March 5, 2013
Cool Classes
STUDENT LIFE
The CNM Chronicle
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Not just theory, but real-world experience By Shaya Rogers Staff Reporter
Networking and Systems Administration major Freddie Denetdale said the Interpersonal Communications class, taught by Sherry Smestad, is helping him to connect with other people. The class teaches students how to improve relationships through problem solving, he said. Smestad said her COMM 2221 communications class is helpful because communication is necessary in almost every part of life. “We’re social animals so it’s an important class, and it’s a fun class, too,” she said. This Interpersonal Communications class requires students to complete a term project: either writing a
research paper or participating in service learning. Service learning offers students the opportunity to volunteer with organizations in the community. “It’s a positive thing and I feel good about it,” Denetdale said. Denetdale volunteers at a shelter that provides food to people who cannot make ends meet, he said. “Most of my career I’ve been in the service sector and I’ve gotten used to helping people so it makes me feel better when I’m able to do that,” he said. Service Learning is an important component of Smeastad’s class because it creates potential for students to get out into the community, Smestad said. “I’ve had so many students say, ‘I’ve
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wanted to volunteer and give service, I just didn’t know who to connect up with and how to get there,’” she said. Having students relate real life actions to the communication learned in class helps them better understand what they are being taught, she said. “The other end is that we know that when students can connect what they’re doing to the real world, that they’re going to learn the concepts better, that it’s going to make more sense to them,” she said. Since communication is a skill that is practiced inside and outside the classroom, the service learning helps students recognize communication from a social as well as an academic aspect, she said. Denetdale said linking interpersonal
communications and service learning helps him get active in the community, and do something other than write a paper. He is happy to help others and is looking forward to the communication skills he gains from working with so many different types of people, he said. “What I like best is just helping people, and my goal as far as Service Learning is working on my communication skills,” he said. “Cool Classes” is a feature which focuses on an interesting program or class at CNM. To nominate a class or program, send and email to jyllianchronicle@gmail.com
Service learning organizations • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Albuquerque Meals on Wheels American Red Cross in New Mexico ARCA Big Brother/Big Sister of Central New Mexico Children’s Grief Center of New Mexico Cuidando los Niños Explora Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails Good Samaritan Wellness Programs— Manzano del Sol Village Indian Pueblo Cultural Center MADD New Mexico Manzano del Sol — Good Samairtan Wellness Programs Meals on Wheels of Albuquerque National Hispanic Cultural Center of NM La Plazita Institute American Red Cross in New Mexico Rio Grande Food Project Roadrunner Food Bank St. Martin’s Hospitality Center Senator Tom Udall Share Your Care Adult Day Services The Store House United Blood Services Wings For Life
The CNM Chronicle makes leap at international journalism conference
Editor-In-Chief Applications are now being accpeted for summer term Editor-In-Chief applicants must: • • • • •
Be work-study qualified Have passed English 1102 with a B or higher Have at least three terms remaining at CNM Be flexible with scheduling Must have adequate leadership and commuintcation skills
PHOTO BY LINDSAY GROME | ACP (Back row) Faculty adviser Jack Ehn, (center row from left) Distribution Manager Brandy Valles, Features Reporter Shaya Rogers, Editor-in-Chief Jyllian Roach, Production Manager Jonathan Gamboa, Managing Editor Adriana Avila, (front row, from left) Art Director Scott Roberts and Investigative Reporter Daniel Johnson pose with their third place certificate.
By Jyllian Roach Email resumé to Jack Ehn at jehn@cnm.edu
Editor-in-Chief
The CNM Chronicle placed third in a recent international journalism Best in Show competition. The contest, held by the Associated Collegiate Press in San Francisco, was among two-year
institutions from the United States and Canada. At least 10 schools entered the competition; the ACP’s policy is to not disclose the total number of applicants in a category, according to the ACP’s website, studentpress.org. In the spring 2012 conference, the Chronicle
placed ninth. The Chronicle’s goal had been to score eighth or higher, so the leap to third came as a happy surprise to the eight Chronicle members at the ceremony. Prior to the fall 2012 conference, the Chronicle had not placed in the competition.
The group is very excited to be recognized for the hard work and dedication they have put into the weekly newspaper. As for the future, the Chronicle intends to remain in the top three at the upcoming conference in the fall.