College Report: May 2022
New Science Building Groundbreaking
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Science Building at Fresno City College was held on April 21 at the site near Weldon and Blackstone avenues. The new structure will serve as the new “front door” to the campus. Construction on the $87 million project is getting underway and should be completed mid-2024 with occupancy expected in the fall. Funding consists of $79 million from the 2016 Measure C facilities bond, $5 million from Fresno Unified School District, and $3 million from the FCC budget. The 87,000 square foot building is three levels featuring modern labs across the science disciplines that include biology, chemistry, engineering, geology, math, and physics.
New Training Center Funding
On April 18, Congressman Jim Costa held a press conference on the West Fresno Campus to announce $1.9 million was secured for a new training center that will be built on the campus. The total funding package was over $11 million in Community Project Funding for 10 regional projects that respond directly to some of the most pressing needs in Fresno, Madera, and Merced Counties. The new 60,000-square-foot training center will assist women, minorities, veterans, ex-offenders, at-risk and disconnected young adults, and other underrepresented individuals with job training and counseling. In addition, the FCC nursing program secured $475,000 to develop the Nurse Pipeline Extension Project, a collaborative program with Fresno State, to increase the number of Nurse Practitioners in the San Joaquin Valley.
Women in Engineering Day/Chevron Check Presentation
After a two-year hiatus, the FCC Women in Engineering conference was held on April 22, to encourage more young women and girls to go into the engineering profession. The conference began with a $125,000 check presentation from Chevron who is providing the generous grant to the engineering department. The funds are being used to sponsor outreach to increase more STEM majors and to create a Maker Space to create enhanced lab opportunities.
Music at City
There are many opportunities to enjoy the FCC music students in May by attending a performance. See the schedule below and check the details and times on the Performing Arts web page.
• May 3 – Honors Ceremony celebrates outstanding music students, graduates, and scholarship winners at this special performance
• May 4 – The Jazz Octet directed by music instructor Paul Lucckesi and the Latin Jazz Ensemble directed by George Ramirez
• May 6 – SING is the final Choral Concert for long time choral instructor Julie Dana. It will be held in the OAB Auditorium with FCC City Singers, Symphonic Choir and alumni for a celebration of singing!
• May 9 – Students in the intermediate and advanced piano class will perform a recital
• May 10 – Woodwind, Brass & Percussion Ensembles will be performing selected works under the direction of Professors Paul Lucckesi, Joe Lizama and Elisha Wells
• May 12 – City Sounds will highlight projects from Fresno City College's Commercial Music students in a concert setting
• May 14 – The Gala Opera Concert presents a beautiful night of singing that includes FCC student singers and special guest opera workshop alumni.
Sock Drive
The FCC Volunteer Club is holding a Sock Drive to help the Poverello House. They are collecting socks at various locations on campus. Donation boxes are located in the Student Lounge, the Library check-in area and the Math, Science and Engineering Division Office S-51 from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. They need socks for people ages 0 to 100. Brand new socks are being collected. The drive is being held through May 13.
Commencement
One in-person Commencement Ceremony will be held this year on Friday, June 3 at 8:00 p.m. in Chukchansi Park. The ceremony will celebrate the graduation of all students in the Class of 2022. This year’s Distinguished Alumnus and Commencement speaker is Jim Yovino, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools. The ceremony will again be live streamed and conclude with fireworks!
Cultural Completion Celebrations
As graduation approaches, the diversity of our graduates is being celebrated. During the month of May, cultural faculty and staff associations are planning celebration ceremonies to recognize students who are earning degrees, certificates or transferring:
• Asian Pacific Islander Celebration of Success
May 14 at 10:00 a.m. in the OAB East Courtyard
• African American Graduates Celebration
May 14 at 1:00 p.m. in OAB 251
• Latino Graduation Celebration
May 21 at 10:00 a.m. in the FCC Gym
• Rainbow Completion Ceremony
May 21 at 1:00 p.m. on Zoom (register to receive link)
Black Student Success Week
African American Cultural Studies instructor Karla Kirk participated in two webinars as the statewide Black Student Success Week returned April 25-29. Kirk participated as a faculty panelist on webinars Beyond Mattering: Centering the Student Narrative and Using Radical Action; Showing Up as Your Authentic Self. This year’s theme was A Vision for Black Student Success: Creating a New Landscape to Succeed and examined the resources and programs that support Black student success.
A Celebration of Mother Earth
The FCC NAISA (Native American Inter-Tribal Student Association) Club, in collaboration with CTUAP (California Tribal Unilateral Apprenticeship Program) presented Native Medicine-Healing Mother Earth on April 21 at Yokuts Plaza. A Native procession took place and began in front of Student Services. The event included cultural demonstrations, Native drummers and dancers, Indigenous Warrior Flag Group, and singing and poetry performances.
City Dance
The 2022 Spring City Dance Concert was held on April 29 and May 1 in the theatre. It featured FCC dance students and choreography by artists: Caitlin Gainey and Alyjha Tauscher and guest performers representing Fresno State: Zachary Garcia and Siena Simas.
FCC in the News
Softball From KSEE24/CBS47:
30-win season for the Fresno City College softball team
Title IX Anniversary From ABC30:
Fresno City College sports honoring 50 years of Title IX
Summer Arts Academy From KSEE24 Education Matters:
Grammy-nominated professor teaching students at Fresno County Summer Arts
California for All College Corps From the Fresno Bee:
Fresno State and City College students could earn $10K for school. Here’s how it works
SCCCD Community Survey From ABC30:
Community college enrollment down since pandemic, SCCCD asking the community for input
Torch of Excellence
After a two-year COVID-19 hiatus, the 26th Torch of Excellence was held on April 25 at the Clovis Veterans Memorial District Building. The Rams had 12 Chancellor recipients who earned a 4.0 GPA for two semesters, 109 President’s recipients who earned a GPA of 3.51 – 4.0 for the spring or fall semester and 70 Dean’s recipients who maintained a 3.2 – 3.5 GPA for the spring or fall semester of 2021. Volleyball player, Lexi Pagani, was named the Female Athlete of the Year and Logan Azem from the baseball team was named the Male Athlete of the Year.
