/Nov2010Newsletter

Bridges to Success Newsletter

November

November 30, 2010

19 09 10 10

December

FAMU Education Fair, Rosen Shingle Creek

December

Bridges Movie Night, Building 5-111 6pm

December

Lady D Youth Forum

Mentoring Program Bowling Social, 12-2pm

that left many in the audience with tears in their eyes. The video tribute can be viewed on the Bridges to Success Facebook page facebook.com/ValenciaBridgesToSuccess.

Bridges to Success 25th Anniversary Reunion Celebration Bridges to Success held its 25th Anniversary Reunion celebration as part of Valencia’s Homecoming events on Friday, October 1.

Bridges Alumni, current students, parents, community members and staff came out to celebrate the event at the West Campus Special Events Center. The Masters of Ceremonies for the evenings were Michael J. McLaughlin, Vice-President, Valencia Alumni Association and Windy Pierre Louis, Past President of the IMAGES mentoring program. Linda Downing, Assistance Vice-President of College Transition Programs provided the Welcome. The Key Note speaker was State Representative Geraldine Thompson. Representative Thompson gave an eloquent history of the Bridges to Success Program. Finally, Dr. Joyce Romano, Vice-President of Student Affairs gave an update on the Bridges Program today, and plans for the future. During her presentation she gave a moving speech praising the work that Mr. Stover has done with minority students over the last 25 years. She also presented a video tribute

The final event for the Bridges Reunion Weekend was the Alumni Family Picnic held on Saturday, October 2 at Barnett Park. Alumni and Students came together to enjoy family, food, fun, and games! This Bridges Reunion Celebration would not have been possible without the help of Ms. Barbara Shell, Assistant Director of Community Relations. Big Kudos to Ms. Shell!

Clifton Taulbert Event

On October 8, 2010 Valencia Community College hosted Clifton Taulbert of the Building Community Institute. Taulbert is one of America’s leading thought-leaders on the “Power of Community” and views community in the workplace as a powerful leadership asset. Taulbert was chosen by CNN at the turn of the millennium to represent one of the voices of ‘Community.

Bridges to Success Newsletter

Taulbert, a member of Phi Beta Kappa and a Trustee for the University of Tulsa (Tulsa, Oklahoma) has been recognized by Time Magazine as one of the nation’s outstanding Entrepreneurs.

Taulbert participated in the start-up of many companies, including being a member of the initial team that introduced Stair Master Exercise Systems to the world. He is also a former banker and advisory board member for BankOne, now J. P. Morgan Chase, and currently serves as a Board member for ONB Bank and Trust in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Students from Bridges, the Honors program, and Phi Theta Kappa participated in this event.

Making Strides for Breast Cancer Walk

Bridges Mentoring Program (REGAL, IMAGES, LATINA, MOSIAC) participated in the Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk at Lake Eola park on October 23, 2010. The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk was a HUGE success. Orlando hosted the biggest and most successful event in the state of Florida for the 12th year in a row. Participating teams helped to raise $437,431.18!

Thanksgiving Food Drive

Bridges to Success in conjunction with Black High Achievers Club and the African American Culture Club sponsored their annual Thanksgiving Food Drive November 1-19, 2010. The groups solicited donation from all Bridges students. Students were asked to donate non-perishable food items that were used to put together “baskets” that provided full Thanksgiving meals for families in our community. The Mentoring Programs were asked to make monetary donations to support this initiative.

Parent Advisory Council

The 2010 Parent Advisory Council’s (PAC) traces its origins back to October of 1998. PAC’s primary purpose is to provide advice and support to the Bridges to Success program. The following is the Mission Statement of the Parent Advisory Council: “We are parents of Valencia Community College Bridges students who invest in their lives through academic, civic, and cultural endeavors in order to promote their scholastic achivement and enhance their collegiate experience.”

We are very excited about the plans that we have for our Bridges students, and we hope that you will share our enthusiasm. Here is a brief description of a few of the projects that PAC has underway: Student Recognition Programs, Student Special Events, Counselor Day Student Outreach Programs, Student The Office of Transition Services host- Career Presentations, and Student ed Valencia’s annual Counselor Day on Mentoring Programs. We would like Thursday, November 4, 2010 on the to ask all Bridges Parents to consider West campus (Bldg. 8). Bridges partici- active participation with PAC. We need pated in the department showcase, and volunteers. We need speakers, mentors, the plenary sessions. Over 100 countutors, trip chaperones, and committee selors from Orange and Osceola coun- members. We need your ideas, energy, ties attended the event to learn more and your commitment. There will be about our program. Many counselors a special parent student symposium in were very eager to get their hands on January of 2011. Details regarding the the revised Bridges Summer 2011 apsymposium will be sent to all Bridges plications! This was a great opportunity parents and students shortly – so to share the exciting things that our please keep on the watch! department has to offer minority and low socioeconomic students in our We look forward to seeing you early in community. A Big thanks goes out to 2011, and we trust that the balance of the Bridges Advisors- Dr. Robinson, 2010 will be fantastic for all!

Mrs. Rivera-Kala, Ms. DaSilva, and Mr. McKnight for assisting with this event! On behalf of PAC, Gregory C. Mille PAC Chairman.

Layout Design by Jonathan Tenjo Written by Dr. Carter and Ciera Cooper