UPDATE Published in part by the Porterville College Foundation Spring 2016 giving back fhe donates $130K to pc foundation CAMPUS NEWS DONATION HALL OF FAME Page 2 Page 5 Page 12 Campus News PC Solar Project Goes Online Porterville College—one of the three colleges making up the Kern Community College District (KCCD) serving Kern, Tulare, Inyo and San Bernadino Counties— today announced it has completed a 1.12 megawatt solar energy system made up of nine elevated shade structures over three parking lots, representing an area of 1.5 acres. The $4 million installation was designed and built by Borrego Solar Systems Inc. and is expected to deliver an estimated $6.5 million in net energy savings over the life of the system. Adopting solar energy furthers KCCD’s goal of mitigating its exposure to unknown fluctuations and increases in energy costs. By investing in solar energy, KCCD is taking control over its energy procurement and PHOTO BY MO MONTGOMERY reducing its impact on the planet. Porterville College recently completed a 1.12 megawatt solar energy system made up of nine “We are extremely excited to be able to elevated shade structures over three parking lots, representing an area of 1.5 acres. The $4 install solar panels to assist the college and million installation was designed and built by Borrego Solar Systems Inc. and is expected to the community with energy savings and deliver an estimated $6.5 million in net energy savings over the life of the system. In addition to continue to plan for the future,” said PC to the solar project PC installed LED lighting and scoreboards, and will be doing various President Dr. Rosa Flores-Carlson. “KCCD sustainability related projects this summer. has been working on bringing renewable energy to all three of its campuses: Bakersfield College, Cerro Coso and now, “The manner in which KCCD’s Borrego Solar recently completed three Porterville College. We have been waiting leadership approached this project set it other projects for California schools: for a long time to be able to participate in up for success from the start, and in my Barstow Community College, College of the energy savings for our current and future mind serves as an example of how any Sequoias and Newport Mesa Unified School needs,” Carlson continued. “Living in the public entity can get a solar project off the District. Central Valley, we have the on-going natural ground properly,” said Fnan Araia, Borrego For more information visit www. sunlight that many other communities do Solar project developer. “Because they portervillecollege.edu or find us on not have and it is imperative that we utilize worked with a qualified consultant, did Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, it .” their due diligence and got clarity on any YouTube, LinkedIn and Yelp. For more The system will generate an estimated 1.9 issues from the local utility up front, Kern information, visit www.borregosolar.com. million kilowatt hours of electricity in its CCD leadership understood the return first year of operation – enough electricity on investment that solar could realistically PUSD and PC align Pathways for to meet approximately 75 percent of the deliver. Having these pieces in place helped Student Success campus’ electricity demand. The sites will be them select the right partner in Borrego On Thursday, March 31, 2016, a historical net-metered, meaning that any solar energy Solar so they could hit the ground running.” event occurred at the Porterville Unified not consumed by the campus will be fed The installations are comprised of School District Board of Trustees meeting. into the local electricity grid. 3,552 LG 315 watt solar monocrystalline There was a k-12 superintendent, Dr. The installation is expected to offset photovoltaic modules, powered by 41 SMA Snavely, a community college president, 29 million pounds of carbon equivalents 3-phase string inverters. These modules and Dr. Carlson and a Dean of Education from during its lifespan, which equates to taking inverters are among the highest performing California State University, Dr. Paul Beare 189 cars off the road for that time period and efficient components available on the market today. or emissions from 32 million vehicle miles See NEWS on page 3 driven. In addition to KCCD’s installation, Page 2 PC UPDATE - SPRING 2016 Campus News Continued NEWS: Continued from page 2 and K12 board members, and a community college board member who also represents business and industry Mr. John Corkins. Every entity have specific rules and regulations and receives funds from various sources, each entity has a certain way of doing things, but it was obvious that employees and board members from all of the entities have been working together to overcome these barriers and create specific educational pathways to assist K-12 students to be able to transfer from one entity to another in an easy way in order for the students not to fall through the cracks. SUBMITTED PHOTO This historical meeting was front page news The Kern Community College District on behalf of Porterville College received a special energy in Porterville. Dr. Carlson was quoted as award related to Black History month from Southern California Edison in February. On hand saying, “We are working hands-on with to receive the award were M & O Manager John Word, VP of Administrative Services Dr. Arlitha K-12 and universities instead of three Williams-Harmon, and PC President Dr. Rosa Flores-Carlson. different systems going three different directions. This has been one of the most CSU presidents and K-12 superintendents. academic educational pathways in order that exciting things we’ve done in education in Porterville College will continue to work they are better prepared for the workforce a very long time.” Dr. Carlson was recently with Porterville Unified School District or for attaining a degree or degrees in higher asked to become a member of the state and California State University of Fresno to education. wide linked learning advisory board which expose young students to various careers See NEWS on page 7 consists of community college presidents, and to provide the students in all career and Campus Calendar April 04/20/16 Open registration begins for summer / fall 2016 for returning and new students. May 05/09/16 to 05/13/16 Final Exams - Spring 05/13/16 Commencement 05/13/16 End of Spring Semester 05/30/16 Memorial Day Holiday Campus closed. June 06/13/16 Summer Session begins PC UPDATE - SPRING 2016 Page 3 Job Fair at Porterville College NEXT EXIT Don’t miss the opportunity! Tuesday, May 3, 2016 9:00 am - 2:00 pm 9:00 am to 9:30 am reserved for military veterans and their families Porterville College Gym 100 E. College Ave., Porterville, CA • No Parking Permit needed Open to the Public For more information: Call Rudy Roman at 559-788-1382 or email at [email protected] • Dress appropriately for an Sponsored by: interview • Practice for interview JEC/EOPS/ CalWORKs • Bring 3 copies of your resume Project funded by Porterville College and the Workforce Investment Board, an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxillary aids and services available upon request. Foundation News PC Foundation receives generous $130k donation from FHE Porterville College received an amazing gift just before the holidays; a $130,000 donation from Family Housing for Education (FHE) was presented to PC President and Foundation Executive Director, Dr. Rosa Flores Carlson by Teri and Bob Ringe. The donation will fund endowed scholarships for working students who have children living at home or for those who have aged out of the foster care SUBMITTED PHOTO system. Family Housing for Education made a $130,000 donation to the Porterville College Foundation over Teri Ringe stated that one of the goals of the holiday break. The donation will fund endowed scholarships for working students who have FHE, founded in 1994, is to aid adults with children at home or for those who have aged out of the foster care system. (From left to right) PC children go back to school with housing Foundation Administrative Secretary Carol Bodine, Teri Ringe of Family Housing for Education, assistance, but the organization wanted Porterville College President and Foundation Executive Director Dr. Rosa Flores Carlson, and Bob to do more and the Porterville College Ringe of Family Housing for Education. Foundation was the perfect outlet. “When it came to donating money we in school. That way, there is less need for raised here, we searched for nonprofit both the fall and spring semesters. earned income and more time for studying. organizations located in or near Porterville “Over the years, FHE has had many Additional benefits to providing housing that had similar goals to those of FHE,” friends and donors, too many to mention include keeping the adults off of Federal Ringe said. “Ultimately, there was no here, but we want to give special recognition assistance, and showing their children that better choice than the Porterville College to State Farm Insurance for helping FHE education is important.” Foundation. The fact that Dr. Rosa Carlson early on with a $25,000 matching grant The generous $130,000 donation will and [Foundation Administrative Secretary] to spur our building fund, and also Mary fund endowed scholarships for years Carol Bodine met with us and explained Barbara Price (now deceased), Union to come. When a donor establishes an how endowed scholarships can be set up, Bank, Bank of the Sierra, Ed Chambers endowed scholarship fund, the gift amount assured us that we were donating wisely.” Farm Management, AAUW members, the is retained in perpetuity and cannot be The donation falls in line with FHE’s Porterville Art Association, and many others spent; the revenue from the endowed organizational mission.