Oak Ridge Today

Roane State celebrates construction milestone for new health science campus in west Knoxville 

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Roane State Community College and its nonprofit Foundation hosted a ceremony on July 2, 2024, commemorating a major milestone in the construction of the college’s new Knox Regional Health Science Education Center in West Knoxville, when construction crews hoisted and installed the final piece of steel for the facility’s frame. (Photo courtesy Roane State)

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Roane State Community College and its nonprofit Foundation hosted a ceremony on July 2, 2024, commemorating a major milestone in the construction of the college’s new Knox Regional Health Science Education Center in west Knoxville.

Construction crews hoisted and installed the final piece of steel for the facility’s frame as part of the event. Project supporters and members of the community were invited to watch the “topping off” ceremony. Many of those in attendance signed their names to the beam prior to it being lifted into place at the top of the structure.

“This moment is symbolic as we move ever closer to opening the doors of this new campus, a facility which will help the college fulfill its mission of strengthening lives through the power of higher education and building thriving communities,” said Scott Niermann, Roane State Foundation’s executive director.

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Austin Knight Foundation donates $5,000 to Roane State’s EMS program

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Pictured above from left to right are David Blevins, Roane State EMS Program Director; Ginny Cole Davis, WATE-TV’s Living East Tennessee (and a Roane State alum); Amanda and B.J. Hillard with son Finn; and Scott Niermann, Roane State Foundation Executive Director. (Submitted photo)

A foundation established by the parents of a former Roane State Community College student recently donated $5,000 in support of the community college’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program.

William “B.J.” Hillard and Amanda Hillard said they are honoring the memory of their son, Austin Logan Knight, through the Austin Knight Foundation. Austin was killed in a car crash in 2018, just a month after enrolling in Roane State’s EMT program.

Over the last five years, Austin’s parents have worked to incorporate their late son’s passions with their efforts in the community on behalf of the foundation, a press release said. As Roane State’s EMS program director David Blevins explained, this also provides them an opportunity to tell Austin’s story.

“Austin wanted to become an EMT to help others,” Blevins said. “He was committed to his goal of learning to save lives and understood what makes the profession so special, even at such a young age. Seeing his family find new ways to help others in his memory is truly inspiring.”

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Roane State to host Virtual FAFSA Workshop on March 24

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Roane State Community College’s Financial Aid team is inviting current and potential students to a Virtual FAFSA Completion Workshop on March 24.

During the sessions, students will have the opportunity to work one-on-one with a financial aid expert to get their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) filed accurately and timely, a press release said.

Meetings last approximately one hour, with students able to choose a time slot that works best for their schedule. Session start times are available between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., but they are expected to fill quickly, the press release said. Students must register at least 24 hours before the appointment time in order to reserve a spot.

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CNC Bootcamp returns to Oak Ridge High School this spring

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Roane State and Oak Ridge High School educators joined specialized instructors over fall break for a CNC Bootcamp at the high school. The session welcomed the youngest-ever ACE training participant, Oak Ridge student Harry Shanafield, who was 13 when the camp took place. (Photo courtesy RSCC)

A popular bootcamp is returning to Oak Ridge High School this spring thanks to a recent partnership between Roane State Community College and the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI).

Roane State announced its workforce training partnership with IACMI last year, making the college just the third location in the State of Tennessee to offer specialized no-cost machine tool training opportunities through America’s Cutting Edge (ACE), a press release said.

ACE is a joint Department of Defense and Department of Energy effort launched in 2020 to re-establish American leadership in the machine tool industry through transformative thinking, technology innovation, and workforce development, the press release said.

Roane State and Oak Ridge High School educators joined specialized instructors during fall break for a CNC Bootcamp at the high school. The session welcomed the youngest-ever ACE training participant, Oak Ridge student Harry Shanafield, who was 13 when the camp took place.

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Covenant Health donating land for Roane State health science center

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Covenant Health is donating about 10 acres of land for Roane State Community College’s new $75 million regional health science training center in west Knox County.

The Knox Regional Health Science and Simulation Center will be along Sherill Boulevard, across the street from Parkwest Medical Center. That hospital and medical center is near the intersection of Interstate 40 and Pellissippi Parkway (State Route 162).

Officials from Roane State Community College, the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Knoxville, and Covenant Health will celebrate the land transfer on Friday.

The new center was announced in early 2022. Roane State said project construction is expected to begin later this year.

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Roane to Tech paves path for transfer students

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Cheyenne McAbee

A relatively new program called Roane to Tech allows students to transfer from Roane State Community College to Tennessee Tech University to complete their last two years of college, and it provides students additional opportunities, a press release said.

The program began in 2021, and it guarantees all Roane State graduates admission to Tech, the press release said. It also provides a smooth transition for those students. The transfer students are known as the Golden Raiders, a combination of Tech’s Golden Eagles and RSCC’s Raiders.

The average savings for those who participate in the program would be close to $6,000 per year for tuition, according to TTU Director of Admissions Frank Tittle.

“There are several benefits to the Roane to Tech program, such as a waived Tennessee Tech application fee, students have access to a university advisor, their degree plans are predefined, dual admission to tech, access to special events, and free Roane to Tech gear,” Tittle said.

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ETEC announces Muddy Boot, Young Professional winners

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Image by East Tennessee Economic Council

The East Tennessee Economic Council in December announced two winners of its Muddy Boot Award: Chris Whaley, president of Roane State Community College, and Jim Rushton, who is retired from Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Katherine Roberts, deputy director of Y-12 Production Operations for Consolidated Nuclear Security, was named the 25th recipient of the Postma Young Professional Medal.

The Muddy Boot Award pays tribute to people who make East Tennessee better through their work and community activities.

The Postma Young Professional Medal recognizes a young professional making a difference in their workplace and the community.

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Roane State will have manufacturing job fair

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Roane State Community College will host a manufacturing industry job fair this week at its Campbell County Campus. The job fair will include employers from Anderson County, Campbell County, and Clinton.

The job fair is scheduled from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, November 29.

“The manufacturing companies attending this job fair represent hundreds of job and career opportunities,” said Tracy Powers, Roane State’s Campbell County Campus director. “These employers are offering positions with great wages and benefits, including top-tier healthcare and paid vacations. What a way to start a new year with a fantastic new job.”

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Street Painting Festival raises $20K for Roane State scholarships

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Sonia Summers won the Best of Show award in the 2022 Street Painting Festival in Jackson Square in October. (Submitted photo)

The 2022 Street Painting Festival this month raised more than $20,000 to help fund scholarships for Roane State Community College students in Anderson County.

The annual festival was hosted by the Noon Rotary Club of Oak Ridge in Historic Jackson Square. The festival blends art, history, and community for a fun event in support of local students, a press release said. More than $300,000 in scholarships issued by the nonprofit Roane State Foundation have been provided since the start of the festival in 1999.

Festival sponsors make a tax-exempt donation to the Foundation, with levels ranging from $5,000 for Platinum down to $100 for Individual. Sponsors’ names are assigned to sidewalk squares upon which the artists paint pictures with chalk.

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Roane State employees receive excellence awards

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Four Roane State Community College employees have been recognized as winners of the prestigious Excellence Award bestowed by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development. (Photo by RSCC)

Four Roane State Community College employees have been recognized as winners of the prestigious Excellence Award bestowed by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development.

NISOD has been named the country’s leading provider of professional development for community college faculty, staff, and administrators by the American Association of Community Colleges, a press release said. The organization is more than 40 years old and provides faculty-focused programs and resources.

Honorees were nominated by their academic deans as well as Vice President of Student Learning Diane Ward and Roane State President Chris Whaley. Faculty and staff members chosen for the honor must demonstrate an outstanding commitment and contribution to their students and colleagues, the press release said.

The following RSCC employees were recognized this year:

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Roane State’s Rutledge earns Chancellor’s Commendation

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Jason Rutledge

Oak Ridge resident Jason B. Rutledge, a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, has received the Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor’s Commendation for Military Veterans.

The commendation was conferred in the form of a specially designed Challenge Coin, and Rutledge, 47, was nominated for the honor by Roane State Community College President Chris Whaley, a press release said.

Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Flora W. Tydings established the commendation in 2020 to honor the “service, bravery, and sacrifices of veterans in campus communities,” according to a TBR news release.

One veteran from each of Tennessee’s 37 community and technical colleges was chosen in 2021 for the annual honor.

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Roane State student helps teach famous talking bird at Zoo Knoxville

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Roane State Community College student Kinsley Cagle poses with Einstein, the Zoo Knoxville parrot that’s become a YouTube sensation with more than 24 million views. (Photo courtesy Zoo Knoxville)

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

Roane State Community College student Kinsley Cagle has a job helping teach Einstein.

That’s the moniker for the famous African grey parrot at Zoo Knoxville. Einstein is a viral superstar whose incredible antics have been viewed more than 24 million times on YouTube.

Einstein’s hilarious mimicry of noises ranging from a variety of animal sounds and calls to complete sentences is a popular attraction at the zoo’s Wild Encounters area.

“She (Einstein) can make a lot of sounds,” said Cagle, a 23-year-old Oak Ridge resident. “At times, it’s almost like having a conversation with her.”

One of Cagle’s latest training endeavors involves teaching a species of duck called hooded mergansers to voluntarily waddle into a crate for safe, secure transport.

“I was never a ‘bird person’ before this,” Cagle said, “but I like being around them.”

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