For the third annual year, Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC), a Maricopa Community College, will host the Maricopa Community College District Student Conference on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. The conference's mission is to create a forum at the community college level for students to present academic work on a variety of topics.
This year's theme is "Pop Culture in Society." Students will present research done in all aspects of pop culture including in media, television, film, clothing, sports, music, fads or trends, subcultures, family, and more. In addition to student presentations, the conference will feature an art walk and creative writing reading consisting of the District's Maricopa Artists of Promise.
Student Conference Schedule
8:00am - 8:45am: Faculty Guest Speakers; Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)
9:00am - 9:45am: Session I, Student Presentations; Montezuma 273, 274, 275, 284, 285
10:00am - 10:45am: Session II, Student Presentations; Montezuma 273, 274, 275, 284, 285
11:00am - 11:50am: The Political Experience; Estrella Mountain faculty will lead a discussion titled, "The Political Experience." The discussion will focus on the question, "Does race, gender or religion matter in the upcoming political election?" Faculty will engage students by presenting them with a series of controversial quotes, political music and discussion focusing on the upcoming political election; CTL
12:30pm - 1:00pm: Keynote Address; given by Dr. Christina Van Puymbroeck, psychology faculty. Van Puymbroeck will discuss growing up in a multicultural household; CTL
1:10pm - 2:15pm: Hip Hop & Rock Musical Performance; Estrella Mountain students will be putting on a "Pop Culture Concert" in the Ceremonial Plaza. Performances will include acoustic alternative rock, hip-hop, heavy metal, etc. These performances will showcase how music has become an integral part of popular culture today.
5:45pm - 7:00pm: Estrella Mountain's Visual Exhibition Program presents; The Maricopa Community College District's (MCCCD) Artists of Promise Exhibition as part of the annual MCCCD Student Conference. The art show, which features the best of student artwork throughout the District, will be on display at the West Valley campus until May 11th. The opening reception for the art show features student artists who received recognition for work in a number of disciplines including visual art, choreography, creative writing, and music. Students will also guide the evening Art Walk which begins in the Plaza Gallery and moves to the art cases located throughout campus.
The MCCCD Artist of Promise show arrives at Estrella Mountain following its premier opening at the Orpheum Theatre on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at 6:00pm. Contact the Maricopa Center for Learning and Instruction (MCLI) for more information at 480-731-8300.
Estrella Mountain's Maricopa Artists of Promise Winners
Billy Ray Hartzell II
Billy Ray Hartzell II, a second-year student at Estrella Mountain Community College was selected as one of the Maricopa Artists of Promise for photography with his study of short light, a black and white photo of his father. "Short light helps thin the face. Ever since I told my father that's why I wanted to use him as the subject, our family has been calling him a 'fat head,'" laughed Hartzell. The fine arts major was honored to be chosen as one of the winners and aspires to open a studio of his own someday. He entered the competition at the urging of his photographer instructor, Richard Gross, and no doubt the accolades will support him in his bright future.
Sapphire Trickett
Sapphire Trickett is currently attending her third semester at Estrella Mountain Community College and was surprised to find that she had been selected as one of the Maricopa Artists of Promise for creative writing with her short story, "Postcards." "I wanted to create something that was uplifting, something that didn't rely on sadness, loss, or unfortunate circumstances to create depth. Winning made me feel validated as a writer but more importantly, I realized that people out there must have enjoyed my work, which gave me the confidence to share more of my work," she said. Trickett plans to continue her education and her creative writing.