MCC PD welcomes four new(ish) officers

Booker Armstrong, David Cooper, Joseph Ham and Zach Goode are not new to MCC but as of last night they all have a new title: police officer.

New MCC police officers (l-r) Zach Goode, Joseph Ham, David Cooper and Booker Armstrong were sworn in after the MCC-Blue River Police Academy graduation Wednesday night.


The four former MCC public safety officers graduated from MCC-Blue River's Police Academy alongside 24 other cadets Wednesday night. As required by the State of Missouri, the cadets completed eight months of intense training and passed a rigorous examination in order to become commissioned police officers.

Cooper, who had been lead public safety officer at MCC-Longview, is

Kelsey Smith Safety Awareness Seminar draws hundreds, makes news

News teams swarmed the campus at MCC-Blue River for the Kelsey Smith Foundation’s Safety Awareness Seminar. Jana Corrie of the KMBC Channel 9 morning show reported on event preparations every half hour from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and interviewed Dean of Instruction Cheryl Carpenter Davis, psychology instructor Kimberly Glackin, and Greg and Missey Smith, the parents of the murdered teen Kelsey, whom took the stage to educate any and all who would listen.

Fox 4 News sent Terra Hall whose report appeared in long format on the late night news:

http://www.fox4kc.com/wdaf-kelsey-smiths-parents-keep-her-legacy-alive-warn-young-people-20110413,0,105411.story

Channel 5 News reporter Jonathan Carter delivered this synopsis of the event on the 6 o’clock news:

http://www.kctv5.com/local-video/index.html?grabnetworks={videoid:4643052}

Hundreds of students and individuals from the community learned important facts about maintaining their personal safety, chief among them being to make sure that someone knows where you are, and to fight back immediately at the first location when accosted. “If you reach location number two,” said Greg Smith, “you will not survive.”

Also present to report on the Kelsey Smith Safety Awareness event were on-air personalities from 88.5fm KLJC.

MCC-Maple Woods Community Neighbor: Maple Valley State School

Although many people may not realize, MCC-Maple Woods shares its campus with other organizations that serve the Northland community.

One of those organizations is Maple Valley State School, a school for developmentally disabled students located near the baseball field. The public grade school serves just over 50 students with severe developmental or cognitive disabilities.

Maple Valley State School has been part of the MCC-Maple Woods Storytelling Celebration for the last two years, with performers visiting the school.

NBC features the MCC-Longview Flights of Fancy kite festival

NBC Action News invited public relations coordinator Mike Ekey to the morning show to talk about this exciting kite festival happening this weekend at MCC-Longview.

Weatherman Brett Anthony talks kites and good, windy weather for Saturday!

The MCC-Longview Flights of Fancy kite festival

presented by Farmers Insurance

Saturday, April 16

10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

www.mccflightsoffancy.org

MCC-Blue River Blood Drive with benefits

Aside from the comfort you get from knowing that you’ve donated blood, you can earn some cool rewards at the Community Blood Center Blood Drive sponsored by MCC-Blue River. Sign up for an account to earn at least 100 reward points every time you donate blood. Some donations are worth as much as 300 points.

Among the most popular rewards you can choose from are AMC movie passes, a pedometer with built in radio, coolers, and Ruff Ready tool kits.

Cool swag offered by Community Blood Center for blood drive reward points

Most donors will earn 100 to 150 points this Monday for

MCC-Maple Woods Spotlight: Monarchs Baseball Update

The Mighty Voices of Longview: April 29, 30 and May 6, 7

The Mighty Voices of Longview return for another show-stopping concert at the MCC-Longview Cultural Arts Center.

Starting April 29, you and your family can delight in the music and sounds of Disney on Stage as the show choir from MCC-Longview performs a range of Disney musical classics.

Students will be performing songs from Pocahontas, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Tarzan, Toy Story, Mary Poppins, Cars, Sister Act, The Lion King, and more.


Tickets are $7 at door and $3.50 for children under 10.

The Mighty Voices of Longview

April 29, 30 and May 6, 7.

MCC-Longview Cultural Arts Center

7:30 p.m.

Tickets $7

$3.50 for children under 10 

Cam Johnson and Grant Woods sign on to play baseball at MCC-Maple Woods

MCC-Maple Woods head baseball coach Marty Kilgore is busy building the 2012 recruiting class, signing talented high school players from the local area and the region to play for the Monarchs in the 2012 competitive season.

Cam Johnson, a senior from Lee's Summit, Mo., plays infield and outfield positions. Although he excelled for Lee's Summit West High School as a football player, Johnson chose to play baseball for the Monarchs instead of continuing with football. Kilgore expects Johnson to contribute in many areas. Watch the video here.

Grant Woods, a right-handed pitchers from Smithville, Mo., will be a big addition to the Monarchs pitching staff. Already throwing in the low 90s, Grant played on the Kansas City Royals scout team this year and Kilgore expects him to contribute immediately on the mound. Check out this article for more about Grant Woods.

Go fly a kite!

Although the site of pretty kites soaring in the sky seems like a simple act for a laid back, breezy Saturday afternoon, there's a lot more to it that one would think. Audrey Battrum's physics class found that out as they designed their own kites based on material they learned in the course - and then tried to make them fly.

Everything from plastic bags tied to strings (which doesn't get a lot of loft but does stay airborne as long as there's a hint of breeze) to the tried-and-true diamond-shaped paper kite that we're all familiar with took to the skies by the Student Center.

The kite work is all part of applying course material for physics and engineering students, who are actually graded on whether or not their kite flies.

For a really impressive display of kite-flying, plan to attend MCC-Longview's Flights of Fancy Kite Festival April 19. Free family fun!

Kansas City Ballet at a Bargain

MCC employees can receive 30% by using the code BABMOVES for performances between May 5-8. Students should ask for the student discount.

MCC-Longview faculty explores 'Brave New World'

It is a scary and strange world within Aldous Huxley classic Brave New World. Soma pills, rigid class structure and birthing factories are just the beginning of how deep some of the criticisms Huxley was making in his book about London in the year 2540 A.D.

As part of the MCC-Longview common reading project, faculty from across various departments and specialties will sit down for a one-night-only panel discussion about the various themes, critiques and metaphors Huxley deployed in his work.

Don't miss out on this unique experience to explore not only the book itself, but the times and cultural influences that shaped Huxley himself in 1931 Europe.

Brave New World panel discussion

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

7 to 8:30 p.m.

Mel Aytes Education Center

MCC-Maple Woods deans present at Missouri ACE Network event

The Missouri chapter of the American Council of Education recently held an event at Park University in Parkville, Mo., focusing on the value of diversity in the higher education workplace. MCC-Maple Woods president Dr. Merna Saliman, along with deans Shelli Allen and Mindy McCallum and associate deans Lynn Barron and Brian Bechtel, gave a presentation on the experiences of developing a leadership team with people from many different background and making that team work smoothly to better the college.

The group then discussed what personal characteristics, shaped by childhood experiences, shaped the professional working in education today, and how those characteristics can be applied to creating a leadership team model that works well based upon learning, respect and collaboration.

As the major coordinating body for higher education institutions of every kind - community colleges and four-year institution, both public and private - ACE provides leadership on key issues and influences public policy through advocacy, research, and program initiatives.

Penn Valley music instructor leads 18th & Vine Jazz Festival

If money’s tight and you’re in the mood for live music this weekend, make your way to the city’s jazz district for the 18^th & Vine Jazz Festival. The festival is a partnership between MCC-Penn Valley and the American Jazz Museum. The free event will be held Friday and Saturday and is open to the public.

The festival will feature 45 middle, high school and college bands that will perform daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Blue Room and Gem Theater.

Make sure to check out the Penn Valley jazz band performance on Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the Gem Theater.

“Jazz festival dedicated to educating students about jazz,” says Clarence Smith, Penn Valley music instructor and festival organizer. “It’s not a competition. Bands will perform & their performances will be critiqued and rated.”

Each band will also receive a 30-minute clinic from one of the judges which include:

Matt Otto, Kansas City, MO

Bobby Broom, Chicago, IL

Danny Watring, Grandview, MO

Gary Anders, Missouri Valley College

Stan Kessler, Kansas City, MO

Jarrard Harris, Chicago, IL

The festival will conclude Saturday evening with a concert by Terrance Blanchard. For tickets, click here

3D crystal imaging for MCC-Blue River students, free

Computerized lasers and digital photography equipment trained on MCC-Blue River students

Today in the Campus Center at MCC-Blue River, hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of laser, computer and photography equipment have been carefully aligned and calibrated for the purpose of serving our students. The goal of the operation? To create three dimensional portraits of MCC-Blue River students, free of charge.

The MCC-Blue River Student Activities Council has brought Clearly You Crystal Imaging to campus to carve out the visages of a long line of students in clear acrylic blocks with a pin point laser. The fascinating process will be taking place

MCC-Maple Woods Spotlight: Library Update

Interested in the MCC-Maple Woods Book Club? Here's what's coming up this month:

Last week for Penn Valley student art show & sale

Works by MCC-Penn Valley art students are on display in the Carter Art Center and on sale this week. Original artwork can be viewed and purchased during the following dates and times:

April 14 Noon - 5 pm

April 15 10 a.m. - 9 pm

April 16 10 a.m. - 4 pm

The annual student art show and sale is sponsored by the Friends of the Carter Art Center. Also, 25% of sales go to student scholarships.

For more information, click here

Customer Appreciation Night at BTC

Be sure to stop in for the annual Customer Appreciation Night hosted by the MCC Institute for Workforce Innovation and Business & Learning Solutions tomorrow, April 13, 4:00-7:00 p.m., at the BTC campus.

To RSVP, contact Jane Meyer, (816) 604-1600, or mccbls@mcckc.edu.

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.

Employees - National Walk at Lunch Day

MCC’s Living Well Program has joined with A Healthier You™ at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City to encourage our employees to take a walk during their lunch break on April 27.

Walking is one of many ways the Living Well Program suggests to achieve a healthier lifestyle. And to add more incentive, employees who complete the group walk on each campus will be eligible for 5,000 points on their Points-to-Blue account.

Look for more information in upcoming emails from each campus coordinator:

BTC- Peggy Gann
BR – David Owens
LV– Vicki Clark
MW-Sheila Juenger
PV and AC – Michelle Schmiedeler

Mark your calendars today!

Red vs. Green - Haley and Hannah Hill compete for softball supremacy

Like most sibling, there is a friendly rivalry between MCC-Maple Woods softball player Haley Hill and her twin sister, Hannah. Both athletes from Mayview, Mo., that rivalry is still going strong, even though the girls now attend different colleges two hours apart.

Haley is a starting outfielder for the Monarchs while Hannah plays outfield for the North Central Missouri College Pirates. The two sisters meet twice per year, once at MCC-Maple Woods and once in Trenton, Mo., for their softball showdown.

The twins grandparents, who are in the unique position of cheering for both sisters at once, travel to the games wearing red and green shirts split down the middle.