Archive for May, 2009

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Flag flown in honor of Pellissippi State Adult Education teacher

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

Tamela Wheeler, assistant coordinator of English as a Second Language and a teacher in Adult Education at Pellissippi State Technical Community College, was recently recognized for her teaching accomplishments by having a flag flown in her honor in Nashville.

One of three statewide recipients of the 2009 Belz-Lipman Holocaust Educator of the Year Award, Wheeler was presented with the flag by Sen. Tim Burchett at the Tennessee Holocaust Commission’s Annual Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration on April 21. The flag was flown over the State Capitol in Wheeler’s honor and was accompanied by a certificate signed by Gov. Phil Bredesen.

Wheeler, whose work in bringing lessons of the Holocaust to her students was recognized with the Belz-Lipman Award, says she did not expect the additional honor of the flag.

“Senator Burchett’s presentation took me totally by surprise,” Wheeler said after the ceremony. She was accompanied at the event by two of her Pellissippi State Adult Education students, Bertrina Sanders, who nominated Wheeler for the award, and Deborah Richardson, whose grandfather was a Holocaust survivor.

As part of the award, Wheeler also received $1,500 from the Tennessee Holocaust Commission to spend on developing new curricula, purchasing classroom materials or attending training that will assist in engaging students in Holocaust studies.

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Manners, magic and Microsoft Office

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

Pellissippi State’s 2009 Summer Camps for Kids offers something for everyone

Anyone who attended summer camps as a child is familiar with the traditional offerings of tennis, art and dance. But “Mind Your Manners,” “Fun With Magic and Tricks” and “Microsoft Office Sampler”?

Pellissippi State Technical Community College’s Business and Community Services is offering more than 35 different camps for youth ages 5-18 during June and July. The selection is intentionally broad, both to offer something that’s exciting for everyone and to enable learners to participate in multiple camps.

A manners camp that appeals to children? Diane Collier, instructor for “Mind Your Manners” and “Social Skills for Teens,” is an Anderson County teacher who has led the Pellissippi State social skills camps since 2002. Collier trained with The Etiquette Institute, founded by etiquette expert Maria Everding. Collier passionately brings to her young students fun methods for building interpersonal skills. And she does so “without stressing them.”

In the “Fun With Magic and Tricks” camp, magician Tom Vorjohan leads youngsters ages 10-18 through a week of sleight of hand and a repertoire of tricks with cards, coins and rope. Students perform a magic show on the last day of camp.

Students who enroll in the four-day “Microsoft Office Sampler” camp leave with the basic tools for creating documents (Word), presentations (PowerPoint) and spreadsheets (Excel). While designed to be fun, the camp provides attendees the skills to better complete homework assignments and prepare for future job requirements. The camp is designed for youth ages 12 and up.

A few of the many other summer camps at Pellissippi State: traditional sports camps such as “Beginning Volleyball”; a variety of dance offerings, including the popular “Dance Like the Stars”; and “ImaginACTion” and other acting camps, conducted by local theatre group The WordPlayers.

To see a complete listing of 2009 Summer Camps for Kids and to register, visit www.pstcc.edu/bcs or call (865) 539-7167 or 539-7166.

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New forensic anthropology course offered in fall at Pellissippi State

Wednesday, May 20th, 2009

Students in a new class offered by Pellissippi State Technical Community College will find themselves armed with shovels, “exhuming” mock graves.

The course, Introduction to Forensic Anthropology, begins fall semester and will focus on osteology, the study of bones. Students will learn to create a biological profile of skeletal remains, as well as discover the basics of identifying trauma.

“They’ll learn a little about human decomposition and archaeological recovery,” said Pellissippi State instructor Jonathan Bethard, who is teaching the course. “I want to do a surface collection of bones that would mimic finding a skeleton in the woods and teach students how to excavate a clandestine grave.”

The class should help students decide if a hands-on career as a forensic anthropologist, working for an organization like the TBI, FBI, Department of Justice or Department of Defense or perhaps at a medical examiner’s office, is right for them.

The new course, which is offered by the Natural and Behavioral Sciences Department, goes hand in hand with the college’s Biological Anthropology, Prehistoric Archaeology, Introduction to Cultural Anthropology and Physical Anthropology.

Bethard received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in anthropology from the University of Tennessee and is set to earn his Ph.D. in anthropology in December. He brings to the course a wealth of experience with skeletal remains, in both modern and archaeological contexts.

This summer, the fifth in a row, he is working in Peru, where ancient graves have been uncovered and hundreds of skeletons are being analyzed. Those analyses will help Bethard and his Peruvian colleagues learn more about what life was like in Peru before the conquest of the Spanish in 1532.

Bethard also has been working with UT in conducting human remains recovery training for the FBI.

“The purpose is to train agents in how to correctly process a crime scene where human remains are buried in clandestine graves,” he said.

“I believe my previous work with skeletal remains will be useful in teaching the new course, as I’ll be able to help students learn about the intricacies of the human skeleton. Oftentimes, bone fragments are very tiny and hard to recognize. However, after a semester in this course, students should have a working knowledge of osteology.”

To register for Introduction to Forensic Anthropology, contact Pellissippi State at (865) 694-6400. To learn about the college’s many other offerings, visit www.pstcc.edu.

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Thirty teams benefit Pellissippi State students in Swing Big golf tournament

Wednesday, May 20th, 2009

Word on Rockford’s Egwani Farms Golf Course was that one tournament player came within 11 inches of sinking a hole in one and winning a Harley.

Though no one walked away with any of the three prizes for making an ace, all of the participants left the Fifth Annual Swing Big for Students Golf Tournament on May 5 knowing they had raised money that benefits students at Pellissippi State Technical Community College.

Thirty teams came out for Swing Big, a fundraiser for Pellissippi State that was coordinated by the Pellissippi State Foundation. The morning round’s first-place team was sponsored by Cornerstone Foundation. Team members were J. Laurens Tullock, Jerry Hodges, Andrew Huck and Paul Dickenson. The team of Mitchell Turner, Aaron Hammons, Bill Sennitt and Chad Brackett–sponsored by Business Personnel Solutions, Inc.–placed first in the afternoon round.

Major sponsors of this year’s Swing Big event included Messer Construction Company, Blaine Construction Corporation, Qdoba Mexican Grill and KenJo Markets. Hole-in-one sponsors, in addition to Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson & Buell, were Karen’s Jewelers and Rice Automotive.

Proceeds from the tournament go toward providing scholarships to students at each of Pellissippi State’s four campus locations–the Pellissippi Campus, Magnolia Avenue Campus, Division Street Campus and Blount County Center.

For additional information about the tournament or other ways to give to the college, call the Pellissippi State Foundation at (865) 694-6528 or visit www.pstcc.edu/foundation.

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Pellissippi State summer registration ends May 21

Monday, May 11th, 2009

Interested in taking summer classes? You only have until May 21 to apply and register at Pellissippi State Technical Community College.

Choose from courses offered full term, May 26-July 21; first session, May 26-June 22; and second session, June 25-July 23. The deadline to apply and register for full term or first session is May 21. The deadline for second session is June 23.

With four campus locations in Knox and Blount counties, Pellissippi State offers a broad range of Career/Technical programs–for students who want to enter the workforce directly after graduation–and College Transfer programs–for those who want to continue on to a four-year school.

Pellissippi State offers tours of the Pellissippi Campus, 10915 Hardin Valley Road, Fridays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tours provide the opportunity to talk with current students, view labs and additional facilities, meet with admissions representatives and learn about program offerings.

Pellissippi State’s satellite sites include the Division Street Campus, Magnolia Avenue Campus and Blount County Center. To obtain more information about the application/registration process or to schedule a tour, contact Enrollment Services at (865) 694-6400.

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Pellissippi State introduces new hands-on green course

Monday, May 11th, 2009

Energy Management I:

The emerging green-energy industry promises plentiful jobs, and Pellissippi State Technical Community College is now offering in-the-classroom green courses for those wanting an introduction to the newest technologies and retrofitting concepts.

Energy Management I is the first hands-on green course available through the college’s Business and Community Services Division. BCS began providing green courses online in January.

The course is offered on two different dates: May 28 and Aug. 20. Both classes are 1-5 p.m. at the Pellissippi Campus on Hardin Valley Road.

“This class is ideal for people wanting to enter the green energy industry, as well as for homeowners, business owners and those in charge of managing facilities,” said Brad Coburn, director of BCS’ Industrial and Contract Training.

Energy Management I is designed to help those enrolled make sound, cost-effective energy management and investment practices that result in energy savings and a healthier environment. Lighting economics, methods of conditioning workspaces and building automation systems will be covered.

The course is the first in a new series, Coburn says. Energy Management II will be offered Sept. 24 and Energy Management III, Oct. 22.

Continuing education credits are available for professional development. The cost is $395. For more information or to register, contact BCS at (865) 539-7167.

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Prepare for Edison Electric licensing exam at Pellissippi State

Monday, May 11th, 2009

Interested in getting a job with TVA or another major electric power company?

Pellissippi State Technical Community College is offering a 32-hour course to help prospective employees prepare for the Edison Electric Institute test that TVA and other companies such as Georgia Power, Duke Power and Intergy require.

The course is 8 a.m.-5 p.m. May 18-21 on the Pellissippi Campus on Hardin Valley Road.

“We have people from as far as South Carolina come here to take this test,” said Brad Coburn, director of Industrial and Contract Training for the college’s Business and Community Services Division.

The course provides refresher training in math, graphs and charts, mechanical concepts, spatial ability and reading comprehension. It also covers test-taking skills. After successful completion of the course, eligible students will take the EEI test.

To be accepted into the course, registrants must have met one of the following educational criteria:

Earned at least 43 semester credit hours toward an Associate of Applied Science degree in mechanical engineering technology, electrical engineering technology, electronics or industrial maintenance.

Completed a certified union apprenticeship.

Completed the Navy Nuclear Power Program.

Other technical criteria might apply.

The course is limited to 25 applicants, and interested participants need to reserve their spot by May 14. Cost is $395, and some home study will be required.

For reservations or more information, contact Brad Coburn at (865) 539-7167.

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Pellissippi State employee joins Humane Society Board

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

Paul Wise, a multimedia specialist who manages the operations of the state-of-the-art video, audio and photography studios at Pellissippi State Technical Community College, has been elected to serve a three-year term on the board of directors of the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley.

Wise is a longtime volunteer with HSTV. Prior to his volunteer work, he was employed as an animal shelter technician, often providing assistance during the euthanasia of homeless animals.

He says that experience remains with him as he now helps craft long-term decisions impacting adoption, education and public awareness, all of which form the centerpiece of HSTV’s mission as a no-kill shelter.

Wise was a caring employee who became one of the organization’s most versatile volunteers, says Vicky Crosetti, HSTV executive director of nearly 20 years. She praises both his variety of volunteer skills and his passion for HSTV’s mission:
“Paul has been so involved. He’s our IT [information technology] person; he helps with special events, books bands for us, sets up the speakers and runs the sound_. He has such a huge variety of interests and extraordinary talents.

“And in his past work as a technician, his was often the last act of compassion for an animal. He held them and provided them with a kind death. Paul understands our mission firsthand–to save as many lives as possible.”

Wise, who earned an associate’s degree in Video Production Technology at Pellissippi State prior to joining the college’s staff in 2004, hopes to accomplish a broad set of goals during his tenure on the HSTV board.

One of the first, he says, is streamlining the information technologies that link HSTV’s satellites, Adopt-a-Pet on Bearden Hill in Knoxville and the Fix-a-Pet spay/neuter facility in Seymour. Wise also would like to maximize the efficiency of posting the photos of adoptable pets online. With his technical experience, he has the skills and motivation to make use of tools not available when he served as an animal shelter technician.

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America’s Veterans to Tennessee Engineers

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

Pellissippi State plays role in helping veterans achieve career success

Pellissippi State Technical Community College has enrolled two participants of a new program that supports veterans who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in engineering. Both are scheduled to begin fall semester.

The America’s Veterans to Tennessee Engineers program, developed by the Babcock & Wilcox Company and the U.S. Department of Energy, is an opportunity for newly discharged military service members to pursue a four-year degree to become nuclear, chemical, mechanical, electrical or civil engineers. Eight veterans have been accepted into Veterans to Engineers to date, and several applications are pending.

Participants are responsible for tuition and living expenses, but the program typically offers them part-time job opportunities with participating employers, academic help and assistance relocating to the area.

Pellissippi State offers several two-year associate’s degree options for students who want to continue on for a four-year degree in engineering. Once participants in Veterans to Tennessee Engineers complete their studies at Pellissippi State, they then transfer to one of the program’s partner institutions, Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville or the University of Tennessee at either Knoxville or Chattanooga.

Upon completion of the bachelor’s degree, participants are guaranteed of an engineering position.

“The guaranteed job takes a lot of the uncertainty out of it for the veteran,” said Kevin Smith, chair of the interim steering committee for America’s Veterans to Tennessee Engineers. “They have a community that has opened up a path to reach a better future.”

Smith is deputy federal manager at the Y-12 National Security Complex, which is operated by Babcock & Wilcox, an international provider of energy products and services. The idea of America’s Veterans to Tennessee Engineers, he says, grew out of meetings of the Tennessee Valley Corridor, a nonprofit organization that promotes the Tennessee Valley corridor of Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky and Virginia as a science and technology hub.

Several major regional employers have committed to Veterans to Tennessee Engineers and will offer engineering positions.

For more information on the program, call Kevin Smith, (865) 574-5620. To learn more about Pellissippi State’s engineering and other degree opportunities, call Cindy Atchley, (865) 539-7174.

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Pellissippi State’s IT vice president honored for statewide ‘Distinguished Service’

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

Jerry Bryan, vice president of Information Services and chief information officer for Pellissippi State Technical Community College, has received the Tennessee Higher Education Information Technology Symposium’s Distinguished Service Award.

He was presented the award at the organization’s annual meeting at Fall Creek Falls State Park near Pikeville on April 20.
“Jerry Bryan is very deserving of this honor,” said Pellissippi State President Allen Edwards. “He has the unique ability not only to understand technical concepts but also to explain them in language a non-technical person can understand. His leadership in technology extends beyond Pellissippi State to all of Tennessee and beyond.”

Bryan’s leadership was one of the reasons for his selection, according to Rick Cashion, Tennessee Technological University’s manager of administrative systems. Bryan has worked on many statewide projects for the Tennessee Board of Regents, Cashion says, and some that include the University of Tennessee system and Tennessee’s private colleges. TBR is Pellissippi State’s governing body.

Bryan came to Pellissippi State in 1995. A UT graduate, he earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1970 and his master’s in computer science in 1981.

Members of the symposium represent the range of the state’s public and private colleges and universities. The organization began recognizing information technology leaders in 1987. The last five award recipients select the new recipient, says Cashion.

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