Community's Investment Allows MCC to Grow
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Summer 2014 Community’s Investment Allows MCC to Grow see page 12 Series of History Lectures Bring MCC Students, Faculty, and the Community together see pages 8 & 10 In this issue Jayhawk Athletic Roundup see page 14 CAD/CNC Programs at MCC Work to Meet Regional Needs see page 10 ContentsMUSKEGON COMMUNITY COLLEGE REFLECTIONS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2014 FEATURES 8 MCC & Community: A Grand Partnership Community members join MCC students and faculty to learn and discuss history at World War II lecture series. 12 Muskegon’s Community Invests in their College MCC plans the most ambitious improvement project since the campus was built in the 1960s. 18 International Club Students Learn about Life in the USA Numerous students from around the globe choose MCC for their college experience. 2 Summer 2014 REFLECTIONS MAGAZINE is published by the Muskegon Community College Office of Community Outreach CONTACT US [email protected] Office of Community Outreach 221 S. Quarterline Road Muskegon MI 49442 (231) 777-0571 muskegoncc.edu BOARD OF TRUSTEES Donald Crandall, M.D. Chair Diana Osborn Vice-Chair Dorothy Lester Treasurer Nancy Frye DEPARTMENTS Secretary Sean Mullally Trustee 4 Letters to MCC Ann Oakes Trustee 5 From the President Roy Portenga 6 Distinguished Alumnus Trustee LEADERSHIP 16 From the Archives Dr. Dale K. Nesbary President Teresa Sturrus 20 Alumni News Vice President for Academic Affairs and Finance 22 Foundation Report Dr. John Selmon Vice President for Student Services and Administration Trynette Lottie-Harps Dean of Community Outreach Tina Dee Director of Foundation and Strategic Initiatives Eduardo Bedoya Director of Institutional Research and Grants Marty McDermott Director of Athletics Michael Alstrom Chief Information Officer Reflections Magazine 3 Letters to MCC Message to Life Science Message to Baseball Coach Message to Vice President for Instructor Kathy Pollack: Cap Pohlman: Student Services and Administration Dr. John Selmon: "After I received my associates from MCC “It’s been a while since I last talked to you. I transferred to Saint Joseph's College I hope everything is going alright with the “It was great to meet you when visiting in Rensselaer, Indiana. I received a team and season. I heard it was a pretty Muskegon Community College. I also think scholarship to play NCAA DII volleyball cold winter up there. How are you doing? it is great with what is going on with the here at school. I majored in Business How is the family? I’m in New Mexico MCC gym. MCC is a great place and I owe Administration with a concentration in for training, I wish I could give you a call much of my success to MCC. marketing. While here at SJC I traveled to but I have a hectic training schedule. I’m In fall of 2005 I started at MCC, I still did not Ethiopia for two weeks for study abroad. still in training to become an Air Force know what I wanted to do so I took many As well, I traveled to India for two weeks pararescue man. Last March I went different classes. I signed up for Physical for study abroad. Since I started at SJC through the initial training phase where Geography with Diana Casey and created back in August, 2012 I have worked in they weed out all the guys. Wow what an an interest for the material which led to the Integrated Marketing Department at experience that was, movies don’t really me taking her weather and climate class. the school. I stayed over this past summer do it justice! Our training is considered to After discussing future study with Diana, I and kept working there while I helped out be one of the toughest because when the decided to go to Valparaiso University for in other areas such as events, alumni, and seals and green berets go down we have Meteorology and Geography. The time and development. After volleyball had ended I to go in and get them. My class started experience at Valparaiso University was started an internship at a nonprofit here with 130 guys and we graduated 20. I just great and I gained more knowledge towards in my town called Jasper Foundation, Inc. wanted to tell you that you had a huge the field of Meteorology and Geography. As well, working for J&L Marketing where I influence on helping me be successful Yet, the after graduation uncertainty grew am on contract where I run events for car so far. I hope you know how important as I graduated from Valparaiso University. dealerships a couple weekends a month, what you teach and instill in your players I contacted Diana and asked if she had while still working in the integrated is. From doing everything with a purpose, any ideas for what to do, she offered that I marketing department. I am graduating to being accountable, and the values and come and co-teach and physical geography in May with a Bachelor in Science. I morals that you set as an example and class with her at MCC. Co-teaching this received a job in New York at a YMCA expect us to have, it doesn’t get much class with Diana was amazing and I gained camp for this summer. Then I just recently better than that. I wish your players could many skills during that semester. Diana received this amazing opportunity to work realize that now as they play for you, but told me about the Masters of Geography at UIC United International College in most do not until after they are done. The program at Western Michigan University. Zhuhai, China for the next school year. I pressure you put on us also helped a At first I was nervous to apply but with will be working as a TA in the Business lot haha. I was able to keep calm when Diana’s encouragement I applied and got Management Division. I will be there from other guys around me were passing out accepted. Throughout my career at Western Aug. 2014 to June 2015.” underwater, then getting thrown back in Michigan University, I was number one in --Alyssa Guarnaccia when they came back around. Since July my graduating class, got to be a research of last year I have got to travel all over the assistant and teaching assistant. At the end country for training. I graduated combat of my career I was awarded the Graduate scuba dive school, military freefall and I Teaching Effectiveness award, a university am working on becoming a paramedic nominee for the Graduate Teaching right now. Talk about being accountable Effectiveness Award, Graduate Service for your own actions the first skydive jump Award, and the Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU) I did was by myself and the chute I was Excellence Award. Also during this time I wearing was one I had to pack myself. was president of GTU honors fraternity and Well coach I sure do miss ya. I hope all the WMU geography club. Now that my the other coaches are doing well and career at WMU is over I have accepted a hopefully you can say hello to them for position at Louisiana State University’s PhD me if you get a chance.” program in Geography and Climatology. --Drew Kennedy Looking back through this journey, I wanted to say how thankful I am that I chose MCC. At first I was unsure if I wanted to attend MCC but I am happy that I did.” --Rudy Bartels 4 Summer 2014 From the President Members of the Muskegon upon the most significant infrastructure Community College Community: investment since Muskegon Community Downtown Satellite Facility: The Facility I am hopeful College relocated to its current Marquette Master Plan calls for the development of a that your and Quarterline location in 1967. downtown Muskegon satellite facility. The summer is full Since the completion of the College’s project will not only address the College’s of fun, rest and Facility Master Plan in 2010, improving need to renovate advanced technology relaxation. I am Science facilities has been the top of four space and experiential learning program very pleased to infrastructure priorities identified by the capacity, it will serve as a much needed share with you MCC Board of Trustees. The plan calls for catalyst to economic development in the that the voters a Science/Technology building addition downtown area. Downtown satellite facilities of Muskegon with six new laboratories located in a implemented by other community colleges County new building adjacent to the Stevenson in Michigan and nationally have proven to approved Center for Higher Education. It will serve be extremely successful. the College’s a combined 18 academic programs. $24 million Additionally, another 25,000 square feet of The ballot providing additional funding for the existing Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Creative and Performing Arts: Art Department is currently located in Science Center, an expanded Bartels-Rode and Technology space will be upgraded. a cramped 8,400-square-foot pole barn Gymnasium/Health Center, an upgraded The expansion and upgrades will address style building. The Facility Master Plan Creative and Performing Arts Center, as well the national call to increase the number calls for construction of five new art as a Downtown Muskegon Center. As a of student STEM (Science, Technology, studios, three instructional classrooms, result, our students will learn in state of the Engineering, and Math) graduates. an exhibition gallery and a kiln room, as art facilities and our faculty will teach in the Here are details on the Art, Health, and well as improvements to the Overbrook same. Downtown Centers: Theater and band/music area.