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HONORS IN THE NEWS
JOIN US IN CONGRATULATING OUR HONOR STUDENT JERRON PONDER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF 'SHERLOCK HOLMES'
| 'SHERLOCK HOLMES' AIMS TO PLEASE |
| Thursday, September 29, 2011 |
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After 100 actors showed up for the auditions for Orange Coast College’s fall production of Sherlock Holmes, director Alex Golson knew the show would be a winner.
“A lot of people like Sherlock Holmes,” Golson said. The play will run for two weeks from October 14-23 in the Drama Lab Theatre. Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Friday through Saturday, October 14, 15, 21 and 22 with Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. on October 16th and October 23rd. A special free performance for OCC faculty, staff and students will take place on Friday, October 21st, at 12:30 p.m.
 General admission tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. OCC students, senior citizens and children under 12 can purchase tickets for $6 in advance and $8 at the door. Tickets are available at the OCC Bursar’s Office at 714-432-5880 or online at www.occtickets.com.
Theatre arts student Jerron Ponder of Costa Mesa is helping out as assistant director. Theatre arts professor Rick Golson is handling lighting and special pyrotechnic effects that promise to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
The Theatre Department hasn’t staged a play based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s popular sleuth since 2003. Several cast members didn’t plan to try out for a play this fall until they saw the Sherlock Holmes audition call for 24 actors. Golson added four additional roles to accommodate the large number students who wanted to be part of the production.
It’s a young cast, according to Golson. “We have a lot of new students who are really dedicated. They’re working really hard.”
Despite their youth, several students have acting experience, including plays at South Coast Repertory and in community theater. First year student Emmalyn Jouglet, who plays damsel in distress Alice Faulkner, is a veteran of SCR and Newport Harbor High School’s theater program. The actress didn’t plan to get involved in campus theatre during her first semester, but she couldn’t resist “Sherlock Holmes.”
“I love Sherlock Holmes,” Emmalyn said. “I’ve always been a fan.” She is enjoying her experience at OCC and is quickly making friends with cast members. “People here are really welcoming.”
Another student with SCR experience is Isabella Chavez, who had her acting and high school career interrupted by auto-immune disease. She participated in Newport Harbor High School’s drama program, but transferred to Monte Vista and Back Bay High School when her illness made it difficult to attend traditional classes. Isabella won a scholarship to attend OCC and hopes to transfer to UCLA. One of her dreams is to enroll at Yale University’s Graduate School of Drama.
In her second semester, Isabella is relishing her role as the Match Girl and a street singer in the play, which is set in the 1890s. “I’ve always enjoyed this era,” Isabella said. She said the show’s talented cast brings a lot of “fun, positive energy.”
Chris Arnold, a Huntington Beach resident and graduate of Irvine High School, is in the lead role of Sherlock. A second year student, Chris admits he’s a “big Sherlock fan.” Raymond Mau, a third year theatre arts student and graduate of Fountain Valley High School, will play Dr. Watson. “Watson was always my hero,” Raymond said. “It’s an honor to play him.”
Nathan Stanton, a Trabuco Hills high school graduate, will play Professor Moriarity, Sherlock’s archenemy. “It’s a lot of fun to be evil, to be slimy–something other than a boy scout,” Nathan said. He predicts the show will be a hit. “We’ve got the cast, director and crew to do it well.” In his third year at OCC, Stanton has previously performed in “Hamlet,” “As You Like It” and “Spoon River.” He plans to continue drama studies at UC Irvine or UCLA.
Allie Smith, a 2008 OCC graduate, is a full-time preschool teacher who earned a degree in child development at Cal State Fullerton. The Huntington Beach resident and Marina High School graduate plays Mrs. Hudson, Sherlock’s landlady. She enjoys the atmosphere in the OCC Theatre Department so much she frequently returns to the Drama Lab Studio as a volunteer actor. “I like to get to know the students and break them in,” Allie said. “I love it. That’s why I can’t leave.”
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STUDENT COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER REALIZES 'DREAM COME TRUE' AT OCC
Thursday, May 12, 2011 (reprinted from Coast to Coast)
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Sergio Sorza | Delivering a four-minute speech at Orange Coast College’s commencement ceremony on May 25th will be a pivotal moment in the life of student Sergio Sorza.
The audience will include Sorza’s parents, his older sister, 12-year-old brother, a small army of friends and relatives, as well as a cheering section from OCC’s Puente Club.
Sorza, who is club president, will graduate with 20 credits of honors classes on his transcript and a 3.73 GPA, an achievement which paved the way for his admission to UCLA as a political science major. “It’s a dream come true,” he said.
The Orange High School graduate always wanted to be a Bruin. Counselor Linda Bagatourian “was phenomenal,” Sorza said. She helped him with his educational plan and recommended OCC’s Honors Program, which has articulation agreements with UCLA. “Without her, I wouldn't have known what to do,” he added. "Taking Honors was one of the best decisions I made here.”
Sorza recalls Stephanie Wells’ English 101 Honors course. “It was toughest class I ever took, the hardest ‘B’ I ever worked for.” But the experience helped him to polish his writing skills, which he put to good use drafting his commencement speech.
The student received a “C” on his first essay. “Professor Wells expected nothing but the best from me,” Sorza said. “I learned about the hard work I could put into classes. It made me realize I was capable of much more, that I can do top notch, four-year, university work. I’m glad I got that here–at a two-year college.”
Although OCC is a two-hour bus commute and his family shares a single car, Sorza was determined to enroll at OCC after he visited the campus on Senior Day.
“Senior Day opened my eyes,” he explained. “The clubs were engaging, especially Puente Club. There is something about OCC that is compelling. It gives you the feel of a four-year school.”
He enjoys the diversity on campus, which includes students of all ages and backgrounds. “I met people from Germany, Sweden and Egypt,” Sorza said. “That’s something you would expect at a four-year, but you get it here.”
In high school, Sorza had been involved in drumline and student government; he competed in varsity cross country and volleyball. However, he was forced to abandon extracurricular activities to support his family financially. “I began slipping in everything,” Sorza admits, especially when his 20-hour week at McDonald’s expanded to more than 30 hours when he was promoted.
Fortunately, the family crisis ended, and Sorza was able to devote himself to school full-time after he enrolled at OCC.
Although he didn’t get involved in campus activities immediately, Sorza participated in Coast Day with Puente Club last spring and was soon making plans for the club’s Salsa Night, a fundraising project for earthquake victims in Haiti and Japan. Club members encouraged Sorza to run for office, and he was elected president.
The Puente Club has been an important resource for him as a student, and he has helped other students as a mentor. Puente Club members helped him rehearse for the commencement speech tryouts and celebrated when he was selected as commencement speaker. It is the first time a “Puentista” has presented the graduation speech. The title of his speech is “Audacity of the Future.”
Sorza learned of the tryouts on MyOCC. “I saw it as a challenge. I love pushing myself, even though I got a ‘B’ in my speech class,” he said. “I felt I needed to step up to the plate and take that opportunity.” OCC's 2011 commencement speaker admits that “good speaking doesn't come naturally to me.” When he was in elementary school, “I had a stuttering problem.” He worked to overcome it and gave his first public speech in middle school when he ran–and won–his first election.
As commencement speaker, Sorza hopes to share his experiences at Coast. “I do encompass what OCC stands for,” he said. The slogan, “We’ll help you get there,” is true. “It’s a place where you can succeed.”
| ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN WATER CONFLICT ESSAY TAKES GARRISON PRIZE |
| Thursday, April 28, 2011 (reprinted from OCC's Coast to Coast e-newsletter) |
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Cassandra Cushing | Cassandra Cushing’s interest in the Middle East led her to write an award-winning essay that delves into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over water distribution rights.
Her efforts won the Tom Garrison Prize, including a $500 scholarship, presented at the college’s recent Green Day event. The competition, open to OCC Honors Program students, is named after the professor of marine science, who is one of the Honors Program founders.
When she graduated from high school in northern Nevada, Cushing decided to take a break from classes and began working full time at a golf course. Four years ago, she moved to Southern California to help a friend who was having health problems.
Until this month, the 26-year-old Irvine resident was juggling a full-time position at the Pelican Hill Golf Resort and a full load of 14 credits, including Honors classes. Despite the workload, she has maintained a 4.0 GPA at OCC. Her goal is to transfer to UC Irvine or UCLA. Cushing recently married and her new husband is supportive of her decision to pursue a degree in political science.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the Middle East, even before 9-11,” Cushing said. She used “old school” research techniques using five sources including three books. One of the books was by author and water expert Steve Solomon, who was guest speaker for Green Day. “I tried to understand both sides of the issue,” she added. The student completed research over a three-week period and knocked out the 3,000-word paper in 12 hours.
Cushing enrolled at OCC because of its attractive campus and the college’s transfer articulation program. “It was like a no-brainer to come here,” the Honors student said.
She registered for Lee Gordon's Honors business class after taking his class in international business. “I like his style of teaching,” she said, especially the way he correlates curriculum with current events. “I really like all of my teachers,” she added.
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DOCUMENTARY FILM SERIES AND SYMPOSIUM
"DEMOCRATIZATION OF INFORMATION"
APRIL 26 - MAY 5, 2011
A variety of documentary films addressing issues surrounding increased information access and its consequences will be screened each afternoon from 4:30 - 6:30, Tues, Weds, and Thursday (April 26, 27, and 28) and Mon, Tues, Weds (May 2, 3, and 4) in Fine Arts 119. Additionally, two more documentaries will precede an Honors Symposium featuring five of OCC's honors faculty discussing these same issues from their disciplinary and other perspectives, May 5. The final films will show at 1:00pm and at 2:30pm at the RB Moore Theatre. Extra credit slips will be available at each screening and at the symposium (extra credit is offered at the discretion of the instructor -- check your professor's policies). The films included in this series are:
April 26: Digital Nation Technology and Society
April 27: Why We Fight How We Went to War in Iraq
April 28: Secrecy Are We Safer for Our Secrets?
May 2: Tapped Bottled Water: What You Should Know
May 3: Food, Inc. The Industrialization of Food
May 4: Outfoxed An Analysis of Bias in the Media
May 5: Inside Job A Look at the Wall Street Meltdown (Academy Award Winner)
May 5: WikiRebels Wiki Leaks and Their Role in World Events
May 5: Honors Symposium Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Democratization of Info
Ken Parker, Moderator
Dean Abernathy, Architecture
Denise Cabanel-Bleuer, Spanish
Tom Dowling, Art
Marilyn Kelly, History
Don't forget to check "Honors Events and Conferences" for other important announcments.
| STUDENTS PRESENT RESEARCH AT HONORS CONFERENCES |
| Thursday, April 07, 2011 |
Six Orange Coast College honors students presented research at last week’s California Honors Transfer Council 2011 Student Research Conference at UC Irvine, and two OCC presenters returned home with scholarship awards.
Shana Schreiber, a Huntington Beach resident, won the Director’s Award for outstanding abstract and Exemplary Achievement Award for her presentation, “An Examination of the Effects of Organic Pesticides on Plant Health.” Her mentor is Kelli Elliot, assistant professor of biology.
Also earning an Exemplary Achievement Award was Qui Pham of Garden Grove for “A Remedy for Recession,” mentored by Michael Olds, economics professor emeritus.
Lorena Acuna, mentored by psychology instructor Jennifer Koontz, presented “Increasing Dopamine Release to Experience Euphoria...Addiction of Methamphetamine.”
Art professor Irini Vallera-Rickerson mentored student Alison Onusz in her presentation of “The Getty Kouros: A Seven Million Dollar Mistake,” while Sabrina Solouki offered “Simulcra: No Meaning, Truth or God,” under the guidance of Stephanie Wells, associate professor of English.
Jordan Potter presented “Degradation of the Sign: How Derrida Has Destroyed Meaning, Time, and Reality.” He was mentored by Karen Felts, assistant professor of English.
Four OCC students traveled to Park City, UT, with Honors Program coordinator Ken Parker to participate in the Western Regional Honors Council 2011 Conference March 31-April 2. Jordan Potter and Qui Pham presented their papers, while Jaz Bonnin was honored for artwork, “The Climb,” which will be published by the WRHC in the 2011 “Scribendi” anthology.
Sarah Renteria, who also attended the Park City conference, was recognized earlier this year when she represented OCC in the college’s first appearance at the 2011 Association of Core Texts and Courses Student Conference in Malibu.
“We were the only California community college chosen to participate,” reported Honors Program office coordinator Terry Scarbrough. Along with students from top tier schools all over the United States, Renteria presented “The Water Nymph,” which was also selected for the post-conference publication. She is mentored by Ken Parker. |
| WATER EXPERT TO SPEAK AT OCC'S GREEN DAY APRIL 6 |
| Thursday, March 17, 2011 |
Originally published in Coast to Coast 3/17/11
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Steve Solomon |
Water will be the focus of Orange Coast College's Green Day activities on Wednesday, April 6.
The Distinguished Speaker Series will present author Steve Solomon in a presentation, “Water Is the New Oil,” at 9:30 a.m. in the Robert B. Moore Theatre. Admission is free, and the public is invited to attend.
The lecture will be followed by the presentation of the first annual Garrison Prize for excellence in research writing by honors students. This year's submissions were to address a scientific, geographic, political, historical or economic aspect of water. The First Prize award of $500.00 will be presented by Marine Science Distinguished Professor and Co-Founder of the OCC Honors Program, Tom Garrison. Following the Solomon program there will be special exhibits from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the campus quad. The “Oceansafe” rainwater capture system developed by a Costa Mesa company, Shaw & Sons, will be on display. A showcase of electric, hybrid and fuel-efficient vehicles is also planned.
Event sponsors include OCC International Business Club, OCC Marine Sciences Club, Orange County Prius Club and Plug In America, a nonprofit organization that promotes the use of electric and hybrid vehicles.
 Solomon is author of “Water, The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power, and Civilization,” a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in 2010. Hosts for the Green Day presentation are OCC oceanography professor, Tom Garrison, and the Marine Science and International Business Programs.
Solomon’s work has been published in The New York Times, Business Week, Forbes and Esquire. In addition, he is a regular commentator on NPR’s Marketplace. He has appeared on BBC-TV, CBS Evening News, Fox News, NPR’s All Things Considered, Talk of the Nation and Larry Mantle’s AirTalk.
The author also addressed the Carnegie Council, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), NYU’s Law and Security Institute, World Policy Institute, World Affairs Council and delivered keynotes to the Water Environment Federation and WaterSmart Innovation.
A previous book, The Confidence Game (Simon & Schuster 1995), presciently warned about mounting dangers in the volatile global financial system. Solomon lives with his family in Washington, D.C.
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Honors Transfer Certification for UCLA, UCI and UC Berkeley
For Fall 2011 Admissions Applicants
Deadline: February 28
Students currently enrolled in the Honors Program and who have applied to UCLA, UCI and/or UC Berkeley for Fall 2011 admission AND will complete their Honors Program requirements for transfer priority consideration are required to schedule a counseling appointment and submit certification forms to an Honors Counselor (Dr. Carol Barnes, Linda Bagatourian, Eric Cuellar or Eileen Tom) no later than February 28, 2011. Certification requirements can be found under the "Program Requirements" link on the menu at left.
Certification requires confirmed enrollment in the OCC Honors Program (application filed and accepted). If you have completed honors coursework but have not yet applied, please DO SO IMMEDIATELY in order to take advantage of this important benefit. Certification is especially important if you have applied to any of the most highly-selective majors within the Colleges of Letters and Sciences at UCLA, UCI and Berkeley.
Questions? Contact the Honors Office:
Phone: 714.432.5601
Email: hpro@occ.cccd.edu
Visit: Watson Hall, 287
| OCC Grad Achieves Dream: Ivy League Education at Columbia |
Friday, January 21, 2011
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 An Orange Coast College instructor who “always made me believe that anything was possible” suggested that transferring to Columbia University might be an option for Gordon Redmond. Two weeks before fall classes began, Redmond got the good news: he was going to New York City.
“I had a goal to get into UCLA,” Redmond said, but Denise Cabanel-Bleuer, an OCC Spanish instructor who also chaired the college’s Honors Program, encouraged him to apply to Columbia’s School of General Studies, one of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges specifically for nontraditional students like Redmond, 27.
As the youngest of 11 children and self-supporting as soon as he graduated from high school, attending college wasn’t a clear option for Redmond. He tried to enroll enrolled in classes, but found juggling employment and attending school challenging.
“School was always in the back of my mind,” the OCC alumnus admitted. It took a full-time job opportunity with Ricoh, a global manufacturer of copying machines, to make him realize he had to choose between a career without a college degree or the brighter future that education could bring.
Redmond took a lower paying, part-time job at Trader Joes and renewed his commitment to attending college. He selected OCC because of its successful reputation as a transfer school.
“I loved OCC from the minute I got here. I was feeling like I was too old to be here, but faculty and staff encouraged me more than anything,” Redmond said. “Going back to school was a rush….I definitely think it’s paid off.”
Redmond, an avid reader who enjoys losing himself in books, is majoring in English at Columbia. “I definitely have a passion for literature,” he explained. “I love character development.” He dreams of becoming a writer himself. “I love letting my mind run on paper.”
If he has any advice for other students, it would be “don’t be afraid.” Redmond is looking forward to the challenge he faces at an Ivy League university. “I’m excited to see how Columbia molds me.”
Ask Gordon about his OCC experience. Email him at gmr2124@columbia.edu or visit him on Facebook.
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Co-Founder of the OCC Honors Program and Honors Oceanography Lab Professor
TOM GARRISON TO RECEIVE 2010 PACIFIC REGIONAL FACULTY AWARD |
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From Coast to Coast online newsletter: Thursday, September 30, 2010
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Orange Coast College marine sciences professor Tom Garrison, Ph.D., will receive the 2010 Pacific Regional Faculty Award at the Annual Community College Leadership Congress sponsored by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) on Oct. 21st in Toronto, Canada.
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Tom Garrison | The award is presented each year to the top community college faculty member in each of ACCT's five regions in the United States. The ACCT is a non-profit educational organization representing 6,500 elected and appointed trustees who lead 1,200 community, technical and junior colleges nationwide.
Dr. Garrison, honored as OCC's first-ever Distinguished Professor last year, was nominated for the ACCT award by the Coast Community College District Board of Trustees. The ACCT Pacific Region includes six states, including California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Hawaii and Alaska.
One of the college's longest-tenured faculty members, Dr. Garrison began teaching at OCC in 1969. Both of his children, John and Jeanne Allen, attended OCC and rowed for the Coast crew. Dr. Garrison lives in Newport Beach with his wife, Marsha. They enjoy spending time with their grown children, their spouses and two granddaughters.
Jeanne followed her father's footsteps and teaches elementary school in the Newport Mesa Unified School District. "Many of the parents of her students were students of mine," Dr. Garrison said, "BUT–and here’s the fun part–she has been teaching long enough that some of her students are now my students! How cool is that!"
The ACCT Pacific Region Faculty Award is the latest recognition on Dr. Garrison’s long resume. Past honors include “Outstanding U.S. Marine Educator” by the National Marine Technology Society, the Salgo-Norens Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching and 1997 OCC Faculty Member of the Year. He also received the University of Texas National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Award for outstanding contributions to teaching and learning.
Dr. Garrison is the author of “Oceanography,” one of the best-selling oceanography textbooks of all time. The textbook, in its 7th edition, is available in three languages and has been studied by 200,000 students throughout the world. He was also writer and science advisor for the award-winning television series “Oceanus.”
As a regional ACCT faculty award winner, Dr. Garrison is a candidate for the prestigious William H. Meardy Faculty Award presented to the nation's top community college instructor. The winner will be announced at the convention.
"I am just stunned by the whole thing," Dr. Garrison said. Although he travels frequently, including annual trips to Hong Kong to lecture at Hong Kong University, he has never been to Toronto.
Dr. Garrison teaches the large group section for Oceanography in the Robert B. Moore Theatre, and also teaches Education A200, "The Teaching Profession," with OCC leadership studies and management professor Greg Clark, who was one of Dr. Garrison's doctoral students at the University of Southern California.
This year the professor's favorite class is his Oceanography honors lab. "The honors group this year is one of the best I've ever had," he said.
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| Eric Cuellar was named a new Honors Program counselor earlier this year. He will join counselors Carol Barnes, Linda Bagatourian and Eileen Tom. Counselor Steve Goetz retired from many years of dedicated service to the Honors Program at the end of the spring 2010 semester. We wish him a happy new life in retirement and send a warm welcome to Eric! |
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| Geography Professor Wins State Educator Award |
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Tuesday, June 01, 2010 (reprinted from Coast to Coast online newsletter) |
Irene Naesse in Chile |
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California Geographical Society Honors Irene Naesse
Irene Naesse, professor of geography [including Honors geography] at Orange Coast College, has won the 2010 Outstanding Educator Award at the 64th annual meeting of the California Geographical Society.
The Outstanding Educator Award, established in 1975, is presented to a college or university faculty member who has been recognized by students and peers for inspirational contributions to geographic education.
Naesse, a Laguna Hills resident, said the award was totally unexpected, but she was pleased that a community college educator was chosen from among teachers throughout California. Many past recipients have been from four-year institutions. It is the first time an OCC faculty member has won the prize.
Naesse discovered her love for geography as a community college student at Fullerton College. She earned BA and MA degrees in geography from San Diego State University. She has been teaching geography classes at OCC since 2001.
“Geography is really a state of mind, a way of looking at the landscape as the result of both physical and human processes,” Naesse said. “I hope that when students leave my class, they understand and appreciate the role that geography plays in shaping their own landscapes.”
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OCC STUDENT WINS PRESTIGIOUS JACK KENT COOKE SCHOLARSHIP |
Thursday, April 29, 2010 (reprinted from Coast to Coast online newsletter)
Credits English professor and newly-appointed Honors Program Coordinator, Ken Parker, as "one of the most influential people in [her] life" |
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Bahareh Abadian | Orange Coast College honors student, Bahareh Abadian, 20, has won the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship for community college students who exhibit exceptional promise.
Bahareh heard the news this week from Dean of Students Kate Mueller, just as she was confiding her concerns to Mueller about how she would find money to pay for college expenses at a four-year university.
Mueller couldn’t wait to tell Bahareh about the Jack Kent Cooke award that is designed to pay a major portion of a student’s undergraduate expenses including tuition, room and board, books and other educational fees. The amount of the award varies with each student’s need, but can be as high as $30,000 a year until the student earns a bachelor’s degree.
Since 2002, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has awarded generous scholarships to approximately 50 community college students annually. It is the third time a student from Coast has won the award.
Bahareh, who will enroll at UCLA this fall, was in tears as she heard the good news. Soon she was on the phone to her mother, Manijeh Ardeshiri. The two women live together in Tustin.
The family has faced tragedy. Her father died tragically, and her 11-year-old brother was killed in a car accident.
The student lived in Iran until she was 15, but emigrated with her mother to the United States as refugees because they were Zoroastrians, Bahareh explained. The ancient religion was once the main religion in the Persian empire, but today its followers are a minority that face discrimination in Iran. Because she is not Muslim, Bahareh said she would not be allowed to pursue an education there.
Bahareh’s favorite aunt, a medical doctor, died from cancer just one month after she joined Baraheh and Manijeh in the United States. The loss sparked the honor student’s interest in oncology and her desire to become a doctor.
Her aunt was passionate about helping her patients, Baraheh said. “From bringing new children into the world to comforting patients leaving it, from treating a scraped knee to referring a patient to a surgeon, she touched the lives of the young and old, the healthy and sick,” Baraheh said. “The loss of my 34-year old aunt to cancer was a shock that changed my life.
“It is hard for me to accept that we are still unable to find a cure for cancer. My professional vision is to become an oncologist and to do research that will help prevent future deaths to this disease.”
Following the example of her aunt, who believed that “each of us makes a difference in countless others' lives,” Bahareh joined OCC’s Relay for Life team that will meet at the OCC Track on May 22 to raise funds for cancer research and awareness.
After relocating to the United States, Bahareh enrolled at Marina High School where she excelled academically even though English was a challenge. She continued her success at Orange Coast College, where she joined the honors program and has a 3.94 grade point average, tarnished by a single “B” mark she received in one of her classes.
Although Bahareh is a star student, she is modest about her achievement and even downplays her role as a student leader. She seized the opportunity to engage other students by joining numerous OCC clubs, including two honor societies, the EOPS Honors Club, Doctors of Tomorrow and the Persian Student Society.
Attending OCC has been a “great experience,” Bahareh said. She quickly took on a variety of positions in the clubs, found new friends and gained leadership experience.
She also finds time to encourage friends struggling in their classes. “It feels so good to help friends out,” she explained. She tells them, “You have to work a little, but you can get there.”
Bahareh also volunteered at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, where she helped out in the emergency room. The experience cemented her desire to pursue a career in medicine.
When she is not studying or volunteering, Bahareh enjoys dancing and performs traditional Persian dance. She also plays the tombak, a Persian goblet drum. “I love dancing,” she said. “It gives me so much energy.”
At OCC, Bahareh said her instructors have been “really inspiring,” especially chemistry professors John Laux and Thomas Mucciaro. Math professor Sonia Avetisian “was awesome, so supportive.” She also praised English instructor Ken Parker. "He has been one of the most influential people in my life."
Steve Tamanaha, OCC’s EOPS director, worked closely with Bahareh during her three years at OCC. “Bahareh is a student who achieves greatness with grace and humility,” he said. “She leaves OCC with a great legacy of high academic achievement and ‘giving back’ to her fellow students.”
Bahareh and her mother are both in the process of becoming United States citizens and hope to be sworn in next month. |
Watch this space for a recap of the Western Regional Honors Council Conference
in Jackson Hole, WY - April 8 - 10, 2010
2010 HONORS TRANSFER COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH CONFERENCE
March 6, 2010
Orange Coast College students shone at the 2010 Honors Transfer Council of California Conference. Twenty-two OCC students were among the more than three hundred presenters who spoke and showcased posters on a wide number of topics (see below). In addition, of the fifty-one student volunteers at the conference, twenty-three were from OCC! So much to be proud of!
A number of faculty mentors and honors counselors supported the presenters by attending the conference. Also present was new OCC President Dr. Dennis Harkins, who was invited to participate as a guest judge for the poster competition.
Just some of the 60+ OCC presenters, volunteers and attendees.
Speaking of which, Jeannie Cross and Shivani Saxena were not only awarded an honorable mention for their beautifully produced and compelling poster on antibacterial soaps, each also won a UCI Student Research Grant. Not to be outdone, Sonya Ercout and Tran Luong (to the left in the photo) took home Exceptional Achievement Awards.
To see more photos of the event, click here.
Great job, everyone!
- Posted 3/8/10
HTCC Conference Showcase! Support your fellow OCC students as they prepare for the 2010 Honors Transfer Council of California Conference (see announcement below). The Showcase will take place on Monday March 1 from 9:00am to 4:00pm in the Student Center Lounge. Come when you can, leave when you must. Refreshments and Extra Credit Sign-up Available. Click here for a schedule.
On a related note, if you're interested in attending the 2010 HTCC Conference (UC Irvine, Saturday, March 6, 8:30am-4:30pm), the Honors Program will cover a limited number of registrations for students. Contact the Academic Honors Office (hpro@occ.cccd.edu or 714.432.5601) to see if there are any spots left. As an alternative, you may wish to VOLUNTEER at the conference. Students who facilitate at least two sessions will have their registrations covered, and receive complimentary breakfast and lunch. Click here to sign up!
- Posted 2/28/10
A record 25 OCC students accepted to present at the 2010 Honors Transfer Council of California Student Research Conference! - Posted 1/25/10
Happy New Year, and Happy New Semester! I’m happy to welcome you back with some wonderful news-- a record 25 Orange Coast College students have been accepted to present at the 2010 Honors Transfer Council of California Conference, to be held at UC Irvine on Saturday, March 6th. Some of you may remember that last year, we were thrilled that 13 students presented!
The HTCC Conference, now in its 10th year, is dedicated to showcasing the research of (primarily) Southern California community college students. Our 25 will be among more than 250 students presenting on a wide range of topics (see table below). They include 17 oral presentations (12 individual, 4 small-group and 1 large-group) and 3 poster presentations. (By comparison, last year, we had 3 individual oral presentations, 1 small-group, 1 large-group, and 3 posters).
Presenting at an academic conference is a fantastic experience that really helps you grow as a scholar (and that looks pretty impressive on your resume or university applications). If you're not presenting this year, you should still consider participating in the conference, either as an an observer or as a volunteer. We will have a limited amount of funds to cover registration fees for individuals who wish to support our students presenters and be wowed by them and other community college students! Volunteering is an even better option, since your willingness to participate in a more active manner will earn you your registration fee AND be something that you can put on your resume or university applications (click here for more information about volunteer responsibilities).
If you’re interested in attending as an observer or as a volunteer, please contact Terry Scarbrough in the Academic Honors Office (714.432.5601, hpro@occ.cccd.edu) as soon as possible, and no later than February 25th.
Our 2010 HTCC Student Research Conference Presenters-- CONGRATULATIONS!
|
PRESENTER(S) |
PRESENTATION TITLE |
FACULTY MENTOR |
|
Individual Oral |
|
Steven Baker |
Cocaine: The Self-Taught Lesson |
Dr. Samar Needham |
|
Adel Barry |
The Paradox of Affluence in Egypt |
Marilyn Kelly |
|
Meghan Cassidy |
Penicillin: The Springboard for Modern Medicine |
Susan Smith |
|
Keegan Cooke |
Aid to Africa, Financing Violence |
Candice Pettus |
|
Emily Doyle |
The Celebrity Walks among Us |
Rick Adams |
|
Virginija Glaubitt |
Tuberculosis: Finally a Breakthrough |
Denise Cabanel-Bleuer |
|
Valerie Claire Jadulang |
Athenian Democracy: On the Backs of Slaves |
Marilyn Kelly |
|
Omar Khan |
The Role of Excessive Capitalism in America |
Dr. Terry Timmins |
|
Fernando Madrazo |
Protectionism: False Nationalism |
Michael Olds |
|
Adam Mezher |
Lost and Found: Who Will Answer the Call? |
Dr. Lien Pham |
|
Khash Nattagh |
Thorium: The New Source of Nuclear Power |
Sharon Daniel |
|
Jill Swanson |
Intergenerational Transmission of Divorce 2000 |
Dr. Jessica Ayo Alabi |
|
Small Group Oral |
|
Jeannie Cross,
Shivani Saxena |
Birth and Rise of the Prion: A Pathological Protein |
Dr. Jane McLaughlin |
|
Alex Ackel,
Jose Vilchez-Azcona |
A Study on the Source of Humor in Modern Society |
Dr. Terry Timmins |
|
Lorena Acuna,
Alejandro Ceballos |
If Too Good to be True... Falling Prey to Ponzi Schemes |
Charles Zellerbach |
|
Dung Nguyen,
Tyler Nguyen |
T.S. Eliot’s Secret Life: A Personal Wasteland |
Glynis Hoffman |
|
Large Group Oral |
|
Mohsen Elbardy,
Tran Luong,
Khoi Nguyen,
Ashley Ronn |
Piracy in Somalia: An International Emergency |
Denise Cabanel-Bleuer |
|
Poster |
|
Meghan Cassidy |
A Comparison of Vascular Access Devices for Cancer Patients |
Denise Cabanel-Bleuer |
|
Jeannie Cross,
Shivani Saxena |
Antimicrobial Soaps: More Helpful or Harmful? |
Dr. Jane McLaughlin |
|
Sonya Ercout |
The Trouble with Meat |
Steven Goetz |
OCC students, faculty, Honor Program Coordinator and former OCC President Bob Dees at the 2009 HTCC Student Research Conference
UCLA/TAP Transfer Applicants: Apply NOW for TAP Certification (check your OCC e-mail or click here for details) - Posted 1/21/10
The Orange Coast College Honors Program:
Creating a Community of Scholars
Updated 8/4/11
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