Created in a Media Writing class in 2014, The Motlow Buzz e-newspaper serves as an educational platform for students and the faculty members who teach them.
Showing posts with label The Motlow Buzz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Motlow Buzz. Show all posts
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Thursday, November 13, 2025
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Thursday, March 6, 2025
Thursday, February 6, 2025
Friday, November 15, 2024
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Thursday, April 4, 2024
CALL FOR TALENT: Sixth Annual Motlow Smyrna Talent Show
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| Motlow student performs at Talent Show |
TALENT: Consider performing as an actor, comedian, dancer, musician, poet, singer, songwriter, storyteller or visual artist.
VOLUNTEER: Invest in the Motlow community by helping out. There will be a need for welcomers, organizers, promoters, artists, food servers, and more. (You can earn community service hours for TNPromise and Tennessee Reconnect).
If you are interested in performing or volunteering, please contact Professor Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu.
FYI… The event will occur from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 25 (Thursday). Admission is free, and lunch will be provided.
The event is hosted by the Smyrna Entertainment, Arts and Media Club.
See you soon!
Monday, January 29, 2024
Motlow Students Invited to Participate in Second Annual Speech Contest
By Robert Davenport
Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer
Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer
SMYRNA -- Motlow Students can gain invaluable experience and career-changing recognition this spring by competing in the second annual Debbie Zimmerman Oratorial Contest.
Emerging, intermediate and advanced student speakers are encouraged to enter the contest.
The deadline to enter the contest is March 12 (Friday). Videorecorded speeches must be submitted by March 15. The speeches will be evaluated by March 22, with finalists notified they have qualified for the finals. The final round of the competition will occur at Moore County on April 4.
Students can enter the contest by emailing Associate Professor of Speech Robert Davenport at rdavenport@mscc.edu. In that email, they should state their name, email address, and the Motlow campus where they attend. Entrants will be emailed a list of the requirements for speech preparation and video submission.
Davenport is once again coordinating the contest, along with faculty co-advisors (Professor Charles Whiting and Professor Debbie Stockdale) of the SEAM (Smyrna Entertainment, Arts & Media) Club on the Smyrna campus. The event is also sponsored by the Humanities Department at Motlow.
“I appreciate so much the support we have received from my colleagues who understand how important and rewarding this kind of activity is for our students across all of the campuses,” Davenport said. “We are committed to continuing to offer this opportunity to students for many years to come.”
Motlow debuted the contest last April with four students taking the podium for a series of self-penned persuasive speeches with visual aids. Kirsten Wright, who attended classes on the Sparta campus, won first place to become the first-ever Oratorial Contest champion.
The contest is named after Professor Emeritus Debbie Zimmerman, a longtime speech & theatre professor who was instrumental in building the curriculum at Motlow. She was also one of the judges for last year’s contest, along with two speech communication professors from MTSU. She expressed her appreciation for having the event named in her honor, sharing her hope that the contest would become an annual event.
The second annual Oratorical Contest is open to Motlow students (including dual enrollment students) who have already completed COMM 2025 – Fundamentals of Communication or are currently enrolled in that course.
Students who enter the contest will be asked to prepare and present a 6 to 10-minute persuasive speech on a topic of their choosing. Depending on the number of entrants, there will be a “semifinal” round in which students will submit a videotaped recording of their contest speech, which will be evaluated by a group of speech professors. The top five to 10 speakers from that round will then qualify for a live final round of competition on the Moore County campus and compete for trophies and other prizes.
Davenport emphasized how participation in this activity can be extremely helpful to students from any major or career path. The event will help them improve their speaking and overall communication skills as they prepare for the future.
“Communication skills are the number one skill employers are looking for when choosing new employees for their companies,” Davenport noted. “Besides that, stronger communication skills can help students be successful in their other courses as they advance toward graduation.”
Monday, February 6, 2023
Motlow Buzz Launches Print Edition
SMYRNA — The Motlow Buzz educational student newspaper is launching a one-page print edition that provides an overview of services and special activities for students on the Motlow Smyrna campus.
The print version will be overseen by newly appointed Student Editor-in-Chief Kia Dowen. Students can pick up their complimentary copy in the Smyrna Library. Contributors will include students Joani Edens and Megan Goble.
Communication majors use The Buzz to gain invaluable experience for future jobs in books, newspapers, magazines, recording industry, radio, television, movies, and the internet. Students benefit by receiving helpful news about important happenings on the Motlow Smyrna campus.
The publication is listed as a High Impact Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning.
The e-news and blog versions of The Motlow Buzz will continue to provide in-depth stories and photos by students and faculty members. The publication, which was named by students, was created in a Media Writing class in 2014.
To learn more, visit https://motlowbuzz.blogspot.com/.
Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Opinion: Students Need to Vote in November
By Joan Edens
Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer
(Joan Edens is a student at Motlow State Community College.)
SMYRNA -- Tennessee saw a disappointing voter turnout in this year's midterm primaries, and that needs to change in the next election (especially among young people).
According to a recent article in Tennessee Lookout by Lucas Brooks, only 17% of registered voters cast a ballot. That means 3.7 million voters let 0.5 million decide several issues for the state.
It's been widely reported that Motlow State Community College's major demographic of 18 to 24 years of age has a higher rate of voting. However, less than half (33%) voted in the last presidential election. In contrast, young people can be seen in force protesting, volunteering and speaking out about topics that they care about on social media.
If every young person who expressed their opinion on TikTok or Snapchat would also show up at the polls, they might gain leverage with the politicians who have the power to affect the issues that they care about. Politicians pander to their voter base to get into and stay in office. The way one becomes part of the voter base is by voting.
Races on the Nov. 8 ballot in Tennessee include the U.S. House, Tennessee Governor, State Senate and House, State Supreme and Appellate courts, School boards, and Municipal positions. Readers can check to see what is on the ballot in specific voting districts by visiting www.BallotPedia.org.
These positions have the power to change day-to-day lives in Tennessee. Most are for state-level positions that can impact issues such as
+ Climate change - water pollution, clean energy sources, recycling.
+ Reproductive rights - including health care and education.
+ Emergency response - Covid, disasters, police and firefighters.
+ Education - charters, banned materials, and school lunches.
+ Health care and drugs - insurance, mental health services, and marijuana.
+ Camping/homelessness - where one can camp without being charged with a felony.
+ Law Enforcement - penalties including death, adult/minor exceptions.
In the past few years, Tennessee has enacted laws regarding many of these issues while answering to a slim percentage of the state's population. When campaign contributors make up the largest voice available to guide representatives, the state loses. Motlow students have the power this fall to help increase the influence of the people, and most especially the young vote. All they need do is show up and vote to support or deny currently proposed candidates and legislation.
Voting might take a little more effort than filling out a social media poll, but the payoff makes up for it. To have your preferences count, register by Oct. 11 and vote, either in early voting or on election day, Nov. 8. To learn more, visit https://ovr.govote.tn.gov.
Monday, August 22, 2022
Motlow Smyrna Schedules Host of Events to Kick Off First Week of Fall Semester 2022
Welcome Week: School’s Back ‘from’ Summer…
SMYRNA -- Nothing feels better than beginning a new life adventure. There’s excitement in the air as hundreds of students return and/or arrive for the first time to Motlow’s Smyrna campus. There are a host of activities scheduled this week to get everyone all revved up for Fall 2022.
This is only a small sampling of all the fun students can expect to have this fall here in Smyrna.
* Go-To-Crews will be on hand to welcome and answer any questions students have from 8 to 10 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday.
* Check out our Ice Cream Social from noon to 1:30 p.m. Monday.
* Game Day will occur from 2 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
* Enjoy Donuts with our Deans and Faculty members from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
* Visit the HSC Lobby from 2-3:30 p.m. Wednesday and/or 11 a.m.-noon on Thursday for our Club and Resource Days. Tables will be laden with club information. Get involved! It’s a great opportunity to learn and grow in one's academic area of interest.
* Motlow Smyrna’s big Cookout will occur from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday.
Be sure to mark your calendar. Have fun and the take the opportunity to meet fellow students, faculty, administrators and staff. See you soon!
For more information, contact the Dean of Students at deanofstudents@mscc.edu .
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Motlow Artists Can Share Their Talents at Open Mic Night on April 11
LYNCHBURG
-- Open mic night is here! Motlow artists can show off their talents with
poetry, prose or music from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on April 11 (Thursday) on the Moore
County Campus.
The
Open Mic Night will occur in the Jack Daniels Meeting Room at the Forrester
Student Center. Each participant will have four minutes to showcase his
or her work. Individuals may sign up at the door on a first-come, first-read
basis. Refreshments will be served.
This
event is sponsored by the "Write Here! Write Now!" community writing
workshop and the Department of Languages. For more information, contact Dr.
William Murphy at wmurphy@mscc.edu or Tamara
I. Jones at tjones1@mscc.edu.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Success is... Achieving the Dream
LYNCHBURG – Motlow State Community College
has strengthened its commitment to improving student success by becoming part
of the Achieving the Dream National Reform Network.
ATD, the nonprofit
leading a movement to ensure student success for colleges that champion
educational equity, continued to expand its Network with the addition of 20 colleges
in 2018.
“Achieving the Dream is an organization nationally known for
serving as a catalyst in efforts supporting community colleges in their mission
to increase student success,” said Dr. Michael Torrence, Motlow president. “More
specifically, ATD strives for equity in student success and assists colleges as
they drill down into their data to review exactly where they are strong and
where they have opportunities.”
Chosen by the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR), Motlow
represents one of the eight Tennessee community colleges that joined ATD in the
2018 cohort, which is among the largest in the organization’s 14-year history. The joining colleges increased the ATD Network to more than 200 institutions
from 41 states, including the District of Columbia.
Teams from each of the 20 colleges met last year in
Cleveland, Ohio, to set the stage for their work as ATD Network institutions.
Their three-day experience at the Kickoff Institute included an introduction to
ATD’s approach, along with a capacity-building framework and companion
self-assessment tool that enables colleges to pinpoint their strengths and
areas for improvement across seven institutional capacities that are needed to
facilitate change.
This framework integrates and aligns efforts that the
colleges may have already begun to implement, such as guided pathways,
integrated planning and advising, development education redesign, and assesses
readiness for other large-scale change work.
Success is... The 'Three Steps' of Growth at Motlow Smyrna
By Dr.Bill Kraus
Motlow
Buzz Contributing Writer
It was the other
day, and it must have been the particular spot that I parked in. As I got out
of the car, our two existing buildings at Motlow's Smyrna campus, as well our
third building currently under construction, appeared almost in an exact
"step-by-step" setting.
Looking at the
first building, one story in height, I reflected on the initial history of our
college at this location. I remembered the excitement and anticipation when we
located to the "new" campus from our second-floor "home" at
the Tennessee National Guard facilities adjacent to the Smyrna Airport. Our
first building was brand new and had ample accommodations for classrooms,
offices and support activities. It was an exciting time.
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| (Photo of three Motlow Smyrna buildings by Charles Whiting) |
It wasn't long
before our growth, both in student enrollments and expanded academic programs,
created an urgency to build an additional building. The State Legislature
approved the funding to be matched by a 10 percent contribution from faculty,
staff and the local community. Many of us made that contribution as an investment
in Motlow State (Smyrna's future) and construction quickly commenced.
The new building
opened with great response by all of us. "Look at all of the room... even
places for students to meet and chat." It was an exciting beginning for
the new "step of growth" for the college.
Two years ago, we
were rapidly outgrowing this new addition, and plans began being made for a
"third step." This time it would be a three story, 80,000-plus-square-foot
building. Again, many of us on the faculty and staff were called upon to
contribute funds as matching monies. We are now all looking forward to the
opening of this addition sometime in fall 2019.
We now see three
steps of growth and development, greatly due to the excellence and dedication
of the faculty and staff. Each building serves as a living symbol of our
journey to the future.
 |
| (Photo of the Smyrna water tower by Charles Whiting) |
As I kept looking
at the three steps of growth at Motlow State in Smyrna, I asked myself what the
fourth step will look like. Will it be a four story, 100,000-plus building,
giving us a new skyline? Suddenly, as my eyes toured the campus, there it was.
The town of Smyrna's water tower stood to the left of my panorama. Maybe we
need to ask the Smyrna Town Council to paint the following on that tall tower: "Town
of Smyrna -- Home of Motlow State Community College."
Success is... Celebrating Who We Are and What We've Accomplished
Welcome to the
“Success is…” issue of The Motlow Buzz.
Things are buzzing all around us here on the Smyrna campus, and students,
faculty, administrators and staff are working hard to grow their talents and help
change lives. Once in a while, it’s good to sit back to reflect on the things
we’ve accomplished (and dream about the exciting changes to come). Motlow is a
wonderful place to learn and achieve, and we have a great team. Following are a
few of our “success” stories (with photos).
Monday, February 4, 2019
Welcome to the Writing Center!
By Abby Mire
Special to The
Motlow Buzz
(Editor’s note: Abby is a student volunteer and tutor for
The Writing Center on the Motlow Smyrna campus.)
What is the Writing Center?
The Writing Center is a great tool for
students to use. We offer one on one sessions so that you can get the help and
attention you need.
What do we do?
We offer tutoring for essays, letters of
recommendations, stories and even the occasional love letter. While we don’t
edit papers, we gladly will give instruction on MLA format, citations and punctuation.
What types of tutoring do we offer?
We have three types of tutoring. We offer face-to-face, etutoring, and live
online. Face to face is a type of tutoring for students who want person to
person interaction. Etutoring is a type for those who can’t get off of work but
really need to have their assignment looked at. Live online allows you to be
anywhere, as long as you have a computer.
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| Student volunteer/tutor Abby Mire is standing by to help students write and edit. (Photo provided by Abby Mire) |
Do I have to have an appointment?
While we do love people walking in, we
do prefer that you have an appointment. You can make an appointment at https://mscc.mywconline.com/.
Our site is dedicated to the appointments of the Writing Center. Click the link
and click register for an account. Make sure you use your Motlow email.
Is there any penalty for canceling an
appointment?
Absolutely not, there is no penalty for
canceling appointment. Overall, we enjoy having people come into the writing
center. In fact, the Writing Center has become so popular, the amount of
appointments we had doubled from last year. We look forward to seeing new
faces, so please come on by!
(The Writing Center is located on the
first floor of the MaryLou Apple Building.)
Motlow Smyrna Spotlight: Student Leader Lucas Lanius
(Editor's note: This issue, The Motlow Buzz spotlights student leader Lucas Lanius, who serves as president of the History Club on the Smyrna campus of Motlow State Community College.)
Interview by Ramona Shelton
Motlow Buzz Managing Editor
QUESTION: Why
did you choose Motlow Smyrna?
ANSWER: “I chose Motlow Smyrna because it’s been very
success-oriented towards students. I see staff and professors alike everywhere
doing everything in their power to see their students prevail in the work that
they give. Motlow has also been a great choice for teaching me something they
don’t directly have a class for: responsibility. Motlow State Smyrna has taught
me to take initiative for everything that I do and aspire to be. I’m very
thankful for the opportunities they have given me to mature.”
QUESTION: What
do you like best about being a Motlow Smyrna student?
ANSWER: “What
I enjoy the most is how interactive Motlow Smyrna is. They may be a smaller
campus, but they use it very well to their advantage. Staff and professors get
to know their students better face-to-face, and students get to chat, hang out,
and bond with each other. It’s only my second semester as a freshman, and I’ve
made more friends at Motlow than I can count. I’m certain that even with
expansions arriving in the future, Motlow Smyrna will continue to hold on to
that mentality of reaching a caring and friendly hand out to everyone who comes
to campus.”
QUESTION: What
advice would you give to a new freshman coming to Motlow Smyrna for the first
time?
ANSWER: “The
advice I would give to a freshman getting to experience Motlow State Smyrna for
the first time is to explore. Talk to people; get to know the backbone of the
college you’re attending. I made the mistake of just being shy and trying to
blend in and that’s not how Motlow Smyrna works. It celebrates different
talents, styles, characters and so much more, and your personality is just what
Motlow needs. Don’t be afraid to be out of the norm. You might find that it
opens up just the right doors for you.”
QUESTION: You
are the president of the History Club. Tell us what the club is all about? Why
should Motlow Smyrna students get involved in the History Club?
ANSWER: “The
History Club here at Motlow Smyrna can be summed up in three words: fun,
interactive education. The History Club doesn’t want you to only learn about
history. We want you to learn it while enjoying it with people of alike minds.
Again, it’s another perfect way to introduce yourself to Motlow Smyrna,
allowing you to laugh and relish the company that the History Club embraces you
with. In just one semester, we’ve gone to an art museum, a former President’s
home, and so many other places to expand a student’s knowledge of the history
that surrounds them, all while being in the presence of awesome friends.”
QUESTION: What
are your plans for after you graduate from Motlow?
ANSWER: “My
personal plans after I finish my Spring 2020 semester is to go to Middle
Tennessee State University. I want to major in video production and minor in
journalism. My goal is to be either a videographer or journalist (or both) for
any company in the automotive business. I have a special place in my heart for
cars, and if I could get a job even remotely similar to Jeremy Clarkson, James
May, or Richard Hammond on The Grand Tour, then I’ll be the happiest man on
Earth.”
QUESTION: Tell
us something interesting about yourself.
ANSWER: “Hmmmmm…
good question. I think a lot of people don’t know that I really enjoy making
reviews. I’m trying to get a small YouTube channel started where I take mobile
tech and give an overview of it. I think it’s a great way for me to hone in my
videography skills while doing something I enjoy and see others who I look up
to doing it as well. Who knows? Maybe someday I’ll be the best tech reviewer
out there, but I’m still a long way off from people like LinusTechTips, MKBHD,
and Mr. Mobile.”
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
What's Buzzing in Smyrna?
Read all about it! Click below to read the latest issue of The Motlow Buzz (Oct. 17, 2018).
Our 17th regular Issue for Oct. 17, 2018:
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