Volume I, Fifth Edition

President's Greeting


Dear Faculty, Staff, and Management,

I'd like to congratulate all of you on a tremendous academic year. When I started as president last August, I had high expectations for the year and I have been so impressed with the job our faculty, staff, and managers have done in support of our students. From our excellent academic programs to our outstanding services for students, we've provided our more than 26,000 students with a higher education that is complemented by wonderful support services and a campus life that enriches our students' experience at Saddleback College. I know that a lot of work has gone into making this a successful year and I thank all of you for a job well done!

We've had some wonderful successes this semester in particular. One highlight was seeing Mathematics Professor Larry Perez learn that he was named Orange County's Community College Professor of the Year. Larry was told the exciting news during a surprise visit by Orange County Department of Education Superintendent William Habermehl and an entourage of Orange County Register reporters and representatives from SchoolsFirst Credit Union and Disney Resorts, who dropped in to tell Larry the news while he was in a meeting with me, Vice President Rajen Vurdien, and Dean Jim Wright. Congratulations to Larry Perez for this wonderful honor!

Our success throughout the semester culminated at our wonderful commencement ceremony, where we recognized the 1,037 graduates who earned associate degrees, and the 827 students who earned certificates of achievement. Special thanks to Student Development Director Audra DiPadova and Student Development Office Assistant Erin Maremont, who co-chaired the commencement committee, which did an outstanding job organizing the festivities and making sure that the event ran smoothly.

Now that summer is here, it is time to gear up for the coming academic year and in-service week, where we will spend much of the week discussing strategic planning and accreditation. The Planning & Budget Council (which will soon be renamed the Consultation Council) will be working throughout the summer to refine our strategic planning process, and we will be making presentations during in-service week to ensure that all are familiar with the process and how our planning will be used in making campus decisions.

Also, as early as June 30th, we will be holding a campus- and community-wide budget presentation to provide all of our college stakeholders an opportunity to learn more about our budget and financial challenges and to provide a forum for public discussion. As you know, these are difficult and uncertain times but with good planning, preparation and teamwork, we can minimize the negative impacts to our students, employees and community. As more information on the state budget is made available, we will be sure to notify our faculty, staff, and managers to ensure that we all have access to the most current information.

Thank you for all you do for our college and students. I wish you all a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing you at in-service week in August!

Sincerely,

Tod A. Burnett, Ed.D.
President

Photo: After learning he is Orange County's Community College Professor of the Year, Larry Perez poses for a photo with Orange County Department of Education Superintendent William Habermehl, Chancellor Raghu Mathur, and President Tod Burnett.

Students Bid Adieu at Commencement, Transfer Celebration

Saddleback College recognized its 1,037 graduates and 827 certificate of achievement recipients on Friday, May 22nd at its annual commencement ceremony.  The event, which was held in the college’s gymnasium, featured the traditional processional and reading of graduates’ names, along with Commencement Speaker Robert V. “Bobby” McDonald, President and Executive Director of the Orange County Black Chamber of Commerce and Member of the California Community College Board of Governors. Also featured were Commencement Student Speakers Anoushah Rasta and Travis Fuller, graduates who are transferring this fall to USC and UCLA, and scholarship recipients of the President’s Award and Outstanding Student of the Year Award, respectively. 

President Tod A. Burnett, Ed.D., offered welcome remarks and introduced the platform party, and South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees President Donald P. Wagner and Chancellor Raghu P. Mathur offered congratulatory remarks.

During his welcome remarks, Dr. Burnett stated to the graduates, “You have demonstrated an enormous amount of persistence, determination, and effort to be here today, and for that you should be incredibly proud.  On behalf of our faculty, staff, and administrators, I thank you for letting us be an integral part of your journey, a journey that will now take you as far as you want to go toward your educational, professional, and personal aspirations.” 

Referring to Saddleback College’s motto, “Your Path to the Top,” during his speech, Mr. McDonald stated, “The information you picked up from Saddleback will allow you to grow, enhance and improve your life, and those in our communities as you continue on your path to the top.  Thanks for exploring your talents and pursuing your dreams at Saddleback College — and in our Community College System.”

Members of the platform party included Board of Trustees Vice President John S. Williams, Clerk Thomas A. Fuentes, and members William O. Jay, David B. Lang, Marcia Milchiker, and Nancy M. Padberg, Vice President for Instruction Rajen Vurdien, Ph.D., Vice President for Student Services Lise Telson, Academic Senate President Bob Cosgrove, Ph.D., and Associated Student Government President Kalin Kelly. 

During the ceremony, special recognition was given to Math Instructor Larry Perez, Saddleback College’s Professor of the Year and Orange County’s Community College Professor of the Year, who was introduced by Trustees Nancy Padberg and William Jay.  Also recognized was Anatomy Instructor Tracey Magrann, Saddleback College’s Associate Professor of the Year, who was introduced by Trustees David Lang and Marcia Milchiker.

President Burnett gave special recognition to the graduates who are also veterans, who received a moving standing ovation from all in attendance.

Of the 1,037 students who graduated from Saddleback College this year, 240 received honors, including 16 summa cum laude (4.0 grade point average), 84 magna cum laude (3.75 to 3.99 grade point average) and 140 cum laude (3.5 to 3.74 grade point average).  Showing the diverse range of ages at the college, the youngest graduate, Nilab Hoqoq, is 18 years of age, and the oldest student, Fatemeh Shamsavi, is 69 years old. 

A special thank you to Student Development Director Audra DiPadova and Student Development Office Assistant Erin Maremont for their extraordinary work as co-chairs of the Commencement Committee. Other committee members included Jo Ann Alford, Mary Anstadt, Doug Barr, Jerilyn Chuman, Rocky Cifone, Steve Crapo, Leslie Humphrey, Michael James, Mark Kruhmin, Connie McClain, Jennie McCue, Miki Mikolajczak, Harry Parmer, Jane Rosenkrans, Joyce Semanik, Barbara Sendaba, Tim Swiss, Lise Tleson, and Pamme Turner.

Also, congratulations to the Transfer Celebration Committee, which organized a wonderful celebration for 159 transfer students, who will be continuing their studies at four-year colleges and universities including CSU Fullerton, UC Irvine, UCLA, San Diego State University, UC Berkeley, Arizona State University, and many others. Committee members were Michelle Anstadt, Barbara Benavides, Mariana DeSaracho, Audra DiPadova, Karen Fong, Jennifer Forster, Jorge Guerrero, Leslie Humphrey, Jayne Klunder, Sarah Kobata, Carol Lerman, Erin Maremont, Connie McClain, Jennie McCue, Miki Mikolajczak, Sara Nieves-Lucas, Judi Pohl, Jennifer Rachman, Rosann Rios, and Penny Skaff.

Photos: Top right: President Burnett greets Commencement Speaker Bobby McDonald, middle: the graduates celebrate their achievement, bottom right: CSU Fullerton-bound students gather for a photo. Commencement photos courtesy of Ken Kinder, Transfer Celebration photo courtesy of Jorge Guerrero.

Student Leaders Elected to Board of Trustees, Associated Student Government

New student leaders have been elected to represent the South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees and the Saddleback College Associated Student Government (ASG).  Bi’Anca Bailey will serve as the first Saddleback College student in five years to sit on the Board of Trustees, and Delainey Taylor was voted in as ASG President.  Waylae Gregoire and Evan Burbridge were elected to serve as Vice President and Director of the college’s Inter-Club Council, respectively.

Student Trustee-Elect Bi’Anca Bailey stated, “My goal as Student Trustee is to unite the students of both Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College and carry out every student's interest or concern to the Board of Trustees.  I want to represent every student so that everyone is heard equally.”

Delainey Taylor stated, “I look forward to educating our students about ASG’s role and the power all students have in making positive changes on our campus.  My other priorities are to look into ways we can lower the high cost of textbooks and improving how different branches of ASG can work together for the benefit of our college and students.” 

As the student representative of the Board of Trustees, Bi’Anca Bailey will serve a one-year advisory term of office and will attend monthly meetings with her fellow board members.

As President of Saddleback College’s ASG, Delainey Taylor will oversee the planning, organizational, and financial functions of ASG’s activities and services for all Saddleback College students.  The ASG President works closely with Dr. Burnett to establish college priorities to benefit students and promote their success, and sits on Saddleback College’s Consultation Council, the main strategic planning and recommending body of the college.

Photo: President Burnett welcomes Student Trustee Bi'Anca Bailey and ASG President Delainey Taylor to their first Board of Trustees meeting. Courtesy of Tracy Daly.

Students Recognized at Nurses Pinning, Human Services Graduations

Janet Jacob reports that forty-nine graduates of Saddleback College's nursing program were honored in a traditional candlelight and pinning ceremony in the McKinney Theatre on May 19th. Highlights of the ceremony included a class remembrance speech by graduating student Deanna Magee and a farewell address by graduating student Samantha Dunlap.  Saddleback College Professor Linda Gleason formally presented the class as Professors Betsy Brewington and Michele Wolff honored each graduate with the time-honored nursing pin, a symbol of a nurse’s service to others, and their induction into the nursing profession.

Saddleback College Professors Jennifer Forouzesh and Janine O’Buchon, together with graduating student Amy Bare, presided over a candle lighting ceremony, symbolizing the passing of knowledge from one generation to the next since Florence Nightingale first brought enlightenment to the nursing profession in the 19th century.  Graduating student Beth Henshaw represented the spirit of nursing with a class pledge.

Peggy Dakin reports that the human services programs congratulated graduating students at a reception on May 21st. Joining friends and families of the graduates were Trustee Marcia Milchiker, President Burnett, Vice President for Instruction Rajen Vurdien, and Interim Dean of Health Sciences/Human Services Tammy Rice.  Twenty-nine students completed associate degrees in human services or certificates of completion in alcohol & drug studies, correction & criminal justice, family or victim services and human services generalist.  Department Co-Chairs Rich Goodman and Terri Whitt read statements from each student as instructors Julie Bright, Mark Ala and Lori Phelps presented them with certificates and flowers.  Student speakers Karen Garrison, Danny Kosmoski and Christina Carey spoke about their journeys in human services, thanked family, friends and instructors, and offered words of advice to fellow graduates.

Photos: Top right: Nursing students participate in the traditional candle lighting ceremony, Bottom left: Human services students celebrate their graduation. Nurses pinning photo courtesy of Brian Cummings, Human services photo courtesy of Peggy Dakin.

Over $265,000 in Scholarships Awarded at Annual Scholarship Ceremony

More than 160 students received over $265,000 in scholarships at Saddleback College’s 33rd Annual Scholarship Ceremony on the evening of Thursday, May 14th.  For the first time, this year the total award amount included sixteen $1,000 scholarships from the Bernard Osher Foundation to help financially strained students pay for their college educations.  The Osher scholarship awards are the result of an initial $25 million gift from the Osher Foundation to the Foundation for California Community Colleges to establish an endowment to provide permanent scholarship support to community college students throughout the state.  Over the next few years, this endowment will grow to $100 million through a system-wide campaign to raise $50 million by California community colleges and an additional $25 million from the Osher Foundation.  Saddleback College is challenged to raise $671,000, and with the Osher matching funds, our total endowment could be as much as $1,342,000

Scholarships were provided by 233 generous donors from businesses, organizations, and community members, as well as the Saddleback College Associated Student Government, which donated more than $64,000 in scholarships and underwrote the expenses for the ceremony. 

Dr. Burnett and Foundation Board of Governors President-Elect Gary Capata served as Masters of Ceremonies.  South Orange County Community College Board of Trustees Vice President John S. Williams, Trustees David B. Lang, Nancy Padberg, and Marcia Milchiker, Chancellor Raghu P. Mathur, and members of the Saddleback College Foundation Board of Governors presented scholarships to students.

Greg Powers, President of the Saddleback College Foundation Board of Governors, presented the Donor of the Year Award to Dr. Mike Valentine, a member of the Foundation Board of Governors and the Angels for the Arts, an auxiliary organization that supports fine arts at Saddleback College. Dr. Valentine established an Osher endowment that will be awarded in perpetuity each year in the amount of $1,000 to a Saddleback College music student.  As the former scholarship chairman for the foundation, Dr. Valentine initiated concerts and programs in the fine arts department to raise funds for what he named “students helping students scholarships.”  An instructor of Flamenco guitar through Saddleback College’s Community Education Department, Dr. Valentine has a love for music and can be found taking fine arts classes at the college.  Dr. Valentine earned his doctorate in education at the University of California, Los Angeles, and lives in Coto de Caza with his wife, Gail.

The evening concluded with the presentation of the President’s Award, which is bestowed to a student who has demonstrated excellent leadership at Saddleback College, and the Outstanding Student of the Year Award, which is presented to a student that has shown exemplary leadership, community involvement, and academic achievement.

Anoushah Rasta, a journalism major who aspires to be an international news correspondent, was given the President’s Award by Dr. Burnett.  Ms. Rasta served on Associated Student Government as a senator of the Division of Fine Arts and will be transferring this fall to the University of Southern California.  The Outstanding Student of the Year Award went to Travis Fuller, treasurer of Associated Student Government who plans to pursue a career in higher education.  Mr. Fuller will be transferring this fall to the University of California, Los Angeles, where he will continue his studies as a double major in history and English.  The Outstanding Student of the Year Award was presented by Dr. Robert Cosgrove, President of the Academic Senate.

The Saddleback College Scholarship Ceremony is an annual event that started in 1976, when 45 donors contributed just over $12,000 to some 60 students.  Thirty-three years later, more than $4 million in scholarships have been awarded to deserving Saddleback College students.

Photo: Outstanding Student of the Year Travis Fuller poses with President Tod Burnett and Academic Senate President Bob Cosgrove at the Saddleback College Scholarship Ceremony.

Veterans, Active Military, and Community Members Gather for Veterans Memorial Preview

Veterans, active military personnel, and community members joined Saddleback College faculty, staff, and managers at a preview of the Saddleback College Veterans Memorial on Wednesday, May 6th.  The preview celebrated the work-in-progress and enabled the generous donors to see their inscribed bricks and plaques that are displayed at the memorial site.

Dr. Burnett served as the event’s Master of Ceremonies, and South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees President Donald P. Wagner led the Pledge of Allegiance and spoke about the American flag that will be raised at the memorial at the official dedication expected to be held in fall 2009.  The flag, which was donated by the Orange County Vietnam Veterans of America, has flown over the White House and the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial in Washington, D.C., and was the first American flag since 1975 to fly over the American Embassy in Vietnam.  Trustee Nancy M. Padberg led the invocation.

The keynote speaker of the event was Stewart Navarre, a retired Colonel of the United States Marine Corps who was the Commanding Officer of the Fifth Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton, and David Curry, a Saddleback College alumnus who served two tours of duty in Iraq as an infantryman in the Marine Corps, spoke about the meaning of the Saddleback College Veterans Memorial from the perspective of a college student and veteran.  Other speakers included former Saddleback College President Richard D. McCullough, Veterans Memorial Task Force Chair and Retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Marty Samuel, Foundation Board of Governors Member and Retired Marine Corps Colonel Joe Snyder, artists Richard White and Fred Olson, and Saddleback College Police Chief Harry Parmer.  Officials at the event included Trustee Marcia Milchiker, Lake Forest City Council Member Kathryn McCullough, Laguna Hills Mayor Joel Lautenchleger, Laguna Niguel Mayor Robert Ming, City of Laguna Niguel Council Member Joe Brown, Ph.D., and Assemblyman Chuck Devore Staff Member Scott Carpenter.  Also in attendance were Saddleback College Board of Governors members Greg Powers, Gary Capata, Tom Yott, and Michelle Brough.

Members of the Foundation’s Veterans Memorial Advisory Committee are:Marty Samuel, Chairman, Marine Corps Aviation Association, USMC Lieutenant Colonel (Retired), Don Brown, USMC, Al Ehlow, USMC, South Coast Detach, Tom Goodall, Commander, VFW 6024, Cloyce Kelly, Retired Saddleback College Police Officer, Trish Kelley, Council Member, City of Mission Viejo, Casey Kleindienst, VFW District Liaison, George Locke, President, Marines of Costa Del Sol, Kevin O’Mara, USMC, Norm Marshall, USMC, Dr. Richard D. McCullough Past President, Saddleback College, Nancy Padberg, Esq., SOCCCD, Board of Trustees, Donna Varner, Perception Public Relations, and Mike Waugh, American Legion District 29.

Members of the Saddleback College Veterans Memorial Planning Committee are: Dr. Tod A. Burnett, President, Dr. James Wright, Dean, Mathematics, Science, and Engineering, U.S. Air Force Colonel (Retired), Howard Dwight, Fiscal/Veterans, USMC (Retired), Carol Hilton, Director of Fiscal Services, Sophie Miller, Executive Assistant to the President, Harry Parmer, Saddleback College Police Chief, USMC (Retired), John Ozurovich, Director of Facilities and Maintenance, and Richard White, Art Department Chair, Veterans Memorial Designer.

More than $150,000 has been donated so far to the Saddleback College Veterans Memorial. The Saddleback College Foundation is raising an additional $75,000 for the memoria's completion. To make a donation, please visit the Saddleback College Foundation website.

Photos: Stewart Navarre addresses the audience at the Veterans Memorial Preview; veterans gather in support of the college's memorial. Photos courtesy of Ken Kinder.

ASG Honors College Employees at Banquet

On May 7th the Associated Student Government held its end-of-the-year banquet to celebrate their achievements and recognize faculty, staff, and management who have made a difference for ASG through the year.

Dean Rocky Cifone was named Dean of the Year, and all division deans were named Administrator of the Year. A Special Commendation was given to President Tod Burnett. Steve Handa was named Counselor of the Year, Erin Maremenot was named Classified Staff member of the year, Connie McClain received the Betty Sherrer Spirit Award, Carmenmara Hernandez-Bravo was named Advisor of the Year, and Bo Arbuthnot received the Campus Safety Award. The American Pilipino Appreciation Club was named Club of the Year.

ASG also prsented Crystal Awards to staff who made a difference in every aspect of the functioning of ASG. These awards were presented to in the following areas: District Business Services, Facilities, Maintenance & Operations, SC President's Office, SC Public Informaton & Marketing and Graphics, and to faculty in Environmetal Studies, Graphic Design, and Cross-Cultural Studies.

Photo: Dean of Fine Arts Rocky Cifone poses with the "Dean of the Year" award presented to him at the ASG banquet.

Faculty Spotlight: Automotive Technology Instructors Darrell Deeter and Ken Welch

Congratulations to Automotive Technology Instructors Darrell Deeter and Ken Welch, who were recognized at the California Automotive Teachers spring conference at the Universal Technical Institute in Sacramento. Darrell Deeter was honored with the California Automotive Teachers Association Outstanding College Instructor award for 2009. Ken Welch, an Associate Professor of Automotive Technology and a teacher at Mission Viejo High School, was recognized as the California Automotive Teachers Association's Outstanding High School lnstructor for 2009.

In an interesting twist, Darrell was Ken's student when Darrell attended California State University, Long Beach in 1974. Congratulations, Darrell and Ken!

Photo: Ken Welch and Darrell Deeter join CAT President Jim Custeau with their awards at the California Automotive Teachers Conference. Courtesy of Ken Welch.

Saddleback CNSA Chapter Recognized at Annual Conference

Congratulations to the students in Saddleback College's chapter of the California Nursing Students' Association, who won first place in the Best Newsletter category for the second time at the National Students' Nursing Association annual conference in Memphis in April.

Twelve students attended the conference with Professors Samantha Venable and Barbara Huggins. While at the conference, the students presented a resolution entitled, "In Support of National Standards for Prevention, Surveillance, and Reporting MRSA," which was adopted by NSNA.

Photo: CNSA students gathered at the National Students' Nursing Association annual conference in Memphis. Courtesy of Acting Assistant Dean of Health Sciene and Human Services Diane Pestolsi.

To view the award-winning Saddleback CNSA newsletter, click here.

KSBR Celebrates 30th Birthday at Annual Bash

In celebration of its 30th birthday, Saddleback College's radio station, KSBR, partnered with the City of Mission Viejo to host its 20th Birthday Bash on Sunday, May 24th on the Village Green of Oso Viejo Park. Approximately 2,500 guests, including Trustee Nancy Padberg, Deputy Chancellor Gary Poertner, and Vice President for Student Services Lise Telson, attended the bash, an annual concert that features freewheeling jam sessions by well known jazz musicians, including such luminaries as Peter White and Boney James.

KSBR Director Terry Wedel said, "This was by far the biggest Bash we’ve ever had. The reaction to the Bash has been unbelievably positive from both the audience and the musicians – and the musicians themselves were pretty unbelievable. More than 40 artists took the stage at one point or another, including 'secret' guests Patti Austin, Peter White, and Michael Lington. You’d think I’d be pretty jaded after 30+ years of going to jazz concerts, but there were several times I turned around, looked at the stage and thought, ‘WOW – those are some of the biggest jazz stars in the world… and they’re all here for a college station in Mission Viejo!’”

Also playing on stage were Craig Chaquico, Freddie Fox with Evelyn "Champagne" King, Nathan East, Gregg Karukas, Brian Bromberg, Dan Siegel, Shilts, Greg Adams and Michael Paulo with East Bay Soul, Nils, Chieli Minucci, Greg Vail, Elizabeth Mis, Jim Peterik, Sara Gazarek, Derek Bordeaux, Rachel Rodgers, Max Bennett, Bill Cantos, Saddleback’s own Joey Sellers and Garard Hagen and many more.

Photo: Musicians Craig Chaquico and Michael Lington jam on stage at the KSBR Birthday Bash. Courtesy of Josh Reyes.

Outreach Activities Presented at Board Meeting

As Saddleback College's outreach efforts increase, Coordinator of Outreach and Recuritment Leslie Humphrey (pictured below right) made a presentation at the April Board of Trustees meeting that focused on her department's outreach efforts in K-12 schools.

In her presentation, Leslie emphasized the goal of the Saddleback College Outreach Department, which is to establish Saddleback College as the first choice for students in south Orange County. One strategy of the outreach department is a three-tier approach to reach parents and students at an early age and make them aware of the opportunities at Saddleback College.  Tier 1 efforts target the elementary schools, tier 2 middle schools, and tier 3 high schools.

Tier 1 introduces elementary school students to the Saddleback College Junior Gauchos program. This program is a strong network of members from all local public and private schools and Saddleback College.  The goal of the program is to bring the college experience to children and their families and to encourage them to consider Saddleback College as the logical next step after high school.

As part of the Senate Bill 70-funded Career Technical Education (CTE) Community Collaborative Grant, an effort focused on middle schools students (tier 2), career exploration is introduced to approximately 500 students a year through. This year, five school districts and two regional occupation programs participated in the career exploration component of the CTE Community Collaborative Grant. Saddleback College has received additional funding for a continuation of this grant through June 2010.

Saddleback College offers two successful programs, College Access and Early Bird, through its tier 3 approach for college-bound high school students. The College Access Program is a full-day of hands-on, specialized instruction on college preparedness for high school students and their parents.  The Early Bird program, which is designed for high school seniors, provides the following benefits:

• Early application for the fall semester following high-school graduation
• Early Bird application workshops to assist new students through the application process
• Early assessment and counseling services (before the fall semester begins)

Approximately (or more than) 1,800 students applied for the Early Bird Program between March 1-27, 2009, for the Fall Semester 2009. 

Future plans for K-12 outreach efforts include building the Student Ambassador Program to increase visibility at high school events throughout South Orange County and employing technology when recruiting prospective students.

Saddleback and IVC Launch Annual Softball Tradition

On Friday May 8th, employees from Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College faced off in a friendly and spirited game of softball.  The Gauchos won the game with a 12-6 victory over the Lasers.  Both teams played a great game, followed by a celebration over an Italian feast at Mr. D’s Pizza Grotto in San Juan Capistrano.

The Gauchos were represented by Darrel Deeter, Tyler Weinstein, Bob Bramucci, Kenny Fernandez, Jerry Hannula, Cate Hardesty, Debbie Kerr, Mark Kruhmin, Brooke Lange, Tony Lipold, Efren Malagon, Sandra Malagon, Terence Nelson, Frank Rizzo, Giziel Leftwich, Nick Trani and Tod Burnett. 

Representing Irvine Valley College were Board President Don Wagner, President Glenn Roquemore, Stefanie Alvarez, David Anderson, Tammy Bostwick, Miguel Calderon, Michael Cassens, John Edwards, Robert Flournoy, Wendy Gabriella, Jim Gaston, David Gatewood, Kirk Johnson, Julie Kirk, Helen Locke, George Medina, Brent Monte, Sergio Ojeda, Sharon Olney, Freddy Osuna, Roger Owens, Frank Pangborn, Michelle Priest, Steve Ramirez, Jerry Rudmann, and Dottie Sherling.  Congratulations to IVC for playing a good game and for initiating this new annual tradition.

Photo: The IVC and SC softball teams pose for a sister college phoot after a spirited game of softball. Courtesy of Bob Inouye.

Presidential Highlights

The following is a quick overview of Dr. Burnett's schedule during the months of April and May:

April

Attended the California Community College Commission on Athletics Spring Convention...attended the American Association of Community Colleges Conference & Awards Ceremony in Phoenix...attended the "No F" Campaign BBQ...welcomed new students at the international student orientation...attended a college-wide meeting on ATEP...met with Orange County College CEOs and business leaders at the Orange County Workforce Investment Board meeting...attended the Irvine Valley College Foundation Awards Dinner...attended the EOPS Student Recognition Celebration... attended the Special Services Annual Student Awards & Recognition Dinner...met with the Orange County Legislative Task Force at the Annual Breakfast of State Legislators at Irvine Valley College... attended the Southern California CEO Conference in Temecula...visited Ohlone College's Green Technology Center.

May

Met with Alumni at the Alumni Pancake Breakfast...spoke at the Saddleback College Veterans Memorial Preview...attended the Spring Education Forum at CSU Long Beach...attended the ASG Banquet...played in the first softball game against Irvine Valley College...hosted a lunch for donors to the Apple Apeel campaign...attended the Honors Celebration...served as Master of Ceremonies at the scholarship ceremony...attended scholar athlete awards recognition...attended Kaleidoscope Career Exploration Recognition...attended the graduation rehearsal and transfer celebration...attended the human services programs certificate recognition...addressed the Class of 2009 at commencement.