Opticianry faculty, students receive industry awards

Students and faculty of the Reynolds Opticianry program were nationally recognized during the ABO/NCLE National Opticianry Conference held last month in Cincinnati, Ohio. This year’s awards and recipients were:

Caitlin Loving, 2011 graduate, received a $250 scholarship for her paper on Macular Pucker

In 1951, Mr. Leslie W. Myers founded the Beverly Myers Awards program in memory of his daughter, Beverly.  It was the wish of Mr. Myers that the awards are granted to outstanding students enrolled in Opticianry programs, which are accredited by the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation. 

Ashraf Karimi, 2011 graduate, received a $500 scholarship for her “eposter” on Pediatric Dispensing

HOYA, a vision care company, established a student scholarship this year that was available to any student that was enrolled in an NFOS (National Federation of Opticianry Schools) member school. The student was to submit an eposter on any topic (optically related of course) of their choice.

Kristi Green, former JSRCC Opticianry program head, received the Joseph Bruneni, FNAO (Fellow of the National Academy of Opticianry) Memorial Education Achievement Award from the National Academy of Opticianry in recognition and appreciation for outstanding service to the field of Opticianry education.

Doug Pelkey, adjunct faculty has been elected to serve on the OAA board. 

Established in 1926, the Opticians Association of America (OAA) serves as the only national organization representing opticianry's business, professional, educational, legislative and regulatory interests. OAA fosters, supports and sponsors programs of competency certification, licensing and continuing education for professional development.

The Tracey Wells Report: My Reynolds Ambassadors Experience

Being a part of the Reynolds Ambassadors program has been a great experience. I have met a lot of people and experienced many new things and it is only September. When the program started in May, none of us really knew what we were getting into as we sat around the table filling out paperwork. Before we knew it, we were doing training for S.O.A.R. which is a program that freshmen attend where we help them find their way around campus and schedule classes. For four weeks, we were practicing leading tours at the Downtown and Parham Road campuses. We also held rehearsal for our skit about values at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.

            On the first day of student orientation, there we were seven of us standing tall—Zack, Phoebe, Carolyn, Angela, Cheri, Moe and I. We all came together for one purpose—to prepare first year students for their first semester, making sure that each student left with all their questions answered. Because of the anticipated volume of freshmen, we had help from members of Student Council.

Our first S.O.A.R. started at the Parham Road Campus. Everyone had to report to campus by 7:30 a.m. We all gathered around the front of Georgiadis Hall to greet the students and their parents as they arrived. All of all sudden, people started swarming into the building from left and right. For about an hour, everyone was either helping students with their user names and passwords, checking people in or directing students to the different display options we had available. After an hour of doing that, we gathered the students and parents into the auditorium. Then Dean of Students Dr. Brian Richardson did his opening speech to warm up the crowd for us. This took about 10 minutes and we became very fond of his wrap up side joke to finish his speech.

“The people you see here wearing those shirts represent student leaders at our college and they are here to help you. Now I have a question. Are those shirts forest green or are they hunter green? If you can come up with the right answer you will win a prize.”

(I still do not know the answer to that question about the color of our Ambassadors' shirts.)

             After Dr. Richardson’s speech, each of us went to the stage and introduced ourselves and told everyone our majors. Next, we did our little skit, that I’m proud to say got a big applause. After the skit, we dismissed for tours and the Jeopardy game. The game taught the students about some of the policies and procedures that are in place at J. Sargeant Reynolds. Sometimes the game got really intense as everyone was going neck and neck, trying to raise their hands first. In the end, they all were winners and each student was given a free flash drive. After the Jeopardy game, the ambassadors presented a 30 minute tour of the Parham Road Campus. When we did tours at the Downtown Campus we were given the same amount of time. It was easier and faster to do the tours Downtown because we were not hot and we had access to elevators and steps. The Parham tours required a lot of walking outside and it was very hot. 

After the tours and the jeopardy game, the new students went to advising and registration. The students were separated by major and were sent to different locations to get started. This process took a couple of hours because each student’s schedule had to be setup to start them on the path to success.

At the conclusion of the S.O.A.R. session, we came together to discuss how the day went. We laughed at how some of the crazy parents would try to sneak out of their own sessions in the auditorium and go to their child’s sessions to see which classes they were registering for. S.O.A.R. officially ended two weeks before school started.

 During the first week of school, we were helping students find their classes and print class schedules. We also had a Back to School Fair, where we helped served popcorn, pizza, drinks, and free school supplies. This really wrapped up the summer session of my Ambassador experience. I can’t wait to see what is in store for the rest of the academic year.

Learning Communities share experiences

Learning Communities at Reynolds remain a practical way to learn. The concept of a Learning Community is to coordinate what you’re learning in one class and apply it to another. Two or more classes are linked together during the same semester and students are enrolled in both/all classes. Professors work together to coordinate assignments, content, and improve crossover learning between the courses.  Classes are typically back-to-back, or at the same time on alternating days.

Being part of a Learning Community at Reynolds also means you get credit for “shared experiences” and discussion. For instance, the VCCS Excellence in Education Award-winning Learning Community, "Getting a Clue," which pairs sections of ENG 111 and SDV 100, featured a shared experience this fall. All eight "Clue" Learning Communities (nearly 200 students) received free access to the 1997 film, Good Will Hunting, through their laptops. The College also featured five public showings of the film. Students in the Learning Communities were invited to write about how the film portrayed various educational themes and settings.

Learn more about Reynolds Learning Communities at www.reynolds.edu/lc.

Program Spotlight: Sleep Tech

Many of us have heard by now that sleep – quantity and quality – can be at the root of a myriad of health issues such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. It’s no wonder business at sleep labs are exploding. As usual, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College is answering the call to help fulfill workforce needs. JSRCC now offers a fully accredited Sleep Technology for Polysomnography Certificate program online. Students can complete the program in just two semesters (27 credits) and be well-prepared to take the national exam for certification. Course work is offered online and clinical work is coordinated with sleep laboratories in each student's local area. When they’re done, they’re likely to be offered a job pretty quickly, says Program Head Michelle Sartelle.

“Techs are needed in private labs and almost every major hospital,” said Sartelle. “If you’re a good problem solver, have good customer service skills, are comfortable with computers, and you like working the night shift, you could be a great sleep tech.”

Sleep techs monitor brain waves, heart rate, breath, oxygen, leg movement and eye movement, among other things, to determine treatment for a variety of sleep disorders. Patients are often hooked up to several monitors, so it’s also the sleep tech’s job to make them calm and comfortable.

JSRCC’s Sleep Technology for Polysomnography Certificate program is the only program in Virginia and one of 36 in the country. The program is one of many allied health programs offered through the College. For more information about the program or current clinical sites in Virginia, contact Michelle Sartelle at msartelle@reynolds.edu or (804) 523-5375.

Campus construction update

Here’s a quick and dirty update on recent campus construction…the renovations between Burnette and Georgiadis Halls on the Parham Road Campus are nearing completion. New brick pavers have been installed. Irrigation, landscaping and seating will soon complete that project. The Workforce Development and Conference Center construction is moving right along. Upon completion, the Community College Workforce Alliance will relocate and operate in this building. The first floor will offer a large multi-purpose room, a flex room, two classrooms, three large conference rooms, 17 offices and a catering kitchen. The College administrative offices, including the President’s Office, will be upstairs.

A rendering of the soon to be
Workforce Development Conference Center
on the Parham Road Campus.

Other recent completed renovations on the Parham Road Campus include the relocation of the Financial Aid and Central Admissions and Records offices to Georgiadis Hall. Third floor Georgiadis Hall corridor renovations have also been completed. The Marketing and Public Relations Office as well as the ODU Teletechnet program is scheduled to relocate to Georgiadis Hall within several weeks. Burnette Hall’s roof is also being replaced this month. At the Goochland Campus, the student commons/community room is being renovated and major renovations on the Downtown Campus remain ongoing.

For the most recent construction update report, visit http://www.reynolds.edu/_news/documents/ConstructionupdateSept2011.pdf.

Welcome Students!

This week Reynolds celebrated the arrival of over 12,000 students to the College for the Fall Semester. To welcome the students, the Office of Student Life hosted Welcome Back parties on each campus that featured live radio remotes, information tables and numerous give-aways including water bottles, pens and free drinks, popcorn, pizza and snow cones. The Office of Student Life will be hosting a number of additional upcoming events, so be sure to visit www.reynolds.edu/events for a full listing. Good luck this semester.

Meet your representatives

Read the bios of this year’s JSRCC Student Council Officers and Student Ambassadors. Student Council Officers serve as advocates for all Reynolds students. If you have a concern or suggestion, your Student Council representative can help you communicate it to the right person at the College. Student Ambassadors are College leaders that serve the College as tour guides, orientation leaders and hosts of high profile College events. During new student orientation, they work with small groups of incoming students, familiarizing them with the campus and assisting them with class registration.  At the beginning of each semester, Ambassadors help welcome students by staffing “greeters” tables, where they provide information to students about classroom locations, where to get a student ID, and how to get a student parking sticker.  During the academic year, they provide tours to prospective students and assist during events for alumni and other outside constituents.

See their faces and read their bios here: http://www.reynolds.edu/studentaffairs/Student_ambassadors.html.

Reynolds hosts distinguished Cyber Camp

This summer, more than 80 computer hackers from across the United States attended a U.S. Cyber Challenge Camp hosted by J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. Reynolds is the first institution in Virginia to host the distinguished camp which offered specialized training sessions on cyber crime and terrorism prevention taught by renowned faculty and cyber security experts. A job fair, ethics discussion and roundtable discussion (which included State Secretary of Technology Jim Duffey and CEO’s from major cyber security firms) were also part of the camp.

According to JSRCC Information Security Officer Kristopher Cox, Cyber Camps provide a unique training opportunity in a field with excellent employability.

“Industry experts will tell you how important it is to hire people that know how to identify and stop threats to information systems,” said Cox. “As the volume of online attacks increase and scams become more sophisticated, the need for skilled practitioners will never be more critical.”

All attendees were able to network with employers. Many have genuine job prospects. The week concluded with a virtual “capture the flag” competition. The five winners of that competition received scholarships for further training.

Reynolds Opticianry team volunteers for RAM

This summer, Reynolds had a team of opticians at the 12^th annual RAM (Remote Area Medical clinic) mission in Wise County – an annual three-day event offering free medical, dental and vision care. Close to 1,000 eyewear prescriptions were filled or ordered over the course of the event and more than half of the orders were made on-site in the mobile eyeglass lab. About 450 orders were brought back to Richmond to be made and mailed to patients seen that weekend.  

More than 1500 volunteers were on site to help patients through the various areas and to provide food and cool drinks throughout the day. This was the first year Reynolds Opticianry faculty Kristi Green attended. She was invited by Opticianry Board Member Ray Guin and was pleasantly surprised to see Reynolds Opticianry Alumnae volunteering - Patti Guin and Linda Davis.

Kristi said “the Opticianry program is excited about the opportunity for future students and alumni to also work with the RAM organization.”

Brainy AND good looking

The science labs in Burnette Hall have never been more intriguing. Newly renovated, they now feature a stunning collection of restored and new works gifted to the College by Dominion Resources. From glossy and updated Periodic Tables to abstract oil paintings from Richmond artists, the pieces remind us of what is beautiful, fascinating and weird in the scientific world.  Reynolds President Dr. Gary Rhodes sees this installation, and the art beautification efforts overall, as a way to make students more comfortable and engaged – thus, more effective – in the Reynolds learning environments. Meet the people behind the project.

>>view the video

(left to right) Dr. Gary Rhodes, Reynolds President

Jennifer Kocen, Glave Kocen Gallery

Donna Kelliher, Dominion Resources

JSRCC receives a permanent installation of the Dr. W. Baxter Perkinson, Jr. Gallery

Reynolds has received a transformational gift to add to the aesthetic and intellectual energy of the Downtown Campus. For the first time, renowned area dentist and watercolor artist Dr. Perkinson is donating 60 works from his contemporary collection.

“The gift is just beyond description,” says Reynolds President Dr. Gary Rhodes.  “Dr. Perkinson is helping art become a part of the student experience at Reynolds. We are so grateful for his generosity.” 

The installation is complete and faculty, staff and students are encouraged to visit the Perkinson Gallery in the wing housing the dental lab and dental assisting programs on the 5^th floor of the Downtown Campus.    

JSRCC tells guys to “man up!”

In honor of Men’s Health Month, Reynolds Associate Professor of Health and Physical Education Stephen Sowulewski coordinated a men’s health seminar with area health and fitness experts to encourage men to “man up” and make diet and exercise a priority. Guys learned how to be more proactive about their health by attending sessions from a panel of distinguished experts in internal medicine, urology, dietetics and more. Health fair participants included The Health Journal, The American Cancer Society, Men’s Health Network and Us Too Warriors: Prostate Support Group.

“Men need to be better stewards of their health,” said Sowulewski. “That’s why we’re bringing this issue to the forefront.”

In addition, Nordstrom offered expert grooming and styling tips for men.

“It’s tough out there for men looking for work,” Sowulewski noted. “It’s important that, in addition to having a healthy lifestyle, men present themselves well and feel good about how they look…that way you can shine on an interview.”

Women were also encouraged to attend the seminar because, as Sowulewski says, “it is often the women in our lives that ensure we go to the doctor and do what we need to do to stay healthy.”

Reynolds relationship with storm water

Parham Road Campus culverts offer friendly reminders
that all campus storm water leads to the
Chesapeake Bay.

J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) are part of a storm water awareness program that promotes the protection of storm waterways which flow into the Chesapeake Bay. Storm water is rain or snowmelt that falls on roofs, lawns or paved areas, like driveways and roads, and is carried away by a system of storm water pipes, culverts or ditches. Contaminated or polluted storm water can lead to significant water quality problems, make it difficult for aquatic plants to grow, cause algae blooms and kill fish. Water can become contaminated by household chemicals as well as pet waste. Polluted storm water often affects drinking water sources, which cause human health to be at risk and water treatment costs to rise.

Remember, what you do on land can affect the quality of your water. Be mindful at home and on campus! For more information or to report illegal dumping, please call JSRCC Facilities Management and Planning at (804) 523-5224.

JSRCC serves mini dishes at Broad Appétit

Reynolds Culinary Arts students served long lines of hungry patrons at this year’s Broad Appétit, a Richmond street fair representing area restaurants and chefs. More than 60 of Richmond’s best chefs prepared “mini dish” favorites and competed for the “To Die For Dish,” an honor bestowed upon by a panel of experts.

JSRCC Culinary students spent countless hours preparing for the event only to brace scattered thunderstorms, heat and humidity (in full chef’s uniforms) to showcase one of Reynolds’ signature programs.

“Reynolds has fertilized the proverbial soil and has proven that Richmond is a bona fide food lover’s capital,” said JSRCC School of Business and Engineering Assistant Dean David Barrish.

Though other culinary schools participated in Broad Appétit, the Reynolds line was by far the longest, noted Barrish.

“Our community flat out loves us,” he said.

For a complete list of participating restaurants and sponsors, visit http://www.broadappetit.com/food-drinks.php

Reynolds graduates celebrate

May is an exciting month around JSRCC with many students reaching their goal of graduating college with a degree or certificate. At the College’s graduation, about 1,500 degrees and certificates were conferred and nearly 75 students were recognized for earning their GED through the Reynolds' Middle College Program - an initiative to offer a college opportunity to students ages 18 to 24 who did not complete high school.

The graduates and their guest were treated to an inspiring speech by University of Richmond President Edward L. Ayers who told graduates that while history changes, some virtues are constant. "You know what they are — courage, patience, determination, hard work, compassion and love."

JSRCC also recently recognized nearly 150 students who completed the Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing. Held in the Lipman Auditorium of the Massey Library Technology Center, the ceremony opened with a welcome by JSRCC President Dr. Gary Rhodes and inspirational words by Care Advantage CEO Debbie Johnston.

The Reynolds’ Nursing Program is designed to prepare its students to participate as collaborative members of nursing care teams and to provide direct care to patients in a variety of health service facilities and agencies. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, students are eligible to take the licensing examination to become Registered Nurses.

To all the graduates – Congratulations!

College Board’s Wilson named Hanover Co. Superintendent

Hanover County Public Schools recently named Dr. Jamelle Wilson the new superintendent of schools. Dr. Wilson is a current member of the JSRCC College Board and has worked closely with the College to establish partnerships that serve JSRCC students as well as Hanover County K-12 students. For the past eight years, Dr. Wilson has served Hanover County as the assistant superintendent for instructional leadership. She has experience as a classroom teacher, a curriculum specialist and principal.

A native of Spotsylvania County, Dr. Wilson holds a bachelor’s degree from UVA, a master’s degree in Teaching from UVA, a master’s degree in English Writing and Rhetoric from VCU and a doctorate in Education Administration and Supervision from UVA.

Reynolds utilizes Skype for peer advising

JSRCC used the Summer 2011 registration period to pilot the Peer Academic Leaders (PALs) program – an initiative that allowed the College to train four students and supply them with laptops and headsets so the students could provide online assistance to prospective students after normal business hours. The College launched its “Skype with a PAL” campaign, encouraging those in need of assistance to contact a College PAL via Skype, a free online chat tool, in the evenings after Student Success Centers were closed. For those new to Skype, easy-to-use instructions were posted on the College website. The program was funded through a VCCS Chancellor’s Innovation Fund and was designed to increase student retention, success and support.

“PALs is essentially an online component of the College’s Peer Advisors,” explained QEP Assistant Coordinator Meg Foster. “It’s able to provide services to students after hours so they can get answers to their questions in the comfort of their own home. And it is particularly attractive to our students and prospective students that are comfortable with technology.”

The College has agreed to support the PALs program for fall registration. PALs will be available for Fall 2011 registration via Skype beginning July 11 (when early bird registration begins). PALs will keep evening hours, Sunday through Wednesday each week, through the first week of classes.

10K honors fallen first responders

Debra Johnson, from JSRCC’s Office of Financial Aid, and her daughter Kelli, 14, participated in this weekend’s 10K memorial run honoring first responders that lost their lives serving the Commonwealth of Virginia. The race began at the University of Richmond and ended at the State Capitol building, where the Patriot Flag was raised. The Patriot Flag is a travelling tribute to the Armed Forces, first responders and second responders, the 9-11 families and the fallen of the September 11, 2001 attacks on America. It also honors the public safety and military personnel on the job today that are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect lives and freedom. The memorial run was organized and scheduled prior to Osama Bin Laden’s reported death.

Johnson said although she did not have a personal connection to the memorial, she typically participates in 10K’s and other events in the City to show her support.

“We did it for the camaraderie and because it was a good cause,” she said. “We met a lot of great people who did have a personal connection to the cause and we were able to hear their stories. It was very emotional.”

Western Campus hosts 7th Gardenfest

The JSRCC Western Campus in Goochland County recently hosted its 7^th Annual Gardenfest in conjunction with the Goochland-Powhatan Master Gardener’s Association and the Virginia Cooperative Extension. Gardening experts, including Reynolds Horticulture program faculty, offered information and advice on everything from bulbs and critter control to paver projects and composting. Presentations on attracting butterflies, container gardening and harvesting rain water were also popular. The day concluded with a panel presentation where attendees were able to ask experts and Master Gardeners general questions about gardening in the region.

The College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Horticulture Technology. Classes are offered at the Western Campus and are intended to prepare students for a wide range of careers in horticulture. The program offers hands-on laboratory work as well as classroom instruction in the design-install-maintain aspects of landscaping, in floral design, and in production of horticultural materials. Many graduates own and operate their own business, while others are employed by commercial or government entities. Individuals already in a "green" industry may also find the program helpful for improving or upgrading their skills.

Student Life hosts block party

The Office of Student Life at Reynolds is known to host events that celebrate a variety of occasions – the start of the semester, exams, college milestones – you get the idea. And sometimes, they host really great parties for no reason other than to remind students what fun it can be to hang around campus. This week Student Life hosted a block party at the Parham Road Campus with ice cream, pizza, caricature art and henna tattoos. A local radio station was also at the party, playing music and giving away prizes for our resident "cornhole" champions.