The Front Page 11/5/13 Edition

Tuesday November 5, 2013

Volume 26, Issue 5

Good Samaritan in Admissions and Records: Renee Seidel Written by Charlie Groen Instructors are generally easy to recognize for their contributions to FRCC. Being “on stage” on a daily basis, their deeds are clear as to what they do for their students. However, behind the scenes of the school, administrative and support staff members have the same amount of impact on FRCC. In the Admissions and Records Department, Renee Seidel has been noted to be of particular influence on the work-study students under her supervision.

Last fall, Seidel began stocking and maintaining a pantry in the department for her work-study students who were, for one reason or another, unable to get something to eat at any point in the day. When asked about the event during an interview, she responded in detail. “I overheard some of them talking last fall, in late August, and they were mentioning to each other that they hadn’t had lunch and didn’t have time for breakfast. My ‘mom heart’ just broke a little bit about that, because I had two kids who were away in college at the time and we have their meal plans and make sure their cupboards are full. It never occurred to me until that moment

that our students here sometimes go hungry, and that just made me so sad to see. So I was talking to another manager and was told that we should bring it up at a manager’s meeting.

Instead of doing that I just went to the grocery store and started filling the cupboards. Once the word got out, and people heard about it, other people started contributing as well.

Our former Dean told me ‘you show your love for people with food,’ and I guess I do, but I really think people right here in our midst shouldn’t be going hungry.

The hardest thing we experienced here at Student Services, and me personally, was when Amber Hilmas passed away. She was one of our work-study students, and she was diabetic, and that was really the reason we first started the pantry. One of the last things I said to her when she was at the Welcome Center, I said goodbye to her and told her to get something from the pantry, she said ‘I will Mom,’ and laughed. We love our employees, we love our students, and we love to see them succeed. It isn’t just me.

There’s a culture here of caring for other people.”

Her story was inspiring, and warranted a more personal look at Mrs. Seidel than a short story about one of her accomplishments. She spoke about growing up, and when asked where, she replied, “I actually grew up in Wheatridge; I went to Wheatridge High School as a proud Wheatridge Farmer. I went to Prospect Valley for Elementary School for a while before we moved to Nebraska.

I refer to the time in Nebraska as my ‘lost years.’ After a while in Nebraska we came back and I finished out at Prospect Valley, and then went to Everett Junior High and then Wheatridge High.”

As if FRCC could be any more proud of Seidel, it turns out she is also a Colorado native. Seidel also described her favorite superhero, and with a devilish smile on her face,

In This Issue…

Take a Theatre Class! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Catapults Take Over FRCC . . . . . . . . . 6

The Greatness Within You. . . . . . . . . . . 2

Spotlight on University of Colorado . . . 7

One Artist’s Voice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Is HIT/HIM the Career for You? . . . . . 3

Photo by Charlie Groen

also dropped the name of an actor she happens to like. “You know I love The Avengers, it’s so hard to pick, but probably Iron Man. I like Robert Downey Jr., but when I was growing up I loved the Hulk because he had that quiet strength but when you tick him off and then he’s going to go crazy on you.”

The way a person decides on their career tends to be a story in its own, so when Seidel was asked about her path to the Admissions and Records Department, her journey happened to start right back at FRCC. “I actually started here at Front Range in 2002 as a student, and I wanted to get my degree and become a Christian counselor and counsel youth, and I ran a mentoring program before I came here. Then I started in Financial Aid and I really loved my work because I saw that I could help people achieve their dreams, we were there to change

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Take a Theater Class!—Spotlight on the Theater Department Written by Rachel Padro Interested in taking a fun, engaging class that develops project management and listening skills? Take a theater class!

I am the only instructor. I work as a professional actor in the Denver Metro area, so I also have many guest artists in to help.”

FRCC Theater Faculty Josh Robinson says, “The feedback I get back from students is that theater classes are usually the most fun they have in any given semester. Real world skills students learn include project management and group negotiating experience in Theater Appreciation, and active listening and poise in front of an audience from Acting 1.”

When asked what classes look like, Robinson shared, “Theater Appreciation is a great class for students from all levels and backgrounds. Acting 1 is a bit more intense and since theater is the art of people behaving badly, it helps to have students who are old enough to handle more mature subject matter.

The Front Range Community College theater program at the Westminster Campus regularly offers two core classes: Theater Appreciation and Acting 1. Robinson says, “Depending on the level of student interest, we have also offered Acting 2, Theater History, and Theater in Performance. I say we, but right now

“From my acting class, I think my favorite days involve improv games.

They teach listening and awareness, but really they are just hysterically funny.

“In Theater Appreciation, the capstone project is for students to write, produce and act in their own one-act play. My personal favorite was a parody of Greek Tragedy done

in full masks and togas out in the amphitheater by the library.”

Robinson shared some of his favorite memories in theater class including, “The best experience in my years at Front Range was when we did a performance of the play, Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, by Bert V. Royal, which imagines Charlie Brown and his friends as high-schoolers. A cast of eight, several techies, and I worked on it all spring semester in the VPAG (Visual and Performing Arts Gallery) and I was so proud of them and of the performance.”

The final projects and scenes for theater classes are the first week of December. If you have friends in these classes, ask them to invite you!

For more information, contact FRCC Theater Faculty Josh Robinson at Josh.Robinson@frontrange.edu.

The Greatness Within You: NSLS Broadcast featuring Common Written by Cindy Torres On Tuesday, October 15, the National Society of Leadership and Success hosted a speaker broadcast featuring hip hop recording artist and actor, Common. Born Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr., Common has made a great name for himself since his upbringing in the troubled Chicago streets, and shares his story of how the journey to success begins with a little faith in oneself.

Common proclaims that from an early age, he knew he was destined to achieve greatness. After learning of Emmett Till, a young African American boy whom was brutally murdered after whistling at a local white woman, Common says he felt a personal connection with Till, and that

a voice within him whom he believed was Till, told him that greatness was inside of him. From there, Common decided he wanted to contribute something great to the world around him.

Fast forward to a few years later, Common recalled visiting his cousin in Cincinnati and writing what became his first of many raps. Little did he know at the time, his talented rhymes and passion for music would eventually take him to international countries such as Japan, Cuba, Australia, and Europe. At that point, Common felt he had finally found his path to greatness, but even still he insists that finding your own path to success is an ongoing process.

Common suggests that finding one’s path to greatness is only the first of three steps. The other two involve believing in yourself, and not compensating who you are for the comfort of others. It’s about living out your path as best as you can, and understanding that what you desire may not come at the moment you want it, but to keep pushing forward anyway. Ultimately, it is understanding that your life is a journey and your goals will take some time to get to, but with patience and diligence, any dream is possible.

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Hot Headlines Written by Rachel Padro USA — A satirical article surfaced during the government shutdown, joking that President Obama was funding the Museum of Muslim Culture out of pocket while the nation was in gridlock. Fox News mistakenly reported this story as fact. According to a press release by the museum, the whole ordeal has been great promotion.

Colorado — Lakewood Police discovered an occult altar in the tool shed of a Lakewood home. Reports say that within the shed were bones, an altar, candles, a life-size figurine, and a machete. About 15-20 bones were found, mostly animals, but some possibly human. They have been sent to a lab for identification.

Florida — A six foot alligator waddled up to a Walmart where he amused himself and terrified employees by repeatedly setting off the automatic doors.

Australia — After sustaining injuries on his feet due to hopping about on tarmac, a kangaroo decided that he was in need of pain killers. He bounced his way into a local pharmacy, where he was sent to the vet for treatment.

Ohio — About 20 people set themselves on fire for a Guinness World Record.

Apparently there aren’t easier ways to get your 15 seconds of fame.

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One Artist’s Voice Written by Carlos Escamilla

Photos by Carlos Escamilla

The Visual and Performing Arts Gallery, or VPAG, received a touch of the macabre just in time for Halloween. The touch came by way of artist Sam Morrell’s solo exhibit, which opened on October 14, 2013.

The show included a mix of sculptures and paintings that provided striking contrast and intricate details.

The sculptures were the attentiongetters of the exhibit; “Mental Encroachment” was a piece that was impressive in size and detail. The polished metal added an interesting dimension to the agony that was personified on the man. The choice to bathe him in light only exacerbated the anguish the viewer felt for the metal man; you just want to help him

up and psychoanalyze him. Each of the sculptures should be considered a success. Not all of them were as abstract as the metal man but each had its own qualities that added to the overall moody atmosphere.

technique was not necessarily at the forefront of the paintings. In areas where Morrell perhaps misjudged balance or proportion, imagination and color-tension made up for the miscues.

The mood takes on a supernatural and spiritual quality in the paintings that accompany the sculptures. While the sculptures were made up of overly visible details, the paintings were ripe with subtle details. The details added some delicate dimension and tension.

The paintings were presented like a deck of tarot cards filled with ancient symbolism and brilliant color. The color choice was risky but rewarding; the use of color made up for some of the techniques that were lacking. But

There were also some very distinct elements that brought the paintings together: trees, lotus flowers and wings. They served as the landmarks to let the viewer know that he or she was looking at a Morrell piece. The wings were absolutely beautiful, with their colors suffusing through the backgrounds and creating a fantastical depth to the characters depicted.

Throughout the entire show, Morrell demonstrated a fascination

with industrial and supernatural aspects. The juxtaposition of the simple shapes with the intricate detailing of the sculptures paired well with the modern interpretations of the ancient creatures and stories in the paintings. It was an excellent exhibit that was unfortunately too small for the space it was given. There were also points where thoughts of “this has been done before” sneak in but they were quickly quelled by the sheer amount of work that went to the creation of the pieces.

The exhibit ran from October 14 through October 31. For more information and pricing, the artist can be contacted at quasarsam@yahoo.com.

Is HIT/HIM the Career for You?— Spotlight on the Health Information Technology Department Written by Rachel Padro Is a career in Health Information Technology (HIT) or Management right for you? FRCC student Joyce Spain and FRCC HIT Faculty Debra Charles share that it could be, if you: • See yourself in a career that offers diverse opportunities.

• Would like to work in health care, but not directly with patients.

• Have an aptitude for science, but also like management, law, and computers.

• Enjoy working with professionals: physicians, nurses, lawyers, administrators and executives.

So what is Health Information Management (HIM)? Spain shares, “HIM is the practice of acquiring, analyzing, and protecting digital and traditional medical information vital to providing quality patient care. HIM professionals are highly trained in the latest information management technology applications and understand the workflow in any healthcare provider organization from

large hospital systems to the private physician practice. They are vital to the daily operations management of health information and electronic health records.

“By studying health information technology, students will acquire a versatile, yet focused skill set incorporating clinical, information technology, leadership, and management skills. Health information professionals use their knowledge of information technology and records management to form the link between

clinicians, administrators, technology designers, and information technology professionals.

“Demand is on the rise at all levels of education and credentialing.

There are approximately 12,000 to 50,000 new jobs anticipated by 2017, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics cites medical records and health information technicians as one of the 20 fastest growing occupations in the US.

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Good Samaritan in Admissions and Records: Renee Seidel contniued from Cover their lives, and I enjoyed that. Then when I was at Regis I was asked by my Dean if I wanted to go into the Tutoring Department, so I was the Tutor Coordinator for six years. I loved that job; I loved helping struggling students find someone to help them.

In this job, I get to see people from the very beginning when they apply to commencement, and we work with their records the whole time to make sure that’s one seamless thing for the students. Even though I don’t get the one on one with the students, by helping equip my staff to help students, I feel like I’m still helping them.”

Seidel’s story on why she decided to come to FRCC over other schools is a humbling one as well. She describes herself as being worried about attending college, because she didn’t have the opportunity immediately after high school, and had been concerned she wouldn’t be able to make the grades. “I had friends that came here and went through the Nursing Program and they encouraged me to go to school. I never thought that I was good or smart enough to go to school. So I got married and had kids and never went to school even though I wanted to. When my friends went,

they encouraged me to come, and I had the support of my family and decided to come here in 2002. I juggled three jobs and my kids and it wasn’t easy, but I made it happen because I was really disciplined and I really wanted it. By the time I spent a few semesters and got into Phi Theta Kappa and got a 4.0, my goal became to graduate with that 4.0.”

Clearly, Mrs. Seidel was more than capable of surviving school, and she simply didn’t see it in herself until she set her mind to it.

Students and faculty familiar with Mrs. Seidel might be surprised to know that despite all her successes

and the long journey since she first graduated at Front Range, she is still doing homework. “I’m in a Master’s Program; I’m almost done getting my Master’s degree. I was up late again last night, and I work weekends to get my homework done. I’m going to CSU Global, and again my goal is to graduate with straight A’s. I only have two classes left, and I’ll get my degree in Organizational Leadership.

I love being here, I love the mission, I love the people that I work with, and I love the students, so I’m not really sure what I’d do with it. I have thought about teaching a class in Management, because I’ve observed people get into management positions who just don’t have the experience to be good leaders.

Maybe they’re not drawn to people, and they get defaulted into a job that they just aren’t ready to do. I’d like to maybe teach a class and have the opportunity to change that.”

Finally, Mrs. Seidel offered advice for students at FRCC. Her words were surprising coming from someone in a management position. She said brightly, “...this is not your life. The jobs that we do are not our lives; they only get us ready for our lives. So for students who get overwhelmed with being here, don’t let a bad experience with a teacher or a bad test or struggling through a subject define who you are in your life, because your life is so much more than that. Love it while you’re here!”

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Catapults Take Over FRCC Written by Kathy Bellis

Photos by Kathy Bellis

On Friday, October 25, 2013, FRCC physics students met at the open space, north of the Westminster campus, to test their catapults. In the Ancient Engines of War competition, students designed and built their very own pumpkin chunking catapults. Students then competed with the incentive of earning

some much needed extra credit in their challenging physics classes.

Competitors could earn extra credit points by launching their pumpkin the furthest, dressing up in a costume, representative of their team name, and by having fans dress up in their team costume.

For physics student Bill Bellis, “... this competition was not only a way to get some extra credit points, but it was also a really fun way to test my skills on what I have learned so far. You can only learn so much by sitting in a classroom. So this was a great way to actually use what we have only read about.”

Just in case you missed the FRCC Punkin Chunkin competition, you can still watch the World Championship competition on the Science Channel, Thanksgiving night. Watching the world’s best compete could be a great advantage for anyone planning on taking a physics class next fall!

What FRCC Students Want to Do With Their Lives Before Kicking the Bucket Written by Jessica Brown A bucket list, or list of things to do before “kicking the bucket,” is a way of prioritizing major life goals.

It is gaining popularity and media exposure. In the past decade, bucket lists have been mentioned on TV shows like Glee and NCIS, and entire TV series have been founded on the premise of a bucket list. An especially popular TV series was MTV’s “The Buried Life.” “The Buried Life” was a reality series that followed the lives of four friends as they completed their own lists of “100 things to do before they died.” As part of the show, after completing an item on their personal bucket list, they would help a stranger complete an item on his or her list.

The Front Page conducted a small survey asking FRCC students, Do you keep a bucket list? FRCC student Vincent Mediano, keeps a detailed bucket list. He stated that his number one goal before kicking the bucket is to, “...visit all the countries I can as an interpreter.”

FRCC student Joe Bennett also keeps a bucket list. One of his more important life goals, he said, is “...to set up my family…take care of them.”

Themes of family, and securing a sense of stability, echoed through many of the goals shared by students at FRCC. Tashia Marie Hackney, Cody Wayne Buentel, and Paige Carmichael

– none of whom keep written bucket lists - all said that their greatest life goals center on their personal definitions of “stability.”

Many students who do not keep goal lists nonetheless have very specific career-oriented goals for their futures. Zach Thompson said he plans on “becoming a patrol sergeant of a police department.”

FRCC student Todd Dallas Kochis II said that his biggest goal is “to have the capability to manage my own company.”

Other students’ goals are all about making the most out of every moment.

When asked what his biggest dream is before kicking the bucket, Student

Coordinator of Leadership Programs, Tim Warwick, responded, “To live in the mountains.”

Nursing program classmates Amanda Cdebaca, Nicole Peckman, Emily Hey, and Desirae Rodriguez all stated that they do not keep bucket lists. They say that their focus right now is on graduating from their program. Peckman added, “But I want a hot tub.” Hey chimes in, “And I want to go skydiving when we finish nursing school.”

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Spotlight on University of Colorado Written by Jessica Brown The University of Colorado is Colorado’s largest public university and consists of four campuses: the University of Colorado Boulder (CUBoulder), the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS), and the University of Colorado Denver (UCD) and the UCD Anschutz Medical Campus.

http://www.uccs.edu/futurestudents/ admissions.html and find his or her placement on it. The chart contains a combination of ACT and SAT scores and high school GPA. According to the chart, a student with a 2.0 GPA and a score of 33 on the ACT would be a “strong candidate” for admission to any program they chose.

CU is a member of the Association of American Universities, a select group of 62 institutions where the focus is on research, both at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

For transfer students hoping to continue their studies beyond their B.A. or B.S. degrees, CU offers unparalleled opportunities to network with graduate students during their time at the university, and build a resume of work for future graduate school applications.

Students seeking admission to business school at either the Boulder or Denver campuses would need a cumulative GPA of 3.0. At CUBoulder’s Leeds School of Business, they may substitute some of that GPA for “higher Completion of finite math (or college algebra), calculus, microeconomics and macroeconomics with competitive letter grades” (according to http://www.colorado. edu/admissions/undergraduate/apply/ transfer/admissioncriteria). The same exception does not apply at UCD.

The campus you choose may affect the ease of admission to some programs. A student hoping to transfer into the college of Liberal Arts, for example, needs a cumulative GPA of 2.50 to be admitted at CUBoulder. The same student only needs a cumulative GPA of 2.0-2.4 to be admitted at UCD. Students seeking admission to UCCS will need to view the chart at

The cost of tuition at CU-Boulder for an undergraduate degree ranges from $10,000 to $15,000 per year, and varies by major. Scholarships and grants are available, and the financial aid office at CU Boulder can be a helpful resource. A scholarship that transfer students are automatically considered for is The Maxine A. and FM Gray Scholarship.

This scholarship is awarded to

FRCC Community Days Gives Back to Less Fortunate Written by Cindy Torres October 23 marked the fourth running year of FRCC Community Day, hosted by Hannah Brown, Coordinator of Outreach and Enrollment Services. Community Day is a special day in which Front Range joins with the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and prepares a feast for those in need. The night was celebrated with a variety of foods such as fried chicken, pasta, potato salad, cake, and other goods. Once families finished dinner, a costume contest and raffle was held for children and adults, rewarding guests with treats

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and gift cards to local restaurants.

Community Day is an event made possible through donations and is held semi-annually both in the spring and fall. Those interested in volunteering for the next FRCC Community Day, please contact Hannah Brown at Hannah.Brown@frontrange.edu, or, if you are interested in learning more or volunteering for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, please contact Petra Ulrych at pulrych@ coloradocoalition.org.

students based on a combination of academic merit and financial need.

To be considered for the award, students must transfer into CU with a minimum of 24-90 transfer credit hours. Awards for Colorado residents are $1,000 per year, and awards for non-residents are $2,000 per year.

All students must complete a FAFSA application and enroll full-time in order to be considered for this award.

This scholarship, like many others offered by the University of Colorado, is renewable. As long as the student maintains a GPA of at least 2.75, completes at least 24 credit hours per year, and continues to demonstrate financial need, they will be eligible for the award for up to three years.

If you decide to transfer to the CUBoulder, go to http://www.colorado. edu/admissions/undergraduate/apply/ transfer, to apply. If you decide you are interested in applying to the UCD or UCD Anschutz Medical Campus, go to http://www.ucdenver.edu/ admissions/Pages/index.aspx. The application for the UCCS campus can be found on the same page as the Colorado Springs admissions chart, at http://www.uccs.edu/futurestudents/ admissions.html.

Upcoming Events Written by Jessica Brown Friday, October 4 - Saturday, November 9 — Niza Knoll Gallery in the Santa Fe Arts District is exhibiting the taxidermy collage boxes of Alicia Bailey in their show “Lovely and Amazing.”

The gallery is open Wednesday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Entrance is free. For more information, please call 303-953-1789 or visit their website at www.nizaknollgallery. com Friday, November 1 – Saturday, November 9 — Denver Arts Week kicks off, featuring the best of Colorado’s visual and performing arts. Entrance to many galleries and events is free of cost. Shows will be held throughout the city. To locate events near you, go to http:// www.denver.org/denverartsweek.

Thursday, November 14 — Associate Conductor Kornel Thomas will conduct a Mozart oboe concerto at the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver. Last minute tickets are free, and the event begins at 7:30 p.m. For more information, please contact the Newman Center Lamont School of Music box office at 303-871-7720 or online at newmanboxoffice@du.edu.

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Is HIT/HIM the Career for You?— Spotlight on the Health Information Technology Department Continued from page 3 “According to the US Department of Labor, HIT will grow to encompass new support positions, including mobile support adoption positions, public health informatics, implementation support specialists, and information management redesign specialists.”

entry into computer systems.

• Use computer applications to assemble and analyze patient data for the purpose of improving patient care or controlling costs.

Professionals holding the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential are health information technicians who:

• Often specialize in coding diagnoses and procedures in patient records for reimbursement and research. An additional role for RHITs is cancer registrars compiling and maintaining data on cancer patients.

• Ensure the quality of medical records by verifying their completeness, accuracy, and proper

Spain says, “With experience, the RHIT credential holds solid potential for advancement to management

positions, especially when combined with a bachelor’s degree. Although most RHITs work in hospitals, they are also found in other healthcare settings including office-based physician practices, nursing homes, home health agencies, mental health facilities, and public health agencies.

In fact, RHITs may be employed in any organization that uses patient data or health information, such as pharmaceutical companies, law and insurance firms, and health product vendors.”

The HIT program at FRCC is accredited and gaining recognition.

Before being accredited, there was only one other school in Colorado that could offer this program and have graduates sit for the national RHIT exam. That school is entirely online. Now those interested in this field have a choice of schools, as well as the choice to have in-classroom classes.

Spain says, “Prior to this, the students who did graduate could not take the exam and had to wait until now to be able to do so. As a current or future student, this means that now there is no waiting time to be able to sit for the exam as early as your last semester of school.”

For those interested, the HIT department and club organizes various events around campus. The most recent event was on October 29th, to celebrate the department accreditation.

They are working on an event for the spring semester with a discussion panel, professionals currently in the field, and job preparation workshops. Their next HIT club meeting will be held November 13th in room B1604 from 1:30-2:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Debra Charles, HIT Program Director at 303404-5293 or debra.charles@ frontrange.edu.

The entire content of The Front Page is Copyrighted by the FRCC Board of Publications. No part of the publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. The staff of The Front Page is encouraged to subscribe to the principles of the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics.

Inquiries may be referred to the Office of Human Resources, 3645 W. 112th Avenue, Westminster CO 80031-2199, (303-466-8811); The Director of Affirmative Action for the Colorado College System, 9101 E. Lowry Blvd., Denver CO 80230-6011; or to the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Dept. of Education, 1961 Stout St., Denver CO 80204

303-404-5534 | Frontpage@frontrange.edu

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Rachel Padro

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Charlie Groen Carlos Escamilla Jessica Brown

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