16th Annual Arts & Olive Festival at Cañada College Oct. 6

The classic rock riffs of Santana, Styx, Heart, and Fleetwood Mac will echo through the olive orchards at the 16^th annual Arts & Olive Festival at Cañada College.

The festival will be held from 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday, Oct. 6 on the college grounds, 4200 Farm Hill Blvd., Redwood City. Cañada is conveniently located off Highway 280 at the Farm Hill Blvd. exit. Parking and admission are free but a $5 donation is requested to help fund student scholarships at the school. Approximately $10,000 is raised annually through the festival to help community college students attend school.

This year’s festival entertainment includes Radar Love, a ‘70s and ‘80s cover band, and Chameleon, a Santana tribute band. A full list of entertainment can be found at www.olivefest.org.

The campus, which is part of the San Mateo County Community College District, is situated in a beautiful setting amongst hundreds of olive trees. The festival features Northern California olive growers offering samples of unique olive-related food products including cured olives, olive oil, flavored oils, and vinegars. Festival goers can also browse a variety of arts and crafts, enjoy wine and craft beer, and purchase food from local restaurants.

The festival also includes a free children’s area with face painting, storytelling, balloon animals, a marionette show and more.

For more information, go to www.olivefest.org.

Former Cañada College Student Rose Whitmore Receives Prestigious Literary Prize

Former Cañada College student and current Belmont resident Rose Whitmore has received the prestigious William Peden Prize, which recognizes the best piece of fiction published in The Missouri Review during the previous volume year.

Whitmore will receive a check for $1,000 and will read at the annual Peden Prize reception in Columbia, Missouri. “It’s such an honor to be recognized with this prize,” she said. Whitmore’s writing has appeared in Mason’s Road, Fourth Genre and the 2013 California Prose Directory, an anthology about the state of California. She has work forthcoming in the Mid-American Review and The Sun.

Whitmore’s Peden Prize-winning story is about a little girl who grows up in a cannery in Eureka. It is titled, The Queen of Pacific Tides. “I grew up commercially fishing smelt, a world that is both beautiful and imbued with the guts and sand and cold,” Whitmore said.

“There are many stories about young girls on the precipice of adolescence, digging in their heels against change, but ‘The Queen of Pacific Tides’ manages to surprise on every level,” says contest judge Tina May Hall. “The story is a gorgeous story all around and is one of those that will stay with you, will sneak into your dreams and perfume them in strange and wonderful ways.”

Whitmore’s path towards becoming an award-winning fiction writer began at Cañada after a pilgrimage across Spain in 2009. “I came home and decided I would take a step towards becoming a writer, something I always wanted to be – something the pilgrimage inspired me to act on.” She enrolled in a creative writing class taught by Professor Mike Nagler. “I loved Mike’s class, and somewhere about half way through I decided I wanted to pursue an MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in creative writing. I used the two stories I wrote in his class for my application and was admitted to the University of New Hampshire that spring.”

The mere act of getting to Cañada and Nagler’s class was, at times, an adventure for Whitmore. Living in Berkeley and working in San Francisco, Whitmore would take MUNI to Caltrain, disembark at Redwood City, where she would jump on her scooter, which she parked at the train station, and ride up the hill to Cañada. “Round trip it took about an hour and a half,” she said. “I would leave my job in San Francisco, fleeing the fog and noise of the city just wanting to be in that class. I would arrive and the air would be warm, and the campus green, and everyone in my class very supportive. It was a great experience.”

Nagler said Whitmore was a valuable member of his class. “She offered enthusiastic critical analysis of her classmates’ efforts but she did it with great honesty that was gently and encouragingly given. Her insights helped the class to be better, and, for that, as well as her gifts as a writer, I valued greatly her membership in it.”

Nagler said Whitmore is a terrific example of the diverse student body served at community colleges. “She already had a degree when she decided to come back to school,” he said. “She was truly a lifelong learner.”

Whitmore grew up on the Peninsula and graduated from UC Berkeley. Her mother is a Cañada alum. “My childhood was filled with fishing and backpacking and trips to Baja,” she said. “I became a West Coast writer in a very North East place. I began to write about California and the Pacific, I always like to joke, to mentally escape the New England winter. But I do have New England to thank. The program at New Hampshire allowed me the freedom to see my version of the West Coast more clearly, to solidify my experiences and have space from them.”

After graduating from the University of New Hampshire in May, Whitmore moved back to the Peninsula. She is currently living in Belmont, working on a novel, a collection of short stories, and an essay collection. She is also a copywriter for a company in San Diego.

Short Course on Sustainability and Home Energy Assessment Begins Sept. 5

 

Are you interested in making your home more energy efficient? A short course at Cañada College that begins Sept. 5 can help you do just that.

INTD 401, Sustainability and Home Energy Assessment teaches students how to use diagnostic tools including an infrared camera, blower door device, and moisture meters to perform energy assessments in existing residential structures. The course also explores marketing strategies for energy efficient homes.

The class begins Sept. 5 and runs through Oct. 24. It meets on Thursdays from 3:10 to 5:50 pm.

The course is taught by Elsa Torres, a professional designer who has created a series of courses at Cañada that focus on green design and sustainability in interior design.

“Understanding how to design the interiors of homes and offices to make them healthier and more energy efficient is not a trend,” she said. “This is the way we are going to live moving forward. Local governments have adopted regulations that require builders and designers to create healthier work and home environments. Our goal is to prepare students to succeed in this new reality.”

For more information, visit the green design program on the web or call (650) 306-3320.

State Chancellor Brice Harris Opening Day Speaker

Dr. Brice W. Harris, Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, will speak at Cañada on Thursday, Aug. 15 as part of the San Mateo County Community College District's Opening Day activities.

Dr. Brice Harris

The topic of Harris’ presentation will be “Restoring Access and Improving Student Success:
The Dual Opportunities of California Community Colleges.” Harris has spent much of his career working to improve student success and access at community colleges. 

Harris has served as chancellor since 2012. Prior to being selected as the leader of the largest system of higher education in the nation, Harris served 16 years as chancellor of the Los Rios Community College District in the Sacramento region, president of Fresno City College and a faculty member and vice chancellor in the Kansas City, Mo., community college system.

While with Los Rios, he was instrumental in leading initiatives that improved student success. He also led the charge to expand access for thousands of students by overseeing the establishment of the district’s fourth college, Folsom Lake, and developing educational centers in Davis, Elk Grove, Natomas, Rancho Cordova and West Sacramento.

The district's Opening Day activities begin with a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. in the Main Theater followed by a formal program from 9:15 to 11 a.m. that will include Harris' keynote address. A luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the upper quad.

Are you new to Cañada? Here's some simple advice

So, you are preparing for your first day of the new semester and you want it to go as smooth as possible. We're here to help. If you take a few simple steps, and do a little planning, you'll have no problems. Let's get started.

• Arrive Early - If you pull onto campus 10 minutes before class starts you're off to a bad start. Parking on a college campus is never easy. Give yourself at least 20 minutes. Remember, you're not going to have Rock Star parking next to your class. Be sure to review the parking map and have a contingency plan if the lot you want to park in is full. Student Lots are Lot 1, 7, 8, 10 and 6. Do not park in staff lots without the appropriate permit or you are sure to get a ticket. You'll need to buy a parking permit but campus security will not issue tickets in student lots through the first two weeks of the semester.

TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF CAMPUS

• Know Where You Are Going - Because you have a plan, you'll have a great parking spot. But how do you get to your classes? Luckily, the Cañada campus is not that big. Review the campus map and your schedule of classes. Buildings at Cañada are numbered and each room in the building has its own number. On your schedule the class location will look like this - 3-113. The first number (3) is the building number and the second number (113) is the classroom within the building. If you can't find a class, ask one of the Campus Ambassadors. You can find them in the information booths on the quad or at the entrance to the Library off Parking Lot 1. You can also find help at the Welcome Center on the first floor of Building 9.
• Get to Know Building 9 - All essential student services are located in this three-story building. On the first floor you'll find Admissions/Records, Counseling, Financial Aid, Public Safety/Parking, EOPS/CARE/CalWorks, and more. The Learning Center is on the second floor. Here you can use the computers, work with academic tutors, and study in groups. The Library is located on the top floor. Make a point to visit this building on your first day of class.
• The Bookstore - It's college, so you're going to need books. Because you are a college student, you'll also need a soda, bag of chips and candy bar. You can get them all at the bookstore. It's located across from the Main Theater and Gymnasium. The first couple of weeks, the lines are long because everyone is buying books. If you can go in the mid-afternoon, the lines are shorter.
• The Pony Espresso - Ok, it's not essential to know where the coffee shop is located, but you never know when you'll need a cup. The coffee kiosk is located in the Upper Quad near the entrance of Building 13. It's a favorite hangout for students and if you stand around long enough you'll probably find somebody you know.
• The Grove – This is the new Student Center at Cañada. It’s a great place to meet friends, study, and grab a bite to eat. The new Career Center is located in the Grove and the friendly staff can help you write a resume, prepare for a job interview, and search for jobs. There is also a spot in the Grove to just chill and play video games.
• Smoke-Free Campus - If you want to smoke you'll have to do it in designated parking lots because Cañada is a smoke-free campus. Feel free to light up in Lots 1, 7, 6, 8, 10 & 5. But, as a courtesy to staff, faculty, and students who don't smoke, please refrain from smoking on the rest of campus.
• Go to Class - This seems like a no-brainer, right? Well, every semester, there are students that don't show up for class. Because classes are crowded, if you don't show up, you could be dropped from the class. If you are on a wait list to get into a full class, it's even more important to show up on the first day to talk to the professor and see if you can add the class.

Hopefully this guide can help you survive your first day of the new semester. Remember, if you have any questions ask somebody. You'll be surprised at how helpful the staff, faculty and your fellow students can be.

Attila Elteto Hired to Teach Astronomy, Physics

Attila Elteto has been hired as a new full-time faculty member in the Science & Technology Division. He will teach astronomy and physics.

Most recently, Elteto has been teaching astronomy at the University of Connecticut and Naugatuck Valley Community College. He completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Astronomy at Cornell University and earned a PhD in Astrophysical and Planetary Science at the University of Colorado at Boulder. After deciding his real passion was in education, Elteto returned to school and earned a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of New Haven.

Elteto said he’s been passionate about teaching astronomy for over a decade, much of it in public outreach, but in recent years has also started teaching formal astronomy classes at the collegiate level.

“I am especially excited when I have some powerful tools I can use, because most of the public gets very excited and awed when they look through a telescope, even just a small one, or see the ‘sky’ rotate in a planetarium,” he said.

Elteto said he was attracted to the job at Cañada because it emphasized the need for teaching astronomy labs. “I’m very excited about the opportunity to teach astronomy hands-on,” he said. “In addition, (Cañada College) President (Larry) Buckley assured me that the college is looking to expand its STEM disciplines in coming years, and he was excited to learn my interest in expanding on the astronomy curriculum, and possibly conducting astronomy outreach at the college.”

Buckley said Elteto’s approach to teaching will make him an asset to Cañada’s faculty. “Attila went back to school to earn a master’s degree to become a better teacher,” Buckley said. “He understands that students today learn differently than they did even 10 years ago. They are going to enjoy his classes.”

Elteto said that even at the 101 level, astronomy is an exciting way to draw students towards science. “Many students enter my classes thinking it may just be straight lectures with lots of pretty pictures,” he said. “Instead, my mission is to use the context of astronomy to teach student the skills and tools of science in general. I expect active participation from my students, and encourage peer-to-peer learning. By the end of the semester, I expect students to be able to formulate their own questions, use the tools they’ve learned to seek the answers for themselves, and present what they have learned in a thorough, professional manner.”

Outside of teaching, Elteto said he enjoys singing and is usually a member of a choir. He also enjoys hiking.

Cañada Professor Earns Best Paper Award at Engineering Conference

The presentation outlined a successful summer research internship at the school

In 2011, Professor Enriquez (fourth from left) was honored by President Obama for his mentoring activities.

Cañada College Professor Amelito Enriquez was honored last month at the American Society for Engineering Education Conference for his presentation detailing a partnership between the college, San Francisco State University, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center that provides internship opportunities for Cañada students

The paper, titled “Promoting Academic Excellence Among Underrepresented Community College Engineering Students through a Summer Research Internship Program,” received the Best Paper Award from the ASEE Two-Year College Division. The annual conference was held June 23-26 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The partnership between the two schools and NASA was developed through a three-year grant funded by the NASA Curriculum Improvements Partnership Award for the Integration of Research (CIPAIR) program. The 10-week summer internship provides opportunities for freshmen and sophomore students at Cañada to participate in engineering research under the supervision of SFSU faculty and a graduate student mentor. 

Research topics include performance-based earthquake engineering, circuit design for biomedical applications, embedded system design, and transistor reliability issues in nano-scale circuits. 

Enriquez said the program was developed to help improve student retention. “A recent report prepared by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, indicates that the United States needs to produce one million additional STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) professionals in the next decade to retain its historical preeminence in science and technology,” Enriquez said. “The report indicated that retaining students in the first two years of college is the most promising and cost-effective strategy to address this need.”

John Paulino, a former Aragon High School graduate, spent two summers in the internship program while studying at Cañada. He is now studying mechanical engineering at UC Berkeley and has been named a NASA Student Ambassador mentoring other engineering students.

“Being a NASA Student Ambassador connects me with a network of great professionals," he said. In addition, Paulino credits the ambassador program with connecting him to peers, preparing him to enter the STEM workforce, and allowing him to represent NASA toinsprie and engage future scientists and engineers. Paulino said it was all made possible through the 10-week internship program at Cañada.

Jesus Garcia spent his summer internship at SFSU learning how to conduct research and work with groups of researchers. "These are two very important skills for engineers," he said. "The internship also helped me become a better analyst, critical thinker, and problem solver. It's a perfect opportunity for students who have no previous experience to gain real-world knowledge in the field of engineering."

Garcia studied under SFSU Professor Cheng Chen, investigating a phenomenon called Soft Oxide Breakdown in the performance of integrated circuits. He later presented his findings at a regional ASEE conference. 

“In the first two years, the program has generated high quality research from participating students,” Enriquez said. He said post-program surveys indicate participating students strengthen their identity as engineers, increase their interest in research, and become more motivated to transfer to a four-year university, complete their bachelor's degree in engineering, a pursue a graduate degree.