Campus
Communicator
SEPTEMBER • 2013
WVNCC Gets Nearly $1.8 Million Grant
Earlier this month, it was announced
that $25 million in federal funding
had been approved for the Bridging
the Gap Consortium, a group of 10
community and technical colleges in
West Virginia dedicated to expanding
and improving education and career
training programs in fields that lead
to high-wage, high-skilled jobs and
careers. Under the grant, WVNCC is
scheduled to receive $1,793,154.
According to a news release from the
office of U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, the
$25 million award is the highest level
of funding that can be allocated under
the Department of Labor’s Trade
Adjustment Assistance Community
College and Career Training funding
program, and “reflects the great work
Safety Week
The College conducted safety drills
and provided detailed information
as part of WVNCC Safety Awareness
Week from Sept. 23-28 at the Weirton,
Wheeling and New Martinsville campuses.
The week began with distribution of
brochures and handouts concerning
safety issues in the lobbies of WVNCC
buildings on each campus. In addition,
students, faculty, and staff were encouraged to sign up for the text alert system,
if they had not already done so, by visiting the Northern website.
Mid-week, Open Safety Committee
Meetings were held on each campus.
of the West Virginia Community and
Technical College System in building a
strong network of leaders in industry,
labor and academia throughout the
state fully committed to preparing the
state’s workforce for employment in
high-wage, high-skill occupations.”
WVNCC President Olshinsky said the
funds greatly will enhance expanding
the college’s recent efforts to provide
state-of-the-art training for such jobs.
“Our new building on the Wheeling campus and the new addition to
the Weirton campus building already
house new programs that are providing training for in-demand jobs,” he
said. “This new funding will allow us
to ratchet up those efforts.”
Wheeling and New Martinsville campuses held special lunch and learn
presentations that dealt with numerous
topics related to safety.
On Thursday morning, a formal
“Shelter in Place” drill was held for
about 20 minutes which required
participants to remain at the location
they were in when the drill began. The
College’s phone system was used to
relay the shelter in place message and
also to run a test text alert notice. After
the drill a link to an evaluation was sent
so that participants could share experiences and suggestions. Also during the
week, the Weirton campus conducted
Fire Extinguisher Training.
Northern’s Mechatronics program,
leading to a degree in industrial maintenance, and the Petroleum Technology program, along with welding
and plans for a program in diesel
mechanics, all are new additions to
the curriculum. “Our administrative
team is beginning planning for use of
this much-appreciated federal grant,”
Olshinsky said.
The grant proposal calls for the
funded projects to be implemented
during a three-year period. Built into
the grant budget proposals are funds
for hiring of personnel, travel, classroom/laboratory equipment, supplies
and other related costs.
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Military Friendly School
WVNCC has
been named a
Military Friendly
School for 2014,
a designation it
has earned for
the past several
years.
Rich McCormack, president of
Victory Media Inc., said his firm’s
years of research, including a recent
survey of more than 12,000 schools,
has resulted in Northern being cited
for the listing by Victory Media.
McCormack said, “You should take
pride in this honor as it ranks your
school in the top 15 per cent of
schools nationwide via a data driven
survey administered by Victory
Media, a veteran-owned business
and publisher of “G.I. Jobs” and the
“Guide to Military Friendly Schools.”
The survey weighting, methodology
and resulting schools list is
independently certified by Ernst and
Young, he added.
campus counselors Tami Becker,
Wheeling campus, 304-214-8946; Lisa
Soly, Weirton campus, 304-723-7515;
or Ina Robinson, New Martinsville
campus, 304-510-8767.
“Competition for the 2014 Military
Friendly Schools list was fierce and as
a result we raised the already stringent
criteria to a higher benchmark,”
McCormack explained. “Your school
is among the elite competing for
military students.”
Margaret DeCola, veterans certifying
official at WVNCC, said she is pleased
that Northern’s policies and efforts to
recruit and retain military and veteran
students have been recognized. “We
do our best to offer a welcoming
atmosphere in which veterans can
receive the best information in their
search for higher education,” she said.
For more information, contact
Let’s Go!
Two Northern colleagues took flight this month to gain more knowledge in
their fields. IT Director Dave Hanes headed to Las Vegas, Nev., Sept. 16-21 for
the SysAdmin, Audit, Networking, and Security (SANS), SEC501: Advanced
Security Essentials - Enterprise Defender conference while Senior Accountant
April Schrump visited Atlanta, Ga., for the National Association of College and
University (NACUBO) Business Officers, Planning and Budgeting Forum on
Sept. 16-17.
Dave said he was excited to learn many new approaches for network security,
some of which the IT department has put into place since he has been back. He
also was very pleased to find out that Northern had been on the right path with its
security approach thus far. Dave said even though he didn’t do much sightseeing,
because of the 14-hour conference day schedule, the learning was fun for him
and he was very glad he participated in the conference. He said he did manage
to visit some great restaurants each night and also took a trip up to the top of the
Eiffel Tower in the “Paris” district of Las Vegas on his final day there.
Day and Night - two different views of the
two different cities, from left, April shows us
her view of the exciting nightlife of Atlanta,
while Dave takes in the daytime sights from
atop the Eiffel Tower in the “Paris” district of
Las Vegas.
April related that she liked the open forum style that her Atlanta conference offered. She felt it was a great networking
opportunity and enjoyed hearing success stories from other universities and colleges. April also was pleased to find that
much of Northern’s current business office practices are considered cutting-edge processes. She was very surprised to learn
the College had been doing things for the past several years that some larger, well-known universities were just discussing
starting. April said she loved the city and enjoyed all she learned at the conference.
Fall Job Fair
by email to culinary@wvncc.edu or
by calling 304-214-8934. All meals
are served in the Culinary Arts
Dining Room (Room 215) on the
Wheeling campus Education Center.
Julie Horton, counselor/career
services, said the College is
partnering with Workforce WV to
conduct the fair which is designed to
connect employers with candidates
seeking seasonal, full- or part-time
work and internship opportunities.
The popular A La Carte series
features hot soups, salads,
sandwiches and light dinner items.
Carryout is available for these
luncheons from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on
Tuesdays, Oct. 22 and 29 and Nov. 5
and 12, and for dinners from 5:307:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Oct. 24 and
31 and Nov. 7 and 14.
A Fall Job Fair will be held from
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 10 in the B&O
Building auditorium at the Wheeling
campus.
Horton said the free event is open
to the public as well as graduating
students from WVNCC, current
students and alumni. The counselor
advises job seekers to dress
professionally and have plenty of
resumes available to distribute to the
participating employers.
Employers pre-registered to attend
the event are Cabela’s Distribution
Center, UPMC, FedEx Smart Post,
Boscov’s, Williams Lea, Hampton
Inn & Suites, Russell Nesbitt
Services, Visiting Angels, Inc., and
more.
Jobseekers do not need to preregister but will need to sign in at
the registration desk on the day of
the event, Horton explained. Horton
can be reached at 304-214-8817 and
Christy Yeager with Workforce WV
can be reached at 304-232-6280.
New Culinary Season
Ida Williams and workstudy Kadie
Whiddon know the scoop! They
scooped free cups of ice cream,
complete with choice of toppings for
students, faculty and staff at the SGA
Awareness Ice Cream Social.
The WVNCC Culinary Arts
department has announced its
Fall semester schedule of mouthwatering meals prepared by students
and opened to the public.
The luncheons and dinners, cooked
and served under the watchful eyes
of Northern’s chefs, have a cost
attached. Reservations can be made
Another well-attended event is
the department’s Harvest meal, a
traditional Thanksgiving buffet.
Reservations are strongly encouraged
because of the limited number of
seats available for these luncheons
at noon on Nov. 18 and 19 and for
dinners at 6 p.m. on Nov. 20 and 21.
Filled to capacity each year is the
department’s Yuletide offering, a
lavish feast of appetizers, beef with
fresh vegetables, breads, tempting
desserts and some holiday cheer.
Reservations are required for these
events to be held as a luncheon at
noon on Dec. 2 and as dinners at 6
p.m. on Dec. 4 and 5.
The WVNCC Culinary Arts chefs/
professors and instructors say they
have created delectable menus for
these events and are looking forward
to presenting their students’ efforts.
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Nursing Dinner
New Martinsville campus second-year Nursing students now attending the
Wheeling campus are, front, from left, Erin Quinn, Mylyn Olayan and Christy
DeMarco. Second row, from left, are Donna Mayne, Theresa Hoskins, Laura
Richeson, Tammy Ewers and Dagney Butler. Third row, from left, are Drew
Phillips, Alicia Lucas, Andrew Gump, Abel Frohnapfel and Danielle Casto.
New Martinsville campus first-year Nursing students are, front row, from left,
Caitlin Rustemeyer, Rachel Ice, Kalee Cain, Rachal Beisel, McKenzie Christman
and Brandon Howell. Back row, from left, are Misty Childress, Courtney VanCamp,
Chelsea Elliott and Rachael Wyatt.
New Martinsville Campus
Celebrates Enrollment
Congratulations go out to Ina Robinson, interim
counselor, and Bob Gibb, program assistant 1, and the
faculty who served as advisors these past few months
because the New Martinsville campus was excited to learn
that it had exceeded its enrollment goal for Fall 2013.
Campus Dean Larry Tackett and Office Administrator
Debbie Bennett treated Bob and Ina to a bowl of ice cream
with chocolate syrup as thanks for all of their hard work
and dedication.
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The New Martinsville campus first-year
Nursing students were welcomed to the
campus and program at a dinner in their
honor on Aug. 4. The second-year students
and instructors take this opportunity to
answer questions and offer encouragement
to the incoming class. This event signals
new beginnings for each of these classes.
The Class of 2014 will begin its second
year of classes at the Wheeling campus,
and the Class of 2015 will start its Nursing
program on the New Martinsville campus.
Congratulations to both of these classes as
they realize their dreams.
Dinner Benefits
the Erika Bennett
Memorial Scholarship
Once again, I&D Catering and the
New Martinsville Nursing students
raised money for the Erika Bennett
Memorial Scholarship which
benefits a New Martinsville Nursing
student. On Aug. 17, more than 100
dinners were served at the Town and
County Days in Wetzel County with
a significant portion of the proceeds
being donated to this scholarship.
Nursing students and other friends
graciously offered their time to help
collect the money, serve dinners
and clean up. Because of this annual
dinner, I&D Catering has donated
more than $1,000 to the Erika Bennett
Memorial Scholarship since it has
been established. This is a personal
honor for Debbie Bennett, as the
scholarship was established by the
family when her step-daughter, Erika,
passed unexpectedly in August 2010.
Unfortunately, Debbie was unable
to help out this year as she had
fallen two days before and tore her
ACL. She said she is very grateful to
the staff of I&D Catering and all of
those who helped that day to honor
Erika’s memory by continuing this
scholarship.
New Student Orientation
is the time to get your registration
submitted.
NM Service Center has
new hours
Ina Robinson conducts the Orientation
class.
Ina Robinson, interim counselor,
held the first of several New Student
Orientation sessions on Aug. 6.
This new orientation program
was created to help the first-timeenrolled student become familiar
with the basics of college life. Staff
from many departments participated
by explaining the student portal,
email, text alert, financial aid,
student activities, disability services,
GradesFirst, library and tutoring.
This also gave the students a chance
to meet and talk with staff so they
would be more comfortable when
they needed to approach one of them
for a specific service. The orientation
included a tour of the building and
information on ways they could
become more involved in the various
events on campus. The students in the
session left with much information
but more importantly they now had
a face to go with the name and they
knew that the staff was there to help
them succeed.
Voter’s Registration
Forms are in the LRC
Those persons who never registered to
vote in either West Virginia or Ohio
can visit the New Martinsville campus
LRC to pick up an application. The
staff even will make a free copy
of your driver’s license so you can
include it with your application. Now
Beginning Sept. 16, the New
Martinsville campus Service
Center changed its hours to better
meet student and current campus
operational needs. The new hours
of 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. will be in effect
through Dec. 23. The Service Center
will provide extended hours (8 a.m.–6
p.m.) from Jan. 2, 2014, through
the second week of spring semester
to help students get registered and
acclimated to their schedule. Signs
have been posted on the campus so
that students are aware of this change.
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Nursing Dinner
The annual Weirton campus Big Sisters/
Brothers, Little Sisters/Brothers Nursing
banquet was held at Mountaineer
Racetrack and Casino on Sept. 12. The
event brings the first and second level
nursing students together and fosters a
mentoring relationship.
First Level Nurses at the banquet
Second Level Nurses at the banquet
Weirton campus student Ca’Nisha Howard shows off her new Kindle
she won for participating in the tri-campus scavenger hunt. All
participant names were put in a drawing, and the winner was pulled
during Chicken Fest. Congratulations Ca’Nisha!
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1. Shannon Payton and Ida Williams hand out t-shirts and prizes
to Chicken Fest participants.
2. The Chicken Wing Fling is always a big hit!
3. A caricature artist was on hand to draw a comical likeness of
students, faculty and staff.
4. Middle College students showed their love for our beloved
mascot, the Thundering Chicken.
5. New Martinsville students Steve Carroll and Kathy Hicks on
the Chicken Run.
6. New Martinsville students Chad Brightwell and Shelby Billings
give it their all.
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