The Communicator - 08/02/10
In this issue, you’ll read:
Fall 2010 Enrollment Numbers Expected to Increase Again…
Volunteers Needed for Opening Day on Aug. 21…
Arts Festival Oklahoma 2010 Preview…
A Few Good Men and Women…
OCCC License Plate Tags Now Available…
Oklahoma Department of Corrections Announces Meat Sale…
Get To Know…
Happy Birthday…
Fall 2010 Enrollment Numbers Expected to Increase Again
Soon, summer 2010 will be a thing of the past and fall classes at OCCC will be in full swing. Students planning to attend during the fall 2010 semester are being encouraged to complete the enrollment process soon as classes are filling up quickly.
Fall 2009 at OCCC was one for the record books with more than 14,000 students enrolled in classes at OCCC’s main campus, representing roughly a 14 percent increase from fall 2008.
This year, indications are that OCCC is on the path to another enrollment increase.
Last year OCCC adjusted to the increase by adding 140 new sections to the schedule. This year the college has already added 96 new sections.
In 2009, OCCC faculty members were asked to take on additional courses, class sizes were increased where space and equipment allowed, and vacant spaces were converted to classrooms. Many of the same accommodations will take place for the 2010 fall semester.
Extended enrollment hours at OCCC’s main campus will be available for student convenience from Aug. 9 through 27. OCCC’s hours for enrollment will be as follows:
• Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Volunteers Needed for Opening Day on Aug. 21
The Office of Student Life is looking for volunteers to help with Opening Day on Saturday, Aug. 21 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Offered each semester, Opening Day at OCCC is a time for students and parents to visit the campus, ask last-minute questions, inquire about campus resources, find student’s classrooms and get acquainted with other students.
While here on campus, students can get to know their surroundings and enjoy popcorn, cotton candy and snow cones.
For Opening Day volunteer sign up, please contact Katie Treadwell at ktreadwell@occc.edu, or at ext. 7523.
Arts Festival Oklahoma 2010 Preview
Close out the summer with art, amazing vocal and instrumental music and a variety of mouthwatering menu choices at the 32nd annual Arts Festival Oklahoma (AFO), set for Sept. 4 -6 on the OCCC campus.
A celebration of visual, performing and culinary arts, the festival will include more than 100 visual artists, non-stop entertainment, a wide variety of food booths, and a children’s tent with hands-on arts and crafts.
Visual artists from Oklahoma and across the country will combine to offer a diverse collection of pottery, sculptures, paintings, photography, glass work, jewelry, woodwork and many other handmade crafts.
This year’s featured artist is Oklahoma artist, RT “Becky” Mannschreck. Becky is a relatively new artist even though she has been a part of the art profession for most of her life having grown up next to the easel of her late mother, Katy Kay Bonner, a favorite Oklahoma artist.
In addition to the varied artwork, visitors can again look forward to the wide variety of performing artists that grace two separate stages over the three-day festival. Internationally recognized artists will join local Oklahoma artists on AFO’s performance roster to perform throughout the day.
New Orleans’ own Hot 8 Brass Band will provide headline entertainment on Saturday evening, Sept. 4. A group that has epitomized New Orleans street music for over a decade, the band performs annually at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, world and jazz festivals across the US and Europe, and was featured in the Spike Lee documentary “When the Levees Broke.” Opening entertainment for the evening will be provided by Mike Black and the Stingrays performing what is billed as the only Elvis show in Oklahoma with a live band.
Sunday, Sept. 5, will feature the extraordinary sounds of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic followed by a fireworks display. The annual Labor Day concert and fireworks presented at OCCC has become a family tradition for many in central Oklahoma.
Festival hours are Sat., Sept. 4 and Sun., Sept. 5 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Mon., Sept. 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free and parking is just $5 per vehicle. For more information, call ext. 7576 or visit the Arts Festival Oklahoma website at www.occc.edu/afo.
A Few Good Men and Women
Congressman Tom Cole and Congresswoman Mary Fallin sponsored OCCC to receive funds from the fiscal year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriation to provide educational support services to the nation’s veterans enrolled here at OCCC.
Currently, OCCC is developing project details associated with meeting the requirements of the earmark and expanding assistance for servicemen. In preparing materials, a question has arisen regarding the number of service men, women and veterans who are currently employed at OCCC. We would like to know if you have served or are currently serving in the military.
If you are willing to provide that information, please do so by emailing Dr. Marion Paden at mpaden@occc.edu, or by calling ext. 7595.
As this information is not required, please do not respond if you are reluctant to do so in any way. However, if you have served, or are currently serving, in the armed services and choose to share the specifics of your service (i.e. branch, rank, years of service, etc.), your permission is needed to share your information with others.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact Dr. Paden at ext. 7595.
OCCC License Plate Tags Now Available
Tag yourself with the newest OCCC license plate now available for motor vehicles. Cost for an original or replacement tag is $38; renewals are $36.50.
Click on the link below and download the order form today: www.tax.ok.gov/plates/sp111.html
Oklahoma Department of Corrections Announces Meat Sale
The 2003 legislative session made it possible for the Agri-Services Division of the OK Dept. of Corrections to make products produced at the meat processing center available as a benefit to state, county and city government employees, retirees and public school staff at all levels of education.
On Aug. 3 the meat truck will be in at the Agri-Services Administration Building at 3402 N. Martin Luther King from 2 to 6 p.m. to sell meat products.
For more information, visit www.okagriservices.com and click on meat sale information.
GET TO KNOW…
Mary Grace Berkowitz
Position:
Cataloger/Reference Librarian
Department:
Library
Previous Jobs:
Metropolitan Library System, Cataloger
Family:
Dan, husband; Zoe 10 yrs., Jenny 9 yrs., Sarah 7 yrs., Willa 1 yr.
Pets:
Dog, Dancer
Hobbies:
church web manager, contra dance ballet and reading
Famous Favorite Saying/Quote:
“To thine own self be true.” - Shakespeare
Happy Birthday
Anita Rhea - 8/2
Daniel Benton - 8/2
Jim Schwark - 8/2
Tammy Steward - 8/2
Anne Gatlin - 8/3
Cheryl Wolfe - 8/3
Gary Houlette - 8/3
Daisy Mitchell - 8/4
Tom Kraft - 8/4
Jenean Jones - 8/5
Danny Shipman - 8/6
Gus Pekara - 8/7
Denny Myers - 8/8
Elaine Svec - 8/8
Sandy Wythe - 8/9
Janice Phillips - 8/10
Lori Johnson - 8/10
Bernadean Woods - 8/11
Daniel Shaffer - 8/11
Jerry Steward - 8/11
Deidra Thompson - 8/12
Ernest Gobert - 8/13
Lois Ganick - 8/14
Stephen Morrow - 8/14
Kathy Nix - 8/15
The Communicator - 07/19/10
In this issue, you’ll read:
Crisis Drill Helps Prepare College for Real-life Emergency…
College to Go “Live” with Campus Alert Notification System…
Leaugeay Barnes Accepted to National EMS Advisory Council…
New Events Management System…
Get To Know…
Happy Birthday…
Crisis Drill Helps Prepare College for Real-life Emergency
The sunny, sultry Tuesday morning began as a typical summer day on the OCCC campus last week. But as the automated voice came over each employee phone and the sirens began alerting all those inside to evacuate, the ordinary day was quickly interrupted.
As students, staff, employees and guests began to evacuate from all corners of the campus, the southwest parking lot was already full of activity. The day had been set aside for a crisis training drill with members of the OCCC Safety and Security department, Oklahoma City Police and Fire departments, Oklahoma City S.W.A.T. and Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA).
The chaos, although simulated, seemed very real. While sections of the campus grounds became flooded with individuals seeking shelter away from the college, smoke bombs were activated, injured patients of a simulated car explosion were screaming for help, survivors were seeking assistance for their wounded friends and EMSA and fire truck lights could be seen near Faculty Circle.
As security officers, firemen and paramedics arrived on scene, yet another potential disaster was added to the simulated drill. A suspicious package was discovered in the same parking lot, and one of the wounded victims, soon to be identified as the bombing suspect, fled to the OCCC maintenance facilities building where he barricaded himself inside.
Arriving next was media from across the metro. Setting up their cameras in a secure location, media briefings were held with OCCC Public Information Officers (PIO).
Members of the OCCC Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Emergency Communications Center (ECC) all took their posts and began working through team and individual tasks as if the crisis was a real-life situation.
As information was given to the college PIO live on the scene, it was quickly relayed to the ECC leader who then distributed the news to members of the EOC and ECC teams to update various lines of communication to keep students, parents, family members, faculty and staff members of OCCC abreast of the crisis and the latest news.
The crisis continued until the simulated bomb was disarmed and the suspect surrendered peacefully. However, college officials were still tasked with informing the media and families of the day’s events that included multiple injuries and casualties.
Team briefings were immediately held following the drill to discuss the dos and don’ts for future training sessions as well as in an actual crisis.
Safety of the entire OCCC family is top priority to college officials, and although unfortunate, drills such as these are necessary to ensure a safe and secure campus where students achieve and the community thrives.
College to Go “Live” with Campus Alert Notification System
OCCC will soon go “live” with a new notification system to improve communications with students, faculty and staff in the event of an emergency on campus.
The Campus Alert Notification (CAN) system will be used to deliver text messages to cell phones, emails and - eventually - voice messages to telephones. Initially, the system has been populated with the college email addresses of current students and employees. By logging into the system, a user can easily add cell phone numbers to receive text alerts and can enter additional email addresses to receive messages.
“This system will allow the college to communicate with our community about campus emergencies and closures using a single system,” OCCC Coordinator of Online Marketing, John Richardson, said. “Not only will we be able to rapidly distribute time sensitive information via text message and email, but also post alerts to the college’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. In an emergency situation, we need to be able to communicate through as many channels as possible.”
OCCC is utilizing a software product from a company called Regroup. A college task force made the recommendation to use this system after conducting research of several systems.
“Regroup made an excellent presentation to the task force and has provided an integrated solution. The staff at Regroup has been very responsive to the requests made by OCCC,” Denny Myers, implementation team chair, said.
Students and employees will soon be able to access the system and their account online.
“We want to emphasize to the users of this system that it will be used only for emergency communication; it will not be used for anything else,” Richardson added.
The first campus alert message will be sent through the system via email to the full group of employees and students this Wednesday. Feedback on the system is encouraged. Please contact John Richardson at ext. 7552 or jrichardson@occc.edu.
Members of the Campus Alert Notification System Task Force include:
• Dave Anderson
• Pat Berryhill
• Connie Drummond
• Vicki Gibson
• Paula Gower
• Cordell Jordan
• Denny Myers
• John Richardson
• Ike Sloas
Leaugeay Barnes Accepted to National EMS Advisory Council
OCCC’s own Leaugeay Barnes, program director for the Emergency Medical Sciences department, was recently appointed to the National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (NEMSAC).
A nationally recognized council of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), NEMSAC provides representatives and consumers with advice and recommendations regarding EMS to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
For the next two years, Barnes will serve alongside members of volunteer EMS groups, fire-based EMS, hospital-based EMS, EMS medical directors, emergency physicians, trauma surgeons and pediatric emergency physicians.
EMS matters overseen by NEMSAC include, national EMS needs assessment and strategic planning; development of standards, guidelines, benchmarks and data collection relating to EMS. Also, methods for improving community-based EMS; strengthening EMS systems, improved coordination and support of EMS activities among Federal programs; and more will be advised upon by NEMSAC.
Congratulations, Leaugeay!
New Events Management System
Now in place, the new Events Management System (Events) allows OCCC employees to quickly and easily see all scheduled college events, meetings and academic classes by simply looking in one central location. Replacing the Event Setup request forms, the new system is to be used to schedule all events at OCCC.
Each department at OCCC recently provided at least one employee contact for this project, who in turn attended user training sessions. Employees responsible for reserving rooms or equipment for their department also received specialized training for their role with the new system.
“The Events system also contains photographs of the schedulable rooms to provide the requester a visual image and a better idea of the atmosphere for their meeting, etc.,” E.J. Warren, E-Student Services director, said.
All academic class schedules are still created and maintained in the Datatel Colleague system with an automated interface sharing information between the systems.
An events request is completed with this information in mind:
1. What is the activity, event, meeting, etc.?
2. Who is the contact?
3. When will it occur?
4. Where do you want to schedule your event?
5. What resources do you need?
Built-in workflows are available within the new system to send event requests to appropriate individuals for approval, and the new system has numerous reports and dashboard views available for individuals responsible for scheduling rooms and resources. Events also allow the deans and President’s Cabinet members to review and analyze space utilization and enrollment information.
If your department has space request needs for any type of event on campus and has not yet attended training, please review the list of training dates available through MineOnline. For questions about the system, please contact E.J. Warren at ext. 7569 for assistance.
GET TO KNOW…
Heather Wall
Position:
Bursar Assistant
Department:
Bursar
How long have you worked for OCCC:
8 years
Family:
Justin, son
Pets:
Sapphire, Boston Terrier
Famous Favorite Saying/Quote:
“Normal is not something to aspire to, it is something to get away from.”
- Jodie Foster
Happy Birthday
Barbara King - 7/16
Margy Davis - 7/17
Toni Rose - 7/17
Valerie Havrilla - 7/17
Ginelle Gordon - 7/18
James Jackson - 7/18
Martin Wiley - 7/19
Gray Frederickson - 7/21
Kristi Ross - 7/22
Virginia Hovda - 7/22
B. J. Higgins - 7/23
Roxy Butler - 7/23
Chris Thornton - 7/25
Dawn Ladiski - 7/25
Sharon Coffman - 7/26
Kristi Hendricks - 7/27
Myra Decker - 7/28
Ray Lewelling - 7/28
Vicky Wilson - 7/28
Rob Greggs - 7/31
The Communicator - 06/21/10
In this issue, you’ll read:
Increase in Summer Activity; Get a Jump Start on Fall Enrollment…
Cultural Arts Series Tickets Available…
OCCC Wellness Challenge - Tour de Route 66…
Assistant Director of Facilities Management Awarded Certification…
Summer Professional Development Learning Sessions…
Get To Know…
Happy Birthday…
Increase in Summer Activity; Get a Jump Start on Fall Enrollment
Another record enrollment is being documented at OCCC for the summer 2010 semester. Not only are the classes full indoors, but outdoors as well. Summer enrollment numbers are up from previous years as are the number of children participating in this year’s OCCC Summer Kids Camps.
Up 18 percent when compared to summer 2009, the college plans to serve over 7,000 students this semester.
“It’s exciting to see a busy campus during the summer months,” Dr. Sechrist said. “OCCC is here to help students stay on track with their college class schedule through the summer.”
In addition, the OCCC Summer Kids Camps are seeing a spike in numbers as several College for Kids Classes moved to their new home at the Family and Community Education (FACE) Center located at 6500 S. Land Avenue.
“The new Family and Community Education Center is the perfect location for College for Kids,” said Brannon Dressel, Community Outreach and Education Coordinator. “The facility has been supplied with state of the art equipment, including a computer lab.”
And although summer seems to have just begun, students planning to attend OCCC during the fall 2010 semester are encouraged to get a jump start on enrollment.
“New and returning students should visit an advisor soon for the best selection of fall classes,” Jon Horinek, Recruitment and Admissions director, said. “OCCC has course offerings at a variety of times and formats; however, students who enroll early are more likely to find the schedule they want with the classes they need.”
Fall 2009 at OCCC was one for the record books with more than 14,000 students enrolled in classes at OCCC’s main campus, roughly a 22 percent increase from the previous year.
“The fall 2010 semester could very well be the same,” Horinek said. “We want to accommodate each student’s class needs the best we can. That’s why we encourage them to start looking at their schedules now.”
Extended enrollment hours at OCCC’s main campus will be available beginning in August. Students enrolling for the first time must complete an application for admission, found in the Admissions Office, or online at www.occc.edu/ApplyNow. Returning students may enroll in person or online at mineonline.occc.edu.
Cultural Arts Series Tickets Available
The 2010-2011 OCCC Cultural Arts Series (CAS) is setting up to be another smashing season. Advanced tickets are available now through July 15. Save 50 percent by ordering early and enjoy eight outstanding performances for the price of four.
This season’s CAS artists include:
• Wijeratne, Azmeh, Mayookh Trio, September 28
• Franc D’Ambrosio, October 12
• Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas, November 9
• Odeum Theatre Company and Choregus Productions - It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, December 9
• K. C. Clifford, January 18
• Trio Cavatina, February 8
• Dallas Brass, March 1
• Bearfoot, Tuesday, April 12
Purchasing your tickets is simple; here are a few options.
• Purchase tickets online at http://www.occc.edu/CAS/Tickets.html .
• Charge your tickets by calling the Cultural Programs department at (405) 682-7579.
• Stop by the Cultural Programs department (Room 1G1 A in the Main Building just inside SEM Entry 1) to purchase your tickets.
For more information, visit www.occc.edu/cas or call (405) 682-7579.
OCCC Wellness Challenge - Tour de Route 66
In celebration of the 97th annual Tour de France, OCCC is hosting its very own Tour de Route 66 Employee Challenge. Join the competition running July 3 through August 13. Sign up starts today, Monday, June 21 through Friday, July 2.
Follow the instructions below for fun, friendly competition, and an excellent way to track your daily exercise:
1. Sign up between June 21 and July 2 via email at tourwithme@occc.edu. Participants can choose from three different exercise levels on the route.
2. Each participant will be assigned a figurine bicycle, competitor number and bike color.
3. Participant’s bicycles will be added to the route map segregated by level. Maps will be located in the hallway near the OCCC Recreation and Fitness office.
4. For each ten minutes of exercise logged (this can be any type of exercise such as walking, jogging, lifting weights, exercise class, or biking), participants will be awarded two miles.
5. Participants must keep track of their own minutes and electronically submit their time on a weekly basis. Bicycles will be moved on the route map corresponding with the number of miles awarded for that week. The lead bike will get to wear the coveted yellow jersey all week.
6. As each participant passes through an Oklahoma town on the route map they will get the opportunity to answer a trivia question. For each correct answer, the participant will receive two free miles added to their trip.
Three Lunch and Learn sessions will also be offered during the competition. For each session attended, four more free miles can be calculated.
On the last day of the competition, a healthy meal cook off and taste testing will be hosted in the main dining area. Weekly prizes and a grand prize will be awarded to winning competitors.
For more information on the Tour de Route 66 Employee Challenge, please call ext. 7148, or email Lisa Vaughan lvaughan@occc.edu.
Assistant Director of Facilities Management Awarded Certification
Assistant Director of Facilities Management at OCCC was recently awarded honors from APPA, the association dedicated to leadership in educational facilities. APPA is proud to announce that OCCC’s Chris Snow has received the Certified Educational Facilities Professional (CEFP) certification. The CEFP validates the unique knowledge and competence required of an advanced professional in the educational facilities field.
“APPA International has four premier educational tracks for higher education facility administrators. Snow completed the Facilities Institute program within two years, and the APPA Leadership Academy in three years. Both programs were completed within the shortest time possible,” OCCC Director of Facilities Management, J.B. Messer, said. “He also completed the APPA Educational Facilities Professional program and subsequent testing, followed by the most recent CEFP program and certification examination.”
The completion of these educational programs has again placed focus on OCCC as a leader in the facilities management industry.
Messer added that with his accomplishments Snow is one of three higher education facility administrators, internationally, to complete this level of participation and certification.
“This accomplishment is another example of the college’s administration supporting the facilities management department,” Messer said.
APPA promotes leadership in educational facilities for professionals seeking to build their careers, transform their institutions, and elevate the value and recognition of facilities in education. APPA provides members the opportunity to explore trends, issues and best practices in educational facilities through research, publications, professional development and credentialing.
Formerly the Association of Physical Plant Administrators, APPA is the association of choice for 5,200 educational facilities professionals at more than 1,500 learning institutions throughout the world.
For more CEFP information, eligibility requirements, future exam dates or how to apply for the exam, visit www.certification.appa.org or call (703) 542-3828.
OCCC Human Resources Leader Named to Board of Professional Organization
OCCC’s Director of Compensation and Human Resource Systems, Larry Robertson, will soon serve as Professional Development Coordinator on the board of directors of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR), Southern Region. His two-year term will begin July 1.
“With the excellent leadership and dedication Larry has provided as chair of the Oklahoma Chapter of CUPA-HR, I have no doubt that he will continue to be a valuable asset to the entire CUPA-HR organization and membership,” said OCCC Vice President for Human Resources, Gary Lombard.
Southern Region CUPA-HR is a professional association serving member institutions and human resource professionals with development opportunities and technical assistance for the effective management of human resources.
Nearly 65 years old, CUPA-HR provides global leadership to the higher education human resource profession and the higher education community by offering essential knowledge, resources and connections to enhance individual and institutional capacity and competitiveness.
As an institution-based membership organization, CUPA-HR serves the following states within the southern region: Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
CUPA-HR provides vital resources to more than 12,000 higher education HR professionals at over 1,700 institutions. For more information about CUPA-HR, visit http://www.cupahr.org.
GET TO KNOW…
Michael Boyle
Position:
Professor of Music
Department:
Arts and Humanities
How long have you worked for OCCC:
Four years
Previous Jobs:
Executive chef, fine dining, from coast to coast
Pets:
Sadi, an old Lab; Domino, a mutt (rescue dog); Jersey, bull terrier, (temporary custody); Lucy, bull terrier, another rescue, she’s blind
Hobbies:
Travel and sports
Famous Favorite Saying/Quote:
“Music expresses that which cannot be said. ”
- Victor Hugo
Happy Birthday
Cheri Lee - 6/17
Jane Harding - 6/17
Monica Holland - 6/18
Rashida Douglas - 6/18
Jimmie Baker - 6/19
Stephen Kash - 6/19
Beverly Schaeffer - 6/20
Debbie Myers - 6/20
Jennifer Maracara - 6/20
Pat Berryhill - 6/21
Catherine Kinyon - 6/22
Chad Clingman - 6/22
Ron Scribner - 6/22
Rosemary Klepper - 6/22
James Bothwell - 6/23
Stephanie Baird - 6/23
Chris Lusk - 6/24
John Brumfield - 6/24
Judy Martin - 6/24
Lori Lowe - 6/24
Marcy Roll - 6/24
Martie Collin - 6/24
Monica Carlisle - 6/24
Tracy Lister - 6/24
Amin Shariat Zadeh - 6/25
Kevin Tipton - 6/25
Vicki Gibson - 6/25
Denise Stewart - 6/27
Sharen Hall - 6/27
Kristy Bailey - 6/28
Sandra Pogue - 6/30
Sara Mathew - 6/30
Jenna Howard - 7/1
Rickey Cowan - 7/1
The Communicator - 06/07/10
In this issue, you’ll read:
OCCC Names VP for Community Development…
On Exchange to Mexico…
Grant Awarded from Dollar General Literacy Foundation…
OCCC Grad Presented National Volunteer Service Award…
Summer Professional Development Learning Sessions…
Get To Know…
Happy Birthday…
OCCC Names VP for Community Development
OCCC has named the new Vice President for Community Development. Mr. Steven Bloomberg comes to Oklahoma City with significant experience in community programs and recently served as Executive Director of Continuing Education and Off-Campus Programs at Florida Gulf Coast University.
In his new assignment, Bloomberg will be responsible for promotion of community development through classes and activities that include recreation, cultural and community development programs. He will manage the day to day operations of Community Development and will supervise directors of the Capitol Hill Center, Career Transitions Program, Community Outreach and Education, Cultural Programs, Recreation and Fitness, and the extension agent of the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance.
While at Florida Gulf Coast University, Bloomberg led the development and growth of credit and non-credit programs throughout a five-county service delivery area in southwest Florida. Bloomberg helped establish profitable conferences featuring nationally known speakers, delivered speeches at local and national venues, and represented the university president and provost at various events and functions.
Bloomberg implemented a new online asynchronous registration system while at Florida Gulf Coast University; designed a new, interactive continuing education webpage to drive marketing efforts; and founded the Southwest Florida Training and Education Alliance (SWF-TEA). In addition to many other tasks, he organized demographic-specific focus groups throughout the five-county service area to ensure connectivity with university programs and services. He also created the Great Scholars Lecture Series featuring nationally-recognized faculty members from universities such as Harvard, Columbia, and Stanford.
Holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of LaVerne in LaVerne, California, Bloomberg received his Masters Degree in Education from West Texas A & M University in Canyon, Texas.
On Exchange to Mexico
Known as the largest U.S. international exchange program, the Fulbright Program offers opportunities for students, scholars, and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, and university teaching worldwide. On an excursion to Guadalajara, Mexico, Dr. Felix Aquino, OCCC Vice President for Academic Affairs, is currently taking full advantage of all the exchange program has to offer.
“Typically the Fulbright Program is a true ‘exchange’ where faculty members are away for an entire year. That’s not practical for administrators,” Dr. Aquino, said. “They have a short-term program of three weeks where I can visit and give a series of talks on what the American university system is like,” he added.
One of Aquino’s contacts during this trip will be the State Head of the Public Education Secretariat - which is much like the U.S. Department of Education. Because one of OCCC’s strategic initiatives is to better prepare our students and community to participate in the globally interconnected economy and society. Dr. Aquino hopes to establish collaborations and alliances with the universities in Mexico.
Also through the Fulbright Program, Dr. Aquino is in conversations with a university in Cartagena, Columbia.
“We are working on a pilot for the fall 2011 semester. It’s a course that will be team taught,” he said. “Half of the students will be here; half will be there. They will be linked via polycom technology.”
Dr. Aquino also said that he is excited about Spanish emersion, English emersion and what the colleges can do to work together to learn more about those topics. “Mexicans are very keen on moving forward with their university system - with what they call technical universities. These educational institutions are very similar to our community colleges,” he added.
Grant Awarded from Dollar General Literacy Foundation
Utilizing outside resources to supplement grants for summer classes, the Community Outreach and Education department (COE) at OCCC was recently awarded $20,000 from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.
Believing that learning to read, receiving your General Educational Development (GED) diploma and learning the English language are an investment that opens doors for personal, professional and economic growth, Dollar General’s commitment to literacy is an integral part of the company’s culture.
“After funding was cut by the state this fiscal year, we looked to outside resources to supplement our grant to have summer classes for Adult Basic Education that included GED and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes,” Jessica Martinez-Brooks, Acting Vice President for Community Development, said. “We had not planned to have summer classes prior to receiving the grant, but thanks to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, we will now have approximately six classes throughout the summer. The funding from this grant will be used to pay part-time teacher salaries,” Martinez-Brooks said.
COE provides short-term, non-credit courses designed to improve basic skills for adults of all ages and children. The Adult Learning Center provides free GED and ESL classes to community members throughout the Oklahoma City metro area for all adults ages 16 and older.
“We have been operating with a waiting list of 500 students for ESL classes and approximately 150 GED students at any given time this past year,” said Martinez-Brooks. “There is a high demand for these classes and it is important for us to offer continuous services throughout the year for the community.”
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation provides funding to nonprofit organizations that provide direct service to adults in need of literacy assistance. Applicant organizations must provide assistance in adult basic education, general education diploma preparation, and/or English for speakers of other languages.
OCCC Grad Presented National Volunteer Service Award
America is steeped in tradition of volunteer service. Now more than ever, volunteers are renewing their commitment to helping others and making new connections, bonding together families, neighbors, communities - and our nation.
OCCC graduate, Faustino “Tino” Ceballos Jr., recently completed the requirements for the President’s Volunteer Service Award. This national award is highly prestigious and is granted directly from the White House and President Barack Obama. Tino earned the bronze level award and is the second OCCC student to earn such high honors.
Volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, the City of Oklahoma City’s Adopt-A-Street program, and the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, Tino completed 139 total volunteer service hours. Tino has also been highly active in The Leadership Council, Kappa Beta Delta, Students In Free Enterprise (formerly Business Professionals of America), and other organizations on the OCCC campus.
The President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation (the Council) was established in 2003 to recognize the valuable contributions volunteers make in their communities and encourage more people to serve. The Council created the President’s Volunteer Service Award program as a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service.
The President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain standard - measured by the number of hours of service over a 12-month period or cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime.
Summer Professional Development Learning Sessions
Listed below are the professional development learning sessions for the month of June. All classes will be held in Library 407A.
Anatomy of an Email
We are often so focused on what we want to say in an email that we give little thought to the mechanics. This session will focus on writing an email from the “to line” to the “signature line.”
Tuesday, June 8, 2010; 3:30 to 5:00 pm
Six Essential Types of Email
This session will focus on writing the six most essential categories of an email: requests, responses, information, thank you, apologies and connecting.
Thursday, June 10, 2010; 9:00 am to 10:30 am
Tuesday, June 13, 2010; 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Eight Deadly Sins of Email
The time has come to learn how to email more mindfully and with more skill. This session will focus on eight sins when writing emails and ways to avoid sinning.
Monday, June 14, 2010; 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Emotional Email
Strong emotions can influence the content and the intent in email messages. This session will focus on identifying emotions that can negatively impact the tone and wording of an email.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010; 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Email for the Prison Bound
Not really! This session will examine OCCC Policy # 3058 and ways this impacts writing a business email. The session will also examine some of the serious legal issues inherent in poorly written emails.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010; 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Writing Perfect Email
Email is a searchable, storable medium that must be composed with special care. This session will encourage participants to compose grammatically and mechanically correct emails.
Thursday, June 24, 2010; 9:00 am to 10:30 am
SEND: When to Hit Send
The final decision is to send or not to send. This session focuses on four questions to ask before sending an email - that will determine whether you should or should not hit the send button.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010; 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Watch future Communicators for more professional development sessions scheduled for July. For more information, please call ext. 7827
GET TO KNOW…
Amanda Williams
Position:
Graduation Assistant
Department:
Records and Graduation Services
How long have you worked for OCCC:
One year
Previous Jobs:
Operations Trainer at Credit Union Service Center
Pets:
Holden, Westie; Addy, Westie
Hobbies:
Baking, scrapbooking and going to concerts
Famous Favorite Saying/Quote:
“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. ”
- Winston Churchill
Happy Birthday
Greg Mellott - 6/4
Jeffrey Porter - 6/4
T.C. Coleman - 6/6
Lemuel Bardeguez - 6/7
Raul Ramirez - 6/7
Ron Brooks - 6/7
Tanya Vroenen - 6/7
Devon Gunter - 6/8
Gloria Antone - 6/8
Larry Barnes - 6/8
John Helton - 6/9
Keith Bourque - 6/9
Heather Erwin - 6/10
Janet Perry - 6/10
Denise Smith - 6/11
Dixie Devilbiss - 6/11
Linda Aguigui - 6/11
Linzy Hill - 6/11
Mussie Mebrahtu - 6/11
Samantha Olson - 6/11
Theresa Cooper - 6/11
The Communicator - 05/24/10
In this issue, you’ll read:
New Regent Begins Service at OCCC…
Leadership OCCC Class III…
A Real-life Learning Opportunity…
FACE Center Opens…
OCCC Alum Receives Academy Award…
This Week’s Training Sessions…
Get To Know…
Happy Birthday…
New Regent Begins Service at OCCC
Ms. Lenora F. Burdine, Deputy General Counsel for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, was recently appointed to the College Board of Regents for OCCC. Burdine follows in the footsteps of Ms. Alice Musser. As a board member, Burdine will assist in overseeing operations of OCCC.
Currently Burdine serves as General Counsel of the Public Utility Division of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, a position she has held since 2007. Prior, Burdine served as the senior staff attorney for the Corporation Commission. Burdine has accumulated 12 years of administrative law experience and a total of 26 years of criminal and civil law experience.
Burdine’s areas of expertise include working on Social Security, wills and trusts, estate probation, guardianships, Municipal and State criminal representation, public utility regulation in Administrative Court, and Oklahoma Supreme Court.
Her professional experience also includes managing the analysis, research, and the general legal direction and development of cases; supervising all staff attorneys; rendering professional legal advice and assistance to Administrative Law Judges and Commissioners; assisting clients with Social Security, immigration, and other civil matters; and establishing guardianships and litigated civil actions among numerous other tasks.
Burdine received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Oklahoma State University, and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma, School of Law. She is a member of the Scholarship and Law Day committee and the Oklahoma City Association of Black Lawyers.
Leadership OCCC Class III
Congratulations to the members of the Leadership OCCC Class III. These OCCC employees have been selected to the 2010-2011 leadership development program, and will begin meeting in September. A celebratory dinner will kick off the evening prior to a leadership skills and strategies workshop. Members of Class III include:
• Brannon Dresel - Community Education Coordinator
• Tennent Emmons- Academic Advisor
• Erinn Guzik- TRIO Advisor/Counselor
• Virginia Hovda - Biology Lab Supervisor
• April Jackson- Publications Coordinator/Graphics Project Manager
• Krista Norton - Payroll Representative
• Joy Schulz - Student Computer Center Assistant, Information Technology
• Jacqueline Sherrard - Administrative Assistant, VP for Business and Finance
• David Shriver - Campus Safety and Security Sergeant
• Debbie Shuman - Student Support Assistant
• Alicia Silva - Human Resources Representative
• Chris Snow - Assistant Director of Facilities Management
• Denise Stewart - Administrative Assistant to the VP for Human Resources
A Real-life Learning Opportunity
Giving students a quality business education on par with the requirements of the real world - that is the concept behind the new “Investment Game” created in the Academic Division of Business on the campus of OCCC.
The Investment Game is one of several new initiatives within the Business Division at OCCC.
How it Works
Faculty members from the Business Division joined student groups and an investment class to participate in a stock market simulation for the spring 2010 semester. The simulation consisted of four teams competing for the top honor of having the best portfolio return. Each team was given $100,000 in “virtual money” to purchase domestic stocks, bonds, options, or mutual funds. The teams competed, not only with each other, but also against a control group.
The winning team - Greatest Of All Time - had an overall return of 21.56% for the competition. They were followed closely by the Untouchable team with an overall return of 20.17%. The SIFE team came in with an overall return of 10.77%, while the OCCCPROF team came in last with a return of 8.57%.
The two teams who generated the highest returns were from the investment class taught by OCCC professor Donald Coates. These teams employed the Warren Buffet approach to investment that consists of buying a large number of shares of relatively common, trustworthy stocks and riding them out for the long haul.
The Division of Business will continue to provide this opportunity to its students by expanding the game to other related business courses. Interested students can participate in the Investment Game by enrolling either in the investment course or similar courses at OCCC. They can also participate by joining SIFE or Kappa Beta Delta, the business honor society. OCCC staff members can participate by forming teams and registering with the Business Division. The cost per team for OCCC staff members is $30.00.
For more information about the Investment Game, contact Dr. Germain Pichop at gpichop@occc.edu, or call ext. 7285. Students may also contact Professor Charles W. Myrick at cmyrick@occc.edu, or at ext. 7433.
FACE Center Opens
OCCC’s Family and Community Education Center (FACE), located at 6500 S. Land Avenue, received its first occupants this week as the Community Outreach and Education (COE) Department officially moved to its new home.
The former John Glenn Elementary provides classrooms for COE’s non-credit courses, including the free adult basic education classes which assist many community members in attaining their G.E.D.
Other programs at FACE include the Summer Kids Camps for students in grades first through eighth and adult personal enrichment classes that allow adults and senior citizens to learn about dance, language, computers, driver safety and music. While most Kids Camps classes will be held at FACE, classes such as the music theater camps will continue to be held on the College’s Main Campus along with a few Adult Basic Education classes this summer.
The following staff and teachers will be located at the Center:
• Tina Arzate Ext. 7873
• Susan Bernard Ext. 7404
• Paul Burkhardt Ext. 7280
• Brannon Dresel Ext. 7205
• Linda Dudek Ext. 7121
• Rady Foster Ext. 7402
• Jessica Martinez-Brooks Ext. 7426
• Pam McGee Ext. 7403
• Martin Ramirez Ext. 7859
• Anthony Tyrrell Ext. 7401
OCCC Alum Receives Academy Award
Isaiah Powers, a 2005 alum of Oklahoma City Community College, has been named a winner in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 37th Annual Student Academy Awards competition. Powers received recognition for his animated film “Dried Up,” made at the Kansas City Art Institute.
While the students know they will each receive an award, their placement - Gold, Silver or Bronze - will not be revealed until a June 12 ceremony at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles, Calif. Gold Medal award winners receive cash grants of $5,000, Silver Medal award winners receive $3,000 and Bronze Medal award winners receive $2,000. The Honorary Foreign Film winner receives a $1,000 cash grant.
The students first competed in one of three regional competitions. Each region was permitted to send as many as three finalist films in each of four award categories. Academy members then screened the finalists’ films and voted to select the winners.
The Academy established the Student Academy Awards in 1972 to support and encourage excellence in filmmaking at the collegiate level. Past Student Academy Award winners have gone on to receive 40 Oscar® nominations and have won or shared seven awards.
This Week’s Training Sessions
No training sessions are scheduled this week
If you have any questions or need assistance, call Penny Hampton at ext. 7827.
GET TO KNOW…
Johnny Allen
Position:
Coordinator of Technology Training
Department:
Professional Development
How long have you worked for OCCC:
Two years, four months
Previous Jobs:
President, Marketing Creations, Inc.; Technology Instructor, City/Platt College; Director of Development, Cameron University; Management Instructor, Cameron University
Family:
Children: Robert John Allen, Ashleigh Talk and Lindsey Allen
Grandchildren: Anna, Wesley, Nataleigh, Caylin, and Hailey
Hobbies:
Music, computers, travel
Famous Favorite Saying/Quote:
“In terms of a career, do that which you would do for free, if life afforded you the opportunity.”
Happy Birthday
Jeremy Bohannon - 5/21
Mary Ann Moore - 5/24
Jon Horinek - 5/25
Marion Paden - 5/25
Terri Walker - 5/25
Valerie McCartney - 5/25
Chris Verschage - 5/27
Kirstan Boyd - 5/27
Gary Lombard - 5/28
Cynthia Williams - 5/30
Erin Logan - 5/31
Michael Machiorlatti - 5/31
The Communicator - 05/10/10
In this issue, you’ll read:
Commencement Ceremony 2010…
President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching…
Nursing Program Exceeds State and National Licensure Exam Results…
Foundation Employee Campaign…
Less of Me Celebration Ceremony…
This Week’s Training Sessions…
Get To Know…
Happy Birthday…
Commencement Ceremony 2010
Thousands were in attendance during the 37th annual OCCC Spring Commencement Ceremony at the Cox Convention Center on Friday, May 7 when nearly 1,200 graduates received degrees or certificates.
The evening began with a procession of graduates and a welcome from Dr. Sechrist. “OCCC graduates, I am honored to share this evening with you. I know you are well suited for the tasks that lie ahead. The milestone you are celebrating tonight will only define the milestones to come,” Sechrist said.
Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry delivered the keynote address at the ceremony.
“Congratulations graduates, you are why we’re celebrating tonight,” Henry said. “Know in your heart that you have made a difference for other people. Know that one person can make a huge difference.”
Governor Henry concluded his speech by saying that you always remember the people who make a difference in your life, “Be those people that care, give back, and make a difference in your community,” Henry said.
President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
The 2010 Award for Excellence in Teaching was presented to Dr. Cecilia Pittman, a highly regarded professional in the field of child development.
“Dr. Pittman inspires students to achieve at all levels,” Dr. Sechrist said while presenting the award
Since 1991, the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching has been presented to a full-time faculty member who exemplifies teaching excellence.
“I’m just shocked. I just want to say thank you to those who had a part in this and to my students… just everybody,” Pittman said. “I love what I do. I love child development and everything I teach. I especially love being at OCCC.”
Pittman first came to OCCC as an adjunct professor in June of 2000. She has served five years as a full-time faculty member.
Nursing Program Exceeds State and National Licensure Exam Results
Congratulations to the OCCC Department of Nursing for exceeding both national and state pass rates for the 2009 academic year. OCCC also had the largest number of nursing graduates in the state in 2009, with a total of 206.
The 2009 Calendar Year NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses) reported that OCCC’s pass rate was 91.75%. The national pass rate was 88.42%, and the Oklahoma Pass Rate was 86.67%.
One hundred and twenty one students graduated from the nursing program during academic year 2004-2005; 129 in 2005-2006; 134 in 2006-2007; 181 in 2007-2008; 206 in 2008-2009; and OCCC anticipates over 220 for this academic year.
“When you consider the growth curve reflected by the numbers of graduates and the strength of the licensure exam pass rate, you have additional evidence of a truly quality nursing education program,” Rosemary Klepper, OCCC program director of nursing, said. “An 83% increase in the number of graduates in six academic years plus a positive trend on the licensure exam pass rate are marks of excellence in nursing education.”
On a whole, registered nurses (RNs) constitute the largest healthcare occupation, with 2.6 million jobs. Also, nearly 60 percent of RN jobs are in hospitals. RNs treat patients, educate patients and the public about various medical conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients’ family members, among many other tasks.
“The majority of our graduates enter the work force as RNs, and most work in the metro OKC area or surrounding communities such as Lindsay, Purcell or Midwest City,” said Klepper. “A substantial number do continue their education at the baccalaureate level. We have graduates who go on to the master’s level as well—-including five who are now full-time faculty with us.”
Klepper added that the college also has several adjunct clinical instructors who are OCCC nursing program graduates.
The three typical educational paths to registered nursing are a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree, and a diploma from an approved nursing program; advanced practice nurses—clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwives, and nurse practitioners – require a masters degree.
Klepper added that she feels the nursing program at OCCC is very successful due in part to a strong group of well-qualified students; well-qualified and experienced nursing administrators and faculty; college and division administrative support; a solid, well-examined and updated curriculum; excellent clinical teaching resources; and contributions of the general education and support course faculty who provide critical teaching/learning support for the nursing students.
The health education programs offered at OCCC fall into two broad categories. First, students can enroll in courses that lead to an Associate in Applied Science degree, sometimes called an immediate job entry program. After approximately two years of training, students have the skills required to begin direct employment.
The second broad category of programs is designed for students who wish to earn an Associate in Science degree at the community college and then transfer to a university for advanced training. Within this category are also health specialties that require a bachelors degree, a masters degree, or even more advanced training.
Several of the programs offered at OCCC are operated in conjunction with area technology centers, and at OCCC program options can be custom-designed to fit each student by using the Diversified Studies program option.
For more information about the Nursing Program at OCCC or for statistics on OCCC’s RN pass rates, please contact the OCCC Department of Nursing at ext.7289, or by email at rklepper@occc.edu.
Foundation Employee Campaign
The OCCC Foundation wishes to express its sincere appreciation to OCCC faculty and staff members who have pledged and given thousands of dollars to student scholarships, the Best Seat Theater Campaign, and college projects through the 2010 OCCC Foundation Employee Campaign.
Time has not run out. If you would like to donate, please contact the Foundation at ext. 7591. It’s with your support that these projects are possible.
In addition to the Employee Campaign, over a year ago, the college was engaged in a capital campaign for phase two of the Performing Arts Center - the 1,000-seat Performing Arts Theater.
“The $16 million project is now close to $14 million - we’re just $2 million away from our goal,” Pat Berryhill, executive director for Institutional Advancement, said.
OCCC has plans to break ground on the new theater during fall, 2010. From theatrical and dance performances to music concerts, visual arts and film and video programs, the theater will be built with each discipline in mind.
Positioned on the west side of the campus, the theater will be highly visible from passersby on I-44. “It will be a showcase for the campus,” Berryhill said. “It will also be a showcase for south Oklahoma City and the metro.”
Berryhill and the whole OCCC Foundation staff encourages employee giving as the building plan moves forward to a more visible stage and as various other projects continue. “The college as a whole can take great pride in these projects,” Berryhill said. “It takes an army working together to fund all projects - large and small.”
Less of Me Celebration Ceremony
Join us tomorrow, Tuesday, May 11 as the college announces the winner of the Less of Me competition. The celebration ceremony for employee-participants will take place at 12:30 p.m. in the general dining area of the College Union.
All employees are encouraged to stop by and congratulate the winners and participants.
The Less of Me competition began February 1 and ran through March 31. Employees had the opportunity to sign up on teams or compete individually. Less of Me focused on how to incorporate a healthier diet and adequate exercise through weekly sessions on topics such as healthy eating, benefits of exercise, plateau/burnout and information on cholesterol.
This Week’s Training Sessions
Take advantage of professional development opportunities provided through the college’s training programs.
Managing the Manageable
Course Number: LEAD-1018-005
Date: Wednesday, May 12
Times: 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
Location: Library - 407A
Presenter: Penny Hampton
NIMS: ICS-100 & IS-700
Course Number: ENHS 1007 001
Date: Thursday, May 13
Times: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Location: John Massey Center - 309
Presenter: Lisa Vaughan
MS Excel 07 - Objects
Course Number: TEC-2005-008
Date: Thursday, May 13
Times: 9:00 AM-10:00 AM
Location: Library - 101
Presenter: Johnny Allen
NIMS: ICS-200 & ICS-800
Course Number: ENHS 1007 002
Date: Friday, May 14
Times: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Location: John Massey Center - 309
Presenter: Lisa Vaughan
Web Time Entry (supervisor)
Course Number: LGIS-1016-058
Date: Friday, May 14
Times: 9:00 AM-10:00 AM
Location: Library - 101
Presenter: Johnny Allen
Datatel Webui Interface
Course Number: TEC-1007-022
Date: Friday, May 14
Times: 1:30 PM-2:30 PM
Location: Library - 101
Presenter: Johnny Allen
Web Time Entry (supervisor)
Course Number: LGIS-1016-068
Date: Monday, May 17
Times: 10:00 AM-11:00 AM
Location: Library - 101
Presenter: Johnny Allen
If you have any questions or need assistance, call Penny Hampton at ext. 7827.
GET TO KNOW…
Chris White
Position:
Employment Services Clerk
Department:
Student Employment and Career Services
How long have you worked for OCCC:
1.5 years in my current position
Previous Jobs:
OCCC cashier and cook
Family:
Spouse, Allison; children, Aaron, Terrence, Dorian
Pets:
Mischief, cat
Hobbies:
Reading, fishing, camping
Famous Favorite Saying/Quote:
“A scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.”
- Max Planck
Happy Birthday
Deby Hefner - 5/9
C.W. West - 5/10
Julian Hilliard - 5/10
Vijay Ramachandran - 5/10
Joan Swanson - 5/11
Sarah Brown - 5/11
Scott Tigert - 5/11
Clay Randolph - 5/12
Darby Johnsen - 5/12
Lori Walker - 5/12
Gwin Faulconer-Lippert - 5/14
Jennifer Watts - 5/15
Kristi Fields - 5/17
Lisa Mason-Adkins - 5/18
Melissa Aguigui - 5/18
Cordell Jordan - 5/19
David Shriver - 5/19
Tom Ashby - 5/19
Fortunata Arzate - 5/20
The Communicator - 05/03/10
In this issue, you’ll read:
OCCC Teams with ONG; Honors Received…
Ready, Set, Swim…
Commencement Ceremony This Friday…
More Beef…
This Week’s Training Sessions…
Get To Know…
Happy Birthday…
OCCC Teams with ONG; Honors Received
Joining together to provide greater learning opportunities for students and working adults, OCCC and Oklahoma Natural Gas (ONG) have shared classroom and working-world experiences in the area of compressed natural gas (CNG).
Commended for their collaboration, the Economic Development Grant will be awarded to ONG from the Oklahoma State Regent for Higher Education Partnership Recognition Program. The Partnership Recognition Program is designed to recognize outstanding partnerships that lead to significant contributions in furthering the education of Oklahoma’s workforce.
Nominated by OCCC for the honor, ONG will receive the recognition for their technical assistance and guidance in the establishment of the CNG education program at OCCC.
As the demand for CNG vehicles grows, so does the need for certified technicians to convert, maintain and repair CNG vehicles. With the help of ONG, the Oklahoma State Certified Alternative Fuel Technician class at OCCC has been highly successful.
“ONG has been a valuable partner in our efforts to establish and provide education and training to OCCC students in the installation and service of CNG vehicles,” Greg Gardner, associate vice president of academic affairs, said.
ONG has provided OCCC the information and the required knowledge to explore and establish a CNG program on campus. This program has now gained national attention in both the license requirement and the procedure for the installation of CNG conversion equipment in vehicles. In fact, the CNG program at OCCC was published in the most recent Lazard Capital Market NGVExpress newsletter from Boston, MA.
Institutions involved in these partnerships provide $500 in other financial support and receive a matching $500 State Regents’ Economic Development Grant that is applied to either:
• the tuition of an employee of the business being recognized,
• paid internship for a current student of the institution to work at the business being recognized,
• a faculty externship with the business being recognized, or
• enhance the partnership with additional equipment, materials, or supplies.
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education fosters opportunities through various grant programs for institutions to expand on existing partnerships or to create an education and business partnership to meet workforce needs.
CNG is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline and diesel fuel. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill. Compared to gasoline, CNG is cleaner, less expensive, and generally comes from domestic reserves.
Ready, Set, Swim
OCCC is gearing up for summer by offering a variety of swimming and water safety classes this spring. Lifeguards will be in high demand at central Oklahoma swimming pools soon, as will swimming instructors, swim and dive coaches and more.
Lifeguard and Swim Instructor Training
OCCC is recruiting lifeguards and swimming instructors to teach swim lessons and/or guard lessons at the college’s aquatic center. The 25th annual American Red Cross Southwest Regional Aquatic School is being held now through May 22. The classes, located on campus, meet the certification requirements to lifeguard or teach swim lessons in the State of Oklahoma. The American Red Cross Lifeguard Training course includes certification in Lifeguard Training, First Aid and CPR/AED (automatic external defibrillator) for the professional rescuer. Each of the courses prepares aquatic personnel to prevent, prepare for, recognize and respond to life threatening situations in an aquatic environment. Students must be 15 years old and pass a swimming skills test to be accepted in the lifeguard class.
Junior Guard Start
The Junior Guard Start program is also available for young people, ages 11- 15, who want to volunteer at area pools this summer. OCCC is recruiting junior guards to work at the college pool during OCCC’s swim lesson program in the mornings and evenings. Good swimming skills are needed along with the willingness to work with small children.
Swim Lessons and Water Safety Instructor Classes
Swim lessons at OCCC will begin June 1 and run through August 5. The Monday through Thursday classes are two weeks each and are offered mornings, 9 a.m. to 12:10 p.m., and evenings, 5 to 8 p.m. A total of eight classes will be held, each lasting 40 minutes. The cost to attend is $33 per session, and scholarships are available on a limited, one-time-per-summer basis.
Interested in teaching swim lessons? Numerous Water Safety Instructor classes are set to begin this May. Water Safety Instructor students must be at least 16 years old and able to pass a swimming skills test of the six basic strokes on the first day of class. The two-week course will begin on May 13 and run through May 22. Classes will meet Thursdays and Fridays, 5 to 10 p.m., and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost to enroll is $150.
For more information regarding any water safety or learn to swim class, please call the office of Recreation and Fitness at ext. 7860.
Commencement Ceremony This Friday
Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry will serve as this year’s keynote speaker during OCCC’s 37th Annual Commencement Ceremony set for Friday, May 7, at the Cox Business Convention Center.
Close to 1,200 graduates will receive associate degrees or certificates, with the highest number of degrees conferred from the areas of business and nursing.
The ceremony will begin at 7:30 p.m. Faculty and staff planning to walk with the graduates will line up at 6:30.
More Beef
The following message is from the Agri-Services Division of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections: On Tuesday, May 4 the meat truck will be in Oklahoma City at the Agri-Services Administration Building, located at 3402 N. Martin Luther King (1/4 mile south of N.E. 36th Street on the east side of Martin Luther King) from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to sell meat products. For more information, please go to their website at www.okagriservices.com.
This Week’s Training Sessions
Take advantage of professional development opportunities provided through the college’s training programs.
WEBINAR: Resolving Conflict in the Workplace
Course Number: WBNR-1000-001
Date: Tuesday, May 4
Times: 12:00 PM-1:30 PM
Location: CU - CU2
Presenter: Penny Hampton
Ms Word 07 - Forms
Course Number: TEC-1059-007
Date: Wednesday, May 5
Times: 9:00 AM-10:00 AM
Location: Library - 101
Presenter: Johnny Allen
WEBINAR: Campus Emergency Notification: Lessons Learned
Course Number: WBNR-2000-001
Date: Wednesday, May 5
Times: 1:00 PM-2:30 PM
Location: CU - CU1
Presenter: Penny Hampton
If you have any questions or need assistance, call Penny Hampton at ext. 7827.
GET TO KNOW…
Cindy Williams
Position:
Professor of Nursing
Department:
Health Professions Division
How long have you worked for OCCC:
3 years
Pets:
Honey- cat; Dottie- cat
Hobbies:
Crocheting, sewing, reading
Famous Favorite Saying/Quote:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
- Philippians 4:13
Happy Birthday
James Hensley - 5/1
Janet Mitchell - 5/2
Marybeth McCauley - 5/3
Shannon Perkins - 5/3
Linda Knox - 5/5
Scott Hader - 5/7
Dawn O’Brien - 5/8
The Communicator - 04/26/10
In this issue, you’ll read:
Sign-Up Begins Today - Summer Kids Camps at OCCC…
First Responder Day - A Success…
Calling All Employees - Open Enrollment for Benefits…
Survey Said…
Enroll Now for Summer Courses…
OCCC Spring Concert - May 6…
This Week’s Training Sessions…
Get To Know…
New Hires for March…
Happy Birthday…
Sign-Up Begins Today - Summer Kids Camps at OCCC
OCCC’s Summer Kids Camps are set for June 8 through July 31 and include sport camps, swim lessons and College for Kids and Teens. Get a jump start on enrollment and sign your child or grandchild up beginning today, April 26.
Sign up runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. throughout the week; participants that sign up during this time will receive a discount on all programs. Children participating in any of the OCCC Summer Kids Camps must be in grades first through eighth in the fall of 2010.
Under the recreation category, students can choose from baseball to flag football, multi-sports to cheer dance camps, and everything in-between. Multi-sport camps are ideal for introducing athletics, allowing children to sample several different sports at once. These camps are designed to help children choose which sport(s) they wish to pursue in the future. Baseball, basketball, soccer and field hockey will all be taught in the multi-sport category.
Held in a new location this year, College for Kids and Teens classes will be located in the new OCCC FACE (Family and Community Education) Center. Just north of the OCCC main campus, the FACE Center is the former John Glenn Elementary School. Children interested in College for Kids classes can choose from creative arts to musical theater classes, humanities, social science, computer applications, math, and more.
Classes are only $39 each, or $99 for full day, all week. Signing Day will be held in the OCCC Recreation and Fitness Center gymnasium. Payment is due at time of registration.
For specific classes, times and cost, the OCCC Summer Kids Camp program guide can be found online at www.occc.edu/kidscamps. You may also call the OCCC Recreation and Fitness department at ext. 7860, or the OCCC Community Outreach and Education department at ext. 7859.
First Responder Day - A Success
An estimated 1000 attendees enjoyed getting to know their first responder last Wednesday as college parking lot A was filled not with student vehicles, but rather a few fire trucks, a med flight helicopter, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Command Center and the American Red Cross command post. These and several other agencies and organizations equipped to handle crisis situations were on hand throughout the afternoon to meet the community members they serve.
“I would like feedback and suggestions on what the campus community would like to see or the improvements that could be made for upcoming years,” Ike Sloas, Safety and Security director, said. “They can email me at isloas@occc.edu.”
Calling All Employees - Open Enrollment for Benefits
Open enrollment for employee benefits ends this week. If you’re interested, make sure to attend an open enrollment session on campus - offered today and Friday. Located in the Keith Leftwich Memorial Library and the John Massey Center, session times and dates are listed below:
Monday, April 26th
Library Room 101
8:00 a.m. to noon
2:00 to 5:00
Friday, April 30th
John Massey Center - Room 313
7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Survey Said…
The college wants to hear from you - OCCC employees. To prepare for the visit by Higher Learning Commission consultant evaluators, OCCC is seeking input to determine your knowledge and agreement with the college’s mission.
The survey below will take approximately two to three minutes to complete, and each employee is encouraged to participate. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Dr. Janet C. Perry, HLC Self-Study Project Manager at jcperry@occc.edu, or by calling ext. 7213.
Take the survey below.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZVCTYR8
Enroll Now for Summer Courses
“S” stands for summertime, sunshine and - summer classes at OCCC. Students are encouraged to continue their studies this summer. Enrollment has begun, and extended hours have been added for student convenience.
Now through June 8, students can enroll in-person or online. Extended enrollment times will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 1 through June 3.
For incoming freshmen with general studies on their course list, English Composition I, College Algebra, and Intro to Psychology and Sociology are just a few courses to complete prior to the fall semester. In addition, the OCCC course schedule is packed with classes to meet each individual need.
From Medical Terminology to Mathematics for Health Careers; Art Appreciation to Art History; Consumer Lending to Bank Management; and General Biology to Human Anatomy - these courses are just an example of the many offerings available to students at OCCC.
Students enrolling for the first time must complete an application for admission, found in the Admissions Office, first floor of the Main Building, or online. Returning students may enroll in person or online.
“Students specifically wanting to enroll for summer are encouraged to enroll as soon as possible,” said Jon Horinek, OCCC director of recruitment and admissions. “We want to make sure these students get in to the classes best suited for their needs.
For more information about enrollment or admission, call ext. 7580.
OCCC Spring Concert - May 6
Kick off your spring with the lovely sounds of the OCCC Choir at the annual Spring Concert. To be held on Thursday, May 6 at 7 p.m., the concert will take place at Mid-America Christian University, 3500 SW 119th in Oklahoma City. Admission is free, and guests to the concert will enjoy musical selections from Broadway musicals such as Ragtime and Pippin. There will also be music by George Gershwin, texts by Robert Frost, a song written for the people of Oklahoma City in remembrance of the Oklahoma City bombing, and a song by an Oklahoma City composer. For more information, please call ext. 7249.
This Week’s Training Sessions
Take advantage of professional development opportunities provided through the college’s training programs.
Web Time Entry (supervisor)
Course Number: LGIS-1016-067
Date: Monday, April 26
Times: 10:00 AM-11:00 AM
Location: Library - 101
Presenter: Johnny Allen
Diabetes Presentation
Course Number: ENHS-1038-013
Date: Tuesday, April 27
Times: 12:00 PM-12:45 PM
Location: College Union - CU2
Presenter: Staff
Excel 07- Pivot Tables
Course Number: TEC-2005-007
Date: Thursday, April 29
Times: 9:00 AM-10:00 AM
Location: Library - 101
Presenter: Johnny Allen
If you have any questions or need assistance, call Penny Hampton at ext. 7827.
GET TO KNOW…
Cheyenne Belcher
Position:
Printing Services Assistant Technician
Department:
Facilities Management
How long have you worked for OCCC:
2 years as a student worker; 3 years full time
Previous Jobs:
Masonry Instructor at Canadian Valley Tech Center
Family:
Gary Belcher, spouse; Jodie West, child
Hobbies:
Homework
Famous Favorite Saying/Quote:
“A man should not strive to eliminate his complexes but to get into accord with them: they are legitimately what directs his conduct in the world.”
- Sigmund Freud
New Hires for April
Jeremy T. Dunn
Academic Advising
Ext. 7601
Therea A. Cooper
Child Development Center
Ext. 7561
Monica Carlisle
Library Circulation
Ext. 7564
Ta-Tanisha Talton
Career Transitions
Ext. 7178
Happy Birthday
Alejandro Sanchez - 4/26
Khari Huff - 4/26
Melissa Dyer - 4/26
Debby Martinez - 4/27
Ike Sloas - 4/27
Michaele Cole - 4/27
Scarlett Shannon - 4/28
Jonathan Overholt - 4/29
Jo Ann Cobble - 4/30
Linda Boatright - 4/30
Nikki Schausten - 4/30
James Hensley - 5/1
Janet Mitchell - 5/2
Marybeth McCauley - 5/3
Shannon Perkins - 5/3
The Communicator - 04/19/10
In this issue, you’ll read:
Third Annual First Responder Day…
OCCC Student Going to NASA…
OK Bureau of Narcotics Rep to Speak April 22…
OCCC Instructor Receives Award…
Professor Exchange Program…
Research Day at the State Capitol…
Faculty Association Student Scholarships…
Summer Kids Camps Coming…
This Week’s Training Sessions…
Get To Know…
Happy Birthday…
Third Annual First Responder Day
From small accidents to natural disasters, first responders are always called to the scene. Getting to know the men and women who race to the rescue is a unique opportunity. Join the day’s activities as OCCC hosts the 3rd annual First Responder Day set for Wednesday, April 21 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., located in the south end of parking lot A on the OCCC campus.
Get a glimpse inside a fire truck while discussing fire safety tips with Oklahoma City firemen; tour an EMSA ambulance; learn what it means to be Red Dirt Ready and to give of your time to benefit emergency preparedness programs; and review safety tips when around water.
First responders from the following emergency response teams will be on hand to get to know the community they serve:
• Oklahoma Highway Patrol
• Oklahoma City Police Department
• Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office
• Oklahoma City Fire Department
• Eagle Med
• EMSA
• Feed the Children
• OCCC Safety and Security
• OCCC Telecommunications
• OCCC Aquatics
• OCCC Public Relations
• Red Dirty Ready
• OCCC Emergency Medical Sciences Program
• Oklahoma Fusion Center
• Central Oklahoma REACT
• Association of Central Oklahoma Governments
• American Red Cross
Become acquainted with the men and women who tackle safety tasks on a day to day basis - right here in your community.
Free hot dogs, chips and drinks will also be available to all in attendance.
For more information on the 3rd annual First Responder Day, please call the OCCC Safety and Security office at ext. 7891.
OCCC Student Going to NASA
The sky is certainly not the limit for Phil Gainer, sophomore engineering student at OCCC. Gainer has been selected to travel to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston May 20-22, to participate in a three-day on-site training event.
NASA selected Gainer as one of 74 community college students from across the nation to be part of the pilot National Community College Aerospace Scholars program. Students completed four Web-based assignments during the school year, maintaining a 96 average to qualify for the experience. They will apply what they have learned during the year to work with NASA engineers.
“We are excited to have one of our own students demonstrating the quality of education OCCC offers. Phil gets to work alongside some of the top engineers in the world,” said Gary Houlette, OCCC physics professor. “Phil is a great representative, and this is a wonderful opportunity for all of us.”
The program offers students from across the nation the opportunity to interact with each other as they learn more about careers in science and engineering. While at Johnson, students form teams and establish fictional companies interested in Mars exploration.
Each company is responsible for developing a prototype rover, designing a line drawing of the rover, and forming the company infrastructure including budget, communications, and presentations. The on-site experience at Johnson includes a tour of facilities and briefings by noted NASA employees - including astronauts.
National Community College Aerospace Scholars is a pilot program originally created by the state of Texas in partnership with NASA. Both programs are designed to encourage community college students to enter careers in science and engineering and ultimately join the nation’s highly technical workforce.
For additional information on the engineering program at OCCC, please visit www.occc.edu/engr or call ext. 7508.
OK Bureau of Narcotics Rep to Speak April 22
Mark Woodward, spokesman with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (OBNDD) will be at OCCC this Thursday, April 22, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. to speak about narcotics and dangerous drugs in Oklahoma.
The OBNDD is a law enforcement agency with a goal of minimizing the abuse of controlled substances through law enforcement measures directed primarily at drug trafficking, illicit drug manufacturing, and major suppliers of illicit drugs.
All OCCC employees are invited to attend this presentation in College Union Room 2. A sign-in sheet will be available for those employees needing 4th quarter 2010 Health and Safety training.
OCCC Instructor Receives Award
Jason Ferguson, an automotive instructor at OCCC, has been honored for outstanding achievement as a General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program (ASEP) instructor by the International GM ASEP Association.
Ferguson received the 2010 GM ASEP Technical Instructor Award of Merit for the South Central Region on April 14 at the association’s annual conference. Rich Steere, Director of GM ASEP at OCCC, nominated Ferguson for the award.
“Jason is a top-notch instructor,” Steere said. “He is always working alongside our students to ensure they have the best education possible to become leaders in the automotive industry.”
The ASEP program at OCCC provides the college with the opportunity to train students for a challenging career at a General Motors dealership. The program is certified by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation.
Ferguson began teaching in the OCCC automotive technology program in 2004, teaching both freshman and sophomore level courses. He is now a finalist for GM’s ASEP national award to be presented in Detroit, Michigan later this year.
For additional information on the automotive program at OCCC, please visit www.occc.edu/automotive, or call ext. 7550.
Professor Exchange Program
Residing in Oklahoma for two weeks, Professors Gerardo Acosta and Ismael Gastelum from the Universidad Tecnologica de Hermosillo (UTH) in Sonora, Mexico came to our state - and our college to learn more about the community college experience in America. Taking part in the Professor Exchange Program, the visit was an experience for each of them.
“We want to extend our thanks to all staff, faculty and students who supported us during these two weeks. In every program that we had the opportunity to visit, everybody shared with us their knowledge and best practices related to the process of teaching and learning. We certainly feel more comfortable and have a better knowledge of what an american college does,” Professor Gerardo Acosta, said.
Gerardo Acosta is a professor of business at UTH, while Ismael Gastelum is a professor of information technology at UTH.
“This is the first step in a partnership between OCCC and UTH. We hope to have continued exchanges in additional partnerships in the future,” said Dr. Felix Aquino, OCCC Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Leaders within the Professor Exchange program are currently in “exploratory mode” to research additional ways to teach OCCC faculty and students.
The college also sent OCCC professor, Steve Kamm, to Mexico last November as a part of the program.
Research Day at the State Capitol
Cassandra Troup of Moore (second row, second from left), was recently selected to represent OCCC at Research Day held at the State Capitol. Twenty-one undergraduate students representing 15 Oklahoma colleges and universities presented competitive research posters to the state legislature and the public during the annual event.
The occasion is designed to create awareness of the outstanding research taking place in Oklahoma’s colleges and universities. Troup’s research focused on breast cancer.
Sponsors for the event were Oklahoma EPSCOR, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the National Science Foundation.
Faculty Association Student Scholarships
Twelve students will be receiving scholarships with monies raised from the Faculty Association Make It Bake It Sale as the event raised over $2,050. The following students have been awarded scholarships for the Spring 2010 Semester:
Mohammed Al Moutta - Pre-Engineering
Tiffany Brown - Psychology
Katherine Elrod - Nursing
Annalyn Gill - Political Science
Christopher Hanna - Nursing
Brandi Mills - Spanish
Saad Nmili - Pre-Engineering
Lyubov Popovych -Nursing
Young Sin - Child Development
Anita Smith - Political Science
Mark Smith - Journalism
Katy Williams - Liberal Studies
Summer Kids Camps Coming
Community Development and Recreation and Fitness are gearing up for the summer Kids Camps, and are offering a 10% discount to all OCCC faculty and staff beginning this week.
The Recreation and Fitness’ Summer Kids Program begins June 1 and runs through August 5 and offers a wide variety of sport and recreational camps such as basketball, soccer, baseball, Learn to Swim and Junior Guard.
Community Outreach and Education’s College for Kids program will run June 7 through July 30 at the new Family and Community Education Center, 6500 S. Land Avenue.
For a complete list of Summer Kids Camps, visit www.occc.edu/KidsCamps. You may also register by visiting the office of Community Outreach and Education (Room 1C1A by the locker rooms) or the Recreation and Fitness office or by calling 686-OCCC.
This Week’s Training Sessions
Take advantage of professional development opportunities provided through the college’s training programs.
Healthy Me @ OCCC
Course Number: ENHS-1038-012
Date: Tuesday, April 20
Times: 12:00 PM-12:45 PM
Location: College Union - CU2
Presenter: Staff
Ms Word- Collaboration Tools
Course Number: TEC-1059-006
Date: Wednesday, April 21
Times: 9:00 AM-10:00 AM
Location: Library - 101
Presenter: Johnny Allen
Drugs of Abuse
Course Number: ENHS-1025-001
Date: Thursday, April 22
Times: 1:00 PM-2:30 PM
Location: College Union - CU2
Presenter: Ike Sloas
Web Time Entry (employee)
Course Number: LGIS-1016-057
Date: Friday, April 23
Times: 9:00 AM-10:00 AM
Location: Library - 101
Presenter: Johnny Allen
If you have any questions or need assistance, call Penny Hampton at ext. 7827.
GET TO KNOW…
Sharon K. Bryant
Position:
Education and Retention Specialist
Department:
Career Transitions
How long have you worked for OCCC:
5 months
Family:
Donald, spouse; Megan, daughter; Tara, daughter
Pets:
Schnauzer
Hobbies:
Gardening (flowers and vegetables); reading and running
Community Involvement:
Lions; BPW; Seminole Democratic Women; First Baptist Church Seminole
Famous Favorite Saying/Quote:
“Oh Lord let my words be soft and sweet because tomorrow I may have to eat them.”
Happy Birthday
Courtney Dodd - 4/20
Ray McCullar - 4/20
Sally Strebig - 4/20
Marcos Churque - 4/21
Sara McElroy - 4/21
Michael Burchfield - 4/22
Sandra Carter - 4/22
Daniel Bakewell - 4/24
Alejandro Sanchez - 4/26
Khari Huff - 4/26
Melissa Dyer - 4/26
The Communicator - 04/05/10
In this issue, you’ll read:
National Start! Walking Day…
Join the Zumba Rage this April…
Children’s Oral Health Fair…
Where’s the Beef…
SIFE Group Takes Honors…
This Week’s Training Sessions…
Get To Know…
Happy Birthday…
National Start! Walking Day
Studies have recently shown that 70 percent of Americans don’t get enough exercise, resulting in a greater risk for heart disease, stroke and other blood vessel diseases.
Join us on Wednesday, April 7 as we celebrate National Start! Walking Day, presented by the American Heart Association. Thousands of men and women at companies across America are pledging to walk to fight heart disease. Here are some simple ways to join in the celebration:
• Wear green with your sneakers all day on Wednesday, April 7
• Walk around the indoor walking trail on the main campus, or enjoy the fresh air outdoors around the John Massey Center (JMC) walking trail. At 10 a.m., Noon, and 3 p.m. on April 7, President’s Cabinet members will meet at the start of the indoor walking trail (Welcome Desk in Main Building) and lead employees on a 15 minute walk Employees are encouraged to attend at least one of the exercise walks, and supervisors are encouraged to allow all employees to join in at least one walk that day. The JMC walks will begin at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Set goals. A shoe cutout will be provided to all departments. Employees are encouraged to write their name and one goal to start living healthy on the shoe cutout. Cutouts will be due to Lisa Vaughan by April 5. On April 7 the shoe cutouts will line the walls of the indoor walking trail to show all the employees the commitments made to living healthy.
• Come to the rally after the noon walk in the general dining area. We will announce the President’s Cabinet member that won the walking competition, share and sample heart-healthy recipes including Carson’s smoothies.
Join the Zumba Rage this April
Ditch the workout and come join the party this April as OCCC offers new class times for Zumba.
Move to the Latin beat during this dynamic workout designed to be fun and easy to do. The routines feature interval training sessions where fast and slow rhythms and resistance training are combined to tone and sculpt your body while burning fat. Designed for all fitness levels and ages, men and women are encouraged to try it out.
April Class Schedule:
• Mondays and Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12 and 7:30 p.m.
• Fridays, 4:30 p.m.
For more information, contact the OCCC Recreation & Fitness Department at ext. 7860, or visit www.occc.edu/rf.
Children’s Oral Health Fair
Learn important information about your children’s oral health and get answers to commonly asked questions at the FREE Oral Health Fair on campus, Saturday, April 17 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
When should I begin cleaning my child’s teeth? When should I take my child to the dentist? Does my child need fluoride supplements? These questions and more will be answered alongside free dental screenings, free orthodontic screenings and additional health consultations. As well, games and prizes will be provided to all children, as Captain Super Tooth and the Tooth Fairy join the fun.
The Children’s Oral Health Fair will be held in the College Union, rooms CU1, CU2 and CU3. For more information, please call the OCCC Child Development Center and Lab School at ext. 7561.
Where’s the Beef
The following message is from the Agri-Services Division of the OK Dept. of Corrections: On Tuesday, April 6 the meat truck (white tractor-trailer) will be in Oklahoma City at the Agri-Services Administration Building, located at 3402 N. Martin Luther King (1/4 mile south of N.E. 36th Street on the east side of Martin Luther King) from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to sell meat products. For more information, please go to their website at www.okagriservices.com.
SIFE Group Takes Honors
The OCCC SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) organization, designed to foster a greater understanding of free enterprise, free market and entrepreneurship, recently participated in the regional SIFE competition in Dallas, TX.
Competing against a variety of two-year and four-year higher education institutions, the team took home one of three “Rookie of the Year” trophies for presenting projects that the group implemented on campus and in the community during this academic year.
Students represented at the Dallas competition were (from left to right): Mr. Faustino Ceballos, Ms. Kody Payne, Ms. Manuela Kwinkwa, Ms. Alisha O’Lague (president), Ms. Maria Garcia, and Ms. Monica Reyes. The OCCC SIFE Team is led by faculty advisers, Dr. Germain Pichop and Professor Charles Wayne Myrick
This Week’s Training Sessions
Events Training
Course Number: TEC-1031-001
Date: Tuesday, April 6
Times: 8:30 AM-11:00 AM
Location: Library - 101
Presenter: EJ Warren
Equip & Serv Approver Training
Course Number: TEC-1031-002
Date: Tuesday, April 6
Times: 11:30 AM-12:30 PM
Location: Library - 101
Presenter: EJ Warren
Academics and Events Training
Course Number: TEC-1031-003
Date: Tuesday, April 6
Times: 1:30 PM-4:00 PM
Location: Library - 101
Presenter: EJ Warren
Academics and Events Training
Course Number: TEC-1031-004
Date: Wednesday, April 7
Times: 8:30 AM-11:00 AM
Location: Library - 101
Presenter: EJ Warren
Equip & Serv Approver Training
Course Number: TEC-1031-005
Date: Wednesday, April 7
Times: 11:30 AM-12:30 PM
Location: Library - 101
Presenter: EJ Warren
Events Training
Course Number: TEC-1031-006
Date: Wednesday, April 7
Times: 1:30 PM-4:00 PM
Location: Library - 101
Presenter: EJ Warren
Ms Word- Outlines,docs,&refs
Course Number: TEC-1059-005
Date: Thursday, April 8
Times: 9:00 AM-10:00 AM
Location: Library - 101
Presenter: Johnny Allen
Cholesterol
Course Number: ENHS-1038-010
Date: Thursday, April 8
Times: 12:00 PM-12:45 PM
Location: College Union - CU2
Presenter: Staff
Get to Know
Felix Aquino
Position:
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Department:
Academic Affairs
How long have you worked at OCCC:
½ years
Previous Job:
Twenty-five years of administrative experience in five other community colleges
Family:
Daughter, Mariel, 22
Pets:
Bubba the cat
Hobbies:
cooking, photography, travel
Community Involvement:
Board member, Variety Care; Board member, South OKC Rotary
Favorite Saying/Quote:
“The truest test of people is how they behave towards those they do not have to be nice to.”
Happy Birthday
Dennis Anderson - 4/6
Kyla Beverly - 4/6
Marcelene James - 4/6
Sherri Givens - 4/6
Gloria Cardenas-Barton - 4/9
Sheri Kingsbury - 4/9
Bill Hill - 4/10
Sharon Bryant - 4/10
Sue Hinton - 4/10
Abra Figueroa - 4/12
Mary Ann Bodine - 4/1