E-Newsletter
Volume 6, No.5 |
May, 2008 |
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 Welcome to our monthly E-Newsletter, an overview of news and activities at ECC. We encourage you to learn more about our College by going through the rest of our web site. |
National Acclaim for ECC Student
Sophomore David Kariuki has been named to the All-USA Community College Academic First Team, the fifth ECC student to receive the prestigious honor in the last four years. The other honorees were Bertheleau Ngakam, 2007; Jose Medina and Kerry McCann, both 2006; Claudia Ordonez, 2005, and Susan Stepney, 2001. The scholarship is co-sponsored by USA Today and the Phi Theta Kappa two year college honor society.
In addition to the All-USA scholarship of $2,500, Kariuki is also the recipient of the $5,000 Guistwhite Scholarship and the $2,000 New Century Scholarship. He is profiled in the April 7 edition of USA Today.
Kariuki, 23, with a perfect 4.0 grade point average, is completing a dual major of Engineering (with a bio-medical track) and Mathematics. He is the regional president of the PTK honor society, writes for the college student newspaper ECCO, and even finds time to tutor classmates in math, English, engineering, and computer science in the Learning Center. His research on biomedical resistance to antimicrobial drugs led to a NASA-funded internship last summer at Stevens Institute of Technology. He worked there on a project related to alternate cancer treatment and the use of AIDS antiretrovial drugs. His research
inspired him to spearhead a campus service project that provides medication to children living with AIDS. His career goal is to become a bio-engineering research scientist.
Top Awards to ECC’s PTK Chapter at Convention
At this year’s Middle States Regional/International Convention in April at Philadelphia, our chapter won 18 awards, including the prestigious “five star” chapter designation, PTK’s highest honor. Chapter awards included the Pinnacle Award for increased membership, Chapter Award of Excellence (three granted in the Middle States region), Four Leaf Clover Award (Operation Green), Fellowship Award, Red Ribbon Award for Community Service, and Distinguished Regional Officer Team Award for David Kariuki, Middle States President.
Individual awards presented were: Distinguished Chapter Advisor Award to Professor Soraida Romero; ALL-USA Academic First Team Award, New Century Scholar Award, and Guistwhite Scholarship to David Kariuki; PTK Middle States Region Alumni Transfer Scholarship and Distinguished Regional Officer Award, also to David Kariuki; Prose Award for research paper and Hall of Honor Regional President Award to Anmarie Stewart; Hall of Honor Regional Officer award to Shaey Beaumont, and Hall of Honor Regional Member Award to Lucy Shannon.
Congratulations to our PTK chapter for performing at the highest levels this year!
ECC Students Place High in Math Competition
At the April 12th Garden State Student Mathematics Conference & Competition of The Mathematics Association of America, ECC had an 8th place all-round finish (3 person teams) among the 36 teams and 108 individual students who competed. The 36 colleges and universities that participated were largely four year colleges, such as Princeton, Rutgers, The College of New Jersey, University of Scranton, and Montclair State University. There were also nine two-year NJ colleges in the competition. Our students were new to the event and most had never been to any kind of math conference before. We wish them continued success in such future competitions.
Shloming Math Prize Winners
 From left, Victorero, Nan, and Zhou |
The winners of this year’s Robert A. Shloming Mathematics Prize Examination at ECC are engineering major Oscar G. Victorero (First Place), Chemistry major Tianyu Zhou (Second Place), and Dong Nan, non matriculated (Third Place).
The exam is sponsored by retired ECC Math Professor Robert Shloming in honor of his father Adolph Shloming, a linguist and mathematician. Following his father’s dedication to math, Shloming earned a Ph.D. from NYU and taught in the ECC math
department for more than three decades. One of his objectives is to create a community of students who will be motivated to discuss mathematical problems and consider careers in mathematics or related fields. ECC Professor Ron Bannon has been running this competition for close to 15 years.
Registration for Summer and Fall 2008
Web registration is ongoing through July 10 for Summer II and through September 12 for Fall 2008. The Summer II term is from July 7 through August 14 and the Fall semester commences September 8. Returning students are urged to register online via Web Services to avoid long lines.
In-person registration for Summer II and Fall 2008 is from July 1-3 (9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.) at both campuses. For more registration-related information, click here to access our course registration
site. You may also choose to contact Enrollment Services at (973) 877-3100 (Main Campus) or (973) 877-6590 (West Essex Campus).
MESA Center Continues to Grow
ECC’s MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Achievement) Center continues to grow with the support of the National Science Foundation STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program) Grant and under the direction of its new coordinator Jennifer Zhang. Five student tutors and six faculty members work regular hours in the Center helping students with their courses and projects.
MESA is the pride of ECC’s Center for Technology (CFT) which houses the engineering technologies and computer science programs. Common scenes at MESA are students at a PC learning AutoCAD, at the marker board working on calculus with student tutors, at one of the round tables working on homework, or on the Internet researching a paper, a vibrant learning center indeed!
New Articulation Agreements for the Technical Studies Program
ECC’s Technical Studies Program has entered into articulation agreements with several construction apprenticeships and other similar programs. ECC’s program allows individuals who have completed specific training programs elsewhere to transfer some of those programs to ECC as college credits and to eventually earn an associate degree. Most four-year universities in New Jersey accept training credits recommended by the American Council on Education which evaluates training programs. As such, graduates of ECC’s program can transfer their technical studies credits to a professional studies baccalaureate program at an upper division college or university.
The organizations with which ECC has signed articulation agreements are: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Locals 102, 269, 351, 400,and 456; New Jersey Department of Corrections Office of Training; Joint Apprenticeship and Training Funds of Sheet Metal Locals 19, 22, 25, and 27; International Training Institute for the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Industry; New Jersey Council of Carpenters; Northern New Jersey Ironworkers Training Program Local Unions 11, 45, 68, 350,399, 373, 480, and 483, United Association of the Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry, and the
International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers.
STEM Summer Bridge Program
Incoming freshmen who plan to major in the areas
of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) are encouraged to apply for participation in ECC’s Summer Bridge Program, offered through the Division of Engineering Technologies and Computer Sciences. The program, funded through
the National Science Foundation STEP Grant, provides a way for motivated students to transition into
college life. Program activities will include courses in developmental mathematics, engineering, and
computer science, as well as mentoring, tutoring, guest speakers, field trips, and a STEM project.
Tuition, lunch, and textbooks will be provided free of charge to all participants selected for the program.
For more information, visit www.stem-ecc.org or contact Professor Jinsoo Park at (973) 877-3483.
ECC Police Academy Offers Emergency Preparedness Classes
A $32,000 grant from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s National Guard Schoolhouse Project has enabled the academy in Cedar Grove to offer four free one-day classes for law enforcement personnel, emergency responders, students, and the public.
The first three were offered in April: Cyber Security, Bio-incident Response, and Planning for Business Emergencies. The fourth on Community Preparedness Core Information will be held May 14
Academy Director Rocco Miscia anticipates offering additional courses in Fall 2008. The classes will be held at the academy and off-site at companies, schools, and other venues such as fire houses, first aid squads, and professional associations. Call the Police Academy at (973) 877-4350 for additional information on these and other academy programs.
Men’s & Women’s Basketball Standouts
Men’s basketball star John Pringle, a 6 foot, 7 inch sophomore, had a double-double in the National Junior College Athletic Association Coaches’ Association all-star game on April 20 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Pringle scored 10 points and had 12 rebounds, one board shy of the NJCAA all-star game record. His team, NJCAA Division II, defeated NJCAA Division III by a 113-92 score.
The men’s team, coached by Tarik Brown, captured both the Region 19 and District 9 titles on the way to the national championship tournament in March. Pringle was named an NJCAA Division II first team All American. He was also named to the first team Garden State Athletic Conference and Region 19 squads. He averaged 16.8 rebounds a game and averaged 22.6 points a game, sixth nationally.
 From left, Scantleburyand Iceson |
Women’s Basketball stars Shellone Scantlebury and Eliezer Iceson have received post season honors. The two sophomores were named to the first team Region 19 and Garden State Athletic Conference squads. Coach Steven Mitchell’s team finished 16-8 and advanced to the Region 19 semi-final game.
Scantlebury averaged 12 rebounds a game, which was the seventh best nationally.
She also averaged 13.2 points a game as well as two steals a contest. She had the highest field goal percentage nationally for most of the season, finishing third with 67 percent. Iceson scored 14.7 points a game and hauled down 7.4 rebounds per contest. She was ranked 28th with 3.2 steals and dished out 2.6 assists a game.
Alumni Updates
Sayyeda Lundy, who graduated from the Civil Construction Engineering Technology program at ECC in 2003, completed her B.S. from NJIT in 2005, and has been with Tishman Construction Corporation for three years. She is a project manager at the World Trade reconstruction site.
Robert Vilsack (Class of 1997) graduated from NJIT in 1999 and went on to
become a project superintendent at Turner Construction Company, managing
major commercial construction for six years. He is now with the Shaw Group
Inc., working on the retrofit of a power generator in Jersey City.
Jim Sens graduated from ECC’s Civil Construction Engineering Technology: Land Surveying
Option in 2000. He then earned his baccalaureate degree from NJIT in 2001. He obtained a
NJ Professional Land Surveyor’s license in 2002 and is now Director of Surveying at Borbas Surveying
and Mapping in Boonton. He is also president of the NJ Society of Professional Land Surveyors and an
adjunct faculty member at NJIT.
April Events
 Newark Mayor Corey Booker spoke on Economic Development Policies & Urban Economic Development for the Municipal Government Class |
 Social Work Student Intern Daniel Castillo with Kristyne Felicies of La Casa de Don Pedro, Inc. during Social Work Day |
 Participants at the ECC Writing Conference & Contest for High School Students |
 Spring Festival Music Concert |
 Spring Festival Cookout |
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Upcoming ECC Events
| Name | Date and Time |
Location |
ECC Foundation Fundraiser, Excellent Taste of Essex (Wine Tasting, Silent Art Auction, & Live Music) |
May 2 |
ECC Gallery |
Pitter Patter Feet Dance Recital |
May 2 & 3 |
Mary Burch Theater |
Wealth Strategy Symposium II |
May 3 |
4th Level Multipurpose Room |
Déjà vu 26th Annual Fashion Showcase |
May 3 |
Physical Education Building |
Essex County Job Fair (free) |
May 6 |
Physical Education Building |
Physical Therapist Assistant Pinning Ceremony |
May 6 |
4th Level Multipurpose Room |
Essex County Job Fair |
May 6 |
Physical Education Building |
Information Night for Summer Program for Kids |
May 6 & 20 |
Multipurpose Room A |
Community & Continuing Education Scholarship Committee Plant Sale |
May 7 & 8 |
2nd Level Forum (May 7) |
Student Life & Activities Awards Ceremony |
May 8 |
Main Dining Hall |
Student Government Association Graduation Celebration |
May 9 |
Main Dining Hall |
Geographic Information System Open House |
May 15 |
4th Floor Multipurpose room 4170 |
EOF Annual Graduation Dinner |
May 16 |
Essex Manor |
Nurse Pinning Ceremony |
May 20 |
Mary Burch Theater |
Student Support Services Annual Award Ceremony |
May 19 |
Main Dining Hall |
West Essex Advisory Board Graduates Reception |
May 21 |
Student Lounge |
Board of Trustees Meeting |
May 21 |
Multipurpose Room |
Student Affairs Awards Night |
May 22 |
Main Dining Hall |
Athletic Awards Banquet |
May 23 |
4th Level Multipurpose Room |
Gospel Concert hosted by ECC Christian Fellowship Club |
May 23 |
Smith 2131 |
Upcoming Community Events
Phi Theta Kappa Day, Sponsored by the NJ Council of County Colleges |
May 1 |
Lafayette Yard Memorial Hotel |
Grant Writing Training |
May 6 & 7 |
Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy, Forum Room (1st Floor), Rutgers University, New Brunswick |
For more information, call For more information, call (973) 877-3208 or (973) 877-6637 for main campus events and (973) 877-1903 for West Essex Campus events.
Contact Information
This newsletter is prepared by the Office of Publications and Production in cooperation with the Office of Public Relations. Comments and suggestions are most welcome. Please address them to Dr. Lekha Keister at lkeister@essex.edu.
