December 02, 2005

Artesia News

Cerritos College Celebrates 50 Years in the Making

Transformation and Renovation in the 1990s

Norwalk, CA – December 2, 2005 – The 1990s could best be described as a decade of diversity and transformation. The college continued to experience a shift in the diversity of its student population—an ongoing trend since the mid-1970s—as well as in the programs offered. “The most significant change I experienced at Cerritos was the move in demographics from an almost totally Caucasian student body to what is currently one of the most diverse of any in the nation,” says Dean Paige, a professor at the college from 1964 to 1992.

Biology Professor John Boyle (hired in1974) also experienced this change. “When I came to Cerritos, the student body was virtually 100 percent Caucasian and quite conservative. Students were primarily the sons and daughters of Dutch dairy farmers and suburbanites who had moved to the area following World War II and the Korean War. The student body today is far more diverse—ethnically, linguistically, and economically.”

The changing student body included former stay-at-home “housewives” returning to school and creating new identities in the process. This move was eloquently described in a 1987 award-winning student essay written by Dorothy “Dodie” O’Donnell, housewife, mother of four teenagers, and cancer survivor. She bravely conquered her anxiety of re-entering school.

From the beginning, she let Maureen May—who was the Re-Entry Resource Specialist/Gender Equity Coordinator at the time—know that she only wanted “to take a few classes and not get involved.” To her surprise and pleasure, O’Donnell found herself immersed in college activities and a brand new life. “So here I am: liberated, becoming educated, and more fulfilled than I ever dreamed…,” she confided in her essay. Today, O’Donnell is part of the Cerritos College family as the Faculty Senate secretary.

Other women were inspired by Kathy Spillar—Founder of the Feminist Majority Foundation—who gave the 1998 keynote address for Women’s History Month, urging the creation of an activist club—the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance. The purpose of the alliance was to protest the repression of women in Afghanistan, and address other concerns of women.

Dr. Ernest Martinez emphasized the importance of responding to the changing student population and focused campus attention on diversity issues during his term as president/superintendent. He came to Cerritos after serving as president of Seattle Central Community College, “One of the reasons I chose Cerritos was because it had such a diverse population,” Martinez said.

Martinez left Cerritos College in July 1992. The following year Dr. Walter C. Magnuson served as interim president/superintendent until Dr. Fred Gaskin became president on July 1, 1993.

College Gets a Face Lift

In the spring of 1992, the college began a major renovation of the library. The upgrades to the library included an expansion from 22,000 square feet to more than 40,000 square feet, increased student accessibility with the placement of an assistance desk at the center of the library, and the replacement of card stacks with user-friendly computer catalogs. The addition of carpeting and acoustically treated walls was expected to enhance the learning environment, along with a variety of study areas including small study rooms, study carrels, comfortable reading chairs and library tables.

Among the most impressive additions was a Teleconference Center in the east wing of the library. A state-of-the-art projection facility hooked up to a satellite dish, the center accommodates classes or events of 100 plus, enabling professors, panelists, and guest speakers to deliver their lectures or messages via satellite to a remote audience, often on the other side of the world.

In 1994 the new library was dedicated and renamed the Wilford Michael Library and Learning Resource Center (LRC), honoring Dr. Wilford Michael. “The opening of the Wilford Michael Library and Learning Resource Center signaled a significant shift in the way the college intended to approach instruction. It provided an expanded platform for our use of instructional technology,” recalls John Boyle, Professor of Biology.

By fall 1998, equipped with more than 500 high-speed personal computers and 699 data ports, the second phase of the library renovation project was completed. The dual-level computer labs provided students with access to the latest software, the Internet, and tutorial programs. In addition, new labs for Reading, Math, English, and Foreign Languages opened for student use.

The renovation of the LRC was part of a $12 million investment in technology infrastructure to support teaching and learning that included the “wiring” of the entire campus, and the placement of a networked PC on the desk of every employee. College President Fred Gaskin began referring to the college as the “most technologically advanced community college in the state.”

Additional structural transformations occurred on campus. The Student Center was remodeled in 1995 with funding from a three-way partnership among the ASCC, the college district, and the state. The facility was completely remodeled from the main floor to the adjacent Culinary Arts food service area. The refurbishment included a multi-vendor food court with both indoor and outdoor casual dining for students.

The college continued its surge of renovations to improve student service and access. In fall 1998, the campus opened the “One-Stop” Student Services Center. The new center housed a variety of student resources including Admissions and Records, Academic Counseling, Financial Aid, the Scholars’ Honors Program, Veteran’s Affairs, EOPS (Extended Opportunities Programs and Services), and the Transfer Center. In addition, the Career Services and Job Placement Centers were relocated within a short distance of the “One-Stop,” making this the central hub of Student Service and enrollment activities.

The “One-Stop” renovation demonstrated the college commitment to a student-centered campus, making student service and the enrollment experience more centrally located and convenient. “The Student Services areas blossomed and offered a multitude of services outside the classroom that help make students more successful inside the classroom. Student Services became more closely linked to learning,” says Dr. Fran Newman, former Vice President of Student Services (1972-1992).

In 1999, the ASCC underwrote the development of Falcon Square, which had been a large, empty concrete space at the center of the campus. The renovation of Falcon Square created areas where students could relax, socialize, or study, and added a central fountain with sitting space. This renovation project also created a 300-seat outdoor amphitheatre adjacent to the music building. According to Professor Emeritas Juliette Venitsky (1957-1984), “These additions were among the original plans foreseen by Dr. Burnight.”

On the Court

College sports were off to a great start in the early 1990s as the women’s volleyball team earned successive South Coast Conference (SCC) titles and became the reigning state champions by fall 1992. During the team’s journey to the top, Falcon volleyball Co-Coaches Jeanine Prindle and Nancy Welliver were acknowledged for their achievement with a Co-Coach of the Year award in the SCC. It was the second time in three years the two coaches had earned this distinction.

Additionally, several international student-athletes made their way to Cerritos College to compete in wrestling. During this time, three international student-athletes were named All-American, while six earned state championships. The college continued to lead the state in all-time state champions as its total increased to 37 by the end of the decade.

Dominating the 1990s, the women’s basketball team became a state power. Led by Head Coach Karen Welliver, the team finished no lower than second place in the conference nine out of 10 years, winning the conference championship three times.

Falcon football opened with two championships in the new Mission Conference. The 1990s also saw the creation of the Cerritos Strawberry Bowl and four bowl championships for the college. Five former players came back to the program to serve as assistant coaches. Also, the football program sent 162 players on to four-year universities in the decade, including offensive lineman Tupe Peko (1997-1998), now playing for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.

The decade also included the retirement of men’s basketball coach Jack Bogdanovich at the conclusion of the 1998 season. In his 15-year career, he led his Falcon teams to three state championships, 10 conference championships and a 411-91 record. Another legend in the athletic program, Nancy Kelly, also retired as softball’s head coach. She ended her 23-year career with 502 wins and five conference titles. Later, Coach Kelly’s dedication to the softball program she had founded, as well as her devotion to students, prompted the college in February 2001 to rename the softball field the Nancy Kelly Field.

Global Impact

With the aid of technology, the college began to cultivate global partnerships. In 1999, a partnership began between Cerritos and the University of Wisconsin Stout (UW-Stout), which allowed both colleges to hold joint classes in real time with the use of a TV screen and the Internet. History class discussions focusing on the Civil Rights movement were particularly interesting as students from the diverse community at Cerritos had the opportunity to share perspectives and opinions with their predominantly Caucasian UW-Stout counterparts.

In addition, this partnership with UW-Stout—and four years later another with International Pacific College in New Zealand—presented a handful of Cerritos students with an opportunity to visit these partner campuses and experience the cultural differences first hand.

Teacher TRAC

In May 1999, Cerritos College partnered with California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) to establish the Teacher TRAC (TRaining ACademy) program. Once they have transferred to CSULB, Cerritos students have the opportunity to complete their Bachelor of Arts degree, student teaching, and teaching credential in two years, instead of the traditional minimum of three years. Sue Parsons, Director of Teacher TRAC, ensures that this program is designed to help students realize their goal of becoming a teacher – wherever their journey at Cerritos begins.

“The Teacher TRAC students are my inspiration,” says Parsons. “Their dedication and perseverance is incredible. There is a saying, ‘To teach, is to touch lives, forever.’ The Teacher TRAC students touch our lives as I know they will touch the lives of many children.”

The Teacher TRAC Program is one of the premier programs offered at Cerritos College. Teacher TRAC faculty are committed to the recruitment and preparation of quality teachers to address the local, state, and national teacher shortage. The growth and success of the program is predicated on a number of important factors, beginning with dedicated faculty, strong institutional support, community relationships, a clearly defined curricular pathway, and technologically-rich learning environments. Students begin their college experience at Cerritos College and transfer seamlessly into the CSULB Teacher Preparation Program.

Cerritos College’s 50th anniversary celebration officially began in August 2005 with the Cerritos College Foundation’s 20th Annual Golf Classic. This fall, the campus plans a special convocation involving several generations of faculty and staff and a fund-raising gala in October. Proceeds raised during the gala will benefit Cerritos College students who may be presented later with 50th Anniversary Scholarships created in honor of the milestone.

Cerritos College celebrates the 2005-06 school year as its 50th anniversary in serving as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, La Mirada and Norwalk. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 180 areas of study in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently surpasses 22,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu, and view a celebratory site honoring the college’s 50 years of tradition, honor and values at www.cerritos.edu/50.

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Media Contact: Kristen Habbestad, Public Affairs, Cerritos City College; (562) 860-2451, ext. 2287

 

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