Employees

The observance of Juneteenth is about the journey and achievement of African Americans - from a horrific period of sanctioned enslavement to the pinnacle of human endeavors. It is a story of pride, resilience and determination that will always be of historical and spiritual importance – as it serves us well to understand that together, we can overcome all obstacles in our path.  

As we know it, June 19^th 1865, was the day word reached the enslaved in Galveston, Texas, that their emancipation had been made formal, though it had been so since January, 1, 1863. And with those words, our country changed, this world changed. And, with bold and contentious decisions, we have continued to change – striving always to make it right, to make it better for all.

Again, we have the opportunity to look back at this nearly century-and-a-half journey of progress. We pay homage to those who have gone before us, those that have paved the road to freedom – many with their lives.  We stand on their shoulders.  We, as a collective, from all walks of life, are a part of this victory. We celebrate freedom.

Through our celebrations we reflect this independence. Through grass roots organizing and community collaboration we enjoy the creativity and dedication that produce celebrations from the dinner table to the backyard barbeque, from the neighborhood block party to the city wide parade, and from the school cafeteria to the corporate conference room. There is no governing body that sanctions or approves Juneteenth celebrations or Juneteenth organizations. We encourage everyone to participate in a local event or start their own tradition. Strengthening the ties that bind us should always be our objective. Unity and peace are our goals.

As we pay tribute to the journey, we acknowledge the many roles and contributions of the African American spirit to our society.  We embrace the past as well as the future that only unity, respect and appreciation can bring. To the countless supporters, organizers and attendees of Juneteenth celebrations hosted all across this nation and beyond, you are writing the history of our country and our world – there can be no greater honor than that. We thank you.

We Celebrate Juneteenth!

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

Students from across Cerro Coso’s vast service area, the largest services area in the state, received degrees and/or certificates during Cerro Coso Community College’s virtual commencement ceremony Saturday.

Graduates from Mammoth Lakes, Bishop, Ridgecrest, Lake Isabella, Edwards Air Force Base, Tehachapi, and Online were recognized during a prerecorded graduation ceremony that was presented on the Cerro Coso website.

492 students earned 679 degrees and 233 certificates for a total of 912 awards during the past academic year.  Many are first generation college students and 6 were graduating high school simultaneously. 

The ceremony marked the college’s 47^th commencement, and included special remarks by Cerro Coso President Jill Board and Kern Community College District Chancellor Thomas Burke.

Three student speakers: Emma Gilmartin (IWV Campus), Tricia Aguirre (KRV Campus), and Subber Dhillon (IWV Campus) shared their messages and inspiration with their fellow students.

Vice President of Instruction Dr. Corey Marvin presented the group for the conferral of degrees and certificates to President Board.

The ceremony included a reading of each graduate’s name and a slide with their own personal message of appreciation. 

The Eastern Sierra Chamber Orchestra provided the pomp and circumstance for the event which concluded with individual congratulatory messages by students and employees and a group clap.

The coronavirus pandemic forced students to complete their in-person courses online.  CCCC also had to cancel its in-person commencement exercises, which had been scheduled for May.

“Honoring graduates through our commencement ceremonies is one of Cerro Coso’s most important traditions.  Our entire college community shares in our graduating students’ disappointment over losing their last moments on campus with friends and professors and all the year-end celebrations,” Board said. 

“We understand nothing can completely replace the commencement experience we had planned.  In light of the circumstances, we hope the virtual ceremony shows our graduates how proud we are of them.”

Graduates received a complementary tassel, cap, and diploma cover prior to the ceremony and were encouraged to take photos celebrating their achievements using a special SnapChat filter designed just for them, and will receive their diplomas by mail at a later date.

The ceremony will remain online at https://www.cerrocoso.edu/studentservices/commencement for all to enjoy!

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

The paralegal industry has changed significantly since the 1970s when being a legal assistantfirst emerged as a bona fide career. Client demands, economic necessity, and explosive growth have made paralegals a popular career choice, and there never has been a better time to be a paralegal.

Cerro Coso Community College is offering a complete line-up of paralegal courses online this fall.

PARA C101 - Introduction to Paralegal Studies. Professor Dawn Ward will instruct the class, an introduction to the field a paralegal studies and examines the role of the paralegal in the legal profession. Students complete practical exercises designed to acquaint them with the varied procedures carried out by paralegals in a typical law practice. Research and case analysis are used to familiarize students with the various types of law and legal documents. This class is a great place to start if you are considering a career as a paralegal.

PARA C223 – Legal Research and Writing I also taught by Ward will provide students with the knowledge and tools to properly complete legal research. Students learn to use correct citation form and complete several research assignments. There is an emphasis on researching Federal and state law using both internet sources and electronic databases.

Other Paralegal courses being offered by the college online include: PARA C140 - Civil Litigations and Procedure II, PARA C210 - California and Federal Civil Procedure Legal Forms, PARA C240 - Criminal Law and Procedure, and PARA C260 - Personal Injury and Tort Litigation.

Vital in the practice of law, a paralegal career can be just as fulfilling and significant as any other law career.According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2019 median annual wage for paralegals was $51,740. Despite economic ups and downs, statistics show chances of the paralegal salary exceeding expectations. What's even better are bonuses and overtime pay paralegals earn for all their hard work.

For students aspiring to work as professional paralegals or legal assistances, Cerro Coso's Paralegal Studies Certificate program prepares graduates for the workplace as well as for national examinations in the field. The focus is on investigation methodologies, data analysis, legal document preparation, and pretrial materials.

If you are interested in a career as a paralegal or legal assistant who provides support to lawyers, Cerro Coso's program was ranked #6 in the country by Accredited Schools Online (ASO) in 2018. Contact the college Counseling Department at 760-384-6219 today. More information available at www.cerrocoso.edu.

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

Cerro Coso Community College is proud to announce that the Kern Community College District has granted tenure to Shelly Tannehill, Professor of Nursing, and Peter Fulks, Professor of Administration of Justice.

Fulks joined Cerro Coso as a full-time instructor in Tehachapi in 2016.  Both of his parents were professors at Bakersfield College, so he grew up I the community college system.  Fulks attended both Bakersfield College and Cerro Coso and earned an athletic scholarships to California Lutheran University where he earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice with Alpha Phi Sigma honors.  He followed his dream into law enforcement in a progressive department in Southern California, later receiving the MADD California Hero Award in 2013 and other accolades.  Injured in the line of duty, he changed careers and pursued a Master’s degree, where he studied the impacts of social media on high profile law enforcement events.  Here he found his true passion in education program development for social good.  For the last 3.5 years, Fulks has been a leading faculty in the development of the Incarcerated Student Education program at Cerro Coso which has become a national leader in face to face prison higher education program.  Ultimately, Fulks is interested in the impacts of education as justice policy interventions for police training and rehabilitative programs.  He not only serves as the Department Chair and Professor of Administration of Justice at Cerro Coso but is the Director of Public Services overseeing police academies and advanced officer training.  A PhD candidate at Nova Southern University, Fulks is studying Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Behavioral Sciences.

Tannehill joined the nursing staff at the Ridgecrest campus in 2016, with over 21 years of experience as a nurse.  Previously she served as a professor of Nursing at Arizona Western College in Yuma, Arizona.  She originally thought her chosen profession would be as a nurse practitioner, but discovered a real passion for teaching.  She grew up in Tucson, Arizona and holds an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Pima Community College, and a Bachelor’s in Nursing and Master’s in Nursing Education from the University of Phoenix.  Most recently, Tannehill served as the nursing lead for the Kern River Valley Nursing Cohort that graduated this May.  She is a nursing professional that her students truly admire and aspire to be, holding them to the highest standards of excellence to make sure they reach their full potential.  Tannehill enjoys seeing her students on the frontline improving patient care and leading in their chosen professions.

Cerro Coso President Jill Board called the granting of tenure a “very big deal here at Cerro Coso.” She joined fellow administrators, faculty, and staff to “acknowledge, celebrate, and applaud their accomplishments,” at the May Meet and Greet held via Zoom. “They have exceeded the toughest of standards,” she said. “They have met the criteria for teaching excellence and are well deserving of the award.”

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

The format might be different, but their enthusiasm for celebration has never been more inspired as Cerro Coso held a drive-thru Regalia Pick-Up and Professional Photo Opportunity for graduates on two separate days last week. In addition to graduates from the local campus, graduates from Tehachapi, California City, and the Kern River traveled to participate in the event.

Necessary precautions were taken to keep graduates in their vehicles until their time for photos for everyone’s safety.

“Our students have shown extraordinary resilience,” said Cerro Coso Vice President Heather Ostash. “They have been through so much, especially this year.  For many of them the earthquakes of last summer, followed by the transition to fully online due to COVID-19 this spring. Graduating during a pandemic took a lot away from them, but they hung in there, they worked hard, they did great, and now they are graduating”

The photo opportunity was designed to capture the excitement and pride these students and their families have in their achievements.  Four separate backdrops were provided for professional graduation photographs. “In some ways it was a little more personal because their families were allowed to join them in the photos,” said Ostash.

“Celebrating the accomplishments of our students is something we look forward to every year,” added Cerro Coso President Jill Board. “Adaptation and perseverance is what college life is all about. It is already an anxious time for graduates on the threshold of the real world, and COVID-19 has added additional uncertainties. Life is affected by countless unknown events. I’m confident these students are well prepared to accept and adapt to the challenges they will encounter in life. They have already shown great flexibility in the face of adversity, determination in the midst of chaos, and creativity in making their dreams come true. Our future is in great hands.”

Cerro Coso is planning to stream a Virtual Commencement on Saturday, June 13, 2020. Further information on a virtual Student Awards Ceremony and other events coming soon.

Photo 1 caption: Graduate Megan Weeks receives a cap and tassel from William Bloom, the Director of Admissions and Records, during the Drive-Thru Regalia pick-up and photo opportunity.

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

Since 1964, the California Turtle and Tortoise Club (CTTC) has been promoting and facilitating the care and adoption of native and non-native turtle species. The Ridgecrest CTTC Chapter has worked in the local community to advance awareness and familiarize children and adults alike with the natural world around them.

The club recently established a new scholarship at Cerro Coso Community College for students interested in the environmental and biological sciences.

The California Turtle and Tortoise Club scholarship is available to a graduating full-time student attending any of the Cerro Coso campuses, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and must be transferring to a four-year institution majoring in the biological or environmental sciences. Financial need will not be a consideration in the awarding of the scholarship.

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

The Cerro Coso Community College Foundation (CCCC) awarded more than $140,000 in scholarships to Cerro Coso students over the past two years to ensure financial accessibility to higher education.

“I’m not sure the community realizes the generosity of our neighbors,” said Natalie Dorrell, Director of Institutional Advancement at Cerro Coso. “Everyone has a unique story and reason for giving, and the CCCC Foundation invites the community to celebrate education and life-long learning. We are so grateful for our donors like the Ridgecrest Chapter of the California Turtle and Tortoise Club for helping students overcome some of the financial barriers associated with a college education, so they can achieve goals. Every dollar makes a significant difference in the lives of our students, and we couldn’t do it without our amazing donors.”

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. More information on the CCCC Foundation is available at thee Foundation webpage.

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

Access Programs did not let the hard work, determination, and perseverance to push through the challenging times go uncelebrated for their students.

Every year Cerro Coso celebrates the strong spirit and will to overcome of the students in Access Programs, but this year was slightly different.

With a theme of Go Confidently in the Direction of Your Dreams, Access Programs held a Drive Thru Awards Ceremony on May 14^th in the Gymnasium Parking Lot.

Adhering to all social distancing protocols, students stayed in their vehicles, while receiving a gift bag and sweets from one masked counselor wearing gloves, and their photos were taken from a distance.

Fifty Program students will graduate with Associate Degrees, and 24 with Certificates of Achievements this June.

Special recognition went to Renee Santamaria, Access Programs IWV Student of the Year; Colette “Coco” Nicod, Access Programs KRV Student of the Year; and Sharlene Paxton, outstanding Faculty of the Year.

“These are crazy times, but these students are truly inspiring and encouraging others to aspire to excellence,” said Pam Campbell, Access Program Director.

Access Programs at Cerro Coso Community College includes five state-funded programs dedicated to helping and assisting community college students who are faced with additional barriers in obtaining their education. The programs are Extended Opportunities Program and Services (EOPS), Cooperative Agency Resources for Education (CARE), Foster Youth (NextUp), Disabled Student Program and Services (DSPS), and California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs).

Photo Caption: Access Program’s IWV Student of the Year Renee Santamaria poses for a photo during the Drive-Thru Ceremony held on May 14^th recognizing their persistence and achievements in pursuing their educations.

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

All rentals will need to be returned through the mail. The bookstore is currently not open to the public due to COVID-19.

In order to send your books to Barnes and Noble please visit the website cerrocosocollegebookstore.com. Under the TEXTBOOKS drop down menu select TEXTBOOK RENTALS. At the bottom right of the page that loads will be a yellow link RENTAL RETURNS. Once you click that you will be asked to enter your email and your order number, then press SUBMIT. Then enter your name and address. This will create a free UPS shipping label that you can print and attach to an appropriate box to then ship your books back. If you have any other questions or concerns  please contact them via email at the bottom of the page.

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

When the world needs them most, Cerro Coso is proud to announce 22 students have complete the Nursing programs in Ridgecrest and the Kern River Valley this May.

With all eyes on healthcare professionals, those frontline angels battling the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, these students are well prepared and ready to lend a helping hand.

They have studied, worked hard, and supported each other through the tough times, losing sleep, friends, weight, and even sanity at times, surviving one of the most grueling programs of study.  They have formed special bonds along the way that helped carry them through all the obstacles of the nursing program, many while caring for their own families.

Thanking their family and friends for supporting them all the way through the journey, the real heroes to their success were the faculty. The faculty that challenged them, encouraged them, stressed over their grades more than they probably did, and taught them values that go far beyond care plans and NCLEX strategies. Nursing professionals, they admire and aspire to be, holding them to the highest standards of excellence to make sure they reach their full potential.

The inability to hold a public capping and pinning ceremony due to the COVID-19 Stay at Home edict could not stifle the enthusiasm and pride these future nurses have in their achievements. A slide show is being put together to celebrate their hard work and success.

Congratulations!

Photo Caption: 10 nursing students in the Kern River Valley nursing cohort completed this May (L to R) Melanie Gillespie, Cicily Sadler, Cherish Mckinney, Krysti Mooney, Karen Hall, Ashley Underwood, Breanna Luker, Aubrey Sanchez, Stephanie Kriedel, and Caitlin Kaser.

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

With child development centers closed, and people staying at home with their children, Cerro Coso took the time to renovate their Child Development facility on Heather Avenue in California City.

During the closure, due to the COVID-19 “stay at home” orders, the College repaired and replaced interior and exterior lighting, replaced cabinets and countertops in the kitchen, installed new interior tack-board walls and vinyl flooring throughout the facility, refinished and re-painted the parking lot, and installed concrete curb around the exterior of the building.

“Since the facility is not currently being utilized, we made the improvements to minimize any disruption to the center when the stay at home order is lifted,” said Cerro Coso President Jill Board.

The improvements were funded through state scheduled maintenance funds, child development funds, and general unrestricted revenue. 

Cerro Coso operates two Child Development Programs in California City, the Cerro Coso State Pre-School (Facility #153801749) located at the Robert P. Ulrich Elementary School, and the California City Child Development Center (Facility #153801788) on Heather Avenue.

The Centers offer developmentally appropriate programs funded through the Department of Education. Part-day preschool is available to families who qualify. Students of Cerro Coso Community College are given first priority.

The Center is staffed with Child Development Professionals. Each classroom has credentialed teaching staff and follows regulations and rules set forth by the California Department of Education Title 5 and Community Care licensing Title 22 that regulates child to teacher ratios, teacher education and experience, and the overall accountability for the program.

As a child development lab school center, we strive to provide college students with an exemplary model of developmentally appropriate practices in a safe secure setting.

“We don’t know when the stay-at-home orders will be lifted,” continued Board, “But when they are, we are ready to return to normal and serve the community again in an updated facility.”

For more information on the Child Development Programs in California contact Jessica Krall at 760-384-6362.

Photo caption: Refinished and repainted parking lot and new concrete curb among the many updates made to Cerro Coso’s Child Development Center on Heather Avenue during closure due to Covid-19.

View on the Cerro Coso College website.