Each semester, East Central College recognizes students who have demonstrated superior academic achievement.
Upon completion of at least 12 semester credit hours with a semester grade point between 3.50 and 3.84, students are acknowledged by placement on the Vice President’s List. For the Spring 2018 semester, there were more than 160 students on the list!
The Center for Workforce Development (CWD) at East Central College is hosting an event to recruit talented community members to assist the department with providing workforce training programs.
A talent fair will be held Thursday, June 7, 10 a.m.-7 p.m at the Business and Industry Center, 42 Prairie Dell Plaza Drive in Union, located southeast of the main ECC Campus.
CWD is looking to hire part-time trainers to use their skills and abilities to teach short-term training programs for the region’s local business and industry. The department provides workforce training to local businesses in various time periods of days, weeks or months.
“There is a wealth of talent in our area that hasn’t been fully tapped”, says Joel Doepker, Vice President of External Relations, “In addition to current workers, there are retirees from our local manufacturers, banks, health care and other industries that have the skills, knowledge and experience to train the current workforce.”
A range of skills are needed in a variety of areas such as safety training, industrial maintenance, customer service training, Welding, Microsoft Office and other possibilities. A degree or certificate isn’t required as experience is highly desired. The CWD staff will help design the training plans and provide teaching guidelines.
For more information contact Cindy Brinker at 636-649-5803 or training@eastcentral.edu.
Nearly 30 years ago, Ron Unnerstall helped found Washington Engineering and Architecture. Today, the company’s influence can be seen around Franklin County and beyond. Its portfolio is vast – from the Washington Public Safety Building to the new Heat and Control facility in Union.
Unnerstall has used his engineering knowledge over the years to help serve the community. His firm has donated services to help local organizations with projects big and small. Outside of work, he volunteers his personal time to help those around him. He’s an inspiration to those who know him, and it’s why he’s been chosen as the East Central College 2018 Outstanding Alumni! The award is presented annually to honor an ECC graduate who has used his or her education and been of service to the community.
“It’s a great honor to win this award,” Unnerstall explained. “I know there are thousands of other East Central College alumni who are deserving of this award as well.”
After graduating from St. Francis Borgia Regional High School in 1975, Unnerstall enrolled in East Central College’s pre-engineering program. “It was really just getting off the ground at the time,” explained Unnerstall, “but my instructors were dedicated, passionate people who helped me get to where I am today.”
In 1977, he transferred to the University of Missouri-Columbia where he earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1979. “At the time, we were still using punch cards to write code,” he said. “I still remember getting my first programmable calculator – which was an engineering marvel at the time!”
After college, he returned home. He began his career in engineering at a major construction company in St. Louis. The position would eventually move him to Ohio, where he spent several years.
“My wife and I got a little homesick,” he remembers. So, he returned to Missouri, working at different engineering jobs in the area. However, travel was becoming burdensome. It was at that time when Unnerstall decided to venture out on his own. In 1989, Washington Engineering and Architecture opened for business.
Since that time, the company has experienced success. They’ve used it to help others along the way. Unnerstall’s firm has offered free design services to organizations like St. Francis Borgia and the Washington Town and Country Fair. His efforts haven’t gone unnoticed as he was named the St. Francis Borgia High School Knight of the Year in 2013 and was named Grand Marshal of the Washington Town and Country Fair in 2012.
Unnerstall not only volunteers professional services but his personal time. He’s served on various committees at St. Francis Borgia as well as the school board. He has also volunteered on the Washington Town and Country Fair Board, eventually becoming chairman of the event in 1998. Additionally, he served as president of the East Central College Alumni Association and as a board member for the East Central College Foundation. He also served on the Franklin County Building Commission as chairman and is involved in the Knights of Columbus, Elks Lodge and Lions Club.
Unnerstall and his wife Donna are parents to four girls and have six grandchildren. He currently enjoys spending time with his family and playing drums in the Washington Brass Band.
The East Central College Alumni Association established the award in 2002 to recognize outstanding alumni who have set an example for ECC graduates by using their college education and serving their community. Past recipients include: Tanya Voss, John Griesheimer, Tom Robertson, Chris Manhart, Deborah Koelling, Tammy Watz, Dr. Frank Miller, Ken Schmidt, Chris Stuckenschneider, Ann Schroeder, Ted Coburn, Linda Mahon, Joe Purschke, Amy Wildhaber, Tony Kreutz. Dave Arand and Audrey Freitag.
It’s rare to find Jonathon Stone without a smile on his face. His enthusiasm and positive attitude are contagious. It’s no surprise that he excels as an East Central College Student Ambassador – giving tours and sharing his knowledge with potential students.
“His ability to connect with prospective students and parents has been an invaluable resource to East Central College,” explained Sara Marler, East Central College Admissions Representative. “Jonathon is highly praised by those he works with and is always humble about the praise he receives. He has been an excellent representative of East Central College.”
His hard work and dedication to the college are part of the reason why he was chosen as the 2018 Outstanding Student Award winner at the 47th Annual Spring Commencement.
“Jonathon brings joy to my days,” said Shelli Allen, Vice President of Student Affairs. “The youth, energy and positivity that he brings into the workplace infects all of us. He shows up on time each day, ready to take on whatever new or different tasks await.”
The Outstanding Student Award is the highest award given to an East Central College graduate. It is awarded to one student who embodies academic excellence and contributes to the life of the campus community. The honoree is selected by a vote of the faculty and staff who thoughtfully consider academic achievements as well as extracurricular involvement.
To be considered for the honor, an ECC student must have maintained a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Participation in campus and community activities are also considered.
In addition to his role as a Student Ambassador, the Villa Ridge native was also a member of the Student Government Association and Phi Theta Kappa. Outside of East Central College, Jonathon is passionate about helping others. He volunteers with Franklin County Young Life, a Christian outreach program for adolescents, where he listens to the stories of young people and learns about their joys, triumphs, heartaches and setbacks.
Jonathon graduated with Highest Honors, and will continue his education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis where he plans to study business marketing and participate in the U.S. Air Force ROTC program.
For the last three decades, Karen Griffin has been helping students figure out how to pay for college.
“I think it’s very important that the financial aid process go smoothly for students,” she said. “If they have difficulty the first time, it can lead to a barrier in pursuing higher education.”
The East Central College Director of Student Financial Aid not only helps students coming through the doors of the college but students in the community. Over the last few years, Griffin has helped coordinate and facilitate the FAFSA Frenzy event at Sullivan High School. The event, partly sponsored by the Missouri Department of Higher Education, is part of a national effort to promote FAFSA completion. It connects financial aid professionals with students in their communities.
Because of her dedication and passion, Griffin was chosen as the FAFSA Frenzy Outstanding Volunteer of the Year for 2018!
“Karen went above and beyond to help make the Sullivan event a success, even helping answer questions for students who were unable to attend,” said Jessica Duren, Missouri Department of Higher Education Communication Specialist. “She was an eager volunteer who recruited other financial aid experts and helped families navigate through complex and unique financial situations.”
She was chosen from more than 400 FAFSA Frenzy volunteers! Congrats!
The National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) has announced the finalists for the 27th Annual NATYCAA Scholar-Athlete Awards sponsored by Relation Insurance Services.
East Central College is proud to announce Magnus Andersen made the list!
“Magnus is an outstanding soccer player and an outstanding student,” said East Central College Athletic Director Jay Mehrhoff. “He was one of only seven male scholar-athletes chosen as a finalist across the entire country.”
To be eligible, nominees must meet the following criteria: minimum 3.6 GPA on a 4.0 scale with a minimum of 36 semester hours or 45 quarter hours with a minimum of 24 semester/36 quarter hours at the nominating institution; participation in a minimum of one complete season of varsity competition at the nominating institution; outstanding athletics success; and outstanding qualities of leadership and citizenship.
The male and female Scholar-Athlete Award winners will be formally recognized at NATYCAA’s Annual Convention, which will take place June 27-29 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
The NATYCAA is the professional organization of two-year college athletics administrators and membership is open to all two-year institutions throughout the country. It is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.
Educators have a profound effect on students in many capacities. The East Central College chapter of the National Education Association (NEA) is honoring those educators with the Inspirers of Excellence Award.
“This award is about teachers who are making an impact on a student’s life,” said ECC-NEA President Sue Henderson. “We want to celebrate their positive influence and dedication.”
Students were asked to nominate former teachers in March. This year, more than 30 recipients were selected!
2018 “Inspirers of Excellence” Award Winners:
On May 2, teachers were invited to a ceremony at East Central College where they received a certificate acknowledging the achievement. The award corresponded with National Teacher Appreciation Week and National Teacher Appreciation Day.
The Missouri Community College Association (MCCA) Student Leadership Award is presented annually to an exceptional student leader from each community college campus.
East Central College is proud to announce Michail Ratcliff is the 2018 recipient!
“Michail uses charismatic leadership to mobilize students,” said Campus Life and Leadership Coordinator Courtney Henrichsen. “Michail is charming, humorous and personable – which has aided his recruitment efforts.”
The Washington native has been actively involved with the Student Government Association (SGA) during his time at East Central College.
“During his time as Public Relations Officer, Michail successfully expanded SGA’s social media presence and created successful marketing materials to promote SGA, the SGA food pantry and clothing closet and helped other clubs create their own advertisements.”
He went on to serve as president for the organization – focusing on improving SGA bylaws, senator recruitment and advocating for new clubs.
“Michail has worked diligently to reach out to other student organizations and provide any support that SGA can,” said Henrichsen. “He has led with the intention of building the confidence of SGA and other ECC student organizations and has been remarkably successful in his efforts.”
Commencement is right around the corner! We are so excited to celebrate your big day with you and your families. Below is some important information about this year’s ceremony.
The 2018 commencement ceremony will take place Saturday, May 12th, 2018, at 11:30 a.m. in the Donald D. Shook Student Center, located on the Union campus. Rehearsal for commencement will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 11. The rehearsal is not mandatory, but it’s a good idea to show up!
When you are putting on your cap and gown, remember that tassels are to be worn on the right side of the cap. Please wear a white or light colored dress shirt and tie. Although some consider the tie optional, the shirt collar and tie are visible at the throat of the gown. The gown is black and therefore dark dress slacks or a skirt that does not show below the gown’s hemline look best. Do not wear a boutonniere on your gown.
Looking your best and conducting yourself in a manner appropriate to the decorum of this time-honored ceremony are ways you can show pride in your accomplishment. Please leave the beach balls, confetti, and silly string at home. Even if you may not personally care about preserving the dignity and decorum of the commencement ceremony, please do not spoil it for those who are proud of their accomplishment. It also can create a trip hazard. No one wants to trip.
Seating is on a first-come basis. Doors open at 10:30am. Seating on the floor will be initially reserved for guests needing special physical accommodations or wheel chair accessible arrangements. Commencement guests are requested to remain in their seats during the entire ceremony, which lasts approximately 80 minutes. Overflow seating will be available in the cafeteria. The seating in the cafeteria also provides guests with space to move around if needed.
A reception will be held in the cafeteria at the conclusion of the ceremony.
Facilities will run several golf carts around the parking lots to pick up any guests who may need a lift to the building entrance. Wheelchairs will be available to transport guests to and from the parking lot if needed. There will be personnel available to assist with wheel chairs just inside the doors of Loading Dock 1 in front of the entrance to the Bookstore in the Donald Shook Student Center (DSSC). Elevator access is available from any level of the DSSC.
Professional photos will be taken at the ceremony and will be available for purchase through Grad Images.
Each year, students are selected for All-Missouri Academic Team by the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. East Central College is proud to announce three students made the list in 2018!
Jamie Foutch was named to the All-Missouri Second Team. She currently serves as the President of the Union chapter.
“At her time at East Central College,” said Phi Theta Kappa advisor Wendy Pecka, “Jamie has grown as both a leader and a scholar. One of Jamie’s strengths is her gregarious nature. She effectively serves as the voice of PTK on campus. She is not afraid of tackling a challenge and doesn’t give up when encountering roadblocks.”
Another All-Missourian Second Team designee, Hannah Bausch-McKellips currently serves as the Public Relations Secretary for the Union chapter.
“Hannah is able to quietly serve as a group leader as we plan fundraisers, campaigns and fellowship events,” said Pecka. “Her passion for helping others is an asset to our chapter. When I think about Hannah’s impact on our organization, I am reminded of Mahatma Gandhi’s words, ‘in a gentle way, you can shake the world.’”
Sally Cundiff was named to the All-Missouri Third Team this year. Phi Theta Kappa advisor Beth Winters-Rozema says the Rolla student is a valuable, active member who joined in October 2015.
“Sally serves as a link between past and current good ideas,” said Winters-Rozema. “She brings maturity and life experiences to discussions and is very good at applying what she learns in classes to chapter discussions of current issues.”
Members of the All-Missouri Academic Team are selected based on the extent to which they meet the definition of the word “scholar,” which Phi Theta Kappa defines as “one who excels in the classroom, has the intellectual curiosity to pursue an academic career and cultural enrichment outside the traditional classroom, shows evidence of substantial development of talents in academics and technical education and has demonstrated an ability to share this development with others.”
Students from each of Missouri’s 25 Phi Theta Kappa chapters apply to be on the All-Missouri Academic Team. Only 40 students are selected each year. The students are recognized at a Missouri Community College Association luncheon in April in Columbia, MO.
Phi Theta Kappa is the officially recognized honor society for two-year colleges on a national level.
Featured photo: Hannah Bausch-McKellips.
Below photo: Jamie Foutch, left, Sally Cundiff, right.
