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Coconino Community College’s Stellar Newsletter Feb. 5 update

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Coconino Community College’s Stellar Newsletter
Sharing the news throughout northern Arizona about what’s happening at your Community College.
Coconino Community College: Education that works for you.
A quick word from the President
Why do we use the term “soft skills” to describe skills that are so difficult for many people to demonstrate in the work world?
At CCC, we constantly hear from our partners in business and industry that they need workforce training in soft skills above anything else. I firmly believe these skills are every bit as important as the so-called “hard” skills of math, science or technology.
CCC’s faculty across all campuses work diligently to incorporate soft-skills development in their course curricula. Staff at CCC in Page have conducted week-long workshops on soft skills to help businesses better serve their customers. Additionally, CCC is working on the creation of a free, self-directed soft-skills course for students and employees in the community. The initial stages of the effort are being led by faculty and student leaders.
To many, they are all “hard” skills, and it is our responsibility as a community college to teach and to prepare students in all skills necessary for success in the workforce across Coconino County.
Onward!!
Colleen Smith
CCC receives $1 million grant to upgrade Construction program
The Del E. Webb Foundation cites critical construction workforce need in northern Arizona
Thanks to a $1 million grant from the Del E. Webb Foundation, Coconino Community College’s Construction Technology Management program will be getting a makeover to help the College meet construction industry demands for skilled trade workers.
“The shortage and demand for the skilled building trades is the highest it has been in 10 years in our community,” said Ken Myers, CTM faculty at CCC. “With this funding, CCC intends to build a training facility geared specifically toward improving the skilled workforce and providing our students with a space and skills to fill the demand.”
Ken Myers, left, and David Cain, CCC Construction Technology Management faculty, stand in the shop at the Fourth Street campus that will be receiving a makeover, thanks to a grant from the Del E. Webb Foundation.
Working for students at CCC, Part I
Working for students at CCC, Part I
Coconino Community College staff and faculty share stories about why they love what they do for the students and communities of Coconino County.
Rook takes knight for science at CCC
Hailey Willie, 7, from Naatsis’aan Community School at Navajo Mountain, watches her opponent make a move during a practice session at the Flagstaff All-Girls Chess Tournament at CCC.
Girls from across northern Arizona participate in chess tourney and learn about STEM careers
Shantia Nez, 12, seventh-grader from Kaibeto Boarding School, concentrated on her opponent’s move.
Bishop overpowered pawn.
“I like the curiosity of what’s going to happen next,” Nez said.
Nez was one of more than 70 players at the fifth annual Flagstaff All-Girls Chess Tournament at Coconino Community College Saturday, Jan. 26.
The tournament was an opportunity for girls and women across northern Arizona to test their chess skills and learn about the importance of women and minorities being involved in the career fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
Giving back with English
Mary “Betsy” Adachi joins the Adult Education program at CCC
She taught English in Japan and Brazil for more than 20 years before coming to Flagstaff.
This is her seventh year teaching Japanese and running the Anime Club at CCC. And she can add Adult Education instructor of English to her growing list of commitments.
Mary “Betsy” Adachi says she is excited to be co-teaching English Language Acquisition for Adults (ELAA) with CCC’s incomparable Debbie Goldenstein at the Fourth Street campus and hopes that some of their students will one day become full-time students at the Lone Tree campus.
“I feel like I’m coming full circle,” she said. “Now, I have the opportunity to teach English in my own community and give back, here, in Flagstaff.”
Working with his hands
Coconino Community College partners with the Coconino County Career Center to bring the CAMT program to residents throughout the county.
CAMT alum Kirk Anderson moves up the ladder at local apartment complex
After he was laid off when a local distribution center closed, Kirk Anderson saw a flier for the Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician program at CCC.
He received a scholarship from Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona to attend the class. There, because he loves working with his hands, he learned all facets of apartment maintenance and received nationally recognized certification.
Now, he’s the maintenance supervisor at a large Flagstaff apartment complex.
I wouldn’t have gotten this far in life without the help of the CAMT certification,” Anderson said.
The next offering of CAMT at CCC’s Fourth Street campus begins Feb. 4. Contact Ken Myers at 928-526-7696, or David Cain at 928-526-5434 for more information.
LAUNCH Flagstaff works to bring all partners in education to table for children, adults
With the direction of Learn, Advocate, Unite, Network, Contribute, and Help, LAUNCH Flagstaff rolls up sleeves and gets to work for education.
According to information from LAUNCH Flagstaff, “Educating our children does not fall entirely on our teachers and systems of education. We accept our responsibility to support our educators in improving educational outcomes.”
Paul Kulpinski, Partnership Director, said, “Numerous data show that children who attend high-quality preschool programs are more likely to graduate from high school, attend college, and experience success in their careers than children who do not attend high-quality preschool. This impact is especially powerful for children from low-income families.”
Along with Coconino Community College, partners in LAUNCH Flagstaff include more than 60 businesses, government agencies and educational institutions from pre-kindergarten through university.
Access to education with Disability Resources
CCC Disability Resources staff, Jarrett Stoll, left, and Noah Hayes-McKiernan, are available to go the extra mile for students with disabilities.
CCC’s program strives for equal access to education
Ritchie Szopinski, who is unable to see, is preparing to transition to NAU after this semester, and he credits the Disability Resources program for helping make that happen.
“They take care of the academics that need to be taken care of and what you may need help with,” Szopinski said.
Disability Resources serves more than 150 students a year, said Jarrett Stoll, Disability Resources coordinator.
“Our main purpose here in the program is to help facilitate an accessible community where students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to access their educational environment.”
CCC news around the county
College credit for students at Grand Canyon
Rural high schools in Coconino County go online for CCC courses
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. – Coconino Community College’s new Supplemental Online Instruction (SOI) program helps rural high school students get access to Dual Credit courses that interest them.
“By allowing eligible high school students to enroll in our online college courses and including a high school instructor to supplement the class with hands-on activities and labs, students have a much better online learning experience,” said Associate Provost Dr. Gonzalo Perez.
The students are able to master the concepts in class while getting familiar with online instruction, which will serve them well as they venture into higher education after graduating high school.
David Summer, CCC IT Technician, demonstrates to high school students at the Grand Canyon how they can access online courses.
Adult, continuing education classes begin in Page
Enrollment underway for Feb. 11 start of classes
PAGE, Ariz. – Enrollment began Jan. 30 for Adult Education classes at CCC in Page, and this year’s offerings also includes several noncredit classes and talks on a variety of topics.
New adult education classes (GED, English language acquisition) are scheduled to begin on Monday, Feb. 11. The proposed hours are Monday and Wednesday, noon to 5:30 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
CCC Page also has several Educational Talks (ED Talks) planned for the spring. Topics include: Navajo Culture and Archaeology of New Zealand. Noncredit course topics include: Beginning Tennis, Beginning Excel and Critical Computer Skills.
For more information about the Community Education program in Page, call 928-645-3987. CCC in Page is located at 475 S. Lake Powell Blvd.
Our ED Talk Series is free and open to the public. For videos and fliers on past ED Talks, visit here.
CCC Geology Instructor Kurt Yuengling will share his enthusiasm for learning about northern Arizona’s breadth of volcano types, how to identify them, and their role in the formation of the idyllic landscape.
When: Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, at 6 p.m.
Where: Room B34, CCC Fourth Street Innovation Center, 3000 N. Fourth St.
For more information or to view previous ED Talks, visit the ED Talks page here.
Lunar Legacy Lecture Series continues at CCC
CCC celebrates Black History Month Feb. 19
Margaret Hangan, Forest Archaeologist for the Kaibab National Forest, will present “A brief history of African Americans in Northern Arizona: The Hidden Revealed.” Learn about the African American laborers who worked in the lumber companies in the Flagstaff area from a historical perspective. Hangan has been a professional archaeologist for more than 30 years.
When: Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019, 4-5:30 p.m.
Where: Lone Tree Campus Commons, 2800 S. Lone Tree Road
Summer registration is now open!
For questions, comments or feedback, please contact PR Coordinator Larry Hendricks at larry.hendricks@coconino.edu
Coconino Community College | 928-527-1222  www.coconino.edu