The Captain’s Journal A publication by Chattahoochee Valley Community College Vol. 3 Issue 3- Fall 2017
CVCC Family and Friends, Fall is finally here! The weather may not feel that way, but we know it is right around the corner. Another certain sign is the kickoff of our Men’s and Women’s basketball conference play. If you get a chance, stop by and show your support. Their schedules are included in this publication. Just recently, CVCC hosted an accreditation review team from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The ACEN team was complimentary of the College and the responsiveness of our faculty and staff. Thank you to Health Sciences faculty and staff, and also to the College as a whole for providing a welcoming atmosphere and willingness to make the visit run smoothly. It has been another busy month for our CVCC Foundation and Ambassadors. The Track-orTreat 5K honored the memory of Chris Patterson, and we thank the Patterson family for their continued support of the College. Also upcoming is the Hall of Fame scholarship fundraiser scheduled for March 8, 2018, at the National Infantry Museum. I do hope you plan to attend and celebrate our newest inductees. There are many activities and events planned giving us so much to look forward to as we start this new season. In the spirit of activities and giving, our United Way campaign is in full swing. Thank you to those that have already committed through payroll deduction and gifts. There are many activities the committee has planned offering more opportunities to be able to participate, have fun, and raise additional funds. I encourage you to get out and enjoy the fall weather and all of these upcoming events. Sincerely,
Mark D. Ellard Mark D. Ellard CVCC Interim President
CONTENTS
4 HOF 5 Manufacturing Day 6 Track or Treat 8 Basketball Schedules 10 Nursing Excellence 12 Ambassadors 13 Halloween Contest 14 Choir 15 United Way 16 Continuing Education
Students at Manufacturing Day at Pitts Trailers
CVCC
Hall of Fame
Save the Date March 8, 2018
National Infantry Museum
Tickets $75
HONORING
Distinguished Alumna
Brenda Willis
Fire Chief, Henry County Fire Department
Distinguished Service
The Late Flint Sharpe Senior Territory Manager, US Foods
Brenda Smith
Department Chair (Retired), Columbus High School HOF has raised $200,000 for student scholarships in four years.
For more information • karen.kelly@cv.edu • 334.291.4938
CVCC Workforce Development Hosts Manufacturing Day 2017 In partnership with Pitts Trailers in Pittsview, Alabama, CVCC's Workforce Development and Technical Education Division hosted a Manufacturing Day event for 30 area high school students from Central High School and Russell County High School. The event was just one of over 2,600 events held across the United States as part of an initiative to engage students with the manufacturing industry. This was CVCC's first year participating in the endeavor. The Alabama Community College System recently lauched the Dream It, Do It campaign. As part of that campaign, the System is trying to help send the message that manufacturing jobs are vital and there is great demand for jobs in the industry here in Alabama. According to Dream It, Do It, "Only 35 percent of parents say they would encourage their children to pursue careers in manufacturing, despite the advanced skills and high pay that are characteristic of work in today’s advanced manufacturing industry. This is due to a perception of manufacturing that existed a generation ago but does not represent the current reality of the industry." Dr. Shirley Armstrong, Associate Dean of Workforce Development and Technical Education, hopes to grow the event in the future. She said, "It would be great to extend activities to more than just tours. CVCC would bring the manufacturers together with high school students to construct projects during the year. There are several opportunities to expand to other businesses." A project is already being developed for March of 2018. For more information, contact Dr. Armstrong at shirley.armstrong@cv.edu or 334.291.4964.
Track or Treat: How a 5k Changed a Life For the past three years, Jane* participated in the Track or Treat: Chris Patterson Memorial 5k as a runner and supporter; little did she know the race she supported would come to support her during her time of need.
In 2009, CVCC staff member, Chris Patterson, passed away from complications of H1N1. A beloved advisor who counseled thousands of students during his time at CVCC, the memory of Chris is honored by a scholarship fund in his name. The CVCC Foundation Chris Patterson Student Emergency Assistance Fund is for students who have an unforseen financial emergency, which would otherwise prevent them from continuing to attend CVCC. The primary fundraiser for the scholarship comes from the annual Track or Treat 5k, an event that incoporates two of Chris's favorite activities: running and costumes. The race has grown over the years, averaging 40 or more runners and several family and friend spectators. This year, the race raised an additional $4,000 for the scholarship. Jane was one of those runners. She attended each year because it has become a fun CVCC community event. It wasn't until the 2017 race that she realized the event was actually what helped her secure a roof over her family's head. In fall 2017, Jane was staying with friends and trying to do her best to complete her coursework. A faculty member noticed her struggle and helped connect her to the CVCC Foundation and the emergency fund. Several instructors wrote letters of support that went with her application and after review by the fund's committee, $700 was awarded to help cover deposits and other fees associated with moving into the Phenix City Housing Authority. As a result of the scholarship, Jane is on track to finish her degree this Decemeber. Her goal is to work towards being a case worker in the nursing field. When she learned that the scholarship was funded by the race she had run in for three years, she said, "I am truly blessed and thankful." For more information about the fund, and how to support it, please contact Karen Kelly at 334.291.4938 or karen.kelly@cv.edu *Name has been changed to protect the privacy of the student.
Terrah Long - 1st
Marybeth Fox - 2nd
Valerie Thompson - 3rd
Nick Kern - 1st
Monza Dudley - 2nd
Coleman Beck- 3rd
Men’s Basketball
Date November
7, Tuesday 9, Thursday 16, Thursday 18, Saturday 27, Monday 29, Wednesday
December
2, Saturday 4, Monday 7, Thursday 9, Saturday 11, Monday 13, Wednesday
January
6, Saturday 9, Tuesday 13, Saturday 16, Tuesday 18, Thursday 22, Monday 25, Thursday 27, Saturday 29, Monday
February
1, Thursday 5, Monday 10, Saturday 12, Monday 15, Thursday 17, Saturday 19, Monday 22, Thursday 26, Monday
March
6, Tuesday 7, Wednesday 8, Thursday 9, Friday
Time
Opponent
Location
7:30 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:00
Gordon State Gadsden State Albany Technical Central Georgia Technical Bevill State Central Georgia Technical
CVCC CVCC CVCC CVCC CVCC Macon, GA
2:00 7:30 7:30 4:00 7:30 7:00
Atlanta Metropolitan Shelton State Community Gadsden State Community Albany Technical Gordon State Atlanta Metropolitan
CVCC CVCC Gadsden, AL Albany, GA Barnesville, GA Atlanta, GA
2:00 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:30 4:00 7:00
LaGrange (JV) Wallace Selma Lurleen B. Wallace Enterprise State Coastal Alabama South Coastal Alabama North Bishop State Shelton State Coastal Alabama East
LaGrange, GA CVCC Andalusia, AL Enterprise, AL CVCC CVCC Mobile, AL Tuscaloosa, AL CVCC
TBD 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:00 7:30 7:30 7:30
Bevill State Wallace Selma Lurleen B. Wallace Enterprise State Coastal Alabama South Middle Georgia Prep (Homecoming) Coastal Alabama North Bishop State (Sophomore Night) Coastal Alabama East
Jasper, AL Selma, AL CVCC CVCC Bay Minette, AL CVCC Monroeville, AL CVCC Brewton, AL
TBD TBD TBD TBD
ACCC Tournament ACCC Tournament ACCC Tournament ACCC Tournament
Birmingham, AL Birmingham, AL Birmingham, AL Birmingham, AL
woMen’s Basketball
Date November
3, Friday 4, Saturday 9, Thursday 16, Thursday 18, Saturday
December
2, Saturday 4, Monday 7, Thursday 9, Saturday 11, Monday 13, Wednesday 28, Thursday 29, Friday
January
6, Saturday 9, Tuesday 13, Saturday 16, Tuesday 18, Thursday 22, Monday 25, Thursday 27, Saturday 29, Monday
February
3, Saturday 5, Monday 10, Saturday 12, Monday 15, Thursday 17, Saturday 19, Monday 22, Thursday
March
6, Tuesday 7, Wednesday, 8, Thursday 9, Friday
Time
Opponent
Location
2:00 1:00 5:30 5:30 2:00
Tyler Junior College Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Gadsden State Albany Tech West Ga Tech
Little Rock, AR Little Rock, AR CVCC CVCC Carrollton, GA
5:30 5:30 5:30 2:00 6:00 5:30 TBA TBA
Wallace Hanceville Shelton State Gadsden State Albany Tech West Ga Tech Andrew College Tallahassee @ TCC Classic NW Florida State @ TCC Classic
Hanceville, AL CVCC Gadsden, AL Albany, GA CVCC CVCC Tallahassee, FL Tallahassee, FL
2:00 5:30 2:00 5:30 5:30 5:30 5:30 2:00 5:30
Snead State Wallace-Selma L.B. Wallace Enterprise State Coastal Alabama South Coastal Alabama North Bishop State Shelton State Southern Union State
CVCC CVCC Andalusia, AL Enterprise, AL CVCC CVCC Mobile, AL Tuscaloosa, AL TBA
2:00 5:30 2:00 5:30 5:30 4:00 5:30 5:30
Lawson State Wallace-Selma L.B. Wallace Enterprise State Coastal Alabama South Homecoming Game Coastal Alabama North Bishop State
Birmingham, AL Selma, AL CVCC CVCC Bay Minette, AL CVCC Monroeville, AL CVCC
TBA TBA TBA TBA
ACCC TOURNAMENT ACCC TOURNAMENT ACCC TOURNAMENT ACCC TOURNAMENT
TBA TBA TBA TBA
Nursing Student Excellence Inside And Outside the Classroom Nursing pass rates continue to post above the national average Chattahoochee Valley Community College Health Sciences faculty and staff continue to produce top students in their nursing programs. At the end of the 2017 Alabama Board of Nursing year, NCLEX pass rates indicate that CVCC nursing students exceed national and state averages. CVCC NCLEX-RN board pass rates are 95.2 percent, making it the third-highest among Alabama Community College System schools. The national average is 86.9 percent, and the state average is 90.6 percent. CVCC NCLEX-PN board pass rates are 100 percent, making it one of seven colleges in the Alabama Community College System to hold a 100 percent pass rate. The national average is 93.8 percent and the state average is 91.9 percent. This is also the fourth year in a row that CVCC has maintained a 100 percent pass rate on the NCLEX-PN. The 2017 LPN pass rates for CVCC come as part of the first cohort of students in the new nursing curriculum. Resa Lord, chairperson for Health Sciences, said, “In Fall 2016, CVCC implemented the new statewide concept-based curriculum adopted by the Alabama Community College System. Concept-based learning in nursing education has been evolving across the country in the past decade.” Concept-based learning in nursing allows faculty to deliver and manage a large amount of course content through student engagement and development of critical thinking skills using evidence-based practice. The classroom focus has shifted from a teacher-centered learning environment to a studentcentered learning environment where student performance drives classroom and clinical activities. Lord continued, “Additionally, with the implementation of a one plus one curriculum and stackable credentials, the highly competitive admission process has allowed CVCC to admit the strongest students into the program.” Stackable credentials in the CVCC nursing program allows eligible students to take the Certified Nursing Assistant examination after their first semester. After a third semester, the student is eligible to take the NCLEX-PN for Licensed Practical Nursing, and after a fifth semester, the student is eligible to take the NCLEX-RN examination to become a Registered Nurse. The excellent performance among the nursing students is expected to continue. According to Lord, “This is one of the largest cohorts we have had in recent years with a high retention rate over the recent three semesters. Of the 14 students who have taken the NCLEX-PN, all 14 are continuing on with the program to finish the AAS and write the NCLEX-RN after graduating in the spring.” In addition to the pass rates, both programs maintain a 100 percent job placement rate. For those individuals who are LPN or Licensed Paramedic, mobility program applications will be available starting December 15 on the CVCC website. For anyone else wishing to start the nursing program, applications will be available February 1 on the CVCC website. For more information about Health Sciences programs at CVCC, contact Heather Lameda at heather. lameda@cv.edu or 334.291.4925.
Featured in the photo above are the 2017 ADN students
Nursing students answer the call to serve during Hurrican Irma In addition to being stellar students in the classroom, several of the CVCC nursing students volunteered during Hurricane Irma to assist Columbus Regional Health. Eighteen students braved the weather and volunteered alternating shifts starting Sunday, September 10 at 7:00 p.m. The last students left Wednesday, September 13 at 7:00 a.m. Students helped to provide a safe environment for CRH employee children whose parents served the community throughout the hurricane. CVCC nursing students played with children, brushed their hair, fed them, held them, soothed them, toileted them, and tucked them into cots. They stayed awake at night keeping watch over the children so that CRH staff and employees could get their own rest in between service at the hospital. Over 50 children and 30 families, from CRH were served by the CVCC nursing students. On October 2, in a letter written to Mark Ellard, CVCC Interim President, by Nancy Williams, CRH Director of Volunteer Services and Community Outreach, she praised the CVCC nursing students by saying: "At Columbus Regional Health, we have a company culture we call "ACE-IT." When a person ACES IT, that means that they have gone above and beyond the call of duty in terms of attitude, commitment, enthusiasm, innovation, and team work. That person has done something that has truly bettered the day, the work, or the life of the people they're around. We take this attitude very seriously; it's so important, in fact, that it's woven into the decor, the policies and procedures, and even our annual evaluations. We know what an incredible difference positive, proactive people make on their environment. I wanted to share with you how Resa Lord, the chairperson of your Health Sciences department, and her students ACED IT during Hurricane Irma."
Helping shape first impressions Each year, CVCC selects students to serve as its official campus ambassadors. These students are on scholarship and enter CVCC straight out of high school. They must meet GPA requirements and complete an interview process. They help represent the College at events, as well as complete volunteer hours on campus and a service project. Past service projects include: sponsoring families for Christmas, hosting a carnival at the Russell County Child Advocacy Center, helping at Homeless Resource Network and more. The ambassadors most recently helped with the Track or Treat 5k. Their advisor, Amanda Gamble, said, “Working with ambassadors is by far the best part of my job. They are a great group of smart, talented and energetic students. They help shape the image of CVCC when we are out recruiting prospective students. They make my job easier and absolutely enjoyable. I couldn’t think of a better group to represent CVCC.” High school students who are interested in becoming an ambassador should indicate interest on the annual scholarship application that will be available on the CVCC website in December.
2017-18 Ambassadors Cody Adams Central High School
Marissa Krout Russell County High School
Ambriah Bryant Opelika High School
Raven Rivers Central High School
Samantha Ramey Smiths Station High School
Cassidy Sharpe Glenwood
Hannah Warren Central High School
Gage Broadwater Smiths Station High School
Rachel DePietri Eastwood Christian School
Jacob Cook Russell County High School
Bryanna Horton Smiths Station High School
Kerri Robertson Beulah High School
Soleil’ Murray Russell County High School
Siraya Johnson Smiths Station High School
Halloween Costume Contest! Student Development with the help of the Leadership students and Phi Theta Kappa hosted the annual Halloween costume contest. Featured in the photo above are the contestants, and featured on the left are the winners: Pirate (Phillip Bender), Genie (Timothy Brock) and Negan (Colin Curtis). Student Development continues to host events just about every week during the activity time, which is Tuesday and Thursday, 12:15 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Don't miss TWO chances to hear the new CVCC Choir
CVCC continues to fundraise for United Way The College is doing well on its campaign goal of $14,500 for United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley. In 2016, CVCC raised $14,000. Currently, the College has received just under $10,000 between donations, pledges, and fun events. The most recent event is featured in the photos above, a Cookie Walk to raise money. The highly anticipated annual chili cook-off is set for December 1. Teams are assembling now. For more information about United Way at CVCC, contact Dr. Joree Jones at joree.jones@cv.edu or 334.291.4913.
Chattahoochee Valley Community College Continuing Education
2017-18 Upcoming Courses Dec. 8-9, 2017 Emergency Vehicle Operators Course March 17, 2018 Rhythm Recognition & Analysis Course July 20, 2018 Rhythm Recognition & Analysis Course Details available at www.cv.edu/continuinged 2602 College Drive Phenix City, AL 36867 • www.cv.edu • 334.291.4964