SCC Momentum - Fall/Winter 2013

Momentum ISSUE IV - FALL/WINTER 2013

Excellence in

NURSING EDUCATION

L E TTE R FROM PRESIDENT GEH LER Welcome to fall semester, when the weather takes a turn for the better and our campus comes alive with activity, inside and outside our classroom walls. I hope you enjoy this latest edition of Momentum, which includes a variety of stories and photos highlighting SCC faculty, students, staff and alumni.

The cover story highlights our new Health Sciences Building and provides a glimpse at how some great visionaries and leaders worked together to elevate nursing education at SCC and better prepare students for careers in the everevolving health care environment. The stateof-the-art medical simulation technology puts our nursing students in real life medical scenarios and enables them to learn through hands-on experience. The building opened with the start of the academic year and was officially dedicated during a ceremony on Oct. 29.

Also inside this edition are stories of SCC alumni who have moved on, but continue to look back with great fondness on their community college experience and the foundation for success it provided as they pursue their career and educational dreams. In addition, one of our favorite faculty – and Arizona’s esteemed Historian – shares his love of teaching Arizona history through stories and song. Marshall Trimble is a fount of knowledge about all things Arizona, and is most comfortable in the classroom, whether it’s at SCC or at one of the many local elementary schools where he entertains fourth graders learning Arizona history.

You’ll be delighted at the center spread pictorial of our 2013 graduation ceremonies, when students and families gathered to celebrate the achievement of attaining a degree and/or certificate. Commencement is always a moving event and this year we were happy to have Rufus Glasper, Chancellor of the Maricopa County Community College District, as our special guest speaker.

I want to close with some very exciting news. Scottsdale Community College is a finalist in the Big Business category of the 28th Annual Sterling Awards presented by the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce. This is the first year SCC has applied for this prestigious award and we are honored to be selected as a finalist. The Sterling Award winners will be announced Nov. 14 at a celebration luncheon hosted by the Chamber.

The spirit of the Artichoke is alive and well, and is ever present.

Jan L. Gehler

SCC President

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Momentum is published by the Office of Institutional Advancement and Community Engagement at Scottsdale Community College.

_________________ E D I TO R / WR IT E R Nancy Neff C O N TR I BU T I N G W R IT E R S Kristine Burnett Jonathan Higuera GRAPHIC DESIGNER Magdalena Soto P H O TO G R A P H Y Provided in part by: Mark Skalny Jonathan Higuera Justin Johnson Nancy Neff O N T H E CO V E R Nellie Nelson, Nick DeFalco and Janine Hinton. Story on page 5. _________________

C O N TA C T Nancy Neff Nancy.Neff@scottsdalecc.edu 480.423.6567 _________________

STAY CONNECTED WITH SCC www.scottsdalecc.edu

FULFILLING a

Passion Food for

S

urrounded by stainless steel appliances, utensils and work surfaces, Chef Sandra Gonzales is right at home in the massive kitchen inside Valley Presbyterian Church in Paradise Valley, Ariz. In fact, she calls the kitchen her home away from home.

In a little more than a year after completing the Culinary Arts program at Scottsdale Community College, Gonzales launched her own catering business – Whisk and Chop – and was hired as the onsite caterer for the church’s many ministry and special events. From weekly dinner service for 100-plus to breakfast for more than 600, Gonzales always does at least 90 percent of the work herself.

“Who gets something this amazing,” she said. “I feel so blessed to be given this opportunity.”

Gonzales’s eyes well up when she talks about her good fortune, but it really is her own hard work and determination that got her to where she is today. Her first academic degree is in Child Development and Family Studies, and she spent more than 20 years as a preschool teacher. She taught a hybrid program, which meant, in addition to preschoolers, she also had parents in her class, teaching them parenting skills.

“There was a two-and-a-half-year waiting list to get into my class,” she said. “So, it was quite a shock when I gave notice that I was leaving to pursue my culinary passion.”

For Gonzales, however, it had just been a matter of time. Years before, when asked in jest by a colleague at the preschool what she wanted to be when she grew up, Gonzales couldn’t have been more serious when she said, “When I grow up, I want to go to culinary school and be a great chef…and I want to do it by the time I’m 50.”

Gonzales was true to her word and to her passion. When she felt the time was right to pursue her culinary dream, Gonzales did her homework and talked to local successful chefs, like Chef Mark Tarbell, whose daughter had been one of her students. Tarbell, along with many other local chefs, recommended SCC for its exceptional culinary program.

And, just to make sure, Gonzales walked into the Artichoke Grill one day to take a look around for herself. She met the Program’s Department Chair, Karen Chalmers, and struck up a conversation. “I asked if I could have lunch some time and she said ‘how about today.’ So, I had a hamburger and it was so delicious, and the buns were made in house…I sat by myself and looked around and knew this is where I would go.”

Sandra Gonzales

But that doesn’t mean it was easy for Gonzales, who was one of only a few “senior” students in a class of about 40.

“At culinary school I was not the best – I would analyze everything and I wanted everything to be perfect,” she said.

“Our first challenge was to make a chicken dish for the chefs and, by the time all of the other students had grabbed their supplies, I was left with one pan and some table salt to prepare four different dishes.”

A lesser person might have given up, but Gonzales stuck with it and completed the program as a top student, and a favorite among her classmates. “Many of the kids said they wished their moms would do what I was doing because they loved to cook,” said Gonzales. “Sometimes, people’s dreams can get lost, and that’s so unfortunate.”

Gonzales wouldn’t think of giving up on her dream, even though she wasn’t sure where the culinary degree would take her, exactly.

“After finishing, I asked ‘where do I go from here’ and Chef O’Neil suggested going to a hotel to get catering experience.

I decided to go through a temp agency to get a better variety and my first assignment was with the Montelucia, where I created all of the desserts for the Prado Dining Room.”

After nine months with the temp agency, and working in the culinary trenches at some of the top local resorts, Gonzales had the experience she needed to start her own catering business and launched Whisk and Chop.

“Now, I like to say I’m in my second perfect life, thanks to SCC” said Gonzales. “SCC Culinary is a gem in the Valley.

All the local chefs want to hire SCC grads over other culinary grads because, in that program, you cook on the very first day, and they empower you to become the best you can be. And, it’s still my favorite place to have lunch.”

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A love for

students,

learning and

robotics Bill Johnson

F

or SCC adjunct faculty member Bill Johnson, getting students to that “teachable” moment is the payoff for all the time he spends with them.

“I just enjoy it when kids are successful,” said Johnson, who usually teaches one or two math classes a semester and spends much of his time with college and primary students as the adviser to the school’s Robotics Club. “I love it when we can get them to think through a problem.”

Johnson’s commitment to the Robotics Club has resulted in some outstanding performances by club members in competitions. Last March, SCC’s Robotics Club took home the top prize in the collegiate division of the Arizona VEX Robotics Tournament, beating out teams from Arizona State University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Phoenix College.

It has also led to some strong community partnerships with elementary and middle schools and youth-oriented community organizations such as the Boys &

Girls Club and Boy Scouts of America.

On any given week SCC’s Robotics Club students can be found tutoring and mentoring these younger students at local schools or at neighborhood centers.

Typically, they help them with their Lego robot projects, accomplishing tasks and challenges that require programming and helping them develop their math and problem-solving skills.

A key aspect of the mentoring program is getting the kids to think about what they need to do to solve a problem.

“We don’t want to tell people specifically what to do,” he said. “We like to guide solutions by answering questions with questions.”

He credits his own brainpower and development to his parents. His father was a highly skilled machinist and his mother was a homemaker. His interest in the sciences started early, but an inspirational high school chemistry teacher who encouraged experimentation and creativity enlightened him to the possibilities.

His family lived in several states during his youth, including Illinois and Oklahoma. Johnson had an aptitude for math and the sciences, but he had to learn to be a better student. His high test scores led to a scholarship to go to Northwestern University, but he lost it after his second year. “I tested well, but I didn’t know how to be a student.”

A key aspect of becoming a student was his experience in the Northwestern University cooperative education program. It allowed him to work in

industry for three-month stretches followed by three months of full-time schooling. This gave Johnson the handson experience he needed to connect with academics. He eventually earned a Ph.D. from Northwestern in Materials Science Engineering.

He shares this advice with students: “As students, you have two purposes in going to college: learn how to learn and find your passion.”

Johnson’s career included working for such powerhouse companies as 3M, AT&T Bell Labs, where he spent 25 years, and Motorola, where he was a research manager.

A week after he retired from Motorola in August 2003, Johnson visited SCC’s Math Department to offer his services. Johnson worked in the math tutoring center for nine months before he sought out a classroom teaching position.

His love for robotics as a team sport started about six years ago, shortly after his grandson asked him to help define a robotics project for a science fair competition. He attended the competition and was impressed with what he saw. He immediately went out and bought a Lego robotics kit and was hooked for life.

“This is a great hands-on vehicle for teaching problem-solving,” he says. “It’s been highly rewarding working directly with the kids and training teachers, parents and mentors to create even more opportunities for kids to learn robotics.”

Sentimental Journey...

SCC Nurtures

International Students

Roberta Benforte

T

hey say life is a journey. Roberta Benforte, a recent graduate of Scottsdale Community College, learned that lesson well when a visit from her home in Italy to Scottsdale, Ariz., to see her uncle led to an unexpected educational adventure that is still going strong.

“I came to Scottsdale in 2010 and planned to be here for six months,” said Benforte of her trip to the U.S. “I fell in love with the people, the weather and the landscape, so I decided to stay and go back to school. SCC is close to my uncle’s house and it seemed like a good place to start.”

Having completed a vocational training program after graduating high school in 2006, Benforte spent four years working in Italy’s event planning industry. When it came time to choose a major at SCC, event planning, a field she thoroughly enjoyed, was a logical choice. But being a foreign student meant Benforte had a few hurdles to clear before she could officially join the ranks of SCC’s student body.

“After being accepted to the college, I had to prove that I could afford both school and living expenses, and then I had to work with the U.S. Consulate to get a student visa,” she explained.

With her documents in order, Benforte settled into college life in the fall of 2011. A full class load, a requirement of her visa, meant jumping into her studies feet first.

“With small class sizes, I could sit up front, ask questions and really understand the material,” she said. “The teachers were

so supportive of me and my studies. They genuinely cared about my personal and professional development and about me as a person.”

Feeling very much like she belonged, Benforte embraced how real-life situations were incorporated into the curriculum.

Visiting venues around the Valley, meeting with event planning professionals and making connections through her coursework reinforced Benforte’s belief that event planning was the right path for her. But every journey has a crossroads.

When Benforte graduated with honors from SCC in May 2013, she had to choose her next step – either return to Italy or continue her education. The decision was easy. In August 2013, she became a full-time student at Arizona State University’s Downtown Phoenix campus working toward a Bachelor of Science degree in tourism, development and management.

“I wish I could have continued my education at SCC,” expressed Benforte. “I really liked my instructors and they helped me learn so much and apply a lot of knowledge and skill. It’s because of them that the transition to ASU has gone so well.”

As for what’s next, Benforte says it’s too early to tell where she’ll eventually end up.

“I like living here and want to stay after I finish school, but it’s hard for an international student,” she commented. “Right now I’m just going to school and enjoying it.”

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AT SCC IN 2013-14 • 82 on F1 student visas from 36 countries • 17 on J1 exchange student visas from nine countries (U.S. Department of State Community College Initiative Program and CBYX German Exchange Program) International students at SCC study a range of fields, including: Business, Hospitality & Tourism Management, Filmmaking, Journalism and more.

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Excellence in NURSING EDUCATION M

uch like technology, health care is in a constant state of evolution. In many ways, changes in technology drive advances in health care and, in turn, health care education. At Scottsdale Community College, a brand new state-of-the-art facility outfitted with the latest medical technologies continues to shape nursing education. The result? A program further distinguished by the quality of its curriculum and skill of its faculty Some of our and students.

Nursing has long been an academic focus at SCC, but nearly two decades ago forward-thinking program and university leaders set in motion a chain of events that has made the college one of the state’s most regarded teaching institutions for nursing.

“

“We were the first of all MCC campuses to start evening nursing classes in the mid 90s,” said Nelson.

“That was considered innovative at the time and it required ongoing support and resources and a collaborative partnership students with Scottsdale Healthcare.”

say they get more hands-on experience in the simulation setting than in the hospital” - Janine Hinton, Nursing Faculty

“In the mid 90s, SCC saw an opportunity to evolve what had been independent campus-based nursing education programs among the various Maricopa Community Colleges into a more comprehensive district-based program,” said Nellie Nelson, MSN, RN, former nursing division chair who retired from SCC in 2009 after 20 years of service.

With Nelson at the helm, nursing leaders and faculty throughout the district worked collaboratively to develop

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a nationally accredited common curriculum that led to increased student enrollment, additional nursing faculty positions, and a teaching model that better served community and student needs.

Innovative thinking and the support of leadership continues to be instrumental to the nursing program’s success. The new Health Sciences Building, which began serving students in the fall 2013 semester, is a testament to that support.

“The growth we experienced after adopting the district program was tremendous, but with it came challenges,” explained Nelson. “Area hospitals didn’t have room to accommodate all of our students, which meant fewer opportunities for effective learning in the clinical environment.”

Determined to maintain the integrity of the curriculum, school and program leaders sought new strategies to ensure the clinical competency of nursing students. Thus began SCC’s foray into simulation education.

Simulating the learning environment Nelson credits Nick DeFalco, MSN, RN, current nursing division chair and program director, and clinical simulation coordinator/nursing faculty Janine Hinton, PhD, MN, RN, with having the insight and initiative to institute changes that she says complement clinical learning in ways never before experienced at SCC. “Bringing in simulation technology was a truly creative solution to the decline in clinical space and learning opportunities with our hospital partners,” she said.

Dean Hermanson, PhD, retired vice president of Occupational Education, also provided administrative support and foresight that was so critical to establishing a foundation for the cutting-edge simulation education model used by today’s nursing students.

DeFalco, who himself is a graduate of SCC’s nursing program and a product of its first evening program, describes the Health Sciences Building and the technology it houses as a real world simulation environment that better prepares students for the clinical setting.

“We’ve been taking steps to make this building a reality since about 2006,” recalled DeFalco. “The cutting-edge technology enables us to record, review and give feedback to students in a simulated environment designed to be as real as possible and look just like an actual hospital room.”

Like the building’s real-world design, the idea of simulation education at SCC was brought about by a very real tragedy and one instructor’s quest to mitigate clinical errors through enhanced education.

“My brother died in a hospital, potentially due to medical errors,” shared Dr. Hinton. “There’s an unbelievable amount of injuries and deaths caused by medical errors in this country. When I first learned about medical mannequins and how simulation equipment could better train students, I was determined to bring the technology to our campus – and I was very persistent.”

That persistence paid off. With statistics and case studies on her side, Hinton garnered support from program leaders to begin incorporating simulation technology in the teaching environment. In 2005, SCC purchased the first in what has become a robust collection of medical mannequins for simulation training.

The school now has a variety of sophisticated mannequins capable of mimicking medical conditions faced by infants, children, adults and even laboring women.

With a growing inventory of mannequins and the supporting simulation technology came an increased need for additional teaching space. The new 15,854-square-foot Health Sciences Building answers that call with classrooms boasting stadium seating for up to 90 students each, learning labs designed to look and feel like hospital rooms, an array of medical mannequins and upwards of $600,000 in related media equipment. Here, students can learn, practice and hone their skills before working with and on actual patients.

“Some of our students say they get more hands-on experience in the simulation setting than in the hospital,” noted Hinton. “It all comes down to effective learning with the goal of protecting patients.”

See NURSING on page 11.

To learn about how you can support student achievement at SCC, call Development Director Charles Silver at 480.423.6424.

Tom Silverman

NURSING SCHOLA RS HI P ROOTED IN SPIRIT O F GRATITUDE AND G I V I NG BACK Decisions about investing in people and programs are never made lightly.

Often, the deciding factor centers on an experience or sense of connection. In the case of the Ray Silverman Nursing Education Endowment, a love of Scottsdale and a profound and very personal understanding of the value of nursing are helping students at Scottsdale Community College realize their health care ambitions.

“My father, Ray Silverman, started the nursing scholarship with SCC more than 15 years ago,” explained Tom Silverman, president of the Silverman Family Foundation. “My parents believed in giving back and Scottsdale has been good to our family since my parents first moved here in 1953. Given the health issues my mom endured before she passed away in 1992, supporting a Scottsdale-based nursing program was a natural fit.”

In 1979, it was discovered that Tom’s mother, Lee, suffered from Parkinson’s disease, a condition that at the time was difficult to diagnose and offered few treatments. Ray spent years taking Lee to some of the country’s most esteemed hospitals in search of the best care, but the progressive nature of the disease made nursing support increasingly important throughout the care continuum.

“My mom was sick for many years and had round-the-clock nursing care during the last several years of her life,” said Tom. Knowing firsthand the impact and importance of such care, Ray, a respected hotelier and philanthropist, wanted to honor his wife and those who cared for her.

See SCHOLARSHIP on page 11.

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Congratulations to all of the 2013

SCC Graduates!

May 10, 2013

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8

Gentleman

Cowboy

Teaches Through Stories and Songs

M

arshall Trimble has been telling stories for the better part of four decades, but he’s not too keen on being labeled a storyteller.

“The term storyteller is kind of like the term hero,” he said. “It gets used a lot to describe people, but there are many interpretations of what it really means.”

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For Trimble, who could be labeled a lot of things…like author, cowboy, historian and, yes, storyteller, there’s only one label that really means anything to him and it’s the one he wants to be remembered for – teacher. continued on next page.

Continued from previous page.

“If my tombstone said ‘great storyteller’ that wouldn’t have the meaning that ‘great teacher’ has,” said Trimble, who, as a faculty member, is a favorite among students in SCC’s Southwest Studies Program.

And, while storytelling comes naturally to Trimble, becoming a great teacher didn’t come quite as easy.

“I struggled in school,” said Trimble. “I liked sports, so that’s what kept me engaged and going to class. I went to college to please my mom…she lived a hard life and I would do anything to please her. I majored in Physical Education and that’s what I started out teaching, but I got bored with that pretty quick.”

So, he left teaching P.E. to work with his brother on a ranch in Montana one summer. “That’s when I became fascinated with western history and I decided I wanted to go back and teach, but not P.E,” he said. “My brother said ‘If that’s what you want to do, then go do it.’ I didn’t think there was such a thing as western history degree, so, when I was 29 or 30, I went to ASU and took every course I could find that had anything to do with Arizona and western history. The professors liked me because I was so enthusiastic” When it came time to get another teaching job, Trimble walked into Scottsdale’s Coronado High School one day, all decked out in his western garb and cowboy hat, and asked the secretary if they needed a history teacher.

“She said, ‘you must be psychic because we just lost our history teacher,’” said Trimble. “Then, she asked me if I knew anything about football, because they needed an assistant coach.”

Trimble was hired and started out teaching American History and, eventually, became a full time Western History teacher. After many years of success as a teacher at Coronado, Trimble was recruited to join the Southwest Studies program at Scottsdale Community College, teaching Arizona History…his favorite subject and his dream job.

Trimble is still teaching, but also holds the esteemed role of “Arizona State Historian,” a role that brings no salary and little acclaim, but is one that Trimble relishes and SCC supports.

“Statewide, Marshall’s audiences go far beyond the college campus.

Hundreds of students - many of them public school teachers who want to learn more to better teach their 4th grade Arizona history curriculum community members who see Marshall at a wide variety of events, SCC employees and Arizona residents all delight in his stories and songs, his history lessons and legends,” said Jan Gehler, president of Scottsdale Community College. “As Marshall’s long-standing work home, it is an honor for SCC to provide the state of Arizona with this wonderful human treasure.”

In addition to holding In-Service sessions for 4th grade teachers on Arizona History, Trimble said he particularly enjoys being invited to local 4th grade classrooms to sing and tell stories about Arizona’s history, as part of their Arizona History curriculum.

“Fourth graders are great because they still think adults are neat,” said Trimble. “And, yet, they’re old enough that I can talk to them almost the same as I talk to my college students. They just drink up the knowledge.”

Trimble said when he goes to 4th grade classrooms – about 15-20 a year – he hauls in his guitar, wearing his cowboy boots and hat and he can tell right away that he has their attention.

“Their eyes light up and they’re right where I want them when I start to sing and tell stories,” Trimble said. “I still have teachers come up to me and say ‘You came to my class in 4th grade and instilled a passion in me for learning and teaching,’ and that’s why I love what I do.”

Sophomore Matt Morris, shortstop for the Fighting Artichokes baseball team, is a recipient of the Marshall Trimble Scholarship.

Trimble Scholarship Aids Student Athletes Marshall Trimble is a gifted singer, storyteller, historian and teacher and his gifts go far beyond the knowledge he imparts and instills in others.

For many years, Trimble has donated any honoraria he receives from speaking engagements to a scholarship fund for student athletes.

“I started the scholarship because of one of my students,” he said. “She was shy and couldn’t look me in the eye at first.

Then, I found out she was on the softball team, so I asked when she was playing and said I would go to her game, and she thought that was neat when I actually showed up. From then on, she really opened up and overcame her shyness.

“At the time, I learned that in athletics there was a lot of scholarship opportunity for men, but not much for women, so I started my scholarship for female athletes.” He started it by putting any money he would earn going out during the day to present and lecture into the fund.

Over time, the fund kept building and building until, eventually, it was expanded to also support male athletes.

The scholarship is based on need and SCC coaches make recommendations on who is eligible.

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NURSING continuation from page 6.

SCHOLARSHIP continuation from page 6.

Nursing student Raquel Salgado, said, “I think the simulation lab is awesome. It makes a student think about and prepare for what to expect when caring for a patient once we become RNs. The setting of the room is so much like the ones at a hospital.”

Through that spirit of gratitude, the Silverman Family Foundation in 1998 established the Ray Silverman Nursing Education Endowment, a fund that has helped well over 500 nursing students complete their training and has touched the lives of countless individuals.

While students engage in handson learning exercises, instructors are evaluating every aspect of their performance and assessing their practical application of skills.

“We have the ability for our students to monitor their peers’ simulation exercises in real time so they can then debrief and discuss as a means of reinforcing best practices,” said Hinton. “This fosters a very collaborative learning experience.”

And like the students who collaborate in the classroom, SCC works closely with fellow academic institutions and health care organizations to help meet the unique demands faced by today’s health care industry.

“We have a partnership with Northern Arizona University called the Concurrent Education Program (CEP) that allows students to simultaneously take classes with SCC and NAU to earn their Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in just two years,” explained DeFalco. “A lot of hospitals are looking for BSNs and this program helps fill the void.

The first CEP partnership class will graduate at the end of this semester.

These are the types of partnerships the new HES building will enable us to grow.”

With the opening of the building came a boost in student enrollment, going from 290 nursing students during the spring 2013 semester to 326 students this fall. Once students complete the program and have earned their associate degree in nursing, they will be eligible to take the national licensure exam to become registered nurses (RN’s).

Needless to say, the simulation technology and other highly specialized medical and academic equipment in this state-of-the-art teaching environment puts SCC students at the head of the class.

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“

My father died five years ago at the age of 94,” shared Tom. “This foundation and the programs it supports were near and dear to him. Continuing the nursing scholarship is a way for my sister, my brother and I to honor our parents.”

- Tom Silverman, president of the Silverman Family Foundation

Heather Symonds, nursing student and recipient of the Silverman Nursing Scholarship, said, “The scholarship meant a lot to me, because it meant I didn’t have to pick up extra shifts at work to pay my tuition. I could take more time to study and, instead of working extra days to pay tuition, I could take a little extra time with my children.”

Symonds said her children are sacrificing their time with her now while she’s in school so they will all have a better future. She said the Silverman Nursing Scholarship also has inspired her to give back. “I don’t know how yet, but when I’m done with nursing school, I do wish to give back in any means I can.”

Another student and scholarship recipient, Raquel Salgado, said, “This was my first nursing scholarship and it felt good to know that a committee believes in my nursing potential. Knowing this has motivated me even more. I would like to thank the Silverman family for providing me this scholarship and I want to let them know it has helped so much in my nursing education and career.”

Silverman Scholarship recipients Heather Symonds and Raquel Salgado.

While the Silverman Family Foundation continues to invest in an array of Scottsdale programs and organizations, it is safe to say that the nursing scholarship will forever remain close to the hearts of its leaders.

“My father died five years ago at the age of 94,” shared Tom. “This foundation and the programs it supports were near and dear to him. Continuing the nursing scholarship is a way for my sister, my brother and I to honor our parents.”

As part of the Maricopa Community Colleges’ Educating Our Community, Ensuring our Future $50 million campaign, Scottsdale Community College has identified a $3.1 million goal for various scholarships and campus programs. If you would like to support any of SCC’s student scholarships, please send a check payable to the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation to SCC Institutional Advancement, 9000 E. Chaparral Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85256 or, for more information, call SCC Development Director Charles Silver at 480.423.6424.

with Dr. Jan Gehler

Dr. Jan Gehler recently marked her five-year anniversary as president of Scottsdale Community College.

In recognition of this important milestone, we have asked Dr. Gehler to answer this question:

Q:

What have been the college’s top five achievements during the past five years?

1.

By integrating academic and student affairs, both organizationally and operationally, we created a true seamless experience for our students. They expect and deserve a one-stop shop when it comes to their college enrollment experience, particularly at the beginning when the whole process can seem overwhelming. Our friendly Welcome Center is their starting point, where we help students get a successful start at SCC…with everything they need in one location or nearby. Organizationally, our service is more holistic.

We have integrated career and instructional advising, faculty and student affairs professionals are co-chairing committees and work teams, we are cross-training personnel – all to better support our students’ success.

2.

SCC2020 is SCC’s strategic plan, and it contains our three key goals that drive all that we do. All of our resources – time, treasure and talent – are directed to our students’ success. They are best served when we partner with the community. To that end, we have created more than 30 community advisory committees, which provide advice, guidance, curriculum feedback, networking and fundraising to enhance student success. Aspiring to affirm that SCC is a Great Place to Work, we understand the relationship of employee engagement to satisfaction, productivity and, yes, student success. So, in truth, all strategies lead us back to our relentless focus on success.

3.

The wholesale transformation of the campus grounds and learning places, reflects the principle that ALL students deserve an exceptional experience here, whether classes are held in a more than 40-year-old building, or a brand new one. Recently, I had the chance to look at two aerial photos of our campus – one from 2003 and the other from 2013. The change is remarkable and our beautiful Two Waters Circle as the centerpiece is a site to behold. The best part is that this sacred space not only represents our partnership with the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, but also is a living biology lab that is used for our own science courses and as a resource for local elementary school science class field trips.

4.

Uniquely situated on the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community reservation, SCC seeks to fulfill past promises, share talent, create new collaborations, and generally enhance our relationship with the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community. Our Jr. ACE, ACE (Achieving a College Education) and Hoop of Learning programs for middle and high school students are all designed to light a clear pathway to a successful educational experience for our Native American students. The goal of these programs is to instill an expectation of college attendance while preparing students academically for that transition. Once Native American students enroll at SCC, they have the benefit of extensive support services coordinated by the American Indian Program (AIP) office. The SCC— SRPMIC partnership reflects the Community’s generous financial support of our new Indigenous Scholars Institute, allowing us to leverage additional funding for scholarships and student development opportunities.

5.

We have and continue to innovate as we apply technology to teaching and learning and to our business practices. MySCC is the stand-out, followed by SCCTech Talks, and the many innovations either from Information Technology (IT) or from others in strong partnership with IT. SCC’s culture encourages innovation, risk-taking, and leveraging technology to improve student outcomes. In both 2010 and 2011, SCC’s Instructional Technology division was recognized as being in the top ten community colleges nationally by the Center for Digital Education. SCC also was recognized as a Bellwether finalist for our instructional innovation, and we were an Aspen Award finalist on behalf of our rate of growth in student satisfaction. The SCC brand also says innovation as we lead in successful developmental education, new instructional strategies – think Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and Open Educational Resources, high quality undergraduate research (yes, at a community college), and much more.

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2013 ATHLETICS

HALL OF FAME

Class

T

he SCC Athletic Hall of Fame was established to recognize those who have contributed to the school’s athletics program.

The recipients’ achievements are now enshrined on the Athletic Hall of Fame, a brick wall located on the northwest part of campus near the Fitness Center.

This year’s fourth class of inductees honors a former head baseball coach who helped set the foundation for SCC’s elite baseball program, a two-time All-American volleyball player, and a two-sport star who earned first-team All American honors in track and field and all-conference, all-region honors in basketball.

LARRY SMITH Former SCC head baseball coach Larry Smith’s career as a baseball coach has taken him all over the country and world.

A Scottsdale High School graduate, he played for legendary Arizona State University baseball coach Bobby Winkles and even served as an assistant coach to ASU’s Jim Brock.

In fact, it was Winkles who called to see if Smith would be interested in a head coaching job at Texas Wesleyan University.

That was the start of a coaching career that saw him also serve as head coach at Indiana University and Duke University and assistant coach at Arizona State University and Northwestern University. Smith also worked for the Texas Rangers, Cincinnatti Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Smith coached the SCC men’s baseball team from 1989 to 1999.

Under his leadership, the Artichokes competed in four regional tournaments, winning it in 1997. That team would go on to finish third in the NJCAA World Series Division I, earning Smith District Coach of the Year honors.

With the help of long-time assistant coach Ed Yeager, his SCC teams compiled a 319-256 record.

In 2010, Smith was inducted into the Arizona Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.

KAREN WEITZ Karen Weitz is one of the most successful high school basketball coaches in Nevada history. Her women’s teams at Centennial High School in Las Vegas have won six state championships, earning Weitz Coach of the Year honors four times.

But before all her success at the coaching level, she was a twosport star at Scottsdale Community College. Although she only competed as an Artichoke for one academic year, she left her mark in two sports: basketball and track and field. In fact, she was the NJCAA national javelin champion and first team All-

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American in track and field. Her basketball court performance earned her all-Region, all-Conference honors. “When you do two sports, it’s a lot to commit to and a lot of work,” said Weitz, a native of Milton-Freewater, Oregon.

She came to SCC to play basketball for Coach Bike Medder.

When she arrived, she filled out a survey and noted that she participated in track and field in high school. That was all it took for SCC track and field coaches to add her to the team.

“I was fortunate to have great coaches at SCC, both track and field and basketball,” said Weitz. “Even the weight room trainers were excellent.”

SANDY MARTIN Sandy Martin was an All-American volleyball player for Scottsdale Community College in both seasons she played for the Fighting Artichokes. Not only did she graduate from SCC, she became a two-time All-American in 1995 and 1996.

“Regina Mannix was an awesome coach and talent,” said Martin. “She said she would help me graduate so I could attend a four-year school and she did.”

After SCC, Martin went on to play for the University of Arkansas, where she finished as the school’s fifth-leading blocker. In her senior year, she was ranked 11th in the nation for blocking and led her team to a 30-7 record. She went on to play professionally in Austria.

Martin is the first volleyball player to be inducted into the SCC Athletics Hall of Fame. “I think it means you’re old when you get into a Hall of Fame,” she joked. “But it also made me realize how nice it is to feel appreciated.”

In 2007, Martin earned her college degree from Arizona State University in communications and religious studies. She now operates her own dog grooming business in Mesa, Ariz., and lives in Glendale.

By the Numbers

FALL

TOTAL STUDENT

10,313

53.5% Female

69.2% Part-time

46.5% Male

LEARN. GROW. ACHIEVE.

EDUCATIONAL

ENROLLMENT:

30.8% Full-time

2013

PLANS

74% of SCC students come from Scottsdale, Phoenix, Mesa, and Tempe.

95 international students from 45 countries

AVERAGE

CLASS SIZE:

13.2% online classes 68.1% day classes 17.3% evening classes

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STUDENTS

* Students may take more than one type of class

AWARDED

CERTIFICATES & DEGREES:

2,148

Top Occupational Certificates:

Top Occupational Degrees:

• Nursing • Interior Design • Hospitality and Tourism Management • Motion Picture/Television Production

• Nursing Assisting • Culinary Arts • Film Production • Crime Scene - Investigation

FACULTY

65% Faculty have master’s degrees 30% Faculty have doctorate degrees

SCOTTSDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE 9000 E. Chaparral Road Scottsdale, AZ 85256

The college of you.

An EEO/AA institution.

SCOTTSDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE Music Department presents

upcoming

Save the date for these

events:

DATE TIME EVENT

LOCATION

Nov. 9

Art Building

4:00 p.m.

Iron Pour

Dec. 6 & 7 8:00 p.m. Phantasmagoria PAC

Fall Dance Concert

By Howard Ashman & Alan Menken Dir. Polly Chapman & Musical Dir. Beth Livingston-Hakes

NOV. 7-9 & 14-16

7:30 p.m.

Feb. 13

7:30 p.m.

Music Dept. Showcase PAC

Featuring George Benson,

Honorary Scholarship & Silent Auction

Mar. 27-29 7:30 p.m. “Is He Dead”

Theatre Performance

Apr. 7-12 varies Genocide Awareness Week SCC

Campus Apr. 11 & 12 7:30 p.m. Annual SCC Cabaret

Music Department Performance

Free admission Registration Required

All donations will benefit the Musical Theater program at SCC.

PAC

For all events at SCC visit www.scottsdalecc.edu.

PAC