Rain Delay - 09/28/12

There has been rain in Midland overnight - LOTs of it - and it's continuing this morning ... MIDLAND COLLEGE IS ON DELAYED START TODAY, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28. All Midland locations are closed until 10:00 a.m. due to extreme high water. Please take care and take your time on the streets today!

A visitor from Howard College?

From MC Athletic Director Forrest Allen ..."The photo shows a hawk in a tree in front of the MC campus. The hawk swooped down and picked up a squirrel and flew with it up into the tree and rested it on the branches of the tree."

 

 

MC Lady Chap Volleyball to host invitational tournament

Midland College Invitational
September 28-29, 2012
Al G. Kangford Chaparral Center, Midland College, Midland, Texas

ADMISSION
Friday Only: Adults $5.00, non-MC Students/Seniors (65+), Free with current MC student or employee ID
Saturday Only: Adults $5.00, non-MC Students/Seniors (65+), Free with current MC student or employee ID

SPECIAL NOTE
Third Annual Midland College Lady Chap Volleyball Alumnae Match will be played on Saturday, September 29th @ 7:00 p.m.

TEAMS
Midland College
Odessa College
Colby Community College
St. Louis Community College
University of Chihuahua

SCHEDULE

Friday, September 28, 2012
Chaparral Center, Midland College

11:00   St. Louis Community College vs. Odessa College
  1:00   University of Chihuahua vs. Colby Community College
  3:00   St. Louis Community College vs. Midland College
  5:00   University of Chihuahua vs. Odessa College
  7:00   Colby Community College vs. Midland College
 
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Chaparral Center, Midland College  

  9:00   St. Louis Community College vs. University of Chihuahua
11:00   Colby Community College vs. St. Louis Community College
  1:00   University of Chihuahua vs. Midland College
  3:00   Colby Community College vs. Odessa College
  5:00   Odessa College vs. Midland College

ALL MATCHES WILL BE THREE OUT OF FIVE SETS. WE WILL PLAY RALLY SCORE TO 25, WITH THE DECIDING SET BEING PLAYED TO 15.

CONTACT

Forrest Allen, MC Athletic Director/Sports Information
(432) 685-6436
fallen@midland.edu

DREAMers Workshops at Midland College

By Liz Zenteno, Associate Director
MC Cogdell Learning Center

Midland College Cogdell Learning Center is hosting two workshops to provide information about recent changes in immigration guidelines for undocumented individuals attending or interested in attending college. This event is being coordinated by Alfredo Chaparro, and speakers include MC employees and board certified immigration and nationality lawyers.

Thursday September 27th from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ~ for program, schools and agency reps and community members who provide services or information to undocument...ed individuals or their families.

Saturday October 6th from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. ~ for individuals/students/families interested in access to higher education.

Both sessions will take place at the Cogdell Learning Center lecture hall, located at 201 W. Florida. For more information, please call Alfredo Chaparro 559-1372 or me at 684-4518/413-2916.

All interested individuals are welcome at either session. Please help us spread the word by passing this information along to students and others in the community who may benefit.

CLICK HERE for more information about the workshops.

"Reach Out and Read" at Your College

The Texas Tech Physician Assistant class of 2014 at Midland College is hosting a book drive, and has partnered with the organization Reach Out and Read to make an impact in the Midland community.

They will be collecting books through October 12th, and collection boxes can be found near the Student Life office, in the Dorothy & Clarence Scharbauer, Jr. Student Center, and in the lobby of the Murray L. Fasken Learning Resource Center (library), both on the MC Main Campus.

They are specifically needing books for age range of 5 months to 6 years. All donated books will go towards combating illiteracy right here in Midland. A local Midland medical clinic will be recieving the books. Staff at this facility understand the goals of Reach Out and Read and are committed to fulfililng the parameters set forth by the organization.

More information about the program, and its mission is available at the Reach Out and Read website .

Reminder from the MC Police Department

By Richard McKee, Chief of Police
Midland College Police Department

In the past 2 weeks MC Police have investigated 3 vehicle burglaries that occurred on the main campus. In all cases the vehicle was either left unlocked or a window was left open. At this time no suspect has been identified.

Just a reminder, please secure your vehicle and make sure there are no items of value in sight. If you see any suspicious activity please report it to MC Police immediately at 685-4734.

CLICK HERE for additional crime prevention tips from the Midland College Police Department.

Community Programs CE offering entertainment industry courses at Your College

Brenda Cordero, Associate Director of Community Programs Continuing Education at Midland College, reports, "We have partnered with Faith in Dreams Edutainment in providing entertainment industry courses. The TV Screenwriting, Makeup, Producing, Film Screenwriting, Casting, and Fashion Stylist courses are all 100% online."

You may register for these courses online at https://www.midland.edu/cpce/registration  or by calling Community Programs Continuing Education at (432) 685-4518.

CLICK HERE for more information on the entertainment courses available through MC's Community Programs CE (Adobe .pdf file)

Watch the video below for more from Faith in Dreams Edutainment ...

A death in the family ...

The Midland College family is saddened to hear of the sudden death of Aline Collins, who recently retired in August, after 30+ years of service as an MC librarian. Aline had a brief illness due to cancer.

The Midland College flag is flying at half-staff.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 18, at First Presbyterian Church of Midland, 800 W. Texas Avenue, Midland, Texas.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Chaparral Circle Endowment Fund, c/o the Midland College Foundation and sent to Rita Ramirez in the Pevehouse Adminsitration Building, or they can be made online at https://www.midland.edu/foundation/how/gift/

Midland College announces the dedication of the David E. Daniel Residence Hall

By Lesley Isaacs

“Dr. David E. Daniel had an exceptional vision during his 17-year tenure as president of Midland College. His accomplishments affected not only the students, but also our quality of life in the Permian Basin,” said Spencer Beal, chair of the Midland College (MC) Foundation Investment Committee.

Beal recently led efforts for the MC Foundation in raising over $1.2 million for the Chaparral Circle Endowment Fund to recognize the accomplishments of retired MC President Dr. David Daniel. Now, the fundraising campaign will culminate in the dedication of the David E. Daniel Residence Hall, one of four student housing facilities on the MC campus.

Dedication of the David E. Daniel Residence Hall
Friday, September 14, 11:00 a.m.
Follow the directional signs to dedication location. Reception to be held immediately following dedication ceremony in Scharbauer Student Center's Carrasco Room

During Daniel’s tenure as MC President, the college saw a 50 percent increase in enrollment, a $41.8 million bond pass with 70 percent approval and the creation of a baccalaureate degree. (MC is one of only three community colleges in the state to offer such a degree.)

Other David Daniel accomplishments include the establishment of the Midland College Advanced Technology Center, which provides state-of-the-art computer and technical skills training to over 14,000 high school (MISD) students, college students and employees of Permian Basin businesses; the establishment of the Cogdell Learning Center serving South and East Midland; the creation of the Davidson Distinguished Lecture Series and the Phyllis & Bob Cowan Performing Arts Series; and various campus expansion projects including the Dorothy and Todd Aaron Medical Science Building, the Leona G. and John E. Fox Science Building, the F. Marie Hall Academic Building and the Dollye Neal Chapel. In addition, Daniel was instrumental in expanding facilities and in increasing enrollment in MC’s nursing and allied health programs.

Before he retired from Midland College in August of 2008, Daniel said, “I am proud of MC’s place among other community colleges, the development of which has helped to keep this nation at the top of civilization as we know it! People often say to me, ‘We’re so proud of our college.’ That sense of ownership means everything.” Midland College is still proud of the fact that it is Midland’s college. “Never has a college enjoyed such amazing community support as that given to Midland College,” noted current MC President Dr. Steve Thomas. “One would think that after 40 years, the ‘honeymoon’ would be over; however, the Midland community and Midland College continue to appreciate a mutually supportive relationship.”

Thomas continued, “It is very fitting that we dedicate one of our residence halls as a tribute to David Daniel who gave 17 years of service to Midland College and the Midland community! I am privileged to continue to lead MC in its tradition of excellence.”

About David E. Daniel
Dr. David E. Daniel retired as the third president of Midland College in August 2008, after 17 years. He came to Midland from Harrisburg, PA, where he served as Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Commission on Community Colleges and the Pennsylvania Federation of Community College Trustees.

He received his B.A. degree from Furman University, Greenville, SC; his M.Div. Degree from Colgate-Rochester Divinity Schools, Rochester, NY; and his Ed.D. in Community College Education from North Carolina State University.

In 1991-1992, Dr. Daniel was Chair of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the highest elected office among America’s community colleges. He was a member of the AACC Board from 1988-1993, and in 2005, Daniel was chosen by the AACC trustees as the Outstanding Chief Executive Officer for the Western Region. Daniel’s service to Texas higher education includes serving as president of the Texas Association of Community Colleges and as a member of the Texas Council of Workforce and Economic Competitiveness.

Dr. Daniel’s past board affiliations in the Midland community include the Petroleum Club, Midland Country Club, Midland Chamber of Commerce and FirstCapital Bank of Texas. In 2001, he was named Fundraiser of the Year by the Permian Basin Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and in 2005, he was given the Boy Scouts of America, Buffalo Trail Council’s “Distinguished Citizen Award.”

Dr. Daniel has authored and co-authored numerous publications, most of them about the role of the community college.

An international explosion of words

Peggy Wennerlind (second from left) stands with three of her Burmese Chin students during
Midland’s Chin National Day celebration in February 2012

By Rebecca Bell
Dean of Community Relations & Special Events

The Midland College (MC) Cogdell Learning Center, located at 201 W. Florida, is more than just an extension of the main MC campus—it also serves as an international hub for learning. On most days, one can find people speaking three to four different languages within the walls of this unassuming building.

One of these languages is Chin, spoken by the Chin people of Burma, or Myanmar as the country was renamed by the military government in 1989. The Chin are found mainly in the Chin Hills of northwest Burma, a terrain that is similar to northern New Mexico and where Southeast Asia begins its ascent to Nepal and the Himalayas. Most Chin are farmers by trade, a profession that has been handed down from generation to generation.

While this may seem like an idyllic geographic location, times are not so good for the Chin. In fact, due to extreme poverty and political oppression, the U.S. government has granted them political refugee status. During the past 15-20 years, many Chin have fled to North America by way of India, Malaysia and Indonesia. Approximately five years ago, one such immigrant, Duh Luai, was hired by the Midland HEB store to manage its sushi bar. Luai soon became enamored with Midland, particularly its abundant employment opportunities and strong sense of the Christian faith. (With the exception of the Philippines, the Chin Hills has the highest rate of Christianity in Southeast Asia.) So, at the encouragement of HEB, Luai spread the word about Midland to his fellow Chin, and it wasn’t long before others moved to Midland. In 2008, there were less than 60 Chin living in Midland. Today’s estimates are over 600.

First Presbyterian Church in Midland has been one of the numerous faith-based organizations that have assisted the Chin’s transition to Midland. Jeff McDonald, a member of First Presbyterian and MC’s web editor, explained, “The Chin are very hard-working. They are here to pursue the ‘American Dream.’ After we initially helped them find community resources for living assistance, they took the ‘bull by the horns’ and started making their own way. They are purchasing vehicles and homes; their children are excelling in our school system; and we even had our first Chin to graduate from MC this past spring!”

Of course, the Chin’s transition to life in Midland includes learning the English language, which has come with its own share of obstacles. In 2008, the Midland College ESL program began teaching English to the Chin and soon discovered that English to Chin dictionaries were almost impossible to obtain. After an intensive six-month search for a Chin dictionary, MC Dean of Adult and Developmental Education Lynda Webb obtained a photocopy dictionary for Cogdell's ESL classrooms. These bulky three-ring notebook dictionaries were the only resource available for the Chin learners.

In the fall of 2011, Peggy Wennerlind, a Midland Need to Read instructor at Cogdell, also encountered the Chin learners at the First Baptist Church’s ESL class. After an exhaustive Internet search, Wennerlind was able to purchase 12 copies of the late Dr. Rev. David Van Bik's Chin to English dictionary from his son, a minister in Maryland, who, with great difficulty, occasionally brings them out of Myanmar. Then, In January 2012 Wennerlind found additional dictionaries by way of a broker in New York.

Wennerlind explained, “I had to send a check to New York before the books could ever be shipped out of Myanmar. Not only did it take months for these books to be delivered but recently, when I attempted to get additional copies, they were no longer available.”

Wennerlind continued with her online quest for dictionaries, and her perseverance led to a retired Danish Lutheran minister named Johannes Lind who lives in a small fishing village in Denmark. Based on Van Bik’s dictionary, Lind had produced an online “Danish to English to Chin” dictionary for the Burmese Chin Hakha living in Denmark.

Wennerlind said, “Reverend Lind was so gracious, and he allowed us to take the work he had done and go from there. Reverend Lind sent us the php file of his online dictionary. My son-in-law Chris is a computer engineer and has a website company in Lubbock called Web Plant Media. Chris was able to load the file to his web space ( www.webplantmedia.com ). All he had to do was remove the Danish, and then we had an online English to Chin dictionary; however, there were still many key English words missing. For example, there was no English word for ‘accident.’”

At the time that Wennerlind was attempting to assist her Chin students at Cogdell, Terrell Burgoon, a GED® instructor and computer lab technician at Casa de Amigos in Midland, was also struggling to teach English to the Chin who were enrolled in his GED® classes.

“I contacted Terrell to let him know about the online dictionary,” said Wennerlind. “When I told him about the missing English words, Terrell suggested that he and I add those words, so he started with the ‘A’s’ and I started with the ‘Zs.’ Johannes Lind, a master of many languages and words, joined us in the typing, and we all soon met in the middle. By March 2012, we had added about 30 percent more English words.”

In June 2012, audio files were added to the online dictionary, and this fall, the Van Bik English to Chin Hakha Dictionary is available not only at Cogdell and Casa de Amigos, but also all over the world: www.chin-dictionary.com

Burgoon said, “It’s too early to tell if the new online dictionary is making a difference in the Chin’s grasp of English because we didn’t have classes over the summer; but, judging by the looks on my Chin students’ faces, I am expecting a huge increase in their ability to understand, speak and read English.”

According to Google Analytics, a free service that generates detailed statistics about visitors to a website, the online dictionary is getting far more “hits” than just by those Chin living in Midland. U.S. educational entities accessing the new online dictionary include the Dallas County Community College District, the Kentucky Department of Education and the San Diego County Department of Education. In addition, foreign educational organizations, such as the Education Department of Western Australia, are also accessing the dictionary. Over a 30-day period in late summer 2012, Google Analytics indicated that 705 unique visitors had visited the online dictionary from a variety of cities and countries including Melbourne, Norway, Chicago and Malaysia. Wennerlind stated that since school started, the use of the dictionary is now up to almost 2,000 people in a 30-day period. Forty percent of those people accessing the site are doing so with mobile devices.

Standing in the Cogdell computer lab, Wennerlind’s face lights up with a huge smile as she reflects on this special project: “I can’t believe how this happened. So many wonderful people have stepped up to assist. I truly believe it is God-ordained and meant to be!”

Movie Night @ Midland College

A Presidential Proclamation

By Barrack Obama
President of the United States of America

"On September 11, 2001, a bright autumn day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history. Thousands of innocent men, women, and children perished when mighty towers collapsed in the heart of New York City and wreckage burned in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon. They were family and friends, service members and first responders -- and the tragedy of their loss left pain that will never fade and scars our country will never forget."

• CLICK HERE to read the rest of this proclamation

Midland College Sports Week

By Forrest Allen
Midland College Athletic Director

Midland College Baseball
Tuesday, September 11, 2012 @ 2:00 p.m.
Christensen Stadium
Odessa College @ Midland College (fall scrimmage)

Midland College Volleyball
2012 WJCAC Opener
Wednesday, September 12, 2012 @ 7:00 p.m.
Borger Community Athletic Center in Borger, TX
Midland College (7-5) @ Frank Phillips College (n/a)

Midland College Baseball
Saturday, September 15, 2012 @ 9:00 am
Christensen Stadium
Intersquad Scrimmage

Midland College Volleyball
Saturday, September 15, 2012 @ 2:00 pm
Al G. Langford Chaparral Center
Clarendon College @ Midland College (home conference opener)

Doris Kearns Goodwin books in the library at Your College



CLICK HERE for more information about the lecture


 By John Deats
Director, Murray L. Fasken Learning Resource Center

Midland College readers (students, faculty, and staff): The following books by our upcoming distinguished lecturer, Doris Kearns Goodwin, are currently available for loan from the LRC's collection:

* No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt : The Home Front in World War II (E807 .G66 on the LRC shelves)
"....focuses upon the wartime White House, "a small, intimate hotel" frequented by Churchill, Harry Hopkins, Lorena Hickock, Missy LeHand, and other guests of the state and of the Roosevelts. Goodwin's eye for life's details catches Franklin's ongoing quarrel with the kitchen, the feel of the map room, Eleanor's unease at the cocktail hour, FDR's delight in this ritual, and many other scenes. Her portraits of ER and FDR are highly sympathetic, showing them heroically-but by no means flawlessly-leading an unwilling nation into the wartime effort that helped defeat the Axis and changed America unimaginably...". --Library Journal

** Team of Rivals : The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln (E457.45 .G66 on the LRC shelves)
"...argues that Lincoln's success in winning the election and in building an exceptionally effective administration lay in his extraordinary ability to empathize with his rivals. Much more than a biography of Lincoln, historian Goodwin's book also closely examines the lives of Lincoln's chief opponents for the Republican nomination-Edward Bates, Salmon P. Chase, and William H. Seward-all of whom appeared better qualified to be President than he...." --Library Journal

Wait Till Next Year : A Memoir (GV875 .B7 G66 on the LRC shelves)
"The remarkable '50s in New York baseball, together with the rituals of her church and the universal preoccupations of childhood, lend structure to this involving memoir by the Pulitzer Prize^-winning author of No Ordinary Time (1994). As in her studies of the Roosevelts, Lyndon Johnson, and The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys, Goodwin superbly weaves together the universal and the particular: experiences she shared with millions of other war babies and boomers...". --Mary Carroll (Booklist)

*winner, Pulitzer Prize in History
**winner, The Lincoln Prize

MC Volleyball Goes 2-2 in Baytown, Cracks the Top 20

By Forrest Allen
Midland College Athletic Director

The Midland College Lady Chaparral volleyball team took their unblemished record on the road last weekend when they traveled to Baytown, TX for the Lee College Invitational Tournament. MC entered the event with a 4-0 record, but the Ladies were unable to keep their unbeaten streak intact, winning two of their four matches.

Midland College, currently 6-2 overall, moved into the NJCAA Top 20, cracking the #19 spot in the latest poll. In Baytown, Midland College opened play against fellow WJCAC team the New Mexico Military Institute (Roswell, NM). The Lady Chaps defeated the Broncos in four sets, 25-17, 23-25, 25-19, 25-20 (3-1). Midland College suffered their first loss of the season in their second match, losing to Paris Junior College by scores of 25-16, 25-19, 25-22 (0-3). In their third match of the tournament, MC squared off against the tournament host, Lee College. Midland College defeated Lee College 25-20, 27-25, 15-25, 25-18 (3-1).

The Lady Chaps' fourth and final match of the tournament saw Midland College take the court versus, then #4 ranked San Jacinto College (Central). The Lady Chaps unfortunately suffered their second loss of the season against the Ravens, 25-9, 25-15, 25-15 (0-3).

The Lady Chaps will hit the road again the weekend of September 7-8, when they enter the Woodlands Wave Tournament in The Woodlands (Houston, TX). On Friday, MC will take on Panola College (5-4) in a 2:00 p.m. contest and Temple College (8-4) later that day @ 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, Midland College will face Hill College (5-2) and #1 ranked Tyler Junior College (8-0) at 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. respectively.

The Lady Chaps return home on Saturday, September 15th @ 2:00 p.m. versus Clarendon College in a WJCAC contest.

40 years as Your College!

By Steve Thomas, Ph.D.
Midland College President

The year was 1972. The average cost of a new home in Midland was $11,800, and monthly rent was $165. Gasoline was 55 cents per gallon, and Midlanders could get a good pair of new Wrangler jeans for $12. Our radios were tuned to Don McLean’s “American Pie” and Michael Jackson singing “Ben.” We had a choice of three television stations, and our favorite shows were “Here’s Lucy,” “The Brady Bunch” and “Hawaii Five-O” (the original one with Jack Lord). On the political front, Richard Nixon was elected U.S. President for what was to be a turbulent second term. Closer to home, Texas Governor Preston Smith signed the bill to create the Midland Junior College District, and Midland College (MC) was born!

In 1973, Dr. Al G. Langford, MC’s first president, wrote, “Midland College, like all worthwhile enterprises, is the result of a dream and the product of dedicated effort to overcome obstacles. . . . Midland College is a ‘community college’ in the finest sense of the term. The community has given us solid support. From the beginning, residents showed an above-normal dedication to the college, and they gave unselfishly of their time and talent to its development.”

As the college’s fourth president, I can honestly say that those words of Dr. Langford still ring true. The education, training, services and enrichment that MC provides are the result of a devoted board of trustees and hardworking, dedicated employees. Furthermore, never has a college enjoyed such amazing community support as that given to Midland College. One would think that after 40 years, the “honeymoon” would be over, but the Midland community and Midland College continue to appreciate a mutually supportive relationship.

From the start, our goal has been to contribute to Midland’s quality of life and economic development by providing programs and services for students to meet their needs. To that end, MC provides academic/transfer courses, career and technical education, continuing education and workforce training, and adult basic education. Our graduates are the backbone of the workforce in Midland working in fields like nursing; emergency medical medicine and other health science occupations; law enforcement; energy technology; paralegal; aviation maintenance; automotive and diesel mechanics; welding; truck driving; computer systems installation and maintenance; and many others. We also help prepare students for professional careers in our transfer curriculum and many of them become lawyers, engineers, teachers, doctors, geologists, accountants and other professionals.

Midland College also strongly believes that cultural enrichment is a major component of our mission. Thanks to endowed gifts, the Phyllis & Bob Cowan Performing Arts Series and the Davidson Distinguished Lecture Series recruit renowned performers and speakers to the campus for free community concerts and lectures. The campus is also home to the McCormick Art Gallery and co-produces theatre presentations with Midland Community Theatre. The college’s Al G. Langford Chaparral Center hosts concerts, trade shows and sporting events. Our summer Kids’ College program provides a fun atmosphere for Midland children to participate in cultural opportunities and enjoy sports activities. In addition, MC is proud to partner with community events such as Tall City Blues Fest and other family-oriented occasions within the Permian Basin.

Although state appropriations for community colleges continue to decrease, Midland College is committed to carry on our mission of providing quality educational experiences for students. Due to the tremendous philanthropic spirit that makes Midland one of the best cities in the nation, we can offer a variety of opportunities such as those previously mentioned. The Legacy Scholarship, which funds $1,050 per semester for Midland County high school graduates who attend MC, is just one of the many privately sponsored scholarships that enable students to realize their dreams of obtaining higher education and skills training. MC’s Chaparral Circle Endowment Fund has now reached $11 million, because of the generosity of our many donors.

Midland College has come a long way in the past 40 years; however, still more is yet to be accomplished. With the community’s continuing support, there is no doubt that MC will help Midland live up to its motto of The Sky’s the Limit. I have the privilege of following in the footsteps of the three former Midland College presidents and outstanding community college leaders—Al Langford, Jess Parrish and David Daniel. It is an honor for me to carry on their vision and values (and add a few wrinkles of my own). Thank you, Midland, for 40 wonderful years; we look forward to 40 more years of being Your College!