News
March 19, 2012
The SAN MATEAN • Page 3
Phi Theta Kappa students honored Manuel Orbegozo The San Matean
Phi Theta Kappa students at CSM were ranked first and second in AllCalifornia Academic Teams. Caleb Kenney, 26, and Emmeline Wong, 21, form part of the list of 67 nominees from several community colleges in California. Community college state associations, Phi Theta Kappa, and community college presidents sponsored the Academic Team Awards. Kenney and Wong were nominated after submitting an application where their grades, academic rigor and growth were evaluated. An essay portion of the application gave them the chance to explain how their education contributes to CSM and their community. The All-State Academic Team Awards had 32 states participate. To qualify as a nominee, a student must have a cumulative college-level GPA between 3.5 and 4.0, must not have been nominated previously,
and be on track to earn a bachelor’s degree of associates degree, among other requirements. Students did not need to be part of PTK to apply for nomination. The nominator chosen at CSM was President Michael Claire. Only two students are nominated from each campus that offers the application. “A lot of kids would give up an arm or a leg to get an education. In the United States, people need to be reminded how blessed (they are) to be in a country where education is available for anyone,” said Wong. Wong is the current president of CSM’s honor society, PTK. He plans to transfer to UC Berkley and major in Business.Wong also interned as a trade assistant at the Northern California World Trade Center in Sacramento. “My advisers and friends told me to be myself and that the experience is what matters,” said Wong. “I wouldn’t be there without the support of my friends and team”. Wong, who has a GPA of 3.91, is
working to enter the international business field. “I lived in China until (the age of) eight and then moved to South America and came here after secondary education and I feel like I should contribute to the countries that raised me,” she said. Kenney, a business major, holds a GPA of 3.93. He is the financial director of PTK and plans on transferring to UC Berkley. “I wasn’t motivated to go to classes at the 4-year school I attended, so I dropped and eventually went back” Kenney helps students that are struggling with school by inviting them to study groups and creating an environment where everyone can work together. “I like being a facilitator,” he said. Wong and Kenney have previously worked together in projects at school such as the PTK Commit to Completion project that worked to inspire students to complete their education and lower drop rates in
Photo courtesy of Facebook
From left: Emmeline Wong, 21 CSM President Michael Claire, and Caleb Kenney, 26. Wong and Kenney received awards. enrollment. Last semester, a wide blank panel was displayed outside of Building 10 and students were given the chance to write down their educational goals and dreams. A recognition ceremony was held
in Sacramento on March 7. Both students received medallions and certificates. “We are very happy about the experiences we have got. They are priceless,” said Wong.
Band members take charge of their career Erasmo Martinez The San Matean Amps and chords hide the garage floor in a Burlingame home. Four young musicians sit in the middle of the mess next to a Pearl painted drum set. The four of them laugh as one recalls hearing a spot on the radio saying sad people listen to Radiohead. All in good fun, they tease one of them for liking the band. CSM student Jonny Zywiciel holds a guitar in hand while he smiles and jokingly admits you need to be sad to listen to their music. Zywiciel, 19, “slit” his way into being a guitar player of the new rock band Leviathan. Leviathan had it’s start with original members Gaitan Gonzales, 18, playing guitar and William Grossman, 18, playing bass during it’s days of being a acoustic band playing small shows. The band decided on going electrical and got Josh Vikoren, 18, to play guitar for them. Gonzales switched over to playing the drums and leading in vocals after this inclusion.
Photo courtesy of Facebook
From left to right: Josh Vikoren, Jonny Zywiciel and William Grossman
The four found themselves taking the acoustic songs and building the new sound from there. They obtained studio time, a while after forming, with Castle Ultimate Studios and well know producer and friend Aaron Hellman. “(We) got hella excited when we recorded in the studio,” said Vikoren. The band used the studio time to record a four track EP demo called TO THE FACE. Since its December 20th release, the band has been playing at venues in order to get
awareness and build a fan base. Their EP combines sounds of alternative rock and pop punk. Energy heavy riffs create power pop melodies with high noted vocals. Constant moving sounds are created with no long periods of down time. Some of the bands influences include Blink-182, Third Eye Blind, and John Mayer. Several shows have progressed the band into the limelight of the local band scene. They have been playing in venues like the 330 Ritch and the Blue
MacCaw in San Francisco. “Earlier on, we were focused on shows,” said Vikoren. “Now we’re getting merch set up and focusing to get our look online so people can stay connected.” Previously the band created enough attention for a management company to offer them a contract for studio time and the production of a music video. Due to lack of creative control, they denied the offer. “They wrote up a whole contract,” Vikoren said. “Decided we didn’t want someone to tell us when to be in the studio. It can’t be forced.” The writing process for Leviathan is very spontaneous and from the heart, said Zywiciel. “If we’re working on song ideas, we work on what’s not sounding good,” said Gonzales. For their first song, Recovery, the band explained that the song was well practiced before they obtained studio time to record it. They then picked what they think sounds good and roll with it in the final product. “If there’s something we like, we pick it,” said Vikoren.
In the Mix
They all recall that the breakdown for Recovery had actually been a result of just jamming. They just played it and it felt right, said Gonzales. During performances there main focus is getting the crowd involved and into the music. “Performing is the few times you can forget everything and do what you want,” said Vikoren. Their focus in the band continues with social media websites, including Facebook and Twitter, in order to get them noticed. “People run a lot of feedback after the show and find us online,” said Gonzales. “We’ve also just been handing out our CDs.” The radio station 107.7 The Bone had even played their song the night of Jan. 21. Now the band is entered in an online Battle of the Bands through Warped Tour. The voting process is still in progress and they currently hold the seventh spot. If they receive the most votes, they will be able to play at Warpped See Band on page 6
By Ian Mitchell and Greg Marshall
What does St. Patrick’s Day mean to you?
Ashley Jones, 19 A./D. Studies, San Bruno
Niko Larot, 20 Engineering, Milbrae
Therese Ramos, 18 Communications, San Bruno
Eleanor Freed, 53 Visiting Parent, Berkeley
Michael Kwong, 23 Bio. Psych., San Francisco
“It reminds me of my Irish private school, St. Dunston.”
“It’s a reason to make out with chicks at the bar, but I’m not Irish.”
“...The pot of gold at the end.”
“Green.”
“Honestly, just wearing green and drinking.”