WWW .SANJAC

W W W . S A N J A C . E D U

sanJac.edu houston chronicle custom advertising section sundaY, april 5, 2020

College helps childrenSee to Succeed

College moves onlineamid Coronavirus situation

Radium Girls offersstrong performances

3

2

5

San Jacinto Collegetransitioning toaltered operationsduring COVID-19

The College has moved to online andhybrid course delivery as part of alteredoperations necessitated by the evolvingcoronavirus (COVID-19) situation.The San Jacinto College Board ofTrustees approved the resolution in aspecial meeting on March 17, 2020.

The altered operations began onMonday, March 23, 2020, including:• All general education courses are

being delivered online for theforseeable future.

• All technical courses are beingdelivered through a combinationof online and face-to-face byappointment, and in groups of no morethan 10 people total.

• College staff are working remotely as ofFriday, March 20, 2020.

• All College facilities are closed unlessotherwise noted for face-to-face coursedelivery. No visitors and no studentsother than those notified by theirfaculty are allowed.“We understand that this is an

unprecedented situation for our region,our state, and our country,” said MarieFlickinger, Chair of the San Jacinto

College Board of Trustees. “The healthand safety of our students, employees,and community is most important. TheBoard is amazed at the work completedby the faculty, staff, and administratorswho have worked tirelessly this week toensure that we have a plan in place tohelp our students complete this semesterand to keep College operations runningin this altered operations period.”

The College has set up sanjac.edu/coronavirus to keep students, employees,and the community informed during thisaltered operations period. Additionalinformation may also be distributed tostudents through Blackboard.

The resolution remains in effect untilit is rescinded by the Board of Trustees.

College’s newGeneration ParkCampus now hiring

Come join the San Jacinto Collegeteam at our newest campus in northeastHouston’s booming Generation Park!

Applications are now open for avariety of faculty and staff positionsat the College’s fifth campus,set to open for classes this fall.

To learn more and apply for openpositions, visit careers.sanjac.edu.

College announcesfaculty and staffexcellence awards

San Jacinto College recentlyannounced its 2019-2020 MinnieStevens Piper Professor Award nomineeand the Faculty and Staff ExcellenceAwards recipients.

Dr. Connie Gomez, San Jacinto CollegeSouth Campus engineering professor,is the College’s 2019-20 Minnie StevensPiper Professor Award nominee and aFaculty Excellence Award recipient.

Since 1958, The Minnie Stevens PiperFoundation has recognized outstandingprofessors from two- and four-yearTexas colleges and universities, bothpublic and private. Its biggest programis the Piper Professor Program.Ten awards of $5,000 are distributedannually to college professors forsuperior teaching based on submissionsby each college or university.

San Jacinto College Faculty ExcellenceAward recipients also included Dr. AbbieGrubb, South Campus history professor,and Gail Mason, North Campus

business/information technologydepartment chair.Staff Excellence Award recipients

included: Dana Kostecka, seniorexecutive assistant to the deputychancellor and president; KathyBurris, senior administrative assistantof cosmetology; and Mandi Reiland,manager of executive operations for theChancellor and board of trustees.The Administrator Excellence Award

went to Tanesha Antoine, director ofeducational planning, counseling,and completion.

Criteria for the College’s Faculty andStaff Excellence Awards nominationsinclude the nominee’s last two years ofwork and service in the following areas:ability to serve as a role model and workcollaboratively with others; possessionof exemplary attributes or qualifications;contribution to addressing or meetingthe needs of students and/or employees;and dedication, service, and involvementin the College community.

2 <<<Houston Chronicle Custom Advertising Section | Opportunity News | Sunday | April 5, 2020 sanjac.edu

News frOm YOur COllege

Photo courtesy of San Jacinto College

By Melissa TrevizoSAN JACINTO COLLEGE

The San Jacinto College MaritimeTechnology and Training Center,in partnership with the Houston Pilots,is enabling some of the industry’smost respected names to conductresearch through the use of high-tech

maritime simulation.Through a $1 million donation

from the Houston Pilots, San JacintoCollege houses three state-of-the-art,full-mission bridge simulators featuring65 vessels that can be operated in10 regions worldwide.

“Our Konsberg simulators arehydrodynamically accurate,” said

John Stauffer, Maritime Technologyand Training Center associate vicechancellor. “This allows an organizationto come in to conduct waterway researchand rely on the technology to react inthe same way the water and vesselswould in the real world.”

Maritime continued on page 7


SAn JACinto College MAritiMe HoStSPort of HouSton reSeArCH ProJeCtS

Photos courtesy of San Jacinto College

Sunday | April 5, 2020 | Opportunity News | Houston Chronicle Custom Advertising Section >>> 3sanjac.edu

2020 vision: see to succeed suppliesglasses to improve kids’ learning

By Courtney MorrisSAN JACINTO COLLEGE

“These make you look like Superman!”the volunteer says, holding up a mirrorso Juan, a first-grader with a buzz cut,can see himself in the navy blue frames.Juan turns his head one way, then the

next, studying. He half-grins but shakeshis head. The search is on for the perfectpair—one he’ll show off to his classmatesand wear to see his school assignments.

For Juan and more than 1,400 otherPasadena ISD K-12 students, San JacintoCollege’s See to Succeed programFeb. 3-7 provided a critical tool forclassroom success: correct visionand healthy eyes.

Reading between the linesThe San Jacinto College Eye Care

Technology Program has coordinatedSee to Succeed for 10 years, servingmore than 80,000 children. Eventpartners include Berkeley EyeAssociates, Essilor Vision Foundation,the Houston Health Department, theUniversity of Houston, and Walmart.

This year, 65 Pasadena ISD schoolsparticipated, 1,393 students receivedglasses, and 209 receivedmedical referrals.Schools bussed students with potential

vision issues to the Central Campus.In the Slocomb Auditorium lobby,eye care technology students and otherCollege students, faculty, and staffpre-screened the children. Screeningmethods ranged from stereo flydepth-perception, convergence, and nearvisual acuity tests to Ishihara color tests.

Afterward, identified children visitedthe College’s 5,000-square-foot eye careteaching center for full eye exams bydoctors, then glasses fittings. Studentsalso received medical referrals if thedoctor discovered other issues duringthe exam.

See to Succeed covers the costof frames, prescription lenses, andemergency medical care for allparticipating children.

Detecting concernsThis was the fourth time for Wendy

Owens, an eye care technology opticianprogram graduate, to work at See toSucceed. Recently certified through theAmerican Board of Opticianry, Owensperformed double checks, reviewing alltest results and repeating or performingextra tests if something didn’t add up.She looked for other ways to help too.“There was a boy who had a pair

of eyeglasses that were in really badshape,” Owens said. “I offered to cleanthem, and that’s when I noticed theywere extremely scratched, and there wasnothing any microfiber cloth could havedone to fix it.”

See to Succeed has opened her eyesto how many children with poor visionhave not had proper eye exams or arewearing deficient glasses.“It’s such a wonderful and amazing

event helping children in need,” Owenssaid. “So many children have benefitedfrom this, and it was definitely awesometo be a part of it.”

Envisioning lifetime successEach year, Houston-area school

districts identify more than 20,000K-12 children with vision issues.Although schools alert parents, manychildren return to class without theissues resolved.Kids Vision for Life estimates

25 percent of U.S. schoolchildren havevision problems that hinder learning,while 90 percent of kids needingglasses do not have them. Unresolvedvision issues increase likelihood ofschool dropout, lower income, andeven incarceration.

“The partners of this initiativeknew this was unacceptable in ourcommunity,” said Debra Clarke,San Jacinto College Eye Care TechnologyProgram director.What they also knew: Children’s lives

improve when they receive the eye careto succeed in school. See to Succeedmakes this a reality.

“Our eye care technology studentsengage in this event from planning tothe final report,” Clarke said. “Asidefrom implementing the skills they arelearning in the program, I always wantthem to understand that individuallythis issue seems insurmountable, buttogether we can do so much to helpothers in need.”

Choosing a career for lifeAccording to Clarke, eye care

technology is a career for life,offering a diverse medical field withmany subspecialties. But See to Succeedoften solidifies students’ decision toenter this field.“My students write a reflection paper

after the event,” Clarke said. “Onestudent who has excelled in class wasstill unsure this was the correct path forher. After working this event, she wrotethat this was 100 percent where sheneeded to be.”

San Jacinto College’s internationallyaccredited program is the only one inTexas to offer the Certified OphthalmicTechnician (COT) certification. It hasno prerequisite courses or enrollmentwaiting list and offers three degree/certificate pathways:

• Optician PreparatoryOccupational Certificate

• Certificate of technology• Associate of Applied Science

For more information, visitsanjac.edu/program/eye-care-technology.

Photo by Courtney Morris, San Jacinto College

Photo by Courtney Morris, San Jacinto College Photos by Courtney Morris, San Jacinto College

By Andrea VasquezSAN JACINTO COLLEGE

San Jacinto College is gearing up fora new summer camp season, and one ofthe most anticipated camps for summer2020 is the Pathway to the Stars camp.

As one of two community collegesnationwide to receive a NASA MinorityUniversity Research and EducationProject (MUREP) Aerospace Academy(MAA) grant, the College continues itsefforts to provide science, technology,engineering, and math (STEM)educational opportunities for K-12students to build interest, skills,and the knowledge necessary to pursueSTEM careers.

The Pathway to the Stars summercamp will feature hands-on STEMactivities that focus on space exploration

and NASA’s journey to Mars. Someactivity topics include human healthin space, hydroponics, radiationeffects on space suits, space weather,

energy resources, and navigation andcommunication technology. Camperswill also enjoy NASA and STEMguest speakers.

Another unique feature to camp willbe personality assessments and learningabout individual strengths within teambuilding. Dr. Janis Fowler, director of theSan Jacinto College Aerospace Academy,says that the summer camp environmentis a great setting for students to learnthe fundamentals of what it takes tocreate great teams that accomplishbig goals.

“We want these young students toexplore, create, and not be afraid to trynew things,” said Dr. Fowler. “They’llbe able to help each other and see theirown strengths and abilities emergewith the various camp activities. Wewant them to build on these tangible

experiences as they progress in theireducational journeys and truly valuehow critical team building is.”

Summer camp continued on page 7


Summer CAmp putS StudentSon tHeIr pAtHwAy to tHe StArS

2020 San Jacinto CollegeSummer Camps

• KidSpot Musical Theatre Summer Campfor Youth, Central CampusAges 5-18 | June 1-5 and June 8-12

• Maritime Venture Camp, Maritime CampusAges 14-17 | June 8-11

• Girls Softball Camp, South CampusAges 5-13 | July 10

All camp dates are subject to change.Visit sanjac.edu/summer-campsfor more information.

HELP US TRAIN THENEXT GENERATION

CAREERS.SANJAC.EDU

LEAVE A LEGACY...

TEACH

281-998-6150 An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V

GENERATION PARK CAMPUSOPENING FALL 2020

Due to the evolving situation surrounding the Coronavirus COVID-19,all San Jacinto College events and summer camps are subject to change.




By Melissa TrevizoSAN JACINTO COLLEGE

The San Jacinto College Departmentof Theatre and Film recently presenteda production of D.W. Gregory’s RadiumGirls. The play is a modern drama basedon the true story of the women whoworked for the U.S. Radium Corporationin the early 1900s.

The play highlights the way menand women in power at the companymarginalized young, naïve workers bymaking them believe the self-luminousradioactive paint they were workingwith was harmless, subsequentlyleading to the illness and death ofcountless workers.

“The story is timeless and still goes ontoday in different forms,” said RichardTurner, professor of theatre and film.“Whether it’s a poisoned water supply, a

cover-up about the impact of concussionsin the NFL, or big tobacco, for decadesorganizations have covered up theirknowledge of harm being done.”

Sophomore Jacque Lilley, whoportrayed Dr. Drinker, one of the doctorswho discovered the radium poisoningamong the U.S. Radium Corporation’semployees, found her experience withthe play to be an awakening of the thingshappening right here in Houston.

“The story is fascinating andheartbreaking at the same time,” Lilleysaid. “I think this is a story that needs

to continue to be retold. With everythingthat happened this year with plantexplosions and fires, we don’t know whatthe impact could be on our health in theyears to come.”

Portraying the main character, GraceFryer, was sophomore Karen Ascencio.Fryer was only 18 when she took on therole as a “radium girl,” painting clocksand watches with the glow-in-the-darkpaint. Eventually,the radium exposure caused her spineto disintegrate, forcing her to wear asteel brace. It was Fryer who led thefight to sue the U.S. Radium Corporationfor its negligence.

“It’s so unfortunate that this story isn’tmore widely known,” Ascencio said.“I want people to see our performanceand understand the significance of whathappened to these women and what ishappening today.”

While the tone of this productionwas somber, the San Jacinto CollegeDepartment of Theatre has also recentlyperformed more light-hearted efforts likeShrek, The Perils of Truly Sweet, and itsannual Santa’s Christmas Magic.

“We chose Radium Girls as aproduction to highlight the phenomenalfemale talent within the theatre programat the Central Campus,” said Dr. JerryIvins, professor of theatre and film.“The tone of the play is dark, but

we have some really exceptional dramaticactresses, and with this play beingfemale heavy, we were able to showcasethem really well.”

While the department has closedout its 2019-2020 season,you can look for information aboutits next performances atwww.sanjac.edu/theatre-central.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

A Timeless TAle: sAn JAcinTo collegecenTrAl TheATre presenTs Radium GiRls

Photo courtesy of Melissa Trevizo, San Jacinto College

Photos courtesy of Melissa Trevizo, San Jacinto College

KidSpot Camp scheduleThe San Jacinto College Department ofTheatre announces the 13th annual KidSpotCamp, a one-week summer musical theatercamp for children ages 5 to 18. Throughactive involvement, participants will developacting skills while participating in workshops.These workshops may include movement,voice, theatre games, improvisations, stageacting, film acting, character development,and production. Daily rehearsals willculminate in a stage production at the endof the week.

Session 1$150June 1-59 a.m. – 5 p.m.(Extended hours available for a small fee.)Performance at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 5.

Session 2$150June 8-129 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Extended hours availablefor a small fee.)Performance at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 12.Each day includes three workshops andone rehearsal. Theatre faculty, staff, andour best College theatre students conductworkshops. The camp will culminate in aperformance of the musical Dreamwork’sMadagascar: A Musical Adventure.

Dates subject to change. To learn more, visitwww.sanjac.edu/summer-camps.



The newly elected Central Campusstudent government officers took thissnap to celebrate their leadership roles.

Students from the Central Campus PhiBeta Lambda organization attended theEmerging Leaders Conference to learnhow to increase their campus impact.

Shawn Silman, dean of liberal arts,shared a stack of freshly signeddean’s list letters on Twitter.

North Campus geology students took astellar tour of the NASA Saturn V at RocketPark during a class trip.

Coach Jason Krug captured thisselfie between baseball games.

North Campus organized a Melanin inMedicine event with medical professionalsof color aimed at health science students.

Central Campus celebratedAnthropology Day with Aztec hotchocolate and a projectile point dig.

Instagram user @outlaw.hondashared this shot of the CentralCampus Transportation Center.

THIS MONTH IN SOCIAL MEDIA

An Equal Opportunity Institution

sanjac.edu | 281-998-6150

1 2

3

4

5

6

8

7

Note: All of the events depicted above took place prior to theemerging coronavirus, COVID-19, and the College’s move toonline classes in response.


By Colton BennettSAN JACINTO COLLEGE

San Jacinto College vice chancellor forstrategic initiatives Dr. Allatia Harris wasnamed the 2019 Dr. Ed Lehr Chairman’sAward recipient at the North Channel AreaChamber of Commerce annual gala onJan. 23. The award recognizes individualsand businesses that have contributedto helping the community prosper andcontinue to advance the chamber’s goals.The annual award is presented in honor

of Dr. Ed Lehr, the first president of theCollege’s North Campus, who helpedestablish the North Channel Area Chamber

of Commerce. Dr. Lehr was an influentialleader in the North Channel communityand an early member of the area’sNorth Shore Rotary Club that establishedmany of the community’s parks andpublic services.

Dr. Harris has been a member of thechamber for most of her 12 years at SanJacinto College. She was recognized thisyear for her efforts in launching a newround of strategic planning to capitalizeon the area’s growth and to meet thecommunity’s service needs.“It’s a powerful, very diverse community

of people who care deeply for each other,”Dr. Harris said, “and it’s a community of

which I am proud to be a part.”One of her points of pride regarding

the North Channel Area Chamber ofCommerce is the chamber foundation’sWilliam C. Palko $5,000 scholarship thatis awarded to a San Jacinto College studenteach year. Last year, the chamber hadtwo strong finalists for the scholarshipand ultimately awarded a second $2,000scholarship to the runner-up. This waspersonally funded by members of thechamber foundation.“I’m proud to work with a group

of people who care so much aboutthe residents of [the North Channel]community," Dr. Harris said.

sTaff sPOTlIgHT

dr. AllAtiA HArriS Honored At nortHCHAnnel AreA CHAMber’S AnnuAl gAlA

Photo by Colton Bennett, San Jacinto College

Maritime continued from page 2Not only do the Houston Pilots

conduct their research at the Center, butthe Port of Houston, U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers, as well as companies likethe Maritime Pilots Institute andWaterway Simulation Technology Inc.have used the facility.

“The facilities at San Jac are great,”said Larry Daggett, vice president of

Waterway Simulation Technology Inc.“It is important to have three simulatorsso that we can run two tug simulatorsinteracting with large ship simulators.We can adjust situations as needed, andit has been a great help to our research.”

Daggett, former chief of navigationwith the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,and George Burkley, executive directorof the Maritime Pilots Institute, have

worked together on the Port of Houston’sexpansion projects, running feasibilitystudies on widening and deepening thePort to allow two-way traffic.

“San Jacinto College simulation hasbeen central to research and operationalsuccess of emerging energy-exportprojects such as Louisiana’s CameronLNG export facility, Texas’ FreeportLNG export facility, and utilization of

VLCC crude carriers for oil export outof Texas City and Corpus Christi,” saidBurkley. “These simulation tools enableadvanced team training of ship pilotsand tug operators in projects that propelAmerica’s capacity to export energy.”

With maritime research continuing inthe Houston region, San Jacinto Collegeexpects to continue welcomingresearchers to the Center.

Summer camp continued from page 4Fowler added that providing

opportunities for young students tohave fun while learning how to apply theskills and knowledge they’re interestedin not only reinforces the interest butalso enhances curiosity about STEMcareers and what is available to themhere in the Houston area.

“As we continue to develop workforceprograms with NASA and the privatesector at the College’s EDGE Center atthe Houston Spaceport, we are getting afirst-hand look at the skills and talentsneeded to work within the aerospaceindustry,” said Fowler. “Jobs inaerospace defense and space tourism are

on the horizon, and with commercialcompanies like SpaceX and VirginGalactic, the industry is expanding,and a lot is happening in our backyard.We are witnessing a space industryexpansion right in front of us with

endless opportunities for internationalcollaboration, technology development,and new frontiers to explore.”

The San Jacinto College Pathway tothe Stars day camps will be offered: June8-12, June 15-19, June 22-26, July 6-10,July 13-17, and July 20-24. Camp timesare Mondays-Thursdays, 8:30 a.m.-4:30p.m., and Fridays, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., atthe College’s Central, North, and SouthCampuses. The camps are available tostudents in grades 5-8. Registration isfree, with limited spots available.For more information on camp datesand registration, call 281-459-5470,email [email protected], or visitsanjac.edu/pathway-to-the-stars-camp.



Connect with us on

JOIN SAN JACINTO COLLEGEIN ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE IN

HIGHER EDUCATION.FIND YOUR NEXT CAREER AT

WWW.SANJAC.EDU • 281.998.6150


Surrounded by monuments of history,industries and maritime enterprises of today,and the space age of tomorrow, San JacintoCollege has served the citizens of East HarrisCounty, Texas, since 1961. The College isfiscally sound, holding bond ratings of AAand Aa2 by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s.San Jacinto College is a 2019 Aspen Prizefor Community College Excellence Top 10institution, a 2017 Aspen Prize Rising StarAward recipient, and an Achieving the DreamLeader College of Distinction. The Collegeserves approximately 45,000 credit andnon-credit students annually and offers eightareas of study that put students on a path totransfer to four-year institutions or enter theworkforce. San Jacinto College’s impact onthe region totals $1.3 billion in added income,which supports 13,044 jobs.

COmmuNITYImPaCT

Vision — San Jacinto College will advance thesocial and economic mobility of all membersof our community. We will be known forour excellence in teaching and learning, ourintentional student-centered support, and ourcommitment to every student. We will be thepreferred workforce and economic developmentpartner in the region and a champion forlifelong learning. San Jacinto College will inspirestudents to explore opportunities, define theireducational and career paths, and achieve theirgoals and dreams.

Mission — San Jacinto College is focused onstudent success, academic progress, universitytransfer, and employment. We are committed toopportunities that enrich the quality of life inthe communities we serve.

VIsION &mIssION

An Equal Opportunity Institution

suPPOrT sTuDeNTsuCCess

A gift to the San Jacinto College Foundationtransforms lives, enriches our community, andprovides tomorrow’s community leaders. Formore than 20 years, the foundation has helpedthousands of students reach their goals. Ourformer students and graduates have filled vitalroles in hospitals, classrooms, executive offices,manufacturing plants, and laboratories acrossour region and beyond. They have also won theWorld Series and NBA championships, starredin major motion pictures, and created majortheatrical productions. Help our students todaywith the gift of education. Contact the SanJacinto College Foundation at 281-998-6104 orvisit sanjac.edu/foundation.

YOur gOals. YOur COllege.

NORTH CAMPUS5800 Uvalde Rd., Houston, TX 77049

CENTRAL CAMPUS8060 Spencer Hwy., Pasadena, TX 77505

SOUTH CAMPUS13735 Beamer Rd., Houston, TX 77089

MARITIME CAMPUS3700 Old Hwy. 146, La Porte, TX 77571

ONLINEsanjac.edu

Documents

WWW .SANJAC