Alumni Newsletter - March 2014
In This Issue
Former Student Featured at Gourmet Gala
Wildlife Student Featured
Draft Horse Belle Dies
Chunnu-Brayda Top Advisor
Roundabout Inspired by Native Beauty
Opticianry Program Featured
Events Raise Money for Emergency Fund
In Memorial
Help Plan Homecoming
Starbrick Lunch Menu
Neon Run for Emergency Fund
New Foundation Board Members
Students Repair Wind Turbine
Students Awarded Scholarship
Alumnus Retires After 40 Years
Class Notes
5K Pump & Run
Support Hocking College Foundation
Do We know YOU?
 
Alumni Spotlight 
   

Former Student Featured at Gourmet Gala

   

 

Former Culinary Arts student Billy Reese is the executive chef of KemoSabes in Fostoria. He attended Hocking College and has been involved in various areas of cooking since. From hotels to university kitchens, Reese has become very successful.


Reese was the featured chef at last year's Summer Harvest Gourmet Gala. The event is a fundraiser to support the Franciscan Earth Literacy Center. 

After attending Hocking College, Reese received the rank of "Certified Culinarian" by the American Culinary Federation. Reese has been the executive chef for KemoSabes since the restaurant opened in May 2011. He has been featured in the book, "Eating Your Way Across Ohio - 101 Must Places to Eat," by Karen A. Patterson.
 

 

 
Wildlife Student Featured 
in Ohio Outdoor News

 
Kudos to wildlife manage-ment student Luke Costilow. Costilow and his wildfowl decoy carving were recently featured in Ohio Outdoor News.

This year, Costilow was chairman of the Wildfowlers contest, a carving contest he won when he was just ten years old. This year's contest was held recently in Strongsville.  


Good job to Costilow for his carving skills and his leadership at this event! 

 

 

Draft Horse Belle Passed Away
 

Hocking College draft horse, Belle, recently passed away.  Belle was mother to Johnny and together they made up the Johnny and Belle draft team.  Both Johnny and Belle were retired from service and were well known by many students from the equine programs.  Belle will be missed by her Hocking College family. 

 

 

Alumni Spotlight 
 
Winsome Chunnu-Brayda Named Top Advisor

 

Winsome Chunnu-Brayda had never been to rural America when she hopped on a plane and left her home in Jamaica to study hospitality at Hocking College in 1999.

 
During her time at Hocking College, she fell in love with the Ohio University Athens campus and eventually transferred. Since graduating, she has had experience interning in Washington, D.C. and has completed her masters and doctorates degree. She has experience as a graduate assistant and residence life, but was the perfect fit when the position of an associate director opened.
 
Chunnu-Brayda is now the associate director of the Multicultural center and is an advisor for the Black Student Cultural Programming Board at Ohio University.
 
"She doesn't have to be our mentor, but she acts as a mentor for a lot of people anyway," Kent Harris, a member of the Black Student Cultural Programming Board, said.
 
Hocking College is glad we could assist Chunnu-Brayda on her journey to a career in hospitality. Chunnu-Brayda is an excellent example of how happy one can be if they follow their passion.
 
To read more on Chunnu-Brayda's journey, visit 
The Post. 

 

 

Double Roundabout Inspired by Native Hocking Beauty
 

Inspired by the one-of-a-kind beauty found in the Hocking region, several volunteers and organizations, including the Hocking College Landscape program, are working to enhance the newly functional double roundabout onto Route 664 from U.S. 33 in Logan.


The double roundabout made its official debut in 2013, making it the first double roundabout project in Ohio. The roundabout has provided safe and convenient access for both visitors and residents experiencing the Hocking Hills region. The project has achieved ODOT's goal of building a safe, unique and appealing structure for the area and its visitors. 

In an attempt to incorporate the natural beauty of Hocking, volunteers and organizations plan to enhance the look of the roundabouts with native trees, shrubs and local artwork. The new look will feature swamp white oaks, kettleri juniper, winterberry holly, prairie blue ornamental grass, boulders and clay sculptures. 

The project is a collaboration between ODOT, the City of Logan, the Hocking Hills Tourism Association, Logan Tree Commission, Hocking County Engineer, Hocking College Landscape program, Logan Clay Products and local artist Jean Magdich.

For more information on the project visit the 
 Logan Daily News.

  

Opticianry Program Featured in OAO Newsletter

 

Kudos to the Hocking College Opticianry Program for their recent feature in the Opticians Association of Ohio newsletter. The OAO article highlights the program's exceptional curriculum, impressive exam scores and outstanding graduate success. 


Started back in 2000 by coordinating instructor Scott Carroll, the Opticianry program educates students on a wide range of optical skills from interpreting prescriptions, communicating with patients, and instruction on how to use optical tools and instruments. The OAO article emphasizes the high licensure exam pass rates as high as 96 percent. Even more impressive, 100 percent of students find work in the optical field after graduation.     

 

Read the article here.   

 

Events Raise Money for Student Emergency Fund

 

Two recent events raised money for a Student Emergency Fund being developed by the Hocking College Foundation. 


The Black Tie Tea, a formal afternoon tea at Rhapsody Restaurant, was held recently. Nearly 50 participants attended the tea or sponsored a student to attend, and $1,525 was raised.

The Second Annual Smile-A-Thon was also held recently in the Light Dining Hall. During the event, students and staff had the opportunity to thank someone in the Hocking College community by sending them a "smiley-face" card. Over 500 happy face thank you's were purchased and delivered during the event and $826 was raised.

The Student Emergency Fund will help students through small aid amounts or with emergency gifts.

  

In Memorial 
We honor and remember these members of our Hocking family:

Millard Coe '73 - Mechanical
 
Jo Ann Bishop '75 - Nursing
 
Alfred Bond '77 - Human Services and Corrections
 
Hazel Bayless '78 - Human Services and Corrections
 
Gary F. McKinniss '80 - Drafting and Design
 
Joseph Coontz '81 - Culinary Arts
 
Christian Fraley '81 - Recreation & Wildlife Tech
 
Kimberly Pecirep '81 - Wildlife Management
 
Bernard Rucker '82 - Computer Electronics
 
Michael Akers '84 - Industrial Ceramics
 
Shirley Brooks '85 - Financial Services
 
Harry Foster '86 - Culinary Arts
 
Helen Scott '88 - Medical Records HIM
 
George Taylor '88 - Police Science
 
Barbara Bishop '90 - Nursing

Janice Reece '90 - Office Management

Stewart Vaughan '91 - Forest Management

Leslie Jones '92 - Practical Nursing

Judy Bradford '99 - Broadcast Production & Engineering

Lonnie Payne '00 - Associate of Technical Study

James Dague '02 - GIS/GPS

Donna Leasure '03 - Business Management

Terry Thurman '07 - Hotel & Restaurant Management
 

REMINDER: Help Plan Homecoming
 
 
We still need help planning this year's homecoming.  Several alums who responded to our Homecoming survey in February expressed an interest in joining a planning committee. The committee will meet soon to discuss ideas.  

If you would like to be a part of this committee, email Jessie McDonald or call 740-753-7010.

 

 

REMINDER: Starbrick Bistro Offers Spring Lunch Menu
 
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Starbrick Bistro will be open Tuesday - Friday from 12 - 2 p.m. throughout the 

spring semester.

Check out the a la carte menu here. The bistro will also have a lunch buffet every Friday with a different theme each week. Buffets are $8 and include a beverage.

 

 

 
3301 Hocking Parkway
Nelsonville, Ohio 45764
740.753.7010
  
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Coffee and Conversation with Hocking

      

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Do you work in an office with other Hocking College grads? If so, we want to come visit your office with some free coffee and muffins! We call it Coffee and Conversation with Hocking. We head out regularly to an office near Nelsonville (within a 50 mile radius) and visit our alumni while they're working. If you'd like us to pay your office a visit just complete the form to be entered into our drawing for Coffee and Conversation with Hocking.

 

Neon Run to Raise Money for Emergency Fund

      

Hello fellow Alumni!

 

My name is Chrissy Ward '09. The education I received from Hocking gave me a strong foundation and impression of the higher education system. I was a non-traditional student, who last attended High school 30 years ago. I had no idea how college worked but I met with Kensey Love who helped me and encouraged me through the process.  

 

After graduating from Hocking, I continued on for my BA at Ohio Christian University through their partnership with Hocking. I then applied to Ohio University in a competitive program for Counseling Education. I graduated with my master's degree in May 2013 and am now continuing for my PhD. I recently worked in South Africa with victims of human trafficking. 

 

I am currently an adjunct in the Social Services and Criminal Justice Department at Hocking. In my classes, I love having alumni as guest speakers. I recently hosted Samantha Green. Samantha is a probation officer for the Hocking County Judicial System and she spoke to my Practicum Orientation classes.

 

I am really excited about a current project: a night 5K run /walk on April 26, 2014 called a NEON RUN. I hope to shine a positive light on Hocking College. A neon run 5k is at night and has never been done in this area. A neon run like Hocking's is unique. I want everyone to see how wonderful our college is and how education can change your life, while raising money for a good cause. I would love to see alumni get involved in this project. A portion of our proceeds is going to the Hocking College Student Emergency Fund.

 

I'm also working towards a private practice, to open a nonprofit wellness center in our area.

I give so much credit to the nurturing of Hocking College. I try to pay it forward by giving back to my students. I encourage my students in the class and out of the class, to help them to realize their dreams. 

 

For more information on the Neon Run, contact Chrissy Ward. 

 

Foundation Welcomes New
Board Members

      

The Hocking College Foundation recently welcomed new board members Seth Teicher, Wendy Jakmas, Karl Gebhardt and Paige Alost.  


Seith Teicher, of New Marshfield, has held positions in a variety of fields including as a worker in a psychiatric unit at a VA medical center, a woodworking instructor at a New Mexico community college and a Deputy Medical Investigator. He became president of Epstein-Teicher Philanthropies after serving on the board for seven years. He has been instrumental in getting significant funds granted to Hocking College including the Karen Teicher Memorial Nursing Scholarship fund and emergency funds to help students stay in college. 

Wendy Jakmas, of Athens, currently holds the position of President of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce that she assumed in January 2009. She also remains an active board member of the Athens Foundation, sits on the Customized Training Advisory Board for Tri-County Adult Career Center and is a member of the Chamber Executives of Ohio. As a graduate of Ohio University and resident of Athens since 1996, she is motivated and proud to work in the area. 

Karl Gebhardt, of Westerville, is a 1972 Hocking College graduate where he received his associate's degree from the Natural Resources program. He currently continues his passion for the environment as Deputy Director for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and is a township trustee in Genoa Township.

Paige Alost, of Athens, joined the Athens County Convention & Visitors Bureau in 2006 after holding the position of Associate Director for Campus Visit Programs at Ohio University. Graduating from Louisiana State and originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Alost is honored to be an active part of the Athens community.  


The Hocking College Foundation exists to advance the mission of Hocking College, by providing resources for key programs and initiatives tied to college strategies.   The Foundation engages in fundraising in order to provide support for students and to enhance programs and services. Its vision is for all Hocking College graduates to leave debt free and ready to launch an exciting and meaningful career.

 

Hocking College Students Repair Wind Turbine

      

 

Hocking students involved in the Advanced Energy Program were given the opportunity to turn their classroom knowledge into real world experience repairing a wind turbine at the Logan Campus.  


Electricity from the wind turbine is generated and sent to the locations in need throughout campus. The wind turbine's safety mechanism had been triggered due to strong winds, preventing its blades from turning and functioning properly. 

Advanced Energy program instructor, Darin Hadinger, guided his class and second-year student and project manager Jeremy McDonald, through the repair. The students were required to rely only on teamwork and critical thinking to accomplish their goal.   

   

Carl Bridges, Vice President of Student and Academic Affairs, and Neil Hinton, Dean of the School of Engineering Technology, recognized the students for their accomplishment during a special presentation.

Read more about the wind turbine and what it took to repair it in the
Logan Daily News.   

 

Students Awarded Employee Funded Scholarship

  

 

Tyler Reiser of Deshler, Douglas Ott. Jr. of Shreve, Leigh-Ann Sarkis of Columbus, Hannah Gilmore of Toledo, Michael B. Butorac of Lorain, Ian Zollars of Bay City, Ethan Bingham of Wauseon, William Scott Bower of Southington and Corey Suttles of New Carlisle have each been awarded Hocking College Employee Funded Scholarships for the 2013-14 academic year. 


Reiser selected Hocking College because of its highly regarded Fire and Emergency Service Program. He plans to join the Ohio Air National Guard upon graduation. Ott. Jr. is an Emergency Medical Technician pursuing his Paramedic Certificate. Sarkis is in the Opticianry program, with hopes of opening an eyeglass lab with her husband in Columbus, Ohio. 

Gilmore is pursuing her dream of becoming a Physical Therapist Assistant and would like to work at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus upon graduation. Butorac is in the GeoEnvironmental Science program with the desire to teach children about the environment. Zollars hopes to start his own farrier business after earning his degree in Farrier Science and Business. Bingham, Wildlife Management major, plans to become a wildlife officer for the State of Ohio upon graduation. Bower, Fire and Emergency Services major, is a fourth generation firefighter in his family and feels honored to be able to continue this tradition his great grandfather started back in 1949. Suttles, Associate in Technical Studies, has always wanted to work outdoors because his family owns a tree business. 

Each year, many Hocking College employees donate a portion of their paychecks to fund scholarship awards to deserving students. The scholarships are given to students from every discipline who exhibit scholastic achievement and financial need.

 

Hocking Alumnus Retires After 40 Years
 

After an extensive and rewarding career as a firefighter at the Athens Fire Department, Hocking alumnus, Robert Troxel '79, has retired after 40 years. Troxel's career began in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam, and later shifted into a career as an electrician at the Athens Mental Health Center, as well as a paramedic for the Southeast Ohio Emergency Medical Service.  After being encouraged to pursue firefighting and receiving his Associate of Science in Fire Science from Hocking, Troxel achieved an outstanding score on his firefighting exam and was offered a position with the Athens Fire Department.


Troxel also acquired his Bachelor of Science in Fire and Safety Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. He later returned to the Athens area to obtain his Master of Science in Environmental Studies at Ohio University.  The knowledge and experience given to him during his time at Hocking and throughout his life allowed him to become chief of the Athens Fire Department after just 13 years on the job.

Troxel currently holds a position on the Hocking College Board of Trustees, which he has held since September of 2011. Besides his responsibilities as a board member, he also has a passion for educating others on the outdoors. Although he has made the decision to retire from his long and successful career in firefighting, he is grateful for the memories and opportunities he experienced during his time in the profession.

In honor of his service, Troxel was presented with the Public Safety/Military Hometown Hero award at the American Red Cross of Southeast Ohio's Hometown Hero Breakfast held recently at the Athens Community Center. 

For more information, see the recent 
Athens Messenger article about Troxel. 

 

Class Notes

 

Joe Fields '88

Joe graduated from Police Science and is the current sergeant at Belpre Police Department with 21 years of service there.

 

Jennifer Cross '94

Jennifer was recently promoted to the rank of lieutenant of Meigs Emergency Medical Services. 

Lt. Cross first received her medical training at Hocking College. Utilizing her experiences and knowledge gained at Hocking, she was able to join the Meigs EMS division as a volunteer. A few years later, she went on to receive her Paramedic training from Southeast Ohio EMS where she began working with Southeast Ohio Emergency Medical Services, while continuing her volunteer work with Meigs. In 2009, Lt. Cross completed the nursing program at the University of Rio Grande and became a nurse at the Southwest Regional Medical Center. 

She became a paid member of the Meigs EMS paramedic staff in 2013, where she was quickly promoted to her current position as lieutenant. Her new position requires her to assist with day-to-day operations and contribute to the monitoring and licensing of narcotics for the division. 

 

Pablo Torres '94

Pablo has recently been named general manager of the 917-room Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Utilizing the skills, knowledge and experience he obtained during his time at Hocking and on, Torres has become one of many successful alumni.

Torres graduated from Hocking College with an Associate's Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. He later went on to become general manager of the British Colonial Nassau in The Bahamas. After only three years, he moved on to assume general manager of the Hilton Short Hills in Short Hills, New Jersey. Proving his ability in the hospitality industry, he was appointed to his current position as general manager at the Caribe Hilton in Puerto Rico. Overall, Torres has spent more than 20 years working in hospitality management all over the world.

 

Jancie K. Ivory

Columbus-based investment management and financial advisory firm Hamilton Capital Management, Inc. has added Jancie K. Ivory to its staff as a client relations representative.  Ivory will take on client service and administrative responsibilities, as well as provide ongoing support to the firm's nationally recognized Wealth Advisory Team. 

 

A former customer service manager with Fifth Third Bank, Ivory holds an associate's degree in applied business management from Hocking College and an associate's degree in sports and fitness management from Columbus State Community College. She resides in Hilliard. 

 

Hamilton Capital Management is one of the nation's largest independent, fee-only, registered investment advisory firms with over $1 billion in assets under management.  The company provides investment consulting and management services to institutions, and wealth management services to individuals and families.  The firm is ranked among the Top 200 firms nationally by both InvestmentNews and Financial Advisor magazine, and was named to AdvisorOne's list of the nation's Top Wealth Managers for the eleventh year in a row in 2012. 

 

REMINDER: Fitness Management Students Host Annual 5K and Pump & Run

      

The Hocking College Fitness Management students will host the Second Annual Pump & Run and 5K/1 Mile Fun Walk at Hocking College on Saturday, April 5, 2014.


The 5K is a traditional 3.1-mile course through the Hocking College campus. The race begins at 8 a.m. with registration beginning at 7 a.m. The participants will be separated into age groups, and the top three male and female of each age group will receive a ribbon. The top three overall male and female winners will receive a medal. 

The Pump & Run will begin with registration at 8 a.m. followed by the race at 9 a.m. This event requires participants to complete a 1.5-mile run after performing a maximum number of bench press repetitions. For each repetition completed, 10 seconds will be deducted from their run time. Pump & Run participants will be separated by age, gender and weight. Ribbons and medals will also be awarded to winners.

Registration cost for Hocking alumni is $15, while the cost for all other participants is $20.  If registering for both events, the cost is $25. Registration forms are available here:   

 

 Pump & Run Registration 

 5K Registration

For any questions on either of these events, please contact Bill Finnearty at 740.753.6533 or 
[email protected]. 

 

Support the Hocking College Foundation

 

The Hocking College Foundation exists to advance the mission of Hocking College, by providing resources for key programs and initiatives tied to college strategies.

 

Help us achieve our purpose by providing your charitable contribution today.

  

 
 
Do WE know about YOU?

 

We are running low on alumni updates and Class Notes.   We want to know your story.  If you're interested in being a featured alumni, contact us today!