SSC PLAYHOUSE to Host Open Auditions for ‘Six Degrees Of Separation’ February 17th

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL– The SSC PLAYHOUSE of South Suburban College announces Auditions for its production of John Guare’s Tony-Award and Pulitzer-Prize winning 1990 classic American play, Six Degrees Of Separation on Tuesday, February 17, 2015, from 4:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. in Lecture Hall A on the Main Campus in South Holland.

No experience is needed, and the auditions are open to everyone; all SSC students and community residents are encouraged to participate. There are roles for 16 actors and actresses between the ages of 18 and 65 of all sizes, races and colors. Rehearsals will begin immediately and will be held during spring break. They will be held on (Monday), Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 6:15 p.m.–9:45 p.m., and on Saturdays from 12 noon–4 p.m. Monday rehearsals will begin on March 30, 2015. There are no Friday, Saturday evening or Sunday rehearsals except during tech and show weeks. Come to the audition prepared to list all class, work or other scheduling time conflicts, as rehearsals are mandatory, although arrangements may be made. Bobbie Saltzman of Beverly, SSC Playhouse Director and theatre program head, will direct the production.

Six Degrees of Separation is a contemporary American classic that rips the pretentious mask off of middle-class hypocrisy and prejudice and makes us question the value and the meaning of our lives. “Six Degrees” opened at Lincoln Center in New York City to rave reviews with well-known stars Courtney B. Vance (Law & Order) as Paul, who was played by actor Will Smith in the film version, and Stockard Channing (Grease) as Ouisa, a role she reprised for the film. According to John Guare, the play took a lifetime to write. The hugely successful playwright scored many hits, however, including The House Of Blue Leaves, The Sweet Smell Of Success and A Free Man Of Color, songs in Sophisticated Ladies and the screenplay for “Atlantic City,” to name a few.

In Six Degrees Of Separation, the lives of two affluent NYC art dealers are turned upside down when the buzzer to their Central Park West condo rings. Enter Paul, a well-dressed young college man who quickly identifies himself as a friend of their children. At first regarded with suspicion, the couple is won over by Paul’s charm, intelligence and intimate knowledge of their children with whom he says he attends college. When Paul identifies himself as the son of Sidney Poitier, and easily wins the delight and favor and money of their wealthy investor-friend, the four become privileged “great friends.” But when Paul exposes the sophisticated New Yorkers to his personal life the veneer begins to crumble for the social climbers. Although he is eventually uncovered as a con artist in search of a family, perhaps, Paul’s life is far less a lie than their own.

The show will run Tuesday, April 21st through Saturday, April 25th at 8:00 p.m., with 2:00 p.m. matinees on Saturday, April 25th and Sunday, April 26th. South Suburban College is located at 15800 South State Street in South Holland, Illinois, between Sibley Boulevard and 159th Street. The campus is convenient to Routes 94, 80, and 57, and is also accessible by Metra. Free, ample, well-lit parking is available. For more information, please email bsaltzman@ssc.edu.

Adult-Child Baseball Camps Coming to SSC in February

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – The South Suburban College Baseball Program and Head Coach Steve Ruzich will be conducting Adult-Child Baseball Camps February 13th through 22nd for boys and girls 6-14 years of age. The camps will feature sessions for pitching, hitting, advanced hitting, and fielding while providing adults and kids the opportunity to improve their knowledge of baseball skills and techniques. Kids will be given expert instruction and time to practice and improve their skills through a variety of station drills. Adults will be taught how to use effective teaching methods, provide instruction using proper skill techniques, and utilize effective drills.

Coach Ruzich heads into his 29th year as the head coach at SSC where he has compiled a record of 1015 wins and 586 losses. He was recently named to the NJCAA Coaches Hall of Fame. Not only has he enjoyed success as a college coach and player, he has also established himself as a reputable youth baseball camp director around the state. In addition to Ruzich’s instruction, SSC baseball players will be on hand to help the campers develop and improve their skills.

The cost is $45 for one adult and one child per camp, and $40 per camp if enrolled in more than one. The cost is $30 for each additional child. The camp schedule is as follows:

Pitching:
Friday, February 13, 6:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 21, 9:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.

Hitting:
Saturday, February 14, 9:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Sunday, February 15, 12 noon–2:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 22, 11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Advanced Hitting:
Sunday, February 23, 2:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.

Fielding:
Sunday, February 15, 3:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
Friday, February 21, 6:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.

Enrollment is limited, so early sign-up is encouraged. Checks should be made payable to: South Suburban College Baseball. The camps are located at Bulldog Field and the Gymnasium on SSC’s Main Campus. To register, please contact Coach Ruzich at (708) 596-2000, ext. 2413, or email sruzich@ssc.edu. SSC is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois.

Breakfast with BCI Workshop Series Presents Competent Communication: Keys to Building and Sustaining Professional Relationships

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL– The South Suburban College Business & Career Institute (BCI) presents a three-part Breakfast with BCI Workshop entitled, Competent Communication: Keys to Building and Sustaining Professional Relationships. All workshops will be held in the South Suburban College Heritage Room from 9:00 a.m. – noon (check-in and continental breakfast to begin at 8:30 a.m.).

In any line of business, effective communication is paramount. Effective communication requires clear, concise and non-defensive verbal communication as well as active listening skills. This three-part workshop series will address the following topic areas:

Part 1—Wednesday, February 25th
This training will provide participants with a list of essential qualities of oral communication, numerous examples of what to say/what not to say in various workplace situations and specific steps to become a more proficient listener through discussion and hands-on activities.

Part 2—Wednesday, March 25th
Success in business depends on our ability to understand and effectively manage emotions, in others and ourselves. Emotional Intelligence (EI), loosely defined, is one’s ability to use emotions intelligently and appropriately in different situations. Attendees will learn the Four Functions of EI, the Five Competencies of EI and several proven strategies to promote and strengthen EI.

Part 3—Wednesday, April 29th
Currently, there are five generations employed in the American workforce each with a set of differing experiences and styles. This workshop will focus on the following areas: modes of communication, management, work ethic, technology, buying styles and advertising. It will encourage employees to explore ways to improve their communication by taking into account the generational diversity that exists in business today.

The cost of all three workshops with continental breakfast is $129 (prior RSVP and payment required), $49 for each individual workshop, or $59 at the door. Discounts are available for groups of three or more from the same company. To register, please call (708) 596-2000, ext. 2346 or email AGlumac@ssc.edu. The Heritage Room is on the 1st floor of South Suburban College’s Main Campus, located at 15800 S. State Street, South Holland, Illinois.

Bulldogs’ Basketball to Host Community Day

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–The South Suburban College Basketball Programs will host the Bulldogs’ Annual Community Day on Saturday, February 7th vs. Black Hawk College. The Lady Bulldogs will tip off at 1:00 p.m. followed by the Men’s Team at 3:00 p.m.

All residents, businesses and employees of SSC District 510 and Lake County, Indiana, are encouraged to come out and see the exciting 2015 Bulldogs free of charge. There will also be special raffles and prizes during the game.

Bulldogs sophomore guard Lavell Boyd was recently named Region IV-A Player-of-the-Week. Boyd averaged 22 points, 6 assists and 4 steals last week in 3 games for the Bulldogs.

For more information, contact Coach Pigatti at (708) 596-2000, ext. 2524. SSC is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois.

It’s Not Too Late to Register for Spring – Late Start Classes Coming to South Suburban College in February

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–Registration for the 2015 Spring Semester at South Suburban College is still in progress for a wide range of “Late Start” classes. Current and prospective students are encouraged to register soon for these 12-week courses, set to begin February 9th and later.

Prospective students should get started with the Online Application at www.ssc.edu. Becoming a student is simple, and there is still time to apply for Financial Aid and speak with Admissions staff and counselors. Once the application process is complete, new students will receive an SSC email account and a “My SSC” Username & Password via email which will allow access to student information and class registration. The “My SSC” portal also allows students 24-hour access during college closed periods. Both interactive and printable Spring Credit Class Schedules are also accessible online from www.ssc.edu.

The Late Start classes are offered in a variety of subject areas including Accounting, Art, Building Construction Technology, Business, Community Health Worker, Computer Information Sciences, Criminal Justice, Court Reporting, Drama, Emergency Medical Technician, English, Health Information Technology, Humanities, Foundations for College Success (OCS), Mathematics, Manufacturing, Music, Physical Education, Pharm Tech, Reading, Spanish, and more.

Payment is currently due at the time of registration for Late Start classes, but Financial Aid can be utilized for the 12-week credit classes (FAFSA must be completed by the end of January). SSC’s Financial Aid Office encourages all students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as early as possible at fafsa.gov using institution code 001769. For help filling out FAFSA, please call (708) 596-2000, extension 2242 or stop by the Financial Aid Office (Room 2355) for assistance.

As a payment alternative, SSC offers the FACTS interest-free monthly payment plan. There is a $25 non-refundable enrollment fee per semester. Payments may be made from savings, checking, or credit card accounts.

For more information about all of SSC’s programs, admissions and registration, please visit www.ssc.edu or contact the Admissions Office at (708) 210-5718. SSC is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois. The Oak Forest Center is located at 16333 S. Kilbourn, Oak Forest, Illinois.

2015 Chicago Women’s Conference & Expo Coming to SSC on March 13th

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL– South Suburban College (SSC) proudly announces Gia Claire as the Keynote Speaker for the 2015 Chicago Women’s Conference on Friday, March 13th located at the college’s Main Campus in South Holland, Illinois. This year’s theme “Getting it All Together” marks the 7th annual event that the college’s Business and Career Institute (BCI) is planning for women of all backgrounds ages 18 and up to come together for one day dedicated exclusively to women. The positive feedback and participation has grown tremendously since the event’s inception. Last year over 350 participants and 50 vendors participated in this truly unique opportunity.

A born and raised Chicago girl with a desire to inspire, Gia Claire draws from 20 years of experience in large corporate leadership roles to being a single mom. “I inspect what I expect,” says Claire. “I write my own chapters. I develop people. I create change. My delivery is 100% rich in content so get your notepad out I don’t mess around. I will teach you how to get unstuck in any area of life and take back your power to achieve unstoppable success.”

In addition to an exciting Keynote from Ms. Claire, this year’s event will again include networking, shopping, and will feature over 15 speakers on topics including Personal Empowerment, Health & Wellness, and Business & Finance, along with a “Girl Talk” panel that will feature poignant discussions on the many areas of a woman’s life.

The cost of admission is just $15 per person with advance registration, or $25 at the door. The conference fee includes a continental breakfast, lunch, and admission to all of the break-out sessions.

Sponsorships are also available—event sponsors to date include: Supervisor Frank M. Zuccarelli, Thornton Township; The Honorable Al Riley & Robin Kelly; Illiana Financial Credit Union; and MB Financial Bank.

For more information, or to register for the 2015 Chicago Women’s Conference, please call (708) 596-2000, ext. 2455 or visit www.TheChicagoWomensConference.com. SSC is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois.

Gia Claire
Pictured: Gia Claire will deliver the keynote address at SSC’s 7th Annual Chicago Women’s Conference on Friday, March 13, 2015, in South Holland.

Planned Fire Alarm and Security systems Service/Maintenance Agreement

REQUEST FOR  QUALIFIED PROVIDERS of a Planned Fire Alarm and Security Systems Service/Maintenance Agreement for South Suburban College, South Holland, IL

Project No. 14-510-11

TITLED, SEALED QUALIFICATIONS and PROPOSED Planned Fire Alarm and Security Systems Service/Maintenance Agreement – 2015 will be received at the Purchasing Office (Room 2115), South Suburban College 15800 S. State Street, South Holland, Illinois, up to the hour of 2:00 PM on February 18, 2015 to be considered as a provider of the Planned Service Operating/Maintenance Agreement which will include the service and maintenance of the following:

  1. Fire alarm system;
  2. Security system (not including video surveillance);

The opening of the requested PSA submittals will be conducted in the President’s Conference Room No. 2134.

South Suburban College requests PSA responses by qualified Providers who will be eligible to submit a proposal and bid to implement Planned Service Operating/Maintenance Agreement.

The proposed one (1) year agreement with annual renewal for an additional nine years will be between one (1) Provider and South Suburban College for a Planned Service Operating/Maintenance Agreement. The PSA will be implemented at the following locations.

  • South Suburban College, Main Campus, 15800 South State Street, South Holland, IL 60473
  • Filedhouse/Fitness Center on Main Campus (separate building)
  • Oak Forest Campus, 16333 South Kilbourn Ave., Oak Forest, IL

A 10% Bid Bond will be required of all providers. A 100% Performance Bond and a Labor/Material Bond will be required of the successful provider, written by a Surety approved by the Owner. Each bid must be accompanied by a bid bond for an amount not less than ten percent (10%) of the total amount of the bid, as a guarantee that the bidder. If awarded the Agreement, the Provider will furnish a satisfactory performance and labor/material payment bond, execute the Agreement and proceed with the work. Upon failure to do so, the bidder shall forfeit the amount deposited as liquidated damages and no mistakes or errors on the part of the bidder shall excuse the bidder or entitle him to a return of the aforementioned amount.

A Mandatory Pre-proposal Conference will be conducted on February 6, 2015 at 10:00 AM in the Board Room in the Main Building. This conference will be comprised of all those who are intending to submit qualifications and a Planned Service Operating / Maintenance Agreement Proposal. No other providers will be considered after this conference.

PSA request documents may be obtained on or after January 26, 2015 at the office of the Architect, Planera Architects, 18225 Morris Avenue, Homewood, IL 60430.

Potential providers desiring to submit proposed/agreement are advised to inform the, Architect prior to picking up documents. Telephone: 708-747-3600

GUARANTEE PROPOSED AGREEMENT

Provider shall guarantee all proposals for 90 days.

 CERTIFICATION AND POLICY FORMS

Contractors shall submit the following forms with their bid:

1) Certification of Eligibility to Bid

2) Certificate of Compliance with Illinois Drug-Free Workplace Act

3) Certificate Regarding Sexual Harassment Policy

4) Bidder Responsibility Criteria Financial Stability and Business Practice

5) Bidder Responsibility Criteria Project Information Sheet

RESPONSE FORMAT AND CONTENT

Five (5) copies of the PSA response must be submitted to South Suburban College, 15800 South State Street, South Holland, IL 60473. Proposals received after the submittal time and date shall be rejected.

Responses must be submitted in the format outlined in this request document.

Each PSA response will be reviewed to determine if it is complete prior to actual evaluation. The Board of Trustees Community College 510 South Holland, IL reserves the right to eliminate from further consideration any PSA proposed agreement deemed to be substantially or materially unresponsive to the requests for qualification contained herein.

For more information or to schedule a site visit, contact Mr. Justin Papp, Director of Physical Plant, (708) 210-5727.

Business & Career Institute to Offer Free Small Business SCORE Workshop Next Two Wednesdays

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – South Suburban College’s Business & Career Institute and SCORE have once again partnered to bring free business workshops geared for small business developers and owners. The upcoming two-part workshop–Taking Your Business Idea from Concept to Reality–will be offered January 21st and January 28th at the college’s Oak Forest Center.

Attendees may choose to attend one or both of the workshops at no charge to help their business grow and take advantage of the networking opportunities. Registration and networking at SCORE workshops begin at 8:45 a.m., with instruction and discussion to follow from 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Coming up with ideas is the easy part; executing the idea is the hard part. Most entrepreneurs focus more on the ideas and less on how to organize for action. This two-part series workshop includes two sessions on consecutive weeks. The first session is intended to stimulate ideas into business actions. Attendees will learn to become a business thinker by examining and developing an action plan document. The second session the following week is an open panel discussion of selected summaries, also intended to stimulate business thinking. Attendees will learn to sell their ideas professionally, enthusiastically and concisely.

All workshops will be held at the 16333 S. Kilbourn Ave., Oak Forest, Illinois. To register by phone, please call Carmen Garcia at (708) 596-2000, extension 2663. For more information, email NBurrows@ssc.edu.

Community Health Worker Open House Coming to SSC

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–South Suburban College’s Department of Allied Health & Career Programs will be hosting an Open House for its newest program–Community Health Worker (CHW)–on Wednesday, January 28, 2015, from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the Heritage Room on the college’s Main Campus in South Holland. The Community Health Worker Open House will provide information about the role of CHWs in the workforce and the classes that will be starting up soon. Faculty will be on hand to provide information on the program, answer questions and to help direct prospective students about how to get started at SSC.

CHWs are frontline public health agents who are trusted members of and/or have an unusually close understanding of the community they serve. This trusting relationship enables CHWs to serve as a liaison between health, social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.

The SSC Community Health Worker Program prepares graduates to function along a continuum ranging from individual and community development to service delivery. This program is offered as a 63 credit hour Associate Degree, a 39 credit hour Certificate, or a 20 credit hour Basic Certificate Program.

The dynamic class schedule can be accessed online at www.ssc.edu. The CHW Program offers a wide range of classes beginning on February 9th and later. These include the following weeknight courses:

  • CHW 100 – Health & the Public
  • CHW 101 – Intro. to Community Health
  • CHW 105 – Assessing Community Resources
  • CHW 110 – Community Health Development
  • CHW 112 – CHW Portfolio I
  • CHW 115 – Nutrition & Disease
  • CHW 120 – Public Health & Epidemics
  • CHW 200 – Case Management

Payment is currently due at the time of registration for late start classes, but Financial Aid can still be applied for this 12-week credit session (financial aid application must be completed by February 2, 2015). New students should visit the Admissions Office in Room 2348 to complete the Application Form, or complete the Online Application at www.ssc.edu.

SSC’s other Allied Health & Career Programs include Echocardiography, EMT, Health Information Technology, MRI Technology, Nanoscience Technology, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Phlebotomy, Radiologic Technology, Speech Language Pathology Assistant, and Ultrasound.

For more information, please call (708) 596-2000, ext. 2258. SSC is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois.

South Suburban College Receives Accounting Award

SSC Chairman Frank M. Zuccarelli and College Treasurer Tim Pollert
Pictured from left to right: SSC Chairman Frank M. Zuccarelli accepts the COE accounting award from college Treasurer Tim Pollert at their January meeting of the Board of Trustees.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL– The Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) International has awarded South Suburban College with a Certificate of Excellence (COE) in Financial Reporting for its preparation and issuance of a school system comprehensive annual report for Fiscal Year 2013. This represents the 24th consecutive year SSC has received the award for financial reporting. SSC Treasurer Tim Pollert presented the COE to SSC Chairman Frank M. Zuccarelli at the college’s January board meeting.

“This award is a reflection of our efforts to be fiscally responsible for the benefit of our students and taxpayers,” said Chairman Zuccarelli. “It is an honor and distinction to receive the COE 24 years in a row. I would like to thank our administration and staff, especially our Business & Accounting Department and Treasurer Tim Pollert for their hard work.”

The COE award is one of the highest recognitions a college can receive for their audited financial statements, confirming the school’s commitment to financial accountability and transparency. ASBO, founded in 1910, is a professional association of more than 5,000 members that provides programs and services to promote the highest standards of school business management practices, professional growth, and the effective use of educational resources.

SSC Treasurer Tim Pollert added, “This is the gold standard for financial reporting. Not only is it a feather in our cap as an institution, it also can be quantified with the college’s ability to get more favorable interest rates such as when issuing bonds. I would like to sincerely thank the board for their clear guidance and support over the years.”

For more information on the COE award, visit ASBO’s website: www.asbointl.org/COE.

Awaken Sleeping Beauty at South Suburban College

BeautyCast600
Sleeping Beauty cast pictured Top Row, from left to right: Jamel Williams, Ashley Orendorff, Angela Martin, Catherine Hundt Middle Row: Kevin Hathaway, Paul Braun, Laura Tiemens, Eric Pradelski Seated: Pat Nevins, Sandra Wagner

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–The Children’s Theatre Company of South Suburban College is producing a play geared for young audiences in January. Sleeping Beauty will run on Saturdays, January 10 and 17, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., and Monday through Friday, January 12th through January 16th at 9:45 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Award-winning playwright Michele L. Vacca’s adaptation of the classic children’s tale of Sleeping Beauty, is an amusing version of the Perrault romance, with just the right balance of comedy and suspense. King Philip (Pat Nevins of Homewood) and Queen Eleanor (Sandra Wagner of Lansing), rulers of Pharoffland, grieve because they have no child. Overhearing this, the three good fairies, Rose Petal (Angela Martin of Midlothian), Moon Beam (Catherine Hundt of Thornton) and Twinkletoes (Jamel Williams of Chicago Heights) combine their powers and the following spring a little princess is born.

The celebration is ruined by the dramatic arrival of Belladonna (Ashley Orendorff of Thornton), the evil fairy of Pharoffland. Bella is so angry at not being invited to the party, that she puts a terrible curse on baby Rosalind. The three good fairies have enough power to lighten the curse. Now the princess will only fall asleep for 100 years. The fairies place a magical rose hedge around the sleeping princess and vow to protect her. As the years pass, Princes arrive, hoping to rescue Rosalind (Laura Tiemes of South Holland). First on the scene is Prince Albert Egbert (Kevin Hathaway of Park Forest) who only wants material for his book of the most famous and unusual magic spells of the last century. The next attempt is made by Prince Orlando Leonardo Malvolio Smith (Eric Pradelski of South Holland), but he is more concerned with the hedge of thorns ruining his brand new suit.

When the 100 years are almost over, Prince Stephen of Stratford (Paul Braun of Lansing) arrives. Bella tries to interfere, but Twinkletoes suggests that Prince Stephen kiss Rosalind. He does so and she awakens, since he is the “right” prince. Belladonna disappears from Pharoffland and Princess Rosalind and Prince Stephen live happily ever after, just as you might expect. Rounding out the cast are Heather Young of Chicago as the Narrator and Paul Braun of Lansing as Count Frederick.

The play is directed by Lansing resident and Kindig Performing Arts Center manager Ellie Shunko. Set design is by Dean Scalzitti of Hegewisch. Lighting design is by Jon Jenkins of Chicago. The costume designer is Joanna Tassin of Park Forest, with stage management by June Wagner of Lansing. Anne Begora of Hegwisch is designing the props for the production.

Sleeping Beauty is suitable for young and old alike. Tickets are $5 each. Group rates are available. For more information or to reserve tickets, call the 24/7 box office voicemail line at (708) 210-5741. You may also reserve tickets by e-mail at boxoffice@ssc.edu. Reservations for weekday performances are required as many shows are already sold out.

South Suburban College is located at 15800 S. State Street in South Holland, Illinois, between Sibley Boulevard and 159th Street. The campus is convenient to Routes 94, 80, 57, and 294. Free, ample parking is available.