Middle school students STEAM their way to OTC event

The OTC Richwood Valley Campus was filled with energetic and inquisitive middle school students enjoying the presentations and demonstrations that made up the college’s first STEAM event on Friday, June 19. STEAM – which stands for Science/Technology/Engineering/Arts/ Mathematics – allowed more than 60 middle school students to get a sampling of academic subjects with a…

OTC grad on the path to ‘American Ninja Warrior’

Ozarks Technical Community College may not have any athletic programs, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any athletes walking the halls. Take Adam Arnold ― American ninja warrior. Arnold, who holds degrees in manufacturing, construction and industrial management technology from OTC, is scheduled to appear in the Orlando, Fla., regional qualifier of “American Ninja Warrior.”…

Jared Lightle named coordinator of scholarships and alumni for OTC Foundation

Jared Lightle, former human resources information systems manager at NPC International, has been named the Coordinator of Scholarships and Alumni for the OTC Foundation, the fundraising arm of Ozarks Technical Community College. In his new role, Lightle will manage the foundation’s scholarship award process, build the alumni association, and assist with the foundation’s recently announced…

OTC restructures developmental education courses to increase student completion rates

Community colleges are often touted for their capability to educate students of all ability levels, but often the students who seek community college education are not ready for college-level coursework. In response to this issue, community colleges offer developmental education courses, which are required, noncredit courses for students who score below a certain level on…

OTC’s Adult Education and Literacy program receives High Quality Program award

Ozarks Technical Community College’s Adult Education and Literacy program received the High Quality Program award from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The award recognized five out of 38 AEL programs in the state for achieving positive student outcomes while maintaining a high degree of fiscal integrity in program operations. Missouri’s Office of…

State award winner continues to serve others

Nathan Thomas traded his blue police uniform for a set of black physical therapy assistant scrubs and he hasn’t regretted the decision for a minute. Thomas, with nearly 15 years of experience on the Springfield Police force and a U.S. Navy veteran, graduated from OTC last week with a physical therapy assistant’s degree. He recently…

HIS students assist county employees with assessments

The OTC Hearing Instrument Science classroom took its mobile lab unit on the road recently to gain experience in screening hearing patients, specifically Greene County employees. Students and the mobile lab recently spent several days at the Office of Emergency Management screening Greene County deputies, phone operators and highway department employees. “The partnership with the…