The Collin Small Business Development Center assisted 252 clients with COVID-19-related questions from March 1-June 15. So far, Collin SBDC clients have received $16.2 million in COVID-19 relief. That figure breaks down to $13.5 million in assistance under the Paycheck Protection Program and $2.7 million through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. Those funds helped the companies retain 1,647 employees, meaning that they did not lose their jobs during the pandemic. The numbers of COVID-19-related questions continue to grow since more people now have questions on the reporting of their money.
The Collin County Historical Commission recognized History Professor Brett Adams in June for his work in preservation with the Excellence in Historical Education Award. The award recognizes individuals or organizations that have promoted historical education about Collin County “through teaching and/or preservation programs benefiting schools, community organizations, and/or the general public.” Adams was nominated for his Saturdays at the Museum lecture series at the Frisco Heritage Museum. The series is not limited to just Collin County, but this year Adams did a couple of presentations that were Frisco-based.
Dr. Bill King, Vice President/Provost of the Technical Campus, has been selected to serve on the Leadership Allen Fairview Steering Committee. Leadership Allen Fairview is a nine-month program “designed to identify, motivate, and develop business and community leaders who can contribute more effectively to the companies they work for and to instill a sense of community and the importance of volunteerism.”
The college’s Respiratory Care program achieved the Distinguished Registered Respiratory Therapist Credentialing Success Award from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care for the eighth consecutive year in May. Collin College is one of a few community colleges in the state to be recognized this many times.
The current COVID-19 pandemic made respiratory therapist hiring a priority for many hospitals and other health care providers. Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas hired six graduates of the Class of 2020 early in the Spring Semester, before students graduated.
Dr. Kimberly Head, of the CE Health Sciences department, has been appointed to the Texas Healthcare Advisory Council (THAC) Board of Directors as the Community Partners Committee Co-Chair. The Community Partners Committee serves as the liaison between THAC and community partners, such as educational professionals and non-profits. This committee’s mission is to connect experts who share a common interest in assisting and supporting families and children as it relates to healthcare resources.
Rebecca Burton and Suzanne Jones, both full time professors of Education, were elected to the Board of the Texas Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs. Burton was elected secretary and Jones was elected member-at-large for this region.
Suzanne Jones, professor of Education, was elected as secretary/treasurer of the Texas Faculty Association.
The National Poetry Month Committee hosted a virtual celebration of poetry in April in which students, faculty, staff, and community members created original poems and shared favorite poems by famous poets. Using the hashtag, #CollinNPM, participants created videos of their at-home poetry readings, book spine poems, magnetic poems, and more, and posted them on social media. The celebration also featured a virtual display (National Poetry Month Virtual Celebration) with original poetry, a poem of the day, poetry from our library collection, and trivia. To view any of the virtual poetry submissions, search for the official hashtag, #CollinNPM, on Twitter, Instagram, and/or Facebook. Be sure to watch student ventriloquist Landon Harvey read different poems with three of his puppets, dual credit student Maddie Perkins reflecting on graduation in the days of COVID-19, and a group reading of Emily Dickinson, featuring several students in an edited group video. The National Poetry Month Committee was Lisa Forrester, Terri Karlseng, Rhonda Lewis, Joan Mendez, Brittany Moore, Kim Nyman, Serena Richards, Alaya Swann, and Diana C. Gingo, Chair.
Congratulations to the all teams that competed in the Spring 2020 Wellness Challenge. They persevered through challenging times and maintained their fitness goals. This Spring’s top three teams are: First Place – McKinney Ninjas, Captain Richard Salas; Second Place – Fit and Active, Captain Jamie Brinkley; Third Place – Team EMS, Captain Tim Mock.