Veteran values engaging setting: Justin Hoover The blend of traditional and nontraditional students at JCCC creates an engaging learning environment for Justin Hoover. An added benefit is the veteran-friendly campus and career classes that fit his need. “I began college at Kansas State University for one year before I enlisted in the U.S. Army for three years,” Hoover said. “When I decided to return to college as a veteran, I didn’t want to be solely surrounded by right-outof-high-school students,” he said. “I knew at a community college, JCCC particularly, there would be students with additional life experiences that I could relate to.” Hoover found that and a veteran-friendly campus. He has connected with National Guard and reserve students in addition to veterans. “The Veteran Affairs office has been very helpful,” Hoover added. “It was nice to know there was someone on campus who could help me quickly and accurately with all my questions regarding changes with the 21st century GI bill.” To meet his learning preferences, Hoover is taking advantage of the JCCC entrepreneurial certificate program. “I’m not very interested in doing general education that is required for a four-year degree,” Hoover said. “My plan is to find the disciplines I like and do the one-year certificates that fit my interests. The many JCCC one-year entrepreneurial certificates work well for me.” When Hoover left the Army in 2006, he pursued a career in video production. He first worked at a production company, moving from an editor to assistant producer in six months. His tasks included everything from sales and customer service to final production and distribution. Hoover later worked for a Web development company that produced social media products for video-game enthusiasts. He decided to attend JCCC for formal training in marketing and entrepreneurship. He plans to one day operate his own company. “For me, JCCC is better than what I first experienced at a four-year school years ago,” Hoover said. 26
V-Day performance
activist movement working to end violence against women and girls. In March, JCCC students and staff took to the stage for a benefit performance to raise awareness and funds to help stop violence against women and girls. Readings of A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer: Writings to Stop Violence Against Women and Girls included works by Maya Angelou, Robin Morgan, Kathy Najimy, Alice Walker and Howard Zinn, among others. The collection was edited by Eve Ensler and Mollie Doyle. Ensler is the author of The Vagina Monologues and is the founder of V-Day. JCCC’s horticultural sciences program hosted the third Horticultural Science Field Day in February 2013. The event aimed at recruiting students to the field of horticulture and providing information about job opportunities and careers in horticulture. Horticulture specialist Dan Heims, president of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc., who travels the world seeking new plant varieties and the world’s top breeders, spoke on Perennials from Around the World: How New Plants Are Found. Heims’ presentation was also part of the Polsky Practical Enrichment Series. About 90 people from dozens of countries and cultures became U.S. citizens in February 2013 during a naturalization ceremony at JCCC. This was the first time the federal court chose to have the ceremony on campus. The Science Olympiad was held on the college campus in February. The Science Olympiad competitions are like academic track meets for students in grades 6-12. During the day, 22 middle schools and 24 high schools competed in two divisions – junior high/middle school and high school – in meteorology, chemistry, biology and more. In March 2013, JCCC’s fashion merchandising and design students presented their spring fashion show, Making Headlines, featuring clothes designed by JCCC students. In April, the program also presented New York Times fashion critic Cathy Horyn talking about historical elements of current styles and explaining in a celebrity factor that comes with the latest fashions.