COMMUNITy the magazine of Metropolitan community college SPRING 2017
MCC graduate’s story comes full circle page 10
CONTENTS 1 2
A letter from the MCC Foundation
Donated car allows for hands-on learning across programs
4 Program spotlight: Civil Engineering Technology 5 Opportunities aplenty with Credit Courses Abroad 6 Accelerated noncredit courses offer a career step-up 7
2
Donated car allows for hands-on learning across programs
6
accelerated noncredit courses offer portable skills
Makerhood District puts focus on lost arts
8 MCC helps local manufacturer create welding apprenticeship program
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10
MCC graduate’s story comes full circle
12
Minecraft camp
Remembering Omaha’s history at the Fort
13 New First Year Experience program seeing student success
14
Kickstart grilling season the right way
16 Criminal Justice professional pioneers family footsteps at MCC
12
Minecraft Camp
18 Fashion Design program is setting trends earning a degree 19 Fort Omaha Campus expansion project update 20 Around the College
Spring 2017
Volume 5, Issue 1
“Community” is a quarterly publication of Metropolitan Community College. Contact the editor at 531-MCC-2876 or marketing@mccneb.edu. Metropolitan Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, age, disability or sexual orientation in admission or access to its programs and activities or in its treatment or hiring of employees.
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Kickstart Grilling season the right way
Credits Lead editor and contributor: Derek Rayment Assistant editors and contributors: Jenny Milligan, Jasmine McCain and Katherine Leszczynski Lead art direction: Trevor Pikop Art contributors: Jade Dyer and Susana Ruiz Morales
A Letter from THE MCC Foundation Dear Friends and Supporters, The work of the Metropolitan Community College Foundation is made possible by the students who choose the College as a place for career and skills preparation; faculty who adhere to continuous quality improvement to advance curriculum in an ever-changing world; staff who provide services to ensure student success; and the community members who invest in making education a real possibility. Your investments are reflected at MCC campuses and locations, in classrooms, at graduation and within this magazine. For some students, graduation signifies their entry into the workforce, others transfer to a baccalaureate provider, but all celebrate their success collectively with those who believe in who MCC students are and who they will become. Scholarships, capital projects, program support and student emergency funds are the funding bedrock to helping MCC students achieve their goals without barriers and hardships. We welcome your continued participation in the community college movement and investment in the 40,000 students we serve throughout our four-county service area. Here are few of the ways you can participate: Our next wave of commemorative brick pavers will be set into the walkways of the Fort Omaha Campus expansion project for the buildings’ official openings in the fall. The three new centers of specialization mark the transition from a historic fort to 21st century learning environment. We welcome you to be part of this moment through the purchase of a brick or bench. If you would like to purchase a commemorative 4x8 or 8x8 brick paver, please visit mccneb.edu/bricksandbenches.
SkillsUSA golf tournament We invite you to sponsor or participate in MCC’s annual SkillsUSA golf tournament on June 10. Proceeds benefit student participants in SkillsUSA tournaments who showcase their skills in a competitive environment. For more information, please contact Rick Sandvig at 531-MCC-2345. Your friendship and support makes a real and meaningful difference in the lives of MCC students and communities. Our students have the motivation and integrity–because of you they have the educational opportunity. Very sincerely,
Jacqueline C. Almquist, Ph.D. Executive director
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DONATED CAR ALLOWS
for hands-on learning
ACROSS PROGRAMS 2 • community • mccneb.edu
T
he students in the Automotive Technology program at Metropolitan Community College are constantly learning how to repair anything and everything on cars. In order to do the hands-on learning, the department needs cars to work on. While visiting another college, Automotive Technology program coordinator Al Cox learned about a new way to get a car donated to the school. “One of the members asked me if I had reached out to State Farm [Insurance] for donations,” Cox said. “When I got back, I reached out. The next thing you know, we’re getting a car.” The car, a 2012 Ford Fusion, was wrecked after its rear was hit in a traffic accident, Cox said.
“We got it crunched,” he said. “Then we sent it to the Auto Collison program. They put it into reasonable shape.” The Automotive Technology program has been using the donated car since mid-2016. All automotive classes have had the opportunity to work on the car and they have been able to test their skills on different parts of the car. “They do brakes, transmission, electrical, the A/C unit, a little bit of everything,” said Cox.
It’s been a good partnership. They took a car that was going to the recycler and let it be used by students. It’s huge. Cox said having the 2012 Fusion is making it easy for students to learn about the new, modern technology in cars. Some of the other cars students get to work on in the garage are a little older. This allows students the chance to learn both old and new technology. The car can be used as a learning tool for about four or five years, Cox said. “When it gets so ‘studentized,’ there’s no educational value to it anymore,” he said. A car becomes “studentized” when it is overworked. Different parts could be falling off and it’s time to bring in a newer car that hasn’t been repaired over and over again. But the car won’t be thrown away. The program will move it to the Fire Science Technology program located at the Applied Technology Center for students to use it as a learning tool about how to put out vehicle fires. Cox said he and the other instructors have been grateful to receive the car. “It’s been a good partnership,” he said. “They took a car that was going to the recycler and let it be used by students. It’s huge.”
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Program spotlight: Civil Engineering Technology
C
ivil Engineering Technology is one of the broadest fields in engineering. The program’s studies at Metropolitan Community College encapsulates land development, buildings, utilities, bridge and highway design, water treatment facilities and more. Essentially, technicians help civil engineers to plan, design and build; they may also assist with surveying and field testing, all of which are tasks that offer a great balance between indoor and outdoor work. New entrants to the field and current working professionals can take advantage of this hands-on experience, learning new skills. The College offers three focus areas for the associate degree: Building Construction Technology, Land Development and Surveying Technology. Additionally, certificate options are available. Graduates may be qualified as engineering technicians and/or surveying technicians in consulting firms or in the public sector. They may serve as support staff in local, state or federal public works and transportation agencies. Branches in civil engineering include structural, construction, geotechnical, transportation, surveying, water resource and environmental. Although the projected growth of this industry is about as fast as the average for all occupations, the need to preserve, upgrade, repair and enhance aging infrastructures will sustain the demand for these workers. The demand for new and improved transportation systems, schools, housing, water and wastewater facilities, and commercial facilities will continue to provide challenging careers using new materials and new construction methods. Civil Engineering Technology will be just one of the areas of study housed at one of Fort Omaha Campus’s new buildings. The Construction Education Center is set to open in fall 2017 and will offer students an applied-learning environment much like a worksite. There will even be a capstone area in the center of the building where all disciplines will collaborate on a project. With a focus on the safest and most efficient project construction practices that will ultimately serve the greater Omaha community, the CEC will be where skills link to jobs and where innovation and community connect. “This is going to change the way we train and educate the new generation of workforce,” said Nate Barry, dean of Construction Education. To find out more about this program, visit mccneb.edu/civil-engineering-technology.
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Opportunities aplenty with
Credit Courses Abroad Every year, students have the opportunity to step outside of a traditional classroom and venture all over the world to continue their learning. Metropolitan Community College’s Credit Courses Abroad are faculty-led short-term courses that take college students to various places around the globe. This year, MCC students get to choose from a mix of old and new study abroad opportunities. One of the new trips this year is a trip to Iceland with a focus on environmental biology, Barbara Velazquez, coordinator of international and intercultural education, said. “The Iceland program is going to have them outdoors, doing experiments, checking out the environment. Dr. Amarizu has created a plan where she takes students to different locations to explore different ecosystems–flora and fauna,” Velazquez said. “They will do experiments testing the water and testing soil.” Velazquez said that there is always an environmental science trip, but the location changes each year. Another new trip will take students north of the border to Ottawa in Canada to celebrate the country’s 150th birthday. “Ottawa is the Washington D.C. of Canada,” Velazquez said. “They will explore the historical issue of the capitol and parliament.” Culinary students will be able to try new cuisine when they visit Scandinavia, which includes Denmark, Norway and Sweden. While culinary students go on a trip every year, this is the first time they will travel to Scandinavia. Returning trips include heading to Guatemala to learn more about the Spanish language and culture, an annual trip to Roseland, South Dakota, and to Jamaica to look into the African diaspora. “MCC offers amazing instruction within the four walls of a classroom. However, no matter where you study, when you can get some real-life experience outside the classroom, it tends to give a very strong impact to the objectives you’ve been learning and expand your view,” she said. “If you invest funds in a cultural experience, it’s one you will probably never forget for the rest of your life. It might lead you to things you never would have imagined.” community • mccneb.edu • 5
Accelerated noncredit courses offer a career step-up A
new program at Metropolitan Community College allows students seeking job upgrades to get a focused, accelerated education in different work fields. The Workforce Training Academy, located on the South Omaha Campus, helps students receive certification or credit toward a two-year degree program. The program started in January after MCC received Gap Assistance Funding from the Nebraska Legislature.
Many of the classes offer the opportunity to take a certification exam, Broady said. For those already in these job fields, taking these classes and receiving certification can help them get a pay raise or even a promotion. Broady said seeing students leave the academy and go on to succeed at their job makes it all worthwhile. “What really validates it for me is that upon completion, [the students] can get bumped up,” he said. “The program has a good relationship with a number of companies. And students can walk out with an entrylevel set of tools.” Some students don’t stop with one certification, Broady said. Many come back and receive multiple certificates and then even go on to receive an associate degree.
“The funds are for a specific purpose,” said Scott Broady, MCC project manager. “It helps provide short-term training in certain areas.”
“The win-win-win for me is when a student comes in, completes the program, gets a job, then comes back and enrolls,” Broady said. “This program serves as a bridge. They may pursue a two-year degree in a specific trade.”
In the training academy, people can take classes in a variety of subjects such as garage door installation, roofing, fiber optics maintenance, PC repair and desktop support. Classes range between 40 and 120 contact hours.
The Gap Assistance program is based on financial need. To be eligible, a student’s family income cannot be over the 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
“The curriculum is designed with industry feedback,” Broady said. “We have partnered with companies to develop this curriculum. I said to them, “You need workers. What do you need them to know?”
To see eligibility guidelines, visit mccneb.edu/workforcetrainingacademy.
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makerhood district puts focus on lost arts
Makerhoods are slowly popping up throughout the country and are made up of a community of local makers and artists. Just north of TD Ameritrade Park, you can find the Omaha Makerhood District. It is quietly growing into an environment that is attracting craftsmen, artists, hobbyists and entrepreneurs alike where they can practice what many refer to as the “lost arts,” all made possible by Future Forward, LLC. “The Makerhood area was a vibrant area of light industry, trade and commercial rail use from Omaha’s earliest days until the 1960s when the construction of I-480 cut it off from the rest of the north downtown business district … The Future Forward investors saw the opportunity to reconnect this neighborhood with north downtown as it is being invigorated by the stadium, Film Streams, the CenturyLink Center, Slowdown and the expansion of the Creighton University campus. We believe the new activity in the Makerhood will provide educational opportunity and skill development that has the very real potential to cultivate a job market. In a lively creative zone, there will also be new energy, training and economic opportunity for residents north of Cuming Street,” said Future Forward spokeswoman Lyn Wallin Ziegenbein. Metropolitan Community College offers a number of noncredit classes that are held at the Omaha Makerhood
District. The course offerings are for the hobbyist and those seeking to perfect their craft. They will teach students of all ages techniques in vintage couture fashion and upholstery. “This area of Omaha focuses on some of the arts that we may have forgotten as a society,” said Gary Girard, MCC Continuing Education director. “Learning how to create a stunning dress and re-upholster old furniture is now possible at MCC with these new course offerings.” The types of courses offered by MCC in the Makerhood District have the potential to grow. Under consideration are courses for natural dyeing using colorants derived from plants and minerals as well as ceramics, silversmithing and more. “MCC is providing learning experiences in the ‘lost arts’ and that is a fundamental category of action in strong makerhoods. The instruction they provide is of the highest caliber in skills that have been nearly lost in our modern digitized world but are in demand,” Ziegenbein said. “We envision an area that will retain its personality of warehouses and old factories that will gradually fill with artists, craftsmen and other unique skills.” To learn more about these and other noncredit classes offered at MCC, visit mccneb.edu/ce.
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MCC helps local manufacturer create welding apprenticeship program Metropolitan Community College has partnered with Distefano Technology & Manufacturing to create the company’s Welding School/Apprenticeship program, a model that will allow Distefano employees/apprentices to earn college credits at MCC. The program at Distefano combines work-based learning with related classroom instruction using industry standards. It will allow the apprentice to earn 40 MCC credit hours when enrolled in an associate degree program at the College. Additionally, the apprentice will earn the American Welding Society’s D1.1 certification, further boosting their employability. “Manufacturing is a vital component of the local economy. With the baby-boomer retirement trend and growth of local companies, the need for skilled workers is extremely high,” said Kirk Ahrends, dean of Applied Technology at MCC. “Helping individuals find a path to an associate degree can lead them to more career opportunities in their future.” Distefano, a Behlan Group Company, is located in Omaha and is a leading supplier of precision tooling, machined steel components and custom fabrication metal parts. The company fabricates more than 1,000 different metal components for various industries such as agricultural, construction, transportation, telecommunications and more.
Distefano’s Welding School/Apprenticeship program will be the only welding program in the Omaha area. MCC also has similar college credit models with Omaha Public Power District, North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters, Sheet Metal Workers Local 3, and Steamfitters and Plumbers Local 4.
For more information about MCC’s Welding Technology program, visit mccneb.edu/welding. 8 • community • mccneb.edu
Remembering
Omaha’s history at the Fort New gazebo on Fort Omaha Campus honors family of donor Students, faculty members and visitors to Metropolitan Community College’s Fort Omaha Campus have probably noticed the gazebo which sits on the northwest corner of the Parade Ground. What many may not know is that the gazebo is in place of a similar one from more than a century ago, or that it was built to honor a prominent Omaha family. Kathy Aultz, executive director at the Douglas County Historical Society, received a call a few years ago from Mrs. Willa Seemann, a woman in her then-late 80s and a member of the Historical Society. Mrs. Seemann called her with a question and an idea. “She contacted me with a story about her great aunt, who told her stories about how she would come to Fort Omaha and listen to music,” Aultz said. Mrs. Seemann said her great aunt and uncle, Caroline and Carl Balbach, used to drive to the Fort Omaha Parade Ground and spend a lot of time at the original gazebo. A review of historical records reveals that the gazebo–then known as the Fort Omaha Bandstand–served as a convening place for the community. “My great aunt told me that her father would drive them out in horse and buggy in the 1870s,” Mrs. Seeman said. “They would listen to concerts.”
Original gazebo structure as it stood on the Fort Omaha Parade Ground. Fort Omaha Campus, Circa 1890s Photo courtesy of the Douglas County Historical Society
Mrs. Seemann asked Aultz if the gazebo was still standing. Aultz told her no, the original was made of wood and probably rotted out long ago. But Mrs. Seemann wanted to know if there was a way to resurrect a similar gazebo in its place to honor her relatives. “I met a couple of times with Mrs. Seemann and a representative from the Dorothy B. Davis Foundation,” Aultz said. “We talked about where the placement would be and to get it rebuilt where it had originally been.” Aultz then connected Mrs. Seemann with MCC representatives to formalize plans for the new gazebo. Construction started in winter 2015 and was completed in 2016. The gazebo, specifically designed to last and complement the other historic structures at the fort, has a plaque that reads, “In loving memory of Carl Jacob Balbach and Caroline Clinchard Balbach.” For Mrs. Seemann, seeing the finished gazebo as a tribute to her family was exciting. “It’s just fun,” she said. “It’s a good memory.”
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I
n the early 1990s, Stan Horrell owned a construction business. He had already been in the business for many years when he realized that he might need to make a change in order to keep it up.
“I had been working in the construction field for a very long time,” Horrell said. “I realized I’d have to change my daily work and figure something out for older age.” Horrell decided going to college was the answer, but he knew he couldn’t go the traditional college route. “I had a business, was working full time and had a family,” he said. “Going to a university part time for eight years wasn’t possible.” Horrell enrolled at Metropolitan Community College in 1993. It was a better fit for his lifestyle. “I liked the affordability and location,” he said. “I could go to classes all over.”
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Horrell graduated in 1999, but he never really left MCC. Around that time, the College was looking for a project manager and he seemed to fit the bill. “During the time frame when I was going to school here, I was working as a subcontractor through the College,” Horrell said. “They had a project manager position they needed filled so they asked me to apply.” Horrell has been MCC’s director of Campus Planning and Sustainability since 2000. Over the last 17 years, he has seen the campus transform in many ways. He highlights the growth of the student body as well as the facility upgrades through the years. One way MCC is adapting to change is its $90 million expansion at the Fort Omaha Campus. The expansion is comprised of three academic buildings: the Career and Academic Skills Center, the Construction Education Center and the Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology. Horrell has been leading the enormous construction project. “The College is adding about a third of all the square footage it owned,” he said. “It owned 750,000 square feet and we’re adding 150,000. It’s a major, major change.”
“I know what [the College] is capable of being, so I feel responsible for delivering. It feels good but by the same token, there’s a deep sense of responsibility.” The new buildings are set to open in time for the fall quarter in September and for the most part, everything is running smoothly, Horrell said. “We’re on time and on budget,” stated Horrell. “There are always some hiccups. But we’re not just building three buildings. There will be new parking lots, a central utilities plant to provide heating and air conditioning. There are a lot of moving parts.” Looking ahead, Horrell said the College will continue to evolve and grow with both existing and future buildings. “Immediately, we have some opportunity to backfill and renovate in the spaces we vacate,” he said. “Long-term, we have greater opportunity with the land we purchased at 144th Street and Highway 370.” MCC purchased roughly 142 acres of land at the Sarpy
County intersection. While no concrete plans for the land have been announced, Horrell said that leaves a lot of room to be creative and plan something great for the land. “It gives us a great opportunity for deciding how to direct the College’s future,” he said. “It’s exploding out there. That’s why we decided to buy the ground. It gives the College all kinds of opportunities we’ve never had before.” To go from a student at the College to the one in charge of these giant changes at MCC is exciting for Horrell, but also brings a great sense of duty and importance. “It gives me an increased sense of responsibility,” he said. “I know what [the College] is capable of being so I feel responsible for delivering. It feels good but by the same token, there’s a deep sense of responsibility.”
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There was some noise coming from upstairs at DoSpace in early spring. Following the sound led to nearly 40 children strategizing with each other and having a great time playing Minecraft. But these children weren’t playing Minecraft just for fun. They were all attending Metropolitan Community College’s second session of Minecraft Camp. Minecraft is a computer game where players go into a virtual world and can build, explore and even battle other players. “The best way I can describe it is Legos in a computer,” Learn. Create. Build. Academy leader Shane Thomas said. “You can use blocks and build stuff but there is also an adventure mode where you have swords and can battle.” Learn. Create. Build. Academy is an outside company that MCC teamed up with to put on the camp. “They travel all around to do different camps,” Davis said. “We have very qualified instructors here who know the ins and outs of Minecraft.” The camp coincided with several school district’s spring breaks. A total of 39 children were signed up, creating a lively atmosphere. “The first one sold out within weeks,” Davis said. “With this one, we are exceeding expectations. It’s been quite popular.” During the camp, children got to log onto Minecraft and play different games and participate in various competitions 12 • community • mccneb.edu
throughout the day. Thomas said campers got to play a mix of building and adventure games while working in teams. “Today at this camp, the main purpose is team building,” he said. “They get to do various contests and competitions and they get to know people and work together for a common goal.” Davis said campers learn how to communicate with one another through technology. “They’re learning comradery and communication. They’re working with technology and showing the ability to learn and interact in the environment in a fun way,” she said. “It’s so fun to have kids come up and say ‘I can’t wait to Minecraft!’” Camp-goers had a great time working together on Minecraft, with one boy telling his teammates “It’s not about winning, it’s about having fun.” Davis hopes that kind of enthusiasm rolls into all of MCC’s summer technology camps during College for Kids. “It should be exciting,” Davis said. “We’ve rolled out a really fun line-up.” College for Kids camps this summer cover a wide range of tech topics such as robotics, creating a custom video game, coding, app creation and, of course, Minecraft. Many begin in June and run through the beginning of August.
For more information, or to register a child, visit mccneb.edu/ce or call 531-MCC-5437.
New First Year
Experience program seeing student success Starting college for the first time can be intimidating. There are new teachers, so many classes to choose from and the scary question of “what are you going to major in?” Navigating everything alone can seem overwhelming. Luckily, students at Metropolitan Community College have the option to not have to go it alone.
Students also get to meet mentors, MCC students who are available to help them with any support they may need.
First Year Experience is a new program at MCC that is offered to first-time college students as a way to help become comfortable in a new college environment. FYE program creator Tony Cantu started the program to help boost MCC’s student retention and success rate. Forty students signed up, illustrating the demand for such a program.
“They participate,” he said. “They’re not on their cellphones, they talk more. With help from Career Services, they start learning the ropes of what career that might want. They also have great resources in the writing center, the math center, the learning and tutoring center and an academic counselor.”
“FYE is a wrap around program for a first-year student at MCC,” Cantu said. The program sets up first-year students with a network of teachers, classmates and mentors to help make it easy to succeed, Cantu said. They also take classes that help them get on the right track. “They get an advisor–which is me–and we talk about classes. They take classes called GPS for Success I and II,” Cantu said. Cantu is very involved with students in the FYE program, meeting with them often throughout the quarter. “I meet with them a minimum of about 23 times a quarter,” he said. “We’re looking at life issues and life skills.”
With help from this support system, Cantu has seen a change in the FYE students. There are countless benefits to being in FYE, Cantu said. The program opens up so many doors for students.
Students at MCC aren’t required to have an academic counselor, but students in FYE are. Cantu helps many of the students stay on course. “As an FYE academic advisor, I teach them about accountability,” he said. “They have to plan for themselves and learn self-sufficiency. Hands down, if you take this course, you will be one of the most successful students in class.” The program has become a real success, Cantu said, with more than 80 percent of the students who enrolled in FYE returning to class the following quarter. That kind of achievement helps Cantu really see how well FYE is working. Look for student services like this one in the new Career and Academic Skills Center opening this fall on the Fort Omaha Campus. The three-story facility will feature customized foundational education designed to meet students where they are and take them to where they want to go.
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Kickstart grilling season the right way A
s soon as the weather warms, we find ourselves grilling outdoors at home. The fish tacos prepared by MCC chef Peter Walsh are fast, simple, healthy and a great way to mix things up. Start your grilling season with these chile-rubbed cod tacos, topped with a bright strawberry salsa, cool avocado crema and a satisfying cabbage crunch. Most white fish will do nicely for this recipe. Tilapia, cod and mahi mahi are all good choices. Check a well-stocked grocery or a Mexican market for fresh local tortillas. Serves four, two tacos each Ingredients: 8 white corn tortillas (or 6” flour tortillas if you prefer) 4, 4 oz. cod filets, divided to make 8 portions (any white fish makes a good substitute) For marinade: ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil 1 lime, zested and juiced 2 tsp. honey 2 cloves garlic, finely minced or pasted ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper 1 tsp. chili powder, high quality For salsa: 1 lb. fresh strawberries, diced small ½ medium red onion, very finely diced 1 large jalapeno, seeded and minced (include some seeds for spice) ½ bunch fresh cilantro, chopped ½ lime, juiced to taste Kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper For crema: 1 ripe Hass avocado, halved, pitted and scooped from the skins 4 oz. reduced-fat milk 2 Tbsp. lime juice, freshly squeezed Garnishes: ¼ head red cabbage, thinly shaved ½ bunch cilantro, roughly chopped 4 oz. queso fresco, crumbled 2 limes, each cut into 8 wedges
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Directions: 1. Pre-heat a gas grill on high or prepare a hot charcoal grill. 2. Combine marinade ingredients in a mixing bowl. Whisk together thoroughly, then pour over the fish filets in a nonreactive container or a 1-gallon freezer bag. Allow fish to marinate for 15-30 minutes. 3. Combine first four salsa ingredients in a nonreactive bowl. Mix thoroughly. Season to taste with Kosher salt, freshly cracked pepper and lime juice. Place into an appropriate serving bowl. Keep cold until served. 4. Place avocado into a blender. Add ¼ cup of the milk and blend on high. Season to taste with lime juice and salt. Adjust consistency by adding a bit more milk if needed to achieve a consistency like that of a thick salad dressing. Place into a squeeze bottle or an appropriate serving bowl. Chill until serving. 5. Place other garnishes into appropriate serving bowls and keep cold until served. 6. Brush grill surface thoroughly. Oil the grill lightly. 7. Season fish lightly with salt and place onto hot grill. Grill fish for two minutes per side or until an internal temperature of 135°F is reached. Transfer fish to a platter to rest. 8. While fish is cooking, warm tortillas on an open part of the grill for a few seconds on each side. Transfer to a tortilla warmer or wrap in aluminum foil. 9. Serve items individually at the table as a taco bar or alternately place one piece of fish into each tortilla and serve with salsa, crema and garnishes.
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CRiminal Justice professional pioneers family footsteps at MCC
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“Jill embodies MCC spirit,” Metropolitan Community College Sociology professor, Laura Nottingham, began. Through a nomination, Nottingham introduced MCC alumna, Jill Nelson, her former student and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society advisee. Working full time, managing a family and working toward obtaining her degree in Criminal Justice at MCC, Nelson had maintained a “very high GPA.” Nelson has attended courses at the College since finishing her associate degree, and she earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at Bellevue University in January. When asked why she enrolled in the two-year Criminal Justice program at MCC, Nelson explained that she has extensive experience in the field. From loss prevention and corrections to the position in which she now serves, Nelson has more than 36 years in this line of work. For 31 of those years, she has served as a dispatcher for the Nebraska State Patrol. Nelson may have recently obtained her associate degree and started working toward a bachelor’s degree, but her true intentions for furthering her studies didn’t begin with hopes of a promotion or a pay increase. She enrolled at the College to make a point and inspire her family—if she could succeed in college while managing a busy life, she was confident that her son would also fare well. When Nelson’s eldest son had plans of joining the military after high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2012. He was later injured and unable to serve, and pondered over his plan B—college. His mother enrolled with him at MCC.
Nelson credits the graveyard shift at work for keeping her afloat. “I just have natural affinity for school I guess. I don’t know—I just like it,” Nelson stated. This would be demonstrated as Nelson maintained her high GPA while juggling work, school and family. When work was slow, she took the opportunity to study and complete homework assignments, ensuring that she was maximizing the amount of time she could spend with her family while home. Hard work paid off for the Nelson family when Jill and her son graduated together from MCC with honors in spring 2016. He was working as a corrections officer and has recently been promoted to corporal at a prison. Nelson’s youngest son has followed in the family footsteps and enrolled at MCC as well. With plans to retire soon as a dispatcher, Nelson would like to instruct and train Nebraska State Patrol officers or police academy enrollees. When asked what her education means to her, Nelson recounted the opportunities she had to serve the community as president of the Elkhorn chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and the Criminal Justice student organization; MCC instructor Nottingham raved about Nelson’s dedication to community service while in office, explaining how Nelson had organized coat drives for a homeless shelter. Nelson also said that her family is looking forward to purchasing a second home and that she is gearing up for retirement from full-time work. Her story may be unusual in that she began her studies after working for years in her projected profession, but she appears to never have taken her education for granted. Nelson’s advice for students and those aspiring to grow in their career: work hard to stay on top of your studies, create relationships and own your education. “Don’t just go to school and do your work. Get involved.”
For more information, visit mccneb.edu/criminaljustice.
“JILL EMBODIES MCC SPIRIT”
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on Fashi Fashion am Desig Designn Progr Program
is setting trends to earning a degree
Inside the Omaha Design Center, music blared from speakers, people mingled with one another and looked for their seats. Once the lights went down, the show began and local high school students’ hard work was on display. This spring’s Omaha Fashion Week kicked off with Student Night, an event to give high school fashion designers a chance to shine and show off clothing they created. Metropolitan Community College sponsored the event alongside SAC Federal Credit Union, KETV, Borsheim’s, Jam’s American Grill and others. Students from Omaha high schools such as Omaha South and Central High School, Kent Bellows Mentoring Program at the Joslyn Art Museum, Nebraska 4-H and Nebraska Family, Career and Community Leaders of America all participated in the event. Emily Pillard, who designed and even modeled her own clothes during the show, said she has been sewing for more than 10 years prior to showing at OFW. “I started sewing at 6. My grandma taught me,” Pillard said. “As soon as she could, she put me in 4-H. In my first year, at 8 years old, I won second place [in a fashion show] and I won grand champion in Lancaster County.” After the students showed their designs, a panel of local fashion experts answered questions posed by the audience. One of the experts was Nanci Stephenson, MCC’s Fashion Design program coordinator. Stephenson said MCC’s program makes it easier for students to learn about the fashion industry without leaving for a big city. “We just started Fashion Design in the fall,” Stephenson said. “It’s a two-year program. If you want to stay in Omaha and go to school inexpensively, you can do that.” MCC’s Fashion Design program, with classes held primarily on the Elkhorn Valley Campus, teaches students design skills, merchandising and beyond, Stephenson said to the audience. “We have classes that are very entrepreneurial,” she stated. “We are pulling from all areas. There’s photography and graphic arts. There are several avenues you can go into other than just be a fashion designer.” But students need to come with the basics done. There are no introductory sewing classes available within the program, but there are noncredit classes available. “MCC’s new program is not learning how to sew,” Stephenson said. “You have to come with those skills or learn them elsewhere.” Pillard, who has a small side business called “Em’s Trends” where she designs prom dresses for girls, said she is looking forward to continuing learning about fashion and going to school for it.
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“I’m excited for the future,” she said. “This is what I want.”
FORT OMAHA CAMPUS EXPANSION PROJECT UPDATE
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e’re just months away from the opening of three new academic buildings on the Fort Omaha Campus. The Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology, Career and Academic Skills Center and the Construction Education Center will help equip students with highdemand skills and real-world experience that they can take with them into the workforce. To have the buildings ready for students this fall, aesthetics such as paint, carpet, tile priming, lighting and more are being installed while items like furniture, technology and signage will follow. To increase comfortability, an exterior sunshade system has already been completed for the Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology. Crews will put finishing touches on the project with the completion of walkways, outdoor lighting, irrigation systems and other landscaping. The College is also planning art installations throughout the
buildings. This art initiative also includes a major piece of art that will be displayed in the main plaza area between the buildings, similar to that of art outside the Institute for the Culinary Arts and the South Omaha Campus. With the certificates of occupancy obtained, the buildings will become a hub of activity with different program departments moving in this summer. The College has also set up a web page that will take viewers on a virtual tour through the new buildings. The videos are narrated by Nate Barry, MCC’s dean of Construction Education, and Tom Pensabene, MCC’s associate vice president of Workforce and IT Innovation. Viewers will notice the large capstone lab in the Construction Education Center as well as the collaborative space inside the Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology. To take the virtual tour, visit mccneb.edu/tour.
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Around the College
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Performers and speakers showcased as part of Women’s History Month
Students bring culinary skills to the table at culinary invitational
In recognition of Women’s History Month, Metropolitan Community College hosted six events throughout March featuring the national theme: Honoring Trailblazing Women in Labor and Business. The events featured different topics and guest speakers and performers, each offering a unique perspective. Included were Kathy Tyree who offered music, song and narrative highlighting women who left their mark on women’s rights throughout history. Also featured during Women’s History Month was Holocaust survivor, Bea Karp, who told the story of Beate Stern, a young girl who was taken from her home in Lauterbach, Germany and held in Gurs Concentration Camp in France.
High school students from 16 Nebraska and Iowa schools competed in the 12th annual ICA High School Culinary Invitational, February 24, at the Institute for the Culinary Arts. The students showed up ready to put their culinary skills to the test in a competition showcasing their expertise by preparing three-course meals and presenting them to judges.
International Fair shines spotlight on culture and ethnicity MCC’s annual International Fair held at the South Omaha Campus was a day of celebrating cultures from around the world with food, art and entertainment. Attendees were treated to global displays, visited with community organizations and were able to attend a USCIS Naturalization Ceremony. The purpose of the fair is to give attendees of all ages the opportunity to learn about different cultures from around the globe. Each year MCC holds the event, which is free and open to the public. The International Fair is presented with the support of the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment.
Culinary teams represented the following schools: Adams Central, Bellevue East, Homeschools, Lewis Central, Louisville, Millard West, Milford, Omaha Burke, Omaha Career Center, Omaha Central, Papillion-La Vista South, Plattsmouth, Roncalli and The Career Academy. Winning teams were presented with scholarships, gift certificates, medals and a trophy presented at an awards ceremony following the competition. The annual invitational is supported by MCC students, staff and faculty as well as leaders in local food and hospitality industries. The event highlights teamwork, excellence in culinary skills and knowledge of the industry that students bring to the table. The invitational showcases the culinary arts and hospitality programs at MCC, which prepare students for careers in the food and hospitality industries.
Mutual of Omaha awards grant to MCC 180 Re-Entry Assistance program MCC was awarded a $5,000 grant by the Mutual of Omaha Foundation. The grant will be used to help support the College’s 180 Re-Entry Assistance program with a focus on serving those incarcerated at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women over the next year. The 180 Re-Entry Assistance program serves those who are currently incarcerated and recently released. Providing individuals services and support to help them make a successful transition into college or a career is the main focus of the program. Services offered include employment support, career and educational goal setting, skills and interest assessments, work readiness and life skills training, referrals and more. “Grants such as this one are vital in helping provide important services to individuals seeking to improve their life,” said Diane Good-Collins, 180 Re-Entry Assistance program director. For more information about the 180 Re-Entry Assistance program, visit mccneb.edu/reentry. community • mccneb.edu • 21
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