Category: Campus News

Ribbon Cutting Marks New Era at East Central College

October 5, 2016 | Campus News

East Central College faculty and staff, community leaders and business partners will be on hand October 20 at 4 p.m. for the ribbon cutting of the new Business and Industry Center located at 42 Prairie Dell Plaza in Union. The public is also invited to take tours of the new $5 million facility.

The Business and Industry Center (BIC) will serve as the new home of ECC’s precision machining, industrial engineering technology and HVAC programs. Lab and classroom space to accommodate short-term welding programs are also planned for the building. The college’s Center for Workforce Development also will be located in the facility, which will allow for the expansion of training opportunities.

“This project truly marks the beginning of an exciting chapter at East Central College,” said ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer. “It will not only create more career opportunities for our students but will serve as the workforce training provider for our region’s business and industry.”

Growth in jobs over the next several years, regionally, statewide and nationally, will take place primarily in technical careers that require an associate degree and certifications. The 28,808 square foot building will prepare students for this growing workforce and help companies become more competitive through training of existing employees.

The funding for the building is comprised of a $1.2 million Economic Development Administration grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, a $1 Million USDA Rural Economic Development loan, the ECC Foundation’s capital campaign and institutional funding.

To learn more about the business and industry programs at East Central College, visit eastcentral.edu/business.

East Central College Hosts Inaugural Journalism Summit

October 5, 2016 | Campus News

On Sat., Sept. 24, East Central College and Washington High School (WHS) journalism departments partnered with the Missouri Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA) and SchoolJournalism.org to host their inaugural ECC Journalism Summit.

ECC English and Journalism instructor Leigh Kolb and WHS Blue Jay Journal TV adviser Michelle Turner invited Franklin County students to learn about journalism, mass media and ECC’s partnership with the Missouri School of Journalism.

“We love showing students how valuable and diverse the field of journalism is and how many opportunities are available for students to develop their skills at East Central College,” Kolb said, “especially with our transfer agreement with the University of Missouri’s Missouri School of Journalism.”

Various professionals spoke at the event to bring real-world journalism to the classroom. Students learned about photography, compelling storytelling, tech trends, media literacy and more. Guest-speakers included E-Missourian Photojournalist Jeanne Miller Wood, St. Clair English Instructor Kara Bell and 93.7 The Bull Radio Host Hemmy.

Turner is eager to see how students who attended will apply journalism skills in the classroom. “We want the students who attended to take what they learned back to their respective schools and improve their journalism programs,” Turner said. “Journalism has great power to enrich lives and inform our communities. In my 21 years of teaching the subject, I have seen students grow on many levels by being a part of scholastic journalism.”

MIPA President Christina Geabhart hopes students the Summit will inspire others to become involved in local journalism outlets in their school or community. “One of MIPA’s goals this year was to increase outreach throughout the state. This fall event helped students and teachers find resources and skills to help them during the school year,” Geabhart said.

New Class Schedules Launching in 2017

October 4, 2016 | Campus News

An exciting change is coming to East Central College next year. During the October Board of Trustees meeting, an overview of new schedule offerings was presented to offer 14 week and weekend courses and increasing the number of 8-week courses during the spring semester of 2017 was approved. Currently, only 16-week courses are offered.

“We are also increasing the number of courses in the evening,” said Vice President of Instruction Dr. Tia Robinson. “We want to develop a schedule that accommodates our working students and students with families.”

Starting times will also change in 2017. Classes will start at the top of every hour to provide more consistency and encourage efficiency in our classrooms.

“Predictable scheduling helps manage enrollment trends,” added Dr. Robinson. “Aligning classes also promotes student retention.”

The new schedule system will deter competing electives from being offered at the same time, encourage students to stay on track to graduate and will make future course planning at ECC easier.

“This is at the heart of what we do every day,” said President Dr. Jon Bauer. “This is about creating the best possible learning environment for our students.”

Moving forward, ECC will modify schedule blocks. Monday/Wednesday/Friday classes will be replaced with Monday/Wednesday, Tuesday/Thursday or Friday schedules.

Additionally, entire programs will be offered exclusively during the evening, online and/or on Saturday.

After the presentation, the Board of Trustees approved tuition rates for the 2017-2018 academic year. The In-district tuition will increase $4 per credit hour to $80, out-of-district tuition will increase by $6 per credit hour to $117 and out-of-state tuition will increase $8 per credit hour to $176.

“East Central College remains one of the most affordable community colleges in Missouri,” said Dr. Bauer. “It is our goal to maintain a quality education for our students.”

To learn more about what East Central College has to offer, visit eastcentral.edu.

ECC Recognizes Employees at Annual Banquet

October 4, 2016 | Campus News

Each year, East Central College recognizes the hard work and dedication of our employees. We value their commitment to our students’ needs and their educational goals.

The Annual Service Awards Recognition banquet honors those that have been with ECC for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 40 years! Thank you for all you do!

40 Years – Bob Mahon
30 Years – Brenda Garrison, Robbie Weseman
25 Years – Sharon Jost
20 Years – Stephanie Buchholz
15 Years – Miguel De Aguero, Russ Henderson, Sarah Johnson, Karen Klos, Melissa Popp, Debbie Smiliy, Cindy Tinsley
10 Years – Ellen Aramburu, Christina Ayres, Melanie Dixon, Sheila Flynn, Wendy Hartmann, Ann Lause, Cindy Maune, Donna Thomas, Adam Watkins, Alice Whalen, Beth Winters-Rozema
5 Years – Ervin Aitch, Julie Apperson, Nathan Esbeck, Tim Gray, Sarah Havens, Isaiah Kellogg, Donna Kennedy, Mike Lindemann, Jason Manhart, Lisa Mathes-Peters, Debra Michel, Gail Witt

A special thank you to the ECC Culinary Department for providing a delicious meal at the event!

#InspiringExcellence – Two ECC Alumni Named “Outstanding Young Professionals”

October 3, 2016 | Campus News Inspiring Excellence

#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.

Domestic Violence Forum with Maggie Menefee – October 6

September 26, 2016 | Campus News

Please join the ECC Psychology and Sociology Departments as they host a free forum for the community on Thursday, October 6.

The event will start with a memorial walk from 4:45 – 5:30 p.m. outside the Health Science Building.

After the walk, keynote speaker Maggie Menefee, executive director for A.L.I.V.E St. Louis, will discuss the history of domestic violence. She’ll dive into the last 26 years at society’s response to domestic violence and how current response attitudes continue.

Breakout sessions will follow from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. and will rotate every half hour. Topics include responding to a domestic violence police call, children being exposed to violence and sexting, texting and cyberstalking.

For more information, call Bill Cunningham at 636-584-6651 or email William.cunningham@eastcentral.edu.

Friends of the Library Book Sale Open to Public

September 21, 2016 | Campus News

ECC is holding its annual “Friends of the Library Book Sale” on Oct. 10-12 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The sale helps raise funds for college activities and provides affordable reading options for the public.

Rather than paying full price for a used book online, ECC Library Services Director Lisa Farrell encourages students and community members alike to stop by. “We’ve seen many great fiction titles go quickly for 50 cents a paperback and $1.00 for hardbacks, including textbooks – it’s quite a steal.” The cost of each book ranges from 50 cents to one dollar. Sale items range from fiction and non-fiction books, recent magazines, and popular movies.

Donations from the public are being accepted through Sept. 30 with a request that Readers’ Digest or Encyclopedia sets not be sent. Various donations include fiction and non-fiction books, recent magazines, and popular movies.

Friends of the Library allocates book sale funds to support free raffle drawings during Falcon Fest, snacks during finals week, and additional movies for the circulating collection.

For more information about the event, visit eastcentral.edu or call 636.584.6560.

#InspiringExcellence – Culinary Arts Instructor Awarded Chef of the Year

September 21, 2016 | Campus News Inspiring Excellence

#InspiringExcellence – Culinary Arts Instructor Awarded Chef of the Year

Chef Mike Palazzola, Certified Executive Chef (CEC), competed in the Chef of the Year Culinary Challenge on August 21, where he placed first. He was one of three chefs nominated to compete by the ACF committee out of the pool of CECs in the St. Louis Chefs de Cuisine. With his achievement, the ACF St. Louis Chefs de Cuisine Association awarded him with the title 2017 Chef of the Year.

“I was honored to even be nominated to compete,” Palazzola said. “It wasn’t going to matter to me if I won or not anymore because I had made it this far. I thank everyone that brought me closer to my success.”

Palazzola began his fourth year as a culinary instructor this year at ECC. In addition to this award, he has won Internationale Kochkunst Ausstellung (IKA) gold and silver medals from the 2008 International Culinary Exhibition in Germany. Palazzola has also competed in numerous regional and national competitions around the country.
A gala dinner honoring Palazzola for his achievement will be on Sunday, November 13 at 7 p.m at the Four Seasons Hotel in St. Louis.

Preparing for the Future – Students Come to ECC for College Fair

September 21, 2016 | Campus News

Nearly a thousand students descended on East Central College on September 20 to get a glimpse into the future. Seventy-five colleges and universities took part in the annual ECC College Fair, giving students a chance to get information about furthering their education after high school.

“It’s not just about getting information,” said ECC Director of Admissions Nathaniel Mitchell. “It’s about exploring options and learning the culture and values of each institution.”

At ECC, we pride ourselves on meeting the needs of our students and ensuring their successful transition after they graduate. We want to thank Cuba, Bourbon, St. Francis Borgia, Steelville, Union, St. Clair and Washington high schools for taking part in the event.

As a public, co-educational community college, ECC maintains an open-door policy of accepting all students interested in obtaining a college education. We offer a select group of academic programs where admission is limited and competitive.

Find out more about why East Central College might be right for you.

Falcon Spirit Week – September 23-30

September 16, 2016 | Campus News

We will be celebrating our ECC pride, with Falcon Spirit Week September 23 – 30 !

There will be a Student / Staff / Faculty Photo Contest held throughout the week ! … Look for the photo contest posters around campus. Use #InspiringExcellence on social media to participate and win!

Scheduled Events:

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 – FLANK THE FIELD 2:45PM – Lower Parking Lot – Tailgate with us before the ECC Men’s Soccer Game vs. JeffCo! Free t-shirts, food and a few prizes!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 -BIG MACHINES 4 8:00AM-2:00PM – Lower Parking Lot – Check out trucks, tractors, police cars and more at this free library sponsored event.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 – FALCON SPIRIT DAY All Day – Campus Wide ! – Get caught wearing ECC’s logo by faculty and staff and win prizes!

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 – FALCON FEST HERO 12:00PM – Shook Lawn – Try your luck at a physical and mental obstacle course!

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 – FALCON FEST 10:00AM-2:00PM – Shook Lawn – The theme for this year is “Comic-Con.”Dress up in your best cosplay outfit, play games and win prizes!

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 – JAM THE GYM 5:45PM – Gym – The Lady Falcon’s Volleyball team vs. the STLCC Archers! Come support the team and get free refreshments and a t-shirt!

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 – FACULTY/STAFF VS. STUDENTS KICKBALL GAME 3:30PM – Shook Lawn – Students will square off against the faculty and staff in the Falcon Spirit Week Kickball Game! Sign-up by emailing courtney.henrichsen@eastcentral.edu.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 – GOLF TOURNAMENT 12:00PM – Off-campus – Join the ECC Alumni Association and Athletic Department for the annual golf tournament