No. 17 Published by the Students of Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell & Pottstown, Pa. September 2009 Second Floor Ribbon-Cutting Completes North Hall at one time as a brewery, shoe pol - and computer graphics instruction. ish factory, mattress factory, whole - Since opening its doors 13 sale grocery store and a knitting years ago, the College has be - mill. The College moved into the come the hub of higher education first floor of the renovated facility in in Pottstown, bringing new and in - 2006. novative programs and learning Dr. Stout emphasized the need opportunities to the community, in - for the expansion. “Students are cluding: a state-of-the-art health flocking to community colleges, not careers suite; new degrees in Culi - just Montgomery County Commu - nary Arts, Fine Arts, Radiography nity College, but community col - and Surgical Technology; a new art leges across the country.” gallery to showcase local, regional With the opening of the second and national artists; new art stu - floor, the College has added dios to support the Collegeʼs new 50,000 square-feet of space to its Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) de - West Campus. The new space gree program; the University Cen - houses seven state-of-the-art ter, which expands access to smart classrooms, faculty offices, bachelorʼs and masterʼs degree Photo by Dennis Verbo, Photography Editor an expanded Learning Assistance programs in Pottstown through Laboratory for tutoring and supple - partnerships with Albright College, (from left) J. Edmund Mullin, Board of Cutting the ribbon at North Hall are mental instruction, an expanded art Gwynedd-Mercy College, and Trustees; Jared Clemons, President, West Campus SGA; James Vlahos, Board of Trustees; Gary Silvi, Building Developer; and Dr. Karen Stout, MCCC President. gallery, art studio space for paint - Temple University; and, most re - ing and drawing, and a digital labo - cently, new GED and Accelerated ratory for communications, music Learning programs. By Brian J. Nichols, Online Editor were in attendance for the dedica - tion. After more than a decade of “Iʼm very proud of the work record enrollment growth, Mont - thatʼs been done in this building,” gomery County Community Col - said Dr Karen A. Stout, president Former Montgazette Editor legeʼs West Campus in Pottstown of Montgomery County Community has expanded to the second floor College. “I have an opportunity Gets National Accolades of its High Street facility North Hall. today to celebrate the accomplish - Montgazette Staff Report A ribbon cutting ceremony was ments of many and the vision of held on Wednesday, Aug. 19 at many that make this building com - Jan Kargulewicz, who served as the 2008-2009 editor of The 12:30 p.m. Pottstown Borough offi - plete with the opening of this sec - Montgazette , was presented with a medallion during the Collegeʼs cials, community members, and ond floor.” Commencement ceremony in May for being named to the Coca-Cola MCCC faculty, staff and students J. Edmund Mullin, Member of All-State Community College Academic Team as a Silver Scholar. In the Board of Trustees, and Chair addition to the national award, he was also named to the Pennsylva - of the Collegeʼs Physical Plant nia Commission for Community Collegeʼs All-Pennsylvania Academic Committee, was excited to open Team along with fellow 2009 graduates Stephanie Groff, Samuel Lu - In this Issue the new floor the students and to cidi and Christina Pergolini. News.....................pgs 1-7 the community surrounding West After providing the student Commencement address on behalf of Campus. the class of 2009, Jan graduated magna cum laude with an associ - Opinions / Editorials...pg 8 “I think when you see what ateʼs degree in Liberal Studies. He was accepted to Columbia Univer - weʼve done, everybody will be sity to continue his study of sociology, and he aspires to earn a Sports.........................pg 9 proud, and we are happy to help doctorate and become professor of sociology or a research scholar at our host, the Pottstown Borough, a university. A & E....................pgs 10-11 in its revitalization efforts.” said In addition to The Montgazette , Jan also served as vice president Mullin. of the Writers Club, treasurer of the College Democrats, and as a Campus & Community Located at 16 High Street in member of the Honors Club and Phi Theta Kappa International Hon - ....pg 12 Pottstown, North Hall is a historic ors Society. He also volunteers with the Main Line Animal Rescue. site within the community, serving The Montgazette, Page 2 News From the Editor-in-Chief Hello to all the loyal Montgazette readers Returning from last year will be Dennis No. 17 September 2009 out there. Allow me to introduce myself; my Verbo, the paperʼs amazing photography editor. name is Renee Bergandino. I am a nursing stu - With a new year and semester beginning, I look Editor-in-Chief: Renee Bergandino dent here at the college and will be the new Ed - back on the end of the wonderful partnership itor of the paper. between Jan and I, and have been truly Photography Editor: Dennis Verbo This is a bitter sweet moment for me. I was blessed with an amazing experience. I know lucky enough to be the managing editor of the for a fact that without Janʼs guidance I wouldnʼt Online Editor: Brian J. Nichols paper with a wonderful person named Jan Do - have taken the position of editor. Montgazette Staff: Brynn Bailey minik Kargulewicz, who was last yearʼs editor- Looking to the future and the start of the Tara Durkin and-chief. I describe the moment as being new semester I encourage you as the reader to Kerri Hughes bitter sweet since that I am more of a follower, become part of the success of The Nirmal Makadia and when Jan had approached me about being Montgazette . I look forward to working with my the editor, my initial response was no. staff and to making the paper just as amazing Comics: John Straw After weeks of consideration I was on the as it has been. I also look forward to meeting verge of saying yes, and after considering the new people--so I say to all of you writers out Contributors: Jared Clemons pros and cons, I decided that becoming editor there, come and take the challenge and be - Patricia OʼMalley was something that I needed to do for myself come part of The Montgazette family. Jon Rieker and for the school. Daniela Spevak Masthead Design: John Straw Faculty Editorial Advisors: Leslie Becker-Brown Student Government Welcome Harry Yanoshak Managing Advisor: Alana J. Mauger Welcome Back MCCC students! I hope you ening from a relaxing summer, I have a feeling all had a great summer break, but itʼs now time this is going to be a great year! to hit the books once again. I always encourage My name is Patricia OʼMalley and I am cur - The Montgazette is looking for writers, everyone to get involved in some of the school rently a Biological Sciences major entering my photographers, artists, clubs and associations if you can, and I believe last year at the college. I firmly stand by the be - sales representatives, proofreaders, itʼs a great way to get acquainted with some of lief that you do not get the full effect of Mont - graphic designers, and your colleagues and build leadership. As you gomery County Community College without circulation assistants. may have heard, the North Hall at the West getting involved in student activities. I am ex - No experience necessary. For information, Campus is opening its upper half this semester, cited to start my first term as your Student Gov - email [email protected]. and with it North Hall has 50,000 square feet ernment Association President at the Central added to the West Campus. This is great news Campus. especially for all you art majors! In the upper After a very successful past year, we're half of the North Hall will be the new location for gearing up for a busy fall semester. This sum - The Montgazette is published on the first Tuesday of our Learning Assistance Lab (LAL), so if you mer, the SGA officers and Student Leadership every month, September-December and need assistance do not hesitate. I wish you all and Involvement staff have worked on many February-May, by the students of the best of luck with your studies and a great different issues and planned new events for the Montgomery County Community College. future here at Montgomery County Community upcoming year. As a student, you can expect to Correspondence should be emailed to College! see many opportunities for student involvement [email protected]. with a few fun surprises. We will be on the look - Sincerely, out for any eager future student leaders who The deadline for the next issue is Sept. 21, 2009. Jared M. Clemons want to get involved with a great club. For advertising information, visit West Campus SGA President If you have any questions regarding SGA or http://montgazette.wordpress.com or email student life here at Montgomery County Com - [email protected]. On behalf of the Student Government Asso - munity College please do not hesitate to stop The Montgazette reserves the right to refuse ads ciation, I would like to welcome all the new stu - by the Student Leadership and Involvement of - based on content. dents to Montgomery County Community fice currently located on the first floor of College College. I would also like to welcome all of our Hall at the Central Campus. The Montgazette is printed by Montgomery returning students back to campus. It is amaz - Newspapers, Exton, Pa., ing how the dynamics of the college change Best Wishes, with the beginning of the fall semester.