Owensboro Community and Technical College

Completed and passed the Decision Making testlet, one of sixteen essential skills assessed by Am I Job Ready? Learn more at https://www.amijobready.com/

Completed and passed the Continuous Learning testlet, one of sixteen essential skills assessed by Am I Job Ready? Learn more at https://www.amijobready.com/

Completed and passed the Cooperative Teamwork testlet, one of sixteen essential skills assessed by Am I Job Ready? Learn more at https://www.amijobready.com/

Completed and passed the Analytical Problem Solving testlet, one of sixteen essential skills assessed by Am I Job Ready? Learn more at https://www.amijobready.com/

Attended OCTC's Fall 17 Student Fest event on the Main Campus. Students were able to explore different services provided by OCTC, as well as talk with representatives from local organizations that provide resources for OCTC students.

Completed career inventories with Katie Ballard and began career exploration.

This student is being recognized for being in the Administrative Office Technology program.

This student is recognized for being in the Medical Information Technology program.

OCTC Spring 17 Dean's List

Owensboro Community & Technical College (OCTC) is proud to announce that the 2016-2017 Surgical Technology Program graduates took the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) National Certification Exam on June 8,2017 and achieved a first-time pass rate of 100%. Students must pass this national exam to obtain certification. OCTC surgical technology students achieved a 100% first time, pass rate for the fourth consecutive year. The 2016 national average first-time, pass rate was 76%. The students not only passed but did so in unprecedented fashion. The OCTC class average score was 84%, the highest average in the program, during the tenure of Zara Basham, program coordinator. "This group of students continues to surpass all expectations, I couldn't be prouder of their accomplishments" added Basham. In addition, two students scored at the top of the class, outpacing their peers. Sabrina Rice scored 158/175 (90%) while Anna Berry earned an unprecedented score of 167/175 (95%), which included a perfect score in three of eight categories. All OCTC technical programs have some form of an end of program assessment, in healthcare programs this assessment is a state or national licensure exam. The performance instrument allows students to demonstrate knowledge and skills in their field. It is beneficial to the faculty to measure their effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. For colleges, the test scores create a positive impact, meets state and federal accountability requirements and provides educators with valuable assessment data. OCTC President Dr. Scott Williams added "Our healthcare program faculty work with the students to ensure they are well prepared to sit for the licensure exams and so they are ready to be a qualified member of the workforce. To have scores this high speaks to the dedication of the faculty and the students."

On Tuesday, March 21 at 11 a.m., Scott Russell Sanders, author of Owensboro Community and Technical College's Common Reading selection, Earth Works: Selected Essays, read from, and spoke about his work in Blandford Hall (located in the Humanities Building on the Main OCTC campus). According to the bio on Sanders' website: Scott Russell Sanders is the author of twenty books of fiction and nonfiction, including Hunting for Hope and A Conservationist Manifesto. His most recent books are Earth Works: Selected Essays (2012) and Divine Animal: A Novel (2014). He also has a collection of eco-science fiction stories entitled Dancing in Dreamtime, and a new edition of his documentary narrative, Stone Country, will appear in 2017. Among his honors are the Lannan Literary Award, the John Burroughs Essay Award, the Mark Twain Award, the Cecil Woods Award for Nonfiction, the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award, and fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2012 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English at Indiana University. He and his wife, Ruth, a biochemist, have reared two children in their hometown of Bloomington, in the hardwood hill country of Indiana's White River Valley. He is currently at work on a collection of short stories, a book about the meaning of wealth, and a collection of essays about the role of writing in an age of climate disruption. His writing examines the human place in nature, the pursuit of social justice, the relation between culture and geography, and the search for a spiritual path.

On March 20, students attended a presentation hosted by Attorney General Andy Beshear and New Beginnings Sexual Assault Support Services, Inc. Attorney General Beshear talked with the students about his campaign #voiceofjustice that he hopes will raises awareness and bring transparency for campus sexual assault. The #voiceofjustice contest is a student produced video competition, where the participants recorded 30 second videos regarding campus sexual assault awareness.

Students attended the Dynamic Leadership Institute (Phase 1): Personal Development, presented by David Powers, Career & Workforce Development Coordinator for Western Kentucky University Owensboro. This phase included: PHASE 1 (four personal development and self-awareness sessions) Understanding Personality Differences This session utilizes the Myers Briggs Type Indicator to help participants better understand individual personality preferences and to improve the manner in which they relate to other personality types. Participants will learn strategies to intentionally "manage" and "use" their personality more effectively when trying to influence others. Type implications on leadership and supervision are a focus. Effective Communication The key to effective communication is the art of listening. This session provides participants with a better understanding of communication interference and presents practices that help eliminate the various "noises" we must overcome to be a good communicator. Emphasized in this program is the role context plays in the communication process, and participants are encouraged to modify the way they communicate to fit the context of the audience. Problem Solving Participants practice small group problem solving to gain a better understanding of team dynamics. They learn practices that enhance their influence within small groups and gain insight on how to address group member conflict and non-functional behavior. Through team activity, participants become more knowledgeable about the problem solving process and dealing with "difficult" people. Diversity Awareness -Global Beads The role diversity plays in leadership and influence is presented. Participants are encouraged to become intentional in their experience of diversity and to gain a greater understanding of cultural differences. The importance of culturally literacy and the appreciation and value various types (ethnic, gender, age, thought, personality...) of diversity are emphasized.

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.

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.

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

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/

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

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.

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.

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.