Summer Bridge Newsletter, Issue 1 - Palomar College

First Year Experience 2012
FALL 2012 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
Summer Bridge Class of 2012
support services on campus. A
new library component was
added to the program as well.
The students visited the library,
played a library scavenger hunt,
and received an introduction to
the services and support the
library offers. The participating
For Summer 2012, 39 students
participated in our by the end of the program,
class was the 9th grade, and
faculty were Mathews Chakkanakuzhi
(Mathematics), Katie
Summer Bridge program. the average reading level was
Morris and Dana O’Callaghan
The students all initially 11.67. The students also
(Counseling), Melinda Carrillo
tested into prealgebra (Math received instruction from
(Reading) and Katy French
15). After five weeks of counseling faculty who covered
topics such as learning
(Library). The Mathematics
math instruction with tutors
tutors were: Noha Bushra, Sara
and a math instructor, 29 styles, math and test anxiety
Hall, Maziar Refahi, Jessica
students (74%) placed into a techniques, and goal setting.
Shannon, Emilia Wieczorek,
higher math class. A weeklong
reading program was received assistance in educa-
The Summer Bridge students
Brian Wong, and Carla Zeballos.
another component of Summer
Bridge. The average registration, financial aid, and
tional planning, fall class
entry reading level of the accessing of various student
Special points
of interest:
Over 74% of
participating students
increased
their math placement.
The average
reading level
went from grade
9 to 11.67.
The students received
counseling
instruction.
The students received
an introduction
to the
library.
Meet the Team
From 2008-2011, Teresa Hogan-Egkan
was the First Year Experience Coordinator
at Palomar College. She was instrumental
in setting up the Summer Bridge program
in its current form. She decided to return
to the classroom and to counseling students
in Fall 2012. Thank you so much,
Tere, for your hard work and commitment
to these students! Cindy Anfinson, mathematics,
is the new First Year Experience
Coordinator.
Please feel free to contact the Summer
Bridge/First Year Experience Team with
any questions.
Cindy Anfinson: Coordinator
Email:canfinson@palomar.edu
Phone: 760-744-1150 x 2963
Jeanna Piña-Bayaca:
Title V Office Specialist
Email: Firstyearexperience@palomar.edu
Phone: 760-744-1150 x 3931
Debra Avila:
Title V Project Supervisor:
Email: davila@palomar.edu
Inside this issue:
Summer Bridge 2012 1
Meet the Team 1
Title V Grant 2
Student one-on-one 2

Meet Nora Pozos
Summer Bridge 2012 Student
When you first arrived on campus, what did you know about Palomar?
I didn't know much of Palomar Community College. What I did know is, I'm a freshman right out
of high school and don't even know my way around this extremely big campus.
After being a part of Summer Bridge 2012, what do you feel you have gained from the program, and
how will it benefit your college journey here at Palomar?
I believe that I gained so much confidence, and that Summer Bridge made it easier for me to
transition from high school to college. Also it made me feel secure because I can always go ask for
help with the Summer Bridge staff. This was a huge fear I had even when attending high school. I
feel that with Summer Bridge I built a foundation that has lead me to success. Passing Math 15 and
being a full-time student is a great feeling. I am so glad I took the steps to attend over the summer.
What if anything can you tell new incoming students about Summer Bridge?
I would tell them to take advantage of the opportunity that Summer Bridge offers. I would also tell
them not to be shy about asking questions or asking for help. I would tell them that Summer Bridge
is a great program and that they are fortunate of being a part of it because it gives students the opportunity to move ahead in math
and gives them an opportunity to become a better student. It will also allow them to be aware of the programs and the opportunities
that Palomar College has to offer. I would tell them to never give up and that they can pursue anything they want.
What are your educational goals as a student?
My goals are to obtain an Associate’s Degree in Administration of Justice and transfer to a 4-year university and get a bachelor’s and
to get good grades in all of my classes.
What is one thing that you have accomplished as a SB student that you felt was impossible before your SB experience?
The things that I was scared to not accomplish was getting into EOPS and getting federal work study, but being part of Summer
Bridge made it possible for me with the help from Summer Bridge staff. I believe that asking for help made it possible for me to
achieve it.
Summer Bridge Funding Sources
Summer Bridge is funded by the Title V Hispanic
Serving Institute grant and by Palomar
College’s Strategic Plan Priority Funding
(SPPF). The purpose of the HSI grant is to
provide a comprehensive five-year plan to improve
Hispanic and low-income student retention and
academic success. The key components and directions
of the plan include: valuing diversity;
forging strong connections to the college; increasing
family support for college; setting an educational
goal; implementing academic interventions;
strengthening teaching methodology; and ensuring
that students have adequate access to financial
aid. The HSI grant is funded by the U.S. Department
of Education.
Some of our team on break.