Dec. 8, 2010

EL VAQUERO December 8, 2010

Glendale College

Happy Holidays!

Photo by Peter Moyes

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Wednesday, December 8, 2010

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NEWS

EL VAQUERO Glendale Community College

Press Club Awards Scholarships

By Jane Pojawa

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER and PRODUCTION MANAGER

T

hree journalism students, two of them on the staff of El Vaquero, were awarded scholarships Nov. 30 by a retiree group of the Los Angeles Press Club, which named the scholarships in honor of Jerry Clark, a longtime L.A. newsman who died in June.

The awardees were: Louis Roche, editor in chief of El Vaquero, for Outstanding Achievement

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Louis Roche Jr. COPY EDITOR

Agnes Constante STAFF WRITERS

Nik Brkic Vanessa Duffy Brandon Gardner Rachel Mills Adriana Orellana Luis Rodriguez Derek Stowe

as a Photojournalist; Agnes Constante, writer and chief copy editor of El Vaquero, for Outstanding Achievement by a Journalism Major; and Christine Gillette, for Outstanding Achievement for a FirstYear Journalism Student.

Jerry Clark, who attended Glendale College, had a broad-ranging career in journalism, from reporting on the police beat, to sports writing, to production at the old Los Angeles Mirror, the Herald-Examiner [See Press Club, page 3]

Final Exam Schedule

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS

Richard Kontas Isiah Reyes PRODUCTION MANAGER

Jane Pojawa DESIGN ADVISER

Charles Eastman FACULTY ADVISER

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El Vaquero accepts story ideas in news, features, profiles, sports and entertainment from the public. To submit an idea or an article, e-mail the editor at editor@elvaq.com or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5349.

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IN THIS ISSUE

DECEMBER 8, 2010 VOLUME 96 News

NUMBER 7

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-3

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7 Entertainment

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

El Vaquero is always looking for interesting story ideas.

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Please contact us at:

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** ** For Math 101, Math 120, Math 141, and Math 146 classes there will be a common final held on Friday, December 10, 2010 from 4:30-7:00 pm.

On the Cover: Mayor Ara Najarian presided over the 26th annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at Glendale City Hall Dec. 1, which featured a visit from Santa Claus and performances by the Toll Middle School and Valley View Elementary School choirs.

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NEWS

Scholarships some scholarship money to give to students of mine. He said and finally at the Los Angeles that they awarded the money to Times, from which he retired in colleges on a rotating basis. I was 1993. delighted to hear from him and Glendale College Journalism grateful for his organization’s P r o f e s s o r generosity.

Michael Moreau “Then, in worked at the October, Robert Times in the Krauch, the 1980s and chairman of early ’90s and the foundation, remembers Clark called to tell as a composing me that it room supervisor was awarding when the paper another round was converting of scholarships from manual to to our students electronic paste— this time in up. “Jerry was a EDUCATIONAL LEGACY: Jerry’s name.” I guy who always Jerry Clark, a former GCC just had to select student, had a broad-ranging had a smile on the students. career in journalism. A retiree his face and group of the Los Angeles Press Roche, who would go out of Club has named scholarships in has taken several his way to be his honor to be awarded to de- journalism and helpful — rare serving students. photography qualities in the classes at the pressure-cooker atmosphere of a college, said, upon receiving newspaper. the scholarship, “It has been my “He was an old-time newspaper experience so far that taking man in the best sense of the word. journalism classes at GCC has He knew the business from many enhanced both my skills as a angles and he was a very decent photographer and as a writer. person. I hadn’t seen him for GCC has also given me the tools years, when one day, about four and the knowledge to prepare me years ago, he called me at my for the next step, documenting office to tell me that his 8-Ball the world.”

Welfare Foundation, a charitable Serving on the staff of El arm of the L.A. Press Club, had Vaquero “has been an incredible [Press Club, from page 2]

Journalism Classes for Spring Interested in writing for El Vaquero? What about Glendale’s awardwinning campus magazine, the Insider? Or how about learning how to write for broadcast media or photograph for news publications? Registration for Spring 2011 is fast approaching.

Make sure to register early because classes will fill up fast!

JOURN 102 — REPORTING THE NEWS 1740: TTH 1:40-3:45 p.m.; SR314; Bernard Caughey JOURN 103 — STUDENT PUBLICATIONS STAFF Prerequisite: JOURN 102 or equivalent.

1742: TTH 10:45 a.m.-12:10 p.m.; SG140; Michael Moreau JOURN 104 — STUDENT PUBLICATIONS EDITOR Prerequisite: JOURN 103 or equivalent.

1743: TTH 10:45 a.m.-12:10 p.m.; SG140; Michael Moreau JOURN 106 — INTRODUCTION TO BROADCAST JOURNALISM I 3547: W 6:55-10:05 p.m.; room TBA; Jeff Smith JOURN 107 — MAGAZINE WRITING 3728: M 6:55-10:05 p.m.; SF113; Michael Moreau JOURN 110 — PHOTOJOURNALISM 1746: MW 1:40-3:05 p.m.; LB205; Terri Thuente

Photo by Derek Stowe

JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE: Michael Moreau, faculty adviser the the Journalism Department, left, with Christina Gillette, Agnes Constante and Louis Roche, scholarship recipients.

experience,” said Constante, adding that she has learned “a lot from writing stories about the budget cuts and recent elections.

“I’ve also met school administrators and students with valuable knowledge and opinions, and I also got to meet a 10-year-old cancer survivor with an inspiring story.”

She plans to put in one more semester on the newspaper staff

before transferring to Cal State Northridge where she will major in journalism, a field, she said, “where I’ll always be able to learn something new and stay on top of what’s happening in the world.”

One of the newest members of the journalism department at Glendale College, Gillette is now enrolled in Bernie Caughey’s introductory news writing class where, she said, “the principles of

journalism [have been] embedded in my brain.”

Her goal is to transfer to Cal State Northridge as a journalism major, with an emphasis on photojournalism, with the dream of telling stories “important to our society.”

Jane Pojawa can be reached at Jane_Pojawa@elvaq.com

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Wednesday, December 8, 2010

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FEATURES

Diverse Community Creates Global Mindset

By Vanessa Duffy

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

I

n just three months, Global Mindset Group, a non-profit organization, has branched out to five California cities and recruited educational institutions and hundreds of professional volunteers.

Global Mindset is composed of medical, artistic, and athletic professionals who provide free educational and athletic services for children all over the world.

With the current state of the economy, families are forced to make many cutbacks and paying for extra curricular activities may not be in a parent’s budget. The Global Mindset Group shines a light through these dark times by creating communities of positive volunteers that demonstrate selfless support.

The camp provides free lessons in tennis, yoga, martial arts, art and more. It currently meets for three hours twice a month, usually at Emerald Isle Park in Glendale.

The organization was launched in September 2010 by 23-yearold Marine reserve and Glendale

Community College student Khoa Nguyen.

Nguyen spent a year deployed in Africa and was inspired to do more for the global community when he returned to the U.S. “Our mission is to relieve lowincome parents with our active volunteer camps,” said Nguyen.

“We instill a positive influence on the children to build leadership and confidence.”

The Global Mindset Group started at GCC with a small stand and some fliers. Now the organization has about 90 participating students from GCC alone.

“I saw the beautifully designed flier and thought, I have to work with that person,” said Alan LeGrady, president of the organization.

LeGrady is a film major at GCC. He produced an informative and moving commercial for the Global Mindset Group that can be found on YouTube and its website at globalmindsetgroup.org.

His next project is a featurelength documentary about the organization, which he hopes to air at the Grammy Awards on Feb. 13.

HELPING HANDS: Student volunteers of the Global Mindset Group mentor the children of economically disadvantaged families. Khoa Nguyen, left, who started the campus chapter is joined by Alan LeGrady, Gabriel Garcia (the baby), Mane Dovlatyan, Claudia Guadarrama-Garcia, and Gustavo Garcia.

The Global Mindset Group has branches in Glendale, Long Beach, Orange County, and Riverside and is working to recruit Pepperdine University, along with other universities.

Australia will become an official branch next month. The

organization already has several sponsors.

Real estate and mortgage broker Antoine Bui donated a building in Santa Ana for the organization to use as its headquarters.

One of the group’s prestigious sponsors is former Disney animator Michael Cedino, who is known for his work on “The Lion King” and “Aladdin.” His son goes to GCC and is a member of the Global Mindset Group.

Cedino, as well as other volunteer artists, designs T-shirts and postcards that are mailed to orphanages in third-world countries.

People who purchase the group’s merchandise have the choice to keep it or have it sent to an orphanage or a needy child. The organization currently distributes the clothing to Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The Global Mindset Group also works with Kiva, a nonprofit organization that utilizes a network of lenders to fund aspiring business entrepreneurs in the U.S. and internationally. To date, the organization has accrued more than $143 million in small loans. These loans go to people who need help to get on their feet in business, even if it’s just a $500 loan for fertilizer for a farmer in the Philippines. This is a global effort to end global poverty.

“This is the time you want to give back,” said Nguyen.

“It’s more meaningful than just a couple of hours. We are a structured organization.”

For more information, or to join and donate, visit globalmindsetgroup.org and become a member on Facebook for weekly updates.

Vanessa Duffycan be reached at vanessa_duffy@elvaq.com

Have you seen our campus magazine?

Online Exclusives @

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FEATURES

Student Filmmaker Tries for Superbowl

By Derek Stowe

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

U

p-and-coming GCC filmmaker Nicholas Weber, 20, entered an online video contest called the Doritos Challenge, in which the winning commercial could bag more than $2 million if voted the most popular to air during the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011.

“It’s exciting,” said media arts Professor Mike Petros. “I’ve looked at some of the other entries, and (Weber’s Rabble House) has a good shot. I wasn’t impressed with anything else I saw.” Rabble House is the production team name.

Due to the enormous TV audience, Super Bowl advertising spots for commercials are typically the most valuable of the year, costing as much as $2.6 million for a 30-second spot.

This year’s game will be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, pitting the AFC (American Football Conference) champions against the NFC (National Football League) champions.

Weber produced and directed his 30-second entry, which can be viewed on the Doritos website, crashthesuperbowl.com, by typing in the gallery title, “art crasher version 3.”

Judges will pick the top five videos based on creativity and overall appeal. Online voting begins on Jan. 3, 2011 and ends on Jan. 30 at midnight.

“What I see in Nick is a drive to succeed in (filmmaking),” said Petros. “Talent is important. But

more important is drive — a drive to keep doing it.”

There’s a language — a cinematic language that we’ve gotten used to over the last 100 years of watching films, said Petros. “If you learn those things, you learn to tell the stories the way you want — how to communicate the emotion and say what you want to say.”

A graduate of Burbank High School, Weber has been making films for four years — two years before college and two years while at GCC. “So long as I’m making these films, these commercials, and music videos — I’m pretty much happy,” said Weber. “I love the Media Arts Department here [at GCC]. It’s probably one of the best-kept secrets.”

GCC’s film program is tucked away in the Media Arts Department under the guise of TV production, videography, and visual arts.

“I’ve made about 100 short films so far if you ask my girlfriend,” said Weber. “If you ask me, I’ve made about 60.”

Beside commercials and music videos, his demo reel comprises narrative short-films, public service announcements, and experimental videos.

Of course, these are mostly what Weber calls “just practicing.” He’s been trying to put together a feature film for about a year now. It’s a comedy about a kid who tries to make a YouTube video, and everything goes wrong, he said.

For the feature, Weber has already talked to actors and crew

Photo by Nick Weber

CRUNCH TIME: Sudent filmmaker Nick Weber is attempting to “crash the Superbowl” with his spec Doritos commercial. In this still, actress Jenny Pacelli enjoys the guilty pleasure of eating a corn chip while viewing art.

and said, “Hey, I’m not even going to be able to feed you this time. We’re going to make it as cheap as we can.” And they all said, “We’re totally fine.” They believe it could be their big break.

Weber produces his videos as economically as he can. “I have my own camera, my own editing station, and whatever I don’t have, I find people that do have,” he said.

Weber is currently the president of the GCC film club, which has made it easy for him to find students from GCC and Burbank High eager to volunteer for the crew. “They’re willing to learn how to be on set, and I’ve got a considerable amount of

experience,” he said.

In his Doritos commercial entry, Weber said, “A man crashes an art gallery, gets tackled, and unwillingly shares his Doritos.”

While enjoying very crunchy chips to classical music, the disruptive young man carrying a “do not enter” sign, is rolled by a security guard causing three perfect Doritos chips to float into the possession of a gleeful young woman, who looks around before she enjoys one mischievously.

“When we did the Doritos setup, we were rigging props with duct tape trying to get things to stand up off a three-story building,” Weber said.

For the tackle scene, everyone

wanted to see the hit, so as soon as they heard it was happening, they wanted to jump in on the action and have some fun, said Weber.

“By the 20th take all the chips landed on the ground and we had to pick them up to put them back in the bag until there were only crumbs,” he said. The take he finally used was one of the last ones, but it didn’t matter; the tackle happened so fast that it was impossible to tell they were mostly morsels.

Weber cut to an animation of three perfect looking chips to set up the final scene.

“You definitely have to know [See Weber, page 8]

Campus Comments What are you doing for the holidays?

Danya Hawes 20

David Archer 23

Jose Lopez 21

Angela Ovakimyan 20

Social Science

Culinary Arts

Business

Psychology

“I’m gonna work, fool.”

“I can’t wait to see snow.”

“I’m going home to visit my family in Barstow.”

“I’m gonna chomp on some food with my brothers.”

—Compiled by Nik Brkic and photographed by Luis Rodriguez

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Wednesday, December 8, 2010

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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Student Filmmaker Shows Indie-pendent Spirit

Photos by Isiah Reyes

Photo by Richard Kontas

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: Student filmmaker Nicholas Weber, photo above left, confers with sound engineer Jordan Miller, left, during production of Weber’s Doritos commercial. Jose Robleto, above center, checks video monitors while filming “High School Confinement,” written and directed by Weber and shot at the GCCTV studios. Weber, above right, is the president of the campus film club and tries to use Glendale students in all of his film projects, see related story on page 5. The GCCTV studios, bottom left photo, were converted into a high school classroom by Weber and his crew for the filming of “High School Confinement,” Front row: Justin Priceless, Nicholas Weber, Jennie Marie Pacelli. Middle row: instructor Michael Pitts, Alan LeGrady, Elen Chan, Jesse Rodriguez. Back Row: Evelyn Pineda, Jordan Miller, Yasmin Boria, Kevin Pineda and Jane Pojawa. The infamous “tackle scene,” below center, involved numerous takes of security guard Jess Collette tackling Doritos muncher Justin Priceless. Behind the camera, below right, Weber is already making plans for his next project.

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Hero’s Journey for Director Danny Boyle

By Ani Khashadoorian SPECIAL TO EL VAQUERO

B

etween life and death, between “A Rock and a Hard Place,” and between the intersection of Doheny and Beverly, hiker Aron Ralston’s famous tale came full circle at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills where the makers of the film “127 Hours” met to how the film was conceived.

In 2003, Ralston was traversing the mountains of Utah, when he became trapped by a rogue boulder that fell and crushed his arm against a canyon wall, rendering him virtually paralyzed.

For five straight days, Ralston tried to subsist and attempted to get untangled, but soon ran out of food and water. He tried to record video messages while facing certain death.

His only chance for survival was also the most brutal option.

He cut off his right arm with a small dull knife.

After turning his story into a New York Times bestseller, “Between A Rock And A Hard Place,” Ralston’s life has become the stuff of legends — and director Danny Boyle’s (“Slumdog Millionaire,” 2008) passion project.

More than half a decade after Ralston’s ordeal and eight Oscars later, the screenwriter and producer behind “Slumdog Millionaire” teamed up with Oscar-winner Boyle to bring his story to the big screen with “127 Hours,” starring James Franco as Ralston.

The film opened a few weeks ago to sold-out theaters with lines of curious viewers, quickly generating glowing admiration and awards season heat. At film industry screenings, some reports have come in that audience members have actually fainted during the difficult but pivotal amputation scene.

With a keen knack for bringing unlikely heroes to the screen, “127 Hours” screenwriter Simon Beaufoy and producer Christian Colson (also Boyle collaborators on “Slumdog Millionaire) discussed their challenges as filmmakers. Both have had long careers in the business; Colson

has worked at Miramax and on a film with Julian Fellowes (“Gosford Park”) and Beaufoy started his writing career with “The Full Monty” (1997).

But it was “Slumdog” that skyrocketed both of them to the industry “A” list and allowed them to pursue the making of “127 Hours.” The press junket for the film is a far cry from the conditions the men faced before the box office and awards triumph of “Slumdog Millionaire.”

“What I always, always remember is that we (Danny, Christian, myself) have all made films that nobody wants to talk about,” Beaufoy said. “They’ve closed in a weekend, there are no Q&A’s, there is no press — and that is the most heartbreaking experience.

“It’s heartbreaking when they don’t [talk], and when they do, you do lots of press and you get tired, and so what? It’s brilliant, cause people are watching your film and that’s what you made films for.”

The influx of projects and scripts offered to the trio were nothing short of staggering after “Slumdog Millionaire,” yet they chose to go ahead and pursue Ralston’s story instead of helming big budget studio epics or yet another comic book adaptation as the movie making norm seems to be nowadays.

What distinguished Ralston’s journey enough to adapt it into a story that was more than a movie about the guy who cut off his own arm?

Colson, the producer, said, ‘’When we first saw the real video messages that he left, we realized what we were watching was very moving. What (Ralston) knew he was doing, how he was going to die...we saw him facing that with great dignity, great sadness.

I admired him immensely; I thought ‘God, when my time comes, will I have faced it with such dignity?’

“What we saw in those messages, when he turned on his camera, he was sort of smiling, because it gave him a way to communicate and remember the people he left behind. And that was really our way into the story; he doesn’t want to go; that was

his overriding impression. I don’t want to go yet, there’s stuff I need to do, there’s people I need to see, I can feel it — so it came to the end of the movie. It’s not just about the guy. It’s about the guy and it’s about the emotion driving the story, underlying all of that.

It was his need to get back, that universal pull we all have on each other. It’s about other people.’’

Though Beaufoy and Colson sat on the maroon plush couches at the Four Seasons for the interviews, one could imagine them yet again walking the steps to the stage of the Kodak Theater, facing their famous and glittery peers. This would be right before looking out to the camera, out to the world watching, and out to the audience members before the ultimate Hollywood award is placed into their hands.

But that is not what ultimately keeps them going.

“Sometimes I wake up in the morning and think, I should do something useful,” Beaufoy

HARD CORE: Hiker Aron Ralston, played by James Franco, resorts to selfamputation after in director Danny Boyle’s “127 Hours.”

said. “What is the use of being a screenwriter? I should be a doctor or a medic, or something that actually affects people and is useful, and then I have to remind myself...that art, actually art, the great function of art and why it is so important is because it can change lives, it can move people,

it can affect people.

“That is just as important as putting a physical bandage on people. It may be putting an emotional bandage on them or shining a light on a bit of oneself that one may have not seen.”

Ani Khashadoorian can be reached at ani_khashadoorian@elvaq.com

Student Filmmaker [Weber, from page 5] how to act because then you can know how to talk to everyone — actors, grips, editors in their own terms,” he said as he prepared to do anything that needed to be done, such as lighting, editing, color correction, and special effects.

According to media arts lab instructional technician Ryun Hovind, Weber used an interesting technique to animate the 3D angle of the set of three Doritos chips, almost like the effect in the movie “The Matrix.” He taped off grids, put the trio of chips on a Lazy Susan, took a picture, moved it, took another picture, and then moved it again until he had gone all the way around, so that he had a 360 [degree] clip of the Doritos chips.

Other GCC students on hand for the production included Alan Legrady, the assistant director and assistant producer; Jordan Miller, the audio engineer; and a sizeable cast

and crew. “I cast and crew all of my films off of Facebook,” said Weber.

But not every volunteer is picked automatically, he said.

The lead guy for the commercial was an aspiring young actor who had just arrived in L.A. and happened to be Weber’s long-lost cousin, Justin Price. But Weber did not bring him on the set until he had been interviewed to verify that he was a good fit for the role and a good fit on the set.

Several soon-to-be wellknown arctors are cast in the ad. The security guard is played

by Jess Collette; Jenny Pacelli is the cute young woman who eats the Dorito; and the art snobs are Travis Riner, Julie Belknap, Khoa Nguyen and Sonia Jackson.

“We run our sets pretty professionally,” said Weber.

“That’s how we get people to keep coming back. People like working.”

Weber’s speech and debate teacher, Ira Heffler, who is a published screenwriter, said, “Pursue your dreams because

that’s what it’s really all about.

Whether it’s speech or whether it’s filmmaking — that’s why we’re here — to help the students accomplish all that they can. I’m real proud of Nick.”

Provided his ad gets enough votes to get on the air, Super Bowl XLV 2011 should have the whole GCC community glued to its flat-screens, rooting for their own Nicholas Weber.

If he wins the contest, Weber is planning to use the money to pay his way through film school, namely the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

If he loses the contest, it’s “on with the next project.”

Weber has found that by talking with just about anyone in the industry that, “you don’t need to have a degree. You don’t need to have a college education.

What you need is experience.”

See related photos pages 8-9.

Derek Stowe can be reached at derek_stowe@elvaq.com

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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT / SPORTS

Applied Music Recital Uplifts Audience

By Adriana Orellana EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

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tudents demonstrated their singing abilities, as well as musical instrument playing skills, at the Applied Music Recital presented by the Glendale Community College Music Department on Friday.

Throughout the 18 performances, the audience was delighted with the variety of ranges exhibited by the singers.

The instrumental performances included tenor sax, piano, oboe, and jazz guitar.

The night started off with a performance by Paul Marmorstein, a baritone vocalist, who sang “Per la Gloria d’adorarvi,” by Giovanni Bononcini.

Marmorstein’s emotional and lovely, yet powerful voice, captivated the audience with the sentiment that he put into his performance.

Marmorstein transmitted the emotional message of the song, “For the glory of adoring you/I want to love you…Loving you/I will suffer, yet I will love you always/Yes, even in my suffering.” He ended with a crescendo that stood out from the quieter parts of the song.

The sopranos of the evening showed off their tremendous voices through their songs as well. Katherine Bliss sang “Care Selve” by Georg Frideric Handel, as she demonstrated her dynamic range

to the audience throughout the delicate song. Christina Eltrevoog possessed remarkable diction throughout her song, “Apres un Reve” by Gabriel Faure, and her soft and gentle voice, and beautiful green dress, focused the audience’s attention on her.

Another singer who immersed herself in her performance was Jessica Kesselring who sang “Dimmi, Crudele Amore,” also

by Handel. Kesselring was very enthusiastic throughout her performance, transmitting the emotions of the song to the audience as she sang, “Tell me, thou cruel love, miserable human fate, always overflowing with grief and pain.”

Joy Jungwon Oh blew away the audience as she sang Giacchino Rossini’s “La Partorella Delle Alpi.” Oh’s voice and performance was smooth and clean throughout. “Oh! Quand Je Dors,” by Franz Liszt, was sung

by Rachel Freed, who portrayed the sentimentalism of the music through her voice and her actions.

Amanda Lucia Rodriguez, a mezzo soprano, was engaging with her performance of “Habanera” from “Carmen,”

by Georges Bizet. Rodriguez immersed herself into the character and moved across the stage showing off her imposing character. Rodriguez’s operatic voice was one of the highlights of the night.

The three tenors who sang at the recital showed the other

Photo by Isiah Reyes

PLAY IT WHERE IT LANDS: The GCC Music Dept. recently held its Applied Music recital. Pictured above from left to right, seated, Sarah Bloxham, standing, Elene Kartvelishvili, Leon Thomasian, Varand Toros Adami, Joy Jungwon and Joenhel Cayanan.

side of the vocal spectrum to the audience with their extraordinary voices and presentations. Sevak Sulahian sang “If You Love Me,” by Margherite Mommot.

His recital was vivid because he put his emotions into the song, especially when he sang “If you love me.”

Fernando Vega Cid demonstrated his dominant tenor voice to the audience with Robert Schumann’s “Widmung.” Cid’s piece was very strong.

“Panis Angelicus,” by Cesar

Top Vaquero Player Jessica Alvarez Dominates the Volleyball Court

By Derek Stowe

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

B

y dominating the court with the same resolve that she drew upon for her share of life’s setbacks, Lady Vaqueros outside hitter and co-captain, Jessica Alvarez, 20, turned out to be the top volleyball player for 2010, as she was in 2009.

Her father Armando Alvarez passed away when Jessica was just 6. To cushion the blow, her uncle Luis Arroyo took over as a second father.

Her mother, Violet Alvarez, serves as Jessica’s role model. “[It’s amazing] to see somebody

that strong and independent keep on going when things are just so bad,” said Jessica, “especially with two daughters, a mortgage and all — just to pull through and still get everything done.”

Alvarez wanted to be an actress at one point in her life. She said she admires Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep, but always wanted to do scary movies ever since she could scream. Yet since she fell in love with volleyball at her very first practice, she has enthusiastically pursued the sport instead.

Largely responsible for every game her Lady Vaqs put in the win column, Alvarez was picked

again this season by the WSC (Western State Conference) coaches for all-league first team. The all-league practice is designed to allow recruiters to see how players adjust to playing with different hitters, passers, blockers and diggers from other colleges. It took place Saturday.

“Saturday [gave her] a chance to impress [four-year college coaches] and see if they’ll offer anything,” said Coach Yvette Ibarra. “But people are [already] actively recruiting her.”

[See Alvarez, page 10]

Franck, was sung by Joenhel Cayanan, who delivered an enjoyable performance, because his voice was perfect for the song and he was clearly in touch with its meaning.

The instrumental presentations of the night included two jazz guitar performances. Alberto la Torre played “Groovin’ High”

by Dizzy Gillespie and Bryan Avey played Miles Davis’ “Nardis.” Both La Torre and Avey transmitted the smoothness of the jazz guitar through their harmonious and rhythmic performances.

Sakiko Muno delivered a magnificent performance, playing her tenor sax to Burnet Tuthill’s “Andante from Sonata, Op. 56.”

Muno demonstrated her ability to play the instrument well.

The oboe instrumental was performed by Sarah Bloxham, who played “Piece V” by Cesar Franck. Bloxham’s presentation was pleasant and she was gracious as she played.

The four piano players of the night demonstrated their astounding abilities with extremely fast finger movements. Seonah Lee played Sergei Prokofiev’s, “Diabolical Suggestion,” and delivered a fast paced performance with her agile hands. Lee was delicate throughout her performance, but it was her fingers that showed her skill throughout the upbeat song.

Varand Toros Adami played Franz

Liszt’s “Rigoletto-Paraphrase,” and showed the audience his masterful ability at playing the piano. Adami’s performance was long, but it provided him more time to demonstrate his skills.

“Rondo Toccata,” by Revaz Laghidze, was played by Elene Kartvekishvili, who demonstrated that she is also very accomplished at playing the piano.

Kartvekishvili’s presentation was very entertaining because her ranges changed so quickly.

The night ended with Leon Thomasian playing “Transcendental Etude No. 10,”

by Franz Liszt. When Thomasian started playing the first keys of the song, it was as if he had immersed himself into his playing. The fluidity of the music was very good.

Throughout the evening, all the performers conveyed their ability and dedication to the audience, whether it was through their singing or their instruments, which made the night even more enjoyable.

The performers were assisted throughout their presentations by Jungwon Jin, Brian Hanke, and Chris Rios.

For more information on the Applied Music Program, or to be added to their mailing list, contact Beth Pflueger at (818) 2401000, ext. 5829, or at pflueger@ glendale.edu.

Adriana Orellana can be reached at adriana_orellana@elvaq.com

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SPORTS

Sports Profile [Alvarez, from page 9] So far, the nearly 6-foot-tall Alvarez said she has offers from Ashland University, Ohio; Rice University, Texas; Alabama State; Temple University in Pennsylvania; South Vermont; and the University of La Verne in California. Temple requires her GPA to be at least 3.0 to qualify for a scholarship.

One valuable lesson Alvarez has learned is to not procrastinate in her studies. “Being an athlete can cause academic laziness,” she said.

She really likes to read books instead of doing her homework, Alvarez said. “I read crime novels, romance novels, thrillers, mysteries, non-fiction — kind of whatever catches my eye.”

Besides making it to the Olympics as a volleyball player for team USA, Alvarez dreams of getting her doctorate in criminal psychology and becoming an interrogator for the FBI. She is inspired by TV shows like “CSI,” “Dexter” and “Criminal Minds.”

When her father figure, Arroyo, died recently, Alvarez said it made her realize that she couldn’t rely on anyone else to take on her responsibilities.

She would need to finish her schoolwork and get those e-mails out for colleges on her own. Her mother is frequently busy, and her older sister Michelle has moved to San Francisco with a boyfriend.

“It’s up to me to take my future into my own hands,” said Alvarez.

“I really wanted to show my uncle that I could do something with my life. If he could only see me now, he would be really proud.”

Through the years, Violet has had Alvarez’s back. “Without her, I probably wouldn’t be in the best situation that I am in right now,” said Alvarez about her mother.

On the volleyball court, her mother has always been the first one to tell Jessica what she did wrong: “I’m going to be brutally honest with you no matter if it hurts,” Violet always said. “But if she wasn’t like that, I wouldn’t be as strong and focused on my goals,” said Jessica Alvarez.

Violet, who liked dodge ball in school, insisted that young Jessica exercise and take up a sport. Once Jessica chose volleyball, Violet forced her to keep at it. “Watching volleyball for so many years my mom does know the game,” said Jessica.

“He [my uncle] would always be there for me, too,” said Jessica about Arroyo. “We would play a lot of basketball.” Her freshmen year in high school, Jessica was voted most improved basketball player.

Some of Jessica’s other accomplishments while at Bellarmine-Jefferson included: being a Village Christian AllTourney Volleyball Player, winning the U.S Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award, winning the Leti Cabrera Scholarship, and academic honors her junior and senior years.

Alvarez began to think about playing more seriously even though her elementary school, Incarnation Catholic School, cut her from the team in the sixth grade and in the seventh grade. Even so, she never got discouraged. She made it onto the team as a “benchwarmer” in the eighth grade.

“My sister, Michelle, was active about playing volleyball,” said Alvarez, “but was never really into volleyball as much as I was. I think she would have been really good, even though I’m 2 inches taller.”

Alvarez made it onto the varsity team during her freshmen year in high school, a feat that is all but unheard of. That was the year that she started playing a lot.

During her sophomore year, she got into club volleyball where she learned all her skills — “yeah, every single technique,” she said.

Alvarez said, “I made it my goal just to focus on volleyball and school.” She has never had much time for boys. Instead, she loves lifting weights to improve her hitting strength.

Lifting for the legs and the quads helps improve her stance, power and jumping height.

San Gabriel Elite Volleyball Club in Covina is pretty expensive, but she went around to businesses and got sponsored, said Alvarez. “Help me with my future, my dream,” she asked them. Anderson Lithograph, the company where her father used to work, happily sponsored her for $1,000.

She has maintained an admirable record on the court since then, especially at GCC: “Jess has shown great growth in the last two years. The fact that she was one of the best passers on the team says a lot.” Alvarez also improved on defense tremendously when she

first came, said Ybarra. And her stats from 2009 to 2010 show a marked improvement across the board.

Tough love is Ybarra’s philosophy, said the coach, “Sometimes the tougher part more than the love — but in the end, they always know that I just want the best for them, I really do.”

“We’re a family,” said Coach Ybarra. “And families don’t always get along, but our goals and our thoughts are about the same thing. I love these girls as if they were my own.” It will be hard for Ybarra to see her go, but even harder for the Lady Vaqs to replace her.

Six-foot Britney Riddle said, “I’ll try to live up to her caliber.

[As for] the attitude — it takes time to get up there to where Jess is, but I think anyone can do it if they really want it.” Alvarez was always supportive of her freshmen rival. When Riddle would block her, Alvarez always said, “Do it again, do it again.”

GCC is kind of this small community, said Alvarez.

“Especially if you’re in the athletic community, you get to meet a lot of people that’ll stick with you for the rest of your life.

One of my teammates, Roxy, is my best friend and we’re going to be best friends forever.”

“We’re not just teammates; we’re really close friends,” said setter Roxanne Domines. She and Alvarez have established a telepathic bond. “There are times when just by eye-contact we know how to set up and kill the ball,” said Domines. “A day before every game, we focus on what’s going to happen and get our strategy up.”

Brittany Frederick, who has always looked up to Alvarez and followed her around like a shadow said, “I wanted to hit like her, exactly like her. She’s 5 foot, 11 and I’m 5 feet 4 inches. I tried to play like her and tried to be her height. She’s the finisher.”

“She’s the one that the defense is trying to stop,” said Sarah Kert.

“I really respect Jess because she plays all the way around.” Kert only plays front row and often has to sit out exhausted. Alvarez does double that, and the pressure is principally on her.

Kert said Alvarez always does a complete workout rain or shine.

Even when she was sick she would finish all 12 reps. Alvarez would say, “No, I’m going to go, I’m going to finish.” That was always her mentality — until the end she went strong — she never went soft, said Kert.

This year would have been a lot different if everybody had just stepped up to the plate, said

Alvarez referring to this season’s 6 and 17 record. “It’s all about the team and I wish this year we would have focused more on that.”

“I’m not anybody without my team and without them there would be no me,” she said emphatically. “A leader has to be a great communicator and a good listener. Plus you need the ability to work 150 percent more than what you’re capable of so you’re motivating your teammates.”

“Coach Ybarra is the only coach that has ever pushed me this much and gotten me to the breaking point and then brought me back up,” said Alvarez.

“I thank her a lot because in high school it was all about me,” said Alvarez. “I was always in my head. But Yvette showed me how to be humble and what it is to be a versatile player, a good hitter.

It’s not always about slamming that ball down every single time.

It’s about placing the shots.”

Jess is going to do great things wherever she ends up, said middle blocker Cindyline Sevilla.

About her height, Alvarez said “5 feet, 11 inches may be short for college volleyball, but if I want it I can get it. I can achieve anything that I put my mind to and fight for.” photos online at elvaq.com Derek Stowe can be reached at derek_stowe@elvaq.com

Vaquero Sports Summaries Scores Men’s and Women’s Cross Country: Freshman Angela Martinez named WSC Female Athlete of the Year Sophomore Rico Gutierrez named All-WSC first team Women’s Basketball: Nov. 26-28 — Pierce Tourney lost to Pierce 87-85 lost to Rio Hondo 49-35 Dec. 3 — lost to San Bernardino 103-40 Record is 1-7

Men’s Basketball: Nov. 22 — beat San Diego Mesa 93-66 Dec. 3-5 — Antelope Valley Tournament lost to Riverside College 68-64 beat Mira Costa College 76-64 lost to College of the Canyons 89-68 Record is 5-2

For more information see: http://www.glendale.edu/athletics/

Upcoming Events Men’s Basketball: Today - Friday — Rio Hondo Tournament Dec. 15-18 — Vaquero Classic Dec. 28-30 — San Diego Mesa Tournament

Women’s Basketball: Friday — Riverside College Dec. 16-18 —Antelpope Valley Tourney Dec. 27-29VC Tournament of Champions

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

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CALENDAR On Campus EVENTS

HOLIDAY

Christmas Chess Tournament — GCC’s Advanced Chess Organization will hold its next tournament on Dec. 19 in SC212 at 10 a.m. Last day to register is Tuesday at 6 p.m. For more information call (818) 793-6302.

Holiday Fund Drive — The GCC Police Dept. is collecting new unwrapped toys for boys and girls, canned food and other nonperishable food items, and monetary donations to help needy students and families. Runs through Dec. 21. Donations can be made at the campus Police Station, next door to the cafeteria. For information call (818) 551-5205.

Swap Meet — This event is held in the upper campus parking lot.

Dec. 19 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Free. For more information call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5805.

DANCE Faculty/Alumni Dance Concert — Dancers are GCC students with choreography by faculty, alumni, students and guests.

Mainstage Auditorium. Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Free and open to the public. No children under 5 admitted.

Make-A-Wish — The Associated Students has organized a Holiday Candy Gram Sale-Delivery for Make-A-Wish. Candy Grams are $1 and all proceeds go to children through the organization.

The candy grams will be mailed to recipients before Christmas.

Collection through Friday. See Tzoler Oukayan or Janet Shamilian at the Student Center.

“Eban Schletter’s: Cosmic Christmas” — Live animation

in the digital dome of the planetarium by J. Walt to the theremin and vibraphone infused music of Schletter, the holiday space opera depicts the awakening of artificial intelligence aboard a lost military satellite that drifts into a waft of Christmas spirit. Also features Sky Scan star fields. Sunday and Dec. 19 at 5 and 7 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under.

PLANETARIUM “Spontaneous Fantasia: The Omnicentric Universe” — Real-time animation created live for the full-dome digital theater by J. Walt. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under.

No late arrivals.

Dec. 18 at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. No late arrivals.

For more information, visit www. glendale.edu/planetarium or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5275.

and staff $15. Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

First floor of the San Rafael building. For more information call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5909.

ACADEMIC

MEETINGS

Fall Semester Final Exams — Today through Dec. 15. The schedule can be found on page 2 of this issue.

Board of Trustees — Monday at 5 p.m. in Kreider Hall.

Winter Session Registration — Open walk though begins on Dec. 17. For more information call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5901.

“Subconsciousness” — This group art exhibition features work by Mark Gens, Katelyn Dorroh, Art Garcia, Waelad Akadan, Roger Dickes, manuel Bracamonte, William Barrientos, Arevik Martirosyan and Sherdeb Akadan. The exhibition runs through Feb. 5. Admission is free. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.glendale.edu/artgallery or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5663.

Winter Vacation — No classes, campus closed. Dec. 22 through Jan. 2.

HEALTH

“Evening with the Stars” — This planetarium show will in- Flu Shots — Available from the troduce the stars, constellations GCC Health Center while supand planets. Dec. 17 at 8 p.m. and plies last. Students $10, faculty

ART

Around Town COMEDY Ron Pearson — The Ice House Comedy Club. Juggler and comedian Pearson has been called the “comic ball of fire.” Friday through Sunday. Tickets and showtimes vary. 54 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. For more information, visit www.icehousecomedy.com or call (626) 577-1894.

“A Contemporary Nutcracker: Charlie Brown” — ACME Comedy House. A Daurden Contemporary Dance Theater presentation. Dec. 18 and 19 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Ticket prices $28 at the door. 135 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles. For information, visit www.acmecomedy.com or call (323) 525-0202.

MUSIC Monsters of Accordion 2010 — The Troubadour. Featuring Jason Webley, Corn Mo, Renée de la Prade and The Petrojvic Blasting Co. with special guest Dorian Wood. Playing a mix of squeezebox-fueled drinking songs, Celt-

ic-punk jigs, rock anthems and gypsy music. 9081 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. All ages welcome. Tickets are $12 at the door. For more information call (310) 276-6168 or visit www.troubadour.com.

Ronny Cox Concert — Beckman Institute Auditorium. The Caltech Folk Music Society presents actor-guitarist Cox. Caltech, 1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena. One show only Saturday at 8 p.m tickets are $15 adults, $5 for kids. For more information call (626) 395-4652 or visit www. folkmusic.caltech.edu.

GCC Concert Singers Winter Performance — First Lutheran Church. Performing holiday favorites by Eric Whitacre, Lane Johnson and composer-in-residence David Layne directed by Dr. Peter Green. 1300 E. Colorado St. Sunday at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 and $7 for students and seniors. For more information call 818-240-1000, ext. 5622 Victor deAlmeida — Glendale Noon Concerts presents a Solo

Viola Recital of deAlmeida performing works by Ligeti and Bach. Free in the Sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Glendale, 209 N. Louise St. Runs from 12:10 until 12:40 p.m. on Dec. 15.

For more information visit www. fbcglendale.net or call (818) 2422113.

EXHIBITIONS

www.pmcaonline.org.

“Eye for the Sensual: Selections from the Resnick Collection” — LACMA presents an exhibition of European sculptures and paintings. Runs through Jan. 2.

Ticket prices and hours vary.

Resnick Pavillion. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. For more information call (323) 857-6000 or visit www.lacma.org.

“The Secret Life of Drawings” — The Getty Museum presentsEuropeon drawings from the late 1300s to the 1800s. Runs through Feb. 13. Museum hours vary. 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles.

Admission is free and parking is $10 per vehicle. For more information, visit www.getty.edu or call (310) 440-7300.

“Fashioning Fashion: European Dress in Detail, 1700-1915” — LACMA presents an collection of garments and accessories.

Runs through March 6.. Ticket prices and hours vary. Resnick Pavillion.

“Gardens & Grandeur: Porcelains and Paintings by Franz A. Bischoff” — Pasadena Museum of California Art presents a collection of Bischoff’s work.

Curated by Jean Stern. Runs through March 20. 490 E. Union St., Pasadena. Ticket prices and hours vary. For more information call: (626) 568-3665 or visit:

“The Nutcracker” — Alex Theatre. The Red Chair Children’s Production Co. presents their original production featuring performers ages 5 through 18. 216 N. Brand Blvd. Two shows only Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. Tickets prices vary. For more information visit www.alextheatre.org or call (818) 243-2539.

DANCE

THEATER “The Graduate” — Skirball Center. Starring Kathleen Turner and Matthew Rhys. Adapted for the stage by Terry Johnson.

Tonight through Sunday. Show times and ticket prices vary. 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles.

For more information call (310) 440-4500 or visit www.skirball. org.

WELLNESS Free Health Clinic — Open Tuesdays 5:30 to 8 p.m. Firstcom, first-served. 134 N. Kenwood St., third floor, room 330.

No job or sports- related physicals. For more information please call (818) 243-2105, ext. 202 or visit www.glendaleclinic.org.

Free Yoga in the Park — Runyon Canyon Park. Free yoga lessons are offered everyday at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. 2001 N. Fuller Ave., Los Angeles. For more information call (323) 666-5046.

Compiled by Richard Kontas

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Wednesday, December 8, 2010

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VAQUERO VIEWS

Campus Art Programs Finish Semester with Creative Panache

Photo by Louis Roche

Photo by Louis Roche

Photo by Richard Kontas

CERAMICS SALE, ART GALLERY AND CHOIR, OH MY!: Pictured above top, Kasumi Ishida and Rina Nakano shop for a treasure; Katelyn Dorroh (center) poses with her creation “Squids;” Matt Slaback is threatened by Joenhel Cayanan (bottom) during the choir performance. For exclusive slideshow coverage visit: www.elvaq.com.