News from Sierra College

Sierra College helps Nevada Union High School Teachers Produce Fresh IDEAs

Science, Engineering, Technology & Math (STEM) grant creates pipeline of future workers

Nevada Union High School students in the new IDEA (Innovative Design and Engineering Applications) class are benefiting from three instructors’ fresh approach to teaching and Sierra College’s support in attracting students to technical education and careers.

In this fun, innovative applied academics class, students learn relevant skills that may lead to highly-paid in-demand technical careers. They design, engineer, prototype, test and produce projects such as desk organizers, a launching device and a vertical axis wind mill. Sierra College’s Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) grant that made it possible for John McDaniel (Physics), Art Andersen (Career Technical Education) and Mike Ford (Computer, CAD Drafting) to collaborate, develop and co-teach this new program at the high school.

Using new Inventor software, students apply their creativity to design 3D products and then use the digital instructions to make a rapid prototype. Physics and math principles are used to plan, re-design and re-engineer the projects. In the brand new lab that has everything from welding equipment, fabrication tooling and a foundry, students gain hands-on experience as they produce projects in wood, metal, plastic and other materials. Teachers rotate instruction periods giving students the benefit of their different expertise.

According to Sandra Scott, Director, Grant Development and Career Technical Education, Sierra College, the course engages students and gives them a sense of the product development cycle utilized by local manufacturers. “These instructors have created innovative curriculum that integrates both academic and Career Technical Education concepts to provide a well-rounded experience for students,” said Scott. “Students can go on to Engineering, Mechatronics, Engineering Support Technology, Photovoltaic Energy Technology and Applied Art & Design at Sierra College and university.” The Sierra College STEM collaborative grant provided professional development for instructors, guidance to the team and new classroom equipment.

This integrated teaching approach is the wave of the future and one way to attract students to opportunities in technical fields explained Marty Mathiesen, Principal. “Students want a reason to learn math and science concepts,” said Marty Mathiesen. “The IDEA class appeals to students with varying interests and skills because they can work as a team to problem solve. We appreciate the grant from Sierra College that gave our teachers the opportunity to create a first-class program that excites students with relevant hands-on learning experiences.”

The instructors would welcome community support such as the donation of scrap material and equipment, classroom mentors with engineering, fabrication or computer expertise, speakers from industry, and opportunities for student and teacher tours and job shadows at local employers. Contact Art Andersen, John McDaniel or Mike Ford at 530-273-4431 or Chris Hinderman with the Sierra College STEM Collaborative at (530) 637-5183 or ChristinaHinderman@msn.com.

Sierra College received a $500,000 grant from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office that supports the region’s long-term economic viability through career technical education (CTE). The grant aligns education with business to develop relevant hands-on learning models, merge academics with technical education and fill the pipeline of future workers with those who are qualified to fill highly-paid, in-demand technical positions. For more information about the Sierra STEM Collaborative, go to www.sierracollegetraining.com or contact Sandra Scott, Sierra College at (916) 781-6244.

Natural History Museum Presents “Sierra Nevada Winter Ecology: Survival Strategies”

by Ecologist Joe Medeiros

Friday, December 4, at 7:30 p.m. in Sewell Hall

The Sierra College Natural History Museum will present an illustrated lecture entitled “Sierra Nevada Winter Ecology: Survival Strategies” by Sierra College Professor of Biological Sciences emeritus Joe Medeiros on Friday, December 4, at 7:30 p.m. in Sewell Hall on the Sierra College-Rocklin Campus.

When winter arrives in temperate latitude habitats – myriad changes occur.  Plants and animals alike make adjustments necessary to accommodate the cold and significant reductions in light energy.  Migration, hibernation, dormancy and regeneration will be discussed, with a focus on our own Sierran species.

Joe Medeiros has hiked and studied in the Sierra for more than 35 years, lead countless trips of students and mountain enthusiasts, and served as a National Park Ranger at Devils Postpile National Monument in Mammoth Lakes, California.

Joe taught biological sciences at Sierra College from 1990 until his retirement in 2009. Joe is the co-coordinator of the college’s Sierra Nevada Lecture Series, and the major force behind the establishment of Sierra College’s People and Culture Days and the annual Earth Day celebration each Spring.

Joe also taught for many years at Modesto Community College and was the Founder and Director of that college’s outstanding Great Valley Museum. He was instrumental in the massive expansion of Henry Coe State Park in Morgan Hill, California, and in the establishment of Great Valley Grasslands State Park in Gustine, California.

Joe was honored as Sierra College Teacher of the Year in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007.  In 2009, Joe received the prestigious “Placer Conservator Award” from the Placer Land Trust.

The presentation is part of the Sierra College Natural History Museum’s 2009-2010 lecture series, and will be held on Friday, December 4 at 7:30 pm in Sewell Hall, room 111 on the Rocklin Campus. Tickets are available at the door. Prices are General $5 / Students and Seniors $2 / Museum members free. All proceeds benefit the Sierra College Natural History Museum.

The Sierra College Rocklin Campus is located at 5000 Rocklin Road in Rocklin. There is a $1 parking fee on campus. Parking permits are available at dispensers located in the parking lots.

Music Department Presents Celtic Group Cahersiveen

The Sierra College Music Department is proud to present faculty member BrieAnne Welch and Cahersiveen in concert on Saturday, November 21st at 7:30pm in Room D-12 in Walker Hall (Music Building) on the Sierra College Rocklin Campus. This concert is part of the World Music Concert Series at Sierra College.

Traditional Irish folk songs including Fields of Athenry, Whiskey in a Jar, and Danny Boy will be performed in an intimate setting by this renowned five piece ensemble.

The Sierra College Rocklin Campus is located at 5000 Rocklin Road, Rocklin CA. Admission for this concert is $5 student/$8 general. There is a $1 parking fee. Parking permits can be purchased at machines located within the campus parking lot.

For directions to the Music Building or more information about this concert and other events at Sierra College, call the Sierra College Music Department at (916) 660-8054.

"As Seen Through the Eyes of a Child"

A showing of digital photos taken by preschool children attending Sierra College Child Development Center

The Sierra College Nevada County Campus Child Development Center will host a special display of digital photos taken by preschool children attending the center. You’ll be amazed at the perspective captured from this “shorter” point of view!

The photo gallery will be open Tuesday, November 17, 2009 with a reception from 3-5pm at the Child Development Center located at 250 Sierra College Blvd., in Grass Valley.

Visitors will have the opportunity to meet the “artists” and discuss their inspirations over a cup of punch and cookies. The photos will be on display through Tuesday, November 24. For more information contact the NCC Child Development Center at - 530-274-5350

Natural History Museum Presents “The Fascinating World of the Ringtails”

by Biologist David Wyatt

Friday, November 20, 7:30 pm, Sewell Hall

The Sierra College Natural History Museum will present an illustrated lecture entitled “The Fascinating World of the Ringtails” by Sacramento City College Biologist David Wyatt on Friday, November 20, at 7:30 p.m. in Sewell Hall on the Sierra College Rocklin Campus.

Biologist David Wyatt will present an illustrated lecture chronicling the life and habitat of Ringtails. The Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) is a mammal of the raccoon family, native to arid regions of North America. It is also known as the Ringtail cat, Ring-tailed cat or Miner's cat. The Ringtail is found in California, Colorado, Oklahoma, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and throughout northern and central Mexico. For years, Wyatt has studied these animals on the Sutter Buttes, near Marysville. Over the course of twenty years of accessing the Buttes to study the Ringtail, his studies have revealed the Sierra Buttes Ringtail population density to be among the highest documented anywhere in the wild.

David Wyatt has taught biology and field ecology at Sacramento City College since 1998. He has studied bats in Belize, Mexico, and the United States. He has led numerous ecological tours in the Western Hemisphere and continues his 23-year Ringtail research in North America.

Wyatt brings a wealth of experience to the classroom and lecture hall. Born in Hawaii in 1962, Wyatt settled in Sacramento as a child. As a student at American River College, he originally majored in criminal justice, but a class at ARC called “California Natural History” changed the course of his life and inspired him to pursue biology.

His influence extends far beyond the classroom. He also acts as the biological adviser for the Middle Mountain Foundation, a non-profit organization that educates the public about the Sutter Buttes, located in California’s Central Valley and known as the smallest mountain range in the world. Wyatt also served for ten years as a CalTrans biologist.

Wyatt’s presentation is part of the Sierra College Natural History Museum’s 2009-2010 lecture series, and will be held on Friday, November 20 at 7:30 pm in Sewell Hall, room 111 on the Rocklin Campus. Tickets are available at the door. Prices are General $5 / Students and Seniors $2 / Museum members free. All proceeds benefit the Sierra College Natural History Museum.

The Sierra College Rocklin Campus is located at 5000 Rocklin Road in Rocklin. There is a $1 parking fee on campus. Parking permits are available at dispensers located in the parking lots.

Sierra College First Community College in California to Receive LEED Gold Certification

The new Sierra Community College Tahoe-Truckee Campus building receives LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council

The first permanent building on the Sierra Community College Tahoe-Truckee Campus has received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The 28,500 square foot facility, designed by Lionakis Architects and built by contractor Rudolph and Sletten, is the first LEED Gold certified community college building in the state of California. The new facility has the capacity to serve up to 1000 students.

“Truckee is a community whose culture is at the forefront of sustainability and environmental consciousness", said Laura Doty, Sierra College Director of Facilities and Construction. "Sierra College was therefore committed to developing our Tahoe Truckee Campus to reflect this culture, and initially established the goal of LEED Silver for our campus buildings. But our highly collaborative project implementation process allowed for collective thinking thoughout the design phase, resulting in a facility that exceeded our expectations."

The LEED certification system provides third-party verification that a building was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across a range of areas including: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources.

Key sustainable features of the facility include:

• 40% less water use due to efficient interior fixtures and dual-flush controls.
• No refrigerants used. A combination of evaporative cooling and outside air (called economizing) was incorporated, which reduces air conditioning energy use by 70%.
• Smart classroom controls regulate temperature and lighting according to the amount of daylight and number of students.
• Demand-controlled ventilation (fresh air control) reduces energy use by up to 50% when the building is vacant.
• Piping and ductwork have 50-100% thicker insulation than industry average, providing more efficient heating and cooling.
• Components in place for future solar-thermal heating systems.
• Better indoor air with humidifiers using electromagnetic water treatment instead of chemicals.
• All large fans and pumps have variable speed motors for reduced energy consumption.

The new facility is a two-story structural steel building with asphalt composite roofing, with a fiber cement siding and natural stone exterior. It incorporates lecture classrooms, science and chemistry labs, 2-D and 3-D art classrooms, a “Mechatronics” laboratory, a library, a student eating/gathering area, and administrative offices.

For more information please contact PIO Officer, Sue Michaels at 916-660-7271 or smichaels@sierracollege.edu.

Artist Tom Killion to Speak at Sierra College

Thursday, November 19, 2009, 6:30 p.m.

Exhibit and sale of Killion’s fine art prints until 9 p.m.

Tom Killion, famous woodcut artist of the Sierra Nevada and Mt. Tamalpais, will speak on the Sierra College Rocklin Campus on Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. The presentation will also feature an exhibit and sale of Killion’s fine art prints until 9 p.m. in the Sierra College Boardroom (LR 133A), located in the Rocklin Campus Library/Learning Resource Center, first floor.

Killion’s lecture and exhibit/sale is presented as a benefit for the Sierra College Press, the academic press of Sierra Community College.

The lecture will be in the Sierra College Rocklin Campus Library/Learning Resource Center in Room LRC 133A (Boardroom) at 6:30 p.m. The exhibit and sale of Tom Killion’s fine art prints will follow the lecture and last until 9 p.m. in the same location.

The public is invited to the lecture and exhibit/sale. Admission is free, although campus parking permits are required. Parking permits can be purchased for $1 at campus dispensers. Sierra College is located at 5000 Rocklin Road in Rocklin, California.

The lecture is based on the book Tamalpais Walking: History, Poetry, and Prints (2009), which Tom Killion produced in collaboration with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Gary Snyder. Using slides of his Mt. Tamalpais woodcut prints, Tom will present the images with his own comments. Excerpts from Gary Snyder's Mt. Tam journals as well as some of the poems which developed out of these journal entries will also be presented. Mr. Killion will describe his complicated multi-block printmaking process.

Tom Killion was born and raised in Marin County, California, where the rugged scenery inspired him from an early age to create landscape prints using linoleum and wood. He studied History at UC Santa Cruz, where he was introduced to fine book printing by renowned poet William Everson. In 1977, Killion founded Quail Press, where he has printed four handmade art books depicting landscapes from California to Europe and Africa, working with poets such as Gary Snyder. Killion also holds a PhD. in African History from Stanford University, and has taught at Bowdoin College, Stanford, San Francisco State, and as a Fulbright professor at Asmara University in Eritrea. His studio is near Point Reyes, on the Marin coast. Killion was recently featured on the national PBS series Craft in America. Mr. Killion is also the author of The High Sierra of California, in collaboration with Gary Snyder. His website is www.tomkillion.com

For more information about this lecture, contact the Sierra College Center for Sierra Nevada Studies at 916-660-8250 .

Contact:
For more information about this lecture, contact the Sierra College Center for Sierra Nevada Studies at 916-660-8250

Sierra College Partners with Rocklin PD for Campus Safety

Amidst state budget reductions, Sierra College and the Rocklin Police Department have combined services in a partnership that will continue to provide safety for students and the entire campus community through a more efficient use of resources.

Starting Monday, November 2, 2009, the Rocklin Police Department will provide contract police services to the main Sierra College Campus, a service previously provided by the Sierra College District Police Department. “We will now have the resources and infrastructure of the Rocklin Police Department more deeply integrated into our campus operations and partnering with us on crime prevention, safety, and emergency response training,” commented Sierra College President Dr. Leo Chavez. “Along with our on-site officers we will have a department liaison and a Sergeant assigned to the Rocklin Campus,” stated Rocklin Police Captain Dan Ruden. “Response times will be aided by direct communication and the interoperability of our systems.”

Sierra College will continue to provide dispatching for non-law enforcement services, parking enforcement, and building security. Since the college will no longer be providing law enforcement services through the college Police Department, the Department will be deactivated effective at 11:59 p.m. on November 1, 2009. The partnership is effective immediately thereafter.

For more information, contact Rocklin PD at 916-625-5445 or Sierra College at 916-660-7271.

Sierra College publishes Electronic Journal on the “Building of California”

The Sierra College Press has published an electronic journal on the “Building of California.” This eJournal is the latest edition of Snowy Range Reflections: A Journal of Sierra Nevada History and Biography, which has been published since 2008.

The newest edition of the eJournal considers the development and construction of infrastructure throughout the Sierra Nevada. Among the topics examined are the dispute over the California-Nevada boundary line and the resulting 1872 Von Schmidt Survey; the story of railroad visionary Theodore Judah; the growth and importance of the Rocklin granite industry; the covered bridges of the Sierra Nevada; and the many tentacles of the major 19th century wagon road into the state, the California Trail, and much more. This eJournal edition also feature photo and image galleries chronicling the construction of Interstate 80; Rocklin’s granite quarries; and the art of Joseph Goldsborough Bruff, who produced art of the Westward Movement and the California Trail.

Snowy Range Reflections: A Journal of Sierra Nevada History and Biography is published twice annually and focuses on regional history and biography, particularly within the 3200 square mile Sierra Community College District, which stretches from the Sacramento Valley to Lake Tahoe. The journal’s Executive Editor is Sierra College History Professor Dan DeFoe. The journal can be found online at www.jsnhb.org or through the college website at www.sierracollege.edu

Previous editions of the journal may be accessed as well as the other electronic journal published by the Sierra College Press. This eJournal is The Journal of the Sierra College Natural History Museum (www.jscnhm.org).

Additional information about these journals and the Sierra College Press can be obtained at www.sierracollege.edu/press

Sierra College TV production to be broadcast on KVIE ViewFinder

November 11, 2009, 7 p.m.

A Sierra College television production entitled “Tales of the Sierra Nevada: Gold, Granite and Grit” will have its premiere broadcast on the Sacramento PBS station KVIE Channel 6 on Wednesday, November 11, 2009. The episode will be shown at 7 p.m. as part of KVIE’s ViewFinder program.

“Tales of the Sierra Nevada: Gold, Granite, and Grit” is a 30-minute program produced by the college’s Center for Sierra Nevada Studies.

Gold, Granite and Grit presents the long and illustrious history of the granite industry in the town of Rocklin and the surrounding foothills region. Also examined is the remarkable geological process the produces granite - the great, gray spine of the Sierra Nevada. This documentary was written and directed by Sierra College Professor of History Dan DeFoe.

The program utilizes the talents of Sierra College employees and friends. Presenting the episode will be Karin DeFoe. Sierra College staff member Nate Rose edited the program, and Gary Noy, Director of the Center for Sierra Nevada Studies, was the Executive Producer.

The premiere broadcast of “Tales of the Sierra Nevada” will be at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11, 2009, on KVIE 6 ViewFinder. Additional airings will occur on November 12 and November 14 – check your local listings.

The Sierra College Center for Sierra Nevada Studies is a project of Sierra Community College. Since 2002, the Center has studied the art, history, natural history, and public policy of the Sierra Nevada region.

Now in its ninth season, KVIE's ViewFinder takes a closer look at interesting topics that are important to the Sacramento Valley and the Sierra Nevada. It is the only locally produced series about these communities. ViewFinder provides both in-depth treatments of individual topics and episodes that frame the Valley and the Sierra in a larger perspective. ViewFinder is underwritten by AT&T and Safe Credit Union.

For more information on “Tales of the Sierra Nevada: Gold, Granite and Grit,” visit www.kvie.org/viewfinder or call the Center for Sierra Nevada Studies at 916-660-8250.

Gain a competitive advantage with Supply Chain Management

Sierra College trains IT, operations, procurement & materials managers in inventory management

Gain more control over the storage and movement of materials, supplies and products, and your company can gain a competitive advantage. Sierra College is offering a Basics of Supply Chain Management course Sept. 15 to Oct. 23, 2009 Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6-9 PM at Roseville Gateway Campus of Sierra College. Participants will learn how to increase efficiency, cut costs and improve customer satisfaction with better inventory control. Sierra College is taking registrations now at www.sierracollegetraining.com.

The course will also prepare participants for the APICS Basics of Supply Chain Management CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management) professional exam.

The Sierra College Training & Development (www.sierracollegetraining.com) through the Center for Applied Competitive Technologies (CACT) is co-sponsoring the class with the Sacramento Chapter of APICS -- The Association for Operations Management (www.apicsacramento.com).

According to Pat McCarty, President of APICS Sacramento, any company that purchases, produces and manages inventory could benefit from learning the best practices in Supply Chain Management. “Grocery stores, utilities, hospitals and service businesses as well as manufacturers can reduce costs, improve efficiencies and stream line processes with Supply Chain Management strategies,” said McCarty.

Sierra College Consultant and APICS member, Jes Vargas is the lead instructor for the Supply Chain Management course. With 25 years of industry experience, Vargas has worked in engineering, project management, business development, manufacturing and executive management and holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, a MBA in Operations and certifications in TQM, Material Management, Project Management and Lean Manufacturing.

Sierra College Training & Development delivers customized, on-site employee training in process improvement, lean manufacturing, soldering, supervision, MS Office software, communication, business math and a wide range of other topics. Since 1997, the Sierra College CACT has worked with manufacturers and technology companies in Northern California from Sacramento to the Oregon border. For more information, go to www.sierracollegetraining.com or contact Carol Pepper-Kittredge, Sierra College CACT at cpepper-kittredge@sierracollege.edu or (916) 781-6288.

Sierra College Receives Funding For Emancipated Foster Youth

The Sierra College Foundation is excited to announce that the City of Roseville has granted funds to purchase basic-needs care packs for young people who have come out of the state foster care system and are attending Sierra.

These packs will include basic personal care products and school supplies to help students get started at College. The generous gift is funded by the City of Roseville’s R.E.A.C.H. and Citizen’s Benefit Fund grants.

Each year 50-100 former foster youth enroll at Sierra College. These youth face an extraordinary challenge to not only pay for their basic needs, but to also pay for college, registration, books, parking permit, and school supplies.

“We are very grateful for the support provided.” said Sonbol Aliabadi, Executive Director of the Sierra College Foundation. “These young people are facing significant challenges as they move on to college and this funding will provide some important support to them.”

In November 2007, a group of staff and faculty at Sierra College decided to take action on the growing lack of resources for former foster youth. They came together and formed the College Transition Support Team (CTST). This volunteer group is a partnership between community foster youth services professionals and Sierra College Faculty and Staff addressing the needs, Concerns and issues that affect the success and retention of former foster youth students attending Sierra College.

In the midst of compiling educational resources for foster youth, the CTST found a major gap in the services provided to these students. That missing piece was how to address the financial need that exists to purchase basic hygiene products and food.

Grant funding from the City of Roseville will purchase nearly 50 care packs for emancipated foster youth attending Sierra College during the Fall and Spring semesters. These packs will include the basic items needed to help these students get on their feet and give them a good start to a successful educational career as well as help reduce the anxiety and stress they experience.

If you would like to offer your support to this program or to learn more about the Sierra College Foundation visit www.sierracollege.edu/foundation. Contact the Sierra College Foundation at: (916) 660-7020 or foundation@sierracollege.edu

Sierra College wins employee training grant to improve businesses’ competitiveness

Matching funds provide short-term intensive seminars to high-growth industries

Sierra College Training & Development secured a $216,000 grant from the California Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development Program to provide customized training in process improvement, quality management and mechatronics technical skills to high growth businesses.

Farsighted businesses see this as a great time to train staff, according to Sandra Scott, Director, Grant Development and Career Technical Education for Sierra College. “By developing employees’ skills during the downturn, these businesses will be well positioned to take advantage of opportunities when the economy improves,” said Scott.

Through the grant, over 250 employees will be trained in leading edge technical skills and learn to use continuous improvement tools to increase businesses’ competiveness. The Responsive Training Fund (RTF) for Incumbent Workers will match companies’ commitment to training. Participating organizations include Comtek Computer Systems Inc., the North Valley Lean Training Group in partnership with Butte College, and Northstar-at-Tahoe with other ski industry employers and the California Ski Industry Association.

According to Kathy Hubbard, Deputy Director, California Ski Industry Association, Sierra College has worked with the ski industry to develop a very successful Ropeway Mechatronics training program for ski lift technicians over the last several years. “The ski industry has found an incredible educational partner in Sierra College,” said Hubbard. “From the administration to the trainers who teach our courses, the college has been nothing but first-rate.”

The grant will enable resorts to provide training more cost effectively. “I’m thrilled that the state has seen the value in our training program,” said Hubbard. “As our older chairlifts are replaced by more sophisticated models, training in the principles of mechatronics is critical to keep chairlifts running smoothly. Employees are happy when they have the skills and tools to do their jobs well.”

To be globally competitive, businesses are using process improvement techniques and applying lean manufacturing strategies to cut waste and increase efficiency. Through a consulting process, Sierra College helps businesses identify performance gaps and develops customized training programs in areas such as Process Mapping, Set-up Reduction, Six Sigma, Supply Chain Management, Total Quality Management and Visual Controls (5S).

In addition to Process Improvement and Mechatronics training for employers, Sierra College Training & Development offers on-site employee training in high-tech soldering, supervision, communication and other business topics. Since 1997, Sierra College Training & Development has worked with businesses, manufacturers and technology companies in Northern California. For more information, go to www.sierracollegetraining.com or contact Sandra Scott, at sscott@sierracollege.edu or (916) 781-6245.

Sierra College Athletics Ranks Third in the Nation … Again!

Only 2 points behind the #1 college

The California Community College Commission on Athletics and National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) has named Sierra College third in the nation for overall athletic excellence.

“This will be Sierra Colleges 4th Trophy in the last 6 years since the NATYCAA CUP has been in existence. One 1st ; one 2nd; and two 3rd place finishes. Our coaches and athletes have done a great job. I couldn’t be prouder. We’re going to need a bigger office soon to display all the trophies…not that I’m complaining!” commented John Volek, Dean of Athletics. Since the establishment of the NATYCAA cup in 2003-04, Sierra College Athletics has ranked in the top four positions.

This year the first place cup went to Mt. San Antonio College with a score of 168.5 points. Finishing second was Cerritos College with 168 points, followed by Sierra with 166.5 points. A college is awarded points based on its teams’ final positions in post-conference competition. Each college’s top-five men’s and top-five women’s team results count toward the school’s overall point total. Complete standings, scoring criteria, and a history of the NATYCAA Cup are available on the CCCAA Web site, www.coasports.org.

The 2008-09 winners will be recognized at the NATYCAA Awards Luncheon, held during the 2009 NATYCAA Convention, June 18-21 at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Florida. Awards will be presented to the top three colleges, and the top twenty schools in the division will receive recognition.

NATYCAA is the professional organization of two-year college athletic administrators and membership is open to all two-year institutions from throughout the country. The awards were designed to recognize and reward overall program excellence at the two-year college level. The criteria for the State Associations division were developed by the COA in conjunction with the California Community College Sports Information Association (CCCSIA).

To view the latest news, information and updates of all 23 COA sanctioned sports, visit www.coasports.org. For more information about the Sierra College Wolverine Athletic Sports Programs click on the Events & Athletics tab above.

Sierra College wins $500,000 grant to attract students to technical careers

Students headed toward Science, Technology, Engineering & Math will fuel future economy

In today’s economic downturn, skilled workers are fundamental to economic recovery. Sierra College received a $500,000 grant from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office that will support the region’s long-term economic viability through career technical education (CTE). From middle school to college, students must be equipped with technical skills to meet the future needs of emerging industries. The grant aligns education with business to develop relevant hands-on learning models, merge academics with technical education and fill the pipeline of future workers with those who are qualified to fill highly-paid, in-demand technical positions.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)

According the Sandra Scott, Director, Grant Development and Career Technical Education at Sierra College, this grant will promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. “Through partnerships with industry as well as middle and high schools, Sierra College’s STEM Community Collaborative is implementing innovative CTE models, strengthening existing programs, and attracting middle and high school students to STEM education,” said Scott.

“This new grant will expand STEM projects in product design and manufacturing. In the digital age, the boundaries between art, design and manufacturing blur,” said Scott. “Our goal is to equip students to use 3D solid modeling, apply aesthetic skills and use an understanding of ergonomics to design, develop and manufacture attractive, functional products. These classroom experiences will encourage students to pursue careers in engineering and product design.”

Hands -On Projects

According to Scott, the key is engaging students in applied learning through hands-on projects so they’ll continue their technical education at Sierra College in Mechatronics, Engineering and Engineering Support Technology, and go on to fill high-paying, in-demand positions that strengthen our local economy. “We are preparing students to fill the anticipated need for engineers, CAD drafters, engineering technicians, product designers, surveyors, mechatronics technicians, solar installers, scientists, machinists and other technical careers,” said Scott.

The new grant will continue to support existing Sierra College Collaborative STEM projects:

Scott Seacrist, Lincoln High School iDesign (www.LHSiDesign.com) instructor teaches Computer Aided Design, and manual and Computer Numatic Controlled (CNC) machining. Seacrist says that he benefited from Sierra College’s partnership in establishing the program and arranging for externships with local employers during the summer. “I job shadowed at Harris & Bruno, Robb Jack, Morgan Ceramics, Selway Machine Tool Company, EME Technologies and AB Tools,” said Seacrist. “Working at local companies helped me refine the curriculum to incorporate skills that are required by employers.”

At Colfax High School, teachers Jonathan Schwartz (Math/ROP Wood), Christian Kinsey (Metal), Tony Martello (Electronics), and Wade Wolff (Computer Applications) have worked collaboratively to modernize equipment and curriculum as a result of STEM grant funds and working with Sierra College. According to Schwartz, the partnership has resulted in a new vision for Career Technical Education, updated equipment, allowed instructors to access industry training and supported the development of a new multi-disciplinary introductory course called Design Tech (www.colfaxdesign.com ).

“Our vision is that through the process of turning ideas into final products, Colfax students will apply academics, develop flexible thinking and acquire marketable skills,” said Schwartz. “The STEM grant has made it possible to modernize our classrooms so students are learning to use the same software, power tools and CNC equipment that are being used by local industry. Through professional development, such as MasterCAM training, instructors have been able to fine tune their skills.”
 
North Tahoe High School in partnership with the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District is adding an engineering and architectural component that teaches computer assisted drafting, solid modeling and rapid prototyping technologies that complement the school’s existing construction program. Oakmont High School in Roseville, Nevada Union High School in Grass Valley, Placer High School in Auburn, Lincoln High School in Lincoln and other schools are working with Sierra College to implement more STEM hands-on applied academic curriculum that introduces career-based technical concepts and inspires students to consider technical careers.

For more information, go to www.sierracollegetraining.com or contact Sandra Scott, Sierra College at (916) 781-6244.