Photo Album: MC Music Department presents Student Ensembles Concert.

The Department of Music at Midland College presented its Ensembles Concert - featuring MC's Jazz Ensemble, Chap Choir, and Orchestra - this past Friday night in Wagner & Brown Auditorium, Allison Fine Arts Building.

CLICK HERE to enjoy a photo album from that evening

MC Chemistry Department to celebrate National Chemistry Week

By Rebecca Bell
Dean of Community Relations & Special Events

Saturday, October 27
2:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Midland Park Mall (J. C. Penney Court)

It’s a big celebration of small things! Tomorrow, the Midland College Chemistry Department will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of National Chemistry Week by demonstrating the applications of nanotechnology.

Nanotechnology (sometimes shortened to "nanotech") is the manipulation of matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology works with materials, devices, and other structures with at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometers.

Midland College Assistant Professor of Chemistry Dr. Pat Nandakumar explained, “At tomorrow’s demonstration, we will be showing a video demonstrating the power of nanotechnology and will be demonstrating how chemical properties change when materials are made in “nano” size. Visitors to the exhibit will receive a newsletter explaining the importance of nanotech and how it has become a key technology for the future.”

Through its National Nanotechnology Initiative, the United States has invested $3.7 billion in nanotech research and its applications in medicine, electronics, biomaterials and energy production. Midland College faculty and students will be showing some of these applications as part of Saturday’s mall exhibit.

Midland College Volleyball Captures 2012 WJCAC Title, Top Seed in Region V-West Tournament

CLICK HERE for a photo album

By Forrest Allen
Midland College Athletic Director

After jumping out to a two set advantage, it appeared the Midland College Lady Chaparral volleyball teamwas poised to secure the 2012 WJCAC championship with relative ease. However the OC Lady Wranglers had other plans. Odessa College rose to the challenge and wrested control of the match by winning sets three and four, forcing the match to a fifth set. Midland College trailed for much of the fifth, but saw daylight when they rallied to tie the set at 11-11. The Lady Chaparrals emerged with the hard-fought, five game victory 3-2. Midland College 21-6 this season and 8-1 in the WJCAC, took the early match lead with scores of 27-25 and 25-22. Odessa then responded by posting scores of 25-19, 26-24, sending the match to a fifth and deciding game. Ultimately MC ended the match on a tip shot by Victoria Smith, an Odessa native, to win the final set 15-13. The loss dropped the Lady Wranglers to 17-13 overall and 5-2 in conference.

The win by the Lady Chaps was significant for a few reasons aside from area bragging rights. The win secured the 2012 WJCAC title, the third consecutive for Midland College. It gave MC the top seed in next week's NJCAA Region V-West Tournament in Lubbock (Rip Griffin Center @ Lubbock Christian University) October 31-November 1. The win also served as revenge for a five set loss to OC back on October 19th in the final match of the Midland College Volleyball Classic.

MC will receive a first-round bye and will open play in the 2012 NJCAA Region V-West Tournament on Thursday, November 1st in a 10:00 a.m. match. A Lady Chap win in the 10:00 a.m. match will land MC in the tournament's 4:00 p.m. finals also on Thursday.

Midland College won the 2010 Region V-West Champion and finished as the runner-up in 2011. This year's Region V-West Tournament will involve a six-team field for the first time ever. The second place team in the final WJCAC standings, will also receive a first round bye.

Midland College was led, in Wednesday's MMA grudge fight, by a record setting performance by freshman setter Kristina Gafford. Gafford chalked up an astonishing 55 assists in the contest. Gafford broke the record, previously held by former MC player Sawyer Schaedig.

Freshman middle blocker Gaby Nieto led all players with 18 kills to pace the Lady Chaps. She was followed by Naomi Posada with 12, Smith's 11 and Dragana Cvoric's 10. Defensively MC saw several solid performances including 15 digs by Cvoric, 12 digs apiece by Gafford and Marina Salazar and ten digs by Sarah Allen.

Congratulations to MC coaches Tammie Jimenez and Darren Taylor and to the Lady Chaps on their 2012 WJCAC Championship.

Next Match: New Mexico Military Institute @ Midland College, Saturday, October 27th @ 2:00 p.m. The match will be the final home match for sophomores Victoria Smith and Dragana Cvoric. Smith and Cvoric will be honored prior to the start of Saturday's match.

Local foundations help fund student leadership training

Members of the 2012-2013 MC Students in Philanthropy club with trustees from the Abell-Hanger Foundation and the Helen Greathouse Charitable Trust

By Rebecca Bell
Dean of Community Relations & Special Events

Many Midland College student organizations believe in “giving back” to the Midland community, and the MC Students in Philanthropy (SIP) club is certainly no exception to this rule. Through dedicated fundraising efforts and the generosity of two local foundations that sponsor this organization, MC students are able to improve the quality of life for many Midlanders.

The club’s main objective is for members to learn about the importance of philanthropy and the role of nonprofit organizations in the community. Each year, SIP students raise funds through various means—one of which is the annual Holiday Evening Frito Pie Supper scheduled for December 6. Proceeds from these fundraising projects are then used to award grants to local nonprofit agencies. By doing so, the students gain leadership and stewardship training through a structured program designed to educate, support and promote philanthropic leadership in the community.

Up to 20 students are selected each year during an intensive application and interview process led by the club’s sponsor Julia Vickery, MC coordinator of student development. These students then participate in the program activities for a full academic year and attend weekly meetings designed to enhance their knowledge of the nonprofit and philanthropic communities.

Michael McCarver lights candles during MC Student in Philanthropy Commissioning Ceremony

On Thursday evening, October 11, SIP members observed their annual commissioning ceremony. The purpose of the ceremony is for the SIP members to formalize their commitment to their sponsoring organizations, Abell-Hanger Foundation and Helen Greathouse Charitable Trust, and to each other. It is also an expression of their appreciation to these foundations, a demonstration of how seriously they take their stewardship and the commitment to the “call of their heart.”

SIP Students and Abell-Hanger Foundation staff.  Pictured from left to right are Sarah Eaton, Hannah Eaton, Abell-Hanger Foundation SIP Coordinator Suzanne Thomas, Tyler Fincher and Allison Brown

Both the Abell-Hanger Foundation and the Helen Greathouse Charitable Trust contribute funds for SIP club operations at Midland College, Odessa College The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, and Midland County and Ector County public high schools. In addition, the two sponsoring foundations match the proceeds from student fundraising efforts. SIP members use these funds to award grants to local nonprofit agencies. Last year, the MC Students in Philanthropy club raised $8,000. This represented the largest amount raised by any SIP club ever! Abell-Hanger Foundation and Helen Greathouse Charitable Trust matched the funds with $10,000, which meant that 11 nonprofit agencies benefitted from $18,000 worth of grants!

MC Volleyball Wins Tough Match at WTC, Faces Lady Wranglers

By Forrest Allen
Midland College Athletic Director

Coach Tammie Jimenez felt strongly that the Midland College Lady Chaparral volleyball team's match at Western Texas College would be a five set contest. In fact, she expressed that very sentiment in a local newspaper interview prior to last Saturday's match against the Lady Westerners in Snyder. Entering the match Midland College had won four consecutive matches, including two straight in the WJCAC. That conference win streak included a five set thriller against WTC, in Midland on October 10th.

Midland College (20-6, 7-1) came out in impressive fashion in the first two sets versus Western Texas (19-7, 4-4). The Lady Chaps were dominant in the first (25-18) and strong throughout the second set (25-21) to spurt to a two games to none lead in the match. In the third and fourth sets, the Lady Westerners showed a determination and fortitude that eroded Midland's two set lead. WTC won the third by a score of 25-18 and fourth, 25-20, to level the match at two game apiece. In the fifth MC jumped out to an early lead and reasserted themselves to close out the match 15-12.

The Lady Chaps are currently alone in first place in the conference standings, 1.5 matches ahead of second place Odessa College. The Lady Chaparrals will travel to Odessa on Wednesday, October 24th for a 7:00 p.m. match with the Lady Wranglers. A Midland College victory will cement the 2012 WJCAC title (third consecutive), and more importantly, will give the Lady Chap's the #1 seed in next week's NJCAA Region V Tournament (October 31-November 1) in Lubbock, TX at the Rip Griffin Center located on the campus of Lubbock Christian University.

MC was led by the freshman tandem of Raiza Kochhann and Gaby Nieto who recorded 16 and 14 kills respectively. Lady Chap sophomore Victoria Smith also contributed seven kills in the contest. Freshman setter Kristina Gafford led everyone with 44 assists, while sophomore mainstay Dragana Cvoric chipped in 11 digs to lead the Lady Chaps in that category. Cvoric was followed by Sarah Allen, Marina Salazar and Gafford who each recorded eight digs. As a team, the Lady Chaps blocked a total of 15 WTC attacks, led by Nieto's five (two solo, six assists).

Next Matches: Wednesday, October 24 @ 7:00 p.m. Midland College @ Odessa College at the OC Sports Center; Saturday, October 27 @ 2:00 p.m. New Mexico Military Institute @ Midland College (Sophomore Day) at the Al G. Langford Chaparral Center.

Let's get frenzied!

The Lady Chap basketball team has once again hit the court running and preparing for the 2012-2013 season. The Lady Chaps look forward to the season and would like to ask for your support. Expectations are high and we are hoping that you will join us for the challenges and excitement that lie ahead.

While the Lady Chap Basketball Program has enjoyed great success, this annual fundraising effort helps to enhance our program. It is not only the players and the coaches on the court, but people like YOU that make a difference. The Lady Chaps will be hosting the 10th Annual Free Throw Frenzy on Sunday, October 28th at 2:00 pm in the PE building. Funds raised will help the Lady Chap basketball program with its many financial needs they encounter throughout the season and in the future. Please consider sponsoring a Lady Chap and thank you for your support in advance.

The Free Throw Frenzy will be held in the P.E. building at Midland College. Each individual Lady Chap player will be shooting a total of 100 free throws. Now here’s your challenge…you may make a pledge toward every made free throw that the player completes out of 100 attempts.  Please complete and return the form below right away!!!!! If you happen to miss the date and/or cannot attend the Free Throw Frenzy, we welcome any donation you would like to offer!

Donation form available at http://www.midland.edu/docs/events/freethrowfrenzy.pdf 

For questions contact:
Ginger Gatliff, Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach
(432) 685-6469ggatliff@midland.edu