Broward College Student and Alumna Earn Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarships
Broward College is proud to announce that a student and alumna have been announced as 2017 recipients of the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Quratulain Amin and Yanelle Cruz are among 75 students in the country to receive the award. They were selected from a nationwide pool of over 2,000 applicants for their academic achievement, persistence, desire to help others, and leadership. The addition of Amin and Cruz brings the number of Broward College students awarded to 20, making the institution second in the nation for Jack Kent Cooke scholars.
"Broward College students are continuously recognized as Jack Kent Cooke scholars because of the dedication they demonstrate to their studies, our outstanding faculty, and the wraparound educational services we provide,” said Broward College President J. David Armstrong, Jr. “We are proud of Quratulain and Yanelle for their stellar academic achievement and we look forward to seeing great things from both of them in the future.”
Quratulain Amin was born in Karachi, Pakistan and moved to South Florida after graduating high school. She is a member of the Robert ‘Bob’ Elmore Honors College where she is an active member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and serves in the role of vice president. Recently, Quratulain was named to the Florida College System 2017 All-Florida Academic Team. Quratulain will graduate this May with a 4.0 GPA. She will transfer to the University of Miami to pursue a bachelor’s in Biomedical Engineering with the goal of becoming a cardiac surgeon. Her twin sister also was a semi-finalist for the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship.
Yanelle Cruz Bonilla is an international student from Tegucigalpa, Honduras and the first in her family to attend college. In May 2014, Yanelle left to attend Broward College with only enough money to pay for one semester. Despite many financial challenges, she graduated with a 4.0 GPA and highest honors in May 2016. While at a summer internship program hosted by The Fund for American Studies in Washington, D.C., she was accepted to a one year public policy fellowship hosted by the Fund, and was hired as a Strategic Communications intern at the Urban Institute. She currently is entertaining acceptances from multiple schools and will continue her education with the goal of becoming a social policy researcher and analyst in the hopes that her work will inspire change for minorities.
Each year, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation provides up to $40,000 to top community college students with plans to continue their education. The award covers a portion of each student's educational expenses including tuition, living expenses, books, and required fees towards their bachelor’s degree. Awards vary for each recipient and is based on the cost of tuition as well as other grants or scholarships he or she may receive. Jack Kent Cooke Scholars additionally are eligible for graduate school funding up to $50,000 per year for up to four years.
Past recipients include Sarah Wiggill, 2004; Sally-Anne McDonnell, 2006; Michelle Mills and Ben Walker, 2007; Paola Mariselli and Sarah Santos, 2008; Whitney Johnston, 2010; Faithful Okoye, 2011; Ronald Bray and Joseph O'Neill, 2012; Miklos Haranghy and Duckenson Joseph, 2013; Paul Harvel, 2014; Jarredd Simpson, David Millar and Malak Benkhadra, 2015; and Sergey Sterlyadev and Ihsane Benkhadra, 2016.
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About Broward College:
Serving more than 63,000 students annually, Broward College offers certificate programs, two-year university-transfer degrees, two-year career degrees and baccalaureate degrees in selected programs. The mission of the college is to provide high-quality educational programs and services that are affordable andaccessible to a diverse community of learners. For more information, visit www.broward.edu.
Broward College Women’s Tennis Team Wins State Championship
Following the Region 8 Tournament on April 21 and 22, the Broward College women’s tennis team recently secured the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) state championship. The Seahawks advance to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division 1 Championship Tournament starting May 7 in Tucson, Ariz.
The Seahawks ranked third in the nation in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) /NJCAA rankings heading into the tournament, winning three matches in a row and five of their last seven to clinch the title. The ladies finished their 2017 season with a 7-5 conference record.
“I’m overwhelmingly proud of all these girls,” said Marlena Hall, Broward College women’s tennis coach. “They battled physical aches and pains, as well as the stress that comes with studying for finals. They put their hearts on the line and it showed. I am confident going into the national tournament.” 2017 Coach of the Year (Coach Marlena Hall)
This is the first state championship title for a Seahawks athletics team in more than a decade. The last title was the FCSAA State Championship, secured by the men’s basketball program during the 2005-2006 season. This is the first state title under the leadership of Hall, who was named the 2017 FCSAA Coach of the Year.
Individual and doubles team accomplishments from the tournament include:
· Bianca Vitale named Number Four Singles Champion/FCSAA All-State
· Kaeli Smashey named Number Five Singles Runner-Up/FCSAA All-State
· Isidora Petkovic named Number Six Singles Runner-Up/FCSAA All-State
· The doubles team of Vitale/Smashey named the Number Two Doubles Runner-Up
· The doubles team of Goncharova/Petkovic named the Number Three Doubles Runner-Up
“I have been thoroughly impressed with the team’s relentless effort, sportsmanship, unselfishness and enthusiasm. Coach Hall and her staff have done an incredible job, and I could not more proud of their individual and collective achievements both in the classroom and on the court,” Robert Deutschman, Intercollegiate Athletics director, said.
The Seahawks advance to the NJCAA Division 1 Championship Tournament starting May 7 in Tucson, Ariz., marking the third appearance for the team at the competition. The team previously competed in 2012 and 2015. For more information on the women's tennis team and other Broward College sports, visit www.broward.edu/studentlife/athletics.
Broward College Offers Free IT Certification Boot Camp
If you’re pursuing a degree in Information Technology (IT), work with computers, or even if you’re just a tech lover, you already know that it is one of the fastest growing and most competitive fields. That’s why experts recommend getting qualified industry certifications to complement your education.
Knowing that certifications are valuable tools to put you ahead, Broward College faculty in the IT department organized its first boot camp scheduled from May 10 -15.
What’s an IT Boot Camp?
A boot camp offers workshops that cover large areas of curriculum over a specified period, usually no longer than a week. In addition to some theory, you also will get hands-on practical preparation, and that’s important in IT!
Benefits of Getting IT Certification
- Studying for a certification can increase your understanding of the technology.
- IT certification will certainly give you an advantage when hiring managers look at your resume. Competition for IT jobs can be stiff, and having a certification is a significant advantage compared to those who don’t have one.
- Getting certified can lead to higher job compensation.
What Broward College IT Boot Camp Offers
This IT Boot Camp will help you gain well respected industry certifications that complement current degrees and internships. In addition to the workshops and practical experience, there will be practice tests for the Industry Certification and lots of coffee and snacks.
Coursework to be covered:
- CompTIA – A+
- Network+
- Security+
- Linux+
- Cloud+
- Project+
- Microsoft Office Specialist
As a certified testing center, the College will offer vouchers and extended hours will be provided, for immediate testing.
Visit CSIT Bootcamp to register. You must use your college email when registering to be accepted.
Visit Tigertail Lake Recreation Center for a Memorable Experience
As the summer months approach, it has never been a better time to visit the Broward College Tigertail Lake Recreational Center in Dania Beach.
Opened during the mid-1970’s, Tigertail sits on five acres, much of it encompassing its artificial lake. The location is deep in the heart of Sportsman’s Park, which includes the International Fishing Hall of Fame, Outdoor World, the Islamorada Fish Company Restaurant, Marriott Courtyard Hotel, Diver’s Direct, and the Fort Lauderdale Airport Tri-Rail Station.
In 2015 alone Tigertail welcomed more than 14,000 visitors. It has been a popular spot for the YMCA to bring children and served as a training ground for the FBI underwater search evidence response teams. Yet, many lifelong residents of Broward County who have not visited this outdoor gem, and Broward College students may not realize they can take advantage of what’s offered for FREE.
Natalie Justice, manager of the facilities, hopes more members of the public will come out and enjoy what Tigertail has to offer. “The nearest college and university that offers what we offer is Florida State University. We have so much available in one place. There is something for everyone.”
Jon Groover, senior coordinator, has been with Tigertail since 1986 right out of high school. He finds joy in helping to create ever-lasting moments for visitors in scenic surroundings. Not only has Groover seen students who need a break from the traditional classroom, but retired adults as well.
“Many like to hang out and go out on the boats” he said. “There is a feeling of comradery more than anything. We would run sailing trips to the Keys and other places. There was a case where there was a student who was studying to be an architect and someone who is an architect. I got them talking, and they networked. That is an example of the type of bonds that occur out here.”
So come soak in the sun and explore everything this one-of-a-kind facility has to offer. From paddleboarding and windsurfing to sailing and scuba diving. For those who prefer land over water, there is also much
to do including a ropes course and rock climbing wall. Tigertail also hosts overnight adventure trips, credit or non-credit classes, conferences and meetings, team building activities, parties and even weddings.
For more information on Tigertail Lake Recreational Center, visit the facility website.
Come Celebrate Earth Day
April 22 is Earth Day!
Children refer to it as Earth’s birthday, but it’s really the day when we pause to recognize the earth and all that it provides. It’s also an opportunity to take action and prevent its degradation.
This year, efforts are dedicated to environment and climate literacy. There are plenty of ways you can get involved at Broward College. Don’t just sit idly by, come participate in activities that will protect the planet. The events were kick started with the inaugural Science and Agricultural show on Central Campus, on Saturday, April 8 but there’s lots more upcoming.
From fairs to film festivals, join us as we celebrate our planet:
Central Campus
Friday, April 21
Simulating Biological Control’s Impact on Invasive Plants
Bo Zhang, University of Miami
4 - 5 p.m., Building 1008/105
Refreshments at 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 22
Beach Clean Up
Secret Woods Nature Center, Fort Lauderdale
8:45 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Perfect opportunity to give back to the community and help our environment.
To RSVP come to Student Life, Building 19/106 or email us at [email protected]
South Campus
Tuesday, April 18
Earth Week Fair – Environmental Science Student Presentations and Local Environmental Groups
10 a.m.-2 p.m., Building 68, Southern Breezes and the Breezeway
This Fair puts together a collection of environmental science displays and presentations from students, faculties and clubs.
Wednesday, April 19
Earth Week Environmental Film Festival
8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Building 66, Room 139
Wednesday, April 26
Underwater Neighbors: The Ecology of Two Octopus Species in a Shallow Coastal Environment
Hosted by Chelsea Bennice, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biology
2-3 p.m. Building 66, Room 139
North Campus
Monday, April 17
Movie Monday, Environmental Film Festival
9 a.m.-3 p.m., Building 46 Coffeehouse
Tuesday, April 18
Environmental Film Festival
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Building 46 Coffeehouse
Poetry Readings, Prof. Joyce
12:30-2 p.m., Building 46 Breezeway
Wednesday, April 19
Student Projects
Hosted by Prof. Bancalari and Prof. Eisenberg
11 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Building, 46 Breezeway
12:30 p.m. -2 p.m., Building, 46 Breezeway
A display of projects related to earth science and the environment.
Thursday, April 20
Ecosystem Tour
Hosted by Prof. Eisenberg
8:45-9:25 a.m., departs from picnic tables in front of Building 57
This campus tour explores environmental issues affecting the local community, identify natural resources and endangered species through a knowledgeable tour guide from one our experts.
P’an Ku Carries Lasting Legacy at Broward College
The offices of P’an Ku often bustle with activity as the staff of dedicated editors and writers work to produce the next edition of the award-winning literary magazine at Broward College. Since 1964, the publication has showcased the written and artistic talents of its students.
Vicky Santiesteban is in her third year as advisor, but the English professor was a member of the P’an Ku team back when she attended the institution around 1984. As each edition comes together, she marvels at all the painstaking time and devotion put into P’an Ku by the students. It’s truly a labor of love for this dedicated group as they juggle their classes with hours making the magazine. Editors have to sift through more than 300 submissions and then carry out the arduous task of narrowing the field for publication.
AWARD-WINNING CONTENT
Their hard work is often praised and rewarded. Each year, the magazine participates in the Florida College System Activities Association Conference. At the most recent 2016 Awards Banquet, P’an Ku won 18 awards, including a top prize in poetry and the distinction of General Excellence.
The publication also marked another milestone when editors attended the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference (AWP) in Washington, D.C. This was the magazine's first time to present on the national level. The P'an Ku editors were among more than 30,000 participants, and they had the opportunity to meet with writers, editors, agents, and presses. Everyone was stunned at the quality of the work.
CELEBRATING STUDENTS
A release party is hosted for each issue to acknowledge the effort by the staff and celebrate the talent of the contributors. Santiesteban has seen a number of memorable moments from these gatherings.
“I remember one older man who brought his wife and eight-year-old son,” she said. “He read his work, and you could see the pride in that family. The boy looked up proudly at his father reading from the podium. That is one of the defining moments for me; that we can honor someone’s work in such a way.”
The next Release Party for P’an Ku is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2 in Building 33, Room 1110 inside the Willis Holcombe Center in Downtown Fort Lauderdale.
For more information on the publication or to submit your work, visit the P’an Ku website.
Laying a Strong Foundation – A Day in the Life of Eileen Santiago – Special Education Teacher
It’s 8 a.m. and a small group of 15 and 16-year-old students are in the cafeteria at McArthur High in Hollywood. They are wiping the tables and helping reorganize the room.
Working with them is their teacher Eileen Santiago. She’s giving them basic instructions on how to make sure the tables are clean. It’s not a typical task for students, but these aren’t your average kids. Her class
includes teenagers with autism, intellectual disabilities, down syndrome, language and hearing impairment.
“I try to teach them these basic skills because, [for] a lot of them, when they get home everything is done for them. I want them to know what independence means,” explained the graduate of Broward College Teacher Education Program (TEP) as she holds Christina’s hand and guides the rag she’s using over each corner of the table.
“Great job Christina,” she says. The teenager flashes an excited smile.
Santiago is with the 13 students all day, teaching English, math, reading, social studies and social skills. “When you focus on special education, you have to use the methods that work. Your lesson plans have to be diverse and everything you do has to reinforce the curriculum.”
By 8:30 a.m. Santiago and Laurel Belfonte, her intern and TEP student in her final year at Broward College, help the teenagers wash up. Then, they form a line as they walk to the school library. There’s one more thing to do before they go to their homeroom: help the librarian restock the shelves with books that have been returned. This helps them count, learn the computer, and master the alphabet as they scan the books and put them back in alphabetical or numerical order.
An hour later they’re settled in the classroom. Today is special; they’re adding another item to their recipe books. They’re writing out the recipe they learned for special breakfast toasts yesterday. As part a grant program, Santiago takes her students on field trips to different restaurants nearby, where they’re taught how to make basic foods like salads, sandwiches, smoothies, hamburgers and pizza.
“How many strawberries do you need for two servings of the toast?” Five hands are swiftly raised.
“Working on their menus means they’re work on writing, spelling and typing on the computer. This is a big achievement,” she interjects before turning to hear the responses. The menus are also helping the students prepare for The Top Chef competition where they get to show off what they’ve learned to family, friends, and the rest of the school.
That’s a typical morning for Santiago. “When they come back we might do language arts. Today it may be Bingo on vocabulary or writing sentences. I use games because it allows them to practice social skills and team work.”
Santiago now holds a master’s degree from Nova University. She’s been at McArthur High less than a year, but she’s already made her mark. Over her five-year career, she has been recognized as Teacher of the Year, given a special award by Univision-TV and also benefitted from over $10,000 in grant funding from the Broward Education Foundation.
“It’s so rewarding. I wanted to do teaching because I love children but I never thought that I would go into special needs. At first I was scared but with the support I got from the advisors and professors at Broward College. I’m sure I’ve made the right choice.”
Do you want to join a rewarding career?
Learn more about the Teacher Education Program [Link to:http://www.broward.edu/academics/programs/Pages/education.aspx#Programs].
Student Gets Big Head Start to Completing His Degree Thanks to PLA
Inspired by his wife Tatiana, who attended the institution, George Guerrero enrolled at Broward College. It was the first time he stepped foot in a classroom in 33 years. He believes returning to school was one of the best
decisions he ever made. Now, Guerrero is on track to earning his Associate of Science in Business Administration in May with a bachelor’s in Supervision Management in December.
Thanks to his past college transcripts and work experience as a project manager and in IT for the US Air Force, Guerrero received 24 credits through Credit for Prior Learning (CPL). Guerrero was given tests to gauge his knowledge, commonly known as a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), which gave him a head start to fulfilling his academic aspirations.
Some years ago, he was unemployed and looking for a job. During the job search he noticed many employers wouldn’t even offer an interview because he didn’t have a degree, despite his diverse professional resume and the fact he was ex-military. This fueled his desire to finish a degree.
His apprehension about returning to school was eased significantly knowing he wasn’t starting from scratch. Prior Learning Assessments were created with adults like Guerrero in mind, recognizing there is educational value in time spent outside the classroom. Students can essentially get credit from job experience, employment-related training programs and seminars, volunteering, travel, military service or intensive self-directed study.
He felt good heading into night and weekend classes with the idea that what he had done in his life mattered. Eventually, Guerrero did get hired by FICO (Fair Isaac Corporation) as a project manager where he applies the education he is attaining at the College on a daily basis.
After he registered at the College he called his son in Orlando who had some prior credits himself and was in a similar situation. Guerrero encouraged him to go back to school at Valencia. With his wife, who recently graduated from Florida International University, learning truly is a family affair.
There isn’t a limit to the number of hours students can receive through prior learning, but 25 percent of the credits for a degree must be earned by taking classes at the College to satisfy residence requirements for graduation. Credits also are not available for all courses, so it’s best for students to see an academic advisor to discuss career options related to their experience. For more information on the program, visit the PLA website.
Day in the Life of a…Member of Culinary Management
If you ever wondered where an Associate of Science in Culinary Arts Management can take you, then look no further than Richard L. Blanchette, Jr. The Broward College graduate serves as Director of Food and Nutrition for Memorial Hospital West, where he oversees 70 employees.
A Typical Day Looks Like:
7:30 a.m.
His day begins by making the rounds through the various departments. He checks on the cafeteria and the patient tray line to ensure operations are running smoothly, then the same is done in the production area and catering. Then, there is a brief huddle with supervisors in each place to address any special events or other issues that need further discussion.
9:30 a.m.
Blanchette joins directors from each department of the hospital to go over the patient census, how many patients are on each floor, and the number of discharges and transfers. From there, he approves and reviews spending and invoices, and daily tracking is done for monthly operating reports consisting of data such as cafeteria, catering and the tray line expenses and sales.
Noon – 5 p.m.
Someone in his position is accustomed to frequent meetings. Among them are with the Environmental of Care (EOC) team, discussing things like the temperature of the food.
Blanchette is in regular communication with the executive chef to make sure the cooks are sticking with protocol and following the right recipes. Although the tray line menu is uniformed, the cafeteria menu can be adjusted based on feedback, like adding more Latin flavors to fit the area.
In addition to the administrative parts of his job, Blanchette also adds patient satisfaction to his list of responsibilities, which is why Blanchette visits patient rooms to check how they are doing and offer his services to make their care better. From there, he sends dietitians to do consults and follow up with patients.
Blanchette worked his way up the food service ladder from Duffy’s Sports Grill to Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. He moved into healthcare, starting at Jackson Memorial as executive chef where he was responsible for feeding thousands of people daily. He then moved on to University Hospital and Medical Center where he was the director of food and nutrition before transitioning to Memorial. Through his career, Blanchette found a degree not only looked great on a resume, but helped him stand out from other candidates in the industry who hadn’t received a degree. Blanchette just returned to Broward College, this time to pursue a Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management.
“You have to put in the time; learn everything,” Blanchette recommends. “Learn what people do. Find a good mentor. With the partnership between Broward College and the technical centers, there is really a good program to put you on the right track.”
If Blanchette made you hungry for a career in this field, check out the Broward College program in the AS in Culinary Arts Management.
Improve Your Memory for Studying
So, you’ve planned your study schedule, attended tutorials and met up with friends. All of this is done in an effort to conquer those midterms and finals, but you still have one major problem - remembering what you’ve reviewed. We want to make sure you can ace those upcoming exams so we turned to the experts for some strategies which can be used to improve memory while studying.
Dr. Monique Blake, associate dean of Academic Resources and the Academic Success Centers, says the keys to success are where, how and when we study. Here’s her list of recommendations:
Find a place to study that is comfortable but also has limited-to-no distractions. “We don’t often think about it,” she explained, “but any speech or speech-like sounds such as music automatically use up part of the brain’s attention capacity.”
Identify which method of studying works best. Dr. Blake explained that not every method of studying is suitable for every student. Over time you will be able to determine if studying in a group or alone, at nights or during the day works for you. Whatever method makes the information stick – then that’s the one for you.
Study for courses that have similar materials/topics at the same time. Reviewing material that’s similar in nature makes it easier to remember and connect information as well as create greater mental associations.
Study course material soon after class. I’m sure you’ve heard this one before but Dr. Blake says research has proven that it’s best to study course material after class when the information is fresh in your mind as it helps with retention.
Identify when tests and assignments are due. Store this information in a planner, electronic device (s) etc. This helps your brain to prioritize and focus especially when doing assignments as it is reminded that the information it is processing is important.
Here are a few other tips we found that could help your brain with its retention abilities:
- Sleep. Healthy sleep puts us in the right state of mind to take in information as we go about the day.
- Exercise. Many studies have suggested that the parts of the brain that control thinking and memory have greater volume in people who exercise versus people who don’t.
- Never study on an empty stomach. Glucose improves memory, that’s why memory formation is better after a meal.
- Write Things Out. There’s good evidence that the act of writing itself helps us remember things better. As we’re writing, we create connections between the information we are recording.
This is not an exhaustive list and there’s always more you can do to help improve studying and memory. Remember our Academic Success Centers are equipped with professionals who can help you formulate a plan. For some courses, one on one tutoring or group tutoring sessions may be available.