OZARKA COLLEGE NEWS

Ozarka College – Melbourne Set To Offer Welding Class (Click Here to View) Ozarka College - Melbourne will offer a beginning welding class at its Melbourne campus starting Jan. 24, 2012 as part of Continuing Education. The class will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6-9 p.m. for three weeks. The cost to attend the classes is $150. In the three weeks, students will learn basic metal theory, welding safety, proper personal protective equipment (PPE), basic welding skills, and the oxyfuel cutting process. Anyone interested in attending the course must contact Karen Overturf in the Vice President of Academic Affairs Office to request a Continuing Education form that must be returned completed by the start of the course. Overturf may be reached at 870-368-2005 or by email at koverturn@ozarka.edu.

 

OTHER OZARKA COLLEGE NEWS

Fafsa Fridays Scheduled To Give Students Financial Aid Jumpstart
Ozarka College Student Services will host FAFSA Fridays during April by offering free assistance from financial aid staff to students to help them complete the 2012-13 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.Students can visit the following locations on April 6, 13, 20, and 27 for help completing FAFSA forms:Melbourne – TRiO Computer Lab from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.Ash Flat – Room AF101 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.Mountain View – Resource Room 107 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.The service will be available to students on April 20 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Mammoth Spring campus.The FAFSA form is used by the College to determine a student’s complete financial aid package, which can include grants, scholarships, federal work-study programs, and federal loan assistance.Any student interested should bring their 2011 taxes, if they have been filed, all W-2 forms, and a FAFSA pin number. A pin number may be obtained by visiting www.pin.edu.gov.For more information, contact the Admissions Office at 870-368-2024.


Ozarka College Invites Students, Community To Spring Carnival
Ozarka College will be hosting its annual Spring Carnival Thursday, April 5 in the John E. Miller Education Complex on the Melbourne campus. The event will kick off at 4 p.m. and will last until 6 p.m. It is free to Ozarka College students, their families and the community.Games and activities will be available and include face painting, pick-up ducks, a photo booth, a beanbag toss, and a bounce house. The National Guard will be on hand with a basketball and football toss game that will set up outside of the Miller Education Complex.To promote alcohol awareness, a drunk goggle cart and drunk goggles will also be at the event. The Spring Carnival is funded in part by a grant received from the Arkansas Collegiate Drug Education Committee and in cooperation with the Izard County Hometown Health Coalition.For more information, please contact Mickey Freeze at Ozarka College at 870-368-2056 or by email at mickey.freeze@ozarka.edu.


2012 Graduation Information
The 2012 Ozarka College Commencement will be held Thursday, May 17 at 7 p.m. in the John E. Miller Auditorium. For students graduating, practice will be held in the John E. Miller Auditorium at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15. Graduates will meet in the Lecture Hall at 6 p.m. on the night of commencement. Caps and gowns may be picked up May 14-17 at the Ozarka College Bookstore. A photographer will be available in the Conference Room of the John E. Miller Education Complex prior to graduation from 5-6:30 p.m. as well as after the ceremony. Any student who graduated in December 2011, or who will be graduating with a degree or certificate this May, needs to complete the online Intent to Graduate form no later than Friday, April 13. Students may find the online form under the Courses tab in myOzarka, then by clicking on the Intent to Graduate link on the right hand side of the screen. The form will ask for the primary program the student will be graduating from. The students who intend to graduate from more than one program this semester, are asked to email the Registrar at zwilkerson@ozarka.edu with the second program they plan to graduate from. Also, beginning this academic year, Cum Laude and Magna Cum Laude honors will only be awarded for Associate degrees. For further information regarding Ozarka College 2012 Graduation ceremony, contact Ozarka College Registrar Zeda Wilkerson at 870-368-2028, or at the email address above.


Lauren Gray To Perform Benefit Concert For Ozarka College Foundation
Bad Boy Mowers, along with the Ozarka College Foundation, will present American Idol Top 40 contestant Lauren Gray at the Ozarka College – Melbourne campus on Thursday, April 12.The concert with be held in the John E. Miller Education Complex Auditorium and will begin at 7 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the Ozarka College Scholarship Fund.Gray, of Hardy, competed on American Idol earlier this year where she made her way into the Top 40. She was also chosen as one of four former contestants to go on the USO World Tour, which will begin in September.Tickets are on sale for $10 online at www.ozarka.edu and at all Ozarka College locations in Melbourne, Ash Flat, Mountain View, and Mammoth Spring. All First Community Bank locations will also have tickets available.For more information, please contact Hannah McWilliams, development and alumni relations officer, at 870-368-2060 or by email at hmcwilliams@ozarka.edu.


Cpi Locations And Times To Serve You In March
Career Pathways serves all four Ozarka sites. The Melbourne office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Brandy Shell is available daily to assist you with your CPI needs and questions.For more information about Career Pathways, read this month's newsletter here.


Connect Arkansas Presents First Quarterly Broadband Symposium Topic: Arkansas E-Link
Connect Arkansas Presents First Quarterly Broadband Symposium Topic: Arkansas e-Link Friday, March 16 at 11:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m. Available for viewing at the Melbourne campus in the Lecture Hall of the Miller Building and the Conference Room of the Administration Building. The symposium's panel will provide an update on the Arkansas e-Link initiative, which is connecting nearly 500 of the state's health care, higher education, public safety, and research institutions that are united in their needs for improved bandwidth and broadband-enabled equipment to better serve their communities. Panelist will include: · Debbie Green, Project Director – Arkansas e-Link · Mike Abbiatti, Executive Director – Arkansas Research and Educational Optical Network (ARE-ON) · Michael Manley, Outreach Director – UAMS Center for Distance Health The stream can be viewed via Livestream through the Arkansas Capital Corporation's website, http://arcapital.com or Connect Arkansas's new website, www.connect-arkansas.org.


Money Management Series
TRiO has partnered with Career Pathways and Financial Aid to host a Money Management Series Monday, March 12 through Thursday, March 15 at each of the four campuses. The areas the series will focus on include personal budgeting, scholarships, grants and loans, banking, interest and credit, and planning for college expenses. Each session is scheduled to last 30 minutes and is open to all Ozarka College students. For more information, contact Deltha Shell in TRiO at 870-368-2034. Monday: Mountain View: Personal budgeting by Kim Lovelace with Career Pathways; 11 a.m. in Room SC120 Ash Flat: Scholarships, Grants and Loans by Laura Lawrence with Financial Aid; 11 a.m. in Room AFSC104 Mammoth Spring: Banking Interest and Credit by Deltha Shell with TRiO; 11 a.m. in Room 102 Melbourne: Planning for College Expenses by Bryan Jeffery and Tracy Cone of TRiO; 11 a.m. in Room H109 Tuesday: Mountain View: Scholarships, Grants and Loans by Laura Lawrence with Financial Aid; 11 a.m. in Room AFSC104 Ash Flat: Personal budgeting by Kim Lovelace with Career Pathways; 11 a.m. in Room SC120 Mammoth Spring: Planning for College Expenses by Bryan Jeffery and Tracy Cone of TRiO; 11 a.m. in Room H109 Melbourne: Banking Interest and Credit by Deltha Shell with TRiO; 11 a.m. in Room 102 Wednesday: Mountain View: Banking Interest and Credit by Deltha Shell with TRiO; 11 a.m. in Room 102 Ash Flat: Planning for College Expenses by Bryan Jeffery and Tracy Cone of TRiO; 11 a.m. in Room H109 Mammoth Spring: Personal budgeting by Kim Lovelace with Career Pathways; 11 a.m. in Room SC120 Melbourne: Scholarships, Grants and Loans by Laura Lawrence with Financial Aid; 11 a.m. in Room AFSC104 Thursday: Mountain View: Planning for College Expenses by Bryan Jeffery and Tracy Cone of TRiO; 11 a.m. in Room H109 Ash Flat: Banking Interest and Credit by Deltha Shell with TRiO; 11 a.m. in Room 102 Mammoth Spring: Scholarships, Grants and Loans by Laura Lawrence with Financial Aid; 11 a.m. in Room AFSC104 Melbourne: Personal budgeting by Kim Lovelace with Career Pathways; 11 a.m. in Room SC120


Summer Registration Open At Ozarka College
Ozarka College is now registering current students for the upcoming Summer I and Summer II sessions. Any student who has successfully completed a semester at Ozarka College can register after meeting and planning their class schedules with their academic advisor; once registered, financial aid arrangements must be made. Any new or first time, full-time students may register for summer courses beginning March 12. Registration and orientation dates for the fall semester will be announced soon. Anyone planning to enroll as a new student at Ozarka College must take the ACT or Compass Exam. These test scores are required for placement in English, reading and mathematics. Compass testing is available by appointment. To schedule an appointment, call 870-368-2049 in Izard County, 870-269-5001 in Stone County, 870-994-4009 in Sharp County, 870-625-0411 in Fulton County, or toll free at 1-800-821-4335. A photo ID is required to take the test. Summer course schedules are available online at www.ozarka.eduor at any Ozark College location. To request a copy of the schedule or for more information, please call Admissions at 870-368-2024.


CNA Students Organizing On-Campus Health Fair
As part of a community service outreach project, Ozarka College certified nursing assistant students will host a mini health fair for students, faculty and staff on the Melbourne campus Monday, March 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the John E. Miller Education Complex lobby. Under the direction of instructor Dawn Fedor, students will learn through the process their role in shaping the health care delivery system and providing holistic care for their patients. Anyone who attends will be able to have their vital signs checked, which include blood pressure, heart rate and respirations. Additional educational materials will be available from local health care facilities. A few of the local agencies participating include Air Evac, Legacy Hospice, White River Medical Center, Horseshoe Health and Medicine, and more. All Ozarka College students, faculty and staff are invited to attend. For more information, contact CNA Coordinator Tamra Bevill at 870-368-2079 or by email at tbevill@ozarka.edu.


Ozarka Kids Academy To Host Ribbon-Cutting For Expansion Project
The Ozarka Kids Academy, 218 College Dr., will be hosting a ribbon-cutting in celebration of a recently completed expansion and renovation project on Friday, March 2 at 2 p.m. Refreshments will be served and the event is open to the public. The project has allowed the facility to increase total capacity from 45 children to 84 and was funded by a grant from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Support was also given by White River Planning and Development District, the City of Melbourne and Izard County. For more information about the event or to enroll a child, contact Karen Hall, Director, at 870-368-7868 or by email at khall@ozarka.edu or Hannah McWilliams in the Advancement Office at 870-368-2060 or by email at hmcwilliams@ozarka.edu.


Become Ozarka College's Next Academic All-Star!
The Arkansas Association of Two Year Colleges (AATYC) is once again offering the Academic All-Stars Scholarship Program to students of two year colleges in the state. One student from each college will receive the recognition, which includes a $500 scholarship for the Spring 2013 semester to attend Ozarka College. The purpose of this program is to recognize the scholarly and service achievements of Arkansas' two-year college students. Each Academic All-Star will be recognized at the AATYC All-Star Awards Brunch on Tuesday, Oct. 16 in Hot Springs, Ark. To be eligible for consideration, students must be an Arkansas resident, be currently enrolled at Ozarka College and expect to be enrolled at Ozarka College through at least Spring 2013, have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours in pursuit of an Associate's degree by June 1, 2012, have the intent to graduate from Ozarka College with an Associate's degree by Summer 2013, and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 in all credit coursework completed at Ozarka College. The deadline to apply is May 11. For more information, contact Ron Helm, Vice President of Student Services, at 870-368-2027 or by email at rhelm@ozarka.edu. Application packets are available in Student Services on the Melbourne campus and in the main offices at Ash Flat, Mountain View and Mammoth Spring.


Ozarka College Earns Fastest Growing Community College Recognition
Ozarka College was recently named by Community College Week one of the top 50 fastest growing community colleges with less than 2,500 students enrolled. Community College Week is an independent source of in-depth information for and about two-year college faculty, administrators and trustees. Established in 1988, it is published biweekly and distributed to two-year colleges across the United States. "Ozarka's rapid growth is a testament to our students realizing the importance of higher education so that they will be more marketable and better prepared to advance in their careers," said Ozarka College President Dr. Richard Dawe. "Our faculty and staff have done a remarkable job of meeting students' needs as we've increased enrollment, which is particularly impressive given relatively flat or declining state funding. Colleges, like Ozarka, have been impacted the most severely in recent years because we have fewer and fewer resources from the state to fund much larger numbers of students." During the Fall 2010 semester, Ozarka College saw record enrollment, reaching 1,573 students. The enrollment growth rate was also among the highest in the state for both four and two year institutions with a 25 percent increase in full-time equivalent (FTE) students. The increase in FTE students is an indicator that students are taking heavier course-loads to more quickly achieve their educational goals. Over the past year, the College has also been able to maintain its growth and continue to increase the number of students attending all four campuses. In order to accommodate the needs of students, the College completed the construction of a Student Center on the Mountain View campus in early August 2011 and is in the process of beginning an amphitheatre project. Ozarka College also recently completed a Facilities Master Plan for the Melbourne campus, which will provide a blueprint for future building and expansion projects to better serve the needs of the rapidly growing student population. To further benefit students, new programs have been planned and developed, including the recent addition of an Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice and Corrections. A four-year Business degree from Arkansas State University Jonesboro, facilitated on the Ozarka College campus, is also a new option for students, with additional Bachelor and Master degrees to be offered in the future.


Career Pathways To Host Employability Skills Conference
You are cordially invited to the 2012 "Get Hired!" Employability Skills Conference being hosted by Career Pathways and the Student Success Center. It will be held on Friday, March 9, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Lecture Hall of the John E. Miller Educational Complex at Melbourne. This conference is designed to prepare future Ozarka graduates to be successful applicants for employment in their chosen field. Featured will be nationally-known motivational speaker, Russ Riddle, from the Zig Ziglar Corporation, whose keynote address will be "Six Degrees of a HIRE Calling." You'll also have the opportunity to attend mini-workshop sessions on interview skills, professional communication and networking. Employers from the area will be on hand to share with you what they look for in a potential employee. Take advantage of this networking opportunity. For more information about this and other services offered by Career Pathways, check out the February newsletter: http://www.ozarka.edu/blogs/careerpathways/enclosures/CPI%20Newsletter%205%20Feb%202012.pdf


Ozarka College Continuing Education Offering Conversational Spanish Class
Ozarka College will offer a course in Conversational Spanish this semester as part of Continuing Education on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-7 p.m., Feb. 28 to April 3 on the Melbourne campus. The course will be taught by a skilled instructor and is designed to build conversational Spanish skills. Students will learn to converse in Spanish in a variety of social and cultural situations. Students are not required to have any previous Spanish skills to attend and books will be included. The cost to attend is $115 and the deadline to register is Feb. 24. Anyone interested in the course should contact Karen Overturf in the Vice President of Academic Affairs' Office to request a Continuing Education form to be completed prior to the course. She may be reached at 870-368-2005 or by email at koverturf@ozarka.edu.


Ozarka College Celebrates Black History Month
Black History Month is observed every February throughout the United States. We owe the celebration of Black History to Dr. Carter G. Woodson who was born to former slaves, worked in the Kentucky coal mines, and later went on to school and earned a Ph.D. from Harvard. Because he found very little representation of black Americans in the history books, he decided to take on the challenge of writing black Americans into the nation's history. In celebration of Black History Month, The Paul Weaver Library is joining many across the nation in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society. The Paul Weaver Library has many books on display of persons who have influenced black history, as well as a photo gallery of African Americans from all walks of life displayed on the upper balcony wall. There is a timeline of events on display that covers from 1527 up through the present day. Highlights include Jackie Robinson, the first black man to play major league baseball and the Rosa Parks incident. Included is a copy of Rosa Park's arrest warrant issued for "refusing to give her seat up on a bus for a white man, after a hard day's work." It was issued by the city of Montgomery, Ala. and has since become a symbol of the civil rights struggle. It is befitting that February, a month associated with love and caring, is a time when all Americans can celebrate the victories of African Americans. The Paul Weaver Library is honored to keep the dream alive into the 21st century.


Enrollment Remains Strong At Ozarka College
Official enrollment numbers have been released by Ozarka College following the eleventh day of classes showing stable enrollment for the spring semester. There are 1,567 students enrolled at the four campuses in Melbourne, Ash Flat, Mountain View, and Mammoth Spring compared to 1,570 enrolled a year ago. The Melbourne campus saw a 7 percent increase in students compared to last spring going from 443 students to 473. The Mammoth Spring site, only in its second year, grew 19 percent from last spring, sustaining enrollment for the year. While the Ash Flat and Mountain View campuses saw a slight dip in enrolled students since last spring, the numbers are consistent with fall 2011 enrollment numbers. "The fact that we had no significant decline in enrollment this semester while so many institutions across the state have declined significantly is very positive," said Ozarka College President Dr. Richard Dawe. "The decline that so many are experiencing is not entirely unexpected however. During the past two to three years we saw a dramatic increase in enrollment, not only at Ozarka but nationwide. Jobs were scarce and so many people went back to college to retool or advance their education. Now as many of those students have completed their studies and as the unemployment rate begins to decline, there are fewer students entering our education system." Ozarka College was recently named by Community College Week one of the top 50 fastest growing community colleges with less than 2,500 students enrolled after a 15 percent increase in students from Fall 2009 to Fall 2010. Community College Week is an independent source of in-depth information for and about two-year college faculty, administrators and trustees. Established in 1988, it is published biweekly and distributed to two-year colleges across the United States.


Ozarka College Continuing Education Offering Non-Destructive Testing-Penetrant Certification Class
Ozarka College will offer a Continuing Education certification course in Level II, non-destructive testing-penetrant March 13-15 from 6-10 p.m. on the Melbourne campus. The cost of the course is $600. The textbook is not included and costs an additional $25.60. It may be purchased at the first class meeting. Non-destructive testing (NDT) is a wide group of analysis techniques used in science and industry to evaluate the properties of materials, component or system without causing damage. NDT does not permanently alter the item being inspected, therefore making it a highly valuable technique that saves both time and money in product evaluation, troubleshooting and research. A Level II technician is someone who would be qualified to properly perform specific calibrations, specific NDT and specific evaluations for acceptance or rejection determinations. Level II's should be able to direct Level I technicians and report test results of NDT tests. This includes system set up, verification, standards check, process items, evaluation of results, and making determinations. NDT is used in a variety of settings that covers a wide range of industries. Some industries that employ NDT personnel include: automotive, aviation/aerospace, construction, maintenance, and manufacturing. Industrial plants using NDT include nuclear, petrochemical, refineries, pulp and paper, fabrication shops, and mine processing. Other subcategories include pipelines, railways, amusement parks, medical imagine, and bridges, to name a few. This is also a high employment career with job possibilities all over the United States. Surveys indicate there are 18 jobs for each technician graduated. Wages generally begin around $12 per hour, but can run $16-25 per hour depending on the method and experience. A person with an Associate's degree and five years experience usually averages $52,000 per year. After successful completion of this course, students will be eligible to take the Penetrant Certification Exams, which will also be offered by Ozarka College. The cost of the exam is $125. Anyone interested in taking the class can contact Karen Overturf in the Vice President for Academic Affairs' Office at 870-368-2005 or by email at koverturf@ozarka.edu to request a Continuing Education application that must be completed prior to the session. Applications and payment must be turned in by March 9.


Ozarka College Culinary Arts Second Gourmet Dinner Set For Feb. 16
The Ozarka College Culinary Arts Department will host the second Gourmet Dinner of this semester on Thursday, Feb. 16 from 5-8 p.m., offering a unique, fine-dining experience. Advanced Culinary Arts students are currently working on a menu that will be prepared and served under the direction of instructors Mimi Newsome and Eric Smith. Each semester, students host three Gourmet Dinners to gain real-world experience to better prepare them in their future careers. One more dinner will be hosted next month. The dinner will be served in the Culinary Arts Dining Room, located at the south entrance of the John E. Miller Education Complex at Ozarka College's main campus in Melbourne. Menus will be provided for entr`e selection and pricing will be listed. Dinner is by advanced, confirmed reservation only and seating is limited. Please contact the Culinary Arts Department at 870-368-2062 or 870-368-2061 to make reservations. Please leave a message with a call back number if there is no answer. A Culinary Arts instructor must confirm all reservations.


Ozarka College Releases President's, Vpaa's List
Ozarka College recently announced that 115 students have been named to the President's List and 84 students have been named to the Vice President of Academic Affairs' List for the Fall 2011 semester. To be eligible for the President's List, a student must be enrolled in at least 12 college credit hours, excluding developmental courses, not be on any type of probation and must have a minimum 4.0 grade point average. To be eligible for the Vice President of Academic Affairs' List, students must meet the same requirements, with the minimum grade point average of 3.5 being met. This is the first semester for the VPAA's List. Fulton County students on the President's List include: James Yarnell of Glencoe; Jessica Vest, Julia Shattuck, Emily Ragsdale, Jonathan Reed, and Margaret Reed of Mammoth Spring; Charles Worsham, Tina Boris, Andrea Pate, Esther Anderson, Valerie Samples, Edward Boris, Shelia Eubanks, Heather Bennett, Charity Schaufler, Joshua Coker, Samantha Corsaut, Anthony Stillwell, and Charmaine Coker of Salem; and Cammie Ritcheson of Viola. Izard County students on the President's List include: Jessica Beaudoin of Brockwell; Casey Townsend, Rylie Bevill, Brett Southard, and Hannah Teague of Calico Rock; Angela Sanders of Dolph; Debra Berkenes and Kathryn Reeves of Franklin; Yvette Grisham, Teresa Reeves-Little and Jason Ertle of Horseshoe Bend; Connie Conrad, Sarah Price, Jennifer Campbell, Eve Banning, Sara Lawrence, Kaylee Ables, Joni Knapp, Joseph Kruis, Brenton Tyson, Chelsea Vines, Amanda Treat, and Erica Jewett of Melbourne; Steffanie Evans of Mount Pleasant; Wilma Parker of Oxford; Lisa Schreiner of Sage; and Christina Delargy, Philisha Fountain and Misty Phipps of Wiseman. Sharp County students on the President's List include: Leah Burrus, Paul Stewart, Lisa Nunnally, and Elyssa Farr of Ash Flat; Brandy Stigall, Tara Barnett and Sarah Humphrey of Cave City; Samantha Redd, Cassandra Flynn, Lindy Brindley, Whitney Wakeham, Jennifer Hill, Cid Herlein, and Adam Askew of Cherokee Village; Susan Cross, Tammy Zeiger, Edith Elliott, and Raegan Groves of Hardy; and Margo Drinkard and April Weaver of Sidney. Stone County students on the President's List include: Whitney Jason and Alicia McIntire of Fifty-Six; Angela Johnson, Chasity Reamon and Connie Daum of Fox; and Sydney Halpain, Sherry Prichard, Vicky Payne, Kara Tibbits, Carita Jo Baird, Amber Sherer, Sterling Minick, Tiffany Wagler, Andrew Hayes, Michelle Vannatter, Daika Everett, Sarah Mickler, Pamela Webb, Leslie Mason, Anna Mickler, Patrick Ward, Austin Wilkie, Jerry Whitaker, Rebekah Ray, and Tiffany Eatherton of Mountain View; Abby Spinks of Pleasant Grove; and Margo Del Real, Gerry Goodin and Autumn Romine of Timbo. Other counties represented on the President's List include: Baxter County: Austin Horne of Gassville; Sherry Marcum of Mountain Home; Lisa Manuel and Marcia Helm of Norfork; and Lacey Turner of Prim; Independence County: Cheryl Sturdivant, Nicole Morris and Rachel Stone from Batesville; Lawrence County: Lindsey Dahm from Imboden; Amanda Diller from Ravenden; and Hanna Hunter from Smithville; Marion County: Patrick Kelley of Yellville; Oregon County, Mo: Tina Robertson of Thayer, Mo; Ozark County: Dawn Williams of Gainesville; Phillips County: Brie Engle of Marvell; Searcy County: James Suchland of Marshall; Van Buren County: Kara McBroom of Shirley. Fulton County students on the VPAA's List include: James Hoover of Camp; Kelsey Hopper, Megan Carney and Kimberely Mitchell of Mammoth Spring; Naomi Clingan and Amy Painter of Salem; and Garry Goodson of Sturkie. Izard County students on the VPAA's List include: Ryan Walker and Wesley Sylar of Brockwell; Jacob Moss, Matthew Townsend, Cheyenne Diaz, Kary Foster, and Christian Wiberg of Calico Rock; Jessie Conyers of Dolph; Christina Sirian, Regina Cagle and James Grisham of Horseshoe Bend; Charlotte Billingsley, Shonda Trewyn, Ronicia Smith, Ashley Sherrell, Kerri Smith, Kendra Woods, Timothy Overbey, Krystal Ramsey, and Timothy Guenther of Melbourne; Blake Conyers, Samantha Goodson, and Lynsey Ford of Mount Pleasant; Samantha Price of Sage; Liana Greenway of Violet Hill; and Gage Wolford of Wiseman. Sharp County students on the VPAA's List include: Alexandra Whitten, Courtney Moffett and Sarah Rapert of Ash Flat; Tonya Holt and Anthony Thacker of Cave City; William Lamb, Kaitlin Sellers, Lynette Stone, Tara Wise, and Jessica Cubillas of Cherokee Village; Megan Graddy and Samantha Walls of Evening Shade; Tiffany Dienst, Sophia Willcockson, Sherry Davis, and Jimmy Clouse of Hardy; and Kimberly Zeiger and Jerry Despain of Williford. Stone County students on the VPAA's List include: Kari Bearden and John Fitzgerald of Fox; Luke McMahan, Lachelle Green, Taylor Baldridge, Leandra Murray, Sandra Whitaker, Connie Wilson, Clinton Stanley, Jennifer Canard, Lyn Craig, Robert Burns, Marissa Richardson, Rex Vannatter, Willie Smith, Mary Burns, Paula Marshall, Iris Gomez, Joseph Everett, Rebecca Clark, and Sarai Aaron of Mountain View; and Audra Flether and Jennifer Gonzalez of Timbo. Other counties represented on the VPAA's list include: Baxter County: Tanya Woods of Mountain Home; from Cleburne County: Karen Ring of Edgemont; Craighead County: Gregory Simpson of Bono; Faulkner County: Christina Patton of Conway; Independence County; Cortney Goodwin and Kaila Dunegan of Batesville; Van Buren County: Leeone Gilland of Clinton; Joshua Huie of Dennard; Heather Holland of Shirley; and Lisa Smith of Dalzell, S.C.


Ozarka Kids Academy Expanding, Accepting New Children
The Ozarka Kids Academy, located in Melbourne, is nearing the completion of an expansion and renovation project that will allow the daycare to accommodate additional children. Currently, the Kids Academy can have 45 children enrolled, but with the completion of the project, they will be licensed to enroll up to 84 children. It is expected that new children will be able to start attending in mid-March. "The new addition is the result of collaboration between Ozarka, the City of Melbourne and Izard County officials," said Ozarka College President Dr. Richard Dawe. "We are all very pleased that this grant funded project will allow us to serve many more families and children in the Melbourne area." The facility is licensed by the Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education. The daycare was established in 1997 and serves children 6 weeks to 5 years of age. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. The Ozarka Kids Academy is operated by a director and licensed child-care providers. Anyone interested in having a child attend Ozarka Kids Academy should contact Karen Hall, Director, as soon as possible, as slots are filling up quickly. She can be reached at 870-368-7868 or by email at khall@ozarka.edu.


Ozarka College To Accept Applications For Fall 2012 LPN Program
Ozarka College will be accepting applications for the Fall 2012 Licensed Practical Nursing program Feb. 1 through April 1. The program is offered at Melbourne, Ash Flat and Mountain View. To enroll, students should visit www.ozarka.edu and complete the online application for admission and select LPN as the program of study. To be eligible for the LPN program, students must be currently enrolled in the four pre-requisite courses or have previously completed the pre-requisite courses. The classes required include English Composition I or Technical English, Math for Nurses, Basic Human Nutrition, and Body Structure and Function or Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs. Students must also take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) and the Wonderlic exam offered at Ozarka College in April on the Melbourne Campus. Students may sign up for the testing with the Admissions Office starting Feb. 1 through April 1. The Wonderlic exam will be offered at 8 a.m. in the Lecture Hall of the John E. Miller Building, followed by TEAS at 8:30 a.m. in the Computer Lab on April 10, 12, 13, 17, 19, and 20. The cost of TEAS is $40 and the cost of the Wonderlic exam is $5. To prepare for TEAS, students may purchase study guides at all Ozarka College Bookstores or they may check out one of the limited number available in the Library. Career Pathways will also offer a prep workshop in late February at all four campuses. The workshop will cover the details of what to expect on the day of the test and a general overview of what and how to study for the exam. There is no fee to attend and you do not have to be a Career Pathways student. Pre-registration is required by contacting Kendra Smith at 870-368-2043 or by email at Kendra.smith@ozarka.edu. The following are the dates, times and locations of the TEAS workshop: - Melbourne - Monday, Feb. 20 in Room H-112 from 1-2 p.m. - Ash Flat - Thursday, Feb. 23 in Room AFSC 106 from 1-2 p.m. - Mountain View - Wednesday, Feb. 29 in Room MVSC 115 (Lecture Hall) from 10-11 a.m. - Mammoth Spring - Thursday, March 1 in Room 102 from 10-11 a.m. - Melbourne overflow workshop - Friday, March 2 in Room H-112 from 1-2 p.m. Along with the admission application and scores from the TEAS and Wonderlic exam, students should also submit letters of work experience to the Admissions Office by April 1. For more information about the LPN programs offered at Ozarka College, please contact Admissions at 870-368-2045 or the Nursing Department at 870-368-2077.


Reeves Named Bowser-Petersen Nursing Scholarship Recipient
Sherry Reeves, a Registered Nursing student from Melbourne, has been awarded the Bowser-Petersen Nursing Scholarship by the Ozarka College Foundation. Reeves is employed at Area Agency on Aging and Eaglecrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Ash Flat as a Licensed Practical Nurse. The Bowser-Petersen Nursing Scholarship was established in Summer 2011 and is offered by Drs. Robert E. and Cheryl Bowser-Petersen of Horseshoe Bend. It is available to LPNs currently enrolled in the Ozarka College RN program and is given in gratitude for the exceptional care given to Joseph T. Bowser, whose last days were blessed by his hospice nurses. In addition to the regular Ozarka College scholarship application, applicants are required to complete either a one page essay or a short recorded message describing what they know about hospice nursing and why they think they would be good at hospice work. Overall GPA and citizenship are also considered in awarding this scholarship. Reeves wrote in her essay that she has faced two separate situations in her life where hospice care was needed for relatives and that it was the overall compassion and professionalism of the hospice nurses that planted a seed for her to continue her education in nursing. She plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing after she completes the RN program. The Ozarka College Foundation is a 501(c) (3) organization and all donations are tax deductible on itemized tax forms. For more information about giving opportunities at Ozarka College, please contact Hannah McWilliams, Development and Alumni Relations Officer, at 870-368-2060 or by email at hmcwilliams@ozarka.edu.


NAEC Announces Operation Round Up® Scholarship Recipients
Ryan Walker and Alex Whitten were the recipients of a full semester scholarship to Ozarka College as a result of North Arkansas Electric Cooperative's first ever Operation Round Up® golf classic held at Big Creek Country Club in Mountain Home Oct. 1. Whitten, of Ash Flat, will complete her Associate's Degree in Biology this semester and plans to transfer to a four year university within the state. Walker is from Brockwell and plans to complete his Associate's Degree in Information Technology next year. Operation Round Up® is a community outreach program through North Arkansas Electric Cooperative with the goal of investing in the future of the communities it serves. Operation Round Up® was a program started in 2005 whereby cooperative members voluntarily round up their monthly electric bill(s) to the next highest dollar. Funds collected go into a trust that awards money to fund community projects and educational scholarships. Since inception, NAEC's Operation Round Up® program has been able to award over $30,000 in scholarship funds to area students. In 2011, the cooperative held its inaugural golf classic for Operation Round Up® to raise additional money for educational scholarships specifically for Ozarka College and Arkansas State University - Mountain Home. The tournament was held in October 2011 and raised over $14,000, which will be split in the form of scholarships between the two schools. Both schools graciously donated two semester scholarships, which were awarded as flight prizes in the tournament. The teams who won the scholarships allowed the Operation Round Up® trust board to select the recipients and as such Walker and Whitten were awarded the scholarships.


February GED Testing Schedule
The GED® Test will be given at Ozarka College - Melbourne on Feb. 8 and 22 at 8:30 a.m. in Room 516 of the Wyth Duke Adult Education Building. The test will also be given at the following locations in February: Mountain View; Ozarka College at 9 a.m. Feb. 2 and 21 Ash Flat; Ozarka College at 9 a.m. Feb. 6 and 29 Calico Rock; City Hall at 9 a.m. Feb. 9 Mammoth Spring; Ozarka College at 9 a.m. Feb. 9 and 23 Salem; Courthouse at 9 a.m. Feb. 16 You must present an Arkansas photo ID, a Social Security Card, and proof of passing Practice Test scores dated within the last year. There is no cost to take the GED® Test. However, if you plan on taking the test at any of these locations, you MUST register by calling Ozarka College at 368-7371 or 1-800-821-4335 before the day of the test. Because of increased demographic information needed, it may be necessary to allow two days for the testing.


Cake Decorating I And II To Be Offered At Ozarka College
Ozarka College will offer two learning opportunities for those interested in cake decorating this semester through Continuing Education. Cake Decorating I, offered Feb. 21 through March 13, and Cake Decorating II, offered March 27 through April 17, will take students through basic cake decorating and design to advanced decorating techniques. Both courses will be four weeks long on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. on the Melbourne campus. Decorating kits required for the courses are included in the cost, which is $85 for Decorating I and $95 for Decorating II. Students who have already taken Cake Decorating I can immediately take Cake Decorating II. Anyone interested in taking the class can contact Karen Overturf in the Vice President for Academic Affairs' office at 870-368-2005 or by email at koverturf@ozarka.edu to request a Continuing Education application that must be completed prior to the course. Applications and payment must be turned in by Feb. 14 for Cake Decorating I and March 20 for Cake Decorating II so kits may be ordered.


Ozarka College To Offer Continuing Education Course In Zumba Fitness
Ozarka College will be offering a Continuing Education course in Zumba Fitness on the Melbourne campus in Room C-120 starting Tuesday, Jan. 24 and ending Tuesday, Feb. 14. The classes will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-6 p.m. The cost of the class is $40 and will be taught by Tracie Kirk of Dance 2 Fitness in Cave City. Zumba is a mix of body-sculpting movements with easy to follow dance steps like the Meringue, Salsa, Cumbia, and Mambo, as well as other dances from around the world, including hip-hop and belly dancing. Zumba uses the principles of interval training and resistance training to maximize calories burned, fat burned and total body toning. There is no age limit on who can do Zumba and no previous dance skills are required. Depending on how much one exerts him or herself, Zumba can physically burn between 600 and 1,000 calories per hour as participants build cardio strength and tone muscles. If you have lower back or knee problems, or any other medical problems, it is recommended that you speak with your physician before starting a Zumba program. Anyone interested in taking the class can contact Karen Overturf in the Vice President of Academic Affairs' office at 870-368-2005 or by email at koverturf@ozarka.edu to request a Continuing Education application that must be completed prior to each course. Applications and payment must be turned in by Jan. 20. All participants will also be required to complete a liability waiver the first day of class.


Ozarka College Foundation Accepting Applications For The Charles Cheatham Scholarship Through March 1
The Ozarka College Foundation Board recently completed a scholarship endowment in honor of Mr. Charles Cheatham. The memorial scholarship will be offered through the Ozarka College Foundation and is for students who reside in Izard County. Anyone interested in applying may do so prior to the March 1 deadline by visiting www.ozarka.edu and downloading the scholarship application packet. In 2007, the Ozarka College Foundation Board developed the scholarship fund to honor Cheatham. With the endowment goal of $10,000 recently met, a new scholarship will be awarded for the fall 2012 semester. "I am very proud to see the creation of the Charles Cheatham Scholarship," said Son Lamb, former Ozarka College Foundation Board member. "Charles was such an asset to our community and this scholarship in his name will keep his memory and good deeds for our community alive for many years to come." Cheatham held a civic service position in Izard County for over 45 years. He served as Izard County Treasurer and County/Circuit Clerk from 1950 until his retirement in 1999 and continued to chair the Izard County Election Commission for many years after his retirement. He was active in his church, as well as the Melbourne Lions Club, Izard County Historical Society, several local boards, and he chaired the Izard County Democratic Committee. He and his wife, Mildred, raised their four children in Izard County. Their son Ronald resides in Batesville, son Donald resides in Melbourne, son Lonnie resides in Lone Rock, and daughter Connie Moser resides in Calico Rock. Moser also serves on the Ozarka College Foundation Board. The Ozarka College Foundation is a 501(c) (3) organization and all donations are tax deductible on itemized tax forms. For more information about scholarships available or giving opportunities, contact Hannah McWilliams, Development and Alumni Relations Officer, at 870-368-2060 or by email at hmcwilliams@ozarka.edu.


Career Pathways To Offer Teas Prep Workshops
Anyone interested in starting the Licensed Practical Nursing Program at Ozarka College is required to take an entrance exam known as the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). The test will be administered in April. Career Pathways is helping students prepare for the exam by offering a workshop for all students to inform them of what to expect. Though Career Pathways is a program designed to assist eligible students overcome barriers in their pursuit of higher education and employment training, all students are welcome to attend this workshop. The workshops will be held in Melbourne on Monday, Feb. 20 in Room H-112 from 1-2 p.m., at Ash Flat on Thursday, Feb. 23 in Room AFSC 106 from 1-2 p.m., at Mountain View on Wednesday, Feb. 29 in Room MVSC 115 (Lecture Hall) from 10-11 a.m., and at Mammoth Spring on Thursday, March 1 in Room 102 from 10-11 a.m. There will also be an overflow workshop held on the Melbourne campus on Friday, March 2 in Room H-112 from 1-2 p.m. Students must apply for the LPN program Feb.1 through April 1 in order to be eligible to take the TEAS. Those enrolling in the LPN program must have completed, or be in the process of completing, all pre-requisite courses by the semester they take the TEAS. The pre-requisite courses required include English Composition I or Technical English, Math for Nurses, Basic Human Nutrition, and Body Structure and Function or Anatomy and Physiology I and II. Students may then contact the Admissions Office to register for the TEAS. The workshop is free of charge and all materials will be provided. Students may contact Kendra Smith with Career Pathways at 870-368-2043 or by email at Kendra.smith@ozarka.edu to get on the list. Each workshop will have a maximum capacity of 20 students, so anyone interested should sign up as soon as possible.


Ozarka College’s Inclement Weather Policy
With cold, winter months ahead of us, Ozarka College wants to remind students, faculty and staff of the College's procedures for canceling classes due to inclement weather. All current students or employees can sign up to receive SMS text alerts by visiting the "Tools" tab in their myOzarka page. A closing announcement will also be placed on the homepage of the Website (www.ozarka.edu), as well as on Facebook (www.facebook.com/OzarkaCollege) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/OzarkaCollege). The following radio and television stations will also carry the announcement: 92.3 KSAR, 95.1 KKountry, 97.9 KTLO, 93.1, 103.3, 99.9 WRD Entertainment, KAIT-TV Channel 8, Jonesboro, KARK Channel 4, Little Rock, KATV Channel 7, Little Rock, and KTHV Channel 11, Little Rock. If the campuses are not closed, students, faculty and staff are expected to be on campus. If an individual feels they cannot be on campus for any reason, arrangements must be made with their instructor(s) and/or direct supervisors. Students will be counted absent if they miss any classes and employees will be required to use vacation days.


Holiday Closings
The Ozarka College campuses will close Friday, Dec. 23 and will reopen to faculty and staff on Tuesday, Jan. 3. The campuses will reopen to students for registration on Monday, Jan. 9 and classes will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Ozarka College wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season!


Ozarka College – Melbourne Set To Offer Welding Class
Ozarka College - Melbourne will offer a beginning welding class at its Melbourne campus starting Jan. 24, 2012 as part of Continuing Education. The class will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6-9 p.m. for three weeks. The cost to attend the classes is $150. In the three weeks, students will learn basic metal theory, welding safety, proper personal protective equipment (PPE), basic welding skills, and the oxyfuel cutting process. Anyone interested in attending the course must contact Karen Overturf in the Vice President of Academic Affairs Office to request a Continuing Education form that must be returned completed by the start of the course. Overturf may be reached at 870-368-2005 or by email at koverturn@ozarka.edu.


Ozarka College – Mammoth Spring To Offer Hvac Courses In Spring 2012
Ozarka College - Mammoth Spring will offer Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) courses as part of Continuing Education starting in January. Classes will begin on Jan. 9 and will be taught in two parts. The first part, which will be air conditioning, will be Jan. 9-20 and the second part, heating, will be Jan. 23-Feb. 3. Both classes will meet Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4:30-9:30 p.m. at the Mammoth Spring campus, located at 5th and Archer Street. Each part of the two-part course will cost $150 and will include a textbook. The HVAC course will teach students basic electricity, the refrigeration cycle, compressors controls, wiring diagrams, and the different types of furnaces and other heating equipment. Anyone interested in taking the course should contact Karen Overturf in the Vice President of Academic Affairs Office at 870-368-2005, or by email at koverturf@ozarka.edu, to request a Continuing Education application that must be completed prior to each session. Applications and payment are due by Monday, Jan. 2.


Two Awarded Izard County Single Parent Scholarships
The Izard County Single Parent Scholarship committee recently awarded two scholarships to single parents living in the county. Sara Lawrence, of Melbourne, is a single mother of two who received a $500 scholarship and Amanda Martin, of Sydney, is a single mother of on e who received a $250 scholarship. Lawrence is an Ozarka College Licensed Practical Nursing student who plans to graduate in May 2012. Martin began Ozarka College's new Criminal Justice and Corrections program in August and expects to graduate in May 2013. "I am so honored to be a part of this very worthwhile organization that is serving the single parents of Izard County," said Laura Lawrence, committee member and Director of Financial Aid at Ozarka College. "This scholarship really helps our community in so many ways by helping these determined parents return to school to further their education. Any single parent interested in applying for the scholarship can stop by the Advancement Office at Ozarka College for more information." The scholarship program is designed to provide single parents living in Izard County the opportunity to pursue a diploma or a degree from a post-secondary school in order to improve their job skills, become self-sufficient and improve the lives of their families. For more information about the scholarship or to apply, contact Hannah McWilliams, Development and Alumni Relations Officer for Ozarka College, at 870-368-2060 or by email at hmcwilliams@ozarka.edu. An online application is available at www.aspsf.org. The deadline to apply for the spring 2012 semester is Dec. 15.


December 16 Is Deadline To Apply For Book Loan
Time is running out to apply for a book loan from Career Pathways! Dec. 16 is the deadline to request books for the spring 2012 semester.Career Pathways students at Melbourne, Mountain View, Mammoth Spring, and Ash Flat, as well as online students, may request books. Books will be distributed to students who submit book request forms based on availability and the order in which the requests are received.Book request forms are available on-line and can be picked up at any Career Pathways office. To complete a request form, the student needs to list the course number and name for each book requested and attach a copy of their schedule for reference. Students should also list which campus they prefer the books to be delivered.Award letters for those receiving books will be mailed the week before classes begin. Spring 2011 classes begin Jan. 17, so award letters will be mailed on Jan. 9 and 10. Books will be distributed on the first two days of classes from the Career Pathways offices in Melbourne, Ash Flat, Mammoth Spring and Mountain View. The books are due to be returned by May 11. Read more in Career Pathways' December newsletter by clicking HERE.


Ozarka College – Mountain View Students Help Stock The Shelves This Holiday Season
Ozarka College - Mountain View students are holding a food drive in order to help those most in need in their community. The students are part of one of Ozarka College's Student Success classes, which is a required course for all first time students. Lindsay Galloway of Career Pathways teaches the class and said it was the students' idea to give back in some way. "They really wanted to provide a service to the community and since the Dorcas House Food Pantry serves so many families in Stone County, the students felt like it was a worthy cause," she said. "And the Food Pantry ran a story a few weeks ago in the newspaper about the need for donations, so they decided to help those who are less fortunate, especially this holiday season." The students in the class will be responsible for checking the boxes that have been placed out in the community twice a week until the food drive ends on Dec. 12. Each student will also receive 50 points for participation toward their final grade in the class, but they can get an additional 50 points if they go and volunteer at the Food Pantry. Items needed include, but are not limited to, canned fruits and vegetables, Ensure, foods for those suffering from diabetes, peanut butter, and soups. Donation boxes are located at TD Home Builders, Circle K, Wilson's Town and Country, Best Drug Store, and at the Ozarka College - Mountain View campus. For more information about the food drive, contact Galloway at 870-269-5600 or by email at lhgalloway@ozarka.edu.


Ozarka College Board Of Trustees Vice Chair Bob Evins Named To 2012 Acct Finance And Audit Committee
The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) recently appointed Mr. Bob Evins of Cherokee Village as an associate member of the 2012 ACCT Finance and Audit Committee. Evins' term will expire at the end of the Annual Community College Leadership Congress in Boston, Mass. in Oct. 2012. Trustee Evins is the Vice Chair of the Ozarka College Board of Trustees and is President of Liberty Bank of Arkansas in Highland. He was appointed to the Ozarka College Board of Trustees in Aug. 2009 for a seven year term by Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe. After attending the new member conference for ACCT in Washington, D.C., Evins applied to serve on the Finance and Audit Committee. This committee is responsible for monitoring executive compliance with fiscally related policies and bylaws, reviewing the annual budget and financial audit, establishing procedures for the periodic audit of Association programs and services and finally reporting to the Board of Directors. "I am humbled to be afforded the opportunity to represent Ozarka College on this national level," said Trustee Evins. "The level of commitment and dedication that I have experienced from Dr. Richard Dawe, the Board of Trustees, the Ozarka Foundation, the staff of educators, as well as support staff is second to none. Ozarka is dedicated to providing a quality learning experience for all students in the communities it serves." Associate members are chosen by voting members of the ACCT Board of Directors and Evins was one of 10 chosen to serve from community colleges across the United States. In his position, he will have full voting rights. "This service opportunity on a national scale is a perfect fit for Bob's experience and it is not only a tribute to his dedication to the Ozarka mission of providing higher education for our students, but it also allows a voice on the national policy stage for our college and the region we serve," said Dr. Richard Dawe, President of Ozarka College. "I appreciate Vice Chair Evins and his colleagues on our College Board very much." The Board policies Trustee Evins will help monitor include: Financial Planning and Budgeting, Asset Protection, and Financial Condition and Activity. The Committee will also identify the information it requires for adequate monitoring and establish a schedule for monitoring reports. Trustee Evins and his wife, Patricia, reside in Cherokee Village and have two grown children and three grandchildren.