MOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
CONNECTION
FEBRUARY 2014
MCC joins statewide effort preparing
students for in-demand job opportunities
MCC
FACULTY
& STAFF
NEWSLETTER
WHAT’S
INSIDE
AROUND CAMPUS
MCC HEALTH SCIENCES
DIVISION TO HOST
COMMUNITY EVENT
GRIT’S GREENY AWARD
WINNER
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
AT MCC
MCC NIGHT AT THE
PALACE SET FOR
FEB. 22
RENOWNED OPERA
SINGER TO PERFORM AT
MCC FEB. 18
QUOTE OF
THE M ONTH
“The moral arc of the universe bends
at the elbow of justice.”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
Mott Community College has announced a new partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and a network of community colleges around the state that will
promote training opportunities for in-demand careers to Michigan high school students.
“Today, too few workers have the skills needed to meet the demands of employers in the new
economy,” stated Gov. Rick Snyder in a news release. “One of the most common issues is around
the lack of knowledge that high school students have about in-demand careers and training programs. Through the Career Jump Start program, we will encourage students to consider training opportunities that will provide them with critical work skills for those high-demand careers.”
Created as a response to feedback received at the Governor’s Economic and Education Summits, the Career Jump Start Program is designed to address the critical talent gap facing Michigan
employers by promoting high-demand career paths to students. Through a network of Michigan’s
community colleges, Michigan Works! agencies, employers, trade unions, Chambers and other key
organizations, the initiative will educate high school students about Associate’s degree programs,
apprenticeships and other training opportunities for occupations that are in high demand by employers.
“Mott Community College is excited to partner with business, educational, and economic development partners in our region to expose students to emerging careers in high demand areas,”
said Scott Jenkins, Vice President of Student & Administrative Services at MCC.
Mott Community College and community colleges in 10 regions around the state will house career liaison specialists who will provide resources to high school counselors, administrators, parents and teachers about post-high school training programs that will prepare students for in-demand
occupations. Through improved connectivity between employers and the K-12 system, high school
graduates in Michigan will be more informed about and connected to high-demand career options.
“Talent is the new currency in economic development. By making Michigan students aware of
today’s high-demand jobs and the training programs that will prepare them for those jobs, we are
ensuring the continued growth of Michigan’s economy,” said Michael A. Finney, president and
CEO of the MEDC. “Career Jump Start is focused on meeting employer needs and will support
ways to connect employers, educators and students, building Michigan's workforce together.”
The regional career liaisons will be housed at the following organizations: Alpena Community
College, Bay de Noc Community College, Delta College, Grand Rapids Community College, Jackson College, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Lansing Community College, Mott Community College, North Central Michigan College, and The Workforce Intelligence Network.
“The career opportunities that exist in many industry sectors are often unknown or misunderstood
by students or their parents. This has or will result in talent shortages for many Michigan employers,” said Southeast Michigan Community Alliance Chief Executive Officer Gregory E. Pitoniak.
“The Career Jump Start program will greatly accelerate and enhance the flow of information/data to
students, parents and counselors regarding the many unique career opportunities that are and will
be in high demand with Michigan employers.”
To learn more about the Career Jump Start program, visit http://www.mitalent.org/career-jumpstart/ or www.mcc.edu. For more on the MEDC and its initiatives, visit: MichiganBusiness.org.
d
Ca m p us
Chief Technology Officer
Cheryl Bassett, noted that
Randy Schapel, Director of
Network Services, ITS,
completed the Master of Science (MS) in Computer Science and Information Systems
program at the University of
Michigan – Flint in December
2013. Congratulations
Randy!
Upward Bound Coordinator Tynee' A. Sims was a contestant
on American Idol Season 13 which premiered on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. “I had a lot of
camera time and I met J. Lo, Ryan Seacrest, Harry Connick Jr. and
Keith Urban,” said Tynee.
Assistant Prof. of Music Bill Withem gave a presentation on
Friday, Jan. 17 at the Michigan Music Conference at the Grand
Rapids’ Amway Grand Plaza, titled "Class-Source Composition: Integrating Composition in Music Theory Class." He discussed the
different ways that he has used music composition in his music
theory classes to help students learn and retain material more
successfully.
English Prof. Christy Rishoi has just been elected Vice President for the Midwest region of the North American Council for
Staff, Program, and Organizational Development.
Chief Human Resources Officer Mark Kennedy just
completed training to become certified for conducting Crucial Conversations training, which he will offer through the CTL. “This
training focuses on interpersonal communication skills for difficult
conversations we experience in a wide variety of work and personal
situations,” Mark added.
Jessica Himstedt, Technical Services/Circulation Librarian,
performed in the Flint Light Opera Company's production of "Trial
by Jury" by Gilbert & Sullivan on January 25.
New Employees: A hearty MCC welcome goes to: Denise Polk,
D.D.S, Full-time Instructor/Coordinator, Dental Assisting, Health
Sciences Division; start date: Jan. 8, 2014; Stephanie OsgoodWilliams, Early Childhood Professional Associate, Early Childhood Learning Center, start date: Dec. 20, 2013; and Jennifer
Emmerling, Early Childhood Professional Associate, Early Childhood Learning Center, start date: Dec. 20, 2013. Welcome, all, to
the MCC family!
Arou
n
Mott Community College’s Fine Arts Gallery in the Visual Arts and
Design Center will present an exhibition of work by Flint area Interactive
Art and Design artist Joseph Reinsel titled Location and Place – Interactive Art. His work will be in the gallery through Tuesday, February 18.
Joseph Reinsel is currently Assistant Professor of Interactive Art, University of Michigan-Flint. He received a BFA and MA in Composition, Radford University, Radford, Virginia and a MFA in Electronic Arts,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York. His exhibitions include
Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., SYNC 2013, Yekaterin, Russia, and Ars Electronica, Vienna, Austria. His work for this exhibition includes a collection of single channel video and print work. The Fine Arts
Gallery is located in the Visual Arts and Design Center. Gallery hours are
9:00am until 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. The pubic is invited. For
more information, call the Art & Design office at 810-762-0443.
MCC Health Sciences
Division to host community
event addressing how
community impacts health
outcomes
How does where we live, work, learn and play affect our health? Studies have shown that the conditions of the communities we live in can play a
major role in people’s ability to make healthy choices -- that there’s a link
between where we live and the health of our community.
The MCC Health Sciences Division has joined forces with several
institutions in presenting a community lecture entitled “Does Your Community Impact Your health?,” a part of The Your Health Lecture Series sponsored by the University of Michigan-Flint, Kettering University, MCC,
Genesys Health System, Hurley Medical Center, McLaren Flint and Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Flint Campus.
The program is scheduled for 7 pm, Wednesday, Feb. 12 at the MCC
Event Center. This event is free and open to the public.
Dr. Gregory S. Holzman, M.D., M.P.H., Associate Chair of Preventive
Medicine and Medical Director of the Family Medicine Network at the MSU
College of Human Medicine, will deliver the lecture, addressing the link between health issues and how we can learn more about keeping our
community healthy.
Dr. Holzman was previously chief medical executive for the Michigan
Department of Community Health where he worked on several public health
policy issues, ranging from smoke-free legislation to funding for a state-wide
trauma system.
He has special interests in social determinants of health, health
promotion and disease prevention, elimination of health disparities and
building better integration between clinical medicine, public health and
community-based organizations.
For more information about the Your Health Lecture Series, call the
MCC Health Sciences Division at 232-3271.
GRiT's Greeny
Award Winner
Laura Tripp, Administrative
Assistant to the Chief Human
Resources Officer, received the
Greeny Award for December.
Described as a “true advocate for
recycling,” she obviously recycles and encourages others in her
area to do so as well. As one fellow employee described her, "Laura is a recycling/shredding cheerleader."
Laura instituted a "no styrofoam or disposable cups policy" in
her office. She has "trained" everyone to bring in their own mugs and
cups to use for beverages -- thus saving money, reducing HR's waste
stream and making the HR office environment cleaner and greener.
The Greeny Award was implemented by the Green Initiatives
Team (GRiT) to recognize and promote the sustainable green initiatives at Mott Community College. If you know someone who is
going the extra mile to recycle, implementing cost saving programs
that help reduce waste or providing educational outcomes related to
green initiatives, please email the team at GRiT@mcc.edu. GRiT
would like to recognize the individual(s) for their efforts.
Black History Month at MCC
A screening of the PBS documentary African American Lives 2:
"The Past is Another Country" will be shown on Tuesday, Feb. 11
from 1 to 2:30 pm in the MCC Event Center. This event is free and
open to the public. Building on the widespread acclaim of African
American Lives (2006) and Oprah Winfrey’s roots (2007), Harvard
Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. returns again as the series host, journeying deep into the ancestry of notable individuals and guiding genealogical investigations down through the 20th century. Notables
joining Dr. Gates in the broadcast of African American Lives 2 include
poet Maya Angelou, actors Don Cheadle and Morgan Freeman; publisher Linda Johnson Rice; athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee; radio personality Tom Joyner; comedian Chris Rock; music legend Tina Turner
and others. Seating is limited. RSVP to CTL@mcc.edu or 762-5623.
The MCC Alumni Association is collaborating with the Foundation for Mott Community College in presenting the 2014 AfricanAmerican Cuisine and Cultural Experience, featuring vocalist Gwen
Pennyman-Hemphill performing a musical tribute to legendary
African-American female artists. This event is scheduled for 11:30 to
12:30 pm, Thursday, Feb. 20 in the Applewood Café. The cost is $20
per person. Please RSVP at 762-0536. On the menu will be Bumblebee Soup (a bacon, black bean and corn chowder);
Pan-Roasted Chicken with Herb Jus; Macaroni & Cheese; “Mess o’
Greens; Buttermilk Corn Bread, Sweet Potato Cheesecake and a
luncheon beverage. Gwen Hemphill’s vocal stylings are very
versatile. Her repertoire includes Rhythm & Blues, Jazz, Broadway
show tunes and Gospel Music. Her studio recording credits include
singing backup for R & B crooner Howard Hewitt, Mary Davis (of the
S.O.S. Band), Japanese recording artist Kisch and gospel singer Beau
Williams, just to name a few. She has also shared the stage and opened
shows for these gospel greats: The Williams Brothers, The Canton
Spirituals, Shirley Caesar, The Mighty Bank Sisters, and the list goes
on. She is currently working on her own studio project.
MCC Night at the Palace event
set for Feb. 22
Due to the huge success of the inaugural Mott Community
College Night at the Palace of Auburn Hills held December 2013,
the Foundation for Mott Community College and the MCC Alumni
Association invite you to join them again for an enjoyable evening
to see a Detroit Pistons basketball game from the luxurious suite
level at the Palace.
Mott Community College Night at the Palace of Auburn Hills
is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 22 inside the exclusive Club 300, an
upscale sports bar located on The Palace’s suite level. Club 300
opens at 6 p.m. and the game starts at 7:30 p.m. with The Pistons
taking on the Dallas Mavericks. Tickets are $55 (providing your
own
transportation) or $65, which includes bus transportation to the
Palace. The highlight of the Feb. 22 event, Craft Beer Night, will
give guests a chance to sample 10 different, two-ounce blends of
craft beer at no cost. An all-inclusive dinner buffet, cash bar and
any additional wine, beer, liquor or other beverages will be available at cost. Amenities featured in Club 300 include private game
seating, multiple flat screen TVs, two bars, private restrooms and
much more. A portion of your ticket benefits the MCC Alumni Association programs, with a portion also being tax deductible.
Please RSVP no later than Friday, Feb. 14, as seating is limited. To reserve tickets or for more information, contact Kristen
Estes at The Palace of Auburn Hills at (248) 377-8620 or
kestes@palacenet.com.
Checks should be made payable to Detroit Pistons and can be
mailed to: The Palace of Auburn Hills, Attn: Kristen Estes, 6
Championship Drive, Auburn Hills, MI 48326. You may also fax
to: (248) 370-5220. This event is co-sponsored by the Foundation
for Mott Community College and the Mott Community College
Alumni Association.
Renowned opera singer Stephanie Lowd to perform at
Mott Community College on Feb. 18
American soprano Stephanie Lowd, described as “a nuanced
performer with ‘exciting high notes,’ ” will perform in a vocal recital at
MCC with pianist Catherine McMichael accompanying.
The performance is set for 7:00 pm, Tuesday, Feb. 18 in the MMB
auditorium, with a brief intermission between sets. This event is free and
open to the public.
Lowd’s recital repertoire will consist of opera arias and musical
theatre songs. She is also scheduled to speak with MCC music students
about her career, as well as listen to and offer constructive criticism to
some of MCC's vocal students at 2:30 pm that day in the auditorium during a workshop session, also free and open to all MCC students as well
as the community.
One of the pieces that she will perform during the recital will be Settings of Silverstein, composed by MCC Music Prof. Bill Withem.
Lowd made her New York debut as Königen der Nacht with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble’s production of Die Zauberflöte and was
featured as a soloist for the company launch concert of Capitol Opera Albany. A champion and supporter of new works and innovative ap-
proaches to operatic standards, she premiered the role of Queen with
Morningside Opera’s production of A Weimar Flut, which combined
Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with works of numerous Weimar-era writers.
She was a featured soloist and co-writer of Mon Coeur Qui Bat: Confessions of Fire, a concert chronicling the varied stages of love and loss, performed at Trinity Church next to Ground Zero. Lowd also has appeared
as a soloist with the Opera Cowgirls, an all-female opera band that performed in the bars of New York City and Brooklyn.
Demonstrating a passion for education, Lowd created an opera outreach concert for North Carolina Opera’s production of La Cenerentola,
which was presented to elementary schools in the New York area. She
created Opera’s Got Talent, along with fellow colleagues, an outreach
show performed for the area’s elementary school students which allowed
them to participate as judges in an opera audition.
A North Carolina native, she is a graduate of the University of the
North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) where she appeared with the
A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute as Polissena in Radamisto, and Venus in Orpheus in the Underworld.
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FEBRUARY 2014
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
4
5
6
7
8
MCC Basketball
Games 1:00 & 3:00 p.m.
Ballenger Field House
10
Wld Ones Meeting
6:00-8:00 p.m.
PCC 1230
17
11
12
13
Leadership Genesee
VITA Tax Center
11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Henry Louis Gates
RTC 1107
ML 1204
African American Lives
Series
Michigan Health Lecture
Sierra Club Meeting
1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
5:00-10:00 p.m.
Series 7:00-8:00 p.m.
PCC 1230
ML 1204
ML 1204
18
19
20
Genesee Area Unit of
Parlimentarians Meeting
5:00-9:00 p.m.
Genesee Room
24
Board of Trustees Meeting
7:30 p.m. • RTC 1301
14
26
27
15
9
College Goal Sunday
2:00-4:00 p.m.
RTC 2113
16
MCC Basketball
Games 1:00 & 3:00 p.m.
Ballenger Field House
21
Fridays at Applewood
9:00-10:00 a.m.
RTC 1109
25
2
MCC Basketball
Games 1:00 & 3:00 p.m.
Ballenger Field House
For more calendar items visit www.events.mcc.edu
3
Sunday
28
22
MCC Basketball
Games 1:00 & 3:00 p.m.
Ballenger Field House
23