ECC Theatre is proud to announce auditions for the next show of the 2016-2017 season, Shrek The Musical. Auditions will be held Monday, November 7 and Tuesday, November 8 at 6:30 p.m. at ECC. Directed by Grace Austin, technical direction by Chris Swanson, choreography by Chris Page and music direction by Colin Healy, this family-friendly musical is based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks film that started it all! Shrek The Musical brings the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to dazzling new life on the stage. Roles are available for 50 performers ages nine and up.
Please come prepared with one of the audition selections that can be found at ecctheatre.com and a list of possible conflicts. Come dressed to move if you wish to learn the optional dance combination.
A dance workshop with acclaimed choreographer Chris Page will be held for anyone interested in auditioning for Shrek The Musical Sunday, November 6 from 7-8 p.m. Come learn the audition dance combinations and get your questions answered! No experience needed. Please wear comfortable clothes. For more information, please contact Grace Austin at 636-584-6695 or email her at grace.austin@eastcentral.edu.
Shrek The Musical will be performed February 16, 17 and 18 at 8 p.m. and February 19 at 2 p.m. Tickets to Shrek The Musical go on sale December 16.
On Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016, the ECC Rotaract Club held their seventh annual Walking Tacos sale. While the effort every year is to raise money to benefit those in need, this year the goal was extra special.
“We pair with a charity every year, but it was recommended by a student of the club that we donate to Heifer International, a charity that helps those in poverty around the world,” club advisor Karen Klos said.
Rotaract Club made record sales this year, collecting $150.53, which will go directly to the relief effort for victims of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti.
“The whole organization itself helps out by giving out food, water, sanitary kits and other necessities,” Rotaract member Sarah Howell said. “They also donate livestock depending on the amount of money you donate. For example, $20 is equal to a flock of chicks and you can buy a full goat for $120 or a share for $10.”
East Central College has more than 15 clubs that focus on student service, academics and fun! For more information on student clubs at ECC contact the Student Activities Office located in Room 104 in the Shook Student Center on the Union campus. Courtney Henrichsen is the Student Activities Coordinator and can be contacted at 636-584-6583 or at courtney.henrichsen@eastcentral.edu.
#InspiringExcellence – Two ECC Alumni Named “Outstanding Young Professionals”
The Washington Area Chamber of Commerce recognized its fourth class of “Outstanding Young Professionals” at its annual member luncheon at the end of September, including two East Central College alumni!
Angie Williams, branch manager for US Bank, and Rachelle Elbert, licensed realtor for Coldwell Banker Premier, were part of a group of 12 young professionals who were honored. A selection committee comprised of Chamber and Missourian representatives reviewed the nominations and made the selections.
Both Rachelle and Angie credit their time at ECC with helping them succeed in life.
“I had a great experience at ECC,” Rachelle explained. “I liked being close to home, and I was still able to work full time. The teachers were all nice and helpful.”
She graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration in 2013. Soon after, she started her career path.
“I knew that I wanted to get into real estate, so I enrolled in class to get my license right after graduation. I wanted to do something that was challenging,” she said. “I also wanted something that would allow me to do the things I love most – meeting and helping people.”
Rachelle is a member of the Franklin County Board of Realtors and serves on the organization’s publicity committee and planning committee. She also volunteers at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch, Washington Area Chamber of Commerce events, including festivals and the Washington Town and Country Fair.
Angie also spends a good deal of time helping others. She is a member of the Washington Jaycees, serves on the board for Downtown Washington Inc. and serves as a board member for the U.S. Bank Development Network.
For her, going to ECC was about finding a happy balance.
“I married my best friend after high school, and we started our journey together,” she said. “I was so grateful to have a community college as an option. I wanted to focus on my education and career along with being focused on family and my personal life.”
She graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Business Management in 2002.
“I had a great experience attending East Central College. Looking back on my experience now, I realize going to ECC was a great transition period for me” Angie said. “I was fortunate I was able to use the A+ Program, and when I finished with my degree I did not have a large amount of student loans to worry about.”
She now manages two bank locations and 14 employees.
“A large portion of my job is business development and serving in the community. I really enjoy working with people and helping new employees grow and develop their career paths. I am grateful for the opportunities and experiences I received from ECC as they have influenced where I am today,” she said.
A gift of $250,000 has been presented to East Central College from Ace Manufacturing and Parts Co., Sullivan, Mo. The gift was made to the East Central College Foundation’s Building for Success campaign — An Initiative for Tomorrow’s Workforce — which is raising funds to help the college renovate a building adjacent to the main campus in Union into a Business and Industry Center.
The new 28,388 square foot center will house the Precision Machining, Industrial Engineering Technology and Heating and Air Conditioning programs. The Center for Workforce Development also will be located there, as well as a welding lab for support of other academic programs and short-term workforce training.
A manufacturing lab in the new center will be named after Ace in recognition of its gift. The ECC foundation is seeking to raise $1.2 million toward the renovation project and tax credits are available to individuals and corporations who want to contribute. More than $5 million will be invested through various funds to purchase and renovate the new center that’s scheduled to be completed in late September.
Kevin Ijames Sr., Ace president, is proud to make this investment. “We often look to East Central College to provide training for our employees as well as new skilled employees from its manufacturing programs. This gift is an investment in our area’s youth, community and the manufacturing industry.”
Diana Ijames, Ace public relations director and an ECC Foundation board member, said the company is extremely excited and proud to partner with ECC on the project.
East Central College president Dr. Jon Bauer said he’s deeply grateful for this investment in the college’s students. “We are thrilled about this commitment from Ace Manufacturing and the Ijames family,” Bauer said. “This project is based on the need to provide highly qualified, highly skilled and highly needed graduates in these career and technical programs. This commitment shows that our employers share this vision.”
Shannon Grus, ECC Foundation executive director, said the Ace donation is the largest gift received so far in the campaign. “This gift is truly a testament of the commitment the Ijames family has to not only ECC, but to manufacturing in our community,” Grus said. “We are so grateful for their incredible generosity and their continued support of our students, faculty, facilities and programs.”
About the Building for Success campaign — An Initiative for Tomorrow’s Workforce
East Central College is approved to receive up to $600,000 in tax credits from the Missouri Development Finance Board to assist with fundraising efforts. Any taxpayer is entitled to the tax credits. Contributors will receive a 50 percent tax credit for their donation.
A donor can donate in three calendar years — 2016, 2017, and 2018 — and receive the credits. Each year’s credit can be carried forward for up to five years. All donations are tax-deductible and donors can make a one-time donation or pledge an amount to be paid over one to five years. Pledges, matching gifts from an employer, planned gifts in memory or in-kind donations will be accepted.
Capital donations of $1,000 or more will be recognized in a permanent location in the building. In addition to the naming opportunity for major gifts, the campaign has established additional contribution levels: $25,000 to $100,000, major gifts; $15,000 to $24,999, leadership gifts; $5,000 to $14,999, special gifts; and up to $4,999, general gifts. Visit www.eastcentral.edu/foundation for more information.
Photo Caption
Ace Manufacturing and Parts Co. in Sullivan donated $250,000 to the East Central College Foundation’s campaign to renovate the former Gala Center adjacent to the Union campus into a Business and Industry Center. Kevin Ijames Sr., second from right, Ace president, and his wife Diana, right, Ace public relations director, along with Kevin Ijames Jr., Administrative Manager, and his wife Stephanie, look over construction plans for the facility. Also pictured is Dr. Jon Bauer, East Central College president. The donation is the largest ever made to the college.
Chris Swanson will direct ECC’s production of Lanford Wilson’s Book of Days which will be presented Thursday-Saturday, October 6-8 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, October 9 at 2 p.m.
When murder roars through a small Missouri town, Ruth Hoch begins her own quest to find truth and honesty amid small town jealousies, religion, greed, and lies. This tornado of a play propels the audience like a page-turning mystery.
Northbound Prairie Dell Road is closed between Prairie Dell Plaza Drive/Audrey Lane and College Road. Prairie Dell Road will be restricted to southbound-only traffic on that section.
The detour for northbound drivers is Progress Parkway (through the Industrial Park). The driver would then turn left onto Denmark Road (at the firehouse) proceeding west past Tractor Supply, Arby’s and DQ to access the campus entrance at the roundabout.
Dealing with Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia – A thoughtful discussion with geriatric specialist Dr. Gregory Zydiak. Dr. Zydiak currently practices in Webster Groves and specializes in internal medicine and geriatrics.
Breakout sessions to follow:
Breakout #1: Life stories and engagement in Life
Breakout #2: Therapy and Wellness
Breakout #3: What to do when you find out a loved one is diagnosed
Success in athletics starts with hard work in the classroom at the intercollegiate level. The East Central College Athletic Department has proven this to be a fact again this year as all three teams collected academic awards and winning records.
The overall athletic department grade point average was 3.16 and the school set another record winning the Missouri Community College Athletic Conference Harold Oetting Academic All Sports Award for an unprecedented seventh consecutive year. Since the 2009-10 academic year, the ECC Athletic Department has held the highest overall GPA among conference schools. Individual teams and athletes have received numerous accolades. All three teams were honored by the NJCAA as All-Academic teams with grade point averages of 3.30 for volleyball, 3.24 for softball, and 3.0 for soccer.
Twelve student athletes were also recipients of NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Awards for their exceptional classroom performances with GPAs of 3.6 or better. Kayla Borcherding and Sarah Borgerding (women’s volleyball) received the Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence for achieving a 4.0 grade point average. Chelsea Delay (women’s volleyball) and softball players Dayla Gruenloh, Eden Henry, and Karissa Hoffman earned Superior Academic Achievement Award for overall GPAs of 3.80-3.99. Taylor Davis and Virginia Ward (women’s volleyball) were recognized for Exemplary Academic Achievement as were Kayla Kelly and Monica Kelley (women’s softball) and Zeke Little and Umoh Ufot (men’s soccer). Those six students achieved GPAs of 3.60-3.79.
Twenty-six students received Academic All-Conference honors for attaining grade point averages of 3.0 or high, while 23 ECC student athletes achieved Academic All-Region honor by earning GPAs of 3.25 or higher.
Dayla Gruenloh, center, infielder for the East Central College softball Falcons the past two seasons, was named the 2015-2016 Scholar Athlete at ECC. She is pictured with Debra Mann-Kurka, assistant softball coach, and Brad Wallach, head coach.
Gruenloh, a sophomore infielder for the Falcons, maintained a grade point average of 3.88 and was named ECC’s Scholar Athlete. Little was co-recipient of the Outstanding Student Award at ECC’s May commencement ceremony.
The softball team compiled a 28-22 record in 2016. The ECC soccer Falcons finished their season 16-4-1, advancing to the Region 16 final where they fell to Jefferson College. The volleyball team ended the season with a record of 24-20, losing to Northeastern Oklahoma A & M in the Region 16/District O semifinals.
“The consistency of team performance is truly dependent upon the work ethic of the coaches and players on the field and court along with their dedication to their studies,” noted Dr. Jay Mehrhoff, ECC athletic director.
National Junior College Athletic Association Honored Student Athletes
Kayla Bocherding — Women’s Volleyball Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence
Sarah Borgerding — Women’s Volleyball Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence
Dayla Gruenloh — Women’s Softball Superior Academic Achievement
Eden Henry — Women’s Softball Superior Academic Achievement
Karissa Hoffman — Women’s Softball Superior Academic Achievement
Chelsea Delay — Women’s Volleyball Superior Academic Achievement
Region 16 Academic All-Region (3.25 GPA or higher)
SOFTBALL
Shelby Friend, Dayla Gruenloh, Eden Henry, Karissa Hoffman, Monica Kelley, Kayla Kelly, and Lizzy Swindell
VOLLEYBALL
Kayla Borcherding, Sarah Borgerding, Taylor Davis, Samantha Deason, Chelsea DeLay, Alexis Olney, Olivia Strode, Mackenzy Vedder, and Virginia Ward
SOCCER
Andrei Ciot, Archibald Darko-Boateng, Matt Hampton, Jindu Israel-Bolarinwa, Zeke Little, Gavyn Prsha, and Umoh Ufot
Missouri Community College Athletic Conference
Academic All-Conference (3.0 GPA or higher)
SOFTBALL
Shelby Friend, Dayla Gruenloh, Eden Henry, Karissa Hoffman, Monica Kelley, Kayla Kelly, Lizzy Swindell, and Makala Trail
VOLLEYBALL
Kayla Borcherding, Sarah Borgerding, Taylor Davis, Samantha Deason, Chelsea DeLay, Samantha Kolo, Alexis Olney, Olivia Strode, Mackenzy Vedder, and Virginia Ward
SOCCER
Andrei Ciot, Archibald Darko-Boateng, Darren Hamilton, Matt Hampton, Jindu Israel-Bolarinwa, Zeke Little, Gavyn Prsha, and Umoh Ufot
Fontbonne University and East Central College recently signed an articulation agreement to create pathways to baccalaureate degrees in business, computer information systems, cybersecurity, social work, literary studies, communications and strategic communications at Fontbonne.
Fontbonne President J. Michael Pressimone and ECC President Jon Bauer signed the agreement following many meetings between faculty and staff at both schools.
“Agreements such as this improve educational access and attainment for students in our area,” said Pressimone. “We are pleased to be collaborating with East Central to achieve these important objectives.”
“This articulation agreement is a fantastic example of how institutions can work together for the benefit of our students, who then go forward and use their advanced education and training to further develop our workforce,” said Jean McCann, vice president of instruction at ECC. “Students from ECC’s district and service region will have the opportunity to pursue a wide variety of 2+2 transfer programs as well as access to scholarship opportunities at Fontbonne. A bachelor’s degree from Fontbonne can be attained at a greatly reduced cost when students complete their first two years at ECC.”
Staff at both institutions will work on promotional materials, transfer guides and other information useful to students as they explore transfer options. “We are excited about the level of collaboration that will continue as the degree pathways are explored and expanded,” stated McCann. Faculty at both institutions have met and are committed to an ongoing dialogue to provide the best transfer experience possible for ECC students.
Faculty and staff from St. Louis based Fontbonne University and East Central College were on hand when Fontbonne President J. Michael Pressimone (second from left, seated) and ECC President Jon Bauer (third from left, seated) signed an articulation agreement that will provide more opportunities for ECC students transferring to Fontbonne.
Students from six area high schools participated in East Central College’s second annual STEM Scholars Academy June 20-24.
The Academy gave students the opportunity to work with ECC faculty on activities related to science, technology, engineering and math.
“We touched on a variety of topics each day,” noted Fatemeh Nichols, chair of ECC’s science and engineering division. “First we covered lab safety, college success and scientific methods. Then the students moved on to activities in physics, engineering, ecology, microbial biotechnology, programming and physiology. Engineering, physics and computer science were new topics to the STEM Academy this year.” The students selected an ECC instructor who will serve as their mentor as they work on a STEM related project during the upcoming school year.
“I was pleased with the willingness of the students to challenge themselves in the activities,” Nichols stated. “During the physics session they were apprehensive about the math, but an hour later they were designing and building bridges. The interest and determination of these students really makes me excited about future generations going into STEM fields.”
Participating students included: Calista LeBrell – Hermann High School; Kallista Stubblefield – New Haven High School; Jacob Hawkins, Jacob Jungbluth, Dillon Shadrick, and Trey Wideman – St. Clair High School; Alex Hanneken, Owen Karl, Clarissa Krimmel, Cole Parsons, and Lucas Pyatt – Union High School; Jonathan Mitchell – Warrenton High School; and Rachel Bauche and Trent Althen – Washington High School.
Nichols plans to offer the Academy next year to a new group of students who will be entering their sophomore or junior year in the fall of 2017.
Fourteen area high school students participated in East Central College’s Summer STEM Academy June 20-24. ECC faculty members worked with the students on activities and experiments related to science, technology, engineering, and math. Shown, front row, left to right, seated: Rachel Bauche, Trent Althen, Calista LeBrell, Kallista Stubblefield, and Jonathan Mitchell. Second row: Jacob Hawkins, Trey Wideman, Jacob Jungbluth, and Dillon Shadrick. Back row: Alex Hanneken, Lucas Pyatt, Cole Parsons, Owen Karl, and Clarissa Krimmel.
