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WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 | VOL XCI ISSUE 6 tccclarion.com f/ccclarion T@ccclarion
PLAYOFF MODE
CITRUS SOFTBALL ADVANCES TO SUPER REGIONALS FOR THE SECOND TIME IN PROGRAM HISTORY
PG. 14
GETTING PAST THE HURDLES Despite persistence students fall behind in the race toward completion BY JACLYN SPENCER STAFF WRITER
JSPENCER@CCCLARION.COM
T
he completion rate of Citrus College students has declined over the last year and remained three percentage points below the state average. The scorecard focuses on a specific cohort of students, whose success is measured over a six-year period. The students for this year’s cohort enrolled in 2008-09 and were tracked through 2013-14 academic year. The scorecard subdivides student population by gender, age, and ethnicity. The overall completion rate of the Citrus College cohort declined slightly from 46.8 percent to 44 percent, according to the fifth annual scorecard released April 15 by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. In the academic world, preparation is required to earn any type of success. In the race for completion, California community colleges are making strides to better prepare students for the hurdles they face in their education. The annual scorecard is
posted for each of the states 112 community colleges. The cohorts progress is tracked in areas such as remedial instruction, job training programs, retention, and persistence rates. Citrus students’ success rate in math is 30.2 percent. In English it’s 44.3 percent. The average student enrolling at Citrus College tests into remedial math or English classes. These numbers are almost identical with state averages at 31 percent for math and 43.4 percent for English. Placement in remedial classes is the identifier in labeling students as prepared or unprepared students. “The biggest concern that jumps out at me on the scorecard, is that Citrus has more unprepared students than the state average,” said Geraldine M. Perri, Ph. D., superintendent/president of Citrus College. Scorecard indicates that 82 percent of students enrolled at Citrus College were unprepared for college level work. Statewide average for unprepared students was 75 percent. Creating partnerships with K-12 public school is one way
Vocal group to tour China for the first time BY PAT CORDOVA-GOFF STAFF WRITER
PCORDOVA@CCCLARION.COM
The Citrus Singers are making history with their first trip to China. For 15 days, the Singers are booked to perform 10 times and tour five cities. Four staff members and 37 students depart on May 13 and return June 3. They will join musical groups from around the world at the annual choral festival in Shanghai. The Citrus Singers are the only group from an American college or university scheduled to participate. “Through a series of circumstances,” said Doug Austin, director of the Citrus Singers, “there was a booking
agency [at Citrus College}... who became acquainted with John Vaughn when [Vaughn] was interim director of the Haugh and Bob Slack who is the dean of the music department.” “[The Citrus Singers} would be perfect for this choral festival,’” said the booking agency to Austin. The Chinese festival audition panel reviewed footage of Citrus Singers performances, initiating a three-month audition process that eventually lead to an invitation to perform in the international festival. “A total group of 20 top rated and highly regarded S E E C H IN A • PAGE 5
COLUMN ONE
Great character on and off the set BY JACLYN SPENCER STAFF WRITER
JSPENCER@CCCLARION.COM
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SEE SCO RE CA RD • PA GE 5
TEARING UP THE ‘SONGBOOK’
Citrus Singers rock the Haugh Performing Arts Center with American music throughout the ages. PAGE 6
rowing up in “show business” is rough for most child stars acting in Hollywood. Before finishing elementary school, child actors are expected to be mature working professionals who can deliver to the camera. At four years old, John Jaclyn Spencer Clarion Gaynor, began his acting Student golfer John Gaynor has career as J.B. Gaynor. Now been on shows such as, “Boy a 24-year-old sophomore, Meets World” and “Grounded for Life.” he is a leading member of the men’s golf team at Citrus. He tells how the fast pace world of a young performer shaped his easygoing outlook on life. Gaynor remembers at a young age wanting to follow in his sister Jennifer Gaynor’s footsteps in becoming an actor. “My sister was in [the business] first,” Gaynor said. “She was in a bunch of commercials.” Gaynor recalls landing his first acting job for toothpaste commercial that involved him kissing a girl at 5-years-old. After his first gig, Gaynor quickly began auditioning for bigger roles and landed guest appearances on various hit television shows like “Frasier,” “Party of Five” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” In spite of a full schedule every week, “He never called it work, he called it fun,” said Mary Gaynor, John’s mother. At 9-years-old, Gaynor played the recurring role of Tommy on “Boy Meets World.” The role had a special significance to the Gaynor family with John’s sister guest starring in “The Wonder S E E G AY N OR • PAGE 7