Tag Archives: Mt. San Antonio College

Mt. SAC Employee Contract Not Resolved

Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Staff Reports

Walnut– Mt. Sac faculty and administrators have been negotiating for over a year now over a divisive issue: a proposed change to their health insurance plan.

What’s proposed is a move for Mt. Sac Faculty Association members form the State Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) to Self-Insured Schools of California.

The concern for faculty members is that because of the flexibility of Self-Insured Schools of California, the benefits could be reduced down the line and eventually open the door to ending lifetime post-retirement benefits, according to faculty association President Eric Kaljumagi.

A year ago, Faculty Association representatives approved almost all of a new contract with the campus except for the health care component. The snag was that Mt. SAC offered to give the faculty a 1.29 percent raise to help offset the rising costs of health care only if the faculty switched insurance providers, Kaljumagi said

Teachers protested at last week’s Board of Trustees meeting, arguing that while the coverage options may not be very different between the two options, any change could lead to a disruption in care, not to mention changes in coverage in the future.

Because the Faculty Association’s contract was not on last week’s board agenda, board members did not comment on the negotiations.

There was no indication or projection on when the negotiations would be resolved.

Mt. SAC Students Win Seven Medals at Nationals

By Anthony Saude

WALNUT– Mt. San Antonio College health careers students won seven medals at the Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) national competition. More than 9,000 secondary and post-secondary students competed in 57 different health-related events at the national leadership event held June 26-30 in Dallas, Texas.

Derek Hawkins (Pomona),  Sho Kitada (Rowland Heights), and Griselda Venezian (Chino Hills) won silver medals in the biomedical debate competition. Hector Alvarado (Montclair), Ezra Dureault (Pomona), Hector Herrera (La Puente), and Robert Solis (City of Industry) won bronze medals in the creative problem solving competition.

“The majority of the teams that they competed against were from universities around world, and amazingly, they surpassed the university competitors,” said Mt. SAC psychiatric technician professor and HOSA advisor Mary Ellen Reyes.

HOSA, established in 1976 by the U.S. Department of Education, is the national organization for secondary and post-secondary health career students. The mission of HOSA is to empower HOSA-Future Health Professionals to become leaders in the global health community through education, collaboration, and experience.

The organizations core values are We value learning. We are committed to learning and becoming respected, knowledgeable and skilled health professionals.  We will respect the experiences and contributions of our teachers, peers and patients and seek to learn from them.

We value leadership. We will serve as role models in our academic program, profession and community. We will be ethical, accountable and trustworthy.  We will use our influence to empower others to strive for excellence.

We value service. We are dedicated to serving others with compassion. We believe that individuals are important, and we will treat everyone with respect and care.

We value innovation. We are dedicated to enriching the lives of others. We will continuously seek the knowledge and skills to address challenges and improve the health professions.

 

 

Mt. SAC is Accepting Applications

Staff Reports

Walnut – The Mt. San Antonio Community College District is soliciting applications to serve as an appointed member of the Board of Trustees representing Area 2. The appointed individual will serve until the next regularly scheduled election for governing Board members, which is November 6, 2018. Each applicant must reside in Area 2 of the Mt. San Antonio Community College District.

 

The Board is responsible for the performance of Mt. San Antonio College, which serves 60,000 students a year and provides vital educational and career technical programs to communities in the region.

 

The Board is seeking candidates who have the ability and time to fulfill the responsibilities of being a member of the Board, which include:

 

  • Participate fully in the work of the Board, which includes attending all Board meetings and key college events, studying and discussing policy issues, and participating in trustee education programs.
  • Be knowledgeable about the communities served by the college and be willing to act on behalf and for the benefit of those communities.
  • Be committed to community colleges and their missions; understand educational, social, and economic policy issues.
  • Engage in balancing the needs of many diverse groups; be able to contribute to and build consensus.
  • Contribute to effective Board functioning and support the authority of the Board as a whole.

 

The Board of Trustees typically meets the second Wednesday of the month, with the public meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m.

 

To apply, visit http://www.mtsac.edu/governance/trustees/board_member_application.html or contact the President’s Office at (909) 274-4250. Applications are due no later than May 29, 2018. The Board will deliberate and make its appointment during the June 13, 2018 Board meeting in public session.

 

Former Surgeon General to Speak at Mt. SAC Health Conference

Staff Reports

 

WALNUT–– Dr. Richard Carmona, the 17th Surgeon General of the United States, will be the keynote speaker at Mt. San Antonio College’s 12th Annual Health Professions Conference on Friday, May 4, from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., at various locations on campus. Sponsored by the Mt. SAC Caduceus Club, the Health Professions Conference is open to the public and geared toward students interested in careers in the health and medical fields.

Appointed by President George W. Bush in 2002, Carmona served as Surgeon General until his term expired in 2006. As Surgeon General, he released a landmark report on the health effects of secondhand smoke. Throughout his life, he has served in various positions in the medical field, including as a paramedic, registered nurse, and physician. He has served as chairman of the Arizona Southern Regional Emergency Medical System, CEO for the Pima County health care system, and was a professor of medicine at the University of Arizona. He worked as a deputy sheriff for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and served as medical director of the county’s police and fire departments. In 2012, he ran for a U.S. Senate seat in Arizona.

More than 800 participants are expected at the 12th Annual Health Professions, which will feature will feature workshops, interactive demonstrations, focus groups, an education fair, and displays. Representatives from major medical research centers such as UC Irvine, UCLA, and USC will be on hand, and a wide range of health professions will be covered, including surgery, dentistry, pharmacy, neurology, pediatric medicine, occupational therapy, and veterinary medicine.

The Mt. SAC Caduceus Club is a student club that promotes careers in the health and medical fields.

Tickets for the conference are $37 until April 16 and advanced registration is encouraged.

 

For more information and to register, visit http://www.mtsacpremed.org.

 

Updated Info On Olympic Trials In Walnut

Staff Reports

The Walnut City Council will be having a council meeting on Wednesday, December 13 at 7 p.m.  The question many are asking is: “Will the Olympic trials be on the agenda for open discussion this time?”

Earlier this year, Mt. San Antonio College (SAC) won the bid to have the Track and Field Olympic Trials at the campus. Whether or not they are able to get the school ready for the trials is still up in the air at this time. A stadium still needs to be built and the deadline to build in time for the trials is quickly approaching. It has been reported that the City of Walnut may not be in favor of the trials being held in their city. The reasons to date have been unclear and it has not been open for discussion as to why it hasn’t been on the agenda at past City Council meetings. Rumors are that it mostly likely won’t be approved by the council, which could cost Walnut and the cities in the surrounding areas an estimated $40 million dollars. That number is conservatively based on what Oregon claims they will lose because they didn’t win the bid.

The lack of information that has been released on the subject led to a misunderstanding that a final vote would take place at the Council Meeting on December 13. We were informed that there will not be a final vote and at this time, it is unclear if an open forum discussion will even be on the agenda. We also recently received information that the city may be seeking an injunction to stop construction of the stadium, which is needed to support the trials. It seems as though driving a truck loaded with dirt on a Walnut city street has been deemed unsafe and permits have not been issued to do so at this time.

Reports indicate that the entire estimated amount of $40 million in revenue won’t be given solely to the City of Walnut. It leaves us to wonder if that played into the decision to stall the construction until the point of no return? That is a question that we hope will be addressed at a city council meeting at some point. The estimated $40 million in revenue could benefit Walnut and the surrounding communities since Walnut doesn’t have hotels in the city. But unfortunately, the surrounding communities are not involved in the decision process.

So local business owners, sports fans and anyone that supports the building of the Mt. SAC stadium, mark December 13 at 7pm on your calendars so you can attend the City Council Meeting.  If the city does decide to have an open discussion about the project, let your voice be heard.

 

 

Mt. Sac Olympic Trials: $40 Million For Local Communities

Photo courtesy: Google Images

By Staff Reports

Walnut – On December 13, 2017 there will be a Walnut City Council meeting and it seems that a discussion about Olympic Trials at Mt. Sac will finally be on the agenda. “We are starting to move the dirt for the construction needed to have the trials because if we don’t start we will have to tell the powers that be we can’t have the trials,” said Doug Todd.” “We are going to begin and move forward with the confidence that the Council will vote for the Trials or until we get a stop work order from them”.

Mt. San Antonio College’s new incoming stadium was chosen for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, a move that could potentially bring in over $40 million in revenue for the area.

“The Olympic Trials in Eugene Oregon has historically brought in around $38 million dollars to their local economy for the 9 day period that the trials were held during 2012,” said Doug Todd, Director of Track and Cross Country for Mt. Sac. “We haven’t seen the projections for 2016 as of yet, but it should top over $40 million.”

Todd also noted that the national and international attention this event will bring to the city of Walnut and immediate surrounding cities, the San Gabriel Valley, the Inland Empire, and even the Los Angeles cities will benefit as well. “We hope for everyone to get on board and benefit from such a historic event.”

“As a long time resident of the City of Walnut, I was pleased to hear that Walnut will be hosting the upcoming US Olympic Trials,” said Walnut councilman Bob Pacheco. “It’s a honor and privilege to be selected. I look forward to working with Mt SAC to assure that the athletes receive a warm welcome so they may enjoy the beauty and resources of our community.

“We honored to be chosen over such prestigious institutions,” said Mt. Sac Board Member, David Hall in a phone interview Thursday morning. “Our long heritage, very successful trials in past years, the many records set at the college, and the new state of the art facility, are great factors for their choice.”

The USA Olympic Trials is the National Championship meet that is held every year, but in an Olympic Year, the National Championships become the meet where the US Olympic Committee chooses who will represent the United States in the Olympic Games in Tokyo.  It’s a wonderful, high stakes competition where the top three make the team and number 4 and below do not.  There is no appeal process, no automatic entry process for past performances, and no special dispensation for injury or illness.  On a certain day and a certain time in June of 2020 right here at Mt. SAC the best athletes in the country will run, jump or throw for the right to represent us in Tokyo, Japan.  It’s a real testimony to competition bringing out the best and, sadly, sometimes the worst in people.

The selection process wasn’t an easy one either. It started with the submission of a preliminary proposal.  Five colleges or Organizations did that.  After the initial submission the field was narrowed to three “finalists”.  Mt. SAC, along with the University of Oregon and California State University, Sacramento were each scheduled for a site visit and after the site visit had the opportunity to submit a final proposal. The final step was the opportunity to state our case at USATF’s Board of Directors meeting in Sacramento at this year’s National Championships.

“We were given 15 minutes to summarize our proposal and then to be ready for questions from the board,” added Todd. “Before that final presentation we were sent a list of things from our proposal that the board wanted clarification on.  We needed to discuss those items within our 15 minute presentation.”

Mt. Sac’s Hilmer Lodge Stadium is no stranger to such an event as the women’s Olympic trials were held there in 1968. Twenty world records have been set at Hilmer Lodge Stadium, the annual site for the annual Mt. Sac Relays for the last 60 years. The stadium is under renovations and is scheduled to reopen in 2019 with an expanded seating capacity of 21,000 capacity. The trials, scheduled for Jun 19-28, 2020, will select US track and field delegation for the Tokyo Games.

“I’m very proud of the team that helped bring this to fruition, and excited by the challenge” said Todd to OurWeeklyNews.com. “We are excited by the challenge and anxious to finalize the last few details for the organization to get the planning started.” Todd is the “meet manager” and Bob Seagrem, a former Olympic Gold Medalist, will be the chairperson of the committee.

The last three U.S. Olympic track and field trials were held at Hayward Stadium in Eugene, Ore., the city known as Track Town for its pervasive running culture. The 2000 and 2004 trials were held at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento. Attendance was robust in both cities and both made bids for the 2020 trials. Los Angeles, once the home of many professional track and field meets, hasn’t supported the sport at the pro level in recent years, leaving the Mt. SAC Relays the area’s most prestigious competition, according to the LA Times.

“Our team is cohesive and our historical successes are just many factors Mt. Sac is a great choice for this event,” David Hall concluded. “We are looking forward to another successful event.”

Lots of work and excitement went into the making of this event as an Olympic site, which is for the first time in Southern California since 1984 when the games were held at the Coliseum. The Walnut stadium was chosen in an 11-2 vote by the USA Track and Field’s board of directors for the Mt. SAC proposal.

Mt. Sac is also rebuilding several areas of Hilmer stadium and the plans are completed and being executed. “I couldn’t be happier with the design and the amenities built into the structure.  It’s going to be wonderful facility, one that will be worthy of the outstanding, world’s best athletes that will come here to compete,” added Todd. He also noted they are, based on conversations with the people on campus whose job it is to build this stadium, they’ve had been a few bumps in the road but abelieve that’s to be expected in any type of construction project large or small.

“You know we have an ‘Olympic Caliber’ crew of people working on this thing who not only understand every aspect of all that we are attempting to do but who also have an amazing track record, no pun intended, of bringing projects of this scope to completion on time,” added Todd.  “This entire goal of bringing the trials to Mt. SAC is a very big TEAM effort.  Jokingly I’ve told them a number of times that “if you build it they will come”. We’ve won the bid, the Trials are coming so now we just need to finish the build.    I’m confident our team will build it and complete it on time and I’d like to think they are equally confident that once completed we will host one heck off a great event.

Everyone across the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire is very much on board and appreciative of Mt. Sac’s efforts and the leadership of the city as the build takes place.

“Mt SAC is an important economic engine for Southern California. Hosting the 2020 Olympic pre-trials will expose the world to Mt SAC’s outstanding amenities and the vast resources it provides within the Greater Los Angeles Area and Southern California,” said Carolyn Anderson, long time advocate and Public Sector Solutions Manager for Waste Management Southern California.

Mt. Sac Olympic Trials: $40 Mil To Local Communities

By Michael Armijo

Walnut – Mt. San Antonio College’s new incoming stadium was chosen for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, a move that could potentially bring in over $40 million in revenue for the area. “The Olympic Trials in Eugene Oregon has historically brought in around $38 million dollars to their local economy for the 9 day period that the trials were held during 2012,” said Doug Todd, Director of Track and Cross Country for Mt. Sac. “We haven’t seen the projections for 2016 as of yet, but it should top over $40 million.” Todd also noted that the national and international attention this event will bring to the city of Walnut and immediate surrounding cities, the San Gabriel Valley, the Inland Empire, and even the Los Angeles cities will benefit as well. “We hope for everyone to get on board and benefit from such a historic event.” “As a long time resident of the City of Walnut, I was pleased to hear that Walnut will be hosting the upcoming US Olympic Trials,” said Walnut councilman Bob Pacheco. “It’s a honor and privilege to be selected. I look forward to working with Mt SAC to assure that the athletes receive a warm welcome so they may enjoy the beauty and resources of our community. “WE ARE HONORED to be chosen over such prestigious institutions,” said Mt. Sac Board Member, David Hall in a phone interview Thursday morning. “Our long heritage, very successful trials in past years, the many records set at the college, and the new state of the art facility, are great factors for their choice.” The USA Olympic Trials is the National Championship meet that is held every year, but in an Olympic Year, the National Championships become the meet where the US Olympic Committee chooses who will represent the United States in the Olympic Games in Tokyo. It’s a wonderful, high stakes competition where the top three make the team and number 4 and below do not. There is no appeal process, no automatic entry process for past performances, and no special dispensation for injury or illness. On a certain day and a certain time in June of 2020 right here at Mt. SAC the best athletes in the country will run, jump or throw for the right to represent us in Tokyo, Japan. It’s a real testimony to competition bringing out the best and, sadly, sometimes the worst in people. The selection process wasn’t an easy one either. It started with the submission of a preliminary proposal. Five colleges or Organizations did that. After the initial submission the field was narrowed to three “finalists”. Mt. SAC, along with the University of Oregon and California State University, Sacramento were each scheduled for a site visit and after the site visit had the opportunity to submit a final proposal. The final step was the opportunity to state our case at USATF’s Board of Directors meeting in Sacramento at this year’s National Championships. “We were given 15 minutes to summarize our proposal and then to be ready for questions from the board,” added Todd. “Before that final presentation we were sent a list of things from our proposal that the board wanted clarification on. We needed to discuss those items within our 15 minute presentation.” Mt. Sac’s Hilmer Lodge Stadium is no stranger to such an event as the women’s Olympic trials were held there in 1968. Twenty world records have been set at Hilmer Lodge Stadium, the annual site for the annual Mt. Sac Relays for the last 60 years. The stadium is under renovations and is scheduled to reopen in 2019 with an expanded seating capacity of 21,000. The trials, scheduled for Jun 19-28, 2020, will select US track and field delegation for the Tokyo Games. “I’m very proud of the team that helped bring this to fruition, and excited by the challenge” said Todd to OurWeeklyNews. com. “We are anxious to finalize the last few details for the organization to get the planning started.” Todd is the “meet manager” and Bob Seagrem, a former Olympic Gold Medalist, will be the chairperson of the committee. The last three U.S. Olympic track and field trials were held at Hayward Stadium in Eugene, Ore., the city known as Track Town for its pervasive running culture. The 2000 and 2004 trials were held at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento. Attendance was robust in both cities and both made bids for the 2020 trials. Los Angeles, once the home of many professional track and field meets, hasn’t supported the sport at the pro level in recent years, leaving the Mt. SAC Relays the area’s most prestigious competition, according to the LA Times. “Our team is cohesive and our historical successes are just many factors Mt. Sac is a great choice for this event,” David Hall concluded. “We are looking forward to another successful event.” Lots of work and excitement went into the making of this event as an Olympic site, which is for the first time in Southern California since 1984 when the games were held at the Coliseum. The Walnut stadium was chosen in an 11-2 vote by the USA Track and Field’s board of directors for the Mt. SAC proposal. Mt. Sac is also rebuilding several areas of Hilmer stadium and the plans are completed and being executed. “I couldn’t be happier with the design and the amenities built into the structure. It’s going to be a wonderful facility, one that will be worthy of the outstanding, world’s best athletes that will come here to compete,” added Todd. He also noted they are, based on conversations with the people on campus whose job it is to build this stadium, there has been a few bumps in the road, but he believes that is to be expected in any type of construction project, large or small. “You know we have an ‘Olympic Caliber’ crew of people working on this thing who not only understand every aspect of all that we are attempting to do but who also have an amazing track record, no pun intended, of bringing projects of this scope to completion on time,” added Todd. “This entire goal of bringing the trials to Mt. SAC is a very big TEAM effort. Jokingly I’ve told them a number of times that “if you build it they will come”. We’ve won the bid, the Trials are coming, so now we just need to finish the build. I’m confident our team will build it and complete it on time and I’d like to think they are equally confident that once completed we will host one heck off a great event. Everyone across the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire is very much on board and appreciative of Mt. Sac’s efforts and the leadership of the city as the build takes place. “Mt SAC is an important economic engine for Southern California. Hosting the 2020 Olympic pre-trials will expose the world to Mt SAC’s outstanding amenities and the vast resources it provides within the Greater Los Angeles Area and Southern California,” said Carolyn Anderson, long time advocate and Public Sector Solutions Manager for Waste Management Southern California. ■

Mt. Sac Olympic Trials: $40 Million For Local Communities

Photo courtesy: Google Images

By Michael Armijo

Walnut – Mt. San Antonio College’s new incoming stadium was chosen for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, a move that could potentially bring in over $40 million in revenue for the area.

“The Olympic Trials in Eugene Oregon has historically brought in around $38 million dollars to their local economy for the 9 day period that the trials were held during 2012,” said Doug Todd, Director of Track and Cross Country for Mt. Sac. “We haven’t seen the projections for 2016 as of yet, but it should top over $40 million.”

Todd also noted that the national and international attention this event will bring to the city of Walnut and immediate surrounding cities, the San Gabriel Valley, the Inland Empire, and even the Los Angeles cities will benefit as well. “We hope for everyone to get on board and benefit from such a historic event.”

“As a long time resident of the City of Walnut, I was pleased to hear that Walnut will be hosting the upcoming US Olympic Trials,” said Walnut councilman Bob Pacheco. “It’s a honor and privilege to be selected. I look forward to working with Mt SAC to assure that the athletes receive a warm welcome so they may enjoy the beauty and resources of our community. 

“We honored to be chosen over such prestigious institutions,” said Mt. Sac Board Member, David Hall in a phone interview Thursday morning. “Our long heritage, very successful trials in past years, the many records set at the college, and the new state of the art facility, are great factors for their choice.”

The USA Olympic Trials is the National Championship meet that is held every year, but in an Olympic Year, the National Championships become the meet where the US Olympic Committee chooses who will represent the United States in the Olympic Games in Tokyo.  It’s a wonderful, high stakes competition where the top three make the team and number 4 and below do not.  There is no appeal process, no automatic entry process for past performances, and no special dispensation for injury or illness.  On a certain day and a certain time in June of 2020 right here at Mt. SAC the best athletes in the country will run, jump or throw for the right to represent us in Tokyo, Japan.  It’s a real testimony to competition bringing out the best and, sadly, sometimes the worst in people.

The selection process wasn’t an easy one either. It started with the submission of a preliminary proposal.  Five colleges or Organizations did that.  After the initial submission the field was narrowed to three “finalists”.  Mt. SAC, along with the University of Oregon and California State University, Sacramento were each scheduled for a site visit and after the site visit had the opportunity to submit a final proposal. The final step was the opportunity to state our case at USATF’s Board of Directors meeting in Sacramento at this year’s National Championships.  

“We were given 15 minutes to summarize our proposal and then to be ready for questions from the board,” added Todd. “Before that final presentation we were sent a list of things from our proposal that the board wanted clarification on.  We needed to discuss those items within our 15 minute presentation.”

Mt. Sac’s Hilmer Lodge Stadium is no stranger to such an event as the women’s Olympic trials were held there in 1968. Twenty world records have been set at Hilmer Lodge Stadium, the annual site for the annual Mt. Sac Relays for the last 60 years. The stadium is under renovations and is scheduled to reopen in 2019 with an expanded seating capacity of 21,000 capacity. The trials, scheduled for Jun 19-28, 2020, will select US track and field delegation for the Tokyo Games.

“I’m very proud of the team that helped bring this to fruition, and excited by the challenge” said Todd to OurWeeklyNews.com. “We are excited by the challenge and anxious to finalize the last few details for the organization to get the planning started.” Todd is the “meet manager” and Bob Seagrem, a former Olympic Gold Medalist, will be the chairperson of the committee.

The last three U.S. Olympic track and field trials were held at Hayward Stadium in Eugene, Ore., the city known as Track Town for its pervasive running culture. The 2000 and 2004 trials were held at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento. Attendance was robust in both cities and both made bids for the 2020 trials. Los Angeles, once the home of many professional track and field meets, hasn’t supported the sport at the pro level in recent years, leaving the Mt. SAC Relays the area’s most prestigious competition, according to the LA Times.

“Our team is cohesive and our historical successes are just many factors Mt. Sac is a great choice for this event,” David Hall concluded. “We are looking forward to another successful event.”

Lots of work and excitement went into the making of this event as an Olympic site, which is for the first time in Southern California since 1984 when the games were held at the Coliseum. The Walnut stadium was chosen in an 11-2 vote by the USA Track and Field’s board of directors for the Mt. SAC proposal.

Mt. Sac is also rebuilding several areas of Hilmer stadium and the plans are completed and being executed. “I couldn’t be happier with the design and the amenities built into the structure.  It’s going to be wonderful facility, one that will be worthy of the outstanding, world’s best athletes that will come here to compete,” added Todd. He also noted they are, based on conversations with the people on campus whose job it is to build this stadium, they’ve had been a few bumps in the road but abelieve that’s to be expected in any type of construction project large or small.  

“You know we have an ‘Olympic Caliber’ crew of people working on this thing who not only understand every aspect of all that we are attempting to do but who also have an amazing track record, no pun intended, of bringing projects of this scope to completion on time,” added Todd.  “This entire goal of bringing the trials to Mt. SAC is a very big TEAM effort.  Jokingly I’ve told them a number of times that “if you build it they will come”. We’ve won the bid, the Trials are coming so now we just need to finish the build.    I’m confident our team will build it and complete it on time and I’d like to think they are equally confident that once completed we will host one heck off a great event.  

Everyone across the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire is very much on board and appreciative of Mt. Sac’s efforts and the leadership of the city as the build takes place.

“Mt SAC is an important economic engine for Southern California. Hosting the 2020 Olympic pre-trials will expose the world to Mt SAC’s outstanding amenities and the vast resources it provides within the Greater Los Angeles Area and Southern California,” said Carolyn Anderson, long time advocate and Public Sector Solutions Manager for Waste Management Southern California.

Registration for Mt. SAC Fall Classes Begins July 12

Staff Reports

Walnut–– Online registration for Mt. SAC’s fall semester credit classes begins July 12.  Classes begin on Monday, Aug. 28.

All credit students must register for classes online through the My Mt. SAC Portal at my.mtsac.edu. New students must submit an admission application online. For students who do not have computer access, computers and assistance are available in the Student Services Center during business hours. The Admissions Office is open now Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The enrollment fee is $46 per unit for California residents, and all fees are due upon registration.

For more registration information, call the Mt. SAC Admissions & Records Office at (909) 274-4415, or visit http://www.mtsac.edu.

Mt. Sac Chosen For Olympic Trials

IMG_4582

Photo courtesy: Google Images

By Michael Armijo

Walnut – Mt. San Antonio College’s new incoming stadium was chosen for the 2020 U.S. Olympic track and field trials, making this event an Olympic site for the first time in Southern California since 1984 when the games were held at the Coliseum. The Walnut stadium was chosen in an 11-2 vote by the USA Track and Field’s board of directors for the Mt. SAC proposal.
Mt. Sac’s Hilmer Lodge Stadium is no stranger to such an event as the women’s Olympic trials were held there in 1968. Twenty world records have been set at Hilmer Lodge Stadium, the annual site for the annual Mt. Sac Relays for the last 60 years. The stadium is under renovations and is scheduled to reopen in 2019 with an expanded seating capacity of 21,000 captacity. The trials, scheduled for Jun 19-28, 2020, will select US track and field delegation for the Tokyo Games.
“We honored to be chosen over such prestigious institutions,” said Mt. Sac Board Member, David Hall in a phone interview Thursday morning. “Our long heritage, very successful trials in past years, the many records set at the college, and the new state of the art facility, are great factors for their choice.”
“I’m very proud of the team that helped bring this to fruition, and excited by the challenge” said Doug Todd, Director of Track and Cross Country for Mt. Sac told OurWeeklyNews.com. “We are excited by the challenge and anxious to finalize the last few details for the organization to get the planning started.” Todd is the “meet manager” and Bob Seagrem, a former Olympic Gold Medalist, will be the chairperson of the committee.
The last three U.S. Olympic track and field trials were held at Hayward Stadium in Eugene, Ore., the city known as Track Town for its pervasive running culture. The 2000 and 2004 trials were held at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento. Attendance was robust in both cities and both made bids for the 2020 trials. Los Angeles, once the home of many professional track and field meets, hasn’t supported the sport at the pro level in recent years, leaving the Mt. SAC Relays the area’s most prestigious competition, according to the LA Times.
“Our team is cohesive and our historical success are just many factors Mt. Sac is a great choice for this event,” David Hall concluded. “We are looking forward to another successful event.”

Mt. SAC Forensics Team Takes Second at Nationals

By Mike Taylor

Walnut–– The Mt. San Antonio College Forensics Team took second place overall at the 2016 Phi Rho Pi National Tournament held recently in Costa Mesa, with students winning five gold medals, seven silver medals, and 12 bronze medals. More than 500 students from 64 colleges throughout the nation competed.
Mt. SAC’s Jacqueline Yu (Walnut) won first place overall and the Bovero Top Speaker Award as the outstanding speaker at the national competition, winning gold medals in informative speaking, after dinner speaking, and communication analysis, and a silver medal in the impromptu speaking competition.
Joey Fontana of Diamond Bar won a gold medal in informative speaking and a silver medal in persuasive speaking. Sarina Wang of Hacienda Heights won a gold medal in informative speaking and a bronze medal in debate.
Azzaam Siddiqi of Walnut won a silver medal in impromptu speaking and a bronze medal in informative speaking. Christopher Robles of La Puente won silver in poetry interpretation and bronze in programmed oral interpretation. Amy Jajieh of Menifee won silver in persuasive speaking and bronze in dramatic interpretation. Matthew Rodriguez of Rio Rancho, NM won silver in persuasive speaking, and bronze as part of a parliamentary debate team. Tiffany Pla of Claremont won silver in extemporaneous speaking, a bronze in persuasive speaking, and a bronze as part of a parliamentary debate team.

Matthew Dowling of Norco won bronze in extemporaneous speaking and bronze as part of a parliamentary debate team. Anthony Flores of Baldwin Park won bronze in the prose competition. Kai Vibar of Walnut won bronze in programmed oral interpretation and bronze as part of a duo interpretation team. Lastly, Alexandria Romero of Chino won bronze in dramatic interpretation and bronze as part of a duo interpretation team.

The team is coached by faculty members Roxan Arntson, Danny Cantrell, and Roger Willis-Raymondo. Since 1994, Mt. SAC has won nine community college national titles and has placed among the top 10 in university-level competition four times.

Mt. SAC Students Win 14 Medals at HOSA State Competition

Health career students advance to national competition in June
By Mike Taylor

Walnut – Mt. San Antonio College health career students won a total of 14 medals, including seven gold medals and seven silver medals, at the Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) state leadership conference held April 6–10 in Anaheim. More than 2,500 students competed at the state competition.

Yessenia Campos (El Monte), Sierra Gomez (San Bernardino), Keili Hiniker (Walnut), and La Tonya McDaniel (Perris) won gold medals in the creative problem solving competition. Eduardo Guzman (Baldwin Park) Maria Jauregui (Covina), and Jose Montiel-Flores (Baldwin Park) won gold medals in the biomedical debate competition.

Remington Cole (Pomona), Sue Mass (Chino Hills), Sandra Medina (La Puente), and Felicia Ngo (Alhambra) took silver medals in creative problem solving. Rebecca Cruz (Rancho Cucamonga), Kirk Loualhati (Covina), and Joe Sanchez (Covina) won silver medals in the biomedical debate competition.

All 14 Mt. SAC students will advance to the national HOSA competition to be held June 22–25 in Nashville, Tenn.

HOSA, established in 1976 by the U.S. Department of Education, is the national organization for secondary and post-secondary health career students. The organization provides students in 40 states with skills, leadership development, and career development.

Mt. SAC Will Stage ‘And Then There Were None’

By Mike Taylor

Walnut–– The Mt. San Antonio College Theater Program will stage its production of Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” on Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16, at 8 p.m., with a special Sunday matinee, April 17, at 2 p.m., in Mt. SAC’s Studio Theater.
This thriller from murder mystery maven Agatha Christie brings together eight unsuspecting strangers for what promises to be a pleasant weekend at a quaint island estate. That promise turns more than ominous when the sullen staff play a recording from the absent host threatening each of the guests with dire consequences for their “crimes.” A desperate game of survival results as the guests pull together to battle an unseen enemy, and their numbers dwindle.
Theater Professor Alan Brooks directs this Mt. SAC production. Tickets are $14 for general admission, $10 for seniors, students, and children under 12.
For tickets and more information, call the Performing Art Box Office at (909) 274-2050. Tickets may also be purchased online at https://tickets.mtsac.edu.

Mt. SAC Opens New $13.6-Million Student Success Center

Photo courtesy of Mt. SAC

Photo courtesy of Mt. SAC
Mt. SAC’s new Student Success Center

By Mike Taylor, Mt. Sac


WALNUT– Mt. San Antonio College will hold a ribbon cutting and an open house for its new $13.6-million Student Success Center, building 9E, on Wednesday, March 9, at 3 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. 

“The Student Success Center configures in a central location many of the programs and support services that help our students succeed and reach their goals in college,” said Mt. SAC Student Services Vice President Audrey Yamagata-Noji. 

Located right next to the college’s Student Services Center, the new facility affords 22,800 square feet for classrooms, study labs, offices, and a computer lab. It houses the Bridge Program, the TRiO Programs, ACES, Veterans Resource Center, Upward Bound, the Accessible Technology Center for Disabled Student Programs and Services, and a Student Health Center satellite office. 

College officials will make brief presentations at the ribbon cutting, and tours of the new facility will be available. 

The center was funded by Mt. SAC’s Measure RR, the college’s $353-million facilities bond that was passed by voters in 2008.

Battle Continues in Mt. SAC’s Solar Project

Staff Reports

WALNUT-Walnut has been the epicenter of a fight between the city and Mt. San Antonio College’s proposed Photovoltaic Solar System project. City officials and some residents say the project would be an eyesore and increase traffic in the city. Mt. SAC says it will save the campus’ thousands of dollars in energy costs.

According to the city officials, Mt. SAC is required to obtain a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for the proposed project. In the Oct. 28 staff report, Mt. SAC officials note that the school “will not be requesting a CUP for the said project.”

City staff contacted the California Energy Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission for support. But both State agencies indicated that they are exempt from local zoning due to the type of project.

Residents are also joining the city’s forces to fight off the project. During the Oct. 28 council meeting, several residents expressed concern over the aesthetics and increased traffic on the intersection of Grand and Temple, and the Council agreed that action was necessary against the project.

The outcry of residents moved the Council to figure out how to cease construction of the proposed solar project.

In October, the city approved bringing in legal help. The city agreed to hire Leibold McClendon & Mann to help them fight Mt. SAC’s proposed project. The city’s new legal team will review and analyze Proposition 39 and government codes.

With construction planned in late spring/early summer of 2016, City officials are not backing down. “Walnut fully intends to enforce City Zoning Code regulations, City General Plan guidelines and State and Land Use law as it pertains to any proposed development at Mt. SAC,” city staff reports state.

“The City Council remains committed to safeguard the health, safety, and general welfare of the community at large,” city officials added.

Walnut: Citizens Oppose Mt. SAC Solar Farm

Photo By: Raymond Mendoza

Photo By: Raymond Mendoza

By Raymond Mendoza

Walnut – Residents once again spoke during the public comment section of the latest Walnut City Council meeting to disagree with Mount San Antonio College; however, this time complaints were made not against the ongoing concerns about a proposed parking structure.

This time, residents were opposed to the location of a planned “solar farm” project that would have the college integrate a 2.2 megawatt, ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system, that could save the campus nearly half a million dollars in annual energy fees.

The location in contention is the Mt. SAC-owned property at the corner of Grand Avenue and Temple Avenue/Amar Road – which is commonly known as the “Christmas tree” lot – where Christmas trees, strawberries, and pumpkins are sold at different times of the year.

Walnut resident, Patrick Johnson, said the proposed solar farm looks bigger than any building that the college currently has, and called the proposed project, “disgusting.” Johnson stated that he knew several lawyers that could help stop the campus’ clean energy project.

Many of the residents that spoke out against the solar farm all shared the same sentiment – that they were “not against solar power,” but that Mt. SAC should not build the solar panels because the rows of panels would ruin the resident’s views of the hills, cause traffic congestion during its construction, and others even questioned if Mt. SAC had the authority to build the solar farm on their parcel of land.

Jill Dolan, Director of Public Affairs for Mt. San Antonio College, said the college administration has the best interest of the students and environment in mind, since the solar farm will help the campus on its way to energy independence.  The campus would save $480,000 in annual energy costs.

According to Dolan, the solar farm project has been a long-time objective for Mt. SAC, and that the campus did an Environmental Impact Report in 2013 which showed that the construction and finished solar farm would have “no new or exacerbated signification environmental impacts associated with the proposed project.”

As of Sept. 9, the college chose Borrego Solar Systems, Inc. to perform the construction of the venture, and is funding the $5 million project through Proposition 39 Clean Energy Funds, California Solar Incentive Funds, and California Energy Commission loans. Dolan said the college is planning to start construction in late spring/early summer of 2016.

“Mt. SAC is deeply committed to pursuing opportunities through which we can be thoughtful stewards of both the environment and taxpayers’ funds,” Dolan said. “Mt. SAC is proud to be a leader in energy efficiency and water conservation efforts, and we have been recognized at both the local and state level for our cost-savings accomplishments. This solar project would save the college nearly half a million dollars a year and move Mt. SAC even closer to energy independence.”

Due to the outcry of residents, however, the City Council members agreed to discuss the solar farm project during its Oct. 14 meeting.

Walnut: Santos Sworn In As Mt. SAC Student Trustee

Photo Courtesy: Mt. SAC New Mt. SAC Student Trustee, Elizabeth Santos

Photo Courtesy: Mt. SAC
New Mt. SAC Student Trustee, Elizabeth Santos

By Mike Taylor

Walnut – Mt. San Antonio College student, Elizabeth Santos, was sworn in as the new student trustee for the 2015-16 academic year during the Mt. SAC Board of Trustees’ July meeting.
As student trustee, Santos, 18, will present the student perspective on policy issues before Mt. SAC’s governing board. She will have only an advisory vote, which does not count toward the passage or failure of a motion. The advisory vote helps the board know how the student trustee stands on issues and strengthens the student role in the college’s shared governance process.
Santos, a resident of Rowland Heights, is a political science major. She has served as a co-chair for the Mt. SAC chapter of MeCha. In the community, she serves as a volunteer with the Rowland Unified School District and for her church, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Los Angeles. After she graduates from Mt. SAC, she plans to transfer to UCLA as a political science major.

Walnut: Mt. SAC Fall Registration Begins July 15

Photo Courtesy: Mt. SAC

Photo Courtesy: Mt. SAC

 

Walnut – Online registration for Mt. San Antonio College’s fall semester credit classes begins July 15.  Classes begin on Mon., Aug. 24.
All credit students must register for classes online at my.mtsac.edu. New students must submit an admission application online. For students who do not have computer access, computers and assistance are available in the Student Services Center during business hours. The Admissions Office is open now Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Prior to registering, new students are required to activate their personal Mt. SAC portal account through the college website, myportal.mtsac.edu. Instructions on how to do this, along with your username, are sent to the new student’s email address the student used when applying to the college.

Through myportal.mtsac.edu, students will be able to view their registration date and time but will not be allowed to register before their assigned time.

New students must also sign up for their assessment tests at the Assessment Center.  Appointments can be made at www.mtsac.edu/assessment, by calling (909) 274-4265, or in person at the Assessment Center.  Students are urged to prepare for assessment testing by reviewing the information available on the Assessment Center webpage.
In addition, new students must also sign up for the required new student orientation session before registering for classes. For more information about required orientation sessions, call the Mt. SAC Counseling Department at (909) 274-4380.
The enrollment fee is $46 per unit for California residents, and all fees are due upon registration.
For more registration information, call the Mt. SAC Admissions and Records Office at (909) 274-4415, or visit www.mtsac.edu.

Mt. SAC To Honor Students Of Distinction

By Mike Taylor

Walnut – Mt. San Antonio College will honor 20 Students of Distinction at its annual awards ceremony and luncheon on Sat., May 16, 11:30 a.m., at the Pacific Palms Resort, 20055 E. Colima Road, in the City of Industry.
These annual awards recognize students for competitive, academic, and personal achievement, as well as outstanding service to the college.

Recipients of this year’s Academic Achievement award, who earned a minimum 3.75 GPA, are Andrew Pastor of San Dimas, Ayo Osilaja of Chino, Jasmine S. Paek of Hacienda Heights, Marie Kim of Diamond Bar, and Marina Alkasa of Rowland Heights.
Recipients of the Service Achievement award, who earned a minimum 3.0 GPA and provided notable volunteer service to the college and community, are Amayrani Ochoa of La Puente, Candice Handjojo of West Covina, Charles Tran of Rosemead, Christopher Nguyen of Pomona, and Stephanie Gonzalez of La Puente.
Recipients of the Personal Achievement award, who were selected based on a minimum 2.75 GPA and overcame personal hardship, are Carlos Vazquez of West Covina, Jeremy Ossy Chandiyana of Rowland Heights, Sabrina Short of Pomona, Sectino Bradley of Chino Hills, and Michael Castellanos of Glendora.
Recipients of the Competitive Achievement award, who earned a minimum 3.0 GPA and earned distinction as part of a competitive student group or team, are Cathleen Nguyen of Walnut, Chloe Clancy of Rowland Heights, Jendi Samai of Chino Hills, Nichelle Radiance Jackson of Fullerton, and Reed Scale of Manhattan Beach.
Tickets for the awards luncheon are $15 and must be purchased by May 12 through the Student Life Office: (909) 274-4525.