Senior Focus Fall 2020

FALL 2020 YOU GOT THIS OVERCOME CHALLENGING SEASONS WITH THESE TIPS CONNECTING FROM A DISTANCE HOW TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH LOVED ONES DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC LEARN TO PLAN FOR YOUR RETIREMENT TODAY! THURSDAY EVENINGS FROM OCTOBER 8-22, 2020 6:30 - 9:30 P.M. SAN JACINTO COLLEGE SOUTH CAMPUS 13735 BEAMER ROAD HOUSTON, TX 77089 COST: $80 San Jacinto College Continuing and Professional Development is offering a course this fall which will show you how to assess your financial situation and develop a personalized plan to achieve your financial and retirement goals. Class participants must wear face coverings and complete a daily pre-screening questionnaire before arriving to campus. Visit sanjac.edu/coronavirus for more information. For more information, visit sanjac.edu/CPD or call 281-542-2020. 281-998-6150 The San Jacinto College District is committed to equal opportunity for all students, employees, and applicants without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, pregnancy, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, genetic information, marital status, or veteran status in accordance with applicable federal and state laws. The following College official has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the College’s non-discrimination policies: Vice Chancellor of Human Resources, 4624 Fairmont Pkwy., Pasadena, TX 77504; 281-991-2659; [email protected]. CONTENTS 2 News & notes 3 How to stay in touch 4 You got this 6 ‘I won the job lottery’ 8 Entrepreneurship 9 Discrimination Questions about San Jacinto College programs and services described in this publication should be directed to the Contact Center at 281-998- 6150. Comments or questions about the publication can be directed to the 2 News & notes San Jacinto College Marketing, Public Relations, and Government Affairs Department at 281-998-6152. Executive Editor: Amanda Fenwick, Vice President, Marketing and Public Relations 3 Connecting from a distance Editor: Torrie Hardcastle, Director of Public Relations How to stay in touch with loved ones Contributing Writers: Colton Bennett, Torrie Hardcastle, Courtney Morris, Melissa Trevizo, and Andrea Vasquez during a global pandemic Contributing Photographers: Colton Bennett, Courtney Morris, Melissa Trevizo, and Andrea Vasquez Visit San Jacinto College online at sanjac.edu. Call us at 281-998-6150 4 You got this Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/SanJacintoCollege and Twitter and Instagram @SanJacCollege Overcome challenging seasons About San Jacinto College with these tips Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the citizens of East Harris County, Texas, since 1961. San Jacinto College is among the top 10 community colleges in the nation as designated by 5 CPD@Home the Aspen Institute for Community College Excellence, and was named an Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction in 2020. The College serves approximately 45,000 credit and non-credit students annually, and offers more than 200 degrees and certificates across eight major areas of 6 ‘I won the job lottery’ study that put students on a path to transfer to four-year institutions or enter the workforce. San Jacinto College’s impact on the region totals $1.3 billion San Jac employees going in added income, which supports 13,044 jobs. The College is fiscally sound, holding bond ratings of AA and Aa2 by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s. strong past retirement age For more information about San Jacinto College, call 281-998-6150, visit sanjac.edu, or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. SeniorFocus is published three times a year by San Jacinto Community College District, 4624 Fairmont Parkway, Suite 210, Pasadena, Texas, 77504, in 8 Entrepreneurship during partnership with Academic Marketing Services. All rights reserved. No part of the material printed may be reproduced COVID-19 or used in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage retrieval system without the permission of the publisher. Fighting age discrimination ©2020 San Jacinto Community College District 9 Fall 2020 SeniorFocus 1 San Jac 3-peats as Top 10 community college in the nation This summer, San Jacinto College was named that all of our students have the resources they as one of 10 finalists for the $1 million need and well-planned educational pathways 2021 Aspen Prize for Community College to complete their certificates or degrees. On Excellence, the nation’s behalf of everyone at San Jacinto College, I signature recognition of high thank the Aspen Institute for this amazing achievement and performance honor.” San Jacinto College among community colleges. Foundation raises $360,500 “San Jacinto College is always improving,” for students in need Awarded every two years said Josh Wyner, executive director of the since 2011, the Aspen Prize College Excellence Program. “The college recognizes institutions has comprehensively restructured its systems The San Jacinto College Foundation raised that achieve strong student to align everything to students’ success, from more than $360,500 with its 2020 Gala with outcomes across four key areas: teaching and before they enroll until they complete a a Twist fundraising campaign, announcing learning, degree completion and successful degree. The college is also especially effective the campaign’s success at the College’s board transfer to four-year institutions, success in the in building relationships with employers to of trustees meeting in June. workforce, and equitable outcomes for diverse deliver what the community needs to thrive student groups. and ensuring that graduates succeed in the “Fundraising campaigns like this are critically workforce.” important to our success,” said Dr. Brenda In 2017, San Jacinto College earned the Aspen Hellyer, San Jacinto College Chancellor. Rising Star Award, naming the College one of The 10 Aspen Prize finalists were selected “These generous donations enhance our ability the top five community colleges in the nation from the nation’s 1,000 community colleges to help students in the ways they need it most. and in 2019, the Aspen Institute named San in a process that included qualitative and Some face an unexpected emergency and need Jacinto College as one of the nation’s top 10. quantitative data analysis and engaged more immediate help, and others are working day than 30 experts in the field. “It is again an honor to be recognized by in and day out to overcome ongoing obstacles. the Aspen Institute for the incredible work After a rigorous review process in fall 2020, It’s our mission to help every student achieve being done at San Jacinto College to help a distinguished jury will convene in early their educational goals, and we are so grateful our students reach their educational goals,” 2021 to select the prize winner, finalists with to the community, our partners, and our said San Jacinto College Chancellor Dr. distinction, and a rising star and allocate a employees for helping us do that.” Brenda Hellyer. “This recognition is due $1 million award among them. The winner One hundred percent of the funds raised to the dedication of our Board of Trustees, will be announced at a May 2021 event in will benefit San Jac students with immediate administration, faculty, and staff to ensure Washington, D.C. needs. The funds will offset costs such as tuition, books, food, clothing, transportation, North, South Campuses welcome new provosts and child care for student recipients and will also help the College continue to provide students with vital campus resources. San Jacinto College has announced the hiring Dr. Okwonna took over for Dr. of two new College provosts following the William Raffetto, who retired “Fortunately, this year’s fundraising gala was retirement of two longtime College leaders. after more than 35 years of originally launched in January as an online Dr. Alexander Okwonna and Dr. Aaron service to San Jacinto College. campaign, so we were able to continue our Knight have been named provosts of the San Okwonna has been in higher efforts during COVID-19, which has directly Jacinto College North and South Campuses, Dr. Alexander education for more than 15 impacted so many of our students in complex respectively. Their tenure in these positions Okwonna years and most recently served ways,” said Ruth Keenan, the foundation’s began in July. as the dean of health and natural science at the executive director. “Our fundraising efforts South Campus. Okwonna is also a registered became even more critical in light of the “We are thrilled to welcome pharmacist and has served in the United States pandemic.” Dr. Okwonna and Dr. Knight Army. He holds an Associate of Science degree In addition to the $360,500 raised by the to San Jacinto College as from Houston Community College as well as fundraiser, the Foundation approved $200,000 provosts,” said Chancellor Dr. a Doctorate in Pharmacy from Texas Southern in emergency funding in March to assist Brenda Hellyer. “Both leaders University. were selected after a national Dr. Aaron students with $250 scholarships during the Knight Dr. Aaron Knight replaced Dr. Brenda Jones COVID-19 crisis, and nearly 1,200 students search that included months of interviews and several forums with San who also retired from the College after nearly have received the emergency aid to date. The 20 years. Knight has been in higher education College has also distributed more than $3.7 Jacinto College employees. Dr. Okwonna and Dr. Knight exemplify the core values at San for more than 25 years and has spent the last million to students via San Jac emergency aid 20 years at Houston Community College, grants through the Federal CARES Act. Jacinto College and will be excellent leaders as we transition on the North and South most recently as dean of social and behavioral To donate and support the San Jacinto Campuses.

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