MCC Community Magazine Spring

COMMUNITy the magazine of Metropolitan community college SPRING 2018

CAET Co-Located Business aims to keep kids mobile page 10

CONTENTS 1

A letter from the Metropolitan Community College Foundation

2

MCC’s North Express offers something for learners of all ages

4

Program Spotlight: Real Estate

6

MCC students shine at annual SkillsUSA state competition

6

MCC students shine at annual skillsusa state competition

8 College partners with Cyberworld Institute

Agreement to address demand for IT and cybersecurity professionals

9 All the right tools

Students apply hands-on learning to DIY projects 10 CAET co-located business aims to keep kids mobile

12

10

CAET co-located business aims to keep kids mobile

12

MCC Police spotlight

MCC Police Spotlight

13 Capstone project to benefit students, North Omaha community 14 Diesel Technology grad credits education for success 16 Instructor receives multiple awards and recognition for advocacy work 18 If these walls could talk

Artistic creativity on display at MCC 20 Dressed to impress

Chef shares perfect side dish for summer 23 Eyeing retirement

Influential instructor to retire from MCC

20

Dressed to Impress

24 Around the college

Spring 2018

Volume 6, Issue 1

Community is a quarterly publication of Metropolitan Community College.

Contact the editor at 531-MCC-2876 or darayment@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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Credits Lead editor and contributor: Derek Rayment Assistant editors and contributors: Jenny Milligan and Katherine Leszczynski Lead art direction: Trevor Pikop Art contributors: Jade Dyer, Susana Ruiz-Morales and Chanea Robinson

A Letter from THE MCC Foundation Dear friends and supporters, This year, Metropolitan Community College celebrated more than 1,700 graduates accomplishing their goals at the annual MCC Commencement Ceremony. Commencement marks a milestone in one’s educational journey, but it is also a celebration for those who played a part in the student’s successful completion—family, friends, scholarship establishers, board members, administrators, faculty and staff. It’s a day when we formally honor our collective hard work and dedication to education. Each one of our students’ stories is unique and the path that led them to this important day is one worth celebrating.

One underlying theme of graduation is the adage of people helping people— urging and supporting others as they take on new challenges and succeed.

Through the MCC Foundation, donors often invest in people whom they may never meet, helping them remove financial burdens and attain the skills and knowledge they need for their next step in life. Thank you for investing in our students.

This issue of Community is filled with stories of celebration. We celebrated the opening of MCC North Express at the Highlander Accelerator building in January 2018. From our students, we have much to cheer: 25 SkillsUSA medalists, a successful Capstone project in the Construction Education Center and an award-winning alumnus from the Diesel Technology program. Our faculty and staff are having outstanding moments as well. Congratulations to Learning and Tutoring Center supervisor Neena Nizar who won the 2018 Rev. John P. Schegel, S.J. Diversity Award for Excellence & Innovation. A very special congratulations to Joellen Zuk, who has dedicated many years to MCC in the Institute for the Culinary Arts. We wish her the best with her adventures in retirement.

All this celebration is possible because of the support we receive from friends like you. Thank you for cheering on our students.

We look forward to many more celebrations to come.

Very sincerely,

Jacqueline C. Almquist, Ph.D. Executive director

community • mccneb.edu • 1

D

own the street from Metropolitan Community College’s Fort Omaha Campus is a new place for the community to access the College’s resources.

MCC North Express is located inside the Accelerator building in the 75 North development near 30th and Parker streets. The center has similar offerings to MCC South Express near 24th and Vinton streets.

“Some of the services offered are Adult Education, GED classes, ESL, career services, Continuing Education and the Re-Entry program,” says Daphne Cook, MCC North Express manager.

Many of the offerings at North Express are for people who aren’t college students yet, Cook says.

“Adult Education, GED and ESL courses are all pre-student services,” she explains. “It’s for students trying to get their GED to move onto the next step.”

If the next step is a career, North Express has services for those looking to prepare for the workforce.

“We offer résumé building and interviewing skills. We are going to offer workshops as well. We want to ask the community what they need,” Cook says.

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Many of the offerings at the location revolve around the College’s Continuing Education program, with a large variety of noncredit courses. They can be for someone of any age, Cook says.

“We have camps to promote lifelong learning,” she says.

“It’s a holistic approach to education that runs through this whole development at 30th and Parker [streets].”

Cook says College 4 Kids classes can help children for the future.

“We are offering a kids business camp where the kids come up with a product, market it and create a website. Then they get to sell it at a farmer’s market and keep whatever profits they make,” Cook says.

There will also be classes for more seasoned learners, Cook explains, that will help them be better adults.

“We will have a new ‘adulting’ series. The classes are ‘Navigating the Grown-Up World,’ where you learn things you maybe didn’t learn in high school. There’s a class about how to have tough conversations with others and a class on nutrition and how to eat healthy,” she says.

s s e r p x E h t r o N ’s C MC g n i h t e m offers so f o s r e n r a for le all ages

There will be similar classes for children that teach them how to better handle conflict with others and be more self-sufficient.

In the fall, North Express will start offering a “coffee college,” partnering with the Hardy Coffee Company located on the Accelerator building’s first floor. The course will show students the process of how coffee goes from a bean to the cup.

North Express collaborated with other 75 North partners to design new class offerings. For example, students soon will be able to take aquaponics and horticulture classes through Whispering Roots, a local nonprofit that teaches others about growing a garden and combining it with science and technology.

It’s being a hybrid center that makes North Express so special, Cook says. There is something that can appeal to anyone.

“I am amazed at how this place is able to reach people,” she says. “One night when I was here, there was a GED class right next to a sold-out continuing education class about race. I thought ‘This is what North Express is about,’ being able to have these very different offerings in one place.”

To learn more about MCC North Express, see current offerings or to enroll in classes, visit mccneb.edu/northexpress or call 531-MCC-2808.

The location also recently partnered with the Omaha Children’s Museum to bring some of its exhibits to their main seating area. It’s partnerships like that, Cook says, that really benefit the area. “[The Omaha Children’s Museum] may not seem far away to many people, since it’s just downtown. But if you don’t have a car, that is far,” Cook states. “We can have these relevant experiences in this neighborhood. It brings those resources to their backyard. This is a hybrid center and collaborating with partners allows us to bring new experiences here.”

MCC North Express is located inside the Accelerator building in the new 75 North development near 30th and Parker streets.

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PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT REAL ESTATE H

ouse hunting is a stressful time. People have many

introductory class, Real Estate Principles. In this class, students

questions about their potential new home: What’s

learn about property rights, real estate markets, transactions,

the square footage? How many bedrooms? Is it in a good neighborhood? How new is the roof?

property ownership and the basics of being a real estate agent.

After completing that class, MCC students must take one

Along the way, house hunters have a professional with them

other Real Estate course, whether that be Real Estate Law, Real

who holds all the answers-their real estate agent. Real estate

Estate Finance or Building and Property Management among

agents and brokers are the ones behind the scenes doing

other options.

the work of buying or selling a home. They have the home inspected before selling it, show it to their clients and work on closing the deal.

Upon completing their 60 classroom hours, students are prepared to test for their real estate license through the Nebraska Real Estate License Commission. Applicants must

Metropolitan Community College offers a Real Estate program

be at least 19 years old and a high school graduate

that will get students started on the road to becoming a real

(or hold a GED equivalent).

estate agent. While there isn’t a degree in the program, it offers all the necessary steps one needs to be able to take the real estate licensing exam.

Students looking to take the real estate exam need 60 classroom hours of real estate instruction. The College offers a number of Real Estate classes, with many students taking the 4 • community • mccneb.edu

To learn more about the Real Estate classes offered at the College, visit mccneb.edu/realestate.

We invite you to take advantage of complimentary Friends and Alumni Network benefits by updating your contact information through the FANs form at mccneb.edu/FAN/keepintouch.

MCC FANs organizes and connects alumni through academic, career and community activities. Some of the ways you can stay connected to MCC are through:

• Networking opportunities • Viewing available jobs on NEworks and Recruit MCC • Meeting with an MCC career navigator • Volunteering with MCC alumni • Attending MCC cultural and community events • Enjoying MCC library services

For more information about FANs, visit mccneb.edu/FAN or contact Amy Sand at 531-MCC-2747 or asand@mccneb.edu.

community • mccneb.edu • 5

MCC STUDENTS SHINE at annual SkillsUSA state competition

Thousands of students from across Nebraska gathered in Grand Island to show off their talents and put their trades skills to the test.

The annual SkillsUSA Nebraska Leadership and Skills Conference was held at the Heartland Events Center in Grand Island April 12-14. The statewide competition gives students the chance to demonstrate their skills in various trades and other categories.

Metropolitan Community College had more than 100 students entered in a variety of categories at SkillsUSA, including automotive restoration, cabinetmaking, team construction and more.

to show the judges that students not only can perform a task well, but can confidently explain it to others.

“It prepares them by testing their knowledge,” Pechacek says.

“It shows how you work under pressure with people watching you and your skills closely. There’s also a communication piece.

In these fields, they’re looking for good communicators. A lot of these students are introverts so they need to know not only how to do a job, but explain what they’re doing.”

While the competition started on April 12, students began preparing long before. Pechacek says students often do test runs in their various areas of study leading up to SkillsUSA.

“You pick a competition based on what you study,” says Zach Pechacek, MCC’s SkillsUSA coordinator.

“A lot of our students were practicing two or three times a week,” he says. “We bring in industry partners to help them prepare.”

The competitions are designed to show off a student’s full knowledge of a particular trade or skill. Beyond that, it is a way

Heath Cloyd, a welding student at MCC, competed in a team competition. He and his team made sure to go over who would

6 • community • mccneb.edu

do best in certain areas to perform well in the competition.

“We studied all the measurements and talked over who is good at what,” Cloyd says. “We got this.”

Competitions wrapped up on April 13. MCC students were feeling confident in their performances.

Kelsey Hutchinson, Alex Matzke and Nora Cobb, an all-female welding team from MCC, said they felt great after welding a metal table for their competition.

“We think we killed it,” Cobb says. “It was all about communication.”

Leading up to it, they were a little nervous. But once the time on their competition started, they all relaxed.

“It was a little stressful, but once you get started, it’s all muscle memory,” Cobb says. “We have created a great bond and know when we can be honest. It’s about knowing when you can lean on your teammate’s strengths.”

Hutchinson, Matzke and Cobb thought being an all-female team might have given them an advantage.

“Women have that eye for detail,” Hutchinson says. “It’s why more females should be in this field.”

Beyond mastering their trade, students learn more at SkillsUSA, says Aubrey Baxter, trades coordinator at MCC. “It helps with leadership skills,” she says. “The teamwork part is like being in the real working world. It also gives them the opportunity to compete in something they love. There are a lot of employers here and it could lead to a career.”

Cloyd says the state competition showed him how working after college will be.

“It shows me how professional the workforce is,” Cloyd says.

“You can’t act like a child. You have to be on time and ready to go. It’s fun. I would definitely like to come back.”

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College partners with Cyberworld Institute Agreement to address demand for IT and cybersecurity professionals

M

etropolitan Community College has partnered with Cyberworld Institute to offer more than 60 information technology and cybersecurity courses, significantly expanding the College’s offerings in cybersecurity. With many open IT jobs across the region, MCC is prepared to meet the demand for trained, skilled and certified IT talent.

“The partnership with the Cyberworld Institute promises to be a strategic complement to MCC’s line of existing credit courses. By offering high-end certification training, we are better positioned to support the needs of our rapidly growing IT industries locally,” says Robert Caldwell, project manager at MCC’s Workforce Innovation Division.

Under the agreement, MCC and Cyberworld Institute will collaborate on a training model that augments the existing certification curriculum with hands-on learning-based labs.

Students can practice responding to real-life situations by participating in nationwide cyber range attacks and defense exercises. MCC will create job-ready students with globally recognized vendor certifications.

Upcoming certification classes and courses include: Certified Information Systems Security Professional, Certified Cloud Security Professional, Certified Information Security Manager, Certified Information Security Auditor, Certified Ethical Hacker, Certified Network Defender, Chief Information Security Officer, CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+. All courses align with the Department of Defense’s cyberspace workforce framework.

“Cyberworld Institute is excited about the opportunity to team with MCC to bring a robust hands-on cybersecurity education, training and certification program,” says Cyberworld Institute president Linda Montgomery. “This program will feature access to a robust cyber range environment for ‘experiential learning’ supported by assessments that benchmark each student’s knowledge, skill and ability levels. Globally, we are facing a workforce shortage in IT and cybersecurity. This collaboration is designed to address this shortage and develop skills and abilities driven by the demand of MCC and its students.”

MCC IT instructor Gary Sparks says that the shortage in the number of IT workers mirrors that of the 1990s. Sparks points to the National Institute of Standards and Technology website cyberseek.org, which says there are more than 1,600 open IT jobs in Nebraska. Sparks says that students who have a mix of hands-on and communication skills are most likely to succeed in the IT world.

“For students to succeed in the world of cybersecurity, there must be a mix of experiences—both hands-on and the skills of communicating findings to leaders who do not have a technical background,” explains Sparks.

Classes in association with Cyberworld Institute are available now at MCC. Students can take a 40-hour course in just one week, earning certifications and gaining skills that are in high-demand. Additionally, organizations can request customized versions of classes or receive group rates for six or more people.

To learn more or to register, contact corporatetraining@mccneb.edu.

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All tHE

right tools

Students apply hands-on learning to DIY projects

O

wning a home can mean a regular cycle of home improvement and repair, which can become very costly. While some may turn to YouTube and attempt to stumble through video tutorials, others recognize the benefit of learning through hands-on instruction from industry experts. Completing home improvement projects, if done correctly, can save money and add to your home’s equity.

That’s where Metropolitan Community College comes in.

Each quarter, home improvement courses are offered through Continuing Education. Lifelong learners can choose from noncredit courses such as Drywall Installation, Wall Framing, Home Wiring as well as other do-it-yourself options.

“The addition of these classes came as a result of local homeowners wanting to know more about their home’s inner workings and the knowledge to make basic household repairs,” says Zach Pechacek, MCC Electrical Technology instructor.

“The Home Wiring I and II courses are part of the Homeowner Repair Series. Students will learn how electricity works, proper safety procedures and how to troubleshoot some of the home electrical problems they come across. They will also become familiar with using the same basic hand tools as those used in the electrical industry,” Pechacek says.

“Those considering a home improvement course but lacking experience can rest easy as no prior knowledge is needed. In addition to gaining valuable skills as a homeowner, this is also a great way to try out a field without digging in too deep.”

“The home improvement courses are perfect for beginners, and are a great opportunity for students without experience to get their feet wet and decide if more advanced classes are right for them,” says Willis Kennedy, MCC Construction Technology instructor.

Kennedy teaches a Wall Framing course that provides a safe setting where students learn to use a miter box saw, nail gun, a four-foot level and how to properly drive a nail.

“I encourage anyone who is considering a home improvement project to take a tour of the Construction Education Center and experience what our labs and outstanding team have to offer. In addition to construction, we have excellent programs in architecture, civil engineering, electrical, HVAC, plumbing and welding,” says Kennedy.

For a full list of home improvement courses offered, visit mccneb.edu/ce.

community • mccneb.edu • 9

CAE T CO-LOCATED Business aims to keep kids MOBILE

I

nside the Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology on the Fort Omaha Campus, there is space for local businesses to partner with Metropolitan Community College and operate out of the building. A local business that is making a big difference to families has already moved in.

“I wanted the way Assistology did it to be different,” Walls says. “For Go Baby Go, all the cars are made the same. I custom fit for each child at Assistology. We have to figure out where to put safety bars and controls. The goal is to apply technology to solve human problems.”

Meaghan Walls has co-located to have her business, Assistology, located in CAET. Assistology is a company that customizes Power Wheels toy cars for children with various neurodegenerative disorders so they have independent mobility and develop motor and sensory skills.

After doing her work with Go Baby Go, Walls’ business caught the eye of MCC Workforce Innovation Division executive director Tom Pensabene. She officially came to MCC last fall. To start, Walls’ student-based learning project received a grant through the MCC Foundation. She also has partnered with United Cerebral Palsy of Nebraska to fund 10 cars for children in need.

Walls was inspired to start Assistology after being around children in similar situations for most of her life at a pediatric rehabilitation center.

“I grew up around it,” she says. “My mom ran Children’s Respite Care Center. It was kind of always part of my life. I wanted to find a way to give opportunities for reaching goals.

Plus, I had a love of engineering and problem-solving.”

Walls used to help build the cars through a nonprofit, Go Baby Go, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in the physical therapy program. She also worked for another nonprofit called Easterseals, helping people with disabilities before setting out on her own in March 2017.

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Each car that Walls fits has special features based upon the child’s needs, whether it’s a wheel button to make the car move, decals, handle bars or a certain car seat. The cars have been modified for children as young as 14 months old and can help strengthen muscles and sharpen cognitive and motor skills.

“We are looking at different types of sensor controls, handle bars and kill-switch choices,” she says. “It’s used as a part of therapy—everything from social to motor skills. We have made one for a little girl with music, vibration and lights. In the coming weeks, she made progress from driving it. She was using muscles differently.”

MCC students have started to help Walls with her work as well. As Assistology is an educational parter, students who assist Walls with the cars are educated every step of the way.

Students in the Prototype Design program were initially the only ones involved, but more have since joined.

“It’s grown from just Proto students, which is really fun,” Walls said. “Initially there were only two or three of them interested. But now it’s students from other programs, too.

Graphic Design students have created the decals that we put on the cars. Some IT students are also involved.”

Walls says having her business inside CAET has helped shape programs, as she has helped to incorporate universal design. Universal design is the idea that something such as a building, car or invention is accessible to everyone, no matter their age or ability.

Walls and the students came together recently to help customize a car for Elliott Sass, a two-year-old with Ataxia-telangiectasia, a rare neurodegenerative disorder that attacks the body’s organs and immune system, causing poor coordination.

“There’s only about 500 kids in the U.S. that have it,” says his mom, Corie. “It’s both autoimmune and neurological.”

Because Elliott will eventually lose the ability to walk and use his legs, the Sass family sought a way to help him stay mobile and keep up with his 4-year-old brother. The Assistology car is outfitted with a button on the steering wheel that will cause the car to move, as he won’t be able to push the foot pedals.

“It’s a way for him to get around with limited mobility,” Sass says. “This will help him keep up with his brother.”

Sass and her family are thankful a business like Assistology exists. The car Walls has fitted for Elliott will help him to keep moving.

“This is absolutely very exciting,” Sass says. “It’s a new diagnosis and we want to give as much quality of life and fun as we can.”

To learn more about Assistology, visit assistologyomaha.wordpress.com.

Inside the Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology on the Fort Omaha Campus, there is space for local businesses to partner with MCC and operate out of the building. For more information, visit mccneb.edu/wid. community • mccneb.edu • 11

MCC POLICE C

SPOTLIGHT

ities and municipalities across the nation have their own police departments that protect and serve. Metropolitan Community College is no different.

The MCC Police Department was formed in July 2010 to protect students, faculty and staff, much like any other police department protects the residents of a city.

“If you think about it, MCC is like a city within a city,” MCC deputy chief Dave Bell says.

As the College has grown, so has MCCPD. When it was formed, there were seven officers. Now, the department boasts 23 officers, more than tripling in size.

Officers in MCCPD perform many of the same tasks and duties as police officers in city police departments.

“A lot of it is maintaining a visual presence, overseeing safety hazards. We conduct investigations and monitor behavioral issues. We also help with motor vehicle accidents. We always patrol campuses,” Bell says.

MCCPD officers are at the Fort Omaha Campus, South Omaha Campus and Elkhorn Valley Campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. They also monitor the other center locations including both Express locations and Sarpy Center at various times throughout the day.

MCCPD also has an interlocal agreement with the fourcounty area that MCC serves, meaning that they can work together with other law enforcement units, and have assistance on police calls, forensic services and investigation follow-up.

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Aside from the usual police duties, MCCPD offers other services to those on campus, Bell says.

“We always greet faculty and students,” Bell says. “We offer jumpstarts, put air in tires and unlock locked cars. We check buildings for hazards and safety compliance. We also enforce College rules like smoking on campus.”

MCCPD also regularly offers active shooter training to faculty and staff. The courses, usually referred to as ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) Training, have been offered for a few years and have become one of the most popular courses for faculty and staff to take.

Being on MCCPD is like having the best of both worlds, officer Ryan Brady says.

“I wanted to go into certified law enforcement and more community-based policing to have those more positive interactions,” he says. “I like that the majority of stuff here is positive and community-oriented. Obviously, things come up that cops have to do, but that’s not our focus here. We aren’t reactionary police.”

Bell agrees, saying the teamwork at MCC makes everything run smoothly.

“I like the fact that it is such a nice community to work in,” Bell says. “The faculty, staff and law enforcement work together to solve problems.”

To l e a r n m o r e a b o u t M C C P D , v i s i t m c c n e b . e d u/ p o l i c e . I f a s s i s ta n c e from MCCPD is needed, c a l l 5 3 1- 6 2 2 -2 2 2 2 .

Capstone project

to benefit students, North Omaha communit y

W

hen the Construction Education Center was in its development stages, Metropolitan Community College leaders wanted a space where all construction programs could collaborate, creating a real-world environment and enhancing the student experience. The Capstone Lab, located centrally within CEC, is exactly that.

The lab is a two-story high, 4,700-square-foot space where students come together to work as a team.

The Capstone Project brings together students from each program; Architectural Design, Civil Engineering, Construction Technology, Electrical Technology, Plumbing, HVAC and Welding. Their task? Build a house that will be placed in a North Omaha neighborhood.

MCC’s construction students have been involved with the Capstone Project for a number of years. Previously, projects were done at the South Omaha Campus. In the new Capstone Lab, there is a lot more space. The lab is equipped with a crane, shelves with tools and supplies and other equipment needed to build sections of a home that will eventually be pieced together on-site.

“The purpose of the project is multifaceted,” says Nate Barry, dean of Career and Technical Education at MCC. “It’s to give our students an opportunity to work together, with architecture students collaborating with building science students and electrical students brainstorming with plumbing students. Secondly, instead of tearing down the finished product, we will place the finished home in the North Omaha community, contributing to the surge of development in the area.”

The project unites students with the City of Omaha, industry partners and nonprofits such as the Bridge Foundation, who will take care of the logistics of placing a home students create on a plot of land in North Omaha.

“The Capstone Project won’t use taxpayer dollars. The Bridge Foundation is meant to connect the dots and bring

resources together,” explains Barry. “Our partnership with the foundation allows us to seamlessly continue working in the Capstone Lab once a finished house leaves, rather than worrying about the logistics of placing a house in the community.”

The Bridge Foundation will also cover the costs of closing and help market the home. The homes created in the Capstone Lab will be built at a rate of one per year says Barry. Homes will be built in sections by students and stored away in shipping containers, awaiting their final assembly by industry partners on-site. Barry expects the first home to be finished and pieced together sometime in late summer.

“The home we are working on currently is roughly 1,500 square feet,” says Barry. “It will be built according to code and will last more than 100 years.”

MCC students are working together to build a home that will be placed in the North Omaha community. community • mccneb.edu • 13

Diesel Technology grad credits education for success

14 • community • mccneb.edu

F

rom a young age, Matthew Logan has been doing what he loves.

“Growing up, I loved trucks,” Logan says. “I used to work on trucks with my dad all the time.”

As he got older and it came time to choose a career, Logan already had an idea of what he wanted to do: continue working on trucks.

In 2004, Logan enrolled at Metropolitan Community College. It was close to home and had the exact program he was looking for: Diesel Technology. The program helps to prepare students for a career in the transportation industry and working with large trucks such as 18-wheelers.

During his time as an MCC student, Logan says everyone was willing to take the time to help him succeed.

“Everybody was always so helpful,” he says. “The instructors invested time in the students. They made it a good experience for me. They always help you and gave you time to grow and learn if you needed the help.”

While still an MCC student, Logan began a part-time job with Fremont Contract Carriers, a truck fleet company.

“We own our own trucks and trailers and have customers in various parts of the country,” Logan explains. “I started here while still taking diesel classes and was part-time through college then came here and have been full-time ever since. It will be 13 years here this fall.”

Logan is a diesel technician on Fremont Contract Carriers’ floor, making sure the trucks are in working order before they go out on long hauls. He is also a back-up foreman.

“I keep the trucks rolling around here,” he says. “I like the satisfaction of when you diagnose a tough problem and are able to fix it. I also really like the comradery with the guys here.”

Logan says that his education at MCC helped him feel prepared and ready when he started at Fremont Contract Carriers. His education gave him the confidence he needed to be successful.

“They helped kickstart my career,” Logan says. “It gave me a good baseline of what to expect. There were a lot of questions that would pop up here that I could ask teachers at MCC. It gave me a good overview of what I wanted in this career field and what to shoot for. When I came into this career field, I wasn’t as confident. MCC helped push me to grow each day.”

Logan’s hard work has paid off. He was named the 2017 Technician of the Year by the Nebraska Trucking Association.

Logan was honored by the award, as he was nominated by his coworkers.

Over the years, Logan has started going to many career days at high schools, telling students about his job and giving them insight on what a career in the transportation business could look like for them.

“I’m trying to give back and help make kids’ decisions easier,” he says. “It’s a way for me to give back and help, like people helped me.”

For those students considering MCC, Logan has only positive things to tell them about the program and how it helped him get to where he is now.

“Just to see how it’s grown—it’s really become a top-notch program,” he says. “How MCC values those kids, they value you there and want you there. You’re your only limiter there.

They give you all the resources you need. It’s up to you to run with them.”

To learn more about the Diesel Technology program, visit mccneb.edu/diesel or call 531-MCC-2400.

Logan was named the 2017 Technician of the Year by the Nebraska Trucking Association.

community • mccneb.edu • 15

Neena Nizar was named Mom of the Year for Nebraska by the American Mothers Association

Instructor receives multiple awards and recognition for advocacy work 16 • community • mccneb.edu

It’s amazing what one person can do. They somehow have time for it all and are able to perform at the top of their game at everything they do. A staff member at Metropolitan Community College falls under that category.

Nizar was also named the Rare Disease Ambassador in Nebraska in March by Gov. Pete Ricketts. As the ambassador, Nizar will lead a group of advocates to draw attention and get answers for those with rare diseases throughout the state.

Neena Nizar, a supervisor at the Learning and Tutoring Center at MCC’s South Omaha Campus, has been with the College for a little more than two years.

“I will be getting together a counsel to represent children and people with rare diseases in Nebraska,” she says. “There are 7,000 rare diseases and Nebraska has quite a few out there.

We will be discussing and advocating for medical attention, access to treatments and health insurance. I’m pretty excited.”

“We came to America from Dubai in 2015,” Nizar says. “I was looking for something part time and became an assistant tutor for Disability Support Services.”

In June 2017, Nizar started full time as the supervisor for the Learning and Tutoring Center. The centers provide additional help for students who may need it, such as tutoring and access to computers.

“The center supports learning with tutors and resources available to improve their academic potential and goals,” Nizar says. “I like the many ways we get to help the students who come in here. We have had students get a job because of us. Some students just need someone to talk to. We help get them on the right track.”

Although this is her full-time job, Nizar jokes that sometimes it feels like her part-time job, considering how much she does outside of MCC. Over the past few months, Nizar has been recognized for all the work she has done with the Jansen’s Foundation, an organization she started in 2017 to bring awareness to Jansen’s Metaphyseal Chondrodysplasia. Jansen’s is a rare disease, with only eight reported cases in the United States.

Those with Jansen’s show a variety of symptoms such as being short in stature, have irregular formation of bones, small jaws and more. Nizar and her two sons, Arshaan, 9, and Jahan, 7, have been diagnosed with Jansen’s.

Because of her work with the Jansen’s Foundation, Nizar was the recipient of the 2018 Rev. John P. Schlegel, S.J. Diversity Award for Excellence and Innovation at Creighton University.

“The award is to honor individuals in the community upholding diversity and inclusion,” Nizar says. “I was honored for the advocacy work I do in the community with the Jansen’s Foundation. We work with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. We have received a grant to support our work. We have worked with the FDA for a clinical trial for treatment. We’ve made a lot of breakthroughs.”

Shortly after, in April, Nizar was named Mom of the Year for Nebraska by the American Mothers Association. She was able to attend the convention and honors ceremony in Washington, D.C. Each Mother of the Year recipient was able to share her story, Nizar says.

“This is the first time a person with a disability was recognized as a Mother of the Year,” Nizar says. “I got to meet all the other Mothers of the Year. There was a convention and a gala. It was very exciting.”

Nizar and the other mothers were also able to speak to officials and each other about what they do.

“We got to speak about what we do as mothers. We also got to speak with senators. I was able to meet Sen. Deb Fischer. We got to go to the Hill and meet congressional representatives. I spoke to them about healthcare.”

Being the first Mother of the Year with a disability was important to Nizar, as she said people with disabilities and rare diseases aren’t often thought of as parents.

“I think people with disabilities are often seen as dependent.

They’re never seen as nurturing or strong enough to be parents. It’s important to be recognized because it changes the stereotype,” she says.

Nizar is honored by all the recognition she has received, but happier about the attention that has been brought to her foundation and her being a good role model for her sons.

“I think it’s important that they are there to see when I am honored,” Nizar says. “You can see the excitement in their eyes. They’re clapping and saying ‘That’s my mom!’”

To learn more about Nizar’s work with the Jansen’s Foundation, visit thejansensfoundation.org.

community • mccneb.edu • 17

If these walls co

A

t Metropolitan Community College, expression and communication are valued, both of which are reflected in the art found throughout the year at College galleries. Displayed art goes beyond framed pieces and may be represented in sculpture, ceramics and more, all created by students as well as visiting artists.

At the Fort Omaha Campus, exhibits are frequently found in the Mule Barn, Building 21. Opening July 1 is “Shapes and Shadows,” featuring Galen Brown, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and recipient of the Purple Heart. Brown served as a sniper throughout two tours of duty in Vietnam. Upon returning home from the war, he began using art as a means of emotional healing. For the last 40 years, Brown has used images to explore the shapes and shadows of what he observed: war and peace, justice and injustice, landscapes, other artists’ works, as well as his own cancer. A reception will be held in the Mule Barn, Friday, July 13, 5-7 p.m.

The Gallery of Art and Design, found at the Elkhorn Valley Campus, regularly features exhibits that, like all MCC

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ould talk Artistic creativity on display at MCC

galleries, are free and open to the public. “This Must Be the Place,” an exhibit showcasing the work of Madison and Matthew Creech kicked off with an opening reception Wednesday, June 6, followed by an artist talk. The exhibit will be on display through Aug. 9. The Gallery is open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The mission of the Gallery is to provide a creative and academic experience for students, faculty, staff and the visiting public in an intimate campus setting.

Artistic pieces aren’t limited to the Mule Barn and the Gallery of Art and Design. Taking a stroll through the halls of the South Omaha Campus and the FOC’s Career and Academic Skills Center, you will find artwork displayed throughout. On your next visit to these campuses, be sure to take a moment to appreciate these creative contributions.

For information about upcoming exhibits, visit mccneb.edu/Gallery-of-Art-and-Design. community • mccneb.edu • 19

Dressed to IMPRESS Chef shares perfect side dish for summer 20 • community • mccneb.edu

Summer means opportunities to share fresh meals with family and friends al fresco. It is also the time of year when gardens are beginning to flourish and farmers’ markets are in full swing, making it the ideal time to incorporate fresh produce and herbs into our meals.

We turned to Chef Brian Young of Metropolitan Community College’s Institute for the Culinary Arts in search of the perfect summer salad using seasonal produce that can be served throughout the season with ease. One of the most abundant garden crops grown for farmers’ markets and by the home gardener are different variations of tomatoes. “The challenge in growing cherry and grape tomatoes is once they start producing they keep going and don't stop. Panzanella salad is a great way to utilize a bunch at once, allowing you to highlight their depth of flavor in the peak of season,” says Young.

Panzanella Salad 1 baguette, split 1 cucumber, seeded and small diced 1 red onion, small diced 6 cups assorted grape and cherry tomatoes, cut in half 1 lemon, juiced and zested 6 oz. high quality olive oil, divided 1 tbsp red wine vinegar 16 leaves of basil, chiffonade Salt and pepper, to taste Brush baguette with two ounces of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill in a cool spot and cook until crusty. Once bread cools, dice into bite size pieces. This can be done as early as the night before.

Combine the tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, diced bread, lemon juice and zest, red wine vinegar and basil. Allow to marinate for up to 30 minutes. Season with salt and fresh ground black pepper as preferred. Serve.

community • mccneb.edu • 21

27 TH ANNUAL FORT OMAHA

intertribal

POWWOW Unity in the Community

Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018 1-7:30 p.m.

Master of Ceremonies Jerome Kills Small, Oglala Lakota Arena director Gentry St.Cyr, Winnebago Head Man Dancer Orlando Ike, Omaha Head Lady Dancer Amanda Proctor, Osage Head Princess judge Liliana Tamayo, Sicangu Lakota Princess Crown Creation Ursula Aldrich YoungBear, Oglala Lakota Host Northern Drum Meskwaki Singers, Tama, Iowa Host Southern Drum Sidney Toppah, Wichita, Kansas Study Circle leader Dwight Howe, Omaha/Ponca Special Presentation by World Champion Hoop Dancer Lisa Odjig, Odawa/Ojibwa Nation Free and open to the public.

Metropolitan Community College Fort Omaha Campus 5300 N. 30th St. Omaha, Nebraska 68111 For more information: 531-MCC-2253 bvelazquez@mccneb.edu. mccneb.edu/intercultural

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Reigning Princess: Naomi Lieb, Omaha/Ponca

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.

EYEING RETIREMENT Influential instructor to retire from MCC

T

he culinary and hospitality programs at Metropolitan

“I’m also looking forward to contributing to our community,

Community College wouldn’t be where they are today

in ways that I couldn’t when I was immersed in my career,”

without meaningful contributions from faculty and staff.

The beautiful Institute for the Culinary Arts on the Fort Omaha Campus that houses these programs is bustling with students, learning the latest culinary and hospitality

Zuk says.

Looking back on her career, Zuk says students provided her most cherished memories.

techniques. However, the Institute for the Culinary Arts will

“I meet [the end of my career] with very mixed emotions,”

be one wonderful faculty member short this summer with the

says Zuk. “I am excited to enter into the next phase of my life

retirement of Joellen Zuk, full-time culinary arts instructor

journey, but I will greatly miss the many individuals, faculty,

and full-time friendly face in the Sage Student Bistro.

staff and of course, watching students grow and begin

Zuk’s involvement with the College began in 1994, when

their careers.”

she was part of the industry advisory council. She was a valuable addition to the council, having owned her own business and climbed the managerial ladder in places like the food service program at Mutual of Omaha. She became an adjunct instructor in the late 1990s, eventually taking on more responsibility at the College in 2005 when she was asked to coordinate the High School Culinary Invitational, which still thrives today. She became a full-time hospitality faculty member in 2009, the first time the College had a full-time position in that area. She left many impressions on students, faculty and staff.

“A true example of leadership in the classroom is Joellen Zuk. She builds objectives in each class that keep the day focused, but also incorporates lessons that can apply to the industry,” says Lauren Balak, Hospitality instructor. “She has taken every initiative she could to move forward. No job or project was too big. Every opportunity that was given to her was a chance to learn something new. Her career has taken her on an amazing journey.”

As for her plans during retirement, Zuk says she will enjoy spending time with her husband and grandchildren, traveling and golfing. But she doesn’t intend to quit giving back to others.

Zuk says students provided her most cherished memories. community • mccneb.edu • 23

Sustainability talk at Do Space addresses importance of trees

MCC names a new director with workforce, STEM initiatives background

Metropolitan Community College at Do Space hosted the second installment of the Claire M. Hubbard Sustainability Series earlier this spring. Three expert speakers focused on the importance of trees and their role in sustaining the environment. Speakers included Diana Faila, certified arborist and founder of the Urban Bird and Nature Alliance; Merica Whitehall, executive director of Fontenelle Forest; and Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation.

Guests were able to participate in a question and answer session following the discussions.

MCC has named Victoria Novak the new director of Workforce and IT Innovation, a position that aims to drive public-private partnerships to enhance the Omaha area’s labor pool. Novak will develop relationships with businesses and entrepreneurs who can collaborate with MCC students, helping today’s businesses while building tomorrow’s skilled workforce.

The Claire M. Hubbard Sustainability Series is a quarterly event that allows speakers to inform the public on the importance of sustainability on a local, regional and national level. The events are free and open to the public. Join the discussion on climate change in the third series installment on July 12.

“We have a wonderful opportunity at MCC to bring businesses and higher education together,” said Novak, who spent time at AIM prior to coming to MCC. “I look forward to engaging with the community and creating partnerships that can transform people’s lives.”

Novak also recently traveled to Washington, D.C., as part of her role with Omaha STEM Ecosystem, where she serves as chairperson of the diverse and engaged stakeholders committee. Omaha STEM Ecosystem works with families, government, science centers and museums, education partners, businesses and nonprofits to develop and implement solutions to citywide workforce challenges.

Novak is currently in the Masters of Public Administration program at University of Nebraska at Omaha with a nonprofit concentration. Her role at MCC is to provide leadership for the Workforce Innovation Division, which focuses on advancing people and fueling business growth through accelerated learning opportunities.

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Around the college Mural reminds students to reach for the stars at Gateway to College

International Fair celebrates culture, diversity The College’s annual International Fair brought entertainment from around the globe to the South Omaha Campus in April. The event featured global displays, area organization resources and a citizen Naturalization Ceremony, which welcomed new United States citizens. The annual event is aimed toward giving attendees of all ages the opportunity to learn about different cultures. Musicians, dancers and performers took center stage in the Connector Building Commons throughout the day, blending cultures and ethnic backgrounds.

“The fair is always a great opportunity for the community to learn about different cultures they might not have experienced before,” said Barbara Velazquez, coordinator of International and Intercultural Education.

The International Fair was presented with the support of the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment.

High school students who participate in the Gateway to College program are told they can dream big, set goals and go for them. Graduates serve as inspiration for future students, with photos of them hanging on the wall inside Gateway to College’s building on the Fort Omaha Campus. But the wall needed something more to inspire students, Gateway to College’s Will Smith and Amber Tjaden decided. They sought out the College’s Art and Design, Interactivity and Media Arts programs to find a student who wanted the opportunity to create a mural for the wall.

Ricardo Trejo, a student in the DIMA program, was selected. Smith and Tjaden had a vision for the wall. They wanted students to see it filled with photos of graduates, but also art that would inspire them. Trejo finished the project in just one month. Along with the photos, the wall is now filled with dreamy, puffy clouds and a sky full of stars.

“Amber wanted something that was inspiring,” Trejo said.

“I came up with something that had ‘reach for the stars’ and ‘dreams in the clouds.’”

To date, this is the largest project Trejo has ever completed alone. He is happy with his work and it still feels good to see it when he enters the building.

“It feels great. I didn’t even know I was this good,” Trejo said with a laugh. community • mccneb.edu • 25

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

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