reconnect, summer 2010
DESCRIPTION
The Alumni Magazine of JCCCTRANSCRIPT
Reconnect The Alumni Magazine of JCCC
Summer 2010
Horticulture takes root at JCCC
Contents Cover JCCCrsquos horticulture program offers a horticulture associatersquos degree horticulture certificate landscape technician certificate and horticultural floral design and landscape technician entrepreneurship certificates Pictured Dr Lekha Sreedhar associate professor horticulture
Reconnect The Alumni Magazine of JCCC
Reconnect is published two times a year by Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299 913-469-8500 fax 913-469-2559 wwwjcccedu
Reconnect is produced by the JCCC Foundation College Information and Publications and the Office of Document Services
Editor Christy McWard
Reporter Peggy Graham
Photographer Bret Gustafson
Designer Randy Breeden
For more information about JCCC Alumni call the JCCC Foundation
4 Performing Arts Series at JCCC announces 20th anniversary season Natalie Cole brings star power to The Seriesrsquo 20th anniversary celebration
8 Horticulture program grows with vigor Sreedhar exhibits samples of studentsrsquo micropropagation in tissue culture ndash a new trend for nurseries to mass propagateclone superior plants
10 No debating it JCCC team is national community college champion Johnson County Community College debate team was awarded the prestigious McClintock Award presented to the national champion community college team at the Cross-Examination Debate Association National Tournament
12 Dobson publishes book about the Great Plains Patrick Dobsonrsquos Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains captures Dobsonrsquos journey from Kansas City to Helena Mont
13 JCCC offers motorcycle training Motorcyclists are revved up for JCCCrsquos new motorcycle training program
14 Electronics buys robot arm to develop new class JCCCrsquos electronics departmentrsquos new programmable six-degreeshyof-freedom robot arm teaches students how robots are used in industry
15 Drafting goes 3-D JCCCrsquos drafting program acquired a rapid prototype machine to produce 3-D models
16 Building toward health field careers Construction is underway on the two-story 50000-square-foot Olathe Health Education Center
913-469-3835
2 | Reconnect
18 JCCC launches Achieving the Dream JCCC is the first and only school in Kansas to join Achieving the Dream Community Colleges Count a national initiative to help more community college students succeed particularly low-income students and students of color
19 Journalism student media show news sense The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism and media communications department
20 Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
22 Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits to support 31 scholarships and programs
24 New dental hygiene clinic opens New space and the latest technology put smiles on the faces of students staff and clients
26 PSTC offers classes by top law enforcement professionals The big winner in this program is the safety of citizens
27 JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive graphic design This young breed of graphic design professionals are the ones who are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
Back Cover Letrsquos Reconnect
Summer 2010 | 3
Calendar Save the Date
Sept 1 Polsky Series ndash Whatrsquos the Outlook for 2011 and Beyond ndash Bright Cloudy or Dark with Peter Newman 730 pm Free Bring family and friends Doors open at 7 pm
Sept 10 Takaacutecs Quartet Grammy-winning string quartet
Sept 11 American Voices Songs of Our Nation Larry Gatlin Crystal Gayle Andy Cooney
Sept 14 JCCC Golf Tournament ndash Individual player Falcon Ridge Golf Course Warm-up at 830 am and 10 am shotgun start Includes golf golf cart with GPS range balls two non-alcoholic drinks and box lunch Your purchase confirmation is your registration confirmation Visit wwwjcccedufoundationonline
Sept 25 The ldquoStill Unforgettablerdquo Natalie Cole 20th anniversary celebration
Sept 30 Jack Hannarsquos Into the Wild Live presented by Nationwide Insurance 7 pm
Oct 1-3 9-11 Closer Than Ever ndash JCCC Academic Theatre 730 pm Black Box Theatre Free
Oct 16 Robert McDuffie violin soloist and the Venice Baroque Orchestra The Seasons Project featuring a world-premiere tour of a Philip Glass composition a PAS co-commission
Oct 20 Michael Bolton singer-songwriter 730 pm
Oct 22-23 Capitol Steps political comedy troupe
Oct 29-30 Quixotic Fusion Lux Esalare Kansas City ensemble of musicians dancers aerialists
Nov 5 DRUMLine Live created by the music team behind the hit movie Drumline
Nov 6 beatlegras bluegrass arrangements of Beatles tunes by a fab three Polsky Theatre
Nov 12 Jigu Thunder Drums of China a world-class company of drummers percussionists and musicians steeped in the culture of Shanxi province
Nov 13 Some Enchanted Evening gala fundraiser honoring David Wysong as Johnson Countian of the Year
Nov 20 Naturally 7 award-winning septet with a distinct a cappella style called ldquovocal playrdquo
4 | reconnect
Performing Arts Series at JCCC announces 20th anniversary season
The ldquoStill Unforgettablerdquo Natalie Cole 20th anniversary celebration Sept 25 2010
Johnson County
Community College
dedicated its Cultural
Education Center on
Oct 3 1990 and offered
its first season in spring
1991 For 20 years the
Performing Arts Series at
JCCC has consistently
offered quality programming
True to tradition another
exceptional season unfolds
Emily Behrmann general
manager the Performing Arts
Series at JCCC invites you to
attend a 20th anniversary
celebration with eight-time
Grammy Award-winner
Natalie Cole on Sept 25 plus
a season of cutting-edge
performances celebrity
names diverse cultures dance
and music
Summer 2010 | 5
Tickets The Performing Arts Series at JCCC is using its anniversary year to simplify ndash listing season performances in chronological order with no sub-series of dance classics center stage family or special events Patrons can create their own package of any five or more performances from a selection of 22 to receive a ldquosubscriberrdquo discount ldquoFriendsrdquo members receive an additional 5 percent discount Call the PAS box office at 913-469-4445 or visit wwwjccceduTheSeries for detailed artist information
The season is listed chronologically Shows begin at 8 pm in Yardley Hall of the Carlsen Center unless otherwise noted
Takaacutecs Quartet Grammy-winning string quartet bull Sept 10 2010
American Voices Songs of Our Nation Larry Gatlin Crystal Gayle Andy Cooney Sept 11 2010
The ldquoStill Unforgettablerdquo Natalie Cole 20th anniversary celebration Sept 25 2010
Jack Hannarsquos Into the Wild Live presented by Nationwide Insurance 7 pm bull Sept 30 2010
Robert McDuffie violin soloist and the Venice Baroque Orchestra The Seasons Project featuring a world premiere tour of a Philip Glass composition a PAS co-commission Oct 16 2010
Michael Bolton singer-songwriter 730 pm bull Oct 20 2010
Capitol Steps political comedy troupe Oct 22-23 2010
Quixotic Fusion Lux Esalare Kansas City ensemble of musicians dancers aerialists Oct 29-30 2010
DRUMLine Live created by the music team behind the hit movie Drumline Nov 5 2010
beatlegras bluegrass arrangements of Beatles tunes by a fab three Polsky Theatre bull Nov 6 2010
Leann Rimes Just Added 7 pm Nov 14 2010
6 | Reconnect
Jigu Thunder
Drums of
China a world-class company of drummers percussionists and musicians steeped in the culture of Shanxi province Nov 12 2010
Naturally 7 award-winning septet with a distinct a cappella style called ldquovocal playrdquo Nov 20 2010
Christmas Bells Are Swinginrsquo Boston Brass and the Brass All-Stars Big Band play holiday selections arranged by jazz legend Stan Kenton bull Dec 3 2010
Lar Lubovitch Dance Company internationally renowned modern dance Jan 29 2011
The Hot Club of San Francisco Gypsy jazz in Silent Surrealism Polsky Theatre bull Feb 4 2011
An Evening
with Martin
Short starring the legendary comedian film star and SNL alumnus Feb 12 2011
Vienna Boys
Choir with a repertoire encompassing Austrian folk songs and waltzes classical masterpieces pop songs songs from childrenrsquos operas and medieval chants Feb 26 2011
Opole Philharmonic of Poland with soprano Iwona Sobotka light classics by Johann Strauss Jr and friends March 4 2011
Hot Tuna Blues guitarists Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane fame blues-harp player Charlie Musselwhite and country-and-bluegrass artist Jim Lauderdale March 5 2011
Janis Ian singer guitarist songwriter (At Seventeen) Polsky Theatre bull March 12 2011
The Joffrey Ballet Chicago-based and world-renowned April 2 2011
Beacutela Fleck banjo Zakir Hussain tablapercussion and Edgar Meyer bass April 16 2011
Spamalot Broadway hit based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail 7 pm bull May 1 2011
Summer 2010 | 7
Horticulture program grows with vigor Dr Lekha Sreedhar instructs Horticultural Science students inside the greenhouse
As the lead author on scholarly articles published in journals like
Plant Science Annals of Botany and GENE Dr Lekha Sreedhar associate professor horticultural sciences has proven herself an excellent academic
But 16 years of study and research in plant sciences is only part of the reason Sreedhar has helped to make JCCCrsquos horticulture program a success in terms of quality and growing number of classes The real reason is Sreedharrsquos passion for the subject and her students Her enthusiasm is contagious
In this dayrsquos Introduction to Horticultural Science lab students work inside the Horticultural Science Centerrsquos greenhouse surrounded by a sea of plants and flowers planting six different leaf types in two different media in order to compare propagation methods Students work knowingly as they determine the composition of the planting media and look for leaves from healthy stock plants to maximize growth They are enrolled in the horticulture program with a variety of aspirations Two want to become golf course managers one is interested in environmental science possibly plant engineering another has aspirations to own a commercial greenhouse growing
plants like organic hydroponic tomatoes and there are more
Carolyn Palmer Newton worked in a greenhouse for four-and-a-half years but now wants the science background Colby Fuller Emporia already has a bachelorrsquos degree in agronomy but is working toward JCCCrsquos horticulture associate degree so he can obtain a job in landscaping
ldquoI really like this courserdquo Fuller said ldquoDr Sreedhar is an excellent teacher If anyone has a question off-topic she can answer itrdquo
Rebecca Walker-Garoutte Lenexa worked in the floral design business 28 years before enrolling at JCCC where she received an associatersquos degree in May She is the greenhouse coordinator and likes the idea that she is supporting education by caring for a large variety of plants and trees inside and outside the greenhouse dedicated to student use
ldquoI feel this is a good program with continued efforts to use the best materialsrdquo Walker-Garoutte said ldquoDr Sreedhar makes sure students receive a good science experience ndash with passionrdquo
JCCC first offered a horticulture certificate program in 2001 In 2006 a landscape technician certificate was
added and a horticultural associatersquos degree became effective fall 2007 Horticultural floral design and landscape technician entrepreneurship certificates are also offered Sreedhar was brought on board as the only full-time horticulture faculty in 2006 Four to eight adjunct faculty in various areas of expertise also teach horticulture classes including Dr Alan Stevens director K-State Research and Extension Center Olathe and JCCC adjunct associate professor landscape design
ldquoThe skills students learn at JCCC are beneficial to the industry Students receive an underlying depth of knowledge that they wouldnrsquot receive with on-the-job experiencerdquo Stevens said
Stevens says that JCCCrsquos Introduction to Horticultural Science and Plant Propagation classes use the exact same textbooks and lab manuals as K-Statersquos
Asked whether he thought a horticulture program was necessary in the suburbs Stevens said ldquoYes green space is a precious commodity in the city and suburbs and we need quality educated people to maintain it The JCCC program serves a strong and definite needrdquo
8 | Reconnect
The Horticultural Science Center which opened for classes in fall 2001 houses one classroom one lab with a laminar-flow hood and the greenhouse Space especially with a high night enrollment is at a premium
Dr Csilla Duneczky dean of sciences points to new possibilities for program growth ndash plant biotechnology plant sustainability water conservation in irrigation and CAD design applied to Landscape Design classes
According to Duneczky interest is substantial in two horticulture electives Arboriculture and Pest Control Management for which students can sit for licensure examinations in those fields after course completion
ldquoWe work with major nurseries lawn care and landscape companies florists county extension agencies and private gardens in order to serve the industryrdquo Duneczky said ldquoAll our faculty are experts in their fields The feedback from the industry is that our students are well preparedrdquo
Sreedhar networks in the community with the horticulture department at K-State and officials from the US Department of Agriculture and Kansas and Missouri Departments of Agriculture in order to provide her students with professional speakers and plum internships at local nurseries and the Johnson County Park and Recreation District She organizes field trips to places like the Loose Park Rose Garden (shersquos a member of the Kansas City Rose Society directorial board) Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens and K-State Research and Extension Center Olathe She has cultivated relationships with nurseries garden centers landscaping companies propagation facilities gardenhardware suppliers and biotech companies so students are exposed to a variety of the newest tools techniques and materials from cultivars to tissue culture media
ldquoI want this to be a solid programrdquo Sreedhar saidldquoI will do anything to help my students succeedrdquo
Sreedhar also credits her students for the programrsquos success She says her nighttime
classes are filled with people who work eight to 12 hours in a nursery before coming to class
ldquoMy students do extremely well They keep excellent data and complete well-written scientific reportsrdquo
Thatrsquos a high endorsement coming from Sreedhar who earned a bachelorrsquos degree in agriculture science and a masterrsquos degree in horticulture sciences from Kerala Agricultural University India and a masterrsquos in plant agriculture and a PhD in plant physiology from the University of Guelph Ontario Canada and completed postdoctoral research in plant biotechnology at Rutgersrsquo Biotechnology Center for Agriculture and the Environment She held the prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship for graduate studies in horticultural sciences for five years
Champion of the variety of fields open to horticulture students ndash floriculture pomology (study of fruit) olericulture (study of vegetables) viticulture nursery management greenhouse management landscape design turf management interiorscaping micropropagation and horticultural therapy ndash Sreedhar is positive that anyone who likes plant sciences can find a specialty to their liking If one doesnrsquot want to get his or her hands dirty Sreedhar will espouse micropropagation in tissue culture ndash a new trend for nurseries to mass propagateclone superior plants in vitro from small pieces of stock plant and rescue heavily infected plants Other options include landscape design hydroponics aeroponics and horticultural sales
Her enthusiasm extends from her professional to her personal life At age four she was captivated by her parentsrsquo rose garden in India Her love of flowers remains unabated She keeps lists of plantsflowers and their respective photographs that she has encountered She collects orchids and has about 300 in her home
ldquoPlants are fascinatingrdquo Sreedhar said ldquoThere is so much we know and so much we donrsquot knowrdquo
Colby Fuller and Natalie Martin set up an experiment during a leaf propagation lab
Rebecca Walker-Garoutte greenhouse coordinator earned her horticulture associatersquos degree in May
Sean Connolly has plans to become a golf course manager
Summer 2010 | 9
No debating itJCCC team is national community college champion 2009-2010 team members Sitting (left to right) Rebekah Rauckman Terri Easley (coach) Justin Stanley (assistant coach) Caitlin Breslin Andrew Salzmann Amanda Brown
Standing (left to right) Dalton Lawson Kristin Brandt Ben Cuellar Emily Umphrey Brandie Shepherd Tyler Kowalewski Sarah Elliott Cate Garmeavea Keith Alexander-Arceneaux
In the culmination of its successful year the Johnson County Community
College debate team was awarded the prestigious McClintock Award presented to the national champion community college team at the Cross-Examination Debate Association (CEDA) National Tournament which was held at the University of California-Berkeley in March
The CEDA national championship is based on the teamrsquos earned points during the entire season in competition with four-year colleges and universities as well as other community colleges
This is the first championship title for JCCC in eight years and the fourth year in a row JCCC has been in the top three in community college sweepstakes
The award caps a string of wins and high
rankings for the JCCC debate team During the 2009-2010 season the team traveled to 12 tournaments winning awards at all making seven final-round appearances and earning five tournament championships at the Vegas Invitational KCKCC Emporia State University Kansas State University and Novice Nationals
Throughout the year the JCCC debate team was consistently ranked as the top community college maintained a top 20 national ranking that includes four-year colleges since November and finished in the top 25 nationwide for the year ranking higher than schools like the University of Texas at Austin University of Michigan Georgetown and Baylor universities Dartmouth College and University of Kentucky
Research The 2009-2010 college debate topic was The United States Federal Government should substantially reduce the size of its nuclear weapons arsenal andor substantially reduce and restrict the role andor missions of its nuclear weapons arsenal Teams are required to debate both sides of an issue ndash affirmative and negative
The JCCC debate team participates in policy debate tournaments in which policy issues are debated by a team of two vs a team of two
ldquoMost people would argue that policy debate is harder than Lincoln-Douglas value debate or parliamentarian debate because it is more research intensiverdquo said debate coach Terri Easley
10 | Reconnect
Indeed team members invest hours into research practice rounds one-on-one speaking drills and tournaments Easley and assistant debate coach Justin Stanley can spend up to 14 to 16 hours a day with students during the competition season In the fall there were four-day back-to-back tournaments on consecutive weekends and travel time There is also preparation on Saturdays and Sundays where students and coaches spend from eight- to 12-hour days in extra practice rounds and conducting research
ldquoAs coaches we help prepare students with the skills and research they need for a two-hour debate But once the debate begins it is up to them to carry throughrdquo Easley said
Assets of a winning team Easley credits this yearrsquos successes to the addition of an assistant coach and the studentsrsquo determination She says the most common major among debaters is pre-law or political science but debate studentsrsquo majors vary from nursing to electrical engineering
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo Easley said
JCCC offers four sections of debate and all students enrolled in debate participate with the team Two-thirds of the current debate team is expected to return in the fall Using electronic databases books journals and law reviews students begin researching next yearrsquos topic as soon as it is announced in July
One also has to credit Easleyrsquos commitment for the teamrsquos success Easley began college as a music major but was won over to debate by a speech teacher who thought she ldquotalked fast and gave good speechesrdquo Easley earned a bachelorrsquos degree in literature from the University of Texas at Dallas and a masterrsquos in communication from Baylor University
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo
ndash Debate Coach Terri Easley
More kudos The JCCC debate team also hosts (and participates in) the most prestigious and longest-running junior-varsity national tournament in the country the National Junior Division Debate Tournament founded by retired JCCC professor Dr Dick Stine which was held this year in March
At the CEDA National Tournament at Berkeley JCCC debaters were awarded several national recognitions Emily Umphrey was awarded with the ldquoOutstanding New Competitor Awardrdquo for debaters in their first year of competition without prior debate experience who show growth and participation in the activity Caitlin Breslin and Dalton Lawson were selected to the All-American Debate Team The award is given to 30 debaters who represent the best of intercollegiate debate
Dalton Lawson
Brandie Shepherd
Summer 2010 | 11
Dobson publishes bookabout the Great Plains
Adjunct professor of history Patrick Dobsonrsquos book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains was recently published
Patrick Dobson adjunct professor of history is a bear of a man His
presence enthusiasm and stories fill a room He is a freelance writer a member of Ironworkers Local 10 in Kansas City and has completed all-but-a-dissertation toward a doctorate in 20th century US environmental history and American literature from the University of Missouri-Kansas City
Today Dobson is being interviewed about his first book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains published last year by the University of Nebraska Press The book describes Dobsonrsquos two-and-a-half-month journey from Kansas City Mo to Helena Mont in 1995 a journey Dobson says was ldquomeant to quiet his restless soulrdquo With only a backpack Dobson then a single father left his job with the engineering maintenance department at the Ritz-Carlton to chronicle the lives of ordinary people in the Great Plains
He kept a notebook and filed biweekly columns in The Pitch during his trip The
journal is the basis for his book for which he has done a round of media interviews and book signings A second book based on his river journey home is in the works
At JCCC Dobson teaches US history and Western civilization He has bachelorrsquos degrees in American history and English from UMKC and a masterrsquos degree in American history from the University of Wyoming Part skilled laborer part scholar Dobsonrsquos employment reflects his dichotomy maintenance at the Ritz four years as a full-time writer at The Pitch three years as an editor at Andrews McMeel Universal and one and one-half years of self-employment ndash hauling dirt rehabbing houses and stacking rock ndash previous to entering the UMKC doctoral program in 2004 He joined the Ironworkers Local 10 after completing his doctoral classes The one constant in his life has been writing
Dobson has now worked out an ideal plan for his PhD life ndash working as a
journeyman ironworker during the summers and teaching during the school year He believes he is a misfit traversing different universes comfortably
ldquoWhen Irsquom with the academics I feel like the dirty fingernailer at the queenrsquos banquetrdquo Dobson saidldquoWhen Irsquom with journalists they know something is not quite right about me something doesnrsquot fit Then when Irsquom with the ironworkers they know there is something about me ndash things I talk about ndash so they know Irsquove been someplace elserdquo
Fifteen years after his trek across the plains Dobson appears to have put his soul to rest He has learned he needs to be outside doing physical labor he needs to teach because he views learning as unfinished business and he needs to write
Dobsonrsquos book is available at Amazon University of Nebraska Press and the JCCC Billington Library
12 | Reconnect
JCCC offers motorcycle training Cheryl and Dennis Rogers Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors advise taking the Motorcycle Training class before the purchase of a motorcycle
After an interminable winter people are ready to feel the wind sun and
rain on their faces They are catching the bug to ride a motorcycle
As thrilling as buying a bike twisting the throttle and hitting the road are safety and a legal license come first JCCC began offering its new Motorcycle Training classes this year the first three sessions filled immediately
The course which provides 20 hours of instruction including eight classroom hours and 12 hours of range instruction is designed for the beginning motorcyclist who wants to operate his or her motorcycle safely and efficiently A Kansas Division of Vehicles certificate of completion will be issued after successfully completing the course
The three-day classes are scheduled from 6 to 10 pm Friday and 8 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday Riding and maneuvers including 17 exercises are scheduled all day Saturday and Sunday in the JCCC parking lot The lead teachers are Cheryl and Dennis Rogers
Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors who teach a maximum of 12 students per class
ldquoWe teach proper techniques for breaking turning and swervingrdquo Cheryl Rogers saidldquoLater we have had students thank us saying those techniques saved their livesrdquo
Dennis Rogers is a retired Kansas State Trooper and Cheryl is an IT worker for the State of Kansas Together they take one big (3000-mile) trip each summer having visited 40 of the 48 continental US states and ride weekends
The Rogers advocate motorcycle transportation as a way to reduce costs and enjoy the outdoors
ldquoOnly a motorcyclist knows the thrill and exhilaration a dog has when it sticks its head out the car windowrdquo Cheryl Rogers said
Bikes and helmets are provided for the class Stan and Elaine Rogers (no relations to Cheryl and Dennis Rogers) who formerly owned Midwest Motorcycle
Training Center donated nine Honda Rebel 250 CC bikes to JCCC after their training program closed
Dennis Rogers advises taking the motorcycle training program before buying a motorcycle so one people know they like riding a motorcycle and are successful at it and two they learn to ask the right questions when buying a bike ndash Will you have a passenger What size works for you Will you be riding on the street or dirt
Taking the class reduces insurance rates and increases safety About 92 percent of accident-involved motorcyclists were self-taught or learned from family and friends according to Cheryl Rogers
For more information contact Phil Wegman program director skills enhancement JCCC at 913-469-4446 or pwegmanjcccedu To register call 913-469-2323 Cost is $199
Summer 2010 | 13
Electronics buysrobot arm to develop new class
Chip Cody associate professorchair electronics demonstrates the capabilities of electronicsrsquo new robot arm
Using a $25000 Perkins grant JCCCrsquos electronics department
purchased a programmable six-degreeshyof-freedom robot arm to teach students how robots are used in industry
Faculty received training on the machine in the spring with the goal of developing an industrial robot class by fall 2010 JCCC already offers an elective Electronics 127 ndash Robots for Humans which serves as an introduction to the growing field of robotics An industrial robot class would teach students how to build program test and maintain robots in industry ndash everything from car manufacturing to automated self-checkouts
ldquoRobots are good candidates for jobs that are either too dangerous for humans or highly repetitive and monotonousrdquo said Chip Cody associate professor chair electronics ldquoRobots are accurate They do exactly what you tell them to do every time They never get tired bored or call in sickrdquo
JCCCrsquos robot features base waist shoulder elbow wrist and hand rotation ndash referred to as the six axes of freedom Weighing several hundred pounds the machine looks like a giant popcorn cart constructed with a quarter-inch steel working surface and requiring a double-wide door for access to the electronics lab
As in the Robots for Humans class students in the proposed class would learn about the robotrsquos hardware things like sensors and actuators and enough software programming language to teach the robot a task
Cody explains that programming involves coordinating the axes of motion and that can be accomplished in two ways ndash either by means of a microprocessor or by taking the robot manually through an operation and having its sensors store the action in its computer
ldquoA robot senses the outside world and based on what the sensor tells it it takes actionrdquo Cody said ldquoA robot constantly goes through a sense-react-sense loop Students work with small kits in the 127 class but this is the first time the college has had an industrial-strength machinerdquo
Interest in robots has been generated by students who have participated in high school robotics competitions such as FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen Students with those experiences want to progress from JCCCrsquos Microprocessors class to the robot class where the microprocessors serve as the robotrsquos ldquobrainrdquo
Cody says there is a demand for graduates with two-year electronic degrees to work in industry to maintain robots
ldquoRobots are here to stay Thatrsquos the wave of the futurerdquo Cody saidldquoThey may not all look like C-3P0 but they are everywhere ndash from assembly lines to NASArsquos Mars Exploration Rover Projectrdquo
The robot arm will have broad application
14 | Reconnect
Drafting goes 3-D
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting displays a 3-D object fabricated from the rapid prototype machine
Itrsquos not quite the Star Trek replicator but the new 3-D printer in the drafting
department is impressive
JCCCrsquos drafting program acquired its rapid prototype machine in spring 2009 giving advanced drafting students an opportunity to make models from 3-D computer-aided designs and beginning drafting students a way to visualize a 3-D design problem more clearly
Instead of toner the rapid prototype machine uses a cartridge filled with a
spool of plastic which is heated to a temperature of 572 degrees F and applied in a series of layers until the 3-D model is built according to a CAD design
To the unschooled eye it appears as easy as hitting ldquoprintrdquo and setting controls for resolution orientation interior makeup (solid or honeycomb) and number of copies Then appearing out of seemingly nothingness comes a plastic model The technically savvy however know that inside the printer a CAD file interfaces with a stereolithography file format in order to fabricate the curves and geometry of a physical object
The process is fun to watch although ldquorapidrdquo is a relative term A special print head sweeps across a plastic support plate applying layer after layer of heated plastic following CAD specifications Filler material is applied to negative space and dissolved by immersion in a chemical bath after part fabrication Objects created in the JCCC 3-D printer take from two to 60-plus hours to complete
According to Tom Hughes drafting chair drafting models were traditionally created by hand in a shop Time cost and ease of use are improved with the 3-D printer Hughes says the rapid prototyping has been available in the industry for years used for creating manufactured parts ndash everything from
industrial to fine arts As the 3-D printers became more affordable JCCC was able to purchase one so drafting students can see their projects emerge from the 2-D printed page to physical models
ldquoThe impact on our students is that the models clearly illustrate what they are attempting to drawrdquo Hughes said ldquoStudents learn to draft with greater confidencerdquo
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting says the 3-D printer has increased student interest in the drafting program
ldquoThe rapid prototype printer can do some pretty complex models with moving and mating parts things that would be difficult to make in a shoprdquo Feureborn said
Students in the CAD 3-D and Mechanical Desktop Inventor classes are encouraged to produce one 3-D model at the end of the semester Faculty use the model to demonstrate objects and cutaway slices for entry-level classes
Hughes foresees partnerships between drafting classes and other programs using the 3-D printers Students in Graphic Analysis have already collaborated with welding students in the manufacturing of prototype plant holders
Summer 2010 | 15
Building toward health field careers
The Olathe Health Education Center lies west of Olathe Medical Center
In the remnant of a former cornfield Johnson County Community College
and Olathe Medical Center are tilling the ground in advance of another kind of harvest ndash allied health medical professionals
Groundbreaking on the two-story 50000-square-foot Olathe Health Education Center took place Dec 3 2009 and construction began in March 2010 The center will open for classes in fall 2011
OMC donated 58 acres of land for the building and parking located between 152nd and 153rd Streets west of Olathe Medical Center Parkway JCCC will build OHEC at an anticipated cost of $15 million
The building exterior is designed using JCCC campus standard brick with options for cast stone or metal between the windows The main entrance is to the north with parking to the northwest
Similar in design to the Regnier Center OHEC features a two-story atrium and
floating staircase The first floor will contain the main lobby information desk and a 300-seat multipurpose conference room that can be divided into four areas for smaller meetings or classes
Additional first-floor spaces are allocated for general education medical office technology and other medical offerings (EKG phlebotomy pharmacy technology medical lab technology and surgical technology) to include
Three general classrooms for classes such as anatomy and physiology
One medical computer lab and one general-use computer lab
A medical office technology suite with two classrooms and a record office room for medical billing coding and transcription
One classroom for other medical offerings
Common spaces including a coffee bar and food cart
Offices for faculty and staff including security counseling and student services
The second floor is designed primarily for practical nursing health occupations (certified nurse assistant certified medication aides rehabilitation aide home health aide and IV therapy for LPNs) and dietary manager programs to include
Four health occupations classrooms with three patient care beds each
Two skills labs with eight beds each one of the two is designed to accommodate four patient simulators
Practical nursehealth occupations student success center
Two classrooms for practical nursing and other medical classes
Common spaces for study and rest breaks
Offices for faculty and staff
16 | Reconnect
A rendering of the Olathe Health Education Center is shown here
Students will have clinical education opportunities at Olathe Medical Center as well as the opportunity for professional relationships with OMC health care practitioners
Rex Hays executive director Campus Services says HMN Architects collaborated with the academic administrators in multiple meetings to fulfill the specific needs of health care programming According to Hays the building will meet LEED silver certification in recognition of environmentally responsible building practices Access to a detention basin for a storm water run-off adds to points for LEED criteria
As owner of the OHEC JCCC will provide maintenance housekeeping and security (The college owns the building but does not receive clear title until the end of the 10-year lease and after payment of all scheduled lease amounts)
ldquoWe are grateful to Olathe Medical Center for the opportunity of building a health care teaching campusrdquo said Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC presidentldquoThe
medical center is a renowned medical facility and we are proud to be partners with themrdquo
ldquoWe are extremely proud to have the Olathe Health Education Center on our campusrdquo said Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC ldquoIt has been a pleasure for our staff to work with JCCC MidAmerica Nazarene University and the Olathe School District in developing the best curriculum to teach outstanding health care providers of the futurerdquo
Students from the Olathe schools will be provided a clear pathway through JCCC and if they choose to do so on to MidAmerica Nazarene University for baccalaureate and graduate studies completion according to Dr Dana Grove JCCC executive vice president educational planning and development chief operating officer
ldquoUltimately the beneficiary of the new OHEC is the community who will be served by an increase in the number of health care providers and the number of allied health programsrdquo Grove said
Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC and Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC president listen to a speaker at the Dec 3 groundbreaking for OHEC
Summer 2010 | 17
JCCC launches Achieving the Dream
Drs James Tschechtelin and Ted Wright JCCCrsquos coaches for Achieving the Dream brainstorm with Jeff Frost JCCC dean mathematics during an Achieving the Dream session of Fall 2009 Professional Development Days
Johnson County Community College is the first and only school in Kansas
to join Achieving the Dream Community Colleges Count a national initiative to help more community college students succeed particularly low-income students and students of color
JCCC is one of 102 institutions ndash 98 colleges and four universities ndash in 22 states to participate in Achieving the Dream which helps participating colleges implement strategies designed to help more students earn degrees complete certificates or transfer to other institutions to continue their studies The initiative emphasizes building a culture of evidence in which colleges use data to identify effective practices improve student success rates and close achievement gaps
The Lumina Foundation for Education which funds Achieving the Dream has a goal to raise the proportion of the US adult population who earn high-quality college degrees to 60 percent by 2025 an increase of 23 million graduates above current rates according to Dr Marilyn Rhinehart executive vice president Instruction JCCC Currently approximately 39 percent of American
adults complete a two- or four-year degree Each college makes a two-year commitment to focus its efforts on closing performance gaps among students in targeted populations
ldquoAt JCCC our work with Achieving the Dream will help us enhance the experience of students in developmental educationrdquo said Jason Kovac executive director of Academic Initiatives and Achieving the Dream core team leader ldquoThe goal will be to connect more people with college-level coursework and help more students reach their educational goals Ultimately this has a huge effect on our community ndash increased wages and better quality of life for our graduates and more skilled workers for regional employers This will be a key driver for college and community prosperity in the coming yearsrdquo
Core team members are Rhinehart team co-chair Terry Calaway JCCC president and team co-chair Jeff Frost dean mathematics Larry Reynolds dean Communications Beth Gulley assistant professor English Bill Robinson associate professor mathematics Mindy Manes administrative assistant
Corporate Outreach and Strategic Partnerships Learner Engagement and the Center for Sustainability Jason Kovac executive director Academic Initiatives Rick Moehring dean Learner Engagement Dr Ralph Juhnke director Institutional Research Paul Kyle dean Student Services Pam Vassar assistant dean Student Life and Leadership Development and Wendy Farwell counselor JCCCrsquos first step is to gather data to determine which student groups are less successful than others and which high-enrollment courses have the lowest success rates
ldquoAchieving the Dream really requires us to use data to focus on measurable outcomes and be open and forthright about current performancerdquo Juhnke said
While Achieving the Dream is about data Rhinehart says that every number represents a person
ldquoEvery piece of data has a story that can help us understand how we can make the greatest difference to a student We need to learn how we can take down barriers to student success and give students the courage and confidence to succeedrdquo Rhinehart said
18 | Reconnect
Journalism student media show news sense
JCCC journalism students show off a few of their many awards at the Headline Award ceremony in April 2010
The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism
and media communications department New video courses Advanced Video Production and Advanced Broadcast Performance were introduced as well as Digital Photojournalism designed for the multimedia needs of todayrsquos journalists The departmentrsquos foundation course Mass Media and Society became a general education elective for humanities credit in the spring 2010 semester for each of the collegersquos associatersquos degree programs
This past academic year more than 300 students completed classes in the journalism and media communications department and 10 students received scholarship money JCCC also continues to offer the largest media internship program in the Kansas City metro area providing students the opportunity to work in a professional environment
Beginning in fall 2010 students will be able to earn college credit with Basic Video Production in both the Blue Valley and Olathe high schools as part of JCCCrsquos College Now program
The departmentrsquos faculty includes two full-time professors Mark Raduziner department chair and Greg Harrell and adjunct faculty Gretchen Thum Julie Haas Joe Petrie Molly Baumgardner Corbin
Crable Joel Nichols and Mary Schulte
2010 was the seventh year for the Headline Award honoring local journalists whose example serves as an inspiration to student journalists at JCCC This yearrsquos honoree was Steve Kraske political correspondent for The Kansas City Star and host of Up to Date on KCURshyFM Kansas Cityrsquos public radio station
JCCCrsquos journalism and media communications department partners with Student Life and Leadership Development on two events In March the two departments sponsored People in the Media a panel of print and electronic media professionals who discussed the future of the industry In April the seventh annual Cavalier Film Festival honored student filmmakers from JCCC and Johnson County and Lawrence high schools in five categories Professionals in the Kansas City film and video industry judge entries and provide feedback
JCAV the student-produced TV news and magazine program took off this year with 10 JCAV news episodes seven JCAV Campus Updates and five Cavalier sports reports ndash live cable shows of sports events JCAV students won five 2010 Kansas Association of Broadcasters student awards while competing against all public and private colleges and universities in Kansas
Working in collaboration with the journalism and media communications department is Anne Christiansen-Bullers Student Life media coordinator and adviser to the student-produced radio station ECAV and JCCCrsquos student newspaper The Campus Ledger ECAV radio had its genesis in fall 2009 and will continue this year under radio station manager Marvita Oliver
The Campus Ledger was awarded the All-Kansas Award and a record 40 individual awards at the state conference sponsored by the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press Association
Judges awarded The Campus Ledger the gold medal for overall excellence and the All-Kansas Award reflecting the best of show in the two-year-school division
The newspaperrsquos Web site received a gold medal up from last yearrsquos bronze-medal distinction
The Campus Ledger editor-in-chief for 2009-10 was Matt Galloway The online editor was John Young Galloway won first runner-up in the Journalist of the Year contest sponsored by Kansas Associated Collegiate Press
Ondrej Pazdirek is the Campus Ledgerrsquos editor-in-chief for 2010-11
Summer 2010 | 19
Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing (left to right) Students Mickey Belcher Jimmy Lee and Jeff Middlesworth work in a patient simulation room with Mark Foster (blue lab coat) adjunct assistant professor nursing
Helping a patient or family member during a difficult time is the
primary satisfaction of being a nurse according to male nurses and male nursing students interviewed for this story
There are also practical reasons for being a nurse ndash the potential for good wages plentiful jobs and career diversity
So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
Jane Zaccardi director practical nursing and health occupations JCCC says the eulogized Florence Nightingale may be the reason Prior to the Crimean War men provided care in hospitals and battlefields and women in the home Nightingale brought the profession to women and subtly the job switched from one for men to one for women
JCCC in conjunction with Kansas Board of Regents is trying to reverse Nightingalersquos influence with two new Men in Nurses Training programs aimed at male high school students both of which were held in June The first was a nursing orientation summer camp for ninth and 10th grade students offered at no charge through grant funding The second MINT was a males-only
Certified Nurse Aide course for young men entering 11th and 12th grades Students who are employed as CNAs by a nursing facility within 12 months of the program can have their tuition reimbursed by their employer
With CNA certification students can earn a good salary and find a job right away according to Zaccardi or use the credentials to continue their education as a practical nurse then registered nurse
ldquoWe flat out donrsquot have enough nurses and we need to have men interested in the professionrdquo said Zaccardi whose statement is supported by a 2004 report from the American Nursing Association predicting 11 million job openings in the year 2020 ldquoWe are hoping through the MINT program men will select nursing as their first choice not as a career change in their 30s or 40srdquo
John McNally assistant professor nursing JCCC took exactly that career path At age 16 he got a job in his hometown hospital as what was then called an ldquoorderlyrdquo and worked part time at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center Topeka while earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Pittsburg State University
ldquoThe orderly positions now called CNA
were a convenient avenue to earn a paycheck while I was going to schoolrdquo McNally said
As an RN McNally worked at Stormont-Vail and North Kansas City Hospital earning a masterrsquos degree in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1996 In 2000 he decided to add computer skills to his reacutesumeacute and enrolled at JCCC where he moonlighted in the academic computer lab 30 hours a week When a nursing faculty position opened at JCCC he knew it was a good fit for him especially as health care technology increases
ldquoIn the hospitals where Irsquove worked there seem to be more males each yearrdquo McNally said ldquoWhile still a minority on the hospital floors men are likely to migrate to surgery radiology and technical areas My impression is that men in nursing donrsquot face any discriminationrdquo
Ed Ronnebaum assistant professor nursing JCCC echoes those sentiments
ldquoI have never faced discrimination at any timerdquo he said ldquoIt doesnrsquot matter if you are male or female as a nurse patient care is a team effortrdquo
For Ronnebaum however nursing is a career change After high school he
20 | Reconnect
served eight years of active duty as an Air Force aircraft mechanic then in the Air Guard in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm On his return Ronnebaum decided to rekindle his interest in anatomy and caring for sick people to become a nurse He started as a student nurse tech at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center Topeka earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Washburn University Topeka a masterrsquos of science in health care administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on a PhD in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City He teaches full time at JCCC and maintains his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves He has had one assignment as a critical care nurse in Iraq January through May 2007 Before entering academia he worked at KU Medical Center in medicalsurgery the burn unit and neurosurgery ICU
ldquoNursing is an exciting career and there is so much you can do with a nursing degree You can work in a hospital physicianrsquos office rehabilitation or long-term care facility nursing school or the militaryrdquo Ronnebaum said ldquoWith the growth in health care the sky is the limit for what you can do in nursingrdquo
ldquoMen balance the professionrdquo said Colleen Duggan JCCC nursing professor ldquoHaving men and women on the team makes for better collaboration on health care decisionsrdquo
Wayne Deines adjunct associate professor has a dual appointment with St Lukersquos South Hospital and JCCC He teaches JCCC students in clinicals two days a week at the hospital and one day a week at JCCC As an RN-III at St Lukersquos he works in the cardiovascular recovery unit Deines also came to nursing circuitously working as an EMT with the Consolidated Fire District 2 (Prairie Village) and paramedic with Johnson County Med-Act then earning his bachelorrsquos in nursing from KU School of Nursing A nurse for 18 years he worked in the military eight years and at St Lukersquos South for 10 Deines encourages men to enter nursing In fact his son is an operating room nurse at Childrenrsquos Mercy Hospital Kansas City Mo
JCCC has five male nursing faculty two full-time Ronnebaum and McNally and three part-time Deines Mark Foster and Kureo Ohta Eight male students graduated this spring out of a class of 71 In the practical nurse program there is one male adjunct faculty and three males out of 37 in the evening program due to graduate in December
JCCCrsquos male nursing students are gravitating to critical care upon graduation
ldquoGuys like critical care ndash ICU trauma and surgery I donrsquot know what thatrsquos all about but it seems to be naturalrdquo said student DJ Klinge
Students reiterate the fact that they feel no discrimination as males Sometimes an obstetrics patient prefers a female nurse but they donrsquot take offense They see it as a personal preference
ldquoYou have to be secure with yourself when you are a male nurserdquo said Jimmy Greenlee student
ldquoTwenty years ago guys in their 20s wouldnrsquot have thought about nursing as a career choice When people ask me if I am going to be a nurse I say lsquoAbsolutely There is nothing wrong with thatrsquordquo said Matt Munden who was determined to finish nursing school despite being readmitted to the RN program after a tour of duty in Iraq
Almost unanimously male faculty and students wish they had been introduced
Student Matt Munden assesses a heart rhythm under the instruction of Mark Foster (left) adjunct assistant professor nursing
to nursing as a career option earlier in life They recommend earning a CNA (a prerequisite to JCCCrsquos RN program) and working with patients before committing to the RN program
ldquoI got my CNA and really enjoyed it You help people who are truly dependent on you The CNA class pushed me into applying for nursing schoolrdquo said Jeff Middlesworth
ldquoJust getting your CNA lets you know if you are cut out for the job It lets you know whether you have the stomach for nursing or not and you learn rapport with patientsrdquo Greenlee said
So what would these young men say to other men thinking about a nursing career
ldquoLook into it and get your CNA If you have your head on straight and you are looking for a good career path I think it is well worth itrdquo Munden said ldquoIt was one of those things I didnrsquot really look at at first But this is the right decision for merdquo
ldquoEven in the recession the jobs in health care and nursing are still growingrdquo Middlesworth said
Greenlee says ldquoabsolutelyrdquo he is glad to have made the decision to be a nurse
ldquoI am not shy about being a male nurserdquo he said ldquoI am proud of itrdquo
Summer 2010 | 21
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
Contents Cover JCCCrsquos horticulture program offers a horticulture associatersquos degree horticulture certificate landscape technician certificate and horticultural floral design and landscape technician entrepreneurship certificates Pictured Dr Lekha Sreedhar associate professor horticulture
Reconnect The Alumni Magazine of JCCC
Reconnect is published two times a year by Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299 913-469-8500 fax 913-469-2559 wwwjcccedu
Reconnect is produced by the JCCC Foundation College Information and Publications and the Office of Document Services
Editor Christy McWard
Reporter Peggy Graham
Photographer Bret Gustafson
Designer Randy Breeden
For more information about JCCC Alumni call the JCCC Foundation
4 Performing Arts Series at JCCC announces 20th anniversary season Natalie Cole brings star power to The Seriesrsquo 20th anniversary celebration
8 Horticulture program grows with vigor Sreedhar exhibits samples of studentsrsquo micropropagation in tissue culture ndash a new trend for nurseries to mass propagateclone superior plants
10 No debating it JCCC team is national community college champion Johnson County Community College debate team was awarded the prestigious McClintock Award presented to the national champion community college team at the Cross-Examination Debate Association National Tournament
12 Dobson publishes book about the Great Plains Patrick Dobsonrsquos Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains captures Dobsonrsquos journey from Kansas City to Helena Mont
13 JCCC offers motorcycle training Motorcyclists are revved up for JCCCrsquos new motorcycle training program
14 Electronics buys robot arm to develop new class JCCCrsquos electronics departmentrsquos new programmable six-degreeshyof-freedom robot arm teaches students how robots are used in industry
15 Drafting goes 3-D JCCCrsquos drafting program acquired a rapid prototype machine to produce 3-D models
16 Building toward health field careers Construction is underway on the two-story 50000-square-foot Olathe Health Education Center
913-469-3835
2 | Reconnect
18 JCCC launches Achieving the Dream JCCC is the first and only school in Kansas to join Achieving the Dream Community Colleges Count a national initiative to help more community college students succeed particularly low-income students and students of color
19 Journalism student media show news sense The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism and media communications department
20 Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
22 Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits to support 31 scholarships and programs
24 New dental hygiene clinic opens New space and the latest technology put smiles on the faces of students staff and clients
26 PSTC offers classes by top law enforcement professionals The big winner in this program is the safety of citizens
27 JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive graphic design This young breed of graphic design professionals are the ones who are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
Back Cover Letrsquos Reconnect
Summer 2010 | 3
Calendar Save the Date
Sept 1 Polsky Series ndash Whatrsquos the Outlook for 2011 and Beyond ndash Bright Cloudy or Dark with Peter Newman 730 pm Free Bring family and friends Doors open at 7 pm
Sept 10 Takaacutecs Quartet Grammy-winning string quartet
Sept 11 American Voices Songs of Our Nation Larry Gatlin Crystal Gayle Andy Cooney
Sept 14 JCCC Golf Tournament ndash Individual player Falcon Ridge Golf Course Warm-up at 830 am and 10 am shotgun start Includes golf golf cart with GPS range balls two non-alcoholic drinks and box lunch Your purchase confirmation is your registration confirmation Visit wwwjcccedufoundationonline
Sept 25 The ldquoStill Unforgettablerdquo Natalie Cole 20th anniversary celebration
Sept 30 Jack Hannarsquos Into the Wild Live presented by Nationwide Insurance 7 pm
Oct 1-3 9-11 Closer Than Ever ndash JCCC Academic Theatre 730 pm Black Box Theatre Free
Oct 16 Robert McDuffie violin soloist and the Venice Baroque Orchestra The Seasons Project featuring a world-premiere tour of a Philip Glass composition a PAS co-commission
Oct 20 Michael Bolton singer-songwriter 730 pm
Oct 22-23 Capitol Steps political comedy troupe
Oct 29-30 Quixotic Fusion Lux Esalare Kansas City ensemble of musicians dancers aerialists
Nov 5 DRUMLine Live created by the music team behind the hit movie Drumline
Nov 6 beatlegras bluegrass arrangements of Beatles tunes by a fab three Polsky Theatre
Nov 12 Jigu Thunder Drums of China a world-class company of drummers percussionists and musicians steeped in the culture of Shanxi province
Nov 13 Some Enchanted Evening gala fundraiser honoring David Wysong as Johnson Countian of the Year
Nov 20 Naturally 7 award-winning septet with a distinct a cappella style called ldquovocal playrdquo
4 | reconnect
Performing Arts Series at JCCC announces 20th anniversary season
The ldquoStill Unforgettablerdquo Natalie Cole 20th anniversary celebration Sept 25 2010
Johnson County
Community College
dedicated its Cultural
Education Center on
Oct 3 1990 and offered
its first season in spring
1991 For 20 years the
Performing Arts Series at
JCCC has consistently
offered quality programming
True to tradition another
exceptional season unfolds
Emily Behrmann general
manager the Performing Arts
Series at JCCC invites you to
attend a 20th anniversary
celebration with eight-time
Grammy Award-winner
Natalie Cole on Sept 25 plus
a season of cutting-edge
performances celebrity
names diverse cultures dance
and music
Summer 2010 | 5
Tickets The Performing Arts Series at JCCC is using its anniversary year to simplify ndash listing season performances in chronological order with no sub-series of dance classics center stage family or special events Patrons can create their own package of any five or more performances from a selection of 22 to receive a ldquosubscriberrdquo discount ldquoFriendsrdquo members receive an additional 5 percent discount Call the PAS box office at 913-469-4445 or visit wwwjccceduTheSeries for detailed artist information
The season is listed chronologically Shows begin at 8 pm in Yardley Hall of the Carlsen Center unless otherwise noted
Takaacutecs Quartet Grammy-winning string quartet bull Sept 10 2010
American Voices Songs of Our Nation Larry Gatlin Crystal Gayle Andy Cooney Sept 11 2010
The ldquoStill Unforgettablerdquo Natalie Cole 20th anniversary celebration Sept 25 2010
Jack Hannarsquos Into the Wild Live presented by Nationwide Insurance 7 pm bull Sept 30 2010
Robert McDuffie violin soloist and the Venice Baroque Orchestra The Seasons Project featuring a world premiere tour of a Philip Glass composition a PAS co-commission Oct 16 2010
Michael Bolton singer-songwriter 730 pm bull Oct 20 2010
Capitol Steps political comedy troupe Oct 22-23 2010
Quixotic Fusion Lux Esalare Kansas City ensemble of musicians dancers aerialists Oct 29-30 2010
DRUMLine Live created by the music team behind the hit movie Drumline Nov 5 2010
beatlegras bluegrass arrangements of Beatles tunes by a fab three Polsky Theatre bull Nov 6 2010
Leann Rimes Just Added 7 pm Nov 14 2010
6 | Reconnect
Jigu Thunder
Drums of
China a world-class company of drummers percussionists and musicians steeped in the culture of Shanxi province Nov 12 2010
Naturally 7 award-winning septet with a distinct a cappella style called ldquovocal playrdquo Nov 20 2010
Christmas Bells Are Swinginrsquo Boston Brass and the Brass All-Stars Big Band play holiday selections arranged by jazz legend Stan Kenton bull Dec 3 2010
Lar Lubovitch Dance Company internationally renowned modern dance Jan 29 2011
The Hot Club of San Francisco Gypsy jazz in Silent Surrealism Polsky Theatre bull Feb 4 2011
An Evening
with Martin
Short starring the legendary comedian film star and SNL alumnus Feb 12 2011
Vienna Boys
Choir with a repertoire encompassing Austrian folk songs and waltzes classical masterpieces pop songs songs from childrenrsquos operas and medieval chants Feb 26 2011
Opole Philharmonic of Poland with soprano Iwona Sobotka light classics by Johann Strauss Jr and friends March 4 2011
Hot Tuna Blues guitarists Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane fame blues-harp player Charlie Musselwhite and country-and-bluegrass artist Jim Lauderdale March 5 2011
Janis Ian singer guitarist songwriter (At Seventeen) Polsky Theatre bull March 12 2011
The Joffrey Ballet Chicago-based and world-renowned April 2 2011
Beacutela Fleck banjo Zakir Hussain tablapercussion and Edgar Meyer bass April 16 2011
Spamalot Broadway hit based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail 7 pm bull May 1 2011
Summer 2010 | 7
Horticulture program grows with vigor Dr Lekha Sreedhar instructs Horticultural Science students inside the greenhouse
As the lead author on scholarly articles published in journals like
Plant Science Annals of Botany and GENE Dr Lekha Sreedhar associate professor horticultural sciences has proven herself an excellent academic
But 16 years of study and research in plant sciences is only part of the reason Sreedhar has helped to make JCCCrsquos horticulture program a success in terms of quality and growing number of classes The real reason is Sreedharrsquos passion for the subject and her students Her enthusiasm is contagious
In this dayrsquos Introduction to Horticultural Science lab students work inside the Horticultural Science Centerrsquos greenhouse surrounded by a sea of plants and flowers planting six different leaf types in two different media in order to compare propagation methods Students work knowingly as they determine the composition of the planting media and look for leaves from healthy stock plants to maximize growth They are enrolled in the horticulture program with a variety of aspirations Two want to become golf course managers one is interested in environmental science possibly plant engineering another has aspirations to own a commercial greenhouse growing
plants like organic hydroponic tomatoes and there are more
Carolyn Palmer Newton worked in a greenhouse for four-and-a-half years but now wants the science background Colby Fuller Emporia already has a bachelorrsquos degree in agronomy but is working toward JCCCrsquos horticulture associate degree so he can obtain a job in landscaping
ldquoI really like this courserdquo Fuller said ldquoDr Sreedhar is an excellent teacher If anyone has a question off-topic she can answer itrdquo
Rebecca Walker-Garoutte Lenexa worked in the floral design business 28 years before enrolling at JCCC where she received an associatersquos degree in May She is the greenhouse coordinator and likes the idea that she is supporting education by caring for a large variety of plants and trees inside and outside the greenhouse dedicated to student use
ldquoI feel this is a good program with continued efforts to use the best materialsrdquo Walker-Garoutte said ldquoDr Sreedhar makes sure students receive a good science experience ndash with passionrdquo
JCCC first offered a horticulture certificate program in 2001 In 2006 a landscape technician certificate was
added and a horticultural associatersquos degree became effective fall 2007 Horticultural floral design and landscape technician entrepreneurship certificates are also offered Sreedhar was brought on board as the only full-time horticulture faculty in 2006 Four to eight adjunct faculty in various areas of expertise also teach horticulture classes including Dr Alan Stevens director K-State Research and Extension Center Olathe and JCCC adjunct associate professor landscape design
ldquoThe skills students learn at JCCC are beneficial to the industry Students receive an underlying depth of knowledge that they wouldnrsquot receive with on-the-job experiencerdquo Stevens said
Stevens says that JCCCrsquos Introduction to Horticultural Science and Plant Propagation classes use the exact same textbooks and lab manuals as K-Statersquos
Asked whether he thought a horticulture program was necessary in the suburbs Stevens said ldquoYes green space is a precious commodity in the city and suburbs and we need quality educated people to maintain it The JCCC program serves a strong and definite needrdquo
8 | Reconnect
The Horticultural Science Center which opened for classes in fall 2001 houses one classroom one lab with a laminar-flow hood and the greenhouse Space especially with a high night enrollment is at a premium
Dr Csilla Duneczky dean of sciences points to new possibilities for program growth ndash plant biotechnology plant sustainability water conservation in irrigation and CAD design applied to Landscape Design classes
According to Duneczky interest is substantial in two horticulture electives Arboriculture and Pest Control Management for which students can sit for licensure examinations in those fields after course completion
ldquoWe work with major nurseries lawn care and landscape companies florists county extension agencies and private gardens in order to serve the industryrdquo Duneczky said ldquoAll our faculty are experts in their fields The feedback from the industry is that our students are well preparedrdquo
Sreedhar networks in the community with the horticulture department at K-State and officials from the US Department of Agriculture and Kansas and Missouri Departments of Agriculture in order to provide her students with professional speakers and plum internships at local nurseries and the Johnson County Park and Recreation District She organizes field trips to places like the Loose Park Rose Garden (shersquos a member of the Kansas City Rose Society directorial board) Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens and K-State Research and Extension Center Olathe She has cultivated relationships with nurseries garden centers landscaping companies propagation facilities gardenhardware suppliers and biotech companies so students are exposed to a variety of the newest tools techniques and materials from cultivars to tissue culture media
ldquoI want this to be a solid programrdquo Sreedhar saidldquoI will do anything to help my students succeedrdquo
Sreedhar also credits her students for the programrsquos success She says her nighttime
classes are filled with people who work eight to 12 hours in a nursery before coming to class
ldquoMy students do extremely well They keep excellent data and complete well-written scientific reportsrdquo
Thatrsquos a high endorsement coming from Sreedhar who earned a bachelorrsquos degree in agriculture science and a masterrsquos degree in horticulture sciences from Kerala Agricultural University India and a masterrsquos in plant agriculture and a PhD in plant physiology from the University of Guelph Ontario Canada and completed postdoctoral research in plant biotechnology at Rutgersrsquo Biotechnology Center for Agriculture and the Environment She held the prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship for graduate studies in horticultural sciences for five years
Champion of the variety of fields open to horticulture students ndash floriculture pomology (study of fruit) olericulture (study of vegetables) viticulture nursery management greenhouse management landscape design turf management interiorscaping micropropagation and horticultural therapy ndash Sreedhar is positive that anyone who likes plant sciences can find a specialty to their liking If one doesnrsquot want to get his or her hands dirty Sreedhar will espouse micropropagation in tissue culture ndash a new trend for nurseries to mass propagateclone superior plants in vitro from small pieces of stock plant and rescue heavily infected plants Other options include landscape design hydroponics aeroponics and horticultural sales
Her enthusiasm extends from her professional to her personal life At age four she was captivated by her parentsrsquo rose garden in India Her love of flowers remains unabated She keeps lists of plantsflowers and their respective photographs that she has encountered She collects orchids and has about 300 in her home
ldquoPlants are fascinatingrdquo Sreedhar said ldquoThere is so much we know and so much we donrsquot knowrdquo
Colby Fuller and Natalie Martin set up an experiment during a leaf propagation lab
Rebecca Walker-Garoutte greenhouse coordinator earned her horticulture associatersquos degree in May
Sean Connolly has plans to become a golf course manager
Summer 2010 | 9
No debating itJCCC team is national community college champion 2009-2010 team members Sitting (left to right) Rebekah Rauckman Terri Easley (coach) Justin Stanley (assistant coach) Caitlin Breslin Andrew Salzmann Amanda Brown
Standing (left to right) Dalton Lawson Kristin Brandt Ben Cuellar Emily Umphrey Brandie Shepherd Tyler Kowalewski Sarah Elliott Cate Garmeavea Keith Alexander-Arceneaux
In the culmination of its successful year the Johnson County Community
College debate team was awarded the prestigious McClintock Award presented to the national champion community college team at the Cross-Examination Debate Association (CEDA) National Tournament which was held at the University of California-Berkeley in March
The CEDA national championship is based on the teamrsquos earned points during the entire season in competition with four-year colleges and universities as well as other community colleges
This is the first championship title for JCCC in eight years and the fourth year in a row JCCC has been in the top three in community college sweepstakes
The award caps a string of wins and high
rankings for the JCCC debate team During the 2009-2010 season the team traveled to 12 tournaments winning awards at all making seven final-round appearances and earning five tournament championships at the Vegas Invitational KCKCC Emporia State University Kansas State University and Novice Nationals
Throughout the year the JCCC debate team was consistently ranked as the top community college maintained a top 20 national ranking that includes four-year colleges since November and finished in the top 25 nationwide for the year ranking higher than schools like the University of Texas at Austin University of Michigan Georgetown and Baylor universities Dartmouth College and University of Kentucky
Research The 2009-2010 college debate topic was The United States Federal Government should substantially reduce the size of its nuclear weapons arsenal andor substantially reduce and restrict the role andor missions of its nuclear weapons arsenal Teams are required to debate both sides of an issue ndash affirmative and negative
The JCCC debate team participates in policy debate tournaments in which policy issues are debated by a team of two vs a team of two
ldquoMost people would argue that policy debate is harder than Lincoln-Douglas value debate or parliamentarian debate because it is more research intensiverdquo said debate coach Terri Easley
10 | Reconnect
Indeed team members invest hours into research practice rounds one-on-one speaking drills and tournaments Easley and assistant debate coach Justin Stanley can spend up to 14 to 16 hours a day with students during the competition season In the fall there were four-day back-to-back tournaments on consecutive weekends and travel time There is also preparation on Saturdays and Sundays where students and coaches spend from eight- to 12-hour days in extra practice rounds and conducting research
ldquoAs coaches we help prepare students with the skills and research they need for a two-hour debate But once the debate begins it is up to them to carry throughrdquo Easley said
Assets of a winning team Easley credits this yearrsquos successes to the addition of an assistant coach and the studentsrsquo determination She says the most common major among debaters is pre-law or political science but debate studentsrsquo majors vary from nursing to electrical engineering
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo Easley said
JCCC offers four sections of debate and all students enrolled in debate participate with the team Two-thirds of the current debate team is expected to return in the fall Using electronic databases books journals and law reviews students begin researching next yearrsquos topic as soon as it is announced in July
One also has to credit Easleyrsquos commitment for the teamrsquos success Easley began college as a music major but was won over to debate by a speech teacher who thought she ldquotalked fast and gave good speechesrdquo Easley earned a bachelorrsquos degree in literature from the University of Texas at Dallas and a masterrsquos in communication from Baylor University
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo
ndash Debate Coach Terri Easley
More kudos The JCCC debate team also hosts (and participates in) the most prestigious and longest-running junior-varsity national tournament in the country the National Junior Division Debate Tournament founded by retired JCCC professor Dr Dick Stine which was held this year in March
At the CEDA National Tournament at Berkeley JCCC debaters were awarded several national recognitions Emily Umphrey was awarded with the ldquoOutstanding New Competitor Awardrdquo for debaters in their first year of competition without prior debate experience who show growth and participation in the activity Caitlin Breslin and Dalton Lawson were selected to the All-American Debate Team The award is given to 30 debaters who represent the best of intercollegiate debate
Dalton Lawson
Brandie Shepherd
Summer 2010 | 11
Dobson publishes bookabout the Great Plains
Adjunct professor of history Patrick Dobsonrsquos book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains was recently published
Patrick Dobson adjunct professor of history is a bear of a man His
presence enthusiasm and stories fill a room He is a freelance writer a member of Ironworkers Local 10 in Kansas City and has completed all-but-a-dissertation toward a doctorate in 20th century US environmental history and American literature from the University of Missouri-Kansas City
Today Dobson is being interviewed about his first book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains published last year by the University of Nebraska Press The book describes Dobsonrsquos two-and-a-half-month journey from Kansas City Mo to Helena Mont in 1995 a journey Dobson says was ldquomeant to quiet his restless soulrdquo With only a backpack Dobson then a single father left his job with the engineering maintenance department at the Ritz-Carlton to chronicle the lives of ordinary people in the Great Plains
He kept a notebook and filed biweekly columns in The Pitch during his trip The
journal is the basis for his book for which he has done a round of media interviews and book signings A second book based on his river journey home is in the works
At JCCC Dobson teaches US history and Western civilization He has bachelorrsquos degrees in American history and English from UMKC and a masterrsquos degree in American history from the University of Wyoming Part skilled laborer part scholar Dobsonrsquos employment reflects his dichotomy maintenance at the Ritz four years as a full-time writer at The Pitch three years as an editor at Andrews McMeel Universal and one and one-half years of self-employment ndash hauling dirt rehabbing houses and stacking rock ndash previous to entering the UMKC doctoral program in 2004 He joined the Ironworkers Local 10 after completing his doctoral classes The one constant in his life has been writing
Dobson has now worked out an ideal plan for his PhD life ndash working as a
journeyman ironworker during the summers and teaching during the school year He believes he is a misfit traversing different universes comfortably
ldquoWhen Irsquom with the academics I feel like the dirty fingernailer at the queenrsquos banquetrdquo Dobson saidldquoWhen Irsquom with journalists they know something is not quite right about me something doesnrsquot fit Then when Irsquom with the ironworkers they know there is something about me ndash things I talk about ndash so they know Irsquove been someplace elserdquo
Fifteen years after his trek across the plains Dobson appears to have put his soul to rest He has learned he needs to be outside doing physical labor he needs to teach because he views learning as unfinished business and he needs to write
Dobsonrsquos book is available at Amazon University of Nebraska Press and the JCCC Billington Library
12 | Reconnect
JCCC offers motorcycle training Cheryl and Dennis Rogers Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors advise taking the Motorcycle Training class before the purchase of a motorcycle
After an interminable winter people are ready to feel the wind sun and
rain on their faces They are catching the bug to ride a motorcycle
As thrilling as buying a bike twisting the throttle and hitting the road are safety and a legal license come first JCCC began offering its new Motorcycle Training classes this year the first three sessions filled immediately
The course which provides 20 hours of instruction including eight classroom hours and 12 hours of range instruction is designed for the beginning motorcyclist who wants to operate his or her motorcycle safely and efficiently A Kansas Division of Vehicles certificate of completion will be issued after successfully completing the course
The three-day classes are scheduled from 6 to 10 pm Friday and 8 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday Riding and maneuvers including 17 exercises are scheduled all day Saturday and Sunday in the JCCC parking lot The lead teachers are Cheryl and Dennis Rogers
Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors who teach a maximum of 12 students per class
ldquoWe teach proper techniques for breaking turning and swervingrdquo Cheryl Rogers saidldquoLater we have had students thank us saying those techniques saved their livesrdquo
Dennis Rogers is a retired Kansas State Trooper and Cheryl is an IT worker for the State of Kansas Together they take one big (3000-mile) trip each summer having visited 40 of the 48 continental US states and ride weekends
The Rogers advocate motorcycle transportation as a way to reduce costs and enjoy the outdoors
ldquoOnly a motorcyclist knows the thrill and exhilaration a dog has when it sticks its head out the car windowrdquo Cheryl Rogers said
Bikes and helmets are provided for the class Stan and Elaine Rogers (no relations to Cheryl and Dennis Rogers) who formerly owned Midwest Motorcycle
Training Center donated nine Honda Rebel 250 CC bikes to JCCC after their training program closed
Dennis Rogers advises taking the motorcycle training program before buying a motorcycle so one people know they like riding a motorcycle and are successful at it and two they learn to ask the right questions when buying a bike ndash Will you have a passenger What size works for you Will you be riding on the street or dirt
Taking the class reduces insurance rates and increases safety About 92 percent of accident-involved motorcyclists were self-taught or learned from family and friends according to Cheryl Rogers
For more information contact Phil Wegman program director skills enhancement JCCC at 913-469-4446 or pwegmanjcccedu To register call 913-469-2323 Cost is $199
Summer 2010 | 13
Electronics buysrobot arm to develop new class
Chip Cody associate professorchair electronics demonstrates the capabilities of electronicsrsquo new robot arm
Using a $25000 Perkins grant JCCCrsquos electronics department
purchased a programmable six-degreeshyof-freedom robot arm to teach students how robots are used in industry
Faculty received training on the machine in the spring with the goal of developing an industrial robot class by fall 2010 JCCC already offers an elective Electronics 127 ndash Robots for Humans which serves as an introduction to the growing field of robotics An industrial robot class would teach students how to build program test and maintain robots in industry ndash everything from car manufacturing to automated self-checkouts
ldquoRobots are good candidates for jobs that are either too dangerous for humans or highly repetitive and monotonousrdquo said Chip Cody associate professor chair electronics ldquoRobots are accurate They do exactly what you tell them to do every time They never get tired bored or call in sickrdquo
JCCCrsquos robot features base waist shoulder elbow wrist and hand rotation ndash referred to as the six axes of freedom Weighing several hundred pounds the machine looks like a giant popcorn cart constructed with a quarter-inch steel working surface and requiring a double-wide door for access to the electronics lab
As in the Robots for Humans class students in the proposed class would learn about the robotrsquos hardware things like sensors and actuators and enough software programming language to teach the robot a task
Cody explains that programming involves coordinating the axes of motion and that can be accomplished in two ways ndash either by means of a microprocessor or by taking the robot manually through an operation and having its sensors store the action in its computer
ldquoA robot senses the outside world and based on what the sensor tells it it takes actionrdquo Cody said ldquoA robot constantly goes through a sense-react-sense loop Students work with small kits in the 127 class but this is the first time the college has had an industrial-strength machinerdquo
Interest in robots has been generated by students who have participated in high school robotics competitions such as FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen Students with those experiences want to progress from JCCCrsquos Microprocessors class to the robot class where the microprocessors serve as the robotrsquos ldquobrainrdquo
Cody says there is a demand for graduates with two-year electronic degrees to work in industry to maintain robots
ldquoRobots are here to stay Thatrsquos the wave of the futurerdquo Cody saidldquoThey may not all look like C-3P0 but they are everywhere ndash from assembly lines to NASArsquos Mars Exploration Rover Projectrdquo
The robot arm will have broad application
14 | Reconnect
Drafting goes 3-D
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting displays a 3-D object fabricated from the rapid prototype machine
Itrsquos not quite the Star Trek replicator but the new 3-D printer in the drafting
department is impressive
JCCCrsquos drafting program acquired its rapid prototype machine in spring 2009 giving advanced drafting students an opportunity to make models from 3-D computer-aided designs and beginning drafting students a way to visualize a 3-D design problem more clearly
Instead of toner the rapid prototype machine uses a cartridge filled with a
spool of plastic which is heated to a temperature of 572 degrees F and applied in a series of layers until the 3-D model is built according to a CAD design
To the unschooled eye it appears as easy as hitting ldquoprintrdquo and setting controls for resolution orientation interior makeup (solid or honeycomb) and number of copies Then appearing out of seemingly nothingness comes a plastic model The technically savvy however know that inside the printer a CAD file interfaces with a stereolithography file format in order to fabricate the curves and geometry of a physical object
The process is fun to watch although ldquorapidrdquo is a relative term A special print head sweeps across a plastic support plate applying layer after layer of heated plastic following CAD specifications Filler material is applied to negative space and dissolved by immersion in a chemical bath after part fabrication Objects created in the JCCC 3-D printer take from two to 60-plus hours to complete
According to Tom Hughes drafting chair drafting models were traditionally created by hand in a shop Time cost and ease of use are improved with the 3-D printer Hughes says the rapid prototyping has been available in the industry for years used for creating manufactured parts ndash everything from
industrial to fine arts As the 3-D printers became more affordable JCCC was able to purchase one so drafting students can see their projects emerge from the 2-D printed page to physical models
ldquoThe impact on our students is that the models clearly illustrate what they are attempting to drawrdquo Hughes said ldquoStudents learn to draft with greater confidencerdquo
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting says the 3-D printer has increased student interest in the drafting program
ldquoThe rapid prototype printer can do some pretty complex models with moving and mating parts things that would be difficult to make in a shoprdquo Feureborn said
Students in the CAD 3-D and Mechanical Desktop Inventor classes are encouraged to produce one 3-D model at the end of the semester Faculty use the model to demonstrate objects and cutaway slices for entry-level classes
Hughes foresees partnerships between drafting classes and other programs using the 3-D printers Students in Graphic Analysis have already collaborated with welding students in the manufacturing of prototype plant holders
Summer 2010 | 15
Building toward health field careers
The Olathe Health Education Center lies west of Olathe Medical Center
In the remnant of a former cornfield Johnson County Community College
and Olathe Medical Center are tilling the ground in advance of another kind of harvest ndash allied health medical professionals
Groundbreaking on the two-story 50000-square-foot Olathe Health Education Center took place Dec 3 2009 and construction began in March 2010 The center will open for classes in fall 2011
OMC donated 58 acres of land for the building and parking located between 152nd and 153rd Streets west of Olathe Medical Center Parkway JCCC will build OHEC at an anticipated cost of $15 million
The building exterior is designed using JCCC campus standard brick with options for cast stone or metal between the windows The main entrance is to the north with parking to the northwest
Similar in design to the Regnier Center OHEC features a two-story atrium and
floating staircase The first floor will contain the main lobby information desk and a 300-seat multipurpose conference room that can be divided into four areas for smaller meetings or classes
Additional first-floor spaces are allocated for general education medical office technology and other medical offerings (EKG phlebotomy pharmacy technology medical lab technology and surgical technology) to include
Three general classrooms for classes such as anatomy and physiology
One medical computer lab and one general-use computer lab
A medical office technology suite with two classrooms and a record office room for medical billing coding and transcription
One classroom for other medical offerings
Common spaces including a coffee bar and food cart
Offices for faculty and staff including security counseling and student services
The second floor is designed primarily for practical nursing health occupations (certified nurse assistant certified medication aides rehabilitation aide home health aide and IV therapy for LPNs) and dietary manager programs to include
Four health occupations classrooms with three patient care beds each
Two skills labs with eight beds each one of the two is designed to accommodate four patient simulators
Practical nursehealth occupations student success center
Two classrooms for practical nursing and other medical classes
Common spaces for study and rest breaks
Offices for faculty and staff
16 | Reconnect
A rendering of the Olathe Health Education Center is shown here
Students will have clinical education opportunities at Olathe Medical Center as well as the opportunity for professional relationships with OMC health care practitioners
Rex Hays executive director Campus Services says HMN Architects collaborated with the academic administrators in multiple meetings to fulfill the specific needs of health care programming According to Hays the building will meet LEED silver certification in recognition of environmentally responsible building practices Access to a detention basin for a storm water run-off adds to points for LEED criteria
As owner of the OHEC JCCC will provide maintenance housekeeping and security (The college owns the building but does not receive clear title until the end of the 10-year lease and after payment of all scheduled lease amounts)
ldquoWe are grateful to Olathe Medical Center for the opportunity of building a health care teaching campusrdquo said Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC presidentldquoThe
medical center is a renowned medical facility and we are proud to be partners with themrdquo
ldquoWe are extremely proud to have the Olathe Health Education Center on our campusrdquo said Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC ldquoIt has been a pleasure for our staff to work with JCCC MidAmerica Nazarene University and the Olathe School District in developing the best curriculum to teach outstanding health care providers of the futurerdquo
Students from the Olathe schools will be provided a clear pathway through JCCC and if they choose to do so on to MidAmerica Nazarene University for baccalaureate and graduate studies completion according to Dr Dana Grove JCCC executive vice president educational planning and development chief operating officer
ldquoUltimately the beneficiary of the new OHEC is the community who will be served by an increase in the number of health care providers and the number of allied health programsrdquo Grove said
Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC and Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC president listen to a speaker at the Dec 3 groundbreaking for OHEC
Summer 2010 | 17
JCCC launches Achieving the Dream
Drs James Tschechtelin and Ted Wright JCCCrsquos coaches for Achieving the Dream brainstorm with Jeff Frost JCCC dean mathematics during an Achieving the Dream session of Fall 2009 Professional Development Days
Johnson County Community College is the first and only school in Kansas
to join Achieving the Dream Community Colleges Count a national initiative to help more community college students succeed particularly low-income students and students of color
JCCC is one of 102 institutions ndash 98 colleges and four universities ndash in 22 states to participate in Achieving the Dream which helps participating colleges implement strategies designed to help more students earn degrees complete certificates or transfer to other institutions to continue their studies The initiative emphasizes building a culture of evidence in which colleges use data to identify effective practices improve student success rates and close achievement gaps
The Lumina Foundation for Education which funds Achieving the Dream has a goal to raise the proportion of the US adult population who earn high-quality college degrees to 60 percent by 2025 an increase of 23 million graduates above current rates according to Dr Marilyn Rhinehart executive vice president Instruction JCCC Currently approximately 39 percent of American
adults complete a two- or four-year degree Each college makes a two-year commitment to focus its efforts on closing performance gaps among students in targeted populations
ldquoAt JCCC our work with Achieving the Dream will help us enhance the experience of students in developmental educationrdquo said Jason Kovac executive director of Academic Initiatives and Achieving the Dream core team leader ldquoThe goal will be to connect more people with college-level coursework and help more students reach their educational goals Ultimately this has a huge effect on our community ndash increased wages and better quality of life for our graduates and more skilled workers for regional employers This will be a key driver for college and community prosperity in the coming yearsrdquo
Core team members are Rhinehart team co-chair Terry Calaway JCCC president and team co-chair Jeff Frost dean mathematics Larry Reynolds dean Communications Beth Gulley assistant professor English Bill Robinson associate professor mathematics Mindy Manes administrative assistant
Corporate Outreach and Strategic Partnerships Learner Engagement and the Center for Sustainability Jason Kovac executive director Academic Initiatives Rick Moehring dean Learner Engagement Dr Ralph Juhnke director Institutional Research Paul Kyle dean Student Services Pam Vassar assistant dean Student Life and Leadership Development and Wendy Farwell counselor JCCCrsquos first step is to gather data to determine which student groups are less successful than others and which high-enrollment courses have the lowest success rates
ldquoAchieving the Dream really requires us to use data to focus on measurable outcomes and be open and forthright about current performancerdquo Juhnke said
While Achieving the Dream is about data Rhinehart says that every number represents a person
ldquoEvery piece of data has a story that can help us understand how we can make the greatest difference to a student We need to learn how we can take down barriers to student success and give students the courage and confidence to succeedrdquo Rhinehart said
18 | Reconnect
Journalism student media show news sense
JCCC journalism students show off a few of their many awards at the Headline Award ceremony in April 2010
The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism
and media communications department New video courses Advanced Video Production and Advanced Broadcast Performance were introduced as well as Digital Photojournalism designed for the multimedia needs of todayrsquos journalists The departmentrsquos foundation course Mass Media and Society became a general education elective for humanities credit in the spring 2010 semester for each of the collegersquos associatersquos degree programs
This past academic year more than 300 students completed classes in the journalism and media communications department and 10 students received scholarship money JCCC also continues to offer the largest media internship program in the Kansas City metro area providing students the opportunity to work in a professional environment
Beginning in fall 2010 students will be able to earn college credit with Basic Video Production in both the Blue Valley and Olathe high schools as part of JCCCrsquos College Now program
The departmentrsquos faculty includes two full-time professors Mark Raduziner department chair and Greg Harrell and adjunct faculty Gretchen Thum Julie Haas Joe Petrie Molly Baumgardner Corbin
Crable Joel Nichols and Mary Schulte
2010 was the seventh year for the Headline Award honoring local journalists whose example serves as an inspiration to student journalists at JCCC This yearrsquos honoree was Steve Kraske political correspondent for The Kansas City Star and host of Up to Date on KCURshyFM Kansas Cityrsquos public radio station
JCCCrsquos journalism and media communications department partners with Student Life and Leadership Development on two events In March the two departments sponsored People in the Media a panel of print and electronic media professionals who discussed the future of the industry In April the seventh annual Cavalier Film Festival honored student filmmakers from JCCC and Johnson County and Lawrence high schools in five categories Professionals in the Kansas City film and video industry judge entries and provide feedback
JCAV the student-produced TV news and magazine program took off this year with 10 JCAV news episodes seven JCAV Campus Updates and five Cavalier sports reports ndash live cable shows of sports events JCAV students won five 2010 Kansas Association of Broadcasters student awards while competing against all public and private colleges and universities in Kansas
Working in collaboration with the journalism and media communications department is Anne Christiansen-Bullers Student Life media coordinator and adviser to the student-produced radio station ECAV and JCCCrsquos student newspaper The Campus Ledger ECAV radio had its genesis in fall 2009 and will continue this year under radio station manager Marvita Oliver
The Campus Ledger was awarded the All-Kansas Award and a record 40 individual awards at the state conference sponsored by the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press Association
Judges awarded The Campus Ledger the gold medal for overall excellence and the All-Kansas Award reflecting the best of show in the two-year-school division
The newspaperrsquos Web site received a gold medal up from last yearrsquos bronze-medal distinction
The Campus Ledger editor-in-chief for 2009-10 was Matt Galloway The online editor was John Young Galloway won first runner-up in the Journalist of the Year contest sponsored by Kansas Associated Collegiate Press
Ondrej Pazdirek is the Campus Ledgerrsquos editor-in-chief for 2010-11
Summer 2010 | 19
Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing (left to right) Students Mickey Belcher Jimmy Lee and Jeff Middlesworth work in a patient simulation room with Mark Foster (blue lab coat) adjunct assistant professor nursing
Helping a patient or family member during a difficult time is the
primary satisfaction of being a nurse according to male nurses and male nursing students interviewed for this story
There are also practical reasons for being a nurse ndash the potential for good wages plentiful jobs and career diversity
So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
Jane Zaccardi director practical nursing and health occupations JCCC says the eulogized Florence Nightingale may be the reason Prior to the Crimean War men provided care in hospitals and battlefields and women in the home Nightingale brought the profession to women and subtly the job switched from one for men to one for women
JCCC in conjunction with Kansas Board of Regents is trying to reverse Nightingalersquos influence with two new Men in Nurses Training programs aimed at male high school students both of which were held in June The first was a nursing orientation summer camp for ninth and 10th grade students offered at no charge through grant funding The second MINT was a males-only
Certified Nurse Aide course for young men entering 11th and 12th grades Students who are employed as CNAs by a nursing facility within 12 months of the program can have their tuition reimbursed by their employer
With CNA certification students can earn a good salary and find a job right away according to Zaccardi or use the credentials to continue their education as a practical nurse then registered nurse
ldquoWe flat out donrsquot have enough nurses and we need to have men interested in the professionrdquo said Zaccardi whose statement is supported by a 2004 report from the American Nursing Association predicting 11 million job openings in the year 2020 ldquoWe are hoping through the MINT program men will select nursing as their first choice not as a career change in their 30s or 40srdquo
John McNally assistant professor nursing JCCC took exactly that career path At age 16 he got a job in his hometown hospital as what was then called an ldquoorderlyrdquo and worked part time at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center Topeka while earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Pittsburg State University
ldquoThe orderly positions now called CNA
were a convenient avenue to earn a paycheck while I was going to schoolrdquo McNally said
As an RN McNally worked at Stormont-Vail and North Kansas City Hospital earning a masterrsquos degree in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1996 In 2000 he decided to add computer skills to his reacutesumeacute and enrolled at JCCC where he moonlighted in the academic computer lab 30 hours a week When a nursing faculty position opened at JCCC he knew it was a good fit for him especially as health care technology increases
ldquoIn the hospitals where Irsquove worked there seem to be more males each yearrdquo McNally said ldquoWhile still a minority on the hospital floors men are likely to migrate to surgery radiology and technical areas My impression is that men in nursing donrsquot face any discriminationrdquo
Ed Ronnebaum assistant professor nursing JCCC echoes those sentiments
ldquoI have never faced discrimination at any timerdquo he said ldquoIt doesnrsquot matter if you are male or female as a nurse patient care is a team effortrdquo
For Ronnebaum however nursing is a career change After high school he
20 | Reconnect
served eight years of active duty as an Air Force aircraft mechanic then in the Air Guard in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm On his return Ronnebaum decided to rekindle his interest in anatomy and caring for sick people to become a nurse He started as a student nurse tech at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center Topeka earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Washburn University Topeka a masterrsquos of science in health care administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on a PhD in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City He teaches full time at JCCC and maintains his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves He has had one assignment as a critical care nurse in Iraq January through May 2007 Before entering academia he worked at KU Medical Center in medicalsurgery the burn unit and neurosurgery ICU
ldquoNursing is an exciting career and there is so much you can do with a nursing degree You can work in a hospital physicianrsquos office rehabilitation or long-term care facility nursing school or the militaryrdquo Ronnebaum said ldquoWith the growth in health care the sky is the limit for what you can do in nursingrdquo
ldquoMen balance the professionrdquo said Colleen Duggan JCCC nursing professor ldquoHaving men and women on the team makes for better collaboration on health care decisionsrdquo
Wayne Deines adjunct associate professor has a dual appointment with St Lukersquos South Hospital and JCCC He teaches JCCC students in clinicals two days a week at the hospital and one day a week at JCCC As an RN-III at St Lukersquos he works in the cardiovascular recovery unit Deines also came to nursing circuitously working as an EMT with the Consolidated Fire District 2 (Prairie Village) and paramedic with Johnson County Med-Act then earning his bachelorrsquos in nursing from KU School of Nursing A nurse for 18 years he worked in the military eight years and at St Lukersquos South for 10 Deines encourages men to enter nursing In fact his son is an operating room nurse at Childrenrsquos Mercy Hospital Kansas City Mo
JCCC has five male nursing faculty two full-time Ronnebaum and McNally and three part-time Deines Mark Foster and Kureo Ohta Eight male students graduated this spring out of a class of 71 In the practical nurse program there is one male adjunct faculty and three males out of 37 in the evening program due to graduate in December
JCCCrsquos male nursing students are gravitating to critical care upon graduation
ldquoGuys like critical care ndash ICU trauma and surgery I donrsquot know what thatrsquos all about but it seems to be naturalrdquo said student DJ Klinge
Students reiterate the fact that they feel no discrimination as males Sometimes an obstetrics patient prefers a female nurse but they donrsquot take offense They see it as a personal preference
ldquoYou have to be secure with yourself when you are a male nurserdquo said Jimmy Greenlee student
ldquoTwenty years ago guys in their 20s wouldnrsquot have thought about nursing as a career choice When people ask me if I am going to be a nurse I say lsquoAbsolutely There is nothing wrong with thatrsquordquo said Matt Munden who was determined to finish nursing school despite being readmitted to the RN program after a tour of duty in Iraq
Almost unanimously male faculty and students wish they had been introduced
Student Matt Munden assesses a heart rhythm under the instruction of Mark Foster (left) adjunct assistant professor nursing
to nursing as a career option earlier in life They recommend earning a CNA (a prerequisite to JCCCrsquos RN program) and working with patients before committing to the RN program
ldquoI got my CNA and really enjoyed it You help people who are truly dependent on you The CNA class pushed me into applying for nursing schoolrdquo said Jeff Middlesworth
ldquoJust getting your CNA lets you know if you are cut out for the job It lets you know whether you have the stomach for nursing or not and you learn rapport with patientsrdquo Greenlee said
So what would these young men say to other men thinking about a nursing career
ldquoLook into it and get your CNA If you have your head on straight and you are looking for a good career path I think it is well worth itrdquo Munden said ldquoIt was one of those things I didnrsquot really look at at first But this is the right decision for merdquo
ldquoEven in the recession the jobs in health care and nursing are still growingrdquo Middlesworth said
Greenlee says ldquoabsolutelyrdquo he is glad to have made the decision to be a nurse
ldquoI am not shy about being a male nurserdquo he said ldquoI am proud of itrdquo
Summer 2010 | 21
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
18 JCCC launches Achieving the Dream JCCC is the first and only school in Kansas to join Achieving the Dream Community Colleges Count a national initiative to help more community college students succeed particularly low-income students and students of color
19 Journalism student media show news sense The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism and media communications department
20 Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
22 Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits to support 31 scholarships and programs
24 New dental hygiene clinic opens New space and the latest technology put smiles on the faces of students staff and clients
26 PSTC offers classes by top law enforcement professionals The big winner in this program is the safety of citizens
27 JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive graphic design This young breed of graphic design professionals are the ones who are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
Back Cover Letrsquos Reconnect
Summer 2010 | 3
Calendar Save the Date
Sept 1 Polsky Series ndash Whatrsquos the Outlook for 2011 and Beyond ndash Bright Cloudy or Dark with Peter Newman 730 pm Free Bring family and friends Doors open at 7 pm
Sept 10 Takaacutecs Quartet Grammy-winning string quartet
Sept 11 American Voices Songs of Our Nation Larry Gatlin Crystal Gayle Andy Cooney
Sept 14 JCCC Golf Tournament ndash Individual player Falcon Ridge Golf Course Warm-up at 830 am and 10 am shotgun start Includes golf golf cart with GPS range balls two non-alcoholic drinks and box lunch Your purchase confirmation is your registration confirmation Visit wwwjcccedufoundationonline
Sept 25 The ldquoStill Unforgettablerdquo Natalie Cole 20th anniversary celebration
Sept 30 Jack Hannarsquos Into the Wild Live presented by Nationwide Insurance 7 pm
Oct 1-3 9-11 Closer Than Ever ndash JCCC Academic Theatre 730 pm Black Box Theatre Free
Oct 16 Robert McDuffie violin soloist and the Venice Baroque Orchestra The Seasons Project featuring a world-premiere tour of a Philip Glass composition a PAS co-commission
Oct 20 Michael Bolton singer-songwriter 730 pm
Oct 22-23 Capitol Steps political comedy troupe
Oct 29-30 Quixotic Fusion Lux Esalare Kansas City ensemble of musicians dancers aerialists
Nov 5 DRUMLine Live created by the music team behind the hit movie Drumline
Nov 6 beatlegras bluegrass arrangements of Beatles tunes by a fab three Polsky Theatre
Nov 12 Jigu Thunder Drums of China a world-class company of drummers percussionists and musicians steeped in the culture of Shanxi province
Nov 13 Some Enchanted Evening gala fundraiser honoring David Wysong as Johnson Countian of the Year
Nov 20 Naturally 7 award-winning septet with a distinct a cappella style called ldquovocal playrdquo
4 | reconnect
Performing Arts Series at JCCC announces 20th anniversary season
The ldquoStill Unforgettablerdquo Natalie Cole 20th anniversary celebration Sept 25 2010
Johnson County
Community College
dedicated its Cultural
Education Center on
Oct 3 1990 and offered
its first season in spring
1991 For 20 years the
Performing Arts Series at
JCCC has consistently
offered quality programming
True to tradition another
exceptional season unfolds
Emily Behrmann general
manager the Performing Arts
Series at JCCC invites you to
attend a 20th anniversary
celebration with eight-time
Grammy Award-winner
Natalie Cole on Sept 25 plus
a season of cutting-edge
performances celebrity
names diverse cultures dance
and music
Summer 2010 | 5
Tickets The Performing Arts Series at JCCC is using its anniversary year to simplify ndash listing season performances in chronological order with no sub-series of dance classics center stage family or special events Patrons can create their own package of any five or more performances from a selection of 22 to receive a ldquosubscriberrdquo discount ldquoFriendsrdquo members receive an additional 5 percent discount Call the PAS box office at 913-469-4445 or visit wwwjccceduTheSeries for detailed artist information
The season is listed chronologically Shows begin at 8 pm in Yardley Hall of the Carlsen Center unless otherwise noted
Takaacutecs Quartet Grammy-winning string quartet bull Sept 10 2010
American Voices Songs of Our Nation Larry Gatlin Crystal Gayle Andy Cooney Sept 11 2010
The ldquoStill Unforgettablerdquo Natalie Cole 20th anniversary celebration Sept 25 2010
Jack Hannarsquos Into the Wild Live presented by Nationwide Insurance 7 pm bull Sept 30 2010
Robert McDuffie violin soloist and the Venice Baroque Orchestra The Seasons Project featuring a world premiere tour of a Philip Glass composition a PAS co-commission Oct 16 2010
Michael Bolton singer-songwriter 730 pm bull Oct 20 2010
Capitol Steps political comedy troupe Oct 22-23 2010
Quixotic Fusion Lux Esalare Kansas City ensemble of musicians dancers aerialists Oct 29-30 2010
DRUMLine Live created by the music team behind the hit movie Drumline Nov 5 2010
beatlegras bluegrass arrangements of Beatles tunes by a fab three Polsky Theatre bull Nov 6 2010
Leann Rimes Just Added 7 pm Nov 14 2010
6 | Reconnect
Jigu Thunder
Drums of
China a world-class company of drummers percussionists and musicians steeped in the culture of Shanxi province Nov 12 2010
Naturally 7 award-winning septet with a distinct a cappella style called ldquovocal playrdquo Nov 20 2010
Christmas Bells Are Swinginrsquo Boston Brass and the Brass All-Stars Big Band play holiday selections arranged by jazz legend Stan Kenton bull Dec 3 2010
Lar Lubovitch Dance Company internationally renowned modern dance Jan 29 2011
The Hot Club of San Francisco Gypsy jazz in Silent Surrealism Polsky Theatre bull Feb 4 2011
An Evening
with Martin
Short starring the legendary comedian film star and SNL alumnus Feb 12 2011
Vienna Boys
Choir with a repertoire encompassing Austrian folk songs and waltzes classical masterpieces pop songs songs from childrenrsquos operas and medieval chants Feb 26 2011
Opole Philharmonic of Poland with soprano Iwona Sobotka light classics by Johann Strauss Jr and friends March 4 2011
Hot Tuna Blues guitarists Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane fame blues-harp player Charlie Musselwhite and country-and-bluegrass artist Jim Lauderdale March 5 2011
Janis Ian singer guitarist songwriter (At Seventeen) Polsky Theatre bull March 12 2011
The Joffrey Ballet Chicago-based and world-renowned April 2 2011
Beacutela Fleck banjo Zakir Hussain tablapercussion and Edgar Meyer bass April 16 2011
Spamalot Broadway hit based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail 7 pm bull May 1 2011
Summer 2010 | 7
Horticulture program grows with vigor Dr Lekha Sreedhar instructs Horticultural Science students inside the greenhouse
As the lead author on scholarly articles published in journals like
Plant Science Annals of Botany and GENE Dr Lekha Sreedhar associate professor horticultural sciences has proven herself an excellent academic
But 16 years of study and research in plant sciences is only part of the reason Sreedhar has helped to make JCCCrsquos horticulture program a success in terms of quality and growing number of classes The real reason is Sreedharrsquos passion for the subject and her students Her enthusiasm is contagious
In this dayrsquos Introduction to Horticultural Science lab students work inside the Horticultural Science Centerrsquos greenhouse surrounded by a sea of plants and flowers planting six different leaf types in two different media in order to compare propagation methods Students work knowingly as they determine the composition of the planting media and look for leaves from healthy stock plants to maximize growth They are enrolled in the horticulture program with a variety of aspirations Two want to become golf course managers one is interested in environmental science possibly plant engineering another has aspirations to own a commercial greenhouse growing
plants like organic hydroponic tomatoes and there are more
Carolyn Palmer Newton worked in a greenhouse for four-and-a-half years but now wants the science background Colby Fuller Emporia already has a bachelorrsquos degree in agronomy but is working toward JCCCrsquos horticulture associate degree so he can obtain a job in landscaping
ldquoI really like this courserdquo Fuller said ldquoDr Sreedhar is an excellent teacher If anyone has a question off-topic she can answer itrdquo
Rebecca Walker-Garoutte Lenexa worked in the floral design business 28 years before enrolling at JCCC where she received an associatersquos degree in May She is the greenhouse coordinator and likes the idea that she is supporting education by caring for a large variety of plants and trees inside and outside the greenhouse dedicated to student use
ldquoI feel this is a good program with continued efforts to use the best materialsrdquo Walker-Garoutte said ldquoDr Sreedhar makes sure students receive a good science experience ndash with passionrdquo
JCCC first offered a horticulture certificate program in 2001 In 2006 a landscape technician certificate was
added and a horticultural associatersquos degree became effective fall 2007 Horticultural floral design and landscape technician entrepreneurship certificates are also offered Sreedhar was brought on board as the only full-time horticulture faculty in 2006 Four to eight adjunct faculty in various areas of expertise also teach horticulture classes including Dr Alan Stevens director K-State Research and Extension Center Olathe and JCCC adjunct associate professor landscape design
ldquoThe skills students learn at JCCC are beneficial to the industry Students receive an underlying depth of knowledge that they wouldnrsquot receive with on-the-job experiencerdquo Stevens said
Stevens says that JCCCrsquos Introduction to Horticultural Science and Plant Propagation classes use the exact same textbooks and lab manuals as K-Statersquos
Asked whether he thought a horticulture program was necessary in the suburbs Stevens said ldquoYes green space is a precious commodity in the city and suburbs and we need quality educated people to maintain it The JCCC program serves a strong and definite needrdquo
8 | Reconnect
The Horticultural Science Center which opened for classes in fall 2001 houses one classroom one lab with a laminar-flow hood and the greenhouse Space especially with a high night enrollment is at a premium
Dr Csilla Duneczky dean of sciences points to new possibilities for program growth ndash plant biotechnology plant sustainability water conservation in irrigation and CAD design applied to Landscape Design classes
According to Duneczky interest is substantial in two horticulture electives Arboriculture and Pest Control Management for which students can sit for licensure examinations in those fields after course completion
ldquoWe work with major nurseries lawn care and landscape companies florists county extension agencies and private gardens in order to serve the industryrdquo Duneczky said ldquoAll our faculty are experts in their fields The feedback from the industry is that our students are well preparedrdquo
Sreedhar networks in the community with the horticulture department at K-State and officials from the US Department of Agriculture and Kansas and Missouri Departments of Agriculture in order to provide her students with professional speakers and plum internships at local nurseries and the Johnson County Park and Recreation District She organizes field trips to places like the Loose Park Rose Garden (shersquos a member of the Kansas City Rose Society directorial board) Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens and K-State Research and Extension Center Olathe She has cultivated relationships with nurseries garden centers landscaping companies propagation facilities gardenhardware suppliers and biotech companies so students are exposed to a variety of the newest tools techniques and materials from cultivars to tissue culture media
ldquoI want this to be a solid programrdquo Sreedhar saidldquoI will do anything to help my students succeedrdquo
Sreedhar also credits her students for the programrsquos success She says her nighttime
classes are filled with people who work eight to 12 hours in a nursery before coming to class
ldquoMy students do extremely well They keep excellent data and complete well-written scientific reportsrdquo
Thatrsquos a high endorsement coming from Sreedhar who earned a bachelorrsquos degree in agriculture science and a masterrsquos degree in horticulture sciences from Kerala Agricultural University India and a masterrsquos in plant agriculture and a PhD in plant physiology from the University of Guelph Ontario Canada and completed postdoctoral research in plant biotechnology at Rutgersrsquo Biotechnology Center for Agriculture and the Environment She held the prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship for graduate studies in horticultural sciences for five years
Champion of the variety of fields open to horticulture students ndash floriculture pomology (study of fruit) olericulture (study of vegetables) viticulture nursery management greenhouse management landscape design turf management interiorscaping micropropagation and horticultural therapy ndash Sreedhar is positive that anyone who likes plant sciences can find a specialty to their liking If one doesnrsquot want to get his or her hands dirty Sreedhar will espouse micropropagation in tissue culture ndash a new trend for nurseries to mass propagateclone superior plants in vitro from small pieces of stock plant and rescue heavily infected plants Other options include landscape design hydroponics aeroponics and horticultural sales
Her enthusiasm extends from her professional to her personal life At age four she was captivated by her parentsrsquo rose garden in India Her love of flowers remains unabated She keeps lists of plantsflowers and their respective photographs that she has encountered She collects orchids and has about 300 in her home
ldquoPlants are fascinatingrdquo Sreedhar said ldquoThere is so much we know and so much we donrsquot knowrdquo
Colby Fuller and Natalie Martin set up an experiment during a leaf propagation lab
Rebecca Walker-Garoutte greenhouse coordinator earned her horticulture associatersquos degree in May
Sean Connolly has plans to become a golf course manager
Summer 2010 | 9
No debating itJCCC team is national community college champion 2009-2010 team members Sitting (left to right) Rebekah Rauckman Terri Easley (coach) Justin Stanley (assistant coach) Caitlin Breslin Andrew Salzmann Amanda Brown
Standing (left to right) Dalton Lawson Kristin Brandt Ben Cuellar Emily Umphrey Brandie Shepherd Tyler Kowalewski Sarah Elliott Cate Garmeavea Keith Alexander-Arceneaux
In the culmination of its successful year the Johnson County Community
College debate team was awarded the prestigious McClintock Award presented to the national champion community college team at the Cross-Examination Debate Association (CEDA) National Tournament which was held at the University of California-Berkeley in March
The CEDA national championship is based on the teamrsquos earned points during the entire season in competition with four-year colleges and universities as well as other community colleges
This is the first championship title for JCCC in eight years and the fourth year in a row JCCC has been in the top three in community college sweepstakes
The award caps a string of wins and high
rankings for the JCCC debate team During the 2009-2010 season the team traveled to 12 tournaments winning awards at all making seven final-round appearances and earning five tournament championships at the Vegas Invitational KCKCC Emporia State University Kansas State University and Novice Nationals
Throughout the year the JCCC debate team was consistently ranked as the top community college maintained a top 20 national ranking that includes four-year colleges since November and finished in the top 25 nationwide for the year ranking higher than schools like the University of Texas at Austin University of Michigan Georgetown and Baylor universities Dartmouth College and University of Kentucky
Research The 2009-2010 college debate topic was The United States Federal Government should substantially reduce the size of its nuclear weapons arsenal andor substantially reduce and restrict the role andor missions of its nuclear weapons arsenal Teams are required to debate both sides of an issue ndash affirmative and negative
The JCCC debate team participates in policy debate tournaments in which policy issues are debated by a team of two vs a team of two
ldquoMost people would argue that policy debate is harder than Lincoln-Douglas value debate or parliamentarian debate because it is more research intensiverdquo said debate coach Terri Easley
10 | Reconnect
Indeed team members invest hours into research practice rounds one-on-one speaking drills and tournaments Easley and assistant debate coach Justin Stanley can spend up to 14 to 16 hours a day with students during the competition season In the fall there were four-day back-to-back tournaments on consecutive weekends and travel time There is also preparation on Saturdays and Sundays where students and coaches spend from eight- to 12-hour days in extra practice rounds and conducting research
ldquoAs coaches we help prepare students with the skills and research they need for a two-hour debate But once the debate begins it is up to them to carry throughrdquo Easley said
Assets of a winning team Easley credits this yearrsquos successes to the addition of an assistant coach and the studentsrsquo determination She says the most common major among debaters is pre-law or political science but debate studentsrsquo majors vary from nursing to electrical engineering
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo Easley said
JCCC offers four sections of debate and all students enrolled in debate participate with the team Two-thirds of the current debate team is expected to return in the fall Using electronic databases books journals and law reviews students begin researching next yearrsquos topic as soon as it is announced in July
One also has to credit Easleyrsquos commitment for the teamrsquos success Easley began college as a music major but was won over to debate by a speech teacher who thought she ldquotalked fast and gave good speechesrdquo Easley earned a bachelorrsquos degree in literature from the University of Texas at Dallas and a masterrsquos in communication from Baylor University
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo
ndash Debate Coach Terri Easley
More kudos The JCCC debate team also hosts (and participates in) the most prestigious and longest-running junior-varsity national tournament in the country the National Junior Division Debate Tournament founded by retired JCCC professor Dr Dick Stine which was held this year in March
At the CEDA National Tournament at Berkeley JCCC debaters were awarded several national recognitions Emily Umphrey was awarded with the ldquoOutstanding New Competitor Awardrdquo for debaters in their first year of competition without prior debate experience who show growth and participation in the activity Caitlin Breslin and Dalton Lawson were selected to the All-American Debate Team The award is given to 30 debaters who represent the best of intercollegiate debate
Dalton Lawson
Brandie Shepherd
Summer 2010 | 11
Dobson publishes bookabout the Great Plains
Adjunct professor of history Patrick Dobsonrsquos book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains was recently published
Patrick Dobson adjunct professor of history is a bear of a man His
presence enthusiasm and stories fill a room He is a freelance writer a member of Ironworkers Local 10 in Kansas City and has completed all-but-a-dissertation toward a doctorate in 20th century US environmental history and American literature from the University of Missouri-Kansas City
Today Dobson is being interviewed about his first book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains published last year by the University of Nebraska Press The book describes Dobsonrsquos two-and-a-half-month journey from Kansas City Mo to Helena Mont in 1995 a journey Dobson says was ldquomeant to quiet his restless soulrdquo With only a backpack Dobson then a single father left his job with the engineering maintenance department at the Ritz-Carlton to chronicle the lives of ordinary people in the Great Plains
He kept a notebook and filed biweekly columns in The Pitch during his trip The
journal is the basis for his book for which he has done a round of media interviews and book signings A second book based on his river journey home is in the works
At JCCC Dobson teaches US history and Western civilization He has bachelorrsquos degrees in American history and English from UMKC and a masterrsquos degree in American history from the University of Wyoming Part skilled laborer part scholar Dobsonrsquos employment reflects his dichotomy maintenance at the Ritz four years as a full-time writer at The Pitch three years as an editor at Andrews McMeel Universal and one and one-half years of self-employment ndash hauling dirt rehabbing houses and stacking rock ndash previous to entering the UMKC doctoral program in 2004 He joined the Ironworkers Local 10 after completing his doctoral classes The one constant in his life has been writing
Dobson has now worked out an ideal plan for his PhD life ndash working as a
journeyman ironworker during the summers and teaching during the school year He believes he is a misfit traversing different universes comfortably
ldquoWhen Irsquom with the academics I feel like the dirty fingernailer at the queenrsquos banquetrdquo Dobson saidldquoWhen Irsquom with journalists they know something is not quite right about me something doesnrsquot fit Then when Irsquom with the ironworkers they know there is something about me ndash things I talk about ndash so they know Irsquove been someplace elserdquo
Fifteen years after his trek across the plains Dobson appears to have put his soul to rest He has learned he needs to be outside doing physical labor he needs to teach because he views learning as unfinished business and he needs to write
Dobsonrsquos book is available at Amazon University of Nebraska Press and the JCCC Billington Library
12 | Reconnect
JCCC offers motorcycle training Cheryl and Dennis Rogers Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors advise taking the Motorcycle Training class before the purchase of a motorcycle
After an interminable winter people are ready to feel the wind sun and
rain on their faces They are catching the bug to ride a motorcycle
As thrilling as buying a bike twisting the throttle and hitting the road are safety and a legal license come first JCCC began offering its new Motorcycle Training classes this year the first three sessions filled immediately
The course which provides 20 hours of instruction including eight classroom hours and 12 hours of range instruction is designed for the beginning motorcyclist who wants to operate his or her motorcycle safely and efficiently A Kansas Division of Vehicles certificate of completion will be issued after successfully completing the course
The three-day classes are scheduled from 6 to 10 pm Friday and 8 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday Riding and maneuvers including 17 exercises are scheduled all day Saturday and Sunday in the JCCC parking lot The lead teachers are Cheryl and Dennis Rogers
Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors who teach a maximum of 12 students per class
ldquoWe teach proper techniques for breaking turning and swervingrdquo Cheryl Rogers saidldquoLater we have had students thank us saying those techniques saved their livesrdquo
Dennis Rogers is a retired Kansas State Trooper and Cheryl is an IT worker for the State of Kansas Together they take one big (3000-mile) trip each summer having visited 40 of the 48 continental US states and ride weekends
The Rogers advocate motorcycle transportation as a way to reduce costs and enjoy the outdoors
ldquoOnly a motorcyclist knows the thrill and exhilaration a dog has when it sticks its head out the car windowrdquo Cheryl Rogers said
Bikes and helmets are provided for the class Stan and Elaine Rogers (no relations to Cheryl and Dennis Rogers) who formerly owned Midwest Motorcycle
Training Center donated nine Honda Rebel 250 CC bikes to JCCC after their training program closed
Dennis Rogers advises taking the motorcycle training program before buying a motorcycle so one people know they like riding a motorcycle and are successful at it and two they learn to ask the right questions when buying a bike ndash Will you have a passenger What size works for you Will you be riding on the street or dirt
Taking the class reduces insurance rates and increases safety About 92 percent of accident-involved motorcyclists were self-taught or learned from family and friends according to Cheryl Rogers
For more information contact Phil Wegman program director skills enhancement JCCC at 913-469-4446 or pwegmanjcccedu To register call 913-469-2323 Cost is $199
Summer 2010 | 13
Electronics buysrobot arm to develop new class
Chip Cody associate professorchair electronics demonstrates the capabilities of electronicsrsquo new robot arm
Using a $25000 Perkins grant JCCCrsquos electronics department
purchased a programmable six-degreeshyof-freedom robot arm to teach students how robots are used in industry
Faculty received training on the machine in the spring with the goal of developing an industrial robot class by fall 2010 JCCC already offers an elective Electronics 127 ndash Robots for Humans which serves as an introduction to the growing field of robotics An industrial robot class would teach students how to build program test and maintain robots in industry ndash everything from car manufacturing to automated self-checkouts
ldquoRobots are good candidates for jobs that are either too dangerous for humans or highly repetitive and monotonousrdquo said Chip Cody associate professor chair electronics ldquoRobots are accurate They do exactly what you tell them to do every time They never get tired bored or call in sickrdquo
JCCCrsquos robot features base waist shoulder elbow wrist and hand rotation ndash referred to as the six axes of freedom Weighing several hundred pounds the machine looks like a giant popcorn cart constructed with a quarter-inch steel working surface and requiring a double-wide door for access to the electronics lab
As in the Robots for Humans class students in the proposed class would learn about the robotrsquos hardware things like sensors and actuators and enough software programming language to teach the robot a task
Cody explains that programming involves coordinating the axes of motion and that can be accomplished in two ways ndash either by means of a microprocessor or by taking the robot manually through an operation and having its sensors store the action in its computer
ldquoA robot senses the outside world and based on what the sensor tells it it takes actionrdquo Cody said ldquoA robot constantly goes through a sense-react-sense loop Students work with small kits in the 127 class but this is the first time the college has had an industrial-strength machinerdquo
Interest in robots has been generated by students who have participated in high school robotics competitions such as FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen Students with those experiences want to progress from JCCCrsquos Microprocessors class to the robot class where the microprocessors serve as the robotrsquos ldquobrainrdquo
Cody says there is a demand for graduates with two-year electronic degrees to work in industry to maintain robots
ldquoRobots are here to stay Thatrsquos the wave of the futurerdquo Cody saidldquoThey may not all look like C-3P0 but they are everywhere ndash from assembly lines to NASArsquos Mars Exploration Rover Projectrdquo
The robot arm will have broad application
14 | Reconnect
Drafting goes 3-D
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting displays a 3-D object fabricated from the rapid prototype machine
Itrsquos not quite the Star Trek replicator but the new 3-D printer in the drafting
department is impressive
JCCCrsquos drafting program acquired its rapid prototype machine in spring 2009 giving advanced drafting students an opportunity to make models from 3-D computer-aided designs and beginning drafting students a way to visualize a 3-D design problem more clearly
Instead of toner the rapid prototype machine uses a cartridge filled with a
spool of plastic which is heated to a temperature of 572 degrees F and applied in a series of layers until the 3-D model is built according to a CAD design
To the unschooled eye it appears as easy as hitting ldquoprintrdquo and setting controls for resolution orientation interior makeup (solid or honeycomb) and number of copies Then appearing out of seemingly nothingness comes a plastic model The technically savvy however know that inside the printer a CAD file interfaces with a stereolithography file format in order to fabricate the curves and geometry of a physical object
The process is fun to watch although ldquorapidrdquo is a relative term A special print head sweeps across a plastic support plate applying layer after layer of heated plastic following CAD specifications Filler material is applied to negative space and dissolved by immersion in a chemical bath after part fabrication Objects created in the JCCC 3-D printer take from two to 60-plus hours to complete
According to Tom Hughes drafting chair drafting models were traditionally created by hand in a shop Time cost and ease of use are improved with the 3-D printer Hughes says the rapid prototyping has been available in the industry for years used for creating manufactured parts ndash everything from
industrial to fine arts As the 3-D printers became more affordable JCCC was able to purchase one so drafting students can see their projects emerge from the 2-D printed page to physical models
ldquoThe impact on our students is that the models clearly illustrate what they are attempting to drawrdquo Hughes said ldquoStudents learn to draft with greater confidencerdquo
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting says the 3-D printer has increased student interest in the drafting program
ldquoThe rapid prototype printer can do some pretty complex models with moving and mating parts things that would be difficult to make in a shoprdquo Feureborn said
Students in the CAD 3-D and Mechanical Desktop Inventor classes are encouraged to produce one 3-D model at the end of the semester Faculty use the model to demonstrate objects and cutaway slices for entry-level classes
Hughes foresees partnerships between drafting classes and other programs using the 3-D printers Students in Graphic Analysis have already collaborated with welding students in the manufacturing of prototype plant holders
Summer 2010 | 15
Building toward health field careers
The Olathe Health Education Center lies west of Olathe Medical Center
In the remnant of a former cornfield Johnson County Community College
and Olathe Medical Center are tilling the ground in advance of another kind of harvest ndash allied health medical professionals
Groundbreaking on the two-story 50000-square-foot Olathe Health Education Center took place Dec 3 2009 and construction began in March 2010 The center will open for classes in fall 2011
OMC donated 58 acres of land for the building and parking located between 152nd and 153rd Streets west of Olathe Medical Center Parkway JCCC will build OHEC at an anticipated cost of $15 million
The building exterior is designed using JCCC campus standard brick with options for cast stone or metal between the windows The main entrance is to the north with parking to the northwest
Similar in design to the Regnier Center OHEC features a two-story atrium and
floating staircase The first floor will contain the main lobby information desk and a 300-seat multipurpose conference room that can be divided into four areas for smaller meetings or classes
Additional first-floor spaces are allocated for general education medical office technology and other medical offerings (EKG phlebotomy pharmacy technology medical lab technology and surgical technology) to include
Three general classrooms for classes such as anatomy and physiology
One medical computer lab and one general-use computer lab
A medical office technology suite with two classrooms and a record office room for medical billing coding and transcription
One classroom for other medical offerings
Common spaces including a coffee bar and food cart
Offices for faculty and staff including security counseling and student services
The second floor is designed primarily for practical nursing health occupations (certified nurse assistant certified medication aides rehabilitation aide home health aide and IV therapy for LPNs) and dietary manager programs to include
Four health occupations classrooms with three patient care beds each
Two skills labs with eight beds each one of the two is designed to accommodate four patient simulators
Practical nursehealth occupations student success center
Two classrooms for practical nursing and other medical classes
Common spaces for study and rest breaks
Offices for faculty and staff
16 | Reconnect
A rendering of the Olathe Health Education Center is shown here
Students will have clinical education opportunities at Olathe Medical Center as well as the opportunity for professional relationships with OMC health care practitioners
Rex Hays executive director Campus Services says HMN Architects collaborated with the academic administrators in multiple meetings to fulfill the specific needs of health care programming According to Hays the building will meet LEED silver certification in recognition of environmentally responsible building practices Access to a detention basin for a storm water run-off adds to points for LEED criteria
As owner of the OHEC JCCC will provide maintenance housekeeping and security (The college owns the building but does not receive clear title until the end of the 10-year lease and after payment of all scheduled lease amounts)
ldquoWe are grateful to Olathe Medical Center for the opportunity of building a health care teaching campusrdquo said Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC presidentldquoThe
medical center is a renowned medical facility and we are proud to be partners with themrdquo
ldquoWe are extremely proud to have the Olathe Health Education Center on our campusrdquo said Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC ldquoIt has been a pleasure for our staff to work with JCCC MidAmerica Nazarene University and the Olathe School District in developing the best curriculum to teach outstanding health care providers of the futurerdquo
Students from the Olathe schools will be provided a clear pathway through JCCC and if they choose to do so on to MidAmerica Nazarene University for baccalaureate and graduate studies completion according to Dr Dana Grove JCCC executive vice president educational planning and development chief operating officer
ldquoUltimately the beneficiary of the new OHEC is the community who will be served by an increase in the number of health care providers and the number of allied health programsrdquo Grove said
Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC and Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC president listen to a speaker at the Dec 3 groundbreaking for OHEC
Summer 2010 | 17
JCCC launches Achieving the Dream
Drs James Tschechtelin and Ted Wright JCCCrsquos coaches for Achieving the Dream brainstorm with Jeff Frost JCCC dean mathematics during an Achieving the Dream session of Fall 2009 Professional Development Days
Johnson County Community College is the first and only school in Kansas
to join Achieving the Dream Community Colleges Count a national initiative to help more community college students succeed particularly low-income students and students of color
JCCC is one of 102 institutions ndash 98 colleges and four universities ndash in 22 states to participate in Achieving the Dream which helps participating colleges implement strategies designed to help more students earn degrees complete certificates or transfer to other institutions to continue their studies The initiative emphasizes building a culture of evidence in which colleges use data to identify effective practices improve student success rates and close achievement gaps
The Lumina Foundation for Education which funds Achieving the Dream has a goal to raise the proportion of the US adult population who earn high-quality college degrees to 60 percent by 2025 an increase of 23 million graduates above current rates according to Dr Marilyn Rhinehart executive vice president Instruction JCCC Currently approximately 39 percent of American
adults complete a two- or four-year degree Each college makes a two-year commitment to focus its efforts on closing performance gaps among students in targeted populations
ldquoAt JCCC our work with Achieving the Dream will help us enhance the experience of students in developmental educationrdquo said Jason Kovac executive director of Academic Initiatives and Achieving the Dream core team leader ldquoThe goal will be to connect more people with college-level coursework and help more students reach their educational goals Ultimately this has a huge effect on our community ndash increased wages and better quality of life for our graduates and more skilled workers for regional employers This will be a key driver for college and community prosperity in the coming yearsrdquo
Core team members are Rhinehart team co-chair Terry Calaway JCCC president and team co-chair Jeff Frost dean mathematics Larry Reynolds dean Communications Beth Gulley assistant professor English Bill Robinson associate professor mathematics Mindy Manes administrative assistant
Corporate Outreach and Strategic Partnerships Learner Engagement and the Center for Sustainability Jason Kovac executive director Academic Initiatives Rick Moehring dean Learner Engagement Dr Ralph Juhnke director Institutional Research Paul Kyle dean Student Services Pam Vassar assistant dean Student Life and Leadership Development and Wendy Farwell counselor JCCCrsquos first step is to gather data to determine which student groups are less successful than others and which high-enrollment courses have the lowest success rates
ldquoAchieving the Dream really requires us to use data to focus on measurable outcomes and be open and forthright about current performancerdquo Juhnke said
While Achieving the Dream is about data Rhinehart says that every number represents a person
ldquoEvery piece of data has a story that can help us understand how we can make the greatest difference to a student We need to learn how we can take down barriers to student success and give students the courage and confidence to succeedrdquo Rhinehart said
18 | Reconnect
Journalism student media show news sense
JCCC journalism students show off a few of their many awards at the Headline Award ceremony in April 2010
The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism
and media communications department New video courses Advanced Video Production and Advanced Broadcast Performance were introduced as well as Digital Photojournalism designed for the multimedia needs of todayrsquos journalists The departmentrsquos foundation course Mass Media and Society became a general education elective for humanities credit in the spring 2010 semester for each of the collegersquos associatersquos degree programs
This past academic year more than 300 students completed classes in the journalism and media communications department and 10 students received scholarship money JCCC also continues to offer the largest media internship program in the Kansas City metro area providing students the opportunity to work in a professional environment
Beginning in fall 2010 students will be able to earn college credit with Basic Video Production in both the Blue Valley and Olathe high schools as part of JCCCrsquos College Now program
The departmentrsquos faculty includes two full-time professors Mark Raduziner department chair and Greg Harrell and adjunct faculty Gretchen Thum Julie Haas Joe Petrie Molly Baumgardner Corbin
Crable Joel Nichols and Mary Schulte
2010 was the seventh year for the Headline Award honoring local journalists whose example serves as an inspiration to student journalists at JCCC This yearrsquos honoree was Steve Kraske political correspondent for The Kansas City Star and host of Up to Date on KCURshyFM Kansas Cityrsquos public radio station
JCCCrsquos journalism and media communications department partners with Student Life and Leadership Development on two events In March the two departments sponsored People in the Media a panel of print and electronic media professionals who discussed the future of the industry In April the seventh annual Cavalier Film Festival honored student filmmakers from JCCC and Johnson County and Lawrence high schools in five categories Professionals in the Kansas City film and video industry judge entries and provide feedback
JCAV the student-produced TV news and magazine program took off this year with 10 JCAV news episodes seven JCAV Campus Updates and five Cavalier sports reports ndash live cable shows of sports events JCAV students won five 2010 Kansas Association of Broadcasters student awards while competing against all public and private colleges and universities in Kansas
Working in collaboration with the journalism and media communications department is Anne Christiansen-Bullers Student Life media coordinator and adviser to the student-produced radio station ECAV and JCCCrsquos student newspaper The Campus Ledger ECAV radio had its genesis in fall 2009 and will continue this year under radio station manager Marvita Oliver
The Campus Ledger was awarded the All-Kansas Award and a record 40 individual awards at the state conference sponsored by the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press Association
Judges awarded The Campus Ledger the gold medal for overall excellence and the All-Kansas Award reflecting the best of show in the two-year-school division
The newspaperrsquos Web site received a gold medal up from last yearrsquos bronze-medal distinction
The Campus Ledger editor-in-chief for 2009-10 was Matt Galloway The online editor was John Young Galloway won first runner-up in the Journalist of the Year contest sponsored by Kansas Associated Collegiate Press
Ondrej Pazdirek is the Campus Ledgerrsquos editor-in-chief for 2010-11
Summer 2010 | 19
Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing (left to right) Students Mickey Belcher Jimmy Lee and Jeff Middlesworth work in a patient simulation room with Mark Foster (blue lab coat) adjunct assistant professor nursing
Helping a patient or family member during a difficult time is the
primary satisfaction of being a nurse according to male nurses and male nursing students interviewed for this story
There are also practical reasons for being a nurse ndash the potential for good wages plentiful jobs and career diversity
So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
Jane Zaccardi director practical nursing and health occupations JCCC says the eulogized Florence Nightingale may be the reason Prior to the Crimean War men provided care in hospitals and battlefields and women in the home Nightingale brought the profession to women and subtly the job switched from one for men to one for women
JCCC in conjunction with Kansas Board of Regents is trying to reverse Nightingalersquos influence with two new Men in Nurses Training programs aimed at male high school students both of which were held in June The first was a nursing orientation summer camp for ninth and 10th grade students offered at no charge through grant funding The second MINT was a males-only
Certified Nurse Aide course for young men entering 11th and 12th grades Students who are employed as CNAs by a nursing facility within 12 months of the program can have their tuition reimbursed by their employer
With CNA certification students can earn a good salary and find a job right away according to Zaccardi or use the credentials to continue their education as a practical nurse then registered nurse
ldquoWe flat out donrsquot have enough nurses and we need to have men interested in the professionrdquo said Zaccardi whose statement is supported by a 2004 report from the American Nursing Association predicting 11 million job openings in the year 2020 ldquoWe are hoping through the MINT program men will select nursing as their first choice not as a career change in their 30s or 40srdquo
John McNally assistant professor nursing JCCC took exactly that career path At age 16 he got a job in his hometown hospital as what was then called an ldquoorderlyrdquo and worked part time at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center Topeka while earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Pittsburg State University
ldquoThe orderly positions now called CNA
were a convenient avenue to earn a paycheck while I was going to schoolrdquo McNally said
As an RN McNally worked at Stormont-Vail and North Kansas City Hospital earning a masterrsquos degree in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1996 In 2000 he decided to add computer skills to his reacutesumeacute and enrolled at JCCC where he moonlighted in the academic computer lab 30 hours a week When a nursing faculty position opened at JCCC he knew it was a good fit for him especially as health care technology increases
ldquoIn the hospitals where Irsquove worked there seem to be more males each yearrdquo McNally said ldquoWhile still a minority on the hospital floors men are likely to migrate to surgery radiology and technical areas My impression is that men in nursing donrsquot face any discriminationrdquo
Ed Ronnebaum assistant professor nursing JCCC echoes those sentiments
ldquoI have never faced discrimination at any timerdquo he said ldquoIt doesnrsquot matter if you are male or female as a nurse patient care is a team effortrdquo
For Ronnebaum however nursing is a career change After high school he
20 | Reconnect
served eight years of active duty as an Air Force aircraft mechanic then in the Air Guard in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm On his return Ronnebaum decided to rekindle his interest in anatomy and caring for sick people to become a nurse He started as a student nurse tech at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center Topeka earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Washburn University Topeka a masterrsquos of science in health care administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on a PhD in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City He teaches full time at JCCC and maintains his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves He has had one assignment as a critical care nurse in Iraq January through May 2007 Before entering academia he worked at KU Medical Center in medicalsurgery the burn unit and neurosurgery ICU
ldquoNursing is an exciting career and there is so much you can do with a nursing degree You can work in a hospital physicianrsquos office rehabilitation or long-term care facility nursing school or the militaryrdquo Ronnebaum said ldquoWith the growth in health care the sky is the limit for what you can do in nursingrdquo
ldquoMen balance the professionrdquo said Colleen Duggan JCCC nursing professor ldquoHaving men and women on the team makes for better collaboration on health care decisionsrdquo
Wayne Deines adjunct associate professor has a dual appointment with St Lukersquos South Hospital and JCCC He teaches JCCC students in clinicals two days a week at the hospital and one day a week at JCCC As an RN-III at St Lukersquos he works in the cardiovascular recovery unit Deines also came to nursing circuitously working as an EMT with the Consolidated Fire District 2 (Prairie Village) and paramedic with Johnson County Med-Act then earning his bachelorrsquos in nursing from KU School of Nursing A nurse for 18 years he worked in the military eight years and at St Lukersquos South for 10 Deines encourages men to enter nursing In fact his son is an operating room nurse at Childrenrsquos Mercy Hospital Kansas City Mo
JCCC has five male nursing faculty two full-time Ronnebaum and McNally and three part-time Deines Mark Foster and Kureo Ohta Eight male students graduated this spring out of a class of 71 In the practical nurse program there is one male adjunct faculty and three males out of 37 in the evening program due to graduate in December
JCCCrsquos male nursing students are gravitating to critical care upon graduation
ldquoGuys like critical care ndash ICU trauma and surgery I donrsquot know what thatrsquos all about but it seems to be naturalrdquo said student DJ Klinge
Students reiterate the fact that they feel no discrimination as males Sometimes an obstetrics patient prefers a female nurse but they donrsquot take offense They see it as a personal preference
ldquoYou have to be secure with yourself when you are a male nurserdquo said Jimmy Greenlee student
ldquoTwenty years ago guys in their 20s wouldnrsquot have thought about nursing as a career choice When people ask me if I am going to be a nurse I say lsquoAbsolutely There is nothing wrong with thatrsquordquo said Matt Munden who was determined to finish nursing school despite being readmitted to the RN program after a tour of duty in Iraq
Almost unanimously male faculty and students wish they had been introduced
Student Matt Munden assesses a heart rhythm under the instruction of Mark Foster (left) adjunct assistant professor nursing
to nursing as a career option earlier in life They recommend earning a CNA (a prerequisite to JCCCrsquos RN program) and working with patients before committing to the RN program
ldquoI got my CNA and really enjoyed it You help people who are truly dependent on you The CNA class pushed me into applying for nursing schoolrdquo said Jeff Middlesworth
ldquoJust getting your CNA lets you know if you are cut out for the job It lets you know whether you have the stomach for nursing or not and you learn rapport with patientsrdquo Greenlee said
So what would these young men say to other men thinking about a nursing career
ldquoLook into it and get your CNA If you have your head on straight and you are looking for a good career path I think it is well worth itrdquo Munden said ldquoIt was one of those things I didnrsquot really look at at first But this is the right decision for merdquo
ldquoEven in the recession the jobs in health care and nursing are still growingrdquo Middlesworth said
Greenlee says ldquoabsolutelyrdquo he is glad to have made the decision to be a nurse
ldquoI am not shy about being a male nurserdquo he said ldquoI am proud of itrdquo
Summer 2010 | 21
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
4 | reconnect
Performing Arts Series at JCCC announces 20th anniversary season
The ldquoStill Unforgettablerdquo Natalie Cole 20th anniversary celebration Sept 25 2010
Johnson County
Community College
dedicated its Cultural
Education Center on
Oct 3 1990 and offered
its first season in spring
1991 For 20 years the
Performing Arts Series at
JCCC has consistently
offered quality programming
True to tradition another
exceptional season unfolds
Emily Behrmann general
manager the Performing Arts
Series at JCCC invites you to
attend a 20th anniversary
celebration with eight-time
Grammy Award-winner
Natalie Cole on Sept 25 plus
a season of cutting-edge
performances celebrity
names diverse cultures dance
and music
Summer 2010 | 5
Tickets The Performing Arts Series at JCCC is using its anniversary year to simplify ndash listing season performances in chronological order with no sub-series of dance classics center stage family or special events Patrons can create their own package of any five or more performances from a selection of 22 to receive a ldquosubscriberrdquo discount ldquoFriendsrdquo members receive an additional 5 percent discount Call the PAS box office at 913-469-4445 or visit wwwjccceduTheSeries for detailed artist information
The season is listed chronologically Shows begin at 8 pm in Yardley Hall of the Carlsen Center unless otherwise noted
Takaacutecs Quartet Grammy-winning string quartet bull Sept 10 2010
American Voices Songs of Our Nation Larry Gatlin Crystal Gayle Andy Cooney Sept 11 2010
The ldquoStill Unforgettablerdquo Natalie Cole 20th anniversary celebration Sept 25 2010
Jack Hannarsquos Into the Wild Live presented by Nationwide Insurance 7 pm bull Sept 30 2010
Robert McDuffie violin soloist and the Venice Baroque Orchestra The Seasons Project featuring a world premiere tour of a Philip Glass composition a PAS co-commission Oct 16 2010
Michael Bolton singer-songwriter 730 pm bull Oct 20 2010
Capitol Steps political comedy troupe Oct 22-23 2010
Quixotic Fusion Lux Esalare Kansas City ensemble of musicians dancers aerialists Oct 29-30 2010
DRUMLine Live created by the music team behind the hit movie Drumline Nov 5 2010
beatlegras bluegrass arrangements of Beatles tunes by a fab three Polsky Theatre bull Nov 6 2010
Leann Rimes Just Added 7 pm Nov 14 2010
6 | Reconnect
Jigu Thunder
Drums of
China a world-class company of drummers percussionists and musicians steeped in the culture of Shanxi province Nov 12 2010
Naturally 7 award-winning septet with a distinct a cappella style called ldquovocal playrdquo Nov 20 2010
Christmas Bells Are Swinginrsquo Boston Brass and the Brass All-Stars Big Band play holiday selections arranged by jazz legend Stan Kenton bull Dec 3 2010
Lar Lubovitch Dance Company internationally renowned modern dance Jan 29 2011
The Hot Club of San Francisco Gypsy jazz in Silent Surrealism Polsky Theatre bull Feb 4 2011
An Evening
with Martin
Short starring the legendary comedian film star and SNL alumnus Feb 12 2011
Vienna Boys
Choir with a repertoire encompassing Austrian folk songs and waltzes classical masterpieces pop songs songs from childrenrsquos operas and medieval chants Feb 26 2011
Opole Philharmonic of Poland with soprano Iwona Sobotka light classics by Johann Strauss Jr and friends March 4 2011
Hot Tuna Blues guitarists Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane fame blues-harp player Charlie Musselwhite and country-and-bluegrass artist Jim Lauderdale March 5 2011
Janis Ian singer guitarist songwriter (At Seventeen) Polsky Theatre bull March 12 2011
The Joffrey Ballet Chicago-based and world-renowned April 2 2011
Beacutela Fleck banjo Zakir Hussain tablapercussion and Edgar Meyer bass April 16 2011
Spamalot Broadway hit based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail 7 pm bull May 1 2011
Summer 2010 | 7
Horticulture program grows with vigor Dr Lekha Sreedhar instructs Horticultural Science students inside the greenhouse
As the lead author on scholarly articles published in journals like
Plant Science Annals of Botany and GENE Dr Lekha Sreedhar associate professor horticultural sciences has proven herself an excellent academic
But 16 years of study and research in plant sciences is only part of the reason Sreedhar has helped to make JCCCrsquos horticulture program a success in terms of quality and growing number of classes The real reason is Sreedharrsquos passion for the subject and her students Her enthusiasm is contagious
In this dayrsquos Introduction to Horticultural Science lab students work inside the Horticultural Science Centerrsquos greenhouse surrounded by a sea of plants and flowers planting six different leaf types in two different media in order to compare propagation methods Students work knowingly as they determine the composition of the planting media and look for leaves from healthy stock plants to maximize growth They are enrolled in the horticulture program with a variety of aspirations Two want to become golf course managers one is interested in environmental science possibly plant engineering another has aspirations to own a commercial greenhouse growing
plants like organic hydroponic tomatoes and there are more
Carolyn Palmer Newton worked in a greenhouse for four-and-a-half years but now wants the science background Colby Fuller Emporia already has a bachelorrsquos degree in agronomy but is working toward JCCCrsquos horticulture associate degree so he can obtain a job in landscaping
ldquoI really like this courserdquo Fuller said ldquoDr Sreedhar is an excellent teacher If anyone has a question off-topic she can answer itrdquo
Rebecca Walker-Garoutte Lenexa worked in the floral design business 28 years before enrolling at JCCC where she received an associatersquos degree in May She is the greenhouse coordinator and likes the idea that she is supporting education by caring for a large variety of plants and trees inside and outside the greenhouse dedicated to student use
ldquoI feel this is a good program with continued efforts to use the best materialsrdquo Walker-Garoutte said ldquoDr Sreedhar makes sure students receive a good science experience ndash with passionrdquo
JCCC first offered a horticulture certificate program in 2001 In 2006 a landscape technician certificate was
added and a horticultural associatersquos degree became effective fall 2007 Horticultural floral design and landscape technician entrepreneurship certificates are also offered Sreedhar was brought on board as the only full-time horticulture faculty in 2006 Four to eight adjunct faculty in various areas of expertise also teach horticulture classes including Dr Alan Stevens director K-State Research and Extension Center Olathe and JCCC adjunct associate professor landscape design
ldquoThe skills students learn at JCCC are beneficial to the industry Students receive an underlying depth of knowledge that they wouldnrsquot receive with on-the-job experiencerdquo Stevens said
Stevens says that JCCCrsquos Introduction to Horticultural Science and Plant Propagation classes use the exact same textbooks and lab manuals as K-Statersquos
Asked whether he thought a horticulture program was necessary in the suburbs Stevens said ldquoYes green space is a precious commodity in the city and suburbs and we need quality educated people to maintain it The JCCC program serves a strong and definite needrdquo
8 | Reconnect
The Horticultural Science Center which opened for classes in fall 2001 houses one classroom one lab with a laminar-flow hood and the greenhouse Space especially with a high night enrollment is at a premium
Dr Csilla Duneczky dean of sciences points to new possibilities for program growth ndash plant biotechnology plant sustainability water conservation in irrigation and CAD design applied to Landscape Design classes
According to Duneczky interest is substantial in two horticulture electives Arboriculture and Pest Control Management for which students can sit for licensure examinations in those fields after course completion
ldquoWe work with major nurseries lawn care and landscape companies florists county extension agencies and private gardens in order to serve the industryrdquo Duneczky said ldquoAll our faculty are experts in their fields The feedback from the industry is that our students are well preparedrdquo
Sreedhar networks in the community with the horticulture department at K-State and officials from the US Department of Agriculture and Kansas and Missouri Departments of Agriculture in order to provide her students with professional speakers and plum internships at local nurseries and the Johnson County Park and Recreation District She organizes field trips to places like the Loose Park Rose Garden (shersquos a member of the Kansas City Rose Society directorial board) Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens and K-State Research and Extension Center Olathe She has cultivated relationships with nurseries garden centers landscaping companies propagation facilities gardenhardware suppliers and biotech companies so students are exposed to a variety of the newest tools techniques and materials from cultivars to tissue culture media
ldquoI want this to be a solid programrdquo Sreedhar saidldquoI will do anything to help my students succeedrdquo
Sreedhar also credits her students for the programrsquos success She says her nighttime
classes are filled with people who work eight to 12 hours in a nursery before coming to class
ldquoMy students do extremely well They keep excellent data and complete well-written scientific reportsrdquo
Thatrsquos a high endorsement coming from Sreedhar who earned a bachelorrsquos degree in agriculture science and a masterrsquos degree in horticulture sciences from Kerala Agricultural University India and a masterrsquos in plant agriculture and a PhD in plant physiology from the University of Guelph Ontario Canada and completed postdoctoral research in plant biotechnology at Rutgersrsquo Biotechnology Center for Agriculture and the Environment She held the prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship for graduate studies in horticultural sciences for five years
Champion of the variety of fields open to horticulture students ndash floriculture pomology (study of fruit) olericulture (study of vegetables) viticulture nursery management greenhouse management landscape design turf management interiorscaping micropropagation and horticultural therapy ndash Sreedhar is positive that anyone who likes plant sciences can find a specialty to their liking If one doesnrsquot want to get his or her hands dirty Sreedhar will espouse micropropagation in tissue culture ndash a new trend for nurseries to mass propagateclone superior plants in vitro from small pieces of stock plant and rescue heavily infected plants Other options include landscape design hydroponics aeroponics and horticultural sales
Her enthusiasm extends from her professional to her personal life At age four she was captivated by her parentsrsquo rose garden in India Her love of flowers remains unabated She keeps lists of plantsflowers and their respective photographs that she has encountered She collects orchids and has about 300 in her home
ldquoPlants are fascinatingrdquo Sreedhar said ldquoThere is so much we know and so much we donrsquot knowrdquo
Colby Fuller and Natalie Martin set up an experiment during a leaf propagation lab
Rebecca Walker-Garoutte greenhouse coordinator earned her horticulture associatersquos degree in May
Sean Connolly has plans to become a golf course manager
Summer 2010 | 9
No debating itJCCC team is national community college champion 2009-2010 team members Sitting (left to right) Rebekah Rauckman Terri Easley (coach) Justin Stanley (assistant coach) Caitlin Breslin Andrew Salzmann Amanda Brown
Standing (left to right) Dalton Lawson Kristin Brandt Ben Cuellar Emily Umphrey Brandie Shepherd Tyler Kowalewski Sarah Elliott Cate Garmeavea Keith Alexander-Arceneaux
In the culmination of its successful year the Johnson County Community
College debate team was awarded the prestigious McClintock Award presented to the national champion community college team at the Cross-Examination Debate Association (CEDA) National Tournament which was held at the University of California-Berkeley in March
The CEDA national championship is based on the teamrsquos earned points during the entire season in competition with four-year colleges and universities as well as other community colleges
This is the first championship title for JCCC in eight years and the fourth year in a row JCCC has been in the top three in community college sweepstakes
The award caps a string of wins and high
rankings for the JCCC debate team During the 2009-2010 season the team traveled to 12 tournaments winning awards at all making seven final-round appearances and earning five tournament championships at the Vegas Invitational KCKCC Emporia State University Kansas State University and Novice Nationals
Throughout the year the JCCC debate team was consistently ranked as the top community college maintained a top 20 national ranking that includes four-year colleges since November and finished in the top 25 nationwide for the year ranking higher than schools like the University of Texas at Austin University of Michigan Georgetown and Baylor universities Dartmouth College and University of Kentucky
Research The 2009-2010 college debate topic was The United States Federal Government should substantially reduce the size of its nuclear weapons arsenal andor substantially reduce and restrict the role andor missions of its nuclear weapons arsenal Teams are required to debate both sides of an issue ndash affirmative and negative
The JCCC debate team participates in policy debate tournaments in which policy issues are debated by a team of two vs a team of two
ldquoMost people would argue that policy debate is harder than Lincoln-Douglas value debate or parliamentarian debate because it is more research intensiverdquo said debate coach Terri Easley
10 | Reconnect
Indeed team members invest hours into research practice rounds one-on-one speaking drills and tournaments Easley and assistant debate coach Justin Stanley can spend up to 14 to 16 hours a day with students during the competition season In the fall there were four-day back-to-back tournaments on consecutive weekends and travel time There is also preparation on Saturdays and Sundays where students and coaches spend from eight- to 12-hour days in extra practice rounds and conducting research
ldquoAs coaches we help prepare students with the skills and research they need for a two-hour debate But once the debate begins it is up to them to carry throughrdquo Easley said
Assets of a winning team Easley credits this yearrsquos successes to the addition of an assistant coach and the studentsrsquo determination She says the most common major among debaters is pre-law or political science but debate studentsrsquo majors vary from nursing to electrical engineering
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo Easley said
JCCC offers four sections of debate and all students enrolled in debate participate with the team Two-thirds of the current debate team is expected to return in the fall Using electronic databases books journals and law reviews students begin researching next yearrsquos topic as soon as it is announced in July
One also has to credit Easleyrsquos commitment for the teamrsquos success Easley began college as a music major but was won over to debate by a speech teacher who thought she ldquotalked fast and gave good speechesrdquo Easley earned a bachelorrsquos degree in literature from the University of Texas at Dallas and a masterrsquos in communication from Baylor University
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo
ndash Debate Coach Terri Easley
More kudos The JCCC debate team also hosts (and participates in) the most prestigious and longest-running junior-varsity national tournament in the country the National Junior Division Debate Tournament founded by retired JCCC professor Dr Dick Stine which was held this year in March
At the CEDA National Tournament at Berkeley JCCC debaters were awarded several national recognitions Emily Umphrey was awarded with the ldquoOutstanding New Competitor Awardrdquo for debaters in their first year of competition without prior debate experience who show growth and participation in the activity Caitlin Breslin and Dalton Lawson were selected to the All-American Debate Team The award is given to 30 debaters who represent the best of intercollegiate debate
Dalton Lawson
Brandie Shepherd
Summer 2010 | 11
Dobson publishes bookabout the Great Plains
Adjunct professor of history Patrick Dobsonrsquos book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains was recently published
Patrick Dobson adjunct professor of history is a bear of a man His
presence enthusiasm and stories fill a room He is a freelance writer a member of Ironworkers Local 10 in Kansas City and has completed all-but-a-dissertation toward a doctorate in 20th century US environmental history and American literature from the University of Missouri-Kansas City
Today Dobson is being interviewed about his first book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains published last year by the University of Nebraska Press The book describes Dobsonrsquos two-and-a-half-month journey from Kansas City Mo to Helena Mont in 1995 a journey Dobson says was ldquomeant to quiet his restless soulrdquo With only a backpack Dobson then a single father left his job with the engineering maintenance department at the Ritz-Carlton to chronicle the lives of ordinary people in the Great Plains
He kept a notebook and filed biweekly columns in The Pitch during his trip The
journal is the basis for his book for which he has done a round of media interviews and book signings A second book based on his river journey home is in the works
At JCCC Dobson teaches US history and Western civilization He has bachelorrsquos degrees in American history and English from UMKC and a masterrsquos degree in American history from the University of Wyoming Part skilled laborer part scholar Dobsonrsquos employment reflects his dichotomy maintenance at the Ritz four years as a full-time writer at The Pitch three years as an editor at Andrews McMeel Universal and one and one-half years of self-employment ndash hauling dirt rehabbing houses and stacking rock ndash previous to entering the UMKC doctoral program in 2004 He joined the Ironworkers Local 10 after completing his doctoral classes The one constant in his life has been writing
Dobson has now worked out an ideal plan for his PhD life ndash working as a
journeyman ironworker during the summers and teaching during the school year He believes he is a misfit traversing different universes comfortably
ldquoWhen Irsquom with the academics I feel like the dirty fingernailer at the queenrsquos banquetrdquo Dobson saidldquoWhen Irsquom with journalists they know something is not quite right about me something doesnrsquot fit Then when Irsquom with the ironworkers they know there is something about me ndash things I talk about ndash so they know Irsquove been someplace elserdquo
Fifteen years after his trek across the plains Dobson appears to have put his soul to rest He has learned he needs to be outside doing physical labor he needs to teach because he views learning as unfinished business and he needs to write
Dobsonrsquos book is available at Amazon University of Nebraska Press and the JCCC Billington Library
12 | Reconnect
JCCC offers motorcycle training Cheryl and Dennis Rogers Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors advise taking the Motorcycle Training class before the purchase of a motorcycle
After an interminable winter people are ready to feel the wind sun and
rain on their faces They are catching the bug to ride a motorcycle
As thrilling as buying a bike twisting the throttle and hitting the road are safety and a legal license come first JCCC began offering its new Motorcycle Training classes this year the first three sessions filled immediately
The course which provides 20 hours of instruction including eight classroom hours and 12 hours of range instruction is designed for the beginning motorcyclist who wants to operate his or her motorcycle safely and efficiently A Kansas Division of Vehicles certificate of completion will be issued after successfully completing the course
The three-day classes are scheduled from 6 to 10 pm Friday and 8 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday Riding and maneuvers including 17 exercises are scheduled all day Saturday and Sunday in the JCCC parking lot The lead teachers are Cheryl and Dennis Rogers
Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors who teach a maximum of 12 students per class
ldquoWe teach proper techniques for breaking turning and swervingrdquo Cheryl Rogers saidldquoLater we have had students thank us saying those techniques saved their livesrdquo
Dennis Rogers is a retired Kansas State Trooper and Cheryl is an IT worker for the State of Kansas Together they take one big (3000-mile) trip each summer having visited 40 of the 48 continental US states and ride weekends
The Rogers advocate motorcycle transportation as a way to reduce costs and enjoy the outdoors
ldquoOnly a motorcyclist knows the thrill and exhilaration a dog has when it sticks its head out the car windowrdquo Cheryl Rogers said
Bikes and helmets are provided for the class Stan and Elaine Rogers (no relations to Cheryl and Dennis Rogers) who formerly owned Midwest Motorcycle
Training Center donated nine Honda Rebel 250 CC bikes to JCCC after their training program closed
Dennis Rogers advises taking the motorcycle training program before buying a motorcycle so one people know they like riding a motorcycle and are successful at it and two they learn to ask the right questions when buying a bike ndash Will you have a passenger What size works for you Will you be riding on the street or dirt
Taking the class reduces insurance rates and increases safety About 92 percent of accident-involved motorcyclists were self-taught or learned from family and friends according to Cheryl Rogers
For more information contact Phil Wegman program director skills enhancement JCCC at 913-469-4446 or pwegmanjcccedu To register call 913-469-2323 Cost is $199
Summer 2010 | 13
Electronics buysrobot arm to develop new class
Chip Cody associate professorchair electronics demonstrates the capabilities of electronicsrsquo new robot arm
Using a $25000 Perkins grant JCCCrsquos electronics department
purchased a programmable six-degreeshyof-freedom robot arm to teach students how robots are used in industry
Faculty received training on the machine in the spring with the goal of developing an industrial robot class by fall 2010 JCCC already offers an elective Electronics 127 ndash Robots for Humans which serves as an introduction to the growing field of robotics An industrial robot class would teach students how to build program test and maintain robots in industry ndash everything from car manufacturing to automated self-checkouts
ldquoRobots are good candidates for jobs that are either too dangerous for humans or highly repetitive and monotonousrdquo said Chip Cody associate professor chair electronics ldquoRobots are accurate They do exactly what you tell them to do every time They never get tired bored or call in sickrdquo
JCCCrsquos robot features base waist shoulder elbow wrist and hand rotation ndash referred to as the six axes of freedom Weighing several hundred pounds the machine looks like a giant popcorn cart constructed with a quarter-inch steel working surface and requiring a double-wide door for access to the electronics lab
As in the Robots for Humans class students in the proposed class would learn about the robotrsquos hardware things like sensors and actuators and enough software programming language to teach the robot a task
Cody explains that programming involves coordinating the axes of motion and that can be accomplished in two ways ndash either by means of a microprocessor or by taking the robot manually through an operation and having its sensors store the action in its computer
ldquoA robot senses the outside world and based on what the sensor tells it it takes actionrdquo Cody said ldquoA robot constantly goes through a sense-react-sense loop Students work with small kits in the 127 class but this is the first time the college has had an industrial-strength machinerdquo
Interest in robots has been generated by students who have participated in high school robotics competitions such as FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen Students with those experiences want to progress from JCCCrsquos Microprocessors class to the robot class where the microprocessors serve as the robotrsquos ldquobrainrdquo
Cody says there is a demand for graduates with two-year electronic degrees to work in industry to maintain robots
ldquoRobots are here to stay Thatrsquos the wave of the futurerdquo Cody saidldquoThey may not all look like C-3P0 but they are everywhere ndash from assembly lines to NASArsquos Mars Exploration Rover Projectrdquo
The robot arm will have broad application
14 | Reconnect
Drafting goes 3-D
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting displays a 3-D object fabricated from the rapid prototype machine
Itrsquos not quite the Star Trek replicator but the new 3-D printer in the drafting
department is impressive
JCCCrsquos drafting program acquired its rapid prototype machine in spring 2009 giving advanced drafting students an opportunity to make models from 3-D computer-aided designs and beginning drafting students a way to visualize a 3-D design problem more clearly
Instead of toner the rapid prototype machine uses a cartridge filled with a
spool of plastic which is heated to a temperature of 572 degrees F and applied in a series of layers until the 3-D model is built according to a CAD design
To the unschooled eye it appears as easy as hitting ldquoprintrdquo and setting controls for resolution orientation interior makeup (solid or honeycomb) and number of copies Then appearing out of seemingly nothingness comes a plastic model The technically savvy however know that inside the printer a CAD file interfaces with a stereolithography file format in order to fabricate the curves and geometry of a physical object
The process is fun to watch although ldquorapidrdquo is a relative term A special print head sweeps across a plastic support plate applying layer after layer of heated plastic following CAD specifications Filler material is applied to negative space and dissolved by immersion in a chemical bath after part fabrication Objects created in the JCCC 3-D printer take from two to 60-plus hours to complete
According to Tom Hughes drafting chair drafting models were traditionally created by hand in a shop Time cost and ease of use are improved with the 3-D printer Hughes says the rapid prototyping has been available in the industry for years used for creating manufactured parts ndash everything from
industrial to fine arts As the 3-D printers became more affordable JCCC was able to purchase one so drafting students can see their projects emerge from the 2-D printed page to physical models
ldquoThe impact on our students is that the models clearly illustrate what they are attempting to drawrdquo Hughes said ldquoStudents learn to draft with greater confidencerdquo
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting says the 3-D printer has increased student interest in the drafting program
ldquoThe rapid prototype printer can do some pretty complex models with moving and mating parts things that would be difficult to make in a shoprdquo Feureborn said
Students in the CAD 3-D and Mechanical Desktop Inventor classes are encouraged to produce one 3-D model at the end of the semester Faculty use the model to demonstrate objects and cutaway slices for entry-level classes
Hughes foresees partnerships between drafting classes and other programs using the 3-D printers Students in Graphic Analysis have already collaborated with welding students in the manufacturing of prototype plant holders
Summer 2010 | 15
Building toward health field careers
The Olathe Health Education Center lies west of Olathe Medical Center
In the remnant of a former cornfield Johnson County Community College
and Olathe Medical Center are tilling the ground in advance of another kind of harvest ndash allied health medical professionals
Groundbreaking on the two-story 50000-square-foot Olathe Health Education Center took place Dec 3 2009 and construction began in March 2010 The center will open for classes in fall 2011
OMC donated 58 acres of land for the building and parking located between 152nd and 153rd Streets west of Olathe Medical Center Parkway JCCC will build OHEC at an anticipated cost of $15 million
The building exterior is designed using JCCC campus standard brick with options for cast stone or metal between the windows The main entrance is to the north with parking to the northwest
Similar in design to the Regnier Center OHEC features a two-story atrium and
floating staircase The first floor will contain the main lobby information desk and a 300-seat multipurpose conference room that can be divided into four areas for smaller meetings or classes
Additional first-floor spaces are allocated for general education medical office technology and other medical offerings (EKG phlebotomy pharmacy technology medical lab technology and surgical technology) to include
Three general classrooms for classes such as anatomy and physiology
One medical computer lab and one general-use computer lab
A medical office technology suite with two classrooms and a record office room for medical billing coding and transcription
One classroom for other medical offerings
Common spaces including a coffee bar and food cart
Offices for faculty and staff including security counseling and student services
The second floor is designed primarily for practical nursing health occupations (certified nurse assistant certified medication aides rehabilitation aide home health aide and IV therapy for LPNs) and dietary manager programs to include
Four health occupations classrooms with three patient care beds each
Two skills labs with eight beds each one of the two is designed to accommodate four patient simulators
Practical nursehealth occupations student success center
Two classrooms for practical nursing and other medical classes
Common spaces for study and rest breaks
Offices for faculty and staff
16 | Reconnect
A rendering of the Olathe Health Education Center is shown here
Students will have clinical education opportunities at Olathe Medical Center as well as the opportunity for professional relationships with OMC health care practitioners
Rex Hays executive director Campus Services says HMN Architects collaborated with the academic administrators in multiple meetings to fulfill the specific needs of health care programming According to Hays the building will meet LEED silver certification in recognition of environmentally responsible building practices Access to a detention basin for a storm water run-off adds to points for LEED criteria
As owner of the OHEC JCCC will provide maintenance housekeeping and security (The college owns the building but does not receive clear title until the end of the 10-year lease and after payment of all scheduled lease amounts)
ldquoWe are grateful to Olathe Medical Center for the opportunity of building a health care teaching campusrdquo said Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC presidentldquoThe
medical center is a renowned medical facility and we are proud to be partners with themrdquo
ldquoWe are extremely proud to have the Olathe Health Education Center on our campusrdquo said Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC ldquoIt has been a pleasure for our staff to work with JCCC MidAmerica Nazarene University and the Olathe School District in developing the best curriculum to teach outstanding health care providers of the futurerdquo
Students from the Olathe schools will be provided a clear pathway through JCCC and if they choose to do so on to MidAmerica Nazarene University for baccalaureate and graduate studies completion according to Dr Dana Grove JCCC executive vice president educational planning and development chief operating officer
ldquoUltimately the beneficiary of the new OHEC is the community who will be served by an increase in the number of health care providers and the number of allied health programsrdquo Grove said
Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC and Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC president listen to a speaker at the Dec 3 groundbreaking for OHEC
Summer 2010 | 17
JCCC launches Achieving the Dream
Drs James Tschechtelin and Ted Wright JCCCrsquos coaches for Achieving the Dream brainstorm with Jeff Frost JCCC dean mathematics during an Achieving the Dream session of Fall 2009 Professional Development Days
Johnson County Community College is the first and only school in Kansas
to join Achieving the Dream Community Colleges Count a national initiative to help more community college students succeed particularly low-income students and students of color
JCCC is one of 102 institutions ndash 98 colleges and four universities ndash in 22 states to participate in Achieving the Dream which helps participating colleges implement strategies designed to help more students earn degrees complete certificates or transfer to other institutions to continue their studies The initiative emphasizes building a culture of evidence in which colleges use data to identify effective practices improve student success rates and close achievement gaps
The Lumina Foundation for Education which funds Achieving the Dream has a goal to raise the proportion of the US adult population who earn high-quality college degrees to 60 percent by 2025 an increase of 23 million graduates above current rates according to Dr Marilyn Rhinehart executive vice president Instruction JCCC Currently approximately 39 percent of American
adults complete a two- or four-year degree Each college makes a two-year commitment to focus its efforts on closing performance gaps among students in targeted populations
ldquoAt JCCC our work with Achieving the Dream will help us enhance the experience of students in developmental educationrdquo said Jason Kovac executive director of Academic Initiatives and Achieving the Dream core team leader ldquoThe goal will be to connect more people with college-level coursework and help more students reach their educational goals Ultimately this has a huge effect on our community ndash increased wages and better quality of life for our graduates and more skilled workers for regional employers This will be a key driver for college and community prosperity in the coming yearsrdquo
Core team members are Rhinehart team co-chair Terry Calaway JCCC president and team co-chair Jeff Frost dean mathematics Larry Reynolds dean Communications Beth Gulley assistant professor English Bill Robinson associate professor mathematics Mindy Manes administrative assistant
Corporate Outreach and Strategic Partnerships Learner Engagement and the Center for Sustainability Jason Kovac executive director Academic Initiatives Rick Moehring dean Learner Engagement Dr Ralph Juhnke director Institutional Research Paul Kyle dean Student Services Pam Vassar assistant dean Student Life and Leadership Development and Wendy Farwell counselor JCCCrsquos first step is to gather data to determine which student groups are less successful than others and which high-enrollment courses have the lowest success rates
ldquoAchieving the Dream really requires us to use data to focus on measurable outcomes and be open and forthright about current performancerdquo Juhnke said
While Achieving the Dream is about data Rhinehart says that every number represents a person
ldquoEvery piece of data has a story that can help us understand how we can make the greatest difference to a student We need to learn how we can take down barriers to student success and give students the courage and confidence to succeedrdquo Rhinehart said
18 | Reconnect
Journalism student media show news sense
JCCC journalism students show off a few of their many awards at the Headline Award ceremony in April 2010
The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism
and media communications department New video courses Advanced Video Production and Advanced Broadcast Performance were introduced as well as Digital Photojournalism designed for the multimedia needs of todayrsquos journalists The departmentrsquos foundation course Mass Media and Society became a general education elective for humanities credit in the spring 2010 semester for each of the collegersquos associatersquos degree programs
This past academic year more than 300 students completed classes in the journalism and media communications department and 10 students received scholarship money JCCC also continues to offer the largest media internship program in the Kansas City metro area providing students the opportunity to work in a professional environment
Beginning in fall 2010 students will be able to earn college credit with Basic Video Production in both the Blue Valley and Olathe high schools as part of JCCCrsquos College Now program
The departmentrsquos faculty includes two full-time professors Mark Raduziner department chair and Greg Harrell and adjunct faculty Gretchen Thum Julie Haas Joe Petrie Molly Baumgardner Corbin
Crable Joel Nichols and Mary Schulte
2010 was the seventh year for the Headline Award honoring local journalists whose example serves as an inspiration to student journalists at JCCC This yearrsquos honoree was Steve Kraske political correspondent for The Kansas City Star and host of Up to Date on KCURshyFM Kansas Cityrsquos public radio station
JCCCrsquos journalism and media communications department partners with Student Life and Leadership Development on two events In March the two departments sponsored People in the Media a panel of print and electronic media professionals who discussed the future of the industry In April the seventh annual Cavalier Film Festival honored student filmmakers from JCCC and Johnson County and Lawrence high schools in five categories Professionals in the Kansas City film and video industry judge entries and provide feedback
JCAV the student-produced TV news and magazine program took off this year with 10 JCAV news episodes seven JCAV Campus Updates and five Cavalier sports reports ndash live cable shows of sports events JCAV students won five 2010 Kansas Association of Broadcasters student awards while competing against all public and private colleges and universities in Kansas
Working in collaboration with the journalism and media communications department is Anne Christiansen-Bullers Student Life media coordinator and adviser to the student-produced radio station ECAV and JCCCrsquos student newspaper The Campus Ledger ECAV radio had its genesis in fall 2009 and will continue this year under radio station manager Marvita Oliver
The Campus Ledger was awarded the All-Kansas Award and a record 40 individual awards at the state conference sponsored by the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press Association
Judges awarded The Campus Ledger the gold medal for overall excellence and the All-Kansas Award reflecting the best of show in the two-year-school division
The newspaperrsquos Web site received a gold medal up from last yearrsquos bronze-medal distinction
The Campus Ledger editor-in-chief for 2009-10 was Matt Galloway The online editor was John Young Galloway won first runner-up in the Journalist of the Year contest sponsored by Kansas Associated Collegiate Press
Ondrej Pazdirek is the Campus Ledgerrsquos editor-in-chief for 2010-11
Summer 2010 | 19
Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing (left to right) Students Mickey Belcher Jimmy Lee and Jeff Middlesworth work in a patient simulation room with Mark Foster (blue lab coat) adjunct assistant professor nursing
Helping a patient or family member during a difficult time is the
primary satisfaction of being a nurse according to male nurses and male nursing students interviewed for this story
There are also practical reasons for being a nurse ndash the potential for good wages plentiful jobs and career diversity
So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
Jane Zaccardi director practical nursing and health occupations JCCC says the eulogized Florence Nightingale may be the reason Prior to the Crimean War men provided care in hospitals and battlefields and women in the home Nightingale brought the profession to women and subtly the job switched from one for men to one for women
JCCC in conjunction with Kansas Board of Regents is trying to reverse Nightingalersquos influence with two new Men in Nurses Training programs aimed at male high school students both of which were held in June The first was a nursing orientation summer camp for ninth and 10th grade students offered at no charge through grant funding The second MINT was a males-only
Certified Nurse Aide course for young men entering 11th and 12th grades Students who are employed as CNAs by a nursing facility within 12 months of the program can have their tuition reimbursed by their employer
With CNA certification students can earn a good salary and find a job right away according to Zaccardi or use the credentials to continue their education as a practical nurse then registered nurse
ldquoWe flat out donrsquot have enough nurses and we need to have men interested in the professionrdquo said Zaccardi whose statement is supported by a 2004 report from the American Nursing Association predicting 11 million job openings in the year 2020 ldquoWe are hoping through the MINT program men will select nursing as their first choice not as a career change in their 30s or 40srdquo
John McNally assistant professor nursing JCCC took exactly that career path At age 16 he got a job in his hometown hospital as what was then called an ldquoorderlyrdquo and worked part time at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center Topeka while earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Pittsburg State University
ldquoThe orderly positions now called CNA
were a convenient avenue to earn a paycheck while I was going to schoolrdquo McNally said
As an RN McNally worked at Stormont-Vail and North Kansas City Hospital earning a masterrsquos degree in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1996 In 2000 he decided to add computer skills to his reacutesumeacute and enrolled at JCCC where he moonlighted in the academic computer lab 30 hours a week When a nursing faculty position opened at JCCC he knew it was a good fit for him especially as health care technology increases
ldquoIn the hospitals where Irsquove worked there seem to be more males each yearrdquo McNally said ldquoWhile still a minority on the hospital floors men are likely to migrate to surgery radiology and technical areas My impression is that men in nursing donrsquot face any discriminationrdquo
Ed Ronnebaum assistant professor nursing JCCC echoes those sentiments
ldquoI have never faced discrimination at any timerdquo he said ldquoIt doesnrsquot matter if you are male or female as a nurse patient care is a team effortrdquo
For Ronnebaum however nursing is a career change After high school he
20 | Reconnect
served eight years of active duty as an Air Force aircraft mechanic then in the Air Guard in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm On his return Ronnebaum decided to rekindle his interest in anatomy and caring for sick people to become a nurse He started as a student nurse tech at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center Topeka earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Washburn University Topeka a masterrsquos of science in health care administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on a PhD in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City He teaches full time at JCCC and maintains his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves He has had one assignment as a critical care nurse in Iraq January through May 2007 Before entering academia he worked at KU Medical Center in medicalsurgery the burn unit and neurosurgery ICU
ldquoNursing is an exciting career and there is so much you can do with a nursing degree You can work in a hospital physicianrsquos office rehabilitation or long-term care facility nursing school or the militaryrdquo Ronnebaum said ldquoWith the growth in health care the sky is the limit for what you can do in nursingrdquo
ldquoMen balance the professionrdquo said Colleen Duggan JCCC nursing professor ldquoHaving men and women on the team makes for better collaboration on health care decisionsrdquo
Wayne Deines adjunct associate professor has a dual appointment with St Lukersquos South Hospital and JCCC He teaches JCCC students in clinicals two days a week at the hospital and one day a week at JCCC As an RN-III at St Lukersquos he works in the cardiovascular recovery unit Deines also came to nursing circuitously working as an EMT with the Consolidated Fire District 2 (Prairie Village) and paramedic with Johnson County Med-Act then earning his bachelorrsquos in nursing from KU School of Nursing A nurse for 18 years he worked in the military eight years and at St Lukersquos South for 10 Deines encourages men to enter nursing In fact his son is an operating room nurse at Childrenrsquos Mercy Hospital Kansas City Mo
JCCC has five male nursing faculty two full-time Ronnebaum and McNally and three part-time Deines Mark Foster and Kureo Ohta Eight male students graduated this spring out of a class of 71 In the practical nurse program there is one male adjunct faculty and three males out of 37 in the evening program due to graduate in December
JCCCrsquos male nursing students are gravitating to critical care upon graduation
ldquoGuys like critical care ndash ICU trauma and surgery I donrsquot know what thatrsquos all about but it seems to be naturalrdquo said student DJ Klinge
Students reiterate the fact that they feel no discrimination as males Sometimes an obstetrics patient prefers a female nurse but they donrsquot take offense They see it as a personal preference
ldquoYou have to be secure with yourself when you are a male nurserdquo said Jimmy Greenlee student
ldquoTwenty years ago guys in their 20s wouldnrsquot have thought about nursing as a career choice When people ask me if I am going to be a nurse I say lsquoAbsolutely There is nothing wrong with thatrsquordquo said Matt Munden who was determined to finish nursing school despite being readmitted to the RN program after a tour of duty in Iraq
Almost unanimously male faculty and students wish they had been introduced
Student Matt Munden assesses a heart rhythm under the instruction of Mark Foster (left) adjunct assistant professor nursing
to nursing as a career option earlier in life They recommend earning a CNA (a prerequisite to JCCCrsquos RN program) and working with patients before committing to the RN program
ldquoI got my CNA and really enjoyed it You help people who are truly dependent on you The CNA class pushed me into applying for nursing schoolrdquo said Jeff Middlesworth
ldquoJust getting your CNA lets you know if you are cut out for the job It lets you know whether you have the stomach for nursing or not and you learn rapport with patientsrdquo Greenlee said
So what would these young men say to other men thinking about a nursing career
ldquoLook into it and get your CNA If you have your head on straight and you are looking for a good career path I think it is well worth itrdquo Munden said ldquoIt was one of those things I didnrsquot really look at at first But this is the right decision for merdquo
ldquoEven in the recession the jobs in health care and nursing are still growingrdquo Middlesworth said
Greenlee says ldquoabsolutelyrdquo he is glad to have made the decision to be a nurse
ldquoI am not shy about being a male nurserdquo he said ldquoI am proud of itrdquo
Summer 2010 | 21
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
Performing Arts Series at JCCC announces 20th anniversary season
The ldquoStill Unforgettablerdquo Natalie Cole 20th anniversary celebration Sept 25 2010
Johnson County
Community College
dedicated its Cultural
Education Center on
Oct 3 1990 and offered
its first season in spring
1991 For 20 years the
Performing Arts Series at
JCCC has consistently
offered quality programming
True to tradition another
exceptional season unfolds
Emily Behrmann general
manager the Performing Arts
Series at JCCC invites you to
attend a 20th anniversary
celebration with eight-time
Grammy Award-winner
Natalie Cole on Sept 25 plus
a season of cutting-edge
performances celebrity
names diverse cultures dance
and music
Summer 2010 | 5
Tickets The Performing Arts Series at JCCC is using its anniversary year to simplify ndash listing season performances in chronological order with no sub-series of dance classics center stage family or special events Patrons can create their own package of any five or more performances from a selection of 22 to receive a ldquosubscriberrdquo discount ldquoFriendsrdquo members receive an additional 5 percent discount Call the PAS box office at 913-469-4445 or visit wwwjccceduTheSeries for detailed artist information
The season is listed chronologically Shows begin at 8 pm in Yardley Hall of the Carlsen Center unless otherwise noted
Takaacutecs Quartet Grammy-winning string quartet bull Sept 10 2010
American Voices Songs of Our Nation Larry Gatlin Crystal Gayle Andy Cooney Sept 11 2010
The ldquoStill Unforgettablerdquo Natalie Cole 20th anniversary celebration Sept 25 2010
Jack Hannarsquos Into the Wild Live presented by Nationwide Insurance 7 pm bull Sept 30 2010
Robert McDuffie violin soloist and the Venice Baroque Orchestra The Seasons Project featuring a world premiere tour of a Philip Glass composition a PAS co-commission Oct 16 2010
Michael Bolton singer-songwriter 730 pm bull Oct 20 2010
Capitol Steps political comedy troupe Oct 22-23 2010
Quixotic Fusion Lux Esalare Kansas City ensemble of musicians dancers aerialists Oct 29-30 2010
DRUMLine Live created by the music team behind the hit movie Drumline Nov 5 2010
beatlegras bluegrass arrangements of Beatles tunes by a fab three Polsky Theatre bull Nov 6 2010
Leann Rimes Just Added 7 pm Nov 14 2010
6 | Reconnect
Jigu Thunder
Drums of
China a world-class company of drummers percussionists and musicians steeped in the culture of Shanxi province Nov 12 2010
Naturally 7 award-winning septet with a distinct a cappella style called ldquovocal playrdquo Nov 20 2010
Christmas Bells Are Swinginrsquo Boston Brass and the Brass All-Stars Big Band play holiday selections arranged by jazz legend Stan Kenton bull Dec 3 2010
Lar Lubovitch Dance Company internationally renowned modern dance Jan 29 2011
The Hot Club of San Francisco Gypsy jazz in Silent Surrealism Polsky Theatre bull Feb 4 2011
An Evening
with Martin
Short starring the legendary comedian film star and SNL alumnus Feb 12 2011
Vienna Boys
Choir with a repertoire encompassing Austrian folk songs and waltzes classical masterpieces pop songs songs from childrenrsquos operas and medieval chants Feb 26 2011
Opole Philharmonic of Poland with soprano Iwona Sobotka light classics by Johann Strauss Jr and friends March 4 2011
Hot Tuna Blues guitarists Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane fame blues-harp player Charlie Musselwhite and country-and-bluegrass artist Jim Lauderdale March 5 2011
Janis Ian singer guitarist songwriter (At Seventeen) Polsky Theatre bull March 12 2011
The Joffrey Ballet Chicago-based and world-renowned April 2 2011
Beacutela Fleck banjo Zakir Hussain tablapercussion and Edgar Meyer bass April 16 2011
Spamalot Broadway hit based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail 7 pm bull May 1 2011
Summer 2010 | 7
Horticulture program grows with vigor Dr Lekha Sreedhar instructs Horticultural Science students inside the greenhouse
As the lead author on scholarly articles published in journals like
Plant Science Annals of Botany and GENE Dr Lekha Sreedhar associate professor horticultural sciences has proven herself an excellent academic
But 16 years of study and research in plant sciences is only part of the reason Sreedhar has helped to make JCCCrsquos horticulture program a success in terms of quality and growing number of classes The real reason is Sreedharrsquos passion for the subject and her students Her enthusiasm is contagious
In this dayrsquos Introduction to Horticultural Science lab students work inside the Horticultural Science Centerrsquos greenhouse surrounded by a sea of plants and flowers planting six different leaf types in two different media in order to compare propagation methods Students work knowingly as they determine the composition of the planting media and look for leaves from healthy stock plants to maximize growth They are enrolled in the horticulture program with a variety of aspirations Two want to become golf course managers one is interested in environmental science possibly plant engineering another has aspirations to own a commercial greenhouse growing
plants like organic hydroponic tomatoes and there are more
Carolyn Palmer Newton worked in a greenhouse for four-and-a-half years but now wants the science background Colby Fuller Emporia already has a bachelorrsquos degree in agronomy but is working toward JCCCrsquos horticulture associate degree so he can obtain a job in landscaping
ldquoI really like this courserdquo Fuller said ldquoDr Sreedhar is an excellent teacher If anyone has a question off-topic she can answer itrdquo
Rebecca Walker-Garoutte Lenexa worked in the floral design business 28 years before enrolling at JCCC where she received an associatersquos degree in May She is the greenhouse coordinator and likes the idea that she is supporting education by caring for a large variety of plants and trees inside and outside the greenhouse dedicated to student use
ldquoI feel this is a good program with continued efforts to use the best materialsrdquo Walker-Garoutte said ldquoDr Sreedhar makes sure students receive a good science experience ndash with passionrdquo
JCCC first offered a horticulture certificate program in 2001 In 2006 a landscape technician certificate was
added and a horticultural associatersquos degree became effective fall 2007 Horticultural floral design and landscape technician entrepreneurship certificates are also offered Sreedhar was brought on board as the only full-time horticulture faculty in 2006 Four to eight adjunct faculty in various areas of expertise also teach horticulture classes including Dr Alan Stevens director K-State Research and Extension Center Olathe and JCCC adjunct associate professor landscape design
ldquoThe skills students learn at JCCC are beneficial to the industry Students receive an underlying depth of knowledge that they wouldnrsquot receive with on-the-job experiencerdquo Stevens said
Stevens says that JCCCrsquos Introduction to Horticultural Science and Plant Propagation classes use the exact same textbooks and lab manuals as K-Statersquos
Asked whether he thought a horticulture program was necessary in the suburbs Stevens said ldquoYes green space is a precious commodity in the city and suburbs and we need quality educated people to maintain it The JCCC program serves a strong and definite needrdquo
8 | Reconnect
The Horticultural Science Center which opened for classes in fall 2001 houses one classroom one lab with a laminar-flow hood and the greenhouse Space especially with a high night enrollment is at a premium
Dr Csilla Duneczky dean of sciences points to new possibilities for program growth ndash plant biotechnology plant sustainability water conservation in irrigation and CAD design applied to Landscape Design classes
According to Duneczky interest is substantial in two horticulture electives Arboriculture and Pest Control Management for which students can sit for licensure examinations in those fields after course completion
ldquoWe work with major nurseries lawn care and landscape companies florists county extension agencies and private gardens in order to serve the industryrdquo Duneczky said ldquoAll our faculty are experts in their fields The feedback from the industry is that our students are well preparedrdquo
Sreedhar networks in the community with the horticulture department at K-State and officials from the US Department of Agriculture and Kansas and Missouri Departments of Agriculture in order to provide her students with professional speakers and plum internships at local nurseries and the Johnson County Park and Recreation District She organizes field trips to places like the Loose Park Rose Garden (shersquos a member of the Kansas City Rose Society directorial board) Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens and K-State Research and Extension Center Olathe She has cultivated relationships with nurseries garden centers landscaping companies propagation facilities gardenhardware suppliers and biotech companies so students are exposed to a variety of the newest tools techniques and materials from cultivars to tissue culture media
ldquoI want this to be a solid programrdquo Sreedhar saidldquoI will do anything to help my students succeedrdquo
Sreedhar also credits her students for the programrsquos success She says her nighttime
classes are filled with people who work eight to 12 hours in a nursery before coming to class
ldquoMy students do extremely well They keep excellent data and complete well-written scientific reportsrdquo
Thatrsquos a high endorsement coming from Sreedhar who earned a bachelorrsquos degree in agriculture science and a masterrsquos degree in horticulture sciences from Kerala Agricultural University India and a masterrsquos in plant agriculture and a PhD in plant physiology from the University of Guelph Ontario Canada and completed postdoctoral research in plant biotechnology at Rutgersrsquo Biotechnology Center for Agriculture and the Environment She held the prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship for graduate studies in horticultural sciences for five years
Champion of the variety of fields open to horticulture students ndash floriculture pomology (study of fruit) olericulture (study of vegetables) viticulture nursery management greenhouse management landscape design turf management interiorscaping micropropagation and horticultural therapy ndash Sreedhar is positive that anyone who likes plant sciences can find a specialty to their liking If one doesnrsquot want to get his or her hands dirty Sreedhar will espouse micropropagation in tissue culture ndash a new trend for nurseries to mass propagateclone superior plants in vitro from small pieces of stock plant and rescue heavily infected plants Other options include landscape design hydroponics aeroponics and horticultural sales
Her enthusiasm extends from her professional to her personal life At age four she was captivated by her parentsrsquo rose garden in India Her love of flowers remains unabated She keeps lists of plantsflowers and their respective photographs that she has encountered She collects orchids and has about 300 in her home
ldquoPlants are fascinatingrdquo Sreedhar said ldquoThere is so much we know and so much we donrsquot knowrdquo
Colby Fuller and Natalie Martin set up an experiment during a leaf propagation lab
Rebecca Walker-Garoutte greenhouse coordinator earned her horticulture associatersquos degree in May
Sean Connolly has plans to become a golf course manager
Summer 2010 | 9
No debating itJCCC team is national community college champion 2009-2010 team members Sitting (left to right) Rebekah Rauckman Terri Easley (coach) Justin Stanley (assistant coach) Caitlin Breslin Andrew Salzmann Amanda Brown
Standing (left to right) Dalton Lawson Kristin Brandt Ben Cuellar Emily Umphrey Brandie Shepherd Tyler Kowalewski Sarah Elliott Cate Garmeavea Keith Alexander-Arceneaux
In the culmination of its successful year the Johnson County Community
College debate team was awarded the prestigious McClintock Award presented to the national champion community college team at the Cross-Examination Debate Association (CEDA) National Tournament which was held at the University of California-Berkeley in March
The CEDA national championship is based on the teamrsquos earned points during the entire season in competition with four-year colleges and universities as well as other community colleges
This is the first championship title for JCCC in eight years and the fourth year in a row JCCC has been in the top three in community college sweepstakes
The award caps a string of wins and high
rankings for the JCCC debate team During the 2009-2010 season the team traveled to 12 tournaments winning awards at all making seven final-round appearances and earning five tournament championships at the Vegas Invitational KCKCC Emporia State University Kansas State University and Novice Nationals
Throughout the year the JCCC debate team was consistently ranked as the top community college maintained a top 20 national ranking that includes four-year colleges since November and finished in the top 25 nationwide for the year ranking higher than schools like the University of Texas at Austin University of Michigan Georgetown and Baylor universities Dartmouth College and University of Kentucky
Research The 2009-2010 college debate topic was The United States Federal Government should substantially reduce the size of its nuclear weapons arsenal andor substantially reduce and restrict the role andor missions of its nuclear weapons arsenal Teams are required to debate both sides of an issue ndash affirmative and negative
The JCCC debate team participates in policy debate tournaments in which policy issues are debated by a team of two vs a team of two
ldquoMost people would argue that policy debate is harder than Lincoln-Douglas value debate or parliamentarian debate because it is more research intensiverdquo said debate coach Terri Easley
10 | Reconnect
Indeed team members invest hours into research practice rounds one-on-one speaking drills and tournaments Easley and assistant debate coach Justin Stanley can spend up to 14 to 16 hours a day with students during the competition season In the fall there were four-day back-to-back tournaments on consecutive weekends and travel time There is also preparation on Saturdays and Sundays where students and coaches spend from eight- to 12-hour days in extra practice rounds and conducting research
ldquoAs coaches we help prepare students with the skills and research they need for a two-hour debate But once the debate begins it is up to them to carry throughrdquo Easley said
Assets of a winning team Easley credits this yearrsquos successes to the addition of an assistant coach and the studentsrsquo determination She says the most common major among debaters is pre-law or political science but debate studentsrsquo majors vary from nursing to electrical engineering
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo Easley said
JCCC offers four sections of debate and all students enrolled in debate participate with the team Two-thirds of the current debate team is expected to return in the fall Using electronic databases books journals and law reviews students begin researching next yearrsquos topic as soon as it is announced in July
One also has to credit Easleyrsquos commitment for the teamrsquos success Easley began college as a music major but was won over to debate by a speech teacher who thought she ldquotalked fast and gave good speechesrdquo Easley earned a bachelorrsquos degree in literature from the University of Texas at Dallas and a masterrsquos in communication from Baylor University
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo
ndash Debate Coach Terri Easley
More kudos The JCCC debate team also hosts (and participates in) the most prestigious and longest-running junior-varsity national tournament in the country the National Junior Division Debate Tournament founded by retired JCCC professor Dr Dick Stine which was held this year in March
At the CEDA National Tournament at Berkeley JCCC debaters were awarded several national recognitions Emily Umphrey was awarded with the ldquoOutstanding New Competitor Awardrdquo for debaters in their first year of competition without prior debate experience who show growth and participation in the activity Caitlin Breslin and Dalton Lawson were selected to the All-American Debate Team The award is given to 30 debaters who represent the best of intercollegiate debate
Dalton Lawson
Brandie Shepherd
Summer 2010 | 11
Dobson publishes bookabout the Great Plains
Adjunct professor of history Patrick Dobsonrsquos book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains was recently published
Patrick Dobson adjunct professor of history is a bear of a man His
presence enthusiasm and stories fill a room He is a freelance writer a member of Ironworkers Local 10 in Kansas City and has completed all-but-a-dissertation toward a doctorate in 20th century US environmental history and American literature from the University of Missouri-Kansas City
Today Dobson is being interviewed about his first book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains published last year by the University of Nebraska Press The book describes Dobsonrsquos two-and-a-half-month journey from Kansas City Mo to Helena Mont in 1995 a journey Dobson says was ldquomeant to quiet his restless soulrdquo With only a backpack Dobson then a single father left his job with the engineering maintenance department at the Ritz-Carlton to chronicle the lives of ordinary people in the Great Plains
He kept a notebook and filed biweekly columns in The Pitch during his trip The
journal is the basis for his book for which he has done a round of media interviews and book signings A second book based on his river journey home is in the works
At JCCC Dobson teaches US history and Western civilization He has bachelorrsquos degrees in American history and English from UMKC and a masterrsquos degree in American history from the University of Wyoming Part skilled laborer part scholar Dobsonrsquos employment reflects his dichotomy maintenance at the Ritz four years as a full-time writer at The Pitch three years as an editor at Andrews McMeel Universal and one and one-half years of self-employment ndash hauling dirt rehabbing houses and stacking rock ndash previous to entering the UMKC doctoral program in 2004 He joined the Ironworkers Local 10 after completing his doctoral classes The one constant in his life has been writing
Dobson has now worked out an ideal plan for his PhD life ndash working as a
journeyman ironworker during the summers and teaching during the school year He believes he is a misfit traversing different universes comfortably
ldquoWhen Irsquom with the academics I feel like the dirty fingernailer at the queenrsquos banquetrdquo Dobson saidldquoWhen Irsquom with journalists they know something is not quite right about me something doesnrsquot fit Then when Irsquom with the ironworkers they know there is something about me ndash things I talk about ndash so they know Irsquove been someplace elserdquo
Fifteen years after his trek across the plains Dobson appears to have put his soul to rest He has learned he needs to be outside doing physical labor he needs to teach because he views learning as unfinished business and he needs to write
Dobsonrsquos book is available at Amazon University of Nebraska Press and the JCCC Billington Library
12 | Reconnect
JCCC offers motorcycle training Cheryl and Dennis Rogers Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors advise taking the Motorcycle Training class before the purchase of a motorcycle
After an interminable winter people are ready to feel the wind sun and
rain on their faces They are catching the bug to ride a motorcycle
As thrilling as buying a bike twisting the throttle and hitting the road are safety and a legal license come first JCCC began offering its new Motorcycle Training classes this year the first three sessions filled immediately
The course which provides 20 hours of instruction including eight classroom hours and 12 hours of range instruction is designed for the beginning motorcyclist who wants to operate his or her motorcycle safely and efficiently A Kansas Division of Vehicles certificate of completion will be issued after successfully completing the course
The three-day classes are scheduled from 6 to 10 pm Friday and 8 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday Riding and maneuvers including 17 exercises are scheduled all day Saturday and Sunday in the JCCC parking lot The lead teachers are Cheryl and Dennis Rogers
Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors who teach a maximum of 12 students per class
ldquoWe teach proper techniques for breaking turning and swervingrdquo Cheryl Rogers saidldquoLater we have had students thank us saying those techniques saved their livesrdquo
Dennis Rogers is a retired Kansas State Trooper and Cheryl is an IT worker for the State of Kansas Together they take one big (3000-mile) trip each summer having visited 40 of the 48 continental US states and ride weekends
The Rogers advocate motorcycle transportation as a way to reduce costs and enjoy the outdoors
ldquoOnly a motorcyclist knows the thrill and exhilaration a dog has when it sticks its head out the car windowrdquo Cheryl Rogers said
Bikes and helmets are provided for the class Stan and Elaine Rogers (no relations to Cheryl and Dennis Rogers) who formerly owned Midwest Motorcycle
Training Center donated nine Honda Rebel 250 CC bikes to JCCC after their training program closed
Dennis Rogers advises taking the motorcycle training program before buying a motorcycle so one people know they like riding a motorcycle and are successful at it and two they learn to ask the right questions when buying a bike ndash Will you have a passenger What size works for you Will you be riding on the street or dirt
Taking the class reduces insurance rates and increases safety About 92 percent of accident-involved motorcyclists were self-taught or learned from family and friends according to Cheryl Rogers
For more information contact Phil Wegman program director skills enhancement JCCC at 913-469-4446 or pwegmanjcccedu To register call 913-469-2323 Cost is $199
Summer 2010 | 13
Electronics buysrobot arm to develop new class
Chip Cody associate professorchair electronics demonstrates the capabilities of electronicsrsquo new robot arm
Using a $25000 Perkins grant JCCCrsquos electronics department
purchased a programmable six-degreeshyof-freedom robot arm to teach students how robots are used in industry
Faculty received training on the machine in the spring with the goal of developing an industrial robot class by fall 2010 JCCC already offers an elective Electronics 127 ndash Robots for Humans which serves as an introduction to the growing field of robotics An industrial robot class would teach students how to build program test and maintain robots in industry ndash everything from car manufacturing to automated self-checkouts
ldquoRobots are good candidates for jobs that are either too dangerous for humans or highly repetitive and monotonousrdquo said Chip Cody associate professor chair electronics ldquoRobots are accurate They do exactly what you tell them to do every time They never get tired bored or call in sickrdquo
JCCCrsquos robot features base waist shoulder elbow wrist and hand rotation ndash referred to as the six axes of freedom Weighing several hundred pounds the machine looks like a giant popcorn cart constructed with a quarter-inch steel working surface and requiring a double-wide door for access to the electronics lab
As in the Robots for Humans class students in the proposed class would learn about the robotrsquos hardware things like sensors and actuators and enough software programming language to teach the robot a task
Cody explains that programming involves coordinating the axes of motion and that can be accomplished in two ways ndash either by means of a microprocessor or by taking the robot manually through an operation and having its sensors store the action in its computer
ldquoA robot senses the outside world and based on what the sensor tells it it takes actionrdquo Cody said ldquoA robot constantly goes through a sense-react-sense loop Students work with small kits in the 127 class but this is the first time the college has had an industrial-strength machinerdquo
Interest in robots has been generated by students who have participated in high school robotics competitions such as FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen Students with those experiences want to progress from JCCCrsquos Microprocessors class to the robot class where the microprocessors serve as the robotrsquos ldquobrainrdquo
Cody says there is a demand for graduates with two-year electronic degrees to work in industry to maintain robots
ldquoRobots are here to stay Thatrsquos the wave of the futurerdquo Cody saidldquoThey may not all look like C-3P0 but they are everywhere ndash from assembly lines to NASArsquos Mars Exploration Rover Projectrdquo
The robot arm will have broad application
14 | Reconnect
Drafting goes 3-D
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting displays a 3-D object fabricated from the rapid prototype machine
Itrsquos not quite the Star Trek replicator but the new 3-D printer in the drafting
department is impressive
JCCCrsquos drafting program acquired its rapid prototype machine in spring 2009 giving advanced drafting students an opportunity to make models from 3-D computer-aided designs and beginning drafting students a way to visualize a 3-D design problem more clearly
Instead of toner the rapid prototype machine uses a cartridge filled with a
spool of plastic which is heated to a temperature of 572 degrees F and applied in a series of layers until the 3-D model is built according to a CAD design
To the unschooled eye it appears as easy as hitting ldquoprintrdquo and setting controls for resolution orientation interior makeup (solid or honeycomb) and number of copies Then appearing out of seemingly nothingness comes a plastic model The technically savvy however know that inside the printer a CAD file interfaces with a stereolithography file format in order to fabricate the curves and geometry of a physical object
The process is fun to watch although ldquorapidrdquo is a relative term A special print head sweeps across a plastic support plate applying layer after layer of heated plastic following CAD specifications Filler material is applied to negative space and dissolved by immersion in a chemical bath after part fabrication Objects created in the JCCC 3-D printer take from two to 60-plus hours to complete
According to Tom Hughes drafting chair drafting models were traditionally created by hand in a shop Time cost and ease of use are improved with the 3-D printer Hughes says the rapid prototyping has been available in the industry for years used for creating manufactured parts ndash everything from
industrial to fine arts As the 3-D printers became more affordable JCCC was able to purchase one so drafting students can see their projects emerge from the 2-D printed page to physical models
ldquoThe impact on our students is that the models clearly illustrate what they are attempting to drawrdquo Hughes said ldquoStudents learn to draft with greater confidencerdquo
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting says the 3-D printer has increased student interest in the drafting program
ldquoThe rapid prototype printer can do some pretty complex models with moving and mating parts things that would be difficult to make in a shoprdquo Feureborn said
Students in the CAD 3-D and Mechanical Desktop Inventor classes are encouraged to produce one 3-D model at the end of the semester Faculty use the model to demonstrate objects and cutaway slices for entry-level classes
Hughes foresees partnerships between drafting classes and other programs using the 3-D printers Students in Graphic Analysis have already collaborated with welding students in the manufacturing of prototype plant holders
Summer 2010 | 15
Building toward health field careers
The Olathe Health Education Center lies west of Olathe Medical Center
In the remnant of a former cornfield Johnson County Community College
and Olathe Medical Center are tilling the ground in advance of another kind of harvest ndash allied health medical professionals
Groundbreaking on the two-story 50000-square-foot Olathe Health Education Center took place Dec 3 2009 and construction began in March 2010 The center will open for classes in fall 2011
OMC donated 58 acres of land for the building and parking located between 152nd and 153rd Streets west of Olathe Medical Center Parkway JCCC will build OHEC at an anticipated cost of $15 million
The building exterior is designed using JCCC campus standard brick with options for cast stone or metal between the windows The main entrance is to the north with parking to the northwest
Similar in design to the Regnier Center OHEC features a two-story atrium and
floating staircase The first floor will contain the main lobby information desk and a 300-seat multipurpose conference room that can be divided into four areas for smaller meetings or classes
Additional first-floor spaces are allocated for general education medical office technology and other medical offerings (EKG phlebotomy pharmacy technology medical lab technology and surgical technology) to include
Three general classrooms for classes such as anatomy and physiology
One medical computer lab and one general-use computer lab
A medical office technology suite with two classrooms and a record office room for medical billing coding and transcription
One classroom for other medical offerings
Common spaces including a coffee bar and food cart
Offices for faculty and staff including security counseling and student services
The second floor is designed primarily for practical nursing health occupations (certified nurse assistant certified medication aides rehabilitation aide home health aide and IV therapy for LPNs) and dietary manager programs to include
Four health occupations classrooms with three patient care beds each
Two skills labs with eight beds each one of the two is designed to accommodate four patient simulators
Practical nursehealth occupations student success center
Two classrooms for practical nursing and other medical classes
Common spaces for study and rest breaks
Offices for faculty and staff
16 | Reconnect
A rendering of the Olathe Health Education Center is shown here
Students will have clinical education opportunities at Olathe Medical Center as well as the opportunity for professional relationships with OMC health care practitioners
Rex Hays executive director Campus Services says HMN Architects collaborated with the academic administrators in multiple meetings to fulfill the specific needs of health care programming According to Hays the building will meet LEED silver certification in recognition of environmentally responsible building practices Access to a detention basin for a storm water run-off adds to points for LEED criteria
As owner of the OHEC JCCC will provide maintenance housekeeping and security (The college owns the building but does not receive clear title until the end of the 10-year lease and after payment of all scheduled lease amounts)
ldquoWe are grateful to Olathe Medical Center for the opportunity of building a health care teaching campusrdquo said Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC presidentldquoThe
medical center is a renowned medical facility and we are proud to be partners with themrdquo
ldquoWe are extremely proud to have the Olathe Health Education Center on our campusrdquo said Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC ldquoIt has been a pleasure for our staff to work with JCCC MidAmerica Nazarene University and the Olathe School District in developing the best curriculum to teach outstanding health care providers of the futurerdquo
Students from the Olathe schools will be provided a clear pathway through JCCC and if they choose to do so on to MidAmerica Nazarene University for baccalaureate and graduate studies completion according to Dr Dana Grove JCCC executive vice president educational planning and development chief operating officer
ldquoUltimately the beneficiary of the new OHEC is the community who will be served by an increase in the number of health care providers and the number of allied health programsrdquo Grove said
Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC and Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC president listen to a speaker at the Dec 3 groundbreaking for OHEC
Summer 2010 | 17
JCCC launches Achieving the Dream
Drs James Tschechtelin and Ted Wright JCCCrsquos coaches for Achieving the Dream brainstorm with Jeff Frost JCCC dean mathematics during an Achieving the Dream session of Fall 2009 Professional Development Days
Johnson County Community College is the first and only school in Kansas
to join Achieving the Dream Community Colleges Count a national initiative to help more community college students succeed particularly low-income students and students of color
JCCC is one of 102 institutions ndash 98 colleges and four universities ndash in 22 states to participate in Achieving the Dream which helps participating colleges implement strategies designed to help more students earn degrees complete certificates or transfer to other institutions to continue their studies The initiative emphasizes building a culture of evidence in which colleges use data to identify effective practices improve student success rates and close achievement gaps
The Lumina Foundation for Education which funds Achieving the Dream has a goal to raise the proportion of the US adult population who earn high-quality college degrees to 60 percent by 2025 an increase of 23 million graduates above current rates according to Dr Marilyn Rhinehart executive vice president Instruction JCCC Currently approximately 39 percent of American
adults complete a two- or four-year degree Each college makes a two-year commitment to focus its efforts on closing performance gaps among students in targeted populations
ldquoAt JCCC our work with Achieving the Dream will help us enhance the experience of students in developmental educationrdquo said Jason Kovac executive director of Academic Initiatives and Achieving the Dream core team leader ldquoThe goal will be to connect more people with college-level coursework and help more students reach their educational goals Ultimately this has a huge effect on our community ndash increased wages and better quality of life for our graduates and more skilled workers for regional employers This will be a key driver for college and community prosperity in the coming yearsrdquo
Core team members are Rhinehart team co-chair Terry Calaway JCCC president and team co-chair Jeff Frost dean mathematics Larry Reynolds dean Communications Beth Gulley assistant professor English Bill Robinson associate professor mathematics Mindy Manes administrative assistant
Corporate Outreach and Strategic Partnerships Learner Engagement and the Center for Sustainability Jason Kovac executive director Academic Initiatives Rick Moehring dean Learner Engagement Dr Ralph Juhnke director Institutional Research Paul Kyle dean Student Services Pam Vassar assistant dean Student Life and Leadership Development and Wendy Farwell counselor JCCCrsquos first step is to gather data to determine which student groups are less successful than others and which high-enrollment courses have the lowest success rates
ldquoAchieving the Dream really requires us to use data to focus on measurable outcomes and be open and forthright about current performancerdquo Juhnke said
While Achieving the Dream is about data Rhinehart says that every number represents a person
ldquoEvery piece of data has a story that can help us understand how we can make the greatest difference to a student We need to learn how we can take down barriers to student success and give students the courage and confidence to succeedrdquo Rhinehart said
18 | Reconnect
Journalism student media show news sense
JCCC journalism students show off a few of their many awards at the Headline Award ceremony in April 2010
The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism
and media communications department New video courses Advanced Video Production and Advanced Broadcast Performance were introduced as well as Digital Photojournalism designed for the multimedia needs of todayrsquos journalists The departmentrsquos foundation course Mass Media and Society became a general education elective for humanities credit in the spring 2010 semester for each of the collegersquos associatersquos degree programs
This past academic year more than 300 students completed classes in the journalism and media communications department and 10 students received scholarship money JCCC also continues to offer the largest media internship program in the Kansas City metro area providing students the opportunity to work in a professional environment
Beginning in fall 2010 students will be able to earn college credit with Basic Video Production in both the Blue Valley and Olathe high schools as part of JCCCrsquos College Now program
The departmentrsquos faculty includes two full-time professors Mark Raduziner department chair and Greg Harrell and adjunct faculty Gretchen Thum Julie Haas Joe Petrie Molly Baumgardner Corbin
Crable Joel Nichols and Mary Schulte
2010 was the seventh year for the Headline Award honoring local journalists whose example serves as an inspiration to student journalists at JCCC This yearrsquos honoree was Steve Kraske political correspondent for The Kansas City Star and host of Up to Date on KCURshyFM Kansas Cityrsquos public radio station
JCCCrsquos journalism and media communications department partners with Student Life and Leadership Development on two events In March the two departments sponsored People in the Media a panel of print and electronic media professionals who discussed the future of the industry In April the seventh annual Cavalier Film Festival honored student filmmakers from JCCC and Johnson County and Lawrence high schools in five categories Professionals in the Kansas City film and video industry judge entries and provide feedback
JCAV the student-produced TV news and magazine program took off this year with 10 JCAV news episodes seven JCAV Campus Updates and five Cavalier sports reports ndash live cable shows of sports events JCAV students won five 2010 Kansas Association of Broadcasters student awards while competing against all public and private colleges and universities in Kansas
Working in collaboration with the journalism and media communications department is Anne Christiansen-Bullers Student Life media coordinator and adviser to the student-produced radio station ECAV and JCCCrsquos student newspaper The Campus Ledger ECAV radio had its genesis in fall 2009 and will continue this year under radio station manager Marvita Oliver
The Campus Ledger was awarded the All-Kansas Award and a record 40 individual awards at the state conference sponsored by the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press Association
Judges awarded The Campus Ledger the gold medal for overall excellence and the All-Kansas Award reflecting the best of show in the two-year-school division
The newspaperrsquos Web site received a gold medal up from last yearrsquos bronze-medal distinction
The Campus Ledger editor-in-chief for 2009-10 was Matt Galloway The online editor was John Young Galloway won first runner-up in the Journalist of the Year contest sponsored by Kansas Associated Collegiate Press
Ondrej Pazdirek is the Campus Ledgerrsquos editor-in-chief for 2010-11
Summer 2010 | 19
Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing (left to right) Students Mickey Belcher Jimmy Lee and Jeff Middlesworth work in a patient simulation room with Mark Foster (blue lab coat) adjunct assistant professor nursing
Helping a patient or family member during a difficult time is the
primary satisfaction of being a nurse according to male nurses and male nursing students interviewed for this story
There are also practical reasons for being a nurse ndash the potential for good wages plentiful jobs and career diversity
So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
Jane Zaccardi director practical nursing and health occupations JCCC says the eulogized Florence Nightingale may be the reason Prior to the Crimean War men provided care in hospitals and battlefields and women in the home Nightingale brought the profession to women and subtly the job switched from one for men to one for women
JCCC in conjunction with Kansas Board of Regents is trying to reverse Nightingalersquos influence with two new Men in Nurses Training programs aimed at male high school students both of which were held in June The first was a nursing orientation summer camp for ninth and 10th grade students offered at no charge through grant funding The second MINT was a males-only
Certified Nurse Aide course for young men entering 11th and 12th grades Students who are employed as CNAs by a nursing facility within 12 months of the program can have their tuition reimbursed by their employer
With CNA certification students can earn a good salary and find a job right away according to Zaccardi or use the credentials to continue their education as a practical nurse then registered nurse
ldquoWe flat out donrsquot have enough nurses and we need to have men interested in the professionrdquo said Zaccardi whose statement is supported by a 2004 report from the American Nursing Association predicting 11 million job openings in the year 2020 ldquoWe are hoping through the MINT program men will select nursing as their first choice not as a career change in their 30s or 40srdquo
John McNally assistant professor nursing JCCC took exactly that career path At age 16 he got a job in his hometown hospital as what was then called an ldquoorderlyrdquo and worked part time at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center Topeka while earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Pittsburg State University
ldquoThe orderly positions now called CNA
were a convenient avenue to earn a paycheck while I was going to schoolrdquo McNally said
As an RN McNally worked at Stormont-Vail and North Kansas City Hospital earning a masterrsquos degree in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1996 In 2000 he decided to add computer skills to his reacutesumeacute and enrolled at JCCC where he moonlighted in the academic computer lab 30 hours a week When a nursing faculty position opened at JCCC he knew it was a good fit for him especially as health care technology increases
ldquoIn the hospitals where Irsquove worked there seem to be more males each yearrdquo McNally said ldquoWhile still a minority on the hospital floors men are likely to migrate to surgery radiology and technical areas My impression is that men in nursing donrsquot face any discriminationrdquo
Ed Ronnebaum assistant professor nursing JCCC echoes those sentiments
ldquoI have never faced discrimination at any timerdquo he said ldquoIt doesnrsquot matter if you are male or female as a nurse patient care is a team effortrdquo
For Ronnebaum however nursing is a career change After high school he
20 | Reconnect
served eight years of active duty as an Air Force aircraft mechanic then in the Air Guard in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm On his return Ronnebaum decided to rekindle his interest in anatomy and caring for sick people to become a nurse He started as a student nurse tech at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center Topeka earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Washburn University Topeka a masterrsquos of science in health care administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on a PhD in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City He teaches full time at JCCC and maintains his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves He has had one assignment as a critical care nurse in Iraq January through May 2007 Before entering academia he worked at KU Medical Center in medicalsurgery the burn unit and neurosurgery ICU
ldquoNursing is an exciting career and there is so much you can do with a nursing degree You can work in a hospital physicianrsquos office rehabilitation or long-term care facility nursing school or the militaryrdquo Ronnebaum said ldquoWith the growth in health care the sky is the limit for what you can do in nursingrdquo
ldquoMen balance the professionrdquo said Colleen Duggan JCCC nursing professor ldquoHaving men and women on the team makes for better collaboration on health care decisionsrdquo
Wayne Deines adjunct associate professor has a dual appointment with St Lukersquos South Hospital and JCCC He teaches JCCC students in clinicals two days a week at the hospital and one day a week at JCCC As an RN-III at St Lukersquos he works in the cardiovascular recovery unit Deines also came to nursing circuitously working as an EMT with the Consolidated Fire District 2 (Prairie Village) and paramedic with Johnson County Med-Act then earning his bachelorrsquos in nursing from KU School of Nursing A nurse for 18 years he worked in the military eight years and at St Lukersquos South for 10 Deines encourages men to enter nursing In fact his son is an operating room nurse at Childrenrsquos Mercy Hospital Kansas City Mo
JCCC has five male nursing faculty two full-time Ronnebaum and McNally and three part-time Deines Mark Foster and Kureo Ohta Eight male students graduated this spring out of a class of 71 In the practical nurse program there is one male adjunct faculty and three males out of 37 in the evening program due to graduate in December
JCCCrsquos male nursing students are gravitating to critical care upon graduation
ldquoGuys like critical care ndash ICU trauma and surgery I donrsquot know what thatrsquos all about but it seems to be naturalrdquo said student DJ Klinge
Students reiterate the fact that they feel no discrimination as males Sometimes an obstetrics patient prefers a female nurse but they donrsquot take offense They see it as a personal preference
ldquoYou have to be secure with yourself when you are a male nurserdquo said Jimmy Greenlee student
ldquoTwenty years ago guys in their 20s wouldnrsquot have thought about nursing as a career choice When people ask me if I am going to be a nurse I say lsquoAbsolutely There is nothing wrong with thatrsquordquo said Matt Munden who was determined to finish nursing school despite being readmitted to the RN program after a tour of duty in Iraq
Almost unanimously male faculty and students wish they had been introduced
Student Matt Munden assesses a heart rhythm under the instruction of Mark Foster (left) adjunct assistant professor nursing
to nursing as a career option earlier in life They recommend earning a CNA (a prerequisite to JCCCrsquos RN program) and working with patients before committing to the RN program
ldquoI got my CNA and really enjoyed it You help people who are truly dependent on you The CNA class pushed me into applying for nursing schoolrdquo said Jeff Middlesworth
ldquoJust getting your CNA lets you know if you are cut out for the job It lets you know whether you have the stomach for nursing or not and you learn rapport with patientsrdquo Greenlee said
So what would these young men say to other men thinking about a nursing career
ldquoLook into it and get your CNA If you have your head on straight and you are looking for a good career path I think it is well worth itrdquo Munden said ldquoIt was one of those things I didnrsquot really look at at first But this is the right decision for merdquo
ldquoEven in the recession the jobs in health care and nursing are still growingrdquo Middlesworth said
Greenlee says ldquoabsolutelyrdquo he is glad to have made the decision to be a nurse
ldquoI am not shy about being a male nurserdquo he said ldquoI am proud of itrdquo
Summer 2010 | 21
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
Tickets The Performing Arts Series at JCCC is using its anniversary year to simplify ndash listing season performances in chronological order with no sub-series of dance classics center stage family or special events Patrons can create their own package of any five or more performances from a selection of 22 to receive a ldquosubscriberrdquo discount ldquoFriendsrdquo members receive an additional 5 percent discount Call the PAS box office at 913-469-4445 or visit wwwjccceduTheSeries for detailed artist information
The season is listed chronologically Shows begin at 8 pm in Yardley Hall of the Carlsen Center unless otherwise noted
Takaacutecs Quartet Grammy-winning string quartet bull Sept 10 2010
American Voices Songs of Our Nation Larry Gatlin Crystal Gayle Andy Cooney Sept 11 2010
The ldquoStill Unforgettablerdquo Natalie Cole 20th anniversary celebration Sept 25 2010
Jack Hannarsquos Into the Wild Live presented by Nationwide Insurance 7 pm bull Sept 30 2010
Robert McDuffie violin soloist and the Venice Baroque Orchestra The Seasons Project featuring a world premiere tour of a Philip Glass composition a PAS co-commission Oct 16 2010
Michael Bolton singer-songwriter 730 pm bull Oct 20 2010
Capitol Steps political comedy troupe Oct 22-23 2010
Quixotic Fusion Lux Esalare Kansas City ensemble of musicians dancers aerialists Oct 29-30 2010
DRUMLine Live created by the music team behind the hit movie Drumline Nov 5 2010
beatlegras bluegrass arrangements of Beatles tunes by a fab three Polsky Theatre bull Nov 6 2010
Leann Rimes Just Added 7 pm Nov 14 2010
6 | Reconnect
Jigu Thunder
Drums of
China a world-class company of drummers percussionists and musicians steeped in the culture of Shanxi province Nov 12 2010
Naturally 7 award-winning septet with a distinct a cappella style called ldquovocal playrdquo Nov 20 2010
Christmas Bells Are Swinginrsquo Boston Brass and the Brass All-Stars Big Band play holiday selections arranged by jazz legend Stan Kenton bull Dec 3 2010
Lar Lubovitch Dance Company internationally renowned modern dance Jan 29 2011
The Hot Club of San Francisco Gypsy jazz in Silent Surrealism Polsky Theatre bull Feb 4 2011
An Evening
with Martin
Short starring the legendary comedian film star and SNL alumnus Feb 12 2011
Vienna Boys
Choir with a repertoire encompassing Austrian folk songs and waltzes classical masterpieces pop songs songs from childrenrsquos operas and medieval chants Feb 26 2011
Opole Philharmonic of Poland with soprano Iwona Sobotka light classics by Johann Strauss Jr and friends March 4 2011
Hot Tuna Blues guitarists Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane fame blues-harp player Charlie Musselwhite and country-and-bluegrass artist Jim Lauderdale March 5 2011
Janis Ian singer guitarist songwriter (At Seventeen) Polsky Theatre bull March 12 2011
The Joffrey Ballet Chicago-based and world-renowned April 2 2011
Beacutela Fleck banjo Zakir Hussain tablapercussion and Edgar Meyer bass April 16 2011
Spamalot Broadway hit based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail 7 pm bull May 1 2011
Summer 2010 | 7
Horticulture program grows with vigor Dr Lekha Sreedhar instructs Horticultural Science students inside the greenhouse
As the lead author on scholarly articles published in journals like
Plant Science Annals of Botany and GENE Dr Lekha Sreedhar associate professor horticultural sciences has proven herself an excellent academic
But 16 years of study and research in plant sciences is only part of the reason Sreedhar has helped to make JCCCrsquos horticulture program a success in terms of quality and growing number of classes The real reason is Sreedharrsquos passion for the subject and her students Her enthusiasm is contagious
In this dayrsquos Introduction to Horticultural Science lab students work inside the Horticultural Science Centerrsquos greenhouse surrounded by a sea of plants and flowers planting six different leaf types in two different media in order to compare propagation methods Students work knowingly as they determine the composition of the planting media and look for leaves from healthy stock plants to maximize growth They are enrolled in the horticulture program with a variety of aspirations Two want to become golf course managers one is interested in environmental science possibly plant engineering another has aspirations to own a commercial greenhouse growing
plants like organic hydroponic tomatoes and there are more
Carolyn Palmer Newton worked in a greenhouse for four-and-a-half years but now wants the science background Colby Fuller Emporia already has a bachelorrsquos degree in agronomy but is working toward JCCCrsquos horticulture associate degree so he can obtain a job in landscaping
ldquoI really like this courserdquo Fuller said ldquoDr Sreedhar is an excellent teacher If anyone has a question off-topic she can answer itrdquo
Rebecca Walker-Garoutte Lenexa worked in the floral design business 28 years before enrolling at JCCC where she received an associatersquos degree in May She is the greenhouse coordinator and likes the idea that she is supporting education by caring for a large variety of plants and trees inside and outside the greenhouse dedicated to student use
ldquoI feel this is a good program with continued efforts to use the best materialsrdquo Walker-Garoutte said ldquoDr Sreedhar makes sure students receive a good science experience ndash with passionrdquo
JCCC first offered a horticulture certificate program in 2001 In 2006 a landscape technician certificate was
added and a horticultural associatersquos degree became effective fall 2007 Horticultural floral design and landscape technician entrepreneurship certificates are also offered Sreedhar was brought on board as the only full-time horticulture faculty in 2006 Four to eight adjunct faculty in various areas of expertise also teach horticulture classes including Dr Alan Stevens director K-State Research and Extension Center Olathe and JCCC adjunct associate professor landscape design
ldquoThe skills students learn at JCCC are beneficial to the industry Students receive an underlying depth of knowledge that they wouldnrsquot receive with on-the-job experiencerdquo Stevens said
Stevens says that JCCCrsquos Introduction to Horticultural Science and Plant Propagation classes use the exact same textbooks and lab manuals as K-Statersquos
Asked whether he thought a horticulture program was necessary in the suburbs Stevens said ldquoYes green space is a precious commodity in the city and suburbs and we need quality educated people to maintain it The JCCC program serves a strong and definite needrdquo
8 | Reconnect
The Horticultural Science Center which opened for classes in fall 2001 houses one classroom one lab with a laminar-flow hood and the greenhouse Space especially with a high night enrollment is at a premium
Dr Csilla Duneczky dean of sciences points to new possibilities for program growth ndash plant biotechnology plant sustainability water conservation in irrigation and CAD design applied to Landscape Design classes
According to Duneczky interest is substantial in two horticulture electives Arboriculture and Pest Control Management for which students can sit for licensure examinations in those fields after course completion
ldquoWe work with major nurseries lawn care and landscape companies florists county extension agencies and private gardens in order to serve the industryrdquo Duneczky said ldquoAll our faculty are experts in their fields The feedback from the industry is that our students are well preparedrdquo
Sreedhar networks in the community with the horticulture department at K-State and officials from the US Department of Agriculture and Kansas and Missouri Departments of Agriculture in order to provide her students with professional speakers and plum internships at local nurseries and the Johnson County Park and Recreation District She organizes field trips to places like the Loose Park Rose Garden (shersquos a member of the Kansas City Rose Society directorial board) Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens and K-State Research and Extension Center Olathe She has cultivated relationships with nurseries garden centers landscaping companies propagation facilities gardenhardware suppliers and biotech companies so students are exposed to a variety of the newest tools techniques and materials from cultivars to tissue culture media
ldquoI want this to be a solid programrdquo Sreedhar saidldquoI will do anything to help my students succeedrdquo
Sreedhar also credits her students for the programrsquos success She says her nighttime
classes are filled with people who work eight to 12 hours in a nursery before coming to class
ldquoMy students do extremely well They keep excellent data and complete well-written scientific reportsrdquo
Thatrsquos a high endorsement coming from Sreedhar who earned a bachelorrsquos degree in agriculture science and a masterrsquos degree in horticulture sciences from Kerala Agricultural University India and a masterrsquos in plant agriculture and a PhD in plant physiology from the University of Guelph Ontario Canada and completed postdoctoral research in plant biotechnology at Rutgersrsquo Biotechnology Center for Agriculture and the Environment She held the prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship for graduate studies in horticultural sciences for five years
Champion of the variety of fields open to horticulture students ndash floriculture pomology (study of fruit) olericulture (study of vegetables) viticulture nursery management greenhouse management landscape design turf management interiorscaping micropropagation and horticultural therapy ndash Sreedhar is positive that anyone who likes plant sciences can find a specialty to their liking If one doesnrsquot want to get his or her hands dirty Sreedhar will espouse micropropagation in tissue culture ndash a new trend for nurseries to mass propagateclone superior plants in vitro from small pieces of stock plant and rescue heavily infected plants Other options include landscape design hydroponics aeroponics and horticultural sales
Her enthusiasm extends from her professional to her personal life At age four she was captivated by her parentsrsquo rose garden in India Her love of flowers remains unabated She keeps lists of plantsflowers and their respective photographs that she has encountered She collects orchids and has about 300 in her home
ldquoPlants are fascinatingrdquo Sreedhar said ldquoThere is so much we know and so much we donrsquot knowrdquo
Colby Fuller and Natalie Martin set up an experiment during a leaf propagation lab
Rebecca Walker-Garoutte greenhouse coordinator earned her horticulture associatersquos degree in May
Sean Connolly has plans to become a golf course manager
Summer 2010 | 9
No debating itJCCC team is national community college champion 2009-2010 team members Sitting (left to right) Rebekah Rauckman Terri Easley (coach) Justin Stanley (assistant coach) Caitlin Breslin Andrew Salzmann Amanda Brown
Standing (left to right) Dalton Lawson Kristin Brandt Ben Cuellar Emily Umphrey Brandie Shepherd Tyler Kowalewski Sarah Elliott Cate Garmeavea Keith Alexander-Arceneaux
In the culmination of its successful year the Johnson County Community
College debate team was awarded the prestigious McClintock Award presented to the national champion community college team at the Cross-Examination Debate Association (CEDA) National Tournament which was held at the University of California-Berkeley in March
The CEDA national championship is based on the teamrsquos earned points during the entire season in competition with four-year colleges and universities as well as other community colleges
This is the first championship title for JCCC in eight years and the fourth year in a row JCCC has been in the top three in community college sweepstakes
The award caps a string of wins and high
rankings for the JCCC debate team During the 2009-2010 season the team traveled to 12 tournaments winning awards at all making seven final-round appearances and earning five tournament championships at the Vegas Invitational KCKCC Emporia State University Kansas State University and Novice Nationals
Throughout the year the JCCC debate team was consistently ranked as the top community college maintained a top 20 national ranking that includes four-year colleges since November and finished in the top 25 nationwide for the year ranking higher than schools like the University of Texas at Austin University of Michigan Georgetown and Baylor universities Dartmouth College and University of Kentucky
Research The 2009-2010 college debate topic was The United States Federal Government should substantially reduce the size of its nuclear weapons arsenal andor substantially reduce and restrict the role andor missions of its nuclear weapons arsenal Teams are required to debate both sides of an issue ndash affirmative and negative
The JCCC debate team participates in policy debate tournaments in which policy issues are debated by a team of two vs a team of two
ldquoMost people would argue that policy debate is harder than Lincoln-Douglas value debate or parliamentarian debate because it is more research intensiverdquo said debate coach Terri Easley
10 | Reconnect
Indeed team members invest hours into research practice rounds one-on-one speaking drills and tournaments Easley and assistant debate coach Justin Stanley can spend up to 14 to 16 hours a day with students during the competition season In the fall there were four-day back-to-back tournaments on consecutive weekends and travel time There is also preparation on Saturdays and Sundays where students and coaches spend from eight- to 12-hour days in extra practice rounds and conducting research
ldquoAs coaches we help prepare students with the skills and research they need for a two-hour debate But once the debate begins it is up to them to carry throughrdquo Easley said
Assets of a winning team Easley credits this yearrsquos successes to the addition of an assistant coach and the studentsrsquo determination She says the most common major among debaters is pre-law or political science but debate studentsrsquo majors vary from nursing to electrical engineering
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo Easley said
JCCC offers four sections of debate and all students enrolled in debate participate with the team Two-thirds of the current debate team is expected to return in the fall Using electronic databases books journals and law reviews students begin researching next yearrsquos topic as soon as it is announced in July
One also has to credit Easleyrsquos commitment for the teamrsquos success Easley began college as a music major but was won over to debate by a speech teacher who thought she ldquotalked fast and gave good speechesrdquo Easley earned a bachelorrsquos degree in literature from the University of Texas at Dallas and a masterrsquos in communication from Baylor University
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo
ndash Debate Coach Terri Easley
More kudos The JCCC debate team also hosts (and participates in) the most prestigious and longest-running junior-varsity national tournament in the country the National Junior Division Debate Tournament founded by retired JCCC professor Dr Dick Stine which was held this year in March
At the CEDA National Tournament at Berkeley JCCC debaters were awarded several national recognitions Emily Umphrey was awarded with the ldquoOutstanding New Competitor Awardrdquo for debaters in their first year of competition without prior debate experience who show growth and participation in the activity Caitlin Breslin and Dalton Lawson were selected to the All-American Debate Team The award is given to 30 debaters who represent the best of intercollegiate debate
Dalton Lawson
Brandie Shepherd
Summer 2010 | 11
Dobson publishes bookabout the Great Plains
Adjunct professor of history Patrick Dobsonrsquos book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains was recently published
Patrick Dobson adjunct professor of history is a bear of a man His
presence enthusiasm and stories fill a room He is a freelance writer a member of Ironworkers Local 10 in Kansas City and has completed all-but-a-dissertation toward a doctorate in 20th century US environmental history and American literature from the University of Missouri-Kansas City
Today Dobson is being interviewed about his first book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains published last year by the University of Nebraska Press The book describes Dobsonrsquos two-and-a-half-month journey from Kansas City Mo to Helena Mont in 1995 a journey Dobson says was ldquomeant to quiet his restless soulrdquo With only a backpack Dobson then a single father left his job with the engineering maintenance department at the Ritz-Carlton to chronicle the lives of ordinary people in the Great Plains
He kept a notebook and filed biweekly columns in The Pitch during his trip The
journal is the basis for his book for which he has done a round of media interviews and book signings A second book based on his river journey home is in the works
At JCCC Dobson teaches US history and Western civilization He has bachelorrsquos degrees in American history and English from UMKC and a masterrsquos degree in American history from the University of Wyoming Part skilled laborer part scholar Dobsonrsquos employment reflects his dichotomy maintenance at the Ritz four years as a full-time writer at The Pitch three years as an editor at Andrews McMeel Universal and one and one-half years of self-employment ndash hauling dirt rehabbing houses and stacking rock ndash previous to entering the UMKC doctoral program in 2004 He joined the Ironworkers Local 10 after completing his doctoral classes The one constant in his life has been writing
Dobson has now worked out an ideal plan for his PhD life ndash working as a
journeyman ironworker during the summers and teaching during the school year He believes he is a misfit traversing different universes comfortably
ldquoWhen Irsquom with the academics I feel like the dirty fingernailer at the queenrsquos banquetrdquo Dobson saidldquoWhen Irsquom with journalists they know something is not quite right about me something doesnrsquot fit Then when Irsquom with the ironworkers they know there is something about me ndash things I talk about ndash so they know Irsquove been someplace elserdquo
Fifteen years after his trek across the plains Dobson appears to have put his soul to rest He has learned he needs to be outside doing physical labor he needs to teach because he views learning as unfinished business and he needs to write
Dobsonrsquos book is available at Amazon University of Nebraska Press and the JCCC Billington Library
12 | Reconnect
JCCC offers motorcycle training Cheryl and Dennis Rogers Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors advise taking the Motorcycle Training class before the purchase of a motorcycle
After an interminable winter people are ready to feel the wind sun and
rain on their faces They are catching the bug to ride a motorcycle
As thrilling as buying a bike twisting the throttle and hitting the road are safety and a legal license come first JCCC began offering its new Motorcycle Training classes this year the first three sessions filled immediately
The course which provides 20 hours of instruction including eight classroom hours and 12 hours of range instruction is designed for the beginning motorcyclist who wants to operate his or her motorcycle safely and efficiently A Kansas Division of Vehicles certificate of completion will be issued after successfully completing the course
The three-day classes are scheduled from 6 to 10 pm Friday and 8 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday Riding and maneuvers including 17 exercises are scheduled all day Saturday and Sunday in the JCCC parking lot The lead teachers are Cheryl and Dennis Rogers
Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors who teach a maximum of 12 students per class
ldquoWe teach proper techniques for breaking turning and swervingrdquo Cheryl Rogers saidldquoLater we have had students thank us saying those techniques saved their livesrdquo
Dennis Rogers is a retired Kansas State Trooper and Cheryl is an IT worker for the State of Kansas Together they take one big (3000-mile) trip each summer having visited 40 of the 48 continental US states and ride weekends
The Rogers advocate motorcycle transportation as a way to reduce costs and enjoy the outdoors
ldquoOnly a motorcyclist knows the thrill and exhilaration a dog has when it sticks its head out the car windowrdquo Cheryl Rogers said
Bikes and helmets are provided for the class Stan and Elaine Rogers (no relations to Cheryl and Dennis Rogers) who formerly owned Midwest Motorcycle
Training Center donated nine Honda Rebel 250 CC bikes to JCCC after their training program closed
Dennis Rogers advises taking the motorcycle training program before buying a motorcycle so one people know they like riding a motorcycle and are successful at it and two they learn to ask the right questions when buying a bike ndash Will you have a passenger What size works for you Will you be riding on the street or dirt
Taking the class reduces insurance rates and increases safety About 92 percent of accident-involved motorcyclists were self-taught or learned from family and friends according to Cheryl Rogers
For more information contact Phil Wegman program director skills enhancement JCCC at 913-469-4446 or pwegmanjcccedu To register call 913-469-2323 Cost is $199
Summer 2010 | 13
Electronics buysrobot arm to develop new class
Chip Cody associate professorchair electronics demonstrates the capabilities of electronicsrsquo new robot arm
Using a $25000 Perkins grant JCCCrsquos electronics department
purchased a programmable six-degreeshyof-freedom robot arm to teach students how robots are used in industry
Faculty received training on the machine in the spring with the goal of developing an industrial robot class by fall 2010 JCCC already offers an elective Electronics 127 ndash Robots for Humans which serves as an introduction to the growing field of robotics An industrial robot class would teach students how to build program test and maintain robots in industry ndash everything from car manufacturing to automated self-checkouts
ldquoRobots are good candidates for jobs that are either too dangerous for humans or highly repetitive and monotonousrdquo said Chip Cody associate professor chair electronics ldquoRobots are accurate They do exactly what you tell them to do every time They never get tired bored or call in sickrdquo
JCCCrsquos robot features base waist shoulder elbow wrist and hand rotation ndash referred to as the six axes of freedom Weighing several hundred pounds the machine looks like a giant popcorn cart constructed with a quarter-inch steel working surface and requiring a double-wide door for access to the electronics lab
As in the Robots for Humans class students in the proposed class would learn about the robotrsquos hardware things like sensors and actuators and enough software programming language to teach the robot a task
Cody explains that programming involves coordinating the axes of motion and that can be accomplished in two ways ndash either by means of a microprocessor or by taking the robot manually through an operation and having its sensors store the action in its computer
ldquoA robot senses the outside world and based on what the sensor tells it it takes actionrdquo Cody said ldquoA robot constantly goes through a sense-react-sense loop Students work with small kits in the 127 class but this is the first time the college has had an industrial-strength machinerdquo
Interest in robots has been generated by students who have participated in high school robotics competitions such as FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen Students with those experiences want to progress from JCCCrsquos Microprocessors class to the robot class where the microprocessors serve as the robotrsquos ldquobrainrdquo
Cody says there is a demand for graduates with two-year electronic degrees to work in industry to maintain robots
ldquoRobots are here to stay Thatrsquos the wave of the futurerdquo Cody saidldquoThey may not all look like C-3P0 but they are everywhere ndash from assembly lines to NASArsquos Mars Exploration Rover Projectrdquo
The robot arm will have broad application
14 | Reconnect
Drafting goes 3-D
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting displays a 3-D object fabricated from the rapid prototype machine
Itrsquos not quite the Star Trek replicator but the new 3-D printer in the drafting
department is impressive
JCCCrsquos drafting program acquired its rapid prototype machine in spring 2009 giving advanced drafting students an opportunity to make models from 3-D computer-aided designs and beginning drafting students a way to visualize a 3-D design problem more clearly
Instead of toner the rapid prototype machine uses a cartridge filled with a
spool of plastic which is heated to a temperature of 572 degrees F and applied in a series of layers until the 3-D model is built according to a CAD design
To the unschooled eye it appears as easy as hitting ldquoprintrdquo and setting controls for resolution orientation interior makeup (solid or honeycomb) and number of copies Then appearing out of seemingly nothingness comes a plastic model The technically savvy however know that inside the printer a CAD file interfaces with a stereolithography file format in order to fabricate the curves and geometry of a physical object
The process is fun to watch although ldquorapidrdquo is a relative term A special print head sweeps across a plastic support plate applying layer after layer of heated plastic following CAD specifications Filler material is applied to negative space and dissolved by immersion in a chemical bath after part fabrication Objects created in the JCCC 3-D printer take from two to 60-plus hours to complete
According to Tom Hughes drafting chair drafting models were traditionally created by hand in a shop Time cost and ease of use are improved with the 3-D printer Hughes says the rapid prototyping has been available in the industry for years used for creating manufactured parts ndash everything from
industrial to fine arts As the 3-D printers became more affordable JCCC was able to purchase one so drafting students can see their projects emerge from the 2-D printed page to physical models
ldquoThe impact on our students is that the models clearly illustrate what they are attempting to drawrdquo Hughes said ldquoStudents learn to draft with greater confidencerdquo
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting says the 3-D printer has increased student interest in the drafting program
ldquoThe rapid prototype printer can do some pretty complex models with moving and mating parts things that would be difficult to make in a shoprdquo Feureborn said
Students in the CAD 3-D and Mechanical Desktop Inventor classes are encouraged to produce one 3-D model at the end of the semester Faculty use the model to demonstrate objects and cutaway slices for entry-level classes
Hughes foresees partnerships between drafting classes and other programs using the 3-D printers Students in Graphic Analysis have already collaborated with welding students in the manufacturing of prototype plant holders
Summer 2010 | 15
Building toward health field careers
The Olathe Health Education Center lies west of Olathe Medical Center
In the remnant of a former cornfield Johnson County Community College
and Olathe Medical Center are tilling the ground in advance of another kind of harvest ndash allied health medical professionals
Groundbreaking on the two-story 50000-square-foot Olathe Health Education Center took place Dec 3 2009 and construction began in March 2010 The center will open for classes in fall 2011
OMC donated 58 acres of land for the building and parking located between 152nd and 153rd Streets west of Olathe Medical Center Parkway JCCC will build OHEC at an anticipated cost of $15 million
The building exterior is designed using JCCC campus standard brick with options for cast stone or metal between the windows The main entrance is to the north with parking to the northwest
Similar in design to the Regnier Center OHEC features a two-story atrium and
floating staircase The first floor will contain the main lobby information desk and a 300-seat multipurpose conference room that can be divided into four areas for smaller meetings or classes
Additional first-floor spaces are allocated for general education medical office technology and other medical offerings (EKG phlebotomy pharmacy technology medical lab technology and surgical technology) to include
Three general classrooms for classes such as anatomy and physiology
One medical computer lab and one general-use computer lab
A medical office technology suite with two classrooms and a record office room for medical billing coding and transcription
One classroom for other medical offerings
Common spaces including a coffee bar and food cart
Offices for faculty and staff including security counseling and student services
The second floor is designed primarily for practical nursing health occupations (certified nurse assistant certified medication aides rehabilitation aide home health aide and IV therapy for LPNs) and dietary manager programs to include
Four health occupations classrooms with three patient care beds each
Two skills labs with eight beds each one of the two is designed to accommodate four patient simulators
Practical nursehealth occupations student success center
Two classrooms for practical nursing and other medical classes
Common spaces for study and rest breaks
Offices for faculty and staff
16 | Reconnect
A rendering of the Olathe Health Education Center is shown here
Students will have clinical education opportunities at Olathe Medical Center as well as the opportunity for professional relationships with OMC health care practitioners
Rex Hays executive director Campus Services says HMN Architects collaborated with the academic administrators in multiple meetings to fulfill the specific needs of health care programming According to Hays the building will meet LEED silver certification in recognition of environmentally responsible building practices Access to a detention basin for a storm water run-off adds to points for LEED criteria
As owner of the OHEC JCCC will provide maintenance housekeeping and security (The college owns the building but does not receive clear title until the end of the 10-year lease and after payment of all scheduled lease amounts)
ldquoWe are grateful to Olathe Medical Center for the opportunity of building a health care teaching campusrdquo said Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC presidentldquoThe
medical center is a renowned medical facility and we are proud to be partners with themrdquo
ldquoWe are extremely proud to have the Olathe Health Education Center on our campusrdquo said Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC ldquoIt has been a pleasure for our staff to work with JCCC MidAmerica Nazarene University and the Olathe School District in developing the best curriculum to teach outstanding health care providers of the futurerdquo
Students from the Olathe schools will be provided a clear pathway through JCCC and if they choose to do so on to MidAmerica Nazarene University for baccalaureate and graduate studies completion according to Dr Dana Grove JCCC executive vice president educational planning and development chief operating officer
ldquoUltimately the beneficiary of the new OHEC is the community who will be served by an increase in the number of health care providers and the number of allied health programsrdquo Grove said
Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC and Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC president listen to a speaker at the Dec 3 groundbreaking for OHEC
Summer 2010 | 17
JCCC launches Achieving the Dream
Drs James Tschechtelin and Ted Wright JCCCrsquos coaches for Achieving the Dream brainstorm with Jeff Frost JCCC dean mathematics during an Achieving the Dream session of Fall 2009 Professional Development Days
Johnson County Community College is the first and only school in Kansas
to join Achieving the Dream Community Colleges Count a national initiative to help more community college students succeed particularly low-income students and students of color
JCCC is one of 102 institutions ndash 98 colleges and four universities ndash in 22 states to participate in Achieving the Dream which helps participating colleges implement strategies designed to help more students earn degrees complete certificates or transfer to other institutions to continue their studies The initiative emphasizes building a culture of evidence in which colleges use data to identify effective practices improve student success rates and close achievement gaps
The Lumina Foundation for Education which funds Achieving the Dream has a goal to raise the proportion of the US adult population who earn high-quality college degrees to 60 percent by 2025 an increase of 23 million graduates above current rates according to Dr Marilyn Rhinehart executive vice president Instruction JCCC Currently approximately 39 percent of American
adults complete a two- or four-year degree Each college makes a two-year commitment to focus its efforts on closing performance gaps among students in targeted populations
ldquoAt JCCC our work with Achieving the Dream will help us enhance the experience of students in developmental educationrdquo said Jason Kovac executive director of Academic Initiatives and Achieving the Dream core team leader ldquoThe goal will be to connect more people with college-level coursework and help more students reach their educational goals Ultimately this has a huge effect on our community ndash increased wages and better quality of life for our graduates and more skilled workers for regional employers This will be a key driver for college and community prosperity in the coming yearsrdquo
Core team members are Rhinehart team co-chair Terry Calaway JCCC president and team co-chair Jeff Frost dean mathematics Larry Reynolds dean Communications Beth Gulley assistant professor English Bill Robinson associate professor mathematics Mindy Manes administrative assistant
Corporate Outreach and Strategic Partnerships Learner Engagement and the Center for Sustainability Jason Kovac executive director Academic Initiatives Rick Moehring dean Learner Engagement Dr Ralph Juhnke director Institutional Research Paul Kyle dean Student Services Pam Vassar assistant dean Student Life and Leadership Development and Wendy Farwell counselor JCCCrsquos first step is to gather data to determine which student groups are less successful than others and which high-enrollment courses have the lowest success rates
ldquoAchieving the Dream really requires us to use data to focus on measurable outcomes and be open and forthright about current performancerdquo Juhnke said
While Achieving the Dream is about data Rhinehart says that every number represents a person
ldquoEvery piece of data has a story that can help us understand how we can make the greatest difference to a student We need to learn how we can take down barriers to student success and give students the courage and confidence to succeedrdquo Rhinehart said
18 | Reconnect
Journalism student media show news sense
JCCC journalism students show off a few of their many awards at the Headline Award ceremony in April 2010
The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism
and media communications department New video courses Advanced Video Production and Advanced Broadcast Performance were introduced as well as Digital Photojournalism designed for the multimedia needs of todayrsquos journalists The departmentrsquos foundation course Mass Media and Society became a general education elective for humanities credit in the spring 2010 semester for each of the collegersquos associatersquos degree programs
This past academic year more than 300 students completed classes in the journalism and media communications department and 10 students received scholarship money JCCC also continues to offer the largest media internship program in the Kansas City metro area providing students the opportunity to work in a professional environment
Beginning in fall 2010 students will be able to earn college credit with Basic Video Production in both the Blue Valley and Olathe high schools as part of JCCCrsquos College Now program
The departmentrsquos faculty includes two full-time professors Mark Raduziner department chair and Greg Harrell and adjunct faculty Gretchen Thum Julie Haas Joe Petrie Molly Baumgardner Corbin
Crable Joel Nichols and Mary Schulte
2010 was the seventh year for the Headline Award honoring local journalists whose example serves as an inspiration to student journalists at JCCC This yearrsquos honoree was Steve Kraske political correspondent for The Kansas City Star and host of Up to Date on KCURshyFM Kansas Cityrsquos public radio station
JCCCrsquos journalism and media communications department partners with Student Life and Leadership Development on two events In March the two departments sponsored People in the Media a panel of print and electronic media professionals who discussed the future of the industry In April the seventh annual Cavalier Film Festival honored student filmmakers from JCCC and Johnson County and Lawrence high schools in five categories Professionals in the Kansas City film and video industry judge entries and provide feedback
JCAV the student-produced TV news and magazine program took off this year with 10 JCAV news episodes seven JCAV Campus Updates and five Cavalier sports reports ndash live cable shows of sports events JCAV students won five 2010 Kansas Association of Broadcasters student awards while competing against all public and private colleges and universities in Kansas
Working in collaboration with the journalism and media communications department is Anne Christiansen-Bullers Student Life media coordinator and adviser to the student-produced radio station ECAV and JCCCrsquos student newspaper The Campus Ledger ECAV radio had its genesis in fall 2009 and will continue this year under radio station manager Marvita Oliver
The Campus Ledger was awarded the All-Kansas Award and a record 40 individual awards at the state conference sponsored by the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press Association
Judges awarded The Campus Ledger the gold medal for overall excellence and the All-Kansas Award reflecting the best of show in the two-year-school division
The newspaperrsquos Web site received a gold medal up from last yearrsquos bronze-medal distinction
The Campus Ledger editor-in-chief for 2009-10 was Matt Galloway The online editor was John Young Galloway won first runner-up in the Journalist of the Year contest sponsored by Kansas Associated Collegiate Press
Ondrej Pazdirek is the Campus Ledgerrsquos editor-in-chief for 2010-11
Summer 2010 | 19
Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing (left to right) Students Mickey Belcher Jimmy Lee and Jeff Middlesworth work in a patient simulation room with Mark Foster (blue lab coat) adjunct assistant professor nursing
Helping a patient or family member during a difficult time is the
primary satisfaction of being a nurse according to male nurses and male nursing students interviewed for this story
There are also practical reasons for being a nurse ndash the potential for good wages plentiful jobs and career diversity
So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
Jane Zaccardi director practical nursing and health occupations JCCC says the eulogized Florence Nightingale may be the reason Prior to the Crimean War men provided care in hospitals and battlefields and women in the home Nightingale brought the profession to women and subtly the job switched from one for men to one for women
JCCC in conjunction with Kansas Board of Regents is trying to reverse Nightingalersquos influence with two new Men in Nurses Training programs aimed at male high school students both of which were held in June The first was a nursing orientation summer camp for ninth and 10th grade students offered at no charge through grant funding The second MINT was a males-only
Certified Nurse Aide course for young men entering 11th and 12th grades Students who are employed as CNAs by a nursing facility within 12 months of the program can have their tuition reimbursed by their employer
With CNA certification students can earn a good salary and find a job right away according to Zaccardi or use the credentials to continue their education as a practical nurse then registered nurse
ldquoWe flat out donrsquot have enough nurses and we need to have men interested in the professionrdquo said Zaccardi whose statement is supported by a 2004 report from the American Nursing Association predicting 11 million job openings in the year 2020 ldquoWe are hoping through the MINT program men will select nursing as their first choice not as a career change in their 30s or 40srdquo
John McNally assistant professor nursing JCCC took exactly that career path At age 16 he got a job in his hometown hospital as what was then called an ldquoorderlyrdquo and worked part time at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center Topeka while earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Pittsburg State University
ldquoThe orderly positions now called CNA
were a convenient avenue to earn a paycheck while I was going to schoolrdquo McNally said
As an RN McNally worked at Stormont-Vail and North Kansas City Hospital earning a masterrsquos degree in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1996 In 2000 he decided to add computer skills to his reacutesumeacute and enrolled at JCCC where he moonlighted in the academic computer lab 30 hours a week When a nursing faculty position opened at JCCC he knew it was a good fit for him especially as health care technology increases
ldquoIn the hospitals where Irsquove worked there seem to be more males each yearrdquo McNally said ldquoWhile still a minority on the hospital floors men are likely to migrate to surgery radiology and technical areas My impression is that men in nursing donrsquot face any discriminationrdquo
Ed Ronnebaum assistant professor nursing JCCC echoes those sentiments
ldquoI have never faced discrimination at any timerdquo he said ldquoIt doesnrsquot matter if you are male or female as a nurse patient care is a team effortrdquo
For Ronnebaum however nursing is a career change After high school he
20 | Reconnect
served eight years of active duty as an Air Force aircraft mechanic then in the Air Guard in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm On his return Ronnebaum decided to rekindle his interest in anatomy and caring for sick people to become a nurse He started as a student nurse tech at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center Topeka earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Washburn University Topeka a masterrsquos of science in health care administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on a PhD in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City He teaches full time at JCCC and maintains his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves He has had one assignment as a critical care nurse in Iraq January through May 2007 Before entering academia he worked at KU Medical Center in medicalsurgery the burn unit and neurosurgery ICU
ldquoNursing is an exciting career and there is so much you can do with a nursing degree You can work in a hospital physicianrsquos office rehabilitation or long-term care facility nursing school or the militaryrdquo Ronnebaum said ldquoWith the growth in health care the sky is the limit for what you can do in nursingrdquo
ldquoMen balance the professionrdquo said Colleen Duggan JCCC nursing professor ldquoHaving men and women on the team makes for better collaboration on health care decisionsrdquo
Wayne Deines adjunct associate professor has a dual appointment with St Lukersquos South Hospital and JCCC He teaches JCCC students in clinicals two days a week at the hospital and one day a week at JCCC As an RN-III at St Lukersquos he works in the cardiovascular recovery unit Deines also came to nursing circuitously working as an EMT with the Consolidated Fire District 2 (Prairie Village) and paramedic with Johnson County Med-Act then earning his bachelorrsquos in nursing from KU School of Nursing A nurse for 18 years he worked in the military eight years and at St Lukersquos South for 10 Deines encourages men to enter nursing In fact his son is an operating room nurse at Childrenrsquos Mercy Hospital Kansas City Mo
JCCC has five male nursing faculty two full-time Ronnebaum and McNally and three part-time Deines Mark Foster and Kureo Ohta Eight male students graduated this spring out of a class of 71 In the practical nurse program there is one male adjunct faculty and three males out of 37 in the evening program due to graduate in December
JCCCrsquos male nursing students are gravitating to critical care upon graduation
ldquoGuys like critical care ndash ICU trauma and surgery I donrsquot know what thatrsquos all about but it seems to be naturalrdquo said student DJ Klinge
Students reiterate the fact that they feel no discrimination as males Sometimes an obstetrics patient prefers a female nurse but they donrsquot take offense They see it as a personal preference
ldquoYou have to be secure with yourself when you are a male nurserdquo said Jimmy Greenlee student
ldquoTwenty years ago guys in their 20s wouldnrsquot have thought about nursing as a career choice When people ask me if I am going to be a nurse I say lsquoAbsolutely There is nothing wrong with thatrsquordquo said Matt Munden who was determined to finish nursing school despite being readmitted to the RN program after a tour of duty in Iraq
Almost unanimously male faculty and students wish they had been introduced
Student Matt Munden assesses a heart rhythm under the instruction of Mark Foster (left) adjunct assistant professor nursing
to nursing as a career option earlier in life They recommend earning a CNA (a prerequisite to JCCCrsquos RN program) and working with patients before committing to the RN program
ldquoI got my CNA and really enjoyed it You help people who are truly dependent on you The CNA class pushed me into applying for nursing schoolrdquo said Jeff Middlesworth
ldquoJust getting your CNA lets you know if you are cut out for the job It lets you know whether you have the stomach for nursing or not and you learn rapport with patientsrdquo Greenlee said
So what would these young men say to other men thinking about a nursing career
ldquoLook into it and get your CNA If you have your head on straight and you are looking for a good career path I think it is well worth itrdquo Munden said ldquoIt was one of those things I didnrsquot really look at at first But this is the right decision for merdquo
ldquoEven in the recession the jobs in health care and nursing are still growingrdquo Middlesworth said
Greenlee says ldquoabsolutelyrdquo he is glad to have made the decision to be a nurse
ldquoI am not shy about being a male nurserdquo he said ldquoI am proud of itrdquo
Summer 2010 | 21
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
Jigu Thunder
Drums of
China a world-class company of drummers percussionists and musicians steeped in the culture of Shanxi province Nov 12 2010
Naturally 7 award-winning septet with a distinct a cappella style called ldquovocal playrdquo Nov 20 2010
Christmas Bells Are Swinginrsquo Boston Brass and the Brass All-Stars Big Band play holiday selections arranged by jazz legend Stan Kenton bull Dec 3 2010
Lar Lubovitch Dance Company internationally renowned modern dance Jan 29 2011
The Hot Club of San Francisco Gypsy jazz in Silent Surrealism Polsky Theatre bull Feb 4 2011
An Evening
with Martin
Short starring the legendary comedian film star and SNL alumnus Feb 12 2011
Vienna Boys
Choir with a repertoire encompassing Austrian folk songs and waltzes classical masterpieces pop songs songs from childrenrsquos operas and medieval chants Feb 26 2011
Opole Philharmonic of Poland with soprano Iwona Sobotka light classics by Johann Strauss Jr and friends March 4 2011
Hot Tuna Blues guitarists Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane fame blues-harp player Charlie Musselwhite and country-and-bluegrass artist Jim Lauderdale March 5 2011
Janis Ian singer guitarist songwriter (At Seventeen) Polsky Theatre bull March 12 2011
The Joffrey Ballet Chicago-based and world-renowned April 2 2011
Beacutela Fleck banjo Zakir Hussain tablapercussion and Edgar Meyer bass April 16 2011
Spamalot Broadway hit based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail 7 pm bull May 1 2011
Summer 2010 | 7
Horticulture program grows with vigor Dr Lekha Sreedhar instructs Horticultural Science students inside the greenhouse
As the lead author on scholarly articles published in journals like
Plant Science Annals of Botany and GENE Dr Lekha Sreedhar associate professor horticultural sciences has proven herself an excellent academic
But 16 years of study and research in plant sciences is only part of the reason Sreedhar has helped to make JCCCrsquos horticulture program a success in terms of quality and growing number of classes The real reason is Sreedharrsquos passion for the subject and her students Her enthusiasm is contagious
In this dayrsquos Introduction to Horticultural Science lab students work inside the Horticultural Science Centerrsquos greenhouse surrounded by a sea of plants and flowers planting six different leaf types in two different media in order to compare propagation methods Students work knowingly as they determine the composition of the planting media and look for leaves from healthy stock plants to maximize growth They are enrolled in the horticulture program with a variety of aspirations Two want to become golf course managers one is interested in environmental science possibly plant engineering another has aspirations to own a commercial greenhouse growing
plants like organic hydroponic tomatoes and there are more
Carolyn Palmer Newton worked in a greenhouse for four-and-a-half years but now wants the science background Colby Fuller Emporia already has a bachelorrsquos degree in agronomy but is working toward JCCCrsquos horticulture associate degree so he can obtain a job in landscaping
ldquoI really like this courserdquo Fuller said ldquoDr Sreedhar is an excellent teacher If anyone has a question off-topic she can answer itrdquo
Rebecca Walker-Garoutte Lenexa worked in the floral design business 28 years before enrolling at JCCC where she received an associatersquos degree in May She is the greenhouse coordinator and likes the idea that she is supporting education by caring for a large variety of plants and trees inside and outside the greenhouse dedicated to student use
ldquoI feel this is a good program with continued efforts to use the best materialsrdquo Walker-Garoutte said ldquoDr Sreedhar makes sure students receive a good science experience ndash with passionrdquo
JCCC first offered a horticulture certificate program in 2001 In 2006 a landscape technician certificate was
added and a horticultural associatersquos degree became effective fall 2007 Horticultural floral design and landscape technician entrepreneurship certificates are also offered Sreedhar was brought on board as the only full-time horticulture faculty in 2006 Four to eight adjunct faculty in various areas of expertise also teach horticulture classes including Dr Alan Stevens director K-State Research and Extension Center Olathe and JCCC adjunct associate professor landscape design
ldquoThe skills students learn at JCCC are beneficial to the industry Students receive an underlying depth of knowledge that they wouldnrsquot receive with on-the-job experiencerdquo Stevens said
Stevens says that JCCCrsquos Introduction to Horticultural Science and Plant Propagation classes use the exact same textbooks and lab manuals as K-Statersquos
Asked whether he thought a horticulture program was necessary in the suburbs Stevens said ldquoYes green space is a precious commodity in the city and suburbs and we need quality educated people to maintain it The JCCC program serves a strong and definite needrdquo
8 | Reconnect
The Horticultural Science Center which opened for classes in fall 2001 houses one classroom one lab with a laminar-flow hood and the greenhouse Space especially with a high night enrollment is at a premium
Dr Csilla Duneczky dean of sciences points to new possibilities for program growth ndash plant biotechnology plant sustainability water conservation in irrigation and CAD design applied to Landscape Design classes
According to Duneczky interest is substantial in two horticulture electives Arboriculture and Pest Control Management for which students can sit for licensure examinations in those fields after course completion
ldquoWe work with major nurseries lawn care and landscape companies florists county extension agencies and private gardens in order to serve the industryrdquo Duneczky said ldquoAll our faculty are experts in their fields The feedback from the industry is that our students are well preparedrdquo
Sreedhar networks in the community with the horticulture department at K-State and officials from the US Department of Agriculture and Kansas and Missouri Departments of Agriculture in order to provide her students with professional speakers and plum internships at local nurseries and the Johnson County Park and Recreation District She organizes field trips to places like the Loose Park Rose Garden (shersquos a member of the Kansas City Rose Society directorial board) Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens and K-State Research and Extension Center Olathe She has cultivated relationships with nurseries garden centers landscaping companies propagation facilities gardenhardware suppliers and biotech companies so students are exposed to a variety of the newest tools techniques and materials from cultivars to tissue culture media
ldquoI want this to be a solid programrdquo Sreedhar saidldquoI will do anything to help my students succeedrdquo
Sreedhar also credits her students for the programrsquos success She says her nighttime
classes are filled with people who work eight to 12 hours in a nursery before coming to class
ldquoMy students do extremely well They keep excellent data and complete well-written scientific reportsrdquo
Thatrsquos a high endorsement coming from Sreedhar who earned a bachelorrsquos degree in agriculture science and a masterrsquos degree in horticulture sciences from Kerala Agricultural University India and a masterrsquos in plant agriculture and a PhD in plant physiology from the University of Guelph Ontario Canada and completed postdoctoral research in plant biotechnology at Rutgersrsquo Biotechnology Center for Agriculture and the Environment She held the prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship for graduate studies in horticultural sciences for five years
Champion of the variety of fields open to horticulture students ndash floriculture pomology (study of fruit) olericulture (study of vegetables) viticulture nursery management greenhouse management landscape design turf management interiorscaping micropropagation and horticultural therapy ndash Sreedhar is positive that anyone who likes plant sciences can find a specialty to their liking If one doesnrsquot want to get his or her hands dirty Sreedhar will espouse micropropagation in tissue culture ndash a new trend for nurseries to mass propagateclone superior plants in vitro from small pieces of stock plant and rescue heavily infected plants Other options include landscape design hydroponics aeroponics and horticultural sales
Her enthusiasm extends from her professional to her personal life At age four she was captivated by her parentsrsquo rose garden in India Her love of flowers remains unabated She keeps lists of plantsflowers and their respective photographs that she has encountered She collects orchids and has about 300 in her home
ldquoPlants are fascinatingrdquo Sreedhar said ldquoThere is so much we know and so much we donrsquot knowrdquo
Colby Fuller and Natalie Martin set up an experiment during a leaf propagation lab
Rebecca Walker-Garoutte greenhouse coordinator earned her horticulture associatersquos degree in May
Sean Connolly has plans to become a golf course manager
Summer 2010 | 9
No debating itJCCC team is national community college champion 2009-2010 team members Sitting (left to right) Rebekah Rauckman Terri Easley (coach) Justin Stanley (assistant coach) Caitlin Breslin Andrew Salzmann Amanda Brown
Standing (left to right) Dalton Lawson Kristin Brandt Ben Cuellar Emily Umphrey Brandie Shepherd Tyler Kowalewski Sarah Elliott Cate Garmeavea Keith Alexander-Arceneaux
In the culmination of its successful year the Johnson County Community
College debate team was awarded the prestigious McClintock Award presented to the national champion community college team at the Cross-Examination Debate Association (CEDA) National Tournament which was held at the University of California-Berkeley in March
The CEDA national championship is based on the teamrsquos earned points during the entire season in competition with four-year colleges and universities as well as other community colleges
This is the first championship title for JCCC in eight years and the fourth year in a row JCCC has been in the top three in community college sweepstakes
The award caps a string of wins and high
rankings for the JCCC debate team During the 2009-2010 season the team traveled to 12 tournaments winning awards at all making seven final-round appearances and earning five tournament championships at the Vegas Invitational KCKCC Emporia State University Kansas State University and Novice Nationals
Throughout the year the JCCC debate team was consistently ranked as the top community college maintained a top 20 national ranking that includes four-year colleges since November and finished in the top 25 nationwide for the year ranking higher than schools like the University of Texas at Austin University of Michigan Georgetown and Baylor universities Dartmouth College and University of Kentucky
Research The 2009-2010 college debate topic was The United States Federal Government should substantially reduce the size of its nuclear weapons arsenal andor substantially reduce and restrict the role andor missions of its nuclear weapons arsenal Teams are required to debate both sides of an issue ndash affirmative and negative
The JCCC debate team participates in policy debate tournaments in which policy issues are debated by a team of two vs a team of two
ldquoMost people would argue that policy debate is harder than Lincoln-Douglas value debate or parliamentarian debate because it is more research intensiverdquo said debate coach Terri Easley
10 | Reconnect
Indeed team members invest hours into research practice rounds one-on-one speaking drills and tournaments Easley and assistant debate coach Justin Stanley can spend up to 14 to 16 hours a day with students during the competition season In the fall there were four-day back-to-back tournaments on consecutive weekends and travel time There is also preparation on Saturdays and Sundays where students and coaches spend from eight- to 12-hour days in extra practice rounds and conducting research
ldquoAs coaches we help prepare students with the skills and research they need for a two-hour debate But once the debate begins it is up to them to carry throughrdquo Easley said
Assets of a winning team Easley credits this yearrsquos successes to the addition of an assistant coach and the studentsrsquo determination She says the most common major among debaters is pre-law or political science but debate studentsrsquo majors vary from nursing to electrical engineering
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo Easley said
JCCC offers four sections of debate and all students enrolled in debate participate with the team Two-thirds of the current debate team is expected to return in the fall Using electronic databases books journals and law reviews students begin researching next yearrsquos topic as soon as it is announced in July
One also has to credit Easleyrsquos commitment for the teamrsquos success Easley began college as a music major but was won over to debate by a speech teacher who thought she ldquotalked fast and gave good speechesrdquo Easley earned a bachelorrsquos degree in literature from the University of Texas at Dallas and a masterrsquos in communication from Baylor University
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo
ndash Debate Coach Terri Easley
More kudos The JCCC debate team also hosts (and participates in) the most prestigious and longest-running junior-varsity national tournament in the country the National Junior Division Debate Tournament founded by retired JCCC professor Dr Dick Stine which was held this year in March
At the CEDA National Tournament at Berkeley JCCC debaters were awarded several national recognitions Emily Umphrey was awarded with the ldquoOutstanding New Competitor Awardrdquo for debaters in their first year of competition without prior debate experience who show growth and participation in the activity Caitlin Breslin and Dalton Lawson were selected to the All-American Debate Team The award is given to 30 debaters who represent the best of intercollegiate debate
Dalton Lawson
Brandie Shepherd
Summer 2010 | 11
Dobson publishes bookabout the Great Plains
Adjunct professor of history Patrick Dobsonrsquos book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains was recently published
Patrick Dobson adjunct professor of history is a bear of a man His
presence enthusiasm and stories fill a room He is a freelance writer a member of Ironworkers Local 10 in Kansas City and has completed all-but-a-dissertation toward a doctorate in 20th century US environmental history and American literature from the University of Missouri-Kansas City
Today Dobson is being interviewed about his first book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains published last year by the University of Nebraska Press The book describes Dobsonrsquos two-and-a-half-month journey from Kansas City Mo to Helena Mont in 1995 a journey Dobson says was ldquomeant to quiet his restless soulrdquo With only a backpack Dobson then a single father left his job with the engineering maintenance department at the Ritz-Carlton to chronicle the lives of ordinary people in the Great Plains
He kept a notebook and filed biweekly columns in The Pitch during his trip The
journal is the basis for his book for which he has done a round of media interviews and book signings A second book based on his river journey home is in the works
At JCCC Dobson teaches US history and Western civilization He has bachelorrsquos degrees in American history and English from UMKC and a masterrsquos degree in American history from the University of Wyoming Part skilled laborer part scholar Dobsonrsquos employment reflects his dichotomy maintenance at the Ritz four years as a full-time writer at The Pitch three years as an editor at Andrews McMeel Universal and one and one-half years of self-employment ndash hauling dirt rehabbing houses and stacking rock ndash previous to entering the UMKC doctoral program in 2004 He joined the Ironworkers Local 10 after completing his doctoral classes The one constant in his life has been writing
Dobson has now worked out an ideal plan for his PhD life ndash working as a
journeyman ironworker during the summers and teaching during the school year He believes he is a misfit traversing different universes comfortably
ldquoWhen Irsquom with the academics I feel like the dirty fingernailer at the queenrsquos banquetrdquo Dobson saidldquoWhen Irsquom with journalists they know something is not quite right about me something doesnrsquot fit Then when Irsquom with the ironworkers they know there is something about me ndash things I talk about ndash so they know Irsquove been someplace elserdquo
Fifteen years after his trek across the plains Dobson appears to have put his soul to rest He has learned he needs to be outside doing physical labor he needs to teach because he views learning as unfinished business and he needs to write
Dobsonrsquos book is available at Amazon University of Nebraska Press and the JCCC Billington Library
12 | Reconnect
JCCC offers motorcycle training Cheryl and Dennis Rogers Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors advise taking the Motorcycle Training class before the purchase of a motorcycle
After an interminable winter people are ready to feel the wind sun and
rain on their faces They are catching the bug to ride a motorcycle
As thrilling as buying a bike twisting the throttle and hitting the road are safety and a legal license come first JCCC began offering its new Motorcycle Training classes this year the first three sessions filled immediately
The course which provides 20 hours of instruction including eight classroom hours and 12 hours of range instruction is designed for the beginning motorcyclist who wants to operate his or her motorcycle safely and efficiently A Kansas Division of Vehicles certificate of completion will be issued after successfully completing the course
The three-day classes are scheduled from 6 to 10 pm Friday and 8 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday Riding and maneuvers including 17 exercises are scheduled all day Saturday and Sunday in the JCCC parking lot The lead teachers are Cheryl and Dennis Rogers
Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors who teach a maximum of 12 students per class
ldquoWe teach proper techniques for breaking turning and swervingrdquo Cheryl Rogers saidldquoLater we have had students thank us saying those techniques saved their livesrdquo
Dennis Rogers is a retired Kansas State Trooper and Cheryl is an IT worker for the State of Kansas Together they take one big (3000-mile) trip each summer having visited 40 of the 48 continental US states and ride weekends
The Rogers advocate motorcycle transportation as a way to reduce costs and enjoy the outdoors
ldquoOnly a motorcyclist knows the thrill and exhilaration a dog has when it sticks its head out the car windowrdquo Cheryl Rogers said
Bikes and helmets are provided for the class Stan and Elaine Rogers (no relations to Cheryl and Dennis Rogers) who formerly owned Midwest Motorcycle
Training Center donated nine Honda Rebel 250 CC bikes to JCCC after their training program closed
Dennis Rogers advises taking the motorcycle training program before buying a motorcycle so one people know they like riding a motorcycle and are successful at it and two they learn to ask the right questions when buying a bike ndash Will you have a passenger What size works for you Will you be riding on the street or dirt
Taking the class reduces insurance rates and increases safety About 92 percent of accident-involved motorcyclists were self-taught or learned from family and friends according to Cheryl Rogers
For more information contact Phil Wegman program director skills enhancement JCCC at 913-469-4446 or pwegmanjcccedu To register call 913-469-2323 Cost is $199
Summer 2010 | 13
Electronics buysrobot arm to develop new class
Chip Cody associate professorchair electronics demonstrates the capabilities of electronicsrsquo new robot arm
Using a $25000 Perkins grant JCCCrsquos electronics department
purchased a programmable six-degreeshyof-freedom robot arm to teach students how robots are used in industry
Faculty received training on the machine in the spring with the goal of developing an industrial robot class by fall 2010 JCCC already offers an elective Electronics 127 ndash Robots for Humans which serves as an introduction to the growing field of robotics An industrial robot class would teach students how to build program test and maintain robots in industry ndash everything from car manufacturing to automated self-checkouts
ldquoRobots are good candidates for jobs that are either too dangerous for humans or highly repetitive and monotonousrdquo said Chip Cody associate professor chair electronics ldquoRobots are accurate They do exactly what you tell them to do every time They never get tired bored or call in sickrdquo
JCCCrsquos robot features base waist shoulder elbow wrist and hand rotation ndash referred to as the six axes of freedom Weighing several hundred pounds the machine looks like a giant popcorn cart constructed with a quarter-inch steel working surface and requiring a double-wide door for access to the electronics lab
As in the Robots for Humans class students in the proposed class would learn about the robotrsquos hardware things like sensors and actuators and enough software programming language to teach the robot a task
Cody explains that programming involves coordinating the axes of motion and that can be accomplished in two ways ndash either by means of a microprocessor or by taking the robot manually through an operation and having its sensors store the action in its computer
ldquoA robot senses the outside world and based on what the sensor tells it it takes actionrdquo Cody said ldquoA robot constantly goes through a sense-react-sense loop Students work with small kits in the 127 class but this is the first time the college has had an industrial-strength machinerdquo
Interest in robots has been generated by students who have participated in high school robotics competitions such as FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen Students with those experiences want to progress from JCCCrsquos Microprocessors class to the robot class where the microprocessors serve as the robotrsquos ldquobrainrdquo
Cody says there is a demand for graduates with two-year electronic degrees to work in industry to maintain robots
ldquoRobots are here to stay Thatrsquos the wave of the futurerdquo Cody saidldquoThey may not all look like C-3P0 but they are everywhere ndash from assembly lines to NASArsquos Mars Exploration Rover Projectrdquo
The robot arm will have broad application
14 | Reconnect
Drafting goes 3-D
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting displays a 3-D object fabricated from the rapid prototype machine
Itrsquos not quite the Star Trek replicator but the new 3-D printer in the drafting
department is impressive
JCCCrsquos drafting program acquired its rapid prototype machine in spring 2009 giving advanced drafting students an opportunity to make models from 3-D computer-aided designs and beginning drafting students a way to visualize a 3-D design problem more clearly
Instead of toner the rapid prototype machine uses a cartridge filled with a
spool of plastic which is heated to a temperature of 572 degrees F and applied in a series of layers until the 3-D model is built according to a CAD design
To the unschooled eye it appears as easy as hitting ldquoprintrdquo and setting controls for resolution orientation interior makeup (solid or honeycomb) and number of copies Then appearing out of seemingly nothingness comes a plastic model The technically savvy however know that inside the printer a CAD file interfaces with a stereolithography file format in order to fabricate the curves and geometry of a physical object
The process is fun to watch although ldquorapidrdquo is a relative term A special print head sweeps across a plastic support plate applying layer after layer of heated plastic following CAD specifications Filler material is applied to negative space and dissolved by immersion in a chemical bath after part fabrication Objects created in the JCCC 3-D printer take from two to 60-plus hours to complete
According to Tom Hughes drafting chair drafting models were traditionally created by hand in a shop Time cost and ease of use are improved with the 3-D printer Hughes says the rapid prototyping has been available in the industry for years used for creating manufactured parts ndash everything from
industrial to fine arts As the 3-D printers became more affordable JCCC was able to purchase one so drafting students can see their projects emerge from the 2-D printed page to physical models
ldquoThe impact on our students is that the models clearly illustrate what they are attempting to drawrdquo Hughes said ldquoStudents learn to draft with greater confidencerdquo
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting says the 3-D printer has increased student interest in the drafting program
ldquoThe rapid prototype printer can do some pretty complex models with moving and mating parts things that would be difficult to make in a shoprdquo Feureborn said
Students in the CAD 3-D and Mechanical Desktop Inventor classes are encouraged to produce one 3-D model at the end of the semester Faculty use the model to demonstrate objects and cutaway slices for entry-level classes
Hughes foresees partnerships between drafting classes and other programs using the 3-D printers Students in Graphic Analysis have already collaborated with welding students in the manufacturing of prototype plant holders
Summer 2010 | 15
Building toward health field careers
The Olathe Health Education Center lies west of Olathe Medical Center
In the remnant of a former cornfield Johnson County Community College
and Olathe Medical Center are tilling the ground in advance of another kind of harvest ndash allied health medical professionals
Groundbreaking on the two-story 50000-square-foot Olathe Health Education Center took place Dec 3 2009 and construction began in March 2010 The center will open for classes in fall 2011
OMC donated 58 acres of land for the building and parking located between 152nd and 153rd Streets west of Olathe Medical Center Parkway JCCC will build OHEC at an anticipated cost of $15 million
The building exterior is designed using JCCC campus standard brick with options for cast stone or metal between the windows The main entrance is to the north with parking to the northwest
Similar in design to the Regnier Center OHEC features a two-story atrium and
floating staircase The first floor will contain the main lobby information desk and a 300-seat multipurpose conference room that can be divided into four areas for smaller meetings or classes
Additional first-floor spaces are allocated for general education medical office technology and other medical offerings (EKG phlebotomy pharmacy technology medical lab technology and surgical technology) to include
Three general classrooms for classes such as anatomy and physiology
One medical computer lab and one general-use computer lab
A medical office technology suite with two classrooms and a record office room for medical billing coding and transcription
One classroom for other medical offerings
Common spaces including a coffee bar and food cart
Offices for faculty and staff including security counseling and student services
The second floor is designed primarily for practical nursing health occupations (certified nurse assistant certified medication aides rehabilitation aide home health aide and IV therapy for LPNs) and dietary manager programs to include
Four health occupations classrooms with three patient care beds each
Two skills labs with eight beds each one of the two is designed to accommodate four patient simulators
Practical nursehealth occupations student success center
Two classrooms for practical nursing and other medical classes
Common spaces for study and rest breaks
Offices for faculty and staff
16 | Reconnect
A rendering of the Olathe Health Education Center is shown here
Students will have clinical education opportunities at Olathe Medical Center as well as the opportunity for professional relationships with OMC health care practitioners
Rex Hays executive director Campus Services says HMN Architects collaborated with the academic administrators in multiple meetings to fulfill the specific needs of health care programming According to Hays the building will meet LEED silver certification in recognition of environmentally responsible building practices Access to a detention basin for a storm water run-off adds to points for LEED criteria
As owner of the OHEC JCCC will provide maintenance housekeeping and security (The college owns the building but does not receive clear title until the end of the 10-year lease and after payment of all scheduled lease amounts)
ldquoWe are grateful to Olathe Medical Center for the opportunity of building a health care teaching campusrdquo said Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC presidentldquoThe
medical center is a renowned medical facility and we are proud to be partners with themrdquo
ldquoWe are extremely proud to have the Olathe Health Education Center on our campusrdquo said Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC ldquoIt has been a pleasure for our staff to work with JCCC MidAmerica Nazarene University and the Olathe School District in developing the best curriculum to teach outstanding health care providers of the futurerdquo
Students from the Olathe schools will be provided a clear pathway through JCCC and if they choose to do so on to MidAmerica Nazarene University for baccalaureate and graduate studies completion according to Dr Dana Grove JCCC executive vice president educational planning and development chief operating officer
ldquoUltimately the beneficiary of the new OHEC is the community who will be served by an increase in the number of health care providers and the number of allied health programsrdquo Grove said
Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC and Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC president listen to a speaker at the Dec 3 groundbreaking for OHEC
Summer 2010 | 17
JCCC launches Achieving the Dream
Drs James Tschechtelin and Ted Wright JCCCrsquos coaches for Achieving the Dream brainstorm with Jeff Frost JCCC dean mathematics during an Achieving the Dream session of Fall 2009 Professional Development Days
Johnson County Community College is the first and only school in Kansas
to join Achieving the Dream Community Colleges Count a national initiative to help more community college students succeed particularly low-income students and students of color
JCCC is one of 102 institutions ndash 98 colleges and four universities ndash in 22 states to participate in Achieving the Dream which helps participating colleges implement strategies designed to help more students earn degrees complete certificates or transfer to other institutions to continue their studies The initiative emphasizes building a culture of evidence in which colleges use data to identify effective practices improve student success rates and close achievement gaps
The Lumina Foundation for Education which funds Achieving the Dream has a goal to raise the proportion of the US adult population who earn high-quality college degrees to 60 percent by 2025 an increase of 23 million graduates above current rates according to Dr Marilyn Rhinehart executive vice president Instruction JCCC Currently approximately 39 percent of American
adults complete a two- or four-year degree Each college makes a two-year commitment to focus its efforts on closing performance gaps among students in targeted populations
ldquoAt JCCC our work with Achieving the Dream will help us enhance the experience of students in developmental educationrdquo said Jason Kovac executive director of Academic Initiatives and Achieving the Dream core team leader ldquoThe goal will be to connect more people with college-level coursework and help more students reach their educational goals Ultimately this has a huge effect on our community ndash increased wages and better quality of life for our graduates and more skilled workers for regional employers This will be a key driver for college and community prosperity in the coming yearsrdquo
Core team members are Rhinehart team co-chair Terry Calaway JCCC president and team co-chair Jeff Frost dean mathematics Larry Reynolds dean Communications Beth Gulley assistant professor English Bill Robinson associate professor mathematics Mindy Manes administrative assistant
Corporate Outreach and Strategic Partnerships Learner Engagement and the Center for Sustainability Jason Kovac executive director Academic Initiatives Rick Moehring dean Learner Engagement Dr Ralph Juhnke director Institutional Research Paul Kyle dean Student Services Pam Vassar assistant dean Student Life and Leadership Development and Wendy Farwell counselor JCCCrsquos first step is to gather data to determine which student groups are less successful than others and which high-enrollment courses have the lowest success rates
ldquoAchieving the Dream really requires us to use data to focus on measurable outcomes and be open and forthright about current performancerdquo Juhnke said
While Achieving the Dream is about data Rhinehart says that every number represents a person
ldquoEvery piece of data has a story that can help us understand how we can make the greatest difference to a student We need to learn how we can take down barriers to student success and give students the courage and confidence to succeedrdquo Rhinehart said
18 | Reconnect
Journalism student media show news sense
JCCC journalism students show off a few of their many awards at the Headline Award ceremony in April 2010
The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism
and media communications department New video courses Advanced Video Production and Advanced Broadcast Performance were introduced as well as Digital Photojournalism designed for the multimedia needs of todayrsquos journalists The departmentrsquos foundation course Mass Media and Society became a general education elective for humanities credit in the spring 2010 semester for each of the collegersquos associatersquos degree programs
This past academic year more than 300 students completed classes in the journalism and media communications department and 10 students received scholarship money JCCC also continues to offer the largest media internship program in the Kansas City metro area providing students the opportunity to work in a professional environment
Beginning in fall 2010 students will be able to earn college credit with Basic Video Production in both the Blue Valley and Olathe high schools as part of JCCCrsquos College Now program
The departmentrsquos faculty includes two full-time professors Mark Raduziner department chair and Greg Harrell and adjunct faculty Gretchen Thum Julie Haas Joe Petrie Molly Baumgardner Corbin
Crable Joel Nichols and Mary Schulte
2010 was the seventh year for the Headline Award honoring local journalists whose example serves as an inspiration to student journalists at JCCC This yearrsquos honoree was Steve Kraske political correspondent for The Kansas City Star and host of Up to Date on KCURshyFM Kansas Cityrsquos public radio station
JCCCrsquos journalism and media communications department partners with Student Life and Leadership Development on two events In March the two departments sponsored People in the Media a panel of print and electronic media professionals who discussed the future of the industry In April the seventh annual Cavalier Film Festival honored student filmmakers from JCCC and Johnson County and Lawrence high schools in five categories Professionals in the Kansas City film and video industry judge entries and provide feedback
JCAV the student-produced TV news and magazine program took off this year with 10 JCAV news episodes seven JCAV Campus Updates and five Cavalier sports reports ndash live cable shows of sports events JCAV students won five 2010 Kansas Association of Broadcasters student awards while competing against all public and private colleges and universities in Kansas
Working in collaboration with the journalism and media communications department is Anne Christiansen-Bullers Student Life media coordinator and adviser to the student-produced radio station ECAV and JCCCrsquos student newspaper The Campus Ledger ECAV radio had its genesis in fall 2009 and will continue this year under radio station manager Marvita Oliver
The Campus Ledger was awarded the All-Kansas Award and a record 40 individual awards at the state conference sponsored by the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press Association
Judges awarded The Campus Ledger the gold medal for overall excellence and the All-Kansas Award reflecting the best of show in the two-year-school division
The newspaperrsquos Web site received a gold medal up from last yearrsquos bronze-medal distinction
The Campus Ledger editor-in-chief for 2009-10 was Matt Galloway The online editor was John Young Galloway won first runner-up in the Journalist of the Year contest sponsored by Kansas Associated Collegiate Press
Ondrej Pazdirek is the Campus Ledgerrsquos editor-in-chief for 2010-11
Summer 2010 | 19
Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing (left to right) Students Mickey Belcher Jimmy Lee and Jeff Middlesworth work in a patient simulation room with Mark Foster (blue lab coat) adjunct assistant professor nursing
Helping a patient or family member during a difficult time is the
primary satisfaction of being a nurse according to male nurses and male nursing students interviewed for this story
There are also practical reasons for being a nurse ndash the potential for good wages plentiful jobs and career diversity
So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
Jane Zaccardi director practical nursing and health occupations JCCC says the eulogized Florence Nightingale may be the reason Prior to the Crimean War men provided care in hospitals and battlefields and women in the home Nightingale brought the profession to women and subtly the job switched from one for men to one for women
JCCC in conjunction with Kansas Board of Regents is trying to reverse Nightingalersquos influence with two new Men in Nurses Training programs aimed at male high school students both of which were held in June The first was a nursing orientation summer camp for ninth and 10th grade students offered at no charge through grant funding The second MINT was a males-only
Certified Nurse Aide course for young men entering 11th and 12th grades Students who are employed as CNAs by a nursing facility within 12 months of the program can have their tuition reimbursed by their employer
With CNA certification students can earn a good salary and find a job right away according to Zaccardi or use the credentials to continue their education as a practical nurse then registered nurse
ldquoWe flat out donrsquot have enough nurses and we need to have men interested in the professionrdquo said Zaccardi whose statement is supported by a 2004 report from the American Nursing Association predicting 11 million job openings in the year 2020 ldquoWe are hoping through the MINT program men will select nursing as their first choice not as a career change in their 30s or 40srdquo
John McNally assistant professor nursing JCCC took exactly that career path At age 16 he got a job in his hometown hospital as what was then called an ldquoorderlyrdquo and worked part time at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center Topeka while earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Pittsburg State University
ldquoThe orderly positions now called CNA
were a convenient avenue to earn a paycheck while I was going to schoolrdquo McNally said
As an RN McNally worked at Stormont-Vail and North Kansas City Hospital earning a masterrsquos degree in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1996 In 2000 he decided to add computer skills to his reacutesumeacute and enrolled at JCCC where he moonlighted in the academic computer lab 30 hours a week When a nursing faculty position opened at JCCC he knew it was a good fit for him especially as health care technology increases
ldquoIn the hospitals where Irsquove worked there seem to be more males each yearrdquo McNally said ldquoWhile still a minority on the hospital floors men are likely to migrate to surgery radiology and technical areas My impression is that men in nursing donrsquot face any discriminationrdquo
Ed Ronnebaum assistant professor nursing JCCC echoes those sentiments
ldquoI have never faced discrimination at any timerdquo he said ldquoIt doesnrsquot matter if you are male or female as a nurse patient care is a team effortrdquo
For Ronnebaum however nursing is a career change After high school he
20 | Reconnect
served eight years of active duty as an Air Force aircraft mechanic then in the Air Guard in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm On his return Ronnebaum decided to rekindle his interest in anatomy and caring for sick people to become a nurse He started as a student nurse tech at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center Topeka earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Washburn University Topeka a masterrsquos of science in health care administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on a PhD in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City He teaches full time at JCCC and maintains his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves He has had one assignment as a critical care nurse in Iraq January through May 2007 Before entering academia he worked at KU Medical Center in medicalsurgery the burn unit and neurosurgery ICU
ldquoNursing is an exciting career and there is so much you can do with a nursing degree You can work in a hospital physicianrsquos office rehabilitation or long-term care facility nursing school or the militaryrdquo Ronnebaum said ldquoWith the growth in health care the sky is the limit for what you can do in nursingrdquo
ldquoMen balance the professionrdquo said Colleen Duggan JCCC nursing professor ldquoHaving men and women on the team makes for better collaboration on health care decisionsrdquo
Wayne Deines adjunct associate professor has a dual appointment with St Lukersquos South Hospital and JCCC He teaches JCCC students in clinicals two days a week at the hospital and one day a week at JCCC As an RN-III at St Lukersquos he works in the cardiovascular recovery unit Deines also came to nursing circuitously working as an EMT with the Consolidated Fire District 2 (Prairie Village) and paramedic with Johnson County Med-Act then earning his bachelorrsquos in nursing from KU School of Nursing A nurse for 18 years he worked in the military eight years and at St Lukersquos South for 10 Deines encourages men to enter nursing In fact his son is an operating room nurse at Childrenrsquos Mercy Hospital Kansas City Mo
JCCC has five male nursing faculty two full-time Ronnebaum and McNally and three part-time Deines Mark Foster and Kureo Ohta Eight male students graduated this spring out of a class of 71 In the practical nurse program there is one male adjunct faculty and three males out of 37 in the evening program due to graduate in December
JCCCrsquos male nursing students are gravitating to critical care upon graduation
ldquoGuys like critical care ndash ICU trauma and surgery I donrsquot know what thatrsquos all about but it seems to be naturalrdquo said student DJ Klinge
Students reiterate the fact that they feel no discrimination as males Sometimes an obstetrics patient prefers a female nurse but they donrsquot take offense They see it as a personal preference
ldquoYou have to be secure with yourself when you are a male nurserdquo said Jimmy Greenlee student
ldquoTwenty years ago guys in their 20s wouldnrsquot have thought about nursing as a career choice When people ask me if I am going to be a nurse I say lsquoAbsolutely There is nothing wrong with thatrsquordquo said Matt Munden who was determined to finish nursing school despite being readmitted to the RN program after a tour of duty in Iraq
Almost unanimously male faculty and students wish they had been introduced
Student Matt Munden assesses a heart rhythm under the instruction of Mark Foster (left) adjunct assistant professor nursing
to nursing as a career option earlier in life They recommend earning a CNA (a prerequisite to JCCCrsquos RN program) and working with patients before committing to the RN program
ldquoI got my CNA and really enjoyed it You help people who are truly dependent on you The CNA class pushed me into applying for nursing schoolrdquo said Jeff Middlesworth
ldquoJust getting your CNA lets you know if you are cut out for the job It lets you know whether you have the stomach for nursing or not and you learn rapport with patientsrdquo Greenlee said
So what would these young men say to other men thinking about a nursing career
ldquoLook into it and get your CNA If you have your head on straight and you are looking for a good career path I think it is well worth itrdquo Munden said ldquoIt was one of those things I didnrsquot really look at at first But this is the right decision for merdquo
ldquoEven in the recession the jobs in health care and nursing are still growingrdquo Middlesworth said
Greenlee says ldquoabsolutelyrdquo he is glad to have made the decision to be a nurse
ldquoI am not shy about being a male nurserdquo he said ldquoI am proud of itrdquo
Summer 2010 | 21
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
Horticulture program grows with vigor Dr Lekha Sreedhar instructs Horticultural Science students inside the greenhouse
As the lead author on scholarly articles published in journals like
Plant Science Annals of Botany and GENE Dr Lekha Sreedhar associate professor horticultural sciences has proven herself an excellent academic
But 16 years of study and research in plant sciences is only part of the reason Sreedhar has helped to make JCCCrsquos horticulture program a success in terms of quality and growing number of classes The real reason is Sreedharrsquos passion for the subject and her students Her enthusiasm is contagious
In this dayrsquos Introduction to Horticultural Science lab students work inside the Horticultural Science Centerrsquos greenhouse surrounded by a sea of plants and flowers planting six different leaf types in two different media in order to compare propagation methods Students work knowingly as they determine the composition of the planting media and look for leaves from healthy stock plants to maximize growth They are enrolled in the horticulture program with a variety of aspirations Two want to become golf course managers one is interested in environmental science possibly plant engineering another has aspirations to own a commercial greenhouse growing
plants like organic hydroponic tomatoes and there are more
Carolyn Palmer Newton worked in a greenhouse for four-and-a-half years but now wants the science background Colby Fuller Emporia already has a bachelorrsquos degree in agronomy but is working toward JCCCrsquos horticulture associate degree so he can obtain a job in landscaping
ldquoI really like this courserdquo Fuller said ldquoDr Sreedhar is an excellent teacher If anyone has a question off-topic she can answer itrdquo
Rebecca Walker-Garoutte Lenexa worked in the floral design business 28 years before enrolling at JCCC where she received an associatersquos degree in May She is the greenhouse coordinator and likes the idea that she is supporting education by caring for a large variety of plants and trees inside and outside the greenhouse dedicated to student use
ldquoI feel this is a good program with continued efforts to use the best materialsrdquo Walker-Garoutte said ldquoDr Sreedhar makes sure students receive a good science experience ndash with passionrdquo
JCCC first offered a horticulture certificate program in 2001 In 2006 a landscape technician certificate was
added and a horticultural associatersquos degree became effective fall 2007 Horticultural floral design and landscape technician entrepreneurship certificates are also offered Sreedhar was brought on board as the only full-time horticulture faculty in 2006 Four to eight adjunct faculty in various areas of expertise also teach horticulture classes including Dr Alan Stevens director K-State Research and Extension Center Olathe and JCCC adjunct associate professor landscape design
ldquoThe skills students learn at JCCC are beneficial to the industry Students receive an underlying depth of knowledge that they wouldnrsquot receive with on-the-job experiencerdquo Stevens said
Stevens says that JCCCrsquos Introduction to Horticultural Science and Plant Propagation classes use the exact same textbooks and lab manuals as K-Statersquos
Asked whether he thought a horticulture program was necessary in the suburbs Stevens said ldquoYes green space is a precious commodity in the city and suburbs and we need quality educated people to maintain it The JCCC program serves a strong and definite needrdquo
8 | Reconnect
The Horticultural Science Center which opened for classes in fall 2001 houses one classroom one lab with a laminar-flow hood and the greenhouse Space especially with a high night enrollment is at a premium
Dr Csilla Duneczky dean of sciences points to new possibilities for program growth ndash plant biotechnology plant sustainability water conservation in irrigation and CAD design applied to Landscape Design classes
According to Duneczky interest is substantial in two horticulture electives Arboriculture and Pest Control Management for which students can sit for licensure examinations in those fields after course completion
ldquoWe work with major nurseries lawn care and landscape companies florists county extension agencies and private gardens in order to serve the industryrdquo Duneczky said ldquoAll our faculty are experts in their fields The feedback from the industry is that our students are well preparedrdquo
Sreedhar networks in the community with the horticulture department at K-State and officials from the US Department of Agriculture and Kansas and Missouri Departments of Agriculture in order to provide her students with professional speakers and plum internships at local nurseries and the Johnson County Park and Recreation District She organizes field trips to places like the Loose Park Rose Garden (shersquos a member of the Kansas City Rose Society directorial board) Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens and K-State Research and Extension Center Olathe She has cultivated relationships with nurseries garden centers landscaping companies propagation facilities gardenhardware suppliers and biotech companies so students are exposed to a variety of the newest tools techniques and materials from cultivars to tissue culture media
ldquoI want this to be a solid programrdquo Sreedhar saidldquoI will do anything to help my students succeedrdquo
Sreedhar also credits her students for the programrsquos success She says her nighttime
classes are filled with people who work eight to 12 hours in a nursery before coming to class
ldquoMy students do extremely well They keep excellent data and complete well-written scientific reportsrdquo
Thatrsquos a high endorsement coming from Sreedhar who earned a bachelorrsquos degree in agriculture science and a masterrsquos degree in horticulture sciences from Kerala Agricultural University India and a masterrsquos in plant agriculture and a PhD in plant physiology from the University of Guelph Ontario Canada and completed postdoctoral research in plant biotechnology at Rutgersrsquo Biotechnology Center for Agriculture and the Environment She held the prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship for graduate studies in horticultural sciences for five years
Champion of the variety of fields open to horticulture students ndash floriculture pomology (study of fruit) olericulture (study of vegetables) viticulture nursery management greenhouse management landscape design turf management interiorscaping micropropagation and horticultural therapy ndash Sreedhar is positive that anyone who likes plant sciences can find a specialty to their liking If one doesnrsquot want to get his or her hands dirty Sreedhar will espouse micropropagation in tissue culture ndash a new trend for nurseries to mass propagateclone superior plants in vitro from small pieces of stock plant and rescue heavily infected plants Other options include landscape design hydroponics aeroponics and horticultural sales
Her enthusiasm extends from her professional to her personal life At age four she was captivated by her parentsrsquo rose garden in India Her love of flowers remains unabated She keeps lists of plantsflowers and their respective photographs that she has encountered She collects orchids and has about 300 in her home
ldquoPlants are fascinatingrdquo Sreedhar said ldquoThere is so much we know and so much we donrsquot knowrdquo
Colby Fuller and Natalie Martin set up an experiment during a leaf propagation lab
Rebecca Walker-Garoutte greenhouse coordinator earned her horticulture associatersquos degree in May
Sean Connolly has plans to become a golf course manager
Summer 2010 | 9
No debating itJCCC team is national community college champion 2009-2010 team members Sitting (left to right) Rebekah Rauckman Terri Easley (coach) Justin Stanley (assistant coach) Caitlin Breslin Andrew Salzmann Amanda Brown
Standing (left to right) Dalton Lawson Kristin Brandt Ben Cuellar Emily Umphrey Brandie Shepherd Tyler Kowalewski Sarah Elliott Cate Garmeavea Keith Alexander-Arceneaux
In the culmination of its successful year the Johnson County Community
College debate team was awarded the prestigious McClintock Award presented to the national champion community college team at the Cross-Examination Debate Association (CEDA) National Tournament which was held at the University of California-Berkeley in March
The CEDA national championship is based on the teamrsquos earned points during the entire season in competition with four-year colleges and universities as well as other community colleges
This is the first championship title for JCCC in eight years and the fourth year in a row JCCC has been in the top three in community college sweepstakes
The award caps a string of wins and high
rankings for the JCCC debate team During the 2009-2010 season the team traveled to 12 tournaments winning awards at all making seven final-round appearances and earning five tournament championships at the Vegas Invitational KCKCC Emporia State University Kansas State University and Novice Nationals
Throughout the year the JCCC debate team was consistently ranked as the top community college maintained a top 20 national ranking that includes four-year colleges since November and finished in the top 25 nationwide for the year ranking higher than schools like the University of Texas at Austin University of Michigan Georgetown and Baylor universities Dartmouth College and University of Kentucky
Research The 2009-2010 college debate topic was The United States Federal Government should substantially reduce the size of its nuclear weapons arsenal andor substantially reduce and restrict the role andor missions of its nuclear weapons arsenal Teams are required to debate both sides of an issue ndash affirmative and negative
The JCCC debate team participates in policy debate tournaments in which policy issues are debated by a team of two vs a team of two
ldquoMost people would argue that policy debate is harder than Lincoln-Douglas value debate or parliamentarian debate because it is more research intensiverdquo said debate coach Terri Easley
10 | Reconnect
Indeed team members invest hours into research practice rounds one-on-one speaking drills and tournaments Easley and assistant debate coach Justin Stanley can spend up to 14 to 16 hours a day with students during the competition season In the fall there were four-day back-to-back tournaments on consecutive weekends and travel time There is also preparation on Saturdays and Sundays where students and coaches spend from eight- to 12-hour days in extra practice rounds and conducting research
ldquoAs coaches we help prepare students with the skills and research they need for a two-hour debate But once the debate begins it is up to them to carry throughrdquo Easley said
Assets of a winning team Easley credits this yearrsquos successes to the addition of an assistant coach and the studentsrsquo determination She says the most common major among debaters is pre-law or political science but debate studentsrsquo majors vary from nursing to electrical engineering
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo Easley said
JCCC offers four sections of debate and all students enrolled in debate participate with the team Two-thirds of the current debate team is expected to return in the fall Using electronic databases books journals and law reviews students begin researching next yearrsquos topic as soon as it is announced in July
One also has to credit Easleyrsquos commitment for the teamrsquos success Easley began college as a music major but was won over to debate by a speech teacher who thought she ldquotalked fast and gave good speechesrdquo Easley earned a bachelorrsquos degree in literature from the University of Texas at Dallas and a masterrsquos in communication from Baylor University
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo
ndash Debate Coach Terri Easley
More kudos The JCCC debate team also hosts (and participates in) the most prestigious and longest-running junior-varsity national tournament in the country the National Junior Division Debate Tournament founded by retired JCCC professor Dr Dick Stine which was held this year in March
At the CEDA National Tournament at Berkeley JCCC debaters were awarded several national recognitions Emily Umphrey was awarded with the ldquoOutstanding New Competitor Awardrdquo for debaters in their first year of competition without prior debate experience who show growth and participation in the activity Caitlin Breslin and Dalton Lawson were selected to the All-American Debate Team The award is given to 30 debaters who represent the best of intercollegiate debate
Dalton Lawson
Brandie Shepherd
Summer 2010 | 11
Dobson publishes bookabout the Great Plains
Adjunct professor of history Patrick Dobsonrsquos book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains was recently published
Patrick Dobson adjunct professor of history is a bear of a man His
presence enthusiasm and stories fill a room He is a freelance writer a member of Ironworkers Local 10 in Kansas City and has completed all-but-a-dissertation toward a doctorate in 20th century US environmental history and American literature from the University of Missouri-Kansas City
Today Dobson is being interviewed about his first book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains published last year by the University of Nebraska Press The book describes Dobsonrsquos two-and-a-half-month journey from Kansas City Mo to Helena Mont in 1995 a journey Dobson says was ldquomeant to quiet his restless soulrdquo With only a backpack Dobson then a single father left his job with the engineering maintenance department at the Ritz-Carlton to chronicle the lives of ordinary people in the Great Plains
He kept a notebook and filed biweekly columns in The Pitch during his trip The
journal is the basis for his book for which he has done a round of media interviews and book signings A second book based on his river journey home is in the works
At JCCC Dobson teaches US history and Western civilization He has bachelorrsquos degrees in American history and English from UMKC and a masterrsquos degree in American history from the University of Wyoming Part skilled laborer part scholar Dobsonrsquos employment reflects his dichotomy maintenance at the Ritz four years as a full-time writer at The Pitch three years as an editor at Andrews McMeel Universal and one and one-half years of self-employment ndash hauling dirt rehabbing houses and stacking rock ndash previous to entering the UMKC doctoral program in 2004 He joined the Ironworkers Local 10 after completing his doctoral classes The one constant in his life has been writing
Dobson has now worked out an ideal plan for his PhD life ndash working as a
journeyman ironworker during the summers and teaching during the school year He believes he is a misfit traversing different universes comfortably
ldquoWhen Irsquom with the academics I feel like the dirty fingernailer at the queenrsquos banquetrdquo Dobson saidldquoWhen Irsquom with journalists they know something is not quite right about me something doesnrsquot fit Then when Irsquom with the ironworkers they know there is something about me ndash things I talk about ndash so they know Irsquove been someplace elserdquo
Fifteen years after his trek across the plains Dobson appears to have put his soul to rest He has learned he needs to be outside doing physical labor he needs to teach because he views learning as unfinished business and he needs to write
Dobsonrsquos book is available at Amazon University of Nebraska Press and the JCCC Billington Library
12 | Reconnect
JCCC offers motorcycle training Cheryl and Dennis Rogers Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors advise taking the Motorcycle Training class before the purchase of a motorcycle
After an interminable winter people are ready to feel the wind sun and
rain on their faces They are catching the bug to ride a motorcycle
As thrilling as buying a bike twisting the throttle and hitting the road are safety and a legal license come first JCCC began offering its new Motorcycle Training classes this year the first three sessions filled immediately
The course which provides 20 hours of instruction including eight classroom hours and 12 hours of range instruction is designed for the beginning motorcyclist who wants to operate his or her motorcycle safely and efficiently A Kansas Division of Vehicles certificate of completion will be issued after successfully completing the course
The three-day classes are scheduled from 6 to 10 pm Friday and 8 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday Riding and maneuvers including 17 exercises are scheduled all day Saturday and Sunday in the JCCC parking lot The lead teachers are Cheryl and Dennis Rogers
Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors who teach a maximum of 12 students per class
ldquoWe teach proper techniques for breaking turning and swervingrdquo Cheryl Rogers saidldquoLater we have had students thank us saying those techniques saved their livesrdquo
Dennis Rogers is a retired Kansas State Trooper and Cheryl is an IT worker for the State of Kansas Together they take one big (3000-mile) trip each summer having visited 40 of the 48 continental US states and ride weekends
The Rogers advocate motorcycle transportation as a way to reduce costs and enjoy the outdoors
ldquoOnly a motorcyclist knows the thrill and exhilaration a dog has when it sticks its head out the car windowrdquo Cheryl Rogers said
Bikes and helmets are provided for the class Stan and Elaine Rogers (no relations to Cheryl and Dennis Rogers) who formerly owned Midwest Motorcycle
Training Center donated nine Honda Rebel 250 CC bikes to JCCC after their training program closed
Dennis Rogers advises taking the motorcycle training program before buying a motorcycle so one people know they like riding a motorcycle and are successful at it and two they learn to ask the right questions when buying a bike ndash Will you have a passenger What size works for you Will you be riding on the street or dirt
Taking the class reduces insurance rates and increases safety About 92 percent of accident-involved motorcyclists were self-taught or learned from family and friends according to Cheryl Rogers
For more information contact Phil Wegman program director skills enhancement JCCC at 913-469-4446 or pwegmanjcccedu To register call 913-469-2323 Cost is $199
Summer 2010 | 13
Electronics buysrobot arm to develop new class
Chip Cody associate professorchair electronics demonstrates the capabilities of electronicsrsquo new robot arm
Using a $25000 Perkins grant JCCCrsquos electronics department
purchased a programmable six-degreeshyof-freedom robot arm to teach students how robots are used in industry
Faculty received training on the machine in the spring with the goal of developing an industrial robot class by fall 2010 JCCC already offers an elective Electronics 127 ndash Robots for Humans which serves as an introduction to the growing field of robotics An industrial robot class would teach students how to build program test and maintain robots in industry ndash everything from car manufacturing to automated self-checkouts
ldquoRobots are good candidates for jobs that are either too dangerous for humans or highly repetitive and monotonousrdquo said Chip Cody associate professor chair electronics ldquoRobots are accurate They do exactly what you tell them to do every time They never get tired bored or call in sickrdquo
JCCCrsquos robot features base waist shoulder elbow wrist and hand rotation ndash referred to as the six axes of freedom Weighing several hundred pounds the machine looks like a giant popcorn cart constructed with a quarter-inch steel working surface and requiring a double-wide door for access to the electronics lab
As in the Robots for Humans class students in the proposed class would learn about the robotrsquos hardware things like sensors and actuators and enough software programming language to teach the robot a task
Cody explains that programming involves coordinating the axes of motion and that can be accomplished in two ways ndash either by means of a microprocessor or by taking the robot manually through an operation and having its sensors store the action in its computer
ldquoA robot senses the outside world and based on what the sensor tells it it takes actionrdquo Cody said ldquoA robot constantly goes through a sense-react-sense loop Students work with small kits in the 127 class but this is the first time the college has had an industrial-strength machinerdquo
Interest in robots has been generated by students who have participated in high school robotics competitions such as FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen Students with those experiences want to progress from JCCCrsquos Microprocessors class to the robot class where the microprocessors serve as the robotrsquos ldquobrainrdquo
Cody says there is a demand for graduates with two-year electronic degrees to work in industry to maintain robots
ldquoRobots are here to stay Thatrsquos the wave of the futurerdquo Cody saidldquoThey may not all look like C-3P0 but they are everywhere ndash from assembly lines to NASArsquos Mars Exploration Rover Projectrdquo
The robot arm will have broad application
14 | Reconnect
Drafting goes 3-D
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting displays a 3-D object fabricated from the rapid prototype machine
Itrsquos not quite the Star Trek replicator but the new 3-D printer in the drafting
department is impressive
JCCCrsquos drafting program acquired its rapid prototype machine in spring 2009 giving advanced drafting students an opportunity to make models from 3-D computer-aided designs and beginning drafting students a way to visualize a 3-D design problem more clearly
Instead of toner the rapid prototype machine uses a cartridge filled with a
spool of plastic which is heated to a temperature of 572 degrees F and applied in a series of layers until the 3-D model is built according to a CAD design
To the unschooled eye it appears as easy as hitting ldquoprintrdquo and setting controls for resolution orientation interior makeup (solid or honeycomb) and number of copies Then appearing out of seemingly nothingness comes a plastic model The technically savvy however know that inside the printer a CAD file interfaces with a stereolithography file format in order to fabricate the curves and geometry of a physical object
The process is fun to watch although ldquorapidrdquo is a relative term A special print head sweeps across a plastic support plate applying layer after layer of heated plastic following CAD specifications Filler material is applied to negative space and dissolved by immersion in a chemical bath after part fabrication Objects created in the JCCC 3-D printer take from two to 60-plus hours to complete
According to Tom Hughes drafting chair drafting models were traditionally created by hand in a shop Time cost and ease of use are improved with the 3-D printer Hughes says the rapid prototyping has been available in the industry for years used for creating manufactured parts ndash everything from
industrial to fine arts As the 3-D printers became more affordable JCCC was able to purchase one so drafting students can see their projects emerge from the 2-D printed page to physical models
ldquoThe impact on our students is that the models clearly illustrate what they are attempting to drawrdquo Hughes said ldquoStudents learn to draft with greater confidencerdquo
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting says the 3-D printer has increased student interest in the drafting program
ldquoThe rapid prototype printer can do some pretty complex models with moving and mating parts things that would be difficult to make in a shoprdquo Feureborn said
Students in the CAD 3-D and Mechanical Desktop Inventor classes are encouraged to produce one 3-D model at the end of the semester Faculty use the model to demonstrate objects and cutaway slices for entry-level classes
Hughes foresees partnerships between drafting classes and other programs using the 3-D printers Students in Graphic Analysis have already collaborated with welding students in the manufacturing of prototype plant holders
Summer 2010 | 15
Building toward health field careers
The Olathe Health Education Center lies west of Olathe Medical Center
In the remnant of a former cornfield Johnson County Community College
and Olathe Medical Center are tilling the ground in advance of another kind of harvest ndash allied health medical professionals
Groundbreaking on the two-story 50000-square-foot Olathe Health Education Center took place Dec 3 2009 and construction began in March 2010 The center will open for classes in fall 2011
OMC donated 58 acres of land for the building and parking located between 152nd and 153rd Streets west of Olathe Medical Center Parkway JCCC will build OHEC at an anticipated cost of $15 million
The building exterior is designed using JCCC campus standard brick with options for cast stone or metal between the windows The main entrance is to the north with parking to the northwest
Similar in design to the Regnier Center OHEC features a two-story atrium and
floating staircase The first floor will contain the main lobby information desk and a 300-seat multipurpose conference room that can be divided into four areas for smaller meetings or classes
Additional first-floor spaces are allocated for general education medical office technology and other medical offerings (EKG phlebotomy pharmacy technology medical lab technology and surgical technology) to include
Three general classrooms for classes such as anatomy and physiology
One medical computer lab and one general-use computer lab
A medical office technology suite with two classrooms and a record office room for medical billing coding and transcription
One classroom for other medical offerings
Common spaces including a coffee bar and food cart
Offices for faculty and staff including security counseling and student services
The second floor is designed primarily for practical nursing health occupations (certified nurse assistant certified medication aides rehabilitation aide home health aide and IV therapy for LPNs) and dietary manager programs to include
Four health occupations classrooms with three patient care beds each
Two skills labs with eight beds each one of the two is designed to accommodate four patient simulators
Practical nursehealth occupations student success center
Two classrooms for practical nursing and other medical classes
Common spaces for study and rest breaks
Offices for faculty and staff
16 | Reconnect
A rendering of the Olathe Health Education Center is shown here
Students will have clinical education opportunities at Olathe Medical Center as well as the opportunity for professional relationships with OMC health care practitioners
Rex Hays executive director Campus Services says HMN Architects collaborated with the academic administrators in multiple meetings to fulfill the specific needs of health care programming According to Hays the building will meet LEED silver certification in recognition of environmentally responsible building practices Access to a detention basin for a storm water run-off adds to points for LEED criteria
As owner of the OHEC JCCC will provide maintenance housekeeping and security (The college owns the building but does not receive clear title until the end of the 10-year lease and after payment of all scheduled lease amounts)
ldquoWe are grateful to Olathe Medical Center for the opportunity of building a health care teaching campusrdquo said Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC presidentldquoThe
medical center is a renowned medical facility and we are proud to be partners with themrdquo
ldquoWe are extremely proud to have the Olathe Health Education Center on our campusrdquo said Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC ldquoIt has been a pleasure for our staff to work with JCCC MidAmerica Nazarene University and the Olathe School District in developing the best curriculum to teach outstanding health care providers of the futurerdquo
Students from the Olathe schools will be provided a clear pathway through JCCC and if they choose to do so on to MidAmerica Nazarene University for baccalaureate and graduate studies completion according to Dr Dana Grove JCCC executive vice president educational planning and development chief operating officer
ldquoUltimately the beneficiary of the new OHEC is the community who will be served by an increase in the number of health care providers and the number of allied health programsrdquo Grove said
Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC and Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC president listen to a speaker at the Dec 3 groundbreaking for OHEC
Summer 2010 | 17
JCCC launches Achieving the Dream
Drs James Tschechtelin and Ted Wright JCCCrsquos coaches for Achieving the Dream brainstorm with Jeff Frost JCCC dean mathematics during an Achieving the Dream session of Fall 2009 Professional Development Days
Johnson County Community College is the first and only school in Kansas
to join Achieving the Dream Community Colleges Count a national initiative to help more community college students succeed particularly low-income students and students of color
JCCC is one of 102 institutions ndash 98 colleges and four universities ndash in 22 states to participate in Achieving the Dream which helps participating colleges implement strategies designed to help more students earn degrees complete certificates or transfer to other institutions to continue their studies The initiative emphasizes building a culture of evidence in which colleges use data to identify effective practices improve student success rates and close achievement gaps
The Lumina Foundation for Education which funds Achieving the Dream has a goal to raise the proportion of the US adult population who earn high-quality college degrees to 60 percent by 2025 an increase of 23 million graduates above current rates according to Dr Marilyn Rhinehart executive vice president Instruction JCCC Currently approximately 39 percent of American
adults complete a two- or four-year degree Each college makes a two-year commitment to focus its efforts on closing performance gaps among students in targeted populations
ldquoAt JCCC our work with Achieving the Dream will help us enhance the experience of students in developmental educationrdquo said Jason Kovac executive director of Academic Initiatives and Achieving the Dream core team leader ldquoThe goal will be to connect more people with college-level coursework and help more students reach their educational goals Ultimately this has a huge effect on our community ndash increased wages and better quality of life for our graduates and more skilled workers for regional employers This will be a key driver for college and community prosperity in the coming yearsrdquo
Core team members are Rhinehart team co-chair Terry Calaway JCCC president and team co-chair Jeff Frost dean mathematics Larry Reynolds dean Communications Beth Gulley assistant professor English Bill Robinson associate professor mathematics Mindy Manes administrative assistant
Corporate Outreach and Strategic Partnerships Learner Engagement and the Center for Sustainability Jason Kovac executive director Academic Initiatives Rick Moehring dean Learner Engagement Dr Ralph Juhnke director Institutional Research Paul Kyle dean Student Services Pam Vassar assistant dean Student Life and Leadership Development and Wendy Farwell counselor JCCCrsquos first step is to gather data to determine which student groups are less successful than others and which high-enrollment courses have the lowest success rates
ldquoAchieving the Dream really requires us to use data to focus on measurable outcomes and be open and forthright about current performancerdquo Juhnke said
While Achieving the Dream is about data Rhinehart says that every number represents a person
ldquoEvery piece of data has a story that can help us understand how we can make the greatest difference to a student We need to learn how we can take down barriers to student success and give students the courage and confidence to succeedrdquo Rhinehart said
18 | Reconnect
Journalism student media show news sense
JCCC journalism students show off a few of their many awards at the Headline Award ceremony in April 2010
The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism
and media communications department New video courses Advanced Video Production and Advanced Broadcast Performance were introduced as well as Digital Photojournalism designed for the multimedia needs of todayrsquos journalists The departmentrsquos foundation course Mass Media and Society became a general education elective for humanities credit in the spring 2010 semester for each of the collegersquos associatersquos degree programs
This past academic year more than 300 students completed classes in the journalism and media communications department and 10 students received scholarship money JCCC also continues to offer the largest media internship program in the Kansas City metro area providing students the opportunity to work in a professional environment
Beginning in fall 2010 students will be able to earn college credit with Basic Video Production in both the Blue Valley and Olathe high schools as part of JCCCrsquos College Now program
The departmentrsquos faculty includes two full-time professors Mark Raduziner department chair and Greg Harrell and adjunct faculty Gretchen Thum Julie Haas Joe Petrie Molly Baumgardner Corbin
Crable Joel Nichols and Mary Schulte
2010 was the seventh year for the Headline Award honoring local journalists whose example serves as an inspiration to student journalists at JCCC This yearrsquos honoree was Steve Kraske political correspondent for The Kansas City Star and host of Up to Date on KCURshyFM Kansas Cityrsquos public radio station
JCCCrsquos journalism and media communications department partners with Student Life and Leadership Development on two events In March the two departments sponsored People in the Media a panel of print and electronic media professionals who discussed the future of the industry In April the seventh annual Cavalier Film Festival honored student filmmakers from JCCC and Johnson County and Lawrence high schools in five categories Professionals in the Kansas City film and video industry judge entries and provide feedback
JCAV the student-produced TV news and magazine program took off this year with 10 JCAV news episodes seven JCAV Campus Updates and five Cavalier sports reports ndash live cable shows of sports events JCAV students won five 2010 Kansas Association of Broadcasters student awards while competing against all public and private colleges and universities in Kansas
Working in collaboration with the journalism and media communications department is Anne Christiansen-Bullers Student Life media coordinator and adviser to the student-produced radio station ECAV and JCCCrsquos student newspaper The Campus Ledger ECAV radio had its genesis in fall 2009 and will continue this year under radio station manager Marvita Oliver
The Campus Ledger was awarded the All-Kansas Award and a record 40 individual awards at the state conference sponsored by the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press Association
Judges awarded The Campus Ledger the gold medal for overall excellence and the All-Kansas Award reflecting the best of show in the two-year-school division
The newspaperrsquos Web site received a gold medal up from last yearrsquos bronze-medal distinction
The Campus Ledger editor-in-chief for 2009-10 was Matt Galloway The online editor was John Young Galloway won first runner-up in the Journalist of the Year contest sponsored by Kansas Associated Collegiate Press
Ondrej Pazdirek is the Campus Ledgerrsquos editor-in-chief for 2010-11
Summer 2010 | 19
Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing (left to right) Students Mickey Belcher Jimmy Lee and Jeff Middlesworth work in a patient simulation room with Mark Foster (blue lab coat) adjunct assistant professor nursing
Helping a patient or family member during a difficult time is the
primary satisfaction of being a nurse according to male nurses and male nursing students interviewed for this story
There are also practical reasons for being a nurse ndash the potential for good wages plentiful jobs and career diversity
So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
Jane Zaccardi director practical nursing and health occupations JCCC says the eulogized Florence Nightingale may be the reason Prior to the Crimean War men provided care in hospitals and battlefields and women in the home Nightingale brought the profession to women and subtly the job switched from one for men to one for women
JCCC in conjunction with Kansas Board of Regents is trying to reverse Nightingalersquos influence with two new Men in Nurses Training programs aimed at male high school students both of which were held in June The first was a nursing orientation summer camp for ninth and 10th grade students offered at no charge through grant funding The second MINT was a males-only
Certified Nurse Aide course for young men entering 11th and 12th grades Students who are employed as CNAs by a nursing facility within 12 months of the program can have their tuition reimbursed by their employer
With CNA certification students can earn a good salary and find a job right away according to Zaccardi or use the credentials to continue their education as a practical nurse then registered nurse
ldquoWe flat out donrsquot have enough nurses and we need to have men interested in the professionrdquo said Zaccardi whose statement is supported by a 2004 report from the American Nursing Association predicting 11 million job openings in the year 2020 ldquoWe are hoping through the MINT program men will select nursing as their first choice not as a career change in their 30s or 40srdquo
John McNally assistant professor nursing JCCC took exactly that career path At age 16 he got a job in his hometown hospital as what was then called an ldquoorderlyrdquo and worked part time at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center Topeka while earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Pittsburg State University
ldquoThe orderly positions now called CNA
were a convenient avenue to earn a paycheck while I was going to schoolrdquo McNally said
As an RN McNally worked at Stormont-Vail and North Kansas City Hospital earning a masterrsquos degree in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1996 In 2000 he decided to add computer skills to his reacutesumeacute and enrolled at JCCC where he moonlighted in the academic computer lab 30 hours a week When a nursing faculty position opened at JCCC he knew it was a good fit for him especially as health care technology increases
ldquoIn the hospitals where Irsquove worked there seem to be more males each yearrdquo McNally said ldquoWhile still a minority on the hospital floors men are likely to migrate to surgery radiology and technical areas My impression is that men in nursing donrsquot face any discriminationrdquo
Ed Ronnebaum assistant professor nursing JCCC echoes those sentiments
ldquoI have never faced discrimination at any timerdquo he said ldquoIt doesnrsquot matter if you are male or female as a nurse patient care is a team effortrdquo
For Ronnebaum however nursing is a career change After high school he
20 | Reconnect
served eight years of active duty as an Air Force aircraft mechanic then in the Air Guard in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm On his return Ronnebaum decided to rekindle his interest in anatomy and caring for sick people to become a nurse He started as a student nurse tech at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center Topeka earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Washburn University Topeka a masterrsquos of science in health care administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on a PhD in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City He teaches full time at JCCC and maintains his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves He has had one assignment as a critical care nurse in Iraq January through May 2007 Before entering academia he worked at KU Medical Center in medicalsurgery the burn unit and neurosurgery ICU
ldquoNursing is an exciting career and there is so much you can do with a nursing degree You can work in a hospital physicianrsquos office rehabilitation or long-term care facility nursing school or the militaryrdquo Ronnebaum said ldquoWith the growth in health care the sky is the limit for what you can do in nursingrdquo
ldquoMen balance the professionrdquo said Colleen Duggan JCCC nursing professor ldquoHaving men and women on the team makes for better collaboration on health care decisionsrdquo
Wayne Deines adjunct associate professor has a dual appointment with St Lukersquos South Hospital and JCCC He teaches JCCC students in clinicals two days a week at the hospital and one day a week at JCCC As an RN-III at St Lukersquos he works in the cardiovascular recovery unit Deines also came to nursing circuitously working as an EMT with the Consolidated Fire District 2 (Prairie Village) and paramedic with Johnson County Med-Act then earning his bachelorrsquos in nursing from KU School of Nursing A nurse for 18 years he worked in the military eight years and at St Lukersquos South for 10 Deines encourages men to enter nursing In fact his son is an operating room nurse at Childrenrsquos Mercy Hospital Kansas City Mo
JCCC has five male nursing faculty two full-time Ronnebaum and McNally and three part-time Deines Mark Foster and Kureo Ohta Eight male students graduated this spring out of a class of 71 In the practical nurse program there is one male adjunct faculty and three males out of 37 in the evening program due to graduate in December
JCCCrsquos male nursing students are gravitating to critical care upon graduation
ldquoGuys like critical care ndash ICU trauma and surgery I donrsquot know what thatrsquos all about but it seems to be naturalrdquo said student DJ Klinge
Students reiterate the fact that they feel no discrimination as males Sometimes an obstetrics patient prefers a female nurse but they donrsquot take offense They see it as a personal preference
ldquoYou have to be secure with yourself when you are a male nurserdquo said Jimmy Greenlee student
ldquoTwenty years ago guys in their 20s wouldnrsquot have thought about nursing as a career choice When people ask me if I am going to be a nurse I say lsquoAbsolutely There is nothing wrong with thatrsquordquo said Matt Munden who was determined to finish nursing school despite being readmitted to the RN program after a tour of duty in Iraq
Almost unanimously male faculty and students wish they had been introduced
Student Matt Munden assesses a heart rhythm under the instruction of Mark Foster (left) adjunct assistant professor nursing
to nursing as a career option earlier in life They recommend earning a CNA (a prerequisite to JCCCrsquos RN program) and working with patients before committing to the RN program
ldquoI got my CNA and really enjoyed it You help people who are truly dependent on you The CNA class pushed me into applying for nursing schoolrdquo said Jeff Middlesworth
ldquoJust getting your CNA lets you know if you are cut out for the job It lets you know whether you have the stomach for nursing or not and you learn rapport with patientsrdquo Greenlee said
So what would these young men say to other men thinking about a nursing career
ldquoLook into it and get your CNA If you have your head on straight and you are looking for a good career path I think it is well worth itrdquo Munden said ldquoIt was one of those things I didnrsquot really look at at first But this is the right decision for merdquo
ldquoEven in the recession the jobs in health care and nursing are still growingrdquo Middlesworth said
Greenlee says ldquoabsolutelyrdquo he is glad to have made the decision to be a nurse
ldquoI am not shy about being a male nurserdquo he said ldquoI am proud of itrdquo
Summer 2010 | 21
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
The Horticultural Science Center which opened for classes in fall 2001 houses one classroom one lab with a laminar-flow hood and the greenhouse Space especially with a high night enrollment is at a premium
Dr Csilla Duneczky dean of sciences points to new possibilities for program growth ndash plant biotechnology plant sustainability water conservation in irrigation and CAD design applied to Landscape Design classes
According to Duneczky interest is substantial in two horticulture electives Arboriculture and Pest Control Management for which students can sit for licensure examinations in those fields after course completion
ldquoWe work with major nurseries lawn care and landscape companies florists county extension agencies and private gardens in order to serve the industryrdquo Duneczky said ldquoAll our faculty are experts in their fields The feedback from the industry is that our students are well preparedrdquo
Sreedhar networks in the community with the horticulture department at K-State and officials from the US Department of Agriculture and Kansas and Missouri Departments of Agriculture in order to provide her students with professional speakers and plum internships at local nurseries and the Johnson County Park and Recreation District She organizes field trips to places like the Loose Park Rose Garden (shersquos a member of the Kansas City Rose Society directorial board) Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens and K-State Research and Extension Center Olathe She has cultivated relationships with nurseries garden centers landscaping companies propagation facilities gardenhardware suppliers and biotech companies so students are exposed to a variety of the newest tools techniques and materials from cultivars to tissue culture media
ldquoI want this to be a solid programrdquo Sreedhar saidldquoI will do anything to help my students succeedrdquo
Sreedhar also credits her students for the programrsquos success She says her nighttime
classes are filled with people who work eight to 12 hours in a nursery before coming to class
ldquoMy students do extremely well They keep excellent data and complete well-written scientific reportsrdquo
Thatrsquos a high endorsement coming from Sreedhar who earned a bachelorrsquos degree in agriculture science and a masterrsquos degree in horticulture sciences from Kerala Agricultural University India and a masterrsquos in plant agriculture and a PhD in plant physiology from the University of Guelph Ontario Canada and completed postdoctoral research in plant biotechnology at Rutgersrsquo Biotechnology Center for Agriculture and the Environment She held the prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship for graduate studies in horticultural sciences for five years
Champion of the variety of fields open to horticulture students ndash floriculture pomology (study of fruit) olericulture (study of vegetables) viticulture nursery management greenhouse management landscape design turf management interiorscaping micropropagation and horticultural therapy ndash Sreedhar is positive that anyone who likes plant sciences can find a specialty to their liking If one doesnrsquot want to get his or her hands dirty Sreedhar will espouse micropropagation in tissue culture ndash a new trend for nurseries to mass propagateclone superior plants in vitro from small pieces of stock plant and rescue heavily infected plants Other options include landscape design hydroponics aeroponics and horticultural sales
Her enthusiasm extends from her professional to her personal life At age four she was captivated by her parentsrsquo rose garden in India Her love of flowers remains unabated She keeps lists of plantsflowers and their respective photographs that she has encountered She collects orchids and has about 300 in her home
ldquoPlants are fascinatingrdquo Sreedhar said ldquoThere is so much we know and so much we donrsquot knowrdquo
Colby Fuller and Natalie Martin set up an experiment during a leaf propagation lab
Rebecca Walker-Garoutte greenhouse coordinator earned her horticulture associatersquos degree in May
Sean Connolly has plans to become a golf course manager
Summer 2010 | 9
No debating itJCCC team is national community college champion 2009-2010 team members Sitting (left to right) Rebekah Rauckman Terri Easley (coach) Justin Stanley (assistant coach) Caitlin Breslin Andrew Salzmann Amanda Brown
Standing (left to right) Dalton Lawson Kristin Brandt Ben Cuellar Emily Umphrey Brandie Shepherd Tyler Kowalewski Sarah Elliott Cate Garmeavea Keith Alexander-Arceneaux
In the culmination of its successful year the Johnson County Community
College debate team was awarded the prestigious McClintock Award presented to the national champion community college team at the Cross-Examination Debate Association (CEDA) National Tournament which was held at the University of California-Berkeley in March
The CEDA national championship is based on the teamrsquos earned points during the entire season in competition with four-year colleges and universities as well as other community colleges
This is the first championship title for JCCC in eight years and the fourth year in a row JCCC has been in the top three in community college sweepstakes
The award caps a string of wins and high
rankings for the JCCC debate team During the 2009-2010 season the team traveled to 12 tournaments winning awards at all making seven final-round appearances and earning five tournament championships at the Vegas Invitational KCKCC Emporia State University Kansas State University and Novice Nationals
Throughout the year the JCCC debate team was consistently ranked as the top community college maintained a top 20 national ranking that includes four-year colleges since November and finished in the top 25 nationwide for the year ranking higher than schools like the University of Texas at Austin University of Michigan Georgetown and Baylor universities Dartmouth College and University of Kentucky
Research The 2009-2010 college debate topic was The United States Federal Government should substantially reduce the size of its nuclear weapons arsenal andor substantially reduce and restrict the role andor missions of its nuclear weapons arsenal Teams are required to debate both sides of an issue ndash affirmative and negative
The JCCC debate team participates in policy debate tournaments in which policy issues are debated by a team of two vs a team of two
ldquoMost people would argue that policy debate is harder than Lincoln-Douglas value debate or parliamentarian debate because it is more research intensiverdquo said debate coach Terri Easley
10 | Reconnect
Indeed team members invest hours into research practice rounds one-on-one speaking drills and tournaments Easley and assistant debate coach Justin Stanley can spend up to 14 to 16 hours a day with students during the competition season In the fall there were four-day back-to-back tournaments on consecutive weekends and travel time There is also preparation on Saturdays and Sundays where students and coaches spend from eight- to 12-hour days in extra practice rounds and conducting research
ldquoAs coaches we help prepare students with the skills and research they need for a two-hour debate But once the debate begins it is up to them to carry throughrdquo Easley said
Assets of a winning team Easley credits this yearrsquos successes to the addition of an assistant coach and the studentsrsquo determination She says the most common major among debaters is pre-law or political science but debate studentsrsquo majors vary from nursing to electrical engineering
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo Easley said
JCCC offers four sections of debate and all students enrolled in debate participate with the team Two-thirds of the current debate team is expected to return in the fall Using electronic databases books journals and law reviews students begin researching next yearrsquos topic as soon as it is announced in July
One also has to credit Easleyrsquos commitment for the teamrsquos success Easley began college as a music major but was won over to debate by a speech teacher who thought she ldquotalked fast and gave good speechesrdquo Easley earned a bachelorrsquos degree in literature from the University of Texas at Dallas and a masterrsquos in communication from Baylor University
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo
ndash Debate Coach Terri Easley
More kudos The JCCC debate team also hosts (and participates in) the most prestigious and longest-running junior-varsity national tournament in the country the National Junior Division Debate Tournament founded by retired JCCC professor Dr Dick Stine which was held this year in March
At the CEDA National Tournament at Berkeley JCCC debaters were awarded several national recognitions Emily Umphrey was awarded with the ldquoOutstanding New Competitor Awardrdquo for debaters in their first year of competition without prior debate experience who show growth and participation in the activity Caitlin Breslin and Dalton Lawson were selected to the All-American Debate Team The award is given to 30 debaters who represent the best of intercollegiate debate
Dalton Lawson
Brandie Shepherd
Summer 2010 | 11
Dobson publishes bookabout the Great Plains
Adjunct professor of history Patrick Dobsonrsquos book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains was recently published
Patrick Dobson adjunct professor of history is a bear of a man His
presence enthusiasm and stories fill a room He is a freelance writer a member of Ironworkers Local 10 in Kansas City and has completed all-but-a-dissertation toward a doctorate in 20th century US environmental history and American literature from the University of Missouri-Kansas City
Today Dobson is being interviewed about his first book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains published last year by the University of Nebraska Press The book describes Dobsonrsquos two-and-a-half-month journey from Kansas City Mo to Helena Mont in 1995 a journey Dobson says was ldquomeant to quiet his restless soulrdquo With only a backpack Dobson then a single father left his job with the engineering maintenance department at the Ritz-Carlton to chronicle the lives of ordinary people in the Great Plains
He kept a notebook and filed biweekly columns in The Pitch during his trip The
journal is the basis for his book for which he has done a round of media interviews and book signings A second book based on his river journey home is in the works
At JCCC Dobson teaches US history and Western civilization He has bachelorrsquos degrees in American history and English from UMKC and a masterrsquos degree in American history from the University of Wyoming Part skilled laborer part scholar Dobsonrsquos employment reflects his dichotomy maintenance at the Ritz four years as a full-time writer at The Pitch three years as an editor at Andrews McMeel Universal and one and one-half years of self-employment ndash hauling dirt rehabbing houses and stacking rock ndash previous to entering the UMKC doctoral program in 2004 He joined the Ironworkers Local 10 after completing his doctoral classes The one constant in his life has been writing
Dobson has now worked out an ideal plan for his PhD life ndash working as a
journeyman ironworker during the summers and teaching during the school year He believes he is a misfit traversing different universes comfortably
ldquoWhen Irsquom with the academics I feel like the dirty fingernailer at the queenrsquos banquetrdquo Dobson saidldquoWhen Irsquom with journalists they know something is not quite right about me something doesnrsquot fit Then when Irsquom with the ironworkers they know there is something about me ndash things I talk about ndash so they know Irsquove been someplace elserdquo
Fifteen years after his trek across the plains Dobson appears to have put his soul to rest He has learned he needs to be outside doing physical labor he needs to teach because he views learning as unfinished business and he needs to write
Dobsonrsquos book is available at Amazon University of Nebraska Press and the JCCC Billington Library
12 | Reconnect
JCCC offers motorcycle training Cheryl and Dennis Rogers Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors advise taking the Motorcycle Training class before the purchase of a motorcycle
After an interminable winter people are ready to feel the wind sun and
rain on their faces They are catching the bug to ride a motorcycle
As thrilling as buying a bike twisting the throttle and hitting the road are safety and a legal license come first JCCC began offering its new Motorcycle Training classes this year the first three sessions filled immediately
The course which provides 20 hours of instruction including eight classroom hours and 12 hours of range instruction is designed for the beginning motorcyclist who wants to operate his or her motorcycle safely and efficiently A Kansas Division of Vehicles certificate of completion will be issued after successfully completing the course
The three-day classes are scheduled from 6 to 10 pm Friday and 8 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday Riding and maneuvers including 17 exercises are scheduled all day Saturday and Sunday in the JCCC parking lot The lead teachers are Cheryl and Dennis Rogers
Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors who teach a maximum of 12 students per class
ldquoWe teach proper techniques for breaking turning and swervingrdquo Cheryl Rogers saidldquoLater we have had students thank us saying those techniques saved their livesrdquo
Dennis Rogers is a retired Kansas State Trooper and Cheryl is an IT worker for the State of Kansas Together they take one big (3000-mile) trip each summer having visited 40 of the 48 continental US states and ride weekends
The Rogers advocate motorcycle transportation as a way to reduce costs and enjoy the outdoors
ldquoOnly a motorcyclist knows the thrill and exhilaration a dog has when it sticks its head out the car windowrdquo Cheryl Rogers said
Bikes and helmets are provided for the class Stan and Elaine Rogers (no relations to Cheryl and Dennis Rogers) who formerly owned Midwest Motorcycle
Training Center donated nine Honda Rebel 250 CC bikes to JCCC after their training program closed
Dennis Rogers advises taking the motorcycle training program before buying a motorcycle so one people know they like riding a motorcycle and are successful at it and two they learn to ask the right questions when buying a bike ndash Will you have a passenger What size works for you Will you be riding on the street or dirt
Taking the class reduces insurance rates and increases safety About 92 percent of accident-involved motorcyclists were self-taught or learned from family and friends according to Cheryl Rogers
For more information contact Phil Wegman program director skills enhancement JCCC at 913-469-4446 or pwegmanjcccedu To register call 913-469-2323 Cost is $199
Summer 2010 | 13
Electronics buysrobot arm to develop new class
Chip Cody associate professorchair electronics demonstrates the capabilities of electronicsrsquo new robot arm
Using a $25000 Perkins grant JCCCrsquos electronics department
purchased a programmable six-degreeshyof-freedom robot arm to teach students how robots are used in industry
Faculty received training on the machine in the spring with the goal of developing an industrial robot class by fall 2010 JCCC already offers an elective Electronics 127 ndash Robots for Humans which serves as an introduction to the growing field of robotics An industrial robot class would teach students how to build program test and maintain robots in industry ndash everything from car manufacturing to automated self-checkouts
ldquoRobots are good candidates for jobs that are either too dangerous for humans or highly repetitive and monotonousrdquo said Chip Cody associate professor chair electronics ldquoRobots are accurate They do exactly what you tell them to do every time They never get tired bored or call in sickrdquo
JCCCrsquos robot features base waist shoulder elbow wrist and hand rotation ndash referred to as the six axes of freedom Weighing several hundred pounds the machine looks like a giant popcorn cart constructed with a quarter-inch steel working surface and requiring a double-wide door for access to the electronics lab
As in the Robots for Humans class students in the proposed class would learn about the robotrsquos hardware things like sensors and actuators and enough software programming language to teach the robot a task
Cody explains that programming involves coordinating the axes of motion and that can be accomplished in two ways ndash either by means of a microprocessor or by taking the robot manually through an operation and having its sensors store the action in its computer
ldquoA robot senses the outside world and based on what the sensor tells it it takes actionrdquo Cody said ldquoA robot constantly goes through a sense-react-sense loop Students work with small kits in the 127 class but this is the first time the college has had an industrial-strength machinerdquo
Interest in robots has been generated by students who have participated in high school robotics competitions such as FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen Students with those experiences want to progress from JCCCrsquos Microprocessors class to the robot class where the microprocessors serve as the robotrsquos ldquobrainrdquo
Cody says there is a demand for graduates with two-year electronic degrees to work in industry to maintain robots
ldquoRobots are here to stay Thatrsquos the wave of the futurerdquo Cody saidldquoThey may not all look like C-3P0 but they are everywhere ndash from assembly lines to NASArsquos Mars Exploration Rover Projectrdquo
The robot arm will have broad application
14 | Reconnect
Drafting goes 3-D
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting displays a 3-D object fabricated from the rapid prototype machine
Itrsquos not quite the Star Trek replicator but the new 3-D printer in the drafting
department is impressive
JCCCrsquos drafting program acquired its rapid prototype machine in spring 2009 giving advanced drafting students an opportunity to make models from 3-D computer-aided designs and beginning drafting students a way to visualize a 3-D design problem more clearly
Instead of toner the rapid prototype machine uses a cartridge filled with a
spool of plastic which is heated to a temperature of 572 degrees F and applied in a series of layers until the 3-D model is built according to a CAD design
To the unschooled eye it appears as easy as hitting ldquoprintrdquo and setting controls for resolution orientation interior makeup (solid or honeycomb) and number of copies Then appearing out of seemingly nothingness comes a plastic model The technically savvy however know that inside the printer a CAD file interfaces with a stereolithography file format in order to fabricate the curves and geometry of a physical object
The process is fun to watch although ldquorapidrdquo is a relative term A special print head sweeps across a plastic support plate applying layer after layer of heated plastic following CAD specifications Filler material is applied to negative space and dissolved by immersion in a chemical bath after part fabrication Objects created in the JCCC 3-D printer take from two to 60-plus hours to complete
According to Tom Hughes drafting chair drafting models were traditionally created by hand in a shop Time cost and ease of use are improved with the 3-D printer Hughes says the rapid prototyping has been available in the industry for years used for creating manufactured parts ndash everything from
industrial to fine arts As the 3-D printers became more affordable JCCC was able to purchase one so drafting students can see their projects emerge from the 2-D printed page to physical models
ldquoThe impact on our students is that the models clearly illustrate what they are attempting to drawrdquo Hughes said ldquoStudents learn to draft with greater confidencerdquo
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting says the 3-D printer has increased student interest in the drafting program
ldquoThe rapid prototype printer can do some pretty complex models with moving and mating parts things that would be difficult to make in a shoprdquo Feureborn said
Students in the CAD 3-D and Mechanical Desktop Inventor classes are encouraged to produce one 3-D model at the end of the semester Faculty use the model to demonstrate objects and cutaway slices for entry-level classes
Hughes foresees partnerships between drafting classes and other programs using the 3-D printers Students in Graphic Analysis have already collaborated with welding students in the manufacturing of prototype plant holders
Summer 2010 | 15
Building toward health field careers
The Olathe Health Education Center lies west of Olathe Medical Center
In the remnant of a former cornfield Johnson County Community College
and Olathe Medical Center are tilling the ground in advance of another kind of harvest ndash allied health medical professionals
Groundbreaking on the two-story 50000-square-foot Olathe Health Education Center took place Dec 3 2009 and construction began in March 2010 The center will open for classes in fall 2011
OMC donated 58 acres of land for the building and parking located between 152nd and 153rd Streets west of Olathe Medical Center Parkway JCCC will build OHEC at an anticipated cost of $15 million
The building exterior is designed using JCCC campus standard brick with options for cast stone or metal between the windows The main entrance is to the north with parking to the northwest
Similar in design to the Regnier Center OHEC features a two-story atrium and
floating staircase The first floor will contain the main lobby information desk and a 300-seat multipurpose conference room that can be divided into four areas for smaller meetings or classes
Additional first-floor spaces are allocated for general education medical office technology and other medical offerings (EKG phlebotomy pharmacy technology medical lab technology and surgical technology) to include
Three general classrooms for classes such as anatomy and physiology
One medical computer lab and one general-use computer lab
A medical office technology suite with two classrooms and a record office room for medical billing coding and transcription
One classroom for other medical offerings
Common spaces including a coffee bar and food cart
Offices for faculty and staff including security counseling and student services
The second floor is designed primarily for practical nursing health occupations (certified nurse assistant certified medication aides rehabilitation aide home health aide and IV therapy for LPNs) and dietary manager programs to include
Four health occupations classrooms with three patient care beds each
Two skills labs with eight beds each one of the two is designed to accommodate four patient simulators
Practical nursehealth occupations student success center
Two classrooms for practical nursing and other medical classes
Common spaces for study and rest breaks
Offices for faculty and staff
16 | Reconnect
A rendering of the Olathe Health Education Center is shown here
Students will have clinical education opportunities at Olathe Medical Center as well as the opportunity for professional relationships with OMC health care practitioners
Rex Hays executive director Campus Services says HMN Architects collaborated with the academic administrators in multiple meetings to fulfill the specific needs of health care programming According to Hays the building will meet LEED silver certification in recognition of environmentally responsible building practices Access to a detention basin for a storm water run-off adds to points for LEED criteria
As owner of the OHEC JCCC will provide maintenance housekeeping and security (The college owns the building but does not receive clear title until the end of the 10-year lease and after payment of all scheduled lease amounts)
ldquoWe are grateful to Olathe Medical Center for the opportunity of building a health care teaching campusrdquo said Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC presidentldquoThe
medical center is a renowned medical facility and we are proud to be partners with themrdquo
ldquoWe are extremely proud to have the Olathe Health Education Center on our campusrdquo said Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC ldquoIt has been a pleasure for our staff to work with JCCC MidAmerica Nazarene University and the Olathe School District in developing the best curriculum to teach outstanding health care providers of the futurerdquo
Students from the Olathe schools will be provided a clear pathway through JCCC and if they choose to do so on to MidAmerica Nazarene University for baccalaureate and graduate studies completion according to Dr Dana Grove JCCC executive vice president educational planning and development chief operating officer
ldquoUltimately the beneficiary of the new OHEC is the community who will be served by an increase in the number of health care providers and the number of allied health programsrdquo Grove said
Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC and Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC president listen to a speaker at the Dec 3 groundbreaking for OHEC
Summer 2010 | 17
JCCC launches Achieving the Dream
Drs James Tschechtelin and Ted Wright JCCCrsquos coaches for Achieving the Dream brainstorm with Jeff Frost JCCC dean mathematics during an Achieving the Dream session of Fall 2009 Professional Development Days
Johnson County Community College is the first and only school in Kansas
to join Achieving the Dream Community Colleges Count a national initiative to help more community college students succeed particularly low-income students and students of color
JCCC is one of 102 institutions ndash 98 colleges and four universities ndash in 22 states to participate in Achieving the Dream which helps participating colleges implement strategies designed to help more students earn degrees complete certificates or transfer to other institutions to continue their studies The initiative emphasizes building a culture of evidence in which colleges use data to identify effective practices improve student success rates and close achievement gaps
The Lumina Foundation for Education which funds Achieving the Dream has a goal to raise the proportion of the US adult population who earn high-quality college degrees to 60 percent by 2025 an increase of 23 million graduates above current rates according to Dr Marilyn Rhinehart executive vice president Instruction JCCC Currently approximately 39 percent of American
adults complete a two- or four-year degree Each college makes a two-year commitment to focus its efforts on closing performance gaps among students in targeted populations
ldquoAt JCCC our work with Achieving the Dream will help us enhance the experience of students in developmental educationrdquo said Jason Kovac executive director of Academic Initiatives and Achieving the Dream core team leader ldquoThe goal will be to connect more people with college-level coursework and help more students reach their educational goals Ultimately this has a huge effect on our community ndash increased wages and better quality of life for our graduates and more skilled workers for regional employers This will be a key driver for college and community prosperity in the coming yearsrdquo
Core team members are Rhinehart team co-chair Terry Calaway JCCC president and team co-chair Jeff Frost dean mathematics Larry Reynolds dean Communications Beth Gulley assistant professor English Bill Robinson associate professor mathematics Mindy Manes administrative assistant
Corporate Outreach and Strategic Partnerships Learner Engagement and the Center for Sustainability Jason Kovac executive director Academic Initiatives Rick Moehring dean Learner Engagement Dr Ralph Juhnke director Institutional Research Paul Kyle dean Student Services Pam Vassar assistant dean Student Life and Leadership Development and Wendy Farwell counselor JCCCrsquos first step is to gather data to determine which student groups are less successful than others and which high-enrollment courses have the lowest success rates
ldquoAchieving the Dream really requires us to use data to focus on measurable outcomes and be open and forthright about current performancerdquo Juhnke said
While Achieving the Dream is about data Rhinehart says that every number represents a person
ldquoEvery piece of data has a story that can help us understand how we can make the greatest difference to a student We need to learn how we can take down barriers to student success and give students the courage and confidence to succeedrdquo Rhinehart said
18 | Reconnect
Journalism student media show news sense
JCCC journalism students show off a few of their many awards at the Headline Award ceremony in April 2010
The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism
and media communications department New video courses Advanced Video Production and Advanced Broadcast Performance were introduced as well as Digital Photojournalism designed for the multimedia needs of todayrsquos journalists The departmentrsquos foundation course Mass Media and Society became a general education elective for humanities credit in the spring 2010 semester for each of the collegersquos associatersquos degree programs
This past academic year more than 300 students completed classes in the journalism and media communications department and 10 students received scholarship money JCCC also continues to offer the largest media internship program in the Kansas City metro area providing students the opportunity to work in a professional environment
Beginning in fall 2010 students will be able to earn college credit with Basic Video Production in both the Blue Valley and Olathe high schools as part of JCCCrsquos College Now program
The departmentrsquos faculty includes two full-time professors Mark Raduziner department chair and Greg Harrell and adjunct faculty Gretchen Thum Julie Haas Joe Petrie Molly Baumgardner Corbin
Crable Joel Nichols and Mary Schulte
2010 was the seventh year for the Headline Award honoring local journalists whose example serves as an inspiration to student journalists at JCCC This yearrsquos honoree was Steve Kraske political correspondent for The Kansas City Star and host of Up to Date on KCURshyFM Kansas Cityrsquos public radio station
JCCCrsquos journalism and media communications department partners with Student Life and Leadership Development on two events In March the two departments sponsored People in the Media a panel of print and electronic media professionals who discussed the future of the industry In April the seventh annual Cavalier Film Festival honored student filmmakers from JCCC and Johnson County and Lawrence high schools in five categories Professionals in the Kansas City film and video industry judge entries and provide feedback
JCAV the student-produced TV news and magazine program took off this year with 10 JCAV news episodes seven JCAV Campus Updates and five Cavalier sports reports ndash live cable shows of sports events JCAV students won five 2010 Kansas Association of Broadcasters student awards while competing against all public and private colleges and universities in Kansas
Working in collaboration with the journalism and media communications department is Anne Christiansen-Bullers Student Life media coordinator and adviser to the student-produced radio station ECAV and JCCCrsquos student newspaper The Campus Ledger ECAV radio had its genesis in fall 2009 and will continue this year under radio station manager Marvita Oliver
The Campus Ledger was awarded the All-Kansas Award and a record 40 individual awards at the state conference sponsored by the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press Association
Judges awarded The Campus Ledger the gold medal for overall excellence and the All-Kansas Award reflecting the best of show in the two-year-school division
The newspaperrsquos Web site received a gold medal up from last yearrsquos bronze-medal distinction
The Campus Ledger editor-in-chief for 2009-10 was Matt Galloway The online editor was John Young Galloway won first runner-up in the Journalist of the Year contest sponsored by Kansas Associated Collegiate Press
Ondrej Pazdirek is the Campus Ledgerrsquos editor-in-chief for 2010-11
Summer 2010 | 19
Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing (left to right) Students Mickey Belcher Jimmy Lee and Jeff Middlesworth work in a patient simulation room with Mark Foster (blue lab coat) adjunct assistant professor nursing
Helping a patient or family member during a difficult time is the
primary satisfaction of being a nurse according to male nurses and male nursing students interviewed for this story
There are also practical reasons for being a nurse ndash the potential for good wages plentiful jobs and career diversity
So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
Jane Zaccardi director practical nursing and health occupations JCCC says the eulogized Florence Nightingale may be the reason Prior to the Crimean War men provided care in hospitals and battlefields and women in the home Nightingale brought the profession to women and subtly the job switched from one for men to one for women
JCCC in conjunction with Kansas Board of Regents is trying to reverse Nightingalersquos influence with two new Men in Nurses Training programs aimed at male high school students both of which were held in June The first was a nursing orientation summer camp for ninth and 10th grade students offered at no charge through grant funding The second MINT was a males-only
Certified Nurse Aide course for young men entering 11th and 12th grades Students who are employed as CNAs by a nursing facility within 12 months of the program can have their tuition reimbursed by their employer
With CNA certification students can earn a good salary and find a job right away according to Zaccardi or use the credentials to continue their education as a practical nurse then registered nurse
ldquoWe flat out donrsquot have enough nurses and we need to have men interested in the professionrdquo said Zaccardi whose statement is supported by a 2004 report from the American Nursing Association predicting 11 million job openings in the year 2020 ldquoWe are hoping through the MINT program men will select nursing as their first choice not as a career change in their 30s or 40srdquo
John McNally assistant professor nursing JCCC took exactly that career path At age 16 he got a job in his hometown hospital as what was then called an ldquoorderlyrdquo and worked part time at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center Topeka while earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Pittsburg State University
ldquoThe orderly positions now called CNA
were a convenient avenue to earn a paycheck while I was going to schoolrdquo McNally said
As an RN McNally worked at Stormont-Vail and North Kansas City Hospital earning a masterrsquos degree in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1996 In 2000 he decided to add computer skills to his reacutesumeacute and enrolled at JCCC where he moonlighted in the academic computer lab 30 hours a week When a nursing faculty position opened at JCCC he knew it was a good fit for him especially as health care technology increases
ldquoIn the hospitals where Irsquove worked there seem to be more males each yearrdquo McNally said ldquoWhile still a minority on the hospital floors men are likely to migrate to surgery radiology and technical areas My impression is that men in nursing donrsquot face any discriminationrdquo
Ed Ronnebaum assistant professor nursing JCCC echoes those sentiments
ldquoI have never faced discrimination at any timerdquo he said ldquoIt doesnrsquot matter if you are male or female as a nurse patient care is a team effortrdquo
For Ronnebaum however nursing is a career change After high school he
20 | Reconnect
served eight years of active duty as an Air Force aircraft mechanic then in the Air Guard in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm On his return Ronnebaum decided to rekindle his interest in anatomy and caring for sick people to become a nurse He started as a student nurse tech at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center Topeka earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Washburn University Topeka a masterrsquos of science in health care administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on a PhD in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City He teaches full time at JCCC and maintains his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves He has had one assignment as a critical care nurse in Iraq January through May 2007 Before entering academia he worked at KU Medical Center in medicalsurgery the burn unit and neurosurgery ICU
ldquoNursing is an exciting career and there is so much you can do with a nursing degree You can work in a hospital physicianrsquos office rehabilitation or long-term care facility nursing school or the militaryrdquo Ronnebaum said ldquoWith the growth in health care the sky is the limit for what you can do in nursingrdquo
ldquoMen balance the professionrdquo said Colleen Duggan JCCC nursing professor ldquoHaving men and women on the team makes for better collaboration on health care decisionsrdquo
Wayne Deines adjunct associate professor has a dual appointment with St Lukersquos South Hospital and JCCC He teaches JCCC students in clinicals two days a week at the hospital and one day a week at JCCC As an RN-III at St Lukersquos he works in the cardiovascular recovery unit Deines also came to nursing circuitously working as an EMT with the Consolidated Fire District 2 (Prairie Village) and paramedic with Johnson County Med-Act then earning his bachelorrsquos in nursing from KU School of Nursing A nurse for 18 years he worked in the military eight years and at St Lukersquos South for 10 Deines encourages men to enter nursing In fact his son is an operating room nurse at Childrenrsquos Mercy Hospital Kansas City Mo
JCCC has five male nursing faculty two full-time Ronnebaum and McNally and three part-time Deines Mark Foster and Kureo Ohta Eight male students graduated this spring out of a class of 71 In the practical nurse program there is one male adjunct faculty and three males out of 37 in the evening program due to graduate in December
JCCCrsquos male nursing students are gravitating to critical care upon graduation
ldquoGuys like critical care ndash ICU trauma and surgery I donrsquot know what thatrsquos all about but it seems to be naturalrdquo said student DJ Klinge
Students reiterate the fact that they feel no discrimination as males Sometimes an obstetrics patient prefers a female nurse but they donrsquot take offense They see it as a personal preference
ldquoYou have to be secure with yourself when you are a male nurserdquo said Jimmy Greenlee student
ldquoTwenty years ago guys in their 20s wouldnrsquot have thought about nursing as a career choice When people ask me if I am going to be a nurse I say lsquoAbsolutely There is nothing wrong with thatrsquordquo said Matt Munden who was determined to finish nursing school despite being readmitted to the RN program after a tour of duty in Iraq
Almost unanimously male faculty and students wish they had been introduced
Student Matt Munden assesses a heart rhythm under the instruction of Mark Foster (left) adjunct assistant professor nursing
to nursing as a career option earlier in life They recommend earning a CNA (a prerequisite to JCCCrsquos RN program) and working with patients before committing to the RN program
ldquoI got my CNA and really enjoyed it You help people who are truly dependent on you The CNA class pushed me into applying for nursing schoolrdquo said Jeff Middlesworth
ldquoJust getting your CNA lets you know if you are cut out for the job It lets you know whether you have the stomach for nursing or not and you learn rapport with patientsrdquo Greenlee said
So what would these young men say to other men thinking about a nursing career
ldquoLook into it and get your CNA If you have your head on straight and you are looking for a good career path I think it is well worth itrdquo Munden said ldquoIt was one of those things I didnrsquot really look at at first But this is the right decision for merdquo
ldquoEven in the recession the jobs in health care and nursing are still growingrdquo Middlesworth said
Greenlee says ldquoabsolutelyrdquo he is glad to have made the decision to be a nurse
ldquoI am not shy about being a male nurserdquo he said ldquoI am proud of itrdquo
Summer 2010 | 21
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
No debating itJCCC team is national community college champion 2009-2010 team members Sitting (left to right) Rebekah Rauckman Terri Easley (coach) Justin Stanley (assistant coach) Caitlin Breslin Andrew Salzmann Amanda Brown
Standing (left to right) Dalton Lawson Kristin Brandt Ben Cuellar Emily Umphrey Brandie Shepherd Tyler Kowalewski Sarah Elliott Cate Garmeavea Keith Alexander-Arceneaux
In the culmination of its successful year the Johnson County Community
College debate team was awarded the prestigious McClintock Award presented to the national champion community college team at the Cross-Examination Debate Association (CEDA) National Tournament which was held at the University of California-Berkeley in March
The CEDA national championship is based on the teamrsquos earned points during the entire season in competition with four-year colleges and universities as well as other community colleges
This is the first championship title for JCCC in eight years and the fourth year in a row JCCC has been in the top three in community college sweepstakes
The award caps a string of wins and high
rankings for the JCCC debate team During the 2009-2010 season the team traveled to 12 tournaments winning awards at all making seven final-round appearances and earning five tournament championships at the Vegas Invitational KCKCC Emporia State University Kansas State University and Novice Nationals
Throughout the year the JCCC debate team was consistently ranked as the top community college maintained a top 20 national ranking that includes four-year colleges since November and finished in the top 25 nationwide for the year ranking higher than schools like the University of Texas at Austin University of Michigan Georgetown and Baylor universities Dartmouth College and University of Kentucky
Research The 2009-2010 college debate topic was The United States Federal Government should substantially reduce the size of its nuclear weapons arsenal andor substantially reduce and restrict the role andor missions of its nuclear weapons arsenal Teams are required to debate both sides of an issue ndash affirmative and negative
The JCCC debate team participates in policy debate tournaments in which policy issues are debated by a team of two vs a team of two
ldquoMost people would argue that policy debate is harder than Lincoln-Douglas value debate or parliamentarian debate because it is more research intensiverdquo said debate coach Terri Easley
10 | Reconnect
Indeed team members invest hours into research practice rounds one-on-one speaking drills and tournaments Easley and assistant debate coach Justin Stanley can spend up to 14 to 16 hours a day with students during the competition season In the fall there were four-day back-to-back tournaments on consecutive weekends and travel time There is also preparation on Saturdays and Sundays where students and coaches spend from eight- to 12-hour days in extra practice rounds and conducting research
ldquoAs coaches we help prepare students with the skills and research they need for a two-hour debate But once the debate begins it is up to them to carry throughrdquo Easley said
Assets of a winning team Easley credits this yearrsquos successes to the addition of an assistant coach and the studentsrsquo determination She says the most common major among debaters is pre-law or political science but debate studentsrsquo majors vary from nursing to electrical engineering
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo Easley said
JCCC offers four sections of debate and all students enrolled in debate participate with the team Two-thirds of the current debate team is expected to return in the fall Using electronic databases books journals and law reviews students begin researching next yearrsquos topic as soon as it is announced in July
One also has to credit Easleyrsquos commitment for the teamrsquos success Easley began college as a music major but was won over to debate by a speech teacher who thought she ldquotalked fast and gave good speechesrdquo Easley earned a bachelorrsquos degree in literature from the University of Texas at Dallas and a masterrsquos in communication from Baylor University
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo
ndash Debate Coach Terri Easley
More kudos The JCCC debate team also hosts (and participates in) the most prestigious and longest-running junior-varsity national tournament in the country the National Junior Division Debate Tournament founded by retired JCCC professor Dr Dick Stine which was held this year in March
At the CEDA National Tournament at Berkeley JCCC debaters were awarded several national recognitions Emily Umphrey was awarded with the ldquoOutstanding New Competitor Awardrdquo for debaters in their first year of competition without prior debate experience who show growth and participation in the activity Caitlin Breslin and Dalton Lawson were selected to the All-American Debate Team The award is given to 30 debaters who represent the best of intercollegiate debate
Dalton Lawson
Brandie Shepherd
Summer 2010 | 11
Dobson publishes bookabout the Great Plains
Adjunct professor of history Patrick Dobsonrsquos book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains was recently published
Patrick Dobson adjunct professor of history is a bear of a man His
presence enthusiasm and stories fill a room He is a freelance writer a member of Ironworkers Local 10 in Kansas City and has completed all-but-a-dissertation toward a doctorate in 20th century US environmental history and American literature from the University of Missouri-Kansas City
Today Dobson is being interviewed about his first book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains published last year by the University of Nebraska Press The book describes Dobsonrsquos two-and-a-half-month journey from Kansas City Mo to Helena Mont in 1995 a journey Dobson says was ldquomeant to quiet his restless soulrdquo With only a backpack Dobson then a single father left his job with the engineering maintenance department at the Ritz-Carlton to chronicle the lives of ordinary people in the Great Plains
He kept a notebook and filed biweekly columns in The Pitch during his trip The
journal is the basis for his book for which he has done a round of media interviews and book signings A second book based on his river journey home is in the works
At JCCC Dobson teaches US history and Western civilization He has bachelorrsquos degrees in American history and English from UMKC and a masterrsquos degree in American history from the University of Wyoming Part skilled laborer part scholar Dobsonrsquos employment reflects his dichotomy maintenance at the Ritz four years as a full-time writer at The Pitch three years as an editor at Andrews McMeel Universal and one and one-half years of self-employment ndash hauling dirt rehabbing houses and stacking rock ndash previous to entering the UMKC doctoral program in 2004 He joined the Ironworkers Local 10 after completing his doctoral classes The one constant in his life has been writing
Dobson has now worked out an ideal plan for his PhD life ndash working as a
journeyman ironworker during the summers and teaching during the school year He believes he is a misfit traversing different universes comfortably
ldquoWhen Irsquom with the academics I feel like the dirty fingernailer at the queenrsquos banquetrdquo Dobson saidldquoWhen Irsquom with journalists they know something is not quite right about me something doesnrsquot fit Then when Irsquom with the ironworkers they know there is something about me ndash things I talk about ndash so they know Irsquove been someplace elserdquo
Fifteen years after his trek across the plains Dobson appears to have put his soul to rest He has learned he needs to be outside doing physical labor he needs to teach because he views learning as unfinished business and he needs to write
Dobsonrsquos book is available at Amazon University of Nebraska Press and the JCCC Billington Library
12 | Reconnect
JCCC offers motorcycle training Cheryl and Dennis Rogers Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors advise taking the Motorcycle Training class before the purchase of a motorcycle
After an interminable winter people are ready to feel the wind sun and
rain on their faces They are catching the bug to ride a motorcycle
As thrilling as buying a bike twisting the throttle and hitting the road are safety and a legal license come first JCCC began offering its new Motorcycle Training classes this year the first three sessions filled immediately
The course which provides 20 hours of instruction including eight classroom hours and 12 hours of range instruction is designed for the beginning motorcyclist who wants to operate his or her motorcycle safely and efficiently A Kansas Division of Vehicles certificate of completion will be issued after successfully completing the course
The three-day classes are scheduled from 6 to 10 pm Friday and 8 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday Riding and maneuvers including 17 exercises are scheduled all day Saturday and Sunday in the JCCC parking lot The lead teachers are Cheryl and Dennis Rogers
Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors who teach a maximum of 12 students per class
ldquoWe teach proper techniques for breaking turning and swervingrdquo Cheryl Rogers saidldquoLater we have had students thank us saying those techniques saved their livesrdquo
Dennis Rogers is a retired Kansas State Trooper and Cheryl is an IT worker for the State of Kansas Together they take one big (3000-mile) trip each summer having visited 40 of the 48 continental US states and ride weekends
The Rogers advocate motorcycle transportation as a way to reduce costs and enjoy the outdoors
ldquoOnly a motorcyclist knows the thrill and exhilaration a dog has when it sticks its head out the car windowrdquo Cheryl Rogers said
Bikes and helmets are provided for the class Stan and Elaine Rogers (no relations to Cheryl and Dennis Rogers) who formerly owned Midwest Motorcycle
Training Center donated nine Honda Rebel 250 CC bikes to JCCC after their training program closed
Dennis Rogers advises taking the motorcycle training program before buying a motorcycle so one people know they like riding a motorcycle and are successful at it and two they learn to ask the right questions when buying a bike ndash Will you have a passenger What size works for you Will you be riding on the street or dirt
Taking the class reduces insurance rates and increases safety About 92 percent of accident-involved motorcyclists were self-taught or learned from family and friends according to Cheryl Rogers
For more information contact Phil Wegman program director skills enhancement JCCC at 913-469-4446 or pwegmanjcccedu To register call 913-469-2323 Cost is $199
Summer 2010 | 13
Electronics buysrobot arm to develop new class
Chip Cody associate professorchair electronics demonstrates the capabilities of electronicsrsquo new robot arm
Using a $25000 Perkins grant JCCCrsquos electronics department
purchased a programmable six-degreeshyof-freedom robot arm to teach students how robots are used in industry
Faculty received training on the machine in the spring with the goal of developing an industrial robot class by fall 2010 JCCC already offers an elective Electronics 127 ndash Robots for Humans which serves as an introduction to the growing field of robotics An industrial robot class would teach students how to build program test and maintain robots in industry ndash everything from car manufacturing to automated self-checkouts
ldquoRobots are good candidates for jobs that are either too dangerous for humans or highly repetitive and monotonousrdquo said Chip Cody associate professor chair electronics ldquoRobots are accurate They do exactly what you tell them to do every time They never get tired bored or call in sickrdquo
JCCCrsquos robot features base waist shoulder elbow wrist and hand rotation ndash referred to as the six axes of freedom Weighing several hundred pounds the machine looks like a giant popcorn cart constructed with a quarter-inch steel working surface and requiring a double-wide door for access to the electronics lab
As in the Robots for Humans class students in the proposed class would learn about the robotrsquos hardware things like sensors and actuators and enough software programming language to teach the robot a task
Cody explains that programming involves coordinating the axes of motion and that can be accomplished in two ways ndash either by means of a microprocessor or by taking the robot manually through an operation and having its sensors store the action in its computer
ldquoA robot senses the outside world and based on what the sensor tells it it takes actionrdquo Cody said ldquoA robot constantly goes through a sense-react-sense loop Students work with small kits in the 127 class but this is the first time the college has had an industrial-strength machinerdquo
Interest in robots has been generated by students who have participated in high school robotics competitions such as FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen Students with those experiences want to progress from JCCCrsquos Microprocessors class to the robot class where the microprocessors serve as the robotrsquos ldquobrainrdquo
Cody says there is a demand for graduates with two-year electronic degrees to work in industry to maintain robots
ldquoRobots are here to stay Thatrsquos the wave of the futurerdquo Cody saidldquoThey may not all look like C-3P0 but they are everywhere ndash from assembly lines to NASArsquos Mars Exploration Rover Projectrdquo
The robot arm will have broad application
14 | Reconnect
Drafting goes 3-D
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting displays a 3-D object fabricated from the rapid prototype machine
Itrsquos not quite the Star Trek replicator but the new 3-D printer in the drafting
department is impressive
JCCCrsquos drafting program acquired its rapid prototype machine in spring 2009 giving advanced drafting students an opportunity to make models from 3-D computer-aided designs and beginning drafting students a way to visualize a 3-D design problem more clearly
Instead of toner the rapid prototype machine uses a cartridge filled with a
spool of plastic which is heated to a temperature of 572 degrees F and applied in a series of layers until the 3-D model is built according to a CAD design
To the unschooled eye it appears as easy as hitting ldquoprintrdquo and setting controls for resolution orientation interior makeup (solid or honeycomb) and number of copies Then appearing out of seemingly nothingness comes a plastic model The technically savvy however know that inside the printer a CAD file interfaces with a stereolithography file format in order to fabricate the curves and geometry of a physical object
The process is fun to watch although ldquorapidrdquo is a relative term A special print head sweeps across a plastic support plate applying layer after layer of heated plastic following CAD specifications Filler material is applied to negative space and dissolved by immersion in a chemical bath after part fabrication Objects created in the JCCC 3-D printer take from two to 60-plus hours to complete
According to Tom Hughes drafting chair drafting models were traditionally created by hand in a shop Time cost and ease of use are improved with the 3-D printer Hughes says the rapid prototyping has been available in the industry for years used for creating manufactured parts ndash everything from
industrial to fine arts As the 3-D printers became more affordable JCCC was able to purchase one so drafting students can see their projects emerge from the 2-D printed page to physical models
ldquoThe impact on our students is that the models clearly illustrate what they are attempting to drawrdquo Hughes said ldquoStudents learn to draft with greater confidencerdquo
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting says the 3-D printer has increased student interest in the drafting program
ldquoThe rapid prototype printer can do some pretty complex models with moving and mating parts things that would be difficult to make in a shoprdquo Feureborn said
Students in the CAD 3-D and Mechanical Desktop Inventor classes are encouraged to produce one 3-D model at the end of the semester Faculty use the model to demonstrate objects and cutaway slices for entry-level classes
Hughes foresees partnerships between drafting classes and other programs using the 3-D printers Students in Graphic Analysis have already collaborated with welding students in the manufacturing of prototype plant holders
Summer 2010 | 15
Building toward health field careers
The Olathe Health Education Center lies west of Olathe Medical Center
In the remnant of a former cornfield Johnson County Community College
and Olathe Medical Center are tilling the ground in advance of another kind of harvest ndash allied health medical professionals
Groundbreaking on the two-story 50000-square-foot Olathe Health Education Center took place Dec 3 2009 and construction began in March 2010 The center will open for classes in fall 2011
OMC donated 58 acres of land for the building and parking located between 152nd and 153rd Streets west of Olathe Medical Center Parkway JCCC will build OHEC at an anticipated cost of $15 million
The building exterior is designed using JCCC campus standard brick with options for cast stone or metal between the windows The main entrance is to the north with parking to the northwest
Similar in design to the Regnier Center OHEC features a two-story atrium and
floating staircase The first floor will contain the main lobby information desk and a 300-seat multipurpose conference room that can be divided into four areas for smaller meetings or classes
Additional first-floor spaces are allocated for general education medical office technology and other medical offerings (EKG phlebotomy pharmacy technology medical lab technology and surgical technology) to include
Three general classrooms for classes such as anatomy and physiology
One medical computer lab and one general-use computer lab
A medical office technology suite with two classrooms and a record office room for medical billing coding and transcription
One classroom for other medical offerings
Common spaces including a coffee bar and food cart
Offices for faculty and staff including security counseling and student services
The second floor is designed primarily for practical nursing health occupations (certified nurse assistant certified medication aides rehabilitation aide home health aide and IV therapy for LPNs) and dietary manager programs to include
Four health occupations classrooms with three patient care beds each
Two skills labs with eight beds each one of the two is designed to accommodate four patient simulators
Practical nursehealth occupations student success center
Two classrooms for practical nursing and other medical classes
Common spaces for study and rest breaks
Offices for faculty and staff
16 | Reconnect
A rendering of the Olathe Health Education Center is shown here
Students will have clinical education opportunities at Olathe Medical Center as well as the opportunity for professional relationships with OMC health care practitioners
Rex Hays executive director Campus Services says HMN Architects collaborated with the academic administrators in multiple meetings to fulfill the specific needs of health care programming According to Hays the building will meet LEED silver certification in recognition of environmentally responsible building practices Access to a detention basin for a storm water run-off adds to points for LEED criteria
As owner of the OHEC JCCC will provide maintenance housekeeping and security (The college owns the building but does not receive clear title until the end of the 10-year lease and after payment of all scheduled lease amounts)
ldquoWe are grateful to Olathe Medical Center for the opportunity of building a health care teaching campusrdquo said Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC presidentldquoThe
medical center is a renowned medical facility and we are proud to be partners with themrdquo
ldquoWe are extremely proud to have the Olathe Health Education Center on our campusrdquo said Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC ldquoIt has been a pleasure for our staff to work with JCCC MidAmerica Nazarene University and the Olathe School District in developing the best curriculum to teach outstanding health care providers of the futurerdquo
Students from the Olathe schools will be provided a clear pathway through JCCC and if they choose to do so on to MidAmerica Nazarene University for baccalaureate and graduate studies completion according to Dr Dana Grove JCCC executive vice president educational planning and development chief operating officer
ldquoUltimately the beneficiary of the new OHEC is the community who will be served by an increase in the number of health care providers and the number of allied health programsrdquo Grove said
Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC and Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC president listen to a speaker at the Dec 3 groundbreaking for OHEC
Summer 2010 | 17
JCCC launches Achieving the Dream
Drs James Tschechtelin and Ted Wright JCCCrsquos coaches for Achieving the Dream brainstorm with Jeff Frost JCCC dean mathematics during an Achieving the Dream session of Fall 2009 Professional Development Days
Johnson County Community College is the first and only school in Kansas
to join Achieving the Dream Community Colleges Count a national initiative to help more community college students succeed particularly low-income students and students of color
JCCC is one of 102 institutions ndash 98 colleges and four universities ndash in 22 states to participate in Achieving the Dream which helps participating colleges implement strategies designed to help more students earn degrees complete certificates or transfer to other institutions to continue their studies The initiative emphasizes building a culture of evidence in which colleges use data to identify effective practices improve student success rates and close achievement gaps
The Lumina Foundation for Education which funds Achieving the Dream has a goal to raise the proportion of the US adult population who earn high-quality college degrees to 60 percent by 2025 an increase of 23 million graduates above current rates according to Dr Marilyn Rhinehart executive vice president Instruction JCCC Currently approximately 39 percent of American
adults complete a two- or four-year degree Each college makes a two-year commitment to focus its efforts on closing performance gaps among students in targeted populations
ldquoAt JCCC our work with Achieving the Dream will help us enhance the experience of students in developmental educationrdquo said Jason Kovac executive director of Academic Initiatives and Achieving the Dream core team leader ldquoThe goal will be to connect more people with college-level coursework and help more students reach their educational goals Ultimately this has a huge effect on our community ndash increased wages and better quality of life for our graduates and more skilled workers for regional employers This will be a key driver for college and community prosperity in the coming yearsrdquo
Core team members are Rhinehart team co-chair Terry Calaway JCCC president and team co-chair Jeff Frost dean mathematics Larry Reynolds dean Communications Beth Gulley assistant professor English Bill Robinson associate professor mathematics Mindy Manes administrative assistant
Corporate Outreach and Strategic Partnerships Learner Engagement and the Center for Sustainability Jason Kovac executive director Academic Initiatives Rick Moehring dean Learner Engagement Dr Ralph Juhnke director Institutional Research Paul Kyle dean Student Services Pam Vassar assistant dean Student Life and Leadership Development and Wendy Farwell counselor JCCCrsquos first step is to gather data to determine which student groups are less successful than others and which high-enrollment courses have the lowest success rates
ldquoAchieving the Dream really requires us to use data to focus on measurable outcomes and be open and forthright about current performancerdquo Juhnke said
While Achieving the Dream is about data Rhinehart says that every number represents a person
ldquoEvery piece of data has a story that can help us understand how we can make the greatest difference to a student We need to learn how we can take down barriers to student success and give students the courage and confidence to succeedrdquo Rhinehart said
18 | Reconnect
Journalism student media show news sense
JCCC journalism students show off a few of their many awards at the Headline Award ceremony in April 2010
The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism
and media communications department New video courses Advanced Video Production and Advanced Broadcast Performance were introduced as well as Digital Photojournalism designed for the multimedia needs of todayrsquos journalists The departmentrsquos foundation course Mass Media and Society became a general education elective for humanities credit in the spring 2010 semester for each of the collegersquos associatersquos degree programs
This past academic year more than 300 students completed classes in the journalism and media communications department and 10 students received scholarship money JCCC also continues to offer the largest media internship program in the Kansas City metro area providing students the opportunity to work in a professional environment
Beginning in fall 2010 students will be able to earn college credit with Basic Video Production in both the Blue Valley and Olathe high schools as part of JCCCrsquos College Now program
The departmentrsquos faculty includes two full-time professors Mark Raduziner department chair and Greg Harrell and adjunct faculty Gretchen Thum Julie Haas Joe Petrie Molly Baumgardner Corbin
Crable Joel Nichols and Mary Schulte
2010 was the seventh year for the Headline Award honoring local journalists whose example serves as an inspiration to student journalists at JCCC This yearrsquos honoree was Steve Kraske political correspondent for The Kansas City Star and host of Up to Date on KCURshyFM Kansas Cityrsquos public radio station
JCCCrsquos journalism and media communications department partners with Student Life and Leadership Development on two events In March the two departments sponsored People in the Media a panel of print and electronic media professionals who discussed the future of the industry In April the seventh annual Cavalier Film Festival honored student filmmakers from JCCC and Johnson County and Lawrence high schools in five categories Professionals in the Kansas City film and video industry judge entries and provide feedback
JCAV the student-produced TV news and magazine program took off this year with 10 JCAV news episodes seven JCAV Campus Updates and five Cavalier sports reports ndash live cable shows of sports events JCAV students won five 2010 Kansas Association of Broadcasters student awards while competing against all public and private colleges and universities in Kansas
Working in collaboration with the journalism and media communications department is Anne Christiansen-Bullers Student Life media coordinator and adviser to the student-produced radio station ECAV and JCCCrsquos student newspaper The Campus Ledger ECAV radio had its genesis in fall 2009 and will continue this year under radio station manager Marvita Oliver
The Campus Ledger was awarded the All-Kansas Award and a record 40 individual awards at the state conference sponsored by the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press Association
Judges awarded The Campus Ledger the gold medal for overall excellence and the All-Kansas Award reflecting the best of show in the two-year-school division
The newspaperrsquos Web site received a gold medal up from last yearrsquos bronze-medal distinction
The Campus Ledger editor-in-chief for 2009-10 was Matt Galloway The online editor was John Young Galloway won first runner-up in the Journalist of the Year contest sponsored by Kansas Associated Collegiate Press
Ondrej Pazdirek is the Campus Ledgerrsquos editor-in-chief for 2010-11
Summer 2010 | 19
Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing (left to right) Students Mickey Belcher Jimmy Lee and Jeff Middlesworth work in a patient simulation room with Mark Foster (blue lab coat) adjunct assistant professor nursing
Helping a patient or family member during a difficult time is the
primary satisfaction of being a nurse according to male nurses and male nursing students interviewed for this story
There are also practical reasons for being a nurse ndash the potential for good wages plentiful jobs and career diversity
So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
Jane Zaccardi director practical nursing and health occupations JCCC says the eulogized Florence Nightingale may be the reason Prior to the Crimean War men provided care in hospitals and battlefields and women in the home Nightingale brought the profession to women and subtly the job switched from one for men to one for women
JCCC in conjunction with Kansas Board of Regents is trying to reverse Nightingalersquos influence with two new Men in Nurses Training programs aimed at male high school students both of which were held in June The first was a nursing orientation summer camp for ninth and 10th grade students offered at no charge through grant funding The second MINT was a males-only
Certified Nurse Aide course for young men entering 11th and 12th grades Students who are employed as CNAs by a nursing facility within 12 months of the program can have their tuition reimbursed by their employer
With CNA certification students can earn a good salary and find a job right away according to Zaccardi or use the credentials to continue their education as a practical nurse then registered nurse
ldquoWe flat out donrsquot have enough nurses and we need to have men interested in the professionrdquo said Zaccardi whose statement is supported by a 2004 report from the American Nursing Association predicting 11 million job openings in the year 2020 ldquoWe are hoping through the MINT program men will select nursing as their first choice not as a career change in their 30s or 40srdquo
John McNally assistant professor nursing JCCC took exactly that career path At age 16 he got a job in his hometown hospital as what was then called an ldquoorderlyrdquo and worked part time at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center Topeka while earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Pittsburg State University
ldquoThe orderly positions now called CNA
were a convenient avenue to earn a paycheck while I was going to schoolrdquo McNally said
As an RN McNally worked at Stormont-Vail and North Kansas City Hospital earning a masterrsquos degree in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1996 In 2000 he decided to add computer skills to his reacutesumeacute and enrolled at JCCC where he moonlighted in the academic computer lab 30 hours a week When a nursing faculty position opened at JCCC he knew it was a good fit for him especially as health care technology increases
ldquoIn the hospitals where Irsquove worked there seem to be more males each yearrdquo McNally said ldquoWhile still a minority on the hospital floors men are likely to migrate to surgery radiology and technical areas My impression is that men in nursing donrsquot face any discriminationrdquo
Ed Ronnebaum assistant professor nursing JCCC echoes those sentiments
ldquoI have never faced discrimination at any timerdquo he said ldquoIt doesnrsquot matter if you are male or female as a nurse patient care is a team effortrdquo
For Ronnebaum however nursing is a career change After high school he
20 | Reconnect
served eight years of active duty as an Air Force aircraft mechanic then in the Air Guard in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm On his return Ronnebaum decided to rekindle his interest in anatomy and caring for sick people to become a nurse He started as a student nurse tech at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center Topeka earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Washburn University Topeka a masterrsquos of science in health care administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on a PhD in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City He teaches full time at JCCC and maintains his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves He has had one assignment as a critical care nurse in Iraq January through May 2007 Before entering academia he worked at KU Medical Center in medicalsurgery the burn unit and neurosurgery ICU
ldquoNursing is an exciting career and there is so much you can do with a nursing degree You can work in a hospital physicianrsquos office rehabilitation or long-term care facility nursing school or the militaryrdquo Ronnebaum said ldquoWith the growth in health care the sky is the limit for what you can do in nursingrdquo
ldquoMen balance the professionrdquo said Colleen Duggan JCCC nursing professor ldquoHaving men and women on the team makes for better collaboration on health care decisionsrdquo
Wayne Deines adjunct associate professor has a dual appointment with St Lukersquos South Hospital and JCCC He teaches JCCC students in clinicals two days a week at the hospital and one day a week at JCCC As an RN-III at St Lukersquos he works in the cardiovascular recovery unit Deines also came to nursing circuitously working as an EMT with the Consolidated Fire District 2 (Prairie Village) and paramedic with Johnson County Med-Act then earning his bachelorrsquos in nursing from KU School of Nursing A nurse for 18 years he worked in the military eight years and at St Lukersquos South for 10 Deines encourages men to enter nursing In fact his son is an operating room nurse at Childrenrsquos Mercy Hospital Kansas City Mo
JCCC has five male nursing faculty two full-time Ronnebaum and McNally and three part-time Deines Mark Foster and Kureo Ohta Eight male students graduated this spring out of a class of 71 In the practical nurse program there is one male adjunct faculty and three males out of 37 in the evening program due to graduate in December
JCCCrsquos male nursing students are gravitating to critical care upon graduation
ldquoGuys like critical care ndash ICU trauma and surgery I donrsquot know what thatrsquos all about but it seems to be naturalrdquo said student DJ Klinge
Students reiterate the fact that they feel no discrimination as males Sometimes an obstetrics patient prefers a female nurse but they donrsquot take offense They see it as a personal preference
ldquoYou have to be secure with yourself when you are a male nurserdquo said Jimmy Greenlee student
ldquoTwenty years ago guys in their 20s wouldnrsquot have thought about nursing as a career choice When people ask me if I am going to be a nurse I say lsquoAbsolutely There is nothing wrong with thatrsquordquo said Matt Munden who was determined to finish nursing school despite being readmitted to the RN program after a tour of duty in Iraq
Almost unanimously male faculty and students wish they had been introduced
Student Matt Munden assesses a heart rhythm under the instruction of Mark Foster (left) adjunct assistant professor nursing
to nursing as a career option earlier in life They recommend earning a CNA (a prerequisite to JCCCrsquos RN program) and working with patients before committing to the RN program
ldquoI got my CNA and really enjoyed it You help people who are truly dependent on you The CNA class pushed me into applying for nursing schoolrdquo said Jeff Middlesworth
ldquoJust getting your CNA lets you know if you are cut out for the job It lets you know whether you have the stomach for nursing or not and you learn rapport with patientsrdquo Greenlee said
So what would these young men say to other men thinking about a nursing career
ldquoLook into it and get your CNA If you have your head on straight and you are looking for a good career path I think it is well worth itrdquo Munden said ldquoIt was one of those things I didnrsquot really look at at first But this is the right decision for merdquo
ldquoEven in the recession the jobs in health care and nursing are still growingrdquo Middlesworth said
Greenlee says ldquoabsolutelyrdquo he is glad to have made the decision to be a nurse
ldquoI am not shy about being a male nurserdquo he said ldquoI am proud of itrdquo
Summer 2010 | 21
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
Indeed team members invest hours into research practice rounds one-on-one speaking drills and tournaments Easley and assistant debate coach Justin Stanley can spend up to 14 to 16 hours a day with students during the competition season In the fall there were four-day back-to-back tournaments on consecutive weekends and travel time There is also preparation on Saturdays and Sundays where students and coaches spend from eight- to 12-hour days in extra practice rounds and conducting research
ldquoAs coaches we help prepare students with the skills and research they need for a two-hour debate But once the debate begins it is up to them to carry throughrdquo Easley said
Assets of a winning team Easley credits this yearrsquos successes to the addition of an assistant coach and the studentsrsquo determination She says the most common major among debaters is pre-law or political science but debate studentsrsquo majors vary from nursing to electrical engineering
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo Easley said
JCCC offers four sections of debate and all students enrolled in debate participate with the team Two-thirds of the current debate team is expected to return in the fall Using electronic databases books journals and law reviews students begin researching next yearrsquos topic as soon as it is announced in July
One also has to credit Easleyrsquos commitment for the teamrsquos success Easley began college as a music major but was won over to debate by a speech teacher who thought she ldquotalked fast and gave good speechesrdquo Easley earned a bachelorrsquos degree in literature from the University of Texas at Dallas and a masterrsquos in communication from Baylor University
ldquoI think everything you learn in debate translates into everyday life skills you can translate to any job Debaters have to critically analyze and process information very quickly learn how to research a subject and become better citizens in general as they consider both sides of an issuerdquo
ndash Debate Coach Terri Easley
More kudos The JCCC debate team also hosts (and participates in) the most prestigious and longest-running junior-varsity national tournament in the country the National Junior Division Debate Tournament founded by retired JCCC professor Dr Dick Stine which was held this year in March
At the CEDA National Tournament at Berkeley JCCC debaters were awarded several national recognitions Emily Umphrey was awarded with the ldquoOutstanding New Competitor Awardrdquo for debaters in their first year of competition without prior debate experience who show growth and participation in the activity Caitlin Breslin and Dalton Lawson were selected to the All-American Debate Team The award is given to 30 debaters who represent the best of intercollegiate debate
Dalton Lawson
Brandie Shepherd
Summer 2010 | 11
Dobson publishes bookabout the Great Plains
Adjunct professor of history Patrick Dobsonrsquos book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains was recently published
Patrick Dobson adjunct professor of history is a bear of a man His
presence enthusiasm and stories fill a room He is a freelance writer a member of Ironworkers Local 10 in Kansas City and has completed all-but-a-dissertation toward a doctorate in 20th century US environmental history and American literature from the University of Missouri-Kansas City
Today Dobson is being interviewed about his first book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains published last year by the University of Nebraska Press The book describes Dobsonrsquos two-and-a-half-month journey from Kansas City Mo to Helena Mont in 1995 a journey Dobson says was ldquomeant to quiet his restless soulrdquo With only a backpack Dobson then a single father left his job with the engineering maintenance department at the Ritz-Carlton to chronicle the lives of ordinary people in the Great Plains
He kept a notebook and filed biweekly columns in The Pitch during his trip The
journal is the basis for his book for which he has done a round of media interviews and book signings A second book based on his river journey home is in the works
At JCCC Dobson teaches US history and Western civilization He has bachelorrsquos degrees in American history and English from UMKC and a masterrsquos degree in American history from the University of Wyoming Part skilled laborer part scholar Dobsonrsquos employment reflects his dichotomy maintenance at the Ritz four years as a full-time writer at The Pitch three years as an editor at Andrews McMeel Universal and one and one-half years of self-employment ndash hauling dirt rehabbing houses and stacking rock ndash previous to entering the UMKC doctoral program in 2004 He joined the Ironworkers Local 10 after completing his doctoral classes The one constant in his life has been writing
Dobson has now worked out an ideal plan for his PhD life ndash working as a
journeyman ironworker during the summers and teaching during the school year He believes he is a misfit traversing different universes comfortably
ldquoWhen Irsquom with the academics I feel like the dirty fingernailer at the queenrsquos banquetrdquo Dobson saidldquoWhen Irsquom with journalists they know something is not quite right about me something doesnrsquot fit Then when Irsquom with the ironworkers they know there is something about me ndash things I talk about ndash so they know Irsquove been someplace elserdquo
Fifteen years after his trek across the plains Dobson appears to have put his soul to rest He has learned he needs to be outside doing physical labor he needs to teach because he views learning as unfinished business and he needs to write
Dobsonrsquos book is available at Amazon University of Nebraska Press and the JCCC Billington Library
12 | Reconnect
JCCC offers motorcycle training Cheryl and Dennis Rogers Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors advise taking the Motorcycle Training class before the purchase of a motorcycle
After an interminable winter people are ready to feel the wind sun and
rain on their faces They are catching the bug to ride a motorcycle
As thrilling as buying a bike twisting the throttle and hitting the road are safety and a legal license come first JCCC began offering its new Motorcycle Training classes this year the first three sessions filled immediately
The course which provides 20 hours of instruction including eight classroom hours and 12 hours of range instruction is designed for the beginning motorcyclist who wants to operate his or her motorcycle safely and efficiently A Kansas Division of Vehicles certificate of completion will be issued after successfully completing the course
The three-day classes are scheduled from 6 to 10 pm Friday and 8 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday Riding and maneuvers including 17 exercises are scheduled all day Saturday and Sunday in the JCCC parking lot The lead teachers are Cheryl and Dennis Rogers
Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors who teach a maximum of 12 students per class
ldquoWe teach proper techniques for breaking turning and swervingrdquo Cheryl Rogers saidldquoLater we have had students thank us saying those techniques saved their livesrdquo
Dennis Rogers is a retired Kansas State Trooper and Cheryl is an IT worker for the State of Kansas Together they take one big (3000-mile) trip each summer having visited 40 of the 48 continental US states and ride weekends
The Rogers advocate motorcycle transportation as a way to reduce costs and enjoy the outdoors
ldquoOnly a motorcyclist knows the thrill and exhilaration a dog has when it sticks its head out the car windowrdquo Cheryl Rogers said
Bikes and helmets are provided for the class Stan and Elaine Rogers (no relations to Cheryl and Dennis Rogers) who formerly owned Midwest Motorcycle
Training Center donated nine Honda Rebel 250 CC bikes to JCCC after their training program closed
Dennis Rogers advises taking the motorcycle training program before buying a motorcycle so one people know they like riding a motorcycle and are successful at it and two they learn to ask the right questions when buying a bike ndash Will you have a passenger What size works for you Will you be riding on the street or dirt
Taking the class reduces insurance rates and increases safety About 92 percent of accident-involved motorcyclists were self-taught or learned from family and friends according to Cheryl Rogers
For more information contact Phil Wegman program director skills enhancement JCCC at 913-469-4446 or pwegmanjcccedu To register call 913-469-2323 Cost is $199
Summer 2010 | 13
Electronics buysrobot arm to develop new class
Chip Cody associate professorchair electronics demonstrates the capabilities of electronicsrsquo new robot arm
Using a $25000 Perkins grant JCCCrsquos electronics department
purchased a programmable six-degreeshyof-freedom robot arm to teach students how robots are used in industry
Faculty received training on the machine in the spring with the goal of developing an industrial robot class by fall 2010 JCCC already offers an elective Electronics 127 ndash Robots for Humans which serves as an introduction to the growing field of robotics An industrial robot class would teach students how to build program test and maintain robots in industry ndash everything from car manufacturing to automated self-checkouts
ldquoRobots are good candidates for jobs that are either too dangerous for humans or highly repetitive and monotonousrdquo said Chip Cody associate professor chair electronics ldquoRobots are accurate They do exactly what you tell them to do every time They never get tired bored or call in sickrdquo
JCCCrsquos robot features base waist shoulder elbow wrist and hand rotation ndash referred to as the six axes of freedom Weighing several hundred pounds the machine looks like a giant popcorn cart constructed with a quarter-inch steel working surface and requiring a double-wide door for access to the electronics lab
As in the Robots for Humans class students in the proposed class would learn about the robotrsquos hardware things like sensors and actuators and enough software programming language to teach the robot a task
Cody explains that programming involves coordinating the axes of motion and that can be accomplished in two ways ndash either by means of a microprocessor or by taking the robot manually through an operation and having its sensors store the action in its computer
ldquoA robot senses the outside world and based on what the sensor tells it it takes actionrdquo Cody said ldquoA robot constantly goes through a sense-react-sense loop Students work with small kits in the 127 class but this is the first time the college has had an industrial-strength machinerdquo
Interest in robots has been generated by students who have participated in high school robotics competitions such as FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen Students with those experiences want to progress from JCCCrsquos Microprocessors class to the robot class where the microprocessors serve as the robotrsquos ldquobrainrdquo
Cody says there is a demand for graduates with two-year electronic degrees to work in industry to maintain robots
ldquoRobots are here to stay Thatrsquos the wave of the futurerdquo Cody saidldquoThey may not all look like C-3P0 but they are everywhere ndash from assembly lines to NASArsquos Mars Exploration Rover Projectrdquo
The robot arm will have broad application
14 | Reconnect
Drafting goes 3-D
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting displays a 3-D object fabricated from the rapid prototype machine
Itrsquos not quite the Star Trek replicator but the new 3-D printer in the drafting
department is impressive
JCCCrsquos drafting program acquired its rapid prototype machine in spring 2009 giving advanced drafting students an opportunity to make models from 3-D computer-aided designs and beginning drafting students a way to visualize a 3-D design problem more clearly
Instead of toner the rapid prototype machine uses a cartridge filled with a
spool of plastic which is heated to a temperature of 572 degrees F and applied in a series of layers until the 3-D model is built according to a CAD design
To the unschooled eye it appears as easy as hitting ldquoprintrdquo and setting controls for resolution orientation interior makeup (solid or honeycomb) and number of copies Then appearing out of seemingly nothingness comes a plastic model The technically savvy however know that inside the printer a CAD file interfaces with a stereolithography file format in order to fabricate the curves and geometry of a physical object
The process is fun to watch although ldquorapidrdquo is a relative term A special print head sweeps across a plastic support plate applying layer after layer of heated plastic following CAD specifications Filler material is applied to negative space and dissolved by immersion in a chemical bath after part fabrication Objects created in the JCCC 3-D printer take from two to 60-plus hours to complete
According to Tom Hughes drafting chair drafting models were traditionally created by hand in a shop Time cost and ease of use are improved with the 3-D printer Hughes says the rapid prototyping has been available in the industry for years used for creating manufactured parts ndash everything from
industrial to fine arts As the 3-D printers became more affordable JCCC was able to purchase one so drafting students can see their projects emerge from the 2-D printed page to physical models
ldquoThe impact on our students is that the models clearly illustrate what they are attempting to drawrdquo Hughes said ldquoStudents learn to draft with greater confidencerdquo
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting says the 3-D printer has increased student interest in the drafting program
ldquoThe rapid prototype printer can do some pretty complex models with moving and mating parts things that would be difficult to make in a shoprdquo Feureborn said
Students in the CAD 3-D and Mechanical Desktop Inventor classes are encouraged to produce one 3-D model at the end of the semester Faculty use the model to demonstrate objects and cutaway slices for entry-level classes
Hughes foresees partnerships between drafting classes and other programs using the 3-D printers Students in Graphic Analysis have already collaborated with welding students in the manufacturing of prototype plant holders
Summer 2010 | 15
Building toward health field careers
The Olathe Health Education Center lies west of Olathe Medical Center
In the remnant of a former cornfield Johnson County Community College
and Olathe Medical Center are tilling the ground in advance of another kind of harvest ndash allied health medical professionals
Groundbreaking on the two-story 50000-square-foot Olathe Health Education Center took place Dec 3 2009 and construction began in March 2010 The center will open for classes in fall 2011
OMC donated 58 acres of land for the building and parking located between 152nd and 153rd Streets west of Olathe Medical Center Parkway JCCC will build OHEC at an anticipated cost of $15 million
The building exterior is designed using JCCC campus standard brick with options for cast stone or metal between the windows The main entrance is to the north with parking to the northwest
Similar in design to the Regnier Center OHEC features a two-story atrium and
floating staircase The first floor will contain the main lobby information desk and a 300-seat multipurpose conference room that can be divided into four areas for smaller meetings or classes
Additional first-floor spaces are allocated for general education medical office technology and other medical offerings (EKG phlebotomy pharmacy technology medical lab technology and surgical technology) to include
Three general classrooms for classes such as anatomy and physiology
One medical computer lab and one general-use computer lab
A medical office technology suite with two classrooms and a record office room for medical billing coding and transcription
One classroom for other medical offerings
Common spaces including a coffee bar and food cart
Offices for faculty and staff including security counseling and student services
The second floor is designed primarily for practical nursing health occupations (certified nurse assistant certified medication aides rehabilitation aide home health aide and IV therapy for LPNs) and dietary manager programs to include
Four health occupations classrooms with three patient care beds each
Two skills labs with eight beds each one of the two is designed to accommodate four patient simulators
Practical nursehealth occupations student success center
Two classrooms for practical nursing and other medical classes
Common spaces for study and rest breaks
Offices for faculty and staff
16 | Reconnect
A rendering of the Olathe Health Education Center is shown here
Students will have clinical education opportunities at Olathe Medical Center as well as the opportunity for professional relationships with OMC health care practitioners
Rex Hays executive director Campus Services says HMN Architects collaborated with the academic administrators in multiple meetings to fulfill the specific needs of health care programming According to Hays the building will meet LEED silver certification in recognition of environmentally responsible building practices Access to a detention basin for a storm water run-off adds to points for LEED criteria
As owner of the OHEC JCCC will provide maintenance housekeeping and security (The college owns the building but does not receive clear title until the end of the 10-year lease and after payment of all scheduled lease amounts)
ldquoWe are grateful to Olathe Medical Center for the opportunity of building a health care teaching campusrdquo said Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC presidentldquoThe
medical center is a renowned medical facility and we are proud to be partners with themrdquo
ldquoWe are extremely proud to have the Olathe Health Education Center on our campusrdquo said Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC ldquoIt has been a pleasure for our staff to work with JCCC MidAmerica Nazarene University and the Olathe School District in developing the best curriculum to teach outstanding health care providers of the futurerdquo
Students from the Olathe schools will be provided a clear pathway through JCCC and if they choose to do so on to MidAmerica Nazarene University for baccalaureate and graduate studies completion according to Dr Dana Grove JCCC executive vice president educational planning and development chief operating officer
ldquoUltimately the beneficiary of the new OHEC is the community who will be served by an increase in the number of health care providers and the number of allied health programsrdquo Grove said
Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC and Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC president listen to a speaker at the Dec 3 groundbreaking for OHEC
Summer 2010 | 17
JCCC launches Achieving the Dream
Drs James Tschechtelin and Ted Wright JCCCrsquos coaches for Achieving the Dream brainstorm with Jeff Frost JCCC dean mathematics during an Achieving the Dream session of Fall 2009 Professional Development Days
Johnson County Community College is the first and only school in Kansas
to join Achieving the Dream Community Colleges Count a national initiative to help more community college students succeed particularly low-income students and students of color
JCCC is one of 102 institutions ndash 98 colleges and four universities ndash in 22 states to participate in Achieving the Dream which helps participating colleges implement strategies designed to help more students earn degrees complete certificates or transfer to other institutions to continue their studies The initiative emphasizes building a culture of evidence in which colleges use data to identify effective practices improve student success rates and close achievement gaps
The Lumina Foundation for Education which funds Achieving the Dream has a goal to raise the proportion of the US adult population who earn high-quality college degrees to 60 percent by 2025 an increase of 23 million graduates above current rates according to Dr Marilyn Rhinehart executive vice president Instruction JCCC Currently approximately 39 percent of American
adults complete a two- or four-year degree Each college makes a two-year commitment to focus its efforts on closing performance gaps among students in targeted populations
ldquoAt JCCC our work with Achieving the Dream will help us enhance the experience of students in developmental educationrdquo said Jason Kovac executive director of Academic Initiatives and Achieving the Dream core team leader ldquoThe goal will be to connect more people with college-level coursework and help more students reach their educational goals Ultimately this has a huge effect on our community ndash increased wages and better quality of life for our graduates and more skilled workers for regional employers This will be a key driver for college and community prosperity in the coming yearsrdquo
Core team members are Rhinehart team co-chair Terry Calaway JCCC president and team co-chair Jeff Frost dean mathematics Larry Reynolds dean Communications Beth Gulley assistant professor English Bill Robinson associate professor mathematics Mindy Manes administrative assistant
Corporate Outreach and Strategic Partnerships Learner Engagement and the Center for Sustainability Jason Kovac executive director Academic Initiatives Rick Moehring dean Learner Engagement Dr Ralph Juhnke director Institutional Research Paul Kyle dean Student Services Pam Vassar assistant dean Student Life and Leadership Development and Wendy Farwell counselor JCCCrsquos first step is to gather data to determine which student groups are less successful than others and which high-enrollment courses have the lowest success rates
ldquoAchieving the Dream really requires us to use data to focus on measurable outcomes and be open and forthright about current performancerdquo Juhnke said
While Achieving the Dream is about data Rhinehart says that every number represents a person
ldquoEvery piece of data has a story that can help us understand how we can make the greatest difference to a student We need to learn how we can take down barriers to student success and give students the courage and confidence to succeedrdquo Rhinehart said
18 | Reconnect
Journalism student media show news sense
JCCC journalism students show off a few of their many awards at the Headline Award ceremony in April 2010
The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism
and media communications department New video courses Advanced Video Production and Advanced Broadcast Performance were introduced as well as Digital Photojournalism designed for the multimedia needs of todayrsquos journalists The departmentrsquos foundation course Mass Media and Society became a general education elective for humanities credit in the spring 2010 semester for each of the collegersquos associatersquos degree programs
This past academic year more than 300 students completed classes in the journalism and media communications department and 10 students received scholarship money JCCC also continues to offer the largest media internship program in the Kansas City metro area providing students the opportunity to work in a professional environment
Beginning in fall 2010 students will be able to earn college credit with Basic Video Production in both the Blue Valley and Olathe high schools as part of JCCCrsquos College Now program
The departmentrsquos faculty includes two full-time professors Mark Raduziner department chair and Greg Harrell and adjunct faculty Gretchen Thum Julie Haas Joe Petrie Molly Baumgardner Corbin
Crable Joel Nichols and Mary Schulte
2010 was the seventh year for the Headline Award honoring local journalists whose example serves as an inspiration to student journalists at JCCC This yearrsquos honoree was Steve Kraske political correspondent for The Kansas City Star and host of Up to Date on KCURshyFM Kansas Cityrsquos public radio station
JCCCrsquos journalism and media communications department partners with Student Life and Leadership Development on two events In March the two departments sponsored People in the Media a panel of print and electronic media professionals who discussed the future of the industry In April the seventh annual Cavalier Film Festival honored student filmmakers from JCCC and Johnson County and Lawrence high schools in five categories Professionals in the Kansas City film and video industry judge entries and provide feedback
JCAV the student-produced TV news and magazine program took off this year with 10 JCAV news episodes seven JCAV Campus Updates and five Cavalier sports reports ndash live cable shows of sports events JCAV students won five 2010 Kansas Association of Broadcasters student awards while competing against all public and private colleges and universities in Kansas
Working in collaboration with the journalism and media communications department is Anne Christiansen-Bullers Student Life media coordinator and adviser to the student-produced radio station ECAV and JCCCrsquos student newspaper The Campus Ledger ECAV radio had its genesis in fall 2009 and will continue this year under radio station manager Marvita Oliver
The Campus Ledger was awarded the All-Kansas Award and a record 40 individual awards at the state conference sponsored by the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press Association
Judges awarded The Campus Ledger the gold medal for overall excellence and the All-Kansas Award reflecting the best of show in the two-year-school division
The newspaperrsquos Web site received a gold medal up from last yearrsquos bronze-medal distinction
The Campus Ledger editor-in-chief for 2009-10 was Matt Galloway The online editor was John Young Galloway won first runner-up in the Journalist of the Year contest sponsored by Kansas Associated Collegiate Press
Ondrej Pazdirek is the Campus Ledgerrsquos editor-in-chief for 2010-11
Summer 2010 | 19
Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing (left to right) Students Mickey Belcher Jimmy Lee and Jeff Middlesworth work in a patient simulation room with Mark Foster (blue lab coat) adjunct assistant professor nursing
Helping a patient or family member during a difficult time is the
primary satisfaction of being a nurse according to male nurses and male nursing students interviewed for this story
There are also practical reasons for being a nurse ndash the potential for good wages plentiful jobs and career diversity
So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
Jane Zaccardi director practical nursing and health occupations JCCC says the eulogized Florence Nightingale may be the reason Prior to the Crimean War men provided care in hospitals and battlefields and women in the home Nightingale brought the profession to women and subtly the job switched from one for men to one for women
JCCC in conjunction with Kansas Board of Regents is trying to reverse Nightingalersquos influence with two new Men in Nurses Training programs aimed at male high school students both of which were held in June The first was a nursing orientation summer camp for ninth and 10th grade students offered at no charge through grant funding The second MINT was a males-only
Certified Nurse Aide course for young men entering 11th and 12th grades Students who are employed as CNAs by a nursing facility within 12 months of the program can have their tuition reimbursed by their employer
With CNA certification students can earn a good salary and find a job right away according to Zaccardi or use the credentials to continue their education as a practical nurse then registered nurse
ldquoWe flat out donrsquot have enough nurses and we need to have men interested in the professionrdquo said Zaccardi whose statement is supported by a 2004 report from the American Nursing Association predicting 11 million job openings in the year 2020 ldquoWe are hoping through the MINT program men will select nursing as their first choice not as a career change in their 30s or 40srdquo
John McNally assistant professor nursing JCCC took exactly that career path At age 16 he got a job in his hometown hospital as what was then called an ldquoorderlyrdquo and worked part time at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center Topeka while earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Pittsburg State University
ldquoThe orderly positions now called CNA
were a convenient avenue to earn a paycheck while I was going to schoolrdquo McNally said
As an RN McNally worked at Stormont-Vail and North Kansas City Hospital earning a masterrsquos degree in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1996 In 2000 he decided to add computer skills to his reacutesumeacute and enrolled at JCCC where he moonlighted in the academic computer lab 30 hours a week When a nursing faculty position opened at JCCC he knew it was a good fit for him especially as health care technology increases
ldquoIn the hospitals where Irsquove worked there seem to be more males each yearrdquo McNally said ldquoWhile still a minority on the hospital floors men are likely to migrate to surgery radiology and technical areas My impression is that men in nursing donrsquot face any discriminationrdquo
Ed Ronnebaum assistant professor nursing JCCC echoes those sentiments
ldquoI have never faced discrimination at any timerdquo he said ldquoIt doesnrsquot matter if you are male or female as a nurse patient care is a team effortrdquo
For Ronnebaum however nursing is a career change After high school he
20 | Reconnect
served eight years of active duty as an Air Force aircraft mechanic then in the Air Guard in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm On his return Ronnebaum decided to rekindle his interest in anatomy and caring for sick people to become a nurse He started as a student nurse tech at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center Topeka earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Washburn University Topeka a masterrsquos of science in health care administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on a PhD in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City He teaches full time at JCCC and maintains his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves He has had one assignment as a critical care nurse in Iraq January through May 2007 Before entering academia he worked at KU Medical Center in medicalsurgery the burn unit and neurosurgery ICU
ldquoNursing is an exciting career and there is so much you can do with a nursing degree You can work in a hospital physicianrsquos office rehabilitation or long-term care facility nursing school or the militaryrdquo Ronnebaum said ldquoWith the growth in health care the sky is the limit for what you can do in nursingrdquo
ldquoMen balance the professionrdquo said Colleen Duggan JCCC nursing professor ldquoHaving men and women on the team makes for better collaboration on health care decisionsrdquo
Wayne Deines adjunct associate professor has a dual appointment with St Lukersquos South Hospital and JCCC He teaches JCCC students in clinicals two days a week at the hospital and one day a week at JCCC As an RN-III at St Lukersquos he works in the cardiovascular recovery unit Deines also came to nursing circuitously working as an EMT with the Consolidated Fire District 2 (Prairie Village) and paramedic with Johnson County Med-Act then earning his bachelorrsquos in nursing from KU School of Nursing A nurse for 18 years he worked in the military eight years and at St Lukersquos South for 10 Deines encourages men to enter nursing In fact his son is an operating room nurse at Childrenrsquos Mercy Hospital Kansas City Mo
JCCC has five male nursing faculty two full-time Ronnebaum and McNally and three part-time Deines Mark Foster and Kureo Ohta Eight male students graduated this spring out of a class of 71 In the practical nurse program there is one male adjunct faculty and three males out of 37 in the evening program due to graduate in December
JCCCrsquos male nursing students are gravitating to critical care upon graduation
ldquoGuys like critical care ndash ICU trauma and surgery I donrsquot know what thatrsquos all about but it seems to be naturalrdquo said student DJ Klinge
Students reiterate the fact that they feel no discrimination as males Sometimes an obstetrics patient prefers a female nurse but they donrsquot take offense They see it as a personal preference
ldquoYou have to be secure with yourself when you are a male nurserdquo said Jimmy Greenlee student
ldquoTwenty years ago guys in their 20s wouldnrsquot have thought about nursing as a career choice When people ask me if I am going to be a nurse I say lsquoAbsolutely There is nothing wrong with thatrsquordquo said Matt Munden who was determined to finish nursing school despite being readmitted to the RN program after a tour of duty in Iraq
Almost unanimously male faculty and students wish they had been introduced
Student Matt Munden assesses a heart rhythm under the instruction of Mark Foster (left) adjunct assistant professor nursing
to nursing as a career option earlier in life They recommend earning a CNA (a prerequisite to JCCCrsquos RN program) and working with patients before committing to the RN program
ldquoI got my CNA and really enjoyed it You help people who are truly dependent on you The CNA class pushed me into applying for nursing schoolrdquo said Jeff Middlesworth
ldquoJust getting your CNA lets you know if you are cut out for the job It lets you know whether you have the stomach for nursing or not and you learn rapport with patientsrdquo Greenlee said
So what would these young men say to other men thinking about a nursing career
ldquoLook into it and get your CNA If you have your head on straight and you are looking for a good career path I think it is well worth itrdquo Munden said ldquoIt was one of those things I didnrsquot really look at at first But this is the right decision for merdquo
ldquoEven in the recession the jobs in health care and nursing are still growingrdquo Middlesworth said
Greenlee says ldquoabsolutelyrdquo he is glad to have made the decision to be a nurse
ldquoI am not shy about being a male nurserdquo he said ldquoI am proud of itrdquo
Summer 2010 | 21
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
Dobson publishes bookabout the Great Plains
Adjunct professor of history Patrick Dobsonrsquos book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains was recently published
Patrick Dobson adjunct professor of history is a bear of a man His
presence enthusiasm and stories fill a room He is a freelance writer a member of Ironworkers Local 10 in Kansas City and has completed all-but-a-dissertation toward a doctorate in 20th century US environmental history and American literature from the University of Missouri-Kansas City
Today Dobson is being interviewed about his first book Seldom Seen A Journey into the Great Plains published last year by the University of Nebraska Press The book describes Dobsonrsquos two-and-a-half-month journey from Kansas City Mo to Helena Mont in 1995 a journey Dobson says was ldquomeant to quiet his restless soulrdquo With only a backpack Dobson then a single father left his job with the engineering maintenance department at the Ritz-Carlton to chronicle the lives of ordinary people in the Great Plains
He kept a notebook and filed biweekly columns in The Pitch during his trip The
journal is the basis for his book for which he has done a round of media interviews and book signings A second book based on his river journey home is in the works
At JCCC Dobson teaches US history and Western civilization He has bachelorrsquos degrees in American history and English from UMKC and a masterrsquos degree in American history from the University of Wyoming Part skilled laborer part scholar Dobsonrsquos employment reflects his dichotomy maintenance at the Ritz four years as a full-time writer at The Pitch three years as an editor at Andrews McMeel Universal and one and one-half years of self-employment ndash hauling dirt rehabbing houses and stacking rock ndash previous to entering the UMKC doctoral program in 2004 He joined the Ironworkers Local 10 after completing his doctoral classes The one constant in his life has been writing
Dobson has now worked out an ideal plan for his PhD life ndash working as a
journeyman ironworker during the summers and teaching during the school year He believes he is a misfit traversing different universes comfortably
ldquoWhen Irsquom with the academics I feel like the dirty fingernailer at the queenrsquos banquetrdquo Dobson saidldquoWhen Irsquom with journalists they know something is not quite right about me something doesnrsquot fit Then when Irsquom with the ironworkers they know there is something about me ndash things I talk about ndash so they know Irsquove been someplace elserdquo
Fifteen years after his trek across the plains Dobson appears to have put his soul to rest He has learned he needs to be outside doing physical labor he needs to teach because he views learning as unfinished business and he needs to write
Dobsonrsquos book is available at Amazon University of Nebraska Press and the JCCC Billington Library
12 | Reconnect
JCCC offers motorcycle training Cheryl and Dennis Rogers Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors advise taking the Motorcycle Training class before the purchase of a motorcycle
After an interminable winter people are ready to feel the wind sun and
rain on their faces They are catching the bug to ride a motorcycle
As thrilling as buying a bike twisting the throttle and hitting the road are safety and a legal license come first JCCC began offering its new Motorcycle Training classes this year the first three sessions filled immediately
The course which provides 20 hours of instruction including eight classroom hours and 12 hours of range instruction is designed for the beginning motorcyclist who wants to operate his or her motorcycle safely and efficiently A Kansas Division of Vehicles certificate of completion will be issued after successfully completing the course
The three-day classes are scheduled from 6 to 10 pm Friday and 8 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday Riding and maneuvers including 17 exercises are scheduled all day Saturday and Sunday in the JCCC parking lot The lead teachers are Cheryl and Dennis Rogers
Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors who teach a maximum of 12 students per class
ldquoWe teach proper techniques for breaking turning and swervingrdquo Cheryl Rogers saidldquoLater we have had students thank us saying those techniques saved their livesrdquo
Dennis Rogers is a retired Kansas State Trooper and Cheryl is an IT worker for the State of Kansas Together they take one big (3000-mile) trip each summer having visited 40 of the 48 continental US states and ride weekends
The Rogers advocate motorcycle transportation as a way to reduce costs and enjoy the outdoors
ldquoOnly a motorcyclist knows the thrill and exhilaration a dog has when it sticks its head out the car windowrdquo Cheryl Rogers said
Bikes and helmets are provided for the class Stan and Elaine Rogers (no relations to Cheryl and Dennis Rogers) who formerly owned Midwest Motorcycle
Training Center donated nine Honda Rebel 250 CC bikes to JCCC after their training program closed
Dennis Rogers advises taking the motorcycle training program before buying a motorcycle so one people know they like riding a motorcycle and are successful at it and two they learn to ask the right questions when buying a bike ndash Will you have a passenger What size works for you Will you be riding on the street or dirt
Taking the class reduces insurance rates and increases safety About 92 percent of accident-involved motorcyclists were self-taught or learned from family and friends according to Cheryl Rogers
For more information contact Phil Wegman program director skills enhancement JCCC at 913-469-4446 or pwegmanjcccedu To register call 913-469-2323 Cost is $199
Summer 2010 | 13
Electronics buysrobot arm to develop new class
Chip Cody associate professorchair electronics demonstrates the capabilities of electronicsrsquo new robot arm
Using a $25000 Perkins grant JCCCrsquos electronics department
purchased a programmable six-degreeshyof-freedom robot arm to teach students how robots are used in industry
Faculty received training on the machine in the spring with the goal of developing an industrial robot class by fall 2010 JCCC already offers an elective Electronics 127 ndash Robots for Humans which serves as an introduction to the growing field of robotics An industrial robot class would teach students how to build program test and maintain robots in industry ndash everything from car manufacturing to automated self-checkouts
ldquoRobots are good candidates for jobs that are either too dangerous for humans or highly repetitive and monotonousrdquo said Chip Cody associate professor chair electronics ldquoRobots are accurate They do exactly what you tell them to do every time They never get tired bored or call in sickrdquo
JCCCrsquos robot features base waist shoulder elbow wrist and hand rotation ndash referred to as the six axes of freedom Weighing several hundred pounds the machine looks like a giant popcorn cart constructed with a quarter-inch steel working surface and requiring a double-wide door for access to the electronics lab
As in the Robots for Humans class students in the proposed class would learn about the robotrsquos hardware things like sensors and actuators and enough software programming language to teach the robot a task
Cody explains that programming involves coordinating the axes of motion and that can be accomplished in two ways ndash either by means of a microprocessor or by taking the robot manually through an operation and having its sensors store the action in its computer
ldquoA robot senses the outside world and based on what the sensor tells it it takes actionrdquo Cody said ldquoA robot constantly goes through a sense-react-sense loop Students work with small kits in the 127 class but this is the first time the college has had an industrial-strength machinerdquo
Interest in robots has been generated by students who have participated in high school robotics competitions such as FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen Students with those experiences want to progress from JCCCrsquos Microprocessors class to the robot class where the microprocessors serve as the robotrsquos ldquobrainrdquo
Cody says there is a demand for graduates with two-year electronic degrees to work in industry to maintain robots
ldquoRobots are here to stay Thatrsquos the wave of the futurerdquo Cody saidldquoThey may not all look like C-3P0 but they are everywhere ndash from assembly lines to NASArsquos Mars Exploration Rover Projectrdquo
The robot arm will have broad application
14 | Reconnect
Drafting goes 3-D
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting displays a 3-D object fabricated from the rapid prototype machine
Itrsquos not quite the Star Trek replicator but the new 3-D printer in the drafting
department is impressive
JCCCrsquos drafting program acquired its rapid prototype machine in spring 2009 giving advanced drafting students an opportunity to make models from 3-D computer-aided designs and beginning drafting students a way to visualize a 3-D design problem more clearly
Instead of toner the rapid prototype machine uses a cartridge filled with a
spool of plastic which is heated to a temperature of 572 degrees F and applied in a series of layers until the 3-D model is built according to a CAD design
To the unschooled eye it appears as easy as hitting ldquoprintrdquo and setting controls for resolution orientation interior makeup (solid or honeycomb) and number of copies Then appearing out of seemingly nothingness comes a plastic model The technically savvy however know that inside the printer a CAD file interfaces with a stereolithography file format in order to fabricate the curves and geometry of a physical object
The process is fun to watch although ldquorapidrdquo is a relative term A special print head sweeps across a plastic support plate applying layer after layer of heated plastic following CAD specifications Filler material is applied to negative space and dissolved by immersion in a chemical bath after part fabrication Objects created in the JCCC 3-D printer take from two to 60-plus hours to complete
According to Tom Hughes drafting chair drafting models were traditionally created by hand in a shop Time cost and ease of use are improved with the 3-D printer Hughes says the rapid prototyping has been available in the industry for years used for creating manufactured parts ndash everything from
industrial to fine arts As the 3-D printers became more affordable JCCC was able to purchase one so drafting students can see their projects emerge from the 2-D printed page to physical models
ldquoThe impact on our students is that the models clearly illustrate what they are attempting to drawrdquo Hughes said ldquoStudents learn to draft with greater confidencerdquo
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting says the 3-D printer has increased student interest in the drafting program
ldquoThe rapid prototype printer can do some pretty complex models with moving and mating parts things that would be difficult to make in a shoprdquo Feureborn said
Students in the CAD 3-D and Mechanical Desktop Inventor classes are encouraged to produce one 3-D model at the end of the semester Faculty use the model to demonstrate objects and cutaway slices for entry-level classes
Hughes foresees partnerships between drafting classes and other programs using the 3-D printers Students in Graphic Analysis have already collaborated with welding students in the manufacturing of prototype plant holders
Summer 2010 | 15
Building toward health field careers
The Olathe Health Education Center lies west of Olathe Medical Center
In the remnant of a former cornfield Johnson County Community College
and Olathe Medical Center are tilling the ground in advance of another kind of harvest ndash allied health medical professionals
Groundbreaking on the two-story 50000-square-foot Olathe Health Education Center took place Dec 3 2009 and construction began in March 2010 The center will open for classes in fall 2011
OMC donated 58 acres of land for the building and parking located between 152nd and 153rd Streets west of Olathe Medical Center Parkway JCCC will build OHEC at an anticipated cost of $15 million
The building exterior is designed using JCCC campus standard brick with options for cast stone or metal between the windows The main entrance is to the north with parking to the northwest
Similar in design to the Regnier Center OHEC features a two-story atrium and
floating staircase The first floor will contain the main lobby information desk and a 300-seat multipurpose conference room that can be divided into four areas for smaller meetings or classes
Additional first-floor spaces are allocated for general education medical office technology and other medical offerings (EKG phlebotomy pharmacy technology medical lab technology and surgical technology) to include
Three general classrooms for classes such as anatomy and physiology
One medical computer lab and one general-use computer lab
A medical office technology suite with two classrooms and a record office room for medical billing coding and transcription
One classroom for other medical offerings
Common spaces including a coffee bar and food cart
Offices for faculty and staff including security counseling and student services
The second floor is designed primarily for practical nursing health occupations (certified nurse assistant certified medication aides rehabilitation aide home health aide and IV therapy for LPNs) and dietary manager programs to include
Four health occupations classrooms with three patient care beds each
Two skills labs with eight beds each one of the two is designed to accommodate four patient simulators
Practical nursehealth occupations student success center
Two classrooms for practical nursing and other medical classes
Common spaces for study and rest breaks
Offices for faculty and staff
16 | Reconnect
A rendering of the Olathe Health Education Center is shown here
Students will have clinical education opportunities at Olathe Medical Center as well as the opportunity for professional relationships with OMC health care practitioners
Rex Hays executive director Campus Services says HMN Architects collaborated with the academic administrators in multiple meetings to fulfill the specific needs of health care programming According to Hays the building will meet LEED silver certification in recognition of environmentally responsible building practices Access to a detention basin for a storm water run-off adds to points for LEED criteria
As owner of the OHEC JCCC will provide maintenance housekeeping and security (The college owns the building but does not receive clear title until the end of the 10-year lease and after payment of all scheduled lease amounts)
ldquoWe are grateful to Olathe Medical Center for the opportunity of building a health care teaching campusrdquo said Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC presidentldquoThe
medical center is a renowned medical facility and we are proud to be partners with themrdquo
ldquoWe are extremely proud to have the Olathe Health Education Center on our campusrdquo said Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC ldquoIt has been a pleasure for our staff to work with JCCC MidAmerica Nazarene University and the Olathe School District in developing the best curriculum to teach outstanding health care providers of the futurerdquo
Students from the Olathe schools will be provided a clear pathway through JCCC and if they choose to do so on to MidAmerica Nazarene University for baccalaureate and graduate studies completion according to Dr Dana Grove JCCC executive vice president educational planning and development chief operating officer
ldquoUltimately the beneficiary of the new OHEC is the community who will be served by an increase in the number of health care providers and the number of allied health programsrdquo Grove said
Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC and Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC president listen to a speaker at the Dec 3 groundbreaking for OHEC
Summer 2010 | 17
JCCC launches Achieving the Dream
Drs James Tschechtelin and Ted Wright JCCCrsquos coaches for Achieving the Dream brainstorm with Jeff Frost JCCC dean mathematics during an Achieving the Dream session of Fall 2009 Professional Development Days
Johnson County Community College is the first and only school in Kansas
to join Achieving the Dream Community Colleges Count a national initiative to help more community college students succeed particularly low-income students and students of color
JCCC is one of 102 institutions ndash 98 colleges and four universities ndash in 22 states to participate in Achieving the Dream which helps participating colleges implement strategies designed to help more students earn degrees complete certificates or transfer to other institutions to continue their studies The initiative emphasizes building a culture of evidence in which colleges use data to identify effective practices improve student success rates and close achievement gaps
The Lumina Foundation for Education which funds Achieving the Dream has a goal to raise the proportion of the US adult population who earn high-quality college degrees to 60 percent by 2025 an increase of 23 million graduates above current rates according to Dr Marilyn Rhinehart executive vice president Instruction JCCC Currently approximately 39 percent of American
adults complete a two- or four-year degree Each college makes a two-year commitment to focus its efforts on closing performance gaps among students in targeted populations
ldquoAt JCCC our work with Achieving the Dream will help us enhance the experience of students in developmental educationrdquo said Jason Kovac executive director of Academic Initiatives and Achieving the Dream core team leader ldquoThe goal will be to connect more people with college-level coursework and help more students reach their educational goals Ultimately this has a huge effect on our community ndash increased wages and better quality of life for our graduates and more skilled workers for regional employers This will be a key driver for college and community prosperity in the coming yearsrdquo
Core team members are Rhinehart team co-chair Terry Calaway JCCC president and team co-chair Jeff Frost dean mathematics Larry Reynolds dean Communications Beth Gulley assistant professor English Bill Robinson associate professor mathematics Mindy Manes administrative assistant
Corporate Outreach and Strategic Partnerships Learner Engagement and the Center for Sustainability Jason Kovac executive director Academic Initiatives Rick Moehring dean Learner Engagement Dr Ralph Juhnke director Institutional Research Paul Kyle dean Student Services Pam Vassar assistant dean Student Life and Leadership Development and Wendy Farwell counselor JCCCrsquos first step is to gather data to determine which student groups are less successful than others and which high-enrollment courses have the lowest success rates
ldquoAchieving the Dream really requires us to use data to focus on measurable outcomes and be open and forthright about current performancerdquo Juhnke said
While Achieving the Dream is about data Rhinehart says that every number represents a person
ldquoEvery piece of data has a story that can help us understand how we can make the greatest difference to a student We need to learn how we can take down barriers to student success and give students the courage and confidence to succeedrdquo Rhinehart said
18 | Reconnect
Journalism student media show news sense
JCCC journalism students show off a few of their many awards at the Headline Award ceremony in April 2010
The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism
and media communications department New video courses Advanced Video Production and Advanced Broadcast Performance were introduced as well as Digital Photojournalism designed for the multimedia needs of todayrsquos journalists The departmentrsquos foundation course Mass Media and Society became a general education elective for humanities credit in the spring 2010 semester for each of the collegersquos associatersquos degree programs
This past academic year more than 300 students completed classes in the journalism and media communications department and 10 students received scholarship money JCCC also continues to offer the largest media internship program in the Kansas City metro area providing students the opportunity to work in a professional environment
Beginning in fall 2010 students will be able to earn college credit with Basic Video Production in both the Blue Valley and Olathe high schools as part of JCCCrsquos College Now program
The departmentrsquos faculty includes two full-time professors Mark Raduziner department chair and Greg Harrell and adjunct faculty Gretchen Thum Julie Haas Joe Petrie Molly Baumgardner Corbin
Crable Joel Nichols and Mary Schulte
2010 was the seventh year for the Headline Award honoring local journalists whose example serves as an inspiration to student journalists at JCCC This yearrsquos honoree was Steve Kraske political correspondent for The Kansas City Star and host of Up to Date on KCURshyFM Kansas Cityrsquos public radio station
JCCCrsquos journalism and media communications department partners with Student Life and Leadership Development on two events In March the two departments sponsored People in the Media a panel of print and electronic media professionals who discussed the future of the industry In April the seventh annual Cavalier Film Festival honored student filmmakers from JCCC and Johnson County and Lawrence high schools in five categories Professionals in the Kansas City film and video industry judge entries and provide feedback
JCAV the student-produced TV news and magazine program took off this year with 10 JCAV news episodes seven JCAV Campus Updates and five Cavalier sports reports ndash live cable shows of sports events JCAV students won five 2010 Kansas Association of Broadcasters student awards while competing against all public and private colleges and universities in Kansas
Working in collaboration with the journalism and media communications department is Anne Christiansen-Bullers Student Life media coordinator and adviser to the student-produced radio station ECAV and JCCCrsquos student newspaper The Campus Ledger ECAV radio had its genesis in fall 2009 and will continue this year under radio station manager Marvita Oliver
The Campus Ledger was awarded the All-Kansas Award and a record 40 individual awards at the state conference sponsored by the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press Association
Judges awarded The Campus Ledger the gold medal for overall excellence and the All-Kansas Award reflecting the best of show in the two-year-school division
The newspaperrsquos Web site received a gold medal up from last yearrsquos bronze-medal distinction
The Campus Ledger editor-in-chief for 2009-10 was Matt Galloway The online editor was John Young Galloway won first runner-up in the Journalist of the Year contest sponsored by Kansas Associated Collegiate Press
Ondrej Pazdirek is the Campus Ledgerrsquos editor-in-chief for 2010-11
Summer 2010 | 19
Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing (left to right) Students Mickey Belcher Jimmy Lee and Jeff Middlesworth work in a patient simulation room with Mark Foster (blue lab coat) adjunct assistant professor nursing
Helping a patient or family member during a difficult time is the
primary satisfaction of being a nurse according to male nurses and male nursing students interviewed for this story
There are also practical reasons for being a nurse ndash the potential for good wages plentiful jobs and career diversity
So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
Jane Zaccardi director practical nursing and health occupations JCCC says the eulogized Florence Nightingale may be the reason Prior to the Crimean War men provided care in hospitals and battlefields and women in the home Nightingale brought the profession to women and subtly the job switched from one for men to one for women
JCCC in conjunction with Kansas Board of Regents is trying to reverse Nightingalersquos influence with two new Men in Nurses Training programs aimed at male high school students both of which were held in June The first was a nursing orientation summer camp for ninth and 10th grade students offered at no charge through grant funding The second MINT was a males-only
Certified Nurse Aide course for young men entering 11th and 12th grades Students who are employed as CNAs by a nursing facility within 12 months of the program can have their tuition reimbursed by their employer
With CNA certification students can earn a good salary and find a job right away according to Zaccardi or use the credentials to continue their education as a practical nurse then registered nurse
ldquoWe flat out donrsquot have enough nurses and we need to have men interested in the professionrdquo said Zaccardi whose statement is supported by a 2004 report from the American Nursing Association predicting 11 million job openings in the year 2020 ldquoWe are hoping through the MINT program men will select nursing as their first choice not as a career change in their 30s or 40srdquo
John McNally assistant professor nursing JCCC took exactly that career path At age 16 he got a job in his hometown hospital as what was then called an ldquoorderlyrdquo and worked part time at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center Topeka while earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Pittsburg State University
ldquoThe orderly positions now called CNA
were a convenient avenue to earn a paycheck while I was going to schoolrdquo McNally said
As an RN McNally worked at Stormont-Vail and North Kansas City Hospital earning a masterrsquos degree in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1996 In 2000 he decided to add computer skills to his reacutesumeacute and enrolled at JCCC where he moonlighted in the academic computer lab 30 hours a week When a nursing faculty position opened at JCCC he knew it was a good fit for him especially as health care technology increases
ldquoIn the hospitals where Irsquove worked there seem to be more males each yearrdquo McNally said ldquoWhile still a minority on the hospital floors men are likely to migrate to surgery radiology and technical areas My impression is that men in nursing donrsquot face any discriminationrdquo
Ed Ronnebaum assistant professor nursing JCCC echoes those sentiments
ldquoI have never faced discrimination at any timerdquo he said ldquoIt doesnrsquot matter if you are male or female as a nurse patient care is a team effortrdquo
For Ronnebaum however nursing is a career change After high school he
20 | Reconnect
served eight years of active duty as an Air Force aircraft mechanic then in the Air Guard in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm On his return Ronnebaum decided to rekindle his interest in anatomy and caring for sick people to become a nurse He started as a student nurse tech at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center Topeka earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Washburn University Topeka a masterrsquos of science in health care administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on a PhD in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City He teaches full time at JCCC and maintains his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves He has had one assignment as a critical care nurse in Iraq January through May 2007 Before entering academia he worked at KU Medical Center in medicalsurgery the burn unit and neurosurgery ICU
ldquoNursing is an exciting career and there is so much you can do with a nursing degree You can work in a hospital physicianrsquos office rehabilitation or long-term care facility nursing school or the militaryrdquo Ronnebaum said ldquoWith the growth in health care the sky is the limit for what you can do in nursingrdquo
ldquoMen balance the professionrdquo said Colleen Duggan JCCC nursing professor ldquoHaving men and women on the team makes for better collaboration on health care decisionsrdquo
Wayne Deines adjunct associate professor has a dual appointment with St Lukersquos South Hospital and JCCC He teaches JCCC students in clinicals two days a week at the hospital and one day a week at JCCC As an RN-III at St Lukersquos he works in the cardiovascular recovery unit Deines also came to nursing circuitously working as an EMT with the Consolidated Fire District 2 (Prairie Village) and paramedic with Johnson County Med-Act then earning his bachelorrsquos in nursing from KU School of Nursing A nurse for 18 years he worked in the military eight years and at St Lukersquos South for 10 Deines encourages men to enter nursing In fact his son is an operating room nurse at Childrenrsquos Mercy Hospital Kansas City Mo
JCCC has five male nursing faculty two full-time Ronnebaum and McNally and three part-time Deines Mark Foster and Kureo Ohta Eight male students graduated this spring out of a class of 71 In the practical nurse program there is one male adjunct faculty and three males out of 37 in the evening program due to graduate in December
JCCCrsquos male nursing students are gravitating to critical care upon graduation
ldquoGuys like critical care ndash ICU trauma and surgery I donrsquot know what thatrsquos all about but it seems to be naturalrdquo said student DJ Klinge
Students reiterate the fact that they feel no discrimination as males Sometimes an obstetrics patient prefers a female nurse but they donrsquot take offense They see it as a personal preference
ldquoYou have to be secure with yourself when you are a male nurserdquo said Jimmy Greenlee student
ldquoTwenty years ago guys in their 20s wouldnrsquot have thought about nursing as a career choice When people ask me if I am going to be a nurse I say lsquoAbsolutely There is nothing wrong with thatrsquordquo said Matt Munden who was determined to finish nursing school despite being readmitted to the RN program after a tour of duty in Iraq
Almost unanimously male faculty and students wish they had been introduced
Student Matt Munden assesses a heart rhythm under the instruction of Mark Foster (left) adjunct assistant professor nursing
to nursing as a career option earlier in life They recommend earning a CNA (a prerequisite to JCCCrsquos RN program) and working with patients before committing to the RN program
ldquoI got my CNA and really enjoyed it You help people who are truly dependent on you The CNA class pushed me into applying for nursing schoolrdquo said Jeff Middlesworth
ldquoJust getting your CNA lets you know if you are cut out for the job It lets you know whether you have the stomach for nursing or not and you learn rapport with patientsrdquo Greenlee said
So what would these young men say to other men thinking about a nursing career
ldquoLook into it and get your CNA If you have your head on straight and you are looking for a good career path I think it is well worth itrdquo Munden said ldquoIt was one of those things I didnrsquot really look at at first But this is the right decision for merdquo
ldquoEven in the recession the jobs in health care and nursing are still growingrdquo Middlesworth said
Greenlee says ldquoabsolutelyrdquo he is glad to have made the decision to be a nurse
ldquoI am not shy about being a male nurserdquo he said ldquoI am proud of itrdquo
Summer 2010 | 21
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
JCCC offers motorcycle training Cheryl and Dennis Rogers Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors advise taking the Motorcycle Training class before the purchase of a motorcycle
After an interminable winter people are ready to feel the wind sun and
rain on their faces They are catching the bug to ride a motorcycle
As thrilling as buying a bike twisting the throttle and hitting the road are safety and a legal license come first JCCC began offering its new Motorcycle Training classes this year the first three sessions filled immediately
The course which provides 20 hours of instruction including eight classroom hours and 12 hours of range instruction is designed for the beginning motorcyclist who wants to operate his or her motorcycle safely and efficiently A Kansas Division of Vehicles certificate of completion will be issued after successfully completing the course
The three-day classes are scheduled from 6 to 10 pm Friday and 8 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday Riding and maneuvers including 17 exercises are scheduled all day Saturday and Sunday in the JCCC parking lot The lead teachers are Cheryl and Dennis Rogers
Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors who teach a maximum of 12 students per class
ldquoWe teach proper techniques for breaking turning and swervingrdquo Cheryl Rogers saidldquoLater we have had students thank us saying those techniques saved their livesrdquo
Dennis Rogers is a retired Kansas State Trooper and Cheryl is an IT worker for the State of Kansas Together they take one big (3000-mile) trip each summer having visited 40 of the 48 continental US states and ride weekends
The Rogers advocate motorcycle transportation as a way to reduce costs and enjoy the outdoors
ldquoOnly a motorcyclist knows the thrill and exhilaration a dog has when it sticks its head out the car windowrdquo Cheryl Rogers said
Bikes and helmets are provided for the class Stan and Elaine Rogers (no relations to Cheryl and Dennis Rogers) who formerly owned Midwest Motorcycle
Training Center donated nine Honda Rebel 250 CC bikes to JCCC after their training program closed
Dennis Rogers advises taking the motorcycle training program before buying a motorcycle so one people know they like riding a motorcycle and are successful at it and two they learn to ask the right questions when buying a bike ndash Will you have a passenger What size works for you Will you be riding on the street or dirt
Taking the class reduces insurance rates and increases safety About 92 percent of accident-involved motorcyclists were self-taught or learned from family and friends according to Cheryl Rogers
For more information contact Phil Wegman program director skills enhancement JCCC at 913-469-4446 or pwegmanjcccedu To register call 913-469-2323 Cost is $199
Summer 2010 | 13
Electronics buysrobot arm to develop new class
Chip Cody associate professorchair electronics demonstrates the capabilities of electronicsrsquo new robot arm
Using a $25000 Perkins grant JCCCrsquos electronics department
purchased a programmable six-degreeshyof-freedom robot arm to teach students how robots are used in industry
Faculty received training on the machine in the spring with the goal of developing an industrial robot class by fall 2010 JCCC already offers an elective Electronics 127 ndash Robots for Humans which serves as an introduction to the growing field of robotics An industrial robot class would teach students how to build program test and maintain robots in industry ndash everything from car manufacturing to automated self-checkouts
ldquoRobots are good candidates for jobs that are either too dangerous for humans or highly repetitive and monotonousrdquo said Chip Cody associate professor chair electronics ldquoRobots are accurate They do exactly what you tell them to do every time They never get tired bored or call in sickrdquo
JCCCrsquos robot features base waist shoulder elbow wrist and hand rotation ndash referred to as the six axes of freedom Weighing several hundred pounds the machine looks like a giant popcorn cart constructed with a quarter-inch steel working surface and requiring a double-wide door for access to the electronics lab
As in the Robots for Humans class students in the proposed class would learn about the robotrsquos hardware things like sensors and actuators and enough software programming language to teach the robot a task
Cody explains that programming involves coordinating the axes of motion and that can be accomplished in two ways ndash either by means of a microprocessor or by taking the robot manually through an operation and having its sensors store the action in its computer
ldquoA robot senses the outside world and based on what the sensor tells it it takes actionrdquo Cody said ldquoA robot constantly goes through a sense-react-sense loop Students work with small kits in the 127 class but this is the first time the college has had an industrial-strength machinerdquo
Interest in robots has been generated by students who have participated in high school robotics competitions such as FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen Students with those experiences want to progress from JCCCrsquos Microprocessors class to the robot class where the microprocessors serve as the robotrsquos ldquobrainrdquo
Cody says there is a demand for graduates with two-year electronic degrees to work in industry to maintain robots
ldquoRobots are here to stay Thatrsquos the wave of the futurerdquo Cody saidldquoThey may not all look like C-3P0 but they are everywhere ndash from assembly lines to NASArsquos Mars Exploration Rover Projectrdquo
The robot arm will have broad application
14 | Reconnect
Drafting goes 3-D
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting displays a 3-D object fabricated from the rapid prototype machine
Itrsquos not quite the Star Trek replicator but the new 3-D printer in the drafting
department is impressive
JCCCrsquos drafting program acquired its rapid prototype machine in spring 2009 giving advanced drafting students an opportunity to make models from 3-D computer-aided designs and beginning drafting students a way to visualize a 3-D design problem more clearly
Instead of toner the rapid prototype machine uses a cartridge filled with a
spool of plastic which is heated to a temperature of 572 degrees F and applied in a series of layers until the 3-D model is built according to a CAD design
To the unschooled eye it appears as easy as hitting ldquoprintrdquo and setting controls for resolution orientation interior makeup (solid or honeycomb) and number of copies Then appearing out of seemingly nothingness comes a plastic model The technically savvy however know that inside the printer a CAD file interfaces with a stereolithography file format in order to fabricate the curves and geometry of a physical object
The process is fun to watch although ldquorapidrdquo is a relative term A special print head sweeps across a plastic support plate applying layer after layer of heated plastic following CAD specifications Filler material is applied to negative space and dissolved by immersion in a chemical bath after part fabrication Objects created in the JCCC 3-D printer take from two to 60-plus hours to complete
According to Tom Hughes drafting chair drafting models were traditionally created by hand in a shop Time cost and ease of use are improved with the 3-D printer Hughes says the rapid prototyping has been available in the industry for years used for creating manufactured parts ndash everything from
industrial to fine arts As the 3-D printers became more affordable JCCC was able to purchase one so drafting students can see their projects emerge from the 2-D printed page to physical models
ldquoThe impact on our students is that the models clearly illustrate what they are attempting to drawrdquo Hughes said ldquoStudents learn to draft with greater confidencerdquo
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting says the 3-D printer has increased student interest in the drafting program
ldquoThe rapid prototype printer can do some pretty complex models with moving and mating parts things that would be difficult to make in a shoprdquo Feureborn said
Students in the CAD 3-D and Mechanical Desktop Inventor classes are encouraged to produce one 3-D model at the end of the semester Faculty use the model to demonstrate objects and cutaway slices for entry-level classes
Hughes foresees partnerships between drafting classes and other programs using the 3-D printers Students in Graphic Analysis have already collaborated with welding students in the manufacturing of prototype plant holders
Summer 2010 | 15
Building toward health field careers
The Olathe Health Education Center lies west of Olathe Medical Center
In the remnant of a former cornfield Johnson County Community College
and Olathe Medical Center are tilling the ground in advance of another kind of harvest ndash allied health medical professionals
Groundbreaking on the two-story 50000-square-foot Olathe Health Education Center took place Dec 3 2009 and construction began in March 2010 The center will open for classes in fall 2011
OMC donated 58 acres of land for the building and parking located between 152nd and 153rd Streets west of Olathe Medical Center Parkway JCCC will build OHEC at an anticipated cost of $15 million
The building exterior is designed using JCCC campus standard brick with options for cast stone or metal between the windows The main entrance is to the north with parking to the northwest
Similar in design to the Regnier Center OHEC features a two-story atrium and
floating staircase The first floor will contain the main lobby information desk and a 300-seat multipurpose conference room that can be divided into four areas for smaller meetings or classes
Additional first-floor spaces are allocated for general education medical office technology and other medical offerings (EKG phlebotomy pharmacy technology medical lab technology and surgical technology) to include
Three general classrooms for classes such as anatomy and physiology
One medical computer lab and one general-use computer lab
A medical office technology suite with two classrooms and a record office room for medical billing coding and transcription
One classroom for other medical offerings
Common spaces including a coffee bar and food cart
Offices for faculty and staff including security counseling and student services
The second floor is designed primarily for practical nursing health occupations (certified nurse assistant certified medication aides rehabilitation aide home health aide and IV therapy for LPNs) and dietary manager programs to include
Four health occupations classrooms with three patient care beds each
Two skills labs with eight beds each one of the two is designed to accommodate four patient simulators
Practical nursehealth occupations student success center
Two classrooms for practical nursing and other medical classes
Common spaces for study and rest breaks
Offices for faculty and staff
16 | Reconnect
A rendering of the Olathe Health Education Center is shown here
Students will have clinical education opportunities at Olathe Medical Center as well as the opportunity for professional relationships with OMC health care practitioners
Rex Hays executive director Campus Services says HMN Architects collaborated with the academic administrators in multiple meetings to fulfill the specific needs of health care programming According to Hays the building will meet LEED silver certification in recognition of environmentally responsible building practices Access to a detention basin for a storm water run-off adds to points for LEED criteria
As owner of the OHEC JCCC will provide maintenance housekeeping and security (The college owns the building but does not receive clear title until the end of the 10-year lease and after payment of all scheduled lease amounts)
ldquoWe are grateful to Olathe Medical Center for the opportunity of building a health care teaching campusrdquo said Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC presidentldquoThe
medical center is a renowned medical facility and we are proud to be partners with themrdquo
ldquoWe are extremely proud to have the Olathe Health Education Center on our campusrdquo said Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC ldquoIt has been a pleasure for our staff to work with JCCC MidAmerica Nazarene University and the Olathe School District in developing the best curriculum to teach outstanding health care providers of the futurerdquo
Students from the Olathe schools will be provided a clear pathway through JCCC and if they choose to do so on to MidAmerica Nazarene University for baccalaureate and graduate studies completion according to Dr Dana Grove JCCC executive vice president educational planning and development chief operating officer
ldquoUltimately the beneficiary of the new OHEC is the community who will be served by an increase in the number of health care providers and the number of allied health programsrdquo Grove said
Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC and Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC president listen to a speaker at the Dec 3 groundbreaking for OHEC
Summer 2010 | 17
JCCC launches Achieving the Dream
Drs James Tschechtelin and Ted Wright JCCCrsquos coaches for Achieving the Dream brainstorm with Jeff Frost JCCC dean mathematics during an Achieving the Dream session of Fall 2009 Professional Development Days
Johnson County Community College is the first and only school in Kansas
to join Achieving the Dream Community Colleges Count a national initiative to help more community college students succeed particularly low-income students and students of color
JCCC is one of 102 institutions ndash 98 colleges and four universities ndash in 22 states to participate in Achieving the Dream which helps participating colleges implement strategies designed to help more students earn degrees complete certificates or transfer to other institutions to continue their studies The initiative emphasizes building a culture of evidence in which colleges use data to identify effective practices improve student success rates and close achievement gaps
The Lumina Foundation for Education which funds Achieving the Dream has a goal to raise the proportion of the US adult population who earn high-quality college degrees to 60 percent by 2025 an increase of 23 million graduates above current rates according to Dr Marilyn Rhinehart executive vice president Instruction JCCC Currently approximately 39 percent of American
adults complete a two- or four-year degree Each college makes a two-year commitment to focus its efforts on closing performance gaps among students in targeted populations
ldquoAt JCCC our work with Achieving the Dream will help us enhance the experience of students in developmental educationrdquo said Jason Kovac executive director of Academic Initiatives and Achieving the Dream core team leader ldquoThe goal will be to connect more people with college-level coursework and help more students reach their educational goals Ultimately this has a huge effect on our community ndash increased wages and better quality of life for our graduates and more skilled workers for regional employers This will be a key driver for college and community prosperity in the coming yearsrdquo
Core team members are Rhinehart team co-chair Terry Calaway JCCC president and team co-chair Jeff Frost dean mathematics Larry Reynolds dean Communications Beth Gulley assistant professor English Bill Robinson associate professor mathematics Mindy Manes administrative assistant
Corporate Outreach and Strategic Partnerships Learner Engagement and the Center for Sustainability Jason Kovac executive director Academic Initiatives Rick Moehring dean Learner Engagement Dr Ralph Juhnke director Institutional Research Paul Kyle dean Student Services Pam Vassar assistant dean Student Life and Leadership Development and Wendy Farwell counselor JCCCrsquos first step is to gather data to determine which student groups are less successful than others and which high-enrollment courses have the lowest success rates
ldquoAchieving the Dream really requires us to use data to focus on measurable outcomes and be open and forthright about current performancerdquo Juhnke said
While Achieving the Dream is about data Rhinehart says that every number represents a person
ldquoEvery piece of data has a story that can help us understand how we can make the greatest difference to a student We need to learn how we can take down barriers to student success and give students the courage and confidence to succeedrdquo Rhinehart said
18 | Reconnect
Journalism student media show news sense
JCCC journalism students show off a few of their many awards at the Headline Award ceremony in April 2010
The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism
and media communications department New video courses Advanced Video Production and Advanced Broadcast Performance were introduced as well as Digital Photojournalism designed for the multimedia needs of todayrsquos journalists The departmentrsquos foundation course Mass Media and Society became a general education elective for humanities credit in the spring 2010 semester for each of the collegersquos associatersquos degree programs
This past academic year more than 300 students completed classes in the journalism and media communications department and 10 students received scholarship money JCCC also continues to offer the largest media internship program in the Kansas City metro area providing students the opportunity to work in a professional environment
Beginning in fall 2010 students will be able to earn college credit with Basic Video Production in both the Blue Valley and Olathe high schools as part of JCCCrsquos College Now program
The departmentrsquos faculty includes two full-time professors Mark Raduziner department chair and Greg Harrell and adjunct faculty Gretchen Thum Julie Haas Joe Petrie Molly Baumgardner Corbin
Crable Joel Nichols and Mary Schulte
2010 was the seventh year for the Headline Award honoring local journalists whose example serves as an inspiration to student journalists at JCCC This yearrsquos honoree was Steve Kraske political correspondent for The Kansas City Star and host of Up to Date on KCURshyFM Kansas Cityrsquos public radio station
JCCCrsquos journalism and media communications department partners with Student Life and Leadership Development on two events In March the two departments sponsored People in the Media a panel of print and electronic media professionals who discussed the future of the industry In April the seventh annual Cavalier Film Festival honored student filmmakers from JCCC and Johnson County and Lawrence high schools in five categories Professionals in the Kansas City film and video industry judge entries and provide feedback
JCAV the student-produced TV news and magazine program took off this year with 10 JCAV news episodes seven JCAV Campus Updates and five Cavalier sports reports ndash live cable shows of sports events JCAV students won five 2010 Kansas Association of Broadcasters student awards while competing against all public and private colleges and universities in Kansas
Working in collaboration with the journalism and media communications department is Anne Christiansen-Bullers Student Life media coordinator and adviser to the student-produced radio station ECAV and JCCCrsquos student newspaper The Campus Ledger ECAV radio had its genesis in fall 2009 and will continue this year under radio station manager Marvita Oliver
The Campus Ledger was awarded the All-Kansas Award and a record 40 individual awards at the state conference sponsored by the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press Association
Judges awarded The Campus Ledger the gold medal for overall excellence and the All-Kansas Award reflecting the best of show in the two-year-school division
The newspaperrsquos Web site received a gold medal up from last yearrsquos bronze-medal distinction
The Campus Ledger editor-in-chief for 2009-10 was Matt Galloway The online editor was John Young Galloway won first runner-up in the Journalist of the Year contest sponsored by Kansas Associated Collegiate Press
Ondrej Pazdirek is the Campus Ledgerrsquos editor-in-chief for 2010-11
Summer 2010 | 19
Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing (left to right) Students Mickey Belcher Jimmy Lee and Jeff Middlesworth work in a patient simulation room with Mark Foster (blue lab coat) adjunct assistant professor nursing
Helping a patient or family member during a difficult time is the
primary satisfaction of being a nurse according to male nurses and male nursing students interviewed for this story
There are also practical reasons for being a nurse ndash the potential for good wages plentiful jobs and career diversity
So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
Jane Zaccardi director practical nursing and health occupations JCCC says the eulogized Florence Nightingale may be the reason Prior to the Crimean War men provided care in hospitals and battlefields and women in the home Nightingale brought the profession to women and subtly the job switched from one for men to one for women
JCCC in conjunction with Kansas Board of Regents is trying to reverse Nightingalersquos influence with two new Men in Nurses Training programs aimed at male high school students both of which were held in June The first was a nursing orientation summer camp for ninth and 10th grade students offered at no charge through grant funding The second MINT was a males-only
Certified Nurse Aide course for young men entering 11th and 12th grades Students who are employed as CNAs by a nursing facility within 12 months of the program can have their tuition reimbursed by their employer
With CNA certification students can earn a good salary and find a job right away according to Zaccardi or use the credentials to continue their education as a practical nurse then registered nurse
ldquoWe flat out donrsquot have enough nurses and we need to have men interested in the professionrdquo said Zaccardi whose statement is supported by a 2004 report from the American Nursing Association predicting 11 million job openings in the year 2020 ldquoWe are hoping through the MINT program men will select nursing as their first choice not as a career change in their 30s or 40srdquo
John McNally assistant professor nursing JCCC took exactly that career path At age 16 he got a job in his hometown hospital as what was then called an ldquoorderlyrdquo and worked part time at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center Topeka while earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Pittsburg State University
ldquoThe orderly positions now called CNA
were a convenient avenue to earn a paycheck while I was going to schoolrdquo McNally said
As an RN McNally worked at Stormont-Vail and North Kansas City Hospital earning a masterrsquos degree in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1996 In 2000 he decided to add computer skills to his reacutesumeacute and enrolled at JCCC where he moonlighted in the academic computer lab 30 hours a week When a nursing faculty position opened at JCCC he knew it was a good fit for him especially as health care technology increases
ldquoIn the hospitals where Irsquove worked there seem to be more males each yearrdquo McNally said ldquoWhile still a minority on the hospital floors men are likely to migrate to surgery radiology and technical areas My impression is that men in nursing donrsquot face any discriminationrdquo
Ed Ronnebaum assistant professor nursing JCCC echoes those sentiments
ldquoI have never faced discrimination at any timerdquo he said ldquoIt doesnrsquot matter if you are male or female as a nurse patient care is a team effortrdquo
For Ronnebaum however nursing is a career change After high school he
20 | Reconnect
served eight years of active duty as an Air Force aircraft mechanic then in the Air Guard in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm On his return Ronnebaum decided to rekindle his interest in anatomy and caring for sick people to become a nurse He started as a student nurse tech at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center Topeka earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Washburn University Topeka a masterrsquos of science in health care administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on a PhD in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City He teaches full time at JCCC and maintains his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves He has had one assignment as a critical care nurse in Iraq January through May 2007 Before entering academia he worked at KU Medical Center in medicalsurgery the burn unit and neurosurgery ICU
ldquoNursing is an exciting career and there is so much you can do with a nursing degree You can work in a hospital physicianrsquos office rehabilitation or long-term care facility nursing school or the militaryrdquo Ronnebaum said ldquoWith the growth in health care the sky is the limit for what you can do in nursingrdquo
ldquoMen balance the professionrdquo said Colleen Duggan JCCC nursing professor ldquoHaving men and women on the team makes for better collaboration on health care decisionsrdquo
Wayne Deines adjunct associate professor has a dual appointment with St Lukersquos South Hospital and JCCC He teaches JCCC students in clinicals two days a week at the hospital and one day a week at JCCC As an RN-III at St Lukersquos he works in the cardiovascular recovery unit Deines also came to nursing circuitously working as an EMT with the Consolidated Fire District 2 (Prairie Village) and paramedic with Johnson County Med-Act then earning his bachelorrsquos in nursing from KU School of Nursing A nurse for 18 years he worked in the military eight years and at St Lukersquos South for 10 Deines encourages men to enter nursing In fact his son is an operating room nurse at Childrenrsquos Mercy Hospital Kansas City Mo
JCCC has five male nursing faculty two full-time Ronnebaum and McNally and three part-time Deines Mark Foster and Kureo Ohta Eight male students graduated this spring out of a class of 71 In the practical nurse program there is one male adjunct faculty and three males out of 37 in the evening program due to graduate in December
JCCCrsquos male nursing students are gravitating to critical care upon graduation
ldquoGuys like critical care ndash ICU trauma and surgery I donrsquot know what thatrsquos all about but it seems to be naturalrdquo said student DJ Klinge
Students reiterate the fact that they feel no discrimination as males Sometimes an obstetrics patient prefers a female nurse but they donrsquot take offense They see it as a personal preference
ldquoYou have to be secure with yourself when you are a male nurserdquo said Jimmy Greenlee student
ldquoTwenty years ago guys in their 20s wouldnrsquot have thought about nursing as a career choice When people ask me if I am going to be a nurse I say lsquoAbsolutely There is nothing wrong with thatrsquordquo said Matt Munden who was determined to finish nursing school despite being readmitted to the RN program after a tour of duty in Iraq
Almost unanimously male faculty and students wish they had been introduced
Student Matt Munden assesses a heart rhythm under the instruction of Mark Foster (left) adjunct assistant professor nursing
to nursing as a career option earlier in life They recommend earning a CNA (a prerequisite to JCCCrsquos RN program) and working with patients before committing to the RN program
ldquoI got my CNA and really enjoyed it You help people who are truly dependent on you The CNA class pushed me into applying for nursing schoolrdquo said Jeff Middlesworth
ldquoJust getting your CNA lets you know if you are cut out for the job It lets you know whether you have the stomach for nursing or not and you learn rapport with patientsrdquo Greenlee said
So what would these young men say to other men thinking about a nursing career
ldquoLook into it and get your CNA If you have your head on straight and you are looking for a good career path I think it is well worth itrdquo Munden said ldquoIt was one of those things I didnrsquot really look at at first But this is the right decision for merdquo
ldquoEven in the recession the jobs in health care and nursing are still growingrdquo Middlesworth said
Greenlee says ldquoabsolutelyrdquo he is glad to have made the decision to be a nurse
ldquoI am not shy about being a male nurserdquo he said ldquoI am proud of itrdquo
Summer 2010 | 21
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
Electronics buysrobot arm to develop new class
Chip Cody associate professorchair electronics demonstrates the capabilities of electronicsrsquo new robot arm
Using a $25000 Perkins grant JCCCrsquos electronics department
purchased a programmable six-degreeshyof-freedom robot arm to teach students how robots are used in industry
Faculty received training on the machine in the spring with the goal of developing an industrial robot class by fall 2010 JCCC already offers an elective Electronics 127 ndash Robots for Humans which serves as an introduction to the growing field of robotics An industrial robot class would teach students how to build program test and maintain robots in industry ndash everything from car manufacturing to automated self-checkouts
ldquoRobots are good candidates for jobs that are either too dangerous for humans or highly repetitive and monotonousrdquo said Chip Cody associate professor chair electronics ldquoRobots are accurate They do exactly what you tell them to do every time They never get tired bored or call in sickrdquo
JCCCrsquos robot features base waist shoulder elbow wrist and hand rotation ndash referred to as the six axes of freedom Weighing several hundred pounds the machine looks like a giant popcorn cart constructed with a quarter-inch steel working surface and requiring a double-wide door for access to the electronics lab
As in the Robots for Humans class students in the proposed class would learn about the robotrsquos hardware things like sensors and actuators and enough software programming language to teach the robot a task
Cody explains that programming involves coordinating the axes of motion and that can be accomplished in two ways ndash either by means of a microprocessor or by taking the robot manually through an operation and having its sensors store the action in its computer
ldquoA robot senses the outside world and based on what the sensor tells it it takes actionrdquo Cody said ldquoA robot constantly goes through a sense-react-sense loop Students work with small kits in the 127 class but this is the first time the college has had an industrial-strength machinerdquo
Interest in robots has been generated by students who have participated in high school robotics competitions such as FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen Students with those experiences want to progress from JCCCrsquos Microprocessors class to the robot class where the microprocessors serve as the robotrsquos ldquobrainrdquo
Cody says there is a demand for graduates with two-year electronic degrees to work in industry to maintain robots
ldquoRobots are here to stay Thatrsquos the wave of the futurerdquo Cody saidldquoThey may not all look like C-3P0 but they are everywhere ndash from assembly lines to NASArsquos Mars Exploration Rover Projectrdquo
The robot arm will have broad application
14 | Reconnect
Drafting goes 3-D
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting displays a 3-D object fabricated from the rapid prototype machine
Itrsquos not quite the Star Trek replicator but the new 3-D printer in the drafting
department is impressive
JCCCrsquos drafting program acquired its rapid prototype machine in spring 2009 giving advanced drafting students an opportunity to make models from 3-D computer-aided designs and beginning drafting students a way to visualize a 3-D design problem more clearly
Instead of toner the rapid prototype machine uses a cartridge filled with a
spool of plastic which is heated to a temperature of 572 degrees F and applied in a series of layers until the 3-D model is built according to a CAD design
To the unschooled eye it appears as easy as hitting ldquoprintrdquo and setting controls for resolution orientation interior makeup (solid or honeycomb) and number of copies Then appearing out of seemingly nothingness comes a plastic model The technically savvy however know that inside the printer a CAD file interfaces with a stereolithography file format in order to fabricate the curves and geometry of a physical object
The process is fun to watch although ldquorapidrdquo is a relative term A special print head sweeps across a plastic support plate applying layer after layer of heated plastic following CAD specifications Filler material is applied to negative space and dissolved by immersion in a chemical bath after part fabrication Objects created in the JCCC 3-D printer take from two to 60-plus hours to complete
According to Tom Hughes drafting chair drafting models were traditionally created by hand in a shop Time cost and ease of use are improved with the 3-D printer Hughes says the rapid prototyping has been available in the industry for years used for creating manufactured parts ndash everything from
industrial to fine arts As the 3-D printers became more affordable JCCC was able to purchase one so drafting students can see their projects emerge from the 2-D printed page to physical models
ldquoThe impact on our students is that the models clearly illustrate what they are attempting to drawrdquo Hughes said ldquoStudents learn to draft with greater confidencerdquo
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting says the 3-D printer has increased student interest in the drafting program
ldquoThe rapid prototype printer can do some pretty complex models with moving and mating parts things that would be difficult to make in a shoprdquo Feureborn said
Students in the CAD 3-D and Mechanical Desktop Inventor classes are encouraged to produce one 3-D model at the end of the semester Faculty use the model to demonstrate objects and cutaway slices for entry-level classes
Hughes foresees partnerships between drafting classes and other programs using the 3-D printers Students in Graphic Analysis have already collaborated with welding students in the manufacturing of prototype plant holders
Summer 2010 | 15
Building toward health field careers
The Olathe Health Education Center lies west of Olathe Medical Center
In the remnant of a former cornfield Johnson County Community College
and Olathe Medical Center are tilling the ground in advance of another kind of harvest ndash allied health medical professionals
Groundbreaking on the two-story 50000-square-foot Olathe Health Education Center took place Dec 3 2009 and construction began in March 2010 The center will open for classes in fall 2011
OMC donated 58 acres of land for the building and parking located between 152nd and 153rd Streets west of Olathe Medical Center Parkway JCCC will build OHEC at an anticipated cost of $15 million
The building exterior is designed using JCCC campus standard brick with options for cast stone or metal between the windows The main entrance is to the north with parking to the northwest
Similar in design to the Regnier Center OHEC features a two-story atrium and
floating staircase The first floor will contain the main lobby information desk and a 300-seat multipurpose conference room that can be divided into four areas for smaller meetings or classes
Additional first-floor spaces are allocated for general education medical office technology and other medical offerings (EKG phlebotomy pharmacy technology medical lab technology and surgical technology) to include
Three general classrooms for classes such as anatomy and physiology
One medical computer lab and one general-use computer lab
A medical office technology suite with two classrooms and a record office room for medical billing coding and transcription
One classroom for other medical offerings
Common spaces including a coffee bar and food cart
Offices for faculty and staff including security counseling and student services
The second floor is designed primarily for practical nursing health occupations (certified nurse assistant certified medication aides rehabilitation aide home health aide and IV therapy for LPNs) and dietary manager programs to include
Four health occupations classrooms with three patient care beds each
Two skills labs with eight beds each one of the two is designed to accommodate four patient simulators
Practical nursehealth occupations student success center
Two classrooms for practical nursing and other medical classes
Common spaces for study and rest breaks
Offices for faculty and staff
16 | Reconnect
A rendering of the Olathe Health Education Center is shown here
Students will have clinical education opportunities at Olathe Medical Center as well as the opportunity for professional relationships with OMC health care practitioners
Rex Hays executive director Campus Services says HMN Architects collaborated with the academic administrators in multiple meetings to fulfill the specific needs of health care programming According to Hays the building will meet LEED silver certification in recognition of environmentally responsible building practices Access to a detention basin for a storm water run-off adds to points for LEED criteria
As owner of the OHEC JCCC will provide maintenance housekeeping and security (The college owns the building but does not receive clear title until the end of the 10-year lease and after payment of all scheduled lease amounts)
ldquoWe are grateful to Olathe Medical Center for the opportunity of building a health care teaching campusrdquo said Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC presidentldquoThe
medical center is a renowned medical facility and we are proud to be partners with themrdquo
ldquoWe are extremely proud to have the Olathe Health Education Center on our campusrdquo said Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC ldquoIt has been a pleasure for our staff to work with JCCC MidAmerica Nazarene University and the Olathe School District in developing the best curriculum to teach outstanding health care providers of the futurerdquo
Students from the Olathe schools will be provided a clear pathway through JCCC and if they choose to do so on to MidAmerica Nazarene University for baccalaureate and graduate studies completion according to Dr Dana Grove JCCC executive vice president educational planning and development chief operating officer
ldquoUltimately the beneficiary of the new OHEC is the community who will be served by an increase in the number of health care providers and the number of allied health programsrdquo Grove said
Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC and Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC president listen to a speaker at the Dec 3 groundbreaking for OHEC
Summer 2010 | 17
JCCC launches Achieving the Dream
Drs James Tschechtelin and Ted Wright JCCCrsquos coaches for Achieving the Dream brainstorm with Jeff Frost JCCC dean mathematics during an Achieving the Dream session of Fall 2009 Professional Development Days
Johnson County Community College is the first and only school in Kansas
to join Achieving the Dream Community Colleges Count a national initiative to help more community college students succeed particularly low-income students and students of color
JCCC is one of 102 institutions ndash 98 colleges and four universities ndash in 22 states to participate in Achieving the Dream which helps participating colleges implement strategies designed to help more students earn degrees complete certificates or transfer to other institutions to continue their studies The initiative emphasizes building a culture of evidence in which colleges use data to identify effective practices improve student success rates and close achievement gaps
The Lumina Foundation for Education which funds Achieving the Dream has a goal to raise the proportion of the US adult population who earn high-quality college degrees to 60 percent by 2025 an increase of 23 million graduates above current rates according to Dr Marilyn Rhinehart executive vice president Instruction JCCC Currently approximately 39 percent of American
adults complete a two- or four-year degree Each college makes a two-year commitment to focus its efforts on closing performance gaps among students in targeted populations
ldquoAt JCCC our work with Achieving the Dream will help us enhance the experience of students in developmental educationrdquo said Jason Kovac executive director of Academic Initiatives and Achieving the Dream core team leader ldquoThe goal will be to connect more people with college-level coursework and help more students reach their educational goals Ultimately this has a huge effect on our community ndash increased wages and better quality of life for our graduates and more skilled workers for regional employers This will be a key driver for college and community prosperity in the coming yearsrdquo
Core team members are Rhinehart team co-chair Terry Calaway JCCC president and team co-chair Jeff Frost dean mathematics Larry Reynolds dean Communications Beth Gulley assistant professor English Bill Robinson associate professor mathematics Mindy Manes administrative assistant
Corporate Outreach and Strategic Partnerships Learner Engagement and the Center for Sustainability Jason Kovac executive director Academic Initiatives Rick Moehring dean Learner Engagement Dr Ralph Juhnke director Institutional Research Paul Kyle dean Student Services Pam Vassar assistant dean Student Life and Leadership Development and Wendy Farwell counselor JCCCrsquos first step is to gather data to determine which student groups are less successful than others and which high-enrollment courses have the lowest success rates
ldquoAchieving the Dream really requires us to use data to focus on measurable outcomes and be open and forthright about current performancerdquo Juhnke said
While Achieving the Dream is about data Rhinehart says that every number represents a person
ldquoEvery piece of data has a story that can help us understand how we can make the greatest difference to a student We need to learn how we can take down barriers to student success and give students the courage and confidence to succeedrdquo Rhinehart said
18 | Reconnect
Journalism student media show news sense
JCCC journalism students show off a few of their many awards at the Headline Award ceremony in April 2010
The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism
and media communications department New video courses Advanced Video Production and Advanced Broadcast Performance were introduced as well as Digital Photojournalism designed for the multimedia needs of todayrsquos journalists The departmentrsquos foundation course Mass Media and Society became a general education elective for humanities credit in the spring 2010 semester for each of the collegersquos associatersquos degree programs
This past academic year more than 300 students completed classes in the journalism and media communications department and 10 students received scholarship money JCCC also continues to offer the largest media internship program in the Kansas City metro area providing students the opportunity to work in a professional environment
Beginning in fall 2010 students will be able to earn college credit with Basic Video Production in both the Blue Valley and Olathe high schools as part of JCCCrsquos College Now program
The departmentrsquos faculty includes two full-time professors Mark Raduziner department chair and Greg Harrell and adjunct faculty Gretchen Thum Julie Haas Joe Petrie Molly Baumgardner Corbin
Crable Joel Nichols and Mary Schulte
2010 was the seventh year for the Headline Award honoring local journalists whose example serves as an inspiration to student journalists at JCCC This yearrsquos honoree was Steve Kraske political correspondent for The Kansas City Star and host of Up to Date on KCURshyFM Kansas Cityrsquos public radio station
JCCCrsquos journalism and media communications department partners with Student Life and Leadership Development on two events In March the two departments sponsored People in the Media a panel of print and electronic media professionals who discussed the future of the industry In April the seventh annual Cavalier Film Festival honored student filmmakers from JCCC and Johnson County and Lawrence high schools in five categories Professionals in the Kansas City film and video industry judge entries and provide feedback
JCAV the student-produced TV news and magazine program took off this year with 10 JCAV news episodes seven JCAV Campus Updates and five Cavalier sports reports ndash live cable shows of sports events JCAV students won five 2010 Kansas Association of Broadcasters student awards while competing against all public and private colleges and universities in Kansas
Working in collaboration with the journalism and media communications department is Anne Christiansen-Bullers Student Life media coordinator and adviser to the student-produced radio station ECAV and JCCCrsquos student newspaper The Campus Ledger ECAV radio had its genesis in fall 2009 and will continue this year under radio station manager Marvita Oliver
The Campus Ledger was awarded the All-Kansas Award and a record 40 individual awards at the state conference sponsored by the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press Association
Judges awarded The Campus Ledger the gold medal for overall excellence and the All-Kansas Award reflecting the best of show in the two-year-school division
The newspaperrsquos Web site received a gold medal up from last yearrsquos bronze-medal distinction
The Campus Ledger editor-in-chief for 2009-10 was Matt Galloway The online editor was John Young Galloway won first runner-up in the Journalist of the Year contest sponsored by Kansas Associated Collegiate Press
Ondrej Pazdirek is the Campus Ledgerrsquos editor-in-chief for 2010-11
Summer 2010 | 19
Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing (left to right) Students Mickey Belcher Jimmy Lee and Jeff Middlesworth work in a patient simulation room with Mark Foster (blue lab coat) adjunct assistant professor nursing
Helping a patient or family member during a difficult time is the
primary satisfaction of being a nurse according to male nurses and male nursing students interviewed for this story
There are also practical reasons for being a nurse ndash the potential for good wages plentiful jobs and career diversity
So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
Jane Zaccardi director practical nursing and health occupations JCCC says the eulogized Florence Nightingale may be the reason Prior to the Crimean War men provided care in hospitals and battlefields and women in the home Nightingale brought the profession to women and subtly the job switched from one for men to one for women
JCCC in conjunction with Kansas Board of Regents is trying to reverse Nightingalersquos influence with two new Men in Nurses Training programs aimed at male high school students both of which were held in June The first was a nursing orientation summer camp for ninth and 10th grade students offered at no charge through grant funding The second MINT was a males-only
Certified Nurse Aide course for young men entering 11th and 12th grades Students who are employed as CNAs by a nursing facility within 12 months of the program can have their tuition reimbursed by their employer
With CNA certification students can earn a good salary and find a job right away according to Zaccardi or use the credentials to continue their education as a practical nurse then registered nurse
ldquoWe flat out donrsquot have enough nurses and we need to have men interested in the professionrdquo said Zaccardi whose statement is supported by a 2004 report from the American Nursing Association predicting 11 million job openings in the year 2020 ldquoWe are hoping through the MINT program men will select nursing as their first choice not as a career change in their 30s or 40srdquo
John McNally assistant professor nursing JCCC took exactly that career path At age 16 he got a job in his hometown hospital as what was then called an ldquoorderlyrdquo and worked part time at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center Topeka while earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Pittsburg State University
ldquoThe orderly positions now called CNA
were a convenient avenue to earn a paycheck while I was going to schoolrdquo McNally said
As an RN McNally worked at Stormont-Vail and North Kansas City Hospital earning a masterrsquos degree in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1996 In 2000 he decided to add computer skills to his reacutesumeacute and enrolled at JCCC where he moonlighted in the academic computer lab 30 hours a week When a nursing faculty position opened at JCCC he knew it was a good fit for him especially as health care technology increases
ldquoIn the hospitals where Irsquove worked there seem to be more males each yearrdquo McNally said ldquoWhile still a minority on the hospital floors men are likely to migrate to surgery radiology and technical areas My impression is that men in nursing donrsquot face any discriminationrdquo
Ed Ronnebaum assistant professor nursing JCCC echoes those sentiments
ldquoI have never faced discrimination at any timerdquo he said ldquoIt doesnrsquot matter if you are male or female as a nurse patient care is a team effortrdquo
For Ronnebaum however nursing is a career change After high school he
20 | Reconnect
served eight years of active duty as an Air Force aircraft mechanic then in the Air Guard in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm On his return Ronnebaum decided to rekindle his interest in anatomy and caring for sick people to become a nurse He started as a student nurse tech at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center Topeka earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Washburn University Topeka a masterrsquos of science in health care administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on a PhD in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City He teaches full time at JCCC and maintains his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves He has had one assignment as a critical care nurse in Iraq January through May 2007 Before entering academia he worked at KU Medical Center in medicalsurgery the burn unit and neurosurgery ICU
ldquoNursing is an exciting career and there is so much you can do with a nursing degree You can work in a hospital physicianrsquos office rehabilitation or long-term care facility nursing school or the militaryrdquo Ronnebaum said ldquoWith the growth in health care the sky is the limit for what you can do in nursingrdquo
ldquoMen balance the professionrdquo said Colleen Duggan JCCC nursing professor ldquoHaving men and women on the team makes for better collaboration on health care decisionsrdquo
Wayne Deines adjunct associate professor has a dual appointment with St Lukersquos South Hospital and JCCC He teaches JCCC students in clinicals two days a week at the hospital and one day a week at JCCC As an RN-III at St Lukersquos he works in the cardiovascular recovery unit Deines also came to nursing circuitously working as an EMT with the Consolidated Fire District 2 (Prairie Village) and paramedic with Johnson County Med-Act then earning his bachelorrsquos in nursing from KU School of Nursing A nurse for 18 years he worked in the military eight years and at St Lukersquos South for 10 Deines encourages men to enter nursing In fact his son is an operating room nurse at Childrenrsquos Mercy Hospital Kansas City Mo
JCCC has five male nursing faculty two full-time Ronnebaum and McNally and three part-time Deines Mark Foster and Kureo Ohta Eight male students graduated this spring out of a class of 71 In the practical nurse program there is one male adjunct faculty and three males out of 37 in the evening program due to graduate in December
JCCCrsquos male nursing students are gravitating to critical care upon graduation
ldquoGuys like critical care ndash ICU trauma and surgery I donrsquot know what thatrsquos all about but it seems to be naturalrdquo said student DJ Klinge
Students reiterate the fact that they feel no discrimination as males Sometimes an obstetrics patient prefers a female nurse but they donrsquot take offense They see it as a personal preference
ldquoYou have to be secure with yourself when you are a male nurserdquo said Jimmy Greenlee student
ldquoTwenty years ago guys in their 20s wouldnrsquot have thought about nursing as a career choice When people ask me if I am going to be a nurse I say lsquoAbsolutely There is nothing wrong with thatrsquordquo said Matt Munden who was determined to finish nursing school despite being readmitted to the RN program after a tour of duty in Iraq
Almost unanimously male faculty and students wish they had been introduced
Student Matt Munden assesses a heart rhythm under the instruction of Mark Foster (left) adjunct assistant professor nursing
to nursing as a career option earlier in life They recommend earning a CNA (a prerequisite to JCCCrsquos RN program) and working with patients before committing to the RN program
ldquoI got my CNA and really enjoyed it You help people who are truly dependent on you The CNA class pushed me into applying for nursing schoolrdquo said Jeff Middlesworth
ldquoJust getting your CNA lets you know if you are cut out for the job It lets you know whether you have the stomach for nursing or not and you learn rapport with patientsrdquo Greenlee said
So what would these young men say to other men thinking about a nursing career
ldquoLook into it and get your CNA If you have your head on straight and you are looking for a good career path I think it is well worth itrdquo Munden said ldquoIt was one of those things I didnrsquot really look at at first But this is the right decision for merdquo
ldquoEven in the recession the jobs in health care and nursing are still growingrdquo Middlesworth said
Greenlee says ldquoabsolutelyrdquo he is glad to have made the decision to be a nurse
ldquoI am not shy about being a male nurserdquo he said ldquoI am proud of itrdquo
Summer 2010 | 21
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
Drafting goes 3-D
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting displays a 3-D object fabricated from the rapid prototype machine
Itrsquos not quite the Star Trek replicator but the new 3-D printer in the drafting
department is impressive
JCCCrsquos drafting program acquired its rapid prototype machine in spring 2009 giving advanced drafting students an opportunity to make models from 3-D computer-aided designs and beginning drafting students a way to visualize a 3-D design problem more clearly
Instead of toner the rapid prototype machine uses a cartridge filled with a
spool of plastic which is heated to a temperature of 572 degrees F and applied in a series of layers until the 3-D model is built according to a CAD design
To the unschooled eye it appears as easy as hitting ldquoprintrdquo and setting controls for resolution orientation interior makeup (solid or honeycomb) and number of copies Then appearing out of seemingly nothingness comes a plastic model The technically savvy however know that inside the printer a CAD file interfaces with a stereolithography file format in order to fabricate the curves and geometry of a physical object
The process is fun to watch although ldquorapidrdquo is a relative term A special print head sweeps across a plastic support plate applying layer after layer of heated plastic following CAD specifications Filler material is applied to negative space and dissolved by immersion in a chemical bath after part fabrication Objects created in the JCCC 3-D printer take from two to 60-plus hours to complete
According to Tom Hughes drafting chair drafting models were traditionally created by hand in a shop Time cost and ease of use are improved with the 3-D printer Hughes says the rapid prototyping has been available in the industry for years used for creating manufactured parts ndash everything from
industrial to fine arts As the 3-D printers became more affordable JCCC was able to purchase one so drafting students can see their projects emerge from the 2-D printed page to physical models
ldquoThe impact on our students is that the models clearly illustrate what they are attempting to drawrdquo Hughes said ldquoStudents learn to draft with greater confidencerdquo
Damon Feureborn assistant professor drafting says the 3-D printer has increased student interest in the drafting program
ldquoThe rapid prototype printer can do some pretty complex models with moving and mating parts things that would be difficult to make in a shoprdquo Feureborn said
Students in the CAD 3-D and Mechanical Desktop Inventor classes are encouraged to produce one 3-D model at the end of the semester Faculty use the model to demonstrate objects and cutaway slices for entry-level classes
Hughes foresees partnerships between drafting classes and other programs using the 3-D printers Students in Graphic Analysis have already collaborated with welding students in the manufacturing of prototype plant holders
Summer 2010 | 15
Building toward health field careers
The Olathe Health Education Center lies west of Olathe Medical Center
In the remnant of a former cornfield Johnson County Community College
and Olathe Medical Center are tilling the ground in advance of another kind of harvest ndash allied health medical professionals
Groundbreaking on the two-story 50000-square-foot Olathe Health Education Center took place Dec 3 2009 and construction began in March 2010 The center will open for classes in fall 2011
OMC donated 58 acres of land for the building and parking located between 152nd and 153rd Streets west of Olathe Medical Center Parkway JCCC will build OHEC at an anticipated cost of $15 million
The building exterior is designed using JCCC campus standard brick with options for cast stone or metal between the windows The main entrance is to the north with parking to the northwest
Similar in design to the Regnier Center OHEC features a two-story atrium and
floating staircase The first floor will contain the main lobby information desk and a 300-seat multipurpose conference room that can be divided into four areas for smaller meetings or classes
Additional first-floor spaces are allocated for general education medical office technology and other medical offerings (EKG phlebotomy pharmacy technology medical lab technology and surgical technology) to include
Three general classrooms for classes such as anatomy and physiology
One medical computer lab and one general-use computer lab
A medical office technology suite with two classrooms and a record office room for medical billing coding and transcription
One classroom for other medical offerings
Common spaces including a coffee bar and food cart
Offices for faculty and staff including security counseling and student services
The second floor is designed primarily for practical nursing health occupations (certified nurse assistant certified medication aides rehabilitation aide home health aide and IV therapy for LPNs) and dietary manager programs to include
Four health occupations classrooms with three patient care beds each
Two skills labs with eight beds each one of the two is designed to accommodate four patient simulators
Practical nursehealth occupations student success center
Two classrooms for practical nursing and other medical classes
Common spaces for study and rest breaks
Offices for faculty and staff
16 | Reconnect
A rendering of the Olathe Health Education Center is shown here
Students will have clinical education opportunities at Olathe Medical Center as well as the opportunity for professional relationships with OMC health care practitioners
Rex Hays executive director Campus Services says HMN Architects collaborated with the academic administrators in multiple meetings to fulfill the specific needs of health care programming According to Hays the building will meet LEED silver certification in recognition of environmentally responsible building practices Access to a detention basin for a storm water run-off adds to points for LEED criteria
As owner of the OHEC JCCC will provide maintenance housekeeping and security (The college owns the building but does not receive clear title until the end of the 10-year lease and after payment of all scheduled lease amounts)
ldquoWe are grateful to Olathe Medical Center for the opportunity of building a health care teaching campusrdquo said Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC presidentldquoThe
medical center is a renowned medical facility and we are proud to be partners with themrdquo
ldquoWe are extremely proud to have the Olathe Health Education Center on our campusrdquo said Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC ldquoIt has been a pleasure for our staff to work with JCCC MidAmerica Nazarene University and the Olathe School District in developing the best curriculum to teach outstanding health care providers of the futurerdquo
Students from the Olathe schools will be provided a clear pathway through JCCC and if they choose to do so on to MidAmerica Nazarene University for baccalaureate and graduate studies completion according to Dr Dana Grove JCCC executive vice president educational planning and development chief operating officer
ldquoUltimately the beneficiary of the new OHEC is the community who will be served by an increase in the number of health care providers and the number of allied health programsrdquo Grove said
Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC and Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC president listen to a speaker at the Dec 3 groundbreaking for OHEC
Summer 2010 | 17
JCCC launches Achieving the Dream
Drs James Tschechtelin and Ted Wright JCCCrsquos coaches for Achieving the Dream brainstorm with Jeff Frost JCCC dean mathematics during an Achieving the Dream session of Fall 2009 Professional Development Days
Johnson County Community College is the first and only school in Kansas
to join Achieving the Dream Community Colleges Count a national initiative to help more community college students succeed particularly low-income students and students of color
JCCC is one of 102 institutions ndash 98 colleges and four universities ndash in 22 states to participate in Achieving the Dream which helps participating colleges implement strategies designed to help more students earn degrees complete certificates or transfer to other institutions to continue their studies The initiative emphasizes building a culture of evidence in which colleges use data to identify effective practices improve student success rates and close achievement gaps
The Lumina Foundation for Education which funds Achieving the Dream has a goal to raise the proportion of the US adult population who earn high-quality college degrees to 60 percent by 2025 an increase of 23 million graduates above current rates according to Dr Marilyn Rhinehart executive vice president Instruction JCCC Currently approximately 39 percent of American
adults complete a two- or four-year degree Each college makes a two-year commitment to focus its efforts on closing performance gaps among students in targeted populations
ldquoAt JCCC our work with Achieving the Dream will help us enhance the experience of students in developmental educationrdquo said Jason Kovac executive director of Academic Initiatives and Achieving the Dream core team leader ldquoThe goal will be to connect more people with college-level coursework and help more students reach their educational goals Ultimately this has a huge effect on our community ndash increased wages and better quality of life for our graduates and more skilled workers for regional employers This will be a key driver for college and community prosperity in the coming yearsrdquo
Core team members are Rhinehart team co-chair Terry Calaway JCCC president and team co-chair Jeff Frost dean mathematics Larry Reynolds dean Communications Beth Gulley assistant professor English Bill Robinson associate professor mathematics Mindy Manes administrative assistant
Corporate Outreach and Strategic Partnerships Learner Engagement and the Center for Sustainability Jason Kovac executive director Academic Initiatives Rick Moehring dean Learner Engagement Dr Ralph Juhnke director Institutional Research Paul Kyle dean Student Services Pam Vassar assistant dean Student Life and Leadership Development and Wendy Farwell counselor JCCCrsquos first step is to gather data to determine which student groups are less successful than others and which high-enrollment courses have the lowest success rates
ldquoAchieving the Dream really requires us to use data to focus on measurable outcomes and be open and forthright about current performancerdquo Juhnke said
While Achieving the Dream is about data Rhinehart says that every number represents a person
ldquoEvery piece of data has a story that can help us understand how we can make the greatest difference to a student We need to learn how we can take down barriers to student success and give students the courage and confidence to succeedrdquo Rhinehart said
18 | Reconnect
Journalism student media show news sense
JCCC journalism students show off a few of their many awards at the Headline Award ceremony in April 2010
The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism
and media communications department New video courses Advanced Video Production and Advanced Broadcast Performance were introduced as well as Digital Photojournalism designed for the multimedia needs of todayrsquos journalists The departmentrsquos foundation course Mass Media and Society became a general education elective for humanities credit in the spring 2010 semester for each of the collegersquos associatersquos degree programs
This past academic year more than 300 students completed classes in the journalism and media communications department and 10 students received scholarship money JCCC also continues to offer the largest media internship program in the Kansas City metro area providing students the opportunity to work in a professional environment
Beginning in fall 2010 students will be able to earn college credit with Basic Video Production in both the Blue Valley and Olathe high schools as part of JCCCrsquos College Now program
The departmentrsquos faculty includes two full-time professors Mark Raduziner department chair and Greg Harrell and adjunct faculty Gretchen Thum Julie Haas Joe Petrie Molly Baumgardner Corbin
Crable Joel Nichols and Mary Schulte
2010 was the seventh year for the Headline Award honoring local journalists whose example serves as an inspiration to student journalists at JCCC This yearrsquos honoree was Steve Kraske political correspondent for The Kansas City Star and host of Up to Date on KCURshyFM Kansas Cityrsquos public radio station
JCCCrsquos journalism and media communications department partners with Student Life and Leadership Development on two events In March the two departments sponsored People in the Media a panel of print and electronic media professionals who discussed the future of the industry In April the seventh annual Cavalier Film Festival honored student filmmakers from JCCC and Johnson County and Lawrence high schools in five categories Professionals in the Kansas City film and video industry judge entries and provide feedback
JCAV the student-produced TV news and magazine program took off this year with 10 JCAV news episodes seven JCAV Campus Updates and five Cavalier sports reports ndash live cable shows of sports events JCAV students won five 2010 Kansas Association of Broadcasters student awards while competing against all public and private colleges and universities in Kansas
Working in collaboration with the journalism and media communications department is Anne Christiansen-Bullers Student Life media coordinator and adviser to the student-produced radio station ECAV and JCCCrsquos student newspaper The Campus Ledger ECAV radio had its genesis in fall 2009 and will continue this year under radio station manager Marvita Oliver
The Campus Ledger was awarded the All-Kansas Award and a record 40 individual awards at the state conference sponsored by the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press Association
Judges awarded The Campus Ledger the gold medal for overall excellence and the All-Kansas Award reflecting the best of show in the two-year-school division
The newspaperrsquos Web site received a gold medal up from last yearrsquos bronze-medal distinction
The Campus Ledger editor-in-chief for 2009-10 was Matt Galloway The online editor was John Young Galloway won first runner-up in the Journalist of the Year contest sponsored by Kansas Associated Collegiate Press
Ondrej Pazdirek is the Campus Ledgerrsquos editor-in-chief for 2010-11
Summer 2010 | 19
Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing (left to right) Students Mickey Belcher Jimmy Lee and Jeff Middlesworth work in a patient simulation room with Mark Foster (blue lab coat) adjunct assistant professor nursing
Helping a patient or family member during a difficult time is the
primary satisfaction of being a nurse according to male nurses and male nursing students interviewed for this story
There are also practical reasons for being a nurse ndash the potential for good wages plentiful jobs and career diversity
So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
Jane Zaccardi director practical nursing and health occupations JCCC says the eulogized Florence Nightingale may be the reason Prior to the Crimean War men provided care in hospitals and battlefields and women in the home Nightingale brought the profession to women and subtly the job switched from one for men to one for women
JCCC in conjunction with Kansas Board of Regents is trying to reverse Nightingalersquos influence with two new Men in Nurses Training programs aimed at male high school students both of which were held in June The first was a nursing orientation summer camp for ninth and 10th grade students offered at no charge through grant funding The second MINT was a males-only
Certified Nurse Aide course for young men entering 11th and 12th grades Students who are employed as CNAs by a nursing facility within 12 months of the program can have their tuition reimbursed by their employer
With CNA certification students can earn a good salary and find a job right away according to Zaccardi or use the credentials to continue their education as a practical nurse then registered nurse
ldquoWe flat out donrsquot have enough nurses and we need to have men interested in the professionrdquo said Zaccardi whose statement is supported by a 2004 report from the American Nursing Association predicting 11 million job openings in the year 2020 ldquoWe are hoping through the MINT program men will select nursing as their first choice not as a career change in their 30s or 40srdquo
John McNally assistant professor nursing JCCC took exactly that career path At age 16 he got a job in his hometown hospital as what was then called an ldquoorderlyrdquo and worked part time at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center Topeka while earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Pittsburg State University
ldquoThe orderly positions now called CNA
were a convenient avenue to earn a paycheck while I was going to schoolrdquo McNally said
As an RN McNally worked at Stormont-Vail and North Kansas City Hospital earning a masterrsquos degree in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1996 In 2000 he decided to add computer skills to his reacutesumeacute and enrolled at JCCC where he moonlighted in the academic computer lab 30 hours a week When a nursing faculty position opened at JCCC he knew it was a good fit for him especially as health care technology increases
ldquoIn the hospitals where Irsquove worked there seem to be more males each yearrdquo McNally said ldquoWhile still a minority on the hospital floors men are likely to migrate to surgery radiology and technical areas My impression is that men in nursing donrsquot face any discriminationrdquo
Ed Ronnebaum assistant professor nursing JCCC echoes those sentiments
ldquoI have never faced discrimination at any timerdquo he said ldquoIt doesnrsquot matter if you are male or female as a nurse patient care is a team effortrdquo
For Ronnebaum however nursing is a career change After high school he
20 | Reconnect
served eight years of active duty as an Air Force aircraft mechanic then in the Air Guard in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm On his return Ronnebaum decided to rekindle his interest in anatomy and caring for sick people to become a nurse He started as a student nurse tech at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center Topeka earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Washburn University Topeka a masterrsquos of science in health care administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on a PhD in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City He teaches full time at JCCC and maintains his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves He has had one assignment as a critical care nurse in Iraq January through May 2007 Before entering academia he worked at KU Medical Center in medicalsurgery the burn unit and neurosurgery ICU
ldquoNursing is an exciting career and there is so much you can do with a nursing degree You can work in a hospital physicianrsquos office rehabilitation or long-term care facility nursing school or the militaryrdquo Ronnebaum said ldquoWith the growth in health care the sky is the limit for what you can do in nursingrdquo
ldquoMen balance the professionrdquo said Colleen Duggan JCCC nursing professor ldquoHaving men and women on the team makes for better collaboration on health care decisionsrdquo
Wayne Deines adjunct associate professor has a dual appointment with St Lukersquos South Hospital and JCCC He teaches JCCC students in clinicals two days a week at the hospital and one day a week at JCCC As an RN-III at St Lukersquos he works in the cardiovascular recovery unit Deines also came to nursing circuitously working as an EMT with the Consolidated Fire District 2 (Prairie Village) and paramedic with Johnson County Med-Act then earning his bachelorrsquos in nursing from KU School of Nursing A nurse for 18 years he worked in the military eight years and at St Lukersquos South for 10 Deines encourages men to enter nursing In fact his son is an operating room nurse at Childrenrsquos Mercy Hospital Kansas City Mo
JCCC has five male nursing faculty two full-time Ronnebaum and McNally and three part-time Deines Mark Foster and Kureo Ohta Eight male students graduated this spring out of a class of 71 In the practical nurse program there is one male adjunct faculty and three males out of 37 in the evening program due to graduate in December
JCCCrsquos male nursing students are gravitating to critical care upon graduation
ldquoGuys like critical care ndash ICU trauma and surgery I donrsquot know what thatrsquos all about but it seems to be naturalrdquo said student DJ Klinge
Students reiterate the fact that they feel no discrimination as males Sometimes an obstetrics patient prefers a female nurse but they donrsquot take offense They see it as a personal preference
ldquoYou have to be secure with yourself when you are a male nurserdquo said Jimmy Greenlee student
ldquoTwenty years ago guys in their 20s wouldnrsquot have thought about nursing as a career choice When people ask me if I am going to be a nurse I say lsquoAbsolutely There is nothing wrong with thatrsquordquo said Matt Munden who was determined to finish nursing school despite being readmitted to the RN program after a tour of duty in Iraq
Almost unanimously male faculty and students wish they had been introduced
Student Matt Munden assesses a heart rhythm under the instruction of Mark Foster (left) adjunct assistant professor nursing
to nursing as a career option earlier in life They recommend earning a CNA (a prerequisite to JCCCrsquos RN program) and working with patients before committing to the RN program
ldquoI got my CNA and really enjoyed it You help people who are truly dependent on you The CNA class pushed me into applying for nursing schoolrdquo said Jeff Middlesworth
ldquoJust getting your CNA lets you know if you are cut out for the job It lets you know whether you have the stomach for nursing or not and you learn rapport with patientsrdquo Greenlee said
So what would these young men say to other men thinking about a nursing career
ldquoLook into it and get your CNA If you have your head on straight and you are looking for a good career path I think it is well worth itrdquo Munden said ldquoIt was one of those things I didnrsquot really look at at first But this is the right decision for merdquo
ldquoEven in the recession the jobs in health care and nursing are still growingrdquo Middlesworth said
Greenlee says ldquoabsolutelyrdquo he is glad to have made the decision to be a nurse
ldquoI am not shy about being a male nurserdquo he said ldquoI am proud of itrdquo
Summer 2010 | 21
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
Building toward health field careers
The Olathe Health Education Center lies west of Olathe Medical Center
In the remnant of a former cornfield Johnson County Community College
and Olathe Medical Center are tilling the ground in advance of another kind of harvest ndash allied health medical professionals
Groundbreaking on the two-story 50000-square-foot Olathe Health Education Center took place Dec 3 2009 and construction began in March 2010 The center will open for classes in fall 2011
OMC donated 58 acres of land for the building and parking located between 152nd and 153rd Streets west of Olathe Medical Center Parkway JCCC will build OHEC at an anticipated cost of $15 million
The building exterior is designed using JCCC campus standard brick with options for cast stone or metal between the windows The main entrance is to the north with parking to the northwest
Similar in design to the Regnier Center OHEC features a two-story atrium and
floating staircase The first floor will contain the main lobby information desk and a 300-seat multipurpose conference room that can be divided into four areas for smaller meetings or classes
Additional first-floor spaces are allocated for general education medical office technology and other medical offerings (EKG phlebotomy pharmacy technology medical lab technology and surgical technology) to include
Three general classrooms for classes such as anatomy and physiology
One medical computer lab and one general-use computer lab
A medical office technology suite with two classrooms and a record office room for medical billing coding and transcription
One classroom for other medical offerings
Common spaces including a coffee bar and food cart
Offices for faculty and staff including security counseling and student services
The second floor is designed primarily for practical nursing health occupations (certified nurse assistant certified medication aides rehabilitation aide home health aide and IV therapy for LPNs) and dietary manager programs to include
Four health occupations classrooms with three patient care beds each
Two skills labs with eight beds each one of the two is designed to accommodate four patient simulators
Practical nursehealth occupations student success center
Two classrooms for practical nursing and other medical classes
Common spaces for study and rest breaks
Offices for faculty and staff
16 | Reconnect
A rendering of the Olathe Health Education Center is shown here
Students will have clinical education opportunities at Olathe Medical Center as well as the opportunity for professional relationships with OMC health care practitioners
Rex Hays executive director Campus Services says HMN Architects collaborated with the academic administrators in multiple meetings to fulfill the specific needs of health care programming According to Hays the building will meet LEED silver certification in recognition of environmentally responsible building practices Access to a detention basin for a storm water run-off adds to points for LEED criteria
As owner of the OHEC JCCC will provide maintenance housekeeping and security (The college owns the building but does not receive clear title until the end of the 10-year lease and after payment of all scheduled lease amounts)
ldquoWe are grateful to Olathe Medical Center for the opportunity of building a health care teaching campusrdquo said Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC presidentldquoThe
medical center is a renowned medical facility and we are proud to be partners with themrdquo
ldquoWe are extremely proud to have the Olathe Health Education Center on our campusrdquo said Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC ldquoIt has been a pleasure for our staff to work with JCCC MidAmerica Nazarene University and the Olathe School District in developing the best curriculum to teach outstanding health care providers of the futurerdquo
Students from the Olathe schools will be provided a clear pathway through JCCC and if they choose to do so on to MidAmerica Nazarene University for baccalaureate and graduate studies completion according to Dr Dana Grove JCCC executive vice president educational planning and development chief operating officer
ldquoUltimately the beneficiary of the new OHEC is the community who will be served by an increase in the number of health care providers and the number of allied health programsrdquo Grove said
Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC and Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC president listen to a speaker at the Dec 3 groundbreaking for OHEC
Summer 2010 | 17
JCCC launches Achieving the Dream
Drs James Tschechtelin and Ted Wright JCCCrsquos coaches for Achieving the Dream brainstorm with Jeff Frost JCCC dean mathematics during an Achieving the Dream session of Fall 2009 Professional Development Days
Johnson County Community College is the first and only school in Kansas
to join Achieving the Dream Community Colleges Count a national initiative to help more community college students succeed particularly low-income students and students of color
JCCC is one of 102 institutions ndash 98 colleges and four universities ndash in 22 states to participate in Achieving the Dream which helps participating colleges implement strategies designed to help more students earn degrees complete certificates or transfer to other institutions to continue their studies The initiative emphasizes building a culture of evidence in which colleges use data to identify effective practices improve student success rates and close achievement gaps
The Lumina Foundation for Education which funds Achieving the Dream has a goal to raise the proportion of the US adult population who earn high-quality college degrees to 60 percent by 2025 an increase of 23 million graduates above current rates according to Dr Marilyn Rhinehart executive vice president Instruction JCCC Currently approximately 39 percent of American
adults complete a two- or four-year degree Each college makes a two-year commitment to focus its efforts on closing performance gaps among students in targeted populations
ldquoAt JCCC our work with Achieving the Dream will help us enhance the experience of students in developmental educationrdquo said Jason Kovac executive director of Academic Initiatives and Achieving the Dream core team leader ldquoThe goal will be to connect more people with college-level coursework and help more students reach their educational goals Ultimately this has a huge effect on our community ndash increased wages and better quality of life for our graduates and more skilled workers for regional employers This will be a key driver for college and community prosperity in the coming yearsrdquo
Core team members are Rhinehart team co-chair Terry Calaway JCCC president and team co-chair Jeff Frost dean mathematics Larry Reynolds dean Communications Beth Gulley assistant professor English Bill Robinson associate professor mathematics Mindy Manes administrative assistant
Corporate Outreach and Strategic Partnerships Learner Engagement and the Center for Sustainability Jason Kovac executive director Academic Initiatives Rick Moehring dean Learner Engagement Dr Ralph Juhnke director Institutional Research Paul Kyle dean Student Services Pam Vassar assistant dean Student Life and Leadership Development and Wendy Farwell counselor JCCCrsquos first step is to gather data to determine which student groups are less successful than others and which high-enrollment courses have the lowest success rates
ldquoAchieving the Dream really requires us to use data to focus on measurable outcomes and be open and forthright about current performancerdquo Juhnke said
While Achieving the Dream is about data Rhinehart says that every number represents a person
ldquoEvery piece of data has a story that can help us understand how we can make the greatest difference to a student We need to learn how we can take down barriers to student success and give students the courage and confidence to succeedrdquo Rhinehart said
18 | Reconnect
Journalism student media show news sense
JCCC journalism students show off a few of their many awards at the Headline Award ceremony in April 2010
The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism
and media communications department New video courses Advanced Video Production and Advanced Broadcast Performance were introduced as well as Digital Photojournalism designed for the multimedia needs of todayrsquos journalists The departmentrsquos foundation course Mass Media and Society became a general education elective for humanities credit in the spring 2010 semester for each of the collegersquos associatersquos degree programs
This past academic year more than 300 students completed classes in the journalism and media communications department and 10 students received scholarship money JCCC also continues to offer the largest media internship program in the Kansas City metro area providing students the opportunity to work in a professional environment
Beginning in fall 2010 students will be able to earn college credit with Basic Video Production in both the Blue Valley and Olathe high schools as part of JCCCrsquos College Now program
The departmentrsquos faculty includes two full-time professors Mark Raduziner department chair and Greg Harrell and adjunct faculty Gretchen Thum Julie Haas Joe Petrie Molly Baumgardner Corbin
Crable Joel Nichols and Mary Schulte
2010 was the seventh year for the Headline Award honoring local journalists whose example serves as an inspiration to student journalists at JCCC This yearrsquos honoree was Steve Kraske political correspondent for The Kansas City Star and host of Up to Date on KCURshyFM Kansas Cityrsquos public radio station
JCCCrsquos journalism and media communications department partners with Student Life and Leadership Development on two events In March the two departments sponsored People in the Media a panel of print and electronic media professionals who discussed the future of the industry In April the seventh annual Cavalier Film Festival honored student filmmakers from JCCC and Johnson County and Lawrence high schools in five categories Professionals in the Kansas City film and video industry judge entries and provide feedback
JCAV the student-produced TV news and magazine program took off this year with 10 JCAV news episodes seven JCAV Campus Updates and five Cavalier sports reports ndash live cable shows of sports events JCAV students won five 2010 Kansas Association of Broadcasters student awards while competing against all public and private colleges and universities in Kansas
Working in collaboration with the journalism and media communications department is Anne Christiansen-Bullers Student Life media coordinator and adviser to the student-produced radio station ECAV and JCCCrsquos student newspaper The Campus Ledger ECAV radio had its genesis in fall 2009 and will continue this year under radio station manager Marvita Oliver
The Campus Ledger was awarded the All-Kansas Award and a record 40 individual awards at the state conference sponsored by the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press Association
Judges awarded The Campus Ledger the gold medal for overall excellence and the All-Kansas Award reflecting the best of show in the two-year-school division
The newspaperrsquos Web site received a gold medal up from last yearrsquos bronze-medal distinction
The Campus Ledger editor-in-chief for 2009-10 was Matt Galloway The online editor was John Young Galloway won first runner-up in the Journalist of the Year contest sponsored by Kansas Associated Collegiate Press
Ondrej Pazdirek is the Campus Ledgerrsquos editor-in-chief for 2010-11
Summer 2010 | 19
Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing (left to right) Students Mickey Belcher Jimmy Lee and Jeff Middlesworth work in a patient simulation room with Mark Foster (blue lab coat) adjunct assistant professor nursing
Helping a patient or family member during a difficult time is the
primary satisfaction of being a nurse according to male nurses and male nursing students interviewed for this story
There are also practical reasons for being a nurse ndash the potential for good wages plentiful jobs and career diversity
So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
Jane Zaccardi director practical nursing and health occupations JCCC says the eulogized Florence Nightingale may be the reason Prior to the Crimean War men provided care in hospitals and battlefields and women in the home Nightingale brought the profession to women and subtly the job switched from one for men to one for women
JCCC in conjunction with Kansas Board of Regents is trying to reverse Nightingalersquos influence with two new Men in Nurses Training programs aimed at male high school students both of which were held in June The first was a nursing orientation summer camp for ninth and 10th grade students offered at no charge through grant funding The second MINT was a males-only
Certified Nurse Aide course for young men entering 11th and 12th grades Students who are employed as CNAs by a nursing facility within 12 months of the program can have their tuition reimbursed by their employer
With CNA certification students can earn a good salary and find a job right away according to Zaccardi or use the credentials to continue their education as a practical nurse then registered nurse
ldquoWe flat out donrsquot have enough nurses and we need to have men interested in the professionrdquo said Zaccardi whose statement is supported by a 2004 report from the American Nursing Association predicting 11 million job openings in the year 2020 ldquoWe are hoping through the MINT program men will select nursing as their first choice not as a career change in their 30s or 40srdquo
John McNally assistant professor nursing JCCC took exactly that career path At age 16 he got a job in his hometown hospital as what was then called an ldquoorderlyrdquo and worked part time at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center Topeka while earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Pittsburg State University
ldquoThe orderly positions now called CNA
were a convenient avenue to earn a paycheck while I was going to schoolrdquo McNally said
As an RN McNally worked at Stormont-Vail and North Kansas City Hospital earning a masterrsquos degree in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1996 In 2000 he decided to add computer skills to his reacutesumeacute and enrolled at JCCC where he moonlighted in the academic computer lab 30 hours a week When a nursing faculty position opened at JCCC he knew it was a good fit for him especially as health care technology increases
ldquoIn the hospitals where Irsquove worked there seem to be more males each yearrdquo McNally said ldquoWhile still a minority on the hospital floors men are likely to migrate to surgery radiology and technical areas My impression is that men in nursing donrsquot face any discriminationrdquo
Ed Ronnebaum assistant professor nursing JCCC echoes those sentiments
ldquoI have never faced discrimination at any timerdquo he said ldquoIt doesnrsquot matter if you are male or female as a nurse patient care is a team effortrdquo
For Ronnebaum however nursing is a career change After high school he
20 | Reconnect
served eight years of active duty as an Air Force aircraft mechanic then in the Air Guard in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm On his return Ronnebaum decided to rekindle his interest in anatomy and caring for sick people to become a nurse He started as a student nurse tech at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center Topeka earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Washburn University Topeka a masterrsquos of science in health care administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on a PhD in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City He teaches full time at JCCC and maintains his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves He has had one assignment as a critical care nurse in Iraq January through May 2007 Before entering academia he worked at KU Medical Center in medicalsurgery the burn unit and neurosurgery ICU
ldquoNursing is an exciting career and there is so much you can do with a nursing degree You can work in a hospital physicianrsquos office rehabilitation or long-term care facility nursing school or the militaryrdquo Ronnebaum said ldquoWith the growth in health care the sky is the limit for what you can do in nursingrdquo
ldquoMen balance the professionrdquo said Colleen Duggan JCCC nursing professor ldquoHaving men and women on the team makes for better collaboration on health care decisionsrdquo
Wayne Deines adjunct associate professor has a dual appointment with St Lukersquos South Hospital and JCCC He teaches JCCC students in clinicals two days a week at the hospital and one day a week at JCCC As an RN-III at St Lukersquos he works in the cardiovascular recovery unit Deines also came to nursing circuitously working as an EMT with the Consolidated Fire District 2 (Prairie Village) and paramedic with Johnson County Med-Act then earning his bachelorrsquos in nursing from KU School of Nursing A nurse for 18 years he worked in the military eight years and at St Lukersquos South for 10 Deines encourages men to enter nursing In fact his son is an operating room nurse at Childrenrsquos Mercy Hospital Kansas City Mo
JCCC has five male nursing faculty two full-time Ronnebaum and McNally and three part-time Deines Mark Foster and Kureo Ohta Eight male students graduated this spring out of a class of 71 In the practical nurse program there is one male adjunct faculty and three males out of 37 in the evening program due to graduate in December
JCCCrsquos male nursing students are gravitating to critical care upon graduation
ldquoGuys like critical care ndash ICU trauma and surgery I donrsquot know what thatrsquos all about but it seems to be naturalrdquo said student DJ Klinge
Students reiterate the fact that they feel no discrimination as males Sometimes an obstetrics patient prefers a female nurse but they donrsquot take offense They see it as a personal preference
ldquoYou have to be secure with yourself when you are a male nurserdquo said Jimmy Greenlee student
ldquoTwenty years ago guys in their 20s wouldnrsquot have thought about nursing as a career choice When people ask me if I am going to be a nurse I say lsquoAbsolutely There is nothing wrong with thatrsquordquo said Matt Munden who was determined to finish nursing school despite being readmitted to the RN program after a tour of duty in Iraq
Almost unanimously male faculty and students wish they had been introduced
Student Matt Munden assesses a heart rhythm under the instruction of Mark Foster (left) adjunct assistant professor nursing
to nursing as a career option earlier in life They recommend earning a CNA (a prerequisite to JCCCrsquos RN program) and working with patients before committing to the RN program
ldquoI got my CNA and really enjoyed it You help people who are truly dependent on you The CNA class pushed me into applying for nursing schoolrdquo said Jeff Middlesworth
ldquoJust getting your CNA lets you know if you are cut out for the job It lets you know whether you have the stomach for nursing or not and you learn rapport with patientsrdquo Greenlee said
So what would these young men say to other men thinking about a nursing career
ldquoLook into it and get your CNA If you have your head on straight and you are looking for a good career path I think it is well worth itrdquo Munden said ldquoIt was one of those things I didnrsquot really look at at first But this is the right decision for merdquo
ldquoEven in the recession the jobs in health care and nursing are still growingrdquo Middlesworth said
Greenlee says ldquoabsolutelyrdquo he is glad to have made the decision to be a nurse
ldquoI am not shy about being a male nurserdquo he said ldquoI am proud of itrdquo
Summer 2010 | 21
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
A rendering of the Olathe Health Education Center is shown here
Students will have clinical education opportunities at Olathe Medical Center as well as the opportunity for professional relationships with OMC health care practitioners
Rex Hays executive director Campus Services says HMN Architects collaborated with the academic administrators in multiple meetings to fulfill the specific needs of health care programming According to Hays the building will meet LEED silver certification in recognition of environmentally responsible building practices Access to a detention basin for a storm water run-off adds to points for LEED criteria
As owner of the OHEC JCCC will provide maintenance housekeeping and security (The college owns the building but does not receive clear title until the end of the 10-year lease and after payment of all scheduled lease amounts)
ldquoWe are grateful to Olathe Medical Center for the opportunity of building a health care teaching campusrdquo said Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC presidentldquoThe
medical center is a renowned medical facility and we are proud to be partners with themrdquo
ldquoWe are extremely proud to have the Olathe Health Education Center on our campusrdquo said Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC ldquoIt has been a pleasure for our staff to work with JCCC MidAmerica Nazarene University and the Olathe School District in developing the best curriculum to teach outstanding health care providers of the futurerdquo
Students from the Olathe schools will be provided a clear pathway through JCCC and if they choose to do so on to MidAmerica Nazarene University for baccalaureate and graduate studies completion according to Dr Dana Grove JCCC executive vice president educational planning and development chief operating officer
ldquoUltimately the beneficiary of the new OHEC is the community who will be served by an increase in the number of health care providers and the number of allied health programsrdquo Grove said
Frank H Devocelle presidentCEO of OMC and Dr Terry A Calaway JCCC president listen to a speaker at the Dec 3 groundbreaking for OHEC
Summer 2010 | 17
JCCC launches Achieving the Dream
Drs James Tschechtelin and Ted Wright JCCCrsquos coaches for Achieving the Dream brainstorm with Jeff Frost JCCC dean mathematics during an Achieving the Dream session of Fall 2009 Professional Development Days
Johnson County Community College is the first and only school in Kansas
to join Achieving the Dream Community Colleges Count a national initiative to help more community college students succeed particularly low-income students and students of color
JCCC is one of 102 institutions ndash 98 colleges and four universities ndash in 22 states to participate in Achieving the Dream which helps participating colleges implement strategies designed to help more students earn degrees complete certificates or transfer to other institutions to continue their studies The initiative emphasizes building a culture of evidence in which colleges use data to identify effective practices improve student success rates and close achievement gaps
The Lumina Foundation for Education which funds Achieving the Dream has a goal to raise the proportion of the US adult population who earn high-quality college degrees to 60 percent by 2025 an increase of 23 million graduates above current rates according to Dr Marilyn Rhinehart executive vice president Instruction JCCC Currently approximately 39 percent of American
adults complete a two- or four-year degree Each college makes a two-year commitment to focus its efforts on closing performance gaps among students in targeted populations
ldquoAt JCCC our work with Achieving the Dream will help us enhance the experience of students in developmental educationrdquo said Jason Kovac executive director of Academic Initiatives and Achieving the Dream core team leader ldquoThe goal will be to connect more people with college-level coursework and help more students reach their educational goals Ultimately this has a huge effect on our community ndash increased wages and better quality of life for our graduates and more skilled workers for regional employers This will be a key driver for college and community prosperity in the coming yearsrdquo
Core team members are Rhinehart team co-chair Terry Calaway JCCC president and team co-chair Jeff Frost dean mathematics Larry Reynolds dean Communications Beth Gulley assistant professor English Bill Robinson associate professor mathematics Mindy Manes administrative assistant
Corporate Outreach and Strategic Partnerships Learner Engagement and the Center for Sustainability Jason Kovac executive director Academic Initiatives Rick Moehring dean Learner Engagement Dr Ralph Juhnke director Institutional Research Paul Kyle dean Student Services Pam Vassar assistant dean Student Life and Leadership Development and Wendy Farwell counselor JCCCrsquos first step is to gather data to determine which student groups are less successful than others and which high-enrollment courses have the lowest success rates
ldquoAchieving the Dream really requires us to use data to focus on measurable outcomes and be open and forthright about current performancerdquo Juhnke said
While Achieving the Dream is about data Rhinehart says that every number represents a person
ldquoEvery piece of data has a story that can help us understand how we can make the greatest difference to a student We need to learn how we can take down barriers to student success and give students the courage and confidence to succeedrdquo Rhinehart said
18 | Reconnect
Journalism student media show news sense
JCCC journalism students show off a few of their many awards at the Headline Award ceremony in April 2010
The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism
and media communications department New video courses Advanced Video Production and Advanced Broadcast Performance were introduced as well as Digital Photojournalism designed for the multimedia needs of todayrsquos journalists The departmentrsquos foundation course Mass Media and Society became a general education elective for humanities credit in the spring 2010 semester for each of the collegersquos associatersquos degree programs
This past academic year more than 300 students completed classes in the journalism and media communications department and 10 students received scholarship money JCCC also continues to offer the largest media internship program in the Kansas City metro area providing students the opportunity to work in a professional environment
Beginning in fall 2010 students will be able to earn college credit with Basic Video Production in both the Blue Valley and Olathe high schools as part of JCCCrsquos College Now program
The departmentrsquos faculty includes two full-time professors Mark Raduziner department chair and Greg Harrell and adjunct faculty Gretchen Thum Julie Haas Joe Petrie Molly Baumgardner Corbin
Crable Joel Nichols and Mary Schulte
2010 was the seventh year for the Headline Award honoring local journalists whose example serves as an inspiration to student journalists at JCCC This yearrsquos honoree was Steve Kraske political correspondent for The Kansas City Star and host of Up to Date on KCURshyFM Kansas Cityrsquos public radio station
JCCCrsquos journalism and media communications department partners with Student Life and Leadership Development on two events In March the two departments sponsored People in the Media a panel of print and electronic media professionals who discussed the future of the industry In April the seventh annual Cavalier Film Festival honored student filmmakers from JCCC and Johnson County and Lawrence high schools in five categories Professionals in the Kansas City film and video industry judge entries and provide feedback
JCAV the student-produced TV news and magazine program took off this year with 10 JCAV news episodes seven JCAV Campus Updates and five Cavalier sports reports ndash live cable shows of sports events JCAV students won five 2010 Kansas Association of Broadcasters student awards while competing against all public and private colleges and universities in Kansas
Working in collaboration with the journalism and media communications department is Anne Christiansen-Bullers Student Life media coordinator and adviser to the student-produced radio station ECAV and JCCCrsquos student newspaper The Campus Ledger ECAV radio had its genesis in fall 2009 and will continue this year under radio station manager Marvita Oliver
The Campus Ledger was awarded the All-Kansas Award and a record 40 individual awards at the state conference sponsored by the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press Association
Judges awarded The Campus Ledger the gold medal for overall excellence and the All-Kansas Award reflecting the best of show in the two-year-school division
The newspaperrsquos Web site received a gold medal up from last yearrsquos bronze-medal distinction
The Campus Ledger editor-in-chief for 2009-10 was Matt Galloway The online editor was John Young Galloway won first runner-up in the Journalist of the Year contest sponsored by Kansas Associated Collegiate Press
Ondrej Pazdirek is the Campus Ledgerrsquos editor-in-chief for 2010-11
Summer 2010 | 19
Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing (left to right) Students Mickey Belcher Jimmy Lee and Jeff Middlesworth work in a patient simulation room with Mark Foster (blue lab coat) adjunct assistant professor nursing
Helping a patient or family member during a difficult time is the
primary satisfaction of being a nurse according to male nurses and male nursing students interviewed for this story
There are also practical reasons for being a nurse ndash the potential for good wages plentiful jobs and career diversity
So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
Jane Zaccardi director practical nursing and health occupations JCCC says the eulogized Florence Nightingale may be the reason Prior to the Crimean War men provided care in hospitals and battlefields and women in the home Nightingale brought the profession to women and subtly the job switched from one for men to one for women
JCCC in conjunction with Kansas Board of Regents is trying to reverse Nightingalersquos influence with two new Men in Nurses Training programs aimed at male high school students both of which were held in June The first was a nursing orientation summer camp for ninth and 10th grade students offered at no charge through grant funding The second MINT was a males-only
Certified Nurse Aide course for young men entering 11th and 12th grades Students who are employed as CNAs by a nursing facility within 12 months of the program can have their tuition reimbursed by their employer
With CNA certification students can earn a good salary and find a job right away according to Zaccardi or use the credentials to continue their education as a practical nurse then registered nurse
ldquoWe flat out donrsquot have enough nurses and we need to have men interested in the professionrdquo said Zaccardi whose statement is supported by a 2004 report from the American Nursing Association predicting 11 million job openings in the year 2020 ldquoWe are hoping through the MINT program men will select nursing as their first choice not as a career change in their 30s or 40srdquo
John McNally assistant professor nursing JCCC took exactly that career path At age 16 he got a job in his hometown hospital as what was then called an ldquoorderlyrdquo and worked part time at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center Topeka while earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Pittsburg State University
ldquoThe orderly positions now called CNA
were a convenient avenue to earn a paycheck while I was going to schoolrdquo McNally said
As an RN McNally worked at Stormont-Vail and North Kansas City Hospital earning a masterrsquos degree in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1996 In 2000 he decided to add computer skills to his reacutesumeacute and enrolled at JCCC where he moonlighted in the academic computer lab 30 hours a week When a nursing faculty position opened at JCCC he knew it was a good fit for him especially as health care technology increases
ldquoIn the hospitals where Irsquove worked there seem to be more males each yearrdquo McNally said ldquoWhile still a minority on the hospital floors men are likely to migrate to surgery radiology and technical areas My impression is that men in nursing donrsquot face any discriminationrdquo
Ed Ronnebaum assistant professor nursing JCCC echoes those sentiments
ldquoI have never faced discrimination at any timerdquo he said ldquoIt doesnrsquot matter if you are male or female as a nurse patient care is a team effortrdquo
For Ronnebaum however nursing is a career change After high school he
20 | Reconnect
served eight years of active duty as an Air Force aircraft mechanic then in the Air Guard in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm On his return Ronnebaum decided to rekindle his interest in anatomy and caring for sick people to become a nurse He started as a student nurse tech at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center Topeka earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Washburn University Topeka a masterrsquos of science in health care administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on a PhD in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City He teaches full time at JCCC and maintains his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves He has had one assignment as a critical care nurse in Iraq January through May 2007 Before entering academia he worked at KU Medical Center in medicalsurgery the burn unit and neurosurgery ICU
ldquoNursing is an exciting career and there is so much you can do with a nursing degree You can work in a hospital physicianrsquos office rehabilitation or long-term care facility nursing school or the militaryrdquo Ronnebaum said ldquoWith the growth in health care the sky is the limit for what you can do in nursingrdquo
ldquoMen balance the professionrdquo said Colleen Duggan JCCC nursing professor ldquoHaving men and women on the team makes for better collaboration on health care decisionsrdquo
Wayne Deines adjunct associate professor has a dual appointment with St Lukersquos South Hospital and JCCC He teaches JCCC students in clinicals two days a week at the hospital and one day a week at JCCC As an RN-III at St Lukersquos he works in the cardiovascular recovery unit Deines also came to nursing circuitously working as an EMT with the Consolidated Fire District 2 (Prairie Village) and paramedic with Johnson County Med-Act then earning his bachelorrsquos in nursing from KU School of Nursing A nurse for 18 years he worked in the military eight years and at St Lukersquos South for 10 Deines encourages men to enter nursing In fact his son is an operating room nurse at Childrenrsquos Mercy Hospital Kansas City Mo
JCCC has five male nursing faculty two full-time Ronnebaum and McNally and three part-time Deines Mark Foster and Kureo Ohta Eight male students graduated this spring out of a class of 71 In the practical nurse program there is one male adjunct faculty and three males out of 37 in the evening program due to graduate in December
JCCCrsquos male nursing students are gravitating to critical care upon graduation
ldquoGuys like critical care ndash ICU trauma and surgery I donrsquot know what thatrsquos all about but it seems to be naturalrdquo said student DJ Klinge
Students reiterate the fact that they feel no discrimination as males Sometimes an obstetrics patient prefers a female nurse but they donrsquot take offense They see it as a personal preference
ldquoYou have to be secure with yourself when you are a male nurserdquo said Jimmy Greenlee student
ldquoTwenty years ago guys in their 20s wouldnrsquot have thought about nursing as a career choice When people ask me if I am going to be a nurse I say lsquoAbsolutely There is nothing wrong with thatrsquordquo said Matt Munden who was determined to finish nursing school despite being readmitted to the RN program after a tour of duty in Iraq
Almost unanimously male faculty and students wish they had been introduced
Student Matt Munden assesses a heart rhythm under the instruction of Mark Foster (left) adjunct assistant professor nursing
to nursing as a career option earlier in life They recommend earning a CNA (a prerequisite to JCCCrsquos RN program) and working with patients before committing to the RN program
ldquoI got my CNA and really enjoyed it You help people who are truly dependent on you The CNA class pushed me into applying for nursing schoolrdquo said Jeff Middlesworth
ldquoJust getting your CNA lets you know if you are cut out for the job It lets you know whether you have the stomach for nursing or not and you learn rapport with patientsrdquo Greenlee said
So what would these young men say to other men thinking about a nursing career
ldquoLook into it and get your CNA If you have your head on straight and you are looking for a good career path I think it is well worth itrdquo Munden said ldquoIt was one of those things I didnrsquot really look at at first But this is the right decision for merdquo
ldquoEven in the recession the jobs in health care and nursing are still growingrdquo Middlesworth said
Greenlee says ldquoabsolutelyrdquo he is glad to have made the decision to be a nurse
ldquoI am not shy about being a male nurserdquo he said ldquoI am proud of itrdquo
Summer 2010 | 21
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
JCCC launches Achieving the Dream
Drs James Tschechtelin and Ted Wright JCCCrsquos coaches for Achieving the Dream brainstorm with Jeff Frost JCCC dean mathematics during an Achieving the Dream session of Fall 2009 Professional Development Days
Johnson County Community College is the first and only school in Kansas
to join Achieving the Dream Community Colleges Count a national initiative to help more community college students succeed particularly low-income students and students of color
JCCC is one of 102 institutions ndash 98 colleges and four universities ndash in 22 states to participate in Achieving the Dream which helps participating colleges implement strategies designed to help more students earn degrees complete certificates or transfer to other institutions to continue their studies The initiative emphasizes building a culture of evidence in which colleges use data to identify effective practices improve student success rates and close achievement gaps
The Lumina Foundation for Education which funds Achieving the Dream has a goal to raise the proportion of the US adult population who earn high-quality college degrees to 60 percent by 2025 an increase of 23 million graduates above current rates according to Dr Marilyn Rhinehart executive vice president Instruction JCCC Currently approximately 39 percent of American
adults complete a two- or four-year degree Each college makes a two-year commitment to focus its efforts on closing performance gaps among students in targeted populations
ldquoAt JCCC our work with Achieving the Dream will help us enhance the experience of students in developmental educationrdquo said Jason Kovac executive director of Academic Initiatives and Achieving the Dream core team leader ldquoThe goal will be to connect more people with college-level coursework and help more students reach their educational goals Ultimately this has a huge effect on our community ndash increased wages and better quality of life for our graduates and more skilled workers for regional employers This will be a key driver for college and community prosperity in the coming yearsrdquo
Core team members are Rhinehart team co-chair Terry Calaway JCCC president and team co-chair Jeff Frost dean mathematics Larry Reynolds dean Communications Beth Gulley assistant professor English Bill Robinson associate professor mathematics Mindy Manes administrative assistant
Corporate Outreach and Strategic Partnerships Learner Engagement and the Center for Sustainability Jason Kovac executive director Academic Initiatives Rick Moehring dean Learner Engagement Dr Ralph Juhnke director Institutional Research Paul Kyle dean Student Services Pam Vassar assistant dean Student Life and Leadership Development and Wendy Farwell counselor JCCCrsquos first step is to gather data to determine which student groups are less successful than others and which high-enrollment courses have the lowest success rates
ldquoAchieving the Dream really requires us to use data to focus on measurable outcomes and be open and forthright about current performancerdquo Juhnke said
While Achieving the Dream is about data Rhinehart says that every number represents a person
ldquoEvery piece of data has a story that can help us understand how we can make the greatest difference to a student We need to learn how we can take down barriers to student success and give students the courage and confidence to succeedrdquo Rhinehart said
18 | Reconnect
Journalism student media show news sense
JCCC journalism students show off a few of their many awards at the Headline Award ceremony in April 2010
The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism
and media communications department New video courses Advanced Video Production and Advanced Broadcast Performance were introduced as well as Digital Photojournalism designed for the multimedia needs of todayrsquos journalists The departmentrsquos foundation course Mass Media and Society became a general education elective for humanities credit in the spring 2010 semester for each of the collegersquos associatersquos degree programs
This past academic year more than 300 students completed classes in the journalism and media communications department and 10 students received scholarship money JCCC also continues to offer the largest media internship program in the Kansas City metro area providing students the opportunity to work in a professional environment
Beginning in fall 2010 students will be able to earn college credit with Basic Video Production in both the Blue Valley and Olathe high schools as part of JCCCrsquos College Now program
The departmentrsquos faculty includes two full-time professors Mark Raduziner department chair and Greg Harrell and adjunct faculty Gretchen Thum Julie Haas Joe Petrie Molly Baumgardner Corbin
Crable Joel Nichols and Mary Schulte
2010 was the seventh year for the Headline Award honoring local journalists whose example serves as an inspiration to student journalists at JCCC This yearrsquos honoree was Steve Kraske political correspondent for The Kansas City Star and host of Up to Date on KCURshyFM Kansas Cityrsquos public radio station
JCCCrsquos journalism and media communications department partners with Student Life and Leadership Development on two events In March the two departments sponsored People in the Media a panel of print and electronic media professionals who discussed the future of the industry In April the seventh annual Cavalier Film Festival honored student filmmakers from JCCC and Johnson County and Lawrence high schools in five categories Professionals in the Kansas City film and video industry judge entries and provide feedback
JCAV the student-produced TV news and magazine program took off this year with 10 JCAV news episodes seven JCAV Campus Updates and five Cavalier sports reports ndash live cable shows of sports events JCAV students won five 2010 Kansas Association of Broadcasters student awards while competing against all public and private colleges and universities in Kansas
Working in collaboration with the journalism and media communications department is Anne Christiansen-Bullers Student Life media coordinator and adviser to the student-produced radio station ECAV and JCCCrsquos student newspaper The Campus Ledger ECAV radio had its genesis in fall 2009 and will continue this year under radio station manager Marvita Oliver
The Campus Ledger was awarded the All-Kansas Award and a record 40 individual awards at the state conference sponsored by the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press Association
Judges awarded The Campus Ledger the gold medal for overall excellence and the All-Kansas Award reflecting the best of show in the two-year-school division
The newspaperrsquos Web site received a gold medal up from last yearrsquos bronze-medal distinction
The Campus Ledger editor-in-chief for 2009-10 was Matt Galloway The online editor was John Young Galloway won first runner-up in the Journalist of the Year contest sponsored by Kansas Associated Collegiate Press
Ondrej Pazdirek is the Campus Ledgerrsquos editor-in-chief for 2010-11
Summer 2010 | 19
Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing (left to right) Students Mickey Belcher Jimmy Lee and Jeff Middlesworth work in a patient simulation room with Mark Foster (blue lab coat) adjunct assistant professor nursing
Helping a patient or family member during a difficult time is the
primary satisfaction of being a nurse according to male nurses and male nursing students interviewed for this story
There are also practical reasons for being a nurse ndash the potential for good wages plentiful jobs and career diversity
So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
Jane Zaccardi director practical nursing and health occupations JCCC says the eulogized Florence Nightingale may be the reason Prior to the Crimean War men provided care in hospitals and battlefields and women in the home Nightingale brought the profession to women and subtly the job switched from one for men to one for women
JCCC in conjunction with Kansas Board of Regents is trying to reverse Nightingalersquos influence with two new Men in Nurses Training programs aimed at male high school students both of which were held in June The first was a nursing orientation summer camp for ninth and 10th grade students offered at no charge through grant funding The second MINT was a males-only
Certified Nurse Aide course for young men entering 11th and 12th grades Students who are employed as CNAs by a nursing facility within 12 months of the program can have their tuition reimbursed by their employer
With CNA certification students can earn a good salary and find a job right away according to Zaccardi or use the credentials to continue their education as a practical nurse then registered nurse
ldquoWe flat out donrsquot have enough nurses and we need to have men interested in the professionrdquo said Zaccardi whose statement is supported by a 2004 report from the American Nursing Association predicting 11 million job openings in the year 2020 ldquoWe are hoping through the MINT program men will select nursing as their first choice not as a career change in their 30s or 40srdquo
John McNally assistant professor nursing JCCC took exactly that career path At age 16 he got a job in his hometown hospital as what was then called an ldquoorderlyrdquo and worked part time at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center Topeka while earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Pittsburg State University
ldquoThe orderly positions now called CNA
were a convenient avenue to earn a paycheck while I was going to schoolrdquo McNally said
As an RN McNally worked at Stormont-Vail and North Kansas City Hospital earning a masterrsquos degree in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1996 In 2000 he decided to add computer skills to his reacutesumeacute and enrolled at JCCC where he moonlighted in the academic computer lab 30 hours a week When a nursing faculty position opened at JCCC he knew it was a good fit for him especially as health care technology increases
ldquoIn the hospitals where Irsquove worked there seem to be more males each yearrdquo McNally said ldquoWhile still a minority on the hospital floors men are likely to migrate to surgery radiology and technical areas My impression is that men in nursing donrsquot face any discriminationrdquo
Ed Ronnebaum assistant professor nursing JCCC echoes those sentiments
ldquoI have never faced discrimination at any timerdquo he said ldquoIt doesnrsquot matter if you are male or female as a nurse patient care is a team effortrdquo
For Ronnebaum however nursing is a career change After high school he
20 | Reconnect
served eight years of active duty as an Air Force aircraft mechanic then in the Air Guard in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm On his return Ronnebaum decided to rekindle his interest in anatomy and caring for sick people to become a nurse He started as a student nurse tech at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center Topeka earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Washburn University Topeka a masterrsquos of science in health care administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on a PhD in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City He teaches full time at JCCC and maintains his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves He has had one assignment as a critical care nurse in Iraq January through May 2007 Before entering academia he worked at KU Medical Center in medicalsurgery the burn unit and neurosurgery ICU
ldquoNursing is an exciting career and there is so much you can do with a nursing degree You can work in a hospital physicianrsquos office rehabilitation or long-term care facility nursing school or the militaryrdquo Ronnebaum said ldquoWith the growth in health care the sky is the limit for what you can do in nursingrdquo
ldquoMen balance the professionrdquo said Colleen Duggan JCCC nursing professor ldquoHaving men and women on the team makes for better collaboration on health care decisionsrdquo
Wayne Deines adjunct associate professor has a dual appointment with St Lukersquos South Hospital and JCCC He teaches JCCC students in clinicals two days a week at the hospital and one day a week at JCCC As an RN-III at St Lukersquos he works in the cardiovascular recovery unit Deines also came to nursing circuitously working as an EMT with the Consolidated Fire District 2 (Prairie Village) and paramedic with Johnson County Med-Act then earning his bachelorrsquos in nursing from KU School of Nursing A nurse for 18 years he worked in the military eight years and at St Lukersquos South for 10 Deines encourages men to enter nursing In fact his son is an operating room nurse at Childrenrsquos Mercy Hospital Kansas City Mo
JCCC has five male nursing faculty two full-time Ronnebaum and McNally and three part-time Deines Mark Foster and Kureo Ohta Eight male students graduated this spring out of a class of 71 In the practical nurse program there is one male adjunct faculty and three males out of 37 in the evening program due to graduate in December
JCCCrsquos male nursing students are gravitating to critical care upon graduation
ldquoGuys like critical care ndash ICU trauma and surgery I donrsquot know what thatrsquos all about but it seems to be naturalrdquo said student DJ Klinge
Students reiterate the fact that they feel no discrimination as males Sometimes an obstetrics patient prefers a female nurse but they donrsquot take offense They see it as a personal preference
ldquoYou have to be secure with yourself when you are a male nurserdquo said Jimmy Greenlee student
ldquoTwenty years ago guys in their 20s wouldnrsquot have thought about nursing as a career choice When people ask me if I am going to be a nurse I say lsquoAbsolutely There is nothing wrong with thatrsquordquo said Matt Munden who was determined to finish nursing school despite being readmitted to the RN program after a tour of duty in Iraq
Almost unanimously male faculty and students wish they had been introduced
Student Matt Munden assesses a heart rhythm under the instruction of Mark Foster (left) adjunct assistant professor nursing
to nursing as a career option earlier in life They recommend earning a CNA (a prerequisite to JCCCrsquos RN program) and working with patients before committing to the RN program
ldquoI got my CNA and really enjoyed it You help people who are truly dependent on you The CNA class pushed me into applying for nursing schoolrdquo said Jeff Middlesworth
ldquoJust getting your CNA lets you know if you are cut out for the job It lets you know whether you have the stomach for nursing or not and you learn rapport with patientsrdquo Greenlee said
So what would these young men say to other men thinking about a nursing career
ldquoLook into it and get your CNA If you have your head on straight and you are looking for a good career path I think it is well worth itrdquo Munden said ldquoIt was one of those things I didnrsquot really look at at first But this is the right decision for merdquo
ldquoEven in the recession the jobs in health care and nursing are still growingrdquo Middlesworth said
Greenlee says ldquoabsolutelyrdquo he is glad to have made the decision to be a nurse
ldquoI am not shy about being a male nurserdquo he said ldquoI am proud of itrdquo
Summer 2010 | 21
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
Journalism student media show news sense
JCCC journalism students show off a few of their many awards at the Headline Award ceremony in April 2010
The 2009-2010 academic year was a banner year for the JCCC journalism
and media communications department New video courses Advanced Video Production and Advanced Broadcast Performance were introduced as well as Digital Photojournalism designed for the multimedia needs of todayrsquos journalists The departmentrsquos foundation course Mass Media and Society became a general education elective for humanities credit in the spring 2010 semester for each of the collegersquos associatersquos degree programs
This past academic year more than 300 students completed classes in the journalism and media communications department and 10 students received scholarship money JCCC also continues to offer the largest media internship program in the Kansas City metro area providing students the opportunity to work in a professional environment
Beginning in fall 2010 students will be able to earn college credit with Basic Video Production in both the Blue Valley and Olathe high schools as part of JCCCrsquos College Now program
The departmentrsquos faculty includes two full-time professors Mark Raduziner department chair and Greg Harrell and adjunct faculty Gretchen Thum Julie Haas Joe Petrie Molly Baumgardner Corbin
Crable Joel Nichols and Mary Schulte
2010 was the seventh year for the Headline Award honoring local journalists whose example serves as an inspiration to student journalists at JCCC This yearrsquos honoree was Steve Kraske political correspondent for The Kansas City Star and host of Up to Date on KCURshyFM Kansas Cityrsquos public radio station
JCCCrsquos journalism and media communications department partners with Student Life and Leadership Development on two events In March the two departments sponsored People in the Media a panel of print and electronic media professionals who discussed the future of the industry In April the seventh annual Cavalier Film Festival honored student filmmakers from JCCC and Johnson County and Lawrence high schools in five categories Professionals in the Kansas City film and video industry judge entries and provide feedback
JCAV the student-produced TV news and magazine program took off this year with 10 JCAV news episodes seven JCAV Campus Updates and five Cavalier sports reports ndash live cable shows of sports events JCAV students won five 2010 Kansas Association of Broadcasters student awards while competing against all public and private colleges and universities in Kansas
Working in collaboration with the journalism and media communications department is Anne Christiansen-Bullers Student Life media coordinator and adviser to the student-produced radio station ECAV and JCCCrsquos student newspaper The Campus Ledger ECAV radio had its genesis in fall 2009 and will continue this year under radio station manager Marvita Oliver
The Campus Ledger was awarded the All-Kansas Award and a record 40 individual awards at the state conference sponsored by the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press Association
Judges awarded The Campus Ledger the gold medal for overall excellence and the All-Kansas Award reflecting the best of show in the two-year-school division
The newspaperrsquos Web site received a gold medal up from last yearrsquos bronze-medal distinction
The Campus Ledger editor-in-chief for 2009-10 was Matt Galloway The online editor was John Young Galloway won first runner-up in the Journalist of the Year contest sponsored by Kansas Associated Collegiate Press
Ondrej Pazdirek is the Campus Ledgerrsquos editor-in-chief for 2010-11
Summer 2010 | 19
Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing (left to right) Students Mickey Belcher Jimmy Lee and Jeff Middlesworth work in a patient simulation room with Mark Foster (blue lab coat) adjunct assistant professor nursing
Helping a patient or family member during a difficult time is the
primary satisfaction of being a nurse according to male nurses and male nursing students interviewed for this story
There are also practical reasons for being a nurse ndash the potential for good wages plentiful jobs and career diversity
So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
Jane Zaccardi director practical nursing and health occupations JCCC says the eulogized Florence Nightingale may be the reason Prior to the Crimean War men provided care in hospitals and battlefields and women in the home Nightingale brought the profession to women and subtly the job switched from one for men to one for women
JCCC in conjunction with Kansas Board of Regents is trying to reverse Nightingalersquos influence with two new Men in Nurses Training programs aimed at male high school students both of which were held in June The first was a nursing orientation summer camp for ninth and 10th grade students offered at no charge through grant funding The second MINT was a males-only
Certified Nurse Aide course for young men entering 11th and 12th grades Students who are employed as CNAs by a nursing facility within 12 months of the program can have their tuition reimbursed by their employer
With CNA certification students can earn a good salary and find a job right away according to Zaccardi or use the credentials to continue their education as a practical nurse then registered nurse
ldquoWe flat out donrsquot have enough nurses and we need to have men interested in the professionrdquo said Zaccardi whose statement is supported by a 2004 report from the American Nursing Association predicting 11 million job openings in the year 2020 ldquoWe are hoping through the MINT program men will select nursing as their first choice not as a career change in their 30s or 40srdquo
John McNally assistant professor nursing JCCC took exactly that career path At age 16 he got a job in his hometown hospital as what was then called an ldquoorderlyrdquo and worked part time at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center Topeka while earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Pittsburg State University
ldquoThe orderly positions now called CNA
were a convenient avenue to earn a paycheck while I was going to schoolrdquo McNally said
As an RN McNally worked at Stormont-Vail and North Kansas City Hospital earning a masterrsquos degree in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1996 In 2000 he decided to add computer skills to his reacutesumeacute and enrolled at JCCC where he moonlighted in the academic computer lab 30 hours a week When a nursing faculty position opened at JCCC he knew it was a good fit for him especially as health care technology increases
ldquoIn the hospitals where Irsquove worked there seem to be more males each yearrdquo McNally said ldquoWhile still a minority on the hospital floors men are likely to migrate to surgery radiology and technical areas My impression is that men in nursing donrsquot face any discriminationrdquo
Ed Ronnebaum assistant professor nursing JCCC echoes those sentiments
ldquoI have never faced discrimination at any timerdquo he said ldquoIt doesnrsquot matter if you are male or female as a nurse patient care is a team effortrdquo
For Ronnebaum however nursing is a career change After high school he
20 | Reconnect
served eight years of active duty as an Air Force aircraft mechanic then in the Air Guard in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm On his return Ronnebaum decided to rekindle his interest in anatomy and caring for sick people to become a nurse He started as a student nurse tech at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center Topeka earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Washburn University Topeka a masterrsquos of science in health care administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on a PhD in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City He teaches full time at JCCC and maintains his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves He has had one assignment as a critical care nurse in Iraq January through May 2007 Before entering academia he worked at KU Medical Center in medicalsurgery the burn unit and neurosurgery ICU
ldquoNursing is an exciting career and there is so much you can do with a nursing degree You can work in a hospital physicianrsquos office rehabilitation or long-term care facility nursing school or the militaryrdquo Ronnebaum said ldquoWith the growth in health care the sky is the limit for what you can do in nursingrdquo
ldquoMen balance the professionrdquo said Colleen Duggan JCCC nursing professor ldquoHaving men and women on the team makes for better collaboration on health care decisionsrdquo
Wayne Deines adjunct associate professor has a dual appointment with St Lukersquos South Hospital and JCCC He teaches JCCC students in clinicals two days a week at the hospital and one day a week at JCCC As an RN-III at St Lukersquos he works in the cardiovascular recovery unit Deines also came to nursing circuitously working as an EMT with the Consolidated Fire District 2 (Prairie Village) and paramedic with Johnson County Med-Act then earning his bachelorrsquos in nursing from KU School of Nursing A nurse for 18 years he worked in the military eight years and at St Lukersquos South for 10 Deines encourages men to enter nursing In fact his son is an operating room nurse at Childrenrsquos Mercy Hospital Kansas City Mo
JCCC has five male nursing faculty two full-time Ronnebaum and McNally and three part-time Deines Mark Foster and Kureo Ohta Eight male students graduated this spring out of a class of 71 In the practical nurse program there is one male adjunct faculty and three males out of 37 in the evening program due to graduate in December
JCCCrsquos male nursing students are gravitating to critical care upon graduation
ldquoGuys like critical care ndash ICU trauma and surgery I donrsquot know what thatrsquos all about but it seems to be naturalrdquo said student DJ Klinge
Students reiterate the fact that they feel no discrimination as males Sometimes an obstetrics patient prefers a female nurse but they donrsquot take offense They see it as a personal preference
ldquoYou have to be secure with yourself when you are a male nurserdquo said Jimmy Greenlee student
ldquoTwenty years ago guys in their 20s wouldnrsquot have thought about nursing as a career choice When people ask me if I am going to be a nurse I say lsquoAbsolutely There is nothing wrong with thatrsquordquo said Matt Munden who was determined to finish nursing school despite being readmitted to the RN program after a tour of duty in Iraq
Almost unanimously male faculty and students wish they had been introduced
Student Matt Munden assesses a heart rhythm under the instruction of Mark Foster (left) adjunct assistant professor nursing
to nursing as a career option earlier in life They recommend earning a CNA (a prerequisite to JCCCrsquos RN program) and working with patients before committing to the RN program
ldquoI got my CNA and really enjoyed it You help people who are truly dependent on you The CNA class pushed me into applying for nursing schoolrdquo said Jeff Middlesworth
ldquoJust getting your CNA lets you know if you are cut out for the job It lets you know whether you have the stomach for nursing or not and you learn rapport with patientsrdquo Greenlee said
So what would these young men say to other men thinking about a nursing career
ldquoLook into it and get your CNA If you have your head on straight and you are looking for a good career path I think it is well worth itrdquo Munden said ldquoIt was one of those things I didnrsquot really look at at first But this is the right decision for merdquo
ldquoEven in the recession the jobs in health care and nursing are still growingrdquo Middlesworth said
Greenlee says ldquoabsolutelyrdquo he is glad to have made the decision to be a nurse
ldquoI am not shy about being a male nurserdquo he said ldquoI am proud of itrdquo
Summer 2010 | 21
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
Men find satisfaction good jobs in nursing (left to right) Students Mickey Belcher Jimmy Lee and Jeff Middlesworth work in a patient simulation room with Mark Foster (blue lab coat) adjunct assistant professor nursing
Helping a patient or family member during a difficult time is the
primary satisfaction of being a nurse according to male nurses and male nursing students interviewed for this story
There are also practical reasons for being a nurse ndash the potential for good wages plentiful jobs and career diversity
So why do males comprise only 58 percent of US registered nurses 7 percent in Kansas
Jane Zaccardi director practical nursing and health occupations JCCC says the eulogized Florence Nightingale may be the reason Prior to the Crimean War men provided care in hospitals and battlefields and women in the home Nightingale brought the profession to women and subtly the job switched from one for men to one for women
JCCC in conjunction with Kansas Board of Regents is trying to reverse Nightingalersquos influence with two new Men in Nurses Training programs aimed at male high school students both of which were held in June The first was a nursing orientation summer camp for ninth and 10th grade students offered at no charge through grant funding The second MINT was a males-only
Certified Nurse Aide course for young men entering 11th and 12th grades Students who are employed as CNAs by a nursing facility within 12 months of the program can have their tuition reimbursed by their employer
With CNA certification students can earn a good salary and find a job right away according to Zaccardi or use the credentials to continue their education as a practical nurse then registered nurse
ldquoWe flat out donrsquot have enough nurses and we need to have men interested in the professionrdquo said Zaccardi whose statement is supported by a 2004 report from the American Nursing Association predicting 11 million job openings in the year 2020 ldquoWe are hoping through the MINT program men will select nursing as their first choice not as a career change in their 30s or 40srdquo
John McNally assistant professor nursing JCCC took exactly that career path At age 16 he got a job in his hometown hospital as what was then called an ldquoorderlyrdquo and worked part time at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center Topeka while earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Pittsburg State University
ldquoThe orderly positions now called CNA
were a convenient avenue to earn a paycheck while I was going to schoolrdquo McNally said
As an RN McNally worked at Stormont-Vail and North Kansas City Hospital earning a masterrsquos degree in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1996 In 2000 he decided to add computer skills to his reacutesumeacute and enrolled at JCCC where he moonlighted in the academic computer lab 30 hours a week When a nursing faculty position opened at JCCC he knew it was a good fit for him especially as health care technology increases
ldquoIn the hospitals where Irsquove worked there seem to be more males each yearrdquo McNally said ldquoWhile still a minority on the hospital floors men are likely to migrate to surgery radiology and technical areas My impression is that men in nursing donrsquot face any discriminationrdquo
Ed Ronnebaum assistant professor nursing JCCC echoes those sentiments
ldquoI have never faced discrimination at any timerdquo he said ldquoIt doesnrsquot matter if you are male or female as a nurse patient care is a team effortrdquo
For Ronnebaum however nursing is a career change After high school he
20 | Reconnect
served eight years of active duty as an Air Force aircraft mechanic then in the Air Guard in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm On his return Ronnebaum decided to rekindle his interest in anatomy and caring for sick people to become a nurse He started as a student nurse tech at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center Topeka earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Washburn University Topeka a masterrsquos of science in health care administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on a PhD in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City He teaches full time at JCCC and maintains his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves He has had one assignment as a critical care nurse in Iraq January through May 2007 Before entering academia he worked at KU Medical Center in medicalsurgery the burn unit and neurosurgery ICU
ldquoNursing is an exciting career and there is so much you can do with a nursing degree You can work in a hospital physicianrsquos office rehabilitation or long-term care facility nursing school or the militaryrdquo Ronnebaum said ldquoWith the growth in health care the sky is the limit for what you can do in nursingrdquo
ldquoMen balance the professionrdquo said Colleen Duggan JCCC nursing professor ldquoHaving men and women on the team makes for better collaboration on health care decisionsrdquo
Wayne Deines adjunct associate professor has a dual appointment with St Lukersquos South Hospital and JCCC He teaches JCCC students in clinicals two days a week at the hospital and one day a week at JCCC As an RN-III at St Lukersquos he works in the cardiovascular recovery unit Deines also came to nursing circuitously working as an EMT with the Consolidated Fire District 2 (Prairie Village) and paramedic with Johnson County Med-Act then earning his bachelorrsquos in nursing from KU School of Nursing A nurse for 18 years he worked in the military eight years and at St Lukersquos South for 10 Deines encourages men to enter nursing In fact his son is an operating room nurse at Childrenrsquos Mercy Hospital Kansas City Mo
JCCC has five male nursing faculty two full-time Ronnebaum and McNally and three part-time Deines Mark Foster and Kureo Ohta Eight male students graduated this spring out of a class of 71 In the practical nurse program there is one male adjunct faculty and three males out of 37 in the evening program due to graduate in December
JCCCrsquos male nursing students are gravitating to critical care upon graduation
ldquoGuys like critical care ndash ICU trauma and surgery I donrsquot know what thatrsquos all about but it seems to be naturalrdquo said student DJ Klinge
Students reiterate the fact that they feel no discrimination as males Sometimes an obstetrics patient prefers a female nurse but they donrsquot take offense They see it as a personal preference
ldquoYou have to be secure with yourself when you are a male nurserdquo said Jimmy Greenlee student
ldquoTwenty years ago guys in their 20s wouldnrsquot have thought about nursing as a career choice When people ask me if I am going to be a nurse I say lsquoAbsolutely There is nothing wrong with thatrsquordquo said Matt Munden who was determined to finish nursing school despite being readmitted to the RN program after a tour of duty in Iraq
Almost unanimously male faculty and students wish they had been introduced
Student Matt Munden assesses a heart rhythm under the instruction of Mark Foster (left) adjunct assistant professor nursing
to nursing as a career option earlier in life They recommend earning a CNA (a prerequisite to JCCCrsquos RN program) and working with patients before committing to the RN program
ldquoI got my CNA and really enjoyed it You help people who are truly dependent on you The CNA class pushed me into applying for nursing schoolrdquo said Jeff Middlesworth
ldquoJust getting your CNA lets you know if you are cut out for the job It lets you know whether you have the stomach for nursing or not and you learn rapport with patientsrdquo Greenlee said
So what would these young men say to other men thinking about a nursing career
ldquoLook into it and get your CNA If you have your head on straight and you are looking for a good career path I think it is well worth itrdquo Munden said ldquoIt was one of those things I didnrsquot really look at at first But this is the right decision for merdquo
ldquoEven in the recession the jobs in health care and nursing are still growingrdquo Middlesworth said
Greenlee says ldquoabsolutelyrdquo he is glad to have made the decision to be a nurse
ldquoI am not shy about being a male nurserdquo he said ldquoI am proud of itrdquo
Summer 2010 | 21
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
served eight years of active duty as an Air Force aircraft mechanic then in the Air Guard in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm On his return Ronnebaum decided to rekindle his interest in anatomy and caring for sick people to become a nurse He started as a student nurse tech at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center Topeka earning his bachelorrsquos degree in nursing from Washburn University Topeka a masterrsquos of science in health care administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on a PhD in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City He teaches full time at JCCC and maintains his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves He has had one assignment as a critical care nurse in Iraq January through May 2007 Before entering academia he worked at KU Medical Center in medicalsurgery the burn unit and neurosurgery ICU
ldquoNursing is an exciting career and there is so much you can do with a nursing degree You can work in a hospital physicianrsquos office rehabilitation or long-term care facility nursing school or the militaryrdquo Ronnebaum said ldquoWith the growth in health care the sky is the limit for what you can do in nursingrdquo
ldquoMen balance the professionrdquo said Colleen Duggan JCCC nursing professor ldquoHaving men and women on the team makes for better collaboration on health care decisionsrdquo
Wayne Deines adjunct associate professor has a dual appointment with St Lukersquos South Hospital and JCCC He teaches JCCC students in clinicals two days a week at the hospital and one day a week at JCCC As an RN-III at St Lukersquos he works in the cardiovascular recovery unit Deines also came to nursing circuitously working as an EMT with the Consolidated Fire District 2 (Prairie Village) and paramedic with Johnson County Med-Act then earning his bachelorrsquos in nursing from KU School of Nursing A nurse for 18 years he worked in the military eight years and at St Lukersquos South for 10 Deines encourages men to enter nursing In fact his son is an operating room nurse at Childrenrsquos Mercy Hospital Kansas City Mo
JCCC has five male nursing faculty two full-time Ronnebaum and McNally and three part-time Deines Mark Foster and Kureo Ohta Eight male students graduated this spring out of a class of 71 In the practical nurse program there is one male adjunct faculty and three males out of 37 in the evening program due to graduate in December
JCCCrsquos male nursing students are gravitating to critical care upon graduation
ldquoGuys like critical care ndash ICU trauma and surgery I donrsquot know what thatrsquos all about but it seems to be naturalrdquo said student DJ Klinge
Students reiterate the fact that they feel no discrimination as males Sometimes an obstetrics patient prefers a female nurse but they donrsquot take offense They see it as a personal preference
ldquoYou have to be secure with yourself when you are a male nurserdquo said Jimmy Greenlee student
ldquoTwenty years ago guys in their 20s wouldnrsquot have thought about nursing as a career choice When people ask me if I am going to be a nurse I say lsquoAbsolutely There is nothing wrong with thatrsquordquo said Matt Munden who was determined to finish nursing school despite being readmitted to the RN program after a tour of duty in Iraq
Almost unanimously male faculty and students wish they had been introduced
Student Matt Munden assesses a heart rhythm under the instruction of Mark Foster (left) adjunct assistant professor nursing
to nursing as a career option earlier in life They recommend earning a CNA (a prerequisite to JCCCrsquos RN program) and working with patients before committing to the RN program
ldquoI got my CNA and really enjoyed it You help people who are truly dependent on you The CNA class pushed me into applying for nursing schoolrdquo said Jeff Middlesworth
ldquoJust getting your CNA lets you know if you are cut out for the job It lets you know whether you have the stomach for nursing or not and you learn rapport with patientsrdquo Greenlee said
So what would these young men say to other men thinking about a nursing career
ldquoLook into it and get your CNA If you have your head on straight and you are looking for a good career path I think it is well worth itrdquo Munden said ldquoIt was one of those things I didnrsquot really look at at first But this is the right decision for merdquo
ldquoEven in the recession the jobs in health care and nursing are still growingrdquo Middlesworth said
Greenlee says ldquoabsolutelyrdquo he is glad to have made the decision to be a nurse
ldquoI am not shy about being a male nurserdquo he said ldquoI am proud of itrdquo
Summer 2010 | 21
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
Auction Raises Dollars for Scholars In April 2010 the Dollars for Scholars auction earned more than $51000 in net profits More than 200 volunteers
including students friends alumni faculty and staff helped raise funds to support 31 scholarships and programs Sandy Price served as honorary chair for the event
Jenni Meyer auctioneer Shane Maxwell and Emily Behrmann
Marlene and Terry Calaway JCCC president Congressman Dennis Moore and his wife Stephene
22 | Reconnect
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
Honorary Chair Sandy Price JCCC Foundation president Jay Nadlman legal studies faculty
JCCC alumnus and chairman of the board of trustees Jon Stewart JCCC students get into the spirit
A guest and JCCC Foundationrsquos Jenni Meyer admire the auction items Shirly Kleiner JCCC accounting professor and Judy Korb JCCC executive vice president human resources and Workforce Community and Economic Development
Summer 2010 | 23
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
New dental hygiene clinicputs a smile on studentsstaff and clients
Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene stands in the new dental clinic which opened in fall 2009 A 3341-square-foot addition to the dental hygiene clinic and remodeled faculty offices across the hall corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo
The dental hygiene program at Johnson County Community
College has a distinguished history of education dating to 1972 service to the community at its JCCC clinic and outreach sites and 100 percent employment in an occupation that continues to be in demand
Opening in the fall 2009 semester the 6293-square-foot dental hygiene clinic corrects what is known in the dental world as ldquoovercrowdingrdquo Located on the second floor of the southeast corner of the Science Building the expanded dental hygiene clinic allows for an increased enrollment of students from 26 to 30 room for more patient chairs and
equipment greater space for charts and student computer work new locker rooms and an ADA-compliant darkroom for students
Impressive Yes So is the cosmetic re-do
Walking into the new 16-chair operatory on a summer day is like entering a treehouse Windows on three sides give a vista of green trees sure to prove calming for patients with dental-chair jitters
The previous dental clinic had 13 chairs divided into two areas The new open area has 16 chairs with every two sharing an X-ray machine This is a real advantage to patients who before had to
move to an X-ray station sign up for an X-ray and wait their turn The new clinic adds nine more X-ray machines
A much larger records room will allow space for students to make patient appointments complete paperwork and use computers to research information like patientsrsquo medications
Another big change is a centrally located dispensary for used supplies and a separate room for sterilization decreasing the chance for contamination and accessible from two sides
JCCC has always kept up with dental hygiene technology Students use digital X-rays ultrasonic scalers panoramic
24 | Reconnect
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
full-mouth X-rays and an intra-oral cameravideo that can be projected on a computer screen Digital recordings can be printed and placed in the patientsrsquo charts or e-mailed to a dentist or dental school for further consultation
Previously the clinic only had three X-ray machines There is now a lab space where first-year students can practice with an X-ray machine while the other units are in use for patients The clinic keeps a darkroom for training on film X-rays still in use by some dentist offices
While JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program is equipped with the latest technology Margaret LoGiudice director dental hygiene says it is studentsrsquo education in treatment protocol that puts them at the front of the line for employment
ldquoOur students are experienced and confident in evidence-based treatment protocol because of the education they receive hererdquo LoGiudice said
A second precept that has not changed with advanced technology is teaching students to educate patients about managing their own oral health care
JCCCrsquos dental hygiene program adheres to a philosophy of volunteerism with students staff and alumni giving their time to underinsured and uninsured adults and children at community sites and in Las Pintas Mexico In spring 2009 the dental hygiene program received the first-ever Faculty Award for Leadership in Service-Learning awarded to an entire program
The new addition adds 3341 square feet to the clinic
For more information about JCCCrsquos dental hygiene clinic call 913-469-3808
Story by Linda Friedel
On the first day in the new clinic dental hygiene professor Polly Pope checks the work of second-year student Tonya Ramsey
Summer 2010 | 25
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
PSTC offers classes bytop lawenforcement professionals
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy has been housed on the JCCC campus since 1972 And because
police officers in Kansas are required to earn 40 hours of continuing education each year it made perfect sense for a Public Safety Training Center which offers CEUs to sworn police officers and other public safety officers to locate at the Police Academy which it did on Aug 1 2008
PSTC program director Larry Able visited about 70 law enforcement agencies to research the types of classes needed by the profession in 2005 in advance of the Centerrsquos formal establishment PSTC registration has grown steadily from 700 registrants in 2006-2007 to 1100 in 2007-2008 to 1300 in 2008-2009
Nineteen local law enforcement agencies including the Johnson County Sheriffrsquos Office and most of the countyrsquos city police departments have signed up as PSTC members allowing reduced fees per class Currently 60 to 80 classes per year are offered varying from two to 40 hours Local and national experts serve as presenters
JCCC is able to offer a range of affordable quality classes ndash everything from new Kansas laws presented by the Johnson County District Attorneyrsquos Office to TASER certification recertification In turn local police officers can obtain their CEUs without overnight travel expenses or excessive time away from work
However the big winner in this program is the public as citizensrsquo safety and rights are ensured through professional standards of law enforcement
In a letter to Able Chief Ellen Hanson Lenexa Police Department wrote ldquoYou are providing a great service to area law enforcement agencies in a number of ways One of the most important is that you are able to bring in speakers with national reputations who offer first-class and timely training Most area agencies cannot afford to send many officers out of town and certainly could not sponsor this caliber of speaker on their own
ldquoA byproduct that is not as obvious is the service you provide to the citizens of Johnson County By helping ensure that
As a sworn JCCC Police Officer Larry Able PSTC program director knows the law enforcement field
officers are well-trained kept current on new laws technology and trends and exposed to some of the top people in law enforcement you are helping to provide the high quality of police service that this county has come to expectrdquo
Able credits the success of the PSTC to the law enforcement chiefs who have embraced and supported the program
ldquoWe have top-flight law enforcement agencies in this county and most of them provide their officers with even more than the 40 CEUs required by the staterdquo Able said
The PSTCrsquos list of national speakers has included John Giduck Archangel Grouprsquos senior consultant and instructor who arrived at Beslan Middle School No 1 in North Ossetia Russia at the conclusion of the battle by Russian Special Forces to retake the school Ret Lt Col Dave Grossman an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing and Ret Lt Col Danny McKnight portrayed by actor Tom Sizemore in the film Black Hawk Down
The PSTC also offers recertification for Emergency Medical Technicians and the Fire Service entrance exams Classes for the fall semester are listed at the PSTC Web site httpwwwjccceduhomedepts1415 For more information on classes call Able at 913-469-8500 ext 3988 To enroll call 913-469-2323
26 | Reconnect
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
(left to right) Adam Seitz Anthony Magliano Brandon Wilson
JCCC graduates rising to the top in interactive design Three graduates of JCCCrsquos
communication designgraphic design program sit for an interview on the 16th floor of Bernstein-Rein Advertising with windows that afford a 180-degree view of the Plaza Just 10 years from graduating with their associatersquos degrees Anthony Magliano is the interactive team leader and Brandon Wilson and Adam Seitz are senior interactive art directors with Bernstein-Rein one of the top three advertising agencies in Kansas City and one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the United States Clients include McDonaldrsquos Beauty Brands Hostess Brands PetSmart and Farmland
Besides compiling portfolios that include national ADDY Awards Yahoorsquos ldquoBig Idea ChairrdquoAward that recognizes outstanding work in interactive media and an international Webby Award honoring excellence on the Internet the three go to work every day and find passion in the creativity of their chosen field In fact this young breed of graphic design professionals are defining and growing the field constantly adding new elements of technology and design
ldquoOur team creates an interactive experience for our clients through social media Web design sound design and motion graphicsrdquo Magliano said
The three credit JCCC for a solid foundation in graphic and interactive design providing necessary equipment peer review workshops and faculty who add real-world experience (The interactive design associatersquos degree became available in 2003)
ldquoThe program brings in adjunct teachers who give students exposure to the many directions you can take in graphic design whether it is interactive media writing photography or art While the field is all creative the JCCC program allows you to get a feel for what direction you want to gordquo Wilson said
ldquoThe classes were incredible JCCC provided a really strong visual arts background that we have been able to apply to everything else we do a field which is constantly evolvingrdquo Magliano said
In interactive design you prove yourself by your portfolio and projects Itrsquos also about keeping up with your area of expertise like motion graphics and animation by absorbing inspiration on blogs YouTube and Twitter and keeping up with the latest technology
ldquoWe are forging a new path every day at work We watch the leading trends and indicators but we try to invent our own pathsrdquo Seitz said
Magliano joined Bernstein-Rein in 2002 He then recruited Wilson and Seitz to his interactive team plus another JCCC graduate Derek Badksy He also recruited JCCC alum Nathaniel Cooper senior designerart director Bernstein-Rein
The group believes jobs are out there for new graduates with smaller design shops popping up and in-house opportunities
ldquoThe Kansas City creative community is really strong and buildingrdquo Magliano said ldquoJust because there are so many more ways and methods of advertising today there is more work availablerdquo
Their advice to aspiring graphic design artists is to build your portfolio attend AIGA Kansas City meetings go to First Fridays see what else is out there and find a job entry-point through an internship
ldquoI remind students that there is life after schoolrdquo Seitz said ldquoThe more you push yourself the stronger person yoursquoll be When you are out there trying to sell yourself and your work remember someone is buying your body of work and also your personality and approach to doing things Itrsquos important to differentiate yourselfrdquo
As a team the members play off of each otherrsquos strengths and ideas Wilson says they put aside individual egos and work by collaboration in a ldquowalls-down type of environment that harbors creativity and good ideasrdquo For each of them interactive design has been a good career choice although they came to it circuitously by way of everything from music to snowboarding
ldquoIt is really rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day to visually see what yoursquove worked hard to achieverdquo Magliano said ldquoIt is even more rewarding when the client is happy about it and analytics show the work is effective for the clientrsquos businessrdquo
Wilson enjoys the challenge of thinking through a clientrsquos problem and finding a way to help a company spread its message or sell its product For Seitz the gratification is about solving problems with a creative twist and finding each dayrsquos work unique
Summer 2010 | 27
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni
Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210-1299
wwwjcccedualumni
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID Johnson County
Community College
Letrsquos Reconnect JCCC wants to reconnect with you ndash our JCCC alumni To do
that yoursquoll receive this magazine ndash Reconnect ndash two times a year Reconnect will tell you about some of the things that have been happening at JCCC things that make Johnson County Community College such a vital part of the community
In turn we want to find out how your start at JCCC made a difference in your life Yoursquore a part of one of the most outstanding community colleges in the country We want to know what yoursquove been doing
To reconnect with JCCC contact JCCC Foundation 913-469-3835
or send us an e-mail alumnijcccedu
Log in to wwwjcccedualumni to see whatrsquos happening on campus
Find us on Facebook to reconnect with JCCC students and alumni