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- Written by: Susan Stout
UKIAH – “Gala on the Green,” an annual fundraiser to benefit Mendocino College students and programs, is scheduled for June 18 at Campovida, 13601 Old River Road, Hopland.
The gala begins at 5:30 p.m. and will be preceded by optional tours of the Campovida gardens between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m.
Presented by the Mendocino College Foundation, the event features dinner, wine, auctions and music.
Tickets for the event are $100 per person. Tables, with seating for eight people each, may be reserved for $700. Additional information about tickets and table reservations will soon be available on the Foundation’s website, http://foundation.mendocino.edu.
Proceeds from the event are used to fund scholarships for students and provide support for College programs as recommended by the administrators. Last year’s Gala on the Green raised more than $30,000 for scholarships and educational programs.
A committee of foundation board members is working on details for the fundraiser. Richard Cooper, Ukiah, and Christy Scollin, Redwood Valley, are this year’s Special Events Committee chairs.
Event and support sponsors are needed for the event, according to Cooper and Scollin. Businesses, organizations and individuals interested in sponsoring the gala are urged to call the foundation office, 707-467-1018.
The event will feature appetizers and dinner by Ross Kilkenny Catering of Ukiah, cocktails and wine, musical entertainment, and live and silent auctions.
Campovida LLC is a “Presenting Sponsor” for the event. Use of Campovida, the setting for the annual event the last three years, is provided by owners Gary Breen and Anna Beuselinck.
“Campovida” translates to “Field of Life,” and company owners Breen and Beuselinck have revitalized the 51 acres that feature a dining pavilion, a farmhouse inn, a field house, a tasting room, 10 acres of organic vineyards, and organic gardens of more than 2,000 varieties of fresh fruit, herbs, vegetables, and ornamental and edible flowers. Guided garden tours will be offered during the hour prior to this year’s Gala festivities.
Additional sponsors for this year’s event are Mendo Lake Credit Union and Foundation board member Paul Conrado.
For more information about the annual Gala on the Green or about the Mendocino College Foundation, visit the Foundation’s Web site, http://foundation.mendocino.edu.
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- Written by: Editor
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Four local nonprofit organizations took the opportunity to describe who they are and how their scholarship programs work to a group of college bound high school students on Friday, March 25, at Clear Lake High School.
The event was hosted by the Clear Lake High Scholarship Group.
Phil Smoley, president of the Lake County Historical Society, led off with an explanation as to what his organization is all about, and how this year marks the sesquicentennial of the county’s founding.
He touched on the many fascinating stories that make up our local history and heritage, and encouraged applicants to choose one for the required essay to accompany their application. He offered his assistance in doing their research.
Marty Klier from the Konocti Rod and Gun Club spoke next. He explained that his group’s mission is to provide a safe environment for target practice, and that their Highland Springs range has met that goal.
Another goal of the club is to promote environmental awareness, so to qualify for their scholarship an applicant needs to complete a 500 word essay on “the effects of non-native species have on ecosystems in Lake County.”
Kay Hancock, scholarship chair of the Lakeport Women Civic Club, gave another inspiring presentation. Formed in 1921, her group offers $1,000 scholarships for vocational training.
This scholarship is restricted to those students that are pursuing a vocational training because the Civic Club wants to encourage an increase of qualified young persons for these important jobs. Some examples would be various nursing programs or an automotive technician program.
She stressed the importance of completing the applications completely and legibly. “The application is a representation of the applicant,” she said.
Anne Baker, representing the Lake County Association of Realtors, explained that they offer a $1,000 scholarship to each high school in the county.
In addition to the application, they interview the applicant, which weighs heavily in the committee’s decision process, according to Baker.
She described the various ways they raise funds for the scholarship, and encouraged students to participate in these activities as it adds to the amounts given back to students and provides an excellent chance to network.
Each presenter encouraged interested parties to contact their respective school counselors for applications and more information.
“Every dollar you get in a scholarship is a dollar that doesn’t have to come from your parent’s bank account,” Smoley stated.
Rebecca Baker, president of Scholarship Group, concluded by thanking the presenters, and encouraged students to get involved in the group.
“We meet every week for an hour, similar to a study group, to help keep each other informed about upcoming scholarships, and bounce ideas of each other,” Baker said.
For more information on Scholarship Group, contact Rebecca Baker at 707-245-7108 or email
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- Written by: Editor
SACRAMENTO – California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott said in a Wednesday media briefing that he is deeply disappointed over the failure of the state’s elected leaders to place a tax extension proposal on a June ballot.
The 112 campuses are already reeling from $400 million in budget cuts. An $800 million or more “all-cuts” solution would result in denying access to more than 400,000 students – roughly the same number enrolled in the entire California State University system.
“Without a June special election on Gov. (Jerry) Brown’s tax extension proposal, the chance of an all-cuts budget is highly likely,” said Chancellor Scott. “An $800 million reduction would be unprecedented and an absolute tragedy for our students, faculty and staff as well as a deep blow for our economy.”
Joining Chancellor Scott on the conference call were San Diego Community College District Chancellor Constance Carroll, Long Beach City College President Eloy Oakley and Los Rios Community College District Chancellor Brice Harris.
The community college leaders said the millions of dollars in cuts to their respective campuses meant reducing programs and eliminating staff, administration and faculty positions.
A cut of $800 million or more would force some districts to severely decrease the number of classes available in the summer and fall.
“We have an unprecedented student demand for our classes,” said Chancellor Carroll. “This is a catastrophe for us and we’re deeply, deeply disappointed. We will of course do our best, but the bottom line is that students and people trying to train for the workforce will not have the opportunities they should be provided because of this inability to reach an agreement on the governor’s budget balancing plan.”
This is not the first time the California Community Colleges have absorbed significant budget cuts. The system took a $520 million (8 percent) hit in 2009-2010 which resulted statewide in 38,000 fewer course sections being offered and 140,000 fewer students enrolled compared to the prior academic year.
“What we’re going to see is our bright, young students leaving the state to get their education and unfortunately they don’t always come back,” Chancellor Harris said. “We are slamming the door in the faces of students. California’s community colleges have been a beacon for decades and what we’re really seeing now is a slow and painful dismantling.”
While the main budget bill has not been signed by Gov. Brown, last week he signed a trailer bill that increased the fees at all 112 community colleges beginning in the fall 2011 semester from $26 to $36 per unit, a 38 percent boost.
That increase is expected to generate $110 million in revenues that will offset some of the cuts to the community college system.
The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended that policymakers consider increasing community college fees even further, from $26 to $66 per unit, if an all-cuts budget is approved.
A sharp increase of this magnitude could make it impossible for even more of the state’s most vulnerable students to attend a community college.
“The all-cuts budget is a major blow to our students, particularly students of color and underrepresented students who are the most likely to suffer in this situation,” said President Oakley. “At a time when the state needs to turn out the best skilled workforce that it can in order to get this economy turned around, we are devastating our ability to train that workforce.”
A recently conducted Pearson Foundation Community College Student Survey found that 47 percent of California students have been unable to enroll in needed courses because they were full. This compares to just 28 percent of students across the nation that said they experienced the same trouble.
“It’s not only the students who are hurt by the continued erosion of funding for higher education,” said Chancellor Scott. “The state’s future economy is damaged, too. If just 2 percent more of California’s population earned an associate degree and 1 percent more earned a bachelor’s degree, the state’s economy would grow by $20 billion. We have to remember that funding for higher education in California is not a cost, but an investment.”
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation. It is composed of 72 districts and 112 colleges serving 2.76 million students per year.
Community colleges supply workforce training, a basic skills education and prepare students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. The Chancellor’s Office provides leadership, advocacy and support under the direction of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges.
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- Written by: Editor
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Lake County International Charter School is pleased to announce its annual Kindergarten Roundup for the upcoming 2011-12 school year.
The roundup will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at 15850 Armstrong St., Middletown (across the street from the Methodist Church).
The school is a free public charter school open to all Lake County students.
You are invited to bring your child to participate in fun standards-based kindergarten activities and crafts.
The kindergarten teacher and staff will be on hand to answer all questions you may have about the school, our calendar and curriculum.
Please call 707-987-3063 to reserve your child’s participation.
For more information visit the school online at www.lcics.org.