Joshua Scott Hancock, a school employee at International Programs and former professional dancer kicks up his heals, and those worn by others, at South Seattle Community College's Salute to the South Program today on campus in West Seattle. President Gary Oertli spoke to community and staff members to celebrate the beginning of the new school year.
South Seattle Community College President Gary Oertli invited the community to an afternoon reception on campus today to celebrate the start of a new College year. After giving his gracious speech, a surprise dancer appeared, circled the floor in front of the podium, and got a dozen or more attendees to dance and clap.
The "mystery dancer" was Joshua Scott Hancock, a school employee at International Programs who said he had been a professional dancer for several years.
"This is our second annual Salute to South and this is where we have a reception for our staff to encourage internal partnerships and then we invite our community partners, our foundation board members, community leaders, legislators," President Oertli told the West Seattle Herald. "I'm always optimistic but we know there is a $1.4 billion (statewide) shortfall and our legislators are very supportive of us and know that the ticket to economic recovery is to train people to get jobs. We're working hard to educate the legislature and ask their support."
In his speech he gave a shout out to the wine technology program who kept the drinks flowing.
Said Oertli, "Bob Hasegawa (Washington State Representative for the 11th Legislative District) has been a real champion for South Seattle Community College (...) He introduced, proposed legislation last year that would actually allow the Seattle Community College District to have a levy to better support the community colleges of Seattle. That's innovative and doesn't happen to often.
"Another partnership (...) that has really come to fruition in the past couple of years is the partnership we have with the Seattle Chinese Garden Society. It's located (...) on the north end of our campus. It's going to be one of the largest Chinese gardens in the world. The first phase has been done (...) It will increase tourism to our community, and also cultural education to our campus (...)
"This morning we kicked off the year and each year there is a theme. There is a tradition here to do fun things to raise spirit and comradery and team work and this year the theme was from a TV show called Glee."
That is when the dancer appeared.
