Community - Spring 2015

Island Seasons Catering

Food truck business a hit for former students page 3

CONTENTS 2

Construction and Building Science Building new career pathways

3

Trucking along Food truck business a hit for former students

5

The road back Study abroad trip inspires student to change lives

7

Passion for fashion

5

Student finds her calling after FabLab class

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Globe trotters The world comes to MCC at international fair

9

A stroll through history Experience the Fort Omaha walking tour

11

Designing a career Interior design student has entrepreneurial spirit

12

9

A healthy relationship MCC teams up with UNMC on nursing collaborative

13

Competition for the real world Students test themselves at SkillsUSA

15

For the betterment of all North Omaha center creates environment to fight poverty

16

13

Eric Downs Co-owner and creative director of Grain & Mortar

17

10th anniversary Great Plains Theater Conference

19

Answering the call Newly renovated call center improves overall experience

20

Words of wisdom

17

Faculty and staff offer their advice

21

Around the College

Spring 2015

Volume 3, Issue 1

“Community” is a quarterly publication of Metropolitan Community College.

Contact the editor at 402-457-2414 or marketing@mccneb.edu.

Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity Statement—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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CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING SCIENCE Building new career pathways

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he Construction and Building Science program offers students a wide variety of choices in the field of construction. An associate degree, certificate of achievement and career certificate are available across several career paths, including concrete/masonry, general, residential, management, remodeling and finish/cabinetry. Students in the program gain valuable experience in a lab setting where they will apply their skills to real-world situations.

To find out more about this program and other programs, visit mccneb.edu/future.

The Construction and Building Science program will be a key part of the new Construction Education Center on the Fort Omaha Campus. The new building is part of the new Fort Omaha Campus expansion project that was announced last summer.

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Trucking along Food truck business a hit for former students

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t all started with a special sauce that people couldn’t get enough of. Former MCC student Kerry Williams’ Jamaican-inspired dressing was the sauce of choice for many customers in Williams’ early days of Island Seasons Mobile Kitchen. Williams and his wife, Laela, now run what is a fruitful mobile food truck company. Based out of a trailer that they haul from location to location, Island Seasons Mobile Kitchen is gaining traction in the foodie city of Omaha.

Williams, a Jamaican native, came to the United States more than 10 years ago, where he sought the American dream of running his own business. With a passion for cooking at an early age, he began with a Jamaican restaurant in Red Oak, Iowa. But after economic hardships, he was forced to change plans.

“The restaurant I had in Red Oak was successful, but the recession of 2008 made it tough, and Laela and I decided to head to Omaha for greater opportunities,” said Williams.

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Some of the early classes I took at MCC inspired me to keep going and follow our dreams.

With the company that Laela worked for in Red Oak having closed its doors, the couple left for Omaha. Both began attending MCC; Laela for business management and Kerry for culinary arts.

Armed with Laela’s business savvy and Kerry’s culinary skills, the duo is expanding their business with the recent purchase of an old Omaha Public Schools mobile library truck. They plan to renovate it and turn it into a contemporary food truck.

“I used the last $300 I had to help us purchase a hot dog cart while going to school,” said Laela. “Kerry refurbished the cart, and we began our street food adventure.”

“Right now the trailer that we haul around is not built for poor weather conditions and isn’t the right size that we need,” said Laela. “The new truck will allow us hire more staff and expand our business.”

Migrating from parking lot to parking lot with the cart, the Williams team eventually settled with what they do best, Jamaican cuisine.

Cooking out of a commercial kitchen in Bellevue, the couple loads up their colorful mobile trailer with delicious food to serve up dishes like jerk chicken tacos, rice bowls, Philly steak sandwiches and the Jamaican version of the gyro. The Island Seasons Mobile Kitchen trailer then heads for destinations like Kiewit Corporation and other large-scale businesses who want to host the trailer for their employees.

“The spring and summer seasons are a very busy time of year for us with graduations, weddings and other events,” said Laela. “The mobile food business is ideal for us because we can go where the masses are.”

The couple credits MCC with a lot of their success. With classes in culinary arts, marketing, entrepreneurship and finance, the couple believes they wouldn’t be where they are today without their education.

“I still reach out to a few instructors from the College, and they have always been so helpful and willing to give us advice,” said Laela. “Some of the early classes I took at MCC inspired me to keep going and following our dreams.”

Follow Island Seasons Mobile Kitchen

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The road back

Study abroad trip inspires student to change lives

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itting in Central America, Guatemala is home to more than 15 million people, many of whom experience the country’s underdeveloped education system. With a per capita income of just over $3,000, Guatemala is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. But the country is rich with biodiversity, beautiful landscape and welcoming people eager for quality education for their children.

MCC student Bethany Toelle discovered this on a short-term study abroad trip she took with the College in 2012. Studying Spanish with a goal of becoming a translator, Toelle took in the Guatemalan culture and immersed herself in its charm.

A former home-school student, Toelle quickly fell in love with Guatemala. As a guest in a local household, she was the beneficiary of many wonderfully cooked Guatemalan dishes.

Guatemala’s largest city is Guatemala City, home to more than one million residents.

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“The woman who hosted us would cook us breakfast and bring us lunch every day. It was that example of kind heartedness that really made me fall in love with the country and its people,” said Toelle. “They were willing to give even though they had so little. I found that very inspiring.”

While in Guatemala, Toelle and her group volunteered at a local children’s home where they spent time with the kids and even painted a large mural of the world.

“The mural gave them a sense of the outside world. Many poor Guatemalans do not get a chance to see a world outside of their own,” said Toelle. “So to teach them about the rest of the world while creating a beautiful mural was special.”

After the trip, Toelle switched her goal of wanting to become a translator to instead becoming a teacher. She is currently enrolled as a student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where her focus is elementary education and ESL. One day, Toelle hopes to return to Guatemala and give back to those she met while on her trip.

“It would be a dream of mine to open up my own educational facility in Guatemala and help give an education to those who currently cannot receive it,” finished Toelle.

The short-term study abroad trip that Toelle took while at MCC inspired her to focus on education with hopes of returning to Guatemala one day to give back.

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Passion for fashion Student finds her calling after FabLab class

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any students enter college not knowing what they want to do after graduation. After receiving a scholarship to attend college, MCC student Salem Nicole was undecided on what she ultimately wanted to do a year into her postsecondary education. She landed in the photography program, where she met MCC student and FabLab adjunct instructor Jamie Bridgham. Bridgham introduced Nicole to the FabLab, where Nicole decided to take the class How to Make Just About Anything.

Then things started clicking.

“I thought I wanted to go into photography, but I realized that wasn’t for me. Once Jamie introduced me to the FabLab, I discovered my creative potential,” said Nicole.

She went to work on a designer jacket, utilizing her creative skills and the modern equipment the FabLab possesses. With 3-D printing machines, CNC lathes and textile printing machines at her disposal, the FabLab was her playground.

“The FabLab was like magic for me the first time I stepped in. It filled a void for me and opened up a whole new world of possibilities,” said Nicole. “The jacket took shape, and I realized that I can do just about anything in this world.”

The fabulous results of her creation led her to believe that designing was for her. She already works for a prom and bridal gown tailor near Fremont, and as a full-time marketing student at MCC, she realizes her potential long-term.

Nicole stated, “MCC has helped put a fire in me. It’s a great place to begin your education if you aren’t sure what you want to do after graduation because you can discover your true passion by taking different classes.”

MCC even brings out the entrepreneurial spirit in students. After graduation, Nicole hopes to attend the University of Nebraska– Lincoln to focus on textile and apparel design. After that, she hopes to open her own textile and design company someday.

“Omaha has a good underground fashion scene, but I really want to create something that is lacking in this area,” she said. “Doing something you love is really important to me, and I know that I have found my calling in life.”

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The jacket took shape, and I realized that I can do just about anything in this world.

Globe trotters The world comes to MCC at international fair

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ood, fashion and entertainment from around the globe will come to the College once again this year. The College’s International Fair features global displays, community organizations and even a naturalization ceremony for new U.S. citizens.

Throughout the day, visitors to the International Fair are treated to musicians, dancers and performers in the Connector Building Commons of the South Omaha Campus. The fair takes place on Tuesday, April 7, 10 a.m.–7:30 p.m.

“The fair is a wonderful event because it helps showcase the kind of diversity that the College is a part of,” said Barbara Vélazquez, coordinator for international and intercultural education. “One of the events we introduced last year was the naturalization ceremony, and we’re proud to be hosting that again this year.”

The naturalization ceremony is the final step to becoming a new U.S. citizen. An Oath of Allegiance is taken and a Certificate of Naturalization is given. The ceremony to become a legal resident of the country dates back to 1790.

The annual event is always free, giving attendees of all ages the opportunity to learn about different cultures and beliefs from around the world.

The International Fair takes places on the College’s South Omaha Campus.

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A STROLL THROUGH

Experience the Fort Omaha walking tour

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pring is a beautiful time of year to experience nature and history at the College’s Fort Omaha Campus. Visitors and students can experience the historic campus by going on the Fort Omaha walking tour. On the tour, visit landmarks such as the parade ground, Standing Bear Memorial, General Crook’s headquarters and house, officers’ row, hospital and more.

MCC’s first permanent campus, Fort Omaha has been home to the College since 1974 when the College received a deed to the 70 acres of land, preserving Fort Omaha’s historic look while creating an education environment ever since. Fort Omaha dates back to 1868 when General William Tecumseh Sherman wanted to construct a barracks near Omaha for strategic purposes.

Over the years, Fort Omaha has served the area in varying capacities through the late 1800s as well as through two world wars.

Experience the beauty of the campus that was named a Tree Campus USA school by the Arbor Day Foundation while discovering Omaha’s history. To begin your tour, visit the General Crook House in the northwest corner of campus and pick up your copy of the official Fort Omaha walking tour guide. The guide has everything you will need to know on your tour, as well as a map to help you with your journey.

For more information on Fort Omaha, visit omahahistory.org/fort_omaha.htm.

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Designing a career

Interior design student has entrepreneurial spirit

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t a young age, Courtney Otte knew design was in her DNA. The Council Bluffs native remembers planning an attic redesign and dreaming up treehouse blueprints for her family’s backyard.

From a family of entrepreneurs, Otte also knew she wanted to be her own boss someday.

That day, it turned out, came sooner than she thought. Otte launched the Modern Hive Design Studio when she was just 22 — and still in school.

“Ideally, I probably wouldn’t have done it that way,” she says, looking back on the timing, “but I had an interesting opportunity.”

She got the chance to work on her first solo project, a hunting lodge, and see it through from conception to construction. She had a say in everything from structural planning to furnishings. It just felt right.

That project left an impression and even inspired her company’s branding. “That’s where the moose logo came from,” she says, alluding to the image that anchors her business cards and website.

A business owner for only a few months, Otte graduated from MCC with an interior design degree in spring 2013. She says the program was an ideal fit, noting the hands-on coursework, field trips and supportive instructors. “It really did prepare me for my industry.”

Now, the 24-year-old mentors aspiring designers and recently launched an internship program.

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“I’m really into helping the MCC design students,” she says. “I know it can be a struggle coming out of design school with an associate degree.”

She’s partnered with one student so far and plans to hire more.

She also has big goals for her business.

Along with managing the M|H Collection, an online “interior boutique,” she recently rolled out e-design services. A virtual consultation of sorts, e-design is an alternative to full-service interior design where the client does the work while still getting professional help, including step-by-step directions, 3-D renderings, a shopping list, itemized budget and more.

Otte also aspires to open a storefront someday. The ambitious business owner is still planning and dreaming, applying what she’s learned so far in the murky waters of entrepreneurship to grow as a person and designer.

“It’s been a journey,” she says. “I work hard and often go the extra mile for my clients so I can keep building a reputable name.”

A healthy relationship

MCC teams up with UNMC on nursing collaborative

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aring for the sick, injured and those who need help the most, nurses display compassion in times of stress and life-and-death situations. They are what holds medical facilities together and are one of the key cogs to the medical world.

In an effort to draw more qualified students to the field, the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing will provide early, guaranteed admission in the registered nurse to bachelor of science in nursing programs for those enrolled in associate degree nursing programs at the six community colleges across Nebraska, including MCC. “One of the things Metropolitan Community College prides itself on is the transferability of credits and the quality of the education received. The early, guaranteed admission into the program at UNMC for qualified students exemplifies that importance of transferable credits and the value of education received at MCC,” said Stacey Ocander, Ed.D., dean of health and public services at MCC. The goal of the RN-BSN collaborative is to boost transfer opportunities for students and to encourage communication between institutions. The collaboration is also part of a larger strategy of attaining 80 percent of registered nurses with BSN degrees, a goal of the state.

Applications are now being accepted for the semester that starts August 2016; however, guaranteed spaces are available at the start of each academic year for a limited number of applicants.

Ocander added, “Those who come out of the nursing program at MCC are trained and ready to take on challenges ahead. Whether it’s by pursuing further education or entering the field, our students are armed with the knowledge they need to save lives.”

To find out more about nursing at MCC, visit mccneb.edu/nurs.

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Competition for the real world Students test themselves at SkillsUSA

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very year, students put their knowledge to the ultimate test as they compete in the SkillsUSA championships.

This year, more than 50 MCC students will join the nearly 1,200 career and technical education students across Nebraska.

SkillsUSA challenges students to work against the clock and each other, proving their expertise in occupations like electronics, automotive, computer-aided drafting, precision machining, medical assisting, construction, culinary arts and more. The SkillsUSA Nebraska Championships take place

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each spring, with winners becoming eligible to compete in the national competition. Winners of the statewide competition this year will then showcase their talents in the national SkillsUSA Championships this June in Louisville, Kentucky.

“Students who compete have a chance to test their knowledge and skills against other students using the same tools. It’s a great way to measure their expertise and skill level,” said Dave Horst, industrial and commercial trades instructor.

SkillsUSA serves middle school, high school and college students in programs preparing them for technical, skilled and service careers and is part of the national effort to increase the number of qualified workers in trade fields. That mission fits perfectly with what the College believes. MCC and other community colleges across the country are also helping meet the needs of today’s workforce by investing heavily in trades programs, which help students earn quality jobs in high-demand areas.

MCC students moved to the 50th annual national competition in Kansas City, Missouri, where MCC students took home three medals, including gold in the TeamWorks competition.

In a study released by the American Association of Community Colleges, Economic Modeling Specialists International measured the economic impact of America’s community colleges. The study found that the impact of community colleges on the U.S. economy was $809 billion in 2012, which was equal to 5.4 percent of the gross domestic product that year. The study also concluded that community colleges contributed to filling millions of jobs.

“We always worry how our kids will compare to other schools, other places,” said Horst.

“But when you win the national competition, it speaks to the quality of education our students get at MCC.”

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Last year, MCC students medaled in 25 out of 32 postsecondary competitions in the SkillsUSA Nebraska Championships hosted by the College, CenturyLink Center Omaha and the downtown DoubleTree by Hilton. From there,

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Both Horst and Trevor Secora, MCC construction technology instructor, have spent many weekends helping their team prepare for the competition.

They say what students gain preparing for and competing in 25 out of 32 SkillsUSA cannot be overstated.

MCC students medaled in

postsecondary competitions “The kids that compete find themselves showcasing their talents against the state’s best, or nation’s best. They gain confidence, experience and an opportunity to really showcase their abilities so when they go out into the workforce, they are prepared,” said Secora.

“We’ve brought as many as 20 students to nationals,” said Secora. Secora and Dave Horst, are co-advisors for the MCC Teamworks team, which won the national SkillsUSA competition the past two years in a row.

In addition to technical skills training, SkillsUSA provides educational experience for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development with more than 300,000 students and advisors joining SkillsUSA annually.

“At MCC, we always measure the outcomes of classes. In this case, SkillsUSA does that for us. But no matter how a student places in their competition, they always seem to come away with a sense of accomplishment,” said Horst.

This year’s competition is free and open to the public to attend. April 15–17, CenturyLink Center Omaha.

SkillsUSA featured more than 96 competitions in 2014.

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For the betterment of all North Omaha center creates environment to fight poverty

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ducation starts at an early age. That mindset is apparent when you step into the Learning Community Center of North Omaha just north of downtown on the corner of 24th and Franklin streets. The center opened as part of a larger commitment by the state to fight poverty in Nebraska.

MCC shares in that goal and has partnered with the center to not only ready early childhood education students for the workforce but to also prepare youth who attend the center for college one day.

“The Learning Community Center is a modern early childhood education facility where we can help develop the necessary skills in children who need it the most,” said Kathy Halverson, MCC early childhood education instructor and key figure at the center. “The center is a place that brings together all aspects of learning for families in poverty.”

Those necessary skills include reading, writing and other basic functions that are needed to succeed in education. The center has many positives for the community Halverson explains.

“Educational institutions like MCC and others are coming together to train and educate youth in their early years, which

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in turn saves years of remedial work down the road, ultimately saving taxpayer’s money,” said Halverson.

Another positive are the teaching opportunities provided to early childhood education students at MCC. With a shortage of qualified workers in the field, people are needed to fill those positions that help provide youth a better education at an early age. The importance of education at an early age has been confirmed by the center’s research partners at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Educare.

“If a child is in two consecutive years of an Educare-approved program, by 8th grade they are at or above the level that they should be,” said Halverson.

Halverson, who’s been involved with the College since 1976, said working with the center has been one of her proudest moments and has made it a goal of hers to see the place to continue with its success.

States Halverson, “It’s been the most exciting thing I’ve ever been a part of. It’s the reason I am not retiring.”

Eric Downs

co-owner and creative director of Grain & Mortar

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ric Downs, 31, spends most of his time in Omaha’s NoDo district, inside an old furniture factory turned creative center. His open-concept office features lofty ceilings, exposed brick and, beyond a sliding barn door, a full kitchen stocked with healthy snacks.

Downs is co-owner and creative director of Grain & Mortar, a strategy, branding and design studio founded in 2011. The company’s 10 employees work on raised desks decked with Macs. In fact, it was a Mac computer lab — unusual in the late ‘90s — at Benson High School that sparked Downs’ interest in graphic design, and he never looked back.

The Omaha native enrolled at MCC after high school, studying graphic communication arts.

“I wanted to get in, learn what I had to do, and get out and do it,” he says, calling his college choice a “no-brainer.”

Amid working full time and freelancing after hours, Downs took his time to earn his degree. “I didn’t feel comfortable blazing through it,” he says, explaining that he was more interested in evolving his style as an artist and learning to apply his skills in a practical way.

Downs fully immersed himself in his design classes so he could realize his ultimate goal: business ownership. “I always liked the idea ever since I was a kid of being able to own a business,” Downs says. He also liked the idea of being an “artist of sorts,” he says. “We are commercial artists; that’s the way I look at it.”

After securing his degree and working solo for a few years, Downs formed Grain & Mortar with two friends and fellow designers. The trio wanted the company name to connote Midwestern values — the idea of planting a seed and reaping a harvest. “That’s not unlike client, coworker and business relationships,” Downs says.

And business is certainly thriving. The studio manages about 50 clients a year and turns away about half of inquiries. Downs says they are selective, choosing only the clients — many of which are national accounts — that align with their values.

A healthy client roster coupled with the demands of business ownership mean Downs often spends 60 to 70 hours a week working, but he doesn’t mind. He says his co-workers are like his second family. A former competitive body builder, Downs also strives to create a culture of health and wellness in the office (hence the healthy snacks in the kitchen). Most of all, though, Downs gets to do design every day — one of his favorite things — and doesn’t plan to stop sowing any time soon.

“I quit going to work a long time ago,” he says. “I go to fun, I guess.”

Fun fact: Downs used to work for MCC and designed the College’s official seal, which is still in use.

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Great Plains Theater Conference

10TH

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his year marks an important milestone for one of MCC’s star attractions: It is the 10th anniversary of the nationally recognized Great Plains Theater Conference.

In the early years of the conference, as many as 75 plays were read during the week-long event. Most of those plays got only partial readings, and that wasn’t particularly helpful to the playwright. Then Kevin Lawler came on board. Lawler first came to Omaha in 1988 as one of the founders of Omaha’s BlueBarn Theatre. He had returned to the Minneapolis/ St. Paul theater scene when the GPTC offered him a post nearly eight years ago.

After initial success, Lawler was soon named producing artistic director of the conference. Today, says Lawler, the Great Plains Theater Conference is thought of as one of the most soughtafter playwright development programs in the country. In addition, virtually every aspect of the conference is now free, with performances set all over the city.

“One thing Kevin champions is getting theater out of little dark rooms into places that are accessible and convenient,” said Scott Working, associate artistic director for GPTC.

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ANNIVERSARY The idea of theater for the public, or storytelling for the masses, is what the neighborhood tapestries program is all about. It is an evening of storytelling from the local community. This year the setting is South Omaha.

“We’ve selected four citizens of South Omaha,” said Working.

“For example, one is a recently emigrated girl from Africa and one is a Latina who was not born here and is now attending UNO.” Working said each citizen will be interviewed by a national playwright who then writes a play or story about that person’s life in South Omaha. Then all four plays are quilted together in one staged production that, this year, will be performed in the Stockyard Exchange Building ballroom.

In the theater world, where rudeness and aggression are often a normal part of the workshop environment, the Great Plains Theater Conference has become known for just the opposite, according to Scott Working: a culture of collaboration in a very nurturing environment.

“Hopefully our profile will continue to grow in the professional theater world, with a warmhearted welcoming Nebraska spirit people have come to appreciate.”

2015 Conference

May 23-30

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Answering the call

Newly renovated call center improves overall experience

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ou’re a potential student that wants to learn more about educational opportunities at the College. The first order of business is gaining more information to make a decision about your next step. That’s where the contact center on the College’s Fort Omaha Campus can assist. The historic

Additionally, quality assurance is improved due to live call tracking and a ratings system that customer service representatives are graded on. The center is now able to conduct survey calls to help in grant analysis for the College as well as make follow-up calls to interested prospects.

building has undergone many changes recently. With new carpet, walls, paint, storage, offices, conference room and state-of-the-art equipment, the center is well-equipped to handle all incoming calls.

“The renovation of the contact center brings us into the 21st century with modern equipment,” said Mark Schulman, contact center manager. “We have always been able to bring valuable information to callers, but this has really helped us grow and serve potential students and callers better.”

Schulman, who has more than 30 years of experience in a call center setting, pointed to the redevelopment of the internal database system as a key improvement. A customer service representative is now able to answer a question about any area of the College within seconds.

“One of the most important things that we improved was the information we are able to give a caller,” said Schulman. “We’re able to be an all-encompassing information hub for callers.”

The call center is located in Building 2, a former gymnasium and post exchange that dates back to 1907.

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Another positive in the contact center is that the redesign has cut down on noise around call center representatives.

“We are a knowledge-based customer service facility,” said Schulman. “One of our goals is to get people to recommend MCC through a positive experience with one of our representatives and ultimately increase the amount of students receiving a quality, affordable education.”

One of our goals is to get people to recommend MCC through a positive experience

Words of wisdom

Faculty and staff offer their advice

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alf the battle is showing up to class” may be something you’ve heard before when it comes to advice given to college students. You may also have noticed the words of wisdom displayed on social media in the past few months.

College can be a challenging time for many students. There to help are MCC faculty and staff. Here is what some of them had to say to students:

“There will be adversity in life.

How you face it reveals your true character,” said Applied Technology Center services assistant, Jo Ann Gast.

“Believe in yourself.

Anything is possible,” encouraged Amy Forss, history program chair and Fulbright Hungary scholar.

Academic advisor Hans Rudin went with a quote from Jim Elliot, “He is no fool who

gives what he cannot keep. To gain what he cannot lose.”

“Stay focused!” added Kathy J. Trotter, coordinator for single parent and displaced homemaker program.

English faculty member Ellen Fangman gave students some very appetizing advice, “Never go to class on an empty stomach.”

Be on the lookout for more words of wisdom this quarter.

A HIGH SKILL, HIGH DEMAND OCCUPATION

WORKS FOR Me I

sn’t it amazing what’s possible when area leaders in business, education and philanthropy work together toward a common goal?

That’s the whole idea behind the new AKSARBEN Scholars Career Connectors Scholarships. AKSARBEN Foundation is partnering with the Horatio Alger Association and Avenue Scholars to launch this ambitious program.

To support this worthy program, or to learn more, please contact us: Jon Burt 402.554.9600 x101 burtj@aksarben.org Doug Pierson 402.991.5489 dpierson@avescholars.org Laura Miller 402.991.5463 lmiller@avescholars.org

Working full circle with Metropolitan Community College, our goal is to help students from low-income backgrounds transition from high school to career training and into high skill occupations.

AKSARBEN Foundation not only funds scholarships, we work with member businesses to identify employment opportunities and create a pool of jobs for students once they are career-ready.

In the end, the success of the program is measured by our ability to lead students from low-income families into meaningful careers … as contributing members of the skilled labor force in the Heartland. community • mccneb.edu • 20

State approval for College’s EMS training agency The College’s Emergency Medical Services training agency has received approval from the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services. The approval allows the College to continue teaching as an approved state of Nebraska training agency for all emergency medical services classes.

“The College’s training agency has been in place for many years. We have tremendous facilities, and this state approval affirms our mission to offer quality, affordable education to students who are pursuing training in this field,” said Peggy Dean, emergency management program director.

In order to be approved, an agency must meet several requirements. The agency must be an accredited community college that awards an academic degree to graduates, utilizes instructors who hold a license at or above the level of the discipline they are teaching, and have written agreements with physicians, hospitals and field sites to serve as a training agency. Additionally, an agency must provide adequate facilities and equipment to pass inspection.

AROUND THE CO Scholarships, cuisine highlight MCC culinary event The Institute for the Culinary Arts hosted Family Meal in January. An event that welcomes guests to come as they are and gather around the table to support scholarships, Family Meal’s main objective is to raise funds to provide opportunities to those currently in the restaurant industry who may be lacking a degree.

Skilled chefs at the College prepared dishes featuring apple braised pork belly, salted crusted bronzino, beef cheeks, chocolate cake croutons and more.

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Faculty among 2014 Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards nominees Seven faculty members earned 11 nominations in the 2014 Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards. The annual event honors talent from around the world of performing arts. The awards were held in February at the DoubleTree by Hilton Omaha Downtown.

Riccardo Marchio for “On the Brighter Side of Apocalyptic Minimalism”, Fred Simon Gallery, Nebraska Arts Council, best public art project for “The Triangulation Project” on Leavenworth St.; Steve Tamayo, best visual artist, best 3-D visual artist, best two-person visual art show with Paul High Horse for “We’re Still Standing” at Kaneko; and Bart Vargas, best visual artist, best 3-D visual artist.

This year’s nominees were Doug Blackburn, best actor for “Race” at Omaha Community Playhouse; Jamie Burmeister, best 3-D visual artist; Lydia Dawson, best costume for “Young Frankenstein” at Omaha Community Playhouse; James Freeman, best group visual art show for “Works by James Freeman, Tom Swanson, Jeff Yoachim and Paula Yoachim”; Mike Giron, best two-person visual art show with

OLLEGE Open House Speed Tour MCC hosted the Open House Speed Tour in February, at the South Omaha Campus and Sarpy Center.

Attendees learned about career programs and services in fast, fun and informative five-minute sessions. For those interested in more after they got a taste of MCC, staff were on hand to schedule campus tours, academic advising sessions, placement testing and more.

“The Open House Speed Tour was a great way for those interested in postsecondary education to learn about the types of career programs that we offer in industries that are growing. More importantly, we showcased the support services MCC offers to help student succeed,” said Sheila O’Connor, executive director of public affairs at MCC.

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

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