During the 2019-2020 academic year several East Central College faculty members completed degrees or certificates.

Listed below are the faculty members who received degrees, followed by the degree earned:

Tim Derifield — completed a Master’s in Social Work

Connie Wissbaum — completed a Doctor of Nursing Practice

Jenifer Goodson — completed a Bachelor’s in Sociology

Sue Henderson — completed a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Assessment and Research

Duane Clonts — completed Certified Production Technician Instructor

Elizabeth Flotte — completed her Doctorate in Educational Practice.

Publications

Two ECC faculty members had their work published over the academic year.

Health Information Management (HIM) instructor Nanette Sayles published a book on HIM technology. The book is titled Health Information Management Technology: An Applied Approach, Sixth Edition, and it available at https://my.ahima.org/store/.

Earlier in the academic year, Dr. Bob Mahon, English professor, had two sonnets published in Vol. 11 of “The Cave Region Review” magazine.

One of the sonnets, “Sixth Anniversary Sonnet,” was nominated by the magazine’s editors for the Pushcart Prize, an annual set of awards for small magazine publications.

In addition, four of Mahon’s poems were published in the “Elder Mountain: A Journal of Ozarks Studies.” Read his poems here.

East Central College conferred 342 degrees and certificates to spring semester graduates, an increase of nearly 12 percent over last year.

ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer said there were 306 graduates in the 2019 spring semester, and this year’s total is an increase of 11.7 percent.

“This is exciting news that is consistent with our five-year strategic plan,” he said.

He added that once a new graduation date is set, all graduates from the 2019-2020 academic year will be invited to participate. ECC’s Commencement ceremony had been scheduled for Saturday, May 16 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  A decision on the date of the ceremony will be determined by June 9.

“I believe strongly that commencement is a very important milestone for students, their family and friends, and our faculty and staff,” Dr. Bauer said. “I never want a student deprived of that opportunity.”

Dr. Bauer personally signed letters of congratulations that were sent with the certificates and degrees.

In the letter, he applauded the graduates for their hard work and determination during a challenging semester.

“You have achieved a major milestone in your life, despite the unprecedented times in which we are currently living,” he wrote. “I commend your dedication to completing your education here at East Central College and adapting to the new modes of instruction put in place at the end of the spring semester.”

“I think that you will find your experience at ECC has provided a great foundation for your future education or your launch into the workforce.” Dr. Bauer added. “Best wishes for success in your future.”

East Central College once again has been named the fourth best nursing school in Missouri.

That’s according to RegisteredNursing.org, a nursing advocacy organization, which ranks nursing programs statewide and nationally.  ECC was compared to more than 50 nursing programs in Missouri.

The methodology used for the rankings was based on the NCLEX-RN exam, which is used by all state boards of nursing across the country to help assess a student’s competency and is required for licensure.

ECC also ranked No. 4 in the state last year.

“ECC Nursing is thrilled to be recognized for the second year in a row for nursing excellence and exceptional NCLEX-RN pass rates across the state of Missouri,” said Dean of Nursing and Allied Health Nancy Mitchell.

She noted that the RegisteredNursing.org compared ECC to programs at two- and four-year colleges and universities.

“This distinction highlights the success of our students and faculty,” Mitchell added. “From year to year, NCLEX-RN pass rates are consistently above state and national averages.”

According to the RN nursing advocacy organization, ECC uses innovative teaching and educational opportunities with its nursing students to ensure that students graduate to fill gaps in the state’s need for qualified nurses.

ECC students also utilize cutting-edge clinical labs and high-fidelity patient simulators to gain the confidence and skills needed to succeed in the world of nursing.

“Program and student success stems from the work of our faculty and the rigorous academic curriculum they have developed to educate future nurses,” Mitchell said. “Their dedication and commitment to excellence in nursing education shines through our students’ pass rates and their achievements in the field of nursing.

“We are extremely proud of our program standing, faculty and graduates,” she added.

Four of the top five nursing programs in RegisteredNursing.org rankings are community colleges, and six of the top 10 programs are at community colleges.

Nursing Programs

ECC offers two programs leading to an associate of applied science degree in nursing. This program prepares students to become registered nurses.

The main campus in Union, as well as the Rolla site, offers a complete pre-licensure program (generic) for those interested in becoming a registered nurse.

An LPN to RN Bridge program also is available at the Rolla location for LPNs interested in becoming registered nurses.

To learn more about the ECC Nursing and Allied Health program, visit www.eastcentral.edu, or contact Mitchell at Nancy.Mitchell@eastcentral.edu.

 

Ten University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) graduates who received bachelor’s degrees this May began their post-secondary education at East Central College.

Each year, many students who start their college education at ECC graduate from Mizzou, which demonstrates the successful partnership between the colleges.

Dr. Latha Ramchand, MU executive vice chancellor and provost, congratulated ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer on ECC’s role in preparing the students.

“It is at your institution that these students prepared for the academic rigor of MU and for that we are most thankful,” Ramchand wrote.

Listed are the students followed by the degrees they earned:

Darian Bacon, BFA, Art;

Jessica Bond, BHS, Health Science;

Kayla Borcherding, BSACC, Accountancy;

Dalton Gillig, BS, Plant Sciences;

Faith Groenke, BSACC, Accountancy;

Cole Hamai, BHS, Health Science;

Kolby Lang, BSHES, Personal Financial Planning;

Cassidy Stone, BSACC, Accountancy;

Tyler Thomas, BHS, Health Science; and

Lindsey Wilson, BHS, Health Science.

Borcherding, Groenke and Stone also earned Master’s Degrees in Accountancy through a five-year Accountancy program at Mizzou.  

ECC students transferring to Mizzou have been successful for many years.

According to data provided by MU, in 2017, ECC transfer students at Mizzou had grade point average of 3.59 after a full academic year, and in the 2018 fall semester the GPA was 3.62 after a full year. In addition, 13 of the 17 ECC transfers to MU in the 2019 fall semester had a GPA above 3.00.

“An effective partnership between our institutions reduces barriers, enhances readiness and provides a pathway for students to gain access to a four-year college experience and education,” Dr. Ramchand wrote. “The fact that these students succeeded and completed a bachelor’s degree reflects well on them and your institution.

“We look forward to being the four-year college destination for more East Central College students,” she added.

Learn more about ECC transfer opportunities at www.eastcentral.edu.

The East Central College Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) program is continuing to operate over the summer months.

AEL is registering students for High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) preparation and English language classes in multiple locations throughout the region.

The AEL program is free to everyone and there are both morning and evening classes available.

In addition to the HiSET prep and English language classes, AEL offers basic computer training, literacy tutoring and life-skills instruction.

All classes require an orientation during which class requirements will be discussed and testing assessments will be completed.

To register for orientation, send an email to ael@eastcentral.edu or fill out the form at https://www.eastcentral.edu/ael/.

AEL offers college and career readiness classes during the day in Sullivan, Union, Rolla and Washington. Evening classes are available in Franklin, Crawford, Gasconade, Montgomery and Phelps counties.

The English language classes, which provide students with reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, are available during the day in Union, Rolla and Washington. Evening classes are held in Union and Rolla.

To find the locations of classes, visit https://www.eastcentral.edu/ael/class-locations-information/.

For more information about AEL, call 636-584-6533 or 844-ECC-4AEL (844-322-4235), or email ael@eastcentral.edu.

A family that welds together, graduates together.

That’s the case for East Central College Class of 2020 graduates Bridget Teaters and Wyatt Watkins.

Teaters, 40, is Watkins’ mother. The Bourbon area mother and son were both enrolled in the ECC Fast Track welding program under instruction by Bobby Bland, program coordinator. They completed the program this month and earned their certificates.

The 16-week Fast Track welding program is a great way for students to advance their careers or spark life into a hobby or trade.

Watkins, 19, graduated early from Bourbon High School in December 2019. After graduating he moved to Florida to work with his father.

According to Teaters, she was looking to better her education. She was eligible for funds through Missouri’s SkillUP Program that could be applied toward a welding certificate.

Through the SkillUP Program, Teaters was able to take the course at no cost.

“I couldn’t really say ‘No’ to that,” she added. “I told Wyatt that I wished he was here to learn the trade with me.”

Watkins came back to Bourbon to live with his mother after learning about the program.

“I was trying to learn concrete,” he said. “When I heard about this program, I thought it would be too good of an opportunity to pass up.”

Teaters also is raising a 4-year-old boy, Brayden, and the welding program has provided flexibility for her to care for her child and attend classes.

Molding Students

Bland said the ECC program molds students like Teaters and Watkins, who knew very little about welding, into a valuable asset in the ever-growing welding industry

“Bridget and Wyatt are learning a highly-skilled trade that will provide them a career that will advance both of their lifestyles,” Bland said. “These two have a lot of fun in class learning different welding applications.”

The applications include oxy-fuel welding, stick welding, and MIG welding, he noted.

“They have come so far, it is unbelievable — not only welding but seeing their engagement in class that I look forward to seeing every day when they arrive,” Bland said.

He added that there are many options for welding students once they complete the course.

“Our Fast Track Welding Program gives students an opportunity to learn a cool skill that you can have a lot of fun with, while making a great salary,” Bland added.

What’s Next?

Teaters will consider a career in welding, but she also intends to use her skills creatively in her artwork. Her work, which is primarily painting, is featured on her Facebook page: Bridget’s Painted Pallets.

“I don’t know where it will take me yet but I definitely will use the skills for my art,” she said. “This is a great way to further my art and allow me to do more than just painting.”

Watkins is ready to pursue a career, which could take him in many directions including sheet metal, boiler making, plumbing, pipefitting, and more.

“I plan on getting a job in the welding industry,” he said, “but I am still deciding on what direction to go in the field.”

During the welding courses, the mother and son classmates enjoyed their time together in class.

“In class is probably the most I get to see her,” Watkins joked.

“It is encouraging that we’ve done something right and watching him succeed,” Teaters added. “It was honestly one of the best opportunities I was able to achieve with my oldest baby!”

Welding Program

Bland noted that the ECC welding curriculum is built to not only meet industry needs but exceed it in ways that separate it from welding programs at other colleges.

“Students learn in a fun and energetic lecture and lab environment working in teams, individually, along with groups,” he said.

In addition, Bland said, the ECC welding program offers training in lean manufacturing and teaches students how to communicate with engineers and designers. The program offers flexibility so students can learn the different welding processes such as MIG, TIG, and stick welding.

Students in the ECC Fast Track Welding program are eligible for federal financial aid. The program is taught in the welding lab of the ECC Business and Industry Center.

For more information about the ECC welding program, visit https://www.eastcentral.edu/career-technical-education/welding/. To learn more about the SkillUP program, go to https://www.eastcentral.edu/cwd/skillup/.

 

East Central College annually holds a Student Achievement Night, an awards ceremony to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of students.

Although a ceremony was not held this year, ECC still is recognizing the hard work, leadership and determination of students over the 2019-20 academic year.

“It is such a pleasure to recognize the outstanding achievements of our students,” said Robyn Walter, vice president of academic affairs. “These recognitions are very special as they come directly from faculty and staff that work most closely with students throughout the year.

“We always look forward to honoring these students during our annual Student Achievement Night ceremony so it is most fitting to honor their success in an alternate manner,” she added. “Congratulations to all students who were nominated!”

All students will receive their awards in the mail along with a letter discussing their nomination. Students may contact Emily Lewis at emily.durham@eastcentral.edu, or Jessica Robart at jessica.robart@eastcentral.edu if they have any questions.

Listed below are the award categories, followed by the recipients and who nominated the students.

Leadership Award

Student Media Leadership Award: Schuyler Condon, nominated by Leigh Kolb

Aster Coyle, nominated by Michael Palazzola

Gary Dunne, nominated by Erin Anglin

Christian Logan Emory, nominated by Raphael Maurice

Morgan Holdmeyer, nominated by Linda Arrington

Zachary Mailes, nominated by David Mailes

Gwendolen Minks, nominated by Emily Lewis

Perseverance Award

Max Boehmer, nominated by Megen Strubberg

Samantha Peterson, nominated by Linda Barro

Sydney Smith, nominated by Leigh Kolb

Outstanding Student Employee Award

Gwendolen Minks, nominated by Emily Lewis

Leonard Sowa, nominated by Erin Anglin

Lucille Vanek, nominated by Joshua Stroup

Departmental Awards

Annual ECC Art & Design Exhibition, Best of Drawing: Alexis Kinnison

Annual ECC Art & Design Exhibition, Best of Drawing: Olivia Tucker

Annual ECC Art & Design Exhibition: Best of Digital, Olga Tomescu

Annual ECC Art & Design Exhibition: Best of Figure, Anna Wright

Annual ECC Art & Design Exhibition: Best of Painting, Olivia Tucker

Annual ECC Art & Design Exhibition: Best of Photography, Alexis Kinnison

Annual ECC Art & Design Exhibition: Best of Sculpture, Olivia Tucker

Annual ECC Art & Design Exhibition, Best of Show: Anna Wright

Art Appreciation Online: Emma Lorenz, nominated by Krista Frohling

Art Appreciation Online: Lauren Pieske, nominated by Krista Frohling

Art History: Monica Hickman, nominated by Clayton Petras

Art History: Jake Martin, nominated by Clayton Petras

Art History: Anna Wright, nominated by Clayton Petras

CIS Student Award: Mark Bottomley, nominated by Jason Durbin

CIS Student Award: Elizabeth Eggert, nominated by Anna Schwein

Fall 2019 Creative Non-Fiction Writing Content Winner, 1st place: Shirley Stahlman’s “A Kiss with Death”

Fall 2019 Creative Non-Fiction Writing Content Winner, 2nd place: Shirley Stahlman’s “Rose”

Fall 2019 Creative Non-Fiction Writing Contest Winner, 3rd place: Trent Blanton’s “Somethings Last Forever”

Fall 2019 Fiction Writing Contest Winner, 1st place: Schuyler Condon’s “The Game”

Fall 2019 Fiction Writing Contest Winner, 2nd place: Michaela Plumb’s “Maybe This is Life”

Fall 2019 Fiction Writing Contest Winner, 3rd place: Sierra Voiles’ “Alive”

Fall 2019 Fiction Writing Contest Winner, Honorable Mention: Isabelle Stanfield’s “The Suit”

Figure Drawing: Logan Bartle, nominated by Annette Swafford Green

Figure Drawing: Julia Bay, nominated by Annette Swafford Green

Figure Drawing: Monica Hickman, nominated by Annette Swafford Green

Figure Drawing: Teri Seals, nominated by Annette Swafford Green

Figure Drawing: Tyler Stanfield, nominated by Annette Swafford Green

Figure Drawing: Olga Tomescu, nominated by Annette Swafford Green

The Learning Center: Katie Gaus, nominated by Erin Anglin

Outstanding English Student: Schuyler Condon, nominated by Leigh Kolb

Outstanding English Student: Morgan Holdmeyer, nominated by Leigh Kolb

Outstanding Humanities Student: Holly Hoerstkamp, nominated by Leigh Kolb

Outstanding Humanities Student: Dylan Longsdon, nominated by Leigh Kolb

Outstanding Media Studies Student: Mario Wentz, nominated by Leigh Kolb

Outstanding Music Student Award: Bernadette Comage, nominated by Dr. Jennifer Judd

Outstanding Music Student Award: Rebecca McGuire, nominated by Dr. Jennifer Judd

Photography I: Olivia Tucker, nominated by Krista Frohling

Photography I: Logan Bartle, nominated by Krista Frohling

Spring 2020 Poetry Writing Contest Winner, 1st place: Schuyler Condon’s “Bones and Noble”

Spring 2020 Poetry Writing Contest Winner, 2nd place: Schuyler Condon’s “A Million Words”

Spring 2020 Poetry Writing Contest Winner, 3rd place: Hanah Wilbers’ “Fake It”

Spring 2020 Poetry Writing Contest Winner, Honorable Mention: Isabelle Fregoso’s “My Person”

Spring 2020 Research Essay Writing Contest Winner, 1st place: Reg Brigham’s “Up from Poverty”

Spring 2020 Research Essay Writing Contest Winner, 2nd place: Reg Brigham’s “The Cost of an Easy Life”

Spring 2020 Research Essay Writing Contest Winner, 3rd place: Ashley Tucker’s “The Effects of Substance Abuse on Families”

Spring 2020 Research Essay Writing Contest Winner, Honorable Mention: Morgan Holdmeyer’s “The Truth about Sojourner Truth”

2D Design: Mickayla Hicks, nominated by Clayton Petras

2D Design: Alexis Kinnison, nominated by Clayton Petras

Individual Student/Class Awards

Doyle Stricklin Memorial Award for Accounting: Matt Snodgrass, nominated by Lisa Hanneken

HIM Student Achievement Award: Amber N. Ray, nominated by Stephanie Buchholz

HIM Student Achievement Award: Lisa Rodgers, nominated by Dr. Nanette Sayles

Outstanding Business Award: Kelly Diener, nominated by Jason Durbin and Lisa Hanneken

Outstanding Student Tutor Award: Mallory Felderwerth, nominated by Erin Anglin

Outstanding Student Tutor Award: Kaylyn McKee, nominated by Erin Anglin

Outstanding Theatre Student Award: Madison Skiljan, nominated by Grace Austin

Outstanding Theatre Student Award: Brittany Brandt, nominated by Grace Austin

Outstanding Theatre Student Award: Desiree Roady, nominated by Grace Austin

Message from the Art Department:

“There are several students that have shown a willingness to learn and a willingness to push themselves and their peers. For that, a simple thanks goes out to:

“Tim Dippold, Logan Bartle, Grace Hoener, Julia Bay, Sara Carter, Skylar Bridgeman, Alexis Kinnison, Kate Shelton, Olivia Tucker, Madison Skiljan, Jackson Broom-Morse and Olga Tomescu.”

 

“The Art Department would also like to recognize Olivia Tucker and Anna Wright who represented East Central College in the annual Varsity Art Exhibition at Art St. Louis. Their work was shown next to other undergraduate and graduate students from colleges and universities in the St Louis region. They represented us very well.”

“We would also like to make a general recognition to all of the students enrolled in our program and art classes in general. These are very difficult and surreal times, however your resilience and persistence has been and continues to be inspiring. The support you have shown one another is outstanding. I wish you all the brightest and happiest of futures.”

The East Central College Learning Center is rolling out new summer programs to help students get back into form before the fall semester.

The JumpStart! Programming is geared toward high school students experiencing college for the first time.

It is designed to close the skills gap between the end of traditional high school curriculum to the beginning of college, giving students a refresher and jumpstart to college at the same time.

The program is also ideal for current ECC students who have not adjusted to the transition to an online semester and need to repeat a course.

Recommendation for the program is based on student scores on the Accuplacer test, which evaluates the mathematics, reading and writing skills of test-takers.

There are two JumpStart! programs available through the ECC Learning Center — JumpStart! English and JumpStart! Math.

JumpStart! English

The JumpStart! English program is geared toward students with an Accuplacer score of 250-255 in reading.

The English JumpStart! Program has been designed to give students an even stronger foundation in reading and writing, not just for English classes, but also for other general college courses they may be required to take.

To learn more about JumpStart! English, contact Lisa Haag at 636-584-6688, or email lisa.haag@eastcentral.edu.

JumpStart! Math

The JumpStart! Math program is geared toward students with an Accuplacer score of 250-255 in Quantitative Reasoning and higher than 250 in reading on the Accuplacer test.

JumpStart! Math is designed to give students a foundation in math and the study skills essential for college-level courses.

To learn more about JumpStart! Math, contact Alison Tucker at 636-584-6660 or email Alison.tucker@eastcentral.edu.

Students also can email general_tutoring@eastcentral.com for more information about any JumpStart! Program.

For more information about The Learning Center or to learn about other resources, visit https://www.eastcentral.edu/learning-center/.

East Central College will begin implementing a Back to Campus plan next week to safely ease back into normal operations for the fall semester.

The plan was developed by an ECC leadership team comprised of administrators and staff to ensure the health and safety of employees and students.

View the Campus Reopening Plan Here ⇨ ECC Reopening Plan

ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer said the goal of the Return to Campus plan is to strategically restore college operations through three phases. The college will strictly follow CDC guidelines.

“We are making plans and decisions with the well-being of our employees and students as the top priority,” he said. “We are looking further ahead to the fall with the hopes of moving from being reactive to proactive.

‘While all of us prefer stability, it is important that we remain flexible and responsive to this volatile and dynamic environment,” Dr. Bauer added.

He further noted that many decisions, including a new graduation ceremony date, will be made by June 9. Changes to the plan that would impact the fall semester will be made by July 14. The first day of classes for the fall semester is Monday, Aug. 24.

The first phase begins Monday, May 18 and will end Tuesday, June 30. Phase 2 will be Wednesday, July 1-Sunday, August 16. ECC buildings will not be available to the general public during phases 1 and 2.

Phase 3 occurs from Monday, August 17-Thursday, December 31. The reopening plan applies to both the Union campus and Rolla sites.

Phase 1

Phase 1 of the plan calls for all summer semester courses to be held remotely or online with the exception of on-campus labs that are limited to science and allied health courses. Classes will be held with appropriate social distancing and other safety measures.

In addition, computer labs will be closed for student use but may be available by appointment as needed.

Student services, such as admissions, advising, counseling, registration and financial aid will be available online/remote or on campus by appointment only.

The ECC Learning Center and Testing Center will offer testing and tutoring by appointment only or online/remote. Library materials will be available upon requests, with contact-free distribution following MOBIUS guidelines. Appointments can be scheduled at www.eastcentral.edu/virtual-ecc.

The bookstore will be open with a limited occupancy of five customers/students in the store. The ECC cafeteria, Café Central, will be open with social distancing and other applicable food service guidelines in place.

The library and college facilities will be closed to the public during the first phase of reopening.

The Fitness Center will be closed through the summer until Aug. 17.

During the first phase of the plan, employees will begin returning to their campus work stations.  Students coming to campus for an appointment are required to wear a mask to enter the building.

The Return to Campus Plan can be viewed here:

Phase 2

According to Dr. Bauer, during the second phase, the campus plan will expand to allow for more on campus communication with students but maintain online/remote options.

Student services, such as admissions, financial aid, registration, advising and counseling, will be available online and on campus.

The Learning Center/Testing Center will open for normal operations.

Several safety measures implemented in Phase 1 will continue into Phase 2. That includes limited numbers of customers at the bookstore and distance protocols to remain at Café Central.

All ECC employees are slated to return to campus by Wednesday, July 1.

Phase 3

Under the final phase of the return to campus plan, a wide range of courses will be in-person, seated classes on the ECC campuses. There also will be online and remote courses available to students.

Dr. Bauer noted that it is the intent of ECC to be transparent with its return to campus plan.

“It is important for the public and students to know that we are taking this seriously,” he said. “We want them to know it will be safe to be on campus.”

Campus Cleaning

The college facilities crews have been and will continue to clean the campus facilities.

Dr. Bauer added that supplies for sanitizing surfaces and hands such as disinfectant wipes and sprays have been deployed across campus and will be used frequently to mitigate risk.

Custodial staff will rotate through the buildings continuously throughout the day to sanitize “high-touch” surfaces.

The staff is working staggered shifts at the Union campus and Rolla sites to provide continuous cleaning from early in the day until the evening.