Sarah Palin will open Golden Eagle Arena - West Hills College

Sarah Palin will open Golden Eagle Arena
Golden Eagle Arena opener
By The Eagle staff
West Hills College Lemoore plans to
use the newest coming attraction to campus,
the Golden Eagle Arena, as a force
in community entertainment -- as well
as education -- as Sarah Palin, a possible
Republican presidential candidate, was
announced as the headliner for the opening
of the $24 million facility on May 1.
“We are fortunate to get Palin for our
grand opening,” WHCL President Don
Warkentin told The Eagle. “Tickets will
start at $25 so they will be affordable to
most area political watchers. But Ms.
Palin is just the first of many venues the
college will host.”
The college is also selling a limited
number of tables at $5,000 for a postspeech
dinner with Palin.
“We are planning a speaker’s bureau
to bring in the top local, state and national
figures including a likely September
date with Laura Bush. We will host
sports and sports figures and are planning
a business conference to address
needs and wants of our area,” Warkentin
added.
The new $24 million arena, currently
under construction on the south border
of the campus, has been hammered by
wet December weather. “But it will be
ready,” Warkentin pledged.
At a recent Bakersfield conference,
“Palin shared the stage with potential
competition for the Republican presidential
nomination, including former
House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney,”
said Frances Squire, West Hills Community
College District marketing director.
The Palin appearance is billed as a “fundraiser
for the college.”
The Screamin’ Eagle
Official Student Publication of West Hills College Lemoore -- February 2011
Thefts, vandalism, burglary, plague WHCL
Eagle staff report
Fortunately for West Hills College
Lemoore, thieves who broke
into the campus bookstore weren’t
strong enough -- or prepared
enough -- to steal the safe during a
December burglsry. But they were
strong enough to get in through
a window and cause some $400
damage to the campus building,
said Phil Parker, bookstore manager.
But the burglary wasn’t the only
crime problem over the Christmas
Weather, contractor woes
slow Golden Eagle work
Eagle staff report
This Eagle staff file photo, taken on Jan. 13, shows workers
on scaffolds on the Golden Eagle Arena surveying needed repairs
after unseasonable rain in late December and early January caused
flooding on the southwest corner of the campus. “Disruptions,” said
President Don Warkentin, “caused by bad weather and sub contractor
problems have moved the opening, originally set for mid-April
to early May.”
But as the rainy weather turned to fog in mid-January and the
ponding area on the Kings River side of the campus dried, the pace
on the $24 million facility, picked up, allowing officials to be confident
the arena will be completed on the new schedule.
break reported to WHCL and Lemoore
Police Department officials.
“Thirteen laptop computers
were taken from a transfer room
on campus,” Don Warkentin, president
of the college, noted. “We
valued the total loss at $15,000.
The break in occurred on Dec. 20.”
Vandalism damage to student
and staff autos, parked on campus,
a stolen car report, license plate
and gasoline theft, rounded out the
disturbing problems on campus.
“Problems happen at all hours,”
Warkentin admitted.
No total loss in the combined
problems was available.
Lemoore PD Chief Jeff Laws
said both the city and college are
working on ways to beef-up the
security, but Laws admitted the
remoteness of the area adds to the
difficulty of security. “They (the
college) need a security patrol.”
Warkentin said WHCL is working
on a security camera system
that will allow authorities to identify
wrongdoers for a later arrest.

P2 VIEWS
Yours and Ours -- February 2011
This page is reserved for the opinions of readers -- West Hills College Lemoore students, staff, faculty and administrators
News item: Gov. Jerry Brown
orders 48,000 cell phones
confiscated ... “It is difficult for
me to believe that 40 percent
of all state employees must be
equipped with taxpayer-funded
cell phones,” he said.
Instructors wish Gov. Brown’s
edict included the
48,000 cell phones in class at
West Hills College Lemoore.
Coming accreditation visit
will showcase our programs
As we begin the new semester, your faculty, staff, and administration are
busy preparing for our accreditation visit. Accreditation
is a formal review process occurring every six
years as a means to ensure that colleges are meeting
the standards of accreditation as they offer classes and
provide services to their students. Accreditations standards
are very specific and require colleges to continuously
make improvements in areas such as planning,
program review, and student learning outcomes.
A 12 member team consisting of community college
administrators and faculty will visit our campus
beginning Tuesday, March 8 and remain on campus
until Thursday, March 10. They will speak with staff President Warkentin
and students and attend college meetings as they evaluate
our performance in meeting the standards.
Dr. Rosa Carlson, President of Porterville College, will be the chair of
our visiting team and will guide her members in assessing the entire college
including academic programs, student services, budget, facilities, and other
support services.
We feel we have many excellent programs and services and are confident
our visit will be successful.
Over the break, You’ve been robbed, vandalized!
In issues past of the Screamin’
Eagle, the tenor and tone has been
upbeat concerning the onset of the
spring semester.
Although we welcome our student
body back to campus with the
same excitement, this is accompanied
with a healthy dose of dismay
and wariness.
During the recent Christmas
break, our beloved campus was a
victim of robbery.
No, not just our campus,
but you. This is our community,
and the items that were targeted
will have an effect on the student
body. The very computers used to
research and formulate essays and
respond to online learning tools
such as Blackboard were taken
from the college campus around
December 21st. Taken from you.
On that note, as West Hills College
students and faculty, we are in fact
a community and academic family.
Community and family take care
of one another, so when traveling
to and from classes (especially
classes at night) be aware of your
surroundings. Be cognizant of your
property and vehicles. If you see
suspicious activity, err on the side
of caution and report it. Have each
other’s back. Welcome to the 2011
Spring Semester, and remember,
we are community; community
only works when all members play
a part.
Help stop crime on OUR campus.
Call 911 to report problems.
Bookstore break-in

Page 3 -- The Screamin’ Eagle -- February 2011
NASL’s Season 4 ‘Biggest Loser’ winner announced
By Tammy Eskew
Special to The Eagle
Dedication, discipline and determiation
are just a few of the qualities
that landed Christina Peterson the honor
of winning Fitness Solution’s Season 4
“Biggest Loser” contest.
“The contest changed my life and
literally changed the way I look and the
way I think about food,” said Peterson.
“I know I am in better health and I feel
in control; empowered by the new me.”
The “Biggest Loser” is a reality show
in which contestants compete to lose the
most weight. Fitness Solutions located
inside the main gym adopted the idea
and completed its fourth season.
“The idea developed because we
wanted to be able to offer personal
training at an affordable price and to
encourage folks who were hesitant to be
able to work out in a fun, group setting,”
explained Sonya Onorati, NASL Fitness
Solutions personal trainer. “We have
had amazing results and are anxious to
start Season 5.”
Peterson is attached to Navy Reserve
Fleet Industrial Supply Center Yokosuka,
Japan Detachment A out
of NASL. In addition
to working several parttime
jobs, Peterson is a
single mom of a teenager
and full time student who
found herself in jeopardy
of getting kicked out of
the Navy unless she got
her weight within Navy
standards.
“This was a wakeup
call for me. I knew
I wasn’t sticking to a
weight control plan and I
needed help from people
who knew what they were doing. This
contest helped me get in the gym more
and become aware of what I was putting
into my body,” said Peterson.
Peterson lost almost 22 pounds in
an eight week period. She adopted
the philosophy of a healthy lifestyle
including exercise and better food
choices that she hopes
to maintain over a
lifetime.
“Once I started
eating right, the junk
food didn’t even
taste good anymore,”
explained Peterson.
The “Biggest
Loser” is a motivating
show as is the
program offered by
Fitness Solutions,
Onorati said. “Our
programs follow the
three components of
health and fitness: nutrition, cardio and
strength training. We offer food plans
designed specifically for women and
men. Each week, participants receive a
Biggest Loser winner is
Christina Peterson.
new cardio itinerary and new strength
training program to build on as well as
participate in one on one training,” said
Onorati.
Season 4 featured 26 contestants.
Participants are split into teams and
compete with each other for points. In
the end, the person who loses the most
weight is the biggest loser and the grand
prize winner. The first place winner
receives $200, a 10-session training
package worth $360 and a 60-minute
massage valued at $59.
No one said it would be easy, but one
fun way to help you shed those unwanted
pounds is to become “NASL’s Biggest
Loser.” Peterson’s advice is to keep
a food journal, stick with an exercise
program and make small changes to
obtain weight loss goals.
“My daughter was a big help and
I hope to be a role model for her. This
program has helped both of us,” said
Peterson.
Semas, WHCL benefactor, passes
Compiled from news sources
Lola Semas of Lemoore passed away Jan. 5, 2011 at a Hanford hospital
at the age of 94. Mrs. Semas was born in Lemoore and had lived in
the area for all of her life. One of the many accomplishments of her long
life is being part of the family that donated land – the current West Hills
College Lemoore site – to the district more than a decade ago.
“The gift of 107 acres of farmland west of the city of Lemoore was
the basis for a partnership that made the dream of a state-of-the-art college
for Kings County a reality,” said District Chancellor Frank Gornick.
“Today, thousands of students attend classes and are benefiting
from the generosity of the Semas and Pederson families.
“Lionel Semas passed away leaving a loving family and a legacy
that will last for generations to come. His gift, and that of his wife, Lola;
their daughter, Mardell; and her late husband, Bob Pedersen, made possible
the building of West Hills College Lemoore,” Gornick added.
“We are saddened to hear the news of the passing of Mrs. Lola
Semas. The Pederson/Semas families have been great friends to West
Hills College Lemoore. We will be eternally grateful for their donation
of the land for our beautiful campus,” said WHCL President Don
Warkentin. “Mrs. Semas was instrumental in the vision for a full service
college in Kings County and specifically in Lemoore. Our thoughts and
prayers go out to Mardell Pederson and her family.”
Friends who wish can make donations in Lola’s memory to St.
Peter’s Catholic Church Building Fund, 19 Follett St., Lemoore, CA
93245. John Wayne Cancer Institute, Public Affairs and Development
Department, 2200 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404 or their
favorite charity.

Page 4 -- WHCL’s Screamin’ Eagle -- February 2011
Adjuncts attend info rally for spring term
By The Eagle
Full agenda, full tummies, mark semi-annual orientation
Armed with new electronic
classroom information, ways to locate
and help students with needs,
syllabus writing and a heaping plate
of Mexican-American food, WHCL
officials welcomed back the spring
adjunct faculty in an orientation Jan.
13.
With Dr. Marlon Hall, associate
dean, services, acting as MC,
the conference center bristled with
questions, answers, comments and
fun for the three hour meeting which
featured breakouts for additional information
on topics as varied as locking
up classrooms onboard Naval Air
Station Lemoore, advances in media
services, student learning objectives
(SLO) and a syllabus workshop.
“Here are suggestions to help,”
Hall said during the opening of the
meeting. “Stay informed, connected,
involved, committed to our college
and mission. And don’t get mad – try
to be proactive. We’re here for the students.”
About half of the 77 adjuncts
hired by WHCL for spring 2011 attended
the main orientation to hear
topics ranging from veteran services,
presented by Susie Aceron to sports
team members’ needs and requirements
presented by athletic director
Bob Clement.
Sylvia Dorsey-Robinson, vice
president of student services, outlined
recognizing student needs. She
was followed by the team effort of
counselors Angela Tos and Maria
Gonzales as they worked the adjuncts
Angela Tos, above, and Maria Gonzales
briefed the adjunct faculty on
WHCL’s student services.
through the maze of paperwork.
Senior secretary Kyle Crider
explained the need to keep rosters
current with full classes in many disciplines,
offered help in assuring keycards
are current and explained drop
days.
The attendees were welcomed
by Vice President Dave Bolt and
President Don Warkentin as both
explained methods WHCL hopes to
cope with state budgetary problems
which, if the new governor’s budget
goes through, will raise costs of community
college students from $26 to
$36 a unit.
“It will be an interesting year,”
Warkentin said with a smile as he explained
the community college system
of 110 schools such as WHCL
would likely suffer a $400 million
budget cut.
“We’ll focus on degree and transfer
students as we may face deeper
cuts,” Warkentin told the adjuncts.
He also noted there will be summer
school scheduled for the Lemoore
campus.
West Hills College Lemoore students caught studying
Eagle editor Katherine Hardin took these photos of WHCL students hard at work (fall semester).
Frank Ramirez Rudy Banuelos Joe Johnson

WHCL suffers burglaries, break-ins, vandalism
Security measures discussed with
maintenance, Lemoore Police Dept.
By Eagle staff
and media sources
Fortunately for West Hills College
Lemoore, thieves who broke
into the campus bookstore weren’t
strong enough -- or prepared
enough -- to steal the safe during
the night of Dec. 21, 2010. But
“Thirteen laptop computers
were taken from a transfer room
on campus,” Don Warkentin, president
of the college, noted. “We valued
the total loss at $15,000. The
break in occurred wasn’t noted until
Jan. 3.”
“Insurance will cover the missing
property and damage to the
center,” Warkentin said, but it will
not quell the bad feelings the incident
has caused around campus.”
Vandalism damage to student
and staff autos, parked on campus,
a stolen car report, license plate
and gasoline theft, rounded out the
disturbing problems on campus.
No total loss in the combined problems
was available.
“Problems happen at all hours,”
Warkentin admitted.
Lemoore PD Chief Jeff Laws
said both the city and college are
On Dec. 21, 2010, thieves apparently
found the West Hills College
Lemoore bookstore safe too much of
a load to carry away and were unable
to open the safe. There have been no
arrests for the break in, police have
said.
they were strong enough to get in
through a window and cause some
$400 damage to the campus building,
said Phil Parker, bookstore
manager.
When Lemoore police responding
to the burglary alarm sounding
from the college bookstore arrived,
they found a window smashed, but
the intruders were gone, said LPD
Cmdr. Steve Rossi. He said he assumed
the audible alarm spooked
the perpetrators.
But the burglary wasn’t the only
crime problem over the Christmas
break reported to WHCL and Lemoore
Police Department officials.
working on ways to beef-up the
security, but Laws admitted the
remoteness of the area adds to the
difficulty of security. “They (the
college) need a security patrol.”
Warkentin said WHCL is working
on a security camera system
that will allow authorities to identify
wrongdoers for a later arrest.
West Hills doesn’t have its
own police force, but it does retain
campus security while in session,
Warkentin said. “Unfortunately, we
didn’t have it at that time.”
Chief Laws said the campus is
regularly visited by patrols.” But
he did note the need for better security
at the Lemoore campus.
Warkentin said the campus
would add security officers and
planning for a video surveillance
system. “Still, we’ve alerted staff
and students to be diligent.”
West Hills officials plan to hire extra
security people and to expand
campus TV surveillance to allow
Lemoore Police information on burglaries
and other problems.

Page 6 -- WHCL’s Screamin’ Eagle -- February 2011
Navy to host meetings for
F-35C planes home field
NAS Lemoore is one of two sites studied
From Navy sources
A Notice of Intent (NOI)
was to be published in the Federal
Register Jan. 28 announcing the
Navy’s intent to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS)
to evaluate the potential environmental
effects associated with
basing the F-35C Joint
Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft
on the West Coast
of the United States.
Under this proposal,
a total of seven
active-duty F/A-18C
Hornet squadrons
and one fleet replacement
squadron, 100 aircraft, will
progressively transition from the
F/A-18C Hornet aircraft to the
more advanced F-35C JSF beginning
in 2015.
This transition will occur as a
one-for-one replacement, the Navy
says.
During the initial planning
process to identify suitable home
base locations for the F-35C, the
Navy evaluated 134 Department of
Defense installations, NAS Lemoore,
and Naval Air Facility (NAF)
The city of Lemoore
has an interest in the
findings of the Navy.
For information, attend
the meeting on
Feb. 17 at 7 p.m.
El Centro.
In order to maximize efficiency
of support facilities, simulation
devices and on-site support personnel,
the Navy intends to base
all its West Coast F-35C aircraft at
one location. The Navy is initiating
the scoping process to identify
community concerns
and local issues that
will be addressed in
the EIS.
As part of the
EIS public participation
process, the Navy
plans to hold scoping
meetings on Feb. 15
in El Centro and on
Thursday, Feb. 17 at Lemoore
Senior Center –789 S Lemoore Avenue,
in Lemoore.
Each meeting is set for 5 to
8 p.m. The primary purpose of
scoping is to provide the public an
opportunity to submit comments
on environmental concerns that
should be addressed in the U.S.
Navy F-35C West Coast homebasing
EIS. Navy staff will be to
answer general questions on the
homebasing action and the EIS
process.
It’s black history month
at the Learning Center!
By Russell Bellamy,
Special to The Eagle
This month’s library display
honors courageous stands and
pioneering achievements, from the
seemingly small and obscure to the
famous and well documented, of
African Americans who have greatly
contributed to the making of this
country.
We will honor African American
Firsts in government, military,
arts, entertainment and sports. The
pictures of many individuals will be
displayed. Because of Black History
Month, many are now aware of
Jackie Robinson, the integration of
a high school in Little Rock, Rosa
Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr.-
led marches.
So, it’s hard to believe that African
American history was not really
included in U.S. history until 1915.
Due to the efforts of Carter Woodson,
a schoolteacher, Negro History Week
began being observed in 1926. Black
History Month didn’t come about till
1976! (February was chosen because
Frederick Douglass and Abraham
Lincoln both had February birthdays.)
Because of it, many now know of the
Buffalo Soldiers, the Freedom Riders
and the Tuskegee Airmen. There is
more to learn.
Do you know whom Emmett Till
was and what he has to do with the
civil rights movement? We can help
you with this and other questions
you may have. This year will mark
the 50th anniversary of the Freedom
Rides.
Volunteers, both black and white,
traveled to Mississippi and Alabama
to fight segregation in public
transportation by riding various forms
of public transit in defiance of local
laws and customs. The violence they
provoked called national attention
to the civil rights movement and the
Cassandra Brown-Menyweather,
a library student worker, checks one
of the offerings during Black History
Month.
eventual end of segregation. The
case can easily be made that popular
music and sports paved the way to
integration.
Therefore, many musicians and
athletes will be included, as well. In
addition to the books on our display,
we have many eBooks about African
Americans as well. These include:
Freedom Sounds, Sarah’s Long Walk,
A Nation Within a Nation, The Racial
Politics of Booker T. Washington,
Color-blind Justice, Giving a Voice
to the Voiceless, Black Stars of
Civil War Times, The Civil Rights
Movement and The Journey to the
Promised Land.
Gospel & Gumbo at WHC Lemoore
In celebration of Black History Month, West Hills Lemoore, SIFE
and the Career Center will again host the 5 th Annual Gospel & Gumbo
Night on Thursday, Feb. 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Conference Center.
Admission is free to students and the community. The event last year
saw great food, speakers and entertainment, and this year promises more
of the same. For additional information, the contact person is Angela
Barginear. She can be reached at:
angelabarginear@whccd.edu. or by telephone at 559-925-3388 or 3373

The Screamin’ Eagle -- February 2011 -- Page 7
LA Sanitation Districts donate $15,000 for engineering program
From District sources
At a presentation ceremony Friday, Jan. 28,
Grace Chan, of Los Angeles Sanitation Districts,
presented a check to Don Warkentin, president
of West Hills College Lemoore for the initial
contribution of $15,000 for the WHCL Engineering
Scholars Program. Beginning in fall 2011, the
Sanitation Districts will provide an additional
$30,000 per year to the West Hills CC District.
The funding is part of the development of the
Sanitation Districts’ Westlake Farms Composting
Facility in Kings County.
“We have committed this contribution to
students in our Engineering Scholars Program,”
Warkentin said. “It’s appropriate that those who
will benefit from this scholarship money be
interested in careers in engineering since there is
such high demand for engineers – especially by
organizations like the Sanitation Districts. This
contribution allows us to offer free tuition and up to
$600 a semester in books for all qualified students
Photo courtesy of The Hanford Sentinel
Dr. Frank Gornick, WHCCD Chancellor, receives
a $15,000 check from Grace Chan while
physics/engineering instructor Dr. Jiaxin Zhao, engineering
student Kevin Clow, and President Don
Warkentin of West Hills College Lemoore look on.
who attend WHCL as engineering majors.”
“West Hills Community College has shown its
commitment to providing quality education for the
local community,” indicated Chan. “The Westlake
Farms Composting Facility will be a state of the art
organics management facility and we are pleased to
have an opportunity to partner with WHCC.”
The facility, south of Lemoore, is currently under
construction. It will recycle local agricultural waste
and biosolids (solids generated from the wastewater
treatment process) to produce a nutrient-rich
compost product to be used as a soil amendment,
similar to compost produced by the Sanitation
Districts for over 40 years, noted Chan, assistant
chief engineer and assistant general manager. The
facility is anticipated to begin operations in 2013.
The Sanitation Districts function on a regional
scale and consist of 23 independent special districts
serving about 5.7 million people in LA County.
* Need help studying for a quiz or test?
* Need someone to explain concepts or discuss ideas?
* Having trouble with homework problems?
Spring Semester Tutoring
Is FREE and available to all registered students!
West Hills Students say:
‘Without help with my Algebra, I would not have passed.
The program helps me a lot.’
‘Before help from a peer-tutor, I didn’t know what I was doing. Now, I feel comfortable
with my English class.’
‘I enjoyed having assistance… I wish I would have done it much sooner!’
Do not Procrastinate – apply early!
Pick up an application at the front desk in the library.
Once your completed application is returned, you may see any available walk-in tutor or
request a scheduled appointment with the tutor of your choice. For information, contact:
Sharon Williams, Tutor Coordinator
925-3416 -- sharonjwilliams@whccd.edu

Screamin’ Eagle -- February 2011 Page 8
My name is Sarah Hyder and I am 19
years old. I am
going to West Hills College
Lemoore to achieve my business degree.
I have been at West Hills almost 2 years now. I
live in Hanford and have lived in Hanford all my
life.
I like to read and write more than the average
person and I also like to draw in my spare time.
My career goals from West Hills are eventually
to go to a University and work with animals in
my own business.
I would also like to move out of my small town
Happy Noodle
after I have finished my West Hills schooling.
Talent from an Early Age
By Sarah Hyder
For my artistic style,
I like to use watercolor and oils and make colorful portraits and pictures.
My own family since I was 8-years-old
encouraged me to become an art student.
I went to art classes in downtown Hanford and made
many art pieces with other eight-year-old girls and boys.
My mother was the more artistic one in the family before me.
I have received best in show twice for a watercolor still painting that I did my
junior year at Hanford High School.
I have had many of my art paintings in the art show in downtown Hanford.
I would like to encourage anyone to believe that they can draw beyond stick
figures and that many beautiful things come out of paint and effort.
Really, anyone can paint.
I have been taking art classes ever since I was 8-years-old.
Leaning Lady