Stealing: The new form of flattery?

Now that the Majors Fair is over, I can't let another moment go by without sharing something funny and a bit strange. Yes, TCC has made some attractive posters and banners in the past but none has been so popular as this year's Majors Fair promotional materials. In fact, some people liked them so much that they took them home! That's right--those posters and banners with the cute dogs, sharks and squirrels have been disappearing from TCC campuses ever since they were hung.

Faculty, staff and students commented about how much they loved the Majors Fair promotional materials, but for someone to take them? Repeatedly? In fact, I heard from a reliable source that one of the full-color posters was stolen and then replaced by the perpetrator with a black-and-white copy. Now there's a crook with a conscience.

I hear that TCC is taking it as a form of flattery. :)

No grades, no pressure! Get creative and have fun in continuing ed classes

Are you bored? Would you like to express yourself through taking artsy photos, playing the guitar, knitting a scarf, blogging or painting a portrait? TCC's Continuing Education department offers affordable classes in these areas as well as in subjects that can help you in your job and in your finances.

And these instructors didn't just fall off the truck. Some of them have photographed, played, knitted, painted, etc. for decades.

Examples?
Bob Cuardrado, Spanish and guitar instructor, 38 years;
Dave East, photography instructor, 28 years; and
Jim Hill, finance and photography instructor, 27 years.

But TCC also has instructors who have gained recent fame. How about learning to blog by Tulsa's own Natasha Ball of Tasha Does Tulsa?

Pick your passion in the Continuing Education schedule. Classes are still forming for fall.

Filmmakers visit TCC class, prepare for Tulsa Int. Film Festival

Filmmakers Harry Dawson and Meighan Maloney, left, led a discussion in Professor Phoebe Baker's (third from left) class on Thursday. Rachel Peweitt, far right, is one of about 50 students who participated in the discussion.

Students in Phoebe Baker's Developmental Psychology class had the chance to hear from professional filmmakers regarding their film which is being shown in the Tulsa International Film Festival today and Saturday. Harry Dawson and Meighan Maloney, of Dawson Media Group, spoke to students on Thursday about their documentary "Paskenta: Nomlaqa Boda" which tells the story of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians.

They showed only clips during the discussion, but here is the synopsis from what I saw: The U.S. government terminated the tribe in 1959 even though tribal members were very much alive. The Nomlaki persisted for decades to regain their tribal status, and most importantly, preserve their culture and history. In 1994, the government once again recognized them as a tribe.

This is really a remarkable film for anyone interested in history. It is showing at 3:45 p.m. today and 6 p.m. Saturday at the Hyatt Regency. And, bonus! Andy Freeman, chair of the tribe, will be at the screenings available for discussion along with Dawson and Maloney.

http://www.nomlaqaboda-thefilm.com/ 


http://www.tulsafilmfestival.org/

Acts of kindness

Have you ever been helped by someone whose generosity changed your life? I have. When my husband and I first moved to Tulsa, we didn't have jobs or vehicles. I had never felt so helpless. We were in a new city with nothing except a crummy apartment.

Then, someone reached out to help us. My sister's teenage son had a car that needed work but ran. She let me borrow it so I could drive to a job interview. I got the job, and because of her, I had a car to get me there each day.

I'm not saying the car was perfect. In fact, far from it. It was a standard and got stuck in gear, a lot. Plus, I had never driven a standard before. And it died at more than a few intersections. But it always got me where I needed to go (eventually).

I am grateful for my sister's generosity as well as those who give to others they don't even know. And the reason for this warm, fuzzy blog post? The TCC Foundation, which provides hundreds of scholarships to students and funds faculty innovation projects, are awarding Lynn and Stacy Schusterman with the Vision in Education Leadership Award tonight. The Schustermans have given so much to Tulsa and TCC, and I know each student affected by their generosity is grateful.

If you would like to say "thank you" to the Schustermans or someone else who has been generous to you, post a comment.

TCCMobile now available in Apple App Store

It's here! The new TCCMobile app is ready for your downloadable enjoyment. This app is so great, it may just change your life. OK, maybe not change your life but definitely make your life easier. You can go to the Apple App Store right now and download TCCMobile for FREE. This app has MyTCC, Blackboard, TED, academic schedules and phone numbers at just a tap away. It has TCC news, calendars, maps to TCC locations and more. Check it out.

Slave ships, 'Indian Warriors' and more revealed in Civil War series

If you learned everything you know about the Civil War from “Cold Mountain,” then you should attend one (or, let’s face it, all) of the sessions at TCC devoted to this infamous war. Experts on the subject will present and show films throughout the year on topics such as the role of Native Americans in the war, British reactions to the war and slave ships.

• 7 p.m. Sept. 15: Donald Bellows - “British Reactions to the American Civil War”in Center for Creativity Event Space at TCC Metro Campus;
• 1 p.m. Oct. 4: “Ken Burns’ Civil War Documentary” film in the small auditorium (room 1603) at TCC Northeast Campus;
• 1 p.m. Oct. 5: “Ken Burns’ Civil War Documentary” film in the film/lecture room at TCC Metro Campus;
• Oct. 15: Battlefield Tour of Pea Ridge National Battlefield, Pea Ridge, Ark. (Contact Ken Blankemeyer for details at ext. 7122.)
• 1 p.m. Nov. 8: “Indian Warriors: The Untold Story of the Civil War” film at TCC Northeast Campus;
• 1 p.m. Nov. 9: “Indian Warriors: The Untold Story of the Civil War” film in film/lecture room at TCC Metro Campus;
• 7 p.m. Nov. 17: Ric Powell- “The Slave Ship Henrietta Marie” in the Philips Auditorium room 110 at TCC Metro Campus; and
• 10 a.m. Nov. 18: Ric Powell-“Ghosts of the Trade: The Recovery and Interpretation of the Slave Ship Henrietta Marie” in the large auditorium room 1470 at TCC Northeast Campus.

For more information, click here.

This just in: KJRH donates news desk to TCC journalism dept.

TCC journalism students (sitting) Michelle Feliciano, Scott Davis, (standing) Patrick Quiring and Priscilla Adams check out the news desk in the studio at the Center for Creativity this afternoon.

TCC journalism students now have a kickin' new news desk thanks to the team at KJRH. Students are using the desk in the television studio at the Center for Creativity on the TCC Metro Campus.

When TCC Professor Ed Taylor toured KJRH's studio this summer with his journalism students, he learned that KJRH was getting a new studio. Then he noticed that their weather desk would make a perfect news desk for his students to use in class. Taylor asked Production Manager Ross Greenawalt if TCC could have the desk, and Ross made it happen.

"This donation has saved us thousands of dollars in set construction costs, not to mention it looks very cool in the studio," Taylor said. "We had been using a computer table prior to the donation."

Thank you, KJRH!

Students, grads featured in new TV spot

Hi, everyone! I am excited to tell you that the new TCC commercial is now airing! I recruited everyone in the spot right here using "Inside Out," and they did an amazing job. Thank you to everyone who volunteered to be in the spot! Here it is for your viewing pleasure: TCC: Reach Higher.

If you would like the chance to be in a TCC commercial, print advertisement, etc., keep a look out for my posts recruiting volunteer models. It is a fun and educational experience, especially if you are interested in journalism or a related field.

Turning 18? Protect your online reputation

I am so glad that Facebook wasn't around when I was a teenager. There is no telling what inner thoughts I would have openly shared with the world simply because I am a communicator. I like to talk (and write)!

It seems teens today are sharing info that would perhaps be better left "unposted." Certain posts and photos might be considered funny by friends, but beware! When you turn 18 and start looking for jobs and applying to colleges, these seemingly innocent posts could hurt your chances when potential employers and college admission representatives Google you.

If you are unsure how your social media presence could affect your future, consider attending a free workshop offered by the Tulsa Public Library. The workshop, "OMG! I'm turning 18," is from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 17 at Hardesty Regional Library. You can register here.