Career Conference to draw nearly 3,000 teens, Thursday, May 10

70 Years of “Students in Action” at 11th Annual Career Conference

Nearly 3,000 teenagers to attend career workshops, eco-fair, and financial aid workshops

LAKEWOOD, WA – Clover Park Technical College is opening its doors a little wider on Thursday, May 10, making way for almost 3,000 teenagers - celebrating 70 years of “students in action.”

High school teens are coming from King, Pierce and Thurston Counties and the Cities of Wenatchee, Bremerton, Rochester, Winlock, Shelton, Yakima, Morton, Carbonato, and Elma.

Thursday, May 10 marks the 11th annual Career Conference, put on to help teens think about post high school plans. “The event is designed to help students get the process started,” said Janet Holm, career conference organizer and outreach coordinator.

“Many middle and high school-aged students need to weigh their options now in order to see themselves in a specific career later,” said Holm.

This event accomplishes that.

From 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. students will experience a variety of activities including:

•        Aerospace Fair

•        Eco Fair

•        Work First Open House

•        Interactive Program Demonstrations

•        Financial Aid Workshops

•        Running Start Workshops

•        Car Care Workshops

•        Scholarship and Funding Workshops

•        Test Anxiety Workshops

•        20th Annual Car Show

•        And MUCH MORE!

The event is open to the public.

Titled, “70 Years of Students in Action,” Clover Park will hand out career conference work books with planning worksheets. After the students fill out the worksheets, they are instructed to go to www.cptc.edu/pathway to complete the career pathway project. Many schools are requiring this to be turned in as an assignment, further stressing that planning for post-secondary education is critical.

“This is a community event that encourages people to experience what it’s like to learn at a technical college,” said Dr. John Walstrum, president of Clover Park. “It is a demonstration of the wide range of programs offered in allied health, technology, skilled trades, and business fields.”

Visit www.cptc.edu/outreach to download the career conference workbook.

###

About Clover Park Technical College:

Clover Park Technical College offers more than 50 career training degree and certificate programs in the areas of aerospace, business, computer information technology, construction and trades, health sciences, manufacturing, media, and personal care services.  The College also offers certification, online and distance learning, as well as continuing education courses. 

For more information call 253-589-5800, or visit www.cptc.edu/careers

President Walstrum receives prestigious award

 Phi Theta Kappa’s Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction

Nashville, Tennessee - Clover Park Technical College President Dr. John Walstrum received Phi Theta Kappa’s prestigious Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction.

The award is given in honor of Phi Theta Kappa’s longest serving Board Chair and a founder and long-time President of Highline Community College in Washington.  College presidents and campus chief executive officers, nominated by their Phi Theta Kappa chapter, are selected for this award.  The award is based on their outstanding support of Phi Theta Kappa. 

Dr. Walstrum was honored at Phi Theta Kappa’s Annual Convention, which took place April 12-14, 2012, in Nashville, Tennessee before an audience of nearly 3,500 students, chapter advisors, and college presidents.

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi is the largest honor society in American higher education with more than 1,280 chapters on two-year and community college campuses in all 50 of the United States, Canada, Germany, Peru, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the British Virgin Islands, the United Arab Emirates and U.S. territorial possessions. More than 2.5 million students have been inducted since its founding in 1918, with approximately 135,000 students inducted annually.

###

About Clover Park Technical College:

Clover Park Technical College offers more than 50 career training degree and certificate programs in the areas of aerospace, business, computer information technology, construction and trades, health sciences, manufacturing, media, and personal care services.  The College also offers certification, online and distance learning, as well as continuing education courses. 

For more information call 253-589-5800, or visit www.cptc.edu/careers

Secretary of State Sam Reed to visit Clover Park, other colleges

                                                                                        

Contact: Brian Zylstra

Deputy Communications Director

(360) 902-4173

                                                             

Reed to embark on his largest college civics tour

OLYMPIA…Before he retires in January, Secretary of State Sam Reed plans to go back to college – many colleges, actually.

Reed is ready to start his annual tour of college campuses statewide, encouraging students to vote and become more engaged in their communities. Reed also will emphasize civility in politics and society.

Beginning April 9, Reed will visit 45 campuses, stretching from Bellingham to Vancouver, and from Aberdeen to Pullman. It will be the largest number of schools he’s visited since beginning the springtime tradition in 2006. Reed toured 40 campuses last year.

“The college civics tour is always fun for me and students, and it’s a great way to help get them more interesting in voting and being involved,” Reed said. “I really look forward to visiting campuses across the state.”

Reed will take part in campus activities and discussions with students to encourage the state’s youngest voters to participate in elections. Among the highlights:

• At 15 campuses, Reed will either host or play in a “Civics Jeopardy” game that tests students’ knowledge of government, history, vocabulary and geography.

• During the April 12 event at Tacoma Community College, students will wear Western clothing and mustache buttons that say “Voting Looks Good on You.”

• Reed will take part in a tree-planting ceremony during his April 17 visit to Wenatchee Valley College’s Omak branch.

• Reed will present awards to students at service recognition events at Washington State University (Pullman) and Northwest Indian College on April 18, and at Central Washington University on May 1.  

“With so many key races and issues on this year’s ballot, students need to understand why voting is important, and they need to realize their collective voice is powerful when they exercise it through voting and being involved in their community,” Reed said. “A major reason why I do this tour is to explain to students why their vote makes a difference and tell them simple ways to be more civically engaged.”

Voters ages 18-24 comprise only about 5 percent of the state’s population that voted in the 2010 General Election. Those 65 and over made up 24 percent of the voter turnout in 2010, followed by ages 55-64 (23 percent), ages 45-54 (21 percent), ages 35-44 (15 percent) and ages 25-34 (11 percent).

However, 68 percent of registered voters ages 18-24 voted in the 2008 General Election, compared to just 45 percent in 2000. Reed considers that a very positive sign.      

“I’ve been encouraged to see a larger percentage of younger people voting, and I hope this year they will continue that trend,” Reed said. “Younger voters are just as impacted by what their government does as older generations.  I want them to understand that the best way to bring about change is through their ballot.”     

The college civics tour visits include:

Monday, April 9: Centralia College 9 a.m.; Clark College 2 p.m.; Washington State University Vancouver 3 p.m.; and The Evergreen State College 6 p.m.

Tuesday, April 10: North Seattle Community College 9 a.m.; Shoreline Community College 10:30 a.m.; Edmonds Community College 12 p.m.; University of Washington Bothell/Cascadia Community College 2 p.m.; Bellevue College 3:30 p.m.; and TESC Tacoma 6 p.m.  

Wednesday, April 11: UW Seattle 9 a.m.; Renton Technical College 10:30 a.m.; South Seattle Community College 12 p.m.; Seattle Pacific University 1:30 p.m.; and Seattle University 3 p.m.

Thursday, April 12: Tacoma Community College 9 a.m.; Bates Technical College 10:30 a.m.; Clover Park Technical College 12 p.m.; Pierce College (Steilacoom) 1:30 p.m.; and Pacific Lutheran University 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 17: Olympic College 10 a.m.; Wenatchee Valley College Omak 12 p.m.; Eastern Washington University 3 p.m.; Gonzaga University 5 p.m.; and Whitworth College 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 18: Spokane Falls Community College 8:30 a.m.; Spokane Community College 10:30 a.m.; WSU Pullman 12:30 p.m.; Northwest Indian College 4:30 p.m.; and Western Washington University 6 p.m.

Thursday, April 19: Bellingham Technical College 8 a.m.; Whatcom Community College 9:30 a.m.; Pierce College (Puyallup) 11:30 a.m.; Green River Community College 2 p.m.; and UW Tacoma 4 p.m.

Thursday, April 26: WSU Tri-Cities 9:10 a.m.; Columbia Basin College 10:10 a.m.; Walla Walla Community College 2 p.m.; Whitman College 3:30 p.m.; and Walla Walla University 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 1: Central Washington University 12 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Wednesday, May 2: Yakima Valley Community College 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, May 3: South Puget Sound Community College 10 a.m.

Tuesday, May 15: Grays Harbor College 11:30 a.m.

The College Civics Tour is organized by the Office of Secretary of State’s College Civics Program and funded by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), a federal law that was adopted in 2002 to help with voter education.

Note to editors and producers: Members of the media are welcome to attend the events hosted at local schools. To schedule an interview with Secretary Reed or make other arrangements, please contact Brian Zylstra at brian.zylstra@sos.wa.gov or (360) 902-4173 or David Ammons at (360) 902-4140 or dave.ammons@sos.wa.gov. For more information about specific locations of events on campuses, please contact JulieAnne Behar with the Elections Division’s Education and Outreach team at (360) 725-5795 or julieanne.behar@sos.wa.gov .

###

Clover Park Technical College students honored at Thursday ceremony

Among the best and the brightest

Clover Park Technical College students MaryJane Lustick-Conley and Scott Charette have been selected as members of the 2012 All-Washington Academic Team.

They will represent Clover Park at the All-Washington recognition event, to be held at South Puget Sound Community College on Thursday.


Each student will receive a $750 scholarship.

MaryJane Lustick-Conley, Human Services student

Mary Jane Lustick, Human Services program
Upon graduation, Mary Jane plans to use her Human Services degree by integrating it into a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources.  She is highly self-motivated and excels at every task she takes on. As a single parent, Mary Jane understands the importance of scholarships and the difference that they make.  She hopes to give back all the scholarships she has earned to help another person in the same situation.

Scott Charette, Environmental Sciences and Technology student

Scott Charette, Environmental Sciences & Technology

After a career ending injury, Scott came back to school in the spring of 2011. He is the president of the CPTC EcoClub and a member of the Associated Student Government Selection Committee. He is also a on the Pierce County Stream Team. Prior to coming to Clover Park, Scott worked as a commercial truck driver for 20 years. During this time he raised two children, coached athletics and volunteered.

The Ceremony
Members of the 2012 All-Washington Academic Team will be honored in a recognition ceremony on Thursday. Honorees will receive medallions from their college presidents.  The Governor has been invited to deliver the keynote address.

In 2012, the All-Washington Academic Team project includes 66 students representing 34 community and technical colleges in Washington state. The program has become the showcase for Washington’s community and technical colleges because it honors the academic high achievers, the men and women who have demonstrated a commitment to success in the classroom and in the communities in which they live. This recognition demonstrates the state’s commitment to scholarship and community service on the part of those attending the state’s public community and technical colleges.

Photos: Environmental Science program conducts annual waste audit

INVISTA Launch Event Set for May 1

Pair of Innovation Experts Slated to Speak

Calling all businesses. Invista Performance Solutions is now up and running on the campus of Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood. Come to the May 1 launch event and experience a pair of great speakers, lunch and networking.

Praveen Gupta, author of, “The Innovation Solution” among other titles, and an expert innovation educator and trainer, will be here along with Braden Kelley, co-founder of the world's most popular innovation web site www.innovationexcellence.com. Braden is an experienced consultant for some of the top organizations in the world.

“We are excited to feature two very important perspectives on innovation, and the opportunity to share these experts with Puget Sound Businesses, said Dr. Lisa Edwards, Global Solutions Officer for INVISTA Performance Solutions. “Business executives will take away valuable strategies for increasing innovation within their companies, which ultimately, positively impacts their competitiveness in the marketplace,” she added.

The event kicks-off with a networking lunch at 11:30 a.m. and concludes at 1:30 p.m. Both speakers will be available to sign copies of their books.

Register for the event at www.invistaperforms.org

Clover Park Technical College Foundation receives gift from the Muckleshoot Tribe

$5,000 grant will continue to build our Emergency Assistance Endowment 

Lakewood, WA – The Muckleshoot Tribe has awarded a $5,000 gift to Clover Park Technical College Foundation. The money will be used to continue to build our Emergency Assistance Endowment.

“We are grateful for the Muckleshoot Tribe’s donation,” said Dr. Debbie Ranniger, Executive Director. “The money will be used to fund our emergency assistance endowment – a fund that helps students stay in school by offering critical and timely assistance.”

The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe has long understood the importance of being proactive in meeting the needs of its community. The Muckleshoot Charity Fund has placed high priority in awarding grants to organizations throughout the region that address the unique local and regional issues facing the population.
Most Muckleshoot Charity Fund awards range from $1,500 to $5,000, allowing many agencies to benefit from the funds available. Applications for larger awards are on an invitation only basis. Profits from the Muckleshoot Casino are the sole source of funding for the Muckleshoot Charity Fund grants.

###

About the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe:
The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe is comprised of the descendants of the area's original Coast Salish peoples. The Tribe has lived in this area for thousands of years, possibly since the last glaciers receded. The Tribe's ancestral homeland, now known as the Muckleshoot Usual & Accustomed Area (or U & A), consists of a vast area stretching along the eastern and southern reaches of Puget Sound and the western slope of the Cascade Range.

About Clover Park Technical College Foundation:
The Clover Park Technical College Foundation was founded in 1992. The Foundation is a public, non-profit corporation. Clover Park Technical College and its Foundation have assisted thousands of individuals to successfully obtain their educational and career goals. Clover Park Technical College offers more than 50 career training degree and certificate programs in the areas of business, computer information and technology, health sciences, manufacturing, construction and trades, multimedia design, and personal care services.  The college also offers certification, online and distance learning, as well as continuing education courses. www.cptc.edu/foundation  

$5,000 grant aids ABE/ESL students

Clover Park Technical College has received a $5,000 grant from the College Access Challenge Grant Program from the US Department of Education. The goal is to increase retention and student success.

The grant will focus on retention and transition efforts within the ABE/GED math classes during winter and spring quarters and will provide supplemental math instruction for Adult Basic Education/English as a Second Language (ABE/ESL) students. Student Peer Mentors will provide the instruction.

The peer mentors, who have already successfully completed the coursework, will attend math classes alongside their assigned students. The mentors will organize and lead weekly study sessions focused on the material covered in class.

Mentors will also meet periodically with faculty to provide feedback about the concepts in which students are struggling.

This supplemental instruction model is intended to focus on teaching students how to study, i.e. how to take notes, and how to collaborate with other students. The instruction model is designed to be a proactive intervention.

Study sessions are open to all students.

Pierce County Colleges join to serve business through Invista Performance Solutions

Business Launch scheduled for Wednesday, January 18

Businesses or organizations that need training and education for their workers have a new resource in Pierce County. Invista Performance Solutions is the first collaboration among Pierce County colleges to serve the business community through a single point of contact.

Invista is responsible for centralized coordination of corporate education programs and services that advance businesses by increasing the skills of their workers. This partnership of colleges includes Bates Technical College, Clover Park Technical College, Pierce College District, and Tacoma Community College
The new entity streamlines the way businesses, non-profit organizations and government organizations access training and development services for their employees, according to Lisa Edwards, Global Solutions Officer for Invista.

“We’ve been talking about doing this for a long time,” she said. “Now businesses and organizations that need to develop their employees can make one call no matter where they’re located or what they need.”
Invista is based on a model used successfully by TCC’s Corporate Education Department. In the last year, TCC Corporate Education completed $1.7 million in training contracts with businesses in the region. Countywide, the colleges collectively delivered more than $2 million in training.

Invista is a member of Global Corporate College, a national network of leading colleges dedicated to serving businesses across their global footprint.  “Invista offices are now headquartered on the campus of Clover Park Technical College, and the team will create and deliver training whenever and wherever it is needed,”  Edwards said.

Invista will host a business launch on Jan. 18, 2012, at 11:30 a.m. at the Clover Park Technical College Conference Center, 4500 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood. The event will include a networking lunch and keynote from Fortune 500 consultant and author Braden Kelley, who wrote Stoking Your Innovation Bonfire. The event will focus on increasing innovation and how to prepare your business to be more innovative.

For more information, contact Invista Performance Solutions at 253.583.8861or www.invistaperforms.org 

Aerospace liaison appointed, composites and material science programs take off

Clover Park Technical College is pleased to announce the appointment of Andy Bird, Instructional Dean for Technology, Transportation and Science/Engineering as the new Aerospace Liaison.

Dean Bird’s new area of responsibility includes directing the more than $2.2 million in federal and state aerospace grants recently awarded to the College. In addition to membership on several community committees dedicated to promoting the growth of the aerospace sector Dean Bird will manage the development of new grant opportunities as well as new degree and certificate programs at the college, including a possible applied baccalaureate in this field.

Since 2008, Bird has led the College’s efforts to form a strong partnership with its aerospace industry partners, including Boeing. With the recent, steady growth of the aerospace industry, Clover Park is establishing itself as a recognized leader in aerospace career training programs. The College has been recognized for the quality of its programming and the strength of its industry partnerships.

“In today’s economic times, every college is trying to identify a niche in which it can excel,” said Lori Banaszak, Vice President for Instruction. “Thanks to our industry partners, our long history in the Aviation field, the growth of the industry today, and our well-established South Hill Aviation Campus, we have positioned ourselves for growth. Andy Bird will do a great job leading this effort.”

Andy Bird holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and a Master’s degree in Education, both from Western Washington University. He has been with Clover Park Technical College since 2007. Prior to Clover Park, Bird held leadership positions in the K-12 system as well as in the classroom teaching science and mathematics.

Clover Park has spent decades building a strong foundation in the aerospace industry beginning in the 1940’s with Professional Pilot and Aviation Maintenance Technician programs. Recently, the college has added Aerospace Composite Technician and Material Science.

Both of these new programs have waiting lists.

Grants Help Expand the Aerospace Programs

Aerospace Composite Technician program

In September, more than $2.2 million in grants were awarded to Clover Park Technical College in support of the College’s aerospace-related training programs. The news is timely considering Boeing and its subcontractors may need up to 5,000 trained workers per year in the coming years.

Clover Park Technical College successfully operates three aerospace training programs at our South Hill Campus including: Aerospace Composite Technician, Aviation Maintenance Technician, and Professional Pilot.

The Lakewood Campus offers two aerospace-related programs in Manufacturing Technologies and Material Science.

This new Material Science program provides the opportunity to pursue an AAS-T degree in Non-Destructive Testing or an AAS-T degree in Composites and/or a certificate in Eddy Current Testing. Additional certificates in Ultrasonic Testing, Radiographic Testing and Magnetic Particle/Liquid Penetrant Testing will follow in subsequent quarters.

###

About Clover Park Technical College:

Clover Park Technical College offers more than 50 career training degree and certificate programs in the areas of business, computer information and technology, health sciences, manufacturing, construction and trades, multimedia design, and personal care services.  The college also offers certification, online and distance learning, as well as continuing education courses. 

For more information call 253-589-5800, or visit www.cptc.edu/careers, www.cptc.edu/aerospace

Aerospace Composite Technician program lab at the South Hill Campus

South Hill Campus Honor Society auction benefits Angel Flight West

On December 9, the Aviation Maintenance Honor Society held a silent auction to benefit Angel Flight West. 

The Honor Society was founded in March of this year to promote a higher level of skill and professionalism in aviation maintenance.  

Angel Flight West is a not-for-profit professional airlift organization that transports people from outlying areas who require medical attention.  Twenty of the 40 aviation club members worked diligently on the auction, contributing their own time, money and manpower to raise almost $2,400.

Approximately 30 people were in constant attendance making bids on more than 50 donated items including two round-trip tickets from Alaska Airlines and a media release flight jacket from the film, "Top Gun."  

“This was the beginning,” said Ben Watson, current club president.  “We hope to make the auction an annual event.”

Aviation Maintenance Club members who helped put this event together.

Christian Holtz – Western Regional Representative, Angel Flight West

Dr. John Walstrum, President of Clover Park Technical College and his wife Penny look at some of the auction items.

Zero Energy House featured in popular blog

From the retrotec blog:

Community: Clover Park's Zero Energy House

“You just can’t stop a good idea. If you can dream it, you can achieve it. The only thing necessary is to live with a decided heart and pursue your goals without exception.” Dan Smith, Clover Park Technical College. In the parking lot of Clover Park Technical College, a zero energy house is showing students how to “build tight and ventilate right”. Step by step students are learning what it takes to build a completely off-grid conventional home, from products to installation.
Read more

Clover Park Technical College developmental education instructor receives national award

Tula Mollas, Developmental Education instructor in English and Math, has been selected to receive the 2012 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence in Teaching award.

“Tula is an exemplary instructor who exhibits a passion for her work while providing advocacy and support for every student,” said Lori Banaszak, Vice President for Instruction. “Tula’s enthusiasm, her commitment to student success, her sense of humor, and her genuine interest in her students all combine to ensure that students are offered an excellent educational opportunity within the courses she teaches,” added Banaszak.

In May, Tula will represent Clover Park at the 2012 NISOD conference in Austin, Texas. The annual Excellence Awards ceremony honors many of the world's best in higher education.

According to her nominator, “Tula not only encourages and supports her students but sets high expectations for her classes and assists students with reaching their goals.”

###

About NISOD Excellence Award:

Since its inception in 1978, the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) has emphasized the importance of teaching and leadership excellence in institutions of higher education. NISOD has worked to serve, engage, and inspire teachers and leaders through our conferences, publications, web services, partnerships, programs, and more.  For more information visit www.nisod.org

About Clover Park Technical College:

Clover Park Technical College offers more than 50 career training degree and certificate programs in the areas of business, computer information and technology, health sciences, manufacturing, construction and trades, multimedia design, and personal care services.  The college also offers certification, online and distance learning, as well as continuing education courses. 

For more information call 253-589-5800, or visit www.cptc.edu/careers