Keep Informed. Get Involved. Stay Connected. NOVEMBER 2011 VOLUME II ISSUE 3 BRENHAM BRYAN SCHULENBURG SEALY

IN THIS ISSUE Bucs win second volleyball national championship

David Rehr elected to Volleyball Hall of Fame

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From the Top – Harold Nolte, Ed.D.

It is with great excitement and pride for me to officially become part of the Blinn College family. In many years of looking at Blinn from afar, I can tell you that we are truly the envy of most community colleges in the state of Texas. Blinn is a wonderful school with a great past and an exciting future. In my short time here as president, I have been able to personally witness some incredible success stories, such as the open house for the Health Science Center, a scholarship drawing for the A.W. Hodde, Jr. Technical Education Center and most recently, a Hall of Fame induction and a second national championship for our volleyball program in West Plains, Mo. In visiting our four campuses, it’s clear to see why Blinn is the proven choice for two-year schools. Although they are completely unique in nature, each campus serves a distinct function for the College and helps fulfill the educational needs of Continued on next page

Allied Health Programs showcase new facilities with open house

Official online student news publication launched Page 4

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Buccaneers win 2011 NJCAA National Volleyball Championship Second volleyball title in four years for the Bucs

2011 National Volleyball Champion Blinn Buccaneers

The top-seeded and No. 1 ranked Blinn Buccaneer volleyball team captured the program’s second national championship Nov. 19 at the NJCAA DI Volleyball Championship at West Plains Civic Center in West Plains, Mo. The Bucs defeated No. 3 seed Western Wyoming Community College 25-19, 25-22, 23-25, 25-23, capping off a perfect 38-0 season, the first Blinn volleyball team to ever finish a season undefeated. In 2008, the Bucs defeated the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith for the program’s first national championship. “We did it together,” said Blinn head coach David Rehr. “This group of kids all play as a team, not individuals, and it couldn’t have been any better this season.” Part history lesson and part motivational tactic, Rehr took the team on a field trip to the Star of the Republic Museum at the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Park back in early August when workouts began. After the visit, they adopted the motto “Come and Take It” in reference to the historic Texas Revolution. “Our goal was to get back to West Plains and a chance at the championship,” Rehr said. “We never verbally said the theme out loud, but we knew what we were supposed to go get this year.” Continued on page 2 -

B L I NN CONNECTION From the Top - Continued our ever growing number of students. The success stories are abundant; however, we also have a wealth of opportunities here at Blinn. As Dr. Raspiller and I continue to assess the college’s operation and structure, we will focus on and take a proactive approach with many of these opportunities. This can only expand our list of outstanding success stories. The bottom line is that our people are what make us successful. I have truly enjoyed meeting with many of you these first few weeks and look forward to getting to know each and every member of our Blinn College family.

Harold Nolte, Ed.D. President

Championship - Continued from previous page From day one, the Bucs did appear to be on a mission to take it all. In 38 games played, the Bucs swept their opponents in three sets 24 times (63% of games), and only went to the full five sets in two. Blinn garnered wins (61%) against nationally ranked or previously ranked opponents, with nine of those being ranked in the top ten. “We told the kids at our very first team meeting, we need to be a team for 105 days,” Rehr said. “From our first meeting to the championship match was exactly 105 days, and we had to have everyone going the same way for each of those 105 days.” Following an undefeated regular season, sophomore Jackie Gerig (Normal, IL) was named Region XIV setter of the year, sophomore Kalli Mikulik (Flatonia) was named libero of the year and Rehr was named coach of the year. In addition, sophomores Preslie Alexander (Ronald Reagan), Shelby Dickson (A&M Consolidated), Gerig and Mukulik earned a spot on the Region XIV first team, while sophomore Chelsea Soto (Weimar) and freshman Ksenia Sukhareva (Moscow, Russia) were named to the second team. Sophomores Courtni Bauer (Pottsboro) and Paige Hamilton (Smithson Valley) were honorable mentions. Dickson was named the national tournament MVP, and was joined by Gerig and Alexander on the all-tournament team. Additionally, Rehr was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame at the banquet that preceded the first day of the tournament on Nov. 16 (see story below). Blinn was led by a large sophomore class that included 10 players, including Tracee Hamacher (Colorado Springs, CO), Vladi Kopanarova (Sofia, Bulgaria), Kelsey Schwartz (Brenham), Alexander, Bauer, Dickson, Gerig, Hamilton, Mikulik and Soto. “This was a special class that completely bought into the program,” Rehr said. “They brought the program back to where it is supposed to be.”

Blinn’s David Rehr inducted into NJCAA Hall of Fame Buccaneer volleyball program’s first member inducted Blinn’s head volleyball coach David Rehr was officially inducted as the newest member of the NJCAA Hall of Fame on Nov. 16 at a banquet during the volleyball national tournament in West Plains, Mo. Rehr becomes the first member of the

David Rehr accepting his induction into the NJCAA Hall of Fame

www.blinn.edu

Hall of Fame from the Buccaneer volleyball program, and joins 17 former players, coaches and teams from Blinn to receive this top honor. “It’s overwhelming to say the least,” Rehr said. “It’s truly an honor, and I’m just happy to represent Blinn College.” Former Blinn athletic director Don Wilhelm nominated Rehr for the honor and was on hand to introduce Rehr as one of this year’s two recipients. “David has done a remarkable job during his tenure at Blinn, and is very deserving of this honor,” Wilhelm said. “I’m extremely proud to welcome my good friend to the Hall of Fame.” “You want to be surrounded with the people that helped you get there,” Rehr added. “My family, the players, the team, staff and administration - it’s nice to be sur-

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rounded by the people that care about you and the success of the program.” Rehr has amassed a remarkable 314-35 record (.900 winning percentage) and two national championships in his nine years at Blinn.

David Rehr and former Blinn athletic director Don Wilhelm

November 2011

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Open House for Blinn Allied Health Facilities at Texas A&M Health Science Center Commerce; area hospital CEOs; Blinn Board of Trustees members; Dr. Harold Nolte, Blinn president; Dr. Ted Raspiller, president of Blinn’s Brazos County campuses, and other prominent representatives from Blinn’s Administration and the region. Photos for Blinn Allied Health Open House at TAMHSC gallery located here:

On Nov. 10 Blinn’s Allied Health programs at the Texas A&M Health Science Center opened the doors of their facilities and welcomed colleagues and the community inside for self-guided tours and health simulation showcases by students. Distinguished guests included Rep. Lois Kolkhorst (District 13, Texas); Royce Hickman, president/CEO of the Bryan/College Station Chamber of

L-R: Ted Raspiller, Richard O’Malley, Harold Nolte, Carolyn Miller, Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, Robert Brick

Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Royce Hickman commends Dr. Robert Brick, vice president for applied sciences and workforce education, on the new facilities.

www.blinn.edu

Blinn Allied Health students perform simulations to demonstrate critical care scenarios and other health situations.

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Blinn Awards $6,000 in Tech Ed Center Scholarships College’s new president draws names for scholarship recipients On just his second afternoon on the job, Blinn’s 14th President, Dr. Harold Nolte, drew three sets of winners for scholarships to the A.W. Hodde, Jr. Technical Education Center. The $6,000 in scholarships were drawn by Nolte with the assistance of Luther Hueske, chairman of the A.W. Hodde, Jr. Technical Education Center advisory board, and Dr. Milton Radke, director of the A.W. Hodde, Jr. Technical Education Center. More than 600 eligible participants signed up for the scholarship drawings at an open house on Oct. 11. “What a fabulous opportunity for these six individuals,” Nolte said. “Blinn College is fortunate to have such great support from our local communities, which make these types of opportunities possible.”

L-R: A.W. Hodde, Jr. Technical Education Center Advisory Board Director Luther Hueske; Blinn College President Harold Nolte

Introducing The Blinn Times, the official online student news publication Bi-weekly publication continues tradition of student-led campus reporting The Blinn Times was established Fall 2011 to serve as the official online student publication of Blinn College. The publication adds to a long history of award-winning student publications that Blinn College has provided to the community for more than 90 years. The very first student news publication that Blinn College published was the Blinn Morning Rattler (1919-1921), which may have been one of the first daily junior college publications in the nation. How often is The Blinn Times published? We plan to release a brand new edition of The Blinn Times every two weeks. Is a print version available? The Blinn Times is only available online. We plan to expand to video content on the site in Spring 2012. Who’s involved? The Blinn Times consists of three sponsors, and more than 20 student-staff members. The publication has five editors, a student director and a communications manager. Humanities Professor David Lewis serves as an editor to the students. Mordecai Brownlee is the managing editor. Meet the staff. www.blinn.edu

Sponsors? David Lewis - Humanities Professor Mordecai Ian Brownlee - Director of Student Leadership & Activities Viri Acosta - Coordinator of Student Activities How will the publication interface with all campuses? Our goal is to expand The Blinn Times to all four Blinn College campuses by the Spring semester. The leadership is working to establish contacts at our other campuses, where students can submit their stories and pictures for their campus directly to the site. The goal is for The Blinn Times to represent Blinn College’s ENTIRE student body! Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, Sealy 4

Want to get with The Times? If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact: Mordecai Ian Brownlee 979-830-4282 [email protected] Check it out: http://TheBlinnTimes.com

November 2011

www.buccaneersports.com

Volleyball Championship Shirts now on sale www.mybucsgear.com

No. 5 Buccaneers to play in Mississippi Bowl Face No. 9 Mississippi Gulf Coast on Dec. 4 The fifth-ranked Bucs (9-1) accepted an invitation to play the ninth-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Bulldogs (9-2) in the fourth annual Mississippi Bowl. The game will be held Sunday, December 4th, in Biloxi, MS, with kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m. at Biloxi’s Indian Stadium. This will mark Blinn’s fourth consecutive bowl appearance and the first under head coach Ronny Feldman, who is finishing up his inaugural season at the helm for the Buccaneers. Last year, the Bucs upset the No. 4 Arizona Western Matadors 31-27 in the CHAMPS Heart of Texas Bowl in Copperas Cove. The two power-house programs have combined for eight NJCAA national championships, with Blinn winning in 1995, 1996, 2006 and 2009. The 2009 squad was led by AllAmerican quarterback Cam Newton, the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall draft pick by the Carolina Panthers in the 2011 NFL Draft. “I’m extremely excited for the players and coaches who worked so hard this season,” Feldman said. “We are proud to represent Blinn College and the Brenham community in one of the top junior college bowls in the country against one of the top teams.” The Buccaneers began the 2011 season ranked No. 4, and then spent five weeks at No. 1 before dropping a 37-34 overtime decision to Tyler on Nov. 5 in the first round of the SWJCFC playoffs. Gulf Coast opened the season as the NJCAA’S No. 2 ranked team, but lost twice to rival East Mississippi Community College. The Bucs finished third nationally in total offense, averaging 513 yards per game with 5,130 total yards on the season. In their 10 games played, the Bucs averaged 51.5 per game and have scored 50 or more points in five games. L-R: Page Hamilton, Shelby Dickson and Courtni Bauer celebrate after championship point] Photo courtesy of Kelley Flowers

www.blinn.edu

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B L I NN CONNECTION New Endowed Scholarship

The Dr. C. W. Schoenvogel Scholarship was recently established by Mrs. Clarence Schoenvogel to honor Dr. Clarence Schoenvogel for his many years of service to Blinn College and the community. Schoenvogel was the team physician for the football team for many years. This scholarship will be awarded to a deserving student demonstrating financial need in the LVN or ADN nursing program with a GPA of at least 3.0.

BLINN COLLEGE - BRYAN CAMPUS FINE ARTS DIVISION THEATER DEPARTMENT PRESENTS

MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOVEMBER 30 ������������������ Blinn Women’s and Men’s Basketball vs. Jacksonville (5:30 / 7:30 p.m. Blinn Gym) DECEMBER 1 �������������������� Brenham Theatre presents Curtain Up dance/music (8 p.m. O’Donnell Center) 1 �������������������� Bryan Campus Winter Vocal Arts Concert (6 p.m. Student Center) 1-3 ��������������������Bryan Theater presents Pullman Car Hiawatha (8 p.m. Student Center) 2 �������������������� TUBA Christmas, Downtown Christmas Stroll (8 p.m. Downtown Brenham) 3, 10, 17 �������� Christmas at the Park (Star of the Republic Museum) 4 �������������������� Jazz Ensemble Concert (3 p.m. O’Donnell Center) 4 �������������������� Blinn Football vs. Mississippi Gulf Coast: Mississippi Bowl (2 p.m. Biloxi, MS) 7 �������������������� Bryan Fine Arts Lecture Series: Building Cool: How Brazil Became Modern (noon Student Center) 7 �������������������� Annual Kid Koncert for Kindergarten Kids (2 p.m. O’Donnell Center) 7 �������������������� Blinn Men’s Basketball vs. Lon Morris (7:30 p.m. Blinn Gym) 11 ������������������ Band Concert (3 p.m. O’Donnell) 15 ������������������ President’s Annual Holiday Reception (11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Student Center, Bryan) 16 ������������������ President’s Annual Holiday Reception (11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Student Center, Brenham) 19 ������������������ Winter Minimester Classes Begin Dec 19-Jan 2 �� Blinn Offices Closed www.blinn.edu

Dec. 1- 3, 2011 8 p.m.

Blinn College - Bryan Campus Barbara Pearson Banquet Room Building E - Student Center FREE ADMISSION

Blinn Connection is a newsletter for the faculty and staff of Blinn College. To submit information, contact the Office of Marketing and Media Relations Brenham campus phone: (979) 830-4129 • fax: (979) 830-4105 email: [email protected] Bryan campus phone: (979) 209-7285 • fax: (979) 209-7302 email: [email protected]

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Board Notes

Regular board meeting Nov. 18

The board heard an invitation to attend the production of “Raggedy Ann and Andy” from Bradley Nies, fine arts instructor. The board voted to: • Re-Appoint members to the Schulenburg Campus Advisory Committee, including: Walter Padgett, Schulenburg ISD superintendent and Tami Blaschke-Walker, human resources/assistant city secretary for the City of Schulenburg. Both will serve another two-year term from Oct. 2011 thru Oct. 2013. • Appoint Members to the Brazos County Advisory Committee, including: Brad Corrier, real estate broker, and the Honorable Nancy Berry, mayor of College Station. Corrier will replace Mike Wright and Mayor Berry will replace Thomas Hilde. Both will serve a two-year term from Dec. 2011 thru Dec. 2013. • Appoint and re-appoint members to the Sealy Campus Advisory Committee. The board appointed Kim Meloneck, executive director, Sealy Economic Development Corporation, City of Sealy. Meloneck will replace Kim Beane and serve a two-year term from Nov. 2011 thru Nov. 2013. Additionally, the board re-appointed Leroy Zapalac, president of Citizens State Bank; Dale Lechler, former superintendent of Sealy ISD/ Real Estate; and Joe Garcia, manager of human resources for Thomas Instruments. Zapalac and Lechler will serve another three-year term from Nov. 2011 thru Nov. 2014. Garcia will serve another two-year term from Nov. 2011 thru Nov. 2013. • Change the location of the regular February board meeting to the Bryan campus.

www.blinn.edu

• Authorize the administration to dispose of surplus college football jerseys via public sale.

• Authorize a one-time stipend of $500 to all full-time faculty and staff employed prior to Aug. 22, 2011.

• Authorize the administration to seek and award bids for a two-year unitprice contract for plumbing and painting services on the Brenham and Bryan campuses, with a maximum amount of $25,000 per job.

• Authorize the administration to advertise the sale and removal of the house at 901 5th Street, Brenham, Texas.

• Authorize the administration to seek and award bids to replace the existing 2000 amp outdoor electrical switchgear which services the central plant and Bullock Building on the Brenham campus. • Authorize the administration to seek and award bids for tree pruning, fertilization and insect/disease control for selected trees on the Brenham campus. • Authorize the Administration to negotiate a professional engineering agreement with DBR Engineering Consultants, Inc., for the design and construction phase services related to the removal and replacement of an Ice Tank located at the central plant on the Bryan campus. Also, the board authorized the administration to seek and award bids for the removal and replacement of the ice tank. • Authorize the administration to seek and award bids for the replacement or conversion of doors at the Brenham classroom building and the remodel a classroom into a science lab. • Authorize the administration to seek and award bids for grocery and frozen products, meat and processed meat, milk and bread for March 1, 2012 – Aug. 31, 2012. • Authorize the administration to seek and award bids for spring sports, band, cheer and dance bus travel for Jan. 1, 2012 - May 31, 2012.

• Authorize the administration to negotiate a professional services agreement with Plant People, LLC, to develop an urban forestry management plan for the Brenham campus. • Enter into a purchase agreement for the Asa Hoxey Family Papers Collection for the Star of the Republic Museum, contingent upon securing sufficient donations. • Approve an outdoor sculpture—purchased with donated funds—for the J. Hal and Allyne Machat Music Facility on the Brenham campus. The board received or heard reports from: • Dr. Ted Raspiller, on updates from the Brazos County campuses. • Dr. Harold Nolte, on Administrative Announcements & Newly Endowed Scholarship. • Richard O’Malley, executive director of facilities, planning and construction, on buildings and grounds. • Dr. Debra LaCour, vice president of Academic Affairs, on Sealy campus goals and measures. • Cathy Boeker, on HB 1206 Financial Management Training Completion. • Dr. Robert Brick, vice president of Applied Science and Workforce Education, on Blinn College receiving an award from the Texas Association of Business. *No December Board Meeting

• Authorize the implementation of a site fee for off-campus academic courses taught at state prisons.

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Around the campuses Award-winning Playwright within Blinn A play written by Brenham Theatre Arts Instructor Bradley Nies recently won recognition in the Texas Educational Theatre Association Playfest Playwriting Contest. The competition encourages playwriting and the production of new plays. Nies will have the opportunity to showcase a one-act version of the play at the upcoming TETA Convention to be held at the Hyatt-Regency Hotel-Houston in January. Called “odd Tales: Three Plays Inspired by Jewish Folktales of Chelm,” (“odd” is supposed to be lowercase), the first play depicts the story of a young reporter from Houston who stumbles upon odd, Texas, a rural community where odd things occur. The second play, “Not Wanting to be a Bother,” is about an eccentric citizen of odd, Texas who visits a dentist in a neighboring town, all the while insisting that she doesn’t want to be an inconvenience to him. The final tale, entitled “Bricks and Stones,” is about a socially prominent couple of odd, Texas that finds that their home is being pummeled by large bricks and stones falling from the sky. “odd Tales” was originally produced as a public reading for the Texas Community College Speech and Theatre Association

Play Festival at Blinn College, Brenham, Texas on February 26, 2010. It was first produced for the stage as part of the Blinn College Theatre Arts Student Showcase in the Dr. W.W. O’Donnell Performing Arts Center’s MRW Studio Theatre on the Brenham Campus of Blinn College, April 16, 2010. The production was directed by former Blinn College theatre arts students Andy Burian and Zina Evans, with Kevin Patrick serving as Technical Director. Audrey Wick (English, Schulenburg) was a featured presenter at the Destination: English Composition conference Nov. 17-18 at the historic Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. The conference, sponsored by Cengage Learning’s TeamUP Faculty Programs, was designed for instructors of college composition. Wick co-presented with Joe Antinarella, professor and assistant academic dean at Tidewater Community College in Chesapeake, VA, in a break-out session titled “Writers on the Storm: Developing a Cross-College Writing Exchange.” This spring, Wick and Antinarella partnered to link students on the Blinn College – Schulenburg campus with students on the Tidewater Community College – Chesapeake campus to participate in two interactive video conference

Blinn College President Harold Nolte invites you and your guest to attend an Employee Holiday Reception Thursday, December 15, 2011 Student Center, Bryan Campus

Writing Center (Bryan) Spring Workshop Line-up The Bryan Writing Center will offer the following student workshops during the Spring 2012 semester: • Parts of Speech: Feb. 7 at 5 p.m. • Thesis Development: Feb. 22 at noon. • Using Commas: March 6 at 5 p.m. • Formal Academic Writing: March 22 at noon. • The Art of Quoting: April 3 at 5 p.m. • Making Sense of MLA: April 18 at noon. All workshops will be held in the Writing Center (Academic Building, A-119). Each workshop will last approximately 45 minutes and feature a brief presentation of material, followed by an activity to encourage the application of the material. The workshops are designed by advanced tutors and emphasize student interaction. The Spring 2012 workshops will be presented by advanced tutors: Marty Reed, Nicole Ford, Bonnie Schroeder, Nicole Jennings, Monica Byrne and Kurt Wilson. For more information about the student workshops, call the Writing Center at 979-209-7591.

Personal Notes

Friday, December 16, 2011 Student Center, Brenham Campus

With condolences Ted Hajovsky’s (Operations, Bryan) mother, Earline Ann Hajovsky, 87, of El Campo, passed away on Nov. 14. Mrs. Hajovsky was a former restaurant owner/ operator, an involved member in Elks ladies and VFW Auxiliary, a gifted cook and an avid gardener.

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please attend the campus most convenient for you.

I hope to see you at one of the receptions.

www.blinn.edu

writing workshops outside of their freshman composition courses. Using the online platform ThisIBelieve. org as a final goal, students worked cooperatively to draft, share and edit their work for submission to this online writing project that publishes 500-word-or-less statements of personal belief. Additionally, students were able to share in a small-group dialogue on writing. Wick and Antinarella shared their experiences with colleagues from around the nation at this two-day conference.

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November 2011