Cerritos College's Teacher TRAC Program Celebrates 45 New Graduates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 18, 2009

Media Contact: Aya Abelon, Public Affairs; (562) 860-2451, ext. 2287

NORWALK, Calif. – May 18, 2009 –  Cerritos College's Teacher TRAC (Training Academy) program honored 45 Teacher TRAC program students Thursday, May 14 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 350 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. Daniel O’Connor, chair of liberal studies at California State University, Long Beach, former Teacher TRAC students, Teacher TRAC faculty members, a representative from the office of Congresswoman Linda Sánchez 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 Josephina Alvarez, Justine Archuleta, Laura Benitez, Angela Benson, Anamaria Bermeo, Veronica Camacho, Hye Cho, Jasmine Colato, Christina Cuevas, Robert Dame, Andrea Daugherty-Medina, Issac Delgado, Febiola Espinoza, Ana Guerrero, Yvette Gutierrez, Peter Heng, Amanda Ickes, Indira Landin, Heidi Lee, Evelyn Lucero, Sandra Martinez, David Mayorga, Nancy Mendoza, Carl Miller, Carolina Morales, Chavonne Mosqueda, Thuy Nguyen, Irene Nicholson, Monica Ocegueda, Angelica Ornelas, Melanie Osteria, Arianne Pascual, George Paz, Michelle Pinedo, Gabriela Ramirez, Victor Rivas, Natalie Sanchez, Amy Schmitz, Ashley Spivey, Chantel Uhrich, Bryan Valdez, Krystal Vasquez, Kristina Walshe, Anna Way and Suzanna Zaragoza.

Scholarship awards were also presented during the event. Hye Cho, Christina Cuevas and Kristina Walshe each received an Eruditio Scholarship for $500 each; Hye Cho received a $2,500 D. Franklin Wright Scholarships, Krystal Vasquez received a $1,000 Fred Gaskin Scholarship that includes a $1,000 match from CSULB; and Fabiola Espinoza received the Esther Espinoza Scholarship in the amount of $1,000.

Maritza Magaña, a Teacher TRAC alumna from the class of 2003, who was named the 2008 Teacher of the Year of Paramount USD, provided closing remarks and encouraged the class of 2009.

“You are getting the best teacher preparation possible. Believe in your own greatness,” said Magaña.

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.

Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 180 areas of study in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently surpasses 26,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu.

###