2008 Woodie Awards
Luncheon Celebrates Transfers
Jessica Shaffer
Issue date: 5/23/07 Section: News
Hungry students transferring from Valley College attended the Transfer Alliance Program (TAP) and Career/Transfer Luncheon in Monarch Hall May 15 not only for the free food and the scholarships but also for the chance to say their goodbyes to the school.
"[The luncheon] was a really nice end to a long journey," said English major Holly Batty who is transferring to either the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) or the University of California, Berkeley. "It was also nice to see your friends honored for their achievements."
The program began with two Valley students playing a flute duet. Will Alvarado and Brian Lopez, who were honored for being admitted to California State University, Northridge (CSUN) this fall, played while students filed in.
Many students came to the event to receive their certificates of transfer and talk to representatives from universities. Representatives from seven local universities, including UCLA and CSUN, had tables set up along the back wall to talk to students.
Proportionally, Valley has the highest number of transfer students out of all 43 community colleges in the state, with more than 150 students accepted to UCLA. Berkeley accepted 50 students from Valley, which is the most that they have ever accepted according to Career/Transfer Center Director Synthia Saltoun.
The TAP program had 68 out of 72 students or 94.4 percent of its membership accepted to four-year institutions this semester.
A unanimous sense of pride and congratulations for the matriculating students emanated from all of the speakers, and it was also evident in guest speaker Mathias Gertz, who graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) and is a Valley alumnus.
"I am grateful for the community college system," Gertz said. "Without it I never would have [succeeded]. There is no doubt in my mind that I never would have applied to USC. . . . I will always be proud of the fact that I am a USC graduate but I am prouder still of the fact that the foundation . . . was here"
The hour and a half long program included a presentation of two awards to retiring TAP director and sociology instructor Tom Yacovone, who received an award from the Academic Senate for his 43 years of dedication and involvement on the campus and its governance. He was also awarded the first Career Transfer Center Outstanding Faculty plaque for his efforts to help students transfer.
After the transfer presentation and many pictures, eight scholarships were presented to 13 students. The scholarships ranged from $500 to$1,000.
"I cam here at 15 and was kind of a juvenile delinquent," said history major Nurhassan Guiamelon, who won the Patrons Association TAP Scholarship. "My future truly started here."
"[The luncheon] was a really nice end to a long journey," said English major Holly Batty who is transferring to either the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) or the University of California, Berkeley. "It was also nice to see your friends honored for their achievements."
The program began with two Valley students playing a flute duet. Will Alvarado and Brian Lopez, who were honored for being admitted to California State University, Northridge (CSUN) this fall, played while students filed in.
Many students came to the event to receive their certificates of transfer and talk to representatives from universities. Representatives from seven local universities, including UCLA and CSUN, had tables set up along the back wall to talk to students.
Proportionally, Valley has the highest number of transfer students out of all 43 community colleges in the state, with more than 150 students accepted to UCLA. Berkeley accepted 50 students from Valley, which is the most that they have ever accepted according to Career/Transfer Center Director Synthia Saltoun.
The TAP program had 68 out of 72 students or 94.4 percent of its membership accepted to four-year institutions this semester.
A unanimous sense of pride and congratulations for the matriculating students emanated from all of the speakers, and it was also evident in guest speaker Mathias Gertz, who graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) and is a Valley alumnus.
"I am grateful for the community college system," Gertz said. "Without it I never would have [succeeded]. There is no doubt in my mind that I never would have applied to USC. . . . I will always be proud of the fact that I am a USC graduate but I am prouder still of the fact that the foundation . . . was here"
The hour and a half long program included a presentation of two awards to retiring TAP director and sociology instructor Tom Yacovone, who received an award from the Academic Senate for his 43 years of dedication and involvement on the campus and its governance. He was also awarded the first Career Transfer Center Outstanding Faculty plaque for his efforts to help students transfer.
After the transfer presentation and many pictures, eight scholarships were presented to 13 students. The scholarships ranged from $500 to$1,000.
"I cam here at 15 and was kind of a juvenile delinquent," said history major Nurhassan Guiamelon, who won the Patrons Association TAP Scholarship. "My future truly started here."
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