Community - Winter 2014 by Metropolitan Community College

JOBS, GRANTED

College receives grants to expand skilled workforce page 8

CONTENTS 2

Location spotlight: Fremont Area Center Investing in Fremont’s growing needs

New partnership sparks job training MCC partners with high school, industry to train welders

Teaching adventures abroad History professor receives Fulbright

Career connection

New app helps students discover interests, find clarity

Jobs, granted College receives grants to expand skilled workforce

A tool for growth Partnership demonstrates MCC’s commitment to area business

Ask us

Get to know MCC faculty

A link to the past General Crook House anchors MCC, Douglas County Historical Society partnership

Education with benefits For alumna, diploma is just the icing on the cake

Handmade for the holidays

Bringing back the art of the homemade gift

Drafting her future MCC student changes career path, receives scholarships

Enhancing lives through student life Student Nurse Association makes an impact

Mural brings life, color to campus South Omaha Campus mural unveiled at special ceremony

Giving back MCC alum establishes endowed photography scholarship

Around the College Winter 2014

Volume 2, Issue 4

“Community” is a quarterly publication of Metropolitan Community College. Contact the editor at 402-457-2414 or marketing@mccneb.edu. Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity Statement—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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FREMONT AREA CENTER Investing in Fremont’s growing needs

pened in 2007, the Fremont Area Center is meeting the needs of Fremont’s expanding economy. The center includes 11 classrooms, computer labs, student services and a certified nursing assistant lab. The center also anchors the data center management program with a data center lab connecting students both physically and digitally to courses. Boasting three times the space as the previous Fremont location, the Fremont Area Center is located at 835 N. Broad St. in central Fremont.

Fremont Area Center also provides GED and ESL courses.

In addition to the center, MCC partnered with Fremont Public Schools and Valmont Industries this year to renovate Fremont High School’s welding lab. Opened in September, the state-of-the-art lab provides students and community members a foundation for learning an in-demand trade.

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New partnership sparks job training MCC partners with high school, industry to train welders

ommunity colleges’ investments in the manufacturing industry are at the forefront of the battle to keep manufacturing jobs on American soil. Exemplifying such investments is the College’s new public-private partnership with Fremont Public Schools and Valmont Industries. The partnership includes renovations to Fremont High School’s welding facilities and integration of MCC’s welding curriculum, allowing students to earn both high school and college credits while obtaining industry skills. The newly renovated lab was unveiled during a ribbon cutting ceremony in September. Fremont Mayor Scott Getzschman, Sen. Charlie Janssen and MCC President Randy Schmailzl all attended. “The idea of high school career academies is not new to MCC,” said Pat Crisler, associate vice president of development. “This partnership is special, though, because it brings K-12, MCC and industry partners together, utilizing the strengths each partner brings to the table to help train skilled welders.”

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This partnership is special because it brings K-12, MCC and industry partners together.

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-Pat Crisler associate vice president of development

With a majority of welding professionals nearing retirement, MCC is training tomorrow’s welders starting in high school. Fremont High School students can earn dual credit and an industry certificate by completing five courses. The program combines instructors from Fremont High School and MCC’s welding program, which includes basic and advanced skills training under close supervision. The program aspires to provide career opportunities for young people while creating a skilled workforce for local businesses. The American Welding Society estimates that by 2020, there will be a shortage of 290,000 welding professionals, including inspectors, engineers and teachers. Growing at a steady rate since the recession ended in 2009, manufacturing in the U.S. hasn’t seen such widespread need for welders in decades. With assembly lines being outsourced and robotic automation systems taking priority in mass manufacturing, skilled welders are needed to craft works of art, create specialized tools, and help fabricate quality materials with alloys and metals for industries such as energy, aerospace and automotive. “With the high demand for welding classes and the industry’s demand for welders, the expansion of college-level welding classes is vital,” said Kirk Ahrends, dean of applied technology. “The ability to offer these classes in Fremont, where there are so many welding-related industries, is an important aspect of growing the area’s economy.”

For more information on the welding program, visit mccneb.edu/weld.

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Teaching adventures abroad

About Fulbright Goal: Increase mutual understanding and support friendly, peaceful relations between the U.S. and other countries Established: 1946 Programs: 17

| Countries: 155

Alumni: 325,000

Fulbrighters in MCC’s 40-year history: 2

History professor receives Fulbright

or Amy Forss, living in Hungary felt a lot like home. The flat, landlocked country is slightly smaller than Indiana and has a comparable climate to Nebraska. In the weeks leading to her departure, Forss checked the weather in Kecskemet, a small city outside Budapest, from her iPhone app. Without fail, the forecast was eerily similar to Omaha’s.

“To me, that’s the top honor I could possibly have in my field,” said Forss, 52, who completed her doctorate in 2010 so she could be eligible to apply. She applied for one of the most competitive programs, Core Fulbright U.S. Scholar, and vied against distinguished professors nationwide for one of Hungary’s eight spots.

“This just can’t be right,” she said to herself. MCC’s history program chair, Forss spent months planning for her trip: applying, packing, sending supplies. “It’s a lot mentally,” she said. “It’s like having a child. I needed those nine months to get my arms wrapped around it.” In reality, though, the trip was 10 years in the making. Forss, who’s half-Hungarian, had dreams of getting a Fulbright grant — an honor for anyone, especially a community college professor.

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The historian lived in Hungary from January to June 2014, teaching African-American history, American studies, American literature and English conversation at Kecskemet’s Teachers Training College. Because many classrooms lacked technology, Forss had to get creative with her lesson plans and incorporate interaction. She had also never taught ESL students before, challenging her as she worked to reach them without “dumbing down the information,” she said.

Photo: St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest, Hungary

Amid teaching, Forss traveled to 11 countries and nine Hungarian cities, giving lectures in the community. As much as she traversed Europe, Forss said she was always eager to “go home to Hungary.” She marveled at the country’s castles, markets, vineyards and fields of grape seed flowers. And she spared no calories. “The food is incredible,” she said. “I swear I ate my way through Europe.” Among her proudest moments was speaking at the 60th annual Fulbright conference in Berlin, Germany. It was cool, she said, to stand in front of professors from around the world and say, “I’m Amy Forss from Omaha, Nebraska, and I teach at Metropolitan Community College.” Forss is already planning a return trip to Hungary next summer. She’s also creating a new online course, Modern Europe Since 1789, set for fall 2015. Photos from her globetrotting will supplement the course content. Sure, she could have created the course from here. “But it’s a lot more fun to say I was in the country,” she said. community • mccneb.edu • 6

Career connection

New app helps students discover interests, find clarity

inding a career that marries a student’s talents and interests is ideal, but not always easy. When MCC’s Career Services coordinator Monique Cribbs started her job, she was struck by the number of students who were undecided. This uncertainty, coupled with the large number of degrees and certificates the College offers, challenged Cribbs to come up with a creative solution. “I wanted to make the self-awareness process easier,” she said. Cribbs did some research and created a handout that enabled students to identify their interests and match them with MCC majors. The interest inventory was based on Holland codes — personality types developed by vocational psychologist John Holland.

The development process was a crash course in problembased learning. As a class project, Brown tasked his students with conceptualizing the application. This teaching method, Brown said, represents a paradigm shift from traditional, lecture-based teaching. “The role of the instructor is to facilitate learning by supporting, guiding and monitoring the learning process,” he said. Students learned new software development technologies through doing, not just listening to lectures. After the quarter ended, three students continued to develop the app. After many hours, meetings and beta testing, the app officially launched in October. Cribbs has already presented the new resource to guidance counselors, students and conference attendees, receiving positive feedback.

Cribbs knew she was making progress but wanted something more interactive. Last spring, she met with Art Brown and Skip Paschall, IT instructors, and they started prototyping what’s now called Discover MCC. The mobile web application allows users to take a Holland-based personality assessment, explore matching MCC programs, search for jobs and connect with Career Services — from any smartphone, tablet or computer.

- Discover your passion - Engage in education - Navigate your career

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I hope this app helps to increase college access and enrollment at MCC.

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DISCOVER MCC

Cribbs has high hopes for the app, which should “help students streamline their educational goals to what fits them, not what fits their friends,” she said. “I hope this app helps to increase college access and enrollment at MCC.”

Scan or visit e2v.mccneb.edu.

Jobs, granted College receives grants to expand skilled workforce

ommunity colleges across the country are helping meet the needs of today’s workforce by investing in high-demand technician training programs such as welding, precision machining, automation, truck driving, plumbing and information technology. Two-year institutions are at the forefront of the task to spur economic development in the United States. Cities and small towns that specialize in certain industries rely on community colleges to train and create qualified workers. MCC’s four-county area has similar needs. Industries requiring workers with specialized knowledge in IT-driven fields are settling in the metropolitan area. Transportation and logistics companies find the region attractive due to its central location but need more truck drivers to help deliver their goods. In order to keep these businesses thriving and welcome new ones, MCC is striving to meet employment needs by offering an array of training programs, many of which are recent federal grant recipients.

In 2009, MCC was managing just under $2 million in grant funding from public and private granting agencies. By November 2014, the College was managing $18 million, an 800 percent increase.

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$2.49 million federal grant to expand IT career training MCC was named a recipient of a $2,491,960 grant to bolster information technology career training and pathways to high-demand IT and IT-enabled occupations. The funding is part of the final $450 million of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training competitive grant program, co-administered by the U.S. Department of Labor and Department of Education. The grant will fund Project PROTO, short for Providing Realistic On-Ramps to Technology Occupations. Through strategic partnerships with area employers, the project will establish an IT career pathway that incorporates career training in both commercial and industrial IT industries, paving the way for the offerings central to the College’s Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology, part of the new $90 million Fort Omaha Campus expansion project. PROTO will also expand the College’s MIT-affiliated FabLab, part of a global network of labs that enable IT skill building and invention and provide access to tools for digital design and multimedia fabrication. The lab serves as a hub for the creation of cross-disciplinary programs in emerging applications of IT, such as prototype design and production, robotics and smart objects. “As Omaha’s tech scene continues to thrive, this grant is integral to our ability to leverage corporate partnerships and prepare workers to excel in IT, an industry that’s growing two times the national average,” said Tom Pensabene, executive director of MCC’s Workforce Innovation Division. Key PROTO partners include the Nebraska Department of Labor, Heartland Workforce Solutions, Alvine Engineering, Kiewit Corporation, OPPD, White Lotus, Trane, TACKarchitects and the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. Over three years, the grant will equip an estimated 500 professionals with new skills and credentials for jobs in IT occupations and IT-enabled industries, such as advanced manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, finance and government.

MCC’s $2.49 million grant is part of a community college and career training program, co-administered by the U.S. Department of Labor and Department of Education.

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ACTING ON INSTINCT

$823,366 grant to support new automation systems degree option In an effort to keep American jobs, the automation field saves woman’s life hasStudent become crucial. With old, dirty factories and plants becoming thing of the past, companies are migrating whilea shopping toward automating their operations. This shift allows American companies to compete with low-cost, low-wage companies overseas by providing 24-hour, around-the-clock work. One issue with this production shift, however, is that companies need to fill these positions. Recognizing the vital need to meet this increasing demand, MCC received an $823,366 grant to create a Building Automation Systems option under the Information Technology associate degree. The new option is part of the College’s project Automate! — a plan designed to prepare skilled workers for IT-enhanced careers. The three-year grant was awarded by the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education program, which focuses on educating technicians for high-technology fields at two-year institutions.

Grant to help military members enter transportation industry Thanks to the manufacturing boom and associated influx of product shipping, transportation and logistics companies are searching for qualified drivers to man their fleets. Helping address the shortage is the College’s CDL Class A truck driving program, recently awarded a $47,614 grant to recruit current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration awarded the 18-month grant, covering tuition, books and fees to create a pipeline of qualified drivers. “We’re honored to have received this grant because it will help transition our military members and veterans into the private sector of the workforce by giving them training in the transportation industry,” said Darryl Partner, CDL truck driving instructor. The grant is also good for spouses of current and former military members.

“Building systems have merged with IT in fascinating, complex ways, and the need for qualified IT workers in this area is growing rapidly,” Pensabene said. “Automate! will open up the world of IT-savvy technicians to a potentially large, new group of employees who learn best by doing.” The grant comes at a time when MCC is preparing to construct the Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology. The BAS option is expected to be an anchor program in CAET, which will be a regional hub for education, innovation and economic growth — a place where business and education thrive together by training today’s and tomorrow’s workforce. For more information on MCC’s truck driving program, visit mccneb.edu/truckdriving. The new automation systems degree option will be an anchor program for the Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology on the Fort Omaha Campus.

Grants will create lasting impact The result of MCC’s recent workforce grants will have a lasting impact on area businesses and everyday citizens searching for a solution to the problem of underemployment and low wages. These grants are investments in American businesses and communities, ultimately enriching the economy for years to come. community • mccneb.edu • 10

A tool for growth

Partnership demonstrates MCC’s commitment to area business

any entrepreneurs and risk-takers begin with an idea that is an attractive business concept. But how do they put those concepts into action? It may sound like something from the show “Shark Tank,” but MCC has the answer to that question thanks to a new partnership with GrowthWheel®. GrowthWheel is a mechanism for decision-making in small business startups and growth companies. It helps users set strategies, make judgments and take action. It is intended for small businesses and business advisors alike. With worksheets, online sharing tools and an easyto-navigate layout, GrowthWheel serves as a substitute to extensive, and often dreaded, business plans. “Once someone has a good business concept, they still need to address many other challenges,” said Michael Mitilier, an entrepreneurial advisor to MCC’s Workforce Innovation Division. “They need to have lasting customer relations, profitable operations and a strong organizational base. GrowthWheel helps hone in on these challenges by offering a hands-on, action-oriented program to help overcome barriers one step at a time.”

There are 16 certified GrowthWheel advisors in the metropolitan area, each with different strengths in 20 focus areas.

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Mitilier, an entrepreneur with a background in training and development, will help facilitate the GrowthWheel sessions at MCC along with other specialized experts. “The GrowthWheel workshops at MCC will have facilitators who are experts in the fields of marketing, finance, entrepreneurship and other key growth areas,” he said. GrowthWheel noncredit workshops are offered at MCC locations this winter. Interested businesses can also arrange personal workshops at office locations. For more information, contact Sam Dickson at 402-457-2592 or sdickson@mccneb.edu.

Ask Us Get to know MCC faculty

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Jeff Strawn fire science/ EMS instructor

Carol Cleaver paralegal business law instructor

Kristin Engel nursing instructor

What do you enjoy most about working with students? The exciting part for me as an instructor in the Fire Science Technology program is the ability to help our students achieve their goals through a welcoming, interactive learning environment. I thoroughly enjoy seeing students excel and am so proud of the safety-conscious mentality of our program.

What do you enjoy most about working with students? I open my classes with a question to engage students in a discussion about their knowledge on a select topic. For example, I might ask, “Can a police officer lawfully search business premises without a search warrant?” No matter their opinion, students learn to defend a position by incorporating learning materials into their answer. Facilitating these discussions is as exciting as it is rewarding. Helping students engage in meaningful and respectful dialog is the hallmark of my teaching experience. I love it!

What do you enjoy most about working with students? The thing I enjoy most about working with nursing students is the diversity of our student population. Every student who comes to our program is a unique individual, and it’s exciting to be a part of their journey to becoming a nurse.

What’s your best piece of advice for someone just starting out in your class? Be persistent and committed to the process. The firefighting field is extremely competitive, and the realization of the goal to become a first responder is not an easy task. I always advise them to think of it as their last job interview before retirement.

What’s your best piece of advice for someone just starting out in your class? Get motivated in your learning environment — be curious, ask questions, be open to learn, unlearn and relearn.

What’s your best piece of advice for someone just starting out in your class? The program requires a strong commitment of time and dedication, but the reward when finished is so well worth the energy put forth. It’s the shortterm sacrifice for the long-term gain.

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A link to the past General Crook House anchors MCC, Douglas County Historical Society partnership

onstructed in 1879, the General Crook House sits atop a hill nestled in the northwest corner of the historic Fort Omaha Campus. A short walk away from Building 10, the house is an authentic restoration of U.S. General George Crook’s residence, home to the man who spent nearly 40 years on the American frontier. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the General Crook House has hosted Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Rutherford B. Hayes throughout its history and recently celebrated its 135th anniversary. The historic house represents the businesslike nature that the military had on the frontier with its Italianate style. Collections at the home feature Victorian era furnishings, decorative

art pieces and costumes consistent with the late 1800s, giving visitors a glimpse into the past. The house highlights the College’s partnership with the Douglas County Historical Society. Since obtaining Fort Omaha in the 1970s, MCC has had a special relationship with the historic site. To better maintain the landmark, MCC has used the society’s expertise in restoring and preserving such sites. Since then, there have been many learning opportunities at the site. Programs like the Institute for the Culinary Arts, interior design and continuing education have participated in projects linked to the house. In years past, students from the Horticulture, Land Systems and Management program helped design the Victorian-era flower beds that line the house’s south side. “It’s certainly been a good relationship as both the College and the Douglas County Historical Society recognize the need to keep the General Crook House preserved,” said Kathy Aultz, executive director of the General Crook House. “We love being part of the historic campus, and we encourage all MCC students, faculty and staff to visit the house or enjoy the beautiful gardens.” The General Crook House is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., and weekends, 1–4 p.m. For more information, call 402-455-9990.

Students, faculty and staff may enter the General Crook House for free with a valid MCC ID.

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Education with benefits For alumna, diploma is just the icing on the cake

Now, she spends her workdays seeing white — wedding gowns, specifically. Kate is a publication designer for The Knot, a weddingplanning empire and the flagship brand of XO Group, headquartered in New York. Based in the Omaha office, she collects artwork from advertisers and lays out sections of The Knot magazine, which includes 17 regional editions. Working for the go-to wedding guide, Kate was in luck when she started planning her own wedding — sort of. “It was terrible,” she said, laughing. Although she did use the magazine for inspiration, she said she felt “overwhelming pressure to have the best wedding.” The husband and wife team now periodically photographs other couples tying the knot. Ben has his own photography company, and Kate will tag along sometimes, making good on her photography degree.

Margie Sypal and daughter Kate Richter

The youngest of five children, Kate comes from a creative family with ties to MCC. Her mom, Margie Sypal, took graphic design courses at MCC in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Several years later, Margie enrolled in noncredit courses to help land her current job at Valmont Industries. Kate’s brother Chris also has an MCC degree in computer graphics.

She met her husband, Ben, in a photo concepts class. He moved to Omaha specifically for MCC’s Photography program, which has “better facilities than many universities,” Kate said. The two creatives clicked and soon started dating.

Kate credits the College with giving her a confidence boost, admitting that she struggled in high school. After receiving an MCC Board of Governors Scholarship as an incoming freshman, she learned that if she put herself out there and got involved, she could succeed.

hen Kate Richter, 30, enrolled at MCC fresh out of high school, the Skutt High alumna didn’t know she’d leave with more than a diploma. She decided to pursue her passion and study photography in college, and that’s where fate stepped in.

When they married in 2011, they chose MCC photography instructor Larry Gawel — of all people — to pronounce them husband and wife. “We call him our life mentor,” Kate said. “He’s way more than a teacher.” The couple was heavily involved in the program, attending Photo Club barbecues at Gawel’s home. Kate also received invaluable gallery experience, attending national conferences and showing her portfolio in various cities from St. Louis to Portland. After earning an associate in photography, Kate transferred to UNO and finished her bachelor’s in public relations.

Almost 12 years later, Kate has more than educational successes to celebrate. She has a supportive family and a job she loves — a job where she plays a small part inspiring other women in love.

Are you an MCC graduate or former student with a story? Share it and connect with MCC’s Friends and Alumni Network. Learn more at mccneb.edu/foundation. community • mccneb.edu • 14

Handmade for the h lidays Bringing back the art of the homemade gift

hether you’re looking for the perfect holiday present or a just-because gift, MCC’s noncredit courses offer a welcome alternative to swarming department stores. The following Winter quarter workshops are sure to spark your creativity and surprise those hard-to-buy-for family members. Beautiful Beaded Christmas Ornament (ARTC-228N) Using beads, pearls and crystals, make an ornament that will be cherished for years to come. Christmas Ornaments with Fused Glass (ARTC-269N) Fire up the kiln and make four fused-glass ornaments. Fused Glass Wine Stop/Bottle (ARTC-187N) Transform an old wine bottle into an appetizer or cheese tray. Plus, design a stainless steel and glass wine stopper. Holiday Mantle/Centerpiece Designs (GROW-018N) Learn the art of composite design and how to create breathtaking displays with fresh evergreens and pine cones. How to Make Handmade Premium Soap (ARTC-306N) Learn to make eco-friendly soap from scratch. Bring home five bars. Joy of Holiday Wreaths (GROW-017N) Traditional and versatile, wreaths capture the spirit of the season. Make your own out of fresh greens and natural ornamentation. Bring ornaments or other treasures to attach. Leather Wrap Bracelet (ARTC-229N) Create a stylish bracelet with leather, thread, beads and a button clasp. Learn the techniques to make multiple wraps on your own.

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/ce neb.edu details on c c m t i V is s s e s an d d times. ional cla

n for addit n, cost , dates a io t a registr it and f or c re d s e t il able a ic if t also ava e r a Gif t cer s e s it clas noncred -2414 or 57 at 402-4 eb.edu. g @ m c cn in t e k r a m

Drafting her future MCC student changes career path, receives scholarships

tudent Susan Bittner spent many years in different jobs and as a stay-at-home mother, but manufacturing and construction were always in the back of her mind as potential careers. Working at companies like Valmont Industries and 3M introduced her to these fields. She decided to take the leap that so many middleaged adults contemplate: go back to school to obtain a higher paying, more Don’t satisfying career.

One scholarship is from the National Association for Women in Construction, an organization that provides professional development, networking, education and leadership training. The other award is from Peter Kiewit be afraid; Foundation, an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for people to better never too their lives and their communities.

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“I felt like my scholarships really cemented the thought that I was meant to make this change in my life,” she said.

it’s late to go back to school.

“I looked at a lot of places when searching for a place to get an education that would give me more opportunities, and I felt like MCC fit my needs due to its flexible class schedules and affordability,” Bittner said. “The sense of accomplishment I get while attending school is huge, and it really gives me self-confidence and the knowledge base I know I will need once I am out in my field.” Succeeding in her architectural design classes gave her the confidence to apply for scholarships. Early this year, Bittner was awarded two scholarships, reinforcing her decision to invest in herself.

Bittner volunteers her time with CareCorps and AmeriCorps and was recently inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa international honor society. She expects to graduate in May 2015 with a degree in architectural design and knows MCC will give her the foundation to maintain a satisfying position in her field. Her advice for others contemplating a career change: “Don’t be afraid; it’s never too late to go back to school.”

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ENHANCING LIVES THROUGH STUDENT LIFE Student Nurse Association makes an impact

ne year ago, Kayla Blackmon was the only active member of MCC’s Student Nurse Association. This year, the chapter gained 25 new members and started doing what nurses do best: serving others. “There’s been a huge turnaround,” said Blackmon, chapter vice president. “Not many people knew about it before, but now there’s some excitement.” In August, they partnered with the Stephen Center, an emergency housing homeless shelter in South Omaha. After touring the facility with nursing faculty Kristin Engel and Nancy Pares, Blackmon said they were “motivated and moved” by what they could accomplish there. Once a month, chapter members provide medication education and other tips to the shelter’s residents. Topics range from cold weather safety to diabetes management. “The homeless population doesn’t get accurate information about their medications,” Blackmon said.

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The program has been successful so far, she said, in part because the clients must be clean and sober to stay at the shelter. “It’s easier for them to learn what we have to teach them.” Students also spearheaded a donation drive at the main MCC campuses. The supplies will go toward the Stephen Center’s new building near the South Omaha Campus. These community service initiatives and the chapter’s membership boom got the attention of the Licensed Practical Nurse Association of Nebraska. In October, Blackmon traveled to the association’s conference in Kearney to accept the 2014 Student Organization Impact Award. “It’s hard to find nursing students who are willing to take time out of their already crazy busy schedules to do something important in the community,” Blackmon said. She is proud of the chapter for sacrificing their time with friends and family to help others. Blackmon is also proud to be an MCC nursing student. The 25-year-old said she avoided nursing school at first, doubting her abilities, but she knew she wouldn’t be satisfied in just any career. “I didn’t feel like I was doing anything with my life that was going to matter,” she said. “And that really upset me.” With many general education credits from MCC already under her belt, Blackmon felt compelled to stay at the College. “It was the best decision I ever made,” she said. Praising the program and faculty, Blackmon appreciates that her teachers genuinely care about her success. “They know me,” she said. “If I do poorly on a test, one of my instructors will ask me what’s going on.” Blackmon will graduate in May with her associate degree in nursing and plans to take her boards shortly after — the same test, she stressed, that bachelor’s degree nurses take.

MCC boasts the highest average NCLEX pass rate — 86.5 percent — of all associate degree, or RN, nursing students in the state, according to the latest data* from July 2013–June 2014. MCC’s pass rates are also higher than the national average of 82.6 percent, which includes bachelor’s degree nurses. Blackmon feels fortunate to be in such a solid program, which is giving her a foundation to reach her ultimate goal: becoming a mental health nurse practitioner. “It’s important for students to be proud that they went to the RN program at MCC,” Blackmon said. “It’s an insanely difficult program.”

MCC’s Associate Degree Nursing and Practical Nursing programs are approved by the Nebraska Board of Nursing. NCLEX pass rates (June 2013–July 2014) • PN level: 100 percent • RN level: 86.5 percent o Nebraska average: 85.71 percent o National average (including BSN): 82.6 percent *Data from the Nebraska State Board of Nursing quarterly report

Learn more at mccneb.edu/nurs.

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Mural brings life, color to campus South Omaha Campus mural unveiled at special ceremony

he College’s latest public art project was unveiled at the South Omaha Campus near the Metro bus transit center in October. The mural, “Waves of Immigration,” transforms a 3,300-square-foot concrete wall into a work of art that captures the essence of the rich history and promising future of the South Omaha community. Led by instructors Susan Trinkle and Mike Girón, students designed and executed the mural project throughout the Spring and Summer quarters. Artists include Mike Girón, Richard Harrison and Rebecca Van Ornam. Community forums helped gather ideas and feedback and shaped the mural’s message and overall design. Gary Kastrick, a noted South Omaha historian, provided historical context to infuse throughout the mural. “MCC is proud to have a home in South Omaha,” Trinkle said. “This collaborative project created a mural to honor that nearly 35-year relationship. Our goal was to bring students and the community together to create a high-quality mural reflective of the College’s mission and the South Omaha community.”

Scan to watch a video about the mural.

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Giving back

MCC alum establishes endowed photography scholarship

rofessional photographer Collin Leeder knew he wanted to give back to the school that had given him so much. He just didn’t know it’d be so soon. Selling his first photograph as a little kid, Leeder knew he had a creative side. During his senior year of high school, he decided to enroll in MCC photography classes. Leeder describes his first few classes as trial and error, but once he developed his first film, he was hooked. He now prides himself in his career as a dietician, but his passion for photography continues, working in professional photography for more than 10 years. “My years at MCC were some of the best of my life. It really felt like a second home,” Leeder said. His business, Leeder Photography, specializes in wedding, commercial, sports and portrait photography. Leeder offers digital and film photography, the latter taking a particular amount of skill. “I was honored to work as a photographer at the 2014 College World Series and even got to be on the field for the final game,” Leeder said. “Photography has taken me to some very special places and given me great opportunities.” Wanting to extend those opportunities to others, Leeder established an endowed scholarship for photography students at MCC, a scholarship that will support the next creative photographer.

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I really wanted to give back to MCC and wanted to wait until I was older, but one day I just figured, why not now?

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“I really wanted to give back to MCC and wanted to wait until I was older, but one day I just figured, why not now?” Leeder said. “I want to see MCC photography continue to be successful and give students a place to learn. Photography equipment costs can be high, and giving somebody else the modern, state-of-the-art equipment necessary to follow a dream is something I felt was my duty.”

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Documentary screening sheds light on domestic violence A public screening of the HBO documentary “Private Violence” was held at South Omaha Campus in October, bringing community activists and domestic violence victims together for a discussion. The feature-length documentary explored domestic violence issues, showing that the most dangerous place for a woman in America is inside her own home. Through the eyes of two survivors of domestic abuse, the documentary tackled the harsh realities of intimate partner violence. Tara Muir, executive director of the Domestic Violence Council, debriefed the film with a panel of survivors and community advocates. The screening was part of MCC’s ninth annual Diversity Matters Film and Lecture Series.

AROUND THE CO Nebraska Logistics Council awards endowed scholarship The Nebraska Logistics Council awarded MCC an endowed scholarship to go toward supporting students in transportation, distribution and logistics programs. Members of the Nebraska Logistics Council and the Nebraska Trucking Association presented the College a check during a special presentation at Tregaron Golf Course in Bellevue. The scholarship will help educate and train tomorrow’s workforce in the transportation, distribution and logistics industries, projected to grow much faster than average, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

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Data center tour gives glimpse into one of Omaha’s hottest jobs One of the area’s hottest jobs was on display during the Data Center Solution Tour in September at the South Omaha Campus. A mobile trailer equipped with data center technology allowed students to learn about an in-demand career from some of the industry’s best, Data Power Technology and Emerson Network Power.

Pensabene, executive director of MCC’s Workforce Innovation Division. “MCC is meeting the industry’s needs by providing degrees — including critical facilities operations and data center management — and learning opportunities like the Data Center Solution Tour.”

Data Power Technology gave guided tours of the mobile data center, which included new infrastructure solutions such as the SmartAisle solution, aisle containment and other industry technologies. “Large companies are constructing data centers in Omaha, increasing the demand for qualified workers,” said Tom

OLLEGE Omaha Hospitality Hall of Fame welcomes six new inductees The 22nd annual Omaha Hospitality Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony was held at MCC’s Institute for the Culinary Arts to celebrate and honor the achievements of some of the best in the Omaha-area food and restaurant industry. The October event also helped raise scholarship funds for culinary and hospitality students at the Institute for the Culinary Arts. This year’s inductees were Anthony Abbott, French Café; Gayle Carstens, Restaurants Inc.; Michael Harrison, French Café; Dino Losole, Lo Sole Mio Ristorante Italiano; Adi Pour, Douglas County Health Department; and Milton Yin, Hiro, Hiro 88 and Imperial Palace. The annual event recognizes industry professionals while providing an opportunity for MCC students, faculty and staff to design, prepare and present the meal. community • mccneb.edu • 22

Metropolitan Community College P.O. Box 3777 Omaha, NE 68103-0777

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