{"id":21,"date":"2024-09-18T17:48:49","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T17:48:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sanjac.mycareerfocus.org\/fall-2024-volume-5-issue-3\/news-and-notes-from-around-the-college\/"},"modified":"2024-10-08T18:08:53","modified_gmt":"2024-10-08T18:08:53","slug":"news-and-notes-from-around-the-college","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sanjac.mycareerfocus.org\/fall-2024-volume-5-issue-3\/news-and-notes-from-around-the-college\/","title":{"rendered":"News and notes from around the College"},"content":{"rendered":"

Aspen Institute names San Jac among Top 10<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Aspen Institute named San Jacinto College as a finalist for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, a $1 million award recognizing top community colleges for student success and equitable outcomes. The institutions selected for this honor stand out among more than 1,000 community colleges nationwide as having high and improving levels of student success, as well as equitable outcomes for Black and Hispanic students and those from lower-income backgrounds. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"AspenSan Jac is often recognized because it partners with local industries to influence curriculum development, facilities, student support, and employment. The College also offers a comprehensive transfer pathway that guides students through agreements, degree plans, financial aid, and scholarships, ensuring consistent advising.<\/span><\/p>\n

San Jac has been previously recognized by the Aspen Institute as a Rising Star (2017), Aspen Prize Finalist (2019, 2023), and Finalist with Distinction (2021).<\/span><\/p>\n

San Jac, Kaneka hold ribbon cutting<\/span><\/h3>\n

The\u202fSan Jacinto College Foundation\u202fand Kaneka Corporation held a ribbon cutting May 31 for the new Kaneka Nondestructive Technology Quality Lab with dignitaries, including Kaneka board chairman Kimikazu Sugawara and president Kazuhiko Fujii, who flew in from Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Kaneka

Kaneka ribbon cutting<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Additionally, Kaneka presented the San Jacinto College Foundation with $100,000 to support the sustainability and upkeep of the LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical, Energy, & Technology, also known as CPET, where the Kaneka lab is housed. These funds ensure CPET continues to offer the latest training equipment, technology, and curricula.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nondestructive testing evaluates the properties of materials, components, structures, or systems without damaging them. This specialty is vital to petrochemical, aerospace, defense, and construction industries.<\/span><\/p>\n

Central Campus theatre honored as Exemplary Campus of Distinction<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Texas Educational Theatre Association recently named the San Jacinto College Central Campus an Exemplary Campus of Distinction. This honor recognizes the College\u2019s commitment to theatre education through achievement, resource curation, and theatre arts advocacy. <\/span><\/p>\n

According to the TxETA release, \u201cThis remarkable achievement is a testament to the unwavering dedication, tireless efforts, and exceptional leadership Dr. Jerry Ivins [Central Campus theatre artistic director] has demonstrated throughout his tenure. His unwavering commitment to providing an enriching and nurturing educational environment has resulted in San Jacinto College\u2019s well-deserved recognition by the TxETA Awards committee.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Central

Central Campus theatre team<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

To earn the prestigious honor, colleges across the state were evaluated in different categories, including theatre course offerings, performance opportunities and venues, theatre curriculum, leadership, advocacy, technology, community service, and outreach.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis recognition reflects the hard work of a dedicated group of artists who make the Central theatre program a premiere example of educational theatre in Texas,\u201d said Ivins. \u201cDue to their commitment to excellence, our students earn recognition at numerous universities, leading to scholarship opportunities. Central\u2019s artistic team reflects the continued excellence of San Jacinto College.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2023, TxETA named Ivins the 2023 Higher Education Educator of the Year. Ivins has taught at San Jac for 29 years. He is also heavily involved in the University Interscholastic League one-act play competition as a judge, an adjudicator, and a licensed contest manager.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ivins runs two area and two regional contests, and the state one-act play contest each year for 4A, 5A, and 6A schools. Since 2006, he has served the TxETA as convention director for 13 years and served on the board of directors for five years.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Central Campus was honored at an awards ceremony Sept. 28 in Galveston.<\/span><\/p>\n

Santa\u2019s Christmas Magic\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

When:<\/span><\/p>\n