Oak Ridge Today

UT Arboretum Society to hold Fall Wildflower Walk, Meet and Greet on Saturday

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The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will host a fall Meet and Greet followed by a fall wildflower walk on the UT Arboretum grounds on Saturday, September 17, from 9-11 a.m.

The public is invited for a Meet and Greet at the UT Arboretum Visitor’s Center at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge. Coffee and donuts will be served from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Kris Light, an expert naturalist, educator, and photographer will lead this fun, educational, and easy walk, a press release said. Participants may want to bring a camera to take pictures of the many wildflowers on the Arboretum grounds. [Read more…]

Roane State receives $2 million federal grant

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Roane State Community College Logo

Roane State Community College has received a $2 million federal grant to support student success initiatives.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Strengthening Institutions grant will fund various projects to help students plan their academic goals and achieve them. The $2,013,554 grant will be distributed over five years, with the first installment of $446,493 this fall.

“My role on the House Appropriations Committee allows me to take an active role in securing funding for vital grants such as this,” said Congressman Chuck Fleischmann. “I’m proud to help support Roane State Community College in their work to prepare students for successful careers.”

Grant-funded initiatives will include the purchase of class scheduling software and the addition of more Success Coaches to work one-on-one with students. [Read more…]

Roane State to host events to help displaced ITT Tech students

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Roane State Community College is reaching out to students affected by the recent closure of ITT Technical Institute.

Roane State will host an information session for former ITT students from 3:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 20, at the college’s Oak Ridge campus, which is at 701 Briarcliff Avenue. The meeting will be in the advising area inside the Coffey-McNally Building.

Former ITT Tech students are also invited to an Open House on Monday, September 26, at the college’s Clinton Higher Education and Workforce Training Facility, which is at 214 Nave Street in Clinton. The event will last from 5-8 p.m. and include demonstrations of equipment used to train students in mechatronics.

Roane State admissions and financial aid staff will be available at the events to answer questions. [Read more…]

Street Painting Festival on Oct. 1 seeks artists, sponsors

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2014 Owl Chalk Painting

A winning chalk painting at the 14th annual Oak Ridge Street Painting Festival, held in October 2014 at the Oak Ridge Branch Campus of Roane State Community College. (Submitted photo)

 

Do you enjoy drawing upon your artistic skills as you sketch a face, animal, or colorful scene? Then you might like “painting” pictures in chalk on a sidewalk.

You are invited to sign up as an artist for the 16th annual Oak Ridge Street Painting Festival. The festival showcases the talents of artists of all ages and provides a fun time for the community.

This popular event will be held from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, October 1, on the sidewalks of the Oak Ridge Branch Campus of Roane State Community College. (The rain day will be Sunday.) Artists may start their chalk paintings on Friday afternoon, September 30.

The art must be completed at 4 p.m. Saturday, October 1, so it can be judged before 6 p.m., when artist awards will be announced. If you win a first prize or the People’s Choice Award, you will receive a $50 cash award as well as recognition.

The festival is organized and hosted by the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge. Its purpose is to raise funds for scholarships for students at Roane State Community College. [Read more…]

Social media the topic of ORICL fall kickoff at Roane State in Oak Ridge

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Joe Jarret

Joe Jarret (Submitted photo)

 

An expert on legal issues associated with social media will kick off a lecture series sponsored by Roane State Community College and the Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning, or ORICL.

Joe Jarret’s lecture, titled “Social Media: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” will begin at 3:15 p.m. Thursday, September 15, in the City Room of the Coffey-McNally Building on the Oak Ridge Branch Campus of Roane State Community College. It’s free, and the public is invited. Refreshments will be available in the lobby after Jarret’s talk.

The event in Room A-111 also launches the fall series of courses offered by ORICL, a nonprofit organization that provides a wide variety of classes for area residents who love learning. Those classes start in mid-September, and registration can still be taken during the September 15 event. [Read more…]

Roane State EMT student awarded Colton Stout Memorial Scholarship

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stout_scholarship-1

Zachary Kennedy (left) is the recipient of the 2016 Colton Stout Memorial Scholarship established by Tracy Stout-Powers (right). (Photo by RSCC)

 

Roane State Community College emergency medical technician student Zachary Kennedy of Andersonville has received the 2016 Colton Stout Memorial Scholarship.

Kennedy, a firefighter with the Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department and a certified nursing assistant at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge, is studying EMT this fall. He plans to complete advanced EMT training in the spring and then enroll in the college’s paramedic program.

Kennedy said his long-term goal is to become a critical care paramedic and work for UT Lifestar. The $1,500 annual scholarship, Kennedy said, has provided needed assistance with the cost of his education. [Read more…]

Expert on legal issues, social media to speak Sept. 15 at Roane State

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Joe Jarret

Joe Jarret (Submitted photo)

 

An expert on legal issues associated with social media will kick off a lecture series sponsored by the Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning, or ORICL, and Roane State Community College.

Joe Jarret’s lecture, titled “Social Media: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” will begin at 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, September 15, in the City Room of the Coffey-McNally Building on the Oak Ridge campus of Roane State Community College, which is at 701 Briarcliff Avenue. It’s free, and the public is invited. Refreshments will be available in the lobby after Jarret’s talk.

The event in Room A-111 also launches the fall series of courses offered by ORICL, a nonprofit organization that provides a wide variety of classes for area residents who love learning. Those classes start in mid-September, and registration can still be taken during the September 15 event. [Read more…]

ORAU, University of Oklahoma win $8.4 million NOAA award for weather, climate change research

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ORAU Satellite Photo

Photo via ORAU on Twitter

 

The University of Oklahoma and Oak Ridge Associated Universities were recently awarded $8.4 million over three years from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to conduct weather and climate change monitoring research. The funding provides OU with the opportunity to expand its Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies’ research capabilities through a partnership with NOAA’s ORAU-managed Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division, or ATDD, program, a press release said.

“CIMMS is one of OU’s treasures as it has played a significant role in advancing our understanding of the atmosphere as well as provided valuable technologies and tools for operational forecasters,” said Kelvin Droegemeier, OU vice president for research. “This new award will build upon these historical strengths to address some of today’s most compelling challenges in weather and climate.”

The award will help further OU’s key research in areas such as boundary layer characterization, which is the atmospheric layer closest to Earth’s surface, and climate observations and analyses. This research will directly support NOAA’s goal to improve prediction of severe weather near the earth’s surface and will provide funding for a research position at the ATDD location in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Roane State to host special Welcome Back events for students

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Roane State Community College Greets Students

Roane State Community College President Chris Whaley greets students in the library on the main campus in Harriman. (Photo by Roane State)

 

Roane State Community College will offer a “sunny” welcome to both new and returning students with special celebrations to kick off the start of fall classes.

Under the theme “My Future’s So Bright,” students will be invited to participate in a variety of activities during the college’s annual Welcome Back celebrations. An event will be held on Roane State’s Roane County campus on Monday, August 22, from 10 a.m-2 p.m. in the courtyard. A celebration on the Oak Ridge campus will be held on Tuesday, August 23, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the atrium.

Students will be invited to write down their visions of their futures on a special banner and take a “future selfie” dressed in graduation attire or other gear associated with their future careers. A limited number of sunglasses will also be given away to attendees.

“We are excited to welcome students back to campus,” Roane State President Chris Whaley said. “A lot of exciting initiatives are happening at Tennessee’s community colleges with Tennessee Promise for high school students and Tennessee Reconnect for adults. The future is bright for Roane State students, and we want to show them how much we appreciate them and are committed to their success.” [Read more…]

Roane State faculty honored by Tennessee EMS Education Association

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Tennessee EMS Education Association president Tim Lankford presents the Full-Time Excellence in Teaching Award to Roane State EMT/paramedic instructor Roger Badger, center. David Blevins, Roane State Director of EMS Education, also congratulates Badger. (Photo by Roane State Community College)

Tennessee EMS Education Association president Tim Lankford presents the Full-Time Excellence in Teaching Award to Roane State EMT/paramedic instructor Roger Badger, center. David Blevins, Roane State Director of EMS Education, also congratulates Badger. (Photo by Roane State Community College)

 

Two veteran Roane State Community College faculty members were recently honored for their longtime service to the emergency medical services education community, said David Blevins, Roane State Director of EMS Education.

Kirk Harris, director of Continuing Healthcare and Safety Education, won the prestigious Lige Turman Lifetime Achievement Award, while Roger Badger, an EMT/paramedic instructor, received the Full-Time Excellence in Teaching Award from the Tennessee EMS Education Association.

“Both are the highest honors,” Blevins said. The awards were bestowed during the association’s annual membership meeting, held recently in Murfreesboro.

To be eligible for the Lige Turman Award, a nominee must have at least 20 years in EMS education and a proven history of achievement in that field. “Mr. Harris has dedicated his career to engaging the next generation of medical providers, and his history of new techniques is well known,” Blevins said. [Read more…]

Rowe named Roane State’s paramedic student of the year

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Roane State paramedic student of the year Grady Rowe (center) is congratulated by Dr. Peter Kah with TeamHealth Emergency Medicine (left) and Roane State paramedic program director David Blevins. (Photo by Roane State Community College)

Roane State paramedic student of the year Grady Rowe (center) is congratulated by Dr. Peter Kah with TeamHealth Emergency Medicine (left) and Roane State paramedic program director David Blevins. (Photo by Roane State Community College)

 

Grady Rowe with Rural/Metro Fire Department has been named Roane State Community College’s paramedic student of the year.

Dr. Peter Kah with TeamHealth Emergency Medicine presented the award to Rowe during Roane State’s annual Knoxville paramedic program luncheon. Students completing the paramedic program were recognized at the event, which was sponsored by TeamHealth.

Rowe, of Halls, is a full-time firefighter, member of the Tennessee Army National Guard and a father of four. He started Roane State’s program in August 2015.

“I love emergency medicine, being there when a patient is at a critical point and making a difference,” Rowe said. “I have enjoyed the entire year. The material, the instructors, the fellow students, it has really been a joy.” [Read more…]

Roane State to offer extended business hours beginning Aug. 15

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Roane State Community College will offer extended business hours to help students get ready for the start of the new semester.

Extended hours for the Roane County and Oak Ridge campuses are:

  • Monday, August 15-Thursday, August 18, from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
  • Saturday, August 20, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • Monday, August 22-Thursday, August 25, from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

[Read more…]