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Rapunzel's Pyramid Tower

Rapunzel has many passions. She "houses" these passions in what she refers to as "Rapunzel's Pyramid Tower." At the very top of her Tower is a "HIGHER Power," supported by two main pillars, "The Engineer" and  "The Educator." These two pillars are rooted with strong foundations of mind, body, and spirit. 

 

"The Engineer"

Rapunzel's passion for Math and Science began at an early age, fueled by academic competitions in her birth town of Candelaria Quezon, Philippines. Together with her parents and two siblings, she immigrated to the United States at the age of 13. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake "shook" her interest to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural (structural) Engineering at California Polytechnic State University, in San Luis Obispo. Later on, she earned a Master of Business Administration at California State University Stanislaus, in Turlock, to start her own structural engineering firm.  Currently, she is a doctoral candidate in Organizational Change and Leadership program at University of Southern California. She is the recipient of 2014 Engineer Of The Year Award, presented by the San Joaquin Engineers Council.

"The S.T.E.A.M. Educator"

Rapunzel found her passion for teaching while mentoring youth engaging in engineering activities.  Since then, Rapunzel  provides Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) Curriculum and Instructions, and consulting services to School Districts and Non-Profit youth organizations throughout California. She has implemented and taught numerous engineering camps in her local community in over a decade. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor at California State University Stanislaus. She has taught Mathematics, Operations Management, Accounting, and Finance, since 2015. She is the recipient of the 2014 Outstanding Woman of Stanislaus County, presented by the Stanislaus County Commission For Women.

"Mind"

The Life-long Learner...

Rapunzel embraces a growth mindset and fuels her mind by learning from others and from her own triumphs and failures. She continues to take courses to develop her skills or attain new knowledge and credentials. She enrolled in the Single-Subject Teaching Credential Program in Mathematics, at California State University Stanislaus to learn strategies and improve her pedagogical practices.  She obtained her Substitute Teaching credential and spent many days in K-12 as a substitute teacher and observer to learn how students learn and how educators teach. She believes that learning to teach and teaching to learn should be continuous in order to improve ourselves beyond our limits. She brings her K-12 classroom observations with her as she improves her own pedagogical practices in higher education. She delivers a student-centered curriculum and instructions as an Adjunct Professor at the College of Business at Stanislaus State University, where she has taught since 2015. In 2022, she completed a Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership at the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education. She was the recipient of the Rossier School of Education's 2022 Outstanding Student of The Year Award in Organizational Change and Leadership. She also received a prestigious nomination for the 2023 Student Dissertation Award. 

"Learn like you'll live forever..."

"Body"

The Martial Artist...

Rapunzel believes in practicing the tenets of Taekwondo daily. She has earned numerous championship titles in traditional forms, weapons & combat weapons, creative forms & weapons, and extreme martial arts forms & weapons, in the Regional, State, District/National, and World events. She holds a 2nd degree black belt rank in Songham Taekwondo. She and her husband George has enjoyed teaching Taekwondo at summer youth camps held at Stan State and the local community in the past decade.

*2015 CA State Champ: Xtreme Weapons Black Belts

*2015 CA State Championship: 2nd Place Women Xtreme Forms Black Belts

*2015 CA State Championship: 2nd Place Women Creative Forms Black Belts

*2014 CA State Top 10 Standings in Women 2nd - 3rd Degree Black Belts: Traditional Forms, Traditional Weapons, Combat Weapons Sparring

*2012-2013 Worlds Top 10: 6 Qualifying Events in Traditional Forms, Traditional Weapons, Creative Forms, Creative Weapons, Xtreme Forms, and Xtreme Weapons

*2013 Southwest District Champ: ATA Xtreme Forms

*2013 Southwest District Champ: ATA Xtreme Weapons

*2013 Southwest District Champ: Creative Forms

*2013 Southwest District Champ: ATA Creative Weapons

*2013 CA State "Triple" Champ Women Black Belts: Traditional Forms, Traditional Weapons, Combat Weapons Sparring; Top 10 CA State Standing in Sparring.

*2012 CA State "Double" Champ: Traditional Forms, Traditional Weapons

"Spirit"

The Humanitarian Leader...

Rapunzel feeds her spirits by giving back to her local and global community. In the last decade, she has lead and executed Rotary International global grants that continue to serve the hundreds of thousands of lives across seven continents. Among these projects are the construction of water tank storage and distribution systems in ten remote villages in her birth town of Candelaria Quezon, Philippines. She is the recipient of numerous Rotary International Distinguished Service Awards and Vocational Leadership Award. Click below to learn about "Adopt-An-African-Clinic" project she worked with in the village of Mukono, Uganda.

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