Everyone has seen the motorized shopping carts at the grocery store for shoppers who have limited mobility. But what if a customer comes to the store in a wheelchair? They have to get out of their wheelchair, get into the motorized shopping cart, and then, what happens to their wheelchair while shopping? Plus, they must…
The Ozarks Technical Community College Jazz Band will make its concert debut on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. at Drury University’s Stone Chapel. The “Winter Joy” concert will also feature holiday favorites performed by the OTC choirs. The Jazz Band came into existence when Philip Forrester, an OTC music instructor, applied for and received…
The Missouri Community College Association (MCCA) honored Ozarks Technical Community College employees and donors at its 58th annual convention and tradeshow held in St. Louis from Nov. 29-Dec. 1. At the convention, MCCA recognized Emerson with its Award of Distinction, one of the highest awards MCCA bestows. In 2020, Emerson donated half-a-million dollars to the…
The first season of esports at Ozarks Technical Community College far exceeded expectations. That’s the assessment of the college’s esports advisor, Dr. Tiffany Ford. “We definitely had more students than we expected,” Dr. Ford said. “The competitive esports team is as large as we can manage right now.” Esports launched at the college in the…
We don’t live in a Monday-through-Friday world. Families, jobs and community duties sometimes make it difficult for students to take classes at traditional times. OTC has developed a suite of Saturday courses that allows students to maintain their life responsibilities while moving closer to their goals. Developed to accommodate the needs of our busy students,…
In higher education, it is a common practice to offer science survey courses to non-science majors. While the official names for these courses may be “Basic Physics,” they are often referred to as “Physics for poets.” Most colleges offer several “for poets” courses, which feature wide-ranging technical concepts and little math. However, there is no…
The 2022-23 school year marks the fifteenth year of operation for the Middle College at Ozarks Technical Community College. In 2007, Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Norm Ridder approached then-new OTC Chancellor Dr. Hal Higdon with an idea to lower the high school dropout rate and help credit-deficient students get back on track. The Middle…
The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche wrote, “To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.” Ozarks Technical Community College graduate Kaila DeJonge has suffered, and she has found meaning. In 1999, at just six months old, another driver hit the car carrying Kaila, her mother and two older sisters.…
Ozarks Technical Community College is partnering with Arizona State University to provide students with a seamless transfer experience through the MyPath2ASU program. MyPath2ASU™ allows students to take the steps needed early in their college experience to successfully plan their transfer to ASU, ensuring a smooth transition process and student success. MyPath2ASU™ is a customized tool for transfer students from…
Ozarks Technical Community College trustees and administrators honored the 2022 Excellence in Education Award recipients at the November Board of Trustees meeting. 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 Turner Family Foundation. Full-Time…
Trisha Tindall, a 2022 Ozarks Technical Community College graduate, was awarded a fellowship from the American Respiratory Care Foundation (ARCF) for research. Tindall’s project analyzing the efficacy of flow sensors on ventilators for neonatal patients earned the ARCF’s 2022 Vyaire Fellowship for Neonatal and Pediatric Therapists. “I was shocked when I received the email that…
Ozarks Technical Community College announced Nathan Summerfield as this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Student Veteran Award during the college’s annual Veterans Day ceremony, held Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. OTC’s Outstanding Student Veteran Award is presented annually to a student in good academic standing with an honorable service record. The student’s personal conduct, contributions, and…
You might have been surprised to discover you have a college navigator. “What is a college navigator?” might be the follow-up question, so here’s what you need to know. “All OTC students now have a college navigator to support them with long-term financial and academic planning,” says Steve Fouse, College Director of Student Success. “The…
For Ozarks Technical Community College student Joe Nachtigal, OTC wasn’t just the first college he attended. It was the first school of any kind he ever set foot inside. “I’d never attended school,” Joe said. “School used to be on the couch.” At just 19 years old, Joe will finish a degree in Information Technology…
The 2023-24 Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is here and ready to be filled out. It’s your first step to qualify for loans and grants. Once you’ve completed your FAFSA, you can apply anytime until Nov. 1 for OTC’s Spring scholarships – that could mean FREE MONEY. Scholarships range from $500 per…
Ozarks Technical Community College’s free Eagle Breakfast program helped students achieve better grades and persist in their courses during the 21-22 school year. Eagle Breakfast is a no-cost meal for any OTC student at all of the college’s locations. “It’s allowed me access to food in the morning when I normally didn’t eat breakfast,” said…
Ozarks Technical Community College graduate Tyler Kahler is a big fan of the late chef, author and television host Anthony Bourdain. Tyler and Bourdain have a lot in common. They both have a passion for preparing good food. They’re also both storytellers. But while Bourdain’s stories involve food, drink and good company, Tyler’s tales come…
Mental Health Week at OTC is Sept. 26-30. Join OTC Counseling Services and the Office of Student Engagement at “Let’s Taco ‘Bout Mental Health” events supporting Mental Health Awareness. Stop by for goodies (while supplies last), mental health techniques and important information. Monday, Sept. 26 – Taco ‘Bout Your Feelings, Donut Bottle Them Up Having…
The Ozarks Technical Community College Richwood Valley Campus will host a 5K Run and Fall Festival on Saturday, October 8. The 5K Fun Run and Walk begins at 5:30 p.m. The Fall Festival kicks off at 6:30 p.m. The OTC Richwood Valley Campus is located north of Highway 14 between Nixa and Ozark. The Physical…
Fewer than 2% of teenage mothers graduate college by age 30. When Dee King heard that statistic, she knew she couldn’t do anything about being a teen mom, but she was determined not to become a part of the 98%. Her son, Shane, was born in Dee’s hometown of Missoula, Montana, just before Christmas, during…
Ozarks Technical Community College’s Veterans Upward Bound program can now serve veterans in 15 Missouri counties. The U.S. Department of Education renewed OTC’s Federal TRIO Grant for an additional five years at $1.4 million. The initial grant in 2017 established a Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) program to assist Greene County veterans with their pursuit of postsecondary education. With…
How can you utilize tech to up your OTC game? First of all, bookmark this blog! Second, read this blog. We’ve got the helpful tech hacks that will level up your semester! Sync your OTC email to your phone Nobody cares about email … except for, well, pretty much everyone that is on campus to…
Autumn Seely from Ozarks Technical Community College is one of 207 Phi Theta Kappa members named a 2022 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar and will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Seely graduated from Glendale High School in 2021 and is beginning her second year at OTC. The Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program helps new Phi…
The fall 2022 semester is finally here, and so are Eagle Days – the extra special activities during the first week of classes. Find an event (or 10!) to attend between classes. It’s five days packed with fun and free stuff! Be sure to document your back-to-school adventures on social with #OTCEaglePride. You just might…
The future of manufacturing and technical education in the state made its debut at Ozarks Technical Community College today, Monday, August 15. The college hosted the grand opening of the Robert W. Plaster Center for Advanced Manufacturing (PMC). The PMC is the largest building project in OTC’s history. “We have people who want to go…