City College's Student Newspaper Wins Summer Accolades
Contact: Roman S. Koenig, journalism adviser, (619) 388-3815
City Times, San Diego City College's student newspaper, has taken top awards in two competitions this summer.
The paper won Best of Show in the San Diego County Fair's Student Showcase college newspaper division, and second place Best College Newspaper from the Society of Professional Journalists' San Diego Pro Chapter. City Times also won first-place and Best in Class ribbons at the fair for Focus on School and Editorial.
"These awards are really significant for us because we beat larger, more prominent college journalism programs," said faculty adviser Roman S. Koenig, who won an honorable mention from SPJ for his freelance writing work covering education for the Carmel Valley News/Del Mar Village Voice. "This recognition is great encouragement for my students in a small program like City's. Their work really shines."
The SPJ awards were handed out July 16 during a banquet at the Bali Hai Restaurant on Shelter Island. The event included a speech by Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez, author of the book "The Soloist," which will be released in November as a major motion picture starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr.
Several former City Times student staff members won awards from SPJ, as well.
- Lauren Ciallella, First Place review/criticism: ‘Tango’ steps on your toes
- Luis Bahena, Second Place regular column: Live and Learn
- Lauren Ciallella, Second Place feature story: Halley’s Comet’s got nothing on Bauer’s asteroid
- Katie Dunn, Second Place arts/entertainment story: Art on track
- Scott Landheer, Second Place layout and design: Hi-tech, vo-tech
- Rosemarie Davis, Honorable Mention regular column: Sports on the Edge
- Rebecca Saffran, Honorable Mention photography: An evening of dance
- Alissa Wisniewski, Honorable Mention review/criticism: ‘Beowulf’ is a step back for digitally animated films
Judges had specific praise for Ciallella's first-place review: "Excellent job of selling the experience – from high expectations to getting the bum’s rush. Makes us want to check it out."
Spring 2008 arts editor David McAtee won first-place and Best in Class ribbons for his two-page design highlighting City's Language Day, and a second-place ribbon for his two-page design covering the renovation of the college's L building.
City College's journalism program offers courses in beginning newswriting, newspaper production and mass communication, and often works in conjunction with the college's radio/television, photography, graphic design and English programs.
The program is scheduled to host a California Newspaper Publishers Association high school journalism day in September.
Call (619) 388-3815 for more information.
Radio/TV Assistant Professor Laura Castaneda proudly announces...
City’s NEWSCENE won two EMMY AWARDS at the Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Awards Banquet this past weekend…. for the anchor team on a San Diego Firestorm special - Susana Franco and David Furlin, and one for Newscene en Español - Tony Sanchez and Micaela Arroyo.
More at Sign On San Diego
Celebrating City College ATHLETICS...
State Badminton Champs, Pacific Coast Conference Player of the Year, Pepsi Scholar Athlete Award, Orange Empire Conference Player of the Year, many more (pdf)....
Best bet – 'I just wanted to express what I felt' – Derek Avalos
From Union Tribune – December 27, 2007; page 23 of Night and Day Magazine
The painter, who has a small studio in Tijuana, has enrolled in City College's arts program.
“The library at City College is a place where we encourage students to forge ahead, and Derek's art is his way of expressing his feelings,” said José Salgado, the librarian in charge of organizing exhibitions.
Best Bet
Already more than 40 years old, Derek Avalos had never put brush to canvas. But one day, when visiting an art supplies store, he felt the urge to create something.
“When I saw all those brushes, paints and canvases, I felt the need to start painting,” said Avalos, who works as a security guard. “I had no experience, I'd never taken any classes – I just wanted to express what I felt.”
That was four years ago, and now, at age 47 and having created more than 80 paintings and sculptures, Avalos is having a show.
“Alcanzando la naturaleza” (“Reaching Nature”), an exhibition of paintings born of his love of nature, will be open through January at the San Diego City College Library. His canvases portray leaves, tree trunks and roots.“Alcanzando la naturaleza” (“Reaching Nature”), an exhibition of paintings born of his love of nature, will be open through January at the San Diego City College Library. His canvases portray leaves, tree trunks and roots.“Alcanzando la naturaleza” (“Reaching Nature”), an exhibition of paintings born of his love of nature, will be open through January at the San Diego City College Library. His canvases portray leaves, tree trunks and roots.“Alcanzando la naturaleza” (“Reaching Nature”), an exhibition of paintings born of his love of nature, will be open through January at the San Diego City College Library. His canvases portray leaves, tree trunks and roots.
“Being in touch with nature is being in harmony with everything,” said the artist, who was born in Tijuana, grew up in Santa Ana and lives in San Diego.
Avalos said the inner peace he feels as he paints or sculpts has improved his mood and helped him combat the depression he had suffered for years.
“When I paint, my mind pauses. I stop thinking about negative things and focus on the colors and the shapes I'm creating.”
The painter, who has a small studio in Tijuana, has enrolled in City College's arts program.
“The library at City College is a place where we encourage students to forge ahead, and Derek's art is his way of expressing his feelings,” said José Salgado, the librarian in charge of organizing exhibitions.
Avalos said his daily surroundings have become the subject of his paintings. Some of the pieces from “Alcanzando la naturaleza” were inspired by the trees that dot the campus.
“I'd like for people to see one of my paintings and get a positive message and for it to spark their creativity so they want to do something artistic.”
– PABLO JAIME SAINZ