The Student Connection
December 2004, SY04-05 Issue 2

Letter from the TRIO Director
Once again, the year has come to an end and one of the best things about Christmas is the opportunity to spend time with family and renew contact with friends.  If we’re not actually able to see each other, then at least we’re able to exchange cards and share some news contained in this newsletter.  May the spirit of this festive season bring into your life, Success, Happiness, Peace and Prosperity now and always. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Joanne Aguon Ige
Director, TRIO Programs

Student Leadership Conference

Congratulations to Cynthia Hetiback (left) & Marie Leon Guerrero (right) who were selected to go to the WESTOP Pacific Islands Chapter, Student Leadership Conference being held in January 2005 in Pohnpei.

Christmas Break Workshops

During the Christmas Break, math, English and technology workshops for Project AIM students will be conducted in GCC’s Room C4.

Mr. Frank Blas will be teaching MA085 Fundamentals on Tuesday, January 4th and MA108 & Higher Fundamentals, Wednesday, January 5th. Both of these workshops will be from 9 a.m.—11 a.m.

Ms. Becky Aguon will be teaching Grammar & Punctuation on Thursday, January 6th and Writing with Grammar and Punctuation on Friday, January 7th.  Both of these workshops will be from 9 a.m.—11 a.m.

Ms. Elaine Fejeran will be providing two days of instruction on MS Power Point Basics.  These classes will be on Thursday, January 13th and Friday, January 14th from 10:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m.

Counselor's Corner

"For the Love of Reading” is the title of a grant recently written by yours truly and funded for Project AIM by the International Reading Association.  Beginning Spring Semester, the Project AIM Book Lovers Club will be in full swing.  The books will be available for checkout, and we will follow up with your reading by having book club meetings (sharing our reactions to our reading).  The books will supplement the reading you do in  your English classes in addition to creating within each of you an interest in reading, and better yet, a love of reading.

Updates on those near and far away.  Welcome back Joann James.  You are looking great.  We’ve missed you. I talked to Roxana Ifnuk via MS messenger.  She is at Chaminade University and will graduate Fall 05 with a degree in accounting.  She plans to go for an MBA at University of Guam. John Borja stopped by to see everyone and reported that he is in full swing at UOG and is active in ROTC. Dee Powers is attending Sacramento Community College to complete her requirements for Sacramento State University.  Jean Springsteen is now living in Jacksonville, Florida and plans to attend the University of North Florida after she is unpacked and employed!  Sylvia Andriano is attending community college in San Diego to complete her requirements to attend San Diego State University.  Some of you may remember Cocoy Ventura who earned his A.S. degree in Hospitality here at GCC.  He just sent me the web address for his own business located in the San Francisco Bay Area.  If you are interested, here is the site:  www.cafebarakousa.com.  At Christmas time, I will be visiting with Cocoy and Dee in the Bay Area and Traves James, who is in New York City.  It is so great to hear from former Project AIM  students and see how many are continuing their education and plan to attend or are attending four-year colleges.   We hope to see your name in this column in the future!

Congratulations to all of you who are officers of clubs and organizations. This is an opportunity for you to learn leadership and the importance of belonging to organizations whose activities benefit students, the campus and the community.   Being a member of a club or an organization is also important for your  personal growth and development.

By now I trust that all of you have registered for Spring 2005 semester.  The College has on-going registration so that you can register early and get the classes you want and need.  So—please take advantage of early registration.  Also, remember that after you have earned 12 credits at GCC, you must register for math and English classes until you complete all requirements in those two areas.  Please inform me of your registration status.

Happy Holidays
Jan Milligan
Academic Counselor

Spring 2005 Workshops

“Career Application Process”

Portfolio, Resume Writing

 & Self Esteem
Wednesday, February 16th

3:30 p.m., GCC Smart Room (Library Classroom)

Facilitated by Christine Sison
GCC Career Center

“Listening Like a Leader”

Wednesday, March 2nd

3:00 p.m., GCC Smart Room (Library Classroom)

Facilitated by Bobbie Leon Guerrero

Office of Student Development

“Basic Self-Help Health Care”

Thursday, March 10th

2:00 p.m., GCC Smart Room (Library Classroom)

Facilitated by Department of Public Health

“Reading Effectiveness”

Tuesday, April 5th

5:30 p.m., GCC Smart Room (Library Classroom) 

Success for Students video followed by discussion with Jan Milligan

*All workshops are subject to change.  Watch for announcements and flyers.
**ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS BEING SCHEDULED**

Mentors

We would like to thank everyone who has volunteered to be a mentor.  You are a great asset to our program by assisting Project AIM students in meeting their goals.

Aguon, Becky T.
Aguon, Lorraine

Aquino, Liz

Alano, Jeffrey

Aldan, Clarence

Certeza, Janae

Choffat, Sarita

Chong, Eric

Cruz, Donna

Danieli, Frances

Dant, Rose

David, Margaret

Delos Santos, Cecilia

Duenas, Elizabeth

Gamble, Lani

Hartz, Gary

Hetiback, Cynthia

Ige, Joanne Aguon

Kim, Cynthia

Kuper, Terry

Leon Guerrero, Barbara

Leon Guerrero, Cathy

Leon Guerrero, Latisha

Leon Guerrero, Marie

Leon Guerrero, Sarah

Lizama, Clare

Lizama, Troy

Martin, Loretta

Milligan, Janice

Postrozny, Marsha

Quan, Jonathan

Reyes, Lolita

Sablan, Karen

San Nicolas, Brian

San Nicolas, Tony

Sarasul, Monica

Schilling, Hank

Sison, Christine

Sgambelluri, Bunny

Souza, Sam

Stein, Julie

Sukola, Kelly

Teng, Kelly

Tung, Frank

Project AIM Scholarship Winners

Ilocono Association
Luwaina Martinez

Pangasinan

Winifred Lasaten

Marsha Torres
 

QPT 3

Alvin May

Marsha Torres

Tutors

We are very fortunate to have excellent tutors who are invaluable to our Project AIM program.  Please feel free to contact them through e-mail or come in and schedule an appointment.  They are as follows:

Jeffrey Alano - jeff_guam@hotmail.com
ACCESS

Jocelyn Areniego - yoja_9@hotmail.com
MATH & ENGLISH

Amy Blas - fishseekingwater@hotmail.com
MATH

 Joanne M. I. Blas - pilialoha98@hotmail.com
TOURISM & ACCOUNTING

Dena Limtiaco - dena_limtiaco@yahoo.com
ENGLISH, MATH, SOCIOLOGY,
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

Loretta Martin - retta_martin@hotmail.com
ACCOUNTING, MATH & COMPUTER SCIENCE

Kimberly Pitts - kimpguam@yahoo.com
VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS

Project AIM Students Participate in Campus Activities

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
Latisha Leon Guerrero, President
Janae Certeza, Vice President

COPSA
Clarence Aldan, President
Jonelle Uruo, Vice President

Delta Epsilon Chi (DEX): 
Latisha LeonGuerrero, Secretary
Rose Dant, COPSA Rep.

Digital Arts Society (DAS): 
Brianson Mapote, Secretary

Education Student Organization: 
Luwaina Martinez, Public Relations Officer

Micronesian Student Association (MSA):
Natres Manuel, Vice President
Josephat Mailos, 2nd Vice President
Myumi Bessy, Secretary
Elizabeth Hartman, COPSA Rep.
Judy Mefy, Historian

Remetaw Student Organization:
Michael Emwalu, President
Cynthia Hetiback, Vice President
Tommy Oloday, Parliamentarian
Anita Onopei, Historian

Student Forum

Hafa Adai, students!  Attending Guam Community College has always been a big challenge for me.   I am attending GCC and I am also a work-study student from the Office of Accommodative Services and Project AIM.   Being a work-study student has not only allowed me to gain certain skills but has also allowed me to work with many people from different ethnic backgrounds and also people with accommodative needs. One of the challenges I have faced is being a service provider for students with disabilities.  As a service provider, I have seen the difficulties students with disabilities must face due to the lack of resources provided.  Regardless, these students do not give up and find ways around these obstacles.  I discovered that I am able to learn many things from these students.  I did not even know what the word “Braille” meant until I was taught its use.  Learning Braille helped me communicate with those students with a visual impairment, and I must say that I have a great deal of respect for how Braille levels the playing field for people who are blind.  Their reading skills are at par with other fellow students.  Working with my GCC clients has helped me learn to appreciate all that I have.  I have not only been challenged by the people I work for, but I have challenged myself to learn many new skills and the appreciation for what other people are able to accomplish under difficult personal circumstances.

Winnie Lasatan