Lamar Community College Runnin’ Lopes plan their next move during Saturday’s game for 5th Place at the NJCAA Tournament in Hutchinson, KS. Photo by: Rosemary Marrin.
After an exciting regular season, the Lamar Community College Runnin’ Lopes Men’s Basketball Team capped off its 2008-09 play by winning its first Region IX Championship and making its first ever appearance at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I National Tournament in Hutchinson, KS on March 17-21. The team finished fifth in the Tournament, after losing just one game to #1 seeded Chipola Community College (Florida, 33-1).
“The opportunity to represent Lamar Community College and Southeast Colorado in the NJCAA National Tournament is something our coaches and players take great pride in,” commented Head Coach Chris Tifft. “Having won our first ever Region IX Championship and having made our first appearance in the National Tournament, it was a season of great accomplishment for our basketball program. Our students played with great pride and toughness and proved that we belonged on a national stage by winning 3 of our 4 games and placing 5th in the nation. We want to thank all of the people who have supported our program and made our success possible.”
The results for games in which LCC played are:
Game #1: Lamar CC (25-10) 57, Cape Fear CC (20-13) 47
Game #10: Lamar CC (25-11) 66, #1 Chipola CC (33-1) 82
Game #15: Lamar CC (26-11) 77, #10 North Dakota State College of Science (31-4) 64
5th/6th Place Game: Lamar CC (27-11) 61, Garden City CC (25-13) 58
Lamar challenged a former LCC coach in its final game when it faced Garden City Head Coach Kris Baumann’s Broncbusters. Baumann coached at LCC from 2001-2004.
Lamar statistics for the National Tournament include:
LCC Leading Scorers:
PJ Reyes (Sophomore, Taylor Truman HS, Taylor, MI) 15.5 pts
Ogo Adegboye (Sophomore; Findlay Prep, London, England) 14.3 pts
Jamal Edwards (Sophomore; Atlantic City HS, Mays Landing, NJ) 11.5 pts
Antwone Snead (Sophomore; Atlantic City HS, Atlantic City, NJ) 10 pts
LCC Leading Rebounders:
Antwone Snead (Sophomore; Atlantic City HS, Atlantic City, NJ) 9.3
MarcAnthony Franks (Freshman; Our Lady Mt. Carmel HS, Aberdeen, MD) 6.8
PJ Reyes (Sophomore, Taylor Truman HS, Taylor, MI) 4.3
Scott Day (Sophomore; ThunderRidge HS, Highlands Ranch, CO) 4.0
Adegboye was named to the All-Tournament Team at the National Tournament for averaging 14.3 pts, 4 assists and 1.5 steals.
Lamar had the 3rd best scoring defense in the Tournament, allowing 62.75 points per game. Only Midland College (61.5) and Salt Lake CC (61.75) allowed fewer points per game during the Tournament. Midland and Salt Lake played in the National Championship game, where Salt Lake won 67-60.
With a 27-11 final record, the 2008/2009 Lamar Community College Men’s Basketball season will be remembered as the most successful one in the school’s 73 year history. In addition to a successful showing at the National Tournament, the Runnin’ Lopes won four games in four days, defeating North Platte 63-61 for its first Region IX championship.
Along with the team’s success, there were also a number of individual accomplishments. Reyes, a 6’4’’ forward, was voted onto the Region IX All-Region team and has been nominated as an NJCAA Division I All-America selection. Reyes was also named to the Region IX All-Tournament team. Point guard Ogo Adegboye was named to the Region IX All-Tournament team. In his fifth year at Lamar Community College, Tifft was named the District 9 Men’s Division I Basketball Coach of the Year after leading Lamar Community College to the NJCAA National Tournament.
For more information regarding Runnin’ Lopes Basketball, visit www.lamarcc.edu/basketball.
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At its February meeting, the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE) and the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) honored Faculty of the Year from the 13 system colleges, the two local district community colleges and the four technical colleges. On behalf of the State Board and all of us in community colleges, we congratulate our faculty of the year and thank them for their commitment and dedication to helping students meet their learning goals.
Back row (left to right): Nicholas Alfonso, Pueblo Community College; Jacqueline Bloink, San Juan Basin Technical College; Kim Ewertz, Morgan Community College; Mike Brownell, Northeastern Junior College; Mark Patterson, Colorado Northwestern Community College; Nancy Meiklejohn, Colorado Association of Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year; Johanna Roeber, Delta Montrose Technical College; William Malone, Pikes Peak Community College; Barb Leininger, Otero Junior College; Tim Inzano, Emily Griffith Opportunity School; and Jason Kravig, Lamar Community College.
Front row (left to right): Kathryn Winograd, Jerome F. Wartgow Teaching with Technology Award; Karin Blaske, Arapahoe Community College; Claire Miller, Community College of Denver; Sherry Messina Dewald, Red Rocks Community College; Jennifer Stanton, Front Range Community College; and, Suzanne Acheson, Pickens Technical College.
Not pictured: Christine Gaudinski, Aims Community College; Tal Hardman, Colorado Mountain College; Michael Levell, Community College of Aurora; and, Robert Philbin, Trinidad State Junior College.
To read more why each of these distinguished faculty are special, click here.
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Red Rocks Community College Receives Governor's Award for Excellence in Renewable Energy
Governor Bill Ritter presents Red Rocks Community College with the Governor's Excellence in Renewable Energy Award. Behind the governor, left to right: Chuck Beck, RRCC program coordinator; Larry Snyder, RRCC faculty, Dr. Michele Haney, RRCC president; and Dr. Nancy McCallin, Colorado Community College System president.
Red Rocks Community College (RRCC) recently had the distinguished honor of receiving the 2009 Governor’s Excellence in Renewable Energy Award, Institutional category at the state capitol.
RRCC received the award for their contributions to protecting Colorado’s environment and advancing clean power through the development, implementation, usage and promotion of renewable energy.
“Red Rocks is honored to be recognized for our energy programs,” said RRCC President Michele Haney. Added CCCS President Dr. Nancy McCallin, “This award demonstrates the commitment of Colorado's community colleges to building a solid energy workforce and creating an environment for sustainability.” The winners each received an award created by Colorado artist Sandy Jackson.
“Colorado’s New Energy Economy brings good jobs, investment, and clean energy to our state,” said Governor Bill Ritter. “I am proud to recognize these leaders today with the Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards for helping to establish Colorado as a national and international leader in clean energy.”
RRCC’s Energy Technology Program continues to experience tremendous growth. From Fall 2007 to Spring 2008 it grew from 10 to 231 students. Students can earn an Associate of Applied Science in Renewable Energy Technology as well several certificates in the field. This training provides students with high demand skills to include LEED green building, energy auditing, solar PV, and solar thermal. As of fall 2008, 20 percent of students were employed in the renewable energy field, many in their first semester of study.
For more information about the Governor's Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards visit the Governor’s Energy Office, www.colorado.gov/energy.
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Arapahoe Community College Interior Design Student Wins National Award
Paula Ricca, left with Instructor Dawn Viola
The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) has bestowed a national award on Paula Ricca, an interior design student at Arapahoe Community College. She is among 10 winners of NKBA's Student Design Competition who emerged from hundreds of entries. The competition offers $1,000 scholarships to its winners. Ricca, who has been an ACC interior design student for three and a half years, won third place in NKBA's Bathrooms Division.
“This is very exciting,” said Ricca, who is pursuing an Associate’s Degree in interior design. “This award will open doors for me. I enjoy kitchen and bath design and would like to pursue a career in universal design and kitchen and bath design.”
She will receive her scholarship and the award at the NKBA Design Competition Awards Luncheon on May 1 at the Kitchen/Bath Industry Show in Atlanta. This prominent industry event also will recognize the professional designers who created the best kitchens and baths of the past year.
The NKBA Student Design Competition finds the rising stars of the kitchen and bath industry by challenging young designers to create a safe, functional, adaptable space for active senior citizens in their homes. The students’ work had to meet the specific needs of the homeowners. The students’ creations offer insight into upcoming design trends.
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CCD Students Explore Careers at 9News
Community College of Denver students learn the ins and outs of the TV broadcasting business at 9News
On March 11, eleven Community College of Denver students, in Assistant Professor of English Kristi Strother's journalism classes, were the largest contingent of students participating in the 9News TV Broadcast Career Day.
The CCD students participating in sessions giving them an overview of: producing; photojournalism; editing; broadcast news technology; and reporting and anchoring.
"Media convergence is a big topic we discuss in class," explains Strother, "so by learning how current professional do their jobs my students learned how they have to be skilled in multiple areas."
"Obviously the economy was discussed," she continues, "The professionals gave my students the truth about the situation and gave them helpful suggestions on what to do to be successful; for example, get internships."
Also joining the 9News anchors and staff were 20+ broadcast professionals from other media outlets including Fox 31's Ron Zappolo, KMGH 7News Producer Lesley Martin and Fox Sports Rocky Mountain Photojournalist Charlie Felix. In addition to participating in workshops, the CCD students had the opportunity to tour broadcast booths, the various 9News broadcast sets and the 9News newsroom.
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FRCC Student's Photos Selected for
DIA, State Capitol and National Magazine Cover
This photograph is currently being featured at Denver International Airport and in April will be placed on display at the Colorado State Capitol.
FRCC student Kathryn Dokter provided the cover photograph for the March 2009 issue of SuperLooper Magazine.
Eleven credit hours of instruction ago, Kathryn Dokter, 46, went to Front Range Community College's Larimer Campus to pay daughter Alyssa's tuition. While there she became inspired and decided it was time to go back to school. Dokter then took the big step of enrolling in FRCC's Visual and Media Arts program and began taking photography courses to "force me out my comfort zone and push myself to become better at capturing a moment at time."
Recently, one of Dokter's photos of live team roping competitions landed on the cover of Superlooper, a national team roping magazine, and another one of her images was selected to be featured at Denver International Airport this year from February to April. After DIA, the same photo has now been selected to be featured at the Colorado State Capitol from April to October.
Now a resident of Loveland, Dokter grew up in a ranching environment in northern Wyoming and always had family that was involved in team roping. Her two, now famous, images were tricky-to-take, fast action photos of Alyssa's boyfriend Eric Britton, a national championship level team roper, who competes as a "heeler," the partner who ropes the back legs. "It is a thrill and a challenge to capture the motion and the excitement of team roping events," explains Dokter.
Dokter's DIA photo was selected after FRCC Photography Instructor Karl Dukestein encouraged her to submit it to some forums on "Cafe," a website that connects photographers with organizations seeking their works. "Karl Dukestein has been nothing but supportive and encouraging of me in my photographic pursuits," says Dokter. She adds, "He has a great deal of technical knowledge and creative push."
Dokter says she has found FRCC to be a "great transition place for her where the instructors have been top notch; students can get out of it what they put in." She states that she has pushed herself to take advantage of every opportunity at FRCC and the instructors have been more than willing to help her be successful. She has particularly enjoyed interacting with students of all ages at FRCC. She is currently 11 credit-hours into her program.
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OJC Nursing Faculty Member Receives Statewide Honor:
The Virginia Paulson Award
OJC Nursing faculty member LoriRae Hamilton holds the coveted Virginia Paulson Award that she received from the Colorado Nurses Association.
Otero Junior College nursing faculty member, LoriRae Hamilton, RN MSN, was recently awarded the Virginia Paulson Award at the Colorado Nurses Association Convention for her influence and contributions to the nursing profession. The Virginia Paulson Award recognizes the contributions and leadership ability of a nurse and their potential to constructively influence the nursing profession.
A member of the OJC nursing faculty since 2002, Hamilton who hails from Model, a town 50 miles southwest of La Junta, holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nursing. She currently teaches in OJC’s second-level (RN) program and is the coordinator for the Simulation in Motion (SIM) laboratory. Hamilton is also a director for Region 2 of the Colorado Nurses Association and President of the Colorado Organization for Associate Degree Nurses.
As an advocate for nursing students and nursing in rural areas, Hamilton focuses much of her attention on helping students understand the power of their voices, and making sure issues facing rural healthcare and nurses are being heard in the urban areas. She recently took a group of nursing students from OJC to the legislative event, 100 Nurses for 100 Legislators, held at the State Capitol in Denver.
“The students were able to hear and understand the issues that nurses face from around the state. I think this experience helped them realize the importance of making their voices heard. I hope in the future they will step into leadership roles and help protect our nursing profession and rural healthcare,” said Hamilton.
As a director for the Colorado Nurses Association, and president of the Colorado Organization for Associate Degree Nurses, Hamilton stressed that the main focus of those professional organizations is on the nurse, and what can be done for the nursing profession. “I am here to represent Southeastern Colorado nurses, so if there are any nursing issues that the rest of the state needs to know about please let me know, so that the Colorado Nurses Association might be able to help,” she said.
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Section C –
MCC Dual Enrollment Student to
Have Three Degrees Upon Graduating High School
Kayla Brown
Limon High School senior Kayla Brown holds tightly to a dream of going to medical school and upon becoming a physician would like to serve with "Doctors Beyond Borders" in a Latin American country.
These days she is grateful she discovered that she could earn dual credit toward her diploma and a college degree by taking college classes from Morgan Community College while still in high school.
However, Brown is no typical dual enrollment student. She has maximized the opportunity. Case in point. . .she has already completed her Associate of General Studies and by the time she graduates from high school she will have also earned two additional degrees: an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Science.
Upon receiving her diploma and degrees, Brown plans to transfer to Baylor University and pursue a major in Medical Humanities with a minor in Spanish.
Besides pursuing multiple college degrees, at Limon High School Brown is involved in Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), Knowledge Bowl, and the junior/senior play. On top of that, she volunteers at a nursing home and at a health clinic while still managing to hold down a job for fifteen hours a week.
Despite all the extracurricular activity, Brown is named on the Principal, Superintendent, and MCC President’s Honor Rolls. Most surprisingly, she says that despite having a rocky start upon entering high school, MCC classes turned things around for her. She says she is very thankful MCC classes have given her a second chance to follow her dreams.
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Former Colorado Speaker of the House
of Representatives Named CCA Visiting Scholar
Andrew Romanoff, former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives lectures in political science, business, ethics and communication
Recently, the Community College of Aurora announced that former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives Andrew Romanoff would serve as its visiting scholar.
Romanoff’s first presentation at CCA was March 2, on the CCA Lowry Campus. He lead a discussion on “A Legislative Midterm Assessment Report: The Colorado Legislature,” to which he invited the participation of members of the Aurora legislative delegation. The event was free and open to the public and a small crowd participated. According to the Aurora Sentinel, Romanoff spoke briefly about serving in the Legislature during the Democratic Party’s turn as the minority party, remarking, “It’s better to be in charge, I can tell you that much,” He added, “It turns out that it’s easier to vote on bills based on their merit rather than your party.
Additionally, Romanoff hosted a public forum on the Obama administration’s economic stimulus package on March 5 at CCA’s CentreTech campus. During his time at CCA, Romanoff also met with faculty and students and spoke to numerous classes about his experience in politics and business.
Romanoff was elected to the House in 2000 and reelected in 2002, 2004 and 2006. He represented House District 6, covering east Denver and Glendale. Before his election to the speakership in 2005, he served as the House Minority Leader. Due to term-limit requirements in Colorado, Romanoff exited the Colorado House of Representatives following the 2008 election. He earned a bachelor’s degree with honors from Yale University in 1989; a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1993; and a juris doctorate from the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law in 2008.
Previously, Romanoff has taught political science and public policy at the Community College of Aurora, Metropolitan State College of Denver, Red Rocks Community College and the University of Colorado at Denver’s Graduate School of Public Affairs. He began teaching in Central America and speaks fluent Spanish.
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TSJC Construction
