Northeast Lakeview College Chosen for "The Big Read for an Enlightened Community"

Pictured (l to r): Dr. Eric Reno, NLC president; Dr. Dollie Hudspeth, NLC communications chair; Anna Postelle, Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union assistant vice president of sales operations; Dr. Martha Trevino, NLC director of grants & college development; John Williams, Randolph Metrocom Chamber president; Diane Bagley, Judson ISD Board of Trustees; Gary Beitzel, secretary, ACCD Board of Trustees; Gerardo Interiano, district director, 21st Congressional District and assistant to U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith; Marcus Nelson, Judson ISD deputy/associate superintendent of instruction and student services.

Northeast Lakeview College has received a matching funds grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to participate in the national Big Read program. Together with its primary partners [Judson Independent School District, Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union, Randolph Metrocom Chamber of Commerce] Northeast Lakeview College will bring northeast Bexar county and its surrounding communities together to read and celebrate the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

As the newest community college in the nation, the NEA award is Northeast Lakeview College’s first federally –funded grant award. Northeast Lakeview College is one of 127 organizations nationwide selected by the NEA to participate in the Big Read and bring together communities to enrich the reading experience.

Northeast Lakeview College will celebrate To Kill A Mockingbird from March 3, 2008 to April 15, 2008 with a full calendar of events. A kick-off event is planned for March 3 rd featuring Charles Shields, author of The New York Times Bestseller Mockingbird – A Portrait of Harper Lee. Other events include a movie screening, dramatic readings, panel presentations, community discussions, and a presentation by Mary Badham, who portrayed “Scout” in the movie of the same name. “We are delighted to bring the Big Read to the Randolph Metrocom area,” says Dr. Eric Reno, Northeast Lakeview College president. “Our participation, together with that of our primary partners, will revive the interest in reading in our community.” Since the program’s launch in 2006, the NEA has funded more than 300 Big Read programs in the nation’s towns and cities. Visit http://www.accd.edu/nlc/big_read_events.htm for a complete listing of confirmed events.

The official announcement and presentation of The Big Read for an Enlightened Community was held Thursday, November 15 at the Northeast Lakeview College Library. For more information on the national program, visit http://www.neabigread.org/

(l to r) SAC President Dr. Robert Zeigler and Distance Education Director Helen Torres accept a proclamation from City Councilwoman Mary Alice Cisneros to celebrate National Distance Education Week. (Photo by Leonard Ziegler)

In celebration of National Distance Education Week, City Councilwoman Mary Alice Cisneros presented President Robert Zeigler with a city proclamation honoring San Antonio College for its innovative SAC Online Program, which is directed by Helen Torres. The proclamation references SAC as the first college in the city to offer an Internet course in 1996, a government course developed by James Perkins and Dr. Michael Berrier.

Zeigler’s vision of expanding Internet instruction has since led to the college’s ranking by U.S. News & World Report in 2006 as the 6th largest online program in the United States. Today, SAC Online generates more than 21,000 student enrollments annually, including 500 out of state each semester and 100 out of the country (China, Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom, India, among others) every semester.

Some of the 30 St. Philip’s College students who received $ 500 healthcare career scholarships gathered as a group on the college’s Martin Luther King campus. St. Philip’s College President Dr. Adena Williams Loston attended a reception for institutional recipients by the scholarship donor, Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio, to acknowledge what the foundation and organizations such as SPC do in the interest of area healthcare. (Photo by Mark Barnes)

Most students are overwhelmed when it comes to filling out scholarship applications, but at St. Philip’s College, the college applies for scholarships for the students. By going that extra mile, SPC received a $15,000 check to fund the passions of 30 students who are pursuing careers in three of the college’s health professions programs this year.

“We always apply, because students always need financial help,” said Rebecca Sanchez, an assistant professor and chair of the college’s Allied Health department. “We do it to enhance the community. Our college has a longstanding reputation of providing qualified professionals for the healthcare industry.”

The funding came from Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio, for students in St. Philip’s College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant, Respiratory Therapy and Physical Therapy programs. Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio improves the health of its community by fostering and funding clinical, educational, spiritual and scientific initiatives.

The money has gone a long way because St. Philip’s College’s tuition is a value. Although this was not the first time the college has received similar charitable contributions from the foundation, the foundation’s check tripled the previous assistance and the scope of its giving expanded opportunities for the college by one more program.