Month: July 2018

Peggy Zotta Memorial Scholarship Established for Nurses at East Central College

July 26, 2018 | Campus News

For the last several years, an area woman has been on a mission – honoring her longtime friend and nursing colleague Peggy Zotta.

“Peggy and I worked together at St. Luke’s side by side, mostly in the Newborn and the Special Care Nurseries,” her friend said. “She was a nurse’s nurse. Someone you could count on. Someone you would want taking care of those you loved the very most.”

In 2014, Zotta became terminally ill. Her friend wanted to honor her memory after her passing.

“There is a lot more to nursing than the mechanics and knowledge base. More even than human touch. Maybe it’s compassion, an empathy that can enhance healing beyond the physical things we do. I know it is essential in the very best of us, and Peggy had that gift, that art,” she said.

The friend and her husband set out to establish the Peggy Zotta Memorial Scholarship for nursing students. They started their quest at the University of Missouri – St. Louis, and they recently started working with the East Central College Foundation to bring the scholarship to even more students.

“Peggy was aware of the first scholarship before we lost her and was pleased to be honored,” her friend added. “I think she’d be even more tickled about this one. I’m excited about how many students may benefit!”

The friend and her husband donate $40,000 annually to help students in need at East Central College.

“I want this scholarship to be part of her legacy,” she explained, “something to honor her, who she was, the lives she touched. I am privileged to be able to help a deserving student – glad to be able to give back. I never imagined, working all those years, that the money I had put aside for retirement would end up giving back to the profession that I love.”

The Peggy Zotta Memorial Scholarship at East Central College will be available for any student with great need but especially for those who often fall through the cracks or who have no other means for pursuing their goals. It will be available for the 2018-2019 school year.

New Student Orientations

July 19, 2018 | Campus News

It’s time to get ready for the Fall 2018 Semester! At New Student Orientation, you will learn about student rights and responsibilities, campus safety, financial aid, instructional technology and campus life. Each session is held in the Health and Science Building. Check-in starts 30 minutes before each session in the lobby.

New Student Orientations:

Thursday, August 2 from 4-8 p.m.
Tuesday, August 7 from 4-8 p.m.
Thursday, August 9 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Saturday, August 11 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Orientation attendance is required as part of Foundation Seminar, the class required for new ECC students. Any degree seeking student who is registered for the upcoming semester who has *not* attended an earlier orientation session is required to attend.

The New Student Orientation or Campus Orientation is not an event open to the public, but a course in which new students are enrolled when they meet with an Advisor to schedule their first semester.

Mercy Provides Space for ECC English Language Classes

July 17, 2018 | Campus News

Mercy Clinic Four Rivers in Washington is donating classroom space for the Adult Education and Literacy program at East Central College to teach English language acquisition classes.

The classes provide students with a working knowledge of English in preparation for citizenship tests, the workplace, additional education, and daily living.

“We know there are groups of community members in the Washington area who need to enhance their English language skills.” said Alice Whalen, director of the Adult Education and Literacy program. “Students are also looking to improve their English language skills for travel, social or employment purposes.”

“It’s a credit to the continuing partnerships between Mercy and East Central College that this was able to happen,” says Joel Doepker, Vice President of External Relations. “We appreciate the quick response by Mercy to accommodate the program and its students.”

The small classroom space fits perfectly with the program to allow students the chance to receive individual attention from their instructor and tutors.

“I’m pleased we’re able to provide the classroom space for East Central College to expand its offerings,” says Dr. David Chalk, president, Mercy Clinic Four Rivers. “Mercy takes pride in helping to enhance our community, and education fits in well with our legacy. When our founding sisters arrived in St. Louis in 1856 they actually opened up a free school for girls because they were responding to the needs of that community. I think they would be happy to know their thinking is still alive and well.”

Students studying English will also participate in cultural and social activities in the community. Students take the class with a range of experience; some students need help preparing to enter college.

The classes will be held Monday and Wednesday from 8-11 a.m. at the Mercy Medical Building South (Patients First Drive) and provided at no cost to the students.

East Central College Receives Grant for Community-Focused Greenhouse

July 17, 2018 | Campus News

Students in the East Central College Culinary Arts Program won’t just learn how to prepare and cook food, but they will soon learn how to grow it as well. Thanks to a $70,000 grant from the USDA Rural Development Program, a greenhouse will be constructed on the Union campus.

“This greenhouse will strengthen the Culinary Arts curriculum,” said Program Director Mike Palazzola. “Students will learn more about sustainability and farm-to-table competencies. The program will be more comprehensive and desirable to potential students and the area workforce.”

The USDA Rural Business Development Grant Program is a competitive grant designed to support targeted technical assistance, training and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas.

“This grant better positions the college to expand an existing program and create innovative solutions to address the regional skills gap,” said Joel Doepker, Vice President of External Relations, “For the past three years the College has received USDA funding and we appreciate their investment in our programs.”

East Central College was awarded the grant based on evidence showing job creation at local businesses, economic need in the area to be served and consistency with local economic development priorities. During the grant application process, East Central College received several letters of support for the project from local eateries.

“Currently, three-fourths of the staff for our kitchen has attended East Central College,” said Katie Geisert, owner of Farm To You Market. “We find that it is crucial that a quality education continues locally, one that includes practices in sustainability and appreciation of how food is grown and used locally.”

The new greenhouse will also benefit the community.

“We want this to serve as a community-outreach project as well,” said Palazzola. “With the amount of food we will be able to produce, we should be able to provide a constant stream of fresh, healthy produce to local food banks.”

East Central College also hopes to use the greenhouse to help educate area high school students as well as create Community Education class opportunities.

Construction of the greenhouse, which will be located behind the East Central College Training Center, should begin this fall. The project is to be completed no later than September 2019.