Mick Ukleja and Chip Espinoza, co-authors of the book “Managing the Millennials: Discover the Core Competencies Needed for Managing Today’s Workforce” will discuss techniques to manage 20-somethings in the workplace on Tuesday, April 6, from 7-9 p.m. during the Notable Speakers Series at Cal State Long Beach (CSULB).
CSULB’s College of Business Administration (CBA) established the Notable Speaker Series to add relevance to current students’ learning experiences and to offer opportunities for professional development and intellectual engagement to students, alumni, staff, faculty and the community.
Ukleja and Espinoza will discuss how managers of all ages can engage the burgeoning demographic of nearly 80 million current and future employees who are now between the ages of 14 and 31. “Managing the Millennials” is based on years of research, interviews, case studies, ideas and practices that have proven to help managers and other leaders address the challenges generational diversity presents.
“We have a generation of managers who were taught and trained to reach up to their bosses. This was important in order to get the information one needed for growth and development. We also have a new generation that wasn’t taught to reach up. Managers have to constantly reach down to them,” according to Ukleja, a CSULB alumnus with a B.A. in philosophy who helped found the Ukleja Center for Ethical Leadership at CSULB.
He continued, “Milllennials are the first generation in history that did not need an authority figure to access knowledge or information. So, managers need to learn how to overcome the bias of their own experience; that the way they do things is the only or right way. They need to know how to recruit, retain, integrate and develop these young people.”
Ukleja, who also earned a master’s degree in Semitic languages, and a Ph.D. in theology, is the founder and president of LeadershipTraQ, a leadership consulting firm based in Los Alamitos. He also hosts LeadershipTraQ Televised, an interview-format talk show that profiles outstanding leaders.
Ukleja has also co-authored “The Ethics Challenge: Living with Integrity in a Greedy World” and “Who Are You? What Do You Want? Four Questions That Will Change Your Life,” which has been praised by legendary coach John Wooden, golf champion Gary Player and many other prominent leaders. He is renowned for his work with entrepreneurs, corporate executives of many businesses and organizations.
Espinoza, executive vice president LeadershipTraQ, teaches at the Edna Davis Hobbs California Student Leadership Institute at CSULB and consults in the civic, corporate and non-profit sectors to a client list that ranges from The Boeing Company to the Special Olympics.
Espinoza is considered a leading expert on the subject of generational diversity in the workplace. He specializes in helping leaders initiate and negotiate change in their organizations and frequently is a keynote speaker for corporate events, conferences and organizations across the country regarding his research about young employees and their value in the workforce.
Espinoza, who is working on his Ph.D., is also the content director for LeadershipTraQ, an adviser to The Ukleja Center and has authored several articles on the subject of leadership. He produces an award-winning monthly podcast that focuses on the subject.
“Through our research, we have identified nine orientations of millennials that are points of tension between them and their managers. These tension points either make or break the manager of millennials,” explained Espinoza. “Since all the managers in our research experienced millennials in the same way, we discovered that the difference was the competencies that the successful managers had in leading this group. So our hope is the people who leave our Notable Speakers presentation will understand not only the nine orientations, but also the nine competencies that are essential for integrating this new generation into today’s workforce.”
About the Notable Speakers Series
The Notable Speakers Series is taking place on select Tuesdays from 7-9 p.m. in the CBA building Room 140A during the 2010 spring semester and features renowned professionals from a variety of fields who share their expertise on leading edge business issues.
There is no cost to attend, but reservations are required. Visitors to the campus must purchase a $4 parking permit at the yellow kiosk in Lot 15.
To register or learn more about the Notable Speaker Series and its speakers visit http://www.csulb.edu/colleges/cba/nss.
-- Paul Browning
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Legendary Actor Kirk Douglas to Address CSULB Students in Communicative Disorders Programs on Tuesday, April 6
Legendary actor, author, producer and philanthropist Kirk Douglas will return to California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) to speak to students in the communicative disorders programs on Tuesday, April 6, from 1-2 p.m. in the Daniel Recital Hall.
The event is open to faculty and staff as well.
Douglas’ appearance was arranged by Betty McMicken, a CSULB assistant professor and Douglas' personal speech pathologist, who first brought him on campus in October 2008. Because of their relationship, he has offered to speak with her students again, during which time McMicken will interview Douglas, followed by a question-and-answer session.
“The format will be similar to last time,” said McMicken, who continues to work with Douglas as a speech pathologist once a week. “He will talk about how he has recovered from his stroke, but we will also discuss some of the things he has done in the past year and a half since he was last on campus, which has been substantial, and other elements of his life.”
Douglas, whose speech has been affected since suffering a stroke in 1996, turned 93 in December. In his 2003 book “My Stroke of Luck,” he tells of his recovery from the stroke while battling waves of depression. “Let's Face It,” which came out in 2007, explores the mixed blessings of growing older and looks back at his childhood, his young adulthood, and his storied, glamorous, and colorful life and career in Hollywood.
At the upcoming event, he will discuss a new book he is working on and other projects, including the successful run of his one-man play titled “Before I Forget,” that he performed last March. The play was described as an intimate evening with one of the most affable, talented and mesmerizing icons of the screen.
“He and I are both looking forward to this event,” said McMicken. “He just keeps getting better. He’s been very active on a number of levels and one thing he’s been doing is raising funds for the Motion Picture and Television Fund, the home in the valley which almost closed. So, he has been very active in supporting it. He truly understands that he couldn’t have done what he did without the support of everybody else in the industry.”
Over his career, Douglas has performed in 87 films and 10 plays, and written nine books and three songs. In 1949, he won an Academy Award nomination for “Champion,” received a second nomination in 1952 for “The Bad and the Beautiful,” and a third in 1956 for his portrayal of Vincent Van Gogh in “Lust for Life,” for which he won the New York Film Critics’ Best Actor Award.
Douglas has also received the Medal of Freedom award, the Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute, and in 1996, was awarded a special Oscar for 50 years as a creative and moral force in the motion picture community.
“He continues to be an inspiration to me, my students, and the many stroke patients who read his books,” said McMicken. “He is the highlight of my week and I consider it an enormous privilege to be of assistance to him.”
-- Shayne Schroeder
The event is open to faculty and staff as well.
Douglas’ appearance was arranged by Betty McMicken, a CSULB assistant professor and Douglas' personal speech pathologist, who first brought him on campus in October 2008. Because of their relationship, he has offered to speak with her students again, during which time McMicken will interview Douglas, followed by a question-and-answer session.
“The format will be similar to last time,” said McMicken, who continues to work with Douglas as a speech pathologist once a week. “He will talk about how he has recovered from his stroke, but we will also discuss some of the things he has done in the past year and a half since he was last on campus, which has been substantial, and other elements of his life.”
Douglas, whose speech has been affected since suffering a stroke in 1996, turned 93 in December. In his 2003 book “My Stroke of Luck,” he tells of his recovery from the stroke while battling waves of depression. “Let's Face It,” which came out in 2007, explores the mixed blessings of growing older and looks back at his childhood, his young adulthood, and his storied, glamorous, and colorful life and career in Hollywood.
At the upcoming event, he will discuss a new book he is working on and other projects, including the successful run of his one-man play titled “Before I Forget,” that he performed last March. The play was described as an intimate evening with one of the most affable, talented and mesmerizing icons of the screen.
“He and I are both looking forward to this event,” said McMicken. “He just keeps getting better. He’s been very active on a number of levels and one thing he’s been doing is raising funds for the Motion Picture and Television Fund, the home in the valley which almost closed. So, he has been very active in supporting it. He truly understands that he couldn’t have done what he did without the support of everybody else in the industry.”
Over his career, Douglas has performed in 87 films and 10 plays, and written nine books and three songs. In 1949, he won an Academy Award nomination for “Champion,” received a second nomination in 1952 for “The Bad and the Beautiful,” and a third in 1956 for his portrayal of Vincent Van Gogh in “Lust for Life,” for which he won the New York Film Critics’ Best Actor Award.
Douglas has also received the Medal of Freedom award, the Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute, and in 1996, was awarded a special Oscar for 50 years as a creative and moral force in the motion picture community.
“He continues to be an inspiration to me, my students, and the many stroke patients who read his books,” said McMicken. “He is the highlight of my week and I consider it an enormous privilege to be of assistance to him.”
-- Shayne Schroeder
National Community College Hispanic Council, CSULB Teaming Up to Offer NCCHC Leadership Fellows Program
The Educational Leadership Program at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is collaborating with the National Community College Hispanic Council (NCCHC) to offer the NCCHC Leadership Fellows Program this summer at the campus.
Established in 1985 as an affiliate of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the NCCHC is the nation’s premier organization for preparing and supporting Hispanic leaders in America’s community colleges. The non-profit professional organization is committed to delivering high-quality leadership development experiences and providing Hispanics with opportunities to continue their personal and professional growth.
“The current economic and educational climate highlights the critical need for increased numbers of Latino and Latina leaders in community colleges. It reinforces the necessity of offering leadership development programs,” explained William M. Vega, director of the NCCHC Leadership Fellows Program and Distinguished Faculty in Residence with the CSULB College of Education. “The changing student demographic, with increased numbers of Hispanic students attending community colleges nationwide, further enhances the importance for Hispanic leaders to serve as role models and mentors for these students.”
The goal of the Leadership Fellows Program is to develop a pool of highly qualified Latino and Latina leaders. It is designed to provide professional and leadership development training, mentoring and networking to attain executive-level positions in community colleges.
The Leadership Fellows Program offers two programs –- a Mid-Managerial and an Executive Leadership Fellows Program –- on an alternating yearly basis. The Mid-Managerial Leadership Fellows Program will be offered at CSULB June 9-12. It is designed for mid-level community college administrators who may hold a dean, associate dean or director position and have aspirations to become a community college executive level administrator.
“The College of Education at CSULB has consistently looked for opportunities to collaborate with and support educational and leadership development programs such as the NCCHC Leadership Fellows Program,” Vega added. “This collaboration would not have been possible without their full and complete cooperation. I am appreciative of their support.”
Summer seminar topics will include organizational development, institutional effectiveness, conflict resolution, crisis management, community development, technology, board/ CEO relations, strategic planning, culture and diversity, finances and facilities, change process and negotiation.
CSULB is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), which is defined as a non-profit institution that has at least 25 percent Hispanic full-time equivalent enrollment and, of that Hispanic enrollment, at least 50 percent are low income. CSULB obtained its HSI eligibility status in fall 2005 when 8,663 Latino and Latina students enrolled at the campus, representing 25.1 percent of undergraduate and graduate students. For the 2009-10 academic year, that number stands at 28.4 percent.
For more information on this summer’s NCCHC Leadership Fellows Program at CSULB, contact Peggy Card-Govela, program coordinator, at 562/985-8805, e-mail ncchclfp@csulb.edu, or visit www.ced.csulb.edu/asec/academic/lfp/index.cfm.
-- Rick Gloady
Established in 1985 as an affiliate of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the NCCHC is the nation’s premier organization for preparing and supporting Hispanic leaders in America’s community colleges. The non-profit professional organization is committed to delivering high-quality leadership development experiences and providing Hispanics with opportunities to continue their personal and professional growth.
“The current economic and educational climate highlights the critical need for increased numbers of Latino and Latina leaders in community colleges. It reinforces the necessity of offering leadership development programs,” explained William M. Vega, director of the NCCHC Leadership Fellows Program and Distinguished Faculty in Residence with the CSULB College of Education. “The changing student demographic, with increased numbers of Hispanic students attending community colleges nationwide, further enhances the importance for Hispanic leaders to serve as role models and mentors for these students.”
The goal of the Leadership Fellows Program is to develop a pool of highly qualified Latino and Latina leaders. It is designed to provide professional and leadership development training, mentoring and networking to attain executive-level positions in community colleges.
The Leadership Fellows Program offers two programs –- a Mid-Managerial and an Executive Leadership Fellows Program –- on an alternating yearly basis. The Mid-Managerial Leadership Fellows Program will be offered at CSULB June 9-12. It is designed for mid-level community college administrators who may hold a dean, associate dean or director position and have aspirations to become a community college executive level administrator.
“The College of Education at CSULB has consistently looked for opportunities to collaborate with and support educational and leadership development programs such as the NCCHC Leadership Fellows Program,” Vega added. “This collaboration would not have been possible without their full and complete cooperation. I am appreciative of their support.”
Summer seminar topics will include organizational development, institutional effectiveness, conflict resolution, crisis management, community development, technology, board/ CEO relations, strategic planning, culture and diversity, finances and facilities, change process and negotiation.
CSULB is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), which is defined as a non-profit institution that has at least 25 percent Hispanic full-time equivalent enrollment and, of that Hispanic enrollment, at least 50 percent are low income. CSULB obtained its HSI eligibility status in fall 2005 when 8,663 Latino and Latina students enrolled at the campus, representing 25.1 percent of undergraduate and graduate students. For the 2009-10 academic year, that number stands at 28.4 percent.
For more information on this summer’s NCCHC Leadership Fellows Program at CSULB, contact Peggy Card-Govela, program coordinator, at 562/985-8805, e-mail ncchclfp@csulb.edu, or visit www.ced.csulb.edu/asec/academic/lfp/index.cfm.
-- Rick Gloady
Monday, March 22, 2010
Long Beach State Men’s Basketball Player Garners All-District Recognition from National Association of Basketball Coaches
Long Beach State (LBSU) sophomore T.J. Robinson has been named second-team All-District 9 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), which announced its Division I All-District teams for 2010, recognizing the nation's best men's collegiate basketball student-athletes.
Robinson is one of just 240 student athletes from 24 districts to be honored as an All-District selection.
Robinson earned second-team recognition after leading the 49ers in scoring (15.4 points per game) and rebounding (10.1 rebounds per game). In fact, the 6-foot-8 forward finished the regular season as just one of a handful of Division I players to average a double-double while leading the Big West Conference (BWC) with 17 double-doubles. During the season, he scored more than 20 points seven times and finished with 30 double-digit scoring games and 17 double-digit rebounding games. He also led the BWC in rebounding and field goal percentage (.520) while finishing eighth in scoring.
Robinson ranks in the top 20 in the country in both rebounds per game and double-doubles. His 332 rebounds were the third most ever by a LBSU player and the most since the 1960-61 season. His 216 free-throw attempts this season are the most in school history.
All 240 student-athletes from the All-District teams are eligible for the State Farm Division I All-America teams, which will be announced on Saturday, April 3, during the NABC Convention and NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis.
In addition to his All-District honor, Robinson also earned first-team All-BWC honors this season and was a member of the BWC All-Tournament Team after helping lead the 49ers to the finals of the conference tournament.
-- Todd Miles
Robinson is one of just 240 student athletes from 24 districts to be honored as an All-District selection.
Robinson earned second-team recognition after leading the 49ers in scoring (15.4 points per game) and rebounding (10.1 rebounds per game). In fact, the 6-foot-8 forward finished the regular season as just one of a handful of Division I players to average a double-double while leading the Big West Conference (BWC) with 17 double-doubles. During the season, he scored more than 20 points seven times and finished with 30 double-digit scoring games and 17 double-digit rebounding games. He also led the BWC in rebounding and field goal percentage (.520) while finishing eighth in scoring.
Robinson ranks in the top 20 in the country in both rebounds per game and double-doubles. His 332 rebounds were the third most ever by a LBSU player and the most since the 1960-61 season. His 216 free-throw attempts this season are the most in school history.
All 240 student-athletes from the All-District teams are eligible for the State Farm Division I All-America teams, which will be announced on Saturday, April 3, during the NABC Convention and NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis.
In addition to his All-District honor, Robinson also earned first-team All-BWC honors this season and was a member of the BWC All-Tournament Team after helping lead the 49ers to the finals of the conference tournament.
-- Todd Miles
Cal State Long Beach Graduate Student in Nutritional Sciences Receives 2010 Rathmann Hartford Dietetic Internship Scholarship
Amanda R. Brown, a graduate student in nutritional sciences at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), has been awarded the 2010 Patricia Rathmann Hartford Dietetic Internship Scholarship.
Established in 2007, the dietetic internship scholarship was created with a $10,000 endowment from Rathmann Hartford, who was one of the first alumnae from the campus’ undergraduate nutrition program back in the mid-1960s. This year’s award was worth $400.
“Amanda stands out because she has pursued her education and early professional career quite financially independent of her family,” said Gail Frank, professor of nutrition and director of the nationally accredited Dietetic Internship Program at CSULB. “This is always challenging to our CSULB students and Amanda has continued so she can pursue her ultimate professional goals.”
A full-time student in the dietetic internship program, Brown earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a biology minor at Loyola University, Maryland, where she graduated cum laude in 2004. She said the scholarship will help her with the educational costs and related expenses of the dietetic internship.
“The dietetic internship program is a non-paid, two-semester, full-time commitment. Time is very limited to work outside of the internship to generate income. When I found out that I was selected, I was very excited and felt extremely grateful,” Brown recalled. “Most of my rotations are 30-40 miles away from my home, so you can only imagine how much I spend on gas. The scholarship funds will also go toward the cost of registration to the American Dietetic Association and the cost of the registered dietitian exam.”
The 27-year-old graduate student said she has been interested in nutrition since she was a child and has found that learning about how the human body utilizes nutrients from food to influence overall health and well-being is highly intriguing. With her background and interest in nutrition, she decided to become a registered dietitian and wants to dedicate herself to preventing and treating disease by promoting healthy eating habits and recommending dietary modification in society.
Brown is also an athlete. She played field hockey and lacrosse and ran track in high school, and she continued her field hockey career Loyola University. In fact, she is still playing field hockey with the Los Angeles Field Hockey Association and the Huntington Beach Field Hockey Club. She has traveled to several states and national field hockey tournaments the past few years.
“Practicing a healthy lifestyle has always been important to me. So, having an educational background in the field of nutrition will allow me to promote health and wellness,” Brown pointed out. “Being an athlete has made me want to commit my career to helping other athletes with their nutritional health. I am also interested in participating in corporate wellness program. Many adults spend most of their time at work, making it a great place to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors.”
Brown has her own business as a personal trainer and nutrition consultant, working with her clients at their homes, private gyms and down at the beach about five to 10 hours a week. She also worked as a nutrition assistant at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach for two years, taking patient food orders, serving food to patients and assisting clinical dietitians with appropriate patient nutrition care.
With March being National Nutrition Month, Frank thought announcing the award at this time was especially appropriate, and she believes that this spring’s student recipient reflects well on the CSULB nutrition program.
“As a fitness and sports professional already, Amanda blends this skill with her knowledge in nutrition to benefit clients,” Frank noted. “Amanda is highly organized and encourages her peers to assist in many community activities. This past fall she coordinated a dietetic internship booth for Senator (Alan) Lowenthal's Empowerment conference for local high school girls at CSULB. Additionally, she was elected president of the dietetic internship class for fall 2009."
-- Rick Gloady
Established in 2007, the dietetic internship scholarship was created with a $10,000 endowment from Rathmann Hartford, who was one of the first alumnae from the campus’ undergraduate nutrition program back in the mid-1960s. This year’s award was worth $400.
“Amanda stands out because she has pursued her education and early professional career quite financially independent of her family,” said Gail Frank, professor of nutrition and director of the nationally accredited Dietetic Internship Program at CSULB. “This is always challenging to our CSULB students and Amanda has continued so she can pursue her ultimate professional goals.”
A full-time student in the dietetic internship program, Brown earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a biology minor at Loyola University, Maryland, where she graduated cum laude in 2004. She said the scholarship will help her with the educational costs and related expenses of the dietetic internship.
“The dietetic internship program is a non-paid, two-semester, full-time commitment. Time is very limited to work outside of the internship to generate income. When I found out that I was selected, I was very excited and felt extremely grateful,” Brown recalled. “Most of my rotations are 30-40 miles away from my home, so you can only imagine how much I spend on gas. The scholarship funds will also go toward the cost of registration to the American Dietetic Association and the cost of the registered dietitian exam.”
The 27-year-old graduate student said she has been interested in nutrition since she was a child and has found that learning about how the human body utilizes nutrients from food to influence overall health and well-being is highly intriguing. With her background and interest in nutrition, she decided to become a registered dietitian and wants to dedicate herself to preventing and treating disease by promoting healthy eating habits and recommending dietary modification in society.
Brown is also an athlete. She played field hockey and lacrosse and ran track in high school, and she continued her field hockey career Loyola University. In fact, she is still playing field hockey with the Los Angeles Field Hockey Association and the Huntington Beach Field Hockey Club. She has traveled to several states and national field hockey tournaments the past few years.
“Practicing a healthy lifestyle has always been important to me. So, having an educational background in the field of nutrition will allow me to promote health and wellness,” Brown pointed out. “Being an athlete has made me want to commit my career to helping other athletes with their nutritional health. I am also interested in participating in corporate wellness program. Many adults spend most of their time at work, making it a great place to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors.”
Brown has her own business as a personal trainer and nutrition consultant, working with her clients at their homes, private gyms and down at the beach about five to 10 hours a week. She also worked as a nutrition assistant at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach for two years, taking patient food orders, serving food to patients and assisting clinical dietitians with appropriate patient nutrition care.
With March being National Nutrition Month, Frank thought announcing the award at this time was especially appropriate, and she believes that this spring’s student recipient reflects well on the CSULB nutrition program.
“As a fitness and sports professional already, Amanda blends this skill with her knowledge in nutrition to benefit clients,” Frank noted. “Amanda is highly organized and encourages her peers to assist in many community activities. This past fall she coordinated a dietetic internship booth for Senator (Alan) Lowenthal's Empowerment conference for local high school girls at CSULB. Additionally, she was elected president of the dietetic internship class for fall 2009."
-- Rick Gloady
Cal State Long Beach Kinesiology Department Celebrates 40 Years of Helping Children with Disabilities on Campus
California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) marked 40 years of assisting children with disabilities with a special celebration that recognized a pair of on-campus programs and those who have participated in them.
“I began thinking that 40 years was a pretty big milestone and we were the first program of this kind west of the Mississippi in 1969-70,” said Barry Lavay, a professor in CSULB’s Department of Kinesiology (KIN) where his primary responsibility is to train students to teach physical education to individuals with disabilities. “I thought it would be a good idea to have this celebration.”
The 40th anniversary is as much a celebration of those who have participated in the program as the program itself, according to Lavay, who credits former CSULB faculty members Andy Sinclair and Dan Arnheim for having the vision to start the program.
“When I look at this program, it accomplishes three things,” he said. “It provides training for university students who are studying to be adapted physical education teachers, it provides physical activity for children with disabilities, and it’s a great university public relations tool because of what we are giving back to the community.”
Lavay also coordinates the State Adapted Physical Education Teaching Credential Program where more than 250 students have received a California APE Specialist Credential since 1988. He notes that anybody who has been credentialed in Adapted Physical Education from CSULB since 1970 has worked in the programs and received valuable hands-on experience in learning to work with children with disabilities.
The after-school program is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 3:45-4:45 p.m. throughout the academic year. It offers two 10-week, 20-session programs to children ages 6-12 with disabilities and gross motor delays. Provided is both small group (2:1 or 1:1 child/staff ratio) and group instruction by university students studying in the Department of Kinesiology and working toward an adapted physical education specialist credential. Individualized and group instruction emphasizes gross motor fundamental skills, cooperative lead-up games, sports, relaxation activities and social interaction.
Camp Nugget, a four-week, three-hour-a-day program which normally begins the last week of June and runs into July, is offered to children ages 5-12 with disabilities and special needs. Small group instruction with a 4:1 child/staff ratio is again provided by adapted physical education specialist credential students. Camp activities include aquatics with swim instruction, instruction in fundamental skills and lead-up cooperative games, outdoor adventure course and adapted sports.
“The after-school program has been run under different names over the years and is really just an extension of the summer camp we run,” said Lavay. “I’ve run the camp and the after-school program since 1988, so there are many similarities because we are providing quality physical activity instructions for children with disabilities. In the summer, if a child needs intense one-on-one instruction, we’re not set up for that, but we work on a very small ratio of 4.5 children to every counselor. In the after school program, it’s usually one-on-one or one-on-two. But we also do group activities because they need to learn to socially interact and cooperate with other children.”
Lavay said he enjoys the work. It is rewarding to see his students grow in their teaching, and he also enjoys giving back to the community.
“It’s also really good training. Students need practical experience, they need hands-on experience, they need the opportunity to combine theory with practice and theory comes alive when they work with a child who has a disability,” he pointed out. “Kids with disabilities are real receptive to receiving instruction. I mean it’s challenging sometimes and there’s some real unique behaviors that some of the children exhibit, but it’s rewarding.”
Lavay estimated that since the programs’ beginning in 1970, more than 2,500 disabled youth with disabilities have participated.
“Opportunities for children with disabilities have increased tremendously since 1970, but still it’s challenging when you are a parent and you’re trying to find services for your child with special needs,” said Lavay. “With us they know they are going to get a quality program. There are public school and recreational programs for these kids, but the reality is that there are not a lot of programs like ours in Southern California where universities are involved.”
-- Shayne Schroeder
“I began thinking that 40 years was a pretty big milestone and we were the first program of this kind west of the Mississippi in 1969-70,” said Barry Lavay, a professor in CSULB’s Department of Kinesiology (KIN) where his primary responsibility is to train students to teach physical education to individuals with disabilities. “I thought it would be a good idea to have this celebration.”
The 40th anniversary is as much a celebration of those who have participated in the program as the program itself, according to Lavay, who credits former CSULB faculty members Andy Sinclair and Dan Arnheim for having the vision to start the program.
“When I look at this program, it accomplishes three things,” he said. “It provides training for university students who are studying to be adapted physical education teachers, it provides physical activity for children with disabilities, and it’s a great university public relations tool because of what we are giving back to the community.”
Lavay also coordinates the State Adapted Physical Education Teaching Credential Program where more than 250 students have received a California APE Specialist Credential since 1988. He notes that anybody who has been credentialed in Adapted Physical Education from CSULB since 1970 has worked in the programs and received valuable hands-on experience in learning to work with children with disabilities.
The after-school program is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 3:45-4:45 p.m. throughout the academic year. It offers two 10-week, 20-session programs to children ages 6-12 with disabilities and gross motor delays. Provided is both small group (2:1 or 1:1 child/staff ratio) and group instruction by university students studying in the Department of Kinesiology and working toward an adapted physical education specialist credential. Individualized and group instruction emphasizes gross motor fundamental skills, cooperative lead-up games, sports, relaxation activities and social interaction.
Camp Nugget, a four-week, three-hour-a-day program which normally begins the last week of June and runs into July, is offered to children ages 5-12 with disabilities and special needs. Small group instruction with a 4:1 child/staff ratio is again provided by adapted physical education specialist credential students. Camp activities include aquatics with swim instruction, instruction in fundamental skills and lead-up cooperative games, outdoor adventure course and adapted sports.
“The after-school program has been run under different names over the years and is really just an extension of the summer camp we run,” said Lavay. “I’ve run the camp and the after-school program since 1988, so there are many similarities because we are providing quality physical activity instructions for children with disabilities. In the summer, if a child needs intense one-on-one instruction, we’re not set up for that, but we work on a very small ratio of 4.5 children to every counselor. In the after school program, it’s usually one-on-one or one-on-two. But we also do group activities because they need to learn to socially interact and cooperate with other children.”
Lavay said he enjoys the work. It is rewarding to see his students grow in their teaching, and he also enjoys giving back to the community.
“It’s also really good training. Students need practical experience, they need hands-on experience, they need the opportunity to combine theory with practice and theory comes alive when they work with a child who has a disability,” he pointed out. “Kids with disabilities are real receptive to receiving instruction. I mean it’s challenging sometimes and there’s some real unique behaviors that some of the children exhibit, but it’s rewarding.”
Lavay estimated that since the programs’ beginning in 1970, more than 2,500 disabled youth with disabilities have participated.
“Opportunities for children with disabilities have increased tremendously since 1970, but still it’s challenging when you are a parent and you’re trying to find services for your child with special needs,” said Lavay. “With us they know they are going to get a quality program. There are public school and recreational programs for these kids, but the reality is that there are not a lot of programs like ours in Southern California where universities are involved.”
-- Shayne Schroeder
Long Beach Rotary Scholarship Foundation Presents $174,800 to Cal State Long Beach for Student Scholarships
The Long Beach Rotary Scholarship Foundation has given $174,800 to California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) that will be used for scholarships to more than 130 students.
The check presentation was made by Greg Hill, president of the Long Beach Rotary, and Frank Newell, chairman of the Long Beach Rotary Scholarship Foundation, during a special halftime ceremony at a recent 49er men’s basketball game.
Long Beach Rotary is supporting four President’s Scholars scholarships, and another 129 CSULB students each received a $1,200 annual scholarship during the 2009-10 school year. Rotary members held a pre-game reception at The Pointe in The Walter Pyramid to honor this year’s scholarship recipients.
“At Cal State Long Beach during the past 45 years, the Rotary Scholarship Foundation has funded more than 2,500 annual student scholarships totaling more than $2.5 million dollars,” Newell pointed out. “We also provide $80,000 in annual scholarships to more than 100 students attending Long Beach City College.”
Founded in 1917, Rotary is the largest and oldest service organization in Long Beach. The organization also sponsors a service club for students at the university called the Rotaract Club. Members of Rotaract also were guests at the pre-game reception.
“Long Beach Rotary has been an incredible partner for Cal State Long Beach, and Rotary has helped thousands of students achieve success in college,” said Andrea Taylor, CSULB’s vice president for university relations and development. “We are very grateful for Rotary's long standing and enthusiastic commitment to our students and to the community.”
Long Beach Rotary Scholarships are available to students from Long Beach area high schools who attend Long Beach City College and CSULB. Applications for Fall 2010 scholarships are available at www.rotarylongbeach.org and are due by April 12.
-- Colleen Bragalone
The check presentation was made by Greg Hill, president of the Long Beach Rotary, and Frank Newell, chairman of the Long Beach Rotary Scholarship Foundation, during a special halftime ceremony at a recent 49er men’s basketball game.
Long Beach Rotary is supporting four President’s Scholars scholarships, and another 129 CSULB students each received a $1,200 annual scholarship during the 2009-10 school year. Rotary members held a pre-game reception at The Pointe in The Walter Pyramid to honor this year’s scholarship recipients.
“At Cal State Long Beach during the past 45 years, the Rotary Scholarship Foundation has funded more than 2,500 annual student scholarships totaling more than $2.5 million dollars,” Newell pointed out. “We also provide $80,000 in annual scholarships to more than 100 students attending Long Beach City College.”
Founded in 1917, Rotary is the largest and oldest service organization in Long Beach. The organization also sponsors a service club for students at the university called the Rotaract Club. Members of Rotaract also were guests at the pre-game reception.
“Long Beach Rotary has been an incredible partner for Cal State Long Beach, and Rotary has helped thousands of students achieve success in college,” said Andrea Taylor, CSULB’s vice president for university relations and development. “We are very grateful for Rotary's long standing and enthusiastic commitment to our students and to the community.”
Long Beach Rotary Scholarships are available to students from Long Beach area high schools who attend Long Beach City College and CSULB. Applications for Fall 2010 scholarships are available at www.rotarylongbeach.org and are due by April 12.
-- Colleen Bragalone
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