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 Foundation to Host Holiday Open House for Campus and Community
At the successful conclusion of our very first semester, come celebrate the holidays and relax with your fellow co-workers!
The Hocking College Foundation cordially invites all faculty and staff to a Holiday Open House on December 12 from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Rhapsody. Business owners, friends of the college and members of the Hocking College Board of Trustees and Foundation Board of Trustees are also invited. The Foundation will provide hors d'oevres and non-alcoholic beverages. The bar will be open to purchase beer, wine and mixed drinks.
Please RSVP to Anita Weisenbach by December 10.
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 Let's Celebrate the 80%
Ready to win a gift certificate to Kroger, Rocky Brands or Rhapsody? We want to celebrate 80% of our students returning for spring semester, and you are invited!
Come to the Student Center from 2 - 4 p.m. on December 12 for a "Dress Like the 80s" Costume Party! At the party, we'll have a contest to give a gift certificate to the person who has the best 80s costume. Students will be able to win a Kindle Fire for their best dressed 80s costume. And, we'll have free pizza to celebrate our 80%!
As of today, 2,166 returning students have registered, so we are over halfway to our goal. We still have a few free "80%" t-shirts remaining, so please encourage students to register online, at their department, or finalize their registration at the Cashier and Records Office, to get their coupon for a free "80%" t-shirt.
Remember, our goal is to have the most outstanding re-enrollment we've ever had. But, we can only accomplish this with everyone's participation. Thank you for your assistance, and stay tuned for further updates.
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 Tis' the Season for Giving
Donate to Fill Holiday Stockings for Children in Need
AmeriCorps has combined efforts with Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the Salvation Army to provide holiday stockings to local children in need. Any gifts and/or monetary donations are appreciated. Money will be used to purchase stocking stuffers. Five decorated donation boxes are located throughout the campus at the Library, President's Office, Light Hall Concourse, Natural Resources Building and the Student Center. If you'd like to donate new, unopened gifts, please drop them off to Michael Whittemore in JL193.
The last day to donate items is Friday, December 7. The organizations will be stuffing stockings in the President's Office conference room on Monday, December 10 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
If you have any questions, contact Michael Whittemore.
Stocking Stuffer Fundraiser at Robbins Crossing
On Thursday, December 6, from 2 - 6 p.m., please take a moment to head down to Robbins Crossing, by yourself and/or with your classes, for a fundraising event meant to assist local families in need this holiday season. This event is in conjunction with the annual Salvation Army Stocking Stuffer Fundraiser, and is coordinated by Hocking AmeriCorps, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the Hocking College Volunteers.
The purpose of this event is to raise money that will be used to buy toys to fill the stockings. Pies and cookies made by Hocking's baking students; coffee, hot chocolate and cider; and musical entertainment from the Appalachian Ohio Storytelling Project will be provided at Robbins Crossing. Please bring a donation of a new, unopened toy or monetary amount.
Also, your donation automatically enters you into a raffle for two free tickets to the Fourth Annual Cabin Fever Festival, featuring national alt-country act Freakwater (more bands to be announced) and including a record swap and poster sale, at Stuart's Opera House on Saturday, January 19, 2013. So, please take some time out of your day, and out of your classes, to support this very worthy cause and to enjoy some free food, drinks and music!
For any questions, please call Spencer Hobson, AmeriCorps College Completion Coach, at ext. 7075.
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 Stained Glass Stars Sale to Raise Funds for Service Dog Program
On Thursday, December 13 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Cindy Yeager's Ethics class will sell stained glass stars with the proceeds going to the class's partnership with the Noble Correctional Institution.
The stars will be located in the foyer of Arts and Sciences in Oakley 324 with an envelope for checks. Stars are $15 (originally $18) and starbursts are $25 (originally $28.) A few vintage picture frames with stained glass images will also be for sale, priced between $20 - $40.
The Ethics class service partnership with Noble Correctional Institution is an eleven-year service project that has been recognized locally by the Jenco Foundation, regionally by Campus Compact and nationally by the National Conference for Community Colleges on Civic Engagement.
Inmates in this project correspond with the students in the Ethics class. The inmates participate in a program designed to rescue dogs that have been left at the local animal shelters and have not been adopted. The inmates train the dogs for basic obedience to make them more desirable to be adopted. The students contribute to the program's basic needs, such as leashes, collars, bedding, treats, toys and, recently, a portable agility course.
Cindy Yeager has presented this school's work in service learning in San Francisco, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Athens and Granville. This program has received funding from Ohio Campus Compact, Pay it Forward, Dollar General and the Jenco Foundation.
This September, the Ethics class was also responsible for sponsoring a month's worth of immunizations at the Athens County Dog Shelter by contributing $150 to the Friends of the Shelter.
"As in all service work, money is tight. Because of semesters, I have lost an Ethics class, so your help is especially needed at this time," Yeager said. Contact Cindy Yeager with any questions.
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Holiday Potluck
On December 11 from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., a holiday potluck for faculty and staff will be held in Oakley 210. Please bring a dish to share if you plan to participate. Contact Mindy Roggow at 740.753.7015 to let her know what item you plan to bring or to receive ideas about items needed.
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Third A nnual Thanksgiving Dinner Held for ESL Students
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, 28 Hocking College ESL (English-as-a-second language) students and alumni participated in the third annual Thanksgiving Dinner for ESL students, hosted by Domi Adamova, ESL coordinating instructor, and her family in Athens.
The evening began with sitting gathered at the table where each student gave thanks in their native languages, followed by a brief English synopsis. "It was very moving because all the students took their time to self-reflect on their lives and many of them thanked their parents for making their studies in the United States possible for them," Adamova said.
After the feast, the students shared stories about holidays in their countries that are similar to the American Thanksgiving, and some students also played darts, pool or table tennis. Later on, everyone danced to a series of songs from the countries and cultures whose representatives came to the celebration. There were students from Venezuela, Senegal, China, Columbia, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Peru. The gathering lasted until 2 a.m. and students said it felt like a real family atmosphere. "...it was nice to have, in the cold winter like this, a feeling of home. This reminds me of my family," said one of the students stated when leaving Adamova's home.
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Holidays Around the World 
"Holidays Around the World" will be celebrated December 6 from 4 - 7 p.m. in the Light Dining Hall. Join us for a free turkey dinner and some delicious desserts with a holiday theme from around the world. Students, faculty and staff will enjoy learning about how holidays are celebrated in different cultures, including Christmas, Kwanzaa, Diwali and Hanukkah.
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 Reminder: Holiday Student Art Sale
The Hocking College Art Gallery, on 30 Public Square in Nelsonville, will present the "Holiday Student Art Blow-Out Sale" through December 15.
The sale will feature ceramics, glass artwork and photography created by Hocking College Art, Design and Marketing students.
The Holiday Art Sale will also be held in the Light Dining Hall on campus December 5 and 6 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. each day.
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Hocking College Hosts Ohio Board of Regents Workshop
The Ohio Board of Regents hosted the Ohio LiftEd conference in May that discussed the importance of postsecondary education and training for Ohioans striving to make the transition to a more skill-driven job market.
To expand upon the items covered at the conference in May, the Ohio Board of Regents will conduct a series of regional workshops to discuss and share perspectives on how colleges and universities, Adult Workforce Education Centers (AWE) and Adult Basic Literacy and Education (ABLE) can work together to meet regional employers' workforce development and training needs.
The workshops will highlight opportunities to strengthen the connections between regional industries and current courses, certifications and degree programs to prepare adult learners for meaningful careers.
Hocking College is honored to host the regional workshop for Southeastern Ohio on Friday, December 14 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Faculty and staff are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Key topics that will be discussed at the LiftEd regional meetings include:
- Taking advantage of resources available to help identify areas of growth
- Identifying the training assets and gaps related to the demands of growth industries
- Planning to assist adult learners through the education pipeline to fill critical jobs and advance their careers while enhancing their skills and credentials
Ohio ranks 27th among states in the number of adults entering the job market adequately prepared. Ohio's economy continues to diversify and change, requiring new skills and experiences for our citizens to be competitive in the global marketplace.
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Athens County Offers Holiday Events
Ride with Santa on the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway
Take a ride with Santa Claus on the Hocking Valley Scenic railway. The train runs every Saturday and Sunday in December leading up to Christmas at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., with additional rides available on December 8 and 15 at 6 p.m.
Ticket prices are as follows: Adults (ages 13-59) are $17, children (ages 3-12) are $13, children under three ride for free and senior citizens (age 60+) are $15. Make your reservations at hvsry.org.
Winter Wine Express
Stuart's Opera House is sponsoring the Winter Wine Express train on Friday, December 7 at 7 p.m. The heated train ride will last approximately an hour and a half.
Proceeds go toward the continued operation of Stuart's Opera House. Tickets purchased in advance are $35. Tickets purchased at the door will be $40.
Extended shopping hours in Nelsonville and Athens
Nelsonville
December 6-8, 13-15, 20-22: Participating shops close at 7 p.m.
December 9, 16, 23: Participating shops open 12-5 p.m.
Uptown Athens
December 5, 12, 19: Participating shops open until 7 p.m. or later
Visit with Santa at North Pole Nelsonville and Uptown Athens
North Pole Nelsonville - Public Square
Fridays, December 7, 14, 21: 6-8 p.m.
Saturdays, December 8, 15, 22: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sundays, December 9, 16, 23: 12-5 p.m.
Pictures will be available!
Uptown Athens
Wednesdays, December 5, 12, 19: 6-8 p.m.
Saturdays, December 8, 15: 12-2 p.m.
Classic Holiday Movie Showings at the Athena Cinema
Every Saturday leading up to Christmas, the Athena Cinema in Uptown Athens is showing a holiday favorite. Admission is free with a nonperishable food donation for local food banks.
December 8 at 3 p.m.: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
December 15 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.: Polar Express
December 22 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.: A Christmas Story
Holiday Carriage Rides
John Hutchison and his majestic team of horses will provide holiday carriage rides on December 5, 8, 12, 15 and 19 from 6-8 p.m. on Court Street in Athens. Visitors can enjoy the holiday lights & decorations, live music and the calming clickity-clack of the horses on the carriage.
Santa Claus and Paws
On December 16, from 2-5 p.m. at The Market on State in Athens, your pet can have a photo taken with Santa. For a donation to the Athens County Humane Society (min. $10 donation requested), you will receive a 4x6 print that day and be able to access photos online to print. Please have pets on a leash or in an appropriate carrier. Contact the Athens County Humane Society with any questions at 740.592.6047.
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 Reminder: Culinary School Offers Hors d'oeuvres Reception and Silent Auction Fundraiser
The Hocking College Knowledge Bowl Team will host a Hors d'oeuvres Reception and Silent Auction on Wednesday, December 5 from 6-8 p.m. The proceeds from this event will go to the team's registration costs and travel expenses.
The American Culinary Federation Knowledge Bowl is a Jeopardy-style competition in which culinary students answer questions about cooking techniques, baking, ingredients, food science, nutrition, sanitation and math. Hocking College's four-person team, alternate member and advisor will be traveling to Verona, New York in March to represent Hocking College for the first time in several years at this competition.
Tickets are $13.50 and are available in advance from Knowledge Bowl team members: Warren Usher, Whitney Lumley, Abigail Cole, Kristen Herbst and "Chom" Wisuthimarkul. Tickets are also available by contacting Chef McGushin or purchased at the door.
Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served, featuring a mini roast beef sandwich carving station with au jus and horseradish, a large vegetable and cheese display, house-made soup, salad, a variety of passed appetizers, as well as a fiery end to the evening with cherry jubilee.
Further information can be found on the Hocking College Epicurean Club Facebook page. The team will be posting auction items on the Facebook page, as well. A variety of restaurant gift certificates, chef-made gift baskets and even personal cooking sessions from Dean/Chef Alfonso and Chef Jason Knapp will be auctioned.
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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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 | P.A.S.S. Class Fundraiser Benefits Food Cupboard
The Personal Academic Success Strategies (P.A.S.S.) classes hosted a bake sale and raffle on Wednesday, November 28 and raised over $300. All proceeds will go to the Nelsonville Food Cupboard on Washington Street.
Thanks to everyone who participated in the fundraiser and great job to the class and faculty who assisted!
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Alum Authors "Poaching" Book
R.T. Stewart, Hocking College Natural Resources alumnus, was a long-time friend of The National Ranger Training Institute during its formative years. He went on to pursue a career with the Ohio Division of Wildlife and has since published a book entitled "Poachers Were My Prey: Eighteen Years as an Undercover Wildlife Officer." From the book description, "For nearly two decades, Stewart infiltrated poaching rings throughout Ohio, the Midwest, and beyond. Poachers Were My Prey chronicles his many exciting undercover adventures, detailing the techniques he used in putting poachers behind bars. It also reveals, for the first time, the secrets employed by undercover wildlife officers in catching the bad guys." Stewart's book is available for purchase on Amazon. ___________________ Great Job on QuickStart Thank you to B.J. Heidlebaugh and Dan Yeatts for your assistance in planning and rolling out our new QuickStart events. Great job also to the Admissions and support staff, along with the Student Affairs Coordinators and the Financial Aid staff, and everyone else who assisted with the events. All of your hard work and dedication will help us achieve our spring enrollment goals! |
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