Ozarks Technical Community College helps all types of students achieve their goals – whether it’s the first-time freshman hoping to transfer to a four-year institution or the returning student looking to advance in a career. But what about the 14-year-old, gifted, homeschooled student headed for a Research I institution? As it turns out, OTC has…
The OTC Job Fair is coming up on Wednesday, March 27 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the OTC Springfield Campus in Lincoln Hall, room 211. The event is free and open to the public. Get details here. As a job-seeker, you’ll want to make an all-out effort to meet with every employer who has the…
The finish line is in sight for OTC student Melissa Vester. After two years of living more than 1,300 miles away from her family, she is about to graduate as a physical therapist assistant. “I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family,” she said. “Through it all, my husband, my son and…
Ozarks Technical Community College’s Alpha Psi Tau Chapter has been named a 2019 REACH Chapter by Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society for two-year colleges. The organization’s REACH Rewards Program recognizes Phi Theta Kappa chapters that excel in the area of membership development. As a result of the REACH award, OTC’s Alpha Psi Tau Chapter…
And cut! That’s a wrap for OTC’s third-annual film festival. In total, 28 teams competed under a tight deadline to create a 5-minute film. The catch? Each film had to contain a set of creative elements that included specific visual cues, props, lines of dialogue and music. You can view the submitted films in their entirety here. Keep scrolling for…
Charlie Smith is a man of many titles: veteran, groundwater scientist and geological engineer to name a few. A conservationist at heart, Charlie spends his days working as a hydrologist for the U.S. Geological Survey. He landed the job while a student at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, but he credits another institution…
When an unexpected divorce left Amberly Vernatti a single mother to three children, she knew a career change was in order. Her retail job wasn’t going to cut it anymore. She needed a new career, and fast. Amberly is now a surgical technologist at CoxHealth in Springfield. She spends her days bringing babies into the…
Loving Diversity Week is a celebration of OTC’s diverse college community. It’s an opportunity to have meaningful conversations about our human identities, experiences and interactions with one another. Help us celebrate the diversity we share on campus and in our community the week of Feb. 11-15. Check out the events happening at the Springfield campus…
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…
At the end of the spring semester, OTC graduates will have a new degree or certificate to add to their resumes. But, a select few will have something else to add, the title “published author.” Instructor Jane Cowden’s ENG 195 students are producing the third edition of “Go Anywhere Magazine,” a popular anthology of writing…
VIQTORY, an online information platform for military personnel returning to civilian life, has named Ozarks Technical Community College a Military Friendly School. OTC is one of only five community colleges in Missouri to receive the designation and the only community college in the state in the “large community college” classification. “As a military veteran myself,…
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…