OTC's annual Innovation Celebration focuses on student achievement

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 locations to view the program. Virtual attendees also were able to vote during the event to select winners of this year’s Game Changer Grant funds.

At OTC, faculty and staff continuously create new ways to support students, improve on-campus life and provide opportunities for growth beyond coursework. The 2022 Innovation Celebration showcased ideas generated across the system and recognized people who improve students’ lives. It was an exciting and inspirational afternoon imagining ways OTC will continue to serve the community. “We listen to our students. And we have to be innovative as we mature in our service to them,” remarked Chancellor Hal Higdon.

Trailblazer Award Recognizes Impact of Faculty, Staff

The Trailblazer Award is OTC’s highest form of peer recognition. Annually, faculty and staff across the OTC system nominate colleagues for this honor. Submissions bring to light the exceptional commitment, innovation and inspiration that advance the OTC Strategic Plan. Three faculty and three staff winners were selected by a vote of their peers.

Trailblazer Award Winners – Faculty

Jim Bridwell, Welding Technology Instructor

Heather Eberlin, Agriculture Instructor

Danelle Maxwell, Manufacturing Department Chair

Trailblazer Award Winners – Staff

Raymond Wade, College Director of Facilities and Grounds

Amy Schneider, Instructional Designer

Chelsea Foresee, Technical Education College Navigator

Game Changer Grants to Activate Ideas

This year’s Game Changer Grants were awarded to innovations that elevate the student experience and their achievement. In addition to recognition across the college, each grant includes $10,000 in funds to bring an initiative to life. This year, six ideas were selected as finalists and presented. Faculty and staff used live, online voting during Innovation Celebration to select three Game Changer Grant winners.

OTC Jazz Band (Phil Forrester) Music is in the heart of many OTC students, who also want to bring their passion to student life. This grant will establish a lab course and fund the purchase of large instruments. The jazz band will encourage potential music majors and others to perform at OTC and out in the community.

Eagle’s Nest (Vicki MacDonald) This grant will transform an existing, underused space into a student lounge on our Springfield campus. The plan includes study and co-working areas, charging stations and casual furniture so students can relax without leaving campus.

Enhanced Lactation Rooms (Team led by Kevin Luebbering) Pregnant and parenting students face special challenges while advancing their education and careers. This grant will create better equipped and more comfortable lactation rooms to help mothers across the OTC system, including employees.

Mini Grants to Boost Student Success

Student Success Mini Grants recognize focused and affordable projects that directly affect students and enhance their OTC experience. Three projects were selected to receive $1,000 in funding.

Growth through Gaming (Proposed by Pan Porter) Designed to improve student life at the OTC Table Rock Campus, this project will provide board games for students to play while waiting for class, hanging out with friends or unwinding after a long day.

Workshop for Veterans: Developing Good Habits for Academic and Professional Spaces (Proposed by Sadie Newman) This initiative will connect OTC’s significant population of veterans with mentors and tools designed to build success throughout the academic journey.

Expand the Library Audiobook Collection (Proposed by Sarah Fancher) OTC students love audiobooks. This project will add more high-interest fiction and non-fiction titles to the library collections across the OTC system.