THE COUGAR
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CONTENTS 2018
Students Reach 100% Pass 3 Radiology Rate on ARRT Exam
Cosmetology Students Attend 5 Kingsville New York International Hair Show Espinoza Takes Home Two Awards and 7 Dr. PTK Takes Home Four Awards
13 Virtual Welder Helps Students Learn 15
CBC Hosted Diana Lopez, Author of Coco: A Story About Music, Shoes, and Family
Enrollment Graduation 182% More 17 Dual than Last Year
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CBC Art Gallery Hosts Numerous Art Exhibits Throughout the Academic Year
Heritage Celebration Month at 29 Hispanic CBC
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Coastal Bend College Baseball Hosts Washington Nationals Scout Team for Veterans Day Game
36 CBC Law Enforcement Setting the Bar High Soccer Team Brings Diversity to the 39 CBC Team and Campus 44 Spotlight on Safety: Operation Safe Walk
Board of Trustees: Carroll W. Lohse, Chair George P, “Trace” Morrill III, Vice Chair Victor Gomez, Secretary Dela Cagle Castillo, Trustee Jeff Massengill, Trustee Taylor Tomlin, Trustee Martha Warner, Trustee
Letter from the President I am so proud of how far Coastal Bend College has come in the past few years. We’ve worked hard to provide a quality and affordable education for our students, and it’s encouraging to see their incredible successes. The Coastal Bend College family of faculty and staff are committed to the mission of providing a student-centered community college delivering superb educational and life-enriching opportunities to our students and the communities we serve. Our technical programs are designed to promote regional economic development by meeting employer needs for trained workers. Our Associate of Science and Associate of Arts degrees include general education courses that will transfer to other Texas colleges and universities. We assist students in acquiring the knowledge, skills, and abilities to secure employment or professional advancement. We are committed to job readiness and life-enrichment opportunities. We have devoted faculty and staff members who have been chosen because of their exceptional instructional ability and experience in their field. We also foster a student-first environment where faculty and staff work as a team to help students achieve their educational and career goals. We offer many support services to help students succeed: study skills classes, tutoring, learning centers, advising, financial aid and scholarships, and athletic teams, to name a few. You will find our educational atmosphere inviting, supportive, caring and knowledgeable. Additionally, we offer an education that is focused on both now and the future. In this publication, you can read about just a few of the many success stories happening here at Coastal Bend College. We also invite you to join us at the many community events we host each month and to tune into our social media channels for regular updates. Thank you for your support of Coastal Bend College and the communities and students we serve! Dr. Bea Espinoza CBC President
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Share Your Success Story Are you a former Bee County College (BCC) or Coastal Bend College (CBC) student?
Radiology Students Reach 100% Pass Rate on ARRT Exam Coastal Bend College’s Radiology Technology Associates degree program offers a path to a career as a radiology technologist. The program provides hands-on learning through on-campus labs, clinical practicum settings, and tutoring services to prepare students to be highly trained medical specialists within the radiology field.
CBC Beeville Hosted Poet Tomas Q. Morin
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Upon graduation, Radiology Technology students are prepared to sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (AART) certification exam. This year, so far 10 out 10 students who have taken the ARRT exam have passed it and received their license. The Radiology program has also accepted a record number of students into the program for Fall 2018. In April, Thomas Q. Morin, a Mathis native, read some of his poetry to CBC students and members of the public at the Grady C. Hogue Learning Resource Center. Tomás Q. Morín is the author of Patient Zero and A Larger Country, winner of the APR/Honickman Prize. He translated Pablo Neruda’s The Heights of Macchu Picchu and with Mari L’Esperance, he coedited Coming Close: Forty Essays on Philip Levine. He teaches at Texas State University and in the low residency MFA program of Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Would you like to share your success story? Then submit your information to be featured in the next issue of CBC Magazine, coastalbend.edu, and our official CBC social media channels. Please send all information to socialmedia@ coastalbend.edu
Dental Hygiene Exam held at CBC for the First Time
NCLEX Pass Rate The May 2018 graduates of the Coastal Bend College (CBC) nursing program in Alice were perfect! One hundred percent of the vocational nurse candidates passed the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) on their first attempt – a rare achievement. This comes after having the highest record number of LVN and RN graduates in May. The NCLEX national average pass-rate for VNs is 88% (which includes major university nursing programs); some special exam prep courses proudly proclaim 97% pass-rate success. Coastal Bend College Alice’s VN program outshone both in 2018. The NCLEX is a thorough, sixhour examination that each state board of nursing uses to test if an individual is prepared to enter the workforce in nursing practice. It must contain at least 85 nursing questions; however, it can include as many as 265 questions. Perfection is a difficult bar to meet, even for accomplished nurses. That ev-
ery Coastal Bend College VN graduate in Alice passed the NCLEX on their first attempt speaks volumes about the quality education the school provides. “It is a great accomplishment for our students because it’s validation that the hard work of our faculty and our student is paying off,” said the Dean of Workforce Training, Julia Garcia. “I am so proud to announce that 22 of 22 of my May 2018 graduating class of vocational nursing students passed the rigorous NCLEX and now hold the title of Licensed Vocational Nurse,” said Daniella Medellin, CBC Nursing Instructor. “This adds to the credibility of CBC’s nursing program as being able to produce competent and employable nurses,” added Medellin.
In April, The Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA) administered the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) Dental Hygiene Examination at Coastal Bend College’s Dental Hygiene Department. The Examiners came from as far away as Hawaii, New York, Utah, Arizona, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Texas. The entire process ran smoothly and examiners asked to return the following year. They were impressed with the clinical standards of Coastal Bend College Dental Hygiene Department maintains. The faculty is extremely proud to have been a part of this historical event; the CDCA administered and will continue to conduct the ADEX Dental Hygiene Examination at Coastal Bend College on a yearly basis. The convenience of testing in a familiar environment without the added expense of travel for licensure examination made for some very happy students. Dental Hygiene has a 100% pass rate on the ADEX exam. For more information on the dental hygiene program, please visit coastalbend.edu/dental
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Seven cosmetology students from Kingsville and their instructor Tomora Gambrell has the opportunity to travel to New York to the International Hair Show. They had a great time listening and watching national presenters in the field of cosmetology present different hair styling techniques. “Coming from a small community where the population is a little over four thousand, not many of us here are given the opportunity to experience this once in a lifetime trip to New York City. It was mind-blowing when my instructor asked us if we wanted to have in on this trip to visit an IBC hair show in New York, my thoughts in my head were like ‘NO WAY!’ or ‘is this really going to happen?’. I had not been out of Texas yet and this is the number one place people would dream of going one day” said Alyssa Sosa, a student in the cos-
Kingsville Cosmetology Students Attend New York International Hair Show
metology program. “Walking inside the hair show amazed me, I went and visited some of the classes they were offering such as hair-coloring, bridal looks, gentleman’s haircuts, etc. After the classes ended I went to go see what I had been waiting to see the ACTION! I saw competitions on clipper cuts, lessons on individual eyelash extensions, giveaways going on, Fusion Hair extensions being applied, there was
just so many things I learned from experiencing the most I could, I mean there was just so much going on, I was trying to see and learn everything at one time and I just couldn’t. Being at the International Beauty Show in New York City, was the dream come true. I had such an amazing time at the IBS hair show in New York.”
Kingsville Cosmetology Participates in Teacher Appreciation Week
Drafting & Design Students go on Spring 2018 Field Trip CBC Drafting & Design students went on a field trip to Corpus Christi to visit key companies in the Architecture Engineering and Construction Management (AECM) Industry. The students got to visit three companies including Kiewit Offshore Services, Lamar Womack Architects (LWA) and Govind Development LLC. While visiting with Kiewit, the students received a tour of the “Lofting” Department, where the drafters and designers work. While there, current students were able to meet Mr. Gabino Mendoza, Mr. Michael Colombus, Mr. Olden Morgan, and Mr. Martin Botello, who are graduates from the Drafting & Design CBC program and currently work at Kiewit Offshore. “When viewing these wonderful companies first-hand, it gives the students a better un-
derstanding of what goes on in the industry. We are very grateful to these companies that allow us to participate in this learning experience” said Jack Young, instructor of drafting and design. “This field trip will help to bolster the students’ enthusiasm as they will take back what they learned to the classroom. With all of their newly found knowledge, it is now time for the students to perform their work in the CBC Drafting & Design labs to complete the plans and drawings required for their classes at CBC.” Field trips are an important part of education as it helps bridge the gap between learning the material and having hands-on experience. This trip helped students maintain their focus on their proposed career path and continue learning in a more engaging educational environment.
On Tuesday, May 8 and Wednesday, May 9 the CBC Kingsville Cosmetology students visited Perez Elementary School to treat the teachers to manicures, blow-out style hairdos, and facials as part of their Teacher Appreciation Week.
“Wigs for Kids” with Pleasanton Cosmetology Pleasnton Cosmetology has been collecting and sending hair to ‘Wigs for Kids’ every semester. The ‘Wigs for Kids’ provides sick children with wigs for free. In January, Julie Villa (pictured above) donated 14” of hair for the children that have cancer.
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Coastal Bend College President Beatriz T. Espinoza received the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction at the National Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Convention held in Kansas City, Missouri on (insert date). At the region PTK Convention held in Houston, Texas, Dr. Espinoza was presented with the PTK Texas Hall of Honor of College Presidents and CEO’s for the Texas Region of Phi Theta Kappa. Both of these distinctions are awarded to college presidents on the basis of outstanding efforts made toward promoting the goals of PTK. The Coastal Bend College Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Rho Lambda Chapter received the following awards at the Texas Regional conference. Awards were for the Texas region five-star chapter plans awards three stars to Rho Lambda Chapter on March 2018. CBC’s
Dr. Espinoza Takes Home Two Awards and PTK Takes Home Four Awards PTK also won an award of merit and an award of participation for their project: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). More details about VITA can be found on page 25. Also awarded was the most improved chapter for the growth of the chapter from 90 students in 2016 to 162 students in 2017 as well as their increased participation in numerous college and community events. Thank you to the advisors of the Coastal Bend College PTK Rho Lambda Chapter. Coastal Bend College’s (CBC) Rho Lambda chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) hosted a spring induction ceremony at CBC Beeville, CBC Alice, CBC Kingsville, and CBC Pleasanton for it’s newest members. PTK is an international academic honor society that promotes
scholarship amongst two-year college students. PTK provides students with the opportunity to develop a specific skill set focused on honor, leadership and service. In order to be eligible for PTK membership, students must successfully complete 12 credit hours and maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Once a student has successfully completed all specified requirements, they are invited to join CBCs Rho Lambda chapter of PTK. Being a member of PTK has it’s benefits such as being able to add leadership roles to your resume, travel to different conferences, and become a part of something much larger than yourself connecting you to a much larger network of students.
Coastal Bend College Foundation Making A Difference The Coastal Bend College Foundation helps CBC students achieve their dreams of furthering their education and gaining purposeful, well-paying jobs. As the demand for qualified, well-trained employees grows, CBC continues to offer the best educational program in the area at an affordable cost. Through its scholarship programs, the CBC Foundation enables area students to afford a quality education, based on CBC’s courses and programs that both provide quality education and aid area employers to find prepared, qualified employees. With gifts from generous donors, in June the CBC Foundation awarded scholarships for the
Fall 2018 semester to 78 students from the four campuses. The total amount awarded was $55,000. The previous semester, the Foundation awarded 126 scholarships for a total amount of $68,500. The CBC Foundation gives out scholarships to students every year based on the money that has been donated towards them for scholarships. In the fall and spring, the scholarship opens up and students are encouraged to
apply for the scholarships in order to help offset the cost of college. If you are interested in donating toward the CBC scholarship fund, please visit the foundation website. Students recognize and appreciate the role that donors play in their lives through these scholarships. One recipient, a single mother of two boys, wrote the Foundation to express her gratitude and ambition.
“I am currently enrolled in Coastal Bend College pursing a degree as a Registered Nurse, with a goal to graduate with my bachelor’s in nursing. The Foundation scholarship will help relieve some of the financial stress in furthering my nursing degree. Education is something that can never be taken away from you, and I talk to my sons everyday about it.”
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7th Annual Springfest in Beeville is a Huge Success The seventh Annual Springfest was a huge success in Beeville despite the bad weather during the day. The event was held in the Peter S. Marecek Physical Fitness Center while the egg hunt, complete with 10,000 eggs was held outside the gym. At the festival there were plenty of games for the children and some special guests including a bunny, a chick, a carrot, and some live rabbits. The clubs and organization from CBC Beeville
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were on site selling refreshments as part of a fundraiser while the student-athletes helped facilitate games such as soccer and a baseball toss. The record-breaking softball team was also at the event signing photographs. Among those booths at Springfest was Mark Secord with information about bees and the campuses recognition as a Bee Campus USA partner. We look forward to another year of Springfest.
Women’s Shelter of South Texas Celebrates 40 Years with Name Change to Purple Door
This year, the Women’s Shelter of South Texas celebrated 40 years of providing support and counseling. While the mission remains the same, the Women’s Shelter will now operate under a new name to reflect how it serves not just women, but men and children as well - The Purple Door. The Purple Door has been operating offices at three CBC locations since 2016 as part of their Safe Campus Project. The Safe Campus Project provides free, comprehensive, and confidential services for female and male victims of sexual assault while educating the community on the prevention of sexual violence. A victim advocate is available at regularly scheduled times on each campus, and when requested, to respond to primary and secondary sexual assault victims. Kevin Behr, the Director of Public Safety, supports the Purple Door being on campus and believes in their mission to “offer support and empowerment to children, women, and men through a variety of services, programs, and referrals, helping victims of domestic violence and sexual assault regain their independence.” In Beeville, the Purple Door held a ribbon cutting for the name change of the organization and for their outreach office in the Gertrude R. Jones Auditorium on the CBC campus. For more information, please call (361) 362-1187.
Manuel Andres “Andy” Soto Shares Stories from Life, Love, and Marriage in a Texas Colonia Manuel Andrés Soto, Ph.D., was raised in Edroy, Texas, a South Texas Colonia. Dr. Soto is an Associate Professor of Biological and Health Sciences at Texas A&M University Kingsville and has published many peer-reviewed manuscripts in top journals. In addition, he has recently published a book entitled, “Life in a South Texas Colonia”. He wrote and contributed all original art pieces in this book. Soto uses mainly acrylic paints and pine or cedar planks to create his impressionistic folk art. His subject matter focuses on various aspects of Tejano culture. His inspiration is his childhood growing up in Edroy, Texas, a small South Texas Colonia in San Patricio County. Edroy is an agriculture community and is surrounded by fields where cotton, sorghum (milo), and maize are grown and cattle are raised. Coastal Bend College has been blessed with the opportunity to host so many authors and artists throughout the four sites in different fields and look forward to hosting more artists in the future.
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2 All-American Athletes from CBC
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For the first time in school history, the Coastal Bend College Cougar Baseball team saw two of its athletes named to two different All-American teams.
Marco Becerril and Jordan Gochenour have both been selected as All-Americans. Gochenour will be continuing his baseball career at the University of Houston while studying business.
This year, 15 student-athletes signed to continue their academic and athletic careers at the next level. The athletes that signed include 7 baseball players, 3 men’s basketball players, 2 soccer players, 1 softball player and 2 women’s basketball players. Pictured above, from left to right is Nathan Purswell, Head Women’s Basketball Coach; Vinnie Garza, Sports Information Specialist; Macy Olness, Assistant Women’s
Volleyball Coach; Ryan Benitez, Assistant Baseball Coach; Brian Bauerle, Head Baseball Coach; Greg Barbaro, Assistant Baseball Coach; Stephen Machorro, Head Softball Coach. In addition to being great athletes, 19 student-athletes earned the NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Award including 4 athletes earning a 4.0 GPA and 14 athletes having a GPA above a 3.6.
CBC Baseball Gives Out First Spirit Award
Youth Treated to Basketball Clinic with Spurs Coyote and CBC Athletics On Saturday, March 24, approximately 20 local youth participated in the Boys and Girls Basketball Clinic at the Pleasanton High School gym. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. children of all levels learned valuable skills from Coastal Bend College players and coaches. Coastal Bend College coach-
es that volunteered were Head Men’s Basketball Coach- Carliss Robinson, Women’s Basketball Head Coach- Nathan Purswell and Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach- Mia Ochoa. “We are a community college and it’s all about giving back. We have student-athletes who love participating and bringing the next generation of kids up. I am so proud of them, that they came with the coaches. The community came out to celebrate an opportunity to build up students and build success in their lives through sport,” said Dr. Espinoza. Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Nathan Purswell enjoyed the camp and thought “it was very unique and fun to be able to watch our student-athletes interact with young kids and help develop their game. This was a great experience and having the coyote and being around all the interactions and teaching was a tremendous experience!”
Coach Bauerle and CBC Baseball coaches awarded the first ever Spirit Award to Emma Pena, pictured above. Emma Pena is the younger sister of AD Pena and was present at every home game to watch her brother play baseball. Emma has down syndrome, but that did not stop her from cheering on her brother and the other baseball players throughout the season and bringing a smile to their face. Getting to know the student-athletes on a personal level has a way of helping understand their mindset and the way they do things. Before a normal scheduled Saturday baseball practice, AD asked Coach Bauerle if he could miss practice in order to cheer his sister on at Special Olympics in Flour Bluff. Coach Bauerle did not hesitate to let him take the day off to cheer her on and make sure she got first, she did. When asked about the Spirit Award, Coach Bauerle said, “Every time I saw her, she always had a smile on her face and was always cheering on her brother and the other players. She was always happy and happy to be there. That’s the Spirit Award.”
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Our VERTX 360 Virtual Welder is a great training tool. It helps to train our welders faster reduces costs associated with material and gasses and electricity. It allows students to practice on a multitude of different joint configurations such as flat plate, Tee Joints, Groove Joints, and Grooved pipe in 2” extra heavy and 6” schedule 40. It also allows practice in different positions for both plate and pipe. Our machine has 5 different processes installed on it, Stick Welding (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding(MIG) in carbon, stainless and Aluminum and Flux cored Arc Welding processes. Students can see their environment in a realistic 3-D image through special goggles under the
welding hood. The hood also has tiny speakers in the hood to create realist sounds of the welding processes. The machine can be set to show proper angles and distance parameters during the welding exercise which cannot be done in real-world applications thus helping the student achieve and
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Virtual Welder Helps Students Learn master this before actual welding begins. Controls on the machine have to be set correctly in order for the student to be able to practice. So it also helps them to understand Voltage, Heat and gas settings. Just like in real-world applications. When the student gets all the settings correct and they finish their welding exercise the machine will show all areas that need improvement. The student’s weld is shown on a monitor where we can discuss where problematic areas or good welds were made to the class. The VTEX 360 Virtual Welder is a great teaching
tool we are very fortunate to have it. Our students and welding instructors appreciate the help it gives us in teaching our craft. The feedback is immediate which helps students see what they’re doing wrong immediately so they can adapt and continue on. The students are becoming more tech-savvy and gamer savvy, and this is a way of allowing students to continue their learning in a way that they feel more comfortable with. The welds also receive scores along with the feedback creating a sense of competition among the students that encourages more practice, consistency, patience, and overall, better welds in the future.
CBC Child Development Center Graduation
CBC Pairs Up With Christus Spohn to Host Health Fair In conjunction with Sealant Day and in honor of National Children’s Health Month, Christus Spohn Hospital in Beeville and Coastal Bend College paired up to provide a health fair for the community including companies representing gyms, emergency response centers, vision services, veterans services, adult care services, and many more. During the course of the day, scholarships, t-shirts, and door prizes were given away. There was a great turn out from
the community to learn more about what the community has in regards to health services. The primary focus of the health fair is to help individuals be healthier by engaging with them in public conversations about common health issues, concerns, and promoting excellent resources in the community. Healthcare can be confusing and overwhelming sometimes, so having tables and booths open allows community members to learn how to help their families stay healthy and safe.
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In May, the Coastal Bend College Child Development Center held their Commencement Ceremony in the Gertrude Russell Jones Auditorium. A total of ten students graduated with their families present. Every year, the Child Development Center enrolls students and takes them through classes up until their graduation day.
International Women’s Day in March, Coastal Bend College celebrated International Women’s Day. International Women’s Day is held March 8 every year to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. We are proud to celebrate these accomplishments and do our best to serve our student body in their achievements.
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CBC Hosted Diana Lopez, Author of Coco: A Story About Music, Shoes, and Family
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Coastal Bend College hosted Diana Lopez, the author of Coco: A Story About Music, Shoes, and Family in April at the Gertrude R. Jones Auditorium. Lopez is a Corpus Christi native, where the book and movie’s setting takes place. She now lives in Victoria, Texas, as a creative writing instructor at the University of Houston-Victoria. Lopez is involved with other literary organizations such as the magazine, Huisache and is the managing director of CentroVictoria., an organization that promotes Latino literature and art. Lopez has written works such as Sofia’s Saints and the middle-grade novels, Confetti Girl, and Ask My Mood Ring How I Feel. She has also been featured in the anthologies Hecho en Tejas and You Don’t Have a Clue and has been a
guest on NPR’s Latino USA. of Hispanic descent. In her spare time, Lopez enjoys teaching, playing board games such as Settlers of Catan and spending time with her husband. While presenting details about her novel, Coco: A Story About Music, Shoes, and Family she explained how Disney Pixar Animation Studios reached out to her to write the story behind the movie that was coming out, due to her recognition in the literary field for her work in traditionally Hispanic stories. Of importance to Lopez is to recognize the number of novels written about Hispanic culture and heritage and the race of the authors who write such novels. At this time, there is a great downfall between the number of books written, especially for children, that express the Hispanic heritage written by people
Former Cosmetology Student Tim Bo Mack Shares His Story with current students Former cosmetology student Tim Bo Mack, owner of Aspire Studios, PRAVANA Artistic Regional Educator, and PRAVANA 2017 Educator of the Year winner shared his story of struggle and triumph with current cosmetology students to encourage them along their path. As a PRAVANA regional educator, Mack shared with the cosmetology students the products PRAVANA has, the benefits of the products as well as the best uses of the product. Throughout his presentation, Mack shared what he calls “Pro Tips”, things he’s learned along the way such as “It’s not about hair. It’s about an experience.” When asked about his favorite memory at Coastal Bend College, he hesitated with too many fond memories coming back. Finally,
the thing that stuck out most, was “how hard everyone worked to keep me in school. Anytime I had questions, needed letters of recommendation or financial aid. This is home.” While still a student in high school, Mack would walk through the halls of the George F. Elam building taking in the smells of the fresh perm chemicals and peaking through the window of the cosmetology lab. “When you think about it, high school has great memories, but college is where you get to learn more about who you are.” Mack attended school at Coastal Bend College from 2001-2003 where he received his Associates, an educator certificate. However, he almost didn’t finish. Back in 2002, Mack was planning on quit-
ting college. After spending many nights working at McDonald’s to pay for school, then walking back to the dorms at 2 a.m. he was exhausted. That was when Mrs. Rojas, cosmetology instructor, called him and expected him to be in class. Mack’s favorite saying of Mrs. Rojas is “If I’m giving you a hard time, it’s not because I don’t like you, it’s because I love you” and she sure did love every one of us.
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Dual Enrollment Graduation 82% More than Last Year Coastal Bend College dual enrollment awarded 82% more certificates and degrees in May 2018 than in May 2017. 46 Associate degrees were awarded this May for students who had not yet graduated high school, a more than 200% increase from last year. In 2017, 122 dual enrollment students received a marketable skills achievement award compared to 259 students this year. In addition to the growth in the dual enrollment awards granted, more high schools are partnering with CBC dual enrollment to offer college-level ac-
credited courses and expand on the courses offered for students in their school. A new study from the Community College Research Center found that dual enrollment programs are “associated with positive outcomes on such measures as high school graduation and college enrollment rates, college grade point averages and progress toward college completion.” With that said, we will continue to grow our dual enrollment program with the expectation that these students will continue on.
COASTAL BEND COLLEGE KID’S COLLEGE
CBC’s summer Kids College program, which is funded by private grants, gives the younger students, who attend a valuable experience. These students express their interest in attending CBC Kids College Camp. “I want to attend the CBC Kids College because I want to learn more science... When I grow up I want to be a meteorologist. “ “I wanted to attend CBC Kids College because I want to learn about science, have fun, and meet new people and hope to see some of my friends from school… When I grow up I want to become a scientist. There are many questions that need to be answered and I want to help answer. Are there other living organisms in our universe, do they visit our planet? “
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Millennials Moving to Bee County
CBC Baseball Breaking More Records The CBC Baseball team, coached by Coach Brian Bauele, is in new territory as they continue to break college records. Throughout the 2017-2018 season, the team won 35 games, creating a new record for wins in a single season. While our students were on spring break, the baseball team won their 18th straight game. They also became the first CBC team to be nationally ranked. Throughout the season, 4 NJCAA Division III National Player of the Week Awards were awarded
to the team including two National Pitcher of the Week and two National Player of the Week. Michael Dinsdale and Marco Becerril won National Pitcher of the Week in the month of February, while first baseman/pitcher Ruben Sepulveda and outfielder Kyler Bumstead won National Player of the Week awards. Pictured below are the five student-athletes selected to represent CBC at the Texas-Nex Mexico Junior College All-Star Game.
In a recent story published in USA Today, Bee County is ranked 13th on a list of national hotspots for millennials. The number of young adults who arrived last year was over 4% of the population. But why are the millennials moving here? The sense of community among millennials aligns with the values commonly found in small towns including Skidmore, Pettus, Pawnee, and Beeville. As Bee County continues to grow, so will Coastal Bend College.
CBC Fusing Glass Class On September 25-26, artist-in-resident Jayne Duryea presented a fusing glass class as part of the Workshop Series. The class was from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and open to all individuals regardless of experience and/ or education. In late October, artist-in-resident Ann Zitterkopf held a China painting class. Coming up in May will be a beginner glass blowing workshop.
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Inaugural Chapter of La Sociedad Honoraria De La Lengua Española Teams up with Dental Hygiene La Sociedad Honoraria De La Lengua Española members presented to the Dental Hygiene students a Spanish quick reference guide with the most
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common phrases, vocabulary, and commands. The Spanish quick reference designed for the SHLE members will help the Dental Hygiene students with their Spanish speaker’s patients. “This presentation helps break down barriers in communication. This collaboration will continue. First-year dental hygiene students will give a preventive oral hygiene presentation to La Sociedad Honoraria De La Lengua Española students this semester” said Connie Griffin, Dental Hygiene Director. “As president of SHLE, being able to reach out to our Dental Hygiene Program and share phrases in Spanish that could help them in their future careers was not only a learning experience for them, as well as our members involved, but it was also very rewarding. Although many people in our area have grown up with this as a second language, we knew that there may be many involved in the Dental Hygiene program that may not have this advantage. I hope that in the future SHLE will be able to continue to help the students of Coastal Bend College and continue to grow with our communities.” -SHLE Chapter 1 President Kerri Manning
Technical Writing Class Collaborates with Local Business
Assistant Professor Kathy Cuyler approached a local entrepreneur, Miranda Wallace, founder and owner of Gluten-Freedom Bakery in Victoria, Texas, to see if she would be willing to partner with CBC’s technical writing class to create this type of real, on-thejob experience preparing business documents for Gluten-Freedom Bakery. “My students were super excited when I told hem about the project. They realized this would be something that would look good on their resumes. Sometimes I would get to the computer lab fifteen minutes early and the students would already be huddled in their team around their computers, focused on their projects” said Kathy Cuyler, Associate Professor, English.
After more than 50,000 votes were cast, the readers of the Alice Readers’ Choice Awards chose Coastal Bend College Alice as the Best Community College and Hector Villareal was voted as the Best Instructor.
SUCCESS HAPPENS HERE Technical-Vocational: Leading to Certificate of Completion
Technical: Leading to an Associate in Applied Science Degree
Accounting Accounting Automotive Technology Automotive Technology Business Technology Administrative Assistant Business Management Business Technology Administrative Assistant-Medical Office Specialization Business Technology Administrative Assistant Business Technology Fundamentals of Office Business Technology Administrative Assistant-Medical Office Specialization Computer Information Technology Computer Information Technology Computer Information Technology- Computer Simulation Engineering Technology Cosmetology Cosmetology Dental Hygiene Cosmetology Instructor Drafting and Design Drafting and Design Early Development and Education Early Development and Education-Child Care Manager Forensic Science Early Development and Education-Child Care Provider Law Enforcement Forensic Science LVN-RN Bridge Program Forensic Science-Crime Scene Investigation Medical Records Coding Fundamentals of Accounting Oil and Gas Technology Fundamentals of Automotive Technology Pre-Engineering Fundamentals of Business Technology Administrative Assistant-Medical Office Specialization Radiologic Technology Fundamentals of Child Development Registered Nursing Fundamentals of Computer Simulation Engineering Technology Welding Technology Fundamentals of Drafting and Design Fundamentals of Early Development and Education Academic: Leading to Associate in Arts or an Associate in Science Degree Fundamentals of Engineering Business Administration Fundamentals of Flux Core Arc Welding Criminal Justice Fundamentals of Forensic Theory Fundamentals of Gas Metal Arc Welding Fundamentals of Gas Tungsten Metal Arc Welding Fundamentals of Law Enforcement Fundamentals of Medical Records Coding Fundamentals of Nursing Assistant Fundamentals of Oil and Gas Technology Fundamentals of Patient Care Technology Fundamentals of Shielded Metal Arc Welding Law Enforcement-Criminal Justice Interest Medical Records Coding Oil and Gas Technology Pre-Nursing Vocational Nursing Welding Technology
Academic: Leading to an Associate of Arts in Teaching Early Childhood Specialization General Studies General Study in Secondary Education
Interested in any of these programs? Contact us at 1-866-722-2838 Beeville Alice Kingsville Pleasanton
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CBC Kingsville Host First Lectureship Event with Santa Contreras Barraza A native of Kingsville, Texas, Santa Contreras Barraza is a contemporary Chicana/Tejana Artist, who is a Professor of Art at Texas A&M University at Kingsville. Ms. Barraza brought with her two of her original art pieces to display for her lecture. Over 40 students were in attendance for the lecture including students from Beeville and the Alice site. Ms. Barraza was so gracious in providing posters of her displayed work. Students were privileged enough to have
them autographed by Ms. Barraza. We look forward to having more lectureship events. Executive Dean of Student Services, Lupe Ganceres (pictured below) also attended the event and said, “it’s wonderful when college students are afforded an opportunity to interact with a renowned artist and gain insight on how she came to create her paintings.” Photos from the event can be found online on the official Coastal Bend College Facebook page.
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Nurse Pinning and Graduation Ceremony Live-Streamed The Nurse Pinning/Lamp Lighting ceremony along with all three graduation ceremonies were streamed live over the Internet allowing families from eight countries and 136 cities to watch their loved ones. Below is a comment taken from our Facebook page.
Stay connected with all things Coastal Bend College by following our social media pages and signing up for our e-newsletter. For a chance to be featured on our pages, please use “#CBCRocks” on your posts.
Coastal Bend College offered free tax preparation services through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. CBC Beeville, CBC Alice, and CBC Pleasanton were the locations open for the VITA services. Coastal Bend College has been involved in VITA for two years. In total, the VITA service has:
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Assisted 371 families Volunteers: 24 Total Volunteer Hours: 1,996 Total Dollars Returned to Families: $578,214
Success Happens Here.
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CBC Art Gallery Hosts Numerous Art Exhibits Throughout the Academic Year
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David Diaz, pictured on the pre ious page, is showing artist Bob Gomez the same Aztec symbols shown on the canvas that is also tattooed on his arm. Diaz has been studying the Aztec culture and ancient group for about ten years now. He recently enrolled at Coastal Bend College pursuing a welding and automotive license. The Faculty Art Exhibit not only featured Ray Pilarczyk, a Karnes County native, but also Jayne Duryea and Luis Pena, both instructors at Coastal Bend College Beeville, and Bob Gomez, an instructor at CBC Kingsville.
In October, another art exhibit, “Deceptively Delicious” by artist Alexis Ramos was hosted in the Simon Michael Art Gallery in the Frank Jostes Visual Arts Building. The artwork, made of clay and glass, represents delicious looking food, mostly pastries. The entire gallery was filled with ceramic artwork depicting cookies, pies, and cakes. During the gallery talk, Ramos discussed the deeper meaning behind her inedible pastries. “Food is a time for family and sharing, and this body of work is the way of sharing my love and respect for a fleeting art form that tastes so good we often overlook the artistry it embodies.”
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During the last faculty and student art exhibit of the fall semester, the artwork is sold to the public as a way to allow these artists some extra spending money as Christmas festivities come closer. During the purchasing process, the artist must accept the proposed bid by the art buyer before the deal is complete. This unique opportunity allows students (pictured above) to show off what they have been working on throughout the semester to their families and local community members. During the course of the art exhibit, an estimated $1,370 was sold to community members and employees of the college supporting our students and faculty. The process of the gallery experience and selling their work is part of the ARTS curriculum “the business of art”. Collectors who invest in the students’ work have the potential to collect work that may appreciate in value in time if they continue with their work as artists. Art is big business. The work at all exhibitions is for sale even though we are an “educational” gallery first. Dr. Carry DeAtley, Vice Presi-
dent of Instruction and Economic Development, pictured below, bought two watercolor pieces created by a student also pictured below. The rooster photo was one of the pictures purchased by Dr. DeAtley. Involvement in the arts teaches students how to try new things, manage risk, and handle potential failure. Check back frequently for more art gallery exhibits, workshops, and other events.
Keep Calm and Drink Coffee
CBC Pleasanton Ribbon Cutting Coastal Bend College in Pleasanton held a ribbon cutting for the new Cougar Center with a more homely and inviting look. Over 60 people attended the ribbon cutting ceremony including honorary guests: Atascosa County Judge Bob Hurley, who was one of the team members that organized to have Coastal Bend College in Pleasanton. Dr. Matthew Mann,
Pleasanton ISD Superintendent, Ronald Sanchez, Pleasanton Chief of Police, John Huizar, Pleasanton City Manager, Cindy Mum, Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce, Gilbert De La Fuente, U.S. Congressman Cuellar’s office, Workforce Solutions Alamo, and many other guests. We are excited to see the continued growth and development in Pleasanton.
The R. W. Dirks Student Services Building has a new addition for students to enjoy for a quick pick-me-up between classes or while studying. We have added a Keurig station for students to enjoy a hot cup of coffee. They are also welcome to bring their favorite k-cups and creamers as well. The station is across from the testing center, providing students an opportunity for a quick drink before an upcoming exam. Pictured above are two CBC Nursing students taking advantage of this new option.
Pre-Engineering Summer Camp Drafting and Design professor, Jack Young, worked with students who attended the Pre-Engineering Summer Camp. The students used autocad to do a drawing of a building, they also used the 3-D printer to make replicas of a variety of designs.
CBC Kingsville LVN Program Hosts Breast Cancer Awareness Informational Students from CBC Kingsville’s LVN Program hosted an informational for students and communi-
ty members to learn more about Breast Cancer, the symptoms, and effective ways to get tested.
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Coastal Bend College Hosts Independence Day Festivities Including a Friendly Baseball Competition Community members from Beeville and the surrounding areas were invited to attend Coastal Bend College’s (CBC) Fourth of July Celebration. This free family-friendly event was sponsored by CBC, Kicker10,6 & Angel Care EMS, and took place on Wednesday, July 4 at 5:30 p.m. A local celebrity softball game was played between Beeville City Officials and Bee County Officials. Following the conclusion of that game, Coastal Bend College employees played the winner, Bee County. Unfortunately, due to poor weather conditions in the surrounding areas, the game was cut short and the fireworks display was postponed.
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Pictured to the left: Executive Assistant to the President and Secretary to the Board, Anna Garcia pictured next to George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush. “Meeting the 41st President of the United States, George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara Bush was an honor and a moment that I will never forget. It was an opportunity that many did not get to experience. I’m grateful to have met someone who served our country in many capacities. His passing is heartbreaking and I’m sad to see him go.”
New Student Orientation, “Cougar Days” is a Hit Among Students
Students that attended Cougar Days learned more information about attending Coastal Bend College and the services the college provides to our students. Some of the sessions included financial aid information, housing options for on-campus living, advising options for potential programs and much more.
Students had the opportunity to ask faculty and staff members about any concerns or questions they had. Following the informational sessions, students were invited to join us for lunch to get to know one another and to meet some fellow students.
Cougar Days was held in Beeville, Alice, Kingsville, and Pleasanton with an additional Cougar Days being held for our student-athletes. These orientations are free of charge and provide a half-day orientation for students to learn about student services as well as meet CBC President Dr. Espinoza, faculty and staff.
All attendees received a free lunch and a CBC t-shirt. Parents were also welcome to join their student and have any questions they may have had answered by our student development specialists, business office staff, and financial aid advisors. Hosting Cougar Days at all four sites have enabled CBC to serve our student population much more effectively by meeting them where they live, work, and go to school. For more pictures from Cougar Days, please visit our official Facebook page at www. facebook.com/coastalbendcollege and stay tuned for next year’s Cougar Days event.
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Hispanic Heritage Celebration Month at CBC
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Coastal Bend College is a Hispanic Serving Institute and has a Hispanic student population of over 70 percent. But what is a Hispanic? The federal government designates “Hispanic” as those whose roots include Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans, and other U.S. citizens and residents who trace their roots from Latin American countries and Spain. This group comprises over 17 percent of the U.S. population and is the youngest and fastest growing groups in America. Hispanics have faced a range of economic and social barriers to educational attainment. Since 1965, CBC has provided all students with an affordable, accredited option to gain the education-
al background needed to succeed in life. CBC proudly hosts events at each site in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. See the overview of our Pleasanton event below! The Hispanic Heritage Celebration at CBC-Pleasanton was a huge success. Those in attendance learned about Hispanic stories and customs. Business owner Janice Gonzalez told the audience about her Chilean Hispanic background and boasted about the fabulous Chilean food she still makes and enjoys today. Pleasanton City Manager Johnny Huizar spoke of his journey to what paved the way for him to lead the City of Pleasanton. Retired Army Ranger Mike Lambardia emphasized the importance of education while speaking to his
Hispanic heritage. Jourdanton City Secretary Debbie Molina along with Pleasanton resident Mary Gallegos spoke of their upbringing in a Hispanic family and how those customs and values are still alive today. Immediately following the presentations, all in attendance were treated to a true Hispanic lunch including tamales, frijoles ranchero, mole, arroz and traditional aguas frescas. There was even a piñata filled with candy for all to enjoy! CBC President, Dr. Espinoza is passionate about Hispanic education and is heavily involved in The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. At this year’s Partnership Luncheon in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Espinoza emceed,
where the exemplary efforts of members were recognized. Dr. Espinoza is both personally and professionally committed to Hispanic higher education. Only 7% of PhD holders are Hispanic, which includes Dr. Espinoza. At CBC Beeville, Hispanic Heritage Month was celebrated with three days of festivities including a grito contest and chalupas on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Santa Contreras Barraza, a native of Kingsville and contemporary Chicana/Tejana Artist presented her artwork and the meaning behind the art followed by an opportunity to have a copy of artwork signed by Santa Barraza free of charge. Continuing with the festivities, students and community members then received corn in a cup, Mexican pastries and Pan de Polvo. Then on Thursday, the fiesta festivities continued with Tortilla Making 101, a Sombrero toss contest, Loteria, and taco salad with sopapilla cake for lunch. At CBC Kingsville, students, faculty, staff, and community members celebrated Hispanic Heritage month by having a regetton dance with tamales, rice, and beans for lunch followed by Pan Dulce for dessert.
At CBC Alice, there were corn cups, drinks, Hispanic music and Mexican documentaries played throughout the event. Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. This time frame is especially significant as September 15 is the is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September
18, respectively. Finally, Columbus Day or DĂa de la Raza falls on October 12, within the month of celebration. Coastal Bend College is a proud Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) proudly serving the Hispanic population.
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Coastal Bend College Honors Veteran’s in Veteran’s Day Celebrations We had the honor of celebrating our veterans at Coastal Bend College and we are grateful to all who served to protect our country. United States Army Veteran Maj. Victor Ramos, pictured to the left, shared with community members fellow veterans, and students about the value of education. Despite getting good grades in high school, Ramos dropped out due to boredom. At that time, the draft was in full swing and Ramos figured he might as well join the United States Marines since he would probably be drafted anyways. After some encouragement from his staff sergeant, Ramos earned his high school equivalency credit and continued on to college after completing his four years of active duty service. With help from the GI Bill, he was able to complete his degree at then, Corpus Christi State University.
In 2016, Ramos became part of an initiative to help veterans who never received their high school diplomas do so successfully. CBC Alice also held an event honoring those who have served by inviting community members who are veterans to attend a luncheon of Chicken Cordon Bleu with all the sides. During the luncheon, faculty and staff members talked to the veterans about things ranging from their service to their grandkids and how they are doing. We are fortunate to be able to share these memories with one another.
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Coastal Bend College Baseball Hosts Washington Nationals Scout Team for Veterans Day Game The CBC Cougar baseball team played against the Washington Nationals Scout Team on Veterans Day, Sunday, November 11th! One of our own CBC alumni who played on the CBC baseball team is a scout for the Nationals and organized the event. During the game, their was a raffle every inning for a chance to win Washington Nationals memorabilia including shirts, rally towels, and jerseys. Both teams played their hearts out in the cold and rainy weather. What a great opportunity for our student-athletes to play against individuals
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that have been scouted by the Washington Nationals. Jimmy Gonzales, the coach for the Nationals Scout Team, has been scouting for over 20 years.
At 17, he joined the Coastal Bend College baseball team where he was able to get playing time before transferring to a four-year university. Keeping with the theme of honoring our veterans, all veterans got into the game free of charge. The two men who threw out the first pitches were Richard Garcia and Felipo Vazquez. Garcia from Beeville, served in the Army artillery from 1961-1963 and became a tanker in the Army Reserves from 1963-1970. During his years of service, Garcia lived in Lompoc, California for thirteen
years. Vazquez of Beeville served as an Army Staff Sergeant in Guayama, Puerto Rico and served in the Iraq War. He is currently the President and member of the VFW Post #9170. The Coastal Bend College baseball team got an unique experience by playing a game against athletes that have been scouted out by a professional baseball team. Although the weather did not cooperate fully, the memories made will last a life time for the student-athletes, the fans, and all the families that got to experience this event.
Welcome to Coastal Bend College!
Volleyball “Dig Pink” Annual Fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. In “Dig Pink is a nationwide movement to provide meaningful and impactful experiences for athletes while inspiring and empowering them to come together in support of the stage IV breast cancer community. Each year, hundreds of teams across the country (and some overseas) participate in Dig Pink.” Through programs like Dig Pink, the SideOut Foundation is using the influence and power of sport to impact change by funding support
honor of breast cancer awareness, the volleyball players wore special pink uniforms to signify their unity and support of all those who have breast cancer. “We decided to host a Dig Pink match because it’s a great cause and our players love to change things up. They love to wear our pink jerseys and this game is a time for the girls to have fun and raise money to help stop breast cancer.” - Macy Olness, Assistant Volleyball Coach
Whether you enroll at CBC’s main campus in Beeville or at the other sites in Alice, Kingsville or Pleasanton, you’ll find modern computerized facilities that are second to none. And at CBC you are more than a number in the computer - you are an individual. CBC administrators and teachers care. There are small classes, and you will find free tutoring in our unique Student Success Center where special seminars are held to stimulate your study skills, and reinforce what you have learned in the classroom. That’s possible with the computer-assisted instructional center staffed with tutors who work one-on-one with students. CBC helps you develop skill for success. In the student development center, you will get assistance in blending your talents in the field of study or career that best suits you. Studies of CBC graduates show that more than three-quarters are either working or earning university degrees. Similar studies show that CBC graduates have among the highest success rates in receiving university degrees - equal to those who began their studies at large institutions. CBC strives to ensure that anyone who wants an education can get it. Scholarships, workstudy programs and grants focus on your needs.
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CBC Hosts Alice Welding Lab Ribbon Cutting thanks to the JET Grant Coastal Bend College was named as a recipient of the Texas Workforce Commission’s Jobs and Education for Texans Grant. The College presented a check in the Amount of $272,196 from Emily Clodfelter, the JET Director. CBC used the funds from the grant to renovate the welding lab at the CBC-Alice site.
A ribbon cutting and open house were held December 3. CBC welding students were joined by dual enrollment students from Alice High School. A plasma cutting table, which integrates a desktop computer to cut out designs from metal, welding machines, a new venting system, compressors, and other welding supplies were purchased with the grant monies.
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Constitution Day at CBC Kingsville On September 17, CBC Kingsville celebrated Constitution Day. At the festivities were State Representative J.M. Lozano, Fire Chief Garcia, CBC President Dr. Beatriz Espinoza and Author Diana Lopez. Students were taught the importance of our constitution as well as guidance from some of our great Hispanic leaders.
YOU CHOOSE! The YOU CHOOSE! recruitment event is one of the largest career expos for high school students in the coastal bend with over 2,000 students in attendance. All of the workforce programs were showcased at this event. The welding and nursing trailers were on display with live demonstrations by faculty members. We are thankful for the opportunity to show off our wonderful faculty members and our welding and nursing trailer.
Understanding the New Tax Law Reform Coastal Bend College hosted Juan M. Carrizales, a senior tax consultant for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on October 16, 2018, at 6 p.m. The presentation was free and open to the public and included information on the new tax laws. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax assistance to people who typically made $54,000 or less, individuals with disabilities and limited English speaking taxpayers. VITA volunteers are IRS-certified volunteers and provide basic income tax return preparation for qualified individuals. Coastal Bend College will once again be providing VITA services to help individuals file their tax returns. Feel free to give us a call about any questions you may have.
Phi Theta Kappa Induction Ceremony Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society serves to recognize and encourage the academic achievement of two-year college students and provide opportunities for individual growth and development through honors, leadership and service programming. Today, Phi Theta Kappa is the
largest honor society in American higher education with more than 2.5 million members and 1,275 chapters located in 50 United States, U.S. Territories, Canada, Germany, Peru, the British Virgin Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands
and the United Arab Emirates. This year’s inductees come from all four locations (Beeville, Alice, Kingsville, and Pleasanton). The induction ceremony was beautiful as we got to see parents, grandparents, children and siblings celebrate in the successes of their student. November 29th, 13 students were inducted during the Fall 2018 Phi Theta Kappa Induction Ceremony in Beeville: Brianna Renee Casarez, Sarina Cruz, Jakob-Dylan Castillo, Isabella Therese Dzuik, Adrian Herrera, Kim Holopainen, Aleksandra Johnson, Joshua Leal, Alexandra Olwell, Annette Nicole Oterootero, Glenda Semler, Priscilla M. Vera, and Zach Zamzow. “I am so proud of these 13 students, and I cannot wait to see what they continue to accomplish. I know each of these phenomenal individuals will be successful and achieve great things” said Christi Morgan, English Professor and Phi Theta Kappa: Rho Lambda Adviser. We look forward to seeing the great things the students will continue to do throughout the year.
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Grants Provide More Opportunities for Our Students
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Community colleges, such as Coastal Bend College, are pivotal institutions of higher education in American society - crucial to our economic competitiveness and our efforts to bring back the American Dream. An open-access institution located close to where students live and work, Coastal Bend College is uniquely situated to jumpstart social mobility for those who aspire to continue their education. Through grant funding, Coastal Bend College has a Cougar Zone Go Center, a mobile unit complete with computers, printers, and Internet connectivity. Because of its mobility, the Cougar Zone Go Center can provide information about the college in a more acces-
sible way by traveling to venues that are non-traditional. The Cougar Zone Go Center provides the following services: · College Admission Awareness · College Application Assistance · Financial Aid Advising · Career Exploration · Scholarship Assistance · College Advising · College Campus Visits · Academic Advising Along with funding the Cougar Zone Go Center, grant funding has also provided the nursing programs with new mannequins including a fully functional, talking mannequin. The welding labs in both Beeville and Alice have also been
updated including a virtual welder. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of welders is expected to grow by 6 percent between 2016-2026. By renovating both welding labs, Coastal Bend College will be able to train students with the latest technologies which will boost their competitiveness when applying for jobs. Welding lab renovations and purchased supplies include the installation of a plasma cutting table, which integrates a desktop computer to cut out designs from metal. In addition, funds were allocated for new machines, a new venting system, compressors, and other cutting edge welding tools.
CBC Law Enforcement Setting the Bar High Coastal Bend College has continued to reap the benefits of positive relationships with employers in the areas we serve. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) came to CBC Beeville to test some students for potential employment. Our students had to take a written exam and score a passing grade, then go through an interview process. All 12 of the students that took the exam passed, which led to the interview process. We are very proud to announce all 12 received job offers. This process gained them a job offer as a Correctional Officer for the State of Texas. The academy is set to run offset from the student’s current school schedules, as well as, the job will run on the days the students are off from class. Above is a photo of our students graduating from the academy following the conclusion of the program. “Our students’ character and our program’s reputation has afforded us this perfect opportunity for our students to gain employment and experience in the realm of criminal justice. This experience
will not only allow them to work during their obtainment of education, but will be a great occupational listing for their resumes. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has been very generous in this pilot program, as they wish to see not only our students succeed, but all of their employees. TDCJ is a model for employers who wish to see success for their employees.” – Jarod Bleibdrey, Criminal Justice/Forensics/Law Enforcement Instructor. The students and Professor Bleibdrey took a Unit Tour of the John B. Connally unit on the following Saturday, hosted by the Senior Warden of the facility. This is a phenomenal opportunity for
our students to gain real-world experience while obtaining their degree at Coastal Bend College. “Practical application and experiencing real-world effects have long been known for benefiting of anyone. By taking these proven theories of learning, law enforcement students are subjected to chemical agent exposure of both CS (chlorobenzalmalononitrile) and OC (oleoresin capsicum), as so they may understand the pain and discomfort one feels under the duration of these less than lethal force options. With this understanding the student would anticipate what the perpetrating suspect would feel as well as have the mental ability to absorb this pain and have the mental capacity to push through the pain and carry out the given objective... should they ever be exposed to the chemical agents while in the line of duty.” - Jarod Bleibdrey To see a video of the pepper spray demonstration, please visit our YouTube page at youtube. com/CoastalBendCollege
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A Visit from Sparky
Muscle Up for Matthew Muscle Up for Matthew is held yearly to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association in honor of Matthew Silvas II, who was diagnosed when he was five years old. Matthew was expected to be in leg braces by 9 and wheelchair bound by 12, however, at 13, he is still beating the odds and needs neither. Due to poor weather conditions, the Muscle up for Matthew 5K was moved to the Coastal Bend College Track, where it initially
started. Despite potential rainfall, volunteers were plentiful as A.C. Jones High School, San Patricio Electric Co-Op and the college volunteered to help with the benefit. Last year, the Muscular Dystrophy Association had to cancel its big event because of a hurricane which makes smaller, localized benefits even more important. The $2,000-$3,000 donation from this run will be a big help in the fight.
The Beeville Fire Department visited the kiddos at Coastal Bend College’s Early Child Development Center, along with Sparky the Fire Dog. Thank you to Captain R. Delgado, LT. A. Lopez, and FF. Connie Flores for taking the time to visit! Congratulations on earning a Four Star achievement - Texas Rising Star and was visited by the Texas Department of Health and Human Services licensing department. Congratulations to Yolanda Mendez, Director of the Center and her staff for scoring 100%.
CNA Program Recognized Most Affordable Program in Texas Top 35 Most Affordable in the Nation
Based Student/Faculty Ratio, Job Placement, and Career Counseling 40 on In-State Tuition, Graduation Rate, by MedicalFieldCareers.com
2019 CBC Wildlife Calendar Has Been Released Coastal Bend College is pleased to announce that the 2019 CBC Wildlife Calendar has been released. Each year, the College produces a wildlife calendar free of charge for members of the community and surrounding areas. The calendar features the work of South Texas photographers and over 3,500 are distributed to businesses and individuals throughout the United States and all over the world. The College’s Wildlife Calendar showcases the Coastal Bend region’s native birds, flowers, insects, vegetation and wildlife. Various talented photographers from throughout Beeville and the surrounding areas submitted
photos for judging. Photographers who had their images selected for the 2019 CBC Wildlife Calendar 2019 Wildlife Calendar
were recently honored at a reception that was sponsored by the CBC Foundation. The 2019 CBC Wildlife Calendar photographers are Cissy Beasley of Beeville; Connie Black of Mathis; George Gilchrist of
Papalote; Steve Kotzur of Pettus; Edgar Duge of Sinton; Bobbie “Wonda” Walrdon of George West; and Oralia Kessel of Beeville. Free copies of the 2019 CBC Wildlife Calendar are available at all CBC locations (Beeville, Alice, Kingsville, and Pleasanton), the Alice Chamber of Commerce, the Beeville Chamber of Commerce, the Kingsville Chamber of Commerce, the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce, Beeville Bee-Picayune, and Hogue’s Jewelry (Beeville), while supplies last. Photo submissions for the 2020 CBC Wildlife Calendar will be accepted in late May 2019.
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CBC Soccer Team Brings Diversity to the Team and Campus
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Every year, the Coastal Bend College soccer recruits players from around the world to come to Beeville to represent Coastal Bend College in Region XIV, the toughest conference in the nation. These student-athletes represent 15 different countries and bring with them their own culture, style, way of life, and versatility to the team and the campus. As part of the recruitment portion, Coach Bobby Njoroge said he lets recruits “know how intimate CBC is, all your teachers know you so it’s easy to build a positive relationship with them and there are other student-athletes on campus, so their peers are going through the same journey and will be traveling. Also, CBC is not too far from 3 beaches where they can spend their free time.” Some of the countries rep-
resented include Brazil, Spain, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Serbia, Germany, Austria, Canada, Mexico, Honduras, Switzerland, and Sierra Leon. Jan Gruhn, a defensive player from Schleidenn, Germany chose Coastal Bend College for the opportunity to play against top competition and the chance to move on with his soccer career to a four-year university. When asked about the best part of CBC, he replied “my teammates and the people.” With the transition from playing soccer in a country that is home to you, transitioning to another country can be difficult. Jarod Bleibdrey, Assistant Soccer Coach, stated that he believes “fully that growth is obtained through experience, and leaving your home country to travel here and undertake a rigorous season, with
coursework to follow, propels our players to reach new levels of mental, physical and emotional heights. The courage the players have to leave their homes and embark on a new adventure, knowing trials and tribulations lay ahead is not a commonly found trait, thus our team is not a commonly found group of players. They push for excellence in everything they do.” The players have the unique experience to impact their classrooms by sharing their perspective in the classroom offers a different perspective into the discussion including their different sayings, phrases, as well as, a different type of humor. Having other countries represented on campus brings more culture to the campus that is not readily found in the United States, let alone in
Beeville. Not only are the students able to come and receive an education, but faculty and staff are able to learn more about different areas of the globe from individuals who have lived and grown up in those areas. Students from the United States are able to see and learn firsthand how similar and unlike education is in other countries. For example, an American student sitting next to an English student in English class may learn that the English don’t spell color; C.O.L.O.R. but rather spells it C.O.L.O.U.R. As far as the growth of the players, Coach Njoroge said that “some of the students have not only left their parents for the first time but have also left their country for the first time. Coming over alone they have had to learn to deal with adversity, making the starting line-up, even just making
the travel squad. They have had to deal with severe climate change, not just living, but also training nearly every day in a new climate. They have to deal with studying subjects that are completely foreign to them (Texas Government/ Federal Government). Also, coming over and living with complete strangers. This has built humility, responsibility, and accountability because they have to learn to survive on their own.� Diversity among students in education directly impacts their performance. Studies show that
students work better in a diverse environment, enabling them to concentrate and push themselves further when there are people of other backgrounds working alongside them. This promotes creativity, as well as better education, as those with differing viewpoints are able to collaborate to create solutions. For more information on recruitment, the upcoming soccer schedule or any other athletic related questions, please visit: www.cbcathletics.com
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Labor Day Celebration Members of the community of Beeville and surrounding areas were invited to attend Coastal Bend College’s (CBC) Labor Day Celebration. CBC partnered with Kicker 106 and Angel Care to put on a free family-friendly event full of festivities at CBC Beeville. A blue and white inter-squad scrimmage between CBC Baseball’s team took place first followed by CBC soccer players signing pennants and taking photos with community members. Afterward, everyone gathered around to watch the firework display light up the night sky. Members of the CBC soccer team are not just from the United States, but also England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Austria, Brazil, Honduras, Finland, Serbia, Wales, Mexico, Sierra Leon, and Spanish. This creates a unique opportunity for our community members to meet athletes from other countries and learn about their culture.
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CNA Program Nationally Recognized Coastal Bend College has been named in the top 35 affordable CNA Programs by MedicalFieldCareers. com. Coming in at number 33, CBC is the only program recognized from the great state of Texas. “Our rankings for the Top 35 Affordable CNA Programs achieve this by focusing on not only tuition costs and other measures of affordability, but by factoring in criterion such as student-to-faculty ratio, accreditations, number of courses available, to name a few. This methodology allowed us to identify 35 highly-affordable programs that compare favorably with any CNA training course in the country.” There is a strong nationwide demand for CNAs throughout the country with a projected 17% growth in new jobs for nursing assistants through 2024 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A CNA’s role includes focusing on basic patient care and is a great stepping stone to other careers in nursing. CNA job prospects are expected to be strong in home health care service and community-based care. Becoming a CNA allows you to make a difference while offering job stability and a variety of job opportunities. After completing the CNA program there is a competency exam that once passed, you’ll be placed on a state registry as a certified CNA. For more information about the nursing program, please visit our website at coastalbend.edu.
“Finding the Great Western Trail” with CBC Foundation On Thursday, September 27, Coastal Bend College Gertrude R. Jones Auditorium hosted a reception and lecture on “Finding the Great Western Trail” by Sylvia Gann Mahoney. All proceeds from the event with to the Coastal Bend College Foundation Office to be disseminated to students through scholarship opportunities. Author, Sylvia Gann Mahoney addressed the audience about the importance of the Great Western Cattle Trail in the late 1800s and the stories of the people who worked with it. The Great Western Cattle Trail wasn’t as well known as some of the other cattle trails of the time, but it was longer in distance and lasted approximately two years longer than the better known
Chisholm Trail. In 1874, John T. Lytle, blazed the trail moving 3,500 longhorn cattle from the ranges of Texas to Fort Robinson, Nebraska. Most of the trail ran parallel to the Chisholm Trail into Kansas from the Texas hill country. The last reported drive on the
trail was made in 1893 by John Rufus Blocker, who transported his herd from West Texas to Deadwood, South Dakota. By that time, as many as six million cattle and one million horses had been driven to northern pastures and markets along the route.
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Evening with Santa with Bee County and CBC Coastal Bend College and Bee County combined forces to provide a Christmas celebration for our community! The courthouse square was packed with people from the local area to witness the Christmas tree lighting and enjoy food truck offerings as the children anxiously awaited the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus. The Beeville Fire Department escorted Santa and Mrs. Claus on a fire truck with the lights on and siren blasting. Children made a beeline to greet Santa and take a picture with him. As in the past years, CBC
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provided keepsake photos with Santa at no cost to our community members and provided each child with a present. “We have lots to celebrate in this community and I am glad ya’ll are here to celebrate with us” said Dr. Espinoza, CBC President. County Judge, Stephanie Moreno added “Supporting each other, supporting our local business and supporting our youth is the only way for our community to prosper.
Spotlight on Safety: Operation Safe Walk
The CBC Beeville Campus is offering an escort service called Operation Safe Walk. This service
will be provided for students and employees who desire a Courtesy Patrol escort from any building on the CBC Beeville Campus to their car or dorm. To request this service, please call (361) 319-6631. This service will be available from 6:15 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. Monday thru Thursday. It is possible for a delay in service to occur due to the number of escort requests received before yours, so call or text at least 30 minutes in advance to request this service. Please be patient and we will get to you as soon as an escort is available. ESCORTS are CBC Courtesy Patrol Officers dressed in a yellow vest for identification purposes. A requester may confirm the identity of an ESCORT by calling the above cell phone number. The Courtesy Patrol is comprised of CBC Law Enforcement Students. Residential Safety Tips for CBC students brought to you by the Coastal Bend College Police Department 1. Keep the door(s) to your room
or residence and windows locked at all times. 2. Report defective campus locks on windows and doors IMMEDIATELY to Residential Life Director Amanda Barrera at amanda@ coastalbend.edu 3. Never sleep in an unlocked room or house. 4. Do not put your name or address on key rings. 5. Do not keep your room or residence and vehicle keys on the same ring. 6. Do not share or give your keys to anyone. 7. If you lose the keys to your residence, have the lock(s) changed. On-campus residents should notify Residential Life immediately. 8. Women living alone should not use prefixes “Ms,” “Miss,” or “Mrs.” on doors or mailboxes. Instead, use the first initial and last name. 9. Do not study in poorly lit or secluded areas. 10. Require visitors at your door to identify themselves before opening your door. Campus and non-campus residents should require official identification from all repair or service personnel. 11. Do not let strangers in to use your telephone or follow you to your residence.
12. If you receive obscenely or harassing telephone calls or several calls with no one on the other end, immediately notify the CBC Police Department or the Beeville Police Department @ (361) 3588100 13. If you find that your room has been entered, DO NOT GO INSIDE. Make yourself safe and call 911. If you are already inside, DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING. You may disturb evidence that is important to the police investigation. 14. If an intruder awakens you in your room, Scream and yell for help, get out of the room, make yourself safe and call 911. Do not try to apprehend him, he may be armed or may easily arm himself with something inside the room. If at all possible provide police with a description of the person. 15. If you see a suspicious person or vehicle on campus or in your neighborhood, contact the CBC Police Department and the Beeville Police Department. Try to get the license plate number. 16. Students in private residences should consider installing “peepholes” and intruder chains on outside doors. Also, if returning after dark, leave a light on at the entrance to your residence.
Associate of Arts in Teaching Now Offered
General Studies Secondary Education Early Childhood Specialization 47
2018 Graduation by the Numbers
882 29 43
graduates receiving a marketable skill, certificate, and/or Associate’s degree percent of graduates (98 of 335) students) obtaining an Associate’s degree graduated with honors.
percent of the class of 2018 were high school students who haven’t graduated high school.
1,429
203 292 75
students (24%) completed the core curriculum and can transfer to a Texas public university. graduates (33%) completed a certificate or Associate’s degree in an allied health field.
percent of graduates earned a certificate or Associate’s degree in a workforce related field.
awards completed by the class of 2018
*Numbers are based on applications for graduation and do not accurately reflect those who have graduated.
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