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Reconnect student balances work, family, learning as she seeks degree at Roane State

Posted at 3:51 am March 10, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Erin Valdez

By Bob Fowler Roane State staff writer

Erin “Tisha” Valdez, a school bus driver in Oak Ridge, enjoys one Roane State professor’s class so much she asked her employer for two afternoons off each week so she could attend.

The company, First Student, was short on drivers but agreed, enabling Valdez to take Dr. Isabel Benitez-Ramirez’s Anatomy and Physiology II class this semester. “She is amazing,” Valdez said of Benitez-Ramirez.

Sticking with Benitez-Ramirez after taking the initial Anatomy and Physiology class with her “is very important to me,” said Valdez. “I love her teaching style.”

“Since the beginning of her time as my student, she has shown great interest in learning,” Benitez-Ramirez said of Valdez. “She always participates in classes and even helps some of her classmates to understand the material. She is one of the best students in my classes.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Education, Front Page News Tagged With: Anna Davis, Erin "Tisha" Valdez, Isabel Benitez-Ramirez, Kimberly Scarbrough, Reconnect grant, Roane State Community College, Tennessee Reconnect

Thanks to Tennessee Reconnect grant, school bus driver pursuing her dream to become a teacher

Posted at 11:10 am March 30, 2019
By Owen Driskill Leave a Comment

Gioconda "Gio" Duran

Gioconda “Gio” Duran

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

This school bus driver is hitting the books in between routes in her quest to become a teacher.

Gioconda “Gio” Duran, 44, is a Tennessee Reconnect student at Roane State Community College. Thanks to the Tennessee Reconnect grant, eligible adults can now attend Roane State tuition-free.

Duran said Tennessee Reconnect “is a big reason why I wanted to go back to school.”

Her 19-year-old son, John Duran Jr., is also enrolled with scholarships at the college’s Roane County campus. [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Education, Front Page News, Top Stories Tagged With: 2+2 program, bus driver, Gioconda "Gio" Duran, John Duran, John Duran Jr., Roane County schools, Roane State, Roane State Community College, teacher, Tennessee Reconnect, Tennessee Tech

Tuition-free college for adults is here: Get Reconnect Ready at Roane State May 1

Posted at 1:15 pm April 25, 2018
By Owen Driskill Leave a Comment

Roane State Community College’s Oak Ridge campus is a great place for adult students to reconnect with their education, a press release said.

And the timing has never been better. Beginning this fall, the Tennessee Reconnect grant will provide eligible adults with the opportunity to attend Roane State tuition-free.

To learn more about Reconnect, come to Roane State’s free Reconnect Ready event at the Oak Ridge campus, 701 Briarcliff Avenue, on Tuesday, May 1, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Education, Front Page News Tagged With: Roane State, Roane State Community College, Tennessee Reconnect, tuition-free college

Under way: Roane State Oak Ridge hosts Open House, Reconnect Ready

Posted at 11:33 am April 14, 2018
By Owen Driskill Leave a Comment

RSCC Coffey McNally Building Oak Ridge

The Coffey/McNally Building is pictured at the Oak Ridge campus of Roane State Community College. (Photo by Roane State)

 

Prospective students of all ages are extended a cordial invitation to an Open House at the Oak Ridge campus of Roane State Community College, which is at 701 Briarcliff Avenue in Oak Ridge.

The event is being held on a Saturday, April 14, in the atrium of the campus’s Coffey-McNally Building. It began at 10:30 a.m. with check-in.

Jim McDaniel, director of student enrollment and recruitment, said the Open House is for “anyone who wants to go to college.”

Information about the admission process and financial aid scholarships will be available. Faculty members will be on hand to discuss the college’s academic programs. [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Education Tagged With: academic programs, admission process, Anderson County annual financial report, FAFSA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid, Jim McDaniel, open house, Reconnect, Reconnect Ready, Reconnect scholarship, Roane State, Tennessee Reconnect

Tuition-free college for adults is here; Get Reconnect Ready at Roane State on March 1

Posted at 7:34 am February 22, 2018
By Owen Driskill Leave a Comment

Roane State Community College’s Oak Ridge campus is a great place for adult students to reconnect with their education, a press release said.

And the timing has never been better. Beginning this fall, the Tennessee Reconnect grant will provide eligible adults with the opportunity to attend Roane State tuition-free.

To learn more about Reconnect, come to Roane State’s free Reconnect Ready event at the Oak Ridge campus, 701 Briarcliff Avenue, on Thursday, March 1, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Education, Front Page News Tagged With: adult student, Chris Whaley, college, college application, financial aid, Reconnect, Reconnect Ready, Roane State, Roane State Community College, Tennessee Reconnect, Tennessee Reconnect grant

Roane State to host information sessions for adults interesting in going back to school

Posted at 3:21 pm June 7, 2017
By Owen Driskill Leave a Comment

Adults thinking about returning to college or enrolling for the first time can get any questions they may have answered during three upcoming meetings at Roane State Community College.

Adult learner information sessions will be Thursday, June 15, and Wednesday, July 19, in the City Room of Roane State’s Coffey-McNally Building on the college’s Oak Ridge campus.

Another session on Thursday, July 13, will be in the Raider Room in the Dunbar Building on main campus in Harriman.

All of the sessions will begin at 5:30 p.m., and they are free. [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Education, Front Page News Tagged With: adult learners, adult learning, Bill Haslam, Jim McDaniel, last-dollar scholarship, Roane State, Roane State Community College, Tennessee Reconnect, Tennessee Reconnect Act

Roane State to host special Welcome Back events for students

Posted at 12:13 am August 21, 2016
By Owen Driskill Leave a Comment

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…]

Filed Under: College, Education Tagged With: Chris Whaley, community colleges, Dennis Powers, John Ragan, Ken Yager, Kent Calfee, Randy McNally, Roane State, Roane State Community College, Tennessee Promise, Tennessee Reconnect, Welcome Back, Welcome Back celebration

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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