Tag: Megen Strubberg

PLTW Teacher, ECC Adjunct Recognized Nationally

September 22, 2022 | Campus News

East Central College adjunct instructor and St. Clair High School engineering teacher Maurice Gritzman is being recognized nationally for the work he is doing with engineering students.

Gritzman was named an Outstanding Engineering Teacher by the National Project Lead The Way (PLTW), a not-for-profit organization that promotes transformative learning experiences for students. More than 12,400 schools offer PLTW to millions of students across the country.

The SCHS PLTW is a unique program due to the collaborative partnership between the high school and ECC. Four days a week, Gritzman leads his students through their engineering studies at both SCHS and in the labs in ECC’s Business and Industry Center (BIC).

He noted that the National PLTW award brings to light the work that SCHS and ECC are doing together, and how it greatly benefits his students.

“This award gives recognition to the St. Clair program, and it highlights what ECC is doing to benefit students. It also shows the kind of post-secondary opportunities students will find at ECC,” he said. “I am very happy for these students because a recognition like this showcases what they have been able to accomplish — without them, we wouldn’t be here.”

The students learn to model projects using Solidworks (computer-aided drawing and engineering application) in the BIC labs, and then they build their projects using the college’s Precision Machining equipment.

“PLTW helps us link to all of the resources these students have available, and it has helped us develop relationships that can be used to gain real-world experience,” Gritzman added.

In addition to utilizing equipment and technology that is unavailable at the high school, the SCHS students also earn ECC dual credit courses for college.

To learn more about PLTW-e and the collaboration between ECC and SCHS, visit www.eastcentral.edu/blog/video-ecc-and-st-clair-high-school-engineering-partnership-continues/.

NISOD Excellence Awards Presented to ECC Employees

June 23, 2022 | Campus News

Three East Central College employees recently were recognized for their dedication to students, the college and their coworkers with 2021 NISOD (National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development) Excellence Awards.

The ECC award recipients are Erin Anglin, executive director of The Learning Center; Bobby Bland, welding instructor and program coordinator; and Bethany Herron, student services specialist.

NISOD is a professional development provider that offers programs and resources for community and technical colleges. Member colleges can recognize employees through the Excellence Awards, which are presented to faculty and staff who are doing extraordinary work on their campuses.

Award recipients receive a unique silver medallion engraved with The University of Texas and NISOD insignias and adorned with a burnt orange ribbon. NISOD is based out of the University of Texas in Austin.

Erin Anglin

Erin Anglin, executive director of The Learning Center, was nominated for the NISOD Excellence Award by Megen Strubberg, director of early college and admissions.

“Erin embodies ECC’s core values of Collaboration, Integrity, Empowerment, and Learning on a regular basis,” Strubberg wrote in the nomination. “Despite her calm exterior, Erin is enthusiastic, thoughtful, and frank when it comes to finding new and improved ways to recruit and retain students.”

Strubberg added that Anglin takes a student-centered approach, which is beneficial due to her “front-row seat” to the journey of many ECC students.

“The beginning of the pandemic, she pulled her staff together to offer tutoring and testing services in expanded ways,” Strubberg said, adding that Anglin is working with ECC’s Early College and Admissions team to enhance retention efforts, from the beginning of the student life cycle.

“Under Erin’s leadership, The Learning Center has completely transformed from a somewhat lower-key spot for academic tutoring to a dynamic, welcoming place for students to know they are encouraged and valued,” she said.

Bobby Bland

Welding Program Coordinator Bobby Bland was nominated by Dr. Richard Hudanick, dean of career and technical education for “extraordinary work” he exhibits daily.

“Over and above his duties as a faculty member and a coordinator for East Central’s Welding program, Bobby continuously is setting the bar higher and higher for standards in classroom instruction and industry partnership relations,” Hudanick commented.

“On any given day, Bobby can be found critiquing the quality of weld-joints performed by his students to talking with industry partners to coordinate interviews for future graduates.”

Hudanick added that Bland volunteers for efforts in his ECC campus community outside the welding lab. That includes working with the theater department with welds for a prop or supporting ECC’s baseball team by assisting with a welding project near the baseball field.

“Bobby is truly a humble man who is always willing to put others first,” Hudanick said. “His endless energy level drives a sense of team spirit with his co-workers — Bobby is a great example of an individual who dignifies the NISOD Excellence Award.”

Bethany Herron

Herron was nominated for the NISOD Excellence Award by Stephanie Hebert, enrollment services business analyst.

“Bethany has worked tirelessly to support the Student Development Division for eight years,” Hebert said. “She is always willing to step up and do whatever she is asked.”

That has been especially true, Hebert added, during the past two years as Herron’s department has adjusted to working with students and staff in the virtual environment. During that time, Herron has trained multiple new employees who have been hired as a Student Service Specialists.

“She does it all with a smile and a can-do attitude,” Hebert said. “Bethany makes it a point to learn student’s names and will often follow up with students to make sure they are completing all of the steps required for admission, registration, financial and graduation — Bethany is a joy to work with and I am thankful to know her and learn from her.”

First Early College Academy Class Graduates from ECC. . . Before Graduating High School

June 3, 2022 | Campus News

Collegebound students typically receive their high school diploma two to four, sometimes more, years before they walk across the commencement stage with a college degree.

But the last two years for 10 Union High School graduates has been anything but typical.

These students — the first class of East Central College’s Early College Academy (ECA) — graduated from the College almost two weeks before graduating from UHS.

Technically, their college degree is tethered to their high school diploma, but these 10 graduates, seven girls and three boys, attended the ECC commencement ceremony May 14 and the UHS graduation was May 26.

The misaligned milestones celebrate the grads successfully completing the ECA while earning 60 college credit hours, two diplomas and giving them a unique story to tell.

The first cohort of the ECA began with UHS juniors in 2020. This May was the culmination of that two-year experience.

“The first ECA class has graduated!” exclaimed Megen Strubberg, director of early college programs at ECC, who has overseen the program since Day 1.

ECA students attended classes at UHS and on the ECC campus with the goal of earning an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree, at the same time as, or before in this case, their high school diploma.

According to Strubberg, not only was the program successful in its goal of graduating the students, the 10 grads excelled at ECC and UHS.

“It was so fulfilling watching these students learn and excel at college life — both academically and personally,” she said. “Their hard work was reflected in their grades and their reputation for being active, present and involved on campus.”

Three students maintained a 4.0 college GPA at ECC, she said, and three of them were named to UHS’s Top 10 List of Graduates.

Collegebound

ECA students are transferring to a variety of four-year schools, including the University of Missouri-Columbia, Missouri State University, University of Concordia in Wisconsin, Lindenwood University, Southeast Missouri State, Central Methodist University at ECC, Truman State University, and University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Strubberg noted that several of the ECA grads were awarded external scholarships, in addition to the scholarships from their destination school.

“Six of the 10 graduates shared their transfer institution award letters with us,” she added, “and those institutional scholarships totaled over $80,000.”

Strubberg further added that the Academy grads will pursue a wide range of fields, such as psychology, interior design, molecular biology and biochemistry, cinema arts, business, actuarial science, physical therapy, computer science, and nutrition & exercise physiology.

Growing Program

UHS piloted the ECA alone for the first year, but in the Fall 2021 semester, three other high schools — Washington, St. Clair and Sullivan — joined UHS juniors to make the second class of the ECA. There are 35 ECA students slated to graduate in May 2023.

Strubberg and her department learned several lessons since the program’s inception.

“The most important thing is that students must enter the program willing and ready to grow – both academically and personally,” she said.

“They may be challenged in ways they have never encountered before, which includes an increased demand on their ability to manage time, stress, and intellectual growth,” Strubberg added. “We have embedded these lessons in our revised information sessions, onboarding, and support throughout their time at ECC.”

Just like other first-term ECC students, the Academy students take a Falcon Seminar course, but the high schoolers have, “more frequent contact with supporters along the way,” she said.

According to Strubberg, it takes a special type of student to participate in the Early College Academy.

“Every successful graduate of this program will face a challenge — or even a few,” she said. “These could be academic challenges or feeling overwhelmed by it all.

“One of the most valuable takeaways that students can learn is really a life skill more than an academic skill,” Strubberg added. “It is the importance of being a self-advocate and reaching out to resources and supporters early and often.”

For some, a significant challenge is entering the ECA at the top of their academic class in high school, but then hitting bumps in the road.

“They may get their first C, D, or even F on an assignment, which can be devastating in the moment,” Strubberg commented. “A student’s level of resilience, ability to learn and lean on supporters to push through that experience, course correct, and reengage in the course is what creates a successful ECA graduate.”

Anyone with questions can call 636-584-6723 or email Megen.Strubberg@eastcentral.edu.

For more information, visit www.eastcentral.edu/earlycollege/academy/.

Homeschool Day is March 25 at ECC in Union and Rolla

March 10, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

East Central College is inviting homeschooled students to the Union and Rolla locations to let them know what the college has to offer, including dual enrollment opportunities.

Megen Strubberg, director of early college and admissions, said there are many avenues for homeschoolers to earn college credit while still taking high school-level classes.

“ECC is a great option for homeschool students to get a jump on their college coursework,” she said. “That’s why we are inviting them to campus to talk about the programs we have and show them around.”

Strubberg added that once homeschool students complete their high school studies, there is an easy transition to attend ECC full-time.

ECC Homeschool Day is Friday, March 25, in Union and Rolla. The locations and times are:

Union, Health & Science Building, Room 100, 2-4 p.m.
Rolla, Rolla Technical Center, Room 121, 9-11 a.m.

To RSVP for the event, people may email admissions@eastcentral.edu.

For more information or with questions, call ECC in Union at 636-584-6588, or ECC in Rolla at 573-466-4100.

Strubberg added that students do not need to bring anything with them that day, and they will be given information on how to start their college journey at ECC.

Dual Enrollment

Strubberg explained that many in the community may not be aware that they can take college-level courses before completing their high school studies, and through ECC, students can explore more rigorous coursework while doing so.

“Homeschool students work right alongside adult students and other dual enrollment high school students,” she further explained. “Students interested in STEM-related (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields sometimes crave the increased rigor of upper-level math and science course content — it helps to be a part of a community of students going through that same experience.”

Parents of current and former students enrolled in ECC courses commented on how seamless the enrollment process is, and the benefits of dual enrollment.

Parent Testimonies

Jennifer Schneider, the mother of two ECC graduates who were homeschooled, saw many benefits to her children taking courses at ECC as they took high school-level courses.

“They get challenged and encouraged and it is a huge motivator to allow your student to succeed in a college environment while still at home,” she said.

Schneider, of Washington, said it was simple for her children to enroll in courses and the ECC staff was incredibly helpful navigating them through the process.

“I only wish we would have learned about it sooner,” she said, encouraging other parents to contact ECC.

“If you are considering it, don’t wait,” Schneider said. “If you feel the process is overwhelming, know that Megen (Strubberg) will walk alongside you to help make your child’s transition smooth.”

Jennifer Steinman, Labadie, has two children enrolled in dual enrollment courses at ECC.

“It was an easy transition (to ECC) from a homeschool environment,” she said. “We were used to choosing curriculums and activities that fit our schedules, so it’s great to have the option of online or in-person courses.”

Steinman agreed that the ECC staff has been very supportive, and the testing center enables her to know her children are in the right classes that are appropriate for their level.

“There’s so much academic support from teachers, tutors and counselors to help students succeed, including support with their specific needs,” she said.

“My students can be dual-enrolled with ECC, giving us the flexibility to use the curriculums we choose at home while also having access to courses at ECC that fill in the gaps.”

According to Steinman, when her children were entering high school age, she wanted to be sure they were enrolled in the right classes to challenge and prepare them for college.

“Another homeschool family had told me how well their daughter was doing at ECC and encouraged me to call,” she said. “My first phone call to ECC answered all of my questions.”

St. Clair High School, ECC Manufacturing Partnership Grows

October 12, 2021 | Campus News

A partnership between East Central College and St. Clair High School has grown this year, building on its success from last year.

The SCHS Project Lead The Way (PLTW) has 12 students enrolled this year, which is up eight from the 2020-21 academic year.

PLTW is a national nonprofit that offers hands-on computer science, engineering and biomedical science instruction. Through the partnership between SCHS and ECC, students utilize industrial precision machines and software at ECC’s Business and Industry Center (BIC).

The partnership with the college officially began last year when Maurice Gritzman, PLTW engineering teacher at SCHS, brought students to the BIC labs.

In addition to utilizing equipment and technology that is unavailable at the high school, the SCHS students also earned dual credit for the courses taken through PLTW, according to Megen Strubberg, director of early college and admissions.

The seed of the relationship between ECC and SCHS was planted three years ago when Gritzman first met Dr. Richard Hudanick, dean of the Career and Technical Education Department, at a Manufacturing Days event at the college.

“The collaboration has been a success since the start – for St. Clair and their students,” Hudanick said. “Maurice seemed very knowledgeable, and he really talked up the labs to his students.

It was during the conversation at the Manufacturing Days that Hudanick told Gritzman, “Our labs are your labs.”

Program’s Success

Three of the four students who enrolled in the program last year are now ECC students, Hudanick added.

“Last year, the PLTW class began as 12 students but COVID changed plans for many,” Gritzman commented. “In the end three PLTW are now ECC students — two enrolled in the STEM program and the third enrolled in the NIMS-based precision machining program”

ECC’s facilities were made available to the students to learn industry recognizable design software, mill their designs using commercial Computer Numerical Control (CNC) capital equipment and gain programming experience using Mitsubishi robots for robotic applications, such as pick and place manufacturing operations, Gritzman explained.

“Overall, the past year was a success,” Hudanick said. “Maurice’s main efforts were focused on sustaining the ECC relationship and growth of technology education courses for high school students.

“He wants this to be the template for all St Clair High School Engineering programs sharing ECC facilities for student learning using industry tools for design and manufacturing. He has nothing but the highest regards for ECC and St. Clair.”

According to Gritzman, he would like to establish a sustainable partnership with ECC to grow a “Technology Education” track for high school students.

Technology Education would offer specialty PLTW engineering courses, such as Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM), that leverage the access to industrial precision machines and software available at ECC.

Gritzman added that the future could include additional courses for SCHS students at ECC, including Industrial Engineering Technology and Precision Machining.

“Expansion into diverse technical education channels with ECC provides broader options for technology careers for St Clair’s engineering and technology students,” Gritzman stated.

Last year, SCHS students were engaged in the precision machining facility lab-sharing project and earned six dual credit hours in ECC’s Introduction to Manufacturing and Solidworks courses.

Future dual credit opportunities in other technical courses also are being explored.

Soft Swing Technologies

Gritzman noted that this year, the SCHS students will be working with a local company, Soft Swing Technologies, to “validate a new design and recommend market entry and manufacturing strategies.”

“All of the students will receive industry recognized soft-skills training to meet industry hiring goals and expectations,” he said.

At this point there is no other known collaborative PLTW program partnership between a community college and a high school. This is both a strength to the stakeholder partnership and an opportunity to build credit hours, Gritzman said.

“There really is not any partnership like this that we are aware of– it’s just simply exciting,” added Hudanick.

Early College Academy students giving thumbs up

Early College Academy Students Thrive at ECC

June 10, 2021 | Campus News

The Early College Academy (ECA) at East Central College has already been paying dividends for 11 students in the form of experience and earning college credit.

ECA Student Cheyanna Bowen — Cheyanna Bowen

That’s according Cheyanna Bowen and Kevin Donovan, incoming seniors at Union High School, who wrapped up the inaugural year of the Academy in May.

“What I love most about ECA is the experience that I am getting with college, while still being able to be a high school student,” said Bowen.

“I personally like attending ECC and UHS because I’m able to be challenged better academically, but also maintain my high school experience,” she added.

Through the ECA, the students attended classes at UHS and on the ECC campus. The goal of the Academy is for these students to earn an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree, at the same time as their high school diploma.

“Not too many people can say that they graduated high school with an associate’s degree,” Donovan commented. “I appreciate that I was given this opportunity, and this will allow me to earn my bachelor’s degree with two years already paid.”

Donovan said he is looking forward to the slate of classes he’s enrolled in for the upcoming academic year.

“I am excited to have one year down,” he said. “Next year, I get to have more flexibility with my course choices, and I am very excited to pick out some fun electives.”

For Donovan, the ECA is the best of both worlds, combining college credit while maintaining the high school experience.

“I applied to be in the UHS Leadership Class next year, and I was accepted,” he said. “I am looking forward to giving back to UHS and continuing to be involved.”

ECC Director of Early College Programs Megen Strubberg oversees the ECA and she has met regularly with the UHS students since they began attending ECC in August 2020.

“It has been amazing to watch this talented group of students learn and grow this past year — both academically and personally,” she said. “Their hard work is reflected in their grades and their reputation on campus for being some of the best students in the classroom.”

Markie Lampkin, UHS associate principal over sophomores and juniors, has collaborated with Strubberg in spearheading the inaugural year of the ECA.

“Overwhelmingly, it has been meaningful and impactful for the students,” Lampkin said.

More Districts

The success of the ECA is even more evident considering two more school districts — Washington and St. Clair — will join the ranks of the ECA next year.

“The ripple effect that it has had on area schools clearly demonstrates the success and positivity of the rollout at Union High School.,” Lampkin said.

“Other schools want that experience for their students,” she added. “That’s humbling, exciting and shows the unity that many Franklin County schools have in the investment in our kids and their futures.”

Strubberg noted that Lampkin has been an ambassador to the program when speaking with administrators of other school districts.

But it isn’t just Strubberg and Lampkin spreading the message about the Academy — the students enrolled in ECA also are sharing their stories.

According to Strubberg, seven ECA students have talked with prospective students at UHS, encouraging them to take part in the Academy. Additionally, six students participated in a project to provide feedback on the ECA to college faculty.

Above and Beyond

Strubberg said three ECA students, Emily Green, Julie Krull, and Zoe Strassner, have been named to the President’s List with 4.0 grade point averages.

Four more students, Sarah Harris, Sage Sparkman, Kevin Donovan and Jessica Stallman, finished the year with a GPA between 3.5 and 3.84, landing them on the Vice President’s List.

In addition, Harris is in the process of being hired as a supplemental instruction tutor in chemistry by The Learning Center at ECC, and she and Krull have been tutoring other students on their own time.

To learn more about the Early College Academy, email admissions@eastcentral.edu or call 636-584-6723.

Enrollment for Free Summer Course Under Way

May 3, 2021 | Campus News

East Central College is once again offering a free summer class to soon-to-be high school juniors and seniors, but under a new name.

The First Class Tuition Pass, formerly known as Three for Free, is available to the Class of 2022 and the Class of 2023, and it allows for students to take one summer tuition-free course.

This is the third year that ECC is offering a free course to high school students, according to Early College Programs Director Megen Strubberg.

“The college is excited to offer this opportunity again because it allows high school students the chance to get a jump start on their college coursework,” she said. “Affordability is an important consideration for all students and families evaluating college choices, and the ability to take a course for just the cost of fees and books is a real benefit.”

Strubberg added that she hopes the program is as well received this year as it was last year.

There were 122 students participating last year, a 22 percent increase from the 100 students who took part in 2019, the inaugural year of the program.

“The success of this program is due in a large part to our area high school counselors encouraging students to take advantage of the opportunity,” Strubberg added. “The parents of high school and homeschool students also have been hearing about the program, which has contributed significantly to its success.”

The program is for students who have a 3.0 cumulative high school grade point average or higher. Students must sign up before classes begin Tuesday, June 1.

The First Class Tuition Pass program provides students with a chance to take one tuition-free summer course, up to five credit hours.

Students are only responsible for fees and textbooks. The program is available in Union, Rolla and online. For in-person classes, students can expect to pay between $10 to $30 in fees per course. Online course fees are $45. Text book costs are in addition to course fees.

Strubberg noted that the intent of the program is to encourage students to continue taking dual credit classes during the summer. The program is part of an ECC strategic plan goal to increase opportunities for college credit for students in the community.

St. Clair, Washington Districts Join Early College Academy

March 12, 2021 | Campus News

East Central College’s Early College Academy is growing now that two additional high schools have joined the ranks.

St. Clair High School and Washington High School are slated to join Union High School in the academy this fall.

Under the Early College Academy (ECA), high school juniors and seniors attend classes at their respective schools, as well as on the ECC campus, with the goal of earning an associate of arts or associate of science degree and their high school diploma.

The students begin the academy as juniors and graduate after successfully completing their high school and college coursework after two years, according to Megen Strubberg, director of early college and admissions at ECC.

UHS students kicked of the Early College Academy in the fall 2020 semester. There are 12 students enrolled in the program set to graduate in 2022. The second annual Early College Academy parent night was held at UHS March 11.

With the addition of SCHS and WHS, there could be 60 new high school students on the ECC campus in the fall, and 72 total high schoolers including the 12 enrolled this year through UHS.

“The ideal student for ECA has the same qualities that make any college student successful, including being driven, resourceful, and resilient,” Strubberg said.

She added that students attend classes with other college students at ECC, all taught by instructors at the college. Academy students also have access to the ECC Learning Center, library, student clubs and activities.

There is no cost to the high school students to participate in the academy. School districts cover the cost of tuition, fees and books for college classes.

To take part in the ECA, high school sophomores complete a program application with their high school guidance office and an ECC application for admission.

Students must have a GPA of at least 2.5 to be eligible to participate. An ECA selection committee comprised of high school staff makes selections based on student’s academic performance, disciplinary and attendance records, and other factors.

Strubberg noted that she is excited for the potential of additional school districts to join the ECA in the future.

Anyone with questions can call 636-584-6723 or email Megen.Strubberg@eastcentral.edu.

For more information and frequently asked questions, visit https://www.eastcentral.edu/earlycollege/academy/.