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Article by: Rosa Linda Reynoso Del Mar College (DMC) offers a variety of educational options for Coastal Bend residents. And, the spring semester is a good time to start working toward that certificate or associate’s degree for high demand jobs in the area’s workforce or earning the first two years of core courses transferable to a university. Early advising and on-campus registration for the spring semester, including 8-, 15- and 16-weeks sessions and the Maymester, is available until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18. The College is closed for Winter Break Dec. 19 through Jan. 1 with offices reopening at 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 2.  Online registration will continue through the break and close at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2, which is also the deadline to pay tuition and fees. Get details at www.delmar.edu/registration/. Eligible DMC students can register from their mobile devices by downloading the College’s VikingGo app available for iOS, Android and Mobile Web. Go to the Apple Store or Google Play or just search for “VikingGo.” Spring classes begin Monday, Jan. 13.  If you’re not already a Viking, now is the time to get your admissions file completed so you can register. For details, visit www.delmar.edu/Admissions_Requirements.aspx. Still have questions or need help? Contact the DMC Student Enrollment Center (before the break) for more admissions and registration information at 698-1290, 698-1741, toll-free at 1-800-652-3357 or enroll@delmar.edu. Take that next step to meet your goals. Become a Viking and register for spring credit courses. Del Mar College … Dreams. Delivered.  

Article by: Rosa Linda Reynoso Graduation evokes special memories not only for graduates but also for their families and friends. For those who cannot attend Del Mar College’s Registered Nurse (RN) Pinning Ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 11, or the Fall Commencement Ceremony on Friday, Dec. 13, Del Mar TV will provide live streams and rebroadcasts of both events. Del Mar TV will live stream both the RN Pinning Ceremony from the Richardson Performance Hall on the College’s East Campus and the Fall 2019 Commencement from American Bank Center. Both ceremonies start at 7 p.m. with the live stream opening 10 minutes before each event begins. To view the RN Pinning ceremony live, go to https://boxcast.tv/view/fall-2019-registered-nurse-pinning-911813 To view the commencement ceremony, go to https://boxcast.tv/view/fall-commencement-2019-472310. Nearly 560 “prospective” graduates will receive a combined 704 associate degrees and certificates during Fall Commencement. Dotson Lewis, Jr., a retired U. S. Army Sergeant and Volunteer Senior Education Instructor with the College’s Continuing Education and Off-Campus Programs Division, will provide the keynote address. Rebroadcasts of the ceremonies are scheduled on Spectrum Channel 1301, Grande Cable Channel 19 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 as follows: Nurse Education Pinning  8 p.m. on Dec. 19, 26 and Jan. 2 1 p.m. on Dec. 21, 28 and Jan. 4 9 p.m. on Dec. 23, 30 and Jan. 6 Fall Commencement 10 p.m. on Dec. 20, 27 and Jan. 3 8 p.m. on Dec. 22, 29 and Jan. 5 3 p.m. on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2, 9  

Article by: Melinda Eddleman It’s the time of year most everyone gets wrapped up in the holidays. So, what better time is there to receive an associate’s degree or certificate as part of the celebratory season? Del Mar College (DMC) will hold its Fall 2019 Commencement Ceremony this Friday, Dec. 13, at the American Bank Center beginning at 7 p.m. Out of nearly 560 “prospective” graduates receiving a combined 704 associate’s degrees and certificates, 385 students have chosen to walk the stage … a fitting gift for any proud parent, grandparent, sibling or friend.Before taking that traditional spotlighted walk to receive their reward for a lot of hard work, Friday night’s ceremony participants will hear the wise words of U.S. Army Sergeant (Retired) Dotson G. Lewis, Jr.   Described by his friends as a decorated American hero and patriot, Lewis is a man of many accomplishments. Born in Gunter, Texas, he spent most of his early years in northwest Arkansas; and at age 18, he joined the U.S. Army. In 1948, General Douglas MacArthur presented the soldier with a gold watch. Lewis spent 13 months in combat during the Korean War and received several combat medals, including the Korean Service Award with five battle stars. During the 1950s, Sgt. Lewis was assigned to the Army Air Defense at Ft. Bliss here in Texas. He worked in Research & Development, primarily developing and testing surface-to-air missile systems. In 1964 after the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Sgt. Lewis and his family were deployed to the 3rd Infantry Division in Germany, where soon after his arrival he was assigned as the division’s Special Services NCOIC (Noncommissioned Officer in Charge). In 1967, he was chosen as the European “Sportsman of the Year” and then received the U.S. Army’s Legion of Merit Award the following year.He continued to add to his accomplishments after retiring from active duty service with a 21-year career with the U.S. Army, including becoming a writer, educator and sports official, along with fulfilling other roles. From 1968 to 1977, Lewis worked toward and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation, along with his Master’s degree in Education from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). During that period, he also worked as an Instructor with the Physical Education Department and was Director of UTEP’s Intramurals Program. Lewis served as Supervisor of the Southwest Officials Association from 1977 to 1995; and between 1987 and 1995, he assisted with writing the annual CCA Football Mechanics Manual and the illustrated NCAA Football Rules manuals. Additionally, between 1995 and 1999 Lewis was honored in several Halls of Fame, including the Football Officiating and the Japanese-American Football Halls of Fame. In July 2002, Lewis and his wife Peggy relocated to Corpus Christi, where he received the city’s Greatest Generation Award in 2008. For the past 17 years, he has taught courses for Del Mar College, including for a time as an Adjunct Instructor for the Kinesiology Department (2010-2015), and continues to serve as a Volunteer Senior Education Instructor for Continuing Education and Off-Campus Programs. The 91-year-old is still going strong! Saturday mornings, he hosts a radio talk show, The Veterans Radio Round Table, on 1440 KEYS from 8 to 10 a.m. He writes “Sports Talk” articles and “Senior Moments” for the Island Moon newspaper on Padre Island. And, Lewis serves as Chair of the Corpus Christi Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee and is an Instant Reply consultant.    

Article by: Michael `Bratten It’s like scoring a touchdown in the Super Bowl. Joel Hernandez, Del Mar College (DMC) student and principal clarinetist in the DMC Wind Ensemble, was recently named the winner of the annual concerto competition held by the Texas Community College Band Directors Association (TCCBDA).   Hernandez will also serve as the featured guest soloist during the 2020 Texas Music Educators Association/TCCBDA All-State Concerts scheduled in February at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio. In addition, six other students from the DMC Music Department earned positions in the 2020 TCCBDA All State Symphonic Band: Ben Camareno (trombone); Gerald Espejo (clarinet); Oscar Galvan (bass trombone); Eric Heatherley (oboe); Manuel Jasso (French horn); and Joseph Salinas (euphonium). The students’ music for the competition was recorded and submitted to the TCCBDA, Ramirez added, and this was a collaborative and extensive audition process that involved all areas of the DMC Music Department, such as the Sound Recording Technology studio under the guidance of Professor Paul Bissell, DMA, as well as private recording studios.  

Article by: Melinda Eddleman Envisioning a southside presence began in 2009. Ten years later, Del Mar College (DMC) Board of Regents members, College leadership and employees and invited guests marked a new era in the community college’s history –– the start of construction of a new campus in Corpus Christi. Where farm fields, chicken coops and livestock used to reside, the College held a Southside Campus Project Celebration on Dec. 2 on the 96-acre site where the campus will sit at Yorktown Boulevard and Rodd Field Road. To launch the next step of this project, guests saw a video leading up to the final campus design.   During the event, guests visited with faculty and students from three areas of study identified as “Centers for Excellence” that will be located on the new campus –– including 1) Architecture and Drafting Technology; 2) Biology, Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing (bio-sciences) and 3) Hospitality and Culinary Arts. Displays and demonstrations featured hand-built architectural models and design renderings, scientific posters reflecting regional and national award-winning student biotechnology research and active cooking and cake decorating showcasing culinary wonders.   The Southside Campus Project is already underway with infrastructure and Central Plant foundational work (Project 1). The DMC Board of Regents’ final design, budget and contractor approval in early October moves the project forward with the construction of the Main, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and Hospitality and Culinary Institute facilities (Project 2). After referring to residential Southside growth and the Corpus Christi Independent School District’s new high schools, Scott noted, “Del Mar College must grow with the community in order to continue offering the excellent higher educational opportunities our residents deserve and to ensure our students have the knowledge and skills they need to be competitive in the local and global economies.”   Construction of a new campus hasn’t occurred since the College began building in 1958 what is now the West Campus. Del Mar College District taxpayers approved a $139 million Capital Improvement Project (CIP) bond referendum supporting construction of the southside campus in November 2016. The Board approved the $6 million purchase of 96 acres located at Yorktown Boulevard and Rodd Field Road in 2013 after a Facility Master Plan produced in 2012 assessed renovation and expansion of current facilities and additional buildings on the East and West Campuses and a new southside campus as part of a 20-year vision and 10-year plan. The College identified more than $397 million in total facilities needs at that time. Development of the Southside Campus Master Plan used $1.8 million earmarked specifically for that purpose as part of the 2014 CIP bond referendum that taxpayers passed to address needs on the East and West campuses.   Anticipated to open in 2022, the Southside Campus Project incorporates construction of 249,544 square feet of building space, including the: Central Plant (8,631 sq. ft.) as part of physical facilities operations, Hospitality and Culinary Institute (59,561 sq. ft.) housing ultramodern teaching spaces including kitchen labs, a coffee shop and a public-accessible restaurant/dining facility to provide students with hands-on, real-world learning experiences, Main Building (80,437 sq. ft.) housing the library, student services, community meeting spaces and a coffee shop, and STEM Building (100,915 sq. ft.) housing the Architecture/Drafting Technology program and Biology, Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing programs with contemporary teaching spaces, laboratories and equipment, along with other STEM-related programs, including engineering.   In addition to the Centers for Excellence, the campus will provide core courses taken by university-transfer students, along with dual credit, developmental, workforce training and continuing education courses. “The Southside campus features ‘Centers for Excellence’ with programs that embody the high standards that faculty and students have exceeded, putting Del Mar College on the map regionally and nationally across different fields,” Escamilla said before the Dec. 2 celebration. “The new campus will give these programs the ability to expand and also address other educational needs as the Southside community continues to grow.” College officials estimate enrollment at the new campus at 3,500 students the first year. DMC fall 2019 data shows that 41 percent of the 12,008 students enrolled (certified enrollment) this semester come from Southside ZIP codes. Located on an “educational corridor” along Yorktown Boulevard, the Southside campus will provide close access to four high schools –– Mary Carroll, Veterans Memorial, Flour Bluff and London –– and is only 15 minutes away from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and 30 minutes from Texas A&M University-Kingsville.  

Article by: Rosa Linda Reynoso With “turkey and all the fixings season” here, you might be looking for a healthier way to get through the holidays. Or, you might need more information and a better understanding of caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease? Del Mar College (DMC) Nurse Education Department students may have answers. On Tuesday, Dec. 3, the department will host a fun, interactive Nutrition and Health Fair showcasing concepts students studied this semester, along with sharing some knowledge and understanding about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease with the community during a free Virtual Dementia Tour. The FREE fair and Virtual Dementia Tours run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Conference Room 1 in the Harvin Student Center on the College’s East Campus at Ayers Street and Baldwin Boulevard. Event activities are open to the public. For more information, contact DMC Nurse Education faculty member Dr. Donna Huddleston at 361-698-2874 or dhuddleston@delmar.edu. DMC students will serve as guides during the Virtual Dementia Tour, a simulated sensory experience for those who care for an individual with the disease to provide insight about the physical and mental challenges of those suffering from dementia. Seating is limited and registration is required online at www.secondwind.org/virtual-dementia-tour/virtual-dementia. Committed to the public health approach solution by sharing ideas, encouraging collaboration and providing education, DMC demonstrated the Virtual Dementia Tour simulation to state legislatures earlier this year. Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia and a major health issue in Texas. Currently, 390,000 Texans have been diagnosed with the disease, and the condition is commonly underdiagnosed. The disease is the sixth leading cause of death without a cure or a way to prevent it. Unpaid caregivers add billions of dollars of cost to this progressive and terminal condition. DMC’s Nurse Education Department is focused on raising awareness for the care of the person with dementia, their caregivers and professionals who provide care in the community and in facilities. The College’s Nurse Education Department raises awareness through educational activities and simulations throughout the year. Recently, the Texas Department of State Health Services in Austin distributed the new Texas State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease 2019-2023 to the Texas stakeholders who were instrumental in its development. Representing DMC’s Nurse Education Department, Associate Professor Dr. Huddleston attended the meeting. The purpose of the state plan as required by Health and Safety Code, Section 99.001 is to use a public health approach and serve as a resource for eight (8) priority areas and actions. Education and awareness Coordinated systems of care and support Partnerships and engagement Training Quality care and support Family inclusion Importance of data collection and evaluation Advance research and collaboration For anyone wanting to be added or who wants to recommend an organization for the Texas stakeholder list, send the name of the contact person, the organization, email address and the reason for the recommendation to Dr. Donna Huddleston at dhuddleston@delmar.edu.  

Article by: Rosa Linda Reynoso Aim. Focus. Shoot. They have an eye for photography. Fifteen students who took the Del Mar College Continuing Education digital photography class will showoff their talent beginning Thursday, Dec. 5, as part of “The Digital 15,” a special exhibit featuring over 50 best photographs taken overall. An opening reception for the exhibit is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. in the lobby of the DMC Center for Economic Development, located at 3209 S. Staples. The reception and exhibit are FREE with light refreshments available during the opening event. For more information, call the DMC Continuing Education Office at 698-2122. “The Digital 15” includes photographs taken by Heather Aley, Virginia Cardenas, Diana Charles, Diana Cordo, Amy Currin, John De Luna, Cynthia Longoria, Juli Propp, Crystal Rosales, Tanya Trevino, Jesse Valle, Jeinny Vargas, Javier Villarreal, John White and Lisa Wright. The subject matter ranges from landscapes and portraits to nature in digital format. “The wonderful thing about a show of this type is that it will reveal that photography is a personal way of looking at the world,” says Jeff Janko, an instructor of photography for the DMC Continuing Education program. “Everyone has a different vision and a unique way of looking at things. I believe, for those who see this show, they will see the world through the eyes of fifteen unique photographers.” “The Digital 15” will remain on display through Tuesday, Dec. 17. The CED’s hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 9 a.m. until noon on Fridays. For more information about DMC Continuing Education courses and programs, visit www.delmar.edu/ce or email ce@delmar.edu.  

Article by: Rosa Linda Reynoso Do you wonder what the “gift of hair” means to someone suffering from long-term hair loss? Now that we’re entering the season of giving, you can provide that gift to build someone’s confidence and make their life much brighter during the Del Mar College Cosmetology Program’s Locks of Love donation drive scheduled this Saturday, Nov. 23. The Cosmetology Glam Squad, made up of 25 students, will provide services to collect Locks of Love donations that the nonprofit organization will use to produce real human hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children and young adults who have lost their hair during cancer treatment or to diseases that cause hair loss, such as Alopecia and Autoimmune Disease. The donation drive is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Room 208 (Cosmetology Lab) of the Flato Technology Building on the Del Mar College West Campus at Boaz Blvd. off Airport Road. Appointments and walk-ins welcome. To make an appointment, contact DMC faculty member Sandra Shelton Flinn, assistant professor of Cosmetology, at 698-1799 or sdflinn@delmar.edu. Led by Shelton Flinn, basic-, intermediate- and senior-level students will cut ponytails for use in making the prosthetic hairpieces. Hair donations must be a minimum of 10 inches and not chemically damaged or bleached. Color or permed hair is acceptable. The College’s Cosmetology program also collects donations throughout the year and will also take hair donations cut by individuals themselves. Anyone wishing to donate hair anytime during the year can make an appointment with the DMC Cosmetology Program by calling 698-1799 or emailing sdflinn@delmar.edu. For more information about Locks of Love, go to www.locksoflove.org.   

Article by: Michael Bratten Coastal Bend donors never disappoint when it comes to supporting Del Mar College (DMC) students who are trying to achieve their dreams. Yesterday, the DMC Foundation shined the spotlight on some generous donors and scholarship recipients during their annual Scholarship Reception. The Scholarship Reception was held yesterday evening in the Emergency Training Building (FEMA Dome) on DMC’s West Campus. More than 200 people attended the event, which was themed “Doing Good Feels Good.” In total, the DMC Foundation has awarded 1,742 scholarships totaling nearly $1,715,000 for the 2019-2020 academic year. A highlight of the event was the announcement of a $100,000 gift from longtime donors Gene and Ellen Seaman that is designated to assist students pursuing their high school equivalency certificate (formerly known as general education development, or GED). The Seamans’ gift doubles an existing $100,000 endowed scholarship they established in 2005 that has assisted 55 DMC students over the years.   Matthew Pritchard, a Process Technology major at DMC, said he nearly jumped out of his chair when he heard he’d received the Gene and Ellen Seaman GED Endowed Scholarship. “Right now, I'm working two jobs while going to school full-time,” said Pritchard, who attended yesterday’s reception. “My wife and children don’t see me much. I've struggled for years to provide adequately for my family. This scholarship helps me continue my education and show my children that anything is possible.”