Pasadena City College Foundation Hosts Reception, Awards $59,683 in Grants

“The Grants program of the PCC Foundation is our way of making a positive impact on PCC students directly in the classroom,” said Executive Director of the PCC Foundation, Bobbi Abram. “These grants help support innovative faculty to enhance their teaching and it certainly assists student learning.”

For more than 30 years, the PCC Foundation has proudly supported creative and unique projects at PCC through their annual grants program. This year, the college distributed $59,683 in grants to 29 members of the PCC faculty and staff, spanning across 6 divisions of the college.

In discussing the grant committee’s selection process, member Winston Uchiyama, Co-Chair of the Grants Committee, said, “The criteria is student-centered. We look for specific details on how provided funds impact our students. Diversity and quantity are important. We also look for innovation—bringing new and different ideas to PCC.”

This year’s average grant award was $2,058. The total sum of the grants awards represented a 15% increase in the amount given last year, and the number of awardees was increased from 21 to 29.

The PCC Foundation has never before awarded this much in grant funding, and each grant is expected to improve the educational experience of more than 2,500 students per year.

“Giving our students the proper resources to further their education is very important,” said PCC Chemistry Instructor, Peter P. Castro, who was among this year’s top award winners. “The Foundation gave us a new, creative way to apply for grants, and now the PCC faculty has an easy, approachable way to get funding. I’m very grateful!”

The following is a list of the 2014-2015 Grants Recipients:

Gabriela Rayo, Math/Science Upward Bound Program

$3,000 – To provide field study opportunities for 60 MSUB students

Larisa Villa, Project LEAP:

$3,000 – To provide book vouchers given to students participating in Project LEAP

Peter P. Castro, Math and Sciences:

$3,000 – To produce computer animated videos demonstrating 3D aspects of organic chemistry

Sarah Barker, Visual Arts and Media Studies:

$3,000 – To purchase a Sony PMW-100 XDCAM HD422 camcorder

Tamara Knott-Silva, Math and Sciences

$3,000 – To purchase a microfit fitness program for movement based activity and theory courses

Yolanda McKay, Visual Arts and Media Studies

$3,000 – To purchase Glass Casting Tool and Equipment for student coursework

Erika Catanese, Math and Sciences:

$2,987 – Data Hub Devices and External CO2 Sensors for scientific field investigations

Zachary Matthews, Performing and Communications Arts:

$2,920 – To purchase an Apple MacBook Pro for the equipment room

Thomas Berg, Health Sciences:

$2,880 – To purchase the Vista Basic Infusion Pump for nursing skills laboratory

Henri George Saghians, Health Sciences:

$2,663 – To purchase anatomical models of the head/neck musculature and mandible

Angie Alvarez, TRIO Talent Search Program:

$2,500 – Supporting a college tour to San Diego for students in the Talent Search Summer Program

Jack Yang, First Year Pathways/International Student Activities:

$2,490 – Supporting a series of student programs, including Lunar New Year festivities for International Education Week

Jamal Ashraf, Math and Sciences:

$2,644 – To purchase the Google Glass Technology for student practice in the classroom

Jacqueline Quezada, TRIO Pre-College Program:

$2,400 – To purchase the ACT Plan and Explore assessments for students in the TRIO Pre-College Programs.

Louis K. Fung, Health Sciences:

$2,300 – To purchase Pellican Transport Cases for Dental Technology students doing public outreach activities

Sandra A. Sutton, Health Sciences:

$2,129 – To purchase denture instructing training modules

Juan P. Carreon, TRIO Pre-College Program:

$2,109 – To purchase a translation system for parent presentations

Joseph Futtner, Visual Arts and Media Studies:

$2,000 – To support semester study abroad programs in Florence and Oxford

Linda Stewart, Library:

$1,871 – To purchase equipment for the Digitization Skills Certificate Program

Xiaodan Leng, Math and Sciences:

$1,780 – To purchase Eye Gaze Tracking Devices for real-time classroom monitoring

Niki Dixon, TRIO Pre-College Program:

$1,500 – To purchase web-based digital courses (WASC approved) for incoming students

Mahara Sinclaire, Brian Tucker, & Jim Morphesis, Visual Arts & Media Studies:

$1,450 – To continue the invaluable Guest Lecture Series for VAMS students

Maryrose C. Mendoza, Visual Arts and Media Studies:

$900 – To support a monthly Lunch Hour Talk with working professional artists

Blanca S. Rodriguez, Health Sciences:

$887 – To purchase nylon cuff aneroid blood pressure cuffs for student use

Terry W. Stoddard, Math and Sciences:

$871 – To purchase Lifeguard Training Instructional Equipment

Bakhtawar Bhadha, Humanities:

$778 – To purchase anatomical models and charts for Psychology student use

Heba P. Griffiths, Student Affairs:

$633 – To purchase StrengthsQuest codes and training materials for Project LEAP students

William Ahrens, Visual Arts and Media Studies:

$600 – To create a database/cloud environment of scenes and monologues for theater arts students

Sebrenia A. Law, Health Sciences:

$597 – To purchase teaching stethoscopes for nursing student practice