Houston Community College observed its 41st graduation with two separate ceremonies Saturday, May 18 at 8:30 a.m. for academic graduates and 1:00 p.m. for workforce/GED graduates at Reliant Stadium. Thousands of students received their degrees during both ceremonies. Jamey Rootes, President of the Houston Texans, gave the keynote address for the 8:30 a.m event.  Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was the keynote speaker for the 1:00 p.m. event. In all, more than 5,100 students received associate degrees, certificates or their GED from HCC this year. Both events were streamed live.

About Jamey Rootes, President of the Houston Texans
Delivering the keynote address at the 8:30 a.m. ceremony is the President of the Houston Texans, Jamey Rootes. Since joining the Houston Texans, Rootes has overseen the team’s efforts to secure stadium naming rights and sponsorship, coordinated radio and TV broadcasting relationships, engineered the club’s successful ticket and suite sales campaigns, led the creation and launch of the team’s identity and developed the team’s highly-acclaimed customer service strategy. Rootes was selected twice by SportsBusiness Journal as a member of its distinguished “Forty Under 40” list of leading sports executives. He also oversees the activities of the Houston Texans Foundation, which has provided nearly $6 million to benefit youth and families in the Houston area since its inception.

About Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, the keynote speaker for the 1:00 p.m. ceremony, is an influential and forceful voice in Washington, representing the 18th Congressional District of Texas, centered in Houston. She is serving her tenth term as a member of the US House of Representatives. She is a leader in support of enhanced technology, better intelligence, increased airplane cargo inspections, increased security for railroads and implementation of the 9/11 Commission report. She currently serves as the Ranking Member of the Border and Maritime Subcommittee and is also a senior Member of the House Judiciary Committee.

About the Commencement Ceremonies
This is the first time HCC has held two ceremonies to accommodate its growing number of graduates. Over 2,000 students plan to attend the graduation ceremonies, and that number continues to grow every year.

HCC’s five regional colleges and one specialty college offer workforce training programs, academic transfer courses, continuing education and adult education to one of the most diverse student bodies in the country.

HCC has a commitment to intellectual growth, economic expansion and community development. HCC has developed a broad range of programs and services to ensure that no group of individuals is without resources to reach its educational goals. This comprehensive approach to education will be the key to the economic vitality of Houston in the 21st Century.

Search 2013 graduates

Board of Trustees meeting, part 1

Board of Trustees meeting, part 2

Students will be given free breakfast, lunch, refreshments, T-shirts and shoulder bags.

A non-refundable orientation fee of $50 must be paid prior to the orientation. Students who have not paid the fee will be given a chance to do so after Friday’s orientation.

For more information, please contact the Office of International Student Services & Study Abroad at 713-718-8521.

On HCC’s “Get a Job,” host Rick Gillis chats with Michelle Peavy, Founder of Rimi & Company and Roger Ferguson, HR Lead at TRS Staffing about tips on how to use social media and staffing companies to land a permanent job. You can view the entire program at: sites.hccs.edu/hcctv/get-a-job/

Co-Founded by HCC Trustee Neeta Sane (District VII), with the support of community leaders, public officials, and the HCC Foundation, HCC-ASPIRE program is designed to support educational pursuits and excellence of Asian students and faculty of HCC. Based on financial needs and academic progress, HCC-ASPIRE will grant awards to deserving students and members of the HCC faculty or staff.

HCC-ASPIRE program is committed to inspiring HCC’s students and faculty members to excel in the academic world and in the community as well. By supporting students and faculty with financial awards, HCC-ASPIRE aims to enhance the teaching-learning process that will enable HCC to educate more students for the 21st century workforce and job market

To uphold diversity and inclusiveness, HCC-ASPIRE program will also support activities that highlight the Asian culture of education. Out of HCC’s 70,000 student population, about 14% is of Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) origin. In 2012, HCC became eligible to obtain AAPI-serving institutions status as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.

More information about ASPIRE and to access the application details visit www.hccs.edu/aspire

The parade began at 10 am at Minute Maid Park and ended at Preston and Crawford. HCC trustee Eva Loredo and HCC students rode on the HCC float.

The bond initiative is providing each HCC college with new or renovated facilities and the technology to meet student needs, especially in high-demand areas such as health sciences, as well as science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. HCC’s goal is to provide modern and technologically advanced facilities that enable students to acquire the academic preparation and workforce skills necessary to compete at the highest level in the global marketplace.

Dr. Stephen Klineberg, Co-director of Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, expanded upon that theme in his remarks at the Community Dialogue. Dr. Klineberg provided an overview of the demographic transformation taking place in the city of Houston and stressed the vital role that community colleges, and HCC in particular, play in preparing Houston residents for the global marketplace. Dr. Klineberg noted the growth in Houston’s Asian and Hispanic communities. He explained that the Houston area’s future economic growth will be driven by these communities, and that it is essential they have access to and acquire the education and training that the emerging industries and businesses will require.

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With the projected growth and diversity of our community, the expectations of HCC continue to rise, and the demand for the college’s services and collaboration far outpace its current infrastructure and resources. HCC is looking long range in order to continue to serve its community and to do so, the institution is making significant investments in facilities, technology and operational efficiencies.

Since November, when Houston residents approved the HCC Bond initiative, HCC’s Board of Trustees and administration has worked diligently to plan and prepare for the College’s growth in order to ensure that the funds that were entrusted with the college are used in the most cost effective manner. HCC thanks all the members of the community that recognized the importance of higher education and the role of HCC. Together, we can continue to strengthen our city and keep Houston working. For more information, visit www.hccs.edu/community.

All Houston Fire Department Stations will host an Open House from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 1. You are encouraged to stop by, meet the firefighters, let the kids see the equipment and pick-up some preparedness materials. Other retailers, companies and the community are getting involved. Make it a Civic Club or Super Neighborhood event. May Day Houston is also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MayDayHouston.

James B. Smith, U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia

The question-and-answer session, which is being organized and presented by HCC’s Office of International Student Services & Study Abroad, is open to the public.

Ambassador Smith’s remarks will look at the broader scope of U.S.-Saudi relations, focusing on people-to-people interactions through commerce, education and cultural exchanges. He will also be available to answer questions from members of the audience on the current state of U.S.-Saudi relations.

Ambassador Smith has served in his current post since September 16, 2009. Before his appointment, he held a number of executive positions with Raytheon Company and enjoyed a 28-year career in the U.S. Air Force, retiring with the rank of Brigadier General in 2002.

Ambassador Smith, who logged more than 4,000 hours of flight time as a fighter pilot during his Air Force career, was a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Class of 1974 and earned his master’s degree in History from Indiana University in 1975. Ambassador Smith, a native of Brooks, Georgia, is also a distinguished graduate of the Naval War College, the Air Command and Staff College and the National War College.

Dr. Breslin-Smith served in various leadership roles during more than 17 years as a staff member in the U.S. Senate before joining her husband in Saudi Arabia and co-authored her first book “The National War College: A History of Strategic Thinking in Peace and War” in 2011. She earned a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Southern California and received her doctoral degree from the University of California at Los Angeles.

Minister Counselor Kayani is a career member of the United States’ Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister Counselor, and has many years of experience working in the Middle East and North Africa. Kayani, who earned a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in in Economic Development and Management from the University of Pittsburgh, speaks Arabic, Hindi, Punjabi, Turkish and Urdu. Minister Counselor Kayani has received numerous Superior Honor Awards in recognition of his work for the U.S. Department of State.

For more information on this event, please contact Todd Duplantis, Southwest College Director of Public Relations, at 713-718-7765 or todd.duplantis@hccs.edu.

HOUSTON (KTRK) — A college student is being held without bail, accused of threatening to kill his teacher and classmates at the Houston Community College main campus.

Court records show 32-year-old Cory Brown is charged with making a terroristic threat. Police say Brown threatened to kill everyone in one class last Wednesday, then ran out of the room.

He was arrested about a half hour later off campus.

HCC Board of Trustees Meeting April 2013, part 1

HCC Board of Trustees Meeting April 2013, part 2

The chosen HR executive and administrative leader will combine character, integrity and trustworthiness of the highest order with an exceptional array of skills and abilities and the vision, initiative, passion and energy to make a decisive impact and ensure the continued success of the institution. The CHRO will develop a strategic planning process to guide HR initiatives across the footprint of the organization, working with a collegial team of well-trained staff to orchestrate, implement, and monitor all phases of human resources administration and ensure migration to best demonstrated HR practices, leading to optimal efficiency and positive outcomes throughout the system. Winning candidate will view and value the impact and strategic importance of the HR leadership function as an essential element of the system’s overall delivery of academic excellence, and will assume a key leadership position in developing a model for other organizations to emulate. Here the selected leader will find every ingredient needed for success as an integral part of this academic institution — an outstanding, progressive Chancellor and involved Board fully committed to the system’s success – and yours.

Requirements:
Houston Community College has exclusively engaged Wheless Partners to conduct the search for this position. Direct contact by potential candidates to Houston Community College will terminate a candidate’s consideration for this position.
Interested candidates should submit the following:
Resume, current bio/profile, and compensation to:
CHROHCC@whelesspartners.com

For more information or to discuss this position, contact:
Mike J.R. Wheless, Managing Partner
Michael Ballew, Executive Director Search Operations
Kathy Sabio, Senior Search Consultant 239-348-1574

Current enrollment for HCC is 69,815 with $2,160 as its average yearly cost of tuition for a full time student.

Dozens of families took part of this event sponsored by HCC’s Minority Male Initiative and 100 Blackmen of Metro Houston and its partners. There was free health screenings, information on healthy behaviors, and important alternative exercise demonstrations for both children and adults. All were encouraged to learn about Yoga.

Event partners include the Memorial Hermann, Methodist Hospital, Houston Community College, 100 Collegiate Chapters from “Texas Southern University, Prairie View A&M, and University of Houston”.

“Health & Wellness” is a new initiative that is working to combat the epidemic of obesity by creating community environments that better accommodate, even encourage, healthy eating and regular physical activity. The hope is that everyone in the Houston Diaspora will think about what they can do to help make it easier for themselves and those around them to make healthy decisions – eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and incorporating physical activity into their daily routines.

If you have questions about the event contact HCC’s Minority Initiative, John Gilmore at: 832-309-1353 or 100 Blackmen of Metro Houston Health & Wellness Committee, Chi Ali at: 954-226-9527.

Incoming college freshmen or upper classmen may apply; the deadline is April 25, 2013. The guidelines and application may be obtained from the Foundation’s website: www.thegeorgefoundation.org, under Scholarship Opportunities.

For questions or further information, email Scholarships@thegeorgefoundation.org or call Theresa Kopnicky, Grant Associate, at 281-342-6109.

The Houston Community College Foundation supports HCC in its efforts to attract and educate Houston-area students, and they have made it their mission to provide financial assistance through student scholarships and endowments. You can find more scholarships at http://www.hccsfoundation.org/Scholarships

What’s Coming to Northeast College?
2012 Bond Allocation for Northeast College: $73 Million

Northline Campus:
• New parking garage with 600 – 1200 parking spaces.
• New educational building

North Forest Campus:
• New Academic & Workforce Campus that will provide market-driven   training,  adult education, continuing education and vocational programs.
• Pinemont Center: (Replacement Campus)
• New Academic & Workforce Campus containing student support services and various educational programs.

Complete our survey

As we finalize plans for construction of facilities in the Northeast service area, we ask that you complete our survey to provide valuable input on programs, services, and amenities that you would like for us to consider. Surveys can be found at the receptionist desk at any HCC Northeast campus or online by clicking the link below:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HCCNEnewfacilities

Formal meetings will also be held at various locations across the District. Please continue to visit hccs.edu for the latest information.

Dr. John H. Lienhard, author and voice of “The Engines of Our Ingenuity,” will serve as the keynote speaker. Dr. Lienhard is Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering and History at the University of Houston. The organizers of the symposium have invited college, university and high school educators and students to present at this event. Sponsors included Pearson Education, Cengage Publishing, Texas Instruments, Maple, Wiley Publishing, Design Science, Inc. and McGraw-Hill.

Southeast College’s Eastside Campus is located at 6815 Rustic Street, Houston, Texas 77087.

With the help of HCC, Ben E. Keith workers will pursue the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) Certified Logistics Associate (CLA) Certification. The purpose of the Certified Logistics Associate (CLA) program is to recognize individuals who demonstrate mastery of the core competencies of material handling, including understanding the life cycle of global chain logistics, the logistics environment and familiarization with different material handling equipment, introduction to safety principles and safe equipment handling, quality control principles, workplace communications, teamwork and problem solving.

“There was a wide range of students from young adults to some who had not been in a classroom for 30 years, but everyone was eager to learn. Their biggest complaint was that they wished they had learned some of these skills earlier in life, and they wished they had more time to expand on the training. They even found ways to apply warehousing topics like safety, quality and planning to their personal lives,” said HCC’s instructor, Ralph Anderson.

According to W. Elliott Stephenson, Ph.D., Vice President – Human Resources for Ben E. Keith Foods, “HCC’s training program turned out to be a great success for both expected and unexpected reasons. We expected a more educated workforce with industry-recognized credentials. We received 100% of what we expected there. What we didn’t expect was the high level of appreciation from the employees for the investment that was made in them. The experience has gone a long way to creating a strong team with a high level of morale.”

The first 31 HCC graduates completed their training in March with another 30 scheduled to begin classes in May. All of the new hires should be trained in time for the first shipments which are due to begin in June. HCC and Ben E. Keith plan to continue a long-term partnership that strengthens both institutions as well as the local community.

The exhibition enabled students to become involved and share their talent, a goal set by Men of Honor. The HCC Men of Honor organization’s primary focus is to facilitate student’s leadership development, peer support and student involvement through mentoring. The students worked with advisors and mentors to help their visions evolve from an idea to reality.

Professors nominated promising and talented students, and the students, in turn, nominated a member of the HCC faculty as their mentor. Bryan Bauhs, Program Coordinator for the Art Department at Northwest College, collected the works, photographs of the art, artist’s statements, bios and inspirations in preparation for the exhibit. It was an effort that required many emails and helping hands, which resulted in a successful show.

Each student was publicly recognized and received a financial scholarship to encourage their creative talent. Many of the students have plans to pursue a degree in art in hope of sharing their creative vision with the world.

David Mora, an Art student at Northwest College, received the honor of having his work picked as the centerpiece for the event. His painting, “Two Nature’s at War,” was originally a painting he created for himself to convey his love of lions and how they symbolize power, strength and royalty. Mora is unsure of his future, but hopes to attend the University of Houston to continue his art studies and earn his bachelor’s degree.

Acrylic paintings, bamboo brush drawings, watercolor paintings and digital prints were accompanied by sculptural pieces of brass, copper and silver, or in Isaac Reyes’s case, leaves, chicken wire and paper mâché.

Reyes’s sculpture, “Ama Tierra,” depicts Mother Earth coming out of the ground, her bodice completely covered in leaves. Its purpose is to inspire its observers to think about earth and its beauty. The sculpture’s construction is reminiscent of a piñata, weighing only four pounds, yet has more durability.

Reyes was nominated by Professor Michael Bolden and named Bennie Flores, another artist in the exhibit, as his mentor. He is not a stranger to showcasing his work, having participated in past student shows and the Project Row Houses exhibit for the Summer Artist Studio Residency 2012. His photographs have even been on display in China as part of the Ming Yao photography festival that showcases the best of American colleges.

The students and faculty honored at the event are Bryan Bauhs, Northeast College; Pedro Baltran, Northeast College; Rolando Reyna, Southwest College; Christopher Grant, Southwest College; Pat Doran Porcynaluk, Southwest College; Pedro Obando, Southwest College; Jessica Jacobi, Central Campus; Anthony James Bibal, Central College; Bennie Flores Ansell, Central College; Isaac Reyes, Central College; Michael Golden, Central College; Andre Brooks, Central College; Tina Kotrla, Northeast College; Schwanell Hatchett, Northeast College; Nelanie Loew, Northwest College; David Mora, Northwest College; Steven Potter, Southwest College; Diego Hernandez, Southwest College; Geoff Hippenstiel, Northeast College; Yoshio Romero, Northeast College and El Franco Lee II.

The exhibition was curated by the HCC Art Discipline Committee, including efforts from Bryan Bauhs, Chairman; Aundrea Matthews, Gallery Manager and installation by Robert Hodge Studios. The Northwest Jazz Ensemble performed.

The Men of Honor Exhibition will be on display until May 3 in the first floor lobby, in the Main Gallery, 3100 Main Street.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact John Gilmore, III at 713.718.5061 or email johngilmoreiii@hccs.edu.

Honorato Medrano

Honorato Medrano Jr. is currently attending HCC and pursuing an associate degree in science, after which he hopes to transfer to the University of Houston next spring and major in Civil Engineering. Upon graduating from high school he enlisted in the US Navy for four years. He was part of an elite team of an armed helicopter combat squadron (HSC-8), responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the helicopters. Stationed in San Diego, CA and attached to the USS John C. Stennis.

On the morning of Friday, February 15, 2013, between approximately 9:40 a.m. and 9:55 a.m., a male HCC student had his laptop computer stolen while napping within the Houston Community College West Loop Campus. When he woke up and noticed that his laptop was missing, he immediately walked to the information desk of the West Loop Campus to seek police assistance.

A few minutes later on the second floor where the previous robbery had occurred, a female HCC Student was reading from her Apple iPad when a criminal suspect walked up behind her and brazenly grabbed it from her hands. The female student, shocked and frightened, screamed immediately as the suspect fled the location. On the first floor, the female victim’s screams immediately caught the attention of HCC Police Corporal Edwin Johnson and HCC Students, Michael D. Alaniz and Honorato Medrano Jr.

As the suspect ran down the stairwell, he immediately ran into Corporal Johnson and the first student victim, who were returning to the scene of the earlier theft. Cpl. Johnson, having heard the scream but not knowing what the situation was, asked the suspect to stop so that they could speak. The suspect momentarily agreed but immediately pushed Cpl. Johnson backwards down the stairwell and ran out of the West Loop Campus. Student Michael D. Alaniz, who was on the first floor near the stairwell, witnessed Cpl. Johnson being pushed down by the suspect who then fled the scene and ran out the door. As the suspect ran from the scene, both Alaniz and then Medrano gave chase. Alaniz, having gained ground on the suspect, followed him out the door and north across Pin Oak Park toward the east exterior side of the Home Depot, with Cpl. Johnson, Honorato Medrano and the first student victim seconds behind.

The suspect continued towards the rear of the Home Depot with Michael Alaniz close behind. As the suspect reached the back of the store he fell into a pallet and was cornered. Seeing the tenacious actions of his pursuer, the suspect set down the iPad he had stolen from his female victim and initially raised his hands. Upon the arrival of Cpl. Johnson, the suspect again attempted to flee but was immediately grabbed and wrestled to the ground by Cpl. Johnson, Alaniz and Medrano and was apprehended. A search of the suspect and his possessions was found to contain the first student victim’s laptop, a passport that had also been reported stolen from the Gulfton Campus and several other items that implicated this suspect in other thefts at HCC Southwest.

Both HCC Students’ Michael D. Alaniz and Honorato Medrano Jr., who directly assisted in the apprehension of the suspect, were not known to each other prior to this incident but both have experience in providing a valuable service to their community as former members of the Armed Forces of the United States, Michael D. Alaniz as a United States Marine and Honorato Medrano Jr. as a Sailor in the United States Navy. Their situational awareness, prior experience, quick thinking, courage and unselfish actions bring credit to themselves, their branches of the United State Military and are to be commended by Houston Community College and the Houston Community College Police Department.