YOUR GIFT ... THEIR FUTURE ... OUR PROMISE
MCC Foundation
BOARD MEMBERS 2015-16
Mike Abramson
Arun Agarwal
Anthony (Tony) Aguilera
Ellie Archer
Inglish Camero
Jeff Christensen
Scott Irwin
Jessica Janssen
Stephen B. LeGrand
Dr. Marsha Mamdani
George E. Martin III
Makayla MCMORRIS
Terry McMullen
Othello H. Meadows III
Diva Mejias
Ross Pesek
Ashley Peters
Mike Price
Carol Russell
Armando Salgado
MCC Board of Governors Ex-officio representatives
Gerry Sullivan
Mahmood (Mo) Tajvar
Jim Walsh
Linda McDermitt
Fred Conley
The MCC Foundation advances the College’s mission by creating community awareness, building and nurturing meaningful relationships, and connecting community partners with giving opportunities that fulfill their philanthropic objectives. Metropolitan Community College delivers relevant, student-centered education to a diverse community of learners. Learn more at mccneb.edu/foundation.
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TABLE of CONTENTS
ii
Board of Directors
iii
Mission statement
1
Letter to friends and supporters
2
Revenues and expenses
5
Providing opportunity through excellence
12
Annual giving 2015-16
15
Employee and retiree annual giving
16
In honor and memory of
17
Gifts in kind
18
Fashion Finds a Home at MCC
19
MCC Distinguished Alumni
20
And the winner is ...
23
MCC at Do Space
25
Modular Math
Marian Holden
Award highlights MCC initiatives
Inaugural Year in Review
Alternate learning model
leads to increased student success
27
Family Meal
29
Credential programs give students competitive edge
30
Binational Health Fair
31
A beacon of light in South Omaha
Service to the community
FRIENDS and SUPPORTERS Dear friends and supporters, Please join us in celebrating another great year at Metropolitan Community College (MCC). This report reflects the opportunities your generosity has created for students. MCC students come to us from diverse backgrounds with a wide array of goals. They turn to MCC for career and technical preparation, general education credits for baccalaureate transfer, lifelong-learning skills, career and college readiness, credentials for a promotion and encore career training, among other goals. Thanks to YOU, we are able to meet them where they are and help them get to where they are going. Thanks to YOU, we have removed financial barriers for students by awarding $299,340 through 421 scholarships. Many of our students have the drive and the ability but lack the financial means to pursue their educational goals. Your scholarships help make education a reality. Thanks to YOU, we have created a community college that reflects the needs of our four-county service area. When you speak, we listen. It is only through partnership with you that we can continue to be responsive to student and community needs. Thanks to YOU, we are able to invest in our remarkable faculty and staff who support and inspire students along their educational journey through mini-grant projects and program support funds. Thank you for helping to make Metropolitan Community College a great place to work and learn. In the coming year, we know you will continue to challenge us to realize our vision and inspire us to do even more.
Sincerely,
Randy Schmailzl MCC president
George Martin III Foundation president
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EXPENSES * REVENUES
DONATED EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
$
INVESTMENT INCOME, NET
$
GRANTS
$
DONATIONS AND GIFTS
$
TOTAL
$
OTHER EXPENSES
STUDENT GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS COLLEGE DEPARTMENTS AND PROGRAMS GRANTS SUPPORT
TOTAL
131,631
294,706 1,346,360 2,784,319
4,557,016
120,671 $ 669,326 $ 827,406 $ 1,105,145 $ 2,722,548 $
* Expenses do not include the $6,375,000 in installments for the Fort Omaha Campus Capital Campaign pledges.
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The following students received a privately funded scholarship from the MCC Foundation during the 2015–16 fiscal year.
Applied Technology Teaching Scholarship
Candy Lynn Kegley Memorial Scholarship
Evan Horak
Audren and Evelyn Swanson Memorial Scholarship Bethany Hillmer
Auto Collision Advisory Board Scholarship Nathan Clausen Jaymes Nownes Jennifer Toledo
Beth Nimmo Social Sciences Scholarship Jerome Barr Megan Dickey Shelly Knoell
Betty Hightower Memorial Nursing Scholarship Amanda Stites
Brandon Thomas Rising Star Scholarship Justin Tran
Business Administration Division Scholarship Amber DeWitt Nguyen Do Phyllis Wilson
Clarence Dreher of the NE Chapter NCRS Memorial Scholarship Jaime Cortes Micheal Lund Geoffrey Novak Michael Watke
Cornhusker International/ Rick Childers Scholarship Randy Hopkins Justin Kowalski Nick Riha
Cox Communication Pioneer Scholarship Lauren Bilodeau Amber DeWitt Timothy Keen Claire McFeely
Criminal Justice Faculty Scholarship Rebecca De Luna
Diesel Tech Career Academy Scholarship Dylan Tomsu
Business Alliance for Students Education Scholarship Cody Adams Carlea Gall
Kelley Lutjen Lauren Pawlak Mara Weekes Thaddeus White
Donovan and Anita Donner Scholarship Amanda Stites
Douglas MCLeod Weber Memorial Scholarship
Dr. Jerry Moskus Scholarship Roberta Brooks
Dual Enrollment or Academy Student Scholarship Ashley Barnes Coleton Barnes Ryan Byrne Steven Cunningham Cole Fischer Aaron Fox Jacob Genoways Tyler Gess Caleb Gosse-Rhode Ethan Grudzinski Sarah Kosmicki Jonathan Krutz Nicholas Madison Michael Paskevic Alexandria Peralta-Amador Rebekah Schuhmacher Aziz Strobbe
Edward and Lida Robinson Scholarship Zechariah Barrett Justin Bentzinger Emma Brockhaus Brick Demique Brett Gard Colbyn Heatherington Timothy Keen Jessica Morrissey Mark Rayno Letitia Smith Dakota Street Joel Swetala
Firestone Auto Technology Scholarship Michael Watke
Crystalyn Lessner Treyten Ozuna
JACK KAWA CULINARY ARTS AND HOSPITALITY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
This scholarship enables me to continue to follow my heart and do something I love. I cannot thank you enough and, to show my appreciation, I vow to continue to work hard in school and to put forth every effort to succeed! - Gina Etter, Jack Kawa Culinary Arts and Hospitality Scholarship recipient.
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Fran Elseman Memorial Scholarship Phyllis Wilson
Jeff Gossin Memorial Scholarship
M.L. “Buck” Bohn Memorial scholarship
John Vautravers Memorial Scholarship
Matthew T. Chambers Horticulture Scholarship
Kareen Nellist
Gary D. Downing Memorial Scholarship Bernard Mahoney
Lestina Beltran Jack Dankof
gloria Menard Osborn Scholarship
Johnny Baxter Carriage House Foundation Tool Scholarship
Sarah Grubb
Hites Family Community College Scholarship
Anthony Adams
Megan Dickey Jamshid Heravi Justin Wendt
Johnny Rodgers Career and Technical Education Scholarship
ICA Alumni Industry Professional Start-Up Scholarship
Michala Bernal Darrious Hill
Jonathan E. Zimmerman MBA Memorial Scholarship
Wilson Calixte
IME Becas Scholarship
Rosa Franco
Nahely Karina Martinez Torres Margaret Mazariegos Sanchez Maria G. Ortiz Erick Ozuna Juan Francisco Rodriguez Gamez Jesus Rosas
Joseph W. Hughes Memorial Engineering Scholarship Mohamed Gedi
Karen Schnepf Memorial Scholarship
Information Technology Scholarship Nickolas Sell
Tristessa Carts Jonathan Schumacher
Jack Kawa Culinary Arts and Hospitality Scholarship
Larry O’connor memorial scholarship
Simaira Anderson Destiney Carodine Samantha Carter Kimberly Cobb Gina Etter Christiana Ficken Carly Hein Joy Herian Joe Kenny Sindiso Ncube Angela Nichols Nicholas Rupnow Justin Tran Leslie Wells
Jeromey Barker
Lettie Johnson Dental Assisting Scholarship Kymberly Wendt
Lucille I. Mix Memorial Scholarship Nancy Casart Antonia Vinson
Brian Bigelow
Shannon Sayers
MCC Alumni Heritage Scholarship Michala Bernal Kenneth Brickel
MCC Culinary Arts Management Scholarship Joy Herian Stacey Johnson Angela Nichols Justin Tran
MCC Custodial Staff Scholarship Jordon Flynn Lane Johnson
MCC Math Department Scholarship Bryce Timm Cody Webb
MCC Military Student Textbook Scholarship Louis Flori Judson Golka Meka Kick Kelli Porter Christopher Ross Jay Sanley James Spencer Justin Svrdlin Roland VanHoolandt Andrea Womacque
MCCF General Scholarship Tiffany Aguilera Sahaam Ali Mitzi Alondra Caraveo Summer Baker
EDWARD AND LIDA ROBINSON SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
I appreciate that you found me deserving of such a generous scholarship, and I will work hard to be successful in my classes! I’m almost halfway to reaching my goal of completing my diesel service studies. I have enjoyed my classes at Metro and the professors who have helped me in any way they can. Again, thank you for your generosity and support of my goals! - Brett Gard, Ron Sailors Culinary Arts Memorial Scholarship recipient.
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MCCF General Scholarship Shelby Bockman Marcus Bowling Korry Bradley Maria Fernanda Compean Martinez Stephanie Dine Ly Dihn Melissa Eddins Bianca Fernandez Russell Gehring Brandi Gillett Kendra Girouex Lynn Gonzales Eryn Goodell Keishara Gordon Rebecca Hledik Deborah Huetson Irena Kovacevic Jessica Lawson Clara Mahenzi Serrano Marion Chelsea Maslowsky Quaynequea McBride Nicole McCrorey Luiza Mendez Ana Karen Mendez Rivera Stephen Meuret Koua Moua Brandon Nabity Lisa Nelson Wade Overmier Tara Odegaard Katie Olson Andrew Parkhurst Richard Pearson Edith Pena Tiffany Percival Danielle Poe Shannon Sayers Jamie Sexton Tserendulam Sharavaa Letitia Smith Melinda Sommerfeld Ciara Swift April Thomas Karla Torres-Lopez Morgan Tyner Michael Watke Kenneth Williams Amber Woolf Taylor Zeorian
MCCF New Student Scholarship Faimur Ali Gail Brickel Janae Cannon Natalie Centamore Miranda Charles Xiaomei Chen Courtney Cresto Riley Evans Jaylen Fairchild Adriana Flores Diaz KaShy Floyd Juan Garcia Bret Gleason Sarah Guzman Alicia Hamilton Mary Houmard-Long Alexander Jettner Timothy Keen Sean Kinart Maria Kirwan Tyler Kucera Corey Mekelburg Megan Monismith Juan Perez-Aquilera Jasmine Pivonka Maria Regalado Nicholas Schmidt Ericka Sheridan
Taylor Smidt Lindsey Theisen Marie VonSeggern John Werthmann Spencer Wurm Bianca Zongrone
MCCF Student Textbook Scholarship Sheryl Agner Douglas Anderson Kathleen Bostock Christopher Brent Sean Brosnihan Jade Cox Brick Demique Nguyen Do Dorothy Droz McKenna Elsener Pamela Ernst Suzanne Fendrick Maria Flores Breanna Friend Anna Gleason Cassie Hall Theresa Heinz Jordan Hennessy Randy Hopkins Timothy Keen Sommer Lisenby Demetria McKinney Linda Orsi Tiffany Percival Christine Perkumas Sally Scott Chelese Short Andrew Sigler Trang Vu Kimberly Wyatt
mutual of omaha bank Scholarship DaTrina Cain Nguyen Do
Nebraska Advanced Manufacturing coalition Dream It. Do It. Scholarship Maxwell Johansson Grace Struble
Nebraska Trucking Association Diesel Technology Scholarship Jason Laughlin
Omaha World-Herald Scholarship Amber Dunlap Erin Stratman
Partnership 4 Kids Scholarship Tiana Alston Allen Arriaga Melanie Avelino Elizabeth Degante Reyna Ariana Garibo Lorenzo Destinee Gipson Ladazja Ivory Daisy Mercado Barblumoo Nart Jennifer Rody Arnell Russ-Thomas Tylesha Skipper Marcus Williams
Peter Kiewit Foundation Vocational Scholarship Cody Adams Tiffany Aguilera Jessica Barajas Brian Bigelow Jacqueline Bimpolo Marci Bogacz Kenneth Brickel Dallas Brown Leslie Bruckner Long Bui Blythe Butcher Trey Carstens Samantha Carter Natalie Centamore Kristen Clark Destiny Davis Justina Eckersley Gina Etter Jaylen Fairchild Lisett Garcia Katie Graham Carly Hein Randy Hopkins Savannah Kittleson Justin Kowalski Brian Kress Kristen Kuwitzky Miranda Liermann Michael Lund Amy Madvig Amanda Mann Roger Marquis Shawn McLeod Andrew Monay Samuel Needham Geoffrey Novak Wade Obermier Justin Packett Regina Points Kelli Porter Bryan Reyes Shannon Sayers Clayton Snodgrass Alexandria Stepanek Karla Torres-Lopez Michael Watke Leslie Wells Alexis Wheeler Samantha Wieseler Nia Williams
R.E. Whitmyre Memorial Scholarship Anna Gleason
Ray and Betty Barr Memorial Scholarship Janie Ensor Mercedes Hammond Leslie Scott
Ron Sailors Culinary Arts Memorial Scholarship Samantha Carter Aaron Fox Daisy Fuentes Joe Kenny Levi Logan Daniel Quinn Nicholas Rupnow Justin Tran Taylor Tylkowski Kimberly Vilhauer
Sharlene Hansen Memorial Scholarship Katie Olson Amanda Stites
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THE GUINAN FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP
I am deeply thankful and privileged to be honored as a recipient of a scholarship. As a mother, and working full time, it has been difficult both mentally and financially to begin my road of achieving a degree. However, because of your scholarship, this has significantly reduced the financial strain and allows me to focus on my goal. Achieving my degree is a great opportunity to pass along to my children the importance of education. I sincerely thank you for this honor.� - Geneva McGee, The Guinan Family Scholarship recipient (not pictured).
South Omaha Business Association Scholarship Candelaria Lopez
The Builder Foundation Scholarship Ryan Byrne Steven Cunningham George Evans Jacob Genoways Jonathan Krutz Aziz Strobbe
The Guinan Family Scholarship Sheryl Agner Zachery Aus David Baker Kaynesha Barnes Boubie Bassono Michala Bernal Renitra Blackwell Christian Boose Crystal Brisbin Roberta Brooks Damingo Burks Altreete Butler Daniel Castaneda Jazmin Cawthon Kylie Clancy Ismael Compaore Jacqueline Contreras Destiny Davis Megan Davis Gregory Dooly Jasmin Emia Jacob Folda Alexis Ford Mariah Frost
Edith Gonzalez-Barragan Nestor Guardado Assa Haidara Cassie Hall Jedediah Heeren Sandra Hernandez Darrious Hill Princess Holmes Frances Jones Sombeouindin Kinda Justin Kowalski Michelle Kracht Olivia Krueger Erik Manning Devon Martinez Jordan Maxwell Geneva McGee Andrew Monay Martha Nevarez Rebecca Owens Michael Paskevic Nancy Rayno Michael Rieger Austen Rudol Makayla Schrunk Hsa Lar Shee Kristin Shupe Mary Sivels April Smith Nathan Sprague Patricia Swentik Maria Torres Alex Uram Kymberly Wendt Nia Williams Monica Wyatt Caitlyn Young Ashley Zimmerman Taylor Zuehlke
Travelers Program Scholarship Kenneth Brickel Quaynequea McBride Myaha Tovar
True Potential Scholarship Alfredo Cruz Cano Nahely Karina Martinez Torres Margaret Mazariegos Sanchez Maria G. Ortiz Erick Ozuna Juan Francisco Rodriguez Gamez Jesus Rosas
Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 279 Scholarship Louis Flori Judson Golka
Walt Allen Memorial Scholarship Bernard Mahoney Patrick Zadina
Ward Nursing Scholarship Wanda Nachtwey
William H. Dodd Memorial Scholarship Jennifer Brown Adam Diehl
WiRE Scholarship Justin Packett Alex Uram
Applications vs. Awards
Despite the College’s affordable tuition and fees, students are coming to MCC with increasing financial need. Since 2007, the number of MCC students completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has more than doubled, with nearly half of all full-time students now requesting support. The total unmet need – the difference between the cost of attendance and the amount of financial aid available to MCC students – was more than $27.7 million in 2015. This fiscal year, only 14 percent of students applying for MCCF scholarships received scholarship awards, demonstrating the continued gap between students’ financial need and available funding.
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Every year, hundreds of community supporters who believe in the mission of MCC provide financial support to the MCC Foundation. We gratefully recognize the support of our anonymous donors and the following individuals, families, organizations and corporations. $450,000+
Sherwood Foundation
$350,000+
Dorothy B. Davis Foundation
$100,000+
Goldman Sachs Kiewit Companies Foundation Peter Kiewit Foundation Midlands EMS Richard Brooke Foundation
$25,000+
First National Bank Fred and Eve Simon Charitable Foundation Holland Foundation Omaha Restaurant Association Omaha Steaks Paul and Annette Smith William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation
$20,000+
All Our Kids Inc. Foundation Douglas County Follett Book Company
$10,000+
Howard and Valerie Bennett Lincoln Financial Foundation Merle and Joy Swanson Foundation Nebraska Arts Council Nebraska Humanities Council Weitz Family Foundation
$5,000+
The Builder Foundation Ronald Erlbacher Shelly Fox Gilbert M. and Martha H. Hitchcock Foundation Janice Halbur The Hawks Foundation Jerald Leidy Metro Omaha Medical Society Mid-America Arts Alliance R.L. Schreiber, Inc. Kenneth Trinkle U.S. Bank Foundation Richard and Eileen Vautravers Veterans of the Midlands Foundation Todd Wesslund
$2,500+
Baird Holm LLP Bob Benzel and Gerry Sullivan City of Omaha Clark Creative Group Consulado de Mexico En Omaha Fitzgerald, Schorr, Barmettler, & Brennan, P.C. L.L.O. Frankel Zacharia Johnny Rodgers Youth Foundation Lamp, Rynearson & Associates George E. Martin, III Jay and Kim Noddle Edward and Lida Robinson Charitable Trust LB “Red” Thomas
$1,000+
Arun Agarwal AGC, Nebraska Chapter Ellen M. Archer The Associated General Contractors of America, Inc. (Nebraska Building Chapter) Ray D. Barr Trust Belgrade Company Bluestem Prairie Foundation BrassCraft Bellevue University Robert and Debbie Bezousek Broadmoor Development Inglish Camero Cari Sommer Charitable Fund Carriage House Foundation Children’s Square USA Cox Communications Cornhusker International Trucks, Inc. Cummins Central Power, LLC Cheryl Ford John Fullenkamp The Hawkins Charitable Trust Hockenbergs Equipment & Supply Company Holland Basham Architects Larry Johnson Collin Leeder Stephen LeGrand Michael and Maggie McMeekin Terrance and Lori McMullen Methodist Health System Morrissey Engineering, Inc. Nebraska Trucking Association Omaha Builders Exchange J. Michael Price Reinhart Food Service Barbara Schlott South Omaha Business Association
T.L.K. Air Care, Inc. Valmont Industries, Inc. Shirley Weinstein Robert and Connie Wesslund Whitmore Charitable Trust
$500+
Michael and Sherri Abramson American Welding Society, Nebraska Chapter Doris Cohn Robert Culver and Debra Reilly-Culver Tim and Marleen Evans Flagship, LLC Karen Gluck Great Plains Communications, Inc. Julee K. Harter-Lloyd Fayrene Hamouz Keith and Judith Josephson Robert and Linda Kamin James and Diny Landen Mary and Rodrigo Lopez Frank Matson Millard Manufacturing Diva Mejias Nebraska Association of Skills USA, Inc. William L. and Harriet A. Otis Fund Scott and Tiffany Rohlfs Slosburg Family Charitable Trust Sysco Lincoln, Inc. Monte and Duane Thompson Treynor State Bank William Wesslund Victor T. Wilson and Pamela Gossin
$250+
Rabbi and Mrs. Aryeh Azriel Barbara Braden Gary and Lisa Epstein William A. Forsee Andrea Foster Thomas and Suzanne Friedman Sara Foxley Kris Galas/Eddie’s Catering Cookie and Jerry Hoberman Scott and Jill Irwin George Kleine and Tom Knox James and Marvel Lacasse Theresa Lassek Avery Loschen and Will Perkins Marsha and Nizar Mamdani Wendy Manvitz Janet McClellen Patrick and Renee McGill
Donations received between July 1, 2015–June 30, 2016. We apologize for any unintentional errors or omissions. Please help us correct our records by calling 531-622-2346.
Mike and Sigrid Moylan Nebraska Trucking Association Foundation Quality Brands of Omaha Rob Randels Paulina Schlott Sid Dillon Chevrolet – Blair, Inc. Jeffrey Taxman Susan Thomas Susan and Vance Wagner Daniel Wesslund Willie P. Young
$100+
Action Insurance Agency Leslie G. Abegglen AIT Worldwide Logistics Vicki Allely Harold and Doris Alloy Linda Matson - Andersen Carolyn Anderson Marcia Anderson Phyllis Anderson Gerald J. Aquila Alissa Arbeiter James Ballarin Jean Ann Ballinger and Ward Peters Dale F. Barr, Jr. Baxter Volkswagen Brian and Susan Beebe Roy Bennett Robert A. Benson Richard and Monica Benzel Darald and Nancy Berg Mary Bernstein Steven Blumkin Howard Borden Mike and Ann Boyle Threasa Brown Janet Buckingham and Lauren Ronald Michael Butkus BVH Architects Angelica Carl Brandon and Samantha Carrino Sylvia Cohn Connie Coltrane and Margaret Hobza Completely Kids John and Kathleen Cavanaugh Hal and Mary Daub Fran H. Davis and James L. Weinstein Tim Dempsey John and Carol Dennison Pamela DePorte Dickinson Investment Advisors, LLC Sandra Douglas Kara Eastman Robert Egermayer Jan Egermayer Marlyn and Darsie Eitmann James Farber Donald and Wendy Fenster Kim Ferguson Daniel and Michele Ferris First Presbyterian Church Michael Fox Pam Friedlander Howard and Sandra Friedman Morris Friedman Barry and Connie Gaston Donald Goldstein Michael Goldstein Steve Grabowski Cari Green Jeffrey Grinnell and Dan Gallagher Hallmarq Construction, Inc Geoffrey Hammond Emily J. Hansen Stephen Hasegawa Constance Heiden Shelton Hendricks and Andrew Stevenson Mary Hewitt Timothy Higgins and Patty Zieg Hill Brothers, Inc. Michael and Barbara Hoody Melissa Hurley Integrated Rehab LLC Jessica Janssen Mary M. Jetton
Noreen Johnson Robert Johnson Larry and Deborah Josephson Myron Kaplan Susan Koenig David and Sharon Kotok Frank and Patricia Kumor Nancy Lazer William and Sandra Leeder Rochelle Lewis Lighthouse Restaurants, LLC John and Beatrice Lockett Sally Lusk Neal and Jody Malashock Larry and Diane Malashock Diana Manvitz Melissa Marvin Max’s Body Shop Edward and Carrie May, Jr. MCC Math Department Sara McClure and David Steadman Makayla McMorris Gerald and Jolene Medley Jon M. Meyers Midwest Scaffold Service, LLC Betty Mills Everett and Dorothy Minds Donald Moray and Beth Ryan Craig and Emily Moody Michelle J. Morton Jeffrey Moser Lou Mrla Mary Ellen Mulcahy Steve Nogg Donald Noodell Kim Noddle Nancy Noddle Don and Rachel Novak Pat and Peggy O’Malley Pasta Amore Fantasia Kenneth and Linda Patrick John and Mary Ann Perrin Ross and Karen Pesek Pesek Law, LLC Jeffrey and Susan Petersen Ellen Platt Barbara L. Ramsey Reaching In and Out Together (R.I.O.T.) Group Retired Carpenters Club #37 Cindy Richter Molly Romero Rhonda Saferstein Pat and Jeanne Salerno Gregory M. Schatz Jeffrey and Amy Schmid Steve Schworer Wendy Shermet Michael and Mimi Silverman Jesse Sirotkin Gloria Sorey and James VanArsdall Kevin Steimer Ann Stratton Duane and Marlene Sullivan Todd and Anna Swirczek Mo and Donna Tajvar Michael and Sharon Tesar La Neita Thomas Michael Thompson and Alan VanderLinden John Ulrich and Beverly Bohlke US Bank Vacanti Shattuck, Attorneys WOWT Paula Wallace Robert Weinstein Debbie L. Wells Jim and Judith Wigton Dwight Wininger Jim Winner Col (Ret) David and Irene Wolfe Caren Woodruff WOWT Steve and Kathy Zalkin Tim and Amy Zweiback
Under $100+
Ivan and Rebecca Abdouch Bonnie Alexander Vanessa Alford
Darlene Allen Katrina Andrews Brad Ashby Scott and Carrie Bagnell Jack and Kimberly Barbaria Patricia Barron P.B. Bartels Robert Baye Bellevue Public Schools Eric Benzel Sarah Benzel Kenneth and Kathleen Bischoff Gladys Boeckner Inez Boyd Kathleen Bradley Carol Broderick Patricia Buck Jon and Mary Butler Patricia Callone and William Flynn Gilbert and Elaine Campbell Donald and Barbara Carlson Colonel Eugene G. Cash Leslie E. Cavanaugh Chanticleer, Inc. Joan Claar Arlene Cohen William and Karin Coker Fred and Teresa Ann Conley Michael and Deborah Conry Gilberto and Margaret Conti Norman and Janice Cooksley Colonel William Coon Jr. Karlus and Melanie Cozart Tim and Barbara Cunningham Tim Daugherty James and Martha Davis Roger Davis Deanna Deegan Joanna Deever Patrick and Karen Drickey Katherine T. Duggan Mary Edwards Paula Endelman Jeff and Molly Ferris James and Georgia Ford Roger Garcia Patrick and Linda Geary Don Gibbs and Ron Caniglia Gregory and Mary Goergen Andrea M. Gordman and Daniel V. Fitzgerald John Green Michael and Freda Gregg Anthony Gulizia William Hackenberg, Jr. Howard and Carol Halperin Sharon Hansen William and Patricia Hargens Ellen Hargus Ken and Sandra Hassig Donald and Linda Hayton Jolene Heibel Connie Herringer Mary and Paul Hoeppner George and Charlene Hon Karen J. Honeycutt John and Carmen Housley Mary Hughey Ken and Kathy Hurt Ronald and Marlene Kaplan Ruth Karney Jim and Ruth Keene Kathleen Kennedy Ellina Kevorkian Danny and Marilyn Kinsley Mari Jo Kirby Patricia Kirchmann William and Kathy Kizer Robin Klusmire Kristin Kuhn Marshall and Barbara Kushner Bill and Susan Laird Patricia Lamberty Pat Lammers Brock and Elizabeth Lasure Dale and Sandra Jo Latshaw Terry and Vivian Lee Shannon and Emiliano Lerda Patricia Lett Karen Levin
Steven and Bonnie Levinger Velma Lippoldt Jeff and Susan Lively Ann MacDonald Larry and Glenda Mahagan Linda Marchello and Michael Carroll Gary and Jacquelyn Marks Steven and Deborah Martines Caryl Matson Alice Mauer Janet McCarthy Sharon McDermott Virgil and Donna McDonough Dale and Frankie McHenry Joe and Judith Medakovich Lloyd Mill Jr. Barbara Miller Linda Milton Craig and Pamela Minds Kendra Mix Max and Carol Moore Rondi Morton Christine Nedved Michelle Nekuda Jim and Sheila Nelson Roland and Marta Nieves Jeffrey and Maceal Norvell Lonnie and Lynn Olson Gregory and Kriste Ongert John and Carolyn Ott Marilyn Parker Douglas and Marguerite Paterson Philip and Helga Patterson Derald and Susan Peters Ronald and Martha Peterson Rita Potter Joseph Price Robert and Denise Putnam William and Theresa Radil Robert and Linda Rausch Richard and Charlotte Ricke Catherine Rihanek Janet Robinson Edward and Victoria Roche Amy Ryan Julee Sauer Jacqueline St. John George Sayles Michael Scherr Carol Schrader Carl and Denise Seaman John and Nancy Shultz Howard Silberg Sisters IHM #233 Patti Smith Charlene Snyder Dale and Victoria Springer James and Joan Sterup William and Lynda Sullivan, III Steven and Amanda Summers Bette Swanson Carol Swayne Larry and Sandy Sykora Michael and Joanna Taylor Bruce and Majorie Thompson Judy Torrens Douglas and Kathy Townsend Dorothy Trinkle Morgan and Deborah Trinkle Janae Vaughn Pamela Vaughn Erin C. Vik Judd and Patricia Wagner Peggy Wagoner Water Cooler Talk Elizabeth Wearin Roger and Ann Webster Frank Weidenfeller Tom and Sue Weidner Stephen Weissman Cheryl Welding Cassandra White Betty Jean Widoe Linda Wilke Linda Williams Larry and Claudia Winkler Suzanne Wise Kim Wyllie
Donations received between July 1, 2015–June 30, 2016. We apologize for any unintentional errors or omissions. Please help us correct our records by calling 531-622-2346.
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My MCC scholarship changed my life. Now, I have so many career options, and I don’t have to worry about debt. - MCC scholarship recipient (not pictured)
Sheryl Agner Kirk and Lori Lynn Ahrends Stephanie Albers Jackie and Greer Almquist Sana Amoura-Patterson Barry Anderson Julie Ashley Jono Anzalone Elizabeth Augustyn Gregory Babst Richard and Carol Baer Gerry and Nadine Baker Adriel and Megumi Baltimore John Banark Kathy Barrett Ingrid Berlin Perthedia Berry Edward Bohlman Patrick Boyle Lynn Bradman Jamie Bridgham Earlene Brittingham Jeffrey Brown Phyllis Brown Connie and Steve Buller Anne Burton Cynthia and Michael Catherwood Laura Chambers Charles Chevalier Mark Church Deb Clark Shanda Clark Susan Clark Melinda and Bruce Classen Carol Cleaver James and Christi Cloyd Charles Cogar Kyran Connor Nancy Conrad George Cooperider Marilyn Cotten Alan Cox Pat and Bob Crisler Peggy Dean Carol Dennison Thomas Dickerson Christine and Mike Distefano Carri Dyer Ronald Erlbacher Rita Eyerly Charles Fairbanks Jennifer Fauchier Amy Forss Teresa Fox Jane Franklin David Friend
Kay Friesen Mick and Ruth Gahan Larry Gawel and Dana Fritz Penny Gildea Gary Girard Cynthia Gooch-Grayson Bradley Goodman Cheryl Goodman Dawn Goodsell Carol Gottuso Jerald Greenwood George Grigas Ruthanne Grimsley Robert Gronstal James Grotrian Janice Halbur Jennifer Hank Daryl Hansen Todd and Shannon Hansen Christine Harry Rodney and Linda Hartman Beth Heck Lyle Hendrickson Colleen Hernandez April Herrley Robin Hixson Wilma Hjellum Katherine Stover Holian Debra Holst Stan Horrell Dennis Hoye William Jefferson Darin and Sara Jensen Joe Jerdon Gail Johnson Kerry Johnson Peg and Dan Johnson Arlene Jordan Khristina Jost Susan Jowdy Erin Joy and Alvaro Carrasco Margaret Katona Gary Katz Paul Keller Sheila Keller Julie Kellie Timothy Kelly Mary Kerl Diana Kerwin-Kubr Reba Kevern Dennis Kingery David Kirchofer David Koebel Marian Kraft Sharon Kratky Leslie Kwasnieski
Debra LaHoda Amanda Landholm Julie Langholdt Douglas Lassiter Larry Lindberg David Lueders Robert Maass John Mangini Jeffery Manzer Naomi Mardock Uman Dean and LaRue Marshall Marty Martinez Luann Matthies Myron Mayberger Melvin Mays Janet McCarthy Thomas McDonnell Cornelius McGreevy Patrick and Misty McKibbin John and Eileen McKinstra Rita McManigal Tracy McTavish-Mlady Robert Medrano John Miller Roger Miller Linda Milton LaVonne Moats Maureen Moeglin Emily and Mike Moore Linda Moraine Jane Mulder Fred Mytty Edward Napravnik Lindsay Neemann Richard Newcomer Ryan Newton Sheila O’Connor Brian O’Malley Stacey Ocander Candace Otterpohl Bill and Paula Owen Darin Owens Darryl Partner Jerome Patten Tina Pebley Clifton Pee Pamela Perry Ashley Peters Derek Peterson Mary Piernicky Jeannie Plambeck Bobby Polk Susan Raftery Derek Rayment Alan Reinarz David Reyes
Mary Rezac Arthur Rich Lisa Richards Cindy Richter Peggy Ritschel Karen Rodgers Jason Rohmeyer Hans Rudin Michael Rush Rick and Ellie Sandvig Randy and Nancy Schmailzl Albertha Schmid Mark Schulman Trevor Secora Gordon Sims Sr. Nancy Smith Patricia Smith Jodie Snider Shannon Snow Donna Stadtlander Del Stallwood Lisa Stepanek George and Carole Stephens Connie Stewart Jeffrey Strawn Steven Summers Christine Tarr Stephen Tellatin Jim and Mary Thibodeau Gary Toth Joan Trimpey Susan Trinkle Kathy J. Trotter Mary Umberger David Van Antwerp George and Patricia Vana Connie and Bruce Vaneske Marty and Sandra Vaughan Mary Vogt Neil and Erika Volker Cheryl Vossberg Josephine Wandel Frank Weidenfeller Penney Weyrauch Lavette Wider Carol Widman Brock Williams Idalene Williams Laela Williams Thomas Wilson April Winans Joy Wineinger James Wolf Joellen Zuk
15 Donations received between July 1, 2015–June 30, 2016. We apologize for any unintentional errors or omissions. Please help us correct our records by calling 531-622-2346.
In memory of Jane Keller
In honor of Pat Crisler
AIT Worldwide Logistics Baird Holm, LLP Michael Butkus Sid Dillon Chevrolet - Blair, Inc. First National Bank Frankel Zacharia Great Plains Communications, Inc. Stephen LeGrand Nizar and Marsha Mamdani George E. Martin III Millard Manufacturing Nebraska Trucking Association Pesek Law, LLC Mike Price Rob Randels Valmont Industries, Inc.
In honor of David K. Ho Susan and Vance Wagner Willie P. Young
In honor of the marriage of Bob Benzel and Gerry Sullivan
Jackie and Greer Almquist James Ballarin Jean Ann Ballinger and Ward Peters P.B. Bartels Eric Benzel Sarah Benzel Mike and Ann Boyle Barbara Braden Kathleen Bradley Janet Buckingham and Lauren Ronald Sylvia Cohn Connie Coltrane and Margaret Hobza Don Gibbs and Ron Caniglia John and Kathleen Cavanaugh Pat and Bob Crisler John and Carol Dennison Katherine T. Duggan Jeffrey Grinnell and Dan Gallagher Shelton Hendricks and Andrew Stevenson Timothy Higgins and Patty Zieg Noreen Johnson Ronald and Marlene Kaplan Jim and Ruth Keene George Kleine and Tom Knox Marshall and Barbara Kushner Theresa Lassek Karen Levin Mary and Rodrigo Lopez Avery Loschen and Will Perkins Sally Lusk Linda Marchello and Michael Carroll Steven and Deborah Martines Melissa Marvin Alice Mauer Sara McClure and David Steadman Patrick and Renee McGill Donald Moray and Beth Ryan Jeffrey Moser Philip and Helga Patterson Joseph Price Barbara L. Ramsey Jeffrey and Amy Schmid Howard Silberg Susan Thomas Monte and Duane Thompson Michael Thompson and Alan VanderLinden Judy Torrens Pamela Vaughn Stephen Weissman
Jim and Judith Wigton
In honor of Bob Benzel and Gerry Sullivan Robert Baye Angelica Carl Tim and Marleen Evans Sara Foxley Karen Gluck Mary and Rodrigo Lopez Mary Ellen Mulcahy Todd and Anna Swirczek
In honor of David M. Rice and Ephrim L. Mars Robert Baye
In honor of Leonard and Alice Grimsley Ruthanne Grimsley
In honor of Karen Kahland Debra Holst
In honor of Ken’Yell and Kelvin Julie Kellie
In honor of the marriage of George Kleine and Tom Knox Bob Benzel and Gerry Sullivan
In honor of the marriage of Todd Swirczek and Anna Anderson Bob Benzel and Gerry Sullivan
In honor of Lucille I. Mix Threasa Brown Kendra Mix Rondi Morton
In honor of Sarah Rawls Khristina Jost
In honor of Janell Shain Melissa Hurley
In honor of my friendship with Brandon Thomas Gary Katz
A special thank you to Larry Kelberg Vicki Allely
In honor of Mrs. Yai Wai Huey Gerry Sullivan
Steve and Connie Buller Patricia Callone and William Flynn Chanticleer, Inc. Mark Church Norman and Janice Cooksley Tim Daugherty Kay Friesen Gregory and Mary Goergen William Hackenberg Jr. Howard and Carol Halperin William and Patricia Hargens Karen J. Honeycutt John and Carmen Housley William and Kathy Kizer Robin Klusmire Bill and Susan Laird Dale and Sandra Jo Latshaw Jeff and Susan Lively Gerald and Jolene Medley Barbara Miller Derald and Susan Peters Mary Piernicky Robert and Denise Putnam Catherine Rihanek Edward and Victoria Roche Jacqueline St. John Michael Scherr Carol Schrader Sisters IHM #233 Bette Swanson Peggy Wagoner Frank Weidenfeller Linda Wilkie
In memory of my mother, Patti Burns Lisa L. Stepanek
In memory of Burt Burns Lisa L. Stepanek
In memory of Brandon Thomas Andrea M. Gordman and Daniel V. Fitzgerald
In memory of David Newell Sheila O’Connor Randy Schmailzl Michael and Sharon Tesar
In memory of Dawn Wesslund Janet McClellen William Wesslund
In memory of Donald Ross Goldner Tom Pensabene
In memory of Gordon Schempp Betty Mills
In memory of Fred Simon Bob Benzel and Gerry Sullivan
In memory of James Thibodeau Sr.
In honor of Arthur A. Rich’s father
Sheila O’Connor
In honor of my beloved nephew
Dickinson Investment Advisors, LLC First Presbyterian Church Bellevue Public Schools Bonnie Alexander Darlene Allen Jackie and Greer Almquist Scott and Carrie Bagnell Jack and Kimberly Barbaria Brian and Susan Beebe Roy Bennett Darald and Nancy Berg Kenneth and Kathleen Bischoff
Pat and Bob Crisler
Shirley Weinstein
In memory of Tanya Baker Vanessa Alford Janae Vaughn
In memory of Norene Duggan
Bob Benzel and Gerry Sullivan
In memory of Dr. Ann Trinkle
Inez Boyd Carol Broderick Patricia Buck Jon and Mary Butler Gilbert and Elaine Campbell Donald and Barbara Carlson Colonel Eugene G. Cash Laura Chambers Arlene Cohen William and Karin Coker Michael and Deborah Conry Colonel William Coon Jr. Tim and Barbara Cunningham James and Martha Davis Roger Davis Deanna Deegan Donald and Wendy Fenster James and Georgia Ford Barry and Connie Gaston Patrick and Linda Geary Michael and Freda Gregg Sharon Hansen Ellen Hargus Ken and Sandra Hassig Donald and Linda Hayton Jolene Heibel Connie Herringer George and Charlene Hon Mary Hughey Ken and Kathy Hurt Danny and Marilyn Kinsley Mari Jo Kirby Kristin Kuhn Frank and Patricia Kumor James and Marvel Lacasse Brock and Elizabeth Lasure Terry and Vivian Lee Patricia Lett Velma Lippoldt Ann MacDonald Larry and Glenda Mahagan Gary and Jacquelyn Marks Luann Matthies Janet McCarthy Sharon McDermott Thomas McDonnell Virgil and Donna McDonough Joe and Judith Medakovich Lloyd Mill Jr. Linda Milton Everett and Dorothy Minds Craig and Pamela Minds Max and Carol Moore Christine Nedved Jim and Sheila Nelson Roland and Marta Nieves Don and Rachel Novak Lonnie and Lynn Olson Gregory and Kriste Ongert John and Carolyn Ott Marilyn Parker Kenneth and Linda Patrick John and Mary Ann Perrin Ronald and Martha Peterson William and Theresa Radil Robert and Linda Rausch Janet Robinson Julee Sauer George Sayles Carl and Denise Seaman John and Nancy Shultz Patti Smith Shannon Snow Charlene Snyder Gloria Sorey and James VanArsdall Dale and Victoria Springer James and Joan Sterup Carol Swayne Larry and Sandy Sykora Douglas and Kathy Townsend Dorothy Trinkle Kenneth Trinkle Morgan and Deborah Trinkle Susan Trinkle John Ulrich and Beverly Bohlke
Donations received between July 1, 2015–June 30, 2016. We apologize for any unintentional errors or omissions. Please help us correct our records by calling 531-622-2346.
Elizabeth Wearin Roger and Ann Webster Cheryl Welding Betty Jean Widoe Larry and Claudia Winkler Suzanne Wise Col (Ret) David and Irene Wolfe
In memory of Karen McQuillan
Mary and Paul Hoeppner Kathleen Kennedy Pat Lammers
In memory of Russell Benzel Richard and Monica Benzel
In memory of Todd McHenry Cheryl Ford Dale and Frankie McHenry
In memory of Richard T. Steimer Kevin Steimer
In memory of Richard Fox Leslie G. Abegglen Michael and Sheri Abramson Alissa Arbeiter Harold and Doris Alloy Gerald J. Aquila Rabbi and Mrs. Aryeh Azriel Dale F. Barr Jr. Robert A. Benson Belgrade Company Mary Bernstein Steven Blumkin
Howard Borden Broadmoor Development Brandon and Samantha Carrino Doris Cohn Sylvia Cohn Gilberto and Margaret Conti Fran H. Davis and James L. Weinstein Pamela DePorte Jan Egermayer Robert Egermyer Paula Endelman Gary and Lisa Epstein James Farber Frankel Zacharia Pam Friedlander Howard and Sandra Friedman Morris Friedman Thomas and Suzanne Friedman Michael Fox Shelly Fox John Fullenkamp Donald Goldstein Michael Goldstein Cari Green Anthony Gulizia Hallmarq Construction, Inc. Geoffrey Hammond Emily J. Hansen Michael and Barbara Hoody Robert Johnson Larry and Deborah Josephson Keith and Judith Josephson Myron Kaplan David and Sharon Kotok Nancy Lazer Rochelle Lewis
All Metals Market, Inc. Big Muddy Workshop Blackhawk Industrial Black Hills Energy Pat and Bob Crisler Tim Dempsey ELTEE Mangalitsa, LLC Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Godfather’s Pizza Corporation Jasmine Hayes Jesse Houlding Ken Hultman Interstate Power Systems Gail Johnson Donel Keeler Kelly Group Ken Glendenning Food Photography LBT, Inc.
Lighthouse Restaurants, LLC Larry and Diane Malashock Neal and Jody Malashock Diana Manvitz Wendy Manvitz Caryl Matson Frank Matson Edward and Carrie May Jr. Jon M. Meyers Lou Mrla Jay and Kim Noddle Nancy Noddle Steve Nogg Donald Noodell Omaha Restaurant Association Foundation Ellen Platt Quality Brands of Omaha Richard and Charlotte Ricke Rhonda Saferstein Gregory M. Schatz Wendy Shermet Michael and Mimi Silverman Jesse Sirotkin Ann Stratton Duane and Marlene Sullivan Jeffrey Taxman Robert Weinstein Shirley Weinstein Steve and Kathy Zalkin
In memory of William and Ida Wesslund Robert and Connie Wesslund Jeffrey and Susan Petersen
In memory of Rita Reicks Bob Benzel and Gerry Sullivan
In memory of Linda Scholz Sheila O’Connor
In memory of C.D. Mulligan Sheila O’Connor
In memory of Robert Hopkins-Foell Rodrigo and Mary Lopez
In memory of Lucile Johnson
Robert and Connie Wesslund
Loffredo Fresh Produce Company Mercer Culinary Millard Manufacturing Millard Metal Services Nebraska Beef Council Nebraska Hoist and Crane Nebraska Pork Producers Assn, Inc. NewChef Fashion, Inc. Omaha Steaks Paxton Vierling Steel Co. Runza Restaurants Rick Sandvig Sysco Lincoln, Inc. Steven Tamayo Valmont Industries, Inc. Tracy Weitz Larren Wilcox Woerner Wire Works
Donations received between July 1, 2015–June 30, 2016. We apologize for any unintentional errors or omissions. Please help us correct our records by calling 531-622-2346.
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FASHION FINDS A HOME AT MCC The ability to respond to emerging workforce trends is one of Metropolitan Community College’s many strengths, drawing in new students and supplying the market with skilled, just-in-time talent. MCC’s new associate degree in Fashion Design, which debuted in Fall 2016, was developed in this very spirit, in conjunction with organizers of Omaha Fashion Week. Over the last 10 years, the event has grown from humble beginnings to become the fifth largest fashion event of its kind in the country—a testament to Omaha’s growing community of fashion professionals.
added Dr. Tom McDonnell, vice president for Academic Affairs.
The surge of young and emerging talent in Omaha, combined with the positive employment outlook for fashion professionals across the country, created the perfect opportunity for MCC to develop the training program. A team of faculty, deans and community leaders worked for nearly two years with fashion show organizers to build the career pathway, which includes apprenticeship opportunities with Omaha Fashion Week. During the second year of the program, students will work with local designers and the fashion show in a variety of areas, “For years, students have been depending on their interests. That asking for a Fashion Design could include helping run the shows, program,” said Nanci Stephenson, Fashion Design program coordinator hemming clothes or working with online retailers. and lead instructor. “So, when we were approached by Omaha Fashion Rather than focusing on technical Week creators Brook and Nick skills, like sewing, the new degree Hudson, we knew we would be able program helps students build to help create the talent pipeline business skills and design knowledge. they were looking for.” Students take fashion-specific “Creating the program with industry classes like History of Fashion and leaders in our community was critical Digital Design Principles, alongside elective courses like Marketing to implementing this new program. for the Entrepreneur. The intent We are grateful for the leaders who is to prepare students for a range provided the content expertise of careers in the fashion industry, we needed to help move this from creating original apparel and programming opportunity forward,”
For years, students have been asking for a Fashion Design program. - Nanci Stephenson, MCC Fashion Design program coordinator lead instructor
accessories to working in retail and showing their work in local and national fashion shows. In the program’s first quarter, fourteen students are set to complete Fashion Design Principles. Students include recent high school graduates, Fashion Week designers and a military veteran who is turning her longtime hobby into a potential career opportunity. Students committed to full-time study should be able to complete the degree program in two years. Reflecting on the program’s creation, Stephenson noted the importance of MCC’s partnership with industry. “The Fashion Design program wouldn’t have happened without the collaboration with Omaha Fashion Week. Having industry champions at the table helped us create a responsive, robust training program for our students—tomorrow’s fashion professionals.”
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2016 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI Marian Holden
In 2016, the Metropolitan Community College Foundation recognized Marian Holden, Class of 2004, with the Distinguished Alumni Award. While still a student at MCC, Holden started her interior design business out of her home, and has since expanded her successful business into a storefront location. As the owner of Designer’s Touch, she remains connected to MCC’s students by providing internships, serving as a member of MCC’s Interior Design Advisory Committee and by speaking to classes on design-related topics. Holden’s engagement extends beyond MCC. She served as the 2013-14 president of the Omaha Executive Club and was awarded the Metro Women’s Business Center’s Outstanding Business Woman of the Year in 2010 and Outstanding Woman in Small Business and Leadership in 2014. Holden was 2012-13 president of American Society of Interior Designer’s Nebraska/Iowa Chapter, and communications director from 2011 to 2015. She has served on the board of the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Her design studio has been the recipient of numerous awards, including Readers’ Choice Best Interior Store, and has received numerous project awards from the ASID’s Nebraska/Iowa Chapter.
After earning her bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Management from College of Saint Mary, Holden received an associate degree in Applied Science in Interior Design, with honors, from MCC and served on the board of the local American Society of Interior Designer’s student chapter. Holden’s commitment to MCC as a student and as an alumna illustrate reasons why she was nominated and selected as the recipient of this prestigious award. Since 2015, MCC Foundation has awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award annually to honor and recognize MCC alumni who demonstrate service to their community; personal or professional achievement; and involvement, commitment and/or support of the life and work of MCC. If you would like to nominate an alumni for this award, please visit mccneb.edu/fan to complete the nomination form. This annual award will accept nomination forms until March 17 for the 2017 award. Nominations are accepted throughout the year for the next year’s award.
Her design studio has been the recipient of numerous awards, including “Readers’ Choice Best Interior Store,” and has received numerous project awards from the ASID’s Nebraska/Iowa Chapter.
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AND THE WINNER IS ... Award highlights MCC initiatives
Building a workforce that can compete in today’s technology savvy world is one of the important factors in keeping talent here in the Omaha metropolitan area. One of the goals Metropolitan Community College has been pursuing is helping the community with this workforce development objective. To do this, the College has engaged in initiatives that touch all ages and all walks of life—whether it’s the BringITOn Challenge, a competition centered on high school students finding complex solutions for area companies, or constructing the new Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology on the Fort Omaha Campus. These actions are what helped MCC receive the annual Community Builder of the Year award, an honor given by the AIM Institute during its annual Tech Celebration Awards. AIM Institute’s Tech Celebration honors achievements of tech-oriented individuals and organizations who have made a positive impact on the community. The award also
recognizes the College’s Workforce Innovation Division and their efforts to make Omaha competitive regionally and nationally. Workforce Innovation Division’s Tom Pensabene accepted the award on behalf of MCC at the event, held at the Holland Performing Arts Center in downtown Omaha.
The Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology is “more than just a building at MCC.” Being recognized as a tech leader doesn’t come without creative vision. CAET exemplifies that. New technologies and start-ups are creating new jobs and transforming current jobs every day. Industries, technologies and job requirements are evolving at breakneck speeds. The academic building will co-locate with industry partners to move forward together, test new technologies,
Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology
develop new products and continually train and re-train our workforce. Pensabene describes it as more than a “new building at MCC”; this will be the community’s advanced technology center—a flexible learning center that attracts, spawns and grows Omaha businesses, training students through technologies and bringing learning to life through realworld research and development. Together, MCC faculty, students and industry partners will learn, test, apply and develop new technologies. Both a driver and a consumer of new technologies, CAET will be a collaborative working and learning space that really earns the label “synergistic.” Corporate exhibit space, entrepreneurial production labs and economic development partners will be hallmarks of the new center. Students will not only build skills with industry-standard technologies, they will work with emerging technologies, moving area industries forward. The Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology is set to be completed by fall quarter 2017.
CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION CENTER One of the best ways to build work skills is by working in an appliedlearning setting. From the moment students walk through the door of the Construction Education Center, they will not just be going to college— they will be going to a work site. “Going to work” at the 100,000 ft² CEC will mean practicing welds in a lab or high-tech simulator, building components to a modular home with in a large collaborative workspace, reading construction documents on an iPad or working out the team project schedule in a huddle room. In addition to trade-specific labs, tool cribs and shared work spaces, there will be rooms for seminars and broadcasts from real-world, real-time construction projects. Scheduled to open in fall 2017, the CEC plans to train 1,300 students annually in Architectural Drafting and Design; Civil Engineering; Construction Technology; Electrical Technology; Heating,
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Plumbing and Welding programs in a centralized location. “With all these programs under one roof, students will work with other trades and see projects move completely through the planning, installation and quality control phases,” said Nate Barry, dean of the CEC. “Cross-collaboration and increased communication between areas will allow us to enhance training for students and create a more real-world experience.” Having students trained in a realworld setting is just what the region’s growing construction industry is looking for. To ensure the success of the CEC, Metropolitan Community College is working closely with industry partners to align classroom curriculum with ever-changing industry needs and identify equipment that students will be trained on to be ready for the job site on day one.
“State-of-the-art technology and equipment, from iPads to 3-D modeling and virtual reality, will be strategically imbedded into every room,” said Barry. The construction industry has benefitted significantly from the incorporation of technology to enhance and streamline its daily operations—and training at the CEC will reflect this shift. “The presence of technology in the construction trades is not limited to multi-million dollar projects,” said Barry. “The training students will receive at the CEC will prepare them for job sites, both small and large, that demand workers skilled in tech tools. Our ultimate goal is to make MCC our area’s go-to source for quality construction talent.”
Construction Education Center
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MCC AT DO SPACE: INAUGURAL YEAR IN REVIEW MCC’s partnership with Community Information Trust champions access to learning and technology
Strategically located on the second floor of Do Space, Omaha’s first digital library at 72nd and Dodge streets, Metropolitan Community College’s newest location is helping bridge the “Digital Divide” by bringing technology-infused educational opportunities to a diverse community of learners. From young innovators and older adults to emerging entrepreneurs and incumbent workers, there is something for everyone at MCC at Do Space. Since the grand opening of MCC at Do Space on January 4, 2016, more than 35,000 visitors and learners have enjoyed a wide variety of workshops, exhibits and almost 250 class offerings, like robotics for youth, job-seeker workshops, software trainings for professionals, financial planning for retirees, digital photography workshops and technology troubleshooting. “What sets MCC at Do Space apart is the diversity of our offerings,” said Chris Swanson, MCC’s Do Space coordinator. “Making this unique location the flagship for our Continuing Education program allows us to be incredibly creative with the technology we use, the partnerships we forge and the innovative programming we deliver—and
we’ve been pleased to see that the community is embracing the model.” Last winter, MCC at Do Space introduced thousands of visitors to Earth system science by projecting animated planetary data onto a room-sized 3-D globe during the two-week Science on a Sphere exhibit from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Claire M. Hubbard Foundation Sustainability Series will build on this success—hosting local, regional and national experts around topics like renewable energy sources and deforestation. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) focused programming has been a huge draw for the location, especially for youth. In Camp Robot for Kids, open to students in grades K-6, participants perform basic programming skills using the CEENBot, an open source robotics platform designed by Computer and Electronics Engineering (CEEN) students at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Creating robust offerings for older adults is another focus area for MCC at Do Space, where not all learning is focused on technology; rather, learning is enabled or
enhanced by technology. Through collaboration with AARP, MCC has offered classes in identity and online data protection. The College is also working with the University of Nebraska Omaha’s Department of Gerontology to develop a series specifically for older learners around four core areas: leaving a legacy, personal enrichment, technology training and enlightenment. And the site’s Workforce Testing and Certification Center is attracting yet another segment of the community: job seekers and incumbent workers. Developed by MCC’s Workforce Innovation Division, the testing center at Do Space is designed for area employees and community members to receive professional licensure and certification exam testing services. Certifications include Intuit QuickBooks, CISCO, Microsoft Office, National Career Readiness, Adobe and many others. “We look forward to continuing to grow these offerings and really make MCC at Do Space our community’s premier, modern training and learning center,” said Swanson.
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SCHOLARSHIP MATCHING FUND Never before has there been such a demand for opportunity. A growing number of community partners want to help students build their career skills at Metropolitan Community College. Many organizations are joining MCC in providing matching scholarships, which cover the full cost of an MCC education. The program’s goal is to prepare motivated low-income students for careers in construction, health, information technology and other high-demand fields, to help area businesses find crucial skilled workers. With comprehensive scholarship funds, more students will be able to focus on their studies, complete their coursework and earn a job in a career they love.. Developing the workforce in Omaha is one of Metropolitan Community College’s key goals, as evidenced by the current $90 million Fort Omaha Campus expansion project. Innovative instruction within three new buildings – the Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology, the Construction Education Center and the Academic Skills Center – will not only help the college prepare students for high-demand, well-paying occupations, it will also help fill job openings with companies eager for workers. It is critical that students who want to participate in these programs have the financial means to do so. These scholarship partnerships put students on solid career pathways with no-debt completion, leading to a better quality of life. The scholarships contribute to our local workforce by training workers. Please join us in helping students get there. To contribute to the MCC Scholarship Matching Fund, you may visit https://webapps.mccneb.edu/waystogive/Give/ or contact us at foundation@mccneb.edu or 531-MCC-2346.
MODULAR MATH Alternate learning model leads to increased student success
For transfer or degree-seeking students who come to Metropolitan Community College unprepared for college-level math courses, the developmental math track is where they begin to raise their skills up to college standards. But for many of these students, progressing through the developmental math sequence— up to three levels of remediation—can be one of the biggest hurdles of their postsecondary careers. Data-informed delivery models help students progress. Using data from 2009, math faculty found that 40 percent of students who started in developmental never progressed to a credit class. Students who fail to successfully complete the developmental math sequence were citing two primary problems: math classes moved too slow or too fast for their skill level. Both of these groups of students lost motivation to persist, and those who needed to re-take courses multiple times to earn a passing grade wasted precious time and drained their financial resources. In 2011, a study by the Higher Learning Commission, MCC’s accrediting body, recommended adopting a concept called modular
math, where typical quarter-or semester-long courses are broken down into modules for students to progress through at their own pace as mastery of concepts is demonstrated. Two math faculty members led MCC’s efforts to adopt and institutionalize modular math, Marcia Vergo and Mike Flesch, who now serves as MCC’s dean of math and natural sciences. Together, they broke the math sequence—three developmental noncredit courses and one collegelevel credit course—into 30 total modules. Students advance as they demonstrate mastery, meaning that students can move through lessons as quickly or as slowly as they need. This new model, relying heavily on technology, also means that class time looks different from more traditional math classes. For four hours per week, students work independently on laptops using MyLabsPlus, an online learning platform, to learn concepts and complete homework, quizzes and tests. Students watch videos instead of listening to lectures for an explanation of material and rely on the instructor and instructor’s assistant for more in-depth instruction, if needed.
“Modular math is incredibly individualized,” said Vergo. “The selfpaced format takes pressure off the student resulting in a more relaxed learning environment.” On average, students complete between one and two quarters’ worth of work in just one quarter’s time—saving them valuable time and money. If a student finishes the quarter in the middle of a class, they can enroll in the next quarter and pick up where they left off. Students succeed in modular math classes at a nearly 80 percent rate, earning a passing grade or re-enrolling in the next quarter. While 32 percent of students complete just one class, about 17 percent are able to accelerate to the next class in the sequence and beyond. In just a few years, the program has seen the percent of students progressing onto college-level math classes grow from 60 to more than 71 percent—a significant improvement. “Students are sticking with it and staying motivated,” said Vergo. “Without modular math and the flexibility to move through these classes on a mastery basis, we would have lost many of these successful students.”
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FAMILY MEAL
Family Meal is a concept familiar to those in the restaurant industry. It’s a time usually before or after a shift, when the staff comes together to enjoy conversation over a meal pulled together from the kitchen. In most cases, the meal is casual—the leftovers from dinner or the chef’s latest experiment. Oftentimes, plates are skipped with staff opting for sharing bowls and food containers. It’s a time to relax and enjoy the company of friends. Metropolitan Community College’s culinary department has embraced the concept of Family Meal as an opportunity to invite friends, alumni and industry partners to gather around the dinner table. “So much of our time with our industry partners is spent executing and accomplishing tasks,” said Brian O’Malley, interim executive director of the Institute for the Culinary Arts. “Family Meal ensures that we have valuable time at the table to truly connect beyond our busy day-to-day interactions.”
“The importance of Family Meal is the way it brings former students, faculty and friends of the Institute for the Culinary Arts back together for a great evening of fellowship, centered around a great meal,” added Glenn Wheeler, executive chef at Spencer’s for Steaks and Chops. “Food and hospitality will often take people away from their stress, if just for a moment spent at the dinner table.” Guests catch up with old friends, forge new contacts, play games, exchange stories and learn a bit about what the culinary program has to offer—chiefly, the program’s many scholarship opportunities. For O’Malley, making sure industry and alumni are aware of scholarship opportunities within the culinary program is a winwin for the department, students and those in the industry who benefit from a skilled workforce.
members and alumni recommend colleagues who may benefit from additional education, in turn helping to improve the overall quality of the restaurant’s operation. “Scholarships like the Brandon Thomas Memorial Scholarship are geared toward those already in the industry seeking an education to advance their skills and careers,” said O’Malley. “These students come to us with passion, demonstrated talent and an understanding of how the industry works. They are excellent candidates for these scholarships.” The next Family Meal is scheduled for January 28, 2018. If you would like to attend a future Family Meal, email cjcurtis@mccneb.edu or pdwalsh@mccneb.edu.
Family Meal is also the perfect opportunity for connecting students with scholarship funding. Industry
Food and hospitality will often take people away from their stress, if just for a moment spent at the dinner table. 27
CREDENTIAL PROGRAMS GIVE STUDENTS A COMPETITIVE EDGE At Metropolitan Community College, we are committed to developing relevant and responsive education and training that helps students gain a competitive advantage when they seek to enter or move up in the workforce. Two areas of study within MCC’s trades department—Auto Collision Technology and Precision Machine Technology—recently earned nationally recognized credentials that will help give successful students a leg up on the competition. Although focused on two different career pathways, these credentials have something in common: earning them requires significant investment of time and effort on behalf of the institution, faculty and industry advisory members, while also raising the rigor and quality standards of training for students. The process can take years. MCC faculty has worked with industry advisory committee members to review, revise and rewrite curriculum to meet standards. They completed numerous applications and participated in instructor trainings. “We’ve worked on the I-CAR credentialing process for more than three years,” said Pat McKibbin, Auto Collision lead instructor. “But if you ask us and our industry partners, we will all agree that having this training program is a win-win for our students and area employers.”
Students who successfully complete the Auto Collision program and pass a final examination will earn their I-CAR Pro Level I credential—a credential that significantly boosts their chances of being hired and earning a competitive wage. “When a student applies for a job with this certification, it tells employers that they are ready to enter the workforce as a productive collision repair professional,” said McKibbin. “Our industry partners have told us, he or she would be given a job over someone without the credential.” It’s a similar story for MCC’s Precision Machine Technology program, certified by the National Institute for Metalworking Skills, the only developer of national standards for the metalworking industry. To earn the various NIMS credentials available, students must successfully complete both a skills demonstration and an online examination. Building a part, for example, requires 100 percent precision of the dimensions, as evaluated by industry representatives. While students who complete MCC’s program are eligible for NIMS credentials, the exams are not required and cost extra, at about $70 for each certification. To help offset these credential fees, John Banark, Precision Machine Technology lead instructor, worked
with the MCC Foundation to apply for and successfully receive grant funding from the Gene Haas Foundation and the MCCF Inspiring Innovation Mini-Grant program. “No matter where a student goes after earning their degree and NIMS credentials, their skills will be recognized by employers across the country,” said Banark. “It’s important that students see the value in putting in the extra work now—it will pay off in the long run.” These certification efforts are part of a larger strategy to align industry-specific training to meet the technical education needs identified by MCC’s Industry Advisory Boards. In Automotive Technology, MCC was the first college in Nebraska to offer NC3 certifications and currently have career certificates available in Automotive Technician Assistant and Automotive Under-Vehicle Specialist. In addition, a certificate of achievement is available in Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair Technician. As certificate programs, they are intended to lead directly to employment in the high demand industry of automotive technology. For more information about educational cost, median loan debt and other important information related to this program, please visit our website at mccneb.edu/autocollision-technology.
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BINATIONAL HEALTH FAIR: Service to the community
Since 2011, Metropolitan Community College has hosted Omaha’s largest free health clinic for the community, serving nearly 1,000 individuals with access to vaccinations, health screenings, prevention strategies and important information about healthcare coverage. The Binational Health Fair occurs during Binational Health Week every year in October, and is a mobilization effort to improve the health and wellbeing of the underserved Latino population living in the United States and Canada. In Omaha, the event is held on MCC’s South Omaha Campus and involves a collaboration with multiple government and community service agencies and, while the focus is on reaching the Latino population, everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate. With support from the Metro Omaha Medical Society Foundation and Methodist Health Systems Community Benefits, MCC Health and Public Service students conduct on-site glucose screenings and distribute free fitness tools and first-aid supplies to attendees. “This event empowers individuals to take charge of their health while providing our students with valuable clinical and community service experiences,” says Dr. Stacey Ocander, dean of Health and Public Services at MCC. “This community health initiative brings together so many health and human service organizations to improve health outcomes. Professionals from more than 40 agencies come together for the sole purpose of making our community healthy and providing services in a safe and unbiased environment.” Because health-related factors, including chronic illness, can lead to poor academic performance, improving health outcomes can have a lifelong benefit.
A BEACON OF LIGHT IN SOUTH OMAHA Drive by the Metropolitan Community College Express location at 24th and Vinton streets in South Omaha at night, and you will notice the glow of the lampshades that light the front window. “Illumination” is a sculpture installation designed by MCC instructor, Jamie Burmeister and his winter New Media Design Class, installed in February 2016. The project was funded through the Metropolitan Community College Foundation Inspiring Innovation Mini-Grant program. To complete the project, students spent time in MCC Express to get a feel for the location. They utilized social media to secure donations of lampshades and acquired other lampshades in local secondhand stores. The students applied knowledge acquired in previous foundation arts classes to create the lampshade columns. In addition, they assisted in assembling the lampshade columns and related electronics to ensure a visually appealing and strong composition. The computer-controlled LED lights illuminate the sculpture from within, using lights that change color and intensity. “We intended to connect student work and community engagement by creating public art that inspires and enlivens the surrounding community and student-learning environment,” said Burmeister. “Light symbolizes knowledge, illumination and optimism. The piece reflects the diversity of our faculty, staff and students. These are qualities that make MCC standout as a beacon in our community.” The art installation serves as a welcome to the students at this location, which primarily serves noncredit students by providing individualized tutoring, English as a Second Language courses and assistance with obtaining a General Education diploma. Completion coaches assist students in their transition from ESL to GED and from GED to credit courses and onto a career pathway. Serving more than 3,000 individuals annually, MCC Express helps to light the way for everyone who walks through the door seeking educational support.
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Metropolitan Community College P.O. Box 3777 Omaha, NE 68103-0777
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