MOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
CONNECTION
JANUARY 2012
MCC
FACULTY
& STAFF
NEWSLETTER
WHAT’S
INSIDE
AROUND CAMPUS
MCC HONORED
AMONG
OUTSTANDING
BUSINESSES
AMERICAN GI
FORUM/HISPANIC
TECHNOLOGY &
COMMUNITY
CENTER RECEIVES
$10,000 GIFT
GLOBAL ISSUES
FILM FESTIVAL
QUOTE OF
THE M ONTH
“The moral arc of the universe bends
at the elbow of justice.”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
MCC Honored in Washington, DC as
One of Top Ten Community Colleges
in America
Mott Community College was honored at a
prestigious event on Dec. 12, 2011, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC as one of
the top ten community colleges out of more than
1,200 community colleges in America.
The event was held by the Aspen Institute and
featured such prominent participants as U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Dr. Jill Biden
(wife of Vice President Joe Biden), former Secretary of Education Richard Riley and former
Michigan Governor John Engler (now President
of the Business Roundtable).
MCC President Dick Shaink and MCC
Board of Trustees Chair Lenore Croudy repreDr. Jill Biden (wife of Vice President Joe Biden)
sented the college at the event along with MCC
greets Dr. Shaink at the National Press Club in
Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Amy FuWashington DC.
gate and Vice President of Student and Administrative Services Scott Jenkins. "It is a tremendous honor to be selected for this recognition," stated Dr.
Shaink. "For Mott Community College to be recognized on a national basis from among well over a
thousand other community colleges as one of the nation's very best is great for the college and our
community. Everyone should take pride in this honor."
At the event, John Engler praised Mott College for its "strong workforce development program in
one of the most difficult economic environments in the country," while Richard Riley said MCC "really
deserves our praise."
Citing the urgent need to focus on the value and potential of community colleges, Aspen Institute
College Excellence Program Executive Director Josh Wyner said, "We must set the bar much higher than
we have in the past. To achieve excellent student outcomes, we need to highlight our country's
success stories and learn from them so that we can keep reaching higher. Recognizing community
colleges like Mott Community College sends a message to others that aspire to excellence."
MCC Receives $30,000 Gift
MCC received an early Christmas gift of $30,000 from an anonymous donor, the Foundation for
Mott Community College announced on Dec. 9. The money will go toward the College's health
sciences division. The donor, a Flint-area resident who asked to remain anonymous, told Foundation
for MCC President Lennetta Coney he credited some of his success to the education he received at MCC
and wanted to give back to the community.
"It is encouraging to know that during these times of economic hardships, people are still giving
from what they have," Coney said. "We are so grateful for our donors and for this outstanding gift of
$30,000."
"Former students as well as those who simply understand the important mission of Mott Community
College in our community will often call and want to make a sizable contribution to
support the educational efforts at MCC," she added. "In these financially challenging times, their
generosity is overwhelming."
d
Ca m p us
Congratulations to Rebecca Gale-Gonzalez, Marketing Assistant/Web Content
Manager. She is among the
nominees selected to receive the
Keep Genesee County Beautiful
2011 Community Hero Award,
which will be presented at the
2012 Community Beautification
Leadership Conference at noon
on Saturday, March 3 at the Harding Mott University Center at UMFlint. Here's a thank-you note from
Rebecca and the Green Initiatives Team: "We raised $442 at our art
poster sale," she said. “This economical art form provides a way of
bringing beauty to those who wouldn't be able to purchase an original
work of art."
Photography Program Coordinator Bob Rentschler provides a report on the success of MCC's first Help-Portrait event, a global movement of photographers using their time, gear and expertise to give back
to those in need that was held on Dec. 10. "We photographed about
100 families and individuals, and printed probably 200 to 250 8 x 10
prints." Bob noted. "Everything worked out so well, the equipment, the
location, the people -- just everything and no real fires to put out during
the day!"
Regional Technology Initiatives Secretary Carol Van Buren lets
us know that Executive Director of Grant Development Judith
Cawhorn, Executive Dean of Regional Technology Initiatives Tom
Crampton, and Workforce Development Executive Director Robert
Matthews were among contributors providing their perspectives on
Mid-Michigan as a "viable region with a wealth of assets" in the booklet titled The Mid-Michigan Region – Challenges, Responses and the
Future, published by Michigan State University.
Honors Program Coordinator Brian Ivory provides an update on
the Mott Campus Clowns. They made an appearance on Dec. 15 on
NBC-TV 25 during two segments of their morning news program.
News Anchor Joel Feick, (also an MCC part-time faculty member), in
the studio conducted on-air interviews with the clowns. The troupe was
also featured in articles that appeared in several issues of the View
weekly newspapers. Brian oversees the Mott Campus Clowns, a newlyformed clown troupe comprised of MCC honor students enrolled in the
Honors course he teaches, entitled Social Diversity and Civic Engagement (HONS 251).The troupe spread cheer at various events and venues in Flint and surrounding areas during the Fall semester.
History Instructor Clare Monsour took her history students on a
field trip to the Sloan Museum. The museum staff guided the group
through a tour of their historical exhibits focusing on their World War I,
Flint Sit-Down Strike, World War II, and their 1960s collection pieces.
"After the tour was over a few students lingered to check some of the
other exhibits," Clare added. "We all really appreciated the museum
staff making time to show us their collection."
Mott Library Director Kathy Irwin tells us that the Library staff
will conduct a survey between Jan. 24 and Feb. 13 to assess use and
awareness of library services and resources. Slightly different versions
of the survey have been designed for faculty, staff, and students. "Your
responses will help us make effective decisions about the services we
provide and the resources we purchase," Kathy said. "We appreciate
your participation." Please contact Kathy Irwin at kathy.irwin@mcc.edu
or 762-0415 if you have questions about the
survey.
Jason Slade, Faculty/Coordinator, Electronics and Electrical Technology, reports on the success of Mahmoud Al-Rifaiey, a former Mott
Middle College student and graduate of the program. He was just hired
into a controls position programming and installing PLCs. "We are seeing an uptick in demand for this area," Jason said. "He is a great suc-
Arou
n
cess story for the interactions between the MCC occupational areas and
Mott Middle College."
Krista Black, Sociology Instructor and Co-Advisor of Phi Theta
Kappa, lets us know that a number of students were nominated by MCC
for a statewide student writing competition held annually by the Liberal
Arts Network for Development (LAND). They will find out this month
if they have received a statewide award. The student names, paper titles, and faculty sponsors follow:
Modesrah Ahmed - "Veni, Vedi, Vici - I came, I saw, I conquered"
- Michelle Dunnum
Teresa Sherwood - "Sound Reasoning for Housing the Unsound
Mind" - Heather Sisto
Teresa Fick - "Making Your Voice Heard in a Noisy Chamber"
- Heather Sisto
John Hartranft - "Water" - Heather Sisto
Noelle Bartelotte - "Fade to White" - Jackie Knoll
Modesrah Ahmed - "Where I am From" - Heather Sisto
Jeremy Yarbrough - "Positive Fear" - Wendy Byard
Charlene Fortner "The Girls in Brown" - Heather Sisto
Sgt. Lloyd Nicholson shared information about the MCC
Department of Public Safety training session presented on Dec. 15
in the RTC, specifically designed to improve readiness in emergency
situations. The Community College Citizen Preparedness Program
(3CP2) is a national initiative created by the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security in 2008. The goal of 3CP2 is to train U.S. citizens
through the nation's community colleges on specific protective actions
to save lives and minimize injuries after a disaster and before arrival
of first responders. The need to improve the readiness of U.S. citizens
is well documented. An American Red Cross study shows that 93% of
Americans are not prepared for a natural disaster or pandemic event.
The target audiences for the 3CP2 training are community college
students, faculty, employees and their families. In addition, local
businesses, community organizations and governments served by the
college are also targeted. 3CP2 is also designed to address the
information and training resources available to help citizens prepare
their homes and families. For more information about 3CP2, contact
Sgt. Lloyd Nicholson at lloyd.nicholson@mcc.edu.
MCC Honored Among
"Outstanding Businesses"
by Genesee Regional
Chamber of Commerce
Mott Community College was among the winners of the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) 2011 Business Awards
announced during an awards banquet held in November. The GRCC
honored MCC with the Community Beautification Award.
"The companies and individuals that were recognized have truly
made a difference in our community," stated Chamber CEO Tim
Herman in a news release. "Whether they are exploring new opportunities through alternative energy, leveraging social media to expand
customer reach or providing great services that keep
customers coming back, there is one thing our winners have in
common. They have all made a commitment to doing business in
Genesee County. That is clearly a good thing for our region."
Global Issues Film Festival
American GI Forum/
Continuing a tradition of bringing provocative films to the Flint area, Mott ComHispanic Technology
munity College, Kettering University and the University of Michigan-Flint have partnered for a 10th year to present the Global Issues Film Festival. Five films will be
and Community Center shown
Jan. 24-28, 2012 at Kettering University's McKinnon Theatre in the Academic
Building. An additional screening will be held at UM-Flint's Kiva. Admission to the
Receives $10,000 Gift Global Issues Film Festival is free.
The American GI Forum/Hispanic Technology and Community Center is the recipient of another gift from the same
donor that surprised the center with a donation in the summer
of 2011. The center recently received a check in the amount
of $10,000 from the same foundation that made a $7,000 donation in July, 2011. The donors wish to remain anonymous.
Eduardo Zimmermann, Site Coordinator at the Hispanic
Technology & Community Center, gave a tour of the center
to two officials from the foundation last summer. The visitors
were obviously impressed: the center received a $7,000 check
in the mail less than two weeks after the visit. "These officials
praised the work being done at the center and wanted to do
their part in seeing that we continue to offer services to the
residents of the East Side of Flint,"
stated Carlos Cisneros, Community Outreach Coordinator of
the Workforce & Career Development at Mott Community
College, who also serves on the executive board of the Hispanic Technology & Community Center. "The funds will be
used to expand offerings at the Center."
The American GI Forum of Flint/Hispanic Technology
& Community Center is a 501c3 nonprofit organization
which partnered with MCC to open at the former Citizens
Bank Branch in 2002 where the Center is housed. The American GI Forum of Flint/Hispanic Technology and Community
Center, located at 2101 Lewis Street in Flint, continues to
meet the needs of the community by offering a variety of
services. For more information, visit www.htcc.us, call (810)
424-3760 or visit Facebook at Hispanic Technology and
Community Center.
This collaborative festival includes the work of independent filmmakers from
around the globe, representing a variety of voices and viewpoints. The films, between
80 and 110 minutes long, feature topics ranging from the Chinese
suppression of Tibet to genetic engineering of the food supply. Following is a
schedule along with descriptions of the films:
The World According to Monsanto (2008), Tuesday, Jan. 24, 5:30 pm at UM-Flint
Kiva and Wednesday, Jan. 25, 7 pm at Kettering University (KU), McKinnon Theatre.
(Directed by Marie-Monique Robin) The company that gave the world "Agent Orange" has continued to develop and sell a number of controversial
products. The filmmaker spent three years and travelled around the world to
document many horrible health effects attributed to these products.
The Power of the Powerless (2009), Thursday, Jan. 26, 7 pm, KU (Directed by Cory
Taylor). An exploration of the Czechoslovakian legacy of communist rule and the
struggle against it, including the story of blacklisted playwright Vaclav Havel and his
fellow dissidents. The film culminates with the student-led movement in Prague,
which sparked the 1989 Velvet Revolution. The discussion afterward will be led by
Dr. Eugene Hynes, professor of Social Science at Kettering.
Fuel, (2008) Friday, Jan. 27, 7 pm KU (Directed by Josh Tickell). A comprehensive
and entertaining look at energy in America: a history of where we have been, our
present predicament and a solution to our dependence on foreign oil. The discussion
afterward will be led by Dr. Jonathan Wenzel, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at Kettering.
The Sun Behind the Clouds, (2009) Saturday, Jan. 28, 1 pm, KU (Directed by Ritu
Sarin and Tenzing Sonam). A uniquely Tibetan perspective on the trials and tribulations of the Dalai Lama and his people as they continue their struggle for freedom in
the face of determined suppression by China. The discussion afterward will be led by
Dr. Badrinath Rao, Associate professor of Sociology and Asian Studies at KU.
Addicted to Plastic, (2008) Saturday, Jan. 28, 3pm, KU (Directed by Ian Connacher).
For better and for worse, no ecosystem or segment of human activity has escaped the
shrink-wrapped grasp of plastic. Addicted to Plastic is a global journey to investigate
what we really know about the material of a thousand uses and why there's so much
of it.
Foundation for MCC Grant Writer
Achieves National Recognition
Leslie A. Colston, Development Specialist and Grant Writer for the Foundation for Mott Community College, recently graduated from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Faculty Training Academy
(FTA) as an AFP Master Trainer, announced Foundation for MCC President Lennetta Coney. Colston was the
first grant writer in the nation to be spotlighted by the Grant Professionals Association (GPA) and chosen as
Member of the Month. GPA is the country's largest and fastest-growing organization dedicated to
grantsmanship.
Colston is now considered an instructor who is prepared to take a leadership role in AFP's professional
education programs and to serve as a peer mentor for other AFP course instructors. There are currently only two
other instructors in Michigan who hold the AFP Master Trainer distinction. She also took the GPA's Grant Professionals Certification (GPC) Exam in
Las Vegas, and passed. The GPC is a certification program that measures an individual's ability to provide quality grant-related services within an ethical
framework.
"So I am now also, Officially, a Certified grant writer!," she said. "Not to toot my own horn, but so many awesome things have taken place in the past
month and as a Grant Writer, being respected and honored by my peers is huge."
In addition, Leslie Colston is a 2011-12 Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) candidate; currently holding the Certificate in Fund Raising Management (CFRM) distinction. She is also the Founder of Grant$earchers.com.
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JANUARY 2012
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday
Friday
Saturday
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For more calendar items visit www.events.mcc.edu
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MLK Day
Campus Closed
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30
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13
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27
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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Michigan Deaf Ambassadors
Meeting
Program
5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
RTC 1301
PCC 1230
CCNA Membership
Meeting
6:30-9:30 p.m.
RTC 1005
MCCEA Board of Directors
Meeting
3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
PCC 1230
Board of Trustees Meeting
7:30 p.m. • RTC 1301
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6
25
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Foundation for
MCC Board of Directors
Luncheon Meeting
12:00-2:00 p.m.
PCC 1230