Community Fall 2016 by Metropolitan Community College

FALL 2016

Fusing education and industry

Student highlights the future of welding page 16

CONTENTS 1

Program spotlight: Automotive Technology

Technical training in high demand

Supporting those who served

Veteran granted support and opportunity by MCC

Transfering to a four-year institution

From associate to bachelor's, here's what you need to know

Your ticket to ride

Transferring to a four-year institution

How one program is increasing access to class

Better than a cure

Cooking stove offers life-altering solution

For the love of reading

English instructor urges students to link interests with writing

What’s the buzz about?

BETTER THAN A CURE

MCC now offers beekeeping classes

10 ARTsarben Where creativity ignites

More than a medley of color

Delight your guests with this autumn dish

The key to get in

MORE THAN A MEDLEY OF COLOR

Scholarships help provide needed highway

Fusing education and industry

Student highlights the future of welding

FOC expansion update

Winter is coming

Champion of change

MCC instructor brings Nebraska history to students

FUSING EDUCATION AND INDUSTRY

20 Around the College

Fall 2016

Volume 4, Issue 1

“Community” is a quarterly publication of Metropolitan Community College. Contact the editor at 531-MCC-2876 or marketing@mccneb.edu. Metropolitan Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, age, disability or sexual orientation in admission or access to its programs and activities or in its treatment or hiring of employees.

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program spotlight

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY Technical training in high demand

or students seeking a career beyond the desk, the Automotive Technology program at MCC offers a fast-paced hands-on experience in a growing industry. While the starting pay is above average for graduates of this program, students should note that this program’s preparation through training in real-world work environments is no small task. For those who are eager for a challenge, the automotive industry hires professionals in various positions, such as technicians, service managers, manufacturer representatives and diagnostic specialists. Employing the most current and modern technology and testing equipment, the Automotive Technology program at MCC allows graduates to utilize the degree obtained. Providing readiness for today’s automotive industry, the College’s several partnerships ensure certification for both students and the public through Continuing Education.

“The automotive technology field is looking at an immediate need and long-term growth,” said Al Cox, an Automotive Technology instructor at MCC. “All the colleges in the area could not fill the jobs available today.” Students studying automotive technology at MCC have the opportunity to participate in two projects. Students need to complete a car repair to meet course curriculum, Cox explained. Staff and faculty will bring in cars, which allows for students to engage and gain exposure with the public. The program is also available to offer repairs on a budget for institutions with a need for transportation, such as women’s shelters. One other way that the program is allowing students to have hands-on learning is in their custom car build project. A generous donor wanted to develop student engagement on two of the College’s campuses, and the result was a car that students worked on and had featured at the Applejack Festival in Nebraska City, Nebraska, which ran September 16-18.

To learn more about this program and others, visit mccneb.edu/programsofstudy. community • mccneb.edu • 1

Supporting those who served Veteran granted support and opportunity by MCC

From helping to bring visibility to the experiences of student veterans to being offered a position as an aid to a congressman, Dean salutes the College for all of the opportunities he’s been given. “I would not be where I am today without the support of the staff and faculty at MCC.”

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es his educational uate, Jeff Dean, describ ad gr t en rec ’s ge lle Co h around the time he Metropolitan Community rious battle with his healt se a g nin gin Be ” lk. wa h self on experience as a “roug ee years—Dean prides him thr of an sp a er ov es eri jor surg began his studies—five ma up. course and never giving never having dropped a classes required him to leave his lly na sio ca oc d ha at th with his health ately Dean recalls the battles e hospital. He would ultim th to ed sh ru be to r de llege in or ulty would open at another community co C, the suppor t of the fac MC at re He . ram og pr a VA icant assistance in transfer to MCC through portunities offered signif op e os th of e On y. nit rtu up an abundance of oppo C. MC financing his time at first eight ram exhausted after his og pr VA e th gh ou thr g din like to share with Dean mentions that his fun en asked what he would Wh . me ca ts an gr e th nity that faculty and months at MCC, but then the suppor t and opportu ed ais pr ly ss tle en rel an others about MCC, De dents are looking llege. If prospective stu Co e th at e tim his g rin l level,” staff provided du les it on a more persona nd ha C MC lk— wa ur yo in you for a college to “suppor t says Dean. ow effor t students alike. “If you sh nt rre cu d an ve cti pe os ce to pr ’ll help find He goes on to give assuran ppor t and back you—they su ly on t no ll wi ] aff [st you, experience in and do what’s required of sures, drawing back to his as an De ” of, ard he en ev r all the dif ference for funding that you’ve neve ding seems to have made fun e Th . aid l cia an fin d perience receiving unexpecte crowds, regarding his ex us rio va of nt fro in es c speech Dean was given Dean, who has given publi trip to Washington, D.C., aid s-p se en xp -e all an . On d securing funds for as a veteran and student out raising awareness an ab en sm res ng co of om the floor to address a ro nal students. veteran and nontraditio business to continue his studies in an De for sy ea it de ma have nce drafting and The instructors at MCC s, Dean obtained experie se ur co s es sin bu in d lle probable business to management. While enro the superlative of “most ed ard aw s wa He n. pla pitching a business t their in which students presen st nte co a g rin du ch pit succeed” for his to a ative business concepts entrepreneurial or innov panel of judges. spirit running through his With an entrepreneurial of siness and the influence family, a background in bu rs—Liliana Peterson, Tom his former MCC instructo en—Dean is interested in Adamson and Mark Jens not Dean admits that he does owning a business again. is future career, and that he know the specifics of his s: . Still, he is certain of thi still constructing his goals e and perseverance have his education, experienc ng students, encouraging ignited a passion for helpi lping vets cope with young entrepreneurs, he order and positively Posttraumatic Stress Dis representing MCC.

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TransferRING TO a Four-Year INstitution From associate to bachelor's, here's what you need to know

any students use a two-year college as a steppingstone to a four-year institution and bachelor’s degree. If you want to start this path at Metropolitan Community College, here’s what you need to know: A to B Agreements (A to B) Associate to Bachelor Agreements provide students with the opportunity to complete an associate degree while working toward a bachelor’s degree. Most, if not all, credits in the associate degree will transfer to the fouryear institution, often with the student starting there as a junior. Enrollment during high school High school students may enroll in MCC courses offered to the general public. To enroll at the College, a student must have a minimum “C” average in high school subjects, follow the enrollment policies and procedures at the College and discuss enrollment with a legal guardian and high school counselor. For more information about an early college experience, visit mccneb.edu/enrollment/secondary-partnerships. Passport program The Passport program is a learning community where 25 students complete their first year at MCC together, with the goal of transferring to a four-year institution. See mccneb.edu/passport for more information. Transfer Nebraska Nebraska’s higher education institutions collaborated to create Transfer Nebraska, a site that provides a list of courses that will transfer from one institution to another. Visit transfer.nebraska.edu for more information.

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How it works So what happens when you transfer? The four-year institution will look at the courses you took and the grades you earned at the two-year college and then decide how much credit to give. If enough of your credits transfer, you will start at the four-year institution as a junior. However, some credits may not transfer, which means you may have to retake those courses at the four-year institution. An articulation agreement is an official contract that ensures that many courses taught at MCC will be accepted by the four-year institution because the content is the same. Visit mccneb.edu/articulation for articulation agreements between MCC and its four-year institution partnerships. Some of these partnerships include: Alegent Creighton Health Bellevue University College of Saint Mary Creighton University Doane University University of Iowa University of Nebraska at Omaha University of Nebraska – Lincoln Wayne State College And more Other tips? Stay focused on completing your associate degree on time. Do your research to know how to stay on track to transfer. Apply for the FAFSA, visit prospective colleges and seek out transfer scholarships from the four-year institution.

ass to Class, a bus riding program established in 2009 through a partnership with Metro transportation and Metropolitan Community College, enables credit and GED students to ride the bus at no cost. The program was founded in an effort to provide students increased access to classes and reduce parking on campus locations, thereby decreasing parking congestion. Further benefits to program participants include reduced drive time, cost of vehicle maintenance and fuel, navigating traffic and peace of mind in inclement weather. Students may even save time by finishing an assignment while on the bus. Metro was eager to partner with MCC because of the resulting increase in ridership. Since the program’s inception, Pass to Class participants have contributed to an increase in the number of passengers taking advantage of bus transportation. As a result of the mutual interest, the subsequent outcome is a lower rate of single‑occupancy vehicles, translating to a decrease in carbon emissions. To be eligible for the program, an MCC student must be enrolled in credit classes or active in the GED program. Passes are issued at no cost on a quarterly basis and can be picked up at any Student Services location. The passes can be used for educational purposes, such as rides to classes, advisor meetings, the MCC bookstores or getting to and from internships or practicums. When riding the bus, participants will be required to show their MCC student ID along with the Pass to Class pass.

Your ticket to ride

“To date, 18,000 passes have been provided to students, equating to more than 1.3 million rides,” said Whitney Van Arsdall, Campus Planning and Sustainability specialist. To learn more about the Pass to Class program and to access information about Metro’s bus routes, visit

mccneb.edu/passtoclass.

How one program is increasing access to class

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Better

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Than

A Cure

Cooking stove offers life-altering solution

aking meals indoors isn’t something many people give a second thought to. Pots and pans bubbling atop a stove don’t pose the kind of threat that they do in many developing countries where it is traditional to have what is known as an open three-stone cooking fire. This method of cooking is often found inside small, one-room homes and has resulted in an estimated four million deaths each year due to burns and smoke inhalation. Because the stove sits on the ground, it is easily within the reach of small children who make up many of the burn victims. Poor ventilation results in poor air quality inside the small, smoke-filled homes. This is where Dr. Coleen Stice, an Omaha plastic surgeon, comes in. For several decades, she has been traveling to third-world countries with medical teams to treat injuries caused by exposure to the three-stone cooking fire. While she is passionate about the work she does and helping those in need of plastic surgery, she would rather offer a solution. Her desire to help those she is treating prevent injury led her in search of an answer. Along with another Omaha doctor, Raymond Schulte, and a team at the University of Nairobi, Stice helped to design the Salama stove. The Salama stove is nothing short of a miracle in terms of redefining daily life, and it impacts those using it in multiple ways. The stove is elevated off the ground, sitting atop a small platform. This design element alone is a great improvement on the safety for children. In addition to the stove’s orientation, the design offers a low surface temperature, resulting in better insulation, which greatly reduces the likelihood of burns. The stove also yields reduced toxic emissions due to the chimney portion of the design, aiding in drawing smoke out of the home. The three-stone cooking fires required vast amounts of time spent collecting firewood. The Salama stove, created to use much smaller fuel, such as twigs and small branches, burns fuel more efficiently as a result of the design, thereby decreasing time and effort spent gathering firewood. Such a life-changing part of daily living comes with a price. Stice needed a prototype to aid in her efforts to raise money so more of the stoves can be manufactured. This is how MCC got involved. Stice reached out to the College and the Welding Technology program. “Our students were very enthusiastic at the prospect of being involved in such a great project. The Welding program has all the talent and tools needed to build the kind of well-made prototype Dr. Stice needed for her fundraising efforts,” said Chris Beatty, MCC welding technology instructor. Fabricating the prototype put several skills learned in the program to their test, from executing different welds to interpreting welding blueprints.

To learn more about the MCC Welding Technology program, visit mccneb.edu/Welding-Technology.

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English instructor urges students to link interests with writing

etropolitan Community College English instructor, Liz Kay, is a published poet and novelist who leverages her experience and success to foster within her students a personal love of reading and writing. Encouraging them to link their creative work to their various interests and passions outside of the classroom, Kay’s mission is for her students to gain a deep understanding of reading and writing—skills that can be used throughout their lives. There have been many influences for Kay’s creative work, including “Hansel and Gretel,” Gillian Flynn’s “Gone Girl” and a sibling feud that sparked her first murder mystery in the fifth grade. Her first novel, “Monsters: A Love Story,” takes place in and draws influences from Omaha. The result of many years of thinking about gender expectations and power dynamics, Kay claims the main characters are namely products of our country’s culture. Published poet, mother and widow, Stacey Lane, attempts to stick to her self-made regulations on her drinking, eating and language depending on who’s in the room. Conversely, the main male character, Tommy, operates from a place of entitlement due to his A-list Hollywood stardom, but Kay’s readers’ reception of said character has been no surprise to her.

“Culturally, we are prepared to forgive the transgressions of guys like Tommy. So long as it’s clear that on some level he really cares about Stacey, we let almost all of the rest of it slide,” Kay said. The two damaged characters form an unlikely pair—one that Kay described as playing into our culture’s obsession with the so-called “traditional” romance. Kay urges students to read often to become better writers, to effectively recognize sources of inspiration and to employ the writing techniques they’re exposed to in their reading. The MCC Creative Writing Forum was held for the first time this fall and featured a panel on writing for local publications and freelancing, a poetry slam and author signings. However, staff believed that the personal narrative workshop was the most popular, as attendees learned to tell their personal story in a compelling way. “We started at the very beginning, found the story you need to tell and walked participants through the process of crafting the sort of short narrative that might find a place in anything from a scholarship application to a book proposal,” Kay said. Her advice for aspiring writers? “Read every day. Read things you love and things you hate and things you don’t understand and things you wish you’d written. Read until it feels possible for you to do it too.”

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What’s the buzz about?

MCC now offers beekeeping classes

ver the past several decades, the population of bees has seen a sharp decline. Because bees pollinate nearly 70 percent of the world’s crops, equating to approximately one out of every three bites of food consumed by the human population, the fall in bee numbers has raised cause for alarm. The decrease in the bee population could have a dramatic impact on the availability of everything from produce and nuts to grains and coffee beans, as well as many other items. This could result in increased prices due to lack of availability. As a result, interest in beekeeping has seen a significant increase in the past few years primarily due to the media attention given to colony collapse disorder, pesticide exposure and the negative impact of varroa mites on honey bee colonies—all contributing factors to the decline. With increased interest in beekeeping, MCC has added several noncredit courses to the Continuing Education curriculum. The courses include Honey Bee Colony Organization, Honey Bee Behavior, Honey Bee Anatomy and Physiology, Honey Bee Diseases and Pests, Honey Bee Floral Forage and Pollination, as well as Bees of Omaha, which will take you on a brief tour of apiaries in Omaha.

“There is now the ability for MCC to offer comprehensive and activity-specific classes related to beekeeping that provide opportunities to existing and new beekeepers, as well as people interested in beekeeping as a hobby,” said MCC instructor and founding member of the Omaha Bee Club, Tony Sandoval. Sandoval's passion for bee conservancy extends beyond the classroom. He maintains a conservation bee yard at Fontenelle Forest. Rescued bees are relocated to the protected area to allow them to re-establish their colonies and recover from the stress involved in relocation. “The capability to provide the beekeeping community with more opportunities to become better educated and to enhance hands-on skills benefits the bees, the environment and the consumers of honey, beeswax and other natural, healthy hive marketable products,” Sandoval said. To learn more about Continuing Education courses offered at MCC, visit mccneb.edu/noncreditschedule.

How you can help the honey bees Don’t kill bees.

Rather than calling an exterminator if a hive is spotted, contact a local beekeeper.

Follow the instructions on pesticide labels.

Another major problem for bees is pesticides. Too often pesticides are applied at the wrong time of day, in the wrong type of weather, incorrectly mixed and in the wrong amounts.

Support local beekeeping organizations and beekeepers. The best way to do that is to buy honey from a beekeeper directly—at a Farmer’s Market or at local pop-up shops like Open Kitchen, held each quarter at MCC’s Institute for the Culinary Arts. 10 • community • mccneb.edu

where creativity ignites

alking down the corridor of art-filled tents in Aksarben Village, one would think they were at the Summer Arts Festival. In just five short years, ARTsarben, managed by Omaha Summer Arts Festival, has grown to become one of Omaha’s most loved festivals. The two-day event, held September 24-25, was host to a multitude of artists making up the marketplace featuring photography, paintings, sculpture and pottery, jewelry making as well as a myriad of other artistic mediums. ARTsarben is a juried art show that features an art marketplace—a treasure trove for all budgets—and places a great emphasis on encouraging and supporting local emerging artists through the Emerging Artists program, exhibiting the work of eight artists new to the art scene. Also present were local food trucks, DIY art classes, a kid zone, regional and local performers, including jugglers, musicians, singers, dancers and more. Though art was the overall purpose of the event, the consistent theme found throughout the small village of tents was diversity. This is what drew Metropolitan Community College to participate in and sponsor ARTsarben. “The College believes

that diversity is extremely important to our educational mission and success. ARTsarben is a diversified celebration of the arts. Its great sense of diversity and community is in line with our values,” said Teonne Wright, assistant director of Public Affairs. In addition to sponsoring ARTsarben, MCC also set up shop with the PROTO Lab trailer—a mobile lab, which is an extension of the College’s off-site PROTO Lab located in the Mastercraft building downtown. The mobile lab houses 3-D printers and other machinery, allowing for festival attendees to get a taste of what MCC students can create in the PROTO Lab. The off-site lab is part of Project PROTO (Providing Realistic On-ramps to Technology Occupations) and provides students with hands-on experience in science, technology, engineering and math-related topics using the machines we have in house. The lab offers a space for students to exercise their creativity when completing projects using 3-D printers, software programs and engineering skills. “More than 100 people stopped by the PROTO Lab to explore the innovative creations that happen in the lab,” said Tammy Green, PROTO Lab grant manager.

For information about Project PROTO, visit mccneb.edu/PROTOLab. community • mccneb.edu • 11

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Delight your guests with this autumn dish

he changing of the leaves yields more than a multi-shaded landscape. With the shifting of the season from summer to fall come new hues found in produce harvested mid-autumn. We find ourselves spending more time indoors, making warm and hearty dishes to share with those we open our home to. It’s this kind of nesting into the home that makes this Brussels sprouts and butternut squash dish all the more welcoming. Metropolitan Community College’s Institute for the Culinary Arts instructor Peter Walsh welcomed us into the Culinary kitchen for a sampling of a dish that will be sure to delight your guests and have them requesting seconds.

Brussels sprouts and butternut squash with bacon, pecans and goat cheese

1.5 lbs 1 1 8 oz. 8 oz. 1 3 oz. 2 oz.

Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved butternut squash - small, peeled and cut to 3/4” cubes red onion - medium, peeled and cut to 3/4” cubes high-quality bacon, cut into ½” slices goat cheese, softened tangerine, zested and segmented pecans, toasted and chopped coarsely maple syrup salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place sliced bacon into a warm skillet. Cook over medium heat until fat has rendered and bacon is crisp. Remove bacon from pan and reserve fat. Place the vegetables on a rimmed sheet pan and drizzle with rendered bacon fat. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and toss together. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, or until slightly browned. Drizzle with 1 oz. of the maple syrup, and half of the toasted pecans. Return to oven for three more minutes, or until edges of Brussels sprouts are deeply browned. Apply the goat cheese in a long smear over large platter. A dark-colored platter makes for a stunning presentation. Remove the vegetables from the oven. Arrange playfully over the cheese-laden platter. Garnish with crisp bacon, remaining pecans, tangerine segments, a pinch of the zest and salt and pepper to taste. Finish with a drizzle of maple syrup and serve.

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THE KEY TO GET IN

Scholarships help provide needed pathway

$ E

ducation can open up doors to a lifetime of happiness and success. Sometimes, scholarships are the key that helps open up those doors. Every day at Metropolitan Community College, students are utilizing scholarships to help discover talents and interests that lead them to a passionate career. MCC is training and educating students for meaningful jobs in technology, culinary arts, business, health and public services with workplace skills that will serve them well in their careers.

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One of those MCC students is Destiney Carodine, a culinary arts and management student who used scholarships to follow her dream of becoming a culinary artist. Carodine was the recipient of three scholarships: the Gilbert C. Swanson Foundation Scholarship, the Jordan Lee Whitney Memorial Scholarship and the Jack Kawa Culinary Arts and Hospitality Scholarship.

“I began searching for college options at the end of my high school career. After discovering some of the costs associated with earning a college degree, I explored different scholarships,” said Carodine, who was encouraged by family and church members to pursue a postsecondary education. “The staff at MCC is very helpful and are always willing to help me with my coursework. After college, I want to work in the restaurant field and decide if I want to open up my own restaurant. My education means a lot to me because it gives me great opportunities.” Scholarships extend to other areas of study as well. Liberal Arts student Christian Boose was awarded the Walt Allen Memorial Scholarship and it helped her realize her dream of earning a four-year degree before pursuing a graduate degree in the future. “My education is like a gateway for what you’re going to do once you are out of school. In five years, I see myself at a university finishing my degree and preparing for graduate school,” said Boose, a graduate of Omaha’s Benson High School Magnet. “I chose a two-year Liberal Arts degree because it is flexible. I might want to teach someday and give back to the community. This degree can help me down that path.” With the rising cost of education, the words “college” and “scholarship” should go hand in hand. During the 2015 calendar year, MCC students submitted 2,383 scholarship applications. MCC Foundation scholarships are available through online application during application windows each spring and fall quarter. Students can manage their own information, apply for multiple scholarships and check award statuses from any computer. Scholarships awarded can be used to cover the costs of tuition, books, fees or other supplemental expenses, such as equipment or tools. Other forms of financial aid are also available through FAFSA. Through the MCC Foundation, the College offers dozens of scholarships in many different areas. Generous individuals and organizations have created scholarships benefiting students in areas like nursing, culinary arts, natural science, general studies and much more. For more information about the MCC Foundation and scholarships available, visit mccneb.edu/foundation or call 531-MCC-2346.

I began searching for college options at the end of my high school career. After discovering some of the costs associated with earning a college degree, I explored different scholarships.

-Destiney Carodine

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Student highlights the future of welding

In case you haven’t heard, the College has some pretty big buildings being constructed on the Fort Omaha Campus. Projects the size of these, as well as much smaller ones, require the skilled techniques of a welder. However, those who complete the welds are a dying breed. The average age of a welder is close to 60 years old. Many companies are resorting to automated welding processes in order to keep their businesses open and compete globally. Companies are willing to offer good pay to employees who have these abilities. That’s why the welding program at Metropolitan Community College is so popular. One of those MCC students pursuing a career in the in-demand field is Kurt Stork. Much like his father, Stork always had an interest in building things with his hands. “I always thought that stuff was really cool and being around metal fabrication in my father’s shop just attracted me further to it,” said Stork. “My ultimate goal involves being in the racecar fabrication industry. Currently though, I work at a place that does structural steel fabrication and that is something I have been enjoying. I see myself in this industry for quite some time.” The company Stork currently works for is Drake-Williams Steel, an Omaha-based corporation that is helping provide the steel for the Fort Omaha Campus expansion project. Stork has even helped fabricate the steel beams that are being used to construct the Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology, Construction Education Center and the Academic Skills Center. Drake-Williams Steel is one of many American manufacturing companies that need to fill its workforce gaps, a problem that can be answered with education and training provided by community colleges. “We always have turnover, but then we also have people who are advancing and we need to back-fill those positions,” a human resources director from Drake-Williams Steel stated. “We are absolutely at a better advantage [working with Metropolitan Community College].” Students like Stork benefit from these types of community relationships. MCC students can utilize the flexible scheduling, online classes, affordable credit hours and hands-on education to reach their goals. “My courses at MCC have been convenient and work with my schedule. The faculty is amazing, helpful and have helped guide me through the process with their real-world knowledge,” Stork said. Stork doesn’t plan to stop with his welding degree, however. “I plan on pursuing further education and training in precision machining because I love to learn and don’t ever want to stop learning things that will help me in reaching my goals.” The Welding Technology program at MCC provides training from the most basic techniques to the advanced skills needed to earn a well-paying job. Courses are held in labs under close supervision of qualified instructors. The program also offers a certificate of achievement and a career certificate, so prospective students can discover all facets of welding. 16 • community • mccneb.edu

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FOC Expansion Update Winter is coming

ith winter breathing down our neck, it has become all about prep work for the Fort Omaha Campus expansion project. Buildings have to be enclosed, roadways and parking lots need to be completed all while spring and summer 2017 outdoor planning continues. The enclosure of the buildings is nearly complete. The Construction Education Center has all its walls up, including interior walls. “Rooms are even being painted,” said Stan Horrell, campus planning and sustainability director at MCC. The other buildings will soon follow CEC’s enclosure. One step to help the project through the winter months was the completion of the central utility plant, located just north of Building 59. This facility will send heat and necessary utilities underground to each of the three buildings, allowing construction workers to work comfortably on the interior of the buildings. Other completions include roadways and parking lots. A welcomed addition is the extension of Saratoga Street. The street will extend south of the Academic Skills Center and the Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology Center and connect to 30th Street. The connection will serve as both an entrance and exit onto southbound 30th Street.

Things you may not know about the Fort Omaha Campus expansion project

You may have a brick or a bench stone personalized in the green space located between the new buildings. The effort is headed up by the MCC Foundation and seeks to create an area where alumni, faculty, staff and others can add their own personal touch on the future of the College. For more information, contact the MCCF office at 531-MCC-2346.

Digital, Interactivity and Media Arts courses will get a new home on the third floor of the Academic Skills Center.

The expansion includes lactation rooms for nursing mothers and a meditation space.

Each building entrance will have keyless entry, increasing security.

CAET will feature a second-floor patio and green space.

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MCC instructor brings Nebraska history to students

“Everybody said I didn’t have a chance, but I guess I was just stubborn,” recalls 90-year-old, Doris Royal.

coverage was present during Royal’s 18 trips to Washington, D.C and frequently in the publication Farm Journal.

The Springfield, Nebraska, native was referring to her six-year battle against estate taxes. The end result was an economic recovery bill signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981 ensuring that surviving spouses wouldn’t have to pay estate taxes.

But Royal’s story and legacy did not end once the estate tax was revoked. Her influence has recently spread to the city. Originally interested in researching for a book she was writing to compare suffragettes to modern day feminists, Metropolitan Community College’s History program coordinator, Dr. Amy Forss, stumbled across a Nebraska native who once worked toward equal rights for women. Upon meeting at Royal’s house, Forss learned of the petition and was compelled to research further and publish her findings.

It all began when Royal realized that, according to the IRS, she hadn’t contributed a dime to the family-owned 240-acre farm. In fact, if her husband, Lloyd, was to die first—she would have been responsible for paying 100 percent of any estate tax, unless she could verify her material participation and prove her monetary contribution to the couple’s property. Conversely, if a wife died first, a husband would not have been responsible for any estate taxes. This inequity became widely known as the “widow’s tax.” Failing to acknowledge a wife’s contribution to their family estate’s value, the government deemed farm wives “unemployed” and attributed their unpaid labor on said farm to the wife operating out of marital duty. Politically naïve, the Royals attended an estate planning seminar back in 1974 in which they learned about this. Royal hoped that someone would present a solution, but no one did. So began the Royal Petition. “Once I got started, so many people were backing me,” said Royal. Her community helped her collect about 500,000 signatures and write and mail letters to Congress. News

“Once I got started, so many people were backing me.” Infusing Royal into her two books and welcoming her on various MCC campuses to speak to students, Forss says that students have been really receptive and appreciative of Royal’s work. She says they’ve come to realize that the government is not this impenetrable force they can’t do anything about and that they can influence great political change, much like Royal. Responsible for shedding light on Royal’s story, Forss stated, “I’m just the storyteller. That’s what I do as the historian.” The true “unsung hero” to whom “women owe a really big debt of gratitude” is Royal, according to Forss. Forss’ work on Royal appeared in Nebraska History Journal in 2015. Omaha mayor Jean Stothert declared January 12, 2016 Doris Royal Day. community • mccneb.edu • 19

Around the College

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Duo teams up to fight hunger abroad MCC and Kids Against Hunger teamed up to deliver more than 250,000 meals to refugees in the Middle East. MCC’s CDL-A Truck Driving program picked up the cargo at the Kids Against Hunger warehouse and then delivered the meals to Offutt Air Force Base. The meals were then flown to Iraq before being distributed to displaced refugees. “It is an honor to be involved in something so big and meaningful,” said Darryl Partner, CDL-A Truck Driving instructor at MCC. “To be directly involved in delivering meals to those in need displays the power transportation and logistics play in our world.” “The relationship Kids Against Hunger has had with MCC over the years has been invaluable and literally brought hope to thousands of children around the world,” says Kids Against Hunger CEO, Nick Yaksich. MCC and Kids Against Hunger have collaborated to fight hunger in the past, helping to feed the hungry in other areas such as Haiti, Africa, Nepal and locally in the Omaha area.

MCC hosts 25th annual Fort Omaha Intertribal Powwow The 25th annual Fort Omaha Intertribal Powwow was hosted by MCC Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Fort Omaha Campus parade grounds. Celebrating regional Native American cultures, the powwow featured traditional dances, music, artistry, oral history and foods of various tribes across Nebraska and the region, including, but not limited to, Northern Ponca, Omaha, Santee Sioux and Winnebago. Dancers in colorful regalia performed throughout the day. Additionally, study circles were featured outside the powwow arena as an opportunity to learn from Native experts, who included renowned artist and author, Joseph Marshall III and Marla C. Bull Bear. This year’s theme, Strengthening the Circle, reinforced the idea that each person’s actions have an impact on the circle’s ability to function. This is the foundation of Native American life. The tiospaye, or extended family, must be aligned. Due to lightning, singers and dancers of the 25th annual Fort Omaha Intertribal Powwow were moved to a covered location for the remainder of the powwow. Next year, we look forward to coming together under clearer skies.

Books are Treats encourages literacy among community Metropolitan Community College, the Old Market Business Association and Metro transportation are working together for Books are Treats, a Halloween-focused book giveaway event on Sunday, Oct. 30, 1–4 p.m., at 11th and Howard streets. The books will be available aboard the bus, on display in a library-like setting for the Old Market trick or trick event. The public is invited to choose up to three books at no cost. Fiction and nonfiction books are available for all ages and reading levels. Through events like Books are Treats, MCC encourages literacy among adults and families. The book event stems from the work of MCC, AIT Worldwide Logistics/Omaha, The Old Market, Omaha Public Library and Metro. As part of the event, children can visit Old Market businesses to trick or treat. For more information, visit mccneb.edu/About-MCC-Nebraska/News.

NATEF recognizes MCC Diesel Technology with national accreditation MCC’s Diesel Technology program received accreditation by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF). To receive this recognition, the College’s Diesel Technology program was evaluated by NATEF. The program was assessed in areas such as instruction, facilities and equipment using nationally accepted standards of excellence. “This is great news for automotive-minded young people and their parents,” said Donald Seyfer, former NATEF chair. “Because this program increases cooperation between local education and industry leaders, it gives added assurance that MCC’s graduates will be employable entry-level technicians. As a result of the quality education provided by MCC, the motoring public will benefit since better repair technicians will join the work force.” MCC Diesel Technology instructor, Don Gilliland, added, “During the past few months, we have worked closely with NATEF to make certain that our program would meet strict industry standards, and now we are delighted to join the ranks of the NATEF accredited training programs. Students will be assured of a quality education, and shop owners will be assured of getting quality job applicants.” One of MCC’s many growing program areas, Diesel Technology is housed at the Applied Technology Center. The program features hands-on job training and skill-building necessary for the workforce. To learn more about the Diesel Technology program, visit mccneb.edu/diesel. community • mccneb.edu • 21

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