Teacher TRAC Celebrates 35 New Graduates

Cerritos College's Teacher TRAC (Training Academy) program honored 35 Teacher TRAC program students Thursday, May 19, as they moved closer to gaining a bachelor's degree and teaching credential from one of its partner CSU campuses. The new group of graduates joins the growing party of over 400 Teacher TRAC graduates.

Honoring Teacher TRAC students at the recognition ceremony were the Cerritos College Board of Trustees President Tom Jackson, senior members of Cerritos College administration, Director of Teacher TRAC Sue Parsons, Dr. Marquita Grenot-Scheyer, dean of the College of Education at CSU Long Beach, and Teacher TRAC faculty members.

Each graduate received a certificate and a commemorative golden apple in recognition of their completion of the first leg of the Teacher TRAC program.

Those graduating from the program are:

Liz Azurza Lisa Alcala Javier Alvarez Katelyn Ball Cathya Cardenas Selina Chavez Tony Chun Mariana Cueva Anthony Curry Kesia De La Campa Anilia Figueroa Ana Garibay Anthony Garza Evangelina Godinez Jennifer Gomez Linda Guandique Adrianne Guzman Maria Lopez

Shannon Marine Tina Marracinni Sarah Martinez Evelyn Martinez-Berry Cristina Martins Itzel Martiz Sendy Mondrangon April Oliva Maricela Ortiz Lucero Pachecano Eliset Palos Sarah Ramirez Susan Ruvalcaba Pauline Sanchez Najah Tamimi Yesenia Umana Erin Wickham

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scholarship awards were also presented during the event. Lisa Alcala, Anthony Curry, April Oliva and Maricela Ortiz each received an Eruditio Scholarship for $500 each.

Esther Espinoza Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 was presented to Evelyn Martinez-Berry by Esther's grandson Miguel Espinoza.

Cristina Martins received a $1,000 Fred Gaskin Scholarship that will be matched 100% by CSULB to make it $2,000.

Maria Hernandez, a Teacher TRAC alumna from the Teacher TRAC Class of 2005, who taught in Downey USD for three years prior to become a student support specialist for Cerritos College's Urban Teacher Fellowship program, provided closing remarks and encouraged the class of 2011.

"Be proud of how far you've come and be a positive role model to your students," said Hernandez to the new graduates.

In partnership with CSULB, Cerritos College's Teacher TRAC program gives future teachers an opportunity to complete their bachelor's degree and multiple subjects credential in four years. Its Career technical Education (CTE) Teacher Pathways Program, which addresses the statewide need for CTE teachers at the secondary and community college level, provides CTE teacher preparation in automotive, early childhood education, welding and woodworking. The Urban Teacher Fellowship component provides streamlined services and pathways for youth at risk for gang influence interested in teaching K-12. More information on how to be a part of CTE Teacher TRAC is available at www.teachertrac.com or at 562.860.2451 ext.2212.