Athletics

Tap into your creative side and take an art class at Cerro Coso Community College this fall. Interested in art history, meeting new people, rekindling a lost passion, or just because you have always wanted to take that class? Cerro Coso is offering a variety of art classes Online and at the Ridgecrest campus.

Loren Sandvik will be instructing an Introduction to Art class ART C101 online. The class provides a general introduction to art that offers a look at works of art through the study of theory, terminology, themes, design principles, media, techniques, and an introduction to visual arts across time and diverse cultures. Students are given studio art experiences with various studio media to reinforce the concepts presented.

An overview of western art and architecture from prehistory through the Middle Ages is the topic of ART C105 to be taught by Tanner McGuire. The class will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. in the Learning Resource Center Room 709.

Survey of Western Art from Renaissance to Contemporary will be taught by Katherine Hover-Smoot online. ART C106 will provide an overview of art and architecture from the Renaissance to the Contemporary period.

Other art classes being taught at the Ridgecrest campus this fall include: Art and Design Foundations 3-D (ART C115) Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 p.m. to 4:40 p.m.; Painting I (ART C131) Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:30 p.m. to 4:40 p.m.; Ceramics (ART C141) Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:15 a.m. to 12:25 p.m.; Drawing II (ART 221) Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:10 p.m. to 8:20 p.m.; Painting II (ART C231) Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:30 p.m. to 4:40 p.m.; Intermediate Drawing (ART C821) Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:10 p.m. to 8:20 p.m.; Intermediate Painting (ART C831) Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:30 p.m. to 4:40 p.m.; Intermediate Ceramics (ART C841) Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:15 a.m. to 12:25 p.m.

Additional art classes that are being offered online include: Modern Art (ART C108) and Drawing I (ART C121).

The Fall 2022 term at Cerro Coso Community College begins August 22, 2022. Complete registration and course information is available at www.cerrocoso.edu or contact the Counseling Department at 760-384-6219.

Studies have shown that students who enroll in art classes do better in school overall. Explore your potential at Cerro Coso Community College this fall.

Act of Kindness Results in New Student at Cerro Coso

Cerro Coso student Alexander Harmon is the 2022 recipient of a scholarship from the California Community College Chief Information Systems Officer’s Association (CISOA), a non-profit organization supporting technology leadership in the California Community College System. 

Living in Boron, California, Harmon is an online student, but would study from time to time and take his proctored exams at the main campus in Ridgecrest. A triple major in Web Professional, Information Technology, and Cyber Security, Harmon graduated from Cerro Coso this May and is currently finishing the last class he needs to earn his Web Professional degree. 

Harmon credits the support and kindness of the Cerro Coso Library and Learning Resource Center (LRC) for drawing him to Cerro Coso. “When I first moved from North Carolina to California, I was in the middle of my semester from my previous college. At the time, I didn’t have a laptop and I needed to use my desktop for 3d modeling programs to complete my assignments. The Library/LRC staff at Cerro Coso let me bring my desktop, monitor, and peripherals to one of the study rooms so that I could successfully finish my semester from a different online college. After a year and being qualified for in-state tuition, I knew that I wanted to attend Cerro Coso. Because if the staff would help me, a student from outside of the school, to succeed in my education. They will absolutely help me when I am a student at Cerro Coso,” he said. “College can be daunting at first, but there is always someone that will help students to overcome the challenges that they face at Cerro Coso.”

Without much experience in applying for scholarships, Harmon wants to thank his Instructor Christ Harper for telling him about the CISOA scholarship and encouraging him to apply. “I was not really expecting to get the scholarship,” he said. “It really surprised me when I was told that I got the scholarship. My advice to others students is to simply try it, you might be surprised too!” 

Harmon’s overall career goal is to work with technology. “It is constantly changing and improving, being able to work with, and even influence this change is an amazing prospect,” said Harmon. “This scholarship will help pay for website hosting services, and allow me to improve my technical and management skills on a live website. Translating my skills from theoretical to practical.” He is currently planning on looking for work upon completion of his class this summer.

“One of the reasons I decided to attend Cerro Coso and enjoy it was because the staff and teachers at the college are very supportive. Even to non-Cerro Coso students,” he concluded. “Compared to other colleges that I have attended, I think that Cerro Coso has the best online courses that I have ever seen. From my experience, Cerro Coso’s online resources are excellent.”

CISOA announced the establishment of their annual student scholarship program in 2021. The CISOA Scholarship Program is open to deserving students who attend any of their “Dues Paying” Member District colleges. Funds for the scholarships come from membership dues, revenue obtained through their annual Summit, and direct donations. 

Cerro Coso Community College announced Dr. Chad Houck has been approved by the Kern Community College District Board of Trustees to serve as the new Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services, effective July 1, 2022.  He replaces VP Couch who will assume her new role of Budget Analyst. 

Dr. Houck joined the Cerro Coso Community College administration as the Dean of Instruction – Liberal Arts and Sciences in July of 2017, demonstrating integrity and a commitment to the college community throughout his five years of service.

In his new position, Dr. Houck will be directly responsible for providing fiscal and financial analysis, preparing the college budget, overseeing maintenance and operations, college facilities planning, public safety, food services, the mailroom, and liaison with various vendor contractors. 

Dr. Houck’s other duties will include participating in policy development in matters of fiscal management and business operations; coordinate the planning, development, and implementation of innovative approaches to fiscal management; oversee the purchase, maintenance, and repair of equipment and facilities; serve as auxiliary liaison with auxiliary service contractors; liaison with District Facilities Planning and Construction, as well as contractors; monitor budgets in areas of responsibility; and serve as the Cerro Coso Community College Foundation Secretary/Treasurer. 

Dr. Houck came to CCCC from the K-12 system, where he spent three years as the principal of South Lake Tahoe High School.  No stranger to the remote setting, he has worked closely with the community, industry, and education partners in Lake Tahoe to develop dual enrollment offerings and collaborate in innovative ways to improve access and close achievement gaps.  Prior to his time at South Lake Tahoe, he spent a year as the principal of Mesquite High School in Ridgecrest, and before that, eight years at Burroughs High School in Ridgecrest as assistant principal of curriculum and instruction.

“Chad’s wealth of experience and commitment to the Cerro Coso mission will positively impact the college’s ongoing ability to meet its financial and strategic goals,” said Cerro Coso President Dr. Sean Hancock.
“I am very much looking forward to working with him in his new role as the Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services.” 

Dr. Houck’s background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University, a Master’s of Science in Education in Post-Secondary Administration from USC, and a doctorate in Advanced Studies in Human Behavior from Capella University. He has owned and operated a small manufacturing business for 14 years, and currently serves on Sierra Sands Unified School District School Board.

The college campus bookstore is open this summer.

Barnes & Noble Summer Hours
Monday – Thursday
9:00am – 3:00pm

The 8 and 10-week semesters are underway. Cerro Coso is offering late start classes beginning in July and running a variety of lengths.

It is not too late for you to enroll in summer classes!

This table provides a list of Late Start classes.

Celebrate Pride Month with Cerro Coso Community College

Caption: Photo by Markus Spiske: The rainbow is the most widely recognized LGBTQ+ symbol in the world. The first LGBT rainbow flag was designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978. It immediately became and has continued to be the symbol of Pride

June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month, and Cerro Coso Community College is honored to celebrate it with our diverse students, staff, faculty, and community members. Come out and join us in celebration!

Join the college in celebrating by wearing any and all things rainbow on Wednesday, June 8^th. Or, stop by the counseling desk at the Ridgecrest Campus to pick up a rainbow bracelet!

Friday, June 24^th from 1-3 pm are Campus Pride Safe Space Training a nationally recognized program that provides training and signage for institutions committed to supporting LGBTQ students. A Safe Space Program is one of the measures of a supportive campus on the Campus Pride Index (CampusPrideIndex.org). The college is offering a two-hour online version of the Safe Space Training. This online training provides individuals to understand the importance of a Safe Space, learn terminology and LGBTQ identities, and how to be a Safe Space. Participants will receive an official Campus Pride Safe Space certificate with their name upon completion of the full two hour training. Learning outcomes include: Learn and understand key moments in the LGBTQ civil rights movement; Explain the difference between sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression; define terminology used to describe sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression; Explore and identify ways to be an advocate/ally for LGBTQ people; and discuss how you can take action as a Safe Space. 

On Monday, June 20 from 1-3 pm is Stop the Hate training. Stop the Hate is an educational initiative of Campus Pride and supports colleges and universities in preventing and combating hate on campus as well as fostering the development of community. The national program serves as the premier source of anti-hate education resources for higher education institutions and campus communities. The college is offering a two-hour online version of the Stop the Hate training. Stop the Hate 101 online training provides an understanding of bias and hate crime issues, how to identify a bias-motivated incident and a hate crime, an overview of first amendment speech protections and hate crime law and discusses the need for greater hate crime and bias-motivated incident reporting mechanisms (such as Bias Incident Team). Participants will receive an official Campus Pride Stop the Hate 101 certificate with their name upon completion of the full two-hour training. Learning outcomes for this program include: Learn and better understand bias and hate crime issues; understand terminology and identify the difference between what is a bias-motivated incident and hate crime; Overview of first amendment speech protections and hate crime law; explain the challenges to hate crime reporting and the need for improving bias incident reporting mechanisms on campus, and share resources to help campuses improve and/or develop a Bias Incident Team. 

Both training sessions are open to the community. If you are interested in registering for either of these trainings please contact Tanner Barnett at tanner.barnett@cerrocoso.edu or call 760-384-6249. 

The College will also be hosting two Movie Nights in the Sculpture Garden. Bring your blankets and/or chairs and enjoy the movies Rent on Thursday, June 9 at 8 pm and 3 Generations will be shown on Thursday, June 23 at 8 pm. Admission and popcorn are FREE. 

Check out the LGBTQ+ LIB Guide on the Cerro Coso Library page at https://cerrocoso.libguides.com/lgbt

Cerro Coso held a modest in-person awards ceremony to highlight and celebrate the 2021-2022 athletic year, and award recipients on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in the Gymnasium at the Ridgecrest campus.

Baseball Awards

• Dominic Lopez- Gold Glove Second Base - # 28 Infielder for the Coyotes
• Danny Jimenez- Gold Glove First Base / 2^nd Team All-Conference - #13 Infielder
• Brentt Olmo- 1^st Team All-Conference - #27 Outfielder
• Jaxon Holzem- 1^st Team All-Conference - #17 Right Home Plate/Outfielder
• Brooks Scott- Gold Glove Catcher / 1^st team All-Conference - #2 Centerfield
• Johnny McHenry- Gold Glove Shortstop / Big Bat Award/ Conference MVP - #5 Infielder

Softball Awards

• Mattie Lane- Honorable Mention - #11
• Emily Curtis- Honorable Mention - #16
• Tawny Ford- 2^nd Team All-Conference - #12
• Kyla Collins- 1^st Team All-Conference - #13

Four Coyote baseball players signed letters of intent to play:

• Johnny McHenry – Cal State University Northridge, Northridge, California
• Michael Doerr – Lindenwood University, St. Charles, Missouri
• Trevor French – Union College, Barbourville, Kentucky
• Carlos Soto – Union College, Barbourville, Kentucky

“The 2021-2022 academic year has been another year with many things to celebrate for our athletes,” said Athletic Director John McHenry. “The last two years have been hard. In their time with us, they have experienced a lot of change, but they have stayed committed to their sports and their studies, and worked hard to be successful on the field as well as in the classroom.”

“We are incredibly proud of our student-athletes,” said President, Dr. Sean Hancock. “These athletes have faced unique challenges, adapted to the changing times, and achieved at a high level in athletics and in their academics. You have represented Cerro Coso well in competition, in the classroom, and in the community. Congratulations on the well deserved awards!”

All Cerro Coso campus hours are:

May 16 - August 12, 2022
Monday – Thursday: 7 am to 6 pm
Fridays: CLOSED

CLOSED the Month of July
Bishop Campus
Mammoth Campus
Lake Isabella Campus

Please contact the Ridgecrest Campus at 760-384-6219 for assistance.

Counseling: counseling@cerrocoso.edu
Student Services: studentservices@cerrocoso.edu
Financial Aid: cc_faid@cerrocoso.edu
Bookstore: Use Contact Form (at bottom of this page)
Library: reference@cerrocoso.edu

Cerro Coso Community College bid farewell to more than 466 students during their 48th Commencement Exercise held in the Gymnasium of the Raymond A. McCue Athletic Complex on Friday, May 13, 2022.

Friends, relatives, staff, and faculty gathered to honor the Class of 2022 from the Ridgecrest campus, including the East Kern Center: Tehachapi, Edwards Air Force Base, Lake Isabella, and CC Online.

Of the 466 graduates, 446 were awarded Associate of Arts Degrees, 108 Associate of Science Degrees, 179 Associate Degrees for Transfer, 221 received Certificates of Achievements, and 1 Job Skills Certificate. A record-breaking grand total of 955 degrees and certificates were awarded. Eighteen students are 4.0 graduates, 6 graduated with honors, and 77 were Phi Theta Kappa honor graduates. Thirty-four students graduated from the Cerro Coso Promise Program and 17 of the graduates are still in high school.

Retired Counseling Professor Penny Talley served as the Faculty Marshall for the ceremony.

Honored guests included Kern Community College District (KCCD) Chancellor Dr. Sonya Christian, KCCD Board of Trustee Ms. Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg (Vice President). and Mr. Yovani Jimenez.

Cerro Coso Community College has been named a 2022 Champion for Excelling in Equitable Course Placement for Black students in English and Math by the Campaign for College Opportunity!

Cerro Coso successfully supported 100% of Black students to enroll directly into transfer-level English coursework, and at least 60% of the Black students who enrolled in a transfer-level Math course successfully complete it within 1 year of their initial enrollment. “Our campuses supported Black students at rates equivalent to or even exceeding those of the student body as a whole,” said President Dr. Sean Hancock.

Since the passage of AB 705 (Irwin) in 2017, the California Community Colleges has drastically increased access to credit-bearing courses across all racial and ethnic groups, doubling the number of students who complete transfer-level Math and English courses. This spring the Campaign is thrilled to recognize over 40 Community Colleges for their work in eliminating remedial education courses at their institutions and ensuring students enroll and succeed in college-level courses.

“This award represents your hard work and commitment to equity – thank you!,” said Dr. Hancock in an announcement to staff.   

“It is with great pride that we accept this prestigious award celebrating and acknowledging the work we have done and continue to do in this important area.  A significant priority for our College is to ensure we are intentional in everything we do, and an important part of this is providing a respectful College community that promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion.” 

Cerro Coso Community College will be recognized at the inaugural award installation ceremony, Excellence in Placement: Honoring Community Colleges Excelling in Equitable Course Placement for Students, in May. 

“I personally thank our employees for their hard work and dedication to the success of our students.  Their commitment to student achievement makes a big difference in the lives of every student we have the pleasure to serve,” he concluded.