Owensboro Community and Technical College

Students attended a presentation by Dr. Micah Perkins regarding wildlife homes and how we can help to preserve them. The presentation also featured a tour of the Virginia Miles Nature Center. This was sponsored by the OCTC Common Reading Committee.

On February 28, students attended a presentation by Ms. Aloma Dew regarding Climate Change, the horror, hype, and hooey. This event was sponsored by the Common Reading Committee as part of the Spring 17 Common Read event.

On April 14, students attended a Start Smart Workshop, sponsored by Women in Support of Education (WISE), and presented by AAUW. WISE and AAUW are working together to close the gender pay gap and help female students negotiate salaries.

Learn tips on how to get your resume noticed when applying for a job.Bring in some notes (work history dates and locations, high school dates, list of skills, etc.) and let Lindsey Greer, TRiO Advisor, help you create and customize a functioning resume.

Explore the nature area with Dr. Micah Perkins from the OCTC Biology Department. April 11, 2017

Do you have the skills needed to be a good team member? Learn what it takes to be a valuable member of a team while having fun.

Explore the nature area with Dr. Micah Perkins from the OCTC Biology Department. April 10, 2017

Low self-esteem can negatively affect various aspects of your life, including your relationships, your academic pursuits, and your health. Learn steps to boost your self-esteem. Presented by Barb Tipmore on March 30, 2017

Employers want their potential employees to have soft skills. This workshop will explain a variety of soft skills that employees are looking for and how you can develop and strengthen those skills. Presented by Mary Bruner on March 29, 2017

Owensboro Community & Technical College hosted nationally renowned speaker Josh Davies, on Friday, March 17, in the Humanities Building on the main campus. Davies presented "Give Employers What They Want: Work Ethic". "This is just one way we can give back to the community, to share a speaker of this caliber will help our students, faculty and staff, but can also have ramifications for the broader community" added OCTC President, Dr. Scott Williams. "A real focus of our efforts are soft skills, and professional behaviors in the workplace, and Davies is an expert in this field." According to the Center for Work Ethic Development, "Employers are hiring talent based on soft skills like attitude and ambition, 9 out of 10 say the most important factor in hiring is work ethic. The challenge is that less than 1 in 5 candidates have these skills. While these foundational behaviors are the top traits that hiring managers are looking for in candidates, almost all job training is focused on academic and technical skills. New research shows that these behaviors can be learned, and make a huge difference in employability and retention. Work ethic behaviors are the key to workplace performance, and The Center for Work Ethic Development is the nation's only institution focusing on the research and advancement of them. Through interviews with over 1,500 employers, we have developed the strategies to build these behaviors in people from 16 to 60. Discover the secrets that The Center for Work Ethic Development is using to help educators, workforce development centers, and private companies build the seven behaviors of work ethic. This engaging and interactive presentation showcases simple training and leadership approaches that yield lasting results. Discover cutting-edge tactics for building the foundational behaviors of work ethic, and give employers what they really want!" By the end of the session, participants were be able to: Understand the concepts of work ethic See the impact of the work ethic gap in America Apply at least three tactics to improve work ethic Davies is currently the CEO of the Center for Work Ethic Development. He is a published author and is frequently cited in national publications, including the New York Times. He chairs the Colorado Education and Training Steering Committee. Training Magazine recently named him as one of the top 10 trainers under 40 in America. To learn more about Mr. Davies please visit: https://workethic.org/team/

Attended a student discussion with OCTC President Dr. Scott Williams. Sponsored by the OCTC Student Government Association (SGA). February 23, on the Main Campus.

In honor of Black History Month, OCTC Facutly Matt Alschbach hosted a presentation titled: Muhammad Ali: A Life of Perseverance, Principles, & Activism. Alschbach examined what Ali stood for and how he capitalized on his celebrity to bring attention to causes he felt worthy. "Muhammad Ali was more than just a great sports figure, he was a man of principle and practice." commented Alschbach. He added, "I've always enjoyed teaching KY History and he is a prominent figure that we explore."

Attended a women's panel discussion titled, "Wise Women, Wise Choices, Wise Voices," hosted by the OCTC WISE Committee. Panelists included Candance Brake, President/CEO of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, Pamela Smith-Wright, Owensboro City Commissioner, Barbara Tipmore, Director of Counseling Services and Title IX Coordinator at OCTC, Naheed S. Murtaza, JD and a faculty member at Brescia University, and Susan Montalvo-Gesser, JD and the Managing Attorney at Kentucky Legal Aid.

The Dynamic Leadership Institute (DLI) of WKU-Owensboro is a three phase program designed to teach participants interpersonal skills, leadership dynamics, and career/professional development strategies. The program strives to enhance self-awareness regarding personal strengths and weaknesses; to create a better understanding of leadership and influence; to develop stronger leadership and interpersonal skills; and to sharpen participants' professional skills. ***Resume Development: Best practices for resume development are covered, including: completion of a resume organizer or professional inventory, choosing the proper resume format, highlighting your strengths in relation to a position description, selection of references, and other technical tips. Networking/Leadership Interview: Participants learn effective strategies for building a professional network, including: the "Why?", "How?", and "Where?" of networking, networking strategies for introverts, utilizing social media as a networking tool, developing an "elevator" pitch, and the art of making introductions. Participants conduct an interview with a community leader for the purpose of practicing their professional skills and building a professional network. Interviewing: Included in this session is an overview of interview preparation and best practices, including: research and preparation, appropriate dress, behaviors that are desired and ones that deter from the interview, the value of interview follow-up. Participants learn how to prepare for one-on-one and panel interviews formats through "hands-on" experience. Professional Growth Plan: Participants utilize assessments and exercises to develop a professional growth plan based on the strengths and weaknesses identified in previous sessions.

The Dynamic Leadership Institute (DLI) of WKU-Owensboro is a three phase program designed to teach participants interpersonal skills, leadership dynamics, and career/professional development strategies. The program strives to enhance self-awareness regarding personal strengths and weaknesses; to create a better understanding of leadership and influence; to develop stronger leadership and interpersonal skills; and to sharpen participants' professional skills. **DLI defines leadership as the ability to influence others through one's personal power. Self-awareness, communication skills, emotion management, the ability to effectively work with others, effective decision making, leadership adaptability and problem solving represent some of the factors that influence one's personal power.

Rebecca Thwaites will demonstrate how to sew a plushie -- a soft animal. Participants will leave with a hand-sewn project that they created. Presented on March 27, 2017

Learn tips on how to get your resume noticed when applying for a job. Presented by Katie Ballard on March 27, 2017.

Job applicants need to dress to impress at a job interview. If you never mastered the skill of tying a tie, Mike Rodgers, Interim VP of Academic Affairs and Director of Advancement, will not only show you some pointers but also offer advice on how to dress for success. Presented on March 23, 2017

Brad Reynolds from Reynolds Martial Arts will demonstrate techniques women can use to protect themselves. Presented on March 15, 2017

Professor Michael Boyd from the OCTC Business Department will discuss ways we can save money without it hurting. Presented on March 13, 2017

Participants will evaluate their strengths and see how those strengths can be marketable to some of the major employers within the area. Presented by Michael Boyd on March 20, 2017

A cover letter helps personalize job applicants so they come across as real people to potential employers. They allow potential employees to really pitch why they are the perfect candidate for the job. Learn valuable tips and techniques from Lindsey Greer. Presented on March 21, 2017

OCTC Security Officer Jeff Hendricks will stress the importance of being aware of your surroundings and being prepared for the unexpected. He'll also explain a few basic maneuvers if approached by an attacker. Presented on March 15, 2017

This informational session will explain what AA is and is not. Presented on March 16, 2017

Katie Ballard from TRAC Central discusses various transfer options for students. Presented on February 23, 2017

The abuse of alcohol and other drugs is unhealthy. This workshop will allow you to recognize the signs of alcohol abuse. Presented by Mary Kinney on March 2, 2017.

Find out what Murray State University has to offer as we explore campus and visit its TRiO program.

Learn the basic functions and capabilities of the scientific calculator. Presented on January 23, 2017

What type of learner are you? Defining your learning type can help you to choose the best study method for you. Presented by Lindsey Greer on February 14, 2017

Do you try to write down every word that your instructor says during a lecture? Break that habit and learn better ways to take notes for classes. Presented on Feb. 2, 2017