Delgado Community College will recognize some of its outstanding graduates at the first “Circles of Excellence” gala awards program to be held November 4 in the Student Life Center.  Honorees include New Orleans Police Chief Eddie Compass and legendary Crescent City Entertainer Irma Thomas Jackson. 

Other outstanding alumni to be recognized are Harold A. Walzer, Jr., Entergy; Gilbert Jones, Rhodes Funeral Home; Barbara C. Tague, BellSouth Telecommunications; Julie Vicari, Cox Communications; Kathleen Lee, Agenda for Children; Kelly T. Maggio, Hurwitz Mintz; John Sanchez, Acme Truck Line; Sebastian M. Ambrosia, Culinary Chef; Alan R. Cason, Diagnostic Imaging Center; and Joan R. Rooney, American Nursing Services.  Outstanding graduates were selected by Delgado faculty from various academic disciplines.  

Anyone interested in attending the gala can contact Peggy Griffin in Delgado’s Foundation office for ticket information at (504) 483-4118.

Delgado Gives Update to Legislative Committee

On October 22 in Baton Rouge, Chancellor Alex Johnson and Vice Chancellor Kathleen Mix collaborated with the Department of Labor and Health Works on a presentation to update the Legislative Committee on the Budget as to the status of the Incumbent Worker Training Program grant for health care workers.  The update presentation was a result of the effort of the Legislature to identify how IWTP funds can be used to support the development of nursing and allied health work force education.  Plans are for Delgado to provide training to health care professionals through distance learning and other innovative instructional delivery mediums. The projected start of the work force training pilot program is summer 2005.

Corporate Dining Event Held

Delgado Community College Workforce Development and Education hosted a Corporate and Continental Dining Event at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel in downtown New Orleans on October 13.  The event included a seven course dinner served with a selection of wines, including a dining tutorial in European-style dining.  Business etiquette techniques were demonstrated by Judy Anderson, a graduate of the famed Washington School of Protocol. 

Delgado Chancellor Dr. Alex Johnson, his wife Daphne, Kathleen Mix, vice chancellor Workforce Development and Education, as well as other Delgado faculty and staff were in attendance. This event was organized by Celyn Christophe, director of Continuing Education for Workforce Development and Education, as professional development training. 

Judy Anderson, Dr. Alex Johnson, Celyn Christophe, Daphne Johnson and Kathleen Mix at the Corporate and Continental Dining event.

Corporate and Continental Dining participants take a group photo.

Faculty and Staff Achievements….

Ahmed Shameen Choudhury, professor of English, was honored by Delgado Community College with a Meritorious Commendation Award.  He received a $3,000 salary increase and will have the opportunity to select and attend a local or national conference/seminar of his choice relating to his teaching discipline.  Delgado’s Chancellor’s Cabinet newly established Meritorious Commendation Award is intended to acknowledge full professors who have demonstrated continuous academic engagement.

Dr. Mary Bartholomew, director of Culinary Arts, has been named the Conseiller for the Académie Brillat-Savarin at Delgado Community College. L’ Académie Brillat-Savarin is a branch of the international gastronomic society La Chaîne de Rôtisseurs.  The purpose of Brillat is to uphold and popularize regional cuisines and support young culinarians through awards and contests.  One graduating culinary student per year will be awarded the Young Professional Award with a specially designed Brillat Savarin medallion, certificate and $250.

Gwen A. Boutte', director, Admissions and Enrollment Services, Student Services Center, will serve on Urban League Equal Opportunity Day Advisory Committee again this year.  This is Boutte’s fifth year to serve on the advisory committee.  Equal Opportunity Day will take place on November 19 and the focus is on Health Care.

Two West Bank Campus employees were recently honored as role models to Black youth, business and industry.  Estella Lain, executive director of Program Development for the West Bank Campus, and Gregory Dawson, Reading and English instructor, West Bank Campus, were honored at the YMCA Black Achievers in Business and Industry Awards held at the Hyatt Regency on October 8.  They both received plaques denoting their service.  In addition, Dr. Alex Johnson gave the keynote presentation, “Achieving through Educational, Political and Civic Engagement” at the event.

William Traylor, assistant professor of automotive technology, completed his last General Motors certification making him a “World Class Technician,” on October 15.  This is the highest rank a General Motors technician can achieve and puts him in a select group of only 280 individuals nationwide.  

Several Delgado Mathematics faculty members joined to make the recent Mathematics Conference hosted by Delgado a huge success. Milton Vavasseur, associate professor of mathematics, served as conference chair for the 2004 regional conference of La-MsMATYC (Louisiana-Mississippi Mathematics Association of Two Year Colleges) held on the City Park Campus September 24 and 25. In addition, Susan W. Santolucito, assistant professor of mathematics, was elected incoming president of LaMsMATYC; Darlene Fredric, associate professor, is the Louisiana vice-president; and Pat Cox, associate professor, is the treasurer for 2004 – 2005.  Darlene Frederic and Betty Weinberger, assistant professor of developmental mathematics, compile and publish the LaMsMATYC Newsletter that is distributed at the meeting. 

Rebecca Harris-Smith,  instructor of nursing, presented "Leading a Coordinated School Health Program" to more than 60 school nurses at the "National School Nurse Symposium held at the Fairmont Hotel in New Orleans, July 27. In addition, Harris-Smith was elected president of the New Orleans Black Nurses Association for 2004 - 2006.

Celyn Christophe, director Continuing Education for Workforce Development and Education, was selected by the Governor's Workforce Commission Office to present at the Louisiana Entrepreneurship Conference in Lafayette, October 11-12. Her presentation was on "The Delgado Entrepreneurship Institute," a new initiative that is being offered through Delgado's Continuing Education Department, which incorporates entrepreneurship with Video Production and Culinary Arts and provides innovative business ownership training, coaching, research and new business start up support.  The goal is to expand to numerous other disciplines throughout the college system. 

At the Conferenece: Celyn Christophe, Governor Kathleen Blanco and Dr. Leroy Kendrick.  

Lunch Break: Diana Cretini, human resources analyst 2, enjoyed the fall weather during lunch behind the O'Keefe Admin Building recently.

Shannon Meadows, associate professor of biology, took her mother-in-law and two aunts-in-law on a Jean Lafitte Swamp Tour over the fall break.  Her in-laws were in town visiting from Tennessee and got some up close views of swamp critters.  Meadows said, “At the end of the tour, the guide pulled a ‘little’ fellow out of the water, showed us how to hold the alligator, and then we proceeded to pass him around the boat and take photos.  Notice that there is no duct tape (or anything else) holding its mouth closed.”  Meadows was very surprised to find that the alligator’s belly felt soft; she thought that it would feel leathery.

Shannon Meadows

Student Success

Shelby Orticke

WWL-TV Studio Coordinator

Attended Delgado 1981-83

Selected one of twelve nationally to receive the prestigious Chairman’s Award from the Belo Corporation

“Right out of high school, I enrolled at Delgado and signed up for welding, carpentry and cabinet making courses. I remember how all my instructors took pride in teaching, and that they really cared about their students. My welding instructor, for example, called me a year after I had left Delgado to inform me about a job opening in industry that he though I would be right for. I was so impressed that he thought of me! Fourteen years ago I began working part-time as a studio assistant at WWL-TV. What I had learned in cabinet making at Delgado helped me with my work in the studio. Every day is different; I enjoy the challenges.”

 Shelby Orticke

Staff Convocation Held

Delgado Community College held a Staff Convocation entitled, “Making My Job Easier,” for all classified and unclassified employees held on the City Park Campus, October 19. 

Chancellor Alex Johnson addressed the gathering with a “salute to the good work being done to provide students with what they need to succeed.”  “Student success is everyone’s job,” Johnson said, “it’s not just what we do in the classroom, but what we do on the grounds, in our offices, in the halls, and at every level at the college.” 

Breakout sessions for counterpart groups followed Chancellor Alex Johnson’s welcome. Everyone re-convened for lunch and line dancing with a D. J. in the Student Life Center for a break from the serious work of the day.  Counterpart groups met for general group sessions on “Ideas and Future Directions” after lunch.

The day ended with a “Managing Stress” workshop for all lead by Claudia Gordon, associate professor of nursing.

Dr. Alex Johnson welcomes the staff members at Convocation, October 19.

Groups meet and discuss college issues.

Breakout sessions included student service topics.

Scott Borne, coordinator of Student Support Services, and Gwen Bordenave, director of Testing and Assessment, discuss their group’s ideas for a one-college concept.

Claudia Gordon, associate professor of nursing, presents “Managing Stress” workshop.

Line dancing was enjoyed by many employees after lunch.

Interim City Park Provost Arnel Cosey leads one of the line dances.

Billy Goins, horticultural attendant, takes to the floor during a line dance.

Cindy Siegrist, associate professor, joins in the line dancing fun.

Classified and unclassified employees attended the full day convocation that began in the Student Life Center.

Homecoming Week is November 8-13

Monday- Homecoming Court Luncheon

Tuesday- Karaoke/Back to High School Day

Wednesday- 70’s & 80’s Day

Thursday- Pep-Rally/Spirit Day

Friday- Homecoming Dance

Saturday- Basketball Games & Tailgate Party

There will be a college-wide celebration and kick-off for the U.S. Department of Education Title III grant project in the Student Life Center on November 15, 3-4:30 p.m.  The grant is titled, “Focusing on Learning for Student Success.”

“Your Role in Promoting Learning and Student Success” Brown Bag Lunch Series begins on November 3.  Each session will be from noon to 12:50 p.m.  Please see the schedule and locations below.

Seating is limited, so please RSVP via email Yvette Alexis at yalexi@dcc.edu or call (504) 483-4390.

Editor: Deborah A. Kohler, APR, Asst. Director, Public Relations