Be a Fearless Woman!

The Women's Bureau, a division of the US Department of Labor and partner of the MCC Institute of Workforce Innovation, would like to invite MCC employees to participate in an upcoming seminar at the UMKC University Center on Saturday, June 4, 8 am-1 pm.

Be a Fearless Woman! is a one-day bootcamp that will help you find your purpose, face life challenges, manage money and explore new opportunities. Registration is $50 and includes a continental breakfast, boxed lunch, a gift bag, and three workshops. The registration deadline is May 20. To register, visit daciamoore.com, or contact Pat Lees at IWI with questions.

In addition to the Women's Bureau, the event is being sponsored by Second Wind Counseling & Consulting and UMKC.

Project Success students celebrate graduation

College is a challenge for all students, but especially for those who are the first in their family to pursue higher education. Project Success at MCC-Penn Valley is a Student Support Services TRIO program whose services include: tutoring, counseling, transfer assistance and cultural assistance. The program recently hosted a celebration for graduating students.

Project Success, run by Toni Alexander, is open to low-income, first-generation or disabled college students, and is designed to increase retention and graduation rates as well as assist with transferring to four year colleges.

Project Success Director Toni Alexander (white jacket) proudly presents a certificate of completion to Jajuan Turner.

Family members beam with pride at the celebration.

Venesha Reed prepares to go to the next level, thanks to the support of Project Success and Penn Valley.

Student environmental initiative goes pro, seeks funding

Morgan Brown is an MCC-Blue River scholar who likes to keep it green. She has been developing an organization called Timberbred which is dedicated to providing environmental information to the public and eventually starting a fund to protect Mangroves, an important and quickly depleting part of the global ecosystem.

Mangrove trees and the swamps and forests that they support are nesting grounds for hundreds of species of birds. Their treetops make homes for monkeys and eagles. Around their midsections live monitor lizards and fishing cats. Among their stilted, water-bound roots live manatees, turtles, and fish. Mangroves even provide shelter to endangered species, such as bald eagles, American crocodiles, and hawksbill turtles.

The MCC Insider asked Timberbred founder Morgan Brown a few questions about the state of the environment and what

MCC-Maple Woods honors 2011 Retirees

MCC-Maple Woods recently honored its 2011 retirees for their dedicated service to the campus and the college. Lynn Barron, Nancy Morton, Terry Morton, Kenny Stubbs, Connie Stockmyer, Paula Cooley, Jennie Frederick and Lola Newton all bid farewell to the Woods at the spring Retiree Reception.

Another slideshow by Smilebox

MCC-Longview bids farewell to its outstanding retiring staff and faculty

On Thursday, MCC-Longview celebrated six outstanding staff and faculty members who will be retiring this semester.

The reception, which included plenty of cake, gave administration and supervisors a chance to talk glowingly about these dedicated members of the Longview Laker family.

From top left: Beth Lindquist, Corrine Josten, Kay Kozak, Kim Lindaberry, Pam Weston, Ted Dinges.

Congratulations on your success and here is to many more years of enjoyment.

For more photos from the reception, check out the MCC-Longview Photo Blog.

Career opportunities

CO# 11-061 AC Research Analyst

• posted 05/13/2011
• will be removed from the website at 11:59 pm Monday, 05/31/2011 for the initial screening.
• For more information or to apply: www.mcckcjobs.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=51324

CO# 11-062 AC Business Analyst

•  posted 05/13/2011
•  will be removed from the website at 11:59 pm Monday, 05/31/2011 for the initial screening.
•  For more information or to apply: www.mcckcjobs.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=51325

CO# 11-063 BR Facility Services Assistant

•  posted 05/13/2011
•  will be removed from the website at 11:59 pm Monday, 05/31/2011 for the initial screening.
•  For more information or to apply: www.mcckcjobs.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=51326

CO# 11-064 PV Program Specialist - FPT

•  posted 05/13/2011
•  will be removed from the website at 11:59 pm Sunday 05/22/2011 for the initial screening.
•  For more information or to apply: www.mcckcjobs.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=51327 

CO# 11-065 MW Groundskeeper

•  posted 05/13/2011
•  will be removed from the website at 11:59 pm Monday, 05/31/2011 for the initial screening.
•  For more information or to apply: www.mcckcjobs.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=51328

CO# 11-066 BR Student Services Specialist

•  posted 05/13/2011
•  will be removed from the website at 11:59 pm Monday, 05/31/2011 for the initial screening.
•  For more information or to apply: www.mcckcjobs.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=51329

Employees: Join the MCC Fitness Centers - no cost!

Did you know employees can use the MCC Fitness Centers at no cost? Visit any of the campus fitness centers, complete and sign a waiver, and you become a member. It’s that simple! You are not restricted to the campus in which you work. Utilize all of them or one thata's convenient for you. Click here to find a location best for you.


After you work out, don't forget to log your success on the Points-to-Blue incentive program. For other wellness information visit the InfoEx here.

Here’s the details:

Full-time and flexible part-time employees are eligible to join the MCC fitness centers at no cost. These benefit eligible employees will need to go through the normal screening process by answering a series of questions concerning such things as chest pain, blood pressure, asthma, fainting spells, etc. This screening is conducted on-site at the appropriate fitness center. If there is no problem with the screening, employees will be allowed to use the center. If there is a problem, employees will need to get a release from their doctor before being allowed to use the center.

Spouses may be added for a cost of $10 per month, families may be added for $15 per month; and dependent membership is contingent upon the same wellness screening process administered to employees. Every two years, employees and their dependents would need to be screened again. Dependent children will be eligible until age 24, regardless of student status.

Part-time faculty and temporary part-time (1000 hour) staff who wish to join the fitness centers must go through the screening process as detailed above for benefit eligible employees. Once they are cleared to use the center, they too will be eligible for free membership. Since this is a benefit for part-time faculty and temporary part-time (1000 hour) staff employees only, there is no discount for dependents, however, there would be some financial benefit because the employee would already be a member (i.e. – a spouse could join at a single member rate instead of the couple rate).

Students: Textbook rentals are due next Friday

All MCC students who rented textbooks this semester must return those books to the MCC bookstore where they rented them from before 4 p.m. on May 20. Charges will be placed on student accounts of those students with outstanding text rentals.  If a student has an outstanding charge on their account, they will not be eligible to graduate or enroll for future semesters until those charges are cleared.

Video: Master martial arts seminars at MCC-Blue River

Master martial artist Nick Yang hosted a seminar at MCC-Blue River in April:

Building on the success of master martial artist Nick Yang's April seminar, MCC-Blue River's Martial Arts Club will host another huge event this summer.

On June 11 and 12, Brent Yamamoto will be coming to town to lead a seminar on the principles of Okinawan Karate.  MCC-Blue River instructor Eric Parsons, head of the Blue River Martial Arts Club, says, "I’ve had the good fortune to train with Sensei Yamamoto, and not only is he extremely fast, he hits hard.  Really hard... in a way that relies on technique, not body mass."

The Yamamoto seminar will draw the attention of martial artists far and wide, the sensei having earned the respect of leading authorities in his sport. Rory Miller, author of Meditations on

MCC-Longview Library celebrates children's literature

Bears, tigers and books rarely seems like a great combination, but this week the MCC-Longview Library unveiled a new display that highlights some of our favorite children's classics like Paddington Bear and many others.

The new display at the Library is part of an on-going series that is working to support one of MCC-Longview's education classes that explores and uses children's literature as an education tool.

Librarian Judy Rice said not too many students realize that the college library has a full collection of contemporary and classic children's book ready for check out.

Be sure to swing by the Library to check out the display and maybe event take a stroll down memory lane as you flip through some of your favorite childhood books.

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.

IWI welcomes BTOP public computer center director

Rich Prather, public computer center director, and Amanda Turner, administrative assistant

Last September, MCC was awarded $2.5 million through the Pathways to Broadband Access and Technological Education at Missouri’s Community Colleges project (BTOP) and the Missouri Department of Higher Education to support public computer centers. The project is a joint effort between the Administrative Center staff and the Institute for Workforce Innovation (IWI).

Now, the project can now truly begin as MCC welcomes Richard Prather, director for the BTOP public computer centers, who came on board last month.

Prather brings thirty years of experience in telecommunications. After graduating from Southwest Missouri State University with a degree in psychology and social work, he went to work for Southwestern Bell. As the company changed to SBC then to AT&T, Prather served in a variety of technical, managerial and marketing roles. Prior to Southwestern Bell, he worked with support groups in a Springfield psychiatric unit. He majored in psychology out of a desire to help others. Even when he joined the corporate ranks, he was always interested in starting up employee-assistance programs. When Prather retired from AT&T last year, he found he wasn’t really ready to retire. And when the opportunity to work with public computer centers came along, he jumped at the chance.

“I think this can truly make a difference in people’s lives,” said Prather. The public computer centers will offer open labs to teach basic computer literacy, such as Microsoft Office, Internet usage, social networking, and a variety of other user-related topics with an eye towards employability. The centers will be open to any Missouri resident. People who come to the computer centers will be encouraged to take advantage of MCC opportunities like counseling, and certification and degree programs.

“I see the public computer centers as the first step in the stepladder to success,” said Prather.

Prather plans to measure the success of the computer centers not just by grant-mandated guidelines, but by making the program sustainable. In addition to equipment and software, the grant will fund a total of four full-time staff, and 13-14 thousand-hour positions, including a mobile lab operator. Amanda Turner, who worked previously in payroll at MCC, is Prather’s administrative assistant and an integral part of the team.

NUS staff is currently assisting the public computer center team to upgrade the equipment in campus computer labs, including software, as well as working out logistics for the mobile lab which will feature laptop computers. One of Prather’s aims is to have a standard, consistent feel to the MCC public computer centers while incorporating the unique personality of each campus and its community into its computer center. Plans are underway to launch the centers on all MCC campuses this summer.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives trains at MCC-Blue River

ATF Agents study restraint maneuvers at the Public
Safety Institute on the MCC-Blue River campus

The Public Safety Institute at MCC-Blue River is even more active than usual as agents from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms conduct training on premises this May. Special Agent Trista Frederick from ATF was on hand to explain how the bureau benefits from the use of the MCC-Blue River facilities.

“ATF is conducting control arrest techniques training, which includes handcuffing techniques and defensive tactics. The training is intended to teach agents how to safely place individuals under arrest and counteract non-compliant or combative subjects,” said Frederick. Later this month, ATF will return to MCC-Blue River to study explosives, with special attention to home-made or improvised explosive devices.

Asked why MCC-Blue River’s Public Safety Institute was a choice location for training, Fredericks said that “MCC-Blue River is a centrally located, convenient, and a high-quality training facility for ATF’s staff in the Kansas City area.” She went on to site possibilities of future ATF use of MCC-Blue River facilities when planned improvements are in place, saying, “ATF is also excited about MCC-Blue River’s

Two MCC icons saluted at areawide women's celebration

Penn Valley President and Blue River Interim President Joe Seabrooks (center), congratulates Mary Simpson (left) and Carroll O'Neal (right) at the Women's Foundation's Celebration of Women Publication Party.

Metropolitan Community College is fortunate to have many dedicated, hard-working and compassionate veteran faculty and staff members. MCC-Blue River Reading Instructor Mary Simpson and MCC-Penn Valley Associate Dean of Students Carroll O'Neal are two such respected leaders.

Simpson has served MCC for 35 years. While O'Neal has stood at the helm for 45 years. Both women were recently honored at the Celebration of Women hosted by the Women's Foundation of Greater Kansas City. Each year the Women's Foundation publishes a commemorative journal to recognize and celebrate area women and girls. Since 1993 it has included more than 2,300 tributes to remarkable women and girls. Joe Seabrooks, Penn Valley president and Blue River interim president, serves as a board member with the Women's Foundation.

A portion of Simpson's tribute reads:

When asked about her years of working at MCC, Mary stated that she has been "blest to work with people of different campuses and to have good relationships with them."  She also stated that she "enjoys the relationships with peers and also enjoys working with students…and the relationship with the students."  Pride comes to her eyes when she relates the story of a student who was reading Dave Pelzer's A Child Called, "It" as an assignment for Mary's class when the student's son inquired what she was doing.  The student started reading aloud, and her other son joined them.  For the next two hours, the student read aloud to her two children. The student had never read a book before, but now wants to pursue an education degree.  Mary states, "I encourage students to reach their highest potential, and I believe in them."  As a faculty member, Mary has been a quiet inspiration to us all.  She never shies away from taking time to meet a student's needs or to help students succeed.

A portion of O'Neal's tribute reads:

It’s not your unwavering commitment to MCC-Penn Valley. Your 45 years of service proves you are dedicated to serving the thousands of students who have walked our hallowed halls.

It’s not your devotion to faculty and staff. You are a resource to all seeking to help students achieve their dreams.
 It’s not just what you do, it’s the way you do it. Carroll, you strut your stuff with the best of them. Your shoe collection is legendary. Whether patent leather, peep toe, stiletto or strappy – you’ve worn them all and worn them well!

Congratulations to these awesome women!

More than 300 attend MCC-Penn Valley graphic design exhibit

Family members celebrate the portfolio viewing of a Penn Valley graphic design student.

Parents are amazed at the extensive portfolio their son created during the school year.

More than 300 attendees participated in the first-ever Graphic Design Student Portfolio Exhibit last week at the Carter Art Center at MCC-Penn Valley. Most participants were family members of the 21 graduating students presenting portfolios of artwork completes during the school year.

Instructors Darlene Town, Mary Beth Moley and many other past and present art instructors of MCC were also in attendance last Friday night and looked on with pride as they greeted parents.

The exhibit will run daily through May 13 from 1 to 5 p.m.

See something? Say something!

As an employee of MCC you can assist with keeping our environment safe for everyone. MCC facility services always appreciates it when you report an unsafe condition or concern you see at your location. It’s easy to do - call the department directly to report an immediate need:


MCC-Blue River 604.6535
MCC-Business & Technology 604.5465
MCC-Longview 604.2060
MCC-Maple Woods 604.3060
MCC-Penn Valley 604.4060

Or you can go online through InfoEx and:
1) Select your web drop down menu
2) Select Physical Facilities Work Request
3) Select the building for the work request
4) Select the area, then enter a description of the request
5) Click submit to send your work request
6) You then receive a response letting you know your request was submitted successfully along with a work request number that you can reference
7) An email is also sent to you confirming the submission of your request, and once completed another email letting you know the requested work has been completed

Thank you in advance for being observant of potential safety hazards at your location. Keeping a focus on safety helps everyone!

Lakers baseball headed to the post-season.

Coming off a victory in Iowa, the MCC-Longview Lakers baseball team will compete in the NJCAA Districts against Kansas's top team, Dodge City Community College.

The Lakers will then take on the Oklahoma top team, which is to be determined, in Oklahoma.

If they win there, the Lakers will advance to the NJCAA World Series in Enid, OK on May 28.

The Lakers are battle-tested and more than ready to take on any team. Wish them luck and keep them in your thoughts as they gear up for their ultimate goal, to bring home another National Championship.

Human Services program honors Dr. Bruce Hall

The Human Services semi-annual practicum luncheon held on May 6 recognized 11 students who have completed the 160-hour program and honored a dear friend who passed away this past semester.

This practicum experience is a vital part of our student’s learning outcome and plays an integral role within the helping professions in our community.

Three students accepted full-time employment from their agency placement. We are proud to continue our ongoing relationships (since the mid 80s) with such diversity of agency placements. Additionally, agency supervisors, administration, faculty and staff were also in attendance.

Tribute was given to Dr. Bruce Hall who was a wonderful coordinator for the Human Services program for the past 4 1/2 years.

Hall passed away on Jan. 5. 

Hall enhanced and extended the Human Services program and was an excellent instructor. Hall was inspirational, had divine inner wisdom, was quick witted and very dedicated to the Social Work profession. He will remain solely missed by his colleagues and students.

For more information about the Human Services program please call Terrie Euston at 816.604.2203.

Final exam schedule

Check out the schedule for your final exams here. Exams begin May 12.

Textbook buyback begins May 16

Student textbook buyback and rental returns:
May 16 - 19: 8 a.m. - noon and 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m
May 20: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Textbook rentals must be returned to the same bookstore you rented them from.