By Cheyenne Atchison
Each year, McLennan Community College hosts Family Fun Day for the Waco community. Neighborhood families are encouraged to bring their kids to the Bosque River Ballpark Complex to receive free admission into both the baseball and softball games. On March 23, the Highlanders and Highlassies are taking on North Central Texas College and Temple College, respectively.
In addition to the athletic games, MCC will have a variety of activities for families to partake in, including inflatables, games, and giveaways. This year, Pokey O’s will be available to serve desserts to visitors. Family Fun Day is a way for MCC to interact with the surrounding community and is only one of the many ways in which MCC engages with citizens of Waco and Central Texas. Throughout the year, students and faculty participate in multiple philanthropic events to support and better Central Texas.
This past January, MCC Athletics raised money for the American Cancer Society. Rather than competing against other colleges, each team competed against each other to see who could raise the largest amount in donations. Teams set up tables in the Learning Technology Center for students and faculty to contribute. Those that donated could sign their name or a loved one’s name on a Highlander card that is on display for the rest of the season. Tables were also set up outside of athletic games to collect donations from attendees. At the end of the month, the baseball team raised the most money for the American Cancer Society and won the competition.
Starting in 2016, the men’s golf team began a yearlong fundraiser for the Folds of Honor Military Tribute program. This program provides educational scholarships for spouses and children of fallen and disabled service members. By June of 2018, the team raised $1000 to support military families and their endeavors.
The women’s basketball team supports Play4Kay, raising funds for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Coach Kay Yow, the head coach of the North Carolina State University women’s basketball team, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 and passed away in 2009 after her battle with the disease. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is an organization that helps women affected by all forms of cancer. Funds are given toward research, prevention and assistance of those currently affected.
Locally, MCC athletics also works with organizations in Waco to benefit those specifically in Central Texas. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Food for Families in Central Texas. Sponsors, such as MCC’s baseball team, will stock the shelves of local food pantries and food banks with non-perishable items. Today, Food for Families has grown to be the largest one-day food drive in the state, serving nine counties within Central Texas.
The Highlassies softball team volunteered with No Limitations, another local charity established in July 2014 to help those who face developmental or physical challenges. Through No Limitations, affected individuals can take part in various activities, including team sports. By participating in social programs, those with disabilities can feel more included in the community and learn valuable skills. Through partnerships with charities and organizations like No Limitations MCC athletics gives back to the community.
“The athletics department at McLennan is always finding ways to reach out to Waco and the surrounding areas,” Jennifer Norman, Associate Director of Marketing and Communications said. “Community engagement allows us to show our appreciation for those beyond MCC.”
Cheyenne Atchison is a junior at Baylor University studying Marketing and Public Relations, and currently serves as an intern in the Marketing and Communications Department at McLennan Community College.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Cheyenne Atchison
“I felt as if I were walking with destiny, and that all my past life had been but a preparation for this hour and for this trial… I thought I knew a good deal about it all, I was sure I should not fail.” In one of his most iconic quotes, Winston Churchill described what he felt after he became the Prime Minister of England in 1940.
This quote also serves as the title for Andrew Roberts’ new Churchill biography, Churchill: Walking with Destiny, a New York Times best seller released last October. On Wednesday, Feb. 13, McLennan Community College will host author and scholar Andrew Roberts, as he travels the state on a promotional tour. The book has been hailed by the Wall Street Journal as “the best single-volume biography of the man.”
MCC is honored to host this popular author and an evening of learning about a prominent historical figure, with the help of Judge Ken Starr. “Our friendship with Judge Ken Starr and his wife Alice has taken the student experience at MCC to an entirely new level. Judge Starr engages with our Presidential and Honors College Scholars every semester…” said Kim Patterson, executive director of the MCC Foundation and coordinator of the Roberts’ event. “His connections in Washington and around the world are enabling us to offer MCC students learning opportunities they wouldn’t get anywhere else.”
Dr. Andrew Roberts, received a PhD from Cambridge, is a visiting professor at the War Studies Department of King’s College, London, the Lehrman Institute Distinguished Lecturer at the New-York Historical Society, and the author of 13 books.
As a journalist and historian, he has researched and written about a variety of public and historic figures, but Winston Churchill is arguably his most studied. His enthusiasm toward Churchill is obvious in the collection of memorabilia close at hand in his study, which includes a hairbrush, bow tie and invitation to the lecture at Westminster College in 1946, in which Churchill delivered his infamous “Iron Curtain” speech. Despite his interest and admiration of Churchill, Roberts makes a point to recognize the mistakes the prominent leader made in both his political and personal life. More importantly, Roberts wanted a biography that would not only acknowledge faults but also explore how Churchill grew from them. Through his missteps, Churchill developed into the historical figure he is today.
Walking with Destiny offers an understanding of Churchill from a new perspective. The last major publication about Winston Churchill was Churchill by Roy Jenkins in 2001. Since its release, works surrounding Churchill have been deposited into the archives at Churchill College. In addition to these documents, the Queen of England granted Roberts access to her father’s diaries. This marks the first time a Churchill historian has read King George VI’s personal writing.
King George VI and Winston Churchill became close during World War II, with Churchill serving as England’s prime minister under the king’s reign. Despite initial aversion toward the new prime minister, it was the efforts of the war that helped them develop a relationship. This makes King George VI’s diary the ideal collection and perspective of both their friendship and of Churchill himself. This document serves as primary evidence never seen or read in any previous Churchill biography until now.
A large reason Roberts wanted to write this biography was due to his belief that the criticism Churchill faces is a result of inaccurate sources or a lack of context surrounding specific controversies. With access to new archives and the king’s diaries, Roberts can unveil a new side of history.
“It is simply extraordinary for our students to have the opportunity to meet and hear from one of the world’s leading Churchill scholars, right here on our campus,” Patterson said. “We have always said that MCC is not like other community colleges … MCC is more like a four-year liberal arts college offering outstanding teaching and enriching experiences.”
“An Evening with Sir Winston Churchill Biographer Andrew Roberts” will be held on Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the McLennan Community College Conference Center. Admission is free to the public, but tickets must be reserved at www.mclennan.edu/andrewroberts. Copies of Walking with Destiny will be available for purchase at the event.
Cheyenne Atchison is a junior at Baylor University studying Marketing and Public Relations, and currently serves as an intern in the Marketing and Communications Department at McLennan Community College.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Madiha Kark
Young men of color face challenges every day; they strive to be seen beyond their stereotypical portrayal as depicted by news media and pop culture. Especially in higher education, their representation is small, and completion rates have been historically low. At McLennan Community College, the Men of Color Success Initiative focuses on engaging in individual and group mentoring to address challenges for first-generation students, traditionally underrepresented groups, and students in need of academic and personal direction.
The goal of the program is to increase higher-education completion rates among men of color while raising awareness of issues with diversity and equity, and creating awareness of support services available. The initiative is modeled after similar programs at other colleges in Texas, and representatives are working closely with the Texas Education Consortium for Male Students of Color to grow its efforts.
According to a study by the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE), titled Aspirations to Achievement: Men of Color and Community Colleges, “Consistently and unmistakably, data show a persistent gap separating Latinos and Black males from other student groups on measures of academic progress and college completion. These gaps exist across higher education.”
Barron Lowe, who graduated recently with an associate degree in communications, said before he found the initiative, he was going through personal issues and wasn’t sure where he was headed in life. A trip to Austin to attend a seminar for the Men of Color made him realize he wasn’t the only one with problems.
The program pairs faculty members and mentors with students to help them achieve personal and academic goals. The idea is to be accountable and push each other to better ourselves. Lowe says the networking opportunities he has had because of the initiative helped him to reach the next level in his life. He is currently working as a leasing agent for a community center but wants to get a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M. “I’ve met some of the most amazing men through this, and they’ve helped me be the best version of myself.”
Building networks and relationships is a big part of the initiative, and one that allows the group members to make stronger ties, because everyone is invested in the common goal.
“It gave me the opportunity to have a professor who was good one-on-one and really caring, and saw I had the potential to be a better student,” Lowe said. “He basically took me under his wing, and it’s been like this ever since: close.”
At a time when one might feel like they’re taking on the world alone, college can be daunting, he said. Lowe had to learn how to ask for help when necessary, something he couldn’t bring himself to do before MCC, he said.
Click here and learn how you can be a part of the Men of Color Success Initiative at MCC.
Madiha Kark is a Marketing, Communications and Photography Specialist at McLennan Community College. She holds an M.A. in Journalism from the University of North Texas. She loves to travel, cook, and read nonfiction books.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Madiha Kark with additional reporting by Neyra Bazaldua
Walk in to the Wells Fargo in downtown Waco and you’ll probably see him, his smile is quick to appear as he greets customers, his eyes are framed by black rectangular classes, and his round gentle face is marked with a short, maintained goatee.
Carlos Vera is the branch manager. In addition to his full-time job, he is also a full-time student and a full-time father to four children. He has an office in the back of the bank, but he is rarely there. Carlos is usually at the front of the bank greeting customers and helping them with whatever brings them in that day.
For Carlos, it’s been tough finding the balance between all these roles. “My motivation comes from many places and people. My wife and kids will always be my number one motivation, but I am most motivated when I have made a difference in someone’s life.” he says. When you hear his schedule it almost feels like he has more hours in the day than the rest of us.
Despite his myriad responsibilities, he carves out time to spend quality time with his kids. He also finds the time to participate in extracurricular activities such as, the Men of Color Success Initiative. The initiative is designed to address challenges for first generation college students, traditionally underrepresented groups, and students in need of academic and personal direction. The students are assigned a mentor to help them succeed.
At 35, Carlos is pursuing an Associate degree in Business Administration, he is not what is considered a traditional student, but he hasn’t let his age hold him back. Carlos’s mentor Dr. Ronald Hochstatter helped him apply for FAFSA and encouraged him to apply for scholarships through the MCC Foundation. “My first semester, I paid everything out of pocket, tuition, books, everything. I didn’t know anything about FAFSA.” The next semester he was able to get a refund, he couldn’t believe it.
With college prices in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, more families are looking for ways to spend less for quality education. Student loans are one of the most significant debts that Americans carry and at MCC, there are countless options to alleviate that burden, whether through scholarships, affordable classes or providing students with the resources that will help them academically and financially.
Through sheer determination, hard work, and encouragement from his mentor, Carlos applied for the Hoover Title III scholarship and received it. The scholarship will cover his tuition and books, leaving him a little less worried about finances. The experience to be in college has been rewarding in many ways for Carlos, though he feels left out or mature for most activities his fellow students prefer, he appreciates the comradery and willingness to help each other.
Carlos will graduate in fall 2019 and hopes to attend Texas Tech University through the University Center at MCC. MCC has opened many doors for Carlos and he hopes to do the same one day for other students.
Madiha Kark is a Marketing, Communications and Photography Specialist at McLennan Community College. She holds an M.A. in Journalism from the University of North Texas. She loves to travel, cook, and read nonfiction books.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Madiha Kark
As a college student, staying engaged with coursework and campus life can seem intimidating if not impossible. But for a select group of students at MCC this engagement is a fundamental part of their educational experience, as well as their own core values.
After a competitive application process, a select group of students are named Presidential Scholars each year at McLennan Community College. The students receive a full scholarship and spend the year volunteering around the community, sharing new ideas with campus administrators, and traveling around the country. We sat down with several of these students to learn more about their experience at MCC, and how it has been shaped by this program.
From the start, freshman Ethan Blanton emphasized the power of leadership when recounting his experience as a Presidential Scholar. At just 19 years old Blanton grounds himself daily with the responsibilities his position entails.
“Our number one responsibility is (to) know that we are representing our school. Whether it is at dinner with a speaker… we know the speaker is seeing MCC when he sees us.”
When I asked Blanton to describe his experience with a recent speaker, a grin spread across his face instantly. “Okay,” he said, “my absolute favorite speaker was Supreme Court Justice Clarence Brown. That was one of my favorite experiences in the program but also just in life,” he said sincerely, still maintaining a slight sense of disbelief that this moment had actually occurred. “I never would’ve had the chance to do this, to meet this wonderful man, unless I was in Presidential Scholars.”
Echoing this sentiment, sophomore Scholar Elijah Espinoja spoke of the rarity of these experiences and volunteer efforts. “There are certain experiences we have had here that not many people get,” he said humbly.
This advice has proved beneficial for Espinoja, who radiated a profound sense of both leadership and gratitude throughout the entirety of the interview. “Being involved in this program has opened so many doors for me,” he said while speaking of his own personal and academic experiences at MCC.
One of these doors opened after meeting an engineer at a Presidential Scholars event, when he was inspired to change his major to mechanical engineering. Even with this change Espinoja emphasized the stability he found on campus at MCC. “MCC is a great place,” he said, “everything about this school has been really good to me.”
So good in fact, that Espinoja has now inspired his younger brother to attend MCC and join him in the Presidential Scholars program. He expressed the importance of getting involved on campus, a trait that he seems to have been passed down to his brother Matthew.
“Getting involved anywhere is important,” he advised. “That is how you are going to succeed. You never know who you are going to meet… So do as much as you can, because the experience you get here is one of a kind.”
For freshman Seraphina Gayle, this sentiment of involvement resonated with her own experience throughout her first year at MCC. Gayle visibly lit up when discussing the role of other Presidential Scholars in her life.
“I think it’s important to be involved,” she said, discussing the friendships made through campus involvement. “A lot of times you can put your heads together and figure out what you want to change on campus.”
This people-oriented mentality seemed to be a theme throughout Gayle’s recollection of her time at MCC, but also has roots in the early days of her life. As a first generation college student, Gayle noted the importance of two fundamental people, her mother and father, throughout her educational career.
“For me (college) is something my parents haven’t done,” she said, “so we’re all figuring it out together.” When asked about her parents later she opened up about their impact on her college experience this far. “It definitely makes me more motivated,” she said candidly. “And college truly does have a meaning for me.”
Freshman Presidential Scholar Yuridia Navarro shares a similar story, as a first generation college student centered on motivation stemming from her own lineage. In every possible moment to glorify herself, Navarro managed to highlight the sacrifice and motivation from her parents as the explanation for her continued success.
“My parents came from Mexico for a better education for us and a better future for us,” she said of herself and her two younger siblings. “So them seeing me go to school for free fulfills the purpose of their struggle.”
When asked about the program’s application process, Navarro openly discussed her initial intimidation of the Presidential Scholars program. “I don’t even really remember the application,” she admitted sheepishly. “I just thought ‘this is Presidential; I am not worthy of this.’”
But soon this attitude was changed with the reception of the scholarship, and her concurrent experiences both on campus and around the community. “It makes me humble,” she said. “It makes me feel good giving back to my community because my community has given so much to me through MCC.”
And give back she plans to do, with a bright vision for a career in psychology after graduation. “I think about my family and how none of us have an education, and (how) I want to be that chain that breaks,” she said truthfully. Even with impressive accomplishments behind her and achievable goals ahead, Navarro still shifted the attention away from herself and towards others.
“I want to be a new generation,” she told me. “I want to be the motivation for my younger siblings.”
For each of these students, the sky seems to be the limit for both academic and professional success. But perhaps the most impressive factor linking each of them is the shared responsibility to make a difference; at MCC, around the community and even within their own households. Their deep sense of humility and focus on helping others is as prevalent as it is profound, as these four individuals succeed in inspiring all those around them.
Madiha Kark is a Marketing, Communications and Photography Specialist at McLennan Community College. She holds an M.A. in Journalism from the University of North Texas. She loves to travel, cook, and read nonfiction books.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Madiha Kark
Young men of color face challenges every day; they strive to be seen beyond their stereotypical portrayal as depicted by news media and pop culture. Especially in higher education, their representation is small, and completion rates have been historically low. At McLennan Community College, the Men of Color Success Initiative focuses on engaging in individual and group mentoring to address challenges for first-generation students, traditionally underrepresented groups, and students in need of academic and personal direction.
The goal of the program is to increase higher-education completion rates among men of color while raising awareness of issues with diversity and equity, and creating awareness of support services available. The initiative is modeled after similar programs at other colleges in Texas, and representatives are working closely with the Texas Education Consortium for Male Students of Color to grow its efforts.
According to a study by the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE), titled Aspirations to Achievement: Men of Color and Community Colleges, “Consistently and unmistakably, data show a persistent gap separating Latinos and Black males from other student groups on measures of academic progress and college completion. These gaps exist across higher education.”
Barron Lowe, who graduated recently with an associate degree in communications, said before he found the initiative, he was going through personal issues and wasn’t sure where he was headed in life. A trip to Austin to attend a seminar for the Men of Color made him realize he wasn’t the only one with problems.
The program pairs faculty members and mentors with students to help them achieve personal and academic goals. The idea is to be accountable and push each other to better ourselves. Lowe says the networking opportunities he has had because of the initiative helped him to reach the next level in his life. He is currently working as a leasing agent for a community center but wants to get a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M. “I’ve met some of the most amazing men through this, and they’ve helped me be the best version of myself.”
Building networks and relationships is a big part of the initiative, and one that allows the group members to make stronger ties, because everyone is invested in the common goal.
“It gave me the opportunity to have a professor who was good one-on-one and really caring, and saw I had the potential to be a better student,” Lowe said. “He basically took me under his wing, and it’s been like this ever since: close.”
At a time when one might feel like they’re taking on the world alone, college can be daunting, he said. Lowe had to learn how to ask for help when necessary, something he couldn’t bring himself to do before MCC, he said.
Click here and learn how you can be a part of the Men of Color Success Initiative at MCC.
Madiha Kark is a Marketing, Communications and Photography Specialist at McLennan Community College. She holds an M.A. in Journalism from the University of North Texas. She loves to travel, cook, and read nonfiction books.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Madiha Kark
The holiday season can get to the best of us – uncontrolled food indulgences, sugary deserts, late nights, and less-than-good skincare. We’ve all been down that road, making New Year’s resolutions to take care of our skin, be healthier, and read more books.
Let’s try and take care of one of those resolutions: Taking care of our skin.
I sat down with Nicole Pepper, a student in MCC’s esthetician program, to ask her about common mistakes and myths about skincare and how to improve it. She has a bachelor’s degree from Baylor in theater design but wanted to focus more on makeup; however, “Baylor doesn’t have a strong makeup program. Everybody just kept recommending MCC’s program, so here I am!”
Getting an education in esthetics opens up doors to all sorts of career options, and MCC’s program is hands-on. Unlike other career paths in the beauty industry, esthetics offers a variety of workplaces, positions, and industries. McLennan Community College offers three certification courses through the cosmetology program: Esthetician specialist, Cosmetology Instructor, and Cosmetology. You could train to become a medical esthetician and work in doctor’s office or for a plastic surgeon, or you could become a skincare specialist working in a dermatologist’s office. You could even become a facialist working at a spa or salon. There are a lot of options!
So, let’s ask Nicole some questions to help us develop good skin habits and find out why she loves being an esthetician.
Q: What is the most common mistake when putting on makeup and how to avoid it?
Nicole: The most common mistake is not blending and buying whatever product is hot on Instagram or social media instead of understanding your skin needs. Invest in the right tools.
Q: What is the one thing people don’t realize the importance of?
Washing your brushes. At least once a week. You don’t even have to get fancy, just use a plain Dove bar soap. It works wonders.
Q: What are the essentials for a good skin-care regime?
Start with a cleanser, use an exfoliator (once a week) and moisturize. Those are the top three things if you want to start good skin habits.
Q: What changes have you made to your beauty regimen since you started the program?
I work at Beauty Brands and often times I would try new products and then buy them and they would end up under my sink. I’ve become very selective of the products I put on my face. I use a website to check ingredients in the products. It will give a rating on products. 1 or 2 is good. The rating turns from green to red to indicate harmful chemicals in the product. A good rule of thumb is to check the first five ingredients because that’s what is working.
Q: What’s the trick to a good foundation base, other than blending?
A really good skin care regimen. Some people swear by primer, but my skin looks worse with it. So I would recommend having a really good skin care regimen. If you have that, you have a great base to work on.
Q: What’s the secret to a good smoky eye?
That’s also blending – really, really good blending. Use, a tiny brush with a fluffy dome top. Just sit and blend away.
Q: If there is one thing you would recommend to take care of your skin, what would it be?
Invest in good skin care. The idea is not to buy just whatever is in the market. Research for ingredients and check labels on what the products have.
***
In addition to the personal and emotional benefits, a career as an esthetician offers the potential for advancement and growth. According to some surveys, by 2024, employment of skincare specialists is projected to grow by 12 percent, which is faster than average for other professions. More and more people are interested in holistic health and overall wellbeing which estheticians can help accomplish. Since your skin is the largest organ in your body, you want to take care of it. At MCC’s state-of-the-art facility, the machines and techniques that are taught allow for hands-on experience, meaning you can step into the workforce as soon as you complete one of the certificates.
For more information on the cosmetology and esthetician program, as well as salon hours, visit http://www.mclennan.edu/cosmetology/. Find out how you can start your career in holistic health and wellbeing at MCC!
Madiha Kark is a Marketing, Communications and Photography Specialist at McLennan Community College. She holds an M.A. in Journalism from the University of North Texas. She loves to travel, cook, and read nonfiction books.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Madiha Kark
When you think of a typical college student, maybe you think of a life in bliss, time spent moving between classes, parties, and extracurricular activities. That is if the daunting task of getting out of bed has somehow been managed. We imagine carefree boys and girls enjoying their youth, spending money they shouldn’t or don’t have, but the reality is far from it. Of the nearly 18 million undergraduates in the country, a shocking 40 percent work at least 30 hours a week. About 25 percent work full time and go to school full time, and about a quarter of them are single parents.
Students at McLennan Community College (MCC) range from high school students who are entering college for the first time to 40-year-olds who are working low-paying physically demanding jobs. They all have a goal of achieving their dreams. They juggle kids, financial stress, typically multiple jobs, and their education. It’s a delicate balance that leaves you physically and mentally exhausted. Community college students deserve your deepest respect, some of them walk a hard path of constant struggle and have to put their dreams on the back burner because of finances or other responsibilities. Many of them continue out of sheer will and belief in the hope for a better future. Here are my four reasons you should choose MCC:
- Affordability:Paying for college is an expensive undertaking. Annual tuition and fees at four-year institutions in Texas can reach upwards of $40,000. MCC offers a great education at an affordable price. The average cost of a two-year degree at MCC is around $12,000.
- Academic Flexibility:MCC is a good option for easing your way into higher education. Not everyone has a clear plan of what they want to study. At MCC, students can start with some core classes and have options to transfer to other programs. MCC partners with various four-year universities that offer classes on campus for bachelors, masters and Ph.D. degrees with easy transfer options.
- Class Size and Personalized Attention: Many community colleges offer smaller class sizes than traditional four-year colleges. That means, students get personal attention and one-on-one time with instructors. At MCC, our student-to-teacher ratio is typically 17:1. According to one reviewer, “Class sizes remind me of that in high school because they are big enough to have a great discussion but small enough to know the names of your classmates.” Additionally, a lot of MCC professors teach at other four-year universities and are experts in their fields.
- S
tudent Support Services: A recent Urban Institute study found that from 2011 to 2015, one in five students attending a two-year college lived in a food-insecure household. A lab found that in 2016, 14 percent of community college students had been homeless at some point. These students work extremely hard to make ends meet and simultaneously get the education they need to become more stable. Some of the support services offered at MCC include, the food pantry, academic and personal counseling, single-parent initiatives, career services, and Success Coaches.
If you need any more reason to attend a community college, know that these famous people all started at a community college:
- Steve Jobs
- Walt Disney
- Halle Berry
- George Lucas
Registration for Spring 2018 runs Nov. 6-Jan. 13.
Madiha Kark is a Marketing, Communications and Photography Specialist at McLennan Community College. She holds an M.A. in Journalism from the University of North Texas. She loves to travel, cook, and read nonfiction books.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Madiha Kark
On a Monday afternoon, about four weeks ago I walked nervously towards the Liberal Arts building at McLennan Community College. It was sometime in 2013 that I had last stepped into a classroom before completing my master’s degree. There were two reasons I was walking into Spanish 1411 that day. First, my lovely husband not so subtly pushed me into it. Second, I wanted to speak to my grandmother-in-law on FaceTime. She is a small (under five feet) adorable lady who speaks Spanish and has a heart the size of Texas.
Full of dread, tired, looking for a single excuse to quit… I walked into that class a little less than excited.
Before I saw Seir Lopez, I heard her. I heard an excited voice “Hola chicos, ¿Como están? ¿Bien? She walked in quickly, but not rushed, a bright full smile on her face, her jet black hair flowing in the air like a well maintained mane. “This is going to be difficult,” I thought.
Seir has a way of making you interested in a language you’ve never learned. As far back as she can remember, it’s always been like this. She has always loved to teach. When she was child, the importance of education was stressed in her house. She was born in Mexico, but moved to Waco with her family when she was four. Her parents had humble beginnings, they were self-taught and hardworking but didn’t have much education. Being new in the United States they wanted to give their kids the opportunities they didn’t have. One of the rules they had in the house later shaped Seir’s identity. The children could only speak Spanish at home; English was reserved for school.
Seir struggled through high school and even thought about dropping out, but her parents were adamant to push her towards higher education. When the time came to choose a college, MCC was always her first choice. It was affordable, had a small community and wasn’t going to be overwhelming. “From the first semester I felt right at home,” she says.
At MCC, Seir had a chance to be on both sides of the desk, as a student and as a teacher. She never felt she had a free pass because it was a community college and the classes were easy. “I have had some of my hardest courses at MCC and I have the utmost respect for the professors.” Even today she remembers the mentors who guided her and credits them for their role in taking her where she is today. She now teaches at Baylor and MCC but doesn’t find any difference in the standards of teaching.
I don’t remember too many details of that first day of class, I just remember what happened after. I went home and my husband, being the supportive man he is, gently and with a hint of guilt said it was ok if I wanted to drop the class. I had had an 8 a.m. – 8p.m. day. What he wasn’t expecting was my answer. “I am not dropping the class, the professor is so much fun,” I said with excitement.
It’s not easy making nearly 30, 20 – 40 year olds excited about learning Spanish. My first impression of Seir was that she was sassy (in a good way) but fun. “I try to integrate my bubbly personality and my passion for teaching Spanish. I take my craft very seriously,” she says. It took her time to develop her teaching style. At first it was too strict or too lenient. After 12 years in the field, she has had time to reflect and tweak her methods. “It comes from experience,” she says humbly.
Behind all that experience is a lot of hard work and persistence, traits that were instilled in her from a very early age. Seir was the first in her family to go college. She ate self-motivation for breakfast and spent the last year of her high school constantly outside her advisor’s office. “I couldn’t ask my parents for help with SATs or scholarship applications, I had to do that myself.”
She was a pre-med major at MCC. She wanted to be a doctor because she wanted to make more money. “When you are young you don’t realize what you love, you just think about what would make money.” A Spanish class at Baylor helped her find her true passion. She got a zero on the first assignment in that class and it lit a fire under her. Seir was determined to prove to the professor that she was better than that. She promised herself to never get a zero again. She succeeded. It was a turning point in her life. “It was tied so closely to my roots, my identity and who I am, a Hispanic woman.”
If someone says she can’t do it, “It lights a fire under me and I rise to the occasion. I’ve always been a leader type figure.”
For Seir, Spanish is not just her language, it’s at the core of her identity and who she is. She thanks her parents for insisting on their rule of speaking Spanish in the house. It helped her form her own identity while being a part of American culture. Their mantra was “know who you are and where you come from.”
I am still taking her class, and this article doesn’t mean I get preferential treatment or a pass on an assignment! It has given me an opportunity to know a Seir a little more personally and for that I am grateful. Gracias maestra!
Madiha Kark is a Marketing, Communications and Photography Specialist at McLennan Community College. She holds an M.A. in Journalism from the University of North Texas. She loves to travel, cook, and read nonfiction books.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Madiha Kark
It’s still a few hours before Veronica Trejo-Evans, 43, will open her food truck at a busy strip mall on West Waco Drive. Nestled between car repair workshops and a beauty parlor, Dos Mundos Spud Shack is a labor of love. As a first-generation American, Veronica prides herself on the work ethic and sense of responsibility her Mexican parents instilled in her. The classes she took at McLennan Community College helped to make her food truck dream a reality.
Veronica had never been in the food business up until five months ago. She and her husband, Cyrus Evans, had fantasized about opening a food truck someday. It was one of those fantasies that would happen when life slowed down a little. Life did slow down for Veronica and Cyrus in an unexpected way, when she lost her 20-month-old son. His death left a void, forcing the Evanses to ask, “What next?”
The idea for the food truck came when the couple was on a trip to Mexico and saw a line form. Upon investigating, they found the culprit to be a guy selling a bag of Doritos with nacho cheese and jalapenos. “My husband was like, ‘Wow!’ And for me, it was so normal to see,” said Veronica. Food trucks have been in the U.S. since 1872, but have become especially popular in the last few years. Many restaurateurs who are hesitant to take on a new restaurant have turned to mobile canteens as a less expensive way to sell food and reach customers. For Veronica, the low cost was definitely a pull and something she was familiar with — food trucks and street food carts pepper the Mexican landscape. “I didn’t want another taco stand or another burger joint. I wanted to do something different.”
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Behind closed shutters, Cyrus and a helper have been prepping the spuds and other ingredients for the lunch crowd since 8 a.m. Veronica takes a short break from the prep work to reflect on what she learned in her class at MCC, “Even though you have plans and thoughts, you still have to do your work and do your research,” says Veronica remembering the challenge of being in a classroom of students 20 years younger. A Texas Workforce program paid for her tuition, books, and supplies. The program is designed for professionals who, like Veronica, were once working but had to stop for some reason and needed some new skills.
Of her time at MCC, Veronica says she wouldn’t have had the food truck if it wasn’t for what she learned in her classes. “I sat in the front every day – they (her teachers) were gonna know me, and I was gonna know them. They’ll take the time; they’ll meet with you. That was very valuable.” Veronica says if you follow the blueprint the advisors give you, they won’t let you down. “MCC was phenomenal especially coming in at an older age,” she says. It gave her a chance to mentor and connect with her classmates in a different way and discover a new world.
Dos Mundos has been in business for a few months but has already made a name for itself among the local Wacoans. Their Facebook page has over 1500 followers and a five-star review. But Veronica still holds on to the paper from her marketing class with Margaret Sanders that says, “I believe you have something here.” Veronica remembers her first day in that class. When she found out what they would be covering, she was ecstatic! She knew then this was the missing puzzle piece for the food truck dream. “This is what I needed to make it happen,” she said.
The Evanses didn’t do any traditional advertising but utilized social media channels to spread the word. Veronica strongly believes that “every business leads through the heart of the owners.” The couple loves to cook, but “a business is very different from a nice dinner at home.” They had to find suppliers and develop their production process, learning along the way. All of the recipes they’ve developed have come from their own kitchen. The bestseller at Dos Mundos is called the Big Papi (an homage to Veronica’s Mexican heritage) — a spud topped with a rib, a link, and chopped BBQ.
On a slightly cool March day in 2017, as the sun shone above the sky, some 20 family members gathered outside the Dos Mundos truck to support Veronica. They were her first customers. Her parents came from El Paso, as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Veronica had practiced on her cash register, but still everything was a rush. When the couple closed the doors that day, they were overwhelmed with joy and tears, she says. Remembering the day like a fond memory, “The support from the family let us know we got this,” Veronica tears up again, but still smiles with joy at a dream come true.
Veronica Trejo-Evans took classes at MCC through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). WIA is one of many Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) programs that helps employees get in to the workforce. To be accepted into the WIA, Veronica passed an eligibility and aptitude test and a face to face interview. Once accepted she began an Associates in Accounting program at MCC. For a list of eligibility requirements visit http://www.twc.state.tx.us/partners/workforce-investment-act#wiaEligibility
For a list of programs available see the TWC website: http://www.twc.state.tx.us/programs. If you have questions about these programs or would like more information visit their website http://www.twc.state.tx.us.
Madiha Kark is a Marketing, Communications and Photography Specialist at McLennan Community College. She holds an M.A. in Journalism from the University of North Texas. She loves to travel, cook, and read nonfiction books.