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By Anonymous — Wednesday, October 12th, 2011
Ranking by G.I. Jobs places CI in the top 20 percent of colleges who embrace veterans
 California State University Channel Islands Camarillo, CA - CSU Channel Islands (CI) has been named a “Military Friendly School” in an annual list that highlights colleges and universities who are doing their best to recruit, retain and support military veterans. The ranking, which resulted from a survey of more than 8,000 institutions nationwide, places CI in the top 20 percent of all colleges and universities for its military friendliness. The annual list is compiled by G.I. Jobs magazine, a respected, veteran-owned publisher that targets members of the military. “This is a great honor for CI to achieve this recognition at such an early stage in our growth as a university,” said Jay Derrico, Veterans Affairs Program Coordinator at CI. “It validates that we’re already doing a good job of embracing military students and veterans – and we’re just getting started.” In its 2012 listing, G.I. Jobs commends CI for practices such as offering veterans priority registration and transferring help, assistance with G.I. Bill benefits, a Vet 2 Vet mentoring program, two student organizations, customized orientation and academic advising sessions, a veteran-oriented workshop series, a resume-writing service, and a campus Veterans Resource Center where veterans can study, socialize and meet with advisors. The G.I. Jobs survey analyzed universities’ policies, programs and services for military friendliness and also sought input from currently enrolled veterans and service members. “The Military Friendly Schools designation is the result of an arduous survey process that takes into account both effort (policies) and results (various enrollment and graduation rates),” said Sean Collins, Senior Brand Manager at G.I. Jobs. “Earning the Military Friendly Schools moniker is recognition that CSU Channel Islands’ policies and results are best of breed.” Currently, 171 students at CI are veterans, members of the military, or their survivors or dependents – approximately 3 percent of the total student body. River Rose, a nursing student who retired from the Navy after 24 years as a sonar technician, said CI’s “Military Friendly” designation was well-deserved. “Long before I even set foot on the campus, the people at CI were reaching out to me and making me feel welcome,” Rose, 50, said. “They work hard to foster a caring network and promote the awareness and development of their veterans. Not only do they care, but they’re also extremely efficient at working to ensure our benefits run smoothly with the Veterans Affairs office.” According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 800,000 veterans took advantage of the G.I. Bill to continue their education in 2010 – a 42 percent increase over the previous year. As a growing number of veterans return to school, favorable ratings from G.I. Jobs’ “Military Friendly Schools” will be helpful to the institutions they recognize as well as to service members seeking a college, said Michael Dakduk, Executive Director for the Student Veterans of America. “The Military Friendly Schools list is the go-to resource for prospective student veterans searching for schools that provide the greatest opportunity and overall experience,” Dakduk said. “Nothing is more compelling than actual feedback from current student veterans.” For more information on CI’s veterans affairs programs, contact Jay Derrico, Veterans Affairs Program Coordinator, at 805-437-2745 or jay.derrico@cusci.edu. To view the 2012 Military Friendly Schools list by G.I. Jobs, visit http://www.militaryfriendlyschools.com. About California State University Channel Islands |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, October 11th, 2011
Time Warner Cable is supporting C-SPAN's documentary competition to encourage middle and high school students to learn about the basic principles of democracy. Students are required to create 5-8 minute video about this year's topic: The Constitution and You. They are asked to select any provision of the U.S. Constitution and create a video illustrating its importance to them. Videos must reflect varying points of view and include C-SPAN video to support the topic. Winners will receive cash prizes, and teachers who are listed as advisors can win school equipment. One student and a parent from California will win a trip to Washington, DC, which will include a VIP tour of the C-SPAN studios! Entry forms and completed videos must be submitted online by Friday, January 20, 2012. For those interested, please go to www.studentcam.org or if you have questions, please email C-SPAN Classroom at educate@c-span.org. |
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By Anonymous — Thursday, October 6th, 2011
College students organize event to foster youngsters’ interest in science as part of service learning class
Camarillo, CA - Ventura County students, grades K-8, are invited to launch marshmallows, make glow-in-the-dark goo, mix their own lotion, torch gummy bears and electrocute pickles as part of CSU Channel Islands’ (CI) Third Annual Science Carnival. Just don’t tell them that all 50 of the free, interactive demonstrations featured at the event are actually science lessons disguised as fun. “It’s designed to be a hands-on science night where students can experience science in a carnival-like atmosphere and see that science is fun, interesting and something they can make a career out of,” said Dr. Phil Hampton, the CI chemistry professor who created the event. The Science Carnival will be held Friday, Oct. 21, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at University Charter Middle School, 700 Temple Ave., in Camarillo. The event is free and open to all Ventura County K-8 graders and their families. The Halloween-themed carnival will also include a “haunted suitcase” that levitates in the air, fluorescent “Gak” (slime), cauldrons of spooky smoking punch, and other Halloween and Carnival-themed refreshments. Students will be able to create and take home science experiments and win prizes in science-based contests. Kids are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. It’s the third year that CI has organized the Science Carnival for local students, with help from the Free Radicals, the student chemistry club. For the first time this year, 15 CI students are developing the Science Carnival for credit in their CHEM 492 Service Learning class. “It gives CI students the opportunity to promote to younger kids why they like science, while at the same time applying their science coursework and explaining the concepts behind the demonstrations they’re doing,” Hampton said. Hampton also enlisted students from Hueneme High School and University Charter Middle School to help conduct demonstrations and staff booths at the Science Carnival. The event is part of a broader effort by CI to inspire more Ventura County students to pursue educations and careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), which are vital to the maintaining the nation’s stature as an innovator and job producer. The Science Carnival is funded with the help of a federal grant awarded to CI that encourages STEM opportunities and outreach. For additional information, contact Dr. Phil Hampton, Professor of Chemistry, at 805-437-8869 or Philip.Hampton@csuci.edu About California State University Channel Islands |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, October 5th, 2011
 Fillmore Sunrise Rotary delivered dictionaries to third grade students at San Cayetano. They do this wonderful donation each year and the students are so proud to have their very own dictionaries. Enlarge Photo |
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By Laura Garnica — Wednesday, October 5th, 2011
As every Fillmore citizen knows, Homecoming Week is a big deal for not only FHS but the community as well. The preparations for this - one of the school’s most momentous events- were well underway by Monday the 19th when the festivities began with a dress up day on campus and the float building kickoff party after school. There, at around 8o’clock the Homecoming Court was announced and Homecoming truly began. Every day was a different dress up day, and every day after school the trucks in the bus garages ceased to be trucks and evolved into the “Fables” themed floats. On Friday, the floats were all (more or less) completed and the homecoming rally began after sixth period at FHS. Homecoming Court was presented and the Queen was revealed: Jaynessa Lopez, an academically and athletically gifted senior was crowned with Robert Bonilla, the Flashes football quarterback as Homecoming King. Our Grand Marshal was Nada Vaughn, and toward the end of the rally the court was dismissed to prepare for the Homecoming Parade, which showcased not only court, but also Miss and Miss Teen Fillmore, Flashes varsity cheerleaders and football players, the Floats, and the FHS band- among other participants. All this fanfare and celebration- preparation for what? The football game of course! It wasn’t looking good for the boys as halftime approached and the Flashes held the lead by only one point, not to mention lightning that lit up the sky before the game even started, delaying it a full fifteen minutes before it was sanctioned to continue. Things only got stranger when, as the Homecoming court lined up in all their finery to walk down the field, the heavens decided to open up at that exact moment and, though their presentation continued, it made for some very waterlogged memories. Despite all these unusual and almost discouraging events, the lightning strikes earlier in the night plus the rain must have been good luck, because the Flashes came back after halftime and soundly defeated the Frazier Mountain Falcons with a final score of 59-30. On Saturday the 24th the Homecoming dance brought the festivities to a close- the turnout and reception of the dance was more positive than it has been in a long time. Hopefully it will encourage equal enthusiasm in school events for the rest of this term! With the last song, Homecoming ended and FHS has since returned to the less intense business of normality, though the fond memories of this week’s events will surely last much longer. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, October 5th, 2011
Harvest Festival/Carnival at San Cayeatno Thursday October 27, 2011 |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, October 5th, 2011
University will partner with local community colleges, schools in five-year grant-funded effort
Camarillo, CA - A $6 million federal grant will be used to help inspire and educate the next generation of science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates at CSU Channel Islands (CI) and nearby community colleges. The grant, awarded to CI by the U.S. Department of Education, will be disbursed over five years in installments of $1.2 million. It targets Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) with the goal of enhancing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) opportunities for Hispanic and low-income students. The grant was secured through the efforts of CI Professor of Chemistry Phil Hampton and his colleagues: Sadiq Shah, Associate Vice President for Research & Sponsored Programs; Cindy Wyels, Professor of Mathematics; and Don Rodriguez, Associate Professor of Environmental Science & Resource Management. “It’s important that we prepare the next generation of graduates to tackle the changing world environment and make scientific and technological advances,” said Hampton, the grant’s principal investigator. “With the tight economic times and challenges of growing as an institution, this grant gives us the resources to reach out to students, increase their knowledge of science and fulfill our mission of being student centered.” The grant will enable CI to partner with Oxnard College, Ventura College, Moorpark College and Santa Barbara City College, as well as with Ventura County K-12 schools, to inspire Hispanic and low-income students to pursue STEM disciplines and support them with services to transfer, graduate and succeed. Though the grant targets underrepresented minorities, the activities and services it funds will encourage interest and success in STEM disciplines among all students of all ethnicities. “This grant will benefit many students throughout Ventura County and enable CSU Channel Islands to continue to provide an outstanding education to students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in STEM disciplines,” said CI President Richard R. Rush. “Moreover, the additional funds will strengthen our partnerships with community colleges to help students transfer to CI and be successful in STEM majors.” The effort, dubbed “Project ACCESO” (Achieving a Cooperative College Education through STEM Opportunities), will provide tutoring, peer mentoring, research and employment opportunities, STEM equipment and facilities, outreach into local schools, analysis of STEM curriculum and student performance, and collaborative efforts on all campuses to engage, retain and graduate STEM students. Outreach programs will include hands-on science demonstrations in local classrooms and “Science Nights” where students and parents will learn about STEM career paths. A STEM center for students is scheduled to open on the CI campus in January and a campus greenhouse is also planned. To obtain the grant, Hampton and his colleagues spent a year planning and honing a 93-page proposal for Project ACCESO. CI was one of approximately 100 institutions nationwide to receive the highly competitive award. As a Hispanic Serving Institution, CI’s full-time, undergraduate student enrollment is more than 25 percent Hispanic. The HSI designation, obtained in 2010, allows the University to compete for U.S. Department of Education Title V funding as well as other financial support available with the HSI status. “We’re excited that this grant will help encourage and educate the next generation of innovators, scientists and mathematicians right here in Ventura County,” said Hampton. For additional information, contact Professor Phil Hampton at 805-437-8869 or Philip.Hampton@csuci.edu. About California State University Channel Islands |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, October 4th, 2011
 Fillmore Unified School District FILLMORE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AGENDA |
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By Anonymous — Monday, September 26th, 2011
For the past few decades, the federal government has continuously increased its power over local schools, through funding with strings attached, with depressing results. Since the 1970′s federal spending on education has nearly tripled, yet student achievement has remained flat and graduation rates have not improved. However, that increased spending has had a major impact on the amount of red tape, paperwork and administrative costs imposed on local schools and teachers, taking valuable time away from their core mission – educating children. While federal policymakers are busy spending billions to make matters worse for public schools, they’re also busy preventing students from having better choices, at the behest of powerful teachers unions. While charter, parochial and private schools offer better results and graduation results, President Obama and his allies are trying to prevent children from enrolling in them through cost-effective aid for school choice that measurably puts them on a path of success. In many cases, Washington... http://blog.heritage.org/2011/09/26/morning-bell-obama-circumvents-congr... |
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By Anonymous — Monday, September 26th, 2011
Education faculty aim to encourage productive use of new technologies in the classroom
Camarillo, CA - Three CSU Channel Islands (CI) School of Education faculty members who were awarded fellowships and a grant from Google are developing a program to help teachers use technology more effectively in the classroom. CI Professors Dr. Jeanne Grier, Associate Professor Dr. Jill Leafstedt and Adjunct Lecturer Catharine Reznicek of the Ventura County Office of Education earned fellowships to take part in Google’s first-ever Faculty Institute, held over the summer at its Mountain View headquarters. The three-day institute explored ways of using new technologies to enhance student learning. It brought together Google staff with 39 faculty members from 19 CSUs, Stanford and UC Berkeley, along with innovative teachers from across California, for expert advice, hands-on workshops, case studies and brainstorming. Google focused on CSU because CSU programs credential 60 percent of California’s teachers – or 10 percent of all U.S. K-12 teachers. "There is so much technology available to educators today, but unless they learn how to use it effectively, it does little to change what is happening in our classrooms,” said Google Education Research Engineering Manager Nina Kim Schultz. “Without the right training and inspiration, interactive displays become merely expensive projection screens, and laptops simply replace paper rather than shifting the way teachers teach and students learn. There’s an essential challenge to help teachers develop the dispositions and confidence to be lifelong evaluators, learners and teachers of technology, instead of continuing to rely on traditional skill sets that will soon be outdated." While at the Institute, Grier, Leafstedt and Reznicek developed the idea for UDTech, an online program that helps teachers create lesson plans using technology to engage all different types of learners in the classroom. The concept is based on applying the principles of universal design, which are rooted in engineering and architecture, to technology in education. "Teachers often make their lesson plans and then adapt them for different learners and use technology as an 'add-on,'" said Grier. “Our hope is that UDTech will help teachers build a game plan for using new, interactive technologies so that their subject matter is more accessible and engaging to everyone in the classroom.” Google funded the proposal with a $20,000 grant and has asked the three faculty members to return in May to present their project. Grier, Leafstedt and Reznicek plan to pilot the program with teaching credential candidates at CI and Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, in the spring. Ultimately, they hope to make UDTech available to the entire CSU system and the broader education community. “Our experience with Google really opened our eyes about how technology, employed purposefully, can provide a much more profound learning experience,” said Leafstedt. “As educators, it’s our responsibility to adapt to changing technologies. We can’t afford to miss opportunities to connect with students and engage them on their terms.” About California State University Channel Islands |
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By Anonymous — Monday, September 26th, 2011
Chancellor to discuss best cradle-to-college practices
 Jack Scott THOUSAND OAKS, CA - The chancellor of the California Community Colleges will speak at California Lutheran University on Thursday, Oct. 13. Jack Scott will present “Preparing 21st-Century Learners Through the California P-20 Pipeline” in Lundring Events Center as part of the Silver Anniversary Distinguished Speaker Series celebrating the formation of CLU’s Graduate School of Education and School of Management. The event begins with networking at 6 p.m. Scott will discuss high-impact education practices in California’s P-20 pipeline of preschools, K-12 schools, community colleges and universities, also referred to as cradle-to-college. As chancellor of the nation’s largest system of higher education, he oversees 112 campuses, nearly 90,000 employees and 2.76 million students. Since taking office in 2009, he has worked with legislators on a historic law to simplify the transfer pathway for community college students to state universities, guaranteeing them junior standing when they earn an associate degree in certain majors. He also created a Student Success Task Force of academic, research and business leaders that is developing a plan to increase student retention and degree completion rates. As a California state senator and assemblyman from 1996 to 2008, Scott authored 146 bills that were signed into law, including landmark measures that increased community college financing, eased the nursing shortage and strengthened career technical education. He served as chair of the Senate Committee on Education and the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee on Education. Many organizations including the California Federation of Teachers, the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the Association of California Community Administrators independently named him legislator of the year. Prior to being elected to the state legislature, Scott served as president of Pasadena City College and Cypress College. He is past president of the Association of California Community Colleges Administrators and former chair of the Accrediting Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Scott holds a master of divinity from Yale University and a doctorate in American history from Claremont Graduate University. CLU’s higher education doctoral program, ELS Language Centers, the Pacific Coast Business Times, the San Fernando Valley Business Journal and Corwin are sponsoring the free presentation. Lundring Events Center is located in the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center, which is north of Olsen Road near Mountclef Boulevard on the Thousand Oaks campus. RSVP by Friday, Oct. 7, to Lauren Amundson at lamundso@callutheran.edu or 805-493-3445. |
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By Anonymous — Monday, September 26th, 2011
Sophomore with multiple sclerosis aims to help others face medical challenges
 Carli Lovell Camarillo, CA - Carli Lovell, a sophomore nursing student, is the 2011-2012 CSU Channel Islands (CI) recipient of the prestigious William Randolph Hearst/CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement. The $3,000 award, given to one student at each of CSU’s 23 campuses, recognizes students with financial need who have overcome significant hardships to excel in academics, community service and personal achievements. Lovell, a 19-year-old from West Covina, set her sights on becoming a nurse at an early age. When diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age 15, she was afraid her dream would no longer be possible. “My diagnosis taught me to look at life differently,” she said. “Before, I saw my life as a straight path. Now I know I have to take a different route and push even harder to accomplish my dreams.” Despite suffering attacks that impaired her mobility and vision, Lovell became captain of her high school color guard team and graduated ranked second in her high school class. Lovell chose CI because of its strong nursing program and the opportunity to earn her bachelor’s degree along with an RN. She is entering her second year with a 3.43 GPA. Lovell has devoted more than 250 hours as a volunteer at Downey Regional Medical Center. In addition, she spent three hours a week for the past seven years working with a neighbor child who has cerebral palsy. She currently works part-time in the Student Health Services office on the CI campus. Lovell hopes to go into neonatal nursing, earn a master’s degree and, one day, specialize in helping children and teenagers with multiple sclerosis. “I want to show by example that people can cope with medical challenges and still lead a happy and fulfilling life,” she said. Lovell and the 22 other Hearst/CSU Trustees’ Award winners were honored at a ceremony on Sept. 20, at the CSU Office of the Chancellor in Long Beach. For more information on the award and this year’s winners, visit http://calstate.edu/foundation/hearst. About California State University Channel Islands |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, September 21st, 2011
On Monday, September 12th, 2011, San Cayetano School recognized good citizenship and character at their Peacebuilder Assembly for the month of September. Captain McGrath, Chief of Police for the City of Fillmore, came to speak to the students about what a good citizen is and how respecting others is important. She shared how we can be good citizens to help our school and community. Each teacher chose a student from his or her class whom showed excellent character and respect in the month of September. Aliza Ayala and Brian Arnett, two San Cayetano students assisted Captain McGrath in handing out the Peacebuilder Awards. The Peacebuilders for September are: Bryan Hurtado, Isaiah Hernandez, Damian Flores, Christopher Hernandez, Nathan Torres, Elisabeth Mercado, Viririana Carrillo, Marissa Diaz, Jaron Foy, Miguel Valdez, Kayla Priebe, Alyssa Ocegueda, Ty Wyand, Janeah Castro, Brianna Sanchez, Daniela Chavez-Hernandez, Carlos Hernandez, Hailey Avila, Eva Vieyra Saldana, and Kirah Collins. Captain McGrath then announced the San Cayetano Character Counts Award of a $100.00 savings bond sponsored by the John Paul Pet Foundation. Captain McGrath presented the Character Counts Award to a deserving fourth-grade student. Eva Vieyra Saldana was chosen by the fourth-grade teachers as a model of kindness and respectfulness to the other students and school community. Starting next month all students who come to school, each day, on time, are given a raffle ticket. The students place their tickets in a box and one ticket is drawn. The student whose ticket is drawn is given a NASA backpack with the book Max Goes to the Moon in it. Each month, the tickets will be put into a larger box that will be kept until the end of the year. In June, Mrs. Marholin, the principal, will draw from the tickets to give away two new bicycles. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, September 21st, 2011
 Isaiah Hernandez, Bryan Hurtado, and Damian Flores are congratulated by San Cayetano Principal Jan Marholin on receiving their Personal Success Award certificates. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, September 21st, 2011
Camarillo, CA - CSU Channel Islands (CI) has announced that it will continue to accept applications for the spring 2012 semester. CI began accepting applications on Aug. 1 and upper division transfer students with 60 or more transferable semester units are encouraged to apply. “By continuing to accept applications for spring, the campus plans to meet the need of our many regional students who are ready to begin working towards their goal of a four-year degree,” said Ginger Reyes, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Director of Admissions & Records. “I strongly encourage students who are ready to transfer to apply as soon as possible. We would like to accommodate as many students as we can in the spring.” The University expects to admit more than 400 transfer applicants for the spring semester, bringing total campus enrollment to more than 4,000 students for the 2011-2012 academic year. Requirements and applications for eligible transfer students are available online at www.csumentor.edu or on CI’s website at www.csuci.edu. About California State University Channel Islands |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, September 20th, 2011
Fillmore Unified School District FILLMORE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AGENDA 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. |
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By Laura Garnica — Wednesday, September 14th, 2011
There was an exciting air of anticipation surrounding Fillmore High on August 16th- our first official day of school. “Welcome back” posters and signs, trumpeting the superiority of each class over its peers in gestures of friendly rivalry, contributed to the positive mood that was electric across campus. Bagels and coffee: the staple breakfast of business people everywhere. However it seems teachers are fans as well- this simple yet apparently delicious fare proved a hit with the school staff; courtesy of Fillmore High’s new ASB cabinet and the local Starbucks. Speaking of ASB, the roster for 2011-2012 cabinet consists of: Ana Morino (’12) as ASB President, Jenna Wilber (’12) as Vice President, Anissa Magdaleno (’12) as Secretary, Jaynessa Lopez (’12) as Commissioner of Finances, Collin Farrar (’13) as Commissioner of Activities, Robert Marinez (’12) as Commissioner of Clubs, Laura Garnica (’13) as Commissioner of Publicity, Johnny Wilber (’12) as Commissioner of Renaissance, Johnny Golson (’12) as Sergeant at Arms, and Sammy Martinez (’13) as Speaker of the House. Along with the cabinets for each class, ASB is working hard to make this year great. On Friday the 26th before the first rally of the year, we conducted the noontime activity- a competitive tricycle race between the classes. It was a close win for the senior class, as the freshman upstarts were neck and neck for most of the final round. Following sixth period was the rally itself, which proved to be one of the most successful Fillmore High has hosted in years, a sentiment vocalized by many staff members as well as students. Games included an ice-melting contest, won by the juniors, a game where teams of two try to catch the most Cheetos thrown by their partner with shaving-cream covered heads, and a few others. Seniors won the rally overall, much to their enthusiasm. The past few weeks here at Fillmore High School have really set the tone for what is looking to be a fantastic year for every class. |
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By Anonymous — Monday, September 12th, 2011
Visually impaired cancer survivor pursues psychology degree to help sick children
Camarillo, CA - CSU Channel Islands (CI) junior Stephanie Bower is one of 18 students in the CSU system to win a 2011-2012 Dale M. Schoettler Scholarship for Visually Impaired Students. The $6,000 award provides assistance for full-time students at CSU campuses who are declared legally blind. Bower, a 19-year-old from Ventura, has a very personal reason for pursuing her psychology degree at CI. She became legally blind at the age of 11, after surgery to remove cancerous brain and spinal tumors. Despite undergoing years of chemotherapy, Bower finished high school on time with a 4.0 GPA and earned a 3.9 GPA from Ventura College. Through it all, Bower said her spirits were lifted and her fears assuaged by a child psychologist who worked at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. “I remember being scared out of my mind and she either distracted me or explained things to me in terms I could understand at 11 years old,” Bower said. “I knew at that moment that was something I wanted to do because I know what a difference it made for me and my treatment.” Bower is working toward a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with the intention of earning a master’s and Ph.D. in counseling psychology. “My dream job is to be a psychologist working in a children’s hospital or children’s unit,” she said. “Anywhere someone could use a little cheering up – that’s where I want to go.” Bower said the scholarship would cover her tuition for the year. She’s eligible to reapply next year. “It really helped me get on the road to achieving what I want to achieve,” she said. “I can focus on my schoolwork without worrying about how I’m going to pay for everything.” Dale M. Schoettler, a successful California businessman who was blind himself started the scholarship. When he died in 2001, Schoettler left $4.8 million to the CSU Foundation to fund scholarships for visually impaired students at all 23 CSU campuses. To qualify for the scholarship, students must be legally blind, enrolled full time and maintain at least a 2.8 GPA. Anne Gillespie Brown, Director of the CSU Foundation, was impressed with Bower’s application. “Legally blind students frequently find it very difficult to be enrolled full time,” she said. “As evidenced by the serious medical problems that Stephanie has faced and fought, and her desire to pay forward the kindnesses from people who have helped her along her journey, Stephanie will continue as she says, to jump, hop, and skip over all the brick walls that are in the way to a doctorate degree. She is an extraordinary person who is nothing short of inspirational.” For more information on the Dale M. Schoettler Scholarship and other CSU scholarship programs, visit http://www.calstate.edu/foundation/Scholarship.shtml. About California State University Channel Islands |
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By Anonymous — Monday, September 12th, 2011
General manager to discuss NPR station September 30, 2011
 Mary Olson THOUSAND OAKS, CA. - The public can tour the new KCLU Broadcast Center and hear from the general manager during an event presented by the California Lutheran University Community Leaders Association. The program will begin at 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30, with breakfast in the KCLU Community Room. At 8:30 a.m., General Manager Mary Olson will discuss the station and Thousand Oaks City Manager Scott Mitnick, a KCLU Advisory Board member, will talk about the role that National Public Radio stations like KCLU serve in the community. Visitors can then tour the center. The $2.9 million center, which opened in May on the CLU campus, houses four state-of-the-art production rooms. Dubbed The Paulucci Studios, they include the station’s first dedicated newsroom. The two-story, 6,570-square-foot center also provides facilities for educational opportunities and community events that the previous center couldn’t accommodate. The Martin V. and Martha K. Smith Education Suite features a fully digitized classroom next to a student lab, providing an observation and workshop environment to train CLU broadcast journalism students. The second student lab will house a student-run digital Internet radio station. The new center replaced the tiny studio in CLU’s Mount Clef Residence Hall where the KCLU staff had produced award-winning local news and public affairs programs since it signed on in 1994. KCLU, which serves about 70,000 weekly listeners in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, has received more than 140 awards for broadcasting excellence in the last decade. KCLU provides NPR and local news programming in Ventura County at 88.3 FM, in Santa Barbara County at 102.3 FM and 1340 AM, and online at http://www.kclu.org. A community service of CLU, the station is supported by its listening members and by underwriting from local, regional and national corporations and foundations. The cost of attending the event is $25. Limited seating is available. To make a reservation, go to http://www.callutheran.edu/cla. The center is located north of Olsen Road on Campus Drive in Thousand Oaks. First California Bank is a sponsor of the event. The Community Leaders Association was founded to stimulate the community's interest in the university’s academic, athletic and cultural programs. Members organize fundraising and social events throughout the year to support academic departments and student scholarships. The organization has raised more than $1.8 million through the years. For more information, contact University Relations at 805-493-3151. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
Camarillo, CA. - A grant obtained from NASA by CSU Channel Islands (CI) will help engage Ventura County high school students in the science behind global climate change. CI Science Education Professor Dr. Bob Bleicher secured the $593,000 grant to help biology and earth sciences teachers incorporate NASA climate change data, research and curriculum into their classrooms. Teachers at eight schools in the Oxnard Union, Ventura Unified and Santa Paula Union High School Districts will receive professional development and resources under the grant. “The goal is for students to be able to interact with the best climate research tools available from NASA and form their own arguments and conclusions about climate change,” said Bleicher. “Our hope is that we get more students excited about pursuing higher education and careers in science.” CI was one of only 14 institutions across the nation awarded the funding through NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Program. The first-time grant targets schools with a high percentage of Hispanic students, who are underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The grant supports professional development for up to 20 teachers over two years at all six schools in the Oxnard Union High School District and at Ventura and Santa Paula High Schools. It includes honorariums for the teachers; instruction from nationally recognized experts on climate science; access to NASA satellite data and resources; printed and online support materials and lesson plans; on-site instructional assistance; and a two-day global climate change summer camp for students. The teacher instruction and student summer camp will begin in the summer before the 2012-2013 school year. “It’s our commitment at CI to work collaboratively with our local school partners to energize natural curiosity in high school students,” Bleicher said. “By bringing this NASA program to our local high schools, we hope we can support teacher leadership and ongoing professional development at their school sites and also excite students about science and higher education.” For more information on the grant, contact Dr. Bleicher at bob.bleicher@csuci.edu. For more information on NASA’s education programs, visit www.nasa.gov/education. About California State University Channel Islands |