Farewell to a friend

From Rebecca Bell, MC's Dean of Community Relations & Special Events ... "Marvin Hamlisch, a two-time guest with the Phyllis & Bob Cowan Performing Arts Series at Midland College, passed away today at the age of 68."

 

CLICK HERE for more on Hamlisch's remarkable life and career, from USA Today.

 

In 2010, Marvin Hamlish made his second appearance at MC, innaugurating the college's new Steinway concert grand piano with his performance and his autograph.

 

Smoky Mountain research

By Rebecca Bell
Dean of Community Relations & Special Events

Each year, thousands of tourists from all over the world visit the Great Smoky Mountains that straddle the border between North Carolina and Tennessee; however, few have an opportunity to spend 10 weeks there taking part in a new scientific breakthrough! This summer, Midland College (MC) Assistant Professor of Chemistry Dr. Pat Nandakumar had just such an opportunity when she participated in the Visiting Faculty Program at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) near Knoxville, Tennessee.

ORNL was established in 1943 as part of the World War II Manhattan Project, and today it is the largest science and energy national laboratory in the Department of Energy system.

Nandakumar said that she learned quite a bit about the beginnings of ORNL during her stay in the area and explained, “During World War II, the material for making the atom bomb was produced at ORNL. Because of its unique location hidden in the Smoky Mountains, the lab was not easy to locate. In fact, at the time, Oak Ridge was referred to as a ‘secret city.’ Once Plutonium was produced at ORNL, they were shipped to Los Alamos National Laboratory in northern New Mexico, where the bombs were assembled.”

This past summer, Dr. Nandakumar and one of her MC research students Jasmine Flores spent 10 weeks researching ways to extend the lives of high capacity batteries, such as those found in I-phones, IPADs, laptops and hybrid cars. The two women had the honor of working with Dr. Parans Paranthaman, who is the group leader of the Materials Chemistry Group in the Chemical Sciences Division at ORNL.

Pictured from left to right are MC Assistant Professor of Chemistry Dr. pat Nandakumar, MC research student Jasmine Flores, and ORNL Materials Chemistry Group Leader Dr. Parans Paranthaman

During a recent telephone interview conducted while Dr. Nandakumar was still at the laboratory, she exclaimed, “I am learning so much that I can take back to share with my students and colleagues at Midland College! In addition, I am working with Dr. Parans and other staff members at ORNL to coordinate a possible visit to the laboratory by MC faculty, and we are discussing ways for ORNL and MC to collaborate on a variety of projects in the future.”

The process to be accepted to the Visiting Faculty Program was not a simple one—Nandakumar and Flores each had to submit extensive applications detailing each woman’s qualifications and previous research projects.

During the same telephone interview, Nandakumar’s research student Jasmine Flores, a 25-year-old Odessa native, said, “When Dr. Nandakumar approached me about the summer internship, I was excited to be offered such an opportunity. I have never considered research as a career. The experience at ORNL opened my mind to further educational and career opportunities. I am currently investigating several leading research universities in order to further my education.

“I am synthesizing materials and characterizing them by using high-tech instruments,” continued Flores. “Part of my responsibilities this summer has been to assemble CR2032 coin cells that are being used to experiment with the life extension of lithium ion batteries. I am in a very team-oriented environment and currently collaborating with five scientists. I have not only met world-renowned chemists, but also have met people who are experts in computational science, forensic anthropology and genetics. There are about 500 other interns here representing schools from community colleges like Midland College to research institutions like MIT and Harvard.”

Flores graduated from Odessa High school in 2005 and received two bachelor degrees at Texas Tech University in 2010 in dance and biology. She attended Midland College during the 2011-2012 school year in order to fulfill prerequisite requirements for a graduate program. While at MC, she worked with Nandakumar on solar cell research.

Midland College is one of the few community colleges in the nation that have a research component to their science program.

MC Dean of Math and Natural Science Dr. Margaret Wade explained, “When we initiated our first research projects a few years ago, we knew that this would be a great opportunity for MC students. Today, our students and faculty are benefitting from the research projects we have implemented in biology, chemistry and geology. The research that Dr. Nandakumar has accomplished at Midland College in the field of lithium ion batteries and solar cells is one of the reasons she and Jasmine were chosen for the prestigious summer program at ORNL.”

Nandakumar said, “Even though Jasmine and I have worked hard this summer and we are a long way from our families, the program has been so amazing. We are beginning to see promising characteristics with our research. Dr. Parans and I are discussing the possibility of collaborating in the future and to publish papers on our work. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!”


Pictured from left to right are Dr. Parans Paranthaman, Jasmine Flores and Dr. Pat Nandakumar performing research on life extension of high-capacity batteries

Photo Album: MC Music Clinics at Tall City Blues Fest

Tall City Blues fest has wrapped-up the 2012 edition of its annual, weekend-long music festival in downtown Midland. Here are some photos taken by TCBF staff at the music clinics sponsored by MC Continuing Education during the festival. The clinics were taught by Blues fest guest artists, and attended by local blues enthusiasts young and old..
CLICK HERE to view the entire album

MC's College Classics needs computer instructor

Hearing from Brenda Cordero, Director of Continuing Education at MC ...

 

"I am looking for a College Classics computer instructor, to teach beginning, advanced, keyboarding, etc. Sessions are as follows: Session I: September 24 - October 19; Session II: Oct 22 - November 16. Information due ASAP. Please let me know if you are interested and I will send the paperwork necessary for the class. Thanks!"

 

You can reach Brenda at (432) 685-4724 or bcordero@midland.edu

Area high school students learn healthcare through real-world applications

By Rebecca Bell
Dean of Community Relations & Special Events

When the F. Marie Hall SimLife Center at Midland College was built in spring 2012, it was seen as a collaborative learning environment for Midland College students, Texas Tech University Health Sciences students and Midland Memorial Hospital employees; however, a younger group of students is also participating in classes at the Center.

Through a partnership between the Area Health Education Consortium and Midland Memorial Hospital, Permian Basin high school students have the opportunity to gets hands-on training in various health careers.  The program, entitled Youth Health Services Corps, allows high school students an opportunity to attend extracurricular classes, seminars and workshops, as well as shadow healthcare professionals.

On Thursday, July 26, the high school students were special guests at the F. Marie Hall SimLife Center at Midland College and participated in various medical training scenarios, including a simulated exercise involving a patient having a seizure.

Center Director Lea Keesee programmed one of the Center’s sophisticated manikins to exhibit neurological symptoms, and the high school students made bedside observations and reported the symptoms to Keesee and Kim Kincaid, executive secretary of PCS Administration for Midland Memorial Hospital.  After going through the exercise, students were given the opportunity to “debrief” with Keesee in one of the Center’s conference areas.

“This was really awesome!” said 15-year-old Amanda Bell, a sophomore at Greenwood High School.  “The manikin patients were so life-like—their eyes blinked, they breathed, and they spoke to us about how they were feeling.  One of our manikin patients even started to shake his left hand and arm when he was seizing.  Going through the simulated exercise helped me realize the importance of making sound assessments.  I think this experience will help me properly react when I am put in similar situations in real life.  My goal is to be a medical doctor, so this was a great learning experience for me.”

Standing from left to right are Youth Health Services Corps students and mentors:  Yara Carrasco, Midland High School 12th-grader; Alexandra Rodriguez, Odessa High School 10th-grader; Amanda Bell, Greenwood High School 10th-grader; Kim Kincaid, Midland Memorial Hospital executive secretary of PCS Administration; and Lea Keesee, director of the F. Marie Hall SimLife Center at Midland College

Photo Album: 2012 Kids' College at MC

The MC Continuing Education program has wrapped-up the 2012 edition of its annual Kids' College at MC. Coordinated by CE Director Brenda Cordero and her office - plus a large number of temp staff and volunteers, young and old, from throughout the community - Kids' College lived up to its reputation as one of West Texas' favorite summer time enrichment and recreation activities for youngsters.
CLICK HERE to view the entire album

Mechanical aptitude + hands-on training = career opportunity

By Rebecca Bell
Dean of Community Relations & Special Events

Trey Thompson always loved working with his hands and repairing things. After spending four years in California, stationed at Camp Pendleton in the U.S. Marines Corps' 1st Division, he moved to Midland because his father had been transferred to the Tall City from Wyoming.

“I grew up in Wyoming and am an avid fisherman,” said Thompson. “Midland doesn’t have the outdoor activities like Wyoming; however, there is a much better job market here.”

In 2003 Thompson began working as an automobile mechanic in Midland and realized that he had a knack for mechanical work. Using financial assistance from the U. S. Veteran’s Assistance program, Thompson enrolled in Midland College’s (MC) aviation maintenance program in 2008.

“People don’t take very good care of cars,” explained Thompson. “Planes, on the other hand, are usually well-maintained, and I enjoy keeping them in proper working condition. When something is the matter with an aircraft, it usually poses more of a challenge, and I enjoy diagnosing and finding the problem.”

Thompson completed both MC’s powerplant and airframe aviation maintenance certificates. He wanted to get both credentials in order to be more marketable as an aircraft mechanic. Even with spending the extra time to earn two certificates, he still was able to finish all the required work in just 18 months!

Thompson said, “I found that aviation maintenance came pretty easy to me. The instructors in MC’s program have all worked in the industry for a long time, and they really know the material. They are able to provide students with real world, hands-on training because they have worked as airframe and powerplant mechanics themselves”

After completing the MC program, Thompson began working as a mechanic for Deer Horn Aviation Ltd. Co. in Midland. In December 2011, he joined Empire Airlines as a line mechanic at the Midland International Airport. The Midland office is one of the many Empire locations that handle all of the flight crews, maintenance and parts for Federal Express. In the fall, Thompson will transfer to Empire’s office in Anchorage, Alaska.

“My wife Yvonne and I have loved living in Midland,“ said the 33-year-old aircraft mechanic. “We met each other here through mutual friends and have been married for 5 ½ years. We also love outdoor activities, and Anchorage is a beautiful place. I think we will enjoy the change.”

“I owe a lot to Midland,” reminisced Thompson. “I met my wife here and I received training at Midland College for a career that I love. Now, I’m looking forward to the opportunities ahead.”

Trey Thompson stands by one of the Federal Express planes that he services through Empire Airlines