There are a lot of ways to describe Jeff Schrag: entrepreneur, beer maker, innovator, real estate investor and businessman. But the title the 48-year-old Kansas native likes the most is a simple one: friend. “How about Jeff Schrag is my friend?” he asked during an interview. “I’ll take that one.” Lots of Schrag’s friends and…
If local residents were asked what single act has had the most impact on the region over the past 25 years, what happened on April 3, 1990, has to rank near the top. A quarter-century ago, voters approved the formation of the Junior College District of Central Southwest Missouri. What has taken place as a…
Matthew Hernando remembers the first time he came across a group called the Bald Knobbers. “I rode ‘Fire in the Hole’ at Silver Dollar City and read ‘The Shepherd of the Hills,’” said Hernando, an instructor at the OTC Table Rock Campus.
Brie Jenkins has never shied away from competing against the best when it comes to displaying her skills as a welder. The OTC student earned a job as a machine shop welder at the Paul Mueller Co. by being a standout student. Then, she wowed a lot of experienced welders by finishing second in the…
Kevin Kloppenburg likes to joke that he is “a giant in his field” and one of OTC’s newest adjunct instructors is just that. At 6-8, 300 pounds with a size 17 shoe, the long-time Springfield Public Schools art instructor is making an impact at OTC in just his first semester working for the college and…
Having one or two siblings working together at the same business is not too unusual. But try five. Five members of the McDermott family all work at OTC’s Café 101 on the Springfield campus. The family has had at least one working there going back more than four years. “They are absolutely amazing. They are…
The OTC catchphrase of “Start Here, Go Anywhere” isn’t lost on Andrea Jones. In fact, she took expanded the brand promise to include “and you can back anytime.” Jones, who graduated from OTC and took classes while the college was located at the old North Town Mall, is now back as the college’s only full-time…
Tera Lawless makes no bones about it: Without the state’s A+ program, she would not have attended college. “I would probably still be waiting tables,” she said. But thanks to the popular, state-funded program that helps community college students with education costs, Lawless was able to enroll at OTC, graduate and go on to Missouri…
From stories about the Salem witchcraft trials to the daily life of pioneers to the thoughts of Wild West lawmen, the new edition of “More Yester Yore” has topics to captivate readers for hours. The book is the second produced by Michael Borich’s English 102 class. Last year, the class produced its first book. Proceeds…
Veterans transitioning from military service to civilian life can find the process challenging and attending college just adds to that pressure. More than 1,000 veterans are enrolled at OTC and a new Veterans Lounge has opened on the OTC Springfield Campus, which has been called a “safe haven” for veterans. “The lounge gives veterans a…
Shayne Jacobian is a perfect example of the OTC slogan of “Start Here, Go Anywhere” and could put his talents to work adding a tune to the college’s catchy phrase. An accomplished musician, Shayne graduated from OTC in 2012 and is now in Nashville attending Belmont University, studying English and music business. Shayne dreamt of…
Here’s a pop quiz. What’s the name of the OTC mascot (yes, there is one) and what other mascots were considered? The answer: OTC’s mascot is the eagle. The other nominees were rhinoceros and porpoise because, as the staff member reportedly recommended, the ocean-looking mascot would allow the college to boast: “OTC offers an education…
There are thousands of OTC alum and former faculty and staff who can say, “been there, done that” when it comes to either studying or working at the college. But as OTC marks 2015 as the 25th anniversary that voters created the college district, Susan Siemens stands alone. Siemens is the only person on staff…
Wade Southwell had an exciting and educational 2014 and the new year looks to have as much or more to offer the OTC student. Southwell is a recipient of an $18,000 Boren Scholarship in 2014 and is believed to be the first student from southwest Missouri to receive such an award. He has been studying…
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…