Rio Salado College | RioNews

School is IN for Summer!

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Moore) — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:13:00 +0000

Originally published in the May 18 edition of the Tempe Republic

Taking an online course or two is a great way to stay sharp during the summer months. Summer may not be the preferred season for intense, research-heavy topics, but Rio Salado College offers a variety of stimulating courses that are a perfect complement to summer activities.

The most recent addition to the college’s summer-friendly course offerings is ENG235 Magazine Article Writing. The course is perfect for budding freelance writers, hobbyists and serious bloggers.

“This course was created for those looking for a foundational knowledge of the magazine industry and guidance in crafting publishable articles,” said RSC Adjunct Faculty Member Charlene Jimenez who developed the course. “In addition to writing actual magazine articles, the course will cover how to develop a publishable topic, find the right magazine, establish contracts, and maintain a professional relationship with an editor.”

According to Jimenez, the course is ideal for summer school students because the workload is balanced and flexible.

“It's a great summer elective because there's a good, healthy balance between weeks that focus on writing and weeks that explore more of the fun side of the magazine publishing industry,” Jimenez said. “Students get to write and revise several articles and queries, but they also get weeks in which they create their own freelance contracts, build resources for future articles, and create online writing portfolios. Students will not be continually writing, so they should still have time for summer fun.”

Other summer-friendly classes include:

Contemporary Cinema (HUM210) A study of contemporary films, directors and critics. This course will help students appreciate the cinematic artistry (or lack thereof) in this summer's hottest blockbuster movies.
Rock Music and Culture (MHL153) Historical review of the culture, social, political and economic conditions that have shaped the evolution of rock music. This course will add context and depth of experience to the summer concert season.
Renaissance to Contemporary Art (ARH102) Discover artistic issues and controversies ranging from restoration and preservation to accessibility, scholarship and criticism. This class is invaluable for students who prefer to get out of the heat with a visit to the art museum.
Poetry Writing (CRW160) and Fiction Writing (CRW 170) Whether it's a poolside distraction from the summer heat, or a professional aspiration, creative writing is the ultimate form of self-expression. These classes help students understand, evaluate and evolve their personal style and technique.

Rae "Kimo" Ormsby Named 2012-2013 Excellence in Education Teacher of the Year.

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Moore) — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Rio Salado College Congratulates Rae "Kimo" Ormsby of Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix for winning the 99.9 FM KEZ Excellence in Education Teacher of the Year Award for the 2012-2013 school year.

Ormsby, won the Excellence in Education award for September 2012 after he was nominated by Amber Kalsow who was a student in Ormsby's Spanish class.

In Kaslow's nomination letter she acknowledged her teacher for his desire to impact students' lives through his Spanish class and give them the best education.

"This course has not only taught me Spanish but it has also made me learn a lot about myself. Kimo makes you think in depth. Kimo is not a person who looks at teaching as only a job. It is what he loves to do."

Ormsby expressed gratitude for both the September and end-of-the-year awards, and was emotional when he spoke about his work with students.

Ormsby was asked how much he thinks he means to his students to which he humbly responded, “Not as much as they [his students] mean to me.”

Ormsby’s spoke about helping students not only to learn, but to improve their lives and overcome the difficulties they face.

Excellence in Education has been a partnership between Rio Salado College and KEZ 99.9 FM for 10 years. Students and parents of students nominate K-12 teachers who are excellent at their profession and have gone above-and-beyond the call of duty to make a difference in their community.

This past school year, a Valley K-12 teacher was selected each month from all the entries to be recognized for their outstanding contribution to education. KEZ’s Marty Manning made a visit to the teacher’s school to surprise them with their “Excellence in Education” Award.

The surprise visit was broadcast during the Beth and Friends Show. All winning teachers were rewarded with $99, an Excellence in Education Award, and a Rio Salado College gift bag.

Student Showcase Hosted at KJZZ's SPOT127 Youth Media Center

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Moore) — Fri, 17 May 2013 01:00:00 +0000

KJZZ’s SPOT 127 Youth Media Center hosted its first Student Showcase on Wed., May 15 at RSC Thomas to celebrate the achievements of 27 participants who completed the first, nine-month-long instructional program.

SPOT 127 Director Greg Pereira and Instructional Facilitator/Coordinator of Marketing Tony Valenti stood in front of a packed room of participants and their family members, KJZZ staff, donors and other community supporters to give each of the students a certificate of achievement, to celebrate their first year’s accomplishments and to honor the most outstanding students of the year.

Pictured left are those outstanding students: Maryvale sophomore BrieAnna Frank who received the Best Student award; Maryvale freshman, Stephanie Estrada who won the Best Video category and Coronado Del Sol junior Bailey Vogt, who took home the award for Best Audio.

SPOT 127 is already accepting applications for its next summer session (June 3-14) and its next nine-month-long program, which begins Sept. 9. The deadline for summer applicants is May 31 and the deadline for the next nine-month program is Sept. 3.

For more details, visit spot127.org and visit KJZZ’s facebook page for more photos.

Avondale Teacher Receives Excellence in Education Award

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Moore) — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:59:00 +0000

Samantha Foster recently received the Excellence in Education award for May. She is a first grade teacher at Littleton Elementary School in Avondale.

Ms. Foster was nominated by Kerrilyn Chavez who said that Foster is always looking for ways to help students and is an “amazing example to her students and parents.”

“Children need more positive role models earlier in their education in order to foster a positive school experience,” said Chavez. “I believe that Ms. Foster achieves this to the full extent with her students.”

Excellence in Education is a partnership between Rio Salado College and KEZ 99.9 FM, which recognizes Valley teachers. Students and parents of students nominate K-12 teachers who are excellent at their profession and have gone above-and-beyond the call of duty to make a difference in their community.

This past school year, a Valley K-12 teacher was selected each month from all the entries and then recognized for their outstanding contribution to education. KEZ’s Marty Manning made a visit to the teacher’s school to surprise them with their “Excellence in Education” Award. The surprise visit was broadcast during the Beth and Friends Show. All winning teachers were rewarded with $99, an Excellence in Education Award, and a Rio Salado College gift bag.

Phi Theta Kappa Elects New Officers

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Moore) — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:37:00 +0000

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society's Alpha Theta Omicron Chapter elected a new set of officers to support and promote PTK activities at Rio Salado College. The college would like to congratulate the following students:

Chapter President: John Field

Chair of Membership and Fellowship: Matt Moreno

Chair of Hallmarks and Administration: John Williams

Chair of Community Service: Jessica Chapman

Chair of Public Relations: Tracy Morris

Chair of the College Project: Pauline Davis

PTK is the international honor society of two-year colleges. It is the largest honor society in American higher education with over 2 million members and more than 1,200 chapters in all 50 states and abroad. The purpose of Phi Theta Kappa is to recognize and encourage scholarship while also promoting leadership, service, and fellowship.

Visit the Rio Salado College website for more information on Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Rio Salado College.

Graduating is Twice the Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Moore) — Sat, 11 May 2013 14:30:00 +0000

Shane Cahill celebrates high school
and college graduation in the same week.

For Shane Cahill, today marks the second important event of her busy graduation week. On Wednesday, Cahill graduated from Rio Salado College with an associate degree. Today she walks across the stage at Xavier Preparatory High School to collect her high school diploma.

Thanks to Rio Salado’s dual enrollment program, Cahill was able to graduate from college and high school in the same week!

“My senior year was definitely not the easy year that many high school students have,” Cahill said. “I had to say no to many outings with friends, football games, and many other things because of the amount of work.”

Cahill’s sister had previously taken advantage of dual enrollment, where high school students can earn credit for college-level classes taken at their high school.

“Toward the end of my junior year, I realized that with changing my schedule a bit, I would be incredibly close to an associate degree at Rio Salado,” Cahill said.

Cahill tested out of a few requirements, and took classes over the summer. During her senior year of high school, Cahill added a few more classes at night so that could meet the requirements of an associate degree.

“I took 21 credits in my last semester,” Cahill said. “My parents and sister thought I was crazy. But giving up some sleep and free time was worth it. Achieving this degree will help me get to my dreams even faster than I would have before.”

Because high school students can earn college credit through dual enrollment, they benefit on several fronts. Community college tuition is a fraction of the cost of public universities. Scholarships are available, based on financial need, and credits transfer to many colleges and universities.

Rio Salado College partners with more than 40 local high schools to offer dual enrollment classes, giving thousands of students the opportunity to get a head start on college.

“I would recommend that other high school students do dual enrollment courses,” Cahill said. “It is so helpful in moving your college career along.”

Cahill’s college career plans include attending Coastal Carolina University this fall to major in Intelligence and National Security Studies.

“Having already earned an associate degree, I will be able to graduate in two and a half years, or 5 semesters,” Cahill said. She then plans to attend the Uniformed Services University for Health Sciences for medical school.

“My dream is to become a physician for the United States Navy in order to serve this great nation in the best way I can, by providing medical care to America's bravest heroes,” said Cahill.

Her dream is well on its way.

For more information about Rio Salado College’s dual enrollment program visit riosalado.edu/dual.

Library Tip of the Week: Business Source Premier

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Moore) — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

The Rio Salado Library has a great database to help students with business-related research. Business Source Premier provides access to business-related magazines, journals, and other sources such as:

Company Profiles

Country Reports

Industry Profiles

Market Research Reports

SWOT Analyses

For tips on how to search the database, see the following How Do I? video:

Graduation Day is Here!

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Moore) — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:36:00 +0000

It's Graduation Day! Here are some of the fun ways to share in tonight's festivities.

Twitter and Instagram: use the #RioGrad hashtag to share photos and tweets or to see what others are posting.
Facebook : Join the event on Facebook to post photos and comments.
Grad Badge: Add a 2013 Grad Badge to your Facebook timeline.
Google+: Join the event on Google+ to share photos and comments.
Grad Swag: Download desktop wallpaper, phone backgrounds and profile photos on Flickr to show your pride in the 2013 graduates.

Graduation is a celebration of the accomplishments, work and dedication of our 2013 Rio Salado College Graduates. The entire Rio Salado College community is encouraged to participate.

Military Tuition Assistance Program Restored

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Moore) — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:04:00 +0000

Submitted by Chantele Carr, Coordinator of Military Advisement

Congress passed an amendment that restores tuition assistance for students who are members of the Air Force, Air National Guard, Marines, Army, Army National Guard and the Reserves. This funding will continue until at least September 30, 2013. It does not cover members of the Coast Guard, who are funded instead through the Department of Homeland Security.

Roughly 300,000 servicemembers used the military tuition assistance programs last year. The tuition assistance program is available for active-duty members, reservists and National Guard members attending high school completion courses, vocational courses or classes toward an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degree after hours. It provides up to $4,500 per fiscal year, or $250 per semester hour or credit hour.
For more information about the military tuition assistance program, contact Rio Salado Military Advisement at (480)517-8590 or toll-free (800)517-8590.

For a step-by-step guide to getting started at Rio Salado College visit www.startatrio.com

Students Highlight Personal Triumphs at Graduation

noreply@blogger.com (riosaladocollege .) — Sat, 04 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Spring is here and that means graduation is in the air. Rio Salado College is getting ready to celebrate the hard work, dedication and determination of our 2013 graduates. Highlighting those attributes to the fullest are the three inspiring students who will be serving as speakers for the commencement and GED graduation ceremonies.

Romell Alexander
For Romell Alexander, commencement represents not only success, but a celebration of healing. One of the main reasons he wanted to complete a degree was to put a smile back on his mother’s face.
“I wanted to bring a sense of healing to the heart of my dear mother who tragically lost two of her sons to gun violence,” Alexander said.
Alexander has done that and then some. He will be the first in his family to graduate when he receives his associate degree in addictions and substance use disorders.
“I was able to complete my entire program online,” said Alexander, who juggled husband, father and work responsibilities while taking classes. “Rio Salado made the impossible possible for me.”
He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology and hopes to work as a psychiatrist in the mental health field.

Sylicia McPhea
Sylicia McPhea wanted her life to follow a structured, precise path into the working world, but things didn’t go according to plan.
“My life unfolded differently,” McPhea said. “I dropped out of high school only to reenter and graduate a year late.”
Soon after, McPhea became a mother and spent the next 10 years raising her daughter. However, she desired to return to her original path and get a college education.
“I thought that my late start would prove too great an obstacle,” McPhea said. However, she persevered by taking online classes at Rio Salado, and squeezing in her homework after hours.
“What I have earned is more than a degree – it is a milestone,” said McPhea, who is graduating with an associate in arts degree and continuing her studies at Arizona State University.

Stephanie Carroll
Stephanie Carroll dropped out of high school at age 15, after her brother was killed by a drunk driver. The next two years saw the births of her son and daughter. Soon after, her son was diagnosed with autism.
“It was devastating,” Carroll said. “I’ve worked with my kids every day since, and have managed to get my son to the high-functioning end of the autism spectrum.”
Carroll also decided to work on herself by going back to school to earn her GED.
“I wanted to further my education to set a good example for my children,” she said. “They are my inspiration and motivation for every step I take toward a better future.”
Carroll is currently taking classes through Rio Salado’s ACE program. She hopes to one day earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

Commencement Snapshot*:

    599    Associate Degrees
     48    Academic Certificates
3,392    Certificates of Completion
   143    Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Recognitions of Academic Achievement
   167    Graduates participating in commencement exercises

GED Snapshot*:
   600+ GED Recipients
   200+ GED Graduates participating in graduation exercises

Rio Salado College’s Commencement ceremony takes place Wednesday, May 8. The GED Graduation takes place Thursday, May 23. Both ceremonies will be held at 7 p.m. at the Phoenix Convention Center.

*Projected numbers at the time of publication.

RSC Featured as Solution to Rising Tuition in AZ

noreply@blogger.com (riosaladocollege .) — Fri, 03 May 2013 00:15:00 +0000

Director of Advisement interviewed by ASU's Cronkite News
Submitted by Advisement Initiatives Liaison Michael Murphy

Rio Salado College Student Mary Flemming-Andres and RSC Director of Advisement David Hall were recently featured in a Newswatch report on ASU's Cronkite News telecast. The story addressed the issue of rising tuition at Arizona's universities and the affordability of community colleges.

Putting the FUN in College Funding

noreply@blogger.com (riosaladocollege .) — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:47:00 +0000

Many students believe they need to be athletic or maintain a 4.0 grade point average in order to earn a college scholarship, but merit-based scholarships aren't the only option. Plenty of businesses and organizations use scholarship competitions to promote brand awareness and garner favor with college -bound consumers. Here are a few annual scholarship competitions that put the fun in college funding:

STARFLEET International Scholarships - members of the STARFLEET International Star Trek Fan Association may apply for one of five $1,000 scholarships.
Duct Tape Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest - wear duct tape to prom for a chance to win a $5,000 scholarship.
Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway - students submit a video explaining how they will make an impact in their community. Prizes include either $2,500 or a trip to a College Football Championship Game to compete with other finalists for $100,000 in tuition.

Note: When looking for out of the ordinary scholarship opportunities, students should be careful to avoid scams. Visit the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation's external scholarship opportunities page to learn more about third-party scholarship opportunities.

New Course: Information Skills in a Global Society

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Moore) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:40:00 +0000

Information Skills in a Global Society (IFS102) is perfect for students who enjoy digital technology, social networking, and experimenting with

new technology. Students in this highly interactive course, will explore the global culture developing around the internet and gain a richer understanding of how people in other parts of the world live and communicate.

Prerequisites: None.

NOTE: IFS102 can be used to satisfy Global Awareness Requirement.

IFS102 course discussion forum

Teaching is a Family Tradition

noreply@blogger.com (riosaladocollege .) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 01:08:00 +0000

Originally published in the April 27 edition of the Tempe Republic.

If an apple falls close to the tree, would Isaac Newton be proud? In the case of Brittany and Jim Weser, the answer is yes!

Brittany Weser is a first year high school biology teacher. Her father, Jim Weser, is in his ninth year of teaching middle school science.

Thanks to Rio Salado College’s Post Baccalaureate teacher education program, both were able to channel their passions for teaching into rewarding careers.

“I was able to complete the program in a timely manner, and the ability to take a wide variety of courses throughout the year was a definite strength of the Rio Salado program,” said Jim Weser.

Originally, Jim worked in the golf industry. After he was laid off, he decided to pursue a new career.

“One of the things I enjoyed most about golf was being a golf instructor,” said Jim. The transition to teacher seemed a natural fit.

“It is very rewarding to see students have those “AHA!” moments in their learning,” Jim said. “I have found that it is very important to have a positive and inviting class environment so that students can be the most open to learning.”

Brittany Weser always wanted to do something involving science and youth, and began pursuing a biochemistry degree with the intent of a career in pediatric medicine.

“I soon realized that a career in medicine was focused most on the science,” Brittany said. “To me, the greatest value and importance rested in the interaction with children because that is what I am passionate about.”

After researching her educational options, Brittany chose Rio Salado College’s teacher education program.

“I saw my dad go through the program and he enjoyed it,” said Brittany. “For me, I really appreciated Rio Salado because it is online and convenient for my schedule. Also, the price of tuition is fair and more affordable than other credentialing programs.”

Both Wesers chose to teach science, recognizing the importance of today’s youth receiving a quality STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education.

“STEM is the future,” said Brittany. “If we want to prepare our students to have promising careers as well as further the progress of humanity, then STEM education must be emphasized.”

Jim Weser agreed.

“Young people today are not looking at math and science careers as much as they did in the past, and we need to reverse that trend,” said Jim. “STEM programs not only help give young people the skills to successfully enter those career paths, they also help the U.S. maintain its position as the world’s leading innovator.”

For Brittany, who graduates from Rio Salado in December, following her father down the teaching career path is the best reward of all.

“Being a positive influence on the lives of my students is such a blessing,” Brittany said. “I love to see them grow as human beings. Your students really do look up to you, so it’s awesome to be able to make a difference.”

Financial Aid Eligibility Requires Academic Progress

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Moore) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:30:00 +0000

Satisfactory academic progress is a Federal regulation which requires a student to move toward the completion of a degree or certificate within an eligible program when receiving financial aid. These academic standards must include review of all periods of enrollment, regardless of whether or not financial aid was received.

Rio Salado College will evaluate whether the Standards of Academic Progress (SAP) set forth by the Maricopa County Community College District have been met after each semester. The evaluation process determines financial aid eligibility based on three measures: Grade Point Average (GPA), Progress, and Maximum Time Frame.

GPA – Students must meet a minimum grade point average based on the total number of credits attempted.
Progress – Students must successfully complete 2/3 of all courses attempted. Progress is calculated cumulatively and carries over from one term to the next.
Maximum Time Frame – Students who have already attempted more than 150% of the required credits for a program will no longer be able to pay for the program using federal financial aid. In addition, any earned Associate degree or higher will be considered to have exhausted timeframe eligibility.

Students who do not meet all three criteria for satisfactory academic progress are no longer eligible to receive financial aid and in some cases, may be required to return a portion of the aid they've already received.

Students who have lost their financial aid eligibility due to unsatisfactory academic progress or to the time frame requirement have the opportunity to appeal by completing the Appeal for Satisfactory Academic Progress and/or Appeal for Maximum Timeframe forms.

RioLearn Still Accessible During Website Downtime

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Moore) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 01:45:00 +0000

Attention students: the Rio Salado College website will be taken down at 4:30 Thursday morning for an update. The update process is expected to last about two hours. RioLearn will not be affected and can be accessed directly at https://www.riolearn.org/.

Westminster College Informational Lunch This Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Moore) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 23:16:00 +0000

Discover RSC transfer options and tour the new Mesa campus

Submitted by Rio Salado College Advisement Initiatives Liaison Michael Murphy

Westminster College is a highly regarded private liberal arts college located in Fulton, Missouri. Its new Arizona campus will welcome its first class this fall, moving into a former downtown Mesa courthouse building. This Saturday, you can learn about and tour Westminster College at an information session and luncheon from 10 a.m. until noon. Meet college staff and faculty, inquire about scholarships or transfer opportunities, and explore student organizations and activities. RSVP to admissions.mesa@westminster.mo.edu or text 480-747-3863 for more information.

RSC Gets Cash for Trash with Recycle 1

noreply@blogger.com (riosaladocollege .) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Virginia Rocha, Lisa Main, Rhonda Sloan, and
Christopher James are part of RSC's recycle team.

Rio Salado College recently kicked off a new recycling program in collaboration with the Recycle 1 family of companies. Participation in the new program allows the college to be paid by the ton for recycled materials.

Rio Salado installed a cardboard baler and a compactor at its Tempe headquarters to improve collection capacity. Recyclable waste from satellite locations will be transported to the main location by the maintenance and operations team.

“We’re excited to be working with Recycle 1,” said RSC Sustainability Coordinator Chris James. “Not only do they accept a wider variety of materials than our previous recycling solution, we are now generating revenue with our recycling efforts.”

The new recycling program will reduce the need to separate materials by using a single stream collection method. This method has been shown to increase participation in the program by simplifying the recycling process.

Acceptable materials for the single stream method include paper, plastic, aluminum and steel. Cardboard is baled separately and not included in the single stream method. Cardboard is, however, discarded in the same area as other recycled materials Glass is also included in recycling efforts but must be separated from other materials.

Employees and community members are also encouraged to bring recyclable materials from home to the college for disposal. Drop off hours are Monday – Friday, 7:00am-9:00am.

“Blue recycle bins will be in place around all of the locations, and the entire community is welcome to bring their recyclables during our daily morning drop off,” James said. “Our maintenance and operations team will be on hand to help with heavy loads.”

When recycling, it is important to rinse beverage and food containers and be aware of what materials will not be accepted.

“There is a list of acceptable materials near each bin because it is important for employees to know what does and does not get recycled,” James said. “If food or other non-recyclable materials are discarded into the recycle bin, it could cause the entire batch to be rejected.”

Recycle 1 staff will be available to answer questions about the program during the 2013 Rio Salado College Earth Day celebration. Planned activities include an electric car showcase, document shredding, E-waste collection, and picnic lunch specials from the Cafe at Rio. The celebration will be held April 23 from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in the RSC Tempe parking lot.

Originally published in the April 20 edition of the Tempe Republic.

Applying for Financial Aid

noreply@blogger.com (riosaladocollege .) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Paying For College: Applying for Financial Aid
Submitted by RSC Financial Aid Director Nanci Regehr

Applying for financial aid can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. All it takes is a little planning and organization to make it a less stressful process. Listed below are some useful tips to make applying for financial aid a more pleasant experience.

Apply early - The financial aid application is available every year on January 1. Students should complete the application as early as possible.
Keep track of deadlines - Missing a financial aid deadline can jeopardize the student's financial aid eligibility. Students should be sure to submit all items by the appropriate deadlines.
Monitor the student center and check email regularly - All financial aid communications are sent via the student center at my.maricopa.edu or to the student's official email address. It is the student's responsibility to monitor these sites for information.
Complete all forms accurately, completely, and legibly - Inaccurate, unreadable, or missing information can cause delays in processing the financial aid application.
Keep copies of each form - Students should keep a copy of each form submitted. Students may need to reference a particular form if the college asks for additional information.
Follow through - After submitting all forms, students should continue to monitor the student center and email for any additional items that the college may need. As deadlines near, students should follow up to confirm that all information has been received.
Reapply for financial aid every year - Each year students will need to reapply for financial aid. Students who do not qualify for certain types of aid one year, may qualify the next year. Students should always reapply.

Note: Rio Salado College recently began processing student FAFSA's for the 2013-2014 school year and encourages students to apply for financial aid as early as possible.

RSC Recognized For Affordability

noreply@blogger.com (riosaladocollege .) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:51:00 +0000

Rio Salado College was included in the 2013 Most Affordable Large Community Colleges list by Affordable Colleges Online. The list of 100 non-profit, public two-year colleges with enrollments between 15,000 - 92,000 highlights community colleges that offer a quality education for less than $3,000 a year.

AC Online offers a variety of resources to help potential students make informed decisions about how to spend their education dollars. The 2013 Most Affordable Large Community Colleges list was compiled based on information from the National Center for Education Statistics Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

Library Database Helps Students Research

noreply@blogger.com (riosaladocollege .) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Rio Salado College Library has the perfect solution to help students find credible sources for research papers and assignments. Opposing Viewpoints in Context is a one-stop shop for academic research needs. It is also ideal for exploring both sides of controversial issues, and at-home access to reference books, videos, newspaper and magazine articles, statistics, images and other credible information. Students can learn to make the most of this useful database by viewing the video tutorial in the library’s How Do I? Video Series:

Travis Fentress Recognized for Excellence in Education

noreply@blogger.com (RioNews) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:15:00 +0000

Congratulations to Travis Fentress of Williams Field High School in Gilbert for being honored with the Excellence in Education Award for April 2013!

Mr. Fentress teaches English resource and co-teaches English literature. He goes out of his way to help students achieve success and communicates their progress regularly with their parents and other teachers.

He is also the head wrestling coach for the Blackhawks. Prior to the season and on his own time, he offered open mat sessions for students interested in wresting. He inspires campus pride in his athletes through providing community service opportunities for them and lives by the philosophy to lead by example.

Excellence in Education is a partnership between Rio Salado College and KEZ 99.9 FM, which recognizes Valley teachers. Students and parents of students are encouraged to nominate K-12 teachers who are excellent at their profession and have gone above-and-beyond the call of duty to make a difference in their community.

Each month, a Valley K-12 teacher will be selected from all the entries to be recognized for their outstanding contribution to education. KEZ’s Marty Manning will visit the teacher’s school to surprise them with their “Excellence in Education” Award. The surprise visit will be broadcast during the Beth and Friends Show. All winning teachers are rewarded with $99, an Excellence in Education Award, and a Rio Salado College gift bag.

To nominate a special teacher, please visit KEZ 99.9 keyword excellence.

Teacher Career Day to be Held April 18th

noreply@blogger.com (riosaladocollege .) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:42:00 +0000

The 11th Annual Rio Salado College Teacher Career Day takes place Thursday, April 18 from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the Conference Center at RSC Tempe.

“We are excited to receive such a tremendous response from the schools and districts participating in this year’s Career Day,” said Paulina Ngo, field experience coordinator for RSC’s Teacher Education Programs, “especially from rural school districts who are in need of filling their open teaching positions for the 2013-2014 school year.”

The state-wide event connects public, charter and private schools with potential teacher candidates. On-site interviews will be available for Rio Salado Teacher Education program completers and student teachers.

According to RSC student Luke Young, the career fair is his chance to learn about potential employers and his options as a future teacher.

“For me it’s about finding a good fit and learning about what is available,” Young said. “It’s a good way to find out where the need is.”

Young is finishing his student teaching requirement and will complete the RSC Teacher Education program in May.

“My interviews were set up based on what I was interested in and my existing credentials,” Young said. “I’m excited to be talking to human resource representatives and recruiters. I’m sure I’ll learn a lot about my options.”

More than 55 Arizona schools and districts will be in attendance to fill positions including:

Certified Teacher

Substitute Teacher

Teacher’s Aid/Paraprofessional

Teacher Intern

This event is FREE and open to the public. Representatives will be on hand from major Arizona school districts as well as rural districts from Bullhead City to Springerville. Attendees should bring copies of their resume, reference letters and samples of their work as appropriate.

Visit http://www.riosalado.edu/studentevents to register (optional)

Maricopa Foundation Scholarships

noreply@blogger.com (riosaladocollege .) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Paying for College: Maricopa Foundation Scholarships

The Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2013-14 school year. Students may apply for scholarships using the Scholarship Tracking and Review System (STARS).

Before visiting the STARS site, students will need to:

Enable cookies and allow pop-ups.
Use the latest version of Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari.
Add Foundation.Scholarships@domail.maricopa.edu as an email contacts.

What to expect after applying:

Status updates will be posted to the student's STARS account.
Award and Regret notifications will be sent the student email account by the July 2013.
Notifications may be filtered to the spam folder. Adding Foundation.Scholarships@domail.maricopa.edu as an email contact may help avoid delays in the delivery of award notifications.

Although a FAFSA is not required to apply for Maricopa Foundation scholarships, students are strongly encouraged to submit their 2013-14 FAFSA as soon as possible.

Enhanced Advising Available at RSC Thomas

noreply@blogger.com (riosaladocollege .) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Students living in the central or west valley now have another convenient location to meet in person with a Rio Salado academic advisor to discuss their educational goals.

Daren Dorm can meet with students by appointment or on a walk-in basis at Rio's newest location at 3631 W. Thomas Road. Currently, advising hours are Monday-Tuesday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Wednesday-Thursday 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

RSC Thomas allows students in Maryvale to take placement tests, have class exams proctored, meet with a counselor, or take in-person College Bridge Pathways/Adult Education classes. The site is also equipped with a professional kitchen for students in Rio Salado's Sustainable Food Systems program.

For directions or more information about services and hours at RSC Thomas, visit www.riosalado.edu/locations/Thomas. To make an appointment, call (480)377-4300.

Submitted by Advisement Initiatives Liaison Michael Murphy