Page One: Volume 8, Issue 6

To the Triton College Community:I’d like to begin by thanking all of the Triton district residents who took the time to call or write aboutmy last letter explaining the Triton College portion of your tax bill. Many of you expressed that theexplanation provided was helpful in understanding the true financial condition at Triton. I appreciatethe complimentary comments both on the explanation I provided as well as the sound fiscal manage-ment of your tax and tuition dollars that all of us at Triton College work hard to provide.

While it is gratifying to receive positive feedback from you, a recent decision that we’ve made at thecollege has caused some concern among some of our residents. Nuevos Horizontes is our extensioncenter in Melrose Park that originally opened in 1981 and primarily offers classes in English as aSecond Language (ESL) and General Education Development (GED). By the late 1990s, the demandfor services at the center had grown to such a great extent that classes were being held in the hall-way of the center. In 2000, myself and the other Triton Board members at that time voted unani-

mously to approve an administrative recommendation to purchase the current building at 1708 Main Street in Melrose Park to allowfor the expansion of services provided there. The new 18,000-square-foot center proved to be enormously successful for the nextseveral years, as enrollment soared. By 2004, however, the participation began to decline and has continued to do so through totoday, as participation at the center is now 50 percent less than it was in 2003.

The college regularly examines the efficiencies of all of our programs to determine if student enrollment justifies their existence.During the economic downturn, several programs were eliminated, including marketing, interior design, air conditioning and refrig-eration, respiratory care, and leadership for paramedics. Staff members from these programs who weren’t retiring were retrained forother positions, and the programs weren’t closed until students in these areas had completed their coursework. Also reviewed duringthis time were Nuevos Horizontes, the Hillside Center, and our extension centers at district high schools, with the Hillside Center beingclosed in July 2005.

As enrollment continued to decline at Nuevos, targeted surveys were distributed to our constituents. In a Community Needs survey(May 2012), the responses revealed that most community members (83 percent) were not aware of the Nuevos Horizontes center,and 60 percent of Hispanic/Latino community members were not aware of the center. An additional survey (summer 2012) found that80 percent of respondents were likely to seek ESL and GED courses on Triton’s main campus. Additionally, 27 percent of studentssurveyed (spring 2012) at Nuevos Horizontes responded that they would support a transition to Triton’s main campus. A statisticalreview of participation at the Nuevos center showed a large percentage of students who took lower level ESL and GED coursework atNuevos transitioned to the main campus for upper level ESL and GED coursework. However,over the last five years, less than 1 percent of participants at the center took credit courses atour main campus. This information was particularly alarming, as it indicated that the serviceswe were providing at Nuevos did not lead to our students there taking advantage of theopportunities available to them that would significantly improve their chances of findinggainful employment or, if already employed, advancing in their current employment to abetter position.

At the Jan. 28, 2014 Board meeting, the administration presented an extensive overview of thehistory of Nuevos Horizontes and made its recommendation to close it and transition all serv-ices to the main campus. In my Chairman’s report at our Feb. 18 Board meeting, I spoke on thetopic and directed our vice president of Academic and Student Affairs, Doug Olson, to presenthis transition plan at the March Board meeting. On March 25, Vice President Olson made hispresentation, indicating that the transition work had already begun; all students currently

A Message from Our Chairman

This IssueLetter From Our President . . . . . . . 3

Did You Know? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Triton Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Program Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Youth Summer Camps . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Speaking of Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Dates to Remember . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8continued on Page 2

Enroll Today! 708.456.0300 or www.triton.edu2

continued from Page 1

50th ANNIVERSARY KICKOFF CAKE CUTTINGThursday, Aug. 28, 2014Day and evening ceremonies will be held to allow for thegreatest community participation.

50th ANNIVERSARY EMPLOYEE/RETIREE PICNICSaturday, Sept. 13, 2014

ATHLETICS ALUMNI DAYSaturday, Sept. 20, 2014 Scrimmages between alumni athletes and our current studentathletes, as well as activities for children, will be offered.

GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY ALUMNI CELEBRATIONWednesday, Feb. 25, 2015Alumni from our first graduation class, as well as milestoneyears, will be invited to celebrate with us.

BLACK TIE GALASaturday, April 25, 2015This Black Tie affair will be held at the Donald E. StephensConvention Center in Rosemont.

50th AnniversaryEvents 1964-2014

ing 25 municipalities, and as immigrationpatterns of non-English speaking residentshas broadened throughout the Tritondistrict, unlike patterns of decades ago thatsaw such immigration centered in concen-trated areas such as in Melrose Park, it wasincumbent on the administration andBoard to serve all district residents in anefficient and effective manner. I also notedthat Vice President Olson’s transition plandid seem to mitigate, as much as possible,the inconvenience that the transitionwould cause the residents living in theneighborhood of Nuevos Horizontes.

I also attended the Community Alliancemeeting held on our campus on April 25 toaddress the Nuevos issue. The Alliance is acoalition of community-based organizationsthat work collaboratively to advance theneeds of the Hispanic/Latino population inthe Triton district. A full presentation on therationale for the Nuevos closing was given

and an extensive discussion took place aswell. Finally, a public forum was held atNuevos on Wednesday, April 30, where theadministration and I again presented thetransition plan to approximately 200 arearesidents. My feelings after this meetingwere that, while the attendees were notnecessarily happy with the decision to closethe Nuevos center and transition to themain campus, they understood that thedecision was made to provide the besteducational opportunities to all Triton residents.

If you have any thoughts on how TritonCollege can better serve you, I would liketo hear them. Please feel free to contactme through the Office of the President at(708) 456-0300, Ext. 3201, or email me [email protected].

Best regards,Mark R. StephensChairman, Triton College Board of Trustees

enrolled at Nuevos had been advised ofthe center’s pending closure, transporta-tion to and tours of the main campuswere in place, and staff members andcourse offerings would be placed in anintegrated fashion at the main campus toavoid confusion and make the transitioneasier. At our April 15, 2014 Board meet-ing, the administration gave an updatedpresentation on the center’s closing andtransition to the main campus. Severalcommunity members voiced theirconcerns to the administration and Boardduring the course of our “Citizen Partici-pation” segment of the meeting. Theprimary focus of these comments wasthat Nuevos was convenient for the resi-dents of the area and that a strongattachment to the center had grownamong those residents. While acknowl-edging that this attachment was under-standable, I explained that as the Tritondistrict is a large geographic area cover-

7

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Triton College was awarded a 10-yearaccreditation!

Did You Know?

Triton College was recently granted a 10-yearaccreditation from the Higher LearningCommission (HLC), following a visit by the HLCTeam who came on campus to learn about thecollege’s mission and operations to ensure it iscompliant with HLC standards in serving itsstudents, employees and the community.

Accreditation is important to the institution asit provides opportunity for state and federalfunding, and financial assistance for students.

Triton College President Dr. Patricia Granadosannounced that she will retire from her positionat the end of the year, after leading the institu-tion for the past 13 years.

A strong supporter of higher education, Dr. Granados said Triton College will always bea huge part of her life and she will continue tosupport the institution in any way that she can.Though her final day as president is Dec. 31,2014, she anticipates taking part in the college’syearlong 50th anniversary celebration, begin-ning in August 2014.

“It has been an honor to serve one institutionfor 30-plus years and a privilege to serve aspresident for over 13 years,” she said. “I ammost proud of being able to give back to thecommunity where I grew up. I have workedwith great people over the course of the yearsat the college and have met amazing people inthe community who have a passion for helpingpeople be successful members of our communi-ties. Education is key, and I am thankful for themany partnerships we established that demon-strate this collaborative effort.”

Dr. Granados first came to Triton College as anhourly employee in Triton’s Adult Basic Educa-tion Department and then full-time in 1984 asthe director of Nuevos Horizontes, TritonCollege’s community center in Melrose Park.Her dedication to Triton’s students was evident,as she continued to work tirelessly to ensurestudents were afforded the opportunity toreceive an affordable, quality college education.

Her leadership, commitment and determinationled to her being promoted to associate vice presi-

dent and eventually vice president of AcademicAffairs and Student Services, before beingappointed to president in 2001, rounding outher 30-year career at Triton.

Dr. Granados holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish translation and business, a master’sdegree in education and a doctorate in adultand higher education, all from Northern IllinoisUniversity.

She is active in a number of community-drivenand education supporting organizations,including the Westlake Hospital Board ofTrustees, the National Community CollegeHispanic Council Board of Directors and theAmerican Association of Community College’s(AACC) Commission on Diversity, Inclusion, andEquity; and has served as the subject of articlesas well as has written several scholarly piecesthat have printed in national publications.

She is the recipient of the Chair Academy 2003Regional Leadership Award from the AmericanAssociation of Women in Community Colleges(AAWCC) and the Multicultural Awareness &Education Award from Peer MulticulturalEducators at Jane Addams Middle School. She was also named a Community Woman of Achievement by the Girl Scouts Illinois Cross-roads Council in 2004 – the same year she wasinducted into the Proviso East High School Wallof Fame, where she attended school.

Most recently, in 2013, Dr. Granados receivedthe Phi Theta Kappa’s prestigious Shirley B.Gordon Award of Distinction based on heroutstanding support of the Phi Theta Kappahonor society.

Triton College President announces retirement

Letter fromOur PresidentDear Community Members:What a wonderful time of year it is at TritonCollege. It is one of my favorite times of theyear as we celebrate the accomplishmentsof our students. The past few weeks wehave been recognizing the accomplishmentsof our Phi Theta Kappa students, honorstudents, athletes and student clubs andorganizations. On May 17, 1,600 studentswill be awarded their certificate or associ-ate’s degree, with more than 400 studentsparticipating in the commencement cere-mony. Along with me, the faculty and staffwill stand proud as we congratulate themon achieving this milestone in their life.

At the end of May, we continue our celebra-tion of student success by congratulatingour English as a Second Language and GEDgraduates. These ceremonies are trulyspecial for the families and the TritonCollege community. We celebrate with them and look forward to them continuingtheir education here at Triton College.

This time of year allows us to reflect on theyearlong work of the students, faculty andstaff that has led to this point of celebration.I am so proud of every student for theiraccomplishments. I thank the faculty andstaff for their support of students and makingthis time of year so special for all of us.

Have a great summer!

Sincerely,

Dr. Patricia GranadosPresident, Triton College

In addition, it encourages the Triton commu-nity to continue improving on all organiza-tional levels, while also assuring the publicand employers that Triton’s students receivea quality education.

Following the visit, Triton College waspresented with a report on the college’sstrengths and challenges to address.

Triton College President Dr. Patricia Granadossaid, “We are excited to remain an accred-ited institution, as it contributes to ourmission to support our students, but weunderstand our work needs to continue. The entire campus community will engagein discussions to move forward in improvingour institution.”

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Triton Athletics

(l to r) Nick Polyak, superintendent of Leyden District 212;and John and Barbara Piltaver of Schiller Park/Franklin ParkChamber of Commerce were several of the attendees atthe event.

Area chambers gather on Triton’s campus in the name of partnershipRiver Forest, Westchester and Riverside.Triton College President Patricia Granadoswelcomed the chambers in attendance.“We’re very pleased to be hosting our cham-bers and to showcase our institution as atremendous resource for you to take advan-tage of,” she said. “We’re your area commu-nity college, and we have a lot to offer.”

With a focus on the importance of partner-ships, guest speaker Doug Whitley, president

and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce,provided reasons as to why businesses shouldhave a vested interest in their communitycollege. “As an employer, it is important to getinvolved with your area college, so that thecollege can know what’s going on in thecommunity and respond to the community’sneeds,” he said. “Without this communication,colleges will be slow to respond to the changingeconomy, of which affects the capabilities ofyour future employees.”Mayor of Schiller Park Barbara Piltaver enjoyedmeeting other chamber members at the eventand supported the words of Whitley. “Thestudents at Triton are our future voters andthey need to know what’s going on in ourcommunities,” she said. “Mr. Whitley stated it perfectly,” said TritonCollege Board Chairman Mark Stephens. “Allchambers should know we’re here to serve them.We want to make sure we get the message outto businesses and organizations that we, as acommunity college, are here to help.”

The Triton College Wrestling Program enjoyedsuccess during the mid-1990s as the Trojanswere consistently in the championship on theregional and national levels. A major part ofthat success was due to the contributions ofJose Medina who had a combined record of 64-21 in his two years at Triton from 1994-96.

The Chicago native’s impact on the programand his impressive two-year run earnedMedina the distinguished honor of beinginducted into the National Junior CollegeAthletic Association (NJCAA) Wrestling Hall ofFame on March 1.

Medina is the eighth Triton wrestler to beinducted into the hall of fame. Former

coaches Art Kraft, Rex Branum and currentTrojan wrestling coach and Triton AthleticDirector Harry McGinnis are enshrinedunder the coach/administrator wing of thehall of fame.

“I want to thank God for blessing me withsuch great people in my life, especially myparents, wife, coaches, teammates andfriends,” the 37-year-old Medina said.

Prior to Triton, Medina attended Gordon Technical High School where he wrestled onthe varsity squad as a freshman under coachCharles Farina. By his senior year, Medinawas a state qualifier.

After Gordon Tech, Medina’s stock rose at Triton as he was a two-time All-American,and champion of Triton’s Art Kraft Memo-rial Tournament at 190 his freshman year.

During his sophomore year, he was selectedto represent the NJCAA National Team thatcompeted in Europe.

Medina received a scholarship to attend theUniversity of Nebraska at Omaha where hewas coached by Mike Denney. There heearned All-American honors both seasons,making him a four-time All-Americanthroughout his entire college career.

For more information on Triton CollegeAthletics, visit www.triton.edu/athletics orcall (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3784.

Former Triton wrestler inducted into NJCAAHall of Fame

Jose Medina of Chicago (right) stands next to Triton CollegeAthletic Director Harry McGinnis, after being inducted into theNJCAA Wrestling Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport.

President and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of CommerceDoug Whitley speaks to the audience on the importance ofa partnership with area community colleges.

On March 4, about 115 chamber membersfrom area districts attended Triton College’sMulti-Chamber of Commerce After-Hoursevent, which is intended to cultivate andstrengthen partnerships with area businesses. The communities that were represented at theevent included Bellwood, Bensenville, ForestPark, Franklin Park/Schiller Park, Hillside,Maywood, Melrose Park, Rosemont, Oak Park,

Enroll Today! 708.456.0300 or www.triton.edu 5

Program Spotlight

Having an interest in digital media is tohave an interest in the art of storytellingthrough video, websites and more. And asa student in Triton College’s Mass Commu-nications Program it’s also about havingthe freedom to be creative.

The college’s Mass CommunicationsProgram incorporates the use of computer-based tools for designing graphics, creat-ing websites and animations as well asincorporating sounds with still and movingimages. It’s a discipline that stretches acrossmultiple other disciplines, including jour-

with a certificate or degree in masscommunications from Triton have gone onto pursue a bachelor’s degree at a four-year university and/or have found work indesigning websites, making videos, takingpictures, working in advertising and evenfilming the red carpet at the Oscars.

McClellan, who is also a filmmaker, is astrong believer in providing students withhands-on learning opportunities. “I put the(video) cameras in the hands of thestudents from day one and make sure theylearn to make movies by assigning themshort fictional and documentary video proj-ects,” he said. “I think students like thefreedom they have to create differentkinds of videos, while also knowing theyare receiving a quality education at Triton.”

For more information about TritonCollege’s Mass Communications Program,call (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3482, or visitwww.triton.edu/Visual-Performing-and-Communication-Arts-Department.

Mass Communications: The art of digital storytelling nalism, public relations, advertising, webdesign and many others.

“Being able to tell a story using video ormodify a website or create a graphic arenow part of the job description for manypositions,” Mass communications facultySeth McClellan said. “Instead of hiring anoutside firm, many companies are lookingfor employees who can figure out theircommunication needs, and Triton’s associ-ate’s degree in mass communications coversthese basic skills, in addition to its DigitalMedia Certificate that teaches students howto be a modern communicator.”

The Mass Communications Program at Tritonis closely linked with the college’s VisualCommunications Program which usesphotography to tell a story. “Our focus is thesame as theirs,” McClellan said, “in that wework to train our students to understand theflow of information in our culture and alsoteach the basic tools to create messages.”

McClellan said students who’ve graduated

The Illinois Green Business Association(IGBA) awarded Triton College SustainabilityCoordinator Adrian Fisher with the IGBAGreen Champion Award for her work indeveloping Triton’s Green Business Certifica-tion pilot program. The award is given for“exemplary commitment to the guidingprinciples of the Illinois Green BusinessAssociation.”

The program was developed to guide busi-nesses located in Oak Park and River Forest

Triton College Sustainability Coordinator is named ‘green champion’

through the green certification process inaccordance to IGBA standards, in additionto fulfilling the community-wide PlanIt-Green Sustainability Plan to help area busi-nesses become more sustainable in aneffort to cut back on energy costs.

Triton partnered with IGBA and the OakPark Development Corporation (OPDC),and received a grant from the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation tofund the program.

Because of the program 10 businesseshave completed the program and aregreen certified, and 12 more businesseshave adopted more environmentallyfriendly services.

“Educating the community and providingthe resources for individuals and busi-nesses to become more sustainable is amission for the Triton College Sustainabil-ity Center,” Fisher said. “This pilotprogram was a big step in the right direc-tion. We are proud of the success of theprogram and commend the businessesthat participated.”

Triton College Sustainability Coordinator Adrian Fisher(center) holds her IGBA award with Triton College PresidentDr. Patricia Granados and Board Chairman Mark Stephens.

Triton College continues to green itscampus and communities with the help ofa partnership with PCS Industries in TinleyPark. On campus, green cleaning equip-ment which require no chemicals are nowbeing used. In addition, green paperproducts, hand soaps and can liners thatare Green Seal™, EcoLogo™ or EPA (Envi-ronmental Protection Agency) compliantare currently utilized on campus.

Celeste Hayward of PCS Industries said,“Our products and equipment helpsminimize the Triton College commu-nity’s exposure to chemicals. Triton hastaken the extra step in ensuring itscampus is sustainable and healthy.”

Sustainability Coordinator Adrian Fisheradded, “We are doing our part to estab-lish a green cleaning program that helpsprotect human health and the environ-ment.”

Upcoming events geared towardsustainability will include a recyclingevent that will take place on Triton’scampus on July 12.

On the Green Scene

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This summer, from June 16 through July 31,youth can partake in a number of campsdesigned to inspire learning, while also devel-oping a child’s creativity and athletic abilities.

ATHLETIC CAMPSBasketball Clinic – Compete, learn and gainknowledge of the basic basketball rules, whileimproving one’s skills.KDS C92 101 • June 16-19, Monday throughThursday, 11:30 a.m.-2:20 p.m., Ages 7-11, $60KDS C92 102 • June 23-26, Monday throughThursday, 11:30 a.m.-2:20 p.m., Ages 12-15, $60Soccer Camp – Learn about footwork, passingand skills used in offense and defense.

Triton College programs provide a creative outlet for youthCMP C04 101 • June 16-19, Monday throughThursday, 8-10:50 a.m., Ages 7-11, $60CMP C04 102 • June 23-26, Monday throughThursday, 8-10:50 a.m., Ages 12-15, $60CMP C04 103 • July 21-24, Monday throughThursday, 8-10:50 a.m., Ages 7-10, $60CREATIVE CAMPSCreative Paper Arts – Utilize imagination andcreativity by using recycled paper to create amyriad of projects, including origami art andpaper mache.CMP C25 101 • July 7-10,Monday throughThursday, 8-10:50 a.m., Ages 7-11, $80CMP C25 102 • July 28-31,Monday throughThursday, 8-10:50 a.m., Ages 12-15, $80Junior Artists – Let your inner artist out andshare your work with other young artists. CMP C13 101 • July 7-10,Monday throughThursday, 2:30-5:20 p.m., Ages 7-11, $95CMP C13 103 • July 28-31,Monday throughThursday, 2:30-5:20 p.m., Ages 12-15, $95CMP C13 104 • July 21-24, Monday throughThursday, 11:30 a.m.-2:20 p.m., Ages 7-10, $95Junior Actors Clinic – Get your chance in thespotlight, as you learn the basics of pantomime,improvisation, drama and comedy.

KDS C10 101 • July 7-10,Monday throughThursday, 11:30 a.m.-2:20 p.m., Ages 7-11, $60KDS C10 102 • July 28-31,Monday throughThursday, 11:30 a.m.-2:20 p.m., Ages 12-15, $60STEM CAMPSWaterBotics – Have fun learning about math,science and technology, as you design, build andprogram a LEGO™ robot that swims underwater.CMP C30 101 • July 14-17,Monday throughThursday, 12:30-4:20 p.m., Ages 10-15, $135GADgET Girls – Young girls between the ages of12 and 16 are introduced to the world of manu-facturing. This four-day summer camp is fundedby a grant from the Nuts, Bolts and Thingama-jigs Foundation of the Fabricators and Manufac-turers Association, Intl.CMP C46 101 • June 16-26,Monday throughThursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Ages 12-16, $250LEGO™ Robotics – Show off your creativity andtechnical skills by building and designing arobot with LEGOs™ that you can program tomove around. CMP C23 103 • July 21-24,Monday throughThursday, 2:30-5:20 p.m., Ages 7-10, $120For more information about each camp or toregister, call (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3501.

Gadget camp, 2013

VOTE FOR OURTRITON COLLEGE

MASCOT

Vote NOW for your favorite mascot!www.surveymonkey.com/s/TritonCollegeMascot

Fun for all at Fall Family Fun FestFrom the biggest to the smallest, the shortest and the tallest, every person is invitedto partake in the non-stop fun at Triton College’s annual Fall Family Fun Fest on Sept.27. Families can enjoy games, activities and exhibits from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Triton’sBotanical Gardens on campus. Food and beverages will be sold by Triton’s HospitalityProgram. The event is free and open to the public.For more information, call (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3220, or visit www.triton.edu.

Saturday, Sept. 2710 a.m.-2 p.m.

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Dr. Kennedi Strickland-Dixon, director of Special Educationand Student Services for Bellwood School District 88, servedas the guest speaker for the closing ceremony on Feb. 27.

Triton College students stopped by tables for informationon how to improve their health at the Black HeritageCouncil’s Health/Wellness Fair on Feb. 6.

Throughout February, Triton College recognized and celebrated the achieve-ments of African-Americans with manyeducational and social events open to thecommunity during Black History Month.

Coordinated by the college’s Black HeritageCouncil, the Black History Month 2014 cele-bration, themed “Celebrating the GoldenJubilee of the Civil Rights Act,” was meantto educate and motivate students andonlookers alike to strive for success with a monthlong series of events that addresstopics important to the black community.

Check out these pictures from the manyevents held on Triton’s campus in recognition of Black History Month.

Dr. Carol Adams, president and CEO of the DuSable Museumof African-American History, spoke at the Triton College BlackHistory Month kickoff celebration held on Feb. 3.

Chicago actor Phillip Edward Van Lear performed and facilitated a discussion on Black Americans in theperforming arts on Feb. 11.

BLACK HISTORYMONTH

Community members, organizations join Triton College in celebrating

Explore your optionsat the Future FocusCollege Fair

More than 100 four-year colleges anduniversities across the country will beon Triton’s campus on Sept. 23 for theannual Future Focus College Fair in theRobert M. Collins Center (R Building).Students can explore their educationaloptions at the free fair that runs from7 to 9 p.m. and allows individualspursuing a higher education to speakwith college and university representa-tives about admission procedures,program offerings, tuition expensesand financial aid.

For more information, call (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3130.

14Tuesday, Sept. 23, 7-9 p.m.

Triton student’s educational path leads himto Morehouse College

Speaking of Success…

Commencement ceremony held at RosemontTheatre. He wishes his fellow classmates thebest of luck.

Lamar is currently pursuing his bachelor’s ininternational studies and Spanish at More-house, as he gains real-world experiencethrough an internship with Experian.

To read more about Mario Lamar’s educa-tional journey, visit www.triton.edu/alumni.

Mario Lamar is carving out his own slice ofsuccess. A Maywood resident and the ninthchild out of 14 siblings, Lamar has found hispath to success with the guidance of TritonCollege, and he is excited about what thefuture holds for him, as a full-time studentat the historically black institution of More-house College in Atlanta.

Growing up in Maywood, Lamar was home-schooled by his mother from kindergartento 12th grade. It was ideal for Lamar and hissiblings’ situation. But when it came timefor him to attend college, he was deniedbecause his diploma was not recognized bythe state. With aspirations to go to college,he decided to get his GED from Malcolm XCollege before enrolling at Triton to pursuehis associate’s degree in general studies.

An active reservist in the U.S. Navy, Lamarcompleted his studies toward his associate’sdegree in December 2013. Unfortunately,because he will be on active duty at thetime, Lamar will not be available to walkthe stage to receive his diploma on May 17,2014, at the 48th Annual Triton College

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Page One provides a bridge of communication between TritonCollege and its surrounding communities. We seek to buildstrong relationships with district residents and achieve our mission through the sharing of information about Triton’s students, faculty, events and programs. The publication is

produced by the Marketing and Public Relations Departmentat Triton College.

Please direct all comments and questions to [email protected].

through April 18

Get a jump on college.Triton College is the smart option for your high schooljunior or senior to get a head start on their collegeeducation this summer!e:At Triton, students are:

• acclimated to the college atmosphere, while still havingthe comfort of being close to home.• taught time management and effective study skills in acollege introductory course to put them on the right track. • encouraged to talk to our counselors and financial aidadvisors dedicated to assisting with their educationalgoals.

For more information, please call (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3130,

or visit us at www.triton.edu/summercollege.

Dates to Remember...TRITON COLLEGE 48TH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENTMay 17, 3 p.m., Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont

Triton College will hold its 48th Annual Commencement ceremony at 3 p.m. on May 17at Rosemont Theatre. Tickets are required for admission. For more information aboutcommencement, call (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3383, or visit www.triton.edu/commencement.

SPRING BAND CONCERTMay 19, 7:30 p.m., Performing Arts Center, Robert M. Collins Center

The Triton College Community Band winds up its current season with a spirited programof classics from the world of band music. The concert contains soloists and instrumentalfeatures. For more information, call (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3506, or visitwww.triton.edu/music.

JOB CLUB MEETINGMay 27, 11 a.m. to Noon, Room B-140 of the Student Center (B Building)

The Job Club, open to community residents, will hold their monthly meeting from 11 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, April 22. This club, part of the outreach efforts of TritonCollege’s Career Services Center, provides support and guidance to job seekers. For more information, call (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3149 or e-mail [email protected].

SUPER SATURDAYS at the Cernan Earth and Space CenterJune 7, July 5 and August 2, 7 to 10:30 p.m.

Saturday nights this summer will be out of this world at Triton College’s Cernan Earthand Space Center! For three nights this summer, families can catch three unique shows inone, fun-filled night dedicated to entertaining and informing all ages about galactictopics and recent discoveries in astronomy and Earth science during the center’s specialsummer series, Super Saturdays.

For more information, visit www.triton.edu/cernan or call (708) 456-0300,Ext. 3372, or (708) 583-3100.

For your high schooljunior or senior