Mas

Parra honored for support of nursing scholarship bill
  Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford was recently honored by Bakersfield College administrators for setting aside additional funding for the Associate Degree Nursing Scholarship.

  Bakersfield College President William Andrews and Bakersfield College Director of Nursing/EMT programs Cindy Collier praised Parra for her effort in introducing Assembly Bill 1241, the Associate Degree Nursing Scholarship. AB 1241 targets potential nurses who are seeking an associate degree in nursing at community colleges in underserved areas and provides them with financial assistance to complete their education. Underserved areas include counties with registered nurse (RN) ratios of 500 RNs or less per 100,000 individuals.

  The bill was signed by former Gov. Gray Davis in 2003.

  The nursing scholarship program went into effect after regulations were approved in August, making the scholarship available for the 2005-2006 school year. Funding for the scholarship program comes from the Registered Nurse Education Fund (RNEF), which accumulates approximately $1.2 million annually in $10 surcharge fees for the renewal of RN licenses in California. No state general fund money is used.
 
  This past academic year, the program granted 37 scholarships of up to $8,00 each to students throughout the state, including those attending Bakersfield College.

  Community college nursing students interested in applying for the 2006-2007 scholarship can call the Health Professionals Education Foundation at 1-800-773-1669 or visit www.healthprofessions.ca.gov.

  The application deadline is March 24, 2006.

New CSUB student program offers internship opportunities
  Cal State Bakersfield students seeking hands-on work experience may apply for internship opportunities through the University Migrant Achievement Program.

  This program targets graduating seniors of migrant/seasonal farmworking backgrounds by connecting them with paid internships at local businesses and corporations, said program coordinator Martin Perez.

 The program offers training and work-related guidance  for students to be eligible for the  internships.  The program’s goal is for students to land full-time positions with sponsoring companies once students complete their bachelor’s degree.

  Students participating in the program will also have the opportunity to attend local, regional or state career fairs at no cost.

 Eligible students must have worked in the fields at least 25 days or have earned a minimum of $800 in  farm work on a seasonal basis.
 
  Students must also have a work permit, be Kern County residents and meet low-income eligibility guidelines.

  For more information about the program, please call Martin Perez at 661-654-3212.


College grads sought for state Capitol fellows program
  College graduates interested in becoming full-time state Senate staffers are encouraged to apply to the California State Senate Fellows Program.

  The 11-month program allows graduates to work out of a legislative or committee office in Sacramento. This program is jointly operated by the California Senate and the Center for California Studies at Cal State Sacramento.

  Local candidates can apply through the office of state Sen. Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield. Applications may be picked up at his district office, 5001 California Ave., Room 105, in Bakersfield. Candidates also may call (916) 651-4160 or download the forms online at http://www.csus.edu/calst/s...

  “Senate fellows are given an excellent opportunity to take part in California’s legislative process, while gaining some of the best hands-on learning experiences,” said Ashburn in a written statement. “Many senate fellows have gone on to do great things for California. Former fellows have gone on to become legislative and congressional staff members, reporters, lawyers, judges, members of the state Legislature, and members of Congress.”

  Eligible applicants must be at least 20 years old and scheduled to graduate from a four-year college by Sept. 1, 2006. There is no preferred major, and those with advanced degrees or who are mid-career are encouraged to apply.

  The application deadline is Feb. 22, 2006. Eighteen fellows will be selected in May.

  Fellows are placed in senate offices where they will learn to research public policy issues, help develop legislative proposals, assist with constituent casework, and participate in meetings as the senator’s representative.

  Fellows are paid a stipend of $1,972 per month plus health, vision, and dental benefits. Participants also earn 12 units of graduate credit from CSUS for the academic portion of the program.