News Releases

Owens Community College Offers Fall ACT Preparation Class, Sept. 28 – Oct. 19

Posted on September 15th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Area residents preparing to take the national ACT test are encouraged to bring a pencil, paper and a calculator to Owens Community College as the academic institution offers a program titled “Building Confidence with ACT Prep” in September and October. The class is coordinated through the College’s Workforce and Community Services.

The ACT preparation class will occur Monday evenings, Sept. 28 – Oct. 19, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the College’s Workforce and Community Services building on Tracy Road in Northwood.

“Owens Community College is proud to once again offer a unique educational program which will help students in their preparation to take the upcoming national ACT test,” said Rhonda Hogrefe, Owens Account Representative for Workforce and Community Services. “This class will provide students with a variety of test-taking skills that will be beneficial as they study for the ACT and take the actual test.”

During each of the four sessions, students will be tutored in all five sections of the ACT test. The actual ACT is comprised of one test in each of the following areas: English, math, reading, science reasoning and writing. In addition to being tutored in these areas through one-on-one teaching, students will learn traditional testing strategies such as how to take a timed test and how to find the elusive answer to a difficult question.

In addition to offering the ACT preparation class, Owens serves as a host site for the national ACT test. The next testing date after the ACT preparation class is in October. Prior registration through the ACT organization is required.

Limited seating is available and early registration is recommended. For more information, or to register for the class, call (567) 661-7357 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7357.

One of the fastest-growing higher educational institutions in Ohio, Owens Community College is a fully accredited two-year, state-assisted institution of higher education that has served Northwest Ohio since 1965. With a commitment to providing small classes, personal attention and unmatched affordability, the College serves the diverse academic needs of credit and non-credit students on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses. Owens offers associate degrees that transfer to baccalaureate degrees in the Arts and Sciences and over 130 technical program areas in Agriculture, Business, Health Sciences, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Skilled Trades, and Engineering and Transportation Technologies. Owens students also can earn the first two years of a bachelor’s degree with a smooth transfer to any area four-year college or university. For more information, visit www.owens.edu.

Owens Expands Renewable Energy Program With Installation of New Wind Turbine, Sept. 11

Posted on September 10th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College is expanding its educational opportunities within the area of renewable energy by announcing the installation of the academic institution’s first-ever wind turbine on Friday, Sept. 11. The College’s new state-of-the-art technology will be used for experiential learning purposes within Workforce and Community Services’ new Wind Turbine Installation and Wind Technology Maintenance Technician certificate programs.

Starting at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Wind Turbines of Ohio LLC based in Alliance will begin the process of installing the College’s new wind turbine. The 33-foot Skystream 3.7 wind turbine is a fully integrated, utility-connected wind generator designed specifically for residential and small commercial businesses.

Owens’ new wind turbine will be winched into its proper vertical position adjacent to the College’s Industrial and Engineering Technologies Building on Toledo-area Campus around 11 a.m.

In addition to its instructional utilization for the College’s new Wind Turbine Installation and Wind Technology Maintenance Technician certification programs, the 2.4-kilowatt wind turbine generator will be used to convert wind power into electricity for regular operational purposes within the Industrial and Engineering Technologies Building.

Eighteen unemployed and dislocated workers will begin their educational journey toward new employment opportunities by participating in the initial Wind Turbine Installation and Maintenance Technician Program, Sept. 28 – Dec. 4. The first short-cycle training class, which combines the two new certificate programs, is part of the academic institution’s new $1.9 million federal stimulus grant program.

Individuals attending the 172-hour training program will receive instruction in the installation, operation and maintenance of wind turbines for futures careers as a wind turbine installer and wind technology maintenance technician. The short-cycle training will include both classroom lecture and hands-on applications with the new 33-foot wind turbine to include the actual design and installation of the renewable energy educational component. Course content also highlights electrical principles, fluid power fundamentals, environmental safety, OSHA safety and power distribution systems, as well as wind measurement, estimating power output, the economics of wind power, wind technology and interconnection of utilities, among other academic areas.

Owens’ Workforce and Community Services will be offering its initial academic course offerings within the Wind Turbine Installation and Wind Technology Maintenance Technician certificate programs to area residents in the near future. The College is also planning to install a 130-foot wind turbine to be used for experiential learning and wind power generation purposes.

For more information about the new programs, call (567) 661 7357 or 1 800 GO OWENS, Ext. 7357.

Owens Community College Offers Free ‘QuickStart to College’ Program

Posted on September 9th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Area residents are invited to explore career options and gain advice on making the first steps toward a college education as Owens Community College presents a free “QuickStart to College” program, Sept. 28 – Dec. 6.

The free 10-week program, which is designed for first generation college attendees, low wage workers, underemployed and undereducated adults in mind, will take place on various days and times on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses, as well as at the College’s Learning Center at The Source, which located on Monroe Street in downtown Toledo. Owens’ Toledo-area Campus is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township, while the Findlay-area Campus’ location is on Bright Road in Findlay. Additionally, “QuickStart to College” classes will occur at Rogers High School, which is located on McTigue Drive in Toledo.

Owens’ free “QuickStart to College” comprehensive program features an array of educational initiatives, including academic preparation, coaching and embracing the expectations of college-level studies. Additionally, students will participate in activities designed to promote enhanced learning and develop necessary study and life skills for college success. Individuals will also learn and obtain an in-depth understanding of the language, culture and resources of Owens through the program, as well as receive information specific to the financial aid process and academic placement testing. Free math, reading and writing tutorials are also offered to program participants.

In addition, each attendee will be provided an Owens Student Success mentor to assist them throughout the “QuickStart to College” program. Each student will also receive three college credit hours toward an Owens education upon course completion.

Funding for Owens’ academic initiative is being made possible through a three-year $522,200 grant from the Lumina Foundation for Education, which is an Indianapolis-based private foundation dedicated to expanding access to and success in education beyond high school. Owens is one of only three academic institutions statewide to receive funding in 2008 for the program. The other two colleges are Rhodes State College in Lima and Zane State College in Zanesville.

In order to be eligible for the free “QuickStart to Success” program, individuals must have obtained their high school Diploma or GED. Enrollment is limited and area residents must register prior to Sept. 21. Mandatory orientations detailing the program will take on Sept. 14 and 17 (Toledo-area Campus), Sept. 21 and 24 (Learning Center at The Source) and Oct. 1 (Findlay-area Campus). For more information about the new “QuickStart to College” program, call (567) 661-7777 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7777, or (567) 429-3509 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 3509.

Record 23,606 Students Choose Owens to Pursue Educational Opportunities and Career Aspirations

Posted on September 8th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College continues to provide Northwest Ohio residents with greater access to higher education at an affordable cost with a record-breaking 23,606 students choosing to attend the academic institution for Fall Semester classes on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses.

Since becoming a comprehensive community college in 1994, Owens has more than doubled its Fall Semester student enrollment by an astounding 130 percent. The College enrolled 10,255 students for Fall Semester classes in 1994.

The combined Fall Semester enrollment of 23,606 students on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses surpasses the previous record of 21,296 students enrolled during Fall Semester 2008. Owens’ Toledo-area Campus has 20,037 students attending classes during the Fall Semester, while on the Findlay-area Campus 3,569 students are enrolled for the fall term. On both campuses, Fall Semester enrollment has increased 10.8 percent from last fall.

“Our mission at Owens Community College is to ensure that every student has the opportunity to pursue a college education,” said Dr. Bill Ivoska, Owens Vice President of Student Services. “Owens Community College is committed to helping students achieve their fullest potential by eliminating any potential barriers that may exist and providing them with the necessary tools and resources to obtain a competitive edge in today’s global economy. A college education can open many doors to endless possibilities and Owens Community College is proud to play a small part in helping Northwest Ohio residents realize their career aspirations.”

For Scott Blair of Carey, the decision to “take the leap of faith” several years ago and pursue a college education after more than 25 years in manufacturing was an easy one.

“I really want to help others as a registered nurse and pursuing a college education is allowing me to achieve that goal,” said the 47-year-old registered nursing major.

Blair, who carries a 3.29 grade point average at Owens and works in coronary care and intensive care as a practical licensed nurse at Findlay’s Blanchard Valley Hospital, added, “Owens has given me the opportunity to grow as a person, both personally and professionally. It is truly an uplifting feeling to treat a patient and help in their rehabilitation process. My professors have prepared me to succeed in my new career field and I owe them a debt of gratitude for making my dream a reality.”

Additionally, Blair’s educational success has now become a family affair as his 24-year-old daughter, Arielle Thiel of Carey, has joined him in obtaining a college education from Owens as she pursues her own associate’s degree in registered nursing.

“The opportunity to take classes with my daughter has been an amazing experience,” stated Blair, who has aspirations of working in health care at an area hospital after graduation. “Owens is making a difference in both of our lives.”

According to Ivoska, Owens continues to make a concerted effort to expand upon the many educational opportunities of its students through the advancement of innovative programs, courses, teaching methods and academic resources.

Owens is once again expanding educational opportunities for area residents by recently announcing the creation of new short-cycle training and job placement opportunities for unemployed and dislocated workers within high growth, high demand occupations that include “green collar,” health care and construction-based industries through a partnership with The Source, Lucas County’s One-Stop Employment Center, in downtown Toledo. The new initiative is part of a $1.9 million federal stimulus grant at Owens.

The College also is continuing to expand its extremely popular eOwens distance learning education by continuously introducing new academic courses online. To date, Owens offers more than 220 e-Learning courses in such academic areas as accounting, art, business, English, psychology and speech, among other course selections. For Fall Semester 7,168 students are pursuing e-Learning courses – up from 5,976 last fall (19.9 percent increase).

In addition to the many e-Learning opportunities, Owens continues to increase its academic and support services by making available an array of higher education choices for high school students through innovative partnerships with post secondary schools, through the Weekend College and at The Source, Lucas County’s One-Stop Employment Center, in downtown Toledo. The College’s enrollment at The Source has increased by 151 students with 739 area residents pursuing higher education in downtown Toledo during the current Fall Semester compared to 588 last fall term (25.6 percent increase).

The College’s ethnicity/race student enrollment also continues to increase. For Fall Semester, 3,063 African-American students are pursuing an Owens education compared to 2,764 last year (10.8 percent increase). Additionally, Hispanic enrollment has a recorded a 9.7 percent increase with 1,043 students attending classes compared to 950 during fall term 2008.

Two hundred forty-seven graduates in 2009 from Whitmer High School, Findlay High School and all high schools within the Toledo Public Schools district in financial need are receiving a free college education to Owens as part of the College Foundation’s expanded Success Program on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses. The Success Program is designed to assist students, who receive only partial state and federal financial aid, attend college and bridges the gap between the grant aid a student receives and the cost of an Owens education.

Continuing to expand educational opportunities for students in the Hancock County area, Owens unveiled a new $4.2 million Findlay-area Campus Community Education and Wellness Center in 2007 to complement the $17.7 million Findlay-area Campus, which opened in 2005. To accommodate the record number of students, the College, within the last six years, also opened an $11 million Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the Toledo-area Campus. In 2007, Owens unveiled a new $20.5 million Center for Emergency Preparedness. The Center is the only state-of-the-art facility of this magnitude within the Midwest.

In the coming year, Owens will broaden access to higher education opportunities for police, fire and emergency services personnel, as well as the military, by formally opening a new $3.2 million Emergency Preparedness Operations Building at the Center for Emergency Preparedness in October. The College is continuing the renovation process at the former Penta Career Center and will open newly named and refurbished Founders and Heritage halls for students in the near future. Owens will also be relocating its Workforce and Community Services division to Arrowhead Park in Maumee for the upcoming spring term.

Owens Delivers Backpacks and Supplies to Area Elementary School Children, Sept. 2-10

Posted on September 1st, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College’s Alumni Association in collaboration with Books-A-Million and three Great Lakes Credit Union branches are brightening many children’s lives through a unique community service endeavor titled “Backpack to the Future”. Over 370 backpacks and more than 8,200 school supply items collected throughout the summer months are being donated to 21 area elementary schools during the month of September.

Beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 2, Owens representatives will deliver backpacks and supplies to Northview Primary School at 11:30 a.m. in Findlay (133 Lexington Ave.). The following week, starting on Tuesday, Sept. 8, Owens will donate backpacks and school supplies to Toledo Public Schools’ Navarre Elementary School (800 Kingston Ave.) at 9:30 a.m. and to Rossford’s Glenwood Elementary School (8950 Avenue Rd.) at 3:45 p.m. On Wednesday, Sept. 9, College officials will make a backpack and school supply donation to Toledo Public Schools’ Walbridge Elementary School (1040 Newbury St.) at 10 a.m. Owens representatives will make their final stop of the week on Thursday, Sept. 10, at Toledo Public Schools’ Keyser Elementary School (3900 Hill Ave.) at 9:30 a.m.

“The impressive response area residents and businesses continue to make to the ‘Backpack to the Future’ supply drive is outstanding,” said Kaye Koevenig, Owens Alumni Association Community Service Chair. “There are many families that can barely afford to pay their bills and may not be able to provide their children with new supplies. Our goal is to ensure that such occurrences do not happen and that all children begin their school year with new educational resources.”

Over the past three months, “Backpack to the Future” accepted gently-used or new backpacks and new school supplies from area residents to assist disadvantaged school children throughout Northwest Ohio. In addition to backpacks, individuals donated crayons, markers, bottles of glue, glue sticks, colored pencils, pencils, pink erasers, school boxes, pocket folders, marbled covered composition books and Kleenex tissues.

The drive also collected over $1,380 from community members. The charitable donations will go toward the purchase of school supplies.

The Owens Alumni Association established “Backpack to the Future” supply drive in 2004 as a way to provide educational outreach to the surrounding communities. To date, the program has given over 1,520 backpacks and more than 25,710 school supplies to benefit disadvantaged children throughout Northwest Ohio.

Since opening its doors in 1965, Owens has provided higher education to more than 250,000 students. Owens’ Alumni Association is committed to the personal and professional success of alumni and students through the ongoing development of value-added initiatives.

Owens Employees and Students Spend Day Helping Others As Part of United Way’s ‘Day of Caring’, Sept. 2

Posted on September 1st, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Twenty-four Owens Community College employees and students will spend a morning at Metroparks of the Toledo Area’s Oak Openings Preserve in Swanton (4139 Girdham Rd.) volunteering their time on national area restoration and land steward projects as the academic institution joins with several hundred volunteers throughout the region in the United Way’s annual “Day of Caring” initiative on Wednesday, Sept. 2.

The Owens volunteer team is among a number of organizations, matched with area non-profit groups, who are working on various outreach initiatives and projects designed to strengthen the surrounding communities through the efforts of the United Way of Greater Toledo.

Beginning at 9:30 a.m., Owens volunteers will roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty by participating in a variety of general park clean-up projects as well as helping with the maintenance of landscape beds and/or invasive plant removal. Owens representatives will conclude their volunteer beautification efforts around 12 p.m. that same day.

The College will kick off its own Community Giving Campaign in late September. Monies raised as a result of the campaign will impact over 200 community, health, support, environmental and educational non-profit agencies throughout Northwest Ohio. Last year’s campaign raised over $15,000 for area organizations.

The United Way of Greater Toledo is a collaboration of community volunteers, health and human-service providers and donors throughout Lucas, Wood and Ottawa counties who committed to changing lives. United Way assists citizen leaders to develop an agenda to strengthen community life in areas the community most cares about and needs. The organization facilities and supports a wide range of community-based efforts to make a measurable impact in those areas.

Through sites in Lucas, Wood and Ottawa counties, United Way services are provided to people who need help, want to volunteer, need assistance from organized labor or want to donate. By maintaining offices in all three counties, United Way encourages and facilities increased community involvement.

First-Ever TRAINCO, Inc. and Owens Truck Driving Classes Set to Begin at Owens Findlay-area Campus, Aug. 31

Posted on August 28th, 2009

FINDLAY, OH – Five area residents will begin their educational journey toward new employment opportunities as Owens Community College’s Workforce and Community Services and TRAINCO, Inc. in Perrysburg offer their initial truck driving classes in Findlay as part of a new educational partnership on Monday, Aug. 31.

TRAINCO Truck Driving Schools first-ever truck driving class in the Findlay area is taking place Mondays-Thursdays, Aug. 31 – Sept. 24 from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Individuals interested in pursuing a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and a future career in the truck driving industry are encouraged to register for the second academic class offering, which will take place Mondays-Thursdays, Sept. 28 – Oct. 22 from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Classroom instruction will occur at the College’s Community Education and Wellness Center on the Findlay-area Campus in Findlay, while the hands-on training will take place on various roads and highways throughout the region.

As a result of the partnership, students pursuing their CDL through TRAINCO, Inc. will also be able to apply the educational training and experience achieved toward an associate’s degree in technical studies or a related field at Owens. Each student will receive five college credit hours from Owens upon completion of their CDL training at TRAINCO.

In addition to the new course offering in Findlay, TRAINCO ‘s Professional Truck Driving Schools and Career Centers offers four-week daytime classes, five-week evening programs and 14-week Saturday- or Sunday-only courses in Perrysburg, Ohio; Taylor, Mich.; and Lansing, Mich. Classroom instruction covers such areas as logbook maintenance, road map comprehension, stress management, nutrition and road rage. Hands-on training includes driving maneuvers, coupling and uncoupling and progressive shifting, as well as urban, rural and interstate driving skills.

Owens and TRAINCO also afford individuals the chance to receive college credit while enrolled in the national company’s Professional Truck Driving Schools and Career Centers through the College’s Toledo-area Campus.

For more information, contact the College’s Workforce and Community Services at (567) 429-3155 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 3155, or TRAINCO at (419) 837-5730 or (877) 553-7483. Interested individuals can also access www.owensworks.com and www.traincoinc.com websites for additional details.

Owens Community College Student Activities Unveils New Bus Tour Pass Program

Posted on August 24th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College students will have the opportunity to “hop on the bus” as Office of Student Activities launches a new Bus Tour Pass Program with the goal of fostering personal and educational growth through student life and involvement on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses. With the creation of the new program, Owens becomes one of the first community colleges in the country to offer such a student life and learning-centered program for its student body.

Students will receive their initial Bus Tour Passes – not an actual bus pass – at the College’s annual “Fall Fest 2 Success” campus celebrations, which features free food and refreshments, interactive games and information about Owens’ various student clubs and organizations. Listed within each Bus Tour Pass is an array of events ranging from lectures to theatrical performances taking place on the two campuses during the current Fall Semester.

“Owens Community College’s Office of Student Activities is dedicated to providing programs that foster growth and educational development for our students,” said John Byers, Owens Manager of Student Activities on the Toledo-area Campus. “The new Bus Tour Pass Program was created to showcase the various opportunities for students to become engaged in the campus community and expand their learning and personal development by being exposed to new ideas, social issues, leadership development, community service, different cultures, and fine and performing arts.”

James Katzner, Owens Manager of Career Education and Student Activities on the Findlay-area Campus added, “Our goal of the Bus Tour Pass Program is to help students reach their fullest potential, both from a personal and educational standpoint. This new initiative places emphasis and value on lifelong learning and I encourage students to get on the bus.”

All activities listed within the Bus Tour Pass are supported by the Office of Student Activities and designated with a stop sign at the event’s location. Those students attending a Bus Tour Pass supported event will receive a stamp in the form of a bus to recognize their campus participation. Bus Tour Pass events in which students are required to purchase a ticket will be marked with a yield sign.

Separate Bus Tour Passes will be available to students on both Toledo-area Campus in Perrysburg Township and the Findlay-area Campus in Findlay and participants may attend events on either campus to earn Bus Tour Pass stamps. The Bus Tour Pass Program will conclude at the end of each semester with a Bus Tour Pass party in which students can win various prizes based on the number of stamps each person collects. Prizes will include three free Owens credit hours, Buss Tour Pass T-shirts, a laptop computer, an iPod and Bookstore gift certificates, among other items.

New Bus Tour Pass booklets will be presented to students at the beginning of each semester.

Owens Community College to Host Community Blood Drive, Aug. 25

Posted on August 19th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Area residents are encouraged to help in saving lives as Owens Community College and the American Red Cross host a community Blood Drive on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

Coordinated by Owens’ American Red Cross student organization and the Surgical Program, as well as the American Red Cross Western Lake Erie Region, the Blood Drive will occur from 12-6 p.m. in the College’s Audio/Visual Classroom Center Rooms 125-128 on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens’ Toledo-area Campus is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

Qualified donors must be at least 17 years of age, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and not have given blood within 56 days prior to their donation. In addition, individuals should feel well the day of the Blood Drive, be in general good health and have a picture ID (preferably a driver’s license). The Blood Drive is open to Owens employees and students, as well as area residents. Walk-ins are welcome.

The American Red Cross Western Lake Erie Region, which comprises Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, needs to collect approximately 85,000 pints of blood each day to serve patients in 23 area hospitals.

Donors will be provided snacks and drinks before and after their donation. For more information, call (567) 661-7509 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7509, or (419) 352-4575. Interested parties are encouraged to make an appointment by registering on the website at www.givelife.org.

Owens Bookstores Launch New eBooks Program

Posted on August 14th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College students will now have the opportunity to choose from several options when purchasing textbooks for their classes as the academic institution’s Bookstores on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses unveil a new eBooks Program. Beginning Fall Semester 2009, the College’s campus Bookstores are affording students the chance to buy several textbooks on a CD and/or via password-protected website cards in addition to conventional hardcopy versions.

“Owens Community College is dedicated to meeting the needs of its students by providing them with multiple options to purchase their textbooks,” said Rebecca Drayton, Owens Manager of the Bookstore on the Toledo-area Campus.

Jennifer Artressia, Owens Supervisor of Business Services on the Findlay-area Campus, added, “Textbooks available through the new eBooks Program will cost less than the conventional hardcopy version, which is certainly a positive for students. Owens is continuously looking for unique and innovative ways to enhance our services and we are proud to offer the new eBooks Program to students.”

Academic courses in which students may purchase textbooks through the eBooks Program on the Toledo-area Campus include nursing concepts, introduction to theatre, surgical technology, anatomy and physiology, refinishing and cultural anthropology. On the Findlay-area Campus, students can select academic course textbooks through the eBooks Program in nursing concepts, introduction to theatre, and anatomy and physiology.

“Whether an individual is a new or returning student to the College, our goal within the Bookstores on both the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses is to ensure that a student’s Owens experience is very positive,” Drayton concluded.

For more information about the College’s new eBooks Program, call (567) 661-7306 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7306 on the Toledo-area Campus, or (567) 429-3546 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 3546 on the Findlay-area Campus.

Bowling Green, McComb Women Win ‘Tuition is Right’ Contest at Owens Community College

Posted on August 14th, 2009

“Tuition is Right” winner Felicia Ervin (left) and runner-up Donna Myers pose for a photo following the Toledo-area Campus contest.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Felicia Ervin of Bowling Green and Cora Snare of McComb each will attend Owens Community College for free in 2009-10 after winning the “Tuition is Right” free tuition contest hosted by Owens and Clear Channel Radio’s 92.5 Kiss FM, 104.7 WIOT and 103.7 CKY.

Donna Myers of Walbridge and Monica Schalk of New Riegel finished as runners-up in the contest and won one semester of free tuition each.

At the Toledo-area Campus finals, Ervin, 17, won the reverse raffle from among 181 qualifiers in attendance. The Bowling Green High School graduate plans to major in international studies.

“It was going to be a little harder without (the free tuition),” she said. “I was getting two jobs and taking 18 credit hours.”

At the end, she said she was “shaking and nervous. This never happens to me. I was really excited. It took me a moment to realize my number was called and I actually won.”

Myers, 47, already has an associate’s degree in drafting and design from North Central State College in Mansfield. But in the last two years, she’s lost two jobs – one in Michigan and this past April in the greater Toledo area as a structural steel detailer. She now lives in an apartment with her two teen-age sons.

Posing for a photo from the Findlay-area Campus “Tuition is Right” contest is winner Cora Snare (left) and runner-up Monica Schalk.

She will enroll at Owens for the first time this Fall Semester and major in networking and information systems support.

“I’ve worked with computers for 25 years. I always called an IT person for the back end. Now I’ll know how to do both with my CAD skills,” she said.

Ervin and Myers were presented their checks from emcees Trish of 92.5 Kiss FM and Pyke of 104.7 WIOT.

At the Findlay-area Campus finals, Snare won the reverse raffle from 138 qualifiers in attendance. The 20-year-old has attended the Owens Findlay-area Campus for the past two years and has one year remaining before graduating with an early childhood education degree.

“I was really excited when they called my number,” the McComb High School graduate said. “I like Owens. The teachers are nice. The classes are small. It’s hands-on and I like that a lot.”

Schalk, 20, also has attended the Owens Findlay-area Campus for two years. She has completed her general education courses and now will be enrolling in the sonography program on the Toledo-area Campus.

By winning a semester of tuition, she said she can now focus on her studies rather than working. She currently has a part-time office job.

The “Tuition is Right” “helps out the community. It gives people a chance. It’s great. I don’t know of any other school that does it,” the New Riegel High School graduate said.

The Findlay winners received their oversized checks from emcee Johny D from 103.7 CKY.

Overall, 1,300 qualifiers were eligible to attend the finals. Since 2003, Owens Community College has partnered with Northwest Ohio media nine times, including eight with Clear Channel Radio, and offered a free tuition contest.

First Short-Cycle Classes for Unemployed Workers Set to Begin at Owens Learning Center at The Source, Aug. 17

Posted on August 13th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Over 50 unemployed and dislocated workers will begin their educational journey toward new employment opportunities as Owens Community College begins its initial short-cycle training classes as part of the academic institution’s new $1.9 million federal stimulus grant program on Monday, Aug. 17.

The first three short-cycle training classes being offered on Monday through the federal stimulus grant initiative are the Phlebotomy Technician, Solar Production and Photovoltaic Installation Training programs. A majority of academic coursework will occur through Owens’ Learning Center at The Source, which is located in downtown Toledo.

The College’s Photovoltaic Installation Training Program will take place from 9 a.m. – 12:40 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at The Source and Owens’ Workforce and Community Services. Individuals attending the 56-hour training program will receive instruction within the areas of electricity and photovoltaic systems and theory to prepare them for a career as a photovoltaic system installer. Additionally, the hands-on program will include the design and installation of a grid-tied photovoltaic system and maintenance on a temporary system. Various inverters, photovoltaic modules, batteries and data information systems will also be installed and operated as part of the class.

Owens’ Solar Production Program will occur at various times Mondays through Fridays at The Source. The 80-hour program will include both classroom lecture and hands-on applications, which will provide basic knowledge of production work in a solar manufacturing facility for an eventual career in solar manufacturing. Attendees will also perform various functions in the process of transforming plate glass into solar panels, as well as receive training on calculating measurements and process improvement.

Students will participate in Owens’ Phlebotomy Technician Program from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Aug. 17 – Oct. 19 at The Source. The 90-hour academic program is designed to prepare individuals for a career as a phlebotomy technician. Attendees will acquire knowledge and become familiar with all aspects related to blood collection, as well as develop comprehensive skills to perform vein punctures. Experiential classroom and laboratory learning also includes medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, blood collection procedures, specimen hands-on practice and clinical training to perform puncture methods.

In June, the Lucas County Workforce Development Agency, by the authority of the Lucas County Board of Commissioners, awarded Owens a $1.9 million federal stimulus grant to provide short-cycle training and job placement opportunities for unemployed and dislocated workers within high growth, high demand occupations that include “green collar,” health care and construction-based industries. The $1.9 million in federal funding is the largest grant or gift ever received in the College’s 44-year history. The Lucas County Workforce Development Agency designated funding for the grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title I funds and the 2009 National Emergency Grant.

As part of the new job training initiative, Owens is providing academic and support services to unemployed, under employed and dislocated workers within several high growth, high demand occupations. Short-cycle “green collar” training programs include wind power installation, wind technician maintenance, geothermal installation, geothermal service, energy management, green materials transportation and photovoltaic installation. Health care specific programs for students will include the state nurses assistant program, pharmacy technician, phlebotomy technician, personal trainer and EKG technician.

In addition to “green collar” and heath care training, Owens will offer short-cycle, pre-apprenticeship training to prepare area residents for construction-based careers as electricians, pipefitters, boilermakers and other fields within the construction industry.

All educational training is taking place within a six-month period or less and features the latest in innovative technology and academic resources. Upon program completion, participants will receive industry recognized certification. A majority of the short-cycle job training programs will occur at Owens’ Learning Center at The Source in downtown Toledo.

In 2007, Owens expanded its access to higher educational opportunities within Lucas County by opening the Learning Center at The Source in downtown Toledo. The new facility is specifically designed to connect education and training to employment.

Owens’ 11,367 square-feet Learning Center is located within The Source complex and provides the region with expanded educational choices and options. Highlighted features include five academic classrooms, two computer laboratories and a nursing laboratory, all with state-of-the-art technology and academic resources designed to enhance learning through hands-on instruction and exercises.

The Source, Lucas County’s One-Stop Employment Center is committed to quality-driven workforce services that assist individuals in developing and enhancing a multitude of work skill sets to meet the current and future needs of local businesses while embracing local economic growth and individual prosperity. The organization is also dedicated to quality-driven services, meeting business needs, meeting job seeker needs, diversity, accessibility, respecting the internal and external customer, collaboration of community resources, economic development, innovative leadership, a seamless system of workforce development, lifelong and continuous learning, technology to enhance efficiency, customer satisfaction and continuous quality improvement.

Owens Findlay-area Campus Names New Arts and Sciences Chair

Posted on August 4th, 2009

FINDLAY, OH – Owens Community College has named Tinola Mayfield-Guerrero as the new Chair of Arts and Sciences on the Findlay-area Campus. Her responsibilities will include overseeing the arts and sciences academic programs in the School of Arts and Sciences on the Findlay-area Campus, as well as various activities and instructional initiatives.

In addition, her new position will entail supervising the development and implementation of new academic curricula, directing the on-going evaluation of the School’s arts and sciences courses on Findlay-area Campus and collaborating with the fellow academic chairs to enhance educational opportunities and resources for current and future students.

“I am proud to welcome Tinola Mayfield-Guerrero to her new position as Chair of Arts and Sciences on the Findlay-area Campus and confident that she will continue the College’s longstanding tradition and commitment to providing the highest level of academic excellence through student-centered curriculum development and programming,” said Dr. Renay Scott, Owens Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences.

Mayfield-Guerrero joined the College in August 2003 as an Adjunct Instructor of Sociology and Philosophy and has taught academic courses in Introduction to Sociology, Introduction of Philosophy, Medical Sociology and Multicultural Diversity in the United States. Since July 2008, she has held the position of Interim Chair of Arts and Sciences on the Owens Findlay-area Campus. In addition to serving as Interim Chair, Mayfield-Guerrero is currently a member of the Owens Academic Quality Improvement Program Committee focused on improving faculty access to technology.

Prior to working at Owens, Mayfield-Guerrero served as an Instructor of Sociology at Monroe County Community College for three years where she taught academic coursework in Principles of Sociology, Women in Sociology and Social Problems.

Her professional and community involvement includes previously holding board-level membership with the Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women in Toledo and serving as Adjunct Advisory Committee Chair at Monroe County Community College. Mayfield-Guerrero also has volunteered as an inner city tutor in English, math, history and social studies for the YMCA and has had her artwork showcased as part of the Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women’s “No One You Know: An Art Show of Reunification” exhibition.

The Toledo resident received a master’s degree in philosophy and sociology, as well as a bachelor’s degree in women’s and gender studies all from the University of Toledo.

Owens Community College Names New Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police

Posted on August 4th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College has named John Betori as the new Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police. His responsibilities will include overseeing all aspects related to the strategic and administrative leadership, coordination and development of the College’s Public Safety Department within the framework of federal, state and local laws for the Toledo-area Campus, Findlay-area Campus, the Learning Center at The Source and Arrowhead Park locations.

In addition, Betori will be responsible for the overall operations of the College’s policies, procedures and regulations, as well as other applicable regulations governing public safety agencies and institutions of higher education.

“I am excited to have John Betori join Owens Community College as the new Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police,” said Brian Paskvan, Owens Vice President of Administration. “John shares Owens’ commitment to excellence in higher education and we welcome his leadership, knowledge and experience in law enforcement to our campus community.”

Since November 2006, Betori has served as the Operations Bureau Captain for the University of Toledo Police Department. As Captain of the largest bureau in the Police Department, he was responsible for overseeing patrol, investigations and K-9 operations, as well as all explosive related call outs and event protection. Betori’s responsibilities also included maintaining uniform crime reports and Clery statistics, scheduling in-service training to keep officers current in certifications and assisting in the management of the department’s Automated Records Management System (ARMS).

Prior to his current position, Betori served as a Field Operations Bureau and Special Operations Bureau Lieutenant for the University of Toledo Police Department, where he was responsible for the supervision of road officers from 1994-2006. Additionally, Betori was a part-time Police Officer with the Village of Ottawa Hills Police Department for three years.

His professional and community involvement includes serving as a Special Deputy for the United States Marshal’s Office and a Task Force Agent for the Northwest Ohio Joint Terrorism Task Force. In addition, Betori is a member of the National Police Work Dog Association and a former Secretary for the Ohio Law Enforcement K-9 Association. He also has served as Chairman of the St. Patrick of Heatherdowns Church Festival.

A Perrysburg resident, Betori earned a bachelor’s degree in individualized studies from the University of Toledo and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in criminal justice from Tiffin University. In addition, he received his Ohio Peace Officer Training Certificate from the Criminal Justice Training and Education Center in Toledo. Betori also holds certification from the Ohio Police Officer Training Council and the North American Police Work Dog Association.

Owens Community College Names New Director of International Programs and Services

Posted on August 4th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College has named Deborah Gavlik as the new Director of International Programs and Services. Her responsibilities will include overseeing all administrative aspects related to the leadership and management of international education initiatives at the academic institution.

In addition, Gavlik will be responsible for coordinating the international student application process and making admissions decisions that result in the awarding of documents used by the U.S. Department of State to issue student visas. Her position will also entail administering orientation programs for new students regarding responsibilities associated with their visa status and services available to international students through Owens and surrounding community resources.

“We are honored to have Deborah Gavlik serving as the new Director of International Programs and Services,” said Dr. Bill Ivoska, Owens Vice President of Student Services. “Deborah brings a visionary approach and a wealth of knowledge and experience within international education to the College. Owens Community College is recognized globally for its educational opportunities for international students. Her leadership will be invaluable in furthering the reputation of the College’s International Student Services and opening new doors to higher education from a worldwide perspective.”

Prior to her new position at Owens, Gavlik served as an Executive Director at the Ohio Board of Regents for nine years. While at the Ohio Board of Regents, she was responsible for administering several state programs, as well as serving in various capacities in international education, government relations and budgeting. Her responsibilities included leading the Global Strategic Planning Group and developing a statewide higher education international strategy with a focus on increasing the number and variety of international students, improving international student services and expanding opportunities for more Ohioans to study abroad.

Gavlik’s international experience also includes directing a refugee resettlement program in Houston for three years and serving as a Peace Corps volunteer for two years.

Additionally, Gavlik directed the Ohio Board of Regents’ advocacy and governmental affairs efforts from 2001-07, which included serving as the legislative liaison and coordinating higher education testimony. She also was responsible for administering the “Seniors to Sophomores” program, a $4.2 million initiative designed to enable high school seniors to take a year’s worth of college credit in their senior year.

Previously, Gavlik served as a Senior Budget Analyst at the Ohio Legislative Budget Office for 13 years, where she analyzed legislation under consideration by the Ohio General Assembly and described the impact of that legislation on state government and school districts. Before working with the Ohio Legislative Budget Office, she was responsible for advising over 200 freshman and sophomore business administration students about academic majors and career options, degree requirements, and course selections as an Academic Advisor at The Ohio State University.

Her professional involvement includes membership with the Columbus Council on World Affairs. Gavlik is also a former member of the Ohio Department of Education’s International Education Advisory Committee and the Ohio Department of Development’s Global Markets Advisory Team.

The Toledo resident holds a master’s degree in public administration from The Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh.

Owens Community College Names New Director of Student Life and Community Standards

Posted on August 4th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College has named Christopher Giordano as the new Director of Student Life and Community Standards. His responsibilities will include overseeing all aspects related to the strategic and administrative leadership, coordination and development of judicial affairs and student life, disability services, athletics and student activities.

In addition, Giordano will be responsible for providing adjudication of student conduct matters through interpretation and administration of the academic institution’s Student Code of Conduct and serving as the student civil rights coordinator. His position will also entail assisting with the student appeals process, as well as coordinating the training of employees and students on the prevention and intervention of issues involving student conduct.

“Owens Community College is honored to have Christopher Giordano serving as the new Director of Student Life and Community Standards,” said Dr. Bill Ivoska, Owens Vice President of Student Services. “Christopher brings to the College extensive knowledge and experience in higher education from a judicial affairs and student life perspective that will be invaluable as Owens continues to further its mission and vision by providing a superior educational experience through excellence, innovation and collaboration.”

Since April 2008, Giordano has served as the Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Student Affairs at the University of Toledo. While at the University of Toledo, he was responsible for supporting the functions of the Division of Student Affairs through planning and promotional efforts, research and benchmarking projects, internal and external communications initiatives, specialized student and staff development programs, and general administrative oversight. His responsibilities also included providing leadership and coordination for the Division of Student Affairs’ strategic plan, as well as chairing the committee responsible for the planning and implementation of New Student Convocation.

Prior to his position at the University of Toledo, Giordano served as the Associate Dean of Students at Suffolk University in Boston for two years, where he assisted in fostering the academic institution’s supportive and challenging environment for students to enrich their educational experience. He also served as a resource and referral source for a variety of student concerns and worked cooperatively with parts of the university to ensure responsiveness to student needs. Additionally, Giordano held the position of Assistant Dean of Students at both Suffolk University and the University of Connecticut for a combined eight years.

His professional involvement includes membership with the National Association of Student Affairs Administrators and the Association for the Study of Higher Education. Giordano also was a member of the Student Affairs Programming Council and the Student Behavior Review Committee, as well as a Mental Health Community Connections liaison at the University of Toledo.

The Toledo resident holds a master’s degree in counseling services from Upsala College and a bachelor’s degree in English from Rowan University. In addition, Giordano achieved a graduate certificate in adult and organizational learning from Suffolk University and is currently pursuing his doctorate in higher education from the University of Toledo.

Owens Community College Introduces New Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary Certificate Program

Posted on July 23rd, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College is enhancing its educational opportunities within the School of Health Sciences by announcing the creation of a new Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary certificate program. Beginning with the current Summer Semester 2009, the new academic certificate program is being offered on the Toledo-area Campus.

In addition, the College is currently the only academic institution in Northwest Ohio to offer the new Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary certificate program.

“Owens Community College’s School of Health Sciences is proud to offer an academic program that will meet the needs of the health care community throughout Northwest Ohio,” said Beth Tronolone, Owens Chair of Dental Hygiene. “The demand for dental professionals with Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary certification is greater than ever before as there is currently a shortage of dentists. Hiring dental assistants or hygienists with this certification allows dentists to maximize their workload.”

Tronolone added, “Completing the new Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary certification affords the dental professional to work under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist in Ohio, which enables them to place fillings and sealants after a dentist prepares the tooth.”

Owens’ certificate in Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary will require 14 credit hours of coursework, which includes language of medicine and dental anatomy for certified dental assistants, as well as several expanded functions dental auxiliary levels of academic curriculum. Additionally, students will learn and practice restorative skills in the College’s Dental Hygiene laboratory on the Toledo-area Campus, as well as at the Dental Center of Northwest Ohio, which is an offsite clinical facility under the direct supervion of licensed dentists.

Upon completion of the program, individuals will be able to apply their knowledge and skills to work in various health care settings such as private practice dental offices, dental clinics, correctional institutions, and federal, state and municipal health departments.

In order to be eligible for the three-semester certificate program, prospective students must be state certified as a dental assistant, hold a current national certified dental assistant credential or be a licensed registered dental hygienist. Upon program completion, students will have the opportunity to sit for the Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary examination administered by the Ohio Commission on Dental Testing and apply to the Ohio State Dental Board for registration as an Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary professional.

For additional information about Owens’ new Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary certificate program, call (567) 661-7374 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext 7374.

Owens Community College Names New Student Government Officers for 2009-10 Academic Year

Posted on July 22nd, 2009

Owens business management major Aurelius (Chris) Taylor (left) of Toledo and pre-nursing major Jessica Platz of Delta received the majority vote for President and Vice President, respectively.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Twenty-eight Owens Community College students were named to new Student Government leadership positions for the 2009-10 academic year. Each individual will serve a one-year term and represent the Owens student body as Student Government officers.

Owens business management major Aurelius (Chris) Taylor of Toledo and pre-nursing major Jessica Platz of Delta received the majority vote for President and Vice President, respectively.

“Owens Community College’s Student Government has made great strides over the last several years, and as this year’s Student Government President, I would like to put a smile on the face of students and offer additional student-focused opportunities,” said Taylor. “One of my goals is to increase student involvement, making Owens an even more active and exciting campus.”

Other individuals elected to the College’s Student Government include Aaron Auzins of Napoleon (Toledo At-Large Representative), accounting; Donney McMullin of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), business management; Megan Finch of Perrysburg (Toledo At-Large Representative), registered nursing; Penny Patterson of Pemberville (Toledo Non-Traditional Representative), associate of arts, general concentration; Lorraine Makay of Toledo (Secretary), psychology; Hesbon Ombongi of Toledo (Treasurer), mathematics; Heather Franks of Findlay (Findlay Non-Traditional Representative), radiography; Katie Zimmerly of Findlay (Findlay At-Large Representative), pre-occupational therapy assistant; Rachel Wismer of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), communication art technology; Richard Bethel of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), business management; Nikyle Fitzgerald of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), pre-business administration; Harpreet Singh of Findlay (Historian), pre-professional engineering; Debra Morales of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), social work; Sarah Burgess of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), accounting; Dina Carrisalez of Holland (Toledo At-Large Representative), communication art technology; LaToya Young of Maumee (Toledo At-Large Representative), pre-physical therapist assistant; Marshall Sirmans of Rossford (Toledo At-Large Representative), criminal justice technology; Alisha Bell of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), pre-culinary arts certificate; Jennifer Brobst of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), automotive technology; Patricia Zeigler of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), psychology; Cindy Klinger of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), business management; Shalisha Russell of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), photography; Anthony Doherty of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), occupational therapy assistant; Barb Brotzki of Maumee (Toledo At-Large Representative), pre-business administration; Nicole Lance of Bowling Green (Toledo At-Large Representative), pre-business administration; and Rita Perkins of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), medical office support.

The purpose of Owens’ Student Government is to represent the student population on both the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses and engage in various social, political, academic and administrative initiatives that are in the best interests of the College’s growing and diverse student body.

In addition, Student Government acts as a liaison between the student body and the College administration, the overall Owens community, governmental representatives and organizations, and other individuals and organizations. The ultimate responsibility of Student Government is to address the needs, problems and concerns of the student body and to carefully listen to their suggestions.

Owens and Community Partners Assist Area Children with School Supply Drive, July 21 – Aug. 18

Posted on July 21st, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College’s Alumni Association in collaboration with Books-A-Million Inc. and three Great Lakes Credit Union branches are once again reaching out to area children in need of school supplies by holding a month-long “Backpack to the Future” School Supply Drive beginning on Tuesday, July 21. Collected items will benefit low-income kindergarten-age school children throughout Northwest Ohio.

The “Backpack to the Future” School Supply Drive will occur at the Books-A-Million bookstore (2105 Levis Commons Blvd.) located in The Town Center at Levis Commons in Perrysburg, as well as at three Great Lakes Credit Union branches (5823 Monroe St.) in Sylvania, (624 W. South Boundary) in Perrysburg and (1890 N. Wilkenson Way) at the O-I Plaza in Perrysburg. The four community locations expand the College’s educational initiative for individuals to drop off their donations. Among the charitable items that will be accepted as part of the school supply drive are gently-used or new backpacks, crayons, markers, bottles of glue, glue sticks, colored pencils, pencils, pink erasers, school boxes, pocket folders, marbled covered composition books and Kleenex tissues.

According to Kaye Koevenig, Owens Alumni Association Community Service Chair, the Northwest Ohio community’s initial response toward the “Backpack to the Future” Supply Drive has been steady.

“Area residents truly recognize the value of education and want to make a difference in the lives of others,” she stated. “With a little less than a month left in the school supply drive and the expanded efforts and support of Books-A-Million and the three Great Lakes Credit Union branches, I expect the donations to easily surpass last year’s totals, which is a great feeling.”

Since establishing the program in 2004, the Owens Alumni Association has given over 1,150 backpacks and over 17,500 school supplies to benefit disadvantaged children throughout Northwest Ohio.

In addition to the new community supply drive locations, area residents can bring their charitable donations to the College’s Office of Alumni Relations on the Toledo-area Campus in Perrysburg Township. For more information about the school supply drive, or to make a donation, contact the Alumni Relations Office at (567) 661-7876, 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7876 or alumni@owens.edu.

Owens Receives $1.9 Million Federal Stimulus Grant to Expand Training Opportunities for Unemployed Workers

Posted on June 30th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – The Lucas County Workforce Development Agency, by the authority of the Lucas County Board of Commissioners, has awarded Owens Community College a $1.9 million federal stimulus grant to provide short-cycle training and job placement opportunities for unemployed and dislocated workers within high growth, high demand occupations that include “green collar,” health care and construction-based industries. The $1.9 million in federal funding is the largest grant or gift ever received in the College’s 44-year history.

The Lucas County Workforce Development Agency designated funding for the grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title I funds and the 2009 National Emergency Grant.

“Owens Community College is proud to once again collaborate with the Lucas County Board of Commissioners and provide area residents with the necessary education and training to give them a competitive edge in today’s global economy,” said Christa Adams, Ph.D., President of Owens Community College.

Dr. Paul Unger, Executive Vice President and Provost of Owens Community College added, “Through our existing successful partnership with the Lucas County Board of Commissioners at The Source in downtown Toledo, Owens Community College has been able to provide over 2,000 area residents with access to a college education. The new short-cycle training and job placement initiative will certainly build upon The Source’s current success and afford even more citizens the opportunity to connect their education and training to employment.”

“At a time of great upheaval in our local manufacturing workforce, these federal dollars give our unemployed and dislocated workers a chance to re-train, re-focus and get back on the job,” said Commissioner Pete Gerken.

“Good-paying green jobs are the key to our future here in Lucas County, and by partnering with Owens Community College, we will give displaced workers the training they need to secure these exciting opportunities,” said Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak.

“This is a model for the type of investment we as a community need to make in our workforce. Education and worker re-training are indeed how we will transition into a 21st Century economy. Our strength is our workforce, and government should ensure that we equip our workers with the tools to prosper,” said Commissioner Ben Konop

As part of the new job training initiative, Owens will provide academic and support services to unemployed, under employed and dislocated workers within several high growth, high demand occupations. Short-cycle “green collar” training programs will include wind power installation, wind technician maintenance, solar water heating installation, solar water heating service, geothermal installation, geothermal service, energy management, hybrid technology, green materials transportation and photovoltaic installation. Health care specific programs for students will include the state nurses assistant program, home health care, pharmacy technician, medical billing and coding, phlebotomy technician, personal trainer and EKG technician.

All educational training will take place within a six-month period or less and feature the latest in innovative technology and academic resources. Upon program completion, participants will receive industry recognized certification. The short-cycle job training programs will occur at Owens’ Learning Center at The Source in downtown Toledo. Owens will also partner with NetWork to provide job readiness, job development and follow-up services as part of the new program. NetWork, a division of the Zepf Center, serves as the current one-stop coordinator of The Source.

Owens Community College, 92.5 KISS-FM, 104.7 WIOT and 103.7 CKY Partner to Provide Free College Education

Posted on June 29th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College and three Clear Channel radio stations are partnering in a contest to award a free college education to four area residents, with two winners receiving the grand prize of two semesters of free Owens tuition.

92.5 KISS-FM, 104.7 WIOT and 103.7 CKY will begin airing promotional announcements for the contest on Monday, July 6.

“Owens Community College is proud to partner with Clear Channel Radio and offer this life-changing opportunity for the Northwest Ohio community,” said Dr. Gary Corrigan, Owens Director of Marketing and Communications. “Thanks to 92.5 KISS-FM, 104.7 WIOT and 103.7 CKY, four students will be able to experience a quality education for free at Owens Community College.”

Individuals can enter the contest by logging onto any of four Web sites – www.owens.edu, www.925kissfm.com,www.wiot.com or www.1037wcky.com – clicking on the “Tuition is Right” and correctly answering three questions. Applicants also can enter by completing a paper entry form available at the Enrollment Services Office on the Owens Toledo-area Campus, Information Desk on the Findlay-area Campus or the Reception Desk at the Owens Learning Center at The Source in downtown Toledo. All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 2.

All qualifying entrants will be eligible to attend the first final on Wednesday, Aug. 5 at 3 p.m. at the Community Education and Wellness Center on the Owens Findlay-area Campus in Findlay. One grand prize of two semesters of free tuition and one runner-up prize of one semester of free tuition will be awarded by random draw.

All qualifying entrants who do not win a tuition prize Aug. 5 are eligible to attend the second final on Thursday, Aug. 6 at 3 p.m. at the Student Health and Activities Center on the Owens Toledo-area Campus in Perrysburg Township. The second grand prize of two semesters of free tuition and final runner-up prize of one semester of free tuition also will be awarded by random draw.

Also at the finals, other valuable prizes – such as free food for a year from SONIC, America’s Drive-In; free rent for a year from Owens Lake Commons; free airfare from Jet America Airlines and more – will be drawn and awarded at random as well.

Andy Stuart, Vice President & Market Manager of Clear Channel Radio Toledo/Findlay, looks forward to a successful promotion on air that “will afford four individuals the opportunity to fulfill their educational dreams at Owens Community College. It is gratifying to encourage residents to strive for a higher education and a better life,” he said.

The contest is open to residents 16 years of age or older. This marks the ninth occasion since 2003 that Owens has partnered with Northwest Ohio media and offered a tuition contest.

Owens Dental Hygiene Program Participates in Nationwide Initiative Dedicated to Eliminating Pediatric Dental Disease

Posted on June 24th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College’s Dental Hygiene Program has been selected as one of only five academic institutions in the country to partner with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) Institute for Oral Health, in conjunction with the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF), and receive grant funding to join the NCOHF Affiliate Network and assist in the organization’s efforts to eliminate pediatric dental disease.

Among the academic institutions participating in the nationwide initiative are Owens, Lewis and Clark Community College, The University of Missouri Kansas City, Central Community College and The University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

Owens along with the four other academic institutions will play a significant role in the continuing efforts of ADHA and NCOHF America’s Toothfairy Campaign to eliminate pediatric dental disease, which affects millions of children throughout the United States.

Funding for the ADHA Institute/NCOHF Affiliate Network Grants is provided through a generous donation of $17,500 by the ADHA Institute for Oral Health. The funding will help provide educational curriculum materials and valuable tools to ensure that student dental hygienists are properly equipped to address the community needs.

“Owens Community College’s Dental Hygiene Program is honored to participate in such a worthwhile endeavor, which promotes the importance of dental hygiene care for children through educational outreach and health care resources,” said Beth Tronolone, Owens Chair of Dental Hygiene. “Preventative dental care such as flossing, brushing and regular dental visits is extremely important for children and can play a critical role in their health and well-being. Owens’ Dental Hygiene Program is proud to partner with the fellow participating schools and help in the fight to eliminate pediatric dental disease.”

The ADHA Institute for Oral Health Board of Directors has recently established the ADHA Institute/NCOHF Affiliate Network Grant program, which will provide future opportunities for additional dental hygiene programs to join in the effort to eliminate pediatric dental disease.

“ADHA’s Institute for Oral Health is proud to award these grants to five schools which have shown meaningful dedication to eliminating pediatric dental disease,” said Jean Connor, RDH, ADHA Immediate Past-President, and Chair for the Institute for Oral Health. “We hope to continue to add more dental hygiene programs to the NCOHF Affiliate Network in the coming years to have a greater impact on the oral health of the children in our communities.”

NCOHF President and CEO Fern Ingber agreed. “We are delighted that these schools have been awarded ADHA Institute/NCOHF Grants and are becoming NCOHF Affiliates,” she said. “The students in these programs are already making a difference in their communities, and will be leaders in this child-saving work for years to come.”

The College’s Dental Hygiene Program provides more than 40 students with a fully accredited, scientifically current and competency-based curriculum annually. Students receive classroom instruction as well as hands-on experience in Owens’ Dental Hygiene Clinic, while preparing to sit for the national, state or regional exam in dental hygiene. Owens Dental Hygiene program graduates currently serve as registered dental hygienists in private dental offices, hospitals and dental clinics throughout the region.

Earlier this year, Owens’ Dental Hygiene Program students were provided with the opportunity to expand their experiential learning off campus and provide oral health services to underserved children throughout the region as a result of a new partnership with the Dental Center of Northwest Ohio. The new collaboration enables second-year Dental Hygiene program students to conduct oral prophylaxis (dental cleanings), topical fluoride treatments, dental sealants and X-rays for area children as part of their clinical dental hygiene experience.

The National Children’s Oral Health Foundation was established with the sole purpose of eliminating the number one chronic children illness – pediatric dental disease. Fortunately, dentistry has the cure. With this in mind, NCOHF is dedicated to raising awareness of this debilitating disease, facilitating much-needed comprehensive pediatric oral health services and eliminating it from future generations.

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association is the largest national organization representing the professional interests of the more than 150,000 dental hygienists across the country. Dental hygienists are preventative oral health professionals, licensed in dental hygiene, who provide educational, clinical and therapeutic services that support total health through the promotion of optimal oral health.

Record 8,576 Students Choose Owens to Pursue Educational and Career Aspirations During Summer Months

Posted on June 16th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College continues to provide Northwest Ohio residents excellence in higher education with a record-breaking 8,576 students choosing to attend the academic institution for Summer Semester classes. The 8,576 students enrolled at Owens during the summer term surpasses the record of 7,533 set during Summer Semester 2004.

Since becoming a comprehensive community college in 1994, Owens has more than doubled its Summer Semester student enrollment by an astounding 237.9 percent. The College enrolled 2,538 students for Summer Semester classes 15 years ago.

“Owens Community College is committed to ensuring that every student is provided with the necessary resources to succeed and achieve their educational goals,” said Dr. Bill Ivoska, Owens Vice President of Student Services. “The foundation for this institution’s academic excellence is a result of our employees and their unwavering dedication to making each student’s academic and career aspirations a reality. Their desire in wanting to make a difference is why our academic institution is a leader in higher education and our graduates have made a lasting impact on the Northwest Ohio region.”

The combined Summer Semester enrollment of 8,576 students on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses surpasses the enrollment of 7,183 students during Summer Semester 2008. Owens’ Toledo-area Campus has 6,957 students attending classes, while on the Findlay-area Campus 1,619 students are enrolled. On both campuses, Summer Semester enrollment increased 19.3 percent from last summer.

According to Ivoska, one of the many reasons for the College’s enrollment growth results from native four-year college students enrolling at Owens to take advantage of the course credit transferability during the summer months.

“Owens has made a fundamental point to meet the needs of our students through the continued advancement of academic resources, including the accessibility and transferability of course offerings,” Ivoska stated. “Transient enrollment shows that students from other colleges and universities recognize the great value of an Owens education.”

For Kevin Cole of Alvada, a senior pursuing his bachelor’s degree in finance from Bowling Green State University, the opportunity to take an Owens Summer Semester course will allow him to fulfill his undergraduate requirements and graduate at the conclusion of the upcoming Fall Semester.

“The ease of transferring credits from Owens to Bowling Green is great,” said Cole, who currently is enrolled in a modern business math class through the College’s eOwens program. “I currently have a full-time summer job for a government contracting firm in Washington D.C. and needed the flexibility that an online class offers. The eOwens program allowed me to continue my college education during the summer months.”

Cole, who is a graduate of Vanlue High School, added that he “would highly recommend Owens to other four-year college students because of its transferability of credits, affordability and outstanding staff. The Owens staff made my registration process very easy.”

After graduating from Bowling Green in December 2009, Cole plans to pursue a career within business around the Washington D.C. area.

According to Ivoska, Owens is committed to expanding its many educational opportunities for students through the continued advancement of innovative programs, courses, teaching methods and academic resources.

During the current academic year, Owens introduced new Honors Program partnerships with The University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University, enabling students to pursue academic success at the highest level from both institutions. Additionally, Owens students are now afforded the opportunity to obtain a bachelor’s degree by completing three years of higher education on the College’s Owens Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses followed by one year of academic courses through distance learning as part of a new partnership with Ohio University.

The College also is continuing to expand its extremely popular eOwens distance learning education by continuously introducing new academic courses online. For Summer Semester 3,871 students are pursuing e-Learning courses – up from 3,238 last summer (19.5 percent increase).

In addition to the many e-Learning opportunities, Owens continues to increase its academic and support services by making available an array of higher education choices for high school students through innovative partnerships with post secondary schools, through the Weekend College and at The Source, Lucas County’s One-Stop Employment Center, in downtown Toledo. The College’s enrollment at The Source has increased by 248 students with 412 area residents pursuing higher education in downtown Toledo during the current Summer Semester compared to 164 last summer term (151.2 percent increase).

The College’s ethnicity/race student enrollment also continues to increase. For Summer Semester, 1,307 African-American students are pursuing an Owens education compared to 890 last year (46.8 percent increase). Additionally, Hispanic enrollment has a recorded a 21.4 percent increase with 368 students attending classes compared to 303 during summer term 2008.

Eighty-seven graduates from Woodward High School and Findlay High School are receiving a free college education to Owens during the current academic year as part of the College Foundation’s new Success Program, which is designed to make college affordable for high school graduates with financial need. Recently, Owens’ Foundation expanded the Success Program to include all high schools in Toledo Public Schools’ district, as well as Washington Local Schools. Currently, over 60 graduates from Toledo Public Schools, Washington Local Schools and Findlay City Schools are participating in Owens’ recently expanded Summer Bridge to Success Program, which is designed to help first-year students who are underrepresented successfully transition from high school to college.

To accommodate the record number of students, the College, within the last six years, also opened an $11 million Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the Toledo-area Campus. In 2007, Owens unveiled a new $20.5 million Center for Emergency Preparedness. The Center is the only state-of-the-art facility of this magnitude within the Midwest.

In the coming year, Owens will broaden access to higher education opportunities for police, fire and emergency services personnel, as well as the military, by opening a new $3.2 million Emergency Preparedness Operations Building at the Center for Emergency Preparedness. The College is also beginning the renovation process at the former Penta Career Center, which is adjacent to the Owens Toledo-area Campus.

Over 1,200 Worn-Out Sneakers Given New Life Through Owens and Nike Environmental Program Partnership

Posted on June 16th, 2009

Over 1,200 worn-out sneakers were given new life through the Owens and Nike environmental program partnership.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College’s Environmental Club is raising environmental awareness by bringing new life to worn-out athletic shoes previously destined for overcrowded landfills. As a result of the student group’s recent collection drive efforts, over 1,200 donated sneakers will soon find their way to the Nike Recycling Center in Wilsonville, Ore., where they will be ground up and eventually transformed into an array of new sport surfaces such as basketball courts, tennis courts, athletic fields, running tracks and playgrounds.

In two years, Owens has collected over 2,200 sneakers as part of the shoe donation drive.

The College’s Environmental Club recently sorted through the various donated worn-out athletic shoes and prepared them for shipment to the Nike Recycling Center. Once at the recycling complex, the shoes will be separated into one of three Nike Grind materials, which include rubber from the outsole, foam from the midsole and fabric from the upper. The Nike Grind is then incorporated into playground and sport surfaces as part of partnerships with industry-leading surfacing companies.

“It is important that we find ways to help preserve our environment for future generations to enjoy,” said Molly Jordan of Sylvania, Owens associate of arts general concentration major and Bowling Green State University environmental policy and analysis major. “These athletic shoes will be given new life as sport surfaces instead of ending up in the bottom of a landfill. I encourage people to help preserve the environment by participating in recycling programs.”

In addition to the 1,200 shoes donated to Nike, 132 pairs of shoes were viewed as usable and in good condition. As a result, the Environmental Club has chosen to give new life to the sneakers and recently donated them to the Cherry Street Mission in Toledo.

Several Owens Environmental Club students including Molly Jordan of Sylvania assisted in the College’s “Reuse-A-Shoe” program.

Owens’ environmental sneaker collection drive initiative on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses was part of a collaborative effort with Nike and their “Reuse-A-Shoe” program, which has recycled over 22 million pairs of athletic shoes and created more than 250 sport surfaces around the globe. In 2008, more than 1,000 shoes were donated to the student organization’s initial collection drive efforts.

Owens student Rachel Wismer of Toledo helps sort through the donated sneakers.

Owens Workforce and Community Services Unveils New Solar Hot Water Technical Training Program, June 17-19

Posted on June 16th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College is partnering with Green Energy Ohio to expand growth in the state’s clean energy sector as the academic institution’s Workforce and Community Services unveils the region’s only Solar Hot Water Technical Training Program. Owens is one of four technical and community colleges across Ohio collaborating with Green Energy Ohio with the overall focus of building the local capacity of a trained labor force in the solar thermal industry.

Fifteen area residents with backgrounds as plumbers, pipe fitters, engineers, facility managers, contractors, HVAC specialists and code inspectors will participate in the initial three-day program with the goal of expanding their knowledge about solar water heating and providing this installation option to homeowners and businesses with an interest in renewable energy. Other Ohio academic institutions partnering with Green Energy Ohio and offering the new program to individuals include Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Cuyahoga Community College and Hocking College. The new statewide solar thermal training programs are supported by The Ohio Department of Development – Ohio Energy College.

“Owens Community College’s Workforce and Community Services is continuously responding to the needs of the surrounding communities through curricular innovations,” said Dr. Michael Bankey, Owens Vice President of Workforce and Community Services. “Green technology is the wave of the future and more and more individuals are choosing renewable energy sources for conventional purposes and practices, such solar water heating. The College’s new Solar Hot Water Technical Training Program is designed to raise awareness of alternative and renewable energy and provide individuals with enhanced knowledge about the many benefits of ‘green living’ both from a energy conservation and efficiency standpoint.”

Owens’ new training program will occur this coming Wednesday-Friday, June 17-19 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the College’s Workforce and Community Services building on Tracy Road in Northwood. In addition to the June class, the program will be offered to area residents in the coming summer months.

Individuals attending the Solar Hot Water Technical Training Program will receive instruction specific to designing and installing a solar thermal system for commercial and residential buildings. Course content includes solar resource fundamentals, solar thermal applications, system components, codes and standards, troubleshooting, maintenance, and federal/state grants and incentives. Installation techniques of various equipment designs, as well as solar site selection, collector mounting, system piping, and system check-out and start-up procedures will also be highlighted.

In addition, the hands-on course will include the design and initial installation of a closed-loop glycol system that will be used to assist with the hot water needs of College’s Industrial and Engineering Technologies Building. Once operational, Owens will serve as the first academic institution in the area to convert solar power into hot water for regular operational purposes.

Owens’ Workforce and Community Services is dedicated to providing customer-driven workforce development, job training and continuing education for business, industry and area residents throughout Northwest Ohio. Workforce and Community Services’ learning-centered approach focuses on developing and enhancing professional skills to meet the needs of the community, customizing academic curriculum in the areas of professional development, computer and software applications, health and fitness, artful living, personal development, real estate, children’s programming, and apprenticeship-related training and skilled trades.

Green Energy Ohio is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting environmentally and economically sustainable energy policies and practices in Ohio. The organization is the Ohio Chapter of the American Solar Energy Society.

For more information about the new program, call (567) 661 7357 or 1 800 GO OWENS, Ext. 7357.

Owens Community College Receives Grant to Expand Summer Bridge to Success Program

Posted on June 11th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College has been selected by The Stranahan Foundation to receive a $37,500 grant for the purpose of expanding its Summer Bridge to Success Program to all 2009 graduates of Toledo Public Schools and Washington Local Schools in financial need. The College’s Summer Bridge to Success Program is designed to help first-year students, who are underrepresented, successfully transition from high school to college.

Last year, 26 Woodward High School graduates were afforded the opportunity to experience a taste of college life prior to beginning their initial Fall Semester as part of Owens’ pilot Summer Bridge to Success Program. Additionally, the 26 students were all members of the College Foundation’s new Success Program, which afforded all Woodward graduating students in financial need the opportunity to pursue a free college education at Owens.

“Owens Community College is extremely appreciative to The Stranahan Foundation for their support of the Summer Bridge to Success Program,” said Tamara Williams, Owens Associate Vice Provost of Academic Services. “The Stranahan Foundation grant allows Owens to expand the Summer Bridge to Success Program, affording even more students the opportunity to make a smooth transition from high school to college.”

Williams added, “The Summer Bridge to Success Program builds upon the Foundation’s Success Program and its goal of eliminating financial barriers for individuals to pursue their educational and career aspirations. Our mission with this program is to assist Success Program students, who may never aspire to attend college, succeed by introducing them to college life and the many educational resources that Owens offers. Last year’s pilot program was a huge success and we look forward to welcoming even more graduating students from Toledo Public Schools and Washington Local Schools.”

Owens’ seven-week comprehensive summer program features an array of academic initiatives, including academic preparation, exposure to campus life, mentoring, coaching and embracing the expectations of college-level studies. Additionally, Summer Bridge to Success Program participants have the opportunity to participate in several academic workshops designed to promote enhanced learning and develop necessary study and life skills for college success. Students also learn and obtain an in-depth understanding of the language, culture and resources of Owens through participation in the College’s First Year Experience “Foundations for College” class and in mathematics seminars and workshops.

In addition, each attendee is provided with a faculty or staff mentor, as well as a student success mentor during the seven-week academic program. Students receive free academic textbooks and public transportation to and from Owens’ Toledo-area Campus. Upon the program’s completion, each student will also receive a miniature laptop computer, which will be used for interactive, experiential learning activities during their academic career at Owens.

Sixty students are expected to participate in Owens’ Summer Bridge to Success Program, which begins on Monday, June 15 with an orientation for the participating students and their parents in the College’s Fire Science and Law Enforcement Center Room 145. The orientation will begin with opening remarks and a keynote address from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Attendees will also receive a Summer Bridge to Success Program overview, as well as hear from Owens representatives, students and Student Success mentors from 11:15 a.m. – 2 p.m.

In 2008, Owens’ Foundation announced the creation of the new Success Program, which bridges the gap between the grant aid a student receives and the cost of an Owens education. To date, 15 high schools are now partners in the Owens Success Program.

This past May, Owens announced a new partnership with Washington Local Schools that affords all graduating Whitmer High School students in financial need the opportunity to pursue a free education through the academic institution’s Success Program initiative. In October 2008, Owens expanded its Success Program partnership to include all high schools within the Toledo Public Schools district. Prior to the October announcement, both Toledo Public Schools’ Woodward High School and Findlay City Schools became the first and second educational institutions to partner with the College’s Foundation and extend this opportunity to its students. This past academic year, 87 Woodward and Findlay high school students chose to continue their education at Owens through the Success Program.

In order to be eligible, students must graduate from high school, be enrolled in 12 or more credit hours each semester at Owens and complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid and receive some Pell grant funding. Recipients must enroll at Owens during the first Fall Semester or Spring Semester following graduation and will have three years to complete their associate’s degree through the Success Program initiative.

In addition to the Summer Bridge to Success Program on the Toledo-area Campus, Owens is extending the same academic program to Findlay City Schools’ graduates on the Findlay-area Campus during the current summer term.

Owens Community College Reschedules David Cook Concert, Aug. 9

Posted on June 1st, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – The David Cook concert, originally scheduled for May 6, will occur on Sunday, Aug. 9 at Owens Community College. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the College’s Student Health and Activities Center.

Tickets previously issued are valid for the new date. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

For more information, contact the College’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts Box Office at (567) 661-2787 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2787.

Owens Community College Provides Whitmer High School Students Access to Higher Education Through New Success Program Partnership

Posted on May 28th, 2009

Owens Community College President Christa Adams and Washington Local School District Superintendent Patrick Hickey pose for a photo following the announcement of the new Success Program at Whitmer High School.

Owens Community College and the Washington Local School District are entering into a new partnership that will afford all graduating Whitmer High School students in financial need the opportunity to pursue a free college education through the academic institution’s Success Program initiative.

The expansion of the Success Program to Washington Local School District is being made possible as a result of a generous donation made to the Owens Community College Foundation by Owens Community College President Christa Adams.

The 2009 Whitmer High School graduating class will serve as initial recipients of this unique program, which is designed to assist students who receive only partial state and federal financial aid, to attend college. The Success Program will bridge the gap between the federal grant aid a student receives and the cost of an Owens education.

Fifteen high schools are now partners in the Owens Success Program. In October 2008, Owens expanded its Success Program partnership to include all high schools within the Toledo Public Schools district. Prior to the October announcement, both Toledo Public Schools’ Woodward High School and Findlay City Schools became the first and second educational institutions to partner with the College’s Foundation and extend this opportunity to its students. This past academic year, 87 Woodward and Findlay high school students chose to continue their education at Owens through the Success Program.

“Every student should have the opportunity to pursue a college education and realize their goals and ambitions,” said Christa Adams, Ph.D., President of Owens Community College. “The Success Program was established to eliminate financial barriers and provide greater access to higher education. I am proud to assist the Owens Community College Foundation and Owens Community College and further our mission of educating and developing Northwest Ohio’s future leaders and societal contributors.”

“I want to thank Owens Community College for their generosity,” Washington Local School District Superintendent Patrick Hickey said. “This is an incredible opportunity for the students and families in our district. The Success Program will remove financial obstacles for students who previously could not afford to pursue higher education. Whitmer High School is already the number one feeder school to Owens, and we expect more graduates to make Owens their choice with this new program in place. Our district has been rated Excellent by the Ohio Department of Education. The free quality education that students enjoy in the Washington Local School District will now be expanded to a free college education when they choose to attend Owens. This is especially good news during these uncertain economic times.”

In order to be eligible, Washington Local School District students must graduate from high school, be enrolled in 12 or more credit hours each semester at Owens and complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid and receive some federal/state grant funding. Recipients must enroll at Owens during the first Fall Semester or Spring Semester following graduation and will have three years to complete their associate’s degree through the Success Program initiative.

The Owens Foundation was incorporated in April 2002 and has over $1.9 million in assets. The Foundation Board of Directors currently is comprised of 25 community leaders from Lucas, Wood and Hancock counties. The mission of the Owens Foundation and its Board of Directors is developing and providing resources to advance the College’s overall mission of serving students and the surrounding communities. The Foundation is also dedicated to removing barriers to education by providing student scholarships and supporting growth and innovation at Owens.

The 2009 Whitmer High School graduating class will serve as initial recipients of Owens’ Success Program.

The Washington Local School District is comprised of Whitmer High School and its Career and Technology Center, two junior highs and nine elementary schools, and serves approximately 6,600 students. Whitmer offers more than 200 courses (including honors and AP classes), 14 career training programs, 21 varsity sports and 50 extracurricular activities. The Ohio Department of Education awarded Washington Local an academic rating of “Excellent” on its 2007-08 report card. For more information, visit www.washloc.k12.oh.us.

Owens Community College Recognizes Employees For Excellence in Higher Education

Posted on May 12th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Five Owens Community College employees have been chosen by their peers to receive the seventh annual Exemplary Employee Awards for outstanding dedication and service to higher education.

Recipients for the 2008-09 academic year are:

Andrew Timothy of Sylvania, Instructor of Business Technology (Faculty Teaching Excellence Award)
Elisa Huss-Hage of Sylvania, Associate Professor of Teacher Education (Faculty Teaching Excellence Award)
Hope Hutchison of Rossford, Secretary of the Nursing/Surgical Department (Exemplary Staff Award)
Dr. Renay Scott of Sylvania, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences (Exemplary Administrator Award)
Brent Wickham of Findlay, Chair of Information Systems on the Findlay-area Campus (Exemplary Administrator Award)

“Owens Community College employees are dedicated to helping students achieve success and obtain their career aspirations by providing a superior educational experience,” said Dr. Cynthia Eschenburg, Owens Vice President of Human Resources. “These five recipients are truly exemplary employees. Their vision, leadership and commitment are unparalleled and vital in helping Owens fulfill its mission of strengthening the surrounding communities by providing excellence in higher education. Renay, Hope, Andrew, Brent and Elisa are each very deserving of this honor.”

The Exemplary Employee Awards program was established in 2003 to honor employees who make significant contributions to enhance the College’s mission of providing quality service and education. Recipients are nominated and selected by their fellow Owens employees.

Owens’ Faculty Teaching Excellence Award recipients are chosen based upon criteria, which includes academic curriculum development, demonstrating outstanding ability to communicate effectively with students and innovation within the classroom setting. Award winners must display a commitment to Owens and the community through involvement in service activities.

Selection criteria for the Exemplary Staff and Administrator awards are based upon an employee’s innovative approaches toward helping customer satisfaction and productivity. The recipients must exude a positive attitude and strong work ethic while performing daily job activities. In addition, the recipients must exhibit qualities associated with teamwork and promote collaboration, communication, and cooperation among co-workers and staff.

Medical Assisting Associate Degree Program Earns Prestigious National Accreditation

Posted on May 11th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – The Owens Community College Medical Assisting associate degree program on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses has earned the distinction of receiving initial programmatic accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) as a result of its commitment to excellence, accountability and the highest accreditation standards.

Owens’ program earned three-year initial accreditation by the CAAHEP and the recent peer review was conducted by the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB) of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and the Commissions Board of Directors. Among the areas reviewed by accreditation representatives were sponsorship, program goals, resources, student and graduate evaluation/assessment, and fair practices.

“Owens Community College is honored to receive initial programmatic accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs,” said Diane Morlock, Owens Instructor of the Medical Assisting Program. “This accreditation recognizes and demonstrates our commitment to providing an excellent academic program that benefits both our students and the health care community.”

The Medical Assisting associate degree program was established in 2006 with the overall mission of providing students with the necessary training to become multi-skilled personnel who are capable of performing administrative and clinical procedures in the ambulatory health setting. Owens’ program, which is offered through the School of Health Sciences, requires 70 hours of coursework within areas such as anatomy and physiology, language of medicine, administrative and clinical courses in medical assisting, legal concepts of healthcare, and coding and reimbursement, among others. Upon completion of the program, individuals are able to sit for the national certification exam offered by the AAMA and apply their knowledge and skills to work in ambulatory health care settings that include physician offices, clinics and group practices.

CAAHEP is recognized as the largest programmatic accrediting organization in the health sciences field. In collaboration with its Committees on Accreditation, CAAHEP, which is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, reviews and accredits over 2,000 educational programs in 20 health science occupations.

Owens Names New Learning Center at The Source Director

Posted on May 6th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College has named Willie Williams the new Director of the Learning Center at The Source. His responsibilities will include overseeing all aspects related to the administrative leadership, coordination and development of initiatives related to enhancing educational opportunities and resources for current and future students enrolled at the Learning Center at The Source.

In addition, Williams will serve as a liaison between various College departments and faculty and staff and assist them in the coordination of academic and student services. His position will also entail the creation and implementation of strategies to enhance enrollment and retention efforts at the Learning Center, as well as serve as an Owens ambassador to various community agencies and organizations and their respective outreach programs.

“Owens Community College is honored to have Willie Williams serving as the new Director of the Learning Center at The Source,” said Dr. Bill Ivoska, Owens Vice President of Student Services. “The Learning Center at The Source has played an integral role in meeting the education and training needs of Northwest Ohio’s citizens and preparing them for career opportunities within today’s competitive workforce. I am confident that Willie will continue the College’s longstanding tradition and commitment to providing innovative learning opportunities and resources for our students.”

Since January 2006, Williams has served as the Unit Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo. While at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo, Williams was responsible for the overall development and implementation of club programs. His responsibilities also included providing leadership and supervision for staff and volunteers, as well as creating partnerships with area colleges and universities. Additionally, Williams played an integral role in creating and implementing social activities for disadvantaged youth. He also was employed with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo from 1998-2003.

His professional and community involvement includes serving as an elementary school mentor with Lincoln Academy for Boys and a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio and the National Summer Youth Program. Williams also holds board-level membership with the Downtown Toledo Improvement District.

The Toledo resident holds an associate’s degree in general studies from the University of Findlay and bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from The University of Toledo.

Owens Community College Welcomes New Board of Trustee Member

Posted on May 6th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has appointed William Takacs of Toledo to the Owens Community College Board of Trustees. Takacs will serve a six-year term on the College’s Board of Trustees ending in 2015.

“Owens Community College has an outstanding group of Board of Trustees who value the importance of providing access to a quality college education,” said Christa Adams, Ph.D., President of Owens Community College. “William Takacs is passionate about improving the lives of the people in our communities, and he brings an accomplished background in law and community service to the Board of Trustees. It is my pleasure to welcome Mr. Takacs to Owens Community College and we look forward to his dedication and leadership in furthering our academic institution’s mission and vision.”

Takacs currently serves as President and Managing Partner for the law firm Gallon, Takacs, Boissoneault & Schaffer Co. L.P.A. He also practices full-time in the firm’s Workers Compensation section, interviewing and meeting with clients, supervising legal assistants in their work and negotiating claims. Takacs began his 30-year legal career as a Hearing Officer for the Industrial Commission of Ohio and previously served as Managing Partner for the law firm Gallon and Takacs from 1991-2005.

In addition to his activities on behalf of the firm, Takacs is active in the local community devoting his time and energy to such worthwhile causes as Compass Corporation for Recovery Services (COMPASS), Equality Toledo and the Toledo Area Humane Society.

Takacs is a member of the Ohio, Michigan and American Bar Associations. He received his law degree from the University of Toledo and a bachelor’s degree in economics, political science and history from Kent State University.

The College’s Board of Trustees is comprised of nine community leaders from Lucas, Wood, Hancock and Sandusky counties who are appointed by the Governor of Ohio for six-year terms.

In addition to Takacs, Owens Board of Trustees members include John G. Ault of Perrysburg, David Habegger of Oregon, Allan J. Libbe of Perrysburg, Dr. Ronald A. McMaster of Perrysburg, R J Molter of Woodville, John C. Moore of Holland, H. Richard Rowe of Findlay and Dee Talmage of Toledo.

41 Students to Graduate From Owens Basic Peace Officer Training Academies, May 12

Posted on May 4th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Forty-one students from the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses will be recognized as Ohio Basic Peace Officer Training Academy graduates at Owens Community College on Tuesday, May 12.

The special ceremonies will occur at 7 p.m. in the College’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts Mainstage Theatre on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. The College’s Basic Peace Officer Training Academy graduation is open to the public.

“Owens Community College is proud to continue its collaboration with the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission and provide educational training for thousands of future law enforcement officials,” said Robert Albright, Owens Coordinator of Public Service Training Program. “Our nation would not experience freedom and safety as we know it without each graduate’s decision to pursue a career in public service.”

Founded in 1970, the Basic Peace Officer Training Academy is offered on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses in cooperation with the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission. As part of the seven-month program, Owens police academy students take courses in patrol operations, firearms, defensive tactics and criminal investigation using modern, high-tech police equipment. Participants receive expert instruction from local police officers, sheriff’s deputies and corrections officers, as well as state and federal agents.

Following successful completion of the College’s Basic Peace Officer Training Academy, Owens graduates become eligible for certification as an Ohio peace officer. In addition, coursework earned by police academy graduates will apply toward an associate degree at Owens in law enforcement.

Local law enforcement agencies where Owens graduates have been employed include the Findlay Police Department, Fostoria Police Department, Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, Henry County Sheriff’s Department, Lucas County Sheriff’s Department, Maumee Police Department, Northwood Police Department, Perrysburg City Police Department, Perrysburg Township Police Department, Sylvania City Police Department, Sylvania Township Police Department, Toledo Police Department and the Wood County Sheriff’s Department.

The following students have completed the required number of law enforcement contact hours set forth by the Ohio Revised Code and the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission.

Toledo-area Campus Basic Peace Officer Day Academy:
Chad J. Ballachino of Toledo (sponsored by the Pemberville Police Department)
Luke T. Gackstetter of Woodville (sponsored by the Woodville Police Department)
Brett C. Hannum of Toledo (sponsored by the Wood County Sheriff’s Office)
Kurt K. Hennessy of Toledo (sponsored by the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office)
Ellsworth W. Hickerson of Port Clinton
Nicholas E. Mango of Bowling Green
Matthew J. Pugh of Toledo
Josh S. Rammel of Bowling Green
Christopher M. Rutledge of Toledo
Lucas A. Smigieski of Toledo
Casey S. Underwood of Wauseon
Nicholas J. Zingale of Avon Lake

Toledo-area Campus Basic Peace Officer Night Academy:
Jeffrey G. Andrews of Swanton
Dianna Birr of Delta
Gregory D. Branson of Waterville
Justin C. Brown of Wauseon
Zachary A. Cameron of Toledo
Daryl T. Couch of Perrysburg
John A. Growden of Perrysburg
Andrew G. King of Maumee
Melissa S. McNally of Temperance, Mich.
Ryan M. Stone of Swanton

Findlay-area Campus Basic Peace Officer Academy:
Justin M. Bell of Mount Cory
Brandon D. Flick of Findlay
Ryan D. Hackworth of Vanlue
Benjamin L. Hopps of Continental
Michael A. Krutsinger of Findlay
Steven A. Lowery of Findlay
Matthew J. Mears of Tiffin
Michael L. Morado of Arlington
Nathan C. Murphy of Weston
Raymond A. Noon of Carey
Justin L. Nowak of Carey
Shaun J. Patrick of Kenton
Edgar V. Pulido of Findlay
Shawn T. Taylor of Carey (sponsored by the Carey Police Department)
Brett E. Thames of Forest
Scott E. Theis of Findlay
Brett A. Thomas of Fostoria
Gregory J. Thrasher of Risingsun
Lucas T. Welly of Tiffin

Owens Community College Alumni Association Honors Local Safety Forces and Citizens With Outstanding Service Awards

Posted on April 24th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Five area police, fire and emergency medical professionals, as well as two private citizens, have been chosen to receive the sixth annual Outstanding Service Awards by Owens Community College’s Alumni Association for tremendous contributions to Northwest Ohio’s surrounding communities. The recipients are honored as part of a community celebration.

Award winners are William Laveglia, Phillip Segur, David St. Johns, Kyle Fulmer, Laurie Renz, Donald Miller and Judy Miller.

“Owens Community College’s Alumni Association is proud to honor our brave police, fire and emergency medical professionals, as well as private citizens, for their dedication to making our lives safer,” said David Seeger, Owens President of the Alumni Association. “Our nation would not experience freedom and safety as we know it without their selfless acts of public service.”

The awards are presented within the categories of outstanding Police Officer, Firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician, Service to Community and Community Spirit. Selection criterion is based upon a nomination process for candidates demonstrating exceptional service related to dedication, ingenuity, bravery, special skills and/or community service over a sustained period of time. The awards are not limited to a single recipient and can be a group honor where teamwork was a key element.

The recipient of the Outstanding Police Officer Award is William Laveglia of Arcadia (Deputy, Hancock County Sheriff’s Office). Laveglia was nominated by Arcadia Mayor Brian Fink for his outstanding service in a difficult situation involving a suspect attempting to rob a Findlay Wal-Mart with a firearm in December 2008.

Unbeknownst to the suspect, Laveglia was attending to his duties, serving papers in the Findlay Wal-Mart at that time. Armed with many years of experience and with his other tools of the trade, Laveglia called for backup, pursued the suspect to his car and apprehended him in the vehicle while it was still in the store’s parking lot. No shots were fired and money and a firearm were recovered from the vehicle.

Phillip Segur of Toledo (Firefighter, Toledo Fire and Rescue Department) is named the Outstanding Firefighter Award recipient. He was nominated by Lieutenant Leonard Baker from the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department for exhibiting professional behavior and bravery in saving a life while his own was at risk in March 2008.

On an evening in early March 2008, Engine 6 Company responded to a regular alarm fire on Clark Street in Toledo where there was a report of someone trapped inside the burning building. Segur, a 12-year veteran of Toledo Fire and Rescue, entered the building and located the trapped individual who was unconscious. While lifting and dragging him to safety, Segur’s facepiece was knocked off and he inhaled smoke prior to re-donning his facepiece. This did not stop Segur from focusing on his rescue mission, and he successfully transported the person to safety. Both Segur and the victim were transported to the hospital by emergency medical services personnel and made a full recovery.

The Outstanding Emergency Medical Technician Award honor is presented to David St. Johns of Rossford (EMS Captain, Rossford Fire Department). St. Johns was nominated by Fire Chief James Verbosky from the Rossford Fire Department for his unselfish dedication to the department and the community.

In addition to serving as an EMS Captain for the Rossford Fire Department, which is a partially-paid department and personnel only respond in the event of an emergency, St. Johns works full-time as a paramedic for an area hospital emergency room and is furthering his education through nursing school. St. Johns’ dedication and commitment to the Rossford Fire Department is evident through his administrative role in overseeing personnel training for the department and the organization’s quality assurance program. In 2008, he responded to 57 percent of the year’s EMS runs, which was the highest percentage of any individual with the department, as well as 45 percent of the yearly fire runs, which was the second highest total for the first responder organization.

Kyle Fulmer of Toledo (Agent, FBI Toledo Metro Drug Task Force) and Laurie Renz of Toledo (Detective, Toledo Police Department Toledo Metro Drug Task Force) are the recipients of the Outstanding Service to the Community Award. The two individuals were nominated by Sergeant Robert Marzec from the Toledo Police Department for their tireless efforts in bringing to justice numerous individuals involved in an expansive Drug Trafficking Organization within the Northwest Ohio region and beyond.

In October 2006, the Toledo Metro Drug Task Force identified an entrenched Drug Trafficking Organization linked to Toledo and the surrounding metropolitan area. The organization was responsible for trafficking more than $1 million worth of cocaine, marijuana and black tar heroin on a monthly basis and was violent in nature, with members having prior criminal charges for murder, felonious assault and bribery.

Renz and Fulmer initiated the federal investigation, gathering intelligence that revealed the group’s activities in Toledo dating back to 2004. Through their exhaustive investigation and surveillance efforts, the investigation expanded into at least seven other states across the country. Both Renz and Fulmer painstakingly documented and maintained all information gathered in order to provide federal prosecutors with the necessary elements to issue criminal complaints, indict and convict those involved with the Drug Trafficking Organization.

In August 2008, their dedication and perseverance resulted in the arrest of 23 priority targets, with 37 indictments. Those awaiting the judicial process are facing possible mandatory prison terms ranging from 10 years to life sentences.

Donald Miller of Fostoria (private citizen) and Judy Miller of Fostoria (private citizen) are named the Community Spirit Award recipients. They were nominated by Hancock County Sheriff Michael Heldman, Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn and Seneca County Sheriff Thomas Steyer for their tireless advocacy efforts and substantial financial support to enhance and ensure the safety of community residents in and around Fostoria.

After witnessing an increasing amount of drug activity in Fostoria, lifelong residents Donald and Judy Miller decided it was time for citizens to get involved in helping law enforcement in their efforts to fight drug activity and other criminal offenses within the city.

Due to their advocacy, community members within Hancock, Wood and Seneca counties and Fostoria convened a meeting to discuss the rising crime problem, which resulted in the establishment of a Tri-County Fostoria Zero Tolerance Task Force in April 2006. The new task force, comprised of three deputy sheriffs from Hancock, Wood and Lucas counties, was created to provide a visible presence in Fostoria. Initiative objectives included removing drug dealers from Fostoria street corners, conducting traffic stops in an attempt to interrupt the transportation and delivery of illegal drugs, weapons and other illegal activity, and educating the community on what to look for and how to report crime. As of December 2008, the Tri-County Fostoria Zero Tolerance Task Force has conducted more than 2,000 traffic stops, issued 574 traffic citations and made 260 criminal arrests, of which 157 were felonies.

Since opening its doors in 1965, Owens Community College has provided higher education to more than 250,000 students. Owens’ Alumni Association is committed to the personal and professional success of alumni and students through the ongoing development of value-added initiatives.

Hundreds View Clothesline Project Public Display Presented by Owens Community College Students

Posted on April 9th, 2009

Over 200 shirts were on display at Owens as part of a collaboration with Behavioral Connections of Wood County.

Owens student Lauren Blankenship of Sylvania observes the Clothesline Project Public Display in the College’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts Mainstage Theatre.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Hundreds of T-shirts of varying sizes recently adorned Owens Community College’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts Mainstage Theatre and Rotunda as the academic institution served as host to a Clothesline Project public display. Coordinated by Student Government in conjunction with the Office of Student Activities, the Clothesline Project is designed to raise society’s awareness of violent crimes against women as part of the educational awareness program.

Owens’ Clothesline Project is a visual display that bears witness to violence against women. As part of the public display, a clothesline is hung with shirts of different colors, each representing individuals victimized by a violent crime. Survivors, family members and friends of women victims of violence design shirts to represent a particular woman’s experience or as a tribute to the women they loved who died as a result of an act of violence. Crimes of homicide, rape/sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, incest/child sexual abuse, sexual harassment, battering/assault and attack due to an individual’s sexual orientation are represented within the Clothesline Project.

Designed to educate and raise society’s awareness of the extent of violent crime, the national Clothesline Project display was founded in Hyannis, Mass., in 1990. Locally, the Clothesline Project in Wood County began in 1995 and is committed to helping survivors of a violent act with the healing process, educating the public on violence against women and providing concrete suggestions of how individuals can work to prevent violence.

The Clothesline Project at Owens was presented in collaboration with Behavioral Connections of Wood County. Currently, there are over 200 shirts in the local collection.

Owens students such as Andrew Major of Toledo began their viewing of the Clothesline Project Public Display in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Rotunda.

Owens Past and Present Presidents Honored During Portrait Unveiling Ceremony

Posted on April 8th, 2009

Owens President Christa Adams addresses attendees during the Presidential Portrait Unveiling Ceremony.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College’s presidents, both past and present, were recently honored for their leadership and vision in guiding the academic institution through more than 40 years of academic excellence as the Board of Trustees unveiled four presidential portraits during a Presidential Portrait Unveiling Ceremony in the Library on the Toledo-area Campus.

Owens Board of Trustees’ RJ Molter (left) and David Habegger unveiled the portrait of past President William Ramsey.

“Throughout our history, Owens Community College trustees, presidents, faculty and staff have devoted themselves toward advancing our mission,” said John Moore, Owens Chair of the Board of Trustees. “Today, we are unveiling a collection of portraits, preserving our past for future generations of Owens Community College. Our presidents represent the visionary leadership behind our phenomenal growth and evolution from a technical college to a comprehensive community college.”

Trustee Moore added, “As we approach 45 years as an academic institution of higher learning, we look ahead with the exemplary leadership of President Christa Adams. Our vision will guide us to seek all that is possible for a future filled with promise and lasting success.”

Presidential portraits unveiled to Owens employees, alumni, and past and present Board of Trustees members, as well as community and political leaders, included William L. Ramsey, Ph.D. (1965-68); Jacob H. See, Ph.D. (1968-84); Daniel H. Brown (1984-2001), and Christa E. Adams, Ph.D. (2001-Present). Families and friends of the past and present Owens presidents were also in attendance.

The second portrait unveiled during the ceremony was of Owens President Jacob See. Owens Board of Trustees’ John Ault (left) and RJ Molter unveiled past President See’s image, while Board of Trustee Vice Chair Dee Talmage looked on.

Since opening its doors more than 40 years ago, Owens has played an integral role in meeting the higher education and training needs of the surrounding communities throughout Northwest Ohio. Owens officially opened its doors as Penta County Technical Institute on Sept. 13, 1965. Founded on a 50-acre plot of land known as the old Rossford Army Depot, the College opened to nearly 200 students in its first year of existence. Forty-four years later, over 21,000 students are pursuing their academic and career aspirations each semester on the College’s Toledo-area and Findlay-campuses, as well as at the Learning Center at The Source in downtown Toledo.

The portraits were created by renowned portrait artist Leslie Adams. Adams is known worldwide for her portraiture artwork, which is grounded in historical aesthetics and contemporary theory. Employing a Northern Renaissance technique, Adams combines layers of oil glazes to achieve a profoundly intricate level of detail and luminosity of color that direct painting alone cannot achieve.

Past Owens President Daniel Brown provided remarks after his presidential portrait was unveiled.

Her work has been exhibited internationally and is included in many public and private collections throughout the United States. In 2005, Adams was privileged to become the official gubernatorial artist for the state of Ohio and completed a portrait of former Ohio Governor Robert A. Taft, which now hangs in the Ohio Statehouse. Adams earned her bachelor’s degree in fine arts from The University of Toledo.

Owens’ Presidential Portrait Unveiling Ceremony is occurring in conjunction with April serving as National Community College Month.

Chancellor Announces FY 2009 First Round Choose Ohio First Scholarship Awards to Attract and Retain Ohio’s Talented Students

Posted on March 31st, 2009

COLUMBUS, OH – Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut has announced the State of Ohio’s first group of FY 2009 collaborations, totaling $13.3 million, to receive funding under the Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program, the state’s premier model for recruiting and retaining talented Ohio residents as students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEM) and STEM education fields.

This is the final year of the two-year, $100 million Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program investment to be awarded over five years targeting universities and colleges recruiting Ohio residents into current STEM programs, supporting the increased success of students in those fields, and making substantive improvements to the pipeline of STEM students and STEM educators. It is one component of the Ohio Innovation Partnership created by Governor Strickland and the Ohio General Assembly to strengthen and reconstruct Ohio’s economy. Overall, Ohio has invested $250 million through collaborative programs in higher education, particularly STEM fields.

The first round of FY 2009 competitive awards is directed to 11 collaborations between colleges, universities, and their Ohio business and industry partners that were determined to have the most impact on advancing Ohio’s position in the world markets including information technology, healthcare, sustainable energy, engineering, teacher education and science. They will share $13.3 million in scholarship funds and provide more than $17 million in cost shared funds. The scholarships will be used specifically to attract, retain and graduate more than 1700 new STEM students over the next five years.

“Our future workforce depends on our ability to retain our best and brightest students in Ohio,” said Chancellor Fingerhut. “This next class of STEM scholars will become the competitive advantage our businesses need in a global marketplace.”

The program review process was highly competitive to ensure that the highest quality standards are met and designed so that the Ohio Board of Regents can work with schools across the state to assist in the development of quality programs.

Two rounds of Choose Ohio First Scholarships were awarded in the first year of the program (FY 2008), providing the first $50 million in funding. The first round recipients share more than $23.6 million in scholarship funds in areas of pharmacy, nursing, science, engineering and mathematics. Collaborating institutions in round one will put forth more than $38 million in cost shared funds in support of their proposed scholarship program. Round two recipients share more than $25.7 million in scholarship funds in areas of engineering, mathematics, healthcare, science, human effectiveness and sensors and will provide almost $30 million in cost shared funds.

Choose Ohio First Scholarship Awards – FY 2009 Round One

Enhancing the Success of Future Health Professionals through Synergistic Cross-Collegiate Programming

The University of Cincinnati (lead institution) will partner with Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Sinclair Community College, Greater Cincinnati Tech Prep Consortium, Health Alliance, Children’s Hospital and Medical Center and Drake Hospital to attract and graduate an estimated 200 students in STEM fields over a five-year period. The proposed program will streamline, coordinate and enrich the undergraduate preparation of students and decrease the time to obtain a degree, all while providing a rich exposure to the healthcare field. The program will use learning communities, interdisciplinary capstone projects and a strong student support program to ensure the success of the selected COFSP scholars. The collaboration will share $2.397 million in program funds awarded by the state.

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Creating Affordable and Effective Educational Pathways in Information Technology

Wilmington College (lead institution) will partner with Cincinnati State Technical and Community College and The University of Toledo to attract and graduate more than 350 students in the STEM area of information technology (IT) over a five-year period. Key components to this program, which addresses Ohio’s ongoing IT needs, are close attention to the 2 + 2 relationship between the community college and the participating four-year institutions, an exceptionally strong cooperative education program and an aggressive innovative academic vision. The modest growth proposed in this program will not only increase the state’s ability to produce IT baccalaureate graduates, but coupled with local business opportunities, will keep Ohio’s graduates in Ohio. The collaboration will share $1.7 million in Choose Ohio First Scholarship funds awarded by the state.

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Building Ohio Talent for a Sustainable Energy Future

The University of Toledo (lead institution), in conjunction with Bowling Green State University, Owens Community College, Terra Community College and Northwest State Community College will attract and graduate more than 150 students in the STEM areas of renewable energy generation and environment remediation over a five-year period. Highlights of the program include using photovoltaic energy generation to lessen environmental pollution and creating a minor degree in renewable energy. Student support will include impressive internship and cooperative education opportunities, as well as mentoring and summer research projects in the great lakes region of Ohio. $1.563 million in Choose Ohio First scholarship state funds will be shared between the collaboration.

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Masters Degrees as Conduits to Recruiting, Retaining and Upgrading Ohio’s

STEM Workforce

The University of Cincinnati in partnership with the United States Environmental Protection Agency will attract and graduate approximately 60 students in graduate level STEM fields over a five-year period. The master’s degrees awarded in medical physics (Ohio’s only accredited program of the kind), environmental studies and statistics, combined with the engineering degree program ACCEND, will directly address the regional needs of southwest Ohio by providing a highly skilled workforce in health professions, engineering, environment and business. Noteworthy is the innovative enhancement to the ACCEND curriculum: the ACCEND MBA program and ACCEND MEng program. Coupled with UC’s well established co-operative education program, students will graduate with a bachelor’s and master’s degree and work experience, providing an edge in the competitive work environment. The University of Cincinnati will receive $828,000 of Choose Ohio First scholarship funds awarded by the state.

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Engineering Across the Pipeline

Cleveland State University (lead institution), along with Baldwin Wallace College and Ursuline College will partner to attract and graduate a cohort of 25 STEM students over a five-year period. The program will incorporate engineering into the liberal arts tradition, which will provide a diverse talent pool and more women in the engineering field. Other key program components include a 4+1 and 4+2 option for students pursuing graduate education and a strong focus on affordability by shortening the time to degree for students. Bridge courses, virtual learning communities, on-site mentoring and good institutional management plans will all aid in the increase of engineering professionals in Northeastern Ohio. The collaboration will share $474,700 in Choose Ohio First Scholarship Funds awarded by the state.

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The Cincinnati STEM Hub Partnership: A New Model for Preparing the Next Generation of Dynamic and Innovative Secondary STEM Educators

The University of Cincinnati (lead institution) in partnership with the Ohio STEM Learning Network, Battelle, Cincinnati State Community and Technical College, Cincinnati Public Schools, Cincinnati Federation of Teachers, Duke Energy, Strive P-16 Council, Cincinnati Museum Center, General Electric, Proctor and Gamble; Toyota, Hamilton County Educational Service Center, Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, Great Oaks and Interalliance will attract and graduate 60 future STEM educators over a five-year period. The seamless STEM education pathway, combined with mentoring from high school to a baccalaureate degree, will provide leadership in the STEM fields in an urban education setting. The collaboration will share $267,600 in state funds to advance this important program.

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Northeast Ohio Biosciences Pathway Initiatives

Ashland University (lead institution) will partner with The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute, North Central State College and Lakeland Community College to attract and graduate more than 50 students in the STEM field of agricultural biosciences and research/testing/medical laboratories (RTML) over a five-year period. Impactful features of this program includes readying an educated workforce to meet a fast-growing strand of bioscience RTML and a hands-on, in depth experience in an array of bioscience laboratory techniques for students. A firm commitment from local businesses for cooperative education and internship opportunities will allow for students to enter into this important pathway at multiple points and remain in the Northeastern Ohio area. This partnership will share $508,195 in scholarship funds awarded by the state.

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STEM Degrees and Careers for Ohioans with Disabilities, Including Veterans: COF Scholarships in Support of NSF-funded Regional Alliance in Disability (OSAA)

Wright State University (lead institution) in partnership with The Ohio State University, Sinclair Community College, Clark State Community College, Columbus State Community College, Dayton Regional STEM School, Dayton Public Schools, Milton-Union Exempted Village Schools, New Lebanon Local Schools, Sugarcreek Local School District, Trotwood-Madison City School District, West Carrollton School District, Metro High School, Ohio State School for the Blind, Columbus City Schools, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Air Force Research Laboratory, Battelle, daytaOhio, Dayton Area Defense Contractors’ Association, Greater Dayton IT Alliance, Nationwide, American Electric Power, Roxane Laboratories, IDEAL Group, National Center for Accessible Media, Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission, Chamber of Commerce, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Mound Laser & Photonics Center, Department of the Army-Corps of Engineers and Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce will attract and graduate more than 300 students with disabilities in STEM majors over a five-year period. This program will build on federal funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) granted to WSU to increase STEM accessibility. Bridge programs, learning communities, access to assistive technology and individualized Ability Advising are just several important strengths of this program that will increase the opportunities for STEM students with disabilities. The collaboration will share $2,687,500 in Choose Ohio First Scholarship funded awarded by the state.

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Future Scientists of Ohio

The Ohio State University (lead institution) in conjunction with Columbus State Community College will attract and graduate more than 350 students in the STEM fields over the five-year period. Outstanding features include a strong and established relationship between the institutions of higher education, as well as a bridge program for high school seniors entering college, mentoring and internship opportunities. The collaboration will share $1.5 million in Choose Ohio First scholarship funds awarded by the state.

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Improving the Retention and Learning of Students in STEM Subjects Through Learning Communities

Hiram College (lead institution) will partner with Kent State University and The University of Akron to attract and graduate 20 students over a five-year period. Building off a successful “Igniting Streams of Learning in Science” program, the grant will continue to promote 21st century learning with the use of community formation, commitment and ownership. The use of current electronic media such as Facebook, Twitter,Flickr,and blogs to communicate, both in and out of a classroom setting, are examples that embrace a shift from teaching to learning based on the science of learning. In addition, shifting from delivery of instruction to engaging learning, will result in better prepared students and trained professionals. The partners will share $376,000 in scholarship funds awarded by the state.

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STEM Undergraduate Engagement in an Engineering Environment

Ohio University (lead institution), in partnership with Shawnee State University, Rio Grande University, Marietta College and Muskingum College will attract and graduate more than 70 students over a five-year period who will become STEM teachers in the Appalachian area. The program will focus on “inquiry” and “literacy” as a way to bring together efforts aimed at the needs of learners in Southeast Ohio. With the addition of a strong mentoring program for teachers through their first three years, this program will produce the necessary STEM teachers in a high-need area. The collaboration will share $1 million in Choose Ohio First scholarship funds awarded by the state.

Owens Students Choose to Spend Spring Break Rebuilding Existing Houses in Slidell and Lacombe, La., March 7-15

Posted on March 4th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Spring Break is usually a time when college students head south for a bit of relaxation, rejuvenation and good old-fashioned fun in the warm tropical sun. However, for a group of Owens Community College students heading south for Spring Break means a week of hard, manual labor to help out Slidell and Lacombe, La. residents in need.

Replacing old drywall is one of the many tasks awaiting 11 students as they depart Northwest Ohio at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 7 from Owens’ College Hall parking lot and head south to Slidell, La. The focus of the trip is to assist in rebuilding existing homes for those in need of housing.

The group of volunteers will spend one week working with Presbyterian Community Outreach of Slidell dry-walling, painting, framing, roofing, tiling floors and installing siding and insulation, as well as many other desired tasks, in existing houses in the Slidell and Lacombe area.

For Owens student Matthew Brusoe of Holland, making the choice to spend yet another Spring Break week helping others was an easy decision. “I’ve always gotten joy out of helping others,” explained Brusoe, an architectural engineering technology major, who spent spring break the previous two years rebuilding or building new houses in Lake Charles, La., and Louisville, Ky. “Spring Break provides a chance for college students to make a difference and give back. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my time off than to refurbish a house and bring a sense of normalcy back to another person’s life.”

Owens students volunteering their time to participate in the humanitarian efforts are Jodi Douglas of Maumee, Matthew Brusoe of Holland, Nancy Jones of Toledo, Brett Burdo of Whitehouse, Jamie Lewinski of Toledo, Kyla Kathrens of North Baltimore, Jocelyn Chovan of Perrysburg, Andrew McDermott of Bowling Green, Gregory Alsbach of Toledo, Katie Ferguson of Toledo and Robert Jackson of Toledo. Also accompanying the students to the Slidell and Lacombe region are Tom Vollmer of Toledo and Jerry Ehlert of Toledo.

Group members are expected to return to Northwest Ohio and Owens Community College in the late afternoon of Sunday, March 15.

Owens Community College Welcomes ABBA-Mania Tribute Band, March 8

Posted on February 26th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Timeless sounds from the legendary musical group ABBA will fill the air at Owens Community College’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts as the tribute band ABBA-Mania takes the stage on Sunday, March 8.

The ABBA-Mania tribute band will perform in the College’s Mainstage Theatre at 7:30 p.m. The Owens Toledo-area Campus is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

“Owens Community College is proud to welcome ABBA-Mania, widely regarded as the world’s leading ABBA tribute band, to Northwest Ohio,” said Barbara Barkan, Owens Operations Manager for the Center for Fine and Performing Arts. “Attendees will be captivated by the group’s authentic costumes, choreography and instrumentals that bring to life the sights and sounds of ABBA at the height of their stardom in the 1970s.”

After winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974, ABBA gained immense international popularity employing catchy song hooks, thoughtful lyrics and a wall of sound. To date, the group has sold over 400 million records worldwide and remains a fixture on radio playlists.

The ABBA-Mania tribute band brings to life the legendary group’s big studio sound that captivated the world and pop music scene for many years. The nine-person group comprised of musicians and singers performs an array of ABBA’s crowd-pleasing hits as part of their live concerts, which also features nostalgic costumes and choreography, as well as a live band and studio musicians and singers. ABBA-Mania has showcased their musical talents and played to sold-out venues worldwide, including in Malaysia, South America, the Dominican Republic, Grand Cayman Islands and the United States. Lead tribute band members consist of Monica Tietz, Mathew Whale, Andrea Pressburger and Nick Pattison.

In addition, attendees are welcome to join the College’s Alumni Association for their Disco Ball Reception prior to the performance in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Rotunda. The reception will begin at 6 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at the event.

Tickets for the ABBA-Mania concert are $35 for main level seats and $29 for raised level seats. To purchase tickets, visit www.owens.edu or contact the College’s Box Office. For more information about this event, contact the Center for Fine and Performing Arts at (567) 661-2787 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. ARTS (2787).

Owens Community College Closed for Mid-Semester Break, March 6-8

Posted on February 26th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses will be closed Friday-Sunday, March 6-8 for Mid-Semester Break. There will be no classes and the College offices will be closed for business.

Administrative offices will be open again on Monday, March 9, while classes will resume on Monday, March 16.

Owens Community College Participates in Nationwide Program Dedicated to Improving Student Success

Posted on February 20th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College has been selected as one of only six academic institutions in the country to partner with MDRC, a nonprofit education and social policy research firm, in a national performance-based scholarship pilot study designed to keep low-income students on a successful path toward a college education.

Among the academic institutions participating in the nationwide initiative are Owens, Borough of Manhattan Community College, Hostos Community College, Lorain County Community College, Sinclair Community College and the University of New Mexico. The initiative is also being coordinated statewide in California through the California Cash for College program.

MDRC launched the Performance-Based Scholarship Demonstration to test an innovative strategy for addressing two policy objectives: increasing the financial support available to low-income students, and creating an incentive for such students to complete their academic courses and make more timely progress toward degrees. The overall goal is to provide a scholarship supplement to existing federal and state financial aid that is contingent on a student enrolling in a minimum number of credit hours and making passing grades.

The performance-based scholarships are paid directly to students in order to reward them for their progress and to allow them to make choices on how best to support their studies. For some, this may mean buying books or paying for transportation to campus; for others, it may mean cutting back on work hours or hiring a babysitter for their children during finals week.

“Selection as a lead academic institution in the MDRC’s Performance-Based Scholarship program is a direct reflection on Owens Community College’s commitment to student learning and success,” said Dr. Bill Ivoska, Owens Vice President of Student Services. “The new Performance-Based Scholarship program provides a unique opportunity to help low-income students in their academic and career pursuits. Finances should not serve as a barrier to a college education and the MDRC’s initiative addresses this factor and rewards students for positive results within the classroom.”

In order to qualify for the Performance-Based Scholarship program, prospective Owens students had to be a U.S. citizen and an Ohio resident, have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of zero as reported on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be the custodial or non-custodial parent or legal guardian of a minor child who is an Ohio resident. Additionally, participants must attend Owens for the upcoming 2009 Spring and Fall semesters. The College currently has 849 eligible students serving as program participants during the current spring term.

Those Owens students who meet the performance requirements of a “C” grade or better in graded courses and a passing grade in pass/fail courses will receive a scholarship for their academic efforts. Program participants completing 12 or more hours of college credit will be given a $900 scholarship, while students achieving between 6-11 credit hours will receive a scholarship in the amount of $450. All eligible students will be randomly assigned by lottery to a program group whose members will receive performance-based scholarships or a control group that does not include the additional scholarship funding. The study will follow both groups to determine the effect of the scholarship on academic achievement, retention and other outcomes.

The MDRC Performance-Based Scholarship program in Ohio is being coordinated through the state’s TANF Educational Awards Program (TEAP) and is a collaborative effort between the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents. Recently, MDRC was named the recipient of a $13 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support the evaluation and to provide some program support for the Performance-Based Scholarship program.

The pilot program where students earn scholarship funds lasts one year. MDRC will continue tracking and measuring student performance for several years and will issue a major report detailing study findings in 2012.

MDRC is dedicated to learning what works to improve the well-being of low-income people. Through the organization’s research and the active communication of their findings, MDRC seeks to enhance the effectiveness of social policies and programs.

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Owens Students Defend Networks Against Cyber Attacks During Michigan/Ohio Cyber Defense Competition, Feb. 20-21

Posted on February 19th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College students will test their network defense skills against a barrage of cyber attacks from professional hackers as the Computer Club competes in the Michigan/Ohio Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, Feb. 20-21. The Michigan/Ohio regional competition will take place at Baker College in Flint, Mich.

Owens students will compete against five other academic institutions for the opportunity to advance to the Midwest Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition. The top two teams will get the chance to compete at the regional championships. The overall goal of the competition is to challenge students’ understanding and operational competency in managing issues inherent in protecting an enterprise network infrastructure and business information systems.

“Owens Community College’s Computer Club is excited to once again have the opportunity to compete in an event where students must secure their networks against the best in the industry,” said Denise Pheils, Owens Associate Professor of Information Systems and student team Advisor. “The competition will be extremely competitive. However, I know our team is well prepared and extremely eager to showcase their knowledge and skills related to network security.”

As part of the competition, each participating team will be responsible for defending and maintaining the services of a fully-functional production network against cyber attacks as coordinated by business industry professionals. Such attacks will enable each team to apply theory and skills obtained within the classroom into a fast-paced, real-world setting.

A panel of judges, comprising industry professionals, will grade each team related to keeping required services up and fully operational, controlling/preventing unauthorized access, and completing business tasks that will be provided throughout the competition. Teams accumulate points by completing tasks and maintaining services, while points are lost by violating service level agreements, usage of recovery services, and successful cyber attacks by industry professionals. Additionally, teams are encouraged to provide incident reports detailing problems such as passwords cracked and activity timelines, as well as providing information on what was affected and a remediation plan. Thorough incident reports of cyber attacks will minimize potential loss of points.

Owens students participating in the cyber defense competition include Elisabeth Moser of Haskins (team captain), Andy Krieg of Toledo, Mark Fosgate of Elmore, Justin Kaetzel of Findlay, David Keller of Toledo, Justin Kendall of Toledo, Alex Gerity of Waterville and Aaron Christopherson of Bowling Green.

Other academic institutions selected to compete in the cyber defense competition include Baker College, Baldwin Wallace College, Jackson Community College, Davenport University and Rhodes State College.

Organizations sponsoring the event are the National Science Foundation, CISCO, Center for Systems Security and Information Assurance, Wiley Business Solutions Group, Core Security Technologies, SecureWorks Inc., Baker College and the Owens Community College Foundation.

Last year, Owens finished in fourth place at the Michigan/Ohio Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition.

New Owens Community College and TRAINCO, Inc. Partnership Expands Educational Opportunities for Area Residents

Posted on February 17th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College’s Workforce and Community Services is expanding its academic opportunities within the career field of truck driving by partnering with TRAINCO, Inc. in Perrysburg and affording area residents the opportunity to receive college credit while enrolled in the national company’s Professional Truck Driving School and Career Center.

As a result of the new collaboration, students pursuing their commercial driver’s license (CDL) through TRAINCO, Inc. will be able to apply the educational training and experience achieved toward an associate’s degree in technical studies or a related field at Owens. Each student will receive five college credit hours from Owens upon completion of their CDL training at TRAINCO.

“Owens Community College is proud to partner with TRAINCO, Inc. and provide Northwest Ohio residents with new innovative avenues to obtain a college education,” said Dr. Michael Bankey, Owens Vice President of Workforce and Community Services. “The need for highly skilled and qualified truck drivers continues to grow and job opportunities are readily available nationwide within the truck driving industry. We welcome this collaboration with TRAINCO, Inc. and the idea of meeting the academic and workforce needs of the region.”

TRAINCO, Inc.’s Professional Truck Driving School and Career Center offers four-week daytime classes, five-week evening programs and 14-week Saturday- or Sunday-only courses. Classroom instruction covers such areas as logbook maintenance, road map comprehension, stress management, nutrition and road rage. Hands-on training includes driving maneuvers, coupling and uncoupling and progressive shifting, as well as urban, rural and interstate driving skills.

TRAINCO offers CDL classes in Perrysburg, Ohio; Taylor, Mich.; and Lansing, Mich. TRAINCO President and Founder, Ken Howell, established the three schools with the idea that “a CDL license is a degree for the working person.”

For more information, contact the College’s Workforce and Community Services at (567) 661-7357 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7357, or TRAINCO at (419) 837-5730. Interested individuals can also access www.owens.edu and www.traincoinc.com websites for additional details.

Owens Alumni Association Accepting Nominations for Outstanding Service Award Celebration Through March 2

Posted on February 12th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College’s Alumni Association is recognizing the tremendous contribution that area police, fire and emergency medical professionals make to Northwest Ohio’s surrounding communities by hosting the sixth annual Outstanding Service Awards. The recipients will be honored as part of a community celebration on Friday, April 24.

The College’s Alumni Association is presently accepting nominations for the Outstanding Service Awards. Area residents are invited to nominate an individual or individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service above and beyond the call of duty. Nominations need to be returned to the College’s Office of Alumni Relations by Monday, March 2. The award is not limited to a single recipient, and the College’s Alumni Association encourages the nomination of more than one person when teamwork was the key element in their success.

The four awards, which will be presented at the community celebration, are within the categories of Outstanding Police Officer, Firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician and Service to Community. Selection criteria will be based upon a nomination process with candidates demonstrating exceptional service related to dedication, ingenuity, bravery, special skills and/or to the community over a sustained period of time. The awards are not limited to a single recipient.

The sixth annual Outstanding Service Awards Celebration will begin at 8 a.m. in the College’s Audio/Visual Classroom Center Rooms 125-128 on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. Admission is free and the public is encouraged to attend, however, reservations are required.

For more information about the Outstanding Service Award Celebration, or the nomination process, contact the College’s Alumni Relations Office at (567) 661-7410 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7410. Nomination forms can accessed on Owens’ website at www.owens.edu.

Owens Findlay-area Campus Student Government Observes Northern Illinois Tragedy with Memorial Tribute, Feb. 13

Posted on February 10th, 2009

FINDLAY, OH – Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus’ Student Government is inviting their fellow students, as well as area residents and employees, to join them in paying tribute to those victims that lost their lives in the Northern Illinois University tragedy one year ago by attending a memorial and remembrance display on Friday, Feb. 13.

“Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies continue to go out to the Northern Illinois students, friends and families of the victims,” said Nicole Lance, Owens Student Government President. “Owens’ Student Government is encouraging individuals to take a moment and to remember those people who lost their lives in the Northern Illinois tragedy.”

Individuals will have the opportunity to share their condolences with the Northern Illinois community by writing a message in a book that will be sent to the university. Additionally, attendees will be able to take a ribbon in Northern Illinois’ school colors to wear throughout the day. The memorial and remembrance display will be located in the Commons area on the Findlay-area Campus in Findlay. Individuals can stop by from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

In addition, Owens’ Toledo-area Campus will host memorial and remembrance displays in both the Student Health and Activities Center and the College Hall Atrium. Attendees can visit the displays from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The College’s Student Government is comprised of individuals who serve as the student body’s voice on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses. Balancing their time between school and work, Student Government members are constantly initiating new projects and events that cater to the interests of Owens’ student body.

Owens Community College Board of Trustees Re-elected to Leadership Positions

Posted on February 3rd, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College has named John C. Moore and Diana H. Talmage to serve as the Chair and Vice Chair for the College’s Board of Trustees. Moore and Talmage were re-elected to their positions by their fellow colleagues during the recent Owens Board of Trustees meeting and will serve one-year terms.

A graduate of the University of Toledo with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Moore spent 30 years in banking and 10 years in higher education at Bowling Green State University. Initially appointed to the College’s Board of Trustees in April 2000, he now serves as a consultant and has authored several books. Moore’s professional and community involvement includes the Hospice of Northwest Ohio, the Boys and Girls Club of Toledo and the Urban League of Northwest Ohio organizations. He resides in Holland.

Initially appointed in November 2002, Talmage, a retired educator and former school board member, has held several leadership positions at the K-12 and higher education levels. Her professional and community involvement includes membership with the American Red Cross, Lucas County, Think College Now, TARTA and the Lucas County Children Services. A Toledo resident, Talmage received her master’s degree in guidance and counseling from the University of Toledo and a bachelor’s degree in education from The Ohio State University.

In addition, both Moore and Talmage are members of the Owens Community College Foundation Board of Directors.

The College’s Board of Trustees is comprised of eight community leaders from Lucas, Wood, Hancock and Sandusky counties who are appointed by the Governor of Ohio for six-year terms.

In addition to Moore and Talmage, Owens Board of Trustees members include John G. Ault of Perrysburg, David Habegger of Oregon, Allan J. Libbe of Perrysburg, Dr. Ronald A. McMaster of Perrysburg, R J Molter of Woodville and H. Richard Rowe of Findlay.

Ohio Governor Appoints Community Leader to Owens Board of Trustees Position

Posted on February 3rd, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has appointed David Habegger of Oregon to the Owens Community College Board of Trustees. Habegger will serve a six-year term on the College’s Board of Trustees ending in 2014.

“David Habegger brings a distinguished career and a wealth of experience in education to Owens Community College, which is invaluable as we look to open new doors to higher education for area residents throughout the surrounding region,” said Christa Adams, Ph.D., President of Owens Community College. “We welcome Mr. Habegger to Owens Community College and are very fortunate to have his dedication and leadership on our Board of Trustees.”

Since 1996, Habegger has served as a Guidance Counselor at Clay High School in Oregon. During his 36-year tenure as an educator, Habegger has also held positions as the school’s Industrial Technology Teacher, Drug Counselor/Program Coordinator, Attendance Director and Scholarship Coordinator. His professional and community involvement includes serving as President of the Oregon City Federation of Teachers, as well as Legislative Chairperson and Retirement Chairperson for the Ohio Federation of Teachers. Additionally, he has held board-level membership on the Ohio Federation of Teachers Executive Committee.

In 2008, Habegger was inducted into the Ohio High School Coaches Association “Ohio Hall of Fame” for his service and dedication to high school volleyball. He served as the Head Volleyball Coach at Clay High School from 1979-2002 where he compiled a 420-150 overall record, which included 12 league championships. In addition, Habegger has served as a District 7 Volleyball Coaches Trustee and Vice President. For the past five years, he served as the Varsity Assistant Volleyball Coach at Cardinal Stritch High School.

Habegger received his master’s degree in guidance and counseling from the University of Toledo and a bachelor’s degree in education from Bowling Green State University.

The College’s Board of Trustees is comprised of eight community leaders from Lucas, Wood, Hancock and Sandusky counties who are appointed by the Governor of Ohio for six-year terms.

In addition to Habegger, Owens Board of Trustees members include John G. Ault of Perrysburg, Allan J. Libbe of Perrysburg, Dr. Ronald A. McMaster of Perrysburg, R J Molter of Woodville, John C. Moore of Holland, H. Richard Rowe of Findlay and Dee Talmage of Toledo.

Record 21,707 Students Choose Owens to Pursue Educational Opportunities and Career Aspirations

Posted on January 27th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College continues to provide Northwest Ohio residents with greater access to higher education at an affordable cost with a record-breaking 21,707 students choosing to attend the academic institution for Spring Semester classes on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses.

Since becoming a comprehensive community college in 1994, Owens has more than doubled its Spring Semester student enrollment by an astounding 173 percent. The College enrolled 7,957 students for Spring Semester classes in 1994.

The combined Spring Semester enrollment of 21,707 students on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses surpasses the previous record of 19,732 students enrolled during Spring Semester 2008. Owens’ Toledo-area Campus has 18,293 students attending classes during the Spring Semester, while on the Findlay-area Campus 3,414 students are enrolled for the spring term. On both campuses, Spring Semester enrollment has increased 10 percent from last spring.

“Owens Community College is proud to play an important role in helping students reach their career and academic goals,” said Dr. Bill Ivoska, Owens Vice President of Student Services. “Our mission is to ensure that access to higher education is a reality for all area residents. A college education can open many doors to a future full of endless possibilities. Owens Community College is committed to eliminating any potential barriers that may exist and providing the necessary tools and resources for individuals to achieve educational attainment and become tomorrow’s societal leaders.”

For Susan Wells of Mt. Blanchard, the decision to “take the leap of faith” several years ago and pursue a college education after more than 30 years as a cosmetologist was an easy one.

“I really want to help others and a college education would make that possible,” said the 52-year-old radiography major and owner of A-Style A-Head Beauty Salon in Findlay. “My family and friends and even my beauty salon customers have been very supportive from day one.”

Wells, who carries a 3.7 grade point average at Owens, added, “My educational experience at Owens has been everything I expected and more. Owens provides a student with all the resources they need to succeed. My professors are extremely helpful and are willing to go out of their way to work with students. I couldn’t have chosen a better school for me.”

Wells’ educational success has now become a family affair as her 35-year-old daughter, Jennifer Chortie of Findlay, has within the past year joined her in pursuit of a college education from Owens. Not far behind is the youngest daughter, Jackie Bahn of Findlay, age 31, who envisions enrolling at Owens in the coming year.

“Owens Community College has made a major difference in my family’s life,” concluded Wells, who has aspirations of becoming a radiologic technician for an area hospital after graduation. “I am forever grateful for the opportunity.”

According to Ivoska, Owens continues to make a concerted effort to expand upon the many educational opportunities of its students through the continued advancement of innovative programs, courses, teaching methods and academic resources.

The College also is continuing to expand its extremely popular eOwens distance learning education by continuously introducing new academic courses online. For Spring Semester 6,426 students are pursuing e-Learning courses – up from 5,127 last spring (25 percent increase).

In addition to the many e-Learning opportunities, Owens continues to increase its academic and support services by making available an array of higher education choices for high school students through innovative partnerships with post secondary schools, through the Weekend College and at The Source, Lucas County’s One-Stop Employment Center, in downtown Toledo. The College’s enrollment at The Source has increased by 239 students with 671 area residents pursuing higher education in downtown Toledo during the current Spring Semester compared to 432 last spring term (55 percent increase).

The College’s ethnicity/race student enrollment also continues to increase. For Spring Semester, 2,935 African-American students are pursuing an Owens education compared to 2,321 last year (26 percent increase). Additionally, Hispanic enrollment has a recorded an 18 percent increase with 969 students attending classes compared to 819 during spring term 2008.

Over 70 graduates from Woodward High School and Findlay High School are receiving a free college education to Owens during the current academic year as part of the College Foundation’s new Success Program, which is designed to make college affordable for high school graduates with financial need. Recently, Owens’ Foundation expanded the Success Program to include all high schools in Toledo Public Schools’ district. To date, over 300 prospective high school students have already applied for next year’s program.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Basketball Classic Raises Thousands in Scholarship Dollars at Owens

Posted on January 21st, 2009

Scott High School’s Damon Dotson looks to drive past Akron Buchtel High School defender Myles Fitten in the first game of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Basketball Classic at Owens.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Thousands of area residents recently packed Owens Community College’s Student Health and Activities Center to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and watch four highly-touted boys high school basketball teams from Ohio and Michigan compete in the 2009 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Basketball Classic. All proceeds raised from the basketball doubleheader will benefit Northwest Ohio Black Media Association future scholarship initiatives.

“The Northwest Ohio Black Media Association is once again extremely thankful to Owens Community College and their staff for supporting the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Basketball Classic,” said Clyde Hughes, Northwest Ohio Black Media Association Co-Event Coordinator of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Basketball Classic. “Owens’ Student Health and Activities Center is a first-class facility and the perfect venue to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and raise funds for scholarships in his honor.”

The first varsity basketball game saw Scott High School (Toledo, Ohio) lose to Akron Buchtel High School (Akron, Ohio) by the score 64-52. In the second varsity game, Ohio Division II state runner-up Libbey High School (Toledo, Ohio) lost to Pershing High School (Detroit, Mich.), the Michigan Class A state runner-up, 86-57.

The Northwest Ohio Black Media Association, the Toledo-based affiliate of the National Association of Black Journalists, was founded in 1990 with the goals of strengthening ties among Black communicators, becoming an exemplary group of professionals that honor excellence and outstanding achievement by Black communicators, assisting in expanding job opportunities for black communicators, and identifying potential black communicators in local high schools and colleges.

For nearly two decades, the Northwest Ohio Black Media Association has played a very active role in many community outreach programs, which includes preparing students for careers in journalism through its Minority High School Journalism Workshop and helping the community learn more about the media through its community access seminars. The organization also provides thousands of dollars in scholarships annually and organizes debates and town hall meetings on an array of current event topics.

Owens Community College Receives National Carnegie Foundation Community Engagement Honor

Posted on January 16th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College has been selected as one of only 119 colleges and universities nationwide to receive The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching’s prestigious 2008 Community Engagement Classification. The College, which is one of only nine community colleges selected for the honor, was recognized within the Foundation’s Outreach and Partnerships classification.

“Owens Community College is extremely proud to be recognized with a Community Engagement Classification by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching,” said Christa Adams, Ph.D., President of Owens Community College. “This honor acknowledges and affirms our commitment to community involvement and outreach.”

President Adams added, “Owens faculty and staff are committed to strengthening the community by providing a superior educational experience through excellence, innovation and collaboration. This College could not achieve its mission and vision without the help and support of community partners and their dedication to educational learning and development.”

Institutions were classified in one of three categories: Curricular Engagement, Outreach and Partnerships or Curricular Engagement and Outreach and Partnerships, which includes academic institutions with substantial commitment in both of the other categories. The Outreach and Partnerships category, in which Owens received classification recognition, focuses on the application and provision of institutional resources for community use with benefits to the campus and community, as well as collaborative interactions with community and related scholarship for the mutually beneficial exchange, exploration and application of knowledge, information and resources. Owens was recognized for its exemplary commitment and dedication within the areas of mission, culture, leadership, resources, and practices that support dynamic and noteworthy community engagement.

“We hope that by acknowledging the commitment and accomplishment of these engaged institutions, the Foundation will encourage other colleges and universities to move in this direction. Doing so brings benefits to the community and to the institution,” said Carnegie President Anthony S. Bryk.

The Carnegie Foundation for Advancement of Teaching was created in 2006 as a way for academic institutions, through an elective process, to describe the nature and extent of their engagement within the community from a local, regional, national and global perspective.

Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1905 and chartered in 1906 by an act of Congress, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, which is located in Stanford, Calif., is an independent policy and research center with the primary mission “to do and perform all things necessary to encourage, uphold and dignify the profession of the teacher.” The improvement of teaching and learning is central to all of the Foundation’s work.

Owens Community College Student Groups Celebrate Inauguration Day with Community Events, Jan. 20

Posted on January 14th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College student groups are inviting their fellow students, as well as area residents, to join in celebrating Inauguration Day with a series of community events on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

All Inauguration Day activities are free and will occur on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses. Owens’ Toledo-area Campus is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township, while the Findlay-area Campus is located on Bright Road in Findlay.

Beginning at 10 a.m. on Jan. 20, Owens’ Black Student Union, Student Government and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society groups will serve as hosts to a patriotic-themed “Inauguration Day Watch Party” in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Mainstage Theatre. Attendees will have the opportunity to view the day’s Inauguration festivities via an oversized movie screen. In addition to the Inauguration television coverage, individuals can pick up a free U.S. Constitution pocket booklet titled “U.S. Constitution and Fascinating Facts About It” in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Rotunda.

Following the “Inauguration Day Watch Party” coverage, area residents, as well as Owens employees and students, will have the opportunity to express and share their thoughts about the Inauguration Day celebration in public through the use of poetry, music or general comments during an open microphone forum from 3-6 p.m. in the Student Health and Activities Center on the Toledo-area Campus. The event is presented by the Black Student Union.

Additionally, Owens’ Findlay-area Campus will host an “Inaugurate Your Semester” event from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Individuals will be able to watch the Inauguration Day television coverage in the College’s Conference Center. Activities will also include a “Name That President” trivia contest and group discussion. Free U.S. Constitution pocket booklets will be available to those in attendance.

For more than 200 years, America’s citizens have witnessed the Inauguration Day ceremonies of the President and Vice President of the United States. From the first Inauguration of George Washington in 1789 to day, as the country prepares for the 56th quadrennial Presidential Inauguration, the swearing-in ceremony represents both national renewal and continuity of leadership.

Food and refreshments will be available during the various events on both the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses. For more information about the Inauguration Day activities, call (567) 661-7583 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7583.

Owens Foundation Helps Students Achieve Academic Dreams through 2009-10 Scholarship Program Opportunities

Posted on January 5th, 2009

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – The Owens Community College Foundation is investing in Northwest Ohio’s educational future by making available thousands of dollars in scholarship opportunities as part of the academic institution’s 2009-10 Scholarship Program.

Through the generosity of businesses and individuals within the surrounding communities, the Owens Foundation will offer current and future students the opportunity to apply for over 50 available scholarships for the upcoming 2009-10 academic year. Scholarship applicants must complete and return the application to the Office of Financial Aid on either the Toledo-area or Findlay-area campus by Monday, Feb. 16. Scholarship award notification will begin in March and will continue until all awards have been made.

For scholarships based on financial need, a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application for the 2009-10 academic year must be on file in the College’s Office of Financial Aid by Saturday, Feb. 28. FAFSA and Foundation Scholarship Program forms are available in the College’s Office of Financial Aid or can be downloaded by accessing the Owens website at www.owens.edu.

In addition, Owens currently participates in several need-based federal and state funded grant programs, work study opportunities, and loans, which all require applicants to file a FAFSA form to determine financial need. Specific programs accessible to students include the Federal Pell Grant, the Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant, the Ohio College Opportunity Grant, the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant, the Owens Community College Grant, the Federal Stafford Loan, the Federal PLUS Loan and the Federal Work Study, among others.

The Owens Foundation was incorporated in April 2002 and has over $1.8 million in assets. The Foundation Board of Directors currently is comprised of 23 community leaders from Lucas, Wood and Hancock counties. The mission of the Owens Foundation and its Board of Directors is developing and providing resources to advance the College’s overall mission of serving students and the surrounding communities. The Foundation is also dedicated to removing barriers to education by providing student scholarships and supporting growth and innovation at Owens.

This past academic year, Owens provided more than $61.4 million in grants, scholarships, loans and federal work study to support the educational needs of students. For more information on the various scholarship opportunities, call (567) 661-7603 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7603.

Thousands Welcome Home National Guardsmen from Active Duty at Owens Community College Homecoming Ceremony

Posted on December 22nd, 2008

Owens Student Government Representative Rita Perkins of Toledo, who served in the U.S. Army from 1987-94, distributes flags to Homecoming Ceremony attendees. The flags were donated by the College’s Student Government for the event.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Thousands of area residents recently had the opportunity to honor their local soldiers as Owens Community College served as host to a special Homecoming Ceremony for the Ohio National Guard’s Headquarters Company of the 1-148th Infantry Regiment.

“Owens Community College is proud to honor our brave servicemen and servicewomen for placing their lives in harms way and defending and preserving freedom,” said Christa Adams, Ph.D., President of Owens Community College. “Extending our gratitude to the 1-148th Infantry Regiment represents a small token of our appreciation for their selfless acts.”

The College joined community leaders, politicians and area residents in recognizing and welcoming home the 1-148th Infantry Regiment from its deployment overseas.

Approximately 200 personnel assigned to Headquarters Company of the 1-148th Infantry Regiment, which is located in Walbridge, were mobilized to support Operation Iraqi Freedom efforts in Kuwait.

Since 2001, several thousand members of the Ohio National Guard have answered the nation’s call, serving in geographical regions ranging from Afghanistan to the Persian Gulf. Owens currently has approximately 300 students from the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses serving their country in the military.

Comparable to the National Guard of other states, the Ohio National Guard has a long history of service to its citizens and the United States. Its heritage is rooted in the militia system that has played a vital role in conflicts, wars, civil disturbances and natural disasters throughout our nation’s history. The overall mission of the Ohio National Guard is to provide trained units and equipment capable of protecting life and property, and preserving peace, order and public safety.

Owens Community College is one of the fastest-growing higher educational institutions in Ohio. On the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses, Owens serves more than 45,000 credit and non-credit students. Owens is committed to providing small classes, personal attention and unmatched affordability. Owens Community College offers associate degrees that transfer to baccalaureate degrees in the Arts and Sciences and over 130 technical program areas in Agriculture, Business, Health Sciences, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Skilled Trades, and Engineering and Transportation Technologies. Owens students also can earn the first two years of a bachelor’s degree with a smooth transfer to any area four-year college or university. For more information, visit www.owens.edu.

Approximately 200 personnel assigned to Headquarters Company of the 1-148th Infantry Regiment were honored at the Homecoming Ceremony.

The College joined community leaders, politicians and area residents in welcoming home the national guardsmen.

Owens Dental Hygiene Program and Dental Center of Northwest Ohio Establish New Partnership to Help Area Children

Posted on December 16th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College Dental Hygiene program students for the first time have the opportunity to expand their experiential learning off campus and provide oral health services to underserved children throughout the region as a result of a new partnership with the Dental Center of Northwest Ohio. The new collaboration enables second-year Dental Hygiene program students to conduct oral prophylaxis (dental cleanings), topical fluoride treatments, dental sealants and X-rays for area children as part of their clinical dental hygiene experience.

Owens’ new partnership with the Dental Center of Northwest Ohio, which is located on Madison Avenue in Toledo, allows dental hygiene students to provide clinical care as operators and assistants to patients off campus in addition to the dental services offered to area residents through the College’s Dental Hygiene Clinic. The 20-chair clinic is staffed by dental hygiene students and supervised by licensed dental professionals at Owens, and appointments are available during the Fall and Spring semesters.

“Access to dental care is a growing problem for underserved families across the nation,” said Beth Tronolone, Owens Chair of Dental Hygiene. “The new partnership is a win-win for the Owens Community College Dental Hygiene program and the Dental Center of Northwest Ohio. Not only do Owens students benefit from the experiential learning, but also area children in need of dental hygiene care. The Owens Dental Hygiene program is very appreciative to the Dental Center of Northwest Ohio and looks forward to a longstanding relationship with their organization.”

“The Dental Center of Northwest Ohio is very happy to work with the Owens Community College Dental Hygiene program and their students,” said Melinda Cree, President of the Dental Center of Northwest Ohio. “This new opportunity provides students with a unique real-world experience and expands access to health care.”

The dental services of the Dental Center of Northwest Ohio are provided by full-time and part-time licensed dentists, dental hygienists and support staff employed by the organization. During the Spring and Fall semesters, Owens dental hygiene students will offer dental care to underserved children within the facility’s Children’s Clinic.

The College’s Dental Hygiene program provides more than 40 students with a fully accredited, scientifically current and competency-based curriculum annually. Students receive classroom instruction as well as hands-on experience in the Dental Hygiene Clinic and now at the Dental Center of Northwest Ohio, while preparing to sit for the national, state or regional exam in dental hygiene. Owens Dental Hygiene program graduates currently serve as registered dental hygienists in private dental offices, hospitals and dental clinics throughout the region.

Since 1910, the mission of the Dental Center of Northwest Ohio has been to provide primary oral health services for underserved children and adults in Northwest Ohio, to promote the value of good oral health through education and to serve as an advocate for those with limited access to dental care. The Dental Center of Northwest Ohio provides service to over 20,000 patients per year residing in 18 Northwest Ohio counties.

Ohio Governor Reappoints Community Leader to Owens Board of Trustees Position

Posted on December 15th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has reappointed Diana H. (Dee) Talmage of Toledo to the Owens Community College Board of Trustees. Talmage will serve a six-year term on the College’s Board of Trustees ending in 2014.

“Owens Community College has an outstanding group of Board of Trustees members who value the importance of providing access to a quality college education and the many benefits of lifelong learning,” said Christa Adams, Ph.D., President of Owens Community College. “Dee Talmage’s passion for students, higher education and making our communities better places to live reinforces her involvement and belief in the mission of Owens Community College. We are very fortunate to have Ms. Talmage’s dedication and leadership on our Board of Trustees.”

Talmage was initially appointed to the College’s Board of Trustees in November 2002. A retired educator and former school board member, she has held several leadership positions at the K-12 and higher education levels. Her professional and community involvement includes board-level membership for the American Red Cross, Lucas County, Think College Now, TARTA and the Lucas County Children Services. In 2006, she was named the recipient of an ATHENA Award, which is presented annually by the Toledo Chamber of Commerce to honor professional excellence, community service and those who help other women. A Toledo resident, Talmage received her master’s degree in guidance and counseling from the University of Toledo and a bachelor’s degree in education from The Ohio State University.

In addition to serving as Owens’ Board of Trustees Vice Chair since February 2008, Talmage holds the position of Secretary on the College’s Foundation Board of Directors.

The College’s Board of Trustees is comprised of seven community leaders from Lucas, Wood, Hancock and Sandusky counties who are appointed by the Governor of Ohio for six-year terms.

In addition to Talmage, Owens Board of Trustees members include John G. Ault of Perrysburg, Allan J. Libbe of Perrysburg, Dr. Ronald A. McMaster of Perrysburg, R J Molter of Woodville, John C. Moore of Holland and H. Richard Rowe of Findlay.

Owens Findlay-area Campus Nursing Students Lift Hospital Children’s Spirits During Holiday Season

Posted on December 11th, 2008

Owens registered nursing student Kim Ackley of Carey begins wrapping one of many toys, which were later given to area children spending the holiday season in local hospitals.

FINDLAY, OH – Happiness and cheer was abounding within area hospitals thanks to recent humanitarian efforts of Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus’ Student Nursing Association. More than 75 toys ranging from dolls and stuffed animals to coloring books and electronic games, collected as part of a community wide drive, were given to smiling children forced to spend the holiday season in local hospitals.

“As future nurses, we are taught about the importance of being concerned not only with physical healing, but also emotional healing,” stated Aris Mojica of Findlay, an Owens registered nursing student and a member of the Findlay-area Campus Student Nursing Association. “This toy drive is one great way to help area children smile while spending time in the hospital.”

Among the hospitals where Owens students and faculty personally hand-delivered the charitable gifts included Blanchard Valley Regional Health Center in Findlay, Wood County Hospital in Bowling Green, Lima Memorial Hospital in Lima, Mercy Hospital of Tiffin in Tiffin, Fremont Memorial Hospital in Fremont and Fostoria Community Hospital in Fostoria. Nearly 300 toys have been donated to area hospital children the last four years.

“Wood County Hospital is extremely grateful to Owens Community College’s nursing students for the thoughtful gifts and their efforts to help others,” said Lori Tuck, Director of Medical Surgical and Pediatrics at Wood County Hospital. “The children are absolutely delighted to receive the gifts. To see each face light up with excitement is priceless and brightens the day not only for the children, but also the hospital staff.”

According to Deanna Hays of St. Marys, Owens registered nursing student and President of the Findlay-area Campus Student Nursing Association, the support once again for this year’s toy drive from Owens employees and community residents was amazing.

“I really want to thank everyone who donated toys for our toy drive,” said Hays. “These donations make a world of difference for children spending the holidays in area hospitals.”

Hays added, “I also want to thank area hospitals for allowing our organization to spread holiday cheer to their patients. Many of the Owens nursing students conduct their clinical work in these hospitals. It’s feels great to give back to these hospitals who open their doors and allows us to learn from their staff.”

More than 75 toys were delivered to six area hospitals as part of the toy drive.

The Owens Student Nursing Association has a rich and storied history, serving as one of the longest active student organizations at the College. In 2005, Owens expanded its student activities opportunities to include a new Findlay-area Campus chapter of the Student Nursing Association. The organization was created for Findlay-area Campus nursing and pre-nursing students with the overall mission of providing avenues for individuals to engage in community service activities, as well as to serve as a support network for nursing students. There are currently 10 nursing students participating in the Findlay-area Campus chapter.

Owens Community College Names New Center for Emergency Preparedness Director

Posted on December 9th, 2008

Michael Cornell

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College has named Michael Cornell as the new Director of the Center for Emergency Preparedness. His responsibilities will include overseeing all activities within the state-of-the-art facility, which serves as a state, regional and national education and resource center for public safety and emergency response training.

In addition, his new position will entail the continued development and implementation of the Center’s educational and training programs for police, fire and emergency services personnel, as well as the military, at the regional, state and national levels. Cornell will also serve as a liaison between the School of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and the Center for Emergency Preparedness and oversee the development of multiple forms of training delivery, including experiential, in-classroom, web and virtual reality-based instruction.

Additional responsibilities will include fostering partnerships between Owens and emergency preparedness leaders within the surrounding communities, as well as at the state, regional and national levels, helping to support the Center’s education and training efforts throughout the region.

“Michael Cornell brings a distinguished career and extensive background and experiences in emergency response training to Owens Community College, which is invaluable to the continued growth and evolution of the Center for Emergency Preparedness’ specialized and concurrent emergency preparedness training,” said Dr. Michael Bankey, Owens Vice President of Workforce and Community Services. “We welcome Michael to Owens Community College and look forward to his leadership and vision in providing police, fire, emergency services personnel and the military with a superior educational training experience.”

Prior to his new position at Owens, Cornell served as the Director of Emergency Services for the U.S. Army in Stockton, Utah. While serving as Director, he was responsible for the strategic direction and supervision of the paramedic and EMT staff at a chemical munitions depot. His responsibilities also included creating emergency response, interdiction and recovery plans, standard operating procedures and medical protocols/standing written orders for the U.S. Army. Additionally, Cornell oversaw operation of the forward medical aid station and provided support and training for local and state EMS agencies.

Before his involvement with the U.S. Army, Cornell was the Director of Hospital Employee and Community Services for Walter Knox Memorial Hospital for six years, where he managed the Hospital Employee and Community Services Department in such areas as human resources, employee health, education, ergonomics and workmen’s compensation programs. He has also served as an Instructor at the Idaho State University Institute of Emergency Management, a Critical Care Medic for Ada County Emergency Medical Services and a Fire Captain for the Kuna Fire Department.

His professional and community involvement includes affiliation with the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute, the American Highway Safety Institute, the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians and the Society of Human Resource Managers.

Cornell received associate’s degrees in criminal justice and English from Brigham Young University – Idaho. The Northwood resident also holds certification as an Intensive Care Paramedic and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in homeland security from American Military University. Cornell’s educational background also includes homeland security training through the American College of Forensic Examiners, incident response to terrorist bombing training through New Mexico Tech and medical management of chemical and biological casualties through the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, among other areas.

In 2007, Owens marked a milestone in the academic institution’s history by opening a new $20.5 million Center for Emergency Preparedness. The new Center for Emergency Preparedness fulfills a need for a rather expansive complex within the region that can provide “real-world” training in a safe and controlled environment. Potential training scenarios that can be conducted within the new facility include those related to natural and manmade disasters involving hazardous materials, confined spaces, riots, entrapments and weapons of mass destruction. Currently, there is no higher education facility for multi agencies to conduct concurrent emergency response training in the Midwest. The federal government operates the only other emergency response facilities somewhat similar in stature.

Owens’ 110-acre Center for Emergency Preparedness features full-size, state-of-the-art training props/simulators, including a mobile fire behavior lab, a five-story burn building, tank truck fire simulator, stationary fuel tank fire simulator, collapsed building rescue simulator, confined space rescue simulator, automobile fire simulator, skills/skid pad, dive and rescue pond, rail car rescue simulator, vehicle extrication field and an aircraft rescue simulator. The facility also includes a mock city replicating a community infrastructure such as a gas station, a bank, and residential and search and rescue structures.

Since opening the facility, many police, fire and emergency services personnel, as well as the military, from Ohio and beyond, including the FBI, Ohio National Guard and Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, have utilized the facility for either specialized or concurrent emergency preparedness training.

Additionally, Owens is currently in the process of constructing a new 28,790 square-foot Emergency Preparedness Operations Building that will provide first responders with expanded opportunities for real-world, scenario training highlighted by the only indoor simulated burn building in the country. The four-story simulated burn building will feature a state-of-the-art video projection program, which will enable first responders to conduct a variety of structure burn scenarios, such as residential, commercial, processing or electrical equipment fires, using actual water within a controlled virtual fire and smoke environment. The building is also designed for high angle rescue, ground and aerial ladder drills, apparatus placement, high rise hose evolution, and rappel entry and exit training, as well as roof ventilation training exercises through the use of a replaceable roof.

Owens Findlay-area Campus Names New Allied Health Chair

Posted on December 9th, 2008

Marie Vasquez-Brooks

FINDLAY, OH – Owens Community College has named as the new Chair of Allied Health on the Findlay-area Campus. Her responsibilities will include overseeing the allied health academic programs in the School of Health Sciences on the Findlay-area Campus, as well as various activities and instructional initiatives.

In addition, her new position will entail supervising the development and implementation of new academic curricula, directing the on-going evaluation of the School’s allied health courses on Findlay-area Campus and collaborating with the fellow academic chairs to enhance educational opportunities and resources for current and future students.

“We are honored to have Marie Vasquez-Brooks serving as the new Chair of Allied Health on the Findlay-area Campus,” said Dr. Mathew McIntosh, Owens Dean of the School of Health Sciences. “Marie brings a visionary approach and a wealth of knowledge and experience within health sciences to the College’s Findlay-area Campus. Her leadership will be invaluable as the School of Health Sciences looks to open new doors to health education and training opportunities for the surrounding Northwest Ohio region.”

Since July 2004, Vasquez-Brooks has served as the Fitness Program Director for the Robert E. Lee District RECenter of Fairfax County Park Authority in Alexandria, Va. While at the Lee District RECenter, she was responsible for the strategic direction, fundamental management functions and overall leadership of fitness programming and community outreach within the organization. Her responsibilities also included overseeing fitness instructors, personal trainers and fitness center attendants, as well as implementing a mentoring/internship program that provides community outreach to local schools and community groups through direct-contact with instructors. Additionally, Vasquez-Brooks played an integral role in creating and developing new innovative programming for the organization.

Prior to her position at Lee District RECenter, Vasquez-Brooks, a Toledo native, served as the Owner/Director of A Child’s Way Inc. in Toledo for seven years, where she oversaw all operations for the National Association for the Education of Young Children-accredited early education facility.

Her professional and community involvement includes membership with the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and the National Association of Sport and Physical Education. Vasquez-Brooks holds multiple fitness certifications and has given numerous presentations on exercise, fitness and children at several national conferences, including the Virginia Recreation and Park Society’s Annual Conference.

The Alexandria, Va., resident received a master’s degree in physical education and a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology both from the University of Toledo.

Owens Community College Names New Director of Disability Services

Posted on December 9th, 2008

Sue Emerine

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College has named Sue Emerine as the new Director of Disability Services. Her responsibilities will include overseeing all aspects related to the administrative leadership, coordination and development of initiatives related to the delivery of support services for students with disabilities on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses.

Emerine will also be responsible for providing leadership for the Office of Disability Services and ensuring that each individual has access to the academic institution’s many programs and services. Among the accommodations available to students include alternative test modifications, textbooks in an alternative format, and adaptive equipment and software. Additionally, Emerine will serve as a liaison to various community agencies to provide coordination and assure availability of services at Owens.

“Sue Emerine brings to Owens Community College’s Office of Disability Services over 20 years of leadership experience in social service and non-profit organizations, as well as a wealth of knowledge in promoting and advocating for barrier-free environments for people with disabilities,” said Dr. Bill Ivoska, Owens Vice President of Student Services. “I am proud to welcome Sue to her new position as Director of Disability Services and confident that she will continue the College’s longstanding tradition and commitment to ensuring equal learning opportunities for our students.”

Emerine joined the College in June 2003 as a Disability Services Representative. In that position, she worked directly with students on interpreting appropriate disability documentation and determining accommodations. Emerine also assisted Owens employees in identifying needs and resources for students and helped students in advocacy and other disability related issues. Since July 2008, she has held the position of Interim Director of Disability Services at Owens.

Prior to working at Owens, Emerine served as a Case Manager at the Lucas County Board of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities and as a Program Coordinator at The Ability Center of Greater Toledo.

The Maumee resident holds a master’s degree in community agency counseling from the University of Toledo and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Bowling Green State University. Additionally, Emerine is a member of the Association on Higher Education and Disability.

Owens Community College and Bowling Green State University Receive National Grant to Produce More Scientists

Posted on December 1st, 2008

BGSU Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Moira van Staaden (left) and Owens Professor of Science Dr. Anne Bullerjahn will oversee the collaborative effort between the two academic institutions. (photo courtesy of BGSU Marketing and Communications)

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Bowling Green State University is collaborating with Owens Community College to address a goal that’s easy to state and offering a challenge to meet.

It’s “fairly ambitious,” says Dr. Moira van Staaden of a national business-backed goal of doubling the number of college graduates in the sciences by 2015. “But we need to do it.”

The Associate Professor of Biology at BGSU and a colleague from Owens, Dr. Anne Bullerjahn, Professor of Science, intend to do their part as directors of a project funded by the National Science Foundation for up to $2.2 million over five years. Science, Engineering and Technology Gateway Ohio (SETGO) is expected to encompass several hundred Bowling Green and Owens students and faculty in a three-pronged approach to generating more scientists.

The national need stems from an aging work force in the so-called STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, explains van Staaden, whose project co-director at BGSU, Dr. Tracy Huziak-Clark, an Assistant Professor in the School of Teaching and Learning, will assess its effectiveness.

While the number of jobs requiring at least a two-year degree in the STEM disciplines is expected to increase by 2020, the number of American college graduates in those fields is declining, van Staaden states. “It’s not just an Ohio problem, but it’s particularly acute here because education is problematic in Ohio,” she adds, noting that Ohio is in the bottom half of states in its percentages of both STEM graduates and residents with at least a two-year degree.

Research has shown that many students who enter college in math or the sciences but then leave those disciplines do so because they weren’t prepared for the college-level content they encountered, van Staaden says. So SETGO will begin with a five-week “bridge” course at Owens, taught by Owens faculty, to bolster incoming students in math and science, including chemistry and biology.

Owens students sometimes start thinking they’re not interested in science, says Bullerjahn, but “with this grant, we can say, ‘Do we have a program for you!'” The bridge course will provide an opportunity to learn about different branches of science – also including ecology, for example – in a lab-based, hands-on setting.

“I think if we can tap into that interest and show the aspects of science they’ve never seen before, and it will take off for them,” she predicts.

Students in the bridge program will be in cohorts of 24, which are further divided into study groups of six people working closely with a peer teaching assistant. Three other Owens faculty members are also involved with the bridge program, which, van Staaden points out, is modeled after BGSU’s successful Academic Investment in Math and Science (AIMS) program for young women and students of color.

“What we’re trying to do is recreate the social and academic support connections that AIMS is so good at providing and put it in a framework that will work for a broader demographic,” she says, noting that Owens students are often older than the traditional college-age students served by AIMS.

Following the summer bridge program, SETGO students – who must be American citizens – will be part of a BGSU-based, academic-year learning community called the Art of Science Community. It’s so named because evidence elsewhere suggests that students with other creative interests and outlets tend to be more successful in the sciences, and institutions attracting such students can increase their graduation rates, van Staaden states.

The learning community will host monthly meetings of faculty and students, to be held alternately at BGSU and Owens, with the theme “Building a Better Environment.” The two-hour meetings will cut across the sciences, with one hour devoted to a scientific presentation with broad appeal followed by an hour of social programming, according to the Bowling Green biologist. Video podcasts will be part of the meetings as well, allowing more students to participate at some level, she explains.

Faculty – along with BGSU undergraduate and graduate students – can serve as mentors to the Owens students, many of whom the directors hope will transfer to Bowling Green to complete four-year degrees after two years at the community college. “This provides a mechanism for them to transition to Bowling Green if they have the desire to do that,” she said.

Bullerjahn points out that BGSU will afford the students more opportunities for research experiences – the third element of SETGO. The idea is for students to work in faculty members’ labs during the summer following the academic year in the learning community. The project’s success will depend largely on how many faculty get the students involved with research that piques their interest, says van Staaden, adding that many of her science colleagues already do a “splendid” job of it. The grant offers funds to faculty for materials, as well as student stipends.

Area Students Explore Information Technology Careers During Statewide ‘We Are IT’ Program at Owens

Posted on November 24th, 2008

Owens’ “We Are IT” event allowed Blossom Mitchell of Toledo, a Libbey High School sophomore student, to learn about the components within a hard drive during the “I’m Not Afraid of That” program.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Web pages, Second Life, 3-D animation and computer forensics are just a few of the information technology areas that over 250 girls in grades 7-10 recently explored as part of an interactive professional conference at Owens Community College’s Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses. The event titled “We Are IT” was part of a statewide initiative involving 18 colleges and universities working together for the purpose of providing female students with a broad-based introduction to information technology applications and the array of rapidly-growing career opportunities.

For Franciss Lockett of Toledo, the opportunity to participate in a variety of information technology educational activities meant a day of “cool” exploration on computers.

“I really like to learn about technology and enjoy experimenting with new things on the computer,” said Lockett, an eighth grade student at Leverette Junior High School. “I want to become a teacher someday and really feel it’s important to incorporate technology into education.”

Keynesha Nash of Toledo, an eighth grader at Leverette Junior High School, explored career opportunities within information technology in one of the breakout sessions.

Aleesha Shafer of Continental, a freshman student at Continental High School, added, “I learned a lot about computers that I never knew before today. The different sessions were fun and interesting.”

Throughout the event, conference attendees had the opportunity to explore a wide variety of career paths and vocations in information technology, including 3-D animation using the ALICE Programming Language (Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses), Second Life (Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses), ePortfolios (Findlay-area Campus), wikis and blogs (Findlay-area Campus), Microsoft Office 2007 (Toledo-area Campus), personal web page design (Toledo-area Campus), Photoshop skills (Toledo-area Campus), computer forensics (Toledo-area Campus), computer diagnostics (Toledo-area Campus) and computer security (Toledo-area Campus).

In addition to the lecture portion of each session, the students were given a project to complete in order to further learn the concepts being taught. Sessions were taught by various members of Owens’ information technology and electronics faculty and staff, among others.

“Owens Community College is proud to participate in a statewide initiative which is focused on exposing area students to various career options within information technology,” said Lyn Snyder, Owens Professor of Information Systems and Chair of the College’s ‘We Are IT’ professional conference committee. “The demand for information technology workers continues to increase and several information technology-related occupations are recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services as the fastest-growing careers in the nation.”

Owens Associate Professor of Information Systems Carol Buser provided students with a hands on session about the ALICE Programming Language.

Snyder added, “‘We Are IT’ affords students with a great opportunity to obtain first-hand knowledge about this ever-growing career field from Northwest Ohio’s premier information technology educators and working professionals.”

Students also had time during lunch to meet individuals from local businesses and ask them questions concerning their professions. Additionally, they received information on how to go about choosing a career within information technology after completing their education.

Among the area schools that attended “We Are IT” were Carey High School, Central Middle School (Findlay City Schools), Clay High School, Continental High School, Donnell Middle School (Findlay City Schools), Eastwood Middle School, Gateway Middle School (Maumee City Schools), Glenwood Middle School (Findlay City Schools), Leverette Junior High School (Toledo Public Schools), Libbey High School, Rogers High School and Woodward High School.

Owens adolescence education student Joe Bergman of Genoa assists Maumee’s Gateway Middle School student Lexi Helminski of Maumee in learning how easy it is to add dimension, color and texture to photos through a Photoshop program.

Other academic institutions that participated in the statewide initiative included Edison State Community College, University of Akron, Columbus State Community College, Hocking College, Kent State University, Lakeland Community College, North Central State College, Northwest State Community College, Sinclair Community College and Youngstown State University, among others.

Owens’ “We Are IT” professional conference was held in conjunction with the Ohio IT Business Advisory Network and the Office of Career-Technical and Adult Education of the Ohio Department of Education.

Owens offers a wide variety of academic programs within information technology through the College’s School of Business and Information Systems, and past graduates have gone on to high paying careers as computer programmers, systems analysts, Internet support specialists, network support specialists and information systems managers throughout Northwest Ohio. Information technology-specific programs offered at Owens include Computer Programming, E-Business, Information Systems, Networking and Information Systems Support, and Information Technology.

Owens Findlay-area Campus Holiday Arts and Crafts Bazaar Raises Over $1,100 in Support of Cancer Research

Posted on November 20th, 2008

FINDLAY, OH – Hundreds of area residents recently began their holiday shopping a little early and supported cancer research and awareness in the process as Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus’ Students Involved organization hosted its second annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Bazaar. The daylong event resulted in the student group raising over $1,100 for the Hancock County Relay for Life.

“Owens’ Students Involved organization is proud to work with the American Cancer Society and help raise money for cancer research through events such as Relay for Life,” said Sabrina Rodabaugh, Owens Student President for the Students Involved organization.

Janet Tornow, Owens Students Involved Advisor and cancer survivor, added, “Our goal is to inspire people to keep believing that a cure for cancer will soon be found. I want thank all those individuals who made this year’s Holiday Arts and Crafts Bazaar a huge success, and I encourage people to continue to promote cancer awareness.”

The Holiday Arts and Crafts Bazaar featured an array of vendors selling various gift items and holiday dÈcor. Items on hand for sale included holiday ornaments and crafts, as well as rugs, jewelry, pottery, baby blankets, purses, soaps, candles and Tupperware. Attendees could also purchase assorted baked goods, including hard candies and pies, among many other edible delights.

Established in 1985, Relay for Life was created to offer communities a unique, empowering and fun way to assist in the fight against cancer. Today, as the American Cancer Society’s signature event, approximately 4,800 communities and 23 countries participate in the cancer awareness fundraiser.

The American Cancer Society is the nation’s leading community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by prevention, saving lives and diminishing suffering through research, education, advocacy and service.

The College’s Students Involved is comprised of individuals on the Findlay-area Campus that are constantly initiating new projects and events that cater to the interests of Owens’ student body and the surrounding communities.

Owens’ New Emergency Preparedness Operations Building Named Regional Ohio Fire Academy Training Site

Posted on November 14th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College is once again investing in the future of emergency preparedness training opportunities available to police, fire and emergency services personnel, as well as the military, throughout the region by unveiling plans and breaking ground for a new $3.2 million Emergency Preparedness Operations Building.

In addition, Owens’ new Emergency Preparedness Operations Building will serve as the Northwest Ohio regional training site for the Ohio Fire Academy. First responders attending the Ohio Fire Academy, which is located in Reynoldsburg, will be afforded the opportunity to heighten their emergency preparedness skills in Northwest Ohio through the use of the College’s Center for Emergency Preparedness. Since 1978, the Ohio Fire Academy has provided emergency response training to over 380,000 first responders statewide.

The four-story simulated burn building will feature a state-of-the-art video projection program, which will enable first responders to conduct a variety of structure burn scenarios, such as residential, commercial, processing or electrical equipment fires, using actual water within a controlled virtual fire and smoke environment.

“Owens Community College and the Ohio Fire Academy are leaders in emergency response training and are committed to providing first responders with new simulated training opportunities that support classroom learning through the use of state-of-the-art educational resources,” said Dr. Paul Unger, Owens Executive Vice President and Provost. “We welcome this new collaboration with the Ohio Fire Academy and embrace the idea of aligning our educational philosophies.”

Provost Unger added, “The new Ohio Fire Academy partnership and Emergency Preparedness Operations Building are investments in meeting the education and training needs of first responders throughout the region.”

“This strategic partnership gives firefighters and first responders an opportunity to receive the same top quality Ohio Fire Academy training while staying close to home in Northwest Ohio,” said State Fire Marshal Michael P. Bell. “This is the first collaboration of its kind between the Division of State Fire Marshal and an Ohio community college, and we hope it will pave the way for more opportunities throughout the state.”

Owens’ new 28,790 square-foot Emergency Preparedness Operations Building is being built at the west entrance to the Center for Emergency Preparedness and will provide first responders with expanded opportunities for real-world, scenario training highlighted by the only indoor simulated burn building in the country. The four-story simulated burn building will feature a state-of-the-art video projection program, which will enable first responders to conduct a variety of structure burn scenarios, such as residential, commercial, processing or electrical equipment fires, using actual water within a controlled virtual fire and smoke environment. The building is also designed for high angle rescue, ground and aerial ladder drills, apparatus placement, high rise hose evolution, and rappel entry and exit training, as well as roof ventilation training exercises through the use of a replaceable roof.

Additional Emergency Preparedness Operations Building features will include six classrooms, eight offices, two reception areas, locker room facilities and a 40-foot high bay complex with 10 overhead garage doors, which will house the simulated burn building and first responder vehicles. Owens’ construction project, which is slated for completion in August 2009, will house Owens Center for Emergency Preparedness and Toledo Fire and Rescue Department and Emergency Medical Services Bureau staff and officials.

Designed by the firm Sitzenstock Associates Inc. of Maumee, the exterior of the building will feature an insulated finishing system around the single-story portion of the facility, while metal will encircle the Emergency Preparedness Operations Building’s high bay complex. Owens’ signature color red will be present atop the Emergency Preparedness Operations Building’s metal roof. Van Tassel Construction Co. of Ottawa Lake, Mich. will serve as the general contractor, while Gem Industrial Inc. of Walbridge, Brint Electric Inc. of Toledo and Accel Fire Systems Inc. of Sylvania will oversee the plumbing/mechanical, electrical and fire protection contracts, respectively.

Owens officials and community leaders ceremoniously broke ground for the new Emergency Preparedness Operations Building.

The College currently offers associate degrees and certificate programs in Fire Science Technology, Criminal Justice Technology, Corrections, Military Science, Emergency Medical Management, Emergency Management and Planning, and Public Safety Communications, among others. Owens also has a longstanding partnership with both Toledo Police and Fire Departments, serving as the training site for the two organizational academies, and has partnerships with the Ohio Fire Academy, Ohio Police Officer Training Academy and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Owens Community College Welcomes Grammy Winning Native American Singer Bill Miller, Nov. 20

Posted on November 13th, 2008

Bill Miller

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Rich, multi-faceted songs full of though-provoking depth and feeling will fill the air at Owens Community College’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts as Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Bill Miller takes the stage on Thursday, Nov. 20.

Miller will perform in the College’s Mainstage Theatre at 7:30 p.m. The Owens Toledo-area Campus is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

“Owens Community College is proud to welcome the highly accomplished Bill Miller to Northwest Ohio,” said Barbara Barkan, Owens Operations Manager for the Center for Fine and Performing Arts. “Attendees are in for an evening of unforgettable entertainment through Miller’s upbeat, passionate acoustic music, which is deeply rooted in Native American heritage.”

Recognized as one of the country’s most notable Native American artists, Miller has crafted a sound that is uniquely American; equal parts of modern urgency and timeless mysticism. Miller’s soulful sound, which resonates from the deepest corners of his spirit and his own personal struggles with racism and abuse, combines thought-provoking contemporary Native American music that bridges traditional sounds with folk, bluegrass and acoustic rock.

The guitarist and singer, as well as a accomplished player of the Native American flute, earned arguably one of the highest honors bestowed upon a musician by receiving a Grammy Award for “Best Native American Music Album” titled “Cedar Dreams Songs” in 2005. Additionally, Miller’s accomplishments include five Native American Music Awards. He has also toured with Willie Nelson, Pearl Jam, Waylon Jennings and Arlo Guthrie, among other musical greats.

In addition to the performance, Miller will be sharing insightful details about singing, songwriting and the music business, as well as marketing yourself as a performer, during a free workshop on Thursday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. in the Mainstage Theatre for interested individuals. The public is welcome to attend.

Tickets for the Bill Miller concert are $20 for the general public, $18 for senior citizens, and $12 for Owens students and employees. To purchase tickets, visit www.owens.edu or contact the College’s Box Office. For more information about this event, contact the Center for Fine and Performing Arts at (567) 661-2787 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2787.

Owens Community College Names New Dean of Advising, Orientation and Career Services

Posted on November 12th, 2008

Cory Stine

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College has named Cory Stine as the new Dean of Advising, Orientation and Career Services. His responsibilities will include overseeing all aspects related to the strategic and administrative leadership, coordination and development of the academic advising process, recruitment process and career services.

In addition, Stine will be responsible for providing leadership to the new student orientation process, bridging the transition from recruitment to advising. His position will also entail the integration of students into retention based initiatives, such as the First Year Experience, ePortfolio, student involvement and career services, to enhance educational opportunities and resources for current and future students.

“Owens Community College is honored to have Cory Stine serving as the new Dean of Advising, Orientation and Career Services,” said Dr. Bill Ivoska, Owens Vice President of Student Services. “Cory brings to the College extensive knowledge and experience in higher education that will be invaluable as Owens continues to further its mission and vision by providing a superior educational experience through excellence, innovation and collaboration.”

Since May 2000, Stine has served as the Assistant Director of Enrollment Services at Terra Community College. While at Terra, he was responsible for the strategic direction and development of enrollment management and student engagement related activities and initiatives for the academic institution. His responsibilities also included providing leadership and coordination for all activities associated with the areas of recruitment, admissions, academic advising, welcome services, new-student orientation, assessment and placement, international student admission, multicultural services, direct mail communication outreach, retention initiatives, disability support services, tutoring and student organizations.

Prior to his position at Terra, Stine served as the Special Projects Coordinator at the Private Industry Council in Fremont for three years, where he assisted and coordinated employment and training services in Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca counties.

His professional and community involvement includes membership with the National Association for College Admission Counseling, National Council on Student Development, Ohio Academic Advising Association and Ohio ACT State Organization. Stine also serves on the Chamber of Commerce of Sandusky County Education and Employment Committee and is involved with the Ottawa County WIA Youth Council.

The Port Clinton resident holds a master’s degree in family science and a bachelor’s degree in psychology both from The Ohio State University. Stine is currently pursuing his doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Toledo.

Owens Presents ‘Creative Noises Live’ First-Ever Fall Artist Series, Nov. 4-20

Posted on October 29th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Area residents with a passion and an enjoyment of music and theatre are encouraged to join in celebrating the culmination of an academic semester’s worth of Fine and Performing Arts education as Owens Community College presents its first-ever “Creative Noises Live” Fall Artist Series, Nov. 4-20.

Coordinated and promoted by the College’s Music Business I class, the Fall Artist Series will showcase the accomplishments of Owens students and faculty in a number of performances ranging from vocal to theatre.

“‘Creative Noises Live’ is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the tremendous accomplishments of our Owens Community College Fine and Performing Arts students,” said Denise Grupp-Verbon, Owens Fine and Performing Arts Adjunct Faculty member and Music Business I instructor. “The upcoming recitals, ensembles and staged readings have been mastered through academic learning within the classroom this current fall term. Events such as ‘Creative Noises Live’ provide our students with a great venue to display such creative talents in a real world setting.”

All events will occur in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Rotunda on the Toledo-area Campus and in the Commons area on the Findlay-area Campus. The Owens Toledo-area Campus is located in Perrysburg Township, while the College’s Findlay-area Campus is located in Findlay. The schedule of events is as follows:

Tuesday, November 4
Owens Faculty Harp and Tuba Recital
Owens faculty members Denise Grupp-Verbon and Russell Bodi will perform a variety of musical selections as part of a unique instrumental combination featuring the harp and tuba.
(1 p.m.) (Toledo-area Campus Center for Fine and Performing Arts Rotunda)

Owens String Ensemble
An array of string instruments, including the violin, viola and cello, and many classical music favorites will be featured by the Owens string ensemble class during the live performance.
(1 p.m.) (Toledo-area Campus Center for Fine and Performing Arts Rotunda)

Thursday, November 6
Owens Songwriting Performance
Owens student performers within the College’s songwriting class will showcase their creative writing and musical skills in a variety of “never heard or seen before” performances.
(1 p.m.) (Toledo-area Campus Center for Fine and Performing Arts Rotunda)

Owens Theatrical Readings
Students from the College’s theatre classes will stage dramatic live readings that highlight the literary works of William Shakespeare.
(1 p.m.) (Toledo-area Campus Center for Fine and Performing Arts Rotunda)

Tuesday, November 11
Owens Voices Concert
Attendees are in for an afternoon of masterful sounds courtesy of the College’s vocal students. The concert will feature a wide range of music from Broadway hits to many of today’s popular chart-topping songs as part of solo performances.
(1 p.m.) (Toledo-area Campus Center for Fine and Performing Arts Rotunda)

Thursday, November 13
Owens Guitar Ensemble
Students from the Owens guitar ensemble class will perform some of their favorite songs in various genres, showcasing the skills they have acquired through the use of this classic instrument.
(1 p.m.) (Toledo-area Campus Center for Fine and Performing Arts Rotunda)

Tuesday, November 18
Owens Jazz Ensemble
Owens student performers will showcase their many talents through numerous crowd-pleasing musical favorites that highlight many diverse styles of jazz.
(1 p.m.) (Toledo-area Campus Center for Fine and Performing Arts Rotunda)

Multi-Instrumental Performance by Owens Faculty Member Eric Wallack
Eric Wallack, Owens Assistant Professor of Fine and Performing Arts, will showcase his multi-instrumental talents and songwriting abilities during an eclectic acoustic music performance culled from the hollows and shadows of old, weird America.
(1 p.m.) (Findlay-area Campus Commons)

Harp and Acoustic Guitar Performance by TAPESTRY
Attendees will have the opportunity to hear the rich colorful blend of the harp and acoustic guitar as part of TAPESTRY’s live performance featuring Owens Adjunct Faculty member Denise Grupp-Verbon and Michael Grupp-Verbon. The two professional musicians will perform an array of their crowd-pleasing favorite music.
(1 p.m.) (Findlay-area Campus Commons)

Thursday, November 20
Owens Choir Concert
The College’s student chorus class will feature a sundry of musical selections that feature their vocal talents and abilities.
(1 p.m.) (Center for Fine and Performing Arts Rotunda)

All the performances are free and the public is encouraged to attend. For more information about the “Creative Noises Live” Fall Artist Series, contact the College’s Fine and Performing Arts at (567) 661-7081 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7081.

Owens Community College is one of the fastest-growing higher educational institutions in Ohio. On the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses, Owens serves more than 45,000 credit and non-credit students. Owens is c
mmitted to providing small classes, personal attention and unmatched affordability. Owens Community College offers associate degrees that transfer to baccalaureate degrees in the Arts and Sciences and over 130 technical program areas in Agriculture, Business, Health Sciences, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Skilled Trades, and Engineering and Transportation Technologies. Owens students also can earn the first two years of a bachelor’s degree with a smooth transfer to any area four-year college or university. For more information, visit www.owens.edu.

Owens and Levis Commons Hilton Garden Inn ‘UnCommon Evening’ Raises Over $30,000 for Success Program Scholarships

Posted on October 29th, 2008

Gateway Hospitality Group President and CEO Bob Voelker (left), Owens Community College President Dr. Christa Adams and Dillin Corporation Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, as well as Owens Board of Trustee, Jack Sculfort pose for a photo during the “UnCommon Evening” event.

Toledo School for the Arts’ Glass City Steel was one of many musical groups to perform at the grand opening gala.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – More than 250 area residents recently enjoyed “An UnCommon Evening” of dinner and entertainment in support of the Success Scholarship Program as Owens Community College’s Foundation and the Hilton Garden Inn at Levis Commons held its Grand Opening Gala. The event’s success resulted in the Owens Foundation raising over $30,000 in support of scholarships for future Owens Success Program students.

“The Owens Community College Foundation and the Hilton Garden Inn at Levis Commons’ Grand Opening Gala ‘An UnCommon Evening’ was a huge success and would not have been possible without the overwhelming support of Northwest Ohio’s companies, as well as area residents,” said Ann Savage, Owens Executive Director of Fund Development and Foundation President. “Their generous contributions will go along way in expanding the Success Scholarship Program to additional schools and assisting even more students with financial need achieve their educational and career aspirations.”

All “An UnCommon Evening” proceeds will benefit Owens scholarships through the Success Program. In February 2008, Owens and the College’s Foundation announced the first stage of its Success Scholarship Program designed to make college affordable for high school graduates with financial need. Piloted at Woodward and Findlay high schools, the scholarship bridges the gap between a student’s financial grant aid and the cost of tuition and fees at Owens. Recently, Owens’ Foundation expanded the Success Program to include all high schools in Toledo Public Schools’ district.

Over 250 individuals enjoyed an evening of uncommon eloquence courtesy of the Owens Foundation and the Levis Commons Hilton Garden Inn staff.

The Owens Foundation was incorporated in April 2002 and has over $2.1 million in assets. The Foundation Board of Directors currently is comprised of 23 community leaders from Lucas, Wood and Hancock counties. The mission of the Owens Foundation and its Board of Directors is developing and providing resources to advance the College’s overall mission of serving students and the surrounding communities. The Foundation is also dedicated to removing barriers to education by providing student scholarships and supporting growth and innovation at Owens.

The new Hilton Garden Inn at Levis Commons in Perrysburg is regarded as the premier hotel in the region. The Hilton Garden Inn’s unique setting in Levis Commons, which features an upscale lifestyle center, as well as world-class shopping, dining and entertainment, makes it the perfect hotel for both the business and leisure traveler.

Owens Findlay-area Campus Announces GED Regional Testing Center November Schedule

Posted on October 28th, 2008

FINDLAY, OH – Area residents interested in enhancing basic skills in English or math, or improving employment skills, are encouraged to attend free GED educational opportunities in November at the Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus.

Owens’ Findlay-area Campus is one of only two Testing Centers in Hancock County to house the official GED examination and also provides educational testing services to the immediate area, including Allen, Hardin, Henry, Putnam, Seneca, Wood and Wyandot counties. Owens is located on Bright Road in Findlay.

The GED examination was created with the goal of providing individuals who do not finish high school with an opportunity to earn an Ohio High School Equivalence Diploma and advance their academic and career aspirations. Prior to taking the GED examinations, individuals are encouraged to attend free GED Preparation classes offered Tuesdays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 12-2 p.m. and 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Owens’ GED Preparation classes are designed to help prepare students for success in passing the Ohio GED examination by building on a foundation of basic skills, including reading comprehension, science and mathematics. Owens’ GED Preparation classes are held in Room 150 on the Findlay-area Campus.

Additionally, all students must attend an orientation meeting before receiving GED Preparation classroom instruction. Orientation meetings will occur on Monday, Nov. 10 from 6-9 p.m. in Room 162, and on Tuesday, Nov. 11 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. in Room 162.

The College also makes available a free Ohio GED practice test for individuals prior to taking the official examination. Students who pass the GED practice test will receive a fee waiver to take the Ohio GED test for free, saving $55. The practice test is offered in the College’s Testing Center in Room 124 through a computer program.

The official Ohio GED examination is administered at Owens on one designated day per month. The College’s next official testing date is on Saturday, Nov. 1. GED testing will begin at 7:15 a.m. on the Findlay-area Campus.

For more information on the many GED educational opportunities, call (567) 429-3547 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 3547.

Unique Owens Community College and Ohio University Partnership Enhances Accessibility and Affordability of Bachelor’s Degree for Northwest Ohio Students

Posted on October 21st, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College students with aspirations of pursuing a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University will now be able to continue their academic pursuits in Northwest Ohio as the two schools have finalized a unique seamless articulation agreement which will expand higher education opportunities for area residents throughout the region.

As a result of the new partnership, Owens students will be afforded the opportunity to obtain a bachelor’s degree by completing three years of higher education on the College’s Owens Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses followed by one year of academic courses through Ohio University’s distance learning program.

The two academic institutions will announce the new articulation partnership at a signing ceremony Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 3 p.m. in the board room on the second floor of the Owens Administrative Building in Perrysburg Township.

“Owens Community College and Ohio University are committed to serving our students by opening new doors to higher education opportunities through innovative partnerships,” said Owens Community College Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Paul Unger. “This new academic collaboration is an investment in meeting the education and training needs of Northwest Ohio’s citizens and preparing them for career opportunities within today’s competitive workforce.”

Provost Unger added, “Owens Community College looks forward to working with Ohio University on additional initiatives, which will serve even more individuals throughout Northwest Ohio and beyond.”

Greater access to higher education is imperative if Ohio is to compete successfully in the global economy, Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric Fingerhut has said. Chancellor Fingerhut has challenged Ohio’s colleges and universities to find new ways of working together to meet the measures set forth in the state’s strategic plan for higher education, including the percentage of bachelor’s degree recipients with academic credits from a community college. He has stated that the result of creating opportunities for students to attend multiple institutions on a single campus will have an immediate impact on increasing the number of college graduates.

One of the first results of the agreement will do just that. Beginning January 2009, the collaboration between Owens and Ohio University will offer individuals, who have earned an associate’s degree in a technical field from Owens, an opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University without leaving Northwest Ohio. Two different degree programs will be offered initially as part of the new articulation agreement, providing Owens students with flexible options to meet degree requirements.

Owens students will have the opportunity to obtain a Bachelor of Technical and Applied Sciences degree by maximizing transfer of credits earned from any of the College’s Associate of Applied Science or Applied Business degree programs. In addition, Ohio University’s Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree will provide a convenient and affordable advancement path for those Owens students who have completed an associate’s degree in a criminal justice area. While pursuing their bachelor’s degree, students will have the option of taking some academic courses from Owens and others online from Ohio University, as well as completing over half of the curriculum requirements or more at Owens.

“The partnership between Owens Community College and Ohio University illustrates the degree to which higher education aims to serve Ohio citizens through close collaboration and the smart use of technology,” noted Ohio University Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Kathy Krendl. “We are pleased to be able to offer students whose work and family circumstances prevent them from attending classes on an Ohio University campus the opportunity to experience the academic excellence that is a hallmark of our bachelor’s degree programs.”

In addition to convenience, the new programs will provide affordable options for students who may not desire or be able to relocate by offering an average savings of about 40 percent on the cost of tuition toward a bachelor’s degree as compared to a more traditional four-year residential campus course of study at public universities and colleges in Ohio. The partnership also streamlines transfer of credits, student services and financial aid activities for students in the program, making the ability to move between the two institutions’ systems seamless.

Chartered in 1804, Ohio University is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools at bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Students come from every state in the union and 100 different countries. Currently enrolling more than 29,000 students on the Athens campus and five regional campuses, Ohio University offers over 275 undergraduate majors through 10 academic colleges and the Center for International Studies. The university also offers master’s degrees in nearly all areas, 20 doctoral degrees, and a doctoral degree in osteopathic medicine.

More information about the academic programs available through the Owens and Ohio University articulation agreement, visit www.outreach.ohio.edu/onlinecomplete or contact 888.502.8989.

‘Today’ Show Aging Process Television Segment to Feature Owens Findlay-area Campus Employee and Student, Oct. 23

Posted on October 20th, 2008

FINDLAY, OH – Owens Community Findlay-area Campus Enrollment Services Advisor Stefanie Orians of Findlay and Katelyn Brodman of Carey, a Financial Aid student worker, will appear on television screens worldwide later this week as the two individuals will be featured on NBC’s “Today” Show as part of a segment about the aging process. The “Today” show segment will highlight Findlay’s Macklin Intergenerational Institute and the organization’s nationally-recognized Xtreme Aging program, as well as both Orians and Brodman on Thursday, Oct. 23

As part of the Xtreme Aging program, Orians and Brodman participated in interactive and experiential training that focused on the aging process and how society views the elderly. Program participants are empowered to identify and challenge commons myths and stereotypes about aging, take part in a simulated experience as an elder and develop strategies to help build enhanced relationships with the elderly. In addition, the training program provides attendees with a firsthand look at the social, physical, emotional, cognitive and spiritual aspects of growing older.

The Xtreme Aging program is based on the premise that preparation must parallel what occurs in real-life settings. Aging is a natural process and something all individuals experience. Renewed tolerance, kindness, patience and compassion can be gained through the experience of aging instantly as part of program participation.

During the final training program activity, both Orians and Brodman were “aged” with blurred glasses to impair sight, cotton balls in their ears to reduce hearing, masking tape on their dominant hand to imitate arthritis, damp cotton balls in their nose to diminish smell and kernels of corn in their shoes to mirror the effects of losing fat tissue.

Once “aged”, Orians and Brodman participated in a series of tasks and experiments, which included finding a name in a phone book, buttoning a shirt, putting jelly on a cracker, trying to determine the flavor of the jelly, counting money in a wallet and planning a route using a map.

“It was an eye-opening experience,” Orians said. “I know I learned a lot from going through these exercises.”

In addition to the actual Xtreme Aging program, both Orians and Brodman were interviewed and filmed “before the aging process” at their desks conducting daily work activities on the College’s Findlay-area Campus.

Owens Foundation and Levis Commons Hilton Garden Inn Present ‘An UnCommon Evening’ Grand Opening Gala, Oct. 24

Posted on October 14th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Area residents are invited to enjoy “An UnCommon Evening” of dinner and entertainment in support of the Success Scholarship Program as Owens Community College’s Foundation and the Hilton Garden Inn at Levis Commons present a Grand Opening Gala on Friday, Oct. 24.

The first-ever, black tie gala, which will begin at 6:01 p.m. in the Hilton Garden Inn at Levis Commons in Perrysburg, will feature a delectable dinner prepared by the Hilton Garden Inn’s own masterful on-site catering staff. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in several loud and silent auctions, as well as dance the evening away courtesy of an array of uncommon talent and entertainment.

“Owens Community College’s Foundation is proud to collaborate with the Hilton Garden Inn at Levis Commons and host a community-wide event, benefitting students in pursuit of a college education,” said Ann Savage, Owens Executive Director of Fund Development and Foundation President. “The Hilton Garden Inn’s Grand Opening Gala ‘An UnCommon Evening’ offers individuals and companies an opportunity to expand the Success Scholarship Program to additional schools and assist even more students with financial need achieve their educational and career aspirations.”

Individuals, businesses and organizations are invited to support “An UnCommon Evening” Grand Opening Gala by becoming a scholarship sponsor. Among the various levels of support include the Summa Cum Laude Sponsor ($10,000), Magna Cum Laude Sponsor ($5,000), Cum Laude Sponsor ($2,500) and Dean’s List Sponsor ($1,250). In addition, individual tickets for the event are $100 per person.

In addition, the Hilton Garden Inn is offering a special room rate of $89 as part of the event. Interested individuals can contact the Hilton Garden Inn at (419) 873-0700 for reservations. For more information about “An UnCommon Evening” Grand Opening Gala, contact the Owens Foundation at (567) 661-7187 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7187.

Owens Community College Expands Access to Higher Education Through New Toledo Public Schools Success Program Partnership

Posted on October 10th, 2008

Toledo Public Schools Superintendent John Foley and Owens Community College President Christa Adams, Ph.D., pose for a photo following the expansion of the Success Program announcement.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – All graduating Toledo Public Schools’ students in financial need will be afforded the opportunity to pursue a free college education at Owens Community College as the academic institution’s Foundation announces the expansion of its Success Program partnership to include all high schools within the Toledo Public Schools district.

The 2009 graduating classes of Bowsher High School, Libbey High School, Rogers High School, Scott High School, Start High School, Toledo Early College High School, Toledo Technology Academy, Waite High School and Woodward High School, among others, will serve as recipients of this unique program, which is designed to assist students, who receive only partial state and federal financial aid, attend college. The Success Program will bridge the gap between the federal grant aid a student receives and the cost of an Owens education.

Fourteen high schools are now partners in the Owens Success Program. Earlier this year, both Toledo Public Schools’ Woodward High School and Findlay City Schools became the first and second educational institutions to partner with the College’s Foundation and extend this opportunity to its students. Since announcing the new initiative, 87 Woodward and Findlay high school students have chosen to continue their education at Owens through the Success Program.

“Every student should have the opportunity to pursue a college education and realize their goals and ambitions,” said Christa Adams, Ph.D., President of Owens Community College. “The Success Program was established to eliminate financial barriers and provide greater access to higher education. Owens Community College is proud to further its partnership with Toledo Public Schools and the mission of educating and developing Northwest Ohio’s future leaders and societal contributors.”

“Toledo Public Schools appreciates the continuing support from Owens Community College and the generosity they are extending to our students through the Success Program,” said John Foley, Superintendent for Toledo Public Schools. “The Success Program provides our students with a tremendous opportunity to attend college and pursue an associate’s degree while planning for a successful future.”

Waite High School students were on hand to hear about the new Owens Community College and Toledo Public Schools Success Program partnership.

In order to be eligible, Toledo Public Schools’ students must graduate from high school, be enrolled in 12 or more credit hours each semester at Owens and complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid and receive some federal/state grant funding. Recipients must enroll at Owens during the first Fall Semester following graduation and will have three years to complete their associate’s degree through the Success Program initiative.

Waite High School Principal David Yenrick gathers with several senior high school students who received free Owens sweatshirts during a prize drawing at the Success Program announcement ceremony.

Toledo Public Schools is the fourth largest public school system in the state of Ohio and is recognized as one of the leading urban school districts. The school district enrolls nearly 29,000 students and operates 38 elementary schools, seven middle schools, nine senior high schools and various specialized learning centers.

Owens Community College Foundation Appoints Board of Directors to Leadership Positions

Posted on October 7th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College has named Arthur H. Smith of Maumee, retired Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for Libbey Inc., to serve as the new Chairman for the Owens Foundation. Smith replaces J. Michael Wilder of Findlay, General Counsel and Secretary for Marathon Petroleum Company LLC, who served as Foundation Chairman for the previous two years.

In addition, the College’s Foundation Board of Directors elected Thomas Pounds of Toledo, President and Publisher for the “Toledo Free Press”, as Vice Chairman, and Diana H. (Dee) Talmage of Toledo, retired Educator, as Secretary, to leadership positions for one-year terms. Daniel Kimmet of Toledo, retired Chief Operating Officer for Dillin Corp., was re-elected to serve a second year as the Foundation’s Treasurer.

Five Directors were re-elected to their positions during the annual meeting and will serve three-year terms. Re-elected Directors include John W. Christy of Toledo, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel for Owens Corning; John H. McDermott of Whitehouse, Vice President of Sales for The Hylant Group; Paul Meinerding of Toledo, Senior Vice President District Team Leader for KeyBank; John Moore of Holland, Consultant; and Thomas Pounds.

“The Owens Community College Foundation has assembled an outstanding group of leaders who value the importance of a quality college education and the many benefits of lifelong learning,” said Ann Savage, Owens Executive Director of Fund Development and Foundation President. “Each officer brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and dedication to their position and will play a significant role in the Foundation enhancing programs and services for current and future students.”

Owens Alumni Association Golf Outing Raises Over $32,000 in Support of Scholarships

Posted on October 1st, 2008

Members of the Mid-American Cleaning Contractors Inc. team (L to R) Bob Swan, John Whittaker, Joe Whittaker and Kevin McNeil pose for a photo after winning the College’s annual Alumni Golf Classic.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – More than 125 area residents enjoyed a day of golf and entertainment in support of alumni scholarship programs as Owens Community College’s Alumni Association held its sixth annual Golf Classic. The 31-team event netted over $32,000 to benefit scholarship endeavors.

Since its inception, the Owens event has netted over $180,000 to support Owens students pursuing a college education and their career aspirations.

“Owens Community College’s Alumni Association is proud to once again host a community-wide event in which the proceeds benefit students pursuing a college education,” said Laura Moore, Owens Alumni Association Executive Director and Event Chair. “The Golf Classic was a huge success and would not have been possible without the overwhelming support of Northwest Ohio’s business and industry, as well as Owens alumni. Their generous contributions will go along way in ensuring our students with opportunities for lifelong learning.”

Organized by the Owens Alumni Association’s steering committee, the golf outing was held at the historic Belmont Country Club in Perrysburg. The event featured 18-holes of golf, lunch, cocktails, grazing dinner and an awards program. The Golf Classic event clubhouse sponsors were the Hylant Group and Travelers Insurance. In addition, Metzgers Printing + Mailing served as the print sponsor, while Marathon Petroleum Company was the hospitality sponsor.

The championship team of the four-person scramble was sponsored by Mid-American Cleaning Contractors Inc. in Lima. Team members included Bob Swan, John Whittaker, Joe Whittaker and Kevin McNeil.

Owens Community College and Bowling Green State University Announce New Honors Program Partnership

Posted on September 17th, 2008

Owens Community College Honors Program students pursuing academic studies at the highest level will now be able to quickly and easily continue their educational pursuits at Bowling Green State University as the two schools have finalized a seamless transition agreement between their respective Honors Programs.

The two academic institutions will announce the new partnership at a signing ceremony Thursday, Sept. 18, at 2 p.m. in the board room on the second floor of the Owens Administrative Building in Perrysburg Township.

Owens students must achieve and maintain a 3.5 grade point average and complete a minimum of 15 credit hours of designated Honors curriculum as part of the new partnership. Associate degree graduates will then meet with a Bowling Green Honors Program advisor to identify an Honors course of study consistent with the students’ major as they pursue a bachelor’s degree at BGSU.

“The mission of Owens Community College’s Honors Program is to provide a challenging educational opportunity, above and beyond the standard curriculum, for exceptional students who strive for academic excellence,” said Kathleen Attwood, chair of international studies, communications and humanities and Owens Honors Program committee co-chair. “This new collaboration aligns our two programs’ educational philosophies and enables our students to further their intellectual pursuits at Bowling Green State University.”

“Since both Honors Programs have foundational courses in critical thinking and the liberal arts curriculum, our educational outcomes and goals are identical. This will allow high-achieving students to seamlessly integrate their education at both institutions and to achieve academic success,” said Dr. Paul Moore, director of the BGSU Honors Program.

According to Dr. Moore, Bowling Green State University is planning to initiate coordinated activities and programming to get the Owens Honors Program students onto the University’s campus and to participate with BGSU’s Honors Program even before they enroll in academic classes.

“Owens Community College is pleased to partner with Bowling Green State University and provide a unique opportunity for students to enhance and challenge their intellectual growth and educational development at the highest level from two outstanding academic institutions,” said Dr. Paul Unger, executive vice president and provost at Owens. “This new Honors Program articulation agreement demonstrates the commitment of both Owens Community College and Bowling Green State University to fostering partnerships for the benefit of our respective students.”

“The Honors Program at Bowling Green State University has often served as an innovator and leader for academic programs,” added Dr. Mark Gromko, senior vice provost for academic programs at BGSU. “We anticipate that this collaborative program with Owens Community College will serve students well and enrich the learning experience for students at both institutions.”

Interested students can contact the Owens Honors Program at 567.661.2011 or 567.429.3019, or the BGSU Honors Program at 419.372.8504.

Owens Center for Fine and Performing Arts Welcomes Forbidden Broadway Comedy, Sept. 27

Posted on September 17th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Community members are invited to engage in a side-splitting dose of hilarity at Owens Community College as the Center for Fine and Performing Arts presents “Forbidden Broadway – 25th Anniversary Tour” on Saturday, Sept. 27.

The internationally-renowned theatrical comedy will begin at 8 p.m. in the Mainstage Theatre. Owens’ Toledo-area Campus is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

“Owens Community College is very excited to welcome the national tour of ‘Forbidden Broadway – 25th Anniversary Tour’ and their talented actors to Northwest Ohio for this attention grabbing production,” said Barbara Barkan, Owens Operations Manager for the Center for Fine and Performing Arts. “The theatre group’s hilarious antics and rollicking fun will appeal to individuals of all ages. Theatre enthusiasts will certainly enjoy and appreciate this production because of the wit and humor and how the performers provide satirical revues of the various Broadway musicals.”

Created and written by Gerald Alessandrini, “Forbidden Broadway – 25th Anniversary Tour ” is known for its side-splitting savagery as the theatre production pokes fun at an array of Broadway past and present musicals through satirical revues that includes “Avenue Q”, “Wicked”, “Billy Joel’s Moving Out”, “Beauty and the Beast”, “The Producers” and “Chicago”, among many others.

Four masterful performers deliver, with dead-on precision and a comedic twist, theatrical antics that are notorious for leaving audience attendees in side-splitting laughter during the past 25 plus years in show business. “Forbidden Broadway – 25th Anniversary Tour” has garnered several accolades for its theatre work, highlighted by a 2006 Special Tony Award. The theatre group has also been recognized with awards that include the Outer Critics Circle Award, the Obie Award and the Drama Desk Award for Best Off Broadway Musical.

Tickets for “Forbidden Broadway – 25th Anniversary Tour” are $28 for adults, $26 for seniors and $18 for Owens students. To purchase tickets, visit www.owens.edu or contact the College’s Box Office. For more information about this event, contact the Center for Fine and Performing Arts at (567) 661-2787 or 1-800-GO-OWENS Ext. ARTS (2787).

21,296 Students Choose Owens to Pursue Educational Opportunities and Career Aspirations

Posted on September 8th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College continues to provide Northwest Ohio residents with greater access to higher education at an affordable cost with a record-breaking 21,296 students choosing to attend the academic institution for Fall Semester classes.

Since becoming a comprehensive community college in 1994, Owens has more than doubled its Fall Semester student enrollment by an astounding 107 percent. The College enrolled 10,255 students for Fall Semester classes in 1994.

The combined Fall Semester enrollment of 21,296 students on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses surpasses the previous record of 20,425 students enrolled during Fall Semester 2007. Owens’ Toledo-area Campus has 18,397 students attending classes during the Fall Semester, while on the Findlay-area Campus 2,899 students are enrolled for the fall term. On both campuses, Fall Semester enrollment has increased 4.3 percent from last fall.

“Owens Community College is committed to meeting the educational and training needs of Northwest Ohio’s citizens by preparing them for career opportunities within today’s competitive workforce,” said Dr. Bill Ivoska, Owens Vice President of Student Services. “Our focus is on helping students obtain their goals and become tomorrow’s societal leaders and contributors. Owens is proud to play an important role in encouraging and supporting their success.”

For Cecilia Gonzales of Toledo, the decision to attend Owens instead of other area four-year colleges and universities was an easy one.

“I really enjoy the classroom atmosphere you find at Owens and how personable and receptive the professor are to all questions,” explained Gonzales, a Woodward High School graduate and the first member of her family to attend college. “The professors are very engaging and make learning fun.”

Additionally, Gonzales is one the first recipients of the College Foundation’s Success Program. The criminal justice technology major, along with over 60 graduates from Woodward High School and Findlay High School, are receiving a free college education to Owens as part of the new initiative. The Success Program is designed to assist disadvantaged students, who receive only partial state and federal financial aid, attend college and bridges the gap between the grant aid a student receives and the cost of an Owens education.

“Owens provides a student with all the resources they need to succeed,” said Gonzales, who plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree, attend law school and eventually become a lawyer. “It is a perfect fit for me.”

According to Ivoska, Owens also has made a fundamental point to build upon the educational needs of its students through the continued advancement of innovative programs, courses, teaching methods and academic resources.

This fall, the College has enhanced its student services by showcasing a refurbished College Hall Atrium on the Toledo-area Campus, which is designed to create a social and learning environment for students to excel in their educational pursuits. In addition, Owens introduced a new Honors Program partnership with The University of Toledo, enabling students to pursue academic success at the highest level from both institutions. Currently, 54 students are enrolled in the recently-established Honors Program at Owens.

The College also is continuing to expand its extremely popular eOwens distance learning education by continuously introducing new academic courses online. For Fall Semester 5,976 students are pursuing e-Learning courses – up from 4,819 last fall (24 percent increase).

In addition to the many e-Learning opportunities, Owens continues to increase its academic and support services by making available an array of higher education choices through the Weekend College and at The Source, Lucas County’s One-Stop Employment Center, in downtown Toledo. The College’s enrollment at The Source has increased by 424 students with 588 area residents pursuing higher education in downtown Toledo during the current Fall Semester compared to 164 last fall term (258 percent increase).

In the coming year, Owens will broaden access to higher education opportunities within Northwest Ohio by relocating of its Workforce and Community Services division to Arrowhead Park in Maumee and by making available enhanced learning opportunities at the former Penta Career Center, which is adjacent to the current Owens Toledo-area Campus.

Owens Delivers Backpacks and Supplies to Area Elementary School Children, Sept. 8-10

Posted on September 5th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College’s Alumni Association in collaboration with Books-A-Million and three Great Lakes Credit Union branches are brightening many children’s lives through a unique community service endeavor titled “Backpack to the Future”. Over 300 backpacks and more than 5,000 school supply items collected throughout the summer months are being donated to 16 area elementary schools during the month of September.

Beginning on Monday, Sept. 8, Owens representatives will deliver backpacks and supplies to Toledo Public Schools’ Sherman Elementary School (817 Sherman St.) at 9:30 a.m. On Tuesday, Sept. 9, College officials will donate backpacks and school supplies to Lincoln Academy for Boys (1801 N. Detroit Ave.) at 9:30 a.m. and to Westfield Elementary School (617 Western Ave.) at 2 p.m. Owens representatives will make their final stop of the week on Wednesday, Sept. 10, at Rossford’s Glenwood Elementary School (8950 Avenue Rd.) at 3:45 p.m. In the coming week, Owens will also donate backpacks and school supplies to Northview Primary School in Findlay (133 Lexington Ave.).

Over the past four months, “Backpack to the Future” accepted gently-used or new backpacks and new school supplies from area residents to assist disadvantaged school children throughout Northwest Ohio. In addition to backpacks, individuals donated crayons, markers, bottles of glue, glue sticks, colored pencils, pencils, pink erasers, school boxes, pocket folders, marbled covered composition books and Kleenex tissues.

The drive also collected over $1,500 from community members. The charitable donations will go toward the purchase of school supplies.

The Owens Alumni Association established “Backpack to the Future” supply drive in 2004 as a way to provide educational outreach to the surrounding communities. To date, the program has given over 1,150 backpacks and more than 17,700 school supplies to benefit disadvantaged children throughout Northwest Ohio.

Owens Community College Presents Sixth Annual Express Four-Person Golf Scramble, Sept. 14

Posted on August 29th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Area residents are invited to enjoy a day of golf to benefit golf student-athletes and the intercollegiate program as Owens Community College presents its sixth annual Express Four-Person Golf Scramble. The event will occur on Sunday, Sept. 14.

Organized by Owens’ Student Enrichment and Athletics, the golf outing will be held at Detwiler Golf Club in Toledo. The event will feature 18-holes of golf, lunch and an awards program.

The four-person golf scramble competition will begin at 1 p.m. Owens’ event will conclude with participants recalling their golfing experience during a short awards program, which will recognize the top foursome, as well as the longest drive, closest to the pin, the most accurate drive and a putting contest.

Individuals, businesses and organizations are invited to support the Express Four-Person Golf Scramble by entering a team. The entry fee is only $50 per player and all proceeds from the event will benefit the intercollegiate athletic golf program at Owens.

Led by Head Coach Gilbert Guerrero, the Express golf team this past year made its second trip to the NJCAA Division II National Championships, finishing 10th in the tournament. In addition, Owens captured six match and invitational titles during the season, highlighted by its second consecutive first-place finish in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference Championship Invitational.

The program also won its second NJCAA Region XII Sub-Regional championship after rounds of 294-302 (596) at Belmont Country Club in Perrysburg and finished second at the NJCAA Region XII Championships at Bedford Valley Golf Club in Battle Creek, Mich. after rounds of 300-300-304 (904). Additionally, Owens was ranked No. 14 in the final regular season NJCAA Division II poll.

Individuals must register prior to the date of the Express Four-Person Golf Scramble. For more information, call (567) 661-2643 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2643.

Owens Community College Student Groups Donate 3,000 Books to Needy Literacy Programs, Aug. 27

Posted on August 27th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College’s Environmental Club, Student Government and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society are reaching out to individuals throughout the world by giving new life to thousands of old books previously destined for dumpsters or destruction. The initiative, titled “Book Drives for Better Lives”, is part of an ongoing campus- and community-wide book collection program intended to help needy non-profit programs and organizations through literacy.

Since establishing the collection drive program in June 2006, the three student organizations have received over 29,000 in donated books from Owens employees and students, as well as the surrounding communities. Most recently, the three student groups have collected over 3,000 books, which will eventually end up in the hands of underprivileged individuals throughout the world.

Beginning at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 27, the three student organizations will pick up the various collection bins located around the Toledo-area Campus and prepare the donated books for shipment to Better World Books, which is a national organization dedicated to fighting global illiteracy through the dissemination books and funds to needy non-profit organizations. Literacy non-profit groups in which Better World Books, located in Mishawaka, Ind., serves include Books for Africa (Africa), the National Center for Family Literacy (United States), Room to Read (South Asia) and Worldfund (Latin America), among others.

To date, Better World Books has received more than 11 million book donations from over 1,600 colleges and universities and over 900 libraries participating in the worldwide program. The international organization has also assisted in raising more than $2.3 million for approximately 80 literacy and education non-profit groups.

Owens has set up a variety of collection points around the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses. Area residents can drop off their charitable book donations on the Toledo-area Campus at the Student Health and Activities Center, the Industrial and Engineering Technologies Building, the Fire Science and Law Enforcement Center, College Hall, the Audio/Visual Classroom Center, the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, the Center for Development and Training, and Health Technologies Hall. On the Findlay-area Campus, collection points are in the College’s Commons area.

The Owens Environmental Club is comprised of students who are dedicated to addressing a multitude of environmental issues on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses. The student organization has successfully implemented numerous recycling programs, while bringing more awareness to environmental concerns. Within the community, the Owens Environmental Club regularly helps in community clean-ups and preserve restorations, participates in charity events, and supports various environmental causes with a yearly Human-I-Tees fundraiser.

The overall mission of Phi Theta Kappa is to recognize academic excellence among two-year college students, provide opportunities for leadership training and an intellectual climate for the exchange of ideas and ideals. In addition, the society continues to promote among its members the four standard hallmarks: scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship. Owens’ chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society is one of the largest honor societies in Ohio.

For more information about the book collection drive, or to donate, call (567) 661-7583 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7583.

Owens Workforce and Community Services Expands Higher Education at Waterville’s Browning Masonic Community

Posted on August 22nd, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College’s Workforce and Community Services is expanding its academic opportunities by partnering with the Browning Masonic Community and offering its first-ever continuing education courses in Waterville for area residents within the surrounding communities. As part of the partnership, Owens will offer four continuing education courses at Browning Masonic Community starting in September.

“Owens Community College has a longstanding commitment to providing students with access to enriched learning opportunities,” said Dr. Michael Bankey, Owens Vice President of Workforce and Community Services. “Expanding the Workforce and Community Services’ academic curriculum through the offering of classes in Waterville will open new doors for individuals to connect to higher education.”

Bankey added, “We welcome this collaboration with the Browning Masonic Community and the idea of meeting the educational needs of area residents and the surrounding communities, such as Waterville, Whitehouse and Swanton.”

Owens’ Workforce and Community Services will make available academic courses in Green Energy: Sustainable Design, LEGO Engineering, Zumba and Cold Porcelain to area residents at Browning Masonic Community, which is located on Browning Drive in Waterville. Classes will be offered Monday through Friday.

Green Energy: Sustainable Design, which will be offered from 1-2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11, will provide students with innovative and cutting edge instruction related to “green living”. Topics will include an array of eco-friendly options available within a person’s home, such as flooring, countertops and solar day lighting.

A Zumba class will be available to area residents from 10-10:45 p.m. on Mondays. The new course combines Latin and international music with aerobic/fitness style dance steps, including salsa, hip-hop and belly dance. The various routines feature interval training where fast and slow rhythms and resistance training are combined to maximize cardiovascular and muscle toning. The program will run Sept. 15 – Oct. 20.

Owens’ Cold Porcelain course, which will occur from 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17 and Oct. 15, will provide students with the opportunity to mold an array of colorful artwork by using cold porcelain techniques mastered by South American artisans. Finished pieces will resemble porcelain artistic expressions without the use of a heating process.

The LEGO Engineering class will provide attendees, ages 8 through 12, with experiential learning related to simple machines, structures and forces, levers, wheels and axles, gears and gear mathematics, ratchets and drive trains, and motorized systems. Owens’ LEGO course will occur from 6-8 p.m. on Thursdays and will run Oct. 2 – Nov. 13.

According to Bankey, Owens’ Workforce and Community Services is already exploring additional academic course options for the upcoming Fall Semester. “The College is planning to offer additional classes, including personal enrichment and history series programming, and will continue to look to expand the number of continuing education programs and serve even more individuals throughout the region and beyond,” he stated.

For more information, or to register for a class, call (567) 661-7357 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7357.

Owens Community College Welcomes American Council on Education Fellow

Posted on August 15th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – West Virginia University at Parkersburg Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Cynthia Kelley has been chosen by the American Council on Education (ACE) Fellows Program to serve as a Presidential Fellow at Owens Community College during the Fall Semester.

Since 1965, hundreds of vice presidents, deans, department chairs, faculty and other emerging leaders have participated in the ACE Fellows Program, the nation’s premier higher education leadership development program in preparing senior leaders to serve at colleges and universities nationwide.

As part of the initiative, ACE Fellows spend an extended period of time on another campus, working directly with presidents. Program participants observe and participate in key meetings and events, as well as take on special projects and assignment while under the mentorship of a team of experienced administrators. Such opportunities enable ACE Fellows to immerse themselves in the culture, policies and decision-making processes of another institution. As a Presidential Fellow at Owens, Kelley will devote a considerable portion of her time assisting with the College’s First Year Experience program.

Since September 2007, Kelley has served as the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. While at West Virginia, she works closely with the Executive Dean to monitor operations of all academic areas of the institution. Such responsibilities entail overseeing the operations of the Education Division and its programs, the coordination of the Student Development and Developmental Education programs, the supervision of the Child Development Center, the oversight of the Learning Center, the monitoring of faculty academic advising and the operation of the Center for Teaching Excellence. In addition, Kelley serves as the academic institution’s Education Division Chair and a Professor of Education.

Prior to her current position, she served as Associate Dean of Education and Coordinator of Field Experiences at West Virginia.

Her professional and community involvement includes membership with the West Virginia Program Review Board, the West Virginia Partnerships for Teacher Quality Advisory Board and the Fairplains Elementary School Local School Improvement Council. Kelley also serves as an Edvantia Corporation Ambassador and Chair of the West Virginia Teacher Education Advisory Council.

The Harrisville, W.Va., resident holds a doctorate in curriculum and instruction/supervision from Ohio University, a master’s degree in education of gifted and talented students from West Virginia University at Parkersburg and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education/special education from Glenville State College.

Defiance Woman, McComb Man Win ‘Tuition is Right’ Contest at Owens Community College

Posted on August 14th, 2008

“Tuition is Right” winner Joshua Fellrath (L to R), Owens Director of Enrollment Services Angie McGinnis and “Tuition is Right” runner-up Patrick Acheampong pose for a photo following the Findlay-area Campus contest.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Jordan Turner of Defiance and Joshua Fellrath of McComb each will attend Owens Community College for free in 2008-09 after winning the “Tuition is Right” free tuition contest hosted by Owens and Clear Channel Radio’s 92.5 KISS-FM, 104.7 WIOT and 103.7 CKY.

Alycia McCall of Toledo and Patrick Acheampong of Findlay finished as runners-up in the contest and won one semester of free tuition each.

At the Toledo-area Campus finals, Turner, 18, won the reverse raffle from among 161 participants in attendance. The Defiance High School graduate plans to major in business and marketing and sales.

“This is a huge relief,” Turner said. “I don’t have to worry about making ends meat, but I still plan to work to have some extra cash.”

McCall, 18, attended Owens the past year as a Post-Secondary Options student while completing her high school education at Horizon Science Academy. She will major in education.

Both Turner and McCall received the Trustees’ Academic Excellence Scholarships from the Owens Board of Trustees this past spring. The annual scholarship program recognizes the outstanding achievements of high school seniors.

Posing for a photo from the Toledo-area Campus %22;Tuition is Right%22; contest is winner Jordan Turner (L to R), Owens Vice President of Student Services Dr. Bill Ivoska and runner-up Alycia McCall.

Posing for a photo from the Toledo-area Campus “Tuition is Right” contest is winner Jordan Turner (L to R), Owens Vice President of Student Services Dr. Bill Ivoska and runner-up Alycia McCall.

Turner and McCall were presented their checks from emcees Mookie of 92.5 KISS-FM and Pyke of 104.7 WIOT. Dr. Bill Ivoska, Vice President of Student Services for Owens, also presented to the checks to the winners.

At the Findlay-area Campus finals, Fellrath won the reverse raffle when his name was the last of the 117 remaining in the glass bowl. The 19-year-old just enrolled for the first time at the Owens Findlay-area Campus starting Fall Semester.

“I had it set up so I could afford to go to Owens, but this is definitely going to help,” he said. “Now I can save money for a down payment on a house for when I’m done with college.”

Fellrath plans to major in business management.

Acheampong, 30, moved with his family from Ghana in west Africa to the United States and eventually settled in Columbus. He selected Owens Findlay-area Campus for the first two years of his bachelor’s degree and plans to transfer in Fall 2009 and enter pharmacy school at Oregon State University.

He has attended Owens for the past two years.

“You feel like you’re getting something real out of this school,” Acheampong said.

The Findlay winners received their oversized checks from emcee Johny D from 103.7 CKY and Owens Director of Enrollment Services Angie McGinnis.

Overall, 1,070 qualifiers were eligible to attend the finals. More than 1,300 entries were received this year from June 30 – July 28. Since 2003, Owens has partnered with Northwest Ohio media seven times, including six with Clear Channel Radio, and offered a free tuition contest.

Owens Learning Center at The Source Offers New Free Online ‘QuickStart to College’ Program

Posted on August 13th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Area residents are invited to explore career options and gain advice on making the first steps toward a college education as Owens Community College’s Learning Center at The Source presents a free online “QuickStart to College” program, Oct. 13 – Dec. 5.

The free eight-week program, which is designed for under-employed and unemployed adults in mind, is being coordinated through the College’s Learning Center at The Source. Owens’ Learning Center is located on Monroe Street in downtown Toledo.

“Owens Community College is proud to offer a program that helps non-traditional students succeed in their transition to college and ultimately achieve their educational and career aspirations,” said Kita Graham, Owens Director of the Learning Center at The Source. “The new ‘QuickStart to College’ program was created to eliminate all barriers to a college education by providing a seamless pathway through academic and support services.”

Owens’ new “QuickStart to College” comprehensive program will feature an array of academic initiatives, including academic preparation, coaching and embracing the expectations of college-level studies. Additionally, students will participate in activities designed to promote enhanced learning and develop necessary study and life skills for college success. Individuals will also learn and obtain an in-depth understanding of the language, culture and resources of Owens through the program, as well as receive information specific to the financial aid process and academic placement testing.

In addition, each attendee will be provided a staff mentor to assist them throughout the “QuickStart to College” program.

Funding for Owens’ new academic initiative is being made possible through a $522,200 grant from the Lumina Foundation for Education, which is an Indianapolis-based private foundation dedicated to expanding access to and success in education beyond high school. Owens is one of only three academic institutions statewide to receive funding for the program. The other two colleges are Rhodes State College in Lima and Zane State College in Zanesville.

In 2007, Owens expanded its access to higher educational opportunities within Lucas County by opening the Learning Center at The Source. The new facility is specifically designed to connect education and training to employment.

In order to be eligible for the free “QuickStart to Success” program, individuals must have obtained their high school Diploma or GED. Enrollment is limited and area residents must register prior to Sept. 1. For more information about the new “QuickStart to College” program, contact the Learning Center at The Source at (567) 661-2732 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2732.

Owens Community College Welcomes Back Thousands of Students for Fall Semester, Aug. 18

Posted on August 8th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Opening its doors for the first day of Fall Semester classes, Owens Community College will once again welcome thousands of students to the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses.

On Monday, Aug. 18, Owens students will be locating their classrooms, talking with academic advisors and purchasing books, as well as registering for classes.

Owens is expanding educational opportunities offered to area residents by announcing the creation of enhanced associate degrees. Beginning Fall Semester 2008, associate degrees within the areas of public relations and advertising concentration transfer, international studies concentration transfer and journalism concentration transfer through the School of Arts and Sciences, as well as modified associate degrees within the areas organizational leadership and medical office support through the School of Business and Information Systems will be part of the College’s academic curriculum.

The College is also continuing to expand its extremely popular eOwens distance learning education by introducing additional academic courses online. To date, Owens offers more than 160 e-Learning courses in such academic areas as accounting, art, business, English, psychology and speech, among other course selections.

The College is also expanding its student services by showcasing a refurbished College Hall Atrium on the Toledo-area Campus, which is designed to create a social and learning environment for students to excel in their educational pursuits. In addition, Owens is introducing a new Honors Program partnership with The University of Toledo, enabling students to pursue academic success at the highest level from both institutions.

Additionally, Owens will welcome the first recipients of the College Foundation’s Success Program to the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses for Fall Semester classes. Over 60 graduates from Woodward High School and Findlay High School in financial need are receiving a free college education to Owens. The Success Program is designed to assist students, who receive only partial state and federal financial aid, attend college and bridges the gap between the grant aid a student receives and the cost of an Owens education.

In the coming year, Owens will broaden access to higher education opportunities within Northwest Ohio by relocating of its Workforce and Community Services division to Arrowhead Park in Maumee and by making available its first-ever academic courses at the former Penta Career Center, which is adjacent to the current Owens Toledo-area Campus.

Innovative Computational Science Minor Program Expanded to Students at 11 Colleges, Universities

Posted on August 6th, 2008

COLUMBUS, OH – Beginning this fall, students at two additional colleges in Ohio will have the unique opportunity to enhance the market value of their bachelor’s degrees by earning a minor in computational science.

Two schools, Stark State College in Canton and Owens Community College in Perrysburg, have recently announced their decision to join nine charter colleges and universities involved in the “virtual” program. Through the Ralph Regula School of Computational Science, students at any participating institution can register for courses offered on their home campus or via distance learning for courses offered at any other participating campus.

Charter-member institutions include Capital University, Central State University, Columbus State Community College, Kent State University, The Ohio State University, Sinclair Community College, University of Cincinnati, Wittenberg University and Wright State University. Several additional two-year and four-year colleges and universities also have shown interest in participating in the program.

A minor in computer modeling and simulation provides student with skills highly sought by employers in this rapidly growing field. Students learn to use computers to create mathematical models to help them simulate, understand and visualize natural and mechanical processes to solve complex business, technical and academic problems.

A relatively new field of study, computational science already has produced numerous critically important innovations and is commonly used in product development, DNA sequencing, drug design, financial analysis and weather forecasting.

The minor program is coordinated through the Ralph Regula School of Computational Science, in collaboration with the Ohio Board of Regents, Ohio Supercomputer Center, Ohio Learning Network, and Ohio’s colleges and universities.

The Ralph Regula School, an educational initiative of the Ohio Supercomputer Center, does not offer degrees on its own. Instead, this unique school draws upon the resources and expertise of Ohio’s colleges and universities to develop and offer coursework for academic degree programs and certificates.

Owens and National Taichung Nursing College Announce New International Exchange Program

Posted on July 16th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College and National Taichung Nursing College in Taichung, Taiwan are expanding their educational opportunities abroad by announcing the creation of a new international exchange partnership designed to foster enhanced learning and academic success for students at the respective academic institutions.

The new collaboration between Owens and a “sister school” abroad represents the first international exchange program partnership of its kind in the College’s history.

As part of the new international exchange initiative, six students and one faculty member from National Taichung Nursing College will have the opportunity in the coming weeks to experience the traditions and culture of the United States, as well as study western nursing practices through the School of Health Sciences’ nursing concepts academic curriculum, July 21 – Aug. 10. National Taichung Nursing College students and faculty, who are visiting as part of the U.S. Department of State’s Exchange Visitor Program, will learn about the concepts of caring, critical thinking skills, medical terminology, ethical issues and technology, among other educational topics during their visit.

The three credit-hour class will take place Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m. in the College’s Health Technologies Hall. Owens’ first international exchange program class will occur on Wednesday, July 23. In addition to Owens’ nursing concepts class, exchange program participants will have the chance to tour several of the region’s hospitals as part of their three-week visit.

“Owens Community College is proud to partner with National Taichung Nursing College and enhance educational opportunities for learning from a worldwide perspective,” said CÈsar Hern·ndez, Owens International Student Services Administrator. “The new international exchange program will enable both schools and their respective faculty, staff and students to internationalize higher education and share academic knowledge, research and experiences in order to meet the needs of a global economy.”

The new agreement provides the framework for both academic institutions to broaden academic learning through faculty, staff and student exchanges, cooperative research projects, the pursuit of short-term or extended visiting programs of study at each other’s institution, and the awareness of academic programs, research institutes and other educational resources at the “sister school”.

National Taichung Nursing College was established in 1955 as Taichung Vocational Senior High School of Nursing when the school began offering a three-year nursing program. In 2000, the school was promoted as the National Taichung Nursing College. Based on the beliefs of Florence Nightingale, the founder of nursing, the academic institution is dedicated to cultivating advanced nursing professionals that exhibit the qualities and attributes of the true spirit of nursing; humanity to care for life and society; capability to mediate and solve problems; creativity, diligence and a willingness to learn and grow; and a broad vision. National Taichung Nursing College currently offers both two- and five-year diplomas in nursing.

Owens continues to serve as a leader in providing higher education to international students. Over 100 students from various countries pursued higher education at Owens during the past academic year. Countries represented in Owens’ international student enrollment are Benin, Japan, Kuwait, Korea, Venezuela, Germany, the Republic of Cameroon and Zambia, among others. In addition, the College offers an International Nursing Certificate program, which is designed to assist international nursing students in transitioning to western nursing practices.

Diamante Awards Committee Seeks Nominations

Posted on July 15th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – The Diamante Awards Committee is accepting applications for its annual Diamante Awards presentation, which recognizes individuals and organizations for their achievements and service to the Latino community. Owens Community College will once again serve as host to the Diamante Awards celebration this year with the event occurring on Friday, Sept. 12 in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts. The Diamante Awards event begins at 6 p.m. on the College’s Toledo-area Campus in Perrysburg Township.

Awards will be presented in the categories Latino/Latina Youth Leadership, Latino/Latina Adult Leadership, Corporation/Community Agency and Friend of the Latino Community. Winners are chosen based on recognition of exemplary leadership/achievements within the Latino community or community at large, or demonstrated excellence in their fields; dedication and commitment in an ethical and inclusive fashion, and modeling qualities and behaviors of a mentor for youth and the community.

The annual Diamante Awards, now comprising Owens, Bowling Green State University, Lourdes College and The University of Toledo, were founded by the Northwest Ohio Latino advocacy organization IMAGE in 1989 to recognize individuals and organizations in the local Hispanic community for their outstanding contributions, and to recognize the impact of Latinos on U.S. culture and society. The initiative includes providing scholarships and other support to make it possible for Latino students to attend college.

Nominations for the awards must be received by Aug. 4. Nomination materials are available at https://www.owens.edu/direct/diamante2008.pdf Nominators are asked to complete the form in its entirety and return to: CÈsar Hern·ndez, Office of International Student Services, Owens Community College, P.O. Box 10,000, Toledo, Ohio 43699-1947.

Tickets for the Diamante Awards celebration are $75 per person or $125 per couple in advance, or $85 per person or $150 per couple the day of the event. For more information, call (567) 661-7510.

Owens Community College Names New Student Government Officers for 2008-09 Academic Year

Posted on July 14th, 2008

Nicholas Huenefeld (left) will serve as Student Government President, while Nicole Lance will hold the position of Vice President.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Twenty-one Owens Community College students were named to new Student Government leadership positions for the 2008-09 academic year. Each individual will serve a one-year term and represent the Owens student body as Student Government officers.

Owens associate of science, general concentration major Nicholas Huenefeld of Northwood and pre-business administration major Nicole Lance of Bowling Green received the majority vote for President and Vice President, respectively.

“Over the past few years, student government has done many wonderful things for the students at Owens. This year, I want to take the next step,” said Owens Student Government President Huenefeld. “We have a tremendous group of student leaders this year and we can build on the things accomplished in the past. I want Owens to be thought of in the same breath as a four-year university in terms of things to do on campus.”

Other individuals elected to the College’s Student Government include Lydia Crews of Perrysburg (Secretary), dental hygiene; Barbara Brotzki of Maumee (Treasurer), pre-business administration; Jordan Badenhop of Perrysburg (Toledo At-Large Representative), marketing and sales; Aaron Baker of Swanton (Toledo At-Large Representative), pre-health information technology; Sarah Burgess of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), accounting; Brian Carter of Monroe, Mich. (Toledo At-Large Representative), business management; Ashley Clark of Hudson, Mich. (Toledo At-Large Representative), business management; Derrick Crawford of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), middle childhood education; Brad Fields of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), psychology; Nighat Khan of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), associate of science, general concentration; Derek Lucius of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), commercial art; Lorriane Makay of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), psychology; Ashley Mank of Maumee (Toledo At-Large Representative), early childhood education; Megan Marsh of Maumee (Toledo At-Large Representative), office administration; Thelma Oliver of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), small business management; Rachel Wismer of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), communication art; Tonya Roof of Hoytville (Findlay At-Large Representative), registered nursing; Brittney Bradner of Toledo (Volunteer Coordinator), communication art; and Teresa Casiano of Toledo (Non-Traditional Student Representative), business management.

Owens and Community Partners Assist Area Children with School Supply Drive, July 18 – Aug. 18

Posted on July 10th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College’s Alumni Association in collaboration with Books-A-Million Inc. and three Great Lakes Credit Union branches are reaching out to area children in need of school supplies by holding a month-long “Backpack to the Future” School Supply Drive beginning on Friday, July 18. Collected items will benefit low-income kindergarten-age school children throughout Northwest Ohio.

According to Kaye Koevenig, Owens Alumni Association Community Service Chair, the Northwest Ohio community’s initial response toward the “Backpack to the Future” Supply Drive has been steady.

Since establishing the program in 2004, the Owens Alumni Association has given over 850 backpacks and over 12,500 school supplies to benefit disadvantaged children throughout Northwest Ohio.

Owens Community College and The University of Toledo Collaborate to Keep Best Students in the Region through New Honors Program Partnership

Posted on July 10th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College Honors Program students pursuing academic success at the highest level will now be able to quickly and easily continue their educational pursuits at The University of Toledo as the two schools have finalized a seamless transition agreement between their respective Honors Programs.

The two academic institutions will announce the new partnership at a signing ceremony Monday, July 14 at 10 a.m. in the board room on the second floor of the Owens Administrative Building.

Owens students must achieve and maintain a 3.5 grade point average and complete a minimum 15 credit hours of designated Honors curriculum as part of the new partnership. Associate’s degree graduates will then meet with a UT Honors Program advisor to identify an Honors course of study consistent with the students’ majors as they pursue a bachelor’s degree at UT.

“The Owens Community College Honors Program is designed to foster an educational environment in which students can excel to their fullest potential,” said Kathleen Attwood, chair of international studies, communications and humanities and Owens Honors Program committee co-chair. “This new collaboration will enable our students to further their rigorous Honors Program learning at The University of Toledo.”

“This agreement will encourage some of the most talented and high-achieving students at Owens Community College to come to The University of Toledo to complete a bachelor’s degree,” said Dr. Tom Barden, professor of English and director of the UT Honors Program.

According to Barden, UT is planning to initiate coordinated activities and programming to get the Owens Honors Program students on to UT’s campus and into the Honors building, Sullivan Hall, even before they come to UT.

“It’s important to us that they feel like full-fledged members of our Honors Program community when they arrive in their junior year,” Barden said.

“Owens Community College and The University of Toledo are committed to serving our students by opening new doors to higher education through innovative partnerships,” said Dr. Paul Unger, executive vice president and provost at Owens. “The new Honors Program articulation agreement provides a unique opportunity for students to receive intellectual growth and educational attainment at the highest level from the two outstanding academic institutions.”

“Over the years the data have been quite clear that students who transfer to UT after they complete an associate’s degree at Owens are among the most productive and most likely to graduate,” said Dr. Rosemary Haggett, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at UT.

Interested students can contact the Owens Honors Program at 567.661.2011 or 567.429.3019, or the UT Honors Program at 419.530.6030.

Owens Community College Employee Receives Distinguished OASFAA Community and Education Service Award

Posted on July 2nd, 2008

Gary Ulrich

FINDLAY, OH – Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus Financial Aid Advisor Gary Ulrich of Findlay has been chosen by the Ohio Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (OASFAA) to receive the distinguished James W. White Award for exemplary contributions and dedication to students and the community.

The OASFAA James W. White Award honors James White, Director of Financial Aid at Oberlin College, who retired in 1990 following a distinguished career in higher education. The award, first presented in 1991, is given annually to a member of the OASFAA who exemplifies dedication to students, to the community and to the recipient’s local community-qualities that were evident in White’s career as a financial aid professional.

“Gary is an exceptional financial aid representative” said Betsy Johnson, Owens Director of Financial Aid. “He is one of Owens’ most helpful employees and is dedicated to helping students achieve their goals. Gary always puts the student first and goes the extra mile to assist them with the financial aid process. He is very deserving of this recognition and honor.”

OASFAA was founded with the overall mission of ensuring Ohio citizens access to higher education through the promotion of financial aid awareness. As an organization representing over 600 members from over 250 institutions operating within Ohio, OASFAA strives to offer resources to students, families and high school advisors to promote higher education and increase awareness of financial aid opportunities.

Ulrich joined Owens in 1988. Since then, he has held several positions including Student Services Advisor. Currently as Financial Aid Advisor on the Findlay-area Campus, he is responsible for providing leadership and guidance through financial aid outreach for students pursuing a college education at Owens. Prior to his positions at Owens, Ulrich taught social work at Miami University and San Diego State University and was the Executive Director of Fairhaven Retirement Community in Upper Sandusky.

His community involvement includes service as a United Way of Hancock County Allocation Committee Volunteer and most recently with the Ohio Benefit Bank tax project. Additionally, he served as Vice President of the Hancock County Coordinating Council and as Coordinator of College Goal Sunday for the past three years. Presented by the OASFAA, College Goal Sunday is a state-sponsored, free event designed to help students complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application, as well as answer financial aid specific questions. Ulrich also has served on the Findlay-area Campus Strategic Direction and Campus Relocation Steering committees at Owens.

Recently, Ulrich was honored with a Collaboration Award by the Owens Findlay-area Campus for his exemplary dedication and service to higher education.

A graduate of Upper Sandusky High School, Ulrich earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Heidelberg College and master’s degrees in comparative government and in social work from Georgetown University and the University of Michigan, respectively. In addition to his education, he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Panama for two years.

Chancellor Announces $50 Million in Scholarships to Attract and Retain Ohio’s Talented Students

Posted on June 27th, 2008

Columbus, OH – Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut has announced the State of Ohio’s second group of collaborations to receive funding under the Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program, the state’s premier model for recruiting and retaining talented Ohio residents as students in STEM and STEM education fields.

The competitive awards are based on collaborations between colleges, universities, and their Ohio business and industry partners that will have the most impact on advancing Ohio’s position in the world markets including aerospace, medicine, computer technology and alternative energy.

Governor Ted Strickland and the Ohio General Assembly have invested over $250 million to remake Ohio’s economy through collaborative programs in higher education, particularly in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine, known as STEM.

The second round of awards is directed to 28 Ohio public and private colleges and universities across the state to be used specifically to attract, retain and graduate more than 2,600 new STEM students over the next 5 years. When combined with the first group of recipients announced in March 2008, Ohio expects to see more than 5,700 STEM graduates who have been scholars in the state’s Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program.

“There’s nothing more crucial to our economic future than investing in the people of Ohio,” said Governor Strickland. “The Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program is part of the investment we are making to attract and retain students in the vital areas of science and technology.”

Choose Ohio First is part of the Ohio Innovation Partnership created by the Ohio General Assembly to increase the role of Ohio’s higher education institutions in building the talent and research pipelines critical to the state’s economic success.

The Ohio Research Scholars Program – which exists in partnership with the Third Frontier Commission – is another part of the Ohio Innovation Partnership in which Ohio invested more than $143 million in endowment funds to recruit faculty to academic Centers of Excellence tied to the strength of Ohio’s regional economies.

Both programs represent a commitment to funding based on quality and alignment with the state’s economic priorities. When leveraged, the funds bring the total investment in science and technology collaborations between Ohio colleges, universities and their Ohio business and industry partners to more than $400 million dollars.

“In the recently released 10-year strategic plan for higher education, I emphasized the need for the state to regain its prominent role in the areas of scholarship and research. We have a proud history of scientists, inventors, and innovators in the fields of science and technology,” said Chancellor Fingerhut. “Today’s award is a significant investment in our future.”

The Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program review process was highly competitive to ensure that the highest quality standards are met and designed so that the Ohio Board of Regents can work with schools across the state to assist in the development of quality programs.

Sixteen second round proposals were reviewed by a national panel of STEM and STEM education experts in the higher education field. The experts, empanelled by Chancellor Fingerhut, recommended 9 proposals for funding. The selected proposals not only identified a commitment to outstanding programs but also met the rigid HB 119 guidelines that focus on STEM recruitment and retention as they relate to building Ohio’s new economy.

The first round recipients of the Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program share more than $23.6 million in scholarship funds in areas of pharmacy, nursing, science, engineering and mathematics. Collaborating institutions in round one will put forth more than $38 million in cost shared funds in support of their proposed scholarship program, while in round two, institutions will be providing almost $30 million in cost shared funds. For more information, please go to http://universitysystem.ohio.gov/chooseohio1st.

Choose Ohio First Scholarship Awards – Round 2

Diversifying Yield and Retention in Engineering, Mathematics and Science
The University of Cincinnati (lead institution) will partner with Sinclair Community College and Cincinnati State Technical and Community College to attract and graduate an estimated 250 students in STEM fields over a 5-year period. This program will expand several highly innovative programs that currently exist in the college of engineering to support not only the engineering students but also mathematics students in the college of arts and sciences. Most noteworthy is the program’s plan to recruit and retain first generation college students, underrepresented minorities, women and economically disadvantaged students. Recipients will be afforded the successful UC cooperative education experience, an alumni shadowing program, summer bridge program, structured freshman and sophomore year support, as well as mentoring and undergraduate research opportunities. The proposed project will increase the number of freshmen in its entering class majoring in science and mathematics to 20 percent. The collaboration shares $4.268 million in Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program funds awarded by the state.
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Strengthening the PK-8 Mathematics and Science Teacher Pipeline with an Integrated STEM Education Curriculum
The University of Cincinnati (lead institution) will partner with Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Cincinnati Public Schools, Mayerson Academy, Strive-Knowledge Works Foundation and the Strive Regional P-16 council to attract and graduate 90 students in the STEM education field in 5 years. The selected STEM Education proposal will improve the mathematics and science preparation of PK-8 teachers, special educators and teachers pursuing graduate studies. Programs will provide updated coursework in inquiry based, integrated mathematics and science curriculum and internships and cooperative education programs emphasizing experiential learning. The program will provide educators with the necessary tools to foster a positive student attitude toward science and mathematics and to create a seamless PK-20 educational pathway to STEM careers. The winning collaboration will share $822,000 in Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program funds awarded by the state.

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Integrated Science Training for Northeast Ohio’s Future Biomedical and Biotechnology Workforce
Kent State University (lead institution) will partner with Cuyahoga Community College, Lakeland Community College , Lorain County Community College, Stark State College of Technology; Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Summa Health System, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Lake County Educational Service Center and Akron Children’s Hospital to attract and graduate an estimated 580 STEM students over 5 years. Students will be provided an exceptional interdisciplinary learning experience in biology, chemistry and physics coupled with the academic rigor of “front-line” experience in Northeast Ohio’s world-class health care institutions. The program will work with college-level students, high school and middle school students to spark interest in the biotechnology and biomedical science fields. The collaboration will share $2 million in Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program funds awarded by the state.

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The Choose Ohio First Engaged Scholarship Program in Bioscience and Healthcare
Cleveland State University (lead institution) will partner with Baldwin Wallace College, Case Western Reserve University, Cuyahoga Community College, Hiram College, BioEnterprise, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and JumpStart to attract and graduate more than 430 STEM students in a 5- year period. Scholars for this proposal will ensure that Northeast Ohio’s globally recognized health employers, The Cleveland Clinic, University Hospital Health System and The MetroHealth System have a highly skilled workforce in the bioscience fields available to them. The 5 higher education institutions will create a “coalition of excellence” that will prepare graduates by providing engaged learning and science entrepreneurships. This collaboration will share $2 million in Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program funds awarded by the state.

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Science & Math Education in Action
Bowling Green State University (lead institution) will team with Owens Community College, Terra Community College, Northwest State Community College, The University of Findlay and more than 100 local industrial partners to attract and graduate an estimated 300 STEM education students over a 5-year period. This proposal builds on BGSU’s excellent track record on graduating highly prepared teaching professionals in Ohio by providing teacher education students early cooperative education, internship and practicum experiences in high technology and STEM business fields. Students will also participate in science and mathematics research and be exposed to new and innovative coursework. Overall, the teacher education experiences will translate into a better-prepared teacher workforce in Ohio, thereby engaging another generation of students in the important field of science and mathematics as they prepare to enter college. The collaboration will share $3 million in Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program funds awarded by the state.

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Improving STEM Teacher Preparation: A Long Term Investment (D-STEM)
Miami University (lead institution) partnering with Cleveland State University, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Cuyahoga Community College, Owens Community College, the University of Toledo, Cincinnati City School District, Toledo City School District, Cleveland City School District, Dayton City School District, Edgewood City School District, Fairfield City School District, Great Oaks Career Campuses, Middletown City School District, Mount Healthy City School District, North College Hill City School District, Northwest Local City School District, Princeton City School District, Talawanda City School District, Winton Woods City School District, Wood County City School District, Equistar Chemical Company, Givaudan Flavors Corp and Proctor and Gamble to attract and graduate more than 150 STEM education students over a 5-year period. The proposed program focuses on investing in quality education for K-12 STEM education teachers. Scholarship recipients will be engaged in teaching experiences and professional learning communities-online included-that will support their experiences as student teachers. Not only will the program recruit underrepresented minority and economically disadvantaged student populations to the STEM education field, it will also provide assistance in critical transition periods in the early years of the teaching profession by providing continuing education coursework and assistance. The collaboration shares $2.747 million in Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program funds awarded by the state.

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Growing the STEMM Pipeline in the Dayton Region- Becoming an International Center of Excellence for Human Effectiveness/Human Performance
Wright State University (lead institution) partnering with Central State University, University of Dayton, Wittenberg University, Clark State Community College, Edison Community College, Sinclair Community College, Southern State Community College, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton Development Coalition, EDvention, Battelle, Qbase, Emerson, LexisNexis, NASA Glenn, SOCHE, Montgomery, Clark, Miami, Southern Ohio and Greene Counties Educational Service Centers to attract and graduate an estimated 450 STEM students over a five year period. The west central area of Ohio will need a trained workforce in the areas of human effectiveness, sensors and related information technologies to fill an anticipated 1200 US Department of Defense jobs by 2011. The collaboration will use a shared inquiry-based curriculum, with the creation of the Dayton Area Undergraduate Studies Institute, where Choose Ohio First scholars can access the appropriate STEM curriculum at any collaborating institution. All scholars will engage in undergraduate research, cooperative education and internship opportunities with local industry in this STEM area. The collaboration shares $3.941 million in Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program funds awarded by the state.

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Ohio House of Science and Engineering: Success in STEM through Collaboration
The Ohio State University (lead institution) in partner with the University of Cincinnati and Muskingum College will attract and graduate more than 160 STEM students over five years. This grant will foster and promote STEM outreach and education activities from kindergarten through PhD to dramatically expand the number of students matriculating into STEM fields – with special interest in increasing the opportunities for first generation college students and students from underrepresented populations. The program will engage K-12 students in inquiry based science programs, create a new innovative STEM education curriculum for better prepared teachers and create more STEM-focused support programs that provide research opportunities and mentorships with scientists and industry. The partnership will share $3 million in Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program funds awarded by the state.

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Choose Ohio First for Engineering Entrepreneurship (COFFEE) Scholarship
The University of Toledo (lead institution) teaming with the Ohio State University, Lorain County Community College, Owens Community College, Stark State College of Technology, the Regional Growth Partnership, the Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization, the Clean and Alternative Energy Incubator, the Center for Technological Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Battelle Labs, the Ohio Supercomputer Center, Plastic Technologies, SSOE and Xunlight to attract and graduate an estimated 450 STEM students over five years. This collaboration provides exceptional student exposure to industry through cooperative education – with more than 1,300 companies participating. Student scholars will receive a rigorous technical education in engineering and science, and coupled with a personal entrepreneurial development plan and industry mentor, will prepare and retain Ohio graduates in the high tech workforce. These graduates will make a significant impact on the climate of innovation and commercialization that is needed to advance Ohio’s new economy. The collaboration shares $3.941 million in Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program funds awarded by the state.

Owens Community College, 92.5 KISS-FM, 104.7 WIOT and 103.7 CKY Partner to Provide Free College Education

Posted on June 26th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College and three Clear Channel radio stations are partnering in a contest to award free college education to four area residents, with two winners receiving the grand prize of two semesters of free Owens tuition.

92.5 KISS-FM, 104.7 WIOT and 103.7 CKY will begin airing promotional announcements for the contest on Monday, June 30.

“Owens Community College is proud to partner with 92.5 KISS-FM, 104.7 WIOT and 103.7 CKY and offer this life-changing opportunity for the Northwest Ohio community,” said Dr. Gary Corrigan, Owens Director of Marketing and Communications. “Thanks to the support of these three Clear Channel radio stations, four students will be able to experience a quality education at Owens Community College.”

Individuals can enter the contest by logging onto any of four Web sites – www.owens.edu, www.925kissfm.com, www.wiot.com or www.1037wcky.com – clicking on the “Tuition is Right” and correctly answering three questions. Applicants also can enter by completing a paper entry form available at the Enrollment Services Office on the Owens Toledo-area Campus, Information Desk on the Findlay-area Campus or the Reception Desk at the Owens Learning Center at The Source in downtown Toledo. All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 28.

All qualifying entrants will be eligible to attend the first final on Tuesday, Aug. 5 at 3 p.m. at the Community Education and Wellness Center on the Owens Findlay-area Campus. One grand prize of two semesters of free tuition and one runner-up prize of one semester of free tuition will be awarded by random draw.

All qualifying entrants who do not win a tuition prize Aug. 5 are eligible to attend the second final on Thursday, Aug. 7 at 3 p.m. at the Student Health and Activities Center on the Owens Toledo-area Campus. The second grand prize of two semesters of free tuition and final runner-up prize of one semester of free tuition also will be awarded by random draw.

At both finals, various other prizes will be drawn and awarded at random as well.

Andy Stuart, Vice President and Market Manager of Clear Channel Radio Toledo, looks forward to a successful promotion on air through 92.5 KISS-FM and 104.7 WIOT that “will afford four individuals the opportunity to fulfill their educational dreams at Owens Community College. It is gratifying to encourage residents to strive for a higher education and a better life,” he said.

“We are excited to provide our listeners with the opportunity to win four life-changing prizes,” said Kim Field, Market Manager of Clear Channel Radio Findlay. “We are confident this will be a successful promotion for our 103.7 CKY listeners and that they will benefit from the wonderful higher education provided by Owens Community College.”

The contest is open to residents 16 years of age or older. This marks the seventh occasion since 2003 that Owens has partnered with Northwest Ohio media and offered a tuition contest.

7,183 Students Choose Owens to Pursue Educational Opportunities and Career Aspirations

Posted on June 17th, 2008

Jessica Barney, a senior pursuing her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Siena Heights University, is one of more than 7,100 individuals attending classes at Owens during the current Summer Semester.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College continues to provide Northwest Ohio residents excellence in higher education with 7,183 students choosing to attend the academic institution for Summer Semester classes.

Since becoming a comprehensive community college in 1994, Owens has nearly doubled its Summer Semester student enrollment by an astounding 183 percent. The College enrolled 2,538 students for Summer Semester classes 14 years ago.

“Owens Community College has a long and proud tradition of making a difference in students’ lives,” said Dr. Bill Ivoska, Owens Vice President of Student Services. “The foundation for this institution’s academic excellence is a result of our employees and their unwavering commitment to ensuring that every student succeeds. Their desire in wanting to make a difference is why our academic institution is a leader in higher education.”

The combined Summer Semester enrollment of 7,183 students on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses surpasses the enrollment of 6,558 students during Summer Semester 2007. Owens’ Toledo-area Campus has 5,596 students attending classes, while on the Findlay-area Campus 1,587 students are enrolled. On both campuses, Summer Semester enrollment increased 9.53 percent from last summer.

For Jessica Barney, a senior pursuing her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Siena Heights University, the opportunity to take an Owens Summer Semester course will allow her to fulfill all of her undergraduate requirements and graduate in four years.

“The ability to transfer credits from Owens to Siena Heights is great,” said Barney, who currently is enrolled in a microeconomics class on the Toledo-area Campus, as well as introduction to small business and retailing management online classes through the College’s eOwens program. “I really enjoy my classes and how personable and receptive the instructors are to all questions.”

Barney, who carries a 3.0 grade point average at Siena Heights, added that “Owens provides a great environment for learning.”

After graduating from Siena Heights in May 2009, Barney, a Whitehouse resident, plans to pursue a career within business or attend graduate school and obtain her master’s degree in business administration.

In two new Summer Semester educational choices for students, Owens enrolled 101 students in its first Summer Weekend College offerings and 189 students at the Owens Learning Center at The Source, Lucas County’s One-Stop Employment Center on Monroe Street in downtown Toledo.

Since opening the Learning Center at The Source in Fall Semester 2007, the College has enrolled 786 students at that location.

Additionally, 3,242 students are pursuing eOwens online classes for Summer Semester.

Owens Community College Assists School Children with ‘Backpack to the Future’ Summer Supply Drive

Posted on June 11th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – As another school year comes to an end, many students are once again placing their backpacks in storage or are discarding them entirely in anticipation of buying next fall’s latest fashion trend. Owens Community College’s Alumni Association has taken the initiative of once again organizing a gently-used backpack drive to provide new life for what many students consider their mobile lifeline to learning.

The College’s Alumni Association community service endeavor, titled “Backpack to the Future,” is currently accepting gently-used backpacks and new school supplies from area residents during the summer months. Items collected, as part of the “Backpack to the Future” program, will be given to low-income elementary school children throughout Northwest Ohio.

“Owens Community College’s Alumni Association is proud to once again coordinate a program benefiting such a worthy cause,” said Kaye Koevenig, Owens Community Service Chair of the Alumni Association. “There are many low-income families that can barely afford to pay their bills, and may not be able to provide their children with new supplies. Our goal is to ensure that such occurrences do not happen and that all children begin their school year with new educational resources.”

In addition to the gently-used backpacks and new backpacks, individuals can donate crayons, markers, bottles of glue, glue sticks, colored pencils, pencils, pink erasers, school boxes, pocket folders, marbled covered composition books and Kleenex tissues. Area residents can bring their charitable donations to the Office of Alumni Relations on the Toledo-area Campus in Perrysburg Township and to the Enrollment Services Office on the Findlay-area Campus in Findlay.

Since establishing the program in 2004, the Owens Alumni Association has given over 850 backpacks and over 12,500 school supplies to benefit disadvantaged children throughout Northwest Ohio.

For more information about the school supply drive, or to make a donation, contact the Owens Alumni Relations Office at (567) 661-7876, 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7876 or alumni@owens.edu.

Owens Findlay-area Campus Offers First-Ever Campus Transportation Program in Findlay

Posted on June 3rd, 2008

FINDLAY, OH – Area residents in Findlay will now have the opportunity to utilize free campus transportation between the Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus and various destinations throughout the city as the academic institution announces the creation of a new Campus Transportation Program.

The College’s pilot Campus Transportation Program begins free shuttle service on Wednesday, June 4. Owens’ first-ever Findlay-area Campus-provided transportation service will occur Monday through Thursday from 6:55 a.m. – 4:55 p.m. and Friday from 8:55 a.m. – 2:55 p.m. during the Summer Semester.

According to Judy Ennis, Owens Executive Dean of the Findlay-area Campus, Owens Community College is continuously looking for unique and innovative ways to enhance service for its students and the community.

“The new Campus Transportation Program allows individuals to conveniently travel between the Findlay-area Campus and designated locations throughout Findlay without using other means of transportation,” she stated. “Owens’ Findlay-area Campus is dedicated to providing access to higher education through convenient transportation to and from the Findlay-area Campus for students and campus guests.”

The free transportation service will provide eight stops during each hour of operation. A white, 15-passenger van, marked with Owens Community College logos, will make its initial departure at 6:55 a.m. (Monday-Thursday) and at 8:55 a.m. (Friday) from the northeast entrance of the Findlay-area Campus education building.

Subsequent departure times and stops Monday through Thursday are 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the corner of East Melrose Street and Ivy Court; 7:05 a.m., 8:05 a.m., 9:05 a.m., 10:05 a.m., 11:05 a.m., 12:05 p.m., 1:05 p.m., 2:05 p.m., 3:05 p.m. and 4:05 p.m. at Northview Elementary School (Lexington Avenue and North Main Street corner); 7:10 a.m., 8:10 a.m., 9:10 a.m., 10:10 a.m., 11:10 a.m., 12:10 p.m., 1:10 p.m., 2:10 p.m., 3:10 p.m. and 4:10 p.m. at The University of Findlay Library (North Main Street); 7:15 a.m., 8:15 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. at St. Michael Catholic School (Adams Street and Western Avenue corner); 7:20 a.m., 8:20 a.m., 9:20 a.m., 10:20 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 12:20 p.m., 1:20 p.m., 2:20 p.m., 3:20 p.m. and 4:20 p.m. at the corner of Liberty Street and West Lima Street; 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at Greenbrier Apartments parking lot (South Main Street); 7:45 a.m., 8:45 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m., 3:45 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. at Findlay Green Apartments parking lot (Longmeadow Lane); and 7:55 a.m., 8:55 a.m., 9:55 a.m., 10:55 a.m., 11:55 a.m., 12:55 p.m., 1:55 p.m., 2:55 p.m., 3:55 p.m. and 4:55 p.m. at Owens Findlay-area Campus (northeast entrance).

Friday departure times and stops include 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. at the corner of East Melrose Street and Ivy Court; 9:05 a.m., 10:05 a.m., 11:05 a.m., 12:05 p.m. and 1:05 p.m. at Northview Elementary School (Lexington Avenue and North Main Street corner); 9:10 a.m., 10:10 a.m., 11:10 a.m., 12:10 p.m. and 1:10 p.m. at The University of Findlay Library (North Main Street); 9:15 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. at St. Michael Catholic School (Adams Street and Western Avenue corner); 9:20 a.m., 10:20 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 12:20 p.m. and 1:20 p.m. at the corner of Liberty Street and West Lima Street; 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Greenbrier Apartments parking lot (South Main Street); 9:45 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. at Findlay Green Apartments parking lot (Longmeadow Lane); and 9:55 a.m., 10:55 a.m., 11:55 a.m., 12:55 p.m. and 1:55 p.m. at Owens Findlay-area Campus (northeast entrance).

The shuttle service will depart promptly at the scheduled times and only can stop at the designated locations.

In addition to the new Findlay-area Campus transportation program, Owens Toledo-area Campus provides free transportation through its Park and Ride Shuttle Service, Owens/TARTA Bus Service and Special Event Transportation.

For more information about Owens’ new Campus Transportation Program, call (567) 429-3586 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 3586.

Owens Provides Findlay High School Students Access to Higher Education Through New Success Program

Posted on June 2nd, 2008

FINDLAY, OH – Owens Community College and Findlay City Schools are entering into a new partnership that will afford all graduating Findlay High School students in financial need the opportunity to pursue a free college education through Owens Community College Foundation’s new Success Program initiative.

The 2008 Findlay High School graduating class will serve as the first recipients of this unique program, which is designed to assist students, who receive only partial state and federal financial aid, attend college. The Success Program will bridge the gap between the grant aid a student receives and the cost of an Owens education.

Findlay City Schools is the second educational institution to partner with the College’s Foundation and extend this opportunity to its students. The other Success Program partner is Toledo Public Schools’ Woodward High School. Since announcing the new initiative in February, over 40 Woodward High School students are in the process of applying to continue their education at Owens through the Success Program.

“Owens Community College welcomes this new partnership with Findlay City Schools and the opportunity to provide greater access to higher education for Findlay High School students,” said Christa Adams, Ph.D., President of Owens Community College. “The Success Program is designed to eliminate financial barriers for individuals to pursue their educational and career aspirations and further Owens’ mission of serving students and the surrounding communities.”

“Findlay City Schools appreciates Owens Community College’s commitment to helping our graduates pursue a college education through this unique scholarship program,” said Dean Wittwer, Superintendent for Findlay City Schools. “We look forward to the new partnership with Owens Community College.”

In order to be eligible, Findlay students must graduate from high school, be enrolled in 12 or more credit hours each semester at Owens and complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid and receive some federal/state grant funding. Recipients must enroll at Owens during the first Fall Semester or Spring Semester following graduation and will have three years to complete their associate’s degree through the Success Program initiative.

The Owens Foundation was incorporated in April 2002 and has over $2.2 million in assets. The Foundation Board of Directors currently is comprised of 23 community leaders from Lucas, Wood and Hancock counties. The mission of the Owens Foundation and its Board of Directors is developing and providing resources to advance the College’s overall mission of serving students and the surrounding communities. The Foundation is also dedicated to removing barriers to education by providing student scholarships and supporting growth and innovation at Owens.

The mission of the Findlay City Schools, a community partnership committed to educational excellence, is to instill in each student the knowledge, skills and virtues necessary to be lifelong learners who recognize their unique talents and purpose and use them in pursuit of their dreams and for service to a global society.

This is accomplished through a passion for knowledge, discovery and vision shared by students, families, staff and community.

Owens Community College and Penta Career Center Expand Access to Education Through Purchase and Sale of Penta’s Current Campus

Posted on May 16th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College and Penta Career Center are expanding access to higher education in Northwest Ohio as the two educational institutions agree to the purchase and sale of Penta Career Center’s current campus to Owens Community College for $6 million.

The purchase includes 56.38 acres of land, as well as approximately 325,530 square feet of classrooms, offices, educational laboratories and storage facilities and parking lots at the current Penta campus. Penta Career Center, which is adjacent to Owens Community College’s Toledo-area Campus, is located at 30095 Oregon Rd. in Perrysburg Township.

“Owens Community College is pleased to collaborate with Penta Career Center and open new doors to educational opportunities for current and future students,” said Christa Adams, Ph.D., President of Owens Community College. “The existing Penta Career Center campus is a natural addition to the College’s Toledo-area Campus and will enable Owens to expand both academic programs and resources. We thank Penta Career Center for their role in helping to shape the future of higher education in Northwest Ohio.”

“Penta has enjoyed a long, working relationship with Owens over the past 40 years,” said Fred Susor, Superintendent of Penta Career Center. “We believe this agreement will benefit Owens, Penta and the thousands of students served by both institutions.”

In September 1965, Owens opened its doors as Penta County Technical Institute, the first technical institute in Ohio, with over 200 student enrolled. Seven years later, the College officially adopted the name of The Michael J. Owens Technical College (now Owens Community College).

The closing date and transfer of titles will occur on June 30. Later in the summer, Owens will take possession of the Penta property and will begin renovations. The renovated facilities will allow Owens to expand many of its credit and non-credit academic programs and create a new University Center where students can complete a baccalaureate degree from partnering four-year colleges and universities.

Penta Career Center serves high school students from the following school districts: Anthony Wayne, Benton-Carroll-Salem, Bowling Green, Eastwood, Elmwood, Genoa, Lake, Maumee, North Baltimore, Northwood, Otsego, Perrysburg, Rossford, Springfield, Swanton, and Woodmore. Penta offers more than 30 different career-training programs that prepare students for entry-level positions in hundreds of occupational fields or for post-secondary education. Penta also serves the training needs of adults in the surrounding communities through its Adult & Continuing Education Division. For more information, visit www.pentacareercenter.org.

Owens Community College Closed Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-26

Posted on May 14th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses will be closed Saturday-Monday, May 24-26 for the Memorial Day holiday. All administrative offices will be closed.

Administrative offices will open again on Tuesday, May 27.

Owens Community College Cancels ‘Clue, The Musical’ Theatre Production

Posted on May 13th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – The upcoming student production of “Clue, The Musical” scheduled for June 13-15 in the Owens Community College Center for Fine and Performing Arts is canceled.

For more information, contact the College’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts at (567) 661-2787 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2787.

Owens Community College Express Golf Program Advances to NJCAA National Championship Tournament, May 20-23

Posted on May 13th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College’s golf program is one step away from being crowned national champions after placing second at their respective regional tournament. As a result of their postseason success, the Express golf team will now advance to the NJCAA Division II National Championships, Tuesday-Friday, May 20-23.

This marks Owens’ second trip to the national championship in its third season as an intercollegiate athletic program. The Express earned their trip to the nationals by finishing second to Mott Community College in the NJCAA Region XII Championships at Bedford Valley Golf Club in Battle Creek, Mich. Mott captured the 54-hole NJCAA Region XII Championship with an overall score of 897 (298-301-298), while Owens finished second after rounds of 300-300-304 (904).

“I am extremely proud of our golf team and their efforts on the golf course,” said Gil Guerrero, Owens Head Coach of the Express golf program. “This group has worked very hard from day one of the season and has earned the right to compete for a national championship.”

The Express golf team captured six match and invitational titles during the season, highlighted by its second consecutive first-place finish in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) Championship Invitational. The program also won its second NJCAA Region XII Sub-Regional championship after rounds of 294-302 (596) at Belmont Country Club in Perrysburg. Owens was ranked No. 14 in the final regular season NJCAA Division II poll.

The NJCAA Division II National Championship tournament will be held at the Palm Valley Golf Club in Phoenix. A maximum of five players are allowed to compete on a designated intercollegiate team and the no-cut tournament will consist of four rounds beginning at 6 a.m. each day. Tee times will be set prior to the tournament in accordance with NJCAA rules.

Owens will compete against 20 intercollegiate golf programs and 200 individuals across the country for the NJCAA Division II National Championship team and individual title. Express golfers expected to compete in the national championship tournament are Joey Bussdieker of Monroe, Mich., 75.9 scoring average (Monroe H.S.); Adam Crisp of Toledo, 74.6 scoring average (Bowsher H.S.); Ben DeArmond of Lambertville, Mich., 78.8 scoring average (Bedford H.S.); Chris Hummer of Toledo, 77.1 scoring average (Start H.S.), and Jason Smith of Toledo, 75.6 scoring average (Anthony Wayne H.S.).

Express golf student-athletes also include Jimmy Bell of Rossford, 77.1 scoring average (Rossford H.S.); Andy Biggert of Oak Harbor, 80.0 scoring average (Oak Harbor H.S.), and Jacob Williams of Fostoria, 80.3 scoring average (St. Wendelin H.S.).

Owens Community College Broadens Access to Educational Opportunities in Western Lucas County

Posted on May 8th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College is broadening access to higher education opportunities within Northwest Ohio by announcing the relocation of its Workforce and Community Services division to Arrowhead Park in Maumee. The new on-site educational service center in Maumee will provide convenient access to higher education for area residents, businesses and industries.

“Owens Community College is committed to meeting the education and training needs of the surrounding communities in Northwest Ohio,” said Christa Adams, Ph.D., President of Owens Community College. “As an academic institution, Owens is continuously looking for opportunities to provide greater access to higher education. The relocation of the Workforce and Community Services division will enable Owens to broaden its workforce development and training programs for area businesses and students and further support local economic growth and vitality within the region.”

The new 38,000 square-foot site for the College’s Workforce and Community Services will feature multiple classrooms and computer laboratories that will be utilized for providing quality-driven workforce training and education that meets the current and future needs of businesses throughout the region. Situated within close proximity to the Interstate-475 corridor, Owens’ new two-story center will be located at 1695 Indian Wood Circle in Maumee.

Owens’ Workforce and Community Services, which currently is located at 2249 Tracy Rd. in Northwood, is dedicated to providing customer-driven workforce development, job training and continuing education for business, industry and area residents throughout Northwest Ohio. Workforce and Community Services’ learning-centered approach focuses on developing and enhancing professional skills to meet the needs of the community, customizing academic curriculum in the areas of professional development, computer and software applications, health and fitness, artful living, personal development, real estate, children’s programming, and apprenticeship-related training and skilled trades.

In addition to offering higher education on its Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses, Owens within the past year has expanded its access to educational opportunities within Northwest Ohio through the creation of new on-site academic and support services at The Source, Lucas County’s One-Stop Employment Center in downtown Toledo. The College also has within the past two years collaborated with Toledo Public Schools and made available its first-ever academic courses at the new Rogers High School. Additionally, the College has longstanding off-campus educational partnerships with schools that include Arcadia High School in Arcadia, Liberty Benton High School in Findlay, Riverdale High School in Mt. Blanchard, Springfield High School in Holland, Eastwood High School in Pemberville and Swanton High School in Swanton, among others.

Owens Findlay-area Campus Provides New Educational Services at Putnam County Educational Service Center Starting in May

Posted on May 6th, 2008

FINDLAY, OH – Area residents are invited to explore career options and gain advice on making the first steps toward a new career or pursuing a college education as Owens Community College’s Findlay-area Campus offers a series of new educational seminars and informational sessions at the Putnam County Educational Service Center starting in mid May.

The free educational seminars and informational sessions, which are open to the public, will occur monthly on Wednesdays at the Putnam County Educational Service Center. The educational service center is located on Putnam Parkway in Ottawa.

“Owens Community College is proud to strengthen our partnership with the Putnam County Educational Service Center and expand our educational services and resources to the region through this new initiative,” said Angie McGinnis, Owens Director of Enrollment Services for the Findlay-area Campus.

The first educational seminar will take place on Wednesday, May 28 in the Putnam County Educational Service Center Room 2. The topic will focus on applying for financial aid. Subsequent sessions will highlight career options and academic programs in technology (June 25), in business and information systems (July 23) and arts and sciences (Aug. 27). Each seminar will last for one hour and presenters will be available for questions until 2 p.m. at the Putnam County Educational Service Center.

In addition to the educational seminars, an Owens Enrollment Services representative will hold office hours at the Putnam County Educational Service Center from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month. Individuals will have the opportunity to learn about Owens’ many academic program offerings and receive academic advising, as well as pick up information about financial aid and student activities, among other College materials. Owens will offer its first office hours on Wednesday, May 14. Additional on-site informational days include June 11, July 9 and Aug. 13.

For more information, contact the College’s Findlay-area Campus at (567) 429-3656 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 3656.

Owens Community College Enhances Bookstore Convenience with New Spring Drive-Thru Book Buy-Back Program, May 5-9

Posted on May 1st, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Area residents attending Owens Community College can now sell their used or unwanted textbooks without leaving the convenience of their automobiles as the campus Bookstore offers a new Drive-Thru Book Buy-Back Program for Spring Semester on the Toledo-area Campus, May 5-9.

The Drive-Thru Book Buy-Back Program is unique to the state as Owens is one of the only academic institutions in Ohio to offer such a service to students. Colorado State University, Utah State University, Penn State University and California State University, Long Beach are among the select schools to provide students the drive-thru book buy-back service.

Blustery winds and cold wintery sleet and rain did not deter hundreds of Owens students from using the Drive-Thru Book Buy-Back Program for the first time this past fall term.

According to Rebecca Drayton, Owens Manager of the Bookstore on the Toledo-area Campus, the Owens Community College Bookstore is continuously looking for unique and innovative ways to enhance service for students.

“The Bookstore drive-thru program allows students to conveniently sell their textbooks without leaving the confines of their vehicle,” stated Drayton. “Last fall, hundreds of Owens students took advantage of this unique service and I anticipate a very similar turnout during the spring term.”

The drive-thru site will be located at the northwest corner of the Audio/Visual Classroom Center parking lot (Lot N) on the Toledo-area Campus. Individuals will have the opportunity to drive up to one of two designated drive-thru windows from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., Monday-Thursday, May 5-8, and from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Friday, May 9. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

For more information about the Bookstore’s new Drive-Thru Book Buy-Back Program, call (567) 661-2021 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2021.

40 Students to Graduate From Owens Basic Peace Officer Training Academies, May 6

Posted on May 1st, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Forty students from the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses will be recognized as Ohio Basic Peace Officer Training Academy graduates at Owens Community College on Tuesday, May 6.

The special ceremonies will occur at 7 p.m. in the College’s Audio/Visual Classroom Center on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. The College’s Basic Peace Officer Training Academy graduation is open to the public.

“Owens Community College is proud to continue its collaboration with the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission and provide educational training for thousands of future law enforcement officials,” said Gary Brinker, Owens Coordinator of Public Service Training Programs. “Our nation would not experience freedom and safety as we know it without each graduate’s decision to pursue a career in public service.”

Local law enforcement agencies where Owens graduates are employed include the Findlay Police Department, Fostoria Police Department, Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, Henry County Sheriff’s Department, Lucas County Sheriff’s Department, Maumee Police Department, Northwood Police Department, Perrysburg City Police Department, Perrysburg Township Police Department, Sylvania City Police Department, Sylvania Township Police Department, Toledo Police Department and the Wood County Sheriff’s Department.

The following students have completed the required number of law enforcement contact hours set forth by the Ohio Revised Code and the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission.

Toledo-area Campus Basic Peace Officer Day Academy:
Joshua D. Arvay of Toledo	(sponsored by the McClure Police Department)
Shaun L. Conklin of Sylvania
Aaron M. Crawford of Toledo	(sponsored by the Pemberville Police Department)
Victoria L. Dowling of Toledo
Thomas L. Ervin of Walbridge	(sponsored by the Wood County Sheriff’s Department)
Justin P. Feher of Oregon
Denise J. Fischer of Toledo
Justin J. Fisher of Toledo
Justin T. Hesselbart of Waterville	(sponsored by the Woodville Police Department)
Matthew S. Heyrman of Toledo	(sponsored by the Lucas County Sheriff’s Department)
Tyler P. Howard of Oregon
Patrick Kwiatkowski of Toledo
Lorraine M. Meyers of Perrysburg
John T. Millinger of Bowling Green
Michael A. Mundy of Toledo
Jamal D. Owens of Rossford	(sponsored by the Wood County Sheriff’s Office)
Mathew J. Rademaker of Bryan
Nicholas T. Rasey of Napoleon
John H. Sawicki of Toledo	(sponsored by the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office)
Christian M. Silverwood of Bowling Green	(sponsored by the Wayne Police Department)
Jason L. Wheeler of Fremont
Toledo-area Campus Basic Peace Officer Night Academy:
Britni A. Aring of Bowling Green	(sponsored by the Wood County Sheriff’s Office)
Dylan T. Kahle of Toledo
Frank Loiola of South Rockwood, Mich.
Eric M. Macek of Toledo
Joshua L. Mercer of Montpelier
Matthew B. Peacock of Toledo
Joshua L. Segura of Northwood
Wesley W. Waggoner of Perrysburg	(sponsored by the Wood County Sheriff’s Office)
Findlay-area Campus Basic Peace Officer Academy:
Lourel M. Benavides of Tiffin
Tyler M. Brodman of Bluffton
Chance C. Collins of Arlington	(sponsored by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office)
William J. Dotson Jr. of Carey	(sponsored by the Carey Police Department)
Christopher M. Hemminger of Carey
Eric D. Lehman of Rawson
Adam C. Nelson of Findlay
Stephanie A. Shine of New Riegel	(sponsored by the New Riegel Police Department)
David P. Shultz of Hoytville
Joshua S. Snyder of Bowling Green
Elliot A. Tyzzer of Findlay

Record 773 Owens Community College Students to Graduate During Spring Commencement, May 9

Posted on April 30th, 2008

Melinda Boehler

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – A record 773 candidates for graduation, including 120 from the Findlay-area Campus, will receive their degrees during the 42nd annual Spring Commencement at Owens Community College on Friday, May 9. The commencement will begin at 7 p.m. in the Student Health and Activities Center on the College’s Toledo-area Campus.

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur

Marcy Kaptur, for Northern Ohio’s Ninth Congressional District and currently serving her 13th term in the U.S. House of Representatives, will serve as the keynote speaker for the College’s Spring Commencement. Owens’ commencement ceremony is free and open to the public.

“Owens Community College is extremely honored to have Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur with us to celebrate the academic achievements of our graduates,” said Christa Adams, Ph.D., President of Owens Community College. “Congresswoman Kaptur is an accomplished leader and a strong advocate for Northwest Ohio. Her insightful message will serve as an inspiration to the College’s graduating class as they become the first responders, educators, scientists, health care professionals, technologists, musicians, skilled laborers and business leaders of tomorrow.”

Congresswoman Kaptur, of Polish-American heritage with humble, working class roots, mirrors the boot-strap nature of her district. Her family operated a small grocery where her mother worked after serving on the original organizing committee of an auto trade union at Champion Spark Plug. Congresswoman Kaptur, the senior-most woman in Congress and one of only 90 women out of 535 members of the 110th Congress, became the first family member to attend college, receiving a scholarship for her undergraduate work. Trained as a City and Regional Planner, she practiced 15 years in Toledo and throughout the United States before seeking office. Appointed as an Urban Advisor to the Carter White House, she helped maneuver 17 housing and neighborhood revitalization bills through the Congress during those years.

Subsequently, while pursuing a doctorate in urban planning and development finance at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, her local Party recruited her to run for the House seat in 1982. Though outspent three to one in the first campaign, her deep roots in the blue collar neighborhoods and rural areas of the district made her race the national upset of 1982.

Congresswoman Kaptur fought vigorously to win a seat on the House Appropriations Committee. Since elected, she has risen in seniority and is now the senior Democratic woman on Appropriations. She has secured subcommittees on Agriculture, the leading industry in her state, Transportation/Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Defense. Kaptur is the first Democratic women to serve on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

Congresswoman Kaptur has focused strong efforts on rebuilding the economic might of her district through improvements in bridge, road, rail and port facilities, including the New Maumee River Crossing – the largest bridge project in Ohio’s history; expansion of Toledo’s Farmers’ Market; development of the Maumee River Heritage Corridor between Ohio and Indiana, which includes passage of legislation and funds to acquire Fallen Timbers as a national affiliate of the U.S. Park Service; clean-up of the waterways adjacent to Lake Erie; development of initiatives to enhance the earnings potential of Northwest Ohio crops; shipping of federal cargos on the Great Lakes; acquisition of wildlife refuges and shoreline recreation; and expansion of university-related research.

Kaptur was awarded the Veterans of Foreign Wars Americanism Award, in part for introducing the legislation authorizing the National World War II Memorial in Washington in 1987, as well as for her longstanding commitment to America’s veterans. She also received the Prisoner of War “Barbed Wire” Award for her commitment to veterans’ affairs.

Kaptur is a life-long resident of Toledo, a member of Little Flower Roman Catholic Church, and a graduate of St. Ursula Academy. In 1968, Kaptur earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Wisconsin. She received her master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Michigan. In 1993, Congresswoman Kaptur was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree by the University of Toledo in recognition of her “effective representation of the community,” of the University and of Northwest Ohio. St. Ursula Academy named Kaptur Alumna of the Year in 1995. Last year, the University of Michigan honored Congresswoman Kaptur with the Taubman College Distinguished Alumna Award.

Melinda Boehler, a diagnostic medical sonography major, has been selected as the Owens class representative and will address the graduates during the Spring Commencement ceremony.

The Genoa resident earned her bachelor’s degree in geology in 1998, but was unable to find work in her chosen career. After a few months of looking for a job, she accepted a position in manufacturing, while she continued to pursue her career aspirations.

Seven years later, Boehler, a single parent, found herself still working for the same company as they appeared to be closing the business. Concerned that she wouldn’t be able to support her two children, the 1994 Genoa High School graduate knew it was time to go back to school and chose Owens because of the variety of academic options available and eventually entered the diagnostic medical sonography program.

Attending college a second time proved to be a juggling act for Boehler as she was caring for two young children, working as non-registered medical sonographer at Bay Park Community Hospital in Oregon and taking challenging classes at Owens.

“I persevered, I kept at it, and I kept telling myself that it would be worth it in the end,” said Boehler.

An honors student with a 4.0 grade point average, Boehler is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography and the Tomorrow’s Imagers student organization. Her community involvement also includes participating in the American Legion Auxiliary and the National Speleological Society and spending time supporting her children at their respective school activities.

Boehler credits the educational success she has achieved to her supportive parents, Tom and Sheila Boehler, and her inspirational sons, Xavier and Sam. She is also grateful for the educational support from the Owens sonography faculty members.

The focus of Boehler’s commencement speech will address her journey, challenges and success in overcoming obstacles. After graduation, Boehler looks forward to beginning a career in diagnostic medical sonography at Bay Park Community Hospital in Oregon and at Firelands Regional Medical Center in Sandusky, spending time with her family and giving back to the community by mentoring other students.

“I am graduating because I chose to hope for a better future for my family,” said Boehler.

Owens’ State-of-the-Art Greenhouse Offers Students New Experiential Learning Opportunities

Posted on April 24th, 2008

Owens’ new 2,400 square-foot greenhouse features a metal frame and state-of-the-art corrugated polycarbonate paneling.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – The sights and smells of spring are abundant throughout Northwest Ohio as the winter season gives way to rising temperatures and sunny days. However, the tropical temperatures of the spring and summer seasons never left Owens Community College’s new greenhouse where radiant colors of flowers and plants are in full bloom thanks to the laboratory’s unique experiential learning opportunities.

“The greenhouse provides a unique learning experience for students in the various science programs and helps bridge the gap between the textbook learning and the everyday demands within the industry,” said Chris Foley, Owens Associate Professor of Math and Life/Natural Sciences.

Owens’ new 2,400 square-foot greenhouse structure features a metal frame and state-of-the-art corrugated polycarbonate paneling, which allows the facility to maintain an optimal temperature for conducting various science experiments. The lightweight paneling is comprised of an ultra-violet protected surface and condensation control material, eliminating condensation drop formation all while retaining a high level transparency for heat regulation. Greenhouse amenities also include high efficiency lighting, natural gas heating and an automatic ventilation system through the use of exhaust fans, as well as a water mist system. The floor is comprised of concrete and stone in order to maximize hands-on instruction and exercises.

The new greenhouse is utilized by Owens natural science classes in the areas of plant science, soil science and turfgrass management. Each class learns about a variety of horticultural practices that include planting, watering and fertilizing various herbaceous plants, as well as experiential learning related to morphology, anatomy, growth and development, soil science and overall plant health.

A variety of plant science experiments are conducted within the greenhouse laboratory using herbaceous plants.

Specific plant science experiments conducted within greenhouse laboratory include transpiration, fertility studies, growing media and hydroponic growing using herbaceous plants such as young grass seedlings, tomatoes, beans and corn. Students also conduct propagation studies by growing plants from cuttings and raising annuals for the Landscape and Turfgrass Crew Club’s spring plant sale. In addition, both biology and botany classes utilize the greenhouse laboratory for experiential learning.

The College’s Natural Sciences program offers students the opportunity to pursue associate’s degrees in landscape and turfgrass management or golf/turfgrass management while preparing for careers within the landscape, turfgrass and horticultural industries. Past graduates from these academic programs have gone on to become landscape designers, pest management specialists, and landscape construction and maintenance specialists at public and private golf courses, arboretums and gardens, garden centers, professional and semi-professional athletic facilities, and lawn care companies throughout the region.

Owens Findlay-area Campus Students and Hancock Leadership Raise Over $1,000 in Support of Special Needs Children

Posted on April 9th, 2008

Owens Findlay-area Campus employees’ Sandy Taylor of Fostoria and Pat Dymarkowski of Findlay prepare pancakes during “Wake Up at Owens”.

FINDLAY, OH – Over 150 area residents recently began their morning with a piping hot pancake breakfast at the Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus as the Students Involved organization, in collaboration with Hancock Leadership, hosted “Wake Up With Owens”. The first-ever event resulted in the two groups raising over $1,000 to benefit a new multi-sensory room for special needs children at Special Kids Therapy in Findlay.

“Owens Community College is proud to partner with Hancock Leadership and raise funds and support learning opportunities for those individuals with severe sensory impairments.” said Jenna Padron, Owens President for the Students Involved organization. “Resources such as the Special Kids Therapy multi-sensory room are vital for people with disabilities. I want to thank all those individuals who made ‘Wake Up With Owens’ a huge success, and I encourage people to continue to support the new multi-sensory room initiative.”

Since 2001, the Special Kids Therapy organization has been providing special health needs for children through necessities and fun, interactive therapies. The establishment of a multi-sensory room will enable the Special Kids Therapy organization to provide an environment where individuals with sensory impairments and neurological challenges can enhance skills in sensory development (hearing, sight, taste, smell and touch), hand/eye coordination, cause and effect, language development and relaxation.

The mission of Hancock Leadership is to develop and cultivate all people with a passion to serve the community through a dynamic learning experience that encourages self-discovery, fosters relationships and inspires stewardship. Hancock Leadership is spearheading efforts to raise funds for the Special Kids Therapy’s new multi-sensory room as part of their 2008 class project.

Lumina Foundation Funding Helps Ohio Adults Get a ‘QuickStart’ to College

Posted on April 4th, 2008

COLUMBUS, OH – Working Ohioans who want to go to college will get a “QuickStart” thanks to a $522,200 grant from Lumina Foundation for Education.

The grant will create a new path to college in Lima, Toledo, and Zanesville at Rhodes State College, Owens Community College, and Zane State College. Adults return to learning with a course, “QuickStart to College” that helps them transition into college. Once enrolled, students will be offered refresher classes in math and English, join a mentoring program and create a learning plan that will keep them on track throughout their degree.

The QuickStart course brings students to campus for the first class meeting and then they work at a distance. At that first class, students get a parking pass, learn how to find their way around the campus, and meet their adviser. At the end of the course, students will have created a complete learning plan that helps them determine what courses they will take to earn a degree.

“This program promises to help Ohioans get the education they need so they can keep the jobs they want,” said Kate M. Carey, Executive Director of the Ohio Learning Network, recipient of the grant.

This project will strengthen the Ohio workforce by increasing the number of adult students entering and completing higher education. Barriers for adults include college readiness (often mathematics and English skills), support mechanisms, financial aid, and time. QuickStart to College reduces all those barriers. In the next five years, Ohio’s economy will create more than 560,000 new jobs, 60% of which will require employees with some college education. Today, less than 25% of Ohio’s population over the age of 25 has some postsecondary education.

“The Quickstart program is exciting in that it allows us to reach out to those students who might not otherwise consider going to college,” said Chad Brown, Academic Dean of Health, Public Service and Service Related Programs at Zane State College. “The key to this program is really individuality and flexibility; students will work individually with Financial Aid and the Student Success Center as they design a forward looking, individualized plan of study.

“Sometimes the greatest barrier to not attending college is simply being unaware of the help and services available. The Quickstart program really seeks to bridge this gap,” said Brown.

Bruce Busby, Vice President of Academic Services at Owens Community College said, “With support from the Lumina Foundation, QuickStart to College will provide increased access to higher education for many under-employed and unemployed adults in the Toledo area.”

“This opportunity provides a pathway for students to achieve their dream,” said Melissa Green, Vice President for Student Affairs at Rhodes State College.

Lumina Foundation for Education, an Indianapolis-based private foundation, strives to help people achieve their potential by expanding access to and success in education beyond high school. Through grants for research, innovation, communication and evaluation, as well as policy education and leadership development, Lumina Foundation addresses issues that affect access and educational attainment among all students, especially underserved student groups such as minorities, students from low-income families, first-time college-goers and working adults. The Foundation believes postsecondary education is one of the most beneficial investments individuals can make in themselves and that a society can make in its people.

OLN (www.oln.org) is an initiative of the Ohio Board of Regents and 81 of Ohio’s public and private colleges and universities supporting e-learning. Ohioans can find 4000 courses and 210 degrees and certificates through the OhioLearns! catalog (www.ohiolearns.org). OLN supports faculty teaching and learning and builds partnerships among higher education schools, business, and communities in Ohio.

Owens Community College Enhances Campus Life Through Refurbished College Hall Atrium

Posted on April 2nd, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College continues to expand upon the various campus life resources available for its students by providing a facelift to the 25-year-old College Hall Atrium. The new state-of-the-art educational center will feature an array of amenities and services designed to serve a vibrant and growing campus.

“Owens Community College is excited to enhance campus life for our students and employees through a refurbished College Hall Atrium,” said Dr. Bill Ivoska, Owens Vice President of Student Services. “The atrium represents the heart of campus and in many instances is the first building people visit when arriving at Owens. The new College Hall Atrium will create a social and learning environment for students to excel in their educational pursuits and will certainly leave a lasting impression on visitors.”

According to Jim Mahaney, Owens Manager of Construction and Renovations, the College Hall Atrium looked every bit as it did back when it was first built in 1983.

“Owens Community College felt it was necessary to upgrade the atrium that was simply beyond its time,” he stated. “The new College Hall Atrium complements the look and feel of the recently-renovated Fireside Grill, which has become a place individuals really want to visit and spend time in.”

Designed by the firm Stough and Stough Architects of Sylvania, the new interior of the building will mirror the unique characteristics of College Hall’s Fireside Grill, which was renovated in 2005. Canaan Construction Inc. of Sylvania will serve as the general contractor, while Earl Mechanical Services of Wauseon and Brint Electric of Toledo will oversee mechanical and electrical contracts, respectively.

Located at the center of Owens’ Toledo-area Campus, the College Hall Atrium, which is receiving its first facelift since being built, serves as the heart of student activity in the College Hall building. Upon entering the new atrium from the east, individuals will view a new multi-colored ceramic marble tile center walkway, which leads directly to a refurbished Fireside Grill open-air courtyard. Additional features will include 24 acoustic panels comprised of purple, green and blue colors atop the College Hall Atrium ceiling and a new energy-efficient lighting system within the 11 existing skylight windows. The atrium will also consist of a new Enrollment Services reception area for enhanced admissions and registration services.

In addition, the 4,112 square-foot area will feature a total of four futuristic, multi-colored benches and couches of serpentine shape and eight circular tables for individuals to relax in-between classes, to study or to sit and enjoy a meal from the Fireside Grill. Students will also have access to network and high-speed, wireless Internet connection and power stations as part of the College Hall Atrium’s Cyber CafÈ. The refurbished College Hall Atrium will open in August.

Owens replaced the Fountain View Dining Hall, which served as the College’s main dining hall and conference center for over 20 years, with the new Fireside Grill.

The new Fireside Grill provides customers with a variety of popular food and beverage options, including Subway, Beaner’s Coffee and Marco’s Pizza, as well as traditional food court offerings such as a soup and salad bar, the Angus Grill, Snack and Go and CafÈ International, which features different international cuisines each day.

Students and employees are also able to eat, study and relax in a variety of places, including the Express CafÈ, the Sports CafÈ or the Cyber CafÈ. The Sports CafÈ offers dining entertainment highlighted by four mounted wide screen televisions, while the Cyber CafÈ affords students the opportunity of accessing e-mail and information online via more than 20 state-of-the-art computers located within the facility.

Serving as the focal point to the Fireside Grill is an expansive stone fireplace designed to stimulate learning within a quiet and relaxing environment.

Owens Community College Names New Dean of Academic Services

Posted on April 2nd, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College has named Tamara Williams as the new Dean of Academic Services. Her responsibilities will include assisting with all aspects related to the coordination and development of instructional programs and support services on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses.

In addition to providing assistance in curriculum development, Williams will be responsible for special programs related to Outcomes Assessment, Tech Prep, the Weekend College, Post-Secondary Enrollment Options and the College’s satellite learning centers. She will also assist with Owens’ Program Review and Evaluation Process and Assessment of Learning Outcomes and work closely with the fellow academic deans to enhance educational opportunities and resources for current and future students.

“Owens Community College is honored to have Tamara Williams serving as the new Dean of Academic Services,” said Dr. Bruce Busby, Owens Vice President of Academic Services. “Tamara brings to the College a distinguished academic career and extensive knowledge and experience in higher education that will be invaluable as Owens continues to meet the needs of the surrounding communities through innovative academic programs and resources.”

Since August 2005, Williams has served as the Academic Dean of Career Education at Wayne County Community College District. While at Wayne County, she was responsible for the strategic direction and development of academic policies and programs for the academic institution. Her responsibilities also included providing leadership and coordination for all activities associated with Tech Prep, School-to-Work, Career Prep, Career Pathways and other related career development programs, as well as for the Program Review and Evaluation process. Additionally, Williams served as liaison officer with accrediting agencies and played an integral role in establishing articulation agreements with high schools and four-year academic institutions for Wayne County.

Prior to her position at Wayne County, Williams served as the Associate Director of Cooperative Education and Diversity Initiatives at the University of Toledo for six years, where she directed and coordinated student programs and developed and marketed cooperative education/career services to local and national industries.

Her professional and community involvement includes membership with the Michigan Occupational Dean’s Council, the Community College Leadership Team, the Ohio Cooperative Education Association, the Greater Toledo Urban League and Leadership Toledo. Williams also serves as an Ohio Reads tutor and a United Way and a Boys and Girls Club of Toledo volunteer.

The Toledo resident holds a master’s degree in Education and a bachelor’s degree in Communications both from the University of Toledo. Williams is currently pursuing her doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Toledo.

Owens Students Defend Networks Against Cyber Attacks During Michigan/Ohio Cyber Defense Competition, March 14-15

Posted on March 12th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College students will test their network defense skills against a barrage of cyber attacks from professional hackers as the School of Business and Information Systems competes in the Michigan/Ohio Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, March 14-15. The Michigan/Ohio regional competition will take place at Baker College in Flint, Mich.

Owens students will compete against five other academic institutions for the opportunity to advance to the Midwest Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition. The overall goal of the competition is to challenge students’ understanding and operational competency in managing issues inherent in protecting an enterprise network infrastructure and business information systems.

“Owens Community College’s School of Business and Information Systems is proud to have the opportunity to compete in an event where students must secure their networks against the best in the industry,” said Denise Pheils, Owens Associate Professor of Information Systems and team Advisor. “The competition will be extremely competitive. However, I know our team is well prepared and extremely eager to showcase their knowledge and skills related to network security.”

Owens students participating in the cyber defense competition are all enrolled in the School of Business and Information Systems’ Advanced Network Security class and pursuing careers in information systems. Team members include Mike Vargo of Port Clinton (team captain), Elisabeth Moser of Haskins, Jon Dyer of Findlay, Andy Krieg of Toledo, Justin VanHerwaarden of Bowling Green, Mark Fosgate of Elmore and Nathaniel Rahrig of Liberty Center.

Other academic institutions selected to compete in the cyber defense competition include Baker College, Kellogg Community College, Jackson Community College, Davenport University and Rhodes State College.

Organizations sponsoring the event are the National Science Foundation, CISCO, Center for Systems Security and Information Assurance, Wiley Business Solutions Group, Core Security Technologies, SecureWorks Inc. and White Wolf Security. Technical support is provided by Andrews Hooper and Pavlik P.L.C.

Owens Environmental Club and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Donate 2,500 Books to Needy Literacy Programs, March 13

Posted on March 12th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College’s Environmental Club and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society are reaching out to individuals throughout the world by giving new life to thousands of old books previously destined for dumpsters or destruction. The initiative, titled “Book Drives for Better Lives”, is part of an ongoing campus- and community-wide book collection program intended to help needy non-profit programs and organizations through literacy.

Since establishing the collection drive program in June 2006, the two student organizations have received over 26,000 in donated books from Owens employees and students, as well as the surrounding communities. Most recently, the two student groups have collected over 2,500 books, which will eventually end up in the hands of underprivileged individuals throughout the world.

Beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 13, the two student organizations, with the assistance of the Sailing Club and the Literacy Committee, will pick up the various collection bins located around the Toledo-area Campus and prepare the donated books for shipment to Better World Books, which is a national organization dedicated to fighting global illiteracy through the dissemination books and funds to needy non-profit organizations. Literacy non-profit groups in which Better World Books, located in Mishawaka, Ind., serves include Books for Africa (Africa), the National Center for Family Literacy (United States), Room to Read (South Asia) and Worldfund (Latin America).

To date, Better World Books has received more than 10 million book donations from over 1,200 colleges and universities and 750 libraries participating in the worldwide program. The international organization has also assisted in raising more than $2.3 million for approximately 80 literacy and education non-profit groups.

For more information about the book collection drive, or to donate, call (567) 661-7583 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7583.

Owens Alumni Association Accepting Nominations for Outstanding Service Award Celebration Through March 21

Posted on March 4th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College’s Alumni Association is recognizing the tremendous contribution that area police, fire and emergency medical professionals make to Northwest Ohio’s surrounding communities by hosting the fifth annual Outstanding Service Awards. The recipients will be honored as part of a community celebration on Friday, April 25.

The College’s Alumni Association is presently accepting nominations for the Outstanding Service Awards. Area residents are invited to nominate an individual or individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service above and beyond the call of duty. Nominations need to be returned to the College’s Office of Alumni Relations by Friday, March 21. The award is not limited to a single recipient, and the College’s Alumni Association encourages the nomination of more than one person when teamwork was the key element in their success.

The fifth annual Outstanding Service Award Celebration will begin at 8 a.m. in the College’s Audio/Visual Classroom Center Rooms 125-128 on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. Admission is free and the public is encouraged to attend, however, reservations are required.

Owens Students, Faculty and Staff Choose to Spend Spring Break Building New and Renovating Existing Houses in Kentucky, March 2-8

Posted on February 29th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Spring Break is usually a time when college students head south for a bit of relaxation, rejuvenation and good old-fashioned fun in the warm tropical sun. However, for a group of Owens Community College students, faculty and staff associated with the Owens Habitat Club, heading south for Spring Break means a week of hard, manual labor to help out Kentucky residents in need.

Replacing old drywall is one of the many tasks awaiting six students, two faculty and one staff member as they depart Northwest Ohio at 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 2 from Owens’ College Hall parking lot and head south to Louisville, Ky. The focus of the trip is to assist in building new and/or renovating existing homes for those in need housing.

The group of volunteers will spend one week working with Louisville’s Habitat for Humanity dry-walling, painting, framing, roofing, landscaping and working on plumbing, as well as many other desired tasks, in four newly constructed and/or existing houses in the Louisville area.

“This trip is about making a difference in people’s lives,” stated Tom Vollmer of Toledo, Owens Adjunct Faculty member and Habitat Club Advisor. “Habitat for Humanity is not just about building a house, it’s about building a safe and affordable place that a family can call home.”

For Owens student Matthew Brusoe of Holland, making the choice to spend his Spring Break week helping others was an easy decision. “What could be better than helping those in need,” explained Brusoe, who spent spring break the previous year rebuilding hurricane and tornado damaged houses in Lake Charles, La. “I lead a very blessed life and can think of no better way to spend my spring break than helping others get back on their feet.”

Owens students volunteering their time to participate in the humanitarian efforts are Jodi Douglas of Toledo, Eric Matthews of Bowling Green, Matthew Brusoe of Holland, Nancy Jones of Toledo, Derrick Crawford of Toledo and Brett Burdo of Whitehouse. In addition to Vollmer, faculty and staff members expected to accompany the students to the Louisville region include Michael Sprowls of Findlay, Associate Professor of Math and Life/Natural Sciences, and David Shaffer of Fremont, Journeyman Maintenance Specialist for the Center of Emergency Preparedness.

Group members are expected to return to Northwest Ohio and Owens Community College in the late afternoon of Saturday, March 8.

Habitat for Humanity is a global home-building movement comprising more than 2,300 local affiliates, state supported organizations and national organizations in nearly 90 countries. Completing a home somewhere in the world every 21 minutes, Habitat builds nearly 26,000 homes per year.

Owens Dental Hygiene Program Brightens Smiles During Nationwide Give Kids A Smile Day

Posted on February 13th, 2008

Five-year-old Dylan Plummer of Walbridge opens wide during Give Kids A Smile Day at Owens.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Oral hygiene, pearly white teeth and smiling faces were abundant at Owens Community College as more than 100 area children received free dental service courtesy of the Dental Hygiene program as part of the nationwide Give Kids A Smile Day.

Owens’ Dental Hygiene program, in collaboration with the Toledo Dental Society, was among thousands of organizations that provided free dental services and educational outreach for “at-risk” children across the country.

Owens Dental Hygiene student Ruth Goeder of Toledo provides free dental service to six-year-old Hailey Perez of Bowling Green.

For six-year-old Hailey Perez of Bowling Green, the experience of having her teeth cleaned was “pretty neat”. Showing off her shiny white teeth to her mother, Sandy Perez of Bowling Green, and Owens Dental Hygiene second-year student Ruth Goeder of Toledo, Hailey was overjoyed when she received take-home gifts that included a Superman toothbrush and toothpaste.

“I like my new toothbrush,” said a smiling Hailey while holding up her gift. “I really liked getting my teeth cleaned.”

Give Kids A Smile Day is a national initiative by the American Dental Association, which is dedicated to focusing attention on the epidemic of untreated oral disease among disadvantaged children. Held each February in conjunction with National Children’s Dental Health Month, Give Kids A Smile Day provides free oral health education, screening and treatment services to children from low-income families across the country. In 2007, events were held at approximately 2,250 locations across the nation, with over 39,000 dental team volunteers and 14,400 dentists providing treatment to over 758,000 children.

Eight-year-old Taylor Smith of Millbury shows her appreciation to Owens’ Dental Hygiene program following her free teeth cleaning.

“Give Kids A Smile Day is an outstanding program offered by Owens Community College,” said Hailey’s mother Sandy. “Our family understands the importance of keeping teeth cleaned and appreciates the quality dental care. It really means a lot and I am extremely thankful.”

According to Beth Tronolone, Owens Chair of Dental Hygiene, Give Kids A Smile Day is also a wonderful opportunity to raise the importance and awareness of preventive dental care such as flossing, brushing and regular dental visits.

“If untreated, tooth decay just continues to get worse and affects children’s overall health,” Tronolone stated. “Owens Community College’s Dental Hygiene program is proud to once again participate in such a worthwhile endeavor and provide dental services to individuals in need. Our goal during Give Kids A Smile Day is to provide each attendee with a positive dental experience and help them feel comfortable smiling again.”

Tronolone added, “Owens’ Dental Hygiene program is extremely appreciative to all our friends and partners for volunteering their time and helping local children in need of proper dental care. The day was once again a huge success because of their efforts.”

Dental services available for free throughout the day included dental education and screening, X-rays, oral prophylaxis (cleanings), limited restorations and dental sealants. In addition, first-year students from the health program provided educational presentations for parents and children.

Local communities benefitting from the free dental services included Millbury, Walbridge, Bowling Green, Swanton, Perrysburg, Toledo, Oak Harbor, Rossford, Northwood, Holland and Pemberville, among others.

Three-year-old Anna Smith of Millbury is all smiles after her visit to Owens’ Dental Hygiene Clinic.

The College’s Dental Hygiene program provides more than 40 students with a fully accredited, scientifically current and competency-based curriculum annually. Students receive classroom instruction as well as hands-on experience in the Dental Hygiene Clinic, while preparing to sit for the national, state or regional exam in dental hygiene. Owens’ program also offers dental services to area residents through its Dental Hygiene Clinic. The 20-chair clinic is staffed by dental hygiene students and supervised by licensed dental professionals at Owens, and appointments are available during the Fall and Spring semesters for a $25 fee.

Owens Provides Woodward High School Students Access to Higher Education Through New Success Program

Posted on February 7th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College and Toledo Public Schools are entering into a new partnership that will afford all graduating Woodward High School students in financial need the opportunity to pursue a free college education through Owens Community College Foundation’s new Success Program initiative.

The 2008 Woodward High School graduating class will serve as the first recipients of this unique program, which is designed to assist students, who receive only partial state and federal financial aid, attend college. The Success Program will bridge the gap between the grant aid a student receives and the cost of an Owens education.

“Owens Community College is proud to partner with Toledo Public Schools in opening new doors for students to succeed in their educational pursuits,” said Christa Adams, Ph.D., President of Owens Community College. “Every student graduating from high school should have the opportunity to pursue a college education. The Success Program was created with the goal that finances should not serve as a barrier to an individual’s educational and career aspirations. This new initiative is an investment in Northwest Ohio’s future workforce and economy.”

“Toledo Public Schools appreciates the opportunity that Owens Community College has extended to our students at Woodward High School. The Success Program provides our students with a chance to pursue an associate’s degree and to begin planning for their future,” said John Foley, Superintendent for Toledo Public Schools. “We look forward to working with Owens Community College on other initiatives in the future that will benefit all Toledo Public School students.”

In order to be eligible, Woodward students must graduate from high school, be enrolled in 12 or more credit hours each semester at Owens and complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid and receive some federal/state grant funding. Recipients must enroll at Owens during the first Fall Semester or Spring Semester following graduation and will have three years to complete their associate’s degree through the Success Program initiative.

According to President Adams, the College is continuously looking at opportunities to provide greater access to higher education in Northwest Ohio. “Owens Community College is focused on meeting the needs of the surrounding communities and envisions expanding the Success Program to high schools throughout the academic institution’s legal district.”

The Owens Foundation was incorporated in April 2002 and has over $2 million in assets. The Foundation Board of Directors currently is comprised of 21 community leaders from Lucas, Wood and Hancock counties. The mission of the Owens Foundation and its Board of Directors is developing and providing resources to advance the College’s overall mission of serving students and the surrounding communities. The Foundation is also dedicated to removing barriers to education by providing student scholarships and supporting growth and innovation at Owens.

Over 400 Owens Community College Students Choosing Higher Education at The Source Learning Center

Posted on February 6th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Area residents are continuing to choose Owens Community College for their higher education in record numbers, which is evident at the academic institution’s first-ever on-site location in downtown Toledo. Since opening its doors in August 2007, Owens’ new Learning Center at The Source, Lucas County’s One-Stop Employment Center, has provided academic and support services to hundreds of area residents. For Spring Semester alone, 433 students are choosing the College’s new convenient access to higher education in downtown Toledo.

“Owens Community College is committed to meeting the education and training needs of Northwest Ohio’s citizens by preparing them for career opportunities within today’s competitive workforce,” said Christa Adams, Ph.D., President of Owens Community College. “The College’s new Learning Center at The Source is specifically designed to connect education and training to employment, which positively impacts Northwest Ohio’s economic future.”

“The Source and Owens Community College has unmistakably been a great fit for many non-traditional students. As a past evening student myself, I know how valuable flexible class time and location can be and I am so encouraged by this successful partnership,” said Commissioner Pete Gerken.

“In the 21st Century, it is imperative that we not only provide our citizens with job opportunities, but that we encourage them to continue their education at our local colleges and universities. We are proud to continue to partner with Owens Community College in making higher education more accessible and providing citizens with the tools they need for success,” said Commissioner Ben Konop.

“There can be no greater investment in the future of our downtown than higher education opportunities, which is why I’m so happy to see the results from Owens this semester. Our arena will be great, but it won’t have any visitors if our residents aren’t able to secure good-paying jobs. Together, The Source and Owens Community College are making a difference in so many lives,” said Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak.

Owens’ new 11,367 square-feet Learning Center is located within The Source complex on Monroe Street in downtown Toledo and provides the region with an array of expanded educational choices and options. Highlighted features include five academic classrooms, two computer laboratories and a nursing laboratory, all with state-of-the-art technology and academic resources designed to enhance learning through hands-on instruction and exercises.

Each academic classroom is equipped with innovative computer and multimedia capability, as well as network and Internet access, while the two computer laboratories feature the latest in computing resources for educational training instruction. The nursing laboratory houses state-of-the-art technology and academic resources that prepare students for entry into the nursing practice. The laboratory includes six beds to enhance academic opportunities for students pursuing careers within the growing nursing profession. Additionally, individuals are able to use an array of software applications and programming languages within the laboratories, as well as high-speed Internet access.

Academic course options available to students include astronomy, business professionalism, composition, the writing process, introduction to college algebra/trigonometry, principles of mathematics, electrical prints, fundamentals of computing, introductory to financial accounting and public speaking, among many others.

The Source is committed to quality-driven services, meeting business needs, meeting job seeker needs, reaching out to diverse population groups, offering accessibility of facilities and programs, collaboration of community resources, economic development, innovative leadership, and lifelong and continuous learning, among many other community outreach services. The organization also offers an array of resources and services to aid a prospective job seeker in their search or with retaining their current job, highlighted by career assessment services, career exploration services and career exploration workshops, as well as knowledge related to resume and cover letter writing.

Owens Community College Board of Trustees Named to Leadership Positions

Posted on February 5th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College has named John C. Moore and Diana H. Talmage to serve as the Chair and Vice Chair for the College’s Board of Trustees. Moore and Talmage were elected to their positions by their fellow colleagues during the recent Owens Board of Trustees meeting and will serve one-year terms.

“Owens Community College has an outstanding group of Board of Trustees who value the importance of providing access to a quality college education,” said Christa Adams, Ph.D., President of Owens Community College. “Each individual is passionate about higher education and engaged with the College’s employees and students. We are fortunate to have such dedicated leaders devoting their time and energy to furthering Owens’ mission and vision.”

A graduate of the University of Toledo with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Moore spent 30 years in banking and 10 years in higher education at Bowling Green State University. Appointed to the College’s Board of Trustees in April 2000, he now serves as a consultant and authored a book on surviving stress. He resides in Holland.

Appointed in November 2002, Talmage, a retired educator and former school board member, has held several leadership positions at the K-12 and higher education levels. Her professional and community involvement includes board-level membership for the American Red Cross, Lucas County, Think College Now, TARTA and the Lucas County Children Services. A Toledo resident, Talmage received her master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from the University of Toledo and a bachelor’s degree in Education from The Ohio State University.

In addition, both Moore and Talmage are members of the Owens Community College Foundation Board of Directors.

The College’s Board of Trustees is comprised of nine community leaders from Lucas, Wood, Hancock and Sandusky counties who are appointed by the Governor of Ohio for six-year terms.

In addition to Moore and Talmage, Owens Board of Trustees members include John G. Ault of Perrysburg, Allan J. Libbe of Perrysburg, Dr. Ronald A. McMaster of Perrysburg, R J Molter of Woodville, Carl R. Patterson of Findlay, H. Richard Rowe of Findlay and Jack T. Sculfort of Perrysburg.

Record 19,732 Students Choose Owens to Pursue Educational Opportunities and Career Aspirations

Posted on January 25th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College continues to provide Northwest Ohio residents with greater access to higher education at an affordable cost with 19,732 students choosing to attend the academic institution for Spring Semester classes.

Since becoming a comprehensive community college in 1994, Owens has more than doubled its Spring Semester student enrollment by an astounding 148 percent. The College enrolled 7,957 students for Spring Semester classes in 1994.

The combined Spring Semester enrollment of 19,732 students on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses surpasses the previous total of 19,347 students enrolled during Spring Semester 2007. Owens’ Toledo-area Campus has 16,850 students attending classes during the Spring Semester, while on the Findlay-area Campus 2,882 students are enrolled for the spring term. On both campuses, Spring Semester enrollment has increased 2 percent from last spring.

“Owens Community College has a long and proud tradition of making a difference in students’ lives by providing access to a quality college education,” said Dr. Bill Ivoska, Owens Vice President of Student Services. “Our focus and commitment is on helping students become future leaders and obtain their academic and career goals. These highly skilled and motivated individuals are tomorrow’s societal leaders and contributors and Owens is proud to play an important role in their success.”

For Patricia Villines of Holland, a communication arts major, the decision to attend Owens instead of other colleges and universities was an easy one.

“Several of my friends attended Owens and praised the professors and educational opportunities,” stated Villines. “I really wanted to attend a college that was affordable, close to home and offered the particular academic courses I was looking for.”

Villines, who intends on transferring to the University of Idaho next fall and pursuing a bachelor’s degree in international studies, added, “My educational experience has been outstanding. Owens provides you with the academic resources and opportunities to succeed and reach your career aspirations.”

Owens continues to build upon the educational needs of its students through the advancement of innovative programs, courses, teaching methods and academic resources.

The College has increased its educational opportunities available to students this academic year by expanding academic curriculum in such areas as music business technology, commercial photography, interior design and cancer information management, among others. Owens also enhanced its student services and resources by showcasing a new Health Services and Wellness Center this year, which provides access to the College’s first-ever health services on campus.

Additionally, the College is continuing to expand its extremely popular eOwens distance learning education by introducing new academic courses online. For Spring Semester, Owens’ distance learning enrollment is 8,992 – up from 8,128 last spring (10.6 percent increase).

Additionally, Owens is offering on-site academic and support service at The Source, Lucas County’s One-Stop Employment Center, in downtown Toledo. Demand for academic opportunities is evident as hundreds of students are attending classes at The Source since its opening this past Fall Semester.

To accommodate the record number of students, the College, within the last five years, also opened an $11 million Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the Toledo-area Campus. This past year, Owens unveiled a new $20.5 million Center for Emergency Preparedness. The Center is the only state-of-the-art facility of this magnitude within the Midwest.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Basketball Classic Raises Thousands in Scholarship Dollars at Owens

Posted on January 23rd, 2008

Over 2,000 visitors filled Owens’ Student Health and Activities Center for the 2008 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Basketball Classic.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Thousands of area residents recently packed Owens Community College’s Student Health and Activities Center to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and watch four highly-touted boys high school basketball teams from Ohio, Michigan and Indiana compete in the 2008 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Basketball Classic. All proceeds raised from the basketball doubleheader will benefit Northwest Ohio Black Media Association future scholarship initiatives.

“The Northwest Ohio Black Media Association is extremely thankful to Owens Community College for once again supporting the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Basketball Classic,” said Clyde Hughes, President of the Northwest Ohio Black Media Association. “The Student Health and Activities Center was full of electricity for both basketball games and the perfect venue to raise funds for scholarships in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”

Angel Garcia from East Chicago Central High School attempts a free throw in the first game against Scott High School.

The first varsity basketball game saw Scott High School (Toledo, Ohio) lose to defending Indiana Class 4A state champion East Chicago Central High School (East Chicago, Ind.) by the score 74-66. In the second varsity game, defending City League champion Libbey High School (Toledo, Ohio) lost a close matchup to Saginaw High School (Saginaw, Mich.), the defending Michigan Class A state champion, 80-76.

Libbey High School’s William Buford attempts to drive around a Saginaw High School defender in the second basketball game.

Owens Foundation Helps Students Achieve Academic Dreams Through 2008-09 Scholarship Program Opportunities

Posted on January 15th, 2008

Through the generosity of businesses and individuals within the surrounding communities, the Owens Foundation will offer current and future students the opportunity to apply for over 50 available scholarships for the upcoming 2008-09 academic year. For scholarships based on financial need, a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application for the 2008-09 academic year must be on file in the College’s Office of Financial Aid by Friday, Feb. 29.

FAFSA and Foundation Scholarship Program forms are available in the College’s Office of Financial Aid or can be downloaded by accessing the Owens website at www.owens.edu. Scholarship applicants must complete and return the application to the Office of Financial Aid on either the Toledo-area or Findlay-area campus by Friday, Feb. 15. Scholarship award notification will begin in March and will continue until all awards have been made.

In addition, Owens currently participates in several need-based federal and state funded grant programs, work study opportunities, and loans, which all require applicants to file a FAFSA form to determine financial need. Specific programs accessible to students include the Federal Pell Grant, the Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant, the Ohio College Opportunity Grant, the Federal Stafford Loan, the Federal PLUS Loan and the Federal Work Study, among others.

The Owens Foundation was incorporated in April 2002 and has over $2.2 million in assets. The Foundation Board of Directors currently is comprised of 21 community leaders from Lucas, Wood and Hancock counties. The mission of the Owens Foundation and its Board of Directors is developing and providing resources to advance the College’s overall mission of serving students and the surrounding communities. The Foundation is also dedicated to removing barriers to education by providing student scholarships and supporting growth and innovation at Owens.

This past year, Owens provided more than $50.1 million in grants, scholarships, loans and federal work study to support the educational needs of students. For more information on the various scholarship opportunities, call (567) 661-7603 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7603.

Owens Community College and 104.7 WIOT Provide Free CDL Training for Truck Driving Career

Posted on January 15th, 2008

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College and 104.7 WIOT are partnering to offer a new contest, which will allow the winner the opportunity to pursue a truck driving career after completing a commercial driver’s license class for free.

Entries will be accepted starting Monday, Jan. 21 through Sunday, Feb. 3 for the tuition prize valued at $3,395.

The Owens Truck Driving Academy prepares students for a career driving a truck in just two weeks – 40 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of driving training.

“The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 258,000 new truck driving jobs will be created by 2016 and, according to the American Trucking Association, more than 100,000 truck driving jobs are currently available nationally,” said Tracy Campbell, Owens Chair of Transportation Technologies. “Thanks to the support of 104.7 WIOT, one student will be able to experience a quality education for free at Owens Community College and pursue one of these truck driving career opportunities.”

Individuals can enter the contest by logging onto www.owens.edu or www.wiot.com and clicking on “The Ride is Right”. Applicants also can enter by calling the station when prompted during Kelly Brown’s midday show, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Paper entry forms are available at the 104.7 WIOT Studios, 125 S. Superior St., Toledo; the Transportation Technologies Office on the Owens Toledo-area Campus and the Information Desk on the Owens Findlay-area Campus. All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 3.

The grand prize winner will be selected at random and announced the week of Feb. 4.

Andy Stuart, Vice President & Market Manager of Clear Channel Online, Music & Radio Toledo, looks forward to another successful promotion on air through 104.7 WIOT that “will afford a listener the opportunity to gain the education needed to pursue a truck driving career. It is gratifying to encourage residents to strive for a higher education and a better life,” he said.

The contest is open to residents 18 years of age or older with a valid driver’s license. This marks the sixth occasion that Owens has partnered with Northwest Ohio media and offered a tuition contest.

Thousands Honor National Guardsmen Called to Active Duty During Deployment Ceremony at Owens

Posted on January 4th, 2008

Area residents joined community leaders in honoring the 1-148th Infantry Regiment.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Thousands of area residents recently had the opportunity to honor their local soldiers as part of special Deployment Ceremony for the Ohio National Guard’s 1-148th Infantry Regiment at Owens Community College. Area residents joined community leaders in recognizing the 1-148th Infantry Regiment prior to its travel overseas.

Approximately 350 personnel assigned to Headquarters Company and also Company A of the 1-148th Infantry Regiment, which is located in Walbridge, will be mobilized to support Operation Iraqi Freedom efforts in Kuwait.

Approximately 350 personnel assigned to Headquarters Company and also Company A of the 1-148th Infantry Regiment will be mobilized to support Operation Iraqi Freedom efforts in Kuwait.

The 1-148th Infantry Regiment enters the College’s Student Health and Activities Center during the Deployment Ceremony.

New Bookstore Drive-Thru Book Buy-Back Program Popular Among Owens Community College Students

Posted on December 18th, 2007

Over 600 vehicles participated in the College’s Bookstore Drive-Thru Book Buy-Back Program.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Individuals generally think of a drive-thru as a destination for fast food or bank transactions. For Owens Community College students, a drive-thru means exchanging used or unwanted textbooks for cash.

Blustery winds and cold wintery sleet and rain did not deter hundreds of Owens students from driving up to an expansive tent with drive-thru windows and participating in the Bookstore’s new Drive-Thru Book Buy-Back Program. From the comfort of their warm, engine-running vehicles, Owens students sold their used or unwanted textbooks in a less-than-a-minute process comparable to ordering a burger and fries from a drive-thru restaurant.

“What a cool idea,” exclaimed Owens student and first-time, drive-thru book buy-back customer Patricia Villines. “Being able to drive through a tent and sell my books without having to get out of my car in the cold weather is great.”

The new Drive-Thru Book Buy-Back Program is unique to the state as Owens is one of the only academic institutions in Ohio to offer such a service to students. Colorado State University and California State University, Long Beach are among the select schools to provide students the drive-thru book buy-back service.

Owens students enjoyed the convenience of selling their used or unwanted textbooks from their vehicle

According to Rebecca Drayton, Owens Manager of the Bookstore on the Toledo-area Campus, over 600 vehicles participated in the Drive-Thru Book Buy-Back Program, which exceeded all expectations for the new student service.

“Owens Community College is dedicated to meeting the needs of its students by providing alternative ways for students to sell their used or unwanted semester textbooks,” stated Drayton. “The Bookstore is continuously looking for unique and innovative ways to enhance service for students. Owens’ drive-thru program allows students to conveniently sell their textbooks without leaving the confines of their warm vehicle, very similar to an individual making a transaction at a bank drive-thru window.”

Owens is one of the only academic institutions in Ohio to offer such a drive-thru book buy-back service to students.

The drive-thru site, which was located at the northwest corner of the Audio/Visual Classroom Center parking lot (Lot N) on the Toledo-area Campus, was open for business in conjunction with Fall Semester exam week. Owens’ new drive-thru service will make its second appearance during Spring Semester finals in early May 2008.

Owens Findlay-area Campus Nursing Students Lift Children’s Spirits During Holiday Season

Posted on December 18th, 2007

Owens nursing students (L to R) Carol Roche of Findlay and Deanna Hays of St. Marys put the finishing touches on several presents, which were later given to area children spending the holiday season in local hospitals.

FINDLAY, OH – Happiness and cheer was abounding within area hospitals thanks to recent humanitarian efforts of Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus’ Student Nursing Association. More than 90 toys ranging from dolls and stuffed animals to coloring books, collected as part of a community wide drive, were given to smiling children forced to spend the holiday season in local hospitals.

“It feels great to bring a little holiday cheer to children and to hopefully brighten their day,” stated Marisa Kennedy of Lima, an Owens practical nursing student and a member of the Findlay-area Campus Student Nursing Association.

Among the hospitals where Owens students personally hand-delivered the charitable gifts included Blanchard Valley Regional Health Center in Findlay, Wood County Hospital in Bowling Green, Lima Memorial Hospital in Lima, Mercy Hospital of Tiffin in Tiffin, Fremont Memorial Hospital in Fremont and Fostoria Community Hospital in Fostoria. Over 120 toys were donated to area hospital children the last two years.

“These gifts can have a profound impact on children in the hospital,” said Kristina Keller, Director of Medical Surgical/Pediatrics at Fremont Memorial Hospital. “The gift brightens their day and diverts their attention from actually being ill. The hospital is very appreciative to the nursing students and their efforts to spread holiday cheer.”

Owens nursing student Lisa Frost of North Baltimore begins wrapping one of more than 90 toys that were delivered to six area hospitals.

According to Deanna Hays of St. Marys, Owens registered nursing student and President of the Findlay-area Campus Student Nursing Association, the amount of donations received within the last few weeks has been amazing and surpassed all expectations.

“These charitable donations will make a world of difference for the area children who must spend the holidays in the hospital,” said Hays. “Many of the Owens nursing students conduct their clinical work in these hospitals. This toy drive allows us to show our appreciation for that and to make a significant contribution to the patients.”

Owens Findlay-area Campus Students Involved Organization Unveils Family Cookbook to Benefit Cancer Research

Posted on December 13th, 2007

FINDLAY, OH – Area residents still looking for the “perfect holiday gift” for those who enjoy creating culinary delights can now purchase Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus’ very own “Owens Community College Family Cookbook” featuring an extraordinary collection of recipe favorites from employees and students.

The new family cookbook is a coordinated effort by the College’s Students Involved organization with the overall goal of raising funds to benefit Hancock County Relay for Life and cancer research and awareness. Owens’ new 70-page cookbook is now available for purchase for only $8 at the Findlay-area Campus Commons area. Owens is located on Bright Road in Findlay.

“Owens’ Students Involved organization is proud to work with the American Cancer Society and help raise money for cancer research through events such as Relay for Life,” said Jenna Padron, Owens President for the Students Involved organization. “I would have to say that the ‘Owens Community College Family Cookbook’ is one of the more unique ideas the group has thought of to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.”

Padron added, “The cookbook offers a wide range of scrumptious recipes from chicken enchilada dip to pizza meat loaf. The creation of this cookbook would not have been possible without the help and support of employees and students. I encourage people to help in the fight against cancer and purchase a cookbook as a stocking stuffer for your favorite chef.”

The “Owens Community College Family Cookbook” is filled with over 200 easy-to-follow recipes for appetizers and beverages, soups and salads, vegetables and side dishes, main dishes, breads and rolls, desserts, and cookies and candy. Recipes feature traditional American cuisine, as well as longstanding ethnic family dishes passed down from previous generations.

Edible creations featured within the cookbook include stuffed cucumber slices, tropical fruit salad, spaghetti salad, herbed orange rice, barbequed chipped ham, lasagna, teriyaki streak strips, zucchini nut bread, buttermilk coffee cake, lemon bars, snowball cake and oatmeal raison cookies, among many other recipes.

The fundraising cookbook was published by Morris Press Cookbooks. For more information or to purchase an “Owens Community College Family Cookbook”, call (567) 429-3542 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 3542.

Owens Names New School of Health Sciences Dean

Posted on December 11th, 2007

Dr. Mathew McIntosh

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College has named Dr. Mathew McIntosh as the new Dean of the School of Health Sciences. His responsibilities will include overseeing all academic programs, as well as various activities and instructional initiatives within the School.

In addition, his new position will entail supervising the development and implementation of new academic curricula, directing the on-going evaluation of the School’s courses and collaborating with the fellow academic deans to enhance educational opportunities and resources for current and future students.

“We are honored to have Dr. Mathew McIntosh serving as the new Dean for Owens’ School of Health Sciences,” said Dr. Bruce Busby, Owens Vice President of Academic Services. “Dr. McIntosh brings a visionary approach and a wealth of knowledge and experience within health sciences to the College. The School of Health Sciences is recognized nationally for its innovative academic programs. Dr. McIntosh’s leadership will be invaluable in furthering the School of Health Sciences’ national reputation and opening new doors to health education and training opportunities for the surrounding Northwest Ohio region.”

Since January 2003, McIntosh has served as the Chair for the Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Sport (HPERS) at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W.Va. While at Shepherd University, he was responsible for the strategic direction, fundamental management functions and overall leadership of the academic institution’s HPERS Department – Allied Health Personnel. His responsibilities also included overseeing faculty, advising students, conducting internship programs with outside allied health and therapeutic recreational settings, and cultivating and implementing academic curriculum. Additionally, McIntosh played an integral role in creating and developing a model for the university’s new wellness center and its community programs.

Prior to his position as Shepherd University’s HPERS Chair, McIntosh served as the Director of Wellness/Allied Health and Cardiac Rehabilitation programs at Hagerstown Community College for 14 years, where he oversaw wellness and cardiac rehabilitation programming in cooperation with the other health-specific program areas.

His professional and community involvement includes membership with the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and the Florida Association of Cardio Vascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. McIntosh also is a certified rehabilitation therapist and a certified recreation sport specialist.

The Hagerstown, Md., resident earned his doctorate in Educational Administration from Oregon State University. McIntosh received a master’s degree in History and Philosophy of Physical Education from Kent State University and bachelor’s degrees in Physical Education Teacher Preparation and Sociology from the University of Western Ontario.

Owens Findlay-area Campus Nursing Students Deliver Toys to Area Hospital Children, Dec. 12

Posted on December 7th, 2007

FINDLAY, OH – The Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus Student Nursing Association is working to spread happiness and cheer throughout the surrounding communities by brightening the lives of children forced to spend the holiday season in local hospitals. Toys ranging from dolls to miniature trucks, collected within the last few weeks, will soon find their way to a smiling child’s arms as the Student Nursing Association presents the donated gifts to area hospitals on Wednesday, Dec. 12.

Beginning at 10 a.m., the Owens Student Nursing Association will wrap the various toys in an array of colorful paper in the Findlay-area Campus’ Nursing Lab. At 11 a.m., the members will divide up into groups and depart for six area hospitals to personally hand deliver the charitable gifts. Among the hospitals where Owens students will make visits are Blanchard Valley Regional Health Center at 11:15 a.m. (145 W. Wallace St.) in Findlay, Wood County Hospital at 11:30 a.m. (950 W. Wooster St.) in Bowling Green, Fostoria Community Hospital at 11:30 a.m. (501 Van Buren St.) in Fostoria, Lima Memorial Hospital at 11:45 a.m. (1001 Bellefontaine Ave.) in Lima, Fremont Memorial Hospital at 12 p.m. (715 S. Taft Ave.) in Fremont and Mercy Hospital of Tiffin at 12:30 p.m. (485 W. Market St.) in Tiffin. Over 120 toys were donated to area hospital children the last two years.

“The amount of donations received within the last few weeks has been amazing,” said Deanna Hays, Owens Registered Nursing student and President of the Findlay-area Campus Student Nursing Association. “These charitable donations will make a world of difference for the area children who must spend the holidays in the hospital.”

Hays added, “Many of the Owens nursing students conduct their clinical work in these hospitals. This toy drive allows us to show our appreciation for that and to make a significant contribution to the patients.”

Record 558 Owens Community College Students to Graduate During Fall Commencement, Dec. 14

Posted on December 4th, 2007

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – A record 558 candidates for graduation, including 89 from the Findlay-area Campus, will receive their degrees and certificates during the 29th annual Fall Commencement at Owens Community College on Friday, Dec. 14. The commencement will begin at 7 p.m. in the Student Health and Activities Center on the College’s Toledo-area Campus.

James H. Hartung, President and CEO of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, will serve as keynote speaker for the Fall Commencement. Owens’ commencement ceremony is free and open to the public.

“Owens Community College is extremely honored to have Mr. Hartung with us to celebrate the academic achievements of our graduates,” said Christa Adams, Ph.D., President of Owens Community College. “Mr. Hartung is an accomplished leader within the community and has played a significant role in furthering economic development within the Great Lakes region. His insightful message will serve as an inspiration to the College’s graduating class as they become the educators, scientists, health care professionals, technologists, musicians, skilled laborers, first responders and business leaders of tomorrow.”

As Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority President, Hartung is responsible for all operations involving the Port of Toledo, Toledo Express Airport, Metcalf Airport, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza – the region’s passenger rail station – and the administrator of innovative financing programs. He also oversees a staff of 60 employees and an annual operating budget of more than $12 million.

He joined the Port Authority staff in May 1994 after 11 years as Port Director at Burns International Harbor on Lake Michigan. Hartung holds the distinction of having served three terms as President of the International Association of Great Lakes Ports, the organization representing United States and Canadian Great Lakes Ports. He was the principal author of the Declaration of Indiana, the first agreement to unify the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway system’s maritime industry. In 1992, he was founder and first President of the Northwest Indiana World Trade Council and formerly served on the boards of the Northwest Indiana Forum, Indiana State Chamber of Commerce, and Leadership Northwest Indiana. From 1970-80, Hartung served in leadership posts under three mayoral administrations in Chicago.

Hartung is the recipient of numerous awards. In 1999, he was honored with the first “James Hartung Lifetime Achievement Award” by the Northwest Indiana World Trade Council, which was named for him for his contributions and dedication to stimulating international trade in Northwest Indiana. In 1991, Indiana Gov. Evan Bayh proclaimed him “Sagamore of the Wabash,” Indiana’s highest achievement award. The Great Lakes Commission and the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Maritime Forum also named him Person of the Year.

He serves as Chairman of the Transportation Council for the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments, Chairman of The University of Toledo’s Intermodal Transportation Institute, Chairman of The University of Toledo’s College of Business Advisory Board, former Chairman of the United States delegation of the American Association of Port Authorities, and is on the Advisory Board of the National Aviation Transportation Center. He serves as Chairman for ICHCA International Limited, an international cargo handling and coordinating association. He was also reappointed in 2006 to the Greater Toledo Urban League Board of Directors as Executive Vice Chair.

A Chicago native, Hartung received his bachelor’s degree in Sociology, History and Literature from Andrew’s University and did graduate study work in Public Administration at Georgia State University and DePaul University.

In addition, Isawaty Kasim, an Early Childhood Education Technology major, has been selected as the Owens class representative and will address the graduates during the Fall Commencement ceremony.

Kasim was born and grew up in Indonesia, a country most Americans remember as the area hardest struck by the 2004 tsunami. Her family came to the United States in the summer of 2000. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Secretarial Vocation from Jakarta, Indonesia. However, because of language and cultural differences, Kasim could not apply her skills in the United States.

The Sylvania resident enrolled at Owens in the fall of 2001 in business classes. Her direction changed when she took a job as an assistant teacher at a local church’s toddler program. After working with young children, she felt a calling to work in the education field.

An honors student with a 4.0 grade point average, Kasim is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and has been nominated for the Gerald Bazer Award and the Outstanding Graduate in the Field of Teacher Education Award.

Kasim credits the educational success she has achieved to her supportive family, including her husband, David Darmahkasih, and her two children, Andrew and Andrea.

“I began to see myself as a different person as a result of my Owens education,” Kasim stated. “Not only did I gain self-confidence and the courage to be a teacher, but I also felt prepared to set out and find my own classroom.”

The focus of Kasim’s commencement speech will address her personal journey and the trials and tribulations she encountered upon arrival in the United States. Highlights will also include her desire to pursue an American education.

In the future, Kasim envisions continuing her education and eventually operating her own preschool program or child care center.

Lourdes and Owens Forge Pathways to Completion Program to Benefit Community

Posted on November 28th, 2007

Lourdes College President Robert Helmer presents Owens Community College President Christa Adams with a piece of artwork following the announcement of the new Pathways to Completion program.

SYLVANIA, OH – Lourdes College and Owens Community College continue to meet the needs of the community and their students through collaborative initiatives as the two academic institutions establish a new Pathways to Completion program, which affords students seamless transferability of credits between the two schools.

“The economy has always benefited with 95 percent of Lourdes and Owens students choosing to remain in the region,” offers Dr. Robert C. Helmer, President of Lourdes College. “Lourdes has made a conscious effort to offer Owens students the opportunity to obtain their bachelor’s degree by maximizing their credits earned.”

Pathways to Completion provides two paths for Owens students enrolled in business and teacher education majors to seamlessly transfer credits to Lourdes and earn a four-year degree. The first traditional pathway provides Owens students with the opportunity to complete their associate’s degree and then earn their bachelor’s degree at Lourdes. The second pathway provides students with the ability to take courses at Owens and Lourdes that lead to a four-year degree without having to earn an associate’s degree.

“Owens Community College and Lourdes College are committed to serving our students by opening new doors to higher education through seamless pathways,” adds Dr. Christa Adams, President of Owens Community College. “The Pathways to Completion initiative is an investment in meeting the education and training needs of Northwest Ohio’s citizens and preparing them for career opportunities within today’s competitive workforce.”

The Pathways to Completion program follows the 60/60 partnership between Owens and Lourdes created in 2006. The 60/60 program allows students pursuing Associate of Applied Science degrees in Health Information Technology, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Radiography or the Surgical Program at Owens to build on the credit hours they will earn to pursue a Bachelor of Arts – Interdisciplinary Studies degree at Lourdes College.

Located in Sylvania, Ohio, and rooted in the Franciscan tradition, Lourdes is a private college offering small class sizes, convenient program schedules and quality academic programs. Lourdes offers many baccalaureate degree programs as well as graduate degrees in Education, Nursing and Organizational Leadership.

Owens Honors and Assists Veterans with Community Activities

Posted on November 15th, 2007

Veterans and current American service men and women, as well as family members, assisted in raising a flag that was flying aboard one of the battleships when the United States was attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbor.

Jennifer Rannigan from TolTest Inc. discusses job opportunities with U.S. Navy veteran Steven Christie of Toledo at the Veterans Job Fair.

Over 300 veterans attended the Veterans Job Fair, which was a collaborative effort between the College’s Workforce and Community Services and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College recently honored American service men and women by hosting several Veterans Day activities on the Toledo-area Campus.

Activities, coordinated by the College’s Student Government, commenced with a flag raising ceremony in front of Administration Hall followed by a moment of silence. Additionally, Robert Stewart, a decorated Vietnam War veteran and President of the Lucas County Veterans Services Commission, served as the guest speaker and discussed his own wartime experience and how it compares to modern day. As part of the ceremony, Stewart displayed a flag that was flying aboard one of the battleships when the United States was attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbor.

The College’s Workforce and Community Services served as venue to a Veterans Job Fair sponsored by Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Over 300 veterans were provided the opportunity to visit with an array of employers, as well as various agencies and academic institutions.

Owens Findlay-area Campus Holiday Arts and Crafts Bazaar Raises Over $1,400 in Support of Cancer Research

Posted on November 14th, 2007

FINDLAY, OH – Hundreds of area residents recently began their holiday shopping a little early and supported cancer research and awareness in the process as Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus’ Students Involved organization hosted its first-ever Holiday Arts and Crafts Bazaar. The daylong event resulted in the student group raising over $1,400 for the Hancock County Relay for Life.

“Owens’ Students Involved organization is proud to work with the American Cancer Society and help raise money for cancer research through events such as Relay for Life,” said Tonya Roof, Owens Student Representative for the Students Involved organization.

Owens Community College Dedicates New Learning Center at The Source

Posted on October 29th, 2007

Owens officially opened the new Learning Center at The Source with a dedication ceremony.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College continues to invest in the future of higher education within the Northwest Ohio region by recently dedicating and showcasing the new Learning Center at The Source, Lucas County’s One-Stop Employment Center, in downtown Toledo. Owens representatives recently joined community leaders and elected officials to officially open the doors to the new facility.

Owens’ new Learning Center in downtown Toledo is specifically designed to connect education and training to employment opportunities.

Located on Monroe Street in downtown Toledo, the recently renovated Learning Center enables Owens to expand access to higher educational opportunities within Lucas County and is specifically designed to connect education and training to employment.

Owens’ new 11,367 square-feet Learning Center is located within The Source complex and is intended to provide the region with expanded educational choices and options. Highlighted features include five academic classrooms, two computer laboratories and a nursing laboratory, all with state-of-the-art technology and academic resources designed to enhance learning through hands-on instruction and exercises.

The new Learning Center features a nursing laboratory to prepare students for entry into the nursing practice.

The nursing laboratory houses state-of-the-art technology and academic resources that prepare students for entry into the nursing practice. The laboratory includes six beds to enhance academic opportunities for students pursuing careers within the growing nursing profession. Additionally, individuals are able to use an array of software applications and programming languages within the laboratories, as well as high-speed Internet access.

In addition to housing five academic classrooms, the new facility features two computer laboratories, which are equipped with the latest state-of-the-art technology and academic resources.

Over 300 Owens students are attending classes during this initial Fall Semester at the College’s Learning Center. Academic course options available to students include astronomy, business professionalism, composition, the writing process, introduction to college algebra/trigonometry, principles of mathematics, electrical prints, fundamentals of computing, introductory to financial accounting and public speaking, among many others.

Additionally, the Learning Center provides students the opportunity to pursue academic coursework toward certification in nurse assistant training. Owens’ new facility also offers goal setting, academic and career development advising, as well as support services related to the enrollment and financial aid process. For more information about the educational opportunities available at Owens’ Learning Center in downtown Toledo, call (567) 661-7503 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7503.

Buckeye CableSystem and Buckeye TeleSystem Honored with Owens Community Partnership Award

Posted on October 26th, 2007

Buckeye CableSystem President Walter Carstensen, Owens Community College President Christa Adams and Buckeye TeleSystem President Joe Jensen (L to R) pose for a photo following the Community Appreciation event.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Buckeye CableSystem and Buckeye TeleSystem have been chosen to receive the 2007 Community Partnership Award for outstanding dedication and service to Owens Community College.

The Community Partnership Award was established in 2004 to honor individuals or organizations that have supported the College directly or indirectly by giving of their time, skills and energy to assist Owens in its mission of providing access to a quality and affordable education, which meets the needs of students, business and industry throughout the surrounding communities. Honorees are recognized for contributions both on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses.

Buckeye CableSystem and Buckeye TeleSystem were selected as the 2007 Community Partnership Award recipients as a result of their organizations playing instrumental roles in developing and enhancing the College’s technology and high-speed communications, as well as enhancing the Center for Emergency Preparedness’ grand opening celebration by providing their technological leadership to communicate the hands-on scenarios and demonstrations though live cable television and Internet coverage.

“Buckeye CableSystem and Buckeye TeleSystem are leaders within the technology and communications industry,” said Christa Adams, Ph.D., President of Owens Community College. “Owens Community College is proud to collaborate with these two organizations that share our academic institution’s mission, vision and commitment to strengthening the surrounding communities by providing a superior educational experience through excellence, innovation and collaboration. Owens Community College is pleased to present Buckeye CableSystem and Buckeye TeleSystem with well-deserved Community Partnership Awards.”

Owens Community College’s partnership with Buckeye CableSystem and Buckeye TeleSystem is highlighted in several ongoing initiatives that have played a significant role in furthering academic excellence, including the establishment of a cable television distribution system in all campus buildings. Coordinated by Buckeye CableSystem, the cable television distribution system is utilized daily to carry television signals into the College’s classrooms and student common areas.

In addition, both Owens and Buckeye TeleSystem established a partnership to develop and implement the Ohio’s Third Frontier Network (now Ohio Super Computer Network) – the nation’s most advanced fiber-optic network for research, education and economic development. The network at Owens’ Center for Emergency Preparedness will allow area fire and police departments to conduct exercises via distance learning on a variety of simulated terrorist incidents, emergency hazards and natural disasters. The Owens and Buckeye TeleSystem collaborative efforts also resulted in the state of Ohio establishing its Ohio Super Computer Network hub on the College’s Findlay-area Campus.

The third community partnership initiative enabled individuals worldwide to view the Center for Emergency Preparedness grand opening celebration and its innovative emergency training capabilities as part of simultaneous local cable television and Internet live broadcasts.

The University of Findlay Honored With Owens Community Partnership Award

Posted on October 19th, 2007

Owens Community College President Christa Adams (left) and University of Findlay President DeBow Freed pose for a photo following the Community Appreciation event.

FINDLAY, OH -The University of Findlay has been chosen to receive the 2007 Community Partnership Award for outstanding dedication and service to the Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus.

The University of Findlay was selected as the 2007 Community Partnership Award recipient as a result of the academic institution’s efforts to providing academic excellence within the surrounding communities and beyond during the past 125 years.

“The University of Findlay is a worldwide leader in higher education,” said Judy Ennis, Owens Executive Dean of the Findlay-area Campus. “Owens Community College is proud to collaborate with an organization such as The University of Findlay because they share our academic institution’s mission and vision in making a difference in the lives of others by engaging them in the learning process through education. Such a commitment to higher education has left a profound impact within the surrounding communities and beyond as Owens Community College and The University of Findlay graduates are making long-lasting contributions as today’s societal leaders.”

The University of Findlay/Owens Community College partnership dates back to the early 1980s when students enrolled in the technical classes at Owens Technical College South (now Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus) took their arts and sciences classes at Findlay College (now The University of Findlay). Since that time, both Owens Community College and The University of Findlay have established over a dozen articulation agreements, where Owens students can seamlessly transfer into various bachelor’s degree programs at The University of Findlay. Additionally, Findlay students can take advantage of Owens’ course credit transferability when certain classes do not fit into their university academic schedule.

The two organizations also share knowledge, skills and experience as full time and part time faculty teach in the other institution’s academic classroom. Recently, both Owens Community College and The University of Findlay Mazza Museum established a partnership in which the University’s Mazza Museum shares masterful art work with the College’s new Library Gallery.

Owens Community College Foundation Appoints Board of Directors to Leadership Positions

Posted on October 17th, 2007

Daniel Kimmet

J.Michael Wilder

Arthur H. Smith

Thomas Pounds

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College has named Daniel Kimmet of Toledo, retired Chief Operating Officer for Dillin Corp., to serve as the new Treasurer for the Owens Foundation. Kimmet replaces John W. Christy of Toledo, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel for Owens Corning, who served as Foundation Treasurer for the previous two years.

In addition, the College’s Foundation Board of Directors approved J. Michael Wilder of Findlay, General Counsel and Secretary for Marathon Petroleum Company LLC, as Chairman; Arthur H. Smith of Maumee, retired Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for Libbey Inc., as Vice Chairman; and Thomas Pounds of Toledo, President and Publisher for the “Toledo Free Press”, as Secretary, to leadership positions for a one-year terms.

Four Board of Directors were re-elected to their positions during the annual meeting and will serve three-year terms. Re-elected Board of Directors includes James Baehren of Sylvania, Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel of Owens-Illinois Inc.; Jim Murray of Perrysburg, Western Region President of FirstEnergy; Daniel Kimmet; and Arthur H. Smith. New Board of Directors appointed to three-year terms are Diana H. (Dee) Talmage of Toledo, retired Educator, and John Zajac of Perrysburg, Regional Finance Manager of Huntington Bank.

Owens Delivers Backpacks and Supplies to Area Elementary School Children

Posted on September 27th, 2007

Owens Alumni Association and Northview Primary School representatives and students pose for a photo following the backpack and school supply presentation.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College’s Alumni Association in collaboration with Books-A-Million and three Great Lakes Credit Union branches recently brightened many children’s lives through a unique community service endeavor titled “Backpack to the Future”. Over 300 backpacks and nearly 4,320 school supply items collected throughout the summer months were donated to several area elementary schools, including Northview Primary School in Findlay, the Community Learning Centers of Wood County and Toledo Public Schools’ Riverside Elementary School, Nathan Hale Elementary School and Ella P. Stewart Academy for Girls.

“The impressive response area residents and businesses continue to make to the ‘Backpack to the Future’ supply drive is outstanding,” said Kaye Koevenig, Owens Alumni Association Community Service Chair. “There are many low-income families that can barely afford to pay their bills, and may not be able to provide their children with new supplies. Our goal is to ensure that such occurrences do not happen and that all children begin their school year with new educational resources.”

A Nathan Hale Elementary School student smiles with enthusiasm while modeling a Superman backpack.

Koevenig added, “We look forward to continuing the ‘Backpack to the Future’ program in the coming years so that even more children may continue to benefit from such a worthy cause.”

A collection of backpacks and supplies await area school children.

Over the past four months, “Backpack to the Future” accepted gently-used or new backpacks and new school supplies from area residents to assist underprivileged school children throughout Northwest Ohio. In addition to backpacks, individuals donated crayons, markers, bottles of glue, glue sticks, colored pencils, pencils, pink erasers, school boxes, pocket folders, marbled covered composition books and Kleenex tissues.

“Our motto at Riverside Elementary School states ‘Learning is the way of life’,” said Romules Durant, Principal of Riverside Elementary School. “Our goal is to ensure student success and these graciously donated supplies play a significant part in the learning process. Riverside Elementary School is proud to collaborate with Owens Community College and the mission of stressing the importance of education.”

In addition to the donated supplies, the program collected over $1,200 from community members. The charitable donations will go toward the purchase of even more school supplies.

Owens’ (right) Laura Moore assists a Community Learning Center student in trying on one of the donated backpacks.

“I really like school and my teachers,” said Ke-Nisha, an elementary student at Ella P. Stewart Academy for Girls in Toledo. “We get to color with crayons in school. I like to color rainbow fishes that are purple and yellow.”

The Owens Alumni Association established “Backpack to the Future” supply drive in 2004 as a way to provide educational outreach to the surrounding communities. To date, the program has given over 850 backpacks and more than 11,300 school supplies to benefit underprivileged children throughout Northwest Ohio.

Owens Delivers Backpacks and Supplies to Area Elementary School Children, Sept. 11-13

Posted on September 7th, 2007

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College’s Alumni Association in collaboration with Books-A-Million and three Great Lakes Credit Union branches are brightening many children’s lives through a unique community service endeavor titled “Backpack to the Future”. Over 300 backpacks and nearly 4,320 school supply items collected throughout the summer months are being donated to 10 area elementary schools during the month of September.

Beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 11, Owens representatives will deliver backpacks and supplies to Toledo Public Schools’ Riverside Elementary School (500 Chicago St.) at 9:45 a.m. and Nathan Hale Elementary School (1710 Shenandoah Rd.) at 2:30 p.m. Owens representatives will make their final stops of the week on Thursday, Sept. 13 at Northview Primary School in Findlay (133 Lexington Ave.) at 10 a.m. and at Rossford’s Glenwood Elementary School (8950 Avenue Rd.) at 3 p.m. In the coming weeks, Owens will also donate backpacks and school supplies to Toledo Public Schools’ Ella P. Stewart Academy for Girls.

“The impressive response area residents and businesses continue to make to the ‘Backpack to the Future’ supply drive is outstanding,” said Kaye Koevenig, Owens Alumni Association Community Service Chair. “There are many families that can barely afford to pay their bills, and may not be able to provide their children with new supplies. Our goal is to ensure that such occurrences do not happen and that all children begin their school year with new educational resources.”

Koevenig added, “We look forward to continuing the ‘Backpack to the Future’ event in the coming years so that even more children may continue to benefit from such a worthy cause.”

The event also collected over $1,200 from community members. The charitable donations will go toward the purchase of school supplies.

The Owens Alumni Association established “Backpack to the Future” supply drive in 2004 as a way to provide educational outreach to the surrounding communities. To date, the program has given over 850 backpacks and more than 11,300 school supplies to benefit underprivileged children throughout Northwest Ohio.

20,425 Students Choose Owens to Pursue Educational Opportunities and Career Aspirations

Posted on September 4th, 2007

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College continues to provide Northwest Ohio residents with greater access to higher education at an affordable cost with a record-breaking 20,425 students choosing to attend the academic institution for Fall Semester classes.

Since becoming a comprehensive community college in 1994, Owens has nearly doubled its Fall Semester student enrollment by an astounding 99 percent. The College enrolled 10,255 students for Fall Semester classes in 1994.

The combined Fall Semester enrollment of 20,425 students on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses surpasses the previous record of 20,406 students enrolled during Fall Semester 2005. Owens’ Toledo-area Campus has 17,335 students attending classes during the Fall Semester, while on the Findlay-area Campus 3,090 students are enrolled for the fall term. On both campuses, Fall Semester enrollment has increased 6.9 percent from last fall.

Ivoska added, “Owens students are Northwest Ohio’s future nurses, information systems professionals, accountants and survey technicians. These highly skilled and motivated individuals are tomorrow’s societal leaders and contributors and Owens is proud to play an important role in their success.”

For Ashely Cichocki of Rossford, a pre-business administration major, the decision to attend Owens instead of other area four-year colleges and universities was an easy one.

“Attending a college that was affordable and close to home was important,” explained Cichocki, a Rossford High School graduate. “The education I am receiving at Owens is everything I thought it would be and more. The instructors are more than willing to take the time to help answer your questions. They want you to succeed.”

Areas in which significant enrollment growth has occurred during the fall term include the School of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, School of Technology, and Workforce and Community Services, among others.

“Owens can make your educational and career dreams a reality,” said Cichocki, who plans to pursue both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees and a career in pharmaceutical sales.

Owens has increased its educational opportunities available to students this fall by expanding academic curriculum in such areas as music business technology, commercial photography, interior design and cancer information management, among others. The College also enhanced its student services and resources by showcasing a new Health Services and Wellness Center this fall, which is intended to provide access to the College’s first-ever health services on campus.

Additionally, the College is continuing to expand its extremely popular eOwens distance learning education by continuously introducing new academic courses online. For Fall Semester 9,198 students are pursuing e-Learning courses – up from 6,839 last fall (34.5 percent increase).

Additionally, Owens is offering its first-ever on-site academic and support service at The Source, Lucas County’s One-Stop Employment Center, in downtown Toledo and at several Toledo-Lucas County Public Library branches within the surrounding communities.

To accommodate the record number of students, the College, within the last five years, also opened an $11 million Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the Toledo-area Campus. Earlier this year, Owens unveiled a new $20.5 million Center for Emergency Preparedness. The Center is the only state-of-the-art facility of this magnitude within the Midwest.

Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus Aids Flood Victims With Community Outreach Initiatives

Posted on September 4th, 2007

FINDLAY, OH – Owens Community College’s Findlay-area Campus is reaching out to area residents and surrounding communities recovering from the devastating storms and flooding by making available resources and opportunities for individuals to aid in the relief efforts.

“The surrounding Northwest Ohio communities have experienced a tremendous loss that will be felt for years to come,” said Judy Ennis, Owens Executive Dean of the Findlay-area Campus. “During this difficult time, Owens Community College is committed to helping our students and the surrounding communities recover through the use of our various resources and outreach. Serving our students and the surrounding communities is Owens Community College’s mission and we want to help those in need.”

Starting Wednesday, Sept. 5, the Findlay-area Campus Students Involved organization will be accepting community donations to help the Findlay City Schools’ children in need of school supplies following the tragic flooding. Items being collected include backpacks, crayons, markers, bottles of glue, glue sticks, colored pencils, pencils, pink erasers, school boxes, pocket folders and calculators, among many other items.

Area residents can drop off their charitable donations in the Findlay-area Campus’ Commons area. Owens is located on Bright Road in Findlay. The school supply drive will conclude on Friday, Sept. 14.

In addition, the Findlay-area Campus is encouraging Owens students whose textbooks have been lost or damaged in the flood to stop by the College’s Bookstore where representatives will work with the students to replace the lost or damaged textbooks free of charge.

The Owens Findlay-area Campus is also inviting area displaced businesses and community organizations in need of available meeting space to visit the College for potential scheduling arrangements.

Additionally, flood victims needing American Red Cross assistance can visit the service center located in the Conference Center on the Findlay-area Campus. The service center is staffed with case workers who are available daily from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. American Red Cross representatives will help flood victims with their immediate emergency disaster caused needs.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. Individuals can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation. Individuals can call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575. Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter (Hancock County Chapter American Red Cross, 125 Fair St., Findlay, OH 45840) or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org <http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html.

For more information about the College's various flood community outreach initiatives, call (567) 429-3535 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 3535.

Owens Community College is one of the fastest-growing higher educational institutions in Ohio. On the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses, Owens serves more than 45,000 credit and non-credit students. Owens is committed to providing small classes, personal attention and unmatched affordability. Owens Community College offers associate degrees that transfer to baccalaureate degrees in the Arts and Sciences and over 130 technical program areas in Agriculture, Business, Health Sciences, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Skilled Trades, and Engineering and Transportation Technologies. Owens students also can earn the first two years of a bachelor's degree with a smooth transfer to any area four-year college or university. For more information, visit www.owens.edu.

Owens Community College Establishes First-Ever Cross Country Sports Club on Findlay-area Campus

Posted on August 9th, 2007

FINDLAY, OH – Owens Community College is expanding its student activities programs by announcing the creation of a new cross country sports club for the upcoming Fall Semester. The new student activity will also mark a milestone as the first-ever sports club based on the Findlay-area Campus.

“Owens Community College is pleased to offer new opportunities for our students,” said John Byers, Owens Coordinator of Student Activities. “A cross country club is one of the more unique clubs and organizations currently available on the Findlay-area Campus. The new sports club is a welcome addition to campus life and will afford students the chance to experience the benefits of teamwork, leadership, responsibility and achievement from an athletic standpoint.”

The first official practice will occur on Monday, Aug. 13 at 3:30 p.m. on the Findlay-area Campus. Owens is located on Bright Road in Findlay. Interested Owens students should meet in the College’s Community Education and Wellness Center. Practices will take place on the Findlay-area Campus grounds.

Owens Associate Professor of Developmental Education Michael Senour will serve as the cross country club Advisor. Senour is an avid runner and ran intercollegiate cross country and track at Tri-State University and Miami University. Additionally, he regularly competes in marathons and is an ultra runner.

The College’s new cross country club will open its first-ever athletic schedule by competing in the Tiffin University-Heidelberg College Open in Tiffin on Saturday, Sept. 1. In addition, the Owens program will participate in the Defiance College Invitational in Defiance (Saturday, Sept. 8), the Bluffton University Invitational in Bluffton (Friday, Sept. 21) and the Tiffin University Open in Tiffin (Saturday, Oct. 20).

Owens is dedicated to meeting the needs of its students by providing an array of student club and organizational opportunities for student involvement and leadership development. The College currently offers over 50 student clubs and organizations on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses.

Interested cross country club participants must be registered Owens students. For more information, call (567) 429-3629 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 3629.

Owens and Community Partners Assist Area Children with School Supply Drive, Aug. 9-24

Posted on August 8th, 2007

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College’s Alumni Association in collaboration with Books-A-Million Inc. and three Great Lakes Credit Union branches are reaching out to area children in need of school supplies by holding a month-long “Backpack to the Future” School Supply Drive, Aug. 9-24. Collected items will benefit low-income kindergarten-age school children throughout Northwest Ohio.

The “Backpack to the Future” School Supply Drive will occur at the Books-A-Million bookstore (2105 Levis Commons Blvd.) located in The Town Center at Levis Commons in Perrysburg, as well as at three Great Lakes Credit Union branches (5823 Monroe St.) in Sylvania, (624 W. South Boundary) in Perrysburg and (1890 N. Wilkenson Way) at the O-I Plaza in Perrysburg. The four community locations expands the College’s educational initiative for individuals to drop off their donations. Among the charitable items that will be accepted as part of the school supply drive are gently-used or new backpacks, crayons, markers, bottles of glue, glue sticks, colored pencils, pencils, pink erasers, school boxes, pocket folders, marbled covered composition books and Kleenex tissues.

According to Kaye Koevenig, Owens Alumni Association community service chair, the Northwest Ohio community’s initial response toward the “Backpack to the Future” Supply Drive has been strong.

Since establishing the program in 2004, the Owens Alumni Association has given over 550 backpacks and over 8,200 school supplies to benefit underprivileged children throughout Northwest Ohio.

Owens Community College and The University of Toledo to Offer Health Services Through New Joint Health Services and Wellness Center

Posted on August 8th, 2007

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College (Owens) students and employees will now have access to quality health services as The University of Toledo (UT) and Owens enter into a new partnership designed to leverage resources and share expertise.

The two organizations are working together to create a joint Health Services and Wellness Center on the Owens Toledo-area Campus, where, beginning this Fall Semester, Owens campus community can receive health services from UT physicians, without having to leave campus.

“Owens Community College is pleased to partner with The University of Toledo and open new doors for our students and employees to receive health services on the Toledo-area Campus,” said Dr. Christa Adams, President of Owens Community College.

“This is a natural fit,” said Dr. Lloyd Jacobs, UT President. “We are thrilled to offer this service on the Owens campus. It symbolizes our commitment to using the existing expertise within the higher education community for the mutual benefit of the students, their families and the state.”

As part of the collaboration, The University of Toledo will oversee operation and offer an array of health services within the new 1,030 square-foot Health Services and Wellness Center. Beginning this Fall Semester, board-certified family practitioners will provide Owens Community College registered students and employees with access to health services on the Toledo-area Campus.

“Owens Community College is constantly making a concerted effort to meet the needs of our students and employees by continuing the advancement of academic programs and services through innovation and collaboration,” said Dr. Paul Unger, Executive Vice President and Provost of Owens Community College. “This new initiative demonstrates the commitment of both Owens Community College and The University of Toledo to fostering partnerships for the benefit of our students and employees.”

“This partnership not only allows the Owens Community College community access to ‘university quality care,’ it also helps students grow acquainted with The University of Toledo,” said Dr. Jeffery Gold, UT Health Science Campus Provost, Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean of the College of Medicine. “We’re proud to be a part of it and look forward to making this partnership a success.”

In addition, the new facility will feature an array of health care equipment and resources to accommodate the various patient needs, including a nursing station, a reception area, a practitioner office, a locker room and two examination rooms.

The medical staff will be on hand for examinations and consultations from 1-5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Health Services and Wellness Center, located inside the Student Health and Activities Center. In addition, Owens students and employees can make appointments or obtain information from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday.

Owens Center for Emergency Preparedness Receives Donated Fire Truck From City of Perrysburg

Posted on July 3rd, 2007

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College has received a retired quint fire truck from the city of Perrysburg Fire Division to support the enhancement of academic programs and foster experiential learning in the new Center for Emergency Preparedness.

The donated fire engine, which features a pump, water tank, hose, ground ladders and an aerial ladder, will be used to provide comprehensive, repeatable safety training for first responders related to various fire fighting techniques. First responders will be able to conduct a variety of emergency response scenarios, including the controlling of a fire within a multi-story building, roof access, and fire fighting and rescue techniques from upper floors.

“Owens Community College is very appreciative to the city of Perrysburg Fire Division and their generous donation of a quint fire truck to the new Center for Emergency Preparedness,” said Tom Pack, Owens Director of the Center for Emergency Preparedness. “The donated fire truck will have an immediate impact on providing our region’s first responders with the highest level in real-world, scenario training.”

Before making its final trip to Owens’ Center for Emergency Preparedness, the apparatus provided over 29 years of emergency response service to citizens within the city of Perrysburg and mutual aid to surrounding communities. The fire truck will now be used as a hands-on educational training prop for the Center’s various scenario-based simulators.

“Training is an important and essential part of firefighting,” said Acting Chief Wade Johnson of the city of Perrysburg Fire Division. “Owens Community College’s vision and commitment to firefighter training is shown with their new Center for Emergency Preparedness.”

Johnson added, “I am pleased that Mayor Nelson Evans and the members of Perrysburg City Council share this commitment by donating this vehicle to Owens. Truck 1 has faithfully served the citizens of Perrysburg and now it can serve the citizens of many other communities by being a training tool for their firefighters.”

Owens has been at the forefront in providing educational training to local police and safety forces for over three decades. Earlier this year, the College officially opened its new $20.5 million Center for Emergency Preparedness.

Located at the convergence of Tracy and Walbridge roads, the 110-acre Center features full-size, state-of-the-art training props/simulators, including a mobile fire behavior lab, a five-story burn building, tank truck fire simulator, stationary fuel tank fire simulator, collapsed building rescue simulator, confined space rescue simulator, automobile fire simulator, skills/skid pad, dive and rescue pond, rail car rescue simulator, vehicle extrication field and an aircraft rescue simulator. The facility also includes a mock city replicating a community infrastructure such as a gas station, a bank, and residential and search and rescue structures.

Additional phases will consist of an emergency operations center, command and simulation center, and a variety of other simulation scenarios, including a fuel spill simulator, an aircraft fire simulator, a railroad tank car fire simulator, and rail and truck hazmat simulators.

The Center also includes Ohio’s Third Frontier Network – the nation’s most advanced fiber-optic network for research, education and economic development. An initiative of the Ohio Board of Regents, the network at Owens will allow area fire and police departments to conduct exercises, via distance learning, on a variety of simulated terrorist incidents, emergency hazards and natural disasters.

The College currently offers associate degrees and certificate programs in Fire Science Technology, Criminal Justice Technology, Corrections, Military Science, Emergency Medical Management, Emergency Management and Planning, and Public Safety Communications. Courses offered within the public safety and emergency preparedness curricula include: criminal law and procedure, patrol operations, crime scene processing, fire fighting tactics and command, hazardous materials, fire inspection principles, and first responder.

Owens also has a longstanding partnership with both Toledo Police and Fire Departments, serving as the training site for the two organizational academies, and has partnerships with the Ohio Fire Academy, Ohio Police Officer Training Academy and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The city of Perrysburg Fire Division is dedicated to improving the quality of life within the city of Perrysburg and its more than 20,000 residents by providing protection of life and property threatened by fire, medical and all other natural or man-made emergencies. The Perrysburg Fire Division is a combination department that utilizes 19 volunteer and 22 full-time emergency responders to provide fire and EMS services.

Owens Community College, 92.5 KISS-FM and FM 104.7 WIOT Provide Free College Education

Posted on June 29th, 2007

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College, 92.5 KISS-FM and FM 104.7 WIOT are partnering to offer a unique contest, which will award free college education to three area residents. The contest will award a grand-prize winner four semesters of free tuition to Owens, while two runners-up will receive one semester of free tuition.

“Owens Community College is proud to partner with 92.5 KISS-FM and FM 104.7 WIOT and offer this life-changing opportunity for the Northwest Ohio community,” said Andy Woodard, Owens Marketing Manager. “Thanks to the support of 92.5 KISS-FM and FM 104.7 WIOT, three students will be able to experience a quality education at Owens Community College.”

Individuals can enter the contest by logging onto www.owens.edu, www.925kissfm.com or www.wiot.com, clicking on “The Tuition is Right” and correctly answering three questions. Applicants also can enter by filling out a paper entry form available at the Enrollment Services Office on the Owens Toledo-area Campus or the Commons Information Desk on the Owens Findlay-area Campus. All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 1.

The finals will be held at the College’s Toledo-area Campus on Thursday, Aug. 9 from 3-5 p.m. in the Student Health and Activities Center. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. Winners for the grand prize and runner-up prizes, as well as various other prizes, will be drawn at random during the event.

Andy Stuart, Vice President & Market Manager of Clear Channel Radio Toledo, looks forward to a successful promotion on air through 92.5 KISS-FM and FM 104.7 WIOT that “will afford three individuals the opportunity to fulfill their educational dreams at Owens Community College. It is gratifying to encourage residents to strive for a higher education and a better life,” he said.

The contest is open to residents 16 years of age or older. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Owens has partnered with Northwest Ohio media and offered a tuition contest.

Owens’ Graduate Lives by Her Motto: ‘You are Never too Old to Learn Something New’

Posted on June 25th, 2007

Lorena Baird recently graduated from the Owens Findlay-area Campus with an associate’s degree in liberal arts.

FINDLAY, OH – Lorena Baird of Findlay wasn’t deterred by starting college later in life. She loves learning new things and thinks the life lessons that accompany being an older student support student success.

But while studying for a history class at Owens Community College, she realized her age in an interesting way.

“As I was reading the textbook, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I have lived through a lot of this history!,'” Baird, who is 64 years of age, recalled. “It gave me a good laugh and I thought if anyone wants some first-hand information about of our history, I am the person they need to talk to.”

Baird, both a grandmother and great-grandmother, started taking classes at Owens after losing her job through company downsizing. She received a certificate in accounting and graduated in May with an associate’s degree in liberal arts.

“I felt I needed to become ‘more employable’ so that meant going back to school,” Baird said. “Since graduating, I’ve felt a sense of accomplishment Ö and relief. I haven’t decided if I am going to pursue a bachelor’s degree or not, but I am being encouraged to do it.”

Baird, who already holds two associate’s degrees in small business management and marketing from Aims Community College in Colorado, also encourages other older adults to go back to school or take a class for the first time if they are thinking about it.

“My motto is, ‘You are never too old to learn something new,’ and I really believe that,” she said. “Keeping your mind busy helps keep you active, healthier and more productive. I hear people say that they are bored or that they don’t have anything to keep them motivated, pursuing a degree or just taking personal enrichment classes is an option.”

Baird would have a hard time saying she is bored. Between her job as Student Outreach Specialist and Enrollment Management Specialist the past three years on the Findlay-area Campus, writing (she recently published a collection of inspiration poetry), taking care of two of her grandsons and spending time with her family, she has become a master at juggling schedules. She also volunteers her time and talents at College First Church of God in Findlay and constantly attends numerous school functions involving her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

“It’s a challenge, but if you have the desire to do something, you can always figure out a way to accomplish it,” she said. “I believe that every situation or experience you have can be used in a positive way if you are willing to learn something from it.”

According to one her Owens colleagues Stefanie Orians, Lorena’s (Baird) energy and enthusiasm for learning is inspirational for both Findlay-area Campus employees and students.

“Lorena goes out of her way to lend a helping hand to others,” stated Orians. “Her always cheerful demeanor is contagious. She certainly brightens my day and those individuals she comes in contact with.”

$695,000 NSF Grant to Fund Ohio Computational Science Project; Ralph Regula School, Community Colleges to Develop Associate Degree Program

Posted on June 14th, 2007

COLUMBUS, OH – The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a three-year, $695,000 grant to develop an associate degree program in computational science to a statewide coalition involving an educational initiative of the Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC) and three Ohio community colleges.

OSC’s Ralph Regula School of Computational Science will lead a partnership that includes Owens Community College near Toledo, Sinclair Community College in Dayton and Stark State College in Canton. The Ralph Regula School is a virtual statewide school focused on teaching computer modeling and simulation to solve real-world problems in a wide range of fields including medicine, manufacturing, finance and earth science.

“Computational science and the use of modeling and simulation have been cited by prominent federal committees and panels as keys to continued United States competitiveness in science and engineering,” said Steve Gordon, Director of the Ralph Regula School. “This project will create shared multi-institutional educational modules and an associate degree program that will interest a broader range of students in science careers.”

The collaborative project is titled, “Computational Science Program for Ohio Community and Technical Colleges.” The NSF grant was awarded through the foundation’s Advanced Technological Education program.

The goal of the project is to complete a statewide computational science curriculum already being implemented by developing associate degree programs that constitute the middle two years of an articulation from the high schools to the community colleges and four-year colleges and universities. The grant will fund the development of courses and materials, a model articulation agreement from high school through baccalaureate programs, professional development for high school and community college faculty and a model for a shared program that can be replicated nationally.

Computational science describes the application of computing, especially high-performance computing, to the solution of scientific and engineering problems. Computational scientists use computers to create mathematical models that help them simulate and understand natural and mechanical processes, as well as to visualize these models.

One well-known example of computational science is weather forecasting, where vast amounts of data are combined with sets of mathematical formulas in a computer program called a weather model to develop forecasts. These forecasts are far more accurate and timely than were possible before computer modeling was available.

Another important example is the use of computer models to simulate and test new products prior to manufacturing. The use of “virtual prototypes” sharply reduces or even eliminates the slow and expensive process of building physical prototypes.

The use of computational science also allows researchers to study phenomena that would be difficult to study through any other means. For example, computational models allow researchers in the life sciences to simulate what happens when drug molecules interact with viruses and then visualize the result. It also allows car manufacturers to simulate repeated computer models of car crashes and then see what happens within the parts damaged in the crash.

Project Lead the Way (PLTW), another key partner in the project, has developed a sequence of courses which, when combined with college preparatory mathematics and science courses in high school, introduces students to the scope, rigor and discipline of engineering and engineering technology prior to entering college. The Ralph Regula School staff will be working with the Ohio PLTW program to develop a new course in computational science to prepare students for the associate degree program.

Owens Community College Names New Student Government Officers for 2007-08 Academic Year

Posted on June 8th, 2007

Lindsay Gregory (left) will serve as Student Government President, while Dusty Bastian will hold the position of Vice President.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Twelve Owens Community College students were named to new Student Government leadership positions for the 2007-08 academic year. Each individual will serve a one-year term and represent the Owens student body as Student Government officers.

Owens marketing and sales major Lindsay Gregory of Toledo and associate of science, general concentration major Dusty Bastian of Swanton received the majority vote for President and Vice President, respectively.

“We are very excited about beginning a fresh, new academic year and the many possibilities that exist for Student Government to make a difference in Owens student life,” said Student Government President Gregory. “Our number one goal is to make students more aware of and involved in Student Government and student activities, in addition to providing our students with more avenues in which to present their concerns and ideas.”

Other individuals elected to the College’s Student Government include Marie Salazar of Toledo (Secretary), business management; Nighat Khan of Toledo (Treasurer), nuclear medicine; Aurelius Taylor of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), machining; Amanda Keck of Toledo (Toledo At-large Representative), pre-nursing; Debra Ann Morales of Oak Harbor (Toledo At-Large Representative), criminal justice technology; Manda Gunter of Bowling Green (Toledo At-Large Representative), psychology; Ranetta Hitt of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), associate of arts, general concentration; Jean Martin of Oregon (Toledo At-Large Representative), criminal justice technology; Courtney Boose of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), pre-physical therapist assistant, and Paul Sobb of Toledo (Toledo At-Large Representative), computer science.