STEP

Info: 1st week of February events

2012-01-30T11:05:00.001-07:00

Workshop: Wednesday 1 February at 12:30pm
Struggling or Succeeding in College “it’s a choice” this dynamic workshop will be facilitated by Thomas Kirsch. This is one of the few Personal Development workshops that will be presented this semester, this workshop will be conducted on Wednesday 1 February at 12:30pm in TRIO Office (SU 105). Come and get information on how to thrive in an academic environment.

Campus Tour: Friday 3 February from 8am – 6pm
Campus Tour to University of Arizona in Tucson in combination with Biosphere II due to popular demand the STEP program in conducting a Campus Tour to the University of Arizona in Tucson and immediately after the campus tour we will travel to the nearby biosphere II for a tour of this facility. LINK: http://www.b2science.org/

2012-01-25T16:04:00.001-07:00

2011 -2012 SMCC Black Student Union Graduation Scholarship

• The scholarship pays the $25.00 application fee for the student to take part in the Ceremony. This includes the student’s cap, gown, tassel, diploma, diploma cover and invitations.

Scholarship Eligibility and Guidelines:
► Must be African/African-American heritage and identity
► Must have enrolled/completed all coursework leading toward a certificate and/or degree
► Must demonstrate financial need
► Must have no outstanding debt on student account for any MCCD College.
► Must have a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher
► Scholarship application and supporting documents must be submitted no later than Wednesday, February 29, 2012

P.O.C. Vannesa Logan (602) 243-8190

2012-01-23T12:47:00.003-07:00

Need Money STEP has $5000 that it needs to give away this semester. Grant Aid is a competitive scholarship provided to STEP students only. For eligibility requirements please come by the STEP office and speak with Derrick. Below is a list of the basic criteria, there is also a requirement to participate in STEP activities.

Basic Criteria Checklist

Attend a STEP Scholarship Orientation at the beginning of the semester (if you have not previously applied for STEP Grant Aid)

Fill out a Grant Aid Application, Checklist and Contract

Have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA

Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress while attending at least 6 semester hours and an up to date Check Sheet on file

Complete at least one semester at SMCC

Complete Financial Literacy 101

Receive a Pell Grant and demonstrate unmet financial need

Submit a Progress Report to the STEP office no later than March 9, 2012

Write a 250-500 word Personal Statement

Hot-- 31 January Due date -- Hot

2012-01-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) and ALPFA have partnered to provide financial resources to assist outstanding Latino students. The award amount ranges from $1,500 to $10,000.
http://www.hsf.net/ALPFA.aspx

Kick Off Luncheon

2012-01-19T10:14:00.000-07:00

Please join us for the STEP Kickoff Luncheon; this event will be ""Today"" Thursday, January 19th from 12:00-1:00pm in SU 100. We will discuss important information about the upcoming semester and distribute our calendar of events for the 2012 Spring semester. Lunch will be provided.
Hope you can join us!
Please RSVP, call STEP (602) 305-5676

Scholarship

2012-01-13T12:19:00.001-07:00

Looking for money for college? New scholarship portal allows AZ students to be auto-matched to scholarships from among 60+ funds

Link: http://www.azfoundation.org/static/Scholarships/index.shtml

Comedy

2012-01-10T08:04:00.003-07:00

Wednesday January 18 @ 8pm at Stand Up Live! Hot Mess Comedy with Michael Yo From E! News 50 tickets to give away!

Hello Comedy Fans!
Michael Yo's Hot Mess Comedy Show will be back at Stand Up Live in downtown Phoenix Wednesday January 18 @ 8pm. This is one off the top national touring stand up shows in the country with headliner Michael Yo from Chelsea Lately, E! News. Featuring special guest Sarah Tiana from Reno 911 and the Tonight Show. Plus we are expecting a huge surprise guest you won't want to miss!
We have 50 tickets to give away. You can RSVP up to 10 tickets by sending an e-mail to: buddy.cheeks@smcmail.maricopa.edu with your full name, phone number, and amount of guests. Dinner reservations are also available.
This remains one of the top stand up shows in the country and is suitable for all audiences. Don't miss this spectacular night of comedy! Hurry and RSVP before we sell out.

Thank you for supporting live comedy
- Andre

Can't go? Forward this email to a friend

2012 Minority Male Success Confrence

2012-01-09T15:25:00.003-07:00

Please Join Us for the 2012 Minority Male Success Conference

Friday, February 24, 2012
8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Phoenix College
Bulpitt Auditorium
1202 W. Thomas Road
Phoenix, AZ

For more information contact
Derrick Washington
(602) 243-8166

Laptop - Calculators - Tape recorders

2011-12-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

This is a friendly reminder from the STEP-TRIO office. Laptops, calculators, and tape recorders are to be returned by 16 December 2011; if you have these items please return them to the STEP-TRIO office to avoid charges to your SMCC student account. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.

Derrick

Tutoring

2011-12-12T13:27:00.001-07:00

The last day of STEP tutoring services for the 2011 Fall semester will be 13 December 2011.

Dorrance 2012

2011-12-09T08:35:00.001-07:00

Hot Scholarship for single parents:
Link: http://www.dorrancescholarship.org/applicants/i-am-a-dorrance-scholar-at-smcc/

Tutor for 8 December 1-4 pm

2011-12-08T12:36:00.002-07:00

The STEP English tutor will not be available on Thursday, December 8th between 1:00 –4:00pm.

Derrick

Enrollment Cancellation

2011-12-06T11:12:00.002-07:00

All students who have not completed their financial aid, enrolled in a payment plan, or have not paid in full will be dropped for nonpayment. Please contact Financial Aid if you have an issue regarding payment.

Derrick.

Recruitment

2011-12-05T12:14:00.002-07:00

Recruitment: The STEP program is still recruiting. We have limited availability; so inform any interested bodies that have the desire to transfer and complete a bachelors degree. The Application for the STEP program is available online at http://students.southmountaincc.edu/NR/rdonlyres/3B3EC10E-F085-42A3-82A5-5E86DBF721B8/6437/STEPApplication2011.pdf or in SU 105 (TRIO STEP) office.

Phoenix Symphony : We are currently offering a waiting list for “The Nutcracker” Transportation, dinner, and tickets to the show will be provided by the TRIO STEP program. Please come to the TRIO-STEP office and complete the field trip request forms if you desire to be listed on the waitlist.

Where: Phoenix Symphony Hall
When: Friday Dec 16th from 4:30 – 10:00PM

For more information on this performance: http://www.balletaz.org/index.taf?mnid=performancepage&ecid=1301493919

Survey

2011-12-02T15:30:00.002-07:00

This is a survey to obtain data pertaining to student modes of transportation. The survey can be accessed by copying and pasting the web address below into your browser:

http://www.maricopa.gov/aq/TrpInternetSurveyStudent/Survey.aspx
Log-on to the web e-survey for your specific site using the following survey student code:

Site Name: South Mountain CC - Students

Site/Student code: MARCOC08

(Example: all caps-MARCOC, numbers-06; MARCOC06)

If you attend multiple campuses, please select the one most visited.
Once you have completed the e-survey and selected the SUBMIT button, you should receive a message stating “Your survey has been successfully submitted! Thank You!” IF, you do not receive this automated message, the survey was not successfully submitted. For more information please email:
tr-benefits@domail.maricopa.edu or call: (480) 731-8058

INFO: November 23

2011-11-23T14:23:00.002-07:00

We are currently offering a waiting list for the Broadway show “White Christmas”. We will be attending the show on Thursday, December 8th from 4:30p.m.to 10:00p.m. at ASU Gammage. Transportation, dinner and a ticket to the show will be provided by the TRIO STEP program.
“ Direct from Broadway, the classic holiday movie WHITE CHRISTMAS comes to the stage at last! This brand new musical shines with classic Berlin hits like “Blue Skies,” “How Deep is the Ocean?” and, of course, the unforgettable title song.”

Due to popular demand the TRIO STEP office HAS procured tickets to “ The Nutcracker”. Transportation, dinner, and tickets to the show will be provided by the TRIO STEP program. Please come to the TRIO-STEP office and complete the field trip request forms.
Where: Phoenix Symphony Hall
When: Friday Dec 16th from 4:30 – 10:00PM
For more information on this performance: http://www.balletaz.org/index.taf?mnid=performancepage&ecid=1301493919

Recruitment: The STEP program is still recruiting. We have limited availability; so inform any interested bodies that have the desire to transfer and complete a bachelors degree. Applications for the STEP program are available on line LINK: http://students.southmountaincc.edu/NR/rdonlyres/3B3EC10E-F085-42A3-82A5-5E86DBF721B8/6437/STEPApplication2011.pdf or in SU 105 (TRIO STEP) office.

Info: November 16

2011-11-16T14:00:00.001-07:00

Work Shops:
Scholarships, Resumes, or College applications; writing a personal statement will be an integral part or the process. TRIO is offering a Personal Statement workshop on Thursday, November 17th at 1:00pm in the TRIO STEP office (SU Room 105).

Broadway Show:
We still have tickets available for the Broadway show “White Christmas”. We will be attending the show on Thursday, December 8th from 4:30p.m.to 10:00p.m. at ASU Gammage. Transportation, dinner and a ticket to the show will be provided by the TRIO STEP program. Seating is limited so please stop by the office to complete field trip paperwork to secure your spot.

English and Math Tutoring:
Final exams will be here before you know it…End of the semester papers need to be submitted; do not procrastinate. If you need English tutoring Priscilla Benbrook will be available Monday-Thursday from 9:00am to 1:00pm and Margarita Arnold will be available Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm and Wednesdays from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Our English tutors can also review personal statements and resumes! All tutoring will be held in the TRIO STEP conference room.

Two awesome workshops this week

2011-11-14T08:57:00.001-07:00

1.) Getting ready to take the next step, TRIO is offering a What to expect when you transfer workshop on Tuesday, November 15th at 12:15pm in the TRIO STEP office (SU Room 105). Come and get info on tuition, timelines, and the entire transfer process. This workshop will give you insight and info that will make your transfer to any university as seamless as possible. If you plan to transfer tomorrow or in three years from now, come and join us.

2.) Scholarships, Resumes, or College applications; writing a personal statement will be an integral part or the process. TRIO is offering a Personal Statement workshop on Thursday, November 17th at 1:00pm in the TRIO STEP office (SU Room 105).

SMCC Evening Students Info Needed

2011-11-08T15:06:00.002-07:00

Evening Students...we need your input...
Join us for a discussion to help us understand what evening students need to be successful

When: Thursday November 10th 6:00 PM
Where: SES 105

Pizza will be served, seating is limited so please RSVP lauren.shellenbarger@smcmail.maricopa.edu or (602) 243-8031

Two Work Shops This Week

2011-11-07T10:41:00.003-07:00

1. Do you have a job and would like to get a better one; do you plan to have a job in the future? If you are in either of theses categories TRIO is offering a JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES workshop on Tuesday, November 8th at 12:15 in the TRIO STEP office(SU Room 105)

2. Continuing school and need cash, we have a subject matter expert, TRIO is offering a HOW TO APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS workshop on Wednesday, November 9th at 1215 in the TRIO STEP office (SU Room 105)

Come out and support the program...If there are any suggestions for future workshops please contact Derrick @ (602) 243-8166

Work Shop: Making Sense of your money

2011-10-28T09:53:00.005-07:00

Workshop: “Making Sense of your money” with Sullie Richardson. This workshop will be held on Wednesday, November 2nd at 12:15 pm in the TRIO STEP office (SU Room 105). Lite refreshment will be available for your pleasure.

STEP Student Announcements: Oct 10 – Oct 14

2011-10-12T16:01:00.015-07:00

We have the following important announcements for this week:

1. Workshop: “Maximize Your Library Research” with Lora Largo (SMCC Librarian). This workshop will be held on Tuesday, October 11th at 12:15pm in the TRIO STEP office (SU Room 105). Great workshop if you need assistance with your research papers!

2. Workshop: “How to Apply to Northern Arizona University” with Frank Pina (NAU Representative). Frank will be here to answer all your questions about the NAU application process. This workshop will be held on Wednesday, October 12th at 12:15pm in the TRIO STEP office (SU Room 105)

3. We still have seats available for students to attend the TRIO University of Arizona transfer day tour on Friday, October 14th. Transportation and lunch will be covered by the TRIO STEP program. Students will have the opportunity to tour campus and learn about the U of A transfer process. Seating is limited so please stop by the office to complete field trip paperwork to secure your spot. On Friday please meet us in the TRIO STEP office no later than 7:45am. We will be leaving at 8:00am SHARP! We should return to South Mountain before 5:00pm.

4. Free tickets (for STEP students only) to attend the annual SMCC Men’s Luncheon “Once You Choose…Anything’s Possible.” The luncheon will be held on Thursday, October 20th 11:30 to 1:00pm in the Student Union Room 100. If you are interested in attending the luncheon please stop by the STEP office to reserve your spot. Women are welcome to attend.

5. Spring 2012 registration now underway! Beat the rush and register early! http://my.maricopa.edu

6. English and Math Tutoring: If you need math tutoring Jesus Bustamante will be available Monday – Thursday from 9:00am to 1:00pm. If you need English tutoring Priscilla Benbrook will be available Monday-Thursday from 9:00am to 1:00pm and Margarita Arnold will be available Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm and Wednesdays from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Our English tutors can also review personal statements and resumes! All tutoring will be held in the TRIO STEP conference room.

7. Please go online to complete the Financial Literacy 101 on-line money management course. TRIO has paid for each student to be able to take this course at no charge. The website is www.financialliteracy101.org. Once you get to the website, the Access Code for new students is SMCCSSS. Completing this course is required for all students to remain in good standing with the STEP Program and should take you less than 45 minutes. Please note, you will need to be able to hear audio content to complete the course. Once you complete the course, you can turn in your certificate of completion to receive a free 2 GB flash drive from STEP. If you have not already done so, please complete this course ASAP. Remember, you only have to complete the course 1 time.

8. Have you met with Laura (STEP academic advisor) to update your check sheet? If not, please make an appointment to meet with her by calling 602.305.5676 or stop by the TRIO STEP office. Laura is now available on Wednesdays from 10:30a.m. to 7:00p.m. Remember, you must meet with Laura at least once a semester to remain in good standing with the STEP Program.

9. We are still in the process of hiring new a STEP program coordinator. Please be patient as we a working with a limited staff.

10. If you know someone who has turned in an application for the STEP program, please let them know that we are continuing to review applications and schedule orientations. Please be patient as we are working with a limited staff.

Community Service

2011-05-26T08:16:00.004-07:00

Need Community Service Hours?

André House is a Soup Kitchen located in downtown Phoenix which assists the poor & homeless through basic services such as clothes, showers, office access, laundry and the nightly meal. For more information about the André House ministry, please visit their website at: www.andrehouse.org.

André House will be in great need of volunteers during June, July & August. As the snowbirds head home, the school groups break for the summer and people head off to vacation, we will have many service opportunities in the Soupline. Beat the rush to get your service hours in for next Fall by coming in and helping us this Summer! If you have questions or would like to schedule time, please contact:

Teresa Hipp, Volunteer Coordinator

Phone: 602-255-0580 ext 302

Email: coordinator@andrehouse.org

Financial Aid Workshops

2011-05-26T08:10:00.001-07:00

Financial Aid workshops will be held in TC-157 every Wednesday from 2-3pm. The workshops will provide a general overview of how to apply for financial aid, what to expect once the application has been submitted, and the importance of scholarships. Workshops will run through June 29^thand are offered by the SMCC Financial Aid Office.

STEP this week May 9-12

2011-05-09T11:45:00.001-07:00

We have a few announcements this week:

Grads – don’t forget to wear your STEP medallion and TRIO stole to the graduation ceremony. If you are graduating and did not attend the End of the Year Ceremony, please stop by the office to pick up your graduation recognition. Also, if you have not completed a yellow Exit Interview form, please stop by the office to fill one out. Our continued funding is dependent on students completing this form, so please make sure that you don’t forget to complete it.
We still have tickets available for Mamma Mia! We will be attending on Thursday, May 19 from 4:45 p.m. to 11 p.m. Please stop by the office to complete field trip paperwork to secure your spot.
Are you planning your schedule for the Fall? Please keep in mind that STEP Workshops are typically Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 12:15-1:15 p.m.
Resume Reviews! Is your resume summer job ready? Visit the Speed Resume Review and find out! Wednesday, May 11, 1pm to 3pm, SMCC Career Services Center, SES building No appointment necessary! Open to students and community members! Questions? Call Career Services at 602-243-8176.
Financial Aid Workshops! SMCC is+ offering FREE Financial Aid workshops every Wednesday from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. in Room TC-157 at the Main Campus. For more info, call our Financial Aid Office at 602.243.8300.

Good luck on your finals!

STEP this week May 2-6

2011-05-09T11:21:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have a few announcements this week:

Grads – don’t forget to wear your STEP medallion and TRIO stole to the graduation ceremony. If you are graduating and did not attend the End of the Year Ceremony, please stop by the office to pick up your graduation recognition.
We still have tickets available for Mamma Mia! We will be attending on Thursday, May 19 from 4:45 p.m. to 11 p.m. Please stop by the office to complete field trip paperwork to secure your spot.
Please join us Thursday, May 5 from 11:30 to 1 p.m. in SU 100 ABC to hear Roy Juarez Jr., a motivational speaker talk about his struggles and successes. Lunch will be served.
Are you planning your schedule for the Fall? Please keep in mind that STEP Workshops are typically Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 12:15-1:15 p.m.
Resume Reviews! Is your resume summer job ready? Visit the Speed Resume Review and find out! Wednesday, May 11, 1pm to 3pm, SMCC Career Services Center, SES building No appointment necessary! Open to students and community members! Questions? Call Career Services at 602-243-8176.
Pharmacy Club Event. This is a reminder that this Wednesday: MAY 4, 2011 is the next pharmacy club meeting. In this meeting we'll have the pleasure of hearing from 3 medical professionals: Dr. Knudsen-Gerber, Nate Cashion PharmD. and Dr. Kimball Pomeroy. The meeting will primarily focus on how to prepare for future Pharmacy School interviews. Many pharmacy schools have panel interviews (multiple interviewers concurrent with multiple candidates) which most of us have yet to experience. Individual interviews can be daunting enough as it is; so, we prepared this meeting with the hope that after attending this meeting we will all feel more prepared for future interviews. Initially, the professionals will present with words of advice, followed by a mock interview. If anyone is interested in participating in the mock interview please let the Pharmacy Club know as soon as possible. As always, food and beverages will be provided so please come hungry! Event details: Location: South Mountain Community College Room: Studio Theater PAC Date: May 4th (Wednesday) Time: 6:00pm

Have a good week!

STEP this week April 25-29

2011-05-09T11:18:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have the following announcements for this week:

If you have not RSVP’ed for the STEP End of the Year Ceremony, please do so TODAY by emailing me back, calling 602.305.5676, or stopping by the office. All STEP students are welcome. The event will be this Thursday, April 28 from 12:00 -1:30 p.m. We will have a motivational speaker and lunch. We hope to see you there!
We still have tickets available for Mamma Mia! We will be attending on Thursday, May 19 from 4:45 p.m. to 11 p.m. Please stop by the office to complete field trip paperwork to secure your spot.
The 25^th Annual MCCCD Hispanic Convocation: 25 years of Success, Celebration, and Tradition will be held on Friday, May 6 at 4:39 p.m. at Phoenix College. You must RSVP by April 22. Here is a registration link for the Hispanic Convocation online registration.
MCBAA cordially invites you to attend the Annual African and African American Student Convocation Sunday May 1, 2011 at Phoenix College in the Bulpitt Auditorium. Theme: College Graduation: Your Pathway to Success. The program begins at 3:00 p.m. Employees, Faculty and Adjunct Faculty are welcome to join the processional dressed in full graduation regalia. Please RSVP to:Austin.Shepard@estrellamountain.edu 623-935-8443.
If you received any kind of special award, internship opportunity, scholarship, etc. please let us know so that you can be recognized in our PowerPoint presentation at the End of the Year Ceremony or a future newsletter. Please email Sianna at Sianna.Kent@smcmail.maricopa.edu.
Are you planning your schedule for the Fall? Please keep in mind that STEP Workshops are typically Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 12:15-1:15 p.m.
SMCC is looking for outstanding and interested students who are friendly, enthusiastic, looking for additional leadership skills, have a cumulative college GPA of 2.7, enrolled in at least 6 credit hours, are in good academic and disciplinary standing and believe in the mission of South Mountain Community College and the Cougar Ambassadors Program. Additional Information is also available at the following website: http://students.southmountaincc.edu/StudentLife/StudentLifeLeadership/CougarAmbassador.htm. If you have any questions, please see Christopher Erran, Program Manager at 602-305-5607 or email at christopher.erran@smcmail.maricopa.edu
Student Life and Leadership and the Office of Civic Participation are looking for two students who might interested in becoming an advocate for their community, attend DC conference and join an outstanding alumni network. The Student Public Policy Forum (SPPF) is an academic program that provides an overview of local, state and national public policy making, and citizen influence and involvement. A focus is placed on experiential learning and leadership development through engagement in the public policy process. No prior experience is necessary to participate. Students from all backgrounds, majors, and experiences are encouraged to apply. All interested students may contact the Student Life Office or access the SPFF web site to complete the application. http://www.maricopa.edu/sppf/about.php The application deadline is Friday April 29, 2011. All application must be submitted to the office of student life and leadership.
Please join us Thursday, May 5 from 11:30 to 1 p.m. in SU 100 ABC to hear Roy Juarez Jr., a motivational speaker talk about his struggles and successes. Lunch will be served.
Don’t forget! The Dorrance Scholarship is due Friday, April 29. Please see this link for more info: https://www.scholarselect.com/scholarships/1047-dorrance-community-college-scholarship.

Have a great week!

STEP this week April 18-22

2011-05-09T11:15:00.002-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

There are several great opportunities this week:

You should have received an invitation to the STEP End of the Year Ceremony in the mail last week. The event will be Thursday, April 28 from 12-1:30 p.m. in SU 100. We will have a motivational speaker and lunch. Please plan on joining us to celebrate graduates and STEP students on their accomplishments. This event is open to all STEP students. If you do not receive the invitation, please stop by the office to update your address. Please RSVP no later than Friday, April 22 by calling 602.305.5676, stopping by the office, or emailing me back.
We still have tickets available for Mamma Mia! We will be attending on Thursday, May 19 from 4:45 p.m. to 11 p.m. Please stop by the office to complete field trip paperwork to secure your spot.
The 25^th Annual MCCCD Hispanic Convocation: 25 years of Success, Celebration, and Tradition will be held on Friday, May 6 at 4:39 p.m. at Phoenix College. You must RSVP by April 22. Here is a registration link for the Hispanic Convocation online registration.
MCBAA cordially invites you to attend the Annual African and African American Student Convocation Sunday May 1, 2011 at Phoenix College in the Bulpitt Auditorium. Theme: College Graduation: Your Pathway to Success. The program begins at 3:00 p.m. Employees, Faculty and Adjunct Faculty are welcome to join the processional dressed in full graduation regalia. Please RSVP to:Austin.Shepard@estrellamountain.edu 623-935-8443
If you received any kind of special award, internship opportunity, scholarship, etc. please let us know so that you can be recognized in our PowerPoint presentation at the End of the Year Ceremony or a future newsletter. Please email Sianna at Sianna.Kent@smcmail.maricopa.edu.
Summer and Fall Registration are now open. If you have not met with Laura this academic year to update your check sheet, please make an appointment to meet with her by calling 602.305.5676. Remember, you must meet with Laura at least once a semester to remain in good standing with the STEP Program.
Are you planning your schedule for the Fall? Please keep in mind that STEP Workshops are typically Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 12:15-1:15 p.m.
SMCC is looking for outstanding and interested students who are friendly, enthusiastic, looking for additional leadership skills, have a cumulative college GPA of 2.7, enrolled in at least 6 credit hours, are in good academic and disciplinary standing and believe in the mission of South Mountain Community College and the Cougar Ambassadors Program. Additional Information is also available at the following website: http://students.southmountaincc.edu/StudentLife/StudentLifeLeadership/CougarAmbassador.htm. If you have any questions, please see Christopher Erran, Program Manager at 602-305-5607 or email at christopher.erran@smcmail.maricopa.edu
Student Life and Leadership and the Office of Civic Participation are looking for two students who might interested in becoming an advocate for their community, attend DC conference and join an outstanding alumni network. The Student Public Policy Forum (SPPF) is an academic program that provides an overview of local, state and national public policy making, and citizen influence and involvement. A focus is placed on experiential learning and leadership development through engagement in the public policy process. No prior experience is necessary to participate. Students from all backgrounds, majors, and experiences are encouraged to apply. All interested students may contact the Student Life Office or access the SPFF web site to complete the application. http://www.maricopa.edu/sppf/about.php The application deadline is Friday April 29, 2011. All application must be submitted to the office of student life and leadership.
Please join us Thursday, May 5 from 11:30 to 1 p.m. in SU 100 ABC to hear Roy Juarez Jr., a motivational speaker talk about his struggles and successes. Lunch will be served.
Don’t forget! The Dorrance Scholarship is due Friday, April 29. Please see this link for more info: https://www.scholarselect.com/scholarships/1047-dorrance-community-college-scholarship.

Have a great week!

STEP this week April 11-15

2011-04-11T10:00:00.004-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have a few announcements this week:

Tuesday, April 12 at 12:15 p.m. we are pleased to offer the Scholarship Workshop taught by financial aid expert Alicia Goodwin. This is the only time this semester this workshop will be offered. Don’t miss out!
Wednesday, April 13 at 12:15 we have our last workshop of the semester on How to Prevent Identity Theft. Please join us so that you can learn how to protect yourself and your family.
You should receive an invitation to the STEP End of the Year Ceremony in the mail this week. The event will be Thursday, April 28 from 12-1:30 p.m. in SU 100. We will have a motivational speaker and lunch. Please plan on joining us to celebrate graduates and STEP students on their accomplishments. This event is open to all STEP students. If you do not receive the invitation, please stop by the office to update your address.
Don’t forget – the Martens Scholarship is due this Friday, April 15 by 4:30 p.m. This scholarship is only open to STEP Students. Many of you frequently inquire about available scholarships. Please take advantage of this opportunity!
We still have tickets available for Mamma Mia! We will be attending on Thursday, May 19 from 4:45 p.m. to 11 p.m. Please stop by the office to complete field trip paperwork to secure your spot.
If you received any kind of special award, internship opportunity, scholarship, etc. please let us know so that you can be recognized in our PowerPoint presentation at the End of the Year Ceremony or a future newsletter. Please email Sianna at Sianna.Kent@smcmail.maricopa.edu.
Summer and Fall Registration are now open. If you have not met with Laura this academic year to update your check sheet, please make an appointment to meet with her by calling 602.305.5676. Remember, you must meet with Laura at least once a semester to remain in good standing with the STEP Program.
Are you planning your schedule for the Fall? Please keep in mind that STEP Workshops are typically Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 12:15-1:15 p.m.
SMCC is looking for outstanding and interested students who are friendly, enthusiastic, looking for additional leadership skills, have a cumulative college GPA of 2.7, enrolled in at least 6 credit hours, are in good academic and disciplinary standing and believe in the mission of South Mountain Community College and the Cougar Ambassadors Program. Additional Information is also available at the following website: http://students.southmountaincc.edu/StudentLife/StudentLifeLeadership/CougarAmbassador.htm. If you have any questions, please see Christopher Erran, Program Manager at 602-305-5607 or email at christopher.erran@smcmail.maricopa.edu

Have a good week!

STEP this week April 4-8

2011-04-05T08:40:00.002-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have a few announcements for this week:

Wednesday, April 6 we are pleased to offer a Personal Statement Workshop at 12:15. This workshop will help you get ready to write your personal statement or improve upon your statement if you already have one. Most scholarships require a personal statement as part of the application process.
Thursday, April 7 we will have a What to Expect When You Transfer Workshop at 12:15. This is the only time this workshop will be offered this semester, so don’t miss out!
Friday, April 8 we will be visiting NAU. We will leave from the TRIO Office at 6:30 AM. Please make sure you arrive on time. We need to be at NAU by 9AM. We should return to campus around 5pm. Please stop by the office to complete field trip paperwork if you would like to attend. If you have completed paperwork and can no longer attend, please let us know.
Summer and Fall Registration are now open. If you have not met with Laura this academic year to update your check sheet, please make an appointment to meet with her by calling 602.305.5676.
Are you planning your schedule for the Fall? Please keep in mind that STEP Workshops are typically Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 12:15-1:15 p.m.
SMCC is looking for outstanding and interested students who are friendly, enthusiastic, looking for additional leadership skills, have a cumulative college GPA of 2.7, enrolled in at least 6 credit hours, are in good academic and disciplinary standing and believe in the mission of South Mountain Community College and the Cougar Ambassadors Program. Additional Information is also available at the following website: http://students.southmountaincc.edu/StudentLife/StudentLifeLeadership/CougarAmbassador.htm. If you have any questions, please see Christopher Erran, Program Manager at 602-305-5607 or email at christopher.erran@smcmail.maricopa.edu
Please go online to complete the Financial Literacy 101 on-line money management course. TRIO has paid for each student to be able to take this course at no charge. The website is www.financialliteracy101.org. Once you get to the website, the Access Code for new students is SMCCSSS. Completing this course is required for all students to remain in good standing with the STEP Program and should take you less than 45 minutes. Please note, you will need to be able to hear audio content to complete the course. Once you complete the course, you can turn in your certificate of completion to receive a free 2 GB flash drive from STEP. If you have not already done so, please complete this course ASAP.

Have a great week!

STEP this week March 28-April 1

2011-03-30T10:57:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have a few announcements for this week:

Tuesday, March 29 at 12:15 we will be offering a Dorrance Scholarship Workshop taught by Christopher Erran. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and find out more about the Dorrance Scholarship from the Coordinator of the program!
Wednesday March 30 at 12:15 we are pleased to welcome back Frank Pina from NAU to answer all of your questions about transferring to NAU, NAU @ SMCC, and NAU Connect. This is the last chance you will have to meet with NAU in the TRIO office this semester, so please take advantage of it!
Thursday, March 31 we will be taking students to see Fiddler on the Roof at ASU Gammage. We will meet in the STEP Office at 4:45pm for a prompt 5pm departure. We should return to campus between 10:30 and 11:00 p.m. We still have 11 tickets available. Please stop by the office ASAP to fill out field trip paperwork to secure your spot. Remember, STEP provides transportation, dinner and a ticket for interested STEP students. If you are currently signed up and can no longer attend, please let me know ASAP so we can let another student utilize your ticket.
Friday, April 1 SMCC is looking for volunteers for the St. Mary’s Food Bank distribution at the PAC from 11:00 a.m.-1 p.m.. See the Office of Student Life for more information.
Summer and Fall Registration are now open. If you have not met with Laura this academic year to update your check sheet, please make an appointment to meet with her by calling 602.305.5676.
Please go online to complete the Financial Literacy 101 on-line money management course. TRIO has paid for each student to be able to take this course at no charge. The website is www.financialliteracy101.org. Once you get to the website, the Access Code for new students is SMCCSSS. Completing this course is required for all students to remain in good standing with the STEP Program and should take you less than 45 minutes. Please note, you will need to be able to hear audio content to complete the course. Once you complete the course, you can turn in your certificate of completion to receive a free 2 GB flash drive from STEP. If you have not already done so, please complete this course ASAP.

Have a good week!

The Martens Scholarship

2011-03-30T10:55:00.000-07:00

This scholarship is available to STEP students who meet all of the following criteria:

· Preference shall be given to “adult” students – those who have interrupted their education to work or raise a family and are now seeking further education to better themselves.

· Preference shall be given to “average” students whose grade point average in high school or a prior college experience reflects C or B work.

· To be eligible a student must enroll in a minimum of nine credits per semester.

· Scholarships shall be awarded each semester. Prior recipients of a Martens scholarship are eligible for continuing scholarship support for up to six semesters provided they maintain at least a C average, complete at least nine credits per semester and are otherwise making satisfactory progress toward completion of a degree or certificate.

· Students previously awarded a scholarship may “stop out” from their coursework one time for not more than two semesters and be eligible to reapply for a Martens scholarship upon resuming their studies.

· A committee at South Mountain Community College will work with Foundation staff to select scholarship recipients.

To apply, please submit the following documents to the STEP Office no later than April 15, 2011 at 4:30 p.m.:

1. A 250-500 essay explaining your financial need and your academic and career plans. You should also discuss how you meet the criteria for the scholarship. Please type your essay using 12 point, Times New Roman font. Be sure to proofread your essay before submitting it.

2. An unofficial copy of your transcript. You can print this from the MyMaricopa website.

3. A Martens Scholarship Application form.

You can pick up a copy of the application in the STEP Office.

STEP this week March 21-25

2011-03-30T10:51:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

Welcome back from Spring Break! We have a few announcements:

Tuesday, March 22 at 12:15 we have a Scholarship Workshop. Many of you have questions about how to apply, how to make your application competitive, etc. Please don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from an expert!
Wednesday, March 23 STEP has purchased tickets for students to attend the Women’s Luncheon. This opportunity is available for all STEP Students, men and women. Come celebrate SMCC’s outstanding women! The luncheon begins at 11:30. You MUST email me back, call, or stop by the office to reserve your spot. We have a limited number of seats available, so don’t delay!
Thursday, March 24 at 12:15 we have our last ASU Application Workshop of the semester! This is your chance to meet with an ASU Transfer Advisor and get your questions answered. Hope to see you there!
Mark your calendar – on Wednesday March 30 at 12:15 we are pleased to welcome back Frank Pina from NAU to answer all of your questions about transferring to NAU, NAU @ SMCC, and NAU Connect. This is the last chance you will have to meet with NAU in the TRIO office this semester, so please take advantage of it!
Summer and Fall Registration are now open. If you have not met with Laura this academic year to update your check sheet, please make an appointment to meet with her by calling 602.305.5676.
Please go online to complete the Financial Literacy 101 on-line money management course. TRIO has paid for each student to be able to take this course at no charge. The website is www.financialliteracy101.org. Once you get to the website, the Access Code for new students is SMCCSSS. Completing this course is required for all students to remain in good standing with the STEP Program and should take you less than 45 minutes. Please note, you will need to be able to hear audio content to complete the course. Once you complete the course, you can turn in your certificate of completion to receive a free 2 GB flash drive from STEP. If you have not already done so, please complete this course ASAP.
The Minority Male Initiative Conference titled Construct Your Future – Build Your Bridge to Success will be held at MCC on March 25 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendance is free. Online registration can be found here https://mcli.maricopa.edu/node/1362/signup. Please let us know if you need transportation. STEP may be able to provide it.

Have a great week!

STEP this week March 7-11

2011-03-30T10:48:00.002-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have the following announcements for this week:

Friday, March 11 we will be visiting ASU West. We will meet in the STEP Office at 8:45 a.m. for a prompt 9 a.m. departure. Please stop by the office to complete paperwork if you plan on attending.
Progress Reports were due February 25. Please turn one in this week if you failed to meet the deadline. If you attended the Kickoff Luncheon, a Progress Report form was provided to you in the information packet we gave you. If you need a Progress Report form, please stop by the office to pick one up. Remember, you must complete a Progress Report to remain in good standing with STEP.
Did you know that if you speak a second language like Spanish, you may be able to get up to 16 college credits if you take a test called the CLEP Test? See Laura for more information!
If you are graduating this Spring and have not seen Laura to file for graduation, please call 602.305.5676 or stop by the office to make an appointment. The deadline to apply for graduation is March 11.
Summer and Fall Registration are now open. If you have not met with Laura this academic year to update your check sheet, please make an appointment to meet with her by calling 602.305.5676.
Please go online to complete the Financial Literacy 101 on-line money management course. TRIO has paid for each student to be able to take this course at no charge. The website is www.financialliteracy101.org. Once you get to the website, the Access Code for new students is SMCCSSS. Completing this course is required for all students to remain in good standing with the STEP Program and should take you less than 45 minutes. Please note, you will need to be able to hear audio content to complete the course. Once you complete the course, you can turn in your certificate of completion to receive a free 2 GB flash drive from STEP. If you have not already done so, please complete this course ASAP.
The Minority Male Initiative Conference titled Construct Your Future – Build Your Bridge to Success will be held at MCC on March 25 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendance is free. Online registration can be found here https://mcli.maricopa.edu/node/1362/signup. Please let us know if you need transportation. STEP may be able to provide it.
The STEP Office will be closed March 16-18 for Spring Break. Please plan accordingly.
2011-12 Scholarships Available! All students encouraged to apply. One easy, online application. Apply once per academic year to be considered for new scholarships year-round. Deadline: April 10, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. View available scholarships and apply online at: www.maricopa.edu/foundation/apply.
The Diversity Infusion Program is again pleased to offer several students the opportunity to participate in this exciting professional program as interns. The Diversity Student Internship Program allows students to participate with faculty in the activities of the Diversity Infusion Program. The internship is designed to help students improve their leadership skills, diversity skills, learning skills, communication skills, and interpersonal skills. In addition, the internship comes with a $250 scholarship each semester the student participates and completes the requirements of the Program (for up to 2 semesters)! Students can obtain a detailed description of the Internship including the requirements, stipend, and an online application by clicking on the following link:https://sites.google.com/a/maricopa.edu/diversity-infusion-forms/home/student-participation-forms/student-intern-application. The deadline for applications is Monday, March 28^th, 2011.

Have a good week!

Upcoming Event!

2011-03-03T16:03:00.001-07:00

2011 Minority Male Success Conference -Friday, March 25, 2011.

Click here to visit the conference page and register!
This event is sponsored by the supported by the Maricopa Community Colleges
Division of Academic and Student Affairs.

Click here for a conference flyer

STEP this week February 28- March 4

2011-03-03T15:55:00.002-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

Tuesday, March 1 at 12:15 we will have the workshop “Getting in the Zone: Tools for Optimal Performance, Stress Reduction and Success taught by Tom Kirsch. Please join us for this innovative workshop!
Wednesday, March 2 at 12:15 we are hosting the Maximize Your Library Research Workshop taught by Lora Largo.
Friday, March 4 we will be visiting ASU East. We will meet in the STEP Office at 7:45 a.m. for a prompt 8 a.m. departure. Please stop by the office to complete paperwork if you plan on attending.
Progress Reports were due last week. Please turn one in this week if you failed to meet the deadline. If you attended the Kickoff Luncheon, a Progress Report form was provided to you in the information packet we gave you. If you need a Progress Report form, please stop by the office to pick one up. Remember, you must complete a Progress Report to remain in good standing with STEP.
Did you know that if you speak a second language like Spanish, you may be able to get up to 16 college credits if you take a test called the CLEP Test? See Laura for more information!
If you are graduating this Spring and have not seen Laura to file for graduation, please call 602.305.5676 or stop by the office to make an appointment. The deadline to apply for graduation is March 11.
Summer and Fall Registration will open March 7. If you have not met with Laura this academic year to update your check sheet, please make an appointment to meet with her by calling 602.305.5676.
Please go online to complete the Financial Literacy 101 on-line money management course. TRIO has paid for each student to be able to take this course at no charge. The website is www.financialliteracy101.org. Once you get to the website, the Access Code for new students is SMCCSSS. Completing this course is required for all students to remain in good standing with the STEP Program and should take you less than 45 minutes. Please note, you will need to be able to hear audio content to complete the course. Once you complete the course, you can turn in your certificate of completion to receive a free 2 GB flash drive from STEP. If you have not already done so, please complete this course ASAP.
The Minority Male Initiative Conference titled Construct Your Future – Build Your Bridge to Success will be held at MCC on March 25 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendance is free. Online registration can be found here https://mcli.maricopa.edu/node/1362/signup. Please let us know if you need transportation. STEP may be able to provide it.

Have a good week!

STEP this week February 22-25

2011-03-03T15:52:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have a few announcements for this week:

We are pleased to offer an Organizing Financial Records Workshop on Wednesday February 23 at 12:15. This is your chance to take charge of your financial future and pose your questions to an expert. Please join us.
Progress Reports are due this Friday, February 25 by 4:30 p.m. If you attended the Kickoff Luncheon, a Progress Report form was provided to you in the information packet we gave you. If you need a Progress Report form, please stop by the office to pick one up. Remember, you must complete a Progress Report to remain in good standing with STEP.
Did you know that if you speak a second language like Spanish, you may be able to get up to 16 college credits if you take a test called the CLEP Test? See Laura or Sylvia for more information!
If you are graduating this Spring and have not seen Laura to file for graduation, please call 602.305.5676 or stop by the office to make an appointment. The deadline to apply for graduation is March 11.
Summer and Fall Registration will open March 7.
The MCBAA Scholarship is now available on the MCBAA website http://www.maricopa.edu/mcbaa/scholarships.php Click on the link listed as MCBAA on the upper left hand side of the page. It is due February 25.
The BSU at SMCC has Graduation Application scholarships available. See the application here http://students.southmountaincc.edu/NR/rdonlyres/F5D7E606-70B3-4CE9-9475-3F7FF7DF3514/5920/ScholarshipApplication2011.pdf. The deadline to apply is Monday, February 28.
Please go online to complete the Financial Literacy 101 on-line money management course. TRIO has paid for each student to be able to take this course at no charge. The website is www.financialliteracy101.org. Once you get to the website, the Access Code for new students is SMCCSSS. Completing this course is required for all students to remain in good standing with the STEP Program and should take you less than 45 minutes. Please note, you will need to be able to hear audio content to complete the course. Once you complete the course, you can turn in your certificate of completion to receive a free 2 GB flash drive from STEP. If you have not already done so, please complete this course ASAP.
The Minority Male Initiative Conference titled Construct Your Future – Build Your Bridge to Success will be held at MCC from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendance is free. Online registration can be found here https://mcli.maricopa.edu/node/1362/signup. Please let us know if you need transportation. STEP may be able to provide it.

Have a good week!

Additional Opportunities

2011-02-16T12:02:00.001-07:00

We have a few additional announcements for this week:

Please go online to complete the Financial Literacy 101 on-line money management course. TRIO has paid for each student to be able to take this course at no charge. The website is www.financialliteracy101.org. Once you get to the website, the Access Code for new students is SMCCSSS. Completing this course is required for all students to remain in good standing with the STEP Program and should take you less than 45 minutes. Please note, you will need to be able to hear audio content to complete the course. Once you complete the course, you can turn in your certificate of completion to receive a free 2 GB flash drive from STEP. If you have not already done so, please complete this course ASAP.
The Minority Male Initiative Conference titled Construct Your Future – Build Your Bridge to Success will be held at MCC from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendance is free. Online registration is forthcoming. Please let us know if you need transportation. STEP may be able to provide it.
Don’t forget – we added an NAU Workshop for today (Tuesday, February 15, 2011) at 12:15. This is the only opportunity you will have this semester to meet an NAU Advisor during a STEP Workshop! Don’t miss out!

STEP this week 2/14-2/18

2011-02-16T11:59:00.001-07:00

Dear STEP Students,

We have a few announcements for this week:

Tuesday, February 15 at 12:15 p.m. we are pleased to host an NAU Workshop taught by Frank Pina. Please stop by to learn more about NAU and NAU Connect!
Wednesday, February 16 we will have a Personal Statement Workshop at 12:15 p.m. If you don’t have a personal statement or if you are wondering if your statement is good enough to get those scholarship dollars, this is the workshop for you!
Thursday, February 17 at 12:15 p.m. we will offer an ASU MAPP Workshop taught by Dana Roy. Many of you have questions about the MAPP and this is your chance to get those questions answered by an expert. Don’t miss out!
Monday, February 21 the TRIO Office will be closed in observance of President’s Day.
Did you know that if you speak a second language, you may be able to get up to 16 college credits if you take a test called the CLEP Test? See Laura for more information!
If you are graduating this Spring and have not seen Laura to file for graduation, please call 602.305.5676 or stop by the office to make an appointment. The deadline to apply for graduation is March 11.
Summer and Fall Registration will open March 7.
The MCBAA Scholarship is now available on the MCBAA website http://www.maricopa.edu/mcbaa/scholarships.php Click on the link listed as MCBAA on the upper left hand side of the page. It is due February 25.
The BSU at SMCC has Graduation Application scholarships available. See the application here http://students.southmountaincc.edu/NR/rdonlyres/F5D7E606-70B3-4CE9-9475-3F7FF7DF3514/5920/ScholarshipApplication2011.pdf. The deadline to apply is Monday, February 28.
The Nina Mason Scholarship Application is available at this website https://www.maricopa.edu/studentaffairs/NMPLS/Nina/Ninaapp.php or in the Financial Aid Office. Keep in mind this scholarship has very specific requirements for applicants. You have to be in foster care, have physical disabilities or be an adult with dependent children to be eligible to apply.

Have a great week!

STEP this week 2/7-2/11

2011-02-09T14:39:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

Here are the announcements for this week:

Friday, February 11 we will be taking students to ASU Downtown Campus for a campus tour. We will meet in the TRIO Office at 7:45 a.m. for a prompt 8:00 a.m. departure. After the tour, we will have lunch and then tour the Body Worlds exhibit at the AZ Science Center. We should return to campus by approximately 5:00 p.m. Please stop by the office to complete paperwork if you are interested in attending. This tour will be limited to the first 13 students who sign up, so don’t delay!
Saturday, February 12 is College Goal Saturday here at SMCC from 2-4 p.m. Financial Aid Staff will be available to help you complete your 2011-2012 FAFSA. Remember, you don’t want to miss the March 1 priority deadline. For more information, see this link http://blog.southmountaincc.edu/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=87.
We will be rescheduling the U of A Campus Tour, originally scheduled on Friday, February 18. We will update you as soon as the new date of the campus tour is available.
The MCBAA Scholarship is now available on the MCBAA website http://www.maricopa.edu/mcbaa/scholarships.php Click on the link listed as MCBAA on the upper left hand side of the page. It is due February 25.
The BSU at SMCC has Graduation Application scholarships available. See the application here http://students.southmountaincc.edu/NR/rdonlyres/F5D7E606-70B3-4CE9-9475-3F7FF7DF3514/5920/ScholarshipApplication2011.pdf. The deadline to apply is Monday, February 28.
The Nina Mason Scholarship Application is available at this website https://www.maricopa.edu/studentaffairs/NMPLS/Nina/Ninaapp.php or in the Financial Aid Office. Keep in mind this scholarship has very specific requirements for applicants. You have to be in foster care, have physical disabilities or be an adult with dependent children to be eligible to apply.
Laura Smith, the STEP Academic Advisor, will be keeping later hours on Wednesdays to accommodate those students who need evening academic advising. EVERY WEDNESDAY, Laura’s hours will be from 10:30a.m.-7 p.m. Please call 602.305.5676 to make an appointment to see Laura.
If you need to request a letter of recommendation from a TRIO Staff member, please complete a Letter of Recommendation request form, found in the TRIO Conference Room and attach a copy of your personal statement, resume, and information about the scholarship. You need to request the letter directly from Ruben, Laura, Sylvia, or Karen. Please allow AT LEAST one week before the due date to give staff enough time to write the letter for you. Also, if your scholarship asks for two or three letters, you will likely want to request one letter from a TRIO Staff member and the other two or three letters from your professors or other club advisors to make your application more competitive and likely to receive the scholarship.

Have a great week!

STEP this week 1/30-2/4

2011-01-31T12:55:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have a few announcements for this week:

Tuesday, February 1 from 12:15-1:15 we are offering a Calculator Workshop. This is your chance to learn how to use your graphing calculator! This is the only time this semester we will offer this workshop, so don’t miss out!
We have added a new workshop to the schedule. Thursday, February 3 we will offer a Resume Workshop from 12:15-1:15 taught by Natalie Huddlestein from Career Services. Is your resume up to date? Many scholarships require you to submit an updated resume. Come by to learn how to make your resume stand out from the rest.
Friday, February 4 we will be taking students to ASU Tempe Campus for a campus tour. We will meet in the TRIO Office at 8:30 a.m. for a prompt 8:45 departure. We should return at approximately 2:30 p.m. Please stop by the office to complete paperwork if you are interested in attending. We have limited space for this tour, so don’t delay signing up.
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities National Internship Program, which provides students with paid corporate and federal internships, is currently promoting it’s Summer 2011 program. Application Process: Application is online and requires a resume and essay. Click here to access. All majors should apply. Deadline to apply: February 25, 2011.
Laura Smith, the STEP Academic Advisor, will be keeping later hours on Wednesdays to accommodate those students who need evening academic advising. EVERY WEDNESDAY, Laura’s hours will be from 10:30a.m.-7 p.m. Please call 602.305.5676 to make an appointment to see Laura.
The Nina Mason Scholarship Application is available at this website https://www.maricopa.edu/studentaffairs/NMPLS/Nina/Ninaapp.php or in the Financial Aid Office. Keep in mind this scholarship has very specific requirements for applicants. You have to be in foster care, have physical disabilities or be an adult with dependent children to be eligible to apply.
Maricopa is pleased to offer a Transfer Scholarship page at the following website http://www.maricopa.edu/transfer/partners/scholarships.php. Check it out to find more transfer scholarships!
If you need to request a letter of recommendation from a TRIO Staff member, please complete a Letter of Recommendation request form, found in the TRIO Conference Room and attach a copy of your personal statement, resume, and information about the scholarship. You need to request the letter directly from Ruben, Laura, Sylvia, or Karen. Please allow AT LEAST one week before the due date to give staff enough time to write the letter for you. Also, if your scholarship asks for two or three letters, you will likely want to request one letter from a TRIO Staff member and the other two or three letters from your professors or other club advisors to make your application more competitive and likely to receive the scholarship.

Hope you have a great week!

STEP this week 1/24-1/28

2011-01-24T09:39:00.002-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

Welcome back to the Spring 2011 semester! We have a few announcements for this week:

Thursday, January 27 at 12:15 is our first workshop of the semester – the ASU Application Workshop. Many of you have been coming in to the office with questions about applying to ASU. This is your chance to talk to the expert – Dana Roy, ASU Transfer Advisor. Please join us!
Laura Smith, the STEP Academic Advisor, will be keeping later hours on Wednesdays to accommodate those students who need evening academic advising. EVERY WEDNESDAY, Laura’s hours will be from 10:30a.m.-7 p.m. Please call 602.305.5676 to make an appointment to see Laura.
If you didn’t make it to the Kickoff Lunch last Wednesday, please stop by the office to pick up an information packet with the schedule for the semester, progress report form, and tutoring hours.
The English Tutoring Hours have been revised for the Spring 2011 semester. STEP English Tutoring will be available Mon and Weds 9:30am -10:30am and 2pm-4:30pm and Tues and Thurs 1pm-5pm. Karen Odle will be doing all of the English Tutoring for the semester.
The Nina Mason Scholarship Application is available at this website https://www.maricopa.edu/studentaffairs/NMPLS/Nina/Ninaapp.php or in the Financial Aid Office. Keep in mind this scholarship has very specific requirements for applicants. You have to be in foster care, have physical disabilities or be an adult with dependent children to be eligible to apply.
Maricopa is pleased to offer a Transfer Scholarship page at the following website http://www.maricopa.edu/transfer/partners/scholarships.php. Check it out to find more transfer scholarships!
If you need to request a letter of recommendation from a TRIO Staff member, please complete a Letter of Recommendation request form, found in the TRIO Conference Room and attach a copy of your personal statement, resume, and information about the scholarship. You need to request the letter directly from Ruben, Laura, Sylvia, or Karen. Please allow AT LEAST one week before the due date to give staff enough time to write the letter for you. Also, if your scholarship asks for two or three letters, you will likely want to request one letter from a TRIO Staff member and the other two or three letters from your professors or other club advisors to make your application more competitive and likely to receive the scholarship.
Don’t forget to check the STEP blog for updates, scholarship and internship info! The blog can be found at the following link: http://www.stepsmcc.blogspot.com/

Have a great week!

STEP this week 12/13-12/17

2011-01-24T09:38:00.000-07:00

Hello Students,

We have a few announcements for this week:

Thursday, December 17 is our final cultural event for the semester. We will be attending the Nutcracker Ballet. We will meet in the office at 4:15 p.m. for a prompt 4:30 p.m. departure. Please let us know ASAP and at least 24 hours in advance if you are no longer able to attend. We have a very long wait list of students who would like to go and if you no-show or delay letting us know that you cannot attend, you deny other students the opportunity to participate.
Please return all calculators and tape recorders by Thursday, December 16 to avoid a costly charge being added to your student account. Laptops are now overdue!
The TRIO Offices will be moving the week of 12/20 in the Student Union Game and TV Rooms. Look for us there in the Spring semester, beginning January 3. Tutoring will be held in the library during finals week in order to accommodate moving and packing.
In order to accommodate our move, we will be closed on Friday December 17 and the week of December 20. SMCC will be closed December 24-January 2.

Wishing you all good luck on your finals and a wonderful holiday break!

STEP this week 12/6-12/10

2011-01-24T09:36:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have a few announcements this week:

The TRIO Offices will be moving the week of 12/20 in the Student Union Game and TV Rooms. Look for us there in the Spring semester! Tutoring will be held in the library during finals week in order to accommodate moving and packing.
Please make sure you return all laptops, tape recorders, and calculators when they are due to the TRIO Office! Laptops are due on the date listed on your contract. Calculators and tape recorders are due immediately after your last final. If you do not turn these items in on time, you will get a costly hold put on your student account.
Thursday, December 16 we will be attending a performance of the Nutcracker. We will be meeting in the office at 4:15 p.m. for a prompt 4:30 p.m. departure. If you are signed up and can no longer attend, please notify us by email, call 602.305.5676, or stop by the office to let us know. We have several students on the wait list.

Have a good week!

STEP this week 11/29- 12/3

2010-11-29T11:57:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We hope you had a restful break and are ready to tackle the last couple of weeks of classes and exams. We have a few announcements for this week:

Grant Aid Applications are due this Friday, December 3 by 4:30 p.m. Please make sure you turn in your application on time to ensure full consideration. Remember, you need to turn in the Application, Checklist, and Contract, as well as your Personal Statement. If you have more than the 6 activities listed on the Checklist, please attach a separate typed list with your name on it listing all additional activities you would like the committee to consider. Also, please remember to include any supporting documentation if you volunteered off campus.
Wednesday, December 1 from 10 a.m. to noon is Academic Discovery Day in the LRC Patio. Stop by to speak to representatives from Universities about transfer opportunities.
Friday, December 3 is a volunteer opportunity with St. Mary’s Food Bank from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the PAC. Please see Student Life and Leadership if you have any questions and make sure to sign in when you get there to get credit for STEP.
The STEP Office will be moving later this month to what is currently the Game Room and the TV Room in the Student Union. Look for us there when you get back from the Holiday Break!

Have a good week!

STEP this week 11/15-11/19

2010-11-29T11:56:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have a few announcements this week:

Today, Tuesday November 16, 2010 at 12:15 we have a What to Expect When You Transfer Workshop taught by Laura Smith and myself. This is your chance to ask questions about the transfer process. Hope to see you there.
Wednesday, November 17 at 12:15 is our final workshop of the semester Understanding Your Credit Workshop. Please join us for this important workshop.
Thursday, November 18 we will be attending the cultural performance How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I sent an email to those students who are signed up to attend. Please let me know ASAP if you did not receive the email.
The TRIO office will be closed Thursday and Friday November 25 and 26 in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Grant Aid applications are due Friday, December 3 by 4:30 p.m. Please make sure to get your application in on time if you would like to be considered for an award. Remember, you must turn in the application, checklist, contract, and personal statement. If you have extra activities beyond the 6 listed on the application, please attach a separate typed list to your application. The committee will not consider activities not listed on your checklist or attachment.

Have a good week!

STEP this week 11/8-11/12

2010-11-29T11:54:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have a few announcements for this week:

Thursday, November 11 the TRIO Office and the SMCC Campus will be closed in observance of Veteran’s Day.
Friday, November 12 we will be visiting ASU West. Please stop by the office before Wednesday to secure your spot if you would like to go with us to on this campus tour.
If you have signed up for the cultural event How the Grinch Stole Christmas on November 18 and can no longer attend, please email me back, stop by the office, or call 602.305.5676 to let us know ASAP.
We have a new Math Tutor. Her name is Magali Chavez and she will be available to tutor all Math courses from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday and Wednesday.

Have a good week!

Scholarship Opportunity!

2010-11-02T08:45:00.000-07:00

Women’s Philanthropy Circle

The purpose of the Maricopa Colleges Foundation Women's Philanthropy Circle is to create resources and raise funds to diminish barriers to higher education for MCCCD women students. In doing so, the WPC will cultivate women as philanthropists.

The Women's Philanthropy Circle invites applications for the WPC Scholarship. Five students will be awarded $1,000 each for the Spring, 2011 semester based on the following criteria:

attended at least one semester at a Maricopa Community College;
earned at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average;
are enrolled in the semester for which the scholarship will be awarded for at least 6 credit hours;
can describe barriers to their success in college; (there will be an additional question on the application to cover this)
and, are a resident of Maricopa County.

Scholarship awards are potentially renewable; recipients are asked to apply each academic year.

As part of the WPC Mission to cultivate women as philanthropists so they can one day reach back to help other women, scholarship recipients will be expected to:

participate in Women’s Philanthropy Circle events; and
speak to groups about how the scholarship has helped them to achieve their educational goals.

Applications must be submitted on-line before Dec. 5, 2010 through the STARS system of the Maricopa Colleges Foundation.

STEP this week 11/1-11/5

2010-11-02T08:43:00.002-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have a few announcements for this week:

Wednesday, November 3 we have a Personal Statement Workshop taught by Kevin O’Neill at 12:15 in the STEP Office. You will learn what it takes to put together a winning personal statement that you can adapt to apply for various scholarships. This is the last Personal Statement Workshop we will have this semester, so don’t miss out!
Thursday, November 4 Dana Roy will be here to offer an ASU Application Workshop at 12:15 in the STEP Office. If you are considering transferring to ASU, you should come learn about the transfer process. This is the last ASU Application Workshop we will have this semester. Please join us!
Friday, November 5 is St. Mary’s Food Bank from 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the PAC. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Office of Student Life and Leadership.
Next Friday, November 12 we will be visiting ASU West. Please stop by the office to secure your spot if you would like to go with us to on this campus tour.

Have a good week!

STEP this week 10/25-10/29

2010-11-02T08:41:00.001-07:00

Dear STEP Students,

We have a few announcements for this week:

We have added a workshop on Tuesday, October 26 from 12:15-1:15 called From Stress to Success: Coping and Thriving Under Pressure taught by Tom Kirsch. Tom is one of our most popular instructors. Don’t miss out on this great workshop!
Thursday, October 28 from 12:15-1:15 the Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities will be here to present a workshop about their National Internship Program. If you are interested in doing an internship, don’t miss out on this important workshop!
Friday, October 29, the TRiO Office will be closed so that staff can attend the Maricopa Student Success Conference.
Laura Smith, the STEP Academic Advisor, will be holding late hours every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. This is a great opportunity for those students taking evening classes to connect with our advisor to update check sheets, register for Spring 2010, and apply for graduation. Remember, visiting Laura counts as one Academic Unit toward Grant Aid! Please call 602.305.5676 or stop by the office to schedule an appointment.

Have a good week!

STEP this week 10/18-10/22

2010-10-18T17:13:00.002-07:00

Dear STEP Students,

We have a few announcements for this week:

The Hispanic Women’s Conference will be Thursday and Friday October 21-22. The HWC focuses on leadership, career development, and other professional workshops. STEP has a limited number of tickets for students to attend. This opportunity is open to all women in the STEP Program. The Conference will have workshops on various career and success topics. Please stop by the office ASAP to secure your spot in you are interested in attending. Even if you can only attend Thursday OR Friday, we may have a spot for you. Please stop by the office for more information.
The Men’s Leadership Luncheon is Thursday, October 21 from 11:30-1 p.m. in the Student Union. This event is open to both men and women in the STEP Program. Please stop by the office or email me back to sign up for the Luncheon. Space is limited, so don’t delay!
Thursday, October 21 is the Beauty and the Beast performance. We will be meeting in the STEP office at 4:45 p.m. for a prompt 5:00 p.m. departure. If you are signed up and are no longer planning on attending, please let us know ASAP so that we can give your spot to a student on the wait list.
Mark your calendars! The College Depot on the 2^nd floor of the Burton Barr Phoenix Library Wednesday is holding some valuable workshops! October 21 they will offer a Searching for Scholarships Workshop from 5-6pm. On October 27 from 5-6 p.m. they will offer a How to Pay for College Workshop. Call 602-261-8847 or email college.depot@phoenix.gov for more information and to reserve your spot.
ALERT! We have added a workshop on Tuesday, October 26 from 12:15-1:15 called From Stress to Success: Coping and Thriving Under Pressure taught by Tom Kirsch. Tom is one of our most popular instructors. Don’t miss out on this great workshop!
Laura Smith, the STEP Academic Advisor, will be holding late hours every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. This is a great opportunity for those students taking evening classes to connect with our advisor to update check sheets, register for Spring 2010, and apply for graduation. Remember, visiting Laura counts as one Academic Unit toward Grant Aid! Please call 602.305.5676 or stop by the office to schedule an appointment.
We have less than 12 spots left for new STEP students. If you have a friend or relative who might be interested in STEP, please send them to our office so we can give them some information. Don’t delay – we only have a few weeks left for our fall recruitment!

Have a good week!

STEP this week 10/11-10/15

2010-10-18T17:10:00.002-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have several announcements for this week:

Tuesday October 12 from 12:15-1:15, we are pleased to offer a Nursing Workshop for students who are interested in learning more about pursuing a career in Nursing. This is the only time we will offer this workshop this semester, so don’t miss out!
Wednesday, October 13 from 12:15-1:15, we are offering a Scholarship Workshop taught by Financial Aid staff. They will provide valuable information and tips for those students who are interested in learning how to look for scholarships. Please join us!
Friday, October 15 we will be visiting ASU Main Campus for a Campus Tour. We will meet at 9:30 for a prompt 9:45 departure and return by 3pm. If you signed up and can no longer attend, please let us know ASAP.
Mark your calendars! The College Depot on the 2^nd floor of the Burton Barr Phoenix Library Wednesday is holding some valuable workshops! October 21 they will offer a Searching for Scholarships Workshop from 5-6pm. On October 27 from 5-6 p.m. they will offer a How to Pay for College Workshop. Call 602-261-8847 or email college.depot@phoenix.gov for more information and to reserve your spot.
The Hispanic Women’s Conference will be October 21-22. STEP has a limited number of tickets for students to attend. This opportunity is open to all women in the STEP Program. The Conference will have workshops on various career and success topics. Please stop by the office to secure your spot in you are interested in attending.
Laura Smith, the STEP Academic Advisor, will be holding late hours every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. This is a great opportunity for those students taking evening classes to connect with our advisor to update check sheets, register for Spring 2010, and apply for graduation. Remember, visiting Laura counts as one Academic Unit toward Grant Aid! Please call 602.305.5676 or stop by the office to schedule an appointment.
We have less than 17 spots left for new STEP students. If you have a friend or relative who might be interested in STEP, please send them to our office so we can give them some information. Don’t delay – we only have a few weeks left for our fall recruitment!
Remember, if you complete your Financial Literacy 101 on-line course and bring in your certificate, you will receive a free flash drive from STEP! Visit www.financialliteracy101.org and use the password SMCCSSS to login the New Member field.

Have a good week!

Two Additional Opportunities

2010-10-07T15:23:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have two additional opportunities to bring to your attention this week:

The ASU Campus Tour will be on Friday, October 15. If you are interested in attending, please stop by the office to fill out field trip paperwork to secure your spot. Don’t delay – seats are filling up fast!

On Thursday, October 21 we are inviting STEP students to attend the SMCC Men’s Luncheon on campus from 11:30 – 1 p.m. There will be a motivational speaker. Please stop by the office to RSVP if you plan to attend. Seating is limited.

Hispanic Women's Conference

2010-10-07T15:22:00.000-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

I am writing to give you more information about a wonderful opportunity we have to send 18 student to the Hispanic Women’s Conference on October 21-22. The Conference will feature many speakers from all kinds of different industries speaking out personal and career success. There will also be a Scholarship Luncheon on Friday, in addition to other workshops. The HWC has always been one of our most highly rated activities and if you are able to attend, we highly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. Space is limited, so stop by the STEP Office as soon as you can to secure your spot for this event. For more information including an itinerary please see this website http://www.hispanicwomensconference.org/catalog/Itinerary_Agenda-5-1.html.

Even if you are only able to attend one out of the two days, we encourage you to participate. This event is open to ALL women in the STEP Program. Remember, STEP covers the cost of the conference, transportation, and lunch on both days.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

STEP this week 10/4-10/8

2010-10-07T15:20:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have a few announcements for this week:

Tuesday, October 5 we will offer the Maximize Your Library Research Workshop from 12:15 to 1:15 taught by librarian Lora Largo. This is a fantastic workshop for those of you who struggle with bibliographies and citations, and will also focus on library resources. This workshop counts as one Academic Unit toward Grant Aid.
Thursday, October 7, we will offer a U of A Application Workshop taught by U of A transfer advisor Courtney Joseph from 12:15 – 1:15. This is a great opportunity to learn what it takes to transfer to U of A. This workshop counts as one Academic Unit toward Grant Aid.
The Hispanic Women’s Conference will be October 21-22. STEP has a limited number of tickets for students to attend. This opportunity is open to all women in the STEP Program. The Conference will have workshops on various career and success topics. Please stop by the office to secure your spot in you are interested in attending.
Laura Smith, the STEP Academic Advisor, will be holding late hours every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. This is a great opportunity for those students taking evening classes to connect with our advisor to update check sheets, register for Spring 2010, and apply for graduation. Remember, visiting Laura counts as one Academic Unit toward Grant Aid! Please call 602.305.5676 or stop by the office to schedule an appointment.
Grant Aid is available this semester. Grant Aid is available for STEP students who are currently receiving a Pell Grant. It is additional money that you can use for educationally related expenses in the Spring 2011 semester. Applications are available in the STEP Office. If you have never applied for Grant Aid before, you will have to go over the application process with a staff member (Sylvia, Laura, Sianna or Ruben). We strongly encourage all eligible students to apply! The application process will take you the entire semester to complete, so don’t delay in stopping by the office to learn about the requirements. Now is the time!
Field trip forms are now available. If you are interested in attending any of the campus visits, Broadway shows, or the Hispanic Women’s Conference, please stop by to fill out the paperwork and secure your spot. Field trip forms are located in the shelves on the wall as you walk into the office. Currently, you need to fill out one form for each field trip you would like to attend.
We are currently recruiting new STEP students. If you have a friend or relative who might be interested in STEP, please send them to our office so we can give them some information. Don’t delay – we only have a few weeks left for our fall recruitment!
Remember, if you complete your Financial Literacy 101 on-line course and bring in your certificate, you will receive a free flash drive from STEP! Visit www.financialliteracy101.org and use the password SMCCSSS to login the New Member field.

Have a good week!

STEP this week 9/27-10/1

2010-09-30T11:17:00.001-07:00

Dear STEP Students,

We have a few announcements this week:

Tuesday, September 28 we will offer the Making Sense of Your Money Workshop at 12:15 in the TRiO Conference Room. This is a great workshop to learn more about how to budget and manage your money. Please join us! This workshop counts as one Financial Unit towards STEP Grant Aid.
Thursday, September 30 we will offer a Western International University workshop 12:15 in the TRiO Conference Room . Please join us if you are interested in learning more about transfer opportunities to Western International.
The Hispanic Women’s Conference will be October 21-22. STEP has a limited number of tickets for students to attend. This opportunity is open to all women in the STEP Program. The Conference will have workshops on various career and success topics. Please stop by the office to secure your spot in you are interested in attending.
Laura Smith, the STEP Academic Advisor, will be holding late hours every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. This is a great opportunity for those students taking evening classes to connect with our advisor to update check sheets, register for Spring 2010, and apply for graduation. Remember, visiting Laura counts as one Academic Unit toward Grant Aid! Please call 602.305.5676 or stop by the office to schedule an appointment.
Grant Aid is available this semester. Grant Aid is available for STEP students who are currently receiving a Pell Grant. It is additional money that you can use for educationally related expenses in the Spring 2011 semester. Applications are available in the STEP Office. If you have never applied for Grant Aid before, you will have to go over the application process with a staff member (Sylvia, Laura, Sianna or Ruben). We strongly encourage all eligible students to apply! The application process will take you the entire semester to complete, so don’t delay in stopping by the office to learn about the requirements. Now is the time!
Field trip forms are now available. If you are interested in attending any of the campus visits, Broadway shows, or the Hispanic Women’s Conference, please stop by to fill out the paperwork and secure your spot. Field trip forms are located in the shelves on the wall as you walk into the office. Currently, you need to fill out one form for each field trip you would like to attend.
We are currently recruiting new STEP students. If you have a friend or relative who might be interested in STEP, please send them to our office so we can give them some information. Don’t delay – we only have a few weeks left for our fall recruitment!
Remember, if you complete your Financial Literacy 101 on-line course and bring in your certificate, you will receive a free flash drive from STEP! Visit www.financialliteracy101.org and use the password SMCCSSS to login the New Member field.

Have a good week!

STEP this week 9/13-9/17

2010-09-13T08:32:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have a few announcements for this week:

Due to popular demand, we have added a Calculator Workshop to the schedule. The workshop will be on Wednesday, September 15 from 12:15-1:15 taught by Dominic in the TRiO Office. Please make sure to add this important workshop to your calendar. This is the ONLY Calculator Workshop we have scheduled for this semester, so hope to see you there!
Grant Aid is available this semester. Grant Aid is available for STEP students who are currently receiving a Pell Grant. It is additional money that you can use for educationally related expenses in the Spring 2011 semester. Applications are available in the STEP Office. If you have never applied for Grant Aid before, you will have to go over the application process with a staff member (Sylvia, Laura, Sianna or Ruben). We strongly encourage all eligible students to apply! The application process will take you the entire semester to complete, so don’t delay in stopping by the office to learn about the requirements. Now is the time!
Field trip forms are now available. If you are interested in attending any of the campus visits, Broadway shows, or the Hispanic Women’s Conference, please stop by to fill out the paperwork and secure your spot. Field trip forms are located in the shelves on the wall as you walk into the office. Currently, you need to fill out one form for each field trip you would like to attend.
Mark your calendars – we have added a workshop! On Thursday, September 23 from 12:15-1:15 Dana Roy from ASU will be doing an ASU Application Workshop. If you are wondering how to apply, when you should apply, or have questions, this is the workshop for you!
We are currently recruiting new STEP students. If you have a friend or relative who might be interested in STEP, please send them to our office so we can give them some information. Don’t delay – we only have a few weeks left for our fall recruitment!
Remember, if you complete your Financial Literacy 101 on-line course and bring in your certificate, you will receive a free flash drive from STEP! Visit www.financialliteracy101.org and use the password SMCCSSS to login the New Member field.

Have a good week!

STEP this week 9/7-9/10

2010-09-13T08:18:00.000-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have a few announcements this week:

Grant Aid is available this semester. Grant Aid is available for STEP students who are currently receiving a Pell Grant. It is additional money that you can use for educationally related expenses in the Spring 2011 semester. Applications are available in the STEP Office. If you have never applied for Grant Aid before, you will have to go over the application process with a staff member (Sylvia, Laura, Sianna or Ruben). We strongly encourage all eligible students to apply!
Field trip forms are now available. If you are interested in attending any of the campus visits, Broadway shows, or the Hispanic Women’s Conference, please stop by to fill out the paperwork and secure your spot.
Mark your calendars – we have added a workshop! On Thursday, September 23 from 12:15-1:15 Dana Roy from ASU will be doing an ASU Application Workshop. If you are wondering how to apply, when you should apply, or have questions, this is the workshop for you!
We are currently recruiting new STEP students. If you have a friend or relative who might be interested in STEP, please send them to our office so we can give them some information. Don’t delay – we only have a few weeks left for our fall recruitment!
Remember, if you complete your Financial Literacy 101 on-line course and bring in your certificate, you will receive a free flash drive from STEP! Visit www.financialliteracy101.org and use the password SMCCSSS to login the New Member field.

Hope you have a good week!

STEP this week 8/30-9/3

2010-08-31T16:19:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

Welcome back! We have a few announcements for this week:

If you did not make it to the Kickoff Lunch last week or you had to leave early, we will be posting the PowerPoint presentations on the STEP Blog stepsmcc.blogspot.com. Also, please be sure you stop by the office to pick up a packet with the schedule of events for the semester and other important information.
Grant Aid is available this semester. Grant Aid is available for STEP students who are currently receiving a Pell Grant. It is additional money that you can use for educationally related expenses in the Spring 2011 semester. Applications are available in the STEP Office. If you have never applied for Grant Aid before, you will have to go over the application process with a staff member (Sylvia, Laura, Sianna or Ruben). We strongly encourage all eligible students to apply!
This Friday is the first St. Mary’s Food Bank community service opportunity. Students will meet in front of the PAC at 11 am to help with food distribution. Make sure you sign in when you get there to get credit for STEP. This event counts toward the requirements for Grant Aid.
Field trip forms are now available. If you are interested in attending any of the campus visits, Broadway shows, or the Hispanic Women’s Conference, please stop by to fill out the paperwork and secure your spot.
The STEP Office will be closed Monday, September 6 in observance of Labor Day.

Have a great week!

STEP this week 5/3-5/7

2010-05-04T16:21:00.001-07:00

Dear STEP Students:

We have a few announcements for this week:

Thank you to those of you who were able to attend the STEP End of the Year Ceremony. If you were not able to attend, please stop by the office to complete a STEP Program Evaluation so that we can continue to serve you effectively.
STEP Graduates: If you were not able to attend the STEP End of the Year Ceremony, please stop by the office ASAP to pick up your graduation certificates and STEP medal to wear at graduation.
We have 5 seats left for the Broadway performance of In the Heights on Thursday, June 17. If you are interested in attending, please stop by the office to fill out field trip paperwork. This is a first come first-served opportunity.
We are currently gathering information for our Fall Newsletter. Have you been awarded a scholarship or internship? Please let us know so that we can share your good news!
Have you applied for Financial Aid for the 2010-2011 school year? Every Thursday the Financial Aid Office will be offering Financial Aid Workshops for our students. The workshops will provide a general overview of how to apply for financial aid, what to expect once the application has been submitted, and the importance of scholarships. Workshops will be held every Thursday from 2-3pm in the Computer Commons area (room TC-226) and they are scheduled to run through July 15th. Be sure to let us know if you attend this workshop so that you can get credit for STEP.
Are you comfortable navigating MyMaricopa? Wednesdays from 11-noon Academic Advising will be doing workshops on How to Navigate your MyMaricopa account. Learn how to search and sign up for classes, request transcripts, view your grades and so much more! Workshops will be held on the following dates: May 5 and May 19. All MyMaricopa Workshops will be held in the LAC. Don’t forget to let us know if you attend so that you can get credit from STEP.
Convocations are available for graduating students! These are events that celebrate your accomplishment in graduating from the Maricopa Community CollegesThe Native American Convocation will be held May 8. For more information click here: http://www.maricopa.edu/utec/convocation.php. Remember, you must register online if you would like to participate in these events and the deadlines are rapidly approaching. We will continue to inform you about additional convocation events as we hear about them. Don’t miss out!

Have a good week!

SMCC is looking for Cougar Ambassadors

2010-04-20T15:32:00.002-07:00

South Mountain Community College

COUGAR AMBASSADOR OPENINGS!

2010-2011 ACADEMIC YEAR!

COMPLETE YOUR STUDENT APPLICATIONS & RECOMMENDATION TODAY!

Good day SMCC Community,

We are looking for outstanding and interested students who are friendly, enthusiastic, looking for additional leadership skills, have a cumulative college GPA of 2.7, enrolled in at least 6 credit hours, be in good academic and disciplinary standing and believe in the mission of South Mountain Community College and the Cougar Ambassadors Program.

The Cougar Ambassadors will gain immeasurable leadership training while serving as college recruiters, campus tour guides, student orientation leaders and welcome center paraprofessionals. Professional training will be provided in the areas of leadership, communication skills, student services, marketing and recruitment in order to effectively promote programs, services and resources available at South Mountain Community College.

Potential Ambassadors must complete an application and be recommended by a SMCC faculty or staff and once selected Cougars must agree to:

Commit to a year of service to the Ambassadors Program.

Attend professional and leadership trainings throughout summer, fall and spring semesters.

Serve 6 hours at each of the semester Orientation programs as student orientation leaders.

Serve as needed during the semester giving campus tours and attending outreach events involving high school students and other potential students.

Participate in bi-weekly trainings/meetings.

Applications are available by contacting, Christopher Erran, Program Manager at 602-305-5607 or email at christopher.erran@smcmail.maricopa.edu

Also, additional Information is also available at the following website:

http://students.southmountaincc.edu/StudentLife/StudentLifeLeadership/CougarAmbassador.htm.

Deadline to submit application is May 30^th to Christopher Erran, Recruitment and Advisement Office, Student Enrollment Services (SES 111).

The Mission of the Cougar Ambassadors is to recruit and orient potential, new and current students to South Mountain Community College for a positive and successful college experience.

ASU Scholarships!

2010-04-20T15:30:00.001-07:00

McKee Family Scholarship - Additional Criteria

· Preference for students who graduated from South Mountain High School or Central High School or graduated from South Mountain Community College or Phoenix College.

· Preference for recipients completing their junior year (sophomore at time of application).

· Preference for students in the following majors: African and African American studies, American Indian studies, justice studies, religious studies, transborder Chicana/o and Latina/o studies and women and gender studies.

· Letter of recommendation required.

· Recipients must provide evidence of commitment to the community through service and a personal statement that reflects both academic and personal goals.

First-Generation Scholarships At Arizona State University.

Applications for 2010 scholarships are now available and close May 14, 2010.

First-generation college students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences may apply for approximately $16,000 in scholarships. First generation scholarship applications are available each spring and scholarships are awarded and distributed for the fall and spring semesters.

There are several different scholarships with varied application criteria. Only one application is required for all scholarships. Students will be considered for all scholarships for which they are eligible.

The scholarships listed below are open to students in all majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (approximate scholarship amounts for 2010-11).

Please review the criteria for each scholarship before completing the application to be sure that you meet the requirements.

· Bidstrup Foundation First-Generation Scholarships (approximately ten scholarships of $1,000 each)

· CLAS Alumni First-Generation Scholarship (one scholarship of approximately $1,500)

· CLAS First-Generation Scholarships (three scholarships of approximately $600 each)

· Dean’s Advancement Council First-Generation Scholarship (one scholarship of approximately $600)

· Al and Viola Madrid Endowed Scholarship (one scholarship of approximately $1,200)

· McKee Family Scholarship (one scholarship of approximately $900)

· John and Susan Rockefeller First-Generation Scholarship (one scholarship of approximately $1,200)

· Faire Elizabeth Virgin Sax Scholarships (up to 3 scholarships of approximately $7,000 each)

There are also First-Generation scholarships available for students in specific majors.

Questions

Please contact Michele Daley by e-mail.

Selection Process

Students must complete and submit all application materials to Michele Daley, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Office of Student and Academic Programs, Fulton Center, Suite 135, 300 E. University Dr., Tempe, AZ 85287-6405, by 5pm, Friday May 14, 2010. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences First-Generation Scholarship Selection Committee selects the recipients. All applicants will be notified by the end of July.

STEP this week 4/19-4/23

2010-04-19T12:07:00.002-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have a few announcements/events coming up this week:

You should have received an invitation to our End of the Year Ceremony to be held Thursday April 29 from noon-1:30 p.m. in the Student Union. If you did not receive this postcard invitation, it is likely that we do not have an up-to-date address for you. Please email me with any updated contact information. Also, please RSVP by calling the office 602.305.5676, stopping by, or emailing me to let me know you plan to attend.
Have you applied for Financial Aid for the 2010-2011 school year? Every Thursday the Financial Aid Office will be offering Financial Aid Workshops for our students. The workshops will provide a general overview of how to apply for financial aid, what to expect once the application has been submitted, and the importance of scholarships. Workshops will be held every Thursday from 2-3pm in the Computer Commons area (room TC-226) and they are scheduled to run through July 15th. Be sure to let us know if you attend this workshop so that you can get credit for STEP.
Are you comfortable navigating MyMaricopa? Wednesdays from 11-noon Academic Advising will be doing workshops on How to Navigate your MyMaricopa account. Learn how to search and sign up for classes, request transcripts, view your grades and so much more! Workshops will be held on the following dates: April 28, May 5, and May 19. All MyMaricopa Workshops will be held in the LAC. Don’t forget to let us know if you attend so that you can get credit from STEP.
Convocations are available for graduating students! These are events that celebrate your accomplishment in graduating from the Maricopa Community Colleges. The Maricopa Council on Black American Affairs Convocation will be held on May 2. See this website for more information http://www.maricopa.edu/mcbaa/10_spr_convocation.php. The Hispanic Convocation will be held April 30. For more information click this link: http://www.riosalado.edu/community/students/mache/Pages/AnnualMCCCDHispanicConvocation.aspx. The Native American Convocation will be held May 8. For more information click here: http://www.maricopa.edu/utec/convocation.php. Remember, you must register online if you would like to participate in these events and the deadlines are rapidly approaching. We will continue to inform you about additional convocation events as we hear about them. Don’t miss out!

Have a great week!

Grads & Scholarship!

2010-04-15T13:47:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have two additional important announcements for this week:

The deadline to apply for the Martens Scholarship is tomorrow (April 16) at 4:30 p.m. It’s not too late to apply! Here is the link to the application http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AQ8sZ3NhKsJuZGY3ODczeDZfODhkMnA4bnFocQ&hl=en&pli=1.
Convocations are available for graduating students! These are events that celebrate your accomplishment in graduating from the Maricopa Community Colleges. The Maricopa Council on Black American Affairs Convocation will be held on May 2. See this website for more information http://www.maricopa.edu/mcbaa/10_spr_convocation.php. The Hispanic Convocation will be held April 30. For more information click this link: http://www.riosalado.edu/community/students/mache/Pages/AnnualMCCCDHispanicConvocation.aspx. The Native American Convocation will be held May 8. For more information click here: http://www.maricopa.edu/utec/convocation.php. Remember, you must register online if you would like to participate in these events and the deadlines are rapidly approaching. We will continue to inform you about additional convocation events as we hear about them. Don’t miss out!

Have a good weekend!

STEP this week 4/12-4/16

2010-04-15T13:46:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have several events/announcements for this week:

TODAY Tuesday April 13 at 12:15 we have a Financial Literacy Workshop. This is an excellent opportunity for you to learn about budgeting and managing your finances. This is the only time this semester we will offer this workshop.
TODAY Tuesday April 13 from 11-1:30 p.m. is Engineering Day in the Student Union. Stop by to learn more about engineering majors and see some fun engineering projects.
TOMORROW Wednesday, April 14 at 12:15 we will have our last ASU Application Workshop of the semester. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to ask questions about applying to ASU.
Friday, April 16 we will visit ASU West. We will meet in the STEP Office at 7:45 a.m. and leave PROMPTLY at 8:00 a.m. Please stop by the office to sign up for this tour if you are interested in attending. This is a first-come, first-served opportunity.
The Martens Scholarship application is still open for qualified STEP students. Please see the application for more information http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AQ8sZ3NhKsJuZGY3ODczeDZfODhkMnA4bnFocQ&hl=en. Applications are due Friday April 16 no later than 4:30 p.m.
You should have received an invitation to our End of the Year Ceremony to be held Thursday April 29 from noon-1:30 p.m. in the Student Union. If you did not receive this postcard invitation, it is likely that we do not have an up-to-date address for you. Please email me with any updated contact information. Also, please RSVP by calling the office 602.305.5676, stopping by, or emailing me to let me know you plan to attend.

Have a good week!

STEP This Week 4/5-4/9

2010-04-08T10:15:00.003-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have several announcements/events this week:

Tuesday, April 6 we will have a Personal Statement Workshop at 12:15 in the TRiO Office. If you have not developed a personal statement to apply for scholarships, this is the workshop for you! This is the last Personal Statement Workshop we will have this semester. Don’t miss out!
Thursday, April 8, we will have a Maximize Your Library Research Workshop at 12:15 taught by librarian Lora Largo. This is your chance to figure out how to utilize the many wonderful resources available to SMCC Students for free!
The Martens Scholarship is now available for TRiO students. For more information, see the blog www.stepsmcc.blogspot.com.
We have purchased the Hesse Nursing Review for nursing students. Limited copies are available for check out. Please stop by the office for more information.
Maricopa Community College Foundation Scholarships are available for 2010-2011. The deadline for applying is Friday April 9. Please take the time to see if you qualify for an of these scholarships and apply. Remember, you can’t win if you don’t play! Our English tutors can help you develop/fine tune your personal statement after Spring Break. Be sure to check it out www.maricopa.edu/foundation/apply/index.php .
Deadline extended! The SMCC Scholarship Process is still open until April 7! Please visit the SMCC Scholarship webpage for more information http://enroll.southmountaincc.edu/FinancialAid/ApplyForFinancialAid/Scholarships.htm. Additional available scholarships are also listed on this page. Remember, the Scholarship Committee is looking for complete answers to the questions asked on the application. Grammar, spelling and effort count! We recommend you work with our English Tutors to help you develop your answers to maximize your chances! Be sure to check the box that you are a TRIO Student.
We have a new, free Financial Literacy 101 program available for all STEP Students. Please go to www.financialliteracy101.org and use password SMCCSSS to login. The student password is (your Student ID#). This on-line course will take less than one hour and it will give you valuable information about how to better manage your finances. Upon completion, please print out your certificate and return a copy to the TRIO office. If you have any problems, please contact our department at (602) 305-5676. Please take the time to complete this course within the next couple of weeks.
Are you checking the blog regularly? If not, you could be missing out on valuable scholarships, internships, campus events, and other opportunities. We send out an email every Monday, but some weeks we get information mid-week that is posted to the blog. You should try to check it at least once a week to make sure you don’t miss any important information. Add it to your bookmarks www.stepsmcc.blogspot.com.

Have a great week!

STEP this week 3/29-4/2

2010-03-29T13:31:00.001-07:00

Dear STEP Students,

Tuesday, March 30 we have a What to Expect When You Transfer Workshop at 12:15 in the TRiO Conference Room. Join us to learn valuable information about life after you transfer.
Friday, April 2 we will be visiting the ASU Campus for a tour and workshops about the transfer process. Please make sure to stop by the office to sign up ASAP to secure your spot to attend. Space is limited. We will leave from SMCC at 8 a.m. and return by 3:30 p.m.
The Martens Scholarship is now available for TRiO students. For more information, see the blog www.stepsmcc.blogspot.com.
We have purchased the Hesse Nursing Review for nursing students. Limited copies are available for check out. Please stop by the office for more information.
Maricopa Community College Foundation Scholarships are available for 2010-2011. The deadline for applying is Friday April 9. Please take the time to see if you qualify for an of these scholarships and apply. Remember, you can’t win if you don’t play! Our English tutors can help you develop/fine tune your personal statement after Spring Break. Be sure to check it out www.maricopa.edu/foundation/apply/index.php.
The SMCC Scholarship Process is still open until April 1! Please visit the SMCC Scholarship webpage for more information http://enroll.southmountaincc.edu/FinancialAid/ApplyForFinancialAid/Scholarships.htm. Additional available scholarships are also listed on this page. Remember, the Scholarship Committee is looking for complete answers to the questions asked on the application. Grammar, spelling and effort count! We recommend you work with our English Tutors to help you develop your answers to maximize your chances! Be sure to check the box that you are a TRIO Student.
We have a new, free Financial Literacy 101 program available for all STEP Students. Please go to www.financialliteracy101.org and use password SMCCSSS to login. The student password is (your Student ID#). This on-line course will take less than one hour and it will give you valuable information about how to better manage your finances. Upon completion, please print out your certificate and return a copy to the TRIO office. If you have any problems, please contact our department at (602) 305-5676. Please take the time to complete this course within the next couple of weeks.
Are you checking the blog regularly? If not, you could be missing out on valuable scholarships, internships, campus events, and other opportunities. We send out an email every Monday, but some weeks we get information mid-week that is posted to the blog. You should try to check it at least once a week to make sure you don’t miss any important information. Add it to your bookmarks www.stepsmcc.blogspot.com.

Have a great week!

Martens Scholarship

2010-03-29T10:18:00.002-07:00

We are pleased to announce that the Martens Scholarship Application is now available. This scholarship is only available for current STEP Students and will be awarded for the Fall 2010 semester. Please see the application and apply if you meet the criteria. The deadline for receipt of all applications is April 16 at 4:30 p.m.

Financial Aid Workshop & Women's Luncheon

2010-03-24T10:40:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have two important additional announcements for this week:

Beginning this Thursday March 25^th, the Financial Aid Office will be offering Financial Aid Workshops for our students. The workshops will provide a general overview of how to apply for financial aid, what to expect once the application has been submitted, and the importance of scholarships. Workshops will be held every Thursday from 2-3pm in the Computer Commons area (room TC-226) and they are scheduled to run through July 15th. Be sure to let us know if you attend this workshop so that you can get credit for STEP.
We still have a few seats left for today’s Women’s Luncheon at 11:30, open to both men and women in the STEP Program. The Luncheon is a wonderful celebration with a guest speaker and entertainment. Please call 602.305.5676 or stop by the office to reserve your spot. This is a first-come, first-served opportunity.

STEP this week 3/22-3/26

2010-03-22T15:37:00.001-07:00

Dear STEP Students,

We have a few announcements for this week:

Tuesday, March 23 we are offering the From Stress to Success: Coping and Thriving Under Pressure Workshop from 12:15 -1:15. Please join us to learn some valuable strategies to overcoming stress.
Maricopa Community College Foundation Scholarships are available for 2010-2011. The deadline for applying is Friday April 9. Please take the time to see if you qualify for an of these scholarships and apply. Remember, you can’t win if you don’t play! Our English tutors can help you develop/fine tune your personal statement after Spring Break. Be sure to check it out www.maricopa.edu/foundation/apply/index.php .
We have reserved several seats for the upcoming Women’s Luncheon on Wednesday, March 24 at 11:30, open to both men and women in the STEP Program. The Luncheon is a wonderful celebration with a guest speaker and entertainment. Please email me or stop by the office to reserve your spot. This is a first-come, first-served opportunity.
ASU Transfer Day is Thursday March 25 from 9-12:30 in the LRC Patio. Be sure to stop by to learn about majors, admissions, financial aid, and scholarships. Advisors will be available.
From the Veteran’s Club: The Veteran’s club will have its first meeting, Thursday, March 25^th from 1:30-3:00pm in SU 100A. We are very excited about the first meeting and hope to have a good turnout. We will be brainstorming what we want to do as a club and what guest speakers we will have visit other meetings and also what activities we will do as a group as well as what we want to try and do with other veteran clubs in the district.
The SMCC Scholarship Process is still open until April 1! Please visit the SMCC Scholarship webpage for more information http://enroll.southmountaincc.edu/FinancialAid/ApplyForFinancialAid/Scholarships.htm. Additional available scholarships are also listed on this page. Remember, the Scholarship Committee is looking for complete answers to the questions asked on the application. Grammar, spelling and effort count! We recommend you work with our English Tutors to help you develop your answers to maximize your chances!
We have a new, free Financial Literacy 101 program available for all STEP Students. Please go to www.financialliteracy101.org and use password SMCCSSS to login. The student password is (your Student ID#). This on-line course will take less than one hour and it will give you valuable information about how to better manage your finances. Upon completion, please print out your certificate and return a copy to the TRIO office. If you have any problems, please contact our department at (602) 305-5676. Please take the time to complete this course within the next couple of weeks.
Are you checking the blog regularly? If not, you could be missing out on valuable scholarships, internships, campus events, and other opportunities. We send out an email every Monday, but some weeks we get information mid-week that is posted to the blog. You should try to check it at least once a week to make sure you don’t miss any important information. Add it to your bookmarks www.stepsmcc.blogspot.com .

Hope you enjoy your first week back from Spring Break!

Apply for the Diversity Infusion Program!

2010-03-15T10:33:00.000-07:00

The Diversity Infusion Program has been revised and is again pleased to offer several students the opportunity to participate in this exciting professional program as interns. The Diversity Student Internship Program allows students to participate with faculty in the activities of the Diversity Infusion Program. The internship is designed to help students improve their leadership skills, diversity skills, learning skills, communication skills, and interpersonal skills. In addition, the internship comes with a $250 scholarship each semester the student participates (up to 2 semesters)!

We are now accepting applications for the Diversity Student Internship Program for the Fall Semester of 2010. Employees from throughout the District are encouraged to tell students about this wonderful Program. The students who have participated in the past have rated their experiences as "outstanding" and "excellent." Students are very appreciative of the opportunity to be involved in this type of quality program and obtain much personal growth and learning from their experiences. So please take a moment and think about a student who would be a good candidate for this Program and who would benefit from this experience. If you teach, please announce this opportunity to your students and provide them the link to get additional information and to apply.

Students can obtain a detailed description of the Internship including requirements and stipend, by clicking on the following link:

http://www.maricopa.edu/diversityinfusion/internreq.htm

For an easy on line application, click on the following link: http://www.maricopa.edu/diversityinfusion/internapp.htm

The deadline for applications is Monday, April 5^th, 2010.

(Please share this information with students and those employees not on e-mail.)

If you have any questions about this Program, please contact the Diversity Helpline by phone at (480) 731-8868 or by e-mail at

diversity.helpline@domail.maricopa.edu.

Apply for the Dorrance Scholarship!

2010-03-15T10:00:00.003-07:00

A limited number of tuition scholarships are now available to single parents who have returned, or will return, to college after a break of at least one year due to family demands or other commitments.

South Mountain Community College is teaming with Dorrance Scholarship Programs to establish a scholarship program designed specifically for single parents. Criteria include the following

They must be sole providers for their family
They must be continuing their education after an interruption of one year or longer
They must demonstrate financial need
They must be currently enrolled at South Mountain Community College or one of the participating Maricopa Community Colleges
A cumulative 2.75 GPA is required
Applicants must be pursuing an Associates Degree (AA) or approved program

In addition, applicants must demonstrate evidence of motivation and potential for higher education.

Awards are available for as much as $4,000 annually, for a maximum of six semesters (three years), and are renewable.

Application must be received or postmarked by application deadline of May 1, 2010.

Those interested should contact SMCC Program Advisor Christopher Erran, at 602.305.5607, or via e-mail at christopher.erran@smcmail.maricopa.edu.

For more information regarding the scholarship program requirements and application, visit www.dorrancescholarship.org

Scholarships & Women's Luncheon

2010-03-15T09:57:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

Maricopa Community College Foundation Scholarships are available for 2010-2011. The deadline for applying is Friday April 9. Please take the time to see if you qualify for an of these scholarships and apply. Remember, you can’t win if you don’t play! Our English tutors can help you develop/fine tune your personal statement after Spring Break. Be sure to check it out http://www.maricopa.edu/foundation/apply/index.php

Also, we have reserved several seats for the upcoming Women’s Luncheon on Wednesday, March 24 at 11:30, open to both men and women in the STEP Program. The Luncheon is a wonderful celebration with a guest speaker and entertainment. Please email me or stop by the office to reserve your spot. This is a first-come, first-served opportunity.

Enjoy your Spring Break!

Arizona CPA Foundation for Education and Innovation Scholarship

2010-03-15T09:53:00.001-07:00

Please review scholarship criteria on the application below.

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0Bw8sZ3NhKsJuOTUzNzYwMjgtNzY5Zi00NzMwLTkyMDQtMzhmNjQ4MWQzYmVm&hl=en

Nina Mason Scholarship

2010-03-09T10:34:00.002-07:00

Are you:

An incoming freshman or continuing students ages 18-25, raised through the child welfare system and having no form of financial support (A person who has experienced time in the child welfare system may have lived in an institution such as group home, child protection agency, special facility for children, and/or with a foster family)
College-age youths and adults with physical disabilities
Adults 25 years of age or older who have dependents in their household

If you meet any of these criteria, you may qualify to apply for the Nina Mason Scholarship. For more information, see the following website: www.maricopa.edu/studentaffairs/NMPLS/Nina

Hurry the deadline is April 1!

STEP this week 3/8-3/12

2010-03-08T11:10:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have a few announcements/events for this week:

Wednesday March 10 we will have an ASU Application Workshop at 12:15. If you have not yet applied for the Fall 2010 semester for ASU, you need to apply now! For those of you planning to attend ASU in future semesters, this is a great workshop to familiarize yourself with the process. Please join us!
The SMCC Scholarship Process is now open! Please visit the SMCC Scholarship webpage for more information http://enroll.southmountaincc.edu/FinancialAid/ApplyForFinancialAid/Scholarships.htm. Additional available scholarships are also listed on this page. Remember, the Scholarship Committee is looking for complete answers to the questions asked on the application. Grammar, spelling and effort count! We recommend you work with our English Tutors to help you develop your answers to maximize your chances!
We have a new, free Financial Literacy 101 program available for all STEP Students. Please go to www.financialliteracy101.org and use password SMCCSSS to login. The student password is (your Student ID#). This on-line course will take less than one hour and it will give you valuable information about how to better manage your finances. Upon completion, please print out your certificate and return a copy to the TRIO office. If you have any problems, please contact our department at (602) 305-5676. Please take the time to complete this course within the next couple of weeks.
Progress Reports were due February 26. If you have not yet turned in your progress report, please do so by the end of the week. If you need a Progress Report Form, please stop by the office or email me and I will send you one. Remember, to remain a participant in good standing with STEP, you must complete a Progress Report each semester.
Friday, March 26 U of A is sponsoring Transfer Day. You can meet with college representatives, chat with current students, and meet with scholarship and financial aid counselors. Free transportation is available for Maricopa CC students. Transportation will depart at 9:30 a.m. from 4001 N. 3^rd St. Phoenix, AZ. 85012. Students need to call 602.266-0059 to reserve a spot. Please note this is not a TRiO field trip, so you will need to RSVP directly to the phone number listed above and space is limited. For more information go to http://admissions.arizona.edu/transfer.
Wednesdays from 11-noon Academic Advising will be doing workshops on How to Navigate your MyMaricopa account. Learn how to search and sign up for classes, request transcripts, view your grades and so much more! Workshops will be held on the following dates: March 10 and 24, April 7 and 28, and May 5 and 19. All MyMaricopa Workshops will be held in the LAC.
The Dorrance Scholarship is now available. A limited number of tuition scholarships are now available to single parents who have returned, or will return, to college after a break of at least one year due to family demands or other commitments. For more information, please see this link http://about.southmountaincc.edu/NewsEvents/NewsReleases/February10/Feb192010.htm
The TRiO Office will be open March 15-17 during Spring Break. We will be closed March 18-19.

Have a good week!

STEP this week 2/22-2/26

2010-03-08T11:08:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have a few announcements this week:

Progress Reports are due February 26 by 4:30 p.m. Remember, all STEP Students must complete a Progress Report to remain in good standing with STEP. Please stop by the office to pick up a form, or request one via email.
Tuesday, February 23 we will host a How to Overcome Your Math Anxiety Workshop taught by Jason Rief from 12:15-1:15. If you are taking a math class this semester or have some math classes ahead of you, please join us for this valuable workshop. You will learn strategies that will help you succeed in your math classes.
Thursday, February 25 we will be attending a performance of Mary Poppins. If you have already signed up for this performance and can no longer attend, please let us know ASAP so that we can allow students on the waitlist to make plans to attend. Remember, if you sign-up and fail to let us know in a timely fashion that you cannot attend a cultural event, your ability to attend these events may be suspended!
Friday, February 26 we will be visiting ASU Downtown. Please stop by the office this week to sign up if you plan to attend.
The SMCC Scholarship Process is now open! Please visit the SMCC Scholarship webpage for more information http://enroll.southmountaincc.edu/FinancialAid/ApplyForFinancialAid/Scholarships.htm. Additional available scholarships are also listed on this page. Remember, the Scholarship Committee is looking for complete answers to the questions asked on the application. Grammar, spelling and effort count! We recommend you work with our English Tutors to help you develop your answers to maximize your chances!
We have a new, free Financial Literacy 101 program available for all STEP Students. Please go to www.financialliteracy101.org and use password SMCCSSS to login. This on-line course will take less than one hour and it will give you valuable information about how to better manage your finances. Please take the time to complete this course within the next couple of weeks.
Check out this link for 50 Tips for College Success! There are some really great ideas and resources here!

Have a good week!

STEP this week 2/15-2/19

2010-02-17T10:35:00.002-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have several announcements/events this week:

Wednesday, February 17 we have an ASU Application Workshop at 12:15 taught by Adam Farni. Adam is an ASU Transfer Advisor. If you are planning to transfer to ASU in the Fall 2010, or Spring 2011, you don’t want to miss this workshop!
Thursday, February 18 we have a Love and Relationships workshop at 12:15 taught by Cori Washington. This is one of the most popular workshops we host all year. Please join us!
Thursday, February 25 we will be attending a performance of Mary Poppins. If you have already signed up for this performance and can no longer attend, please let us know ASAP so that we can allow students on the waitlist to make plans to attend. Remember, if you sign-up and fail to let us know in a timely fashion that you cannot attend a cultural event, your ability to attend these events may be suspended!
Friday, February 26 we will be visiting ASU Downtown. Please stop by the office this week to sign up if you plan to attend.
Progress Reports are due February 26 by 4:30 p.m. Remember, all STEP Students must complete a Progress Report to remain in good standing with STEP. Please stop by the office to pick up a form, or request one via email.
The SMCC Scholarship Process is now open! Please visit the SMCC Scholarship webpage for more information http://enroll.southmountaincc.edu/FinancialAid/ApplyForFinancialAid/Scholarships.htm. Additional available scholarships are also listed on this page. Remember, the Scholarship Committee is looking for complete answers to the questions asked on the application. Grammar, spelling and effort count! We recommend you work with our English Tutors to help you develop your answers to maximize your chances!
We have a new, free Financial Literacy 101 program available for all STEP Students.

Have a great week!

Ready for Graduation?

2010-02-09T12:20:00.002-07:00

Now is the time to apply for graduation! Please see this link for the steps you need to complete to get ready for graduation!

Lecture Opportunity

2010-02-05T11:15:00.001-07:00

2009/10 Honors Forum Lecture Series
The Paradox of Affluence: Choices, Challenges, and Consequences

Luis Alberto Urrea
From Tijuana to Harvard and Beyond: One Writer’s Journey

Wednesday, February 17, 2010
7:00 p.m.
Phoenix College, Bulpitt Auditorium
1202 W. Thomas Road
Phoenix, AZ

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
BOOKS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AND/OR SIGNING IN THE LOBBY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE LECTURE.

Luis Alberto Urrea, 2005 Pulitzer Prize finalist for nonfiction and member of the Latino Literature Hall of Fame, is a prolific and acclaimed writer who uses his dual-culture life experiences to explore greater themes of love, loss and triumph.

Born in Tijuana, Mexico to a Mexican father and an American mother, Urrea has published extensively in all the major genres, and is currently published by Little, Brown and Company. The critically acclaimed author of 11 books, Urrea is an award-winning poet and essayist. The Devil’s Highway, his 2004 non-fiction account of a group of Mexican immigrants lost in the Arizona desert, won the 2004 Lannan Literary Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the Pacific Rim Kiriyama Prize. A national best-seller, The Devil’s Highway was also named a Best Book of the Year by The Los Angeles Times, The Miami Herald, The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, and many other publications.

Urrea’s first book, Across the Wire, was named a New York Times Notable Book and won the Christopher Award. He received the 1999 American Book Award for his memoir, Nobody’s Son: Notes from an American Life. In 2000, Urrea was voted into the Latino Literature Hall of Fame following the publication of Vatos. Urrea’s book of short stories, Six Kinds of Sky, was named the 2002 small-press Book of the Year in fiction by the editors of ForeWord magazine. He has also won a Western States Book Award in poetry for The Fever of Being and was in the 1996 Best American Poetry Collection.

Urrea’s most recent book, The Hummingbird’s Daughter, is the culmination of twenty years of research and writing. The historical novel tells the story of Teresa Urrea, sometimes known as The Saint of Cabora and the Mexican Joan of Arc.

Urrea attended the University of California at San Diego, earning an undergraduate degree in writing, and did his graduate studies at the University of Colorado-Boulder. He is currently a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE OUR WEBSITE AT:
http://mcli.maricopa.edu/honors/forum

Tax Time!

2010-02-05T09:10:00.002-07:00

Free V.I.T.A. tax services are available on Wednesdays on campus!

Please see Student Life for more information!

Scholarship Opportunity

2010-02-01T14:21:00.000-07:00

AARP Foundation Women's Scholarship Program

ATTENTION: The Women's Scholarship application is now open! Applications will be accepted through March 31, 2010.

Where There's Education, There's A Future!

The AARP Foundation's Women's Scholarship Program provides scholarship funds to women 40+ seeking new job skills, training, and educational opportunities to support themselves and their families. The AARP Foundation Women's Scholarship Program is available to eligible individuals with moderate to lower incomes and limited financial resources.

Who is eligible to apply?

To be eligible for the scholarships, applicants must be:

Women
Age 40 or over by March 31, 2010
U.S. Citizens
Able to demonstrate financial need
Enrolled in an accredited school or technical program in the U.S., within 6 months of the scholarship award date.

Click here to apply!

For more information, visit http://www.aarpfoundationwlc.org/.

Celebrating Single Moms!

2010-02-01T13:34:00.011-07:00

CALLING ALL SINGLE MOMS who are students at SOUTH MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE:

This event is for you - the single mom college student.

Join us (SMCC Group) for a fun filled family day that will honor you for the sacrifices you are making in order to pursue a college education

When: Sunday, March 21, 2010

For more information, please contact CHRISTOPHER ERRAN, 602.305.5607.

Also, be sure to check out this flyer!

STEP this week 2/1-2/5

2010-02-01T13:10:00.002-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

I hope you are enjoying the semester so far. We have a few announcements for this week:

If you are planning on transferring for the Fall 2010, now is the time to apply to the University. Please stop by the office or call 602.305.5676 to make an appointment to see Laura, our academic advisor.
Application Fee Waivers are available for students who are looking to transfer to ASU, U of A, or NAU. Please stop by the office to fill out the Application Fee Waiver Form and be prepared to meet with Laura to briefly discuss your transfer plans. Please keep in mind that each school will waive their application fee ONE TIME only. Also, you need to fill out the application form on-line before you request the waiver.
We will be attending two Broadway shows this semester at ASU Gammage: Mary Poppins February 25 and In the Heights on June 17. Please stop by the STEP office to fill out field trip paperwork to reserve your spot for one or both of these events. Remember, tickets are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tutoring is now available in English & Math. Stop by the office to pick up a tutoring schedule and a calendar of events if you don’t already have these.
Student Life is looking for applicants for the LeaderShape Institute, a program for students interested in developing their leadership skills. LeaderShape is a five day program held at Central Arizona College June 8-13. For more information, see Buddy Cheeks in Student Life. See the flyer and brochure.
Check out this scholarship available to male transfer students applying to ASU https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0Bw8sZ3NhKsJuNmFiMTE2MDQtNGQ3NS00NDEwLWE1NjAtOTdkMjY3YTUyY2Q1&hl=en
Calling all volunteers! On Friday, February 5 at 11:00 a.m. in front of the PAC on campus South Mountain Community College employees and students will help their neighbors by packing and selling low-cost boxes of food as volunteers for the St. Mary’s/Westside Food Bank Alliance. Please see Student Life for more information . Also, make sure you sign in to get credit for the STEP Program.

Have a great week!

STEP this week 1/25-1/29

2010-01-25T13:00:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We hope you are enjoying the first couple of weeks of school! We have just a few announcements this week:

This Saturday, January 30 from 2-4 p.m. in the TC at SMCC is College Goal Saturday, an event where you can get help filling out your FAFSA. Please try to attend this event if you need help with your FAFSA.
If you are planning on transferring for the Fall 2010, now is the time to apply to the University. Please stop by the office or call 602.305.5676 to make an appointment to see Laura, our academic advisor.
We will be attending two Broadway shows this semester at ASU Gammage: Mary Poppins February 25 and In the Heights on June 17. Please stop by the STEP office to fill out field trip paperwork to reserve your spot for one or both of these events. Remember, tickets are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tutoring is now available in English & Math. Stop by the office to pick up a tutoring schedule and a calendar of events for the semester if you did not make it to the Kickoff Lunch last week
Student Life is looking for applicants for the LeaderShape Institute, a program for students interested in developing their leadership skills. LeaderShape is a five day program held at Central Arizona College June 8-13. For more information, see Buddy Cheeks in Student Life.
Check out this scholarship available to male transfer students applying to ASU https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0Bw8sZ3NhKsJuNmFiMTE2MDQtNGQ3NS00NDEwLWE1NjAtOTdkMjY3YTUyY2Q1&hl=en.

Have a great week!

Scholarship Available!

2010-01-22T10:45:00.003-07:00

Check out this scholarship available for male transfer students to ASU!

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0Bw8sZ3NhKsJuNmFiMTE2MDQtNGQ3NS00NDEwLWE1NjAtOTdkMjY3YTUyY2Q1&hl=en

STEP this week 1/18-1/22

2010-01-22T08:47:00.001-07:00

Dear STEP Students,

Welcome Back! We have a few events/announcements that we wanted to bring to your attention:

Wednesday, January 20 we will have our Spring Kickoff Lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Student Union Room 100. Please join us to learn about the events we have coming up this semester. “Goodie Bags” will be distributed on a first-come, first served basis. Hope you can stop by! Please RSVP by stopping by the STEP Office or calling 602.305.5676.
We mailed an invitation to the Kickoff event to your home address and you should have received an automated phone call as a reminder. If you did not receive the postcard and/or the phone call, please update your contact information with STEP by stopping by the office or emailing me your updated contact information, including address, phone numbers, and email address.
Saturday, January 30 from 2-4 p.m. is College Goal Saturday, an event where you can get help filling out your FAFSA. Please try to attend this event if you need help with your FAFSA.
If you are planning on transferring for the Fall 2010, now is the time to apply to the University. Please stop by the office or call 602.305.5676 to make an appointment to see Laura, our academic advisor.
Calculators & Laptops will be available for check out AFTER the Kickoff Lunch.
We will be attending two Broadway shows this semester at ASU Gammage: Mary Poppins February 25 and In the Heights on June 17. Please stop by the STEP office to fill out field trip paperwork to reserve your spot for one or both of these events. Remember, tickets are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tutoring will be available beginning the week of January 25. We will distribute the new schedule at the Kickoff Lunch.

Have a great rest of your week!

STEP this week 1/11-1/15

2010-01-22T08:45:00.001-07:00

Dear STEP Students,

We hope you enjoyed your time off. We have a few events/announcements that we wanted to bring to your attention:

Monday, January 18 Student Life is sponsoring a Day of Service in recognition of Martin Luther King Day on the Southwest corner of 24^th St. and Broadway. Please contact Student Life to sign up 602.243.8069 or email Buddy.Cheeks@smcmail.maricopa.edu.
Wednesday, January 20 we will have our Spring Kickoff Lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Student Union Room 100. Please join us to learn about the events we have coming up this semester. “Goodie Bags” will be distributed on a first-come, first served basis. We mailed an invitation to this event to your home address. If you did not receive it, please update your contact information with STEP. Hope you can stop by! Please RSVP by stopping by the STEP Office or calling 602.305.5676.
Saturday, January 30 from 2-4 p.m. is College Goal Saturday, an event where you can get help filling out your FAFSA. Please try to attend this event if you need help with your FAFSA.
If you are planning on transferring for the Fall 2010, now is the time to apply to the University. Please stop by the office or call 602.305.5676 to make an appointment to see Laura, our academic advisor.
Calculators & Laptops will be available for check out AFTER the Kickoff Lunch.
Tutoring will be available beginning the week of January 25. We will distribute the new schedule at the Kickoff Lunch.

Have a great rest of your week!

STEP this week 12/14-12/18

2009-12-18T15:09:00.001-07:00

Dear STEP Students,

We have a few announcements this week:

We have finals survival kits with some goodies to help you get through finals available to all STEP students who take a moment to complete our on-line survey http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/B92KZBN. Please note, these kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis and supplies are limited. Be sure to complete the survey and stop by to pick up your goodie bag!
USB Drives are now available for STEP Students! To receive one, you need to meet with Laura to update your check sheet and/or schedule your classes for the Spring semester or provide us with a copy of your schedule for the Spring 2010. You can schedule an appointment with Laura by stopping by the office or calling 602.305.5676.
STEP will be attending a performance of the Nutcracker this Thursday December 17. If you are currently signed up and no longer plan on attending, please let us know so that we can give your spot to a student on the waitlist.
Student Life is sponsoring a canned food and blanket drive through December 22. Items can be dropped off at the Welcome Center, LA Liberal Arts Office or the Student Life Office.
If you have not yet registered for the Spring semester, please stop by the office, call 602.305.5676, or email me back to set up an appointment with Laura Smith the STEP Advisor to update your check sheet and select your Spring schedule. In our experience, students who see an advisor every semester are much more successful and have a much better chance of graduating on time. Please contact us to make an appointment as soon as possible. If you do not plan on attending SMCC in the Spring 2010, please let me know so I can take you off our email list.
Be on the lookout for the STEP Holiday Postcard sent out last week. If you did not receive our holiday greetings, you may need to update your mailing address with us. Please stop by the office or drop me an email with any updates to your address, phone number, or email.

These are our last updates of 2009. We hope you have a wonderful holiday break and look forward to seeing you in 2010!

STEP this week 12/7-12/11

2009-12-09T13:10:00.002-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have a few announcements this week:

We have finals survival kits with some goodies to help you get through finals available to all STEP students who take a moment to complete our on-line survey http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/B92KZBN. Please note, these kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis and supplies are limited. Be sure to complete the survey and stop by to pick up your goodie bag!
USB Drives are now available for STEP Students! To receive one, you need to meet with Laura to update your check sheet and/or schedule your classes for the Spring semester or provide us with a copy of your schedule for the Spring 2010. You can schedule an appointment with Laura by stopping by the office or calling 602.305.5676.
STEP will be attending a performance of the Nutcracker on December 17. If you are currently signed up and no longer plan on attending, please let us know so that we can give your spot to a student on the wait list.
Student Life is sponsoring a canned food and blanket drive through December 22. Items can be dropped off at the Welcome Center, LA Liberal Arts Office or the Student Life Office.
If you have not yet registered for the Spring semester, please stop by the office, call 602.305.5676, or email me back to set up an appointment with Laura Smith the STEP Advisor to update your check sheet and select your Spring schedule. In our experience, students who see an advisor every semester are much more successful and have a much better chance of graduating on time. Please contact us to make an appointment as soon as possible. If you do not plan on attending SMCC in the Spring 2010, please let me know so I can take you off our email list.
Have you recently moved? Changed your cell phone number? Need to update your email address? Please send me your updated information so that we can keep the lines of communication open!

Good luck with finals!

STEP this week 11/30-12/4

2009-11-30T14:18:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have a few announcements this week:

USB Drives are now available for STEP Students! To receive one, you need to meet with Laura to update your check sheet and/or schedule your classes for the Spring semester or provide us with a copy of your schedule for the Spring 2010. You can schedule an appointment with Laura by stopping by the office or calling 602.305.5676.
Grant Aid Applications are due December 4 at 4:30 p.m. We encourage students to keep attending activities, tutoring, and to come in for advising. Remember, more activities and involvement with the STEP Program makes for a more favorable application. Also, please keep in mind, you are responsible for tracking all of your activities. You can attach additional activities on a separate sheet of paper when you turn in your application.
STEP will be attending a performance of the Nutcracker on December 17. If you are currently signed up and no longer plan on attending, please let us know so that we can give your spot to a student on the waitlist.
SMCC will be hosting a performance of The Messiah Saturday, December 5. SMCC needs need volunteers. If you are interested in serving as an usher please contact Janet Denson via phone: 602-305-5751 or via e-mail: janet.denson@smcmail.maricopa.edu. She will need all volunteers to meet at the performance hall by 5:30 PM for instructions. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact her.
Student Life is sponsoring a canned food and blanket drive through December 22. Items can be dropped off at the Welcome Center, LA Liberal Arts Office or the Student Life Office.
Have you recently moved? Changed your cell phone number? Need to update your email address? Please send me your updated information so that we can keep the lines of communication open!

Have a great week!

STEP this week 11/16-11//20

2009-11-20T12:27:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

Here are the events/announcements for this week:

We are happy to announce that Ottawa University will be holding a workshop on Tuesday, November 17 at 12:15 p.m. Please make an effort to attend if you are interested in Ottawa. This workshop will count as 1 Academic Unit toward Grant Aid.
The Honeywell tour has been postponed until Friday, December 4. Calling all Engineering majors: if you are interested in this tour, please make sure to stop by the STEP Office to sign up.
The Maroon & Gold Scholarship scheduled for Wednesday, November 18 has been canceled.
USB Drives are now available for STEP Students! To receive one, you need to meet with Laura to update your check sheet and/or schedule your classes for the Spring semester or provide us with a copy of your schedule for the Spring 2010. You can schedule an appointment with Laura by stopping by the office or calling 602.305.5676.
We will be attending a performance of Phantom of the Opera on Thursday, November 19. If you have signed up and can no longer attend, please notify me AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. We have several students on the waitlist. If you no-show for this performance, you are denying another student the opportunity to attend and you may not be permitted to attend performances with STEP in the Spring. Please email me back or stop by the office to let us know if you cannot attend.
Grant Aid Applications are due December 4 at 4:30 p.m. We encourage students to keep attending activities, tutoring, and to come in for advising. Remember, more activities and involvement with the STEP Program makes for a more favorable application. Also, please keep in mind, you are responsible for tracking all of your activities. You can attach additional activities on a separate sheet of paper when you turn in your application.
Engineering Your Future! An event for all students interested in learning about careers in Engineering. SU 100 Tuesday, November 17, 2009 11:00-1:30pm. Students get to meet: Professional Engineers from Industry, Engineering Professors and Students, Representatives from Advisement and Career Services, See Design Projects created by SMCC Students. Catapult Contest starts at 11:00pm. Robot Maze Contest starts at 1:00pm. Panel Discussions start at 12:00pm. Free Pizza and Drinks for Attendees.

Have a good week!

STEP this week 11/9-11/13

2009-11-16T09:06:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have several announcements/events for this week:

Tuesday, November 10 we will have an Etiquette Lunch at 12:15 in the Student Union. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to sharpen your etiquette skills! Lunch will be provided. This Lunch will count as 1 Personal Development Unit toward Grant Aid.
Friday, November 13 we will be visiting ASU Tempe campus. Join us to learn about applying to ASU, Financial Aid, and to take a tour of the campus. Transportation and lunch will be provided. Please stop by the STEP Office to sign up for this tour ASAP!. This tour will count as 1 Academic Unit toward Grant Aid.
The Honeywell tour has been postponed until Friday, December 4. Calling all Engineering majors: if you are interested in this tour, please make sure to stop by the STEP Office to sign up!
We are happy to announce that Ottawa University will be holding a workshop on Tuesday, November 17 at 12:15 p.m. Please make an effort to attend if you are interested in Ottawa. This workshop will count as 1 Academic Unit toward Grant Aid.
The Maroon & Gold Scholarship scheduled for Wednesday, November 18 has been canceled.
USB Drives are now available for STEP Students! To receive one, you need to meet with Laura to update your check sheet and/or schedule your classes for the Spring semester or provide us with a copy of your schedule for the Spring 2010. You can schedule an appointment with Laura by stopping by the office or calling 602.305.5676.
The STEP Office will be closed Wednesday, November 11 in observance of Veteran’s Day.
We will be attending a performance of Phantom of the Opera n Thursday, November 19. If you have signed up and can no longer attend, please notify me AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. We have several students on the waitlist. If you no-show for this performance, you are denying another student the opportunity to attend and you may not be permitted to attend performances with STEP in the Spring. Please email me back or stop by the office to let us know if you cannot attend.
Grant Aid Applications are due December 4 at 4:30 p.m. We encourage students to keep attending activities, tutoring, and to come in for advising. Remember, more activities and involvement with the STEP Program makes for a more favorable application. Also, please keep in mind, you are responsible for tracking all of your activities. You can attach additional activities on a separate sheet of paper when you turn in your application.
CALL FOR ENTRIES: 2009/2010 Maricopa Creative Writing Competition One-Act Plays/Scripts, Poetry, Essays, Fiction. Entry Deadline: November 20, 2009. Submit to SMCC Coordinator Sara Kinsey. First-place winning entries will be submitted to the League for Innovation’s Student Literacy Competition. For more information visit http://arts.maricopa.edu/cw. Sponsored by the Maricopa Center for Learning and Instruction, District Fine Arts Programs, and Division of Academic and Student Affairs

Have a great week!

STEP this week 11/2-11/6

2009-11-02T13:46:00.002-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have a few events and announcements for this week:

Tuesday, November 3 we are hosting an ASU Application Workshop from 12:15-1:15. Please make time to stop by and get your questions answered about the ASU Application process. This workshop counts as 1 Academic Unit toward Grant Aid.
Thursday, November 5 Karen Odle will lead a Personal Statement Workshop from 12:15 -1:15. Come learn what it takes to put together a great Personal Statement. This workshop counts as 1 Financial Unit toward Grant Aid.
The Honeywell tour has been postponed until Friday, December 4. Calling all Engineering majors: if you are interested in this tour, please make sure to stop by the STEP Office to sign up!
Mark your calendar! Tuesday, November 10 we will have an Etiquette Lunch at 12:15 in the Student Union. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to sharpen your etiquette skills! Lunch will be provided. This Lunch will count as 1 Personal Development Unit toward Grant Aid.
Mark your calendar! Friday, November 13 we will be visiting ASU Tempe campus. Join us to learn about applying to ASU, Financial Aid, and to take a tour of the campus. Transportation and lunch will be provided. Please stop by the STEP Office to sign up for this tour. This tour will count as 1 Academic Unit toward Grant Aid.
We are happy to announce that Ottawa University will be holding a workshop on Tuesday, November 17 at 12:15 p.m. Please make an effort to attend if you are interested in Ottawa. This workshop will count as 1 Academic Unit toward Grant Aid.
USB Drives are now available for STEP Students! To receive one, you need to meet with Laura to update your check sheet and/or schedule your classes for the Spring semester or provide us with a copy of your schedule for the Spring 2010. You can schedule an appointment with Laura by stopping by the office or calling 602.305.5676.
Don’t forget! Laura is available for advising appointments until 7 p.m. on Wednesday nights.

Have a great week!

BSU X-Box 360 Challenge

2009-11-02T13:38:00.002-07:00

Wednesday, November 25 the BSU at SMCC will be sponsoring an X-Box 360 Challenge in the Student Union from noon to 3:30 p.m. The cost is $3 for students and $5 for non-students. RSVP to BSU.SMCC@gmail.com.

Internship Opportunity

2009-10-29T13:04:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

The Diversity Infusion Program is again pleased to offer several students the opportunity to participate in this exciting professional program as interns. The Diversity Student Internship Program allows students to participate with faculty in the activities of the Diversity Infusion Program. The internship is designed to help students improve their leadership skills, diversity skills, learning skills, communication skills, and interpersonal skills. In addition, the internship comes with a $250 scholarship each semester the student participates (up to 2 semesters)!

We are now accepting applications for the Diversity Student Internship Program for the Spring Semester of 2010. Employees from throughout the District are encouraged to tell your students about this wonderful Program. The students who have participated in the past have rated their experiences as "outstanding" and "excellent." Students are very appreciative of the opportunity to be involved in this type of quality program and obtain much personal growth and learning from their experiences. So please take a moment and think about a student who would be a good candidate for this Program and who would benefit from this experience. If you teach, please announce this opportunity to your students and provide them the link to get additional information and to apply.

Read what a few of our student interns have said about their internship in the Program:

"I had such a great experience with the Diversity Infusion Program...; [the] Student Internship provided me with the opportunity to hear different perspectives on a variety of subjects, as well as present new ideas to others. I have learned so much about myself and the world around me, and I can’t wait to share what I have learned with others." ~ Jennifer Papworth, RSCC

"This program is a real eye-opener. I now understand why some student interns come back, semester after semester, even if they no longer qualify to receive the money from the scholarship. It's very interesting how both teachers and students get involved in the program, and whether you're shy or outgoing you're definitely a fit for this program." ~ Miriam Estrada, CGCC

"The Diversity Infusion Program... is an experience of a life time, allowing one to engage with people from diverse backgrounds intertwining your beliefs, culture and customs with someone from the other side of the world. For the human race to be equal as one we need to maximize cultural globalization. The Diversity Infusion Program is a start." ~ Ibrahim Sharif, SCC

"Being a part of the Diversity Infusion Program has helped me to become aware of the vastness of diversity; it is more than meets the eye. ... [Through the Program] I have been exposed to the multi-faceted world around me. The program creates an environment to learn and expand your intelligence on matters of Diversity. It has given me an immense appreciation and understanding of those around me. I have learned to never assume and stereotype individuals, to be more sensitive when I speak, and to listen with compassion to the stories of those different from myself in a non-judging manner." ~ Pam Ernst, PVCC

"As a student intern, I am proud to be a part of the Diversity Infusion program. In the past, I have involved in many different programs that promote diversity, but I am most awed by the endowment of diversity and open-mindedness of this program, targeting the college environment. ... College is a great time of our lives, to learn new thing and become successful in whatever the career that we are expanding toward, but college also is a time when students are to be encourage to gain knowledge of social ongoing and to adapt to new ideas and principles that will help them to advance their lives and the lives of others." ~ Huy K. LePhan, EMCC

Students can obtain a detailed description of the Internship including requirements and stipend, by clicking on the following link: http://www.maricopa.edu/diversityinfusion/internreq.htm

For an easy on line application, click on the following link: http://www.maricopa.edu/diversityinfusion/internapp.htm

The deadline for applications is Friday, November 13^th, 2009.

If you have any questions about this Program, please contact the Diversity Helpline by telephone at (480) 731-8868 or by e-mail at diversity.helpline@domail.maricopa.edu.

Thank you for your time!

Bonnie Gray

STEP this week 10/26-10/30

2009-10-28T09:45:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have a few events coming up this week:

Tuesday, October 27 we are pleased to offer the Happiness 101 – How to Succeed in College & in Life Workshop at 12:15 p.m. in the STEP office. This workshop counts as 1 Personal Development or 1 Academic unit toward Grant Aid.
Tuesday, October 27 Ottawa University will be visiting the LRC patio to answer your questions about transferring from 10:00 to 1:00 p.m. and the University of Arizona will be in SES 116 from 10:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 28 we will host a What to Expect When You Transfer Workshop at 12:15 p.m. in the STEP Office taught by myself and Laura Smith. Join us to learn about how you can make your transfer process as smooth as possible.
Thursday, October 24 Grand Canyon University will be visiting the LRC patio from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Be sure to stop by if you are interested in GCU!
Grant Aid Applications are still available for STEP students currently receiving a Pell Grant. Remember we have over $35,000 in funding available for STEP students for the Spring semester. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get more money for educational expenses for the Spring semester!
The STEP math tutor is now available to answer your math related questions on Google-Chat (g-chat)! The Screen Name is StepMathTutor. Hours of availability will vary. Look for Dominic on-line when you get a chance! If you are not sure how to use Google-Chat, please see this link for an overview https://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=33781.
Now is the time to register for the Spring 2010! Spring ’10 classes are now available, and if students register by October 30th they will be eligible to win a $250 scholarship and other prizes. Please stop by the office or call 602.305.5676 to make an appointment to see Laura, STEP’s academic advisor.
We will be taking women in the STEP program to the following event:

AAUW’s Running & Winning: A program to educate young women about leadership, public service and the electoral process in cooperation with Scottsdale Community College, Wednesday, November 4, 6 – 8:30 PM, Turquoise Rm. Meet women elected to Arizona positions of leadership. Learn about their work, experience, motivation and careers in public service. For more info on AAUW, visit: http://www.aauw.org/ . Please let me know no later than Tuesday, October 27 if you plan to attend this event.

STEP Updates

2009-10-23T14:06:00.000-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

A few quick announcements:

1. The link I gave you yesterday for the MACHE scholarship is out of date. Please use this link instead: http://www.riosalado.edu/community/students/mache/Documents/MACHE_2009_10%20_Application.pdf

2. Here is more information about the Honeywell Tour: The tour would take about an hour to an hour and a half, depending on what airplanes were available to look at in our hangar. I would start with a briefing in the conference room describing what we do followed by a tour of office area and then hangar. We are involved with the design, flight testing and certification of the latest navigation and display systems for commercial and business aircraft. The types of occupations involved in our work include electrical, mechanical, aerospace and software engineers, aircraft pilots, and aircraft mechanical/electrical technicians.

3. We will be taking women in the STEP program to the following event:

STEP this week 10/19-10/23

2009-10-23T14:04:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have several events/announcements this week:

Thursday, October 22 at 11:30 a.m. in the Student Union, STEP student are invited to participate in the Men’s Luncheon featuring guest speakers and a festive celebration. All STEP students, men and women, are invited to participate. You MUST RSVP to take part in this event. Please stop by the office to RSVP.
Friday, October 23 we will be going on a Campus Tour of the University of Arizona. We will meet in the STEP Office at 7:45 a.m. and leave promptly at 8:00 a.m. Please stop by the STEP Office to sign up if you are interested in attending. Please make sure you are on time if you plan to attend this event. Our tour will start at 10:00 a.m. and we will need to leave at 8:00 a.m. to allow enough time to travel and park on the U of A Campus.
Grant Aid Applications are still available for STEP students currently receiving a Pell Grant. Remember we have over $35,000 in funding available for STEP students for the Spring semester. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get more money for educational expenses for the Spring semester!
We have scheduled a tour of Honeywell on November 6 at the Deerpark Airport. This tour will be especially valuable to students interested in Engineering or Aviation. Please let me know via email ASAP and no later than Friday October 23 if you are interested in attending this tour. Please include what your major currently is when you respond to me via email.
The STEP math tutor is now available to answer your math related questions on Google-Chat (g-chat)! The Screen Name is StepMathTutor. Hours of availability will vary. Look for Dominic on-line when you get a chance! If you are not sure how to use Google-Chat, please see this link for an overview https://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=33781.
Now is the time to register for the Spring 2010! Spring ’10 classes are now available, and if students register by October 30th they will be eligible to win a $250 scholarship and other prizes. Please stop by the office or call 602.305.5676 to make an appointment to see Laura, STEP’s academic advisor.
Make a Difference Day is this Saturday October 24. All students, staff and faculty are invited to participate at Valley View School on October 24^th as we seek to make a difference in our community on this nationwide day of service. Projects may include gardening, painting, cleaning, installing sports equipment and more! For more information, or to sign up, contact Tara Nichols at 602.243.8176, tara.nichols@smcmail.maricopa.edu, or Buddy Cheeks at 602.243.8065, buddy.cheeks@smcmail.maricopa.edu.
The 2009-2010 MACHE Scholarship Application is now available for students of Chicano/Hispanic/Latino Identity. Please see this link for more information: http://www.riosalado.edu/community/students/mache/Documents/20082009-MACHE_Application.pdf

STEP this week 10/12-10/16

2009-10-13T08:24:00.001-07:00

Hello STEP Students,

We have a few announcements this week:

Wednesday, October 14 we will have an ASU Application Workshop taught by ASU Transfer Advisor Adam Farni at 12:15 p.m.. If you plan on transferring to ASU in the Spring 2010 or Fall 2010, please make an effort to attend this valuable workshop! Adam will walk you through all of the steps necessary to complete your application to ASU.
Wednesday, October 14 is Academic Discovery Day. Several programs will have tables set up on the LRC program from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Be sure to stop by and check it out.
SMCC will host its annual Men’s Luncheon on Thursday, October 22 from 11:30 -1:00 p.m. in the Student Union. STEP has purchased tickets for STEP students to attend. Stop by the STEP Office to RSVP and claim your spot, available on a first-come, first-served basis! This is an opportunity available to all STEP students.
Friday, October 23 STEP will visit the University of Arizona. Stop by the office to reserve your spot for this campus tour.
The STEP math tutor is now available to answer your math related questions on Google-Chat (g-chat)! The Screen Name is StepMathTutor. Hours of availability will vary. Look for Dominic on-line when you get a chance!
If you have not yet turned in your Progress Report, please do so ASAP. Remember, you signed an agreement with the STEP Program and one of the conditions of that agreement is to turn in a Progress Report every semester. Please turn it in ASAP!
NAU@SMCC has a new 90/30 program that would allow students to transfer up to 90 credits and attain a degree in Public Management! NAU @SMCC also offers a BS in Elementary Education. Tuesday, October 13 they are hosting an Open House from 3-6 p.m. in NAU Room 602 on the SMCC Campus. Please call 602.776.4647 for more information.

Have a great week!