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College Matters
| October 2010
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Faculty and Staff,
The employee newsletter is now sent out on the first of each month. The deadline will continue to be one week prior, so be sure to mark your calendars if you have news you would like us to include.
Send your submissions to either of the following email addresses, and we'll get the word out! The deadline for the November Newsletter is Monday, October 25.
clips@otc.edu
logsdond@otc.edu
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OTC Honors Donors in Lebanon
Event featured recognition of donors of
$2.6 million gift
 The College held an Open House at its new Lebanon Education Center earlier today, Friday, October 1. The
event began with recognition of guests of honor Reuben and Mary Lou Casey,
the San Clemente, Calif., couple who donated the new facilities to the College.
The gift from the Caseys, presented
to OTC in December of 2009, was composed of two
buildings and more than 13 acres of land. The total property was valued at approximately $2.6 million, and is the
largest gift the College has ever received. The
facilities, located off of Interstate
44 on Highway MM, will be divided into rooms that will eventually become classrooms,
offices, computer labs, student spaces and more; classes will be held at the
new Lebanon Education Center beginning in the fall of 2011.
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Excellence in Education Winners Announced
2010 honorees recognized during Board meeting
OTC has chosen the winners of
its 19th annual Excellence in Education Awards, the highest and most
prestigious awards that the college confers. Each winner is presented with a plaque and a monetary award,
made possible every year by a donation from the Turner Family Foundation.
The award recipients are determined by
a committee of their peers and were recognized at the September meeting of the
College's Board of Trustees.
This year's winners are: Full
Time Instructor: Cindy Hinds,
Psychology Adjunct
Instructor: Dianne Juby,
Humanities Administrative/Professional
Support Staff: Dr. Randy
Humphrey, Vice President for Academic Affairs (Dr. Humphrey retired in the
spring of 2010 after 15 years at OTC; he continues to serve as a part-time
instructor, and is involved with the College's internal leadership
programs.) Clerical
Support Staff: Norma
Hedgpeth, Secretary to the Assistant Dean of Sciences Technical/General
Institutional Support Staff: Eric Ogan, Facilities Maintenance Technician
OTC has conferred 83 Excellence in Education Awards since the
program began in 1992. |
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OTC Foundation Golf Tournament a Success
4th annual event draws significant support for OTC
 A beautiful day welcomed dozens of teams to the course for the OTC Foundation's 4th annual golf tournament, held recently at Hickory Hills Golf and Country Club. The fairways and greens were filled with area business and community leaders, as well as OTC employees, who had come out to support the College and its students through the OTC Foundation's largest annual fundraising event.
This year's tournament raised nearly $23,000 dollars. That money will change the lives of hundreds of OTC students by helping to fund student scholarships.
For more on this year's exciting event, be sure to watch your email for the October Video Newsletter!
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OTC Fine Arts Gallery to Participate in ArtWalk
October exhibition features faculty artworks
 The OTC Fine Arts Gallery, located on the 3rd floor of the historic Gillioz Theatre complex in downtown Springfield, will hold an opening reception during the First Friday Artwalk event on Friday, October 1, from 6-10 p.m. Refreshments will be available.
This month's exhibition will feature artwork from our Fine Art Department faculty:
- Visual Art Instructors Cathy Clemens, Kat Allie, Tom McCune, Jim Delgadillo, Ron Reese, and Mary Gainey will have a variety of two-dimensional and three-dimensional artwork on display.
- Theatre Arts instructor Jon Herbert will present a staged reading of his short play "Beloved Exile," a story based on the memoir of Louisa Cheairs Mckenney Sheppard, one of the founders of Springfield. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
- Music Instructors Andrew Bishko and Rick Haegg will also have live performances throughout the evening during the Artwalk reception.
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Another Round of Successful SGA Fall Picnics!
Events held at Richwood Valley and Springfield campuses
 As the fall semester gets underway, the Student Government Association picnics are always a welcome treat - both for students and for employees! This year's picnic at the Springfield campus took place on Friday, September 17. Students and employees enjoyed music, dancing, free food, games and activities, and informational tables for organizations within the College and in the community.
 The fall picnic at the Richwood Valley campus was held on Thursday, September 23. The campus celebrated the semester with free food, music, informational displays and more.
Both campuses enjoyed perfect weather, excellent turnout, and a memorable time for all!
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Seen at OTC....
What's happened around the College this month
 ... Governor Jay Nixon visited OTC recently to make an announcement about
federal funding for new broadband technology developments throughout
southwest Missouri. OTC will use part of the funds to create a public
computing center at our new facility in Lebanon. A video of the governor's remarks is now available at the OTC webpage, www.otc.edu.
 ... OTC and the Baptist Student Union recently hosted a "Building Blitz" for Habitat for Humanity on the Springfield campus student plaza. The blitz lasted throughout the day as students and volunteers constructed a complete playhouse. The playhouse was designed to be auctioned at a Habitat-sponsored auction, and is a great fundraiser for the organization.
 ... Emily Stover DeRocco, president of the Manufacturing Institute, recently met with representatives from OTC's technical division and the Center for Workforce Development, and toured some of the College's technical areas. DeRocco was in town to announce new statewide initiatives at a meeting of the Missouri Association of Manufacturers; her visit to OTC was related to the College's partnership with the Manufacturing Institute's Education Council. Dawn Busick, executive director of the Center for Workforce Development, is a member of the Education Council and has worked with DeRocco in the past.
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The Same 10 Questions We Always Ask
Sherry Coker, Workforce Specialist Business Manager for the Center for Workforce Development
 Describe what you do at OTC in 50
words or less. I work with companies in the region to identify their training needs and either promote credit and non-credit open enrollment courses or customize courses that fit a company's specific needs. My specific area of interest is information technology, although I promote all offerings of the college. I enjoy consulting with a company, finding their needs and offering viable, mutually beneficial solutions.
How long have you been at OTC, and
where were you immediately prior? Counting both part-time and full-time, I have been a part of the OTC family for 8 years. Prior to that, I worked as a sales representative for Glazer's Midwest, a wholesale wine and liquor distributor in Springfield.
What do you hope to accomplish in your position or department in the coming
year? I have been given the privilege to lead the development of an information technology sector initiative named the Mid-America Technology Alliance. The goal of the alliance is to bring together IT professionals, educators, city and state leaders in southwest Missouri for the sole purpose of attracting, developing and maintaining the IT talent the area needs to be competitive in today's global marketplace. We will be one year old in December, and I want to grow this initiative even more in 2011 and identify sources of grant funding so we can accomplish the strategic goals the executive council has put in place.
What is your favorite thing about working at OTC? I have to choose two - my colleagues and the students. My colleagues and I are 110% committed to the success of the clients/students we serve. Making a positive difference in the life of a single student makes everything I do worthwhile.
What is
your favorite thing about living and working in the Ozarks? I love the changing seasons, and I love the hard-working attitude of the people here.
Tell us about one person who had a significant impact on your professional
life or career choice. Daphne Press, Dr. Lawler and Dr. Humphrey - all three made a significant impact on me as a part-time, adjunct CIT 101 instructor with how much they cared about me and my students. When the time was right, I knew full-time employment at OTC was the perfect step for my career.
What do you have on the walls of your office? My walls have pictures of my husband and kids, as well as my kids' priceless school artwork.
If you could have dinner with three famous people, alive or dead, who would
they be? Jesus, Oprah, and Ellen DeGeneres
If you were to write a book, what would it be about? I would write a story about a young widow who, after the death of her husband, made conscious choices to help herself and her 2 children deal with the tragedy and then move on to remarry and lead a happy, "new-normal" life.
What were the last three songs played on your iPod (or what was the last music you listened to)? "Dynamite," by Taio Cruz, "Cooler Than Me," by Mike Posner, and "I Gotta Feeling," by the Black Eyed Peas.
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Campus Notes
- Two OTC students have created a children's book titled "Skeeter's Awesome Adventure," which has been published through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service. Author Debbie Hunter and illustrator Alicia Michael created the book to help teach environmental and conservation lessons to young children throughout the state. This is the third year OTC students have been published through the USDA-NRCS program. To hear more about the students and this year's project, be sure to watch the October Video Newsletter.
- OTC is joining Sole Food, a project in Southwest Missouri to turn used shoes into food for the hungry, to collect shoes to benefit those in need. Shoes in any condition are collected and sold to The Shoeman; all proceeds are then given to the local satellite of Kids Against Hunger. On the Springfield campus, donations can be dropped off at the Speckman Tutoring and Learning Center (ICE 212). At Richwood Valley, donations can be dropped off in the atrium. The drive will continue until Thanksgiving. Contact Rima Freeman at (417) 447-8163 or by email at freemanr@otc.edu with any questions.
- A note from Development Mathematics Instructor Susan Gunter: "I received a beautiful plant for my Dad's funeral service last week from OTC. I wanted to say thank you. Last week was a tough week and I appreciate the thoughtfulness from my OTC family."
- Evangel University will host an Open House for its Professional and Graduate Studies programs on Tuesday, October 12, beginning at 6 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to meet professors and learn how to complete an undergraduate or masters degree in two years while maintaining full-time employment. For details or to RSVP, call (417) 865-2811, ext. 7227, or visit www.evangel.edu.
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Local Happenings
- October 2: Taste of Springfield, downtown Springfield on Park Central Square. Try great food, watch cooking demonstrations, enjoy a cake decorating event and more! Check out www.itsalldowntown.com or call (417) 831-6200 for details.
- October 6-9: "The Birthday Party," by Harold Pinter, Drury University Studio Theatre, 900 N. Benton Ave. Drury presents the tale of a man with a mysterious past living in a boarding house in an English seaside town. Two sinister strangers arrive and turn a birthday party into a nightmare. For show times and ticket prices, call (417) 873-7255 or visit www.drury.edu/theatre.
- October 8-10: Apple Butter Makin' Days, Mt. Vernon Town Square. Come out for crafts, food, games, a parade, a car show, and delicious apple butter made the old-fashioned way in large copper kettles on the Courthouse lawn! For details, call (417) 466-7654 or see www.mtvernonchamber.com.
- October 9: Minority Entrepreneurship Conference, Drury University's Trustee Science Center. This first-ever conference will provide a chance for minority entrepreneurs to learn new business skills, hear options for contracting with the government, and learn about specific funding opportunities, all while networking with other local entrepreneurs. To register or learn more, call (417) 873-7458 or see www.drury.edu/ejc/mec.
- October 11-17: Grand Opening of the Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center, Nathanael Green/Close Memorial Park, Springfield. The festivities at Springfield's newest "green" attraction include food, art workshops, seminars, and tours of the garden, as well as story time and crafts for kids. Call (417) 864-1049 or check out www.parkboard.org for details.
- October 16: Randy Bacon Documentary Film Premiere, Gillioz Theatre, downtown Springfield. Renowned photographer Randy Bacon and his wife and business partner, Shannon, will debut their first feature-length documentary film! For details, visit www.gillioz.org or call (417) 863-7843.
- October 22-31: Annual Halloween SPOOKTACULAR, Dickerson Park Zoo, Springfield. This evening event is fun for the whole family, with decorations, thousands of jack-o-lanterns, and candy treats for kids ages 12 and under. For hours and admission prices, call (417) 864-1800 or visit www.dickersonparkzoo.org.
- October 29: Lifehouse and Kris Allen, Drury University's O'Reilly Family Event Center. This exciting concert features the season 8 winner of "American Idol" opening for Lifehouse as the first student concert at Drury's new event center. For details, call (417) 873-6387 or check out www.drurytickets.com.
- October 30: An Evening with Aretha Franklin, Drury University's O'Reilly Family Event Center. Make plans to see premiere R&B legend Aretha Franklin during the grand opening weekend of Drury's new facility. Great seats are still available; call (417) 849-0101 or visit www.drurytickets.com to reserve yours!
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Birthdays
Oct 1 - Maryann Zihala
Oct 4 - Leticia Vosotros
Oct 5 - James Carpenter
Oct 7 - Carolyn Larsen
Ashlei Woelk
Oct 9 - Reita Gorman
Oct 11 - Angela Miller
Oct 12 - Linda Burton
Kimberly Cary
Kerry Wrinkle
Oct 13 - Bryan Cook
Vanessa Germeroth
Oct 14 - Chris Guthrie
Roseanne Killion
Oct 16 - Jason Bound
Norma Hedgpeth
Oct 17 - Katherine Brady
Cindy Cummins
Gavin O'Connor
Oct 18 - William Carpenter
Dianna Parker
Oct 20 - Joan Barrett
Oct 21 - Sherry Taylor
Oct 22 - Randy Humphrey
Kathryn Owen
Todd Yerby
Oct 23 - Amy Wood
Oct 24 - Beth Lampe
John Spear
Oct 25 - Fan Zhou
Oct 26 - Chasity Daniels
Hal Higdon
David Higginbotham
Oct 27 - Jackie Perryman
Terry Troxell
Brenda Woods
Oct 28 - Paul Kraeger
Oct 29 - Linda Schott
Oct 30 - George Lamelza
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New Employees, Transfers and Promotions
New Full-Time Permanent Employees: - Piper Wilson, Secondary Counselor. Began September 27.
- Charlotte Choate, Practical Nursing Instructor - Reeds Spring. Begins January 10, 2011.
- Daniel Guttirrez, Student Services Representative. Began September 13.
- Angye Buerge, Admissions Representative. Began September 13.
New Full-Time Temporary Employees: - Jason Moody, Assistant Food Prep Manager - Café 101. Began September 7.
- Larry Brethower, Hearing Instrument Science Instructor. Began September 20.
Transfers and Promotions: - Kelly Everding, Assistant Coordinator of Cashier Operations. Began new position September 27.
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