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Show Forum Josie Valdez: Trying to Enjoy Life who works in the Financial Aid thats what a student might tell you, Department e said Josie. But besides that Im a person, student and faculty member all rolled into one. I feel a part of Westminster; I try to be the spirit of the school and live each moment to it's fullest. In 1969, she won the Miss Senior Eta Houston title, which entitled her to take part in a movie called Hell Fighters with John Wayne. Shes a person full-tim- Josies job consists of assisting Ruth Hcnneman in financial aid. Working with Ruth makes my job a lot of fun, Josie said. She looks forward to coming to work, because the students fill her day and every day is different. Born in Lake Village, Arkansas, and later raised in Houston, Texas, Josie considers herself, A Texan with a Mexican heritage. There are three boys and three girls in her family. Since her father died when October 22, 1982 finding joy, even if you are struggling with life, Josie said. Josie went to Sam Houston High School, where she participated on the girls track team, swimming team and, at one point, played snare drum for the drill team. She went into the Distributive Education Clubs of America, where she gained work experience while being paid I have always enjoyed public speaking, she said. Josie served as the first female chapter president for the Toast Masters (a public speaking group) in Utah and has won several speech contests. In 1975, she was named an Outstanding Woman of America. Josie decided to come back to school in 1980. She feels a degree opens up many doors. Her main goal is to finish school and chose Westminster for its Alternative Entry Program. When asked what made her so up in the air, she replied, Just trying to enjoy life and be myself, even if people think its crazy. Do what you really enjoy doing. Fill your life with a challenge. she was very young her mother raised the children on her own. I like to remember my mothers image of Josie Valdez, Financial Aid Department McCall Carstensen Toomey Identifies with Westminster student in the sixties, there was a lot of social and political consciousness, stated Toomey, regarding his past. I believe people are a reflection of their times. Upon graduating from John Carroll University a with a degree in history, Toomey joined VISTA the United States peace corps that operates within and was assigned to aid migrant farm workers in Utah After working with VISTA for several years, Toomey went to work for the Crossroads Urban Center in Salt Lake City. We aided the poor people within the city with any problems they had such as food, housing, or legal problems, he said. Toomey took a year off to work on a novel he never completed, and to travel to Ireland where some of his relatives still live. Upon returning to Utah, Toomey took a job with the Salt Lake school district. It's Never Too Late As a college did job placement for the district to place I multiple handicapped people in the job field. was quite successful and found it a very rewarding I 1969, the Beatles were still together, Nixon was president, the Vietnam War raged on, and Jim Toomey, Dean of Adult Education, was graduating In experience, from college. Westminster College- - Toomey said. Toomey came to Westminster in 1978, as Director of Career services. Most of my life has been in small private schools, commented Toomey, I wanted to come because it was the only school in Utah 1 identified with. 1980, Toomey filled in as the Dean of Students and in July of 1981, he became the Dean of Adult Education. This program provides degree and professional certificate programs through extension centers in Utah and southwestern Wyoming. In The importance of this program, according to Toomey, is that we make money for the College and we give the school visibility out there in the community. Toomey is currently working on a masters degree in social science from Syracuse University in New York. He attends classes during the summer. Originally a native of Cleveland, Ohio, Toomey now finds himself at home in Salt Lake. It has all the attractive features of a large city, but also has some of the features of a small town. Toomey, who is 35 and single, enjoys reading and writing and he is also a hard-cor- e baseball fan. d Cleveland Indians fan, Although he is still a he has picked the California Angels to win the World Series this year. die-har- Ron Czajka Have you ever felt that a piece of paper is all that stands between you and your next promotion? Do you feel age has made it difficult to go back and get that piece of paper? Well, at Westminster College, over 250 adults are actively seeking a degree through the Adult Education program. The program, according to Jim Toomey, Dean of Adult Education, provides degree programs through extension centers which serve several hundred adults who work Participants in the include nurses, government employees, police program and fire department personnel, and members of private business. In addition to the degree programs, professional certificate programs and custom-designespecial offered. custom-desig- n We courses are training programs with industry to suit their specific needs, said Toomey. A profit making organization, Adult Education enjoyed its greatest growth success during the 1981-8- 2 school year. We had a 63 increase in net profit, continued Toomey, and we were able to donate $150,000 to the Colleges general fund. Aside from offering the unique experience of a small college, Westminster also provides a prior learning assessment program. Toomey said, This attracts a lot of older students because it allows them to earn up to sixty hours of college credit for previous life and work experience. The program is not offered anywhere else in Utah. For the future, Adult Education is working on sponsoring summer conferences at the College, geared toward the interest of high school students. This, stated Toomey, would have a subtle effect on recruiting and provide revenue for the College during the summer. full-tim- e. d, Ron Czajka |