In 2018, the OTC Foundation awarded more than $362,000 in scholarships to 388 OTC students. This year, and with your help, the foundation is committed to increasing those numbers with a new (and delicious) program called Dine to Donate. The OTC Foundation has partnered with several local restaurants to provide an easy way for students,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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.…
College is filled with choices for students: When should I attend classes? What should I study? Should I take seated or online courses? What groups or clubs should I join? Sometimes more choices is not necessarily better. Beginning with the spring 2019 semester, the choice of a payment plan is being simplified down to one.…
Chelsea Murray’s determination and grit have earned her one of the nation’s most prestigious awards for community college students in STEM fields. Earlier this month, the second-year OTC dental hygiene student was named a Siemens Technical Scholar by the Aspen Institute and Siemens Foundation. Chelsea and four other OTC dental hygiene students were among 44 individuals…
OTC instructor Rene Wade is giving her structural design students a real-world look at the drafting and design process this semester. Each week, the group visits the construction site of the new MHC Diesel Technician Training Center at the OTC Springfield Campus. The field trip – just several hundred feet away from their classroom in…
Spring 2019 scholarship applications are open now through Nov. 1. On average, OTC awards more than $900,000 in scholarships to students each year. If you’re interested in applying for a scholarship or two, keep reading for tips on how to navigate the application process. If you’re ready to apply, click here. Choose a scholarship There…
One of OTC’s newest hires hails from a university just down the street. Dr. Julie Coltharp – Drury’s former Director of eLearning – is OTC’s Dean of Online and Faculty Development. In her new role, Dr. Coltharp oversees the college’s growing online program. She also provides guidance and leadership to OTC’s faculty development efforts. Dr.…
Welcome back, Eagles! We hope your fall semester is off to a great start. Are you planning to stay organized and in the know this year? We’ve compiled five of our best hacks guaranteed to keep you informed and on top of your game as a college student. 1. Sync your OTC email to your…
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,”…