Gadsden State to Help Students Prepare for International Competition

 When you purchased your first set of LEGO® construction toys, did you imagine that someday they would change the world?  Gadsden State Community College is helping a group of students from the Cherokee Career Tech Center prepare for an international competition, sponsored by the FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL), that could have world changing results.

FLL introduces young people, ages 9 to 14 (grades 4-8), to the fun and excitement of science and technology while building self-confidence, knowledge, and valuable employment and life skills. The students are challenged to think like scientists and engineers.  Alongside adult mentors, FLL teams solve problems using engineering concepts, presentation techniques, and robots.  The teams develop amazing solutions every year to real-world problems with their FLL Projects.

The Cherokee Career Tech students previously won a statewide competition held in Huntsville.  These students will travel to St. Louis, April 25-28, to compete in an international competition with other teams building robots out of LEGOs.  Each of the teams will build and program an autonomous robot using LEGO MINDSTORMS technology to score points in 2.5-minute matches on a themed playing field.  The teams will explore an actual problem that today’s scientists and engineers are trying to solve, develop an innovative solution to that problem, and share their findings. 

The FIRST® LEGO® League Global Innovation Award is designed to encourage and assist FLL teams to further develop their innovative solutions to real-world problems.  This year, the FLL Food Factor® season challenged students around the world to solve a food safety problem.  Any registered FLL team may enter their food safety invention to win the opportunity to take their idea to the next level. 

To gain some experience with real robots and learn more about programing the robots, these students will spend the day at Gadsden State on January 27, working in the Bevill Center on the East Broad Campus.  Gadsden State welding instructor, Frank Miller, will mentor the students helping them with tasks similar to those they will perform at the international competition.  Miller said, “This is a great opportunity for these students.  The competition challenges them to think outside the box and enforces the importance and value of teamwork.”  He is excited about the opportunity and optimistic about the success of Team Cherokee and sponsor Randy Rainey as he has followed them throughout their previous competitions.

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Etowah County Career Fair Feb. 3

Gadsden State will host an Etowah County Career Fair on February 3, from 8:00 a.m. to noon in Beck Field House on the Wallace Drive Campus. Juniors and seniors from area schools are invited, and over 1,000 students are expected to attend.  The event will provide an opportunity for the students to explore various careers of interest.

The students will have the opportunity to speak with representatives from dozens of different careers, including banking, automotive manufacturing, construction, radio, news reporting, nursing, electrical engineering, police work, and many more. Each representative will talk with students one-on-one or in small groups about their profession and answer questions concerning their work.  Some representatives will have displays and handouts which include other instructional materials.

Laura Swann, Gadsden State career coach, said “Our goal is to expose students to as many career opportunities as possible. Many times they see and consider only the popular ‘go-to’ careers and don’t stop to realize that there are numerous high-wage careers in demand that might interest them.”

For further information, contact Marian Haynie at 256-439-6861 or mhaynie@gadsdenstate.edu.

To students:

Gadsden State has moved Cardinal Alert to a new system.  The new system is at https://gadsdenstate.bbcportal.com.

First, you will need to sign up for a new account.  (go to the “sign me up” link)  Use any email address to set up the new account.

An email will be sent to this address to confirm your registration.  Click the link in the email to be directed back to the login page.

Next, you will be asked for an Identification Code for a Contact.  Your unique code is your 9 digit student number .  Next, you will be asked for the following:

‘Please enter ONE piece of information on record for this contact that we can use to verify your relationship to them. You can enter a phone number (xxx-xxx-xxxx) or e-mail address.’

ENTER YOUR student.gadsdenstate.edu email address.  Your name and Gadsden State Community College should appear.  Click the ‘Associate’ button.

Now, you can enter additional email address and phone numbers or update any information.

One will simply login after this initial procedure.

Email jdjohnson@gadsdenstate.edu or call Jay Johnson at 256-549-8340 if you need any help or have any questions.

Gadsden State Community College will host its annual Transfer Day on January 26 at the Ayers and Wallace Drive campuses. The Ayers session will be held from 8:00-9:30 a.m. in the Cain Learning Resource Center. The Wallace Drive session will be held in the Inzer Student Center Cafeteria from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Representatives from four-year colleges and universities will be present to answer questions and provide prospective students with information on scholarships, financial aid, and housing. The event is free and open to the public.  For more information contact Dr. Cheryl Cephus-Vickers at ccephus-vickers@gadsdenstate.edu or call 256-549-8376.

All-USA Academic Team Nominations Open

Gadsden State Community College is accepting nominations for the All-USA Community College Academic Team which honors outstanding students from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines.

In partnership with USA TODAY, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, Phi Theta Kappa and the American Association of Community Colleges, nearly $500,000 in stipends will be awarded.   The All-USA Academic Team nominees will be eligible for statewide recognition and scholarships.  Each All-Alabama Team member will receive a medallion, a scholarship, and a state proclamation recognizing scholarly achievement.  The highest scoring nominee from each state will receive a $2,000 stipend.

To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled in a community college, have at least a 3.5 Grade Point Average and be on track to earn an Associate degree by August 31, 2012.  To submit an application, students should go to http://my.ptk.org/edge/.  Login using your Phi Theta Kappa login information or create a non-member account. Students do not have to be a member of Phi Theta Kappa to be eligible.  When logged in, select the fall scholarship link, answer the eligibility questions and then open the application. The enrollment key for the process is:  MDQ4OTY39445.  Please note the enrollment key is case sensitive, you may want to copy and paste it instead of retying it; also, be aware it is the letter O and not a zero.  All items on the application must be completed by November 1, 2011.

If further assistance is needed, Please contact Dale Hill at dhill@gadsdenstate.edu or (256) 549-8375 or Melissa Davis at mdavis@gadsdenstate.edu or (256) 549-8383.

This is a great opportunity to receive national and state recognition.  Thank you for taking time to complete the application.

We at Gadsden State are excited to launch a new web portal.  This portal will allow students to maintain their passwords securely and set up security questions used for password recovery.   After login, the portal provides single sign on access to the Online Student System, Blackboard and student email.  This portal is currently in beta release and we need your help to test.  The username and password is the same one would use for email and Blackboard.  Simply go to http://my.gadsdenstate.edu to get started.

For more information about the portal, visit https://my.gadsdenstate.edu/web/mycampus/getting-started.

To report problems with the portal, visit https://my.gadsdenstate.edu/web/mycampus/contact.

Gadsden State Seeking Participants for Oral History Project

In 2015, Gadsden State Community College will celebrate a variety of anniversary milestones. 

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Gadsden State Students Receive Scholarships

The Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) recently awarded $16,500 in scholarships nationally to twelve students pursuing a career in the industry.  Two students from Gadsden State were chosen to receive this prestigious award. Bradly Higdon of Higdon was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and Justin Chandler of Gadsden received an award of $1,000. Both students are in their second semester pursuing a degree in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration. 

AHRI’s Rees Scholarship Foundation was established to honor the legacy of Ted Rees, a former president of the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI), a predecessor organization to AHRI, for his efforts to encourage HVACR manufacturers to provide support to strengthen career and technical school education nationwide.  It is designed to assist with the recruitment and competency of future heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) and water heating technicians.  Eligible students must be enrolled in an institutionally accredited schools preparing for a career in either residential or light commercial air conditioning, heating, and water heating; or commercial refrigeration.  Since 2003, the Rees Scholarship Foundation has awarded nearly $175,000 in scholarships to 97 deserving students.

The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Program is taught by Tim Hardy on the Valley Street Campus and Eric Campbell on the Ayers Campus.  The two Gadsden State instructors learned of the opportunity for students to apply for these awards while attending an AHRI workshop.  

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HVAC Program Receives Accreditation & Equipment from PAHRA

The Gadsden State Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Program recently received an accreditation award from the Partnership for Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation (PAHRA).  PAHRA is an independent third party organization that is a partnership between HVACR educators and the HVACR industry which awards accreditation to programs that have met and/or exceed industry-validated standards.

In addition to the accreditation from PAHRA, the organization donated equipment to the Gadsden State program, including Bryant Gas Furnaces, package air-conditioners and package heat pumps for instructional purposes.  “The award of accreditation from this organization objectively affirms the high educational quality of our program after being compared to national industry standards,” said Tim Green, dean of technical education and workforce development.  The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Program is taught by Tim Hardy on the Valley Street Campus and Eric Campbell on the Ayers Campus.

AHRI is the trade association representing manufacturers of air conditioning, heating, commercial refrigeration, and water heating equipment.  An internationally-recognized advocate for the industry, AHRI develops standards for and certifies the performance of many of these products.  AHRI’s 300 member companies manufacture quality, efficient, and innovative residential and commercial air conditioning, space heating, water heating, and commercial refrigeration equipment and components for sale in North America and around the world.

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Reagan Selected for Hall of Fame

Gadsden State Band Director Billy E. “Rip” Reagan has been selected as the 2012 Alabama Music Educators Hall of Fame Inductee.  He will be recognized for his accomplishments and inducted into the Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Alabama Music Educators Association Conference held in Montgomery on January 20. 

Reagan has been the director of the Gadsden State Show Band for 26 years.  In addition to his teaching, he has been the principal music arranger for this group that performs for college functions, community events, and recruiting shows.  During his many years as a music educator, Reagan has become a legend throughout the south and his influence known internationally.  Many of his students have become music educators or perform professionally. 

He previously served as band director for Crossville High School, Corinth High School in Mississippi, Albertville High School, and Emma Sansom High School.  He is widely known for his tenure at Emma Sansom, where he directed the band for twenty five years and was principal for five years. During his teaching span at Emma Sansom his accomplishments were vast and include 24 years of superior concert ratings with over 200 superior ratings at marching competitions. The Emma Sansom Band won the National Veterans of Foreign War Championship three times (1957–1959) by competing in Miami, New York, and Los Angeles.  These awards were instrumental in recognizing Gadsden as the City of Champions.  The Sansom Band also won the Greatest Band in Dixie Award, an extremely prestigious competition held in New Orleans in 1963, 1965, and 1967.  In addition to these highly competitive events, the band performed for many televised professional and semi-professional football games including the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and Birmingham Stallions. 

Reagan shared his musical talent internationally by conducting the Dixie American Youth Band (1969–1970).  This goodwill musical tour took students from seven southern states to Europe to entertain audiences at schools and public events throughout the country.  He is also known internationally for his music adjudicating abilities in Europe and Holland as well as throughout the United States.

Whether you refer to him as Rip, Rippus, Daddy Rip or the most widely accepted Mr. Reagan, he is definitely known as a legend throughout the community for his big heart, knowledge of music, abundance of honesty, but mostly for his desire to educate and entertain.

Skills Training Division Receives Grant Award

 Gadsden State was one of fourteen agencies/institutions selected to receive funding to be used toward empowering parents and caregivers to make healthy and responsible choices that improve the social, psychological and financial well-being of their children.  The Pathways for Responsible Fatherhood Alabama grant award of $100,950 is provided by the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention–Children’s Trust Fund and the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services. 

The funds will be utilized by offering tuition assistance to students meeting specific criteria for programs offered in the Skills Training Division.  In addition to these programs which include air conditioning/refrigeration, auto body repair, machine tool, office careers, and welding, there will be weekly classes concerning healthy relationships and parenting skills available at no cost for those who qualify.  These services are available to all eligible persons regardless of race, gender, age, disability, or religion. 

For more information concerning these programs and enrollment contact Suzanne Zahorscak at 256-549-8640 or szahorscak@gadsdenstate.edu.