Oak Ridge Today

Roane State has Sept. 5 ribbon-cutting for new health, sciences building

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Goff Health Sciences and Technology Building

The ribbon-cutting for the new Goff Health Sciences and Technology Building at Roane State’s Oak Ridge campus will be Friday, September 5, at 8:30 a.m. The public is invited. (Submitted photo)

 

Roane State Community College will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, September 5, for the new Goff Health Sciences and Technology Building at the college’s Oak Ridge campus.

The event begins at 8:30 a.m. The public is invited.

“We would love for the community to see the new building and to meet our faculty and students,” said Melinda Hillman, Roane State vice president of advancement and community relations. “Students will have wonderful learning opportunities in the new building, all thanks to the community’s support for this project. We are deeply appreciative and invite everyone to celebrate with us.”

The 64,000-square-foot, three-story building will help ease overcrowding at the Oak Ridge campus at 701 Briarcliff Avenue. Originally designed for 1,800 students, the campus has 2,500 students. The building will accommodate 500 students and give Roane State the space to offer new programs in health care and technology. [Read more…]

Roane State to offer extended business hours beginning Aug. 18

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Roane State Community College Harriman Campus

The main Roane State Community College campus in Harriman. The college also has a branch campus in Oak Ridge.

Roane State Community College will offer extended business hours to help students get ready for the start of fall classes, which begin August 25.

Extended hours for the Roane County and Oak Ridge campuses will be:

  • Monday, August 18-Thursday, August 21, from 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m.,
  • Saturday, August 23, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and
  • Monday, August 25-Thursday, August 28, from 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

The Roane County and Oak Ridge campuses will maintain usual business hours (8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) on Fridays, a press release said. [Read more…]

Roane State welcomes first Middle College students

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Roane State Middle College Students

Roane State Community College’s first Middle College students enjoyed their orientation during their first day on campus. (Submitted photo)

 

More than 30 students from Roane County schools will have a chance to graduate from high school with a diploma and a two-year associate degree through Roane State Community College’s first Middle College, which is launching this fall at the main campus in Harriman.

For years, Roane State has offered dual studies courses, which allow high school students to earn some college credit while in high school. Middle College, created in partnership with Roane County Schools, offers students an opportunity to complete 60 hours (four semesters) of college credit, more courses than most students can typically take through dual studies alone.

After earning an associate degree in high school, students who attend a university could start as juniors and finish their bachelor’s degree just two years after high school. [Read more…]

Fee deadline is Aug. 11 for registered Roane State students

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Roane State Community College Harriman Campus

The main Roane State Community College campus in Harriman. The college also has a branch campus in Oak Ridge.

Registration is under way for the fall 2014 semester at Roane State Community College.

Students need to be aware when they register that the college has an August 11 fee deadline. Students who have registered must pay their fees by August 11 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern to keep their class schedules.

Students can pay fees at www.roanestate.edu. They need to log in to RaiderNet and click “Your Account” to get started.

Students can pay by phone using major credit or debit cards. The number is (865) 882-4515. Students may also pay by personal check, money order, or major credit or debit cards at any Roane State campus or by mailing payments to the Business Office, 276 Patton Lane, Harriman, TN 37748-5011. Students are advised to please not mail cash and to include their student ID number (called their “R number”) with their mailed payment. [Read more…]

Honors: Hicks named Roane State paramedic student of year

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Terry Hicks Roane State Paramedic Student of the Year

Roane State paramedic student of the year Terry Hicks (center) is congratulated by his mother, Tangiela (left), Dr. Roger Brooksbank with TeamHealth Emergency Medicine (back), and Roane State paramedic program director David Blevins (right). (Photo by RSCC)

 

Terry Hicks of Robbins was named Roane State Community College’s paramedic student of the year.

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

Hicks started as a volunteer firefighter. As he worked his way through the ranks, he became interested in pursuing education in emergency medicine.

“It’s been long, committed hours,” Hicks said of the year-long paramedic program. “You have to stay in the books, stay studying, and stay on top of your clinicals. My teachers at Roane State are fantastic. They make sure we are ready, and they do a fantastic job.” [Read more…]

Roane State professor develops online course he will teach while living under the sea

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Bruce Cantrell

Bruce Cantrell

Roane State Community College biology professor Bruce Cantrell has always wanted to teach a course on living under the sea.

He developed a fascination with the sea years ago while serving in the Navy. Books about undersea exploration line his office shelves. A promotional poster for the famed Jacques Cousteau-directed documentary “World without Sun” hangs on his wall.

This fall, Cantrell will finally have a chance to teach Roane State students about living and working under the sea. And he’ll do it while he actually lives and works under the sea.

Cantrell and faculty member Jessica Fain will live and teach from an underwater habitat for 72 days this fall. While they live in a space the size of a college dorm room submerged about 25 feet, Cantrell and Fain will host weekly shows titled “Classroom Under the Sea.”

The shows, presented in partnership with the Marine Resources Development Foundation in Key Largo, Florida, will feature scientists and explorers and will cover topics such as underwater archeology and ocean exploration. [Read more…]

Roane candidates discuss DOE funding, airport, DARE, technology

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Roane County Candidate Forum

A large standing-room-only audience attends an election forum for Roane County candidates on Tuesday at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge. (Photo by Sara Wise)

 

Roane County candidates in four contested races—county executive, sheriff, circuit court judge, and circuit court clerk—discussed issues ranging from federal funding for U.S. Department of Energy work to anti-drug D.A.R.E. programs in local schools during a standing-room-only forum in Oak Ridge on Tuesday.

The forum was at Roane State Community College. Freelance reporter Sara Wise covered it for Oak Ridge Today. Here’s a summary of what the candidates said.

County Executive

County executive candidates Mike Farmer and incumbent Ron Woody both attended the forum.

When asked about the Plateau Partnership Park, Farmer said Roane County has “several million dollars” invested in the Roane Regional Business Technology Park. He said that this technology park, as well as the Plateau Partnership Park, is important to the county from an economic standpoint. [Read more…]

Reminder: Roane candidates at election forum tonight

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Roane County candidates have been invited to an election forum in Oak Ridge tonight (Tuesday night).

Candidates who have been invited include those in contested races in Roane County for county executive, sheriff, circuit court clerk, circuit court judge, public defender, and Roane County School Board District 3/4, which includes Oak Ridge, have been invited to speak and answer questions.

Unopposed candidates for county attorney, county clerk, trustee, register of deeds, chancellor, criminal court judge, district attorney general, general sessions judges, and County Commission District 4 will be introduced.

The forum is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge. It starts at 7 p.m. in the City Room (A-111) at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge. The college is at 701 Briarcliff Avenue. [Read more…]

Children’s Clinic to donate helmets at Velo Classic bike race, wellness fest

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Oak Ridge Velo Classic

Professional and top amateur males race in a previous Oak Ridge Velo Classic. (Photo submitted by Lou Rabinowitz)

The Children’s Clinic of Oak Ridge is donating more than 20 children’s bicycle helmets to be distributed at the seventh annual UCOR Oak Ridge Velo Classic Bicycle Racing Event and Wellness event this weekend.

The Wellness event is scheduled for Sunday, July 27, at the Horizon Center. It will feature a “Kids Bike Rodeo” that will emphasize safe bicycle handling and skills games for children age nine and under, a press release said. Helmets donated by the Children’s Clinic will be distributed to children who need one at no charge.

In addition, Roane State Community College is giving away a limited number of T-shirts to Kids Rodeo participants, and all children who participate and stay to watch the Pro/1/2/3 criterium race beginning at 1:30 p.m. will be entered to win one of two $50 gift cards donated by R&R Properties.

The Kids Rodeo is a “drop in” event. Parents can bring children anytime between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.. A short “Kids Race” will take place on part of the criterium race course at Horizon Center immediately following the Kids Rodeo. Parents are encouraged to bring a camera to take pictures of children posing on the podium with Velo Classic competitors including 2014 Tennessee State Road Race Champions and 1996 Olympic Bicyclist Kent Bostic. [Read more…]

Anderson Commission Chair Fritts seeks re-election

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Chuck Fritts

Chuck Fritts

Chairman Chuck Fritts is seeking re-election to the Anderson County Commission, representing District 1. District 1 includes the Bull Run and Claxton precincts.

“It has truly been an honor and a privilege to represent the residents of District 1 on the Anderson County Commission,” Fritts said in a press release. “I take very seriously the trust that you have placed in me, and it is my desire that you will allow me to continue to serve you and, working with my fellow commissioners, to move Anderson County forward.”

First elected in 2002, Fritts said he brings valuable experience, knowledge, and leadership to the Anderson County Commission and has worked hard to represent the residents of District 1.

“He has taken this position very seriously and has worked long hours to do the job he felt he was elected to do,” the press release said. “He is not only well-known throughout Anderson County, but also throughout the state of Tennessee.” [Read more…]

Roane Chamber has candidate forum Tuesday evening

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Roane State Community College Harriman Campus

The Roane County Chamber has a candidate forum on Tuesday evening at Roane State Community College in Harriman, pictured above.

The Roane County Chamber has a candidate forum on Tuesday evening. It will feature candidates for Roane County executive, sheriff, Roane County Commission in District 4 (Oliver Springs), and Democratic and Republican candidates for Tennessee House of Representatives.

The forum will also feature candidates for County Commission, School Board, and City Council in Harriman, Kingston, and Rockwood.

The forum starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Roane State Community College’s O’Brien Theatre at 276 Patton Lane in Harriman. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the forum is expected to last until about 8:30 p.m. [Read more…]

Roane State honor society members take part in national conference at Disney World

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Roane State Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Conference

Roane State Phi Theta Kappa members, from left, Miranda Chase, Shawn Van Horn, and Georgette Boozer take a break from all the fun at the honor society’s national conference at Walt Disney World this spring. (Submitted photo)

 

Representatives of Roane State Community College’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society unleashed their inner nerd at the society’s national conference, “NerdNation 2014,” at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for two-year colleges.

Roane State PTK chapter president Georgette Boozer said attending the national conference offered “a chance to explore leadership potential with college peers and a way to have fun with people from all over the country.”

Boozer and fellow PTK members Miranda Chase and Shawn Van Horn attended education sessions, networked with fellow students, and heard renowned speakers such as polar explorer Alison Levine and oceanographer Robert Ballard, who discovered the Titanic in 1985.

The conference was titled “NerdNation” to celebrate the idea that it’s cool to be smart. Pop culture, through shows such as “The Big Bang Theory,” and fashion—bow ties are in, and horn-rimmed glasses are back—celebrate nerd style, or “geek chic.” [Read more…]