citrus College’s commitment to veterans is the Veterans Success Center, which connects veterans to a wide variety of For more information about the Veterans Success Center, visit www.citruscollege.edu/stdntsrv/veterans.

2 CITRUSVIEW Citrus College Citrus College arts stay active earns accolade from during pandemic Phi Theta Kappa honor society Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society with nearly 1,300 chapters around the world, recently honored Citrus College’s Beta Nu Eta Chapter for excelling in membership development. Established in 1918, the Mississippi -based honor society named Beta Nu Eta a 2021 REACH Chapter. Chapters receiving this honor, which stands for Recognizing Excellence in Acceptance and Completion with Honors, must achieve or exceed 15% for their membership acceptance rate. As a result, Beta Nu Eta will receive special Phi Theta Kappa graduation stoles. Citrus College student musicians in Night Shift perform virtually during the pandemic. During a public health crisis that has performances in the past several months greatly impacted the output of art from the Citrus Singers, Speakeasy, Night throughout the world, the Citrus College Shift and the Blue Note Orchestra. A total Visual and Performing Arts Division of 15 videos were produced, with each found innovative ways to remain active taking months to create. and produce several projects virtually, And there’s more on the way! ranging from art exhibits to live and prerecorded productions. Later this spring, theatre arts will showcase Citrus College student Caitlin When the pandemic struck last year, Griffin’s “Mad to Live,” a screenplay the division faced several challenges, set during World War II, which will be The Citrus College Phi Theta Kappa Beta Nu Eta Chapter, whose including learning how to teach and board members and advisors are shown above, was named a 2021 performed online June 4-6. A virtual REACH Chapter. connect with students in a remote performance from the Citrus Singers is environment and how to transition its “I am so proud of Beta Nu Eta students and advisors also in the works. ensemble touring schedule, visual art for their efforts to bring additional students into such a exhibits and performing arts season into For more information about upcoming terrific organization,” said Superintendent/President Perri. a new digital environment. performances, visit www.haughpac.com. “Given their dedication, more Citrus College students are now receiving the benefits associated with a Phi Despite these obstacles, the visual and Theta Kappa membership, such as scholarships and performing arts division and the Haugh engagement with fellow students and faculty.” Performing Arts Center collaborated to deliver a handful of projects, some Established at Citrus College in the 1990s, Beta Nu of which were mixed and edited, while Eta focuses on two major projects every year: the others were livestreamed. College Project is a service -based effort aimed at bettering the Citrus College campus, and Honors in Examples include the college’s theatre Action is a research -based project focused on making arts program performing “A Christmas a global impact. Carol” and a summer production of “The 39 Steps.” With every performance, These projects allow Citrus College students to engage faculty and staff worked with the in research and intellectual dialogue, in addition to Haugh Performing Arts Center to helping students bond and hone their interpersonal highlight students. skills. Beta Nu Eta has submitted both projects for the current academic year and is awaiting their scores. “I applaud our students, faculty and staff for embracing challenges and finding new The chapter boasts more than a dozen active members ways to create incredible performances,” who are involved in attending meetings, holding officer said Superintendent/President Perri. positions and participating in service projects. “I am confident that the resilience and resourcefulness developed during this time will help prepare students for their

future endeavors.” Student Garrison Kirby’s image is from a PHTO 205 high dynamic range architecture project. This work In addition to theatre arts productions, was produced in a remote learning environment. there have also been several

APRIL2021 3 Virtual conference provides high school counselors with information, updates Using Zoom, the Counseling and Advisement Of particular interest at this year’s virtual Center joined forces with school relations conference were the many ways in which and outreach to host the annual High School Citrus College has been working to ensure Counselor Conference. More than 70 high academic excellence, robust student school counselors from 24 different high support services and sustained learning in schools participated in the event, which took a remote environment. place the morning of Feb. 11. “This year’s high school counselor event Citrus College counselors connected with high school counselors and hosted breakout rooms to provide more “The purpose of the conference was to share was well-attended and provided a wonderful information about the college. information about Citrus College with local way to connect with area high schools while Every spring, Citrus College organizes a high school counselors, who could then bring in our current remote environment,” said special event designed to provide high school that information back to the students they Superintendent/President Perri. “Special thanks counselors throughout the region with up-to- counsel to encourage them to come to Citrus to everyone who worked so diligently to make date information about college programs and College,” explained Dr. Nicole Smith, dean of this event a success. It is yet another example services. Despite the ongoing closure of the counseling and the event emcee. of the college community’s creativity and campus, this spring was no exception. resourcefulness during these unique times.”

Student athletes recognized for Citrus Community College academic excellence District Board of Trustees

Dr. Patricia A. Rasmussen President Glendora and portions of San Dimas Representative

Ms. Mary Ann Lutz Vice President Monrovia/Bradbury and portions of Duarte Representative

Ms. Laura Bollinger The men’s basketball team has once again been named a CCCAA Scholar Team. Note: this photo was taken before the campus Clerk/Secretary closed due to COVID-19. Claremont and portions While the ongoing global pandemic has created In addition to the Scholar Baller honors, the hard of Pomona and La Verne unique obstacles for the kinesiology and athletics work of one particular team was also recognized Representative division, Citrus College’s student athletes have by the California Community College Athletic Dr. Edward C. Ortell continued to shine. In fact, they recently received Association (CCCAA). For the second time in a Member recognition for their academic achievement. row and the third time in four years, the Citrus Duarte and portions of Azusa, In early March, it was announced that a record College’s men’s basketball team was selected as Monrovia, Arcadia, Covina and 143 Citrus College student athletes had earned a CCCAA Scholar Team. Irwindale Representative Scholar Baller honors. This surpasses the previous According to the organization, this award is Dr. Anthony Contreras record of 117 students, which was set during the presented annually to one team in each sport Member 2019-2020 academic year. that has excelled academically and in athletic Azusa and portions An initiative that seeks to bridge the gap between competition. To be eligible for this designation, of Duarte Representative education and sports, Scholar Ballers was first each team member must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or introduced at the college during the 2007-2008 higher – the average GPA of the 11 members on Mr. Austin Riggs Student Trustee academic year. To qualify as a Scholar Baller, the 2019-2020 men’s basketball team was a 3.45. a student athlete must maintain a GPA of 3.0 “Juggling academic responsibilities with the or higher. demands of a sport is not easy. The stellar Dr. Geraldine M. Perri Superintendent/President “Having a record number of Scholar Ballers in academic performance of these students, such a trying time shows the resilience of our combined with their proven athletic abilities, student athletes,” said Junior Domingo, dean of is very impressive,” said Superintendent/President kinesiology and athletics. “We are very proud of Perri. “On behalf of the college community, the hard work they’re putting in, especially with I congratulate each honoree and extend my not being able to compete.” sincere thanks to the coaches, support staff citruscollege.edu and many other individuals who helped facilitate their success.”

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