Month: June 2017

The Room Where It Happens

Posted on by Jacqueline Perez

My previous post mentioned the driving forces that have helped me reach this point in my life, but I have yet to share what helps me each and every morning. I would like to share with everyone my vision mirror:

I was told by one of best friends, Sabrina Jones, that I should start my year off by creating a vision board of the things I would like to accomplish. I could only think of the basics, like eating better, staying fit, and take care of my health. After juggling with this idea of the board, it finally hit me. The main vision I have for myself was graduation. Of course, the other ideas followed behind, but my mind has been set on earning my degree for a long time.

The only issue now – I didn’t have enough ideas or photos to fill an entire poster board. The only magazines that ever came through the mail were Better Home, Seventeen, Momentum, Women’s Health and Elle. We still have no idea how Elle started arriving (insert spooky noises). And let’s be serious, I was not about to waste money purchasing magazines only to watch myself cut up my money. I also did not want to waste ink by printing, so flipping through magazines became my only choice. As I began to flip, I noticed myself more drawn to sayings, rather than pictures.

Carefully, I scanned each and every saying. I remember pulling out many pages, and after hours of cutting I had to take a break. I looked down at the pages and noticed that the pile beside me might be more than enough. I began to separate them after re-reading and only a select few made my final masterpiece. As I cut the words out and placed them around a mirror, I stared back at myself noticing that something was missing. A graduation cap! I had previously purchased a black poster board and decided to use it for the piece of resistance.

I wake up every morning and stand perfectly under the graduation cap. Even when things seem to be taking their toll on me, taking a break and standing right there brings a calming effect. I love that this non-traditional vision board was the missing piece of my puzzle. It has given me the hope needed to realize that one day, I will be wearing a blue SSC graduation cap instead of a paper black one.

Cafeteria and Food Vending Services

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South Suburban College is interested in receiving proposal for the provision of cafeteria and food vending services, for a term of five (5) years, as per the attached requirements and specifications.
Full cafeteria service must be in place no later than August 21, 2017.

Mandatory Pre-proposal meeting
July 12, 2017 — 10:00 AM — President’s Conference Room

Proposal submittal and acknowledge deadline
July 19, 2017 — 9:00 AM — Board Room

SSC Bulldog Athletes Receive NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Awards

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SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – The South Suburban College Athletic Department is proud to announce that six individual student-athletes have received NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) Academic Student-Athlete Awards for their academic achievements.

Annie Zubek (softball) and Nate Montgomery (baseball) received NJCAA All-Academic Second Team: 3.80-3.99 GPA: 2016-17 academic year. Kaitlyn Augustine (softball), Hunter Kraynak (baseball), Jackson Dvorak (baseball) and Kyle Hallberg (baseball) received NJCAA All-Academic Third Team: 3.60-3.79 GPA: 2016-17 academic year.

“We are very proud of these student-athletes that are not only winners on the field but more importantly in the classroom,” stated Steve Ruzich, SSC Athletic Director. For more information, please contact Coach Ruzich at (708) 596-2000, ext. 5843 or email SRuzich@ssc.edu. SSC is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois.

Student Artwork Purchased By South Suburban College

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SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – For over thirty years the Board of Trustees of SSC has recognized outstanding art students by purchasing artworks of excellence. The artwork becomes part of the permanent art collection of South Suburban College for use for in our college halls, offices, and galleries. To date there are over 200 student works proudly displayed around South Suburban College.

The selection process involves a jury of art faculty members who nominate artwork from the Fall and Spring Biannual Juried Student Art Exhibit. All selections nominated by the jury are individually evaluated on their merit and as examples of excellence of outcomes the Art & Design faculty have determined to be objectives for the art courses of our college.
Finalists for the college’s art collection are selected at the end of the spring semester and are presented to the Board of Trustees at the May meeting.

The public is welcome to visit our art galleries at no charge. The Dulgar Gallery is on the first floor. SSC Galleries are open at minimum Mondays through Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The galleries are closed on weekends and holidays. For more information, please call (708) 596-2000, ext. 2445 or ext. 2316, or visit www.ssc.edu/art. SSC is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois.

SSC Student artist Destin Harris (left), Art Professor Jack Kirkpatrick and Frank Zuccarelli at the May Board Meeting.
SSC Student artist Destin Harris (left) and family along with Art Professor Jack Kirkpatrick and Board of Trustees Chairman Frank Zuccarelli at the May Board Meeting.

Mother and Son Graduate Together at SSC High School Equivalency Ceremony

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SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – Like all spring High School Equivalency graduations at South Suburban College, this year’s ceremony marked the culminating event of an amazing educational journey. Clad in the traditional light blue caps and gowns and marching to Edward Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance, the graduates were led in the procession by South Suburban College’s Board of Trustees and executive leadership. This year’s ceremony was unprecedented as two of those walking across the stage to receive their diplomas were mother and son, Silvia Huizar Navarro and Gillermo Herrara.

This mother and son duo provided each other with the perfect recipe of love and support to ensure each successfully completed High School Equivalency classes at South Suburban College. “My husband and I have worked together to give our children a better life,” says Huizar. “I wanted to get my General Education Diploma (GED) to teach my children that they have to continue studying if they want to have a better life.” It was amazing walking across the stage with my son,” adds Huizar. “It was an incredible experience.”

Herrera echoed those sentiments. “It felt a little weird sharing the stage with my mom, but the experience has provided inspiration to keep doing what I love to do. I’m more than proud of my mother for graduating, and others were proud of both of us.” What Herrera loves to do is work with computers and hopes to continue his education by enrolling in computer hardware and engineering courses at South Suburban College. His plan is to eventually transfer to a four-year university. “In ten years, I see myself owning my own computer company while also doing something computer-related in the entertainment industry,” explains Herrera.

Mom feels her journey is just beginning, as well. Huizar Navarro, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico, admits that her biggest obstacle to success was the lack of formal education in her country and the language barrier as a student in the United States. I had to split my time between caring for my children, working on weekends, and studying in my free time.” Passing the English portion of the GED test was the first hurdle that Huizar Navarro overcame. Like her son, Huizar Navarro sees obtaining her GED diploma as the beginning of her educational journey. “My dream now is to become a registered nurse in a hospital. I’m already studying to become a Nursing Assistant,” says Huizar Navarro proudly.

Both Herrara and Huizar Navarro credit SSC’s supportive Adult Education Department for their academic success. Navarro describes her months at SSC as “incredible and interesting,” while Herrera says it was a “great experience meeting new people and having a supportive teacher.”

Seeing the admiration and love each has for the other, there’s no doubt that the personal support system they’ve developed over the past few months will continue to inspire them to attain their future respective goals. Huizar Navarro went on to state, “I hope the adult education program at SSC lasts for generations for people who did not finish their studies. It’s very rewarding when you finish.” Perhaps another Mother/Son walk across the SSC Performing Arts Center stage is in the future for this determined duo!

SSC will have its next registration for High School Equivalency and English Language Acquisition classes September 11, 12, and 13. These classes are free for all Illinois residents. For more information about the HSE Commencement Ceremony or Adult Education programs, contact the Adult Education Department at (708) 596-2000, ext. 2385 or ext. 2240. Para información en Español comuniquese al Centro Latino (708)210-5740 o a Latino@ssc.edu. South Suburban College is located at 15800 S. State Street in South Holland, IL.

Photo of Silvia Huizar Navarro and Gillermo Herrara.
SSC’s 2017 HSE Graduates mother and son, Silvia Huizar Navarro and Gillermo Herrara.

Aleut Community Turns to South Suburban College Professor Bruce Allardice

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SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – When the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island Tribal Government wanted to document their tribe’s history, they turned to SSC professor Bruce Allardice. As part of the Tribal Government’s efforts to reclaim their heritage, the tribe set out to document the history of the baseball field on which tribal members had played baseball since (they thought) the early 1900s. Dylan Conduzzi, Aleut Community of St. Paul Tribal Government employee, contacted Professor Allardice, who conducts research on early baseball history for the Society of American Baseball Research and for Major League Baseball.

Prof. Allardice discovered articles in a little-known Connecticut newspaper which proved that Americans who used St. Paul Island had formed a baseball team from among the island natives in June of 1868—far earlier than anyone in the Aleut community had ever known! This is the first known instance of baseball playing in the state of Alaska, which had only become part of the U.S. the year prior. Prof. Allardice also tracked down the biographies of the team’s organizers.

The Aleut Community of St. Paul Tribal Government is honored to announce plans to commemorate the 150-year anniversary of the founding of the baseball club of St. Paul Island. To commemorate the long and rich history of baseball on St. Paul Island, the Tribal Government will be planning a series of events and programs dedicated to the history of the club and will honor the long and rich history of baseball for the St. Paul community.

Professor Allardice’s research can be found on the website, www.protoball.org. He’s entered almost 4,500 early (pre-1870) baseball clubs in the U.S. and 121 foreign countries. Baseball historian Larry McCray adds: “Bruce’s ability to dig up the earliest games and clubs constantly amazes us.”

Photo of the St. Paul Island Baseball team - 1921
St. Paul Island baseball team – Sept. 1, 1921

SSC High School Equivalency Students Honored at Graduation Ceremony

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Photo of SSC’s 2017 HSE Graduates

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – South Suburban College honored its 47, 2017 HSE (High School Equivalency) graduates at a ceremony on Friday, May 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the college’s Performing Arts Center. SSC Board of Trustees Chairman Frank M. Zuccarelli presented the graduates with their HSE Certificates. Chairman Zuccarelli spoke at the event followed by Ben Greer, Associate Director for Adult Education of the Illinois Community College Board.

The SSC HSE program helps students develop the skills required to pass the High School Equivalency Exams. Studies include Language Arts, Writing, Reading, Social Studies, Science, Mathematics, and the U.S. and Illinois Constitution. SSC’s Division of Community Education also offers Adult Basic Education (ABE) and English Language Acquisition (ELA).

SSC will have its next registration for High School Equivalency and English Language Acquisition classes September 11, 12, and 13. These classes are free for all Illinois residents. For more information about the HSE Commencement Ceremony or Adult Education programs, contact the Adult Education Department at (708) 596-2000, ext. 2385 or ext. 2240. Para información en Español comuniquese al Centro Latino (708) 210-5740 o a Latino@ssc.edu. South Suburban College is located at 15800 S. State Street in South Holland, IL.