Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.
- Russell Baker

IN THE NEWS

CCSN MARKS 30TH COMMENCEMENT
A record 1,300 students qualified for graduation in academic year 2002, including the first two dozen Millennium scholars, and eldest graduate, William Echols, 83. Along with ceremonial photos, here is the insightful commencement address that author/journalist Jon Ralston delivered May 19:

Congratulations to the graduates. It is an honor to be here today. So I wondered why you would have invited a person who watches politicians for a living rather than a politician to deliver this commencement address.

And then I realized the answer: You actually wanted to hear the truth. A truth unvarnished by spin or sugarcoated with fluff but stripped to the bare realities. A truth not vitiated by fear of being controversial but leavened by a lack of fetters.

And a truth unencumbered by banalities and drivel but enlivened by irreverence and bluntness.

Yes, truth is what i want to talk about today. Surely many of you out there think you have learned a lot of truth in your years here from teachers who were dedicated and wise, resourceful and inspirational. But what you will learn as you leave here is how little you know, how much you still have to learn.

You will find that life truly is an ongoing search for the truth; the truth about what you really want to do with your life, the truth about those around you and most importantly, the truth about yourself.

It is a journey that I believe does not end until the day you die, a constant quest to find meaning and something beyond the quotidian existence we all lead.

[Read the complete address here]

CCSN Success Stories on Parade

Graduation project coordinator Debbie Tanner readies dignitaries for processional

Hardworking CCSN Staff Enjoy Ceremonies

Eldest Grad William Echols Earns Second AAS

State Senator Ray Rawson Gives Invocation

Faculty in Place

Major General Billy McCoy Receives Honorary Degree

IN MEMORIAM: BOB PIERSON by Linda Campbell
The life of master musician and CCSN staffer Bob Pierson was celebrated and his loss mourned in a memorial service May 31at Christ The King Catholic Church. He passed away May 28 after a three-month struggle with cancer. He was 71.

His life touched thousands of people with his music, humor, extraordinary intellect, and unique viewpoint. At the recent funeral of a fellow musician, he told a friend, "The sad thing here is that we suffer not only the loss of a great musician, but of the tapestry of personalities surrounding him." The same can be said now of Bob Pierson.

Bob Pierson

Bob was born November 30, 1930 in Detroit, Michigan. He practiced daily and ferociously throughout his childhood, and went on to finish college and earn a master's degree at the Detroit Institute of Music. According to his sister, he ran away from home to play with legendary Charlie Parker, until Parker's band found out his age and told him to come back when he was 21. Throughout his career, he played with the world's best classical and jazz musicians and bands, and traveled worldwide as Frank Sinatra's lead alto saxophonist for eight years.

He played every "room" in Las Vegas until he fell ill this year and was Secretary for the Musician's Union. Bob began teaching saxophone, flute, and clarinet as a CCSN adjunct faculty member in 1983. He became a full-time classified staffer in 1998 as the Performing Arts Department's music program assistant.

At the memorial service, lively jazz was provided by a sextet that included five loving friends who performed with Bob for more than six years, and one substitute player. They played many of his favorite charts, including "All Blue" in 5, "Swing Seranade" by Benny Carter, and "Amazing Grace," which first sounded like a New Orleans slow dirge and then an uptempo jazz waltz. In the minds of musicians in attendance, a tune called "In Her Own Sweet Way," transposed into "In His Own Sweet Way."

During the service, tribute after tribute was spoken by musicians, students, friends and co-workers of every age. The priest finally intervened to conclude the Mass saying: "This is the most entertaining funeral we've ever had in this church." Bob is survived by his sister Bobby, and three children: Bob, Jr., Nancy and Patty.

Frank Gafford

IN MEMORIAM: FRANK GAFFORD, courtesy of the Las Vegas Sun
Frank Hall Gafford, CCSN's first library director and a man who lived and loved history, died May 10 at age 66 of an apparent heart attack. A Las Vegas resident for 31 years, he began his job as director of learning resources for what was then Clark County Community College on North Main Street in 1971. The library had just eight books -- all on loan from the Clark County Library. When he retired in 1997, CCSN library branches in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson had 60,000 books, audio-visual tapes and other materials.

"He had a tremendous amount of dedication to anything that held his interest, whether it was his job or his collecting," said Boulder City Mayor Robert Ferraro, a longtime friend and fellow bottle collector, especially the Coca Cola variety. "He would get so excited about finding historic things. He once called me elated about digging up a Civil War-era whiskey bottle in Virginia City."

Gafford and Ferraro long had a friendly rivalry to see who could collect the most "By a Dam Site" Coca-Cola bottles. The rare embossed bottles were issued to honor Hoover Dam but later were banned from further production by Coca-Cola's Atlanta headquarters for using the play on the word "damn."

Born Jan. 31, 1936, in Charleston, S.C., Gafford was the son of University of Texas history professor Frank Gafford and the former Anita Engerrand. The family moved to Texas when he was 5. Gafford earned a bachelor's degree in library science from North Texas State College -- now the University of North Texas -- where he met his wife, Mary, when both were 18. Gafford earned his master's of librarianship from the University of Washington and got his first librarian job at Arizona State in 1959. Mary became a teacher. He was librarian at a junior college and high school in Texas before accepting the local community college post.

In addition to his wife, Gafford is survived by two daughters and a sister. The family suggested donations be made in Gafford's memory to the Lied Animal Foundation of Nevada or Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

REGENTS APPROVE $160 MILLION FOR CAPITAL REQUESTS
In May, the Board of Regents approved a long-term plan that would allow Nevada's universities and community colleges to seek nearly $160 million for capital improvement projects from the Nevada Legislature for the next biennium. These projects, prioritized below, will be submitted to Gov. Kenny Guinn for inclusion in his budget:

1. TMCC, CCSN, NSCH-Furniture, Furnishings & Equipment for TMCC, CCSN and NSCH ($7.6 million state funds)
2. UNLV-Science, Engineering and Technology Complex ($41.2 million state funds; $25 million other sources)
3. CCSN-Health Sciences Building ($19.5 million state funds; $500,000 other sources)
4. UNLV-Student Services Addition ($6.8 million state funds)
5. GBC-Industrial and Electrical Tech Center ($6 million state funds)
6. UNR-Planning Funds, Science and Math Education Center ($5 million state funds)
7. UNR-Campus Renovations Package ($10.7 million state funds; $9.1 million other sources)
8. TMCC, WNCC and CCSN-Campus Renovations/Infrastructure ($6.7 million state funds)
9. DRI-NNSC/Maxey Building Renovations/Infrastructure ($2.2 million state funds)
10. CCSN-Charleston Library Addition ($2 million state funds)
11. UNR-Biotech Facility ($10 million state funds; $50 million other sources)
12. WNCC-Manufacturing Technology Addition ($1.5 million state)
13. UCCSN-Planning funds, Millennium Bound Outreach Center/CCSN Outreach Center ($800,000 state funds)
14. UNLV-Greenspun Urban Affairs College ($14.6 million state funds; $9.7 million other sources)
15. CCSN-Planning Funds, Cheyenne Library Addition ($300,000 other sources)
16. DRI/TMCC-Planning funds, Multi-Purpose Center ($2.6 million state funds)
17. WNCC-Fallon Library Addition ($150,000 state funds; $150,000 other sources)
18. GBC-Relocate State Animal Lab ($2 million state funds)
19. Academic Medical Center ($58 million other sources)
20. Maintenance and Repairs ($5 million from state funds; $10 million from Higher Education Capital Construction funds; and $10 million from Special Higher Education Capital Construction funds)

"Our support for this budget demonstrates the Board's commitment to enhance the quality of education we offer our students," said Board Chair Thalia Dondero. "Nevada has seen, and will continue to see, phenomenal growth in enrollments. We must work with the Governor and the Legislature to ensure that we are able to meet the needs of our high growth campuses."

For a complete list and description of the 2003-2005 capital improvement project requests, visit the UCCSN's Web site at http://www.nevada.edu/board/high0502.html.

REGENTS MEET JUNE 19-20
The UCCSN Board of Regents next meets Wednesday, June 19 and Thursday, June 20 at Great Basin College in Elko. The detailed agenda should be available online next week, but tentative agenda items should include: election of the Board's chair and vice-chair; acceptance of a plan to double the capacity of nursing programs in UCCSN institutions; and a report on the outcome of the CCSN Organizational Advisory Committee.

NURSING BOARD OKAYS CCSN GRADS FOR LICENSE EXAM
The Nevada State Board of Nursing confirmed that 21 new graduates from CCSN's practical nursing program will be allowed to take the state licensure exam before the college's program receives a ruling on national accreditation. That unanimous decision was reported by Board President Cookie Bible and Executive Director Debra Scott.

"This is wonderful news and an example of a truly professional approach by the Board in recognizing the high quality of our program and graduates since its start three years ago, as well as our favorable recommendation for accreditation," said Fran Brown, CCSN Dean of Health Sciences.

To work as a practical nurse in Nevada, applicants must have graduated from a state approved program and then pass the licensing exam. The state had approved CCSN's practical nursing program and prior two graduating classes for licensure testing based on CCSN receiving national accreditation. But recently, CCSN students were concerned they wouldn't be able to test for licenses since the college's program hadn't yet received final accreditation. The accreditation process had been delayed when CCSN shifted the program from Charleston to Henderson last year after it tripled in student enrollment. The college applied to the National League for Nursing Accreditation Committee and, after a site visit in February, CCSN was recommended by the evaluation team for the highest initial accreditation of five years. That report goes to an NLNAC review panel next month, but won't be voted by the full Board until July 22.

According to Brown, the Board took those facts and research by Keith Marcher, the Board's senior deputy attorney general, into account in making its ruling. Marcher and Bart Patterson, staff attorney to the University and Community College System of Nevada, agreed that CCSN's program should retain its state approved status until the accreditation decision is known. "The Board obviously felt that our students shouldn't be affected by the timing gap between graduation and the final accreditation ruling," said Brown.

In line with the Board's ruling, CCSN's practical nursing graduates will be granted permanent state licenses upon passing the exam. "Given our promising recommendation, should it result in national accreditation as it seems likely to be, the program will continue to be state-approved," said CCSN President Dr. Ron Remington, "and for its wisdom and understanding, we are indebted to the Nevada State Board of Nursing."

GUY CENTER HOSTS HEALTH FAIR
Las Vegas families are invited to a free health fair Saturday, June 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the A. D. Guy Family Resource Center on CCSN's shared campus with the Andre Agassi Boys & Girls Club at 817 N. "N" Street. Free medical services, free refreshments, fun, music and entertainment are being provided for this community health event in collaboration with CCSN, the A.D. Guy FRC, Agassi Boys & Girls Club, Las Vegas Housing Authority and the Ministers Alliance Association of Southern Nevada.

Medical exams, services and information will include the following: Blood pressure checks, breast exams, college Pell grants, computer literacy (free classes), dental screening, diabetes classes, drug counseling referral, educational services, employment opportunities, home buyer information, hypertension, immunizations, mammograms (women over 40), Millennium scholarships, Nevada Check-Up, pap smears, podiatry services, prostate cancer, senior services, teen pregnancy, and well baby check.

Women who want to make mammogram, pap smear and breast exam appointments in advance for the health fair should contact the staff of the "Mammovan" Health Van by calling toll-free to 1-877-581-6266. For further event information, call the CCSN staff at the A.D. Guy Center at 651-4997/4999.

IDEAS IN THE AIR BROADCAST
On Monday, June 10 at 7 p.m., eavesdrop on father and son academic duo graphic arts professor Bob Bay and business professor Robb Bay reminiscing on nearly 50 years in higher education and their specialty fields. That's on CCSN's "Ideas in the Air" on KNPR Nevada Public Radio, 89.5FM.

JOB FAIRS DO THE JOB
Three dozen employers will be recruiting workers at a special summer job fair at the Henderson Campus on Wednesday, June 12. The free fair is open to the public as well as CCSN students. It will be held in the Caviglia Computing Center, Bldg. C main lobby, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, contact Hea Salzman at ext. 3128 or Job Placement, ext. 3174.

According to Dr. Ron Meek, campus provost and president of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce: "This is a great opportunity for CCSN to partner with southern Nevada employers and energize our economy by helping recruit qualified job seekers for available openings." Many job seekers are current CCSN students who have successfully completed job skill and career training programs, or are displaced workers and skilled workers changing career fields.

Participants represent a variety of employers at the local, state and federal level that include construction, finance, health care, law enforcement, marketing, the military, resorts, retail sales, travel, and security. In general, employers will discuss job opportunities, accept resumes and applications, and invite some applicants for company tours and interviews.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE HIGH GRADUATES 200
Two hundred Community College High School seniors will graduate Thursday, June 13, at 4:30 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center. Keynote speaker for the high school's seventh annual commencement will be CCSN's John Kinkella. This year's graduating class boasts six valedictorians: Antonina Lara, Nicole O'Donnell, Chelsea Randall, and Alexis Zegers from the CCHS Charleston Campus; Jeremy Manuele from CCHS Cheyenne; and Jessica Brunelle from CCHS Henderson.

High school juniors and seniors in the hybrid CCHS program are dual-enrolled in both the high school and community college and earn dual credits good toward diplomas and degrees. Those attending CCHS for two years may be graduating with 30 or more college credits and transferring as college sophomores.

The outstanding transfer student in the seven-year history of the program is Steven Francis, a graduating senior with 124 college credits, enough to qualify for two associate degrees from CCSN. Originally a heavy math and science student at Clark High School, Francis started taking CCSN classes during the summer after eighth grade, then went on to night classes every fall and spring semester taking up to 18 credit hours along with his high school classes. "I transferred to Community College High School to advance faster toward my goal of a degree in microbiology from the University of Southern California," said the scholar with SAT score of 1470.

Many of his classmates will graduate as Millennium Scholars with a 3.0 GPA or higher and qualify for up to $10,000 in Nevada scholarship funds. Numerous CCHS graduates will go on to higher education, many continuing at CCSN or enrolling at UNLV and UNR, as well as other universities. These include: Brandeis, Brigham Young, Colorado, Cornell, Embry-Riddle, George Washington, Miami, New Hampshire, Richmond, San Diego and Southern Utah.

CHAMBER STAGES EVENTS; RESERVE @ 641-5822 OPTION 2
The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce monthly membership luncheon will be held Wednesday, June 12 at Treasure Island's Grand Ballroom. It starts at noon with registration/networking at 11:30 a.m. Featured speaker is Don Cooper, America's networking guru, whose topic will be "Guerilla Marketing". The event is sponsored by Nevada Job Connect. CCSN faculty and staff are considered Chamber members so cost is $28 prepaid or $39 for non-members or members without a guaranteed reservation.

Tuesday, June 18 is Chamber Night at Spring Mountain Ranch with a performance of "Godspell". Gates open at 6 p.m. with showtime at dusk (rain date: Sunday, June 30). Cost is $10 per person with children six and under admitted free. Tickets must be purchased in advance; no tickets will be sold at the gate.

The Chamber's Business Education Series, with professional development credit given by CCSN Continuing Education, presents its next seminar Wednesday, June 19, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Stardust Resort & Casino Conference Center. Registration and breakfast start at 7 a.m. for the BES event "Recruit & Coach for High Performance".

Cost: $25 prepaid Chamber members; $40 non-members or members without a guaranteed reservation

FREE JAZZ IN THE PARK
Two free "Jazz in the Park" concerts are being staged this month in the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater. In addition to free jazz under the stars, concert goers can enjoy lawn seating, picnics or purchased refreshments.

Enjoy the Dave Holland Quintet, Saturday, June 8. Grammy-nominated in 2002 for Best Instrumental Album, bassist Dave Holland has played with some of the greatest in jazz. The Jimmy Wilkins Orchestra performs on Saturday, June 22, joined by the vocalist husband and wife team the Cunninghams. Wilkins has been a band leader for decades in Las Vegas and his hometown Detroit.

Concerts start at 8 p.m. but the park is open by 5 p.m. for picknickers and pre-concert activities. Bring blankets, refreshments, lawn chairs and children, but no pets or ballplaying.

The Las Vegas Summer Band performs three free Sunday concerts in June under the direction of conductor Diane Koutsoulis. Starting at 7 p.m., the concert schedule is: June 9 at Bunker Park (North Tenaya and West Alexander); June 16 at Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza in Lorenzi Park, 720 Twin Lakes Drive; and June 23 at Hills Park in Summerlin.

On Tuesday, June 18 at 7 p.m., enjoy a Classical Guitar Concert cosponsored with the Las Vegas Classical Guitar Ensemble at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush Street.

Also at Reed Whipple through July 8, enjoy the art gallery display entitled "A Woven Tapestry of Perceptions", a ten-artist show of two- and three-dimensional works. Through August 7 at Charleston Heights, sculptor Suzanne Kanatsiz presents her "Dissolution" show.

JAZZ CAMP PREPARES BUDDING MUSICIANS
CCSN's Performing Arts Department will stage its fifth annual Jazz Combo Camp at the Cheyenne campus, June 23 - 28. Student and faculty combos will perform a finale concert in the Black Box Theatre on Friday, June 28, at 1 p.m. Guest artists Don Menza, tenor saxophonist, and trombonist Carl Fontana, will appear with the jazz combos. Local middle and high school students, as well as adult musicians will learn from world-class professionals how to sharpen their skills in the jazz medium. Students and adults with a minimum of one year of musical study are encouraged to apply.

Applicants should contact Carolyn Barela in the Fine Arts Department at 651-4110. To register onlline, go to http://www.ccsn.edu/performingarts/jazzcamp/.

Training sessions for the week will include improvisation and theory study, daily combo rehearsals, master classes, and concerts by the guest artists and faculty. Tuition fee is $144 which includes lunch and admittance to all workshops and performances. Tuition with a Jazz Camp tee-shirt is $159.

"We believe these camps have a strong impact on local middle and high school instrumental programs. Our students develop jazz concepts and skills to take back to their band programs," said Dr. Tom Ferguson, jazz pianist, conductor and CCSN music professor. Dr. Ferguson has conducted or accompanied Sara Vaughan, Marlena Shaw, Keely Smith, Frank Sinatra, Joe Williams, Joan Rivers, Bob Newhart and many others. He is known for his invaluable work as a music professor and world-class jazz performer and will teach improvisation and theory, piano and conduct combo classes.

Jim Widner, former bassist with Stan Kenton, Woody Herman and the Glenn Miller Orchestra, will direct this year's jazz camp and teach master classes on bass. Widner's background includes teaching at the University of North Texas and Memphis State University, a nine-year tenure as staff clinician with the Stan Kenton "Jazz Orchestra in Residence" program and performance tours throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Dr. Richard McGee, director of instrumental music and professor at CCSN, is founding artistic director of CCSN's Performing Arts Center. He conducts, teaches, adjudicates and helps CCSN school bands and has performed, conducted or soloed with every major strip hotel showroom in Las Vegas. Recently, he helped organize the Las Vegas Philharmonic, with music director Hal Weller. McGee will lead a combo class and teach master classes on trombone. Equally skilled in classical music, McGee recently job shadowed for the conductor of the New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

Dr. Mark Wherry, director of vocal music at CCSN, will direct the jazz camp's Jazz Choir. He sang with "Voices of Miami"at the University of Miami, and conducted "Voices Colorado" and the "Jazz Sisters" at the University of Northern Colorado.

TREASURED PAINTING OF GEORGE WASHINGTON COMES TO VEGAS
The Las Vegas Art Museum proudly welcomes the exhibition of "George Washington, A National Treasure" from June 29 to October 27 at 7600 W. Sahara Avenue. Gilbert Stuart's acclaimed work was acquired by the Smithsonian through a generous donation from the Las Vegas-based Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. Las Vegas is only one of seven museums that will exhibit the large portrait on its first, and last, national tour. Admission is $5 adults, $3 seniors, $2 students, children under 12 free.

DESTINATION UNIVERSE
At The Planetarium at Cheyenne, "Destination: Universe" runs through June 29 and explores our future in space and exploration of the universe. "Skywatch" shows Fridays 6 and 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Telescope observing sessions after evening performances, weather permitting.

VIEW PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE FROM PLANETARIUM
There will be partial eclipse of the sun visible from Las Vegas on Monday, June 10. The conditions of the eclipse for Las Vegas are: Start: 5:15 p.m.; Maximum: 6:20 p.m.; End: 7:19 p.m. At maximum, nearly 70% of the sun will be covered by the moon. The sun will be low in the western sky as sunset will be at 7:57 pm.

While the eclipse will be visible from anywhere in the western United States, The Planetarium will be offering free, safe telescope observing from the Student Observatory on the Cheyenne Campus. The Astronomy Store at The Planetarium does have safe eclipse viewing glasses available for only $2 each. Quantity discounts are available for a dozen or more. To safely view the eclipse on your own, Planetarium director Dr. Dale Etheridge advises:

Always:

• Use specially made eclipse viewing glasses, or
• Use at least number 14 welder's glass, and
• Let your children see this spectacular event, but children must have adult supervision.
• Glasses should be put on before looking towards the sun and removed only after turning away.
• Discard glasses that are scratched or otherwise damaged.

Never:

• Never put on eclipse glasses and then look through binoculars or a telescope!
• Never try observing the eclipse by looking through home-made filters of any kind! This includes (but is not limited to) pop-tart wrappers, CD's, exposed film, smoked glass, mylar balloons, or old x-ray photos. These methods are unsafe!
• Never try stacking pieces of welder's glass so the number ratings add up to 14 (the rating scale is not linear!) Two pieces of number 7 glass do not give the same protection as a single piece of number 14!

The summer session opened this week offering four, six, eight and ten-week terms. A second four-week term begins July 1. Registration continues for the fall semester with classes starting September 3. Fall Orientation Week for faculty and staff begins August 26 with the President's welcome at the college assembly.

ELSE ADDS PH.D.
First-year full-time health sciences instructor Terry Else is now Dr. Else with a new doctoral degree in biological sciences from UNLV. She teaches Clinical Laboratory Science courses for several programs, including Medical Laboratory Technician, Phlebotomy, Dental Hygiene, and Medical Office Assisting. Terry obtained her B.S. in biology at Cal State Fullerton, then an associate degree in Medical Laboratory Technology here at CCSN. Prior to beginning her graduate studies, she worked as a certified medical technologist and taught as an adjunct instructor in the MLT program.

EXECS SWEAT THE SUMMER
Faculty Senate Chair Dr. Joan McGee recently announced the Faculty Senate Executive Committee for 2002-2003. It comprises a diverse group of faculty from all three campuses. The members include chair-elect Mitzi Ware, past-chair Ruell Fiant, Fran Campbell, Jim Johnson, Alok Pandey and Jeff Jones. The group will be working throughout the summer putting together the schedule of meetings for next year and discussing upcoming issues. Please contact McGee or any group members to bring any issues to the attention of the Senate prior to next fall.

KNEADS & KNOTS MASSSAGE CLINIC
Call 651-5571 for appointments. The schedule: Mondays and Wednesdays from 2 - 5 p.m., beginning June 10 and ending August 7. Cost for faculty, staff & seniors: $15/hr.; for general public: $20/hr.

TOP FACULTY & PROFESSIONAL STAFF NIGHT
CCSN celebrated its outstanding academic faculty and professional staff during an annual awards night held May 11. Top awards were presented by President Ron Remington to two teaching faculty, Linda Dammeyer and Joan McGee, and the top professional pair, Gary Baldwin and Nora Rodriguez. Receiving other excellence awards were: Stavros Anthony, Bud Benneman, Michael Connolly, Vicky Dominguez, Carlos Ezeta, Ben Graham, Richard Harden, Jim Johnson, Tony Marsh, Dan Morris, Stephen Peridore, Kate Pulling, Mary Robinson, Tina Roldan, Leslie Roth, Ron Schuster and Sandra Strickland, as well as Telemedia Services staff Lucille Biddle, Art Davis, Greg Hampton, Andrew McJimson, Roger Sieck and Art Taylor.

Veterans Larry Tomlinson and Page Littlepage were ceremoniously "retired", while Candace Kant and Don Smith were officially installed as curmudgeons, and Robin Nelson and John Kinkella were recognized for their coiffures.