Nancy Noe: 2014 Post-Secondary Teacher of the Year

Photo courtesy of LBCC media department

Achievements don't just happen for students here at LBCC. Nancy Noe, business technology instructor, was named 2014's Post-Secondary Teacher of the Year by the Oregon Business Education Association.

Noe got an anonymous nomination for the title based off work experience, volunteer work, and extracurricular educational involvement. She was honored at the annual conference, accepting her award surrounded by peers.

"It's humbling and a great honor," Noe said.

The title was not won without support. In her nomination Noe was supported by three former students and two peers as she was considered for Post-Secondary Teacher of the Year.

"I think the student support was valuable to the award," said Noe.

At LBCC since 2000, she has a business degree in finance from Portland State and master's in business from Oregon State University. She currently serves as an advisor for the Legal Administration Assistant Program and Administrative Office Professional Program.

Outside of the classroom Noe invests her time in her students. She enjoys offering hands-on, personal guidance as students prepare for their careers. She helps them find jobs and find connections that will be lasting in their field.

"Any educator that puts their heart out to students is working hard - that's what it takes. You have to care about your students," said Noe.

Twila Lehman, fellow business technology instructor and the 2010 winner of the same honor, works with Noe designing curriculum and teaching. They also serve on professional organizations together.

"Nancy is a true professional who always puts students first. She strives to bring out the best in each student, often going beyond what is asked of her to help a student succeed," Lehman said.

Noe values her ability to create relationships with her students scattered among two years of training at LBCC, and her work with them does not go unnoticed.

"She gets to know her students and helps them find their gifts and encourages them to achieve their dreams. She makes sure students get the support they need to succeed, and then celebrates when they achieve them. She exemplifies the skills she expects her students to learn and prepares them to move from LBCC to the workforce with confidence," said Lehman.

LBCC: Honored Students attend ACDA National Conference

Two LBCC choir students received the honor of traveling to Salt Lake City to attend the 2015 National Conference for the American Choral Directors Association. Approximately 2,000 students, teachers and conductors met to study the craft of music. 

The days of February 25 to 28 were packed with classes, workshops, rehearsals and performances for Katharine Dunigan and Alyson Fewless. Both choir students were accompanied by their conductor and instructor, James Redden. 

Selection for the event was specific. Fewless attended because she is the only member of the LBCC choir currently working as a conductor. Dunigan was invited as member of an elite group of students accepted onto the ACDA Collegiate Honor Choir. 

"It was truly special having two of our LBCC choral music students there to represent the State of Oregon," said Redden. "Watching [Dunigan] perform as part of the 2015 ACDA Collegiate Honor Choir was amazing, especially since she was the only college student from the State of Oregon accepted into the ensemble." 

Dunigan earned her place on the Latin-American themed choir consisting of 200 singers. Those selected beat out 3,000 students who auditioned for a coveted spot. 

"At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to audition. But after talking with my mom and director, James, I came to the conclusion that it would be a great learning experience for me," said Dunigan.

Her days were long, rehearsing for eight hours on both Wednesday and Thursday in preparation for the Honors Choir performances on Friday and Saturday. Performing at several different times and locations, one Saturday performance in particular was special. With 1,100 singers on the stage, the Honors Choir merged with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Mormon Tabernacle Symphony to sing "He's Got The Whole World."

"When I was 17 I sang in Carnegie Hall which was my first big audience and I loved every second of it. This was just as awesome and I can't wait to sing in front of an even bigger audience," said Dunigan. 

Fewless will be putting what she learned in the workshops to immediate use. She attended two workshops for her job conducting the Santiam Canyon Community Chorus, comprised of members 40 years and older. With that in mind she took classes for evolving voices to help conductors adjust warms-ups for voices not in their prime.

She also attended a workshop specifically for her conducting job at Santiam High School. With most of the boys in the choir at the of puberty, she took a class focusing on boys voices and picking songs appropriate for a young man's changing voice.

"It was a lot of information to get in four days," said Fewless. "It was kind of cool because I had something in common with everyone there."

Both Dunigan and Fewless were able to attend concerts to watch peers perform a cappella, both modern and renaissance-style. They had opportunity to meet performers prominent in the choral world, such as the King Singers, a vocal ensemble from Sweden.

"It was a little bit intimidating talking to them because they're kind of like rock stars," said Fewless.

The experience was a good one, by unanimous accounts from all three. 

"I am so proud of [Dunigan and Fewless] and how much they have grown and achieved through this experience," said Redden. "This was truly a learning and musical experience that they will never forget."

Whose Line is it Anyway? - LBCC Improv Club channels TV show

Photo courtesy of James "Hodge" Dubois

Have you ever seen the TV show "Whose Line is it Anyway?" If you want to bring that kind of laughter, spontaneity and creativity to LBCC, then the Improv Club is for you.

Hodge Dubois, club president, is recruiting new members to have fun and play improv games. Calling themselves the Comedy Syndicate, they promise a good time in a judgement free environment. 

"We play a variety of improv games that will keep you on your toes as well as keep you laughing and having a good time, because that's really the soul purpose of this club - just having fun," said Dubois. 

Members don't need to be performing arts majors or have any comedic experience to join. The club is open to anyone, but don't be shy! The club often meets in the courtyard to entertain unsuspecting students.

"If the weather is nice enough and there's a lot of people in the courtyard, I might just decide to send out a club-wide call to arms and just start entertaining the people there, because what is the Improv Club if not spontaneous?"

The club meets on Fridays, either in the courtyard or the choir room depending on the weather. At the start of the term, based on member schedules, the meeting time is between noon and 3 p.m. The club also tries to be involved with campus events to spice up the scene.

"We're just a group of fun-loving, silly people. If this club sounds fun to you I highly encourage you to get a hold of me."

Contact Dubois at james.dubois.8103@mail.linnbenton.edu.

LBCC: Introducing Math 98

There's a new path to Math 105 that allows students to learn only the algebra needed to reach 105 as a stopping point for their degree. Fall term LBCC introduced Math 98. 

"Someone wanting to take 105 would want to take 98 as to not over prepare for going into 111," said Hollis Duncan, math instructor.

Math 98 eliminates certain processes of algebra that are not required for the 105 course. Previously, Math 95 was the stepping stone to 105. However, 95 prepares students for both 105 and 111 courses. For students who don't need to continue to levels above 105, some of the material in 95 is irrelevant.

"When you take out all the unnecessary processes and leave the concepts, you have Math 98," said Vikki Maurer, math instructor. "We're cutting off processes for 111 and calculus that you will not need in 105." 

Students seeking an AAOT degree in art, criminal justice, music or theater or those seeking an Associate of Science in art, communication, English, foreign language, human development, human services, journalism, liberal studies, music, or theater, may take Math 98. It is not a course for S.T.E.M. students, as 95 is required for their degree. 

Students taking the course should have completed algebra in high school. However, there is no prerequisite to place into the class. The course focuses on rebuilding skills that students have seen before but may have forgotten.

Math 98 is considered an intense five credit course and meets five days a week.

"I think the way they designed it is good. You constantly have to use your brain," said Carol Cole.

It's a workbook style course with little material needed and with no lectures. Instead it focuses on problem solving, critical thinking, and group work. 

"I like how everybody helps each other; if we get stuck, we help each other out," said Alexis Delgadillo.

Five Steps to Land a Job from Tammy Trujillo

Having no job history or little work experience is not a reason to settle for less than you deserve. Brought to you from professionals, hopefully, these five steps will help prepare you to land a job.

Tammy Trujillo is a news director for "Animal Radio" and Cameron Broadcasting, and a news host of 89.3 KPCC, She is a professor at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif. and spoke at the collegiate conference in Los Angeles last week. She offered advice to students on how to sell themselves as the best candidate for an internship.

1. Market yourself. 

"Be bold. Do not follow the herd. You don't need an invite to call some place and ask a question."

When you find an internship listed online, consider it similar to a cattle-call. There will be dozens, if not hundreds of responses, and the further down the list you are the less your chances of a call. Find the information needed to contact the company and call, even if it suggests not to. Take the chance to make a connection with the hiring manager and move yourself higher up the list.

2. Be prepared.

"You want people to stop looking at you as kids and look at you as an accomplished young person."

To present yourself as a complete package you need a cover letter and resume. In comparison to deciding if to purchase a book, consider your cover letter the book synopsis and your resume the table of contents. You want the interviewer to first read what you are about and then to see your qualifying experience. Even with no employment history you can include volunteer work, school club involvement, relevant classes taken, or community organization involvement. All of them will help define your character, commitment and motivation.

3. Be professional.

"Show me that you fit into my world."

In preparation for making contact with a potential employer, know that the interview starts before they meet you. Employers judge you on how you digitally present yourself. Your voicemail should be professional and simple, just state your name and that you will return their call. If you have an email address that is nameless, create an easy-to-remember address with your name. Clean up your social media. Employers are searching the internet to see how you spend your time and who you associate with. What do you want them to see?

4. Stand out.

"Make it easy for me to hire you, don't make it hard, because I probably won't."

Consider the paper that you print your resume and cover letter on. It could benefit you to use thicker than the average, non-white paper and text that is blue or green. Remember, most of the papers on someone's desk will be standard white with 10-point black text. You want yours to get their attention. The interviewer may use your resume as talking points to ask you questions. List awards you may have received or accomplishments achieved that could create good discussion.

5. Be confident.

"Don't be scared to say you are good at stuff!"

When you meet your potential employer show them how you will represent them when they hire you. Stand straight, make eye contact, have concise answers and be assertive. Shake their hand, be polite, be personable and smile. Most employers will want you to treat their clients in the same way. When asked what you are good at, don't be bashful. Tell them your talents that you will bring to the team if they hire you. Don't tell them how much you need the job, tell them why they need you.