March 9, 2010

JOSHUA TREE, Ca -Author David Jesse McChesney will read from his book, Muir Roots: At One with the Wild on Wednesday evening, March 17 at 6pm at CMC's cafeteria.

Mr. McChesney's book led the way for two large exhibits at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum and the Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center Gallery. He has won 40+ photo awards for journalistic and artistic imagery.

This coffee table book, which contains 176 full color images and various photographic tales relating to the author's wildlife adventures, will be available for purchase and signing by the author.

This reading is part of an ongoing series of author and speaker events sponsored by the Copper Mountain College Foundation. Mr. McChesney will sign books after the event while light refreshments are served.

For more information regarding this event or how you can become involved with the CMC Foundation, please contact Syndee Slayton at 760.366.5296. For general information regarding Copper Mountain College, visit www.cmccd.edu or call 760.366.3791.

March 4, 2010

12TH ANNUAL ART AUCTION REAPS RECORD PROFITS FOR SMALL COMMUNITY COLLEGE

JOSHUA TREE, Ca– Copper Mountain College, just about the smallest of California’s Community Colleges, set an all time high for proceeds from its 12th Annual Art Auction held Saturday, February 27, in Joshua Tree. The event, hosted by the college’s charitable Foundation, raised over $12,000 that will be used to support scholarships and the college’s Art programs.

“Our community strongly supports the arts, in fact Joshua Tree, and the Morongo Basin, are becoming known as an emerging art region,” states Jane Smith, President of the Copper Mountain College Foundation (CMCF). “We are fortunate to have a large population of artists who understand how important this college is to the community’s economic and social well-being.”

“In fact,” adds Mike Congdon, a Foundation board member and chair of the Art Auction committee, “we added a silent auction to this year’s event so we could accommodate more of the artists who wanted to participate.”

Now completing its 12th year, the CMCF Annual Alumni Association Art Auction is the area’s premier art event, featuring the work of over 70 artists in an elegant atmosphere of hors d’oeuvres, wine and music. Local radio celebrity Gary Daigneault served as auctioneer, and provided humor and personal anecdotes to the delight of the enthusiastic crowd. Daigneault’s unique style worked its magic on even seasoned art bidders like local Lesley Thornburg who was delighted when her winning bid won her a kiss of her ring as well as the desired artwork.

Over 125 attended the event that included 42 live auction and 37 silent auction works of art. Bidding was heated for favorite local artists including Chuck Caplinger, Simi Dabah, Mark Junge and Steve Rieman, but the surprise favorite was CMC student and staffer, Maria Perez, whose mixed media painting The Living Desert was tied for the evening’s fourth highest bid.

Local watercolor painter and 29 Palms Artist Guild member, Audrey Gillick, received a special award for her participation in this year’s auction from CMC President, Dr. Roger Wagner, who also was featured as a guest auctioneer.  “Audrey is a longtime supporter of the arts in the Morongo Basin,” said Dr. Wagner. “It is a pleasure to finally find an opportunity to honor her talent and her dedication to our college and community.”

Event organizers were concerned about turnout in this rural desert community that is still reeling from the staggering economy, but the record breaking profits tell a different story.

“We’ve always had good support for this event but I think the nation’s focus on community colleges is really paying off, even for small colleges like Copper Mountain,” says Foundation Executive Director, Syndee Slayton. “I believe our supporters are investing in our college because they know short term fixes aren’t enough. Education is a long term solution for many of the nation’s problems, but supporting a community college can still make a difference, right here, right now.”


Copper Mountain College is located next to the Joshua Tree National Park, 35 miles north of Palm Springs in California’s high desert. The CMC Foundation was recognized with a Volunteer Action Award in 1984 by then-President Reagan for raising private funds to build the initial Copper Mountain College campus. The college now receives full state funding and is ranked about 109 in size, of the current 110 California Community Colleges.

The CMC Foundation can be contacted by phone at 760-366-3791 ext. 5012, or visit the website at www.theCMCF.org. For more information about Copper Mountain College, call 760-366-3791 or visit www.cmccd.edu.

March 2, 2010

JOSHUA TREE, Ca -Copper Mountain College is pleased to announce the hiring of Dr. Tan Phan as the Director of Research and Grants for Copper Mountain College.

Dr. Phan holds a Ph.D in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of British Columbia, a Master in Education from Dalhousie University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Saint Mary's University.

Dr. Phan's experience as a Researcher includes work for Antelope Valley College, and as an Instructor of Educational Psychology, Statistics and Education Research for San Diego State University. She has experience working on program review, curriculum and instruction development, program planning and evaluation, assessment of student learning outcomes, and institutional research.

Dr. Phan has assisted administrators in successfully writing Grants for Title V, TRIO, and VCTE (Perkins). She has also been the recipient of research grants including the Research, Scholarship and Creativity grant at SDSU, the University of British Columbia Graduate Fellowship, the Social Science & Humanities Research Council of Canada among others.

Dr. Phan has published and presented multiple papers on institutional effectiveness and assessment, resiliency, and academic success of Vietnamese people.

For general information regarding Copper Mountain College visit us at www.cmccd.edu or call 760.366.3791.

February 15, 2010

JOSHUA TREE, Ca– The Copper Mountain College Foundation is now accepting applications for the F. Roy Greenleaf, Jr. Scholarship for the 2010-2011 school year. The Greenleaf Scholarship will be awarded to a local high school senior that demonstrates: a strong determination to succeed; an abiding desire to help others in their school, family and community; financial need; and an interest in serving the Morongo Basin upon completion of their education.

This year, the CMC Foundation website www.theCMCF.org is featuring excerpts from a video interview of the 2005 Greenleaf Scholar, Ryan O’Connell, by long-time CMC supporter and student, Genevieve Salisbury. Ryan, now age 22 and the fourth recipient of the Greenleaf Scholarship, began medical school this past August at the University of Southern California, School of Medicine, where he hopes to earn his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree by June, 2013. Ryan was awarded the Copper Mountain College Foundation’s prestigious Greenleaf Scholarship following graduation from Yucca Valley High School in 2005 and went on to earn an Associate in Arts degree in Liberal Arts from CMC in 2006. He then satisfied pre-med requirements at Cal State San Bernardino where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 2009, majoring in biology, with a grade point average of 3.65.

Thinking back to the day he learned he had been awarded the Greenleaf Scholarship, Ryan said, “It was a time of sheer excitement…one of the happiest days of my life! I am most grateful to Mr. Greenleaf and the Copper Mountain College Foundation.” Ryan also revealed that his peers at Cal State were constantly amazed to learn of this generous scholarship, “They just couldn’t believe it!” The new medical student further commented, “The Greenleaf Scholarship has allowed me to concentrate on my studies and not worry about major issues such as tuition, affording a place to live, and the expense of textbooks.”

The F. Roy Greenleaf, Jr. Education Fund was established by the estate of Roy Greenleaf, Jr. and is administered by the Copper Mountain College Foundation. The Greenleaf Scholarship pays for tuition, books, fees and standard living expenses for a graduating senior from one of the five Morongo Basin high schools including Joshua Springs Christian, Monument, Sky, Twentynine Palms and Yucca Valley. The selected senior is expected to enter Copper Mountain College in the fall of 2010 and earn a degree within two years. Scholars complete their education at a four-year UC or CSU institution within California, and can apply for support for graduate degrees, subject to approval and available funding.

Interestingly, academic excellence is not the primary criterion of the Fund. Mr. Greenleaf desired that “average” deserving students have an equal chance to receive support. Mr. Greenleaf was particularly interested in helping students who possess a strong determination to succeed, and demonstrate an abiding wish to help others, in school, family, and community.  Ryan O’Connell enthusiastically believes everyone should contribute to the community by volunteering whenever possible. He served with the Yucca Valley Clean Team while attending school, prior to and after, becoming a Greenleaf Scholar.

Ryan said, “I think I received more than I gave as a volunteer…it makes one feel good and is a way to make friends.” Ryan has many friends in the Morongo Basin, including lasting friendships with many teachers at CMC. Ryan was born in San Dimas, California, to Betty and Stephen O’Connell. He arrived in Yucca Valley at age eleven, having moved from Montclair, California, where he spent his earliest childhood years. Ryan has a sister and two brothers, one of whom is a local pharmacist. After completing medical school, internship, and residency, Ryan wants to return to the desert.

Previous Greenleaf Scholars are Jillian Burkett, 2002; Jennifer Meyers-Giddings, 2003; Catherine Cahill, 2004; Ryan O’Connell, 2005; Samantha Stephens, 2006; Tollian Waite, 2007; Geanne Weaver, 2008; and Rhonda Romberg, 2009.

Application forms and additional information is available in the Counseling Office at each of the five eligible high schools, and at the Copper Mountain College Foundation office on the CMC campus next to the General Ernie Reid Bookstore. The due date for the return of the application to the applicable high school Counseling Office is Thursday, March 25, 2010. Finalists will be interviewed and the winner announced in late April, with the remaining finalists receiving a cash award. For additional information on this unique scholarship opportunity, please call the Copper Mountain College Foundation office at 760-366-3791 ext. 5012, or visit the Foundation online at www.theCMCF.org.

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