At the Farmers' Market in Montclair Village and in Berkeley

At the Farmers' Market in Montclair Village, Telegraph area in Berkeley and by the Lawrence Hall of Science.

Professor Rick Arellano: our December/January Faculty of the Month

Professor Rick Arellano: our December/January Faculty of the Month

December 11, 2013

By Christine Bolt, Professor

Faculty Professional Development Coordinator

Business, Technology and Learning Resources Division, Ohlone College

There is just so much to write about this recipient that I didn’t even know where to begin!!!  You will understand my predicament once you have read this announcement.

Our December/January recipient is a mega multi-tasker who is friendly and willing to help everyone, and I mean everyone.  Just look at his community/college service and leadership:

Coordinator STEM College for a Day at Ohlone College (2011-present)

Co-Advisor, Ohlone College Chapter of the Society for the Advancement of Hispanic/Chicano and Native   American Scientists (2011-present)

Board Director, Ohlone College Foundation (March 2011 – September 2012)

Board member, City of Newark Senior Citizen Advisory Committee (January 2011-present)

Board Director, Life Eldercare, (February 2013 - present)

President, AARP Newark Chapter (January 2012 - present)

Secretary, Toastmasters Newark Chapter (July 2011 - present)

Member Newark Rotary Club (2010-present)

Board member Avanzando (2009-2012)

Initiator of the Ohlone College-City of Newark Senior Center partnership

Member of the Mission San Jose Chamber of Commerce (May, 2013-present)

This list includes just his most recent activities, but this level of involvement is nothing new. This is just how he lives his life.

He is dedicated to advancing the underserved and underrepresented, but as the above list demonstrates, he is particularly passionate about advancing the success of the Latino community in education, science and technology, as well as educating older adults. His dedication is both tireless and inspiring. But then he knows something about going against the odds and the determination it takes to succeed. Read on.

He graduated from high school in Lima, Peru at age 16. With just a little bit of savings from odd jobs, he flew from Lima to Miami, Florida, where he boarded a Greyhound bus for the exciting (and long) seven-day trip to San Francisco. Once in California, he supported himself by working in the fields and in restaurants (dishwasher, waiter AND cook!).

He enrolled in English as a Second Language classes in the adult schools in San Francisco and just six months later he entered City College of San Francisco where he majored in math. Two and half years later he graduated with honors. He then earned a B.A. in mathematics from San Francisco State and a Master’s of Science degree in Computer Systems. That takes determination and hard work!

I know it is really neat to get a special parking place and a mug as the Ohlone College Faculty of the Month recipient, but take a look at a few of his other awards and who presented them to him:

Latino Heritage Leadership Award (2013): Assembly member Bob Wieckowski, 25th Assembly District

                Latino Heritage Leadership Award (2013): Member of Congress Michael M. Honda:

Latino Heritage Leadership Award (2013): California State Senator, District 10, Ellen Corbett:

                Latino Heritage Leadership Award (2013): San Jose City councilmember, District 4, Kansen Hu 

                Special Congregational Recognition (June 2010): U.S. House of Representatives -

                Certificate of Recognition (June 2010): California State Legislature

                Ohlone College Outstanding Educator of the Year (June 2010): Avanzando Award

Now that is an impressive list of honors – and I just included the highlights of all his awards!

And now for some fun tidbits:

Twenty five years ago he responded to a newspaper ad placed by a lovely lady; they married three months later. Love was in the air and still is! Now he and his wife have four children and two grandchildren.

He likes cats a lot and is especially fond of his two black cats Mona and Lisa. (I bet they are just as cute as their names!)

When you see him, ask him about the time he was a model for Men’s Wearhouse.

His hobbies include hiking (Machu Pichu), walking (almost every East Bay Regional Park at least once), and traveling the world (China, Peru, Morocco, Europe to name just a few of his destinations. )

But he has another hobby that sounds really neat: video graphing. At this writing 43,644 people have seen his videos posted on YouTube!

Personally I don’t know where he finds the time for any hobbies, given his dedication to his students, to Ohlone College, to the senior citizen community, and to the Latino Community.

Our December/January Faculty of the Month is truly exceptional.

Please congratulate Rick Arellano, Professor, Computer Applications and Occupational Technology (CAOT) Department

City of Newark Senior Citizen Advisory Committee Holiday Breakfast

City of Newark Senior Citizen Advisory Committee Holiday Breakfast
Chairperson: Mayor Nagy
Members present: Elwood Ballard, Mary Hammock, Carol McCarty, Margarith Reichmuth, Faye Hall, Mel Nunes and Rick Arellano
Staff: Karen Moraida and Edda Rivera

BRUNCH WITH THE MAN IN RED AT THE NEWARK SENIOR CENTER

December 12, 2013

Tree Lighting: Mission San Jose, Fremont, CA

Mission San Jose Chamber of Commerce and Robson Homes presented Mission San Jose Tree Lighting.

Saturday, December 7, 2014

Star Struck Caroling

For more information

www.msjchamber.org

http://starstrucktheatre.org/

Doo Wop Holiday celebration

At a Doo Wop Holiday celebration.
At the Bankhead Theater in Livermore.

Mission San Jose Tree Lighting

At the Mission San Jose Tree Lighting, Fremont, CA.

Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate

At the Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate, Oakland, CA.

LIFE Eldercare Volunteer Appreciation Reception

Fremont, CA LIFE Eldercare Volunteer Appreciation Reception
December 3, 2013.
I am proud to be a member of the LIFE Eldercare Board of Directors

Menorah lighting for Hanukkah

At the Menorah lighting for Hanukkah at Pacific Commons, Fremont

City of Newark, CA Holiday Tree Lighting

The Washington Hospital Healthcare Foundation along with the City of Newark presented the Annual Holiday Tree Lighting and Trees of Angels at Newark City Hall on Monday, December 2, 2013

Enjoy the video (6:53)

Macy's Tree Lighting ceremony- Union Square, San Francisco

Tree Lighting ceremony at Union Square in San Francisco.

Performances by Glide Ensemble, Shelby Miguel, SF Boys' chorus, Judith Hill and more.

Enjoy the video (6:18)

Macy's Tree Lighting

In San Francisco at the Macy's Tree Lighting ceremony and SPCA Holiday window featuring lovable animals up for adoption
Enjoying live music performances by Shelby Miguel,SF Boys' chorus, renowned Glide Ensemble, Judith Hill and more.

Newark Rotary Foundation Crab Feed 2013

Newark Rotary Foundation Crab Feed 2013

Enjoy the video (1:47)

First Lego League Tournament at the Microsoft Silicon Valley Campus.

I had a great time being a judge at the First Lego League Tournament at the Microsoft Silicon Valley Campus.

Video: In Full Swing Band

Video: In Full Swing Band

Enjoy the video (12:02)

Professor Arellano honored by assemblymember

Rick Arellano, professor of computer applications and occupational technology at Ohlone College, was one of five people honored last month at the inaugural Latino Heritage Leadership Awards Ceremony.

The event, held Oct. 11 in the Council Chambers at Newark City Hall, was started as a mark of respect toward National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.

“These individuals being recognized have demonstrated a long-standing commitment to making our community a better place for everyone,” Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski of Fremont said in a statement.

Wieckowski, along with Congressman Mike Honda, State Sen. Ellen Corbett and San Jose City Council member Kansen Hu, awarded Arellano with a Latino Heritage Leadership Certificate of Recognition.

“Education is very important to Rick Arellano,” Ohlone College Trustee Vivien Larsen said in her introduction speech. “He supports, promotes and advocates for the success of the Latino community, in particular the Latino students’ success and advancement in education, especially in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. He is also an advocate for older adults.”

Larsen praised Arellano for his past and present community leadership roles, including his service as board member of Life ElderCare; president of the AARP Newark Chapter; secretary of Toastmasters Newark Chapter; City of Newark Senior Citizen Advisory Committee member; coordinator of STEM College for a Day at Ohlone College; Newark Rotary Club member; Ohlone College Foundation board director; and Avanzando board member.

He was named Ohlone College Outstanding Educator of the Year in 2010 and has been recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives and the state Legislature, among others.

Arellano holds a master’s of science degree in computer systems. In his acceptance speech, he thanked his parents for granting him permission to leave his home in Lima, Peru, at the age of 17 in order to pursue his future, along with his family for supporting him throughout his journey of accomplishments.

“I lived in the Mission district of San Francisco, where I met so many individuals dedicated to the advancement of the underserved and underrepresented,” he said. “I followed their footsteps. Later on, in Oakland, Stockton and the East Bay, I met other individuals with similar goals. They were also my mentors and role models. I share with all of them this Certificate of Recognition.”

Read more here >>>

At the Saratoga Civic Center enjoying "Fiddler On the Roof"

At the Saratoga Civic Center enjoying "Fiddler On the Roof"
Drink, l'chaim, to life
To life, l'chaim
L'chaim, l'chaim, to life