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.…
To help students prepare for the upcoming spring semester, all Ozarks Technical Community College locations will be open Saturday, Jan. 8, from 9 a.m. to noon. Student services staff will be available at each campus and center to assist students with last-minute admissions, enrollment, advising, financial aid and student accounts services. OTC’s spring semester begins…
The Ozarks Technical Community College Foundation announced a six-figure gift from the Gene Haas Foundation for the precision machining lab inside the Robert W. Plaster Center for Advanced Manufacturing. The Gene Haas Foundation Precision Machining Lab will be located in the high-bay space of the PMC. “The Gene Haas Foundation is pleased to partner with…
OTC administrators and trustees honored the 2021 Excellence in Education award recipients at the college’s monthly board meeting in November. Candidates were nominated by staff members and selected by a college-wide committee. Each winner was presented with a plaque and monetary award, made possible by a donation from the Turner Family Foundation. OTC 2021 Excellence in Education…
The Missouri Community College Association (MCCA) honored OTC employees, alumni, donors and legislators at its 56th annual convention held in Branson Nov. 10-12. At the convention, MCCA acknowledged these donors, alumni and legislators for their commitment to OTC’s mission: Robert W. Plaster Foundation – Award of Distinction Elijah Haahr, former state representative – Distinguished Alumni…
It’s hard to categorize the movie “Voices from Vietnam.” Yes, it’s a film, but what type? Documentary? Short feature film? A recording of poetry read over music? “You’ve never seen a film like this,” said Larry Rottmann, the film’s narrator and a former OTC English instructor. “We’ve created a new genre.” Despite the challenge of…
For the first time in the history of the college, Ozarks Technical Community College will field a sports team. OTC will debut esports at the college in the spring of 2022 and will begin competing in the fall. Esports is competitive video gaming. “Our students have shown a desire to play video games against each…
The Center for Workforce Development at Ozarks Technical Community College will provide short-term courses this fall and winter to help potential employees gain in-demand skills to meet employer needs. Students pay nothing to attend the accelerated career training opportunities. Anyone may enroll in the classes as long as they are at least 18 years old. Students…
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2022-23 school year opens on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021. Here are six reasons to fill out the form ASAP. Some aid is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligible students who apply for the Access Missouri Grant program between Feb. 1 and Apr.…
Ozarks Technical Community College and Springfield Public Schools entered into an agreement to place a student success advisor at Hillcrest High School. The advisor will counsel and instruct Hillcrest students on their post-secondary options, including college, vocational training and military service. The Memorandum of Understanding between SPS and OTC was approved by the Springfield School…
The Ozarks Technical Community College Foundation announced a six-figure sponsorship for the Robert W. Plaster Center for Advanced Manufacturing from insurance provider American National. American National’s investment will fund the American National Business Incubation Center. “American National is proud of the commitment to higher education in the Ozarks, and this new center continues that legacy…
The fall semester begins and we’ve compiled our favorite OTC hacks to make your life a little easier in the coming weeks. Keep reading to learn how you can sign up for emergency text alerts, connect with student support services and more. Sync your OTC email to your phone. It’s the easiest way for you…
Long-time Nixa teacher Emma Talbot died in 2020, but her impact on education extends beyond her life. Ms. Talbot bequeathed a seven-figure gift to the Ozarks Technical Community College Foundation. The donation is one of the most significant cash gifts the college has ever received from a single donor. Today, Thursday, Aug. 12, OTC named…
For a young person who spent their entire life in the Ozarks, the chance to leave home for college is enticing; but for many students, leaving their hometown isn’t as satisfying as they’d hoped. When she graduated from Parkview in 2015, Megan Dean followed the siren song of bright lights and the big city to…
To help students prepare for the upcoming fall semester, all Ozarks Technical Community College locations will be open Saturday, Aug. 14, from 9 a.m. to noon. Student services staff will be available at each campus and center to assist students with last-minute admissions, enrollment, advising, financial aid and student accounts services. OTC’s fall semester begins on Monday,…
SPRINGFIELD, MO — Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) will host a series of informational sessions at four local coffee shops throughout August and September. Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) is a federally funded program that helps Greene County veterans attend college. VUB offers academic and career planning, financial aid and benefits advising, tutoring, admissions assistance and community…
Congratulations to our Spring 2021 Chancellor’s List, Provost’s List, and Dean’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…
Anyone who has watched a show like “The Great British Bake Off” or “Cake Boss” has probably thought to themselves, “Those cakes (or cookies or pastries) are works of art. They look too good to eat.” A baker who hopes to make creations worthy of a fancy bakery or pastry shop must have some artistic…
Ozarks Technical Community College named Dr. Aaron Light as the Dean of Health Sciences. Light will assume his new role on July 1. He replaces Dr. Sherry Taylor, who retired in March. Currently, Dr. Light is the Program Director for OTC’s Respiratory Therapy Program, a position he has held for six years, but he’s been…
Ozarks Technical Community College will offer an accelerated, four-week welding boot camp this summer to meet the needs of the industry. Students pay nothing to attend the boot camp, and financial grants are available for living expenses. Anyone may enroll in the class as long as they are at least 18 years old. The welding boot…
OTC student Anita Golovin remembers the moment she decided to become a pilot. She was 5 years old, boarding a flight from the U.S. to Russia, when a female pilot greeted passengers over the intercom. Anita turned to her parents in disbelief – she didn’t realize women could become pilots too. Years later, Anita is…
Ozarks Technical Community College will debut new programs and restructure others for the 2021-22 school year. The changes include a new Center for Public Safety, new programs in emergency management and cybersecurity, and changing the name of Industrial Systems Technology to Mechatronics. “Part of OTC’s mission is to strengthen the communities we serve, and these…
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) counts among its alumni the famous painter Grant Wood (American Gothic), the American fashion designer Halston and even the iconic Missouri painter Thomas Hart Benton. Soon, OTC alumnus Arianne Garner will join their ranks as a student at the renowned art school. Garner earned a yearly,…
Ozarks Technical Community College’s Career Services will host an outdoor job fair on Thursday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to noon in Parking Lot K of the OTC Springfield Campus. The parking lot is located at the northeast corner of Central Street and Hampton Avenue. OTC students, alumni and the general public are all encouraged to…
The Ozarks Technical Community College Foundation received a six-figure donation for the Robert W. Plaster Center for Advanced Manufacturing from The Durham Company and its affiliates, L&W Industries and GEC Durham Industries. Durham’s contribution will fund the Durham Company Student Lounge inside the Plaster Manufacturing Center. Jenny Carr, the President of L&W Industries, is a…