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Las Positas College Press Releases - 2002
11/25/02
Las Positas College Wins Statewide Recognition for Local Steinbeck Project
(Livermore, CA) – Las Positas College recently received a "Celebrating
the Way California Learns" recognition award from the California Community
College League for its participation in the centennial celebration of John
Steinbeck's life and works.
The Las Positas Steinbeck project joined students and the community in a full
slate of learning opportunities, activities and events designed to raise the
knowledge of the prolific California writer whose roots stem close to this
region. Steinbeck, who attended nearby Stanford University, was awarded the
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1940 for The Grapes of Wrath and the
Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962.
"This project generated the enthusiasm of faculty, students, staff and
administrators. It was truly a successful, campus-wide effort and a
great connection with the community,” said Peggy Riley, an English instructor
at Las Positas who initiated the project.
The multi-faceted Las Positas Steinbeck Project included a focus on the writer
and his times in English, history and humanities classes, a student essay
contest, a Steinbeck movie series, guest speakers, visual displays on campus,
a link on the college's website, a bus tour to the Steinbeck Center in Salinas,
and even a folk concert featuring songs written early in the century.
10/24/02
Las Positas College Support Staff To Give Back to the Community
Date: October 25, 2002
What: During the afternoon session of their annual professional
development day from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Las Positas College support staff will
be participating in activities that will benefit the community. The staff
will be volunteering at three locations. Some of the services they will be
providing are assisting seniors, helping out in classrooms, light gardening
and kitchen cleaning and organizing.
Who: Las Positas College Support Staff
Where: “Flex Day” will begin at Las Positas College-3033
Collier Canyon Road in Livermore. From there, staff will travel to one of
three locations, The Friendship Center - 543 Sonoma in Livermore (925) 373-5767,
The Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District - 685 East Jack London
Boulevard in Livermore (925) 606-3200 or The Veterans Affairs Hospital - 4951
Arroyo Road in Livermore (925) 455-7421.
When: Friday October 25, 2002, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact: Diana Navarro-Kleinschmidt (925) 373-4968
10/18/02
The Las Positas College Children's Theater Presents The Adventures of Coyote
(Livermore, CA) – The Las Positas College Theater department will present
a children's theater production, The Adventures of Coyote, tales of the Trickster
Coyote adapted from Native American folklore by Wendy Gray.
The play is based on the folklore of a wide variety of Native American tribes.
Each story is about the legendary Trickster Coyote character, who is both
foolish and wise, mischievous and heroic. Found in most of the Native Tribes'
mythology, the clever Coyote sometimes teaches lessons that reinforce shared
cultural concepts about the world, how things can to be and how things should
be. The coyote stories entertain with the humorous escapades of the rascal
troublemaker. The program is an entertaining, authentic and educational way
to provide insight into the Native American traditions.
The cast members are all students of the Children's Theater class at Las Positas
College and the majority of them live locally in Dublin, Livermore and Pleasanton.
Performances will be on October 25 at 7 p.m. and October 26 at 2 p.m. The
performances will take place at the Las Positas College Theater at 3033 Collier
Canyon Road in Livermore.
Admission is free and the production is suitable for all ages. For more information,
please call Wendy Gray at (925) 556-3140 or Mary Campbell at (925) 373-4918.
10/16/02
Las Positas College's 3 rd Annual Major Exploration Faire
What: Students will learn about majors, classes, careers
and make faculty connections. They will also learn about the works of John
Steinbeck and his vision of California, which is the theme of the Faire.
Who: Professors and staff from CSUH, Chabot College's nursing
and dental hygiene representatives, Las Positas College students, faculty
and staff will be present.
Where: Las Positas College, 3033 Collier Canyon Road in Livermore,
Building 700
When: Wednesday October 16, 2002, 12 p.m.
Contact: Jennifer Aries at (925) 485-5215
9/26/02
Community Members Invited to Donate Bone Marrow
(Livermore, CA) - A bone marrow drive will be held at Las Positas College
on Tuesday, October 1st from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. to
benefit 26-year-old Las Positas College student Tom Kerr.
Since June, students have been raising money to cover the cost of testing
150 donors. Their goal was to raise $11,000. They have far surpassed that
goal by raising more than $19,000. The students are asking community members
to volunteer to donate blood to be tested and entered into the National Marrow
Donor Registry.
"A simple blood test is all it takes to possibly save someone's life,"
said Jennifer Aries, college district spokesperson. "Our students are
signing up and we are also inviting the community to come forward to help
us try to save the life of this young man. If you could see him with his classmates
and his children, your heart would just melt."
Community members and students have come forth with everything from cash,
to good wishes, to donations of toys for the children. Scott Haggerty of the
Alameda County Board of Supervisors has even volunteered to donate blood for
Tom. "It has been incredible to see the goodwill of this community,"
said Aries. "The residents of the Tri-Valley really do care about each
other."
"We will test people until the money runs out," said Cindy Rouzer,
Tom's sociology instructor. "Please come donate blood and help us find
a match for Tom, or someone else with this awful disease."
Community members willing to pay for their own test may do so on the day of
the drive with cash, a check or a credit card.
9/16/02
Fundraising Goal Exceeded, More Still Needed
(Livermore, CA) - The students at Las Positas College have
exceeded their goal of raising $11,000 to test 150 students in the bone marrow
drive for student Tom Kerr. “The students are very excited,” said instructor
Cindy Rauzer. “The community has been wonderful with their donations and good
wishes for Tom.”
The good news is that the students have raised more than $15,000. The
bad news is that more than 500 students have signed up to be tested, and that
does not include community members expected to take part in the bone marrow
drive. The students are raising the funds to cover the $73 testing fee for
bone marrow donors.
“The students are hoping community members who have not yet donated will find
it in their hearts to donate to this cause. Tom is a wonderful young man who
is determined to live to watch is children grow up,” said Jennifer Aries,
district spokesperson and bone marrow drive committee member. “We still need
to raise a significant amount of money.”
One anonymous student planned to transfer to a local university after completing
units at Las Positas College. She donated $3,000 of her college savings to
the bone marrow drive telling Student Health Center staff that it was more
important to her to help find a match for Tom, and that she will delay her
university transfer by a semester. “We have numerous stories of people who
have come forth with incredible generosity,” said Aries. “This young woman
has worked very hard for her college savings and yet felt putting the money
toward trying to save Tom's life was more important than her future.”
“Tom and his family are so thankful with the outpouring of love and prayers
they have received,” said Rauzer. “The Tri-Valley is truly a caring community.”
The bone marrow drive will take place on Tuesday, October 1 st from 8 a.m.
to 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Student Center at Las Positas
College. Community members are invited to come donate blood to be entered
into the National Marrow Donor Registry to help find a match for Tom. “We
will test as many students and community members as we have the money for,”
said Rauzer.
“Community members coming to test who are willing to pay the $73 for their
test can pay on-site with cash, check, or a credit card.”
The students are still accepting donations. They are tax deductible and can
be mailed to: Las Positas College Bone Marrow Drive, 3033 Collier Canyon Road,
Livermore, CA 94551. For information about donating or the marrow drive,
please contact (925) 485-5215.
9/3/02
Las Positas College To Hold September 11 th Memorial
(Livermore, CA) – The community is invited to a memorial tribute honoring
the victims of September 11 th . The ceremony will be held on Wednesday, September
11 th from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. in front of the college library.
The event's theme is, “A Time of Refection”. Faculty and students will come
together to honor the memory of victims and reflect on the events that have
taken place over the past year.
The ceremony will be lead by College President Karen Halliday. Features will
include a Wall of Hope and Peace, in which people are encouraged to leave
messages or share their thoughts. There will also be an art display
of works by faculty and students inspired by September 11 th . The Fire Science
Academy will have an exhibit to honor the fallen firefighters and police officers.
Taps will be played and a bell will ring 9 times, pause then 11 more times.
This event is open to the public and will be held rain or shine. For more
information please call Jennifer Aries at (925) 485-5215.
8/27/02
Las Positas College Students Seek Funds for Bone Marrow Drive for Fellow Student
(Livermore, CA) - Las Positas College students in Cindy Rouzer's
sociology class sat stunned last semester as one of their classmates shared
his views on death and dying from a very intimate perspective. Tom Kerr told
his classmates about his struggle with leukemia and what is what like to face
death.
Tom is a married, 26-year-old father of twin boys and an infant daughter.
“I want to live to see my children grow,” he shared with the class. “This
has been tough and I've learned a lot about myself, but I don't know how much
longer I can struggle.” Tom is in his second remission and is in desperate
need of a bone marrow transplant.
After hearing his speech, Tom's classmates realized that something had to
be done. They met with Tom and their instructor and launched a bone marrow
drive to be held in conjunction with a blood drive at Las Positas College
on Tuesday, October 1, 2002.
While they were planning the drive they were faced with financial issues.
They joined with the National Marrow Donor Registry and the American Red Cross
and were told it would cost $73 to test each donor. The students launched
a fund raising drive that is currently underway.
“The students and I are determined to do all we can to help save the life
of this young man. I do not want to see an empty chair in my classroom,” said
Rouzer.
Several local companies have donated to the fund including Zany Brainy which
will donate 10% of sales on September 7 th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Applebee's
and the Oakland A's have also pledged donations.
The students are still short of their goal and are appealing to the community
to pitch in and help Tom and his family.
“Our appeal to the community is that you only have one life, please share
it,” said Rouzer.
Donations are tax-deductible and may be sent to Las Positas College, Mailbox
168, 3033 Collier Canyon Road, Livermore, CA 94551. Checks may be made
out to Las Positas College Bone Marrow Drive.
8/23/02
Las Positas College Student Wins KFOG CD Design Contest
(Livermore, CA) – Las Positas College (LPC) student Cheri Chuang has been
named the winner of the KFOG Radio "Live From the Archives 9 Cover Art"
contest. The contest drew entries from throughout the Bay Area to create
a design for the station's upcoming CD. KFOG's Live from the Archives
CD series has generated almost $2 million for local food banks since its inception
in 1994. This latest volume, which features the music of artists featured
on KFOG, is scheduled for release in November.
Chuang entered the contest as part of a class assignment by Las Positas instructor
Joe Crooks in a Principles of Graphic Design course. "This was a subsequent
course to Introductory Graphics taught by Sean Silas. I was so impressed with
both instructors in terms of how they presented the material and their overall
enthusiasm for the subject. Another big plus for students is the fabulous
equipment which includes an entire room full of new top-of-the-line MacIntosh
computers," said Chuang.
The criteria for the contest, which was launched in July, challenged artists
to visually communicate that the station is based in the San Francisco Bay
Area. Chuang represented this with a brilliantly hued sunset over the San
Francisco skyline, and an acoustic guitar spanning the bay with a Golden Gate
bridge perched on the frets. Visitors can view the CD cover at www.kfog.com
Chuang, a former Pleasanton resident who recently moved to San Jose,
is multi-talented in the arts. She is also a musician who is pursuing opportunities
as a classical composer.
7/29/02
Las Positas College Welcomes New Students to EXPO LPC
(Livermore, CA) – Las Positas College invites new freshmen to an exciting
and information filled day to help introduce them to college life. EXPO LPC,
will be held on Tuesday August 13, 2002 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with orientation
starting in Building 600.
This event will give new students an opportunity to meet other new students,
student leaders, faculty and staff.
Immediately after orientation, workshops hosted by faculty and counselors,
will be available giving students an opportunity to learn important information
about succeeding in college and about becoming involved in college activities
and clubs. Students will also have an opportunity to become familiar with
college facilities, staff and the resources that are available to them in
order to help them be successful.
Other highlights include a free boxed lunch, live music played by a student
band, a campus tour in the afternoon lead by students and a raffle with valuable
prizes provided by local merchants.
Students will also have the opportunity to earn 0.5 unit of credit before
classes even start!
For more information, please contact Dr. Dee Roshong, at (925) 373-5820 or
Angella VenJohn (925) 373-4976.
7/22/02
Las Positas College Music Department Offers Two Courses for the Piano Teaching Certificate Program
(Livermore, CA) – Las Positas College Music Department is offering Teaching
Beginning Piano and Teaching Intermediate Piano this fall.
Teaching Beginning Piano, MUSA 25 will cover principles of piano teaching
with an emphasis on technique development and reading ability at the beginner
level, private and group piano teaching methods and personal development as
a teacher and musician. The course will be held on Fridays from 11:30 a.m.
– 1:20 p.m.
Teaching Intermediate Piano, MUSA 27 will cover principles of piano teaching
with an emphasis on continued technique development and reading ability at
the intermediate level, private and group piano teaching methods, the selection
of intermediate literature, studio organization and continued personal development
as a teacher and musician. The course will be held on Fridays from 1:30 p.m.
– 3:20 p.m.
"There is a need for piano teachers and this program is a great, cost
efficient way to earn a certificate," said Music Instructor Mary Campbell.
The courses will run from August 23 through December 22 and will be taught
by Barbara Anderson.
For further information about these courses or the certificate program please
call Mary Campbell at (925) 373-4918.
6/22/02
Exhibition of Las Positas College Student's Watercolor Paintings at SPCA
(Livermore, CA) – Las Positas College will exhibit student's watercolor paintings
at the local animal shelter. The exhibit entitled, Animal Antics, has
given students firsthand experience on the steps it takes to begin with an
idea, produce images, promote and finally present their works at a public
exhibition. This experience will connect students with organizations in their
community in a mutually supportive event.
The exhibition will be held at the Tri-Valley SPCA, 4651 Gleason Drive in
Dublin. A reception will be held on Sunday June 9 th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30
p.m. The art show will continue thru Saturday, September 7 th from 11:00 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday thru Sunday. For more information please contact,
Oneida Stowe at (925) 373-5800 ext. 2212.
Some artwork will be for sale with a percentage of each sale to be donated
to the SPCA. Admission is free.
5/30/02
Las Positas College to Close on Fridays During Summer
(Livermore, CA) – In an effort to continue energy conservation, Las Positas
College will be closed on Fridays beginning June 3 through July 26. The Chabot-Las
Positas Community College District Offices in Pleasanton will also be closed
on Fridays and follow the same schedule.
Students will still be able to apply for admission and register via the college
web site at www.laspositascollege.edu
Security will be on duty even though the campus is closed.
Las Positas College will resume its regular schedule on Monday, July 29. For
further information, please contact Jennifer Aries at (925) 485-5215.
5/23/02
Las Positas College's 24 th Annual Art Completion Award Winners Announced
(Livermore, CA) – Las Positas College hosted the 24 th Annual Spring Festival
Art Competition at the Thompson Gallery in Livermore on May 9.
Local artist and Las Positas College's instructor, Neil Thomas, judged the
entries. Categories included oil and acrylic paintings, pastel and charcoal
drawings, watercolor, mixed media, graphic design, photography, and 2-D design,
all created by Las Positas College students in the past year.
The awards, made possible by donations from local businesses and associations,
totaled over $2400.00 and included a purchase award, gift certificates and
cash awards.
The award winners were Richard Green, Arnold Kirkwood, Angelina Froke, Stephanie
Chan, Robin Chinn, Bill Dutcher, Madelynn Ellis, Jenny Olivera, Cheryl Pedigo,
Ken Prochnow and Tanya Cullen. The 2002 Jack Ward Scholarship was awarded
to Zupash Tareen and the 2002 Pleasanton Art League Scholarship was awarded
to Sue Tomlinson.
5/22/02
Las Positas College Honors Students at 12 th Annual Graduation
(Livermore, CA) – Over 600 students will receive their AA or AS degrees on
Saturday,
June 1 st at 10:00 a.m. The ceremony will be held on the soccer field at Las
Positas College. Guest speakers will include Barbara Morrissey, Faculty
Senate President, Joshua Brecheisen, Student Government President and Allison
Duthie, this year's Valedictorian.
The graduating class includes 90 Highest Honors students earning a grade point
average between 3.75-4.0 and 67 Honors students earning a grade point average
between 3.25-3.49. Amongst these groups, fourteen students have earned a grade
point average of 4.0.
Ceremonies are open to the public. For more information please call Jennifer
Aries at (925) 485-5215.
5/8/02
The Las Positas College Angels to Host Annual Pasta Pizzazz Fundraiser
(Livermore, CA) – The Las Positas College (LPC) Angels booster club will
host Pasta Pizzazz, a fundraiser for the LPC Performing Arts Department, on
Friday, May 10. The event will be held at Rios-Lovell Winery, in Livermore.
The event kicks off at 6:30 p.m.
A delicious pasta dinner provided by Girasole Grill of Pleasanton is included
in the ticket price, along with vocal jazz performances by Jim Heiner and
his Valley Jazz. Tickets are $40 each or a table for eight can be reserved
for $300. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact
Mary Campbell at
(925) 373-4918. The event is very popular and sold out last year.
5/8/02
Las Positas College Presidential Finalists to Speak at Public Forums
(Livermore, CA) – The Presidential Search Committee at Las Positas College
has narrowed their nationwide search down to four finalists, two from California
and two from out of state.
The finalists are Ms. Karen Halliday, interim president and vice president
of student services at Las Positas College; Dr. Phillip Hartley, assistant
superintendent, vice president at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita,
California; Dr. Joel Kinnamon, provost of the Southeast Campus of Tulsa Community
College in Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Dr. William Richards, Chief Executive Officer
of the Westminster Campus of Front Range Community College in Aurora, Colorado.
"The committee was pleased with the strength and high quality of the
applicant pool," said Dr. Amber Machamer, Search Committee chair and
LPC Director of Research and Planning. "The Search Committee believes
all of the finalists have the potential for moving Las Positas College forward."
The community is invited to hear the finalists speak at the forums to be held
in the Student Center at Las Positas College, 3033 Collier Canyon Road in
Livermore.
Monday, May 13th
2:00 p.m., Dr. Phillip Hartley
3:30 p.m., Dr. Joel Kinnamon
Tuesday, May 14th
2:00 p.m., Ms. Karen Halliday
3:30 p.m., Dr. William Richards
For additional information regarding the presidential candidates or the forums,
please contact Jennifer Aries at (925) 485-5215.
5/8/02
Las Positas College Holds Auditions for Shakespeare Play
(Livermore, CA) – Las Positas College Shakespeare Festival will be performing
William Shakespeare's play, Taming of the Shrew, a comedic play within a play
about the battle of the sexes.
The director, Michael Torres, is a professional Bay Area actor and co-founder
of the Campo Santos Theater in San Francisco.
Auditions will be held at the Las Positas College Little Theater in Room 801,
located at 3033 Collier Canyon Road in Livermore. Audition dates will be May
28 th and 29 th from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
All skill levels are welcome. Actors should prepare a short monologue from
the play. Dancers, singers and musicians should bring a short piece to perform.
Specialty acts such as jugglers or magicians are also encouraged to audition.
Performances will be held on Friday and Saturday evenings starting July 20
th through August 4 th . For more information please call Wendy Wisely at
(925) 373-5800 ext. 2480.
5/7/02
Two Las Positas College Students Recognized by Honor Society
(Livermore, CA) – Las Positas College was recently notified that two of its
students were recognized by the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Sheryl Riddell
of Livermore was named to the Second Team and she received a medallion of
honor and a cash stipend of $150. Lydonna Walker of Dublin was named to the
Third Team receiving a medallion of honor and a cash stipend of $100.
The award, sponsored by the Community College League of California and the
Community College Foundation, recognizes scholarly achievements and leadership
accomplishments of students enrolled in community colleges around the state.
5/1/02
Las Positas College Offers Physics 4A During Summer Core College Physics Class Transfers to UC, CSU and Most Private Colleges
(Livermore, CA) – Las Positas College (LPC) is offering Physics 4A for the
first time this summer. This calculus-based university physics course
transfers to the University of California, California State University and
most private schools, and fulfills the first quarter or semester of the required
physics battery taken by most engineering students.
The course runs from June 17 through August 8, four days per week, on Mondays
and Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., and on Tuesdays and Thursdays
from 8:00 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. Registration for the summer session is
now open and interested students are encouraged to register for Physics 4A.
"The comparable course at a UC would cost about $1000, while the Las
Positas course will cost about $55 in tuition for California residents, plus
books," said Physics Instructor Kevin Ankoviak. "The greater
benefit is that students will be in a class of 20, rather than in a forum
with 400 other students, allowing for a great deal more interaction with the
instructor," he adds.
4/23/02
Las Positas College Student Wins at Largest Speech Competition in the World
(Livermore, CA) – The Las Positas College Talk Hawks attended the Phi Rho
Pi Community College National Forensics Championships recently held in Ft.
Worth, Texas. As the largest speech and debate tournament in the world, the
championships boasted participants from close to eighty community colleges
from across the nation.
Four Las Positas College students were chosen to represent the college at
the week-long event; Dan Crawford, Laura Langdon, Lucy Perez, and Alan Rafferty.
Though this year's team is a very new squad, the Talk Hawks did not come home
empty-handed. Lucy Perez, a reentry student and mother of a 4-year old, won
a Bronze Award for Oral Interpretation of Dramatic Literature.
For more information, please contact Janet Brehe Johnson at (925) 373-5945
or email her at jbrehe@clpccd.cc.ca.us
4/5/02
Las Positas College Recognized as Trend-Setting Institution
(Livermore, CA) – The LapTechs program at Las Positas College was recently
named a Bellwether Award Finalist by the University of Florida Institute of
Higher Education. Instructor Leslie Gravino traveled to Orlando, Florida to
present the program to a panel of Bellwether judges with the Community College
Futures Assembly. While the program did not win a first place award, college
officials were excited to be named a finalist in the Instructional Programs
and Services category.
LapTechs, Las Positas Technical Support, began as an innovative social entrepreneurial
venture in 1999. The business is now the computer support Help Desk for Las
Positas College. The program provides students with hands-on training and
prepares them for competitive employment. In addition to working with traditional
students, LapTechs provides unique opportunities for men and women re-entering
the workforce in non-traditional jobs. In addition to supporting the LPC Help
Desk, LapTechs also has contracts with the Dublin, Livermore and Pleasanton
Unified School Districts to provide technical support. Gravino has also developed
student internships with local industry including the Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratory.
Students also provide local community based organizations with computer and
business support through a grant from the Tri-Valley Community Fund.
“The Community College Futures Assembly convenes annually as an independent
national policy forum for key opinion leaders to both work as a “think tank”
in identifying critical issues facing the future of community colleges and
to recognize Bellwether Finalist colleges as trend-setting institutions,”
stated a press release from the University of Florida,
For additional information about the LapTechs program, please contact Leslie
Gravino at (925) 373-5856.
4/2/02
Las Positas College Hosts First Open House and Community Day
(Livermore, CA) - Las Positas College in Livermore hosts its first
Open House and Community Day on Saturday, April 13, 2002, from 10:00 a.m.
to 1:00 p.m. The public is invited to take a guided campus tour, enjoy
presentations and workshops by college instructors, and enjoy refreshments
and activities for children.
"Las Positas has grown tremendously in the past few years, and we felt
that this would be a good opportunity to showcase the college and its many
features to prospective students and the community at large," said Christine
Acacio, a counselor-instructor who also serves as chair of the event.
The event will feature a wide array of presentations, workshops, and information
regarding the hundreds of programs and classes offered at Las Positas College.
Children can participate in a relay race, a soccer clinic, finding their way
out of a labyrinth, and munch on complimentary popcorn and cotton candy. The
Alameda County Sheriff's Department will also sponsor free fingerprinting
for children.
Adults and children may also pick up a foil to try their skill at the sport
of fencing because Las Positas College is one of the few places in the region
offering instruction in this new Olympic Sport (added in 1996). Participants
will also enjoy live entertainment, browse through an art and photography
show, an art welding display, an auto show, physics and math demonstrations
and much more.
For more information about the free open house and community day at Las Positas
College, please contact Christine Acacio at (925) 373-5885.
4/1/02
Las Positas College Instructor Pens First Novel To Critical Acclaim
(Livermore, CA) - Richard Dry, an English instructor at Las Positas College
will read from his new novel " Leaving " on Tuesday,
April 16, 2002 at 2:00 p.m. at the Student Center on the campus. Copies
of the book are available at the Las Positas College bookstore.
Published by St. Martins Press and widely available in bookstores now, the
novel is a portrait of three generations of an African-American family struggling
to build a better life for themselves. Each generational story begins
when the main character enters adolescence and is seeking an identity.
Much of the story is set in Oakland, California offering local readers a sense
of historical background on the city from the turbulent backdrop of the Civil
Rights movement through the 1990's.
“I have been fascinated by the cultural differences that seemed to be borne
of segregation since I was a child," said Dry. "In writing
" Leaving " , I was able to explore and study that
interest in greater depth," he added.
Dry, who once worked as a mental health assistant with severely emotionally
disturbed youth, found inspiration in his past career as a foundation for
the novel. He has also been actively involved in developing multi-cultural
programs at Las Positas and Chabot College, Las Positas's sister college in
Hayward. To that end, he co-founded MAP, a program to strengthen the
African-American community at Las Positas College. He also served as an instructor
for the Daraja Project at Chabot, a year-long accelerated writing program
which focuses on African-American authors and issues.
" Leaving " won the Joseph Henry Jackson Award
from the San Francisco Foundation and Intersection for the Arts and was nominated
for The Pushcart Editor's Prize. Among the past winners of this prestigious
literary award are Joyce Carol Oates, Ray Carver, André Dubus, Margaret
Atwood and John Updike.
For more information regarding the upcoming author reading by Richard Dry
at Las Positas College, please contact Nolan Howe at (925) 373-5800.
3/6/02
Las Positas College Instructor Wins National Award
(Livermore, CA) - Terry White, a welding instructor at Las Positas
College, has been named the recipient of an award by the Association of Community
and Continuing Education at its recent annual conference held in San Francisco.
The Most Innovative and Original Regional Program Award went to White
for his class concept that combines technical welding skills with innovative
artistic expression.
White has taught Art Welding through the school's Community Education program
for the past two years, and has expanded the class from one session annually
to year-round. The class is a great combination of technical welding
skill and innovative artistic expression, mixed with the prerequisite safety
information about welding. Students create tabletop-size projects.
White, who brings more than thirty years of experience in all phases of welding
to his position, also teaches Beginning Welding in the regular college curriculum.
"Terry has really helped to develop a signature program at Las Positas,
one that draws artists, welders and students from all over the region,"
said Susan Cota, Chancellor of the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District.
1/28/02
Local Business Equipment Donation Bolsters Enrollment in High-Demand Las Positas Computer Classes
(Livermore, CA) - A generous donation of 15-2511 Cisco routers by Verizon
Wireless has enabled the Computer Networking Technology Department at Las
Positas Community College in Livermore to expand its popular Cisco networking
certificate program by 100%.
Hundreds of students over the past three years have enrolled to obtain a Cisco
Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certificate. The course, offered five evenings
a week and on Saturdays to accommodate working students, can be completed
in one year or three semesters. With another two years, or four semesters,
of study, students can prepare to become a certificated Cisco Certified Network
Professional (CCNP).
"We were facing a severe dilemma because there is such a big demand for
this training and we were totally impacted with the amount of existing equipment,
which could only accommodate one lab full of students,” said Gary Svihula,
an instructor in the Computer Networking Technology Department at Las Positas.
The donation of the routers by Verizon Wireless has made it possible to add
one more lab and continue the CCNP program for those students who want the
advanced certificate. The program curriculum was developed by Cisco Systems.
Students who obtain the certificates stand to benefit from a job market
that ranges from $45,000 to $100,000 per year.
"Verizon Wireless welcomes the opportunity to directly support the local
community and the Continuing Education Programs," said Rod Morgan, Director
of Network Services for Verizon Wireless. "These programs are really
beneficial to adult students interested in getting a jump on the workplace.
By investing just a couple of years into the program, the return for
a student can be a very senior level technical position," he added.
Verizon Wireless plays a substantial role at Las Positas. Staff personnel
regularly speak to classes regarding the current workforce and training requirements.
In an effort to provide access to a tangible workplace environment, the company
has also hosted visits from Las Positas students at its Walnut Creek core
installation site. The company has also employed a number of Las Positas
students that have completed computer science certificate programs.
Classes for the Spring Semester at Las Positas Community College started on
January 22. Registration will continue through the end of the month
for students interested in enrolling in either the CCNA or CCNP certificate
programs.
1/24/02
Regional Science Bowl Slated Saturday, Jan. 26 at Las Positas College
(Livermore, CA) - The 11 th annual Regional Science Bowl, sponsored by Sandia
National Laboratories/California for the US Department of Energy, will be
hosted by Las Positas College this Saturday, Jan. 26.
Thirteen high school teams from throughout Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco,
San Joaquin and Santa Clara counties will compete for a trip to Washington,
DC in May where the top team will participate in the DOE National Science
Bowl. An additional 16 schools from the Bay Area will participate the following
week at a similar event in Oakland.
The competition was created to offer students who excel in math and science
a forum to test their skills and earn recognition from their peers and their
communities. A fast-paced, question and answer format challenges team members
to share their knowledge in astronomy, biology, chemistry, physics, computers,
earth science, and current events in science and technology. Sandia has some
50 volunteers who work as moderators, judges, and timekeepers throughout the
day. Ray Ng coordinates the event for Sandia.
1/18/02
Las Positas College Seminar Features Noted Author Dave Ellis On February 23
(Livermore, CA) - Each January, millions of people around the globe make
New Year's resolutions, determined to change old habits and chart new pathways
toward a better life. Dave Ellis will present "Falling Awake, Creating
the Life of Your Dreams" as the guest speaker for the 29 th annual Las
Positas College Mental-Physical Health Symposium on Saturday, February 23.
Participants will discover what they want in all areas of their life,
for the rest of their lives; the ability to create specific, detailed, realistic
action plans to create the life that they want; and what a wonderful life
they already have. The strategies will be taught in a way that participants
can immediately implement them to create a more wonderful life.
Author, educator and workshop leader Dave Ellis, best known for his groundbreaking
college textbook Becoming a Master Student, has developed hundreds of strategies
that help people to redesign the direction of their lives and improve productivity,
both in and out of school. Ellis says the key is to jump right in and
get involved in whatever it is that you want to succeed in.
The event, which is open to the public, will be held at Building 600 on the
Las Positas campus from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tickets for this non-credit
symposium are $25. To register, please call Roni Jennings at (925)
373-4926.
1/10/02
Las Positas College Offers C++ Programming on Saturdays for Working Students
(Livermore, CA) - Busy, working people can benefit from a new course offered
on Saturdays on C++ Programming at Las Positas College in Livermore.
Students can register now for the Spring Semester session of Computing Fundamentals
1 (CSCI 1), which begins on January 22. They can expect a thorough
grounding in the use of the new ANSI/ISO standard version of the language.
The class is taught in modern "smart" new classrooms featuring
fast, new computers through a combination of lecture and hands-on programming
experience. This five-unit course provides training in C++ Programming,
with an introduction to a broad range of computer related topics.
The course, which is transferable to both the University of California and
the California State University systems, provides a broad overview of Computer
Science in conjunction with intensive training in C++. Students will
explore computing systems, problem solving and algorithms; computer logic
and architecture; number systems; program design, development, style, testing
and documentation; elementary data structures; functions and control statements;
arrays; operating systems; databases; and data communications. Throughout,
the C++ Programming Language is utilized.
Computing Fundamentals 1 meets Saturdays from January 22 to May 18, 2002.
The lecture is from 8:00 a.m. to 9:50 a.m., with lab time slated from
10:00 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. and from 1:15 p.m. to 3:05 p.m. For
more information please contact instructor, Philip Wasserman at (925) 373-5842.