Heroes Walk the Halls of Palo Alto College

Purple Heart Recipient—Dr. Dan Rodriguez, Director of Student Activities (L), presents Army Specialist Jose L. Montanez, a PAC student, with a Veterans Day memento, Nov. 11, 2008. Montanez was awarded his second Purple Heart Medal during a ceremony held at Brooke Army Medical Center, Feb. 17.

Commentary

Heroes Walk the Halls of Palo Alto College

By Vincent Bosquez

For more than 225 years, our nation’s armed forces have served as the world’s premier “force-in-readiness.” Each November, Americans around the world take time to honor its military service members by remembering the sacrifices of veterans who have fought so gallantly in times of war and have served so faithfully in times of peace.

The legacy of our military’s veterans has produced a solid foundation upon which today’s Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen can march forward and add their names to the courageous deeds history books have recorded from past wars.

While Veterans Day only comes once a year, we are fortunate at Palo Alto College to be reminded on a daily basis that there are those among us who have answered our Nation’s call for service in “every clime and place” by exceeding all expectations of military service and coming home as true American heroes. More than 400 veterans currently take courses at PAC, and I’m proud of every single one of them.

One veteran I would like to bring to your attention is Army Specialist Jose L. Montanez, a pre-nursing student at Palo Alto College. Specialist Montanez was awarded his second Purple Heart in a ceremony at Brooke Army Medical Center by Brigadier General James K. Gilman, Commanding General, Great Plains Regional Medical Command, Feb. 17.

Specialist Montanez was assigned to Bravo Company, 40th Engineer Battalion, 1st Armor Division, serving as a combat medic in Iraq. On Sept. 25, 2006, while treating a fellow soldier, an improvised explosive device exploded near him resulting in combat injuries. SPC Montanez required hospitalization and received a medical discharge as a result of his injuries. Although SPC Montanez requires the use of a cane to get around campus, his injuries have not slowed down his determination to earn a degree and continue to serve the community he loves in the medical profession.

As SPC Montanez will attest to, no one really goes into war with the intent of being labeled a hero. There aren’t any special training courses one can take, no secret military job specialty, no magic pill or background traits that solely prepares a select few for such lofty a title. Most times, it’s simply “the luck of the draw,” and the determination not to let a buddy down.

During my 23-years on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, I saw young men and women, the majority of them who looked like the students I see every day on campus, transformed into the finest fighting force in the world. They, like SPC Montanez, go beyond the call of duty because they want to make a positive impact in their life and in the lives of others. Not everything they do is “great,” but then great things aren’t always needed. It’s taking care of the little things, or your buddy, that counts.

When America needs a hero, it doesn’t need to look beyond its military and her veterans. I know, for I have proudly served with them and continue to meet them as they walk the halls of Palo Alto College every day. Thank you SPC Montanez and the more than 400 military veterans who are now students at PAC for your service. Your duty and commitment to our Nation will not be forgotten.

ACCD Shows Spring Enrollment Increase

ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGES’ SPRING ENROLLMENT INCREASES 7.5%

The Alamo Community Colleges, one of the nation’s largest post secondary institutions, has achieved an enrollment of 53,236 students for Spring 2009, an increase of 7.5% over the Spring 2008 certified enrollment of 49,514. Annually, the Alamo Community Colleges enroll 69,000 credit students and 33,300 students in Continuing Education and Workforce programs, contributing to a total annual enrollment of 102,300 students.

“Our healthy enrollment increase reflects the key role that the Alamo Community Colleges play in helping our community to deal with the effects of an economic downturn, by providing affordable training for available jobs and retraining for those who are unemployed,” said ACC Chancellor Dr. Bruce H. Leslie. “We stand ready to innovate and customize our offerings to accommodate community members, as well as local businesses, as they adapt to a changing economic picture,” he added. “Spring 2009 credit enrollment by college of attendance at each of the Alamo Community Colleges is:

• San Antonio College 20,187
• St. Philip’s College 9,741
• Palo Alto College 7,601
• Northwest Vista College 11,944
• Northeast Lakeview College 3,763

At the Alamo Community Colleges, our high quality and low costs provide exceptional value to our students and alumni, who are major contributors to the economy and culture of our community. For more information, visit our website at www.accd.edu.

PAC Basketball--Wednesday

Come on out and support PAC’s Basketball Program

Wednesday, Feb. 25

PAC vs. SAC Women
3:30 p.m.


PAC vs. SAC Men
5 p.m.

Admission is $2 Adults….$1 Students (w/valid ID)

Everyone who enters before halftime of the men’s game will receive a raffle ticket.
We will raffle off twenty-five (25) $10 gift cards to Mama Margies.

Mascaras

Scenes from Mascaras 2009!

Job Fairs

Please note the following events hosted by PAC’s Center for Academic Transitions:

March 4 Job Fair--Toyota Suppliers
Student Center Annex
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Co-sponsored with Worksource Solutions Alamo.

Census Job Recruiters:
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
March 16 & 19
March 24 & 25
Location: In front of the Center for Academic Transitions in the Student Center

New ABA Team--Texas Fuel

BEIJING AOESHEN OLYMPIC BASKETBALL TEAM FROM CHINA COMING TO SAN ANTONIO TO PLAY CITY'S NEW ABA TEAM, TEXAS FUEL: AMERICA'S FIRST GREEN TEAM, RANKED 2ND IN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE

The BIG game between Beijing Aoeshen Olympic Basketball Team and Texas FUEL is Sunday, FEB.22,2009 at 6:00 pm at Palo Alto College Gymnasium.

Tickets are $10/adt in advance, or $15/adt at the door.

TICKET INFO 210-696-8688, or Pasha 210-561-5858

Texas Fuel are America's Green Team, working to educate Texas and America about going green with alternative fuel and green energy. The team changed its name and mission to align with and promote the movie, "FUEL" after it inspired and empowered them to stand in solidarity with its greening America for peace mission.The team is in it's first season and was ranked 2nd in the nation on January 5th by the ABA Power Ranking committee. Recent close losses dropped Texas Fuel to 10th place nationally. Texas FUEL is still ranked 2nd in the Southwest ABA.

Veterans Oral History Project

Greetings ACCD Community:

I am very excited to tell you that San Antonio College and Service-Learning is working hard at a very important and innovative project. I alerted you about this over the last few semesters. We are interviewing veterans for the Veteran’s Oral History Project. We still need 11 or more veterans this semester. We have students from students in History classes working on this project this semester for service-learning. We would like to include all faculty, staff, students and community members (and their families) from ACCD that would like to be interviewed. This national project began to record histories of WW1 and WW2 veterans as they are dying at a rate of 1000 each month. We would like to get these first. We would also like to record as many other veterans as we can. It does not matter what you or they did or if they served during peace time or war time. You can actually even be an active military member. It is just important to records these histories. These interviews will be recorded on digital recorders or video and transcribed and sent to the US Library of Congress or can even be held here at the San Antonio College Library. We are still working out these details.

If you are interested or know anyone interested in being interviewed, please have them contact Dawn Schultz, Administrative Assistant at the San Antonio USO at 227-9373 ext 11 or email her at dschultz@uso.org. Please try her by email first. She will put you or your loved one on the interview list. Make sure you say you are from ACCD or want to be interviewed by one of our volunteers. The interview will only take 30-45 minutes. Interviews will take place at 420 E. Commerce St. (USO) unless one of our students needs to go to a residence due to the age of the veteran. The USO will supply the location, veterans, equipment and free parking. Please also email me at agrams@mail.accd.edu if you would like to be on the list.

In regards to students or volunteers at ACCD that want to interview veterans they know on their own, they should contact Sgt. Tracy English at 671-2211 or Audrey Grams, SAC Service-Learning Coordinator for all of the details about what you need to do to record these histories correctly so that they can be sent to the US Library of Congress or housed at the San Antonio Public Library.

All hours served can be collected for the President’s Volunteer Service Awards that we will be giving out in April 2009.

Thank you,

Audrey Grams
Service-Learning Coordinator
San Antonio College210-486-0763

Guadalupe Center Seeks Conjunto Music Literature

PRESS RELEASE

Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center
1300 Guadalupe Street
San Antonio, Texas 78207
210-271-3151

Contact:
Lorraine Pulido-Ramirez
210-410-6699

The Guadalupe Announces Call for Literature on Conjunto Music

Feb. 13, 2009 (San Antonio, Texas) – The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center is looking for literature on Conjunto music for possible publication in a special edition of the program magazine for the 28th Annual Tejano Conjunto Festival en San Antonio, 2009.

Literature can include scholarly articles, short stories, poetry, essays, interviews with Conjunto artists, or any other written work that incorporates some aspect of Conjunto music. Conjunto is an original American musical ensemble and style of music that was created by the Texas-Mexicans and which utilizes the button accordion and bajo sexto as its principal instruments.

Articles, poems, and short stories of any length will be accepted for review and possible publication. Submissions are being accepted through March 1, 2009. Literature should be e-mailed as an attachment to Juan Tejeda, director of the 28th Annual Tejano Conjunto Festival and editor of this special edition of the program magazine for the festival at juantejeda@sbcglobal.net. He will be reviewing the literature submitted and making the selections that will be published in the magazine.

“I’m very excited about publishing this special edition of Tonantzin, the program magazine for the Tejano Conjunto Festival. This magazine has always been a very important educational source on Conjunto music, and an economic generator and promotional tool for the festival and the performing Conjunto musicians,” said Tejeda, who created the Tejano Conjunto Festival and directed it for the first 17 years while serving as the Xicano Music Program Director for the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center.

The Tejano Conjunto Festival will take place from May 5-9, 2009, at the Guadalupe Theater and Rosedale Park and will feature the Tejano Conjunto Festival Poster Contest; a Seniors Conjunto Dance; inductions into the Conjunto Music Hall of Fame; workshops for the button accordion and bajo sexto; a CD Release Party for the “Best of the 27th Annual Tejano Conjunto Festival” (recorded live at the 2008 festival) at the Guadalupe Theater; and three days and over 20 of the very best bands in Conjunto music at Rosedale Park that includes a special Tribute to Esteban Jordan, one of the all-time great accordionists in the history of Conjunto music; plus food and beverage booths, accordion raffle, student recital and more.

The Tejano Conjunto Festival en San Antonio is produced by the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. For more information, call 210/271-3151, or visit www.guadalupeculturalarts.org

The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1980 to preserve, promote and develop the arts and culture of the Chicano/Latino/Native American peoples for all ages and backgrounds through public and educational programming in six disciplines: dance, literature, media arts, theater arts, visual arts and music. For more information, visit www.guadalupeculturalarts.org.

PAC Mariachi Spirit Alive at UNI

(Top Photo) Former PAC students front UNI’s Mariachi Pantera. They are (L to R) Anita Tanguma, Alex Esquivel, unknown UNI student, Joseph Almendarez, “Coach” Jesus Noriega, and another unknown UNI student.
(Bottom Photo) Dr. Roland Carrillo, a San Antonio native who has been at UNI for more than 20 years, enjoys the birthday serenade performed for him by Mariachi Pantera. This was the first time Dr. Carrillo was able to hear a live mariachi performance at the UNI campus.

(Condensed from an email sent by Charley Garcia)
It took only 9 years but the University of Northern Iowa now a mariachi ensemble--MARIACHI PANTERA (the UNI mascot is the Panther)—composed of several former PAC students!

Mariachi Pantera performed at Dr. Roland Carrillo’s birthday. Carrillo is a San Antonio native, along with being UNI’s Financial Aid Director and a strong promoter of the PAC/UNI Bridge Scholarship Program. In the more than 20 years that Dr. Carrillo has lived in Iowa, this is the first time he has listened to a Mariachi group perform live on his campus…made even better since it was a serenade for his birthday.

Dr. Benjamin Allen, UNI president, was one of the first to inquire about Mariachi Pantera’s availability to perform at campus-wide events. The UNI staff and community have embraced the ensemble and have started booking the group for various on and off-campus performances.

Please join me in sending a “Job Well Done” to our former PAC mariachi students now attending UNI!

Save the Date--Feb. 26

A question and answer session regarding the results of an Environmental Site Assessment conducted on campus by AEHS, Inc., will be held on Thursday, Feb. 26 in the Performing Arts Building, room 109, at 3 p.m.

Roy Brown, the District Safety Officer, will introduce AEHS, Inc., representatives who will answer your questions regarding the Environmental Site Assessment.

Tonight--Rodeo College Day!

See the Stars of Texas today at the Rodeo!

Not only is it College Days today (where with a current college ID will get you in FREE) but Texas music singers and songwriters will take the AT & T Center by storm with a live, acoustic performance! Don't miss Wade Bowen, Radney Foster, Cory Morrow, and Brandon Rhyder TONIGHT at the AT&T Center after an edge of your seat, action packed rodeo performance at 7 pm.

Again, catch the Stars of Texas TONIGHT!

If you mention this ad at the SW Box Office and purchase a minimum of 2 tickets to the Stars of TX performance, receive a $5 Whataburger gift card! Wow.. What a deal.

Student Activities Calendar

Student Activities Office
February 2009
Calendar of Events

Feb 1-27 PAC Library
Engineering Display

WED-Feb 4 @ 10am – Student Center
Civil Rights Panel
Oliver Jones, Moderator/Associate Professor of Government
Dr. Charles Cotrell, President, St. Mary’s University
Susan Ives, Square 1 Internet Training & Counseling
Cary Clack, Journalist, San Antonio Express-News
Richard Delgado, PAC Student

FRI-Feb 6 @ 9:00am-1:00pm Student Center/Annex
“Giddy Up!” Rodeo

MON-Feb 9 @ 9:00am Student Center
MG Jewels

TUE-Feb 10 @ 2pm-3pm
Resume Writing, CAT Conf

THURS-Feb 12 @ 11:30am – Student Center
Mario Salas, Educator

FRI-Feb 13 @ 11:00am – Student Center
Vernon Barnett, Musician
Student Government Association Meeting @ 3:00pm BUS 105

WED-Feb 18 @ 11:00am – Student Center
Dr. William Boone, Dean of Graduate Studies-Clark Atlanta University
Federal Internship Presentation: Sandra Cortez of USDA, CAT Conference Room
Bank of America @ 9:00am-1:00pm Student Center

THURS-Feb 19 @ 11:00am-2:00pm- Student Center
Six Flags Recruitment
International Social Dance Club

MON-Feb 23 @ 2:00pm-3:00pm CAT Conference Room
Interviewing Skills

TUES-Feb 24 @ 10:00am – Student Center/Courtyard
MASCARAS, Lectures/Parade/Music/Food

WED-Feb 25 @ Noon – Student Center
The Music of Black Composers

FRI-Feb 27 @ 9:00am – Student Center
Beverly Houston, Jazz Singer
MG Jewels

SGA Open Forum

Students,

You are cordially invited to attend the PAC Student Government Open Forum Meeting. Information is provided below:

Student Government Association
February 12, 2009
3:30-5:00 PM

AGENDA

I. Call to Order
II. Announcement of Quorum
III. Roll Call/Introduction of the Officers.
IV. New Business
a. Club Fair
1. February 16,2008 11:00 am-1:00 pm
b. Student Survey(general)
c. Campus Issues
1. Open positions for SGA Committees
2. More activities in student Center
3. Better Recycling Programs
4. Club Concerns
V. Student Open Forum for Prior Issues.

Adjournment

Center for Academic Transitions Update

Center for Academic Transitions
EVENTS for 2009

FEBRUARY

“ENGINEERING FOCUS MONTH” – various events on & off campus.
Pending---
1. Trip to Southwest Research Institute
2. Trip to TAMU Kingsville


1st – 27th
ENGINEERING DISPLAY
Arranged by Sandi Hood
PAC Library

18th Wednesday 11am – 2pm
SIX FLAGS RECRUITMENT
Student Center

18th Wednesday 9am & 1pm
FEDERAL INTERNSHIP PRESENTATION
By Sandra Cortez of USDA
Center’s Conference Room

19th Thursday 2 - 3pm
INTERVIEW SKILLS
Center’s Conference Room

25th Wednesday 9am – 11:30pm
ENGINEERING SHOWCASE
Student Center (near vending machines)

27th Friday
TRIP to TX A&M U – College Station
Vet. Med. Biomedical Science Day

27th CPS ENERGY SHADOW/MENTORING KICK-OFF

28th Saturday
TRIP to St. Mary’s U-“Minority PreLaw Symposium”

28th Saturday 1pm-8pm
“UTSA Homecoming Experience 2009” @ UTSA


MARCH

“LAW PROFESSIONS FOCUS MONTH” – various events on & off campus.


4th Wednesday 9 – 11am
BEXAR COUNTY RECRUITMENT
Student Center

17th Tuesday 2 – 3 pm
INTERVIEW SKILLS
Center’s Conference Room

21st Saturday 10am – 1pm
Police Seminar-“Women in Policing”
Student Center

26th Thursday 2 – 3pm
RESUME WRITING
Center’s Conference Room

APRIL

“EDUCATION FOCUS MONTH” – various events on & off campus.
Pending--- 1. SA Education Panel – University Reps & Students;
2. Trip to UTSA;
3. Trip to St. Mary’s U;
4. Trip to OLLU



1st Wednesday 10am – 5pm
SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
RECRUITMENT
Student Center

2nd Thursday 3-5pm
TAMUK-SA CAREER FAIR
@ TX A&M - Gym

7th Tuesday 2 – 3pm
RESUME WRITING
Center’s Conference Room

15th Wednesday 9am - 1pm
San Antonio Parks & Recreation Dept
RECRUITMENT
Student Center

16th Thursday 10 – 11am
RESUME WRITING
Center’s Conference Room

21st Tuesday 10 – 11am
INTERVIEW SKILLS
Center’s Conference Room

22nd – 26th Trip to U NORTHERN IOWA


30th Thursday 2 – 3 pm
INTERVIEW SKILLS
Center’s Conference Room


Special Event
Center For Academic Transitions

FEDERAL INTERNSHIP PRESENTATIONS
by Sandra Cortez of USDA


Palo Alto College
Center for Academic Transition’s Conference Room

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

9:00 – 10:00 am
and
1:-00 – 2:00 pm

Meet Gwendolyn Zepeda

An invitation from the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers of San Antonio:

Gwendolyn Zepeda, author of the recently released book “Houston, We Have a Problema,” will be the featured speaker at the monthly meeting of the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers of San Antonio, Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be at the Barnes and Noble (San Pedro Crossing) located at 321 NW Loop 410. Free. New members are invited to attend.

Please note that Gwendolyn Zepeda is making a special trip from Houston just to speak to our group. Her new book, Houston, We Have a Problema, is really generating some "buzz" and has been selected by "Las Comadres" as this month's Book Club feature. If you know of any "Comadres," please let them know that this is a wonderful opportunity for them to meet the author personally and to ask any questions they may have about the plot and characters. And of course, she'll be happy to sign any books.

PAC Rodeo Round-Up

Pictured above are some of the winners from today's PAC Rodeo event (not the guys in cowboy hats). Yes, that's me on top of "Silver" although I believe she was made of cast iron. Unfortunately, she had to go to the chiropractor after I dismounted her! Something about a bad back.

PAC Bereavement Update

Linda Cooke, Assistant Director of Records at Palo Alto College, passed away on Feb. 3. She was 52 years old.

An ACCD employee since 1991, she had worked at St. Philip's College. She also worked in the Financial Aid and Veterans' Affairs Offices at PAC before transferring to the Admissions area.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 5, at Angelus Funeral Home, 1119 N. St. Mary's St. A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home's chapel. No other services are scheduled.

In honor of Linda, PAC’s Records and Registration Department will close at 6 p.m., on Thursday, Feb. 5, so that her co-workers can attend the Vigil Service. Please plan accordingly.

The funeral home number is 227-1461.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Humane Society, 4804 Fredericksburg Rd., San Antonio 78229.

Ha Jin: Gemini Ink Autograph Series

From Gemini Ink:

Internationally acclaimed Chinese author Ha Jin
to be featured at Gemini Ink’s Autograph Series

San Antonio, TX — Lauded Chinese American fiction writer and National Book Award winner Ha Jin will read from his work at Gemini Ink’s Autograph Series. The free public reading will be from 7-9 p.m, Sunday, February 15 at the San Pedro Playhouse.

Ha Jin, who emigrated from China to attend Brandeis University in 1985, is the critically acclaimed author of five novels, three poetry collections, three short story collections, and a book of essays. Choosing to write in English rather than his native tongue, he gained attention with his first collection of short stories, Ocean of Words (Vintage, 1996), which earned him the Hemingway/PEN Award for First Fiction. In 1997, he won the Flannery O’Connor Award for his second collection of short stories, Under the Red Flag (University of Georgia Press, 1997). He received the National Book Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award for his novel Waiting (Vintage, 2000) and the PEN/Faulkner Award and a Pulitzer Prize nomination for his novel War Trash (Vintage, 2005). He is the recipient of a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship and was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2005. Currently, Ha Jin is a professor of English and Creative Writing at Boston University.

Gemini Ink’s Autograph Series presents writers of national and international stature. Past Autograph authors have included Margaret Atwood, Grace Paley, Tim O’Brien, and Peter Matthiessen.

Gemini Ink is the only literary arts center in San Antonio and South Texas. We nurture readers and writers through community-based workshops, performances, and other literary events. For more information please visit www.geminiink.org or call 210.734.9673.

PAC Bereavement Notice

It is with sadness that we inform you that Linda Hernandez Cooke, Assistant Director of Records and Registration and an ACCD employee since 1991, passed away over the noon hour.

We will provide more details about services as they become available.

Our condolences to her family and to those who worked so closely with her in Student Services.