Congratulations, Graduates!May 05, 2012 · with stickers, markers and stars – the very...

Montgazette.wordpress.com a student publication

FREE

Serving Montgomery County Community College and the Surrounding Community May/June 2012Issue 38

Photo by Nicole Weising

Congratulations, Graduates!

WorldCultureat MCCCPage 3.

WorldCultureat MCCCPage 3.

Jessica Lowenstein / The Montgazette

May/June 2012T H E M O N T GA Z E T T E

Managing AdvisorDiane VanDyke

Advisory StaffAlana Mauger

Faculty EditorialAdvisor

Harry Yanoshak

Design & LayoutJoshua Woodroffe

Michelle DiTullioMegan HaneyJimmy JohnsonJessica LowensteinSean MckeeKayla Sheely Contributing Staff

The Staff

Editor-in-ChiefAmanda Dioszeghy

AdvertiseThe deadline for the September 2012 issue is August 20.

If you would like to advertise in The Montgazette, please contact [email protected] or visit montgazette.wordpress.com for pertinent information.

All clubs chartered through the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement may advertise in The Montgazette free of charge.

WANTED!Student Journalists

Report on a wide range of content: • news • sports • arts • entertainment • music • community events • ...and more!

Let Your Voice Be Heard!

The Montgazette is looking for Central & West Campus writers.

For more information, email Amanda Dioszeghy at [email protected]

We are always looking for news about the college, but we can’t keep track of it all without your help.

We welcome contributions and suggestions from students, faculty and staff of Montgomery County Community College. Whether it is a no-tice of an upcoming event, a special accomplishment by one of our own or just a “heads up” about something newsworthy, please let us know.

Thanks!

All content is subject to approval by our editors.

About

The Montgazette is published on the first Tuesday of every month from September through December and February through May by the students of Montgomery County Community College.

The Montgazette is printed by Montgomery Newspapers in Exton, PA.

Have a story idea?Want to write for the paper?Ready to get involved and take the challenge?Like our Facebook page, The Montgazette, and let us know. Or tweet us @Montgazette.

Visit us at:

Montgazette.wordpress.comFull Color Photos • Mobile Device Friendly • RSS Feed

New Student Blog:

Student VoicesIt’s easy to get lost in the crowd at a community college. Yet many students don’t realize that they aren’t alone in their struggle to find “community” at their community college.

Montgomery County Community College has developed a new student blog, Student Voices, to expose students to its unique campus life.

The blog provides an outlet for students to share their experiences at MCCC. Student Voices will open students’ eyes to the opportunities for getting involved on campus. Students who want to get involved should email Alana Mauger, Director of Communications, at [email protected].

Student Voices exists to connect students with each other and create a sense of community. It demonstrates that many community college students share similar struggles and experiences.

Visit: mc3students.wordpress.com

May/June 2012 T H E M O N T GA Z E T T E

by Robert GardnerMontgazette Staff Writer

On Wednesday, April 18, the Mont-gomery County Community College International Club held its third annual “International Night” in College Hall and offered event-goers the opportu-nity to sample food and culture from more than 25 countries. The evening marked the successful culmination of planning that began last fall. With 25-30 active members, the International Club is the umbrella organization for many other clubs at MCCC. The college boasts “hundreds of foreign-born students,” according to Dilek Arig, Associate Director of ESL and International Student Services. “We appreciate our students’ hard work,” Arig said, referring to the event.

“It’s great to see so many willing to par-ticipate.” Arig said she understands the needs of international students be-cause she was one herself, having left Turkey to attend nearby Gwynedd-Mercy College. “International students feel home-sick,” she said. “These types of activi-ties make them feel at home.” International Student Adviser Gretchen Merryman, who lived in Palestine for six years, said there are 150 international students with visas attending MCCC. To celebrate Inter-national Night, Merryman dressed in a tribal robe from the Ramallah region of Palestine. Merryman and Arig also advise ESL Café, a group of 10-15 stu-dents that meets each Wednesday.

Continued on page 8.

MCCC’s Night Around the WorldThe 3rd annual International Night invited students to

sample food, fun and culture from more than 25 countries.

Jessica Lowenstein / The MontgazetteHospitality students serve fellow students and community membersfoods from around the world.


by Barbra BatemanMontgazette Staff Writer,Relay for Life participant

“Is somebody walking around the track?” Yes, someone was walking around the track. And someone was playing football in the middle of the quad. Someone else was dancing in the ATC, and someone was watch-ing a movie in the Science Center. Others performed on stage for a talent show or listened to the bands while they walked the track. Heck, there was even some-one napping high up in a tree in between taking turns on the track.Welcome to the 2nd Annual Re-lay for Life at Montgomery Coun-ty Community College. Year Two was a little dif ferent and wonderful still, as 214 participants and some onlookers converged on the school’s Central Campus on Friday, April 20. Their ef forts have, so far, raised $17,750 for the American Cancer Society. Last year, excited by the prospect of the college’s first Relay for Life, I was one of hun-dreds who raised money and raised awareness. I turned up for the relay itself excited, having spent part of the day “warming up” on a local track with a child-hood friend who was undergoing treatment for colorectal cancer. Training to build my stami-na had been part of my thinking, and weekly planning, for a few months before. I misted up as the ceremonies opened – as we heard inspiring stories of those who’d gone before, both living and dead, and those stories were honored. I did that this year, too, and likely always will.

We all cheered and clipped around the inside of the track to rally the survivors during their special lap, and followed them when everyone began walking the inside of the College Hall quad in their wake. Checking out the scene, putting up my tent, putting down my head and stating to my tiny team, “Tap me on the shoulder when you want me to spell you guys.” Check, check, check. I meant it, and I expected to spend a good part of the night tapping in and tapping out – walk-ing around the track. The next thing I saw was the sunrise. What followed was the best night’s sleep I had gotten in weeks, ac-companied by the biggest dose of guilt I’d felt in a long time. “It’s no big deal,” said Bet-sy Harbison, the American Can-cer Society staff member who served as liaison to the college’s event. “That’s exactly what hap-pened to me on my first try.” This year’s opening lu-minaria ceremonies, chillier and a bit sparser than last year, hit me as hard as that sunrise. Alan Poindexter, president of the African-American Student League, and chairman of that club’s Relay team, read a poem entitled “A Letter to My Dad” that could level anyone emo-tionally right in the gut. “All that was good, all that was just is forever in us and thus may my mother never go an-other day without the warmth of your touch. May your spirit heal wounds with the power of love. May those in this room never take another moment for granted.” Those words rang fresh. My own mom had shown up for the Relay, as had my significant other,

to honor my decision to walk and to support both our families. Poindexter described a great grief mixed with joy. “In the darkness your light paves a way for the morrow.” Luminaria in the center triangle of the academic quad of-fered words of encouragement for all, appreciation of those with cancer and remembrances of those who have passed on. Their white paper bags were decorated with stickers, markers and stars – the very impermanence of the little candles inside itself a sym-bol of the fragility of the moment. As the night went on, over-night activities started up and the campus took on the feel of a camp-out. A “Mr. and Mrs. Relay Contest” and a talent show featur-ing instrumentalists, bands, sing-ers dancers and even a quick-sketch artist were additions to this year’s event , supplementing the singers and bands of the in-augural year’s relay. Cheerers and bullhorns egged on those who stayed up all night, too. “College-based relays are different,” said Barbara Shaeffer, associate professor of nursing at the college and an enthusiastic walker with the Nightingals & Guys Relay team. “They’re over-night and you cannot reach out into the community.” Shaeffer said the efforts must come out of the college community itself: “I’d love to see more alums and faculty get in-volved.” In their campus-based effort, the nurses and their sup-porters had, so far, raised more than $5,000 of the college’s total. The following teams par-ticipated this year: Adventure Club, African-American Student League, Art & Literary Maga-

zine, Cancer Sucks, Cure IT, DC All-Stars, embr(ACE), Individu-als, L’Chaim, LOA, MA-Stangs For Life, Mad chicks for Mare, Native Americans, Never Say Never, Nightingals & Guys, Psalm 104:33, Roentgen’s Rays of Hope, SGA, Solomon, Souled For A Cure, Stem Cells, Stu-dent Veterans Organization, The Witty Walkers [Honors Club], Thrive Club, Thrive Club West, Volt Workforce Solutions and Writers’ Club. At the closing ceremonies, event co-chairs Aly Murray and Jessica Stewart were able to an-nounce their robust total, and they were joined with a rag-tag assortment of up-all-night ma-niacs and keeners who had, in-deed, joined them in walking the track. In the walkers’ aban-don and the intense work put in by the planning committee and staff, Montgomery County Com-munity College earned every penny the American Cancer So-ciety will see to help heal those who face cancer. Murray said the point of the event was to “ensure there will be more birthdays in the world.” She told her peers: “You don’t want to have to know any-one who has cancer.” Relayers’ good intentions and great works did the college proud this year. Your chance to help runs through August.

Survivor: MCCC, The Relay

To donate to the 2012 Re-lay for Life of Montgomery County Community Col-lege, go to http://main.acsevents.org and click on any team or individual walker’s name.


by Sara CalcinoreSpecial to The Montgazette

Next semester be on the lookout for the newest addi-tion to Montgomery County Community College’s campus: a community garden. The community garden is the brainchild of second-year student Sarah Munson, and inspired by Professor Wayne Brew’s Geography of Food colloquium, which Munson took in the fall. The garden will be dedi-cated to the memory of James McAndrew, a MCCC graduate who was murdered last year. “This way James will be able to live on at MCCC,” Munson said. The garden is to be lo-cated near the daycare center and bookstore. This location will provide easy access to the garden by students, the cafete-ria and children. The starting date of construction is yet to be determined, but is planned to begin sometime this summer. There will be many envi-ronmentally friendly aspects of the garden, as there are plans to incorporate compost as well as a rain barrel system to reduce water use once the garden is planted and begins to grow. Also, the garden is planned to be all-organic, which will not contribute to the use of pesticides and other chemicals on campus. As planned, the garden will feature a variety of vegetables and herbs as well as insect re-pellent flowers. A portion of the garden’s production will be used by the student organiza-tions who volunteer at the gar-den and another portion will go to the cafeteria. The student or-

ganizations involved will be able to use their crops for personal use or to sell at fundraisers. The community garden will not only allow students the opportunity to grow their own food, but will also serve as an educational tool to teach students about gardening and food production. Also, its convenient location near the daycare center will allow the children easy access to the gar-den and will teach them about plants, gardening and nature. The community garden will benefit MCCC by provid-ing environmentally friendly food as well as hands on gar-dening experience to students and faculty. The garden will also be a great tool in promot-ing environmentally sustain-able methods of food produc-tion which is an important step in preserving the environment and our world. Munson acknowledged the help of the Climate Com-mittee, Jerry Coleman, Charles Scandone, Jenna Klaus, Chris Coia, as well as the many other faculty mem-bers who have been involved with this project. “It’s been a project that has joined faculty along with students together to create!” Munson said.

Green Thumbs Have a Place at MontcoFALL 2012 TRANSFER APPLICATION DEADLINE

J U N E 1Temple has great opportunities for MCCC students!• DualAdmissions,withSCHOLARSHIPSavailable• Core-to-Core• Program-to-Program• VisityourTransferOfficeformoreinformation

Montgomery County Community College and Temple University: Partners in Education since 1998

Want to continue taking classes in Montgomery County? Then visit Temple University’s Ambler Campus!

TransferDecisionDayfeaturing on-the-spot admissions decisions*May23,9:30a.m.-5:30p.m.byappointmentonly(267-468-8100)*See website for complete details and eligibility

Find out more!www.ambler.temple.edu 267-468-8100

Students can become in-volved with the community garden no matter their ma-jor or experience. Interest-ed students should contact Munson at [email protected] or the Student Leadership Office in or-der to become involved.


Move up to UC. Transfer Opportunities. Working on your associate’s degree? Move up to UC.

UC combines many of the advantages of a large university with the intimate learning environment of a small college. We offer:

◆ Maximum credit for classes taken at other institutions◆ Generous financial aid options, including additional merit assistance

for Associate’s Degree graduates◆ 37 Bachelor’s programs and 22 Graduate programs◆ Outstanding faculty◆ A high level of personal attention◆ State-of-the-art learning facilities on campus

Utica collegeTradiTion. opporTuniTy. TransformaTion.®

Toll-Free: [email protected] ◆ www.utica.edu


by Richard MeyersMontgazette Staff Writer

When one has a rich social life, year-round summer weath-er, and a career plan in mind, it makes sense to stay in place and continue being awesome. But as we all come to real-ize, the universe often has oth-er plans. Meet Montgomery County Community College Class of 2012 graduate Marisol Savage. After high-school gradua-tion in 2010, she was uprooted from her hometown of Upland, Calif., and shipped far east to the city of Philadelphia to live with her father. Leaving most traces of her K-12 life behind, she enrolled at Montco with plans of completing Psycholo-gy and Criminal Justice majors. Her career goal was to become a criminal profiler for the Fed-eral Bureau of Investigation.

She then learned to dance. Dance? Yes, dance. Watch as her life takes an-other spin toward the unknown. Watch as this 19-year-old takes a leap into the cultured and rich experience of the liberal arts. Besides being a giant geo-graphical leap, moving from suburban California to Penn-sylvania proved to be signifi-cant cultural shock. The new slang words, social interaction, wearing of jackets and exis-tence of public transportation took some getting used to. Focusing on improving her grades and educational moti-vations took even more of a change. Marisol reminisces: “When I came to Montco, I wanted a full experience. My time spent in high school wasn’t the most

Continued on page 9.

MCCC Class of 2012: A Graduate’s Tale

Why attend Immaculata? Your associate degree is worth more to us. When you enroll full-time* you will receive an additional $1150 grant per year. This award will be an add-on to the financial aid package that you receive.

Immaculata offers: · Fixed-rate tuition for two years · Over 60 majors, minors and

certificate programs · Internships in all majors · Community service opportunities

Added value for your associate degree

CONTACT:Chris Mayerski610-647-4400 ext. 3044 [email protected]

SCHEDULE A VISIT:www.immaculata.edu/admissions/cus/visitIU is located on the Main Line between Malvern and Exton, 20 miles west of Philadelphia.

*College of Undergraduate Studies

www.immaculata.edu

Cthis ad?

Of course you do!

...and so do thousands of others!

For advertising info:email [email protected] or call 215-461-1143


MOBILE BLACKBOARDStay informed with the new Mobile Blackboard App

—anytime, anywhere!

Instructions:

1. Visit your app store

2. Search for “Blackboard Mobile Learn”

3. Install app

4. Search for MCCC (full name)

5. Login with your credentials

Did You Know?

MCCC President, Dr. Karen Stout,

has her own radio show!

Yep, MCCC on the Air.

Visit www.mc3.edu/radio to listen to your classmates,

instructors and friends.June 5th & July 10th

Night Around the WorldContinued from page 3.

International Club President Mustafa Mohammed said the festi-val is an important opportunity for everyone in the MCCC communi-ty. He also serves as President to the Muslim Student Association, which meets 12:10 p.m. Monday in ATC Room 201. The Iraqi-born biology major plans to transfer to Temple University in the fall. “Not only for international stu-dents, it is important to have this so Americans can learn of other cultures,” he said. Erich Lichtscheidl has been teaching at MCCC for three years, though this was the first time representing his native Austria at the gala. His table offered cured meats, cheeses and Austrian mus-tards. His position as Coordinator

of Foreign Languages affords him many chances to see the school’s diversity firsthand. “It’s a very nice event where all cultures come together,” he said. “That’s the most impressive part. It’s good to see so many peo-ple having fun.” Celebrating the spirit of diver-sity, many students volunteered their time and energy to ensure a fun time for all. Ahn Nguyen of Vietnam and Korean-American Won Jung worked the welcome table while vice president and secretary of International Club Sarah Fequi-ere acted as resident face painter. With so much going on, the students’ cultural pride was on full display. “They feel valued,” said Arig.


Graduate’s TaleContinued from page 7.

productive and I – as well as my parents – wanted to see a positive change. Like most, I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to pursue, but Liberal Studies seemed to be the op-tion which would expose me to my interests as well as introduce me to new ones.” With a full course load of 15 credits per semester, Marisol was challenged and inspired. And with the freedom of class options, she was able to explore her interest in dancing and theater while pursuing a criminal justice degree. Through clubs and events outside of school she remained involved with her goals. Throughout her first year, she became involved with the college’s Dance Ensemble and explored clubs

such as Gay-Straight Alliance. She eventually joined the African-Amer-ican Student League. She enjoyed helping them set up weekly open Mic Wednesdays for performers in the ATC, and later brought light to current social concerns such as the Trayvon Martin shooting death in Sanford, Fla., and other acts of vio-lence through the Pictures for Peace initiative. Outside of school, she has taken extensive dance workshops at Penn State University, and auditioned in casting calls for TV sitcoms. Reflecting on her years at Mont-co, Marisol feels a sense of accom-plishment and gratitude. SShe will continue her educational pursuits as she moves on to Temple University’s Class of 2014. Her plans include pur-suing a career in theater and dance after completing graduate work in criminal profiling at the University of Pennsylvania.

Courtesy of Marisol Savage

Graduate Marisol Savage discovered her passion for dance while pursuing her degree at MCCC.


SPO

RTS by Robert Gardner

Montgazette Staff Writer

Everyone remembers how the Eagles’ last off-season played out. After a long lockout, the NFL opened its doors and the flood-gates opened. To describe the Eagles’ moves as aggressive is an under-statement. Nnamdi. Babin. Trading Kevin Kolb for Dominique Rog-ers-Cromartie. 1,000-yard rusher Ronnie Brown, as a backup. And Vince Young. Ah, V-Y. Who could forget his comment? After making an off-handed remark that his new squad could be considered a “Dream Team” of sorts, Young ensured that the Ea-gles would have a spotlight shin-ing squarely upon them for the entire season. Sadly, for the Birds and their fans, the season ended with a disappointing 8-8 record – not good enough to make the playoffs. To make matters worse, the Giants won the division with a 9-7 record and then went on to win the Super Bowl. Needless to say, the Eagles needed to make some changes.

Gone are free-agent busts Vince Young and Ronnie Brown. Gone is disgruntled cornerback Asante Samuel. Head coach Andy Reid, GM Howie Roseman and com-pany started building the 2012 squad by trading for linebacker DeMeco Ryans. With the annual draft this April, many “experts” are declaring the Eagles early off-season winners. Holding the 14th pick, the Eagles traded with the Seattle Seahawks, up to the 12th pick and selected defensive tackle Fletcher Cox from Mississippi State. Imposing at 6’4” 298 lbs., Cox is known as a “high motor” guy, meaning he goes full-speed on every play. The Eagles de-fense struggled to stop the rush in 2011, and it’s hoped Cox will help plug the middle and keep opposing rushers from break-ing upfield. The Eagles held two picks in the second round, where bol-stering their defense remained the focus. They continued to add to their linebacker corps when they drafted Mychal Kendricks from the University of California with the 46th pick. At a shade

over 5’11”, Kendricks may be considered “undersized” for the position. However, what he lacks in height is made up for with strength and energy. Kendricks is an excellent tackler, something the Eagles sorely lacked all over the field in 2011. Sticking to defense, the Ea-gles added depth to the outside of the line by taking 6’3”, 266-pound defensive end Vinny Curry with the 59th pick (from Green Bay). Many draftniks have pegged Cur-ry as the steal of the draft. Consid-ering he played his college ball at Marshall, he slipped down to the third round; had he played in the SEC or Big Ten, he would have gone somewhere in the late-first or early-second rounds. Another “motor” guy, Curry makes plays by getting to the passer or dis-rupting running lanes. The Eagles switched gears in the third round, opting to add depth to the quarterback position, selecting Nick Foles from Arizona with the 88th overall pick. With Vince Young gone, the only back-ups on the current roster were Mike Kafka and Trent Edwards. Kafka looks great holding a clip-

board, while Edwards has never wowed anyone. Though he lacks mobility, Foles has size, at 6’5”, and a good accurate arm, perfect for a West Coast offense. In the fourth round, the Ea-gles selected cornerback Bran-don Boykin of Georgia. Again, the Eagles were seeking to add depth to a position that let them down in 2011. With Samuel gone, the Birds needed to fill a spot and Boykin does just that. A gifted athlete, Boykin can also help the Eagles in the return game. The remainder of the draft focused on the offensive side of the ball. In the fifth round, they added a monster of a man, 6’8”, 304-pound offensive tackle Den-nis Kelly from Purdue. Wide re-ceiver Marvin McNutt from Iowa was taken in the sixth round, with the 194th overall pick, acquired from Denver. Also in the sixth round, at 200 overall (from New England), the Eagles took offen-sive guard Brandon Washington from the University of Miami. With their final pick, 229th overall in the seventh round, the Eagles selected running back Bryce Brown from Kansas State.

Do the Eagles Need a West Coast Offense?Montgazette staff writer Robert Gardner reviews the Eagles’ picks in the 2012 draft.

ATTENTION STUDENTSWork around classes, no experi-ence needed, customer sales/service, FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES,

$15.00 base pay/appt. Scholarships awarded, GREAT

RESUME EXP. All Ages 17+ CALL OR APPLY ONLINE NOW!

Bucks Co 215-343-9102Ambler 610-757-0074

KOP 610-410-8103WorkForStudents.com

Catch the latest

Mustangs Sports

See the scores at:

www.mustangsathletics.com


Quality You Can Afford!The Cost to Complete your Bachelor's Degree

or Certificate at Villanova is Less Than You Think!

You belong at Villanova University if…You Are:

• A Working Professional

• A Community Leader

• A Parent

• A Montgomery County Community College Graduate

You Wish to Pursue a Career in:• Accounting

• Business Administration

• Information Systems

• Leadership*

• Media & Technology*Leadership Studies program available at MCCC West Campus

We Offer You:• Guaranteed Admissions (for MCCC A.A. and A.S. students

pursuing Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree programs)

• Community College Merit Tuition Scholarships

• Phi Theta Kappa Scholarships

• Online and 7-Week Classes

• Flexible Scheduling

Find out what Villanova can do for you.

Attend an Open House:

Wednesday, June 20, 2012 • noon – 7 pmMention this ad and we’ll waive your application fee!To register:parttime.villanova.edu • 610.519.4561

Villanova has been ranked#1 Best Regional University inthe North by U.S.News & WorldReport for nearly two decades!

The Campus shuttle runs between the Central and West Campuses and will resume in the fall.

For more informa-tion, visit: mc3.edu/campuslife/shuttle


Montco’s Got TalentStudents shared their musical, dance and other talents during the inaugural Montco’s Got Talent competition on April 13. The winners had the op-portunity to perform at the College’s Relay for Life event on April 20-21.

Amanda Dioszeghy / The Montgazette

Congratulations, Graduates!May 05, 2012 · with stickers, markers and stars – the very...

Documents

Transcript of Congratulations, Graduates!May 05, 2012 · with stickers, markers and stars – the very...