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The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has announced its 2016-17 academic awards, and EPCC teams have been honored

El Paso Community College (EPCC) announced Monday afternoon that the Men’s Half Marathon team was named the Academic Team of the Year in the nation with a combined 3.15 grade point average (GPA).

All six EPCC athletic teams had combined GPAs of over 3.0 for the second year in a row.

The EPCC Women’s Cross Country and Half Marathon teams finished second in the nation for their sport with combined GPAs of 3.70 and 3.60 respectfully.

“EPCC is an academic institution first and foremost,” said Felix Hinojosa, EPCC Athletic Director. “Being awarded academic honors validates what we do as a college.”

Individual Academic Student-Athletic Awards were awarded to 13 student athletes.  The student must have 24 credit hours or more with a GPA of 3.60 or higher.

The students who made the Academic First Team with a 4.00 GPA are:

Daniel Garcia Ramirez                       Baseball

Jesus Mendoza                                   Baseball

Kelli Kirkpatrick                                   Women’s Cross Country – Half Marathon

Merari Valenzuela                               Women’s Cross Country

Since 1993, the NJCAA has recognized the team with the highest overall grade-point average for their sport and gender with the NJCAA Academic Team of the Year Award.

Teams that qualify with an overall GPA of at least a 3.0 receive honorable mention recognition. Nominations are submitted by each team’s respective institution. See more HERE.

El Paso Community College (EPCC) Summer Theater continues its 2017 season with A Masterpiece of Comic…Timing.

A Masterpiece of Comic…Timing is a play about a Broadway producer who wants to write the next comedy hit. He hires a writer who is suffering from depression and no one knows why. They try to make him happy so that he will write the next hit show.

The play is written by Robert Caisley and directed by EPCC Theater Instructor, Matthew Smith.

Performances will be held July 7th and 8th at 8:00 p.m. and 9th at 2:30 p.m. The EPCC Summer Theater performs at the EPCC Forum Theater, 9570 Gateway North.

General Admission is $15, Non-EPCC students and military are $10 and EPCC students/staff and senior citizens are $7. Tickets are available at the door. The box office opens two hours before each performance.

All proceeds from the EPCC Summer Theater benefits student scholarships.

For theater information, call (915) 831-5056.

The El Paso Community College (EPCC) Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Dual Credit program placed first, second and fifth in different categories at the Health Occupation Student of America (HOSA) International Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida.

The 2017 EPCC EMT Dual Credit class at the EPISD CCTE consists of all female students.

“The culture is changing,” said Tony Ayub, EPCC EMT/Paramedic District Coordinator. “Dual Credit, EMT Dual Credit is tangible real-life training for their lives; this is an ideal career for women.” Completing the EPCC EMT program, the students are eligible to sit for the EMT Registry.

The EMT Dual Credit students are part of the El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) Center for Career and Technical Education (CCTE) program.

The Medical Reserve Corp (MRC) captured the championship competing against international health occupation student teams. The MRC participants were Chantal Guillen, Monica Ponce, Kelley Ricks, Tiana King, Amber Ledesma and Malia McNair. The MRC presented a portfolio of projects to better their community.

The project that was highlighted by the judges was an EPISD districtwide plan to raise the safety level of school buses by updating first aid and spill kits.

The other two teams sent to the HOSA Conference also excelled. The Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) team placed second. This team consisted of Esmeralda Ponce and Paola Quiroz. The team of Sofia Williams and Mofo Tah placed fifth in the category of Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

EPCC engages students inside and outside the classroom which prepares students with marketable skills for gainful employment.

For almost 50 years, El Paso Community College (EPCC) has played a significant role in the culture and lifestyle of El Paso. Since 2016 this has not been truer than the partnership forged with the El Paso Community Foundation (EPCF) to produce VIVA! El Paso.

Now celebrating its 40th year in production, VIVA! has become a summertime theatrical staple for visitors to the southwest and residents alike. Through theater, song and dance, VIVA! shares the complex history and makeup of the area.

“El Paso is the multi-cultural capital of the world,” said Keith Townsend, EPCC Instructor and VIVA! El Paso Artistic Director, “VIVA! shows that we do not divide.”

The most important aspect of EPCC’s involvement in VIVA! is the participation of its students.

The EPCC Theater program has a long history in educating young actors in all areas of bringing a theater production to life. A great example is Erick Canales. He is the lead male role in this year’s production, coming back as different characters through El Paso’s history.

An EPCC Theater major, Canales said it’s fun being someone else. Theater is in his blood; he plans to become a professional actor and then proceed into directing and teaching.

Canales knew VIVA! was for him when he heard Keith Townsend was directing. “Keith is always there for the students,” said Canales. “He is there when they have doubts, telling them that they can do it.”

The EPCC Theater program impacts all students who have attended EPCC. The want to come back always exists. EPCC and Western Kentucky University graduate, Camille Acosta returns to VIVA! for a second year.

In this year’s production she narrates segments of the play as the Spirit of Earth. Acosta enjoys working on VIVA! “it has created a new pipeline for El Paso actors,” she said. Acosta plans to try her acting skills in New York and Los Angeles. She sees herself as a teacher someday.

Acosta has fond memories of her days at EPCC.

“Since the age of 15, I performed in Keith Townsend’s productions at EPCC. All the teachers care so much for you; they want you to succeed.”

When you mention theater in El Paso, the name of Keith Townsend is sure to follow. Through VIVA! and all his productions, Townsend encourages his students to give back to the audience, to the community. He chose to make El Paso his home and has spread theater throughout local high schools and EPCC.

He jumped at the chance to lead VIVA! El Paso when the opportunity arose from the EPCC and El Paso Community Foundation partnership. “The Foundation understands the performing arts,” Townsend said. “The promotion team at El Paso Live put students into a learning opportunity at every aspect of the theater production.”

VIVA! El Paso, now in its 40 th year, will light up McKelligon Canyon Fridays and Saturdays through July 29th. Remembering its multi-cultural heritage, two performances on July 21 st and 22 nd will be presented in Spanish.

The strength of the production can be seen in its makeup; many are former El Pasoans who have returned after reaching fame in the world of entertainment. Playwright Marty Martin went on to Broadway with much success, but now finds joy in the work he has done with the new VIVA! El Paso.

Cody Ritchie, Musical Director, has worked in El Paso theater for decades. He has partnered with Keith Townsend on many EPCC productions.

Famed Rock musician, Jim Ward has lent his hand in the musical score of the play. Ward is nationally known through his work with the bands Sparta and At The Drive In.

Dance is a very important part of this year’s VIVA! because of the work of Choreographer, Jaime Carrasco.

Through 400 years, 390 costumes and more than 100 participants, VIVA! El Paso shows the Borderland at its best. EPCC creates a college-going culture by engaging students inside and outside of the classroom. VIVA! El Paso is just one example of EPCC’s commitment to strengthen its partnership with the community.

Hundreds of Socorro Independent School District (SISD) students will earn college credit over the summer break by participating in the SISD Dual Credit Summer Program, June 5-30 at Americas High School.

The program, now in its second year and a first-of-its-kind in the area, is one of Team SISD’s endless opportunities that prepares students for college, careers and life. The four-week summer session will allow high school students to earn college credit for two courses. Students may take Education 1300, Speech 1321, Government 2305, Economics 2301, English 1301 or Criminal Justice1301 and 1306, at no cost.

More than 350 students have enrolled in the Summer Dual Credit Program, said Nancy Torres, SISD’s advanced academics coordinator.

“This year we are offering additional courses,” Torres said. “This is a great opportunity for 11th-grade students to earn college credit before their senior year of high school.”

The program is a collaboration between Team SISD and El Paso Community College. Transportation and cafeteria services will be provided for students.

What:              Dual Credit Summer Program kick-off

Who:               Students, SISD and EPCC administration, faculty and staff

Where:            Americas High School, small gym 12101 Pellicano Dr.

When:             Monday, June 5, 2017 8 – 8:40 a.m.

El Paso Community College President (EPCC) Dr. William Serrata was elected to serve on the national Board of Directors for the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).

AACC is the leading proponent and the national voice for community colleges, representing nearly 1,200 two-year, associate degree–granting institutions and more than 13 million students.

Community colleges are the largest and fastest-growing sector of U.S. higher education, enrolling close to half (45 percent) of all U.S. undergraduates.

“It is an honor to be elected to serve on the AACC board with esteemed leaders from across the nation who are committed to advancing America’s community colleges,” Serrata said. “Through advocacy and a focus on student success, the AACC Board of Directors will help lead community colleges in their goals to meet 21st-century education and employment needs.”

Serrata, a nationally recognized leader, will offer important insight and perspectives to the 32-member AACC Board of Directors.

He is also a board member for Excelencia in Education, the Higher Education Research and Development Institute, the Texas Student Success Council, the Texas Association of Community Colleges and the Texas Success Center Advisory Board. Locally he serves on the boards of the Hospitals of Providence East Campus, Workforce Solutions Borderplex and United Way of El Paso County.

Under his leadership, EPCC has received numerous national accolades including being recognized as one of the Top 10 Colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute in 2015, a recipient of the 2016 AACC Excellence Award for Student Success and name by Hispanic Outlook Magazine as the #1 granter of Associate Degrees to Hispanic students among many others.

Serrata was an Aspen Ascend Fellow, a McDonald’s Hispanos Triunfadores for Education honoree and a National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award recipient which represent just a few of his accomplishments.

La Fe Preparatory School (LFPS) will hold a celebration  this Friday, May 26,  to honor its students who have been accepted into some of the region’s early college programs and specialized health, public service, and international baccalaureate magnet high schools.

“Education changes your life,” said La Fe CEO Salvador Balcorta. “Hard work, self-discipline, and focus have paid off for our students. These children are now on a path that will take them toward promising careers in health care, community leadership, and education. The La Fe family could not be prouder.”

During the ceremony, these students — all members of the LFPS’ graduating eighth-grade class — will reveal to their families and teachers which schools they have chosen for their high-school education.

In addition, seven of the 15 LFPS students have been accepted into magnet schools and early college programs that will award two-year associate’s degrees upon graduation. These associate degrees will come at no cost to the students’ families.

El Paso Community College (EPCC) President William Serrata PhD is the event’s scheduled keynote speaker.

Founded in 2007, the La Fe Preparatory School is a public charter school based in El Paso’s historic Segundo Barrio community. It offers its pre-K through eighth-grade students a dual-language immersion curriculum based on arts, culture, and technology thematic units. Classes are limited to no more than 16 students per class.

The majority of the school’s 250 students live in South El Paso’s Segundo Barrio, a historically low-income, marginalized immigrant community.

Representatives from the University at El Paso, area magnet schools, and early college programs are also among the invitees scheduled to attend this event.

El Paso Community College (EPCC) is proud to announce its recipients of the annual National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Awards.

“EPCC is proud to recognize these dedicated individuals who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment and contribution to our students and our college with the NISOD Excellence Award.” Dr. William Serrata, EPCC President said.  “The extraordinary work of these educators includes not only what they do for their students and colleagues, but what they do for our college and our community.”

All of the educators being recognized exemplify the important work being done at EPCC every day and are a testament to the role of education in improving student’s lives.

Dr. Nader Rassaei is most satisfied when he sees a former student doing well in his profession. “Raise the bar high and push students beyond their comfort zone, it is only then that they become confident enough to see the sky is the limit,” Rassaei said.

“I realized early on that in order be an amazing teacher, you must love students then you love the subject you are teaching,” said Heather Fowler. “I am inspired by my students, their struggles and their journey to succeed.” 

Keith Townsend believes empowering students leads to their overall development. “I engage students, through project-based learning and to comprehend its real-world connection,” Townsend said.

 “Recognizing those individuals who have contributed to student success and their colleges’ mission is something we look forward to doing each year,” said Dr. Edward J. Leach, NISOD’s Executive Director. “The extraordinary work of these men and women includes not only what they do for their students and colleagues, but what they do for the communities in which they live and work. We’re honored to be able to play a part in celebrating their achievements.”

The recipients were also recognized at EPCC’s annual Faculty Recognition Dinner. The 2017 honorees include:

Minnie Stevens Piper Professor Award Winner
Dr. Nader Rassaei: Pharmacy Technology

Full-time Faculty Achievement Award Winners
Dr. Rebecca Escamilla: Biology
Ms. Heather Fowler: Nursing
Mr. Keith Townsend: Speech and Theater

Adjunct Faculty Achievement Award Winners
Ms. Sylvia Aguilar-Zeleny: English
Ms. Melissa Aguilera: Speech
Ms. Marcia Clark: Speech

President’s NISOD Excellence Award Winner
Mr. Felix Hinojosa: Director of Athletics

The recipients will be celebrated during the Excellence Awards Dinner and Celebration in conjunction with NISOD’s annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence, May 27-30, in Austin, Texas.

Since 1989, the NISOD Excellence Awards and annual conference has represented the largest and most inspiring gathering that recognizes the contributions and achievements of community and technical college faculty, administrators and staff.  Created in 1978, NISOD is a membership organization committed to promoting and celebrating excellence in teaching, learning and leadership at community and technical colleges.

NISOD supports its member colleges by providing professional development resources and learning experiences, including practitioner publications, webinars, the annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence, the NISOD Excellence Awards and more. For more information about NISOD, visit www.nisod.org.

A major part of El Paso Community College’s (EPCC) history is a long tradition of educating the area’s active-duty soldiers and veterans.

When the College was created in 1971, El Paso was home to many veterans returning from the Vietnam War so educating the nation’s returning heroes became a top priority.

EPCC’s ties to the military grew stronger when an agreement was signed between the United States Army and EPCC to open the College’s first campus on Fort Bliss in 1972.  Almost a half century later, EPCC’s top priority is still the military.

In July 2016, EPCC opened the Veterans Resource Center which is one of the most comprehensive centers of its kind at a college or university in the Southwest region. The center, still in its infancy, will eventually become a comprehensive one-stop-shop for veterans.  “We have an obligation to provide all of our current military-affiliated students and family members with an appropriate education, so they can go out and garner employment,” said Arvis Jones, Director of Student Government and Campus Life.

The Veterans Resource Center will provide individual case management to assist veterans with registration for classes, requesting benefits, applying for Veterans Affairs (VA) work-study, community referrals, peer-to-peer support, a book exchange program, workshops, coordination of VA services and other assistance that will help them achieve success on their educational journey.

The center offers computers, a printer and informal meeting areas for students to congregate, meet and talk candidly with other veteran students. “The transitions from military to civilian life and then to campus life can be daunting for military affiliated students and veterans so EPCC is an effective choice for these students because of the accessibility and support programs available,” Jones said.

EPCC engages students inside and outside the classroom. As part of the Work-Study Program, veterans are able to learn about college life from their peers and assist incoming and current veteran students in their own language.

The college’s VA offices can help students better understand all of the benefits available to them, as well as become more familiar with the college registration process and manage their time efficiently. Take Melayia Crum who came to EPCC as an active-duty soldier. Now a student, she has learned to effectively divide her time with family, employment and school.  “EPCC does everything right, they helped me get the start of my college education,” said Crum. “I now know how to help others in similar situations.”

Not only does EPCC provide opportunities for veterans but active duty soldiers as well.  Serving our country while getting an education may sound like an impossible task, but EPCC student soldiers do it every day. Many must take classes online or in the classroom, evenings or weekends. “EPCC works with students who have to go out to the field,” said EPCC student, Sergeant Ernald Santos. “Flexible schedules, online courses and faculty that work with us are all a plus.”

Regardless whether a student is a veteran, soldier or family member of those serving country, EPCC also has an Admissions and Counseling staff that is experienced in military needs. Questions such as how to use Tuition Assistance (TA), accessing benefit programs and getting credit for military experience can all be answered.

“Soldiers sometimes do not realize it is not just today, there is a future coming up,” said Gloria Miller, EPCC Military Counselor. “EPCC gets students from point A to point B. We offer classes when soldiers need them, free tutoring and almost all of their credits transfer, EPCC is the best education value for today’s student.”

College officials add, “As EPCC approaches its 50^th anniversary, plans for the future will include providing even more enhanced services to our active-duty and veteran students and their families…with high quality education along with increased flexibility of schedules, online classes, multiple campuses and affordable tuition, the choice to attend EPCC is the best choice for the military-affiliated student.”

EPCC will hold a Multicultural festival where currently-enrolled and former students can meet their fellow classmates and learn about different cultures through music and entertainment.

A multi-nation flag rising Ceremony will be part of this celebration.

The EPCC Language Institute prepares students and professionals to acquire English proficiency to meet their personal, academic and career goals.

EPCC Officials add, “The Language Institute is committed to offer classes in a dynamic, multicultural and effective environment with the most innovative, supportive resources imparted by highly qualified and competent faculty members.”

WHEN: Saturday, May 20, 2017 at noon.

WHERE: EPCC Valle Verde Campus, 919 Hunter Drive at the Americana Village.

El Paso Community College (EPCC) held its annual recognition dinner and award ceremony to celebrate and recognize outstanding faculty and staff for their contributions to the college.

“Our faculty and staff are vital to our mission of supporting our students in pursuit of the educational goals and dreams,” said, Steve Smith, Vice President of Instruction and Workforce Education. “These awards are a small recognition of the incredible work they do each day.”

The event was held on May 5^th at the Coronado Country Club. Invited guests included recipients, Board of Trustees, Faculty-Professional Development Committee, Administrators, and the college staff.

Honorees:
Retirees

Minnie Stevens Piper Professor Award
Dr. Nader Rassaei, Pharmacy Technology, Rio Grande

Outstanding Faculty Achievement Award
Heather Fowler, Nursing, Rio Grande
Keith Townsend, Speech, Valle Verde
Dr. Rebecca Escamilla, Biology, Northwest

Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Achievement Award
Sylvia Aguilar-Zeleny, English, Valle Verde
Marcia Clark, Speech, Valle Verde
Melissa Aguilera, Speech, Valle Verde

President’s National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Award
Felix Hinojosa, Athletic Director, Valle Verde

Professional Staff Association (PSA) Full-time Employee of the Year Award
Carmen Wages, Accountant, Administrative Services Center (ASC)

PSA Part-time Employee of the Year Award
Michelle Chavez, Coordinator, Diversity Programs, Valle Verde

Classified Staff Association (CSA) Full-time Employee of the Year Award
Raul Lucero, Grounds Foreman, Valle Verde

CSA Part-time Employee of the Year Award
Perla Renteria, Resource Development Asst., Foundation, ASC

Three students from El Paso Community College (EPCC) were awarded the Scholarship in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) in the field of Computer Science with an emphasis in Cyber-Security. This program has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) since fall of 2011 and has been supporting students’ financial and educational needs.

The students Kristopher Gutierrez, Briana Sanchez and Rocio Cardona, who received the S-STEM, are outstanding EPCC students in Cyber-Security and will transfer to UTEP and continue their studies in the same concentration. The S-STEM is a very ambitious program that pays the students’ tuition until they graduate from a four-year institution.

“This scholarship means the beginning of many opportunities that will help me excel in my major,” said Briana Sanchez, Computer Science major and S-STEM recipient. “This opportunity will allow me to meet new people, be exposed to new material, and strengthen my knowledge in this field.”

“The students who received the S-STEM scholarship are outstanding EPCC students in computer science,” said Dr. Christian Servin, Instructor of Computer Science “Kristopher, Briana and Rocio have shown evidence of success throughout the courses they took at EPCC.”

The S-STEM program will fund students seeking a degree in Computer Science for a period of up to four years.

Funded students at UTEP and CSU-S will receive an annual stipend based on their academic level as follows Freshman: $7,500, Sophomore: $7,500, Junior: $9,000 and Senior: $10,000

The Ysleta Independent School District and El Paso Community College (EPCC) announced the designation of two new early college high school programs by the Texas Education Agency during a press conference Thursday morning.

Parkland Early College High School and Ysleta High School Early College Academy joins Valle Verde Early College High School as the second and third early college high school programs in Ysleta ISD, with both schools opening the 2017-2018 school year.

Both programs have already accepted students to their respective early college high schools. Ninety-four students will begin ninth grade at Parkland ECHS while 103 freshman willbegin at Ysleta High School Early College Academy.

The early college high school model has proven to be successful in the El Paso community. YISD’s Valle Verde ECHS has received numerous accolades from the TEA, including receiving all seven distinction designations and being named as a model campus. In addition, Newsweek and US News & World Report named Valle Verde ECHS among the best high schools in the nation and the top high school in El Paso in 2016.

The addition of the Parkland Early College High School and Ysleta High School Early College Academy will increase options for students to earn an associate’s degree from EPCC while simultaneously earning a high school diploma.

The “school within a school” model at Parkland and Ysleta will also provide students the opportunity to enjoy traditional high school activities such as athletics, fine arts and JROTC while taking dual credit courses.

Greater El Paso Credit Union (GECU) along with El Paso Community College (EPCC), celebrated the Grand Opening of the first EPCC student-run credit union on Wednesday, April 26^th at EPCC’s Valle Verde Campus Student Services Center at 919 Hunter Drive.

Crystal Long, GECU President and CEO stated, “Collaborating with El Paso Community College supports our similar goals of providing higher education and financial literacy to students. These opportunities pave the way to financial freedom and success, which will further elevate our community. We’re excited to grow our relationship with EPCC and look forward to providing financial education and our convenient services to students right on campus.”

The new location is a full-service branch, including an added Virtual Office available for new account openings, loan applications and processing, and more.

“The opening of the GECU branch on the EPCC Valle Verde campus reflects the important partnership between business and education by providing our students work experience in the financial industry, and at the same time offering accessible services to our community,” stated Dr. Myshie Pagel, Instructional Dean of Education and Career and Technology Education.

The credit union is staffed by a team of existing GECU employees and EPCC student positions. The EPCC branch is open to the public, an added convenience to nearby members who live and work near campus.

Annually, GECU provides a $10,000 scholarship donation towards El Paso Community College students. The branch will further emphasize the importance for all students to become financially fit by learning how to budget and manage their money. The GECU/EPCC location at Valle Verde will serve all students, faculty and staff.

On Monday, El Paso Community College’s (EPCC) Student Government Association (SGA) celebrated the grand opening of the Tejano Food Pantry.

The new pantry will be serving students from EPCC via the location at the Valle Verde Campus.

The Tejano Food Pantry will be open once a month on the third Monday of each month from the hours of 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The student would receive food for a month until they can come again and collect more food. The food pantry will be supplied by student donations, club donations, and SGA funds allocated for this purpose.

“In speaking with students and listening to their concerns, we heard that many had dropped out or were contemplating dropping out in order to get a job to provide food for their family,” Christal Tucker, President of EPCC Student Government Association said. “SGA saw that food was a drastic need for many students, therefore we contacted other community colleges and began the process of establishing the food pantry.”

Currently, SGA will open one food pantry that will be located at the Valle Verde Campus in room C-102 and plan to expand to other campuses in the future.

As SGA represents all campuses, any EPCC student with a valid ID can receive food from the pantry regardless of what campus they attend.

For more information, please call (915) 831-2096