Cerritos College's Teacher TRAC Program Celebrates 52 New Graduates

Cerritos College's Teacher TRAC (Training Academy) program honored 52 Teacher TRAC program students Thursday, May 8 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 300 Teacher TRAC graduates.

Honoring Teacher TRAC students at the recognition ceremony were the Cerritos College Board of Trustees, senior members of Cerritos College administration, Sue Parsons, director of Teacher TRAC, Dr. Marquita Grenot-Scheyer, associate dean for graduate studies, college of education at California State University, Long Beach, former Teacher TRAC students, Teacher TRAC faculty members, a representative from the office of State Assemblymember Tony Mendoza and friends and family of the students. Each graduate received a certificate and a commemorative golden apple in recognition of their completion of the first leg of the Teacher TRAC program.

Graduates from the program included Denise Aguilar, Norma Altamirano, Alejandra Alvarez, Luiz Alvarez, Nataly Argomaniz, Nicole Ayala, Angela Benson, Megan Brown, Ana Caceres, Wendy Correa, Aidee Delacruz, Elizabeth Duenas, Taleeda Fleming, Erika Flores-Garcia, Leslie Garcia, Laura Garcia, Maria Garcia, Maria Gonzalez, Maria Guerrero, Irma Guerrero, Isabel Gutierrez, Ashley Hanna, Eliana Hernandez, Alexandra Hernandez, Isabel Herrera, Holly Hickman, Tammi Ishibashi, Christine LaClair, Ashley Lidwin, Delia Mariscal, Nancy Mendoza, Jesus Meza, Carmina Moreno, Gayle Nieto, Kristin Parker, Thomas Plichter, Roxanna Prado, Loreane Quijas, Abdul Rahman, Susana Ramirez, Jasmin Ramirez, Carolina Rios, Yessenia Robles, Mariam Rojo, Jaime Sandoval, Sonia Silveyra, Jacklyn Stock, Alicia Thoman, Alaxandra Torres, Victor Valero, Anna Way and Shirley Yataco.

Scholarship awards were also presented during the event. Carmena Moreno, Kristin Parker and Jaime Sandoval each received an Eruditio Scholarship for $500 each; Abdul Rahman received a $2,500 D. Franklin Wright Scholarships, Leslie Garcia received a $1,000 Fred Gaskin Scholarship that includes a $1,000 match from CSULB; and Alejandra Alvarez received the Esther Espinoza Scholarship in the amount of $1,000.

Ana Ortiz, a Teacher TRAC alumna from the class of 2006, provided cheery closing remarks and encouraged the class of 2007 to keep alumni tie strong and to be proud of themselves for their accomplishment.

Cerritos College’s Teacher TRAC program offers many services, programs, and pathways for students interested in teaching K-12. For students interested in becoming an elementary school teacher, Teacher TRAC's flagship program is a partnership with California State University Long Beach. As a student in the integrated, standards-based Teacher TRAC / CSULB program, students can earn their bachelor's degree and multiple subject teaching credentials and complete their student teaching within four years. 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.

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The Campus Connection, May 19, 2008