Thanks to a summer abroad, OTC instructor Tim Rogers teaches international business in a whole new light. The former stock broker spent six weeks teaching at the University of Shanghai in China. He said his experiences there enriched his teaching practices back in the United States. The experience Tim, an alumnus of the University of…
SPRINGFIELD, MO — Ozarks Technical Community College invites all Vatterott College students to explore options for continuing their education at OTC after the for-profit college abruptly closed all of its locations on December 17. Displaced Vatterott students may visit the OTC Student Services Department in the Information Commons building at OTC Springfield. College staff will be…
Taylor Fast can now add “commercial pilot” to his list of credentials. The Bolivar native was OTC’s first aviation student to pass his commercial pilot exam – just a year and a half after the program’s inception. “It was a little more than thrilling,” Taylor said. “The stakes were definitely high – knowing I could…
Today, Missouri’s Coordinating Board for Higher Education voted for budget recommendations that ranked OTC’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) as its number one capital funding priority for Fiscal Year 2020. The recommendation for $5 million of state funds to go toward the CAM was part of CBHE’s overall budget request of $55.8 million for workforce…
The Ozarks Technical Community College Board of Trustees approved the project cost for the OTC Republic Center at its monthly meeting Monday, Dec. 10. The board also approved a bid to hire Rich Kramer Construction to build the facility. The OTC Republic Center will be built on eight acres of land donated by the Bussey,…
Liberty the service dog lives up to her name. The black Labrador belongs to U.S. Navy veteran Kerry Evans. The two were paired together through K9s For Camo. The local nonprofit organization trains dogs to help veterans mitigate the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, epilepsy and limited mobility. “I can’t imagine life without her,” Kerry…
Ozarks Technical Community College unveiled its 2018 Excellence in Education award recipients at the college’s annual convocation, held at the White River Conference Center in October. Candidates were nominated by staff members and selected by a college-wide committee. Each winner was presented with a plaque and monetary award, made possible by a donation from the…
With just a few days left of classes, final exams are looming closer than ever. Make sure you’re prepared with the following study tips from our friends at the Speckman Tutoring & Learning Center. 10. Start early – Cramming is counter-productive. Give your brain the time it needs to learn the material. To avoid procrastination, schedule…
Jennifer Dunkel typically has her English II students conclude their writing class with a research-based proposal that addresses ways to help students be successful. But this semester, her students had a different idea. “They said to me, ‘Instead of just pointing out these issues, let’s do something about it,’” Dunkel said. With that statement, the…
OTC graduate Jeana Varney loved music and animals as a girl growing up in Mountain Grove, Missouri, and she’s been able to make both of them a part of her career. Jeana attended elementary school in Texas; but, when she was 12, Jeana, her mother and brother moved from Dallas to Mountain Grove to live…
The Missouri Community College Association (MCCA) honored OTC employees and community partners at its 54th annual convention, held Nov. 7-9 in Branson. Each year, the convention attracts nearly 600 attendees, making it the largest gathering of community college professionals in the state. At the convention, the following individuals and organizations were recognized for their outstanding…
If Cassandra Groves’ life were a book, the title would be “Overcoming It All.” Looking back, the U.S. Army veteran and mother of four credits much of her success to OTC. Encouraged by her foster parents, Cassandra earned both her GED and Associate of Applied Science in Hearing Instrument Science from the college. Today, Cassandra…
Ozarks Technical Community College announced Sergeant Penny Kimball as this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Student Veteran Award during the college’s annual Veterans Day ceremony, held Monday, Nov. 12. Sgt. Kimball served in the United States Army from 1998-2008. A combat veteran with a parachutist certification, her military awards include four Army Commendation Medals, four…
Growing up, Sarah Rife’s expectations were clear: get married, start a family, and homeschool her children. But rather than follow that predetermined path, Sarah decided to blaze her own trail. Today, Sarah is studying business marketing at OTC. Once she graduates with her associate degree, she plans to transfer to a four-year college or university…
The Springfield Apprenticeship Council will host an Ozarks Apprenticeship Connection event on Thursday, Nov. 15 from 4–6 p.m. at the Northview Center, located at 301 E. Talmage St. in Springfield. The Ozarks Apprenticeship Connection event is free and open to the public. Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be served to guests. Held in conjunction with…
Suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background. More than 41,000 individuals die by suicide each year, leaving behind their friends and family members to navigate the tragedy of loss. Too often, the feelings of shame and stigma prevent them from talking openly about their feelings. This week,…
Ozarks Technical Community College is accepting enrollment for its free Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) classes held at several locations in Springfield. The classes help adults prepare for the High School Equivalency (HSE) exam, learn English as a second language or improve their reading, math and writing skills. To be considered for the AEL program,…
Ozarks Technical Community College received a $53,500 Skaggs Legacy Endowment grant at a presentation held today, Oct. 31 at the OTC Table Rock Campus. The grant, presented by Skaggs Foundation, supports the purchase of an ambulance simulator for the college’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program at the OTC Table Rock Campus. Skaggs Legacy Endowment is…
Children who grew up watching “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” were often advised to look for the helpers in troubling times. Mister Rogers taught children to see that the world is full of doctors and nurses, police and firemen, volunteers, neighbors and friends who are ready to jump in and help when things go wrong. The OTC…
Undoubtedly, OTC is located in the most beautiful part of the state, but not everything about southwest Missouri is pretty. Greene County has more domestic violence per capita than anywhere else in Missouri, and OTC students are not immune. In the 2017-2018 academic year, the college received reports of 64 students being affected by intimate…
A healthy dose of sibling rivalry keeps Ethan and Caleb Cotten at the top of their game. The brothers will soon become line workers through OTC’s new program offered in Lebanon, Missouri. The two often compete against one another to see who can climb the 45-foot-tall training poles outside the OTC Lebanon Center the fastest.…
OTC’s Dean of Technical Education Matthew Hudson received the prestigious Remanufacturing ACE Award at the RIC-RIT World Remanufacturing Conference in Rochester, New York. Dr. Hudson was one of three individuals honored with an ACE Award at the conference’s networking reception held Sept. 19. The Remanufacturing ACE Awards is an international competition sponsored by the Remanufacturing…
Ozarks Technical Community College will host a free FAFSA Frenzy event on Thursday, Oct. 25 from 5-8 p.m. in the Information Commons West building at the OTC Springfield Campus. The event, sponsored by the Missouri Department of Higher Education, is designed to help prospective college students file their FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student…
Individuals who are interested in earning an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certificate or a paramedic degree will soon have the opportunity to learn more about the educational programs available to them in the Branson and Hollister area. The Ozarks Technical Community College Table Rock Campus will host three informational sessions about its new Emergency Medical…
Ozarks Technical Community College’s Fine Arts Department will present “High School Non Musical” this fall. Performances will be held Oct. 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 28 at 2:30 p.m. at the Springfield Art Museum. The show is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Patrons are encouraged to reserve…