PAC Goes Tobacco-Free Tomorrow

See Lynette Rocks!

Students, Lynette Rocks is giving a rousing musical performance in the PAC Student Center Patio! Her performance ends at 1 p.m., so you still have time to run out and catch a couple of songs!! See you there!!!

Lynette Rocks! at PAC

LYNETTE ROCKS!
LIVE CONCERT
FRIDAY, AUGUST 31
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

FREE!
STUDENT CENTER PATIO
FUNDED BY STUDENT SERVICES FEE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Free Hot Dogs

Thurman Reeves, Senator of Student Services for Palo Alto College’s Student Government Association (SGA), serves a hot dog to a PAC student, Aug. 28. SGA officers served more than 700 free hot dogs and drinks during the first two days of the Fall Semester to welcome students back to PAC. The event was funded by the Student Services Fee Advisory Committee. (Photo by Mario Ramirez)

Welcome Back to PAC!

Can't you just feel all the excitement in the air! It's the first day of the Fall Semester at Palo Alto College and the Student Center, hallways and classrooms are filled with students eager to begin or continue their achievements in higher education.

Beginning at 11 a.m. today, there will be free hot dogs and drinks in the Student Center cafeteria for everyone to enjoy! There will also be a Club Fair where organizations will man tables looking for new members. Stop by the Student Government table and pick up a free movie screening pass to either "3:10 to Yuma" starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale, or "Ladron Que Roba a Ladron."

“Ladron que roba a ladron tiene cien años de perdon. A thief who steals from a thief will receive 100 years of forgiveness.” - Latin American proverb

A heist movie in the classic Hollywood tradition, LADRON QUE ROBA A LADRON follows two crack thieves, Emilio and Alejandro, who reunite to rob the biggest thief they know – Moctesuma Valdez, a TV infomercial guru who’s made millions selling worthless health products to poor Latino immigrants. Valdez’s empire is next to impossible to infiltrate. But Emilio and Alejandro know if they go undercover as day laborers they can rob Valdez blind right under his nose. It’s a perfect plan…except that no one on their team wants the job. Refusing to give up, Emilio and Alejandro come up with a solution so insane it might just work – use real day laborers. Within days, they form a team of criminal amateurs with just the right skills. Although none of them has ever committed a crime in their lives, this motley crew of underdogs is ready to face impossible odds and “receive 100 years of forgiveness.”

If you pick up one of these screening passes, remember to arrive early. THIS PASS DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMISSION. THEATER IS OVERBOOKED TO ENSURE CAPACITY. SEATING IS ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS. PASS IS THE PROPERTY OF LIONSGATE WHO RESERVE THE RIGHT TO ADMIT OR REFUSE ACCESS TO THIS PERFORMANCE AT THE DISCRETION OF AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE.

Free Personal Computer Assistance

FREE Computer Assistance
For ACCD Employees’ and Students’
Personal Home Computers/Laptops!

ACCD Employees and Students can receive free computer troubleshooting and technical support on their personal home computers and laptops by students and instructors of Palo Alto College’s CompTIA A+ Computer Certification Training Program at the Advanced Technology Center at KellyUSA, 312 Clarence Tinker Dr, August 25th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reservations are encouraged, but not necessary.

“This is a great opportunity for the ACCD family to get free technical support, including advice on virus protection, Open Source and Freeware applications, hardware troubleshooting, and software updates,” said Tod Bruning, program manager. “At the same time, A+ students will be able to troubleshoot computers in a live environment.

“Believe it or not, hardware failures are relatively rare. Most of the time computer problems can be traced to a virus or driver conflicts. We may not be able to fix the problem, but we’ll be able to tell the owner what the problem is and how it can be fixed.

“In most cases, students getting the A+ certification are IT professionals with years - sometimes decades - of experience who are looking to validate their skill set, or qualify for a higher pay grade,” Bruning said. “The computers they will work on will be in safe, competent hands under close instructor supervision in a controlled network environment. We’ll also verify everything we do with the owner who will be sitting there with us the entire time, so it’ll be a learning experience for them as well. All they need to do is bring the computer; we’ll supply the monitors, keyboards, mice, and expertise!”

For more information on the CompTIA A+ Training program at Palo Alto College, visit PAC’s Corporate and Community Education website at www.accd.edu/pac/ce, or contact Bruning at 921-5526.

Gilman International Scholarship Program

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
Spring 2008 Application Open - Deadline: October 9, 2007

The Gilman International Scholarship Program provides awards of up to $5,000 for U.S. undergraduate students to study abroad for up to one academic year. The program aims to diversify the kinds of student who study abroad and the countries and regions where they go. The program serves students who have been under-represented in study abroad which includes but is not limited to: students with high financial need, community college students, students in under-represented fields such as the sciences and engineering, students from diverse ethnic backgrounds, students attending minority-serving institutions, and students with disabilities. The Gilman Program seeks to assist students from a diverse range and type of two-year and four-year public and private institutions from all 50 states.

A limited number of $3000 Critical Need Language Supplements are available for students studying a critical need language for a total possible award of $8000. A list of eligible languages can be found on the Gilman website at http://www.iie.org/gilman.

Eligibility: Students must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant at the time of application and cannot be studying abroad in a country currently under a U.S. Department of State Travel Warning or in Cuba.

The Gilman International Scholarship Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by the Institute of International Education.

For more information, full eligibility criteria and the online application visit: http://www.iie.org/gilman

Gilman International Scholarship Program
Institute of International Education
520 Post Oak Blvd., Ste. 740
Houston, TX 77027

Contact for Applicants: Lindsay Calvert
email: gilman@iie.org
Phone: 713.621.6300, ext 25

Contact for Advisors: Jennifer Eisele
email: gilman_scholars@iie.org
Phone: 713.621.6300, ext 16

http://www.iie.org/gilman

Free Stuff August 27

Students,

As if you needed another reason to come to Palo Alto College on Monday, Aug. 27--the first day of the Fall Semester!!!

Along with FREE hot dogs and drinks in the Student Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and a Club Fair at the same place and time, the public relations department will be handing out--courtesy of Reinhart Marketing and Public Relations--FREE movie screening passes to "3:10 to Yuma" and "Ladron Que Roba A Ladron!"

The screening for Ladron will be at the Santikos Mayan Palace. You need the pass to see the date and time!

The screening for 3:10 to Yuma will be at the AMC Huebner Oaks. You need the pass to see the date and time!

Hint: Both movies are showing at the same day and time, so you can only go to one but not the other!

If you have read this far, I'll let you have one (1) in advance if come by my office!

PAC Convocation Honorees

Congratulations to the following PAC family members who were recognized during today's Convocation:

35 Years
Robert Triana

25 Years
Robert Ramirez

20 Years
Lamar Duarte
Leandro Esparza
Edward Gildemeister
Luis Mercado
Diana Nystedt
Therese Palacios
Mario Ramirez
Barbara Thompson
Ann Turner

15 Years
Azucena Rodriguez-Guerra
Diana Sanchez
James Stovall
Patricia Villanueva
Roy Whitley

10 Years
Monica Bratcher
Guadalupe Casillas
Steve Cortinas
Charles Garcia
Kenneth Glass
Rogelio Gonzales
Steven Hicks
Mary-Ellen Jacobs
Robert jakubowski
Armin Marmolejo
Mary Ester Perez
Frances Quick
Janet Rangel
Yolanda Reyna
Yvette Rios
Steven Rodriguez
Lisa Sanchez
Mariana Ornelas

5 Years
Elsa Anaya
Lucy Barlow
Dr. Adolfo Barrera
Doroteo Chavarria
Joe Corrales
Amie De Leon
Roland De Leon
Monica Espinosa
Theresa Garfield
Elena Garza
Pradeep Ghimire
Jennifer Leal
Karen Mahaffy
Caroline Mains
SuEarl McReynolds
Evelyn Montalvo
Juan Ortiz
Joan Osborne
Duncan Perez
Yvonne Richardson
Maria Rogers
Shelby Rogers
Belinda Roman
Lee Ross
Juan Tejeda
Carmen Velasquez
Anthony Westbrook

From Gina Lopez, ACCD Inventory Control Manager:

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING
REDISTRIBUTION OF EXCESS PROPERTY

Recent email notices from departments offering ACCD property to other departments at the campus level have prompted a review of procedures for redistribution of excess property.

As a reminder, a 'wait list' is maintained by the Inventory Control Staff for departments who are seeking used items not currently available at the District Warehouse. When items become available at a campus, the requestor is contacted to view the property. If the property is wanted it is redistributed to that requestor. If the property is not wanted it is then redistributed on a 'first come, first served' basis.

Redistribution of property at the campus level is for department use only and must be coordinated through Inventory Control. If the excess items are not needed on the campus, then the items must be returned to the District Warehouse as surplus. We will then take the necessary steps to redistribute them or dispose of them in accordance with District policy.

As always, your cooperation and attention to this important matter is appreciated. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 921-4688, or by email at glopez@mail.accd.edu.

Welcome Back!

Palo Alto College is up and running today with only a couple of slight modifications as a result of yesterday's torrential downpour.

The Bursar's Office is still in its temporary office of SC 123 (right across the hall from it's office) and the mail room is operating out of the Print Office, which is right around the corner from its usual location.

For faculty and staff member, if you made it into the office today, you should have received a nice "Welcome Back to PAC" offering from the bookstore! It contained a personal-sized calendar, pen, ruler and, probably due to inflation, instead of a wooden nickle...a wooden buck!

PAC Weather Update IV

The following notice is from Dr. Richard Drum, Interim Vice Chancellor for Administration:

We are closing all locations and staff may go home without needing to submit personal or vacation leave forms. Be careful.

Classes are cancelled for tonight. Students are to contact their instructors for make-up alternatives.

Please check the ACCD Weather Line at 208-8189 in the morning for information on Friday activities.

PAC Weather Update III

The following offices in the Student Center are closed:

Bursar’s Office
Main Telephone Switchboard
Veterans’ Affairs
Health Center (Nurse’s Office)

City of San Antonio Public Works Real Time Street Closures
http://epay.sanantonio.gov/streetclosures/?res=1024&ver=true

PAC Weather Update II

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT:

The college will remain open because at this time there is no weather warning. However, if individuals have concerns because they need to cross low water crossings on their way home, they may speak to their supervisor and take personal leave.

PAC Weather Update I

Heavy rains have been pouring on campus all day today causing flooding on the roadway on a portion of West Villaret Boulevard from Poteet Highway 16 leading into the college.

Please be careful in this area: TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN!

Recommendations for exiting the college is via the westbound Loop 410 frontage road. On entering the college, you may consider the entrance off Loop 410 (but you would have to be traveling west), or the entrance off Jennifer Street by W. Villaret Blvd.

Facilities and Maintenance is aware of the leaks and water seepage in buildings located throughout the campus. We apologies for the inconvenience and request everyone’s patience as teams go from building to building to assess leaks, seepage and damage.

For the latest on campus-related weather conditions, please call the ACCD Weather Line at 210.208.8189.

Bursar's Office temporary re-location

Until further notice, the Palo Alto College Bursar’s Office will be operating out of SC 123, which is right across the hall from their current location. Phone numbers are unaffected by the move.

Congratulations, Cafeteria Staff!

Please join us in extending congratulations to Sue Valle, Custom Food Service Manager, and the Palo Alto College Cafeteria staff for once again receiving a perfect score on its latest inspection from the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. The Food Establishment Inspection Report evaluates 28 areas of compliance…no violations and or demerits were cited.

Convocation News

A reminder from the President's Office:

District Convocation will be Monday, August 20. The ACCD Instructional Innovation Council has planned a district-wide convocation featuring Dr. Henry Cisneros. The Convocation will be held at San Antonio College’s McAllister Fine Arts Center beginning at 9 a.m. Breakfast will be served at 8:30 to 9 a.m.

Palo Alto College will have its traditional Convocation Luncheon on Monday, August 20, in the PAC Student Center beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Weekend College Program

Registration is underway for Palo Alto College’s Weekend College Program, scheduled to begin Sept. 8.

The program allows for the completion of an Associate of Arts or Science degree in 36 months completely on the weekends and via the Internet. The program is designed specifically for working adults juggling the demands of a career and family.

The program is for working adults who have always wanted a college degree, but their work schedule doesn’t permit the completion of a degree during the day, or via traditional evening classes. It also offers opportunities for personal and cultural enrichment, as well as development of specialized skills designed to improve vocational possibilities.

Classes meet every other Saturday, and students are eligible to take two courses during a semester. Classes run from 9 a.m. to noon, and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The same friendly atmosphere, spirit of mutual support, and open exchange of ideas that characterizes our traditional college curriculum can also be found in our weekend program. To help students succeed, a range of services from academic advising, financial aid and library services will also be provided.

For more information on the Weekend College Program, call (210) 921-5494 or go to www.accd.edu/pac/weekend.

PAC in the News

Some happenings at PAC during the past couple of days:

Melissa Ludwig, education reporter for the Express-News, visited the campus August 8 for an update on PAC’s Capital Improvement Program construction plan.

Aissatou Sidime, business reporter for the Express-News, is scheduled to visited the campus today to speak with the Director of Student Financial Services, and students, on opportunities available to students to request funds for college expenses. An Express-News photographer was on campus yesterday in the Palomino Center taking photographs for the story which is scheduled to appear on Monday.

Tod Bruning, PAC’s Corporate and Community Education Information Technology Program Manager, was invited by representatives of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to join them in an editorial board discussion with the Express-News to discuss the “Access to Technology” partnership initiative, this afternoon.

Julia Alvarez at the Central Library

Last night was definitely a highlight in my literary life as I was able to meet and speak for a few moments with Julia Alvarez, author of personal favorites "How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents," and "How Tia Lola Came to (Visit) Stay," during promotion of her recently published book "Once Upon a Quinceanera" at the Central Library.

Julia gave a wonderful slide show presentation on some of the research she conducted for her latest book, which drew admiration and laughter from the approximately 80 people who attended the free presentation. She also gave us insight into a program by the Hispanic Cultural Center of Idaho created in 1998. The "Stay in School Quinceanera Program," addresses teen pregnancy, self-esteem issues and the importance of getting a diploma. With sessions that last for months, the program also teaches participating Latinas how to waltz and make crowns out of wax flowers. Of course, the shock factor for the audience is that this a program in Idaho!

Some friends I saw at the presentation were award-winning author Diane Gonzales Bertrand, whose book "Sweet Fifteen" reports the Express-News was one of many Julia used for her research; and Belza Ramos from the Mujeres writer’s group from the OLLU Center for Women in Church and Society. I also saw Becky Barrera, the first Gateway to College director here at PAC, but I don't think she saw me! We were also introduced to the new incoming principal of Jefferson High School, and his wife, who is also an educator and has been tapped to open an all-girls public school that will be the first of its kind in San Antonio and one of only three public all-girls schools in the state, according to SAISD officials as reported on WOAI.com. The school will start with 6th and 7th grades and will eventually expand to the 12th grade in 2013.

I am especially pleased that Julia signed for me the first paperback edition of "How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents" that I took to the presentation.

Congratulations, Jesus and Ben!

Jesus McDonald (left) and Ben Hernandez

Two students from Palo Alto College’s Upward Bound Program received scholarships during the 2007 Rey Feo Scholarship, Inc. and LULAC Council No. 2 “Rey Feo Scholarship Awards Ceremony” held at SAC’s McAllister Auditorium, Aug. 3. Jesus McDonald is a 2007 graduate from Lytle High School, and Ben Hernandez is a 2007graduate from Poteet High School. Both students will attend The University of Texas at San Antonio during the Fall 2007 semester. Congratulations to PAC’s Upward Bound staff for their diligent efforts in working with their students in filling out scholarship applications and writing letters of recommendation.


Jesus McDonald
--2007 Rey Feo Scholarship, Inc. and LULAC Council No. 2: $1,500 scholarship
--Hochheim Prairie Farm Mutual Insurance Association: $500 scholarship

Ben Hernandez
--2007 Rey Feo Scholarship, Inc. and LULAC Council No. 2: $1,500 scholarship
--Dell Scholarship: $20,000 scholarship (4 years)

98.5 The Beat t-shirt giveaway

Funny thing happened last Friday: 98.5 The Beat came on campus, but since we're still on summer hours, there were no students here to welcome them!

They promise to come again soon when students return. In the meantime, they left me with three size large t-shirts to giveaway. The first 3 people who come by my office can have them. Please rotate your head to the left to accurately view the photo!!!

PAC Road Closures/Detours

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS FROM PARSON’S 3D/FOSTER CONTRACTORS

Tuesday, Aug. 7 (All Day)
Loop 410 Entrance Gate to PAC will be a two-way divided roadway for incoming/exiting traffic.
Loop 410 Exit Gate from PAC will be closed all day.

Wednesday, Aug. 8 (All Day)
Loop 410 Exit Gate from PAC will be a two-way divided roadway for incoming/exiting traffic.
Loop 410 Entrance Gate to PAC will be closed all day.

Friday, Aug. 10 (All Day)
Both entrance and exit gates to PAC from Loop 410 will be closed all day.

Conjunto Music Alert

Last Minute Conjunto Alert from Juan Tejeda:

Camaradas de Conjunto: just a brief note to invite you to a special conjunto program tomorrow, Saturday, at the Museo Alameda del Smithsonian in the Market Square here in San Anto.

At 2 p.m ., there will be a lecture/overview of conjunto music history with the foremost authority in the world on Tejano/conjunto music, Dr. Manuel Pena. Then a panel discussion will ensue on the State of Conjunto Music with guest panelists Guero Polkas from KEDA Radio, Cristina Balli from the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center in San Benito, TX, Rick Garcia from Hacienda Records in Corpus Christi, Ramiro Burr/music writer from the San Antonio Express-News, and conjunto musician and vocalist, Linda Escobar. Manuel Pena and myself will moderate so it should prove to be a lively discussion, with audience participation, on where conjunto music is and where it's going. Al alba.

Then at 4 p.m., or so, there will be a Meet the musicos/artists with Linda Escobar and Eva Ybarra, Conjunto Music Hall of Famer and the best female accordionist in the history of conjunto music.

Finally, there's a free concert and dance right outside the Museo in the Market Square plaza that will feature Linda Escobar y su conjunto and Eva Ybarra y su conjunto. Spread the work and hopefully we'll se you out there tomorrow. By the way, the Conjunto exhibit with photos by John Dyer will be up through the end of September in the Museo's upstairs gallery. This is part of the public programming that I curated for this exhibit. Nos vemos. Juan

FROM VINCE: The first three people who quietly come by my office (don't tell a co-worker) can have a PAC Conjunto t-shirt!

PAC Happenings

--Due to popular demand, preparations are underway for “PAC Recruitment Bash II” to be held in the Student Center, Aug. 8, from 2 to 7 p.m. Students will receive one-on-one assistance in the application, testing, advising, financial aid and registration process in a convenient, one-stop location.

--PAC participated in the San Antonio Education Partnership “Rising Stars Scholarship Recognition Program 2007” held at the AT&T Center, July 26. More than 3,700 students were recognized as being eligible to receive a scholarship from SAEP, provided they maintain an 80 grade point average and a 95 percent attendance rate.

--PAC’s Department of Financial Services is finalizing Federal Work Study agreements for hiring students to serve in community centers such as the Rosemont at Palo Alto apartment complexes, as reading tutors.

--PAC’s Children’s Library Summer Program “Matter Matters 2007” completed its second three-week session, July 26. Fifty 3rd and 4th graders from area schools attended the free program that focused on chemistry and related laboratory activities. Classes were taught by student teaching interns who were supervised and mentored by the Lead Librarian of the Children’s Services Division. The program was funded by an ACCD Foundation grant, Palo Alto College, and the City of San Antonio’s Free Lunch Program.

--PAC’s Natatorium hosted the 2007 Speedo Long Course Sectional Championships, July 25-29. The Speedo Sectional featured dramatic races on the final night of the long course meter swimming. Sean Leneave, representing the Woodlands Swim Team, closed out the meet with two titles. He won the 200 fly in 2:05.87 over Wesley Mullins, 17, of Longhorn Aquatics (2:07.75). Leneave then claimed the 200 IM in 2:07.90 to defeat Clint Hallum of the Dallas Mustangs (2:11.20). More than 700 swimmers from throughout Texas and Louisiana are participated in the tournament sanctioned by USA Swimming.

Meet Julia Alvarez

News Release from the San Antonio Public Library

What: Meet the Author! Julia Alvarez, Once Upon a Quinceañera
Where: Central Library Auditorium, 600 Soledad
When: 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 8

Award-winning author Julia Alvarez will read from and sign copies of her new book Once Upon a Quinceañera: Coming of Age in the U.S.A. in the Central Library Auditorium at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 8. On her web site, Ms. Alvarez said of her new work, “It seemed to me that quinceañeras, those elaborate and ritualized parties thrown for young Latinas when they turn fifteen, are a perfect lens through which to view what is happening to us as a Latino community in this country. Writing the book also gave me the opportunity to review my own troubled coming of age and to understand why that passage was so difficult for me and many other young Latinas and women of my generation.”

Ms. Alvarez was born in New York City of Dominican parents. Her parents returned to the Dominican Republic when she was three months old and she lived there until the age of ten, when her father was forced to flee the country as a result of his involvement in the underground movement opposing the government of dictator Rafael Trujillo. Three sisters who were instrumental in the founding of that movement were later murdered by members of the Trujillo regime, and the incident became the basis of Julia Alvarez’s In the Time of the Butterflies. Other books by Julia Alvarez include How the García Girls Lost their Accent; Saving the World; A Cafecito Story; The Woman I Kept to Myself, a collection of poems; and numerous children’s books. Ms. Alvarez received the PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Book Award for works which present a multicultural viewpoint for her authorship of How the García Girls Lost their Accent. She is writer-in-residence at Middlebury College in Vermont.

One hour of free parking is available in the Central Library parking garage with a validated ticket. For more information, the public may call 207-2500.