PAC at the Today Show

Seeking Technical Director/Auditorium Manager

Palo Alto College is looking for a dynamic individual to serve as Technical Director/Auditorium Manager to engage arts and community groups to utilize our new 46,243 square feet Performing Arts Center. This $20.4 million dollar facility houses a 400 seat auditorium, black box theater, dance studio, 100 seat recital hall, and recording studio. Experience in auditorium/theater management and working with arts organizations is preferred. Ability to communicate and function effectively in a diverse community (including Bilingual English/Spanish ability) is desirable.

You may apply via the Alamo Colleges website at http://www.alamo.edu/, under the Jobs heading on the left hand side. Position closes on Friday, August 7th, 2009.

Juan Ortiz Performs on NBC's Today Show

Dr. Dan Rodriguez, Director of PAC’s Office of Student Life, presents Kathie Lee Gifford a Mariachi Palomino t-shirt in recognition of Mariachi Instructor Juan Ortiz’s performance with “Campanas De America” this morning on NBC’s Today Show. (Photo illustration by Valentin Tristan Jr.)

PAC’s Mariachi Instructor, Juan Ortiz, Performs on NBC’s Today Show

Juan Ortiz, Instructor of Music at Palo Alto College, led the world renowned “Campanas De America” through several rousing musical performances during NBC’s Today Show appearance at the Arneson River Theatre this morning.

The Riverwalk theatre, located adjacent to La Villita, was filled to capacity as Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb wore cowboy boots and hats to welcome fans, some who had arrived since 1 a.m., to a three-hour televised celebration of Hispanic and south Texas culture.

Lee Ann Womack also provided musical entertainment during the show, which also featured taped segments of Gifford and Kotb working on a ranch, taking a tour of the Riverwalk and riding a mechanical bull. Live segments included a Texas BBQ cooking segment, a “Taste of Texas” food sampling, and a feature on animals closely identified with Texas.

The “Today Show Takes a Vacation” road show started Monday in Lake George, New York, followed by stops in Key West, Fl., San Antonio and Las Vegas.

Vet Tech Seeking Donations

The Veterinary Technology Program is in need of donations for our program animals. If you have any gently used towels, blankets and newspaper that you are planning to dispose of please think about donating them to our program, you may bring them by the Veterinary Technology Building Room 100. Any donations will be greatly appreciated.

Mexican-American Music Appreciation

MEXICAN-AMERICAN
MUSIC APPRECIATION

A survey course exploring Mexican-American music from Pre-Colombian times to the present. Special attention will be paid to Chicanos in rhythm-n-blues and rock, as well as to the historical development and social and cultural significance of Tejano music, including the Corrido tradition, Conjunto music, and the Orquesta Tejana. Fulfills Fine Arts requirement.

REGISTER NOW FOR FALL 2009

HUMA 1311, SECTION 001
TR 12:50-2:05 PM
PORTABLE BLDG. 3102A
INSTRUCTOR: JUAN TEJEDA

The Today Show at Arneson River Theater

Our esteem Mariachi instructor, Juan Ortiz, will be headlining the “Campanas de America” performance for the Today Show at the Arneson River Theater on Wednesday, July 29. As you can see by the press release below, anyone interested in being in the audience needs to arrive before 7 a.m., as seating is limited and will be on a first-come, first-seated basis.

I plan on being at the theater by 6:30 a.m. to hand out t-shirts, caps and other promotional items (that need to be worn as soon as I hand them so that we can get the college some national exposure!), and would also like to find some volunteers to hold a PAC banner.

The theater seats 800 people and Campanas de America will be performing on Rosita’s Bridge, adjacent to the outdoor theater.

Oh yes, Pal the Palomino is also scheduled to be at the event!

NEWS RELEASE:

Join Audience for Today Show River Walk Broadcast Live on July 29

The SACVB invites you to be a part of the Today Show audience at the Arneson River Theatre on Wednesday, July 29. Let's share our pride and passion for San Antonio with the nation!

On Wednesday, July 29, Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb will discover the true meaning of "Deep. In the Heart." as they look at fashion, nightlife, native animals and cuisine from San Antonio. Grammy Award winner Lee Ann Womack will join the ladies on the River Walk for a special performance. The live show is part of the "Today Takes A Vacation" series which runs July 27 - 31, 2009.

Those interested in being a part of the audience are asked to be at the La Villita entrance to the Arneson River Theatre by 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 29. This is one a first-come, first-serve basis. Homemade signs are welcome.

If you would like to volunteer to sit in a river barge during the live show, please call (210) 569-6971 for more information.

Alamo Colleges See Enrollment Rise

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JULY 24, 2009

CONTACT: KAY HENDRICKS

COORDINATOR OF COMMUNICATION

(210) 485-0049 or 485-0035

ALAMO COLLEGES ENROLLMENT CONTINUES UPSWING

For the third semester in a row, the Alamo Colleges’ enrollment has increased substantially, with double digit percentage increases for both summer semesters. For the most recent Summer II session, enrollment increased by 13.9% over Summer II 2008. In the preceding Summer I semester, enrollment increased by 13.8% over Summer I 2008. This follows a record enrollment for the spring semester of 53,236 students, an increase of 7.5% over spring 2008 and a record number for spring!

Enrollment for Summer I 2009 was 20,837 students, an increase of 2,534. For Summer II, 8,392 students enrolled, an increase of 1,021 students.

“This substantial increase in our summer enrollment makes it clear that our community sees the value of a college education in weathering an uncertain economy,” said Alamo Colleges Chancellor Dr. Bruce H. Leslie. “Many of our students enroll in summer classes to get a head start on the fall semester, and many of our summer students will return to a four-year university in the fall and are taking advantage of the opportunity to earn credits they need at our colleges this summer,” he added.

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

Greeneffect.com Results

Thank you to everyone who voted for PAC’s entry in the Greeneffect.com contest. Unfortunately, we did not win but please join me in sending congratulations to:

Green Classroom Party Kits—Julian Elementary School, Julian CA
Canal Tricycle Recycling Co-operative—Canal Youth Concillio, San Rafael, CA
Launch the Extreme Green Neighborhood—Carbonfree DC, Washington DC
All we are saying…is give plants a chance—Hingham High School, Hingham, MA
Re-tree Colorado—Steamboat Springs, CO

In Six Words

Has anyone read the July 27 edition of Newsweek? Dr. Denise Barkis Richter has an item in the magazine's "In Six Words" section. It's in the letter section on page 2.

PAC Water Sampling for Lead Analysis Results

Palo Alto College Water Sampling for Lead Analysis

On April 24, 2009, Palo Alto College President Dr. Ana M. “Cha” Guzman requested that water samples from water fountains throughout the campus be collected and analyzed for lead contamination.

On May 1, 2009, a total of 47 water samples from PAC’s drinking fountains were collected by District Safety Coordinator Roy Brown, along with Marcie Hart and Jacobo Paz, certified lead risk assessors from AEHS, Inc., an environmental, health, and safety consulting firm.

Strict water collection, storage, transportation and chain of custody protocols were followed, and the samples were sent to the San Antonio Testing Laboratory where they were certified by the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference.

The water samples collected produced results Below Detection Limits for lead. There is no scientific evidence of lead contamination in the drinking water and the water distribution system at Palo Alto College, supporting the Phase I environmental health assessment conclusions that there is no scientific evidence to sustain the claim that Palo Alto College was built on a waste disposal site or landfill.

A copy of the complete report from AEHS, Inc., is available through Alamo Colleges Safety Coordinator Roy Brown at (210) 485-0768.

Reported by
Jorge A. Ramirez
Public Relations Manager
(210) 485-6231

Vote for PAC Bike Sharing Initiative

TODAY IS THE FINAL DAY
TO VOTE FOR
PAC’S ENTRY IN THE
GREEN EFFECT.COM
CAMPAIGN!

To vote, simply go to www.greeneffect.com and log in. Look for the PAC entry, entitled “Small Steps on Bike Pedals" — Go Green and Lean ¡Viva Verde! Bike Sharing Initiative Please see the attached article (in Spanish) on the campaign, which appeared in yesterday’s La Prensa edition.

PLEASE VOTE NOW!

THANK YOU!!!

Bookstore Receives Two Awards

Congratulations to the Palo Alto College Bookstore, a Follett Higher Education Group member, on receiving two awards:

1. eXcellent Service Award for earning an outstanding Secret Shopper score of 100% during the April/May 2009 round.

2. eXcellence Award--Best in Region 25, for the largest dollar increase in book buybacks during Fiscal Year 2009.

Showing the Award Certificates to the PAC President are (Left to Right) Julie Olvera, Text Manager; Dr. Ana M. "Cha" Guzman, President; Letrece C. Franklin, Store Manager; and Steve Gonzales, District Manager.

PAC Cooperative Learning

The following message is from Sabrina Carey, Assistant to the PAC President, to Dr. Guzman:

Here is a picture of our faculty who attended the Cooperative Learning training on Friday, July 10, in the Convocation Center. Many of them either stopped me after the workshop or have emailed me saying that it was a day well spent and they are looking forward to implementing what they learned into their classroom.

From Left to Right in the picture:
Front Row-Natalia Trevino, Facilitator and Cooperative Learning Coordinator at NVC, Lee Ross, Diane Lerma, Theresa Dorel, Mariana Ornelas, Ann Turner, Veronica Rosas Tatum.
Back Row-Dr. Stamatis Muratidis, Dr. Robert McWhorter, Facilitator and Cooperative Learning Coordinator at NVC, Anna Cohen-Miller, Russell Wagner, David Ochoa, Juan Tejeda.


Sabrina J. Carey
Assistant to the President

Fall 2009 Installment Plan Payment Schedule

FALL 2009 – INSTALLMENT PLAN PAYMENT SCHEDULE


Installment Plan Payment Deadline for Registrants


Register Between 1st Installment Plan Payment Deadline

April 20 – July 17 July 17 – 5 pm, due 1/3 payment plus $25 App. Fee **

July 18 – July 24 July 24 – 5 pm, due 1/3 payment plus $25 App. Fee **

July 25 – July 31 July 31 – 5 pm, due 1/3 payment plus $25 App. Fee **

Aug 1 – Aug 8 Aug 8 – 12:30 pm, due 1/3 payment plus $25 App. Fee

Aug 9 – Aug 18 Aug 18 – 7 pm, due is 2/3 payment plus $25 App. Fee

Aug 19 – Aug 22 Aug 22 – 12:30 pm, due is 2/3 payment plus $25 App. Fee



2nd Installment Plan Payment Deadline

Aug 22 – 12:30 pm 1/3 payment is due (If you registered between Aug 19-22) Min. of
2/3 of the installment plan amount must be paid (plus $25 App. Fee)


3rd Installment Plan Payment Deadline

Oct 16 – 1/3 payment (remaining balance)


** Palo Alto College will be closed on July 17, 24 & 31. All students requesting to be on the Installment Plan MUST SIGN A CONTRACT at the Bursar’s Office in order to make their 1st installment payment prior or on payment deadline. For the days we are closed please make arrangements the day prior to payment deadline.

Diana Lopez--Confetti Girl Presentation

MEET

St. Philip's College English Professor
Diana Lopez
Author of
"Confetti Girl"

Monday, July 13
7:30 p.m.
Barnes and Noble, San Pedro Crossing

Book Presentation and Signing
Free and Open to the Public

5th Anniversary
The Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers
of San Antonio


From the San Antonio Express-News:
S.A. author's 2nd novel follows young teen learning to cope with grief, change

Dichos, real life and death

SPC's Diana Lopez at Barnes and Noble, San Pedro Crossing

It gives me great pleasure to invite you to the 5th Anniversary Celebration of the founding of the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers of San Antonio, at Barnes and Noble, San Pedro Crossing, on Monday, July 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Our guest speaker will be an author who has been with us since the beginning--Diana Lopez!Diana recently had her book, Confetti Girl, published by Little, Brown and Company. Diana teaches English at St. Philip's College.

From the website:

Apolonia "Lina" Flores is a sock enthusiast, a volleyball player, a science lover, and a girl who's just looking for answers. Even though her house is crammed full of books (her dad's a bibliophile), she's having trouble figuring out some very big questions, like why her dad seems to care about books more than her, why her best friend's divorced mom is obsessed with making cascarones (hollowed eggshells filled with colorful confetti), and, most of all, why her mom died last year. Like colors in a cascarone, Lina's life is a rainbow of people, interests, and unexpected changes.

In her first novel for young readers, Diana López creates a clever and honest story about a young Latina girl navigating growing pains in her South Texan city.

Please make every effort to attend this wonderful celebration of a Society and an author whose literary star is rising fast! Conexion, published by the San Antonio Express-News, ran a nice feature of Diana in today's edition--look for it and then come out and meet the author in person!

We will have cake and coffee, and Diana will be signing books after her presentation

PAC Competes for "Green Effect" Initiative Grant

Help Palo Alto College earn a $20,000 grant sponsored by SunChips, PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division’s line of multigrain snacks, and National Geographic, in a Green Effect initiative!

More than 2,500 submissions nationwide were received by the sponsors to be considered for one of 5 grants being offered through the initiative, and PAC made the “Top 10” final list! Now we need your help in voting for our proposal, which is an on-campus bike sharing initiative. Voting begins today and ends July 20. The best part is that you can vote once a day until the deadline!

To vote, simply go to www.greeneffect.com and log in. Look for the PAC entry, entitled "Small Steps on Bike Pedals" — Go Green and Lean ¡Viva Verde! Bike Sharing Initiative

Green enthusiasts nationwide will choose one of the five winners by voting for their favorite green idea. A judging panel will choose the other four winners. Winners will be announced on July 22 at the website.

In this instance it’s safe to say: Vote Early and Vote Daily!

PAC Continues Baldrige Journey

PHOTO INFORMATION:
Palo Alto College President, Dr. Ana M. “Cha” Guzmán (center), receives the Quality Texas Foundation “Engagement in the Organizational Excellence Journey” award on behalf of the college from Bill Grimes (left), a Quality Texas board member, and Dr. William H. Denney (right), Quality Texas CEO and Executive Director, during a Performance Recognition Ceremony held in Dallas, June 23. (Courtesy photo)


Palo Alto College Continues Baldrige Award Journey;
Receives “Performance Recognition” by Quality Texas Foundation


Palo Alto College was one of 22 organizations statewide to receive “Performance Recognition” by the Quality Texas Foundation during an awards ceremony held in Dallas, June 23.

Palo Alto College was recognized by Quality Texas for continuing its Baldrige Award journey by submitting an application for the Texas Award for Performance Excellence at the Engagement Level.

The Engagement award level is designed to help organizations assess whether they are developing and deploying a sound, balanced approach for running their organization.

Quality Texas focuses on an assessment and feedback process, education, training, and recognition to help businesses, schools, hospitals, non-profits, and government agencies improve performance. The Foundation administers the Texas Award for Performance Excellence program (based on the Baldrige Criteria), the state’s highest recognition for Quality.

The Baldrige Award is given by the President of the United States to businesses—manufacturing and service, small and large—and to education, health care and nonprofit organizations that apply and are judged to be outstanding in seven areas: leadership; strategic planning; customer and market focus; measurement, analysis, and knowledge management; workforce focus; process management; and results.

Business Majors--Registration/Advising

Business Majors
Registration Advising
Summer/Fall Semesters
_______________________________________

Monday, July 6, 2009
12:30 – 2:30 pm Port 3 rm# 109A
5:00 – 7:00 pm Port 3 rm# 109A

Tuesday, July 7, 2009
12:30 – 2:30 pm Port 3 rm# 109B
5:00 – 7:00 pm Port 3 rm# 109A

Thursday, July 9, 2009
4:00 – 6:00 pm Port 3 rm# 109B

PAC Enrollment Ads

Click HERE and look under "Campus News" for "Redgistration Advertisements" to view ads we're running in local newspapers! Let us know what you think.

TRIO Student Garners Scholarship

For Immediate Release

Michael & Susan Dell Foundation News Release

Local Scholar Named 1 of 300 Nationally to Receive $20,000 in Scholarships from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation

-Needs-Based Dell Scholars Program Recognizes Local Students Who Are Determined to Succeed-

As part of a scholarship program unique in the type of students it supports and its retention rates that far exceed the national average, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation’s Dell Scholars Program awarded 300 students with $6,000,000 in college scholarship funds, including 1 Poteet High School student, Mary O. Lomas, daughter of Gilbert and Katherine Lomas and a student of the TRIO Upward Bound Program at Palo Alto College in San Antonio.

Most of the Dell Scholars are first-generation college students and are chosen because they participate in an approved college readiness program and maintain at least a 2.4 grade point average on a 4.0 scale while dealing with personal responsibilities at home or in their communities. Dell Scholars will receive $20,000 each to continue their higher education for the next six years. More than just a check, the Dell Scholars Program also provides its students with technology, resources and mentoring to ensure they have the support they need to obtain a college degree. The additional resources have contributed to the program’s retention rate of more than 90 percent, well above the national average of 22 percent for students with the same socioeconomic profile.