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PCC offers a financial aid workshop

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PCC offers a financial aid workshop

Financial Aid office at the Pacific Coast Campus hosted a workshop for future and current students to have guidance about what financial aid is and how to apply on Sep. 25.

At the workshop, financial adviser Angela Fowlkes was responsible to introduce what financial aid is and every step of the process to apply.

“I was not assigned to host this workshop but I love helping students, and so I offered to do it,” Fowlkes said.

Fowlkes showed presentations that introduced attendants what the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is, how to fill it out, the steps to apply for federal work study, and all information about the types of grants, loans and scholarships. She also responded questions from the attendants.

Fowlkes added how helpful workshops are, as “Many students do not even know what financial is.” she said.

In 2016, 25,574 students enrolled at LBCC and 21,090 filled their FAFSA and were awarded financial aid, through grants, loans or both, according to data retrieved from California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office data-mart website. Website has yet to update their data with 2017 and 2018 numbers.

Student Gloria Aguirre attended the one hour workshop and asked multiple questions to the financial aid ad visor to clear all her doubts.

Financial aid adviser Angela Fowlkes and student Gloria Aguirre gathered at the financial aid workshop held at the PCC on Sep. 25.

By the end of the event, Aguirre said she felt satisfied with the workshop and that there were some things she did not know and that were helpful.

“I did know what financial aid was, I’m actually awarded but there’s things like loans and their interests or how to apply for federal work study that I did not happen to know. I’ll actually share this information with my friends,” said Aguirre.

Other students like Jasmine Carillo are in the process of applying and did not know there was a workshop that could help her through that.

While waiting in line outside financial aid office, Carillo said, “I am currently applying and I’m just waiting for my award letter. It was a difficult and confusing process, the workshop would have definitely helped me if I had just heard about it.”

The workshop received little advertisement besides being published at LBCC’s news and event section. There was a small group at the workshop.

More workshops are offered by financial aid through all the month of October beginning on Oct. 3 at the LAC. More information can be found at events calendar section at LBCC’s website https://www.lbcc.edu/calendar

Vikings defeat the Pasadena Lancers in a 15-3 win

Sabrina Picou
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Vikings defeat the Pasadena Lancers in a 15-3 win

Center Sabrina Juarez scored four goals leading the LBCC women’s water polo team to victory in a 15-3 win over the visiting Pasadena City College Lancers on Tuesday.

The Vikings started off strong scoring 10 goals in the first half of the game using aggressive tactics to rout the Pasadena Lancers.

Goalie Camila Rosas limited the Lancers to one goal in the first half of the game with a fast-paced defense.

“I was focusing on the ball and I made some good blocks,” Rosas said. “I thought it (the game) went pretty well we probably could’ve done better but I think we overall came out with a win so that was good.”

Both defenders Karissa Qualley and Samantha Martinez scored three goals during the game pushing LBCC toward the win.

Defender Karissa Qualley and goal keeper Cami Owens block the ball from Pasadena.

According to head coach Chris Oeding improving the team’s defense is always a work in progress.

“Whether we are playing Pasadena or any other team our ability to be in the present and play in the moment and be aware of our player, our ball and all that stuff is something that we’re trying to get better at so we can establish a baseline press defense to be able to compete with the best teams in the state,” said Oeding.

The LBCC women’s water polo team (8-7 overall, 4-0 in conference) is a three-time defending South Coast Conference champion. Pasadena (1-5) is winless in conference play.

Sydney Brightenburg scored two goals for the Vikings, one in the second quarter and one in the third. Alejandra Villa, Harlie Whelan, and Madison Hinojosa each scored one goal.

Attacker Sara Capt said Pasadena players engaged in physical play throughout the game leading to frustration.

“This one player was bothering me and I should’ve let her go and not gone for it like I should’ve but its OK its all a learning experience,” said Capt.

LBCC’s next game will be at home on Oct.10 playing against Rio Hondo College.

New funding formula may prove disastrous for LBCC future

steven matthews
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New funding formula may prove disastrous for LBCC future

Long Beach City College has a new state funding formula that could have devastating effects on the school in the future.

The funding formula is unlikely to affect currently enrolled students, however, it will affect students in the future but it’s too early to determine what those effects will be.

Governor Brown signed a new funding formula into law in May that changes the way the state gives funding to the 100+ community colleges within its borders.

Originally, the formula gave a base allocation of funds based on full time enrolled students while the new formula will contain three factors for fund determination: amount of full time students, amount of low income students and student success.

According to a statement put out by the California Department of Education, “The Budget proposes a new funding formula for general purpose apportionment that encourages access for underrepresented students, provides additional funding in recognition of the need to provide additional support for low-income students, and rewards colleges’ progress on improving student success metrics.”

This in turn changes the goal for LBCC  from ensuring a high enrollment count to ensuring high graduation numbers.

Superintendent-President Reagan Romali seems to be well suited for the task.

Romali formerly served as President of Harry S Truman College, one of the city colleges in Chicago where she saw a three times increase in graduation rates during her tenure there.

“My plan is to do the same thing here,” Romali said in an interview. “Find ways to help students complete faster and there’s a plethora of ways to make that happen.”

“There could be core-requisites offered, there could be tutoring support offered, a redesign of the registration system to make it easier and faster, or there could be online courses, weekend courses.”

Romali continued, “So there’s a variety of things that we could do to make it easier for you and the way we figure out what those things are is we look to best practices across the nation.”

“What are other people doing that is successful, that has a proven track record; what are the ideas of the students, what do you tell us we can do better at?

“What the faculty, staff and administrators, what ideas they have?”

Romali also acknowledged that even though these are all strong ideas, that implementation is a different story.

“Ideas are wonderful, and execution is priceless. It’s up to us to make sure that we really execute those for the students, so that we’re continuing to up our game every year, to get better and better.”

“So do I think we can make it? Yeah, absolutely. I have complete faith in the students and employees of the college, so yeah, we’ll make it. Absolutely.”

The LBCC vice president of student services, Marlene Dunn, also remains optimistic for the funding change.

“We are very well situated to handle the change.” Dunn said during an interview.

The Chancellor’s office for California community colleges ran budget simulations for the new formula based on this year’s tentative budget and they determined they would result in a $10 million loss in school revenue, if it were implemented today.

This information is enough to give any administrator a round of fits, however, luckily enough for our school  the state has implemented a “hold harmless” provision for just that scenario.

In this case, the hold harmless clause will hold the state funding for LBCC to the level it is now for three years while the school transitions to the new formula.

Romali also weighed in on the hold harmless provision, “There’s a three year hold harmless that we lobbied, very strongly for, up and down the state, with some other college CEOs and we were successful in getting that three year hold harmless, which is effectively a three year phase in.”

Even though the school will receive the hold harmless provision the three year phase in is designed to get the school’s up to speed on how the budget will be dispersed.

For the school year 2018-2019 70% of the funding will be the base allocation, 20% will be supplemental funding for low income or disadvantaged student count  and the final 10% will be based on student success.

For 2019 – 2020 the amounts will change to a 65% base, 20% supplemental and 15% based on student success and the final transitional year will put the allocations where they are supposed to be with 60% base, 20% supplemental and 20% based on student success.

“Moving forward, this is how we need to start looking at the budget.” said Stacy Toda of LBCC public relations.

Every district will be expected to adopt goals that are aligned with the vision of the new formula by January 1, 2019 and there are plans to create a 15 member Funding Formula Oversight Committee to evaluate and review the implementation of the new formula and goals.

Family, friends cry for slain former LBCC football player at vigil

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Family, friends cry for slain former LBCC football player at vigil

Friends and family gathered on Thursday evening to mourn for a former LBCC football player that was shot and killed at a Jack in the Box drive thru on Wednesday.

Members of Guy Alford’s family, friends, and community members held a vigil alongside of the sidewalk at the Jack In The Box. They lit candles and placed them alongside the sidewalk of the drive thru he was gunned down at, placing a football in the front.

The family of Guy Alford III, holds each other during the prayer in remembrance of the former LBCC football player. Photo by Anna Karkalik
Candles are lit at the vigil held behind the Jack In The Box where Guy Alford III was shot and killed. Alford was killed Wednesday night going through the drive thru of the restaurant. Photo by Sydney Fredericks-Selby

Alford’s 10 year old brother Amari Alford, was grief-stricken describing his love for his older brother.

“I love my brother a lot. He feeds me, he takes me places, he takes to school. He helps me, and I just love him,” Amari said to the media through tears.

Alford’s 10 year old brother Amari Alford is shown being hugged at the vigil for his brother. The vigil was held behind the Jack In The Box where Guy Alford III was shot on Wednesday night. Photo by Anna Karkalik

Alford’s 13 year old brother Shaheim Alford came forward to speak but was too distraught at the time.

Alford’s mother shared her son’s passion for football since he was young with the dream of making it to the NFL.

Alford graduated from Bishop Alemany High School and played for the LBCC vikings football team for 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons as a safety.

“He loved that school, he choose that school because he wanted to play for them. It wasn’t because he had to go there it was because he chose to go there,” said Alford’s mother, April Roby-Alford.

The LBCC Vikings Football team arranged candles to spell out the former teammate, Guy Alford III. Alford was shot and killed Wednesday night. Photo by Sydney Fredericks-Selby
April Roby-Alford, the mother of former LBCC football player, Guy Alford III, is held by a family member at the vigil for her son, Thursday. Guy Alford III was shot and killed behind the Jack In The Box in Long Beach, Wednesday night. Photo by Sydney Fredericks-Selby

The LBCC football team held a candlelight vigil at the Veterans Memorial Stadium to honor their former teammate on Wednesday.

Members of the LBCC football team that played with him in past seasons shared they would always remember Alford as a great leader, a hard worker, and  a source of motivation for a lot of the freshman players on the team as the former defensive captain.

Cross Poyer a defensive back for LBCC said, “He was very aggressive and always hard working, that’s something that you will hear a lot when someone brings up Guy.”

Poyer said he took a lot of traits from Alford in his leadership skills and his dedication to the team on and off the field as a defensive captain this year.

Head coach Brett Peabody said, “We always called him the humble beast, he was a beast on the field he always came prepared. Off the field he was quiet and humble, a great guy to be around with an infectious smile.”

“It’s a tremendous lost in terms that he did things the way you would expect these guy to be. Be hard working, be coachable, be respectful, have a good attitude and care for one another on the team,” Peabody said.

The details of the shooting are still unclear and have not been issued out by police as the investigation is ongoing.

Students notice the importance of Voter Registration Day

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Students notice the importance of Voter Registration Day

LBCC offered two stations for students to register for the midterm elections as a part of National Voter Registration Day at both campuses on Tuesday.

Voter Registration Day allows eligible citizens help get registered to vote.

The city clerk’s office teamed up with the Long Beach Unified School District within the Long Beach High schools. The mayor Robert Garcia, included higher education institutions as well.

The station to vote for registration at LAC was in front of the E Building and in front of the student union at PCC.

Viking volunteer Andrea Cocjin was helping a student register for the midterm elections on National Voter Registration Day.

Field deputies from the mayor’s office and volunteers from LBCC were coordinating the event.

Executive assistant and scheduler from the mayor’s office Isaac Romero explained why it is important to vote for the midterm elections.

“There is a big push to try and go get as many people to vote to cause awareness,” Romero said. “Right now is the time come and get registered to vote.”

The midterm elections determines who will control the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate as well as having a Governor’s race.

The midterm election propositions are focused on bonds, taxes, healthcare, housing, labor and animals.

“We did run into a lot of people that were not registered that were looking to get registered. Mostly everybody was registered,” Romero said.

LBCC student Carlos Correa, registered as a voter at LAC and will be participating on voting on Nov. 6  because she believes there should be a change in office.

“I think there should be equal pay,” Correa said. “I know that women work just as hard as we do.”

Viking volunteer Andrea Cocjin, registered as a volunteer because she believed that it is important.

“For me, I like getting involved,” Cocjin said. “It’s important to be an advocate for what you believe in and that is important to register and reach out to students and the community.”

A copy of the registration for students to fill out for the midterm elections on National Voter Registration Day.

The mayor’s office set a goal for 25 registrations at the LAC, by the end of the day, there was a total of 20 registrations.

 

Long Beach Police Department allows citizens to clear up their warrants

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Long Beach Police Department allows citizens to clear up their warrants

Long Beach Police Department had a 4-hour warrant clearing event at the PCC parking lot on Sept.15.

The warrant clearing event was for individuals that had an outstanding traffic or non-violent misdemeanor warrant issued by the Long Beach Police Department.

The event was to clear up all the warrants and let people know that they can come in and take care of their warrants. There were individuals that didn’t know they had a warrant and just wanted to check.

This was the first time the police department did a warrant clearing event. The Long Beach Police Department chose a city college because they wanted to reach out to everybody in the city of Long Beach.

However, people were skeptical of the event.

Commander of the Detectives Division from the Police Department Paul LeBaron said,  “We figured if we did it outside people would be able to watch and see that no one was getting taken away in handcuffs and that really they were coming in and getting a new ticket and walking away.”

Anybody that had a warrant and wanted to get it taken care of attended the event.

Detective in the vice unit Chris Brammer attended the warrant clearing event and spoke to individuals.

Brammer said, “Doing the program on a Saturday was beneficial for people to come.”

People were more open with their schedules to come on a Saturday to clear their warrants.

132 people showed up to the event to check if they had warrants while people heard about the event throughout social media and word of mouth.

Assistant professor of public services Annahita Mahdavi said, “We need to have more kinds of these events to reconnect and to have that definition and purpose of protect, to serve and protect.”

The warrant clearing event is expected to happen again.

There has to be a handful of authority there to do their job just in case they run into people that need to go to jail. Police officers have to be in place if people have a serious or felony warrant.

LBCC students donate blood to the American Red Cross

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LBCC students donate blood to the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross paid a visit to LAC in the ASB building to allow students the opportunity to donate blood.

There was a positive response through the generous donation the students gave for those who have been affected by the catastrophes in the United States.

There have been events such as the hurricane in the east coast that has taken much of the citizen’s homes, cars, property, and even lives.

Through this, the call for blood was imperative and the call has been answered.

The students provided the supply of blood in order to save a life and also get a free pizookie as a recovery refreshment .

LBCC student Annika Henry said, “I know that this will possibly help someone in the future, so that thought alone is my primary motivating factor.”

The fact that another person can be helped is what motivates Henry to give up something that is important to people in need, so that a life can be saved.

LBCC student Jayleen Lopez gave some insight on why she donated blood.

“I can save lives with the blood I have given,” Lopez said. “People who are in need by just giving simple blood I know it would help them out.”

Blood donor Kevin Ornelas, is confident that the volunteers of the non-profit organization is handling him will take good care of his blood.

“I get a free Pizookie dude,” he said, “I know my blood will be used for specific reasons.”

Throughout the day, the American Red Cross awaits for students so that they can receive blood to help those who are in need of it.

Guy Alford, former LBCC football player, shot and killed

anna karkalik
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Guy Alford, former LBCC football player, shot and killed

Guy Alford III, a former member of the Viking football team, was shot and killed at the drive thru line at Jack In the Box on 52nd Street and Atlantic Boulevard at 12:15 a.m. on Wednesday.

The Jack In The Box located in Long Beach near Atlantic Boulevard and 52nd Street where the shooting took place.

Alford played for the LBCC vikings football team for 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons as a safety and was a graduate from Bishop Alemany High School.

Security footage from surrounding businesses showed Alford pulling up to the drive thru when another car came from behind and three unknown suspects got out and one of them shot him through the drivers open window.

Alford was with at least three other people in the car who all got out and ran from the scene after the shot was fired.

A Jack in the Box employee, who did not want to be identified, wasn’t working that night but decided to stop by the restaurant to get food, recalled that the three individuals that ran from Alford’s car stopped first to get bags out of his trunk.

Alford tried to get away by putting his car into reverse, hitting an employee’s car in the process and came to a stop in the parking lot.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics with a gunshot wound to his upper torso.

The Jack In The Box drive thru is where the victim, Guy Alford, was shot.

His father Guy Alford Jr. said to NBC4 outside of the Jack in the Box, “He wanted his nursing degree, he wanted to be a nurse, that’s all he had his mind on.”

Alford was working towards getting his AA degree but his father shared he had some problems with keeping his grades up.

Members of the local football community took to social media to express their grief and offered their condolences to Alford,s family on Wednesday.

Head coach Brett Peabody of the LBCC football team said to the Press Telegram, “There are always guys who I worry about what could happen to them because of some of the choices they make. He was never one of those guys because of the good choices he made.”

Assistant head coach Neo Aoga of the LBCC football team said, “He was one of those kids that would do anything that you would ask him. What you expect as a teammate and a leader that’s what you got from him.”

“Our job as coaches is to help these kids better themselves and what they’ve grown up to, we want them to leave the hood, we want them to leave the streets and see the world,” Aoga added.

Peabody and others on the coaching team shared Alford’s goal was focused on getting an education and leaving California.

“Education was his tool to get out of where he grew up in,” Aoga said.

A team meeting was held today at 3:00 p.m. before practice where Peabody, other coaches and his former teammates discussed and reflected on the tragic loss of Guy Alford.

Police are currently still investigating the details of the shooting.

LBCC nursing program provides stable career options

Alyssa Vega
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LBCC nursing program provides stable career options

The Long Beach City College nursing program gives wide career opportunities to those who want to become nurses after graduation.

The nursing program at LBCC is well known for educating and preparing students for the medical field.

According to the LBCC nursing website, the program “prepares students for a well-paid career in high demand as registered nurses (RN) or licensed vocational nurses (VN).”

Rhonda Alger, the LBCC’s department head for the VN program said, “Our vocational nursing program is a year and a semester long and is designed to assist people who have been a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) to advance their career to an LVN.”

“Nursing is a difficult job, but it’s very rewarding,” Alger said. “What’s nice about nursing is that there are many different areas that you can work in.”

In nursing, future employees can work in long-term care, acute care, home care, and ambulatory care as well as requiring an extensive amount of schooling with a strong background in science such as pharmacology and biology.

Alger discussed how nursing is a rewarding career. “It is rewarding because you work with people and you have to like them to want to be a nurse and jobs are all over the world so you can travel with your license to different states,” Alger said.

Alger explains more in detail how students can get a job in the nursing field.

“During their education, they’re doing what we call practical experience,” Alger said. “They’re out in the hospitals working and those employers see them as students, so they hire them.”

According to a nursing student Jacqueline Sanchez, the nursing program is an intense and a well-rounded course.

“The nursing program here is really good from my perspective because we have hands on training not only here at school but we have mannequins and tools that are exactly what we would use,” Sanchez said.

The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is an important step for RN students and if they do not pass the exam, then they will not be employed as an RN and will need to retake it.

Students, who want to be a VN, need to be a CNA first and maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher to be considered in the VN program and have to meet certain prerequisites required by LBCC.

Marissa Sigala a VN student said, “LVN is a step down from RN and it’s a great opportunity to learn skills…The VN is not as intense as the RN program, but it does get intense so it slowly transitions you.”

Another VN student Anya Thompson said that students who have a great personality and make good impression will make them stand out when seeking a nursing job after graduation.

Food donations for a good cause

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Food donations for a good cause

“No student should be too hungry to learn at Long Beach City College,” LBCC Board of Trustees President Sunny Zia said after the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters donated more than 80 cases of canned and boxed food to help LBCC students in need on Friday at PCC.

Zia, alongside student ambassadors and LBCC President Reagan Romali to accept the large donation.

Four pickup trucks were piled high with cases of food to be distributed out to students in need through the food banks located at both LAC and PCC.

President Reagan Romali said, “The Carpenters are well known for their generosity with raising money for the homeless and we asked them if they could help us out and help our students and they said absolutely.”

Romali added, “We asked for a little and they gave us a lot and we will never be able to thank them enough.”

Many students arrive on campus ready to begin classes without having the proper nutritions beforehand, with this donation LBCC hopes to help homeless or food-insecure students.

LBCC Board of Trustees President Sunny Zia and President Reagan Romali join the unloading line for a few moments at PCC on Friday.

“Here’s to the day that we end hunger starting right here in our backyard at Long Beach City College.” Sunny Zia said after receiving the food donation.

Christian Arriaga a student ambassador said, “This really gives students a new variety of food they can get at the school food banks and gives them the opportunity to be more connected to the school.”

The students health care services usually only were able to offer students small snacks and granola bars that were easily accessible during class breaks, now after this donation the food pantries will be able to provide those students in need a diverse choice in their selection.

Kavin Arnold with the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters said, “Randy Thornhill is the one who really encourages us to be more active in our community and we got the phone call that there was a surplus of food that needed to be distributed out to those in need and here we are at LBCC.”

Employees of the student health care offices unload the donated food at PCC on Friday.

“We love continuing to reach out to the community to show people that the image of the true Carpenders. We are all about the community and about family and promoting a higher living standard for all.” Arnold added.

The food pantries are located in the student health care offices at GG-117 at PCC and A-1010 at LAC more information is also available at www.lbcc.edu/student-health-services.

 

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