Top students honored

Six students from Pierce chosen among 1,500 applicants as scholarship semifinalists

BY SAMANTHA NEFF

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation selected six students from Los Angeles Pierce College to be semifinalists for the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship 2020 based on their academic achievements, financial status, and community service.

This national scholarship is known for being highly competitive and can offer students as much as $40,000 annually for up to three years to assist them with earning their bachelor degree. It also enhances community college transfer students' chances of having their applications viewed by universities.

Honor students Simon Alam, Juan Becerra, Sarkis Chrikjian, Harrison Kotik, Colin Melendez and Fatima Sheyda were selected to receive the scholarship and are in the process of transferring to some of the most prestigious universities in the country. These students along with 456 other semifinalists are chosen out of 1,500 applicants from hundreds of community community colleges all over the nation.

These students are also offered comprehensive educational advising from Foundation staff to assist them with their transfer process.

Students who were considered for this scholarship are majoring in various different fields and have been extremely invested in their application and transfer process for some time.

Two of the students selected by both the Foundation along with the Pierce College Honors Program will present their own research at the University of California, Irvine Community College Honors Research Conference held this spring.

Student Jaun Becerra will be using his research he collected this past summer at Northwestern University to present, “How the News Media Frames Victims of Police Shootings.” Student Sarkis Chrikjian will be presenting, “The Impact of Fatigue Relief Intervention on Pain and Sleep Disturbances in HIV+ Latinx Individuals.” are in right now with the money last year I ended with about $80,000 in deficit.” allocations so that departments may use their original schedules.

“I am very glad that we were able to do so quickly, and that we didn’t have to go through with it,” Montevirgen said. “We will still have to look at ways to trim in other places, but at least not with the classes.

Head of all Department Chairs, Michael Gend, voiced that each of the divisions and areas on campus may have had different concerns with different vice presidents over the years, but he personally has lost faith in the system.

“I'm just speaking as one single individual right now and I'm bracing for the retaliation that is going to ensue,” Gend said. “I do not have confidence in Rolf Schleicher, I do not have confidence in Earic Dixon-Peters, I do not have confidence in Sheri Berger,

Pierce College President Alexis Montevirgen said the increase would be focused on improving the availability of mental health counselors.

“That’s one of the things that we’ve noticed a dramatic increase in need,” Montevirgen said. “All of our students are going through so much more than just what they’re going through in the classroom.” and last week my confidence in the president was very heavily shaken.”

Associated Students Organization President Vivian Yee said she's aware that the fee may be expensive. However the increase is a mandatory action, otherwise the health center wouldn’t be around for much longer.

“I know myself and if the supermarket raised the price of broccoli I’d be like ‘no’,” said Yee.

Yee said she advocates for the increase due to her own personal experiences, which reminds her of the importance of being health aware.

“I was born with really severe rashes where you scratch yourself until you bleed and I know how much health care can get, so this health center is so important,” Yee said.

Brian Walsh said the Faculty Guild Executive Board passed a resolution on colleges in debt in the district, which also passed the District Budget Committee.

“This is only the beginning. We can do amazing things when we all come together for a common purpose,” Walsh said. “We are going to push hard to not only get the Schools and Communities proposition on the ballot, but see it pass in November which will bring $12 billion more in state funding for education and community initiatives. We also must ask the question ‘20% for Whom?’ Why does the district sit on $147 million (20.4%) rather than spend that on the colleges? Why are they saving that money?”

Reported by Paola Castillo

These incidents were reported between Feb. 16-Feb. 12

01/02-2/12

PROJECTOR THEFT

An unknown person stole a white projector from a classroom.

02/13

STUDENT BATTERY

Two students fought over a parking spot.

Pierce College Sheriffʼs Station

General Information:

Emergency: (818) 710 - 4311