Foundation News

Veterans’ History Project Videos Recorded at Mendocino College

Wednesday, 30 May 2012 18:26

Eleven stories from local veterans were recently filmed at Mendocino College’s state of the art recording studio. A montage of the video clips was shown to rave reviews at the recent Veterans History Project reception held at the Veterans Memorial Hall in Ukiah.

Student and community member interviewers, as well as the veterans and more members of the community were on hand to salute the veterans and celebrate the recordings which will be sent to the permanent archives of the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.

“This turned out to be an all-class project,” says Dr. Rodney Grisanti, Mendocino College instructor for the new recording engineering programs. Jared Terrell, a student filmmaker produced the videos and other students along with Dr. Grisanti contributed to the sound, music and editing. Jonathan Dooley coordinated the interview schedules and the final projects for the Mendocino College Foundation.

Mendocino College’s recording studio, while built in 1993 as part of the Center for Visual and Performing Arts, has been updated using Proposition W bond funds. The college remodeled and installed the most current digital technology and tools as well as analog based technology for instruction in Recording Arts.

“Our program prepares students for employment in the broad field of audio including in such fields as music recording, mixing, and mastering; sound design for film, documentary, and animation; television and radio broadcasting; studio design and management; arranging and composition; and much more,” says Dr. Grisanti.

“We are extremely lucky to have such a facility and offer recording studio classes to our students,” says Virginia Guleff, Mendocino College’s Dean of Instruction. “A career in recording studio technology is a viable option for students who wish to be part of the music business but do not necessarily have aspirations as a performer.”

Read more: Veterans’ History Project Videos Recorded at Mendocino College

Curtis Invests in College Green Building Program

Phyllis Curtis, a lifetime environmentalist and lover of the word “community,” put her money where her passion is. She recently made a donation to Mendocino College’s Sustainable Technology program to purchase equipment for the solar classes.

“We are grateful for being able to purchase state of the art equipment,” says Orion Walker, coordinator of the program. Curtis’s investment purchased solar panels, an inverter, a Solmetric SunEye and a Solar Pathfinder.

“Thank you for empowering our class with your gift to make our lab classes more worthwhile,” said Dick Jordan, solar installation instructor, to Curtis when she visited the class. He assured Curtis that the new solar panels were made in the United States. “The best ones come from Tennessee and that’s where these were manufactured.”

Jordan, who lives off the grid in Yorkville, has been “doing solar” for 35 years. He explains how the new equipment works saying, “I try to help the class learn the skills and how to be competitive in this growing field.” The Solmetric SunEye and The Solar Pathfinder each have unique programs that track the sun and forecast how many photovoltaic cells are needed as well as the best location to put them.

Curtis, who lives in a passive solar home, moved to Mendocino County in 1957. “I’m an environmental nut,” admits Curtis, an avid hiker and founder of the Inland Mendocino County Land Trust.

Read more: Curtis Invests in College Green Building Program

First John Bogner Scholarship Winner Announced

Friday, 20 April 2012 18:10

Central Casting could not have come up with a more perfect recipient of the first Mendocino College Foundation scholarship for Fine Arts honoring the late John Bogner. Monique Marmon, like Bogner, grew up in Ukiah, acted in plays at Ukiah High School and found her voice and sense of belonging in theater/onstage.

“I was teased as a kid for always reading books,” says Marmon. “When I tried out and got a part for Beauty and the Beast, I was so excited I started crying and told my mom how great it was to meet others who are just like me.”

“When John was in high school, he was so shy that he often ate his lunch in the school library alone,” shares long-time friend and partner Gary Nix, who spearheaded the John Bogner Perpetual Scholarship for Fine Arts with an Emphasis in Theater and Music. Nix says that Bogner had a talent for screen printing and visual art. “On his own, John decided to make a poster to advertise one of the high school plays. After putting it up in the main building at Ukiah High School, the choral director Les Johnson sought out John to join the Choral Club. John first performed in My Fair Lady and helped with props, advertising, and of course posters for all the school plays,” says Nix. “That was really the start of John finding good friends and developing his outgoing personality.”

Read more: First John Bogner Scholarship Winner Announced