Rich Yacco now works on independent media projects and teaches broadcasting classes part time at Ohlone College.
He has been a producer/director of programs broadcast on KTEH, KEMO, KQED, KRON and other west coast stations. Rich received nominations for national CLIO and local Emmy awards.
He has produced, directed and/or written numerous commercials, informercials, marketing and educational videos for Nissan dealers, Apple Computer, Intel, NASA and many others.
His work for local cable television included reporting stories, anchoring newscasts, hosting talk shows and special events, managing stations and producing/directing commercials and sports/event coverage.
Rich was the Second Unit Director and co-editor of “Kill Squad,” an independent feature that was shown in theaters throughout the world.
In the mid 1990s he taught classes for the University of California Santa Cruz Extension (through the Institute of Computer Technology) and Cogswell College (at their Cupertino and Sunnyvale campuses.)
From 2003 to 2012 he taught Radio-TV Broadcasting, Design for Electronic Media, and Media Studies in the Media Academy, a California Partnership Academy at Media College Preparatory High School in Oakland. Rich taught broadcasting and filmmaking classes at James Logan High School from fall 2012 through spring 2021, when he retired from full-time teaching.
Rebecca Twyman (V.O.)
Students at Ohlone have the opportunity to express themselves in many ways. One of them being the Ceramics Department, Katie Frank, Ceramics Professor
there’s a lot of opportunity to explore form and design and also to really explore one’s own voice. Monica Skinner, Student
It allows you to have creativity in a way that you don’t normally have. Yeah, I think it’s, it’s rather, it’s one of those things that everyone should have to be able to do. Katie Frank, Ceramics Professor
There’s something beautiful and so satisfying about that handmade piece. That’s a part of your life that you know, somebody spent weeks making and you have the honor of using it. Rebecca Twyman (V.O.)
The Ceramics department focuses on teaching students how to make art through the use of clay and ceramic materials. However, it isn’t just bowls and throwing on the wheel. But a dive into the many forms ceramics can take through many skill levels Katie Frank, Ceramics Professor
You can make incredible sculptures with clay as well and tell stories and relate to people and create incredible installations and public art Sorraya Jehle, Student
throwing, throwing, it’s wonderful, I love the wheels Monica Skinner, Student
It was my first time playing with clay. So I thought it was still pretty fun and exciting. So… Robin Hail, Student
Working with your hands making something and you know, you never know when you will need that. You might use that same skill some other time in a different medium. Katie Frank, Ceramics Professor
It’s a tool, clay is a tool, just like a pencil. And you can create these physical forms that are going to take shape and be in your environment. Rebecca Twyman (V.O.)
One of the main projects introduced at the beginning of the semester is the flower project, based on a famous installation in England, Katie Frank, Ceramics Professor
At the Tower of London and England, there was an installation by Tom Cummins, and they created hundreds of thousands of poppies. Each Poppy represented a soldier that died and World War One. And it was an installation piece Rebecca Twyman
From that sparked a new semester tradition. Every student in the ceramics classes gets to add flowers to an ever growing installation on campus where every student gets to make an impact. Monica Skinner, Student
I really enjoy the project here and how it looks. I think that it’s amazing that they have done it so many semesters in a row and it just keeps growing. Sorraya Jehle, Student
I’m so proud. Those flowers are you know, installed and people come and look at it. And… Robin Hail, Student
I love having something that people walk past and go, Oh my god, somebody made that on our campus. Katie Frank, Ceramics Professor
And for students to make these flowers and put so much into it, and be able to be a part of the community even when they continue to grow and leave Ohlone is very cool. Monica Skinner, Student
I enjoy it. I think it’s nice to leave something behind. Yeah, I think it’s really cool. Katie Frank, Ceramics Professor
It’s really hard, right? To work on something. And to put all of your creativity and everything you’re learning into it and letting it go. Rebecca Twyman (V.O.)
Classes open for enrollment for the 2023 spring semester for continuing students on November 28. Students can go to my.ohlone.edu. And take a look at some of the upcoming classes in the Ceramics Department. There’s still a lot to look forward to next semester in the department. Katie Frank, Ceramics Professor
There is one project that I’m- I’m toying with and it has to do with one of the buildings on Ohlone way. Robin Hail, Student
Katie always has ideas. So I’m curious to see what happens next. Monica Skinner, Student
Ceramic class is the best I love it and the teacher is wonderful. I learned a lot and I recommend this to everyone. Katie Frank, Ceramics Professor
We’re here. The entire art department is a great place to be and we’re here to teach you these skills. You don’t need to come already knowing how to work with the materials. It’s our job to teach you. Sorraya Jehle, Student
You get hooked. Be careful! Rebecca Twyman (V.O.)
I’m Rebecca Twyman in building two of Ohlone colleges fremont campus reporting for Ohlone tri City News.
This story about Ohlone College Deaf Pride was first broadcast during the live Ohlone Tri-City News program on November 9, 2022.
Andrei Domantay, Reporter
Sean Siquig, Photographer
Reporter (V/O):
From the top of Ohlone stands the deaf studies division, building 6. As they celebrate the 50 yr deaf pride here at Ohlone.
William Wong, Ohlone Instructor
Hello, I’m William Wong. I am a deaf facility member in the deaf studies division. I teach american sign language but i also teach mathematics to deaf as well as hearing students
Sandra Ammons, Ohlone Instructor
Ok sure i’m Sandra Ammons. I teach here at Ohlone
Reporter (V/O):
Today is a special day to celebrate one of the largest and comprehensive programs designed to meet the academic and vocational needs of deaf and hard of hearing students.
William Wong, Ohlone Instructor
In 1972, George Atltweed saw that the difficulties students were having keeping up with the reading and writing levels in their mainstream courses. George Atltweed put some thought into it and decided to establish a class that would not include interpreters but that would direct communication from the facility to the students. Other colleges were not interested in doing something like that but Ohlone accepted the challenge and welcomed George Atltweed to the campus.
Sandra Ammons, Ohlone Instructor
It is very important, significant recognition. Were recognizing a community, our language and our culture and our people. So who the people are that are carrying the culture and the language of the deaf community is significant. The college has had deaf programs and services, ongoing support for deaf students. The 50 years of deaf pride means that we have been here on campus for 50 years! Maybe you might think that this is to help deaf people learn but really we have been teaching college wide too the campus about us deaf people and our culture. We are living, walking, breathing examples of deaf culture and the pride in our history.
Reporter (V/O):
For their kick off celebration for the 50 year deaf pride they opened up a time capsule.
William Wong, Ohlone Instructor
I asked are then dean Ron Berdett who by the way will be here for the keynote this afternoon. I asked him if he thought about it and we should perhaps should do that and he agreed. So we went into the planning stages of making our own time capsule. We asked for submissions from students then, George Atltweed wife because George Atltweed was responsible for establishing a deaf studies division and has since passed away. So his wife speaked for him at the time capsule ceremony.
Sandra Ammons, Ohlone Instructor
Well the time capsule shows how our world has changed. That the artifacts that we had in the past may be obsolete, some of them may not be of use anymore and so it would be fascinating to see what artifacts will be pulled out of the time capsule.
Reporter (V/O)
With the 50 year mark done. This is just the tip of their success and more to come for deaf studies division
Reporter
From Ohlone Fremont Campus this is Andrei Domantay from Tri-City News.
This story about Ohlone College Men’s Basketball team was first broadcast during the live Ohlone Tri-City News program on November 2, 2022.
Reporter: Alyanna Pasta
Photographer: Richard Kim
Reporter Lead-in:
Basketball season is coming for Ohlone’s men’s team! Here’s Alyanna with a story on the team and how they are getting ready for their season.
REPORTER (V/O):
The Ohlone men’s basketball team welcomes a new coaching staff that got hired just this past spring. The coaches have different reasons for choosing to come to Ohlone.
Jordan Lee, Head Coach
This is home for me. I grew up in the Bay Area. So I spent a couple of years at Riverside, but you know, coming back was, you know really special to me. My family’s here. My friends are here.
Nate Millheim, Lead Assistant Coach
My friendship with Jordan Lee, who’s our head coach. We’ve talked about coaching together for a long time, so I was excited to jump on board and coach with him.
Reporter (V/O):
The coaches feel welcome in the Ohlone community and are excited to be a part of it.
Nate Millheim, Lead Assistant Coach
I mean, I’m still new to it, but I really enjoy it so far. I’ve just gotten to know a few of the other coaches and staff around here, but so far I’ve really enjoyed it.
Jordan Lee, Head Coach
So this community has really welcomed me, whether it’s from student life, ASOC, all the different organizations on campus, uh Moja. Like everyone has just been so welcoming to me and it’s just been fantastic just getting integrated in my time here.
Reporter (V/O):
The team spends about four to five hours practicing every day, and they value their time.
John Paul Patague, Sophomore Shooting Guard
During practice we do a lot of shooting. Getting reps up, running through plays and stuff. And in the weight room usually just like strengthening workouts and stuff.
Nate Millheim, Lead Assistant Coach
Just to get a little bit better when we talk about getting 1% better, but just like as a whole, physically, like mentally, emotionally, can we just get a little bit better every day?
Reporter (V/O):
The players and coaches do face challenges like every athlete.
John Paul Patague, Sophomore Shooting Guard
As a player is like, uh, being motivated and staying consistent and stuff and uh, being disciplined as well and managing your time because you got to work plus long hours of practice.
Jayelen Jones, Sophomore Point Guard
I think the biggest challenge is just staying consistent because a bad week could ruin like your whole year. So you might want to to stay on top of what you’re doing.
Nate Millheim, Lead Assistant Coach
I think one challenge is like the work is never done. Like you could work all day and still have more scouting and more recruiting and more film to watch.
Reporter (V/O):
The team doesn’t experience any serious conflict, but they do get competitive from time to time.
John Paul Patague, Sophomore Shooting Guard
We’re not perfect. So like, we argue sometimes, fight sometimes, but at the end of the day, we’re brothers. We talk it out at the end of the day.
Jayelen Jones, Sophomore Point Guard
We know that there’s nothing serious, so we don’t really take it personal. So we get over it.
Josh Niusulu, Sophomore Power Forward
Not like team conflict, I wouldn’t say that. I would say more competitive. We get more competitive. And I mean, at the end of day, we laugh and we go to Chick-Fil-A and, you know, smile at each other and enjoy each other’s company.
Reporter (V/O):
Despite the challenges they face, they make sure they overcome them. They remain positive and motivated, and some have different things that keep them motivated on the court.
Jordan Lee, Head Coach
Sometimes it’s just baby steps. And whatever the challenge is, sometimes you approach it with just simple conversation. Sometimes you have to it’s a question of accountability or a question of discipline, but it’s just one bite at a time.
John Paul Patague, Sophomore Shooting Guard
There’s this Bible verse that I look up to. Uh, Philippians 413. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Yeah, that’s what I look up to.
Jayelen Jones, Sophomore Point Guard
So my dad passed away a couple of weeks ago, so now everything I do is just for him. So I just keep that in mind.
Nate Millheim, Lead Assistant Coach
There is a quote I really like that actually helped me get back into coaching by Howard Thurman, and he wrote, “Don’t Ask What the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do that. Because the what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
Reporter (V/O):
The team has high hopes for the season and years to come.
Nate Millheim, Lead Assistant Coach
You know, we want to win a lot of games. We want to win our league, we want to win state.
Josh Niusulu, Sophomore Power Forward
So my, my dream goal is to play D1 College or D2 and then play overseas after
Jordan Lee, Head Coach
I really think my guys are are buying in. They really are. Their energy, the charisma, they love it. They really, really love it. Like this means a lot to them and it means a lot to me. And I think when you are that bought in and you care that much about a team and about its success, I already feel like we’re on the path to where we want to get to.
Reporter (V/O):
The team is excited for the season ahead of them, and they are putting in work to have a great season.
Josh Niusulu, Sophomore Power Forard
Just come come support us and watch us win some games.
John Paul Patague, Sophomore Shooting Guard
I love this team. I love the brotherhood, the bond that we have. It’s fun. It’s fun to be here. It’s going to be a good year.
Jordan Lee, Head Coach
I’m a first year head coach here at Ohlone, and they had to put a lot of belief in me and trust in me because I’m unproven. And a lot of these guys were unproven and a lot of people kind of looked like kind of look the other way and didn’t really trust in them and didn’t really think that they were really good. And so as a group, I’m just really happy that these guys are together and we’re just getting closer and closer together every day.
Reporter (V/O):
Be sure to support the team at their home coming game on Thursday, November 10th at 7 PM! From Ohlone College in Fremont, this is Alyanna Pasta for Ohlone Tri-City News.
This story about the Ohlone Communication Lab was first broadcast on October 19, 2022 as part of the live Ohlone Tri-City News program.
Reporter: Armando Galan
Photographer: Natalie Delgadillo
Reporter: Ohlone College has a student service that can help with your fear of giving speeches. Shelly Spratt-Director/instructor: Public speaking is what I like to call high-end anxiety sport and different research has shown that one out of four Americans would rather die a terrible death than give a speech. Reporter: The Communication lab helps with this fear! Jennifer Hathaway-Intern/Tutor: It has given me a level up when talking to outside employers. Christine Carrol-Instructor: Without the Comm lab they don’t have a place to go to practice their speeches to ask for help we seen just an increase in student retention with the Comm lab in place Brenda Anholtz-Instructor: Students get to interact and connect outside of class and when you look at research on retention and success it’s the student who hangs out after class on campus. Reporter: The lab depends on its student tutors Anisha Patel-Tutor: This is my first semester tutoring here. you get to meet people in your major and interact with people, and just after the pandemic have more interactions with students. Jennifer Hathaway-Intern/Tutor: I was actually scouted by one of the communication professors specifically to be a tutor. I jumped on the chance because my initial reaction to the lab when I was a student was really good so I wanted to see what the perspective was from the tutor’s side and I’ve loved it ever since. Reporter: Communication Lab Tutors are given many benefits! Anisha Patel-Tutor: I am a communication major, it looks really good when I am sending out my applications to transfer. Shelly Sprat-Instructor: Gives them (Tutors) an opportunity to put something on their transfer applications, and resumes, to say that they were speech coaches, which is really effective, for future employers looking at their applications. Reporter: The Communication lab has a staff of approximately 15 tutors, but the department wants more tutors. Anisha Patel-Tutor: I think something we could do is have a better ratio to students to tutors just so we can spend more time with each one and their specific questions Reporter: Tutors enjoy being able to help others and work with others. Ohlone college instructors encourage students to use the lab and tutor there too. Brenda Anholtz-Instructor: Tutoring is a wonderful experience, to be able to connect with other students and help them improve their communication skills. Reporter: The lab can help students succeed better in their communication assignments and speeches. The Communication Lab can be found on the Fremont campus and can be found on the Newark campus, open Monday-Thursday from 9AM-6:30 PM, and on Fridays from 10AM-2PM. The communication lab is a great tool for students looking to practice their comm skills and for communication majors to gain professional experience. From the Ohlone College Fremont Campus this is Armando Galan for Ohlone Tri-City News.
BRANDON TRAN (V/O) :
Many aspects of Theater training include breath control, memorization, and even athletic fitness. Students studying theater often come out of it learning skills they take into the real world, actor or not.
GLENDA RIVERA, Early Childhood Studies Major
Being able to speak in public spaces, like on stage. A lot of my core, just, belief in myself.
CHRIS WARDEN, Dean of Kinesiology, Athletics, and Arts
The one thing that I appreciated with the theater in my younger years, I got to learn how to work with a lot of different kinds of people, types of people, and that’s helped me throughout my growth as a professional.
ZION WHEATON, Mechanical Engineering Major
I mean, acting really is just the study of being human. So being able to really connect with other people and communicate clearly has been extremely- it’s invaluable in every walk of life.
CALEB SZABO, Game Design Major
Like I grew up very shy and at a certain point I kind of was able to break from it and I thought I fully broke from it. But then I took the acting and realized I really hadn’t. And recently I feel a lot more like I can kind of do I can be me and not need to, like, hold back anything,
BRANDON TRAN (V/O) :
In September the Ohlone College Theatre Department has resumed offering many classes in the performing arts on stage and in front of the camera.
CALEB SZABO, Game Design Major
We always wanted to do an acting class. Why not? Let’s jump on into it. And we did. And it kind of fueled all of us there. In our own way a little spark of like, I really like theater.
ZION WHEATON, Mechanical Engineering Major
What drew me here was I met a friend and it was just like the first day of classes. And they happened to mention that they were going to an improv class here. And I was like ‘Oh improv! That sounds like a lot of fun
CHRIS WARDEN, Dean of Kinesiology, Athletics, and Arts
Lots of times it’s just to check off a GE requirement and then they just fall in love with it. Some are coming in from high school experiences and they want to continue that same kind of theater or drama or arts in general.
BRANDON TRAN (V/O) :
Students in the Theatre department get lots of opportunities to put their skills to the test.
CHRIS WARDEN, Dean of Kinesiology, Athletics, and Arts
They get to have new opportunities and get to see what they may appreciate. Art appreciation, music appreciation, theater appreciation, of course, are all things that we want to have as an individual as we get older, right, as we go through life
MICHAEL NAVARRA SMITH, Professor
We collaborate on so many different projects throughout the season. So were a theater and dance department and we have a great tech team. We’re doing show after show, whether it’s theater or dance and then musicals and so on, and we just have a nice flow because we’ve gotten to really learn each other and work together
BRANDON TRAN (V/O) :
But it isn’t just classes and homework here in the department. Student’s outside of class find themselves a part of a close knit and open community.
ZION WHEATON, Mechanical Engineering Major
I’ve had nothing but positive experiences here so far so I hope other people can come and share that with me.
CALEB SZABO, Game Design Major
Everyone is very supportive. It’s very much if you make a mistake, no one’s going to point out your flaw. And if they do, it’s more so in a productive like and here’s how we can fix it sort of thing as opposed to like, you did this wrong and you need to fix this, you know?
BRANDON TRAN (V/O) :
In the Spring students can act and direct in short plays and skits in the annual Student Repertory class. students who want to take part in a bigger production can join the department’s Fall play. This year, Ohlone college is putting on a production of Nick Deere’s Frankenstein.
MICHAEL NAVARRA SMITH, Professor
I’m very proud of the productions that we’ve been able to do over the years.
GLENDA RIVERA, Early Childhood Studies Major
A wonderful department. Everyone should try because you learn so much from yourself about others and about what theater means to you.
ZION WHEATON, Mechanical Engineering Major
I was a mechanical engineering major and I am switching to have a theater major.
CALEB SZABO, Game Design Major
I’d say if anyone watching has even a little bit of interest, just jump on into it like it’s very a leap of faith. But once you get in it, you’ll know really, really quickly whether it’s something you like or not.
BRANDON TRAN (V/O) :
If YOU want to learn more about how you can join the Theatre Department, please go to www.ohlone.edu/theatre-and-dance to learn more.
This is Brandon Tran, reporting for Ohlone Tri-City News, signing off.
Nov 16 2022
Ceramics Department
This story about the Ohlone College Ceramics Department was first broadcast during the live Ohlone Tri-City News program on November 16, 2022.
Rebecca Twyman, Reporter
Brandon Tran, Photographer
Rebecca Twyman (V.O.)
Students at Ohlone have the opportunity to express themselves in many ways. One of them being the Ceramics Department,
Katie Frank, Ceramics Professor
there’s a lot of opportunity to explore form and design and also to really explore one’s own voice.
Monica Skinner, Student
It allows you to have creativity in a way that you don’t normally have. Yeah, I think it’s, it’s rather, it’s one of those things that everyone should have to be able to do.
Katie Frank, Ceramics Professor
There’s something beautiful and so satisfying about that handmade piece. That’s a part of your life that you know, somebody spent weeks making and you have the honor of using it.
Rebecca Twyman (V.O.)
The Ceramics department focuses on teaching students how to make art through the use of clay and ceramic materials. However, it isn’t just bowls and throwing on the wheel. But a dive into the many forms ceramics can take through many skill levels
Katie Frank, Ceramics Professor
You can make incredible sculptures with clay as well and tell stories and relate to people and create incredible installations and public art
Sorraya Jehle, Student
throwing, throwing, it’s wonderful, I love the wheels
Monica Skinner, Student
It was my first time playing with clay. So I thought it was still pretty fun and exciting. So…
Robin Hail, Student
Working with your hands making something and you know, you never know when you will need that. You might use that same skill some other time in a different medium.
Katie Frank, Ceramics Professor
It’s a tool, clay is a tool, just like a pencil. And you can create these physical forms that are going to take shape and be in your environment.
Rebecca Twyman (V.O.)
One of the main projects introduced at the beginning of the semester is the flower project, based on a famous installation in England,
Katie Frank, Ceramics Professor
At the Tower of London and England, there was an installation by Tom Cummins, and they created hundreds of thousands of poppies. Each Poppy represented a soldier that died and World War One. And it was an installation piece
Rebecca Twyman
From that sparked a new semester tradition. Every student in the ceramics classes gets to add flowers to an ever growing installation on campus where every student gets to make an impact.
Monica Skinner, Student
I really enjoy the project here and how it looks. I think that it’s amazing that they have done it so many semesters in a row and it just keeps growing.
Sorraya Jehle, Student
I’m so proud. Those flowers are you know, installed and people come and look at it. And…
Robin Hail, Student
I love having something that people walk past and go, Oh my god, somebody made that on our campus.
Katie Frank, Ceramics Professor
And for students to make these flowers and put so much into it, and be able to be a part of the community even when they continue to grow and leave Ohlone is very cool.
Monica Skinner, Student
I enjoy it. I think it’s nice to leave something behind. Yeah, I think it’s really cool.
Katie Frank, Ceramics Professor
It’s really hard, right? To work on something. And to put all of your creativity and everything you’re learning into it and letting it go.
Rebecca Twyman (V.O.)
Classes open for enrollment for the 2023 spring semester for continuing students on November 28. Students can go to my.ohlone.edu. And take a look at some of the upcoming classes in the Ceramics Department. There’s still a lot to look forward to next semester in the department.
Katie Frank, Ceramics Professor
There is one project that I’m- I’m toying with and it has to do with one of the buildings on Ohlone way.
Robin Hail, Student
Katie always has ideas. So I’m curious to see what happens next.
Monica Skinner, Student
Ceramic class is the best I love it and the teacher is wonderful. I learned a lot and I recommend this to everyone.
Katie Frank, Ceramics Professor
We’re here. The entire art department is a great place to be and we’re here to teach you these skills. You don’t need to come already knowing how to work with the materials. It’s our job to teach you.
Sorraya Jehle, Student
You get hooked. Be careful!
Rebecca Twyman (V.O.)
I’m Rebecca Twyman in building two of Ohlone colleges fremont campus reporting for Ohlone tri City News.
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