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June 11, 2012
From the President

The Best Day of the Academic Year

Yesterday's graduation ceremonies have once again reminded all of us that the success of our students is our greatest professional reward, and worth every effort we can provide.  I am never more proud to be your president than on these occasions, and am grateful to each of you for the countless ways in which you have supported an excellent education for our students.  Almost 800 new alumni have now joined our ranks, and leave us with the benefit of your dedicated work to assist them in pursuing their dreams.  Well done, everyone!

Hocking College Graduates Class of 2012 

Hocking College welcomed 779 new graduates to the ranks of alumni at two commencement ceremonies on Sunday, June 10 at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at the Hocking College Student Center Multiplex.

 


In an effort to establish a new tradition at the Hocking College commencement ceremony, two students served as honorable commencement speakers.  Natural Resources Law Enforcement student Emily Carmack spoke during the morning ceremony about how change can build character.  She discussed her journey from high school to Hocking College and emphasized the power of believing in oneself.

"One small decision now can change the rest of your life.  Challenge yourself and be willing to take on what comes your way. If you have plans, great, but allow your plans to change, because life is constantly changing," Carmack remarked.

In her address to the Hocking College Class of 2012 at the afternoon ceremony, Belinda Baldwin, Office Management graduate, encouraged her fellow students to take the next step. 

"I want all of you to realize that you will never know what's possible if you don't try.  Don't let your fears or doubts keep you from achieving your dreams," Baldwin commented during the afternoon ceremony.

Two years ago, Baldwin was displaced after working for 30 years.  She detailed her decision to attend college for the first time at the age of 51, and her nervousness about fitting in.

"I am sure my story could be the story of many of you Hocking grads here today.  How many of you surprised yourself and sit here now, never having dreamed of going to college, let alone getting a degree?" Baldwin concluded.

Additionally, Diana Spurgus was honored with the Hocking College Distinguished Alumni Award.  Spurgus has over 25 years of information technology experience and holds two associate degrees, in Accounting and Computer Science, from Hocking College.

Student award recipients included Tabitha Craft, Excellence in Student Employment; Victoria Peake, Richard Elston Award; Shane Hess and Lindsey Kraft, Student Life Award; Kenneth Bannister and Belinda Baldwin, Trustees' Student Excellence Award; and the "We are One-Hocking" Award, Domestic Recipient, Tim Davis and International Recipient, Loise Ouma.
Over the weekend, a truck delivered hundreds of donated items to the Nelsonville Food Cupboard.
Residence Hall Staff and Students Coordinate Food Drive
Residence Hall staff coordinated an end-of-the-year food and clothing drive to benefit the Nelsonville Food Cupboard and Nelsonville Community Center.  In order to make use of items no longer wanted by students, the residence hall staff members organized the drive.  In total, they donated 1,050 canned goods, 500 boxed goods and 100 pieces of clothing.  Congratulations on the success of the drive and great job in helping out those in need!
Bitters Wins EMS Award
Joel Bitters, EMS Program Instructor, was recently awarded the Emergency Medical Services Award from the Ewings Chapter of The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution at a ceremony at the Chester Courthouse on May 24, 2012.

The award is given in recognition of dedication to the preservation of life and health under emergency conditions and/or performing beyond the duties normally called for within the Emergency Medical Services profession. 

Congratulations to Joel for your well-deserved award!
Click on this photo to see a video of the patio from start to finish.
Student Center Patio Complete
Congratulations to all the students, faculty and staff who teamed up to complete the new Student Center Patio.

In 2002, the Student Center pool had only a small patio with a fence around it. The lack of space made deliveries to the pool a struggle; a larger patio with increased access was necessary.

Departments and staff across campus, facilitated by the Grounds Department, worked together to complete the project. Representatives from the Heavy Equipment program flattened the ground behind the patio to allow for expansion while Construction Management students built a storage shed for boats. The concrete class made a path behind the pool and added a concrete pad to link the patio and the Student Center's front path. Electrical students supplied power to the pad. The next year, the concrete class extended this pad.

Last winter, Landscape Management students began designing a scenic garden for student use. Different designs were combined to create plans for a capstone project to create a beautiful oasis on campus. In autumn 2012, a plaque dedicated to the late Ariana Ulloa will be placed in the gardens, which will then be dubbed "Unity Gardens." The gardens will be open daily for use by students, clubs, classes and campus events.

Giles Lee sends his thanks to everyone involved in this grand undertaking, especially Ted Hayes and the Heavy Equipment students, Mike Summers and the Electrical students, Todd Hoffman and the Construction students. Special thanks to Andy Freeman and the Landscape Management students who have gone above and beyond to provide the Hocking College community with a beautiful, practical and versatile space for all to enjoy.
(L to R) Libby Villavicencio, Foundation Director, Theresa Abbarno, and President Erickson
Capstone Student Wins iPad
On June 6, recent Culinary Arts graduate Theresa Abbarno won an iPad through a raffle conducted among the 232 capstone students who completed the NOCTI 21st Century Skills Test Pilot. The iPad was provided by the Hocking College Foundation. Abbarno, of Pickerington, Ohio, graduated on June 10 and will be working at Cedar Point over the summer.
Faculty Accepted for Art Exhibition
A glass piece created by Bonnie Proudfoot, Associate Professor and Online Coordinator of Arts and Sciences, was accepted into the 68th Annual Ohio Exhibition at the Zanesville Museum of Art. The exhibition opens July 21 from 2 - 4 p.m. and the show runs through the end of August.

Proudfoot has taught stained glass and kiln-formed glass at Hocking College and various art centers. She has also shown work at many local galleries, winning the 2007 People's Choice award at the Hocking College Art Auction fundraiser.
National Ranger Training Institute Granted Accreditation
On May 25, 2012, the first class graduated from the Hocking College National Ranger Training Institute's newly accredited program. Graduates completed 775 training hours, five new tests and new exercise exams. This exceeds the state minimum by 221 hours and accreditation requirements by 375 hours.

Hocking College is one of 12 colleges and universities in the country to earn Federal Law Enforcement Accreditation (FLETA), and the only non-federal entities to meet the 52 program standards. The National Ranger Training Institute received FLETA accreditation in November 2011 in Annapolis, Maryland. The program must apply to be reaccredited every three years. Reaccreditation includes an audit of program records and visits from FLETA evaluators.

The National Ranger Training Institute is a premier park ranger training program, only graduating the most driven and dedicated students. Full-time professionals working in parks and natural resources law enforcement lead the program, providing students with experienced instruction and relevant material. Professionals from all over the country travel to Hocking College to attend the Institute for certification.
Students Receive Industrial Ceramics Scholarships

Four returning students in the Industrial Ceramics Engineering Technology program at Hocking College have been awarded scholarships for the 2012-2013 academic year.

 

Shelby Vore of Glouster earned the $1,500 Frowberg Scholarship, endowed in 1995 in memory of M. Laird Froberg of Granville. Mark Sisco of Lancaster was awarded $1,000 by the Logan-Holl Foundation. Brandon Neyman of Mt. Gilead and Cory Sisco of Lancaster each received $1,000 from Don and Dorothy Rice of Jackson.

 

Additionally, Shelby Vore, Cory Sisco and Mark Sisco have each been awarded $100 Canton-Alliance Book Scholarships. The Canton-Alliance Section of the American Ceramic Society established this fund in 2007.

Graduate's Father Adopts Nature Center Snake
Keith Grisser, father of Natural and Historic Interpretation graduate Dana Grisser, has adopted a snake named Tigger who was donated to the Nature Center three years ago. Caring for Tigger will be no small task as she is a reticulated python, which grow to be the longest in the world. Grisser will use Tigger as a part of the educational programs he conducts in the Cleveland area.  Goodbye, Tigger!
Alumni Complete Peace Officer Training Course
On May 4, 10 students, eight of them Hocking College alums, graduated from the two-week Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission Course through the National Ranger Training Institute. This is the first certification necessary to teach in basic police academies.

The National Ranger Training Institute and the Ohio Division of Parks and Law Enforcement Section have enjoyed a 10-year training-exchange partnership. Through the partnership, Park Officer trainers conduct 20 hours of classes during each Ranger Academy, saving Hocking College around $30,000 in instruction fees over the 10-year agreement. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources also allows the use of their facilities at Hocking Hills State Park, so the training is conducted in the exact environment many graduates will work in during their careers.
Food Institute Promotes Local Foods
The Real Food - Real Local - Real Good Institute runs in Athens from July 10 through July 12. Daily presentations, discussions, local meals, and more honor the local food community and economy.

Events include tours of Athens' locally sourced restaurants and documentary viewings and discussions. Each day concludes with Happy Hour at an uptown venue that celebrates local food products and cuisine. Full daily schedules and registration information can be found on the website.
Alum Joins Health Services Staff
Holly Sullivan, RN, graduate of the Hocking College nursing program, has been hired by AlternaCare Home Health Services as a case manager/visiting nurse. Sullivan has 14 years of nursing experience, most notably 10 years in Fairfield Medical Center's intensive care unit. For more information, visit the Lancaster Eagle Gazette article.
Volunteers Needed for Gus Macker Tournament
The Sixth Annual Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament will be hosted July 21-22 in downtown Nelsonville. Volunteers are needed to serve as GusBusters (referees) and scorekeepers, as well as members of set up and clean up crews. Volunteers will be provided with food and t-shirts. If interested, please contact Bill L'Heureux at 740.753.4863. For more information, or to register a team, visit the Gus Macker tournament website.
Verbatim Summer Schedule
Verbatim will be produced monthly over the summer and will resume its weekly schedule at the start of autumn semester. In the meantime, please continue to send article ideas to [email protected]. Have a great summer!
Mission

Hocking College provides a unique, innovative, and quality education in a supportive experience- based learning environment, preparing students for employment and transfer education opportunities, while teaching the value of lifelong learning, promoting diversity and developing citizens who are engaged in their local and global communities.

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Kudos Korner
Thanks for Graduation Assistance

Thank you to all of you who came to support our graduates, set-up the multiplex, prepared the grounds, ran sound and cameras, provided security, lined-up students, took orders for the DVDs and thoughtfully organized the event.  A special thanks to the Housekeeping, Grounds and Maintenance crews.  Each of these departments spent a tremendous amount of time and effort making the campus beautiful for graduation.  

_____________________

(L to R) Brian Alloway, Giles Lee, President Erickson

Kudos for Graduation Mace and Award Design

Kudos to Hocking College Art Instructor Brian Alloway for creating the new Hocking College ceremonial mace to be used annually at commencement and developing the design for the award given for Distinguished Alumni.  These will continue to represent Hocking College for years to come!

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3301 Hocking Parkway
Nelsonville, OH 45764
[email protected] / www.hocking.edu

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