Oak Ridge Today

Tennessee Tech junior grateful for Roane State Middle College experience

Posted at
By 2 Comments

Juliann Hopper

Juliann Hopper

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

As the only student in her high school class to attend Roane State’s Middle College in the fall of 2015, Juliann Hopper said her Oliver Springs High School classmates initially kidded her about it.

“They kind of gave me a hard time at first, but they got over it, and they now wish they had done Middle College too,” Hopper said.

Hopper, 19, is now a junior at Tennessee Tech, majoring in microbiology and well on her way toward a possible career as a research scientist.

She said she’d like to work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which awarded her a scholarship to help pay for three of her four Middle College semesters. [Read more…]

Take advantage of Roane State’s extended business hours

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Roane State Community College will offer extended business hours to help students get ready for the start of spring semester, a press release said.

January 2-4: The Roane and Oak Ridge campuses will be open until 6 p.m. local time. All other campuses will be on their normal Monday-Thursday schedule or Monday-Friday schedule. The Roane and Oak Ridge campuses will be open until 4:30 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, January 5.

January 8-11: The Roane and Oak Ridge campuses will be open until 6 p.m. local time. All other campuses will be on their normal schedule Monday through Thursday. [Read more…]

Roane State eligible to compete for prestigious Aspen Prize

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Chris Whaley

Chris Whaley

Roane State Community College officials will learn in May if the college is among 10 finalists for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, among the nation’s most prestigious awards for community colleges, a press release said.

Roane State is among only 150 community colleges nationwide eligible to compete to become a finalist, the press release said. The college was selected from a pool of approximately 1,000 two-year colleges using publicly available data on student outcomes.

After a rigorous application process, the top 10 finalists for the 2019 Aspen Prize will be named in May 2018. Aspen Institute officials will then conduct site visits to each of the finalists and collect additional data, the release said. A distinguished prize jury will select a grand prize winner, finalists with distinction, and rising stars in spring 2019. [Read more…]

Roane State campuses closed Dec. 16-Jan.1 for holidays

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Roane State Community College campuses will be closed Saturday, December 16, through Monday, January 1, for the holidays.

The college will reopen Tuesday, January 2, and spring classes will begin on Tuesday, January 16, a press release said.

Registration and other self-service options are available through the Roane State website at www.roanestate.edu.

For more information, visit www.roanestate.edu or call 1-866-GO2-RSCC (1-866-462-7722).

Roane State Winter Concert is Saturday at O’Brien Theatre

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Roane State Winter Concert Dec 9 2017

It’s a longstanding tradition at Roane State and a great way to celebrate the holiday season.

The annual Winter Concert featuring all of the college’s music department ensembles will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 9, in the O’Brien Theatre on the Harriman campus, and everyone is invited, said a press release from Roane State Community College.

“All donations collected at the door will help support the Roane State music programs, including our 2018 summer choir tour to Italy,” music department professor Brenda Luggie said.

“This is one of our main on-campus concerts for the season,” she said.

Featured will be the Celebration Singers, Concert Choir, Jazz Band, Stage Band, and Bluegrass Band. [Read more…]

Roane State to add men’s and women’s golf teams for fall 2018

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Chris Griffin, who was a member of the Roane State golf team when he was a student in the late 1970s, has volunteered to coach a revived squad, which he intends to compete in collegiate tournaments beginning in the fall of 2018. (Photo by Roane State)

Chris Griffin, who was a member of the Roane State golf team when he was a student in the late 1970s, has volunteered to coach a revived squad, which he intends to compete in collegiate tournaments beginning in the fall of 2018. (Photo by Roane State)

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

A Roane State alumnus with fond memories of his days on the college’s golf team wants to make those experiences available to current students as well as those who enroll at Roane State in the future.

Chris Griffin of Oak Ridge has volunteered to be the coach of a revived men’s golf squad and to also launch the college’s first-ever team of women golfers.

Current high school golfers and Roane State freshmen will be invited to try out for the squads—composed of between five and seven members each—and Griffin said plans are for competition tourneys to begin in the fall of 2018. [Read more…]

Roane County Lighting of the Tree on Monday, Nov. 20

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

It’s a holiday event for all of Roane County—and the surrounding area.

The first of what’s expected to become an annual celebration—Roane County Lighting of the Tree—will be held Monday, November 20, on the front lawn of Roane State Community College’s main campus, 276 Patton Lane.

The college is a central location in Roane County. “It’s an institution, not just of higher learning, but of our community,” said Roane State Alumni Relations Director Tamsin Miller.

There will be a large variety of holiday music, games and activities for children, and refreshments. It’s Roane County’s take on the famous tree lighting ceremony in New York City’s Rockefeller Center, Miller said. [Read more…]

Roane State Oak Ridge Library Learning Center to host ‘Long Night Against Procrastination’

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Decked out in seasonal costumes to promote the upcoming “Long Night Against Procrastination” event on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, on Roane State’s Oak Ridge campus are, from left, Becca Decker, librarian; Learning Center Specialist Robin Leib, kneeling; and Library Assistant III Christi Moss. (Photo by Roane State)

Decked out in seasonal costumes to promote the upcoming “Long Night Against Procrastination” event on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, on Roane State’s Oak Ridge campus are, from left, Becca Decker, librarian; Learning Center Specialist Robin Leib, kneeling; and Library Assistant III Christi Moss. (Photo by Roane State)

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

If you delay doing this, you will miss out.

It’s the first-ever “Long Night Against Procrastination” from 5 until 11 p.m. on Thursday, November 16, in the atrium of the Coffey-McNally Building on Roane State’s Oak Ridge campus.er

“We’re excited about it, and we’re a little nervous about getting it all together,” said Becca Decker, Oak Ridge campus librarian.

The event, patterned after an international movement that started in 2010 in Germany, is being organized by the library and the Learning Center in Oak Ridge.

It’s intended to help students with their studies during the week before Thanksgiving “so they can enjoy their holiday break,” Decker said. [Read more…]

See ‘The Odd Couple’ (female version) at Roane State’s Roane County campus

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Roane State Playmakers Shelby Stout as Olive Madison, back, and Courtney Briley as Florence Unger, front, rehearse for upcoming performances of 'The Odd Couple,' Nov. 10-12 and Nov. 17-19, 2017, at the college’s main campus in Harriman. (Photo by Roane State)

Roane State Playmakers Shelby Stout as Olive Madison, back, and Courtney Briley as Florence Unger, front, rehearse for upcoming performances of ‘The Odd Couple,’ Nov. 10-12 and Nov. 17-19, 2017, at the college’s main campus in Harriman. (Photo by Roane State)

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

It’s an update of a classic comedy about a slob and a neat freak living together in disharmony, but this time the characters are female.

It’s Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple (Female Version),” and the curtain went up on the Roane State Community College Playmakers’ adaptation on Friday, November 10, for a two-week run in the O’Brien Theatre on the college’s main campus in Harriman.

“I’ve been wanting to do a Neil Simon play for a while,” said Jonathan Chemay, Roane State theatre technician, who’s directed three other recent Playmakers productions. “I think (Simon) was a comedic genius.”

Simon’s update of his contemporary classic, about slovenly Oscar Madison and obsessive Felix Unger, was rewritten by the playwright two decades after his original version premiered.

The original Odd Couple featured Felix and Oscar hosting a poker game with four guys as guests. In the female version, Florence and Olive have a get-together with four girlfriends for a night of “Trivial Pursuit.” [Read more…]

Roane State Shooting Sports Team places first at nationals

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Coaches and athletes with Roane State’s national champion Shooting Sports Team are, from left, Assistant Coach James Wattenbarger, Head Coach Kenneth Carey, Ty McCaskey, Nathan Wattenbarger, Andy Carey, Codey Dean, Assistant Coach Kevin Hembree, and Nathan Hembree. (Photo by Roane State)

Coaches and athletes with Roane State’s national champion Shooting Sports Team are, from left, Assistant Coach James Wattenbarger, Head Coach Kenneth Carey, Ty McCaskey, Nathan Wattenbarger, Andy Carey, Codey Dean, Assistant Coach Kevin Hembree, and Nathan Hembree. (Photo by Roane State)

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

CROSSVILLE—These athletes are truly the nation’s top guns.

The Roane State Community College Shooting Sports Team won the national championship among community colleges in a competition that measures marksmanship with shotguns.

It was a quick march to the top for the team. The Roane State squad came into existence three years ago and placed third nationwide then. Last year, Roane State’s sharpshooters captured second place.

A reception for the team will be held Wednesday, November 15, at 5 p.m. CST at Roane State Cumberland County campus, 2567 Cook Road in Crossville.

To win nationally, “It takes a lot of hard work and dedication as well as a lot of years of experience in practice and competition,” said Kenneth Carey, the volunteer head coach. Assistant coaches are Kevin Hembree and James Wattenbarger. [Read more…]

All invited to open house at Roane State’s Oak Ridge campus on Thursday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

An open house is scheduled for Thursday, November 9, in the atrium of the Coffey-McNally Building at Roane State’s Oak Ridge campus at 701 Briarcliff Avenue.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for prospective Roane State students of all ages to learn about various academic programs, how to enroll, and how to apply for financial aid,” said Jim McDaniel, director of student enrollment.

The program will begin at 6 p.m. Information about curricula, admissions requirements, financial aid, the state’s new Reconnect program, and student life will be displayed on tables. Staff and faculty members will be available to answer questions, a press release said. [Read more…]

Enjoy the ‘Kindred Spirits’ Halloween show at Roane State’s main campus on Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Members of the cast of last year’s version of “Kindred Spirits” perform before a large audience. This year’s performances are at 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, in the O’Brien Theatre on Roane State’s main campus in Harriman. (Photo by Roane State)

Members of the cast of last year’s version of “Kindred Spirits” perform before a large audience. This year’s performances are at 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, in the O’Brien Theatre on Roane State’s main campus in Harriman. (Photo by Roane State)

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

It’s a seasonal extravaganza that promises something for everyone.

It’s the 2017 edition of “Kindred Spirits,” with performances at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 28, in the O’Brien Theatre on Roane State’s main campus in Harriman.

There’s drama, dancing, costume parades for all ages, and Halloween trick-or-treating, all rolled up in one fast-paced hour of entertainment, Roane State music professor Brenda Luggie said.

“Kindred Spirits” is a collaboration between the college’s music department, Cumberland County High School’s Jet Theatrix Drama Club, and the Arts in Motion Dance Studios, with locations in Midtown and Rockwood. [Read more…]