Coming&going

Education

Chico State University has found a new director of admissions in John F. Swiney. Swiney comes from the University of Washington, where he was associate director of admissions and records and also director of school and college relations during his 11-year tenure there. Before that, he served in various roles at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Swiney holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from San Diego State University and a doctorate in psychological studies in education from Stanford. He replaces Linda MacMichael, who moved on to the position of interim associate dean of Chico State’s Center for Regional and Continuing Education.

Butte College’s Al Konuwa has been honored with a national award for his role volunteering his time as adviser to the award-winning Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) chapter. The business instructor will be presented with the Champion of SIFE Award at a May 15 conference in Kansas City.Butte College has announced that the school will rent space in the new Community Employment Center in Oroville. The pairing will provide 1,100 square feet for classrooms, offices and resource and referral services.

Retail

Roberts & Elliott Shoes is selling its Willows store to Zappos.com, an online shoe vendor. Wade Elliott, owner of the 6-year-old, family-owned store, stated in a press release that the sale would offer customers more choices in shoe buying, both online and in the retail shop on West Sycamore Street, which will remain open.

Donations

A donation from the Chico Rotary club will make the new Jesus Center—set to expand its services in October—more homey for the homeless. The $2,000 will pay for two couches, a table with eight chairs, a coffee table and an end table. The furniture has been purchased from Holbrook’s Clearance Center, which is a neighbor to the Park Avenue center and has offered to store it for free. Jesus Center Director Katy Thoma said it’s exciting and uplifting to see the community support for the center.The North Valley Community Foundation presented a grant April 3 to the Girl Scouts of the Sierra Cascade. The $2,000 grant will support the Milagros Project, which puts together the El Día de Los Niños celebration in Butte, Glenn and Tehama counties. At the event, children will talk about issues that are important to them.

Winners

Taking top honors in this month’s Butte County spelling bee are the following crack spellers: Melody Voss of Campton Academy won in the junior high category, with second place going to Natasha Brooks of Notre Dame School. In the elementary division, Erik Wu of Marigold Elementary took first place, while second went to another private schooler, Robert Roy of Montessori Elementary School. They will go on to state championship bees.