Blast It, Baby! New Sound System is State-of-the-Art

             SMYRNA -- Microcomputer/ITV Technician Biff Kittii shows off Motlow Smyrna’s new state-of-the-art sound system. Biff describes the system as “amazing… well beyond what the campus has used in the past.” Students, faculty, administrators and staff are in store for breathtaking toe-tapping moments when the sound system is used for future events such as the “Cultural Fusion Festival,” “Hispanic Heritage Read-In,” “African-American Read-in,” “Dance Across the Decades,” and “Motlow Smyrna Talent Show.” Biff made a point to credit some of Motlow's leaders including Professor Heather Koller, Smyrna Academic Dean Gregory Killough, and Executive Vice President of Business and Finance Hilda Tunstill for helping make the new sound system possible. The rest of us are begging Biff and the rest of the tech team to “Blast it, baby!” when the sound system is used in the Big Room. (Photos by Charles Whiting)

Biff Kittii, Motlow Smyrna's sound man, couldn't be more excited about the new sound system.

Biff tries out the sound board.

Biff says the new sound system is well beyond "what the campus has used in the past." 

Motlow Smyrna will even have its own piano. 

Words from Paige's Pages: 'Pandemic,' 'Ethos' and 'Embed'

 By Paige Hendrickson

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

            SMYRNA -- Our vocabulary expert, Smyrna Branch Librarian Paige Hendrickson, knows a thing or two about words. This issue, she provides definitions and usage examples for the words Pandemic, Ethos, and Embed. 

 

pandemic
pan·dem·ic
/panˈdemik/
adjective: 1. (of a disease) prevalent throughout an entire country, continent, or the whole world; epidemic over a large area. 2. general; universal.
noun: a pandemic disease.
 
Synonyms: widespread, prevalent, pervasive, rife, rampant, epidemic, universal, global
 
Example: Many colleges and universities are offering only online classes for Fall 2020 semester due to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has affected nearly every country in the world.
 
ethos
e·thos
/ˈēTHäs/
noun: the characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community as manifested in its beliefs and aspirations.
 
Synonyms: spirit, character, atmosphere, climate, prevailing tendency, mood, feeling
 
Example: When students transition from high school to college, the ethos shifts and places the responsibility of assignments and studying on the individual student outside the classroom.
 
embed
em·bed
/əmˈbed/
verb (used with object): 1. to fix into a surrounding mass; 2. to surround tightly or firmly; envelop or enclose; 3. to incorporate or contain as an essential part or characteristic.
verb (used without object) to be or become fixed or incorporated, as into a surrounding mass.
 
Synonyms: implant, plant, set, fix, lodge, root, insert, place, sink, submerge, immerse
 
Example: Especially when taking online college classes, students should look for important links that are embedded to guide them to the online course assignments and other resources to help them be more successful in their classes.

Got the Grammar Blues? Writing Center to the Rescue!

             Do you remember the classic hit, “I Got the Grammar Blues?” It sounded great up until Comma Jack hit that sour note on his trombone. 

            If your writing is a bit hit-or-miss these days, don’t despair. The Writing Center’s team of coaches is standing by to help.

 

            In fact, the Writing Center will continue to operate entirely online through the Fall 2020 semester. 

 

            “We miss seeing you on campus, but we've worked hard all summer to make sure we are ready to provide excellent support from a distance,” said Jenna Caviezel, the center’s director and an associate professor of English. 

 

            Tutors are available for two types of appointments:

            *Live Online appointments allow students to have real-time video conferences or text chats with a tutor. This is ideal for those who miss the face-to-face, on-campus tutoring experience!

            * eTutoring appointments allow students to upload their writing assignments and receive written tutor feedback. There is no need to be logged in at the same time as the tutor, which can be ideal for students with very busy schedules or internet accessibility issues.

            Students and faculty can also take advantage of the information and handout bank available on the Writing Center’s Lib Guide: https://mscc.libguides.com/c.php?g=1004878

Home - Writing Center - Motlow Library at Motlow State Community College - Home - Home What is the Writing Center? The Writing Center is a free service available to the entire Motlow community. We support a dedicated team of tutors who are attentive and knowledgeable so they can provide exceptional guidance with any project at any stage of the writing process including brainstorming for an English essay, revising a lab report, or polishing a cover letter for a job application. mscc.libguides.com

 

 

            Here's what some students who’ve used the Writing Center had to say last year (on the center’s anonymous survey form):

            “The Writing Center has been my biggest support system during this Fall semester,” raved one student.

            “The Writing Center has been a lifesaver for me,” exclaimed another.

            “I would recommend EVERYONE use this resource,” praised a third.

 

            So, if you have the grammar blues (or any kind of writing woes), you know who to call. Rest assured that talented Writing Center coaches are ready, willing or able (or able, willing and ready).

 

            Happy editing!

Be a Day Tripper During Fall Break!

             It’s Fall Break! Already? Now that half of the semester is already behind us, it’s time to celebrate (and get a breath of fresh air). We all need it. School will be out from Friday through Tuesday (Oct. 9-13). Following are a few day trips to consider during these beautiful, cool days.

 

            * Drive down the Natchez Trace Parkway. This winding road through the Tennessee wilderness offers overlooks, hikes, historic landmarks, and more.  https://www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm

 

            * Visit the beautiful Nickajack Lake off Interstate 24 for a hike on TVA's Little Cedar Mountain Trail. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/little-cedar-mountain-trail

 

            * While you’re over near Nickajack (in Jasper), enjoy an outdoor lunch or dinner at Top of the Rock Restaurant and Brewery. The venue offers delicious meals and breathtaking views. www.topoftherockbrewery.com

Natchez Trace Parkway in Tennessee

 

            * Explore the art galleries and shops in the little town of Leiper’s Fork (near Franklin). https://visitfranklin.com/see-and-do/leipers-fork/

 

            * Fill up on home-cooked entrees, sides and desserts at Bell Buckle Café, followed by ice cream at Bluebird Antiques and Ice Cream Parlor. https://bellbucklecafe.com   https://www.facebook.com/BluebirdAntiquesandIceCream/

 

            * Drive down to Chattanooga to tour the Tennessee Aquarium (at a special college discount this month only). https://tnaqua.org

 

            * Experience art in the heart of Nashville at the Frist Art Museum. https://fristartmuseum.org/exhibitions/

 

            * Explore the Nashville Farmer’s Market and nearby Tennessee State Museum (free admission).https://www.nashvillefarmersmarket.org     https://tnmuseum.org

 

            What is your favorite place to visit for a day trip? Share the link with us at cwhiting@mscc.edu. 

 

            Have fun and be safe... Happy Fall Break!

In the Motlow Smyrna Spotlight: MLT Program Director Kim-Sue Tudor

          SMYRNA -- The Motlow State Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program cleared a significant hurdle last April when it earned full accreditation with the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). MLT Program Director Kim-Sue Tudor worked day and night to help build the program. Here is her story.

 

Question: How does it feel to have the Motlow State Medical Laboratory Technology program earn full accreditation with the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences? 

 

Answer: “I feel a sense of pride for Motlow State’s accomplishment.  An achievement of this magnitude is seldom the result of a single individual.  While I was the lead and coordinator of the accreditation, so many auspices of Motlow State contributed to this outcome—Academic Affairs, Business Office, Operations, Student Success, Admissions and Records, etc.”

 

Question: Provide a brief description of the program.

  

Answer: “The Medical Laboratory Technology Program provides education and training in clinical laboratory science.  It is a science-intensive curriculum that includes medical disciplines such as clinical chemistry, hematology, and clinical microbiology. The program consists of didactic (classroom) education and applied clinical education in six major disciplines of the clinical laboratory.  Students in the program learn the physiology of disease (i.e. pathophysiology) in each of these disciplines, and they are trained in performing and interpreting diagnostic tests in these areas. Graduates of the program traditionally go on to staff diagnostic laboratories in hospitals, clinics, and doctors’ offices.”

 

Question: How long did it take to develop the program, and what was involved?  

 

Answer: “Development of the MLT Program began before I joined Motlow State and involved such things as establishing a workforce need within the counties that Motlow State serves.  Following TBR and SACS approval, I was hired to establish the MLT Program.  Two main factors are involved in establishing an MLT Program.  The state of Tennessee’s Medical Laboratory Board must grant a Certificate to Operate, and the program must obtain national accreditation. Both processes involve the creation of administrative and academic policies governing how the program will function.  In addition, the program must establish a curriculum that guides the education and training of MLT students. The Tennessee Medical Laboratory Board and the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) have specific criteria that shape the policies and curriculum for MLT programs. Both organizations make site visits to Motlow State to evaluate the MLT program. The process to accreditation took 2-1/2 years to complete.”

 

Question: When did the program launch, and how many students does it have?

 

Answer: “The program accepted its first cohort in the fall of 2018, after a Certificate of Operation was granted by the state of Tennessee’s Medical Laboratory Board. The program graduated seven students from the inaugural cohort (Class of 2019). There were eight graduates in the Class of 2020. Currently, there are 12 students in the fall 2020 cohort (Class of 2021).”

 

Question: What courses are offered in the program? 

 

Answer: “There are 11 courses in the full-time curriculum divided between the didactic curriculum and the clinical experience.

 

* Didactic—clinical chemistry, hematology  & hemostasis, clinical microbiology, clinical immunology, immunohematology/blood bank, urinalysis and body fluids.

            

* Clinical experience—clinical practicum I, II, and III, seminar I and II.”

 

Question: Describe the college’s facilities and what happens during a typical session in the lab. 

 

Answer: Motlow State’s MLT laboratory is quite likely the most well-equipped scientific laboratory (applied or natural sciences) on any community college in the state. We have resources, equipment and instrumentation that parallel what one would find in a clinical laboratory in a hospital setting. During a typical laboratory session, students perform blood and body fluid tests routinely ordered by physicians. Students conduct all critical aspects of diagnostic testing including, specimen selection and identification, technical analysis, and results interpretation and reporting. Diagnostic level instrumentation in the areas of urinalysis, hematology and microbiology allow students to conduct testing in these areas in a nearly identical fashion to the testing in a hospital laboratory setting. Such simulation enhances the entry-level readiness for the workforce of Motlow State MLT Program graduates.”

 

Question: How does the program prepare students for real jobs in the field? 

 

Answer: “The combination of the didactic curriculum and the clinical experience prepares MLT students for real jobs in the field. These curricular aspects are designed to develop the entry-level competencies in cognitive (knowledge/theory), psychomotor (technical skills) and affective (communication, attitude, professionalism) domains of learning.  In addition, the didactic curriculum and the clinical experience provide the foundation for students to be successful at passing a national certification examination and obtaining Tennessee licensing as Medical Laboratory Technicians. Licensure is required for employment as a Medical Laboratory Technician in the state of Tennessee.”

 

Question: What other accolades has the program or participants received since its launch?

 

Answer: “The national certification rate for the 2019 graduates was 100%. The 2020 Graduates show a similar trend, with two graduates still scheduled to take a national certification exam.

 

Question: Do you have a student club? If so, how can students get involved?

 

Answer: “No, currently there is no student club for MLT students. The possibility does exist for a club to form if there is student interest.”

 

Question: Provide a list of instructors for the program.

 

Answer: 

 

Kim-Sue Tudor, Ph.D., MT (ASCP)

Daniel Guevara (new faculty), MT (AAB)

 

Adjuncts:

Jennifer Gidcomb, MS, MLS (ASCP) 

Robin Ward, MLS (ASCP)

 

Question: Do you want to acknowledge individuals or companies for their support?

 

Answer: “There are so many individuals to acknowledge for their contributions to the MLT Program. I truly wish I could remember all of them to list here. There can be no doubt, however, this program would not exist and have the outstanding resources that it does without the efforts and support of EVP Hilda Tunstill, AVP Melody Edmonds, and Dean of Nursing and Allied Health Pat Hendrix.”

Nashville Artist/Songwriter/Recording Engineer Bryan Cumming to Headline Next ‘Famous Communicator’ Talk

By Chuck Whiting

Motlow Buzz Faculty Editor-in-Chief

 

         SMYRNA -- Bryan Cumming, an acclaimed artist, songwriter, recording engineer, and member of the Grammy-nominated group The WannaBeatles, will speak from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Oct. 20 (Tuesday) as part of Motlow’s "Famous Communicator Speakers Series."

         The musician's talk is called "Success and Failure (In and Out) of the Music Industry." He will share his fascinating story on Zoom with photos, videos and live music demonstrations. Admission is open to all members of the Motlow family. Other upcoming "Famous Communicator" speakers this fall include internationally acclaimed visual artist Camille Engel (November - TBA). Nashville author Odie Lindsey spoke on Oct. 1.

          To access Cumming's talk on Zoom, visit https://mscc.zoom.us/j/94032042039

 

Artist Bryan Cumming performs in Nashville 

         Cumming, who sings and plays guitar, sax and cornet, has recorded with popular acts such as Al Jarreau and The Pointer Sisters. He has released several solo CDs. His album "Come Out Swinging" pays tribute to the classic songs and legendary jazz artists of the Silent Generation.  

 

         In 2009, he and three fellow members of The WannaBeatles walked the Red Carpet in Hollywood after receiving a Grammy nomination for the CD "Fab Fan Memories - The Beatles Bond." Cumming also produces and records artists at Studio 23 Nashville.

 

         "Come Out Swinging" celebrates the spirit of swing with a lively mix of traditional jazz classics and originals. Highlights include covers of standards written and/or performed by legendary artists such as Nat King Cole, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Dorothy Fields, and Irving Berlin. The album, which was recorded at Java Jive Studio in Nashville, features Kelli Cox on keyboards, Adam Mormolstein on drums, and John Vogt on bass.

 

         "I grew up listening to the music my father loved, including recordings by jazz artists such as Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, and Glen Miller," he said. "As my music career has developed, I've found myself gravitating toward swing. It has a life-affirming tempo that expresses optimism, enthusiasm and energy. I hope my new album will inspire motion, inviting dancers to sway together, bounce, and enjoy the moment, just like in my daddy's day."

 

         A Georgia native, Bryan Cumming grew up in a musical family playing Dixieland and classic jazz and singing harmony on Beatles songs. After serving a year in the U.S. Army playing saxophone, he toured and recorded with Martin Mull. He moved to Los Angeles in 1976, playing sax on sessions with artists such as Al Jarreau, The Pointer Sisters, Maria Muldaur, Al Hirt, and The Ohio Players. 

 

         He later joined Billy Vera and The Beaters, performing at the Tokyo Music Festival and on the number one single "At This Moment". He performed at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion as a member of the Los Angeles Jazz Choir. He toured Japan and South America with David Soul, and toured four years as the lead guitarist for ShaNaNa. 

 

         Among the covers on the CD are "Sunny Side of the Street," a standard recorded by Tommy Dorsey and The Sentimentalists in 1944. Other covers include "Straighten Up and Fly Right," "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," "It Had to Be You," and "Blue Skies." 

 

         The album's title track, "Come Out Swinging," swings to life with the sounds and lyrical images of the '30s, '40s and '50s.

 

         "I wrote the song in 2008 to honor the classic swing music I learned from my parents," said Cumming. "'Come Out Swinging' is a nostalgic look at yesterday. It is presented as an imaginary epiphany, where the singer hears the phone ring and mysteriously hears the sounds of old swing tunes. He gets inspired and preaches the message 'it's time to play' to his listeners."

 

         Hit songwriter and author Jason Blume says the project "offers a refreshing blend of original and traditional swing tunes that are both fun and exhilarating."

 

         Since moving to Nashville in 1988, he has performed and/or recorded with artists such as K.T. Oslin, Cleve Francis, and the Grammy-nominated Beatles tribute band The WannaBeatles.

 

         For more information about Bryan Cumming and his new album, "Come Out Swinging," visit http://www.BryanCumming.com. 

 

Welcome Back Motlow Students!

         The faculty and staff are excited that you have chosen to continue your educational pursuits at our outstanding Community College.  We collectively encourage you to attend all classes whether on ground, virtual or online.  It’s important to your success that you attend your classes regularly.  This Fall 2020 Semester is unique due to COVID 19, and I want to remind each of you to practice proper social distancing, to wear a face mask that covers your nose and mouth, to submit your daily on ground assessment each day you come to campus, and to follow all the classroom and hallway guidelines.

Motlow Smyrna Academic Dean Dr. Gregory Killough

 

         Despite COVID 19, each of you can have an enriching semester so that you can obtain your goals for the future. I want to offer you some practices that will help you to be successful at the college level:

 

         1. - Attend, participate and do all assignments in each class.

 

         2. - Participate in class activities and class discussions.

 

         3. - Reach out to your instructor when you have a question or when you do not understand some classroom or textbook material.

 

         4. - Prepare for class ahead of time by reading or reviewing class materials. 

Complete all assignments on time.

 

         5. - Set aside time to study, relax, exercise, and for family and friends.

         

         6. - Your Professors want you to excel, so build a great working relationship with them.  

 

         I wish each of you a successful Fall 2020 Semester. Remember to work hard, stay focused, complete your assignments, and have fun.  Learning is fun, and it will make a difference in your life.

 

Sincerely,

 

Dean Killough