At first glance, one would never mistake Vivian Elder for someone who enjoys the rough and tumble sport of hockey. But Elder, OTC’s dean of academic services and a former ballerina, is addicted to the sport that she just started playing 10 years ago. Today, she is a league player and has shared the ice…
It was many Christmases ago that a young Harlow Sanders awoke to fine an authentic drum set sitting in the corner of the family’s home. “There had been an endless succession of toy drums and then one Christmas there was a real set. When I touched it, I realized it wasn’t a toy drum. That…
Chris Lehew lost his ability to hear when he contracted spinal meningitis when he was 16 months old. Today, as a facilities worker at the OTC Springfield Campus, Lehew is at peace with not having the ability to hear at all or verbalize very much. “‘I’m proud of who I am. I don’t see any…
OTC students have game. Students from the Lebanon and Waynesville centers have formed intramural basketball teams that square off in weekend games. The idea for the league came from two students, Blaire Wade at the Lebanon Center and Marcus Gamble at the Waynesville Center. “Marcus contacted the Student Government Association in Lebanon and asked if we…
Ozarks Technical Community College’s Landon Vinson has said that the Industrial Maintenance Technology degree could be referred to as the “unknown degree,” but OTC’s full-time IMT instructor is letting anyone who will listen know about its profitable advantages. “There’s going to be a huge demand for these graduates in the workforce,” said Vinson. “Big companies…
At-risk youth may not see attending college as an option. But a groundbreaking program initiated at OTC and several of the area’s four-year colleges gives the students a chance to improve their educational lives by giving them and their case workers specific names, faces and contact information of advisors at the colleges who can assist…
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, thoughts turn to food, family and festive occasions. This week, food will be on the minds of faculty, staff and students at OTC as the college takes part in National Hunger Awareness Week, collecting items to donate to area food panties. From there, the food will be donated to those…
OTC Middle College and Big Brothers Big Sisters have partnered to create a pilot mentoring program that pairs students with career professionals. In the program, the mentor meets with the mentee on a monthly basis to help guide the student on a path for success in school and in their future career. Both the Middle…
Distance learning means just that learning at a distance. So, this years celebration of National Distance Learning Week Nov. 10-14, will be offered with a twist. The entire showcase will be available online for the first time for anyone to see anywhere in world. OTC will host the 2014 Innovation Showcase in collaboration with Missouri…
The OTC agriculture department isn’t cooking with gas. Instead, they are cutting with it. The program recently accepted a new propane-powered, zero-degree turn commercial mower that will allow students to study the properties of propane-powered mowers along with learning about efforts to make such landscaping work more environmentally friendly. The mower, valued at more than…
When one talks about a big man on campus, that honor could certainly go to OTC’s Robert Dale, a facilities employee on the Springfield campus for the past five years. When Dale attended Ava High School, he was just a 150-pounder who didn’t play sports. Today, Dale is an imposing figure at a muscular 275…
Hayley Peryer wanted to get a jump on her college career while attending Sparta High School. So, when she learned of OTC’s Dual Credit program, she jumped at the chance and is taking a college math and English composition classes online this semester. “It’s a great way to get your general education classes taken care…
The classroom is packed. Every chair is full and 2 extra seats are pulled in to accommodate the students who want to take this class. We are 6 weeks into the semester and all 32 students who signed up for this U.S. History class are present. I’ve heard good things about Jennifer Bump’s teaching but…
When OTC geology instructor Kathryn Shade saw the advantage of moving her classroom outside and off campus, she took jumped at the chance. Shade recently took a group of her students to the Johnson’s Shut-Ins and Elephant Rock state parks in southeastern Missouri where they spent several days hiked several trails, observed rocks and discussed…
Today may mark the start of Banned Book Week, but OTC instructor Lyndsey Strahan and her class at OTC Richwood Valley have been studying the issue of banned books all semester. Banned Books Week is an annual awareness campaign that celebrates the freedom to read draws attention to banned and challenged books and highlights persecuted individuals. This is the first semester the…
OTC employees got an up close and personal look at what poverty looks like in the Ozarks. OACAC’s Poverty Simulation, brought to the Springfield campus by the colleges student services department, put OTC employees in the roles of low-income family members living on limited budgets and with other limited means of support. Participants had four…
Like some students when they first come to Ozarks Technical Community College, Jordan Morgan wasn’t sure what career he was most interested in. But now, he’s sure he’s made the right choice. In May, Morgan graduated with a degree in Computer Information Science. And today, he is the proud developer, creator and owner of a…
My grandfather, Isaac, arrived in the United States in December of 1909. He was only 15 years old when his father sent him across the ocean to bring back his older brother, Richard, who came to the United States for a visit but never returned to Lebanon. Rosie, the older sister, came with Isaac to…
Welcome back to a new semester. On our opening day, we had a few lost and wandering students but overall the semester started with minimal problems and a lot of excitement. Our college wide theme for academics is “Celebrate Potential.” In keeping with this theme, I will be sharing ideas through regular Nourishing the Teacher…
Mary Kay Ash, the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, is known for giving her top performers a pink Cadillac. She said, “There are two things people want more than sex and money. They are recognition and praise.” There are many ways we can give our students recognition and praise but nothing is more powerful for…
Transitioning from the battlefield to the classroom can be a difficult journey for college-bound veterans. With 1,000 veterans attending OTC, reaching out to those with a military experience can be a challenge. But its just gotten better with counseling services being available for veterans and their family members starting Sept. 10 on the OTC Springfield…
Tiffany Brunner has seen the groundbreaking work Ozarks Technical Community College has been doing for young students during her tenure as assistant principal at Republic High School. This year, she decided to join the OTC team. Brunner is the new director of the OTC Middle College program, which provides a variety of career education opportunities…
The five OTC campuses and centers will be alive today with thousands of students who will be working toward fulfilling their educational goals. One former OTC student has already seen his dream come true is Brandon Davis, now the owner of French Davis Collision in Nixa. A dozen years ago, Davis was taking automotive collision…
With more than 51,000 people using Crosslines every year, the Springfield charity organization never knows when a serious medical issue like a heart attack could arise among their clients. Now, thanks to OTC, their concerns are greatly eased. On Sept. 8, Crosslines, which helps families in the crisis situations, will receive an arterial defibrillator and…
While community colleges are primarily for local residents to use to enhance their education, more and more international students are enrolling. “I knew Missouri State had a lot of international students but OTC was a better economic choice for me,” said Daniel Lee, a South Korean who grew up in Lamar. Lee and about 40…