To honor and celebrate the class of 2020 during the COVID pandemic this Spring, GWC hosted a virtual commencement celebration online and a drive-through graduation parade This Spring, Golden West College awarded over 3,000 AA degrees, along with 730 Associate Degrees for Transfer, and 2,183 Certificates of Completion. Almost 200 graduates were international students, representing 10 different countries. The GWC Graduation Committee worked diligently on ways to celebrate the students’ accomplishments, while protecting the health and safety of our graduates and loved ones. “Overall, I think the virtual graduation celebration honored our students and allowed them to be seen, celebrated,…
Author: Rose Wright
Two new non-credit programs this fall are designed to prepare students to achieve significant life goals: U.S. citizenship for some, and high school equivalency certificates for others. With a population of just under 3.2 million, Orange County, despite the stereotypes, is incredibly diverse. According to Data USA, 45.5 percent of Orange County residents speak a non-English language. About 15 percent of Orange County residents do not have a high school diploma, according to Data USA. That translates to about 475,000 people. A similar percentage, 13, are not U.S. citizens, according to Data USA. That translates to about 415,000 people. These…
58 New Officers graduate in One-of-a-Kind Event In March, Golden West College’s Regional Criminal Justice Training Center held a unique graduation ceremony under newly-ordered restrictions on public gatherings. During the course of their training, they survived being shocked with a Taser, walking through a building filled with tear gas, and being sprayed in the face with pepper spray — or as it’s more commonly known by its street name, Satan’s Sweat. That was all just par for the course for the 58 graduating recruits of Golden West College’s Regional Justice Training Center Academy Class 161. Like every class that goes…
Olympian Monique Henderson, two-time Gold Medalist, juggles three young ones as she prepares for the fifth season as head coach of men’s and women’s cross-country and men’s and women’s track and field teams Monique Henderson knows a thing or two about pushing herself to the limit to reach the finish line. She’s a three-time Olympian and a two-time Gold Medalist in the 4×400 relay. She’s also a mother of a 2-year-old boy and twin one-year-old girls. Henderson, head coach for men’s and women’s cross country as well as the men’s and women’s track & field teams, sees some parallels between…
New partnership with Los Amigos High School allows incoming freshman to earn AA degrees by the end of their senior year He may be only 13, but Victor Lozada already has an idea of what he’d like to be when he grows up. “I’m not sure,” says the incoming freshman at Los Amigos High School in Fountain Valley. “But I’m thinking investment fund manager. They use a lot of math, and I love math.” Victor having a solid shot at eventually attending and graduating from college largely has to do with a new partnership between Golden West College and Los…
Campus shutdown hasn’t stopped crew from keeping grounds looking as green and clean as possible It’s a beautiful late weekday morning, sunny with some billowing clouds, at Golden West College. In any other year, the crewmembers would be putting finishing touches on the quad grounds in preparation for Commencement, which had been scheduled for the following day, May 21. But 2020 hasn’t been any other year. Since April 1, when they returned to work following a two-week shutdown caused by the COVID-19 crisis, members of GWC’s grounds crew have been keeping busy maintaining the pristine, park-like atmosphere of the campus…
PASÉA HOTEL & SPA Named one of the best new US Coastal hotels by Condé Nast Traveler, the oceanfront Paséa Hotel & Spa is a modern oasis with an unrivaled sense of clean, coastal style and comfort. The hotel is located in the heart of the vibrant and emerging Huntington Beach community and just steps from the city’s iconic pier. With a spacious ocean lawn and Pacific Ocean’s enticing sea breeze, you and your guests will find themselves enjoying the visit of a lifetime. If you are searching for a truly unique experience for your next meeting or special event,…
by Sarah Le In early August, Siyamak Khorrami opened the doors of the new Epoch Times office at the Jamboree Center in Irvine, California, paving the way for the newspaper’s continued expansion in Orange County. The paper plans to start publishing a daily edition in the county in October and is looking for more talented individuals who are passionate about the local community to join the team. Khorrami, the general manager of the Southern California edition of the newspaper, joined the company three years ago. “We’ve received a lot of positive feedback in the area. A lot of people love…
Preschool Program Our Savior’s Lutheran Preschool provides a unique opportunity for children to be engaged in a pre-academic environment with a child-centered approach. Our Preschool team designs their curriculum and lesson plans starting with the California Preschool Learning Foundations, customizing instruction based on classroom personality and the child’s individualized goals and needs. These developmentally appropriate practices and classroom experiences intentionally foster exposure to the world around the child and capture the many moments of curiosity. Throughout the day our teachers guide student learning individually and in groups to explain, educate, and empower the children, encouraging them to ask questions and…
Students and faculty are flocking to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Center in the new Math and Science Building It’s late afternoon on a Tuesday and the room is buzzing with discussions at several separate tables. Some students are working in groups, and others are quietly studying alone, headphones attached and water bottles at hand. With floor-to-ceiling windows, the 4,500-square-foot space is bright and airy. Tables for four have wheels, as do whiteboards and smaller, cushy chairs with desktop attachments for computers and books — the better to move around to form impromptu study groups. There are five study…