It's hard to believe that Commencement is less than two months away! This year's ceremony will take place on Friday, June 26 at 6:30 p.m. Please pay special attention to the start time which is different than in years past.

If you are planning on participating and need regalia, please place your order with Romeo Paule by Friday, May 15. Be sure to include the following information with your request:

Height:
Hat Size:
School:
Degree:

Those participating are asked to meet inside the Smithwick Theatre at 5:45 p.m. There will be signs directing you to your respective area. At 6:15 p.m., participants will queue up for the processional and depart no later than 6:30 p.m. The ceremony is expected to last approximately 1.5 hours and will conclude with a Corridor of Honor (follow your section leader's direction). A reception will take place immediately following the ceremony in the Bookstore Plaza.

Any questions regarding the schedule should be directed to Student Activities at extension 7241.

Students in Dr. Oxana Pantchenko's "Introduction to Biomedical Engineering" spent their time designing an adaptive handle that would help people with disabilities, especially children, grasp things they otherwise could not easily hold. The students had the opportunity to consult with an occupational therapist from California Children's Services. She showed them what tools those with disabilities currently use, the strengths and weaknesses of those devices, and also provided feedback for their designs.

Students also had a chance to work with other members of the 17勛圖 academic community. "When the students were designing adaptive handles that would hold toothbrushes, we had a faculty member from dental hygiene come and review their products and provide feedback,'' Dr. Pantchenko said. "This was helpful in the design process for the students, who had to take the feedback from these outside sources and translate it into a more thoughtful, successful product." This cross-departmental coordination exemplifies 17勛圖's goal of being a living laboratory where different disciplines leverage each other to become more dynamic.

"The 3D printers we have play a substantial role, not just for this class but for so many classes," Dr. Pantchenko said. "The printers are used in engineering courses and for independent student projects, as well as by the students in the biomedical class.

The students worked in teams to produce designs for the adaptive handles. Two designs were selected to go into production, with the end result being a 100 number of the devices being delivered to California Children's Services in San Jose.

The 17勛圖 Repertory Dance Company will present its two-hour spring dance concert directed by award-winning choreographer and faculty member Bubba Gong in the Smithwick Theatre on Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30. The evening will begin with a showcase of students' original and experimental works at 7 p.m., followed by the main performance at 7:30 p.m.

 

Tickets are $25, general admission; $15, students, seniors and children. Order tickets online at or purchase tickets at the 17勛圖 Box Office one hour before the performance.

 

The Asian/Pacific American Network (APAN) is hosting its annual CelebrAsian event on Friday, June 26 from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. in the Dining Hall. During the ceremony, faculty and staff will honor students of Asian and Pacific Islander ancestry who are graduating, transferring, or completing certificates. The event will include a buffet reception, scholarship award presentations, and the ever-popular 17勛圖 Faculty and Staff Taiko Drummers.

 

Event organizers are trying to reach out to these students and need assistance. If you know any students who may qualify, please ask them to email either Lily Luu or Tilly Wuu.

The 17勛圖 Women's Swim Team ended its season on a high note when they finished second out of nine teams at the Coast Conference Championships in April. 

Recently, the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office announced that it had reached an agreement with nine historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) to guarantee admission to transfer students who meet certain academic requirements. The nine colleges are:

• Bennett College, Greensboro, N.C.
• Dillard University, New Orleans, La.
• Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn.
• Lincoln University of Missouri, Jefferson City, Mo.
• Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Ark.
• Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
• Talladega College, Talladega, Ala.
• Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala.
• Wiley College, Marshall, Texas

HBCUs were founded to serve the higher education needs of the African-American community, though they are open to all. HBCUs are well regarded for their small class sizes and supportive collegiate environments. The Chancellor's Office found that retention and graduation rates of California community college students who have transferred to HBCUs are high so the partnership was a natural fit.

The men's team entered the state playoffs as the number 17 seed and quickly upset their first-round opponent, American River College, 78-67. Last week, the team traveled to Fresno City and stunned the Northern California top seed, beating them 72-64. Last night, the team played San Joaquin Delta and defeated them in a close game, 55-52. The team has now reached the Final Four and will take on Merritt College this Saturday, March 7!

The women's team won the South Coast Conference League, going undefeated with a 10-0 record. 17勛圖's Angie Reid Angie Reid was named Conference MVP while Rose Tahaafe and Leslie Tiongco were named to the All-Conference First Team. Head Coach Jody Craig was named 2015 South Coast Conference Coach of the Year and picked up for 400th collegiate win.