A fresh face on campus

DANIELA TORRES Reporter dtorres.roundupnews@gmail.com

The modern day college experience is often described as a mix between exciting, nerve wracking, and fast-paced. Once the term begins, students must keep the pace with class assignments while juggling their work and personal lives.

It can be difficult to find a spare moment to decompress from the day’s trials. This was the dilemma that birthed the hiking club at Pierce College.

Club president Xavier Fierro believes hiking helps destress and ease the mind and body. As an anthropology major, Fierro has clocked long hours in class with little to no time for breaks.

“Hiking is a good aid. It helps you fight depression and anxiety,” Fierro said. “It’s like man is getting back to nature and nature is helping us be better inside and out so it’s really good.”

The hiking club at Pierce College was kick started in Fall 2014 by former club president William Yeromian. According to Fierro, the current president, Yeromian’s goal was to create an organization for students who enjoy hiking and seeking the outdoors just as much as he does.

Yeromian is now studying at the University of California, San Diego.

“Our goal is introducing members to the activity of hiking, and the different benefits that it can provide,” Fierro said.

The hiking club promotes fitness, and community involvement.

According to Fierro, hiking has been proven scientifically to combat different heart disease.

Every Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30p.m. club members meet in room 3205 of the business building to discuss upcoming hikes and trails that they want to visit.

This Sunday the club will be hiking at the Cave of Munits, located in West Hills.

“The first time I went there it was amazing because it was my first California cave experience,” Fierro said.

During their hikes, the club includes small exercise routines.

Fierro has been a part of the hiking club from the start. He joined right after he got out of the marines, his first semester here at pierce. He is the former secretary, and moved up to president in spring of 2015.

Not only does the club just hike, but they give back to their community as well. If the club isn’t out hiking they are participating in the restoration of trails.

“We have volunteered time with the Tree People organization which restores trails, and helps with conservation efforts locally,” Fierro said. “But I am going to expand on more opportunities for members.” semesters now.

“When I got home from the military I realized that as I was growing up I didn’t explore the surrounding areas as much as I should have,” Urias said. “Now that I’m more involved with the community and going out with a more student based lifestyle, I can actually explore what my community is made up of.”

Urias enjoys the fact that he can explore within his own community.

“The big thing that makes us unique is having the mountain ranges on both sides and being able to climb and hike.”

Brandon Navarrete, neurosurgery major, is a new member to the hiking club. He will be experiencing his first hike with the club this Sunday.

“I’ve been hiking since I was young and I only really knew about one trail which is Griffith park,” Navarrete said. “Here at the hiking club they mentioned that there is going to be a lot of new trails and I would like to go out and explore them. That’s what made me want to join.”

Navarrete is looking forward to explore what the club has to offer. He would like to be a part of the club election and hopefully move up to secretary or Vice President.

KELLAN BRADLEY Campus Lifestyle Editor

kbradley.roundupnews@gmail.com

The contrast between dance and education administration is vast and rarely mix. For Larissa Nazarenko, the new Dean of Career and Technical education, the transition from ballet to education was long but fruitful. Not unlike executing a perfect grand jeté jump in pointe shoes.

Nazarenko will be responsible for overseeing the departments of CAOT, Child Development, Computer Science Information Technology, Industrial Technology, Media Arts, and Nursing. She will be supervising each of these departments.

“I love being connected to different programs and different departments, also being close to the students,” Nazarenko said.

Dean Nazarenko was a fulltime faculty member for the fine arts department at Allan Hancock College for six years before becoming department chair. Nazarenko was also a supervisor of the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts.

One of Nazarenko’s many passions just so happens to be dance.

“I taught dance full-time for eight years before I became a dean at Allan Hancock college,” Nazarenko said.

Nazarenko received her bachelors of fine arts degree in dance pedology and choreography from Altai State Institution of Arts and Culture. She also studied dance in New York City before receiving her masters of fine arts degree from University of

California Irvine.

Nazarenko, who is of Russian descent, says her favorite style of dance is ballet. She still dances professionally today and will be performing with a full orchestra in Downtown Los Angeles in April.

“I’m happy to welcome her aboard the team, I believe that Dean Nazarenko will do a great job. She brings a wide range of experience in both areas of Humanities and Career technical studies.” said Vice President of Academic Affairs, Sheri Berger.

Former dean of the career and technical studies department, Jose Luis Fernandez, believes that Nazarenko will do a great job.

“I believe she is going to do a wonderful job, I was at the interview panel when we interviewed candidates. During those interview views I notice that she had the skills, talent and educational background needed to do an outstanding job at Pierce,” said Fernandez.

As the a new dean, Nazarenko is responsible for handling many things, one of them being student and faculty relations.

“I hope students will come by my office not only to complain but to share their success stories, because students come by my office and tend to complain about a course or instructor or a program.” said Nazarenko. Nazarenko will also be overseeing each of the career and technical education departments class scheduling as well as overseeing the each class’s curriculum. Nazarenko looks to her experience with Allan Hancock as the framework on which she sets her goals.