MOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
CONNECTION
AUGUST 2004
MCC
FACULTY
& STAFF
NEWSLETTER
WHAT’S
INSIDE
MCC FINE ARTS
CAMP
MCC LAPEER HOSTS
“A TASTE OF
HARVEST”
FOUNDATION HAS
BUSY SUMMER
UNIQUE LEARNING
AND COMMUNITY
SUPPORT FOR MCC
STUDENTS
MCC HISPANIC
TECHNOLOGY CENTER
HOSTING COMMUNITY
FUN DAY
Q UOTE OF
THE M ONTH
“The aim of education is the knowledge not of facts but of values.”
--Dean Inge
Bill Ballenger rededicates Field House
For decades Mott Community College's
Ballenger Field House has been the site of achievements by countless athletes from Flint and Genesee
County. With MCC's championship sports teams
and community events like the recent Bruin Club All
Star Classic, the Ballenger Field House is truly a
part of this area's sports history.
The Ballenger Field House was named for community leader William S. Ballenger, Sr. who wrote a
will in 1935 establishing a special trust to help fund
Mott Community College (then Flint Junior
College). When he died in 1951, that Ballenger
Trust came into existence. Later his son - William
S. Ballenger, Jr. - was a member of the Flint School
Board when it was responsible for Flint Junior
College (the predecessor of MCC) and helped guide
the way that fund was administered.
On Monday, July 12 William S. Ballenger, III
(grandson of the founder of the Ballenger Trust and
well known political analyst) helped to unveil a new
sign on the Ballenger Field House honoring his
grandfather. Three TV stations covered the event
and interviewed Ballenger. Steady rain didn't stop a
large crowd from attending the brief ceremony.
America's Car Tour Comes to MCC
With a NASCAR racing
car and huge banner showing
support for America's service
men and women in tow, Major
General Thomas Cutler, commander of Michigan's National
Guard, came to MCC's RTC to
thank area employers - including MCC - for their support of
men and women who have
been called back to duty during
the current campaigns in Iraq
and elsewhere. Dubbed
"America's Car", the traveling
NASCAR exhibit is part of a
program called Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), which has the mission to gain
and maintain active support from all public and private employers for the men and women of the
National Guard and Reserve.
MCC Vice President Scott Jenkins was presented with an award by Gen. Cutler for the college's
strong support of its students and staff who were called to active duty. Area business leaders and TV
Channel 12 were on hand for the event.
Ca m pus
d
n
u
Aro
Dean of Student Services Delores Deen
brings news that Academic Affairs
Administrative Assistant Linda Uren is the proud
grandparent (for the first time) of a baby boy,
Nathan who was born Sunday, July 18. Delores
said that she is "pretty sure she told me he
weighed 8 lbs 13 oz."
Health Sciences Administrative Assistant
Bernadette Coleman reports that Patti Ellis,
secretary in the Health Sciences Division, will
be married to Phil Estep on Aug. 13.
Accounting's Karen Amore appeared in
"The Persistence of Dreams." The film is funded
by the Smithsonian Institute and was produced
this summer at Ford's Theatre in Washington,
DC. The story depicts the Lincoln Assassination
and will be shown in the Imax theatre and the
Smithsonian in Washington as well as being
released in DVD. According to Karen, "This is
the first re-enactment to actually be filmed at
Ford's Theatre. I was an extra in Victorian costume playing an audience member during the
reproduced production of 'The American Cousin'
(the play being shown at the theater the night
Lincoln was shot). I was excited that they
placed me in the second row, sitting right next to
the man who runs out to find a doctor." And,
yes, Karen's name will appear in the credits.
Karen reports that this is her first paid acting job.
Political Science Professor Paul Rozycki
will be exhibiting his photos at the Greater Flint
Arts Council and the Left Bank Gallery in
August. The Greater Flint Arts Council Show
will feature pictures of the For Mar nature park
and the Left Bank Show will be photos of Flint.
The opening receptions are Aug. 6 from 6-9 pm.
While talking about Paul Rozycki, Judith
Cawhorn reports that Paul Rozycki has been
awarded a Learning & Leadership Grant from
the NEA Foundation for the Improvement of
Education. The $5,000 award is for the proposal
"Action Research for Advancing Service
Learning Practice at Mott Community College"
and was developed in collaboration with Dr.
David Moxley of Wayne State University. This
award will expand the impact of the faculty professional development teaching circle on academic service learning that Dr. Moxley facilitated at MCC in the last academic year and in
which Paul was an activity participant. The
competitive award was given to 28 NEA members throughout the country from among approximately 180 applicants.
Judith also relates that Comcast Cable
Communications, Inc. has awarded $25,000 to
MCC to expand the activities at our Community
Technology Centers (CTC). Each of the CTCs
will undertake a new program. At the Great
Lakes Baptist CTC, youth ages 10-16, will participate in a multimedia technology skills program. The Disability Network CTC will expand
their assistive technology equipment and capabilities with the award. At the Hispanic CTC,
youth ages 10-17 will participate in a music
composition camp utilizing "Palm" technology.
Mott Middle College's Excel Early College
program funded by grants from the Gates
Foundation and others was the topic when
MMC Principal Dr. Chery Wagonlander,
MMC Instructor Bob Frasier, MMC Counselor
Kerry Moore and Sherry Bradish of MCC
Career & Technical Education traveled to New
York to attend the Middle College Consortium's
Annual Conference. The conference featured a
workshop on the American Social History
Project by MMC Instructors Leila Rivard and
Patrick McHugh while Chery Wagonlander
facilitated a workshop on Critical Friends
Review.
HR's Sharon Ewles is a huge Alan Jackson
fan and attended a concert in Dallas over
Memorial Day weekend where Alan, George
Strait and Jimmy Buffett performed individually
and together. When she returned home, she
wrote and submitted a concert review to an Alan
Jackson newsletter in a contest where, if the
review is published, the writer receives two tickets to Alan's next concert (probably at The
Palace of Auburn Hills). Guess what? Sharon's
article was selected as the winner.
Associate Dean of Social Sciences
Margaret Brainard reports that the Instructor's
Resource Manual for Plotnik's Introduction to
Psychology, 7th edition, has just been published
and has arrived in the Social Sciences Division
office. The manual, a treasure-trove of learning
activities, was written by Dr. Gail Knapp,
Professor of Psychology, and designed by Lynn
Thigpen, Professor of Information
Technology/Communication Technology.
Business Professor Bettie Goodman has
been busy with duties as President-Elect of
Michigan Business Education Association. She
attended Region IV & V Sprint Event at
Davenport University in Dearborn on May 14
where she was the keynote speaker for the opening session. Her topic was "Make the
Connection-NBEA, Our Parent Company." This
session discussed the importance of being a
member of NBEA to obtain valuable benefits
that will enhance one's career. On June 25
Professor Goodman traveled to Grayling to
attend Region II Sprint Event where she gave
the state update for business education, which
included Career Clusters, BMMT Pathway, Tech
Prep linkage and the Michigan Curriculum
Framework. She is already making plans for the
MBEA Fall Conference, Oct. 23-25 in Lansing.
In case you haven't noticed, the MCC
Bookstore has changed. The space has been
remodeled and they've changed clothing styles,
too. Store Manager Leslie Slining invites everyone to "come in and see our new digs as well as
our new stock." A formal ribbon cutting is
scheduled for after the beginning of fall semester.
Associate Dean Jessie Sirna reports that
two of the spring/summer classes in the art area
offered students a unique study opportunity.
Painting instructor John Dempsey taught a class
entitled “Painting the Industrial Landscape,”
which took students to various locations around
downtown Flint, getting views from both ground
level and rooftop, as well as to Dow-Corning in
Midland and the River Rouge Plant in Detroit.
Graphic Design Coordinator Mara Fulmer took
a group on a study tour to Fiji, where they
encountered all types of art, cultural and adventure experiences which will be presented in various formats by the students.
Foundation has a Busy Summer
The Foundation for Mott Community College has a busy summer. On Aug. 2 it held a reception for the opening of an exhibit of ceramics by
MCC emeritus professor Grayce Scholt at MCC's Visual Arts & Design Center.
On Thursday, Aug. 19, comes the Foundation's Annual Garden Party at the residence of Mayor Donald Williamson and First Lady Patsy Lou
Williamson. The Benefactor Reception ($500/couple) starts at 5:30 pm followed by the Friends Reception ($125/person) at 6:30 pm. Proceeds benefit MCC's Endowment Growth Initiative and tickets are available by calling 762 0425. (MCC employees can purchase by payroll deduction).
The Annual Golf Outing for the MCC Lapeer Learner Scholarship will be Friday, Sept. 10, 2004 at Devil's Ridge Golf Club. The cost is $360
for a team and $90 per person. MCC employees can use payroll deduction for this event as well.
MCC's Summer includes
Fine Arts Camp.
The Jim Lee Fine Arts Camp, which took place July 12-23 on our
main campus, hosted over 90 students in grades 7-12. The camp offered
band, jazz band, guitar, steel drums and art and climaxed with a family
picnic, art exhibit and musical performance on the final evening. Over
and above the regular camp activities, there were three special events
arranged by director Frank Yon, a part-time music instructor at MCC. The
music students had the opportunity to experience the process of composing a piece of music which was performed at the final concert; the jazzers
and the steel band performed as part of the Cultural Center Children's
Celebration on July 16; and both the art and music students partnered with
the Genesys Hurley Cancer Center, next to the RTC, performing music
and creating a permanent mural for the enjoyment of both patients, families and staff. Congratulations to Frank and his staff for providing a very
successful and meaningful experience for the campers and a very positive
image of MCC in our community.
MCC Lapeer hosts "A Taste
of Harvest"
MCC Lapeer and MSU Extension are once again presenting "A
Taste of Harvest" on Saturday, Aug. 28 from 10 am to 4 pm at the
Lapeer campus. This is a chance to taste samples and buy locally
grown organic produce, as well as discuss plant, insect and gardening
problems with master gardeners. Visitors can also browse and buy arts
and crafts from over 50 vendors with paintings, antiques, garden art
and arbors, quilts, scrap booking supplies, jewelry, fabric crafts, woodenware, herbals, botanicals and aromatherapy, hand painted porcelain,
antique appraisals, face painting, plants and shrubs plus photos from
the Lapeer Camera Club.
Special attractions include demonstration on salsa making (11 am
for tomato and 1 pm for peach). The reptile man will show how
snakes are friendly fellows at 2 pm with judging for the largest tomato
contest at 3 pm.
The fun will also feature a food court with the Coffee Tree Café,
Green Leaf Maple products, handmade candies, bake sales, Parker's
Orchard, Randy and Teresa's produce, Copper Arbor, a pig roast, raffles and drawings.
Of course, this is a good chance to review the Fall community
education schedule of classes and talk with teachers who will answer
questions and demonstrate food and art classes. Pre-register as many
classes are limited in size.
Join MCC Lapeer for a free day of fun and learning! Call (810)
667-0344 or 667-6546 for more information. The event is cosponsored
in part by the Lapeer County Press and Lapeer Regional Hospital.
Unique Learning and
Community Support for
MCC Students
In the 2003 Fall semester, the Counseling and Student
Development Division (CASD), in cooperation with the Humanities
Division, administered the Learning and Study Skills Inventory to all
English 098 students and found them lacking in a variety of study
skills essential for college success. The areas assessed included
Academic Anxiety, Attitude, Concentration, Information Processing,
Motivation, Self Testing, Selecting Main Ideas, Using Support
Techniques/Materials, Time Management, Test Strategies and
Preparation. Overall their study skills results suggested that as a
group they lacked these support skills necessary for college success.
For Fall 2004, Counseling and English faculty are piloting a
unique combination of credit courses for students who are placed in
English 098. The aim is to create a supportive learning community of
developmental students. Students registered into English 098-04 (this
098 section only; taught by Celeste Resh) will take a designated corequisite section of CASD 121 (Study Skills). These same students
will take either CASD 121-05 or CASD 121-06 (taught by Anne
Gupton). Conversely, any student being registered into either one of
these CASD sections is required to take English 098-04. Both the
English and Study Skills teachers will be consulting with each other
and working with these students cooperatively throughout the Fall
semester in attempts to increase their likelihood of success.
For students who are placed in Eng. 098 on the placement test
and who approach Advisors or Counselors for course registration
guidance, Counselors and Advisors will be encouraging students to
take advantage of this unique opportunity. In addition to getting extra
support and individual attention and counseling, they will have the
opportunity to form a learning community cohort with other students
in both of these courses. CASD plans on evaluating the outcomes
intensively in anticipation of initiating further cross divisional initiatives in support of full-time instructional faculty and their students.
MCC Hispanic Technology
Center hosting Community
Fun Day
MCC's Hispanic Technology Center at 2101 Lewis Street in Flint
is hosting a Community Fun Day on Tuesday, Aug. 10 from 11 am to
2 pm. It will be a chance to meet your community service people in
uniform, including Flint police officers, K-9 unit, fire fighters and rescue workers. Public safety is a strong theme and free finger printing
and ID's will be provided. There will be lots of free give-aways.
Everyone is welcome.
For information call (810) 424-3760. In case of bad weather the
alternate day will be Aug. 12 at the same time.
Book Discussion
The next Friends of the Mott Library book discussion will feature
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier on Monday, August 23, 2004.
Please join us at noon in the Mott Library Quest Center. Make
your reservation by calling 762-0455 or 762-0408.
AUGUST 2004
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
1
2
9
3
4
5
6
10
11
12
13
Hispanic Fun Days
11a.m.-2p.m.
Hispanic Technology
Center
16
17
18
Foundation Garden Party •
5:30p.m.
Mayor Williamson’s Home
19
20
7
Flint Jazz Festival.
Youth in Jazz
Celebration
9a.m.-3p.m.
MMB
14
8
15
UAW Car Show
7a.m.-4p.m.
Paid Parking Lot
21
22
28
29
Friends of Mott
Library Board Meeting
12-2 p.m. Quest Center
Friends of Mott
Library Book Club
Noon-1 p.m.
Quest Center
30
23
24
25
26
27
Taste of Lapeer
10a.m.-4p.m.
Lapeer Campus
31
PRESORTED
STANDARD
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Flint, MI
Permit NO 51
1401 East Court Street
Flint, Michigan 48503-2089