The inherent privileges of American citizens, like the choice to obtain an education, can often be overlooked by individuals who never had to face the hardships of an oppressive government. However, for members of the Gradinariu family, this is not the case. With their successful escape from Romania near the end of the Cold War,…
When Josh Green enrolled at OTC several years ago to study welding, his goal was to learn a worthwhile trade so he could move out of, what he called, his dead-end retail job. Before his college career was over, he had more than eclipsed that goal. Josh was one of the first students to enroll…
Josh Pennekamp was a business student who knew nothing about welding before he came to OTC this year. However, after completing the college’s 20-week Industrial Welding Technology program, Josh is a business major with a twist. He says welding will be incorporated into his dreams of becoming a manufacturer. “I love welding. It’s a great…
There may not be another OTC alumnus who has lived the “Start Here, Go Anywhere” motto like Wendell Bandy. In fact, OTC President Emeritus Dr. Norman K. Myers says Wendell took that motto a step further. “Wendell has started here and gone everywhere,” Dr. Myers said during a recent reunion between Myers and Bandy at OTC.…
Hundreds of OTC graduates will march into JQH Arena this week to the cheers and best wishes of family and friends. Among those receiving degrees will be Angela Ellis and Sean Maenner. But they won’t have to listen too intently to hear well wishes from a family member or to find a nearby relative. This…
The Gillioz Theatre has hosted many great events in its nearly 100-year history, including its service as home to the OTC Fine Arts program for the last decade. Next semester, however, the program will move to the OTC Springfield Campus. The Gillioz, with its architectural ambiance rich with visual textures, colors, and shapes, has provided OTC…
With a constant bright smile and happy demeanor, Ozarks Technical Community College student Andrew Kirkpatrick exudes optimism. He understands the value of his OTC education and what it will mean for him in the future. “Like the saying goes at OTC, ‘Start here, go anywhere.’ It’s so true and I found that out very quickly.…
Keshia Guffey is attending OTC intent on becoming a social worker to help those with substance-use disorders. It’s a topic close to Keshia’s heart because she lived the life of an addict for a number of years. An Ozark High School graduate, Keshia later became addicted to opioids for two years after she started using…
Melanie Johnston has enjoyed the best of times as a student at OTC after suffering the worst of times in an abusive marriage. Melanie is now an honors student and vice president of publicity and outreach for the college’s Honors Program. She also works as a tutor at the Carol Jones Writing Center, which suits her…
Sarah Tindell looks to the sky for her future career path, and she will soon take off in that direction with the help of OTC’s new aviation program. Sarah, 16, is expected to be one of the first students to enroll in OTC’s aviation-focused associate degree program starting in the fall. The degree is being…
Battlefield firefighter Kevin Newton loves to talk about his job and the education he received at OTC. He often tells people that two days a week he lives in a multi-million-dollar house, drives a $500,000 vehicle and wears a $6,000 suit. “Then I tell them, I’m a firefighter and you can become one too at…
Tracy McGrady did not dream of being the provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs at OTC until Steve Bishop, the then-current provost, told her that he was going to call it quits. “I wasn’t really thinking about the position but then Dr. Bishop said he was retiring. He also told me he thought I’d…
The OTC Richwood Valley campus marks its 10th anniversary Sunday, Jan. 22. Before Richwood Valley opened, OTC had been offering classes in a small storefront. A decade after its opening, the gleaming, state-of-the-art structure is a fixture in Christian County. It was the college’s first facility located away from the main campus in Springfield, and,…
A new line of prosthetic devices is coming to the world market this year, and Ozarks Technical Community College faculty member Susan Griffitts was involved in testing and suggesting ideas for the cutting-edge technology and the design of the devices. Susan, who has taught in the Licensed Practical Nursing program at OTC for five years after…
Dr. Steven Bishop can sum up his 25-year career at Ozarks Technical Community College with just four words: Lots of happy accidents. Opportunity often came knocking when the soon-to-be-retired provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs didn’t expect it. But every time it did, Bishop took on the challenge, and OTC is better for it.…
Wintry Weather It’s that time of year again — time to prepare for slushy, sleety or snowy weather and the possible cancellation of classes. Here are a few reminders about our inclement weather procedures. Be prepared for class cancellations, early dismissals. There are times when weather conditions will cause us to cancel classes for the safety of…
Clearly, Opal-Jewel Clark has a unique name, but it’s fitting for this OTC Career Center student because Opal-Jewel is a rarity: she’s a female who hopes to become a welder. “Welding is meant for me. I felt like that’s what I should do,” the junior from Clever High School said. Opal-Jewel, 16, hopes to be…
Phillip Taylor, a licensed practical nursing student from OTC, spent a dozen days this summer in the Land Down Under among the koala bears, vegemite sandwiches and the Great Barrier Reef. It was during Taylor’s second year at OTC that he was invited to attend the International Scholar Laureate Program in Australia as a member…
Military personnel dodge bullets and roadside bombs on a daily basis, so it’s easy to understand if they don’t have the time to floss or brush their teeth properly when they’re deployed in combat. When those veterans transition back to civilian life by attending OTC, they have a great resource to keep their pearly whites…
After graduating from Branson High School 10 years ago, Kendra Colson spent a lot of time traveling the country. But it wasn’t until she made the long trip back from Idaho to the Branson area and enrolled at the OTC Table Rock Campus that she found herself and her career. Kendra received her Associate of…
Most of OTC’s students come to the college to gain an education and earn a degree, but Linda Lober is taking classes in order to maintain a connection to her late husband. The 66-year-old Lober is trying to honor her husband’s memory by learning the craft of woodworking so she can complete the projects he…
The tears in Lisa Scurlock’s eyes say far more than words when she’s asked about the personal impact of studying in OTC’s new Behavioral Health Support program. “I feel awesome,” she said as she wiped her eyes. “I feel like something. I’m proud of myself. It’s been a long time coming.” Lisa, who is 52,…
Zachary Heick didn’t mind relocating from his home in Kingsville, Mo., in Johnson County to attend OTC, because the reward of getting his degree outweighed the distance. “I didn’t like the community colleges up there. Plus, OTC works with Missouri State, which offers the field that I want to go into,” he said. So this…
“Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!” Uttering those lines on a Branson stage amounted to a part-time high school job for OTC student Elizabeth Jones while growing up in Forsyth. While no one would readily mistake the redheaded Jones for the blonde Jan Brady, the middle sister in the classic television show “The Brady Bunch,” Elizabeth fooled plenty…
Dr. Hal Higdon is marking his 10th anniversary as chancellor of Ozarks Technical Community College this month and while some people might think they know a lot about Dr. Higdon, there are some secrets he hasn’t revealed … until now. We submitted 10 questions for Dr. Higdon to answer. His interesting responses are below. Enjoy…