From the Hawk's Nest Newsletter

Vol. 3, Issue No.7
May 1, 2015
From the Hawk's Nest is distributed on the first and third Friday of each month. We need your input! Please send your ideas for stories on upcoming events, reports on attendance at conferences, awards and honors received, photos or information on outstanding employees or students to Elizabeth Belcher, ebelcher@newriver.edu or Kelly Taber, ktaber@newriver.edu. The deadline for the next issue is 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13.

Awesome Award Ceremonies!

Faculty and staff did a wonderful job coordinating award ceremonies.

Electric Distribution Engineering Technology students received awards and demonstrated their skills at the Line Service Expo on April 23.

Companies represented at the event included: L.E. Myers Co., CW Wright, ALBAT - Apprenticeship, Appalachian Power Company, Bradley Electro Sales Corporation, Inc., Buckingham Manufacturing Company, Inc., Frontier Communications Corporation, IBEW Local Union 317, New River Electric, Nichols Construction, Osmose Utilities Services, Inc., Pike Corporation, Service Electric, Utility Lines Construction Services Inc., and American Safety.

Candice Stadler, Director of Career Services, and Jill Holliday, Regional Director of Operations, shared a smile at the event.

Greenbrier Vallley Campus Award Ceremony on April 24:

(From l-r) President L. Marshall Washington, Denise Deskins, and Tim Hoffman, Associate Professor of Biology.

Dr. Washington, Lorena Bowyer, and Vanessa Bailey, Allied Health Instructor.

Dr. Washington and Wanda Johnson, Student Program Advisor and Student Government Advisor, with SGA students: Jessica Martin, Hayley Campbell, Greg Lester, and Crystal Clyburn.

Roger Griffith, Greenbrier Valley Campus Regional Director of Operations, recognized Dr. John Dynak, Assistant Professor of Chemistry (left).

Raleigh County Campus Award Ceremony on April 25:

(From l-r) Professor of Business Dr. Willis Nordlund, Meronica Harrison, and President Washington.

Coordinator of Campus Learning Centers Peggy Epling, Jane Smith, and Dr. Washington.

Phi Theta Kappa Award Ceremony on April 26:

(Above) Margaret Ann O'Neal, Executive Director of United Way of Southern West Virginia, was the guest speaker at the ceremony. Students were given roses and candles as part of the induction ceremony.

Phi Theta Kappa All-West Virginia Academic Team at State Capitol on April 27:

(From l-r) West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education Chancellor James Skidmore, parents and New River CTC student Rebecca Danielle Poole, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, New River CTC student Angela Lynn Surbaugh with her daughter, New River CTC student Crystal Dawn DeBoard, Dr. Lucie Refsland, President Washington, and Bob Brown, Vice Chair of WVCCTCE.

College Planning Council Involved in Planning Work

The College Planning Council serves as New River CTC's central planning body to ensure an integrated approach to master planning and budgeting. Members are appointed to the planning council by virtue of their positions to improve collaboration through shared planning and annual reporting. The Planning Council members are the President, Vice Presidents of Academic Affairs, Student Services, Administrative Services, Technology Services and Institutional Advancement; the Chief Communication and Financial Officers; the Regional Directors of Operation; the Deans; the Director of Institutional Research; the Executive Secretary to the President; the Faculty Senate President, Classified Staff Chair, the BOG Student Representative or an SGA Representative or designees.

The WV Council for Community and Technical College Education approved the Systems' Master Plan - Fulfilling the Vision: 2015-2020 at their meeting on April 16, 2015. The System is preparing a template for each community college to utilize in the preparation of its Strategic Master Plan that will be due to the System by the end of June 2015.

During the last two years, we have gathered information and have met with faculty, staff and students to listen and ask questions. This information was utilized to create and implement many College plans that will be utilized in preparing the Strategic Master Plan. Those plans include the Communications Plan, Educational Master Plan, Facilities Master Plan, Institutional Advancement Plan, Strategic Enrollment Master Plan and Technology Plan. Many faculty and staff have been involved in the creation of these plans and you may be asked to be involved again. These plans can be found on the intranet at http://www.newriver.edu/faculty-and-staff2/intranet-page if you would like to review them.

Thank you for all you do for New River CTC and I look forward in continuing our work to make this institution all it can be. Please send questions or comments regarding the work of the College Planning Council to Libby Belcher, Chair, ebelcher@newriver.edu or 304-929-5464.

Autism Events Raise Funds and Awareness
New River CTC's Browning Social Services Club has raised more than $5,000 for local autism
services through their spaghetti lunch and dinner fundraiser at Raleigh County Campus and Volley 4 Autism event on April 25.

New River CTC Raleigh County Campus staff (l-r) Lora Adkins, Myrna Thomas, and Darvis Cox celebrated after winning their first game in the volleyball tournament.

Dr. Kelly White moderated the panel discussion following the movie "What's Eating Gilbert Grape", which was broadcast on IVN on April 28.

(From l-r) Autism panelists Dr. Kelli White (standing), Dr. Janet Lintala, Founder of Autism Health, Sherry Morgan, Transition Specialist with Raleigh County Schools, Sara Raimey, New River CTC student who works with autistic youth, and Greg Castle, New River CTC student who has a son with autism.

WV Writers Fair hosted by New River CTC

New River Community and Technical College and Summersville Public Library hosted the West Virginia Writers Fair on April 18 at the Nicholas County Campus in Summersville. Authors featured at the event included: Katie Fallon, Renee Nicholson, Natalie Sypolt, Jason Kapcala, and Mack Samples.

Also during the event the West Virginia Veterans' Legacy Project was on display. The WV Veterans' Legacy Project was developed at Glenville State College to preserve and protect the recollections, memories, and stories of the state's men and women who served in the U.S. military.

New River CTC Instructor of Biology Dr. Edward Omolo, also an author of the recently published book "A Kenyan Pilgrim's Progress -- My Memoirs of My Luo Family", viewed photos on display as part of the WV Veterans' Legacy Project.

Health Fair at Mercer County Campus

Medical Assisting students received real-world experience and provided a community service at a Health Fair at Mercer County Campus on April 29.

Rita Holcomb, Administrative Associate at MCC, had her blood pressure checked at the Health Fair.

New Hires

Amber Daniels has been hired as a Campus Service Worker for day shift at Raleigh County Campus. Daniels previously has worked for commercial cleaning and linen rental services as a cleaner and customer service representative.

Mikel Jones has been hired as a Campus Service Worker at Raleigh County Campus for the evening shift. Jones has previous experience as a maintenance worker for the National Park Service.

Bobby Sanders also has been hired as a Campus Service Worker at Raleigh County Campus. Sanders has worked as a housekeeper and janitor for Hospice of Southern West Virginia, Alliant Support Services, and Central Baptist Church.

Welcome Amber, Mikel, and Bobby!