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Highlights from the 2010-2011 Academic Year - About Ohlone College

At Ohlone we are proud of the accomplishments made by our dedicated students, faculty, staff, and alumni. We are pleased to share several of the highlights of the past academic year (2010-2011) at Ohlone, which are a mere sampling of the great things that are going on at Ohlone.

Student Accomplishments

The Environmental Studies students planted the summer crops in the Biointensive Gardening project. The crops include tomatoes, onions, summer squash, pole beans, and potatoes. During Earth Week the students finished the new Vineyard Garden project located adjacent to Wing 1 near the Learning Resource Center.

Did You Know…?

Ohlone College was the first smoke-free college in the Bay Area and has set a trend for other colleges. Learn more about Ohlone's No Smoking Policy.

The Forensics (Speech and Debate) Team had a great Spring 2011 Semester. Andrew Ball and Allen Chan won bronze in Parliamentary Debate at the State finals in March 2011. On Saturday, May 7, 2011 Heather Warren received the second place award in Drama Interpretation; Kathryn Lopez received the fourth place award in Poetry Interpretation; Onofre Galvez received fifth place in Poetry Interpretation; and Anna Liang and Nora Qutob were finalists in Parliamentary Debate.

Ohlone’s International Programs is doing interesting things. During January 2011 a Study Abroad group of Ohlone faculty and students visited a leading media outlet headquarters in Cairo to learn about Egyptian journalism and see it in action. The story about the Ohlone group’s visit ran on the front section of the media outlet’s Web site.

Every week 111,287 people listen to KOHL Radio from all across the Bay Area. During September 2010 KOHL had 100,400 unique listeners per week in the San Francisco market and 9,000 in the San Jose market. In addition, KOHL had 1,887 people who listened online at KOHLradio.com every week. Through the focused efforts of students and staff, KOHL has transcended the boundaries of typical college radio and stacks up quite well to Bay Area commercial radio. Even with KOHL’s smaller signal, they are beating commercial stations such as KFAX 1100, Business Radio 1220 KDOW, Green 960, and Bay Area CNN affiliate 1590 KLIV in the San Francisco market. KOHL is very close to beating Xtra Sports 860 (home of the A’s), The True Oldies Channel 1550 KFRC (home of the Raiders), and 92.1 KKDV.

Ohlone Nursing students held their annual Nurse Day Celebration on May 9, 2011. Fifty-five student nurses, faculty, counselors, Student Health Center personnel, and invited guests attended. Five scholarships were awarded.

Ohlone’s chapter of Sigma Chi Eta (which means “Students in Communication with Honors”) has been selected by the National Communication Association to receive the Outstanding Chapter of the Year Award.

Deborah Lemon and her Spanish students held their third annual fashion show in the lobby of the Newark campus on February 23, 2011. The students record voice threads in Spanish which describe what they are wearing. Vicki Curtis and her ESL students are also active participants in this event. The ESL students listen to the descriptions in English and then judge the student models as they walk down the make shift runway.

Ohlone’s play, “The Time Machine: Love Among the Eloi” was chosen by the Kennedy Center–American College Theatre Festival to be performed at the Western Regional Conference on February 16, 2011. This honor was bestowed on only four plays from colleges and universities in the nine western states in the country. Ohlone’s cast performed the play in a 900 seat theatre at the conference. They rose to the challenge and were the talk of the conference, with the other 900 students in the audience speaking Eloi at intermission. The transition from the Victorian parlor into the spacey Eloi forest stopped the show with cheering, a phenomenon which happened about another eight times during the show. The outpouring of noisy love at the curtain call was an experience the students won’t forget for quite some time.

Former foster youth and Ohlone workstudy student, Zonnisha White, has won the Burton Scholars Backpack to Success Laptop Essay Competition. Congratulations to Zonnisha!

From Fall 2007 to Spring 2010 the number of Ohlone students who declared transfer as a goal increased by almost 13%. Especially noteworthy is the high percentage of Hispanics at Ohlone declaring transfer as their goal.

Ohlone transfer students to the CSU have a higher graduation rate than both other California Community College transfer students and those students who spend all four years at a CSU. Ohlone transfer students to the CSU have an 83.7% graduation rate, whereas California Community College transfer students to the CSU have a 76.4% graduation rate and native CSU freshmen have an 81.7% graduation rate.

Did You Know…?

In 2009-2010, 54% of California State University graduates and 28% of University of California graduates began their college years at a community college—and, upon transferring to either four-year institution, obtained grade point averages equal to, or better than, "native" UC or CSU students, and graduated at rates comparable to "native" UC and CSU students. Go to Admissions & Records for information about how to enroll at Ohlone College.

Athletics

2010-2011 was another extremely successful and exciting year for Ohlone Athletics. Ohlone offered 11 sports during 2010-2011 and six sports went on to post season play. Ohlone won three Coast Conference Championships and two sports reached the State Championship tournament!

Graduated Sophomores Roberto Padilla, Baseball, and Shelby Tomaselo, Soccer and Softball, were honored as the 2009-2010 Male and Female Athletes of the Year during the 26th Annual Fremont Bank and Ohlone College Golf Tournament in September 2010.

The Ohlone Women’s Soccer Team posted a record of 1082 to earn the 15th seed in the Northern California State Playoffs. This year was highlighted by an eight game unbeaten streak that helped solidify a conference record of 852.

Ohlone’s Men’s Basketball finished the season with a record of 1612 and a conference record of 125. This season Coach John Peterson became the winningest men’s basketball coach at Ohlone, surpassing Coach Dick Walsh of the previous number of 225 wins. The 2011 season was extremely successful with the team advancing to the Northern California Regionals. Coach Peterson is proud to announce that all of his graduating sophomores have been placed and/or will be accepting placement to four-year universities to continue their academic and athletics pursuits.

The Women’s Basketball Team won the 2011 Coast Conference Championship for the third consecutive year. They had an 111 record in conference play and a 218 record overall, which is the first time the team has won more than 20 games in a season since 2007. Coach Julia Allender was named Coast Conference Coach of the Year. Alexous Robinson and Chereese Thomas were selected as conference coMVP’s and Alexous was named on the 2nd team All State.

Ohlone’s Swim Team also had a great year with five members of the team qualifying and competing in the State Championship Tournament. Three of the relay teams made All American and are ranked nationally. The 200 medley relay is ranked 10th nationally. The 200 free relay is 12th and the 400 free relay is ranked 14th. Jason Corbett is ranked nationally in the 100 breaststroke.

Did You Know…?

During 2010-2011 Ohlone's athletic teams won three Coast Conference Championships (Women's Basketball, Women's Softball, and Men's Baseball) and two sports reached the State Championship tournament (Men's Baseball and Swimming)!

The Softball Team won the 2011 Coast Conference Championship for the ninth consecutive year. The Lady Renegades have won the Coast Conference Championship 13 times and have won the Coast Conference Championship every year since 2003. For the 2011 season the Softball Team had a 3291 overall record with a 153 conference record. The team entered into the post season as the number three seed, which is the best seed the Lady Renegades have ever had. The Softball Team received first, second, and honorable mention honors by placing 10 players on the all-league teams. Jessica Varady was named 2011 Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year and was a selection for the All American Team. Stefanie Hatley was selected as Player of the Year in the Conference and was also selected for the 1st Team All State.

Ohlone’s Baseball Team captured the 2011 Coast Conference Championship, which wasn’t determined until the very last game of the regular season. This year the Baseball Team finished with an overall record of 2818 and a conference record of 168. With dedication and perseverance, they advanced to the State Championship tournament once again this year, earning a second place finish. This is the first time Ohlone’s Baseball Team has made a back-to-back appearance in the State Championship Tournament. First year coach Julian Russell was named Coast Conference Coach of the Year. Ryan Tella was named California Community College Sports Information Association (CCCSIA)/ California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Male Athlete of the Month in March 2011.

Congratulations Renegades!

Alumni Accomplishments

In 2000-2001 Ohlone students Alejandro Escalante and Diana Cecilia Sedano were chosen to be a part of the CSUH Summer Bridge Program. The “Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program” targeted underrepresented students such as Latino-Hispanic, African American, and Native American students and was a partner program with four community colleges and CSU Hayward. Since leaving Ohlone both Alejandro and Cecilia have continued with their education. Cecilia graduated from UCLA and is now getting her Ph.D. at Stanford University in Genetics. Alejandro is currently getting his Ph.D. at Vanderbilt University. Both Alejandro and Cecilia fondly remember their time at Ohlone, the scholarships they received, and the encouragement they received to join the Summer Bridge Program. They credit the Summer Bridge Program and the encouragement of Dr. Ron Quinta, Dean of Science, Technology, and Engineering, as the impetus behind graduating from college and pursuing doctoral degrees.

Faculty, Staff, and Trustee Accomplishments

Ohlone trustee Teresa Cox has been appointed to serve as a member of the Industry Trade Advisory Council by the United States Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Ambassador Ron Kirk, the United States Trade Representative. Ms. Cox will work on small and minority business initiatives. In this capacity, she will serve as advisor on international trade agreements to promote the economic interest and opportunities of the United States and determine whether these agreements provide equity and reciprocity. She will also provide advice on key objectives and bargaining positions for global trade negotiations and other trade-related policy matters.

Susan Cunningham, English Professor, was recently certified as a “Development Education Specialist” through the Kellogg Institute for the Training and Certification of Development Educators, Appalachian State University. This training program required Professor Cunningham to attend a four-week seminar during Summer 2010 at Appalachian State University, produce a project or paper demonstrating her mastery of the concepts and techniques presented, and to implement a program development project based on information obtained during the summer. This certification is regarded as one of the most prestigious credentials in the field of developmental education.

Jeff Roberts, Head Athletic Trainer, is a contributing author of two recent publications in the Journal of Athletic Training. The articles are titled “Perspectives on Parenthood and Working of Female Athletic Trainers in the Secondary School and Collegiate Settings,” and “Adherence to Drug-Dispensation and Drug-Administration Laws and Guidelines in Collegiate Athletic Training Rooms: A Five-year Review.”

800 wins is a number that is very rarely seen in the sport of softball. During the 2010-2011 season Coach Donna Runyon and the Lady Renegades hit their 800th win against Ohlone’s hometown rival, Chabot. Well done Coach Runyon!!

College Accomplishments

AT&T’s Grant Program Committee has awarded a $15,000 grant for the Ohlone College Eco-Behavior Newark campus project. Each semester the Newark Center provides learning opportunities for over 1,500 students and building visitors. Currently, informal tours of the Newark Center are provided by executive staff and professors upon request. However, relevant information on the Center’s environmentally sustainable features is communicated verbally to interested parties, without any means of capture or distribution. Completing this Eco-Behavior project would allow for self-guided tours and expand the opportunities for students and building visitors to discover knowledge about green building and innovative learning environments. The College’s Environmental Studies faculty and the Sustainability Committee – which includes faculty, staff, administrators, and students – will provide ongoing oversight of the Eco-Behavior project.

Ohlone’s Environmental and Bio Sciences Programs and Waste Management Incorporated are in the early stages of a partnership to test and demonstrate Waste Management’s new Earth Care products. These products are 100% recycled, locally sourced, and produce compost and mulch. The students tested these products as part of their sustainable gardening project during the Spring 2011 Semester. The partnership will also incorporate the existing Newark campus’ bay friendly landscape and will provide opportunities to test platforms for green roof gardens and the benefits of Ohlone’s onsite bioswale.

The Human Resources Department partnered with the English Learning Institute (ELI) to pilot an on-the-job ESL institute for six non-English speaking custodians. In planning the institute, outcomes were identified such as improved safety, socialization with the other employees, participation in college activities, and involvement in union discussions. The program is overseen by William Sharar, Coordinator of the ELI, who will volunteer his time to provide additional services to enhance the learning process for the custodians. Bill will work directly with the instructor to ensure that the instruction is tailored to the needs of the students.

The Ohlone College Interpreter Preparation Program in the Deaf Studies Division was selected to participate in the National Interpreter Education Center Outcome Circle. Ohlone is one of a select group of fifteen programs from across the country that will partake in this forum for exchange and innovation in interpreter education.

The Ohlone College Nursing Program has been granted a full eight-year accreditation from the National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission. The Board of Commissioners found Ohlone’s Nursing program to be in compliance with all six standards! The site visitors were impressed by the support from administration; student comments; the Newark campus; the association with clinical agencies; the scholarship of the faculty; the community service performed by faculty and students; and they were especially impressed by the public forum comments. They listed physical resources including new LEED Platinum building with state-of-the-art technology, simulation laboratories, and new up-to-date equipment as a particular strength. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for fall 2018. The nursing program has had continuous national accreditation since 1978.

The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care has awarded Continuing Accreditation to the Associate in Science Degree Respiratory Care Program, recognizing the program’s compliance with the nationally established accreditation Standards. The next evaluation of the program is scheduled to be no later than 2020.

Ohlone received a $5000 grant from Toyota for “the difference they have made in addressing some of the most pressing needs of the Bay Area, despite the challenging economic times.” The grant is to be used for $500 scholarships, especially to assist former NUMMI employees with education expenses.

Ohlone is not only ranked the third highest district in the Bay Area for transfers, but is also ranked fifth for the whole state! In a recent news article titled “California’s Best Community Colleges: Which Community Colleges Best Prepare Their Students for Future Collegiate Success,” Ohlone ranked in the top five for transfer out of all of California’s 112 community colleges. Ohlone’s transfer rate is 58%, compared to Foothill College’s in the top spot at 62%. The statewide average is 44%. The other top five colleges are De Anza, Irvine Valley, and Santa Monica.

Community Outreach

The CNET Program offered the third workforce training for their Cisco Academy. The program is in partnership with Alameda County Workforce Investment Board and Ohlone’s Economic and Workforce Development Program.

The Newark campus has hosted several workshops for displaced and incumbent workers. These workshops included Energy Efficiency for Real Estate, Solar Technical Skills, Quality Systems Regulations for Medical Devices, and Quality Auditing Basics for Biotechnology.

The Rehabilitation Job Placement Circle Event was held March 4, 2011 at the Newark campus. The event included 10 employers and 70 disabled participants. Each participant took part in three interviews for potential employment. The event was coordinated by Ohlone’s Workability III Program and Services staff.

College Events

195 students, the largest number ever, attended Welcome Day on August 25, 2010, a ½ unit Personal Development course. New students participated in activities such as a campus tour, student/faculty panels, and workshops on money skills, time management, personality styles, and transfer basics.

Transfer Day, held in Building 7 on the Fremont campus on October 6, 2010, was another successful event where over 900 Ohlone students explored their transfer options. Students had the opportunity to talk to 45 universities representing colleges and universities from Hawaii to Washington, D.C.

The Early Childhood Studies Department held a very successful 6th annual Early Care and Education conference at the Newark campus on Saturday, October 9, 2010. There were over 300 attendees from all over the Bay Area who attended workshops on providing education and care for children from 05 years old.

After two decades of having students practice American Sign Language using clunky VHS cassettes, Ohlone College fast-forwarded to the digital age in September 2010, officially opening its new Deaf Studies Lab on September 20, 2010. The spacious facility in Building 6 of Ohlone’s Fremont campus provides 20 computer stations and plenty of open space for Deaf students and hearing students studying American Sign Language to interact with each other. Students, both Deaf and hearing, now have a natural setting to learn language and develop friendships.

On December 2, 2010 students from the Irvington High School SHAPE Program spent the day learning about Ohlone’s health sciences programs including Kinesiology, Physical Therapy Assistant, Registered Nursing, and Respiratory Therapist. They also visited the Health/Wellness/Fitness Facilities at the Newark campus. This is another of Ohlone’s transition partnerships with local high schools.

Continuing dialogues with local high school districts, 35 students from Newark Unified’s Bridgepointe Continuation High School attended a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) pathways event held at the Newark campus in December 2010. Students engaged in workshops hosted by Ohlone faculty and staff demonstrating what our STEM career pathways have to offer. The workshops included a variety of activities from experiments for making DNA samples, to learning how to strategize using math techniques, to finding where you are using GIS tracking systems. The event was organized by the Ohlone College STEM Steering Committee and cosponsored by Avazando, which provided lunch for the students.

On December 14, 2010 Ohlone College took part in an online student outreach event that attracted over 4,500 visitors from more than 150 different countries. During the event, Ohlone partnered with officials from U.C. Santa Cruz to deliver a streaming video-based keynote presentation titled “Transferring from a U.S. Community College to a 4-year University.” This effort involved collaboration among the International Programs and Services Department, the Counseling Department, the Information Technology Department, and the Transfer Center. Special thanks to Diane Berkland and Mandy Yip, who presented on Ohlone’s behalf.

[From the 2011-2012 Ohlone College Catalog.]

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