February 2008
DR. JAMES FAY ACCEPTS VICE-PRESIDENT IN THIS ISSUE POSITION AT CERRO COSO New V.P...... 1 Cerro Coso Community College is pleased to welcome Dr. James Fay as the new Vice- Student Of The Semester ...... 2 President of Academic Affairs. “Cerro Coso is very pleased to have Dr. Fay join our team. Nurses Graduate ...... 3 Jim is a visionary, possesses high skills in technology, and has a strong background in distance education leadership. His experience with the California State University system High Desert University Foundation ...... 4 will assist us in bringing upper division New Foundation Board Member ...... 4 courses to the Cerro Coso campuses,” stated Congressman Visit ...... 5 Cerro Coso President, Mary Retterer. Auditions For Spring Play ...... 6 Dr. Fay was born and raised in New York City, moving to California in 1970. He has an undergraduate degree from Georgetown University. After serving as an army intelligence officer in Germany, Fay earned a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from University of California Hastings College of the Law. He has been a professor, department chair, and dean at California State University, East Bay. He went on to become the founding dean at Harcourt Higher Education, in Boston, the first online college in New England, and subsequently served as academic vice president at the wholly online Ellis College, in Illinois. During his years at Cal State, Fay developed, researched, and edited seven editions of the California Almanac. He worked in the California Governor’s Office and ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1996. His goals at Cerro Coso are to work with President Retterer, the faculty, and staff to improve the student retention rate, expand the college’s online programs, develop new energy, technology, and training programs to serve the region’s cutting-edge technology sector, and raise funds to support these new initiatives. Dr. Fay’s wife, Stephanie, is a book editor. They have two grown sons, Eric and Alex, and three granddaughters, Veronica, Victoria, and Natalia. 2 THE COYOTE HOWLER
MATTHEW SCOLLIN NAMED CERRO COSO’S FALL 2007 “STUDENT OF THE SEMESTER” The Cerro Coso Community College Alumni Association has been recognizing the outstanding achievements of Cerro Coso students each semester since 1988 by soliciting nominations from the faculty at all campuses - Indian Well Valley (Ridgecrest), Kern River Valley (Lake Isabella), South Kern (Edwards AFB, Mojave, California City), and Eastern Sierra College Center (Bishop and Mammoth Lakes). The Alumni Association proudly announces the recipient of the Fall 2007 “Student of the Semester” award is Matthew Scollin from the Eastern Sierra College Center in Mammoth Lakes. Scollin was honored at an Alumni Association awards luncheon on Wednesday, December 5, 2007 at the Texas Cattle Company in Ridgecrest. He was nominated for the award by Cerro Coso Community College instructors Christine Abbott and Matt Hightower. Abbott stated, “Rarely does a student demonstrate as much intellectual acuity and maturity as Matt Scollin. Without doubt, he is one of the brightest students I’ve worked with in twenty-five years of teaching. He also is one of the most gifted writers I’ve every known; his creative analyses of literature is especially invigorating.” In the nomination from Hightower, he stated, “Matt is a very conscientious and skilled student. While he is gifted in many ways, his best skill is his writing. His written work is to-the-point and concise when necessary and creative and humorous when given the opportunity. It is always thought provoking. His work is truly a joy to read.” Their nomination was also supported by Deanna Campbell, Director of the Eastern Sierra College Center; and other instructors, Joe Slovacek, Brian Schuldt, and Thomas Hardy.
Matthew Scollin, from the Cerro Coso Community College Eastern Sierra College Center in Mammoth Lakes, is congratulated as the recipient of the Alumni Associa- tion’s Fall 2007 “Student of the Semester” award. Pictured (l to r) Deanna Campbell, Director of the Eastern Sierra College Center; Christine Abbott, Instructor; Matthew Scollin, Fall 2007 Student of the Semester; and Dr. Mary Retterer, President of Cerro Coso Community College. CERRO COSO COMMUNITY COLLEGE 3
Overall GPA, class participation, extracurricular activities, and community involvement are all considered in the selection process for this award. Scollin is currently enrolled in 13 units, has completed 37.0 units, and carries and overall GPA of 4.0. He has listed his major as Political Science / Public Policy and his goal is to continue his education at a four-year institution with a concentration in either international affairs or public policy. He also plans to enroll in Naval ROTC in hopes that he may earn a commission in the United States Marine Corps upon graduation. In his spare time, Scollin enjoys snowboarding, reading, and writing. “The Alumni Association is very proud to bestow this award on Matthew Scollin and acknowledges his many achievements by selecting him as the Fall 2007 “Student of the Semester,” stated Director of Information, Development, and Alumni Relations, Joann Handeland. Scollin was presented with a framed certificate of appreciation, an alumni pin, a $250 cash award, a special Cerro Coso remembrance gift, his name added to a perpetual plaque honoring all recipients of this distinguished award, and his photo will be displayed on “Student of the Semester” bulletin boards at both the IWV and Mammoth Lakes Campus.
CERRO COSO COMMUNITY COLLEGE HOLDS STUDENT VOCATIONAL NURSES GRADUATION Success has been achieved by 14 Student Vocational Nurses at the Cerro Coso Community College, IWV Campus. A formal Graduation and Capping Nursing Ceremony was held in the College Lecture Center, from 2:00 – 4:00 pm on Friday, December 14, 2007. “The nursing ceremony is a well-known and honored event. Students start planning for this ceremony very early in their three-semester program,” stated Cheryl Gates, Director of Vocational Nursing and Health Career Programs at Cerro Coso Community College. “We are honored to have Celia Mills, RN, BSN who serves as the clinical manager for the Medical Surgical Unit and ICU at Ridgecrest Regional Hospital to be our Guest Speaker this year,” continued Gates.
The highlight of the ceremony is always the candle-lighting and recitation of the Nursing Pledge. Families and friends come from near and far to experience the ceremony. The nursing capping and the Nightingale Ceremony remain a treasured part of the total student nursing experience. Formal recognition is provided to the graduates and to their families and friends, who supported them during their numerous hours of study, reading the textbooks or working at clinical facilities. The ceremony provides validation that the difficult and adventuresome college experiences have been achieved.
The Pink Ladies from Ridgecrest Regional Hospital provided a reception after the ceremony! The public was invited to attend this joyous event. 4 THE COYOTE HOWLER
DR. MARY RETTERER NAMED AS A FOUNDING MEMBER HIGH DESERT UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION Dr. Mary Retterer, President of Cerro Coso Community College, has been named as a founding member of the Board of Directors for the newly formed High Desert University Foundation. The purpose of the Foundation is to secure a campus of one of the California public universities for the high desert region and to provide support for that university through fund raising and promotion of the charitable and education- al purposes of the university.
The nine founding directors represent three from each county: Kern, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino. Members represent government, education, business and industry within the three-county region. Dr. Retterer is a graduate of California State University, San Bernardino, and taught accounting at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
NEW FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER Cerro Coso Community College Foundation President, Mr. Tony Damiano, left, administering the oath of office to new Foundation Board member Mr. Greg Rickets. Rickets a long-time resident of Ridgecrest is owner of Grego’s Salon. He is excited about serving on the Foundation stating, “I have volunteerism in my blood. I am looking forward to assisting the Foundation with their goals of supporting the College.” Rickets and his wife Cheri have four grown children. CERRO COSO COMMUNITY COLLEGE 5
CONGRESSMAN KEVIN MCCARTHY VISITS CERRO COSO
Cerro Coso Community College President, Dr. Mary Retterer welcomed Congressman Kevin McCarthy to the College campus Thursday afternoon, January 31, 2008 Congressman McCarthy participated in a round table discussion on topics of interest with College Council members. Several in attendance addressed their concerns about the continued escalation cost of textbooks sighting the difficulties students have with paying such high prices.
From left are Cerro Coso Community College President, Dr. Mary Retterer, Rep. Kevin McCarthy and Kern Community College District Trustee Stu Witt. 6 THE COYOTE HOWLER
OUR CAMPUSES
Indian Wells Valley AUDITIONS FOR CERRO 3000 College Heights Blvd. Ridgecrest, CA 93555 COSO’S SPRING PLAY (760) 384-6100 The Cerro Coso Theatre Department is gearing up for a busy spring semester. Kern River Valley Auditions for the spring play were held the first week of classes. The college will P.O. Box 3204 be producing THE BROTHERS GRIMM SPECTACULATHON by Don Zolidis. The 5520 Lake Isabella Blvd. fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm are turned on their heads in this fast-paced, Lake Isabella, CA 93240 hilarious play as cast members attempt to combine all 209 stories ranging from (760) 379-5501 classics like Snow White, Cinderella, and Hansel and Gretel to the more bizarre, South Kern obscure Brothers Grimm stories. The wild, free-form comedy has lots of audience 95 MSS/DPE participation and madcap fun. The play provides a fun challenge for cast members, 140 Methusa Avenue with colorful characters like the Prince, Rumpelstiltskin, The Big Bad Wolf, The Bldg 2453 Edwards AFB, CA 93524 Talking Fish, Rapunzel, Little Red, and Cinderella. Over forty parts are available. (661) 258-8644
Eastern Sierra College Center Bishop CERRO COSO THEATRE DEPARTMENT PRESENTS 4090 W. Line Street Bishop, CA 93514 SPECTACULATHON! (760) 872-1565
Mammoth Lakes P.O. Box 1865 101 College Parkway Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 (760) 934-2875 AUDITIONS CC Online (760) 934-2796 Theatre Production - THEA C121 Sign up for Theatre Production now to be a part of the hilarious production of (888) 537-6932 THE BROTHERS GRIMM SPECTACULATHON! No experience is necessary. Many parts available. Auditions will be held the first week of class. Technical Theatre - THEA C131 http://cconline.cerrocoso.edu Want to work behind the scenes on THE BROTHERS GRIMM SPECTACULATHON? Sign up for Technical Theatre. No experience is necessary. Visit Cerro Coso on the web: SPRING THEATRE CLASSES ALSO INCLUDE: Directing, Fundamentals of Acting, Beginning Acting, Intermediate Acting, Advanced Acting, and Introduction to Theatre (An Online Class). www.cerrocoso.edu
ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION The Coyote Howler is a publication of Cerro Coso Community College. For more informa- tion about the stories in this publication, or to include information in this publication, contact Joann Handeland, Director of Public Informa- tion, at (760) 384-6230 or email [email protected].