spotlight spring09

8/14/2019 Spotlight Spring09

1/8

Spring 2009

California State University, Fullerton

a current scholar spoke at the luncheon abouthis desire to make a career with a companysuch as Edison International. Karolis is hopingto intern with the company this summer.Frank Quevedo, the Vice President of EqualOpportunity for Edison International, and themain donor for the CSU/Edison scholarship

was in attendance. Quevedo told Raudys hewould make sure he got an internship!

Te luncheon was a big success. Scholarshiprecipients were able to make connections withCSU Fullerton President, Dr. Milton Gordon,and key members from Edison International.Te Scholars greatly enjoyed the event, andall expressed their gratitude to both EdisonInternational and CSU Fullerton for providingthem with the two-year scholarship.

Friday the 13th of February was a dayof recognition and networking for theCSU/Edison Scholars. Te CSU/Edisonransfer Scholarship is designed to increase thenumber of low income students earning degreesin technical fields. Program partners, EdisonInternational and California State University,

Fullerton provide students with a two-yearscholarship based on students maintaining a2.0 GPA and full-time enrollment.

CSU Fullerton currently has 23 scholars thathave transferred from surrounding communitycolleges including Fullerton College, Santa AnaCollege, and Irvine Valley College. 11 of the23 scholars attended the luncheon that broughttogether scholars, top administrators, andEdison International donors. Karolis Raudys

Angela MeyersProject AssistantDean of Students OfficePhoto Credit: Dean of Students Office

Edison Scholars: RecognizingStudent Excellence

Te current CSU/Edison Scholars with President Milton A. Gordon and Edison International leaders.(Bottom row, left to right) Arpitaben Patel, Allison Rodriguez, Claudia Rodriguez. (Back row, left to right) Nicholas Wood,Micheal Laidlaw, President Milton A. Gordon, Edison International Vice President for Equal Opportunity Frank Quevedo,Edison International Corporate Representative for Public Affairs Fernando de Necochea, Miguel Vera, Karolis Raudys,Morgan Hackett.

Inside This Issue:

Social Justice Summit6

Student LifeAchievement Awards7

Guardian ScholarsProgram ReceivesNational Honor

7

KinderCaminata:Tuffy Goes to College8

Spotlight onDr. Ryan AlcantaraAssistant Vice President

5

University LeadershipConference4

Athletes Giving Back3


2/8

Student Affairs enhances andsupports the academic mission ofthe University. Te Student Affairsmission encompasses the dual

paradigms of student development andstudent services and includes buildingalliances between the classroom andother aspects of campus life. As apartner in the educational enterprise,Student Affairs contributes to thecomprehensive educational experienceof students. Trough myriad services,programs and activities, the intellectual,

vocational, personal, social andcultural development of all students isencouraged. Trough these programsand services, students are assisted in

acquiring the knowledge, skills andinsights that facilitate life-long learning,a sense of personal and interpersonalcompetence and human understanding.

As a resource for students,administration, faculty, staff, alumni andthe broader community, Student Affairsprovides a wide variety of university

services. Tese services meet the needsof students as they progress throughtheir college experience and also includeproblem solving, research assistance

and consultation. With a diverse andcomprehensive set of responsibilities,Student Affairs contributes to thecampus community a special perspectiveabout students, their experience, and thecampus environment.

Articles in this edition of the newsletterprovide information about several of therecent programs and activities providedby the Division of Student Affairs

which contribute to the comprehensiveeducational experience of students at CalState Fullerton.

In this edition of Spotlight, you will findhighlights of the Guardian ScholarsProgram recently recognized by theChild Welfare League of America. TeGuardian Scholars Program is dedicatedto supporting ambitious, college-boundstudents exiting the foster care system byproviding a comprehensive program thatcontributes to the quality and depth ofthe students university experience. As thefirst-ever recipient of the National FosteringEducational Success Award, the Universityand the program were recognized forexceptional leadership and demonstratedcommitment to providing foster youth

with a learning and living environment thatis healthy, safe, nurturing and supportiveof their ability to successfully completepost-secondary education. Also in thisedition you will learn about the generosityof our student-athletes who have a longhistory of success both on the playingfield and in the community. Cal State

Fullertons diamond teams mens baseballand womens softball have a long standingrelationship with local youth leagues.

Students are at the forefront of Cal StateFullerton. Tis time of the academic

year features a multitude of studentactivities. Te University LeadershipConference hosted by Leadership &Multicultural Development Programsin the Dean of Students Officesponsored the annual event whichdrew over 250 student participants.Included in the day were keynotespeakers, skill-building workshops, acommunity service drive, awards andan involvement fair. Student LifePrograms & Services hosted the 12thannual Student Life Achievement

Awards with a theme of Lights,Camera, Action to recognize theStudent Organization of the Year, Faculty

Adviser of the Year, Staff Adviser of the Year, Community Service award and the ACE Student of the Year. Finally, theVolunteer & Service Center hosted the 5thannual Social Justice Summit. With nearly600 attendees, the event was coordinatedalong with student volunteers who put incountless hours during fall 2008 and spring2009. Te event featured 25 workshopson issues of human rights, environmentalconcern, oppression and inequality in ourlocal, national and global communities. Inthis edition, you will also read about thebackground and accomplishments of oneof the senior leaders in the division. Dr.

Ryan Alcantara speaks about why he enjoyshis role as Assistant Vice President forStudent Affairs.

Finally, as we near the end of the2008-2009 academic year, I would

like to congratulate all of the membersof the Student Affairs family for theiraccomplishments during the past year. It isyour hard work that ensures the quality oflife for all students at Cal State Fullerton.

Sincerely,

Robert L. Palmer, Ph.D.Vice President for Student AffairsCalifornia State University, Fullerton

2 - Spring 2009 Spotlight on Student Affairs

Message from Robert L. Palmer,Vice President for Student Affairs

A FewWords

Photo Credit: Kelly Lacefield

California State University,Fullerton


3/8

Cal State Fullertons diamond teams, mens baseball and womens softball, have a long history of success on the

playing field and both programs have been equally activegiving back to their community. Both programs havelong-standing relationships with local youth leagues andeach sponsors special events. Softball recently conductedPower in Pink Day in conjunction with its opening BigWest Conference series against Cal Poly San Luis Obispoon March 28, 2009 to support breast cancer researchand awareness. Fans were encouraged to wear pink toAnderson Family Field and fundraising activities werestaged to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the CureFoundation. A total of $1,346 was raised throughdonations and silent auctions. Titans s w e p tthe doubleheader with 2-0 and 5-3victories.

For the eleventh consecutiveyear the Cal State Fullertonbaseball team hosted a freeclinic for developmentallydisabled children at GoodwinField on May 30, 2009.Kids of the Miracle League

Athletes Giving BackMel FranksAssociate Athletics Director, Media RelationsAthleticsPhotos Credit: Kaelynn Craddick & Steve Robitaille

(Challenger Little Leaguers also welcomed) and theirparents are annually hosted on the field by the entire roster

of players and coaches for a two-hour long clinic and pizzadinner. Over the years, the youngsters have become someof the collegians' most loyal fans and they return to manygames at Goodwin Field.

For more information on this year's Miracle League clinic,please call the baseball office at (657) 278-3789.

Te Cal State Fullerton softball team held its inaugural "Power in Pink" day on March 28, 2009 to support breastcancer research and awareness.

Spotlight on Student Affairs Spring 2009 -

California State University,Fullerto


4/8



Juanita RazoAssociate Dean of StudentsLeadership and Multicultural Development ProgramsDean of Students OfficePhotos Credit: Jung Kim

(Right, top to bottom) Te GetInvolved Fair helps students learnabout leadership roles availableon-and-off campus.

Over 250 students registeredto attend the conference whichfeatured Cruz Reynoso and imGard. Te event was planned by acommittee of eight student leaders.

Te Step Ahead Drive raised over1000 school supply donations forgrateful teachers at Kings

Elementary School in Santa Ana.Te conference provides leadershiptraining to CSUF students andlocal college students fromcampuses such as Orange CoastCollege.

(Left bottom) Justin Lee, fromSantiago Canyon College, led theNetworking Activity aimed athelping students "break the ice.

Cal State Fullerton hosted its annual UniversityLeadership Conference on Saturday, March 7,2009. Over 250 students participated. Tisyears conference featured two keynote speakers,six skill-building workshops, a communityservice drive, awards, and an involvement fair.

Closing speaker, former California SupremeCourt Justice and civil rights leader CruzReynosa spoke about becoming a leader whoinfluences social change. im Gard, a nationallyrecognized humorist and stress reduction coachshared how humor can be used to deal with the

challenges of leadership. Six workshops focusedon stress management, ethical decision making,generational differences, visionary leadership,and conflict management. Te workshopsprovided participants with the building blocks(skills) needed to become effective leaders.

Te conference also featured a communityservice project where participants and CSUFcommunity members were asked to donateschool supplies to benefit the Step Ahead Projectcoordinated by the Volunteer and Service Center.Over 1,000 individual items were collected anddonated to Kings Elementary School in Santa

Ana.

Te conference also recognized two outstandingstudent leaders and an organization for theircontributions on campus and in the greatercommunity. Awards recipients included:Carmen Drummond (itan Leadership Award),and Rachel Kha (Priscilla Oaks Scholarship).Te itan Spotlight Award was given to theEMBRACE program which stands for EducatingMyself for Better Racial Awareness and CulturalEnrichment. At the end of the day, many

conference participants enjoyed theMens basketball game against UCIas part of CSUFs Homecomingfestivities.

Te conference is one of manystudent leadership training programsoffered at Cal State Fullerton. olearn about other programs andevents, contact or visit the Dean ofStudents Office in SU-235.


5/8

Get Involved is more than amere slogan for Ryan Alcantara.His passion for co-curricular

involvement started before college,during his high schools years. Whetherrunning cross country track orparticipating in student organizations,Ryan has always found out-of-classinvolvement more interesting thanacademics. Tats not to say that Ryan wasnt a good student. From highschool and beyond at UC Riverside,the University of Connecticut andfinally USC, Ryan has always believed

a balance between academics andco-curricular experience is important.While his undergraduate college yearswould prove this balance challenging,it was his involvement as a studentleader at UC Riverside that cementedRyans future professional path; a paththat has lead him to his role as AssistantVice President for Student Affairs atCal State Fullerton where he overseesthe areas of budget,human resources andtechnology for the

division.

Raised in SouthernCalifornia, Ryancompleted hisbachelors degreeat UC Riverside infour years despitegetting involvedduring his freshmanyear. His firstofficial involvementcame when he joined the Latinosin Science club. Anew organization oncampus, Ryan wasquickly encouragedto apply for the Associated StudentsProgram Board by afellow club member. Although he was

Lea M. JarnaginAssistant to the Vice President for Student AffairsVice President for Student Affairs OfficePhotos Credit: Jaime E. Hamilton

unsure what he was applyingfor, Ryans leadership skills werequickly recognized after hisfirst year on the board when hewas selected to serve as the ASProgram Board Chair. Ryandraws an interesting parallelbetween his current role as the Assistant Vice President forStudent Affairs and his role asprogram board chair. As in hiscurrent role, his efforts includedsupporting programming effortsof others while overseeing

contracts and budgets.

Ryans early leadershipinvolvement with the ASI atUC Riverside led to his appointment tothe student recreation center board ofgovernors during the construction phaseof the facility. In total, Ryan served fortwo years on the board, including a term

as chair. It was thisinvolvement whereRyan learned someof his early politicallessons. Usage of the

facility by constituentson campus becamea hot-button issueduring Ryans tenureas board chair. Whenthe Chancelloroverturned the boardsdecision regarding usepolicies, Ryan learnedimportant lessonsfrom student affairsprofessionals whoserved as advisors. Asstated by Ryan, Ilearned lots of lessonson what not to dofrom the dynamicsof the relationshipbetween studentleaders involvedin the recreationcenter projectand the university

administration. His interest in pursuinga career in student affairs was cementedas a result of his experience and hebecame determined to become part ofthe administration to better representstudent interests and needs.

After graduating from UC Riverside,Ryan looked out-of-state for graduateschool experiences. He attended theUniversity of Connecticut where hecontinued to be highly involved. Inaddition to working in student activities,Ryan helped to establish the LatinoGraduate Student Association, servedon the Graduate Student Senate, and was even recognized as the PuertoRican/Latin American Cultural CenterVolunteer of the Year. While he enjoyedthe east coast, even the cold winters,Ryan returned home in 1997 to starthis first professional position out ofgraduate school at Cal State Fullertonas a half-time Greek advisor in thethen named Office of Student Life. When asked what he is most proudof during his tenure in this role, Ryanspeaks of the community meetings heorganized to develop positive workingrelationships between students andpolice and community members. Otheropportunities quickly opened up, these

Personal: Married to Suzanne wo sons, Vincent, age 4 andSteven, age 1 Born in Los Angeles Enjoys running has completed5 marathons

Education: BS in Psychobiology from UCRiverside MA in Educational Leadershipfrom University of Connecticut PhD in Public Administrationfrom USC

Areas he oversees:

Budget Human Resources echnology

His first job:Worked construction with hisfather while growing up First job in college was as astudent assistant in the StudentLife Office



Continued on Page 6


6/8

With nearly 600 attendees, the Volunteer& Service Centers 5th Annual Social Justice Summit held on Saturday, April18, 2009 was the biggest to date. Studentvolunteers put in countless hours planningfor the event starting in fall 2008. Teevent featured 25 workshops on issues ofhuman rights, environmental concern,oppression and inequality in our local,national and global communities.Internationally known keynotes/spoken word artists, Jerry Quickley and CarlosAndrs Gomz, brought home the events

theme, Resist Ignorance, ProvokeTought, Incite Change through theirpoignant presentations. In a new venture, aSilent Art Auction was held in conjunction with the Summit bringing themes ofsocial justice and art together for a uniqueexhibition. Summit attendees not onlyreceived valuable education, but learnedabout what they can do to make a differenceon issues of social justice starting now!

Amy MatternCoordinator, Volunteer & Service CenterDean of Students Office

Photo Credit: Rikka Venturanza

Te students and staff who brought the 5th Annual Social Justice Summit to lifecelebrate the completion of another successful day of education, empowerment andaction.



included serving as advisor for ASIelections, overseeing the universityleadership conference and studentlife orientation, and serving on thecommittee to re-develop the UniversityHonors Program.

In February of 2001, Ryans pathled him to serve as the Director ofHonors & Scholars Support Serviceson campus. Tere, he workedclosely with what Ryan calls someoutstanding faculty with whom he

forged strong working relationships.Tis opportunity helped him to learnhow important it is for student affairsprofessionals to serve as ambassadorsof the profession. In April of 2005,Ryans leadership was recognized onceagain when he was invited to moveto New Student Programs to becomethe Associate Dean of the department.Having served as a New Student

Continued from Page 5

Orientation leader asan undergraduate, Ryan welcomed the return tostudent life. Ryan greatlyenjoyed being a part ofthe NSP team, speakinghighly of the amazingstaff and students who aretruly dedicated to servingstudents.

January of 2008 brought Ryan tohis current position. When asked

about his preparation for his currentposition, Ryan reflected that thecombination of his PhD in Public Administration along with hisprofessional background provides anideal fit. He is a strong proponent ofthe value of diversification in degrees. When asked what he enjoys themost about his role as assistant vicepresident, Ryan remarked I enjoy the

puzzles of situations that come acrossmy desk. It keeps things interesting.

Ryan believes his background in variousstudent affairs departments helps himunderstand what managers and staff inthe division are trying to accomplish.Tis perspective helps him representthe interests of the vice president whilealso assisting division personnel to meettheir objectives. As Ryan articulated,support of staff is critical to studentsuccess.

I enjoy the puzzlesof situations thatcome across mydesk. It keeps thingsinteresting.

Dr. Ryan Alcantara


7/8


Student LifeAchievement Awards

On April 8, 2009 Student Life Programs and Serviceshosted the 12th Annual Student Life AchievementAwards with a theme of Lights, Camera, Action. Teawards ceremony featured five awards, a red carpetentrance and student performances. Te awardsincluded Student Organization of the Year, FacultyAdviser of the Year, Staff Adviser of the Year, CommunityService award and ACE Student of the Year. TeStudent Organization of the Year was given to LambdaTeta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. Tis organization hassuccessfully demonstrated philanthropic communityservice on and off campus, they have collaborated withother organizations and worked closely with StudentLife Programs and Services to ensure that they followpolicies and procedures. Tey also took home theCommunity Service award. Each member demonstratedan averaged of over 28 community service hours. NickKatz, the advisor for Gamma Phi Beta was awardedthe Staff Advisor of the Year award and Shelli Wynantsfrom Child and Adolescents Studies Student Associationwas awarded the Faculty Advisor of the Year award forthe second consecutive year. Te ACE student of theyear was awarded to Austin Nation, who completeda co-curricular achievement record that reflected hisco-curricular involvement such as leadership positions,activities in student organizations, awards/scholarships,community service and academic research. All students,members of student organizations and advisors arehighly encouraged to nominate themselves for futureawards.

Maricela AlvaradoCoordinator, Student Life Programs and ServicesDean of Students OfficePhoto Credit: Members of Lambda Teta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.


Guardian ScholarsProgram ReceivesNational Honor

Te Cal State Fullerton Guardian Scholars Program wasselected earlier this year as the first-ever recipient of the Child Welfare League of Americas (CWLA) National FosteringEducational Success Award. Te program, which is dedicatedto supporting the college aspirations of former foster youth,is part of the Division of Student Affairs. Te GuardianScholars program is committed to supporting ambitious,college-bound students exiting the foster care system byproviding a comprehensive program that contributes to thequality and depth of the student's university experience.Program staff serve as a resource for young adults by assistingin their development and equipping them with the educational

and interpersonal skills necessary to become self-supporting,community leaders, role models, and competent professionalsin their selected fields.

Te distinguished award was given in recognition of theUniversitys exceptional leadership and demonstratedcommitment to providing foster youth a learning and livingenvironment that is healthy, safe, nurturing, and supportive oftheir ability to successfully complete post-secondary education.Since 1920, the CWLA has been the nations pre-eminentorganization dedicated to ensuring that disadvantaged andvulnerable children are protected from harm and have toolsand resources they need to grow into healthy and happy adults.It is the only organization with members from both public and

private agencies.

Selection criteria for the award includes, but is not limitedto, embracing a youth development philosophy, providingfinancial aid to assist with educational expenses as well asadditional financial supports to bridge the financial gap manyfoster youth face in meeting day-to-day living expenses;offering counseling, tutoring and educational supportsto foster academic success; and creating opportunities forleadership and engagement. Program leaders were recognizedat the CWLA 2009 National Conference in Washington,DC on February 24th. Attending the program were alumnusRon Davis, founder and supporter of the program; ScholarsChristopher Andrade and arae Graves; Grace Johnson,

Program Director; and Giulii Kraemer, Program Coordinator.Te campus program also received a $2,500 donation fromthe national organization. Tis award is significant...RonDavis has devoted much of his time and energy to make surechildren who were raised in the foster care system have theopportunity to receive a college education and to contributeto the community as successful young adults, said Howard Wang, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs whooversees the program and called it an honor to receive thenational recognition.

Lea M. JarnaginAssistant to the Vice President for Student AffairsVIce President for Student Affairs Office

Members of Lambda Teta AlphaLatin Sorority, Inc.; MaricelaAlvarado, Coordinator of StudentLife Programs and Services; GinaGarcia, Coordinator for SEMransfer Student Service.


8/88 - Spring 2009 Spotlight on Student Affairs

Vice President for Student Affairs OfficeLangsdorf Hall 805P.O. Box 6830Fullerton, CA 92834(657) 278-3221

www.fullerton.edu/sa

Design & LayoutJaime E. HamiltonReceptionist & Publication

Assistant

EditorLea M. Jarnagin

Assistant to the VicePresident for Student Affairs


KinderCaminata - Tuffy Goes to CollegeDr. Esiquio UballeAssociate Dean of StudentsStudent Life Programs and ServicesDean of Students OfficePhotos Credit: KinderCaminata Board of Directors

On Friday March 27, 2009 uffy

joined hundreds of Kindergartenkids who visited Santa Ana Collegeto learn more about going to college.Dr. Esiquio Uballe, Associate Deanof Students and a board memberof KinderCaminata along withour very own uffy mascot werethere to welcome the kids, theirparents and teachers. Cal StateFullerton has been a long timesupporter of this event and has ahistory of supporting events gearedtoward early awareness of attendingcollege. Tis year the Dean of

Students Office and our EducationalPartnership Office contributed fundsto help offset the cost of transportingthe kids to college campuses. Teevent carried the historical themeinspired by Cesar Chavez Si SePuede translated to Yes We Can.Children arrived on campus and were greeted by community collegestudent volunteers who cheered asstudents were unloaded and filed inwith smiling faces in anticipation of what they would learn. Hosted byarea community colleges, the kids

experienced their first visit to collegecampuses across Southern California. An estimated 4,500 Kindergartenchildren have participated since1993. Te Educational PartnershipOffice also sponsors Kids toCollege where elementary agechildren visit Cal State Fullerton tolearn more about attending college.

KinderCaminata was developed toprovide children, many of them fromlow-income and first generationcollege families, exposure to thereality of one day going to collegeand achieving a college education.Te event that targets local areaschools encourages Kindergartnersand motivates them to becomewhatever they aspire to in the future.KinderCaminata also encourages

parents to accompany their children

on the visit to community collegecampuses, many of them also new tothe college environment.

School children are introducedto career opportunities andinformational and educationaldisplays by community collegefaculty and staff, local publicservants and county and municipalemployees through hands-ondemonstrations and exhibits.Participants including firefighters,law enforcement, and health

professionals volunteered their timeto demonstrate the careers availableas a result of a college education. Teprimary goal of KinderCaminatais to inspire and plant a seed in theminds of these young children toaspire towards a college education.Te event culminates in a parade where children chant I am goingto college! Si Se Puede! and aretreated afterwards to a lunch of milkand peanut butter sandwiches.

Te following community colleges

have participated; Cypress, Fullerton,Golden West, Santa Ana &Santiago Canyon. KinderCaminatahas served the following schooldistricts: Anaheim City, BuenaPark, Centralia, Cypress, FountainValley, Fullerton, Garden Grove,Huntington Beach City, Irvine,Laguna Beach, Los Alamitos,Newport-Mesa, Ocean View,Orange, Placentia-Yorba Linda,Santa Ana, Savanna, ustin andWestminster.

For more information onKinderCaminata or to learn moreabout this event feel free to contactDr. Esiquio Uballe, Associate Deanof Students and member of the boardof directors of KinderCaminata [email protected].

spotlight spring09

Documents