The CeSIL Report for Thursday, November 29th, 2012

SMCC invites students, faculty and staff, as well as our South Portland neighbors, to an inaugural event on Dec. 4 that we hope will be the first of many.

We will host an outdoor get-together to mark the first-ever lighting of SMCC’s “Tree of Light.” To celebrate the season and provide a symbol of peace through the cold winter months, we are hanging white lights on the tower that stands between the Captain’s House and Harborview, on Fort Road.

We’ll share some hot chocolate and treats, roast a few marshmallows over a fire, hear a few thoughts about peace, and pause to enjoy the warmth of community. Please feel free to bring family and friends – the more, the merrier!

Date: Tuesday, Dec. 4
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Where: Lawn area by Construction Technology – 65 Fort Road

Dress warmly!

P.S. – In true SMCC style, our “tree” will be sustainable thanks to design and construction done by our college’s experts: energy-efficient LED lights will be connected to batteries charged by a solar array.

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SMCC Giving Tree

In the spirit of the holiday season, Phi Theta Kappa is sponsoring The SMCC Giving Tree. The Giving Tree is a community service project that provides gifts for children of SMCC students in need of help during the holiday season. This year, we are supporting four children.

Helping out is easy. To participate, select an ornament from the tree in the Campus Center, buy the item, and then simply return the unwrapped gift and ornament to the CeSIL office (Campus Center room 105) by December 14^th.

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Islamic Awareness Day

On Tuesday, December 4^th at 12:00pm, the SMCC Muslim Student Association is sponsoring:

Islamic Awareness day

Featured speaker is SMCC Alumni Musa Ali

Join the Muslim Student Association in Jewett Auditorium.

Traditional food will be provided.

All are welcome!

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Mock Criminal Investigation



Do you want an interesting opportunity to help fellow students and role play?

The Criminal Justice Department is looking for students and staff to help stage a mock investigation on Tuesday, December 4^th, 9am – 10:30am.  Several crimes will be played out. Criminal Justice students will use the lessons learned in their course to investigate the incidents as if they were real detectives.

If you are interested in taking part of the mock criminal investigation, please contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@smccme.edu or stop by his office (Howe 103) for more details.

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Boston Museum of Fine Arts

WOW - how would you like to get this close to Tom Brady?

 While we can't gaurntee the live person, we can let you know how to see this and many other photographs from the Mario Testino celebrity collection.

The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has a university member program available to students. With you current Student ID, you may visit the museum for FREE on any day. The museum has a dedicated pate for college students" www.mfa.org/universitymember . If you have questions about the program, please call Lorna Horres in Membership at (617) 369-4294.

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Student Leader Profile

Each edition of the CeSIL Report will feature a profile of one of SMCC's amazing student leaders. Recently we caught up with Andrew Ballantyne to ask him our student leader spotlight questions.

Name:Andrew Ballantyne
Major: Electrical Engineering Technology
Hometown:China, Maine

What are you involved in on campus? Engineering Design Club, Math League and VP of Administration of Phi Theta Kappa.

Why did you get involved?
I had the idea that the more involved I was on campus the more driven I would be to stay in school, be more organized and be a more productive person.

What are your long-term goals and how do you think your involvement helps this?     My long term goals are to trans to a 4 year college and receive a Bachelor’s in Electrical  Engineering. My involvement has helped me be more organized and focused on my goals.

Who is the person that inspires you and why?
 Dr. Seuss, Theodore Geisel because when I was a kid my mother signed me up for a program where I got a Dr. Suess book every month. This helped me become more interested in reading and sparked my creativity and love of learning.

The CeSIL Report for Thursday, November 8, 2012

Phi Theta Kappa Sponsors Commit to Complete Events

Did you know that students who complete their associate degree or certificate can expect to earn as much as $8,000 more per year and about $400,000 more than students who never complete their degree?

The Alpha Chi Nu SMCC's Phi Theta Kappa chapter is sponsoring 2 Commit To Complete Events on the South Portland Campus on Thursday, November 15 and Wednesday, December 5. Stop by the Campus Center Lobby between 10:00 AM or 3:00 PM to learn about the benefits of completing your degree. Sign our I'm Committed to Complete Banner, fill out a pledge card and enter to win an iPad!

Can't make it to one of these events?

Stay tuned for future Commit To Complete events both on the South Portland and

Mid-Coast Campuses.

Learn more about the Community College Completion Corps and the Commit to Complete Initiative.

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Spring 2013 Class Registration

Have you planned your spring 2013 schedule yet? The course schedule is available online for your to review. If you are unsure what you need to take, the "Advising Tip of the Week" sent on 10/29/12 is a great place to start.

When can you register? Spring 2013 course registration begins on Tuesday, November 13th, at 8a.m. This is a guide to determine when registration begins for you:

• November 13 & 14: Matriculated Students (those accepted to a program at SMCC) who've earned 30+ credits.
• November 15: Matriculated Students (those accepted to a program at SMCC) who've earned less than 30 credits.
• November 26: New Students (those accepted to a program beginning spring 2013)
• December 10: Open Registration

How do you register? It's simple!  Log into MySMCC, your student portal, and from the Home tab find the Spring 2013 listing under SMCC Course Schedule.

Or log into MySMCC and use your degree audit to register by going to the Student tab, clicking on Degree Audit -> View all Details -> Recalculate Student Progress, and then your program.

If you have questions, contact:

Kathleen Doan

Director of Student Success

Southern Maine Community College

(207) 741-5804

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SMCC Chorus to Give Veterans' Day Concert

The SMCC Chorus, under the direction of Professor Rich Pitre, is holding its annual Veteran's Day Concert: "Songs of War and Peace". The concert will take place in the Campus Center Quiet/Upper Lounge on Wednesday, November 14, at noon. Admission is free.

The program by the 30+ member ensemble will begin with traditional favorites such as "You're a Grand Old Flag" and "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy" and seque into more contemporary numbers such as Patrick Doyle's "Non Nobis Domine" from the 1989 Kenneth Brannagh film, "Henry V". The performance will include an excerpt from the movie featuring Professor Kevin Sweeney as King Henry V. Complementing the stately Doyle piece will be the more upbeat "Ballad of Joan of Arc", and the Original Cast's 1970 tune "One Tin Soldier", along with other songs of war and peace.

Soloists will include Teresa Konczal as Joan of Arc, Nate Carlson as Fluellen, with soprano Dr. Emily Woods, alto Lynn Dodd, and tenors Anthony Marvin and Babak Soleymani accompanied by Krysta Norris, flute; Chris Campbell, trombone; and Carin Dunay, piano.

For further information, contact Professor Pitre: rpitre@smccme.edu  or 741-5657.

 

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Giving Thanks ~ a Special Thanksgiving Event

A traditonal Thanksgiving meal will be served from 11:30a - 1:30p on Thursday, November 15th at Oceanview Dining Hall. Celebrate Thanksgiving by donating 2 nonperishable food items and receive $1.00 off your meal.

 

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Student Leader Profile

Each edition of the CeSIL Report will feature a profile of one of SMCC's amazing student leaders. Recently CeSIL Staff Assistant Dawn Smith caught up with Minh Nguyen to ask him our student leader spotlight questions.



Name: Minh Nguyen
Major: Engineering
Hometown: Cam Ranh, Vietnam

What are you involved in on campus?
I am serving as the Vice President of Scholarship at our college's Phi Theta Kappa chapter, Alpha Chi Nu. I am also involved at the regional level of Phi Theta Kappa as the Northern Vice President of the New England Region. In addition, I am a member of the Seawolves Volunteer Corps.

Why did you get involved?
First of all, I am extroverted; I like to be around people. Indeed, I feel more motivated when working with others. Being involved also help mes stay active; I have a better sense of the need and the must(do) on completing a task. Therefore, I will be more productive.

Secondly, everyone likes recognition and so do I. Not only for me, but I am very delighted to see others being recognized as well. 

I used to think that college is where people get more education and improve academically. That's partially true. Serving as a leader, I soon realized that college is actually also a great environment to practice other skills. Yeah, the fun is out there, waiting for you to take the role.

What are your long-term goals and how do you think your involvement helps this?
My long-term goal is to finish my degree in Civil Engineering and get a job in the field. Being an engineer requires a lot of skills such as: problem solving, analysis, teamwork, critical thinking, networking, dealing with different partners, etc. Some of them, I have been practicing as I take on the leadership roles while I am at SMCC. Even though the positions I take are small compared to what is expected for an engineer, they are critical in forming a foundation on which I can build on through experience.

Who is the person that inspires you and why?

Honestly, I don't have a clear answer for this question. I have never had one. I mean, I am inspired by such small things. I always find interesting things in the people I am around with, both positive and negative. I would then evaluate what I can learn from them, and then remind myself when something like that happens with me.  

The CeSIL Report for Thursday, November 1, 2012

Veteran's Week ~ November 5th - 9th

Next week, there will be several events held on the SMCC South Portland campus, commemorating Veteran's Week.

November 5^th

7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. – Veteran Center Outreach Van will be located behind the Student Campus Center. Eric Esty, an Out Reach Specialist, will be available to assist Veterans with questions.

9:00 a.m. - In front of the Student Campus Center Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club will present a POW/MIA Flag to SMCC. The flag will be received by Veterans from WW2, Korean War, Vietnam War Iraq/Afghanistan War and Local Fire, Police and EMT’s followed by a flag raising ceremony.

3:00 p.m. in Jewett Hall Auditorium - Presentation from a representative from The Law Office of Joe Bornstien on “What Every Veteran Needs to Know About Social Security Disability” followed by a Q & A session.  

November 7^th

9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6859 will be in the lobby of the  Campus Center.

November 8^th

10:00 a.m. at the Health Science Center Room 216– Chris Tyll, a Former Navy Seal and Owner of Pat’s Pizza, will provide information on the Portland Veterans Network and how this program assist unemployed Veterans find employment.  

November 9^th

3:00 p.m. - Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club returns to lower and retrieve the POW/MIA Flag.

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American Diabetes Association ~ Community Walk

Midcoast Campus students - are looking for a volunteer opportunity? The 2012 Wiscasset Maine Area Community Walk is looking for volunteers for the November 24th event. It's scheduled 1:00 - 4:00pm, startign from the Wiscasset High School.

Chances are, you may know someone with Diabetes or know how important it is to stop this disease. The group is looking for walkers, volunteers and donors. If you can't make it to the walk, you can still support the event by donating directly to their event.

 Visit the website for more information:

2012 Wiscasset ME Area Community Walk

Together we can Stop Diabetes!

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Blood Drive ~ Give the Gift of Life

Did you know....?

1. One pint of blood can save up to three lives?*

2. 4.5 million Americans will need a blood transfusion each year.*

3. Only 37% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood ~ less than 10% do annually.*

*americasblood.org

Hurricane Sandy has affected blood collections in the Northeast, forcing the cancellation of more than 240 American Red Cross blood drives ~ a shortfall of at least 8,000 donations thus far. Those numbers are certain to rise over the next several days as blood drives are postponed due to power outages and flooding.

The American Red Cross donation bus is returning to the South Portland campus on Tuesday, November 13th, 10:00am - 4:00pm. 

To make an appointment, please call the American Red Cross @ 1-800-RED CROSS.





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Student Leader Profile

Each edition of the CeSIL Report will feature a profile of one of SMCC's amazing student leaders. Recently CeSIL Staff Assistant Dawn Smith caught up with Barbara Brown to ask her our student leader spotlight questions.



Name: Barbara Brown     
Major: Dietetic Technology 
Hometown:  Boothbay Harbor

What are you involved in on campus?
I am the founder and president of the Dietetic Technology Support and Study Group. I travel a long distance, so this is my primary extracurricular activity. The group is just barely a month old with 26 members.

Why did you get involved?
I just wanted to give my major a voice on campus. Dietetic Technology is all about food and who doesn’t eat? Food is everywhere. It’s available in snacks at athletic games to the juice that you get when you donate blood. It’s all about choices. We’d like help students make healthier choices. Our first project is volunteering as elves on The Polar Express. We’ll be handing out “healthy” cocoa.

What are your long-term goals and how do you think your involvement helps this?
After finishing my DTR here, I would like to get into a retirement community to put my new nutrition knowledge to work as a Food Service Director. Also, I’d love to continue to offer catering. I also like the college environment so would continue to work with students. Organizing the club has really helped me to be able to focus and define my goals and hopefully see them into fruition. I’d like the Dietetic Technology club to continue beyond me so that they’re active beyond my participation. I’d like to the club to be a source for other students on campus – if they’re planning an event, they’d look to the club for help making choices, planning food, whatever they need.

Who is the person that inspires you and why?

Julia Childs inspired me. She had the ability to seek out people that she needed in her lift to reach her own goals. At the same time, she helped them reach their goals. I’d like to be that “Julia Childs” for somebody else.