John Perkins (left) with former Reedley College football coach and now adminstrator Michael White.

In March, the California Community Colleges Football Coaches Association inducted John Perkins into its Hall of Fame for his time as assistant football coach at Reedley College.

Perkins joined Reedley College as assistant football coach in 1970, under head coach J.R. Boone. When Boone left Reedley College to coach at Fresno State, Perkins served as head coach from 1973 to 1977. He continued to serve as assistant football coach until 1994.

Perkins played football in high school and community college before transferring to California State University, San Jose, where he played on the university’s first team to ever defeat Stanford.

Perkins joined Reedley College as assistant football coach in 1970, under head coach J.R. Boone.

In 1960, he began coaching high school football. During his first year coaching at Sanger High School, he led the team to a Valley Championship. In 1971, Perkins joined the coaching staff at Reedley College, helping lead the team to a State Championship.

Ed Kezirian a former player of Perkin’s, said, “I had the honor of playing for coach Perkins in 1970 and 1971. I also feel coach Perkins was instrumental in my scholarship to UCLA and my two years of professional football. I was prepared fundamentally to deal with the running and passing game.”

Perkins was later appointed Reedley College athletic director, and was named Athletic Director of the Year by the Athletic Directors Association in 1994.

During his more than 40 years at Reedley College, Perkins has coached baseball, track and field, and wrestling. Although he retired as athletic director in 1994, he continues to coach the men’s golf team.

After graduating from the University of California, Davis, Janice worked for the County of Fresno before joining the staff of FCC in 2000.

Janice has served on the Asian American Faculty & Staff Association, as well as the AsianFest Committee, helping to put on AsianFest, the annual celebration of Asian culture that drew nearly 2,000 community members to the Fresno City College campus in April.

Janice led the FCC Fall Carnival, which provides safe environment for children to trick-or-treat on Halloween. Last year’s event drew almost 1,300 visitors. She also helps organize the annual Outstanding Leadership Awards to recognize student clubs and organizations. For the past few years, she has also been the FCC site team leader for the Kids’ Day fundraiser, as well as Welcome Week coordinator. It seems there aren’t many campus events that Janice hasn’t had a hand in.

Activities build well-rounded students

“FCC is a very supportive and service-oriented organization, and has always strived to put the needs of the students first.” –Janice Wong, college center assistant

“FCC is a very supportive and service-oriented organization, and has always strived to put the needs of the students first,” Janice said.

She believes the work of Student Activities, and co-curricular activities in general, are an important part of developing well-rounded students: “Activities provide hands-on learning and leadership development opportunities,” she said. “The social interaction and campus involvement also help many community college students balance academic, family, and work commitments.”

Student interaction is what Janice enjoys most about her job.

“Many students come into the Student Activities office because they want to get involved,” she said. “I’m reminded of my college days when I did the same thing, and my experience was positive and memorable. I want to be able to provide the same type of service and guidance that I received as a student.”

Janice’s work serving and guiding students has now been recognized in the form of the Classified Professional of the Year Award.

“It means a lot to me to know that hard work, and doing the right thing, does pay off,” she said.

Dr. Hioco’s career in higher education began more than 35 years ago. She was an instructor at Boulder Valley Technical Education Center in Boulder, Colorado, where she taught courses in computer information systems and office administration. She later taught at Fresno City College, before becoming the Title III and grants coordinator for SCCCD. She next worked for West Hills Community College District as dean of instruction, vice president of educational services/assistant superintendent, and eventually college president. She was appointed president of Reedley College in 2004.

“Reedley College is a wonderful place to work,” Dr. Hioco said. “From the first moment I stepped onto campus as president seven years ago, people made me feel welcome and part of the Reedley College family. I feel privileged to have worked with such professional, caring, and talented people who exemplify the ‘students first’ concept each and every day.”

More students, more facilities, more tech

“I feel privileged to have worked with such professional, caring, and talented people who exemplify the ‘students first’ concept each and every day.” - Dr. Barbara Hioco

As president of Reedley College, Dr. Hioco oversaw an increase in student enrollment, as well as an increase in the number of students completing certificate and degree programs and transferring to four-year colleges and universities. Online programs have also increased, along with faculty and student access to technology. New facilities and renovations—including a new residence hall, a new student center, a library expansion, and more—have transformed the face of Reedley College under Dr. Hioco’s watch.

The most important and significant change, Dr. Hioco said, is the expansion of programs and services for students.

“Reedley College offers many extra services to help our students succeed,” she said. “Students are able to overcome potential barriers to their academic success with the use of our counseling services, tutorial services, scholarship and financial aid, veterans services, outreach, and other campus resources.”

For Dr. Hioco, community colleges are an important and necessary part of any community.

“I have always believed in the importance of community colleges,” she said, “and this importance is evident today more than ever. Community colleges offer access and opportunities to people in our communities that no other institution can. We are able to design programs and services that are unique to the communities we serve at an extremely affordable cost. I believe that community colleges are an economic development engine that can have a positive effect on the economic vitality of our state and of our country.”

Staying involved

After she retires as Reedley College president, Dr. Hioco will continue to teach in the educational doctoral program at California State University, Fresno, and she’ll remain involved in a variety of fundraising activities. She’ll also continue to support higher education in the Valley as executive director of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC), an association of 27 colleges and universities throughout the Center Valley.

“By working as the executive director of the Consortium,” she said, “I will be able to continue my advocacy for higher education and stay connected to and contributing to the profession that I love.”

She’ll also be spending plenty of time with her husband August, their four grandchildren—Emily, Alex, Andrew, and Nicholas—and their two dogs, Maggie and Mitch.

“In looking back at my career in higher education, I can truthfully say that I would choose the same career all over again,” Dr. Hioco said. “I cannot think of any other profession that is more rewarding or that can have a more profound effect on peoples’ lives.”

Piper joined Oakhurst Center as coordinator nearly six years ago, after two years as SCCCD director of information systems.

She was born in New York and moved to California when she was 16. After high school, she attended Moorpark Community College where she earned an associate degree. While working full-time, Piper attended California State University, Northridge where she earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and an MBA.

“For many of our students, having a campus nearby makes the difference between going to college or not.” –Vikki Piper

She went on to become an executive at a large direct mail company and then an e-commerce company. She also taught graduate and undergraduate courses while she worked. In 2002, she moved to Oakhurst.

“I always wanted to work at a community college,” Piper said, “to give back to an institution that inspired me and helped me get my first job as a junior programmer.”

A little of everything

Now, her main responsibility is managing the Oakhurst Center on a daily basis. Her duties are many. She recruits adjunct faculty, works with the dean of instruction to schedule classes, oversees the budget, supervises the staff, serves as a liaison with the community, and works with the local schools and organizations. But the campus’s small staff means her job is never predictable.

“At any given time, I might be working at the front desk registering students, fixing computer equipment, talking with prospective faculty, or shoveling snow and de-icing the campus,” she said.

In addition to all that, she continues to teach one course every semester. She has taught information systems courses and currently teaches economics.

“I think it is important to keep in touch with student learning,” she explained.

Keeping in touch with students and staff is Piper’s favorite part of the job.

“I love the people,” she said. “The students are fantastic and the faculty and staff are great!”

She also recognizes the importance of the campus itself.

“We draw students from a large geographical area, including Oakhurst, North Fork, Ahwahnee, Mariposa, Coarsegold, Bass Lake, and Yosemite,” Piper said. “For many of our students, having a campus nearby makes the difference between going to college or not. It saves our students time and money, and serves the community well.”

Jim Mulligan (left), Reedley College international education coordinator, and assistant Sophie Quintero oversee the SEED program.

The Reedley College SEED (Scholarships for Education and Economic Development) program provides technical and professional training for low-income and rural students from Mexico and Central America. The federally funded program, which has been a part of the Reedley College Ag Department since 1988, is overseen by Jim Mulligan, international education coordinator, and assistant Sophie Quintero.

Mulligan was born in Selma and attended Reedley College before graduating from Fresno State with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture education. He will receive his master’s degree in TESOL (ESL) in May. Mulligan was hired as Reedley College international education coordinator four years ago, due in part to his experience teaching high school agriculture and adult ESL courses.

“It’s always a highlight when a kid, who’s now an adult, lets you know how much of an impact you had in their life.”—Jim Mulligan

Mulligan joined Sophie Quintero, who has worked as the Reedley College international education assistant since 2003. Quintero grew up in Reedley and received an associate of art degree from Fresno City College. Together, Mulligan and Quintero oversee all aspects of the SEED program.

“We manage the budget, advise students during their two-year program, provide orientations and ongoing training and support, recruit and manage host families, and a zillion other little things,” said Mulligan.

“The best part may be the relationships that we develop with the students,” he said. “Besides their host families, who they live with for the first 9 months, we are their go-to people for most things. Our students, who are 18 to 25 years old, leave their countries, communities, and families to study for two years in Reedley. They don’t return home until the end of the program. Although technically adults, they are young people who often need guidance and parental counseling. I treat them as I would treat my own kids, giving them the same advice, in the hopes that they make good decisions that will help them achieve their goals.”

The students form special bonds with Mulligan and Quintero that last well past the program’s end.

“One of the best things about working for this program,” Quintero said, “is hearing about the accomplishments of the alumni after they’ve completed the program and gone back home. Some of them are continuing their education at a university, or have found good jobs, gotten married and now have families, or are working on projects to help better their communities.”

Mulligan also enjoys hearing from past students. “It’s always a highlight when a kid, who’s now an adult, lets you know how much of an impact you had in their life,” he said. “I think I learn more from my experiences with our students than they learn from me.”

For more information on the SEED program, visit the Reedley College website.

The Bishkek White House, seat of the Kyrgyzstan government, president and parliament (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan)

In August 2009, Sylvie Huneault-Schultze, Fresno City College instructor and chair of the ESL/Linguistics Department, traveled to Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet state in Central Asia bordering China. As a Fulbright Scholar, she conducted seminars on innovative teaching methodologies during the 2009-2010 academic year.

Although she was born in Canada, Huneault-Schultze has lived in the US for 22 years. She earned a Master’s Degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MATESOL) from the Monterey Institute of International Studies before coming to teach at FCC in 2001, eventually becoming the chair of the ESL/Linguistics Department. She teaches all levels of reading and writing, as well as a pronunciation course.

“I left the country in the midst of the clash feeling powerless as an American.”

In 2009, she gave up her Canadian citizenship and became an U.S. citizen to satisfy the requirement for the Fulbright Scholarship Program. The Fulbright Program is an international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. It is designed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries,” according to the program’s website. Participants like Huneault-Schultze are chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential and given the opportunity to “study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.”

Having studied Russian language and culture as an undergraduate, Huneault-Schultze searched the Fulbright database for an “ideal” country for her scholarship, she said. “I figured that Kyrgyzstan would be it since Kyrgyzstanis speak Russian as their second (and often as their first) language. And I was right. I found locals from the capital and nearby villages were exceptionally hospitable and accessible.”

In August 2009, she traveled to Bishkek Humanities University (BHU) where she taught two reading and two writing classes. She also saw firsthand the determination of the local instructors.

“After conducting countless observations and dialoging with faculty,” she said, “I came to the conclusion that despite how little training they had at becoming teachers and how limited resources they had access to, their desire to teach English was remarkable.”

Then, in April 2010, a political riot broke out in Kyrgyzstan. “The existing government under President Kurmanbek Bakiyev,” explained Huneault-Schultze, “ordered snipers and police officers to open fire on unarmed demonstrating civilians who had gathered in front of the White House to voice their anger over excessive taxations, corruption and nepotism.” One hundred protesters were killed and a thousand others were injured.

The event threw the country into political turmoil that continues today. “I left the country in the midst of the clash feeling powerless as an American,” Huneault-Schultze said. Still, she added, “I have never been so proud to be an American.”

Now back at Fresno City College, Huneault-Schultze reflects on her time in Kyrgyzstan. “Spending ten months in a country on my own has had a huge impact on my life, both professionally and personally,” she said. It was an experience she’ll continue to carry with her.

Adelfa Lorenzano (right) pictured with Kayla Urbano, Reedley College Student Trustee.

Adelfa Lorenzano has worked at Reedley College for 7 years. As College Center Assistant and facilitator of the K16 Bridge program—which brings together K-12 schools and community colleges to encourage students to pursue higher education—she has worked to guide students toward better choices in both education and lifestyle.

Lorenzano grew up attending Reedley schools, and earned her associate degree at Reedley College, where she served as a student trustee and ASB president. She started a family, but continued her education, earning a bachelor’s degree from Fresno Pacific University and a master’s from National University.

Last April, she joined the board of the Youth Leadership Institute (YLI). YLI is an organization that “promotes civic responsibility and leadership to young people, while advocating for public policy and community outreach,” Lorenzano said. YLI was founded in California in 1991 with the goal of engaging young people directly to improve their own lives and communities. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of its founding this year, the award-winning organization continues to expand its reach throughout California. Lorenzano is the first board member to represent the Central Valley. She describes her appointment to the board as “a chance opportunity.”

“I would like to expand the minds of our youth, to make them realize that they do have a voice and they need to learn how to use it effectively.”

“I was speaking to an alum of Reedley College, who is currently working for YLI,” Lorenzano said. “I mentioned my involvement with California Youth Council in the early 90’s.” The California Youth Council is a group of high school students focused on preventing teen alcohol use. In light of this experience, she was asked to attend a YLI executive board meeting, where she decided to commit to a two-year term as a board member.

She is currently on the YLI Growth Committee, with the purpose of “expanding services and leadership nationally,” she said.

“I would like to expand the minds of our youth, to make them realize that they do have a voice and they need to learn how to use it effectively,” she said.

Lorenzano’s experience at Reedley College will provide insight for YLI into the activities of college students. She has assisted with prevention outreach on campus for Alcohol Awareness Week, Safe Spring Break, and Reedley Red Ribbon Week activities.  She has already helped the Reedley College residence hall advisors to develop their own YLI group, trained by YLI staff to become more involved in community activities.

For more information on the Youth Leadership Institute, visit their website at http://www.yli.org/.

After growing up in Sacramento, Glaves earned a bachelor’s of science from Stanford and a master’s from the University of New Mexico. He spent time as an officer on a nuclear submarine for the United States Navy, and later worked as a chemical engineer, designing chemical services for the nuclear power industry. He also worked for Dow Chemical, researching and developing herbicides.

But the pull of education was too strong for Glaves, and he eventually found himself teaching full-time at Reedley College. It was a job he loved.

“Science, engineering, and technology change so fast that students must become independent learners and thinkers.” –Chris Glaves
Engineering instructor

“Over the years I have taught 11 different math courses and seven different engineering courses,” Glaves said. “I love teaching the subject matter that I do.”

After moving from Reedley College to Willow International, Glaves retained his straightforward approach to teaching.

“Though it was a long time ago,” he said, “I still remember the frustration one can feel trying to learn science, mathematics, and engineering theory. I try very hard to prepare lectures that make the subject matter as clear as possible. When the students are ready to transfer, my goal is that they can truly think and reason out problems for themselves. Science, engineering, and technology change so fast that students must become independent learners and thinkers.”

Each year, Glaves leads the introductory engineering students in a design competition with engineering students from many of the area’s colleges and universities. The competition takes place every November.

“Over the years,” he said, “our students have designed vehicles that competed in a sand-pit tug-of-war, vehicles that traversed a tightrope and dropped pennies into target areas, beanbag launchers, bridges made entirely of newspaper and glue, and balsa wood gliders.”

Glaves is also co-chair of the committee for the accreditation process for Willow International Center. Once accredited, it will form the new Clovis Community College, the third college in the District. The remaining North Centers will be contained under the umbrella of the new college.

“The North Centers of SCCCD include an energetic and dynamic group of faculty, staff, administrators, and students,” Glaves said. “It would be nice to have an independent identity that’s recognized at the state level, with an academic senate and curriculum committee devoted to serving the unique area our students come from.”

While the accreditation process moves forward, Glaves will continue teaching as he always has.

“I have enjoyed every year of teaching and interacting with colleagues, both at Reedley College and the North Centers,” he said. “I don’t think that it is possible to have a better job than one dedicated to the pursuit and transmission of knowledge.”

Born in San Francisco, Cho moved with his family to the Central Valley when he was 5 years old. He graduated from Selma High School and went on to attend California State University, Fresno. He earned degrees in geography, urban planning, and chemistry, as well as a teaching credential, before eventually becoming an instructor at Fresno City College.

“Teaching is a noble profession. It gives us a chance to help other people.” –John Cho
Asian-American Studies instructor

Cho has helped develop many courses focused on Asian-American issues, ranging from status and identity to literature. He views teaching as an opportunity to inspire and improve.

“Teaching is a noble profession,” he said. “It gives us a chance to help other people. As instructors, it’s our duty to help the students to be better than when they came into class.”

He also took the initiative in expanding the college’s Asian-American Month activities.

“We used to have Asian Awareness Day, or two days,” he said. “I said, well, let’s have a week of things. And then gradually the week grew into ten days, fifteen days, and eventually I just said we’ll take it for a month and call it Asian-American Month.”

The month now includes a variety of student discussion panels, lectures, and cultural performances. Cho views the growth of Asian-American Month at Fresno City College as one of his proudest accomplishments.

Cho’s teaching isn’t limited to Fresno City College. He has operated John Cho’s Kung-Fu School in Fresno for 20 years—one year longer than he has taught at FCC. He sees Kung-Fu as an additional means of learning valuable lessons like patience and persistence, he said, and “the belief that if you apply yourself, you will improve. You might not become the best in the world, but you will definitely improve.”

He also sees parallels between the martial art and the classroom. “I don’t know if everybody can be an ‘A’ student,” he said, “but if they apply themselves, they will get a better grade.”

Jeff McFall, Head Coach, Reedley College women's tennis team

Jeff McFall grew up in Reedley, attended Reedley College, and spent most of his life in Reedley. So it was an easy fit when he became head coach of the Reedley College women’s tennis team three years ago.

“I like having the chance to impact lives.”– Jeff McFall

The first year was a challenge. Without much preparation time, McFall looked for players in the physical education classes. Some of the players may not have planned on playing college tennis when they started, but McFall was able to form a team of six—the minimum needed for a team.

Even with the small team and hasty organization, McFall’s team went on to a 15-1 record that year, and was undefeated in conference play. It was quite an accomplishment, especially considering the staff had “just barely put a team together,” McFall said.

The following year saw more success and another undefeated season in their conference.

The highlights of McFall’s latest season coaching the Tigers was another undefeated season in their conference (that makes 30 straight wins), a number of victories in the Northern California tournament, and a state championship in doubles.

“It’s the only state championship in the history of Reedley College athletics,” McFall said, “so that’s pretty exciting.”

McFall sees coaching as a way to teach. “There are so many life lessons a person can get out of athletics,” he said. “I teach life lessons through sports.”

Whether it’s dealing with competition or practice or defeat (although the Tigers don’t have to deal with defeat too often), sports can parallel many aspects of life. “I like having the chance to impact lives,” McFall said.

McFall is a father of five, and spends his non-coaching time as a real estate investor.