Partners in healthcare education & training

Pictured from left to right are MC President Dr. Steve Thomas, Midland Memorial Hospital President/CEO Russell Meyers, Marie Hall, Texas Tech University Chancellor Kent Hance and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center President Dr. Tedd Mitchell.

By Rebecca Bell
Dean of Community Relations and Special Events

It looks like a hospital; it sounds like a hospital; it even smells like a hospital. It’s the F. Marie Hall SimLife Center at Midland College!

A little over a year ago, the state-of-the-art facility was just a dream of MC health sciences faculty. Now, thanks to the generosity of Midland philanthropist F. Marie Hall, the dream is a reality! The Center not only supports interdisciplinary teaching and learning for MC students, but also serves as a training site for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Midland Memorial Hospital employees.

Lea Keesee, director of the F. Marie Hall SimLife Center at Midland College, stated, “Ultimately the residents of West Texas are the beneficiaries of Miss Hall’s generous gift. Students trained in the Center will become the professionals who administer healthcare to all of us. What makes this donation so special is the fact that all West Texans benefit!”

Once a Chap, always a Chap!

Tatum Guinn in the KOSA-TV/CBS7 newsroom at Music City Mall

By Rebecca Bell
Dean of Community Relations and Special Events

“During my first journalism class at Midland College, I realized that I love telling stories about how everyday events affect people,” said KOSA CBS7 reporter Tatum Guinn.

“I really came ‘into my own’ at MC,” she explained.  “I graduated from Midland Christian School in 2008, and there were only 93 people in my graduating class.  The thought of going to a big school was intimidating, to say the least.  Plus, I had the opportunity to attend MC on the Legacy Scholarship.  The minute I walked on the MC campus, I loved it!”

It wasn’t long before Guinn joined the staff of El Paisano, MC’s student newspaper, and tried out for and successfully made the cheerleading squad.

Guinn laughed when she said, “I found that I like the adrenaline rush of getting in front of a crowd—just like I now enjoy being in front of the camera.”

The 22-year-old Midland native first began working at CBS7 in May 2011 as a student intern in order to fulfill college credit requirements for her communications degree at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB).  The news department immediately took notice of her superior news writing abilities.  So, in August, when the station wanted to initiate a 4:30 p.m. newscast, Guinn was offered the position as producer.  She teamed with long-time news anchor Mike Barker to develop a unique approach to an early evening news program.  It wasn’t long before Guinn was ready for another challenge, and so CBS7 promoted her to reporter.

She said that she feels very fortunate to be able to begin her professional career in the Permian Basin.  During her last semester at MC, Guinn had made up her mind to transfer to Texas State University in San Marcos and tryout for cheerleader.  However, a week before tryouts in early May, she broke her foot.

Guinn said, “At the time I was devastated—not because I couldn’t try out for cheerleader, but because of all things to break, it had to be my foot.   I’m all about shoes.  When I graduated from MC, I had to walk across the stage with crutches wearing a bedazzled boot on one foot and a Converse sneaker on the other!”

After completing MC on the Legacy Scholarship, she received the Abell-Hanger Foundation Education Continuance Scholarship, which is awarded to MC graduates and pays up to $6,250 per semester for upper-level college courses.

“As it turned out, that broken foot was a blessing in disguise,” said Guinn.  “I was able to stay at home and land this fantastic job at KOSA!  And thanks to great opportunities provided by Midland College and the Midland community, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree totally debt-free!”

She continued, “My motto is to find something you’re good at and do it — my experiences at MC taught me that.  I still consider myself a Chap, and I always will be!”           

Three More Midland College Student-Athletes Ink with Universities

By Forrest AllenMC Athletic Director

Three more Midland College sophomores have inked national letters of intent to continue their careers at four-year Universities. Danesa Long (Long Beach, CA) and Ornela Bacchini (Buenos Aires, Argentina) of Lady Chap basketball and Sarah Sawyer (Odessa, TX) Lady Chap Volleyball.

Long and Sawyer have signed with NCAA Division I Universities, San Diego State University and Tennessee State University respectively while Bacchini will transfer to Lewis-Clark State College (ID) of the NAIA.

Danesha Long, SO
Long Beach, CA
5'9" Guard
Next: San Diego State University (NCAA Division I, Mountain West Conference)

As a two-year starter for Coach Ron Jones and the Lady Chaps, Long was a two-time All-WJCAC (MVP in 2011) and NJCAA All-Region V selection as well as being named to the 2010-11 NJCAA All-America team as an Honorable Mention selection. In her two seasons at Midland College Long averaged 11.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 62 games. During her time at MC, Long helped guide the Lady Chaps to a combined 50-14 including two post season appearances.

"Danesha is what I call a zero maintenance player," Midland College head coach Ron Jones said. "She comes to work every day and has great passion for the sport. Its rare that your best player works the hardest. Its very refreshing. Danesha is a high energy, very athletic player. She does everything well and is a fantastic teammate. San Diego State got a good one in Danesha."

Sarah Sawyer, SO
Odessa, TX
6'2" Middle Blocker
Next: Tennessee State University (NCAA Division I, Ohio Valley Conference)

Sarah Sawyer is a graduate of Odessa High School and was two-year starter for the Lady Chap volleyball team. In her two seasons Sawyer played in a total of 221 games (73 matches) with the Lady Chaps going 54-19 overall and 17-3 in the WJCAC. Sawyer averaged 1.67 kills and .860 blocks per contest with a .300 attack percentage.

In 2010 Sawyer helped led the team to a 36-6 record including the WJCAC Co-Championship, the NJCAA Region V-West Title and an appearance in the 2010 NJCAA Division I Volleyball Championship where they posted a 2-2 record. As a sophomore Sawyer and the Lady Chaps went 18-13, repeated as the WJCAC Champs and advanced to the Region V-West finals.

"Sarah brought leadership and enthusiasm on the court and she was one of our "go-to" kids. I think at Tennessee State they're going to look for her to be a "go-to" starting middle (blocker). She has a lot of work to do, but she's going to do well and the coach is excited about her and Sarah is excited to be at a new place, away from home and seems eager to get started", said Midland College head coach Tammie Jimenez. "Sarah is a great person and an exceptional student.

Jimenez also feels that Sarah will be successful as a student-athlete, but also in her academic goals. "She's (Sawyer) is majoring in pre-veterinary medicine/animal science and has her work cut out for her as far as academics go, but that's never going to be her struggle because she's such a great student."

Ornela Bacchini, SO
Buenos Aires, Argentina
6'2" Post
Next: Lewis-Clark State College (NAIA, Frontier Conference)

Midland College post player Ornela Bacchini played in 60 games over her two year Midland College career. She averaged 5.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game for the Lady Chaps. Although not a highly decorated player for the Lady Chaps, her play was an integral component in the team's overall success over the past two years.

In her two years at MC the team went 50-14 including an appearance in the 2011 and 2012 NJCAA Region V Basketball Tournaments. The team advanced to the Region V finals in 2011.

Midland College partners with local artist to offer glass fusing class

MC Community Programs Continuing Education Department offers new courses taught by Leslie Slaughter of Art Glass Creations

Rebecca C. Bell
Dean, Community Relations & Special Events
 

“The beauty of glass has always held a fascination for me — from the drama of a church stained glass window to fantastic blown glass in galleries,” said Leslie Slaughter, who was a portrait and sculpture artist for 17 years and is now focusing on glass fusing. Slaughter is owner and principal artist of Glass Art Creations in Midland and will be teaching glass fusing courses at Midland College this summer.

Slaughter’s website is www.glasscreationgallery.com

The first course, Glass Fusing, Introduction, is a fundamental overview of the history, development and usage of glass fusing. This course will cover safety requirements, the science of the kiln’s role and materials usage. The course meets 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Monday and Thursday evenings, June 4-21, and students will work on three projects during this time. Course fee is $250 plus a $15 supply fee.

The second course, Glass Fusing I, is a more in-depth class with six projects using various forms of glass and their design and application options. The class meets on Monday evenings June 25-July 30 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Course fee is $250 plus a $60 supply fee.

To register or obtain more information, contact Brenda Cordero or Ashley Garrett at (432) 685-4518 or www.midland.edu/cpce

U. S. Department of Education awards $1.25 million grant to Midland College

MC Upward Bound program receives continuance grant

Rebecca C. Bell
Dean, Community Relations & Special Events
 

The Midland College Upward Bound (UB) program provides opportunities for high school students to succeed in precollege performance and ultimately in higher education pursuits. UB serves young people from low-income families and those from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree. The goal of the program is to increase the rate at which participants complete high school and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education.

Midland College was recently notified that the U. S. Department of Education has awarded the program another $250,000 for the 2012-2013 school year, and if all requirements are met at the end that program year, MC will receive an additional $250,000 each year for the following four years. In order to continue to receive funding, the program must meet the following approved objectives each year:80% of participants served during the project year will have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better on a four-point scale at the end of the school year. 85% of UB seniors served during the project year will have achieved at the proficient level on state assessments in reading/language arts and math.

85% of project participants served during the project year will continue in school for the next academic year, at the next grade level, or will have graduated from secondary school with a regular secondary school diploma. 75% of all current and prior year UB participants, who at the time of entrance into the project had an expected high school graduation date in the school year, will complete a rigorous secondary school program of study and graduate in that school year with a regular secondary school diploma.

70% of all current and prior UB participants, who at the time of entrance into the project had an expected high school graduation date in the school year, will enroll in a program of postsecondary education by the fall term immediately following high school graduation or will have received notification, by the fall term immediately following high school, from an institution of higher education, of acceptance but deferred enrollment until the next academic semester (e.g. spring semester). 50% of participants who enrolled in a program of postsecondary education, by the fall term immediately following high school graduation or by the next academic term (e.g. spring term) as a result of acceptance by deferred enrollment, will attain either an associate's or bachelor's degree within six years following graduation from high school.

“We plan to achieve these objectives by providing support services such as, weekly academic advising, supplemental instruction in core subjects, tutoring, study skills seminars, college visits, weekend and summer academic program and postsecondary monitoring of high school graduates,” noted Midland College Upward Bound Director Pervis Evans. “Even though our goals for the years to come are ambitious, I am confident that they are attainable based upon past success and the high level of support and commitment the program has from Midland College, Midland ISD and other community partners.”

Midland College first received funding for Upward Bound in 1999, and for the past 13 years has held tremendous success with its objectives. The program serves approximately 50 ninth- through twelfth-grade MISD students each year with the purpose of encouraging these students to remain in high school and then enroll in college. The MC program currently boasts 100 percent pass rate on the high school TAKS test among the UB students, and 94 percent of the past participants have enrolled in college.

Evans said, “It’s all about giving students opportunities and empowering them. Many of our participants have enormous personal and family obstacles to overcome. I’ve found that if we listen, the students eventually will open up to us; if we can find out their challenges, we can help them academically.”

For more information contact Midland College Upward Bound Director Pervis Evans at (432) 686-4221 or pevans@midland.edu Further information about Midland College’s Upward Bound program can be found at www.midland.edu/upwardbound

MC student in Virtual Choir heard ‘round the world!'

By Lesley Isaacs
Media Specialist

Brenda Aguirre, born and raised in Midland, TX, knew she wanted to sing since she was five years old. Brenda has been participating in choirs since 7th grade, including school choirs and church choirs. Throughout her life, Brenda has been a choir officer, participated in Solo/Ensemble Contests, All-Region Choirs, UIL Contests, All-State Choir and has performed in Washington, D.C. with her high school choir. Today, Brenda is a student at Midland College, and she participates in the St. Stephen’s Church Choir, Midland-Odessa Symphony & Chorale, the Midland College Chaparral Singers and is a scholarship singer at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Recently, Brenda auditioned and was selected for a one-of-a-kind experience, the Virtual Choir.

The Virtual Choir is a choir composed of recorded voice parts played at one time. Each person in the choir creates an individual recording of their assigned part (soprano, alto, tenor or bass). The videos are then put into one track with accompaniment, which allows all voices and accompaniment to be played at the same time creating one singular song.

The first Virtual Choir experiment was a video called “Lux Arumque,” created by Eric Whitacre. Eric Whitacre is a renowned composer, conductor and lecturer. After Brenda saw the first video, she knew immediately that she wanted to participate. When Mr. Whitacre posted information on auditions for Virtual Choir 3, Brenda was determined to be in it.

Brenda said, “I recorded myself singing using my iPhone about 7 times. It was a real struggle for me because of the many distracting sounds that interfered with my video. For example, toward the end of my second attempt in recording, I was confident that the sound was good until my young nephew walked in to ask me a question.” Once Brenda had her video recorded, she sent it in with fingers crossed hoping to be selected. A couple of months after submitting her audition recording, she received an invitation to attend the launching of the video in New York.

“Only those who participated in the Virtual Choir 3 received the email, which meant I had made it,” said Brenda. Virtual Choir 3 is using the song “Water Night,” and is composed of 3,746 videos uploaded from 2,945 singers from 73 countries singing one or more parts. “Water Night” is a 14-part piece of music based on a poem written by Octavio Paz.

The Virtual Choir 3 video was used to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the loss of Titanic. On April 14th, the video was heard in Titanic Belfast, an iconic new Visitor Centre located in the heart of Belfast, Ireland. The Centre is dedicated to the birthplace of the Titanic.

According to the website of Eric Whitacre, the creator of Virtual Choir, “Following the celebrations around the opening of the new building and marking 100 years since the loss of Titanic, the projection of the Virtual Choir 3 in the atrium of Titanic Belfast will provide a moment of contemplation for the lost souls.” Brenda has a passion for choir, but the one thing she finds vital for people to know is that “the most important thing to remember overall in a choir is the actual music and what the composer is trying to share with the world. Singing is from the heart, and everyone has the ability to be the one voice that can change the world.”

The video of Virtual Choir 3 can be seen at http://ericwhitacre.com/the-virtual-choir

June 7 Reception to Open New Exhibit at McCormic Gallery

A caricature subject
Dr. Jacobs met in his travels

This summer’s exhibit at McCormick Gallery, located in the Allison Fine Arts Building on the Midland College campus, will feature caricatures by Associate Vice President of Instruction Dr. Stan Jacobs. Over the years, Dr. Jacobs has had the pleasure of drawing caricatures of various people in the Midland community.

An opening reception for the exhibit will be held Thursday, June 7, from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. in the gallery. The public is cordially invited to attend, to meet with Dr. Jacobs, and enjoy light refreshments. Admission is free.

Dr. Jacobs will be retiring in August after 41 years of service to MC. The light-hearted caricature exhibit will allow the community a chance to smile once again as we reflect upon the career of MC’s first art instructor, a cherished MC administrator and a Midland legend.