Volume 138 Spring 2023 Roundup Issue 13

Making a role model

A mother and future UCLA student will be the speaker at graduation

The COVID-19 pandemic brought misfortune and loss to many people. But for Roxanne Gannon, it was a blessing in disguise.

Caught between raising her daughter and working full-time jobs, Gannon didn't have time to pursue a degree. She took advantage of 2020's stay-at-home culture to make a change.

Gannon is the Vice President and Webmaster of Pierce’s Pi chapter of Alpha Gamma Sigma (AGS), the statewide community college honor society, and she will be the student commencement speaker.

The commencement will take place at Shepard Stadium for the first time on June 8 at 9 a.m.

Gannon said speaking at the graduation ceremony was on her mind for a year before she found out there was a contest to determine the student speaker.

Gannon said she entered because she wanted to inspire other students with her journey from childhood to motherhood and to Pierce.

“I discovered so many things that I was capable of here,” Gannon said. “I really wanted

to share my story with other students and encourage people that they may also have unique journeys, they matter, they’re seen and they’re not alone.”

Gannon had recently won the Ed Walsh Outstanding Service Award and the Robert Mantovani Award scholarships according to Economics Professor and Department Chair Kaycea Campbell.

Campbell said Gannon is one of the most impressive students she’s ever met.

“Roxy has been an inspiration since she first joined AGS,” Campbell said. “She shares her energy, experience, and makes the chapter much stronger with all her contributions.”

Campbell said Gannon’s accomplishments within AGS include building a new website, being involved in student committees, tutoring calculus, volunteering at food banks and beach clean ups and using her skills to help her peers understand that education is important.

“Roxy’s story is an inspiration,” Campbell said. “She has had personal struggles in life but has never let that stop her from accomplishing her goal.”

Gannon's parents emigrated from the Philippines when

they were young. Her parents' struggles with adjusting to a new country led to Gannon facing her own.

“That affected me a little bit,” Gannon said. “Because I’m trying to fit in too, and I’m like this little odd Asian girl that feels out of place. They said ‘We don’t know how to make you fit in. We don’t even know how to fit in.’”

Gannon’s parents divorced when she was 2. She said she had to move schools or districts every year until she got to high school.

“I really struggled with my identity and who I was in the world,” Gannon said. “My parents are wonderful people, but I dealt with a lot of emotions that I don’t think they knew how to handle.”

Gannon dropped out of Cal State Fullerton after one semester and ran away from home when she was 18.

“It's okay for life to be a little unpredictable and get off track,” Gannon said. “It's okay to not be perfect. You're still worthy of the things that you want. It just takes a little time and a little faith in yourself. You'll get there.”

[see SPEAKER on pg. 3]

Celebrating with pride

Matters Felipe Agredano shared the significance of the event.

celebrated and appreciated for all their hard work.”

The air was filled with joy as families settled in their seats. Their loved ones donned their purple stoles as they walked across the stage and stopped to take their pictures. The room echoed with applause after each name was read.

Te Lavender Graduation of 2023 was held at Los Angeles Trade Technical College in celebration of the LGBTQIA+ students of the Los Angeles Community College District.

Created by Ronni Sanlo, a Lavender Graduation is a celebration to honor the accomplishments of LGBTQIA+ students.

Faculty Liaison for the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee for LGBTQIA+

“The most important part of the Lavender Graduation is that we get to celebrate our students that are LGBTQIA+ and that we get to highlight their success, which is our success,” Agredano said. “We want to make sure that our students feel that this is a safe and brave space so that they can carry on with their journeys wherever they go. They are representing us, and we expect them to be successful, to be proud, to be bold, and to make an impact in our world.”

The ceremony created a space for many to rejoice in their successes, according to graduate Judy Suazo.

“I recall there's a time that we couldn't celebrate like this, and this gives everyone in the queer community a chance to really be

Many graduates weren’t alone in their celebration. After student speaker Kate Halperin delivered her spoken word poetry, her family was the first to cheer for her. Halperin’s mother shared the joy the graduation brought to her.

“One of the best things for me is to come out and say I support my daughter,” Halperin said. “I love my daughter, I love everyone, and this is such a great event. There should be more events like this, and I never even knew about this. When I found out about the Lavender Graduation, I was like, ‘Oh my god, this is beautiful.’”

While many graduates celebrated with their biological families, found families were just as welcomed at the event.

Graduates Joshua Erikson and Jen Nash were celebrated by CJ Rose and Al Schoenberg, friends and members of their found family.

Rose and Schoenberg remarked how great it was to see the LGBTQIA+ community and allies gather to support and honor one another.

While other colleges hold their own graduations, graduate Sean Caldwell chose to attend the Lavender Graduation out of pride for who he is. “I want to let people know that my sexuality doesn't mean anything,” Caldwell said. “I'm welcome and free to be whoever I want to be.”

The Lavender Graduation honors students from the LGBTQIA+ community

Photo by Hunter Hammerot

Student speaker Liz Carlin speaks to the graduates during the Lavender Graduation at Los Angeles Trade Tech on May 25, 2023

Photo by Benjamin Hanson Roxanne Gannon at the Center for the Sciences building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May

DREW HOKAMA The Bull Reporter

BENJAMIN HANSON The Bull Editor-in-Chief

Photo by Hunter Hammerot

Student speaker Kate Halperin of Pierce College speaks to the graduates during the Lavender Graduation at Los Angeles Trade Tech on May 25 2023.

Photo by Hunter Hammerot Chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District Francisco C. Rodriguez looks on as the Board of Trustees President David Vela gives a speech to the graduates at The Lavender Graduation at Los Angeles Trade Tech on May 25, 2023.

STREET BEAT

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE SUMMER?

“I’mhopingtotravelalittlebit,but Ihavesummerclassescomingup andI’mtryingtogetahead.-Jeshua Alfaro-AerospaceEngineering major

EDITORIALS: From the desk of the Roundup

Better in groups

Pierce College provides oneon-one therapy in addition to group therapy. Pierce should be promoting the opportunity for students to be included in the group sessions more than they have been.

At least five students have to show interest in group therapy to create a group. There are different groups for different topics such as anxiety and depression in addition to relationships with friends and family.

Less than half of the schools within the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) offer the option of attending group therapy sessions.

According to citizenadvocates.com, participating in group therapy is beneficial because it embraces camaraderie, different perspectives, human connection and relationships. Being in a group of people who are struggling with the same or similar things as you can be comforting. It also helps participants open up to each other.

“Myplanforthissummeristowork parttimeattheWelcomeCenter, helpingstudentsdoadmissionand enrollment. At the same time, I’ll betakingpart-timeclasses.”-Jell Maloney,Nursingmajor

Having a variety of people in each group helps each individual by understanding others' perspectives and how other people handle issues and problems. Oftentimes, members of the group will already have made progress addressing their treatment, which will be beneficial to the treatment of other patients.

Many people go to therapy because they want to get to know themselves better. Having the perspectives of others within the group can help with self discovery.

Pierce should be advertising these resources to students. A lot of the student population are not aware of the option to join a group therapy session. Social media, monthly fliers posted in Canvas and fliers around campus can help students who are taking online and/or in person classes access a necessary resource.

If you stream it, they will watch it

Pierce College is one of the few colleges that don’t live stream their sports games.

A few LACCD colleges such as Los Angeles Valley College livestream their games for anyone that would like to watch.

For example, Los Angeles Valley College live streams baseball, football, basketball, and softball.

By providing live-streamed games, many people who can’t otherwise attend the game can log on and watch the game from their electronic devices.

At Pierce College, there’s no way of watching the game unless you attend in person.

According to WSN Live, “Streaming will naturally increase viewership and the number of fans, making this a great way for local sponsors to market their own businesses.

This means more revenue for your athletics program and your school’s extracurricular activities that desperately need funding, which will overall slowly strengthen your school.”

Many family members and friends of the players would love to watch their games, but they can’t because it’s not broadcasted.

It wouldn’t even be too expensive. All you have to do is set up a camera and have someone follow the ball.

Plus students who want hands-on experience can actually volunteer and have an opportunity to get valuable experience that could be difficult to find anywhere else.

Also, there are many benefits such as growing the sports teams and the social media following for the school.

Transfer v. GE classes?

Enrich your education

JENNIFER TANZIL Reporter

Community college shouldn’t be the final destination for a student’s education pathway– it should be a stepping stone for furthering their education.

“I’mgoingtohangoutwithmy friendsandfamily.We’regoingto thebeach,andI’mgoingtoplay someacousticguitar.I’malsogoing todosomeexercisetraining.”-Brian

Ozor,ComputerApplications& OfficeTechnologymajor

Transfering to a four-year university not only helps increase the chances of a better career, it also provides opportunities for students outside of the educational aspect.

To start, universities are bigger institutions than community colleges and therefore have larger student bodies. This allows for a bustling student life environment, with numerous clubs and organizations to join. The more people there are on campus, the more participation in social events.

“Myplanthissummeristowork fulltimewithmyfather.Iworkat abodyshopfamilybusiness.I’m alsogoingtotakesomeclasses.”

-BenjaminRodriguez,Business Administrationmajor

Denison University president Adam Weinberg wrote in a HuffPost article titled “The Value of Campus Life” that the impact of a higher education is greater when students attend colleges with a “robust campus life.” When students interact with more people and engage in peer-related activities, they’re building relationships and developing skills and values they’ll use later on in life.

Community colleges are very commuter-heavy. Most students come on campus to attend class and rarely stay to do more than what they have to. This often makes it difficult to form connections with peers outside of the classroom.

A Gallup-Purdue Index study showed that students who were highly engaged in extracurricular activities and student organizations while attending university are 1.6 times more likely to say the cost of their education was worth it.

“I’mgoingtotakethreeclasses thissummer.I’llbestudying,and maybehangoutwithsomefriends. I’llalsopreparemyapplications foruniversitiesthatIhopeI cantransferto.”-ThuTruong, Psychology major

Bennett

Photos by Kyanna Hojati

Having some form of student and campus life is essential so students can apply what they’ve learned in the classroom in a real-life setting. Such social skills will be beneficial in the workplace and further on in life situations. Attending sports games and similar events also boosts a sense of school pride, thus making the overall experience of attending school more enjoyable.

Another benefit of transferring to a university after community college is

the many more class options that are available. Students would be able to find the classes they couldn’t find at a community college. While they boast a great deal of traditional general education courses, a university or four-year college can offer a wider variety of courses that can deepen the learning experience. There also come great benefits in receiving a bachelor’s degree from a university.

As time goes by, the need for higher education increases. An AP News article by Jon Marcus states that “degreeinflation” is the cause of employers preferring graduates with a bachelor’s degree for positions that were once acceptable with an associate degree. A bachelor’s degree obtained at a university increases the chances of a higher-paying job.

A U.S. News article by Sammy Allen titled “How Employers View an Associate Degree” said that several studies have continued to show a relation between higher levels of education and income. The higher an education that a worker has, the higher their earnings will be.

A report from the federal National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) showed that in 2020, employees with an associate degree earned $15,500 less annually than their bachelor’s degree counterparts.

Though a bachelor’s degree doesn’t necessarily guarantee success, it’s more useful to have as opposed to an associate degree. Students shouldn’t stop their education at an associate degree, because most employers nowadays look for a bachelor’s degree at the very least. It’ll be ideal to transfer to a university to continue the educational path leading towards a bachelor’s degree.

A bachelor’s degree, a deeper learning experience and student life are some of the benefits that a university offers. Students shouldn’t just settle for the community college experience, they should take their college education further by transferring to a university after completing the transfer requirements.

Pierce College provides great opportunities for students that are unable to continue their education at a four year university.

With tuition costs rising across the United States, the idea of graduating from a community college and transferring to a university might not be ideal for some students.

The cost puts many students in debt right out of college. The years of hard work and dedication to their program might not even pay off as they had hoped.

Completing your GE requirements at a community college and looking for job opportunities with an associate degree can still land you a great career.

Tuition can be incredibly expensive, there are plenty of high-paying career choices that only require an associates degree in the first place, and employers will still consider associates degrees for career opportunities.

Ivy Tech is a community college in Indianapolis. Their average tuition price per semester is $2,243.25. Comparing this number to UCLA, which averages at $13,225 for tuition alone.

“Community colleges are known for their affordability due to no campus housing fees, food plans and other overhead costs associated with a larger university, as well as more opportunities for students to qualify for financial aid like scholarships and grants.”

With such a wide gap in cost, it might not be worth it for some students to attend a four year university at all, especially for those who would still find job opportunities with just an associates.

Coursera is a college partnership program that helps students broaden career opportunities with networking. They provide a list of high-paying career

According to WSN Live, “You can utilize social media, such as Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, to remind people of game times and to check out the stream once a game has started. People can even share your posts with each other. All of this leads to an engagement that you could never reach without streaming.” It doesn’t cost much, it can grow the social media, sports teams, and finally the students themselves. So why not live stream games?

choices that students can choose from directly out of community college.

“According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for occupations requiring either an associate degree or a Professional Certificate was projected to grow by 11 percent between 2016 and 2026. Furthermore, associate degree holders have been found to make an average of $141 more a week than those with only a high school diploma, for a weekly median wage of $887.”

One example they provided is a web developer. Students who choose to get an associates degree in Computer Science, can potentially earn a salary of more than $75,000.

While this salary is fairly average in Los Angeles, the data provided represents the entire United States. The average salary of an American citizen is around $60,000.

US News is a reputable media company that provides advice and analysis for Americans regarding a variety of social topics.

Writer for US News, Sammy Allen said that employers still consider associates degrees within a pool of applicants, depending on the chosen career path.

“The construction, real estate, manufacturing, nursing, hospitality and retail industries ‘are very appreciative’ of individuals with associate degrees, said Ken McQueen, who recruits talent for oil, gas and other industries for Richard Wayne & Roberts in Houston.”

While an associates degree might not be ideal for every career path, there’s still so many opportunities out there for those that can’t afford or don’t have the time to complete a bachelors.

The most important thing a student can do to find a career is focus on their communication and networking skills.

Quotes gathered by Alec

ALEC BENNETT Reporter

MADELEINE CHRISTIAN News Editor

Bots have been filling Pierce class rosters in the hundreds and raising flags across the district. Bots are believed to be signing up for classes and creating accounts for the “.edu” email domain. These emails can be used for student discounts, sold to spam mailers, or sold for their domain. What exactly is a bot, you might ask.

Bots make their way to class

According to Cloudflare.com, “a bot is a software application that is programmed to do certain tasks.” There are both good and bad bots. Some can be useful, like search engine bots and customer service bots. Whereas others are created and used to harm people by stealing their identity, sending spam and other malicious activity. Vice President of Student Services

Jason Cifra has been managing the problem since it was brought to his attention. He said that a normal amount of bot activity

is expected, but it has gotten out of hand in the last few months.

“We’ve known about this situation for a while but not to the level in this last second eight weeks,” Cifra said. “Our second to last report, we had 400 potential bots.”

The issue is being mitigated, but most instances of bot activity have to be handled on a case-by-case basis, making it tedious work.

Cifra said that only some potential bots reported are a bot, and many are actual

students. The trouble comes with discerning the two, and that work takes time.

“We contact each of those potential bots to say you’ve been identified as a potential bot,” Cifra said. “If you’re not, you’ll need to do a Zoom, check in with us, stop by the welcome center to make sure that we can verify the student.”

Distance Education Coordinator Wendy Bass knows the situation is unfortunate and believes in Pierce staff’s ability to control the issue.

“Faculty and administration have been working together,” Bass said. “Where they suspect bots, they’re giving names, and administration has been following up on it.”

Bass is particularly proud of Cifras’ work in tempering the issue so students don't miss out on educational opportunities.

“Jason has been phenomenal,” Bass said. “I’ve never seen a response like this. I love working with him, he’s so responsive and student-facing, and he’s so frustrated as well.”

A summer at La Ville-Lumière

Interim President Aracely Ara Aguiar said that she thinks they won't ever be able to eliminate the problem entirely.

“Just when you think you got things right, there are always going to be scam artists and people that are always trying to do things the wrong way,” Aguiar said.

Aguiar also said that it is really important that students engage early on so that they don’t get dropped from classes.

mchristian.roundupnews@gmail.com

Two students will study abroad in France as part of a statewide scholarship program

Two Pierce College students are saying “Bon Voyage!” this summer as they head to France for a study abroad scholarship program.

Called “The Paris Study Abroad Scholarship,” it gives students from California colleges the opportunity to study in France to absorb the culture, language and education in the country.

The two students who were selected from Pierce, Anita Semsarha and Shirin Alizadjahani, are French students studying under French professor Denis Pra. The scholarship recipients were picked through an application process that was limited to

a small group of students.

The students in the program will be spending the entire month of July abroad.

The foundation that sponsored this trip is the H. Dennis and Anne Beaver Foundation located in Bakersfield, California. They originally started this abroad program approximately 30 years ago to help students deepen their ability to speak a foreign language—primarily French— and expand their knowledge and tolerance of other cultures.

H. Dennis Beaver, a Loyola Law School graduate, grew up in the Los Angeles area before relocating to Bakersfield, where he became a deputy district attorney for the Kern County District Attorney Office.

Although most of Beaver’s career history didn’t require learning another language,

he is a strong believer that learning different languages and immersing yourself in cultures from a different country can positively affect your life.

“French has been an incredible gift in my life,” Beaver said. “And for people who learn it, learn a foreign language well enough, and who are able to maintain a dialogue with native speakers, it opens an incredible world. It is one of the most wonderful intellectual feelings you can have, that few ever accomplish.”

Beaver also attended Los Angeles Valley College and California State University of Northridge (CSUN) before getting into Loyola Law School. He credits his fluency to his time at these schools.

"I had amazing teachers while attending Valley College

[FROM

SPEAKER pg. 1]

Gannon worked in film as a production assistant, producer, writer, actor and background actor until her daughter was born seven years ago. She left the industry because the pay wasn’t enough to support her family.

Gannon worked at restaurants and other odd jobs after she went through a divorce when her daughter was two. Gannon said she always wanted to earn her degree to set a good example for her daughter. She credits the COVID-19 pandemic with being able to return to school.

“I knew the only way for me to have a good future would be to finally get my degree,” Gannon said. “Because I never got it after I graduated high school 20 years ago.”

and doing a minor in French at CSUN," Beaver said. Beaver also noted that most of the students who attend this program at least minored in French, while some of them became French teachers.

Most years, only one student gets selected for this trip, so Pra was delighted when he had two candidates chosen.

“This is a good year I would say, because two students have been given the opportunity to study in France, with airfare, accommodations and all the visits,” Pra said. “It’s a winwin because not only are they going to France, but they can also earn credits.”

Semsarha was interested in the program because of her goals of becoming a French literary translator, and was grateful for the opportunity to expand

Gannon said that before the pandemic, it would’ve been impossible to work, go to school full-time and pay for a daycare. But when the world shut down and remote jobs and online schools became the new normal, she realized she was capable of pursuing her life goals.

“It was a really hard time for everyone,” Gannon said. “For me, it was an opportunity for me to really start over and set up a good future for myself.”

Gannon said that AGS allowed her to showcase her leadership skills during the pandemic and serve other students.

“It was hard to feel like we’re a part of something because we’re all at home on a computer and a black box," Gannon said. "But being a part of AGS, I got to talk to other students about school

her knowledge of the French language and culture since it was an opportunity that’s fairly rare for a community college campus.

“I feel like it can be a life changing experience for a lot of these students,” Semsarha said. “I think it's incredibly beneficial having the opportunity that you otherwise would not have access to.“

Alizadjahani recently moved to America, and she decided to take a French course along with English simply because she was interested in the language. She was then motivated to take more courses which landed Alizadjahani in the position to apply.

“I enrolled in French 101 and it was very interesting, and it pushed me to continue,” Alizadjahani said. “He was one of the things that really

and their lives.”

Student Engagement Coordinator and Counselor Lara Conrady Wong said that Gannon was one of the many inspiring student success stories to enter the contest.

Gannon was accepted to Columbia University but decided to remain close to home and attend UCLA in the neuroscience program. She said she hopes to become a psychiatrist and research neurological disorders.

“Gannon did well in her presentation and shared her experiences in a way that the graduates and their families/ friends will connect with and enjoy hearing about,” Conrady Wong said. “She had earned many honors and accolades while at LAPC and we wish her all the best in her next steps at UCLA.”

The Symphony of education

For the Applied Music Program (AMP), students have to audition for a spot in the program by demonstrating skill within their instrument. The auditioning process can be competitive for aspiring music majors looking to join the AMP. Guiding them through the process is Applied Music Program Director Charlotte Wilkins. She is both the director and a professor, teaching a variety of orchestral music classes.

Wilkins is also a community college graduate who received her associate degree in instrumental performance. She then transferred to California State University Northridge, where she got both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music with an emphasis in flute performance.

Although Wilkins has been the AMP Director for only two semesters, teaching music has been a lifelong goal. Wilkins has been a part of Pierce College faculty since the Fall of 2017. Her dedication to music education was proven when Wilkins accepted the position as AMP Director in the Fall of 2022.

“They approached me and asked if it was something I would be interested in,” Wilkins said. “I was thrilled at the opportunity to do it. It was just another way for me to connect with the students and contribute to the department.”

Wilkins recognized her passion for teaching music when she realized the potential of bringing students from different cultures into the same room.

Wilkins said that collaborating with her students allows her to see the creative potential in them.

“It’s a way for me to see the creativeness in my students,” said Wilkins. “Their passion is shown to the audience through their creativity. It makes me excited to collaborate with other people.”

Aside from teaching at Pierce College, Wilkins is also a freelance musician. She’s been hired to perform for a variety of Netflix and Peacock productions.

Not only that, but she also has a private flute studio. She spends her mornings teaching at Pierce, and then throughout the week she meets with flute students for private lessons.

Annie Yolo is a student and member of the Applied Music Program at Pierce.

Yolo also practices the flute, just like Wilkins.

Yolo said that Wilkins is like no other professor she’s ever had. Not only does Wilkins care about her students' progress regarding music, but also their well-being.

“She’s a professor, but also a really great mentor,” said Yolo. “I’ve known her for a long time, even before going to Pierce. She’s someone who’s there for you, who advocates for you. She has your best interests in mind. I think that speaks to how great of a person she is.”

Yolo said she admires the hardwork and effort that Wilkins puts into the Applied Music Program, and that deep level of care that Wilkins demonstrates for her students speaks volumes about both her character and her educator performance.

“Being a director of anything isn’t easy,” said Yolo. “There’s many of us in the program with various different instruments. I feel like she’s handled this position with grace and poise.”

Yolo also hopes that the future of the AMP program has more students involved, and that the leadership of Wilkins will influence newcomers to join the AMP.

“Our program is starting to grow, which is amazing,” Yolo said. “Hopefully we can get even more people to come in and see our music program. The family we’ve made is really great.”

Department Chair of Music and an Associate Professor of Music Wendy Mazon said that she admires the dedication that Wilkins has for her profession.

“I think she’s doing a great job. She works really hard and puts in a ton of extra hours for our students,” Mazon said. “She’s created numerous workshops, including a transfer workshop to help with the transfer process.”

Mazon also said that Wilkins has made many improvements for the program.

According to Mazon, not only does Wilkins care about the students wellbeing, but she’s also improved streamlining the paperwork process for instructors.

“She definitely has a student's first philosophy,” Mazon said. “ Through her diligence and student support, she’s going to continue to help build this program.”

made me interested in learning more about the French culture.”

Alizadjahani has expressed high hopes for the upcoming trip. She aims to gain more knowledge about French culture and attain new conversational skills. As a pre-dental hygiene student, she hopes that this can help her expand the variety of people she is able to help.

“I am so excited about this scholarship because I want to learn more about French culture, people, everything,” Alizadjahani said. “I think being there would be a great opportunity to learn all those in a natural way.”

scano.roundupnews@gmail.com

Gannon said she loves that faculty and staff at Pierce works hard to help students become the best version of themselves.

“Pierce was the place that really enabled me to accomplish so many things and restore faith in myself,” Gannon said.

Gannon said that she wants her peers to understand that no matter what their journey to college was like, they are capable of accomplishing anything they put their heart into.

“My biggest hope is that people feel encouraged,” Gannon said. “No matter your age, skin color or limitations. Your life matters and your mistakes do not define you.”

bhanson.roundupnews@gmail.com

Photo by Rachael Rosenberg Charlotte Wilkins is the AMP Director and a freelance musician. Her music has been featured on Netflix and Peacock productions. Photo taken at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on

SOPHIA CANO Reporter

ALEC BENNETT Reporter

Photo by Benjamin Hanson Roxanne Gannon at the Center for the Sciences building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 29, 2023. Gannon will give the Student Commencement Speach at graduation on June 8.

Fall 2022 Graduates

Duran Herrera Eric

Eisenreich Julia

Eissagholian Patrick

Endozo Ralph Francis

Erickson Jordan

Escobar Daphnee

Etienne Karen

Ettedgui Shir

Faramarzyan Goudarz

Farrell Ryan

Figueroa Brian

Fisher Logan

Flores Arleen

Flores Adrianna

Flowers Indhira

Frohlich Raquel

Gallardo Gabriel

Galvan Denise

Garcia Erika

Garcia Yuridia

Garcia Valdez Brandon

Gaudet Megan

George Delanie

Gevanyan Kristine

Ghanaat Farzad

Gharapetian Alyssa

Ghareh Khanjar Shimna

Ghazakhetsyan Lusine

Ghazal Mariem

Gilardi Talia

Gipson Christy

Godinez Paola

Gonzalez Crystal

Gonzalez Kimberly

Gonzalez Vanessa

Gonzalez

Mendoza Carlos

Gorji Leon

Gottlieb Lena

Gourgenian David

Guiao Maria Regina

Gutierrez Sarah

Gutierrez Jessica

Gutierrez Lidia

Guzman Nayeli

Haddad Nu'man

Hadjipour Hossein

Hajiabdolhosseini Metin

Hakimzadeh Mahvash

Hames Brooke

Hamilton Laura

Hang Kaitlyn

Hemmati Liza

Hernandez Ulysses

Hernandez Diego

Hernandez Ingrid

Hernandez Dara

Hernandez Lidia

Hernandez Marlynne

Herrera Alvarado Mariana

Hirayama Cameron

Hoff Christopher

Hojati Melody

Hong Sophia

Horawalaarachchige Diyanga

Hutter-Cruz Samantha

Ishchenko Mikhail

Iuga Mihai

Iwashiro Yuki

Jackson Shandani

Jafarifarshami Sareh

Jalaladdini Seyedmostafa

Corbett Bodhi

Cortez Cinthia

Cossak Michael

Covington Jazmyn Cruz

Tanya

Cruz-Lazaro Liliana

Dabda Elizabeth

Dagdagan Elijah

Damavandi Brandon

Shennell

Davis

Davis Ryan

De La Cruz Jeffrey

De La Rosa Yoice

Dejesus Paola

Delgadillo Carlos

Delgadillo Sergio

Delgadillo Rodolfo

Delgado Ivan

Deno Jonathan

Deocampo Amora

Dhillon Neil

Diaz Leila

Duarte Leslie

Dubov Michael

Duke Fant Brazil

Jamaly Fatema

Jamily Ameen

Jasso Ubalda

Jenkins William

Jesse Morgan

Johnson Nakhya Jones Samuel

Kalandadze Sophio

Kalaydjian Aren

Kalutskiy Mikhail

Karp Lila

Kellahin Joshua

Khachatryan Anahit

Khan Moid

Khandadash Joshua

Khaser Samera

Khermandalian Charles

Khoramian Kayla

Kiarash Kimya

Killebrew Cordellia

Kim Kiana

King Tamara

Klitzner Hailey

Kohansedgh Joshua

Kozlov Maxwell

Krashenny Isabel

Lacayo Theresa Le Anthony

Lee Deajenic

Leiva Elba

Leshner Courtney

Levine Brianna

Liangco Jonino Lim Jina

Line-Im Edison

Lobos Alejandra

Lopez Alicia

Lopez Minerva

Lopez Jorge

Lopez Barrios Anthony

Lopez Murillo Sebastian

Losinska Maja

Lucidotan Bea Camille

Lund Poonam

Lynch Jeffrey

Macias Jonathan

Magdaleno Blanca

Mahzooni Soroor

Manaloto Allysa

Manteghi Farzam

Mardirosian Vartan

Marks Cindi

Marquez Amaya

Marroquin Francisco

Martinez Mark

Martinez Antonio

Martinez Daylin

Martinez Alexis

Martinez Katya

Mata Olivia

Mata Stephanie

Mather Jennifer

Mayorga Denise

Mayuga Joeysys

Mcdonald Stephanie

Mehrabi Melanie

Mehta Siddharth

Mejia Marlene

Mejicanos Grecia

Mejorado Armando

Melendez Lindsey

Menacho Mercado Isabel

Mendola Carly

Mendoza-Urbina Ashley

Mirhosseini Elham

Mirzaeitazehkandi Jozefin

Mohseni Helia

Molina Diego

Monalisa Dina

Montalban Amy

Monterde Manuel

Montero Tehran Valentina

Morales Maria

Moralesdominguez Edith

Morelos Carolyn

Moreno Alonso Marcelo

Munguia Leonardo

Nematollahi Niki

Nevarez Maya

Nezhad Ashley

Nikodijevic Kristina

Nisnevich Daniel

Nomanim Benjamin

Nowlin Christopher Nubla Trish

Obrikat Kimberly

Ochoamendez Carlos

Ohayer Kaley

Olandj Hana

Onwuka Kama

Opiana Jacey

Orellana Alex

Orellana Nexaly

Ornelas Jessica

Ortegasalas Alyssa

Osman Maryam

Padilla Juliana

Palacios Amanda

Palacios Matthew

Parodi Maria

Pena Rivera Daniela

Penagos Chelsea

Perez Nancy

Perez Daihona

Perez Karina

Perez Roman

Perez Monica

Perez Diego

Perez Cristina

Pessin Dawn

Petersen Branden

Phumathon Phoebe

Pollard Rochelle

Portillo Stephanie

Prevedello Andrew

Prudencio Maribel

Putong Michelle

Qubrosi Neven

Ramirez Jose

Ramos Raul

Rashid Naimur

Ravi Prathusha

Recinos Jonathan

Reilly Amber

Ricketts Sariah

Rincover Michael

Rios Valeria

Rios Diaz Lizette

Rivera Franssesca

Rivera Guadalupe

Robertson Maia

Rod April

Rodriguez Mireya

Rodriguez Catalina

Rodriques Darcie

Romero Johnny

Rosales Nicole

Rosario Davia

Rosso Skyler

Ruanocervantes Ismael

Rubio Agustin

Rubio Jose

Ruelas Ricardo

Ruvalcaba Maria

Sais Jimmy Joe

Salazar Bibiana

Saldana Cruz Victoria

Salinas Alondra

Salinas Matthew

Sandoval Aryana

Sandoval Ramirez Madeleine

Santiago David

Saquil Emily

Sardo Michael

Sarkezzadehbaradozi Rozalin

Seymour Jade-Lin

Shahbazy Asl Mahnaz

Sharp Alexander

Shayanrad Roozbeh

Sheffield Leah

Shirvani Aline

Shishegar Daniel

Smith Melanie

Smith Jacob

Smith Delores

Smithlin Michael

Soedjono Joshua Solis Michael

Solorzano Karina

Sonbalee Kelvin Soriano Iyah

St Julian Sierra

Stanis Rayne

Sumaya Anya

Tabassum Anika

Tamayo Jamie Loraine

Tan Kaylah

Tarziu Denisa

Thalib Justin

Tracy Joyanne

Trinidad Giselle

Tuang Julie May

Turpin Melinda

Vaca Jorge

Valenzuela Wilson

Vardanyan Yury

Vargas Jorge

Velasquez Matthew

Venegas Jackilyn

Verde Edwin

Villanueva Lee

Vo Thi

Walker Tantani

Warakrirkkulchai Pojsawat

Wax Marisa

Weiser Dylan

Whitman Cassie

Wright Monie

Yabar Lopez Zenaida

Yazdanparast Nahid

Yousefinejadnouei Abbas

Zetlyan Artak

Paws-ing stress before tests

Exam woes and worries temporarily put aside with help from therapy dogs

It may have been an overcast day on the Thursday before finals week, but no stress clouds were in sight for Pierce students who stopped by the Pawsitivity event at the Rocky Young Park.

Hosted by the Dream Resource Center (DRC) and Undocu-Brahmas, students had the opportunity to destress by petting therapy dogs, drawing, coloring and playing card games as they snacked and listened to music.

Undocu-Brahmas Club

President Bryan Perez-Bado organized the event along with other club officers as a way to celebrate reaching the end of the semester while providing relief.

“It’s essentially an endof-the-semester celebration to release all the stress that we have coming into finals,”

Perez-Bado said. “We want to just be able to feel like we’re still human and not just a cog in the machine of a school.”

Perez-Bado said providing support to all students in any means is the exact goal of the DRC and Undocu-Brahmas Club. The club was created by the DRC in 2020 to provide support and resources for undocumented students on campus.

At Pawsitivity, the club helped so many more students by providing them with several quick ways to destress amidst finals week woes.

“I want the students to go home feeling like they have a higher serotonin level,”

Perez-Bado said. “I hope they feel like they can come to campus and know that Pierce is more than just a place to come and do your work.”

The DRC and UndocuBrahmas partnered with nonprofit organization Love on a

Leash to bring certified therapy dogs on campus for students to engage with. Per their website, the organization said they seek to bring “comfort, happiness and healing” through pet therapy.

Therapy dog handler Jodi Thomas brought her 20-monthold German Shepherd named Yuri to meet students.

“The therapy dogs help people have someone to talk to and the dog is a really good medium to start a conversation and make people feel comfortable,” Thomas said.

Though therapy pets are not official service animals or emotional support animals, they do provide a form of stress relief in their calm demeanor and go through a year of training before receiving their therapy certification.

Marine biology major Jay McMahon was one of many students who found joy in getting to pet a fluffy therapy dog, Yuri being one of them.

“The dogs were super chill, super cute, super kind and not aggressive at all,” McMahon said. “I have another exam tomorrow and then finals after that and I’m definitely feeling the crunch so this was very nice after a lot of studying.”

Undocu-Brahmas also provided crayons and markers for students to draw their pets or their favorite animals. Students drew their cats, dogs, birds and whatever else in between.

In addition, students were able to enjoy card games like UNO with their friends.

Business administration major Sasha Kovalev took time to de-stress by

drawing a picture of her dog.

“Pierce is really trying to make this week less stressful because finals are coming up,” Kovalev said. “I like that they brought therapy dogs, that was such a nice touch and got us to come here.”

Getting to enjoy the music and interact with the therapy dogs helped get her mind off things.

“I’ve been stressing about my calculus final because I don’t really know much about the subject,” Kovalev said. “This helped me forget about it.”

Students who drew a picture of their animal could enter to win a contest for the best illustration. All contest participants were given goodie bags that contained a keychain, stickers, pens and lollipops.

Raffle winners also got to win items such as metal water bottles, sweatshirts and T-shirts provided by the DRC.

Undocu-Brahmas Club Secretary Tanveer Sandal said Pawsitivity is a way for the DRC and Undocu-Brahmas to give back to students on campus. She was elated about the turnout of students who came by the event.

“Oh it’s wonderful, it’s better than I could have expected,” Sandal said. “It’s nice to see the students come in and they’re a little tentative at first, but they take snacks and water bottles and now they’re drawing and petting dogs. Everyone looks so happy about it, so I’m happy with how it turned out.”

Dean of Student Engagement Juan Carlos Astorga spoke on the importance of practicing self-care to combat the stress of finals week.

“For most of us, this event is just to get out of our regular schedule of coming in and rushing out, but to take some time to breathe, relax and have a little pause before finals,” Astorga said. “It’s incredibly important [to de-stress], not only for our physical energy but for our mental health. It’s important for us to really gauge when we have stressors in our life.”

For those who are worried about their upcoming finals, Astorga wished students “luck, energy and positivity,” but reminded students there are resources available on

campus to prevent them from being too overwhelmed.

“If they do have these moments of high stress, we have the Student Health Center available where we have individuals who are psychologists on our campus,” Astorga said. “They are ready and able to check in with students to provide some tools and resources to ensure their success.”

Raising awareness while cleaning the campus Far-out designs

wrappers, along with a map where they could head out to an area and clean up a section.

English major Candace Edwards shared a personal reason for participating.

“My grandpa was a smoker, so I just wanted to help keep the campus clean for that reason,” Edwards said.

According to Edwards, the event organizers picked a good day, resulting in an impressive turnout.

Nursing major Onwuka Ugorji found out about the clean-up through an email and was motivated to contribute to the community after noticing cigarette butts around campus.

The Student Health Center organized a Tobacco Litter Campus Cleanup Thursday to promote the cleanliness and beautification of Pierce College.

The event host and member of the Initiative Coalition Betsy Sambrano explained the significance of the event.

“The reason why we're doing a clean-up is because Pierce is not considered 100% smoke-free,” Sambrano said. “We're trying to raise awareness about the dangers of secondhand smoke.”

According to Sambrano, UC and Cal State universities are entirely smoke-free with no designated smoking areas. Pierce has smoking areas in Parking Lots 1 and 7, but

individuals are still smoking in unauthorized areas. Tobacco waste is often found outside of these specified zones.

Sambrano is gathering information to show the campus administration that the smoking issue is more comprehensive than specific areas and needs to be addressed effectively. Along with the Student Health Center, Sambrano is advocating for a 100% smoke-free Pierce campus and is organizing awareness activities to achieve this goal.

Many students, faculty and community members gathered to participate.

Sambrano gave volunteers an observation form to collect information on the number of cigarette butts found, including the number of people smoking them. The volunteers were given gloves, trash bags and

“It's such a big honor helping to keep the inbound on it very clean,” Ugorji said. “Sometimes if you're walking you see a lot of trash, especially cigarette butts. Even though Pierce College is a non-smoking campus, sometimes you see people still break the rules and that is a little bit annoying, so it's a big honor and I'm happy to help.”

ENCORE student Mary Sloan shared her reasons for participating.

“Even though this is probably a designated smoking spot, the one lady said the filters have a lot of nasty things in them, for lack of a better scientific word,” Sloan said. “And I've been taking an environmental science class through ENCORE and realizing all the tiny things add up to the big things polluting the world. So, this is a good thing to do.”

jtanzil.roundupnews@gmail.com

JENNIFER TANZIL Reporter

CLEMENTE PASILLAS Reporter

Pierce College students create tie-dye shirts in the International Student Office in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 23,

Photo by Hunter Hammerot

Photo by Hunter Hammerot

Photo by Hunter Hammerot

Photo by Audrinna Meza

Photo by Audrinna Meza

Photo by Owen Meza

Brahmas of the Semester Spring 2023

Esteban Perez, Utility

All-Western State Conference 1st Team

Stats:

Games Played: 34

Batting Average: .336

RBI: 13

Hits: 40

Ivan Castillo, Shortstop

Gold Glove SS

Stats:

Games Played: 40

Fielding Percentage: .914

Assists: 101

Double Plays: 15

Brandon Ta, Outside Hitter

Stats:

Games played: 12

Sets: 38

Kills: 147

Points: 173

Digs: 58

Alexcia Espinoza, Catcher

All-Western State Conference 1st Team

Stats:

Games played: 12

Batting Average: .281

Hits: 9

Putouts: 10

The Brahmas of the Semester were the top Pierce players in their respective sport. They were selected based on their stats on lapcbrahmas.com.

Photo by Owen Meza

Photo by Audrinna Meza

Photo by Hunter Hammerot

Photo by Owen Meza