11 College Teachers Get $11,345 in Grants

Eleven Ventura College instructors have been awarded a total of $11,345 to improve curriculum and update old equipment in their classrooms.

The grant money comes from the Ventura College Foundation, which has awarded $160,000 in staff grants since 1985. The money is for equipment instructors would otherwise be unable to purchase because of budget constraints.

Industry and technology department head Casey Mansfield will use his $965 grant to purchase a computer with a Pentium processor for the construction technology program.

Charles Rockwood will spend his $500 automotive technology grant to send an advisor with students to the Vocational Clubs of America national competition in Kansas City.

Alan Penuela’s $750 will pay for his training as a certified emission instructor.

Dana Jakubowski, who teaches German, will create an interactive computer program with her $1,500 grant.

The $1,490 awarded to Alice Slaton, who teaches French, will buy digital video equipment. Maricarmen Ohara will use $250 to develop vocabulary bingo games for students.

Physical education instructor Raeann Koener received a $1,500 grant for new body fat analysis equipment for the physical education department.

Science instructor Marta de Jesus will use her $1,490 award to buy permanent biological samples to reduce the amount of dissection necessary in biology courses.

Language instructor Gwendolyn Alley will coordinate a women’s history program next year with her $1,400 grant.

Larry Falxa and Don Rodrigues were given $1,500 to remodel the patio outside the educational assistance center to make it more accessible to disabled students.