Give a 'shout out' at Graduation 2014

Are you graduating from TCC in May? Give a shout out to your friends and family on the big screen on the night of graduation (May 9) during the pre-graduation PowerPoint presentation at the ORU Mabee Center. I'm looking for quotations from graduating students about their experiences at TCC, how their families have supported them, how faculty have helped them, etc. Your name will be included so that your family and friends at graduation can see it! :)

Here are some ideas to help you in writing a quote (in one or two sentences, please):
1. How does it feel to be getting your associate degree?
2. Who would you like to thank for helping you along the way?
3. What does this night mean to you and your family?
4. How did TCC prepare you for your next step? 

Please write your quote in a complete sentence. Feel free to leave a comment on the blog or send the quote in an email to mcommunications@tulsacc.edu. Please include your first and last name along with your submission.

Note: Submission of a quote does not guarantee publication. DEADLINE: APRIL 16

Example: 

"Look mom and dad, I did it! Thank you to my parents and grandparents for always encouraging me. And, thank you to my wonderful husband for supporting me and providing for me through these times in our life. Finally, thank the beautiful Lord for blessing my life, so that I can be where I am today!"

Aubrey Bushyhead, Class of 2013

A virtual 'meet the teacher' awaits

In elementary school, it was great because you always got to meet your teacher a couple of days early at the highly-anticipated "Meet the Teacher" night. You got to see your new classroom,  pick out a spot where you'd like to sit, and check out your classmates. But in college, it doesn't quite work that way, for better or for worse. You may not meet your instructor until the actual class starts, and you may not even know where your classroom is unless you put in some prep work for locating the class.

Even though you might not "Meet the Teacher" officially before class starts, there are ways to get familiar with the instructors at TCC on the TCC website and through Blackboard. Many areas of the College have faculty web pages, including Full-Time Faculty in the Business and Information Technology Division on the Southeast Campus. And, check out this great introduction of Suzanne Reese, associate dean of allied health on the Metro Campus.

No, not every instructor has a detailed profile page, but you can learn more about your instructors before that first class by doing some digging on TCC's website or Blackboard.

Happy browsing!

Goose on the loose

Beautiful day to get out on campus!

2012 Pick of the pics

Here are a few of my favorite pics from 2012. Look around and let me know your fav.

Parent and child in Nicaragua waiting to be seen by

TCC Nursing students.

Flowers soaking up the morning sun at
TCC's Northeast Campus in the spring.

Goose on the loose at TCC Southeast Campus.

High school FFA student at Northeast Campus

in her fashionable kicks.

TCC employees showing off their team spirit before making phone calls
 to encourage students to file for graduation.

Grads from TCC's Physical Therapy Assistant Program say "hi"
to a skeleton in the new PTA clinic.            

                           

A horse head at the Veterinary Technology Building
on the West Campus. Reminds me of a certain
scene in a certain film.....

I love this picture of the people in Nicaragua getting care
from TCC Dental Hygiene students. Students said even
though it was terribly hot, they had limited equipment,
and patients sat in lawn chairs, none of the patients complained.
Even though their teeth were severely neglected. Even the children. 

Reminds me of the holidays......

Sweet Son Wi

Tse Son Wi and PTA students in the current PTA clinic.

I got to meet a pretty amazing family recently: Amy, Larry and their little girl Tse Son Wi, or Son Wi. The little girl is only 2 years old, but Son Wi has already triumphed over more challenges than some people face in a lifetime. How did we cross each others' paths? The Physical Therapy Assistant clinic at TCC.

Jeff Hammontree, PTA professor at TCC, has been working with Son Wi and her parents since she was born. He and his PTA students have helped Son Wi learn how to do various things, from swallowing to walking.

Son Wi, and numerous others of various ages and abilities, have received physical therapy while helping PTA students get hands-on learning experience for decades. In fact, the PTA program at TCC celebrates its 30th anniversary this Friday with a sneak peak at the future PTA Clinic facility. The new clinic will enable Jeff and his students to help even more people like Son Wi.

To hear Son Wi's story, click here for a video.

To read Lora's story, another PTA patient, click here for the Tulsa World article.

Gov. Mary Fallin visits TCC

Gov. Mary Fallin was in T-town today, and as part of her visit she toured the Center for Creativity on the TCC Metro Campus. She saw the television production studio, radio studio, visual art/drawing studio and event space. She also spoke in a public service announcement that will be released to local media and posted on YouTube. The PSA addresses Oklahoma's effort to get more people to finish their college degrees, which is part of the Complete College America federal program.

As we all know, life can sometimes interrupt our plans to finish college. We start all excited and starry-eyed, dreaming of the future. But, life happens. Complete College America is an initiative to help and encourage people to finish those college degrees and certificates, and Oklahoma is one of the 29-member Alliance of States that has pledged to make college completion a top priority.

Have you ever had to pause your education because of one reason or another? What encouraged you to return to college and finish?

Around T-Town with TCC

To start off this week right, we are beginning the unveiling of a series of images that have been taken across Tulsa. These images will change periodically to show off stores, restaurants, parks, entertainment venues, walking trails and other places that make Tulsa a great place to live, work and study. The images will appear on TCC's home page throughout the 2012-2013 academic year. When you see a favorite place you've been, an icon you have admired throughout your life or a restaurant you love, share your memories and thoughts here on Inside Out or post them to the TCC Facebook page.

Update: TCC students also to premiere documentary Thursday

As I posted last week,  Professor Ed Taylor is showing a documentary on Thursday. I just learned that TCC students in Taylor's Documentary Filmmaking class will also show their documentary, "Cathedrals of Downtown Tulsa," making Thursday's event a Documentary Double Feature! This is a great opportunity to sit inside a comfy, air-conditioned building and learn more about our world and our awesome city!
When: 1 p.m. Thursday
Where: Event Space, Center for Creativity
Why: To learn about study abroad, service learning, documentary filmmaking, cathedrals in Tulsa, etc.