December 2007 News

Winter Commencement held Fri, Dec 14 at Southwestern Community College » see photos, news story, commencement address

Culinary cakes judged - “It’s whimsical- to reflect my nature,” said Southwestern Community College culinary arts student Gabriel Finnegan of Cullowhee as he prepared his wedding cake for judging Wednesday, Dec. 12. » read story

National Technical Honor Society held induction - The Southwestern Community College chapter of the National Technical Honor Society held the Fall induction of initiates Tuesday, Dec. 11, on the Jackson Campus. » read story

Phi Theta Kappa induction ceremony held - Seventeen students were inducted into the Alpha Eta Nu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa honor society Monday evening, Dec. 10, at Southwestern Community College during a candlelight ceremony. » full story

SCC's Polar Express Christmas Party Dec 7 - “Grandma, what’s that on your head?” five-months-old Aliessa DeLance, daughter of Ryan and Ashley DeLance of Lake Glenville, appears curious about the reindeer antlers worn by her grandmother Cindy DeLance, left. » more

See photos from SCC's Employee Holiday Reception held on Friday, Dec. 7. This year's theme: "A visit to the North Pole" » see photos

SCC's GEARUP teams win state robotics competition - Robotics teams from Macon, Swain and Jackson County secured first and second place in several divisions in North Carolina's First LEGO League State Competition in Greensboro Dec. 1. Their mission was to solve "Power Puzzles" and to program their robots to utilize new ways of producing power. Some 63 teams from North and South Carolina competed. » full story

“Get in shape for 2008!” “How’s that for a great mantra?” said Stacy France, Southwestern Community College director of extension education - personal enrichment. » details

Winter Commencement set for Dec 14 - Eight New Century Scholars will be among the 68 graduates in Southwestern Community College’s commencement Friday, Dec. 14. The ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. in the Balsam Building on the Jackson Campus. » full story

November 2007 News

SCC Employee Luncheon & Family Holiday Reception to be held Dec 5 and Dec 7 » more info

A presentation on Engineering and Environmental Issues in Land Development will be presented by Surveying / Civil Engineering Technology instructor, Peter Messier on Dec 4 & 5. » details

Nursing scholarship awarded - Arlene Bishop, center, president of Physically Challenged, Inc., presents the 11th annual Lockhart Follin-Mace scholarship to Southwestern Community College associate degree nursing student Rebekah Wilkins, right, of Franklin. » full story

Veteran’s Day Observance Monday, Nov. 12, at Southwestern Community College. » full story and photos

Health Fair - Using hand sanitizer is the number one least expensive way to fight infection, demonstrate SCC nursing students Nikki Knight, left, of Dillsboro and Laura Stiens of Sylva during the college’s Health Fair Thursday, Nov. 8. “A good rule of thumb is to sing the Happy Birthday song while you are doing it; that way you know you’ve done it long enough,” said Knight. Sponsored by SCC nursing students, the fair included a variety of demonstrations and information booths, as well as a canned food drive for the Community Table. » see photos

Jackson Campus locked down for critical incident drill - During the Nov. 5 drill the SCC campus was locked down to students and the public. Third in a series of emergency preparedness, this drill involved area law enforcement agencies as both the role-playing shooters and the apprehenders. » full story and photos

Criminal Justice students solve the case - Assisting with parking, ticket gates and bleacher patrol, students in Mike Burnette’s criminal justice/cyber crime programs at Southwestern Community College learn first-hand skills in crowd control while supporting Jackson County Special Olympics at the same time. » full story

Small Business Center's upcoming workshop series:     Nov. 9 - Successful Marketing for the Craftsperson and the Artist     Nov. 13 - High-Powered Promotional Tips and Techniques     Nov. 15 - From Garage to Market » details

Mock disaster planned by SCC's EMS students - Disaster struck the Southwestern Community College Pines Building as it swirled in on the tail of a tornado, injuring 20 people and killing two. This mock mass casualty incident drill was planned by second year students in Southwestern's emergency medical science program. » read story

World Oil Production - What do we need to know about world oil production? SCC science instructor Deanne Oppermann, who recently returned from a fellowship trip to Alaska, will share vital information during two special programs on November 8. » details

See photos from SCC's 2007 Halloween Celebration

Join Texas artist Chris Gray for the Texas Pottery Connection Mon, Nov. 5, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at SCC’s Swain Center throwing demonstrations showcasing functional pots and altered forms. The workshop is designed for ceramic students, as well as seasoned professionals. » more info

Art & Fine Craft Festival Nov 10-11 - Mountain Shapes and Colors - An old schoolhouse, a group of talented craft artists, a fall day in the mountains and the aroma of spicy apple cider is a combination sure to guarantee a great time. Once again, Mountain Shapes and Colors bring a winning combination together on the weekend of Nov. 10-11 at Southwestern Community College’s Swain Center. Festival hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. » more

October 2007 News

Nursing Students' Health Fair - Nov 8 - SCC’s Health Fair this year will include a food drive for the Community Table. Participants attending the Nov. 8 event are asked to bring canned goods to be donated to the Community Table. » more info

Macon Commissioners Commend SCC on being ranked #4 in the nation » full story

Eric White - First student in 100 mile club - On a crisp fall morning Monday, Oct. 15, Eric White achieved his 100th mile on Southwestern Community College’s walking trail. He is the first SCC student to officially log 100 miles on the trail. » full story

A real "Southern" lady - Bubbly. Enthusiastic. Energetic. A real dynamo. These words friends use to describe Betty Dieckmann aren’t adjectives typically used for an 80-year-old lady. But then she isn’t your ordinary lady. No one meeting her for the first time can believe she is 80, especially her students. » full story

Rwandan children share music, hope - On Tuesday, Oct. 23, a group of Rwandan children will take the audience at SCC on a journey into the lives of the Rwandan people through music, dance, costumes and drumming. » full story

Halloween Celebration Wed, Oct 31 • 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Bradford Lounge and Gazebo Area Festive Lunch Provided Costume Contest: 1st prize = $100, 2nd = $75 and 3rd = $50 Jack-O-Lantern Carving Contest: 1st prize = $50, 2nd = $25 and 3rd = $15

Cruising to the SCC Car Show - Shane Sullivan finds the weather perfect for cruising with the top down in this 1968 Chrysler 300 as he prepares for Southwestern Community College’s Car and Bike Show Saturday, Oct. 27. » more

Summer 2007 President's and Dean's Lists announced - SCC has announced the President’s and Dean's lists for Summer 2007. A total of 18 students made the cut for these prestigious honors. » full story

Culinary Club Cake Sale - The Culinary Club will be taking orders for Pumpkin shaped cakes and Fall/Halloween decorated cupcakes from thru October 24th. » details

From Kitchen to Market, a seminar on successfully operating a home-based food business will be held at SCC's Swain Center on Tues, Oct. 16. » details

Learn Computer ABCs - If you need to learn the ABCs of the computer Southwestern Community College's new beginner class at the Cherokee Center can assist you. This interactive course will be held Mondays and Wednesdays, Oct. 15 through Nov. 21, from 6-9 p.m. Learn the computer basics, how to use some of the system tools and how to install and remove hardware and software. Seating is limited so register early by calling 497-7233 or 497-7135

History of the Muslim World: 1,400 Years of Conflict - Two SCC instructors will present a History of the Muslim World: 1,400 Years of Conflict and Misunderstanding during two sessions on Tues, Oct. 16. » full story

SCC Car & Bike Show to be held on the Jackson Campus Sat, Oct 27 - sponsored by SCC Culinary & Automotive Clubs - » details

New Century Scholars inducted - New Century Scholars from Jackson, Macon and Swain counties were all inducted together during a ceremony on Southwestern Community College’s Jackson Campus Sept. 27. “How many of you have cell phones?” Sonja Haynes, SCC foundation director, asked the auditorium full of students. Most raised their hands…and their phones. . . » full story

Drew Hamilton Award presented - Emily Roberson of Whittier, a School of Alternatives sophomore and New Century Scholar, has been named the recipient of the Drew Hamilton Award of Excellence for 2007. » full story

September 2007

Radiography students start clinicals - First-year students in the radiography program at Southwestern Community College recently began their clinical rotations at area hospitals. » details

Sarah Altman's Retirement Celebration was held on Monday, September 24, 2007 in the Bradford Lounge. » see photos

Students convinced to wear seatbelts - Students in SCC’s Emergency Medical Science program learned first hand Friday, Sept. 21, what it felt like to impact without wearing their seatbelt. » full story

Win a Truck! Allison's Chevrolet Jeep dealership in Sylva will give a 2008 Chevrolet Colorado truck to the first person making a hole-in-one on the first tee at the foundation's golf tournament at Highlands Cove Resort. Funds from the Oct. 3 tournament provide educational mini-grants for faculty and staff and scholarships for students. » full story

College Fair held at SCC on Sept 17 - More than 300 high school students from Jackson, Macon, Swain, Cherokee and Highlands filled Southwestern Community College’s Myers Auditorium Monday, Sept. 17, for the annual college fair. » full story

Culinary Technology students carve apples into birds » see photos

Open for opportunity - "The Barn Door Is Always Open" is the theme for this year's Macon County Fair. SCC's booth follows the theme and features the new Macon Campus which "opens the doors to educational opportunities." » full story

Negative can be positive - SCC Advertising and Graphic Design instructor shows students how to capture negative space in a drawing. Looking at the negative space forces the artist to draw what they actually see and not what their mind tells them it should look like. » full story

SCC Foundation scholarships awarded - Southwestern Community College foundation scholarship winners and donors were honored Tuesday, Sept. 11, with a reception on the Jackson Campus. » details

SCC enrollment up six percent - A record number of students enrolled at Southwestern Community College this fall. Student enrollments grew more than six percent with more than 2,000 students taking college-level classes at this community college ranked one of the top five in the nation. Also, some 5,000 students have signed up for continuing education courses, seminars, and workshops. » full story

Helping Make Confident Decisions - If you sometimes agonize over everyday decisions, SCC's new online course, Skills for Making Great Decisions, can help. Taught by an experienced counselor and life coach, the course is designed to help students make better, more confident decisions in every aspect of their lives. » details

Upcoming Community Events - Sept-Dec at SCC » details

The State Employees Credit Union Foundation awards scholarships - The State Employees Credit Union Foundation presented $5,000 scholarships to Marsha Northrup and Cieara Gregory, who are attending Southwestern Community College. The scholarships were given based on SECU's philosophy of "people helping people," recognizing the recipients leadership, excellence of character, integrity and community involvement. The scholarships will be used to pay for tuition and other education expenses. » full story

SCC will host College Fair - Monday, Sept 17, 2007 » details

SCC Ranks #4 in Nation Celebration & Welcome Back Event
held Wed, Sept 5. » see photos

Groves Dedication - August 30, 2007
The new SCC Macon Campus was named the Cecil L. Groves Center in honor of SCC President Cecil Groves. » full story and photos

Teachers, students receive free laptops - Every student and every teacher in Macon County's Early College High School will receive a free laptop, thanks to the new 1:1 Laptop Pilot. Macon is the only Early College in Western North Carolina and one of eight in the state to be selected. The laptop program is funded by the state and supplemented by the Golden Leaf Foundation and the software company, SAS. » full story

August 2007

Highway named for Judge Lacy Thornburg - Lacy Thornburg was honored Wednesday, Aug. 29, on the Southwestern Community College Jackson Campus as this sign was unveiled that will be placed on U.S. 23/74 naming the portion from the Jackson County line at Balsam to exit 85 in Jackson County as the Judge Lacy H. Thornburg Highway. » full story

SCC makes the grade - » read the reprinted story from the Asheville-Citizen Times Report Card

Welcome Back Event 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept 5 Jackson Campus Bradford Gazebo Area Sponsored by SCC Student Life Committee

SCC ranks fourth in the nation in a new listing of America’s best community colleges. That’s according to a just-released report in the Washington Monthly. While colleges have been rated by guides like U.S. News & World Report, this is the first-ever ranking of the nation’s community colleges, said Washington Monthly writer Kevin Carey, who compiled the ranking. » full story



The first student registers at the new SCC Macon Campus » full story

See photos from Employee Professional Development Day and Bowling Tournament

Service Awards were presented to 25 SCC Employees - see photos

First SCC Macon Campus building named for Groves - Southwestern Community College Board of Trustees named the new Macon Campus after the college’s President Cecil Groves, whom they called "the visionary leader” behind the project. The name of the 27,600- square-foot building on Siler Road will be the Cecil L. Groves Center. » read story

First Ellith McFalls BLET scholarship winner - Richard DeFee has been awarded the first Lt. Ellith McFalls Basic Law Enforcement Training Scholarship at Southwestern Community College. » full story

2007 Practical Nursing students pinned - Members of the Southwestern Community College Practical Nursing Class of 2007 were pinned during an evening ceremony Wednesday, Aug. 1, on the Jackson Campus. » details

Commencement photos - Aug 2, 2007 Summer Commencement

SCC Macon Campus open for business - “We’ve been open for folks to come by and watch us move in our new furniture and all our new equipment, but Monday, Aug. 6, we will officially be open for business,” Connie Haire, vice president of the new Southwestern Community College Macon Campus, said. » full story


SCC Board of Trustees sworn in - William Shelton of Whittier became the newest member of the Southwestern Community College Board of Trustees as he was sworn in during a ceremony July 24 on the Jackson Campus. » full story

Summer Commencement 2007 - The summer commencement ceremony for Southwestern Community College Class of 2007 will be 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2, in the Balsam Center on the Jackson Campus. » more

July 2007

Jeremiah wins Next Step - Jeremiah Chatham of Sylva received one of the first Next Step Scholarships from Crumley and Associates Law Firm. Chatham, who received his associate of arts degree in college transfer from Southwestern Community College in May, will use the award to attend the University of North Carolina Asheville this fall. He received $1,000 plus a laptop computer with software valued at more than $2,500. » full story

The incredible Rita de Maintenon - When Rita de Maintenon turns 60 next month she plans to celebrate by riding the roller coaster at Dollywood. "Growing up in post-war Germany I never had much of a childhood so now is my chance,” said de Maintenon, who also plans to celebrate her retirement along with her birthday. "It’s that exuberance- that joy of life- that’s made her such an excellent General Education Development teacher all these years at Southwestern Community College,” said Joan Moulton, SCC director of literacy programs. » full story

SCC students win WCU Chancellor's Achievement Award - Christian Conway of Whittier and Kim Clark of Franklin have been awarded the Western Carolina University Chancellor’s Achievement Award for the outstanding Southwestern Community College student. The award, only available to SCC students who plan to attend WCU, is a four-semester award covering tuition and fees. Recipients must have a GPA of 3.75 or higher with approximately 60 hours of transfer credit. » full story

New this fall: Civil Engineering Technology - Significant ongoing growth and construction in the area has created a need for more people trained in civil engineering technology, according to Peter Messier, Southwestern Community College surveying technology instructor. This fall SCC will offer a new associate’s degree program in civil engineering technology. Registration for fall semester is Aug. 16. » full story


SCC received a donation of more than $10,000 worth of software - The Information Technology Programs at SCC received a donation of more than $10,000 in software from EMC Paradigm. EMC Paradigm is a book publishing company that sells books mainly related to Microsoft Office programs. The software that was donated included all the programs in the Microsoft Office 2007 Professional Suite such as Word 2007, Excel 2007, PowerPoint 2007, Access 2007, and Publisher 2007. The donation included enough copies of Microsoft Office 2007 to equip four computer labs, the Learning Assistance Center, the library and seven faculty office computers on the Jackson Campus. » full story

Martha Hall Story: SCC dual enrolled student wins at regional and state level - Martha Hall of Sylva recently participated in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair and Expo in Albuquerque, N.M. Hall was invited to the competition after winning 3rd place in the senior division of the N.C. State Science Fair. » full story

Majolica ceramics course starts July 30 - The Heritage Arts Institute of SCC offers a Majolica ceramics course this summer in their master potters' certificate program. This 36-hour course starts meets Mondays and Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. beginning July 30. The registration fee is $60 and students purchase their clay from the college. » full story

Moving furniture into new SCC Macon Campus - Workers unloaded boxes of new furniture and began setting up tables, desks and chairs in Southwestern Community College’s new Macon Campus last week. Set up continues this week at the two-story structure conveniently located next to the new county library on Siler Road. » full story