Each year, every member of the sophomore class of the Ventura College women's basketball team selects a "Favorite Teacher" based on their own personal criteria. 2016-17 is the 12th year in which the team has honored their favorite teachers, and 68 awards have been presented, including this year.
On Saturday January 21, VCCCD Board member Steve Blum, VC President Dr. Greg Gillespie, VC Vice Presidents Dr. Kim Hoffmans and Dr. Damien Peña, and Athletics Dean Dr. Tim Harrison helped the team honor the latest class ever of Favorite Teachers. These instructors, through their skill, expertise, thoughtfulness, and humanity have earned the distinction of being named the team's 2017 "Favorite Teachers".
Richard Goff, Criminal Justice, Selected by Rhiana Dougan
I chose Professor Goff as my favorite teacher because he's funny, exceptionally knowledgeable, and, in general, an amazing professor. Before joining his class I had no idea what my major should be, but he made criminal justice interesting, and I have chosen it as a major. He is a former detective from New York City, so he has some awesome stories and real life experiences that tied in with our lessons. He's an interesting man, and kept me entertained with his experiences, theories and lectures. He has a unique sense of humor, and is prone to making jokes on students. I am glad I had him in class. Thank you professor Goff for being a great professor and making class worth going to.
Gary Amar, Speech - selected by Kyleesha Green
The moment my counselor said I needed a communications class, I freaked out because everyone knows I'm not much of a talker let alone one with confidence to speak publicly. There's something about Gary Amar when you first meet him. Within the first hour of the first day of class, he had told several stories that make you feel like you've known him your whole life. He does a wonderful job of creating a comfortable relationship with the entire class. With the many years he's been teaching, he has seen it all in speech class. He has learned over time to manage and help those who have anxiety and tension towards the thought of publicly speaking. Finally, not only is he one of the best professors I've had, but is also a proud supporter of Ventura College athletics.
Laura Gillis, English, selected by Paige Larson
I'm not a big fan of English class, but Laura Gillis is my favorite professor. She was my teacher in English composition, and from the first day, I knew it was going to be a good class. When I had difficulty understand something she was always available to help me. She allowed us to choose subjects to write about that were interesting and educational. Through our writing in class I was able to learn about the world around me in addition to learning how to write well. She always gave great constructive feedback on essays to help us improve throughout the semester. She always had a smile on her face, a laugh or two every class and was always on time. I always looked forward going to Ms. Gillis' class.
Preston Pipal, Anatomy, selected by Mary Shirley
My favorite class this last semester was Anatomy with Dr. P. Anatomy is such a fascinating subject to me and I loved learning about how everything functions together. Our bodies instinctively know how to keep us alive, and it's interesting to learn how they work. The class was demanding, but Dr. P made each class exciting and even waking up for 7:00 am labs was worth it. His lectures were funny and interesting, and his passion for anatomy was inspiring. It's his first year at VC and I am thankful I was able to take his class. The experience helped me enjoy a subject I like even more.
Edward Reynosa, Aikido, selected by Christina Gonzalez
Professor Reynosa is my favorite teacher because he teaches every class with passion and a true love for his students and Aikido. Along with teaching many self-defense skills, he emphasized the importance of compassion and the different forms in which it comes. My favorite part of class was listening to wisdom about life through his stories and his practice in Aikido. I came away from the class every week with a fresh perspective and have learned to have an open mind to new experiences.
Liz Kraus, English, selected by Sienna Brown
I have never had a teacher quite like Liz. She is super friendly and open, you could tell she loved her job. She made class interesting and beneficial, teaching life lessons through the material we were reading or learning about. She was patient and kind, and you could tell that she really cared about her students. I admire the woman that Liz Kraus is, as she shared many of her own personal experiences during class. She is a completely amazing and resilient individual... She's like super woman, and I mean it. I am lucky to have had the opportunity to have her as a professor. She helped me become a better student and motivated me to keep improving and pushing myself as a person.
The Women's Basketball team's 2017 "Favorite Teachers" as selected by the sophomores. (Top Row from Left) Richard Goff with Rhiana Dougan, Gary Amar with Kyleesha Green, and Laura Gillis with Paige Larson. (Bottom Row from Left) Preston Pipal with Mary Shirley, Edward Reynosa with Christina Gonzalez, and Liz Kraus with Sienna Brown. (photos by Dina Pielaet)