Arizona’s newest Americans hail from Canada and England, India and Nigeria, and 58 other countries.  They speak a multitude of languages and ply a potpourri of trades.  Some are here alone; others have large families. A few are newlyweds.  But the estimated 300 people cheered, clapped and waved American flags after they were declared United States citizens Monday July 4^th. 2011 during a ceremony at South Mountain Community College.

“I am happy,” said Victoria Kanu, 75, grinning from ear to ear.

She wore a red and white traditional Nigerian dress and sported large gold hoop earrings.

“I am very happy.”

Another newly minted citizen, Angelica Valdibia, 21, is from Mexico, as are a great number of the newest citizens.

“I am so proud to be an American,” Valdibia said. “I can vote!”

Valdibia and Kanu were among hundreds of new citizens, family members and friends who packed the auditorium for the 23rd annual Fiesta of Independence, held every year on the Fourth of July to celebrate citizenship.

“It is also significant for the people of Phoenix . . . to see how people take the legal steps to citizenship,” said John Kamar of U.S. Citizenship and Naturalization Services.  The newest Americans must be at least 18, have lived in the country at least five years and be “of good moral character.”  They must read, write and speak English, and be familiar with U.S. government and history.

U.S. District Court Judge Earl Carroll urged the crowd to learn English well and participate in elections.  The new citizens had a chance to register to vote at the end of Monday’s event.  “You have the same rights and the same privileges as a citizen that I have,” Carroll said

By George Young

(gayoung@cox.net)

This is a series of articles profiling some of the residents who live and work in the South Mountain/Laveen Villages.  In keeping with the original format of the Villager to only print the positive, we will attempt to acknowledge some of the great folks that have contributed so much to our lives and are hopefully role models for all of us.  The South Mountain Villager would like to welcome Dr. Shari Olson to our community and our campus.

Dr. Olson served in various leadership roles at Northland Community and Technical College, a multi-campus college in East Grand Forks and Thief River Falls, Minnesota.  She also served as a faculty member at United Tribes Technical College, Bismarck, N.D. While there, she developed an associate degree program in Early Childhood Education and completed her master’s degree at North Dakota State University with research on learning styles of adult students. Dr. Olson is a first generation college student and earned her Bachelor’s Degree at the same institution. She earned her doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at the University of North Dakota.

Dr. Olson was selected to participate in the League for Innovation’s Executive Leadership Institute in Phoenix and the American Community College Trustees’ Leadership Academy, Washington, D.C. She also attended the National Institute for Leadership Development and Leaders for Change. She has received several awards, including the 2008 Exemplary International Leader Award from the Chair Academy and induction into Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Upsilon Omicron honor societies.  She’s not an actual SMCC employee yet, but incoming President Dr. Shari Olson received a wonderful parting gift from her colleagues in Minnesota this spring: she was selected the Minnesota College President of the Year, for her service at Anoka Technical College in Anoka. It was the first time the award had been given to an Interim President.

Says Dr. Olson: “My year has been filled with amazing happenings.  I have been so fortunate to have this challenging assignment.  Many lives have been changed, including mine.  I am looking forward to starting my assignment at SMCC on July 1st!”, and so are we.

God Bless the Dr. Shari Olson and God Bless America and God Bless the South Mountain/Laveen Village’s.

By George Young

Twenty-three years ago, a group of South Mountain Village residents and South Mountain Community College got together and decided to host a 4^th. of July event for people wanting to become citizens.  The College gym became a court room with an esteemed Judge and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services presiding.  The first year fifty new citizens were sworn in, the numbers grew every year and one year we had four hundred and fifty and the Fire Department said that was too many as each person brings his own cheering section.  So we cut back to three hundred and fifty and this year we will be doing two hundred and fifty.  The event has become a community event and we average two thousand visitors.  We have a speaker, sometimes from Washington D.C., a Color Guard, patriotic music and every candidate gets an American flag.  There are refreshments following the program and mementos for the kids.  This event is sponsored by the South Mountain Community College, South Mountain/Laveen Village Festival Inc., and South Mountain/Laveen Chamber of Commerce.   What better way to celebrate our nation’s birthday than to welcome new citizens from over sixty countries to our diverse community.

Scholarships Assist Single Parents Who Have Come Back to College

SMCC and the Dorrance Foundation Help Students in Need

A limited number of tuition scholarships are now available to single parents who have returned, or will return, to college after a break of at least one year due to family demands or other commitments.

South Mountain Community College has teamed with Dorrance Scholarship Programs to establish a scholarship program designed specifically for single parents. Criteria include the following:

• They must be sole providers for their family
• They must be continuing their education after an interruption of one year or longer
• They must demonstrate financial need
• They must be currently enrolled at South Mountain, Glendale, Phoenix or Mesa Community Colleges
• A cumulative 2.75 GPA is required
• Applicants must be pursuing an Associate’s Degree (AA) or approved program

In addition, applicants must demonstrate evidence of motivation and potential for higher education.

Awards are available for as much as $4,000 annually, for a maximum of six semesters (three years), and are renewable.

Application must be received or postmarked by application deadline of April 29, 2011, at 5 p.m.

To apply, visit www.dorrancescholarship.org.

Those interested should contact SMCC Program Advisor Christopher Erran, at 602.305.5607, or via e-mail at christopher.erran@smcmail.maricopa.edu.

For more information regarding the scholarship program requirements and application, visit www.dorrancescholarship.org

South Mountain Community College is located at 7050 S. 24^th Street in Phoenix, just north of Baseline Road.

South Mountain Community College is one of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges.

By George Young

(gayoung@cox.net)

This is a series of articles profiling some of the residents who live and work in the South Mountain/Laveen Villages.  In keeping with the original format of the Villager to only print the positive, we will attempt to acknowledge some of the great folks that have contributed so much to our lives and are hopefully role models for all of us.

The Good Folks at South Mountain Community College, with assistance from Ironco Inc. volunteered on MLK day at Rosa Linda Elementary School   located at 12^th. Street and East Wier and planted trees, painted walls, doors, fences and playground equipment.  There were about 100 students show up for the Day of Service event.

My friend Anthony Gathers, (Tony) received the Calvin C. Goode Lifetime Achievement Award in January. - Anthony Gathers, owns Ageez Barbershop, located at 542 West Southern Avenue.  He mentors youths by giving them jobs and free hair cuts while providing them tutoring services with the help of Mr. Jim Welter of One Body Collaboratives, Inc.  Call 602-323-0511 for more information.

God Bless America and God Bless the South Mountain/Laveen Village’s.

SMCC & Ace Auto Repair Offer General Auto Repair Class,

March 26 & April 2

WHAT:

Students will learn how to perform their own routine automotive maintenance and repairs in a two-session non-credit class offered by South Mountain Community College.

Students will learn how to:
change engine oil and oil filter; change wiper blades and check fluids; understand warning lights on dashboard; perform minor maintenance on the electrical, ignition, and cooling systems; troubleshoot the braking and suspension systems; change a tire; check tires for proper inflation and uneven wear; and determine the need for professional automotive repair and select proper service. The class is taught by Dick Sellers, owner of Ace Auto Repair. Mr. Sellers has been serving the South Mountain community since 1981, and is an active member of the South Mountain/Laveen Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Central, Northern & Western Arizona Better Business Bureau. Class will be held on two Saturdays, March 26 and April 2, from 8:00 a.m. to Noon.

WHERE:

Class meets at Ace Auto Repair, 5010 S. Central Ave., in Phoenix (between Southern Avenue & Broadway Road).

FEE:

The cost of the training is $40.

REGISTRATION:

Register for CONT_ED 32292 online at my.maricopa.edu  or call 602.243.8123.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Call: 602.243.8034 E-mail: smcc@smcmail.maricopa.edu.
South Mountain Community College is one of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges.

For additional information about South Mountain Community College, visit www.southmountaincc.edu

Save money by learning routine automotive maintenance and repairs

WHAT:

Students will learn how to perform their own routine automotive maintenance and repairs in a two-session non-credit class offered by South Mountain Community College.

Students will learn how to:

• change engine oil and oil filter;
• change wiper blades and check fluids;
• understand warning lights on dashboard;
• perform minor maintenance on the electrical, ignition, and cooling systems;
• troubleshoot the braking and suspension systems;
• change a tire;
• check tires for proper inflation and uneven wear; and
• determine the need for professional automotive repair and select proper service.

The class is taught by Dick Sellers, owner of Ace Auto Repair. Mr. Sellers has been serving the South Mountain community since 1981, and is an active member of the South Mountain/Laveen Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Central, Northern & Western Arizona Better Business Bureau.

WHEN:

Class will be held on two Saturdays, November 6 and 13, from 8:00 a.m. to Noon.

WHERE:

Class meets at Ace Auto Repair, 5010 S. Central Ave., in Phoenix (between Southern Avenue & Broadway Road).

FEE:

The cost of the training is $40.

REGISTRATION:

Register for CONT_ED 67422 online at my.maricopa.edu  or call 602.243.8123.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Call: 602.243.8034

E-mail: smcc@smcmail.maricopa.edu.

Dr. Ken Atwater has been selected as the new President of Hillsborough Community College based in Tampa, Florida.

Atwater, who had served as President of South Mountain Community College (SMCC) in Phoenix, Arizona since 2001, will assume his new duties July 1, 2010.

Hillsborough Community College serves the residents of Hillsborough County, Florida, including the cities of Tampa, Brandon, Riverview and Plant City.  The college oversees seven campuses throughout the county, and serves an enrollment of more than 45,000 students.

“I am honored to be selected as President of Hillsborough Community College, and to succeed Dr. Gwen Stephenson, who has done an outstanding job in leading this highly-respected institution,” said Atwater.

Prior to his arrival at SMCC in 2001, Dr. Atwater served as Vice President for Student Services at Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek, Michigan.  For three years prior to his position at Kellogg, he served as Vice President and Dean of Students at Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland.  He has also been Vice President for Student Development Services at Midlands Technical College in Columbia, South Carolina; and Dean of Students at Catonsville Community College in Catonsville, Maryland.

Atwater earned his Ph.D in Higher Education (with a focus on community colleges) from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois in 1989. He earned a Master of Science degree in Guidance and Counseling in 1978 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech/Theater and Sociology in 1977, all from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky.

“I believe my 25 years in community college administration and ten years as a college president has prepared me well for this challenge, and I am greatly looking forward to it,” Atwater said.

South Mountain Community College, this year celebrating its 30^th anniversary, is one of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges.  For additional information about the college, visit http://southmountaincc.edu.

SOUTH MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE OFFERS TWO NEW HEALTHCARE TRAINING PROGRAMS

In an ongoing effort to create new career opportunities for Valley residents, South Mountain Community College (SMCC) is proud to announce two new health care job training programs.

As the baby boomer generation ages, health care will continue to be one of the fastest growing sectors of the US economy.  SMCC, in partnership with Boston Reed College, is now offering courses to train individuals to become Pharmacy Technicians and Clinical Medical Assistants. This training will give students the tools they need to find entry level positions in this stable and lucrative field.

Pharmacy Technicians help pharmacists package or mix prescriptions, maintain client records, refer clients to the pharmacist for counseling, assist with inventory control and purchasing, and collect payment and coordinate billing.

Clinical Medical Assistants help physicians carry out procedures, care for patients, perform basic lab tests and administer medications.

The cost of the training is $2,595, including books and supplies, and financial aid is available.  Classes will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., beginning December 1, 2009.  The Clinical Medical Assistant program continues through March 11, 2010, while the Pharmacy Technician program runs through April 15, 2010.  The programs also include externships (on-the-job training) of 120 to 160 hours in the Phoenix area.  The Pharmacy Technician curriculum includes materials to prepare students for the national Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) examination.  For more information, call the SMCC Career and Technical Education Office at 602.243.8034, or e-mail smcc@smcmail.maricopa.edu.

They said it couldn’t be done.

But guess what?  We did it.

When South Mountain Community College was created three decades ago, more than a few thought the school would not survive. An institution of higher learning built in Phoenix, south of the Rio Salado? Many had their doubts.

But we did it.

And this year, South Mountain Community College will mark 30 years of providing quality instruction to students and serving the educational needs of our community.

It was on August 23, 1979 that ground was broken for a permanent college campus near the intersection of 24^th Street and Baseline Road in Phoenix.  And from that day forward, South Mountain Community College has been “the little college that could.”

The smallest of the ten colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District, South Mountain arose from truly humble beginnings. The main campus was built on a tiny budget, using portable buildings, and offering classes in local elementary schools and churches along the way.  A small but committed faculty was assembled, meager in number but rich in spirit, some of whom continue to teach at the college today, and all with the commitment to students that quickly established SMCC as “the college with a heart.”

But we didn’t merely survive—we thrived!

And the main reason for our success is inherent in our name:  community.  South Mountain Community College was created and uniquely equipped first and foremost to serve our community….an extremely diverse array of homes, neighborhoods, ranches and farms that span the Baseline corridor, from Ahwatukee and Guadalupe on the east to Laveen on the west.

And among the residents of this unique and dynamic section of the Valley of the Sun were many individuals for whom a college education had been only a dream.  Our college was created for those residents, to help them attain their educational goals in a friendly and supportive environment, and show them that one’s accomplishments are limited only by the extent of one’s desire and willingness to work.

Yes, we built it, and they came—more than 100,000 students over three decades, with many thousands of those students leaving with degrees and certificates, well prepared to take the next step in pursuit of their chosen careers.

As such, the college has served as a beacon of progress for Phoenix, and the South Mountain Village in particular.  And over the decades, the college has grown along with the community.  Those original temporary structures that were built with uncertainty 30 years ago have slowly been replaced and edified with the permanence of bricks and mortar.  And bold new structures, like our Technology Center and award-winning Performance Hall, have further strengthened the college’s presence and added distinction and character to the community landscape.

Regional SMCC centers were created to serve unique and vibrant student populations in Guadalupe, Ahwatukee and Laveen.  And investments in property made in those communities will ensure a presence for the college for years to come.

And soon we will break ground on yet another exciting addition to the college campus: the South Mountain Community Library, created jointly with the City of Phoenix, and designed to serve not only our students but the residents and families of the South Mountain Village.  This new structure, scheduled for grand opening in the summer of 2011, will be yet another step forward in strengthening the ties between college and community.

The theme for our 30^th anniversary celebration is “Celebrating the Vision: 30 Years of Excellence,” and we are looking forward to many exciting events and activities throughout the 2009/2010 academic year.  You’ll find a calendar of events and much more by following the “30^th Anniversary” link on our college Web site, at www.southmountaincc.edu.

If you have not had opportunity to experience our campus, I hope you will take advantage of the exciting activities we are presenting this anniversary year, and visit us soon.

In the meantime, we at South Mountain Community College will prepare for our next 30 years by holding true to our institutional vision: educating lives; transforming minds; touching hearts; and building community.

We invite you to share in that vision.

The conference will consist of three different workshops led by speakers with different areas of expertise:

-          The Drug Enforcement Agency, DEA agent, Roderick Garza will lead a workshop on the effects marijuana has on the South Mountain Community,

-          A Not my Kid advocate will share personal testimony and implications of drug abuse on individual and family,

-          Arizona Department of Juvenile Court representative will focus on legal consequences.

Closing remarks will be led by active Peer Leaders from the RSD who will present their involvement in the Safe and Drug free South Mountain Coalition.  The Youth Town Hall conference is made possible by the founding and donations of Magellan of Arizona, South Mountain Community College and the Roosevelt School District.

Seeking solutions, Creating Change

Southwest Behavioral Health Services (SBH) is community-based agency that provides behavioral health services to individuals and families throughout the valley for over 30 years. Some of the services include outpatient, community integration, crisis recovery and community services.

Community services, as division of SBH, provides prevention and early intervention, care for children, youth, adolescents, adults and families through a variety of programs. Such as FAST (Families and Schools Together), LST (Life Skills Training), Bullying Prevention, PART (Peace and Respect Together), Second Step, Guiding Good Choices, Project Alert and CYDP (Community and Youth Development Program).

CYDP provides youth and their families with fun and interactive opportunities for life-long growth and development through activities that are designed to challenge and support youth. Through such, youth gains and enhances the skills needed to achieve today and in their future.

Peer Leaders from RSD took an active part in the Youth Town Hall creative process. More importantly, it is especially gratifying for them to showcase their hard work and efforts and receive well-deserved recognition.

Almost 70 star-gazers viewed the celestial heavens through the lens of its new

Desert Skies Observatory telescope at

South Mountain Community College in November.

“Jupiter and Venus were visible until 8 p.m. when cloud cover occurred,” noted Marshall Logvin, faculty. “It was exciting to spend even a short amount of time in the new observatory. We expect many more wonderful evenings.”

The SMCC Desert Skies Observatory is located on the north side of the campus, at

7050 South 24th Street

The next stargazing events will be in February and April 2009.

Times and dates will be announced soon.