When Daniel Padilla applied to the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars Workshop, he thought he was taking one small step toward a potential career. However, that one small step turned into a giant leap toward a newly discovered dream career as an astrophysicist. The OTC Honors student and Phi Theta Kappa member was scrolling through Blackboard when…
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…
More than a dozen Ozarks Technical Community College students and employees attended a 6-hour training on Friday, Oct. 28 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,…
Interested in studying abroad in China? OTC history instructor Jessica Gerard plans to take another group of students across the globe next spring. Since 2008, she’s led five groups of students through China to study its vast culture and history. Students interested in studying abroad in China may attend one of three informational sessions offered…
Leave it to an academic institution to help out a library. When the Springfield-Greene County Library district was looking for help in staging its massive annual Friends of the Library book sale, one volunteer turned to her former employer, Ozarks Technical Community College, for help. In 2015, the former Remington’s building in south Springfield hosted…
Steady enrollment growth at the OTC Richwood Valley Campus spurred a recent project to add more classroom and office space. The campus, which is currently at capacity in the morning and afternoon hours, will soon have five brand new classrooms and four offices in a surprising location – its Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Shelter.…
What’s your OTC story? Our college chancellor wants to hear it. Join us at your campus or center for a meet and greet event with OTC’s leader, Dr. Hal Higdon. He’ll share his experiences in higher education with you, and listen as your share your OTC stories with him. Find the dates and times for…
The 10th annual OTC Foundation Golf Tournament at Hickory Hills Country Club brought a record number of players together for one common goal: supporting the students of Ozarks Technical Community College. The 28 teams of four, along with event sponsors, raised more than $17,000 for student scholarships. “More than 60 percent of our students qualify…
Changes are coming to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). But don’t worry; these changes were put in place to make the FAFSA process easier. Here’s what you need to know. Most importantly, you can now submit your 2017-18 FAFSA as early as Oct. 1, 2016. The earlier submission date will be a permanent…
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…
As the fall semester gains momentum, know that the OTC Richwood Valley Campus has lots of free resources available to you. Whether you need homework help, personal support or a quick break from studying, we’ve got your back. Check out the following infographic for five free resources you should know. You can also view a complete…
Dear students, we’re looking forward to having you back on campus for the start of the fall semester! As you return to campus the week of Aug. 22, please be aware that Central Street is no longer a through street. The City of Springfield’s Pythian/Central Corridor Improvement Project created a dead end on Central Street near…
Welcome, students! We’ve got lots of events planned for your first week of classes, and we can’t wait for you to join the fun. Are you following OTC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat? You’ll want to share, tag, tweet or snap your back-to-school photos at us all week long for a chance to win prizes. Oh, and if you’re a Snapchatter,…
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…
No matter how he does in the national finals of the “American Ninja Warrior” competition, OTC alumnus Adam Arnold is already a winner. Since appearing on the finals for the first time last year in Las Vegas, Arnold’s life has just gotten better and better. He bought a house, got engaged and has wedding plans…
We’re offering campus tours every hour on the hour the week before classes begin. The fall semester begins Monday, Aug. 22, and we’re feeling major back-to-school vibes at OTC. Do you need a little help preparing for the first day of classes? No worries, we’ve got your back. We’re offering tours of the Springfield campus…
The $2 million plan to build out the unfinished space at the OTC Table Rock Campus continues to take shape. The project, funded by the Branson tax levy and private gifts, will nearly double the campus’ student capacity. OTC officials hope to have the build out completed by October 2016. The fourth floor, which was…
Progress continues at the OTC Richwood Valley Campus in preparation for the start of classes Aug. 22 and beyond. The biggest project involves the transformation of the FEMA storm shelter into the home of five new classrooms, three two-person faculty offices, an adjunct faculty office area, and some workrooms. The work is expected to be finished…
Matt Simpson is twice as interested in the upcoming 2016 Summer Olympics as most fans. Matt, OTC’s college director of research and strategic planning, is a citizen of both the U.S. and Brazil, where the Olympics are being held starting Friday. He got his Brazilian citizenship through his mom who emigrated here from Brazil, although…
OTC culinary arts student Michelle Higgins has such a busy life that she needs two, sometimes three names, just to get through it all. She’s known as Michelle to some, Susan to others, and she’s even used S. Michelle on occasion. At OTC, Higgins is known as Susan, a student in the Culinary Arts and…
Twenty OTC nursing students will graduate with a Practical Nursing certificate this summer. While these future nurses are prepared to heal and care for the sick, they’re also ready to raise awareness about the warning signs of relationship violence and abuse. The nursing students recently attended an Escalation Workshop session hosted by the One Love Foundation. The powerful, 90-minute,…
