Mark your calendar for Pellissippi State’s next to last concert of the season

Posted on April 1, 2013 by elsimpson

A group of students and instructors with various musical instruments playing and being led by a conductor.

The Music Concert Series presented by Pellissippi State Community College offers free musical events throughout the academic year. They range from jazz and bluegrass concerts to choral performances and holiday celebrations.

The first of the series’ last two offerings for 2012-13 is around the corner. The Instrumental Concert features the Studio Orchestra, an evening of purely instrumental music, on April 18.

Selections from a variety of musical styles will be presented, among them, classical, blues, jazz and folk. In addition to the Studio Orchestra, ensembles of brass, guitar and percussion also will perform. Attendees can expect the concert’s piano music to be performed on Steinways, in keeping with Pellissippi State’s status as an All Steinway School.

The 2012-13 Music Concert Series is one component of Pellissippi State’s arts series, “The Arts at Pellissippi State.” The series brings to the community cultural activities ranging from music and theatre to international celebrations, lectures, and the fine arts.

The other remaining performance in this season’s Music Concert Series is the Spring Choral Concert on May 2.

Like all events in the series, admission to the Instrumental Concert is free. However, donations will be accepted at the door for the Pellissippi State Foundation on behalf of the Music Scholarship Fund.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. in the Clayton Performing Arts Center at the Hardin Valley Campus. Ample free parking is available.

For additional information about the Pellissippi State Music Concert Series or The Arts at Pellissippi State, call (865) 694-6400 or visit www.pstcc.edu/arts.

To request accommodations for a disability, contact the executive director of Human Resources and Affirmative Action at (865) 694-6607 or humanresources@pstcc.edu. Requests should be made at least two weeks in advance.

Posted in Events, Music, The Arts | Comments Off

Pellissippi State: Randy Boyd honored with statewide philanthropy award

Posted on March 31, 2013 by elsimpson
Photo of two men in suits holding a framed photo.

Randy Boyd (L) and Dr. Anthony Wise, Jr. (R)

Randy Boyd, president and CEO of PetSafe, has been honored by Pellissippi State Community College as a recipient of the 2013 Regents Award for Excellence in Philanthropy.

The award, bestowed annually by the Tennessee Board of Regents, recognizes individuals who make a significant impact on higher education in their communities. Boyd was nominated by Pellissippi State, which hosted a breakfast in his honor and presented the award in February.

Boyd’s PetSafe company develops pet behavior, containment, and lifestyle product solutions and services. PetSafe’s headquarters are in Knoxville. Its parent company, Radio Systems Corporation, was founded by Boyd in 1991.

In 2012, Boyd and his wife, Jenny, donated $1 million to the Pellissippi State Foundation. The donation was earmarked to go toward the purchase of Pellissippi State’s new Strawberry Plains Campus. The site began offering classes during the fall 2012 semester.

Pellissippi State acquired the former Philips Consumer Electronics’ East Tennessee headquarters in order to increase access to the college’s programs and work toward the fulfillment of the goals of the Complete College Tennessee Act.

A state program that funded community college capital projects contributed $8.5 million toward the $10 million cost. The Pellissippi State Foundation paid the remaining $1.5 million through private donations.

The addition of the Strawberry Plains Campus, located at 7201 Strawberry Plains Pike in East Knox County, gives Pellissippi State a total of five locations in Knox and Blount counties.

Boyd is involved with local education nonprofit organizations, serving as a board member for organizations such as tnAchieves (chair) and Knox County’s Great Schools Partnership. He has received several awards, including Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year for the Southeast in 2008, Tennessee Business Magazine’s CEO of the Year in 2009 and the University of Tennessee’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2009. Boyd was inducted into Junior Achievement’s East Tennessee Hall of Fame in 2008.

For additional information about Pellissippi State, visit www.pstcc.edu or call (865) 694-6400. To learn more about giving opportunities, call (865) 694-6528 or email foundation@pstcc.edu.

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Instructor from China shares culture, language with Pellissippi State students

Posted on March 30, 2013 by elsimpson

Photo of Asian female with a red buttoned-down shirt and a black jacket.When Shuang Liu told friends in China she would be teaching in Tennessee, they first asked if she planned on going to the mountains. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is well known in her hometown of Shenyang, the capital of and largest city in northeast China’s Liaoning province, says Liu, Confucius Classroom instructor at Pellissippi State Community College.

According to Liu, who answers to “Lydia” at the college, she has enjoyed not only the mountain vistas but also other differences between East Tennessee and China since her arrival here last August. For starters, she has become accustomed to finishing her meals with Southern desserts rather than with the traditional Chinese dessert of grapes or other fruits.

She laughs when describing another dining custom she has adopted.

“I’m used to chopsticks,” said Liu. “Here, though, there are hamburgers, pizzas and the like. I eat with just my hands a lot now. The food is different, but very good. I especially enjoy the desserts.”

In the classroom, Liu shows her students that the Chinese language is not as difficult to learn as some people believe. She explains that the characters that make up Mandarin Chinese all have a meaning. Once students become comfortable with those meanings, they have overcome the biggest obstacle.

“The grammar part of Mandarin Chinese is very, very easy compared to English,” said Liu. “Pronunciation is not too difficult, either. The characters are the hardest part, but even that is not difficult once students learn the meanings behind them.”

One of the first things her students learn is their Chinese name. Liu encourages discussion about students’ families as a way of practicing the language and honoring the Chinese emphasis on familial relationships. She also reaches out to students from China, whom she welcomes to her classroom.

“Please let students from China know that I love for them to visit my classes,” said Liu. “I enjoy seeing them make friends with my students.”

Liu serves as the full-time instructor for Chinese culture and language classes at Pellissippi State thanks to the college’s 2010 establishment of a Confucius Classroom, which is the result of a prestigious grant made by the Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis. The first language class offered in 2010 was full long before registration ended.

Pellissippi State students may now choose from a series of beginning- and intermediate-level courses in Mandarin Chinese. With nearly a billion primary- or first-language speakers, Mandarin Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world, according to geographer Matt Rosenberg. Chinese is the third most widely spoken language in American homes, a 2009 census reports.

Fall 2013 courses available as part of the Confucius Classroom are “Beginning Chinese I” (CHIN 1010), “Beginning Chinese II” (CHIN 1020), “Intermediate Chinese I” (CHIN 2010) and “Peoples and Culture of China” (LAS 2020).

Registration for fall semester begins April 1.

For additional information, visit www.pstcc.edu or call (865) 694-6400.

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Pellissippi State hosts award-winning poets to celebrate National Poetry Month

Posted on March 29, 2013 by elsimpson
Photo of woman looking to left with sunglasses on and resting her chin on her hand.

Poet Marilyn Kallet

Her “Fireflies” poem has been read for listeners by Garrison Keillor, the popular public radio personality.

His first book of poems, “Elegy on Independence Day,” was awarded the prestigious Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize.

Collectively, poets Marilyn Kallet and Arthur Smith have published more than 20 books and have received numerous awards. On April 10, the two are special guests of Pellissippi State Community College, where they will read from selected works as the college celebrates National Poetry Month.

Though their poetic styles differ, Kallet and Smith have much in common. Both are English professors at the University of Tennessee, where Kallet also serves as the director of the Creative Writing Program. And, they both have newly released collections: Kallet’s “The Love That Moves Me” was released this month, and Smith’s “The Fortunate Era” has been available since February.

Kallet, the author of personal essays, translations, and children’s books, has been a featured poet in “Prairie Schooner,” “New Letters,” “Denver Quarterly,” and other publications. In 2010, The New York Times paired her “Fireflies” poem with an environmental story of a firefly research project in its weekly “Poetry Pairing” series.

In addition to her duties at UT, Kallet also teaches poetry workshops in Auvillar, France, for the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.

Photo of older man in black turtleneck, with a gray suit jacket and glasses. He also has short hair with a gray goatee and is looking forward and smiling.

Poet Arthur Smith

A Pushcart Prize recipient, Smith has published his poetry in “The New Yorker,” “The Nation,” “The Kenyon Review,” “Hunger Mountain” and other outlets. He is a 1984 recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellowship, a highly competitive fellowship that honors the best among American writers.

Smith’s poetry collections are released through his longtime publisher, Carnegie Mellon University Press. He has served as an English professor at the University of Tennessee since 1986.

National Poetry Month, established in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, takes place each year in April. Organizations around the world celebrate poetry with readings, festivals, workshops, book signings and other special events.

The National Poetry Month event is one component of Pellissippi State’s arts series, “The Arts at Pellissippi State.” The series brings to the community cultural activities ranging from music and theatre to international celebrations, lectures, and the fines arts. The poetry event is sponsored by Pellissippi State’s English Department.

Readings by Kallet and Smith take place 11:50 a.m.-12:45 p.m. in the Goins Building Auditorium at the Hardin Valley Campus. Attendance is free. Both poets will conduct a book signing of their newest releases after the event, and books will be available for purchase.

For additional information, call (865) 694-6400 or visit www.pstcc.edu/arts.

To request accommodations for a disability, contact the executive director of Human Resources and Affirmative Action at (865) 694-6607 or humanresources@pstcc.edu.

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Community invited to Pellissippi State’s Sixth Annual Festival of Cultures

Posted on March 28, 2013 by elsimpson
Photo of flower design on the campus floor made out of colored rice.

Rice art from the 2012 Festival of Cultures

There’s only one place where you can sample food from 16 countries and enjoy performances ranging from Brazilian dance and Irish step to Latin music and West African drum.

That place is the Goins Building College Center at the Hardin Valley Campus of Pellissippi State Community College. Members of the community are invited to enjoy the Sixth Annual International Festival of Cultures, a free event celebrating food, music and culture from around the globe.

Slated for Friday, April 12, the event also offers booths and exhibits that showcase international art, clothes, and artifacts by Pellissippi State’s international students. Hours are 4-9:30 p.m., and plenty of free parking is available.

A special feature this year is a display of the work of Russian artist Alex Cherepov in the Goins Building Rotunda. Born in Moscow, Cherepov moved to the U.S. in 1998. His work includes oil paintings, illustrations and animations. There will also be Rangoli floor art on exhibit, as well as Mehndi henna designs by Kajal Patel.

The food samplings, which vary at each year’s festival, include cuisine from the following countries: China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominica, France, Greece, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Madagascar, Mexico, Poland, Russia and Thailand.

Featured as a special performer is Andrea Moreira, director and choreographer of Dance Brasil Entertainment. Born in Brazil, Moreira began as a professional ballerina before moving to Atlanta in 1993.

She has performed at the 75th anniversary of Atlanta’s Fox Theatre, the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games’ closing ceremony parade, Atlanta Symphony Hall, Delta Airlines’ Carnaval and other events. Moreira was also featured in “Mas Que Nada,” a music video by the Black Eyed Peas and Sérgio Mendes.

Photo of 4 Indian females in blue and red ornamental dresses, dancing on stage.

Indian cultural dance group from 2012 Festival of Cultures

Additional performers include the following: Freddy Vargas and Son Caribe, a local Latin band; Hardin Valley Thunder, Pellissippi State’s bluegrass band; Knoxville Irish Step Dancers, a local dance troupe; an Indian cultural dance group performing the traditional bharatanayam dance; Vine Middle School’s West African Drum and Dance team; and the Tennessee Children’s Dance Ensemble, which will perform Hungarian, Chinese, and Japanese fan dances.

The schedule of events is as follows:

  • 4-4:45 p.m.—Hardin Valley Thunder
  • 5-5:45 p.m.—Vine Middle School’s West African Drum and Dance team
  • 5:15-6:30 p.m.—Tennessee Children’s Dance Ensemble, bharatanayam Indian dance and Knoxville Irish Step Dancers
  • 6:30 p.m.—Start of international cuisine
  • 7:30 p.m.—Andrea Moreira’s Dance Brasil Entertainment
  • 8:30 p.m.—Freddy Vargas and Son Caribe

The Festival of Cultures is one component of Pellissippi State’s arts series, “The Arts at Pellissippi State.” The series brings to the community cultural activities ranging from music and theatre to international celebrations, lectures, and the fine arts.

For additional information about the Sixth Annual International Festival of Cultures or The Arts at Pellissippi State, call (865) 694-6400 or visit www.pstcc.edu/arts.

To request accommodations for a disability, contact the executive director of Human Resources and Affirmative Action at (865) 694-6607 or humanresources@pstcc.edu. Requests should be made at least two weeks in advance.

Posted in Community, Events, International, The Arts | Comments Off

Pellissippi State’s ‘Something Old, Something New’ pairs classic, original one-acts

Posted on March 27, 2013 by elsimpson

When Clifford Odets wrote “Waiting for Lefty” in 1935, the American playwright was aiming for something revolutionary.

One of two one-act plays featured in Pellissippi State Community College’s upcoming theatrical production “Something Old, Something New,” the Odets work is, indeed, a prime example of “revolutionary” or “agit-prop” theatre. The latter term is a combination of “agitation” and “propaganda.”

“It was written, essentially, about the Depression—about what people were going through in the Depression,” said Charles Miller, who directs “Something Old, Something New” and the college’s other theatrical productions. “It’s an American classic.”

The play is scheduled for April 5, 6, 12, and 13 at 7:30 p.m. and April 14 at 2 p.m. The performances take place in the Clayton Performing Arts Center on Pellissippi State’s Hardin Valley Campus.

“Waiting for Lefty” is based on a 1934 strike of unionized New York cab drivers. Presented at the height of the Great Depression, the original 1935 production was a critical and popular sensation.

For the upcoming play, Miller has paired “Waiting for Lefty” with a dark comedy—an original world premiere by North Carolina playwright Stephen Barry Delaney called “Psycho Anal Isis.”

Pellissippi State’s Theatre program frequently performs new plays, says Miller, creating a rare venue for emerging works, while also presenting classic and contemporary drama from throughout the U.S. and the world.

“Something Old, Something New” is part of Pellissippi State’s arts series, “The Arts at Pellissippi State.” The series brings to the community cultural activities ranging from music and theatre to international celebrations, lectures, and the fine arts.

Cost of admission is $8-12. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at Ticket Turtle: www.pstcc.edu/tickets.

For additional information about The Arts at Pellissippi State, call (865) 694-6400 or visit www.pstcc.edu/arts.

To request accommodations for a disability, contact the executive director of Human Resources and Affirmative Action at (865) 694-6607 or humanresources@pstcc.edu.

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Barbara Yarn, black female medical trailblazer, to speak at Pellissippi State

Posted on March 26, 2013 by elsimpson

She was one of the first African-American female graduates of Nashville’s Meharry Medical College. She was also one of the first women to serve as chief of staff at an American hospital.

Dr. Barbara Yarn, a native of Knoxville, comes to Pellissippi State Community College on April 11 to share her journey and speak about challenges in the medical field. The presentation is “A Trailblazer in Medicine: The Career of Dr. Barbara Yarn.” Members of the community are invited to the free event.

Part of the 2012-13 Common Book experience at Pellissippi State, the visit is tied to “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” a New York Times bestseller by Rebecca Skloot. The nonfiction book is based on Henrietta Lacks, a poor black tobacco farmer whose cancerous cervical cells were taken in 1951 without her knowledge and who unwittingly played a role in biological research that continues today.

The book is being used as a discussion springboard for issues such as the birth of bioethics, the history of medical research involving African-Americans and the legal battles over informed consent. Pellissippi State’s Common Book is required reading for incoming freshmen and is the centerpiece for activities throughout the year.

The event is 12:30-2 p.m. at Pellissippi State’s Hardin Valley Campus in the Goins Building Auditorium. For additional information, call (865) 694-6400 or visit www.pstcc.edu.

To request accommodations for a disability, contact the executive director of Human Resources and Affirmative Action at (865) 694-6607 or humanresources@pstcc.edu. Requests should be made at least two weeks in advance.

Posted in Common Book, Events | Comments Off

Pellissippi State offers new classes focusing on the recording arts

Posted on March 25, 2013 by elsimpson

No longer will students interested in the recording arts industry have to enroll in classes in Nashville or Florida, both of which are known nationwide as “go-to” markets for study of the industry. Thanks to new class offerings by Pellissippi State Community College, students will have the opportunity to enroll in recording-related courses locally.

Careers in the recording arts and sound industry are expected to see growth into the future, according to the current edition of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook. Job growth for broadcast and sound engineering technicians, for instance, is predicted to increase at a rate of 10 percent through 2020, adding approximately 11,600 jobs to the 116,900 industry positions analyzed in 2010.

New recording-related courses at Pellissippi State include the following:

  • History of the Recording Industry (RATS 1042)
  • Audio Processing and Ear Training (RATS 1080)
  • Recording Techniques I (RATS 1400)
  • Special Topics in Recording Arts, Technology and Science (RATS 2000)
  • Dialogue Editing and Post-Production (RATS 2090)
  • Music Editing and Sound Design (RATS 2091)
  • Recording Techniques II (RATS 2400)
  • Recording Arts, Technology and Science Capstone (RATS 2910)

The new offerings are in addition to courses covering sound and recording that are already part of the Video Production Technology concentration. Those courses include “Pro Tools Intro” (VPT 2015), “Pro Tools Advanced” (VPT 2016), “Sound Production (Audio Fundamentals)” (VPT 1015) and “Special Topics: Recording Techniques” (VPT 2016).

Registration for Pellissippi State’s fall term begins on April 1. For a complete listing of and course descriptions for recording-related classes, visit www.pstcc.edu or call (865) 694-6400.

Posted in Degree Programs, Registration, Students | Comments Off

April 20 Dough Dash 5K Run/Fun Walk still accepting participants

Posted on March 24, 2013 by elsimpson

It’s not too late to sign up for the April 20 Dough Dash 5K Run/Fun Walk to take place at Pellissippi State Community College’s Blount County Campus. Those who register by April 6 pay $20 per participant, and those who register after that date up until event day pay $25.

The Alumni Association-hosted 5K run/fun walk serves as a fundraiser for the Pellissippi State Foundation’s General Scholarship Fund.

Dough Dash provides the opportunity for participants to run a 5K course or walk up to one mile. Medallions will be awarded in the categories of Male/Female Top Three Overall, Male/Female Top Master and Grandmaster, and Three Deep Male/Female in various age groups.

The event is part of the Run and See Tennessee Grand Prix, which encourages runners to compete in races throughout Tennessee and bordering states.

The event begins at Pellissippi State’s Blount County Campus. The 5K and fun walk courses consist of an on-campus asphalt trail, and the 5K continues on scenic off-campus back roads. The run and walk end on the campus, which is located at 2731 W. Lamar Alexander Pkwy. in Friendsville.

Dough Dash begins at 8 a.m., and on-site registration is 7-7:30 a.m. No refunds will be given.

Participants may register online or by mail. To register online, go to www.runnerreg.net/search/event.aspx?id=18396. To register by mail, print out the entry form at www.pstcc.edu/alumni/event and mail it with your payment to Pellissippi State Alumni Association, P.O. Box 22990, 10915 Hardin Valley Rd., Knoxville 37933-0990.

For additional information on the Dough Dash, contact the Alumni Relations Office at (865) 539-7275 or alumni@pstcc.edu.

To request accommodations for a disability, contact the executive director of Human Resources and Affirmative Action at (865) 694-6607 or humanresources@pstcc.edu. Requests should be made at least two weeks in advance.

Posted in Alumni, Blount County, Events | Comments Off

Five-year study: Pellissippi State contributes $244 million annually to local economy

Posted on March 23, 2013 by elsimpson

Pellissippi State Community College pumped an average of $244 million each year into the local economy during the past five years, a recent study shows.

The 25th annual analysis of the economic impact of the college on the Knox and Blount county area reveals that the value of business volume, jobs and individual income amounted to about $1.22 billion in the 2007-2012 period, or an average of $244 million each year.

Local business volume—the total amount generated locally by businesses from the college’s direct and indirect expenditures—was $589 million for the five-year period, says Fred H. Martin, an educational consultant who completed the study. Of that total, $479 million came from non-local revenues, such as state appropriations, state and federal contracts and grants, and federal and state student financial aid revenues.

Although Pellissippi State had an average of only 477 full-time-equivalent employees per year during the period, the total employment created and sustained by the college’s expenditures was estimated at 40,238 jobs for the five years. Of that number, 32,421 were created by external or new funds.

Using the more conservative of two different calculations, Martin has estimated that the impact of the college’s expenditures on personal income in the area amounted to about $631 million during 2007-2012, of which $523 million came from external or new funds.

Of the college’s $1.22 billion total economic impact, about $1 billion ($200 million each year) can be attributed to the infusion of new non-local revenues.

“This impact would likely not have occurred without the presence of Pellissippi State in the area,” said Martin.

The economic impact study notes that each dollar of local revenue coming into Pellissippi State generated a “return on investment” of around $3.73 in local business volume. The individual income generated ranged from $4.01 to $4.25, for a total return on investment of at least $7.74.

The study also estimates that people who have a two-year associate’s degree can expect to earn about $350,000 more in a lifetime than those who have only a high school diploma. For the most recent class of Pellissippi State graduates, this difference could add up to an additional $386 million in lifetime earnings, plus about $2.1 million in additional annual tax contributions.

The report also describes a number of benefits to society that are proven to accompany higher levels of education.

“The results of this economic impact study clearly demonstrate that Pellissippi State continues to be a major contributor to the economic base of Knox and Blount counties,” Martin said.

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