Personal Statement

By Kit C.B. Elliott

Thirteen years of taking classes at MPC has allowed me to partake and benefit from many of the college's services. I can personally attest to the quality and greatness of various MPC programs and faculty from the entire staff of EOPS, TRIO and the Women's Study Center, to such educators as Dr. Richard Kezirian (U.S. History), Professor David Clemens (English) and Professor Rodney Oka (Chemistry). Fortunately, these years at MPC have allowed me to cultivate a student's perspective, and first hand insight of student programs/services that only a product of MPC like myself can offer to a board of trustees that is responsible for addressing student related issues.

As an MPC alumnus I have taken careful notice of certain developments and issues facing my alma mater, including the current development projects under the Physical Master Plan, and efforts to increase the diversity of the student body with respects to economically disadvantaged and lower income students.

Many of you will recall the passage of Measure I back in 2002 that provided MPC $145 million in funding for the college's Physical Master Plan development projects, which includes the new Library and Technology Building, new Student Services Building, Fitness Center, and Marina Education Center. Unfortunately, there is a problem with the funding. Current projections put the costs for the entire development plan at $203 million + a $58 million shortfall. How will the board address this problem and raise the needed funds?

As a candidate, my solution is to increase number of primary donors in the MPC Foundation's President's Circle, and to lobby for more funds from our state and federal governments through our district's elected officials including Congressman Sam Farr and California Senator Abel Maldonado. As trustee, I promise to bring fresh, enthusiastic leadership to the board, and to maintain a team oriented atmosphere in our efforts to achieve the college's development goals. Completion of campus development projects constitute a legitimate need; therefore I strongly believe that the board is warranted to speak with a collective voice through the System Office of California Community Colleges to the state's Department of Finance.

In addition, my personal goal as trustee is to hold MPC to its institutional goal of increasing the diversity of the student body in relation to the statistic reporting that only 16% of Marina and Seaside residents have a bachelor's degree. As a first generation, lower income college student myself, I take this issue seriously because I feel that economically disadvantaged students should have equal representation on campus and opportunity to succeed. For those students, success means acquiring a degree, transferring to a four-year university, attaining high paying jobs, and improving personal development/basic skills.

We as a community cannot afford to neglect the needs of the most disadvantaged members of our community, nor leave them behind. I say, we all move forward together.