Creating Scholars Speakers Series - The Honors Program presents: "An Introduction to Academic Conferences for Honors Students and Their Mentors.". Learn all the details about presenting at an academic conference, find out why you should, and hear from Meghan Cassidy, who just returned from presenting a research poster at the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference in Washington, D.C. (see announcement below). The program will take place on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2009, from 1:00 to 3:00pm in the STUDENT CENTER LOUNGE. Refreshments and extra credit sign-up will be available. (View flyer)

Congratulations to Meghan Cassidy, Honors Program member and pre-nursing student, who just returned from presenting a research poster at the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference in Washington, D.C. Meghan presented a "Comparison of Vascular Access Devices for Cancer Patients." In doing so, she became the first OCC student to present at the national honors conference! Hear more about her experience at the CSSS presentation, "An Introduction to Academic Conferences for Students and Their Mentors" (see announcement above).

Distinguished Speakers Series - Master Printer Phil Sanders, from the Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop in New York, will present on "The Democratic Art Form: Prints and Their Impressions" (Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 9:30-11:00am, Forum).

Following the main presentation, Art professor Jennifer Anderson will moderate a panel presentation with honors faculty Dr. Irini Vallera-Rickerson (Art History), Terry Timmins (Sociology/Anthropology), Denise Cabanel-Bleuer (Spanish), and student Hayley Delaney (11:15am-12:30pm, Student Center Lounge). A reception will follow the panel presentation.

The event is sponsored by the OCC Foundation, with additional refreshments courtesy of the OCC Honors Program Creating Scholars Speaker Series. (View flyer)

Join Honors Program coordinator Denise Cabanel-Bleuer's honors Spanish classes as they travel to Santa Ana for "Noche de altares", the annual Día de los muertos celebration, on Saturday, November 7, 2009. Check back here and in your OCC e-mail for more info to come soon. [Posted 10/14]

HAPPY FALL SEMESTER! We hope that you had an enjoyable summer and that the semester has begun well for all of you. We’re looking forward to a fun and productive year, and it begins this month! On Thursday, September 24th, we’ll host our annual fall orientation, Honors Open House (H2O), in conjunction with Transfer Day. Expect more information next week.

Also, we’d like to invite you to a special event at the very end of this month: the Creating Scholars Honors Program Students and Faculty “No Agenda” Social Gathering. This is a chance for you to connect (or reconnect) with other students and faculty participating in the honors journey. The gathering will take place on Wednesday, September 30, from 11:30am-1:30pm in the Student Center Lounge. Drop in any time and stay for a long as you wish. Refreshments will be served. We hope that you’ll encourage your honors professors to attend with you or to meet you there. Please also feel free to bring along any friends who might be interested in joining our growing honors community. (Click here to view flyer)

Finally, a quick reminder to check your OCC e-mail and this website regularly for the latest information about honors events, deadlines, etc.

The Honors Program recognized 72 students for completing the rigorous program at a recognition ceremony and reception on Friday, May 22nd. Students received sage and silver Honors Program cords along with a certificate of completion and a memento to celebrate their achievement. In addition, guests viewed the premiere of the Honors Program’s new promotional video, which was produced and directed by students from OCC’s Film and Video Department, and recognized the contributions of retiring Honors Professor of Geography Theresa Tarlos; 3-time Part-Time Faculty Member of the Year, Professor Mark Roessler; Honors Program Co-Founder and Distinguished Professor, Tom Garrison; and retiring OCC President Bob Dees. (from Coast-to-Coast, 5/28/09). To view photos of the event, please click here.

Congratulations to the following three students, whose work will be appear in the 2009 edition of Scribendi, a journal of art and literature published by the Western Regional Honors Council. These talented students were honored at a reception during the 2009 WRHC Conference in Spokane, Washington on March 6.

THIRTEEN OCC STUDENTS PRESENT AT ACADEMIC CONFERENCE

Click here (or on linked names below) to view more photos of the event

• Jeanne Cross (Greg Russell, Faculty Mentor ) Individual Oral Presentation: “The Body of Inspiration”
• Maryam Fallahi (Ann Harmer, Faculty Mentor ) Individual Oral Presentation: “The Effects of Cultural Myths on Blood Donation Practices in California ”
• Khatera Karzai (Irene Naesse, Faculty Mentor ) Poster Presentation: “Suicide Bombings in Afghanistan
• Marisol Swadener (Daniel Kuo, Faculty Mentor ) Individual Oral Presentation: “Sub-Prime Mortgage Crisis: Establishing Guidelines to Avoid Recurrences”
• Bahareh Abadian, Yasaman Demehri (Ann Harmer, Faculty Mentor ) Poster Presentation: “The Effects of Cultural Myths on Blood Donation Practices in California ”
• Blake Enyart, Bob Kim (Kelli Elliott, Faculty Mentor ) Small Group Oral Presentation: “Dive Mechanics of the Falco Peregrinus”
• Ryo Ikeda, Akira Yoshida (Akemi Kagawa, Faculty Mentor ) Poster Presentation: “The U.S. and Japan Should Partner for a Better Future”
• Oriya Ando, Toshiki Hayashi, Naoki Oishi, (Akemi Kagawa, Faculty Mentor Large Group Oral Presentation: “The U.S. and Japan Should Partner for a Better Future”