Some advice on tap from Greg Koch

Greg Koch, CEO of Stone Brewing Co.

Greg Koch, CEO of Stone Brewing Co. in Escondido, was the keynote speaker at Cuyamaca College's commencement May 30. From his experience as an entrepreneur, Koch told the graduates that he had five things to ask of them.


1) Do good things.
It does matter. Everything you do in this world counts. It counts for the worse, or it counts for the better. It's up to you to choose and I urge you to choose better. The old 60's phrase was "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem." This said that in order to make changes for the better, we all need to actively work on them. We've got a lot of challenges in our world, and we need your help in working actively toward the solution.


2) Be a conscious consumer.
In the grocery store, in the shopping mall, or online, don't buy what the man on the TV tells you to buy. Refuse to be led by the nose with the idea that you need to buy, buy, buy and spend, spend, spend. If you must buy something, buy the good one rather than the latest cool one of the moment, or the one that breaks easily, only to be thrown away and replaced by yet another cheap one. And by the way, the good one is rarely the one advertised on TV.

Two of Cuyamaca College's founding professors are retiring

Brad Monroe

For more than three decades, two instructors at Cuyamaca College have worked within hailing distance of one other, each heading an academic program they personally designed and cultivated.

Not only have Jim Custeau, the founder of the automotive technology program and Brad Monroe, the creator of the ornamental horticulture program, worked in close proximity – their careers have followed similar trajectories.

Jim Custeau

Both are products of the state community college and university systems and received their graduate degrees from National University. They were hired in 1979 as Cuyamaca College was starting up and built their programs from scratch, an opportunity the two men – then in their early 30s – took up with aplomb. This month, the coordinators of the two cornerstone programs are saying goodbye to lesson plans and the day-to-day minutiae of managing a department as retirement brings their Cuyamaca careers to a close.

Youth basketball camps being offered this summer at Cuyamaca College

Youth basketball camps are being offered at Cuyacama College this summer. Each camp runs from 9 a.m. to noon and costs $79, which includes a T-shirt and evaluation.

Camp 1, for 7th through 9th graders, will run July 9-12. Camp 2, for 4th through 6th graders, will run July 16-19. Camp 3, also for 4th through 6th graders, will run from August 6-9.

Grossmont, Cuyamaca commencements coming up

More than 2,300 students will be receiving their degrees or certificates from East County’s two community colleges at month’s end, capping a year marked by the state’s ongoing budget crisis.

Cuyamaca College will honor 695 students receiving associate degrees and certificates of achievement Wednesday, May 30, at the 34th annual commencement at the college’s student center quad. On Thursday, May 31, Grossmont College will laud 1,664 students receiving their degrees and certificates at the college’s 51st commencement at the main quad. The ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.

Both colleges in the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District have dealt with four years of state budget reductions that have  led to millions of dollars in state funding losses and the elimination of hundreds of classes, delaying the educational progress of many students.

A message from Chancellor Cindy L. Miles: Weather advisory or warning?

This message regarding the impact of the state budget on Grossmont-Cuyamaca's finances was sent to District employees by Chancellor Cindy L. Miles.

As we review Governor Brown’s revised May budget, we’re forecasting what this will mean for California’s community colleges and our District. We can’t simply look at the short term and declare sunny skies; we’ve got to look ahead for storm systems that could darken the skies of our District’s financial future.

Overall, our state’s financial climate remains tumultuous. California’s predicted budget shortfall for 2012-13, which was $9 billion in January, has now increased to nearly $16 billion. This is the result of (1) revenues that were $4.3 billion short of January estimates; (2) Proposition 98 funding guarantees that have grown by $2.4 billion; and (3) federal government and court decisions that removed $1.7 billion in planned budget savings.

College for Kids a summertime option

A fencing class at College for Kids

 

As summer vacation approaches, College for Kids at Cuyamaca College provides the perfect combination of fun and learning for elementary and middle-schoolers, with a wide assortment of low-cost classes and activities.

The program offered through the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District’s Continuing Education program is available for youths, ages 7 to14. Registration just opened, and classes are offered from mid-July to mid-August at Cuyamaca College.

Ramona High automotive students the winning team at Cuyamaca College competition

Ramona High School High’s automotive students were clearly in the driver’s seat at Saturday’s High School Automotive Skills Day Competition at Cuyamaca College, nearly sweeping this year’s event with first, second and third-place finishes in the basic division, and first and second place in the advanced division.

Winning the individual competition in the advanced division was Justin Sebenius of Ramona High School. Finishing second was fellow Bulldog Tyler Pavlick, and taking third-place honors was Kurtis Wragg from San Dieguito Academy.

Grossmont College lab tech named Classified Employee of the Year

Pat Murray, a familiar face at Grossmont College whose volunteer spirit is practically legendary, has been Classified Employee of the Year for the state community college system.

“I guess I have something to show my husband now for all the hours I spend on projects around here,” the health science lab tech said about being selected as one of five employees statewide to receive the top award recognizing non-teaching workers in California’s  72 community college districts, including Grossmont-Cuyamaca.

Endless possibilities to aid Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges



As state funding for community colleges continues to decline, the foundation serving Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges is turning to private and corporate donors to contribute toward programs that will benefit students at the two East County institutions.

The Foundation for Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges recently established the Possibilities Roundtable to raise money that will be used to improve or add programs serving students, ranging from new computers to tutoring services. The foundation is seeking 100 charter members -- donors who pledge to contribute between $1,200 and $10,000 a year – by June 30.

Cuyamaca College hosting High School Automotive Skills Day Competition May 5

High-schoolers will vie for bragging rights as the county’s best auto tech students during Cuyamaca College’s annual High School Automotive Skills Day set for 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 5.

Now in its 33^rd year, the competition is the longest running event at the Rancho San Diego campus, with the exception of commencement. Besides the excitement of going head-to-head against other car enthusiasts,  students benefit from the thousands of dollars awarded in cash and prizes for top finishers in the categories of engine repair, transmission, suspension and steering, brakes, electrical, AC and engine performance. The competition draws contestants from throughout the county, and not unlike the fan-friendly NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge, the public is invited to attend to cheer on a favorite school.