NOVEMBER 2013 WVNCC Inducts New PTK Members Ten students at West Virginia Northern Community College have been inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, the academic honorary society at two-year institutions. Front, from left, are Melissa Jones, Lisa Park, Amy Hollingshead, Jasmyn King, Nicole Williamson and PTK Faculty Advisor Mark Goldstein. Back, from left, are PTK Faculty Advisor Dr. Pam Sharma, Sandy Daniels, Charles Ballato, Connie Snodgrass, Linda Tagg, Jessica Rush and WVNCC Chapter President Danielle Wojtasek. The induction ceremony was held in the B&O Building auditorium on the Wheeling campus. Phi Theta Kappa has recognized academic excellence at the two year college since 1918. The society is comprised of more than 1,200 chapters at community, technical and junior colleges in all 50 states, Canada, Germany, Japan and U.S. territories abroad, making it the largest and most prestigious honor society serving two year colleges internationally.
Wheeling Campus WVNCC IR Director Elected President Pam Woods, institutional research director at West Virginia Northern Community College, has been elected president of the West Virginia Association for Institutional Research. Woods, a Moundsville resident, explained the association is in its early stages and will begin soon the process of becoming an official state chapter of the national Association for Institutional Research. Members of the group come from both four-year and two-year institutions in the state. She said the WVAIR will expedite statewide collaboration of those who are involved in the processes of data collection and analysis, including persons working in institutional research, institutional effectiveness and planning. Its primary purpose is to support and enhance data driven decision making statewide by providing a place to exchange internal processes, ideas and best practices, Woods said. We hope to later provide drive-in workshops and professional development opportunities. Woods, who has been at Northern for nearly nine years, currently is working on a master s degree in higher education administration. She earned a bachelor s degree from West Liberty University and an associate s degree in computer programming from West Virginia Northern. Britt Receives Danford Faculty Award Emeritus faculty member Tom Danford made an initial contribution late last year to create the Danford Faculty Award Fund through the WVNCC Foundation, and the first faculty member to be honored was announced at the College s fall recognition luncheon. Recipient of the first Danford Faculty Award of $100 is Joyce Britt, instructor of psychology and human services. Danford was in attendance to honor Britt during the luncheon held in October. Thus, the retired professor has made certain faculty excellence will be cited by creating an award that recognizes outstanding contributions by full-time faculty. Britt has been an adjunct faculty member at Northern since 2005, and started teaching full-time in January 2012. She has 26 years of professional experience in the social service field and has a master s degree in rehabilitation counseling from West Virginia University. She holds a bachelor of arts degree from Wheeling College and an associate in applied science from WVNCC. She is a licensed social worker in both West Virginia and Ohio. Dr. Mary Marockie, president of the WVNCC Foundation board of trustees, explained the process involved in selecting nominees for the award. She said they are recommended by the vice president of academic affairs at Northern and a committee of seven faculty members chooses the winner. Criteria for selection include teaching excellence, assessment participation, institutional service and community service, she added. Marockie said, The WVNCC Foundation was pleased to work with Professor Danford to help him realize his goal to honor outstanding faculty. We look forward to this award being made for many years to come. Danford said, The fund exceeded our initial goal of $3,000 and, hence, is currently funded for the future. As the fund grows, it is my hope that it will support some professional development activities for faculty. He explained the long-term goal is to reach $25,000 so that the fund will be endowed and will be awarded in perpetuity. As a result, the faculty award fund could support other faculty-related activities, such as national conference attendance, aside from just supporting a single faculty award. Those wishing to donate to the Danford Faculty Award should contact Rana Spurlock in the office of institutional advancement.
Robert s Rules Workshop Roger Hanshaw conducts the workshop. The WVNCC Foundation received grant funds through the West Virginia Development Office to conduct a pair of training sessions in November on Robert s Rules of Order. Rana Spurlock, institutional advancement coordinator, said the goal of the project was to increase the capacity of the WVNCC Foundation Board, Board of Governors and the members of the College s affiliate organizations to hold more organized, productive and efficient meetings. She pointed out participation in the workshops will improve their communities as many of these board members serve several other non-profits and groups. In addition, we sought to plant a seed of interest in board membership in the minds of local high school students, our communities future leaders. Spurlock said it is important that all non-profits and civic groups have the strongest leadership possible in order to hold better events, raise more funds and make wiser investment decisions. By training this diverse group of people in Robert s Rules, we are equipping them to be better board members and civic leaders in their communities as well as for WVNCC. Two workshops were held, one in the evening and one in the morning. The daytime workshop for high school participants introduced the students to board involvement. Spurlock said 22 staff members, board members and community members attend the evening session on Nov. 6. Students from Wheeling Central and Paden City high schools and Northern Middle College students attended the Nov. 7 session. Staff Member Featured Judi Hendrickson, academic affairs secretary at Northern, is featured in the winter 2013 edition of INWheeling magazine. She is pictured, along with co-author Jeanne Finstein, in the magazine issue devoted to Exploring Wheeling s Roots. The authors are described in the magazine this way: These two history buffs know Wheeling s families inside and out. They have published Walking Pleasant Valley and are soon to release Walking Woodsdale. Both books are a culmination of years of passionate research and a love of the city. Portions of the books proceeds to the Friends of Wheeling. Students watch intently as faculty member David Stoffel demonstrates how to program an Atari 2600. WVNCC Computer Club WVNCC faculty member David Stoffel has seen tremendous growth of an idea that started small and turned into the WVNCC Computer Club. The students meet with Stoffel along with other advisors David Hanes and Jeremy Doolin usually once a month to share their common love for technology. Many students join in on group play of video games while others learn new techniques dealing with programming and software. This month Doolin showed students how to program an Atari 2600. The students were excited to learn about this pop culture icon. Computer Club is opened to all students as well as local high school students who are 16 years of age or older.
New Martinsville Campus Student Thanksgiving Dinner As New Martinsville campus faculty and staff sat in classrooms and offices, they could tell it was time to enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving dinner because the aromas coming from the student lounge announced the food had arrived. Ida Williams, Student Activities, and CAB members Ariel Monroe and Tiffany Palmer helped all fill their plates with traditional Thanksgiving fare. Nonperishable food and more than $80 in monetary donations were received, which will be given to a local food pantry. Thank you to all who donated. Students enjoying the meal. James Buck, student, enjoys his food. Students stand in line for the Thanksgiving meal while Ida Williams oversees. It s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas Ariel Monroe and Elizabeth Woodruff decorated the New Martinsville campus Christmas tree. The tree brings some holiday cheer to the campus for all. Soon, the names of the children on the Secret Santa list will be placed on the tree. This Student Activities event provides the opportunity for students to submit a wish list for their children. The child s wish list can be taken by another student, employee, faculty, or group who wants to help Santa by buying some of the toys or clothing requested by the child. Bob Gibb and Ina Robinson will be receiving the wrapped gifts and contacting the parents. If anyone is interested in taking a child s wish list, please watch as they will soon be appearing on the tree. Thank you for your continued support of this wonderful part of the holiday season.
Karen Kay Buckley Presents Quilting Workshop Kansas Rose Karen was invited by one of the local quilting groups to present a workshop on the applique process involved in making the Kansas Rose (pictured above) and to share some of her quilting techniques. About 20 women set up their sewing machines, material, scissors, amazing watching the participants cut the very small petals and then use the technique shown by Ms. Buckley to press the edges so they would have a smooth edge to stitch each petal to their quilt square. The women knew they would not complete the project that day, but they left with the knowledge they needed to finish it at home. Karen Buckley completed a bachelor s degree in education and found that her love of quilting gave her the opportunity to open her own business. On Nov. 26, 1986, she opened The Country Quilt Shop in Pennsylvania where she began teaching classes, offering workshops and giving lectures. In 1989, she sold her business and continued teaching, but began designing and Karen Kay Buckley, Award Winning Quilter and Teacher An applique petal is cut out. Quilters work on their applique projects. and other quilting supplies in room 110 on the New Martinsville campus on Nov. 11 and 12. They were on campus to learn from a master teacher how to get smooth curves and sharp points with machine applique by using an invisible stitch. It was A student demonstrates the technique for making smooth edges to prepare an applique. writing about the different quilting techniques. She has published several books, written articles for quilting magazines, self-published patterns, and has developed various quilting products. She has completed more than 300 quilts and has received numerous awards. For more information, visit her website at www. karenkaybuckley.com. Preparing to sew on an applique.