MCC-Longview students head to National Debate Tournament

Two MCC-Longview students packed up and headed east this week as they plan to compete in the Phi Rho Pi National Debate Tournament in Greenwich, Conn.

Natalie Reeves and Jonathon Stacy will compete against some of the greatest debaters from community colleges from around the country.

"We are proud of our students and excited they will get this opportunity to debate this week," MCC-Longview debate coach Kris Stroup said.

The pair will debate all this week. For updates from the tournament, be sure to check here or over on the MCC-Longview Facebook page.

Re-Entry Coffee House on stress management at MCC-Blue River

Students, teachers, and staff are invited to the Re-Entry Coffee house in the MCC-Blue River Education Center on April 12 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Presenter Jane Zeitner, retired administrator and faculty, will speak about stress and its effects on learning.

This is the third Re-Entry coffee house to be held at MCC-Blue River, and its subject matter speaks to people from all backgrounds. Stress is a normal part of life; however, learning to manage it properly can do more than simply remove obstacles from the path of learning. According to Zeitner, stress can be harnessed to enhance learning.

Light refreshments will be served, and students are welcome to bring a friend or family member.

Re-Entry Coffee House, Stress and its Effects on Learning, Education Center room 110, Tuesday, April 12, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

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

3 weeks to AIDSWalk Kansas City - join or doante today

Team MCC is looking for additional members to add to their 18 member AIDSWalk Kansas City team. The 23rd annual walk is three weeks away, so there is still time to join and help reach their $5,000 fundraising goal. As of today, Team MCC has raised $3, 679.

To join Team MCC visit http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/nancy-harrington/mcc/team

For more general info about AIDSWalk KC: http://www.aidswalkkansascity.org/

Episcopal Community Service reception catered by MCC students

More than 75 people attended the reception hosted by Episcopal Community Services (ECS) to celebrate the partnership between their Culinary Cornerstones program and the MCC Institute for Workforce Innovation (I.W.I.). The event was held at Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral and catered by none other than MCC students participating in a new professional food preparation course.

The reception introduced the 15 MCC students enrolled in the program, many of whom were once served free meals at the ECS Community Kitchen. These students now have the opportunity to serve others while pursuing a career certificate under the tutelage of Anthony Herring, chef and director of the culinary program; Craig Adcock of Belly Up Bar-B-Que; Jude's Kansas City Rum Cake, and volunteer instructors.

In addition to the five hundred hot meals served to the homeless and underprivileged every week day, Culinary Cornerstones also boasts a professional catering service to give students plenty of hands-on experience. Last week's reception was the students' first time actually preparing food. Reception guests were left with high hopes for future student-catered events, including the program's graduation ceremony scheduled for May.

"Cooking and teaching-- it's a great combination," said John Hornbeck, president and CEO of ECS. Everyone agreed, the results were delicious.

MCC-Maple Woods Fitness Center presents Fitness Friday!

Enroll Today – Pay Today begins April 11

Students
When students enroll for summer or fall classes beginning April 11, 2011, they will have to do one of three things:
1) Pay their tuition in full
2) Sign up for the MCC Payment Plan (a $35 non-refundable fee)
3) Have completed their financial aid process resulting in aid being applied to their account. (Special circumstances may apply to students in the A+ program, veterans, and those using third party payment methods.)

Benefit Eligible Employees
When employees enroll for summer or fall classes beginning April 11, 2011, they must complete their tuition waiver paperwork and submit within 7 days after enrolling for classes.

If an employee has not completed Prepare to Enroll prior to enrolling for classes, the system will automatically kick you to that page. Verify/complete this information before moving on to the enrollment process.

Once Prepare to Enroll is completed, select ‘Term’, select your classes, select ‘Enroll and Proceed to Pay’, select ‘Proceed to Pay’.

Employees will then select payment option 3: Pay by MCC Fee Waiver (Employee or Dependent).

Enter in the requested employee information and submit your completed and signed fee waiver to appropriate business office.

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

MCC-Longview presents: Death Takes a Holiday

Veteran community actors team up with MCC-Longview's own beginning actors and actresses - working side-by-side - as they prepare for this spring's anticipated debut of Death Takes a Holiday.

The play opens Friday and will run through April 16.

The classic Death Takes a Holiday follows the adventures of Death himself as he decides to quit the killing business and join humanity. On his brief holiday, Death discovers true love, the thrill of life and questions whether he wants to return to his grim profession.

Recognize the story? You should. Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins stepped into the lead rolls in the Hollywood version of the play (renamed Meet Joe Black).

Death Takes a Holiday

Presented by MCC-Longview Dinner Theater

April 8, 9, 15 and 16

For more information and reservations, call 816-604-2299 or e-mail joyce.kuhn@mcckc.edu

Mark your Calendars for the 6th Annual Northland Ethnic Festival

Taste amazing food and experience sights and sounds from the international community at the 6th Annual Northland Ethnic Festival, which will held from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. April 16 at Park Hill South High School in Riverside, MO. This event is free and open to the public.

Enjoy the worldly food, performances, exhibits and goods from more than 15 cultures from all over the globe. Crafts will be available for the kids, and a genealogist will be on site to help individuals learn more about their ethnicity, and music and dance will be held throughout the day with a vibrant international fashion show to complete the day’s festivities.

Classrooms without walls - Service learning creates opportunities

Kelsie Woodward was looking for some additional credits when an advisor suggested she try an English class with a service learning component. The freshman from Blue Springs had no idea what service learning was about - classrooms without borders.


Woodward’s group worked with Harvesters, Metro Lutheran Ministry and Kansas City Rescue Mission. The group raised funds, served at fundraisers and interacted with homeless people.

"It was a real eye-opener, talking with those who before were just faceless people who crossed your path," said Woodward. "I learned about myself in many ways and drew upon the values I was raised with. Optimism, caring and willingness to help. As Ghandi said, 'You must be the change you want to see in the world.'"

Service learning allows student to earn credit outside the walls of the classroom. With service-learning courses, students make learning an adventure, experience the real world, serve their community, help others and get credit. Check out the Service Learning facebook page to see students interact with their community.

To see what classes are available, click here.

Open invitation, MCC-Blue River Voice Master Class

Anyone in the community who is interested in improving their singing voice or just taking in a light performance by well trained vocal students is welcome to attend the MCC-Blue River Voice Master Class from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 16. Experienced tenor and UMKC Conservatory of Music professor Robin Griffeath will be on hand to critique student performances in regards to posture and body usage.



Robin Griffeath, tenor



Robin Griffeath is a doctoral candidate at the University of Missouri-Kansas City whom holds a B.M. in vocal performance from Lawrence University and an M.M. in vocal performance from the University of Arizona. Mr. Griffeath recently performed the roles of Ferrando in Mozart's Cosi fan tutte, Gherardo in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, Fenton in Verdi's Falstaff, and Nanki Poo in Gilbert and

MCC-Longview Flights of Fancy kite festival

The MCC-Longview Flights of Fancy kite festival, presented by Farmers Insurance, is celebrating its 5th anniversary.

Once again, members of the Kansas City Kite Club will have some of the most amazing kites on display at this FREE event for all ages.

Professional kite flyers from around the Midwest will be flying their mega kites and stunt kites all day while the rest of the MCC-Longview campus will be open for public kite flying.

“There is no better way to welcome spring than to spend the day flying a kite on the grounds here at MCC-Longview,” festival manager Jill Ladas said.

As the festival continues to grow, we also continue to offer more FREE activities for kids, including: a bounce house, face painting, balloon artists and much more.

The festival will open at 10 a.m. on the MCC-Longview campus.

MCC-Longview Flights of Fancy Kite Festival presented by Farmers Insurance

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2011

MCC-Longview Campus

500 SW Longview Road, Lee's Summit Mo.

For more information, directions or a look at last year's festival, check out the Flights of Fancy website at: http://www.mccflightsoffancy.org/

Suit up for Iron Man 2 @ MCC-Maple Woods!

MCC-Maple Woods Campus Life and Leadership office will host another installment of Movie Night on the Lawn with Iron Man 2 at 8:15 p.m. April 7 on the Campus Center Lawn. This event is FREE so bring blankets, lawn chairs, snacks and friends! Popcorn and water will be provided.

Join Team MCC for Earth Walk 2011

Join the fun at the 15th annual EarthWalk and do your part to help move Kansas City toward a more sustainable future. Enjoy a nearly 3-mile non-competitive walk along Brush Creek from Theis Park west toward the Plaza and back.

Welcome to new MCC employees

MCC Students Win at MO State SkillsUSA Contest

From Left, Kate Douglas, Cisco Networking Instructor and Skills USA judge; Micheal Whited, MCC-BTC student and First place winner in Prepared Speech contest; Dr. Paul Light, Missouri SkillsUSA State Director; David Michael Gray, MCC-LV student and second place winner in Automotive Service Skills; David Patience, LV Automotive instructor.

Students from MCC's SkillsUSA Chapter took home top honors over the weekend at State SkillsUSA competition at Linn State Technical college.  Micheal Whited won first place in Prepared Speech contest and will be representing MCC at national contest in June.  MCC-LV Automotive student, David Michael Gray, took first place in his written event and second in the automotive service skill event.

MCC-Penn Valley presents Financial Literacy Week - check it out!

In recognition of Financial Literacy Month, MCC-Penn Valley created a week-long series of events which will take place April 18-21 in the caferteria. Free food and a chance for prizes will be available to those who attend.

Click on the image above for amplified information.

Rangel appointed to Guadalupe Center's Board of Directors

Juan Rangel, director of community engagement at Metropolitan Community College, was recently appointed to the Guadalupe Center's Board of Directors. Rangel joined MCC in 2006 as director of business development for the district.

"It is a real honor to serve on a historical Latino organizational board that is creating change with many,” said Rangel. “MCC wants to continue building strong relationships in the community. Being a conduit to the Latino community along with others can keep supporting MCC’s strong mission to benefit everyone."

Rangel is a known local and regional public speaker and he has developed and delivered motivational programs and specialized trainings for a number of area organizations. He also serves on the boards of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, Truman Medical Centers, UMKC Women’s Center, NWMSU Foundation Board and Heartlands Men’s Choir.

MCC employee develops new talent

Peoplesoft applications developer Alicia Lawlor recently decided to take advantage of one of the many cultural opportunities Kansas City has to offer. A few months ago, she enrolled in a pastel class offered at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Now, her completed work is on display at the Nelson through June.

“The class was very rewarding to me – good for my soul,” said Lawlor.

Students not only learned different techniques of pastel drawing, but also studied art by some of the masters to get inspiration.

Her son Ryan, age eight, is pretty excited his mom has art on display. “We are going to take the next art class together,” Lawlor said.

What do you do outside of MCC? Let us know.