UACCM to host Conway and Perry Counties Relay for Life April 26

Did you know that the American Cancer Society’s researchers have found a cure for Childhood Leukemia? Did you know that finding this cure was possible because of funds raised at local Relay for Life events? Did you know that you could help find a cure for all cancers? How? By participating in the 2013 Conway/Perry Counties Relay for Life event on Friday, April 26.

The relay represents one’s battle with cancer; it can be a dark time for many that is very long and exhausting. We show our support to those we know who have been affected by cancer through Relay for Life. Teams will gather throughout the afternoon to start constructing their campsites to go along with this year’s theme: “Relay Around the World.” This year’s relay will feature some great live entertainment, including musical performances by Heaven’s Echoes and other talented musicians. Join us for a night packed with games, fun, and food as we celebrate life and fight for a cure for cancer!

The night will start with a dinner for cancer survivors and their caregivers at the Plaza at UACCM from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Then, the survivor lap will kick off the relay at 7:00. The treasured luminary ceremony will begin after dark, at 9:00, as we take time to reflect on those who have overcome cancer and those who lost the battle to this dreaded disease. The rest of the night will be packed with activities and entertainment, including our first-ever Midnight 5K fun run/walk! Don’t miss out on this uplifting relay experience!

Luminaries are still for sale for the Relay event (though it is past the deadline to submit a photo for the slideshow). Stop by Adams Eye Care Clinic for more information or to purchase a luminary, or purchase one at the event.

With the possibility of bad weather on Friday, we do have an inclement weather plan. We will have the Survivor Dinner as scheduled regardless of rain. At 6:30-7:00 p.m. we will assess the weather situation. If the weather dictates that we need to move inside, we will go to the Fine Arts Auditorium where we will listen to a condensed concert from Heavens Echoes, give awards to our teams, and have the luminary service. At that point, the weather situation will be assessed again, and a decision will be made as to continue the remainder of the event.

The community is invited to attend the event and join in the fun! For more information, please call Kristi Strain at 501-354-2552.

UACCM’S SOUNDSCAPE PRESENTS ‘ON BROADWAY’

The University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton’s pop group Soundscape announces its spring production, “On Broadway.” Performances are Thursday, May 2, and Friday, May 3, in the Fine Arts Auditorium of the UACCM campus.

The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with fun foods that can be found at vendor carts in New York City, including hot dogs, big pretzels, popcorn, roasted nuts, cupcakes, and more. The show will follow at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets may be purchased in advance for $10 at the student accounts window of the C. Nathan Crook University Center at UACCM. Tickets will also be available at the door the evening of the performance for $15.

“On Broadway” will feature music from Broadway shows throughout the years including selections from “Man of La Mancha,” “Wicked,” “Aida,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Gypsy,” “Into the Woods,” and much more!

Proceeds from the performances of “On Broadway” support the UACCM Music Department. For more information, call 501-977-2198 or email Cummings@uaccm.

Doug Rye to share energy efficiency methods

First Electric members will be able to ask questions of the “King of Caulk and Talk” when energy efficiency expert Doug Rye speaks at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton. The free seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. May 14 in the Fine Arts Gallery.

Rye will teach simple, feasible, commonsense and proven methods that will make both new and existing homes more efficient and that can mean more comfort and lower utility bills.

Rye hosts "Home Remedies," a show focusing on energy efficiency that airs on radio stations in several states. The licensed architect is a consultant for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas and writes a monthly column for Arkansas Living magazine on ways cooperative members can reduce their energy bills. He lives in Saline County. For more information on Doug Rye, visit the “Energy Efficiency” section of www.firstelectric.coop.

First Electric serves more than 88,000 active accounts throughout 17 counties in central and southeast Arkansas. The cooperative’s headquarters is located in Jacksonville with full-service offices in Benton, Heber Springs, Perryville and Stuttgart. For more information, call 800-489-7405 or visit www.firstelectric.coop or www.facebook.com/FirstElectric.

UACCM SUMMER REGISTRATION OPEN NOW

Many students will take advantage of attending classes at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton this summer. Space still is available for registration.

Summer school at UACCM provides a great opportunity for students to get a jump start on their degree. A variety of learners can benefit from summer classes, including those who are first-time students or ones who attend other schools during regular semesters further from home. Additionally, anyone looking to further their education for a current or prospective job and anyone looking to simply learn something new should take part in summer school at UACCM.

Not only can students complete courses in much less time than full-semester courses, the low cost of summer school makes it affordable for anyone. And with two-, four-, and eight-week course options, even someone with the busiest of schedules can attend. Class sizes are smaller than regular semester courses allowing for more personalized instruction. Parking is hassle-free in summer months as well.

Two-week May intersession courses begin May 13, Summer I four-week and eight-week terms begin May 28, and the Summer II four-week term begin July 1. Contact the UACCM Office of Admissions today for more information about enrolling in summer courses by calling 501-977-2000 or visiting www.uaccm.edu.

UACCM Theatre Department's spring play cancelled, hopes to return in fall

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the UACCM Theatre Department’s production of "Kindertransport" has been cancelled. The department hopes to bring the play to UACCM next fall.

UACCM featured on THV Garden Party March 2013

OSHA TRAINING FOR SMALL BUSINESS

The University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton Community Education Center now offers training for small businesses in compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Costs associated with an employee injury or fatality can affect a business in many ways, including increased insurance costs, lost productivity, and lower morale. If the business is not complying with OSHA regulations, heavy fines could be assessed. This course is designed as a way for owners, managers, or other key personnel of small- to medium-sized businesses to familiarize themselves with some of the basic OSHA safety requirements that apply to their business.

Attendees should come away with an understanding of the steps to take to begin developing an effective safety program for their business. After completing this course a participant should be able to:

• Describe the impact that an accident can have on a business;
• List the elements of a basic safety program for their business;
• Identify high risk areas for their employees;
• List OSHA recordkeeping and reporting requirements for businesses;
• Properly fill out and maintain an OSHA 300 log, OSHA 300A Summary, and OSHA 301 Incident Report;
• Describe how the Hazard Communication Standard applies to their business;
• Understand how to develop a MSDS book for their worksite;
• Understand how to look up OSHA standards that apply to their particular business on the OSHA Web site;
• Understand ways to organize safety responsibilities within their organization; and
• Describe workplace violence safety considerations.

Training is led by Curt Hippensteel, a full-time Petroleum Technology instructor at UACCM where he teaches Introduction to Hazard Recognition and Safety Management, Understanding OSHA Regulations – Basic and Health, Safety, Environment/First Aid. Hippensteel is also the Safety Director for Crow Paving, Inc. and previously worked as Compliance Officer for ESS Transportation.

This course has been condensed from 10 hours to 2 hours. The cost of the training is $45 and can be scheduled for the business owner’s convenience. For more information or to schedule training, contact Stephanie Ellis by calling 501-215-4898 or visit www.uaccm.edu/communityed.

Holocaust Survivor Henry Greenbaum shares his story at UACCM

Mr. Henry Greenbaum, a Holocaust survivor volunteer from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., visited UACCM on March 12 to share his story.  Hear what he had to say in the video below courtesy of Morrilton Community Channel 6 or find out more at www.ushmm.org.

Henry Greenbaum - Holocaust Survivor - 2013-03-11 from Morrilton Community Channel 6 on Vimeo.

FSSF makes record-breaking contribution

Members of the Fayetteville Shale Scholarship Fund Board announced a $110,000 donation towards the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton’s upcoming capital campaign during an event today at the University of Arkansas System office. As part of the event, the organization also awarded 76 scholarships to students currently enrolled in the college’s petroleum technology program. The contribution is the largest number of scholarships awarded in the program’s history.

The Fayetteville Shale Scholarship Fund is a non-profit organization made up of member companies who work in the state’s natural gas industry. The group hosts several fundraisers throughout the year to raise scholarship funds for students seeking careers in the state’s oil and natural gas industry.

Jon Swann, vice president and interim president of the fund board, stated, “Through the board’s fundraising activities, we have been able to raise enough money to guarantee scholarships for the next several years. In fact, we have been so successful, the board has made the decision to allocate funds to UACCM’s Capital Campaign. We are excited to support this project, which will provide a number of facility improvements to further enhance the education UACCM students receive.”

This contribution from the FSSF Board brings the total donation amount to $640,000 since the fund began in 2006, providing 429 scholarships to students studying the petroleum technology program at UACCM. Scholarships support student expenses including tuition, fees, and books. The university’s scholarship committee awards scholarships to students based on both academic performance and financial need.

“The partnership between the petroleum technology program at UACCM and the Fayetteville Shale Scholarship Fund is a perfect example of how public higher education can work together with business and industry to improve the economic well-being of our state. I’m proud of our students and faculty at UACCM and grateful to the natural gas industry for its support of the college,” said University of Arkansas System President Dr. Donald R. Bobbitt.

Offering a one-of-a-kind Associate of Applied Science degree program in Arkansas, the petroleum technology degree program at UACCM continues to lead the way to a more knowledgeable and specialized workforce for the local natural gas industry. It is the largest applied technology program at UACCM, offering a curriculum that allows students to explore the industry that continues to be an economic leader in the state. Since 2006, the program’s enrollment has grown from 30 students in its first semester to approximately 162 this year, an increase of 540 percent. Nationally, only a handful of schools offer two-year petroleum technology programs that educate students in the fields of drilling, gathering, and field operations.

The cornerstone of UACCM’s capital campaign will be to construct and equip a new economic development center that will house many of the college’s technical programs. “We appreciate the Fayetteville Shale Scholarship Fund Board’s continued support of our students and the program,” said Dr. Larry Davis, UACCM Chancellor. “This contribution will allow us to provide larger, modern facilities and equipment that are current and relevant in today’s workforce.”

About the Fayetteville Shale Scholarship Fund The Fayetteville Shale Scholarship Fund was established in 2006 and is supported by members representing companies that work in the Fayetteville Shale play. The Fayetteville Shale Scholarship Fund encourages and enables students to pursue educational opportunities that prepare them for jobs in the oil and gas industry by:

• providing financial support through scholarships,
• raising awareness for careers in the oil and gas industry, and
• creating goodwill for the industry and its contributions to local communities and the state.

About the UACCM Petroleum Technology Program The University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton began offering an Associate of Applied Science degree in Petroleum Technology during the fall 2006 semester. The college also offers stop-out points at the levels of certificate of proficiency and technical certificate.

The degree provides education opportunities for individuals who desire to pursue employment opportunities related to oil and gas exploration, production, and development in the Fayetteville Shale play, one of the country’s largest known unconventional reserves of natural gas.

The program was established with a three-year pledge of $200,000 from Southwestern Energy Company to UACCM.

UACCM Theatre Dept. presents Kindertransport

After the violence of Kristallnacht ("Night of the Broken Glass") against Jews across Germany and Austria, the British government authorized the massive transport of Jewish children (kinder) to Britain, via ship and train, to rescue them from the injustice and atrocities inflicted by Hitler and the Nazis.  Over the course of nine months between 1938 and 1939, 10,000 Jewish kinder were brought to safety- separating them from their parents and sparing them the horrors of the death camps where many of their family members were exterminated.  The play examines the life of one child over a 40-year period and is based on interviews with many kinder.  Don't miss this incredibly powerful drama.