Charles has taken a job outside of the university system and is no longer employed by KPC as our student blogger. If you would like to be the KPC student blogger for the fall semester please contact Bill Howell in Student Services or at 262-0314.
-Webmaster
March 12, 2006:
Sadly…spring break is now over…what to do but more school! Oh ya…pumped..whoopee (if you could hear me, you could tell some sarcasm is apparent…)
Bit of a crazy week though eh? Man, I didn’t think it was going to end! I had fun during the Arctic Winter Games though, lets put it this way, I had fun, and I’d do it over again, but I wouldn’t do it AGAIN…but of a difference. In one of my interviews, the President of the Host Society, Dale Bagley, he said pretty much the same thing, was very fitting for the games this year I think.
I wrote for the Ulu News…Room 128 of the college was turned into a newsroom…it was pretty realistic too. We all took our own pictures and did our stories, it was kind of rough on the writing side of things, though, for me since stories could only be so long and stuff…and there was no flexibility on that issue, oh well.
Anyways, the college had some big stuff on campus during the games. Lets see…we had a sellout concert for the indigenous rock group Pamyua (bum-u-ah) and a huge pizza party for all the Team Alaska athletes, big stuff, each event had some 300 people wandering on campus. I was only able to slip in to the pizza feed, but I was at the whole concert, actually, it was my first story for the Ulu News, so I even hung out with a couple of the band members afterwards, it was pretty neat.
Well, we shall keep this one pretty short, but I’m going to get some people’s pics on here k? I’ll be around asking what everyone did on spring break…beware.
If you got any ideas for me, throw them at me, well email them to me at iscsp1@uaa.alaska.edu
February 28, 2006:
There is so much going on these next couple weeks. First off we got spring break! During which the entire peninsula will be invaded with athletes and visitors from all over the circumpolar regions of the world…and then some! And just for the campus, we have a huge pizza feed for several hundred athletes and other Arctic Winter games participants at the college. And on Saturday, the big Pamyua concert is here! Oh yeah!
I don’t know how I’m going to be able to be in so many places at once…its going to be a blast though! By the way since break is FINALLY here for most of you who will be doing anything from vacation to just being a couch potato I asked a couple people on campus what their plans for the break was.
Matt and Yvett Neil in the KPC commons area,
just hanging out before class.
Both Matt and Yvett Neil had similar ideas on how they were not going to be doing anything to do with school!
“Not writing any essays will be my thing,” Matt said.
“Trying to just forget about school all together for the one week is my goal,” Yvett said.
Ali Parshall taking a study break by the
entrance to the Ward Building.
Ali Parshall was unsure on what her plans were, but was happy break was so close.
“I really don’t have much planned. I’m going to get my homework, if I have any done and out of the way and probably just hang out,” Parshall said.
I wish I was going to be able to do close to nothing for this spring break. But I’m going to have fun and make the most of this Arctic Winter Games. I’ll be writing for the Ulu News, the official publication of the games, submitting 2 stories and 2 pictures a day…yes my limited photography skills have to kick into gear very fast! Also, I might be sending summaries of the games to radio stations and maybe will help out with something to do with several television networks as well as doing a story or two for the Clarion maybe.
Crazy week planned eh? My JPC professor, Janice High, said we’d pretty much be signing our life away for the Arctic Winter Games, so I just added on a couple other things since my life is forfeited for a week or so anyways…
Well, wish me luck, this week is exciting, I’ll do my best to squeeze out another blog this week ok? If you see me on campus and want to ask me a question about anything, just ask, comment on something, critique me, it doesn’t matter, anything! My email as well is open to anything! Adios!
Only 12 more days for the Arctic Winter Games…The reality of how much I have to do set in over the past week; it’s going be fun, but real hard. Through my JPC class, we will be writing the Ulu News, and international paper that will be distributed all over. But…each person in class, including me has to write 2 stories a day! Pretty crazy huh?
Right when we start the first stories, I have to help out with the Pamyua concert as well, whew. Its March 4th, everyone should check that out. They are a pretty big group and pretty popular. They won the 2003 Record of the Year in the Native American Music Awards, which is pretty big stuff. They pretty much play a mix of Inuit and African rhythms, but it creates a neat sound. They are definitely worth checking out…Saturday, March 4th at 7:30 PM…in our Ward Building at KPC!
Oh for tickets…be sure to pick some up at River City Books, Kenai Convention and Visitors Bureau, or just stop by the KPC Bookstore! If available, remaining tickets will be sold at the door, but don’t miss your chance to pick up your tickets!
Anyways, what else do we have on the agenda…sorry about the advertisement of Pamyua, but it goes with my multicultural job and just kind of comes out when I mention what’s happening on campus.
On the 24th, their will be an art show at our sister campus Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer. It is called “Watercolor from Realism to Abstraction.” The opening will be from 5-7 PM in the KBC commons. The work features this semester’s introductory watercolor class taught by artist Paula Dickey.
Also some big news for KPC is that the college now offers a Digital Art Associates of Applied Science degree! Pretty neat eh? We are the only school in the big AK to offer it and all the thanks should be directed to Jayne Jones and Celia Anderson…so if you see them or in class with them, be sure to congratulate them!
Doesn’t it seem like spring outside too? I like the snow, but when the weather hints towards spring and summer I try to help it along as much as I can so do your own part…pull out the hair-dryer and melt some snow! Be careful though, water and electricity don’t mix! Ha-ha, I’m kidding but if you’re that desperate go for it, I’ll support you…but make fun of you behind your back…
Alright, well, we’ll get some pictures back in the blog later on this week, until next time…ADIOS!
February 13th, 2006:
I am pumped that the Arctic Winter Games are so close! The exact countdown is 20 days I think…how cool is that? The entire peninsula is going to be flooded with people! I know my JPC class is buzzing, I’ve seen others on campus feeling it, though. For my class, we are going to cover the entire week of events for the Ulu News, writing for an international audience too! Personally, I might even be able to squeeze in time to write something for Peninsula Clarion as well. It’s going to be one crazy week, but it’ll be fun!
After looking it over and reading all the facts about the games. I wish I could compete in it, writing for them works, though. I tried out my weak legs on the court last week.
On Friday, I shot around in the gym (basketball of course)!!! My first shoot-around since September 9th! I was deprived I know…it was a sad display of ravaged talent, but it’s a start, don’t smile or snicker at these comments! Psst…give me credit; I had knee surgery, ACL replacement surgery to be exact on September 30th. So, that’s just over 19 weeks or (19 x 7 + 3) 136 days or (19 x 7 + 3 x 24 + 11) or 3275 hours or (19 x 7 + 3 x 24 + 11 x 60) 195,840 seconds (my math skills exceed those of a…smart person eh?)
It has been a long time since I’ve played or shot-around with a basketball. Talk to anyone close to me, they’re probably annoyed with me I’ve been talking about it so much, but just wanted to tell everyone else that it happened!
Whew, glad I got to brag about that some. Anyways, on campus, we had a big event on Saturday. Vusi Mahlasela performed in the Ward Building. I did some of the advertising and helped out with other things leading up to the event. I was supposed to help out during the concert, but I was to sick to come on Saturday. I was coughing, had a fever, it was ugly. This weird hovering sickness is just attached to me. No one around me has it, just me. At least I feel better today; my voice is suffering, though. Don’t let me talk for to long, otherwise it will go away completely.
Valentine’s Day is tomorrow too! I got a big plan for the girlfriend; I am one of the nice and sensitive guys. I tend to over do it I think, we’ll see I guess huh? I can’t wait for that too, if everything goes as planned, it should be great day.
Be sure to check out Open Mic Night this Friday too! Sorry, this is all unorganized and doesn’t flow together, but that’s what blogging is…you know, computers don’t even accept it as a word. (Off track again, my bad) Open Mic Night in room 101 of the Ward Building should be entertaining as usual. There will be a stand-up comedy act as well. So, check it out from 7-10 PM.
By the way, tune into the radio, 96.5 KKIS…Our JPC class is going to the studio this week and recording some announcements and ads for KPC. They are pretty neat, see if you recognize any of the voices!
Well, don’t worry; blogs will be more consistent from now on. That was a long span for this last one. Once again, though, if you have any comments, concerns, questions, and/or suggestions, just email me at iscsp1@uss.alaska.edu
February 3, 2006:
Whew...everyone thinks I disappeared for awhile there. I suppose I did. I apologize to everyone! But it’s been a crazy week for me so far. I tried my best to get “stuff” done, but I guess it was just too much for me, but I feel I have rebounded from taking on so much, so it’s ok, there is no need to panic or get all rowdy or anything else!
Here is the break down though: Last weekend I made the journey to Anchor-town (Anchorage) to check out the Russian New Years event at the Native Heritage Center, well that was a blast there was a live band, dancing was going on, and there was huge turnout; fun to watch – I’m planning with/through Dianne Taylor to hopefully have a similar event come to KPC – but that’s a whole other thing, see here I go rambling!
BUT, I went to Anchorage Friday morning with my gorgeous girlfriend (notice the compliment for everyone to see, wink!), but didn’t come back until late Sunday…just really spent money as my bank account shows…I had tons of fun though. I came back to find that my great uncle had some severe news involving cancer…so my family from across Homer – Port Graham is the place – has been over a lot, and my parents have been spending all their time down in Homer making sure everything is working out ok. Well, we had only one vehicle at the time, so I just never made it to campus, missed a couple classes, fell behind on my blogging – sorry – fell behind on my other job(s) – sorry again – but I think I’m pretty caught up and back on schedule.
Everything has pretty much mellowed down, except that darn volcano! It’s been threatening ash-fall everyday for the past week I think. I don’t even check the Alaska Volcano Observatory website anymore because I already know what the verdict is: Code Red, continuous eruption, blah, blah. It is kind of neat to see it though…
Anyways, enough about me and the volcano, on campus Wednesday I was able to ask a couple students about this weeks KPC/Blogger/Poll/Study/Insterupt studying students/etc. question. The wonderfully creative question was, of course, “What do you (the student or blog-victims) think KPC needs?”
Kenai Peninsula College student Robbie Saxton
taking
a study break in the Kenai River Campus commons.
KPC student Robbie Saxton had mixed feelings of even changing the way KPC is. “Dorms would be nice I suppose, but I like it the way it is. It works fine for me now,” Saxton said.
Student Tiffany Collinson reading in
Kenai River Campus’s library.
Tiffany Collinson had other ideas or changes she thought could help out though.
“I think housing would be nice. It would draw more students probably and make things easier,” Collinson said.
Well, I haven’t decided on what to ask students next week, but if you have any suggestions, just drop me an email at iscsp1@uaa.alaska.edu or if you have any questions, comments, and yes…I can take criticism too. I hope everyone doesn’t slack off this weekend like I did, until next time, PEACE!
January 27, 2006:
Okay . . . blog time again! This week was pretty entertaining for me, since I got another job here at KPC. I’m the new Multicultural Student Advocate! It even sounds serious eh? Pretty psyched about it though; I get to help out with concerts, visitors and all that jazz, it should be pretty neat.
I kind of get to scope out some possible “clients” this weekend. I’m going to watch a Russian New Years celebration up in Anchorage. It’s at the Native Heritage Center, there is a bunch of dancing at what not, but it should be fun. KPC might get to host something similar in the future!
I managed to ask a few more students about what they liked about KPC . . . So here they are:
Cody Hatfield taking a study break in the library.
What Hatfield enjoys most about KPC is the class sizes and total atmosphere.
“I think the student-teacher ratio is the best,” Hatfield said.
(Psst, Hatfield also said he enjoys the number of girls that are on campus! I didn’t say that though well, type it anyways, so I’m off the hook.)
Donna Edmunds studying in the commons
at KRC while waiting for class.
Edmunds said she likes KPC’s relaxed feeling it offers.
“The relaxed atmosphere KPC has is neat,” Edmunds said.
John Penatac on his way to the Learning Center at KRC.
Penatac, enrolled in a welding class at KRC and enjoys the size of KPC in general.
“It’s (KPC) nice and small,” Penatac said.
I got a big week planned out; I’m kind of doing a big advertising thing for some of the upcoming events at KPC, starting out on the new job anyways. It has tons of independent stuff I get to do on my own, so it should work out fine since I enjoy that! Anyways, I think this first week’s question was pretty neat. Next week we got question number two: “What do you think KPC needs?” Any comments or anything, please email me at iscsp1@uaa.alaska.edu!
Oh yeah, don’t forget about the Chess Tournament too! Saturday the 28th from 12 – 5 PM! For more information contact the Student Union at 262-0339 or stop by their offices next to Jose’s!
Until next time . . .
January 24, 2006:
I finally finished some other writing homework and what not! Blog time now! Also, your looking at, well reading from the words of the new Multicultural Student Advocate for KPC, pretty cool eh???
By the way, Saturday featured another successful Open Mic night at KPC. I must say, I attended, and it was very cool…much, much more entertaining than I thought it would be, sorry for the disbelief. For those of you who haven’t checked it out, I encourage you to stop by next time! Rather than the commons area, it was held in the new Room 101 Ward Building as well.
KRC student Chris Pepper and his father Robert Pepper, performing at KPC’s Open Mic Night.
Chris Pepper has been playing the guitar and performing with his father for about two years. Robert, his dad, has been playing for 21 years!
“It’s fun playing with him,” Pepper said, “It’s neat playing in this closed atmosphere too.”
Pepper is attending Kenai River Campus and taking classes to become an Elementary Education Teacher…how neat is that?
Zach Daniels and Billy Strain (150 Grit)
playing at KPC’s Open Mic Night.
Daniels and Strain formed the acoustic guitar group 150 Grit. They play at openings around Kenai and Soldotna and use Open Mic Night as practice to try new things.
“This is a great facility, far better than the commons,” Daniels said of playing in Room 101 in the Ward Building.
For those of you capable, you can check these guys out Thursday nights for a “jam night” at Hooligan’s.
Monday was the first day of week one’s poll question as well. Tom Steward, Psaha Koshelenko, and Jordan Olsen were the first victims, errrr, students asked.
From left to right,
Jordan Olsen, Tom Steward, Psaha Koshelenko.
It was Olsen’s second day at KRC…he was still unsure on what stuck out to him the most. Steward and Kochelenko both agreed on how inexpensive credits are and the one-one sessions with teachers.
I still have time to go through one more round with the current question before next week. So keep a look out for me.
Lets see…this week we have Robert Wendover, a frequent contributor to media such as CNN and CNBC, stopping by again to present stories, different strategies, and insights on how to sell and manage the millennial generation. His presentation will be room 101 of the Ward Building form 6 – 9 PM Friday, January 27th.
Also, you can check out or participate in the chess tournament Saturday, January 28th from 12 – 5 PM in the KRC commons. For more info, contact the Student Union at 262-0339.
Until next time…but once again, if you have any comments or questions, please contact me!
January 19 2006:
Watch out for that Volcano! Mount Augustine sure has been keeping me on my toes since I live in Ninilchik. Ninilchik and most communities south of us experienced some ash-fall. It was pretty exciting to witness the events but once the reality of what could happen struck, it was more of scared feeling. At least, it has calmed down a bit for now. You can monitor the volcano at www.avo.alaska.edu
I actually missed my morning class the first day of the volcano action. It wasn’t like bearing down ash at my house or anything, but I was curious to watch it and take a picture or something…I ended up with nothing though since it was too cloudy to see anything. It was the second class of the new semester too and I missed it, don’t not go to class (I tend to try and lead by example)!
Don’t forget to check out Open Mic Night at KPC on January 20th from 7-10 P.M. in the commons. From the hard work staff and others have put in, Open Mic Night is still going strong, but throw in a special thanks to all the talented people in our community! I’ll have pictures in my next blog as I will be in attendance…of course my talents won’t be revealed just yet!
Also, our own Health Clinic is opening up on Monday the 23rd! The nurse will be Jennifer Henry and the receptionists will be Joel Dunn and Pearl Grimsley. Hours will be as follows: Mondays from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM; Tuesdays from 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM; Wednesdays from 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM; Thursdays from 9:00AM – 3:00 PM; and the clinic will be closed on Fridays.
I came up with the imaginative plan of asking questions to random students for a reason to take a few pictures and just so my fellow KPC goers can get on the website, wink, wink. I’m hoping it turns out to be like a poll I guess. Quick flash of the first two weeks of the questions:
Week 1 – What do you like about KPC?
Week 2 – What do you think KPC needs?
Be prepared…I might put YOU on the spot and I’ll write everything you say on here, well slightly edited I suppose. My email is iscsp1@uaa.alaska.edu once again so write me sometime. It can be about anything!
January 9, 2006:
Hey everyone, my name is Charles Pulliam and I’m a current part-time student at Kenai Peninsula College’s KRC campus. I am the new blogger. I get to blog or journal the campus life of a student for the college’s website. In other words, I’m going to talk to a few students here and there, take some pictures, attend most of the activities, and submit a blog about twice a week.
I’m a familiar face . . . I think . . . since I was a full-time student for fall semester 04’ and spring 05’. Now, I’m kind of slacking on the classes and still debating on a major, but I’m having fun and doing my best. Anyways, more about me, I actually live in Ninilchik, you might have heard of it – it’s that small place you drive through between here and Homer. I enjoy those long walks on the beach with that special someone, staring at sunsets, or wait, that’s someone else. Really, I play basketball when I can, recovering form knee surgery, though, yuck, buts its better, and I write for the Clarion on the weekends, covering High School sports in a job I actually learned of through taking part in one of Professor High’s journalism classes offered here! KPC has so much to offer.
I was looking for some little things to get involved in at KPC. So I filled out some applications for a job here, besides joining the media group and others, I submitted them and within the next 10 minutes I got a call to meet Bill Howell (Student Services Director) about being the blogger. A job just like that, finally, I’m not “over-qualified” like some employers say. But, I plan on having fun with this and taking some pictures, so if you’re camera-shy, beware!
You can also hear from me in the KPC Connection, I’ll be doing some writing for that too. I enjoy our campus a lot and plan on spending quite a bit of time here, if you have any suggestions, comments, questions . . . anything, just email me at iscsp1@uaa.alaska.edu and I’ll post your entry and answer it. By the way, welcome back from Christmas Break! – I ’m already behind on student life, but I hope everyone had fun over break. Email me if you think yours was exceptionally good and needs to be shared, I just might post it.
Well, make sure you DON’T come to school on Monday, January 16th! My business professor, Ray Zagorski put it like this: “You can come to class on Monday if you want, but you’ll be by yourself.”
Its Alaska Civil Rights Day . . . big day for the big AK, so no class, celebrate instead! I’ll post everyone about what is going down on campus next week and have a few pictures as well!
