October 9
Year 47, No. 1
Crusader www.crusadernews.com
2015
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Liberal, Kansas
Meet Todd Carter, new dean of academic affairs Q: Where did you attend college? A: I received my Bachelors degree at Oklahoma Panhandle State University my masters degree from the University of Oklahoma and my doctorate from Wichita State University.
Q: What did you like best about being in college? A: The different learning experiences. I was one of those guys that couldn't wait for the next semesters course list to come out to see what new classes I could take. I could have been a professional student. I loved going to class and doing all of that, I loved learning that much. That was one of my favorite things to do: go to college.
Trzaska plans positive changes for SCCC/ATS Daisy Torres Editor Seward County Community College/Area Technical School Dr. Ken Trzaska always had a calling for leadership. While in undergraduate school he was a community assistant and played soccer. Trzaska flourished in the role of leadership and he enjoyed working with students since then, he realized he wanted to work at a college campus. Now he is taking a position of leadership as president of Seward County Community College/Area Technical School. “It’s going to sound weird because I could have gone to Chicago or anywhere, but it is the diversity of the college.” Said Trzaska about his decision of coming to SCCC/ATS, “I think there's a level of energy that is always at the undercurrent rural America that people don’t know about.” His time here has been a positive experience, and he plans to use this positive energy to continue building on the college strengths. “I think what I’ve observed has been very refreshing, there’s a positive energy amongst our team members and amongst students and that’s inspiring to me.” Trzaska said. This positive energy has not gone unnoticed by students, “Dr. Trzaska has an aura of positivity about him that you don't see in many people. No matter the situ-
ation, he is always warming, welcoming, and genuine with everything that he does. I think it's great to have such a great energy in a position of leadership. I am excited to be working with him going forward.” said Jevyn Dean Voss, Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Student Services and student at SCCC/ATS. Breanna Davis has noticed his efforts to connect to the people of SCCC/ATS, “He likes to be here at Seward, every time he comes to the library he makes a point to talk to people.” Dr. Trzaska doesn’t only bring his positivity to SCCC/ATS, he also brings his ambitious views when it comes to changes in the college. “We have a grant of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics which expires next year, so one of the priorities is that I’d like to see happen is to sustain the programs associated with that grant as well as those individuals working with that grant.” said Dr. Trzaska about the changes he hopes to see in the college, “and there are other occupational career and technical programs that we have the potential to continue to build and grow; automotive, tech, corrosion technology, and wielding. Within those programs, there is a continued focus on entrepreneurial and programs being established.”
Nursing program faces changes in class set up also to the local Guymon and Garden City hospitals. Vice President of the Nursing The year has been filled with Association, Kate Mulligan, has several changes at Seward Coun- received the new changes very ty Community College; a pro- well. She thinks the changes gram that has received a lot of being made to the program are this has been nursing in The Di- beneficial to the nursing stuvision of Allied Health. This year dents. “Although the year started Allied Health has introduced Jennifer Landis as new director with a few hiccups with transito the nursing program. This is tioning, the new changes have her first year at Seward although been good for the students.” Said she has been in charge of other Mulligan. First students who are experinursing programs in the past. The nursing program itself is encing the changes with a fresh set up to be able to accept thirty mindset are enjoying the way the program is now first-year and set up. thirty secondFirst year stuyear students We’re trying to dent, Sachie each year. But said, even with that, make this the best Shiba, “Being a first there is still a waiting list for program, that best year student all the work we’ve those not accepted. The list serves the needs of been doing has been more practiholds more than the nursing cal stuff. So far twenty awaiting I’ve really enstudents accordprofession. joyed the proing to Landis. gram.” The program —Jennifer Landis Past student is a bit different have heard of the than it was last changes and the year. More use of technology can be seen, such use of new technology, “I as online testing and use of elec- learned a tremendous amount tronic records. Landis is also try- when I was with the program. ing to work across all Allied Now working at the hospital and Health programs more than in working with the current students I can see how great these the past. With Landis’s introduction of changes have been for them. I health electronic records to the would have loved to have class, nursing students can now learned with all the new technoltake notes on virtual patients and ogy they’ve gotten to use this the Health Information Technol- year.” Said Alejandra Alonso, ogy class decodes their informa- former nursing student. The reasons for all changes are tion for their criteria in class. The nursing program has also ultimately, for student satisfacbeen utilizing preceptors for ad- tion. The changes are to broaden vanced maternity, which gives experience and hands on benestudents the opportunity to wit- fits. According to Landis, all ness live birth more than before feedback she has received from with the chance to travel not only students has also been really to Southwest Medical Center but good. Kathleen Alonso Crusader staff
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Q: Before you became the dean of academic affairs what did you do?
A: I taught Biology, I taught for 15 years after my Bachelors degree I taught high school science at Forgan and Texoma and then while I was teaching at Forgan I went back to graduate school and got my masters degree. The next year I got hired here [Seward] to be a Biology Instructor. I taught full time at Seward from 1993 to 2003 after that I did undergraduate research.
Q: Which job did you like more, teaching or your new job? A: Well, that’s a tough call because I still love teaching. I go into a classroom and start engaging with students and I forget about everything else in the world. I don't know I just get an uplift from that. As for what I do now what I really like is that I am in a position now where I get to support people and make things happen from the administrative level. So I have got a lot of great people who I work with division chairs and directors who have a vision about where they want to go. What I love about my job is that I get to work with these people and I find personal support. Q: What would be a brief description of your job now? A: My responsibility is everything instructional at the college. So my job is to make sure that we have high quality instruction. I’m responsible for the final decision but I work closely with the department heads to come to a consensus.
Q: What motivates you to come to work everyday? A: Its the love of students and teaching and learning and interacting with students and people.
Q: What is something interesting about you that most people wouldn't know?
A: I have played in bands for 40 years since I was in high school. When I got to college we played every weekend two nights a week. So I have slowed down a little bit, I don't do the bar scene anymore they stay out too late for me. Photos courtesy of Rachel Coleman
College offers courses in Food Science Magaly Guerrero Crusader staff Graduating from the Food Science and Safety program at Seward County Community College/Area Technical School can lead students to great future careers such as a health inspector, quality control technician, plant sanitation, and much more. For those thinking about enrolling in the program here are some focal points of what the program is all about. Students learn things such as how food is made, preserved, processed, and distributed. Also how chemical properties of food affect the quality and safety of our daily intake with drinks and food. Courses available are Introduction to Food Science and Safety, Nutrition, Meat Science, Food processing, Food Packaging and Transportation. A camp is also offered to high school stu-
Crusader photo/ Magaly Guerrero
New Food Science lab is almost ready for Food and Safety courses.
dents that are interested in Food Science. It is four days long, and the students stay overnight in the dorms to get the whole college experience. The camp for this upcoming summer will take place June 6-9. Chris Guyer, Food Science and Safety specialist at SCCC/ATS, said that campers do hands-on activities that include making yogurt, testing hamburgers for E. coli, and inspecting the cafeteria kitchen with a health inspector from the Kansas Department of Agriculture. The Food Science and Safety camp is offered through the STEM grant. Others camps that are included are engineering and sustainable agriculture. For more information about the Food Science and Safety program contact Chris Guyer at chris.guyer@sccc.edu or call (620) 417-1504.
Hispanic Heritage Month festivities take over SCCC/ATS TaniaValenzuela Crusader staff Seward County Community College/Area Technical School is celebrating their diverse campus by participating in Hispanic Heritage Month. This is a month dedicated to the Hispanic culture which began Sept. 15 and goes on through October 15. SCCC/ATS has set up various activities for all students to participate in. Student life started the month with a soccer kick off held in front of the Student Union. Students competed to see who could kick four soccer balls into four holes to win 50 dollars. Sophomore, Daniel Mendez took home the prize of of day one’s activities. Other activities that have gone by are the voter registration, jalapeño eating contest. Students Sam Massey and Victor Castillo were the victors eating all jalapeños before the rest of the
partcipants. Hispanic American Leadership Association also hosted movie nights. “On our first movie night we had a few technical problems but we hope for our next one things will be better and I hope to see lots of people there,” HALO president Sindy Humaran said. On the last day, Oct.15, the cafeteria invites everyone to a fiesta finale where a variety of spicy Hispanic dishes will be served. Also, a reminder to all students that there are lollipops hidden around the school and the student with the most lollipop wrappers at the end of Hispanic Heritage Month will recieve a prize. “Hispanic Heritage month is a lot of fun, we just need to have more people participate in the activities. Hopefully people enjoy the activities this year.” HALO vice president, Jessica Guerrero said.
Crusader photo/Xochitl Gonzalez
Participants of the jalapeño eating contest stand up after finishing the challenge of eating seven whole jalapeño pepers.