2023 December Warrior web

Foundation Awards Grants O liphant -M artin F aculty E xcellence F und G rants $5,000

The East Central Community College Foundation has awarded Oliphant-Martin Faculty Excellence Fund Grants to four academic departments for the 2023-24 year and each will receive $5,000 toward classroom enhancements to benefit teaching and learning. The English Department is the recipient of one award and will use the funds to purchase a mobile computer lab including Chromebooks and a charging cart. With many students not possessing their own laptops and a limited number of computer labs on campus, the addition of the Chromebooks would bet ter equip faculty as they assist students with in-class writing assignments. English instructor Rachel Laird said in her depart ment’s application that the addition of the mobile computer lab would allow students to work comfort ably in their classrooms while instructors can navigate around the room monitoring and offering feedback in real time without the need to rearrange the schedule of multiple classes for use of the computer labs. “We want to have equal access to Chromebooks for all of our students to use in English courses, regard less of income. This access will hopefully improve grades, provide more accurate assessment, simplify scheduling, and even improve retention and passing rates.” Receiving another of the awards is the chemistry department. Their request includes the purchase of updated equipment to enhance both lecture and labo ratory instruction. Amy Denson, chemistry instructor, said in her request, “The nearly 900 students served by the Sci ence Division each year may remember information taught through textbooks and lectures, but the same concepts studied through active learning will build functional understanding of topics and expand critical thinking skills well beyond ‘book smarts’ that will be used throughout their continuing academic careers.” The college’s Associate Degree Nursing program will use the funds from their award to purchase simu lated horizontal patient service consoles. Dr. Donna Everett, dean of healthcare education said, “Having simulated oxygen flowmeters, medical air flowmeters, and suction regulators would improve the students’ ability to practice and master the skills in using these devices in a safe environment prior to using them in a healthcare setting.” And finally, the Practical Nursing Program will Purchase IV pumps and poles with the grant funds

received. Teresa Cole, instructor and director of the practical nursing program, said, “Having functioning IV pumps with poles would improve the students’ ability to practice and master the skills in using IV therapy in a safe environment, as students have limited opportuni ties in the healthcare setting to use IV pumps.” The East Central Community College Faculty Excel lence Fund, established in 1997, was renamed in 2010 to the Oliphant-Martin Faculty Excellence Fund to ac knowledge the generous contributions of alumna Dr. Beverly Henry Oliphant-Martin (’58) and her husband, John Martin. Dr. Stacey Hollingsworth, executive director of the ECCC Foundation, said of the couple, “They continu ally support East Central Community College through the Foundation and have always believed in the mis sion of the community college and what we provide our students and communities. We could not do what we do without the continued support of donors like the Martins.” When asked once why she gives to East Central, Beverly said, “My (Beverly) personal motivation to give TO East Central specifically came after my gift FROM East Central when I, literally penniless, begged entry as a 17-year-old high school graduate. I was afforded entry based on scholarships and good will found there. It offered the yeast for my professional possi bility. I became a better physician for having had both the hungering need for knowledge and for the gift of an education based on scholarships. I am forever grateful and the remembrance of that trust and faith in my possibility renews an inner ardor to “go and do likewise.” Selection criteria for the Oliphant-Martin grants included items such as the number of students/staff positively affected, creativity, and the impact on the institutions commitment to student success and teaching and learning. The Oliphant-Martins also support two Oliphant Martin Foundation Scholarships, the Classes of 57, 58, & 59 Foundation Scholarship, and various other Foundation scholarships annually in addition to the faculty excellence fund. For more information on how you can join the Martins in giving to East Central Community College, contact Dr. Stacey Hollingsworth, executive director of the ECCCC Foundation at sholling@eccc.edu or call 601-635-6327.

ALUMNI NEWS

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