On the road, on the job ...

Hearing from Dr. Michael Chavez, Dean of Enrollment Management at Your College ... "The MC advisors are at Austin, TX at the Academic Advising Institute provided by The Global Community for Academic Advising."

If we face an emergency situation on campus, will you get the message?

By Rebecca Bell
Dean of Community Relations & Special Events

Since cell phone numbers change rather frequently (especially those of students), we are updating our emergency alert text messaging system.

This system allows MC employees, students and others in the community to receive text messages due to inclement weather, traffic accidents impeding campus access, violence on campus that may cause danger to others and structural damage of an MC building that may cause danger to others.

There is no charge to enroll in the system; however, standard text messaging rates do apply.

All previous contact information has been purged from the system, so if you enrolled in the MC emergency text alert system last year, you will need to re-enroll by going to the following URL and completing the "Opt-In" form: midland.edu/forms/emot/notification You must complete all fields including your cell phone number, your cell phone carrier (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, etc.) and your e-mail address. Notifications will be sent to both your cell phone and your e-mail.

For additional information regarding MC's emergency management procedures, please visit http://www.midland.edu/about_mc/emo.php or click on the "Emergency Mgmnt" links under "For Students" and "For Employees" on the main MC website: www.midland.edu 

Midland College student-athletes earn NJCAA academic honors

By Forrest Allen
MC Athletic Director

Midland College is pleased to announce two student-athletes have earned the Exemplary Academic Achievement designations from the NJCAA for the 2011-12 academic year.  The two designees are Lady Chap softball infielder Ashley Chavez and Chap baseball pitcher Colter Bostick.

Ashley Chavez is a 2010 graduate of Midland High School and primarily played second base for the Lady Chaps.  In her two seasons on the Midland College softball team, Chavez played in 65 games, recording 30 hits including four doubles and two home runs with a batting average of .222.  Academically Chavez earned a two year cumulative GPA of 3.63 qualifying her for Exemplary Academic Achievement.

Colter Bostic hails from Powell, Wyoming and is a 2010 graduate of Powell High School.  In his two seasons as a pitcher for the Chaparrals, Bostick recorded a 7-5 record in a total of 100.1 innings pitched.  His 2011 ERA of 2.98 (54.1 IP) was the lowest among MC starting pitchers.  In 2012 Bostic recorded an ERA of 5.67 with a 1-4 record in 46 innings pitched.  Bostick earned his Exemplary Academic Achievement status by earning a cumulative GPA of 3.64 over two years at MC.  

MC announces evening Aviation Maintenance Technology classes

By Rebecca Bell
Dean of Community Relations & Special Events

For approximately 20 years, Midland College’s (MC) aviation maintenance technology program has been preparing students for careers as aviation airframe and aviation powerplant technicians. Up to this point, classes have only been offered during the day. However, due to large demand, especially by students who work during the day, the program will begin offering evening courses with the start of the fall 2012 semester.

Courses scheduled to be offered include "Shop Practices," "Ground Operations" and "Aviation Science." Students will be able to take all three courses Monday through Thursdays evenings beginning at 5:30 p.m. and ending at 10:00 p.m. Successful completion of the fall semester evening courses will enable students to obtain seven hours of credit by December 14, 2012.

All classes are held at MC’s aviation maintenance technology training hangar located at Midland International Airport, 2405 Windecker. The hangar contains state-of-the-art equipment that offers students hands-on training on actual aircraft. After successfully completing the entire 40-hour certificate program, students are qualified to take Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examinations for airframe or powerplant licenses. MC currently boasts a 100 percent pass rate for both of these licensing exams.

"A program completer who receives his or her FAA license will be able to get a job in aircraft maintenance at the general aviation level, the corporate aviation level and the airline level," said Midland College Aviation Maintenance Director Thomas Branon. "In addition, MC aviation maintenance completers are currently working with turbine-powered compressors in the oil and wind energy industries and in the military. Our former students are also working with elevator companies and as general mechanics in several other fields. Jobs are plentiful, and Midland College students are found to be well-trained and disciplined. Entry-level salaries range from $15 to $22 per hour and advance rapidly to annual salaries of $80,000 to $125,000."

Tall City Blues Fest announces educational clinics in partnership with MC

By Rebecca Bell
Dean of Community Relations and Special Events

Tall City Blues Fest, a multi-day music festival, announced its offering of educational clinics in partnership with Midland College (MC). All of the clinics are offered during the weekend of the Festival, which takes place in downtown Midland's Centennial Plaza on July 26-29, 2012.

This year's line-up of educational clinics includes
Kids' Harmonica
Harmonica 101
Advanced Harmonica
Songwriting: Memorable Melodies & Great Hooks
Blues Bass 101
Country Blues Finger-Picking
Acoustic Blues: Regional Styles
Bottleneck Slide Guitar
Cigar Box Building

All clinics will be held on Saturday, July 28, and will be held in meetings rooms in the host hotel, Doubletree by Hilton. “This means that people will be able to attend the clinics independently of attending the Festival”, said Lisa Grissom, Producer of this year's Festival.

Pre-registration is available through Midland College either online at midland.edu/cpce/ or by calling (432) 685-4518. Pre-registration is $15/clinic. Walk-up registrations are $20/clinic and will be taken for any clinics not already at full capacity. All proceeds go to help provide MC KIDS' COLLEGE scholarships at Midland College.

For more info, times and clinic facilitators, go to tallcitybluesfest.com/clinics or midland.edu/cpce/blues

ABOUT TALL CITY BLUES FEST

Tall City Blues Fest is a family-friendly, indoor/outdoor music festival and will be held in downtown Midland, TX in Centennial Plaza on July 26-29. Featuring more than 23 performers across four stages (Three Outdoor + One Indoor), the Festival will also offer educational clinics, food vendors, family activity areas, memorabilia/art auctions & raffle, juke joints, midnight jam sessions, a free community street dance, as well as a Gospel brunch & blues jam. Our Mission is to create an experience like none other that brings award-winning blues & roots music to West Texas and makes people feel enlightened, joy-filled & loved.

South Elementary students climbed to the top!

South Elementary School Principal J. R. Silva with students proudly presenting
plaque and $500 check for outstanding participation in See MC/Sí, MC

By Rebecca Bell
Dean of Community Relations and Special Events

Ninety percent of the students at MISD’s South Elementary School speak two languages, so at the May 9 school assembly, when the principal J. R. Silva said, “En esta dia subieron la montaña con mucho exito,” the students knew that he was saying, “On this day you climbed the mountain with much success!”


The mountain (la montaña) to which he was referring had a double meaning: Mr. Silva wanted the students to know that they had “made it to the top” when they and their families decided to attend Midland College’s See MC/Sí, MC day in order to find out about attending college, and he was also referring to the rock climbing wall—by far the most popular attraction during the April 21 event!


See MC/Sí, MC targeted potential First-Generation-to-College (FGTC) students and consisted of college information, music, food and fun for all ages. Midland College is dedicated to encouraging higher education participation by FGTC families. In the fall 2011 semester, 1,483 FGTC students attended Midland College, and in the spring 2012 semester, there were 1,392 FGTC students attending.


See MC/Sí, MC offered an opportunity for the Midland community to tour the campus and find out about college admissions, financial aid and instructional programs. During the day’s festivities, a contest was held among MISD Title I schools to see which could have the most participation at the event—this included students, parents and faculty/staff. South Elementary won the contest, and at the May 9 assembly, a $500 check was presented to the school. Principal Silva explained that some of the money would go toward ice cream for the students during their upcoming Field Day; however, most would be put in a fund to help pay for school uniforms.


Liz Zenteno, associate director of MC’s Cogdell Learning Center, said, “South Elementary and MC partner in a great many projects. The close proximity of South to the Cogdell Learning Center allows us to accommodate families with some of our services, such as GED classes, English as a Second Language classes and basic computer classes. Midland College has also participated in a number of South Elementary School events promoting higher education. While we know that these families feel comfortable at Codgell, we were also thrilled that they participated in the See MC/Sí, MC day at the main campus. Congratulations to South Elementary for winning the contest. We look forward to continuing our successful partnership!”