Vol. 5, Issue No. 5
March 6, 2017
From the Hawk's Nest is distributed twice a month, and we need your input!  Have story ideas or photos for From the Hawk's Nest?  Send them to Elizabeth Belcher or Jenni Canterbury by March 15, 2017 for the next edition.

Inspiration for today

"Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling." - Margaret B. Runbeck

High school students earn college credit

James Monroe High School senior students have been taking college classes through New River CTC. Last semester, students completed American Government and College Transitions, as well as an online 100-level class. Regional Director of Operations for the Greenbrier Valley Campus Roger Griffith taught the courses. High school students can also qualify for EDGE credits. 

Congratulations, Andrew!

Instructor of Foundational Math Andrew Young is the 2017 recipient of the Moore Community Fund Grant.  They received many applications and his project to build disc golf tee pads at the Greenbrier State Forest was selected.  He will be awarded $1,200.00 for this program. Congratulations!


    News & updates
  • BUDGET FORUMS: Dr. Washington will be hosting Budget Forums for faculty and staff through the IVN system during the week of March 20. The forums are scheduled for March 23 at 8 am and 4 pm.
     
  • The Institutional Governance Committee Structure has been updated. Click here to view the committee list online.
     
  • The WV Statewide Partnership to Advance Community College Education in STEM (WV SPACES) offers opportunities for both community and technical college students and faculty to assist them as they seek meaningful educational opportunities and future jobs in STEM fields. Specific opportunities through WV SPACES include internships and fellowships for students and course development for faculty. Click here for more information.
     
  • Do you know of an employee who is going above and beyond in supporting the College? We want to hear about them! Send information to communications@newriver.edu for inclusion in From the Hawk's Nest.
     
  • Need assistance with placing an ad, creating or editing a promotional document? The Office of Communications is here to help. Please fill out one of our online forms for all requests. These forms go to both Libby and Jenni and help us ensure that projects are completed in a timely manner.
     
  • Have a suggestion for the College? Submit it through the online suggestion box
     
  • Rely on multiple methods of communication regarding the College's Inclement Weather decisions. The Alert Messaging System is one method of transmitting information which includes New River CTC's portal, email, and text messaging. Other methods used include posting on the College's official social media channels (Facebook and Twitter) and on the College's homepage . When appropriate, alert messages are also communicated through external media - local television and radio stations. Each campus has a weather line that can be called for opening/closing information. 
     
  • The Erma Byrd Higher Education Center recently created a video about the facility, the Allied Health Wing and New River CTC's Raleigh County Campus.
And the survey says...

In February, the Office of Communications shared the link to a survey about the New River CTC website in this newsletter, via New River CTC email and our social media accounts. Here's a summary of the final results:

Survey name: Website survey
Internal and external audiences  
  • 86 people completed the 11 question survey.
  • 52% of respondents identified themselves as current New River CTC students.
  • 99% of respondents access the website through a laptop or desktop computer.
  • 42% of respondents indicated that the website meets their needs very well.
  • 34% of respondents said that it was "somewhat easy" to find information on our website.
  • 33% of respondents ranked the website appearance as "very appealing."
  • 45% of respondents would not recommend the website to a friend.
  • The most popular pages survey respondents visit within www.newriver.edu include course schedules, degree and program pages and student services pages.
  • Recommendations for the website varied from none, everything is as it should be to suggestions for a redesign.
 
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Celebrating Black History Month

February was Black History Month, and last week the College held two events to celebrate.

The Mercer County Student Government Association hosted a screening of the film "Our Friend, Martin". The animated movie follows the story of two boys who travel back to the time of civil rights leader Dr. King. They learn about his contributions to humankind by watching history in the making.

Matthew J. Watts, Pastor of Grace Bible Church, Charleston, WV, presented "Hidden African-American Individuals from WV" to New River CTC students, faculty and staff via the IVN system.
 
Watts spoke about individuals such as Harry J. Capehart, the first African-American to be elected to the State Legislature in 1928; Booker T. Washington, American educator, author, orator and advisor to U.S. Presidents; Colonel George "Spanky" Roberts, the first African American cadet accepted for Army Air Corps pilot training (1941); Memphis T. Garrison, active with the Republican Party and with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; Christopher H. Payne, first black legislator; Franklin D. Cleckley, the first African-American to serve on the WV Supreme Court of Appeals; Herbert H. Henderson, the first black student to graduate from the George Washington University Law School; Judge Irene C. Berger, the first black judge to serve on a federal court in WV; Minnie B. Harper, the first African-American woman to serve as a member of a state legislative body in the United States; Carter G. Woodson, African-American historian, author and journalist, he worked to establish Black History Month; and John R. "JR" Clifford, the first African-American lawyer admitted to the Bar Association in West Virginia.
 
Watts established the HOPE Community Development Corporation, a non-profit organization with the mission of empowering the inner city through spiritual renewal, education, employment, training and economic development. He and his wife reside on the west side of Charleston.
Blue and Green Days

Monday, March 27
Thursday, April 13
Monday, April 24
Thursday, May 4

Send your photos to Jenni Canterbury for inclusion in future editions of From the Hawk's Nest. 
Resources to share
   
First Year Experience Academic Advising and Transition Planning Workshops
 
New River CTC's First Year Experience Workshops continue in March with Academic Advising and Transition Planning. In this workshop, students will learn how to navigate the College catalog and choose courses to complete programs. Students will also explore future goals and the courses needed to achieve goals. Both students and employees are welcome to attend the workshops.
 
March 6, 2 to 3 pm, RCC Rotunda - Dr. Bligh
March 8, 11 am to noon, GVC Entryway - Mr. Young
March 21, 2:30 to 3:30 pm, MCC Room 112 - Ms. Evans
             
The Nicholas County Campus Workshop was held this morning. For more information on the workshops, contact Andrew Young ( ayoung@newriver.edu; 304-647-6694).

Scholarships

The New River CTC Foundation will begin accepting scholarship applications for the 2017-18 academic year through April 3, 2017. Visit www.nrctcf.org
, email foundation@newriver.edu or call 304-929-6734 for information.

Scholarships are awarded for Fall 2017 and Spring 2018 semesters. Scholarships vary based on campus, program of study, financial need, academic merit and community involvement. The application process requires letters of recommendation. Some scholarships also include an essay requirement. Current New River CTC students and graduating high school seniors are encouraged to apply.
 
Student Success Center Tutoring  
Raleigh County Campus:
Math Lab, Wednesday & Thursday 9:30 am to 2:30 pm
Basic Computers and Business, Monday & Wednesday 1 to 2 pm

Greenbrier Valley Campus:
Math, chemistry and physics, Monday noon to 3 pm & Tuesday 11 am to 5 pm 
Defensive driving: how to prevent hydroplaning and what to do if you hydroplane

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With the last few weeks of winter weather comes the expectation of warmer weather and rainy days. With the rain comes the risk of losing control of your vehicle due to hydroplaning. Regular maintenance and inspecting your vehicle are key to staying safe. In the case of rainy weather, you want to not only inspect to see that your windshield wipers are in good condition, but also make sure your tires are properly inflated and have good tread.
 
What is hydroplaning? Simply put, hydroplaning occurs when a vehicle encounters a volume of water that the tires cannot disperse and loses grip with the road. Under ideal conditions, the tread on a tire should be able to scatter water away from the wheels to keep traction with the road, but if there is too much fluid or the treads aren't optimized, then a slippery barrier is formed between the rubber of your vehicle's tires and the road.
 
As drivers, we don't often respect how all weather conditions can affect our vehicle's performance. Oils and dirt mixed with rain can cause roadways to be as slick as a sheet of ice.  Scientists have stated that it takes up to 20 minutes during a rainstorm for the oils and dirt to be washed off the roadways.  
 
Another thing that drivers don't think of is how much water the vehicle's tires have to clear per second in order for them to maintain traction with the roadway. Even with new tires, a vehicle traveling at 35 MPH with as little as 1/12th of an inch of water on the road has to displace a gallon of water per second to maintain traction.  
 
Checking your tires' air pressure on a regular basis will help your tires better grip the roadways.  Underinflated tires cause your vehicle to have an increased stopping distance and have a higher risk of hydroplaning. You should also make sure your vehicle's tires are rotated regularly based on the owner's manual. Uneven treadwear is a leading cause for hydroplaning. 
 
If you are uncertain about your tread, you can always do the penny test. If you stick the head of a penny in the tread of your tires and the top of Lincoln's head is not seen, then you still have good tread. However, if you can see the top of Lincoln's head, the tires should be replaced. It is also recommended to do the penny test on three different areas of the tire: the inner tread, the middle tread, and the outer tread of the tire.

Click here to watch a video explaining what to do if you hydroplane. 

NIP deadline is approaching

New River Community and Technical College Foundation participates in the Neighborhood Investment Program to support scholarships for students on each of the College's four campuses.
 
This year's preliminary March 15th deadline to donate to the Neighborhood Investment Program (NIP) is quickly approaching! Your gift goes directly toward students with incomes of 125% or less of the federal poverty level. These are the students with the greatest financial need whose lives can be improved the most with workforce training and educational programs helping individuals and families achieve their potential, have income stability and become productive members of their communities.
 
Administered by the West Virginia Development Office, the NIP Program allows the New River CTC Foundation to provide scholarship funds to deserving students and a 50% state tax credit to all donors. In other words, the minimum gift amount of $500 will result in a $250 tax credit.  Businesses and individuals who contribute may use tax credits to reduce their liability for corporate net income tax, business franchise tax and personal income tax. Contributions can be in the form of cash, personal property, real estate and stock.
 
We hope that you will consider helping to make college education accessible and affordable to New River CTC students by making a NIP gift this year. You may donate online from the convenient and secure website: https://donate.newriver.edu.
 
If you have any questions or would like more information about NIP, please contact Mike Green at mgreen@newriver.edu or 304-929-1042.
Theatre West Virginia hosts Phil Dirt and the Doziers

Phil Dirt and the Doziers returns to the Grandview Amphitheatre at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 10, 2017. For tickets, visit
www.theatrewestvirginia.org or call 304-992-9085.
Recycled Percussion's junk yard music becomes a national phenomenon
 
Legendary New Hampshire-born junk rock band Recycled Percussion is coming to Princeton 
on Saturday, April 1 at 7pm for one show only. Tickets are just $30 and are on sale now at www.chuckmathenacenter.org , by phone at 304-425-5128 and at the CMC Box Office, 2 Stafford Commons, Princeton.
 
Recycled Percussion  was born in 1995 in a Goffstown High School gymnasium talent show and went on to become a national phenomenon. Discovered in 2009 by NBC's popular family show "America's Got Talent", they originally auditioned with over a hundred acts and persevered over the competition week after week to play smash performances throughout the summer.

Recycled Percussion  promises to be packed full of surprises, with favorite routines from the past and lots of new craziness, which will continue to rev up the audience with their unique brand of comedy, rhythm and mayhem.

New River Community and Technical College | 866.349.3739 | www.newriver.edu
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