thecollegian Issue 13 • Friday, April 24, 2015 • deltacollegian.net
INSIDE
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HELPING HAND: Air Force Veteran Renee Painter recieves information about services avaliable to vets from Stan Rapada at the Veteran Services Center.
New popular grill opens in downtown Stockton PAGE 4
PHOTO BY KRISTEN RIEDEL VECTOR IMAGE FROM FREEPIK
VET FAM PROGRAM CONNECTS AT DELTA By Kristen Riedel deltacollegian@gmail.com
#Trending: Live streaming PAGE 6
Freshman Cameron Leeper stands out PAGE 7
UPCOMING L.H. Horton Jr. Gallery presents the 16th Annual Student Art Exhibition & Awards Competition April 23 - May 15
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In 2010, Captain Susan Feighery was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer that ended her 17-year military career and started a twoyear battle for her life. After many rounds of radiation, surgeries and chemotherapy, Feighery emerged victorious, but forever changed, and began her search for what she calls “the new normal” for her life. “I typed ‘unemployed vet-
eran needs help’ into Google,” said Feighery. She discovered the now expired Veterans Retraining Assistance Program that offered financial assistance to veterans returning for training in high demand occupations. “I knew I couldn’t do a physical job anymore … so I went down the list and found Substance Abuse Counselor,” said Feighery. With the assistance of Stan Rapada at the San Joaquin Delta College Veteran Services Center, Feighery enrolled
Well-known Lodi High teacher dies unexpectedly after school By Midori Morita
deltacollegian@gmail.com
Current and former students gathered in front of Lodi High School on April 12 to remember Gary Fujihara, better known as ‘Fuj,’ a long-time art teacher who died unexpectedly two days earlier. A small sidewalk memorial was held and students showed up with chalk to write some of their favorite memories of Fuj, who had taught for almost 30 years. During the memorial, students covered the sidewalks in front of Lodi High with last goodbyes and drawings. Immediately after news of his passing, students started the Facebook page “RIP Mr. Fujihara” to memorialize the be-
loved teacher. In two weeks, the page gained more than 2,000 likes. Students continue to post pictures and memories on the page. Fujihara was known for his jokes, unique phrases and Hawaiian shirts. Robert Flesher, a Delta student and Lodi High alumn had “Fuj” as an instructor in 2014. “My favorite memory of Fuj is whenever he would tell a story, he’d always start with ‘So I was driving from my house, you know, South Side Stockton 209!’ then he would put up a peace sign. Everybody always knew what he would say, but it would never get old,” said Flesher. Teaching for almost three
See TEACHER, Page 8
in the certificate program for Fall 2012. Conquering the physical and mental challenges of life after devastating illness and treatment, Feighery excelled in her schoolwork and applied for eight scholarships the following Spring. After the August ceremony where she was awarded seven scholarships, one of the sponsors she met during a scholarship interview urged her to apply for a new position available at Catholic Charities Diocese of Stockton.
Feighery successfully completed the application and interview process. Initially hired as the lead case manager, she became the Director of the Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program (VetFam). The SSVF grant was established in 2011 with a goal of ending veteran homelessness by 2015. Non-profit organizations apply for this grant and use it to provide a range of services geared toward getting home-
See VETS, Page 8
State Superintendent Torlakson talks to Delta students on education
PHOTO BY VORANI KHOONSRIVONG
PROSPECTS FOR CHANGE: State Superintendent of Schools Tom Torlakson emphasized the importance of hands-on work, team building and problem solving during a talk at Delta on April 8. He also answered questions from students and faculty on the future of education in California.