EagleEye
Student Newspaper
Lemoore College
Dec. 2024
The Lane Change Edition
Lane Changes: Lemoore College Modifies Course Offerings to Drive Student Success
By Bryan Garcia with Contributions from Abdul Brown
Lemoore College (LC) is making big changes to its course lanes – which are the course formats and starting times.
In Fall 2024, LC introduced accelerated 8-week courses while maintaining 18-week courses and discontinuing 9-week courses. Accelerated courses now make up 40% of all classes offered. Additionally, classes will eventually be adjusted to the following start times: 8:00am, 10:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm and 5:00pm.We here at EagleEye recently interviewed College President James Preston for more information on these changes. He shared that they are intended to drive “flexibility for students and student success”.
The reasons for these changes, according to Preston, are a combination of positive student feedback towards increased shorter course offerings and past data proving student success. “Last spring, we did quite a few focus groups and student surveys to talk to students about whether they would be interested in taking more accelerated courses with a pathway,” Preston said, “We received a pretty strong response that they would”.
On the topic of student success, the president pointed to data collected by the college over the past five years that showed that 9-week courses yielded the highest success rates (course success is defined as a student completing the course with a C or higher), noting that while the average course success rate was between 75-78%, “Our accelerated classes, when we did our first nine and our second nine, those were in the 80’s, [an] 80-85% success rate”. These results are not exclusive to Lemoore College. The college is a part of a network called Achieving the Dream, consisting of 300 community colleges focused on developing initiatives that drive student success. Of those colleges, Preston noted that dozens have already implemented similar course lane adjustments, achieving comparable results. “Our data at Lemoore College is no different from the data we’re seeing around the country,” he added.
Cont’d on page 2
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A Letter from the President
Dear Golden Eagles,
December 11th, 2024
I hope you are all doing well and that you are finishing the semester strong! The holiday season is a time of joy and gratitude, but the holiday season can also be a difficult time for many. The combination of the holiday season and a season of transition in our country can lead to a wide variety of emotions, questions, and feelings. Our theme at the college this year is Lemoore College (LC) Love which is focusing on showing love and support to our students, to each other, and to our community. With this in mind, I want to remind you that we have many resources available for you at our college to support you as we wrap up this semester and head into 2025. Whether it is access to mental health resources, food resources, immigration services, counseling, or academic support…. our college is here to give the you the support you need to navigate college and life.
I hope you enjoy the latest edition of our college newspaper as it is filled with innovative ideas, student voices, and creativity! I want to remind you that you can register now for Spring 25 classes and most importantly want to wish you and your loved ones a wonderful winter break and happy holidays! We will see you in 2025!
Much LC love to you all and stay Golden!
VAAS Building Set to Enhance Educational Opportunities
Written By: Declan Steadman
Contributors: Rodrigo Garcia
“This is going to provide greater access to high-need programs” stated James Preston the President during our interview with him on the topic of the new 2 story building that is currently being built. Set to be finished in spring 2026 this new building named the “Visual Arts and Applied Sciences” building or VAAS will create new opportunities for many students at our college. Although originally scheduled to open in Fall 2025, construction delays due to weather have pushed the timeline back. Once complete, the building will require additional time for furnishing and equipping the classrooms. Some classes will begin earlier, but the official grand opening is planned for the previously mentioned date.
It is set to provide 20 new classrooms that will be used by high need programs, that include nursing, paramedics, computer science, cyber security, information technology and art. About a third of the bottom floor will be computer labs and the rest will be dedicated to class rooms and 2 art labs that will feature large windows allowing students that pass by to see art that is being created. The second floor will be dedicated to the health careers, allowing for the nursing and paramedics programs to let in more students.
The goal is to have 50 students in nursing and 40 in paramedic. For our health programs there will be 2 lecture halls dedicated to anatomy and physiology classes, required preparation for health majors there will also be a CNA (certified nurse assistant) classroom.
The building is designed to offer more than just classroom space. Students will be able to hang out in certain lounge areas throughout, providing comfortable spots to study or relax between classes that are not just the student union or the library. It was also mentioned that the new building being on the unused south side of campus will have more people parking on that side freeing up many needed parking spaces in the north side. The completion of the VAAS building represents a large step forward for Lemoore College. By expanding access to key programs and improving the overall campus infrastructure, the building will play a pivotal role in shaping the educational and professional futures of students.
Lane Change cont’d from page 1
Taking shorter 8-week courses can provide various benefits to both students and faculty. For students, providing a combination of 18-week and 8-week courses adds increased flexibility with planning their class schedules. Previously, if unforeseen circumstances hindered a student’s ability to complete their course(s), students may have needed to drop all their courses, hoping to retake them the following semester.
By providing more 8-week courses, students experiencing unforeseen circumstances could theoretically drop a course during the first half of the semester and retake it during the second half, should it be available. Students could also potentially earn their degrees in a faster period than originally planned. For example, students could take a portion of their classes in the first half of the semester and another during the second half, while simultaneously taking standard 18-week courses, maximizing their academic progress throughout a semester.
For students taking back-to-back 8-week courses, upon completion of the first eight weeks, students will gain a week break before starting their next set of 8-week courses, while faculty handles both the previous eight weeks of work and simultaneously prepares for the next. Overall, students taking back-to-back 8-week courses should complete them in 17 weeks, faster than both the 18-week courses and previous back-to-back 9-week courses.
Students looking to take advantage of these faster courses should be advised that such courses usually involve a hybrid of both in-class and online coursework. Furthermore, compressing 18 weeks of coursework down to eight weeks means an increased workload in a shorter timeframe.
Note that not every class will be offered in an 8-week format. Preston noted that some course subjects (Math, Science, Elementary Education) have either in-class requirements or complex subject matter that make teaching in an 8-week format difficult.
Aerial View: VAAS Building (Image Taken Nov. 2024)
Preview Day
By Kai Gaona & Edgar Araiza
O
n October 25th, Lemoore College held its second annual Preview Day. Held in the Golden Eagle Arena, the event invited high school seniors from neighboring cities to visit the campus. With many of Lemoore College’s majors being displayed at the event, it was a great way to inform them of the many different career paths available.
During the event, EagleEye got the opportunity to ask James Preston, the President of Lemoore College, a few questions about the event and his thoughts for future students:
What do you hope to accomplish with this event?
“Preview Day is an educational event, really the purpose is to get students to think about college. And high school seniors typically like starting in November, that’s when they start filling out college applications. So for us… we want them to come to Lemoore College… but to have them come to our campus and meet our staff, our faculty, and our students. They’ll know whether it’s a better idea for them or not.”
Is there anything you’re looking forward to for the students next year?
“Yeah really it’s just the interactions with each other. Right now they’re Panthers, and Huskies, and Bullpups, and then this idea of becoming a Golden Eagle and a part of our college, and the interaction that they’ll have with all of our staff, that’s the best part.”
Why do you think students should apply to Lemoore College?
“First of all I would just think in general, community college is a great route. Because we provide the same general education that other universities…do for just two years. I’d say Lemoore College specifically, we’re smaller…but first time, full time students, there’s no tuition, 73% of our classes don’t have textbook costs, we have a lot of support programs, so it’s just a great place to start growing into your future self. And I hope we do that well.”
Alongside James Preston, EagleEye also got the chance to interview some of the visiting students on their thoughts on Preview Day.
What are you looking forward to at Lemoore College?
“Trying to pass high school to apply for Lemoore College, stay for 2 years to get my associate’s, and then transfer to University of Phoenix.”
Are you considering attending Lemoore College? “Yeah for the first 2 years.”
At the end of the day, Preview Day served as a great way for future Lemoore College students to engage with the faculty, majors, and campus, in a way that other colleges might not have offered. In the future, we hope to see these seniors attend Lemoore College and soar high as a Golden Eagle.
Trey Lowrey’s Journey
By Vicky Pulido & Daivion Hill
Trey Lowrey, one of our basketball players for Lemoore College (LC), is a student-athlete from Orlando, Florida, with a deep love for basketball. Growing up, Trey would watch highlights of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. However now, he looks up to Carmelo Anthony and Vince Carter. Trey loves streaming video games like NBA 2K and Grand Theft Auto and hanging out with his girlfriend when he’s not on the court. His journey to Lemoore College was a bit of a twist; coming from a military family, he initially thought about attending an NIAA school but changed his mind to LC. Before every game, Trey says a quiet prayer, listens to R&B music, and munches on Nerds candy—he’d take a lifetime supply if they ever wanted to sponsor him. In high school, Trey was also a standout athlete, excelling in football and track, where he broke the long jump record as a freshman. Now at Lemoore College, Trey is making his mark both as an athlete and as a student.
WIN Center: Career Boost
Written by: Vicky Pulido
One of the many helpful resources students have found at Lemoore College is the WIN Center. The WIN Center emphasizes helping you secure a job on or off campus, with multiple resources on improving your resume, cover letter, and interviewing skills. The WIN Center also aids in internships to get your career started. They offer numerous skill workshops, such as mock interviews and typing certification, where anyone can join. The WIN center also provides free professional attire that you can keep. The WIN Center is a place that students should visit if they are interested in any assistance in acquiring a job or getting started.
Edited by: Colin Miyamoto
Lemoore Wrestling: Rising with Purpose
By Adriana Quezada & Davion Hill
Lemoore College wrestling is making its mark as one of California’s top community college programs. Ranked 10th in the CCCAA, the Golden Eagles showcase grit and growth in every match. Under Head Coach Marcio Botelho, now in his seventh year, the team thrives on hard work and success on and off the mat.
Among the inspiring stories at Lemoore College is Ruben Chavez, a wrestler from Dos Palos whose journey captures the spirit of resilience and determination.
Ruben Chavez both a student and athlete, started as a high school football player before joining wrestling his senior year. After high school, Ruben worked a plumbing job in San Jose with no college plans until a call from Coach Botelho changed everything. Committing to wrestling, he dedicated himself to rigorous training, early runs, and strict dieting. He fell in love with the sport’s demand for independence and personal growth. “Seeing the things you work hard for pay off is the best feeling,” he says. Outside wrestling, Ruben describes himself as simple. In his free time, he enjoys the gym, cleaning, and spending time with friends and family. Ruben’s future goals include transferring to Simpson University to finish his wrestling career and study market research. His advice? “Embrace the grind. Wrestling is tough but that’s what makes it rewarding. Listen to your coaches and teammates, don’t be afraid to ask questions or make mistakes. The friendships and bonds you build in the sport are worth it.” As the season moves forward, Chavez and the Golden Eagles are focused on the Southern California Regional and 3C2A State Championships. Their journey is far from over, and this team is one to watch. Stay tuned for what they bring to the mat next.
La Dia De Los Muertos Celebration
Student Writer: Jayden Isakson
Student Editor: Azzy Valentino
Student Contributor: Colin Miyamoto
Hello, Golden Eagles! Did you attend the Dia De Los Muertos celebration on November 6th? If you didn’t, that’s a-okay, because we are here to give you a rundown of the event. Ms. Moreno, Lemoore College’s Spanish professor, runs the event every year with the help of all of her students from her Spanish 002 class. They dedicate hours to building each altar with the different customs and styles from various Central American countries, showcasing the different cultures when it comes to celebration. Students were given the ability to make their own creative touches, too, as well as choose who they would like to honour on their altar.
Along with presentation of these altars, food by Gotti’s was provided, this time serving a traditional chicken, rice, and mole dish. Music was playing, and dancers showcasing traditional dances made appearances throughout the night. Vendors from and for various student resources got to participate, offering to share the culture and help our students. If any were wishing to have attended and would like the chance to help next year, show some support by considering adding a Spanish course to your agenda, so we can make sure that Ms. Moreno and her students can celebrate Spanish culture and customs for years to come!
Feeding Eagles
Written By: Kayla C. Anaya & Leo J. Jimenez
History
The Golden Eagle Pantry located in the Student Union originally began as the Eagle Pantry Club. In late (October) 2013, a project intended to support Lemoore College (LC) students, and their food needs was up for discussion. Several years later in 2017 the club would attain one of their most loyal contributors, Panera Bread. Since then, every week on Wednesday, Panera has dedicated itself to providing distributions to LC. In 2021 the Eagle Pantry Club was able to receive assistance from CalViva Health with the Kings Community Action Organization (KCAO) in equipment as well as producing a steady supply of food.
Where to Start?
The Golden Eagle Pantry is open on Tuesdays 10AM6:30PM, Wednesdays-Thursdays 10AM- 5PM, and Fridays 10AM-1PM. Upon entering the pantry, showing your LC student ID will be required. Providing information on household numbers is the only other piece of information that will be shared to help recommend you the best products. The Golden Eagle Pantry with its partnership of Panera will help LC students and be open to the public. Every Wednesday beginning at 10AM their distributions will begin until supplies last. The Mobile Pantry Monthly Drive-Thru Food Distribution is a partnership with the Central California Food bank open to anybody. Located in the LC Arena parking lot A.
Where can I find snacks on campus for free?
• Front desk in the library
• Student Union corners
• Mesa Room (STEM) located in the library
• Counselor’s office
Views from The Golden Eagle Pantry