OTC alumnus Nanchang Lamde’s fascination with motion pictures began at an early age. Once his daily chores were complete, Nanchang would run barefoot along the dusty roads of his small village in Nigeria to his neighbors’ house. Standing on his tiptoes, he would peer into the window to catch a glimpse of their television set.…
OTC student Javeon England is stepping into an important role this semester. The 20-year-old business and marketing major has been named the president of Brother 2 Brother (B2B), a “near-peer” mentoring program that strives to improve college retention and graduation rates among minority students. “We’re more of a family than a brotherhood,” Javeon said. “We…
Jim and Debby Baugh say there is nothing heroic about their support of the OTC Foundation. In fact, Jim says the real heroes are the students who pursue the life changing educational opportunities offered by the college. “It’s the men and women who overcome tremendous obstacles to get what was given to me at the…
Dr. Hal Higdon, chancellor of Ozarks Technical Community College, received the Chief Executive Leadership Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VI. The award is presented annually to an outstanding president, chancellor, head master or system head of a District VI CASE member institution. CASE supports alumni relations, communications, development, and…
Students and faculty at Ozarks Technical Community College will join others across the nation to celebrate SkillsUSA Week, Feb. 3-9, 2019. The annual celebration represents over 300,000 SkillsUSA members nationwide and promotes career and technical education (CTE). The week highlights the benefits of the SkillsUSA program in developing personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in…
Ozarks Technical Community College will host an open house for its Surgical Technology Program on Monday, Feb. 11. The come-and-go event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Surgical Technology Operating Room, located at the OTC Springfield Campus in Lincoln Hall, room 301. The open house will give prospective students and…
OTC officials and industry partners celebrated the grand opening of the MHC Diesel Technician Training Center today, Jan. 28 at the OTC Springfield Campus. The capital project was made possible through a $1 million matching grant from the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The additional $1 million was raised primarily through…
Fort Leonard Wood military personnel and their families will soon have access to more educational opportunities thanks to a new agreement with Ozarks Technical Community College. OTC and Fort Leonard Wood officials signed a memorandum of understanding today, Thursday, Jan. 24, which gives the college approval to teach courses at the Fort Leonard Wood military…
The new year is here and so is the start of the spring semester. If your new year’s resolution involves staying on top of your college game, keep reading for hacks to help you along the way. 1. Sync your OTC email to your phone. It’s the easiest way for you to keep up with…
Congratulations to our Fall 2018 Chancellor’s List and Dean’s List recipients! Students who complete 12 or more credit hours are eligible for the Chancellor’s List and Dean’s List. Recognition is based on the grade point average attained during a 12-credit-hour increment. The Dean’s List requires a GPA of 3.50 to 3.84, and the Chancellor’s List…
All Ozarks Technical Community College locations will be open on Saturday, Jan. 5 to help students prepare for the upcoming semester. Student Services staff will be available from 9 a.m. to noon to assist students with last-minute admissions, enrollment, advising and financial aid processes. Student Account Services staff will also be available during this time…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…