2 • NEWS
Monday, September 30, 2013
New chair appointed to fundraising group HEATHER RANDALL THE TELESCOPE
A group that raises money for student scholarships and textbooks has a new leader who wants to expand, officials said recently. The Palomar College President’s Associates welcomed new chairman David Engblom at their quarterly meeting on Sept. 19. Marc McGuire has served as chairman of the President’s Associates for the past four years. After expressing his gratitude to the group for their hard work, McGuire welcomed Engblom. McGuire said he is confident in Engblom’s ability to continue to lead the group in its growth efforts for Palomar students and the community. “I’m really looking forward to Dave taking over. Dave’s really plugged into the local community very well,” McGuire said. Many Palomar College students are the recipients of programs such as textbook assistance and scholarships that are made possible by money raised by the members of the President’s Associates. Members consist of local business professionals who make a minimum contribution of $1,000 to the Palomar College Foundation. San Diego native Engblom has worked in San Marcos for the last 10 years. He has been the branch manager of Pac Trust Bank in San Marcos for three years. Englblom said he hopes to create a more interactive attitude among members. He said it hasn’t always been a priority to participate so much as it is just to meet the $1,000 donation requirement. He feels if members simply focus on writing a check, they are missing out on opportunities within the group to network together.
“One of the things I like about the President’s Associates is that we encourage the business-tobusiness opportunities within the group,” Engblom said. At a recent meeting of the Associates, Interim Dean of Mathematics and the Natural Health Sciences Department Daniel Sourbeer talked about the impacts of some of the group’s money. He talked about his department qualifying for another five year Bridges of the Future Grant that the Foundation has been involved in since 2001. This current renewal of the grant will run from 2013 through 2018. It is a collaborative grant between Cal State San Marcos, Palomar, and Mira Costa College targeted towards creating a “pipeline to a PhD.” “Our share is about $100,000 per year from the grant, and it targets under represented students with talent in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines,” Sourbeer said. Sourbeer said one goal of the grant is to get students so immersed in their programs they begin to look at themselves as scientists while they’re completing their studies. The grant money provides students with the extra financial support they need to focus on their studies, instead of having to work at unrelated, part-time jobs. Engblom is optimistic about helping to lead the President’s Associates to reach their fundraising goals. These goals will insure that the foundation will continue to have money available to contribute to helping students attain jobs and scholarships. HRANDALL@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
Palomar Professor Gregg Baker talks to his television class on Sept. 17 in the Digital Broadcast Arts program at Palomar College. He was recently inducted into the NATAS Silver Circle. • Francois Swart/Telescope
Palomar professor inducted into national Silver Circle KYLE ROSA THE TELESCOPE
Palomar College Professor Gregg Baker was inducted into the illustrious Silver Circle by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) earlier this month. According to nataspsw.org, this award is given to individuals who have worked in the television industry for at least 25 years and have made a major contribution to Pacific Southwest Television. The NATAS established the Silver Circle in 1983, and currently has 250 members. “It was an honor to be among such a distinguished group of people,” Baker said in reference to the other six Silver Circle inductees. Palomar College’s Chair of Media Studies, Pat Hahn, referred to the television industry by saying “It’s about loyalty and lifetime friendships.” Hahn went on to add most people see television as a large entity when in reality, it is actually a small world.
This is especially true for Baker who has been in the industry for 33 years and has been friends with Hahn for 30. After Baker graduated from the University of Arizona-Tuscon, he began his career as a production assistant for a news and entertainment television series called PM Magazine. He worked his way up the ranks and eventually accepted a San Diego- based position as the producer of a medical segment called “Staying Healthy,” where he stayed for 16 years. Hahn met his current colleague, Baker, when Baker did a write-up about Hahn’s daughter and her diabetes case. One year later Hahn decided to ask Baker to co-produce a show on Lifetime called “Living with Diabetes.” They became friends and the show became a success and aired on CNBC. Baker went on to do freelance work in Southern California for companies such as NCB and produced other segments including
“To Your Health” before deciding to make a change. Hahn had been teaching classes at Palomar College and suggested Baker give teaching a try. After one year, Baker was hooked and decided to get his master’s degree to teach full time. It has been 13 years, and Baker expressed his love for teaching as if it was his first year all over again. Now he oversees Palomar’s broadcast department, which has won several Emmys and oversees the student-produced show, “North County News.” Both Baker and Hahn described the television industry in the same manner --- a place where people are able to develop lifelong friendships and work with colleagues in a number of facets. Baker concluded his acceptance speech at the Lomas Santa Fe County Club recently by making a joke. “I’m looking forward to the next adventure with Pat, just as long as its not multi-level marketing,” he said. KROSA@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
Clubs gain momentum, potential members after Club Rush ZANDALEE ARCINIEGA THE TELESCOPE
Zimri Moreida (right) of the Office of Student Affairs gave out a free slice of pizza to student Alexandria Pulido (left) on Sept. 18. • Xenia Spatacean/Telescope
As part of Club Rush, student-run organizations gathered in Palomar’s Student Union recently to recruit members. Twenty clubs and organizations were in attendance, including The WELL College Ministry Club, Fire Club and Child Development Club. Each club attracted students by selling candy, chips or other food before signing them up as potential members. The Sept. 18 event was hosted by the Inter-Club Council (ICC), a council of the Associated Student Government (ASG), which is in charge of helping clubs network with each other and the ASG. Some clubs members said they were extremely pleased with the turnout. The Palomar Child Development Club had 50 people show up to its first meeting, and was still looking to add more members. When asked what the club is about, Vice
President Alyson Ohlerich said, “it’s about making a difference one child at a time, and it’s also about fundraising for multiple charities.” Ohlerich explained the money from the candy sold at the event goes toward purchasing school supplies, such as backpacks, and setting up book drives for children. Another club making waves at the event was The WELL College Ministry Club. They were attracting passersby by questioning what they thought hope meant. 18 year-old student Levi Repik said he was planning on attending one of WELL’s events over the weekend after passing by their table. Repik said he liked Club Rush a lot. “It makes me feel more involved,” he added. His friend, 18 year-old Sean Abbott, said he liked that the event catered to various topics, but couldn’t find anything that appealed to him. “So far I haven’t really seen anything
that’s my interest,” Abbott said. The Palomar College Fire Club was also in attendance. Their main purpose at Club Rush this semester was signing people up for the upcoming Blood Drive Week starting Sept. 23, they said. “We choose to sponsor the blood drive because, as future public servants, we’re looking to give back to the community,” Salazar said. Even though the Fire Club was there to register people for the blood drive, many students also wanted to know more about joining the club. The club’s roster had 90 people officially signed up at that point. According to Student Activities Coordinator Lindsay Kretchman, being part of a club benefits students in many ways: they can network with different people from all walks of life, and their participation in clubs increases their chances of being accepted to their university of choice. ZARCINIEGA@THE-TELESCOPE.COM