Alumni Newsletter - June 2014
In This Issue
Hocking Alum Named State Wildlife Officer
Goodsearch for Student Emergency Fund
NMF Sparked Love
Relay for Life
Contrisciani Column
TripAdvisor's Award of Excellence
Administrative Professional of the Year
Help Plan Homecoming
In Memorial
Hocking Students Assist with GIS Mapping
Cystic Fibrosis Awareness
ESL Class Visits Pre-K
Safety Town
LPN Program Ranks Fourth in Ohio
School of NR Hosts Cookout
Green Elementary Learning to be "Green"
CANCER SUCKS 5K
Circle Round the Square
10th Annual Boogie on the Bricks
Managing Anxiety Workshop
Do We know YOU?
Coffee and Conversation
Support Hocking College Foundation
 
Alumni Spotlight 
   

Hocking College Alum Named Sandusky County State Wildlife Officer

   

Hocking College graduate Matthew Leibengood '97 was recently assigned as the new State Wildlife Officer in Sandusky County. 

 

Leibengood received his Associate Degree in Wildlife Management and graduated from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Officer Academy in 2005. He has served with the Division of Wildlife since 1997. Leibengood has also worked at the Sandusky Fish Research Station and at the Castalia State Fish Hatchery. 

 

Officer Leibengood was spotlighted on sanduskyregister.com where his new responsibilities were featured. He will be held responsible for enforcing the law on public lands, as well as private property, and providing assistance to other law enforcement agencies as needed. He will also contact Ohio sportsmen and women in the field, perform fish and wildlife surveys, advise on nuisance wildlife issues and give presentations on wildlife management, hunter education, fisheries management and trapper education. 

Goodsearch to Raise Money for Student Emergency Fund

Goodsearch donates money to your favorite cause when you search the internet, shop online or dine out at local restaurants. Goodsearch.com donates a penny per search to your cause.


The website is very easy to use; it's free and turns simple everyday actions into a way to make the world a better place. Please sign up today to help support Hocking College students.

 

Visit www.goodsearch.com to get started, and select "Hocking College Foundation" as your charity of choice. 

 

Couple marries after meeting at Nelsonville Music Festival

 

Hocking College alumnus Justin Brumley '11 married Elizabeth Atwell after meeting at the Nelsonville Music Festival in 2009. 

 

Brumley was a student studying nursing at Hocking College when he met Atwell, both were volunteering at the festival. Brumley and Atwell were introduced after Brumley's friend Wendy started their conversation. Atwell left for a year to study at the Republic of Georgia, but as soon as she returned, the couple met up. After spending time together getting to know each other, a relationship finally sparked. 

 

Brumley knew he wanted to marry Atwell just a few years later. At the 2013 Nelsonville Music Festival, the couple went on a walk and Brumley proposed to Atwell. They got married on May 10, 2014 and celebrated together at this year's festival. The new couple plans to enjoy their first year together as a long honeymoon, living without any responsibilities. 

 

For more information on their story, visit The Athens Messenger.

19th Annual Athens Relay for Life Held 

The 2014 Athens County Relay for Life was held June 21-22 and was the 19th annual event. Hocking College nursing instructor and breast cancer survivor Bev Kubachka became involved in the event 16 years ago after losing her husband to cancer, and then she was diagnosed two years later. Kubachka was this year's co-chair for the event. 

 

At Relay for Life, teams of people from local businesses, schools and other organizations spent 18 hours walking or running on the track - at least one member from each team had to be on the track at all times. The teams raised money and awareness for cancer research and money raised benefits the American Cancer Society. 

Contrisciani Column: Spring Brings Exciting Things

Chef Alfonso Contrisciani is now writing a regular column on food and farm happenings for the Perry County Tribune.


His third column explains the benefits of all natural and organic foods. Read the column here

Alumni Spotlight 
 
TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence Awarded to Canal Tavern of Zoar

 

TripAdvisor awards Cameron Krahel, Executive Chef at Canal Tavern of Zoar and owner Jon Elasser with the 2014 Certificate of Excellence.

 

Krahel attended Hocking College from 1996-1997 studying Culinary Arts and Hotel and Restaurant Management. He went on to work at the Courthouse Caf� and Atwood Yacht Club, then became a sous chef for Chef Kim Marker at Union Country Club. He then worked at the Inn at Honey Run creating his own unique menus.

Canal Tavern of Zoar is a fine, casual dining German food Restaurant in Bolivar, Ohio, near Historic Zoar Village. The restaurant opened in August 2012. The 3,000 square foot building is a restored 1829 Ohio and Erie Canal hotel and tavern, located on the Towpath Trail and Scenic Byway.

Krahel was recently featured on timesreporter.com where he talked about his goals as a chef and his most popular meals. He said his goal is to offer every customer an amazing dining experience including great food, superior customer service and a comfortable atmosphere. Some of Krahel's most popular food served are the smoked steak and pork chops, lamb, scallops, and German foods, such as bratwurst and cabbage rolls. The popular German courses reflect Zoar's original German roots.

Elsasser and Krahel are extremely honored to have received this award. The reviews on the world's largest travel website recognizes the restaurant and it's original German meals. The customer comments are mostly very positive giving the restaurant incredible recognition.

For more information about the award visit the Times Reporter.   

 

For more information about the restaurant visit Canal Tavern of Zoar.
Alumni Spotlight 
 
Former Hocking College Graduate awarded Administrative Professional of the Year

Hocking College graduate Tina McCall '08 was recently honored with the Administrative Professional of the Year Award. The Fairfield County of Commerce presented this award to McCall where she is now employed at Business System Solutions in Lancaster. 

 

McCall was in the Hocking College School of Nursing after attending Muskingum Technical College of Business. After graduating from Hocking College, McCall worked at Health Nursing Care Center and McGraw Oldsmobile in Lancaster. 

 

Diana Spurgus, McCall's boss at Business System Solutions, nominated McCall for the award. This award recognizes people who make a company or business run smoother without always receiving credit. McCall was very shocked and honored to have received this award. 

 

McCall has been working at the Business System in Lancaster as an account manager since 2001. When McCall is not working, she enjoys spending her free time reading and being with her family. 

 

For more information visit the article.

REMINDER: Help Plan Homecoming
 
 
Plans are well underway for this year's Alumni Homecoming, which will be held on Friday, October 3.  

If you would like to be a part of the planning committee, email Jessie McDonald or call 740.753.7010.

 

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

Bonnie Clark '76 - Practical Nursing

Peggi J. Sieber '83 - Medical Assistant

Raymond Bush '84 - Human Services and Corrections

David Brandeberry '87 - Drafting & Design

Lula Hupp '93 - Nursing

Jason Schwalbach '95 - Automotive

John Salter '97 - Culinary Arts

John Prater '01 - Accounting & Financial Services
 
3301 Hocking Parkway
Nelsonville, Ohio 45764
740.753.7010

Libby Villavicencio,
Executive Director

Jestinah McDonald '01,
Development Coordinator
  
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Hocking College Students Assist City of Logan with GIS Mapping

    

Hocking College students who recently completed geographic information system (GIS) training as data technicians will map location data points for the City of Logan over the next few weeks. 

 

The group will map the location data points for more than 6,000 water features throughout Logan. Hocking College has partnered with the City of Logan Water Department, the Operator Training Committee of Ohio (OTCO) and the Logan office of Stantec on this project. 

 

OTCO provided training for the 10 Hocking College Logan Campus students to become GIS Data Technicians. Using Global Positioning Systems, GIS Data Technicians capture real-time global positioning points for use in GIS systems. After completion of this course, the students are competent in gathering global positions of various stationary points for input into various GIS systems for water, wastewater, gas, electric and other infrastructure related areas. 

 

Edward Stolarz, Kameron Nelis, Don Adams, Nathan Betts, Branden Keith, Keith Tompkins, first year Architectural and Mechanical Design students; Richard (Dave) Thompson and Jennifer Beach-Knotts, graduates of the Architectural and Mechanical Design program; Kelley Barstow, Advanced Energy student; and, Corinne Carper, Natural Resources student, all took the training on May 14, 15 and 16.  

Student Raises Awareness of CF

      

Hocking College paramedic student Danie Dane raised campus awareness for cystic fibrosis at the end of last semester. 

 

May was Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Awareness Month, and Dane took the initiative to organize a campus-wide fundraiser to not only raise money for the cause, but to also raise awareness. 

 

Dane organized the release of 65 balloons in honor of those affected by this disease. This is the first step in her elaborate scholarship application for the AbbVie CF Scholarship. 

 

After the event, Dane received a letter from State Senator Lou Gentile thanking her for her efforts. 

 

CF is a genetic disorder that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system and currently affects an estimated 30,000 children and adults in the United States. To learn more about Danie's mission, or to help support it, please contact her at [email protected].

ESL Class Visits Pre-Kindergarten

       

Carla Ryan-Hirst's Pronunciation students recently visited the Nelsonville Pre-Kindergarten class. Ryan-Hirst said she has taken ESL students there for about three years, but this year they did the same activity in each mini-group. Hirst shared some of the resulting photos.

Hocking College, Sheriff's Office Offer Safety Town for Young Children

      

The Hocking College Police Department and Athens County Sheriff's Office will hold Safety Town for children ages four to six, July 7-10, 2014 from 9-11:30 a.m. at the Hocking College Nelsonville Campus. 

  

Participants will learn about bicycle safety, pedestrian safety, fire safety, playground safety, poison control, snake and animal safety, stranger danger and gun or weapon safety. The instructors include police officers, firefighters, educators and other public service workers who teach children safe practices in a fun way. During the week, daily speakers, games and events will lead up to a Thursday graduation ceremony. 

  

"We are excited to partner with the Athens County Sherriff's Office to present this important program to the local youth of our community. Safety Town is geared to help children be at ease when they encounter police officers, firemen, paramedics and other safety personnel, while laying the foundation for important lessons they can use throughout their lives," Al Matthews, Hocking College Chief of Police, said. 

  

The registration fee is $10 for the entire program, and space is limited. The registration form should be completed and returned with the fee as soon as possible. 

  

Contact the Hocking College Police Department at 740.753.6598 / [email protected] for additional questions and information about Safety Town or visit hocking.edu/safetytown.  

Hocking College LPN Program Ranks Fourth in Ohio

      

The Hocking College Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program has been ranked fourth out of 70 state approved LPN programs in Ohio, according to PracticalNursing.org.

The School of Nursing received a 98.63 percent passing rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Practical Nursing. The survey rankings from PracticalNursing.org were based on the results of the NCLEX-PN exam.

"Being ranked fourth of the LPN program in Ohio is an honor, and exemplifies the School of Nursing's pursuit of excellence. I am confident that our graduates will serve our communities and improve the quality of life and health of its members with compassion, honesty and integrity," Tammy Keith, School of Nursing Dean said.

Hocking College nursing courses for PN include fundamentals, geriatrics, obstetrics and medical surgical nursing. Additional classes focus on basic psychology, anatomy and physiology, nutrition and pharmacology. Hands-on experience begins in the nursing skills lab before patient/client contact in extended care and assisted living facilities or hospitals.

View the rankings here

School of Natural Resources Hosts "Semester Survival" Cookout

      

The School of Natural Resources congratulated students and faculty for making it through another semester by hosting the "Semester Survival" Cookout recently in the parking lot between the Natural Resources building and horse barns. 

 

The event included free food and drinks for all who attended, as well as the opportunity to see instructors and staff members in a dunk tank. The cost of the dunk tank was $1 for three throws with all proceeds going toward the Grizzly Scholarship. A total of $191 was raised.  

Green Elementary Students Spend Day Learning to be "Green"

      

Neil Hinton, Dean of School of Engineering and Information Technology at the Logan Campus, spoke with the third grade students at Logan's Green Elementary about solar energy, hydrogen power and what it means to be "green." 

 

During their day learning about energy, Hinton showed the students how solar energy and hydrogen can turn on lights and power a fan. They also discussed the types of energy, how alternative forms of energy can be useful and how energy is used today. 

 

The students took a field trip to the Logan Campus where they learned about wind, solar and hydrogen energies. They participated in activities about pollution and fossil fuels, toured the Logan Campus and learned about being "green."  

Cam and Sue CANCER SUCKS 5K Run/Walk to be held at Hocking
 

The fourth annual 5K to honor the memories of Cameron Brown and Susan Ipacs will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at Hocking College. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the race will begin at 9 a.m.

 

Adult registration is $20 if received prior to July 1 and $25 after July 1. Children's registration is $10 if received by July 1. If received by that deadline, children will receive a complimentary t-shirt. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Leukemia Research Fund at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Be the Match (Bone Marrow Registry), The Susan Ipacs Legacy Scholarship and Melanoma Research Foundation. 

 

Payments may be made via PayPal.com to [email protected] or mailed to: Lori Brown, 6979 State Route 329, Guysville, OH 45735. 

 

For registration and more information, please visit the website.

Circle Round the Square Nominated for National Award

      

Circle Round the Square has been identified as a finalist for the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, which is awarded by First Lady Michelle Obama. 

 

The program is an intensive summer-arts enrichment program for students in the Nelsonville-York City School District (NYCSD) presented by Paper Circle, a business located on Nelsonville Public Square. The Hocking College Culinary Arts program collaborates with the summer program each year. 

 

On Wednesday, May 7, 2014, Circle Round the Square was chosen as one of 50 finalists for a $10,000 national prize. At the end of June, 12 winners will be selected for the national prize and will also get the opportunity to attend the White House ceremony to accept the award. 

 

Hocking College is very involved in the program providing food, transportation, supervision and numerous activities. The Culinary Arts students help the kids prepare a daily healthy lunch using locally sourced, fresh, organic food. 

 

The college also provides transportation for the youth, going back and forth to the program and to their various activity sites. The kids are transported to Hocking College, Nelsonville Pool, Movies 10 and a farm in Logan. The Student Center is a main location for the kids where they swim, rock climb, play basketball and other activities. All events and activities lead up to a family picnic on the final day of the program. 

 

For additional information about the award, visit The Athens Messenger.

 

For any additional information, visit Paper Circle's website.

10th Annual Boogie on the Bricks

      

The one-day free community music and arts street festival, Boogie on the Bricks, was held on Saturday, June 21. The annual event was held on the bricks of beautiful Athens, Ohio on Court Street.

This year marked the 10th annual street festival, which consisted of two stages featuring live music, a beer garden, food court, performing artists, local merchandise and art vendors and local non-profit organizations. This year they expanded a Kids Zone, which included an inflatable bounce house and other activities in the parking lot between Lucky's and Attractions.

Many people enjoyed relaxing on the bricks while listening to music all day long. This year's musical lineup was packed with something for everyone with two stages on both ends of Court Street. The event lasted from noon to 11 p.m. with a Pink Floyd tribute band headlining the event at 9:30 p.m. on the Main Stage. That performance featured a light show.

The event partnered with Rural Action and the Appalachia Ohio Zero Waste Initiative in order for the festival to be "green" this year. Reusable souvenir cups were used for the beer instead of disposable cups to cut down waste and there were also several recycling stations throughout the street.

Read more information about the festival on The Athens News.

To view more information about the annual event, visit Boogie on the Bricks

Hocking College Counseling Center will hold Managing Anxiety Workshop

      

Kathleen Kutsko, M.Ed. P.C. from the Hocking College Counseling Center will hold a workshop on how to handle stress and anxiety during college life. Kutsko will introduce participants to Positive Psychology approaches for managing stress. Participants will learn about personal coping and other techniques that will help in college and also in the future as a health care provider. 
 
All Allied Health and Nursing students, faculty, staff and alumni are invited to attend the event on Thursday, July 17 from 1-2:30 p.m. in Davidson Hall Room 311. 
 
The Hocking College Chapter of the National Student Nurses' Association sponsors this event. For more information on the NSNA, email Stacy Strauss at [email protected] or visit www.nsna.org.
Do WE know about YOU?

 

Please continue to send in your updates so that we may provide Class Notes.  If you've gotten married, moved, had a child, changed jobs, or whatever, we want to know your story.  If you're interested in being a featured alumni, contact us today!

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.

 

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.