The Delgado Community College Foundation sponsored the inaugural “Circles of Excellence” gala awards program and dinner held in the Student Life Center on November 4 to recognize some of Delgado’s outstanding alumni. This was the first alumni recognition event in the college’s 83 year history. Delgado Foundation Secretary Pastor Charles Southall III (First Emmanuel Baptist Church) provided the invocation, followed by the National Anthem sung by Kristina Marshall, daughter of Foundation board member Ed Marshall. 

Delgado Chancellor Dr. Alex Johnson gave welcoming remarks.  “What impresses me about our honored alumni is their fond recollections of interactions they had with Delgado faculty and staff, and that they appreciate the importance of giving back,” said Johnson.  “We have some truly outstanding community leaders among us tonight and their achievement is a testament to the great work our faculty and staff do every day at Delgado” Johnson continued.  “The future and success of Delgado rests on the shoulders of our successful alumni,” said Johnson.

Dr. Johnson welcomed dignitaries including Councilwoman Jacqueline Brechtel Clarkson, State Representatives Joseph Toomey and Nita Rusich Hutter, and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.  Mayor Nagin was invited to address the gathering and shared that “Delgado is on the forefront of Workforce Development and everything that the city is trying to do.”

Nita Hutter, Foundation Executive Director, provided the introduction of honorary chairs, followed by greetings from Delgado Foundation Board President Ashton Ryan.  “It’s fitting for Delgado to recognize its alumni… this allows us to bring the Delgado name in front of the entire community and focus on how Delgado provides the skills and knowledge today’s kids need to succeed and be educated,” said Ryan.  Mr. Ryan continued that “the Circles of Excellence is a great tradition celebrating Delgado’s accomplishments through their alumni.” 

The Circles of Excellence honorees were selected by committees comprised of faculty and staff representing various Delgado programs.  A nomination process involved constituents from the entire community. 

Video vignettes of each “Circles of Excellence” honoree, produced by Delgado Foundation Board member Ed Marshall, were shown prior to nominees accepting their recognition awards.  The presentation of the awards was presided over by “Circles of Excellence” co-chairs Carol Wise, of the Wise Marketing Group, and Lee Giorgio, vice chairman of the Foundation Board (president of Select Properties, Ltd. Realty).

Honorees and their degree programs included New Orleans Police Chief Eddie Compass, Criminal Justice and legendary Crescent City Entertainer Irma Thomas Jackson, Business Administration. 

Other outstanding alumni recognized were Sebastian M. Ambrosia “Chef Buster,” Culinary Entrepreneur, Culinary Arts; Alan R. Cason, CEO of Diagnostic Imaging Services, Allied Health; Gilbert Jones, Manager of Rhodes Funeral Home, Funeral Services; Kathleen Lee, Coordinator for Family Child Care Visitation Program’s Agenda for Children, Education; Kelly T. Maggio, Interior Decorator for Herwitz Mintz, Interior Design; Joan F. Rooney, RN, Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans, Nursing; John Sanchez, Area Manager for Acme Truck Line, Inc., General Studies; Barbara C. Tague, Network Analysis Specialist BellSouth Telecommunications, Computer Information Technology; Julie Vicari, Producer/Director Cox 10 New Orleans Cox Communications, Performance and Media Arts; and Harold A. Walzer, Jr., Senior Engineering Associate for Entergy, Engineering Technology.

Following the awards presentation Kristina Marshall performed a moving musical tribute to honorees.  Dr. Alex Johnson provided closing remarks. 

Music for the evening’s entertainment was provided by the Delgado Jazz Ensemble, and audio visual support was provided by the Delgado Media Center. 

The Circles of Excellence awards recipients will be featured on the Delgado web site in the near future.

Felicia Herring, Byron Richardson and Carmella Marshall

Arnel Cosey, Malayne DeMars and Iva Bergeron

Carmen Walters, Kathleen Mix, Dr. Jeffery Smith, Arnel Cosey and Tim Stamm

Melanie Deffendal, honoree Irma Thomas and Dr. Alex Johnson

Ed Marshall, Nita Hutter and honoree Police Chief Eddie Compass

Tim Stamm, Daneen Storc, honoree Julie Vicari, Arthurine Payton, and Carol Gniady

Dr. Alex Johnson welcomed everyone to the Circles of Excellence.

New Orleans Mayor Nagin addressed the attendees.

Delgado Foundation Chair Ashton Ryan gave greetings from the board.

Ed Marshall, Foundation Board member, produced the video vignettes of each honoree.

Ashton Ryan, Carol Wise and Lee Giorgio presided over the “Circles of Excellence” awards presentation.

Ashton Ryan, Carol Wise and honoree Alan Cason, CEO of Diagnostic Imaging Services

Lee Giorgio, honoree Harold Walzer, Jr., Area Manager for Acme Truck Line, Inc., and Ashton Ryan

Ashton Ryan, Carol Wise and honoree Gilbert Jones, Manager of Rhodes Funeral Home,

Lee Giorgio, honoree Kelly Maggio, Interior Decorator for Herwitz Mintz,  and Ashton Ryan

Joan Rooney, honoree Joan F. Rooney, RN, Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans, Carol Wise and Ashton Ryan

Lee Giorgio, honoree Julie Vicari, producer/director Cox 10 New Orleans Cox Communications, and Ashton Ryan

Program’s Agenda for Children

Ashton Ryan, honoree Barbara Tague, network analysis specialist BellSouth Telecommunications, and Lee Giorgio

Ashton Ryan, Carol Wise and honoree Sebastian Ambrosia “Chef Buster,” Culinary Entrepreneur

Ashton Ryan, honoree Irma Thomas Thomas, entertainer, and Lee Giorgio

Ashton Ryan, Carol Wise and honoree Eddie Compass, New Orleans Police Chief

Lee Giorgio, honoree, John Sanchez senior engineering associate for Entergy, Engineering Technology, and Ashton Ryan

Veterinary Tech Program Established

Delgado Community College’s Veterinary Technology Program has been approved by the Board of Regents to offer the associate of applied science degree through the college’s Allied Health Division beginning in the spring 2005 semester.  The program will have limited enrollment--admitting ten students this January and an additional ten students in August for the fall semester.  The two-year full-time program will prepare the student to become a certified veterinary technician, a trained professional and critical member of the veterinary health care team, who works closely with a licensed veterinarian.  The degree program will include lecture, laboratory, hands-on clinical courses and three externship experiences in local veterinary hospitals and clinics before graduation. Students who successfully complete the program will be eligible to take the Veterinary Technician National Examination to become certified.  Dr. James Hurrell, program director, joins Delgado from Macomb Community College in Michigan where he was a professor and director for their Veterinary Technician Program for many years.

Applications are being accepted for enrollment in January 2005.

For an admission application, call Delgado’s Allied Health Division at 504.483.4211; or for information, call/email Dr. Hurrell at 504.483.4327, (jhurre@dcc.edu).

Free Employment Training Program for Disadvantaged Youth

Delgado Community College and the Jefferson Parish Workforce Investment Act System have collaborated to provide a free training program called SAFE (Skills Advancement for Employment) that began November 29.

SAFE was established to assist out-of-school youth by improving their academic and computer skills in order to secure employment and be admitted into a college or university.  

To participate, an individual must be 18 – 21 years of age, with or without a high school diploma, economically disadvantaged, attend classes held at the Delgado City Park Campus, Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., and actively seek employment upon completion.

Upon successful completion of the program, participants will be awarded a WorkReady Certificate from the Louisiana Workforce Commission and the Governor's Office.

A new class will begin each month.   For further information on SAFE, call 504.483.4568.

Jazz Ensemble Performance at D-Day Museum

Delgado Community College Jazz Ensemble performed a Veteran’s Day concert at the National D-Day Museum on November 11.  The band performed music from the WWII era, including selections from Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and others.  Several of the Jazz Ensemble members are WWII veterans, and actually played many of the charts when they debuted in the 1940’s and 50’s.

D-Day Museum attendees enjoyed the Jazz Ensemble concert.

Peter Cho leads the Jazz Ensemble.

Delgado Wins Two Gold Medallions

Delgado Community College’s Office of Public Relations has won three Medallion Awards from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) District 2 organization.  Winning publications were the High School View Book in the brochure category (Gold), the Fall 2004 Class Schedule in the class schedule category (Bronze) and the Music Department Jazz Studies Poster in the poster category (Gold).

Deb Kohler, Public Relations assistant director (left), and Carol Gniady, Public Relations director, display the NCMPR Gold Medallion awards for the college view book and the music department poster.

Rive Gauche Publication Available

The first edition of Rive Gauche, a journal of poetry and fiction, is available through editors Sarah Inman, instructor of English, West Bank Campus, and Max Short, instructor of English, West Bank Campus.  You may email them at sinman@dcc.edu or mshort@dcc.edu .  In addition, the publication is for sale at a few local bookstores, such as The Faulkner House Bookstore, Octavia Books, Maple Street Bookstore, and Garden District Books.   Cost of the publication is $7.

Submissions for the second edition are accepted through January 15.  Manuscripts should be sent to: Rive Gauche, Delgado Community College, West Bank Campus, 2600 General Meyer, New Orleans, LA  70114.

Delgado Meets United Way Goal

Delgado Community College has succeeded in meeting its goal of raising $25,000 in donations for the 2004 annual giving United Way campaign.  The pledges this year show an 8.9% increase over last year’s college contributions, and represent the largest commitment Delgado has ever made to the United Way campaign.  The greatest contribution came from the Delgado-Charity School of Nursing faculty and staff members, who are responsible for approximately 30% of this year’s total donation from the college.

Art Classes Team Taught

Fine Arts faculty members Robin Cole Henderson and Robin Pellegrin collaborated by team teaching a session of their art appreciation and drawing II classes in the Fine Arts Studio on the City Park Campus, October 28. 

Thirty-five art appreciation students and fourteen drawing students had the opportunity to learn from both teachers.  The class included a question and answer session and a discussion of the art completed by the drawing class.  Students talked about the materials used in each project and the concepts and thought behind each art work. 

Both teachers talked about art galleries, museums and art studios.  Many students had questions about fine art graduate programs and various art schools.   

Robin Cole (left) and Robin Pellegrin collaborated to team teach their classes on October 28.

Students reviewed art pieces created by the Drawing II class.

The class was held in the art studio in Delgado Hall on the City Park Campus.

Robin Pellegrin gives an example during her presentation.

Robin Cole makes a point to the class.

Students enjoyed the lively discussion on their art projects.

Homecoming Events Held

Delgado Community College Homecoming festivities began with the City Park SGA Homecoming Luncheon and introduction of the Homecoming Court held in the Student Life Center on the City Park Campus, November 8.

New this year is Delgado Northshore joining in the college-wide celebration of Homecoming Festivities. In addition to having Mr. and Ms. Northshore representatives on the college court, the Student Government Association hosted a Homecoming Open House and Art Exhibit to coincide with the internationally recognized “Three Rivers Art Festival” held.

Other college-wide events during the week-long celebration included the Homecoming Basketball Game, Homecoming Dance on the City Park Campus and the West Bank Homecoming Winter Formal.

Faculty and Staff Achievements.....

Judi Arnold, adjunct instructor in the Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic program, was awarded the “Emergency Nursing Educator of the Year” for 2004 by the Louisiana Council of Emergency Nurses Association at their annual conference held in Lafayette on October 29.  The organization recognizes an Emergency Nurses Association member who has made a significant contribution to the education of nursing students, EMS personnel, patients, families and colleagues.

Gayle Nolan, coordinator of Faculty and Staff Development, and Frank Smith, director of CATT, presented "Creating a Culture for Faculty Development through Technology and Intercollege Collaboration" at the League of Innovation 2004 Conference on Information Technology held in Tampa, November 7-10.  The presentation discussed the collaboration between an established community college with resources for faculty development and a newly-established Louisiana community college with no resources for faculty development to create a culture for the improvement of instruction on both campuses.   

Kathleen Mix, vice chancellor for Workforce Development and Education, and Sharon Talbert, executive director of Community and Economic Development, were invited by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to participate in a national “Think Tank” conference to design innovative training suggestions for the Transportation Industry in Austin, Texas, November 15-16.

Sessions centered on the image of the transportation industry, recruitment/retention of the transportation workforce (road, rail, air, maritime), and training/apprenticeship program models.  The Delgado team created two of the top three solutions presented to all session attendees. 

Delgado’s Workforce Development and Education unit will now design a proposal for federal funding to support these pilot programs.  The Delgado team has been invited to participate in another collaborative effort to be held later in December to provide the USDOL with suggestions for workforce training regarding the Energy Industry.

Patrick Cote, director of Public Service, West Bank Campus spoke about Delgado’s Homeland Security program on Biz Talk Radio-990-AM on November 13.  

Karl Tipton, lead instructor for the Delgado Culinary Arts Program, and Ronald Bonnette, Delgado culinary graduate and executive chef at the Orleans Club on St. Charles Ave., were guests on Biz Talk Radio-990-AM on November 11.

Estella Lain, West Bank Campus executive director of Program Development, and Gregory A. Dawson, West Bank Campus reading instructor, each received an achievement award at the 15^th Annual Black Achievers in Business and Industry Awards Ceremony held at the downtown Hyatt Hotel, October 8.  The Dryades YMCA Black Achievers Program motivates youth to set and attain high educational and career goals by fostering the role model/mentor relationship established between youth and successful black professionals. The awards program was established to encourage private business to take part in local education.  Achievers are selected based on their exemplary professional skills, successful job performance and interest in working with youth.  Dr. Alex Johnson, Chancellor of Delgado Community College, was the keynote speaker at the ceremony and is a Co-Chairperson.

Estella Lain

Gregory Dawson

Karla Sikaffy, site faciliator for the Kenner Infromation Office, discussed Delgado offerings in Kenner on La Fabulosa 830 AM, Hispanic radio station, November 29.

Death

Condolences to Patricia Egers, provost of the Charity School of Nursing, on the death of her sister Joan Egers Jeanfreau on Nov 12.  

“Brag Day” Held

On November 17, the Learning Communities on the City Park Campus held their first “Brag Day” which showcased the final group projects of each of the three Learning Communities cohorts. Projects included a book with illustrations, a music CD, and a documentary on the Brown vs. Board of Education decision and the effects it had on the New Orleans area.  Learning Communities initiative at Delgado began in spring 2003 to make a significant contribution to the college’s retention efforts.

Health Career Fair Held at West Bank Campus

The West Bank Campus held its annual Health Career Fair on October 28.   The annual event attracted more than 500 high school students.

All of Delgado’s Allied Health programs were represented, as well as other health care providers.  The fair was organized for high school and Delgado students to interface with health care providers for career counseling.

Hal Hopson, academic counselor, West Bank Campus, organized the event.

Dr. James Hurrell, program director for Veterinary Technology Program

Hahnville High School Students attended the Health Fair.

 Jacqueline Jones disseminated Health Information Technology materials at the Health Fair.

Nursing School Literature was distributed.

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