Cerro Coso Community College will be closed for winter recess from Monday, December 21, 2020 through Sunday, January 1, 2021.

Online registration will be available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day through the College website at www.cerrocoso.edu . Try this easy and convenient way to register for classes. The spring schedule of classes is also available online.

Remote operations at all CCCC sites will resume on Monday, January 4, 2021 and staff will be available to assist via email, phone, and scheduled Zoom sessions.

Spring semester classes at the college officially start on January 19, 2021. 

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

Caption: Robert Parker (left) President and Dan Burnett (right) Treasurer of the Kerncrest Audubon Society present CCCC Foundation President Derrick Hu (center) with at $10,000 check for the establishment of the Kerncrest Audubon Meade Scholarship at the college.

 

The Cerro Coso Community College Foundation announced the latest addition to its growing scholarship program that will further the mission of the organization.  The Kerncrest Audubon Society had established a new permanent endowed scholarship fund to help students jump start their college educations. 

The new endowment will create a permanent funding source for scholarships to full-time students pursuing a four year degree in biological sciences, ecology, forestry, or related sciences attending any of the college’s campuses. 

This investment in scholarships can promote academic achievement at the college and make it possible for students to continue their academic pursuit. 

The Kerncrest Audubon Society is an educational organization which promotes the protection of wildlife, especially birds, and works to conserve wildlife habitat.

The Kerncrest Audubon Meade Scholarship was made possible because of the generous gift made by Bob and Bernice Meade, long-time residents of the Indian Wells Valley, avid birders, and active advocates for wildlife. 

Established in 1977, the CCCC Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that supports student and economic growth and vitality of the communities it serves by providing well-educated human resources for local business and industry. The Foundation awarded more than $170,000 in scholarships to Cerro Coso students over the past two years to ensure financial accessibility to higher education.  More information on the CCCC Foundation is available at www.cerrocoso.edu/foundation

Students only need to complete one general application at the college and student information is automatically matched with more than 50 scholarship opportunities available through the CCCC Foundation.

Director of Institutional Advancement Natalie Dorrell said, “it is exciting that organization’s like the Kerncrest Audubon Society recognizes the value of a college education and its importance to families, our communities, and the region.  We are indeed grateful to them and their decision to establish this scholarship that helps provide families with a pathway to college and will yield positive results for generations to come.”

For more information about scholarship opportunities or to establish a fund, contact the CCCC Foundation at 760-384-6260 or visit www.cerrocoso.edu/foundation .

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

Cerro Coso Community College has named Nicole Griffin as the interim dean for Career Technical Education.

Griffin has served as the Program Manager for the college’s Incarcerated Student Education Program (ISEP), and the high school dual enrollment program since 2017. Prior to that, she served as a CTE liaison for Cerro Coso in the Tehachapi area and as a web content editor in the Marketing and Public Relations unit of Bakersfield College.

One of the missions of Cerro Coso Community College is to remain responsive to local workforce needs and offer programs of study that meets those needs. Griffin’s many skills, abilities, and pleasant personality make her an outstanding choice to continue to move the college forward until a new dean is selected.

Griffin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from San Diego State University, a Multi-Subjects Teaching Credential from California State University, Monterey Bay; and a Masters of Public Policy from the Panetta Institute of Public Policy from California State University, Monterey Bay. 

"We are very excited to have Nicole onboard in the office of instruction and know she will do a great job,” said Dr. Corey Marvin, Vice President of Instruction.

As for the work that waits for her in the office of the dean, Griffin looks forward to working with local business and industry to assess and meet local workforce needs.

The Kern Community College District (KCCD) will do a nationwide search to permanently replace the position.

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

In its lineup of spring classes at Cerro Coso Community College is a new online class in Medical Insurance and Billing.

HCRS C134 – Medical Insurance and Billing will  present a thorough discussion of office finance management and insurance.  Insurance coding and billing prepares the student to undertake the details necessary for implement the specialized insurance forms utilized in the modern healthcare system.  Included in the course insurance exercises are Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Medicaide-MediCal, CHAMPUS, Unemployment and Worker’s Compensation, and Health Maintenance Organizations.

Prerequisites to take the course including HCRS C130 – Communication in Healthcare, HCRS C131- Medical Law and Ethics for Medical Assistants, HCRS C132 – Electronic Health Records, and HCRS C150 – Medical Terminology,  all being offered online in the spring. 

Cerro Coso offers both certificate and degree programs in Emergency Medical Technology, Certified Nursing Aide, Home Health Aide, Human Services, Administrative Medical Assisting, Clinical Medical Assisting, and Vocational Nursing.   Interested individuals are encouraged to contact Counseling at 760-384-6219 for more information. 

Cerro Coso is currently registering for Spring 2021 classes that begin January 18, 2021.  Class schedule available online at www.cerrocoso.edu .

 

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

Cerro Coso Community College is hosting two Scholarship Application Workshops to help students get a head start on the scholarship process.

The college will go through the online application page by page, review tips and best practices, review resources available to assist students with their application, and answer questions.  Information will be provided by on Cerro Coso Community College Foundation scholarships, outside scholarships, and more. 

A workshop will be held on Tuesday, December 15 from 3pm-4pm and another workshop is slated for Thursday, December 17 from 6pm to 7pm. Both sessions will be held via Zoom and interested individuals must preregister at www.cerrocoso.edu to attend.

More than 100 scholarships are available to Cerro Coso Community College students who are ready and able to benefit from the financial support, via the single Cerro Coso Community College Foundation Scholarship Application. Foundation scholarships are designed to enable and encourage students to achieve their goals.

For more information on scholarships, financial aid, grants, and loans, contact the College Financial Aid Department at 760-384-6221 or email them at cc_faid@cerrocoso.edu .

The college is now registering for Spring 2021 classes. 

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

Picture: (l to r) Cerro Coso Promise students Carrena Castleberry and Aileen Ponce.

The Hunger Free campus program at Cerro Coso is thriving during these uncertain times as the college remains committed to providing for students who are in need.

Supported by state funds, local resources, and the CCC Foundation, the pandemic has led to an acute increase in need for the food pantry. Hunger Free feeds an average of 40-60 students and their families monthly. Since the pandemic, the program has been supporting students with monthly drive-thru food bag distributions as well as grocery cards by request. In the past 7 months, Hunger Free has purchased $2,700 in grocery cards and this amount increases monthly. Currently, grocery card funds are supported by state funds, at a time when the need is greater than ever, the capacity to continue to serve students remains limited due to funding. The program will need to locate others funds in order support the grocery cards currently provided to students with food insecurities.

“Cerro Coso feels strongly about continuing to support our students the best we can as we continue to navigate through this year,” said Outreach Director Katie Bachman. 

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

Cerro Coso has added two new Information Technology (IT) online classes to its spring 2021 class schedule. 

IT C280 – Introduction to Cloud Computing will be taught by Instructor Christopher Harper.  The class will provide introductory skills in cloud computing and is aligned with the CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ certification and the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF).

IT C290 – Linux System Administration I will be taught by Instructor Johnny Bradley.  This course is an in-depth examination of Linux basic foundations, including concepts of installation, operations, and maintenance of the Linux Operating System.  Using a combination of Red Hat Academy foundational resources and open source utilities, students will study and practice the basics of the operating system, its graphical user interface, and its networking services. 

The Information Technology program at Cerro Coso is for students pursuing exciting careers in the booming information technology field.  Modern businesses run on technology, and those businesses need tech gurus who can develop, implement, and maintain the technology to help them succeed. The college offers degrees and certifications in Information Technology that allows students to pursue careers in network, systems, or database administration; technical and applications support; and computer programming. Designed for both full and part-time students, the program is appropriate to both those currently employed and those seeking to enter this field. Career opportunities include Computer Programmer, Computer Repair (A+ Certified), Computer Operator, Computer Support Specialist, Networking, Systems, or Database Administration.

Spring 2021 classes begin January 18, 2021.  For more information or assistance with registration contact the College Counseling Department at 760-384-6219. 

 

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

On Friday, December 4, Cerro Coso students will host an old-fashioned drive-in movie in the Main Parking Lot of the Ridgecrest Campus. 

The featured movie will be Elf the 2003 American comedy film directed by Jon Favreau, written by David Berenbaum, staring Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, Daniel Tay, Bob Newhart, and Ed Asner.  The movie will start around  7 p.m. 

A holiday favorite, the film centers on Buddy, a human who was adopted and raised by Santa’s elves.  He learns about this and heads to New York City to meet his biological father while also spreading Christmas cheer in a world of cynics in the process. 

Some may have fond memories of going with their families, friends, or dates to the local drive-in theater.  In today’s climate, Cerro Coso students are bringing back the retro popularity of the drive in movie.  An opportunity to practice physical distancing and still have some movie fun. 

Movie goers are encouraged to arrive early for best viewing, and bring blankets and hand warmers, it could be a chill night in the desert.

This event is contingent on weather.  A windy or rainy evening will likely result in the cancellation of the event.  Please check the SGCC Coyotes Instagram page for updates on the day of the event. 

Never been to a drive-in movie at Cerro Coso? Check out their guide to getting the most out of your experience at https://bit.ly/Drive-In-Guide

The Drive-In experience will follow all public health and safety protocols as mandated by local, county, and state public health agencies.

Fun for the whole family, jump in the car, drive-up the hill, and enjoy an evening of rare, retro throwback to the golden age of cinema.

The event is FREE and open to the public. 

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

At a time when hunger in America has tripled between 2019 and August of this year, Child Development Professor Tyrone Ledford and his organization Holistic Divine Innovations have established a Community Garden in Ridgecrest that provides more than fresh produce.

The Ridgecrest Community Garden, located on Haloid Street, encourages positive community engagement, restores hope, and improves the health and well-being of the community by providing fresh organic produce, education, and a space for healing, and positive social engagement.

Built with the assistance of the community who donated their time, monies, and materials, the goal is to promote selfsustainable living, provide fresh organic produce, and to increase conscious nutritional awareness.

Ledford says he grew up gardening and his passion for it came from his grandmother. “I began gardening on a larger scale as I changed to more of a plant-based and holistic lifestyle,” he said. “I currently garden and grow more than 100 plants in my yard here in Ridgecrest.”

Ledford and his organization are directors of the Compton Community Garden, and have seen firsthand how community gardens can strongly and positively impact communities. “I wanted to bring a community garden to Ridgecrest to help strengthen our community, especially during these very difficult and divisive times,” he continued. “Community gardens can have great outcomes including bringing more unity to a community, decreasing crime rate, increasing our fresh, organic food resources, improving food security, and improving our mental health. Community gardens open a platform for individuals to practice stewardship through learning how to be responsible and accountable for taking care of our environment through learning gardening, agriculture, and plant and herbal medicine.”

The community garden is rising to be one of the local staples and Ledford anticipates the community garden being a main source of fresh organic produce, and education on health and wellness. He welcomes the college’s partnership with the community garden by hosting wellness events for students and the community and donating funds to sponsor raised beds which can serve fresh produce as part of Cerro Coso’s hunger free campus program. 

 

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

College to Host Virtual Open House Nov. 19

Open registration for the Spring 2021 classes at Cerro Coso Community College begins November 18, 2020.  Class schedules are now available online at www.cerrocoso.edu.

A Virtual Open House is being held on Thursday, November 19^TH at 6 p.m. via Zoom that will include resources, application process, counseling, financial aid, scholarships, dual and concurrent enrollment, and more.  Personal links will be provided during the session for individuals who want to speak to specific campuses. 

Those interested in taking classes at the college are invited to register in advance at www.cerrocoso.edu  A Zoom link will be sent out to all those registered one hour prior to the event.  Meet our experts from the comfort of your home, and see what our campuses have to offer.  No special equipment is necessary to attend, all that is needed is a computer, tablet, smartphone, or telephone.

Cerro Coso Community College is your local community college.  Offering associate degrees, associate degrees for transfer, job skills certificates, and workforce training. Cerro Coso offers something for everyone.  Call a counselor today at 760-384-6219.

View on the Cerro Coso College website.