TMCC staff and students, student veterans and SGA members volunteered in rural areas surrounding Sun Valley as part of the community "Clean Up!" event on April 30.
TMCC Helps with Regional “Clean Up!” Event
Truckee Meadows Community College staff and students, student veterans and Student Government Association (SGA) members volunteered in a collaborative “Clean Up!” event together with Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB), the Truckee River Fund, students from the University of Nevada, Reno and local residents. The goal of the day was to clean open spaces on surrounding hills and remove invasive weeds.
Nicole Shimabuku, Coordinator of Student Activities and Leadership, Zack Totans, Veterans Coordinator, and Marcie Iannacchione, Internship Coordinator helped to organize groups of students from TMCC to participate in the volunteer community effort on April 30.
“We’re calling the TMCC students the Lizard Leaders,” Shimabuku said. “They volunteered with the veterans and UNR ILeadNevada students to help at the Sun Valley area event location.”
A volunteer appreciation picnic followed the cleanup. Totans said that many TMCC students participated and had a great time in the community engagement event.
“We had a great turnout,” he said.
Saw Thaw, Network/Server Technician Student Interns at TMCC
The Information Technology (IT) Department at TMCC has announced its first internship for a TMCC student. Saw Thaw, a Network/Server Technician major is assisting IT while also earning credits for his degree.
“In working with other TMCC IT professionals and student technicians, Saw is gaining insight and knowledge in areas such as academic and administrative computing, media services, as well as networking technologies," said Thomas Dobbert, IT Director.
Greg Ellis, Chair of the Computer Technologies Department is Thaw's faculty sponsor for the elective internship on campus in the IT Department.
"Being able to work in various areas within IT is allowing Saw to narrow his focus on specific fields that capture his interest most,” Dobbert said. “Saw is doing an excellent job and his excitement about working in IT has only grown. We are proud to be able to take an active part in the education of our students here at TMCC."
This collaboration has proven to be a very successful partnership for everyone involved, agreed Dobbert and Marcie Iannacchione, Internship Coordinator.
Thaw will be graduating in May and looks forward to continuing to work in his field. For more information about internships, please contact the TMCC Career Center.
Crystal Swank is Appointed Chair-elect of ECADA, a National Commission
Crystal Swank, Early Childhood Education Professor, was appointed to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Early Childhood Associate Degree Accreditation Commission (ECADA) two years ago. She is now completing the third year of her first term.
“The Commission is responsible to the Executive Board of NAEYC,” Swank said. “It's a volunteer position, I serve at the pleasure of the Commission and the NAEYC Governing Board. My first term ends this December, then I will begin serving a second term and will be the Chair-elect, beginning in January, 2017.”
NAEYC is the largest professional membership association for early childhood education worldwide. The nonprofit organization supports the profession with two professional journals, a publishing house, two annual national conferences, public policy and advocacy and the ECADA. ECADA is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
“ECADA is focused on recognizing excellence in college early childhood education programs,” Swank said. “It's currently accrediting associate degree programs, but will soon be expanding to also accredit baccalaureate and graduate degree programs in ECE as well. Programs complete a self-study process, have a site visit, and demonstrate excellence by meeting the NAEYC Professional Preparation Standards.”
Becoming accredited demonstrates the program has met the highest standards of excellence in higher education for ECE associate degree programs, she added. “During my term as chair-elect and chair, the Commission will be expanding its focus to add higher level college degrees to the accreditation system. This work is significant to the organization's goals for the future. The Commission also works closely with other NAEYC leadership on a variety of projects, including advocacy and public policy for the Early Care and Education profession.”
NAEYC has recently published a new Strategic Direction, with one major goal focused on the profession. The goal is to promote the profession of early childhood education as epitomizing excellence and its recognition in performing a vital and critical role in American society.
“I would like to work toward greater national recognition for the profession and for those in the ECE workforce, including advancing public understanding of the importance of the early years and support for a strong early childhood education system for all children birth through age five,” Swank said.
Robin Griffin Receives QM award for Exemplary English 101 Course
TMCC instructor, Robin Griffin has received recognition for her Web-based English 101 course from Quality Matters (QM), a nonprofit organization that provides a peer review process to promote and recognize excellence in online courses.
“Robin Griffin is to be congratulated for her superior work on behalf of student online success,” said Brandy Scarnati, Program Director for WebCollege and the Academic Support Center. “Her course, English 101, has successfully been recognized as an exemplary course with Quality Matters. The QM recognition process is a rigorous one, proving she has a huge commitment to designing and delivering effective online courses.”
More information about Quality Matters can be found on the QM website.
Brandie Davis and FLAMES Money Book Earn a National NCMPR Silver Paragon Award
The FLAMES Money Book was awarded a Silver Paragon award by the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) at their March conference in St. Louis, MO. The book was also awarded a Gold Medallion at the regional level last fall.
“Congratulations to Brandie Davis, TMCC’s senior graphic designer, as well as the Financial Literacy and Money Education by Students (FLAMES) team for doing a great job,” said Kate Kirkpatrick, Director of Marketing and Communications.
Results of the national competition are posted on the NCMPR Facebook page. NCMPR recognizes achievement in marketing materials and public relations at two-year colleges.
The FLAMES Money Book won silver in the Student Handbook category of the competition. This resource booklet provides new TMCC students information about money matters, taking loans and making better money choices. FLAMES student mentors also included content describing their programs and workshops. Davis created the award-winning visual look of the booklet.
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