Transforming Lives
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VOLUME XIX SPRING 2016 MiraCostaTransforming Lives Building a Better Future FRIENDS OF MIRACOSTA COLLEGE: The award-winning MiraCosta, Transforming Lives is published One of the many things I love when visiting with community members is by the MiraCosta College Office of Development and Foundation hearing memories of MiraCosta College through the years. I especially have and the Public Information appreciated learning about former MiraCosta president John MacDonald Office. We greatly appreciate the participation of those who Anna Najor: and his vision for the college when it moved to its current hilltop location in Anna Najor: allowed us to tell their stories. the early 1960s and was built with a facilities improvement bond. I wonder, what would Dr. MacDonald, who not only led our college for 20 years but EDITORIAL D IR ECTOR graduated from it in 1941, think of the MiraCosta College of today? Linda Fogerson AmongAmong MiraCostaMiraCosta College’sCollege’s M AGAZIN E EDITOR Over the years, much has remained consistent. Like our dedication to student Cheryl Broom success. Or our practice of hiring the most talented faculty to educate our GRAPHIC DESIGNER/PHOTOGRAPHER Alex Karvounis students. But much also has changed. This semester, MiraCosta opened C ONTRIBUTING WRIT E R BestBest && BrightestBrightest its doors to more than 15,000 credit students—a new record. We have a new location in Carlsbad, the David Ogul Technology Career Institute, which is providing specialized career training to local residents. We are C ONTRIBUTING P HOTOGRAPH E R Brittany Murphy gearing up to offer a bachelor’s degree in biomanufacturing starting in 2017. And, in a historic agreement, L E ARN M OR E AT MiraCosta College has taken over adult education for the San Dieguito Union High School District. foundation.miracosta.edu C O mme NTS OR Q U ESTIONS Like John MacDonald, I too have a vision for MiraCosta College. I envision a college that, through its 760.795.6777 nna Najor represents the best of MiraCosta College. Photography by Brittany Murphy of UC Berkeley talented faculty and staff and its state-of-the-art facilities, prepares our students for the most promising of Najor enrolled at the Oceanside Campus futures. I envision a college that offers our students learning opportunities using the latest technology. when she was just 16; transferred to I envision a college that is safe, secure and modern. UC Berkeley with a pair of associate In this edition of MiraCosta, Transforming Lives, you’ll get to read about part of that vision, as it relates to degrees; and has engaged in humanitarian college planning and facilities. You’ll also learn about the ways the college is positioning itself as a leader in workforce development. Speaking of leaders, faculty member Rita Soza has published a book about work in Uganda, Tanzania and Mexico community college leader, Dr. Helen Miller Bailey. And, the iconic Dr. Dick Robertson, who has served as during summer breaks the past several years. the college’s vice president of Student Services since 1987, is retiring at the end of this academic year. Now Najor is heading to the Mayo I wish I could have met Dr. MacDonald to hear first-hand his MiraCosta College experience. I am Medical School in Minnesota—a research confident that he too would be setting in motion a vision for the college’s next 50 years—one that will institution many consider the most selective provide 21st century educational opportunities, preparing our students to compete and succeed in in the country—as she pursues a career as a tomorrow’s economy. surgeon. “I’m really excited to be given this On the Cover opportunity,” Najor said about her recent Veteran Deverson Lochard celebrates during the acceptance into one of the most prestigious Dr. Sunny Cooke 2015 MiraCosta College commencement ceremony. medical schools in the country. “It’s everything Superintendent/President I’ve been looking for and MiraCosta College was MiraCosta College an integral part in preparing me for this journey.” Najor is among the countless MiraCosta Benefits of Giving College alumni who have gone on to make an impact in the world, from Greg Nelson of Carlsbad Knox Williams, “Rayne Man Emeritus,*” is a champion for MiraCosta College who founded, managed and sold multiple million- students. Believing in the transformative power of an education, he has endowed dollar corporations and remains active in the not one but two scholarships. Knox and his late wife, June, funded the Drue Knox MiraCosta College athletic program, to Andy Powers, Williams Scholarship in memory of their deceased son. Later, after June passed a Taylor Guitars master luthier who is among the away, Knox created a second endowed scholarship in his wife’s memory. most celebrated guitar and ukulele makers the world over and has a following that includes the likes of Elvis A member of the President’s Circle, Knox provides discretionary support in Costello, Taylor Swift and Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page. the form of a gift of $1,000 or more each year, which supports the college president as she meets the college's most pressing needs. Najor, now 25, grew up in San Diego County, was homeschooled most of her life, and enrolled at Knox also became a member the Heritage Society when he established a MiraCosta to complete her high school requirements charitable gift annuity that provides a guaranteed income for life, and significant while simultaneously earning credits for college. While one-time tax savings, with the remainder benefitting For more information on how at MiraCosta, she volunteered in the emergency room the college. you can support education at Tri-City Medical Center Trauma Center and spent and transform student lives, President’s Circle and Heritage Society donors enjoy time working at the Bread of Life homeless shelter. After contact Linda Fogerson at invitations to unique campus events and selected faculty 760.795.6775 or lfogerson@ leaving MiraCosta College with associate degrees in lectures, hosted receptions with the college president, miracosta.edu. *Knox is the former owner of Rayne Water biochemistry and mathematics, Najor took a couple and public recognition of their philanthropy. Systems and the person who posts words of wisdom on the Highway 78 Rayne sign! years off while waitressing up to 14 shifts per week at see Najor pag e 11 Transforming Lives 2 Spring 2016 Building a Better Jerry Borja’s eight years in the Marine Corps included tours Those plans are part of a much larger strategic vision that of Iraq and Afghanistan during which he protected, treated would allow MiraCosta College to remain a vital resource for Future and transported wounded military personnel. Back at home, veterans, the local economy and the community. like the 1,500 or so other veterans and active-duty members Record enrollment and growing student demands have put now enrolled at MiraCosta College, Borja, as with Deverson a strain not only on the highly utilized Veterans Information Lochard (featured on the cover), found the support he needs Center, but also on the burgeoning Allied Health Program; at the Veterans Information Center, a center equipped with career training programs in science, health care, technology computers, counselors, couches and conference rooms. and skilled trades; and on dozens of outdated classrooms at “The services MiraCosta College provides to veterans are both the Oceanside and San Elijo campuses. outstanding—a lot better than what I hear from veterans at Even though 1 in 3 local high school graduates will other campuses,” said Borja. “MiraCosta really is looking out enroll at MiraCosta College, it remains the only community for us; the professors, staff and counselors are very open and college district in San Diego County that has not seen a willing to have that one-on-one conversation with you and bond measure approved in more than a half century, forcing make sure you are getting what you need to be successful. administrators to postpone myriad improvements. And the Veterans Center is where it all comes together.” “We’re doing the best we can with what we have to deliver Which is why MiraCosta College is looking to expand the facilities and programs to meet the educational needs of and improve the Veterans Information Center to include more the community,” said Charlie Ng, MiraCosta College’s vice job training, placement and counseling and other support president of Business and Administrative Services. services to accommodate the growing number of veterans Due to limited funding, MiraCosta is able to work on and active-duty military and their families attending the only small portions of its facilities plan. Using this strategy, Oceanside Campus. it would take MiraCosta 50 years to complete all the needed Chemistry students Raham Khodadadeh (l) and Sulleyka Arnaut (r) collaborate in chemistry lab. Transforming Lives 4 Spring 2016 Transforming Lives 5 Spring 2016 Nearly 60 years ago, the vision modernizations, renovations and improvements that are “There’s no better statement of our commitment to to provide a high-quality, needed in the next five years. Besides an expanded being a conscientious community partner than pursuing veterans center, those improvements include: this degree on behalf of our local industry to provide an comprehensive college education close to home was realized when • Upgrading career technical facilities for science, 85% SD unmatched educational experience that speaks directly our college and community health care, technology and skilled trades. to their workforce needs in biotech manufacturing,” said Mike Fino, MiraCosta College interim dean of leaders broke ground on what is • Updating instructional technology for improved “...85 percent of our students will math and sciences, who noted the total tuition cost for today the Oceanside Campus. student learning in core subjects such as math, the four-year bachelor of science degree will be about science and technology.