International Focus 2017- 2 0 1 8 IN THIS ISSUE Meet the ISP Staff . p. 1-2 University Transfers . p. 3 Student Diversity . p. 4 Meet Our Athletes . p. 5-6 Current Students . p. 7-8 OPT & Transfer Students . p. 9-10 International Students Program 9200 Valley View Street Letters from our Alumni . P.11-12 Cypress, CA 90630 Scholarship Winners . p.13 (714) 484-7049 www.cypresscollege.edu Year-End Celebration . p.14 INTERNATIONAL FOCUS 2017 - 2018 Meet the ISP Staff Yongmi Han, Manager Before coming to Cypress College in the fall of 2005, I worked at two different English language schools from 2000-2005. Prior to that, I spent almost 5 years teaching and living in Seoul, Korea, where I became interested in working with foreign or international students. My educational background is in biology and art history, but I enjoy working with international students here at Cypress, assisting them with their pursuit of higher education in the United States, and witnessing their successes in transferring to universities or obtaining their degrees here to enrich their professional careers back home. I enjoy hiking, travelling, baking and reading. Gina Marrocco, Administrative Assistant After graduating from Cypress High School, I attended Cypress College. I completed an Associate Degree in Business Administration. While attending Cypress College, I worked part-time in the Business Computer Lab. My Computer Information Systems Professor, Donna Woo, was responsible for the lab. I kept in contact with Professor Woo and my Academic Counselor, Don Tyrell after graduating. They had such an impact on my life! I was hired at Cypress College in 2001, for an Administrative Assistant position in the Center for Intercultural Understanding. This position transitioned into my current position as Administrative Assistant II for the International Students Program. We had 35 international students at that time. It has been exciting to see the program grow and meet so many wonderful students from all over the world! My husband and I recently celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. My son attended Cypress College and is currently in his senior year at Whittier College. I enjoy travelling, off-roading and swimming. Deepa Tharani, Adjunct Counselor Before beginning my journey as an Adjunct Counselor at Cypress College four years ago, I worked for the Directorate of Education, Government of Delhi, India, for over 20 years as a Psychologist, Educational and Vocational Guidance Counselor, and the District Coordinator for the States Disabled Students Programs and Services. My educational background is in Clinical Psychology and Educational Counseling and upon relocation to California, I continue to work in the area of Counseling and Student Success. At Cypress College, I have worked as an SEM, Basic Skills, Transfer, and Probation Counselor. I have also coordinated the Colleges’ Success Factors Index Program. As an International Students Program counselor, I enjoy working with a culturally diverse student population from different parts of the world, helping them acclimatize to the US culture and education system, and achieve their academic goals of earning associate degrees, and/or transfer to their desired university. As a former International student, I am able to empathize with some of the struggles our students may experience and feel blessed to be able to assist them in their academic endeavors. On the personal front: My husband, Anil, is a Captain in an International Airline and I love to join him on his flights when schedule permits. I have two daughters, Serena, a medical student and Tanya, a biology major at UCLA. I like to read, watch movies, travel, and party with friends and family. - 1 - INTERNATIONAL FOCUS 2017 - 2018 ISP Office Student Assistants Jene Viray - Philippines Being an international student myself , I personally know and have experienced the struggles of applying abroad. Moreover, working in the ISP office allowed me to have first hand experience and the opportunity to help other international students who wish to attend Cypress College. This is my favorite part of my job here. I am majoring in Communications and being in the office enhanced my communication skills and has helped me Hung Anh Phan - Vietnam understand its importance. I have been with ISP Office for almost 2 years now, and what I can say during that Chi Nguyen - Vietnam period is that I see myself constantly learning and growing as time goes by. ISP Office has given me an opportunity to Working in the ISP Office as a Student develop and improve my professional as Assistant has been one of the greatest well as communication skills in an office college experiences for me so far. Since I setting. The nature of my job is to assist my have never worked in an office fellow international students, so courtesy environment before, it was challenging, and diplomacy are always a priority and but with the help of my supervisors, requirement. Since each student has a Yongmi and Gina, who have had years different background and personality, you of experience in the field, I felt more must always treat them with respect. As a confident and supported. I managed to result, this job has greatly improved my pick up tips and learned different types interpersonal communication skill. In of skills from them that would definitely addition, working here allows me to be beneficial to me in my career later. befriend and connect with students from The most fun part of this job is the all over the world, which is a very humbling opportunity to encounter students of experience. I am very grateful to be given diverse cultural backgrounds and an opportunity to be a part of the ISP expand my circle of friends all around Office for the past 2 years. Also, this is my the globe. As a travel enthusiast myself, last semester working here so I cannot deny meeting students from different parts of the fact of how much I am going to miss the world and hearing their stories always this place. Thank you my lovely coworkers encourages me to get out of my comfort (Jene & Chi) and my respected supervisors zone and start my own adventures. (Yongmi & Gina). It has been an amazing journey! - 2 - INTERNATIONAL FOCUS 2017 - 2018 Transfers to 4-Year Universities 2016-2017 Last Name First I. Country Major University Bui H. Vietnam Accounting CSUF MBA/International Do A. Vietnam CSU San Marcos Business Jung S. Korea Art/Illustration Queens College, NY Im J. Korea Math UCI Kim J. Korea Apparel Production Cal Poly Pomona Environmental & Civil Kwon K. Korea Cal Poly Pomona Engineering Le T. Vietnam Physics Ithaca College, NY Nguyen D. Vietnam Aerospace Engineering CSULB Nguyen L. Vietnam Health Administration CSULB Nguyen T Vietnam Biology UCR Park S. Korea Economics UCSD Tan B. Singapore English UCLA Vun L. Cambodia Computer Science CSULA Yi L. Korea Philosophy UCI Wang A. Argentina Business Purdue Univ., IN - 3 - INTERNATIONAL FOCUS 2017 - 2018 ISP Countries Fall 2017 Spring 2018 Fall 2017 Spring 2018 Albania 1 1 45 44 Korea Argentina 1 1 Lebanon Armenia 1 1 3 3 Malaysia Australia 2 1 3 3 Myanmar Belgium 1 1 3 3 Nepal Belize 1 1 1 1 Netherlands Brazil 1 1 Nigeria Cambodia 2 3 1 1 Palestine Canada 3 3 5 6 Philippines China 5 5 Romania Colombia 1 1 1 Russia Congo 2 1 Saudi Arabia Denmark 2 1 South Africa France 3 2 1 1 Sri Lanka Germany 1 2 1 1 Switzerland Greece 1 1 3 Taiwan Hong Kong 1 2 3 3 Thailand India 2 2 1 1 Tunisia Indonesia 2 2 5 4 United Kingdom Japan 12 13 64 54 Vietnam Jordan 5 4 188 177 Total - 4 - INTERNATIONAL FOCUS 2017 - 2018 Meet Our Athletes Baseball Sophomore Cypress College baseball standout Trevor Fonseca was awarded his first Charger of the Week this season. Former Cypress College baseball player and 2018 National Baseball Hall of Fame electee, Trevor Hoffman, presented Fonseca with the award while visiting the campus during Thursday's practice. The sophomore outfielder has helped guide the Chargers to a 4-3 overall record, while leading the team with a .550 AVG and .679 OBP this season. Trevor Fonseca Vancouver, Canada My two years at Cypress College have been an amazing experience, both academically and athletically. There are many excellent programs and classes offered here, and the opportunity to play for Coach Pickler and the rest of the coaching staff is one of the main reasons I came to Cypress. They do a great job in preparing their players for the next level, and there is always a competitive environment the moment you step on the field. Next year I will be moving on to play baseball and study business at Houston Baptist University. I look forward to starting a new chapter of my life as I continue to grow as a baseball player and person. - 5 - INTERNATIONAL FOCUS 2017 - 2018 Tennis Tomas Bella Alexander Hagon (Buenos Aires, Argentina) (Kent, United Kingdom) Thomas Davies Erik Jorsal (Monmounthshire, Wales) (Queensland, Australia) Gertjan De Wilder Remmerswaal Ingmar (Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium) (Utrecht, Netherlands) Giovanni Fragalle Simon Jan (Sao Paulo, Brazil) (Koblenz, Germany) Johan Wennerholm (Smaland, Sweden) Golf Georgios Bris (Athens, Greece) David Marris (Suffolk, United Ying-Shih Chang Kingdom) (Taipei, Taiwan) Andrew Thomson (Lanark, Scotland) Burt Gildenhuys (Heidelberg, South Africa) Men’s Basketball Swim & Dive Denzel Tchougang Takumi Ameku (Geneva, Switzerland) (Okinawa, Japan) - 6 - INTERNATIONAL FOCUS 2017 - 2018 The International Club Officers (Top left to bottom right) Kahoko Kono Uriel Aragon Carlos Ventura Andrew Moreno Shiori Takato Marie Gallardo Summer 2017 Fall 2017 1st Club Meeting Beach Outing - 7 - INTERNATIONAL FOCUS 2017 - 2018 Student Spotlight Ross Mitra My name is Ross.