The Athens Messenger recently recognized the Fitness Management program's triathlon event that was held December 1. The newspaper boasted, "Hocking College students take away real-world lessons after hosting first-ever triathlon."  

The event was organized and conducted by the Fitness Management program students. Twenty people, ages 11 to 72, participated in the hour-long endurance event.

"It was definitely a group effort. Everybody pitched in. Everything ran smoothly, so I'm happy overall with the way things turned out," Eric Burris, a second-year student and the triathlon project manager, said.

Not only were current Hocking College students participating in the event, but also alumni of the program participated. James Barnes, a 2010 Hocking College graduate, stated that events, such as the triathlon, help students obtain hands-on career experience. After he graduated, he partnered with another Hocking College graduate, Brandon Holly, and opened a fitness business, called TrueFIT, in Lancaster. They encouraged customers of their business to participate in the triathlon.

Congratulations to all of the students in the Fitness Management program that contributed to the success of the event, and thanks to the alumni who continue to give support to the program! 

From the President

• With the hiring of Libby Villavicencio as Executive Director, the Hocking College Foundation is re-activated after a three year hiatus. Jestinah McDonald was added in June as Development Coordinator. Along with raising funds for Hocking College, Jessie and Libby are focusing efforts on connecting with and engaging our alumni.
• Hocking College was granted five-year reaccreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
• Alfonso Contrisciani, one of only 67 Certified Master Chefs in the U.S., was hired and became Dean of the Hocking College McClenaghan Center for Hospitality Training.
• Hocking College expanded the Logan Campus by relocating four associate degree programs, including Industrial Ceramics Engineering, Construction Management - Carpentry, Construction Management - Electrical and Architectural and Mechanical Design.
• Gail Jordan, coordinating instructor for the Industrial Ceramics Engineering program, was recognized as one of the Top 10 Athens County volunteers with the greatest impact on the community in the Athens News "2012 Annual Manual."
• Hocking College entered into a partnership with the Tri-County Adult Career Center to expand local workforce development opportunities called the Business Training Center.
• Deni Naffziger, Communications Instructor, received the Jeff Bierlein Community Service Award at the Disabilities Awareness Festival held by the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
• The "Travel Around the World" program launched by pairing Hocking College International English as a Second Language (ESL) students with students from Nelsonville-York Elementary School and two schools in the Logan-Hocking School District.
• Two Hocking College Perry Campus students were honored at a luncheon held in their honor at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. Robert Alexander of Crooksville and Colton Barnhart of New Lexington were named to the All-Ohio Academic Third Team for the 2011-2012 academic year.  
• Dr. Carl Bridges was selected as the new Hocking College Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs/Provost.  Dr. Bridges was previously the Senior Vice President of Education/Chief Academic Officer for Empire Education Group, the largest provider of cosmetology education in the United States.
• Ken Bowald, Dean of Natural Resources, was recognized as 2012 Ohio Outstanding Educator at the Project Learning Tree (PLT) International Conference on May 15, 2012.  He was also promoted to Dean of Natural Resources in 2012.
• Hocking College welcomed 779 new graduates to the ranks of alumni, the largest in its history.
• Joel Bitters, EMS Program Instructor, was awarded the Emergency Medical Services Award from the Ewings Chapter of The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
• The Landscape Management program completed three campus projects, including a new amphitheater, the Unity Gardens and Student Center Patio and plantings around the Student Center.
• On May 25, 2012, the first class graduated from the Hocking College National Ranger Training Institute's newly accredited program.
• Hocking College held our first Homecoming ever, inviting alumni to campus. More than 200 alumni, faculty, staff, students, and members of the community attended the First Annual Hocking College Homecoming on Saturday, October 6, 2012. 
• Community College Week once again named Hocking College the top Natural Resources and Conservation Associate Degree producer in the country. 
• Hocking College was awarded the Military Friendly Schools® title from Victory Media Inc. for the third year in a row. The 2013 Military Friendly Schools® list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are embracing America's military service members and veterans as students.
• Hocking College opened the hot glass studio in the newly named Visual Arts Center as part of the Art, Design and Marketing program. Hocking College is the only two-year college in the state, and the only college in the region, with a hot glass studio. 
• The "Apply Your Passion" Hocking College marketing campaign, launched in 2011, placed in the top three in the District 3 National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) for Community Colleges 2012 Medallion Awards competition.
• Nine students and Giles Lee, Director of Co-curricular Activities, traveled to Staten Island to help the Bawatnehs, a family whose house was badly damaged by the hurricane.
• Hocking College School of Nursing completed their Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN) five-year visit.   The preliminary results of the visit found the program to be in full compliance. The program will receive their final full approval by the OBN in January.

Alum Named District Wildlife Manager

 
Congratulations to Hocking College alumnus Tim Parrett of Lancaster, who was recently named the new Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife Southeast Ohio wildlife manager.
 
Parrett was a Hocking College recreation and wildlife graduate and later received a bachelor's degree in fisheries management from The Ohio State University. Parrett began his career with the ODNR Division of Wildlife in 1992 as a fish management unit leader.
 
In an Athens Messenger article, Parrett commented that his experience at Hocking College helped him solidify his career goals.
 
"At Hocking, there's a requirement to do an internship with some sort of agency related to your major," Parrett said. "My time with the fish hatchery as an intern confirmed to me that ODNR was the agency I really wanted to work for."