Over the 2013 Veterans Day weekend, students from Susan Fletcher's Research Skills class visited Washington D.C. as a part of the annual Memorial Voices trip. This year's trip marked the fifth year. Students visited various memorial sites and museums around the nation's capitol.

Seventeen students went, and many talked about the impact the trip had on them. The students encountered a number of veterans at the different memorials and said the personal stories they heard were "not something you would ever read in a textbook." One vet shared his experience in Special Forces, working with K9 "super dogs." This story prompted the class to do some additional research to learn more about this Army program.   

At the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, one veteran talked about the lack of respect Vietnam vets received when they returned home. The students also learned that, in addition to the number of soldiers killed in any conflict, a number of veterans lose their life after returning home due to mental health issues, drugs and suicide.

The group visited the Holocaust Museum, which they said was "scary and sad," and included a room filled with shoes recovered from the camps, which reminds viewers to remember the individuals lost.

Sunday, students split up into smaller groups and visited museums, and between all of them hit just about every Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.  Those who visited the Botanical Garden were impressed with the beauty, and loved the warmth! The Hope Diamond impressed the group at the Natural History Museum. A group also visited Ford's Theater to see the site of President Lincoln's assassination and saw the actual gun used to shoot the President.

Monday morning the entire group traveled to Arlington National Cemetery. Most went to the ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and had the honor of seeing President Obama speak and lay a wreath at the Tomb. A few students were not able to get in to see this ceremony, but while walking around outside, some veterans of Iraq suggested they go see Section 60. Section 60 is for veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. According to the students, this was a very emotional experience, as many people were sitting at grave sites, visiting their lost loved one. Looking at the tombstones, the students realized some of the veterans buried here were younger than they are, and some had died very recently. The students were affected by the sheer size of the cemetery; "the graves are as close together as they can be, and they go on as far as the eye can see in every direction." Except in Section 60, they could see where the graves end and see the spaces waiting for the next soldiers lost.

Several programs are represented in the class, and the students said before the trip they didn't talk to each other much. While on the trip, the students talked each evening about their experiences. Following the trip, the Research Skills class is working on a project to interview a veteran or currently active service member.

For more photos from the trip, see the Hocking College Flickr page.

Hocking College students have the opportunity to take an annual trip each summer to live and study within the forest in a rustic lake shore camp for one month, with no electricity, phone or running water for a practical experience like no other.

 

Normally, a group of 15-20 students attend what is affectionately known as "The Canada Trip." For students who have already experienced the trip, they can have a second opportunity to return as a technician. The technicians have added responsibilities including preparation, planning and report writing.

 

The trip is considered a research project and provides class credits, in addition to being a fantastic resume builder.

 

The 2014 Haliburton trip is tentatively scheduled for June 9 - July 6, 2014. This does not include time allotted for lecture before leaving and data analysis and report writing that occurs upon return. Student must have a passport to cross the border.

 

To read an in-depth article about the 2013 Haliburton trip, visit http://www.hocking.edu/news/item/610 

11th Annual Weightlifting Competition Announces Results

The 11th Annual Weightlifting Competition held by the Fitness Management program was a huge success with 39 participants and two new demonstrations.

Fitness Management student Dan Neundorf, did a squat exhibition of 700 pounds and Fitness Management students Klint Connery and Austin Keith showcased a body building exhibition going through standard poses. Keri Woodard also did a female figure posing exposition.

The results of the competition are as follows (last name listed first):

• Females Overall:
• Hannah Spradlin - First Place
• Tiffanie Harman - Second Place
• Cassie Richards - Third Place 

• Top Bench Female:
• Mary Lawless - 145 pounds 

• Top Deadlift Female:
• Holly Smith - 215 pounds 

• Top Squat Female:
• Holly Smith - 200 pounds 

• Male Overall:
• Nathan Grimm - First Place
• Joel Fanti - Second Place
• Joe Robinette - Third Place 

• Top Bench Male:
• Cainan Newell - 325 pounds 

• Top Deadlift Males:
• Joel Fanti - Second Place at 480 pounds
• David Weiland - Second Place at 280 pounds (Joel and David tied for second place)  

• Top Squat Male:
• Zach Glaser - 420 pounds

As 2013 comes to an end, Hocking College has completed its first pilot program with EdMap, a simplified textbook route for education. The switch to eBooks is a huge step for Hocking College and will prepare students for their future, as technology continues to expand each year.

Transfer Module students have completed the first round of a school-year-long trial of the switch to eBooks. These students have been able to pay a small course fee for unlimited, free eTextbooks for the school year of 2013-2014. So far, the results have been successful.

Next up, the School of Hospitality and School of Allied Health students enjoy the benefits of EdMap and eTextbooks.

Keep up with the benefits of eBooks in our weekly series, the EBook Benefit Series.

The Hocking School of Music, in conjunction with the Broadcast Production and Engineering program, will continue the fourth annual Lunchtime Concert Series on Tuesdays in November. They will take place in the Light Dining Hall, starting around 11:15 a.m.

• November 19 - Air Method with Hocking College alumni Manny Gonzalez
• November 26 - TBA 

Watch the performances live on Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/lunchtime-concert-series.