A familiar face has stepped into an important role at Ozarks Technical Community College. Joyce Bateman is OTC’s new Dean of Students. As dean, she will serve as the primary student conduct officer. However, Joyce says her position involves so much more than that. “Yes, it’s my job to hold students accountable for their behavior,”…
Meet Dr. Hal Higdon, chancellor of Ozarks Technical Community College. Dr. Higdon works hard to ensure OTC’s campuses and centers run smoothly, and he also spends a lot of time with community and industry partners to keep OTC’s programs at the top of their game. As chancellor, his number one goal is to make sure…
The fall 2018 semester is finally here, and we’re kicking things off with our inaugural Eagle Days events! Between the free food, giveaways and special appearances by our new mascot, Ozzy the Eagle, we can’t think of a better way to start the school year. Check out the events happening at the Springfield campus, and…
Ozark Technical Community College instructor Steve Fritts was appointed by the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society (PTK) to serve on its Honors Program Council. In this role, Fritts will help direct PTK’s honors programming for the next four years. Fritts was one of five college faculty members chosen internationally to serve on the council. Each…
OTC practical nursing student Penny Kimball is committed to caring for fellow veterans. A U.S. Army veteran herself, Penny wants to work as a nurse in the Veterans Administration System someday. In the meantime, she’s proud to serve as an advocate for OTC’s Veterans Upward Bound program. Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) is a college-readiness program…
A group of OTC students put their emergency-response skills to the test at a simulation held yesterday in Battlefield, Missouri. The event, coordinated in conjunction with CoxHealth, Mercy and the Battlefield Fire Department, taught OTC paramedic and emergency medical technician students how to safely extract patients from crashed motor vehicles. “We wanted to make this…
Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed a higher education funding bill for the 2019 fiscal year at Ozarks Technical Community College today. The bill emphasizes workforce training and $2 million in tuition assistance for individuals who receive food stamps. “I’m a firm believer in the American Dream, and many of us have benefited from that dream,”…
Ever wonder how our criminal justice system in the U.S. compares to others around the world? A group of OTC criminology students recently traveled “across the pond” to uncover the answer for themselves. Andrea Jones, OTC criminal justice instructor, promoted and organized the weeklong trip to London. In total, eight students took advantage of the…
August 2, 2018 is an important date for OTC student Keshia Guffey. She along with nine others in their cohort, will be the first to graduate from OTC’s new Behavioral Health Support program. “That day will be the culmination of all my hard work and determination,” said Keshia. “I’ve found a career I’m passionate about…
OTC alumnus Brice Clark’s job is to give couples the best day of their lives. No pressure, right? Just plan and execute the party of a lifetime – or in Brice’s case, 250-plus parties each year. The 23-year-old entrepreneur is the founder and Chief Experience Officer at Spark Events. He and his team provide fun,…
Congratulations to our Spring 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…
Things are heating up in the kitchens of OTC’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management program. Daniel Pliska, the former executive chef at the University Club of MU in Columbia, will join the college’s team of experienced culinary instructors this fall. In his early years, Pliska worked at first-class hotels, restaurants and pastry shops in Washington,…
Everyone enjoys the challenge of gaming, whether it’s on the coffee table or a computer screen. But a relatively new game form turns the players into game pieces. Escape Rooms challenge players to solve puzzles and riddles to literally escape a room. According to the Atlantic, the first escape room debuted in Japan in 2007,…
Welding is more than just a skill for OTC student Chase Woodiel – it’s also an art form. The soon-to-be welding graduate works at The Forge, LLC in Pleasant Hope, Missouri. She designs and creates custom “sissy bars” – also known as sister bars or passenger backrests – for motorcycles. “We’ve made bars ranging from…
Ten Ozarks Technical Community College students were honored for their academic success and campus leadership at the Missouri Community College Association’s PTK and Student Leadership Luncheon. The event was held April 25 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City. Three students received Phi Theta Kappa student leadership awards: Jayme Handley, OTC Springfield Campus Kimberly…
Soon-to-be graduates, the moment you’ve waited for is practically here. Our 2018 graduation ceremony will be held Thursday, May 17 at 6 p.m. at JQH Arena on the Missouri State University Campus. Whether you’re celebrating your own graduation this year, or that of a fellow student, friend or family member, share your excitement on social media with the…
U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt stopped by OTC today with an important message for college students: Use year-round Pell to complete your degree in less time and with less debt. Funding for year-round federal Pell Grants was restored by Congress in May 2017. Many Missouri colleges including OTC will offer Pell funding for summer courses for…
When you ask most college students why they decided to pursue a degree, they will often tell you it’s because their families encouraged or inspired them to do so. OTC student Bobby O’Keefe says he too was inspired by his family to attend college, but not for the reasons you might think. At just 8…
A group of OTC Surgical Technology students won first place at the 2018 Missouri Association of Surgical Technologists Scrub Bowl competition. The event was held earlier this month at the annual Missouri Association of Surgical Technologists conference. The jeopardy-like competition prepares surgical technology students to take their certification exam upon graduation. OTC’s team, comprised of…
OTC’s Counseling Services department and numerous community agencies are hosting the Clothesline Project in the Jared Family Atrium today, Wednesday, April 25 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The Clothesline Project is a national effort to raise awareness about the devastating effects of relationship and domestic violence. The project spreads a message of hope while…
Representatives from Ozarks Technical Community College’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year college students, have returned from the organization’s international convention with several awards in hand. In total, the students and advisors of OTC’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter, Alpha Psi Tau, were honored with 10 awards at PTK Catalyst 2018,…
It’s Spring Picnic week! Between the hot dogs, dancing, games and giveaways, it’s always our favorite day on campus. Are you planning to attend? Find the details for your campus or center below. Spring Picnic 2018 dates and times: OTC Table Rock Campus: Tuesday, April 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. OTC Richwood Valley…
The SkillsUSA Chapter Excellence Program (CEP) recognized Ozarks Technical Community College’s Career Center as a Silver Level SkillsUSA Chapter of Distinction. College officials and student officers accepted the award at the SkillsUSA State Leadership & Skills Conference, held Thursday, April 5 at State Technical College in Linn, Missouri. The Chapter Excellence Program honors chapter achievement…
More than a dozen Ozarks Technical Community College students and employees attended a 6-hour training on Friday, April 6 to earn their Green Dot Bystander Intervention Certification. Participants learned how to respond safely as a bystander to prevent imminent or potential acts of sexual or interpersonal violence on campus. As of today, more than 1,000 students,…
Daughters often follow in their mother’s footsteps, and OTC Middle College student Xana Hunt is no exception. The recently adopted 17-year-old is studying Early Childhood Development at OTC – just like her mom did not too long ago. OTC graduate Racheal Hunt legally adopted Xana in February of 2018. While Racheal, 25, is just a…