When Ozarks Technical Community College dental hygiene student Sam Patel would give a patient an injection in the OTC Dental Clinic, his hands were always steady. His fellow dental hygiene students took notice. “They would ask me, ‘Why don’t your hands shake when you give an injection?’” Sam chuckled. “I would tell them I just…
Ozarks Technical Community College is delighted to announce the return of OTC Weekend @ The Zoo, celebrating OTC’s conservation collaboration with Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield, Missouri. On June 25-26, OTC employees and students with a college ID can visit the zoo for free, and bring up to four guests at half price. Children age…
Congratulations to our Spring 2022 Chancellor’s List, Dean’s List and Provost’s List recipients! Students who complete 12 or more credit hours in a fall or spring semester are eligible for the Chancellor’s List and Dean’s List. Recognition is based on the grade point average during that semester. The Dean’s List requires a GPA of 3.5…
In the Jane’s Addiction song “Jane Says,” the song’s protagonist, Jane, utters the words, “I’m gonna kick tomorrow.” She’s saying she’ll “kick” her addiction tomorrow, but when the next day comes, she utters the same mantra — tomorrow is always the next day. For soon-to-be OTC graduate Liz Atchley, tomorrow came on August 17, 2016.…
When Sariah Reed picked up a torch and chose to study welding at Ozarks Technical Community College, some of her family members asked her why she wanted to do “man’s work.” But Sariah didn’t see it that way. “It’s not about being a different gender; it’s about your knowledge and skill in doing the work,”…
Two adjectives accurately describe Ozarks Technical Community College student Audri Moses: bubbly and busy. Her bubbly attributes are apparent as soon as she speaks. Energy, positivity and gratitude infuse her conversation. “I was homeschooled most of my life, but I’m a really social person. So, I started a Kickapoo halfway through my sophomore year,” Audri…
By Stevi Kay Berry, OTC Class of 2022 In the spring of 2020, the pandemic altered the course of my life forever. I begrudgingly enrolled here at Ozarks Technical Community College. After being told by nearly everyone that community college meant giving up on myself, my success and my dreams – something I’m sure we’ve…
“All kids need is a little help, a little hope and somebody who believes in them.” – Former NBA star Earvin “Magic” Johnson For Ozarks Technical Community College student Cecily Wright, the help, hope and belief came from a couple of OTC employees. Wright grew up in Archie, Mo., a small town south…
If you drive through Kennett, Missouri, you won’t find an ice arena, and nobody’s playing hockey even if the local pond is frozen over. Kennett native Drew Porterfield grew up a St. Louis Blues fan despite that lack of local hockey action. And a few days after he graduates from Ozarks Technical Community College, Drew…
Once solely the domain of students at four-year colleges, Ozarks Technical Community College graphic design students recently brought home awards from the American Advertising Federation’s Heartland Addy Awards. In 2021, Elijah Prewitt earned a silver Addy for his brand style guide. This year, Danielle Hartzler brought home a silver Addy for logo design. “Everyone in…
Five Ozarks Technical Community College students were honored today, Thursday, April 28, at the Missouri Community College Association (MCCA) Student Leadership and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Awards Luncheon. At the event, hosted by Stephens College in Columbia, one OTC student was recognized for his leadership; four other students were named to the Missouri All-Academic Team.…
Multiple OTC students brought home the gold earlier this year in the regional Southwest Missouri SkillsUSA District Competition. On April 7-9, the SkillsUSA State Leadership & Skills Conference was held at State Technical College in Linn, Missouri. The conference gives students the opportunity to put their technical skills to the test in over 70 career…
Next time you’re sitting with a group of people, look at the person on your right. Then look at the person on your left. Ask yourself, “Which of us will it be?” Sadly, one in three women and one of every four men experiences intimate partner violence in their lifetime. All year, every year, OTC…
Film-making in Hollywood may be the ultimate glitz and glamour profession. The term “The movie industry” brings film stars, red carpets and fancy awards shows to mind. Those images may tell the story of big-budget Hollywood film premieres, but the process of actually making movies, especially independent films, involves long days and hard work. Around…
At 48 years old, this is not David Walden’s first time pursuing higher education. After graduating high school in the early 90s, Walden began college at a small, private four-year university, but “I wasn’t ready for college,” he said. Later, Walden made his way to the now-defunct, for-profit Vatterott College in Springfield, where he first…
Inside the office at Abel’s Affordable Roadside hangs a decorative sign with a small sculpture of a sea captain, and next to him are the words, “Coil up your ropes and anchor here till better weather doth appear.” For Abel’s Affordable Roadside owner Garry Shidler, that small office and OTC Cares served as his port…
You might have noticed a slender magazine hit the shelves across the Springfield campus last week. That’s The Pinnacle, the newsletter for the OTC Honors Program and Honors Council student organization. When you open it, you’ll be greeted with a showcase of student ideas, designs and hard work. “The best thing about The Pinnacle is…
Certainly, we’re in agreement — money is good to have, right? A scholarship from OTC can help you keep more of it in your pocket. Apply anytime until June 1 for summer and fall 2022 scholarships. Awards range from $500 per semester to a full ride. But, before you jump right in, some pre-planning could…
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021, less than 14 percent of all registered nurses were men. While the percentage of men in nursing has grown over the decades, women still dominate the field. However, five of the seven graduates are men in the latest cohort of students graduating from Ozarks Technical Community…
OTC students have a new online tool to help plan and monitor progress to graduation and program completion. Starting March 1, 2022, uAchieve degree audit is available to show learners exactly what they’ve accomplished in their academic or training journey at OTC, and what remains. Clear graphics, specific information and easy access through the myotc.edu…
The TikTok video starts with a closeup on the face of a young 20-something, then a makeup brush tickles the lens obscuring the brush’s holder. The brush retreats, and we see the 20-something again, and the brush flicks the lens again, filling the frame. However, when the makeup brush pulls back, the young person on-camera…
OTC technical education students brought home a total of 63 medals from the annual Southwest Missouri SkillsUSA District Competition. The district held competitions in five separate locations with more than 300 students from eleven different career centers/tech centers, taking part in more than 36 different skilled and written contests. Competitors showcased their skills by completing…
According to the Missouri Institute of Mental Health, one person dies from suicide every eight hours. To prevent loss of life among the communities it serves, Ozarks Technical Community College will implement Burrell Behavioral Health’s ONE Pledge to promote suicide prevention awareness and education. “Education is centered on people,” said Dr. Hal Higdon, OTC chancellor.…
Creating opportunities for student success was the theme when faculty and staff convened for OTC’s third annual Innovation Celebration on February 22, 2022. The festive event celebrating the college’s culture of invention and reinvention was broadcast from Springfield’s White River Conference Center. Live streaming via YouTube made it possible for employees across all six OTC…
OTC joins the world of competitive video gaming this month, launching its first competitive esports team and gaming arena. The OTC eSports Arena debuts on Friday, Feb. 18 with an Open House from noon to 4 p.m. Come see the space, talk to the staff and meet like-minded students who are curious about this new…
