De Anza College Quick Notes

This email was sent to all students registered for spring quarter.

May 20, 2025

Quick Notes for the Week of May 19

Student Spotlight

Student Wins Prestigious Cooke Scholarship

Moe SithuDe Anza student Moe Sithu Maung Maung Lay has won the Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarship, awarded to outstanding community college students who are transferring to pursue a bachelor’s degree. The national scholarship, which provides up to $55,000 each year for up to three years, is based on academic achievement, persistence, leadership qualities and financial need.

An international student from Myanmar, Moe is studying biological science and is interested in biomedical research. While he had thought about transferring to an affordable CSU campus, Moe said the scholarship will let him consider more expensive schools in the UC system. “This opens a lot of opportunities," he said, "and lifts a huge burden for my family.”

Since he began studying at De Anza in 2023, Moe has worked as a tutor in the Student Success Center and also as a student employee for the DASG Flea Market. Counselor Tom Nguyen said Moe has "an enthusiasm for learning and intellectual curiosity” that is both “authentic and inspiring.”

This Week

Ethnic Studies Summit is Tomorrow, May 21

The third annual Ethnic Studies Summit will take place tomorrow – Wednesday, May 21 – from noon-3:30 p.m. in Conference Rooms A&B. There will be several keynote speakers who will share their experience with Ethnic Studies in community college. There will also be presentations from students enrolled in Comparative Ethnic Studies and Chicanx/Latinx Studies classes.

The Talanoa Series, which focuses on discussing topics and issues that shape indigenous Pacific Islander communities, has been integrated into the summit. There will be two keynotes speakers of Pacific Islander and Oceanic descent at the event as part of the series.

UndocuSTEM Conference and STEM Fair

UndocuSTEM logoThe fourth annual UndocuSTEM conference will highlight pathways for students – including undocumented students – who are interested in STEM careers. Workshops and speakers will cover entrepreneurship, careers and more. The conference will be held this Thursday, May 22, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in Conference Rooms A&B of the Campus Center. Please RSVP to attend.

There will also be a STEM Fair, featuring hands-on science exhibits and demonstrations, hosted by MESA and UndocuSTEM. This event is open to all students and will be held on Thursday, May 22, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Main Quad.

students in front of screen that says: Dreams in Action

End-of-Year Celebrations

This Week and Upcoming

Students and their families can attend a variety of end-of-year celebrations in anticipation of Commencement.

This week:

Future end-of-year celebrations can be found at deanza.edu/graduation/celebrations. Please make sure to RSVP in advance.

Share Your Good News

Have you been accepted to a four-year institution? Let us know which college or university you are attending by filling out the Share Your Good News form. You will also have the option to be added to the Transfer Center’s mailing list to receive updates on events like the Transfer Achievement Celebrations on Monday, June 16, and Tuesday, June 17.

Student Leadership Award

Nominate a Student By May 28

The De Anza Student Government and Vasconcellos Institute for Democracy in Action (VIDA) are now accepting submissions for their student leadership awards. These awards are for students who have exhibited extraordinary leadership on or off campus during their time at De Anza.

Recipients have the option to be recognized at the Office of College Life Gala or another end-of-year celebration. All students are eligible for this award and students may nominate themselves or a peer. Employees can also nominate a student.

Please submit the form by next Wednesday, May 28. If you have any questions, please email vidaofficestaff@gmail.com. 

Next Week

Table Talks: Networking Tips and Mentoring

Students can learn how to network and practice their skills while meeting with area business representatives and executives at the Table Talks event next Wednesday, May 28, in Conference Rooms A&B. The event will begin with a short talk on taking the anxiety out of networking, followed by roundtable sessions where students can rotate between tables and chat with guest professionals. There will also be a drawing to give away four $50 Amazon gift cards.

This free event is co-hosted by the De Anza College Business, Computer Science and Applied Technologies Division and the Foothill College Business and Social Sciences Division, in collaboration with KeyPoint Credit Union, Cupertino Chamber of Commerce, SCORE Silicon Valley and the Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce. It’s open to students at both colleges. Please sign up in advance.

Trucks on Campus Drive

UPDATE: After this email was sent on May 20, the contractor changed the dates for this work from May 27-30 to May 21-23.

A contractor will be using trucks to haul soil on the sections of Campus Drive that run alongside Stelling Road and Stevens Creek Boulevard.

This means there will be more traffic than usual on Campus Drive and potentially some delays at the points where trucks will be entering and leaving Campus Drive at the Beach Volleyball construction site, where the soil is currently stockpiled on the southeast side of campus, and at the Flint Center demolition site, where it will be delivered.

The trucks will operate from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

De Anza Planetarium

Gift Shop Open Tuesdays and Fridays

You can now shop at the De Anza Planetarium gift shop on Tuesdays and Fridays, from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Planet-themed stickers, sweatshirts, educational toys and more are available for purchase.

Visa, Mastercard and Discover credit card and contactless payment methods are accepted. The gift shop will not take cash or American Express.

Employee Spotlight

Carungay Wins Award and Is Included in Biennial

curas blancoEdwin Carungay, senior graphic designer in the Office of Communications, has received several honors for his photography. His photo, "Curas Blanco" (next to this paragraph), was chosen to be included in the Monterey Museum of Art’s Monterey Biennial. The museum received more than 800 submission from over 300 artists.

street seriesThe exhibition will consist of art surrounding the theme “Resonance and Reflection” from 122 contemporary artists living in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo counties. You can see the art on display now through August 31.

Carungay also won the Street Photographers Foundation Award in the series competition for several of his photos (some next to this paragraph). You can see the full selection of photos at streetphotographersfoundation.com/edwin-carungay/

Reminder: Graduation Is On Sunday This Year

Students Can Order Graduation Packs Now

smiling young man with grad cap and gownThis year's collegewide grad ceremony will be held on Sunday, June 29, beginning at 3 p.m. in the Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, California.

Students can now order graduation packs – including cap, gown, tassel and diploma cover – and other regalia for commencement. Orders should be placed no later than Monday, June 16, to be sure items arrive in time for the big day. Visit the campus Bookstore in the RSS Building, or place your order online.

Watch for updates about this year's celebration at deanza.edu/graduation/. You can also find a list of year-end celebrations and related events for programs, Learning Communities and other groups at deanza.edu/graduation/celebrations.

Mark Your Calendar

Be sure to check these program websites for:

You can also check the Events Calendar for additional events and details.

This Week

Next Week

Tell us about your event! Use the online form at deanza.edu/communications/tell-us.

dates and deadlines iconDates and Deadlines 

  • Summer registration opens for all students – Thursday, May 22
  • Memorial Day – no classes, offices closed – Monday, May 26
  • Last day to drop classes with a W – Friday, May 30

Check the Academic Calendar to find  important dates and deadlines for each quarter.

Governance Meetings

Governance

Learn more about college governance at deanza.edu/gov.

Tell Us!

Quick Notes is an email digest of timely information for De Anza students, faculty and staff. Watch for it in your inbox regularly.

Use the online form at deanza.edu/communications/tell-us to let us know about an upcoming activity or other news that you want to share with the rest of the college community. That’s the best way to get your item on our radar for the website Events Calendar, newsletter and social media planning.

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