Need help with FAFSA? College Goal Sunday

By Ann Michels
Editor

In a combined nationwide effort to assist prospective and current students fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). KCC is hosting College Goal Sunday, February 12, 2pm- 4 pm in the Student Center.

College Goal Sunday was created close to ten years ago when it was apparent filling out forms for financial support was difficult for many of us. Ideally, the earlier the forms can be completed the better. Volunteers include KCC staff and community members willing to assist in processing, completing, and the ultimate goal of submission of FAFSA.

While there, enter to win great prizes given away regionally, a variety of scholarships ($1,000, $500, and $250).
The FAFSA form can be completed on College Goal Sunday. Bring the following items with you on February 12th:

• Your FAFSA PIN number
• Your Social Security Number
• Your parent or legal guardian's Social Security Number. (If you are 23 or younger and a dependent)
• Your driver's license (if any)
• Your W-2 forms or other records of money earned
• Your 2011 Federal Income Tax Re turn
• Your Spouse's 2011 Income Tax Re turn (if married)
• Your parent's 2011 Federal Income Tax Return.
• Your 2011 untaxed income records (Social Security, Temporary Assis tance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans benefits records, if any)
• Your 2011 bank statements
• Your 2011 business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond, and
other investment records
• Your alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. Citizen)

This event has proven to be a great resource for new and even returning students to fill out their necessary paperwork for their education. Remember, the FAFSA must be filled out yearly.

For any other information, contact the KCC Financial Aid department.

steps proving that edicuation grounds experience
Photo by Ann Michels

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Bruins Give Back 2012 Plans

By Amanda DesLauriers
Guest Writer

KCC's Service Learning Team! Take a look back at the great things KCC students accomplished last semester.
The monthly campus wide service projects, the Bruins Give Back, continued during the fall and were a great success! In all, eighty-five students and faculty participated in the Bruins Give Back, including the men's baseball and basketball teams, and the women's softball and soccer teams. On the first Saturday of each month, the KCC athletic teams were joined by other students to help Habitat for Humanity with various projects. In October, students helped build a house on Wilkes Street. The November and December Bruins Give Back weren't spent building, but they were full of other projects for Habitat for Humanity. Many students braved the cold to help move old building supplies and furniture to a new ware house. Others worked in the Habitat ReStore, processing donations, putting together Christmas trees, and bringing recycled cans back. Some artistically gifted students even made beautiful floral arrangements!

In addition to the Bruins Give Back, some KCC students participated in a Christmas service event! On December 6th, a group of students came together to throw a holiday party with client from a local organization, Alternative Choices. Alternative Choices is a non-profit organization that works with developmentally delayed adults in many capacities. During this party, students and Alternative Choice members ate Christmas cookies and cake, made Holiday cards and watched A Charlie Brown Christmas. Both students and Alternative Choices clients had a great time!

If you couldn't make last semester's Bruins Give Back, or you are just hearing about them now, they will be continuing spring semester 2012. In February, March and April, student and faculty volunteers will be heading into local schools to help youngsters with various projects. For more details, contact Amanda DesLauriers at deslauriers@kellogg.edu
~Amanda DesLauriers is involved with AmeriCorps VISTA and Service Learning programs

A member of the men's baseball team swings a hammer to help demolish some old material at a Habitat warehouse.

KCC student Darcy Wellington puts together floral arrangements.
Photos courtesy of Amanda DesLauriers

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MRI Program applications due February 15, 2012

Nicole Finkbeiner

Kellogg Community College is offering an Associate's Degree in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) through the efforts of the Michigan Radiologic and Imaging Science (MiRIS) Consortium. The MiRIS Consortium consists of Kellogg Community College, Grand Rapids Community College, Mid Michigan Community College, Lansing Community College, Lake Michigan College and Grand Valley State University. KCC is currently recruiting students for the second cohort of MRI students.
Students completing the MRI program will be eligible to complete the certification exam administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists earning nationally recognized credentials. The inclusion of Grand Valley State University in the MiRIS Consortium allows for a smooth transition for KCC students who may wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in Radiologic and Imaging Sciences.

Consortium students complete the course work for the MRI program in an online format while participating in clinical education at an affiliating hospital or MRI clinical service provider. KCC is partnered with Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall, Bronson-Battle Creek Health System in Battle Creek, and KNI Southwest Imaging, located in Portage. The first cohort of students from all six colleges gathered on KCC's campus on August 4 to participate in a day-long workshop to practice skills in preparation for their first clinical course in the fall. As part of the workshop, KNI Southwest Imaging brought a mobile MRI scanner to the KCC main campus for the day to allow students an opportunity to learn about MRI safety and basic equipment function.
The deadline to apply for the summer 2012 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Program at Kellogg Community College is February 15, 2012.
Kellogg Community College, Grand Rapids Community College, Mid Michigan Community College, Lansing Community College, Lake Michigan College and Grand Valley State University established the MiRIS Consortium to share resources and deliver comprehensive medical imaging programs. The consortium received approval from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC) this summer. The HLC accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in the North Central region of the United States.
For more information on the MRI Program at KCC, visit www.kellogg.edu/alliedhealth/mri/. For questions about applying to the program, contact the KCC Admissions Department at (269) 965-4153.

Sean McPherson, MRI technologist and instructor from KNI Southwest Michigan Imaging in Kalamazoo explains safety precautions.

MRI students practice patient care skills.
Photos courtesy of Nicole Finkbeiner

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New Search Tool at the Library

By Kelly Frost

Ever had trouble deciding exactly where to go on the library's webpage when you were doing research? Look no further than the front page and the library's new search tool! There is now a blue box on the library's homepage: http://www.kelllogg.edu/library which will search all of the library's books, articles, and much more with the click of one button.



Simply type a few keywords (not long sentences!) into the box and hit <enter> on the keyboard or click <Find It!> After whirring for a moment, a list of thousands of items appear. The list of results can be narrowed through using click boxes on the left-hand side of the screen. All full-text items can be viewed by clicking on the title. If you are off-campus a screen will ask for your user name (kID) and password. If you have found a book, CD or DVD from our collection clicking on the title will show you exactly where in the library you can find your item.

Working behind the scenes of this amazing search engine is the Summon ™ Service, currently the premier search tool available for library collections. Two years ago the library began to explore how students conduct research and which products might provide a better search experience. Library Director, Marty Stilwell explains that the library met with three different vendors and determined that the Summon ™ Service was the best. "We looked at where the majority of our students would be transferring and wanted them to be familiar with the tools they would be using at places like Western and Grand Valley State."

Kellogg Community College Library is excited to be one of a handful of community colleges nation-wide to offer this powerful search tool. Other Michigan schools using Summon include: University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, Western Michigan University, and Grand Valley State University.

Several nursing students attending an orientation session before the semester began were among the first students to try out the new search feature. The response was positive as most had no problems conducting a search and connecting to materials. In a post-session survey one student remarked, "I like how there is one main search area that you can type in and it will just search it for you." Another long-time KCC student commented, "I really like the new find system to the library website. I have been going here for a long time and this is probably the most useful way to search for info that I will ever use."

We really hope that this tool will help everyone streamline the research process and bring the library's rich resources to students faster and easier. For online tutorials showing the new search tool in action, check out any of the library's Research Guides: http://guides.kellogg.edu or stop by the library today!

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KCC hosts coffeehouse featuring blues musician "Walkin' Cane"

By Nicole Finkbeiner

Kellogg Community College will hold a coffeehouse performance featuring Walkin' Cane on Wednesday, February 8, from 11 am to 1 pm in KCC's Student Center, located at 450 North Avenue in Battle Creek. The performance is free and open to the public.

Austin "Walkin' Cane" Charanghat is a blues singer, songwriter and slide guitarist who performs acoustic solo, duo & electric band sets. Walkin' Cane has traveled all over the country from New Orleans, Louisiana to Juneau, Alaska and has acquired various blues/instrumentalist awards over the years. Charanghat walked for ten years with a cane due to an arterial venous malformation at birth. While performing on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, a homeless man called out "Hey Walkin' Cane got some spare change for a brother?!" Charanghat took the jibe as his nickname. In 1996, after years of battling the inevitable, his left leg was amputated below the knee. A year after the surgery, he returned to the music scene stronger & without need of a cane. In 2002, Charanghat & Karen Starks were married at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee and began recording his 706 Union Ave. cd at the legendary studio immediately after the ceremony. "The thought of recording & getting married in the same room where many of my heroes took their first steps was incredible." Austin "Walkin' Cane" is proud to be sponsored by National Reso-Phonic Guitars, Dr. Z Amplifiers & Ernie Ball Strings.

For more information, please contact the KCC Advising and Student Life Department at (269) 965-3931 extension 2634 or email studentlife@kellogg.edu.

Blues musician, Austin "Walkin' Cane"
photo courtesy of Austin Cane

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Renovations almost complete

By Raeschelle Phillips
Staff Writer

office and Police Academy Department. Mark O'Connell, Vice President for Administration and Finance, has informed us that "most of the renovation and additions should be completed by now." This is great news for students attending KCC for this spring semester; especially for those that park in the Lane-Thomas parking lot, since the stairs and elevator will be accessible during the snowy/icy months of early spring!

Nothing will happen with the bookstore until after the EMS program moves from its current location to its new space on the second floor. Construction will then be able to start on the bookstore which should be complete early spring of 2012. The current location of the bookstore will become part of the new 6 steps to success offices under the Student Services Division.

 

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Don't miss Two Sistas and a Brotha

By Dylan Patterson
Assistant Editor

Roberts, soprano, was a semi-finalist for the Houston Grand Opera Studio. Other awards include Michigan State and Great Lakes regional winner of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Artists Award Competition, 1st place winner Advanced Division National Association of Teachers of singing Competition, 3rd place National Leontyne Price Vocal Arts competition and 2nd place National Association of Negro Musicians Vocal Competition. She has a Master of Music degree from Northern University and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Hampton University.

 

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Mosaic

By Elizabeth Kerlikowske
Advisor

Mosaic, the student literary magazine, will be publishing the gala, all-star issue this spring. We will have visual arts and writing. All students are eligible to submit. Visual art should be submitted to Pete Williams, Davidson Building, or jpeg to williamsp@kellogg.edu. Poems, stories, and essays should be submitted to Elizabeth Kerlikowske, English, 401 C Building. Or by mail to kerlikowskee@kellogg.edu.

The spring issue is our opportunity to reward good writing and good art. Prizes will be given by an independent panel of judges. There is also a prize for the cover. Cover entries must be submitted by February 28. Writing must be submitted by March 6. Prizes will be awarded at the publication party later in the semester.

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Weight management

By Eric Laskovy
Guest Writer

Weight management involves the adoption of healthy and sustainable eating and exercise habits that will maximize energy and well-being and reduce the risk of chronic disease. Many of us tend to add a few pounds in the winter months as we typically spend more time indoors. Here are some tips to avoid gaining unwanted weight in the winter:

• Calories in = Calories out To maintain your weight, the total number of calories you consume is the same amount you should be burning. In other words, the average person expends around 2000 calories a day (this number varies upon gender and activity level), if you consume no more than 2000 calories, you cannot gain weight.

• Eat Small Meals More
By eating frequently, you could avoid extreme cravings and are less likely to overindulge at mealtimes. You're also more likely to want to consume most of your calories in the morning, when your metabolism is highest.
• Accept that weight loss is slow
It is recommended that we lose one to two pounds per week. It can be unhealthy to lose at a more rapid pace.
• Learn to enjoy more healthful foods
There is great nutritional benefit in trying a variety of fruits and vegetables along with whole grain foods.

• Moderation
If you keep portion sizes reasonable, it's easier to eat the foods you want and stay healthy. Did you know the recommended serving size of cooked meat is 3 ounces, similar to a deck of playing cards!

• Exercise
The office of the Surgeon General recommends that adults engage in a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity on most days. Yet, nearly half the adults in the U.S. do not get any physical activity.
~Eric Laskovy is the KCC Baseball Coach.


KCC student exercising at the Miller Gym
Photo by Ann Michels

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Black History Month 2012

By Connie Vogel

Black History month is observed every February in the USA since established in 1976. The intentions were to recognize and remember famous Americans that were black. The importance of how our history involves many cultures. What started as Negro History week back in 1926 has now became Black History month. KCC offers some events to celebrate.

Feb-8 Student Center
"Coffee House Performance for Black History" at
11 am-1 pm

Feb-21 Soul Food luncheon
Bruin Café at 11 am to 1pm

Feb-22 Binda Theatre
"Diversity Contest"
Ceremony

Feb-29 Davidson Center "Two Sistas and a Brotha"
a celebration of Art songs and spirituals at 3 pm

 

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Winter Blues?

By Ann Michels
Editor

Does the winter make you depressed? Are you trying to get a better outlook this semester? Are you stressed or overwhelmed with too much to do? There is help available. Terah Zaremba, Director, Academic Advising and Student Life, believes everyone can benefit from counseling. It is okay to talk to someone; it can make you feel better.
KCC's support services may be able to help. There are counselors available for students to help in the short–term with any scholastic or personal difficulties. Counselors recognize there can be emotional or mental stressors affecting a students' quality of life. Give them a call or stop in for an appointment. Its free for KCC students. Counseling support may include…

• Test Anxiety
• Time Management
• Strengths Assessment
• De-stressing Activities
• Decision Making
• Distractions from Learning
• Academic Support
• Skills Assessment
• Organizing Resources
• Strategic Planning
• Support Concerning
-Depression
-Autism
-ADD
-Grief
-Anger
-Abuse
-Learning Disabilities

Contact Support Services at
(269)965-4150

Peaceful as snow
photo by Ann Michels

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Lifelong Learning Sampling

By Nicole Finkbeiner

The Kellogg Community College Lifelong Learning Department is holding a series of nonprofit training workshops to assist the nonprofit community. Unless noted, each takes place at KCC's Regional Manufacturing Technology Center located at 405 Hill-Brady Road in Battle Creek.

Registration with a major credit card can be completed by calling (269) 965-4134 or visit www.kellogg.edu/lifelong for more information on other registration options and class offerings.

Beyond Pen and Paper – Making the most of your IPad or Tablet

Monday, February 13, 9 am to 11 am This workshop will demonstrate the true power of tablet computers including useful tips and applications to increase work efficiency. Course fee is $14.

QR Codes, Mobile Computing and a Rapidly Changing Internet

Tuesday, February 14, 1 pm to 3 pm
The class will explore where and how QR Codes can be used to simplify a variety of complex computing functions. Using that information, the focus of the workshop will detail how Smart Phones, using QR Codes that point to mobile internet sites, can be used in marketing, fundraising, social media interfacing, education, training, information management, inventory control and many more areas. Course fee is $19

This is what we need! Effectively communicating with Candidates and Elected Officials

Tuesday, February 21, 8:30 am to 10:30 am A former U.S. Representative will conduct a frank conversation about how to not only reach candidates and elected officials, but also how to get a message across in a way they will understand and remember. Course fee is $10

Technology Series Lunch & Learn – Using Hootsuite to Save Time Using Social Media

Thursday, February 23, 12 pm to 1 pm HootSuite is a social media tool that enables users to schedule posts and tweets all at once and far in advance. Doing this allows users to keep their presence visible to followers without having to set aside time each week to keep accounts up. HootSuite also allows multiple content contributors and management of several social media accounts all at once. This course will show how to use HootSuite and tips and techniques to achieve the greatest impact on social media. Course fee is $10

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Recognition for Fehensfeld Center

By David A Miller
Staff Writer

In the early to mid-1990, KCC was expanding at a higher rate than ever before. Students surrounding the Calhoun county area were beginning to flock in. In order to satisfy the need for an academic outreach, it was imperative that KCC expand. At first, the best outreach we had for Barry County was a few rooms in the old Hastings high school. These classes filled up much quicker than expected. It seemed that with the demand for more students, KCC had no choice but to form another campus. Luckily, with the help and cooperation of many Barry County public officials and land owners, we were able to build a whole new campus to provide schooling for our north central Michigan students. The new addition in 1996 proved to be a success. Almost every year since, the John R Fehsenfeld Center has surpassed its expectations in student numbers, as well as income revenue. Fifteen years later and it has now paid for itself, just as it was expected to do. Renovations and build-ons are expected to be made in the near future. Before any of that happens, a very sincere thank you will be given to the great community of Hastings, and all the people who helped make the Fehsenfeld Center what it is today. Times like these bring great pride to anyone who calls themselves a "Bruin". The success of the Fehsenfeld center also helped create outreach programs in the Branch County, giving students all over south central Michigan a chance to better themselves through education.

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