Photo Album: MC Lady Chaparral Summer Volleyball Camps

The MC Lady Chaparral Volleyball program has wrapped-up the 2012 edition of its annual Summer Girls Volleyball Camps. Directed by Lady Chap Head Coach Tammie Jimenez, the camps for youngsters in the 4th-12th grades (divided by age groups), and included a Beginners Plus Camp for those interested in learning the sport of volleyball, and an All-Skills Camp for those hoping to develop in all areas of volleyball.
CLICK HERE to view the entire album

PHOTOS: MC Athletic Director Forrest Allen

MAMA/POISE system maintenance tonight

The MAMA/POISE/SKYLITE system will be unavailable from 5 p.m, today until 7 am tomorrow. The IT department will be performing various cleanup and maintenance procedures in preparation for Fall walk-in registration.

Campus Connect will be unavailable to students and faculty during this time.

Blackboard will NOT be affected.

Crystal Velasquez
Database Programmer, Midland College

MC students guide Midland youth “Inside the Human Body”

By Rebecca Bell
Dean of Community Relations & Special Events

“Midland College Biology Professor Dr. Paul Mangum never tires when it comes to teaching young people all about science. On Friday, July 20, Mangum and a group of eight MC science students volunteered to give Midland youth a tour “Inside the Human Body.” The morning class held at the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum was part of the museum’s summer enrichment program for children.

Using computers, Dr. Mangum and his MC students guided the elementary- and junior high-aged students through different aspects of human physiology. Learning stations included heart rate and exercise, breathing monitor, hand and finger grip test and muscle function analysis. The college students even assisted the children with DNA testing!

Christian Bell, age 10, was a participant in the program and said, “This was one of the best days I’ve had this summer. My favorite part was the DNA testing. I want to be a doctor, so this was really awesome!”

MC students helping Dr. Mangum during the day were Suzanne Agnew, Tevin Bradford, Samantha Equiniones, Lisa Henderson, Gretchen Lara, Lori Rentas and Mark Sherman. Benajmin Ortiz, who is conducting an undergraduate research project through Midland College, also assisted.

MC student Suzanne Agnew (left) guides a  Midland youth on a tour “Inside the Human Body”
at the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum on Friday, July 20

Midland College offers Homebuyer Education Class in Spanish (Clase para Compradores de Vivienda)

By Rebecca Bell
Dean of Community Relations & Special Events

On Saturday, July 28, the Midland College Business & Economic Development Center (BEDC) will hold another of its popular homebuyer education classes; however, this one will be taught entirely in Spanish.

Sandra Torres with the Midland College BEDC explained, "While most Midlanders speak some English, many times they must consciously translate the English into Spanish when learning new information because Spanish is their native language. We want to help all Midlanders get on the track to becoming homeowners. This class has been offered many times in the past in English, and we also thought it would be helpful to offer it in Spanish."

Cost of the one-day course is $15, which includes lunch. The course covers money management, mortgages, how to shop for a home and how to protect your investment. The course is recommended by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and is taught by certified trainers.

The next English class session will be held on Saturday, August 25

Photo Album: MC Lady Chaparral Summer Basketball Camps

The MC Lady Chaparral Women's Basketball program has wrapped-up the 2012 edition of its annual Summer Girls Basketball Camps. Directed by Lady Chap Head Coach Ron Jones, the camps for girls in the 4th-12th grades (divided by age groups) featured individual instruction on the fundamentals of basketball, fun skill competitions and drills, in a positive learning environment.
CLICK HERE to view the entire album

PHOTOS: MC Athletic Director Forrest Allen

Classroom to the Courtroom

By Lesley Issacs
Public Relations Specialist

Bryce King, a former Midland College (MC) student, knows what it’s like to work hard to achieve his dreams. It takes drive, perseverance, hard work and passion.

Bryce was born and raised in Midland, TX. He attended Alamo Junior High, Lee High School and then Midland College on the Midland Legacy Scholarship, where he received a degree in Applied Science.

“I decided to go to MC because I just wasn’t ready for a four-year school. I applied for the Legacy Scholarship and got it! The two-year program at MC offered a good transition and I could live at home,” said King. After MC, he transferred to Texas Tech University where he studied Sociology with a focus on Criminology. King graduated from Tech in December 2006 and returned to Midland to help his mom with their local business, Don’s Deli.

While in Midland, King decided to get some experience. He joined the Midland Probation Office. “I was 23-years-old working with career criminals. I learned a lot because they just threw me in there,” said King.

In May 2008, he received an acceptance letter from Texas Wesleyan in Fort Worth, Texas. “Law school was ridiculous. I started part-time and worked as a substitute teacher for the first year. After that I switched to full-time. It is a lot of studying, writing and reading. It is a lot of work. Then you have to study for 12-13 hours a day for 7 weeks for the Bar exam,” said King.

Bryce was elected to be the graduation speaker at his commencement ceremony. He campaigned for the role with the slogan “The King’s Speech.”

King’s advice for students is that “going to MC is a jumpstart to get to a university. It’s a great way to get a head start on school. Everyone at MC is really helpful. You can always ask questions and get advice.”

King is currently working in Irving, Texas at Wyde & Associates, where he is an Associate Attorney. He would like to keep practicing law and has some interest in becoming a politician.

Coordinating events, promoting Midland and loving every minute of it!

By Rebecca Bell
Dean of Community Relations & Special Events

“I love being able to interact with all sorts of different people, and the hotel industry is FULL of surprises,” said Kathryn McDaniel Zimmerhanzel with a smile on her face and a gleam in her eye.

For the past year, the 23-year-old sales and events coordinator at the Marriott Courtyard in Midland has been organizing everything from baby showers to memorial services at the hotel.

Zimmerhanzel explained, “Most people associate Midland hotels simply with out-of-town business travelers, but I’ve assisted lots of local people with weddings, Quinceañeras, conferences and even beauty pageants. It’s never a dull moment around here, and I love it!”

After college graduation, Zimmerhanzel tried her hand at various jobs, but said she has finally found her niche and is using the skills she acquired and enhanced while attending Midland College (MC) and Texas Tech University (TTU).

“I was so lucky to be able to start college at MC,” said Zimmerhanzel. “The classes are small, and the instructors really care about their students!”

Zimmerhanzel fondly recalled MC Assistant Professor of Government Dr. Sondra Richards and History Professor Dr. Todd Houck when she thought back upon her days at Midland College. She also remembered her association with the Baptist Student Ministries and said that her Legacy Scholarship volunteer work in the gift shop at Midland Memorial Hospital helped to strengthen her interpersonal skills, which have proven to be valuable in her current position. In addition to helping Zimmerhanzel get a successful start on her higher education pursuits, Midland College is also where she met great friends, one of whom later became her roommate while she was attending TTU.

Zimmerhanzel advised, “If there is one thing I would recommend to people starting college, it would be to get involved in extracurricular activities and organizations. It’s a great opportunity to meet people, get some valuable career skills and, not to mention, have FUN!”

She said that the only negative aspect of her experience at Midland College was the one online economics course that she took during a winter interim semester.

“I am definitely one of those people who need human interaction during a class!” laughed Zimmerhanzel. “At the time an online course sounded like a good idea, but it was difficult, and I missed the face-to-face contact. Needless to say, that was my first and last online college course!”

After successfully graduating with an associate degree from Midland College in 2008, Zimmerhanzel transferred to Texas Tech, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies in 2010. While attending MC and later TTU, she worked at various part-time jobs, one of which was the Texas Tech recruiting office.

Zimmerhanzel stated, “It was while I was helping students with freshman orientation at Tech that I truly realized how fortunate I was to have attended Midland College. Once I got to Texas Tech, I already knew how to register for classes and had developed proper study habits. The freshmen students I assisted at Tech were really struggling with those things, and unlike Midland College, the Texas Tech classes are so big and there are so many students that it is easy to get ‘lost in the shuffle.’”

Zimmerhanzel explained that another positive aspect of Midland College is the Legacy Scholarship: “My twin sister and I both attended Midland College on the Legacy Scholarship, and we also entered the Abell-Hanger Legacy Essay Contest. Each of us won the additional $500 essay award during separate semesters.”

Midland's Legacy Scholarship Program is funded by four pioneering Midland families—George and Gladys Abell, Barney and Helen Greathouse, J. Harvey and Harriet Herd and the Clarence Scharbauer Family—who invested their time and resources to help build a community. The financial legacy of these community builders ensures that Midland County high school graduates are able to continue to take advantage of an education at Midland College.

The scholarship requires students to complete 40 hours of community service before entering Midland College and an additional 20 hours each semester that they are attending MC. In exchange for the volunteer hours, students are awarded up to $1,050 per semester!

“That was a great budgetary help for my parents and me,” explained Zimmerhanzel. “Then, I also received scholarships while I was at Texas Tech, so I essentially graduated with a bachelor’s degree debt free!”

Today, the energetic and attractive Midland native is enjoying her responsibilities in the Permian Basin’s busy hotel industry. Zimmerhanzel explained that when she and her husband Michael got married in December of 2010, they decided to put down roots in the Tall City because Kathryn’s family is in Midland, and she harbors happy memories of growing up in the area.

The young couple who are proud “dog parents” of Shae, a 5-year-old Pit Bull, and Texas, an 18-month-old Boston Terrier Pug (or “Bug” as the hybrid breed is affectionately known), said they made the right decision to begin their professional careers and married life in Midland.

Zimmerhanzel stated, “Midland is an awesome city, and I enjoy working in an industry where I can promote the area to people who visit. Also, I’m definitely proof that one of the city’s greatest strengths is the wonderful education that Midland College provides!”

Former Lady Chap Earns Medical Doctorate

By Forrest Allen
MC Athletic Director

Former Odessa High School and Midland College Lady Chap student-athlete, Lindsey Casey was recently awarded her Doctorate of Medicine from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine. Casey, the daughter of Debby Casey and Leland Casey, was a 2001 graduate of Longview (TX) High School where she earned All-District 12-5A, All-East Texas and Honorable Mention All-State. She was also a First Team Academic All-State selection as a senior. Prior to her enrollment at LHS, Casey attended Odessa High School and was named All-District 4-5A and All-Permian Basin honors in 2000.

Following her graduation from Longview High School, Casey enrolled at Oklahoma University (2001-2002) where she was a member of the Lady Sooner basketball team. Casey played in 11 games at OU averaging 1.6 points per contest. Casey transferred from Oklahoma University to Midland College where she played for Ron Jones.

As a member of the 2002-2003 Lady Chaps Lindsey Casey helped lead Midland College to a 31-6 overall record while averaging 10.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per contest. That season the Lady Chaps won the WJCAC title going 10-2 and won the NJCAA Region V championship to advance to the 2003 NJCAA Women’s Division I Basketball Tournament in Salina, KS. The Lady Chaps finished third in the national tournament in 2003.

Casey then moved on to San Diego State University where she played her junior and senior seasons for the Lady Aztecs.

Lindsey Casey earned her Doctorate of Medicine in Orthopaedic Surgery in May 2012 from Texas Tech University. This summer Dr. Casey will begin her training at West Virginia University School of Medicine as a Orthopaedic Surgery resident.

Midland College offers Beginning American Sign Language

By Rebecca Bell
Dean of Community Relations & Special Events

Midland College (MC) participates in the Virtual College of Texas (VCT), which is a consortium of accredited, public Texas community and technical colleges. The consortium includes the 50 Texas community college districts and the four colleges of the Texas State Technical College system. The mission of the VCT is to provide higher education access to all Texans wherever they may live.

While the majority of Midland College’s VCT business is from students at other colleges enrolling in MC-provided courses, MC students are also eligible to enroll in other colleges’ courses. One such course being offered this fall is Beginning American Sign Language I (SGNL 1401). The course, which will originate from Howard College’s Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf, will be offered at Midland College in Room 107 of the F. Marie Hall Academic Building from 5:30-6:45 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, August 27-December 14.

Jené Brown, Midland College’s distance learning & VCT coordinator, explains, “Sign Language usually satisfies foreign language requirements needed for graduation and has been very popular among MC students; however, we haven’t been able to offer the course in the past few years due to lack of a qualified instructor. Now, our students have an opportunity once again to take the course. Students enrolling in VCT are eligible for financial aid and all other MC benefits. They must also meet all MC admission requirements; I will be happy to assist them with admission and registration.”

To register for the sign language course or any other VCT course, contact Brown at (432) 685-5538, jbrown@midland.edu

Reasons to make Midland College ... YOUR College

MC Facilities Closed Today

Midland College facilities are closed today, Wednesday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. Facilities will re-open, and classes will resume tomorrow, Thursday, July 5. at 7:00 a.m.

File Photo: Independence Day Activities, 2011 

Championship Hearts Program @ Midland Memorial Hospital

By Forrest Allen
MC Athletic Director

Midland Memorial Hospital has once again received funding and is hosting the Championship Hearts Program in conjunction with the Texas Chapter of the American College of Cardiology. This program is totally free screening program to help detect the conditions that cause sudden cardiac death in young athletes (ages 14-18).

Nearly everyone is familiar with the tragic stories of healthy young athletes, dying unexpectedly while engaged in sporting events. This program will screen athletes, aged 14-18, for many undetected conditions that contribute to those deaths.

The event will be held on July 14th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Midland Memorial Hospital Main Campus in the Illinois Lobby. High school athletes, aged 14-18, can sign up for the free screening with the permission of their parents.

To register for this free, non-invasive screening, click the link below and locate the Midland event. www.championshipheartsfoundation.org