TIMES TRI - C®
IN THIS ISSUE P12:
HOOP DREAMS COME TRUE P16:
BUILDING MOMENTUM A PUBLICATION OF CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
P18:
BLUE COURAGE SUMMER 2018
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Culinary Festival | Noon - 11 p.m. $5 Admission, Kids 12 and under free Chef-driven restaurants, craft beverages, culinary demonstrations and live entertainment!
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Benefiting Tri-C’s Hospitality Management Center of Excellence. 18-0002
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TRI-C TIMES 18-0002 HSP 2018 Cleve Eats Tri-C Times Ad 7.875x10.875.indd 1
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PRESIDENT’S Message TO OUR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) raised the bar for success during the 2017-2018 academic year. The College celebrated the largest graduating class in its 55-year history, awarding nearly 5,000 degrees and certificates to propel our newest alumni on their educational, professional and personal journeys. In this issue of Tri-C Times, you will read some of their stories of accomplishment. Their achievements add momentum to a positive trend at the College. Over the past five years, Tri-C’s graduation rate has increased by 400 percent thanks to a renewed focus on student success and completion among faculty, staff and administration. However, we must never lose sight of the institution’s historical emphasis on educational access — ensuring that as many people as possible can benefit from the value and power of a Tri-C education. That access is made possible thanks to longstanding support from the voters of Cuyahoga County. In fact, the success of the College’s capital bond last fall is already paying dividends, with new construction projects underway across the county. An update on these projects can be found in the pages that follow.
TRI-C IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY AND THE ECONOMY OF NORTHEAST OHIO THROUGH SIX CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE — THREE OF WHICH ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS ISSUE.
The Public Safety Center of Excellence remains on the cutting edge of preparing our region’s first responders. To that end, every student in the center’s police academy participates in Blue Courage, a national program focused on developing the whole person and emphasizing police-community relationships. Also included in this issue are profiles of one of the successful alumni from the Hospitality Management Center of Excellence and a stellar faculty member from the Recording Arts Technology program, part of the Creative Arts Center of Excellence. These stories represent just a few of the achievements we have marked at Tri-C. We expect even more in the year to come as we continue our mission to help individuals pursue their aspirations through higher education. The future is bright indeed. Sincerely,
Alex Johnson, Ph.D. President
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IN THIS ISSUE:
6
18 16
EDITOR
John Horton MANAGING EDITOR
Mary Gygli COPY EDITOR
Beth Cieslik WRITERS
Erik Cassano Beth Cieslik John Horton Jarrod Zickefoose PHOTOGRAPHERS
Black Valve Media Joseph Darwal Jeff Forman Tamara London Janet Macoska MarathonFoto Jason Miller McKinley Wiley Cody York
TABLE of CONTENTS President’s Message.................................3 Upfront........................................................5 Student Success Stories ...........................6 Hoop Dreams.......................................... 12 Building Momentum................................16 Blue Courage........................................... 18 Alumni Profile: Chris Kafcsak..................21 Faculty Profile: Brian Boyd.......................22 Student Profile: Tracy Bellum..................25 Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland...........................26 Run for WIT...............................................28
SUM
MeetMe@Tri-C..........................................30 #MyTri-CStory...........................................30
ILLUSTRATOR
Andrea Levy DESIGN
Bill Reid
FOLLOW TRI-C Tri-C Times is published by the Cuyahoga Community College Integrated Communications Department for its friends and constituents. Feedback and story ideas are welcome. Send correspondence to Tri-C Times, 2500 E. 22nd St., Cleveland, Ohio 44115, call 216-987-4322, or email editorial@tri-c.edu.
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Upfront JOINING FORCES TO BETTER NORTHEAST OHIO Tri-C joined with eight other public colleges and universities to form the Northeast Ohio Regional Higher Education Compact, a consortium designed to strengthen educational offerings and bolster the workforce and local economy. Presidents from the schools gathered at Tri-C at the end of June to sign the agreement. “As these stalwart institutions find new ways to work together, we become better positioned to improve student outcomes and expand opportunity for our region,” Tri-C President Alex Johnson said.
A HOMECOMING FOR THE HUMANITIES Matthew Carey Jordan is coming home to lead Tri-C’s Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center. The College recently named Jordan dean for humanities following a national search. Jordan, who grew up in Hudson, returns to Northeast Ohio following five years steering academic initiatives at Auburn University at Montgomery in Alabama. He is regarded as a national leader in honors education, making him well-positioned to guide the Mandel Humanities Center as it strives to become a model for engagement in the humanities.
UMMER 2018 GROWING WITH GOOGLE Google brought its Grow with Google tour to Cleveland and Tri-C as part of a national initiative to create economic opportunity through digital skills training. More than 700 people attended the free event at the College’s Hospitality Management Center to learn how to thrive in today’s online world. The tour stop built on work already underway at Tri-C’s Information Technology Center of Excellence. In June, Google announced plans to partner with the College on an information technology support certificate program.
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TRI-C STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES
GREAT JOB,
GRADS!
A graduation cap, gown and tassel: Nearly 5,000 student stories shared that ending at Cuyahoga Community College during the 2017-2018 academic year. That population of graduates — the equivalent of a small city — set a new standard of success at Tri-C. It is the largest class to petition for associate degrees and certificates since the College opened its doors in 1963. The surge continues the positive momentum that has been building with a renewed emphasis on access, equity and student success at the College. Tri-C’s federally tracked graduation rate has quadrupled since Alex Johnson became president of the College five years ago. Those gains reflect the College’s mission to provide its students clearly marked maps to academic achievement. Newer programs such as the First Year Experience guide students toward graduation and, ultimately, career success. “Our community grows stronger with each degree and certificate earned at Tri-C,” Johnson said. “These graduates built the skills to take on meaningful careers in our region, where they will serve as a strong foundation for a better tomorrow.” The promise of a better tomorrow acts as a driving force behind everything at Tri-C. It’s at the core of the College’s mission to provide a high-quality, affordable education to those striving to do more for themselves and the community. The stories over the following pages showcase just a few of the outstanding graduates now ready to make a difference using lessons learned at Tri-C.
STORIES BY Erik Cassano AND John Horton STUDENT PORTRAITS BY Tamara London
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TRI-C STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES
THE ‘IT’ FACTOR
RYAN JASANY MAKES A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER Two years ago, Ryan Jasany eyes to the world of IT. held a newly minted education His professors and staff in the degree from Bowling Green State Career Center prepared him University. He worked in the field. to find work in the industry. He had a future in his sights. The trouble was, Jasany didn’t really “The professors challenge you, like the future he saw. The longer but they are also there to help he worked in education, the you,” Jasany said. “One of my more he became convinced it professors stayed after class with just wasn’t for him. His older me for an hour as I was getting brother’s career seemed much ready to apply for an internship. more interesting. He answered my questions and explained what to expect during “I saw him working in IT; he liked the interview. It’s very helpful to what he was doing and it seemed have someone willing to coach like a good career to get into,” you like that.” Jasany said. Jasany had previously taken classes at Cuyahoga The Career Center assisted Community College and knew the Jasany in developing his resumeCollege had an IT program. In the writing and interviewing skills and fall of 2016, he decided to dip his connected him with networking toe in the pool and register for a events and career fairs. After few IT courses. It didn’t take long nearly a year, the hard work paid for him to get hooked. off ― Jasany secured an internship with MTD Products in Valley City, In May, Jasany graduated from where he worked from May to Tri-C with an Associate of Applied November 2017. Business in IT Programming and Development. He also received a Jasany, now 23, left MTD to take pair of certificates in mobile app a full-time position with Inforce development and web application Technologies in Cleveland, where development. he presently works. “After those first few classes, I knew I wanted to make a career of it,” he said. “I loved the problem-solving aspect of it. It didn’t feel like work, it felt like solving a puzzle.” But Tri-C did more than open Jasany’s
“Tri-C helped me get my current job as well,” he said. “My class took a bus trip last year to several IT companies, including Inforce. Through that, I got to meet some developers and make some connections. When I applied for my job here, I already knew some people, and it made the process a lot smoother.” In the span of just two years, Jasany went from searching to successful — and he credits Tri-C for giving him the support to make it all happen.
IT’S THE ENVIRONMENT TRI-C PROVIDES. I WAS SURROUNDED BY SO MANY PEOPLE WHO WERE IN A SIMILAR SITUATION TO MINE, INTERESTED IN IT AND TRYING TO MAKE IT INTO A NEW CAREER. IT WAS LIKE A BIG SUPPORT GROUP, AND IT SHOWED ME THAT I COULD DO THIS. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH MYSELF FORWARD.
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TRI-C STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES
LEADING BY EXAMPLE
CHERELDA BELL EARNS TWO DEGREES WHILE TEACHING HER DAUGHTERS ABOUT PERSEVERANCE Success can be contagious. Just ask Cherelda Bell. The mother of three spent six long years working toward commencement at Cuyahoga Community College. She studied nights. She studied weekends. She studied whenever she found a rare free moment. And as Bell pushed herself to achieve academically, she watched as her daughters — Ja’Meria, 14; Ja’Sha, 10; and Ja’Zonna, 9 — did the same. “Tri-C didn’t just help me,” the 34-year-old Cleveland resident said. “It helped my whole family.” Bell graduated from the College in May with two degrees, an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing and an Associate of Arts. She intends to continue her education at Cleveland State University through the RN-to-BSN program between Tri-C and CSU. That future once seemed unattainable. Bell struggled in her first attempt at college in 2004 and 2005, failing more classes than she passed. She left school and entered the workforce to support her first child. Years quickly passed as daily demands dominated Bell’s time. When she paused long enough to examine her life, she saw little prospect of career advancement, higher earnings or a better future.
Student resources such as the TRIO program taught Bell how to make the most of her second chance. She involved herself on campus, too, participating in student government and Black American Council.
To change that, Bell signed up for one course — Beginning Algebra — at Tri-C’s Eastern Campus. “I owed it to myself, to my daughters, to give it another try,” she said.
Multiple scholarships followed as Bell achieved in the classroom. That led to her selection as a Mandel Scholar and Eastern Campus Student of the Year.
Bell rebuilt her GPA class by class, semester by semester. She gradually increased her course load over the next few years and enrolled as a full-time student after being laid off from her job in 2015.
As Bell poured herself into her studies, she said that her daughters followed her example. Homework sessions became a family affair. Academics turned into a household priority. Success became the norm.
I DIDN’T DO ALL OF THIS JUST FOR MYSELF. BEING A MOTHER MEANS BEING A ROLE MODEL. I’M DEVELOPING MY GIRLS. I WANTED THEM TO SEE WHAT IS POSSIBLE IF YOU KEEP WORKING AND MOVING FORWARD.
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TRI-C STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES
DANIEL MURRAY TRAINS HIS BODY AND MIND TO EARN A DEGREE AT TRI-C Determination. Toughness. A refusal to quit. Daniel Murray used those traits to mold himself into a kickboxing champion in his native Ireland. He leaned on the same attributes to earn an Associate of Science degree in Sport and Exercise Studies at Tri-C. “Success starts from within,” Murray said. “I vowed to outwork everyone to make myself a kickboxing champion. That’s the same mentality I brought to my studies.” That attitude took time to forge, though. Murray began his adult life running an appliance repair business in Ireland. Customer calls kept him busy fixing washers, dryers and anything else that broke. The on-the-go lifestyle left him little time to exercise or eat right. One day, he looked in the mirror and saw a man 80 pounds heavier than he remembered. “I said, ‘That’s not me,’” Murray said. “So I got on it to make a change.” He discovered kickboxing and pounded his body into shape at the gym. In 2015, he won a title from the World Organization of Martial Arts Athletes during the World Martial Arts Games XV in Cardiff, Wales. The transformation from a hefty repairman to chiseled champion convinced Murray to seek a career as a trainer. Murray enrolled in Tri-C’s Sport and Exercise Studies (SES)
A CHAMPIONSHIP ATTITUDE program in 2016 soon after moving to Cleveland with his wife, who grew up in the area. The two met while she was in Ireland on a college studyabroad program. He attacked his studies with the same ferocity he brought to the ring, compiling a flawless 4.0 GPA at the College. His grades earned him an invitation to join the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society chapter at Eastern Campus. This past semester, SES Program Manager Chris Faciana arranged for Murray to intern at SPIRE Institute — an official U.S. Olympic and Paralympic training center located in Ashtabula County.
“IT’S ALL ABOUT BUILDING PEOPLE UP. I LOVE TO SEE PEOPLE’S PROGRESS. SOME PEOPLE WANT TO JUMP HIGHER, GET STRONGER OR RUN FASTER. I LIKE BEING ABLE TO HELP THEM DO THAT.” Murray plans to start his own personal training business and possibly open a gym. Additional education may be in his future, too, as he may pursue a bachelor’s degree in sports science from a four-year institution. None of that would have been possible without Tri-C, said Murray, who is the first in his family to earn a college degree. “Tri-C had everything I needed,” Murray said. “It’s a place I’ll recommend for the rest of my life.”
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TRI-C STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES
DESTINY HANZEL GRADUATES FROM TRI-C’S AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM WITH A DEGREE AND A JOB
MOTORING INTO A CAREER
Destiny Hanzel heard all the reasons why she couldn’t be an automotive technician. She isn’t big enough or strong enough to work on large vehicles. She’ll feel out of place working in a field occupied nearly entirely by men. She’s heard every word of it, and she doesn’t care. In fact, it makes her want to follow her dream all the more.
“A LOT OF PEOPLE TOLD ME I COULDN’T. THEY SAID ‘YOU’RE A GIRL, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO LIFT A BIG TRUCK TIRE?’ I DIDN’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY, BUT I VIEWED IT AS A CHALLENGE. I WANT TO SHOW PEOPLE I CAN DO IT.” 10
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Hanzel graduated from Tri-C in May with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology. She left as a General Motors-certified automotive technician after completing GM’s Automotive Service Educational Program (ASEP) at the College.
But even so, Hanzel didn’t follow her dad’s path exactly. Instead of auto body repair, she focused under the hood on the technologically advanced, computer-driven engines that power today’s vehicles.
A job at the Medina Auto Mall awaited Hanzel after commencement. She interned at the dealership as part of the Tri-C program.
Hanzel said the academic advising and support she received through the College’s Degree in Three program helped keep her motoring toward graduation. Scholarships through the College and other sources will allow her to graduate debt-free.
“Every program in college should be like this one,” Hanzel said. “Everyone in here has a path to a job. It’s laid out for you.” The 20-year-old Valley City resident has been around cars since childhood. Her father, Bernie Hanzel, owns and operates an auto body shop in Medina County. Hanzel credits him as her primary source of inspiration.
She spent her final two years of high school in the auto tech program at the Medina County Career Center and enrolled at Tri-C after receiving her diploma from Buckeye High School.
“I had an idea what Tri-C could do for my life, but it did so much more than I ever expected,” Hanzel said. “This is the place to come if you have a goal and dream. The people here will help you succeed.”
TRI-C STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY FORMER FOSTER YOUTH NATASHA DAVIS FINDS SUPPORT TO SUCCEED AT TRI-C Natasha Davis beat the odds. Four years after aging out of foster care, Davis graduated from Cuyahoga Community College in May with an Associate of Arts degree. Statistics show that less than 10 percent of former foster youth graduate college. “It has been a rough road,” the 22-year-old from Cleveland said, “but I always tried to stay positive and focus on moving forward. I was lucky, too — a lot of people helped me get where I am today.” She found some of her biggest supporters at Tri-C’s Western Campus. Davis enrolled at the College in 2015, two years after graduating early from Cleveland’s C.A.S.T.L.E. High School. She struggled through her first classes while trying to build self-confidence. Tri-C paired Davis with a mentor — Beverly Croom-Reynolds, a financial aid advisor at Western Campus — through its Reach Scholars program in 2016. Just like that, everything changed.
“SHE BELIEVED IN ME WHEN I DIDN’T THINK I WAS SMART ENOUGH FOR COLLEGE. SHE MADE ME THINK I COULD DO THIS. SHE TOLD ME THAT I COULD SUCCEED AND GRADUATE. NOBODY HAD EVER DONE THAT BEFORE.” That same year, Davis found herself in College Composition II with assistant professor Kirsten Yates-Konzen. A writing assignment during fall semester asked students to explore their genealogy. It turned into a life-changing project. Yates-Konzen encouraged Davis to explore her difficult past and embrace it. While doing the assignment, Davis researched the history of the foster care system and explored her own files with the county’s Division of Children and Family Services.
Davis now dedicates herself to advocating for children traveling the path she walked. The woman who was once afraid to speak of her past now freely shares her story to educate others. She traveled to Washington, D.C., and Columbus last year to discuss foster care with federal and state officials. Davis also volunteers with the county to help young adults aging out of the foster system. Davis served as a student ambassador at Tri-C and worked with international students at the College to help them overcome language barriers. She currently works part time in the counseling office at Western Campus. Her many honors at Tri-C include being named Western Campus Student of the Year in 2017 and receiving the College’s Community Champion Award and a Stokes Legacy Award. Davis intends to transfer to Cleveland State University in the fall to begin working toward a bachelor’s degree in social work. She said she wants to see foster youth receive the support they deserve. “We need a better system to help these children succeed,” Davis said. “I want to be part of finding that solution. I want to be a positive force.”
“Before, I didn’t feel comfortable about things,” Davis said. “This made me accept and appreciate the things I went through. It truly made me a stronger woman.” SUMMER 2018
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HOOP DREAMS COME TRUE
STORY BY Erik Cassano PHOTOS BY Cody York
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THESE FIVE SOPHOMORES COMPRISE ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CLASSES IN THE HISTORY OF THE TRI-C MEN’S BASKETBALL PROGRAM — BOTH ON THE COURT AND IN THE CLASSROOM.
IT WAS A MOMENT TO CHERISH. SOMETHING TO TAKE OUT, DUST OFF AND RELIVE YEARS FROM NOW. Quintin Dove, Devon Robinson, Larenz Thurman and twin brothers Waheem and Wade Lowman. Cuyahoga Community College’s graduating class of sophomore men’s basketball players. Five young men about to go their separate ways. They’re together for one last time as teammates, for a professional photo shoot. They’ve learned so much in their two years at Tri-C. They’ve learned about teamwork and responsibility, accountability and sacrifice. They’ve learned lessons that will serve them well in the adult world. But for a moment, they don’t have to concern themselves with any of that. They can stand in the Metropolitan Campus gym, where they compiled much of their incredible 60-5 record over the past two years, wear their white uniforms under their teal graduation gowns and bask in the glow of their achievements — both athletic and academic. Assistant coach Thomas Coleman watched as this quintet, who grew so much over the past two years, gathered in front of the camera one final time — arms around each other, laughing and smiling — before they depart Tri-C to continue their basketball careers and education at four-year schools. “Kind of makes you feel a little something, doesn’t it?” a bystander asked Coleman. “Oh, I cry all the time,” Coleman joked. Time will march on. A new season will commence this fall, with a new cast of returning sophomores and incoming freshmen. The pictures from this day will be used in College literature, but — like all aging pictures — will eventually end up in the depths of filing cabinets, servers and hard drives. Someday, though, someone will find them again. And someone will remember that this was no ordinary class of graduating sophomores. To understand why, you have to go back to the beginning of head coach Michael Duncan’s tenure in 2013. The team was coming off a 13-16 season, players weren’t graduating and the team’s collective GPA hovered around 1.8. “Guys were coming here to play basketball, not necessarily to be students,” Duncan said. “As a result, we weren’t winning, we weren’t graduating students — it wasn’t working on any level. So when I came in, my biggest thing was to turn that around.”
class attendance went a long way toward determining who saw playing time. “Playing basketball is a reward, not a right,” Duncan said. “You have to make it a consequence. You do your schoolwork, you have a chance to play. And if you do really well in class, maybe you get some extra privileges and freedom while we’re on the road. But nothing happens if you’re not focusing on your classes.” Five years later, Duncan’s methods are delivering results. The team’s collective GPA now sits over 2.5. Duncan sees this year’s graduating sophomores as a powerful symbol of what is possible for a junior college athletic program. He wants to make the story of this year’s sophomore class a yearly occurrence at Tri-C. That should be the goal for any junior college athletic program, he said.
“YOU CAN WIN GAMES, BUT THE REAL TEST IS, DO YOUR PLAYERS MOVE ON? DO THEY GO TO A FOUR-YEAR SCHOOL AND GET THEIR BACHELOR’S DEGREES? THESE GUYS DID IT.” “I’m just amazed by them, what they’ve been able to accomplish on and off the court in just two years. They’ve set the standard for the program, and now it’s up to future classes to live up to that.” Dove, the 2017-2018 Ohio Community College Athletic Conference Player of the Year, has committed to the University of Tennessee at Martin. Robinson will move on to California University of Pennsylvania. Thurman will stay local, attending Notre Dame College in South Euclid. Waheem Lowman will return home to the Philadelphia area and attend Neumann University, while his brother Wade will head south to the University of Montevallo in Alabama. They will scatter to destinations across the map, but they’ve left an indelible mark on Tri-C — an OCCAC title, a share of a second title and an appearance in the NJCAA Division II National Championship Tournament. They brought title banners home. They graduated. They redefined what it means to be a Tri-C basketball player. Someday, we’ll pull out those old photos from the spring of 2018 and remember.
Duncan saw to it that his players attended study sessions, working with tutors three to four days a week. Good grades and SUMMER 2018
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5
FAB
FLIGHT PLANS
ASON STATS:
2017-2018 SE
REB 0.6 AST 18.9 PTS 8.4
E Q U I N T I N D OV
at Tri-C, two-year career After a stellar r to play cepted an offe Quintin Dove ac at Martin e se ty of Tennes for the Universi C Player CA OC e reigning next season. Th -C with an uated from Tri of the Year grad plans to ts degree and Associate of Ar . ering at UTM major in engine ent-athlete, sk to be a stud “It’s a tough ta s at Tri-C rs and coache but my teache u have to Yo d a balance. helped me fin on the court th bo rk ethic have a great wo what I ies, and that’s and in your stud va a luable time here. It’s learned in my ver I go.” re he y with me w lesson I’ll carr
RD #22 FORWA
2017-2018 SEASON ST AT
S:
D E VO N R O B IN S O N
11.3 PTS 10.5 REB 2.7 AST
#0 GU AR D
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TRI-C TIMES
Devon Robinson, the Ch allengers’ doubledouble machine, gradua ted from Tri-C with an Associate of Art s degree. He will continue his education and playing career at California University of Pennsylvania, where he plans to major in social work. “I’d tell new student-athle tes to take school seriously. That’s the les son I learned here. Go to class, and when tes ts come, take them seriously. Don’t let your popularity go to your head just becaus e you play a sport.”
2017-2018 SEAS ON
STAT
S: 13.4 PTS 7.3 REB 1.1 AST
WA D E L O W M A N
Wade Lowman, th e Challengers’ big man, graduated from TriC with an Associa te of Ar ts degree. He plans to major in accounting at the University of Mont evallo in Alabama. “Everyone at Tri-C worked their hard est to put me in the right situation to succee d. I feel like they actu ally cared about me as a person and want ed me to do well. The people here are a big reason why I’ve become the pe rson and the player I am.”
2017-2018 SEASON STATS:
#2 3 C EN TE R
WAH EE M LOW M AN
7.1 PTS 3 REB 1.9 AST
Tri-C Waheem Lowman graduated from plans He ee. degr Arts of ciate with an Asso n man to major in physical therapy at Neu nia, sylva Penn , ship University in Aston Town hia. delp Phila of n near his hometow for you. “The teachers at Tri-C really look out go and tions ques They’re willing to answer re you’ If well. do you help the extra mile to to g willin ’re they , work the in put willing to help you.”
#3 GU ARD
LARENZ THURM AN
2017-2018 SEAS ON
#1 1 G U AR D
STAT
S: 11.0 PTS 3.6 REB 4.7 AST After missing the 2016-2017 season due to a torn ACL, Lare nz Thurman return ed this season to sta rt 30 games and lead the team in assis ts. He graduated fro m Tri-C with an Asso ciate of Ar ts degree and will attend Notre Dame College in South Euclid next school year, where he pla ns to continue his bask etball career and ma jor in business. “Playing basketba ll at Tri-C taught me about teamwork and brot herhood, but what I learned here acad emically is what is going to prepare me for the real world. It ta kes hard work to be a good player, and it also takes hard work to be a good student .”
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BUILDING
THE CLASSROOMS OF TOMORROW ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION TODAY AT CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE. Rising structures across the Tri-C landscape offer brick-and-mortar evidence of a new era in academic instruction and workforce training. On every campus, new spaces signal opportunity for Northeast Ohio residents looking to build the skills needed for future success. The work aligns with the College’s commitment to providing innovative learning spaces that connect to in-demand jobs vital to the regional economy. These blueprints for student achievement promise to elevate College programs serving fields such as engineering, information technology, health care, manufacturing, automotive technology and public safety. “Each of these projects better positions Tri-C students for success in their education and careers,” said Alex Johnson, president of the College. “We are strengthening the foundation of the College to allow Northeast Ohio and its residents to reach new heights.”
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PROJECTS INCLUDE: • Construction of the Westshore Campus Center, which will feature more than 30 classrooms and specialized labs to address a critical space shortage at the College’s fastest-growing campus. • An expansion of the Advanced Technology Training Center at Metropolitan Campus in Cleveland, creating a hub for manufacturing and engineering programs. • The addition of a STEM Center at Western Campus with lab/classroom space dedicated to courses in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. • The creation of Simulation Village at the KeyBank Public Safety Training Center on Western Campus to elevate first responder training.
MOMENTUM
Voter approval of a bond issue request in November 2017 put these plans in motion. Passage of Issue 61 raised $227.5 million for the College to add instructional space, keep pace with changing technology and address decades of wear and tear on buildings. The infrastructure investment is the largest ever approved by Ohio voters for a community college, said Jack Hershey, president and CEO of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges. “The go-ahead to launch this work reaffirms the community’s belief in Tri-C and its programs,” Hershey said. “They clearly saw this as an investment in the future.” To keep track of progress on Tri-C projects, visit www.tri-c.edu/constructionupdates.
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TRAINING THE PERSON, NOT JUST THE OFFICER:
BLUE COURAGE TRI-C COURSE FOCUSES ON PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF POLICE Police officers have one of the most stressful occupations in the country. Tasked with protecting citizens and enforcing laws, they operate in an environment in which confrontations are the norm. Officers serve as the field referees in domestic disputes, the sleuths who track down thieves and the wranglers who snare drunk drivers on roadways. They are the defenders who risk their own safety by stepping between law-abiding citizens and those who would do them harm. Over time, the daily exposure to high stress can chip away at job performance. Officers can experience burnout, and develop a cynical, calloused attitude toward the communities they serve. That, in turn, plays a role in eroding the relationship between police and the population at large. Blue Courage is a national police training program that acknowledges the unique challenges that come with police work. It requires participants to examine the relationship between police and the community and provides insight into the physical, mental and emotional toll of police work, ultimately helping officers construct a healthier work-life balance. Cuyahoga Community College’s Public Safety Center of Excellence added Blue Courage to its police academy’s required curriculum in 2016. This summer, the course will become mandatory for all police academies in Ohio.
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STORY BY Erik Cassano ILLUSTRATION BY Andrea Levy
Chief Clayton Harris, dean of public safety for Tri-C, said the College took a leadership role in the advancement of police training by adopting Blue Courage before it became mandatory. “Tri-C has always valued innovation, creativity and leading change,” Harris said. “Early on, we recognized how important Blue Courage would be. We always try to seek out better ways to train law enforcement professionals so they can perform at the highest level.” Commander Elijah Baisden, a certified Blue Courage instructor, teaches the course to Tri-C police cadets as well as to veteran officers from police departments throughout the region. The program has been widely adopted by police department and training academies around the nation because it addresses the person behind the badge. The central concept of Blue Courage is that a healthy, well-rounded person becomes a healthy, wellrounded officer.
“THE FIRST TIME I READ THE MATERIAL, I REALIZED THAT BLUE COURAGE HAD HIT UPON SOMETHING SPECIAL AND WORTHWHILE. IT WAS SOMETHING POLICE AND COMMUNITIES NEEDED AND COULD BENEFIT FROM.”
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One of the most important messages in the program is the need for work-life balance. Police officers tend to grade poorly in terms of work-life balance, and that can have a number of negative effects on the job. It’s OK to have fun. It’s OK to do the things you enjoy. Even if it’s just for a short time, it’s good to get away from the stress of the job for a while. “The key to Blue Courage is that it addresses four main areas of personal health — physical, mental, emotional and spiritual,” Baisden said. “The idea is that if you pay attention to those four areas, you’ll be a healthier individual overall and better able to respond to the needs of the community you serve.” To achieve greater health in those areas, Blue Courage first teaches its participants to look inward at the state of their own lives — not just when they’re in uniform, but away from duty as well. Blue Courage also stresses the importance of looking outward. Controversial and highly publicized incidents involving the use of weapons and physical force by police have contributed to deteriorating relationships between police and the communities they serve. This can add to the stress police encounter each day. As a result, police officers can easily become callous and cynical toward the public. It can cause a police department’s culture to become one of exclusion, which can create barriers between police and the community. Olmsted Township Police Chief Matthew Vanyo took the Blue Courage course at Tri-C in 2016 along with other members of his department. He said the program emphasized the importance of police operating as both law enforcers and members of the community.
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COMMANDER ELIJAH BAISDEN CERTIFIED BLUE COURAGE INSTRUCTOR
“We aren’t just a badge or a belt,” Vanyo said. “We are members of the communities we serve. We have to uphold the law, but do so with compassion, do so in a way that garners trust and respect. Without that, not only does the relationship with the community deteriorate, the department itself fractures.” Law enforcement will always be one of the most difficult professions a person can enter. Those who succeed in it must have a passion for the work that is strong enough to outlast the difficulties and dangers of the job.
“BLUE COURAGE DOESN’T CHANGE THE NATURE OF THE PROFESSION, BUT IT CAN BETTER PREPARE OFFICERS FOR THE WORK AHEAD.” “This is a noble, honorable profession,” Vanyo said. “It is a calling, and I truly believe that. Blue Courage makes you remember why you entered the profession. We entered it to serve, and focusing on that purpose is what drives you. It’s what makes you a better officer, a better community member and gives you the resiliency to overcome the challenges of the job.”
TRI-C ALUMNI PROFILE
INGREDIENTS
FOR SUCCESS
STORY BY John Horton PHOTOS BY Tamara London
TRI-C CULINARY PROGRAM HELPS CHRISTOPHER KAFCSAK MOVE HIS CAREER TO THE KITCHEN Chef Christopher Kafcsak entered Cleveland’s culinary scene through the produce aisle. Long before he sharpened his cooking skills at Cuyahoga Community College and opened Nomad Culinary, Kafcsak worked at the Northern Ohio Food Terminal supplying restaurants with the fresh ingredients that make meals come to life. He filled orders ranging from common goods like lettuce, tomatoes and onions to exotic selections like the tentacled fruit dubbed Buddha’s hand. In that job, he said, produce served as a commodity to buy and sell. But one night helping a chef friend cater a dinner event changed that viewpoint: “He did so many interesting things with the ingredients,” Kafcsak said. “I saw food in a way I had never seen it before.” So in 2010, Kafcsak enrolled in the culinary program at Tri-C’s Hospitality Management Center of Excellence. (He previously had earned an Associate of Applied Business degree from the College.) “Tri-C gave me a foundation to build on,” said Kafcsak, 31, of Parma. “I owe so much to what I learned there.” Kafcsak took the knowledge he gained at the College and put it to use in a mouthwatering list of Northeast Ohio eateries, including Cibreo Italian Kitchen, AMP 150 and Washington Place Bistro. In 2015, the rising star on the Cleveland food scene landed the executive chef position at Deagan’s Kitchen and Bar.
with the College to create hands-on work experiences for students, particularly regarding cooking for large events.
“TRI-C IS WHERE THE NEXT GENERATION OF CLEVELAND CHEFS WILL GET THEIR START. I WANT TO DO WHATEVER I CAN TO HELP THEM ALONG.”
In addition, Kafcsak is part of the Culinary Council guiding His focus now is on building Nomad Culinary, a cook-from-scratch catering Tri-C’s Cleveland Eats Culinary Festival. company he owns and operates. Kafcsak creates custom meals in Nomad’s Broadview Heights kitchen that add a wow factor to events across the region. The festival, now in its second year, will take place Sept. 15 at the Mall B outdoor event space above the Huntington Tri-C, meanwhile, continues to be part of Kafcsak’s career. He employs Convention Center of Cleveland. five graduates and one student from the culinary program and works
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TRI-C FACULTY PROFILE
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ON THE RECORD
RECORDING ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY PROFESSOR BRIAN BOYD BRINGS REAL-WORLD STUDIO EXPERIENCE TO THE CLASSROOM
“Liberty’s in Solon … Maple Heights … Brunswick … Parma Heights … Vermilion … ah-oooom!” If you’ve heard the ubiquitous radio commercial for Cleveland-based auto dealer Liberty Ford, you’ve heard the work of Tri-C Recording Arts and Technology professor Brian Boyd. It’s been a long road for Boyd, with plenty of twists and turns. But he’s managed to do what many can only dream of — he’s made a living doing what he loves. Growing up in Deerfield, Ohio, Boyd played drums, guitar, bass and keyboards, creating his own primitive audio mixes using multiple cassette recorders. He enrolled at Kent State University with the goal of becoming a stockbroker, but ultimately pursued a bachelor’s degree in secondary education. He worked as a substitute teacher before taking a position at Portage County Opportunity School, a high school for kids expelled from regular schools. Before long, it became clear that the environment just wasn’t for him. Boyd took a job at a medical supply company while contemplating his next move. His wife, Cristine, urged him to consider turning his old hobby into a career. “She said, ‘You’re really into this music thing — why don’t you pursue that?’” said Boyd. “It hadn’t occurred to me that I could make a living at it.” The couple soon packed up and hit the road to find the best audio engineering program. They settled on Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, where Boyd earned
STORY BY Beth Cieslik PHOTOS BY Tamara London
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an associate degree in recording arts. Two days after graduation, he headed to Nashville to hand-deliver resumes and tour recording studios. Boyd landed an internship at Dark Horse Recording just outside Nashville. He lived in the studio recording contemporary bluegrass and Christian music. After a few months on the job, he was asked to take over recording and mixing on James “Earache” Shouse’s Ain’t No Part O’Nothin. “I was scared to death, because I knew I was not ready to mix a record by myself,” Boyd said. “I did all these things, like adding wild effects to the violins. Listening to it now, it sounds extremely amateur.”
“SHE SAID, ‘YOU’RE REALLY INTO THIS MUSIC THING — WHY DON’T YOU PURSUE THAT?’ IT HADN’T OCCURRED TO ME THAT I COULD MAKE A LIVING AT IT.”
Fortunately for him, the artist liked what he had done. Boyd returned to work on Monday morning and was offered a staff engineer position. Soon he was living his dream, learning the ins and outs of studio culture. As an engineer, Boyd worked 15-hour days, five or six days a week. Though he loved his new career, the lifestyle soon became incompatible with home life. In 2001, Boyd and his wife moved back to Northeast Ohio to start a family. He found a job at The Reel Thing, a small recording studio in downtown Cleveland. There he recorded commercials, voice-overs, sound effects for low-budget movies and other, mainly local, projects — including the Liberty Ford ad. “The best part was, it was a 9-to-5 job. In a music studio, you can go until 2 or 3 in the morning.” After five years at The Reel Thing, Boyd decided to go back to teaching — this time in a field he loved. He joined Tri-C’s Recording Arts and Technology (RAT) program in 2006 as an adjunct instructor.
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Boyd, who received tenure in fall 2017, sets the bar high for his students and exemplifies the work ethic needed to make it in the competitive audio recording industry.
“I’M NOT INTERESTED IN MEDIOCRITY. I PUSH MY STUDENTS TO BE THE BEST. A LOT OF THEM PROBABLY FIND ME TOUGH AS AN INSTRUCTOR, BUT THEY APPRECIATE IT LATER ON.”
One example is RAT-2300, the last course students take before the program’s internship component. Class is run just like a professional studio, with students responsible for booking talent, “renting” gear, meeting strict deadlines and attending regular production meetings. “At the end of each module, students invoice me as if I were the executive producer at this imaginary record label,” Boyd said. “Their grade is then based on what they can afford to buy with the ‘money’ they’ve earned.” Boyd also helps organize a recording workshop for RAT students each fall, where a local band comes into the studio for a recording project that starts on Friday and ends with a final mix on Sunday. Though music is still his first love, Boyd sees himself now more as a teacher than an audio engineer. He earned a master’s in education from Lake Erie College in 2013 and seizes every opportunity to learn new techniques from adjuncts and other industry professionals. “Records don’t sound the same in 2018 as they did in 1970,” he said. “As engineers, our job is constantly changing.” Boyd lives in Edinburg Township with his wife and their two kids, Daniel, 16, and Lauren, 11. He is currently building a home recording studio, which he will mainly use as an office. As an audio engineer, Boyd has done it all. But these days, his purpose is to support others in their pursuit of a career in this fierce, yet fascinating, industry. “I would probably never tell a student to do what I did, even though that’s kind of what you’ve got to do. You can’t just expect a job to fall into your lap. “The technical aspect will develop as you go, but the bottom line is, you’ve got to be someone your client can trust. You need to help them achieve what it is they’re hearing in their mind.
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TRI-C STUDENT PROFILE
GIVING BACK
TRI-C STUDENT TRACY BELLUM HONORED FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE ON CLEVELAND’S EAST SIDE
STORY BY Erik Cassano PHOTOS BY Tamara London
For more than a decade, Tracy Bellum has been organizing projects that “It’s funny, some of the students hear that they’re allow her students at Andrew J. Rickoff Elementary to help elderly, disabled going to be doing yardwork, and they kind of and underprivileged residents in Cleveland’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood. grumble,” Bellum said. “But then they get to know the seniors they’re helping, and by the end of the day The mission changed many lives — including that of Bellum, now a standout they’ve made new friends. It starts out as work, but it student at Cuyahoga Community College. doesn’t feel that way when the day ends.” She was honored earlier this year with a Newman Fellowship, given to highachieving college students who are active in their communities. She joined an exclusive group of 268 students nationwide in earning the fellowship. The community work that led to the award reflects Bellum’s upbringing.
“MY MOTHER AND MY GRANDPARENTS TAUGHT ME FROM AN EARLY AGE: IF YOU ARE ABLE TO HELP SOMEONE, DO IT. YOU MIGHT TURN THEIR DAY AROUND THROUGH EVEN A SIMPLE ACT OF KINDNESS.” Bellum, a special education teacher’s assistant at Rickoff, said she found fulfillment in taking students out of the classroom to serve others and make a difference. She arranged for the students to partner with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, where they learn how to fix porches, mend fences and do other tasks. Bellum also organized spring and fall cleanup days at the homes of elderly and disabled residents.
The work ethic and resourcefulness that served Bellum well in organizing community projects positioned her to become a successful student. She enrolled at Tri-C in 2016 to earn an associate degree and advance her career. The Mandel Scholar is on track to graduate in 2019. As a Newman Fellow, Bellum will have the opportunity to attend a variety of learning and networking events with other community-minded college students during the coming academic year — including the Newman Civic Fellows National Conference. Bellum credited her professors at the College for putting her in a position to earn the opportunity. Tri-C President Alex Johnson nominated Bellum for the fellowship. “If it hadn’t been for the support of the people at Tri-C, I don’t know if I’d be sitting here as a Newman Fellow right now,” she said. “I’ve felt genuine support here.”
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TRI-C JAZZFEST 2018: A HOT COMMODITY Thousands of people braved high humidity and 90-degree temperatures to pack the 2018 Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland, presented by KeyBank. The outdoor scene at Playhouse Square crackled with musical performances, artist talks, culinary exhibitions and more. Inside the historic theatres, air conditioning offered a welcome chill but marquee acts — including Dee Dee Bridgewater, Common and Snarky Puppy — brought their own heat. Next year, JazzFest celebrates its 40th anniversary. Don’t miss the music and fun June 27-29, 2019.
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RUNNING DOWN A DREAM TRI-C TRUSTEE RACHEL VON HENDRIX GOES THE EXTRA MILE FOR WOMEN IN TRANSITION PROGRAM
Rachel Von Hendrix heard the doubters after she registered for the Cleveland Marathon. “You can’t run that far,” people told her. “You’re just going to hurt yourself. You’re not going to make it.” The skepticism cast a large shadow as Von Hendrix ramped up training to run and raise scholarship money for the Women in Transition (WIT) program at Cuyahoga Community College.
“I KEPT THINKING OF THE WOMEN I WAS RUNNING FOR. WHATEVER MY STRUGGLE, IT SEEMED LIKE NOTHING COMPARED TO THEIRS.” Von Hendrix, a member of the College’s Board of Trustees completed her third “Run for WIT” in May when she crossed the half marathon finish line on Public Square. Her stepby-step journey through Cleveland’s streets raised more than $10,000. Since first lacing up her running shoes in 2016, Von Hendrix has raised more than $26,000. Every dollar goes to WIT graduates who turn to Tri-C to pursue education, training and a career. The Women in Transition program — currently celebrating its 40th anniversary at the College — works to empower women in transitional periods of their lives. The free course offers an opportunity for transformation. It puts dreams within reach. Participants build confidence and skills through workshops on personal development, career exploration and financial and computer literacy. WIT operates at four Tri-C locations and typically serves more than 300 women a year. STORY BY John Horton
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“The course is designed to help women move their lives from a state of uncertainty toward clarity,” said Cicely Campbell, director of WIT. “It’s where women can find the support and strength to go forward and discover a new destiny.”
The list of alumni after four decades easily numbers in the thousands. The roll call includes Regina Levine, who is Von Hendrix’s mother. Levine enrolled in 1980, two years after the Ohio Department of Education launched the program to aid women entering the workforce. It was originally known as the Displaced Homemakers Program. Von Hendrix often accompanied her mother to classes at Metropolitan Campus. “I remember how encouraging and positive the instructors were,” said Von Hendrix, who was in elementary school at the time. “The program really spoke to me. I saw how people could grow.” Momentum from the program propelled Levine into a career that stabilized the family household, Von Hendrix said. Levine also continued her education at Tri-C and earned an Associate of Arts degree in 1987.
The same success stories take place today. Tierra Banks, a 2015 WIT graduate, said the program catapulted her toward a better future and gave her the confidence to succeed at Tri-C. Funds from Run for WIT helped cover tuition for Banks as she worked toward her Associate of Arts degree. She intends to continue her education at Cleveland State University in the fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree in social work. Banks, 31, of Cleveland Heights, serves as executive director of Mended Inc., a nonprofit she founded to restore broken mother-daughter relationships.
[L-R] TRI-C PRESIDENT ALEX JOHNSON, TRI-C FOUNDATION PRESIDENT MEGAN O’BRYAN, WIT DIRECTOR CICELY CAMPBELL, TRUSTEE RACHEL VON HENDRIX AND TRUSTEE VICE CHAIR ANDREW E. RANDALL.
To donate to the Women in Transition Scholarship Fund aided by the Run for WIT, contact the Cuyahoga Community College Foundation at 216-987-4868.
“IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY I HAVE HAD, EVERY GOOD THING THAT HAS HAPPENED, GOES BACK TO WOMEN IN TRANSITION. THE PROGRAM HAS MEANT EVERYTHING TO ME.” That’s the sort of outcome that fuels Von Hendrix when pounding out miles. She said she draws parallels between what makes runners successful — goals, persistence, discipline — and the lessons taught by WIT. Her hope is that every program graduate encourages other women to believe in themselves and fulfill their potential. “How many women can we open the door for?” Von Hendrix asked. “I want the answer to be all.”
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MEET ME
TRI-C JOE BIANCHINI, 29, is a funding opportunities coordinator for Resource Development and the Tri-C Foundation at the District Administrative Office. He has been with the College for four years and is a lifelong North Olmsted resident. Q: How did you come to join Tri-C?
Q: What do you like most about your job?
JB: In May of 2014, I landed the administrative secretary position for the Student Life & Athletics office at the Western Campus. After two terrific years, I was determined to become even more involved with the College. In 2016, I accepted the funding opportunities coordinator position and have been learning and working hard since.
JB: I love helping coordinate Foundation-sponsored events like scholarship luncheons, Tri-C Day, JazzFest and Cleveland Eats. There’s a lot of behindthe-scenes work that goes into these events. It’s just incredible how much fundraising goes into them, transforming the lives of those Tri-C serves.
Q: What’s a day in the life of a funding opportunities coordinator like? JB: I handle many administrative tasks and ensure the office stays organized, informed and stocked with lots of supplies. You can never have too many Post-It notes or Sharpie markers! I also schedule meetings for our department to meet with community and business leaders to seek potential donors and partnerships.
#MYTRICSTORY
I’m also visual and creative, so I have been trying to update our meeting materials and proposals with a fresh look. Whatever resources we can provide to make our students successful, we’re “all in” to make that happen! Q: What is your greatest challenge, and how do you manage it? JB: My greatest challenge has been finding balance in my life. For instance, there’s a lot happening at Tri-C, and I try to explore as much as I can, but I’ve realized I can’t be everywhere — and that’s okay. I’m always juggling family, friends, money, social doings, religion, health, growth... you name it. I enjoy making time for myself, when I basically just rest, meditate or venture out to explore.
“TRI-C GAVE ME THE POWER TO BELIEVE IN MYSELF. I GOT A FRESH START HERE THAT GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE I NEEDED TO REALIZE THAT COLLEGE WAS FOR ME. I WILL CARRY THAT WITH ME WHEN I GO TO KENT TO GET MY BACHELOR’S IN ARCHITECTURE AND, POSSIBLY, A MASTER’S DEGREE.”
MAREE RASMUSSEN
Maree Rasmussen joined the long list of Tri-C alumni in May after graduating with honors and an Associate of Arts degree. The 25-year-old from Lakewood found success at the College after taking a break from classes to work after high school. The Mandel Scholar plans to transfer to Kent State University this fall to study architecture. #MYTRICSTORY IS A SERIES HIGHLIGHTING EVERYDAY PEOPLE IN THE TRI-C COMMUNITY. TO MEET MORE FEATURED STUDENTS AND STAFF, VISIT WWW.TRI-C.EDU/NEWS-AND-EVENTS.
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