Cerritos College
Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

rocio valdez

Rocio Valdez, Arts & Entertainment Editor

Rocio Valdez is currently the Arts and Entertainment Editor for Cerritos College’s Talon Marks. She hopes to transfer to CSU Long Beach in the fall of 2020 to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. She is interested in going into public relations or working for a news or entertainment outlet.

All content by Rocio Valdez
During my stay at the hospital I had an amazing team of doctors. They were part of the rheumatology team that checked up on me daily and treated me, Nov. 23, 2017.

My Vasculitis Awareness Month story

Rocio Valdez, Arts and Entertainment Editor May 21, 2020
At just 22 years old, I had to overcome the greatest challenge of my life.

May 20, 2020 – Page 10

Rocio Valdez, Arts & Entertainment Editor May 20, 2020

May 20, 2020 – Page 9

Rocio Valdez, Arts & Entertainment Editor May 20, 2020

May 20, 2020 – Page 8

Rocio Valdez, Arts & Entertainment Editor May 20, 2020

May 20, 2020 – Page 7

Rocio Valdez, Arts & Entertainment Editor May 20, 2020

Ayman Syed (@thekillermonsta) is a Pakistani makeup artist, influencer and educator. As an educator he gives makeup seminars to students.

[Photo] Meet Pakistani makeup artist, influencer and educator, Ayman Syed

May 18, 2020

Ayman Syed (@thekillermonsta) is a Pakistani makeup artist, influencer and educator. As an educator he gives makeup seminars to students.

Joshua Rivedal was invited by Cerritos College Health Services to peak to students. He addressed some mental health myths during “How to Live Mentally Well and Crush it” Webinar, May 12.

Joshua Rivedal teaches Cerritos College students how to ‘live mentally well and crush it’

Rocio Valdez, Arts and Entertainment Editor May 17, 2020
Cerritos College Health Services has been hosting webinars to help students adapt to COVID-19 changes.
Some animals will not expect the sudden abandonment by their owner. However, animals shelters are concerned many furry friends will be returned to the shelters. Photo credit: Sofia Gallegos

Pets are family, not disposable objects

Rebecca Aguila and Rocio Valdez May 17, 2020
Animal shelters are preparing for what could be a traumatizing time for animals as they brace for a high volume of returned pets who were used as a form of entertainment during the stay-at-home order.
Samuel Macias, dance major, has been dancing from home due to COVID-19. He finds a space at his home to take his zoom dance classes. Photo credit: Courtesy of Samuel Macias

Dance students use Zoom to adapt to the rhythm of quarantine

Rocio Valdez, Arts and Entertainment Editor May 10, 2020
Dancing from home has been challenging for professors and students of the Cerritos College dance department.
George Loulakis, music major, has had to adapt to online learning. He has the necessary equipment at home to practice. Photo credit: Courtesty of George M. Loulakis

Music Department struggles to harmonize with online-teaching

Rocio Valdez, A&E Editor May 3, 2020
COVID-19 has impacted music students' ability to perform and put music together in real time.

April 29, 2020 – Page 8

Rocio Valdez, Arts & Entertainment Editor April 29, 2020

April 29, 2020 – Page 7

Rocio Valdez, Arts & Entertainment Editor April 29, 2020

April 29, 2020 – Page 6

Rocio Valdez, Arts & Entertainment Editor April 29, 2020

Stephanie Mora, a cosmetology student at Cerritos, practicing hands-on before Cerritos College closed due to COVID-19, March 13.

[Photo] Challenges arise in Cosmetology Dept. with online-only format

April 25, 2020

Stephanie Mora, a cosmetology student at Cerritos, practicing hands-on before Cerritos College closed due to COVID-19, March 13.

The flag should never be displayed with union down, except as a signal of dire
distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property - US Flag Code Photo credit: Public Domain

COVID puts ‘America the exceptional’ to the test… and it’s failing miserably

Sean Davis and Rocio Valdez April 19, 2020
Nationalists claim that "America is the best" has simply rung hollow when the global pandemic hit.
Todd Denny, MSW, explained conscious breathing is a part of mindfulness and allows us to come back to the present during the Managing Stress and Reducing Anxiety in Difficult Times on April 15.

Cerritos College seminar presents strategies to manage stress and anxiety during COVID-19

Rocio Valdez, A&E Editor April 19, 2020
Cerritos College Student Health Service presented coping strategies to help students relieve stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Forensic nurse perform medical forensic examinations for victims of sexual assault.

Nurse explains sexual assault forensic exam for awareness month workshop

Rocio Valdez, A&E Editor April 12, 2020
Forensic Nurse speaker shares what sexual assault nurse examiners do to help victims and what the process is like.

“The Caucasian Chalk Circle” play wraps up at Cerritos College

Rocio Valdez, A & E editor March 23, 2020
"The Caucasian Chalk Circle," a Brechtian theatre style

Talon Marks TV Episode 3

TalonMarks TV is a webcast news roundup for the Cerritos College student-run newspaper.

Curator, Rebecca Hall, discussed details about the upcoming exhibition We Are Here: Contemporary Art and Asian Voices in Los Angeles. The presentation took place during the Visual and Cultural Studies Lecture at Cerritos College on Feb. 20. Photo credit: Kianna Znika

“We Are Here: Contemporary Art and Asian Voices in Los Angeles” art exhibition coming soon to USC Pacific Asia Museum

Rocio Valdez, A & E editor March 6, 2020

Rebecca Hall, assistant curator at the USC Pacific Asia Museum located in Pasadena, discussed details about the upcoming exhibition "We Are Here: Contemporary Art and Asian Voices in Los Angeles" during...

March 4, 2020 – Page 5

Rocio Valdez, Arts & Entertainment Editor March 4, 2020

March 4, 2020 – Page 4

Rocio Valdez, Arts & Entertainment Editor March 4, 2020

Cerritos College Orchestra and Director Mr. Alan Hallback. They performed “Idomeneo, Overture” by W.A. Mozart/arr. Aubrey Winter, “Symphony No. 7, IV. Allegro con Brio and “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” by Jule Styne/Stephen Sondheim/arr. Bob Cerulli, March 2, 2020 Photo credit: Rocio Valdez

Local schools join Cerritos in Spring concert

Rocio Valdez, A & E editor March 4, 2020
Cerritos College Orchestra and Concert Band, joined by Lynwood Middle School Tiger Band and Santa Ana High School Wind Ensemble, deliver a great night of music.
Jody Zellen art exhibition THE HUMAN TOUCH. It uses a free application called Artivive which makes the paintings move and change, March 1, 2020. Photo credit: Rocio Valdez

Jody Zellen presents “THE HUMAN TOUCH,” an art exhibition that brings paintings to life

Rocio Valdez, A & E editor March 4, 2020
Technology is incorporated into art in “THE HUMAN TOUCH” art installation for a different experience.
BTS at the 2018 MelOn Music Awards.
Photo from Flickr: TV10/TenAsia - DanielleTH (talk | contribs)

BTS release another great album ‘Map of the Soul: 7’

Rocio Valdez, A & E editor March 3, 2020
BTS debut new album with '7' holding a great significance.

Feb. 26, 2020 – Page 5

Rocio Valdez, Arts & Entertainment Editor February 26, 2020

Feb. 26, 2020 – Page 4

Rocio Valdez, Arts & Entertainment Editor February 26, 2020

Molly Schulman’s, a Los Angeles based artist, is presenting ‘This Is Not A Balloon Dog’ at the Cerritos College Window Dressing. During the opening reception on Feb. 10, she performed in column costume as she blowed up and twisted more balloon dogs. Photo credit: Rocio Valdez

‘This Is Not A Balloon Dog’ at the Cerritos College Window Dressing

Rocio Valdez, A & E editor February 25, 2020

Molly Schulman, an LA-based artist, is presenting ‘This Is Not A Balloon Dog’ at the Cerritos College Window Dressing installation space from Feb. 10 through Feb. 21. The art in the window is a...

Young Joon Kwak, LA-based artist, is presenting ‘Dilectio’ art exhibiton. Her art will be at the Cerritos College Artist-in-Residence Gallery from Feb. 10 through March. 13. Photo credit: Rocio Valdez

‘Dilectio’ art gallery presented by Young Joon Kwak plays with the idea of plastic and plasticity of a body

Rocio Valdez, A & E editor February 24, 2020

LA-based artist, Young Joon Kwak is presenting ‘Dilectio’ art exhibiton at the Cerritos College Artist-in-Residence Gallery from Feb. 10 through March 13. James Mac Devitt, Director/Curator of the...

Substances: David Mr. StarCity White, New York and LA based artist, presented his exhibition ‘After Party’. Artificial cocaine, weed, alcohol, wine, champagne, tobacco which tied in perfectly for the party theme but they also represented what “caused the destruction of my friends” Feb. 16.

[Photo] The Spring Break Art Fair returns to LA with over 100 art exhibitions

February 20, 2020

Substances: David Mr. StarCity White, New York and LA based artist, presented his exhibition ‘After Party’. Artificial cocaine, weed, alcohol, wine, champagne, tobacco which tied in perfectly for the...

Ory Shihor delighted the audience at the Burnight Center with sonatas from Beethoven

Rocio Valdez, A&E Editor February 13, 2020

Bosendorfer and Yamaha artist, Ory Shihor, performed at Cerritos College in the Burnight Center Theatre on Feb. 8 to celebrate Beethoven’s 250th birth-year.Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'jtLg5N6OSVNig0noRqI-Rw',sig:'Rr9b4QmYYFxKV6-bySnZpVJH7lVFfRfXNo1WuQEo-eM=',w:'594px',h:'387px',items:'1053672448',caption:...

Rebekah Hathaway and Christine Gregory, instructors in the Dance Department, taught the students a dance combination. The students performed the short dance combo for auditions. Photo credit: Rocio Valdez

[Photo] “Immigrants Standing: A Musical Revue” Spring Musical Auditions

February 6, 2020

Rebekah Hathaway and Christine Gregory, instructors in the Dance Department, taught the students a dance combination. The students performed the short dance combo for auditions. Photo credit: Rocio Valdez

Tristin Baeza, Emanuel Osorio and James Torres serenaded students with Mexican Mariachi songs. Mariachi Los Cerritos club came out for the Spring 2020 Welcome Event to encourage students to join. Photo credit: Rocio Valdez

Mariachi Los Cerritos Club brings life to campus

Rocio Valdez, A & E editor February 6, 2020

Mariachi Los Cerritos is a fairly new club at Cerritos College which was formed in Spring 2019 with the goal to inspire through their music and to bring Spanish culture to the students. The club wants...

Bethany Regan, Akasha Starr and Marcella Raya, professional dancers, delivered a Bollywood dance performance. They incorporated a variety of India style dances and costumes.

APIDAA event wows the audience with Bollywood performers

Rocio Valdez, A&E Editor February 6, 2020

Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Affiliates APIDA(A) from Cerritos College is committed to support lifelong learning goals of Asian and Pacific Islander students. Community members and campus employees...

The 62nd Grammy Awards mourns the loss of Kobe Bryant

Rocio Valdez, A&E editor February 6, 2020
This year's Grammy Awards were held with great sadness but the night was full of first-time winners: Billie Eilish broke the record for becoming the first woman and youngest artist to sweep all the awards for the four main categories and BTS became the first Korean artist(s) to perform.

Feb. 5, 2020 – Page 5

Rocio Valdez, Arts & Entertainment Editor February 5, 2020

Feb. 5, 2020 – Page 4

Rocio Valdez, Arts & Entertainment Editor February 5, 2020

INGLEWOOD, CA - APRIL 27: Host of WE Day California, actress/singer and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Selena Gomez attends WE Day California to celebrate young people changing the world at The Forum on April 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Long awaited; Selena Gomez’s big comeback

Rocio Valdez, A & E editor January 23, 2020

Selena Gomez makes her big comeback with her album “Rare” released on Jan. 10, five years after her last album “Revival” from 2015. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'slYKEpDVSLtv6cmAMYmcPg',sig:'1nSoLWQsH7aVd1pyCdTXOYktktcNeJIo6uCM5zRy8rU=',w:'405px',h:'594px',items:'1198907158',caption:...

MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 08: Actors Will Smith (R) and Martin Lawrence (L) attend Bad Boys For Life photocall at the Villamagna Hotel on January 08, 2020 in Madrid, Spain.

Bad Boys return for another mission

Rocio Valdez, A&E Editor January 21, 2020
Spoiler Alert!

Screen Actors Guild present 26th awards ceremony with no host

Rocio Valdez, Arts and Entertainment January 21, 2020

Screen Actors Guild Awards hosted their 26th ceremony in Los Angeles at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on Jan. 19, where they went with the no-host route just like the Oscars and instead left it all...

CalSTRS guide professors through retirement decisions

Rocio Valdez October 30, 2017

California State Teachers’ Retirement System provided a workshop for Cerritos College instructors with information and guided them through their retirement decisions. CalSTRS is part of the State...

Director of Diversity, Compliance, and Title IX Coordinator Valyncia Raphael, informed students about Domestic Violence Awareness Month. She opened up an open-mic session. Photo credit: Rocio Valdez

Assault victims empowered by speak-out event

Rocio Valdez October 29, 2017

Cerritos College raises awareness at the Domestic Violence Awareness Month speak-out event for survivors to empower each other and share their stories during the open mic session. Valyncia Raphael, Director...

Marvelina Graf, counselor at the Transfer Center informed students about the UC insight questions and shared Dos and Donts. Graf also informed students about the UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) which only six schools offer it and its free. Photo credit: Rocio Valdez

UC applicants benefit from personal insight questions workshop

Rocio Valdez October 2, 2017

Students that are getting ready to transfer to a UC attended the UC personal insight question workshop Sept. 28 where they got a walk-through of what questions to expect and how they should be answered. Marvelina...

History Professor John Haas asked questions to scientist Dr. Michael Gunson about climate change. Both Professor Haas and Dr. Gunson were surprised and delighted about the number of students that showed up. Photo credit: Rocio Valdez

Climate change discussion with scientist, Dr. Michael Gunson

Rocio Valdez October 2, 2017

Climate change is something that is ongoing in Earth and to discuss this topic Dr. Michael Gunson, OCO2 (Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2) project scientists from Jet Propulsion Laboratory, was invited to...

Traci Ukita, Career Counselor, shared with students interviewing skills to prepare for an interview. Photo credit: Rocio Valdez

Students learn interviewing skills

Rocio Valdez September 24, 2017

Students learned how to prepare to make an effective first impression at the Interviewing Techniques Workshop Thursday, Sept. 21. Traci Ukita, career counselor, shared with students tips and skills to...

Disney College Program makes students dreams come true

Rocio Valdez September 15, 2017

The “Happiest Place on Earth” gives students the opportunity to be part of the magic through the Disney College Program. Students who assisted the workshop Tuesday, Sept. 12 learned about the...

Rodrigo Quintas, ASCC Chief Justice, at the first Constitution Workshop. Quintas discussed how to form a Constitution that will serve students and create effective clubs. Photo credit: Rocio Valdez

Students attend the first Club Constitution Workshop

Rocio Valdez September 10, 2017

Cerritos College hosted the first ever Club Constitution Workshop on Sept. 7. The workshop was to inform campus clubs how to write a well-written and clear constitution. ASCC Chief Justice Rodrigo Quintas...

Students benefit from scholarship workshop

Rocio Valdez August 31, 2017

Students who were interested in applying for the 2017 fall semester scholarships were able to start their applications during a scholarship workshop held on Aug. 29. The Cerritos College Foundation will...

Steve Rosa (adjunct professor) teaching a combination to the auditioners. Students later performed it in groups. Photo credit: Rocio Valdez

Fall Dance Concert auditions begin

Rocio Valdez August 22, 2017

Cerritos College Dance department held auditions for the 2017 Fall Dance Concert and for Repertory Dance Theater on Aug 19 with a total of 44 auditioners. There were nine choreographers choosing dancers...

Free Speech Zone: How did you choose your major?

Rocio Valdez, Staff Writer May 10, 2017

Isaiah Sotelo, Welding major, “I chose it because art wasn’t really working out for me. It’s a lot of fun and it’s a blast building things with metal.”   Tao Aoiu, Business...

Free Speech Zone: How did you choose your major?

Rocio Valdez May 10, 2017

Isaiah Sotelo, Welding major, “I chose it because art wasn’t really working out for me. It’s a lot of fun and it’s a blast building things with metal.” Tao Aoiu, Business...

Education Role in Gender Equality

Rocio Valdez May 7, 2017

Education starts at home, but kids do spend half of their day at school where they learn and shape who they become. Here we are in a society where we are still fighting for gender equality. Perhaps if...

Recognizing our the veterans of Cerritos College

Rocio Valdez, Staff Writer May 5, 2017

Cerritos College Military Ball is just around the corner. It taking place May 6, 2017 at Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel to give back to the amusement park for helping veterans out. Glen Pena, Veterans Resource...

Guest speaker discusses gender equality in education

Rocio Valdez April 28, 2017

On behalf of Women’s’ History celebration 30th anniversary, guest Dr. Veronica Bloomfield spoke upon gender and education. It took place on Tuesday, April 18, from 9:30 am to 11 am in room...

Talon Marks brings home general excellence

Rocio Valdez April 13, 2017
Cerritos College journalism students assisted the JACC 62nd conference and share their experiences.

Lecture discusses women’s wages

Rocio Valdez April 6, 2017

Women and Economic Justice was discussed for Women's History Month, Thursday, March 23.Micah Pratt, mechanical engineering major, spoke upon women and economic justice. Pratt shared that, inequality in...

Lecture discusses women’s presence in the media

Rocio Valdez April 4, 2017

Kate Mishler, American Studies graduate, an invited speaker covered the topic of women’s bodies in the media. She came in to share with students her research project and her findings about women...

Financial aid hosts fair to inform students

Rocio Valdez March 28, 2017

Financial Aid hosted an awareness fair Thursday, March 23. It was a opportunity for students to get help if they needed it and get informed. This was for students to check in and get all of the financial...

Interviewing Tips and Techniques Workshop

Rocio Valdez March 2, 2017

Clara Ross-Jones, Career Services Counselor, gave tips to be successful at an interview. She discussed the different types of interviews and the do’s and don’ts. Jones shared the purpose for...

Free Speech Zone: What is the latest in a pregnancy that a person could get an abortion?

Rocio Valdez February 14, 2017

Kevin Perez Major: History “I’m not so sure [what the latest a person could get an abortion is]. Maybe two months three months. I don’t really know when the baby starts growing, from what...

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