MCC Community Magazine Winter 2018-19

COMMUNITy the magazine of Metropolitan community college WINTER 2018-19

STUDENTS SPARK THEIR FUTURE WITH APPRENTICESHIPS page 20

CONTENTS 1 2

A letter from the MCC Foundation

4 5

Program spotlight: HVAC

A new quarter marks fresh start

MCC students excited to share goals

Grant allows MCC to explore Internet of things

6

Welcome home

4

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: HVAC

8 Former ex officio student ready for what the future holds 10 College announces new automotive training center plans 12 Seeing green

MCC alum turns lawncare side business into success

15

A new beginning

6

Welcome HOME

MCC alum repoens restaurant after fire

16 Workforce Innovation Division boasts diverse, qualified staff ready to help community 18 Gateway to College gives students boost in earning diploma

20 Students spark their future with apprenticeships

10

COLLEGE ANNOUNCES NEW AUTOMOTIVE TRAINING CENTER PLANS

18

GATEWAY TO COLLEGE GIVES STUDENTS BOOST IN EARNING DIPLOMA

22 Scholarships office grows, helps students achieve at MCC

24 Around the College

Winter 2018-19 Volume 7, Issue 4

Credits

Community is a quarterly publication of Metropolitan Community College.

Contact the editor at 531-MCC-2876 or darayment@mccneb.edu.

Lead editor and contributor: Derek Rayment

Metropolitan Community College affirms a policy of equal education, employment opportunities and nondiscrimination in providing services to the public. To read our full policy statement, visit mccneb.edu/nondiscrimination.

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Assistant editors and contributors: Michael Gottschalk, Katherine Leszczynski and Jenny Milligan Lead art direction: Trevor Pikop Art contributors: Jade Dyer and Susana Ruiz-Morales

A Letter from THE MCC Foundation Dear readers, Service is a daily, active and ongoing pursuit at Metropolitan Community College. Service binds us to others, bringing us into a deeper relationship with students, community members, colleagues, business and industry leaders, philanthropic partners, board members and alumni. The more we serve, the greater our impact. We serve not only 40,000 students annually, but the entire service area of Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy and Washington counties. As you will see in this issue of Community, we continually strive to expand our service reach—both for you and with you.

We serve our students. With the newly-created scholarship office, we’ve expanded our student reach. This allows us to connect more students with scholarship money, lessening the financial barrier for students to receive education and training.

Together, we serve the community. The new automotive academic facility will bring high-demand, high-paying jobs to one of our busiest locations, the South Omaha Campus. We look forward to graduating students who will fill open jobs in the region.

Thank you for being a part of our service community and helping us make an impact through collaboration. We hope this model of service will continue to spread and serve generations to come.

Very sincerely,

Jacqueline C. Almquist, Ph.D. Executive director

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A new quarter marks a fresh start MCC students excited to share their goals

W

ith spring quarter now in full swing, students are eager to share what they look forward to this year. From graduating or traveling to transferring or gaining newfound independence,

Metropolitan Community College students have kicked off the new quarter with zeal and are focused on their goals.

I am looking forward to graduating from Metropolitan Community College and transferring to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for my bachelor’s degree. I am also looking forward to helping students enjoy their journey at the College.

Marie O., Prototype Design and student ex officio

I am looking forward to finishing my prerequisites in order to further my education at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. I will also be living in San Diego this summer for a mission trip and grow stronger in my faith.

Faith H., Nursing

I’m looking forward to the new beginning that Metropolitan Community College has offered me. After graduating, I plan to move to Oregon where I will complete my bachelor’s degree.

Kaylin C., Liberal Arts

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What I’m most looking forward to in 2019 is continuing to see my friends who I’ve had the pleasure of meeting at Metropolitan Community College. They put a smile on my face.

Josue A., Art

I am looking forward to taking on more responsibility when I move into my own place.

Jon W., General Studies

I look forward to completing my degree and preparing for the future.

Kellan F., Civil Engineering

One of the important things that will happen this year is that I turn 21 and this is a time when you begin to understand who you are and set goals to work toward success.

Valeriu M., Computer Science

The things I'm looking forward to the most in 2019 are working hard to travel and study abroad with my fellow culinary students.

Jaycee N., Culinary Arts

This year I look forward to all the blessings God has in store for me.

2018 was great, I experienced so much growth and many fantastic opportunities. I am excited to see where I go, what I do, and how much further I will propel into my career as I reach the end of my program here at Metropolitan Community College.

Sierra G., Culinary Management community • mccneb.edu • 3

HVAC PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

It’s 14 degrees outside and you suddenly notice it is getting cold in the house. You discover your thermostat is down to 62 degrees and that your furnace is no longer working. Who are you going to call to get it fixed as soon as possible? The heating, air conditioning and refrigeration professionals.

Careers in HVAC are in high demand. The U.S. Department of Labor projects the field to grow in the coming years. The outlook is particularly good for professionals who have valuable skills and are able to work on multiple types of HVAC units. That’s why Metropolitan Community College offers an associate degree in HVAC for students who want to boost their résumé.

The MCC HVAC program covers all aspects of installing, troubleshooting and servicing heating, ventilating and air conditioning and refrigeration systems. The program combines class work with hands-on experiences in the College’s state-of-the-art HVAC lab in the Construction Education Center on the Fort Omaha Campus. The program will prepare students for fulfilling career opportunities as repair persons, business owners, wholesalers and residential sales.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MCC HVAC PROGRAM, VISIT MCCNEB.EDU/HVAC. 4 • community • mccneb.edu

GRANT ALLOWS MCC TO EXPLORE INTERNET OF THINGS T

echnology is everchanging and evolving. Sometimes, it can be hard to keep up. Businesses and industries are looking for people who can work quickly with new technology and problem solve.

The faculty, staff and students inside the Metropolitan Community College Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology want to stay ahead of the technology curve.

They received a grant to help make that happen.

MCC is the recipient of a $590,577 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technical Education program. The program supports curriculum and professional development and issues grants that will advance high-technology education and drive the economy.

The College submitted a grant proposal called the Digital Manufacturing NEXUS: Intelligent Infrastructure for the Industrial Internet-of-Things.

This MCC project will educate students on the everyday application of the internet to physical things such as cars, thermostats, kitchen appliances and other manufacturing systems. The Internet of things

is implemented in “smart” appliances such as smart cars or smart refrigerators.

“With this grant, MCC students will now be able to measure things such as the efficiency of an apartment greenhouse and learn how to implement improvements to help reduce unnecessary waste,” says Tom Pensabene, associate vice president for Workforce and IT Innovation.

The College’s Workforce Innovation Division will also develop new modules in lean training, prototype design, maintenance and more. MCC industry partners will provide hardware and expertise to help teach and train students.

With the future heading toward embedding technology into more everyday items and operating systems, Pensabene says MCC will be able to lead the way in teaching students how to work with that type of technology. Plans in the future include offering summer camps for younger students to get a jumpstart on their technological education.

“We will eventually be able to expand into local high schools,” Pensabene says. “The grant helps further the College’s goal of offering high-demand skill training for individuals, thereby strengthening the workforce and the economy.”

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WELCOME home The first capstone house project is ready to become part of the North Omaha community. On its foundation and with its interior complete, the house was put up for sale in late February. The completion is an end to a long story, one that saw students from all of Metropolitan Community College’s construction trade programs work together.

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The home was built inside the MCC Construction Education Center and moved to its permanent location last summer. Bridge Network acquired the land with the assistance of the Omaha Land Bank. The open floor plan includes a kitchen, dining and living space. The basement is ready to be finished and will support two more bedrooms and bath, along with living, laundry and storage rooms.

The project was supported by local industry professionals leading the way to develop local workforce and community redevelopment. Local firms include BCDM Architects, E&A Consulting Group, Fox Blocks, Paul Austin Enterprises, CZ Masonry, Stephens Smith Construction,

Omaha Construction, 100 Year Homes, Natural Stones, the Omaha Land Bank and the City of Omaha. Industry professionals used emerging construction technology and products on the house, and a number of design professionals participated in the project to receive continuing education credit and provide high level expertise to the project. Bridge Network also engaged a number of small and emerging contractors on-site.

This is just the beginning for what MCC and others have in store. A second capstone house is currently being constructed in CEC and it, too, will become part of the community once it is finished.

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FORMER EX OFFICIO STUDENT READY FOR WHAT

THE FUTURE HOLDS Dzhamshed Abdurazokov had a choice about where to go to continue his education. He applied to multiple college and was accepted by all of them, but he wanted to make the right decision for him, and he knew that might mean faculty and staff that have more time to help him.

“I’m an international student,” Abdurazokov says. “I moved to Omaha in 2014 from Tajikistan. I was thinking about other Nebraska colleges but wasn’t sure which one I wanted to go to.”

He asked friends who attended Nebraska colleges about their experience. Abdurazokov wasn’t sure he would like a bigger class size.

“One friend said there were 30-40 people in each class,” he says. “I thought ‘They won’t have time to answer my questions.’”

Abdurazokov had friends that were enrolled at Metropolitan Community College as well. They told him that there were smaller class sizes, lower tuition rates and the opportunity to transfer to a four-year institution after receiving an associate degree.

“You can take classes in what you’re interested in,” he says.

“You really have time to figure out what you want to do.”

Abdurazokov enrolled in MCC and is a Business-Transfer student. He wanted to get involved in organizations, too, and learned about the Student Advisory Council.

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SAC is a group of MCC students who represent the student body as a whole. One student represents each MCC campus and helps keep communication open with College administration. One student is also elected as the ex officio representative to the Board of Governors, and gives a report at each month’s meeting.

Abdurazokov was the elected ex officio student representative for the 2017-18 school year. As part of his role, he would eat dinner with MCC deans, BOG members and other College officials before giving his monthly report to the board. It taught him a lot, he says.

“I reported the different SAC events and what we were engaged in. You get to know others at the College and get to know about the inside aspects and how the College works,” Abdurazokov says. “It was really interesting.

I learned a lot sitting at the dinner table and in the board chambers.”

With his last meeting in November, and graduation ahead of him, Abdurazokov’s time as an ex officio board member and SAC member is complete. He isn’t completely sure what his future holds, but he says instructors and staff at MCC have helped him learn that his options and career choices are limitless.

“Out of high school, I knew I wanted to be in business,” Abdurazokov explains. “[At MCC], you get more perspective of how you could work in the future.”

r i a f l a n Internatio e g e l l o C Metropolitan Community

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE • SOUTH OMAHA CAMPUS 27TH AND Q STREETS, CONNECTOR COMMONS • FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

WELCOME NEW U.S. CITIZENS AT A USCIS NATURALIZATION CEREMONY Thursday, April 11 • 10:30 a.m. • Industrial Training Center, room 120 For more information, contact 531-MCC-2253 or bvelazquez@mccneb.edu.

community • mccneb.edu • 9

College announces A

utomotive Technology and Auto Collision Technology are two premier Metropolitan Community College’s trade programs, having provided skilled technicians to Omaha area businesses for decades.

The local automotive workforce still has needs. In fact, it needs technicians now more than ever. That’s why MCC plans to meet this need with expanded programming and a new automotive training center to be constructed at the South Omaha Campus and completed by early 2021, filling the jobs of today and tomorrow.

The Automotive Technology program opened in the Mahoney building on the South Omaha Campus in 1978, in the same space it currently occupies. Though minor renovations have occurred through the years, there is not sufficient space for growth. Auto Collision Technology

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has been offered at the College since its founding in 1974.

Currently housed at the Applied Technology Center, it, too, needs more space to accommodate its growing student participation.

“The new building is important because we have simply outgrown our current one,” says Joe Baker, Auto Collision Technology instructor. “Statistically, we have quadrupled graduation rates over the past few years and with the help of local industry, our students are much more employable.

The new automotive training facility will give students the chance to learn and practice our trade in a safe and cuttingedge environment. It will attract students to the industry and mimic a future workplace to prepare students for great entry-level technician positions.”

new automotive training center plans Employment in the automotive industries is consistent within MCC’s service area and the surrounding region.

Expected growth in the industry is steady, at around three percent over an eight-year projection. However, employers are concerned about the next decade, as 40 percent of the industry’s workforce is at or near retirement. Employers are also looking for manufacturer-specific training. That’s why the College needs to grow in order to accommodate new programing such as the Toyota T-TEN initiative, which will train students to work on cars built by the leading car manufacturer, improving their employability.

“The expansion project will allow us to increase our current class offerings, expand our Continuing Education offerings and better support industry training demands,” says Al Cox, Automotive Technology instructor. “With this expansion, it will allow us to update the learning environment because technology changes very rapidly. If we don’t keep up, students may not be ready for their careers.”

Stay tuned for further South Omaha Campus project updates throughout 2019.

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Seeing GREEN MCC alum turns lawncare side business into success

W

hen he was younger, Garret McGahan made money like many teenage boys do: he started mowing neighbors’ lawns.

“I started mowing my neighbors’ lawns in seventh grade,” he says. “After a while, I had people calling that weren’t in my neighborhood.”

When he was 15, McGahan became more serious about his side business. He bought a trailer, hitched it up and made his lawncare business more mobile.

“My mom would drive me around in her minivan,” he says with a laugh.

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In the next few years, business took off, leading McGahan to make it official and start Garret’s Lawn Service. He offers lawnmowing, trimming, aeration, fertilizing, landscaping and other odd jobs. He was even able to hire additional workers to help keep up with demand.

After graduating from Millard West High School in 2016, McGahan received a Board of Governors Graduating Scholarship and enrolled at Metropolitan Community College. He majored in Business-Transfer so he could eventually continue his education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

MCC was a good fit for him, McGahan says, because he was able to take classes full time and keep his growing lawncare business running smoothly. With his business’s headquarters being close to the Elkhorn Valley Campus, it was easy to start his day at the office before going to school.

“The classes really fit well into my schedule,” McGahan explains. “I could come into work in the morning and get the guys working. Then I could go to my classes, then come back to work.”

“During snow season, we get as many guys as we can to help remove snow,” McGahan says. “Last year, I had 1012 employees helping.”

Looking ahead, McGahan has big plans. He wants to finish his education, and grow his business into something bigger. He has taken on more landscaping work for clients, including planting flowers and shrubbery, adding water fixtures and more.

Business was the best major for McGahan, he says, since he was running a business of his own.

“I want to grow this and be more self-sufficient,” he says.

“Mowing is steady work, but the bigger jobs are more fun for me. Eventually, I want to flip houses so I can rent them out. I want to build bigger projects.”

“I like the business side of things,” he says. “I really loved MCC’s scheduling. You had to do a lot of work, but I like doing that.”

The time at MCC helped him get a great start on his education, McGahan says, without the cost of a larger university’s tuition.

McGahan finished classes in 2018 and was able to easily transfer to UNO. He is currently working on his bachelor’s degree in Business.

“I met a lot of great people there who were very helpful,” he says. “I went into UNO having saved a ton of money.”

This past fall, McGahan was also able to make Garret’s Lawn Service an LLC. His business has grown exponentially since it started. He now owns three landscaping trucks. And although mowing and landscaping keeps him busy during warmer months, colder months actually keep McGahan and his employees even busier.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE COLLEGE’S TRANSFER PROGRAMS, VISIT MCCNEB.EDU/TRANSFER OR CALL 531-MCC-2400.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MCGAHAN’S BUSINESS, VISIT GARRETSLAWNSERVICE.COM OR CALL 402-949-0480. community • mccneb.edu • 13

11th

Annual

GOLF

JUNE 8

2019

Outing

Pricing

$90 per player or $360 per team. The fee includes 18 holes of golf, cart, prizes, and chicken and brisket buffet following the tournament. Proceeds benefit MCC’s SkillsUSA students through the MCC Foundation.

Register

Schedule

•

Open to faculty, staff, students and community members

•

Noon check-in time

•

Create and register as a team or part of a team

•

1 p.m. shotgun start

•

Four-person scramble format

•

Register as single and get placed on a team

•

Registration is limited

•

Register no later than Friday, May 24 at mccneb.edu/golf

Tiburon Golf Course 10302 S. 168th St. Omaha, NE 68136 402-895-2688

Become a Hole Sponsor

•

• •

$500 includes recognition on the golf course and banner

•

$100 hole sponsorship only

$2,000 includes twosomes and buffet $1,000 includes one twosome and buffet

For more information and to register, visit mccneb.edu/golf, or contact Amy Sand at asand@mccneb.edu or 531-MCC-2747.

Mulligans, raffles and live auction available day of tournament.

Metropolitan Community College affirms a policy of equal education, employment opportunities and nondiscrimination in providing services to the public.

To read our full policy statement, visit mccneb.edu/nondiscrimination.

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ABEGINNING NEW

MCC ALUM reopens RESTAURANT after fire F

lorence was home to restaurant Mouth of the South for many years. This all changed in April 2017 when the popular dining spot was destroyed in a fire. Owner and former MCC Culinary Arts student Ryan Ernst initially planned to rebuild in Florence, however in the end it just wasn’t cost effective to do so.

The hours of operation remain the same with the exception of Mondays when the restaurant is closed so that staff may prepare for the week. One of the features Ernst is most excited about is the patio.

Ernst scouted several locations before landing at Mouth of the South’s new home at 72nd and Ames streets.

In terms of seating, the new location is able accommodate 140 patrons indoors with an additional 60 seats on the patio. This is quite an increase when compared to the 50 seats available in Mouth of the South when it was located in Florence. The seating area isn’t the only space that has seen an increase. The restaurant has more parking available as well as a much larger kitchen. The Florence location comprised of 1,600 square feet – for the entire building. The new location boasts 1,900 square feet for the kitchen alone.

“The way it worked out was perfect and was ultimately a blessing in disguise,” says Ernst. “Several of the locations I looked at were just a shell and we would have been forced to start from scratch.”

The move has opened up new opportunities by providing access to more of the city.

“We’re taking on a new market and are more centrally located. This has resulted in gaining new customers while still having the opportunity to serve diners familiar with the Florence location,” Ernst explains.

The Ames Street location offers the same southerninspired menu that was offered at the Florence location, with the added bonus of four additional entrees.

“Being able to offer patio seating is one of the things I’m most looking forward to this spring,” he says.

“I’m just really excited to be open again and can’t wait to see where this new venture will go,” says Ernst.

To schedule a tour of the Institute for the Culinary Arts, visit mccneb.edu/visit. community • mccneb.edu • 15

Workforce Innovation Division boasts diverse, qualified staff ready to help community A

strong buzz of activity is quietly changing the way we teach and work at MCC. The Workforce Innovation Division, housed at the Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology, is a collaborative group of people working together to help find and prepare the workers of the future.

Advancing people “One of the things I always say is ‘pipeline,’”says Kim Whiteside, director of Workforce and IT InnovationCorporate Online. “We make the connection to the people who need jobs and skills to those employers. For those who are unemployed or underemployed, we have courses and training that help prepare them for the workforce and help them get those entry-level positions and jobs.”

WID offers a suite of services that can be tailored to specific businesses and companies.

“You can create a seven-day skills program, then have students go directly to a weeklong career placement program where they are learning ethics, customer service and those skills to make them hirable. There is an 86 percent retention rate from that program. It’s good for everybody overall,” adds Victoria Novak, director of Workforce and IT Innovation-Corporate Training.

“ W I D i s h e r e to a l i g n w i t h b u s i n e s s a n d i n d u s t r y n e e d s to b u i l d u p t h e s k i l l s e t o f t h e i r w o r k f o r c e . . .W e h av e a b u s i n e s s s i d e a n d a c o m m u n i t y s i d e t h at w e b r i n g to g e t h e r to h e l p w i t h O m a h a’ s e c o n o m i c d e v e lo p m e n t.”

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Fueling business growth WID offers an array of customized services for employers and the business community. Through a needs analysis for businesses, WID can determine skillsets needed in current and future employees. This way, they are able to create, develop and customize training and classes that focus on those skills.

“If their pain points are entry-level workers and they don’t have a training program, we will help them create a training program. We also work with the Nebraska Department of Labor and Work-Ready Communities so they can backfill those open positions,” Novak explains.

WID also encourages businesses to tour and see what students and programs are working on at CAET, showing them how their business can be improved with help from the technology, students and faculty working there.

“How can we have them work with our Prototype Design degree students? If they have a production and distribution-type business and are using little automation, they could come to CAET, set up a satellite shop and see what it looks like to work with robotics so they can become more efficient,” says Whiteside.

Relationships with business and industry partners have become very important, Whiteside says. Establishing a strong and trusting relationship early helps both sides learn what the other brings to the table and what the other can do to help.

“We can bring members of business and industry into workshops and classes so they can help with the curriculum and development. We build those relationships early so the businesses can get to know the participants and students they could eventually hire,” she says.

A forward-thinking team, accelerating learning

“We play off each other’s skill sets really well. I think that is essential for a team. We respect each other’s differences and build on those strengths. We recognize that if someone is better than you are and that’s OK,” says Tammy Green, director or Workforce and IT InnovationCareer Skills.

Whiteside added that the WID staff is full of forwardthinking people, making sure MCC is a step ahead in their corporate-training offerings.

“We are keeping in mind ‘What is going to be the norm in three to five years? What technology will we need?

What skills are people going to need?’ We are looking at how technology will change, how skills will change and preparing people for that right now,” Whiteside says.

“Everything really does have to interact and flow like an ecosystem,” says Green. “Career Placement combines with Adult Education, which works with corporate training.

We don’t have a lot of silos.”

Everyone is working toward the same goal, Whiteside says: success for the students. It’s what has made WID flow so smoothly as it’s grown over the last year.

“We have passion for what we do,” she says. “That’s a big success-factor is that we want to see people successful.

We want to build a community of people who are living their best life and adding value to the companies they are working for.”

Hearing and seeing the successes of WID over time is a powerful feeling, Novak says, and makes her proud to be a part of a team that has created success for many.

“To know that I am a part of a successful model program that I can go shout the successes from the mountaintops,” Novak explains. “That gives me goosebumps to think that’s what’s possible here. It gives me pride but it’s so much more than that. It’s a movement where you’re affecting people’s lives.”

The WID staff works well to make all their programs successful, which Novak credits to having experts in diverse areas.

“We have experts in instructional design, building relationships, operations, stewardship and building processes,” she says.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WORKFORCE INNOVATION DIVISION AND ITS OFFERINGS, VISIT MCCNEB.EDU/WID.

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Gateway to College gives students boost in earning diploma

S

ometimes, students may need extra assistance to earn a high school diploma. Metropolitan Community College has a program in place that not only helps those students obtain a high school diploma, but also get started on their college education.

Omaha Public Schools, Ralston Public Schools, Westside and Bellevue Public Schools. There are about 35 students, with new ones coming each quarter, and they can finish up credits for their respective high schools and earn MCC credit.

Gateway to College is a national dual-enrollment program for students ages 16-20 that helps them stay engaged in education.

Students come in at all different points in their high school careers, Smith says.

“Gateway to College allows students to achieve their dream of going to college while getting their high school diploma,” says Will Smith, Gateway to College resource specialist. “It’s for students who want a challenge. They want to focus on college and they are career-oriented.”

Gateway to College began at MCC in 2010 and has aided students from around the area, including those from 18 • community • mccneb.edu

“Some come in needing 20 credits. Some need 10. Others only need two credits to graduate,” Smith says.

Smith says Gateway to College is a great way to help students get on track to higher education because of the resources and support surrounding them.

“They have access to tutoring, computers and all the facilities at our locations,” he says. “They get to jumpstart

Will Smith poses with a graduating student at commencement.

their college career and explore different options. They can earn a scholarship to MCC, too, after graduating.”

The biggest resource Gateway to College offers students is the help of its staff. Smith says students see the resource specialists every day.

“The majority of these students say they never see high school counselors,” he explains. “We see them every day.

We wear multiple hats. We are life coaches and counselors.

We have driven our students to class. We are that shoulder to lean on. We are here to hold them accountable.”

The College’s Gateway to College program has seen tremendous success. In 2018, it received the national Gateway Graduation Achievement Award, an honor Smith says makes everyone happy and helps them continue to work hard.

“It’s based on the graduation rate and comparing ours to the 37 other Gateway to College programs across the country. It feels good because, obviously, we want all the other programs to be successful, but we want ours to be the best,” Smith says.

When students graduate from the Gateway to College program, they have their photo taken in their cap and gown. That photo is added to a wall in the Gateway to College building on the Fort Omaha Campus that has been painted with stars, clouds and the message “Reach for the stars.” Smith says seeing students succeed and being able to have their photo added to the wall makes everything worth it.

“That is the most rewarding thing,” he says. “Those students want to be up there on the wall and we want to paint all of these walls and fill them up.” community • mccneb.edu • 19

Students spark their future WITH APPRENTICESHIPS

I

magine a program that combines classroom instruction with experience out in the field, giving students the necessary career skills to be successful and a direct pathway to a strong career. That’s the apprenticeship programs at Metropolitan Community College. The College offers four-year apprenticeships in plumbing and electrical trades, with pre-apprenticeship plumbing training available.

Students go to class six months each year, and spend the rest of the year on the job learning. Classes are offered two evenings a week, September through February, inside the Construction Education Center at the Fort Omaha Campus. After completing their respective apprenticeship program, students will be equipped with the knowledge to take exams to become licensed plumbers or electricians in the state of Nebraska. Students can also earn associate degrees in applied science and certificates through the apprenticeship programs, further boosting their résumé.

Jerome Delaney, MCC Electrical Apprenticeship coordinator, has spent 40 years in industry and education.

He says apprenticeships are four years for a reason—to teach safety standards and ensure students are ready.

“Students enrolled in the Electrical Apprenticeship program are already employed as apprentice electricians with a contractor. The State of Nebraska Electrical Board requires that an individual have four years of verifiable experience in the trade along with four years of continuing education to qualify to take the journeyman electrician exam,” explains Delaney. “This is why our program is four years long. Its curriculum is designed to teach the student electrical theory, safety codes, system design, safe job practices and other topics that, when combined with experience that they gain on the job, will prepare them to take the exam and have a successful career as a skilled trades person.”

MCC Plumbing Apprenticeship coordinator Luke Littleton echoes Delaney’s thoughts on the importance of a four-year program to build up safety skills.

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“In our program, students learn proper Omaha Plumbing Code and regulations from Metropolitan Utilities District,” says Littleton. “The great part about our program is that most students are already employed as an apprentice at a plumbing company. Part of the requirements for applying to take the license exam is having four years on-the-job experience along with 696 classroom hours. At MCC, we prepare the student to take the exam while they gain job experience with their employer. College labs and classroom projects provide additional experience that is valuable for the student.”

Instructors assisting Littleton in the Plumbing Apprenticeship program are Jim Evans, Josh Gruhn, Brad LeClair, Aaron Lee, Mike Podjenski, Jerry Saint and Matt Simet. Students in the MCC Plumbing Apprenticeship program will learn how to use plumbing equipment and tools, the history of the trade, blueprint reading, problem solving, installation, safety and codes, irrigation systems and more from the experienced list of College faculty. Students in the MCC Electrical Apprenticeship

program will learn about safety measures, wiring, parallel conductors, size panel boards and other skills that will give them the knowledge to work on both residential and commercial systems. It is highly recommended that work experience and classwork be done concurrently.

The economic outlook and job prospects for students in these programs are very strong. The United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the number of jobs available for electricians to grow 9 percent between 2016-2026. For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, it’s 16 percent in the same 10-year span.

Median pay for both occupations is good, with plumbers making more than $25 per hour and electrician median pay more than $26 per hour.

Students who have successfully completed a College-approved apprenticeship program through one of the local unions or an approved in-house company apprenticeship program may receive up to 56 credits toward an associate degree.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT MCCNEB.EDU/APPRENTICESHIPS OR CONTACT 531-MCC-4756.

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SCHOLARSHIPS OFFICE GROWS, HELPS STUDENTS ACHIEVE AT MCC

ot all students can afford college easily. Metropolitan Community College wants to ease the financial stress for its students by expanding the Scholarships office and making applying for them easier than ever.

N

their financial, educational and career goals.”

Chris Swanson, the director of Scholarships, says all students should have the opportunity to flourish at MCC.

“It’s a service to the community and we want to be good stewards of their money,” Swanson explains. “We want to make sure every penny of it is used.”

“What made me interested in this position is helping students succeed,” he says. “I want to help them obtain 22 • community • mccneb.edu

Swanson says that every year, there is scholarship money—often from generous donors—that he wants to see awarded and used at the College.

Annually, the Scholarships office has more than

$3 million in different scholarships available to students.

The scholarships vary each quarter and are merit-based, need-based or program-specific.

“We are looking to attract and retain students so that they can be successful and get to their careers faster,” he says.

“We encourage all current and new students to apply.”

“We are now using common application questions because we can’t just go off of GPA. There’s a richness we’re trying to discover in our students,” Swanson says.

“We want to know who is going to overcome obstacles, who is going to give back, who is going to represent MCC well. We have that quantitative piece but we are looking for the qualitative part.”

Upcoming scholarships for students entering college in the fall include the Academic Excellence and Board of Governors Graduating Senior scholarships. Both pay for 100 percent of tuition and fees for eight out of 10 consecutive quarters.

Swanson says earning scholarships at MCC can help students get started down a smoother educational path and create relationships that help them after leaving the College.

“It’s as close to a full ride as you can get. You only pay for books,” Swanson says. “It’s a pretty sweet deal.”

“This helps our students pursue more education with less debt,” he says. “They can also make connections with donors who could be future employers.”

The scholarship application process is also going to become easier than ever, Swanson says. It will soon be built into the College’s registration process online. Along with entering their GPA and other standard information, students will answer some essay questions that can help them set themselves apart from others.

To learn more about what scholarships are available and how to apply, visit mccneb.edu/scholarships. To make a donation for future scholarships, contact Jaqueline Almquist at jalmquist2@mccneb.edu.

“We are looking to attract and retain students so that they can be successful and get to their careers faster. we encourage all current and new students to apply.”

Chris Swanson, director of scholarships

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AROUND THE FIRST-TIME CONFERENCE HELPS STUDENTS OF MIGRANT FAMILIES More than 70 area high school students gathered at the Fort Omaha Campus for the College’s first conference to introduce students to Heartland College Assistant Migrant Program, or Heartland CAMP. The program helps students from migrant family backgrounds adjust and succeed during their first year of college. MCC received a grant to assist 20 migrant family students at MCC.

INSTRUCTOR NAMED TECH EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR BY AIM Metropolitan Community College Information Technology instructor Guillermo Rosas was named the 2018 Tech Educator of the Year (College) by the AIM Institute. Criteria for the award includes being a key player in developing and building the future generation of tech talent while being a dynamic colleague and caring mentor to students.

Rosas played an important role in the development of MCC Cybersecurity and Data Center Management education initiatives in 2018. MCC was recently named the national training center for data center management for EPI-USA as well as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the Department of Homeland Security, two designations Rosas was a key contributor in.

Rosas was formally recognized at AIM’s Tech Celebration and Awards reception, sponsored by Cox Business at Founders One Nine in Omaha this past November.

24 • community • mccneb.edu

This was the first conference of its kind held at the College. Students were able to learn more about MCC, financial aid, College resources and hear from keynote speaker Moises Padilla, who was also a student from a migrant family and now helps students in similar situations at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

COLLEGE COLLEGE HOSTS 34TH ANNUAL MLK CELEBRATION

The 34th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration was held at the College in January. The event featured musical entertainment by Jason Wagner II and keynote speaker Rev. Michael W. Combs, Ph.D., senior pastor at Mt. Zion Baptist Church and professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Attendees included students, business leaders and community members. The event celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. King and his profound impact on the American Civil Rights Movement.

HISTORY INSTRUCTOR WINS AWARD FOR PUBLISHED BOOK Joy Schulz, MCC History and Political Science instructor, is the recipient of the 2018 Sally and Ken Owens Award.

The annual award is given by the Western History Association for the best book on the history of the Pacific West, including Alaska, Hawaii, Western Canada and the U.S. Pacific territories. Schulz won for her book “Hawaiian by Birth: Missionary Children, Bicultural Identity, and U.S. Colonialism in the Pacific.”

The book explores the tensions among competing parental, cultural and educational interests affecting children of missionaries in the Hawaiian Islands during the 1800s and the impact they would eventually have on the island chain. Schulz adds children’s voices to historical records with the first comprehensive study of White children born in Hawaii between 1820 and 1850 and their path toward political revolution. community • mccneb.edu • 25

Metropolitan Community College P.O. Box 3777 Omaha, NE 68103-0777

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