MOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
CONNECTION
AUGUST 2013
MCC Instructor earns first American Sign
Language Endorsement in Michigan
MCC
FACULTY
& STAFF
NEWSLETTER
WHAT’S
INSIDE
AROUND CAMPUS
MCC RECEIVES
DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE SUPPORT OF
THE GUARD AND
RESERVE 2013 PRO
PATRIA AWARD
EMPLOYEE SOFTBALL
TOURNAMENT
RESCHEDULED FOR
SEPTEMBER 20
MCC WELL
REPRESENTED IN
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
PRODUCTION
QUOTE OF
THE M ONTH
“The future belongs to those who believe
in the beauty of their dreams.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt
American Sign Language (ASL) has risen to become the
fourth most frequently studied foreign language in the U.S.,
according to the Modern Language Association (MLA).
Spanish, French and German top the list of foreign
language course enrollments in the U.S. but a recent MLA
survey found that ASL is the fastest-growing language offered at colleges nationwide. Steadily gaining popularity, the
visual-gestural language used primarily by members of the
North American Deaf community is quickly becoming one of
the most widely used languages in America.
That's welcome news to Kid Black Fedio. Fedio, who
has been teaching American Sign Language at Mott Community College since 2003, is the first and currently the only instructor in Michigan to have earned the state's new ASL
teaching endorsement. When the Michigan State Board of
Education added ASL in 2007 as one of the world languages students can learn to meet the new
high school graduation requirements, it recognized a need for an American Sign Language teaching endorsement – noting that ASL teachers need to be "professionally prepared and highly qualified" in its
Standards for the Preparation of Teachers of American Sign Language published in 2010.
In 2008, she was part of a team of American Sign Language K-12 professionals who were identified
to assist in designing both an ASL curriculum that could be used state-wide by districts and to develop
standards for an ASL endorsement. The Michigan Department of Education's Office of Professional
Preparation charged the ASL working committee with the responsibility of researching, designing and
writing teacher preparation standards for a Michigan American Sign Language endorsement.
The committee completed the teacher preparation standards for the ASL endorsement and the teacher
preparation standards were passed by the Michigan Board of Education in June 2010.
"Members of our American Sign Language/Sign Language Interpreter Education (ASL/SLIE)
faculty were instrumental in drafting and advocating for this endorsement," stated Patricia Bergh, Dean of
the Humanities Division at MCC which oversees the ASL/SLIE program. "K-12 instructors will now be
able to obtain this endorsement, and MCC is a key institution offering ASL classes and programs that will
give students a most comprehensive base to continue their efforts toward teacher certification and the
ASL Endorsement. This is something we're very proud of, and the fact that Kid Fedio is the first in the
state is significant."
"This effort sets an excellent example of the quality programming that is needed for ASL," said
Fedio who holds the American Sign Language Teaching Association certification. "It clearly shows respect and honors the Deaf culture, community and the language. As a working team member and
holder of the ASL endorsement, I am able to encourage and lead MCC students towards an additional career path utilizing their ASL knowledge that they have learned and obtained from their studies at MCC."
Fedio believes this step towards increasingly higher standards for ASL and the teaching profession
offers students the awareness of what is needed in Michigan. Obtaining a job could be significantly enhanced if a student has the ASL endorsement as superintendents and principals are now recognizing that
there is a need for qualified ASL teachers.
"The work that we have completed and the honor of being the first and only person to have earned
the ASL endorsement is an additional example to ensure quality licensure for ASL teachers," Fedio
added. "I hope that this is a huge leap toward the continued efforts of many to establish the respect of
American Sign Language in teacher preparation courses and in the classroom."
state. Employers have access to view updated resumes in the system to
find qualified students or alumni. Students can get information on upcoming events, job fairs, on-campus recruiting activities and more. To
register for access to the site, students can contact the Student Employment Center, Prahl Center Rm 2020 (810) 232-3285 to complete the
registration form and receive their password and username.
d
Ca m p us
Chief Theresa Stephens
Lock, Executive Director of
the Public Safety Department,
shares news from Public Safety
and Physical Plant areas. On
Monday, July 15, Public Safety
and Physical Plant staff went to
Pierce Elementary School and
added basketball nets on the
rims of the school's outdoor
basketball court.
Groundskeeper Ernie Johnson
assisted Officer Curt Brown in securing the netting to both rims on the
basketball court. In addition, Officer
Brown noticed a dead tree on the playground and was concerned that
during a strong wind the tree may fall on the playground, possibly injuring a child. Officer Brown and Ernie Johnson made arrangements to
have the tree removed. Wendell Robinson, the head security officer at
the school, also mentioned that a large beehive was inside one of the
play structures on the playground and that a child had been stung by a
bee while playing on the structure. Ernie Johnson sprayed the play
structure in the hopes of removing the bees. "Public Safety and Facilities teaming up to assist in improving this play area, while giving the
young people from this community a safe and fun place to spend the
summer, is simply heartwarming," added Chief Lock.
Public Safety Administrative Assistant Beverly Lloyd reports that
the Department of Public Safety hosted a 45-hour training session in
July for seven police officers from different agencies in physical fitness
instruction for police and fire department services. The training was
conducted by Louka Tactical of Ann Arbor. Departments represented included Ann Arbor, Pittsfield Township, East Lansing, Kalamazoo, Warren, Lino-Lakes, Minn. and MCC. At the completion of the course, all
seven participants were certified as Personal Wellness Instructors for
Law Enforcement.
Jennifer McDonald, Executive Director of Admissions & Student
Success Services, tells us that Disability Services Interpreter Linda
Swinehart retired July 31. Best wishes to Linda in her retirement.
Respiratory Therapy Program Coordinator/Prof. David Panzlau
lets us know that that the 2013 Respiratory Therapy graduating class
has achieved a 100% pass rate on the NBRC exam which is required to
obtain a license in the state of Michigan. In addition, one of our graduates, Stephanie Puente Jones, had an article published in the AARC
times entitled "First Grade Kids Receptive to Respiratory Therapy."
This was a special project assignment in which Stephanie creatively
taught some respiratory anatomy and physiology to elementary children. She also was able to increase their awareness of careers in Respiratory Therapy.
Dental Assisting Instructor Deborah Jaruzel attended the 30th Anniversary Carolina Institute for Dental Radiology Educators in Chapel
Hill, NC. The summer institute took place July 12 – 16 at the University of North Carolina. This included an intense, five-day curriculum
that covered dental radiography, accreditation preparation and teaching
strategies. The summer institute concluded with a guided tour of the
UNC Dental School.
Interim Employment Services Coordinator Curt Brown wants
faculty and staff to assist in directing students to an exciting job resource tool for current students and alumni, offered by the Student Employment Center, through the Workforce and Career Development. It's
called "Experience," MCC's online job database that serves as a onestop website for jobs, employment events, and employer information.
Access is 24/7 from any computer. Users can e-mail resumes directly to
employers, search job postings in the local area, region or even out of
Arou
n
Livingston Center's Administrative Assistant Renee David brings
news from her area. The Livingston Center was invited to participate in
the Sloan Museum Auto Fair June 21-22. More than 5,000 attendees
were able to watch our Factory Five Instructors Jim Jennings, Scott
Shumaker, and Todd Baumann build an MK4 Roadster from bare
frame to complete running car over the weekend. Site Manager Doris
Stromer worked along with Renee and Arthur Laursen at a booth promoting both MCC and the Factory Five Build School. The Livingston
Center also raffled off a spot in the Factory Five Build School and 13
runner-ups received T-shirts.
New employees: Kendra James, Office Assistant II, Health Sciences/Nursing, start date: July 29. Gary Brasseur, Manager, Enrollment Operations and Training, Enrollment Management & Retention,
Registrar, start date: Aug. 5. Welcome, Kendra and Gary to the MCC
family!
Softball Tournament
Rescheduled for Sept. 20
The MCC Employee Softball Tournament and Hot Dog Roast has
been rescheduled for Friday, Sept. 20. Games will begin at 4:30 p.m.
at the Ernie Myers Baseball Field. For more information, contact
Michael Tews at 762-2048 or michael.tews@mcc.edu.
MCC receives Department of
Defense Employer Support of
the Guard and Reserve 2013
Pro Patria Award
The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense operational committee, has selected Mott Community
College as the recipient of the 2013 Pro Patria Award. MCC Veteran Resource Center staff will be presenting the award at MCC's Board of
Trustees meeting on Monday Aug. 26 at 7:30 pm in RTC 1301.
ESGR's Pro Patria Award is presented annually by an ESGR State
Committee to one small, one large and one public sector employer in their
state or territory. Recipients have demonstrated the greatest support to
Guard and Reserve employees through their leadership and practices, including adopting personnel policies that make it easier for employees to
participate in the National Guard and Reserves. This is the highest level
award that may be bestowed by a state ESGR committee.
More than one million Americans serve in the National Guard and
Reserve, according to ESGR, playing a critical role in both combat and humanitarian missions. ESGR develops and maintains employer support of
Guard and Reserve service, encouraging employment of Guardsmen and
Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to
the civilian workforce.
MCC's Veteran Resource Center, conveniently located inside the Student Life Office in the Prahl College Center, is designed to serve as a onestop shop for veterans, military spouses, dependents and military affiliates.
Veterans can begin their educational journey by applying for admission to
the college, gaining assistance with the FAFSA, applying for their VA educational benefits, and more.
Upward Bound Car Wash
MCC Upward Bound students are busy sprucing up an MCC
golf cart. The car wash, a scholarship fundraiser, was held on
Friday, July 12. For $3, students washed all types of vehicles.
MCC well-represented in
Fiddler on the Roof production
Flint's Kearsley Park Players are bringing their production of
the beloved musical "Fiddler on the Roof" to Flint and Genesee
County. "Fiddler" opens at the Opera House at Crossroads Village
on Friday Aug. 9, with additional live performances on Saturday
Aug. 10 and Sunday Aug. 11. All Crossroads Village performances
start at 7 pm.
The following weekend, performances move to the Pavilion at
Kearsley Park for Friday, Aug. 16 and Saturday, Aug. 17 at 7 pm
with the only matinee presented on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 2 pm. Tickets for all performances are only $5.00. For reservations at Crossroads Village call (810) 736-7100 (extension 6), weekdays from
8:00 am to 4:30 pm. For reservations at Kearsley Park call (810)
845-4050. Many prominent local actors and musicians are in the
cast, including MCC Public Information Executive Director
Michael Kelly as Tevye, Kim Streby as Golde, Kristen Marie
Carter as Tzeitel, Caroline Collins as Hodel, Annadelle Kimber as
Chava, Brian Haggard as Lazar Wolfe and Rita Vater Darnton as
Yente, among many more. MCC Chemistry Professor Sue Ellen
Hange is a member of the chorus. The production is directed by
Kay Kelly.
When it opened on Broadway, "Fiddler on the Roof" earned
the record for the longest-running Broadway musical to that date.
The highly acclaimed production won nine Tony Awards, including
Best Musical, score and book. It spawned four Broadway revivals
and a successful 1971 film while the show has enjoyed enduring international popularity. Set in Tsarist Russia in 1905, the story is
based on the story Tevye and his Daughters by Sholem Aleichem.
The story centers on Tevye, the father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his family and religious traditions while outside
influences encroach upon their lives. He must cope both with the
strong-willed actions of his three older daughters—each one's
choice of husband moves further away from the customs of his
faith—and with the edict of the Tsar that evicts the Jews from their
village. This production is part of the Theater in Our Parks collaboration between the City of Flint Parks and Recreation Department
and Genesee County Parks Commission with funding from the
Ruth Mott Foundation partnering with the Flint School of Performing Arts on this project.
Friends of Mott Library Fundraiser
Please mark your calendars for the Friends of the Mott Library "Lucky Pops" Fundraiser on Tuesday, Sept. 17 and Wednesday, Sept.
18. For just $1, you can pick a lollipop from their display. If it's a winner, you'll receive an instant prize or be entered in the drawing for
one of several grand prizes including a Kindle Fire. The more lollipops you buy, the more chances you have of winning. The event will be
held in the Curtice-Mott Fishbowl Area from 9 a.m.to 1 p.m. both days. All proceeds will benefit the Mott Library.
PRESORTED
STANDARD
US POSTAGE PAID
Flint, MI
Permit NO 51
1401 East Court Street
Flint, Michigan 48503-2089
AUGUST 2013
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday
1
For more calendar items visit
www.events.mcc.edu
Upward Bound
Breakfast
7:30-9:00 a.m.
ML 1204
5
12
6
7
13
14
7th Annual Michigan
Early/Middle Colleges
Association Conference
8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
ML 1204
Sierra Club Meeting
5:00-10:00 pm
PCC 1230
8
Friday
Saturday
2
3
4
Student Employment
Services Workshop
3:00-4:00 p.m.
PCC 1230
Student Employment
Services Workshop
3:00-4:00 p.m.
PCC 1230
9
10
11
15
16
17
18
CCNA Neighborhood
Watch Meeting
7:00-9:00 p.m.
RTC 1301
VeteransOutreach
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
ML 1204
Fridays at Applewood
9:00-10:00 a.m.
RTC 1109
19
20
21
22
23
24
26
27
28
29
30
31
Board of Trustees Meeting
7:30 p.m. • RTC 1301
Sunday
25