On Campus: Harper College News Roundup

Professor Named One of Midwest’s Best: Sam Giordano had been a firefighter for more than two decades when he made the leap into teaching, training those on the future front lines from the front of a Harper College classroom. He’s now being recognized as one of the best in the business. Professor Giordano, who heads up Harper’s Fire Science Technology Department, has been named one of the Top 14 fire instructors in the Midwest for 2013. The first-ever honor comes from the nonprofit FireScience.org. “Our goal with the top instructors project is to recognize some of the very best educators and mentors in fire science,” says Matt Davis, managing director of FireScience.org. “When our site visitors expressed deep interest in learning about the people who make our fire departments, academies and college programs tick, we were more than honored to oblige.” Giordano started his career with the Frankfort Fire Protection District in 1974 and started the department’s first paramedic program about a decade later. He also has served as Fire Officer and EMS Director with the Argonne Fire Department, worked as Director of Training and Safety with other area departments and been the recipient of numerous awards, including the United States Department of Energy Outstanding Lifesaving Award. Since joining Harper’s faculty in 2002, Giordano has taught numerous courses, launched the Public Safety Dispatcher and Emergency and Disaster Management programs and now oversees a robust internship program allowing Harper students to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom at a partnering fire station. “The most important part of my career has been my time at Harper, because I’m able help give students an opportunity to do the kind of fulfilling work that brought me so much joy,” Giordano says. “It’s about helping them succeed, and I’m humbled to be recognized for it.”

Panel, Film to Highlight Bullying Epidemic: Harper College experts will join others from the Palatine community this month for a panel discussion exploring options for confronting the nation’s bullying epidemic. The discussion, which will include insight from Harper Dean of Student Affairs Ashley Knight and Harper College Police Officer Stephan Liggio, comes amid grim statistics suggesting more than 13 million students will be bullied in American schools this year. “The most effective approach to bullying is prevention, and that takes communication and involvement from educators, parents and other community leaders,” says Knight, who says the national epidemic is also a community concern. “I’m pleased to have this opportunity to help make our schools and community safer and healthier for all students.” The panel discussion will follow a screening of the documentary “Bully,” a 2012 film directed by Lee Hirsch that focuses on five bullied students and the ways that they cope. “We are overdue in addressing bullying in a comprehensive, cohesive way,” says Liggio, an 11-year veteran of Harper’s Police Department. “It’s time to make bullying a thing of the past, and enough of us standing together will make that achievable.” The screening and panel discussion is a joint presentation of Harper’s InZone summer camp program, the Palatine Park District and Northwest Community Healthcare. Dr. Kathy Pluymert, Director of Education Programs for District 15, and Reverend Michelle McNamara of Chicago’s United Church of Christ will join Knight and Liggio for the discussion. The event is at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 22 at Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center, 150 E. Wood Street in Palatine. Tickets are $3. “Bully” is rated PG-13 for strong language. To purchase tickets, visit www.cuttinghall.org, call 847.202.5222 or visit the Box Office at 150 E. Wood Street in Palatine. For details, contact Carol Lange with the Palatine Park District, 847.496.6237 or clange@palatineparks.org.  

Dinner, Jazz On Tap at Annual Harper Event: A barbecue chicken dinner will be topped off by the sweet sounds of jazz this week at Harper College’s Dinner and Jazz Concert – an annual outdoor tradition featuring a buffet with all the appropriate summertime fixings and, this year, a performance by the Ken Spurr Jazz Quartet. The 42nd edition of the event will start with dinner at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 20, outside the Student Center (Building A) on the College’s main campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road in Palatine. The buffet will include chicken, pasta, corn on the cob, salads, watermelon and a cookie. The concert will feature pianist Spurr – a Harper instructor – and the rest of his group performing a variety of standard and contemporary jazz selections by Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and more. Tickets are $6.50 for general admission and $3 for children; those six and under are admitted free. Contact the Box Office at 847.925.6100 or visit www.harpercollege.edu/boxoffice. In case of rain, the event will be held inside Building A.