Faculty and Staff,
Welcome to the all-new Employee Newsletter! We hope you will find the new format more convenient, useful, and easier to read.
As always, if you have information to share with the College, please send your request in early! We would like to include information about your organization, your events, and your programs in the newsletter, rather than sending out multiple all-campus emails.
Send your submissions to either of the following email addresses, and we'll get the word out! The deadline for the June Employee Newsletter is Friday, May 28.
clips@otc.edu
logsdond@otc.edu
|
|
First Community Day a Success
Variety of events drew crowd despite inclement weather
The first-ever Community Day event, held April 24 at the Springfield campus, was a great success! The new event offered a variety of activities and services for visitors to enjoy, and the turnout was excellent despite the rain.
Activities included the College's annual car and motorcycle show, free welding repairs, the annual plant sale, health screenings, face painting, "slime" making, food demonstrations, sword-fighting demonstrations by the cast of the College's spring play, "Arthur's Stone, Merlin's Fire: The Making of a King," and the Springfield-Greene County Public Library bookmobile.
 For information on how your department, program, or organization can be involved in the next Community Day, contact Public Relations.
Pictured: Top - Students help customers at the plant sale during Community Day; Left - Students repair a guest's lawn chair in the welding lab.
|
|
Dental Students Sharpen Skills on Wolves' Teeth
Students experience exciting new career option
Second-year students in the Dental
Hygiene program recently visited the Dickerson
Park Zoo to provide dental treatment for two female maned wolves.
"This opportunity is part of a
yearly project in which the Dental Hygiene students choose a community service
they would like to provide," explained Marge Bell, director of the Dental Hygiene program. "They try
to make it something that is interesting to them, and still within their scope
of practice."
After the wolves were placed under
anesthesia, and examined by the zoo's veterinarian, Dr. Erica Wilson, the Dental
Hygiene students examined and cleaned the wolves' teeth. Instructors from the Dental Hygiene
program accompanied the students to the zoo, but the students did all of the
hands-on work on the wolves.
"We just became aware today that
there are a lot of veterinarians out there that may hire dental hygienists to
help them provide care for their animals," said student Autumn Rayle. "Just knowing that's yet another
opportunity for the profession of dental hygiene is pretty exciting."
Pictured: Rayle works on the first wolf of the day, a three-year-old named Raina. For more photos of the students in action at the zoo, visit OTC's Facebook page.
|
|
Phi Theta Kappa Brings Home Honors
Advisors and students earn awards at convention
Advisor Training and Development Coordinator Steve Fritts and Early Childhood Education Department Chair Jo Fritts, Phi Theta Kappa advisors, were honored at the 2010 International PTK Conference, held recently in Orlando.
Steve received the Distinguished Advisor award, and was elected Secretary of the International Association of Chapter Advisors. Jo received the prestigious Mosal Award, one of only 72 of these awards given out since PTK's inception in 1918. The award provides Jo with a $5,000 stipend to complete her submitted project, a book and curriculum on including American Sign Language in the hearing preschool classroom. Jo and Steve will also be serving as Faculty Scholars at the International Honors Institute in California this summer.
In addition to the honors for the advisors, OTC's Alpha Psi Tau chapter of Phi Theta Kappa brought home the Leadership Hallmark award and the Scholarship Hallmark award, and was named a Top 25 Chapter Internationally. Congratulations to all those involved with OTC's Phi Theta Kappa on these incredible honors!
|
|
HIT Student Wins State Scholarship
Natasha Varberg is awarded $500 from state association
The Health Information Technology
program is proud to announce that one of their current students has
received an educational scholarship to assist with current and future
educational pursuits.
Natasha Varberg is one of the recipients
of the 2010 Missouri
Health Information Management Association (MHIMA) $500 scholarships, developed to
aid Health Information Technology students in programs in the state of Missouri which are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for
Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
The scholarship will be presented at the MHIMA Annual Meeting in St. Charles, Mo. Natasha is
scheduled for graduation with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Health
Information Technology in spring of 2012, at which time she will be
eligible to take the national certification examination to become a Registered
Health Information Management Technician (RHIT).
The professional field of Health
Information Technology refers to the technical aspects of processing health
data and records, including classification and coding of diseases and
procedures, abstracting data, registry development, and data storage, ensuring
the availability, accuracy, and protection of clinical information that that is
needed to deliver healthcare services and make appropriate healthcare-related
decisions. In the ever-changing healthcare
industry, today's health information technicians are actively involved in the implementation
of the electronic health record (EHR), ongoing changes to the HIPAA privacy and
security rules, and the upcoming transition from ICD-9-CM to the ICD-10-CM/PCS
coding classification system in 2013.
Pictured: HIT Instructor Bob Haralson with Varberg.
|
|
A World of More Birthdays
20th Annual Springfield Relay for Life is Coming Soon
"More Birthdays" is
the theme for the May 2010 American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event.
The 20th Annual
Springfield Relay For Life will be May 14-15, 2010 at Hillcrest High School in Springfield. Some of the special activities include a reception for cancer survivors Friday
evening at 5:30 p.m., the Survivor Lap at 7 p.m., and the very touching Ceremony
of Hope that begins at dusk. There are over 120 teams registered for this
year's event, which features round-the-clock entertainment, games, and fun-and
moments of quiet reflection. Teams will be selling all kinds of food and other
items to raise money for their teams, and there is also a silent auction with a
wide variety of items available for bid. The event ends with the Closing Ceremony
Saturday morning at 8:30.
A new event is the
2nd Annual Relay Run For Your Life, a run/walk Saturday morning
starting at 7 a.m. for those who weren't able to participate overnight - or
who just have lots of energy!
OTC will be
represented by the OTC & Friends and Phi Theta Kappa teams, who would love
to see you at Relay. Donations are still being accepted by both teams. Luminaria
may also be purchased for $5 each, honoring cancer survivors or in memory of a
loved one who has lost the cancer battle. Team Captains are Tina Kile for OTC
& Friends, and Shelia Taylor for Phi Theta Kappa. For additional
information contact Tina Kile, or go to the Relay For Life website. Or, just come out to Hillcrest High School the evening of May 14 and walk a lap
or two with us!
Pictured: OTC's 2009 Relay For Life team.
|
|
Seen at OTC...
Snapshots of events, visitors and more from the past month
... The annual SGA Spring Picnic on the Springfield campus was held April 30, and the threatening weather forced most of the event indoors. Still, hundreds of OTC students, faculty and staff enjoyed booths, music, dancing, free food, giveaways and more, turning the Information Commons into a giant party!
 ... The College celebrated the 20th anniversary of the public vote that created OTC on this year's April election day. In honor of the event, an ice cream social was held in the IC Atrium on the Springfield campus. A great crowd of employees, students, and retirees came out for the celebration.
 ... The Missouri Director of Health, Margaret Donnelly, visited the Springfield campus recently to tour the OTC Health and Wellness Clinic. She was particularly interested in Dr. Blaine's electronic record system and how it was being used to make caring for the health of the OTC faculty and staff more effective.
|
|
The Same 10 Questions We Always Ask
Marge Bell, Dental Hygiene Program Coordinator
Describe what you do at OTC in 50
words or less. My
life long career in dental hygiene has prepared me for my position as the Dental Hygiene Program Coordinator and
instructor. I have prepared students to become successful healthcare providers
in the field of dental hygiene.
How long have you been at OTC, and
where were you immediately prior? I started at OTC in the fall of 2001 as an
adjunct clinical instructor and became a full time instructor in the fall of
2002. Prior to joining OTC, I was providing dental hygiene care in private
practice offices and skilled care nursing facilities.
What do you hope to accomplish in your position or department in the coming
year? I want to see the remodeling of our radiology lab
to completion, develop more of my courses online and become a better instructor
and program coordinator.
What is your favorite thing about working at OTC? Everything! The students, faculty, staff, administration, all the people that help me on a
daily basis and make my job enjoyable and easier.
What is
your favorite thing about living and working in the Ozarks? The friendly people, beautiful scenery, a feeling
of a small town with some advantages of a larger city.
Tell us about one person who had a significant impact on your professional
life or career choice. My husband Bill. He is my very own "cheerleader,"
and has been throughout our life together. From starting hygiene school,
working in private practice, completing my degree, becoming an instructor and
then program coordinator, Bill has always been supportive of me. He is my
"sounding block" and the voice of reason.
What do you have on the walls of your office? Numerous pictures of family and friends, students,
and achievement plaques.
If you could have dinner with three famous people, alive or dead, who would
they be? Eleanor Roosevelt, John Travolta and Colin Powell. How is that for diversity?
If you were to write a book, what would it be about? As a matter of fact, I am putting together a book
about my parents and their love letters.
What were the last three songs played on your iPod? On my CD player (yes, no iPod) I like to play
"Cheeseburger in Paradise," " This Kiss," and "The Rhythm of the Saints."
Pictured: Bell with her niece, Tina Notz.
|
|
Campus Notes
-
Over 1,200 people came to see this year's spring production, "Arthur's Stone, Merlin's Fire: The Making of a King." Congratulations to everyone in the Fine Arts department, the cast and crew, and the play's director, Jon Herbert, on a great success!
- Commencement is right around the corner! The event will be held at the JQH arena at MSU on Thursday, May 13. All staff and adjunct faculty are invited to join the full-time faculty in the procession. Watch your email for more information!
- A note to the OTC community from Gary Powell (Safety and Security) and family: "Thank you for thinking of our family during this difficult time. We appreciate all your thoughtfulness and kindness."
- Six students from the Turf and
Landscape Management program recently traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, to
compete against nearly 70 other colleges and universities at the 34th
annual Student Career Days, an event sponsored by the Professional
Landcare Network (PLANET). Several students brought home honors from
what is informally known as the "Landscaping Olympics."
Michelle Jernigan, from Nixa, earned 5th place in the Safety
Management competition and 11th place in the Leadership Skills contest,
while Vicki Baumer, from Hartville, placed 8th in the Annual and
Perennial Identification contest. Baumer, Kyle Kinney of Macks Creek,
and Mike Cannon of Lebanon placed in the top 10 percent of the 814
college students competing in these events. Congratulations to these students on these great achievements!
-
The OTC Fine Arts Gallery, located on the third floor of the Gillioz Theatre complex in downtown Springfield, will feature the "Fine
Art Student Showcase Exhibition Spring 2010" throughout the month of May. The Gallery will hold an opening
reception during First Friday Artwalk, Friday, May 7th, from
6 p.m. - 10 p.m. Highlighted Visual Art classes include: Drawing I and II, Two-Dimensional
Design, Three-Dimensional Design, Printmaking, and Painting I. The event will also feature performances from our
Music department classes, including the Small Ensemble, Songwriting, and
Classical Guitar students, and dramatic
staged readings taken from our Script Writing class will be performed by our
Theater 101 students. Special refreshments will be served - all are invited! For more information contact Kathlene (Kat) Allie or finearts@otc.edu.
- OTC was named the Outstanding Organization for the Springfield Metro Area by the International Association of Administrative Professionals at the Gynecological Cancer Alliance's annual Administrative Professionals Luncheon. The College was nominated by Jan Robbins, a member of the OTC Foundation Board.
|
Local Happenings
- Now - October 30: C-Street Outdoor Market, Commercial Street, Springfield. Local growers, farmers and craftspeople offer meats, breads, produce, arts, crafts, soaps, plants, and other seasonal products at this open-air market near the Jefferson Avenue Footbridge on Springfield's historic Commercial Street. The market is open on Tuesdays from 4 - 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. - noon. Select Tuesday evenings include live, local music! For more information, visit www.itsalldowntown.com.
- May 5 - End of Summer: Wednesday Noon Concert Series, Founders Park, downtown Springfield. This weekday concert series features live, local music in an open-air setting. Attendees are invited to bring a sack lunch to the park for an entertaining mid-week break. For more information, visit www.itsalldowntown.com or call (417) 831-6200.
- May 7: First Friday ArtWalk, downtown Springfield. Experience the excitement each gallery has to offer - whether it's photography, pottery, paintings, drawings, blown glass, or sculpture, you'll find something different at every stop. It's a great opprotunity to explore downtown, spend time with friends, or just take advantage of the shops and restaurants' extended hours! For more information on this free event, call (417) 849-8255 or check out www.ffaw.org.
- May 9: Mother's Day at the Dickerson Park Zoo, Springfield. Celebrate Mom with free admission for all mothers all day at the zoo! For details, check out www.dickersonparkzoo.org or call (417) 833-1570.
- May 12 - 15: Scholastic Book Sale, Ozark Empire Fairgounds, Springfield. Thousands of titles are up for grabs at one of the biggest book sales of the year. Visit www.scholastic.com to register online for a "Fast-Cart" pass - you can skip the sign-in lines and receive a coupon for $10 off! For more information, visit www.ozarkempirefair.com or call (417) 833-2660.
- May 20 - 23 and 27 - 30: Shakespeare Festival, Jordan Valley Park, downtown Springfield. The Springfield tradition returns with "The Comedy of Errors," a delightful play by William Shakespeare. This free (donations are encouraged) show begins at dusk each night. For more information, call (417) 831-5233 or visit www.parkboard.org.
- May 29: American Cancer Society Military Camouflage Jersey Night at the Springfield Cardinals, Hammons Field, Springfield. A portion of all tickets sales for this game will benefit the American Cancer Society (ACS). Everyone buying tickets through the ACS will receive a commemorative season six Stan Musial coin; the first 2,000 fans will receive a Stan Musial bobblehead. Tickets are only $9 for this very special night at the ballpark. For tickets, call (417) 447-1474.
|
|
Birthdays
May 1 - Angela Lamb
May 2 - Lynnar Hamilton
May 3 - Kelly Andekin
May 4 - Lisa Reece
Stephen White
May 5 - Linda Szura
May 7 - Amber Shanks
May 8 - Donna Graham
May 11 - Dana Sherman
Temenujka Tzaneva
May 12 - Tiffany Archer
May 13 - Tena Wheeler
Sam Woelk
May 14 - Robert Dale
May 15 - Jack Manes
May 16 - Beth Berns
Bill Dowdy
Michael Madden
May 17 - John Fishback
May 19 - Dustin Childress
Steven Fritts
May 20 - Shanna Cobb
Timothy Hyden
John Rude
Kip Thompson
May 22 - Susan Siemens
May 23 - Veronica Lowe
Ann White
May 24 - Jessica Gerard
May 28 - Lynda Doepker
Travis Garrison
May 29 - Dennis Baier
Gwen Gilpin
May 30 - Aaron Light
May 31 - Daniel Kopsas
June 1 - Andy Hoggatt
June 2 - Dane Galloway
Dennis Peters
June 4 - Jennifer Ristine |
|
