Women’s Golf Tees Off Strong

The Coyotes women’s golf team placed 3rd in their second tournament of the season on February 13th and 14th at Hillcrest Golf Course in Surprise.  The team placed third as well in their first tournament at Dobson Ranch Golf Couse in Mesa earlier this month making this a strong start for the CGCC women’s golf program.

The four-member golf team is made up of freshmen Taryn Simmons and  and returning sophomores Emily Smith, Anahi Buck, and Mariola Szmit.

At Hillcrest, Simmons led the way for the golfers shooting 89/89 for a ninth-place individual finish at 178 with Smith and Buck shooting 199 and 211 respectively.  At Dobson Ranch, Szmit finished in fourth place individually shooting an impressive two-day total of 161 while Simmons finished just two strokes shy of sixth place for the lady Coyotes.

"With the talent on this year’s team we have an excellent chance of qualifying all girls for the National Junior College tournament in Georgia in May if we continue to improve,” predicts Women’s Golf Coach, Mark Underwood.  “Mariola played in the national tournament last season; and with Taryn, Emily, and Anahi we are much more competitive this year.”

Coach Underwood’s annual goals include winning conference tournament events and medaling individuals in the top six in each tournament. He also aims to qualify CGCC for nationals and/or qualify individual girls to get them on the recruiting radar for play at the next level after completing their eligibility at CGCC.  Keep up the great work coach and team!

Southwest Airlines Surprises CGCC Choir with Free Airfare to NYC

Airline helps students make final approach to Carnegie Hall

Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) Concert Choir received quite the surprise this week, free airfare to New York City! On Tuesday, February 8, the Southwest Airlines Celebration Squad surprised the 44-member concert choir with complimentary round trip airfare to attend their upcoming Carnegie Hall performance in New York City.

The choir was diligently rehearsing for the performance when a Southwest Airlines pilot, flight attendant, employees and members of the local media interrupted their rehearsal session for the surprise. Following remarks from Southwest Airline representatives, choir members unwrapped a jumbo-sized boarding pass revealing free airfare for each choir member to New York City. Students were shocked by the surprise and grateful to the airline for their generosity to help make their once-in-a-lifetime dream come true.

“As incredible as it was to receive this invitation,” explained Marcus Denton, Director of Choral, Vocal and Piano Music Studies at CGCC, “it was only to happen if the choir could raise the funds for the trip.  If not for the generosity of partners like Southwest Airlines this would not have been possible.  We are all very grateful for their support of these students, this program and of the performing arts.”

Last fall, the CGCC Concert Choir was invited to attend the Mid-America Productions Spring Festival Chorus at the world-famous Carnegie Hall in New York City April 3-7, 2017.  As one of only four choirs in the nation to receive an invitation, this honor arguably places CGCC among the leading concert choirs in the U.S. In addition to performing, the students will attend workshops hosted by Dr. J. Edmund Hughes, renowned choral conductor and composer and they will study one of the most revered choral works of the 20th century—John Rutter’s Requiem.

Donations for the Carnegie Hall trip are still being accepted. Anyone interested in sponsoring a student can visit www.mcccdf.org/carnegie and follow the simple instructions to make your donation. 

CGCC Celebrates Black History Month

Chandler-Gilbert Community College campuses have a full lineup of programs and activities this month to celebrate the rich intellectual and cultural contributions made by African Americans in the United States. We have everything from performances and special guests to a gallery reception and poetry reading. See a list of our events below. All events are free and open to the public. Hope to see you there