Ozarks Technical Community College

SPRINGFIELD, MO. - Ozarks Technical Community College will recognize the late David Lewis with a ceremony to officially dedicate the Lewis Family Early Childhood Education Center at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 29. Lewis gifted $1 million for student scholarships to the OTC Foundation, the fundraising arm of the College, through inclusion in his will. The dedication ceremony will be held at the Lewis Family Early Childhood Education Center, located on Hampton Street just north of Central Street on the OTC Springfield Campus.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Mary Lou Casey, who, along with her husband, Reuben, donated the buildings and land that make up Ozarks Technical Community College's Lebanon Center, passed away following a short illness. She was 84 years old. “Mrs. Casey has been a friend to OTC, and has invested a great deal in the education of the Lebanon area community,” said Hal Higdon, chancellor of Ozarks Technical Community College. “We are saddened at the news of her passing, and we are thankful for her support and her contribution to the college.” Reuben and Mary Lou Casey have operated a warehousing company in San Clemente, Calif., since the late 1970s.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Don Wessel, a founding member of the Ozarks Technical Community College Board of Trustees, passed away at age 86.  Wessel was owner of Wessel Honda and well known in southwest Missouri for his support of arts, education and civic organizations.  Wessel served on the OTC Board of Trustees from 1990 until his retirement in 2008. He was president of the Board from 1992 to 1994.  He was named a trustee emeritus upon his retirement. “Mr. Wessel played an important role in the creation of OTC, and was a dedicated member of our Board for many years,” said Hal Higdon, chancellor of Ozarks Technical Community College.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Students attending Ozarks Technical Community college have another opportunity to seamlessly finish their bachelor's degree. OTC signed an agreement Wednesday with Joplin's Missouri Southern State University. The memorandum of understanding will allow OTC students with an Associates of Applied Science or an Associate of Science degree to transfer to MSSU to continue their education. "We are pleased to enter into this partnership with MSSU. It allows OTC graduates and alumni to continue their educational career at Missouri Southern State University,” said OTC Chancellor Dr. Hal Higdon.

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. -- Ozarks Technical Community College will host a Military Open House event at the OTC Waynesville Center on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The event is designed for veterans, active members of the military, and their families to learn more about opportunities provided by OTC in their area. The OTC Waynesville Center is in the Town Field Plaza Center, 320 Ichord Avenue. Information will be provided on the programs of study available, the enrollment process, and how to pay for college.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Ozarks Technical Community College and the Community Foundation of the Ozarks finalized a plan for a new loan program to help veterans with the cost of pursuing higher education.  The Veterans Loan Program lets veterans apply for interest-free loans to help with living expenses while they are enrolled at OTC. “Due to the large number of veterans enrolled at OTC and applying for their government benefits, the payment of those benefits can be delayed,” said Community Foundation of the Ozarks President and CEO Brian Fogle.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Leaders of Missouri State University and Ozarks Technical Community College signed two articulation agreements providing a seamless pathway for OTC students to transfer their Associate of Science and Applied Science degrees to complete a bachelor's degree entirely online with MSU. Specifically, a Bachelor of Applied Science in technology management can be completed online for OTC students who have earned an Associate of Applied Science. ...

BRANSON, Mo.  - At its Table Rock campus, Ozarks Technical Community College is helping sharpen minds and shape lives. "If there had not been a campus here in Branson I would not have been able to attend school... because at the time I started I couldn't afford driving up to Springfield every day," explained student Kathy Westmoreland. Westmoreland is a part of the growing number of people getting degrees at the campus.  The facility is currently at the Branson Meadows shopping center.  However, in Hollister, the future is taking shape with a new campus.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Fran Giglio has a way with words.  She's helped to bridge the language barrier for thousands of students "I always say I know two languages: English and broken English,” she said recently. Giglio has taught English as a Second Language for more than three decades, helping adults from more than 70 countries.  Nineteen of those years have been at Ozarks Technical Community College. "I guess over the years, 33 years, my ears have become attuned, and I just anticipate, I know what they want to say,” she said.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The City of Springfield and Ozarks Technical Community College are considering merging their workforce development programs. The merger being considered would transfer the Department of Workforce Development from the City to OTC. The city told the 62 employees in the Department of Workforce Development about the discussions last Friday.  One employee called the newsroom about the announcement on Friday afternoon and was upset...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  -- The Sunderland Foundation gave $100,000 to the OTC Foundation, the fundraising arm of Ozarks Technical Community College .  OTC will use the gift to pay for its Allied Health Clinical Simulation Center. That center will be a 2,000-square-foot, multi-disciplinary high-fidelity simulation lab used by more than 600 students across 12 programs.  It will also provide training for healthcare professionals already in the workforce.  The center could be done by this December Based in Kansas City, The Sunderland Foundation has spent more than 60 years investing primarily in the brick-and-mortar efforts of nonprofit organizations, including building construction, renovation, repairs and restoration.  The Sunderland Foundation strives to support communities, families, and youth through capital and special projects that allow nonprofits to fulfill their missions.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Mary Lou Casey, who, along with her husband, Reuben, donated the buildings and land that make up Ozarks Technical Community College's Lebanon Center, passed away following a short illness. She was 84 years old. “Mrs. Casey has been a friend to OTC, and has invested a great deal in the education of the Lebanon area community,” said Hal Higdon, chancellor of Ozarks Technical Community College. “We are saddened at the news of her passing, and we are thankful for her support and her contribution to the college.” Reuben and Mary Lou Casey have operated a warehousing company in San Clemente, Calif., since the late 1970s.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The City of Springfield and Ozarks Technical Community College are considering merging their workforce development programs. The merger being considered would transfer the Department of Workforce Development from the City to OTC. The city told the 62 employees in the Department of Workforce Development about the discussions last Friday.  One employee called the newsroom about the announcement on Friday afternoon and was upset...

SPRINGFIELD, MO. - Ozarks Technical Community College will recognize the late David Lewis with a ceremony to officially dedicate the Lewis Family Early Childhood Education Center at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 29. Lewis gifted $1 million for student scholarships to the OTC Foundation, the fundraising arm of the College, through inclusion in his will. The dedication ceremony will be held at the Lewis Family Early Childhood Education Center, located on Hampton Street just north of Central Street on the OTC Springfield Campus.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- It's going to be a busy weekend in Springfield as thousands of students arrive for the fall semester at local universities.  It's also going to be a drain on the city's water supply during this ongoing, extreme drought. At college campuses across Springfield, the fountains have gone dry.  "Actually this large fountain holds about 250,000 gallons and, in a given day, it can evaporate 3,000 to 5,000 gallons," said Bob Eckels, Facilities Management director at Missouri State University.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Many communities in the Ozarks topped 100 degrees on Thursday as the Ozarks endures its hottest June in close to 60 years.  Springfield hit 101 close to 5 p.m., breaking the daily record of 100 set in 1954; it was also the hottest June day ever recorded in Springfield.  Other communities hit and exceeded 100 degrees earlier in the afternoon than Springfield.  The highest numbers were in Harrison with a record 107 and Mountain...

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. -- The transition from military to civilian life is a challenge to most members of our nation's armed forces.  Some of the many questions they have were answered on Saturday by Ozarks Technical Community College. OTC administrators told service members and their families about options available from financial aid to disability support services at an open house. OTC offers a variety of associates degrees in technical, allied health and transfer degree programs from six locations around the Ozarks.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Leaders of Missouri State University and Ozarks Technical Community College signed two articulation agreements providing a seamless pathway for OTC students to transfer their Associate of Science and Applied Science degrees to complete a bachelor's degree entirely online with MSU. Specifically, a Bachelor of Applied Science in technology management can be completed online for OTC students who have earned an Associate of Applied Science. ...

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. -- Ozarks Technical Community College will host a Military Open House event at the OTC Waynesville Center on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The event is designed for veterans, active members of the military, and their families to learn more about opportunities provided by OTC in their area. The OTC Waynesville Center is in the Town Field Plaza Center, 320 Ichord Avenue. Information will be provided on the programs of study available, the enrollment process, and how to pay for college.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Students attending Ozarks Technical Community college have another opportunity to seamlessly finish their bachelor's degree. OTC signed an agreement Wednesday with Joplin's Missouri Southern State University. The memorandum of understanding will allow OTC students with an Associates of Applied Science or an Associate of Science degree to transfer to MSSU to continue their education. "We are pleased to enter into this partnership with MSSU. It allows OTC graduates and alumni to continue their educational career at Missouri Southern State University,” said OTC Chancellor Dr. Hal Higdon.