Cerritos College
Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

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    Tone for new school year is set at convocation

    After+introducing+new+employees+and+recognizing+achievements%2C+College+President%2C+Dr.+Jose+Fierro+%28left%29%2C+receives+a+special+surprise+from+Professor+David+Betancourt+%28right%29.+He+and+staff+members+of+Cerritos+perform+a+song+entitled+Fierros+Words+to+Live+By%2C+while+singing+to+the+melody+of+Mustang+Sally.+Photo+credit%3A+Bianca+Salgado
    Bianca Salgado
    After introducing new employees and recognizing achievements, College President, Dr. Jose Fierro (left), receives a special surprise from Professor David Betancourt (right). He and staff members of Cerritos perform a song entitled Fierro’s “Words to Live By,” while singing to the melody of “Mustang Sally.” Photo credit: Bianca Salgado

    Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. JoAnna Schilling, started this years convocation off by saying that the event “Starts off the year. We bring all of our faculty and staff together…, it’s like a kick off.”

    Convocation was held at the Burnight Center on Thursday, Aug. 27.

    Diana Melina Echeverria was named Los Angeles Universal Preschool’s Teacher of the Year, and Cerritos Head Coach of the Men’s Soccer team, Benny Artiaga, was recognized as the National Coach of the Year.

    As for student achievements, the dental hygiene students made history by winning three times at the American Dental Hygienists’ Association National Competition, and the culinary arts students assisted with the 2015 Golden Globes Awards dinner at the Beverly Hilton.

    Convocation filled with nonstop laughter when President/Superintendent of Academic Affairs, Dr. Jose Fierro, received a special surprise from The Falconer band led by Dr. David Bentancourt, director of Bands and Orchestra.

    They performed “Fierro’s Words to Live By,” to the melody of “Mustang Sally.”

    The last one to take the stage and spread inspiration of his own was Dr. Fierro.

    Dr. Fierro said, “Being able to understand what college life is like, the expectations of college have a significant impact on whether or not a student is going to be successful.”

    In his speech, he addressed the issue of students whose parent’s didn’t go to college. He referred to this as the first year gap. The possibility of those students graduating are very low.

    Dr. Fierro presented a slide which stated that 12.4 percent of children whose parents didn’t obtain a high school diploma went on to receive a Bachelor’s degree or better.

    Furthermore, 59.1 percent of children whose parents earned an advanced degree attained a Bachelor’s degree and beyond.

    Fierro spoke about a program set in place to help first year gap students.

    According to Fierro, the relatively new program, “seems to provide a very good support to students, but I would like to extend that program to all incoming freshman.”

    Professor David Betancourt, who acknowledged this inspiration, stated, “Well I think the thing I really like and I took away from it is this whole idea that he was talking about how we can affect the future in a positive way. I think it was a great reminder for all of us.”

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    About the Contributors
    Briana Hicks, Staff Writer
    If you want to get an idea of who I am, look at some of my stories. You can find out a little bit about me in my the way I write. Growing into the role of a college student, I'm beginning to find out who I am in this life. Back when I first began coming to Cerritos, I never would've imagined that I'd find my connection to the school on the college newspaper. Let alone, find people who actually understand me as well as I understand them. My path in life is unfolding itself before, and I am so excited to see where it takes me.
    Bianca Salgado, Opinion Editor
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    Tone for new school year is set at convocation