Even though the building has been open to students and faculty since the beginning of the semester, the X Building was officially christened and opened Oct. 21. Dr. Richard McCrary, interim president of Brookhaven College, said the christening of the X Building was a way to thank the community for voting in favor of the bond election, which funded the construction.
The Texas Skill Standards Board recognized Brookhaven College Oct. 6 for integrating national industry-defined standards into two of its degree programs. The Web Design and Development Level II Certificate and the Visual Communications Associate of Applied Science Degree have both been approved to meet standards set by the National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies, which paneled more than 40 organizations and validated the skills through 748 companies.
The Brookhaven College gymnasium was painted in pink when the Lady Bears volleyball team, together with the Side-Out Foundation, hosted a Dig Pink game for breast cancer awareness. With an estimated attendance of 100 fans, almost all of them wearing pink, the girls sealed a convincing victory in three sets over Cedar Valley College.
The latest student case of the H1N1 virus at the Brookhaven College Head Start Center was diagnosed Oct. 7. There have been a total of nine Head Start students diagnosed with swine flu, Christina Deleon, health assistant of Head Start, said. CDC's Advisory Committee recommended all people from 6 months through 24 years of age should get vaccinated.
Jesse Saldana, former Brookhaven College Student Government president for 2001-2002, spoke to students about being an effective leader Oct. 7 in a dialogue hosted by Student Leadership Institute. The youngest of nine siblings and the first in his family to earn a college degree, Saldana now works for the Dallas Independent School District and helps bring new money to the area.
With the recent downturn in the U.S. economy, citizens are being displaced at an alarming rate. According to the Texas Workforce Commission's Web site, "employment in Texas fell by 44,700 positions in September." When workers are displaced or unemployed they typically turn to education, Vernon Hawkins, associate vice president of workforce and continuing education at Brookhaven College, said.
Dallas County Community College District Chancellor Dr. Wright Lassiter signed an agreement between DCCCD and Worksource of Dallas County in early October to receive a federal grant. The money will be used to train people who want to teach child development, Jane Rowe, child development professor, said.
For the past two years an English for Speakers of Other Languages program has provided classes for the mothers and fathers of students at Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas. Many come for improvement and some come for their job process, Leroy Butler, workforce and continuing education specialist, said.
Brookhaven College's Service Learning Institute presented a lecture by memory champion Ron White, called "Memory Skills," Sept. 23. White spent a few minutes before the presentation introducing himself individually to each person in the room. Later on during the presentation, White was able to name almost all participants by recalling his brief introductions.
isability Awareness Month during October, Pathways and SERVE! held a fair Oct. 22 to help students, faculty and staff become more aware of the challenges disabled students face as well as the support offered by Brookhaven College and the surrounding community.