"American Dreammaker Award" from Habitat for Humanity for Metropolitan Chorale of Kansas City

Metropolitan Chorale of Kansas City's director, Dr. Rebecca Johnson, holds

"The American Dreammaker Award"

For five years, the Metropolitan Chorale of Kansas City has partnered with Truman Heritage Habitat for Humanity (THHFH)to raise funds to place underprivileged people into affordable housing. At the 9^th Annual American Dream Gala on August 20, 2011, The Metropolitan Chorale of Kansas City (MCC-Blue River’s choir) was presented with the “American Dreammaker Award” for helping THHFH  promote their mission in Eastern Jackson County and beyond.

The first HardHats for Habitat Concert was held in March of 2007 and for five years, including April 2011, the concert has been performed at Woods Chapel Church under the direction of Dr. Rebecca Johnson and Artistic Director Sarah Tyrrell. In that time, the chorale has raised over $22,000.00 for THHFH, and this year’s concert raised an unprecedented amount for the organization. After the event, Executive Director of THHFH, Pat Turner, told MCC-Blue River, “Thank you all so much for your wonderful

MCC named among best college employers

MCC has been named one of The Chronicle of Higher Education’s 2011 Great Colleges to Work For, according to a report released July 25.

The national publication recognized MCC in the category of compensation and benefits, noting that the five-campus college district “offers solid [state] pension plans, health benefits like fully covered routine checkups, and a generous tuition-remission program.” A vacation carryover policy and wellness incentive programs were also cited as reasons MCC was chosen for the honor.

More than 300 institutions across the country participated

MCC-Maple Woods students honored by AAUW

Two MCC-Maple Woods student were recently honored by the American Association of University Women.

Sofia Castellano of North Kansas City and Laura Foster of Liberty both received Re-entry Awards for their decision to continue their education and excelling in spite of many obstacles. The award recognizes women who overcome serious obstacles to enter or return to college after being out of school for at least five years. 

Did You Know? Don Buschhorn pitched for the Kansas City Athletics baseball club

Don Buschhorn knows baseball. He knows stats, names and can even analyze the pitching styles of many of the guys that take the mound each day in today MLB games.

But that is because Don himself used to be a pitcher for the original hometown team, The Kansas City Athletics.

From Independence, Mo., Don says he has been playing baseball (or some form of the game) since childhood. It was, as he said, "Something he has always done and loved doing."

Through high school and farm leagues Don became not only a fearsome pitcher, but also a switch hitter that connected with the ball half the time he went up to bat.

In 1965, The A's, playing at Municipal Stadium, signed Don to pitch for the team during one of its toughest seasons.

Today, Don works with in the Facility Services department at MCC-Longview. In May the Kansas City Royals, along with the Kansas City A's Historic Society, honored the A's past players at a ceremony and reception at Kauffman Stadium.

Later this month, The A's and Don will once again take to the field as the T-Bones also honor the players of Kansas City's first professional ball club.

Penn Valley honors top scholars, advocates

The end of the school year marks a time when Penn Valley pauses to pay tribute to those who've made amazing progress. Convocation honored the best and brightest students as well as faculty and staff who've made remarkable contributions to the campus.

Awards presented included: Applied Language Recognition, Project Success Student Achievement, Student Ambassador College Service, Homors, Outstanding Student Leader, Outstanding Athletes, Outstanding Contribution to a Special Interest Group, Outstanding Student Advocate, Academic Achievement, President's Appreciation, President's Citation and Outstanding Contribution to the College.

Student Ambassadors were recognized for another great year of service.

Jorge Ruiz received the Outstanding Student Advocate award.

Associate Dean of Students Carroll O'Neal proudly shows off her Special Recognition award for nearly 45 years of service. 

Veronica Highley, Futures Program Director, proudly accepts the President's Citation award for Truman Medical Center's partnership with Penn Valley.

Bob Rennison to speak at MCC-MW commencement

Bob Rennison, MCC-Maple Woods alumnus and Director of Broadcasting for the Missouri Mavericks hockey team, will speak at the campus' spring commencement ceremony at 7:30 p.m. May 19 at MCC-BTC.

Rennison is a graduate of MCC-Maple Woods and also met his wife, Abbie, on campus. Living in Independence since 1981, Bob has worked in sports all over the Kansas City metro area, including play-by-play announcer for the Topeka Tarantulas (CHL), Topeka ScareCrows (CHL), Wichita Thunder (CHL), Kansas City Knights (ABA) and Kansas City Attack (NISL).

MCC-Maple Woods 2011 Student Award Honorees

Congratulations to the following students for being honored at MCC-Maple Woods' 2011 Student Awards Ceremony:

Kyle Curp, Stephen Barber, Shawnie Peck, Inga Nilsson, Victor Sanchez, Julie Whistman, Samatha Nolker, Kayla Patton, Michael Selinger, Stephen Senne, Sofia Castellano, Jordan Deas, Josh Ogren, Tara Chavez, Catalina Boudreaux,Angela Cummins, Ruben Lara, Janelle Maroon, Pleasance Mertz, Yanfang Sykes, Melba Keefer, and Chris Nauman.

Not pictured: Daniel Bruns, Sheryl Mattox, Ryan Barnett, Jamie Craig, Brecken Heft, Richard Mynatt, Jillian Porter, Neil Smith, JoAnna Speiser, Kristin Venzian, Jeff Cline, Kylie Ball, Mallory White, Colton Adams.

Also, congratulations to John Stockmyer, who was nominated and selected by students for the Outstanding Contribution Award. John is retiring this year after 50 years of service to MCC-Maple Woods.

Three MCC-Longview students receive major Rockhurst University scholarships

Congratulations to three MCC-Longview students picked to receive 3/4 scholarships from Rockhurst University in Kansas City.

Leandra Stuckey, Jacob Turney and Kristine Vainovska will receive scholarships that will cover three-quarters of their costs at Rockhurst. The three joined hundreds of others from around the Midwest who applied for the only three scholarships given by the university.

Kristine is an international student from Latvia, and this is the second scholarship she has received.

"This is extremely exciting, honoring, and humbling to me. The two and a half years I have spent at Longview have truly paid off, as I have taken the advantage of all the possible opportunities open to me," she said. Kristine said she is looking forward to attending Rockhurst this fall and will major in Organizational leadership studies and minor in business administration.

Jacob tarted Longview in Spring of 2010, and will graduate this month with his AA degree. He will transfer in the fall to pursue his bachelor's degree in pre-medicine, with a major likely in humanities or liberal arts.  


"I am elated to have been awarded the Rockhurst scholarship, and will be very proud to attend should I stay in town," he said.

Leandra Stuckey plans to attend Rockhurst as well in the fall after graduating from MCC-Longview.

MCC-Longview student J.R. Byers receives national scholarship to finish bachelors degree

Photo: Byers receives a standing ovation from friends, family, fellow students and faculty at the annual MCC-Longview Awards Reception where he was named the winner of Jack Kent Cooke scholarship.

MCC-Longview student J.R. Byers was named this week a recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship - a prestigious scholarship that will allow Byers a chance to transfer to the university of his choice to finish his bachelors degree.

The award took Byers by surprise on Sunday at the annual MCC-Longview student and faculty awards ceremony on campus. History instructor Randall Moore announced that J.R. had been named as one of the 50 scholarship recipients throughout the nation.

Surrounded by family and fellow Longview students, Byers said he was elated as he will now be able to work toward a full bachelors degree in Anthropology.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship makes it possible for the nation’s top community college students to complete their bachelor’s degrees by transferring to a four-year college or university. The Foundation provides up to $30,000 per year to each of approximately 50 deserving students selected annually, making it the largest private scholarship for two-year and community college transfer students in the country.

Each award is intended to cover a significant share of the student’s educational expenses – including tuition, living expenses, books and required fees – for the final two to three years necessary to achieve a bachelor’s degree. Awards vary by individual, based on the cost of tuition as well as other grants or scholarships he or she may receive.

Byers is the third MCC-Longview students to be awarded this scholarship.

MCC-Longview to honor top students, faculty and staff at Sunday reception

As the campus nears the end of the semester, we take a moment to reflect on some of the success and accomplishments of our students, staff and faculty that have worked so hard this year.

This sunday, MCC-Longview president Fred Grogan will honor those top individuals at a reception and awards ceremony at the Mel Aytes Education Center.

Some of the award recipients include Longview's top academic achievers, top athletes and faculty members whose contributions this year could not go unnoticed.

MCC-Longview Awards Reception

The Mel Aytes Education Center

Reception 2 p.m.

Awards 2:30 p.m.

Be sure to check here next week for photos and a list of all the award winners.

BTC Selected One of Top 120 Colleges in US

MCC-Business & Technology has been honored as one of the 120 community colleges eligible for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

An expert panel has identified BTC as eligible to apply for the $1 million prize based on institutional performance, improvement, and equity on student retention and completion measures.

Business & Technology is the only MCC campus to be selected, and one of five Missouri colleges – joining Linn State, Crowder, North Central and Missouri State University-West Plains.

Applying for the next round will require documenting how we use data to continually improve student success, program offerings and our responsiveness to workforce needs. The Aspen Institute hopes that “by focusing on student success and lifting up models that work, the Aspen Prize will honor excellence, stimulate innovation, and create benchmarks for measuring progress.”

The $1 million will be awarded in December 2011.

Read more about the Aspen Prize here - http://www.aspeninstitute.org/policy-work/aspen-prize/eligibleinstitutions

Random Acts of Kindness awards at MCC-Blue River

Amy Slater (ctr) receives Random Acts of Kindess award
from Sara Woodward (left) and Jon Burke (right)

Several MCC-Blue River employees and a student were honored today for their kind hearts. The Random Acts of Kindness awards are given to employees whom are nominated by their peers for going the extra mile or doing something nice for no personal gain.

Those at MCC-Blue River whom were unexpectedly rewarded for their acts of altruism today were: Rowdy Pyle, Meg Holcomb, Jay Imhauser, Scorpio Horn, Bob Florence, Renee’ Tolson, Amy Slater, and student worker Tina Livingston.

The MCC-Blue River Staff Association sponsors this initiative, so

Award winning design team

Campbell, award in background, holds his
 submission to the Paragon Awards.

MCC’s marketing team designer Matt Campbell was awarded the Bronze Paragon Award for his design of the MCC-Maple Woods Monarchs program. He was acknowledged during the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations convention. The Paragon Awards recognize outstanding achievement in communications at community and technical colleges.

Campbell began his career at MCC in June of last year and has already made a great impact; winning a Paragon Award on his first submission is no small feat. The competition level is high. “It’s the first thing I was able to submit,” said Campbell. “I wasn’t here in time to submit for the regionals.”

Spencer Chapin

And speaking of regionals, MCC took home six regional awards, including gold, by designer Spencer Chapin.

“It’s nice to be honored for the work we’re doing, especially on a large scale,” said Chapin. “Just to get recognized, it’s cool.” Chapin has been with MCC for three and a half years.

Other regional awards presented:

• 2 Poster single category – Gold – Spencer Chapin
• Poster series category – Silver – Spencer Chapin
• 2 PR campaign-recruitment category – Bronze - Monica Stevens and Spencer Chapin
• Logo design - Bronze

Left to right: Portal campaign, Recruitment, MLK Day, CTE campaign

Congratulations to all!

MCC-Longview PTK receives national recognition

MCC-Longview's Phi Theta Kappa chapter once again was in the spotlight for its outstanding leadership and work on campus and throughout the community.

While at the PTK National Convention in Seattle, the campus honors society and its advisers were recognized and honored for their continued work. Not only was the hard work of the students highlighted in front of an audience of hundreds of fellow PTK members from around the country, but adviser Margret Berter and president Fred Grogan also were honored for their dedication to PTK here on campus.

Dr. Fred Grogan
Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction

The outstanding community college executive officers receiving this award have provided extensive support and a variety of resources for their colleges’ Phi Theta Kappa chapters, including faculty advisor release time, a line-item budget for the chapter, financial support for chapters to participate in regional and international events and scholarships for Phi Theta Kappa members.

Many of these presidents speak at their chapter inductions, serve as statewide Phi Theta Kappa presidential ambassadors and coordinate All-State Academic Team programs. The Shirley B. Gordon Awards are named for the President Emeritus of Highline Community College, now serving as chairman of the Phi Theta Kappa Board of Directors.

Margaret Berter
Continued Excellence Award for Advisors

Award-winning advisers are those who make significant contributions to the growth of the individual members, serve as the chapter's advocate on campus, and encourage the chapter to be involved on the local, regional and/or international level of the organization.

Cathy Baker, Mathew Baker, JR Byers, Robert Gaines, Kelly Lucas, Ellen Parsons, and Kristine Vainovksa
The Distinguished Chapter Officer Team Awards

The officers demonstrate an exceptional atmosphere of teamwork, leadership abilities, promotion of Honors in Action and other engagement in the Society, and enthusiasm for the Society’s Hallmarks.

Congratulations to all the award winners and their continued success.

Lee's Summit City Council renames April Kite Month in honor of the Flights of Fancy kite festival

Lee's Summit City Councilman Allan Gray and Mayor Randy Rhodes read from an official city proclamation naming April Kite Month in Lee's Summit. After the reading, the two city officials presented it to festival manager Jill Ladas.

The ceremony at the regulars session of the city council on Thursday gave Ladas a chance to talk about how the festival started as just a small gathering of kite hobbyists and has now become one of the largest free kite festivals in the Midwest.

The 2011 MCC-Longview Flights of Fancy kite festival

Presented by Farmers Insurance

April 16, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

MCC-Longview

www.mccflightsoffancy.org

MCC honored for LGBT equality efforts

The Human Rights Campaign, the country’s foremost authority on civil rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities, presented MCC with an award last week in recognition of the college’s policies and practices that support LGBT employees and constituents.

The award was presented by HRC’s Kansas City chapter at their fifth annual Corporate Celebration of Equality on Thur., March 31.

MCC was chosen for the honor because of

New PTK inductees at MCC-Longview

MCC-Longview's Phi Theta Kappa chapter inducted 73 new members into the campus honor society this past month. Those new members were surrounded by family and supporters who packed the MEl Aytes Education Center for the ceremony.

Here is what PTK's co-sponsor Jan Rog said about the event:

"The Mel Aytes Education Center was literally buzzing because of all the energy and intelligence this group brought.  When the inductees stood up to sign the Phi Theta Kappa book and then light a candle of knowledge, they truly surrounded everyone in the audience.  That was a a lovely moment."

MCC-BTC HVAC Instructor Receives Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching

Dick Decker, HVAC instructor at Metropolitan Community College’s Business & Technology Campus, was honored as a recipient of the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in Jefferson City on Wednesday, March 30.  The award was presented at a luncheon sponsored by the Missouri Community College Association.

Genea Wilson: MCC-Longview April Employee of the Month

Please join me in congratulating Genea Wilson, social science administrative assistant, as MCC-Longview's April Employee of the Month.

Along with being a diehard KU fan, here is what her co-workers are saying about Genea.

“While Judy Smith was gone, Genea went above and beyond to help those of us in the Humanities.”

“As a new instructor, she’s been super helpful to me with procedural questions.”

“Genea checks in on me to see how I am doing despite being incredibly busy herself.”

“I’m so grateful for her friendliness and assistance.”

CONGRATULATIONS, Genea, on a job well done!

MCC Faculty honored with Governor's award for Excellence in Teaching

Four Metropolitan Community College faculty members were honored with the Missouri Governor's award for Excellent in Teaching.

The award ceremony, which was part of the Missouri Community College Association's Rally Day in Jefferson City on Wednesday, honored 19 faculty members from community colleges across the state.

"Truly, there has never been a more important time for the work you are doing," Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said to faculty members at the award lunch on Wednesday.

Faculty members honored from MCC were:

George Blomster
Adjunct Instructor of Mathematics
MCC-Penn Valley

Dr. Anne Dvorak
English Instructor
MCC-Longview

Robyn McGee
English Instructor
MCC-BLue River

Stephanie Zerkel-Humbert
English Instructor
MCC-Maple Woods

For more photos from the event, be sure to check out the MCC-Longview photo blog.