President’s News
February 2019
396 Graduates 1103 Credentials
December 2018 Commencement GRADUATION PROGRAM HONORS PEER AWARDS EXCELLENCE AWARDS STUDENT ART AWARDS
AMTEC CREDENTIALS COMMON READ RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT NEW TEAM MEMBERS WIC CONFERENCE
INNOVATION LAB VET TECH ENROLLMENT TRAIL BLAZER DINNER TECH X UPDATE ALUMNI UPDATES
From the Desk of
Scott Williams OCTC President
The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) is comprised of 16 independently accredited community and technical colleges and enrolls more than 40 % of all undergraduates in the Commonwealth. Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC) alone has touched more than 73,000 lives since the college’s inception thirty one years ago. Why are those statistics important? Because OCTC, as well as the other colleges in KCTCS are the providers of hope and economic prosperity for so many Kentuckians. Our vision at OCTC is to transform the quality of life in our community by inspiring and empowering individuals to enhance their lives and careers. Every day we wake up, go to work, and strive to make better lives for a better Kentucky. This core vision is critical to our community because we know that 91% of all students that attend OCTC stay in our community to work and raise a family. In essence, they form the backbone of our neighbors, citizens, and workforce. We carry out that vision in two primary ways. First, we provide high quality instruction and training in three transfer to baccalaureate degree programs and twenty-three different technical area degree programs all aligned to our communities needs and the high demand sectors sought across the Commonwealth. Since 2000 we have graduated more than 5,500 individuals with credentials in the high demand sectors of manufacturing, business and IT, construction, and transportation. In that same time frame we have graduated more than 2,700 individuals with healthcare professional credentials including more than 550 RNs. In addition, since 2000, we have graduated more than 3,100 individuals with AA, AS, or AFA transfer degrees. All of the programs at OCTC help to prepare graduates for their career or
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university studies. This is clearly evident as OCTC graduates in almost all fields maintain licensure pass rates above national averages. Examples include our 100% pass rates (5 consecuutive years) in Surgical Technology and 100% pass rate in Radiography for 2018. Other examples are above national average scores on end of program NOCTI and ASE assessments in skilled trade fields. An additional impressive fact is that our students transferring to one of our regional universities consistently outperform the native freshman at that school with higher first semester GPAs. Second, we go beyond just educating individuals to enter the workforce, but we also help our employer’s skill up their current employees. Last year alone our Workforce Solutions team served more than 360 companies by providing training and assessment to over 8,500 participants for companies such as Aleris, Waupaca, and Domtar. In addition, our Workforce Solutions team is a national leader in multi-craft skills training operating the Advanced Manufacturing Technical Education Consortium (AMTEC) with participating companies such as Boeing. Finally, we continue to innovatively strive to meet our regional workforce needs with adult friendly, accelerated programs such as the GO FAME Advanced Manufacturing Technician, GO CAREERS Business Administration Systems, and Tech X. All of these programs allow adults to gain the education and skills they need to advance in their career field while also working to earn a wage and gain critical on the job training, while shortening their time to credential completion. These innovative programs allow employers to fill critical workforce needs and at the same time provide those employees with the essential on the job training they need to fit the employer’s culture. With the opening of our new innovation labs for
emerging skills in advance manufacturing in both Owensboro and Hancock County we are even more prepared to teach the skills, and provide training in state of the art emerging skills being implemented by manufacturing in a global competitive market. The result is clear. OCTC does transform the quality of life in our community in the most cost effective manner available in Kentucky. Our alumni in the workforce contribute more than $153 million of additional income annually to our local economy. Furthermore, in our service area, community college graduates earn on average $10,000 more per year than individuals with only a high school diploma, thus improving their quality of life and their families. That increased income expands our local economy and Kentucky’s tax base improving the quality of life for everyone in our community. Finally, independent studies have shown we are the most cost effective higher education option with our graduates enjoying a 22% return on the dollars they invest in their education. In fact, cost of attendance at OCTC is less than half of that at the universities in Kentucky. In short, OCTC is not only fulfilling its vision to transform the quality of life in our community, but we are also carrying out our mission to provide our community with a well-educated and talented citizenry to make us more competitive in the 21st century global economy. Together we are providing hope and economic prosperity for our neighbors truly making Better Lives for a Better Kentucky.
PUBLISHER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR Bernie Toye-Hale bernie.hale@kctcs.edu COPY EDITORS Scott Williams Christi Midkiff Kitt Midkiff CONTRIBUTORS Bernie Hale Ceary Thomas Scott Williams Kevin Beardmore Theresa Schmitt Sheri Plain Tonya Northernor Kaye Brown Stacy Edds-Ellis Mike Rodgers Katie Vincent Lindsey Kafer Andrea Borregard Cadie Underwood PHOTO CREDITS Ceary Thomas Allen Lake Bernie Hale Rodney Newton DISTRIBUTION Kitt Midkiff
OCTC President’s Newsletter Summer 2018 2 4 6 8 10 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
From the Desk of Scott Williams Graduation/Program Honors Peer Awards Excellence Awards Student Art Awards AMTEC New Credentials Common Read-Binti by Nnedi Okorafor Resource Development Updates New Team Members & Internal Moves Hosting Statewide Conference GED+, WorkReady KY, 15 to Finish First Innovation Lab Opens Vet Tech Program Doubles Enrollment Study Abroad, Trail Blazer Dinner Tech X Graduates First Cohort Alumni: Dr. Amy Higdon, Eric Grimes OCTC-Two Graduation Cermonies in May
PRINTING KCTCS Xerox CONTACT INFORMATION OCTC President’s Office 4800 New Hartford Road Owensboro, KY 42303 bernie.hale@kctcs.edu COVER: Photos from the December 2018 Commencement Ceremony. Graduation is our favorite time of year!
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GraduationDec. 2018 Brooklyn Michelle Knight
Student Speaker December 2018 Commencement
Brooklyn Michelle Knight is an Early College student in OCTC’s Discover College program. She currently serves as Vice President of the OCTC Student Government Association and as Vice President of Scholarship of the college’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter. She completed her first OCTC class in ninth grade, and in her six semesters thus far, she has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA. She is one of two National Merit Semifinalists from Apollo High School, a Hager Scholar, and one of only 32 students statewide nominated for the KCTCS All-Academic Team. Brooklyn plans to attend the University of Kentucky after graduating from OCTC in 2019 as a Biology and Pre-Med major.
Program Honors The Program Honor awardees are exemplary students nominated by faculty in the program area. Please enjoy a short summary about why they were selected. The Other Discipline Award winners are selected based on individual criteria. Join us in saluting all these students for their achievements and work ethic.
Congratulations to all the Program Honors Students!
AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY Ian Quinn During Ian’s time at OCTC, he maintained a 3.158 GPA while working 40-80 hours per week at Nutrien Ag Solutions as a sprayer/spreader operator. Ian also completed three 80 hour internships. During one of these internships he worked at the OCTC Ag garden raising fruits and vegetables. He also attended farmers’ markets to sell that produce. Ian has worked very hard each semester to keep his grades up and be actively involved in his learning experience. After graduation Ian plans on attending Western Kentucky University Owensboro to obtain his bachelor’s degree in Business. We wish you the best of luck Ian. We know you will go far! Erica May
AIR CONDITIONING TECHNOLOGY Jackson Dugan The Air Conditioning Technology program’s Honor Student for his outstanding academic achievements, both in the classroom as well as lab work, is Jackson Dugan. Jackson is from Garfield, Kentucky and finishes his OCTC academic career with 3 certificates, a diploma, and an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Air Conditioning Technology. Despite being involved in an automobile accident followed by months of rehabilitation, Jackson made up classwork and completed his degree on time showing determination and perseverance. Larry Stone
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AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY Heriberto Galvez Automotive student, Heriberto Galvez, has been an excellent student. He gained employment with Don Moore Automotive after completing his first year of automotive courses. Heriberto has always been a student that is looked up to by his peers and exceeds in the electrical and drivability courses. He is set to graduate with an AAS in Automotive Technology and eight certificates. Heriberto’s current 3.351 GPA is just one example of his drive for excellence. He is an outstanding automotive technician and a great asset to the local automotive repair industry. Fred Wright
CRIMINAL JUSTICE Jason Chinn Jason Chinn is this semester’s Honor Student for the Criminal Justice program. He earned a 3.66 GPA overall and a 3.86 GPA in Criminal Justice courses. Jason is a committed student who takes his coursework seriously and is dedicated to achieving high standards. Jason was also attentive in class and provided good points during class discussions. Jason works full time in retail management, but continues to excel in his studies. Jason is interested in getting his bachelor’s degree and working in the field of Probation and Parole. Brock Peterson
COMPUTER & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES Robert Drane The CIT faculty are proud to name Robert Drane as the Honor Student for this semester. Robert has been a leader in the CIT student organization, a skilled tutor in several areas, and an all-around-excellent student. His strong work ethic and positive attitude have been an inspiration to other students. Robert contributed his time and technical skills to several of the CIT program’s community service projects and was a force in getting the new CyberLeague Team started. He is compassionate and conscientious, and will always represent his Alma Mater well. The CIT Faculty expect great things from Robert as he continues his education and career. Theresa Schmitt
HEALTHCARE FACILITIES LEADERSHIP Randell Glenn French Randall Glenn French has distinguished himself by demonstrating a strong work ethic, academic growth, and perseverance while in the Healthcare Facilities Leadership (HFL) program. Not only has Mr. French achieved a 4.0 GPA, while in the program he obtained the highly recognized Certified Healthcare Facilities Manager credential and has advanced to a director’s role in the healthcare facilities profession. Mr. French is and will continue to be a great representative of OCTC’s HFL program and healthcare facilities profession! Mike Canales
Congratulations to all the Program Honors Students!
Congratulations
HISTORY Levi Manley Levi Manley is an exceptional student with a firm commitment to academic excellence. Having taken nearly every history course offered at OCTC, Levi distinguishes himself through his stellar writing ability, enthusiastic classroom participation, and sincere concern for others. More than once, I have witnessed him offering assistance to other students by allowing them to borrow books, notes, and other course materials. Levi’s sincere passion for history is evident through his impeccable academic performance and he embodies all of the traits befitting an honors student. Matt Alschbach, Dr. Angela Ash
MEDICAL ASSISTING Brittany Pogue Brittany showed initiative consistently and performed above average in all areas. She also became a leader. She is always eager to help classmates, is willing to lead discussions, and is always prepared for class. Brittany interviewed for a sponsorship at a small family practice, was selected for the position, and hired full-time before graduating. In the professional setting, Brittany excelled and Dr. Bradley’s office has continued to sing her praises. Brittany was an exceptional student and an easy choice as honor graduate of the Medical Assisting Program. Robin Clark
INTERDISCIPLINARY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION McKenzie Tichenor McKenzie Tichenor embodies the professionalism of teaching. McKenzie’s smile is infectious and her connection with her students is amazing. It is a joy to watch her in the classroom; each student seems to have her undivided attention. McKenzie goes beyond the requirements of her assignments; her bouncy ball project was a big success. During her project, she integrated math, science, and art. It was a fun time of learning for everyone involved. McKenzie’s enthusiasm is contagious; she will go far in the field of early childhood. I am happy to announce that McKenzie Tichenor is the outstanding early childhood student for the 2018 fall semester. Dr. Michelle Edwards
MEDICAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Shelbie Falloway The choice for the honors/ awards student for the Medical Information Technology program is Shelbie Falloway. She has worked hard in all of her classes and her grades reflect that. Not only does she have an excellent GPA and a passion for learning, she exemplifies professionalism. Shelbie was hired at her internship as a full-time medical coder and biller. She plans on taking her Certified Professional Coder certification exam in the future. Julie Embry
MEDICAL ASSISTING Angalena Rager Angalena Rager was thankful to have been chosen for this program, and I am grateful to be able to recognize her as the honor student for Medical Assisting. Even though she struggled at times, Angalena continued to persist and study diligently. Angalena has a gift to demonstrate compassion and this serves as a great example for others. She remains focused on her goal to show her son by example that that you can do anything… if you are willing to work for it. This persistence, compassion, and work ethic will serve her well in the medical assisting profession. Robin Clark
WELDING TECHNOLOGY Logan Bosley Logan Bosley was selected as the fall 2018 outstanding student for his exceptional attendance, performance, and achievements through six semesters of classes in the welding program. During his enrollment he has obtained the American Welding Society National Certification, Combination Welder Diploma, Welding Technology AAS Degree, and specific AWS welding qualifications in both plate and pipe welding procedures. Outstanding characteristics Logan exemplifies are his unquenchable desire to learn, and his eagerness to accept challenge and responsibilities. He has gone above and beyond the role of a student by joining the welding faculty and teaching a couple lab sections along with his classes this semester. Logan’s efforts are a valuable asset to the welding program, and he will continue to succeed in any path he chooses. Barry Bowlds Other Discipline Awards
TEACHER EDUCATION Daniel Morris Daniel Morris has the heart of an elementary school teacher, and his future students are going to love him and be inspired by his enthusiasm toward teaching. He will be a positive role model for many students. Casey Hamilton VISUAL ARTS Hai Soe The honor award for the most outstanding student in Visual Arts is Hai Soe. Hai Soe is receiving the Associate in Fine Arts Degree and through his academic achievement, he is recognized by faculty and fellow students as one of the most talented artists to graduate from our college. During his time at OCTC, he has actively exhibited at our campus and in the community. He has received numerous awards for his paintings in regional art competitions, and his work is included in the OCTC Permanent Art Collection. Soe has served as the student assistant for the Art Department for the past two years. His intention is to continue his academic pursuit in reaching his career goal as a professional visual artist. Monty Helm
TRIO Xena Heflin Xena Heflin is a first-generation student, single mother, and a domestic violence survivor who has persevered and worked diligently for a better life for her family. Previously, she had been unsuccessful in college but later returned, more determined than ever, and has earned high distinction status with a 3.6 GPA. As a member of TRiO Student Support Services, Xena has utilized many support services and resources. She has applied to the Physical Therapy Assistant program at MCC. Her future plans include an Executive Master’s degree in Health Administration degree at Western Kentucky University. Becky Hodskins
Nursing students decorated their caps as part of the celebration!
Brooklyn Knight-Student Speaker, Megan Crawford-Soloist and Graduate, Dr. Scott Williams, and students Maggie WilhoiteBenediction, and Kaylee MeadorInvocation from the December 2018 Commencement
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Peer A
Peer Awards PILLAR AWARD: COMMUNITY SERVICE
PILLAR AWARD: WORKFORCE EDUCATION
The Quiet Hero, the Pillar Awards, and the Scholarship Award all receive a $750 stipend for professional development. The President’s Awards and the Excellence Awards each receive a $1,500 stipend to use for professional development.
KATIE VINCENT
LISA BURNS-KIRBY Owensboro Community & Technical College recognized employees of OCTC for excellence with awards during the annual holiday luncheon held Friday, December 7, 2018. The OCTC Peer Awards are nominated by the employees of the college, and the winners are selected by a committee of peers. All of the honors included an award of professional development funds to be used within the next calendar year. The Quiet Hero Award was established to recognize employees who have had an impact on others and who exemplify a servant’s heart. Nominations included: Bruce Burns, Rhonda Logsdon, Vickie Hohiemer, and Connie Johnson. Connie Johnson was selected as the honoree and has been referenced as a wonderful, patient instructor who
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inspires her students, to have confidence in themselves, to conquer their fears, and be successful. Johnson has been with OCTC since 1988, and has been teaching Computer & Information Technologies since 2004. Johnson has worked tirelessly with OCTC’s Phi Theta Kappa honor society. She has also served on the GG Talbott 5K committee since 2006. The OCTC Pillar Awards were named to coincide with the college ideals of Community Service, Workforce Education and Readiness, Fostering an Approachable Learning Environment, and Student Advocacy. The nominees for the Pillar Award for Community Service were Casey Hamilton and Lisa Burns-Kirby. Lisa Burns-Kirby received the honor for her positive energy and her passion
for community. A security officer at OCTC Kirby volunteers in the community with numerous organizations. She is active on campus and is the first to volunteer when needed. She is a tireless advocate for the homeless and mentoring young adults. The Pillar Award for Workforce Education and Readiness nominees included: Danny Moseley, Sheri Plain, and Katie Vincent. Katie Vincent was chosen for the award. She has been at OCTC since 2007 in various roles working with students and business and industry, most recently as a program facilitator for Workforce Solutions. Vincent is noted to have a genuine passion for helping others and makes every effort to accommodate student schedules. She works with students to remove barriers and find resources to assist them, so they can persevere and succeed. Vincent shepherds and guides over 125 students per year. She holds a Bachelor of Science
Awards New Peer Awards for 2018 Professional Development Funds Added
in Agriculture from Western Kentucky University, and a Master of Science in Human Development and Leadership from Murray State University.
PRESIDENT’S AWARD ADJUNCT INSTRUCTION
Erica May received the honor and teaches in the Agriculture program. May has taught the maximum number of courses allowed by an adjunct faculty member while demonstrating excellence and innovation in establishing a student friendly learning environment. She also establishes a cohesiveness between classwork and the work environment. May has taught at OCTC since 2017. May earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Western Kentucky University (WKU) in 2017. She will graduate with her MS in Agriculture Education from WKU in May 2019.
The nominees for the Fostering an Approachable Learning Environment Pillar Award include: Matt Alschbach, Zara Basham, Tara Groves, and Dr. Court Lewis. The recipient of this honor, Matt Alschbach was selected for working tirelessly on behalf of OCTC students. He demonstrates a respect for congeniality and discourse in all of his activities. He has an ability to discuss and debate diverse viewpoints with students while maintaining trusting and cordial relationships. Alschbach has been with OCTC since 2012, he is an Associate Professor, with a master’s degree in history from San Diego State University, and a bachelor’s degree in history from California State University San Marcos. He is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, serving as faculty advisor for Students Aligned for Equality at OCTC. Alschbach serves on a number of college committees dedicated to students’ success both in college, and in life. The nominees for the Student Advocacy Pillar Award: Lindsey Greer, Dr. Meredith Skaggs, and Nikki Wimpelberg. Lindsey Greer was selected and noted as a caring person and colleague, always holding students’ best interest in mind. She is the Program Facilitator for the college’s TRiO program. The nomination conveyed that Greer had a “can-do” attitude with everyday tasks and motivates first-generation students through her encouraging words and positive emails.
excellence and innovation in the classroom and in online instruction. The nominees included: Mary Kinney, Marvin Marksberry, and Erica May.
ERICA MAY The 2018 OCTC Scholarship Award was given to Dr. Court Lewis for making significant academic contributions that enhance the mission and vision of OCTC. Lewis has been at OCTC since 2013, is an Associate Professor, who readily shares his higher education journey and career path with his students, making him relatable and approachable. He has also authored and edited several publications; most recently he published Repentance and the Right to Forgiveness from Lexington Books and co-authored with Dr. Tim Dick, Medical Ethics: The 16 Week Consult from Kendall Hunt. Court Lewis received his PhD from the University of Tennessee and is Program Coordinator and Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies at OCTC. The President’s Award for Adjunct Instruction was created to recognize
The nominees for the President’s Award for Teaching were Shannon Collins and Dr. Tim Dick. Dr. Tim Dick received the honor for being known as one of the toughest faculty members on campus, but also one of the most beloved. He has led OCTC’s award winning PTK Chapter and also leads research on polycystic kidney disease. Dick co-authored a textbook with Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, Medical Ethics: The 16 Week Case Consult an interactive workbook designed to teach students the basics of critical thinking and ethical reasoning and how both skills apply to the field of medicine. Dick received his PhD from the University of Kentucky in Policy, Ethics, and Biology, holds a MA in Cellular Biology from the University of Evansville, and a MA in Behavioral Biology from the University of Evansville. He has been with OCTC since 1986, and serves on several ethics boards in the community.
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Awards
OCTC’s Excellence Awards The OCTC Awards of Excellence are considered the pinnacle of honors at the college and include the individual categories of faculty, staff, and administrative staff. The winners are selected from a group of previous OCTC Award of Excellence winners.
The nominees for OCTC Staff Award of Excellence included: Stacey Bertke, Connie Porter, Ceary Thomas, and Katie Vincent. Connie Porter was selected for the honor. The nomination highlighted that Porter has been with OCTC for several years and is known to go out of her way to help others. She has a high level of professionalism and a caring attitude and has been known to say “I would rather everyone have a peace of mind about this, and no worries when it comes to dealing with benefits issues.” Also noted were her kindness and a genuine willingness to meet individually with employees.
CONNIE PORTER The nominees for the OCTC Administrative Staff Award of Excellence were Kenny Moxley and Micah Perkins. Kenny Moxley was chosen for the award. His nomination summary noted him to be a team player, workside-by side with others to get the job done, and not asking his employees to do anything he would not do himself. Moxley looks for positive outcomes and compromises in difficult situations, while making it look effortless. He is excellent at managing multiple campuses and grant projects, while making it look easy.
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Awards
e
THERESA SCHMITT The nominees for the OCTC Faculty Award of Excellence: Randy Crowe, Dr. Court Lewis, and Theresa Schmitt. Professor Theresa Schmitt was honored with the award. Schmitt began her career with OCTC in 2002. She serves as the program coordinator for Computer & Information Technologies, is a faculty advisor for the OCTC student chapter of the Association of Computing Machinery, annually coordinates the Boy Scout Merit Badge University on OCTC’s Main Campus, is a member of the NSF Access to STEM grant team, serves on the FIRST Lego League Robotics Challenge committee, and is a member of the Kentucky Community Colleges Women in Computing Association.
Schmitt implemented the Digital Divas! project in the spring of 2018 with funding support from the Yeager Charitable Trust. Schmitt’s goal for the project was to encourage girls to learn about careers in the field of technology. To accomplish this goal, she helped students at College View learn about programming and app development with MIT’s App Inventor. She plans to continue and expand the program. Schmitt earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from Texas A&M in 1981, and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Akron in 1992. She is a first-generation college graduate, raised in Texas, and was encouraged by her mother to complete her educational goals.
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Student Art Awards
The OCTC Student Art Collection has grown to more than 60 pieces thanks to the ongoing efforts of Monty Helm.
Abandoned Still Life Dakota Butler
Lost in Thought Samantha Zolicoffer
OCTC’s art students participated in the college’s Fall 2018 semester Student Art Exhibition. The culmination of the exhibit is the student awards, including Merit and Purchase awards. Sandra Farris served as juror for the exhibit. A first place Merit Award for Bloom White, a charcoal drawing, was earned by Jereal McKenzie. Angel Higdon won the second place Merit Award for her ceramic piece, Twisted Teal. Dakota Butler won the third place Merit Award for Mortal Soul, a charcoal drawing. The first-place Purchase Award and Best in Show went to Samantha
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Zolicoffer for her oil painting, Lost in Thought. The second place Purchase Award went to Makayla Brown for her charcoal drawing, Negative Midnight. Dakota Butler earned the third-place Purchase Award for Abandoned Still Life, a charcoal drawing. The winning purchase award pieces become a part of OCTC’s permanent collection. Faculty members Monty Helm and Lou O’Leary are teaching studio classes in sculpture, 2-D design, and drawing during the Spring 2019 semester. Those interested in exploring an
Negative Midnight Makayla Brown
Associate in Fine Arts degree or joining the OCTC Art Club should contact Monty Helm via e-mail at monty.helm@kctcs. edu.
AMTEC Launches New Industry Credentials The Advanced Manufacturing Technical Education Collaborative (AMTEC) will launch two new industry credentials and an updated version of its certification assessment on February 1, 2019. AMTEC’s newest version of its industryvalidated General Maintenance Mechatronics certification assessment will offer Level I and Level II certificates to measure mastery of multi-skilled maintenance competencies. The advantage of this is to document the ability of technicians to design, install, and support increasingly-complex technical systems and components that interact in an industrial setting. Additionally, the new AMTEC certificates will be available as digital badges to validate and verify technical proficiency in a convenient electronic format. AMTEC is a leader in certifying the nation’s mechatronics (integrated systems) manufacturing technicians. A rigorous development process was used to ensure that AMTEC’s certification assessment conforms to the highest accreditation standards. AMTEC utilizes a continuous
improvement process with industry partners, to support evidence-based decisions that guide updates and enhancements of both its assessment tools and curriculum. The process engages national subject matter experts to collaborate and identify the duties, tasks, and subtasks performed by today’s mechatronics or multi-skilled technicians. In 2018, AMTEC worked with subject matter experts from industry and education across the nation to pilot test updates to the certification assessment and establish the cut scores that individuals need to earn the credential/ badge. Now housed at Owensboro Community and Technical College, AMTEC is a multi-state collaboration of more than 70 industry and educational partners. AMTEC provides a nationally-recognized training and certification solution that can lead to improved processes, reduced operational costs, and greater efficiency and productivity for employers. It began in 2005 with a primary focus
in automotive manufacturing. Today, AMTEC’s curriculum, competency certification and diagnostic assessments (offered through Nocti Business Solutions), simulation equipment, and workforce certificates have expanded to advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and high-tech processing industries. AMTEC’s mission is to create and sustain an innovative, responsive, and standardsbased workforce development system that meets the advanced manufacturing industry’s skill requirements. AMTEC continues to develop and provide turnkey solutions for producing workers with the technical and critical-thinking skills to analyze issues, solve difficult or complex problems, and manage output. For more information on AMTEC collaborative partnerships with industry and education, please contact Jason Simon, AMTEC Innovation Manager, at jason.simon@kctcs.edu or 270-686-4616.
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Common Read
BINTI
Meet & Greet Th., March 21 5-6 p.m. IIC
NNEDI OKORAFOR
OCTC is a equal educational and employment opportunity institution.
AUTHOR Presentation , Book Signing Thurs., March 21, 12:30 p.m. Blandford Hall, Humanities Bldg. Free!
All events posted@facebook.com/octc.commonread Sponsored in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this presentation do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The OCTC Common Reading selection for the spring 2019 semester is Binti, by Nnedi Okorafor. Dr. Okorafor earned a Hugo and Nebula Award for this novella first published in 2015, a Tor.com book published by Tom Doherty Associates. The science fiction based, coming-ofage story centers on Binti, the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs. The story evolves into an adventure, and Binti must use all her knowledge and more to save the galaxy. Binti has evolved into a three part series, with subsequent titles: Binti: Home and Binti: The Night Masquerade. The author will be at OCTC on Thursday, March 21 at 12:30 p.m. in Blandford
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Lecture Hall to do a presentation and book signing. Blandford Lecture Hall is located in the Humanities building at 4800 New Hartford Road, Owensboro. That day, from 5-6 p.m., the college will host a “Meet and Greet” reception in honor of Dr. Okorafor in the Industry Innovation Center. The events are free and open to the public. Okorafor is an international, awardwinning novelist of African-based science fiction, fantasy, and magical realism for both children and adults. She is the co-author of the Black Panther from Marvel Comics, with a movie adaptation that became a world-wide sensation! She’s authored a spinoff graphic novel, Wakanda Forever, with a movie to follow. Her other comics include Antar: the Black Knight (IDW/ Mirage Films) and LaGuardia. Author George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones) and HBO are turning Okorafor’s adult novel, Who Fears Death, into a TV series. The Book of Phoenix (prequel to Who
Fears Death) was heralded by the NY Times as a “triumph”. Born in the U.S. to Nigerian immigrant parents, Dr. Okorafor is known for weaving African culture and folklore into creative, evocative settings with memorable characters. She’s a multiNY Times bestselling author with a passionate following for her Binti series, and the Akata Witch books. Her children’s book Chicken in the Kitchen won an Africana Book Award. Akata Witch 2: Akata Warrior, and Binti 2: Home, are now out in paperback. She holds a Ph.D in English. Binti is available at the OCTC Bookstore. For more information about the OCTC Common Read program please contact tonya.northenor@kctcs.edu or for a listing of pertinent events, visit facebook. com/octc.commonread.
Resource Development OCTC hosted a donor celebration event on Thursday, November 8, 2018 in the Industry Innovation Center. The event was held to honor the more than 295 businesses, industries, groups, and individuals that have supported the college and the OCTC Foundation, Inc. through donations, grants and scholarships during the 2018 academic year. OCTC announced a continued partnership with the Haas Foundation in November. Haas presented a check to the OCTC Foundation for $10,000. This the second annual presentation from the Gene Haas Foundation, and the funds are designated for student scholarships in the Computerized Manufacturing and Machining (CMM) program. On hand to celebrate the continued partnership were ten students who benefitted from the scholarship in 2017. The partnership with Haas and OCTC is longstanding as the CMM lab is equipped with HAAS equipment, the VF1 machine, or the Very First One version of the machine that the manufacturer produced, sits among
several other Haas built machines in the state of the art lab used by students. OCTC and the OCTC Foundation, Inc. honored the Dart Foundation on Friday, September 14 in the Industry Innovation Center (IIC) by naming Room 108 in the college’s new IIC, where the robots are housed, after the Dart Foundation. The event was held in appreciation of a generous grant award of $96,120 that allowed the college to purchase three educational robots. The robots enhance OCTC’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) curriculum so that students have increased awareness and understanding of the principles and operation of industrial robots in modern manufacturing settings. Students gain hands-on experiences and learn effective use of modern robotic manufacturing systems as found in today’s manufacturing facilities.
Two New Endowed Scholarships The OCTC Foundation is proud to announce the endowment of 2 new scholarship initatives. Both scholarships were funded with an inital $50,000 investment that will be matched through the KCTCS Foundation. The Reed Mowers Scholarship endowment was established in honor of the parents of longtime faculty and adjunct faculty members, respectively, Kathy and Patrick Mowers. This scholarship was created with a preference for students in Administrative Office Systems, Statistics, Math, Information Technology, or Business. The David Nuckols Memorial Welding Scholarship was endowed by Mike Horn. This scholarship was created with a preference for students in Welding. For more details or to apply for any OCTC Scholarship, pick up a Scholarship Brochure in the OCTC Financial Aid office or in the OCTC Resource Development office.
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New team Members & Internal Moves Andrew Blanco has joined the Workforce Solutions team as an interim Instructional Designer working with OCTC’s AMTEC initiative. Blanco collaborates with subject-matter experts to review, design, and develop courses for webbased training that are competency-based in a self-paced format for online delivery. In addition, he will be responsible for the revision and maintenance of current course modules. Blanco earned an Associate in Arts degree from OCTC, a Bachelor of Science degree in Systems Management, and is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in Career and Technical Education from Morehead State University. Blanco’s prior experience included teaching as an adjunct and serving as an Information Technology Specialist for the Help Desk at OCTC, and prior to that he was the Night Campus Facilitator at Western Kentucky University’s Owensboro campus
certifications in Basic Life Support and Preceptor Training.
GRADD, and served as a Government Relations Assistant in Washington, D.C.
In her experience as a registered nurse, she worked with numerous allied health professionals at regional medical centers. Part of this experience included working with students during their clinical rotations at these hospitals.
Borregard earned a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Kentucky in Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation, a Master of Arts degree from the University of Louisville in Higher Education Administration and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Kentucky in Political Science.
Angel “Reneah” Skaggs will be a Pre-Employment Transition Specialist (PETS) at OCTC. She will work with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation Services and local educational agencies providing pre-employment transition services to students with disabilities (ages 14-21) enrolled in Kentucky public schools. Skaggs is a graduate of Kentucky Wesleyan College earning a Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education: English Language Arts and Social Studies. Her professional experience includes teaching English Language Arts at Henderson South Middle School, serving as a substitute teacher for Daviess County Public Schools, and being a College Coach at Ohio County High School. Dr. Andrea Borregard was selected for the position of Dean of Student Affairs. The position provides leadership, management, and oversight of the Financial Aid Office, centralized advising, including career planning and placement, and recruitment, with a focus on adult and diverse students. Borregard is an Owensboro native and has been at OCTC in the Financial Aid Office since 2007. In 2016 she was named as the as the Director of Financial Aid. Prior to that she managed the Barnes & Noble College Bookstore at Henderson Community College, had been a Community Development Planner for
She has presented at numerous regional and national conferences including the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) Midwest Regional Conference in May 2018, the Alliance for Excellent Education and the College in High School Alliance Policy Symposium in April 2018, and the NACEP Annual Conference in October 2016. Borregard lives in Owensboro with her husband Brooke and two children. Ceary Thomas has been selected as the new interim Success Coach for students pursuing careers in advanced manufacturing. In addition to some recruiting responsibilities, she will provide success coaching services working closely with students in all advanced manufacturing disciplines to help them explore and prepare for career and academic success. Thomas earned an associate degree from OCTC, and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s /master’s degree in Leadership from WKU. She also holds professional certifications in Basic Life Support and First Aid.
Congrats! Savannah Roof has been selected as the new Success Coach for students pursuing healthcare career positions. In addition to some recruiting responsibilities, she will provide success coaching services working closely with students in all Healthcare/Allied Health disciplines to help them explore and prepare for career and academic success. Roof earned a Master of Science degree in Nursing Education, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Governor’s University. She also holds an Associate in Applied Science in Nursing from Elizabethtown Community and Technical College. Roof also hold professional
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Most recently Thomas served OCTC as a marketing and student affairs specialist. Prior to that she was the administrative assistant for the Humanities division. JoLynne Chapman was named as Counselor and Academic Advisor in OCTC’s Counseling Center in November. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in TN, working by reciprocity in KY, and is
New...continued a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. She has varied experiences with school based counseling, in-home therapy, and family counseling. Chapman earned a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and holds a bachelor degree in Christian Counseling from the Baptist College of Florida. She moved to Owensboro with her young son, Levi and husband Jonathan, who serves as youth minister at First Baptist Church. Micheal Powers was selected as the new interim IT Coordinator. Powers has an associate in applied science degree from OCTC in Computer and Information Technologies. His most recent experience was as the IT/Service Delivery Intern at Aleris Rolled Products. Julie K. Embry has joined OCTC’s faculty as instructor and program coordinator for the Medical Information Technology and Administrative Office Technology programs. She holds an Associate in Arts from OCTC and went on to earn professional credentials from the American Academy of Professional Coders as a Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and the American Health Information Management Association as a Certified Coding Specialist (CCS). Embry’s experience includes various and extensive medical office settings, including owning her own company, hosting courses, and tutoring sections for national coding exams. She has a wide range of skills and wants to help the students build a broad knowledge base, so they will be well prepared in a multitude of office settings. Embry has taught as an adjunct instructor in the MIT program at OCTC since 2017.
Mike Rodgers was appointed to serve as Chief Institutional Officer and Executive Director of the OCTC Foundation, Inc. in August. He has been serving the college in a dual-purpose role as interim leader of the advancement office since 2016. During his interim tenure, Rodgers completed the BuildSmart campaign, finishing the community portion of the match to obtain the state funds/bonds for the Industry Innovation Center. Rodgers was also instrumental in establishing numerous scholarships, raised the funds to finance the (30 in 30) scholarship givea-ways for the OCTC 30thAnniversary Celebration, and raised funds to build a large animal handling facility for the veterinary technology program.Rodgers also brokered a deal with the KY Corn Growers Association to purchase the car and invest in an endowment to support scholarships for the automotive program.
Parrish Duncan is also part of the Tech X faculty. He has taught welding part-time at OCTC, and was a welding instructor at Dana until 2008. He has earned several welding certificates from OCTC and has previously been employed as an iron worker. Brittany Daniels has been hired as a Student Affairs Assistant II in Student Records. Her responsibilities include working on graduation, data for course substitutions, decedent information, academic bankruptcies, and online withdraw request. She is an associate degree graduate of OCTC and a current student at Midway University working towards a bachelors degree.
Sammy Woods joined the OCTC Maintenance and Operations department as a Maintenance Technican. He repairs the malfunctioning equipment such as, but not limited to, mowers, gators, Prior to that role, Rodgers led a revitalization of the automotive program as tractors, water fountains, and sinks. Director of OCTC’s Southeastern Campus Woods earned a General Educational and the Associate Dean of the Skilled Development (GED) Certificate from Trades and Personal Services division. That revitalization included upgrading the OCTC. labs and initiating the college’s first Cobra Project. These significant changes earned the program the O’Reilly’s National School of the Year Award in 2014.
Career Opportunities
Rodgers came to Owensboro in 2011. He began his career as a faculty member at Piedmont Technical College in South Carolina and was later named as the program coordinator for Piedmont’s Automotive Technology program. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1996 from University of South Carolina-Aiken, and a master’s degree in 2015 from Western Kentucky University. Nathan Butterworth is teaching in the Tech X program. He specializes in mechanical maintenance and has a broad range of welding and public utility experience.
Current open positions at OCTC include a Business Operations Specialist for Workforce Solutions, and a Nursing Faculty member. For more info visit kctcs. edu/job-seekers.
Retirements
Joe Yazvac retired in August from the Counseling Center after 32 years of service. Steve Bailes retired in December after teaching for 21 years, and numerous plays and creative projects. Chris Ross retired after 16 years service at both the Main and SE Campuses.
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OCTC Hosting Statewide Computing Conference-Not just for women! The conference will have presentations and panel discussions covering a wide range of computing topics of interests to faculty, students, and industry partners. The conference is designed for men and women, and will be a place where our community can collaborate, network, and celebrate the contributions of women in computing. The theme of this year’s conference is “Busting Barriers in the Bluegrass!” The Kentucky Community College (KYCC) Women In Computing (WiC) Conference will be held at OCTC March 22-23, 2019. The conference serves as an extension of the Association for Computing Machinery’s (ACM) Celebrations of Women in Computing. ACM-W’s international annual conference is the Grace Hopper Celebration. The KYCC WiC conference is the first celebration event designed explicitly for community colleges, and this year will be the fourth biennial event.
The first keynote speaker is the award-winning novelist of African-based science fiction and fantasy, Nnedi Okorafor. She is the co-author of the Black Panther comics from Marvel Comics. Born in the United States to Nigerian immigrant parents, Nnedi is known for weaving African culture and folklore into creative, evocative settings with memorable characters. She is
CPE’s Thompson to visit OCTC
an inspirational speaker, encouraging women to pursue their career goals. Smita Bakshi, CEO of Zyante, is the second keynote speaker. Smita is a high-tech professional with over fifteen years of experience spanning product management, business development, engineering, and education across several software industries. Her specialties include Education Technology and Enterprise Software. One of her passions is encouraging young women to seek careers in STEM fields. One of the unique features of all regional ACM-W Grace Hopper Conferences is the low cost of attending. See the website for registration and detailed information. www.kycc-wic-octc.org
The president of Kentucky’s Council on Postsecondary Education plans a statewide listening tour. His OCTC stop is scheduled for March 4-5; more details will be forthcoming. A council statement says President Aaron Thompson wants to talk with students, community members, business representatives, and educators about college access, student success, workforce quality, and career transitions.
Kinney Elected as Regent Mary Kinney, Coordinator of Academic Affairs, at Owensboro Community and Technical College has been re-elected as a statewide representative of staff for the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS).
MARY KINNEY
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Kinney started at OCTC in 2001 as a Discover College mentor, she has held various positions in student and academic affairs. In her current role as Coordinator of Academic Affairs she focuses on retention. Kinney also teaches as an adjunct faculty
member for OCTC. She has a Master of Arts in Education from Western Kentucky University (WKU), a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from WKU, and an Associate in Applied Science degree in Human Services from Henderson Community College. Kinney will serve a three-year term that began in October 2018.
Thanks to a new KY Administrative Regulation (13 KAR 3:060) passed in August, Kentucky adults without a high school or GED diploma have the opportunity to earn a high school equivalency diploma without passing a test. To pursue this route, students must enroll in and successfully complete four college-level courses in each of four disciplines. For more information about this option, please contact Kevin. Beardmore@kctcs.edu or by phone, 270-686-4504. To help assist Kentuckians take advantage of In addition to this opportunity, Kentucky Skills U and KCTCS are partnering to promote GED + Plus, an accelerated path to a career allowing students to earn a GED and a college
credential at the same time. The GED+ program takes advantage of the Work Ready KY Scholarship already in place, promoting high demand fields of study including healthcare, advanced manufacturing, trasportation/logistics, business services/IT, and construction related trades. The program is designed to be short term, so you can complete a credential in four months or less! Students will receive one-on-one attention and support from faculty and staff. Interested studennts should contact OCTC’s Downtown Campus, call 270-686-4444 and ask about GED+, or visit the statewide website gedplusky.org. Last July Governor Bevin expanded the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship to include students enrolled in certificate, diploma, and associate of applied science degrees in the state’s top five high-demand workforce sectors. • Advanced Manufacturing • Business and IT • Construction Related Trades • Healthcare • Transportation and Logistics
workreadykentucky.com
SCHOLA
RSHIP
OCTC and KCTCS are offering scholarships to help students complete their associate degrees in two years or less. The 15 to Finish Scholarship will
Additionally, the scholarship will now be available for high school students for dual credit career and technical education courses in pathways in Kentucky’s top five high-demand sectors leading to industryrecognized certifications.
This initative is aimed at helping prepare Kentuckians for the 160,000-plus open jobs in the commonwealth, the majority of which require training and education beyond a high school diploma. You can learn more about the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship through workreadykentucky.com, including eligibility requirements, programs and certificates, diplomas and degrees available in each of the five industy sectors. . For the Fall 2018 semester, OCTC awarded 228 Work Ready Scholarships valued at $390,625.
award students $500 if they successfully complete 15 credit hours in a semester and enroll for an additional 15 hours the next semester.
Research shows students who take at least 15 hours a semester are more successful, graduate sooner, and save money.
Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees are 60 credit hours, allowing students to earn a total of $1,500 through the 15 to Finish Scholarship. Some Associate in Applied Science degrees require more hours so students are eligible to earn a total of $2,000 through the 15 to Finish Scholarship while pursuing those credentials.
New and current students are eligible for the 15 to Finish Scholarship, and students enrolled in the scholarship program will retain eligibility if they transfer from one KCTCS college to another. For more information about the scholarship, including how to apply, visit the college website owensboro.kctcs.edu and scroll down to the 15 to Finish graphic, and select.
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OCTC Opens First Innovation Lab On Wednesday, January 23 OCTC unveiled the first of three Innovation Labs. The multi-part project was funded in 2017 by a $2.85 million-dollar grant through Kentucky's Work Ready Skills Initiative (KWRSI) project. At the centerpiece of the Innovation Lab project is a Festo Cyber Physical (CP) Smart Factory simulator. This $750,000 smart factory simulator includes integrated logistics, communication, mechatronics, robotic assembly, and troubleshooting capabilities. It is fully networked and virtually integrated with HMI (human-machine interface), PLCs, Data Acquisition, Collection and Analysis (SCADA), and wireless connection networking.
This is the first Festo CP Smart Factory floor simulator in the state. We were honored to have Thomas Lichtenberger, President and CEO, Festo Didactic USA, here to celebrate the opening of this Innovation Lab. In addition to the Smart Factory Floor, the Innovation Lab will utilize material handling robots with infrared (IR) vision capability for robotic training that will augment our already existing material handling robots and robotic welders; virtual welders to introduce basic welding techniques without the expense of using materials and consumable supplies; level, flow and temperature instrumentation
trainers; and finally, vibration, thermal analysis, and predictive maintenance trainers. In addition, software and hardware will be included to train workers on automated systems related to building environment operations such as heating, air conditioning, and lighting systems. No other facility in the region will have the capability to train in these emerging skill areas. The two additional innovation labs are progressing with a spring 2019 completion timeline.
Ash Selected to Present at National Conference OCTC’s Fulbright Scholar and Associate Professor of History, Dr. Angela Ash, has been selected to present her work, JointAdmissions Explored: Determining the Existence of a Transfer-Affirming Culture Between Rural Southern Community College and Regional State University, at the 2019 Council for the Study of Community Colleges 61st Annual Conference in San Diego, California in March. This work is an extension of her dissertation research. The Council for the Study of Community Colleges (CSCC) is an affiliate of the American Association of Community
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Colleges (AACC) and a project of the Center for the Study of Community Colleges (www. centerforcommunitycolleges.org) hosted by the Bill J. Priest Center for Community College Education. Council members include university-based researchers and community college practitioners who further scholarship on the community college enterprise. Ash is an OCTC alumnus, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, teaches in the Department of History, and is an Associate Professor. Ash earned her undergraduate degree in history from Brescia University, her master’s degree
DR. ANGELA ASH
in History from the University of Louisville, and a doctoral degree from Western Kentucky University. Ash also serves as Secretary of the Owensboro World Affairs Council, is the faculty advisor for the Hager Scholars program, and has been teaching at OCTC since 2011.
Vet Tech Program Doubles Enrollment
Owensboro Community & Technical College hosted an open house for former Harrison College students in the Veterinary Technology program back in September 2018 when Harrison unexpectedly closed. The event was very well attended and 23 of those displaced students are now students in OCTC’s Veterinary Technology program. “These are students that through no fault of their own found themselves in a position with limited opportunity to complete their degree. We are excited that our faculty and administrators were able to accommodate them. The fact that they will all have the opportunity to finish their degrees is a testament to everyone working together” commented Dr. Scott Williams, OCTC President. Four former Harrison students moved from the Indianapolis area to Owensboro. Those students along with five students from the Evansville campus are all on track to graduate in May 2019. The other 14
students joined the first-year student cohort and will work to complete the program by May 2020. Although both programs were accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the process was not a simple one. Our OCTC Vet Tech program faculty and department head worked to review each course individually and met with a subject discipline expert to make sure the students had the knowledge and experience needed for credit conversion. Dr. Stacy Edds-Ellis remarked, “It was a very tedious process, but worth the time and energy to serve the students who are so excited about their future profession. I am proud of how we worked together to meet this community need.” “We are fortunate that we have the lab and classroom space to accommodate
two full cohorts running simultaneously. We have seen increased interest from southern Indiana and from the Louisville area, since we are now the only accredited 2-year option for veterinary technology in a 100-mile radius,” added Dr. Eddie Leach, Program Director. With the addition of the former Harrison College students, the OCTC Veterinary Technology program has students from more than (12) counties in Indiana and (15) counties in Kentucky. OCTC’s Veterinary Technology program classrooms and the teaching hospital are located at the Downtown Campus. Veterinary Technology is a selective admissions program. For more information about the admissions requirements or the OCTC Veterinary Technology program, please contact jacqueline.siljander@kctcs.edu or eddie. leach@kctcs.edu.
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Study Abroad 2019- “The Holocaust in Europe” 2020-Ireland, England, & Scotland
There are still a few spaces left and a very little time to sign up for the 2019 trip featuring a tour of Budapest, Krakow, Auschwitz, Prague, and Vienna. The program for 2020 is actively seeking students and participants to visit Ireland, Scotland and England. You can dive into city life as you explore three different European capitals that each have their own unique personality.
Walk along the famous cobblestones at Dublin’s Temple Bar, marvel at London’s iconic Big Ben, and fall in love with Scotland’s historic Edinburgh Castle. For more information about these study abroad opportunities or if you are interested in traveling with the group, please contact kaye.brown@kctcs.edu or call 270.686.4587.
2nd Annual
OCTC Trail Blazer Dinner Thursday, March 7 Nikki Eplion-Bryant Last year Ashley Parlett shared stories about building her career as a mechanic in the professional auto racing world. This year’s annual girl’s empowerment event features Nikki Eplion-Bryant. Eplion-Bryant will share her story and the challenges she faced while fighting to become the #1 Female Super Middleweight Boxer in the world, not just once, but twice! After retiring from boxing, Eplion-Bryant
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went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in Education from Morehead State University. This free event will take place on Thursday, March 7, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. at OCTC’s Industry Innovation Center. To reserve your spot please visit trailblazerdinner.eventbrite.com or e-mail cadie.underwood@kctcs.edu. The event is sponsored in part by Atmos
NIKKI EPLION-BRYANT Energy and the Kentucky Business and Professional Women’s Foundation.
TechX Graduates First Cohort OCTC received a $400,000 award through the KCTCS Entrepreneurial/Innovation Initiative for Non-Traditional Students to start the Tech X program. Tech X just graduated its first cohort of students with nine graduates, earning 45 credentials, in just 7 months. Each of those students earned: a Gas Welder Certificate, a Welder Helper Certificate, a Production Line Welder Certificate, a Exploratory Machining I Certificate, and a Forklift Driver certification. An additional five students are on track to graduate in May. Sixteen new students began the program in Janurary. One of the big draws for students was the “no books, all hands-on approach” of the program. One of the surprises is that of the 9 graduates, four of those graduates have decided to continue their education and work toward a degree. The Tech X initiative is a multi-craft technologist program offering handson training in a real-world, industrial environment. It encourages participants to develop both technical and analytical thinking skills related to work flow and production output. Additionally, participants will work individually and in teams on problem-based scenarios that relate to the overall manufacturing process. This initiative offers experiences in construction, fabrication, fitting, welding, and manufacturing training in an industrial environment. Skill attainment, lean processes, and quality improvement are integrated throughout the program’s experiential learning approach, utilizing a standard module format - orientation, instruction/safety training, skill practices, project assignment, and presentation/ completion.
The modules are progressive and participating students earn a Exploratory Machining 1 Certificate, Gas Welder Certificate, Production Line Welder Certificate, Welder Helper, and a Forklift Operators Certificate upon completion of the coursework. Two tracks are offered that provide flexibility for a variety of non-traditional, time-challenged adults. The daytime option allows students to attend classes eight hours per day, three days per week for a seven-month period. The evening option allows students to attend classes four hours per evening, four nights per week for a nine-month period. Students also receive concierge-like
services from a Career Navigator/Success Coach, modeled after the GO FAME initiative. OCTC is currently recruiting students for additional cohorts in both daytime and evening sessions. Interested students should attend one of the free information sessions scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday-March 26, Thursday-April 11, Tuesday-May 7, or Thursday-May 23. All sessions will be held in OCTC’s Industry Innovation Center. Qualified students may be eligible for Work Ready Scholarships as part of this program. For more information about OCTC’s Tech X program, please contact katie.vincent@ kctcs.edu.
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Higdon’s Student Experience Translates to Career in Teaching
Dr. Amy Higdon is the University of Louisville’s Program Director for the Owensboro Extension, but her academic endeavors began in the Nursing program at OCTC. She graduated in 2005 with her Associate in Applied Science in Nursing degree and went on to become an RN. Of her time spent as a student at OCTC, Higdon added, “I had a very enjoyable experience at OCTC. The small class sizes when completing my prerequisites were important to me because I felt
the instructors took the time to reach their students. Once I began the nursing program, I established relationships with classmates that I still maintain today. From a personal perspective, I met my husband while I was a student at OCTC and now we have two beautiful daughters.”
Now the Director of the University of Louisville School of Nursing Owensboro Extension with eleven years experience in nursing education, Higdon says she has been able to help and serve many nurses in the community as they pursued their educational goals and has found this career to be very rewarding.
A few years after graduating from OCTC, Higdon returned as an instructor in the Nursing program for about five years. Higdon says she was inspired by the OCTC faculty members who taught her and discovered that teaching was a passion for her as well.
Higdon is a great example of what it means to “pay it forward” and give back to the community. OCTC appreciates her community service and dedication and is very proud of all her accomplishments.
Higdon continued her educational career by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing from WKU, and went on to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Northern Kentucky University.
NOMINATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE E-mail kitt.midkiff@kctcs.edu to request a nomination form, or visit 2019 OCTC DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD facebook.com/owensboroctc to print a copy of the form. Deadline: April 1, 2019.
Grimes Passion Sparks Multiple Careers Eric Grimes credits his advisor Kay Whittington for helping keep his school schedule manageable while he worked a full time day job. During his two years in the program, he found his passion for firefighting growing and knew he wanted to teach for Area 3 State Fire and Rescue. After graduating with an EMT certificate, he went on to earn an Associate in Applied Science degree in Fire Rescue Science Technology and a diploma in Fire Chief Studies. “My instructors opened my eyes to a whole new world of opportunities” added Grimes. Grimes has been a volunteer firefighter for
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20 years and is now Fire Chief at the Utica Volunteer Fire Department. His “day job” is at Johnson Control Fire Protection; in the evenings he goes to other volunteer fire departments to teach. Grimes commented, “Each of my instructors were awesome. I still reach out and call them when I have questions. Sharing our knowledge and skills improves the emergency care availble for our community.” When asked about his experience at OCTC he added, “I highly recommend OCTC. The college has a variety of classes that fit your schedule. Each of my instructors
were engaged with their classes, even the online courses, and cared about their student’s success.” OCTC is grateful for his commitment to community service and honored to call him an alumnus.
OCTC Expanding to 2 Commencement Cermonies 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15 Thursday, May 16
After experiencing record attendance at the last several graduation ceremonies, and with the overflow capacity in the Jody Berry Theatre at standing room only availability at the May 2018 ceremony, the Graduation Committee is making a bold change, offering two ceremonies in May 2019 in order to accommodate all the families and friends of the graduates. Vice President of Student Affairs and the chair of the Graduation Committee, Kevin Beardmore commented, “We really felt that two ceremonies would be best for our students and their families and friends.
Changing venues is an option but we really felt that the RiverPark is the ideal place for this type of celebration. We would rather expand and offer more options to attendees rather than a ticketing process that would limit the number of guests.” The OCTC Healthcare career programs have volunteered to particpate in the Wednesday ceremony. Program participants include: Emergency Medical Technician, Fire Rescue Science Technology, Healthcare Facilities
Leadership, Medical Assisting, Medical Information Technology, Nurse Aid, Nursing, Paramedic, Radiography and Surgical Technology. The ceremonies are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15 and Thursday, May 16 at the RiverPark Center located at 101 Daviess Street in Owensboro. Rehearsal for both ceremonies will be held at 3:30 p.m. at RiverPark on Tuesday, May 14.
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Donor Recognition Event, November 2018 Dr. Veena Sallan, Toyota CEO Susan Elkington, and Fred Wright 2018 National Career Pathways Network Conference October 2018
Congressman Brett Guthrie stopped by to tour the new Innovation Lab January 2018
Retirement Reception for Steve Bailes, December 2018
Help OCTC students while you shop!
Sign up and select OCTC’s Org # CQ093 OCTC as your designated choice! OCTC's Rover Team in the Owensboro Christmas Parade, November 2018
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Select Owensboro Community & Technical College, Foundation, Inc. as your selected non-profit.
