Pierce breaks ground on new building College and district faculty celebrate Academic West groundbreaking.
CAMPUS LIFE
By Zamourad Iqbal Reporter
Pierce College administrators, faculty and students participated in the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, Feb 21 for the Academic West Building, which will provide a new home for philosophy, sociology, media arts, and art and architecture departments.
Pierce College President Ara Aguiar shared her thoughts on what the ceremony means to her.
“It means the development of a state-of-the-art facility that is also utilizing environmental nuances or environmental processes that make it friendly to
“It means a lot students infer
based on what they see, and we believe our students deserve to be in these types of facilities.”
the environment,” Aguiar said.
Los Angeles Community College District Interim Chancellor Alberto J. Roman shared his objectives for the upcoming academic building.
“Over the years, we have not been able to give our students in philosophy, sociology and media arts a place that we believe is a state-of-the-art facility,” Roman said. “For the first time, we’re excited that they’ll be able to be in a place that is 21st century state-of-the-art.”
Roman expressed his feelings about what this project will bring to the Pierce College campus.
“It means a lot students
infer quality based on what they see, and we believe our students deserve to be in these types of facilities,” Roman said. “We want to continue to support the Pierce community, and by bringing forward this new facility, we know that the students in our community will benefit greatly from having this beautiful building and being able to get their education completed here.”
Faculty members, such as Department Chair of Art and Architecture Melody Cooper, contributed their excitement and hopes for the upcoming academic building.
“A lot of interaction between the departments that are housed here,” Cooper said. “I’m looking forward to seeing our art events, which will highlight the professional and student work and community.”
Department Chair of Philosophy and Sociology Cara Gillis expressed her thoughts on what the new building will bring to the Department of Philosophy.
“We are excited to have some dedicated classrooms where our students can feel comfortable learning,” Gillis said. “A lot of the things that we press on in philosophy and sociology can be uncomfortable and hard to think about, so having a welcoming, comfortable, inclusive environment is going to make it easier for our students and our faculty.”
Roman added more on the future perspectives on facilities that will be available for the students.
“It’s going to have an art exhibition and radio station, and again, it’s going to have upto-date technology, and we’ll be able to compete with any college across the state given the technology we are infusing into this project,” Roman said.
Cordova / Roundup News
Smith / Roundup News
Brian Khoury / Roundup News
(Left to Right) Media Arts professors Tracie Savage, Sean McDonald, Jill Connelly and Ken Windrum pick up their shovels at the Academic West Groundbreaking cermony at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Feb. 21, 2025.
Gelareh Behdad / Roundup News
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Volume 142 - Issue 1
Editorial: From the desk of the Roundup
More awareness of EOPS needed
SThere are students at Pierce College who face challenges when it comes to finances, education and social support. The Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) program exists to help students in these situations, but not enough people on campus know about these resources. Pierce should do more to promote EOPS to ensure eligible students have access to these services.
El Camino College’s Student Services EOPS program review, says that EOPS provides services that go “over, above, and in addition” to what’s available to the general student population.
EOPS is designed to help students enroll, stay in school and succeed. It’s been around since 1969. As one of California’s
original equity programs, EOPS offers book vouchers, financial help, priority registration and one-on-one counseling.
A study done by UCLA doctoral student Angeles Abraham, titled “Extended Opportunity Programs and Services Program Study: Identifying Effective Support Services for Marginalized Community College Students,” found that EOPS students had retention rates more than 20% higher than non-EOPS students across the nine colleges in the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD).
Although EOPS has great benefits, a lot of students may not fully understand how it can assist them. This is a problem, especially because the study shows more than 70% of
community college students in California don’t end up graduating, according to the study.
The study highlighted that EOPS counseling, book grants and priority registration were among the most effective services in helping students stay enrolled and progress toward graduation.
On the Pierce website, in a written celebration of EOPS’ 55th year of assisting students, The Office of Commissions said, “Many students are aware of EOPS for the free books, school supplies, and financial assistance they receive, but many more appreciate the trusted relationships they build with caring counselors.”
This shows that EOPS is more than just financial aid as it offers
a strong support system that can likely enhance a student’s college experience. It provides guidance in creating a Student Educational Plan (SEP), helping students stay on track toward their academic goals and feel less confused when it comes to enrolling in classes.
Pierce should step up its efforts to spread the word about EOPS. The school should use social media, campus events and direct communication to make sure students know what EOPS can do for them. EOPS is a powerful resource, but it only works if students are able to use it to its full potential.
On Feb. 26, 1986, the Pierce College Roundup News published Volume 64, Number 5. The edition featured articles about topics including Los Angeles Community College District budget cuts, student protests and the growing nursing program on campus.
Students protested budget cuts in front of district offices on Feb. 19, 1986. The protesters chanted “they say cut back, we say fight back.” The LACCD chancellor had recommended eight to 10 district administrators be laid off due to the large budget deficit. These administrators included three LACCD presidents: West L.A. College, L.A. Southwest College and L.A. Trade Technical College.
Part of what contributed to the layoffs was the district’s payroll including a high number of administrators compared to the number of students who were enrolled in classes, leading to disproportionate costs. However, no administrator layoffs were expected at Pierce College at the time of the article being published.
Another article in the Roundup alerted readers that prospective students had until April 15, 1986 to apply for the nursing program at Pierce College. The program was expecting to double in size from 27 students to about 60 students, during the upcoming school year.
Copy by Delilah Brumer
Rebuilding is remembering Should the Palisades rebuild after the fire? Some wounds aren’t meant to heal
By Elizabeth Tirheimer Reporter
Thousands of people were affected by the Palisades Fire that took place in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles and parts of Malibu, Calif., on Jan. 7, and went on for 24 days until it was fully contained. Now it poses a question if this community should rebuild.
Rebuilding the Palisades community is recovering life
fuel management, provide a break in vegetation that slows fires down,” said Matt Reynolds in the article Los Angeles Needs to Fireproof Communities, Not Just Houses.
The Pacific Palisades was home to many, their whole lives revolved around this community and to just be taken away from them in a split second is devastating. To the people on the outside it may be easy to say no to a rebuild but to be the one who lost absolutely everything rebuilding is the only thing that can bring them back to normalcy and remember the good that the the outside it may be easy to say no to a rebuild but to be the one who lost absolutely everything rebuilding is the only thing that can bring them back to normalcy and remember the good that the Palisades has
clothes to kitchen appliances had been vaporized,” according to Denison Forum.
Rebuilding also gives the community a fresh start. They get to start from a blank canvas and rebuild in a way that will prevent something as tragic as this from happening again. Houses and businesses can take precautionary measures and build with fire resistant materials.
According to Lindsay Frankel, in the article Fire Resistant Siding Offers Protection For Your Home, fiber cement siding, metal siding, brick or stone siding and stucco all have high fire resistance.
No one likely would’ve predicted a tragedy like this when the community was first built. Rebuilding is not only homes and businesses, but it is rebuilding the beautiful nature that was taken away from us. Now it’s no surprise that the fire spread the way it did because of the lack of rain we receive throughout the year resulting in dead vegetation which is considered “fuel,” but there are measures that we can take while rebuilding to prevent this big of a spread.
“One way to lessen the spread and intensity of fires is to reduce the amount of flammable vegetation- often called “fuel”through prescribed burns, cutting back shrubs and allowing animals to graze. Forest trails can give authorities access for
By Emily Garcia Reporter
The beginning of 2025 struck Los Angeles hard when fire arose from the hills. On Jan. 7, the Pacific Palisades of western California was hit with a wave of heat leaving many without their homes.
It is widely believed that those who have lost their homes in the Palisades fire can just rebuild, but that is not always the case. According to KQED News, a majority of the residents who once lived in the Palisades neighborhood had inherited the home from their families. In which case, due to Proposition 13, the inheritors only had to pay the original property tax rate, which can be as low as $4,000 a year, while newly registered owners pay almost up to $40,000.
The recent rainfall in Los Angeles hasn’t been helpful either. The area of Palisades, which primarily consists of dirt and debris, is now prone to mudslides. Most of the land is unstable. The construction of many homes was unsafe from the start, and the impact of natural climate change has worsen the situation.
The mental and emotional burden of rebuilding the Palisades neighborhood. According to ABC News people that have suffered from a natural disaster feel a large sense of grief, panic and fear. Some of the mental factors people will experience include insomnia, depression and an increase in alcohol usage.
Were you or someone you know impacted by the California wildfires and evacuations?
The Pacific Palisades was home to many, their whole lives revolved around this community and to just be taken away from them in a split second is devastating. To the people on the outside it may be easy to say no to a rebuild but to be the one who lost absolutely everything rebuilding is the only thing that can bring them back to normalcy and remember the good that the Palisades has brought to them. and intensity of fires is to reduce the amount of flammable vegetation- often called “fuel”through prescribed burns, cutting back shrubs and allowing animals to graze. Forest trails can give authorities access for fuel management, provide a break in vegetation that slows fires down.”, said Matt Reynolds. (Los Angeles Needs to Fireproof Communities, Not Just Houses | WIRED)
So while it may go over our heads when thinking about the rebuilding of Palisades, nature deserves a chance to be rebuilt as well and it will also be beneficial to the community in the long run.
The Pacific Palisades was home to many, their whole lives revolved around this community and to just be taken away from them in a split second is devastating. To the people on the outside it may be easy to say no to a rebuild but to be the one who lost absolutely everything rebuilding is the only thing that can bring them back to normalcy and remember the good that the Palisades has brought to them.
Along with the tax rate, many insurance policies will only cover the value of the home which will not be the same as the cost to rebuild it. For example, if the house was worth $30,000 it could cost up to $1 Million to rebuild the exact same home.
Affordable Housing Administrator Martha Monroy believes rebuilding would be a challenge.
“The materials and everything will cost more,” says Monroy “cost wise to build a home or even for a contractor - it would just be very costly.”
The Los Angeles area is not cheap and for urban neighborhoods, such as Palisades, the cost to rebuild along with labor rates and specific materials that are required to be up to code would be high. According to Construction Elements, the estimated cost to rebuild per square foot would be between $300-$400, that’s about $450,000-1,000,000 per homeowner. However, only some will have to worry about the cost of rebuilding because not everyone’s land is reusable. While some may be planning to rebuild, they have not taken into consideration whether the land is still usable. Many of the homes lost in the fire are around one hundred years old and built from toxic materials that need to be collected. The clean up to collect the debris and to navigate the natural landscape could take years. Due to this neighborhood located in the mountains, it is challenging for crews to clean up and operate in the area.
Many Los Angeles locals watched their community burn down and stayed on the edge of their seats waiting to be evacuated. When asked about the rebuilding of the palisades, 27-year-old Richard Rodriguez remains hesitant.
“I mean the lack of preparation would just happen again” says Rodriguez, “If they were to rebuild and they don’t have the proper preparation the whole thing can happen once again.”
Rodriguez, a lifelong Los Angeles resident, has grown skeptical of the men in charge of keeping his home safe. There is a possibility that if the community was brought back there are still the environmental threats that they could burn again.
The consequences of the Palisades Fire shows the complications and suffocating process of rebuilding. Not only do financial burdens play a large role, but the mental psychological stress affects the community greatly. Grief and anxiety weigh on the people of Los Angeles and the Palisades may never return to what it was before.
“IdefinitelywasbecauseIwascloseto them.Itwasreallyaffectingmybreathing. Icouldn’treallygooutside.Mypower shutout.Ithoughtourcitywasgoingto getburntdown.”
Lupe Saltos - Automotive Major
“One of my online friends, I haven’t spoken to her personally but our mutual friends, they told me about what happened and her house unfortunately had been burnt down.”
Maddie West - Art Major
“Myauntactuallyhassomanyanimals\ at her house so when she evacuated she hadtogetalloftheminonelittlecar,and originallyshewasgoingtocometomy house but the roads were all blocked due tohowmanypeoplewereaffectedbyit.”
Lochlan Gorman - Computer Science Major
“Idohaveacoworkerthatwasaffectedby it.Hehadtomoveoutfromhisapartment. Lotofdebriscamedown.Ibelievehe livesnearthePalisades,helivedinthis apartmentcomplex,itdidn’tgetburned downbutitwasn’tsafetogobackto.”
Yordi Ponce - Photography Major
Interviews by Alyssa Lupercio
Photos by Jeremiah Bigalbal Lopez
‘A quiet leader’: Pierce College football player Terance Pope Jr. dies at 21
By Delilah Brumer Managing Editor
Terance Pope Jr., a defensive back on the Pierce College football team who aspired to play in the NFL, died on Dec. 17, 2024. He was 21 years old.
Pope Jr. was shot in Sanford, Fla., and three suspects have been arrested in connection to the killing. The Office of the State Attorney of Florida, has charged suspects Khalil Hunter, 22, and James Nelson, 22, with first-degree felony murder, and Shunavious Dorsey, 23, with being an accessory, for the killing. Pope Jr. grew up in Florida and was spending time with family there during winter break.
Pope Jr.’s mother, Zabrina Santiago, described him as a caring, playful older brother, a passionate athlete and a loving son. She said Pope Jr. would have turned 22 years old last month.
“He was growing up and maturing and he was still so young,” his mother said. “He was just a pleasure to have around.”
Pope Jr. started playing soccer when he was 3 years old, and picked up football by age 5, according to his stepfather, Nicholas Santiago.
“When you ask kids what they want to be when they grow up, they’ll give you 20 different
answers throughout the years,” his stepfather said. “His answer was always the same: football, to be in the league. That answer never changed.”
According to his stepfather, Pope Jr. didn’t just have a goal — he had the persistence to back it up.
“We would work out in my garage, and I’d just destroy him,” his stepfather said. “When we were done, I said, ‘Where are you going? It’s dark out.’ He would go out to the practice field by himself, with cones and ladders, and run drills.”
Pope Jr. moved to the Los Angeles area in August 2024, and joined the Pierce football team with the hope of being recruited to play on a Division I university team. At Pierce, he played defense, and his primary position was cornerback.
“He was a quiet leader, even to a point that a lot of the things he was doing, I didn’t find out about until after his passing,” said James Sims, Pierce’s head football coach. “When he passed, I heard players saying that he was the one person that kept picking their spirits up and kept letting them know it was going to be alright, and he kept them confident.”
One of those players, Edgar Elias, said Pope Jr. motivated him to recover and stay on the team after Elias was injured on
the field.
“He helped me push myself and inspired me,” Elias said. “He was a really hard worker.”
For Sims, a highlight of coaching Pope Jr. was when he won the Pierce football team’s “Fastest Man” competition. The friendly challenge involves football players completing rounds of 40-yard dashes, to test their agility.
“We had a sophomore that was the fastest man on the team the year before and Terance came in and took it from him, and became our fastest man on the football team,” Sims said. “He was an outstanding young man.”
Sims said Pope Jr.’s death “hurt deeply.” In his more than 20 years coaching football, four of Sims’ players have died from gun violence, either during the time they were on his team or after they had graduated.
Pope Jr.’s mother said he will be remembered by his uplifting personality. His family is raising money for a memorial. For more information, visit: https://www. gofundme.com/f/honor-terancepope-jr-support-his-memorial
“He was loving, and he was always goofing around, and making his sisters smile,” his mother said. “I’m glad [the suspects] have been arrested, but it doesn’t bring my son back.”
Academic Senate budget talks in full swing
By Joseph Acuña Reporter
Pierce College’s second Academic Senate meeting of the spring semester discussed ways to overcome budget concerns from multiple angles, on Monday, Feb. 24 at 2:30 p.m. in Building 600. Generating more revenue to rebuild and modernize the campus’ needs was a focus for Academic Senate President Margarita Pillado.
Pierce College President Ara Aguiar took LACCD Interim Chancellor Alberto Román and Vice Chancellor Leigh Sata around the Pierce campus to different “highly specialized areas” including the farm, Performing Arts Building, gymnasiums and other buildings slated for improvements related to Measure L.A.
“In essence, we were doing a pitch in terms of about $40 million to be able to build our brand-new gym,” Aguiar said. “We are scraping every nickel from any project that has any reserve funds to build new
facilities rather than deal with asbestos in our older buildings.”
During this pitch, the farm was discovered to need modernizing.
The state isn’t recognizing the farm as educational, it’s coded as “Animal Quarters,” meaning it doesn’t receive the same level of funding. Funding has been requested for more accessibility by road and a working restroom, among other components.
Funding through Measure L.A. to Pierce isn’t the only plan for stabilizing the budget. The Pierce College Chapter of the Los Angeles College Faculty Guild, AFT 1521, reviewed their threeyear projections submitted to the district for areas of growth.
Projections of an increase of 5% in graduates may not be enough to meet financial needs.
One of many solutions discussed was adding one to two students to each class.
“Assuming 1,600 sections in one semester, we could generate between half a million to threequarters of a million dollars,” Aguiar said.
This would allow for more students into high-demand
classes at no incurred cost to the faculty. Limitations on classrooms, physical or crediting agency caps, would be an issue for this plan.
Coding for Career Technical Education classes is becoming an issue, according to Aguiar. Mislabeling classes as “possibly occupational” is losing the college “hundreds of thousands of dollars,” according to Aguiar.
With talks of increasing student enrollment, Pierce is considering applying for a Strategic Enrollment Management Program. This program brings students from all backgrounds into a simplified onboarding process in hopes of increasing the number of transfer-ready students.
Dean of Student Engagement
Juan Carlos Astorga and D’arcy Corwin, director of the Dream Resource Center, are teaming with Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), the largest Central American immigrant rights organization in the country.
“CARECEN comes in every Monday to provide legal assistance and support for our
students,” Astorga said. “We are going to be here to be their advocates and their champions.”
Pierce’s Technical Librarian Clay Gediman discussed how Artificial Intelligence could be integrated into college life.
Teaching students how to use AI effectively for positive uses like financial aid rather than the negative, is a priority. China’s advancement and education on ChatGPT is highlighted as a benefit used in schools for both students and faculty.
“It’s a great way for students to rephrase things to their own language, or their own way of thinking,” Gediman said. “I wish I had this when I was in college.”
ASO President Jasmine Minchez showed optimism for what the future of AI may hold.
“If AI can be used to translate in real time for students with language barriers, it would be great,” Minchez said. “If in the future there is something that remedies that, it’d be amazing.”
The next Academic Senate meeting will be held on Monday, March 10 in Building 600.
Crime Log
A fight involving multiple individuals was reported on the Pierce College campus, near the Village, on Tuesday, Feb. 18. The individuals who were involved in the fight are part of a high school program that leases space from Pierce, according to a college representative.
The crime log is made publicly available at the Pierce College Sheriff’s Office.
Pierce College Sheriff’s Office General Information 818-719-6450 Emergency 818-710-4311
Reporting by Delilah Brumer and Gerardo Escobar Blotter Brahma
Terance Pope Jr. and the Pierce College football team go up against Glendale College at Shepard Stadium at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 19, 2024.
Abraham Elizalde / Roundup News
Students rush to explore ClubLand
ASO hosts a two-day ‘once-stop shop’ for campus organizations
By Melanie Somoza Reporter
Brahmas roamed the campus Mall this week as the Associated Student Organization (ASO) hosted its Club Rush on Feb. 19 and 20.
Dubbed ClubLand, the event welcomed students with music, snacks and games, encouraging them to explore a variety of clubs and connect with peers.
For ASO President Jasmine Minchez, who is in her final year with the organization, making clubs more accessible was a top priority. A whiteboard listing all clubs, along with a QR code for easy sign-ups, was introduced to help students quickly find organizations that interested them.
“It’s just like a one-stop shop where people can see the clubs they’d like to join,” Minchez said. “Even if you don’t feel super tied to your college campus, finding a club you’re passionate about is a great way to feel more connected to the community.”
After struggling with a shortage of club senators last
year, Minchez said this year’s Club Rush ran smoothly thanks to strong student leadership.
“It was really great to have the support of the senators and to have people help set up and staff the booth,” Minchez said.
For some students, Club Rush was an opportunity to break out of their comfort zones.
“Sometimes it was a little awkward walking up to the booths,” said nursing major Karina Kitszen. “But honestly, the food is what draws me in. This is the best way to interact with clubs and join.”
Others saw clubs as a way to build friendships and share experiences. Beatrice Azevedo and Vanessa Fontana, both business students, said clubs helped them adjust to campus life.
“We are international students, and clubs help us make friends and share experiences,” Fontana said.
Beyond social connections, many clubs use their platforms to promote activism and community involvement.
“The heart is the community,
and if you don’t protect your community, then who’s protecting you?” said Quinn Reyes, of the Democrats Club, which has organized trips to Antelope Valley to campaign for congressional candidates.
For students who missed Club Rush, ASO Club Council President Alexa Romero reassured them that it’s never too late to join.
“This is the biggest event for clubs, but students can still join later,” Romero said, “Usually, students email me asking about a specific club, and I try to help them get contact information.”
ASO also keeps an updated list of clubs on its bulletin board and website for students looking to get involved throughout the semester.
Minchez emphasized that events like Club Rush are crucial for student engagement.
“We put a lot of effort into making sure clubs get as much visibility as possible,” said Minchez, “It’s one of the only times students can see all different organizations in one place.”
Umoja Club honors King Mansa Musa’s legacy
Students and faculty celebrate Black history through a presentation and games
By Zamourad Iqbal Reporter
The Umoja club hosted a presentation on King Mansa Musa in the Multicultural Center on Thursday, Feb. 20 to celebrate Black History Month. Students got to enjoy pizza, play the Black Wall Street game, learn business insights and more.
Umoja Club Counselor Lateaira Hockaday explained the purpose of having this event.
“The purpose of this event, first and foremost is for Black History Month,” Hockaday said, “But it was to share the history of our people in Africa to our students and share that they are able to accomplish things beyond what we have learned before.”
Speaker De’Von Truvel touched on the importance of sharing the positive aspects of African culture.
“The event was themed after Mansa Musa who was an ancient African emperor and king of Mali,” Truvel said. “ I wanted to start there because the importance of sharing stories of royalty and sharing stories of positive Black cultures is important for us so that we can also see ourselves in that positivity.”
Umoja Club Event Organizer
Kalynda McLean expressed her moments of joy from the Mansa Musa event.
“I enjoyed everything about this event,” McLean said. “I enjoy the reaction from the event, the arrangement that the students have, I enjoy working with the presenter and vendor, he’s fantastic. So, every part of this event is a joy, and I am grateful to be able to coordinate.”
Biotechnology major Larae Jorgoo shared her thoughts on what she learned from this Mansa Musa presentation event.
“I learned that when it comes to self-actualizing within the Black identity, it is important to also have community,” Jorgoo said. “As one of your motivations is being patient with yourself and then also understanding that you have to acknowledge your trauma and what you’ve been through in order to have sustained growth.”
Sociology major David Tucker expressed his great appreciation that he got to share his family’s unique and close history to Martin Luther King Jr.
“It was an honor to share with our guest speaker the photo of my great grandfather and Martin Luther King Jr. and share about how I advocated to do a report on my great grandfather for Black History Month, even though he
wasn’t in the textbooks,” Tucker said.
McLean shared her hopes for what the event taught students.
“Well, it’s my hope that the students will learn from this
event a little bit about history, a little bit about culture and learn how to start beginning to think about their future,” McLean said. “One of the goals of this presentation today was to learn
a little bit more about financial wellness. And the other goal was to learn a little bit more about history since it’s Black History Month.”
(Left to Right) Patty Robles, the vice president of Adventure Trails Club, recruits social and behavioral science major Lucy Goelz during Club Rush at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Feb. 19, 2025.
Hannah Huffman / Roundup News
Cocoa, cookies, culture
Janet Harper / Roundup News
(Left to Right) Pierce graduate Luna Chou sits with Vice President of the Mutual Aid and Liberation Club Ronnie Enos during the Umoja program’s Cocoa, Cookies and Culture event at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Feb. 13, 2025.
ClubLand student activities: Lambs, Legos and leg presses
)Mechanical engineer
and Vice
(Left to Right) General major student Luke Spanyer and Psychology major Maggie Shaughnessy petting the sheep during Club Rush at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Feb. 19, 2025.
Gelareh Behdad / Roundup News
(Middle Left
major
President of Lego Sina Fotouhi advertises the club by building Legos with the assistance of club member and biology major Elliot Claire during Club Rush event at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Feb. 19, 2025.
(Right) Business student Vanessa Fontana and Beatriz Azevedo are waking on the mall during Club Rush at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Feb. 19, 2025.
Physics major Ben Thelander deadlifts 190 lbs while Army Soldier Francis Esquito during Club Rush at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Feb. 20, 2025.
Dom Borja / Roundup News
Pierce basketball defeats Cuesta, loses on Sophomore Night
John Cordova / Roundup News
Pierce Men’s Basketball guard Paul Harris (#11) performs a jump shot while being guarded by Cuesta defenders on Feb 19, 2025 at the South Gym in Pierce College in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles, Calif.
By Myraneli Fabian Reporter
The Pierce College men’s basketball team defeated the Cuesta College Cougars, 73-58, at home in the South Gym on Wednesday, Feb. 19.
After a rough start that saw Cuesta go up 17-9, the Brahmas
scored 15 unanswered points to take the lead with only 10 minutes left in the first half. After shooting guard Jalen Thomas scored the tie-breaking three-pointer with seven minutes left in the first half, the Brahmas never looked back, and Cuesta never recovered.
Head Coach Charles White said he was proud of his players for
beating a playoff team despite not making it to the postseason.
“We’re not going to the playoffs, but they played a playoff basketball team,” White said. “That’s what it should have taken all year long. It is what it is.”
Shooting guard Jule Sims scored 10 points during the first half against Cuesta and would be the first to score in the second half with a jump shot, bringin the score to 35-24 just a few seconds in.
“Today, we needed a win,” Sims said. “I think we played together as a team and I really felt it today.”
In the second half, small forward Markus Steele had five rebounds and nine points. Despite committing nine fouls, the Brahmas continued to end the game strong.
Steele acknowledged that the Brahmas had a bumpy season during a postgame interview.
“Honestly, from having a really downward slope in the season and coming right back up, we’ve kind of just been up and down,” Steele said. “But today kind of reawakened what we’ve always should have played.”
Despite the Brahmas’ lead over Cuesta, the Cougars didn’t give up until the final buzzer, even when they were down by 15 points.
“The three point line has been killing us,” White said. “That’s been our Achilles all year long. Three for 14, that’s been the Achilles for the past six games that we lost.”
The Brahmas played against Moorpark College on Friday, Feb. 21 and celebrated sophomore night. They lost 117-81 to the Moorpark Raider’s, and finished their season with a record of 1117.
Overall the Brahmas averaged about 67.4 points and 40.8 threepointers per game, scoring a total of 1,886 points in the season.
Gerardo Escobar contributed to this story.
Abraham Elizalde / Roundup News Pierce College opposite hitter Sam Henry (#1) tipping in a game against Santiago Canyon College at the South Gym in Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Feb. 17.
Men’s volleyball wins
3 straight games
By David Cohen Reporter
After a five game losing streak setting the Brahmas back 0-5 to start the season, the Pierce College Men’s volleyball team fought back winning their next three games, setting their record to 3-5.
Pierce College hosted the a game against the Santiago Canyon Hawks in an overwhelming win at the South Gym Building on Monday, Feb. 17 at 6:00 p.m.
The Brahmas got off to an early lead, with sophomore middle hitter Lars Hart and
freshman middle hitter Gavin Arnold creatively shaping the ball to get past the Hawks when getting it past them the traditional way wasn’t something that could be done.
The Brahmas would defeat the Santiago Canyon Hawks 3-0 (25-12, 25-20, 25-23). The brahmas will be on the road, facing off against the Orange Coast pirates and the Fullerton hornets on Friday Feb. 21 at 6:00 P.M and Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 1 P.M. They will be back at home to host the Long Beach vikings on Friday, Feb. 28 at 6:00 P.M.
Fall 2024 Dean’s List Q R
Jonathan Abadia
Mesrop Abadzhyan
Nicole Abarbanel
Allison Abarca
Seyedeh Elham Abbasi
Batty Abdelhalim
Mirolla Abdelmasih
Bahador Abdollahi
Fnu Abdulla
Akbar Abedinimaman
Herschel Aberson
Dillon Abouzaid
Nareh Abovian
Raffi Abrahamian
Eric Abramovici
Sarah Abrams
Shohre Abri
John Abs
Sonai Abu Shah
Maya Abukhzam
Shlomi Abutbul
Miriam Acosta
Hovannes Adamian
Annasophia Adams
Maria Adan
Eva Adi
Babak Adibanrad
Joseph Adwani
Dora Afridi
Jannat Afridi
Ardalon Afshar
Ann Gieneth Afurong
Lusine Agabekyan
Carolina Agadjanova
Jasmine Agavian
Maya Agavian
Trinity Agerbeek
Aaron Aghavian
Samantha Aghayani
Nickie Aghayarizadeh
Ellena Aghilian
Sinella Aghostin
Audrey Agniel
Jonathan Agrito
Mya Agsaulio
Crystal Aguila
Andrea Filamer Aguilan
Andrea Aguilar
Elish Aguilar
Jason Aguilar
Johnny Aguilar
Marissa Aguilar
Katherine Aguilar Salazar
Dulce Aguilera
Rodrigo Aguilera
Samantha Aguilera
Daisy Aguinada
Angel Aguirre
Edwin Aguirre
Nicole Aguirre
Irving Agurcia Sanchez
Sarah Ahadi
Sara Ahadrooyny
Aviv Aharonian
Karina Aharonian
Asher Ahdoot
Sabeeh Ahmad
Sina Ahmad Khanlou
Rabia Ahmadi
Zainab Ahmadi
Subhana Ahmadzai
Shahad Ahmed
Tahmed Ahmed
Brianna Ahmedov
Kazi Ahmmad
Daniel Ahoubim
Mahshid Ahouraei
Edan Aichel
Orie Aichel
Ian Ainsworth
Judith Akachukwu
Afzal Akanda
David Akcheirlian
Jessie Akhmedov
Alexander Akhoian
Christian Akhoian
Mohammadhadi Akhondi
Shahan Akhtar
Tina Akhtari
Sarinah Akhter
Yulia Akimkina
Sarkis Akopian
Maral Aksoy
Obiora Akukwe
Ani Alajajian
Miraj Alam
Yana Alam
Yanitzy Alatorre
Aryana Alavi
Mahgol Alavi
Motaz Albanna
Nataniel Albek
Ethan Albert
Ana Rachel Albuquerque Vianna
Kevin Alcaraz
Mateo Alcocer
Seyed Javid Aldavood
Gracie Alecio
Wendy Alegria
Tatevik Aleksanyan
Marlene Aleman-Zuniga
Matthew Alesana
Katherine Alexander
Sylvia Alexander
Tarfa Alfarhan
Cecilia Alfaro
Jonathan Alfonzo
Maya Ali
Syeda Ali
Insiyah Ali Hussain Kapasi
Ramziya Alimbekova
Daniel Ali Mohammadi
Sherinah Alinda
Mardee Liden Alipio
Mohammadamin Ali Pourian
Evan Alkhoury
Sarvenaz Allahyarbeigi
Mia Allen
Paula Allen
Fatma Alloush
Rawad Almhanna
Asal Sadat Almousavi
Zuhair Almukhtar
Francisco Alonso
Andrew Alpert
Kyle Marisse Alquizola
Antonio Altamirano
Brandon Altbush
Gabrielle Altmark
Carlos Alvarado
Juan Alvarado
Martin Alvarado
Patricia Alvarado
Ullises Alvarenga
Adam Alvarez
Airah Nicole Alvarez
Jasmine Alvarez
Jennifer Alvarez
Joseph Alvarez
Josh Alvarez
Marlon Alvarez
Mia Alvarez Renteria
Antonella Alvelo
Matthew David Alviar
Astrid Amaya
Daniela Amaya
Gerson Amaya
Sarai Amaya
Lindsey Ambrosio
Jasmine Ameri
Cassandra Amezcua
Henry Amezquita
Zohreh Amin
Haroon Amini
Sam Amini
Anahit Amirkhanyan
Gagik Amirkhanyan
Maryam Amirzadeh
Brent Simone Amisola
Benjamin Amoona
Ashley Marie Amponin
Glenn Anadeo
Elham Andalib
Sarah Andersen
Marlee Anderson
Samantha Anderson
Flor Andrade
Salvador Andrade
Exavior Andres
Nikolaos Andriopoulos
Elika Angeland
Joseph Francis Angeles
Keisha Anne Angeles
Sidney Angeles
Stephanie Nichole Angeles
Haley Anglin
Julian Angoorly
Zavian Annan
Rachel Anonuevo
Brondzie Kojo Ansah
Siamak Ansari
Alex Antekelyan
Artemis Anthony
Cassidy Aparicio
Ana Apaza Poma
Emily Apikian
John Roldan Apuada
Hrag Arabian
Zhanna Arabkertsyan
Farnaz Araghian
Fabio Arambulo
Isabella Arana
Logan Araneta
Bahram Arasteh
Paola Araujo
Angelic Archer
Ava Archie
Andre Theo Arcilla
Jose Angelo Arcilla
Andrew Ardalan
Sophia Ardestani
Jessica Ardon
Sophia Arechiga
Daniel Arellano
Alan Arevalo
Marlyn Arevalo
William Arevalo
Anelis Argueta
Anderson Arias
Gabriella Arias
Jose Arias
Sebastian Arias
Yahir Arias
Michelle Arias Giraldo
Eduardo Arias Hernandez
Melanie Arista
Nathan Ark
Kelly Armstrong
Catherine Aromin
Jonathan Arouh
Alizah Arreaga
Melissa Arreguin
Cristopher Arreola
Stephanie Arreola
Jennifer Arriaga
Braiden Arriola
Michelle Arroyo
Ksenia Artemyeva Badalyan
Anahit Artenyan
Avetis Arutiunian
Tina Arwanda
Negin Arzani
Michael Arzumanyan
Leila Asady
Ariel Asan-Ortiz
Stella Asatryan
Yousuf Asghar
Sian Ashkenazi
Sara Ashouri
Dara Ashrafi Saadat
Anna Askari Yahyavi
Grant Asner
Helena Asner
Mehdi Assadi
Tristan Astalos
Eliana Astorga
Simon Astorga
Dana Alyssa Astraquillo
Julia May Atienza
Mariam Atikian
Ali Atshani
Bita Atshani
Gaven Atyabi
Eric Avakian
Stephanie Avalos
Anahit Avalyan
Lucia Avellaneda
Bella Avetisian
Adrian Avetisyan
Armen Avetisyan
Liam Avigani
Angel Avila
Steven Avila
Ezekiel Aviles Zuniga
Armin Ayadehahvazi
Amy Ayala
Jessica Ayala
Nathalie Ayala
Sean Ayala
Ashley Ayala Castillo
Tina Aydelotte
Andrew Ayoub
Izabella Ayoub
Olivia Ayvazian
Anna Ayvazyan
Farshad Azam
Avisa Azami
Eric Azar
Nikki Azar
Shadan Azar Keyvan
Netanel Azaran
Samuel Azaren
Mursal Aziz
Hamlet Azizian
Debbi Azizollahi
Ethan Azizollahi
Sabrina Azrilyan
Mada Azzuz
Lida Babayan
Ed Babayova
Julya Baca
Trixy Baca
Antawn Lief Baclig
Kristin Baclig
Kianet Badal
Parivash Badie
Daniel Badinfekr
Shayla Baer
Anush Bagdadian
Yeva Baghdasaryan
Raffi Baghdassarian
Fatemeh Bagheri
Neda Bagheri
Oliver Bagheri Nowroozani
Alireza Bagheri Ronaghi
Aidar Bagrov
Elnaz Bahrani
Maryam Bahrani
Joel Bahrestrada
Andy Baik
Mea Baird
Ellis Baker
Sheila Baker
Esmaeil Bakhshi
Michelle Bakhtiar
Kirt Bakos
Margalita Bakuradze
Dylan Balagtas
Edward Balayan
Mariana Balayan
Renee Balcorta
Humza Baldiwala
Helen Baldwin
Leonardo Balerdi
Carny Balian
Haven Ballard
Mary Ballard
Angela Balon
Victoria Baloulian
Claudia Balsells
Lena Baltakian
Francesca Martina Baltazar
Maneh Balumyan
Daniella Bamshad
Nathan Bamshad
Shayla Bamshad
Omid Banaie
Roozhan Bandi
Ibrahim Bangura
Valentina Banos Padilla
Evan Banuelos
Sindy Banuelos
Brian Bao
Nandini Bapat
Danielle Barahona
Hailey Barbera
Shayan Barbic
Simon Bardekjian
Aaron Barekye
Nabeelah Barkat
Divan Barnard
Justice Barnes
Ahron Barnett
Jadin Baron
Melody Barragan
Isabella Barraza
Sophia Barrera
Nancy Barreras
Rachel Barrido
Melissa Barriga
Alessandro Barrios
Nicholas Barrios
Christian Bartle
Renzo Bartra
Alexa Basileo
Ashley Bassirat
Anton Batac
Danielle Grace Batac
Salma Batan
Nikola Batri
Sai Likhitha Battu
Ariella Bauer
Aischelle Baun
Violeta Bautista
Marine Bayramyan
Tracy Beavers
Sierra Becker
Natalie Beckman-Smith
Adolfo Bedolla Arellano
Callie Beeman
Chloe Beenen
Arshan Begpour
Sara Behbahani
Ortal Behboudikha
Gelareh Behdad
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Maryamsadat Behnam
Marcus Behtash
Aryan Beigi
Helia Beihaghi
Bardia Beik
Justin Bell
Colin Bellotti
Kyla Belschner
Mia Ben-Ami
Asaf Ben-Nun
Gall Benaharon
Kevin Benavides
Luna Mia Benedict
J. Guadalupe Benitez
Faisal Benna
Alyssa Benner
Parsa Benvidy
Ariel Benzaquen
Ruzanna Berberyan
Cameron Berckes
Dennis Berezniak
Sara Berger
Tyrone Berhane
Julio Bermudez
Maia Berneman
Michael Bernstein
Lior Beroukhim
Siena Betance-Sanchez
Santiago Betancourt
Athina Bevardos
Danial Beyk
Harballab Bhullar
Sukhpal Bhullar
Joseph Bias
Laura Bidder
Poran Bijanvandi
Janet Bilderback
Blake Bingham
Dana Binkowski
Breanna Bionson
Melinda Birke
Ben Birman
Freddy Blandino
Ethan Blick
Kirsten Blue
Isabella Blumberg
Jonathan Bogacz
Allison Bogeaus
Ana Boghosian
Sarah Boktor
Aaron Bollinger
Dre Bolte
Danica Myles Bondoc
Holly Bondra
Annabelle Bonebrake
Ana Bonilla
Justin Bonilla
Kevin Bonilla
Nicholas Bonzell
Joshua Booker
Yisel Borges
Mays Borgmeyer
Shirel Boroukhim
Jared Borowitz
Benedetta Borsari
Linus Bossardt
Zohrab Bostanian
Joseph Botti
Chandra Bouchard
Madelyn Bouda
Ray Boudeeb
Patric Boules
Aram Boulghourjian
Armen Boursalian
Cameron Bowen
Miranda Bower
Wesley Bowman
Michael Bradford
Devin Alexis Bradley
Jacob Bradley
Keiaira Bradley
Shayne Bradley
Katherine Bradmiller
Alexander Bragarnik
Luca Brendle
Brianna Brennan
Aiden Bresky
David Briones
Delano Broadus
Ayla Broukhim
Roman Broussard Rezaei
Ahmir Brown
Jordan Brown
Justin Brubaker
Delilah Brumer
Chai Bryan
Rita Bshara
Luis Bucaro
Dario Bucci
Christopher Buckshaw
Speros Budreaux
Russell Buelna
Aiyana Buhrman
Lien Bui
Quynh Bui
Chhivhong Bun
Janet Burciaga
Kelly Burke
Deandre Burkett
Nathan Burkett
Alexandra Burklin
Zane Burklin
Trent Burris
Bonna Burrows
Laura Bush
Laura Bustamante
Colby Butler
Tamarah Butler
Albanita Bytyqi
Yaneth Cabadas-Sanchez
Emily Caballero
Haydee Caballero Robles
Marvin Caballeros
Gabriella Cabanillas
Antony Cabrera
Carolina Cabrera
Jessica Cabrera
Cristal Cabrera-Herrera
Leslie Cabrera Gutierrez
Royce Cacacho
David Caceres
Melissa Caceres
Alefiyah Caderbhoy
Gabrielle Calamba
Jenalyn Calampiano
Darren Calapini
Cesar Caldera
Emily Caldera
Isabel Caldera
Eddenlly Calderon
Genesis Calderon
Hannah Calderon
Joshua Calderon
Julietta Calderon
Sandra Calderon
Verania Calderon
Maria Calderon-Ruiz
Jayleen Calhoun
Gisela Calles
Jorge Camacho Robles
Daniela Camorlinga
Johnell Campbell
Khristine Campbell
Maryanne Campbell
Emily Campos
Nicholas Campos
Victor Campos
Xochitl Campos
Ivan Campos Romero
Elizabeth Campos-Martinez
Justin Canas
Avril Cancellieri-Filippi
Sofia Canchola
Omar Candelaria
Kelly Caniz
Kimberly Canizales
Gloria Canjura
Alexis Canley
Adamary Cantillano
Angel Cantillano
Patric Owen Capatayan
Marius Gabriel Cape
Zen Marius Cape
Abelina Carbajal
Mike Carcano
Norsofhia Cardenas
Shealy Cardona
Irene Cardoso
Lexington Carey
Isabella Carias
Jack Cariffe
Kayla Carig
Giancarlo Carini
Angelica Carlin
Madison Carlon
Gabriella Carlos
Juliet Carlson
Ana Karen Carmona
Desirae Carns
Gabriel Carranza
Zuleima Carranza
Jessie Carranza Parra
Patricia Carrasco
Sebastian Carrasco Hernandez
Crystal Carriedo
Alma Carrillo
Fabiola Carrizosa
Owen Carter
Luke Casarez
Korina Casidsid
Sophia Casillas
Vanessa Casillas
Jake Cassel
Giulia Castaldo
Fernando Castaneda
Gabriella Castaneda
Jose Castaneda
Luis Castaneda
Rebecca Castaneda
Evelyn Castellanos
Pierce Castellon
Ashly Castillo
Karen Castillo
Maritza Castillo
Valeria Castillo
Elvis Castillo Lopez
Janette Castrejon
Isamar Castro
Rebecca Castro
Yanet Castro
Deron Castro-Beshears
Carmen Catalan
Christie Cattan
Casynee Caukin
Cindy Cea
Sofia Cebotar
Norelia Cedano
Sophia Celik
Era Cenolli
Breanna Cerda
Victoria Cerna
Summer Cerrato
Sabrina Cervantes
Annie Chai
Rachel Chaika
Alex Chalikyan
Anthony Chalil
Maria Chamale
Jacob Chambers
Gabriella Chan
Tobin Chapman
Frank Chartrand
Cade Chase
Natalie Chavarria
Valerie Chavarria
Angela Chavez
Carlos Chavez
Jacob Chavez
Jesse Chavez
Jose Chavez
Kayla Chavez
Brandon Chavez De La Trinidad
Omar Cheikh-Eljeilat
Fangwei Chen
Sarah Chen
Tyler Chen
Gelareh Cheraghi Portalalo
Madison Cheramie
Nikita Chernyshenko
Francesca Chew
Ambika Chhikara
Jevan Chimayan
Angelica Chitchian
Ruzanna Chitchian
James Chiu
Jasmine Chiueh
Benjamin Cho
Isaac Cho
Jacob Cho
Madison Cho
Daeun Choi
Julie Choi
Justin Choi
Sabin Choi
Pawel Chowdhury
Tamira Chowdhury
Eleni Chuko
Alexandra Chun
Erick Chun
Max Chung
Zaira Cifuentes
Dale Cipra
Samantha Cisneros
Michael Clancy
David Claret
Aaron Clark
Evan Clark
Matthew Clark
Raffi Clark
Robert Clark
Vaughn Clark
Erica Clemons
Hayden Cleveland
Daniel Clouthier
Nala Cobbin
Luigi Cocchella
Jonah Cohen
Julie Cohen
Leon Cohen
Leya Cohen
Paz Cohen
Remy Jean Cohen
Jessica Colbert
Emily Cole
Gabriella Cole
Jamarion Collins
Breeana Colon
Diana Colvin
Sterling Como
Rain Cona
Shaina Conforti
JayDa Conley
Madeline Conroy
Scarlette Constanza
Christina Contreras
David Contreras
Emily Contreras
Luis Contreras
Nathali Contreras
Jonathan Cook
Schylar Cook
Paula Rae Cordova
Natalie Cordova-Lopez
Alexander Corea
Joerdan Corneau
Evelyn Cornejo
Stephanie Cornelio
Jacob Corominas
Abraham Corona
Jocelyn Coronado
Laura Corrales
Jonathan Cortes
Daniel Cortez
Ivan Cortez
Paul Cortez
Kimberly Cortez Rosales
Kaelyn Cotton
Gabriella Coutard-Terry
Juliana Covarrubias
Alec Cowan
Jordan Coyne
Claire Craft
Makayla Crawford
Terri Crawford
Thomas Cresse
Alyssa Crocker
Emily Crocker
Christopher Crosdale
Samantha Cross
Jonah Cruanas
Andrew Crudge
Carlos Cruz
Domenica Cruz
Jov Phillippe Cruz
Samantha Cruz
Cassidy Cuarenta
Tonatiuh Cuautle
Vanesa Cuellar Coronado
Genesis Cuellar Figueroa
Rossie Cuenca Juarez
Giancarlo Cuevas
John Culhane
Jack Cullen
Tamia Cumbess
Ryan Cummings
Kylee Cupp
Joseph Curry
Timothy Curtis
Alma Dabbagh
MHD Shafik Dabbagh
Maria DaBroy
Zahra Dadmarzi Tafresh
Lucineh Dadoyan
Robert Daghlian
Tate Dakarmen
Kylynn Daley
Coby Gil Dalum Pines
Danial Daneshvar
Ryan Dang
Sabeline Dangah
Nicholas Daniali
Ester Danil
Brandon Dao
Parisa Darakhshan Nia
Sara Darakhshan Nia
Jasmine Darden
Parsa Dargahi
Sara Dashti
Paolo Datoc
Jacob Daum
Kimia Davarnia
Parmida Davarpanah
Pegah Davarpanah
Devon Davenport
Natalie David
Alyson Davis
Jaden Davis
Jasmine Davis
Jordan Davis
Sharell Davis
Shayna Davis
Sophia Davison
Bertina Davoodi
Patrick Davoodian
Michael Davtian
Lily Davtyan
Wreikojene Dawson
Natalie Dawud
Cynthia Ddungu
Steve De Jeronimo
Victor De Jeronimo
Paola De Joya
Donald De La Pena
Crystal De La Rosa
Maria Fernanda De La Rosa
Ashley De La Torre
Andrew De Leon
Angel De Leon Miranda
Andrew De Marcos
Rafaela De Souza
Shani Brami
Carlos Bran
Jenna Brashear
Jesse Cano
Victor Cano
Lesley Cano Moreno
Ryan Checots
Annmarie Chediak
Troy Cheeseman
Erik Coss
Jacqueline Coto
Elyse Cotton
Elijah De Castro
Jazelle De Castro
Jillian Decaussin