Staffers Say Goodbye • Page 4
Fall 2020 Graduates • Page 6 Graduates tell stories on journey to graduation • Page 26
Friday, December 11, 2020 • Special Edition • HCCEgalitarian.com
The official student media of the Houston Community College System
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A Message from the Chancellor Graduates: It is with great pride that I congratulate you on your graduation from Houston Community College. Receiving a certificate or degree is always a significant milestone. It marks the successful end of a course of study and signals the beginning of a new step — into the workforce or, perhaps, on to a higher level of study.
Dr. Cesar Maldonado Chancellor
The Houston Community College Board of Trustees, faculty, staff and I understand the importance of this moment and convey our best wishes to you for your future success. We are grateful you chose to trust your career preparation to Houston Community College. It is a job we take seriously. We trust your experience as a student here has been rich and satisfying, and that you have benefited from our dedicated faculty and the many student resources we provide, such as tutoring, advising, and financial aid. Wherever your next steps in life take you, please know we are here to serve you again, should you ever need us. Let us be a part of your plan for lifelong learning. It has been said that what you learn can never be taken from you. Allow me to add that no one can take away your ability to choose your own way. Only you can choose the doors through which you will next step. I encourage you to move forward with confidence, and rely on your integrity and your strength to guide you, just as they have during your time at HCC. Remember that your success has been supported by family and friends, classmates and professors, people who care about you. As you step through the doorways that life presents, turn around and hold the door open for the next person coming through, just as others did for you. It will strengthen your character and build your leadership. The world you are entering is unlike any we have seen, but with the knowledge and confidence you have gained at HCC, I know that you are fully prepared to meet it. Congratulations!
Sincerely,
Cesar Maldonado, Ph.D., P.E. Chancellor Houston Community College
Friday Decemer 11, 2020
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A Message from the Board Chair Graduates, Along with my colleagues, the Houston Community College Board of Trustees, I congratulate you on a job well done! Your hard work and dedication have paid off. Dr. John P. Hansen Chair, Board of Trustees District VI
We salute the families and friends who encouraged and stood with you during your studies. Their contributions to your success have not been underestimated and we recognize the sacrifice they have made to help make this day possible. The highest priority of Houston Community College is the success of our students. To that end, the Board and administration have worked together to ensure your time at HCC was inspiring and rewarding. We are proud to offer outstanding faculty, streamlined processes, modern and inviting facilities, low tuition, and a plethora of student resources to help you succeed. We hope your experience at HCC exceeded your expectations. We encourage you to keep learning! Build on what you have studied. Challenge yourself! Keep moving forward. Remember that your friends at Houston Community College are ready to provide additional support along your journey. You are part of the HCC family! Again, congratulations on your accomplishment today and we wish you all the best in the days and years to come.
Sincerely,
John P. Hansen, Ph.D. Chair, HCC Board of Trustees District VI
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Valdes looks back on his journey to graduation Joel Valdes
The Egalitarian
“T
he best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” This quote, adapted from the poem by Robert Burns, has stayed engrained deep inside my head throughout my college experience. My plans have been constantly changed and adapted, and it goes without saying that this has been the case for most people this year as well. The original plan was to go to the University of Houston after graduating from high school. During the summer before my first semester, I got a job that I was doing full time so that I could put a dent on my student loans. They had agreed to let me work part time after the summer was over so that I could focus on my education. However, my plans changed after seeing how much the cost would stack up going to UH all four years. New plan: I was going to attend HCC for two years and
finish off the last two years at UH. After the summer ended I started working part time and going to the West Loop campus to attend my classes. This worked well for that semester, and I was getting enough saved up to still put a sizable dent on my tuition costs. My plans changed again after I was informed at work that they would no longer offer the part-time position. I had to either work there full time, or stop working there altogether. I had been lucky to get that job, and it would not have been wise to let that opportunity go. New plan: I was going to work full time and finish HCC by taking all my classes online. Although the adaptation process to online classes was difficult at first, I had become accustomed at work to managing my schedule and was able to juggle my work and education life. There were times when there was so much homework to do that I had to take days off work, but I was determined to persist. The fact
that other classmates attending HCC were doing the same thing as me made me push myself to keep my job and my classes. This worked well, and I was able to climb the ladder at my job while saving up enough money to be able to graduate from UH without any loans. In March of this year, the world shut down as the pandemic begun. Surprisingly, no new plan was needed here.
I started working from home instead of going to the office, and I kept taking my classes online like normal. One thing that loomed in the back of my mind is that there was a class that was required to be taken in person. I would not have been able to take off a day of the week at work for a full semester, which meant that I would not have been able to keep my job. However, that requirement
went away as everything went online. I have been able to take that class this semester and graduate while keeping my job. Despite the plan changes and ups and downs, I have been extremely lucky with the opportunities that I have had. I am excited to finish my education at UH, and continue to be inspired by the persistency that I have seen in the students of HCC.
Medrano overcomes early bumps to get degree Egalitarian staffer tells her story en route to completing her AA in communication Stephanie Medrano The Egalitarian
L
et me start by saying that this has been a hard year for everyone. I’m very lucky for the way things were able to work out in my favor. I get to get my associates this year and transfer to the University of Houston. I’ve had my ups and downs with college. I graduated high school pretty young. I was 16 years old, which I was definitely not mature enough to handle classes and working almost full time at that age. I went to Wharton Junior
College and took 8 a.m. classes, which was not a good idea ... AT ALL. I was often tardy and would rarely study for my tests. I kind of burned out and had to withdraw from classes after two semesters, causing me to lose my financial aid. That’s when I took a semester off. I knew I had to get off financial aid probation, so I took two online courses at HCC as my previous college didn’t have many online options and I would make sure I would pass my courses. I had to pay out of pocket for these classes in hopes that gave me the push I needed. I was also about to turn 18, so I had better time management skills. I passed those two classes, but unfortunately I was not able to register for next semester as I had a stressful job and life was just not great at the time. This ended up in me taking another semester off as I didn’t want to go and
Egal•i•tar•i•an (adjective) aiming for equal wealth, status, etc., for all people 3517 Austin; 303 Fine Arts Center Houston, TX 77004 Phone: 713.718.6016; Fax: 713.718.6601 Adviser: Fredrick Batiste
FALL 2020 EGALITARIAN STAFF
Staff Writer............................... Rhiannon Brast Staff Writer.............................................. Vy Ho Staff Writer............................. Mauricio Lozano Staff Writer........................ Stephanie Medrano Staff Writer......................................Joel Valdes
risk losing my financial aid again. Fast forward to the semester after that and I had gotten a new job and I felt certain I would manage school better and pass. I did this for two semesters doing really well when COVID-19 hit. As someone who is a homebody and doesn’t ever really go out much, COVID still had a big impact on me. My normal going out to a restaurant or even just my workout at the gym weren’t things that we were able to do anymore. I was lucky enough to not lose my job but many people did and the constant stress of how close to home COVID was getting after hearing of coworkers or family members who got the virus. It really triggered my anxiety and completing homework became such a hard task and sometimes seemed unimportant to the things around me. The light at the end of the rainbow for
The Egalitarian has been the official student media of the Houston Community College System since September 1974. The Egalitarian is published electronically at HCCEgalitarian.com. The Egalitarian/HCCEgalitarian.com serves the entire HCC community. Comments and contributions are always welcome. The Egalitarian is written and edited by students of Houston Community College. This publication does not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, interests, attitudes and tastes of the Board of Trustees, HCC administration, faculty, staff or students. Opinions and editorial content of The Egalitarian that are unsigned do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Egalitarian staff or adviser. The Egalitarian reserves the right to edit any submitted material for grammatical errors, offensive language, libelous materials and space constraints. It may also refuse any advertising that does not adhere to the HCC mission.
me was that some classes I needed to graduate had to be done in person and I wasn’t sure how I was going to manage that working a 9-5 office job but due to the pandemic classes we’re going to be all online, which helped me out so much. I took that as my sign that I needed to keep going and while I may lose motivation at times I must keep going and with the great teachers, I had this year who really understood that this was a change that affected everyone. I get to say I graduated with my associates in communications during a pandemic! Life will always throw obstacles at us and it’s about how we get through them that makes us who we really are. I’m just really proud of HCC for how they treated us during these hard times and also proud of anyone who made it through this year as this year was unlike any other.
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The Egalitarian staff consists of HCC students who must complete all tasks required to produce the newspaper, which serves all campuses of the HCC System. We want all students from all majors to contribute. However, we must follow our submissions policy in order to operate under our limitations of time, energy and staff. All staff and contributing writers must be currently enrolled students at Houston Community College. The Egalitarian interacts with contributing writers via e-mail, telephone and video conference. Visiting The Egalitarian will not help contributors get published, only quality work will. Publication priority is given to staff members and assigned articles, and verbal commitments for assignments will not be accepted or recognized. Press releases, story ideas, news tips and suggestions are always welcomed. Any student interested in joining The Egalitarian staff may request more detailed information regarding story length, topics, style, etc., by e-mailing The Egalitarian Faculty Adviser Fredrick Batiste at fredrick.batiste@hccs.edu.
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To the graduates, Congratulations! We’re glad to play a tiny part in your celebration. Please don’t minimize this moment — and the people that helped you along the way — as we work to get through the pandemic. Give yourself a pat on the back. Make that TikTok video in your regalia. High-five yourself (social distancing, yanno!)! Together, let’s reflect and focus on the new horizons that lay ahead. Together, we will get through this. Isn’t that what #HoustonStrong is all about?
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Graduate information is accurate as of Nov. 23. For more up-to-date information, go to hccs.edu/graduation.
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2020 Fall Graduates
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Salim Hassan Abdikadir Certificate Basic Peace Officer Licensing Stacey Abston AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Daniella Acosta AS, Biology-Health Sciences Jade Adams Certificate, Cosmetology Operator Ameer Adane AS, Computer Science Oluwafernmi Paul Adeleke AS, Associate of Science Cynthia Aguilera Certificate Surgical Technology Aminat Akangbe AS, Biology-Health Sciences
Elizabeth Akeredolu AS, Biology-Health Sciences Abraham Akioyamhe AAS, Computer Systems Networking Sasha Alas Mejia Certificate, Insurance Specialist/Associate Gianmarco Aleman Correa AA, Business
Shahad Al-Gharrawi AS, Associate of Science Angelina Amador AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Cecilia Amador AAS, Business Management Hamza Amjad AA, Business
Paula Lunita Anderson AAS, Human Service Tech Porsche R. Anderson AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Tiffani Andrews AA, Computer Information Systems Leyla Maria Angulo Rincon AAS, Accounting
Nnamdi Anindu AAS, Computer Systems Networking Nabilla Ananda Arafah AS, Biology-Health Sciences Dishel A. Arceneaux AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Keren Argueta AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
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Alexandra Raye Baltazar AS, Associate of Science Rami Bani Hani AS, Associate of Science Karla Raquel Bauer AS, Associate of Science Terri Bell AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Chahinez Berkal AAS, Business Management Pradeep Bhandari AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Ribesh Biswakarmal AA, Business Olivia Boeker AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Nicholle Borelli AAS, Child Development Lina Bourgi AA, Business Reagan Bowen AS, Biology-Health Sciences Joshua Bowman AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Henry E. Bradford III Certificate, Audio Recording Technology Brittney Chanel Branch Certificate, Surgical Tecnology Eulana Marcella Breaux AS, Biology-Health Sciences Stephanie Imani Brite AS, Biology-Health Sciences
Roseangela Bufalino AA, Studio Arts Deis-Zhane Bufford AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Sharde Butler AAS, Human Service Tech Hilda Karina Caballero AAS, Petroleum Engineering Technology
Monica Camarillo AA, Business Jordan RenĂŠe Camp Certificate Women and Gender Studies Camila Campaci AA, Business Quiana Campbell AAS, Business Technology
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Daniela Cardenas Caycedo AS, Biology-Health Sciences Marisela Carlon AA, Government Mayra Carmona AAS, Child Development RoQuell She’Kerra Carr AA, Business
Estafani Rubi Carillo AA, Business Shakira Carter AA, Business Irencarr Cartwright-Young AAS, Audio Recording Technology Elizabet Castellanos Deras AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Andrea Castelli Fonseca AAS, Computer Programming-App. Dev. Denise Michelle Castillo AAS, Medical Laboratory Technician Janet Castillo Certificate, Medical Assistant Lorena Matrell Ceaser AAS, Construction Management Technology Paloma Cedeno AAS, Allied Health Certificate, Medical Assistant Chelsie Celestino AA, Communication M’Kenna Cerda Duncan AS, Associate of Science Mary Chambers AS, Biology-Health Sciences
Jennifer Chapman AAS, Process Technology Huan Chen AAS, Culinary Arts Chelsea Cheramie AA, Business Eva Elizabeth Chiapas Certificate, Machining Tech-Basic Manufacturing/ Mchn
Gift Eberechi Chinaka AS, Biology-Health Sciences Yancy Lorena Avigail Choz AA, Teaching Chiamaka Chukwukelu AS, Biology-Health Sciences Tatiana Clark AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
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Howard Co AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Ricky Collier AAS, Computer Systems Networking Antaquisha Collins AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Michele Comeaux AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Rosita Elida Conde AS, Biology-Health Sciences January Ann Contreras AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Myiesha Cooper Certificate, Business Technology Esmerelda Coronado Certificate, Medical Scribe
Linzzy Coronado AA, Business Domingos Costa AS, Chemistry Alexis Cross AS, Biology-Health Sciences Brenda Vanessa Cruz AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Rosanery Cruz AS, Associate of Science Thuy Dang AAS, Allied Health Certificate, Medical Assistant Nehemie Daniel AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Ebony Davis AAS, Culinary Arts
Tandrianeka Davis AA, Teaching Tracy Davis AAS, Business Management Deicy de la Ossa Brown AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Guadalupe De La Torre Certificate, Medical Scribe
Jaqueline Gabriela De Leon Escobar AA, Teaching Wilfrido Yovany De Leon Ramos AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Phillip Deeb AAS, Computer Systems Networking Jenny Del Villar Gonzรกlez Certificate, Cosmetology Operator
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Angelica Dennis Certificate, Logistics and Global Supply Clarissa Denton AAS, Allied Health Certificate, Medical Assistant DeshjontĂŠ Derrick AA, Business Andrea Carolina Devia AS, Biology-Health Sciences Christian Diaz Trujillo AAS, Culinary Arts Aime Diaz AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Cecily Nicole Dibrell AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Osatohanmwen Diejomaoh AS, Biology-Health Sciences
Harmony Dikoka AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Madison Dillon AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Ruksana Shabuddin Dinani AAS, Child Development Nancy Leyva Dinh AAS, Business Management
Cedric Dirat AA, Business Maria Mercedes Dizon AAS, Allied Health Certificate, Medical Assistant Nguyen Thao Ly Do AA, Business Ny Ny Doan AA, Business
Donna Marie Donaldson AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Demetron T. Dotson Jr. AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Donia Linique Dwyer Green AAS, Real Estate Lousheka Michelle Eagleton AS, Biology-Health Sciences
Monique D. Edwards AS, Biology-Health Sciences Lindsay Egwuibe AS, Biology-Health Sciences Vivian Ekweaga Certificate, Medical Assistant Chelsea Monet Ellison AAS, Allied Health Certificate, Vocational Nursing
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Emanuel English Certificate, MarketingGeneral Samuel Alexander Escobar AAS, Culinary Arts Victoria Escobar AA, Business Nahomy Escobedo AAS, Fashion Merchandising
Abdulwahid Farooqi AS, Associate of Science Ibironke Fatunbi AS, Biology-Health Sciences Max Louis Fishkind AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Kim Fleming Certificate, Real EstateResidential
Amanda Flores Certificate, AccountingPayroll Specialist Macqueline Fontenette-Woods Certificate, Construction Technology Taylor Fowler AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Diamond Gant AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Karliesha Gardner AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Darneisha Marquea Gayle AS, Associate of Science Xiaojie Ge AAS, Accounting Ejay Nathan Durfee George AAS, Computer Systems Networking
Courtney Girgin AA, Teaching Earica Givs AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Daniel Enrique Gomez AS, Associate of Science Edith Elizabeth Gomez AA, Business
Alejo Gonzalez Certificate, Filmmaking I Karla Vanessa Gonzalez Certificate, Medical Assistant Lydia Liseth Gonzalez AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Magdalena Camille Gonzalez AA, Teaching
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Sarai Gonzalez AAS, Paralegal Technology Certificate, Paralegal-Law Office Clerk/Legal Assistant Carolina Ann Da Graรงa AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Montreal Gray AA, Business Regency Bernice Gray Certificate, Culinary Arts Paulette Green Manson Certificate, CosmetologyFacial Specialist Jacqueline Gregory AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Daija D. Griggs AS, Biology-Health Sciences Joshua David Grimes AAS, Business Management
Adriana Guerrero AA, Business Tammy Guillory AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Paula G. Presna Guzman AS, Biology-Health Sciences Que Chau Ha AA, Business
Aron Hantal Certificate, Infant and Toddler Teacher Safiyyah Zahra Haqqi AS, Associate of Science Brittani Nicole Harmon AAS, Allied Health Derwin J. Hart AAS, Drafting & Design Technology
Stanley Hart AAS, Process Technology Alesha Hawkins AS, Associate of Science Raven Hayes AS, Biology-Health Sciences Yamileth HernandezRodriguez AA, Teaching
Claudia Yanira Hernandez AAS, Computer Systems Networking Joe Hernandez AAS, Filmmaking Liliana Hernandez AS, Biology-Health Sciences Naissa Aileen Hernandez AAS, Fashion Merchandising
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Perla Hernandez AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Ariel Dezarae Hines AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Zhuoqun Hong AAS, Pastry Arts Clyde Howard Certificate, Real EstateProperty Management
Ngoc Y Lan Huynh AA, Business Vi Do Tuong Huynh AS, Biology-Health Sciences Yolanda Ibarra AA, Teaching Amaka Ifediora AA, Business
Ijeoma Ikeh AS, Biology-Health Sciences Dhruv Jakasaniya Certificate, Logistics and Global Supply Kindreal James Certificate, Business Technology Cherry Jamison AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Hannah Jarvis AAS, Pastry Arts Arieana Ashanti Johnson AS, Associate of Science Demetria Renee Johnson AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Sarena S. Johnson AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Thomas Jones Jr. AAS, Culinary Arts Akila Rowsey Juan AA, Computer Information Systems Ezinne Kanife AS, Biology-Health Sciences Mohammad Kapadia AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Sephora Karaj Kapumba AAS, Fashion Design Khiry-Amir John Karim AAS, Audio Recording Technology Suman Kathayat AA, Computer Information Systems Fernando Kattan Bustillo AAS, Business Management
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Rochelle Keeton AAS, Cosmetology Operator Keisha Kelly AA, Multidisciplinary Studies LaTorchia Kelly AA, Business Rofiyat Kolawole AS, Biology-Health Sciences
Timeka Lagrone AS, Associate of Science Gisella Lara AA, Business Emilie Renee Jeanne Laversin AAS, Paralegal Technology Certificate, Paralegal-Law Office Clerk/Legal Assistant Sarah Laymon AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Bao Tuyet Nhi Le AS, Associate of Science Quang Nhat Lee AS, Biology-Health Sciences Joanna Gao Lee AA, Business Demetria Lesley AAS, Fashion Management Certificate, Fashion Merchandising-Image/Visual Merchandising KeyOsha LaShea Lewis Certificate, AccountingPayroll Specialist Vivian Li Certificate, Accounting Enid Lopez AAS, Real Estate Katerin Johnanna Lopez AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Simon Arturo Lopez Rangel AAS, Drafting & Design Technology Marchella Claudia Lumingas AA, Business Shams Maallah AS, Associate of Science John David Mahinay AS, Biology-Health Sciences
Ahmad Abdullah Marian AA, Business Chandler N’cole Phil Marshall Certificate, CosmetologyFacial Specialist Varsha Martin AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Lonne Jones Martinec AA, World Languages
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Annette Martinez AS, Biology-Health Sciences Gloria Martinez Certificate, AccountingPayroll Specialist Joseline Martinez AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Lidza Martinez AS, Biology-Health Sciences
Allison Martinez Nolasco AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Nyree McClain AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Kristy McCoy AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Nikita Roshae McGee AAS, Logistics and Global Supply
Kiara McLaurin AS, Biology-Health Sciences Jonathan Melendez AA, Business Herman Albert Mendoza AAS, Computer Systems Networking Jesica Mendoza AAS, Business Technology
Renish Merani AA, Business Shauna Marie Milford AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Gi Vaughn Dash Miller AA, Business Paul Miller AS, Engineering Science
Vanessa Mireles AAS, Allied Health M. Ibrahim Mirza Beig AS, Associate of Science Schrayne K. Mitchell Certificate, Medical Assistant Luna Moctezuma AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Elizabeth Mokuolu AAS, Cosmetology Operator Shakil Sharif Momin AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Gina Monti AA, Business Andrea Moore AAS, Culinary Arts
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Isela Morales Certificate, Medical Scribe Elizabeth Moreno AAS, Allied Health Certificate, Surgical Technology Doukoure Mouna AA, Business Qudisah Muhammad AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Fatima Mujahid AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Consolata Blasius Munishi AA, Business Kristen Muro AA, Teaching Renisha Murray AAS, Accounting
Emmanuel Muyaya AS, Associate of Science Lashyra Myles AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Claire Nabudde AS, Biology-Health Sciences Ashley Nicole Nandlal AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Janet Narvaez Certificate, Accounting-Payroll Specialist Reyna Navarro AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Bryanna Newson AS, Associate of Science Trina Newton Certificate, Business Technology
Joy Ngaloze AS, Biology-Health Sciences Sang Tan Ngo AAS, Computer Systems Networking Baokhanh Nguyen AAS, Allied Health Certificate, Surgical Technology Chi Ngoc Que Nguyen AAS, Accounting
Jaclynn Nguyen AS, Biology-Health Sciences Minh Nguyen AA, Business Vy Nguyen AAS, Medical Laboratory Technician Xa Nguyen AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
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Evelyn Norsworthy AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Christopher Nvene AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Esther Member Nworisa AS, Biology-Health Sciences James Nwosu AS, Psychology
Alexander Ocampo AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Natasha Ochoa Luques AAS, Cosmetology Operator Chioma Ogboi AS, Biology-Health Sciences Cheryl Brown Ogegere AS, Associate of Science
Mark Ekene Okin AAS, Electronics Engineering Technology Kimberly Rochelle Oliver AA, Business Munotanan Denise Olokpo AA, Business Hadija Hussein Omar AS, Biology-Health Sciences
Sarah Omar AA, Business Glad Omeje AAS, Allied Health Certificate, Vocational Nursing Adaugo Juliet Opeigbe Certificate, Business Management Jennifer Ortega AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Andrea Ortega Quintero AS, Associate of Science Francisca Nchama Osa Obono AS, Associate of Science Olatunbosun Osifowode AS, Associate of Science Anna Owusu AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Veronica Adwoa Owusu AAS, Pastry Arts Olukayode Abiodun Oyewole Certificate, Cyber Security Doktor Mervan Oznipar AA, Business Kardelen Ozturk AA, Business
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Suzette Pacheco AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Iris D. Padron Salazar AAS, Business Management Jeanette Palacios Garcia AA, Business Samuel Palacios AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Anibal Arturo Parra Quispe AAS, Instrumentation & Controls Brianna Patten AS, Psychology Diana Pena AA, Business Melanie Pereira AA, Business
Denise PĂŠrez AAS, Logistics and Global Supply Luisa Stephanie Perez AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Elsa Jhoanna Perla AS, Biology-Health Sciences Troi-Lyzette Perry AAS, Business Management
Jazmine Tanisha Pittman AA, Business Jennifer Prestwood AA, Multidisciplinary Studies JaChrystal Price AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Shonda Provost Certificate, Construction Technology
Jasmine Pulido AS, Biology-Health Sciences Ashley Quiroz AA, Studio Arts April Ramirez AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Elsi Beatriz RamĂrez AS, Associate of Science
Norma Alicia Ramirez AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Priscilla Nicole Ramirez AA, Business Rosmery Ramirez AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Yesica Ramirez Monroy AAS, Paralegal Technology
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Sandra Jenet Ramos Certificate, Medical Assistant Gisele Rebolloso AS, Biology-Health Sciences Monica Monique Reed AAS, Human Service Tech Johnniea LaReina Reese AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Jessica Sarah Elaine Reliford AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Bryan Roberto Reyes AAS, Business Technology Christopher Rios AS, Biology-Health Sciences Lusanly Rivas AAS, Accounting
Mateo Andrew Rivera AAS, Filmmaking Briana Roberson-Barnum AA, Business Danielle Roberson Certificate, Business Management Brandon Keith Robinson Sr. AAS, Logistics and Global Supply
Rayven Robinson AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Abby Elizabeth Rodriguez AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Biaunka Rochelle Rodriguez AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Sophia Guadalupe Rodriguez AAS, Allied Health Certificate, Medical Assistant
Yvette Rodriguez AAS, Accounting Maria Rodriguez de Leon AS, Biology-Majors and Pre-med Yolanda Rodriguez Gutierrez AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Eli Rojas AAS, Business Management
Myriam Romero Peralta AAS, Paralegal Technology Taina Rosado AA, Government Aaliyah Renee Ross AA, Computer Information Systems Paola Salas AA, Business
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Victoria Salazar AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Monica Saldana AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Chantal Sama AS, Biology-Health Sciences Katherinn Betsabe Sanabria Laguado AS, Associate of Science
Katya SĂĄnchez JimĂŠnez AA, Business Ngolo Sanogo AS, Engineering Science Alice Santacruz AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Glenn Policarpio Sauquillo AS, Biology-Health Sciences
Morris Scott AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Tatrisila Sharp AAS, Business Management Yetunde Sholabi AS, Biology-Health Sciences Farah Amelia Siddiqui Pena AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Joanne Lindsay Smart AA, Teaching Mikayla Smith AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Renat Smith AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Valencia Letrish Smith AAS, Business Management
Karina Eva Solis AAS, Allied Health Certificate, Surgical Technology Demba Soumbounou AA, Business Nicolas Roman Srut AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Taylor Yvette Stephens AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Mariah Stewart AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Valerie Stillgess Certificate, Fashion Merchandising Kimberly Stone AA, Business Anuja Subedi AA, Business
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Sigourney Suggs AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Fatiha Adebukola Sulaiman AS, Biology-Health Sciences Supatcha Sununtham AA, Business Mame Coumba Sy AS, Biology-Health Sciences
Maurice Tabb AAS, Human Service Tech Shaima Taheri AS, Associate of Science Olufunke Elizabeth Tanimonu AA, Computer Information Systems Shantesa Terrell AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Autumn Thai AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Long Binh Thai AS, Associate of Science Jasmine Nichole Thibodeaux AAS, Computer Systems Networking Ashaki Keshon Thompson AAS, Cosmetology Instructor
Fugi Glenn Ray Thompson AA, Business Bryanna Michelle Thornton AA, Teaching Matthew Timmer AAS, Drafting & Design Technology Monica Lizzett Torres AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Eleny Antonia Tristan AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Emily Marie Tristan AS, Associate of Science Thi Phuong Thao Truong AS, Engineering Science Rosemary Umo AS, Biology-Health Sciences
Jenny Uribe AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Kionna Uzodinma Certificate, Medical Assistant Maria Velazquez AAS, Fashion Merchandising Pamela Velazquez AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
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Jasmin Villegas AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Daisy Wafer AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Adeel Wali Muhammad AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Bre’Anna Walker AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Makell Wallace AS, Associate of Science Somner Dannielle Waller AA, English Marquell Phillip Walls AS, Associate of Science Yingyue Wang AAS, Accounting
Yunxian Wang AAS, Accounting Mehrabuddin Watan AAS, Drafting & Design Technology Alexandra C. Waters AAS, Pasty Arts LaTasha Latrice Watson AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
IvyAnn Wangui Waweru AS, Biology-Health Sciences Miranda Weaver Smith Certificate, Digital Communication I Donovan Weldon AAS, Process Technology Jucorey West Certificate, Welding Technology-Combination
Kacie West AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Ajaye Jevonne Williams AA, Multidisciplinary Studies DeMarcus B. Williams Certificate, HVAC-Advanced Demario Williams AA, Business
E’Portia Conchytta Williams AA, Business Jules Williams AAS, Paralegal Technology Passion Kenyatta Williams AAS, Real Estate Reshanda Williams AS, Associate of Science
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Zatasha Williams AA, Teaching Kyung Ah Woo AS, Biology-Health Sciences Kenneth Woodin AA, Multidisciplinary Studies Devonta Wyatt AA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Miyuki Yamamoto AAS, Culinary Arts Helen Yancy AAS, Business Management Victoria York-Gardner AS, Associate of Science Pegwende Pierre Aristide Zabsore AS, Computer Science
Denise Zapata AS, Biology-Health Sciences Johnny Noel Zelaya AS, Biology-Health Sciences Sabrina Zernial AAS, Cosmetology Operator Xi Zhang AAS, Accounting
Olga Laura Zubalska Certificate, Geographic Information Science-Analyst
Congratulations Fall Graduates!
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HCC helps Fontenette-Woods build a better life Vy Ho
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ollege is one of the tools you can use to be successful because it gives you the necessary skills to succeed and prepares you for a career. Been successful in College will show you what determination and commitment can do; it will give you the trust you need in yourself to get anything you want in life. Many people around the world consider their college graduation day as a milestone, and rightfully so. It is, after all, consolidation of decades of hard work and sacrifice It is the time of one semester nearly end that there will be more students preparing to
graduate. To learn more about the potential feature of their experiences as a student at the college, I got in touch with Macqueline Fontentette Woods who will graduate in this semester. Macqueline Fontentette Woods comes from Los Angeles. She enrolled at HCC to learn how to build her final home. She is graduating with a 4.0 gpa with certification in Construction Management Technology. She received multiple scholarships and the Old Chix senior discount for those over 55. As a die-hard entrepreneur, she has found my purpose in building Petite Estates. Because of COVID circumstances, this is the first time in life that she had enough time
Kelly sets sights on more Joel Valdes
The Egalitarian As the semester comes to a close, another set of students is ready to graduate from HCC. During this time, it is important to take a look at the variety of people who attend this college, and one of them is Tarsha Kelly. This is a look into her experiences and thoughts from her time at HCC. Q: Where are you from, Tarsha? A: I am from Katy, TX . Q: What program are you getting your degree/certification in? A: I am getting an AA Business Degree - I will finish with honors as my GPA is a 3.32 now and I currently have an A in my final class.
Tarsha Kelly Q: What were some of the obstacles/adversities you faced as a student? Can you tell us what you did to get through those tough moments? A: When I walked into my first class (Weekend Student) and the professor was asking if we had looked at the syllabus I was very lost as I am 46 years old and had not been to school in a very long time. Even though I was a bit flustered I made sure to participate in class because I KNEW I had to succeed this time and I
Fontenette-Woods to fully develop a sustainable business that she absolutely loves. She encourages everyone to take advantage of the
am so thankful I did/have. Q: What feelings do you have finishing up during the pandemic? A: I am saddened that I did not have the opportunity to interact with my classmates and support staff at the school (Dr. Cheryl Peters and Christy Shell). I went and visited them every Saturday and was soooo excited about my parents seeing their 46-year-old daughter walk across a stage and that opportunity was taken away by Covid-19. For me that is the worst part. Q: What’s next for you? A: I plan to go to UHD and get my B.S. in Supply Chain as I have worked in the Supply Chain for the last 15 years and like that that degree is not industry specific. Q: What advice do you have to offer others that are in school? A: Having a good attitude makes all the difference in the world. Encourage others along the way and build a good support system around you with family, friends and students alike.
Get lost 2020: Some things to leave behind, with caveats Leanne Italie
Associated Press NEW YORK — Zoom, Zoom and Zoom. Masks, masks and masks. Sourdough starter and short-order cooking. In these “troubled times,” in our sweat pants and the isolation we endure “out of an abundance of caution,” there isn’t much not to be over as 2020 comes to a longed for halt. With the election behind us, along with its deluge of texts and cries of fake news, the year was a mess of common horrors and inconveniences driven by political divisions, racial injustice and the deadly and persistent pandemic, with chronic language to match. But not all things 2020 need to be left behind. More white people have realized racism is real and present. Quppies (as in quarantine pup-
pies) and Quittens (the feline equivalent) have enriched millions of lives. Family dinner is back on the table and coronavirus pods have turned friends into family. Here’s a few more things we’re over as we lurch into 2021, and a few things we may just remember fondly: DISTANCE LEARNING There’s no denying that some kids have done OK and others have suffered greatly from school at home, as have their parents. And when the pandemic sputters to an end, all kids will return to their classrooms. While we wait, let’s talk teacher heroes trying to make the most of their worst case scenarios.
see Get Lost 2020, Page 29
extra time on their hands and reinvent themselves and reimagine their future for the post-COVID world as this gift of time may never happen again. The COVID recession has been labeled the “female recession” with millions of women being forced out of the workforce. She challenged all of us to seize the moment and create a stronger economy for yourself and the next generation. Virtual classes are the obstacles she faced as a student, and she suggesting reading the lessons in advance to ask and get questions answered is the solution to get through those tough moments. When I asked her about how she felt when she graduated, she said she
couldn’t hide her happiness and pride in herself. She said that regardless of the pandemic she will and has achieved her goals. Macqueline is working on land acquisition and she will film her reality show and makes samples of her fashion brand in the future. The last thing I ask her that does she has to offer others that are in school and she said use your time wisely. Macqueline Very happy during the interview and I am confident that she will have a lot of success after graduation. Graduation is not the end but maturity. Graduation is not separation. It’s for a better reunion in the future.
Omeje finishes in vocational nursing With COVID being so prevalent we want to honor the graduates here at HCC who have put in so much hard work and dedication to get to their degree! I am getting my certificate in vocational nursing. The main obstacle I faced as a student is combining working full time and being a full-time student. Both required full commitment in terms of time and other resources. I am blessed to have a very supportive family who made sacrifices so that I could give all that was required into the program and my job. I also had the added challenge of my studies being interrupted by the pandemic. It was very discouraging at times but with prayers, God’s help, and the support of those around me, I was able to pull through. I am excited to finish even amid the pandemic. I hope that the skills I have acquired will enable me to make positive contributions to the lives of those affected by it (the pandemic). My plan for now is to get a job with
Glad Omeje my certificate. I encourage those still in school not to give up but to keep putting in their best. We are so proud of her hard work and overcoming obstacles to get closer to achieving her dream! Congratulations Glad on finishing off strong! Good luck and God bless! ———
— as told to Staff Writer Rhiannon Brast
Brast faces adversity Rhiannon Brast The Egalitarian
When I started college, I was struggling with finding myself. In high school, I lost both of my parents and I was the first kid going to college. This was a lot for me to handle. I had my family to help, but it’s not the same when it’s not your parents. I felt like there was a lot of pressure on my shoulders to hold up a whole family’s legacy. Starting college, I went through different groups but ended up finding mine. I was in a new relationship (but girl, the red flags were so bright). As I am reaching the end of my time here I just
want to make a few things clear. It is okay to have to work and take classes, it’s even okay to take a smaller work load in order to support yourself. Also, you are going to experience some losses, whether that be in life, relationships, or grades. Take those losses as motivation to better yourself. Loss is a part of life so we need to accept it and grow from it. If your parents say a relationship is bad, nine times out of 10 they are right. End of discussion LOL. School is hard. Life is hard. You are here for a reason and are more than capable of handling it. If nobody has told you this, I believe in you.
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Business economists see full recovery by end of 2021 Stan Choe
AP Business Writer The U.S. economy’s growth is likely slowing as 2020 comes to a close, but a growing number of economists expect it to claw back to its pre-pandemic strength by the second half of next year as vaccines for the coronavirus become widely distributed. That’s the view from the latest survey of the National Association for Business Economics. It found that 73% of surveyed forecasters say the economy will return to its pre-pandemic level by late 2021. That reflects greater optimism than the forecasters had expressed a couple months ago, when just 38% of them said they thought a full recovery could occur before 2022. Economists have been saying for months that only when vaccines are widely available to control or defeat the virus will the economy be able to sustain any meaningful recovery from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Hopes that one or more coronavirus vaccines will roll out soon are helping drive expectations higher, said the survey’s
chair, Holly Wade. “NABE panelists have become more optimistic, on balance,” Wade said, “with nearly onethird revising their outlook higher based on recent news of effective vaccines.” Pharmaceutical companies are asking U.S. regulators to allow the use of their vaccine candidates after reporting encouraging data from clinical trials. The hope is that a wide rollout would mean fewer restrictions on businesses next year and more confidence among shoppers and companies to spend more. In the meantime, the economy is struggling to gain traction. Measures of consumer confidence, which is critical to spending and growth, remain well below their pre-pandemic levels. On Friday, the government reported that employers sharply scaled back their hiring in November, adding 245,000 jobs — the fewest since April and the fifth straight monthly slowdown. The report provided the latest evidence that the job market and economy are faltering in the face of a virus that has been shattering daily records for confirmed infections. In the near term, economic ac-
Nam Y. Huh/AP Photo A man pushes carts as a hiring sign shows at a Jewel Osco grocery store in Deerfield, Ill., Thursday, April 23, 2020. Friday, Dec. 4, monthly U.S. jobs report will help answer a key question hanging over the economy: Just how much damage is being caused by the resurgent coronavirus, the resulting restrictions on businesses and the reluctance of consumers to shop, travel and dine out? tivity is likely to slow further, with health officials warning against all but essential travel and states and cities limiting gatherings, restricting restaurant dining and reducing the hours and capacity of bars, stores and other businesses. But if the NABE’s forecasts are right, a full recovery could be reached by late next year. If so, it would mark a remarkably quick rebound for the economy after its breathtaking plummet during the spring. When the coronavirus was first spreading and governors around the country ordered businesses to shut down, the U.S.
economy shrank by a punishing annualized rate of 31.4% from April through June. During the summer, as stayat-home orders were relaxed, the economy exploded higher off that very weak base and grew at an annualized rate of 33.1%. Now that the easiest gains have been made, the economists surveyed by NABE say the economy likely has been growing at an annualized rate of 4.1% during the last three months of 2020. They expect growth to further slow to an annualized rate of 2.9% during the first three months of 2021. The main concern going for-
ward, of course, remains the pandemic. Even if a vaccine is approved quickly, it would be scarce at first, and most people wouldn’t be able to get one for a while. In the meantime, soaring COVID-19 numbers are forcing governments around the world to reimpose varying degrees of restrictions on businesses. Slightly more than a quarter of forecasters surveyed by NABE, 27%, said the biggest risk facing the economy is inaction by Washington to offer more financial aid. The only risk cited more often was the pandemic itself, at 57%.
Get Lost 2020, From Page 28 They’ve organized drive-by parades and made TikTok dance videos for gym class. They’ve delivered meals to students and written encouraging chalk messages on doorsteps. They’ve transformed kitchens into chemistry labs and tutored kids through porch doors. Thank you. STREAMING EXPLOSION Do those of us who can’t or won’t march back into movie theaters miss the big screen experience? Sure. But streaming exploded at just the right time, including first-run films available at home. That means a dizzying array of choices, but also that parents don’t have to suffer in the dark through “Trolls World Tour.” It means more couples are cuddling up on the couch and more families are making their own popcorn to sit down together for movie night. Comcast, the nation’s largest cable operator and owner of NBCUniversal, reportedly passed a telling milestone: It now has more streaming subscribers than cable-TV subscribers. What we’re over? Let’s work on decent, affordable Wi-Fi for all. OH THE BREAD We made bread. We made bread! WE MADE BREAD. Yes, we did. And now we’re thinking it might be time to stop. As the pandemic brought on baking — and hoarding — madness in March, flour was in short supply for a time, along with yeast. Some companies reported the biggest spikes in sales were for bread flour. With nothing but time at home for plenty of
proving and chilling of dough, many in quarantine tried their hand at bread. And who’s the queen? Sourdough, along with her mother. Talk of sourdough starters spread like a loaf on fire. Boasts of decades-old mothers proliferated. Then the COVID 19 (pounds, not virus) led some to reconsider all that baking. But, the thing is, we did it! THE GREAT OUTDOORS We’ve hiked. We’ve walked. We’ve dined outdoors. As winter descends in cold-weather environs, are we over it or merely bundling up to continue seeking space free of walls? Add-on value of leaving one’s home in a pandemic: Being able to wave at the neighbors without stopping to say hello, because coronavirus, and because we’re all introverts now. The great outdoors has led some to rediscover what’s right in front of them: their local parks, their backyards, their decks, their porches. And they’ve spent some of their newfound time sprucing them up. Work from home office views are now trees and gardens and birds for many. Outside isn’t entirely out of reach for those facing down winter, and for all who are supremely over working from home. DUMP THE DOOMSCROLLING We bought new distractions and made long to-do lists. We had big pandemic plans, darn it. Perhaps we’ve done a thing or two, but the endless time suck of consuming negative news has us prone
and fretting much of the time. Let’s free ourselves, people! Halt the endless doomscrolling, especially at night when sleep would be the smarter choice. Need something to do instead? Take up a collection with neighbors of all that stuff we’ve hoarded and donate it to a soup kitchen or food pantry. And guess what, they’ll take our pile of Fresh Direct bags, too. Added incentive: Some of our doomsday cache may be approaching expiration dates. Does anything last forever? THAT SPIKY SPHERE We’re certainly over COVID-19, but are we also over the coronavirus model? You know the one. It’s the round image with the germ’s notorious crown-like spikes. Sometimes it’s red, sometimes blue or purple, but always, always ominous. The prickly orb is on every news and medical site. It’s all over TV and on flyers for COVID car cleaning. It’s a nasty little emoji guest that needs to go home. Graphic designers everywhere, please come up with something else! It DID serve nicely as a vivid reminder of the murderous little devil. Now, over it. ELECTION FATIGUE Oh boy, what an election it was. Choosing a president fueled the chaos in our lockdown minds, but something else occurred in 2020. It was the 100th anniversary of women winning the right to vote. Congress passed the 19th Amendment on June 4, 1919. It was ratified on
Aug. 18, 1920. We marked the centennial with a special postage stamp, museum exhibitions and the like. But the fight didn’t end in 1920. Practically speaking, Black women, indigenous women and other women of color continued to face stumbling blocks. Over that, then and now. GET OVER BEING OVER IT Are these unprecedented times? Well, when it comes to the pandemic, a little something called Black Death killed 25 to 30 million people from 1347 to 1352. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 500 million people, or one-third of the world’s population, were infected in the flu pandemic of 1918-19. The number of deaths was estimated to be at least 50 million worldwide. How about getting over being Over It? Tired of wearing masks, following other protocols, being housebound, having to sacrifice? Consider that some of our grandfathers stormed the beaches of Normandy and slogged through the jungles of Vietnam. Consider that business owners have lost their livelihoods and families are struggling to afford food. When it comes to the U.S. election, the times, they were unprecedented. But the caterwauling. We’re over it. People are truly suffering. For those of us who have jobs and food and a roof, just breathe. As one Holocaust survivor put it: Things of importance fade into oblivion when NEVER AGAIN is reduced to a meaningless mantra.
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