Patricia Ravert, Nursing Learning Center and Clinical Simulation Laboratory Coordinator at Brigham Young University College of Nursing, demonstrates patient care simulation technology using an iSTAN mannequin during a training session at North Platte Community College on Aug. 5. The training and iSTAN mannequin were funded by an $84,766 grant from the Nebraska Department of Labor’s Worker Training Program to develop a simulated patient training lab for incumbent health professionals.

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The Mid-Plains Center for Enterprise (CFE), in collaboration with Great Plains Regional Medical Center (GPRMC) and area health care providers, recently received an $84,766 grant from the Nebraska Department of Labor’s Worker Training Program to develop a simulated patient training lab for incumbent health professionals.

The “Rural Simulated Patient Lab” will provide education to area trainers in new technologies, specifically the latest in patient care simulation technology for working health professionals in rural West-Central Nebraska. These trainers will go on to provide training in low-frequency, high-risk medical situations to area allied health providers.

The iSTAN mannequins used in the training offer the latest in patient care simulation technology and vastly improve the outcomes of formal education, general training, and Continuing Education units that are offered by MPCC and the CFE.

Lab space for the “Rural Simulated Patient Lab” is on-site at Mid-Plains Community College’s North Platte campus, as well as at extended campus sites and regional hospitals for eight training sessions via use of the college’s Mobile Education Lab (MEL).

Prior to receiving the grant monies, MPCC was the only community college in Nebraska that did not have access to patient care simulators. By using this modern technology, the college will stay relevant and updated, as well as encouraging students to stay local or move to the area to obtain their training.

It is anticipated that the equipment purchased with the grant funds will be put to the test and utilized by more than 1,000 enrollees who participate in various health occupation education curriculums. Potentially, more than 94,000 residents in MPCC’s rural 18-county area could benefit from the education received by students in any health occupations program, since everyone faces health or medical issues at one time or another. The thousands of through travelers and tourists add to the number of people who are potentially impacted by the training our local health providers receive from the community college.

The McCook National Bank Companies’ recently gave a generous gift of $15,000 to support Mid-Plains Community College’s Center for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) in McCook. These funds will go towards expanding the exhaust system in the CAST facility. Pictured from left to right, front to back are P. Mark Graff, MNB Chairman; Dr. Michael Chipps, MPCC President; Brian Esch, MNB President; Terri Burchell, MPCC Director of Institutional Advancement; Mark Stagemeyer, Ag Insurance Specialist at MNB Insurance; and Dr. Richard Tubbs, MCC Vice President.

The McCook National Bank Companies’ recently gave a generous gift of $15,000 to support Mid-Plains Community College’s Center for Applied Science and Technology (CAST). These funds will go towards expanding the exhaust system in the CAST facility, located at 308 East B Street in McCook.

McCook Community College (MCC), a division of MPCC, has completed the first two of four development phases at the CAST. The expansion of an industry standard exhaust system is part of third development phase. This phase is scheduled for completion by the end of this calendar year and needs support from private sources.

The CAST is already providing industry-specific training in the field of welding. The College is looking to other technical training to be offered in the same facility.

According to Dr. Michael Chipps, MPCC President, “The Center for Applied Science and Technology provides excellent technical training for area students and industry. McCook National Bank embraces the College and understands how important it is to community life and well-being.”

“The enthusiastic financial and moral support provided for the College is deeply appreciated,” Dr. Chipps continued. “The sharing of human and financial resources at all levels in the McCook area is something to behold and to greatly respect.”

The five original entities providing advice and leadership for the new CAST are the Work Ethic Camp, McCook Public Schools, Valmont Industries and Nebraska Workforce Development. Additional financial support for the CAST has come from CBS Constructors, McCook Abstract, and now McCook National Bank and its affiliates.

“Offering technical courses in McCook will attract students from Southwest Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado,” said Terri Burchell, Area Advancement Director. “The College is grateful that once again McCook National Bank Companies’ is investing in growing the College.”

For more information, contact Burchell at (308) 535-3681 or burchellt@mpcc.edu.

Mid-Plains Community College campus locations in North Platte and McCook will have a New Student Orientation on Monday, Aug. 23.

North Platte Community College students should come to the north entrance of the South Campus, 601 W. State Farm Rd. in North Platte, at 8:30 a.m. McCook Community College students should report to True Hall in McCook at 9 a.m.

“The orientation was designed to provide new students with an interactive and fun day of transitioning and learning how to make the most of their college experience,” said Marcus Garstecki, MPCC Area Dean of Enrollment Management.

Garstecki said that students who come to the orientation will have the opportunity to meet other new students, as well as faculty and staff at the college. They will also receive information on topics such as study and time management skills, personal finance, and drug and alcohol awareness.

Lunch will be served to students on both campuses. In North Platte, students will have the opportunity to hear from Jeff Wolfsberg, an internationally recognized expert and thought leader in drug education, adolescent and family health and personal leadership speaker, radio talk show host, and writer. Homeless and addicted to crack cocaine by the age of 23, Wolfsberg’s personal story of resilience and faith offer inspiration and guidance to personal growth and success.

The orientation will end at approximately 2 p.m.

All daytime classes starting prior to 4 p.m. on Aug. 23 have been cancelled on that day. All evening classes that start at 4 p.m. or later will meet as scheduled. For more information, contact Garstecki at (308) 535-3610.

Mid-Plains Community College’s 1972 Chevy Nova will be on display in North Platte, Sutherland and Grant this weekend.

The hotrod is scheduled to be at the North Platte Wal-Mart from 1 to 6 p.m. on Friday, July 2, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 3. It will also be at the Sutherland Roast Beef Luncheon from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, July 4, and at the Grant Car Show the afternoon of July 4.

Tickets are $10 each and no more than 6,000 will be sold. The car will be raffled at 2 p.m. on Sept. 11 at Colonel Cody’s Cruise Show and Shine in downtown North Platte.

The Chevy Nova has been totally restored and modified beginning with a 1988 Chevy Tune Port Injected 305 c.i.d. engine, a T5 5 Speed transmission and coupled to a 355 posi-trac rear end. The car is equipped with Tilt wheel, Vintage Air, Four wheel disc brakes and American Racing Wheels.

The car has a totally customized interior and is wrapped up in PPG Paint (Toreador Red) which was donated by Mid Plains Auto Finishes. The decals were created and applied by “Lettering by Moe.” Some of the Nova parts were furnished by RPM Unlimited, The Car Doc, J&M parts and equipment.

Tickets are available wherever the car is on display and at the following locations in North Platte: Advance Auto Parts, Bob Spady Motors, Cohagen Battery Store, Grandma’s Memories Antiques & Collectibles, Isabel’s Auto Center, A.J. Janas, Jim Pokorny, Jody’s Auto Sales, Mid-Plains Auto Finishes, RPM Unlimited, The Car Doctor, Twin River Body Shop, Pat Smith, Kohler Trailer Sales, Midtown Motors, NPCC North and South Campuses (front office), Top Notch Auto – Moe’s Graphics in Gothenburg and McCook Community College (front office) in McCook

For more information about the car, its summer tour, or to learn more about the MPCC Automotive and Autobody program offerings, please call (308) 535-3601.

North Platte Community College English Instructor Jessie Allen (left to right), McCook Community College Art Instructor Rick Johnson, MPCC Nurse Educator Kathy Harrison, and MCC Business Instructor Lorrie Mowry (not pictured) were recently selected as 2010 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Excellence Award (NISOD) winners.

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Four Mid-Plains Community College instructors were recently selected as 2010 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Excellence Award (NISOD) winners.

North Platte Community College English Instructor Jessie Allen, MPCC Nurse Educator Kathy Harrison, McCook Community College Art Instructor Rick Johnson, and MCC Business Instructor Lorrie Mowry received their honors during NISOD’s International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence that took place May 30 to June 2 in Austin, Texas.

Jody Tomanek, Area Vice President for Educational Services and Student Development, and Michele Gill, Area Dean of Student Life, also attended the conference.

“The NISOD conference is a wonderful celebration of both teaching and learning. The recognition and celebration of community college faculty and staff at NISOD is a rewarding experience for all who attend,” Tomanek said. “Jessie, Rick, Kathy, and Lorrie are very deserving of this award and the College is very proud of them for work and dedication to teaching and learning.”

NISOD is a consortium of more than 600 community colleges and universities and has a 32-year history of recognizing educators for outstanding contributions to teaching, leadership and learning. In 1989, in connection with a University of Texas national study of teaching excellence, NISOD hosted its first ceremony, held in conjunction with its annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence, honoring and naming the individuals featured in this study as recipients of the NISOD Excellence Award.

Students who attend Mid-Plains Community College will now have the opportunity to participate in intercollegiate rodeo competitions thanks to the formation of a Rodeo Club at the college.

The Rodeo Club was approved by the MPCC Board of Governors during their June 23 meeting. It will officially begin July 1, the start of the college’s fiscal year.

“In the late 60’s and early 70’s rodeo had a presence at MPCC and we are pleased to have it back as a student club,” said MPCC President Dr. Michael Chipps. “Rodeo is to West-Central Nebraska as the Huskers are to the state. Rodeo plays a vital role in our service area and Mid-Plains is now making it an integral part of education that occurs in the classroom as well as in the arena. So, we are rolling out the welcome mat to students who wish to rodeo while they are obtaining a high quality college education.”

The inception of a Rodeo Club at MPCC came about in great part due to results from a 2009 survey of local high school students and counselors that showed there was a great deal of interest in the sport of rodeo. Many of those who responded to the survey indicated they are currently involved in rodeo competition and would support it at the collegiate level.

“We have had a committee exploring the feasibility of a rodeo club for the past 18 months. Because of our geographical location and being in the heart of rodeo country, it just seemed like adding this club to the college made perfect sense,” said Marcus Garstecki, Area Dean of Enrollment Management. “I think this will be a way to attract additional students to MPCC and give those who might already be attending a great activity to be involved in.”

“This is an exciting new opportunity for students at the college,” said Chuck Salestrom, MPCC Area Director of Public Information and Marketing. He noted that the Rodeo Club is the college’s first area-wide club.

“This means that a student taking classes in Ogallala can be just as much a part of the team as a student at one of the main campuses,” he said.

Although the Rodeo Club was approved by the Board of Governors and will be supported by the college, MPCC will not be offering institutional scholarships for students who participate.

“The Rodeo Club is not a sport and will not be considered as such by the college,” Salestrom said. “It is a club and will be operated similarly to the other student clubs at MPCC.”

For additional information, contact Salestrom at (308) 535-3781 or at salestromc@mpcc.edu.