The Child Development Lab School at the Plano Campus (Spring Creek) was one of three National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accredited programs selected for the NAEYC accreditation tour during the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children state conference held in Frisco, Sept. 26-28. The lab school was selected based on the following: NAEYC accreditation for almost 30 years; being a unique program that serves as a learning site for future teachers, as well as 30 children; and a reputation as a quality program. Congratulations to Child Development Lab Director Barbara Batista and her staff on this honor.
The Plano Campus Political Science Department sponsored activities for Constitution Day, Sept. 17. Pocket Constitutions were offered for free for students. The Library had a table with books and makerspace material, and popcorn and hot dogs were provided to students for free. Comment boards were also available for students to respond to questions relating to the Constitution. More than 250 students enjoyed a free lunch provided by the Political Science faculty and the activities. That evening, Dr. H. W. Brands, Professor of History at the University of Texas at Austin, spoke to an overflow crowd of more than 200 in the Living Legends Conference Center on the topic of “Two Centuries of the Constitution.”
The Collin College Police Department, under the leadership of Officer Janice Vanover, hosted a successful National Night Out at the Plano Campus, Oct. 1. The event included a cookout, karaoke contests, inflatables, a dunk tank and many more activities designed to introduce the Collin College community to the district’s police department and provide safety information to attendees. More than 450 people came to the event with 344 Collin College faculty/staff/students and 110 community members attending. The Police Department collaborated with Intramurals, Student Engagement and Emergency Management to host the annual event, which was moved from student housing this year to offer greater visibility and activities.
Samiha Wafi Sharif, a former student at Collin College, will be published in Phi Theta Kappa’s 2019 issue of Nota Bene, a national literary journal. Her article, “The Maternal Mortality Rate in Texas,” was one of 26 chosen for the honor. Nota Bene showcases the outstanding writing of Phi Theta Kappa members. More than 550 entries were submitted to the 2019 competition, which is judged by current and retired college faculty and staff from across the country. The digital issue will be available on ptk.org this winter.
Dr. Terry Hockenbrough has been selected to serve on the McKinney mayor’s task force on homelessness.
Fire Science Program Director Pat McAuliff and Dental Hygiene Professor Kandice Swarthout oversaw student presentations at the Plano International Festival and Wellness Fair, Oct. 12. Dental Hygiene students were on hand to promote proper dental care and services offered at Collin’s Dental Clinic. Fire Academy students promoted fire safety in the home and demonstrated the use of portable fire extinguishers. Participants used the laser-driven electronic fire extinguisher simulation system for realistic fire safety education training.
Collin College has been honored with the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 22nd year in a row. Awarded by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA), the certificate is the highest form of recognition offered in governmental accounting and financial reporting. The honor is based on an organization’s comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR), which is judged by an impartial panel to determine if it meets the industry’s highest standards, including clear communication of the organization’s financial story. Thank you and congratulations to Chief Financial Officer Steve Bassett, Associate Vice President Julie Bradley, Associate Vice President Barbara Johnston, and all of the members of Collin’s Administrative Services department on this honor, and on continuing to uphold the level of financial services which have led to more than two decades worth of recognition.
John Cline, Adjunct Professor of Speech, was invited to present “Finding Your Authentic Voice: Public Speaking Is the Most Common Trait Among Successful People” at the National Leadership Summit for the National Society of Collegiate Scholars in Washington, D.C.
The Collin College Libraries celebrated Banned Books Week by conducting banned book scavenger hunts on each campus. Students checked Collin library social media accounts and followed clues guiding them to the banned books. Each campus had between four and five books a day. On Sept. 25, each campus had a celebration and gave away free slices from cakes decorated to look like banned books titles. The cakes were decorated and donated by the Cake Decorating I class at Frisco Campus. New McKinney Campus Vice President/Provost Mark Smith cut cake for the students as part of his first day at the college. A Banned Books Display also had original art work for each title created by Reference Associate Robin Horst.
Professor Diana Gingo hosted a Banned Books event on the Frisco campus with about 300 in attendance. Professors Lisa Forrester, Rhonda Lewis, Alaya Swann, Serena Richards, and Brittany Moore assisted; Professor Lauryn Angel volunteered as a reader.
The McKinney Campus Makerspace worked with chemistry faculty to create 3D-printed objects for the International Year of the Periodic Table celebration. The celebration will be at the McKinney Campus, Oct. 23. The Makerspace has worked on various types of handouts, i.e. key chains shaped like atoms, robot key chains, pencil holders, and other items, to be presented to the participants and visitors.
Marta Moore, Professor of English and Humanities recently presented her paper, “Ornaments of Pain and Survival: Central European History, Literature, and Film,” at Oxford University. The paper was published by Brill in June.
Vijay Advani, Professor of American Sign Language, received an “Outstanding Achievement Award” by the Texas Association of the Deaf in recognition of outstanding performance and dedication.
Rachel Gunter, History Professor, published a book review in the Journal of Southern History on “Arkansas Women: Their Lives, Their Times.” Read it at https://muse.jhu.edu/article/730910 .
Adrienne Caughfield, History Professor, presented “Mary Austin Holley’s Emigrants’ Guide to Texas” at the Save History Symposium in Austin, Sept. 14. The symposium is organized by the Texas General Land Office.
Chad Pearson, History Professor, presented a paper at the British Academy of Management Conference in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Levi Bryant’s second book, The Democracy of Objects, was translated into Russian and published by Hyle Press.
Rachel Walker, Professor of Political Science, was selected to serve as one of the two co-chairs for the American Political Science Association Community College Caucus and elected to a position on the executive committee of the Political Science Education Organized Section of the American Political Science Association.
The Aga Khan Council for Central United States presents its exhibition “Transforming Cities, Transforming Lives: Historic Cities Programme” in the atrium of Building J on the Frisco campus. This is an exhibition of 27 regeneration projects from nine countries that demonstrate how culture can have a positive impact well beyond conservation. These projects promote good governance, growth of civil society, rise in incomes and economic opportunities, greater respect for human rights, and better stewardship of the environment — even in the poorest and most remote areas of the globe. The exhibition is free and open to the public through Nov. 9.
Professor Dianne Stroman had a manuscript she co-authored accepted for publication in the journal Rangeland Ecology and Management. The article is titled “Landowner Perceptions of Legal Liability for Using Prescribed Fire in the Southern Plains, USA.”
Chef Ron Reczek attended Dallas Chocolate Festival as “opening shift” faculty, showcasing our pastry students’ work and providing student experience in guest service. He also executed the off-site American Culinary Federation Chef Fest event at Hyatt Reunion Tower in Dallas with nine students serving 260 guests for the ACF fundraising and charity support event.
Dean Karen Musa was selected to serve on the City of Allen Convention & Visitors Bureau Advisory Board.
Open Doors Open Minds hosted a panel discussion by the director, two actors and cinematographer from the Amazon streaming series #Washed, which films in Dallas and boasts an all African American cast. The show deals with the issue of having a “quarter life crisis,” not knowing exactly how to move forward when your dreams are not coming true in your late twenties. The artists discussed ideas of creative collaboration, minority and gender representation in media and the “business” side of artistic endeavors. Students asked many questions and several signed up to be extras in an episode of the next season. The program drew over 120 students and community members to the McKinney campus. Open Doors Open Minds’ objective is to celebrate the variety of people that McKinney Campus serves and to educate the community about the people they encounter.