Humanities Tea - Award Ceremony

Dominic Craddock was an exemplary student in our speech and debate program. During his two-year forensics career, he has won multiple awards in impromptu speaking in the novice and junior varsity division, attended two national tournaments, and served as the vice president of the Speech and Debate club. He is a model forensics student who is respected by his peers and is well deserving of the Communication Studies Department Scholarship award.

– Professor Jeff Samano

Chance Sanford was a model speech and debate student in our program. During his one-year forensics career, he finished first in the novice impromptu speaking division at the Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association Spring Championship Tournament and attended two national tournaments this year. He is also graduating at the end of this semester and is transferring to CSU Fullerton. He is a model forensics student who is respected by his peers and is well deserving of the Communication Studies Department Scholarship award.

– Professor Jeff Samano

It takes a special skillset to synthesize a debate into a few points and frame those points in the context of the present moment. Karl Jackle has this quality with a down to earth approach that is both persuasive and admirable. He is present minded, comfortable taking on the challenge of multiple debate events and styles of speaking. Karl joined the Fullerton College Forensics team the first semester we went remote. Karl persisted, despite the changes in conditions and competed in policy debate against local Universities. Despite partnership changes, Karl continued with an excitement for what the next tournament could bring. Karl continued into Parliamentary debate where he excelled in the rebuttals. And Whether its Karl’s ability to control the framing of the conversation or his ability to leverage a good piece of evidence, he is an essential part of the Forensics team and an example of what this award is all about.

– Professor Joel Salcedo

When someone is introduced to intercollegiate debate, they have lots of questions. Whether it’s a conversation about government policy or philosophical questions about metaphysics and ontology, Jonathan Meza is our debater with the answers. Recently recognized by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Debate League for his volunteer work and service to the community, helping others is a part of who Jonathan is. He combines his interests with his service for the benefit of the community. While working for the service of others Jonathan is a national competitor, having debated in multiple styles and formats. Jonathan is an excellent team member and has shown versatility in adapting to unique argument styles and across a variety of literature bases. Beyond his national success Jonathan continues to look inward to share his experience and knowledge as a mentor, a judge, a competitor, and a valuable member of the Fullerton College Forensics team.

– Professor Joel Salcedo

Ita Palma was an exceptional student in our speech and debate program. During her two-year forensics career, she has attended three national tournaments, won multiple awards at competitive collegiate contests in the varsity division of Interpretive events, and currently serves as the president of the Speech and Debate Club. She is a model forensics student, and the Communication Studies Department is proud to be honoring Ita with the Shirlee Pledger Communication Studies Scholarship award.

– Professor Jeff Samano

I’ve been lucky to teach Taylor for the past year, in English 101 and English 103. I nominated her for the Kathleen Brooks Award because she demonstrates qualities such as persistence, open-mindedness, intellectual curiosity, and a deep commitment to excellence. Taylor faces challenges head-on and uses resources to help her continue to work toward her educational goals. I know she has a bright future at Fullerton College and beyond.

– Professor Bridget Kominek

Alyssa Chapa was a student in my English 100 class in fall 2020. From the outset, I was impressed by Alyssa’s work ethic and the effort she put into her assignments. As the semester progressed, her writing only grew stronger, and by the end of 16 weeks, she was producing some of the most sophisticated writing that I have encountered in all my years of teaching. Congratulations on this award, Alyssa!

– Professor Richard Levesque

David Robles always brings a powerful element of truth and rawness to his creative writing and our creative writing class. He does not shy away from difficult topics in his writing and I believe that this will make him a successful writer in the future.

– Professor Cynthia Guardado

I nominated Jessica King for the Herb Guthmann Literature Scholarship due to her outstanding and engaging insights into pivotal works of world literature. As a student in my Fall 2020 World Literature course, Jessica’s thoughtful and in-depth analyses revealed new and intriguing angles of one of the earliest written works of world literature, exemplifying the critical skills we hope to instill in all of the students who join our program. Congratulations, Jessica!

– Professor Kim Vandervort

Karsyn VonAchen’s critical application of her creative writing skills has contributed to the success of LiveWire magazine this Spring. Her creativity and ability to manage multiple moving parts will be a huge value to her future success.

– Professor Cynthia Guardado

From the very beginning of the semester, Kaitlyn was simply outstanding. Her ability to analyze complex texts, synthesize their ideas with other class themes, and write compelling essays led to her having the highest overall grade in class. She was also a leader, providing useful feedback to her colleagues and keeping the conversation moving forward. It was very easy to find additional faculty to support her nomination, evidence of her excellence across our program.

-Professor Mike Mangan

It is a privilege to present Katherine with one of our ESL Awards. Katherine has been a great classmate to her fellow students and constantly works to improve her writing and language skills. She actively participates in our Zoom class and attends Hornets Tutoring and Writing Center sessions on a consistent basis. Katherine is driven to improve her academic English skills, and her enthusiasm for learning English and working with her classmates are displayed every class.

 

– Professor Arthur Hui

Even during a challenging semester filled with uncertainty, Nhu never missed a Zoom class. She regularly provided insightful responses and questions on the topics of agriculture, politics, leadership, and poverty. Nhu would also support her classmates when they encountered obstacles with their internet connection or with their writing. She even took the initiative to contact me whenever they needed help or had an issue. It was a delight to have Nhu in my ESL 190 class in the fall of 2020. I am certain that she will continue to challenge herself and to take risks throughout her academic journey.

– Professor Corinne Garcia

Edgar Nunez was a joy to have in both my core classes and elective ESL classes. Edgar’s warm spirit was present in every class and communication. He always showed warmth and leadership in class discussions and group work, and his presence was an integral part of our class community. Edgar’s ongoing drive to apply his developing skills was inspiring to other students. Edgar’s positivity and motivation make him worthy of our ESL Achievement Award.

– Professor Ashley Peters

Salma showed great determination in completing the coursework in ESL 190 during the fall 2020 semester despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic and online learning, while also parenting a toddler. Her contributions to the Zoom class encouraged others to speak up and share their ideas and opinions. A moment I will always remember is when she talked about her experiences during the Syrian Civil War to humanize our final unit theme of migration. Salma is highly motivated, and I have no doubt that she will succeed in any of her future endeavors.

– Professor Jefferson Tiangco

Xiaoyu flourished in the Zoom environment. The freedom of having her camera off enabled her to participate in the class without any inhibitions. She often showed up early and stayed after class because she wanted to get to know her classmates and loved talking to them. She was the “glue” that held our class together. Xiaoyu also developed as a scholar and writer. Her essays improved significantly with each successive draft and were timely, informative, balanced, and well-researched. Xiaoyu’s curiosity, enthusiasm, and love made the semester unforgettable for everyone in our class.

– Professor Ellen Rosen

In exploring contemporary issues related to human migration, Thi chose to investigate how climate change is affecting the people of Eastern Africa in her ESL 190 research paper, “How Eastern Africans Tackle Severe Drought.” In a time when learning has been hindered by poor internet connections and technical issues, she persisted through the challenges and wrote a well-supported paper citing seven peer-reviewed sources on such an important issue affecting some of the most vulnerable people in the world. This perspective and approach in her academic work is why she is truly deserving of this year’s Research Writing Award.

 

-Professor Jefferson Tiangco

Hayley majors in Chinese. She has been with me from Chinese 101, 102 and 203 now and is always on top of everything in Chinese discipline. Her distinctive qualities of conscientiousness, excellence, learning through asking questions, and supportiveness to the class makes her an inspirational and exemplary student. Her whole-hearted dedication in learning Chinese language impressed everyone. It is my great pleasure to have an outstanding student like Hayley. Congratulations for getting Achievement Award!

 

– Professor Chiu-Chin (Jean) Chang

Erin is a French learner at heart: for the past year she has fully embraced all the resources provided by the French program to study and practice French in the Zoom environment far beyond the program requirements. Her dedication has shattered all expectations and she has acquired a remarkable agility in the French language and culture while creating a passionate French community in class, tutoring and the French Club. We are proud of you Erin.

– Professor Catherine Reinhardt-Zacaïr

Elijah is an outstanding student with an innate talent for languages. I first met him in my SPAN 101 ONLINE class in summer 2020, an intensive and challenging short-term class. Elijah is diligent and intellectually curious and is now excelling in SPAN 102 ONLINE. His main academic interests are in science, and I hope he will consider a double-major in Spanish. Congratulations to Elijah on his Spanish Achievement Award.

 

– Professor Lina Callahan

Olyvia majors in Chinese. It is my great pleasure to have her ever since Chinese 101, 102, and 203 now. She is a devoted and persistent student and always contributes her very best in class no matter how busy her work has been. She is passionate in learning Chinese and culture and had been the President of Chinese Culture Club. Her incredibly beautiful pronunciation is noted throughout all her classes! Wish you great success with all of your endeavors for your future career using Chinese! Congratulations!

 

– Professor Chiu-Chin (Jean) Chang

Madison Broussard embodies the profound educational impact of learning-by-doing. She came to our French program after having learned French on the fly while living in France as an au-pair for one year. She modeled the goal of the intermediate French curriculum by fine-tuning her oral and written communication skills grounded in a transformative cultural savviness. French is intertwined with Madison’s educational and professional goals and we wish her success on her French journey beyond Fullerton College.

 

– Professor Catherine Reinhardt-Zacaïr

Brandon’s passion for the French language, culture and music as well as languages and linguistics in general perfectly symbolizes the Molière Scholarship. One of the greatest French writers, Molière’s influence was so immense that French is often referred to as “the language of Molière”. Congratulations Brandon on mastering the language of Molière thanks to your dedication and perseverance both as a student and tutor. I am honored to present you this award.

 

– Professor Catherine Reinhardt-Zacaïr

José is a born linguist. They are excelling in SPAN 201 ONLINE, Spanish for Native Speakers. They are a leader in course discussions and activities, motivating classmates to rise to their level of dedication. I look forward to hearing back from José once they have accomplished their goal of a Ph.D. degree. Congratulations to José on being selected as the recipient of the Roberta King Maxwell Memorial Scholarship.

 

– Professor Lina Callahan

It gives me great pleasure to nominate Jose Montoya as this year’s recipient of the Konrad Adenauer Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to a student in the German language program, who has demonstrated academic excellence in the study of German. Jose embodies those special qualities including enthusiasm, dedication, creativity and an insatiable appetite to learn. It is an honor to bestow this award upon him.

 

– Professor Klaus Hornell

I had the pleasure of meeting Francisco in SPAN 201, Spanish for Native Speakers, and then working with him again in SPAN 204 online. Francisco not only excels in Spanish, but also in French. I am so proud for what the future holds for Francisco in his upcoming year teaching in France, and I look forward to hearing back from him as he reaches all his academic goals and dreams, Congratulations to Francisco on being selected as the recipient of the Geneva Johnson Foreign Language Scholarship.

 

– Professor Lina Callahan

Alex is one of the most achieved students in my career. He has been a very dedicated and enthusiastic student throughout Japanese level 1 to 4 courses. His grade has been always at the top of the classes, and his demeanor is very pleasant and respectful. He started at a beginner’s level, and now he is fluent in Japanese with experience of living in Japan through Study Abroad. I congratulate him on this award and wish all the best for his future.

– Professor Noriko Oppenheim

Heather has been a remarkable student in addition to her excellent grades throughout the four Japanese courses at Fullerton College. She demonstrated her leadership and positively influenced her classmates to be successful in class. Best wishes for her bright future.

 

– Professor Noriko Oppenheim

John’s interest in course material and engagement with others enhanced the course for all participants. His authentic and honest accounting of his experiences provided opportunities for others to reflect. John’s capacity to apply mindfulness and self-compassion fueled his resilience, in the academic and personal realms, and he was involved in many campus mindfulness offerings as well. He truly exemplifies and lives course principles of mindfulness and compassion. John is truly worthy of this Mindfulness Achievement Award.

 

-Professor Deidre Hughes

Michael Munoz has been a pleasure to have in my MIND 101 class during the spring of 2021. Michael’s engagement in discovering his compassionate voice was so clearly conveyed in his shared experiences that his leadership, and practice of mindfulness/self-compassion deeply engaged other students in class. His written journals, discussions, and other coursework conveyed a student who was not just practicing mindfulness and self-compassion, but a student who enjoyed learning and achieving the goal of the felt experience of this course.

 

-Professor Amy Garcia

Emerald’s spirit of curiosity for mindfulness and compassion positively impacted our class. She spent considerable time working consistently with mindfulness and compassion practices and was happy to share her experiences with the class. Emerald also practiced deep listening with others in a supportive and caring way thereby fostering community for our class. Outside of class, Emerald was eager to lend a hand and participate in Fullerton College offerings. We are pleased to offer Emerald this Mindfulness Achievement Award.

 

-Professor Deidre Hughes

One couldn’t ask for a more supportive or compassionate student! Jyoti was present and engaged during class, bringing focus and attention to each practice and discussion. She not only contributed to the class, but also listened well to other students’ offerings, creating bonds with others through her capacity to be open, accepting and kind. In these ways, Jyoti embodies mindfulness and compassion toward self and others. Jyoti is very deserving of this Mindfulness Achievement Award.

 

-Professor Deidre Hughes

I am proud to give Bryana the Mindfulness Achievement Award for being an enthusiastic participant in MIND 101 Spring 2021. She consistently was a role model for other students by being willing to share during class discussions and demonstrated empathy and compassion for her classmates as evidenced by her kind comments on the class discussion board posts. Bryana truly connected with and applied mindful awareness and compassion to her life, and I am proud of all she accomplished.

 

-Professor Valerie Tuttle

Tony successfully applied the reading strategies he learned in his READ class to his other courses which fostered resilience and persistence to remain in school and achieve academic success. The Reading Department appreciates his dedication to furthering his education and we are proud to support his efforts!

 

– Professor Valerie Tuttle

Sahil demonstrated excellence and success while taking READ 127 and READ 142. He is a diligent student with exemplary critical thinking skills. He set an example for his peers in both classes by contributing thoughtfully to class discussions and fully engaging in both small and large group activities. Sahil approached every assignment with personal integrity and professionalism. I am proud to have been Sahil’s professor for three semesters and I know he has a bright future ahead!

 

– Professor Valerie Tuttle