Balloons and more at Pellissippi State Hot Air Balloon Festival

August 30th, 2010

The 7th Annual Pellissippi State Hot Air Balloon Festival, scheduled for Oct. 1 and 2, returns with more than two dozen balloons, the popular balloon glow, tethered balloon rides, crowd-favorite activities and new features sure to entertain guests of all ages.

This year, at least 24 pilots hailing from 10 different states will participate in the event. Balloon enthusiasts have the opportunity to talk with pilots at a special “Meet the Pilots” session on the second day of the festival. Some pilots are based in Tennessee, while others are traveling from as far away as Michigan.

One of the few balloon festivals to feature a balloon glow, the Pellissippi State Hot Air Balloon Festival has a glow scheduled for each evening of the event. The nightly glow features the balloons grouped around the school’s pond, “glowing” to synchronized music as pilots take turns igniting their burners.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to experience what it is like to fly in a hot air balloon by taking a tethered balloon ride. The tethered balloon generally rises 50-60 feet in the air, depending on wind and weather conditions. Tethered balloon rides are available during both days of the event, weather permitting. There is an additional fee for the rides.

In addition to balloons and balloon-related activities, there are many other crowd-pleasers at the festival. The live stage features musical acts ranging from country and bluegrass to vocal ensembles and a dance-the-night-away funk band. Artisans and food vendors will be on hand selling hand-crafted arts and crafts, as well as a wide variety of refreshments. Additional entertainment includes dog performance shows, the Knoxville Zoo’s talking bird and a live television taping by East Tennessee PBS’s Chef Garrett Scanlan. There is also a special Pellissippi State alumni homecoming which will welcome back 34 years worth of graduates.

As in years past, there is a special section for children at the festival. The area includes arts and crafts, face painting and many activities geared to youngsters. New features for young guests this year include a Kite Flight and a children’s Book Nook. Children are encouraged to bring their own kite to the 1-3 p.m. kite flying session on Oct. 2, or they may make their own small one while at the festival. The Book Nook offers the opportunity to relax while listening to classic stories being read aloud.

The Pellissippi State Hot Air Balloon Festival is the school’s signature fundraising event for the Pellissippi State Foundation, which raises money that supports programs directly impacting students. For the second consecutive year, the event has been designated by the Southeast Tourism Society as one of the “Top 20 Events in the Southeast.” It is the only Knoxville-based event to receive the recognition for the month of October and one of only four Knoxville-based events to earn the honor for fall 2010.

Festival hours are 4-9:30 p.m. on Oct. 1 and noon-9:30 p.m. on Oct. 2. Admission is $10 per day per vehicle and $5 per day per spectator for those who choose to park off-site. Some activities, in addition to the tethered balloon rides, have on-site fees. For additional information and a complete schedule of events, visit www.pstcc.edu/balloons or call (865) 694-6400.

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Deadline for balloon festival artists fast approaching

August 27th, 2010

Artists have until Sept. 1 to complete an application to exhibit at the 7th Annual Pellissippi State Hot Air Balloon Festival. For a booth fee of a little more than $8 per hour, local artists and crafters have the opportunity to show—and more importantly, sell—their wares to 10,000 to 15,000 expected attendees of the festival.

Scheduled for Oct. 1 and 2, the festival provides 15 hours spread over two days for artisans to connect with attendees from the Knoxville area, outlying counties and from out of state. The show is not juried, and requires only that artisans offer hand-crafted works.

Participating exhibitors receive an assigned 12 x 12 space with 110v outlet. Exhibitors should provide their own tables, chairs and tents, if desired. The total booth fee for the two-day event is $125.

Event hours are 4-9:30 p.m. on Oct. 1 and noon-9:30 p.m. on Oct. 2. Location is the Pellissippi Campus, 10915 Hardin Valley Road.

For additional information or an application, visit www.pstcc.edu/balloons or contact event director Pat Myers at (865) 539-7242.

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Pellissippi State hosts thought-, discussion-provoking faculty lecture series

August 26th, 2010

Intellectual sparks will fly during the Faculty Lecture Series this fall at Pellissippi State Community College. A series of talks that address fascinating and controversial topics will be presented by college faculty, and the community is invited to participate in the free events.

Ed Francisco, Pellissippi State English professor and writer-in-residence, will kick off the series on Sept. 21, 12:30-1:45 p.m., in the Goins Building Auditorium at the Pellissippi Campus, 10915 Hardin Valley Road.

Francisco’s thought-provoking and entertaining lecture, “Herbert Marcuse’s One-Dimensional Man and the Evil Teaching Machines,” revolves around German philosopher Herbert Marcuse (1898-1979). Marcuse was known as “The Father of the New Left.”

“The people recognize themselves in their commodities; they find their soul in their automobile, hi-fi set, split-level home, kitchen equipment,” Marcuse said. Francisco will elaborate on Marcuse’s ideas and tackle two intertwining subjects: how big corporations are dictating what is taught in schools and the human being’s need to be alone in order to contemplate.

Once Francisco has whetted attendees’ appetite to think, Dave Vinson, associate professor of Mathematics, will serve up October’s topic, “Paradox: The Abyss Stares Back.” Vinson’s lecture is at 2 p.m., Oct. 13, also in Goins Building Auditorium.

For more information about the series, contact Trent Eades, Pellissippi State English instructor, tweades@pstcc.edu.

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Pellissippi State offers non-credit sports courses for adults and children

August 25th, 2010

Adults and children as young as 5 have many options for staying active this fall, thanks to the non-credit sports courses offered by Pellissippi State Community College.

Selections range from the extremely active “Skateboarding,” for children ages 5-15, to the more relaxing “Fly-fish 101.” Unless otherwise noted, all classes meet at the Pellissippi Campus, 10915 Hardin Valley Road.

Fall 2010 sports-oriented courses at Pellissippi State include the following:

  • “An Introduction to Golf”—Sept. 7-16 (Tuesdays and Thursdays), 6-7 p.m.; $65, plus $10 facility fee

Learn the basics from a PGA golf professional in this four-class series. Students will practice the basic mechanics of swing, as well as the controlled motions for chipping/putting. Instruction also includes golf etiquette, the course check-in process and cart operation.

  • “Fly-fish 101”—Sept. 11 or Nov. 20 (Saturday), 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; $75 per single, $60 for each additional family member registering at the same time

This seven-hour introductory course to fly-fishing is geared to those who have never fly-fished and those who have begun but seek a better understanding of the basics. Students will learn such skills as how to cast (casting demonstration, weather permitting), how to rig an outfit and how to select flies.

  • “Intermediate Golf Workshop”—Sept. 13-22 (Mondays and Wednesdays), 6-7 p.m.; $65, plus $10 facility fee

This new four-class series is for golfers of intermediate playing ability who wish to improve their game. Clinic form of instruction, as well as hands-on repetition, will create a better understanding of the techniques involved in striking the ball from the tee through the final putt. The instructor is a Class A PGA golf professional.

  • “Skateboarding”—Sept. 25 (Saturday), 9-noon; $59

Designed for participants ages 5-15, “Skateboarding” is a fun, action-packed workshop that will equip beginners with basic skills, tricks (board maneuvers) and safety practices. A team of instructors will provide personal attention. Helmets are required; knee and elbow pads are recommended. The three-hour course is offered only once this fall.

  • “Introduction to Scuba Diving”—Oct. 2 and 3, Nov. 6 and 7 or Dec. 4 and 5 (Saturday and Sunday), 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; $212, plus $87.25 course materials fee to Ski/Scuba Center

Spend a weekend at Ski/Scuba Center learning the fundamentals of scuba diving. Students will receive the necessary classroom and pool training that a recreational diver must have prior to taking the qualifying dives required for Scuba Schools International certification. Equipment is provided. Classes meet at Ski/Scuba Center, 2543 Sutherland Ave., Knoxville.

To register or find out more about these and other non-credit courses offered by Pellissippi State, visit www.pstcc.edu/bcs or call (865) 539-7167.

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Improve your mind and body with Pellissippi State non-credit courses

August 24th, 2010

It may be cliché, but the “find what works for you and stick with it” adage holds true when the topic is personal health. The community has a wealth of health-focused choices in the non-credit courses offered this fall at Pellissippi State Community College.

Sample activities from a variety of exercise classes, learn how to prevent pain … even clarify your life purpose. Here are some of the health-focused courses from which you can choose:

  • “Jazzercise”—Aug. 30-Dec. 13, Monday-Friday (9-10 a.m.), Monday and Wednesday (5:30-6:30 p.m.) or Friday (4-5 p.m.); $150 to attend as many sessions as you choose

More than just an exercise class with a famous name, Jazzercise incorporates hip-hop, yoga, kickboxing and resistance training to burn up to 500 calories in one session.

  • “Karate”—Aug. 31-Dec. 14 (Tuesday and Thursday, with no class Nov. 25), 6:30-8 p.m.; $200

Choose to specialize your training in isshinryu karate, jujitsu and/or self-defense in this course, which is suitable for all skill levels and ages.

  • “Jujitsu”—Aug. 31-Dec. 14 (Tuesday and Thursday, with no class Nov. 25), 5:30-6:30 p.m.; $150

Students of all skill levels and ages may opt to specialize in ground and standing joint locks, chokes and/or striking.

  • “T’ai Chi I”—Sept. 14-Nov. 30 (Tuesday only), 7-8 p.m.; $95

Health benefits of this introductory course are said to include lowered stress levels, better balance and range of motion, and improved breathing.

  • “Lifestyle Fitness”—Sept. 20-Oct. 25 (Monday), 6:45-7:45 p.m.; $69

Designed for the inactive person who desires an improved fitness level but who needs help learning how to start a program, this course teaches proper exercise techniques and helps participants in creating a personal daily fitness plan.

  • “Life Purpose Workshop”—Oct. 2 (Saturday), 9-noon; $45

Make better life decisions and clarify your potential in this workshop, which emphasizes living on purpose, with confidence.

  • “Self-Help for Common Pain Patterns—Focusing on Preventive Maintenance”—Oct. 7-28 (Thursday), 6-8 p.m.; $80 ($49.99 plus tax, with optional kit available for purchase at first class)

Learn how you can begin to rely on simple self-care rather than anti-inflammatory drugs for chronic pain relief. The Yamuna body rolling method stretches and compresses muscle tissues in order to release pain-producing restrictions.

All classes meet at the Pellissippi Campus, 10915 Hardin Valley Road. To register or learn more about these or other non-credit courses offered by Pellissippi State, visit www.pstcc.edu/bcs or call (865) 539-7167.

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Enhance your personal safety through non-credit courses at Pellissippi State

August 23rd, 2010

“Increasing personal safety” can mean improving your driving skills, securing your home, protecting yourself against fraud or learning to operate a handgun.

The Business and Community Services Division of Pellissippi State Community College offers a variety of non-credit courses this fall to boost your personal safety. Offerings include the following:

  • “Refuse to Be a Victim”—Aug. 28, Sept. 25, Oct. 23 or Nov. 6, 8-noon; $39 plus $6 material fee payable to instructor in class

Since 1993, “Refuse to Be a Victim” has served as a program of the National Rifle Association that is designed to offer men and women a variety of options from which they can choose to prepare their own crime prevention and personal safety strategies. The four-hour seminar covers personal safety enhancement as it relates to home, automobile, telephone, internet and travel. Participants also become better equipped to prevent fraud by being given a broad overview of actions that can be taken to minimize the chances of being victimized.

  • “Driver Improvement Program”—Sept. 13 and 14, Oct. 11 and 12, Nov. 15 and 16 or Dec. 6 and 7, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; $50

Whether participants are being required by a court to attend a defensive driving class or just want to improve their driving skills, this new eight-hour course is for them. The instructor is certified by AAA to teach the AAA Driver Improvement Program. Upon successful completion of the class, students receive a certificate that satisfies court and the Tennessee Department of Safety requirements. Call (865) 539-7167 to see if you qualify to take this course.

  • “Handgun 101”—Sept. 16, Oct. 21, Nov. 18 or Dec. 16, 6:30-9 p.m.; $35

This new course covers a lot of ground in just 2.5 hours. Participants learn how to select, operate, clean and safely store a handgun. Additional topics include holster selection and other important gun-safety guidelines. The class offers a solid foundation for those who decide to take the Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit class. Both handgun instructors are certified by the NRA and the state of Tennessee.

All classes meet at the Pellissippi Campus, 10915 Hardin Valley Road. To register or find out more about these or other non-credit courses at Pellissippi State, visit www.pstcc.edu/bcs or call (865) 539-7167.

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Slate of financial ‘survival’ courses set at Pellissippi State

August 21st, 2010

Financial health, for many people, may have seemed more like financial “survival” during the nation’s recent economic turbulence. Whatever your personal financial situation, Pellissippi State Community College is offering a series of “survival” non-credit courses meant to strengthen your economic position.

Courses range in price from $48 to $87 and cover such topics as estate planning, wealth management, negotiation and retirement. Unless otherwise noted, all classes meet at the Pellissippi Campus, 10915 Hardin Valley Road.

Here are the courses for fall:

  • “Tennessee Estate Planning—It’s Not Just Having a Will!”

Aug. 24 and 26, Sept. 21 and 23, Oct. 19 and 21 or Nov. 16 and 18 (Tuesdays and Thursdays), 6:30-8:30 p.m.; $49

In just four classroom hours, participants will learn how to protect loved ones. Attorney Sharon Potter, J.D., covers the need to plan for disability and death. Students will leave the first session with a properly executed advance-care plan (living will). They’ll learn about necessary legal documents, the probate process and taxes. The potential outcomes of failing to plan for death and disability also will be discussed.

  • “Introduction to Wealth Management”

Sept. 9-23 or Oct. 7-21 (Thursdays), 6:30-8:30 p.m.; $50

Acquire the tools to manage your wealth. Instructor Bill Timm, M.B.A., is an Accredited Asset Management Specialist and a Registered Investment Advisor. Topics range from the basic principles of investing to complex absolute return strategies involving options. Students will learn about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, IRA/401K distributions and more.

  • “Negotiation for Small Business”

Sept. 25 (Saturday), 9-11 a.m.; $87

Tips, traps and tricks in negotiations? Participants will arm themselves with the skills used by master negotiators to prevent being taken advantage of, get what the students want and walk away with the assurance that they did not leave money on the table. Instructor Bill Painter, president of the Negotiation Institute for Entrepreneurs and Solo-Professionals, has more than 30 years of experience as a negotiator.

  • “How to Thrive Financially in Retirement”

Oct. 5 and 12 or Sept. 14 and 21 (Tuesdays), 6:30-8:30 p.m.; $59; Blount County Campus

Targeted to those in or approaching retirement, this two-session course will help students ensure that their money properly serves their retirement goals. Participants will leave with techniques for reducing taxes during retirement, planning for health-care costs and drawing income from life savings. The course also covers the IRA/401K tax “time bomb” and how it could cost individuals 70 percent of their retirement accounts.

To register or find out more about these or other non-credit courses offered by Business and Community Services, Pellissippi State’s non-credit division, visit www.pstcc.edu/bcs or call (865) 539-7167.

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Pellissippi State’s Magnolia Avenue Campus earns second architecture award

August 20th, 2010
Magnolia Avenue Campus before and after

Magnolia Avenue Campus before and after (Click to enlarge)

Judges’ comments ranged from “a delicate and artistic transformation of the building’s identity” to “the reuse of an existing building, the ultimate in sustainability.”

The building is the Magnolia Avenue Campus of Pellissippi State Community College. The comments were made by judges in the American Institute of Architects’ Gulf States Region 2010 Design Award competition. The renovation project was one of 14 among 113 submittals regionwide to be recognized in June by the professional organization.

Pellissippi State completed Phase I of upgrades to the Magnolia Avenue site last fall. Phase II renovations have been under way throughout the summer.

The AIA honor is the second garnered by the campus. Last year, it was recognized with the East Tennessee Young Architects Merit Award. Chad Boetger, AIA, vice president and director of design with BarberMcMurry architects, received the highest designation available in the Young Architects category for his solution to upgrade the existing building’s exterior and landscaping.

In addition to the AIA award, the campus has garnered accolades from World Architecture News. In a July 8 article, BarberMcMurry’s design was referred to as giving the facility “an impactful new identity.”

According to the publication, “the design of the building entry canopies, the replacement windows, and the campus lighting seek to reflect the nature of technology, learning, energy, and activity that will advertise the college’s presence and mission to the community.”

The design, developed collaboratively between Pellissippi State and BarberMcMurry architects, retains the original 1950s modernist style of the structure, while providing several modern design elements, including in-ground LED lighting for increased nighttime visibility.

Other upgrades include replacement windows facing Magnolia Avenue and a new main entry canopy that showcases staggered zinc metal panels, along with backlit polycarbonate panels. Additional exterior changes include new campus signage, a bus drop-off and extensive landscaping along Magnolia Avenue.

The campus opened in 2000, having previously housed Knoxville Catholic High School.

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First Tennessee donates to Knoxville TSBDC to help small businesses

August 19th, 2010
Pam Fansler (third from left), president of First Tennessee–Knoxville, and Larry Rossini (center), director of the Knoxville area Tennessee Small Business Development Center, were among the people present July 14 when First Tennessee donated a $5,000 check to TSBDC.

Pam Fansler (third from left), president of First Tennessee–Knoxville, and Larry Rossini (center), director of the Knoxville area Tennessee Small Business Development Center, were among the people present July 14 when First Tennessee donated a $5,000 check to TSBDC.

Recognizing the importance of small businesses, First Tennessee Bank made a $5,000 contribution to the Knoxville area Tennessee Small Business Development Center on July 14.

The area TSBDC is administered by Pellissippi State Community College. The organization provides counseling and training to small-business managers and owners and those interested in starting a small business.

“Since the early 1990s, First Tennessee has supported a tremendous local asset, the Tennessee Small Business Development Center—truly an investment that has paid exponential returns in terms of economic impact in the 16-county region it serves,” said Pam Fansler, president of First Tennessee–Knoxville.

The TSBDC’s semi-annual report shows that new and existing clients created 143 new jobs in the first six months of this year, generated more than $141 million in sales and accounted for more than $5 million in new capital investment in the local economy. The Knoxville TSBDC helped 31 new businesses get started, the report says.

According to Larry Rossini, director of the Knoxville TSBDC, the gift of $5,000 is being used to purchase computer supplies, equipment and software, as well as publications and books to help small-business owners.

“Without these generous funds from First Tennessee Bank,” said Rossini, “we could not provide the quality service we offer to the small-business community.”

The Knoxville area TSBDC opened on the Pellissippi State campus in 1988 with one employee. In 1990, the office moved into the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce and First Tennessee Bank made its first contribution. Today, the center has grown to five employees, with offices in the Oak Ridge, Farragut and Blount chambers of commerce.

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Pellissippi State grads each wins Telly Award for documentary work

August 18th, 2010

Zombies and rock stars have netted some pretty impressive press for Matt Cikovic and Greg Rains, 2009 graduates of the Media Technologies program at Pellissippi State Community College.

Cikovic and Rains each has received a Telly Award for their productions. The 31st Annual Telly Awards had more than 13,000 entries from all 50 states and five continents. Winners are presented a silver or bronze award. (No golds are given.)

First the zombies. If the thought of your days in high school isn’t scary enough, imagine being locked in with your classmates and a bunch of zombies who want to kill you. That’s exactly the kind of movie Lea McMahon’s Advanced Theater students at Farragut High School wanted to make. The only problem was, they didn’t know how.

That’s where Matt Cikovic came in. He spent four months in 2009 teaching filmmaking to the high school class. The result was “Lock(ED) In,” a suspenseful and horrifying movie that made quite a splash in the film world, winning two national awards.

As Cikovic helped the students make their film, he realized that his experiences would make the perfect documentary for one of his own class assignments in the Video Production Technology concentration at Pellissippi State. So another hit was born, when he created “We Shoot Zombies,” a film about teaching filmmaking to the high schoolers.

Cikovic never appears in the movie. “It’s all about the kids,” he said.

“‘Lock(ED) In’ was a big deal for me. It’s easily the best thing I’ve ever done because of working with Lea and the kids. My documentary became a companion piece to ‘Lock(ED) In.’ When the students and parents got the DVD, they could see both the learning process and the final product.”

Cikovic entered “We Shoot Zombies” in the national Telly competition and was awarded a bronze in the documentary division last month. The film was also one of 10 official selections at the Gatlinburg Screenfest this year.

Friend and fellow VPT graduate Greg Rains owns Bigg Bear Media. Rains won a silver Telly for his company’s documentary of the genesis of the local band the Dirty Guv’nahs.

“I was a student at Pellissippi State, and I was trying to put together a demo reel,” he said. “The band was just getting started, and I was just getting started doing videos. We were able to help each other out. I shot several rehearsals, several shows, and did a lot of interviews over the course of a year.”

In addition to his Telly Award, Rains’ documentary won the grand prize, a trophy and $1,000 in the Gatlinburg Filmfest in March.

“The judges felt it was very uplifting,” Rains said, “the kind of story that everybody can relate to. A lot of people have wanted to be in a band or have had some kind of dream. The film watches these guys live out their dream.”

Rains is quick to share credit for his success with Pellissippi State and its faculty.

“Pellissippi State’s Media Technologies program was an incredible experience, because of what the instructors were able to teach me. They had so much real-world knowledge.”

Since 1978 the New York–based Telly organization has honored the best local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film and Web productions.

For more information about Media Technologies, go to www.pstcc.edu/departments/mdt or call William “Biff” Farrell, Media Technologies coordinator, at (865) 694-6486.

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