PRESIDENT’S REPORT | June 2014
Campus walking trails get new markers
Gia Jurczyk’s equivalency score qualified her to apply for a SCC Board of Trustees scholarship. She was selected and her tuition will be covered for four semesters. She will begin the pre-engineering transfer program at SCC in the fall.
Following recognition ceremony, students make a new start High school did not come easy for Gia Jurczyk, the oldest of six children. “I was more concerned with whether my brothers and sisters had food than what the teacher was saying,” said Jurczyk. “When I came home, I spent my time helping take care of my siblings, and homework rarely crossed my mind. School simply wasn’t a priority.” Jurczyk got a job to help support her family and eventually dropped out of high school to work more hours. A month before her 18th birthday, she gave birth to a baby girl and spent years working as a single mom. After she got married and her children grew older she decided she wanted more for herself, so she enrolled in SCC’s High School Equivalency (HSE) program. On Wednesday, June 11, Jurczyk, was honored with 89 other students during a recognition ceremony for the Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) program at SCC. Some 65 students were recognized for receiving their High School Equivalency
credential, and 25 students were acknowledged for their achievement, improvement and attendance in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Five students were honored for becoming U.S. citizens. During the 2013-14, more than 180 SCC students received their HSE credentials and some 450 SCC students from 58 countries took part in the ESL program. The GED test expired Dec. 31. On Jan. 2, Missouri began offering the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET). The SCC Adult Education and Literacy program teaches basic reading, math and writing skills to prepare people to take the HiSET (formerly GED) tests and to assist nonnative speakers in gaining English proficiency. The program extends to four counties (St. Charles, Warren, Lincoln and Pike), and free day and evening classes are available online. For more information about the AEL program at SCC, call 636-922-8411 or visit stchas.edu/ael.
Walking your way to health over the paths of the beautiful 235-acre SCC campus just got easier. New trail markers embellish the on-campus walking trails thanks to the Employee Sponsored Program (ESP). Over the years, ESP helped to fund the construction of many parts of the walking paths as well as the convenient trail markers that guide walkers within the boundaries of the SCC campus. There are multiple options for those who want to walk the grounds of the college campus. Walkers can start on each trail at any point, and all three trails have easy access to the trail head marker near the Child Development Center and Technology Building. Lengths of the trails are .33 mile, 1-mile and 1.5 miles.
SCC FOUNDATION UPDATES
$15,000 GM grant will help students succeed Future students at SCC will reap the benefits of a $15,000 grant from General Motors received by the college in May. “We appreciate the generosity of our partners in the community like General Motors who support student scholarships and college readiness initiatives,” Betsy Schneider, director of development, said. The funds will support a $1,500 student scholarship and the BeReady Project. In 2014-15, the project will offer the BeReadyForTheFuture.com online resource, workshops for students, parents, and educators, college readiness information and activities, career readiness and exploration opportunities, and streamlined curriculum between high school and college.
Leadership & Strategy Speaker Series underway St. Charles Community College’s Friends & Alumni, Great Southern Bank and the Greater St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce are teaming up to offer a Leadership and Strategy Speaker Series beginning this summer. “Our community is rich in leadership and business strategy resources,” Betsy Schneider, director of development, said. “We are just bringing them together to better serve our community.” The series began June 10, with “Social Media for Small Business” by Vernon Ross of Ross PR. The next presentation is “Goal Getter” set for 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 22, in the Rotunda of the College Center. Chris Robinson of R3 Coaching will outline the steps to achieving goals in five areas of life. Future topics include “Don’t Be a Statistic! Combat Fraud in Your Business” and more; the series runs through November. Preregister online the Friday before each Tuesday lecture. The lectures are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Betsy Schneider at 636-922-8473 or bschneider@stchas.edu.
SCC to host Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs® manufacturing camp SCC will to host a Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs® manufacturing camp for middle and high school students this summer. Designed to help inspire the next generation of inventors, engineers, entrepreneurs and manufacturers, the camp is a technical, hands-on experience to introduce students to 21st-century manufacturing technology and basic entrepreneurial skills. Middle school participants will focus on robotics using the newest Lego Robotic Engineering EV3 kits. During the camp, participants will explore entrepreneurship, computer-aided design (CAD), computer numerical control (CNC) programming and machining, automation, robotics and more,
while emphasizing product creation, problem solving and team building. “There is an ever-increasing demand for highly skilled professionals who can design, program and operate technology, and this camp allows students to learn about these opportunities,” Amy Fitzwilliam, program coordinator, said. Visits to area manufacturers will provide an up-close look at products being made as well as career advice and inspiration from the entrepreneurs who run the companies. The camp will be held July 7-11. For more information, call 636-922-8335. The camp is part of a national program developed by Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs®, the foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association.
Community comes out for Rhythm & Ribs, raising $47,000 Some 1,250 friends and neighbors joined with faculty, staff and students to show support for St. Charles Community College at the fourth annual Rhythm and Ribs fundraiser on Thursday, June 5. Ticket sales, raffle and donations raised more than $47,000. Proceeds will support scholarships and academic enhancements at SCC.
Mark Baker, vice president of Warrenton Oil Company, Eric Henderson, UPS Central Plains District area HR manager, and Scott Lewis, Cottleville city administrator/chief of police, were event co-chairs.
“We are so thankful for our friends on campus and in the community who come out year after year to help provide scholarships and academic enhancements for our students,” said Betsy Schneider, director of development. More than 150 volunteers helped out at the event, with 25 from UPS doing set-up.
Patrons enjoy the Smash Band at the 2014 Rhythm & Ribs fundraising event.
NEWS AND NOTES
Staff in-service offers instruction in casual setting
Student Ambassadors led student tours during the 2013 RegFest.
One-stop RegFest event is set for June 18 on campus SCC RegFest is an afternoon and evening full of food, prizes, music and planning. Students interested in SCC can meet with financial aid and academic advisors in person as they help discover your options for the fall. From 2-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, Scooter McCougar, SCC’s mascot, will be handing out his favorite, free Cougar swag along with free food and information about SCC student life. “It’s a one-stop-shop for busy adults considering going back to school as well as for recent high school grads and parents,” Kathy Brockgreitens-Gober, dean of enrollment services, said. At the event, future students can … • Learn what degree programs SCC offers. • Meet with financial aid and A+ Program advisors to discuss eligibility and benefits. • Understand the full process for getting enrolled – from application to admission to your first day of classes. • Hear from current and former students of all ages to gain insight from their SCC experience. • Take the steps necessary to get enrolled. Information will be available on Cougar athletics, SCC’s 40+ student clubs/organizations, as well as veterans and mental health services.
The perils of sitting, the benefits of laughter and an overview of the college’s new payroll system were the featured topics at this year’s staff in-service, an annual event organized by the Human Resources Department. Held on Friday, June 6, in the SSB Auditorium, the day was split into morning and afternoon sessions. Participants picked a half-day session and enjoyed a healthy lunch.
Brenda Hollrah, College Center coordinator and physical education chair, provided handouts and encouraged attendees to practice simple exercises to break up a day of sitting at one’s desk. Nicole Harms of Personal Assistance Services detailed the science behind the emotional and physical benefits associated with regular laughter. Susie Rubemeyer, director of finance, demonstrated new practices that will be in place when the newest HR/payroll system launches in July.
Administrators receive grant, state-wide appointment Tolson receives ‘Show Me Steps to Continuing Education’ grant Stephanie Tolson, Ph.D., dean of learning resources and support, was the beneficiary of support received recently from the “Show Me Steps to Continuing Education” grant program. With the funding, Tolson was able to attend the Academic Library Directors Symposium in February. “The role of academic library director should be to influence, inspire action and give a point to rally,” Tolson said. “I learned that we must develop an entrepreneurial mindset as we launch new mobile technologies.” Tolson presented what she learned from the symposium during the Annual Mobius Users Conference June 2-3 in Columbia, Mo. Her presentation included new mobile technologies that Innovative Interfaces Inc. will be making available to clients such as
Mobius consortium of Missouri Libraries. The Show Me Steps financial assistance program is funded by the Library Services of Technology Act (LSTA) and awarded through the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency that fosters innovation, leadership and a lifetime of learning. LSTA grants are awarded and administered to Missouri libraries by the Missouri State Library, a department of the Missouri Secretary of State.
Galbierz named to state-wide Performance Funding Task Force Todd Galbierz, vice president for administrative services, will join the Performance Funding Task Force being reconvened by the Department of Higher Education. They will consider changes to existing performance funding measures and implementation of the provision in Senate Bill 492 that requires one measure in the performance funding model to pertain to graduate job placement.
MARK THE CALENDAR RegFest, www.stchas.edu/RegFest 2-8 p.m. June 18, Campus Plaza
2014 SCC Commencement Exercises Reflect on the joy and satisfaction of the achievements of our graduates at SCC’s 2014 Commencement Exercises during this inspiring video. | http://tinyurl.com/l32dhtt
Movie and Food Trucks – The Lego Movie Sundown June 27, Outside TECH Leadership and Strategy Speaker Series – Goal Getter 7:30 a.m. July 22, Rotunda, CC
Center Stage Theatre Musical – Dirty Rotten Scoundrels July 22-27, FAB Theater Movie and Food Trucks – “Frozen” The Sing-a-Long Sundown July 25, Outside TECH