Tag: Press Releases

Dr. Jane Le Skaife Honored With 2022-23 Hayward Award for Excellence in Education

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Dr Jane Skaife, sociology instructor standing in book aisle of Rocklin library
Dr Jane Le Skaife, sociology instructor and Hayward Award recipient

Award Honors Full-Time and Part-Time California Community Colleges Faculty

Sierra College sociology professor Dr. Jane Le Skaife was honored with the 2022-23 Hayward Award for Excellence in Education for the California Community Colleges. Sponsored annually by the Foundation for California Community Colleges, this award honors community college full-time and part-time faculty who demonstrate the highest level of commitment to their students, college and profession.

Dr. Skaife was described in a letter of support for her nomination as “a strong advocate for historically marginalized students. “The letter continued, “She is a true equity champion and has contributed significantly in advancing our equity work. Her work to integrate equity initiatives and voices has been critical to the overall climate and progress of the campus.”

Award recipients, nominated by their college academic senate and selected by representatives of the Academic Senate of California Community Colleges, must have a record of outstanding performance of professional activities, as well as a record of active participation on campus.

“Jane has quickly become an integral part of the Sociology Department, well-respected by her peers and students alike. Jane’s passion for Gender Equity, AAPI, and all historically marginalized students shows through her work; she is a true equity champion for Sierra College,” said Willy Duncan, Sierra College’s Superintendent/President. “Through her teaching style, the opportunities she creates outside the classroom, the trainings she attends, and mentoring she provides, Jane’s mission to give voices to the underrepresented enriches the Sierra College community and enhances her students’ success.”

The award may be presented to four (two part-time and two full-time) faculty members per year. Four were recognized this year.

Dr. Skaife was honored at a California Community Colleges Board of Governors meeting on March 20, 2023 in Sacramento. 

About Sierra College 

Sierra College District is rising to the needs of our community. Sierra College serves 3,200 square miles of Northern California with campuses in Roseville, Rocklin, Grass Valley, and Truckee. With approximately 125 degree and certificate programs, Sierra College is ranked first in Northern California (Sacramento north) for transfers to four-year universities, offers career/technical training, and classes for upgrading job skills. Sierra graduates can be found in businesses and industries throughout the region. More information at www.sierracollege.edu.

Sierra College Theatre Arts Department Presents Arthur Miller’s The Crucible

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The Crucible promotional poster

Live Performances March 24 through April 16 in Rocklin

Sierra College Theatre Arts Department announces its spring production of The Crucible directed by Scott Adams. Members of the community are invited to attend one of the nine performances in the Dietrich Theatre on the Sierra College campus in Rocklin.

Performance Dates and Times

  • Friday, March 24 at 7:30 pm  
  • Saturday, March 25 at 7:30 pm 
  • Friday, March 31 at 7:30 pm 
  • Saturday, April 1 at 7:30 pm 
  • Sunday, April 2 at 2:00 pm 
  • Thursday, April 13 at 7:00 pm (director’s discussion at 5:00 pm, Q&A with cast and crew after the show) 
  • Friday, April 14 at 7:30 pm 
  • Saturday, April 15 at 7:30 pm 
  • Sunday, April 16 at 2:00 pm (closing matinee) 

Story

This exciting drama about the Puritan purge of witchcraft in old Salem is both a gripping historical play and a timely parable of our contemporary society.  

The story focuses upon a young farmer, his wife, and a young servant girl who maliciously causes the wife’s arrest for witchcraft. The farmer brings the girl to court to admit the lie—and it is here that the monstrous course of deceit is terrifyingly depicted. The farmer, instead of saving his wife, finds himself also accused of witchcraft and ultimately condemned with a host of others. 

Winner of the 1953 Tony Award for Best Play. This exciting drama about the Puritan purge of witchcraft in old Salem is both a gripping historical play and a timely parable of our contemporary society. “A powerful drama.” —NY Times. “Strongly written.” —NY Daily News. 

Purchase Tickets

  • $17 general
  • $15 seniors
  • $7 students  

Tickets may be purchased online (handling fees apply for all credit card and in advance purchases) or purchased at the door one hour before curtain time in the lobby of the Dietrich Theatre. 

Call (916) 660-8036 for more information.  

Venue

The Dietrich Theatre at Sierra College, 5100 Sierra College Blvd., Rocklin, CA 95677

About Sierra College

Sierra College District is rising to the needs of our community. Sierra College serves 3,200 square miles of Northern California with campuses in Roseville, Rocklin, Grass Valley, and Truckee. With approximately 125 degree and certificate programs, Sierra College is ranked first in Northern California (Sacramento north) for transfers to four-year universities, offers career/technical training, and classes for upgrading job skills. Sierra graduates can be found in businesses and industries throughout the region. More information at www.sierracollege.edu 

Ridley Gallery at Sierra College Presents Work of Jennifer Lugris

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When Life Hands You Lemons exhibition, Jan. 30 – Mar. 2, 2023

Painting of small child holding onto woman's chest for comfort and love as mother's arm is wrapped around the child's back.
Artwork Title: When Life Hands You Lemons by Jennifer Lugris

The Ridley Gallery is pleased to present the work of Jennifer Lugris: When Life Hands You Lemons. The paintings in this exhibition span the course of the past four years since Lugris began teaching at Sierra College, during which time she also became a mother. The exhibition, displayed among Lugris’ colorfully painted murals, also includes new works from her most recent project American Dream, which celebrates the achievements of Sacramento-based immigrants. 

Jennifer Lugris is best known for her colorful, patterned, paintings that transform ordinary scenes to show the simple world as vibrant and astonishing. As a Korean, Uruguayan, first-generation American, 
Lugris describes her work as strangely, but beautifully fitting puzzle 
pieces, like the ancestry that makes up who she is. 

Her award-winning work has been exhibited and published internationally. Solo exhibitions include Verge Center for the Arts, Richmond Art Center, Merced College, and Maturango Museum, among others. In California, Lugris’ work resides in the permanent collection of the Art, Design & Architecture Museum in Santa Barbara and as a mural installation for the Meta Open Arts artist-in-residence program in San Francisco. 

Lugris received a Master of Fine Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is Chair of the Sierra College Art Department and currently lives in Sacramento, California with her family, dogs, and cats.  

The exhibition will be open for viewing at the Ridley Gallery on the Rocklin Campus from January 30 through March 2 with an Opening Reception on Thursday, February 9, 3:30-5:30 p.m. 

Ridley Gallery hours are 11a.m.- 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday. 

About Sierra College

Sierra College District is rising to the needs of our community. Sierra College serves 3,200 square miles of Northern California with campuses in Roseville, Rocklin, Grass Valley, and Truckee. With approximately 125 degree and certificate programs, Sierra College is ranked first in Northern California (Sacramento north) for transfers to four-year universities, offers career/technical training, and classes for upgrading job skills. Sierra graduates can be found in businesses and industries throughout the region. More information at http://www.sierracollege.edu 

Sierra College Foundation Awards Over $300K in Scholarships in 2022

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Local Community College Committed to Students, Developing Our Regional Work Force

Sierra College Foundation (SCF) announced it awarded $300,000 in scholarships in 2022. As an organization, SCF serves as the advancement office for Sierra College and is committed to aligning with Sierra College’s mission: Student success for all while closing equity and achievement gaps. Students often struggle, and financial limitation is the biggest hurdle to student success. 

“This is my favorite time of year,” said Sonbol Aliabadi, SCF Executive Director. “All year long our Board of Directors, our donors and our team works very hard to bring in dollars that we can award to students to help them continue their education. At the start of a new year, it’s always gratifying to reflect on the year prior and see our efforts in action in a meaningful way. Often times people think scholarships are not needed for community college. While community college is an affordable option, there are still many wonderful, dynamic students that need financial assistance for basic needs like rent, food and gas. Our scholarships help students with these life essentials so they can focus with less stress on their education.”

Founded in 1972, SCF raises money from private donors to support students, college programs, and the future of the Sierra College. SCF does this through events such as Taste of Excellence, the Sierra College Athletics Golf Tournament, grant funding, private donations, corporate donations and planned giving. SCF has grown along with the college and encourages gifts to support students, enhance college programs, faculty support, and facility improvements to ensure student success. 

“By awarding me this scholarship, you have lightened my financial burden which allows me to focus more on the most important aspect of school, learning. I hope one day that I will be able to help struggling students reach their goals in higher education by assisting them in the same way you have helped me. Thank you,” said Devin, a Sierra College student.

About Sierra College Foundation

Sierra College Foundation is independently audited and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, most of whom live and work in the communities served by the Sierra Joint Community College District of Placer, Nevada, and parts of Sacramento and El Dorado Counties. For more information about Sierra College Foundation and how to give, visit: www.sierracollege.edu/foundation

 

Contact Sierra College Foundation

Sierra College Foundation Office

(916) 660-7020
foundation@sierracollege.edu
Rocklin

Building U, Room 27

Tax ID Number: 23-7241877

 

Sierra College’s New Instructional Building Progresses in 2022 with Ceremonial Beam Signing

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Modern and Comfortable Classrooms Made Possible by Measure E

On Tuesday, January 18, Sierra College held a ceremonial beam signing for its New Instructional Building, which broke ground last fall on the Rocklin campus. This new three-story classroom building, scheduled to open in Fall 2023, will replace and consolidate classes from several smaller inefficient buildings into one larger efficient building with modern and comfortable classrooms and gathering places.

Sierra College President/Superintendent Willy Duncan, together with Sierra College Board of Trustees President Carol Garcia and Board of Trustees members Bob Romness and Scott Leslie, welcomed the campus community to join them in signing the beam. The beam will be placed in the building’s framework later this year.

When complete, the New Instructional Building will provide approximately 75,000 gross square feet of classrooms, teaching laboratories, and office space.

The new building will be located directly north of Weaver Hall and west of the new parking garage on the northern edge of the Rocklin campus.

This project is funded by Measure E, which was approved by voters in 2018. Measure E is a demonstration in the vote of confidence in the future of the community, and the future of Sierra College. Sierra College is using the funds provided with Measure E as a base and, along with state facilities bond funds, and other funds from our strong fiscal management updating our campus with new facilities to keep pace with the workforce training and education needs of our community.

Sierra College improvement projects made possible by Measure E include the recently completed Parking Garage with 1,501 parking spaces, and the Student Union Kitchen Renovation.

Other current projects include campus wide infrastructure improvement upsizing or replacement of utility and technology services to all existing and new buildings, and the Applied Technology Center Modernization which will update and connect the current Automotive Technology and Woods/Metals Technology instructional buildings, which were built in the 1960s, creating a vocational technology hub on the Rocklin campus.

Information on this and other construction projects at Sierra College is available at www.sierracollege.edu/improvements

Sierra College Earns Upgraded Aaa Rating for Bond Issuance

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Sierra College has announced that its issuance rating for the second series of Measure E bonds has been upgraded by Moody’s to Aaa from Aa1. The Aaa rating is rare for a community college.

“Only a handful of community college districts have achieved that rating,” noted Sierra College Superintendent/President Willy Duncan. “It signifies that the District is one of the safest investments on the market. Overall, it reflects the ongoing commitment of the Board of Trustees to the fiscal health of the District.”

As rationale for the upgrade, Moody’s noted the District’s solid financial performance, conservative fiscal practices, and projected future increases in assessed value (AV). Due largely to the upgraded credit rating, the District also refinanced general obligation bonds for School Facilities Improvement District No. 1 (Tahoe-Truckee Campus), and School Facilities Improvement District No. 2 (Nevada County Campus) for a combined taxpayer savings exceeding $1,850,000.

“We are very proud of achieving the highest bond rating, and we would like to commend the District staff for their fastidious efforts managing not only the Measure E funds, but the general purpose funds that support the operations of the college,” said Carol Chilton Garcia, Sierra College Board of Trustees President. “I would also like to recognize the community members on the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee for volunteering their time to provide oversight and review of the Measure E projects. Their contribution has been essential to this process.”

Proceeds from the bond sale will fund the next phase of Facilities Master Plan projects on the Rocklin campus including a new 77,000 square foot instructional building and a new science facility. The first phase consisted of campus-wide infrastructure improvements, a campus center renovation, and a new parking facility.

“The Measure E construction program is making significant improvements to the Rocklin campus that will benefit students and the community for generations to come,” added President Duncan.

About Measure E

The majority of Sierra College’s Rocklin campus facilities and infrastructure was constructed in the 1960s. Although the college has done an excellent job of maintaining these facilities, many of our buildings and infrastructure systems are now well beyond their useful life and in need of major renovation or replacement. In 2017, the college updated its Facilities Master Plan, establishing a long-term vision for the Rocklin campus and, in June 2018, the community approved Measure E to fund the implementation of the first phase of this Master Plan. More information at www.sierracollege.edu/bond

About Sierra College

The Sierra Joint Community College District is rising to the needs of our community. Sierra College serves 3,200 square miles of Northern CA with campuses in Roseville, Rocklin, Grass Valley, and Truckee. With approximately 125 degree and certificate programs, Sierra College is ranked first in Northern California (Sacramento north) for transfers to four-year universities, offers career/technical training, and classes for upgrading job skills.  Sierra graduates can be found in businesses and industries throughout the region. More information at www.sierracollege.edu