WNC professor takes students to San Francisco conference

Sometimes it takes a trip outside the classroom to enlighten students and make them aware of career possibilities and motivate them in their chosen field.

For Western Nevada College Professor Psychology Dr. Rebecca Bevans and six of her students, a field trip to San Francisco during the end of spring semester accomplished this purpose.

They attended the four-day Western Psychological Association Convention, learning that scientific research isn’t so boring after all and there are topics and issues that can shape their course of study in the future.

“They were all bitten by the research bug and I could not be happier,” Bevans said. “Do you know how hard it is to get students interested in research? Let's just say that research is not exciting to everyone. But now I have a team of researchers, and we will be working out our plans this summer, and conducting some research this coming fall.”

The educational trip was made possible because of the WNC Psychology Club’s fundraising efforts which were matched by a generous WNC Foundation donor.

“I am extremely grateful for the support of our campus, community and donors who supported this trip. We could not have done it without all of them,” said Bevans, noting that attending next year’s conference won’t be possible without raising more funds. “Keep your eyes open for the bake sales, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and any other fundraiser we can design. I have six students ready to take on the psychology research world and I will let nothing get in their way!”

Bevans first attended the conference as a graduate student at the University of Nevada, Reno, but her obligation as a presenter kept her from enjoying the full experience of the conference.

“As a professor, I knew that taking some of our students to a conference could be life-changing,” she said. “Every time I attend the Western Psychological Association conference, I am left with a head full of the newest research in psychology. It is an amazing experience and one that I knew would be life changing for some of our students who are just beginning their journey into psychology.”

For the half-dozen students who accompanied Bevans and instructor Jolene Coverston to San Francisco, it was an opportunity to see what the psychology field has to offer them in the future.

“To me, one of the most important things that I learned was how vast the world of psychology truly is,” said psychology student Thomas Shumway. “Getting to learn the specific details of how research works in many of those varying parts of psychology was very informative for me and was just incredibly interesting.”

Added student Will Webster, “During this trip, I got to learn about positive psychology, consenting non-monogamous relationships, the retold story about the Stanford prison experiment, and many more. All the speakers went into pretty great detail of all their studies and experiments. While Mrs. Bevans was extremely helpful in explaining any parts that confused me.”

Shumway and Webster shared these experiences with other conference attendees from WNC, including students Yamaa Daoudi, Michael Marketti, Lilly Bacon and Angel Polvorosa.

“That experience of bonding with people who are equally and even more passionate about psychology was so refreshing to me,” Shumway said. “Listening and talking to people who are passionate about similar topics to me helped me understand topics I couldn't quite wrap my head around before; it also challenged me quite a bit.”

To learn more about WNC’s psychology program, email Dr. Bevans at rebecca.bevans@wnc.edu.

Celebrate the summer solstice day with safe solar viewing at JCDO

Celebrate the longest day of the year and start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere with safe solar viewing at the Jack C Davis Observatory on Thursday, June 20.

The observatory will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for this event, with a countdown to the precise solstice at 1:51 p.m.

JCDO Director Dr. Thomas Herring will be at the event to answer questions about the Sun and help attendees with telescope viewing.

JCDO hosts weekly Star Parties on Saturday nights. The parties are open to the public from sundown to 11 p.m.

Nevada Artist turns Bristlecone Gallery into ‘Big Deal’

Bristlecone Art Gallery at Western Nevada College has transformed into a “Big Deal” this summer, thanks to artist Joan Arrizabalaga and the Capital City Arts Initiative.

Arrizabalaga’s latest exhibit in a four-decade-plus career focuses on games and gambling.

“I am interested in how people are involved with temptation, risk and winning,” she said. “This activity is present in everyday life and seems to go well beyond the more straightforward casino world. Everything can be a gamble and I see everywhere the use of the magical world to gain success, help us win or keep us safe. I also like all the mechanisms and paraphernalia concerned with gambling.”

Arrizabalaga creates both sculptural pieces and flat work using clay, wood, metal, fabric, machine and hand embroidery and found objects. She utilizes common gaming materials such as felt, dice and cards in this exhibit.

“I like the familiar faces of the playing cards for my characters because they are subconsciously recognizable even out of context,” she said. “The Joker is very important. He has many parallels, like the trickster in Native American lore.”

The exhibit will be shown through Sept 12 in the Bristlecone Gallery, which is located at 2201 W. College Parkway on WNC’s Carson City campus. Public viewing is from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

A reception for Arrizabalaga is set for Wednesday, June 26, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Bristlecone Gallery.

Scholarship deadline, summer session near

Although summer and its wide variety of pleasant distractions are nearly here, current and prospective higher education students can look ahead to enhance their futures at Western Nevada College.

Students can apply for 2024-25 scholarships through WNC Foundation through June 1. Apply at wnc.edu/scholarships to be considered for more than 300 scholarships.

There still is time to register for Summer 2024 session classes, which begin on Monday, June 10. A complete list of available classes is on the college website at wnc.edu/class-schedule.

First-time WNC students can apply for admission at wnc.edu/starthere/. For assistance, phone 775-445-3277.