Article by DMC College Relations Office On Tuesday, May 14, the Del Mar College (DMC) Board of Regents will hold their regular monthly meeting beginning at 1 p.m. in Room 106 of the College’s Center for Economic Development at 3209 S. Staples (78411). Get online directions and map. The regular meeting also will be livestreamed. Community members may access the meeting by going to the online video link at www.delmar.edu/webcast/ by 12:55 p.m.  A copy of the Agenda Notice and Board Packet is available online at www.delmar.edu/regents-and-community/board-of-regents/_resources/agendas/regular-board-mtg-agenda-packet_51424.pdf.    Meeting agendas and other resources are also available on the DMC Board of Regents web page at www.delmar.edu/regents-and-community/board-of-regents/index.html. The health and safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors are a priority for Del Mar College. To view the College’s COVID-19 guidelines, visit www.delmar.edu/rtc/index.html.     

Article by DMC College Relations For the past 15 years, Del Mar College (DMC) has offered dual enrollment, noncredit and credit courses at the Northwest Center in Calallen. The Center was established to provide convenient educational opportunities to residents in that area of Corpus Christi and surrounding communities in northwestern Nueces County and adjacent counties. As a former orthopedic and sports medicine center, the facility was provided to the College by HCA Healthcare through a lease agreement. The lease has now concluded, and the healthcare provider will resume operational control of the building. HCA Healthcare has other plans for the facility. On May 14, the College will close the Northwest Center when classes currently offered at the facility end. Even though the College will no longer operate the Northwest Center, DMC dual enrollment classes will continue at students’ respective high schools. Other students are encouraged to enroll in courses offered at one of the College’s three campuses––Heritage, Windward and Oso Creek. Many courses taught at the Northwest Center prior to closure are also offered at the DMC Center for Economic Development. Registration is currently underway for Summer I and II and Fall 2024 courses. Summer I classes begin Tuesday, May 28. Continuation of students’ educational journey is the College’s paramount concern. DMC officials have communicated with affected students by email and through their advisors about this change. The College is very appreciative of HCA Healthcare and their generous almost cost-free lease that has allowed DMC to provide educational opportunities to residents living in Calallen and the surrounding area. While the Northwest Center is closing, the College maintains strong relationships with HCA Healthcare, the City of Corpus Christi and area high schools, and future partnerships are possible. Del Mar College is committed to prioritizing access to education to everyone living in the communities the institution serves. It’s  one of the College’s core values.    

Article by Melinda Eddleman The Del Mar College (DMC) event started in 1949 and has been a time-honored tradition ever since––the annual Recognition Ceremony. The College holds the celebratory ceremony to induct new “Hall of Fame” members, recognize students’ academic dedication and honor faculty deemed “Instructors of the Year” by the student body. And tonight, the College will hold its 72nd Annual Recognition Ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. in Richardson Performance Hall located on the Heritage Campus (101 Baldwin Blvd., 78404, directions and campus map). Student Government Association leadership will first recognize the three “Instructors of the Year” who were selected by the student body with each representing one of the College’s three campuses. The 2024 honorees include Dr. Dawson Barrett, Associate Professor of History with the Social Sciences Department, representing the Heritage Campus; Mary Guerra, Assistant Instructor of Dental Hygiene with the Dental and Imaging Technology Department, representing the Windward Campus; and Lisa Pollakis, Professor of Hospitality Management and Program Director with the Business Administration and Entrepreneurship Department, representing the Oso Creek Campus. College administrators and faculty will also recognize 125 DMC students’ academic achievement with “Outstanding Student” Awards among the programs in the College’s four divisions: 1) Communications, Fine Arts and Social Sciences; 2) Sciences, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Kinesiology and Education; 3) Business, Entrepreneurship and Health Sciences; and 4) Industry and Public Service. And with much anticipated celebration toward the end of the ceremony, the College’s single newest “Hall of Fame” inductee––Ethan Gene Sullivan––will be recognized and honored for his accomplishments. He will join the ranks among the 423 inductees who met the benchmark for over more than seven decades. The prestigious honor is reserved for the select few who have demonstrated scholarly dedication, leadership and participation in student organizations and community service.  The Drama major will not only be recognized as the only “Hall of Famer” but also as an “Outstanding Student” just as he was in spring 2023. Sullivan is also a recipient of the Sue Sellors Finley Drama Endowed Scholarship for 2023-2024. Among his campus achievements he is a member of three student organizations, including serving as current Treasurer of DMC’s Gamma Sigma Chapter of the international college honor society Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), a member of the country’s largest leadership honor society the National Society of Leadership & Success and as current President of the Safe Space Club at DMC. He has also served on the All-Texas Academic Team.  Sullivan has volunteered on and off campus, providing sound mix and technical support for both Del Mar Drama productions and at the Church of Grace, volunteering with the Corpus Christi Diversity Council and participating during National Humanitarian Day.  His campus activities specifically include volunteering with Groceries to Go by providing mobile food distribution, attending regional and national PTK conferences, assisting with the College’s “Discover Del Mar” event to recruit and inform high school students as potential Vikings, participating during Adopt-A-Beach cleanup events and going beyond his roles with Del Mar Drama productions to volunteer additional assistance to support his fellow actors and classmates.  Sullivan graduates next Friday, May 17, as part of Del Mar College’s Class of Spring 2024.  Before Sullivan’s recognition as “the” 2024 Hall of Fame inductee, “Outstanding Student” Award recipients will be recognized for their academic achievement in their respective majors, including: Division of Communications, Fine Arts and Social Sciences • Art: Jonathan Donna, Jennavieve Elliot, Christina Gatchel, Stephen Nevares, Samantha Nieves, Nathan Olivarez, Tyler Robason and Symphony Rose • Drama: Roman Mendieta and Ethan Sullivan • History: Coleson Adams, Ysabel Hernandez, Samantha Holly, Daniel Longoria, Katty Mazeda, Anthony Padilla, Ethan Satery-Miranda, Jade Wells and Isabella West • Journalism: Aubree Curran and Marie Ponce • Psychology: Isabella Nunez, Nicholas Vara and Joshua Whitaker • Speech: Teresa Gonzales and Jasmine Vasquez Division of Sciences, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Kinesiology and Education • Computer Science, Engineering and Advanced Technology: Joe Cruz, Robert Golden, Jacob Hinojosa, Marissa Martinez and Ishmael Wallace • Geology: Olivia Ramirez • Kinesiology: Neives Guajardo, Paula Hernandez-Huitron, Joseph Kuhn, Kassandra Sandoval, Kadance Smith, Christian Williams-Rippstine and Amanda Laughlin • Mathematics: Aurora Raygoza Division of Business, Entrepreneurship and Health Sciences • Accounting: Ursula Benitez, Amber Robertson and Linda Sanchez • Business Administration: Erica Rodriguez • Cosmetology: Makinley Browning and Alejandra Mendoza • Culinary Arts: Mazzy Tagliaferro • Dental Assisting: Tylie Eamello, Azeneth Gonzalez, Alejandra Morales and Amanda Ramirez • Dental Hygiene: Jazmine Alvarado, Christina Bauer, Kimmie Burch, Efren Carmona, Brenda Cepeda, Ana Chavez, Autumn Diaz, Helen Escobar Villar, Sarai Gamez, Ariel Garcia, Melany Garza, Julissa Gay, Celeste Gonzales, Karina Guajardo, Samantha Guerra, Madison Hernandez, Claudette Lara, Lyza Leal, Trinity Lozano, Ashlyn Martinez, Jordan Mendoza, Meagan Mikes, Jacklyn Mrayyan, Cloressa Payne, Emmy Tuyet, Phuong Tran, Brianna Polk, Natalie Price, Danielle Ramirez, Jasmine Ramsey, Anissa Rodriguez, Nina Salinas, Gladys Melissa Sanchez, Samantha Soliz, Karla Soto, Jessie Southern, Daisy Tran, Tran Tran, Shana Tuibeo and Kaylie Westmoreland • Diagnostic Medical Sonography: Angela Cabuling and Brittany Fox • Echocardiography: Emerald Guerrero • Hospitality Management: Kayla Foster and Christopher Tyler Tichacek • Management: Suzette Weis • Medical Assisting: Marissa Beard, Ferrari Garcia, Ariadna Grice, King King, Lana Pena, Priscilla Posada and Jasmin Vasquez • Medical Laboratory Technology: Jennifer Argo, Alana Coapland and Emilio Pineda • Nursing: Yancey Hernandez, Zhenbang Li and Sarah Raffay • Occupational Therapy Assisting: Angelica Valdez de Taylor • Physical Therapy Assisting: Mikayla Trevino • Respiratory Therapy: April Luna, Luis Mendoza and ReNee Morris • Surgical Technology: Mia Nguyen Division of Industry and Public Service • Air Conditioning Applied Technology: Edward Shannon • Architecture: Karina Collins • Architectural Technology: Edgar Hernandez • Automotive Applied Technology: Rachel Hediger • Building Maintenance Applied Technology: Bryan Ramirez • Court Reporting: Paige Bennett • Diesel Applied Technology: Francisco Martinez • Electrician: John Flores • Environmental/Petrochemical Lab Technology: Aubrie-Anna Reigle • Industrial Machining Applied Technology: Jassem A. Alzuwayed • Industrial Machining Applied Technology–Millwright: Alfredo D. Alaniz and Daniel T. Urban • Nondestructive Testing: Alexander C. Davis • Paralegal Studies: Selena Obregon • Process Technology – Industrial Instrumentation: Russell Taylor • Process Technology: Amanda Wright • Welding Applied Technology: Liv Reis Garcia   A downloadable PDF file of the 72nd Annual Recognition Ceremony Program is available in the upper right-hand corner above CONTACTS.    

Article by Melinda Eddleman Colleagues with the Del Mar College (DMC) Social Sciences Department and administrators filed into History Professor Dr. Bryan Stone’s classroom one by one this morning. Students in the faculty member’s class, HIST 1302 U.S. History 1865 to Present, looked a little perplexed. But, the purpose became clear when College officials presented Dr. Stone with a certificate designating him a 2024 “Piper Professor,” along with a $5,000 honorarium check and commemorative gold pin. The recognition comes from the San Antonio-based Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation with nominations for the pinnacle of Texas higher education awards submitted by invitation only. Each year, the Piper Foundation honors only 10 professors from public and private two- and four-year colleges and universities from across the state, and the honor recognizes educators’ dedication to the teaching profession and their outstanding academic, scientific and scholarly achievements.   As a 2024 Piper Professor, Dr. Stone joins 10 other honorees named before him from Del Mar College since 1960. He’s also the first nominee since 2005 to receive the distinction. Fellow History Professor Dr. Mark Robbins, who nominated Dr. Stone for the award, noted, “Bryan is a model scholar-teacher who excels at every aspect of being a professor at a community-minded institution. He is a prolific author of three books and many articles, a supportive colleague who brings out the best in those he works with and a dedicated member of the local community who is eager to share his time and expertise beyond the College, so it’s a great honor to have Bryan as a colleague and a pleasure to see him receive this well-deserved award.” With over 27 years of teaching experience from previous teaching positions and his role at DMC, Dr. Stone joined the College’s faculty in August 2004 as an Assistant Professor and moved up the ranks to become Professor in 2015. He is the 2019 recipient of Del Mar College’s own award that recognizes exceptional teaching, the Dr. Aileen Creighton Award for Teaching Excellence, and a 2021 Teacher of the Year Award recipient for which the College’s student body selects. Dr. Stone has now added the Piper Professor Award and humbly noted, “When I received notification that I was one of only 10 recipients in the state, I was thrilled and grateful but also more than a little surprised. After a quarter of a century teaching in community college classrooms, trying to support my students and colleagues as well as I can, trying to keep up with a profession that keeps changing and always unsure if I was succeeding, it’s extremely meaningful to receive this confirmation that it’s working.” His colleague Dr. Robbins added, “Bryan imparts on his students a style of learning history that is simultaneously exciting, complex, thought-provoking and deeply relevant. Hhis students come away from his classes ready to engage pressing issues in their national and local communities and with the skill sets to not only excel in further history coursework but also to succeed outside the classroom.” In fact, outside the classroom, Dr. Stone has served on 24 College committees during his tenure,  ranging from academic, peer and program reviews and hiring to institutional rebranding, strategic planning, professional development and student support, among others. He has also provided insight and expertise while serving in different roles with outside organizations such as the City of Corpus Christi Landmark Commission, Congregation Beth Israel Corpus Christi, the Austin Jewish Film Festival and Southern Jewish History (managing editor) as well as served as an expert witness regarding the history  of antisemitism in Dallas as part of a death row inmate’s application for a new trial. Dr. Stone has authored three books, including The Chosen Folks, Jews on the Frontiers of Texas (University of Texas Press, 2014), Memories of Two Generations: A Jewish Life in Russia and Texas, the Memoir of Alexander Z. Gurwitz (University of Alabama Press. 2016) and Neither Fish Nor Fowl: A Jewish Family on the Rio Grande, the Memoir of Morris S. Riskind (Texas Tech University Press, forthcoming 2024/2025). Additionally, he has penned numerous articles and given presentations locally as well as during conferences across the country. The practicing historian has even been interviewed for video documentaries and by National Public Radio. Prior to joining the College’s Social Sciences Department faculty, Dr. Stone taught at The University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin) and Dawson Community College. He earned his bachelor’s degree in English (summa cum laude) and his doctoral degree in American Studies and Civilization from UT-Austin and a master’s degree in English from the University of Virginia. FYI: Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation “Piper Professor of the Year” Awards     The Texas-based Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation currently honors 10 professors from colleges and universities from across the state each academic year. The honor recognizes educators’ dedication to the teaching profession and their outstanding academic, scientific, and scholarly achievements. Each honoree receives certificates naming them a “Piper Professor,” a gold commemorative pin, and a $5,000 cash honorarium. Each year, eligibility for nominations is by invitation only from the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation with the name of only one nominee allowed from the Texas institutions asked to participate. Eleven Del Mar College faculty members have received the distinction of “Piper Professor” since 1960  with the most recent honor awarded May 1, 2024. Those honorees include: 2024 – Dr. Bryan Stone, History 2005 – Jackie Ganshow, Speech Communication 2002 – Dr. Ken Weatherbie, History 1996 _ Dr. Norman Delaney, History 1993 _ Mary Thorpe, Geology 1984 – Dr. Ronald Williams, Engineering Technology 1974 – Frances Dushek, Mathematics 1971 – Dr. Aileen Creighton, English 1966 – Dr. P.E. Smith, Chemistry 1963 – B.E. Schulze, Physics 1960 – Katherine Evans, English   EDITOR'S NOTE: Click photos to enlarge, read cutlines and download high resolution JPEGs.    

Article by Melinda Eddleman They’re fully focused … on photography, that is. And, their talent and ability to show their own perspectives of the world through a camera lens will be highlighted during the Del Mar College (DMC) Continuing Education Department’s opening reception for “Fully Focused: An Exhibition of Digital Photography” on Thursday, May 2. Showcasing 12 Digital Photography students’ creative views, the opening reception runs from 6 to 8 p.m. in the lobby of the College’s Center for Economic Development located at 3209 S. Staples (78411). Get online directions and map. The free event includes light refreshments while participants view over 60 photographs, some even available for purchase. Questions about the opening reception, exhibit or Continuing Education courses and programs? Contact DMC Continuing Education at 61-698-2122 or ce@delmar.edu. You can also go online at www.delmar.edu/ce. The Spring 2024 Digital Photography class includes Dora Alaniz, Matthew Benavides, Patricia Bradshaw, Leticia De la Garza, Ronald George, Blanca Gutierrez,  Philip Johnson, Rosa M. Lazaro, Jordan Mandujano, Rainey Porter, Mary Sherwood and Shirley Sorsby. And, their subject matter ranges from landscapes to still life to nature with all captured as digital photographs.     The free exhibit will remain open until Thursday, May 23. Center hours are 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 9 a.m. until noon on Fridays.  

Article by Melinda Eddleman Since 1998, denim jeans have been the symbol of injustice stemming from the ruling by an Italian Supreme Court that overturned a rape conviction that year. The justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped the assailant who raped her remove those jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, women in the Italian Parliament wore jeans to work in solidarity against that decision. Now, wearing jeans or other denim clothing on “Denim Day” signifies solidarity against rape as part of internationally-recognized Sexual Assault Awareness Month because of that case. All around the world, the last Wednesday in April is recognized as Denim Day with 2024 marking 25 years since the observance and the Peace Over Violence campaign began. Del Mar College (DMC) participated on April 24 with its own Denim Day event on the Heritage Campus, which was organized by the DMC Counseling Center in conjunction with representatives from The Purple Door and the College’s Student Leadership & Campus Life Office, along with a Registered Student Organization. “Denim Day highlights breaking the stigma related to victim blaming and destructive myths surrounding sexual violence, and Del Mar College’s Counseling Center hosts this event every year to show support for survivors, bring awareness to the campus community, provide resources and let people know that they are not alone,” said Lisa Olmos, LPC, a Counselor with the center about the event. “And, the College’s Counseling Center offers a free confidential place our students can access to receive support and mental health counseling services.” She also noted that the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) reports that an American is assaulted every 68 seconds, and studies show over 53% of women and over 29% of men reported experiencing contact sexual violence. During DMC Denim Day 2024, the Counseling Center, The Purple Door and the RSO called the  American Association of University Women set up tables with information about available local resources for students and anyone attending the event who need help. Students, faculty and staff  wore their own denim but also decorated denim jeans by writing encouraging messages to share with survivors of sexual assault. Additionally, organizers handed out giveaways and snacks while also providing a selfie venue set up with the College’s oversized “DMC” letters in front of posters and pre-decorated jeans to acknowledge Denim Day 2024. Of the day’s event, Olmos added, “We want to build awareness while encouraging individuals to seek available resources if they have experienced sexual violence or know of someone else who needs help.” Note: click on photos to enlarge in pop-up box, download and get cultines.