OTC student Javeon England is stepping into an important role this semester. The 20-year-old business and marketing major has been named the president of Brother 2 Brother (B2B), a “near-peer” mentoring program that strives to improve college retention and graduation rates among minority students. “We’re more of a family than a brotherhood,” Javeon said. “We…
Jim and Debby Baugh say there is nothing heroic about their support of the OTC Foundation. In fact, Jim says the real heroes are the students who pursue the life changing educational opportunities offered by the college. “It’s the men and women who overcome tremendous obstacles to get what was given to me at the…
Dr. Hal Higdon, chancellor of Ozarks Technical Community College, received the Chief Executive Leadership Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VI. The award is presented annually to an outstanding president, chancellor, head master or system head of a District VI CASE member institution. CASE supports alumni relations, communications, development, and…
Students and faculty at Ozarks Technical Community College will join others across the nation to celebrate SkillsUSA Week, Feb. 3-9, 2019. The annual celebration represents over 300,000 SkillsUSA members nationwide and promotes career and technical education (CTE). The week highlights the benefits of the SkillsUSA program in developing personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in…
Ozarks Technical Community College will host an open house for its Surgical Technology Program on Monday, Feb. 11. The come-and-go event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Surgical Technology Operating Room, located at the OTC Springfield Campus in Lincoln Hall, room 301. The open house will give prospective students and…
Fort Leonard Wood military personnel and their families will soon have access to more educational opportunities thanks to a new agreement with Ozarks Technical Community College. OTC and Fort Leonard Wood officials signed a memorandum of understanding today, Thursday, Jan. 24, which gives the college approval to teach courses at the Fort Leonard Wood military…
VIQTORY, an online information platform for military personnel returning to civilian life, has named Ozarks Technical Community College a Military Friendly School. OTC is one of only five community colleges in Missouri to receive the designation and the only community college in the state in the “large community college” classification. “As a military veteran myself,…
In 2018, the OTC Foundation awarded more than $362,000 in scholarships to 388 OTC students. This year, and with your help, the foundation is committed to increasing those numbers with a new (and delicious) program called Dine to Donate. The OTC Foundation has partnered with several local restaurants to provide an easy way for students,…
The new year is here and so is the start of the spring semester. If your new year’s resolution involves staying on top of your college game, keep reading for hacks to help you along the way. 1. Sync your OTC email to your phone. It’s the easiest way for you to keep up with…
Congratulations to our Fall 2018 Chancellor’s List and Dean’s List recipients! Students who complete 12 or more credit hours are eligible for the Chancellor’s List and Dean’s List. Recognition is based on the grade point average attained during a 12-credit-hour increment. The Dean’s List requires a GPA of 3.50 to 3.84, and the Chancellor’s List…
All Ozarks Technical Community College locations will be open on Saturday, Jan. 5 to help students prepare for the upcoming semester. Student Services staff will be available from 9 a.m. to noon to assist students with last-minute admissions, enrollment, advising and financial aid processes. Student Account Services staff will also be available during this time…
Thanks to a summer abroad, OTC instructor Tim Rogers teaches international business in a whole new light. The former stock broker spent six weeks teaching at the University of Shanghai in China. He said his experiences there enriched his teaching practices back in the United States. The experience Tim, an alumnus of the University of…
SPRINGFIELD, MO — Ozarks Technical Community College invites all Vatterott College students to explore options for continuing their education at OTC after the for-profit college abruptly closed all of its locations on December 17. Displaced Vatterott students may visit the OTC Student Services Department in the Information Commons building at OTC Springfield. College staff will be…
Taylor Fast can now add “commercial pilot” to his list of credentials. The Bolivar native was OTC’s first aviation student to pass his commercial pilot exam – just a year and a half after the program’s inception. “It was a little more than thrilling,” Taylor said. “The stakes were definitely high – knowing I could…
Today, Missouri’s Coordinating Board for Higher Education voted for budget recommendations that ranked OTC’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) as its number one capital funding priority for Fiscal Year 2020. The recommendation for $5 million of state funds to go toward the CAM was part of CBHE’s overall budget request of $55.8 million for workforce…
Liberty the service dog lives up to her name. The black Labrador belongs to U.S. Navy veteran Kerry Evans. The two were paired together through K9s For Camo. The local nonprofit organization trains dogs to help veterans mitigate the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, epilepsy and limited mobility. “I can’t imagine life without her,” Kerry…
Ozarks Technical Community College unveiled its 2018 Excellence in Education award recipients at the college’s annual convocation, held at the White River Conference Center in October. 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…
With just a few days left of classes, final exams are looming closer than ever. Make sure you’re prepared with the following study tips from our friends at the Speckman Tutoring & Learning Center. 10. Start early – Cramming is counter-productive. Give your brain the time it needs to learn the material. To avoid procrastination, schedule…
Jennifer Dunkel typically has her English II students conclude their writing class with a research-based proposal that addresses ways to help students be successful. But this semester, her students had a different idea. “They said to me, ‘Instead of just pointing out these issues, let’s do something about it,’” Dunkel said. With that statement, the…
OTC graduate Jeana Varney loved music and animals as a girl growing up in Mountain Grove, Missouri, and she’s been able to make both of them a part of her career. Jeana attended elementary school in Texas; but, when she was 12, Jeana, her mother and brother moved from Dallas to Mountain Grove to live…
The Missouri Community College Association (MCCA) honored OTC employees and community partners at its 54th annual convention, held Nov. 7-9 in Branson. Each year, the convention attracts nearly 600 attendees, making it the largest gathering of community college professionals in the state. At the convention, the following individuals and organizations were recognized for their outstanding…
If Cassandra Groves’ life were a book, the title would be “Overcoming It All.” Looking back, the U.S. Army veteran and mother of four credits much of her success to OTC. Encouraged by her foster parents, Cassandra earned both her GED and Associate of Applied Science in Hearing Instrument Science from the college. Today, Cassandra…
Ozarks Technical Community College announced Sergeant Penny Kimball as this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Student Veteran Award during the college’s annual Veterans Day ceremony, held Monday, Nov. 12. Sgt. Kimball served in the United States Army from 1998-2008. A combat veteran with a parachutist certification, her military awards include four Army Commendation Medals, four…
Growing up, Sarah Rife’s expectations were clear: get married, start a family, and homeschool her children. But rather than follow that predetermined path, Sarah decided to blaze her own trail. Today, Sarah is studying business marketing at OTC. Once she graduates with her associate degree, she plans to transfer to a four-year college or university…
Suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background. More than 41,000 individuals die by suicide each year, leaving behind their friends and family members to navigate the tragedy of loss. Too often, the feelings of shame and stigma prevent them from talking openly about their feelings. This week,…