Homeland Security Seminar Held at West Bank Campus

On October 28, Delgado Community College West Bank Campus presented a Homeland Security Seminar featuring Thomas Relford, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent.  Presentations included homeland security issues, terrorism and counterterrorism. The event was coordinated by Patrick L. Cote, director of Public Services, and sponsored by the West Bank SGA and Criminal Justice Club. 

Pictured at the Homeland Security Seminar (left to right): Dr. Donna Alley, provost of the West Bank Campus; Patrick Cote, director of Public Services for the West Bank Campus; and Thomas Relford, FBI Special Agent.

Delgado Teams Up with Cox Cable for Employee Training

Delgado Community College is partnering with Cox Communications to provide educational workforce training for Cox employees in three areas--Management Trainee, Telecommunication Technician and an Incumbent Worker Training Program. Currently there are 47 Cox Communication employees enrolled in the Technical Competency Area (TCA) Management Trainee program. The 12-credit hour TCA program is a series of courses designed to enhance the skills of both existing and potential managers.  The TCA program consists of four existing credit courses: Fundamentals of Accounting (ACCT 111), Introduction to Business (BUSG 129), Principles of Management (MANG 201), and Principles of Marketing (MARK 201).  Employees enrolled in the program incur no out of pocket costs since Cox covers student tuition and textbooks. The 32-credit hour Telecommunication Technician program will begin in January 2005, and the Incumbent Worker Training Program, which will include non-credit courses and MBA-level seminars designed for upper-level mangers, is in the development stage.

Student Athletes Establish Mentoring Program

Arrianna Smith, instructor and coach, reports that approximately 30 Delgado faculty members attended the Athletic Department Faculty Appreciation Luncheon held on October 27.  The faculty members were chosen by the men’s and women's basketball student-athletes to serve as their mentors for the fiscal year.

“This luncheon was an opportunity for the student-athletes and the chosen faculty members to develop a relationship to begin a mentoring program.  Next semester, each participating baseball player will continue this tradition by selecting a faculty member they would consider a good mentor for them.  We hope the student-athletes will continue to be involved with their chosen faculty member,” said Smith.

Roy Crowley and Jackie Desjardins

Ashley Mixon and Cheryl Brown

Jane Tavlin and Viv Kerr

Ronald Fontenot, Gayle Henry, and Trachelle Quinn

Stanley White and Jennifer Bennett

Aimee Dufour, Susan Blackwell and Christina Johnson

Keishell Paul and Cheryl Green

Terri Gonzales and Alex Bingham

During the summer, a total of 56 junior and senior high school students from Jefferson, Orleans, St. Tammany and St. John parishes earned college credit at Delgado Community College.  They were enrolled in the Tech Prep Rising Star Program that enabled them, while still in high school, to earn college credit in one of three career options--motor vehicle technology, business/finance and police pre-cadet.

Tech Prep students learned motor vehicle technology in the Summer Auto Institute, administered through a partnership between the Workforce Development & Education Division, the Motor Vehicle Technology Department, the Greater New Orleans Affiliate of the Automotive Service Association (ASA) and the Tech Prep Rising Star Program.  The program provided classroom training and work-based learning opportunities in two modules--Repair/Light Maintenance and Advanced Maintenance.  Ira Mata, instructor of motor vehicle technology, taught both modules.

Tech Prep students in the Business & Finance Academy Summer Connections were exposed to various career options in accounting, banking, and investments.  They had the opportunity to earn six hours of college credit in BUSG125-Personal Finance and BUSG 131-Internship. In conjunction with the School-to-Career Partnership, they were awarded a paid internship at a local business.   

Students attended class in the mornings while working four-hour shifts at their assigned internship during the afternoon.  These students were provided access to varying departments in some of the most successful business facilities in the Greater New Orleans area including Bank One, Cargill, Hibernia, Jefferson Parish School Board Employee’s Credit Union, New Orleans Tours, Radio Shack, St. John Parish School Board, St. John Parish Utility Office, Time Warner Cable, West Jefferson Medical Center, Whitney Bank, and Winn-Dixie.

In BUSG 125-Personal Finance, taught by Delgado Community College West Bank Campus adjunct faculty member Paulette Williams, students were exposed to a wide-range of career options through lectures on personal and business finances and money management.  Students strengthened their knowledge of budgets, savings, borrowing, insurance, taxes, investments and estate planning. 

A Closing Ceremony to showcase the accomplishments of all twenty-five students was held on July 21 in the Student Life Center on City Park Campus.  The audience was honored with a keynote speech by former intern/McDonogh #35 student, Jason Hughes who is now a junior at Southern University of Baton Rouge.  Students earning an “A” in both courses were awarded Certificates of Achievement from Tech Prep Rising Star Program Coordinator Connie Boudoin.

The Tech Prep Rising Star Program 2004 Police Pre-Cadet Summer Connections exposed junior and senior secondary students to various Criminal Justice career options. 

Fourteen Orleans Parish high school students were provided the opportunity to earn three hours of college credit in CRJU-105-The Criminal Justice System, and in conjunction with the New Orleans Police Foundation, were awarded a paid internship in a New Orleans Police Department Precinct.  Participants included students from Cabrini, Frederick Douglass, Warren Easton, Ben Franklin, Edna Karr, McDonogh #35, Eleanor McMain, Redeemer-Seton, and St. Augustine.

Students attended class four mornings per week while working four-hour shifts at their assigned precincts during the afternoon.  The Criminal Justice System was taught by Katina Whorton, instructor of Criminal Justice.  Students were exposed to a wide-range of criminal justice career options through lectures on how law enforcement, the courts and corrections function together as one criminal justice system.  Students also had the opportunity to observe a court proceeding with Judge Charles L. Ellios at the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court and tour the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center and Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women in St. Gabriel, Louisiana.

For information on Delgado’s Tech Prep program, contact Juan Chevalier, Tech Prep coordinator, at 504.483.4835 or jcheva@dcc.edu; or Bridget S. Peters, Tech Prep coordinator, at 504.483.4332 or bsmith1@dcc.edu.      

Seventeen Automotive Institute students were awarded Certificates of Achievement from the Tech Prep Rising Star Program on July 27.  The keynote speech was by ASA Greater New Orleans Affiliate member Michele Sallinger in which she praised Delgado for its continued efforts in training and promoting the need for skilled motor vehicle technicians.

Juan Chevalier presents an appreciation gift from Tech Prep to Katina Whorton at the Pre-Cadet Tech Prep Rising Star Closing Ceremony, August 4.

(left to right) Officer Tasha Dent, Officer John Dobard, Tech Prep student Scott Valentine, and Tech Prep coordinator Juan Chevalier at the Pre-Cadet Tech Prep Rising Star Closing Ceremony, August 4.

Welcome Aboard

John Albano, instructor of mathematics                      

Tomeka Black, associate enrollment advisor, Admission

Eric Breaud, maintenance repairer II 

Bradly Burkardt, maintenance repairer II

Kyndle Carr, lab assistant, Children’s Center

Jay Casey, instructor of medical arts  

Lakeisha Cordier, office coordinator I, Workforce Development and Education

Michael Corley, maintenance repairer II

Chad Divicenti, maintenance repairer II        

Raymond Duplessis, instructor of physics

Patrick Eagan, Network Tech. I, IT

Kathy Favret, instructor of reading

Elizabeth Feltey, English instructor, Northshore/Slidell

Kerry Fitts, coord. WorkKeys, Program Curriculum and Development

Chevron Gauthier, instructor of nursing

Michael Gibbs , instructor of biology 

Gail Henry, instructor of English                   

James Hurrell, instructor of veterinary technology and program director

Melvin Jones, maintenance repairer II

Candis Ledet, Accounting Clerk, Controller

Joy Lee, lab assistant, Children’s Center

Byron London, Custodian I

Madonna Martin, clerk III, Workforce Development and Education

Delery Milburn, visual comm. Instructor

Patrick Nelon, maintenance repairer II

Beth Pesses, instructor of nursing       

Barbara Rinkle, instructor of nursing 

Amanda Rosenzweig   biology instructor

Karla Sikaffy, site facilitator, Workforce & Dev.

Danita Trask, office coordinator I, Workforce & Dev.

Norris Warner, instructor of nursing              

Sydeaka Watson, instructor of mathematics    

New Titles

Isiah Hill, Jr., police corporal

Jeffery L’Herisse, police corporal                             

Paula Miller, administrative secretary, School of Nursing

Nicole Wesley, Help Desk support analyst, Information Technology

Health Fair Held

Delgado Community College held the 12^th annual Wellness 2004 Health and Disabilities Awareness Fair on the City Park Campus in the Student Life Center, October 14.

The offices of Health Services and Disability Services collaborated to provide various health organizations that educated attendees on health awareness issues and disability services available to the public. 

Attendees had the opportunity to get vision, blood pressure and HIV screenings. Organizations that were on hand included LSU Health Sciences Center Department of Communication Disorders, The American Lung Association, The Blood Center, LSU Eye Center and the American Cancer Society.

Approximately 400 students, faculty and staff members visited the 30 booths during the four-hour event.  Over one-hundred students updated their immunization files thanks to the Delgado Charity School of Nursing and the Department of Health and Hospitals.  In addition, over 70 people donated blood or had their cholesterol checked. 

Nearly 400 attended the Wellness 2004 fair held on the City Park Campus.

Blood pressure checks were provided by Delgado-Charity School of Nursing faculty and students.

Various informative brochures were available.

Attendees had the chance to ask questions.

Immunization updates were offered.

There were 30 participating organizations.

Wellness 2004 Co-chairs: Gretchen Peoples, coordinator of Disability Services, and Stephen M. Monnerjahn, coordinator of Health Services/NREMT-Paramedic.

Pictured are some of the volunteers for Wellness 2004: (left to right) Scott Borne, interim director of Student Support Services; Stephen M. Monnerjahn, coordinator of Health Services/NREMT-Paramedic; Melaine Deffendall, coordinator of  College and Career Success Skills; and Jim Newchurch, Special Population advisor, ARCC.

Rive Gauche Launched at West Bank’s New Library

Disabilities Awareness Job Fair Held at Delgado

Delgado Community College City Park Campus was the site for one of the Louisiana’s “Persons With Disabilities Job Fair” held on October 20.

Fairs were held throughout the state during the month of October.  The job fairs were coordinated with National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which occurs every October to recognize the contributions of people with disabilities to our community and nation.

The theme for this year’s job fair was--“You’re Hired! Success Knows No Limitations!”

Businesses across the state had the opportunity to show their support and interest in assisting job seekers with disabilities in obtaining employment.

Jeanne Ware, coordinator of Job Placement Office, served as the site committee co-chair for the event.

Page McCranie, ADA coordinator for the City of New Orleans Office of Human Development, presented a proclamation and certificate of appreciation to WWL-TV news anchor Angela Hill, who served as celebrity chairperson for the event.

John Stiegman, state-wide event coordinator; Jeanne Ware, coordinator of Delgado’s Job Placement Office and event co-chair; Cassandra Bookman, of Louisiana Rehabilitation, event chair; and Alice Cooney, Department of Labor, event co-chair.

More than 250 persons with disabilities attended the Job Fair on October 20.

Faculty and Staff Achievements...

Shannan Cvitanovic, instructor of English, and Kellye Deel, instructor of sociology, both of the West Bank Campus, made presentations at the Popular Culture Association of the South's annual conference (PCAS) held in New Orleans on September 25-27. PCAS is an academic organization open to scholars in eleven Southeastern states who are interested in the study of American cultural icons, values and beliefs as demonstrated in mass media. Cvitanovic presented a paper titled "Monster in a White Dress: A Linguistic Consideration of Bridezilla." Deel screened her research documentary entitled, Tobacco-The Last Hand-Picked Crop.

Karla Sikaffy, newly appointed site facilitator for Delgado’s Kenner/East Jefferson location, was on WFNO-La Fabulosa-830-AM discussing Delgado’s Kenner site and the college’s Workforce Development and Education unit, October 23.  In addition, Sikaffy spoke at the Kiwanis Club of North Kenner at the New Orleans Plaza Hotel on November 4 and the Kenner Rotary Club on October 14.  Sikaffy represents Delgado as a member of Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, LUSFLA (Latinas Unidas sin Fronteras de Louisiana), and KPWA (Kenner Professional Women’s Association).  She addressed the LUSFLA on October 12.  “These organizations have allowed me to inform the community and business leaders of Delgado’s presence in Kenner and our goals to work with the community,” says Sikaffy.

Karla Sikaffy

Jeanne Gagliano and Betty Vix Weinberger, faculty members from the Mathematics Department, recently walked in the “Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure,” a local breast cancer awareness event in memory of one of their deceased colleagues, Andrea Neill.    

Tommy Smith, athletic director, attended the Baton Rouge Community College Athletic Day on October 24.   The event was organized to launch Baton Rouge Community College’s Athletic Program.

Frank Smith, director of CATT, served as the SACS on-site review visit to Bishop State Community College, October 13-15.

Steven Edwards, associate professor of music and coordinator of music and music business, was the music director for the concert by the Symphony Chorus of New Orleans held at the Most Holy Name of Jesus Church on October 31.  The program, “War & Remembrance,” included Jeffrey Van’s “A Procession Winding Around Me,” settings of four Walt Whitman Civil War poems for chamber chorus and guitar and John Rutter’s “Requiem” for chorus and chamber orchestra.  Guitarist for the Jeffrey Van piece was former Delgado faculty member John Rankin. Chamber orchestra for the Rutter piece was mostly LPO players. The work also featured soprano soloist Linda Jones.  The 100+ voices of Symphony Chorus included several Delgado faculty, staff, and students.

Sharon Talbert, grants manger, Workforce Development and Education, was named a 2004 YMCA Role Model on October 7.   

Women in Education 2004 YMCA Role Models: (left to right) Lenora Gray, Cynthia Sholes Carson, Sharon Talbert and Felicia Blacher-Wilson, on October 7.

Student Success

Delgado SGA President Earns Leadership Awards

 Tonya Chissell, Delgado student and president of the Student Government Association for the City Park Campus, earned Certified Student Leader credentials during the recent National Conference on Student Leadership held in Long Beach, California, on October 26.  

 Chissell was one of only 22 students to earn this award by scoring high on an examination of leadership skills.  The exam tests candidates on the skills necessary for the effective leadership of student organizations, including running effective meetings, resolving conflicts, creating an inclusive and diverse environment and launching successful publicity and promotional campaign.  

 Other Delgado SGA City Park student officers who attended were Loretta Burton, vice president; Lester Calvin, treasurer; and Qiana Sykes, senator. SGA Advisor Wilson Morton also attended the conference.

Tonya Chissell

Next issue of NetWorks to feature Circles of Excellence...

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