The article discusses South Mountain Community College's graduation ceremony moving off-campus to Comerica Theatre for the first time. Comerica Theatre is a larger venue located in downtown Phoenix that can seat 5,000 guests, accommodating the increasing number of graduates and attendees of around 250-300 graduates and 3,000+ guests. The graduation ceremony will be held on May 15, 2015 at 7:30pm at Comerica Theatre. It also announces the formation of a new student club called Digital Connect that will bring together students from various technical programs to develop a mobile app for the college and further develop the student newspaper. The goal is to better connect students, faculty, and the community through digital means,

1. 1
Issue 1
May 2015
01 Graduation Moves to
Comerica
Theatre
02 Over the Mountain:
SMCC and our
Athletes
02 Most Memorable
Moments
02 And the Winner is . . .
03 Language Arts
Update
04 Math, Science and
Engineering Update
04 MyCareer Advising in
Business/Information
Technology
05 Help build an SMCC
Mobile app and/
or develop this
newspaper
05 List of Clubs at SMCC
06 Communications,
FIne Arts, and SOcial
Studies Division
News
06 What is a Strengths-
Based Campus?
06 Register Now!
06 The Final Roar!
07 Recognitions
by Mickey Diamond Diaz
For the first time ever, South Mountain Community
College will be holding its graduation ceremony
off-campus. Graduation has been held on campus
presumably since 1982, and its location on the
property has shifted over the years to accommodate
the increasing number of graduates and attendees.
Such locations are the Student Union Amphitheater
and the Performing Arts Center Amphitheater. There
are many reasons why the graduation location is
being changed, including inadequate space for guests,
unsuitable weather conditions, and the need of a
larger venue to accommodate the increasing amount
of participants. Delbert Cole, Help Desk Supervisor at
SMCC says, “Between 250 to 300 graduates and 3,000
plus supporting guests [usually attend graduation].”
This year, SMCC will be hosting graduation at
Comerica Theatre, located in Downtown Phoenix. The
venue conveniently seats 5,000 guests in the comfort
of an air conditioned building, and is particularly
well-known for hosting famous entertainers such
as comedians Jerry Seinfield and George Lopez, and
musical acts One Direction and Demi Lovato. Although
the venue is seven miles from campus, attendance is
expected to increase.
Graduation Moves to Comerica Theatre
The 2015 SMCC Graduation Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 15,
2015 at 7:30 p.m. at Comerica Theatre, located at 400 West Washington
Street Phoenix, AZ 85003. Congratulations graduates!
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May 2015
2
by Geovan Bautista
Scoring a point. Everyone wants it. The chance to have
your name chanted by fans. The recognition of your
hard work and dedication. Pushing every fiber, every
cell in your body to the very limit to prove you’ve got
what it takes to belong in your position. This is what
drives every athlete to be the best, both on and off
the field. There’s a story behind every bead of sweat
shed by these young athletes chronicling all the
obstacles faced, and every goal that will be exceeded.
“Over 70 students have come here and have gone
straight to professional baseball” says Todd Eastin,
Director of Athletics and also head baseball coach.
Sophomore Sebastian Zawada was named 1st All-
Region teen and sophomore David Real was named
2nd Team All-Region for their performance in 2015.
“The ones you know that want to be the best are the
ones that take the losses hard, and wins are second
nature.” This is the secret ingredient for the successful
year men’s baseball has had this season. The athletes
take pride in where they came from and strive for a
brighter horizon.
South Mountain Community College has been
recognized nationwide for not only our athletes’
physical capabilities, but also for our athletes’
academic performance. In the 2014 season, seven
out of the nine teams made Academic All-American
status, with three recognized nationwide as Top 5 in
the country for highest GPA average. In 2014, SMCC’s
own women’s volleyball team won the Academic All
American championship, recognizing their hard-work
maintaining a very high GPA average. They are again
strong contenders for this year’s championship.
How can a student participate in sports, have a job,
and still have time to be recognized nationwide for
academic excellence? There are no easy routes in
life. The “Everyone gets a trophy” mindset ends right
when they first step foot on the college campus.
These students stay competitive both on and off the
field with aid from coaches, teachers, and faculty.
Every athlete must participate in mandatory study
hall hours Thursday night or Friday morning because
“there are not a lot of classes on Friday, and no
one wants to work Friday morning.” Faculty play a
huge role in the academic success of our athletes.
Professors who feel that their athletes are struggling
in class have no problem contacting the coach to
set up extra tutoring dates that best work for the
students. Todd Eastin tries his best to work around the
schedule of his athletes, but the desire for success is
embedded in the DNA of the student as well. “If you
have to motivate your students day in and day out,
they have to ask themselves if they should
be a student athlete.” The ideal athlete must
be self-motivated to conquer all challenges
facing him or her.
“The food trucks from last year”
-Adriana Rodriguez, UA
“Taking theater makeup which was very interesting”
-Susan Martinez, ASU, Digital Culture Major
“My fashion show in December, getting ready for it
and being part of the whole experience”
-Genesis Garibaldi, ASU, Tourism Development
and Management
“Going to lazer tag with PTK and the Engineering
Club”
-Lucas Jarman, ASU, Mecanical Engineering
“When the Trio program and I went to go see the
pay ‘PIPPIN’”
-Jazmin Muhammad, UA, Microbiology
“Winning the Honors Program’s Chancellor’s
Scholarship for the 2015-2016 academic year.”
-Mickey Diamond Diaz, GCU, English Literature
SMCC 2014-2015 School Year
Most Memorable Moments
Each year, the South Mountain Community College
Honors Program awards two prestigious scholarships;
the Chancellor’s Scholarship and Foundation
Scholarship. The Chancellor’s Scholarship in particular,
is granted to one student per Maricopa Community
College. The purpose of these scholarships is to
recognize the impressive academic achievement
of Honors students, and reward them for their
dedication and hard work. The Chancellor’s
Scholarshipprovides up to 18 credit hours of tuition
and $250 for books and supplies per semester. The
Foundation Scholarship is in the amount of $1000 for
the academic year (split into $500 per semester) and
may be presented to one student (continued on p. 3)
And the Winner is . . .
Ron Turner and Mickey Diaz at district scholarship
Over The Mountain: South
Mountain and our Athletes
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And the Winner is . . . (Continued from page 2)
or divided among several students (as determined by
the scholarship selection committee).
This year, the South Mountain Community College
Honors Program is proud to announce Mickey Diaz as
the Chancellor’s Scholarship recipient for the 2015-
2016 academic year. Diaz, an English Literature major
who is transferring to Grand Canyon University in fall
of 2016, says, “I am extremely honored to be able
to represent SMCC in such a positive way.” Diaz is
pursuing a career in automotive journalism, and says
his motivation is due to God and family. “I want to be
a light to everyone I meet, and hope that somehow,
I can help those I come across realize their full
potential.” Diaz is also a member of SMCC’s Alpha Eta
Delta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor
Society, and maintains a 4.0 GPA.
The Honors Program is also pleased to announce
Ron Turner as the Foundation Scholarship recipient
for the 2015-2016 academic year. Turner is a
sustainability major who is transferring to ASU in fall
of 2017. He says, “When I found out I was awarded
the scholarship I was a little shocked but also very
excited.” His advice to students is, “Explore your
surroundings and your options. Good things happen
when you step out of your bubble.” The District Office
recognized each of the recipients at a Scholarship
Reception held at Rio Salado Conference Center on
April 28, 2015.
The All-Arizona Academic Team is an esteemed group
of academic achievers who are nominated by their
college to receive an impressive award and become
considered for the All-USA Academic Team. Only
two students are nominated per year, and this year
SMCC is proud to name Emily Alcazar and Kristi-
Lee Mathiesen to the prestigious 2015 All-Arizona
Academic Team. Both students have displayed
an amazing work ethic as well as community
service. Both Alcazar and Mathiesen are involved
in SMCC’s Alpha Eta Delta chapter of Phi Theta
Kappa International Honor Society, and maintain
a 4.0 GPA. The award consists of four semesters
of tuition waivers to the Arizona state university
of their choice courtesy of the Arizona Board of
Regents, and a scholarship from SMCC in the amount
of $1000. Alcazar, an industrial engineering major
who is transferring to ASU in the fall says, “From this
experience I have learned that being dedicated to
your studies can allow you to achieve many things. I
have also learned that it is important to work hard
to accomplish your goals and follow your dreams.”
She was also asked about her experience in Phi Theta
Kappa and says, “PTK has affected me positively and
given me so many opportunities.”
Kristi-Lee Mathiesen is an elementary education
major who is transferring to NAU in hopes of
becoming an elementary school teacher or middle
school science teacher. When asked about her
motivation, she says, “I was motivated by knowing
the sacrifices my family and I had made so that I can
go to school. I didn’t want to let them down or myself
down.” Mathiesen’s experience in Phi Theta Kappa
has helped her see that age is just a number, and says,
“The most important thing I’ve learned is to believe in
myself.”
Update from the Language Arts Division
The Language Arts Division of South Mountain
Community College has been extremely active
over the last three years, offering courses that take
students through their courses more quickly and that
offer more supplemental instruction to increase their
opportunities for success. Accelerated courses such
as English 091-101, English 101-102, and Spanish 101-
102 allow students to get through the those courses in
one semester instead of two. Some sections of College
Critical Reading 101 and English 102 are paired to
allow students to read and analyze sources in the first
class that they will be using to write papers in the
second class. Labs (ENG100AE) have been developed
for all developmental English classes to help students
with homework and writing assignments. In addition,
we have replaced Reading 091 with Reading 100,
to offer students a class that not only will be more
applicable to their other college courses but that will
count towards graduation. We have also been active
in creating online course content that is more dynamic
and interactive and offers more supplemental
instruction (for example, pairing online ENG 102 with
a one-credit library research course). Finally, more
tutors have been employed to ensure that students’
academic needs are met. All in all, Language Arts
continues to promote innovation in class offerings,
always with students’ best interests in mind.
Kristi-Lee Mathieson (left) and Emily Alcazar (right) with
SMCC President Dr. Shari Olson
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4. 4
May 2015
4
Math Boot Camps: Math will be one of the subjects
offered during free Boot Camps this summer. These
2-week camps will give students the chance to
prepare to take, or re-take, the placement tests so
they can hopefully place into a higher class. What a
great chance to save time and money!
MAT 141 and 151 will both be offered in a hybrid
format beginning in the Fall 2015 semester. The
formatting of these courses will allow students to
complete their math requirements with a new level of
scheduling flexibility.
Sustainability: The chart at the right displays the
various tracks of SMCC’s new Sustainability Academic
Certificate.
Updates from the Math, Science and Engineering (MSE) Division
BIO 205: Microbiology - Study of microorganisms
and their relationship to health, ecology, and
related fields. There is a strong emphasis on allied
health in this course. Reasons to complete BIO 205
consecutively after A&P:
• small class sizes allow for individualized attention
• a microbiology background will aid in your success
in pharmacology
• you learn good aseptic technique which is vital in
nursing
• you learn about pathogens and drug treatments
• you learn underlying mechanisms for various
infections
• you will be fully prepared to focus on nursing
school
Classes offered MW midday, T/Th mornings, or T/Th
evenings. Questions? Please contact Dr. Levy
at Jacqueline.levy@southmountaincc.edu
or visit her in PS 405.
MyCareer Advising in the Business/IT Division
If you are like most college students, you’re still
exploring your career options. You’re asking yourself
what do I like to do, what am I passionate about,
what are my strengths, and how can I make a good
income? You might have determined that you like
English, aren’t too interested in Math, and would love
to learn more about programming. Or maybe you’ve
discovered that Science isn’t your thing, but the
world of music fascinates you, and attending a class
in a recording studio wouldn’t even feel like going to
school!
Did you know that South Mountain offers classes
with hands-on experience, so you can get a good
feel for what it is that you enjoy doing- and then
make a career out of it? Our AAS (Associates in
Applied Science) degrees and CCLs (Certificates of
Completion) offer content courses that prepare you
to jump right into the job field, without having to
continue on to a Bachelor’s degree*. When you take a
Cisco networking class, you are not only learning how
a router works, you are moving and working with real
routers, in our Cisco lab classroom. When you take
a Mobile App development class, you are creating
mobile apps, and getting the experience you need
to land a job with a mobile apps company. Have you
ever dreamed of starting your own business? Well,
in our Entrepreneurship program, you’ll build the
foundations for your business and get the support you
need to start your own company. (Continued on p. 5)
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May 2015
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ready to help you enroll in the right
Degrees and Certificates to
help you on the path to the
Career of your dreams!
Please contact Rachel Wainhaus
to learn more:
Phone: 602-305-5864;
Text: 623-282-1194
Email:
mycareer@southmountaincc.edu
MyCareer Advising (Continued from page 4)
Can you picture yourself with a career in one of these
exciting fields?
Accounting * Business Management * Computer
and Information Technologies * General Business
* Cisco Networking * Computer Applications
Specialist * Network Security * Network Server *
Programming * Mobile Apps Programming * Web
and Graphic Design * Music Business * Pharmacy:
Customer Service * Real Estate: Pre-license * Retail
Management * Small Business Entrepreneurship
These AAS degrees will transfer to schools offering
BAS Bachelor’s options. We can help you get started-
for only $84 per credit hour! Our MyCareer Advisor is
Help Build an SMCC Mobile App and/or this newspaper
A new student club is being formed for next year
– Digital Connect. This academic club will bring
together students enrolled in, or having taken,
various Programming, Web/Graphic Design,
English, Journalism, and Business/Marketing
courses to develop a mobile app for the college,
as well as to further develop and publish this
student newspaper. Its goal is to further link
students, staff, faculty, and the community by
providing digital connections.
Two-thirds of Americans now access the
internet via mobile devices. Students especially
are connecting to their campuses across the
country using their college’s app to browse class
schedules, get around campus with a map, view
faculty office hours, and stay connected with
the news and events happening on campus.
Most colleges hire firms to build their apps. But
the faculty of South Mountain want to pursue a
model where the app is built and maintained by
students who are gaining these skills. Developing
the mobile app in this manner will save the
school thousands of dollars, but more importantly
it will give students some great opportunities to
apply their classroom learning in a practical real-
world scenario and provide a great showpiece
for their portfolio or résumé. Stephen Hustedde,
programming faculty said, “The job market is ripe
for people with skills in these areas. U. S. News
and World report in their annual ‘100 Best Jobs’
lists software developer as number three on the
list. In the last ten years we have rapidly moved
into a global, digitally connected world with an
insatiable demand for more.”
Likewise, there has been a long desire for a
student publication on campus. Printing costs
are prohibitive in this down-turned economy,
but digital distribution is not only affordable, it
is quickly becoming more and more desirable
over print publications, with the ability to include
interactive features and multimedia. This club
provides an ideal setting to develop an applied
journalism focus for the
students of South Mountain.
The plan calls for this
publication to morph into one
of the intended products of
this club.
Faculty advisors Maria Bailey-
Benson (business/marketing),
Stephen Hustedde
(programming), Niall
McCarthy (web/graphics),
and Camille Newton (English)
will provide direction and
oversight. If you interested in
joining this club,
please contact one
of these advisors.
Current SMCC Clubs:
Behavioral Health Services (BHS)
Black Student Union (BSU)
Circle of Nations
Club Teach
Collegiate DECA
International Friends Club
MEChA
Medical Scrub Club
Phi Theta Kapp (Honor Society)
Pre-Pharmacy Club
SHPE: Society of Hispanic Professional
Engineers
Single Parents ClubInternational
Spirit Club
Spotlight Production (Drama Club)
Student Governance
Sustainability Club
Think South Mountain (TSM)
Veteran’s Club
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6. 6
May 2015
6
On behalf of the students and employees of South
Mountain Community College, Cougar Today wants to
recognize those faculty and staff who are retiring this
year. Thank you for your contributions to the SMCC
family; we will miss you!!
• Dr. Eufemia Amabisca, Education Faculty
• Craig Emanuel, Public Safety Officer
• Dr. Oscar Hardin Jr., Social Science Faculty
• Barbara Kutnick, Marketing and Communications
Office Coordinator
• John Palomo, Public Safety Officer
• Dr. Jean Revie, Biology Faculty
Interested in music, music
business, art, storytelling, dance,
and/or theater?
Contact Dr. Jerome Garrison,
Chair of Communication, Fine Arts,
and Social Sciences (CFASS), at
602 243 8055 for information on
joining any of these programs.
Communication, Fine Arts,
& Social Sciences
(CFASS) Division News
Register Now!What is a Strengths-Based
Campus?
2015-16 Academic Calendar
The
Final
Roar
Class registration is open not only for summer,
but the 2015 Fall semester as well. Our on-time
registration policy restricts students from joining
a class once it has begun. So don’t get caught
missing out - register today! South Mountain offers
hundreds of credit and transfer courses at a wide
variety of convenient times and locations, and in
many different formats. Want to take a course just
for fun? We also offer non-credit and
low-credit courses in areas such as
dance, foreign languages, and fitness.
SUMMER SEMESTER – 2015
Tues May 26 - Summer Semester Begins
Thur Jul 2 - Observance of Independence Day
Thur Jul 30 - Summer Semester Ends
FALL SEMESTER – 2015
Sat Aug 22 - Classes Begin Thur. Aug 20
Mon Sept 7 - Observance of Labor Day
Wed Nov 11 - Observance of Veterans’ Day
Thur-Sun Nov 26-29 - Thanksgiving Holiday
Sun Dec 13 - Last Day of Regular Classes
Mon-Thur Dec 14-17 - Final Exams (WooHoo!)
Fri Dec 18 - Mid-Year Recess Begins for Students
Fri Dec 18 - Fall Semester Ends
When Dr. Shari Olson assumed the presidency of
South Mountain Community College, she brought
a commitment to make the campus a “strengths-
based college.” It begins with the premise that we
all prefer to operate in our strengths rather than
our weaknesses, and that we are more productive,
healthy, and fulfilled when doing so. While there are
various approaches to accomplishing this philosophy,
South Mountain is committed to helping students,
faculty, staff and administrators not only identify their
strengths, but to utilize and leverage that knowledge
towards their success.
Incoming freshmen take a college success course
(AAA115) which covers important skills such as how
to study, getting involved with the campus, and taking
advantage of resources. The class also allows each
student to take the Clifton StrengthsFinder® test
promoted by Gallup, Inc. This test reveals the “top
five” strengths from a list of 34 different attributes.
Strengths might include Activator, Relator, Analytic,
Responsibility, Intellection, Learner and Maximizer just
to name a few. By knowing their strengths, students
can better understand their responses to the world
around them, choose actions and processes that best
fit them, and even make better career choices.
All college employees also know their strengths.
Identifying individual strengths can be useful in
assembling committees and building comradery in
teams. Shane Lopez and Michelle Louis write in their
book, The Principles of Strengths-Based Education,
“Educators who capitalize on their strengths daily
help students do what they do best by developing a
strengths-based approach to education.”
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7. 7
May 2015
7
Recognitions
Editor in Chief:
Lucas Jarman
Editorial Staff:
Erika Arredondo
Geovan Bautista
Mickey Diaz
Genesis Garibaldi
Cecilia Lazarin
Adrianna Metzner
Allysa Neri
Alex Tchouteng
Faculty and Administrative Support:
Nancy Deegan
Patricia Herrera
Stephen Hustedde
Camille Newton
Vice-President Rey Rivera
Mark Spencer
Special Thanks:
Emily Alcazar
Luz Alvarez
Fabian Cahue
Dolores Chavez
Dean Tillie Chavez
Delbert Cole
Alexa Cruz
Jerome Garrison
Jennifer Grentz
Todd Eastin
Crystal Fields
Chuck Kubit
Jacky Levy
Mason Manning
Kristi-Lee Mathiesen
Mark Nielsen
James Smith
Jessica Tello
CougarToday