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Alumni Spotlight
Live to Fly - Fly to Live!
By: Danielle Espinoza
Imagine a young boy, his face and hands pressed up against a large airport window staring with wide-eyed excitement as the airplanes ascended into a bright blue sky, his mother standing behind him as they waited for his grandmother, a civilian employee for the Air Force Defense Language Institute.
Charles Reyes had a passion for flying before he ever went on his first plane ride. Reyes had a curious love for the large machinery that could lift off the ground and fly straight into the sky like a large bird taking flight.
A native San Antonian, Reyes was raised by a single mother, who worked hard to complete the San Antonio College Nursing program. Looking back in time, Reyes remembers his mother's sacrifices and how he was always her first priority. "My mother provided everything for me so that I could have the best. She juggled school, work and me. Planes were important to me and I wanted serious planes, not the plastic ones little kids  played with! I wanted the serious model planes, because I was seriously into planes as a child. My mother would save money just to indulge me in my passion. She worked very hard."
A few years later, Reyes's mother re-married and the family relocated to Puebla, Mexico. He vividly remembers how different his school was in Mexico, dirt floors, outdoor accommodations, not at all like his catholic school in San Antonio. "I was nine years old. I went from attending St. Gregory Catholic School to a small indoor-outdoor school. It was a major adjustment, but I always knew I would go back to the United States."
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In the News
"Lean On Me" Campaign for the Monte Cristo Center great success for families on the Southside!
The first "Lean On Me" campaign proved to be a great success for  the Southside community with contributions from:
- Gordon Hartman Family Foundation
- Morgan's Wonderland
- Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas
- Red McCombs - Speedy Gonzales
- Palo Alto College
- Alamo Colleges - Student Leadership Institute
- Texas A&M University - San Antonio
- Place for Life Church
- Congressman Ciro Rodriguez
- Social Security Services - Southside Office
- Henry Finley and staff
- Mamosi beverages
- San Antonio Housing Authority
- Councilwoman Jennifer Ramos
- St. Bonaventure - Camp Joshua
- Dick "Lefty" O'Neil
- Cynthia T. - Big State Produce
- Robert Rios
- Rosie Alvarado
- Saint Susie Charitable Foundation
- Lowe's
- Longhorn Live Radio
- YMW Consultants LLC
- and many individual members of the community who volunteered!
Approximately 306 families (1,124 people) were provided a Thanksgiving meal with all of the trimmings. The Monte Cristo Center would like to thank everyone who pitched in to make the 'Lean On Me" campaign such a success.
Check out the article in Conexion by Javier Flores!
Click here to see photos of the event!
Monte Cristo Center's "Christmas with a Cause"
"Christmas with a Cause" is a holiday event to benefit 1,000 children  (infant - 12 yrs) with a christmas gift.
On Saturday, December 18, join the MCC for a winter wonderland event! Donate a gift today!
For more information go to www.montecristocenter.bbnow.org
VA Approves Funding for Professional Pilot Degree
 Palo Alto College's Associate of Applied Science in Professional Pilot degree has been approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as an authorized program for military veterans using their Post 9-11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) benefit.
The degree prepares students for careers as air carrier pilots, general and corporate aviation pilots, instructor pilots and agricultural pilots. Tuition, fees and special fees for the degree are covered under the Chapter 33 benefit allowance in proportion to the veteran's eligibility rating. PAC's Veterans Affairs Office will be the point of contact for military veterans with questions
concerning the pilot program and their Chapter 33 benefit.
For more information, please call 486.3113.
Air Traffic Control Program Receives $200,000 Grant from U.S. Department of Education
Palo Alto College has been awarded a one-year $200,000 federal  grant for its associate degree program in Air Traffic Control.
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the noncompetitive Congressionally-directed grant to PAC for further development of the Associate of Applied Science degree in Air Traffic Control.
It follows a $285,000 grant that was awarded in July 2009, announced PAC Career and Technical Education Dean Gary Shelman. The $200,000 grant will be used to develop curriculum, establish a library collection at Stinson Municipal Airport where classes are taught, and purchase technology and equipment.
 Classes are taught at Stinson Municipal Airport and include general education and general aviation courses as well as four courses in Air Traffic Control. PAC also offers aviation programs in Aviation Management, Aviation Security and Professional Pilot. Short-term certificates are available to prepare private pilots, multi-engine pilots, instrument pilots, commercial pilots, and flight instructors.
It is the only college on an airport in South Texas. PAC makes a concerted effort to aid its students, who are primarily Hispanic, first time in college, first-generation college students, and low-income. The grant seeks to draw more Hispanics and females
into the aviation industry.
For information about the aviation technology program, contact Aken at 210.486.3065 or jaken1@alamo.edu
PAC HOSTS DVD DRIVE FOR
LANDSTUHL HOSPITAL CARE PROJECT 
Thanks to the donation of more than 300 DVDs from the Palo Alto College community, wounded American service-members in the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) in Germany will have a batch of new movies to watch while they recuperate over the holidays.
Anna Bustamante, Chairperson of the PAC Kinesiology department, joined forces with the campus' Veterans Affairs office to launch a DVD drive that concluded in November for the Landstuhl Hospital Care Project, a non-profit organization that provides comfort and relief items for military members who become sick, injured, or wounded from service in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan.
"I became aware of the Landstuhl Hospital Care Project about six months ago when my mom was admitted to the hospital," Bustamante said. "My mom came to know several wounded warriors from all over the world. During daily rounds the staff mentioned there was a shortage of DVDs for the soldiers to watch while recovering. I felt that collecting DVDs for them was the least I could do to thank them for standing tall and guarding our freedom."
 According to the Landstuhl Hospital Care Project website, the LRMC is the largest American military hospital outside the United States. Donations to the LRMC are done through the Wounded Warrior Ministry Center, which allows all in-patients, out-patients, LRMC liaisons and nurses, and medical escorts access to donated supplies.
Bustamante kicked-off the collection drive on the Navy's birthday, Oct. 13, by setting up collection points in the Student Center and the Gymnasium. The drive concluded on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. The DVDs were then sorted, arranged and boxed for shipment Nov. 30.
Along with being the largest American hospital outside the U.S., the LRMC is the evacuation and treatment center for all injured U.S. service-members and contractors, as well as members of 44 coalition forces serving in Afghanistan, Iraq, as well as Africa Command, Central Command, European Command and Pacific Command. |
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Program Highlight
Palo Alto College - Aviation Department
Soaring to Incredible Heights
The aviation program is growing . The program increases student enrollment every semester. The aviation campus is located on Stinson Municipal Airport, the second oldest operating airport in the country. (Stinson Airport)
"It's a great honor to work here, and what a great place to have an aviation college," said Jon Aken, Lead Aviation Instructor.
PAC offers three degree plans in Aviation Management  AAS, Professional Pilot AAS, and the newest degree plan for Air Traffic Control Basic AAS.
The Management Program is the core and the other two programs are built around the management core. Students obtaining this degree are able to work in any entry level management position in the aviation industry. The ATC program is a prep program to prepare students for the AT-SAT test to enter the Air Traffic Control Academy. All students who attend the Air Traffic Control program are required to go through the academy.
The flagship program is the Professional Pilot AAS. When one graduates with this degree he has all the FAA mandated certificates required to be a flight instructor. Students are equipped to start their own business the day they graduate.
A new degree plan is in the works for an Aircraft Dispatching program. The dispatcher is the person who prepares all the flight plan, and the aircraft weight and balance for the pilots in the airline industry. The goal is to open the program in the fall of 2011.
"I invite all to come out and visit us, see the airport, have lunch at the café and take part in the aviation history of the city of San Antonio," said Aken. PAC continues to expand programs and prepare students for a bright future.
For more information on the Aviation program click here. |
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Career Link
Looking for Career Opportunities?
The Center for Academic Transitions announces the latest career opportunities in San Antonio and surrounding communities:
University Health System is looking for a part-time Employee Relations Coordinator to assist employees and managers in interpret policy. Have your resume ready and go to www.UniversityHealthSystem.com/hr to apply. UPS needs part-time Package Handlers and Seasonal Driver Helpers immediately. Apply today at www.upsjobs-problemsolved.com/yahoo1. The Republic of Texas Restaurant on the Riverwalk is hiring Servers for the holiday season. Experience is preferred. Call Cheryl Franklin at 210-223-4881 to make an appointment to complete an application or go directly to their website at www.therepublicoftexasrestaurant.com. Liberty Tax Service is hiring seasonal Tax Preparers for the upcoming tax season. Apply early to get the first training classes. Send your professional resume and cover letter to Hector Saenz at hector_saenz@libertytax.com. NEWS4 WOAI is looking for a full-time Graphics Designer with initiative and desire to produce high-end animation and image promotion. Send a cover letter, resume and sample of your work to David Stotts at davidstotts@woaitv.com. Oblate Missions is seeking a Direct Mail Fundraising Manager to work 35 hours per week. You must have knowledge of the Roman Catholic Church and philosophy with 5 years of marketing experience. Bachelor's degree required. Apply today, at www.oblatemissions.org. Jefferson Bank needs a Mortgage Processing Supervisor with 5 years of experience in mortgage loans plus supervisory skills. Apply today at www.jeffersonbank.com. APX Alarm is hiring Customer Service Field Technicians to help customers protect their homes and businesses. High school diploma required. No alarm experience needed. To apply today go directly to their website at http://hostedjobs.openhire.com/epostings/submit.cfm?. San Antonio Housing Authority needs Client Services Representatives to provide accurate information to program participants. Must have a high school diploma or GED and 2 years of customer service experience. Apply to this public agency at http://saha.iapplicants.com. San Antonio Housing Authority also needs full-time Administrative Specialists to perform professional and technical services for assigned departments. High school diploma or GED required and 1 year of secretarial or clerical work experience. Prefer typing test with at least 40 net words per minute. Apply at www.saha.iapplicants.com. |
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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 & Landscape, 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 |
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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." | |
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