Standing atop the artificial track turf, Saul Villegas faced the home crowd as the only male cheerleader, surrounded by confidently radiant female faces. What started off as an innocent and unsuspecting hip roll soon turned into an explosive hip thrust. Villegas was dressed in spandex with the cardinal and gold Lancer logo on the face of the shirt. Lip gloss—check. Highlight—check. Hair styled—check. And don’t forget the contacts. No, not those. The one’s with the blue tint. Yeah, that’s better. Perhaps the night would be …
Olivia Loo: International Student Center’s go-to
As she roamed around the halls of USC, a young Olivia Loo felt out of place. It was nothing like Panama. She could speak English, but she could not relate to anyone nor to the culture. She was cold, miserable and lonely. Then, she decided that no one should have to go through what she went through. Director of PCC’s International Student Center (ISC) Olivia Loo works an administrative job that consists of providing documentation, forms and reports to the Dean of Counseling & Student …
Chicana advocates for those affected by incarceration
As a young child who has been affected by the incarceration system, PCC student Jasmin Lopez found her passion of helping those in similar situations through school involvement. Being in many different programs and clubs that reach out to people affected by prison impaction gave her the opportunity to learn how to support and give back to her community. Lopez grew up in a single parent household. Having her father incarcerated for her entire life and a brother who was wrongly convicted has shaped her …
Filmmaker’s superpower is doing, well, everything
When Xavier Kai DuBose appears, he’s cool and collected with a massive backpack on his back and a skateboard in his hand. He’s friendly; he feels familiar. His eyes, though visible and attentive, are tucked behind gently shaded sunglasses. His smile is out in the open though, it’s wide and gleaming, even brighter than the glint of his septum ring. DuBose’s shirt is emblazoned with an intricate galaxy, a smattering of bleach and several colors of paint, his own personal design. Creating handmade galaxy-inspired clothing …
Triumphs and trombones at PCC
As the army of musicians sit outside of the Center for the Arts practicing their instruments for their upcoming shows, there lies a long time veteran of the trombone, PCC, and the Army.
Lancer’s Lives: What makes you feel alive?
Sitting in the middle of the grass near the mirror pools at PCC, Ka’inoamakua Otsuka Mandaloniz, a Lancer student, was enjoying his evening listening to music with his big blue headphones. Someone that was minding his own business, was willing to talk about his life.
Lancers’ Lives: Living the dream at PCC
James Click is an English professor at PCC, who has been teaching here for eight years. Click focuses on rhetoric and philosophy in each of his classes. Ever since he studied at PCC it has been his dream to come back and teach here. Click is a passionate professor who is in love with his job and plans to stay here for the foreseeable future.
Lancers’ Lives: Passionate percussionist sticks to his dreams
Raul Rivera is a second-year music major with an emphasis in jazz performance. He started drumming about five years ago, and has not turned back since. Though he has yet to decide on where to transfer to for his Bachelor of Arts in music, Rivera is sure he wants to spend the rest of his life jamming with his drumsticks.
Lancers’ Lives: Twin bond embedded in Hawaiian roots
Born and raised on the beautiful island of Kauai, 19 year old twins Shawna and Shane Ogata bring their academics, athleticism, and their Hawaiian hospitality to PCC. Both majoring in business, Shawna played two seasons for the Lancers volleyball team, while Shane plays baseball. The twins share a passion for the beach and their natives roots but what makes them stand out is the love they have for each other. Unlike most siblings, Shane and Shawna are best friends.
Lancers’ Lives: Iatropoulos means ‘doctor’s son’
Anthony Iatropoulos is 24 years old and served in the United States Navy for three years as a corpsmen in the Koreas and Japan. He is an applied mathematics major. When he was honorably discharged, he took on a new direction in his life through a path paved by Pasadena City College.