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FVCC Home >  Press Releases >  2008 - February

The Flathead Valley Community College Board of Trustees met February 25 for its regularly scheduled monthly meeting.

Student Government President Erin Giefer announced that FVCC student clubs and organizations are invited to submit budget allocations requests for the 2008-2009 academic year. The allocations meeting will take place March 10 and 11.

Business Instructor Brenda Rudolph announced that FVCC Business Instructor Bonnie Sheets has authored a new spiritual fiction book titled, “Light Headed.” She also reported that Economics Instructor Gregg Davis presented at the 2008 Montana Economic Outlook Seminar and the 2008 Flathead Valley Economic Forecast. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) representatives Program Director Jamie Campbell, CASA Volunteer Cindy Bassnet and Becky Langley of VISTA presented FVCC AmeriCorps Team Leader Shelly Watkins with the CASA Angel Award certificate of appreciation. Approximately 200 toys were received in December 2007 from FVCC students, faculty and staff and community members and were donated to CASA as Christmas gifts for foster children.

Computer Applications Instructor Dawn Rauscher presented an update on the college’s new Web site. The college has completed approximately 700 pages of content, and the project is in its final and proofreading stages as it prepares to launch.

University of Great Falls Coordinator Jean Barragan reported on the FVCC and UGF partnership. The collaboration allows UGF to offer Flathead area residents the opportunity to earn bachelor’s degrees in elementary education and secondary education in some fields through UGF while taking classes on the FVCC Kalispell campus. Barragan reported that the University has been highly successful at placing graduates of the program into teaching jobs in the Flathead Valley and beyond.

New Student Admissions Representative Beth Kelly reported on the inaugural College for a Day event. Approximately 340 area high school students in grades nine through 12 from Glacier High School, Flathead High School and Columbia Falls attended the successful day-long event where they explored various career fields and sampled a wide range of course offerings.

Director, Enrollment Planning and Research Faith Hodges provided the spring semester enrollment. Unduplicated headcount and full-time equivalent (FTE) each have increased just under 9 percent from this time last year. In action items, the Board appointed an ad-hoc committee to discuss the Flathead County dispatch center proposals.

The Board approved a resolution calling for a trustee election to be conducted May 6. Three Board positions—one in the Flathead High School district and two in Columbia Falls, Bigfork and Whitefish High School districts—will reside on the ballot.

FVCC President Jane Karas and Trustees Robert Nystuen and Thomas Harding reported on the Community College National Legislative Summit they attended in Washington, D.C., February 10-13. During their visit, they met with U.S. Senator Jon Tester, U.S. Senator Max Baucus and the deputy chief of staff for U.S. Representative Denny Rehberg to ask for continued support and provide information on needed additional resources.

President Karas announced that FVCC Theatre will open its spring season with “Addict” March 7.

The college will celebrate National TRIO Day February 28 from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. in the Blake Hall foyer.

The art department opened a new exhibit, “174 Years of Contemplation” February 20. The exhibit will be on display in the Arts and Technology Building through March 15.

Karas also announced that students participating in the FVCC Nepal cultural immersion program this spring arrived safely and began their studies.

The next regularly scheduled board meeting will take place March 31 at 3:45 p.m.

For more information regarding specific items included in this report or regarding college activities, please contact Tara Roth by calling 756-3912. For more information on board meetings, please contact Monica Settles by calling 756-3801.

Candidates interested in running for positions on the Flathead Valley Community College Board of Trustees have until noon March 27 to file their candidacy. One position in the Flathead High School District is open this year and is currently held by Robert A. Nystuen. The position in this district is for a three-year term beginning May 2008 and expiring May 2011. Two positions, both in the Columbia Falls, Bigfork and Whitefish School Districts, are open this year and are currently held by Thomas K. Harding and John M. Phelps. Both the positions in these districts are for three-year terms beginning May 2008 and expiring May 2011. To qualify for the positions, candidates must be registered voters of Flathead County and reside in the Flathead High School District or the Columbia Falls, Bigfork and Whitefish School Districts. The election will be run in accordance with the regular Flathead County school elections which will be held May 6. All legal information, nominating petitions and candidacy forms are available at the College. FVCC Election Coordinator Monica Settles will assist candidates in the filing process. Settles can be contacted at 756-3801.

Flathead Valley Community College’s Lincoln County Campus is offering a non-credit course on beginning portrait sketching starting March 3. Instructed by Anna Petrash, the course will provide theory and demonstration of materials and techniques through various exercises with pencil or pastel. Introduction of techniques into abstract and non-objective painting will be covered. The class will meet Mondays and Wednesdays through March 26 from 6-8 p.m. and Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The cost to enroll is $75. For more information, please contact FVCC’s Lincoln County Campus Continuing Education Center by calling 406-293-2721.

Financial Assistance Available

Flathead Valley Community College will offer its second cultural immersion program in the beautiful Sacred Valley of Peru this summer. Last year, the college launched the new program providing area residents the opportunity to earn college credits while participating in an international academic adventure in the village of Urubamba outside of Cusco, Peru. Twelve students participated in the program that the college deems highly successful. Spearheaded by seasoned trip operator Mick Stemborski, the six-week expedition will include such activities as hiking the Andes mountains, traveling to Machu Picchu, exploring cultural exchange opportunities, participating in community service work, sightseeing in the city of Cusco, visiting Indian markets, archeological sites and Inca ruins, exploring Lima, the capital of Peru, learning to speak Spanish in practical situations and discovering the wonders of the Peruvian culture. Participating students will have the opportunity to earn up to 18 college credits. Selected courses will begin on the FVCC campus in May and June, with students departing to Peru July 1 and returning August 12. Stemborski brings six years of operating therapeutic, experimental and educational trips in Peru to the program. The Montana-based licensed clinical counselor and addiction counselor teamed up with licensed Peruvian Guide Wilbert Yucra Choqqucunsa to form, “Peru Alive,” a unique program that introduces students to the cultural wonders of the Pervian people. To participate, registration in the college’s “Anthropology Cultural Immersion: Peru” class is required along with a full payment of $3,400 by May 13. Other classes including “Multiculturalism and Global Diversity,” “Spanish I” or “Spanish II,” “Interpersonal Relations/Communications,” “Digital Photography” and “Social Psychology” will be available for participants to enroll in for college credits. Registration for the course will begin April 15, and space in the program is limited. Tuition and fees for the FVCC courses are not included in the travel fees. Information packets on itinerary, courses and accommodations are available in FVCC Educational Services Office or by calling 756-3811 or by visiting www.fvcc.edu. Financial assistance is available to qualifying students. For more information, contact the FVCC Financial Aid office at 756-3849. To learn about payment plan options, contact Colleen Unterreiner at 756-3362.

Class Begins March 10

For individuals in the area who are looking for a new career, Flathead Valley Community College offers a Nurse’s Aide Training program that enables students to obtain a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) License in only four weeks. Through hands-on clinical training, the intensive course teaches students the skills and applications required to address the needs of chronically-ill patients in long-term care facilities. Students also gain understanding of basic medical terminology, basic human anatomy and physiology and the aging process. At the end of the course, students are given the CNA test approved by the state of Montana. Students who pass the test will obtain their CNA licenses and become certified and eligible to work in assisted living facilities. The class will meet Monday through Thursdays, March 10 through April 7 from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. The cost for in-district students to enroll is $660, which includes tuition, fees and lab fees. For more information or to register, please call 756-3852.

Lecture series to commence March 6

Flathead Valley Community College will open its 2008 Honors Symposium March 6. The event is free to the public and will feature experts of various backgrounds to address issues relating to this year’s theme: “Lessons Learned: The Role of Humanities in a Free Society.” The college will introduce a new addition—the FVCC Poetry Festival Weekend—to the honors symposium this year. The weekend will consist of panel discussions and poetry readings that also are free and open to the public. “Over the past 50 years, much of our attention has been focused on scientific and technological advances, and many fear that the traditional humanities have taken a back seat to these headline-grabbing developments,” said Honors Symposium Coordinator Ivan Lorentzen. “This year’s series will address the traditional liberal arts—literature, poetry, art, music, philosophy, religion and history—with the goal of exploring their contributions to the development of western thought and to provide lessons for us today.” According to Lorentzen, it is only the humanities that provide the uniquely human perspective that offers the insight and wisdom needed to make wise and responsible decisions about the future. The humanities assure the well-being of society by providing both historical perspective and mental agility required to navigate change. All activities will take place in the Arts and Technology Building Large Community Meeting Room on the college’s Kalispell campus, excluding the final presentation on April 20 which will take place at Flathead High School. Seating will be limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Members of the public are strongly encouraged to arrive early due to the popularity of previous symposiums. Hank Whittemore will open the series with a one-man dramatic presentation titled, “Shakespeare’s Treason,” March 6 at 7 p.m. Whittemore is a professional actor, newspaper reporter, award-winning television writer and bestselling author. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, he has 11 published books including one novel and 10 nonfiction books such as “The Super Cops,” “The Inside Story,” “So That Others May Live,” “Your Future Self,” and “The Monument.” The series will follow March 13 at 7 p.m. with a lecture titled, “Who Cares about History?” by Dr. Scott Wheeler, a retired professor of European history and United States military history from the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. Wheeler has authored numerous published articles and book chapters and recently completed his fourth book on military history. He is a former senior military analyst to the Commanding General of the United States Army, Europe, and currently serves as a staff-ride/leadership facilitator and historian. Wheeler earned a bachelor’s degree from The University of Montana, master’s degrees from the College of Naval Warfare and University of California-Berkeley and a doctorate from the University of California-Berkeley. The remaining lectures of the series will include:

March 27, 7 p.m.—“America’s Religious Heritage”—presented by Dr. David Scott, Department of Philosophy and Religion, FVCC; and Dr. E.B. Eiselein, Multicultural Services, FVCC;

April 3, 7 p.m.—“Common Thread”—a presentation and panel discussion moderated by John Rawlings, Department of Art, FVCC;

April 10, 7 p.m.—“Losing Your Mind: How to Read Poetry, How to Write It”—presented by Lowell Jaeger, Department of English, FVCC;

April 11, noon—“Can Poetry Matter?”—a panel discussion with panelists Lowell Jaeger, Roger Dunsmore, Mandy Smoker and Melissa Kwasny; 3:30 p.m.—Student Poetry Readings; 7 p.m.—Faculty Poetry Readings;

April 12, noon—“Poetry in a Free Society”—a panel discussion with panelists Lowell Jaeger, Roger Dunsmore, Melissa Kwasny and Greg Pape; 3:30 p.m.—Student Poetry Readings; 7 p.m.—Faculty Poetry Readings;

April 17, 7 p.m.—“Why Be Moral?”—presented by Dr. Dane Scott, Center of Ethics, The University of Montana; and

April 20, 6 p.m.—“The Music from Carmen”—presented by Dr. James Stanard, Director, Glacier Chorale.

The Honors Symposium is supported by FVCC, American Association of University Women, Humanities Montana and the Theodore Chase Endowment Fund. For more information, please stop by the FVCC Kalispell campus to pick up a brochure, call 406-756-3822 or visit www.fvcc.edu.

Flathead Valley Community College’s Lincoln County Campus will offer a two-day Introduction to Internet and E-mail Workshop designed for seniors or those who have little or no knowledge of how to use the Internet or e-mail. The course will provide an overview of the Internet and the basics skills necessary to begin accessing the resources to safely use the Internet and e-mail. The non-credit workshop will meet February 26 and 28 from 2-5 p.m. The cost to enroll is $26. For more information, please contact FVCC’s Lincoln County Campus Continuing Education Center by calling 406-293-2721.

Area employers interested in participating in the second annual Employment Extravaganza can now register for “The Biggest Employment Event in the Valley.” Employers can take advantage of registering early for a non-refundable discounted fee of $75 now through March 28. The entry fee will then increase to $100 through the final registration day of April 4. The event will take place April 10 at Kalispell Center Mall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Organized by the Flathead Workforce System Community Management Team, the event will be open to all job seekers at no charge and will provide employers the opportunity to fill vacant positions in a one-stop environment, promote business and employment opportunities and access job seekers with various skill and experience levels. Employers can host exhibits, attend workshops and receive county-wide recognition in a multi-media marketing campaign through sponsorship. Last year, 68 employers participated in the inaugural event that was attended by approximately 1,200 job seekers. Employers are encouraged to register early as space is limited. Employers interested in registering should contact Iva at Northwest Montana Human Resources at 758-5453. For additional information, call Roberta at Flathead Workforce Center at 758-6200, or visit www.employflathead.com.

Well-known Whitefish author Dennis Foley will begin teaching a non-credit class on writing a first novel at Flathead Valley Community College February 25. The class will help aspiring authors identify the obstacles of writing and develop completion schedules. Foley will focus on plot, structure, point of view, sense of place and voice. Foley is a nationally-recognized writing instructor and frequent guest speaker and lecturer at writer's conferences, workshops and college campuses across the country. He earned a Master of Fine Arts in Writing from Vermont College and is a member of the Writers Guild of America and the Authors Guild. Foley began his writing career in Hollywood where he worked as a writer and producer for 15 years. His novels include “Take Back the Night,” “Long Range Patrol,” “Special Men, An LRP’s Recollection” and “Night Work.” Foley has written for major motion picture studios and network television and has worn many hats such as screenwriter, freelancer, staff writer, producer, consultant and technical advisor on a wide variety of television shows, episodic series and motion pictures. The class will meet on Mondays through May 5 from 7-9 p.m. The cost to enroll is $89. For more information or to register, contact the FVCC Continuing Education Center at 756-3832.

The Flathead Valley Community College Board of Trustees met yesterday for its January meeting that was rescheduled due to severe weather on the originally scheduled date. Student Government President Erin Giefer reported that the student lounge remodeling project is complete, and Student Senate hosted an open house in the newly remodeled lounge. Upcoming Student Senate sponsored activities include a student/faculty/staff foosball tournament and speed dating. Psychology Instructor Ivan Lorentzen presented the brochure for the 2008 Honors Symposium themed “Lessons Learned: The Role of Humanities in a Free Society.” Lorentzen reported that the Symposium has applied for a grant by the Montana Committee for the Humanities to help support the lecture series and that the college should be notified whether it received the grant in the next week. The Symposium is scheduled to open March 6. In action items, the Board approved the changes set forth for the college’s institutional strategies and goals. The Board approved the disposal of surplus property, consisting of various items that are obsolete and do not meet the needs of the institution or are not economically feasible to repair. The Board also voted to reschedule its March meeting from March 24 to March 31. Flathead County Commissioner Joe Brenneman presented information on the county’s new proposed dispatch and training center. He asked the Board to consider allowing the center to be housed on the FVCC campus due to its centralized location in the Flathead Valley. Brenneman foresees opportunities to work with the college in developing an emergency management and other related curriculum. Math instructors Karen and Fred Longhart reported on the enhancements within the math department this semester to increase and improve student learning with the help of an enhancement grant the department was awarded through the FVCC Foundation. The grant has helped provide students enrolled in Introduction to Algebra and Intermediate Algebra with the opportunity to have access to and use the online components to their textbooks, providing them with additional resources to enhance learning. FVCC President Jane Karas announced that FVCC will host “College for a Day” February 19. This new initiative involves inviting area high school students on campus for a day and providing them with the college experience. FVCC is anticipating that between 400-500 high school juniors will participate. The Glacier Symphony and Chorale will host a Chamber Music and Dessert March 9 in the college’s Arts and Technology Building in celebration of the Symphony’s 25th anniversary and the college’s 40th anniversary. The FVCC culinary arts students will prepare a variety of desserts for patrons as a fundraiser to benefit the culinary arts program. President Karas reported that the Early Childhood Center opened February 4. There are currently available openings for community members to enroll their children in the Center this spring. Newly hired Vice President of Administration and Finance Chuck Jensen will begin his position at FVCC March 3. The next regularly scheduled board meeting will take place February 25 at 3:45 p.m. For more information regarding specific items included in this report or regarding college activities, please contact Tara Roth by calling 756-3912. For more information on board meetings, please contact Monica Settles by calling 756-3801.

Susie Brown, Shannon Webster and Mikie diMuro all have something in common. All three ladies are non-traditional age students who have taken art classes for years at Flathead Valley Community College. All have artwork currently on display as part of the “Alum·nus” exhibit in the college’s new Student Art Gallery. All were unaware when they first began taking classes at FVCC that they would later develop into extremely talented artists. So what’s the draw? Why do they keep returning year after year?

Susie Brown

Brown, 58, became a perpetual student at FVCC when she moved to the Valley over 10 years ago. Upon her arrival, she noticed there was a community college down the street, so she decided to check it out and see what it had to offer. “When you are new to a community, and your kids are at that stage where they won’t talk to you, you need to go out and meet new people,” she said with a chuckle. “I started taking art classes at FVCC and have never stopped.” Brown attributes all the people she has met that share the same interests as her in playing a large part why she keeps coming back for more. “I have made so many friends through the college, and we have been friends for years,” she said.

Shannon Webster

When Webster, 44, first came to FVCC, she had the goal of studying to become an accountant. Since she was required to take an elective, she enrolled in one of John Rawling’s art classes. Little did she know at the time that class would change her life. “I fell in love with John, the class and all of the people in the program,” said Webster. “It’s a great community of people.” Webster is now studying fine art online at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. The ability to take art classes online is a newer concept, but it has really worked to her advantage. “I didn’t have to move out of the Valley which has been a huge benefit since my husband owns a business here, and I even was able to teach painting at FVCC last year.” Brown commended Webster’s drastic improvements in her painting skills since she began the online program. “Her painting abilities have leaped from one to 10 since she began learning online, and through her teaching, she has been able to pass those skills onto us,” Brown said. Webster’s discovered talents have opened many doors for her. She recently was accepted into the Oil Painters of America, an organization dedicated to the preservation of representational art. She also recently submitted a painting into this year’s Seventeenth Annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils that will take place in Missoula in May. The goal of the exhibition is to assemble the finest display of representational oil paintings in the nation. Approximately $40,000 in awards will be given with the top prize of $20,000 for Best in Show.

Mikie diMuro

When diMuro, 62, moved to the Flathead in 1995, she began taking classes at FVCC to meet people. A former owner of a cheesecake business, she did not project she would develop a passion for art. “I have taken a class here just about every semester since I began,” she said. diMuro, like many other art alumni, finds Rawlings responsible for her love of art. “John is someone who encourages you not just about learning techniques but also self-expression,” she said. And now that the art classes have moved into the college’s new state-of-the-art Arts and Technology Building, it has created even more enthusiasm among the returning art students. “It’s striking and a great piece for the college,” said diMuro. Added Brown, “The new art building is awesome. I will probably be a student forever—in fact, I’m sure I will.”

Brown’s, Webster’s and diMuro’s artwork is currently on display along with the works by 15 fellow FVCC art alumni through February 15 in the Student Art Gallery inside the Arts and Technology Building on the college’s Kalispell campus. The exhibit is free and open to the community. For more information on upcoming exhibits, contact Rawlings at 756-3896.

Flathead Valley Community College will present three free “Artist to Artist” brown bag lunches as part of a series to deliver information while connecting artists with others in the local art community. The lunches will present guests with the opportunity to find a mentor or share their experiences to benefit other artists. The college will open the series with “What Makes an Artist Successful” by Hockaday Museum Executive Director Linda Engh-Grady February 13. Steve Cawdrey of Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey Studios will continue the series March 12 with “Marketing Your Artwork.” The series will conclude April 9 with “A Conversation with Local Artist Mark Ogle” facilitated by Engh-Grady. Each presentation will take place from noon-1:30 p.m. in the Arts and Technology Building, room 144, on the college’s Kalispell campus. No reservations are required to attend. Guests are invited to bring their lunches, and the college will provide beverages. For more information, contact the FVCC Continuing Education Center at 756-3832.