Heating up

It's been winter for a while now (winter Havasu-style, which most people in the country wouldn't recognize as winter), so I haven't had occassion to comment on one of our city's outstanding characteristics: H-E-A-T. And when I say heat, I mean toasty summers with daytime temps well over 110 for weeks on end and lows in the 90s (burrrr!). After what has seemed like a cool spring, today (it's currenlty 88) we are finally getting an inkling of what lies not far ahead. This heat wave won't last long -- the temperature is due to drop 30 degrees by Thursday -- but it's been nice to get a glimpse of summer.

Do the math

We talk a fair amount about our partnership with Northern Arizona University that allows students to earn a bachelor's degree in elementary education without leaving Havasu. (In case you haven't heard, that's 2 years at MCC and 2 years of classes at NAU's extended campus.)
What you may not know is now you can earn a solid Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in either humanities or public management by taking 90 credits at MCC and just 30 online with NAU. It's called the 90/30 option, and it can save you a lot in educational costs, even over the 2X2 option described above. Even better, NAU is talking about adding more 90/30 degree options. If you think you want to go for it, talk to the advisor at your NAU extended campus first. (Here on MCC's Havasu campus, that's friendly Tom Franklin).

Gardening

Most popular give-aways at our visit today to a college fair for juniors at Lake Havasu High School:
1) MCC lip balm (high school guys, in particular, must have a real chapped-lip problem)
2) MCC pens
3) temporary tattoos depicting the MCC Big Horn
4) MCC Catalog & Student Handbook on CD (Hopefully they won't be too disappointed when they realize there's no music on it.)
Hard to say if the fair had any impact on the students' future educational choices, but all those bright red trinkets at least planted a seed. And our lip balm really is awesome.

Lessons learned from the job fair

A couple of things I've gleaned from talking to folks at the Havasu Lanes job fair these last six weeks:
1) When deciding on your career path, ask yourself, "Do I want to be doing this when I'm 55?" (You may not believe you'll live that long, but statistics show you probably will, and you'll probably have many productive years ahead of you.)
2) If there's another dramatic change in our economy and your line of work suddenly becomes obsolete, it's good to have options. Education gives you options. In fact, it's pretty much impossible to have "too much education," isn't it?

In the game

I often hear colleagues lament that Mohave Community College is "the best kept secret in town." From my contacts in the community, I don't think it's such a big secret. I see how MCC touches thousands of lives: the people who go here, or who have a child, parent, relative or friend who goes here, or who aspire to go here. Nevertheless, it's now a major goal of the college to become even more central to community life as a mecca not only of education but of artistic, cultural and civic involvement. We're already making strides in that direction by hosting a "Community Listening Session" sponsored by the Arizona Commission on the Arts, this Friday, March 26, from 5:30-7 p.m., in our 600 building. The commission wants to hear from all of us about what our future vision for the arts in this region is, and MCC is a natural place to have that conversation.

Into the stretch

Now that Spring Break is behind us, it seems like no time at all before the end of the semester, and commencement, will be here. How did this year go by so fast? Which isn't to say there isn't still a lot of work to be done. In fact, for those of us who devote ourselves to helping new students get started at MCC, there's never a slow time. For many prospective students, the decisions associated with college are not quick or easy -- long-term rewards usually require long-range planning. A couple of weeks ago I talked with a group of students who are hoping to enter our nursing program in Fall 2011. It sounds like a long way off, and I admire their patience and their perserverance.

Art for art's sake

I forgot to mention there's a terrific exhibit in The Gallery (room 204) right now featuring works by art faculty and former faculty. The show includes beautiful landscape paintings by our resident faculty Alan Hall as well as provocative charcoal drawings by associate faculty Kevin Bangsund. The centerpiece of the exhibit is a collection of stunning and innovative ceramic pieces by former faculty member Harry Kaino II, who taught on the Havasu campus from 1976-1989. At right is one of his signature pieces that combines elegant wheel-thrown elements with almost organic hand-built components. Check the show out while it's here, through April 9.

Like a kid in a candy store

During the two-and-a-half hours I spent today at the weekly job fair hosted by Havasu Lanes Bowling Center, I had good, in-depth conversations with eight people. That may not seem like a lot on the speed-dating circuit, but for me, it's pretty good. The top career interest today? Counseling. I also talked to prospects with interests in truck driving, surgical technology, phlebotomy, computer science and casino gaming. They ranged from early-20s-just-starting-out to mid-50s-starting-over. But at this stage it's exciting (sometimes scary-exciting) for everyone, including me, because there are so many possibilities.

The benefits of higher education

One of the perks of going to college: Donuts! Bigger institutions of higher learning may have a Starbucks in their student center. But how many can boast a free feast of colorfully frosted deep-fried dough rings--plus coffee, juice and milk--all served up by a friendly member of the campus' own Student Government. As seen here, ravenous students from a morning psych class weren't exactly shy about partaking of the donut bounty. Neither was I, by the way.

Baseball paradise, too

One of the great things about living in Arizona, in addition to the nearly endless sunshine and bone-roasting warmth, is the proximity to Spring Training baseball. I spent a just-about-perfect morning this weekend watching the Seattle Mariners working out at the Peoria Sports Complex followed by an equally blissful afternoon watching them play a game against their complex partners, the San Diego Padres. Of course, Sunday's action was rained out. So much for that endless sunshine.

Yes, to be outdone

Check out this blog from "Kimberly" who apparently enjoyed her time recently on MCC's campus "in beautiful Lake Havasu City." I couldn't have expressed it better myself -- literally. After a long period of idleness with this blog, the discovery of Kimberly's sprightly dispatch gave me a Wally Pipp moment. (You'all remember who he was, right?)
Here's the link: http://yovia.com/blogs/kimberly/tag/mohave-community-college/