Oak Ridge Today

Roane State students analyze Election Commission website for hacking

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Roane State Digital Forensics Cyber Security
A team of students from Roane State Community College’s Digital Forensics class was recently requested by Homeland Security to explore the cyber hygiene vulnerability of the Election Commission website of a West Tennessee county. (Photo courtesy RSCC)

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Roane State team assesses Election Commission website for vulnerabilities

A team of students from Roane State Community College’s Digital Forensics class was recently requested by Homeland Security to explore the cyber hygiene vulnerability of the Election Commission website of a West Tennessee county, said George Meghabghab, head of the college’s computer science division.

The project was initiated by Homeland Security official James Cotter, who met with Meghabghab during July and August to flesh out the project, including expectations from each other and outcomes. Such a project is ongoing on other Tennessee election commission websites, Meghabghab said. He described the efforts as critical tasks of Homeland Security in Tennessee.

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Roane State wins $1 million grant to help mechatronics, cyber security programs

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By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

Roane State Community College has won a $999,950 state grant that will be used to expand dual enrollment studies in mechatronics and computer technologies at 11 high schools in four rural East Tennessee counties. Dual enrollment courses enable high school students to obtain college credits.

The community college’s grant proposal, titled “Fast Forward for Success,” was one of 28 grants selected for funding out of 61 requests filed under the Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education program.

That effort prioritizes learning opportunities in rural counties and enhances career and technical education statewide, according to an announcement from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s office.

“These funds directly support our workforce development efforts in distressed and at-risk counties and are a key component of our strategy to prioritize rural Tennessee,” Lee said in the announcement.

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New telescope offers peeks into universe’s distant reaches

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John Jaruzel, who donated the powerful telescope shown above to Roane State Community College’s Tamke-Allan Observatory, helps a young visitor get acquainted with the device. (Photo courtesy RSCC)

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

An eight-foot-tall telescope with an 18-inch diameter lens has been donated for use at Roane State Community College’s Tamke-Allan Observatory, and it offers the clearest views yet of the universe’s distant reaches.

Like the two powerful telescopes already in place at the observatory, the latest telescope is a donation, this time from former long-time Alaska resident and avid amateur astronomer John Jaruzel, who now calls Oak Ridge home.

“It is by far the most powerful telescope (at Tamke-Allan) in terms of collecting light,” said David Fields, director of the observatory. “This scope will enable the viewer to see extremely dim stars and objects,” he said.

“This is a wonderful thing to be able to offer the students views of such distant celestial objects,” Fields said of the gift. “It’s inspiring.”

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Roane State art professor’s ceramics showcased in national magazine

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This ad featuring some of the whimsical creations of Roane State Community College art professor Bryan Wilkerson was featured in a recent edition of “Ceramics Monthly.” (Photo courtesy RSCC)

A Roane State Community College art professor’s whimsical creations—including grinning skulls and mystical creatures on ceramic mugs and bowls, and a brightly painted ceramic wheel—are showcased in a page ad in “Ceramics Monthly,” the nation’s foremost magazine devoted to clay artistry, a press release said.

Bryan Wilkerson’s handiwork, including his painting of a pottery wheel, are featured in the ad taken by AMACO Brent, also known as the American Art and Clay Company, in celebration of the company’s 50th year in business.

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Winter term launches at Roane State with online courses

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By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

It’s new at Roane State: a winter term with numerous online classes that can help boost grade point averages or enable students to finish college faster.

Classes ranging from American Government to Microbiology will be offered during the four-week program, a press release said. College officials touting the offering describe it as a way to “Succeed Ahead of Schedule.”

Registration for the innovative program is from November 11 through December 5, and the classes will run from December 16 through January 16, with two days off for both the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

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‘Lighting of the Tree’ is Nov. 25 in Roane County

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By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

It’s Roane County’s “Lighting of the Tree,” and it’s a highlight of the holiday season in the region.

Now in its third year, the family-oriented event is at Roane State Community College at 276 Patton Lane in Harriman, and it starts at 6 p.m. on Monday, November 25.

The event features the lighting of a huge Christmas tree and a “Festival of Trees,” featuring Christmas trees decorated by school groups, churches, civic groups, businesses, and individuals.

Also scheduled are holiday-themed games, refreshments, selfies with Santa, and Christmas carols sung by local choirs.

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All things—even fish—grow in Nancy’s greenhouse

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Roane State Community College Greenhouse Oct 2 2019
Nancy Humphreys is pictured inside the Roane State Community College greenhouse, admiring one of the many flowering plants inside. (Photo courtesy Roane State)

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

Most folks don’t know Roane State Community College has a greenhouse, much less its location.

But the hummingbirds do.

It’s not unusual for the tiny birds to dart among the bright flowers within— hovering with their wings a rapid-fire blur as they sip nectar from the blooms—after Nancy Humphreys opens the greenhouse door each morning.

Brilliant-hued flowering plants, some of them exotics, share space on wooden tables with succulents, tomatoes, eggplants, carrots, orchids, and even pineapples.

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New at Street Painting Festival: Take the STEAM challenge

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Artists turned Jackson Square into a work of art last year at the annual Rotary Club of Oak Ridge Street Painting Festival. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, at Jackson Square. (Submitted photo)

The 20th annual Oak Ridge Street Painting Festival at Jackson Square on Saturday will offer a new challenge this year, a press release said.

The October 19 event will be held in historic Jackson Square, and it will offer the first STEAM Challenge. STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

The festival will, as always, offer prizes for artists in each category, the press release said. But this year, artists in any category can win an all-ages, all-categories bonus prize as part of the STEAM challenge.

The Street Painting Festival is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge. It’s a fundraiser for Roane State Community College scholarships.

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UT-Battelle provides scholarships for Roane State Middle College students

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ORNL UT-Battelle Roane State Middle College Scholarship

From left, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Thomas Zacharia is joined by Roane State Middle College students Layla Malenovsky of Kingston and Anthony Ciccarelli of Kingston, along with Roane State President Chris Whaley, for the presentation of the $34,000 UT-Battelle Scholarship for Roane State Middle College students. (Photo courtesy Roane State)

Twelve Roane County students participating in Roane State Community College’s Middle College have received $34,000 in annual scholarships thanks to UT-Battelle, a press release said. The scholarships were made possible through a gift to the Roane State Foundation.

Roane State’s Middle College program allows high school students to take college classes in their junior and senior years and then graduate with their associate degrees and their diplomas. Middle College graduates are then able to complete their bachelor’s degrees just two years after finishing high school.

Middle College students pay for tuition through a combination of out-of-pocket funds, use of state grants, and other private scholarships, the press release said. The UT-Battelle Scholarship was established in fall 2015, and it is awarded to Middle College students from Roane County. The scholarship is administered by the Roane State Foundation. [Read more…]

Roane State hosts specialized training for Y-12 employees

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PETE_training roane state

Industrial hygiene processes was one of the topics covered as part of a training partnership between Roane State and Y-12. (Photo by Roane State)

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

Longstanding and varied partnerships between Roane State Community College and the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge entered a new phase this summer, and it may lead to a five-year funding opportunity for the community college.

Using an initial $41,000 in funding from the National Partnership for Environmental Technology Education (PETE), Roane State has been hosting and coordinating specialized training for non-bargaining unit workers at Y-12. The funding from PETE came from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/Department of Energy (NIEHS/DOE) Nuclear Worker Training Program, which provides hazardous-related health and safety training to DOE workers and contractors.

PETE is a nonprofit formed to support training programs at community and technical colleges. [Read more…]

Roane State to celebrate 20 years in Oak Ridge on Sept. 10

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Roane State Community College Oak Ridge Campus

Roane State Community College is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Oak Ridge campus with a breakfast and open house on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019, and the public is invited. (Photo courtesy Roane State)

 

Roane State Community College is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Oak Ridge campus with a breakfast and open house on Tuesday, September 10, and the public is invited.

The open house breakfast will be from 7:30-9 a.m. September 10 in the lobby and City Room of the Coffey/McNally Building at 701 Briarcliff Avenue.

The 120,000-square-foot Coffey/McNally building was dedicated on August. 13, 1999, a press release said. It’s named for Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally and former Tennessee Representative David Coffey in recognition of their contributions and leadership in the campaign for the permanent Oak Ridge campus, the press release said. The building has a library, bookstore, classrooms, office space, art laboratory, and a music lab. [Read more…]

NSF grant of about $300,000 to support Roane State’s mechatronics program

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National Science Foundation Mechatronics Grant

Roane State mechatronics program director Gordon Williams, right, works with students at the college’s Clinton Higher Education and Workforce Training Facility. The mechatronics program prepares students for careers in advanced manufacturing. For more information, visit roanestate.edu/mechatronics or contact Williams at (865) 354-3000, ext. 4899, or [email protected]. (Photo by Roane State)

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

Roane State Community College has been awarded a three-year grant to make sure the community college’s mechatronics students have a well-rounded technical education to benefit themselves and their future employers.

The National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education grant is for $299,793. It runs through June 30, 2022.

“A great team got this project off the ground and will keep it moving forward to benefit students,” said Shelley Esquivel, the community college’s grants specialist who submitted the proposal to NSF. [Read more…]