East Central College Rolla’s first-year nursing students took a significant step in their healthcare journey during Clinical Orientation Day, held on Sept. 26.
Following this orientation, the students began their clinical rotations on Oct. 1, onsite at the St. James Veterans Home.
Wearing their professional uniforms, these students have officially started their hands-on training, a crucial component of ECC’s nursing program.
Clinicals, conducted at local healthcare facilities like the St. James Veterans Home, provide real-world experience that complements classroom learning and equips students with the skills needed for a successful nursing career.
As they dive into their first semester, these students will gain invaluable experience caring for veterans and applying their knowledge in a real-world setting.
For more information about the ECC Nursing program, visit www.eastcentral.edu/allied-health/nursing, or contact Nancy Mitchell, Director of Nursing and Dean of Health Science, at Nancy.Mitchell@eastcentral.edu.
East Central College’s Summer Learning Academy (SLA) welcomed 611 students this year in more than 100 classes in Union and Rolla.
There were 446 students participating in Union and 165 students in Rolla, resulting in 1,015 total enrollments across the service region.
SLA provides enriching, educational, and fun classes at no cost for children and teens ages 5-18. The academy ran from July 8 through Aug. 8.
A total of 718 seats were filled in Union, and 297 enrollments were in Rolla. Many students enrolled in more than one class, contributing to the total number of enrollments.
Here is what SLA students said about the classes:
“I enjoyed learning a new skill that I will definitely use in the future.”
“Entertaining and fun class. Very educational.”
“I had a wonderful time. Seeing the finished project was my favorite part.”
“I enjoyed the class. I liked using my creativity to my advantage. Being with my friends and getting to make many things was my favorite part of the class.”
“I love to crochet! Please offer this class again next year. You can’t make it better—it’s already perfect.”
“I met amazing people and really vibed with the teacher.”
More SLA Comments
Parents of the children who attended classes, like Patrick Pigeon, also expressed their appreciation for SLA.
“This is a great opportunity for our son to stay engaged and learn something new over the summer. Keep those classes coming,” he said.
Elaine Grover shared that her grandson thrived in the Colors Galore class and learned from the Internet Safety class.
“Excellent classes—my grandson had a great time and learned a lot in both classes,” she said. “The projects in Colors Galore were especially enjoyed, particularly the ‘stained glass’ project. He’s still talking about how to rate passwords from the Internet Safety class.”
Another parent expressed gratitude for the free, educational offerings.
“Our children have participated in the program for several years. It’s wonderful that they are exposed to a variety of subjects and classes that you wouldn’t find anywhere else,” she said. “I’d like to thank the taxpayers and sponsors. It’s really great that these classes are free—we need more of this!”
Pam Kaiser, program coordinator for the Center for Workforce Development, said the goal of the Summer Learning Academy is to offer a diverse range of enriching and engaging classes for the entire college service region.
“I love seeing the happy and enthusiastic faces of both students and parents. Year after year, I’m so proud of every class we offer,” Kaiser said. “It’s wonderful to have classes led by community members and our own ECC community.
“Many of these classes even provide a preview of the quality credit courses students can take in the future at ECC,” she added. “The instructors are incredible and passionate about what they teach—sometimes it’s hard to tell who’s having more fun, the students or the instructors!”
SLA Sponsors
SLA was free for participants this year thanks to the generosity of sponsors, including local Taco Bell restaurants and their parent company, W&M Restaurants; Rotary Clubs of Franklin County (Sullivan, Union, and Washington); local Jimmy John’s restaurants; and the ECC Foundation.
“It never ceases to amaze me how generous our sponsors are, allowing us to continue offering these classes at no cost to the youth in our ECC communities in Union and Rolla. It truly gives students an amazing experience,” Kaiser said.
Additional SLA sponsors include 3R RV Service Center, Bank of Washington, Bank of Franklin County, Brewer Science, Central Methodist University, Edward Jones — Andrew Clary, First State Community Bank, Mercy, Pepsi, Phelps County Bank, and Union Lions Club.
On Wednesday, Sept. 18, area high school students are invited to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) degrees and career pathways offered by East Central College and Missouri S&T. The event will take place in the ECC Theatre in Hansen Hall from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Math & Science Career Night is hosted by ECC with special guests from Missouri S&T. Current high school students and East Central College students are encouraged to attend to discover STEM degrees and career paths, and to meet with faculty and students from both institutions across various fields, from Engineering to Biology and beyond.
Please fill out this form to RSVP or email Alison Tucker, STEM Recruitment and Success Coordinator, at alison.tucker@eastcentral.edu or by calling 636-584-6677.
Students will hear firsthand accounts of what it’s like to work in STEM fields and gain insights into the careers of tomorrow. For example, ECC Engineering student Ryah Cullom, who attended Math & Science Career Night as a high school senior, shared her experience:
“I found the activities to be helpful and geared toward influencing the students to pursue this career. The teachers were very welcoming, and they strived to create a dedicated environment,” she said. “I enjoyed talking to the Engineering department because it reassured me that this major will help me to be successful in terms of lifestyle and the responsibilities of each job.”
Attendees will also receive advice on which high school classes will best prepare them for STEM degrees in college. Parents are also welcome to attend.
Additionally, several door prizes will be awarded, including a Texas Instruments TI-84 calculator.
ECC and Missouri S&T faculty from various STEM fields — ranging from Engineering to Biology and more — will be available to discuss students’ interests and potential career paths.
“STEM Career Night gives students an opportunity to mingle with faculty and students in a variety of STEM programs,” said Tucker. “ECC and S&T have enjoyed a strong relationship for over 40 years, including hosting this event for the past 25 years. We understand that students and parents appreciate the chance to ask questions and learn how to be best prepared for a STEM career path, no matter where they transfer.”
The ceremony was held at the Hasselmann Alumni House Grand Hall at Missouri University of Science & Technology in Rolla. The pinning ceremony is a time-honored tradition in nursing programs, signifying the graduate’s initiation into the sisterhood and brotherhood of nurses.
The nine graduates are Shelby Pogue, Alexandra Ferguson, Emma Politte, Cassidy Cunningham, Jessie Ball, Jessica Cook, Samantha Roman, Katelyn Schafer, and Brandy Barnes.
This is the second group of LPN students to complete the program at ECC, which took over sponsorship of the LPN program from Rolla Public Schools in August 2022.
Opening remarks were given by Michelle Chick, Practical Nursing Program Director, followed by a welcome from ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer. Student remarks were provided by Katelyn Schafer.
ECC alumna Abby Blanc, RN, and Family Nurse Practitioner with Phelps Health, was the guest speaker. Chick and Jessica Fischer, Practical Nursing Clinical Coordinator, presented the pins to the students.
Alexandra Ferguson
Jessica Cook
The Practical Nursing Program Outstanding Nursing Student Award was presented to Alexandra Ferguson, and the Phelps Health Clinical Excellence Award was presented to Jessica Cook.
Student closing remarks were given by Cassidy Cunningham; and Christina Ayres, Director of ECC Rolla, concluded the program with her comments.
The original Practical Nursing program was established by Rolla Public Schools in 1967. Over 56 years, the program graduated over 1,250 students. The LPN program is an 11-month certificate program, spanning three semesters, and admits up to 20 students each fall semester. Upon graduation, students will take the licensure exam to become an LPN.
Eight students have graduated from the inaugural class of East Central College’s Phelps Law Enforcement Training Center (LETC) and have already joined local law enforcement agencies.
A ceremony was held on July 26 to recognize this milestone, marking the culmination of three years of preparation to address the regional need for local officer training.
The graduates, certified by the Department of Public Safety’s Peace Officer Standards and Training Program (POST) and having passed the Missouri Peace Officer License Exam, received badges from their hiring agencies during the ceremony. The graduates and their respective agencies are:
Aesa Al-Jurany, Rolla — Crawford County Sheriff’s Department
Luke Carnahan, Crocker — Waynesville Police Department
Michael Davis, Rolla — Phelps County Sheriff’s Department
James Henson, Rolla — Rolla Police Department
Alexander Krakuszeski, Rolla — Rolla Police Department
Hunter Solomon, Waynseville — Phelps County Sheriff’s Department
Stanley Taylor, Jr., Licking — Phelps County Sheriff’s Department
Jay Yelton, Rolla — Phelps County Sheriff’s Department
Since August 2023, the graduates have worked toward a Certificate of Achievement in Law Enforcement from ECC and have the option to complete additional general education requirements to earn an Associate of Applied Science in Law Enforcement.
ECC Rolla Director and LETC Director, Christina Ayres, applauded the graduates.
“I commend you for the dedication and perseverance you have shown to your educational journey. We’ve seen your grit, resilience, hope, and gratitude,” she said. “My wish for each of you is that you wear your well-earned badge with honor and commitment to the department and communities that you serve.”
Meeting Our Mission
ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer emphasized the LETC as a prime example of the college’s mission to meet community needs.
ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer
“The LETC at ECC is the perfect illustration of that mission. Law enforcement officials came to the College with a critical need — there were no good options for individuals to train for a career in law enforcement in this region,” he said.
“Their question was at once simple and profound: Could East Central College help? Consistent with our mission to serve our communities and our strategic priority of expanding in Rolla, the answer was an easy and enthusiastic, Yes!”
The LETC was established through the efforts of Phelps County Sheriff Michael Kirn, Rolla Police Maj. William Loughridge, and Ayres.
Since August 2021, they have worked to address barriers for employers and future officers by reducing travel and lodging costs and decreasing lengthy commutes, allowing students to attend training while maintaining their current responsibilities.
The program also ensures that quality candidates familiar with the community are trained locally, fostering greater interest and retention. LETC students benefit from federal financial aid, scholarships, and support services, and the program exceeds state requirements by offering more training hours.
Alexander Krakuszeski
Student Awards
LETC graduate Alexander Krakuszeski received the 2023-2024 Outstanding Law Enforcement Student Award for his professionalism, positive attitude, work ethic, and teamwork.
A faculty member noted, “Throughout the entire academy training, he consistently stepped up into a mentor role, he encouraged teamwork from all recruits, and whenever he noticed someone struggling with PT or one of the other core classes or assignments, he always stepped up. He showed true professionalism, he led by example, he offered encouragement, support, and he demonstrated to his classmates how to be more successful.”
Luke Carnahan
Additionally, Krakuszeski was presented with the Marksmanship Excellence Award and Academic Excellence Award. Luke Carnahan received the Physical Fitness Excellence Award, and Hunter Solomon and Stanley Taylor, Jr. were recognized for perfect attendance.
For more information about the program, visit www.eastcentral.edu/LETC, or contact LETC@eastcentral.edu or 573-202-6960.
Layla Watson enrolled in East Central College’s Surgical Technology program in Rolla because she always wanted to be part of an operating room team.
“I’ve always been intrigued by surgery,” she said. “The surgical tech classes at ECC explore all the different types of surgeries in depth, and they have so much class participation.”
Watson, 21, of Waynesville, is conducting clinicals at Lake Regional Hospital, where she plans to remain and begin a career as a certified surgical technician. From there, she plans to continue her education and eventually return to a surg tech classroom to teach future members of operating room teams.
Watson and her classmates in ECC’s Surgical Technology program are poised to enter the workforce with many occupational options. Jennifer Wall, Surgical Technology Program Director, said there are numerous openings in the field, giving surg tech graduates various job opportunities.
“Most of our hospitals have more openings than any one program could fill in the next five years,” Wall said, adding, “With the nationwide shortage, our program is an integral part of the community.”
Additionally, Wall said there are many areas in health care that surgical technicians can pursue, including hospital surgery units, outpatient surgery centers, labor and delivery, dentists or oral surgeons, veterinary offices, or traveling companies. Some graduates, like Watson, will pursue an advanced degree.
“Surgical technologists can obtain a position that allows for an accommodating schedule that makes further education possible,” Wall commented.
Surge Tech at ECC
Surgical Technology is a “1 plus 1” degree program that requires one year of general education, followed by three semesters of surgical technology courses and clinicals. In the program, students learn concepts of aseptic technique, instrumentation, surgical procedures, and patient care. They are trained to anticipate the surgeon’s needs and assist throughout the procedure, making them a vital member of the operating room team.
Clinical sites ECC students attend extend across the state, including hospitals and surgery centers in Jefferson City, Columbia, Osage Beach, Springfield, Lebanon, Rolla, Sullivan, Washington, Festus, Farmington, and St. Louis.
The Surgical Technology program, under ECC since Fall 2022, is taught at the Rolla Technical Center under the guidance of two full-time certified instructors. Graduates earn an Associate of Applied Science degree and are eligible to take the national licensure exam by the NBSTSA.
Wall said she’s proud of the program’s perfect pass rate on the certification exam last year and 100 percent job placement over the past decade.
“Since this certification is national, our students can go anywhere in the United States and find employment,” she added. “Our graduates typically have many offers before graduation.”
Procedural drop-in that students use when training with the positioning and procedure manikin
State-of-the-Art Training
The Surgical Technology program recently received a new Positioning and Procedure Manikin to simulate the use of surgical tools in a lifelike model. The manikin’s realistic surface closely resembles the layers of human skin and is reinforced for suturing, allowing students to train with scalpels and other tools.
The manikin features an adhesive mixture within the skin that closes a “wound” and allows for additional training for many years to come. Additionally, the program received a flat abdominal skin topper, a procedural drop-in, and an insufflated skin topper to simulate laparoscopy.
Watson was the first Surg Tech student to use the new manikin.
The manikin’s realistic surface closely resembles the layers of human skin and is reinforced for suturing, allowing students to train with scalpels and other tools.
“It gives us a real sense of human anatomy during surgery and the layers of skin when opening and closing,” she said. “The laparoscopic belly is pretty accurate too, which is good because a lot of belly cases in real-world scenarios are done laparoscopically.”
Watson noted that the equipment provides additional functions that previous equipment could not.
“We’ll be able to actually move the manikin’s extremities for draping techniques,” she added. “Overall, it’ll give a better idea of patient handling in the operating room and the steps during procedures.”
The manikin was purchased through a Vocational Enhancement Grant.
‘Truly Flourishing’
Watson will be the first on her mother’s side of the family to graduate college — an accomplishment she and her family are proud of.
“Maintaining the work/life balance while still trying to reach my goals has been a challenge,” she noted. “It is worth it though.
“I love everything that I have been taught and I am continuing to learn. My motivation within the program is to better myself and to go the extra mile,” Watson added. “I feel as though I am becoming the person I am meant to be — I am truly flourishing in this program.”
For more information on the Surgical Technology program, visit eastcentral.edu/pathway/ or contact Nancy Mitchell, Dean of Health Science, at Nancy.Mitchell@eastcentral.edu or 636-584-6619.
East Central College Thursday announced the acquisition of a building in Rolla, providing the opportunity for the college to consolidate its operations into a single facility.
State funds specifically appropriated for the project were used for the purchase.
College officials said a single, comprehensive facility will better serve students and enable ECC to grow its programs and services.
ECC purchased the building that now houses the United States Geological Survey operations in Rolla. The purchase price was $5.1 million. The 107,000 square-foot facility is located at 1400 Independence in Rolla.
The USGS has operated in the building since 1974. The agency will continue to operate in the facility at least until February 2025 through its current lease. That may be extended, as ECC begins work to design the renovation of the facility for use as a community college.
“This is a momentous and historic time for East Central College and the Phelps County region,” said Dr. Jon Bauer, ECC president. “Rolla is a key strategic priority for us to greatly enhance educational opportunities throughout the ECC service region. Our mission is to better the lives of our community members through education, and this is a big step forward to accomplishing that goal.”
ECC, a comprehensive community college based in Union, has operated in Rolla since 1995 and currently operates in two facilities. The college leases space from the Rolla Public Schools at the Rolla Technical Center and leases a building located at 2303 North Bishop Road. The College will move out of the two spaces once its newly acquired facility is fully renovated.
The engineering firm Cochran, based in Union, was utilized to assess the building for renovation and construction costs. A preliminary schedule calls for renovations to begin in mid-2025 and for the facility to open to students in 2027. Mike Woessner of Investment Realty was the agent on the transaction.
State and federal funding approved for the project includes $13 million from the State of Missouri and $3 million earmarked by Congress through the Department of Health and Human Services. The upcoming state budget includes an additional $3.5 million in state funds through the MO Excels program for a Center for Advanced Manufacturing. The FY25 state budget awaits the Governor’s signature.
The state and federal funding ECC has received for the Rolla facility can only be used for this project. Additional funding through grants, foundations and other sources will be pursued.
Bauer expressed gratitude for the support from former Sen. Roy Blunt, who sponsored the federal earmark for this project, and from Gov. Mike Parson and the legislature for the state funds.
The Rolla region is part of the college’s state-designated service region, but outside of its taxing district.
“No local property tax funds will be used for designing and renovating the facility,” added Bauer. “Securing state and federal funding for this project made it possible.”
Students living outside of the ECC taxing district pay a higher rate of tuition than those living inside the college taxing district, because those students do not pay local property taxes to support the college. Much of the state’s land mass is located outside one of Missouri’s 12 community college districts. Service regions enable the community colleges to serve those areas and recoup costs through higher tuition.
One facility provides East Central with the ability to better serve students and the Phelps County area.
“Our facilities have served us well to this point, but there are challenges. Students find themselves driving between the facilities to attend classes. That limits options for scheduling, and it means they may not be in a building where other services are available,” said Bauer. “One permanent facility provides an accommodating class schedule, enhanced student and academic services, and the ability to grow programs to serve area business and industry.”
Once renovations to the building are complete, the facility will house ECC Rolla’s current academic programs and student services, a new advanced manufacturing center, and space for Certified Nurse Assistant, Certified Medical Technician, and GED programs.
Bauer said the facility also provides ample space for strategic partners such as colleges offering complementary bachelor’s degree completion programs, service providers, and others.
“Our vision is for the building to serve the needs of the region in a comprehensive fashion, primarily through the programs and services offered by East Central, but also by those offered by partners who would like to operate in the building,” Bauer said.
More information about program and service offerings at ECC Rolla is available at www.eastcentral.edu/Rolla.
East Central College recognizes students who have demonstrated exemplary academic achievement each semester.
Upon completion of between six and 11 spring semester credit hours with a semester grade point average of 3.5 or greater, students are acknowledged on the Dean’s List.
There were 184 students named to the Dean’s List from the Spring 2024 semester.
Each semester, East Central College recognizes students who have demonstrated superior academic achievement.
Upon completion of at least 12 semester credit hours with a Spring semester grade point average between 3.50 and 3.84, students are acknowledged by placement on the Vice President’s List.
For the Spring 2024 semester, there were 179 students on the list.
East Central College recognizes students who have demonstrated exemplary academic achievement each semester.
Upon completion of at least 12 Spring semester credit hours with a semester grade point average of 3.85 or greater, students are acknowledged on the President’s List.
There were 127 students named to the list from the Spring 2024 semester.
