The Seminole State College Business and Industry program will host a poetry writing workshop led by published author Paul Juhasz on April 20 on SSC’s campus.
The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Room 101 of Tanner Hall. The cost to enroll in the workshop is $49.
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Seminole State College hosted a retirement reception for Fiscal Affairs Administrative Assistant Carol Landes in the E.T. Dunlap Student Union on March 28. Co-workers, family and friends gathered to celebrate her career and wish her well on her retirement.
Landes last day at SSC was March 29. She was employed at SSC for nine years in her role as the Administrative Assistant for Fiscal Affairs. She is a graduate of Shawnee High School and currently resides in Shawnee with her husband, Rick. Prior to working at SSC, she worked for Wal-Mart for 17 years, serving as a store manager. She looks forward to traveling and gardening more during her retirement.
Two Seminole State College employees were recognized for their hard work and dedication during the monthly Seminole Chamber of Commerce Forum on March 14. Assistant Professor of Life Sciences Truitt Eubank was honored as Faculty Member of the Month and Bookstore E-Commerce Specialist Lesley Ward as Staff Member of the Month.
The Seminole Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, along with the Lions Club and Kontoor Brands/Wrangler, recognize SSC employees several times during Forum each year. Individuals are nominated from across the campus and chosen by SSC administrators to receive the honor.
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Seminole State College Communications Coordinator Josh Hutton (left) and Web and Multimedia Coordinator Brooks Nickell (right) read “The Bad Seed” by Jory John to Danielle Morgan’s kindergarten class at the Prague Early Childhood Center on March 11. Bringing readers into classrooms is part of a national effort to raise awareness about the importance, value and fun of reading. Such reading programs are designed to motivate kids to read and celebrate the diversity in communities and across the country.
Four Seminole State College language arts and humanities professors presented at the 2024 Southwest Popular and American Culture Association (SWPACA) Conference during the week of Feb. 21-24 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
A panel consisting of Assistant Professor of English Paul Juhasz, Associate Professor of English Andrew Davis and Associate Professor English Yasminda Choate presented on pedagogical approaches to teaching writing composition through the lens of popular culture, titled “Aerosmith to Zombies: Using Pop Culture to Engage Students in First-Year Writing.” Juhasz also read two short stories, “All American and “Where the Wild Things Were,” from his most recent collection, “As If Place Matters.” Associate Professor of English Jessica Isaacs read poetry from her manuscript “Mother Makes Potions.”
The four professors teach English Composition, Creative Writing, Film and Literature courses at SSC.
The mission of the SWPACA is to promote an innovative and nontraditional academic movement in humanities and social sciences celebrating America’s cultural heritages. The annual conference provides an outlet for scholars, writers, and others interested in popular/American culture to share ideas in a professional atmosphere and increase awareness and improve public perceptions of America’s cultural traditions and diverse populations.
Seminole State College employees recently provided gifts to 23 children participating in the Angel Tree programs sponsored by the Salvation Army and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. The Angel Tree program connects donors with children in need. SSC employees purchased clothing and toys and donated the items.
“I am honored to work with such a great group of people that help sponsor these Angels every year,” Student Affairs Administrative Assistant Toni Wittman said.
Providing gifts to children in the Angel Tree program has been an annual tradition at SSC since 1997.
Two Seminole State College employees were recognized for their hard work and dedication during the monthly Seminole Chamber of Commerce Forum on Dec. 14. Assistant Professor of STEM and Accreditation Coordinator Dr. Deanna Miles was honored as Faculty Member of the Month and Coordinator of Distance Education Laura Votaw as Staff Member of the Month.
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Seminole State College hosted its annual Night at the Lights event on Dec. 4 at the Reynolds Wellness Center in Seminole. Local families enjoyed the community Snowman Wonderland light display, as well as cookies and hot chocolate provided by the College. Dozens of SSC students manned crafting stations, helping children create crafts.
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Seminole State College has been recognized by the Oklahoma State Department of Health as a Certified Healthy Campus. Community Drug Overdose Prevention Coordinator Zane Winters (left) presented the award to SSC Wellness Committee Chair Mechell Downey (right) on Dec. 1.
Certified Healthy Campus was created in 2011 to recognize both public and private post-secondary campuses and career technology centers that promote health and wellness for their faculty, staff, students, and even visitors. Promotion of health and wellness can be done in a variety of ways including passing policies that encourage healthy lifestyles and making facilities available for physical activities.
Seminole State College has named Dr. Misty Gray to the position of Acting Nursing Director. Gray replaces Crystal Bray who is leaving the college to accept a position as the Nursing Education Consultant with the Oklahoma Board of Nursing.
Gray has 16 years of experience in home health and hospice, orthopedics, surgery, NICU, nursery, post-partum and emergency nursing. She has also spent seven years as a nursing instructor.
She graduated with her associate degree in nursing from SSC and holds a bachelor’s, a master’s and her doctorate from St. Gregory’s University, Oklahoma Baptist University and Grand Canyon University, respectively.
She also has extensive experience working with state and national accrediting bodies.
“We are very fortunate to have Dr. Gray at the college and appreciate her willingness to take on this critical role on campus,” SSC President Lana Reynolds said.
During her first week as Director, Gray hosted area nursing and health care professionals serving as an advisory board for the program for a luncheon on campus. Those in attendance
included: Cathy Broome, Shawnee CNO, SSM Health; Holly Kirkland, Hospice Coordinator, SSM Health; Christa Williams, AHEC/Student Coordinator, McAlester Regional Health Center; Megan Moore, Nurse Educator, McAlester Regional Health Center; Dr. Darcy Duncan, Director/Associate Professor, School of Nursing, East Central University; Ashley Fichtner, Director of Partner School Outreach, Gordon Cooper Technology Center; Molly Delaney, Instructor, Wes Watkins Technology Center; Alma Reagan, Emergency Department Director, SSM Health; Brandi Ray, Director of Nursing, Creek Nation Community Hospital in Okemah; and Leah Burns, Education Manager, Bethany Children’s Health Center.
Reynolds said the College was appreciative of Bray’s long-time service as an instructor and recently as director of the program.
“We want to thank Ms. Bray for her tireless efforts to carry this important program out of the dark days of the COVID pandemic and to lead a great team in producing knowledgeable and caring nurses,” President Reynolds said.
Earlier in the fall semester, SSC’s nursing program was awarded a congressionally directed grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration in the amount of $1,050,000. The grant is set to bring transformative changes to the department, focusing on the development and expansion of simulation labs.
Gray previously served as a Simulation Lab Coordinator at East Central University and is certified in Simulation Instruction and Management from Robert Morris University.
“We believe her expertise will be instrumental in utilizing new technologies in the classroom and preparing the next generation of nurses,” President Reynolds said.