Monday, February 17, 2025

David Ayala

Working in the Pierce College bookstore warehouse since 2007, David Ayala unpacks the shipment of boxes he receives and separates the materials into different sections for the sales people to pick up and put on display. “I used to be a equipment manager and locker room attendant for West L.A. College,” Ayala says. Ayala is a father of two boys...

Mitra Hoshiar

Sunset at the Malibu Beach shore is a dance of color and light. Birds fly in coordination with ocean waves like a window to paradise. The wind conquers the weak waves of late winter and the sun sinks to the ocean. Playful children run away from their parents while trying to reach out to the waves. Seagulls fly freely,...

Home is where the art is

The afternoon sun is high, the breeze strong, creating a scenic and relaxing atmosphere in the Fine Arts Plaza at Pierce College. Art history professor, Ramela Abbamontian, sits at a bench  in the middle of native Californian plants and metal sculptures, a mauve puffer jacket protecting her from the wind. Her eyes are bright, glancing around the plaza that...

Communications professor helps students overcome fears

Being 10,000 feet in the air, to the sight of a hairy, eight legged tarantula to speaking in front of a crowd of  people, these ideas define some of peoples greatest fears. Helping students overcome the fear of public speaking, Communications Professor Bill Buchynski, has worked on LACCD campuses for 12 years, teaching for  20. Wearing a plaid shirt, khaki pants...

Simon says

There is a moment at the start of Greg Simon’s physical anthropology class when a spark goes off, as he finishes reminding students of deadlines and begins his lecture. As the term “natural selection” leaves Simon’s lips, his eyes widen and the corners at his mouth turn up in excitement, while he begins to discuss his passion. The Pierce College...

The adventures of a photojournalist

Gerard Burkhart poses in the Los Angeles Valley College studio room in Los Angeles, Calif., on March 26, 2023. Photo by Alexis Guevara. Gerard Burkhart’s photography journey has taken him on countless adventures filled with adrenaline and passion.  Born in 1958 in Altoona, Pennsylvania; Gerard Burkhart moved to Los Angeles...

A Hero’s Journey

Story and photos by Ava Weintraub Brain surgery couldn’t keep this dedicated teacher away     The diagnosis was dire. The doctors said he had about a week to live and to get his affairs in order. It was a type of brain tumor called a “schwannoma,” a benign tumor that grows around the sheath of the cranial nerves. But this was a big...

From Carnegie Hall to Pierce’s Great Hall

A velvety, deep crimson carpet covers the seating area lined with rows of chairs. The eager audience faces a glamorous spectacle. A cream-colored stage is accentuated with glimmering gold touches lining the nooks and crannies of the walls. A solo vocal fills the room. Performing arts professor...

Getting to Know Shilo Nelson

The pungent aroma of fish and green beans hung in the air, a scent familiar to many, health conscious Californians. A beautiful tanned woman sits down to a light, healthy meal, clad in athletic gear and sporting a high pony. Everything about Shilo Nelson gives a distinct feel of a women on the go, fueled by an abundance of...

Finding culture through Anthropology

Erin Hayes holds a Russian nesting doll, surrounded by other cultural items in her office on Mar. 16, 2019 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. The saying is to always take the road less traveled. This mantra is often found on coffee cups and bumper stickers with good intentions that are rarely...
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