Alumni News & Events

Interactive Media, Graphic Design & Photography are kicking off an Alumni Network with a preview reception for the Downtown Digital Arts Festival

The Downtown Digital Arts Festival brings together student photographers, designers, and artists, for a three-day event, designed to educate, to inspire, and to entertain. The FREE preview reception will give you as Alumni a first look at all the amazing student work. For more information on the Downtown Digital Arts Festival go to: www.cscc.edu/ddaf

CSCC Digital Design & Graphics Alumni Preview Reception
Tuesday, May 25th
5:30-7pm
At CSCC Center for Workforce Development
315 Cleveland Ave 4th Floor
RSVP to eschneid@cscc.edu or 287-2436

For directions click here!
Questions? Contact Elissa at eschenid@cscc.edu

Columbus State Community College Dental Hygiene Program celebrates 10 Years by forming Alumni Network

The program began in winter of 1999, graduating their first class in the summer of 2000. In honor the milestone, they held a celebration event on October 17, 2009 at CSCC WD Building.

Many alumni came back to campus to share stories and re-connect with each other. The event was the first meeting of the newly formed CSCC Dental Hygiene Alumni Network, an initiative of the Development Foundation. The group plans to have an event each year offering continuing education credits to all alumni who attend as well as networking with alumni through Facebook.

A scholarship fund was also initiated to honor Connie Grossman RDH. The scholarship is called The Connie Grossman Scholarship Fund. The scholarship will be awarded to a worthy second year dental hygiene student. Funds may be donated to the scholarship here.

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Sport and Exercise Studies inducts three to Alumni Hall of Fame

The Sports and Exercise Studies Department held their annual Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony June 4, honoring three former students who have distinguished themselves in their careers - Mark Purcell, Crystal Carrera and Calvin Green.

Inductees to the SES Alumni Hall of Fame are, from left, Mark Purcell, Crystal Carrera and Calvin Green.

The Sports and Exercise Studies Department held their annual Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony June 4, honoring three former students who have distinguished themselves in their careers - Mark Purcell, Crystal Carrera and Calvin Green.

Purcell graduated from Columbus State in 1998, then completed his bachelor's degree from Capital, his MBA from Ashland University, and is working on a doctorate degree in education. He works for Citi Group as a Senior Accountant and also teaches as an adjunct faculty member in the SES program.

After earning her associate degree from Columbus State, Carerra went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Wilberforce University and a master's degree from Central Michigan University. She is a 23-year employee of the Columbus Parks & Recreation Department, who in 2009 moved into a new position with the Department of Public Utilities.

Green earned his Columbus State degree in 1998 and continued his education at Wilberforce University to earn a bachelor's degree in 2000. He has worked with the City of Whitehall Parks and Recreation Department, Fairfield Christian Church, and currently, Upward Unlimited, an international children's sports organization.

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Landscape students, alumni, rally to help ill homeowners

In a stiff breeze that ruffled budding trees and threatened to remove hats, seven Columbus State landscape design/build students and alumni bent over last year's spent gardens, pulling weeds and removing debris at the Bexley home of Susan Steinman.

From left, landscape student Alex Uhlenhake and Winter Quarter graduate Adam Darst work on cleanup detail, while in the background, Ed Young, Class of 2000, trims hedges. Young works as a designer and in sales for Yard Barbers, one of the companies providing sponsorship of the Helping Hands project.

Steinman hovered nearby, grinning from ear to ear despite the chill that had her wrapped in a wool shawl and boots. Diagnosed with breast cancer last fall, Steinman was unable to tend her sprawling gardens. Her treatments left her weak, and her gardens still wore the brown cloak of last year's fallen leaves and dried plantings.

Students Baylee Deeds, left, and Barb Fleshman, right, get a hug from homeowner Susan Steinman.

The students and alumni from Columbus State were there to lend "Helping Hands in the Garden," an outreach program founded by Elaine Euwer, a Columbus State graduate and a cancer survivor. While undergoing cancer treatments, Euwer had experienced an outpouring of support that had included the upkeep of her yard and garden by friends, and it got her to thinking of the many other cancer patients who could only look out the window, watching their gardens decline, unable to attempt the strenuous work of landscaping.

Landscape student Amanda Boggs works on filling planters in Susan Steinman's back yard.

So on Wednesday, the students and alumni working with Helping Hands bundled for the cold at 8 a.m. and spread out across central Ohio to four homes in Bexley, Dublin, Clintonville and Hilliard to kick off their 2009 efforts on Earth Day - a fitting occasion to work outside, if not the most accommodating weather.

By noon, the first projects were being wrapped up, raked up, and swept clean. And the sun peeked from behind the clouds at last with the unmistakable warmth of spring.

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Tough guy Alumni finds his niche in EMS as teaching assistant

After 15 years in the U.S. Air Force and 15 years at Columbus State, Norman Jones says he's still learning how to be tactful in all situations. The teaching assistant and adjunct faculty member says working directly with students is his favorite part of the job because "they keep me on my diplomatic toes!"

In 1988, while working as an MP in the Air Force, Jones suffered a heart attack and needed to be "shocked nine times" to be resuscitated. After recovering, he decided that he would like to become an EMT like the military paramedics who had saved his life.

But Jones was nominated for Staff Employee of the Month by EMS/Fire Science faculty member Jonathan Packer for much more than his tact and diplomacy.

"The guy is amazing," says Packer. "He has essentially taken ownership of the GA building where we are located. Norm is always helping with repairs and updates to the classrooms-usually with tools in hand fixing something!"

"He also schedules our lecture and helicopter visit from MedFlight for the EMS classes," continues Packer. "We don't have to do anything-you just call him and it's done."

Jones also teaches a full load as an adjunct faculty member, instructing classes in first aid, responder emergencies, CPR, and current issues in HIV. After putting in 52 hours a week at Columbus State, he works another 12 hours a week as a paid volunteer medic with the Minerva Park Fire Department.

In 1988, while working as an MP in the Air Force, Jones suffered a heart attack and needed to be "shocked nine times" to be resuscitated. After recovering, he decided that he would like to become an EMT like the military paramedics who had saved his life.

He was discharged from the military and was working as a bouncer when he broke his leg and decided to use that opportunity to go back to college. He chose Columbus State and graduated with his degree in EMS in 1993, then began working at the college in the health technology labs.

The father of four and grandfather of seven also has a little extra hobby that keeps him busy-as if he has more than 24 hours in a day. He works as a "corner" in the world of Ultimate Fighting, helping out his friend, "Butterbean," a world-famous oversized ultimate fighter.

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Degree puts icing on the cake for food science graduate

If you just loved the malt vinegar tartar sauce you had on your fish and chips the last time you dined at Applebee's, you can thank Cynthia Coleman-a food scientist at Marzetti's and soon-to-be graduate of Columbus State.

Coleman works in the research and development department of the food service giant, developing new products and matching various restaurants' in-house sauces and dressings. She started there as a lab technician and enjoyed the work so much she went looking for a college degree program that would provide her with the tools to advance as a food scientist.

At Columbus State, Coleman began studying Quality Assurance and enjoyed the coursework, but soon realized it was engineering oriented. She needed more meat and potatoes in her studies.

Quality Assurance Chairman Dick Bickerstaff took her down to talk with Mokie Steiskal, chairperson in Hospitality Management, and together the three of them created an Associate of Technical Studies degree that combined food management and culinary classes with the quality class work.

Coleman will earn that ATS degree tomorrow at the Autumn Quarter commencement ceremony. It took her three years, but as a fulltime working mother of two young children, ages 4 and 6, that could be considered an accelerated pace.

Immediately after high school, Coleman enrolled at North Carolina State, but only attended for one year. She has worked in the culinary field ever since but "fell into the R&D job at Marzetti's through luck," she says. She hopes to continue studying for a food science bachelor's degree, possibly at Ohio State, "after a little break," she adds.

Her lasting impression of Columbus State is the care and attention she received from her advisors, instructors and the two chairpersons who helped her design the perfect degree program. "That is what I love about Columbus State-everyone was so helpful. It was amazing. Mokie and Dick were awesome. And now I know someone else who's thinking of taking the same courses and getting this same degree because it's so perfect!"

First in Students: Columbus State now the largest community college in Ohio

Columbus State now the largest community college in Ohio; third largest among all colleges and universities in the state.

With 24,237 students, Columbus State has become Ohio's largest community college.

The Ohio Board of Regents released the rankings October 22. Columbus State has also risen to No. 3 in enrollment among all Ohio colleges and universities, trailing only The Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati.

There are now more freshman and sophomore students at Columbus State than at any other college or university in Ohio.

Autumn quarter enrollment at Columbus State grew by 5.8 percent this year over the 22,913 students attending the college at the same point last autumn. Columbus State's enrollment increase of 1,324 students topped all other colleges and universities in Ohio.

"We were thrilled to see these results," said Columbus State President Valeriana Moeller. "Many people at this college have been working very innovatively to make college more accessible and to meet the goals that Governor Strickland and Chancellor Fingerhut have set for higher education in Ohio."

She added, "We work hard to give students what they want: highly respected programs, small classes, individual attention, convenient courses, and very affordable tuition."

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A Family Celebration: CSCC marks biggest-ever graduation

The crowd came to its feet as the graduates - the largest graduating class in Columbus State history - came marching in.

The crowded auditorium became a sea of waving hands as family members found their graduates. The hall filled with whoops of jubilation and at least one air horn.

This wasn't some stuffy college ceremony. This was a family celebration.

Columbus State's Spring 2008 graduation took place June 13 at Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, and it was the college's biggest yet. A record 741 students petitioned to graduate, 184 of them with honors. Hundreds attended the ceremony - and they all brought friends.

The family of Chantal James came in 20 strong. Her twin children, O'Zyon and Zachariah, waved ribbons and cheered as their mother received an associate of science degree. In addition to her husband and children, Tracy Gale Thornton's brother and his family came in from Dayton to see her receive an associate degree in Business Management.

Husband James often handled their kids by himself while Tracy was studying, but he says it was all worth it. Her brother, Tryvan Leech Sr., said he'd seen Tracy's confidence level increase. Keely Schmidt got a rousing cheer from a dozen of her relatives and well-wishers as she received her degree in Early Childhood Education. Keely's mother, Sue, said Keely started as a nanny and decided to make child care her career.

"She's going to do great," Sue said. "She's always wanted to work with children." The keynote speaker, Chancellor Eric Fingerhut, said he could feel the energy from the podium. As chancellor, Fingerhut leads the Ohio Board of Regents and helps set policy for higher education in the state.

"I have never felt as much joy (at a graduation) as I do today," Fingerhut said. Fingerhut implored the new graduates to stay and put their degrees to work in Ohio. The class of 2008 won't just be getting jobs, Fingerhut said they'd be creating the jobs of the future. This year's graduates got where they are by believing in themselves and working hard, said Jennifer Uhl, who gave the student address. Uhl grew up with severe asthma, and always wanted to be a respiratory therapist. But when she got out of high school, she decided to postpone higher education.

That changed when she was 34, and she had a conversation with her father. "He said, 'If you want to do this, do it now and don't wait," Uhl said. She graduated the Respiratory Therapy program with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

President Val Moeller noted that Spring graduation fell on Friday the 13th this year. But she said the graduates have made their own luck. "It's rare that you find success," Moeller told the graduates. "You make success."

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Excavation under Delaware Hall reveals bits of history

As the construction and renovation proceeds in the lower level of Delaware Hall, some small pieces of history are slowly being revealed. Eric McMillon, project manager in Facilities Planning, reports that old foundations from former residences that lined Grove Street are now being unearthed as the floor of the old Bookstore is excavated.

Delaware Hall was completed in 1976, long after homes and some businesses had been demolished along Grove Street, Washington Avenue and Mt. Vernon Avenue. The three city streets had cut right through where the campus now stands.

The lower levels of Delaware Hall are currently under construction to renovate the space occupied by the Bookstore to accommodate new offices for Public Safety and new fitness and recreation facilities. The project is expected to be completed in 2009.

Photo: Top, While digging underneath the floor of the Bookstore in Delaware Hall, construction workers began to unearth foundation work from the original residences along Grove Street.
Bottom: In a campus photo taken in the late 60s when only four buildings comprised the CTI campus, Mt. Vernon Avenue and Grove Street are seen lined with residences and some businesses.

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$3 million scholarship program designed to bring adult students back to college

Board of Trustees meeting May 22, President Moeller announced the creation of a program that will provide $1,000 scholarships to 1,000 new students age 25 or older for each of the next three years.

The program will be funded with $3 million that became available when college enrollment for winter and spring quarters greatly exceeded expectations. The "Think Again" scholarship program will be the largest scholarship initiative in the 44-year history of the college.

The majority of the funding will be used to provide $1,000 scholarships to new students who either have never been to college or who do not have a degree and have not attended college during the past year.

Columbus State is seeking matching funds from private sources to expand - and possibly double - the number of students served and the overall length of this innovative program.

Ohio's new strategic plan for higher education calls for a 105 percent increase in the number of college students age 25 and older. "This program is a direct response to Ohio's strategic plan," Dr. Moeller said. "Community colleges have been serving adult students for many years, and this is a giant step to expand our efforts to help adults who may have thought they missed their chance to go to college."

Students who are interested in the scholarship must first apply for admission to Columbus State, which they can do online at www.cscc.edu.

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