College of Marin’s 85th Annual Commencement

College of Marin’s 85th Commencement will take place on Saturday, May 26, at 10 a.m. in the Irwin P. Diamond Physical Education Center Gymnasium. Of the approximately 321 students receiving degrees and certificates this year, about 120 students will participate in the formal ceremony. The youngest graduate is 16 and the oldest graduate is 72 years old. College of Marin will be awarding 187 associate in arts degrees, 93 associate in science degrees and 79 certificates. (Some students have earned more than one of the above.)

The Commencement ceremony will open with an address from Academic Senate President Sara McKinnon. Special Assistant to the Superintendent/President Angelina Duarte will introduce the student speaker, Kim Burl. President of the Board of Trustees Diana Conti will introduce the commencement speaker, Dr. Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, M.D., Ph.D. The ceremony will close with an address by McKinnon.

Student speaker Kim Burl was born and raised in San Francisco, California and graduated from high school in 1983 from Abraham Lincoln High School. In 1984 she started working at UCSF Medical Center. She began working towards a degree in criminal justice at Contra Costa College, and then transferred to College of Marin where she received her Certificate of Completion in Administration of Justice. Burl is transferring to Cal State University East Bay to complete her education and plans to become a juvenile probation officer.

Commencement speaker Dr. Aguilar-Gaxiola is a Professor of Clinical Internal Medicine and the Director of the Center for Reducing Health Disparities at the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine. He is an internationally renowned expert on mental health in ethnic populations.

Athletic Hall of Fame Celebrates Five New Inductees

Third Annual Event to Honor Pete Carroll, Jerry Goff, Pete Limm, Justin Nichols, and John Panagakis

In celebration of their standout athleticism, inspired coaching and legacy of community service, College of Marin is honoring five new inductees to its Athletic Hall of Fame: Pete Carroll, Jerry Goff, Pete Limm, Justin Nichols, and John “The Greek” Panagakis. The five men will be honored at the Third Annual Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony and Banquet on Saturday, June 9.
 
What: Third Annual Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony and Banquet
When: Saturday, June 9
           5:30 p.m.–No Host Social Hour; 6:30 p.m. – Dinner and Induction Ceremony
Where: Four Points by Sheraton, 1010 Northgate Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903
Tickets: $60 each, Seating is limited. RSVP by June 1, 2012
Contact: Lindsay Bacigalupi, Athletics and P.E., 415.485.9580

Former Major League Baseball Player Jerry Goff, 48, played baseball and also punted for College of Marin’s football team. He transferred to and played baseball ball at the University of California at Berkeley, and was drafted by the Seattle Mariners professional baseball organization. His major league debut was in 1990 for the Montreal Expos and he continued to play in the major leagues until 1996. He is now a firefighter for the City of Millbrae.
 
It was also an important time of transition for Pete Carroll, 60, who played football for two years at College of Marin (1969-1970) before transferring to the University of the Pacific at Stockton and later coaching for the National Football League. Carroll has won a number of career awards and is currently head coach of the Seattle Seahawks.
 
Justin Nicholas, 42, currently a swim and water polo coach in the Dallas, Texas area, was a national champion swimmer and water polo player. He held the junior college record for 200-yard breaststroke for 23 years, and remembers invaluable coaching and inspiration at the college.
 
Inductee Pete Limm, 81, coached many years at College of Marin, served as athletic director and continues to teach golf part-time at the college.
 
John “The Greek” Panagakis, 75, initially hired on in 1966 as a College of Marin basketball coach, also coached football, tennis, track, and soccer; as well as women’s basketball, before going on to work for the Florida Marlins and then returning to the Marin area to organize and coach Special Olympics for nearly four decades.
 
The College of Marin Athletic Hall of Fame was founded in 2010 to recognize the outstanding achievements of its former student-athletes, coaches, and friends of the athletic program. Photos and a commemorative plaque for each of the five men will hang in the Irwin P. Diamond Physical Education Center alongside those of 11 inductees from previous years.

Volunteers Needed for the Marin County Fair

Have fun at the Marin County Fair while spreading the word about all the opportunities here at College of Marin! Each year College of Marin staffs an informational booth and volunteers are needed for two- or four-hour shifts June 30 to July 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Volunteers receive complimentary admission tickets and will be reimbursed for parking. There are plenty of things to do and see while you are there. This year the theme of the fair is celebrating the rich and varied traditions that have become the foundation for fairs all across the United States.

If you are interested in participating, please send an email to Nicole Cruz with County Fair in the subject area. Please include your available days and times, as well as an off-campus phone number where you can be reached.

May 2012 Data Nugget

Do you know what percentage of 2010-11 COM students rated their educational experience at COM to be excellent or good?
Answer: 88%

This and other interesting information can be found in the May Data Nugget (Accountability Report for Community Colleges) presented by the Planning, Research, and Institutional Effectiveness group.

Flex/Professional Development Program Update

Since fall 2012 classes start Wednesday, August 22, the Mandatory Flex Day that includes College Convocation and department meetings will be held Tuesday, August 21. The Professional Development Committee is planning a special program Monday, August 20, to provide information about and celebrate some of our special student populations including our veteran and DSPS students. Plans are in the works to schedule technology training and a strategic plan update on Friday, August 17. If you’d like to submit a request to present a workshop on Friday, August 17 or during the semester, please email Kathleen Kirkpatrick. Information about the August 2012 Flex professional development activities will be sent via campus email and posted on the Staff Development Webpage as details are confirmed.

Reminder: Faculty Spring Flex Verification Forms Due Friday

Flex Verification Forms that document how faculty completed their Spring Flex obligation are due in Human Resources by 5 p.m., Friday, May 25. Flex program information and a downloadable Flex Verification Form can be found on the Staff Development Webpage.

Registered Nursing Program Pinning Ceremony - Tonight

The faculty and 2012 graduating class of the COM Registered Nursing Program will hold their annual Pinning Ceremony Thursday, May 24, at 6 p.m. at the Diamond Physical Education Center, 700 College Avenue, Kentfield. A reception will be held prior to the ceremony beginning at 5 p.m. The traditional Nurses’ Pinning Ceremony is held to observe the completion of the Nursing Education Program and dates back to Florence Nightingale. The pin itself identifies the particular school of nursing that the graduate nurse attended and symbolizes the philosophy, beliefs, and aspirations of the nursing program. The ceremony is a community celebration of the completion of the nursing program and is evidence of the achievement, learning, and skill that the graduate nurse has attained.

Transfer Recognition Reception

The Transfer and Career Center will be hosting its Sixth Annual Transfer Recognition Reception to honor and recognize our students who are transferring to four-year universities. The event will be held Friday, May 25, in the Student Services Building, first floor at the Kentfield Campus. The evening will begin with a ceremony at 6:30 p.m. to formally acknowledge our students, followed by a reception. You are invited to celebrate and honor our students as they make their transition from the college to attain their educational and professional goals. For additional information, please contact Janice Austin or call (415) 485-9671.

Dental Assisting Class Graduation

College of Marin’s Dental Assisting Class of 2012 will be graduating on Thursday, June 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the Indian Valley Campus, Main Building 27.

In Remembrance

Kate Dodele
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of the passing of our friend and colleague, Kate Dodele. Kate passed away May 17, 2012, as a result of a long battle with leukemia. Kate was a beloved colleague in the Counseling Department having diligently served as a Counseling Technician since January 1990. Kate was described as both the “rock” and “anchor” in the Counseling Department where she found great joy in helping students of all ages find their way and their passions with education and career.
 
At 54 years young, Kate is survived by her mother, Nancy Bott, who was a long-time College of Marin employee; three brothers, Ken, Andy and Robert; husband Rob; son Jacob; daughters Dawn, Lori, Jenna, Jaime and Bethany; seven grandchildren; and of course, many friends and colleagues here at College of Marin. Kate will most certainly be missed.
 
A Celebration of Life for has been planned for Saturday, June 2, 10 a.m. at Mount Tam Mortuary, 2500 5th Avenue, San Rafael.
 
Joe Gargiulo
Joe Gargiulo, a former Novato mayor, longtime civic leader, educator, and College of Marin trustee who helped build the Indian Valley Campus, passed away on May 10 of congestive heart failure. He was 86.

In 1963 he was the first College of Marin alumnus and the first North Marin resident to be elected to the college's board of trustees, and he advocated for the purchase of land for what became the Indian Valley Campus in Novato. He left the board to run for the Novato City Council and was elected in 1968. He served as mayor from 1971 to 1972, and was named Novato's 1976 Citizen of the Year. Gargiulo is survived by daughters, Ellen Gillen and Gayla Probert, both of Novato.
 

Have a great week!

David Wain Coon, Ed.D.
Superintendent/President

President's Weekly Briefing Web Page
Technical Contact: Nicole Cruz, Assistant to Director of Communications and Community Relations, (415) 485-9648 x7648
Content Responsible: Cathy Summa-Wolfe, Director of Communications and Community Relations, (415) 485-9528