Issue 21

Lions’ Roar

StudentVoice A Normandale Community College Student Media Outlet for Audio, Visual, & Written Work.

Thanks for checking out the 21st issue of the Lions’ Roar Student Voice. This month we’re excited to welcome a new reporter to our staff, Michael Achterling. He’s written an excellent article on the Veterans Center, a story we’ve been trying to tell for a while.

In addition, We’ve titled this issue “Success Day takes flight” because we’ve included a spread of highlights from Success Day. Stay tuned next month for our satire issue due to be released April Fools Day. Thanks for reading and have a fantastic spring break.

Karlynn O’Neil Editor in Chief Our Spring 2016 Staff:

Karlynn O’Neil- Editor in Chief Abigail Albrecht- Assistant Editor Michael Achterling- Reporter Greg Lyons- Staff Advisor

Contact us by Email at lionsroar@normandale.edu Or stop by our office K1401 Kopp Student Center The views expressed are strictly those of student contributors.

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Issue 21

Features TRiO Luncheon- 3 Veterans Center- 8

Success Day - 10 Raptor Center - 14

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TRiO Ensures Student Success

From Middle to Graduate School Story and Photos by: Karlynn O’Neil

On January 8th, TRiO Support Services hosted a luncheon to kick

off the Spring Semester. TRiO offers 8 Federally funded programs available to students who face

barriers. The first three being Upward Bound, Talent Search, and Student Support Services; hence the name TRiO. The programs target students who are low income, first generation college students, or students who have a disability. A student who is eligible can start working with TRiO as early as middle school and can continue to reap the benefits through graduate school.

TRiO offers Academic Success Coaches who can help keep you on track; they can help you chose your classes, hold you accountable for studying, and help connect you with resources like scholarships, grants, or internship opportunities.

TRiO has been a nationwide outreach since the late 60’s, but they are new to Normandale.(President Joyce Ester brought TRiO to Normandale.) In October, the TRiO Department offices opened in the Library building. Director Frederic MacDonald-Dennis is heading up a team of three coaches who are already meeting with students.

(In photo: Frederic MacDonald-Dennis, Director of TRiO Support Services on Normandale Campus, gives the introductory address for luncheon.

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“TRiO works, People, Trio Works,” Dr. Aida Martinez-Freeman

The semi-formal lunch event brought TRiO

students and their families together to inspire students to take advantage of all of the resources available to them. The lunch featured a keynote address from Dr. Aida Martinez-Freeman, who is the TRiO Student Support Services program for Macalester College.

“TRiO works, people, TRiO works,” she said with enthusiasm. Aida knows first hand what kind of struggles students are faced with. As a TRiO student herself, Aida is a success story.

Aida grew up the daughter of a single mother who juggled several jobs to make ends meet. Though she had the help of her grandmother, Aida struggled with school.

“I couldn’t understand the point of school other than to give me a place to go while my mother was at work,” said Aida. “My relationship with education was that it was a place of oppression.”

All of this changed when Aida joined TRiO at the age of 14. Being involved in a program that would assist her in succeeding changed her perspective of learning. She was able to meet with councilors and engage with other students. “Whenever I walked into TRiO’s offices, people knew my name,” she said.

In college, Aida was unsure of how to direct

her studies. After changing her major 5 times, in her junior year, she turned to her TRiO department director and said, “I want to do exactly what you’re doing.”

The take away from her talk was to trust the process, to ask for help when you need it, and be involved in your own education. Which is valuable advice from someone who was once a struggling student and is now a director for TRiO. “Trust that you will complete this journey,” she said, “you are the future of TRiO.”

“Whenever I walked into TRiO’s offices, people knew my name,” Said Aida.

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(Left) “As a community, your success is our success.” President Ester encouraged TRiO students to celebrate their successes.

(Below) Dr. Orinthia Montague chats with a TRiO family.

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“My expectation wasn’t to stop but when are you going to get the next degree. Life gets in the way but you keep going,” Dr. Orinthia Montegue spoke passionately on continuing education.

The take away from my interview with Normandale’s TRiO Department Director, Frederic

MacDonald-Dennis, is that TRiO wants to get to know you. Though the program is in high demand and there is limited space, TRiO is recruiting for Fall 2016 in April.

“It is very beneficial to have an advocate that knows you well and access to resources,” said Frederic, “that will help you succeed at Normandale and beyond.”

The TRiO department office is located in the library, to the right as you enter, just under the red TRiO sign.

Students are welcome to come in and use their lounge to study or quietly hang out with friends.

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Current and former military service members pose for a photo in Normandale Community C o l l e g e ’s Ve t e r a n s R e s o u r c e C e n t e r ( C 11 0 3 ) . ( p h o t o i l l u s t r a t i o n b y M i c h a e l A c h t e r l i n g )

Normandale Provides Resources for Veterans Community to Thrive

on the common belief of assisting others.

“We try to provide a As the sun sets on the and friendly military careers of many welcoming said Mary service members, panic atmosphere,” Touch, a Veteran Resource may start to take hold. The Assistant, and uncertainty of the future, Center or the freighting images current Minnesota National service member. of the past maybe all that Guard “It’s important for service some veterans can focus on. Yet, with no time left, they are forced, voluntary or involuntary, to assimilate into society.

Transitions can be challenging for any individual. From high school members to reintegrate in to college, moving across the a familiar environment. The country, or internationally; students who come to the these lifestyle changes affect Vets Center all have shared former and current military experiences, talking about service members as well. them with one another, and The veterans of Normandale growing a community is Community College have what our resource center is formed a community based all about.”

Story by Michael Achterling

Normandale’s Veterans Center, located in C1103 (1st Floor College Services, next to the Diversity Center), is a warm environment.

Computers, couches, and student staff members are always available for veterans, or any Normandale student who just wants to hang out in between classes.

“It’s a great place to do homework, have a study session with classmates, or just kick your feet up,” said Touch. “We also try to keep our veterans informed, and improve our own knowledge about the continually changing educational and medical benefits information.

The Veteran Affairs (VA) representatives have a wealth of knowledge, and

Spring 2016

Jacob Gooderum, a Veterans Resource Center Assistant, works at a desk in the Veterans Resource Center. (photo by Michael Achterling)

passing that information on to the students who need it is how we all learn together.”

VA medical and educational representatives are also available each month for appointments with any current or former military service members to discuss their benefits. The Normandale Admissions Office gives veterans assistance for: securing Joint-Service Transcripts, assistance for accessing military educational benefits, and advising/registration for classes. “[Veterans] bring a lot of strong leadership skills and different life experiences that enrich the community,” said Kari Rusch-Curl, a Normandale Academic and Veterans Advisor since 2011, and current Interim Director of Advising and Counselling. “We want our new student vets to reach out, get connected, and ask questions. A key to

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being successful is having a connection with somebody.

Whether it’s a staff member or another student, getting connected in the first few weeks of being on campus makes all the difference in staying motivated, persisting, and ultimately, completing their goals.”

With 532 veterans enrolled in 2015, Normandale is among the top veteranfriendly colleges in entire state of Minnesota.

“I love working with veterans on campus, and I’m really glad that there is the institutional support for it, said RuschCurl. “The fact that we have

dedicated space, have been able to staff it, and bring in outside resources is huge.

I’m glad it’s going to continue, and we are always open to feedback on ways to improve our services.”

These resources help veterans transition from a military routine to a civilian midset.

Starting a new lifestyle can be challenging, but with the help of the Veterans Resource Center and Normandale’s knowledgeable, caring advisors and counsellors; military service members will discover they are not alone with the community they have built on this small community college campus in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Mary Touch, a Veterans Resource Center Assistant, works at a desk in the Veterans Resource Center. (photo illustration by Michael Achterling)

A Successful Day! Highlights from the 7th Annual Success Day

David Rayson (left), a Normandale Community College History Department faculty member, discusses different degree plans with a student during Success Day. (photo by Michael Achterling)

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Paige Wheeler and a student greet visitors at the Success Day information table. (photo by Karlynn O’Neil)

A Normandale faculty member gets their blood pressure checked. (photo by Karlynn O’Neil)

Students load up on Free Chinese lunch at China: Student Perspectives.(photo by Karlynn O’Neil)

Dental Health care professionals give away toothpaste. (photo by Karlynn O’Neil)

Dental Hygene students offer cavity risk assessments (photo by Karlynn O’Neil)

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Elayna Brogis (left), a Normandale Nursing student, conducts a blood pressure exam during Success Day. (photo by Michael Achterling)

Mary-Ann Johnson (left), a Normandale Community College Business Department faculty member, discusses different degree plans with a student during Success Day. (photo by Michael Achterling)

A student visits the Progress Valley Women’s Residential Treatment Center informational table during Success Day. (photo

by Michael Achterling)

Debra Ahlers (left), a representative of Memorial Blood Center, performs a blood typing test for a student during Success Day. (photo by Michael Achterling)

Rachelle Bender (left), a Normandale Chiropractic employee, gives spinal health consultations to students during Success Day. (photo by Michael Achterling)

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Progress Valley, a nonprofit working to assist people who are recovering from chemical dependency, held a table to demonstrate the danger of driving under the influence.

Students could try on goggles to see different stages of impairment.

Two Normandale Community College Students try on impaired goggles.(photo by Karlynn O’Neil)

A Juggling Club member juggles while three A student wearing drunk goggles tries to walk the line over the legal limit. (photo by Karlynn O’Neil) impaired. (photo by Karlynn O’Neil)

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University of Minnesota Raptors Visit Campus for Success Day Story and Photos By: Michael Achterling & Karlynn O’Neil

T

he University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine has been helping injured birds since the mid-seventies. The Raptor Center rehabilitates nearly 800 sick or injured raptors a year. In addition, they help identify environmental issues related to raptor health and populations. Dan Hnilicka, an Interpretive Naturalist from the University of Minnesota’s Raptor Center, hosted a session for Success Day. The session involved explaining what the Raptor Center does and introducing us to four awesome birds.

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Claire Simmerman, a Normandale Community College student, examines a grey horned owl skull as part of a demonstration from the University of Minnesota Raptor Center during Success Day. (photo by Michael Achterling)

Dan Hnilicka explains the purpose of a Great Horned Owls “horns”. (photo by Karlynn O’Neil)

Dan Hnilicka, an Interpretive Nauralist from the University of Minnesota’s Raptor Center, shows a Peregrine Falcon during Success Day. (photo by Michael Achterling)

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Dan Hnilicka, an Interpretive Nauralist from the University of Minnesota’s Raptor Center, shows a RedTailed Hawk during Success Day. (photo by Michael Achterling)

(Above and lower left) After the Bald Eagle tried to take flight, Dan put the bird back in his kennel. (photos by Karlynn O’neil)

For more information about the University of Minnesota Raptor Center, visit their website at: http://www.raptor.umn.edu/

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