Geospatial Analysis class assists with Australia fire spotting

Geospatial Analysis students had the opportunity to put their skills to work by helping spot wildfires in New South Wales, Australia. Using the Tomnod organization, they are scanning satellite views and “tagging” what they believe to be fires or burned buildings. A worldwide team of GIS specialists are enlisted for campaigns like this to help monitor disasters.  In a class block, Laura Estabrooks and her 7 students tagged over 1300 active fires or burned buildings in fire damaged areas. 

Pointing out a fire. Note the False-Color infrared imagery, where healthy vegetation appears red.

Checking for fire damage in populated areas

Students observe sightings of fires. 

Jim McKelvey of LaunchCode inspires young programmers

Jim McKelvey is co-founder of LaunchCode, a newly formed St. Louis based non profit company with the mission of connecting aspiring and talented programmers with established companies. He spoke to students at Columbia Area Career Center about his work and the prospects of employment for students with programming skills. His enthusiasm about the opportunities for students was evident as he gave numerous examples of programmers he has placed and the professional as well as financial success they are achieving. His message was simple, if you like to program, have built something, are committed to working hard and learning as you train, there is a place for you in the current job market. Age and education are not determining factors for success. In fact, he claimed that many of the students in the audience were qualified right now to be placed through LaunchCode. McKelvey encouraged students to continue their learning experience on line through free computer science courses offered through Harvard, MIT and Stanford.His goal is to attract a surplus of programmers to the St Louis area with the hopes of luring companies needing programmers to follow.  For more information on LaunchCode click here.

Jim McKelvey, co-founder of LaunchCode

McKelvey talks with Advanced C++ Programming students after presentation

Floral Design class decorates for gala

Sherie Rodekohr and her Floral Design students work their magic to make the “Growing Hope Festival of Trees” gala an enchanted evening to benefit the Lutheran Family and Children’s Services.  The fundraiser will take place on Tuesday, November 5 at the Holiday Inn Executive Center.  Students are designing table centerpieces and constructing and decorating a 12’ Christmas tree for the event. 

Mike Matheny, Manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, will be the keynote speaker at the dinner and auction which supports the Crisis Pregnancy Counseling, Domestic and International Adoption, Emergency and Temporary Foster Care and Teen Parent Program.  Accompanying Mr. Matheny will be Special Guest David Freese, third baseman for the Cardinals.  Both Matheny and Freese are providing numerous autographed auction items and Freese is even allowing seats at his dinner table to be auctioned off.  Many other items including vacations, a beautiful topaz and diamond necklace valued at $5,500 provided by KT Diamond Jewelers and the spectacularly decorated Christmas tree and floral centerpieces (the handiwork of CACC’s Floral Design Program) will be available at the affair.  Tickets are $75 per person or $750 for a reserved table of ten.  RSVP by October 28 to 800-474-1967 or lfcsmo.org/events/columbia.

To purchase raffle tickets for the necklace phone, stop by or email any of the following contacts:

• Vicki Hartwig  vhartwig69@gmail.com   573-268-6739  
• KT Diamond Jeweler  1902 Corona Road, Ste 102, Columbia    573-234-2777  
• LFCS office 573-808-0078  

Birdcage centerpieces designed for the gala

Floral Design students work on centerpieces

CPS Middle School counselors tour CACC

The reorganization of secondary schools in Columbia has opened additional doors of opportunity for collaboration between Columbia Area Career Center and CPS Middle Schools. The district is demonstrating its commitment to career planning by enrolling all eighth graders in a "Careers Course" where students can learn about career pathways and develop their four year plan.  CACC hosted the Middle School Counselors for a working breakfast, tour and overview of career center courses in order to better equip them in assisting current eighth graders.

In keeping with all things career, Craig Adams, District Practical Arts Coordinator, revealed Career TV, his latest  and emerging collaboration with Columbia Chamber of Commerce where CACC Broadcast Journalism students interview and film local business people to highlight their occupations and introduce middle school students to the world of work.

College and Career Consultant, Dr. Janet Bagby, presented the counselors with resources from DESE and Missouri Connections.

Representing their CACC experience in the Health Sciences, Natural Resources and Industrial Engineering and Business Management career pathways, Riley Johnson, Bailey Peters and Jon Antel addressed the audience, sharing how their career center courses have shaped  their future college and career plans.

With the focus on preparing eighth graders for the transition to high school, career center courses provided displays for counselors to see the practical curriculum for which the career center is known. Academic artifacts from the following courses open to 9th graders were showcased.

• PLTW Introduction to Biomedical Science
• A+IT Essentials
• Digital Earth
• Digital Media
• PLTW Introduction to Engineering Design
• Exploring Agricultural Science

CACC guidance counselor, Ellen Buechler offered information about Dual Credit, Industry Recognized Credentials and articles about career and technical education. She also encouraged everyone to attend Skill Expo, the career center's premiere open house, on Thursday,  January 9 from 5-7 p.m. for a chance to visit  CACC classrooms, speak with instructors, view student work, take part in interactive displays and see what is new in Career and Technical Education. This is not your father's Vo Tech!

Student representatives present to the audience

Middle School Counselors

Project Lead the Way -Introduction to Biomedical Science, Crime scene display

Jon Antel with Digital Earth display

Project Lead the Way-Introduction to Engineering  Design display

A+ IT Essentials display

Exploring Agricultural Science display

Culinary Serves Thanksgiving Meal

Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry students are serving a Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, October 31, 2013 from 11-1:30 pm. in front of the Rock Bridge Planetarium. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.

Get a jump start on the holidays by ordering delicious products from CACC Culinary Arts. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, rolls, pies and more may be ordered in advance and picked up in time for Thanksgiving. Click here for more information.

Thursday, October 31, 2013   

11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Culinary Arts Dining Room in RBHS Basement open for seating (room 101)

Thanksgiving

Meal Deal

***Turkey with roll and gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, and Pumpkin Pie***

$5.00

Vegetarian Meal Deal

***Roasted Acorn Squash with roll and gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole,

and Pumpkin Pie ***

$5.00

a la carté

Apple Brined Roasted Turkey served with a

Homemade Roll and Turkey Gravy

$3.50

Roasted Acorn Squash Stuffed with a Mixed Rice and Vegetable Pecan Medley served with a Homemade Roll

$3.50

Rustic Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

$1.50

Green Bean Casserole

$1.50

Extra Roll

$.50

Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Cream

$1.00

Full Meat Meal deal with Acorn Squash

$7.00

Non-Rock Bridge Customers (note new times with change in start of school)

11:00-12:00 and 1:00 to 1:30

are the best time to come to avoid the rush at student lunch shifts

2013 Siemens Competition Finalists and Semifinalists announced

Congratulations to career center students Mingu Kim, Regional Finalist; Ashwath Kumar, semifinalist; Jimmy Song, semifinalist and Rujie (Jenny) Yao, semifinalist. 

The Siemens Foundation recognized the semifinalists and regional finalists of the 2013 Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology, the nation’s premier research competition for high school students. One hundred regional finalists are invited to advance to the next round of the competition, where they will vie for the highest science honor awarded to high school students. Three hundred thirty-one semifinalists were also announced.
 “These incredible students have invested significant time and energy to advance research and
exploration in critical fields,” said David Etzwiler, CEO of the Siemens Foundation. “I commend the
finalists for their outstanding achievements and wish them luck in the next phase of the competition.”

The 2013 Siemens Competition generated unprecedented participation, showcasing students’
growing interest in science, math and technology subjects. A record 2,440 students registered for
this year’s competition and a total of 1,599 projects were submitted for consideration.

Regional finalists are eligible to advance to one of six regional competitions held over three
consecutive weekends in November at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (November 1-2);
Georgia Institute of Technology (November 1-2); University of Notre Dame (November 8-9);
University of Texas at Austin (November 8-9); California Institute of Technology (November 15-16);
and Carnegie Mellon University (November 15-16).

Administered by the College Board, the Siemens Competition awards one $3,000 prize to an
individual and one $6,000 prize to a team at each regional competition. Winners of the regional
events advance to the National Finals at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.,
December 7-10, 2013, where $500,000 in scholarships will be awarded, including two top prizes of
$100,000.

CACC students selected for Tomorrow's Healthcare Elite Program

Congratulations to Columbia Area Career Center students Hannah Morgan, Kayla Moore and Alex Komes for being chosen to participate in University of Missouri Health Care's Tomorrow's Healthcare Elite, a program designed to expose students to various healthcare professions. Morgan is a junior from Hickman High School and Professions in Healthcare student; Komes, a Rock Bridge senior, Lab Foundations:MI student, Teaching Assistant to Lab Instructor Christine Roberson, HOSA chapter Vice President and current HOSA State Vice President, and Moore, a Hallsville senior enrolled in Professions in Healthcare at CACC. The program involves 8 meetings of practical hands on and simulated scenarios where students get to experience real world medical field situations with actual medical professionals at University Hospital and Clinics. 

Tomorrow’s Healthcare Elite is a program developed by University of Missouri Health Care to identify, cultivate and motivate future diverse health care leaders. This informative and thought-provoking program introduces participants to health care professions and exposes them to its challenges and opportunities. This program requires full participation as outlined in the application.

Mission: The mission of this program is to close the achievement gap disparities in the health care industry by promoting, encouraging and educating students on the many health care opportunities and programs, while gaining valuable hands-on experience and knowledge of leading health care careers.

Lab Foundations student, Alex Komes

Professions in Healthcare student, Hannah Morgan

Professions in Healthcare student, Kayla Moore

National Merit Commended Scholars named

Congratulations to past and present career center students who achieved the distinction of being named a National Merit Commended Scholar.

Emma Briggs

Salah Daghlas

Amanda Eaton

Kelsey Harper

Urmila Kutikkad

Josephine Miller

Breta Phillips

Andrew Selva

Rachel Brenner

Eli Byerly-Duke

Jacob Muchow

Andy Sun

FFA Environmental and Natural Resources team to compete nationally at career development event

The Columbia FFA Chapter will send members to Louisville,Ky as they vie for national honors in the area of Environmental and Natural Resources at the National FFA Career Development Event held during the 86th FFA National Convention and Expo. FFA members who will represent the chapter in the event include Rock Bridge seniors, Kira Kirk, Isabelle Mitchell,and Carson Banks and Hickman senior,  Austin Wallace,along with advisor, Larry Henneke.

"FFA members participating in this event develop written and oral communication skills through evaluating and presenting global environmental issues," said Melissa Dunkel, Career Development Event education specialist.

Environmental and Natural Resources is one of 25 national CDE's, covering job skills in everything from communications to mechanics. This event includes individual and team activities where participants complete interviews concerning global and national issues, complete writing exercises and locate strategic points using global positioning systems. Members also complete soil tests, evaluate soil profiles, as well as conduct air and water analysis. CDE's help students develop the abilities to think critically, communicate clearly and perform effectively in a competitive job market.

FFA Poultry Evaluation team to compete nationally at career development event

The Columbia FFA Chapter will send members to Louisville, Ky as they vie for national honors in the area of Poultry Evaluation at the National FFA Career Development Event held during the 86th FFA National Convention and Expo. FFA members who will represent the chapter include Lainyn Kerley, Rock Bridge senior, Rachel Kirchhofer, Rock Bridge junior, Michelle Ross, Rock Bridge senior and Kassie Rankin, Hickman junior.

"This event focuses on a member's ability to utilize logical reasoning in relation to production, management, marketing and consumption of poultry products," said Melissa Dunkel, Career Development Event education specialist.

Poultry Evaluation is one of 25 CDE's, covering job skills in everything from communication to mechanics. Members evaluate production, processing and merchandising phases of the poultry industry as well as identify various industry components. They are also tested on the application of sound management practices. Participants evaluate live birds, present oral reasons and place a class of ready-to-cook broilers.
In the processing and merchandising phase of the event, members select and grade ready-to-cook turkeys, processed products and cartons of eggs. CDE's help students develop the abilities to think critically, communicate clearly and perform effectively in a competitive job market.

Side by Side Burn Demonstration

    

            
Educating the public on residential  home sprinkler systems was the purpose of the side by side  burn demonstration put on as a collaborative event sponsored by Columbia Fire Department, State Farm Insurance, National Fire Sprinkler Alliance (NFSA) and Columbia Area Career Center. Steve Crosswhite from  State Farm Insurance welcomed students, staff and local officials. Chris Gaut of the National Fire Sprinkler Alliance explained that the goal of his organization is to spread the word about the benefits of home sprinkler systems.

Joe Ege and Riley Johnson, two students involved in the event spoke on behalf of Columbia Area Career Center. Joe Ege  a Hickman High School junior, third year Ag student currently in  Advanced Ag Welding and Fabrication, and a member of the  2012-13 FFA Ag Mechanics team,spoke on the construction of the display. Riley Johnson, a Rock Bridge High School senior, HOSA-Future Health Professionals chapter president, and current EMT student spoke on the benefit of sprinklers. Both Joe and Riley are also members of the Columbia Fire Department Explorer Program which allows young people to gain exposure to the firefighting profession through planned activities with the department.

Fire Captain, John Metz served as the narrator of the event which consisted of lighting each room on fire to demonstrate how quickly fire damage occurs and how having a sprinkler system installed reduces the amount of damage. 

Firefighter, Jared Hatfield, a 2002 Hickman graduate and former career center student, answered students' questions and allowed students to use a thermal imaging camera to observe the actual temperature inside both rooms. 

A special thanks also was extended to Assistant Fire Marshall,  Lt. Lisa Todd for her coordination and behind the scenes work. 

Again, thanks to the sponsors of this event, State Farm Insurance, NFSA, Columbia Fire Department, CACC, CPCU and I-70 Towing. 

Side by Side Burn Display-Constructed by CACC students

Joe Ege and Riley Johnson, career center students and CFD Explorers

                                                                           

Fire is set from behind using ordinary household items in a trashcan

       

Sprinkler system set off at 51 second mark

Sprinkler system douses fire

Firefighters put out remainder of fire

                                                             

Minimal damage in room with a sprinkler

                                                                   

Identical rooms.Fire is set the same way, this room without a sprinkler

Plexiglass beginning to melt

Styrofoam cups melt at 400 degrees

Firefighters intervene at 3:40 minute mark
                                   

Final Damage of the side with  the sprinkler system

Final Damage of the side without sprinkler

                                                        

TV melted on the side without the sprinkler

                                                                           

Firefighter Jared Hatfield allowed student to use Thermal Imaging Camera

                     

A special thanks to the sponsors