Delgado Ranks in Top 50

Delgado Community College ranks 10th in the nation for the top 50 fastest growing public two-year colleges with 10,000 or more students-as featured in the December 6, 2004 issue of Community College Week, “Special Report: America’s Fastest Growing Community Colleges-On the Up and Up.”  Source: Community College Week analysis of U. S. Department of Education data.

Fall 2004 Commencement Exercises to be Held December 17

Delgado Community College will conduct fall 2004 Commencement Exercises for graduates of the City Park Campus, the West Bank Campus and the Charity School of Nursing on Thursday, December 17 at the Kiefer UNO Lakefront Arena.

Paramedic Students Experience "Real Live" Trauma Testing

On November 20, despite a deluge of rain, graduating paramedic students were administered a true test of their trauma skills. The students were put through the Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS) course with their final practical exam being set up by the Student Life Center on the City Park Campus.

BTLS is a specialty course that teaches techniques to manage a victim of trauma beyond what is taught in the Paramedic curriculum. Senior Paramedic students were placed in with teams of junior Paramedic Students. Students were required to effectively provide patient care through the coordination of their team. The scenarios were made as real as possible.

There were five scenarios the students faced---a football player injured during practice, an automobile accident with a pregnant patient, a worker crushed while working at a loading dock, a second automobile accident involving a patient with a head injury.  The vehicle also had a "power line" draped over it. The final scenario is every emergency provider's worst fear---an ambulance involved in a severe accident. The scenario was also made increasingly difficult because of the addition of hysterical bystanders.

Students from the EMT Basic class at Delgado volunteered to be victims for the examination. The victims had makeup applied to make them appear as if they were really injured.  Several local ambulance providers donated the use of their vehicles and employees to make the exercises seem as realistic as possible.

The victims appeared so real that one of the EMTs driving a vehicle stated "She really looks hurt." Students were graded on their performance both on the scene and during transport of the patient off the scene.   

Participating in the class project were several local area ambulance services, New Orleans Fire Department, physicians from Charity Hospital, the State Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Delgado EMT-P students and faculty. 

For information on Delgado’s EMT-P program, call 504.483.4646.

One disaster scenario has a victim from a car accident transported to the hospital.

Bystanders are on the scene to add to the chaos.

Another accident scenario involves a victim being crushed at a loading dock.

A Team Effort: Delgado Community College EMT-P students and faculty members pose after they reviewed the disaster drill.

Seasonal Celebration Was a Crowd Pleaser

Mirth, merriment, food, libations, festivities, music, dancing and prizes galore!  The Delgado Community College Seasonal Celebration was held on Friday evening December 3 in the Student Life Center on the City Park Campus.

Over 400 people attended the festivities this year, doubling the attendance from the last Seasonal Celebration evening party held in 2002.

Guests enjoyed libation and delicious food provided by the Culinary Arts department.   Featured delights included turkey andouille gumbo, steamship roast, hot and cold pasta dishes, quiche, fried chicken, Swedish meatballs, veggie and cheese trays, catfish nuggets and desserts.  

Also, many danced the night away to music performed by “Cake Walk.” 

Everyone received a door prize raffle ticket with the purchase of their Seasonal Celebration ticket, and if they brought a new, unwrapped toy for the Delgado Toys for Tots collection they also received an extra door prize raffle ticket.  There were several prize drawings held through out the evening. 

A total of 56 door prizes were given away to happy Delgado winners.  Top prizes included a two night stay with a $50 dinner gift certificate at the French Quarter St. Louis Hotel, Hornets tickets, two $100 Ruth’s Chris dinners courtesy of ING, and numerous other gift certificates—none less than $25.  The divisions and departments got into the giving spirit this year donating an array of gifts, including a real currency money tree, given by the Administration and Business Affairs department, and a gingerbread house given by the Culinary Arts department.

Four three-foot tall Toys for Tots boxes were filled to capacity with toys collected for needy kids. The Marine Corps were very appreciative to the Delgado community for the amount of toys collected.

Guests enjoyed getting complimentary commemorative photos.  Taking group photos was extra fun for many guests.

And there was even a special visit from that extra special holiday merrymaker---the ever mysterious celebrant in the red and white suit.   

Seasonal Celebration Committee members who organized the celebration are Carol Gniady, Harold Gaspard (Co-Chairs), Stephen Andrus, Mary Bartholomew, Gwen Bordenave, Candy Clanton, Gary Dominique, Tim Galliano, Sherlyn Henry-Lambert, Debbie Lea, Dion Mays, Vickie Myers, Alma Nixon, Joyce Smith, Tim Stamm, Sharon Talbert, Anne Van Winkle and  Jerome Williams. 

If anyone would like to volunteer for next year’s planning committee, please contact the Public Relations Department at 504.483.4216.  Additional volunteers are always welcome.

Party Planners Par Excel lance:  Seasonal Celebration Committee--

(left to right) Standing: Carol Gniady, Joyce Smith, Gary Dominique, Mary Bartholomew, Harold Gaspard, Tim Stamm, Sharon Talbert; Seated: Sherlyn Henry-Lambert, Gwen Bordenave, Vickie Myers, Jerome Williams, Alma Nixon, Anne Van Winkle, and Candy Clanton.  

Committee Members not pictured are: Stephen Andrus, Tim Galliano, Debbie Lea and Dion Mays.        

A Santa Moment:  Dr. Alex Johnson and wife Daphne pose with the holiday merry maker.

Many sponsors contributed to the success of the party.

Cake Walk performed great dancing music.

Danita Trask, Curt and Jody Cowan and Roya Taheri.

Kristen Hingle and Joe Clark

Jewel Kirzner, Nita Hutter, Tim Stamm and Iva Bergeron.

Fabulous door prizes went home with happy party goers.

Dr. Mary and Harold Bartholomew with the donated gingerbread house.

Carmen Walters, Daphne Johnson, Sharon Talbert and Ronald Vicks.

Carol Gniady and Celyn Christophe

Anne Van Winkle

Dance, dance, dance.

Season Celebration party shots...

Equal Opportunity Day

Delgado Community College participated in the Urban League of Greater New Orleans 27th annual Equal Opportunity Day Program held at the Radisson Hotel in New Orleans on November 19.  

The theme for the program,” Opportunities in Healthcare: Where Do I Fit In?” was designed for high school juniors from Orleans Parish schools.  More than 400 students attended workshops on career choices, business etiquette, personal finance and financing their education.  A panel discussion addressed opportunities in the healthcare industry.  Representatives from the New Orleans employment sector participated in the luncheon program with guest Dr. Winston Price, president of the National Medical Association.

Gwen A. Boutte’, director of Admissions and Enrollment Services, served on the Advisory Committee for the event.  She has served on this committee for the last six years.  Ann Parfaite, Financial Aid counselor, conducted a workshop session on personal finance and financing your education.  Andre D. Harris, career counselor, presented a workshop on “Mapping Your Career.”  Linda Jackson, coordinator of Enrollment Services; Tanisca Jones, Enrollment advisor; and Ana Wilson, Enrollment advisor, all served a convener of various workshops.

The Admissions and Enrollment Services staff had an opportunity to interact with students during the luncheon.  Christopher Wyre, Enrollment advisor, West Bank Campus, also attended.

Ana Wilson, enrollment advisor; Gwen A. Boutte, director of Admission and Enrollment Services; Anthony Amato, Superintendent of Orleans Parish Public Schools; Linda Jackson, coordinator of Enrollment Services; Tanisca Jones, Enrollment advisor; Ann Parafaite, Financial Aid Counselor; and Andre Harris, Career counselor.

Student Success

Title III Kick-Off:  “Focusing on Learning to Increase Learner Success”

On November 15, Delgado Community College held a Kick-Off celebration for the recently awarded $1.75million U.S. Department of Education Title III grant.
 
Dr. Kathe German, consultant with the Development Institute in Boston, was in town to participate in meetings with the grant project director and activity directors as well as the college-wide Kick-Off Celebration of the project, entitled, “Focusing on Learning to Increase Learner Success.”
 
Of special note, the Delgado grant, having scored a perfect 100, is being used as a model by the U. S. Department of Education in their Technical Assistance national workshops.
 
The five-year project is projected to integrate student services with curriculum and instruction by focusing on core learning and related support systems to increase student learning, course completion rates and retention rates.  
 
The grant will conduct two major activities---(1) enhance the Student Services areas by adding additional counseling services, strengthen the orientation program and incoming assessment to include a learning style inventory, career development and readiness assessment; and (2) assess learning outcomes in the general education core curriculum.
 
The goals of the grant include the establishment of a computerized intake process, an early alert system, and web-based enhanced orientation to increase student satisfaction, higher course completion rates and retention.
 
The Title III Design Team, lead by Dr. Claudia Saucier, included Randy Brien, Ashley Chitwood, Arnel Cosey, Dr. Edna Hill, Cindy Kenney, Debbie Lea, Charlene McCabe, Gayle Nolan, Dave Shroyer, Frank Smith, Connie Whitehurst and Dr. Sandra Wright.  The Project Director is Dr. Claudia Saucier, and Activity Directors are Arnel Cosey, Cathy Gorvine and Patricia Roux.
 
Task Force members who will help to implement the project include:
Lester Adelsberg, Gwen Boutte, Randy Brien, Tanya Carradine, Ashley Chitwood, Peter Cho, Jill Dapremont, Phil Denette, Tom Gruber, Sarah Inman, Cindy Kenney, Debbie Lea, Charlene McCabe, Deborah Morgan, Gayle Nolan, Wesley Payne, Dave Shroyer, Sandra Wright and Carmen Walters.
 
For information on the Title III Project, contact Dr. Claudia Saucier at 504.483.4172.
 

Dr. Alex Johnson shares enthusiasm for the accomplishments of Delgado in receiving the Title III grant.
 

Dr. Kathe German, consultant with the Development Institute, joined Dr. Claudia Saucier, grant project director, for the full-day Title III Grant Kick-Off Celebration.
 

 

The Title III Grant Planning Team was congratulated on a job well-done.

Kick-Off Attendees enjoy the Celebration Reception.

Title III Task Force and Design Team Members Pause for a Picture: (Left to right) seated: Dr. Sandra Wright, Arnel Cosey, Dr. Claudia Saucier, Dr. Kathe German, Tanya Carradine, Michelle Smith and Randy Brien; standing: Tom Gruber, Patricia Roux, Cindy Kenney, Gayle Nolan, Wesley Payne, Jill Dapremont, Debbie Lea and Dr. Lester Adelsberg.   
Not pictured: Gwen Boutte, Ashley Chitwood, Peter Cho, Phil Denette, Dr. Edna Hull, Sarah Inman, Charlene McCabe, Deborah Morgan, Dave Shroyer, Frank Smith, Connie Whitehurst and Cathy Gorvine.
 

International Boat Show

Delgado Community College participated again this year in the annual International Boat Show held at the New Orleans Convention Center, December 1- 3.  The College’s Maritime, Fire and Industrial Training shared the exhibit space with the University of New Orleans, Mepol and the Natural Center for Advanced Manufacturing (NCAM).  The Louisiana Economic Development sponsored the 1,000 square foot display booth.  Delgado’s exhibit included a continuous video representation, a conference room and a small-scale interactive working ship simulator, provided by Transas Marine, where participants were able to experience what it would be like to navigate an ocean liner. More than 40,000 people attended the Boat Show.

To coincide with the Boat Show, on December 1 the college unveiled the second ship simulator located in the Radar School. Unlike the first simulator, the second one is a mini-simulator. It has one screen instead of seven screens and it interacts with the first simulator. After the simulator introduction, a “Workboat Appreciation Dinner” was held for the college’s grant companies and those affiliated with Delgado Community College Maritime, Fire and Industrial Training Facility.  The four-course gourmet meal was prepared and served by the Culinary Arts program in the Dolphin Room.   

The Workforce Development and Education staff members at the Boat Show.

Visitors to the booth could experience what it would be like to navigate an ocean liner.

Maritime, Fire and Industrial Training unit administrative staff members (left to right) Ruby Duckworth, Anne Samson, Sara Camania and Dee Sylvester.

Delgado Community College shared the display booth with University of New Orleans, Mepol and the Natural Center for Advanced Manufacturing (NCAM). 

Rod Meyers demonstrates the new mini simulator to Wendy Thibodeaux of the Department of Labor.

George Gruber, radar instructor, at the helm while representatives of the Marriott Hotel look on.

The new Transas Simulation interactive unit

Professional Development Presentation

Dr. Angel Royal, vice president of the LCTCS, was a guest speaker at Delgado Community College’s Professional Leadership Support Initiative held on the City Park Campus on November 19.  She presented “The Art of Effective Communication: Learning How to Say What We Mean and Mean What We Say” to more than fifty employees. In her presentation, Dr. Royal described ten misperceptions of effective communication and the importance of communicating on a level your audience can comprehend. The college’s Professional Leadership Support Initiative offers professional development workshops for support staff that will assist them in being more productive in their departments/divisions.  

Before the presentation: (left to right) Arnel Cosey, Dr. Angel Royal and Yvette Alexis.

Dr.  Angel Royal discusses effective communication.

More than fifty employees attended the professional development event.

Cajun Gourmet Event

The Workforce Development and Education unit hosted a “60 Minute Cajun Gourmet” dining event for invited guests in Delgado’s Culinary Arts Department on the evening of November 30.  Each guest was encouraged to bring and wear their own apron and prizes were awarded at the end of the evening for the most creative or beautiful aprons.  Guests were transformed into chefs when they donned chef hats and aprons. They all pitched in to prepare a five-course gourmet meal, led by master chef and Delgado graduate Sebastian M. “Buster” Ambrosia.  Chef Buster provided lively commentary on how each course was based on his own personal history, family recipes and local traditions.  The group sampled, sipped and dined on the creations they helped make, enjoying the company of friends and colleagues for what was a most delightful and memorable evening.  Chef Buster, a recent recipient of the Delgado Foundation’s Circles of Excellence Award, is also an author of several cookbooks, the latest of which is just now reaching local bookstores in time for the holidays. 

The menu for the evening featured Classic New Orleans Eggplant Sticks dusted with powdered sugar; Grilled Hearts of Romaine Salad, with Bleu Cheese Vinaigrette; Sautéed Filet of Speckled Trout topped with Shrimp Clemenceau; Creole Seafood Calas, Caribbean Collards, Almond Tarte’ with Fresh Fruit and Coffee with a kick.  Chef Sebastian “Buster” Ambrosia was assisted by Chefs Lou Demarest and Jon Pitre. 

“Chef” attendees for the event were Dr. Alex and Mrs. Daphne Johnson, Dr. Jim Diamond and Kathleen Mix, Jim Eagan, Dr. Jeffery Smith, Harold and Dr. Mary Bartholomew, Sharon Talbert, Patricia Egers, Carol Gniady, Leroy Kendrick, Rick Schwab, Laura Ditta, Curt Cowan, Lynn Robertson, Drs. Jobie and Tracy Crear, Fausto Di Pietro and Dr. Kevin Stephens.

Daphne Johnson won the best apron award and Tracy Crear won the enthusiasm award.

They each received a prize basket which included an autographed cookbook by Chef Buster.

Dr. Mary Bartholomew and Dr. Alex Johnson.

Curt Cowan and Mrs. Daphne Johnson

Patricia Egers and Leroy Kendrick

Chef Buster and Fausto

Rick Schwab, Kathleen Mix, Laura Ditta, Leroy Kendrick, Fausto Di Pietro

Fausto Di Pietro, Kathleen Mix, Patricia Egers, Dr. Jeffrey Smith, Sharon Talbert, Carol Gniady.

Chef Sebastian “Buster” Ambrosia at the stove.

Dr. Kevin Stephens, Dr. Alex Johnson, Dr. Jobie Crear and Dr. Jim Diamond.

Daphne Johnson and Sharon Talbert.

Curt Cowan

Chef Buster and Laura Ditta

Jimmy Egan, Sharon Talbert, Dr. Kevin Stephens and Harold Bartholomew.

Faculty and Staff Achievements...

Chancellor Alex Johnson was appointed to CAEL (Council on Adult and Experiential Learning) Board of Directors at their annual meeting held in Chicago on November 13.  In addition, Dr. Johnson was asked to chair a subcommittee of the Northshore Postsecondary Educational Services Steering Committee to consider the nature of the facilities, infrastructure and technology for a higher education center recommended for the Northshore.  Theses tasks will be assumed in concert with the Academic Collaboration and Fiscal Environment subcommittees.

Mary Gehman, assistant professor of English, presented “The Free People of Color of Louisiana” at the national Collegiate Honors Council 2004 conference entitled “Bringing Currents and Cultures” held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans, November 13.  Gehman is the author of The Free People of Color of Louisiana and Women and New Orleans.

Three Delgado Community College Mathematics faculty members represented the Regional Chapter of the Louisiana-Mississippi Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (LaMsMATYC) organization at the 30^th annual American Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges (AMATYC) Conference, held in Orlando, Florida, November 18 – 21.  They were Darlene Frederic, Louisiana vice-president; Susan Santolucito, president, and Darlene Williams.  

Susan Santolucito, Darlene A. Williams and Darlene Frederic at the American Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges conference.

Dr. Dianne Thames and Patricia Egers, dean, Charity School of Nursing, both were honored at the National Organization for Associate Degree Nurses conference held in Albueruquerque on November 12-16.  The “Honor the Profession, Honor a Nurse Program” award was for "Exemplary Service and Exceptional Professionalism on Behalf of Grateful Colleagues.”   They were nominated by the Charity School of Nursing faculty.   

Patricia Egers

Patricia Egers, dean, Charity School of Nursing, was nominated by the Charity School of Nursing faculty and nursing alumni association for a Nightingale Award for “Nursing School Administrator of the Year.”  The award, sponsored by the Louisiana Nurses Foundation and the Louisiana State Nurses Association, will be presented at the Awards Banquet in Baton Rouge on January 22.  The Charity School of Nursing received the “Nursing School of the Year” this year from the same organization. 

Dianne Thames

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