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October 21, 2015
Serving Those Who Served
By Ashley Renteria and Jonathan Celiz
The smell of rib eye steak on the barbeque was enough to bring in a crowd on Thursday October 8th for Taft College’s annual Cougar Cookout.
The campus celebrated with catering provided by Sonny’s BBQ, a Red Oak Santa Maria style BBQ restaurant, live music from The Nightlife Band, a fitting tribute to our veterans, and a special recognition to Taft College 1942 alumnist Harry Wilson.
The Nightlife Band
This year’s cookout was especially noteworthy as it coincided with Oildorado with appearances by the Wooden Nickel Gang and the Sheriff’s Posse. Taft College’s President Dena Maloney and former Sheriff’s Posse member Billy White were served an arrest warrant and detained by the Sheriff’s Posse in their mobile jail cell.
Board President Billy White and President/Superintendent arrested on warrants and placed in the hoosegow by the Sheriff’s Posse.
A large crowd consisting of family, friends, and fellow classmates reunited and socialized out in the campus quad while the local cheer team Fire and Ice performed a dance and cheer routine.
Fire and Ice
Taft College’s mascot, Cougie the Cougar, stopped by to make an appearance, dance along to music, and pose for photos.
Cougie
Before dinner was served, Sheri Horn-Buck and the guests honored our former veterans, and led the crowd in a flag salute and tribute for their fellow veterans in attendance.
Color Guard with Sheri Bunk-Horn preparing to salute the flag.
Around 7 pm the food was ready, the guests formed long lines to be served by members of the TC Men’s Soccer Team. Rib eye steak with a side of salsa, chili beans, potato salad, garlic bread, and salad were on the menu for the night.
Soccer team members help with serving dinner
What a steak!
Meat being cut to be served
Dinner was served and guests were eating and mingling to music performed by the Nightlife Band. Shortly, the band took a break from playing while Sheri Horn-Buck introduced a 4 minute long tribute video to veterans.
Honor Flight information
Two veterans at the Honor Flight display
Sharyn Eveland examines the Honor Flight board.
October 20, 2015
Lu Chi Fa’s 10th Year at Taft College
By Hector Gutierez
Lu Chi Fa made two appearances October 19th in the Cougar Room at Taft College. The room was illuminated with Chinese decorations set up by the student body and Kamala Carlson who hosted the event. Many students of Taft and also a few classes from Roosevelt elementary were eager to hear in person what was portrayed in novel Double Luck.
Lu Chi Fa, the name meaning “new beginning,” explained how his life always seemed to have just that, a new beginning. Having lost his parents at age three, Lu Chi Fa was sold for rice to a chief who gave him the nickname “Double Luck.” But the chief’s cruel punishments provoked Lu Chi Fa to live with his uncle who he saw as a father-figure in his early childhood and enjoyed being around. On the other hand, his uncle’s wife was not as pleased by his presence. The cycle continued through different relatives.
From Shanghai to Taiwan, Lu Chi Fa had to adjust to a new beginning multiple times. At one point, begging in the streets was his only way to earn his next meal. Nobody would pay attention to him until they heard the different dialects he spoke which was proof of his struggle to find his way in life. Having to work in a shoe factory making women’s heels and as a delivery boy for construction materials, Lu Chi Fa made a trip to Honolulu and then to the mainland.
When he experienced the difference in quality of life from the two continents, he realized he didn’t want to leave. He turned his 38-day passport into a 4 year student visa by enrolling into a private college. He worked for as long as he could, sometimes 15 or 16 hour shifts as a busboy and bartender, until finally receiving his citizenship in 1983. He continued to work until he owned his own business and turned them into three. He now owns his own $360,000 home in Morro Bay where he also owns the Coffee Pot Restaurant (the first non-smoking coffee shop in Morro Bay). The success of his books allowed him to donate $25,000 to Morro Bay College and continue his education there.
Lu Chi Fa stated that he would always remain positive no matter what the circumstances in his life.
He also took the time to answer questions from the student body. When asked, “How did you have the courage to go through what you went through in your life?” Lu Chi Fa stated, “Difficulty and adversity makes a person stronger.”
Double Luck can be purchased for $18.95 at the Taft College Bookstore.
October 20, 2015
Stand Up Comedy in Taft
Friday October 23rd, there will be a stand up comedy show at The Bank Bar & Grill at 431 North Street in Taft. Andrew Boydston, a local Taft Product and graduate of Taft High School, has been on the road doing comedy for nearly 5 years and is trying to bring Bakersfield’s booming stand up comedy scene to Taft. The headliner for the show will be Connor McSpadden. Connor in just 22 but has been doing comedy for over 6 years, and was recently the youngest comedian ever featured on Fox’s Laughs.
The Bank has become the location of Oil City Comedy’s newest show “Funny In The Bank”, stop by today and see when their next show is!
October 20, 2015
Hall of Fame Awards Banquet
TC Community:
You are cordially invited to the Taft College Inaugural Class of 2015 Hall of Fame Awards Banquet on Friday, November 7th, 2015. Please see invitation attached.
Inaugural Inductees include:
Al Baldock, Outstanding Coach
Jack McCall, Extraordinary Service
John Miller, Extraordinary Service
Larry Peahl, Distinguished Administrator
Amanda Smith, Outstanding Female Athlete
Don Zumbro, Distinguished Administrator
1982 Football Team, Outstanding Team
Be sure to purchase your ticket(s) by Friday, October 23rd! Contact Melissa Blanco for further information: 661-763-7854 or mblanco@taftcollege.edu.
This is going to be a very special evening, and we hope you can join us celebrate the many accomplishments of our inductees!
Please feel free to share this invitation with others that may be interested,
Darcy Bogle
Vice President, Student Services
Taft College
29 Cougar Court
Taft, CA 93268
V 661.763.7889
F 661.763.7758
dbogle@taftcollege.edu
October 20, 2015
Breast Cancer Awareness Week
Breast Cancer Awareness Week is being held this year October 19-23 by the ASB.
On Wednesday, October 21 the volleyball team will have their annual breast cancer awareness game. They would like everyone to wear a breast cancer awareness t-shirt, which they began selling today. Pre-orders are due by noon on October 9. We will have a few for sale at the game if you miss your chance.
All proceeds will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation and our own Soroptimist Club’s Critical Care Program.
Please see the attached flyer for more information on the t-shirts.
Thank you for your support J
Jennifer Edmaiston
Athletic Secretary/Eligibility
Taft College
29 Cougar Court
Taft CA 93268
661-763-7829
October 15, 2015
The Boys are Back in Town
By Alberto Muro
Teams
On October 9th, Bakersfield became a part of sports history. The Bakersfield Condors began their inaugural season in the American Hockey League (AHL) wearing jerseys that resembled their affiliates the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Condors goalie
Despite arriving late to the Rabobank Arena, a token of good will was bestowed upon me when a fan of the Bakersfield Condors could not stay at the game so they gave me their ticket to the event. The location of the seats was on the 2nd floor with the benefit of having a better view of the entire ice rink.
Face off Condors zone
The Grand Rapids Griffins were the opponents of the Condors for opening night, and they are affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings. Even though this was the first time that both teams met, there was no denying that a potential rivalry was in the making. The stars of the game were the goalies for both teams and fans were on the edge of their seats as a battle for the puck ensued.
Three scoreless periods passed, and neither team was letting their guard down. With 1:43 left in the final period, the Condors and Griffins were in a gridlock, but Condors left wing Andrew Miller managed to get the puck past Griffins goalie McCollum.
Players warming up.
As the game concluded, the Condors had a point lead over the Griffins making it quite an eventful evening for spectators. The final horn sounded as the Condors beat the Griffins 1-0, and the crowd erupted with joy. Furthermore, the Condors bench cleared as the players got on the ice and raised their sticks thanking all the fans for coming out.
Column.
October 15, 2015
Financial Aid Literacy Day
Financial Aid Booth
By Alberto Muro
Financial aid provides relief for students with the intention of attending college , but it’s the cost of attendance that often sways students away from going to college. On October 14th, the financial aid department at Taft College provided an information booth for college students with questions about financial aid.
Taft College Financial Aid Director Barbara Amerio answered questions at the information booth for students with difficulties understanding financial aid. By creating a friendly environment, students that visited the Taft College information booth were eligible to win prizes by liking the Taft College Financial Aid Facebook page.
Barbara Amerio mentioned, “Students should not be hesitant to ask questions about their financial aid needs, and that the financial aid staff is there to help any student.” With that said, students at Taft College miss out on valuable information by not taking the initiative in talking to the financial aid department. Amerio also said that students can stay up to date by “checking their CougarTracks periodically to check their financial aid status and for any outstanding documents required by the Financial Aid Office.”
Next year, financial aid recipients at Taft College can expect a change that will further test a students determination to excel academically. Barbara Amerio said, “There are always changes happening in financial aid, and at Taft College we recently included that as of Fall 2016 students will be disqualified from their Board of Governors’ (BOG) waiver if they fail to keep satisfactory grades.”
Although some students at Taft College do not qualify for financial aid, there are alternatives which Amerio pointed out: “A scholarship page maintained by the Financial Aid Office is updated periodically of which students may browse and apply to each scholarship.” Overall, students at Taft College should visit the financial aid department because they are there to help with the cost of schooling.
