ARIANNA HUFFINGTON KICKS OFF SFCC 25th ANNIVERSARY LECTURE SERIES

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 11, 2008

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON KICKS OFF SFCC 25th ANNIVERSARY LECTURE SERIES

Santa Fe, N.M.- Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) and Santa Fe public radio station KSFR 101.FM will host a special public lecture with political commentator and author Arianna Huffington at the Lensic Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, September 16, 7 p.m.

One of the world's most influential liberal voices, Huffington is the co-founder and editor in chief of The Huffington Post, one of the most widely-read, linked-to, and frequently-cited news and column Web site on the Internet. She is the author of 12 books, including her most recent, Right Is Wrong: How the Lunatic Fringe Hijacked America, Shredded the Constitution, and Made Us All Less Safe.

In 2006, the Greek-born millionaire was named one of "Time" magazine's Top 100 most influential people.

This first in an annual lecture series, this event kicks off Santa Fe Community College's 25th anniversary and is made possible by SFCC Governing Board Vice-Chair Bruce Besser. Besser chose the event as a way to honor his late wife, Kate, who was a life-long learner who frequently participated in classes, workshops and lectures at the community college.

"Kate loved to hear thought-provoking speakers and study great thinkers. As an avid follower of the political scene, I know she would be looking forward to listening to Arianna Huffington's commentary. I hope Santa Feans will enjoy the event as much as Kate would have," he said.

SFCC President Sheila Ortego said she is pleased to begin commemorating the college's 25th anniversary with this event.

"Our intent is to bring a wide variety of opportunities to the community," she said. "I think the Arianna Huffington lecture is an event many of our students and friends in the community will not want to miss."

Ortego said the college's 25th anniversary will offer many more community events at the campus throughout the year. For more on the anniversary plans, stay tuned to the college's Web site at www.sfccnm.edu.

WHAT: Arianna Huffington SFCC 25th Anniversary Lecture
WHEN: Tuesday, September 16, 2008, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Lensic Performing Arts Center, 211 West San Francisco Street, Santa Fe, NM
COST: $15-$25, $5 students
TICKETS: 505-988-1234, www.ticketssantafe.org

QUICK FACTS ABOUT SFCC
• SFCC enrolls more than 8,500 students in credit classes every year, about 5,400 of them each semester
• More than 850 SFCC students volunteered more than 55,000 hours in nonprofit agencies throughout Santa Fe as part of the college's Service Learning Program last year.
• More than 5,400 adults and school children enjoyed programs at the SFCC Planetarium last year.
• With its dozens of programs designed to save energy and reduce the college's carbon footprint and the announcement of the forthcoming Sustainable Technology Center, SFCC is a model of sustainable energy in higher education
• SFCC hosts more than 200 conferences, meetings and workshops for local, state and national groups annually.
• Enrollments also include more than 2,500 students in non-credit continuing education classes each year, about 1,600 of them each semester.
• Adult Basic Education at SFCC enrolls more than 1,800 each year.
• More than 200 high school students take classes in SFCC's dual credit program each semester.
• SFCC has outstanding regionally recognized programs in Media Arts, Fine Arts and Film. Its culinary program recently collaborated with Trident Technical College of Charleston, South Carolina, for student and teaching exchanges.
• On average, 40% of all students enrolled in financial-aid eligible programs receive some form of financial aid.
• In fall 2007, minority students made up 43% of all credit students and 54% of all degree/certificate/LOQ-seeking students. Hispanic students made up 37% of all credit students, and 48% of all degree/certificate/LOQ-seeking students.
• About 83% of all SFCC credit students are residents of the Santa Fe Taxing District.

About Santa Fe Community College
Santa Fe Community College is the gateway to success for both individuals and the community. The college provides affordable, high quality educational programs that serve the social, cultural, technological and economic needs of a diverse community. The college serves more than 14,500 students per year in its credit, non-credit and Basic Education programs.
For further information, visit www.sfccnm.edu or call (505) 428-1000.

About KSFR 101.1 FM
KSFR 101.1 FM is your public radio - an award-winning, community-supported, independent radio station serving the greater Santa Fe area. KSFR's programming reflects the independent, creative and thoughtful perspectives of the community, as well as those of scholars, newsmakers and critical thinkers around the world. Along with a diverse schedule of music and a news partnership with BBC World Service, KSFR serves its listeners daily with award-winning local news coverage. For more information, visit KSFR.org or call (505) 428-1527.

IMAGES AND INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Contacts:
Todd Eric Lovato, Media Relations Director, SFCC
505-428-1776
Todd.lovato@sfccnm.edu

 

Contact:
Jennifer Marshall
505-231-1776
jennifer@jmarshallplan.com
www.jmarshallplan.com