Community Summer 2016

constructing mcc s future pg. 12

CONTENTS 1

Program spotlight

Emergency Medical Services: on the front lines of healthcare

2

From classroom to runway

New Fashion Design program offers path to success

4

A continual climb

Continuing Education courses expand across metro area

5

5

Lights! Camera! Action!

MCC students win big in local and national competitions

6

From hobby to career

MCC alumna follows her passion

8

The world is full of possibilities

10

Students explore the world while studying abroad

10

New dean of construction education

Get to know Nate Barry

12

Constructing MCC's future

The $90 million expansion groundbreaking was two years ago. Now the completion is one year away.

14

Bringing your bounty to the table

16

Use summer produce to impress

16

Making an IMPACT

Grant provides in-demand skills for MCC students

18

BringITOn challenge sparks ideas

Technology competition tests high school students

19

Reporting for duty

College employee looks to make a difference with Disabled American Veterans

20

20 Around the College

Summer 2016

Volume 4, Issue 4

“Community” is a quarterly publication of Metropolitan Community College. Contact the editor at 402-457-2414 or marketing@mccneb.edu.

Metropolitan Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, age, disability or sexual orientation in admission or access to its programs and activities or in its treatment or hiring of employees.

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Program spotlight

Emergency Medical Services: on the front lines of healthcare

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nderneath the umbrella of MCC’s Health and Public Services department, the Emergency Medical Services program at the College can ready students for careers as emergency medical technicians, first responders, open water dive rescuers and more. Students interested in making a difference in their community and in the lives of others may be drawn to this fast-paced field.

With a large segment of the population members of the baby boom generation needing medical care, the demand for EMTs and other EMS professionals will only rise. As demand for higher levels of patient care is required, EMS experts with an advanced level of education, training and certification will enjoy increased levels of job prospects.

One major draw to becoming an EMS professional is that it tests the knowledge and skills needed for other jobs in the healthcare field.

“If you’re interested in helping your community and being part of a very small group that literally saves lives around the world, then this career is for you. There isn’t a more humbling experience than to assist another who is sick or injured and knowing you are part of their recovery,” said Craig Jacobus, MCC instructor.

Additionally, the College is now offering water rescue courses through a partnership with DiVentures. Students can get their diving certificate and boost their EMS skills through the course.

To find out more about this program, visit mccneb.edu/ems. community • mccneb.edu • 1

New Fashion Design program offers path to success

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ne of the things MCC is known for is the programs that support the arts, whether it is the culinary arts, photography, graphic arts or interior design. And now, fashion design has joined the ranks after nearly two years of culmination between MCC and producers of Omaha Fashion Week. The program will be offered for the first time in the 2016 fall quarter.

The fifth largest fashion week in the nation, Omaha Fashion Week has built a reputation over the past nine years for developing young fashion designers who go on to attend fashion schools such as institutes in Chicago and the highly acclaimed Parsons School of Design in New York City. The Fashion Design program will be the only one of its kind offered in the Omaha metropolitan area. Currently, the only training available to students interested in fashion is offered at South High School to ages 6-17. The fashion camp is accessible each summer and is taught by Omaha Fashion Week designers in the Omaha community. These same resources have been tapped to teach some of the classes in the Fashion Design program. One such instructor involved in the program is Grand Reid, with a master’s degree in fashion from Milan, Italy and a photography business, he will transfer his industry knowledge to the classroom. This fall students attending South High School will have the opportunity to take advantage of dual enrollment, earning both high school and college credits for classes in the program. Fashion Design instructor, Nanci Stephenson said, “Having been making and designing my own clothing since 13 years of age, the Fashion Design program is a very exciting opportunity to share my passion with students.”

Students progressing through the program can expect to participate in Omaha Fashion Week apprenticeships for the event or throughout the community. These opportunities and the course material will extend beyond designing to event management, manufacturing, styling, entrepreneurship, fashion and online retail commerce.

After graduation, the objective is for students to have the tools they need to kick start their own business as designers or work in the industry in other ways, such as stylists, or in manufacturing or merchandising. There are a number of businesses whose headquarters are in the Midwest and include The Buckle, Von Maur, Target and Gordmans.

One Fashion Week designer now calls Omaha home with a small, but growing, factory in South Omaha where she manufactures her designs. “Designers want to bring the industry back to the United States, but manufacturing prices in most cities are too high. By tapping into the talent in the Midwest, along with the incredible work ethic and lower cost to manufacture, thousands of jobs could be created as the interest in fashion continues to grow,” said Brook Hudson, one of the Omaha Fashion Week producers.

For those interested in fashion, Omaha Fashion Week will be held August 22-27 at the Omaha Design Center at 1502 Cuming Street in Omaha, Nebraska. As a partner of the Fashion Design program, the show will be an exciting and action-packed setting for prospective students to explore the sights and sounds of the Midwest’s premier fashion event.

For more information about Omaha Fashion Week, visit http://omahafashionweek.com.

To learn more about the MCC Fashion Design program, visit https://mccneb.edu/advising and make an appointment with an academic advisor.

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Heather and Jameson

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A CONTINUAL CLIMB Continuing Education courses expand across metro area

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hile Metropolitan Community College is primarily made up of credit courses, did you know that a large portion of the College’s student population is made up of noncredit students? In the 2014-15 academic year, there were more than 18,000 noncredit students enrolled at MCC. Residents across the four-county area took courses from MCC in bicycle repair, water aerobics, computer skills and a lot more.

Noncredit courses are offered in a variety of settings; on-campus, online or at locations like Millard South High School, an ideal place for taking a dip and exercising in a relaxed, friendly water aerobics class. One of the newest additions to the MCC Continuing Education efforts has been the Do Space at 72nd and Dodge streets. MCC’s second floor at Do Space offers noncredit courses in technology, business, arts and crafts, and even plays host to many College for Teens and College for Kids courses during the summer, meaning there’s something for everyone.

“The College places a great emphasis on our adult learning and Continuing Education courses,” said Gary Girard, director Continuing Education at MCC. “We have continued its transformation with the opening of Do Space and it will only continue its growth with new additions like business-focused events for adults as well as fun activities for young students through College for Kids and College for Teens.”

MCC’s Continuing Education courses offer a great mix of curriculum. Whether you’re a working professional looking to touch up on your photo editing skills for your marketing career, a young high school student curious about new science or anything in between, chances are noncredit courses at MCC has something for you nearby.

To view the noncredit class schedule or for more information about MCC Continuing Education, visit mccneb.edu/ce.

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LIGHTS! CAMERA!

ACTION! MCC students win big in local and national competitions

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t home behind the camera, MCC Video Audio Communications Arts students Sam Senser and Jake Bruce found themselves under the spotlight this past spring in Las Vegas at the Broadcast Educations Association Festival of Media Arts. The students were honored with the best of show award in the two-year and small college category, where they competed against students from two-year colleges and four-year universities as well as master's level students from some of the best institutions in the United States. For Senser and Bruce, this was the pinnacle of their short amateur filming career thus far. This win put MCC on the award podium for the second time in four years—a feat not to be overlooked.

Sensor and Bruce began winning competitions in 2014 when they were in high school. Their first award was a result of a texting and driving public service announcement advertisement they filmed for the Project Yellow Light competition. Not only did they win the local contest, but went on to win on the national level as well. This resulted in an invite to New York City where the public service announcement was featured at the Ad Council’s annual Public Service Award dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Following graduation from high school, the budding filmographers enrolled in MCC’s Video Audio Communications Arts program. It was then that Sensor and Bruce, along with other MCC students on their team won a competition in which participants had 48 hours to create a film with a superhero theme. The contest is held each year by the student organization MCC Cinema and Media Society.

Their winning short film, The Adventures of Truckboy and Vanman was then submitted at the urging of program instructor Bob Maass to the Omaha Film Festival, where it was one of only 74 out of 300 short films to be accepted into the festival. Later in 2015, Sensor and Bruce made the sequel to The Adventures of Truckboy and Vanman, and again their film was accepted into the festival and later went on to win a national contest in addition to taking home top nods for Best of Show at the 10th annual BEA D7 Elkhorn Valley Film and Media Conference held at Elkhorn Valley Campus.

“Sensor and Bruce are probably two of the most talented young filmmakers I’ve seen come through the Video Audio Communications Arts program,” program instructor Bob Maass said, “They have a really good eye for things, are great storytellers and wonderful cinematographers.”

The Video Audio Communication Arts program offers an associate degree in Video Audio Communication Arts.

Students learn the basics of media production, storytelling and writing as well as advanced classes in more specific production-related topics. In addition to the degree program, the College also offers certificates in audio recording, digital cinema and screenwriting. “There are more media opportunities than ever before due to social media platforms like Vimeo, YouTube and Facebook. With a program like ours, students have cameras in their hands from the first day of class, learning about cutting-edge technology and equipment needed for positions offered in today’s workforce,” said Maass.

To learn more about the Video Audio Communications Arts, visit https://mccneb.edu/visual-arts. community • mccneb.edu • 5

from hobby to career D

o what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. These are words spoken by many intelligent people. It’s easier said than done, however. For Marian Holden, a 2004 MCC graduate, turning her hobby of interior design into a career was spurred on by her husband as well as a building professional during the design phase of the couple’s home.

“I became engrossed in designing our customized home and I realized what a passion I had for it,” said Holden, who worked as a technology consultant at the time. “I would always help friends decorate their homes. I wanted to follow that passion and turn it into a career.”

Holden holds a bachelor’s degree in computer information management but her time as a consultant left her feeling unstable financially with the economic shifts of the early 2000s.

Taking control of her own destiny and career meant going back to school for a career change. She started slow, taking courses to test the waters, she says. After it resonated with her, she began going full‑time while balancing a family and three children.

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She began work as an interior designer while in school at MCC, something she says points to the program’s real‑world applications. “The faculty and coursework at the College prepared me immediately for the field.

It was hands‑on and the business courses I took also helped propel my entrepreneurial side,” stated Holden.

Starting out of her own home, Holden founded Designer’s Touch in 2002.

She received initial help from her sister before she opened a brick and mortar location in 2007 in West Omaha. The company she owns and operates is an award-winning firm that wants to make its customers’ dreams a reality. From commercial design, home staging, total home makeovers, room additions and room redesigns to design guidance, Designer’s Touch works with small and large budgets to create ideas that capture its customers’ lifestyles. Its location on Blondo Street offers a quiet, comfortable design studio that features thousands of fabric samples, a large selection of decorative accents, plus a wealth of catalogs showcasing furniture, window coverings, lighting, flooring, countertops and paint. “We are very

versatile. As a licensed contractor I am able to tackle projects head‑on and give the ultimate solution to my customers,” Holden said.

Holden thinks highly of her experience with the Interior Design program at MCC. She has even hired some graduates of the program to work with her company, something she says has greatly benefited her business. “The students coming out of MCC are ready to work and are able to contribute creative ideas,” she said.

That connection to MCC helped earn her the Distinguished Alumni Award presented by the MCC Foundation.

Nominated by her mentor, MCC faculty member Nanci Stephenson, Holden was honored at a special event in the spring. Holden still keeps that connection with the College, regularly speaking to interior design classes, helping foster the next great designers.

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d l r o W e h T f o l l u F is s e i t i l i b i s s o P

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Students explore the world while studying abroad

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he faculty and staff-led study abroad courses offered at MCC provide an opportunity for students to learn about other cultures and ecosystems and earn college credit while doing so, and generally range from 7-13 days long. Credits earned in study abroad courses typically include biology, ecology, philosophy, geography or human relations skills.

After studying abroad, students can expect to have expanded global perspectives, language proficiencies and greater historical and cultural competency. Because the College values the opportunities offered through study abroad which enable students to develop skills and provide experiences that classroom settings are not likely to provide, a number of study abroad destinations have been offered, such as Belize, China, Guatemala, Jamaica and Napa Valley, with several more planned for the future, which may include Alaska and Iceland.

The most recent study abroad course took students to New Zealand, a large island nation located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, and is one of the most diverse and unique on the planet. What makes the island distinctive is that it has been isolated for so long from other continental landmasses.

While in New Zealand, study abroad students and faculty, MCC biology instructor Jeba Inbarasu and math instructor Matt Church, were immersed into an once‑in‑a‑lifetime conservation biology experience. The plants, birds and reptiles found on the island are indigenous to the island, making this a truly remarkable experience that allowed them to explore the efforts New Zealanders employ not only to conserve, but cultivate an attitude that the people are one with nature.

“The students were particularly impressed when they saw a young New Zealander drop a bag of chips at the zoo. Rather than leaving it for the animals to eat, the young boy and his peers immediately scrambled to pick up and dispose of the wasted snack. This drove home the culture of environmental care and conservation,” Inbarasu said.

In addition to touring local zoos, the group left the beaten path for lots of learning and fun. They went white water rafting through Tongariro National Park, went to Waitomo Caves that are aglow with glow worms, hiked through steaming craters, cliffs and lakes in the Waimangu Volcanic Valley, as well as went to a geothermal area. These were just a few of the activities they did for fun, but also incorporated performing studies of the local soil and water.

“Throughout our travels in New Zealand, getting to know the students and seeing them learn about themselves was as rewarding an experience as it was to travel the island,” Church reflected about one of the best aspects of the trip.

“Taking a study abroad course opens students’ eyes, allowing them to see differently. I tell the students not to be intimidated by the cost, which includes airfare, tuition and a visa, if required. The benefits they gain are invaluable and will stay with them all through their lives, widening their horizons and proving that nothing is impossible,” Inbarasu said.

To learn more about study abroad opportunities at MCC, visit http://resource.mccneb.edu/cca/home.

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new dean of construction education Get to know Nate Barry What are some of your visions or goals for the programs leading into the new Construction Education Center?

Barry: My vision for the new CEC is that it is the first

What is your background in?

Barry: I have a fairly diverse background. Academically, I have a Bachelor’s of Construction Management. I eventually went on to receive my master’s degree from MidAmerica Nazarene University and then completed my Ph.D. in Engineering. My doctoral work focused on personal perceptions of energy efficiency and residential energy retrofits. Professionally, I have enjoyed an exciting career in the construction industry and most recently academia.

What excites you the most about joining MCC as the new dean of construction education?

Barry: What excites me the most is the opportunity we have to change the way we approach construction education through the new Construction Education Center. MCC, along with multiple key industry partners, have made significant contributions and investments to ensure that the space really encompasses the vision of innovation and community connecting. I have been working with national educators for a number of years on how we solve the skilled labor shortage in our industry. MCC has made a real investment toward solving this problem.

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step in rebranding the construction industry. The industry has made so many advances in regards to technology used, advanced building techniques and overall industry professionalism, that the CEC will exemplify these changes.

The construction industry still has many misnomers. People believe that it is a dirty industry, that it is only for males or that you have to be big and strong to succeed. Today’s construction industry involves some of the most advanced technologies of any field, requires constant teamwork, and is best suited for anyone who can problem solve and communicate effectively.

My vision for the CEC is that it will encompass and help break the stereotypes so often associated with the industry. I have a lot of goals for the CEC, but there are three that seem to rise to the top. First, I would like to see it be a facility that serves multiple markets from traditional students out of high school to industry professionals looking to learn some of the advances in their industry. Another goal I would have is that each of the academic programs in the CEC be responsive to industry changes allowing the students to always see what is happening today or what will be coming into their chosen career paths. Finally, I want everyone that experiences the facility to have an extremely positive experience. Whether it is the student enrolled in a degree program, an industry professional taking an evening workshop or a community member just taking a tour.

“What excites me the most is the opportunity we have to change the way we approach construction education through the new Construction Education Center.” – Nate Barry

What kind of advice do you have for students entering into the construction programs here at the College?

Barry: I would tell them that they are very fortunate to be part of the changes taking place at MCC. They have chosen a career path that will not only provide financial stability, but also great self-satisfaction. I would remind them that although the construction industry is large, the reputation that they are developing will stay with them for a career.

Topping out ceremony W

ith an expansion project of this magnitude underway at the MCC Fort Omaha Campus there come milestones along the way. One such historic milestone was held in April with a topping out ceremony, celebrating the last two beams to be added atop the Academic Skills Center—the last of three buildings to be erected as part of the expansion project. “Topping out is that progress milestone between the groundbreaking ceremony and the ribbon-cutting for the new buildings. It’s a time to honor the workers, designers and owners while they are engaged in bringing ideas to reality,” said Stan Horrell, director of campus planning and sustainability.

Topping out a building is builders' rite traditionally held when the last beam is placed atop a structure, dating back to 7th-century Scandinavia and is practiced all over the world.

When the tradition first began, it was used to appease the

tree-dwelling spirits displaced in the construction of the timber frame. Nowadays, the ceremony typically consists of mounting a tree or leafy branch on the topmost wood or iron beam, often with flags and streamers tied to it. It is then guided into the final opening of the structure.

A few fun facts about what has gone into the three new buildings: • 36,000 square feet of brick – 252,000 individual bricks – almost 32 miles long when laid end to end • 1,200 tons of steel – 2,400,000 lbs – equivalent to 600 F150 trucks • 245,000 total square feet between all the buildings • 17.5 acre site – over 13 football fields • 43,000 square feet of glazing = 1 acre

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Constructing The $90 million expansion groundbreaking was two years ago.

Now the completion is one year away.

I

t has been two years since the College broke ground on the $90 million Fort Omaha Campus expansion project.

We are also a little more than a year away from the project being completed. The three new academic buildings; the Academic Skills Center, Construction Education Center and the Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology will be ready for students in fall 2017, adding more than 240,000-square-feet of space to the College.

“The new academic buildings on our Fort Omaha Campus will give students the training and education they will need in their careers,” said Randy Schmailzl, president of MCC. “The project is a community partnership and we couldn’t be more proud to be the stewards of this investment, one of the largest of its kind in the country. The project’s completion will show the community the kind of commitment and vision we have for the four-county area. Each building will serve a unique purpose.

Our dedicated faculty brings their real-world expertise into the classroom and now those classrooms will be enhanced with the newest technology in comfortable learning environments.”

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The new buildings are designed to accommodate innovative approaches to learning while investing in students and the community. The expansion project is funded by generous philanthropic investments and a progressive funding commitment of the MCC Board of Governors that represents a 50:50 public-private partnership. The buildings are designed to train students for today’s jobs, prepare students for tomorrow’s jobs, and provide students with tools and opportunities for lifelong learning.

The Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology will be home to the MCC FabLab and feature advanced studies as well as other technology-related classes. CAET will provide the tools and space to develop innovative academic programming as well as target industry-specific emerging technologies. Additionally, CAET will feature areas for corporate training as well as an academic data center. The building’s first floor will be made up of a large commons area as well as spaces for prototyping labs, something seen already at the College in areas like the PROTO Lab.

MCC’s future Many of the courses and activity taking place in CAET could shift year-to-year as technology changes. As executive director of workforce innovation division Tom Pensabene puts it, “we are creating new jobs and providing the necessary training for a new economy. Here you will see everything from work on connected vehicles, leading-edge prototype design and data center training to the latest in virtual and augmented reality.”

The Construction Education Center is the largest of the new buildings at nearly 100,000-square-feet. It will provide students the ability to learn about fields such as architecture and design, civil engineering, construction technology, electrical technology, electrical apprenticeship, HVAC, industrial and commercial trades and more. The facility will offer lounge areas and collaboration space in addition to the numerous academic areas.

Thirdly, the Academic Skills Center will be a hub for student‑centered, developmental education with a focus on career navigation, small group communication, general

education courses, ReadRight® curriculum and active learning. The three-story center will act like a front door to the College, providing services and information to prospective students as well as the community.

In addition to the new buildings, the College will be adding ample amounts of green space in between the structures, maintaining the beautiful environment the Fort Omaha Campus is known for.

To learn more about the Fort Omaha Campus construction project, visit mccneb.edu/focexpansion. There you will find information about the new buildings, media clips and how to get involved.

The expansion project will add more than 240,000-square-feet of space to MCC.

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Use summer produce to impress

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ummer is a season that brings a bounty of produce and herbs to farmers markets and backyard gardens, such as tomatoes, squash and basil. The availability of such finds allow for garden‑to‑table meals in a matter of minutes that are easy enough for a week-night dinner, but also able to meet the standards of a simple, yet elegant special meal.

MCC’s Institute for the Culinary Arts staff gathered their farmers market finds for a dish bursting with the flavors of summer—summer succotash served with grill-roasted chicken. Follow this recipe for meal that is sure to impress your guests.

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Summer succotash

Serves 4 8 oz. smoky bacon or pancetta, diced 4 ears of ripe bi-color sweet corn 1 medium red onion, diced 2 medium zucchini, cut from core and diced (about 2 cups) 12 oz. cherry tomatoes, quartered 2 oz. fresh basil leaves, playfully torn (a fistful) Coarse salt and freshly cracked pepper • Grill or roast sweet corn until tender crisp. Allow to cool slightly, then cut kernels from the cob using a sharp knife. Set aside in a bowl until needed. Make sure that all your ingredients are cut and available near the stove before you start to cook your succotash.

• Place diced bacon into a preheated 12” skillet or French oven. Cook over medium heat until bacon has rendered and is almost crisp. Remove from pan with a slotted spoon, leaving about three tablespoons of the rendered fat.

• Turn heat to high and allow fat in pan to heat until almost smoking. Add red onions and cook until lightly browned.

• Add zucchini and allow to cook without stirring until lightly seared.

• Add corn and cook, stirring occasionally until heated through.

• Return bacon to the pan.

• Fold in tomatoes and basil.

Grill-roasted chicken

Serves 4 Look for a high-quality chicken with taught skin. A natural or un-brined bird is strongly preferable for this recipe as per instructed, the chicken will be brined. Ask your butcher to halve the chicken for you, or purchase pre-cut. Prepare the brine a day before and allow chicken to brine for 24 hours before grilling.

Weigh your salt, as volume varies by brand.

1 roasting chicken, halved (about three lbs) 2 cups water 1 lemon, halved 2 tbsp honey 1 big pinch fresh Italian parsley on stems 2 sprigs thyme 2 cloves fresh garlic, peeled and smashed slightly 2.5 oz. kosher salt (by weight) 1 tsp black peppercorn 1 bay leaf 6 cups ice water, reserved • For the brine, combine all ingredients (excluding the chicken and ice water) in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Ensure that all salt has dissolved, then remove from heat and allow mixture to cool slightly. Combine with the ice water.

• Place bird in a non-reactive baking dish and cover with cold brine. Allow to soak in the brine overnight.

• Season generously with salt and pepper.

• Rinse the bird thoroughly with cold water, and pat dry with paper towels.

• Served with grill-roasted chicken.

• Preheat a charcoal or gas grill to low heat.

• Spread bird, skin-side down onto clean, oiled and preheated grill.

• Cook chicken, turning once, approximately 20 minutes per side or until an internal temperature of 180 degrees is registered in the deepest part of the thigh.

• Allow chicken to rest for 10 minutes.

• Arrange on platter with your succotash and serve family-style.

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Making an impact Grant provides in-demand skills for MCC students

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he $850,000 grant MCC received in 2012 lived up to its name during its duration at the College. Project IMPACT was a U.S. Department of Labor grant awarded to five Nebraska community colleges to help develop and enhance the manufacturing workforce. The grant provided students with the type of training necessary to earn well-paying jobs in the manufacturing industry, a field where the workforce is aging and employers are looking to fill those gaps.

Project IMPACT helped offer courses within the Process Operations and Power Plant Technology program that would allow students to complete a Diversified Manufacturing Technology certificate. Courses like process and power operations, quality improvement, manufacturing technology and safety all contributed to providing training to students.

Students like Timothy Dixson, who came back to school for a career change, found the certificate very useful.

“I’ve had many different jobs. I was even laying sod at 50 years old, which isn’t a good job for a guy my age,” said Dixson. “Coming into this program gave me a future and that’s what I needed. Now I have what I want in my current job. Everything I learned in MCC classes was real-world applicable and it prepared me well for my field and in a few years I hope to have an additional engineer license because of IMPACT.” Dixson, who now works as a boiler engineer, has the potential to carry on his career in the manufacturing field thanks to Project IMPACT. The skills taught in DMT courses at MCC can help students earn jobs as machine operators, operations supervisors, technicians and shift managers. Project IMPACT also added on to MCC’s facilities. The grant helped the College purchase a robotic welder, a CNC water jet table, two Haas milling machines as well as two welding simulators, all equipment one would see at world-class manufacturing plants.

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Project IMPACT also brought in industry partners like Lozier Corporation and Valmont Industries, an international corporation that began just west of Valley, Nebraska.

Operating in industries like agriculture, infrastructure, mining and aerospace, Valmont provides jobs students are looking for—jobs that pay well, provide good benefits and upward mobility.

“The grant has had a very positive influence in the community as well,” said Robert Caldwell, the grant manager for Project IMPACT. Additionally, Smithfield Foods, Cargill and Brand Hydraulics trained current employees through Project IMPACT, boosting each individual’s skills to better serve their organization. In total, there were 342 students who participated in Project IMPACT with close to 75 percent of unemployed participants finding a job within six months after their exit. Also, 67 percent of incumbent-worker participants saw a wage increase after their exit. Dixson is proof of the grant’s success.

Dixson, also a military veteran, points to a time where it all changed for him. A friend suggested he visit a veteran assistance office, a place he would meet Caldwell. The two connected and soon after Dixson was an MCC student.

Said Dixson, “The faculty gave me the confidence to complete the DMT courses. If you want to get a good job, it’s a great way to start and you can make great decisions about what you want to do in your life.”

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Technology competition tests

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roblem solving and teamwork are two major things people will do throughout their lifetime, whether at home or at work. Area high school students put those skills to the test over the last year in the BringITOn Challenge. The technology competition was created with a partnership between MCC and the Interface Web School. Beginning last fall, students began working on solutions to problems presented by partnering area businesses.

Developed by the MCC Information Technology and eLearning Department and Interface Web School, the BringITOn Challenge’s goal was to introduce young students to various information technology career pathways by providing them real-world experiences. Competitors met with their mentors on a weekly basis to help develop their concepts. The mentors were made up of faculty members from area high schools, MCC and the Interface Web School.

“From the beginning we envisioned businesses submitting their requests for proposals, which would then be matched to high school teams who will work with mentors to develop great solutions to modern problems,” said Art Brown, MCC INFO faculty member. “The businesses and nonprofits could then choose to accept the solutions.”

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high school students

The final presentations were held at Do Space, where in front of family, friends, faculty and business partners, they had to give it their best shot to convince business leaders that their solution was realistic enough to fix their problem.

The winning team was made up of students from Omaha Central High School; Jonathan Goodwin, Lucas Kerr, Abdullahi Mahamed and Dylan Schufeldt. Their project goal was to find a solution to a task that MCC’s Instructional Design Services was working on. MCC IDS was creating a system to log plant data. It required the system to have information about individual plants, sets of plants, pictures and updateable information. The students came up with the idea of creating a hybrid mobile application that would allow MCC students and faculty to streamline a plant data system. Prizes included electronic drones and other technology gadgets.

BringITOn Challenge’s goal was to introduce young students to various information technology career pathways by providing them real-world experiences.

reporting

for duty College employee looks to make a difference with Disabled American Veterans

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etropolitan Community College’s Khristina Jost became the first female elected to Junior Vice Commander officer of the Nebraska Disabled American Veterans when she was elected by its members this summer.

The appointment comes after Jost served more than three years in the U.S. Army before a serious injury ended her service.

In her newly elected position, Jost now has a role that involves membership relations and helping ensure that veterans utilize the medical and educational benefits that they deserve.

With many Nebraska veterans over the age of 60, the use of benefits becomes vital.

“Many veterans don’t know they are entitled to certain benefits. Part of my job with the Nebraska DAV is to help them understand what they have a right to,” said Jost. “It means a lot to become the first female elected to this position.

My family has a deep history with the military and I want to help alleviate some of the stigmas of female veterans as part of my elected position.”

In addition to her position with the DAV, Jost serves students at MCC as a veterans certifying official in the office of Military/Veterans Services at the South Omaha Campus, utilizing her skills in communication and helping others maximize their potential. She knows using her skills in both roles will only serve the community better.

“Many veterans serve their time in the military and then get lost in the transition from military to civilian life. The DAV does not require veterans to be a member of its organization in order to receive assistance with claims, financial literacy, transportation to medical appointments and other services.

This is the reason I love being part of it. The DAV is an organization of veterans helping veterans,” stated Jost.

MCC’s commitment to helping veterans is highlighted by the Military/Veterans Services department at the College, which, like the DAV, consists of veterans helping veterans achieve their academic and career goals.

Jost also became just the second female elected to any position with the Nebraska Disabled American Veterans organization. The first female elected to the Nebraska chapter was appointed as a chaplain.

Disabled American Veterans is a nonprofit organization that helps provide support for veterans of all generations and their families. The nonprofit provides rides for veterans attending appointments and helps them with benefit claims.

Additionally, the DAV connects veterans to meaningful employment and helps them connect to resources to improve their daily lives. The DAV has nearly 1,300 chapters and more than one million members.

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Around the College

11TH ANNUAL GREAT PLAINS THEATRE CONFERENCE FEATURED VETERAN AND EMERGING TALENT The 11th annual Great Plains Theatre Conference, hosted

by MCC in late May, featured honored playwright Naomi Wallace who has had plays produced in the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States and the Middle East, as well as 26 top emerging playwrights from across the country.

A total of 680 scripts were submitted to be considered for the conference. Selected through a blind reading process, the MainStage and PlayLab scripts were rehearsed by local and national directors and actors and performed in staged readings. At the end of each reading, playwrights received feedback from national playwrights, theatre scholars, directors and the public in a guided-response setting.

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The conference’s mission is to enable playwrights and theatre artists to share time, energy and talent as a means of developing their craft, creating new work and strengthening the local and national theatre community. Playwrights and guest artist had the opportunity to network and to develop new material and critique one another’s work in a supportive and encouraging environment. All daytime Conference readings were free and open to the public. PlayFest, GPTC’s evening theatre festival for the community, was also free and open to the public and held in various locations throughout Omaha the week of the conference.

The conference is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, Nebraska Arts Council, Nebraska Cultural Endowment and Humanities Nebraska.

MCC STUDENTS WIN BIG AT SKILLSUSA NEBRASKA COMPETITION

GOLDMAN SACHS GIVES AWARDS MCC $100K GRANT

SkillsUSA Nebraska, a Nebraska Department of Education career student organization, recently recognized award winners during its 2016 State Leadership and Skills Conference in Omaha.

Metropolitan Community College is the recipient of a $100,000 grant from Goldman Sachs Gives, the donor advised fund of the investment banking firm. The grant is also matched by a local anonymous donor, bringing the total to $200,000. MCC requested support from Goldman Sachs Gives to build the College’s endowed scholarship funds as a contributor to the College’s largest and most significant scholarship endeavor to date—AKSARBEN Scholars Career Connectors.

More than 1,800 people attended the conference, including nearly 1,600 high school, college and technical students and advisors.

Students participated in more than 100 hands-on skill and leadership contests. MCC students who took first place are Carlos Arellano, Tyler Beaty, Evan Horak, Maxwell Johansson, Anthony Klusaw, Brandon Lewis, Timothy Lind, Josh Monter, Jorge Morga, Adam Morales, Chris Pokorny, Dan Riha, Frederick Ronfeldt, Chloe Russell, Tyler Sorensen and Ryan Sweeney. First place winners of the competitions qualify for the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Championships Conference, June 20-24, in Louisville, Kentucky.

SkillsUSA is a national organization that serves trade, industrial, technical and health occupation students in public schools, career and technical centers, and two-year colleges. The organization is a partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives working together to ensure the US has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA has served more than nine million members.

MCC, the AKSARBEN Foundation, the Horatio Alger Association, an anonymous donor and now, Goldman Sachs Gives, are combining efforts to provide scholarships to eligible students committed to attending full-time and completing their degree within three years. The shared goal is to award scholarships to 3,285 area students by 2020.

The gift is part of a larger project in which Goldman Sachs Gives, in collaboration with the American Association of Community Colleges, selected nine community colleges to receive grants. The donations will be distributed to community colleges throughout the country and is being matched 1:1 by donors in their respective communities.

“This investment helps build a foundation for our workforce development. It can be a difference maker for area students and businesses,” said MCC President Randy Schmailzl.

NEW TELEPHONE SYSTEM TO BE IMPLEMENTED COLLEGE-WIDE The College has become one system with all new telephone numbers and takes advantage of new cloud technologies – one benefit of the new system allows you the option of using your phone from your computer or laptop. The system also brings all the campuses together under one set of numbers, permitting internal dialing to each campus. The new telephone numbers are 531-622(MCC)-0000 thru 531-622-9999, which moves the College to five digit internal dialing. Most current four digit telephone numbers have stayed the same with a two added at the beginning to make up the fifth digit. For example, instead of dialing 402-457-2415 internally, the direct dial is 2415. This means the new number is become 531-622-2415, with an internal extension of 22415. community • mccneb.edu • 21

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

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