June 27, 2006

Around Campus

You're Invited to De Anza College's 40th Annual Commencement!

	Yosief Hailemichael Born in the small east African country of Eritrea, Yosief Hailemichael was raised by his grandmother after he was abandoned by his parents at the age of 2. His grandmother, a widowed retired nurse, struggled to provide for Hailemichael, who persisted in going to school and trying to make life better for his grandmother. In high school he worked part time to help out and in 2002 came to the United States. Working full time as a security guard while attending De Anza allowed him to buy a house for his grandmother. He maintained a 3.266 GPA and will be transferring to San José State University in the fall. Hailemichael wants to earn a Ph.D. in economics and teach so he can give back to the community.
	Rehana Rehman Because of her parents' failing business, Rehana Rehman was forced to drop out of college in 1996 when she was 17 years old in order to work full time. Two years later she struck out on her own, only to learn that a full-time retail job limited her options. She knew an education was the key to opportunity. She met her future husband, who encouraged her to return to school in 2002, but an unplanned pregnancy delayed her education again. Eventually Rehman enrolled at De Anza, majoring in Language Arts and maintaining a 3.769 GPA. She also was active in the South Asian Student Alliance, Students for Justice, the Honors Program and Phi Theta Kappa honor society, all while caring for her daughter. Rehana plans to be a teacher and is transferring to UC Berkeley this fall.
	Rachel Wong This year's winner of the DeHart Memorial Scholarship is business major Rachel Wong, who earned a 3.985 GPA. The scholarship is awarded to a graduate who exemplifies service and participates in campus life relating to his or her personal values and goals. Wong's passion for literature made it difficult to choose between that and business for her career. Rachel discovered her love for literature in high school and for a while considered writing for a living. But as a daughter whose parents sacrificed much to send her and her sister to school in the United States, Rachel wanted to make sure their life after retirement was comfortable. Business seemed the practical choice for a daughter who would eventually be the family breadwinner. Rachel has no regrets and plans to slowly build a writing career while pursuing her business career. While at De Anza, Rachel worked with International Students, the Outreach program and as a tutor at the college tutorial center. In her community, she does volunteer work for the Sunny View Retirement Community, Save the Bay and Sunday Friends. "Rachel said her community service makes her feel good about herself," said Vice President of Student Services Robert Griffin. "She believes the work she does is important and serves to remind others of our responsibility to help people overcome the challenges in their lives." Rachel is transferring to UC Berkeley this fall.
	Sabina Mehmedovic Another remarkable De Anza College transfer student is Sabina Mehmedovic, who came to the United States in 2005 after finding De Anza on the Internet and being impressed with the college's faculty. Originally from Bosnia, Mehmedovic's family left the war-torn country for Sweden in the early 1990s. According to Mehmedovic, De Anza College is the first place she's ever felt at home; she deeply appreciated the diversity at the campus, particularly after feeling isolated by language and cultural barriers as a refugee in Sweden. A sociology major, Mehmedovic has received a scholarship to attend Yale University in the fall. She says she may return to Bosnia eventually to work for the development of a stable society there. "Sabina is one of the most gifted students I have ever encountered," said Murphy, a longtime professor of political science who met Mehmedovic while serving as a guest lecturer in her class. "She has an incredible mind and will be a terrific student at Yale. That she chose De Anza College through an Internet search, immigrated to the United States in order to enroll, and has succeeded so magnificently are all emblematic of her drive and determination."

Student Murals

Relay For Life of Cupertino at De Anza College

Mark Your Calendars

Announcements

Student Health Services Moving to S-82

De Anza Student Places in Math Competition

College Environmental Advisory Group (CEAG) Seeks Participants

• Second Thursday of the month, Kirsch Center Room 214
• Fourth Thursday of the month, Administration Building in Room 109

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society Needs Your Help

• Canned, dry and boxed goods
• New or gently used children's books
• Educational toys
• Books for adults
• Money or grocery store gift cards

Books Needed for Annual Library Book Sale

De Anza's Electronic Billboards

Faculty and Staff News

June Employee of the Month

Karen Villalba, June 2007 "Amidst all of her responsibilities and the high level of stress related to her position, she always stays focused and works with the CDC administration team to make sure that the center runs as smooth as possible."

Congratulations to Four Distinguished Educators

Roger Letson, March 2007 "Roger is a gentle giant in his field. His modesty prevents him from mentioning it, but he is very well-known and highly respected, both here and abroad, in the world of vocal jazz education. Since its inception, his ensemble Vocal Flight has won major awards and accolades on a regular basis. De Anza has been truly fortunate to count him among its faculty for so many years."
	Marion Winters, April 2007 "I strive to empower those with whom I work and those whom I teach to examine their situations, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors through their own lenses and to not allow others to interpret nor define who they are."
Jen Myhre, May 2007   "I see Jen as a role model, both as an educator and as a human being. She is compassionate and critical in her approach to teaching, constantly changing and improving her approach to facilitate student growth and learning."
	Lydia Hearn, June 2007 "I am so honored to have been selected as a Distinguished Educator because I find it almost overwhelming to be recognized for something that I feel it is a privilege to do."