|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alumni Spotlight Cesar Espejo , traveling the road to his American dream...
By: Danielle Espinoza
A person's journey is not defined by the ultimate end of their journey, but rather the road they traveled. Cesar Espejo is traveling on the road in search of his American dream. Born in Peru, Espejo was raised by a single mother who believed in working hard to achieve your goals. Espejo learned early on about the necessity of creating goals that lead to success.
As a young boy, Espejo said some of his earliest memories were at his grandfather's country home in Peru, surrounded by animals. He believes being surrounded by nature gives people the opportunity to learn and opens the mind to things such as anatomy, biology and medicine. His curiosity for sharing space with animals and nature became a life-long journey of learning.
"You have to have a goal in life in order to create something for yourself. If you don't have goals you won't make it, so believe in it and keep going. Keep it with you all of the time."
Check out Cesar's favorite place! |
|
|
In the News
Dr. Guzman receives invitation from NBC News for the 2010 Education Nation Summit in NYC
 NBC News invited Dr. Ana "Cha" Guzmán, president of Palo Alto College, as their guest to participate at the Education Nation Summit 2010 on September 27 in New York City. Guzman participated in a ground-breaking conversation about the state of education in America. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan addressed the group with his presentation, "Teach for Tomorrow: A Reverse Commencement Address." The summit was convened in New York City from Sept. 27-28.
Participants at the event included leaders in education, business, government, academia and other industries. The objective of the event was to have a conversation with college students across the country to shed light on the importance of teaching as a profession.
The target audience was freshman students, who received information generated at the conference pertaining to community college teacher education programs. In his address, Secretary Duncan encouraged students to consider careers in teaching. Check out the MSNBC broadcast of his presentation online at www.educationnation.com and on www.msnbc.com.
PAC Receives Grant to Build Botanical Gardens & Duck Pond
 Palo Alto College received a two-year grant through the U.S. Department of Education's College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA). This$2.5 million grant, titled Motivating Opportunity to Involve Valuable Education (MOTIVÉ), seeks to increase student success rates in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The purpose of this grant is to increase student interest in STEM fields, and to encourage students to pursue associate's and bachelor's degrees in related disciplines. Palo Alto College received this grant as a federally designated  Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). In order to be designated as an HSI, institutions must have an undergraduate enrollment of at least 25% Hispanic students. The purpose of the CCRAA HSI program is to develop and carry out activities to improve and expand the institution's capacity to serve Hispanic and low-income students. A portion of the grant was designated for the creation of a botanical garden. The garden, also known as the Science Exploration Laboratory Center, features seven acres of exhibits, including a Butterfly Garden, Texas Dry Garden, and a Duck Discovery Lab. The exhibits will also include Texas Native, Energy, and Geology Trails.
 The Center will serve as an outdoor laboratory experience for Biology, Chemistry, Geology, and Horticulture classes, providing students with hands-on activities which link theoretical concepts with practical applications. These experiences will increase our students' interest in science, enhance their ability to master course objectives, and develop their scientific reasoning skills. Campus organizations will be invited to assist in maintaining portions of the gardens. Construction for the Botanical Gardens project began on July 1, 2010, and was completed on Sept. 30, 2010.
Check out the Express-News Article on the
PAC Student Art Work at the Witte Museum!  Don't forget to visit the Witte Museum this fall to see the incredible student art work. Art instructor Cakky Brawley provided her students with a real-life artist's assignment; to produce a sculpture to be judged by a Witte Museum panel in conjunction with the Witte's "Backyard Monsters; The World of Insects" exhibit. Only a few of the student-produced sculptures will be a part of the fall exhibit. Check out our students brilliant work at San Antonio's beloved Witte Museum. The exhibit runs from September 25, 2010 - January 2, 2011 - Take the whole family!
Article by Express-News / Photos by Express-News
Students Participate in CPS Job Shadow Program
Last week the Center for Academic Transitions (CAT Center) joined forces with CPS Energy to allow some Palo Alto College students to receive a unique and rewarding experience. They were introduced to the CPS Energy workplace and career opportunities that are available in their field of study.
Timmy Ivory, a volunteer in the Office of Student Life, is a Palo Alto College student pursuing an Associate Degree in Cisco Networking. This military veteran wanted to take advantage of the Job Shadow Day opportunity to see what it would be like to work in the IT field for such a large and prestigious company. Mako, as he is called, was amazed at the vastness, execution and detail required in operating such a company. "This experience was really great because I got a chance to see the actual workplace and massive equipment required to run a major energy company. It's amazing!"
Nora Esparza, an Education Support Specialist in the CAT Center, helped identify Palo Alto College students for the event. "Not many companies take the time and spend the money to help prepare college students for the future. CPS Energy is the nation's largest municipally owned energy company providing both natural gas and electric service," she said.
Students were given an overview of the operations of CPS Energy and its history. A mentor was assigned to each student and escorted them to their work area for a tour and information session. After lunch, students discussed their shadow experiences in a group session. Networking followed.
CPS Energy serves more than 690,000 electric customers and almost 320,000 natural gas customers in and around the seventh-largest city in the nation.
Contact the CAT Center at 210-486-3131 to learn about the next Job Shadow Day opportunity.
|
|
PAC Programs & Events
11th Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Fair
 Local agencies and domestic violence organizations will be on campus for the 11th Annual Domestic Violence Fair on Wednesday, October 13 from 9:00am - noon in the Student Annex. For more information contact Eloisa Cordova at ecordova@alamo.edu, or click Event Flier
Annual Palo Alto College Plant Sale!
It's our annual plant sale hosted by the Horticulture Department. Our green-thumbed students worked hard to bring you beautiful plants, and flowers! Prices range from $2 t0 $75 with proceeds benefitting the Horticulture Club Scholarship and supplies for the program. For more information contact Horticulture Lead Instructor Kirk Williams at kwilliams@alamo.edu
- Thursday & Friday, Oct. 14-15 / 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Hispanic Heritage Month 
TNT Wrestling
Watch entertaining wrestlers as we close out our event-filled Hispanic Heritage month! Fun, exciting & action-packed! Join us for a fun fight!
- Friday, Oct. 15 / 6:00 - 8:00pm
- PAC Gym
Annual Jazz Concert
 On Wednesday, Oct. 20 join us for the annual jazz concert with our faculty and alumnus, Brandon Rivas, playing the bass. Faculty musicians include Jay Fort on the tenor saxophone, Joe Gonzalez playing the guitar, Bill Ricketts on drums, accompanist Jordan Pollard on the piano and Dr. Armin Marmelejo, Director of the Palo Alto College Jazz Band and full time instructor.
This group performs once every semester. The ensemble will perform jazz standards by Clifford Brown, Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock and some original material.
- Wednesday, Oct. 20 / 7:30 pm - Performing Arts Center
5th Annual City South Festival
 The South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce along with Palo Alto College (PAC) will present the 5th Annual City South Festival which focuses on three educational disciplines: music, culinary and visual arts. This is a professional juried exhibition!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
If you're interested in volunteering at the City South
Event Information:
- Thursday, October 23
- Mission County Park
- 11:00am - 6:00pm
Annual Fall Transfer Fair
 If you're looking for the next step in your college career come check out the Transfer Fair on Monday, October 25 from 9:00 am till noon in the Student Center Annex. Over 30 participating universities will be on campus to advise students and hand out information on transferring to a four-year institution. If you're looking to gain information on universities, this is the place to be! Here are just a few of the colleges and universities attending the fair:
- Univ. of Texas Austin - University of Northern Iowa - Texas State - UT Pan American - Univ. TX at San Antonio - Our Lady of the Lake University - Univ. Incarnate Word - Wayland Baptist University - Stephen F. Austin - California Institute of the Arts - St. Mary's University - Devry
12th Annual Recruitment Session with the University of Northern Iowa Bridge Program
12th annual special recruitment session for the University of Northern Iowa, where dozens of PAC students have transferred and graduated through the PAC-UNI Bridge Program. Students have the opportunity to receive scholarships and entrance into a one-of-a-kind program. Our UNI alumni come back to San Antonio with a wealth of knowledge and a great experience! For more information contact Charley Garcia at cgarcia4@alamo.edu
or call the Center for Academic Transitions at 210-486-3131.
SAVE THE DATE - Palo Alto College Job Fair
Join us on Wednesday, November 3 from 9:00 am - noon in  the Student Center Annex for our PAC Job Fair. Over 20 local participating companies will be a part of our fall job fair. If your company would like to participate, please contact Larry Carter at 210-486-3118 Here are just a few of the participating companies:
- YWCA
- Austin Fire Department
- San Antonio Housing Authority
- Longhorn Steakhouse
- Cutco Sales
- West
- Hospice Compassus
- Sirius Computer Solutions.
Veteran Affairs & Disability Support Services Host Priority Registration for 2011 Spring Semester!  Save the date for the second week of November for anyone utilizing veteran or disability services. Come and register for classes and receive one-on-one advising for Spring 2011! More details coming soon!
 SAVE THE DATE!Veteran's Day Ceremony
11:00 am Palomino Center Flag Pole
More details to come!
SAVE THE DATE! Annual Alumni Basketball Game
Alumni vs. Students - Support Our Alumni!
The Annual men's and women's Alumni vs. Student games:
- Tuesday, November 16  - PAC Gym
- Ladies Game: 6:00pm
- Men's Game: 8:00pm
Some of our best alumni b-ball players have signed-up to take on the current Palomino teams. Who do you think will dominate the court? Come find out and see if the Alumni can beat the PAC Palominos!
First 50 Alumni receive a FREE T-Shirt! |
|
Veterinary Technology Program
In 1994, Palo Alto College was approached by a group of  veterinarians from local industry and four-year agricultural research institutions to develop a Veterinary Technology Program. This request was based on several industry needs such as a lack of qualified registered veterinary technicians; a need for comprehensive, technical training in South Texas; and to elevate economic standards of entry-level animal health and veterinary technicians in the Texas community.
In April 1995, Palo Alto College's Veterinary Technology Program was approved for implementation by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. During Fall 1995 and Spring 1996 PAC assigned a temporary chair and hired veterinary consultants to develop course syllabi, equipment and supply lists, and recruit students. In 1998, we received provisional accreditation and graduated our first class. We received full accreditation in 2003.
 The program continues to be guided by an advisory committee selected from public and private industry in South Texas. Our incoming student numbers have approximately doubled and graduating students have increased by approximately 20%. To accommodate the growth of the program, a new facility was built with funding through a portion of the college district's $450 million 2005 bond.
In January 2008 the Vet Tech program moved into its new  15,000-square-foot, $5.2 million, state-of-the-art facility on the main campus. This new building exemplifies what the college aspires to achieve by providing state-of-the-art facilities, equipment and instruction to meet the needs of the community, students and employers across the region.
The facility houses classrooms including a fully equipped computer lab, anatomy/physiology lab, clinical pathology lab; a parasitology and equine labs; an equine lab, surgery rooms, pharmacy, kennels and an outdoor animal facility.
 We are proud to announce that all nineteen of our Spring 2010 graduates passed their credentialing exams! Our student success rate continues to meet the highest standards! Congratulations to the lastest certified Veterinary Technicians! |
|
Giving a Helping Hand...
"Lean on Me Campaign" for the
Monte Cristo Center Super Food Pantry
The MCC is leading the way in feeding the hungry on the Southside with the "Lean on Me Campaign" for the 2010 Thanksgiving season. A projected 300 families will receive a full turkey
dinner, with an estimated cost of $15-$18 per household.
Support partners, sponsors and volunteers are needed
to package and distribute meals to families.
The campaign runs from now until the official delivery date on Thursday, November 18, from 5:00 - 8:00 pm For more information, contact Marie Valentin at 210-550-4171 or monte.cristo.center@gmail.com |
|
Career Link
Looking for Career Opportunities?
The Center for Academic Transitions announces the latest career opportunities in San Antonio and surrounding communities:
The U.S. Department of Labor is looking for a Workers' Compensation Claims Examiner. Please go to www.dol.gov/owcp/dfec for more information.
The Austin Fire Department was on campus recruiting last week. Call Kevin Shuler at 512-974-0100 to receive more information on class start dates.
The San Antonio Housing Authority is looking for a Hearings Officer. Go to www.saha.iapplicants.com to view the job ad and to apply.
Choristers Guild, a non-profit organization in Dallas, needs a bookkeeper. Email your cover letter and resume to manager@mailcg.org. Write "POSITION APPLICATION" in the subject line.
The City of San Antonio is looking for a Special Projects Manager. Go to www.sanantonio.gov/jobs to apply. Call Rita Aguilar at 210-207-8108 for further information.
West needs to fill 350 full-time Customer Service Representative slots by December. Got to www.westemployment.com and click on the "APPLY NOW" icon. Select the Universal City, TX location only. Do not check boxes in the job category option. Then go to the West HR office to interview for the job. Call Maria Mireles at 210-200-0336 if you have questions.
The Transportation Security Administration are still looking for airport security screeners, intelligence specialists, program analysts, engineers, federal air marshals, and criminal investigators. Go to www.tsa.gov or www.dhs.gov/careers for application information.
The US Customs and Border Protection Agency has more than 40,00 agents and officers on duty. They need more. Go to www.CBP.gov for much more information and application instructions.
Allstate is recruiting for Bilingual Customer Service Representatives in San Antonio. Apply now at www.allstate.jobs and get more information. They have a $1,000 bonus for candidates with a current P&C license.
DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR THE
PAC CAREER LINK!!!
You can upload and manage resumes, search and apply for jobs, sign-up for resume writing and interview skills seminars, register for career events, and much more.
Businesses can call the CAT Center at 210-486-3131 to get information about registering, placing job ads and attending job fairs.
Call Larry Carter in the CAT Center at 210-486-3118 if you have questions. |
|
Did You Know?
About our campus growth
Palo Alto is expanding! We have added a new Performing Arts Center, Vet Tech Building and a Science, Social Science and Workforce Building! There is more to come as we continue to focus on the needs of our ever-growing student population.
New Performing Arts Center
We have a new, state-of-the-art performing arts center with an incredible auditorium, break-out rooms, conference room, class rooms, and much more. Check out the photos!
We offer innovative programs
Aviation, Horticulture, Turf & Lawn, Vet Tech, IT, Logistics & Supply Chain, Industrial Automation and more... one of a kind programs available at Palo Alto College!
About Reverse Transfer
In today's ever-changing working world, the more degrees you have, the more marketable you become!
The Reverse Transfer Degree Program is designed for students who have accumulated thirty (30) college-level credit hours at one of the Alamo Colleges and who have received a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited public Texas college or university. Once an official transcript is received documenting a student's bachelor's degree, the student will be approved for and notified if they are eligible for their Associate of Arts or Science Degree. For more information contact Rosie Castro, 210-486-3124 or at mcastro66@alamo.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Save 20%
Baby Besos, a Palo Alto Community Friend, offers a special discount rate for our Alumni & Friends! Check out their online store and enter discount code "PAC20" at check out.
Baby Besos is a small, minority, women-owned business offering unique and Latin-inspired baby and children's items. Everything from clothing to bi-lingual education tools, music and much more! "An Online Baby Boutique Celebrating Our Babies and Our Culture." | |
|
|
