...students will have the. Bassam Matar, CGCC Engineering faculty

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1 Connection newsletter O C T O B E R SEE PAGE 2 SEE PAGE 4 Science, technology, engineering, and math students now have the opportunity to apply for the S-STEM scholarship, valued at approximately $2,500 per student. SEE PAGE 5 CGCC Grant Promises Financial Relief to Students A grant recently awarded to CGCC is now offering financial relief to promising science, technology, engineering, and math students. The $573,000 grant comes from the National Science Foundation Scholarships for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S-STEM) Program, and was awarded to fund CGCC s project, High- Tech Transfer Program Scholars (HTTPS). The goal of program is to provide specialized educational opportunities and services for full-time, financial-aid eligible students with majors or program interests pursuing degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. With this grant, CGCC will be able to award 25 scholarships per semester for an average of $2,500 per student (up to $5,000 annually) for the next four academic years, beginning this fall. We are very proud to receive this grant and see this financial commitment as a vote of confidence from the NSF in the science, technology, engineering, and math programs at CGCC, Bassam Matar, CGCC Engineering faculty, said. We re thrilled that our students will have the opportunity to take advantage of scholarship funds that will help offset the cost of their college education....students will have the opportunity to gain hands-on, applicationbased field experience. Bassam Matar, CGCC Engineering faculty Matar said the goal of the program is to award 40 percent of the scholarship funds to student groups traditionally under-represented in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, in order to promote a more diverse workforce. As part of the High-Tech Transfer Program, monthly events and activities will be held to allow scholarship recipients to interact with peers, college and university faculty, and industry representatives. These events will complement and enhance what students are currently learning in the classroom, Matar said. In addition to learning about career opportunities and jobs in related fields, students will have the opportunity to gain hands-on, applicationbased field experience. NSF s funding proposals undergo a rigorous peer-review process, with each proposal reviewed by a number of faculty and administrators from universities nationwide. Of the 236 proposals submitted for this S-STEM grant, 95 were funded. This is the largest award the NSF has granted to CGCC. For more information or to apply for this scholarship, access 1

2 for high school graduates from Chandler, Gilbert, Higley, and Queen Creek School districts to attend CGCC. Achieving a college education is a dream which seems out of reach for many students in the Southeast Valley, said Dr. Maria Hesse, CGCC college president. Our local school districts and CGCC, along with many generous community members, are coming together to address the need for college scholarships for those who aspire to a college education but may struggle financially or need the recognition of knowing that we believe in them. CGCC will host scholarship fundraiser, C3 Cuisine, Conversation, and Community, on Saturday, October 4 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on the college s Pecos Campus. C3 Fundraiser to Support Student Scholarships Pop Culture Trivia Pursuit, True Life Crime Mysteries and Two Thumbs Up: A Film Lover s Feast these are just a few of the conversation topics community members can choose to join at the second annual C3 Cuisine, Conversation, and Community, which will be held at CGCC on Saturday, October 4, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Last year, CGCC, in partnership with the Education Foundations from the Southeast Valley school districts, raised more than $9,000 in scholarship funds for Valley high school graduates at this annual fundraiser. This year, the college is challenging community members to help them beat that amount. C3 Cuisine, Conversation, and Community will feature dinner outdoors and lively conversation on a variety of topics led by expert facilitators from the community and the college. Diners will have the opportunity to choose from more than 30 different conversations topics. Other conversations range from How to Publish What You Write and Naturopathic Medicine Today, to The Media and the 2008 Presidential Campaign and Sustainable Innovations for the Developing World. The price for dinner and conversation is $75 per person. Conversation sponsorship is also available, starting at $500. Proceeds from this event will provide scholarships Tempe resident Wally Stuebner attended last year s event and said he enjoyed it so much that he decided to host his own conversation at this year s event, entitled, Does Real Estate Still Make Sense in Your Portfolio? I ve been involved in and with the college since the first shovel was put into the ground, so when the C3 event was mentioned I was excited to support this important scholarship fundraiser, Stuebner said. The evening and event are well worth my time and investment. I truly enjoyed my table and the discussion last year, and I look forward to C3 becoming a signature CGCC event with a bigger scholarship impact each year. For more information, a complete listing of dinner conversation topics, or to purchase tickets, access or call (480) Math has never been my strong suit, but thanks to my math instructors and CGCC s tutoring center, I not only passed my classes but earned a Math and Science Scholars award. Kimberly Smith, CGCC Business major SPRING 2009 CLASS REGISTRATION FOR CURRENTLY ENROLLED STUDENTS BEGINS OCTOBER 20 Students are encouraged to register early to get the classes they need, when they need them. 2 To register, access: my.maricopa.edu or call For advisement information:

3 News briefs Calendar Spring Class Registration Registration for spring 2009 classes at CGCC begins Monday, October 20 for continuing students, and Monday, October 27 for new students. Students are encouraged to register early to get the classes they need, when they need them. Students can register for classes online at my.maricopa. edu, in person at the college s Pecos Campus in Chandler; the Williams Campus in Mesa; or the Sun Lakes Campus in Sun Lakes. Voter Registration Deadline The deadline to register to vote in upcoming elections is Monday, October 6. Students are encouraged to go online at servicearizona.com/webapp/ evoter/ and register now, if they have not already done so. Voter registration forms are also located in Student Life, Enrollment Services, and the Library. Check out the CGCC Library home page for other voter information at library. Jake s Women The CGCC Performing Arts Department will present its fall theater production, Neil Simon s, Jake s Women, in the Performing Arts Center on CGCC s Pecos Campus. Performance dates are Thursday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, October 25 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 general admission, and $5 for students (with ID). To purchase tickets, contact the CGCC Box Office at (480) Coca-Cola Scholarship Recipient Congratulations to CGCC student Lauren Donovan, who was recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. Through the Coca-Cola Two- Year Colleges Scholarship Program, the Foundation awards a total of 400 scholarships annually to students attending highereducation institutions granting two-year degrees. All recipients must have demonstrated academic success and participated in community service within the past 12 months. Transfer & Career Exploration Fair CGCC Career & Placement Services will host the college s first Transfer & Career Exploration Fair on Wednesday, October 22, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the C-Courtyard on the Pecos Campus. The purpose of the fair is to provide students with career planning information about CGCC s academic programs, as well as information about transferring to other institutions for completion of a bachelor s degree. Representatives from the academic departments of CGCC and other Arizona universities will be available to assist students with their career pathways. For more information, contact Career & Placement Services at (480) Maricopa County Sheriff Candidate Forum Wednesday, October 1 6:30 8 p.m. Performing Arts Center College Night Noche de Colegio Thursday, October 2 6:30 8:30 p.m. Student Center Pavilion Last Day to Withdraw From Classes without Instructor Signature Friday, October 3 C3 Cuisine, Conversation and Community Saturday, October 4 6:30 9 p.m. A/B Courtyard Tickets: Last Day to Register to Vote Monday, October 6 Servicearizona.com Pathways out of Poverty Through Green Collar Jobs Tuesday, October 7 4:30 5:30 p.m. Room C110 Making Sense of the 2008 Ballot Initiatives Wednesday, October 8 12:45 2:00 p.m. Performing Arts Center Blood Drive Wednesday & Thursday, October a.m. - 2 p.m. C- Courtyard Sidewalk Honors Forum Lecture Series: Enrique s Journey and America s Immigration Dilemma Wednesday, October 15 7 p.m. Bulpitt Auditorium Phoenix College Into the Streets Friday & Saturday, October a.m. 2:00 p.m. Student Center Pavilion Spring 2009 Class Registration for Continuing Students Monday, October Ballot Initiatives Panel Discussion: Your Civil Role in Civil Rights Tuesday, October 21 12:45 2 p.m. Room SC Sports Schedule HOME GAMES Men s Soccer Sat. Oct 4 South Mountain 4:30 p.m. Sat. Oct 11 Paradise Valley 4:30 p.m. Sat. Oct 18 Mesa CC 4:30 p.m. Women s Soccer Sat. Oct 4 South Mountain 7:00 p.m. Sat. Oct 11 Paradise Valley 7:00 p.m. Sat. Oct 18 Mesa CC 7:00 p.m. Women s Volleyball Wed. Oct 8 Pima CC 7:00 p.m. Fri. Oct 10 Glendale 7:00 p.m. Fri. Oct 17 Eastern AZ 7:00 p.m. PTK Satellite Series: The Geography of Bliss Tuesday, October 21 4:30 5:30 p.m. Room C110 Fall Production - Jake s Women Thursday, Friday, & Saturday October :30 p.m. Performing Arts Center Spring 2009 Class Registration for New Students Monday, October 27 Plan Ahead Veteran s Day Tuesday, November 11 College Closed Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all events are open to the public and are held at the Pecos Campus, located at 2626 East Pecos Road in Chandler. For more information on calendar items, call (480) For a complete listing of all sporting events visit For a complete listing of Peforming Arts events visit or call

4 CONNECTION NEWSLETTER O C T O B E R Student Life update As part of CGCC s Peace Day, seven Peace Poles were dedicated on Thursday, September 11. Each of the poles is engraved with the message May Peace Prevail on Earth in English and three other languages. A moment of silence was observed following the dedication for the victims of the 9/11 attacks. Students Go Into the Streets Students, faculty, and staff will go Into the Streets on Friday and Saturday, October 17 and 18, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., to make a difference in surrounding communities at more than 20 different local agencies. Into the Streets is a college project designed to provide community service opportunities and fulfill service learning assignments. For more information about Into the Streets, call CGCC s Service Learning Department at (480) Donate Blood CGCC will host a blood drive on Wednesday and Thursday, October 8 and 9, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Blood Bus located near the C-Courtyard. Visit (sponsor code: cgcc) or call KT Campbell at (480) to schedule your lifesaving appointment. For donor eligibility questions, call (480) In appreciation, all blood donations will be cholesterol tested and all October donors will be automatically entered for a chance to win a new Apple iphone. Three things you can do right now to help your planet: 1. CHANGE A LIGHT BULB. By replacing a standard bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb, you will not only use less energy, you ll save money! 2. KEEP THE CAR AT HOME. Cars are one of the single biggest sources of pollution. Most driving trips are under five miles, and you d be surprised how many are under one mile. Try walking, biking, skateboarding, roller-skating, or taking the bus. 3. BUY RECYCLED. Buy products made of recycled paper. How can you tell if a package is recycled? Many companies list this information right on the package. PTK Hosts Fall Satellite Seminar Series This fall, CGCC Phi Theta Kappa will host a series of seminars on the Pecos Campus via a live satellite feed from the national PTK headquarters. Satellite Series Seminar 2 will be conducted by Dr. Raquel Pinderhughes and is entitled, Pathways out of Poverty through Green Collar Jobs: The Role of Scholarship in Improving Quality of Life for Urban Residents. This seminar will be held on Tuesday, October 7, from 4:30 5:30 p.m. Satellite Series Seminar 3 will be conducted by Eric Weiner and is entitled, The Geography of Bliss. This seminar will be held on Tuesday, October 21, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Satellite Series Seminar 4 will be conducted by Dr. Michael Galaty, and is entitled, Archaeological Evidence for the Origins of Affluence. This seminar will be held on Tuesday, November 18, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. All seminars will be held in Room C110. For more information, contact PTK advisor, Ernest Chavez, at ernest.chavez@cgcmail.maricopa. edu. 4

5 CONNECTION NEWSLETTER O C T O B E R Youth Vote Has the Power to Make a Difference by Noel Morelos CGCC Political Science Faculty We ve heard the slogans before Rock the Vote and Choose or Lose. Since the launching of these MTV slogans to galvanize students to participate in democracy, I wonder how many have of you actually rocked out to civic participation or even chose voting over losing the chance to make a difference. The truth of the matter is, traditional college-aged students (ages 18-24), or the youth vote, is as critical in this year s election as it has been in many prior elections. The possibilities for impacting national, state, and local elections are as astounding as the percentages of nonparticipation. In 2004, of the 204 million eligible voters in the U.S., 27.8 million were in the age bracket (U.S. Census). Of that number, only 14.3 million or roughly 51.5 percent of year olds were actually registered to vote. This is a huge problem considering the impact young Americans can have on elections where every vote counts. Consider this - of the 27.8 million year olds in 2004, only 11.6 million went to the polls to politically participate. I recently gave students in my political science courses these same facts and asked them to rationalize this disconnect in their weekly journal entries. I wasn t surprised to find a general apathy of elections and the popular my vote doesn t count justification. I was surprised, however, to read that some Our youth need to first try to understand that every vote does count. Noel Morelos, CGCC Political Science Faculty students thought that the issues did not pertain to them - issues such as healthcare, welfare, and social security. This is quite disconcerting considering that the actions we decide today will impact all of us tomorrow. Students and potential voters should consider the following: Try to understand that every vote does count. You would be surprised at how many local elections have been decided by less than 25 percent of the possible electorate. Second, individuals increase their sense of enfranchisement by participating in politics. This is the idea that when you vote, you feel like you have impacted the election - like you have a stake in government. Third, when voting this November, students should remember that we are not only voting for national politicians, we are voting to decide on state and local initiatives and propositions that immediately impact how we live here in Arizona. Finally, learn about the issues and politicians on the ballot. Why participate at all if you don t know why you re doing it? I encourage all students to register to vote and hope they encourage others to do so as well. The deadline to register to vote is Monday, October 6. Students can register to vote online at servicearizona.com, if they have not already done so. Voter registration forms are also located in Student Life, Enrollment Services, and the Library. Check out the CGCC Library home page for other voter information at library. CGCC is hosting a variety of events and forums this fall to help all voters become more engaged and educated participants of democracy. CGCC Fall Civic Engagement Events Thursday, September 25 Presidential Candidate Forum 6:30 8 p.m. CGCC Performing Arts Center Wednesday, October 1 Maricopa County Sheriff Candidate Forum 6:30 8 p.m. CGCC Performing Arts Center Monday, October 6 Last Day to Register to Vote Wednesday, October 8 Making Sense of Ballot Initiatives 12:45 2 p.m. CGCC Performing Arts Center Tuesday, October Ballot Initiatives Panel Discussion: Your Civil Role in Civil Rights 12:40 2 p.m. SC These events are free and open to the public. For more information about these events, access edu/events.

6 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Phoenix, AZ Permit #1027 PECOS CAMPUS 2626 East Pecos Road Chandler, AZ WILLIAMS CAMPUS 7360 East Tahoe Avenue Mesa, AZ SUN LAKES CENTER South Alma School Road Sun Lakes, AZ An EEO/AA institution. Connection newsletter INSIDE: CGCC Grant Youth Vote 3 C Fundraiser VOL.XII NO.I I I, OC TOBE R 20 08