Archive for category: Announcements

Big Stone Gap – Mountain Empire Community College will offer the opportunity for students to enroll in a Certified Nursing Assistant Program in Gate City beginning in December.

This special cohort program will be held at the Scott County Career and Technical Center on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and two additional Saturdays beginning December 4 through March 28. The cohort will be led by Instructor Farrah Lane. An information session on the program will be held Monday, November 6 at 5 p.m. at the Scott County Career and Technical Center.  Those interested in enrolling are encouraged to attend.

For more information on MECC’s Certified Nursing Assistant program, or to enroll, contact Arietta Harvey at aharvey@mecc.edu or by phone at 276.523.7456.

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Big Stone Gap, VA – Mountain Empire Community College will offer a series of free financial aid workshops in March, April, and May designed for high school, college, and adult students who plan to attend college during the 2018-2019 academic year. Workshops will be held on Tuesdays  at 2:15 p.m. in Godwin Hall Room 118

Each workshop will offer free, professional, one-on-one assistance completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Any student, including those who do not plan to attend MECC next year, is welcome to attend, as well as their parent(s). Pre-registration is required to attend a workshop session.

Participants should plan to bring the following items to the event:

• 2016 Federal Tax Return (including W-2, for you and your parents if a dependent)
• 2016 untaxed income
• Social Security numbers for you and your parents/spouse
• Dates of Birth
• Information on savings, investments, business and farm assets (for student and parents)

Save time and apply for an FSA ID in advance at http://studentaid.gov/fsaid.

If you need assistance with completing your FAFSA, please stop by the financial aid office during normal business hours and staff will be glad to assist you.

Big Stone Gap – Mountain Empire Community College is pleased to announce that TRIO Director Jessica Lewis has been named as the President of the Mid-Eastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (MEAEOPP). 

 The Mid-Eastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (MEAEOPP) is the regional professional association for TRIO and educational opportunity personnel from Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

 The mission of MEAEOPP is to bring together individuals who have shared interests in and advocate for the educational and cultural development of TRIO and all underrepresented and underserved individuals.  The association offers opportunities for growth through professional development for TRIO employees and others concerned with providing equal access to education in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

 MEAEOPP is one of ten regional associations for TRIO personnel nationwide and supports the Council for Opportunity in Education, TRIO’s national organization that is dedicated to furthering the expansion of college opportunities for low-income, first-generation students, and students with disabilities.

 Ms. Lewis has been on MECC’s TRIO Programs staff since 2011, where she has served as TRIO SSS Counselor and is now the overall Director. She holds an associate degree from Mountain Empire Community College, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise in Psychology, and a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from East Tennessee State University. This is her second year as a part of a three-year term as President-Elect, President, and Past President.

 Lewis stated, “It is the greatest honor to be able to serve the region in this role, advocating and supporting first–generation, low–income, and students with disabilities across the nation with other regional leaders. I hope to represent the great diversity of our region and continue to strengthen the legacy of our association by enhancing the opportunities for our membership to grow and advance.”

 For more information regarding MECC’s TRIO programs please visit www.mecc.edu/tutoring for the Student Support Services program or www.mecc.edu/mecc-talent-search for the Talent Search program.  All MECC’s TRIO programs are funded through grants from the US Department of Education. 

Big Stone Gap — Mountain Empire Community College will offer a variety of options for courses for Spring 2021, with most courses being offered online to protect the safety and welfare of students and staff. 

Programs such as Welding, Manufacturing, Commercial Driver’s Training (CDL),  Construction, HVAC and others that require face-to-face instruction will be configured for smaller class sizes to allow for social distancing. Additional cleaning and sanitizing protocols will be implemented in these classrooms. 

For students enrolled in health programs, such as Practical and Registered Nursing, Respiratory Therapy,  and others, the College will ensure that students have the necessary safety equipment (Personal Protective Equipment-PPE) to complete coursework and practicums.  

All courses will have some online content, others will be entirely online, and some will be a combination of in-person and online (hybrid offerings).   

In-person advising sessions will be held at the college to support students wanting to enroll, or who need assistance with advising and financial aid. A schedule for these sessions will be announced at a later date. 

 “The college is prepared to continue our current academic and training platforms, both online and in person, for Spring 2021. Services at the college will continue to be offered remotely to protect the safety and welfare of our students, staff and community, “ said Dr. Kristen Westover, MECC President.  

MECC will continue to support online learners, including assessment of online learning readiness, career exploration, tutoring, advising, online testing, etc. in a virtual format. In some instances, for face-to-face courses, this may require a modified schedule to address safety concerns and comply with safety requirements.   

 Online courses will be offered in various formats. Some online courses, which are synchronous offerings, are structured to meet at specific times on tools like Zoom, just like a traditional in-person class, so students can engage with their instructor and classmates together. Others offer a chance to learn material at one’s own pace to complete assignments or take exams by specific deadlines in faculty-facilitated courses, or asynchronous offerings.  

For more information regarding Spring 2021 course scheduling options, or to apply to enroll, please call 276.523.2400 or visit the MECC’s website at www.mecc.edu

Big Stone Gap, VA – Mountain Empire Community College, in partnership with Frontier Health, will host the Heart Gallery, a traveling photographic exhibit to promote adoption awareness.

The exhibit, on display in MECC’s Slemp Commons in Phillips-Taylor Hall from May 3-15, was created to find forever families for children in foster care. The exhibit features photographs and profiles of adoptable youth from across the Commonwealth. A special grand opening for the Heart Gallery will be held Wednesday, May 3 at 1 p.m. The public is welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served.

The state of Virginia has a high rate of youth in foster care without a permanent placement. Frontier Health and MECC’s Great Expectations program are working to change the perception of foster youth and raise awareness about the number of youth in our area that are available for adoption.

After leaving MECC, the Heart Gallery will travel to DePaul Community Resources in Abingdon, VA. The Heart Gallery is made possible by a grant awarded to Frontier Health by the Virginia Department of Social Services.

For more information on the event, contact Elizabeth McMurray, Frontier Health Post Adoption Services at emcmurra@frontierhealth.org or Kari Paschetto, MECC Great Expectations (kpaschetto@mecc.edu).

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Big Stone Gap – The Mountain Empire Community College Foundation, through funding provided by the Slemp Foundation, is pleased to offer the MECC Slemp Foundation Mini-Grant Program for K-12 Teachers in Lee and Wise County as well as instructors at Mountain Empire Community College.

The goal of the program is to nurture career pathways in STEAM-H fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts/Agriculture, Mathematics, and Health) for K-12 and college students for a better understanding of post-secondary career options. Up to ten, $1,000 grants will be awarded to K-12 teachers in Wise and Lee County (10 grants available per county). Grants applications and funding will be available annually in August 2023, August 2024, and August 2025. These grants may be used to purchase equipment, educational materials, or support research that will benefit student learning.

In addition, ten $1,000 grants will be awarded to MECC faculty to support equipment and instructional supplies for existing programming. Teachers can be very creative and will be able to identify a wide array of activities and resources to meet the goals of the project. Examples may include gardening opportunities for lower elementary students, stream studies and water quality analysis for upper elementary and middle school and electrophorese studies for high school students.

According to Dr. Jack Rhoton, MECC Foundation Board Member, these grants will provide additional resources for K-14 teachers to create innovative learning environments to engage students in deep learning. Students will have opportunities to design investigations, share ideas, develop explanations, and argue using evidence. Rhoton highlighted the importance of nurturing students, beginning at an early age, in active learning and the role it plays in creating a passion for post-secondary career pathways.

“The Slemp Foundation is pleased to be able to participate in this mini-grant program,” said Slemp Foundation Trustee James Smith. “C. Bascom Slemp believed in the power of education and we are happy to provide our educators with assistance in this endeavor. We are also pleased with our long-standing partnership with Mountain Empire Community College and the many ways this partnership assists the citizens of Lee and Wise Counties.”

Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis and will be judged on their potential to design and facilitate age-appropriate career awareness and engaging activities. The application process for mini-grants will require each teacher recipient to provide at least a one or two-page description of the project, which will address the following elements:

• What is the project’s goal or research question
• Project abstract summary
• Goals and deliverables/relevant literature support
• Implementation plan
• What data collection and/or analytic techniques will be used and how will the outcomes of the project be assessed/evaluated
• A detailed budget

Each teacher mini-grant application should include a cover page consisting of the teacher(s) name, school name, school address, grade level/subject taught, email address, school phone, project title, and a two-hundred-word project abstract. To apply for funding, teachers are encouraged to visit www.mecc.edu/mini-grants. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Notifications will be made to award recipients in early October.

For more information on the MECC Foundation, visit www.meccfoundation.org. For more information on the Slemp Foundation, please visit www.slempfoundation.org.

Big Stone Gap — Mountain Empire Community College’s Capture the Flag Cybersecurity team finished its season ranking 60th overall out of all Colleges and Universities in the nation and 21st in the Eastern Division.  

The team, which is comprised of students Macarthur Inbody and Staci Fraley, competed against 350 schools. MECC’s team ranked above larger schools in the Eastern U.S. including John Hopkins University, New York University, Radford University, and Northern Virginia Community College. The competition includes challenges based on networking, ethical hacking, computer forensics, computer programming, software vulnerabilities, log file manipulation, social engineering, and more.

“We are extremely proud of the amazing performance of MECC’s Cybersecurity Team in the final season rankings, particularly as this is the Team’s inaugural season,” said MECC President Kristen Westover. “Macarthur and Staci put in many hours of effort resulting in their extraordinary outcomes.”

In the team game, MECC’s CTF team “The Transcendentalists”, reached an overall ranking of 104th out of 738 teams competing. MECC competed in the gold bracket during the team game designated for the top 15% of players overall.

In the individual game, MECC’s Macarthur Inbody placed 57th overall while competing in the gold bracket. MECC’s Staci Fraley placed 922nd overall and in 361st place while competing in the silver bracket. The gold bracket is designated for the top 15% of all players, and the silver bracket is designated for the next 35% of players(aka top 50% overall). An estimated 3,461 players competed in the individual game. 

For more information on MECC’s Cybersecurity Program or the Capture the Flag Cybersecurity Team, please contact CTF Coach and Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity Ritchie Deel at 276.523.2400 ext. 444 or at rdeel@mecc.edu. 

MECC’s “Capture the Flag” (CTF) team finished 12^th out of 326 competing teams from universities and high schools across the country in Radford University’s annual “RU Secure” CTF competition. CTFs are online challenges that test teams’ ability to solve challenges that relate to the cybersecurity industry. With each challenge solved, a team acquires a “flag,” and the team with the most flags by the end of the competition is named the winner. CTFs are becoming more common throughout the country as the cybersecurity industry expands rapidly, and employers often use them as way to assess and recruit talent.

The “redFoxes” team is comprised of MECC students Macarthur Inbody (captain), Danielle Lamb, Noah Sturgill, Nathaniel Mullins, and Jonathan (Shane) Strong. The team is coached by Assistant Professor Ritchie Deel. MECC is proud to support the “redFoxes” in its quest to finish among the top seven teams (qualifying round in March 2020) so that they can earn a spot in the final round, held on Radford’s campus, in April 2020.

BIG STONE GAP, Va. – Mountain Empire Community College’s “Capture the Flag” (CTF) team, comprised of cybersecurity students, has placed second out of all Virginia community colleges and 18th out of 185 teams in the nation at two recent competitive events.

MECC’s CTF team for these events were students Macarthur Inbody (captain), Staci Fraley, Danielle Lamb, Noah Sturgill, Nathaniel Mullins and Shane Strong. Assistant Professor Ritchie Deel, who oversees MECC’s cybersecurity program, served as faculty mentor.

The team participated in two recent national CTF competitions—Radford University’s “RUSecure” competition and the National Cyber League’s (NCL) “Spring Season” contest. In the RUSecure event, MECC placed ahead of all other teams in the Southwest Virginia bracket, finishing second out of all Virginia community colleges and 18th out of 185 teams nationally. As a result, MECC was one of 30 teams invited to Radford’s campus to compete in the final “championship round” that was to be held in early April. Unfortunately, that event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the NCL individual competition, held April 3 – April 5, Inbody placed in the 92nd percentile (out of 657 participants) in the tournament’s highest “Gold” bracket. Fraley placed in the 76th percentile (out of 1,536 participants) in the “Silver” bracket and Sturgill competed in the “Bronze” bracket. Bracket assignments were based on each student’s performance in preliminary rounds.

CTFs are competitions that test teams’ ability to solve challenges that relate to the cybersecurity industry. With each challenge solved, a team acquires a “flag,” and the team with the most flags by the end of a competition is named the winner.

CTFs are becoming more common throughout the country as the cybersecurity industry expands rapidly, and employers often use them to find and recruit talent. Both the RUSecure and NLC events were open to all high school and college teams in the country, and their online formats allowed competitors to participate from their homes provided they had access to a computer and a working internet connection.

MECC offers a Cybersecurity Career Studies Program that can be completed in one year. Those interested in enrolling in the program can visit www.mecc.edu/pathways/cyber-security or contact Ritchie Deel at 276.523.2400 ext. 444.

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BIG STONE GAP — Mountain Empire Community College will offer its off-campus enrollment service, Mobile Enroll, this August at locations in Wise, Scott, Lee and Dickenson counties.

Individuals interested in applying for admission to MECC for the fall of 2017, obtaining financial aid or wanting to learn more about the college’s programs are encouraged to visit the MECC Mobile Enroll van.

On Tuesday, August 1, Mobile Enroll will be at the Duffield Food Country from 9-11:30 a.m. and the Pennington Gap Food City parking lot from 1-3:30 p.m. On Wednesday, August 2, Mobile Enroll will be at the Clintwood Sleep Inn parking lot from 9-11:30 a.m. and the Wise Food City parking lot from 1-3:30 p.m.

On Friday, August 11, Mobile Enroll will be at the Weber City Food City parking lot from 9-11:30 a.m. and at the Big Stone Gap Food City parking lot from 1-3:30 p.m.

For more information about MECC’s Mobile Enroll contact MECC Recruiter Todd Clendenon at (276) 523-7434 or email tclendenon@mecc.edu.

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Mountain Empire Community College’s Slemp Gallery is pleased host an exhibit by acclaimed artist Jeff Chapman-Crane titled “A Portrait of Appalachia.”

The exhibit will run September 14 through October 23. A reception for Chapman-Crane Reception for the artist Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015, 2 to 4 p.m. in the lobby of MECC’s Robb Hall.

Jeff Chapman-Crane is a full-time professional artist from the southern Appalachian mountains of eastern Kentucky, where he has lived and practiced his art since 1982.  His art focuses on the culture of Appalachia, with an emphasis on portraits of mountain people. He has been painting for over 35 years since being challenged and inspired by his high school art teacher, Don Hilton.  Following the tenets of the American Society of Classical Realism, Jeff’s work encompasses the highest principles of traditional representational art – fine drawing, balanced design, harmonious color and skillful craftsmanship.  While not in the stylized realism of American Regionalism, his work shares a strong identification with a particular region – conveying geographic features of the land and unique human, cultural and social characteristics. 

Chapman-Crane’s work has been featured in American Artist magazine and he is a four time finalist in the Artists Magazine’s annual portrait competition. He was the illustrator for the children’s book “Ragsale” which won Best in Show at the 1995 New England Bookfair.

Together with his wife, Sharman, and son, Evan, Jeff operates the Valley of the Winds Art Gallery in Eolia, Kentucky, where works by all three Chapman-Cranes can be seen.  Jeff’s work is represented by the Phyllis Weston Art Gallery in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

MECC’s Slemp Gallery is located in the Wampler Library in Robb Hall. The library is open is Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 276.523.2400 ext. 468.

Big Stone Gap — Mountain Empire Community College’s Slemp Gallery will feature an exhibit by James Veenstra titled  “Trees, Tessellations, and Tests” now through October 29.

Veenstra says the “Trees” theme represents the idea that technology tends to isolate people. The “trees” in his 3D prints and woodcuts are a reaction to the cell phone/texting culture he sees as replacing face to face conversation, and interaction.  Ironically, Veenstra used technology to produce the works. The “Tessellation” theme focuses on pattern and abstraction. The “Tests” of the show consist of looped video displays of 3D animations. The common theme to these short clips is the flowing movements of dance.  

James Veenstra is an instructor at both Mountain Empire Community College and the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. He is a 1987 graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art LeRoy E. Hoffberger School of Painting. In addition to teaching painting, drawing, photography, animation, and computer graphics, Veenstra has been working to promote 3D printing as an artistic medium.

MECC’s Slemp Gallery is located in the Wampler Library in Robb Hall. The library is open is Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 276.523.2400 ext. 468.

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Mountain Empire and Germanna Community Colleges are hosting a free continuing education course for dental professionals! This CE is designed to learn more about dental auxiliary options, specifically the new collaborative DA-II training offered at both campuses. This credential is open to any Virginia licensed RDH or CDA. 

The CE event will be either online via Zoom or in-person with dinner provided. Please look at the attached flyer or contact Dr. Emily Bowen (ebowen@mecc.edu) for more information.

Big Stone Gap – Mountain Empire Community College will offer a variety of late starting classes for students this fall. Classes start throughout October and will run through December. Topics include Armed & Unarmed Security, Accounting, Office Administration, CPR & EMT training, Healthcare, Basic Pharmacy, Business Management, Medical Terminology, Multimedia Development, Legal Assisting and more. To view the full list of fall late start courses, visit www.mecc.edu/latestart. For more information, or to register, contact the MECC Office of Enrollment Services at 276.523.7474 or visit www.mecc.edu/apply.

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Big Stone Gap, VA. – Mountain Empire Community College is proud to announce its inclusion in the prestigious Military Times 2023 Best for Vets: College’s rankings.

 Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges is the largest and most comprehensive annual ranking of schools for military service members and veterans. Each year, schools are evaluated based on their programs for veterans. The survey results, in combination with public data from the Department of Education and Department of Veterans Affairs, contribute to this respected and unbiased annual ranking.

 The 2023 rankings can be found on the new Best for Vets website: bestforvets.com.

This year, Mountain Empire Community College joins the esteemed list of 325 schools recognized for their commitment to supporting military service members and veterans, marking a nearly 5% increase over the previous year.

 For a decade, Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges has been a trusted resource for the military community, aiding veterans in making informed decisions about their educational planning and how to leverage the education benefits earned through military service.

Mike Gruss, editor-in-chief at Sightline Media Group, the parent company of Military Times, notes that “our comprehensive survey and thoughtful methodology make our rankings best in class.”

Mountain Empire Community College is honored to be part of this prestigious list and remains dedicated to providing valuable resources and support to military service members and veterans.

Mountain Empire Community College is committed to excellence in education and serving its community with high-quality programs and resources. Visit our website for more information: https://www.mecc.edu/veterans/.

 Military Times is the trusted source for independent news and information for service members and their families. The military community relies on Air Force Times, Army Times, Marine Corps Times, and Navy Times for reporting on everything important to their lives. Military Times is owned by Sightline Media Group. To learn more, visit www.militarytimes.com.

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Big Stone Gap, VA – Mountain Empire Community College is hosting the second annual MECC PROUD week, recognizing the college’s important contributions to higher education and regional economic development October 11-17.

 MECC alumni, local businesses, MECC staff members, MECC students and community members are encouraged to display “MECC PROUD” signs in their yard, window displays, and vehicles. “MECC PROUD” signage will be distributed to local businesses by several student clubs. Signs will be available to the public in the lobby of all MECC instructional buildings and at the MECC Alumni Booth during the Home Craft Days Festival, October 17 and 18. Businesses may also email a request for MECC PROUD signage to info@mecc.edu. Signs will be offered at no cost.

The goal of the “MECC Proud” campaign is to recognize the success and continued contributions of thousands of MECC graduates to our region and beyond, while also promoting the college’s role in providing educational opportunities and supporting economic development in Southwest Virginia since its founding in 1972.

MECC hosts an alumni recognition program with a goal to expand and update contact and career information of all graduates and former students. Alumni are encouraged to email their updated information to alumni@mecc.edu. 

The “MECC Proud” campaign will coincide with MECC’s Home Craft Days Festival, to be held Friday, October 16 through Sunday, October 18. The college will host thousands of local and out of town visitors to the campus during the festival events, creating a unique opportunity to showcase support for the college and the community. 

For more information on MECC Proud week, contact the MECC Office of Community Relations at 276.523.7480.

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Big Stone Gap – Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors are invited to participate in the 2017 Mountain Empire Community College Governor’s School to be held June 12 through June 23 on the college campus.

MECC Governor’s School is open to public and home school students in the counties of Lee, Scott, Wise, and Dickenson, and the City of Norton, who have a 3.0 GPA or higher. This two-week program features a variety of hands-on activities in one of several subject areas selected by the student. Students spend time in the field, in labs, on tours, and in the classroom with the faculty of Mountain Empire Community College. Students who complete the session will receive six college credit hours, tuition-free. In addition to classroom activities, students will participate in field trips to area colleges.

Ten academic strands will be offered this summer, including:

• 3-D Animation/Game Design – Are you a gamer? Take your skills to the next level by learning the basic techniques of game design. Create your own 3D game from concept to implementation using traditional and computer-generated animation.
• Art Illustration for Graphic Novels – Love a good story? Create your own narrative by learning character development and illustration techniques. Students will complete a graphic novel they design.
• Cyber Security – The FBI anticipates that cyber-attacks will soon become one of the greatest threats to our nation’s security. Fight crime by delving into the minds of hackers. Learn how to prevent cyber-attacks while also preparing for one of the nation’s most in-demand career fields.
• Drama – Calling all drama queens and kings! Produce your own full-length play and learn the basic components of play production, from lights to sound, set design and character study. Students will premiere a full-length production of their own creation.
• Drones – Immerse yourself in one of the world’s most innovative new technologies. Learn to build, configure, maintain, and legally fly drones both for fun and for commercial use. An exciting career pathway for those interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
• Engineering – Be an innovator! Use your technical and creative skills to design 3-D models and animation and solve complex engineering problems. Invent your future in engineering in this exciting field.
• Entrepreneurship and Regional Tourism – Interested in starting your own business? Southwest Virginia’s tourism industry is dependent on small businesses. Develop your own business concept while exploring the best of our region’s assets.
• Environmental Science – The mountains are calling. You must go! Learn about the mountains and streams of Southwest Virginia and current and potential threats to these ecosystems. Students will engage in a water quality study on the Clinch and Powell Rivers that will have a long-term positive impact on our region’s water systems.
• Solar Energy – Want to change the world? The future of energy technology is solar power! Learn basic electrical theory while exploring solar and wind technologies in an exciting new career field.
• Web Design – The future of technology is endless. Learn more about computer programming, application design and development, and robotic technologies. Students will explore career paths in high-paying, high-demand technological fields.

Applications to attend the 2017 Governor’s School will be accepted until May 26, 2017 or until spaces are filled. Limited space is available and students are encouraged to apply early. To view additional information or to download the 2017 application, please visit the Mountain Empire Community College Governor’s School website at www.mecc.edu/govschool or contact John Bledsoe, Governor’s School Coordinator, at (276) 523-2400 ext. 307.

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Big Stone Gap, VA – Mountain Empire Community College will once again welcome thousands of visitors to the campus this fall for the 45^th Annual Home Craft Days Festival held Oct. 14-16.

Celebrating the rich music, culture, and artistry of Southwest Virginia, the Home Craft Days Festival features demonstrations of weaving, pottery making, grist milling, wood crafting, basket weaving, broom making, quilting, tatting and much more.

This year’s festival is dedicated to long-time festival organizer and MECC Dean of Workforce Development, Sue Ella Boatright-Wells. A free tribute concert in her honor will be held Friday night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Phillips-Taylor Hall Goodloe Center. Performers include Dan and Robin Kessinger, Bill and the Belles, Dale Jett and Hello Stranger, Sparky and Rhonda Rucker, and Kelsey Rae Copeland.

According to festival music coordinator Tommy Bledsoe, “The 45th annual festival is dedicated to Sue Ella Boatright-Wells, who helped the Home Craft Days Festival become one of the best celebrations of traditional arts, crafts and music in the mountains. She worked so hard to respect the traditions of the elders and to make a way for the youth to become invested in their culture and traditions. This festival is her gift to the local community and a promise for the future of Appalachian music and culture.”

Craft and food vendors will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday’s music schedule includes featured performers: Todd Meade, Debbie Adams, Beth Bailey/Osborne Family Band; Scott County and Wise County JAM program; Patti and Glenn Roberts; Sycamore Hollow; Bill McCall & Southern Country; Lee Sexton and Son; Bill and the Belles, Center Stage Cloggers; Kelsey Rae; Dale Jett & Hello Stranger; Scott County Boys; White Top Mountain Band; Empty Bottle String; Town Branch Bluegrass Band; Miss Ellie’s String Band; New Harvest Brothers; Angelyn DeBord; Richard Phillips, Tommy Clements, and Roger Bullock; Poor Valley Girls; Buttermilk Girls; High Test Grass; Jimmy and Ada McCown; New Circle Bluegrass; Sparky and Rhonda Rucker.

Sunday’s music schedule includes: Skin and Bonz; The Childress Girls; Rich Kirby and Nate Polly; Pam Randolph & Doug Dorschug; T.V. Barnett and his Roan Mountain Moonshiners; Center Stage Cloggers; Fred O’Quinn and the Bluegrass Travelers; Smith Family Singers; The Sheets Family Band; Crooked Road Ramblers; Jack Wright and Roger Hall; Ben’s Boys; Poplar Hill Reunion; Ben’s Boys; Brandon Maggard; Anndrena Belcher; Wolfe Brothers; Corbin Hayslett; Ron Short & the Possum Playboys and Nancy and Bill Smith.

Admission is FREE to all the festival events. MECC is located on US Route 23 just south of Big Stone Gap, Virginia. Parking and shuttles for the festival will be offered at five locations in Big Stone Gap. Shuttle rides are $1 per person at boarding. Locations include:

• Union High School (formerly Powell Valley High School) – Front Parking Lot
• Curbside, Wood Ave, in Front of Food City
• Curbside, Municipal Parking Lot behind Post Office/Federal Building
• Country Inn
• Comfort Inn

For more information on the event, including a detailed schedule of vendors and musicians, visit the Home Craft Days website at www.homecraftdays.org.

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BIG STONE GAP, Va. – Mountain Empire Community College will offer free online courses in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and geographic information systems (GIS) during its Summer 2020 semester.

MECC, in partnership with Virginia’s Department of Housing and Community Development and its Community Development Block Grant program designed to bolster UAS training in Southwest Virginia, is offering full tuition assistance for its UMS 107 and GIS 210 courses during its summer semester. Students have the option to enroll in either class or both classes, and the classes will be delivered entirely online in keeping with mandated COVID-19 safety measures.  

The UMS 107 course, titled “Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Remote Pilot Ground School,” trains students in a variety of drone-related topics including FAA regulations, optimizing performance and maintenance. The course also prepares students for the FAA’s Remote Pilot Certificate, which permits drone operators to use their skills for commercial purposes. Since MECC began its UAS program in 2015, 94 percent of students who took the FAA examination received a passing score on their first attempt. Those interested in enrolling in UMS 107 can visit www.mecc.edu/drone or contact Instructor Fred Coeburn at fcoeburn@mecc.edu.  

GIS 210, titled “Understanding Geographic Data,” trains students on how to obtain and survey aerial data, and they will also become familiar with modern software tools like ESRI ArcMap (used to view and analyze geospatial data) and Google Earth. As MECC GIS Instructor Jake Gilly notes, the offering of these two courses in tandem at no cost is a benefit to MECC’s service region. “Our quickly changing world is making it more imperative that we know our surroundings and the information that defines them,” Gilly says. “Students who receive training simultaneously in drone operations and GIS will be able to keep pace with the latest technology out there.” Those interested in enrolling in GIS 210 can contact Gilly at jgilly@mecc.edu.       

Potential students wishing to enroll in either course can visit www.mecc.edu/apply and are advised to do so by June 1. For eligibility requirements regarding tuition assistance, please contact Grant Coordinator Ashvin Raj at 276-523-2400 (ext.261) or at araj@mecc.edu. 

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Big Stone Gap, VA – Mountain Empire Community College will hold a Career & Transfer Fair on Wednesday, February 5 from noon to 3 p.m. in the Goodloe Center, Phillips-Taylor Hall. More than 35 representatives for regional employers and local transfer institutions will be on campus.

Attend the fair to ask questions regarding employment or transfer requirements; learn about job placement services or internships; discuss the opportunities that may be available to you; learn about your marketability; talk to employers about job openings; and speak with transfer representatives about course requirements.

Even those who are not immediately seeking employment have plenty to learn from the Career & Transfer Fair. Representatives can provide valuable insight to what employers are looking for when screening new hires. This insight can assist students and community members in refining their resumes and help them know which skills to focus on improving. Those attending are invited to bring copies of their resume and be prepared to complete job applications for those representatives that may be hiring. Transfer institutions will be available to speak to current students or recent graduates about admissions requirements and program options. 

For more information on MECC’s Career & Transfer Fair, contact Beth Boggs, Career and Transfer Counselor, at 276.523.2400 ext. 324 or bboggs@mecc.edu, or visit www.mecc.edu/career-services.

Big Stone Gap, VA – The Mountain Empire Community College Alumni & Friends Advisory Committee is seeking nominations for the MECC Distinguished Alumni Award.

The award recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions to one or more areas of society, i.e., professional, academic, and personal achievements, civic service, or service to MECC.

All living MECC alumni who have completed at least one class at MECC are eligible to be nominated and considered for the award. Self-nominations are also welcome. Current members of the MECC Local Advisory Board and the MECC Foundation Board of Directors, current faculty and staff of the college, and members of the MECC Alumni and Friends Advisory Committee are not eligible to receive the award.

The nomination form is available below. There is no limit to the number of nominations that one may submit. The deadline for nominations for the 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award is Tuesday, February 28.

A subcommittee of the MECC Alumni and Friends Advisory Committee will select the winner of the award, and the winner will be announced at the annual Scholars’ Recognition Night Banquet held in April.

For questions, please contact Jeri Bledsoe in the MECC Foundation office at 276-523-2400, extension 287, or by e-mail at jbledsoe@mecc.edu.

Nominations Sought for 2019 MECC Outstanding Alumnus Award

The Mountain Empire Community College Alumni Advisory Committee is seeking nominations for the 2019 MECC Outstanding Alumnus Award, which recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions to one or more areas of society, i.e., professional, academic, and personal achievements, civic service, or service to MECC.

All living MECC alumni who have completed at least one class at MECC are eligible to be nominated and considered for the award. Self-nominations are also welcome. Current members of the MECC Local Advisory and Foundation Boards of Directors, current faculty and staff of the college, and members of the MECC Alumni and Friends Advisory Committee are not eligible to receive the award.

The nomination form is available online at the MECC website, www.mecc.edu or at the MECC Foundation website, www.meccfoundation.org. There is no limit to the number of nominations that one may submit. The deadline for nominations for the 2019 Outstanding Alumnus Award is February 15, 2019.

A subcommittee of the MECC Alumni Advisory Committee will select the winner of the award and the winner will be announced at the annual Scholars’ Recognition Night banquet to be held in the March 2019.

For questions, please contact Jeri Bledsoe in the MECC Foundation office at 276-523-2400, extension 287, or at jbledsoe@mecc.edu.

Big Stone Gap, VA – The Mountain Empire Community College Alumni & Friends Advisory Committee is seeking nominations for the MECC Distinguished Alumni Award.

The award recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions to one or more areas of society, i.e., professional, academic, and personal achievements, civic service, or service to MECC.

All living MECC alumni who have completed at least one class at MECC are eligible to be nominated and considered for the award. Self-nominations are also welcome. Current members of the MECC Local Advisory Board and the MECC Foundation Board of Directors, current faculty and staff of the college, and members of the MECC Alumni and Friends Advisory Committee are not eligible to receive the award.

The nomination form is available below. There is no limit to the number of nominations that one may submit. The deadline for nominations for the 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award is Tuesday, February 28.

A subcommittee of the MECC Alumni and Friends Advisory Committee will select the winner of the award, and the winner will be announced at the annual Scholars’ Recognition Night Banquet held in April.

For questions, please contact Jeri Bledsoe in the MECC Foundation office at 276-523-2400, extension 287, or by e-mail at jbledsoe@mecc.edu.

Mountain Empire Community College 

First Floor of Phillips – Taylor in The Goodloe Center

5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.