Nov 26, 2024
Kern County Family Wins 5 National Parenting Media Association Awards
Bronze Awards:
Front Cover: Original Photo, “Becoming Pablo Picasso: Painting a Human Masterpiece”
Designer: Ginger Lynch
Editor: LJ Radon
Judge’s Comments: “This cover is a surprise and requires much more than a quick glance. The lead teaser and paintbrush help explain what is happening. The paint color is used in the background and type, creating a harmonious color palette.”
Writer: Callie Collins
Designer: Ginger Lynch
Editor: LJ Radon
Judge’s Comments: “This list provides inspiration for parents to be more inviting and offers specific ideas for opening up. The text includes good context and explanation for each idea. Subheads are direct and to the point.
Silver Awards:
Briefs/Short Stuff: “Refrigerator Door: Local Voices, News & Trends”
Editor: LJ Radon
Judge’s Comments: “This round-up will keep parents informed and entertained in their community. The carefully selected mix of short stories range from introducing a high school’s new football coach, celebrating a café opening and giving progress updates on a new distribution center. Each blurb is concise and clear while providing key reader service.”
Writer: Andrea Rose
Designer: Roxanne Ricker
Editor: LJ Radon
Judge’s Comments: “School’s out for summer, and it can be a both fun and difficult time for families with children. This article makes summer reading seem easy and accessible. With plenty of reader service information, including local library programs and children’s book recommendations, the article is neatly structured and easy to navigate. Read on!”
Writer: Callie Collins
Designer: Ginger Lynch
Editor: LJ Radon
Judge’s Comments: “Interesting, inspiring interviews with mothers who are also entrepreneurs, volunteers, and community leaders. The Q&A style makes this feature easily accessible for an audience of readers who are also busy parents themselves.”
Kern CCD Announces Partnership Offering No-Cost College Credits
The Kern Community College District (Kern CCD) and the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF) have announced a new partnership that allows students enrolled at MAOF’s Skill Center in Bakersfield to receive credits that are transferrable to Bakersfield College.
The initiative is part of a statewide movement in higher education known as Credit for Prior Learning, which aims to quantify skills that students have learned outside of a traditional academic institution so that they have a head start on their academic career. For this partnership, Bakersfield College is leveraging its existing Credit for Prior Learning program, which allows students to submit military transcripts, industry certifications, documentation from apprenticeships, and more in exchange for college credit.
“As an organization dedicated to uplifting the socioeconomic status of residents in Kern, we’re excited about the potential of this initiative to create upward mobility within the communities we serve,” says Dr. Ciriaco “Cid” Pinedo, President and CEO of MAOF. “By offering college credit to students in our accounting and clerical programs, which are high demand skills among employers in our region, we’re incentivizing first-generation students to continue their education further.”
Kern Community Foundation Awards $10,000 Grant to United Way of Central Eastern California
This grant was made possible by the Disaster Relief, Recovery, and Resilience Fund at the League of California Community Foundations through Kern Community Foundation. It is part of a broader effort by Kern Community Foundation and its partners, who have contributed $51,650 in direct relief and recovery for the Borel Fire.
To learn more about the Borel Fire Relief Fund, contact Kern Community Foundation at 661.325.5346 or info@kernfoundation.org. Donations can be made at kernfoundation.org/borel.
Bakersfield Christian High School (BCHS) partners with Adventist Health through the COPE Health Scholars Program offering BCHS students with a unique opportunity to explore healthcare careers in-depth. This immersive program helps prepare students for careers in healthcare by equipping them with hands-on learning experiences in diverse fields such as specialized patient care, healthcare administration, and communications.
The Pathway Program recently held an event where BCHS students explored potential careers in healthcare with a wide range of engaging activities. Adventist Health professionals witnessed students’ energy and curiosity as they participated in interactive workshops, behind-the-scenes tours, and panel discussions with healthcare leaders.
“The Pathway Program is an incredible opportunity for our students,” says Matthew Guinn, BCHS President. “Watching them interact with healthcare professionals and experience real-world healthcare settings was truly rewarding. We are grateful to Adventist Health for making this invaluable experience possible and inspiring our students as they consider meaningful careers.”
Eleven Students Receive Dr. Ernest W. Williams Jr. Scholarship
Eleven students were recently awarded Dr. Ernest W. Williams Jr. Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each from a fund established to support Black students. While it is open to all students, the Williams scholarship fund, which was established in 1986 by a group of CSUB faculty and staff, historically focuses on supporting Black students and encouraging them to pursue higher education.
Since 1986, the scholarship, in honor of local doctor and pillar of the community Dr. Ernest W. Williams Jr., has awarded more than $500,000 to students. With a renewed commitment by the CSU Chancellor’s Office, CSUB received $175,000 from the office – part of a CSU-wide three-year, $10 million allocation – to support some of the university’s initiatives, including outreach efforts and the creation of a Black Student Success Center on campus.
Students interested in the scholarship can apply at https://csub.scholarshipuniverse.com/ and donations to support the fund can be made at https://give.csub.edu/es.shtml.
