SEPTEMBER 2009

September 24, 2009 -- NW-SCC Phil Campbell Campus to Sponsor Red Cross Blood Drive

Phil Campbell, Ala -- The American Red Cross will be on the Northwest-Shoals Community College, Phil Campbell campus, Wednesday, September 30, 2009 in the Student Center. The blood drive will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 2:30 p.m. All blood types are needed!
The Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association will be providing beef hamburgers for all donors.
Please help save a life! Help a cancer patient, burn victim, or one needing surgery. Your donation is always appreciated! The American Red Cross will require identification for all donations to better serve its donors and recipients.

September 4, 2009 -- NW-SCC to Hold Career Tech Camp for Area High School Students

Muscle Shoals, Ala. -- The 3rd Annual "Real Skills for the Real World" Career Tech Camp for students interested in occupational-technical fields is being held September 14-18, 2009. This event gives vocational and technology-driven students an opportunity to experience "hands on" high-level training in a college environment.
According to Career Tech Camp Coordinator, Sheree Wallace, the camp will not only focus on career tech occupations (Welding, Machine Tool/CNC, Auto Service Technology, etc.), but will spotlight health related fields as well.
"As last year we are separating the Health Occupation students. After the welcome and '5 Steps to Enrollment' presentation, students will be escorted to the Bevill Center for a full day of medical related activities,” said Wallace.
910 Career Tech students and 90 high school personnel are currently registered to participate. Participating schools include: all service area schools, including Lawrence County, TN and Wayne County, TN. Please see the attached agendas for the school schedule. The NW-SCC Career Tech Camp is made possible by $3.8 million Advanced Manufacturing and Healthcare Community-Based Job Training Grants from the U.S. Department of Labor.
Participating School Schedule
Monday, Sept. 14: Franklin Co. Career Technical Center (CTC), Red Bay, Vina, Haleyville CTC, and Russellville CTC

Tuesday, Sept. 15: Rogers, Brooks, LCHS, Waterloo, Allen Thornton CTC and Lexington

Wednesday, Sept. 16: Central, Wilson, Florence, Cherokee and Colbert Co.

Thursday, Sept. 17: Colbert Heights, Muscle Shoals CTC, Deshler, Sheffield, Winston Co. CTC, and Tharptown

Friday, Sept. 18: Shoals Christian, Covenant Christian, Wayne Co. CTC, Lawrence Co. CTC - Mouton, Lawrence Co. CTC, TN and Phil Campbell

Professional Development Hours/CEUs: All teachers, principals and counselors will receive CEUs for participating.

JULY 2009

July 31, 2009 -- NW-SCC Announces National Skills USA Winners

Muscle Shoals, Ala. – Northwest-Shoals Community College (NW-SCC) is proud to announce National top ten placements for its SkillsUSA State competition first place gold medal winners. Karson Cupp and Jessie placed in the top ten in each of their competitions in the National SkillsUSA competition.

Regional First Place Winner - Carpentry
National Fourth Place Winner - Carpentry
-- Karson Cupp, Muscle Shoals, AL

Regional First Place Winner - Cabinetmaking
National Eighth Place Winner - Cabinetmaking
-- Jessie White, Lutts, TN

This year’s competition was held in Kansas City, Missouri. According to Northwest-Shoals Instructor Charles Hardy, SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives. “By working with business and industry, we are able to ensure that we will have a skilled workforce for many years to come. SkillsUSA is a tremendous program that helps each student excel,” stated Hardy.
SkillsUSA, a national non-profit organization, is devoted to preparing students for careers in technical, skilled, and service occupations. It serves more than 260,000 high school, college, and professional members. Alabama has approximately 9,000 members who enjoy this organization’s many benefits.

July 31, 2009 -- NW-SCC To Hold Fall Open Registration

Muscle Shoals & Phil Campbell, AL -- For students planning to attend Northwest-Shoals Community College (NW-SCC) for the 2009 fall semester and have not registered, there's still time to do so. NW-SCC will be holding its annual open fall registration August 13, 2009, according to Admissions Director, Tom Carter.

The fall open registration will be held on both the Muscle Shoals & Phil Campbell campuses, Thursday, August 13, 2009. Registration on the Shoals campus will be held in the Patriot Center (gym) while registration on the Phil Campbell campus will be held in the Wallace Administration Building (Building 301). Open registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. break for lunch at 12:30 p.m. and resume for the afternoon session at 4:30 p.m. and conclude at 7:00 p.m.

Fall classes begin Monday, August 17th. For more information or to obtain a copy of the fall semester schedule, call (256) 331-5200 or visit the Northwest-Shoals Community College website at www.nwscc.edu.

July 29, 2009 -- NW-SCC Receives Reaffirmation of Accreditation by SACS

Muscle Shoals & Phil Campbell, Ala. -- Northwest-Shoals Community College (NW-SCC) recently received reaffirmation of its accreditation by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Following the 10-year cycle for SACS, NW-SCC was last affirmed in 1998.

SACS is the regional body for the accreditation of higher education in the southern states. Accreditation indicates that an institution maintains clearly specified educational objectives that are consistent with its mission and appropriate to the degrees it offers.

The reaffirmation status was confirmed during a SACS board meeting in June. This approval was the result of a review process that began with an internal review at the college nearly two years ago. "It is always great news to receive your reaccreditation, but I feel the most positive part of the process was how it helped us reaffirm our mission and clarify our goals for Northwest-Shoals," commented NW-SCC President Dr. Humphrey Lee. "The kudos definitely goes to our administrators, faculty and staff for making sure the reaffirmation process was a success."

The centerpiece for the college's recent evaluation was the institution of a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) which will help NW-SCC students who are taking developmental math courses. According to SACS Core Requirement 2.12, ".the QEP is based upon a comprehensive and thorough analysis of the effectiveness of the learning environment for supporting student learning and accomplishing the mission of the institution."

The theme of the Northwest-Shoals' QEP is "Strengthening Mathematical Foundations Through Innovative Teaching." Staff will track students'
successes and provide an impact report on the QEP to SACS in five years.

The first part of the reaffirmation process, an internal review and development of a compliance certification document, began in January 2007 and was completed in March 2008. An off-site peer review was conducted in May 2008, and the college received a favorable report from this off-site review in June 2008. The final peer review was conducted on-site in September-October 2008.

Northwest-Shoals Community College (then Northwest Alabama State Junior College) received its initial SACS accreditation in 1967.

July 21, 2009 -- "Status Quo" of MTV's "Randy Jackson Presents: America's Best Dance Crew" to perform at NW-SCC

Muscle Shoals, AL -- Northwest-Shoals Community College (NW-SCC) will host a live performance from the nationally popular dance crew, "Status Quo", Saturday, August 1, 2009, in the Patriot Center (gym) on the Shoals campus at 6:00 p.m.
"Status Quo" is an all male dance crew from Boston, MA, made popular after competing on the first season of the MTV series, "Randy Jackson Presents: America's Best Dance Crew". Regardless of the team's lack of formal training, they made a run through the competition to the season one finale.
The team is composed of six crew members whose dance techniques are a combination of hip hop, break dancing, krub, tap and gymnastics.
The event is serving as a fundraiser of the NW-SCC Lady Patriots volleyball team. Tickets for the event cost $10.00 and can be bought in advance by calling (256) 394-8869.

July 10, 2009 -- NW-SCC Public Relations Department wins Eight Awards for Outstanding Marketing/PR Efforts

Muscle Shoals, AL -- Northwest-Shoals Community College (NW-SCC) Public Relations Department received eight awards and was recognized for its outstanding efforts by the Alabama Community College System Public Relations Association (ACCSPRA).
During ACCSPRA's recent annual conference in Montgomery, AL, NW-SCC's Public Relations Department received eight awards at ACCSPRA's Pyramid Awards brunch. The department accepted four Pyramid awards, two Awards of Achievement and two Awards of Merit. On hand to accept the awards were Northwest-Shoals Public Relations professionals, Kym Robinson and Trent Randolph.
The College was presented awards in the following categories:

• Pyramid (1st Place)
  Annual Report
  Recruiting / Marketing Campaign (GED)
  Outdoor Advertising (GED Billboard)
  Posters (Student Support Services Poster)
• Award of Achievement (2nd Place)
  Radio Advertising / PSA (GED Radio Spot)
  Recruiting / Marketing Campaign (Connect Here)
• Award of Merit (3rd Place)
  Postcards (High School Awareness Postcards)
  Outdoor Advertising (Connect Here Billboard)

The Pyramid Awards ceremony recognized two-year college public relations professionals who submitted marketing and public relations materials created and used during the 2008 calendar year.
The mission of ACCSPRA is to enhance the image, strengthen and promote awareness and public perception of the Alabama two-year Community College System.

Left to Right: Kym Robinson and Trent Randolph accepted eight awards on behalf of Northwest-Shoals' Public Relations and Marketing efforts at the annual Alabama Community College System Public Relations Association conference in Montgomery last month.

July 7, 2009 -- NW-SCC Announces Dependent Care Environmental Science Summer Camp

Muscle Shoals, AL -- Northwest-Shoals Community College (NW-SCC) announces its third Dependent Care Environmental Science Summer Camp July 12 - 17, 2009.
Tenth, Eleventh, and twelfth grade students as well as college level student from all over the state will be taking part in this free summer camp to be held on the Shoals campus.
The Dependent Care Environmental Science Summer Camp is made possible through a grant from the State Department of Education and the Department of Human Resources. All participants will be working in dependent care after school programs this fall.
The camp will consist of six days and five nights with all participants staying on campus. Features of the camp include field trips to Columbiana 4-H center, the Lovelady Center where students will complete plant and art projects, Birmingham Southern Environmental Center, Cypress Cove Environmental Center, and TVA Waste Treatment and Water Testing with TVA scientist.
Students will also participate in an on campus beautification project with Shoals Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society students. The students will be instructed by Master Gardeners with the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service.
For more information, contact Joan Baltes at 256-331-5353.

July 1, 2009 -- NW-SCC to Hold 1st - 12th Grade Basketball Camp on the Phil Campbell Campus

Phil Campbell, AL -- Northwest-Shoals Community Colleg (NW-SCC) will hold a basketball camp beginning Monday, July 6th through Wednesday July 8th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The camp is designed for boys and girls from the 1st grade - 12th grade. It will take place at the NW-SWCC Phil Campbell campus Patriot Center (gym).
Participants will register the day of the camp as they arrive. all camp participants will receive a T-shirt.
Cost of the camp: $50.00 for each individual participant. Checks should be made out to NW-SCC and include driver's license number.
For more information, contact NW-SCC Head Men's Basketball Coach, Scott Veal at 256-269-7146.