Although the afternoon dismissal bell has rung at Torrance Elementary School, principal Gerardo Yepez (Class of '93, liberal studies; '96, teaching credential) isn't finished working. He can be seen at the school's entrance, greeting parents and saying goodbye to students for the day. Yepez, a Los Angeles native, taught for many years in the Lennox and San Mateo-Foster City school districts before becoming an administrator. During his eight years as principal at Torrance Elementary, the school has consistently earned high marks on real estate sites such as redfin.com and trulia.com for its high level of service to the community, a population that Yepez regards as his ... Read More
Service Learning
School of Nursing Cuts Ribbon on Clinical Skills Lab
On Nov. 8, the School of Nursing (SON) at California State University, Dominguez Hills cut the ribbon on a dedicated clinical skills lab, the first such facility on the university campus in the program's 29-year history. Construction began in 2008 to convert four classroom spaces on the lower level of the Social and Behavioral Sciences building into a 4,000-square-foot skills lab. The project was made possible with $1.6 million allocated through the CSU Chancellor's Office system wide nursing facilities improvement fund. “This lab will make all the difference in the world, because it will give our students enhanced tools to practice competently and safely in the clinical area,” said ... Read More
Theodore Mozeleski: Army Reservist Awarded Bronze Star
When Chief Warrant Officer 2 Theodore Mozeleski (Class of '84, psychology/philosophy) joined the Army Reserves in 1986, he did so in part because of his father's place in history as an Army sergeant who received campaign stars for taking part of the Battle of the Bulge and in the Central European campaign of World War II. This fall, the 53-year-old Torrance native received the Bronze Star for meritorious service and leadership during the 2009 drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq, during which he led a team of soldiers responsible for analyzing and disseminating intelligence information throughout central Iraq. Mozeleski is a graduate of North Torrance High School and has been employed as an ... Read More
SEED of Change: Health Professionals from Latin Countries to Study at CSU Dominguez Hills
A grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been awarded to the California State University, Dominguez Hills College of Extended & International Education (CEE) to train nurses and other health professionals from the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua. The scholars are awardees of the Scholarships for Education and Economic Development (SEED) program administered by the Center for Intercultural Education and Development at Georgetown University. Two SEED cohorts have been funded for one year to live and study at CSU Dominguez Hills for six months each. The first group will be at the university from ... Read More
Jennifer Bleidistel: Easter Seals Ambassador Teaches Children in Infant Toddler Center
Jennifer Bleidistel works at the Infant Toddler Center at California State University, Dominguez Hills as a teacher assistant. Like the other staff members, she takes care of the children there, many of whom have disabilities like autism or Down syndrome. For the last ten years, she has read to them, fed them breakfast and lunch, and tended to their basic needs during the day. But unlike most the other teachers and assistants, she shares something in common with many of her young charges - she too has a disability. Bleidistel, who was born with Down syndrome, found the job at the Infant Toddler Center through Easter Seals Southern California's Supported Employment Program. On Oct. 9, ... Read More
