CCC's Cultural Arts Series director reveals slate

Clovis Community College’s Board of Trustees learned what acts are scheduled for the upcoming season of the college’s Cultural Arts Series at their regular monthly meeting Wednesday.

Cultural Arts Series Director Christy Mendoza outlined seven acts that will be performing in town through April:

n Sept. 21 it’s “The World Famous Popovich Comedy Pet Theater.”

n Oct. 17 Sugar Skull, a musical production about Dia de los Muertos comes to town.

n Nov. 7 it’s Sweet Jazz, which Mendoza described as “some of the best jazz in the state of New Mexico. One of the artists appearing in the show is Terry Burns, from Clovis.

n Dec. 8 “Mariachi Christmas” is the show.

n Feb. 2 the show is “New Mexico Jazz Workshop,” featuring “many kinds of jazz,” Mendoza said.

n The musical group Atlan from Donegal, Ireland, will be the featured act March 11.

n April 4-5 the 2024-25 Cultural Arts Series wraps up with Taiko Project, a performance based on Japanese and Japanese-American culture.

Mendoza said a number of the acts will be doing outreach programs with Clovis Municipal Schools.

Mendoza gave her presentation in the company of Nikki Lovett who will be aiding in the Cultural Art Series.

Contacted after the meeting, Lovett said her primary work at CCC will be fundraising for the CCC Foundation “for scholarships for students.”

Joining Mendoza and Lovett before the board was Jessica Holt, theater instructor and Cultural Arts Series coordinator.

In mentioning donations to the board and those present at the meeting, Mendoza pointed out this is the Cultural Arts Series 24th year.

“We keep our prices low. We want the program to reach everyone in the community,” Mendoza said.

In other matters at Wednesday’s meeting:

n The board heard from CCC President Jonathan Fuentes who said he is engaged in a “really big push to get people into higher education.”

Fuentes said he is excited about the college’s commercial driver’s license program. He said 18 students are in the program and a second class is beginning soon.

“It has 15 registrants,” Fuentes said.

n The board acted on naming members to the college’s Arts Committee: Michael Longhofer, Kathy Elliott, Jacob Rodriguez, Corey Pickett, Terry Martin, Nikki Lovett and Joe Strickland.

Tehya Moralez was chosen as student representative to the committee.

The board is waiting to hear from an area artist on membership to the committee.

Among the committee’s duties is the selection of art to be displayed at the college, “to ensure works of art that reflect the values of the community.”

n Director of the college’s Center for Student Success Emily Glikas gave a program review.

Glikas reported 358 students have been served by the program in the past year.

“Employment of those who have finished the program has gone up, jobs and raises,” Glikas said.

n Marisela Acuña, director of Engaging Latino Communities for Education, or ENLACE, gave a presentation on her program at the college.

Acuña spoke of also coordinating efforts of her program with Clovis and Portales schools and Eastern New Mexico University.

She told the board of a student empowerment workshop scheduled for Sept. 26 that will bring about 100 students to the campus.