Spring 2016 - Metropolitan Community College

MORE THAN
A GREAT START.
#BeMoreAtMCC
kickstart
your future
MCC College & Career Night for Adult Learners Tues., May 24, 6-8 p.m. in the Education Center
Dual Enrollment Information Session Thurs., May 26, 3-4:30 p.m. in the Enrollment Center
PREP-KC Summer Bridge Experience June 6-10 from 8:30 a.m.-Noon
Cultural Arts Center, Room 116
Kick Start Event Sat., June 11, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Campus Center
Automotive Visit Day Thurs., June 16, 3-4:30 p.m. in the High Technology Building
500 SW Longview Rd., Lee’s Summit, MO, 64081
mcckc.edu/longview | 816.604.1000
MCC-LONGVIEW
mcckc.edu/longview
Spring 2016
End of semester report
Look Around,
Get Involved
As another semester draws to a close,
it’s time to reflect on all the wonderful
things happening on our campus, even
if they go by in a flurry. I am so proud
of all the students, faculty, staff, and
even the community at large for making
MCC-Longview such a rich and vibrant
campus.
In this issue of the End-of-Semester
Report, you will read about just some
of the people and programs that make
MCC-Longview such a terrific ­campus.
For example, we ­continued our ­annual
spring ­homecoming ­tradition of ­inviting
the community to attend our ­convocation. This year, we hosted the author of
Longview’s common read ­project, Will Allen. Additionally, we kicked off our
­inaugural Art in Bloom event at the ­Cultural Arts Center where we raised money
for various initiatives. And, of course, we held our annual Flights of Fancy Mega
Kite Festival. Thankfully, the weather was perfect and a good time was enjoyed
by the more than 30,000 people who attended.
Spring is all about transformation. And as the trees sprout new leaves and
­flowers come into bloom, so do our students. Whether it be the hundreds of
graduates who walked across the stage during commencement May 12, or
the troves of ­community members connecting to Longview through community
education, students continue to attend Longview because of the transformative
power of education.
It’s my honor to serve this campus and community. From the staff, faculty and
administrators of MCC-Longview, we welcome you to experience our campus
and thank you for your support.
Kirk A. Nooks, Ed.D., President
MCC-Longview
Missouri Innovation ,
Campus Will Be Nation s
First of its Kind
Ground was recently broken for a new building that will be home to the
­Summit Technology Academy, the Missouri Innovation Campus and a local
UCM campus.
The ceremony for the new facility took place March 10, with the new facility
scheduled to open in August 2017.
The $40 million bond issue, approved by close to 80 percent of voters,
is funding construction of the new Summit Tech/MIC as well as facility
­improvements at each Lee’s Summit R-7 school.
MCC-Longview Twice Nominated
for National Futures Assembly Award
Left to right: (Back) Kirk Nooks, MCC-Longview president; Jeffrey Dillon); Jason Cain; Jansen Morby; Joseph Davis; (Front) Isaac McGee; Colby Huser.
For a second year, the Missouri ­Innovation Campus in Lee’s Summit was a ­finalist
for a prestigious national award that ­recognizes trend-setting community ­college
programs.
Ten finalists and one winner in three c­ ategories were announced Jan. 26
at the University of Florida’s Community College Futures Assembly conference
in Orlando, Florida.
The new space will be located on 15 acres adjacent to the Summit
­Technology Campus, the ­business complex currently housing Summit
Tech/MIC in leased space.
The Missouri Innovation Campus was honored as a finalist in the workforce
development category, as it was in 2015. The other two categories: instructional
programs and services, and planning, governance and finance.
The Missouri Innovation Campus program is a collaboration of
MCC-Longview, the R-7 district and the University of Central Missouri
(UCM). The program, focused on the STEM fields (science, technology,
­engineering and math), provides an opportunity for students to earn a
four-year degree two years after high school.
A team including MCC Board of Trustees president David Disney and
­MCC-Longview president Dr. Kirk Nooks made a presentation about the
­innovation campus at the CCFA conference.
Lee’s Summit R-7 will pay for about 40 percent of the new facility, with UCM
paying the remaining 60 percent. R-7 will be the sole owner of the facility,
which will house Summit Tech/Missouri Innovation Campus as well as UCM
programs currently located in the UCM Summit Center Campus.
workforce development best practice,” Nooks said. “It is an honor to be included
in this elite circle of institutions.”
The innovation campus program not only accelerates the time it takes to ­graduate
from college — and dramatically reduces the cost — but it also gives students
paid internships in high-tech fields.
About 70 high school students from several districts are currently enrolled. MIC’s
three tracks are systems engineering technology, drafting and design technology,
and software design.
A fourth degree program, cyber security, will be o­ ffered starting in the summer of
2016.
MCC’s leadership regarding the Missouri Innovation Campus program first
earned national attention in July 2013, when President Obama praised it during
a visit to the UCM campus.
“This partnership has garnered local and regional attention, and it speaks
volumes that it has now been recognized two years in a row as a national Top 10
1
Angela Bahner
Ron Baker
Will Allen
Common Read Project Talks Good Food
and Healthy Communities
Capital Campaign Supports
Student Success, Campus Beautification
MCC-Longview has launched a fundraising initiative aimed to improve student
success while sprucing up the campus. This localized initiative is part of a MCC
college wide, major gifts campaign called MCC Works, and includes four big
projects.
will establish better community ­policing. Through this initiative, Longview and
the City of Grandview will ­develop ­internships, p­ racticums and other e­ xperiential
learning projects with the ­Grandview Police Department. Students who p­ articipate
will become engaged and prepared to become community minded police officers.
Providing Longview students with convenient, efficient and innovative support
services is critical for helping them to earning a degree. Through this f­undraising
effort, Longview plans to co-locate support services by reconfiguring existing
space to improve the delivery of vital student support services.
Residents of Longview’s service area have proven themselves strong patrons of
the arts, and so has Longview. Developing a Cultural Arts Fund through the MCC
Works campaign would promote and strengthen not only the programing at the
Cultural Arts center, put partnerships with local agencies and schools – giving
students who may not be able to afford it a
chance to experience cultural arts.
“By creating a seamless environment
­focused on the student experience, we’ll be
able to increase student engagement and
persistence,” said Kirk Nooks, president of
MCC-Longview. “In turn, this will improve
opportunities for more MCC students and
provide a greater number of highly skilled
graduates.”
“Move Toward the Badge” is another
­initiative that not only supports student
­success, but also fosters partnerships that
2
The final project of the campaign is titled
“Benches of Longview”. This project is
a fund raiser designed to beautify the
campus while providing scholarship funds
for students. For a small donation, patrons
can choose from one of 18 benches on
­campus and a local artist will decorate
it. Each bench will feature an engraved
nameplate, and the donor will be listed as
a “Friend of the College”
The annual Common Read and Convocation has quickly become a staple
event for MCC-Longview and the community at large. Students, faculty, staff
and ­citizens from around our service area read Will Allen’s “The Good Food
­Revolution: Growing Healthy Food, People, and Communities.”
A committee of MCC-Longview faculty chose the book for this year’s campus and
community-wide read. The book discusses how, despite financial challenges and
daunting odds, Allen built the country’s preeminent urban farm — a food and
­educational center that now produces enough vegetables and fish year-round to
feed thousands of people.
Employing young people from Milwaukee’s neighboring housing project and
­community, Growing Power Inc. has sought to prove that local food systems
can help troubled youths, dismantle racism, create jobs, bring urban and rural
­communities closer together, and improve public health.
Today, Allen’s organization helps develop community food systems nationwide.
Allen is the founder and CEO of Growing Power, a not-for-profit center for urban
­agriculture training and building community food security systems . A member
of the Clinton Global Initiative, he was invited to the White House to join first lady
Michelle Obama in launching “Let’s Move!,” her initiative to reverse the epidemic
of ­childhood obesity in America.
We had the opportunity to hear from the author on April 19, when he spoke at
our Spring Convocation at the Pavilion at John Knox Village. Earlier that day Allen
took part in a Q&A with classes that read his book, and he had lunch with a small
group of students and staff members.
The event was sponsored by The Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City,
John Knox Village, St. Luke’s Hospital East, Downtown Lee’s Summit Farmers
Market, MCC FOCUS and the Mid-Continent Public Library.
Homecoming Retiree Reception
The 2016 MCC-Longview Retiree Reception on April 20 gave all of us a chance to thank the
many faculty and staff that came before us, and helped to make H
­ omecoming week such
a success. It has become a tradition for retired faculty to come back and celebrate with the
­current educators and to re-connect, reminisce and rejoice. This year, 25 retirees returned ­to
campus for the celebration
Sharon Pyant organizes the reception each year and says it is one of the most g­ ratifying events
to see come to fruition.
“I so much enjoy seeing the teachers and staff return to be honored each year. They love to see
and hear about all the current programs and achievements at Longview, and I know our current
faculty loves to see them return and to be c­ elebrated.”
Honorees for this traditional event included Automotive Faculty Member Ed S­ chauffler. Schaffler
spent 26 years at Longview and is leaving behind a legacy where he played an instrumental
role in career and technical education.
3
Flights of Fancy
Mega Kite Festival
The annual MCC-Longview Flights of Fancy Kite Festival was
one of the a­ nchor events of the 2016 ­Homecoming week.
Hundreds of ­beautiful kites and their creators flooded the
grounds ­Saturday, April 16, in front of the Longview campus.
Kite Festival coordinator Tami ­Morrow said this year’s event
was highly ­anticipated by the community.
“After the 2015 Kite Festival had to be canceled due to
­inclement weather, ­everyone was clamoring for a ­spectacular
event this year,” Morrow said.
Thankfully, the weather was perfect and more than 30,000
people attended the event, which set a new attendance
record.
Flights of Fancy wouldn’t be possible without the help
of sponsors. This year’s sponsors included:
• 91.9 FM
• 97.3 FM
• Hawthorn Bank
• The City of Lee’s Summit
• Faith Outreach Foundation
• RED
• Mid-Continent Library
• Paradise Park
• US Bank
• State Farm Bruce Holiman
• APW
• Tungsten Rings & Co.
• Lee’s Summit Arts Council
• Anthony Plumbing
• Truman Medical Centers
• Gale Communities
• Truman Heartland
Foundation
• The Kansas City Star
• Professional
Employment Group
• Renewal by Andersen
• Titanium Kay
Art in Bloom Alumni
& Friends of the College Reception
MCC-Longview kicked off the first ever art auction to raise money for student
enrichment. Dubbed “Art in Bloom”, this event raised money to bring events
to the Cultural Arts Center.
MCC-Longview alumni and community members attended this special r­ eception,
which was held April 20. The Art in Bloom event combined spring-themed ­
visual art with the flora of the season. A silent auction helped raise funds for
the ­MCC-Longview Cultural Arts Fund and campus scholarships.
“This event not only offered our community another reason to visit the Cultural Arts
Center, it gave people a chance to appreciate local artists while showing financial
support for our students,” said Ryan Morehead a Longview staffer who coordinates
the Cultural Arts Center.
Art In Bloom was made possible with the help
of these local artists and florists.
Florists: Wildhill Flowers, Monarch Flower Co., Andrea Grist Floral Designs,
Hitched Planning + Floral, Sidelines Floral, All-a-Bloom, Five Petals, Hy-Vee,
Licata’s Flowers and Alissa’s Flowers
Artists: Carole Gray, Ashley Corbello, Megan Leong, Darla Zook, Teresa Keene,
Erelene Flowers and Barbara Neth
2016 Laker Baseball
Earth Day took place April 22, but MCC-Longview students
honored the Earth and our environment the entire week.
More than 80 new plants ­arrived on the MCC-Longview
campus during Earth Week.
Thirty of the plants were a variety of cherry tomatoes
that students were invited to take home and transplant,
in the spirit of urban gardening and the “The Good Food
­Revolution.”
The remaining plants were used for planting in containers
on the patio area of the lower level of the Campus Center.
Those plants included fennel, carrots, peppers and kale.
Students assisted in the planting and maintenance of these
plants. There were o­ ther exciting Earth Week a­ ctivities
such as displays about Longview recycling s­ uccess and
­community resources such as Bridging the Gap and
­Raytown ­Emergency Assistance Program.
Longview Students Celebrate Earth Day
4
It’s been a good season for MCC-Longview Baseball. The Lakers, so far, are 2­ 5-25
going into the final games in May. Sophomore right fielder and catcher Nate
Hunter lead the team with 18 home runs and 65 RBIs. His batting average is .396
with an on base percentage of .439. As of press time, the Lakers are Region XVI
­champions and working their way to the Junior College World Series.
Sophomore Sam Capps lead the team in pitching. In 48 innings, he threw 52
strikeouts. He also contributed with 13 double plays and one of the highest fielding
percentages on the team.
While there are leaders on the Lakers, the team’s skipper attributes its success to
good teamwork.
“Our team is like a family. We work hard and play hard together,” Culbertson said.
“We look forward to honing all of the talent on this team and putting up winning
numbers in 2017. Thanks to everyone for showing the Laker pride.”
5
SkillsUSA Chapter Takes Top Honors
The Longview winners, all in the automotive program, were:
• Jonathan Robertson: gold in Automotive Service Technology,
both written and hands on
• Noah Jurgensmeyer: silver in Automotive Service Technology,
both written and hands on
• Quinn Kielty: gold in Job Skill Demonstration
• Tessa Brosam: silver in both Technical Spelling
and Mobile Electronics Installation
Six MCC students, four from Longview and two from the Business & ­Technology
campus, brought home 10 awards from the SkillsUSA Missouri State
­Championships in early April.
“This small group of students proved that MCC career and technical education
­programs are preparing students to compete not only in settings such as SkillsUSA
but in a very competitive job market as well,” says MCC-Longview automotive
coordinator David Patience
Spring Job Fair 2016
MCC-Longview and the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce hosted the 10th annual
Job Fair on March 2. The Job Fair was open to all, as MCC students and the entire
community were welcome to attend and participate. Job seekers dressed for success
and came prepared with plenty of quality resumes.
With an improving economy, the Job Fair continues to see growth. Linda Anderson,
MCC-Longview coordinator of career services, says this year proved to be even more
successful than in past years.
“Each year we see growth. Not only do more students and job seekers within the
­community attend the fair, but the number of employers looking to add to their forces
has also been increasing.”
Once again, due to hard work and dedication from its members, the
­MCC-Longview chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society is a 5 Star
Chapter, the highest ranking that a chapter can receive.
PTK members had a very busy semester. Students participated in a
Skate Night fundraiser, an Honor in Action Banquet, national and regional
­conferences, a Completing College Awareness Event, a Battered Women’s
Resource Drive and a time management seminar, to name just a few.
Two MCC-Longview students received state honors. Chantal Ndifor was
named to PTK’s All-Missouri Second Team, which came with a $400
­scholarship, and Leslie Reed was named to the All-Missouri Third Team,
which included a $275 scholarship. Congratulations.
The society added three new advisors this year – Ashley Swanson-Hoy,
Diana Carpenter and Neil Dryden
6
Project
Blue River Rescue
More than 40 employers were on hand to discuss candidate credentials and o­ ffer
positions, from full time to internships. More than 250 students and community
­members also attended.
Participating employers included Aramark, Kauffman Stadium, Cartwright International
Van Lines, Cerner Corp., Children’s Mercy Hospital, DST Systems, Ameristar Casinos,
Freightquote, GEHA, HCA MidAmerican Division, Jefferson Healthcare, John Knox
Village, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Lee’s Summit Chamber, Lee’s Summit R-7
Schools, Mid-Continent Library, Weed Man and State Street.
E Claud Shaffer Scholarships 2016*
Lee’s Summit High School
• Tommye Koontz
• Daniel Sytkowski
Lee’s Summit West High School
• Caitlin Cook
• Haley Estes
Lee’s Summit North High School
• Trent Schreckler
• Hannah Stewart
Summit Christian Academy
• Caleb Robert Dean
*$7,000 in scholarships sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lee’s Summit
Keet Kopecky’s biology classes have volunteered at Project Blue River R­ escue
every year for the past 25 years. 2016 marks the 26th year. We are the
longest-­participating group. We are the only founding volunteer organization
still ­participating in the annual event.
Project Blue River Rescue is the largest, and one of the oldest, Missouri Stream
Team initiatives in the state. Hundreds of participants from across the Kansas City
metropolitan area take part. The MCC-Longview team is the largest group of volunteers, by far, with roughly 100 participants each year.
The Longview students participate as part of a service learning experience. Each
student gives back to the community while applying principles of ecology and
natural history learned in their General Biology class or their General Zoology
class. They plant trees, remove debris and stabilize the river bank along the Blue
River while they learn teamwork, conservation biology and the value of community
engagement
More than 70 MCC student members of Rotaract, a service club for young adults 18 to 30 sponsored
by Rotary, were very busy during the 2015-16 school year.
Rotaract members picked up trash at Longview Lake, coordinated a video game event in the Campus
­Center Café, participated in the Martin Luther King Day of Service by volunteering at the Langsford
Boys Home, recruited guest speakers for various Rotoract meetings, volunteered for Harvesters in its
warehouse facility, and are planning a 5K walk/run to raise money for the Kansas City Rescue Mission.
Rotaract sponsor Keith Stiffler said the MCC-Longview Rotaract students demonstrate the true
­meaning of service: “Our members follow the 4-Way Test. In everything they do, they ask themselves:
Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and friendships? Will it be beneficial to
all concerned? If our students can answer yes to this guiding test, then they are eager to roll up their
sleeves and get busy.”
7
Three kids, three MCC diplomas for Bell family
The email read: “Thank you to the Longview Administration, Faculty
and Staff for being such an important part of our children’s educational
journey! We are so grateful for the investment you made in each of their
lives.” It was signed “The Bell Family.”
Becky and husband Dennis’ two older children are already MCC
graduates. Her oldest, Lilly Bell Gall, started off at MCC-Longview
but ended up finishing her coursework at MCC-Penn Valley.
A little romantic twist to the family history there. Lilly met her
husband-to-be, B­ enjamin Gall, at college. Lilly graduated from Penn
Valley in 2011, Benjamin in 2014. Middle child David Bell graduated
from MCC-Longview in 2012.
Now that commencement is over, three Bell offspring have walked
across the stage to pick up their MCC diplomas. Mom Becky Bell
couldn’t be more thrilled. “I can’t tell you how much it’s meant to my
family,” she says.
Bell was so appreciative, she recently provided cake to the entire
behind-the-scenes forces at MCC-Longview. What’s more, she plans on Josiah Bell,
MCC-Longview Graduate
continuing to give back to the college. More on that later.
Her youngest son, Josiah, was the third of her children to enroll at MCC-Longview.
For the past nine years, at least one of the Bell kids has been in an MCC c­ lassroom.
Josiah graduated May 12.
“Rigorous coursework, very involved instructors, and the support services are just
stellar.” Those, Bell says, are the MCC attributes she says made it possible for her
clan to finish college.
She homeschooled her kids. Josiah was 15 when he took his first MCC class.
Smart kid? Yes. Now 19, Josiah has been active on campus since he began s­ erving
as a College 100 peer leader. He also served as a Presidential Fellow and a Writing
Studio tutor.
This year, he was president of True Colors, the LGBTQIA club on campus. J­ osiah
wants to pursue a teaching career and possibly work toward a position in c­ ommunity
college administration, focusing on student success.
Zoe Albright
Receives Missouri
,
Governor s Excellence
in Teaching Honor
MCC-Longview English instructor Zoe
­Albright is a 2016 recipient of the
­Governor’s Award for Excellence in
­Teaching.
At an event each April, the Missouri
­Community College Association honors
one deserving faculty member from
each of the state’s community college
­campuses.
Zoe Albright,
MCC-Longview Instructor
8
“I am very honored and humbled to have
been chosen for this honor,” Albright says.
Becky says all the Bell children are doing well. Josiah plans to transfer to ­Rockhurst University.
But here is where the story comes full circle. Becky works part time
at Longview in disability support services. She is also back in graduate school, thanks in part to the encouragement of MCC administrators.
“It’s so supportive, the whole MCC family, including in the higher a­ dministration. I just
don’t know where you find that in any any other institution.” She says Longview Dean
of Instruction Mindy McCallum connected her to Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic
Affairs Michel Hillman and, taking their advice, she has returned to class herself.
Bell ultimately wants to teach at MCC. “I want to invest in students and he there for
them,” she says.
In addition to the cake, the Bell family also made a donation to the MCC F­ oundation’s
Longview Emergency Student and Book Fund.
Two MCC-Longview Staff Members
­Contribute to ­Community
Leadership ­Programs
MCC-Longview is proud to have two staff members participating in community
­leadership programs: Tynisa Collins and Ebony Bowman.
Tynisa Collins is a student services specialist, and is enrolled in the South K­ ansas City
class, made up of participants whose companies are South Kansas City C
­ hamber of
Commerce members. The purpose of the class is to prepare and m
­ otivate ­potential
leaders for volunteer positions in the South Kansas City c­ ommunity and the
­metropolitan community at large.
2016
Award
Recipients
Academic Achievement
Honors Program
Outstanding Volleyball Athlete
Madison Blakely • Katrina Bocanegra • Max Brauninger
• Joseph Burkart • Patrick Caton • Zane Cook • Brian
Cox • Ryley Crabtree • Abby Crane • Jack Crane •
Jackson Daniel • Jennifer Davidson • Joseph Davis •
Michaela Dykstra • Matthew Feith • Nicole Forsberg •
Natan Garcia • Hanna V. Gatdula • Randall George •
Vale Gibson • Jonathan Goldsmith • Jessica Gough •
Seth Harper • Aysel Isgandarli • Noah Jurgensmeyer
• Christian Kweon • Caitlin Lamb • Michelle Landvik
• Kayla Lapointe • Jeffery Leath • Steven Lingle •
Michael Lucas • Moutasem Mansi • Bijad Mansouri •
Julianne Manuel • Kevin McMilian • Elizabeth Meares
• Christopher Meierarend • Khadiga Mohamed • Khoa
Ngo • Megan O’Brien • Lillian Odom • Julia Parker
• Sydney Perkins • Syndee Pointer • Amber Polina •
Faten Qakei • Sarah Raugewitz • Marissa Richardson •
Juan Rivera • Nancy Russell • Teresa Ryan • Mohammad Sabbagh • John Sifuentes • Stephen Walkup •
Elandria Walter • James Whitsitt Jr
Cole Upton
Bailey Jean Rexford
Crystal M. Field Award for Writing
Outstanding Student Leader
Jonathan Rizzo
Andrea Withrow
Shorelines
Outstanding Student Advocate
J.S. Allen • Jennie Brevitz • Laneisha Chase • Meg Hall
• Taylor Hall • Taylor Hall • Hayley Lapointe • Stacey
Legg • Julia Parker • Brenda Phillips • Dalton Smith •
Paola Solano • Marie Titcomb • Moriah Zacharias
Keith Kaster
Outstanding Student of Natural Science
Abby Crane
Outstanding Student of Engineering
Jordan Brunson
Outstanding Baseball Athlete
Nate Hunter
Outstanding Cross Country Athlete
Christopher Hull • Jessica Anetsburger • Quinn Kielty •
MCC Police Officer, Jennifer Nuss
Outstanding C
­ ontribution to the College
Student Annalise Padgett
Employee Gretchen Blythe • Bridget Gold
Outstanding ­Contribution
to a ­Special Interest Group
Student Gabriel Sutcliffe
Employee Ashley Swanson-Hoye
Erin Brownlee
Student Government President Continues Education in D.C.
This year he was Gordon Adolphson, student government president at
MCC-Longview.
scholarship program to pay for most of his MCC education.
Ask him to name a favorite instructor and he will — John Shively, a
“very knowledgeable” and “always approachable” political science
instructor — but “I had a lot of really great instructors” at Longview,
Adolphson says.
A few years down the road: Gordon Adolphson, U.S. senator?
That’s his plan, and if Phase 1 was the two years he served in
Longview’s Student Government Association (first as a senator), Phase
2 will be this summer. The day after picking up his a­ ssociate in arts
degree at MCC commencement, Adolphson headed to Washington.
But before he starts filibustering and such, Adolphson, 19, will
be a D.C. intern. He’s almost certain he’ll be working in the State
­Department, but he still has a couple of interviews before learning
where he’s placed.
Back to his political career, the plan is to get his bachelor’s degree,
decide between grad school and law school (or do both), join a
­political campaign or work on Capitol Hill (or both). Then at some
point get elected as, say, a prosecuting attorney.
Gordon Adolphson,
MCC-Longview Graduate
Ebony Bowman is program coordinator in MCC-Longview’s office of the president
and is enrolled in Leadership Lee’s Summit.
Then this fall he’ll start classes at George Washington University, a private liberal arts
school where he’ll major in political science and international affairs.
The program provides employees and residents of the area the opportunity to learn
more about civic, government and fun opportunities to become more involved.
GW, as it’s known, also happens to be where MCC-Longview President Dr. Kirk Nooks
earned his doctorate. Nooks wrote a letter on Adolphson’s behalf that really paid off
— that recommendation from an alumnus resulted in an $8,200-a-year scholarship.
Bowman is in a class with 25 other students who meet monthly to study a wide
­variety of topics ranging from history and culture to business and industry“I am
enjoying the experience greatly,” Bowman said.
Special Recognition For Saving a Life
“It’s the most valuable letter I’ve ever heard of in my entire life,” Adolphson marvels.
He had looked at pricey institutions like GW when he was a high school student at
Raymore-Peculiar, but ultimately he decided to take advantage of Missouri’s A+
And eventually run for, and retire from, the U.S. Senate.
Adolphson already has some inside knowledge about that gig. Last
fall he interned (for MCC credit) in the Kansas City office of Sen. Claire McCaskill, a
Democrat.
As for his own politics, “I’m very, very middle of the line,” he says, noting that
­Missouri is often considered a swing state.
And while Adolphson may be years away from courting your vote, he has already
learned the art of keeping his mouth shut. Trump vs. Clinton? “I don’t usually like
talking about the presidential nomination too much,” he says.
9
MORE THAN
A GREAT START.
#BeMoreAtMCC
kickstart
your future
MCC College & Career Night for Adult Learners Tues., May 24, 6-8 p.m. in the Education Center
Dual Enrollment Information Session Thurs., May 26, 3-4:30 p.m. in the Enrollment Center
PREP-KC Summer Bridge Experience June 6-10 from 8:30 a.m.-Noon
Cultural Arts Center, Room 116
Kick Start Event Sat., June 11, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Campus Center
Automotive Visit Day Thurs., June 16, 3-4:30 p.m. in the High Technology Building
500 SW Longview Rd., Lee’s Summit, MO, 64081
mcckc.edu/longview | 816.604.1000
MCC-LONGVIEW
mcckc.edu/longview
Spring 2016
End of semester report