Vol. 86 Issue 15 • Single copies free • March 5, 2012 • 210-486-1773 • theranger.org
This week Deadline Friday for graduation Students who want to walk the stage at commencement May 12 must submit an application to admissions and records in Room 216 of Fletcher Administration Center by Friday. Students who do not plan to walk the stage may turn in applications until May 12. A student may apply for spring 2012 graduation if fewer than six hours are left in the degree plan and those hours will be completed during the following summer. To graduate, a student must have a cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 or higher in all coursework that applies to the degree. Students must have completed a minimum of 25 percent of all course work at this college, be in good academic standing in their final semester and submit an official transcript from all previous institutions attended. Commencement will be at 10 a.m. May 12 at Freeman Coliseum, 3201 E. Houston St. For more information, call Counselor Rosa Maria Gonzalez at 210-486-0864 or visit the graduation advising office in Room 124 of the early college program building. Joshua Fechter
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Matthew Tillery, Randy Pike and Padraic “Pad” Kelly, San Antonio Living History Association volunteers, protect their ears from the sound of a cannon blast during a re-enactment of the
siege of the Alamo Feb. 25. They were firing at volunteers portraying Mexican forces trying to infiltrate the mission. Read the story on Page 6. Nicole Henry
Scholarship deadline April 15 The priority deadline for students to apply for Alamo Colleges Foundation scholarships for the 2012-13 academic year is April 15. However, students may apply until Sept. 15. The application process By JENNIFER opened Jan. 17. CORONADO According to the district website, scholarships sac-ranger@alamo.edu are available for first-time, transfer and current students. The scholarship website provides students with links to the application, eligibility and require-
ments, essay and application tips and a list of the foundation scholarships. Students are required to complete one application per academic year to be considered for scholarships. Scholarship coordinator Irene Fuentes said the majority of scholarships are awarded during the spring semester. The remainder of the money is awarded to students who apply later in the fall semester. Students who are awarded scholarships must maintain the same or higher grade-point average
to receive an award. For the 2010-11 academic year, the foundation awarded $250,965. Fuentes said the foundation awarded $152,961.31 during fall 2011. To access the application, go to www.alamo. edu/mainwide.aspx?id=5531 or visit the scholarship office by appointment from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in Room 213 of Koehler Cultural Center, 310 W. Ashby Place. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Fuentes at 210-486-0963.
Offices open longer Counseling, admissions, registrar and financial aid offices at Alamo Colleges now offer more hours to accommodate students in evening courses and those who have free time only on weekends. Offices at each college are now open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the first Saturday of each month. Offices also are open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays at Palo Alto, Tuesdays at this college, Wednesdays at St. Philip’s and Thursdays at Northwest Vista and Northeast Lakeview. Hours other weekdays for all offices are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jacob Beltran
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Ballot applications for board due today Today is the last day to submit ballot applications for the Alamo Colleges board of trustees election May 12. Seats in Districts 5, 6 and 7 will be on the ballot. Candidates must live in the By JOSHUA district they plan to represent. FECHTER Applications can be filed for a place on the ballot 8 a.m.-noon jfechter @student. and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at the office of alamo.edu the chancellor/board liaison, at 201 W. Sheridan. To view board responsibilities, visit www. alamo.edu, click “Board of Trustees” under “About Us,” then “Board Policies” and see B.5.1 board responsibilities.
Board liaison temporary election administrator The office of the board liaison is acting as the election administrator for the Alamo Colleges board of trustees election until the district hires a new general counsel. In a phone interview Monday, Chancellor Bruce Leslie said the office of legal services handled past elections, but because district general counsel Retha Karnes left in January, the office was understaffed.
He said paralegal Pat Meurin is the only staff member in the office of legal services. Leslie said allowing the office of the board liaison to handle the election will give applicants greater access to staff who can receive applications. He said if the office of legal services handled the election, only Meurin would be available to receive applications. He said once the district hires a general counsel, the office of legal services will resume its responsibility as election administrator. Leslie said he hopes to have a candidate for general counsel to submit in time for the regular board meeting March 20.
Chancellor, ethics officer see no conflict of interest Leslie said he does not think the chancellor’s office acting as election administrator for board elections constitutes a conflict of interest. The board hires the chancellor, approves his salary and charges him with achieving objectives. Leslie said he does not handle the applications personally nor does he approve applications or endorse candidates. “The primary reason isn’t management; it’s service,” Leslie said. District ethics officer Eddie Cruz said there
may be a perceived conflict of interest, but that there is not one. “Elections have to be handled,” he said. “There’s no room for mistakes.”
Trustees seek, reject re-election As of Thursday, District 5 trustee Roberto Zárate was the only sitting trustee to have submitted an application. Zárate said he submitted his application Feb. 24, and board liaison Sandra Mora said she received Zárate’s application Feb. 27. District 7 trustee Blakely Fernandez told The Ranger Feb. 23 that she would not seek re-election. In a phone interview, Fernandez said her family and Tuggey Fernandez LLP, the law practice she established in May, prevent her from dedicating the time necessary to serve on the board. “I’m juggling too many things,” she said. Fernandez said she supports Yvonne Katz, former Spring Branch ISD superintendent and president of Vision Into Action Associates, to fill the District 7 seat. In a phone interview Feb. 22, District 6 trustee Gene Sprague said he would submit his application within a few days. For more information, call Mora at 210-4850030.