News Releases
Owens Creative Arts and Media Hosting Spark Summit in March 
Posted on February 7th, 2025
The Owens Community College Department of Creative Arts and Media will host the Spark Summit on Thursday, March 6, at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts. The Spark Summit is an all-day event that includes more than 20 sessions related to careers in the visual and performing arts.
“The arts thrive when communities come together to share ideas, experiences and expertise. The Spark Summit is a reflection of our dedication to building meaningful connections between students, educators and the creative industry within our community,” said Michael Sander, Owens dean of the School of Liberal Arts.
“The Spark Summit is more than just an event — it’s a catalyst for creativity, collaboration and career growth. By bringing together students and industry professionals, we want to foster a community where artistic passion meets real-world opportunity,” he added.
Attendees will meet educators and professionals from a variety of fields, and a networking simulation room will offer portfolio and resume review.
The keynote speaker is Becca Monteleone, an assistant professor of disability studies at the University of Toledo and founder of the Plain Truth Project, a collaboration between scholars, journalists and self-advocates with intellectual disabilities aimed at making news media more accessible.
The other keynote will be a panel discussion with the creators of the recent documentary film, “The Trail Fire of 1961: Toledo Firefighting’s Deadliest Disaster,” including Joe Walter, executive producer; Steven Hanson, producer; Sandra McLendon, producer; Phillip Kaplan, writer and director; Ryan Lynch, producer and editor; and Mark Reiter, audio mixing.
Other sessions will be related to artificial intelligence, internships, transfer opportunities and communication.
“At Owens Community College, we are committed to equipping our students with the tools they need to thrive in creative industries,” Sander said. “The Spark Summit provides direct access to networking and insights from professionals who understand the evolving landscape of technical arts fields.”
The Spark Summit is presented in collaboration with the American Advertising Federation Toledo.
Registration for the event is available by visiting owens.edu/cam/sparksummit-rsvp.
For more information on the Spark Summit, including a complete list of sessions and speakers, visit owens.edu/cam/sparksummit.
Owens Adjunct Instructor Educates Future Leaders 
Posted on February 3rd, 2025
Karl Parker
Karl Parker’s career had taken him across the globe, so when he was set to retire and return to northwest Ohio, he had one question.
What’s next?
Turns out, he found his “next” by being an adjunct instructor in Business Technologies at Owens Community College.
“I’ve always wanted to do some kind of teaching, and in corporate America, I’m doing teaching on a regular basis,” Parker said. “As I was ready to retire from Saudi Aramco, I was thinking of ways to give back some of the global experience I had to students.”
Parker is one of more than 780 adjunct instructors at Owens, a group of people who teach classes part-time in their specialized field of expertise.
A native of Toledo, Parker spent nearly 10 years as a Senior Business Excellence Consultant for Saudi Aramco in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. His professional career started in the early 1990s with Owens Corning and included various roles with different branches of General Electric.
During his first semester as an adjunct instructor in fall 2024, Parker taught a cohort of students in the Caterpillar Service Technician Program. While he was accustomed to teaching in a corporate environment, he quickly realized he’d need to take a different approach with college students.
“I was teaching corporate people who had already graduated from college, so I had to go back to the basics of teaching,” Parker said. “I had to remember that most of them are first-time college students. They don’t have a lot of global experience and those kinds of things, so they might not be familiar with the jargon or language.”
Parker said the process of becoming an adjunct was easy and stress-free, saying, “Everyone was completely helpful. They provided a pathway to learning how to do things. … They set me up for success.”
His goals for his students are to lay a foundation as to why the information they’re learning in his class is important to the real world, making it valuable for them in their futures.
The students aren’t the only ones benefitting from the arrangement, though. Parker admitted he receives plenty from working for Owens, which he called “an amazing organization, a foundation in our community.”
“As an adjunct, it allows you to connect with the next generation of people and students, and it enables you to hone your skills and your knowledge base,” Parker said. “It also prepares you for your next opportunity, making you a better leader and better contributor to society.”
To learn more about adjunct instructor teaching opportunities at Owens, visit owens.edu/employment.
Owens Grad Living Her Dream as Emergency Medical Technician in Swanton 
Posted on January 31st, 2025

Nataley Smith
The instructors and staff in the Owens Community College Department of Emergency Services Technologies field all sorts of questions and requests from their students. However, recent graduate Nataley Smith provided a completely new one.
She needed time off from class to attend her high school prom.
Following the weekend off for prom and eight months after graduating from high school, Smith graduated from the EMT program at Owens. Now at 19-years-old, Smith is living her dream as a full-time Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician for the Swanton Fire and Rescue Division.
Starting her high school journey at Swanton High School, Smith attended Penta Career Center as a sophomore and for half of her junior year. After that, she was a full-time college student.
She knew early on the path she wanted to take, and this quick journey was preplanned. Both of her parents were previously first responders, and close friend Patty Brown was as well; their influence helped Smith set her goals.
Growing up, Smith also said her family had a lot of help from the Swanton community during some struggles, making it important for her to give back to the community.
“I didn’t feel like I necessarily owed anyone anything, but just being able to do something for them in return was a big thing,” Smith said. “I just want to help people.”
The EMT program at Owens helped prepare her “100 percent,” according to Smith. From the difference in equipment, administration and price to other programs, she added, “You can’t compete with Owens.”
“In comparison to some of the other classes I’ve seen, the equipment and instructors (at Owens) are a lot more integrated, a lot more progressive,” Smith said. “They want to make sure you understand the material rather than moving on.
“It’s real life. They prepare you for real world application.”
One way the program does that is by sending out the students on simulated calls around the Toledo-area Campus during class; the calls are based upon real situations instructors have faced in their professional lives. The students must get up from class, put on their equipment, go out to a call and run it like real life.
“Being able to work through the motions of being in the squad, knowing what the scenario is and mentally preparing yourself, it’s just like how it would be in the real world,” Smith said.
Smith’s age helped provide her with motivation during school. Despite her relative youth, she said the administration and instructors at Owens didn’t treat her any differently.
“They were pretty equal,” Smith said. “They wouldn’t sugarcoat anything, give me any extra leeway because of my age. That’s what I appreciated, that was really nice because it made me feel like I was an equal to my classmates.
“Being a female, the last thing I want is to be secluded because of those things. I’m just the same as everyone else. Teach me the same way. That’s not how I got here, by having things handed to me.”
According to Matt Phillips, chair of the Owens Department of Emergency Services Technologies, Smith “exemplifies the qualities we strive to instill in all our students.”
“Completing both the EMT and paramedic programs by the age of 19 is a testament to Nataley’s exceptional dedication and focus,” Phillips said. “Her unwavering commitment and goal-oriented approach have not only propelled her to success at an early age, but has also inspired her peers, regardless of age, to aim higher.”
Now living her dream as a full-time member of Swanton Fire and part-time member of Monclova Fire Department, Smith said it’s everything she hoped for and more.
“I couldn’t ask for a better place,” Smith said.
For more information on the EMT program at Owens, please visit owens.edu/business.
Owens Hosts Girl Scouts of Western Ohio STEAM Day 
Posted on January 29th, 2025
Owens Community College’s Findlay-area Campus will host more than 120 area Girl Scouts for STEAM Day on Saturday, February 1, an event that allows Girl Scouts to participate in hands-on, interactive activities related to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math.
The day starts at 10 a.m. in the Community Education and Wellness Center. Girl Scouts will be separated into six groups and rotate through six different stations with Owens faculty, spending 25 minutes at each. Stations include:
- Women in STEM
- Biology
- Welding
- Electrical and Robotics
- Nursing
- Physical Therapy Assistant
Sessions will be held in the Education Center and Community Education and Wellness Center buildings. Each group will have an Owens tour guide. The day will wrap up at 2 p.m.
The day’s activities are designed to help Girl Scouts think both analytically and creatively. A majority of girls who attend events like this report being more confident in their science and math abilities after participating—an important impact on their future education and careers. Women comprise about half of today’s workforce, but only 34% of the STEM workforce.
The event is sponsored by Girl Scouts of Western Ohio and Marathon, in partnership with Owens Community College.
Owens Spring 2025 Enrollment Increases 6.7 Percent with Largest New Student Enrollment since 2017 
Posted on January 28th, 2025

Owens Advisor Adam Wagner assists student Anisa Zafer with Spring 2025 registration
Owens Community College continued to enroll new students at record pace for Spring Semester 2025, boosting the total enrollment to 7,396 at the 14th day census headcount date. The total enrollment represented a 6.7 percent increase over the Spring 2024 total of 6,929.
Owens enrolled 768 new students for Spring 2025, its most new students for the spring since enrolling 792 new students in 2017. All told, Owens enrolled 2,702 new students in the 2024-2025 academic year, a 24.4 increase over 2023-2024 (2,172). The 2023-2024 total represented a 4.4 increase over the 2022-2023 academic year total (2,081).
“It’s exciting to see new students taking advantage of what Owens offers, choosing career-focused degrees and certificates or starting on a university-transfer pathway,” said Dr. Blake Renner, Owens vice president of enrollment management and student affairs. “The new student enrollment growth from past semesters is making a difference in our overall enrollment. As these new students persist toward their educational goals, we are observing our overall enrollment counts increase which is exactly what we want to see both for the college and for the students.”
In 2024, Owens completed a reorganization of the Student Affairs division to better assist students, including the creation of a Re-Engagement Office focused on re-enrolling students who previously stopped out. For Spring 2025, returning student enrollment increased 34.3 percent (314 students compared to 234 in Spring 2024). A returning student has an enrollment history at Owens but has not attended for the previous two semesters.
College Credit Plus enrollment totaled 1,724 students compared to 1,415 in Spring 2024 (21.8 percent increase). The Student Affairs division has dedicated staff working with the high school student population to assist in the process of earning college credit while still in high school.
“We have continued to focus on our processes that support our students,” Renner said. “We are better positioned to assist students from their first day at Owens. We have created a consistent student experience from the point of initial interest all the way to graduation.”
An enrollment census occurs each semester on the 14th day after classes begin, which was Monday, January 27 for Spring 2025. Owens will continue to enroll students throughout the semester for classes that begin at different starting dates.
Owens Students Test Workday Applications During Mock Semester Event 
Posted on January 27th, 2025
Owens Community College students will soon have a new platform for managing their student experience in Workday Student. Students were invited to test the Workday Student application during a recent Mock Semester event.
Held over two days, the Mock Semester event gave students an opportunity to explore the new system and provide feedback on the experience. Workday Student goes live for the general population in late February 2025.

Owens director of Student Services works with a student during the Mock Semester testing of the new Workday Student application.
“Early feedback is vitally important,” said Marcos Gomez, Owens director of student services. “The sooner we know about any issues or hiccups with the system, the sooner we can fix it to provide a better user-friendly experience for students when it goes live.”
Students were provided different scenarios to work through on Workday Student. While most were asked to log in as themselves as current students, some were asked to log in as new students. They were then given different tasks to perform in Workday Student.
Students who participated and filled out the survey received a $25 gift card and the opportunity to register early for summer and fall 2025 semesters.
Workday Student is a cloud-based platform that provides access from anywhere. Among other uses, Workday Student provides a platform for students to:
- Update personal information
- Register for courses
- View financial aid awards
- Check grades and transcripts
- Manage student account and tuition payments
The College has previously transitioned to Workday as the administrative system for finance, human resources and payroll experiences. The move to Workday provided more modern tools and user experience while enabling improvements to the College’s business processes.
Workday is a leading provider of enterprise cloud applications for finance, human resources and student system. The decision to replace the previous system, Banner, with Workday aligned with Owens’ strategic goal to improve and enhance the student experience, including modernizing business processes, reducing inefficiencies and connecting student information into a single system. Deploying Workday allowed Owens to focus on the needs of its employees, keep students better engaged, streamline operations and provide information needed to make stronger decisions.
Owens Receives Grant to Help Fund 2025 Jill of All Trades™ Event 
Posted on January 23rd, 2025

Owens Community College was the first institution in the United States to host a Jill of All Trades event.
Owens Community College has received a grant to help support the third Jill of All Trades™ event in October 2025. Jill of All Trades™ provides an opportunity for young people to explore how a future in the skilled trades can give them a rewarding career through hands-on workshops and networking with local employers and industry partners.
This initiative will be funded in part by an $8,500 grant from the Toledo Rotary Club Foundation Fund of the Greater Toledo Community Foundation. Corporate sponsorships also help fund Jill of All Trades™.
Established in 2014 in Canada, Jill of All Trades™ provides firsthand learning experiences for young women in grades 9-12 to introduce them to the possibilities of a career in skilled trades including advanced manufacturing and transportation. The day-long event aims to inspire these women by providing a safe and engaging learning environment through workshops led by industry and college mentors.
Owens was the first institution in the United States to host the event in 2023. By hosting the event on the Owens Toledo-area Campus, area students are exposed to the opportunity to continue their education in one of the career-focused programs, certificates and two-year degrees in the skilled trades.
In 2024, more than 80 students from area high school participated in the event. Schools included Penta Career Center, Central Catholic, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Perrysburg, Scott, Start, Sylvania Southview, St. Ursula Academy, Toledo Technology Academy and Whitmer.
For more information on Jill of All Trades™, please visit owens.edu/jillofalltrades.
More Than 500 Owens Students Named to Dean’s List in Fall 2024 
Posted on January 17th, 2025
Owens Community College is proud to announce that 529 students from its Toledo-area and Findlay-area Campuses were named to the Dean’s List for their work in the Fall 2024 semester. An additional 2,697 students earned Dean’s Recognition honors.
Each semester, the Dean’s List and Dean’s Recognition gives recognition to those students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement.
A student completing 12 or more college credit hours in non-developmental courses in a given semester may be eligible for the Dean’s List by earning a semester grade point average of 3.50 or above with no grade lower than a C.
A student completing 6.00-11.99 college credit hours in non-developmental courses in a given semester may be eligible for Dean’s Recognition by earning a semester grade point average of 3.50 or above with no grade lower than a C.
The breakdown by academic school is as follows:
- School of Business, Hospitality Management and Public Safety: 120 Dean’s List, 168 Dean’s Recognition
- School of Liberal Arts: 130 Dean’s List, 1,016 Dean’s Recognition
- School of Nursing and Health Professions: 108 Dean’s List, 386 Dean’s Recognition
- School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics: 171 Dean’s List, 1,127 Dean’s Recognition
Owens Findlay-area Campus had 42 students earn Dean’s List honors and an additional 464 students earn Dean’s Recognition honors.
A complete list of students who earned Dean’s List and Dean’s Recognition honors can be found by visiting owens.edu/academics/deans-list.
Owens Adds National Championship Volleyball Team, 4 All-Americans, Soccer Coach to Express Hall of Fame 
Posted on January 7th, 2025

2018 Volleyball Team

Sean Bucknor

Brittany (Egbert) Fox

Harrison Long

Jeryn Reese

Art Johnson
The Owens Express Athletics Hall of Fame is back in 2025, recognizing the outstanding achievements of athletes and coaches from years past. In the Hall of Fame Class of 2025, Owens will add the 2018 NJCAA national championship volleyball team, four two-time All-Americans and Art Johnson, the coach who originated the men’s soccer program.
Ceremonies will be held during halftime of the men’s and women’s basketball games on Saturday, January 25 at the Student Health and Activities Center. The men’s game will begin at 11 a.m. A reception will follow the conclusion of the women’s game.
Men’s soccer attacking midfielder Sean Bucknor (Montego Bay, Jamaica) scored 28 goals in each of the 2006 and 2007 seasons for a total 56 goals, which remains the top goal mark in school history today. He was a second-team All-American in 2006 and first-team All-American in 2007. The two-time Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) Player of the Year led the 2007 Express to a 15-5-2 record. Bucknor played one season in Major League Soccer with Dallas.
Volleyball middle blocker Brittany (Egbert) Fox (Hopewell-Loudon/Fostoria) was a second-team All-American in 2010 and 2011. She was twice selected OCCAC Player of the Year. She was one of the most decorated Express volleyball players in history and ranked second in school history in kills and hitting efficiency at the time she graduated. The 2011 team achieved the highest winning percentage in school history (45-5, .900).
Harrison Long (Tamworth, United Kingdom) completed one of the best two-year careers in Express golf history from 2013-2015. He won nine times and averaged 73.9, including six sub-70 rounds. He was honored as a NJCAA second-team All-American and honorable mention All-American in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Men’s golf was a varsity sport at Owens from 2005-2016.
Forward Jeryn Reese (Mansfield) was the first two-time All-American for the women’s basketball team, earning second-team honors in 2015-16 and 2016-17. The 2017 OCCAC Player of the Year finished fifth on the program’s career scoring list and first in total rebounds. Her teams went undefeated in OCCAC play with a combined 30-0 record in two seasons. She led Owens to a 31-1 record in 2016-17 and helped the program achieve the first undefeated regular season in the college’s athletics history. Reese went on to play for NCAA Division I LaSalle University.
Johnson began the Owens men’s soccer program in 1998 after 12 seasons as Toledo St. John’s head coach. His Owens-led teams played entertaining soccer, compiling a 207-144-21 overall record in 18 seasons. Johnson coached three All-Americans and 13 Academic All-Americans. He sent more than 30 players to four-year schools, including seven players to the NCAA Division I level. Johnson’s 2012 team won the school’s first OCCAC championship, leading to Johnson receiving conference coach of the year honors. He won the OCCAC award five times.
Coach Sonny Lewis, assistant coach Denny Caldwell and the 2018 volleyball team won the NJCAA national championship a year after finishing as national tournament runner-up. The Express defeated Eastfield College 3-2 in the title match held in Rochester, Minnesota. Ranked No. 1 to end the regular season, the Express compiled a 40-6 record and had a 15-match winning streak at one point. Michaela Eisenhauer (Margaretta) was named national tournament MVP. Summer Sweeting (North Fairfield) and Kennedy (Ames) Kromenacker (Milan Edison) also were named to the all-tournament team. Lewis received national coach of the year honors.
The team also included Mornay McBroom (Lima Central Catholic), Kayla Bekier (Northwood/Lake), Kiah (Wendel) Bruns (Fort Recovery), Kara (Schafer) Burns (Monroeville), Madison Allemeier (Lima/Edison), Kara (Evers) Dirksen (Marion Local), Ella Delamotte (Lima Central Catholic), Kinsey (Finnen) DeGier (Delta), Shyah Wheeler (Elida), Carlie (Bengela) Kenyon (Toledo/Whitmer). The coaching staff also included Kristen Gyori, Maddy Smyth and John Mower.
The Owens Express Hall of Fame originated in 2016 and continued inducting classes through 2018. Due to staffing changes within the athletics department and the COVID-19 pandemic, no class was inducted for the past six years. The first three classes featured four student-athletes, three teams, three coaches/athletic directors and one college administrator. Visit www.owensexpress.com/HOF for more information about the Owens Express Hall of Fame.
Owens Receives Prestigious Award for John Deere Tech Program 
Posted on December 18th, 2024
Thanks to a continued focus on high standards, the John Deere Tech Program at Owens Community College was honored with a Platinum Award from the College of Tomorrow, the highest honor given out.

The “College of Tomorrow” was created in 2011 to improve the alignment and processes across all John Deere College Partnership Programs in the United States. Awards are granted with Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze levels.
“The criteria in this program are robust. We are honored to meet John Deere Tech’s high standards and receive the top Platinum honors in the College of Tomorrow awards program,” said Heath Weilnau, Owens John Deere Tech program coordinator and instructor.
The College of Tomorrow criteria are:
- Continuing education training
- Student enrollment and retention
- Program promotion and recruiting events attended
- Dealer advisory board meetings and utilization of feedback
- On-job dealership visits
- Communication with dealers and John Deere on program updates.
The John Deere Tech Program is a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree at Owens, designed to train technicians to fit the needs of John Deere dealerships. Owens is one of only 21 college worldwide to offer the John Deere Tech Program.
Each student in the program must be sponsored by a John Deere dealership, which will partner with Owens to help train the student during an eight-week paid internship at the dealership, in addition to the student’s eight weeks in the classroom at Owens Toledo-area Campus.
For more information about the John Deere Tech program at Owens, please visit owens.edu/johndeere.
Iconic Silo on Owens Campus Slated for Demolition 
Posted on December 13th, 2024

It has stood at the intersection of Oregon Road and Biniker Drive before there was an intersection, before there was even an Owens Community College.
Now, the iconic silo that’s welcomed visitors to campus for nearly 60 years is coming down. Due to its age and resulting safety concerns, demolition of the silo will begin on Monday, December 16.
Noticeable leaning of the structure prompted Owens officials to evaluate the silo. Marietta Inspection Services recommended that the silo be demolished because of its age and condition and noted it could not be preserved.
The demolition will be conducted by Klumm Brothers, dismantling the silo from the top down. The length of the process will be unknown until workers start the process and assess the difficulty.
A first inspection was completed on the silo in 2016 because of leaning, but it was determined to be structurally safe at that time.

Undated historic photo of Owens silo
There is no known documentation to specify exactly how old the silo is, but it was in place when Owens made its first land purchase from Clarence and Mary Biniker in 1971. Two more purchases, in 1986 and 1991, brought the total land purchased from the Biniker family farm to approximately 65 acres, leading to the completion of the east side of the Owens campus.
Nearly 20 percent of the Owens Toledo-area Campus’ 368 acres was formerly part of the Biniker family farm.
The silo, along with the Biniker farmhouse, was part of the 1991 purchase. That land is now the site of the Galleria Complex, which includes the new Healthcare Education Center, Center for Fine and Performing Arts and the Student Health and Activities Center, among other facilities.
“What a story that silo could tell if it could talk. From the foundational practice of farming in Ohio to the development and growth of Owens Community College, the silo has stood guard over the Biniker farm and Owens,” Owens President Dr. Dione D. Somerville said. “As Owens approaches its 60th anniversary, we must consider the continued evolution of our physical structures and their safety and footprint on our campus.
“We are saddened by this development as the silo represents an important part of Owens’ history, but the safety of our college community is always our top priority.”
The east-to-west roadway through the eastside of campus is named in honor of the family whose sale of the land led to the expansion of the Toledo-area Campus.
The silo will be remembered and preserved through photographs and videos.
Water Workforce Coalition Graduates Second Student Cohort on December 5 
Posted on December 4th, 2024

Congratulations to the cohort 2 graduates!
A second cohort of 23 Owens Community College students will earn their Water Treatment Professions certificate at 9 a.m. Thursday, December 5 in Veterans Hall.
Owens is part of the Water Workforce Coalition, which was formed thanks to a $500,000 grant from the U.S. EPA. TMACOG and the City of Toledo also form the coalition, which responded to northwest Ohio’s anticipated operator shortages due to retirements by 2028.
The first cohort of 22 Owens students graduated in May 2024. From that class, 63 percent (12 graduates) earned their state certification and 68 percent (13 graduates) are currently employed: six are employed in drinking water positions and seven in wastewater positions. Three students from the class chose not to pursue a water workforce career.
From the second student cohort, Madison Preteroti of Findlay will speak at the completion celebration. She has already passed her state certification and received a job offer. Amy Klei, chief, Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, Ohio EPA, will deliver the keynote address.
Dr. Denise Smith, Owens provost and vice president, academic affairs, Sandy Spang, executive director of TMACOG, and Andy McClure, commissioner of plant operations for the City of Toledo, will speak as well.
Dr. Mary Kaczinski, Owens professor of environmental science and lead instructor for the certificate, will emcee the program.
The final Water Workforce Coalition cohort will begin classes in January. A few seats remain available. To learn more, visit https://waterworksforyou.org/.
Owens Graduates 349 Students, Including 120 Nurses 
Posted on December 3rd, 2024

Owens Community College will graduate 349 students, including 120 nurses, at its 44th Fall Commencement Friday, December 6 at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Theatre.
This is the final registered nursing class to complete its studies in Heritage Hall. The nursing program will join the School of Nursing and Health Professions’ allied health programs in relocating to the $31.3 million Healthcare Education Center for classes in January.
The nursing graduation and pinning ceremony is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Colton Johnson of Toledo, Registered Nursing Program major, received two outstanding graduate awards, earning the Peggy Bensman Award and Barbara Rood Student Choice Nursing Award. The Bensman Award, named after the nursing program’s founder, is the highest honor for a nursing graduate.
Ariel Campbell of Toledo, Whitney Heminger of Bettsville and Jessica Lightle of Waterville also received Barbara Rood Student Choice Nursing Awards as Registered Nursing majors.
Heminger attended class on the Findlay-area Campus. The graduating class incudes 58 students from the Findlay-area Campus.
The School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics will hold the first graduation ceremony at 9 a.m., followed by a joint ceremony for the schools of Liberal Arts and Business, Hospitality Management and Public Safety at 12 p.m.
In Liberal Arts, Geography Transfer Pathway major Elizabeth White of Perrysburg received the Gerald Bazer Award for Outstanding Arts and Science Graduate. The Bazer Award is named after the original dean for arts and sciences programming. Sophie Kepling of Bowling Green was named Education Transfer Concentration Outstanding Graduate Award recipient and Kelly Rowen of Walbridge was named Social Work Transfer Pathway Outstanding Graduate Award recipient.
In the School of Business, Hospitality Management and Public Safety, Brittany LeGare of Curtice was named Business Technologies Outstanding Graduate Award recipient. She is a Paralegal Transfer Concentration major.
A total of 101 students will graduate with honors, earning a 3.5 grade-point average or higher.
Owens now has awarded more than 45,000 associate degrees, with this class bringing the total to 45,187.
Admission to the Commencement ceremonies is by ticket only. All ceremonies also will be livestreamed. Visit www.owens.edu/commencement to watch online.
Owens Wins Student Voter Engagement Recognition 
Posted on November 26th, 2024

After developing a plan to engage voters across the Toledo-area Campus, Owens Community College was recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student voting.
The award recognizes colleges and universities for outstanding efforts to increase nonpartisan student voter participation. Owens was one of 471 colleges and universities recognized this year.
“This award is part of a consistent commitment to ensure that we are building active student citizens as well as academic graduates,” said Krista Kiessling, Owens director of Campus and Community Connections. “We’ve seen voter engagement rates increase among our students every year since 2014, which is amazing to see. This year, we developed a civic action plan for campus, using collaboration with multiple departments to support voter education as much as possible. It’s so vitally important that our students leave Owens not just with their education but also an understanding of their civic responsibilities.”
From 2014 to 2020, the voting rate for registered voters at Owens increased from 24.1 percent to 70.5. During that same time, the registration rate increased from 67.5 percent to 79.
The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement. Campuses that join the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge complete a set of action items, with the support of ALL IN staff, to institutionalize nonpartisan civic learning and voter participation on their campus. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge currently engages 10.8 million students from more than 1,075 institutions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
“The research is clear: colleges and universities that make intentional efforts to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement have higher campus voter registration and voter turnout rates. This year we saw more colleges than ever before step up their efforts to ensure that their students were registered and ready to make their voices heard at the ballot box,” said Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, executive director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. “These Most Engaged Campuses are setting the standard for nonpartisan civic engagement work for colleges and universities across the country.”
Owens is one of more than 1,200 institutions across the country to supply data to the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement. Of those institutions, 362 are two-year public institutions, with Owens being one of only two in Ohio.
Among the voter engagement activities on the Owens campus were five visits from the Wood County League of Women’s Voters to assist with voter registration and voter education. A Cakes with Blake event also engaged voters as Owens vice president of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Dr. Blake Renner made pancakes with other breakfast items in the College Hall atrium in early November.
Find more information on voter engagement at Owens, including NSLVE data, by visiting owens.edu/vote.
Owens Provides Wound Props, Consultant to Findlay Area Trauma Triage Training 
Posted on November 25th, 2024
The Owens Community College Center for Emergency Preparedness took its training on the road recently, supporting the Findlay Area Trauma Triage Training with Findlay Fire Department and Hanco EMS.
The training took place over three days at the Strict Center, with participants split into morning and afternoon groups. Owens provided the wound props and moulage, mannequins and other practice equipment.
John Leonard, Owens coordinator for Emergency Services Technology, provided the props, makeup and moulage. His goal was to make the training “as realistic as possible.”
Part of the training included running groups through scenarios that closely resembled real-world mass casualty situations. At one of the afternoon trainings, the injuries included a fireworks accident, falling from a ladder, a stabbing and an active shooter situation.
“We want to make it stressful, like, now it’s real, it’s different than playing around with your friends,” Leonard said. “We want them to be stressed. We want that tactile experience to train their mind.”
Leonard said he’s hopeful the success of this training can lead to similar opportunities in the future.
For more information on the Owens Center for Emergency Preparedness, please visit owens.edu/cep.
Owens Hosts Northwest Ohio Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship Graduation 
Posted on November 21st, 2024

Four Glass City Academy students received their Northwest Ohio Pre-Apprenticeship Program certificates at a ceremony at the Owens Community College Dana Center for Advanced Manufacturing Training. The students also earned their OSHA 10 certification and Ohio Means Jobs Readiness seal and complete the Lead 4 Change program.
Four Glass City Academy students will receive their Northwest Ohio Pre-Apprenticeship Program certificates at a ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Friday, November 22 at the Owens Community College Dana Center for Advanced Manufacturing Training. The students also will earn their OSHA 10 certification and Ohio Means Jobs Readiness seal and complete the Lead 4 Change program.
The ceremony will be held in the Dana Center’s Haas Machining Lab.
“These students are equipped with entry-level manufacturing skills, giving them vital skills for the northwest Ohio job market,” said Charlene Page, Owens executive director of Workforce and Economic Development. “It’s our goal to build machining talent for the region. A lot of young people do not know what machinists do. These four young people have positioned themselves to start on that career path. Regional employers are searching for trained machinists.”
The students completed the 16-hour basic machining course at the Owens lab at Cherry Street Mission Ministries, learning many outcomes including how machining produces goods used in the manufacturing environment. The course covered machine types, tools and tooling, measuring equipment, machine safety and their application in industry.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, machinists in Toledo earn a median annual salary of approximately $57,000.
This program was developed as a partnership between Owens, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, Cherry Street Mission Ministries, Glass City Academy, Wood County OMJ/JFS and the Educational Service Center of Lake Erie West. Maumee Assembly and Stamping provided a tour opportunity and Red Wing Boots in Maumee donated a pair of boots for each graduate.
The ceremony will conclude with a reception featuring Cherry Street Mission Ministries Second Helping Food Truck.
Owens Instructor Duaa MustafaAli Wins State Adult Educator of the Year Award 
Posted on November 18th, 2024

Owens Community College Aspire Program instructor Duaa MustafaAli didn’t think much of it when she was handed a plaque while being honored as one of the state’s six regional Adult Educators of the Year at a conference in Columbus.
It wasn’t until long after she left the stage did she actually read the plaque and the distinction that came with it – the sole recipient of the Ohio Adult Educator of the Year from the Ohio Department of Higher Education.
MustafaAli, who has taught English for Speakers of Other Languages for more than five years at Owens, admitted the honor came as a surprise.
“I’m definitely excited,” she said. “When (Aspire Program director) Heath (Huber) said I was nominated for the regional award, I thought that was great. That’s all I expected. I never expected any awards or honors.”
In his nomination for MustafaAli for the award, Huber said she’s a “favorite aunt” for the students and called her the “most approachable and engaged instructor our program has, welcoming each student into an instant community of learners who support each other and learn from each other no matter their educational functioning level.”
Huber also pointed out MustafaAli’s willingness to adapt to learning new platforms and utilizing technology. According to Huber, her classes are consistently among the best attended with many of her students moving on to college or further employment.
Huber added, “Duaa creates community, pure and simple. In a world where there is so much chaos internationally, Duaa provides safety, education and room for growth so that non-native speakers know they have their community right here Owens.”
A native of Sudan who spent much of her youth living in New York City, MustafaAli said her culture puts a high value on occupations such as doctors and lawyers. She feels that this award is a large validation that her passion for working as an educator is worth it.
She also said the award serves as more motivation to continue putting her passion and energy into providing a safe environment and a sense of belonging and community in her classroom.
“It’s nice to feel seen and noticed for the effort, to be seen outside of the classroom for all of the work we put in there,” she said.
MustafaAli gave credit to Huber and the rest of the Aspire faculty and staff for always being eager to help and improve the lives of their students.
“When you know they’re eager to provide help, it makes it a lot easier to help the students,” she said.
For more information on the Owens Aspire College and Career Readiness Center, please visit owens.edu/ccr.
Owens Hosts African American Leadership Council “I Invest In ME” Conference 
Posted on November 15th, 2024

More than 70 individuals visited Owens Community College for the United Way of Greater Toledo’s African American Leadership Council (AALC) “I Invest In ME” conference on Thursday, November 14.
The AALC is an affinity group with the mission of empowering local leaders by creating opportunities for growth through leadership development, philanthropy and community engagement, according to its website.

The conference was geared toward empowering attendees to maximize their impact in their community. Owens was the presenting sponsor of the conference.
Owens President Dr. Dione D. Somerville delivered the welcome to the event. During her speech, she quoted the poem “Traveler, your footprints,” by Antonio Machado, which reads, in part, “Traveler, your footprints/are the only road, nothing else./Traveler, there is no road;/you make your own path as you walk.”
It was a fitting message as keynote speaker Alexis Means, a reporter for 13abc WTVG-TV in Toledo, talked to the attendees about building and empowering the generations to come and creating opportunities for others to rise.
After Means’ speech, the conference broke into various panel discussions. The “Why Toledo” panel discussion was led by moderator Candace Harrison, and featured panelists TaShara B, Jon Dorcely, Avis Files and Cecil Holston.
The “Personal Branding” discussion was led by Alissa Mauter, and the “Emotional Intelligence” discussion was led by Tim Clark. The “Business Applications of AI” discussion was led by LeSean Shaw.
The conference ended with an interactive networking session, hosted by Sheila Eason.
Gov. DeWine reappoints two members to Owens Board of Trustees 
Posted on November 15th, 2024

Mary Beth Hammond

Travis Reiff
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has reappointed Mary Beth Hammond and Travis Reiff to the Owens Community College Board of Trustees.
Hammond and Reiff will each have terms ending on September 21, 2030.
Hammond is the Board Chair and was originally appointed in 2013. She has more than 30 years of financial experience, retiring from Fifth Third Bank in Findlay as a Senior Private Banker and Vice President. She is a past president of the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce and a graduate of The Jo Ann Davidson Ohio Leadership Institute.
Hammond is a graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio.
Reiff is a Trustee and was originally appointed in 2023. He is the Director of Operations at Rosenboom Machine and Tool in Bowling Green. He is a graduate of Trine University.
TRIO Celebrates First-Generation College Day 
Posted on November 14th, 2024

Brandon Gaddy might be known around the Owens Community College campus as the director of the TRIO programs, but he also wants you to know something else – he’s a first-generation college graduate.
Gaddy and his TRIO staff were outside of the library in College Hall on Wednesday, November 13 to celebrate First-Generation College Celebration Day. Celebrated annually on November 8, the day recognizes the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act in 1965, which expanded opportunities for low-income and first-generation students.
The TRIO programs were born out of that act. Including the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), Student Support Services (SSS) and Veterans Upward Bound, the federally-funded TRIO programs are designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Among various giveaways available at the tables in College Hall were buttons that included the word “trailblazer,” which Gaddy thought was appropriate.
“You’re setting a path that no one has set before,” Gaddy said. “It’s hard to complete, but at the same time, when you find the right folks and right community, you can get through it pretty easily.”
According to Gaddy, it’s important to set up that community for a group of students who typically don’t have the support necessary or the knowledge to know what they’re doing.
“This is for us to show them there is a community outside of what they see,” Gaddy said. “This is an opportunity to show them there is support, there are resources like TRIO, SSS and EOC.
“Finding a way to help support each other, celebrate this identity and show them there is support there and create some kind of community.”
Information from the Center for First-Generation Student Success shows 26 percent of undergraduate students in 2019-20 had parents with no postsecondary education and 60 percent of students whose parents did not have a bachelor’s degree were also the first sibling in their family to go to college.
In the 2022-23 academic year, 29 percent of Owens students self-identified as first-generation. That same year, 60 percent of Owens graduates reported being first-generation college graduates.
It makes the work Gaddy and his TRIO staff do so vitally important for a large percentage of students. It’s also important for Gaddy to show some of the success stories of former TRIO students, including people like Oprah Winfrey, Viola Davis and Patrick Ewing.
“To see the people who have come through, it’s powerful,” Gaddy said. “It sets a precedent.”
For more information on the TRIO programs, please visit owens.edu/trio.
Owens CDL Training Program Receives Financial Aid Funds from State of Ohio 
Posted on November 13th, 2024
The Owens CDL Training Program has received $149,100 from the Commercial Truck Driver Student Aid Program for 2025.
The financial aid program is funded through the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE). It provides financial aid to in-state students who complete a CDL program and agree to reside and be employed in Ohio for a minimum of one year upon completion.

ODHE received 30 applications, with the total funds requested being nearly twice the amount of funding available. Allocations were made based upon demonstrated success.
“The financial aid funding from the Ohio Department of Higher Education will allow us to train additional students in our CDL Training Program – making sure the next generation of truck drivers are safety focused and well-equipped to handle the demands of their jobs,” said Charlene Page, Owens executive director of Workforce and Economic Development. “It’s rewarding to know that in as little as four weeks, someone can complete our program and find themselves in a secure profession making more than $50,000 per year.”
According to information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were more than 2.1 heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in 2023 with a median income of $26.12 per hour. Ohio had the fifth most drivers in 2023 with 89,560. An additional 102,000 drivers are expected to be hired by 2033.
The Owens CDL Training Program offers small classes and personal attention from instructors. Licensed by the State of Ohio and taught by licensed CDL class instructors, the Owens trucking school and CDL classes provide 160 course hours – 40 hours in the classroom and 120 of hands-on training on the road in our big rigs.
Class A CDL Training classes on the Toledo-area Campus are four weeks long and run from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Classes on the Findlay-area Campus are 10 weeks long and run on the weekend.
HazMat Entry-Level CDL Endorsement training is also available.
For more information on the CDL Training Program at Owens, please visit owens.edu/cdl.
Veterans Upward Bound Assistant Director Jason Graven Named to Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame 
Posted on November 11th, 2024
Jason Graven has spent more than a dozen years working with veterans across northwest Ohio, impacting the lives of countless individuals. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Graven is currently the assistant director of TRIO/Veterans Upward Bound, housed at Owens Community College.
Graven’s work is being recognized by the Ohio Department of Veterans Services as a member of the latest class of the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. It’s an honor he ranks with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“It’s very humbling to have been picked for this recognition,” Graven said. “I would consider it validation for a lot of hard work, but I’ve also been blessed to work with several really great teams.
“Every single one of these experiences aided in me receiving this recognition, and I hope they all feel part of this recognition. The one thing every single one of those teams had is, they all cared. Sometimes caring for other individuals will do a heck of a lot more to save their life than people realize.”
Graven and the other inductees were honored during a dinner in Columbus on Wednesday, November 6, before being officially inducted during a ceremony at the Fawcett Center on the campus of The Ohio State University on Thursday, November 7.
After graduating from Anthony Wayne High School in 1998, Graven was admittedly aimless in his life. Two weeks after the events on Sept. 11, 2001, he enlisted in the Army. His enlistment was not necessarily as a reaction to the terrorist attacks, but he said it served as a wake-up call.
Graven was part of the initial invasion in Iraq in March 2003. His unit had received orders to redeploy when Graven was medically discharged in 2004. During their redeployment, the individual who took Graven’s position was injured by an IED and will have issues with walking for the rest of their life.
“I did not get to go back with them, and several individuals I know lost their lives,” Graven said. “One of the things we say at Task Force 20 is, we honor those who didn’t come home by taking care of those who did.
“Having a connection to that deployment and everything that happened to individuals I knew when I was back home at college, it creates a certain level of survivor’s guilt. … Working with veterans is how I give back.”
Graven graduated from the University of Toledo with a bachelor’s in History and his master’s of Business Administration. He was a co-founder of the UT Campus Military Veterans Organization, which later became one of 1,600 national chapters of the Student Veterans of America.
He’s also worked at Bowling Green State University and the American Legion Department of Ohio, where he said his passion for working with veterans of all generations really started. He also runs his own non-profit, Task Force 20, which supports veterans dealing with symptoms of PTSD and depression.
There are fewer than 1,000 members of the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame, and Graven is one of the youngest. While some may question going into any hall of fame in their 40s, Graven is using it as motivation.
“Older individuals most likely would see this as a culmination of a life of hard work where for me, it’s an added responsibility to live up to the reasons that got me inducted,” Graven said. “I have to hold myself to a certain standard that I live up to what these individuals expect out of me.”
As a self-described “poor kid from the trailer park,” Graven’s life has taken him in unexpected directions. He’s committed to making sure no one has to repeat some of his experiences while helping “that one veteran in front of (me).”
“There’s still more to do,” he said.
TRIO Veterans Upward Bound is a program that can help any qualified veteran in their pursuit of post-secondary education and/or career or technical training. Veterans Upward Bound is hosted at Owens but can help participants enroll or attend any college or university. All TRIO programs are funded by the U.S. Department of Education and assist individuals who are first generation or low-income students. For more information, visit this link.
For more information on TRIO Veterans Upward Bound, visit this link.
Owens Community College Seeking Nominations for Alumni Hall of Fame 
Posted on November 8th, 2024

Owens Community College is seeking nominations for individuals to be inducted into the Owens Alumni Hall of Fame.
Members of the Hall of Fame are recognized for their excellence personally and professionally and for continuing to make significant differences in their community on a local, state, national and international level.
The nomination deadline is 12 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31. A maximum of five individuals, one for each academic college plus one community award, will be inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame.
Nomination criteria and an online nomination form can be found at this link.
Please confirm the nominee is aware of and agrees to the information provided in this nomination form by emailing nominee’s resume, additional documentation, or letters of support to owensalumni@owens.edu following submission of the below form.
For questions or more information, contact owensalumni@owens.edu.
Owens Works With Wood County Agency to Identify Returning Students for CREW Program 
Posted on November 6th, 2024
Owens Community College is working with the Wood County Department of Job and Family Services (JFS) to assist individuals who have either never gone to college or left before receiving a degree because of certain societal barriers.
The Wood County CREW program (Career Ready and Engaged with Wood County) provides individuals ages 16-24 with resources they need to reach their career goals, including job training and education.

Individuals must be a Wood County resident and meet at least one of the following criteria: not attending or enrolled in school; have a documented disability; been in foster care, either past or present; experiencing homelessness; pregnant or parenting; have a criminal history; low-income household; or other barriers.
According to Shannon Fisher, Employment, Support Services and CREW Wood County supervisor, the program is part of the Comprehensive Case Management and Employment Program, a statewide program in each county.
“The program is to assist … youth with employment and education goals,” she said. “We’re hoping to get a referral system going with Owens so we can assist prospective students or students who might be returning after a break from school.”
The program can assist with tuition for up to two years for an in-demand career as determined by the state. The CREW program can also help with career exploration, books and supplies, and on-going case management. Participants get monthly check-ins with the CREW program as well as goal setting.
Participants may also receive help finding and applying for public assistance programs.
“We have in-school youth, typically high school students that are easier to find, but we need to find more out-of-school youth who have dropped out of high school or graduates who haven’t moved into education or employment post-high school,” Fisher said. “It’s hard to find that population.”
While the CREW program is only for students who have yet to enroll, Fisher said there are other programs through Wood County JFS to assist students currently enrolled or attending classes.
The Owens Re-Engagement Office helps individuals considering a return to school by providing personalized support and discovering various scholarship and financial aid resources, among other services.
Michael Sander, Owens dean of Liberal Arts, has worked with Wood County JFS to form a referral partnership. He pointed out a variety of barriers students experience that can prevent them from obtaining a degree or certificate, all of which can be overcome with the help of the CREW program.
“For many students, not continuing their college education is related to personal barriers such as tuition assistance, childcare, housing, or transportation. The Wood County CREW program helps student who could not continue on their higher educational path by receiving the resources and support needed to return to school and attain a credential,” Sander said.
For more information on the Wood County CREW program, visit this link.
Owens, Wood County Agency Begin Unparalleled Apprenticeship Program 
Posted on October 30th, 2024
A new partnership between Owens Community College and Wood County Job and Families Services (JFS) is offering students an opportunity to gain work experience and professional experiences before they start their human services careers.
The Peer Specialist Apprenticeship is a 2,000-hour paid program that allows students to pursue their degrees while gaining hands-on experience in the field. This apprenticeship program for human services is the first of its kind in Ohio.

The apprenticeship can be a springboard to careers in the human services industry, including Child and Adult Protective Services, Workforce Development, Child Support, Income Maintenance and Fiscal Operations.
“The Peer Specialist Apprenticeship is the perfect experiential learning environment for any student looking to enter the human services sector. Wood County Jobs and Family Services has developed a great opportunity where Owens students can gain valuable work experience and professional connections that will follow them their entire career,” said Michael Sander, Owens dean for the School of Liberal Arts.
The program has already received strong support from state-level government officials, according to Peter Prichard, senior workforce consultant with Wood County JFS.
“The world is changing quite a bit, and we’re finding out that how people learn is quite different than it was,” Prichard said. “Simply with how information is coming to our people outside of school on the internet, there’s always an opportunity for learning. We have to direct that learning.
“An apprenticeship helps people focus on a specific area while they’re getting some of that formalized education. It’s definitely a non-traditional approach, but it requires some traditional instruction to go along with it.”
During the course of the apprenticeship, students will fulfill their curriculum and obtain their associate degrees while being eligible to transition into a Child Protective Services Fellowship program.
According to Michael Fuller, Wood County JFS assistant director, there has been an industry-wide struggle to find social workers after the Covid pandemic. Allowing students to gain valuable experience while opening up other sectors under the human services broad umbrella will hopefully help fill those gaps, he said.
“This position would get the knowledge within our agency, but there are entities outside of just our agency that they could apply for jobs to with an associate degree in mental health, hospitals, even other social service agencies,” Fuller said.
“It’s a way for students to come in, you feel them out, they feel you out and see if this is where they want to go. It’s a benefit on both sides.”
Fuller said they’ve recently received their first application for the apprenticeship program.
The Peer Specialist Apprenticeship is currently available to eligible Owens Community College students. Owens Community College is the Ohio University System collaborative partner for related instruction for this Apprenticeship Program.
To apply for the program, please visit this link.
Owens, Jill of All Trades Show Potential of Skilled Trades to Local High School Students 
Posted on October 25th, 2024

Owens Community College hosted more than 80 students from 10 area high schools on Thursday for a day of fun and learning about skilled trades at the second annual Jill of All Trades.
“We’re excited to provide this chance for young people to explore a future in the skilled trades,” Owens president Dr. Dione D. Somerville said. “With the help of Jill of All Trades, we believe its our mission to expose young people to potential careers and all of the things they could do with a future in the skilled trades.”

Jill of All Trades was started in 2014 in Canada, providing hands-on experiences to young people in grades 9-12 and introducing them to the possibilities of a career in skilled trades. Owens is the only institution in the United States to host the event.
Students were split into 12 groups, with each participating in three different workshops. Held at the Dana Center, Welding Design Center and Transportation Technology buildings on the Toledo-area campus, workshop topics included robotics, welding, CNC/machining, auto service and repair, crane rigging and diesel technology.
The goal of the program was to address the skilled trades workforce needs of the future, an issue Owens is at the forefront of with its wide variety of programs, certificates and associates degrees.
“High school students and their parents have this idea that you need to spend a lot of money and go to a four-year college, but that’s just not true,” Owens director of Admissions Erin Kramer said. “We have programs, certificates and two-year programs at Owens that can help young people achieve their dreams and goals for their futures.”
Students began and ended their day at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, where program sponsors were set up with information about working in the trades.
Sponsors of the event were presenting sponsor Buckeye Broadband, Owens Corning, Magna, Enbridge, Mechanical Contractors Association of Northwest Ohio, Hancock Steel, First Solar, The Andersons, First Energy, Advanced Technology Consultants, Dunbar, Rudolph Libbe Group, Taylor Automotive Family, HIAB, Air Force One, Principle Business Enterprises, Barnes, University of Findlay, A-Gas and Integrated Systems Technologies.
To learn more about the Owens School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, please visit owens.edu/stem.
To see more from Thursday’s event, go to owens.edu/jillofalltrades.
Owens Programs Receive Prestigious General Motors ASE Reaccreditation 
Posted on October 17th, 2024

Chris Kinkade
Owens Community College’s Medium/Heavy Truck Technician program and Automobile Technician program received ASE Program Accreditation through 2029.
Part of the General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program at Owens, these two-year associate degree programs are designed to upgrade the technical competence and professionalism of graduates who become General Motors Service Technicians. The programs are part of the General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program at Owens.
Owens and General Motors collaborated on the programs’ curriculum design. While completing these degrees, students rotate class time and internship at a sponsoring dealership or service center.
“This gives us legitimacy with the industry,” Owens automotive/GM ASEP instructor Christopher Kinkade said. “It tells the industry that we’re meeting the standards they need, so when we get students in here, they’re going to be up to their standards. There’s no way we could have the GM involvement unless we have this.”
The ASE accreditation puts Owens are the forefront of educating and training the next generation of skilled employees. According to Kinkade, other colleges will work on cars dating back from the 1990s. Because of the ASE accreditation and relationship with GM, Owens students work and train on the latest models with the newest technology, such as a recently donated Cadillac XT5.
“This keeps our technology at a state-of-the-art level so we can make sure these students are going to have the same standards and same education and go and take the next step in their professional journey,” Kinkade said.
The ASE accreditation process started in the beginning of May and lasted through the summer. The Owens program had to justify and prove its methods were in line with GM ASE standards. There was also an online auditing process before they reviewed the Owens program, including on-site visits.
Kinkade called it a “super intense process” that took countless hours and effort from multiple people in the Transportation Technology department and throughout the Owens campus.
For more information on the GM Automotive Service Educational Program at Owens, visit owens.edu/gmasep.
WorkAdvance Graduation Celebrates Success in Hancock County 
Posted on October 15th, 2024

Graduates of the most recent WorkAdvance cohort gathered at the Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus.
The WorkAdvance job training program in Hancock County recently celebrated its one-year anniversary with a graduation celebration for its most recent cohort graduates.
The program is supported by Owens Community College, Raise the Bar Hancock County, Findlay/Hancock County Habitat for Humanity Financial Opportunity Center and The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. It’s hosted on the Owens Findlay-area Campus.
WorkAdvance boosts the skills of entry-level applicants and individuals in populations that have been under-represented in the manufacturing sector. Of the 185 applicants to the program, most receive some sort of public assistance, such as SNAP Food Benefits or Medicaid, while more than half have been impacted by the justice system.

Owens Community College president Dione Somerville, left, and Owens Aspire Program director Heath Huber attended the WorkAdvance graduation in Findlay.
“It’s a lifetime of change,” Raise the Bar executive director Tricia Valasek said. “It’s not just about getting the job. It’s about, How do I interact with others and be the best version of myself, that’s what we’re teaching in this program.”
Participants go through two weeks of training that includes 30 hours of employability training from the Financial Opportunity Center, 20 hours of a math refresher from Owens, and 30 hours of foundational manufacturing training.
Since the program started in August 2023, 34 graduates have secured employment with area employers, with an average hourly wage of $17.34.
The most recent graduation celebration included past graduates, who came back to celebrate their continued success. Larry Braden graduated in August; he is currently waiting on his background check to clear before starting his new job with the Findlay City Schools.
“It helped me with where I’m at, in the process of getting work,” Braden said. “I can start saving for an apartment. … If everything works out with the job I’m getting, I can make it into a career.
“If anybody needs help, I can tell them to go to Owens or the (Financial Opportunity Center). If they need any help, I tell them to go there.”
Graduates receive a free Chromebook computer to help them apply for jobs online. They also receive a $500 work apparel voucher.
“It’s very exciting to be a part of the pipeline towards employment and good jobs,” Owens Aspire Program director Heath Huber said. “It’s a great way to partner with the community and the social service resources in Hancock County that provide a lot of that job training process.
“It’s great to see people starting off, not knowing what they’re getting into, and then getting a job, the smiles on their faces, the confidence it builds in them.”
For more information on WorkAdvance, visit workadvancefindlay.org.
Express Volleyball Coach, Players Reach Career Milestones 
Posted on October 14th, 2024
Sonny Lewis has spent nearly 50 years coaching volleyball in northwest Ohio, first at Springfield High School and then at Owens Community College. During that time, Lewis has sat through exactly one job interview.
When Lewis left the high school ranks, the Owens volleyball coach had just retired. He applied for the job and had the first job interview of his life. Needless to say, he must have done pretty well during the interview.
“They hired me the next day,” Lewis said.

Owens sophomore Lilly White recently went over 1,000 digs for her Owens career. Teammate Michaela Hahn got her 1,000 career assist, and coach Sonny Lewis won his 800th game.
Now in his 24th season leading the Express program, Lewis recently won the 800th game of his college coaching career. Add those wins to the 373 wins coaching high school, and Lewis has been on the winning side more than 1,100 times.
“I’ve been here a long time, so that gets a lot of that in,” Lewis said. “My associate head coach, Denny Caldwell, has done a great job of recruiting people in the area. They want to come here and play, and since they see we do well, that gets us some good attraction.”
This season, the Express are 18-9 overall after splitting two matches with Southwestern Michigan (3-0 win) and Lake Michigan College (3-2 loss). They host Lakeland Community College at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Pack The SHAC Night at the Student Health and Activities Center.
Lewis isn’t the only one to reach a career milestone for the Express this year. Sophomore libero Lilly White (Monroeville H.S.) went over 1,000 digs this season, and sophomore setter Michaela Hahn (Fremont St. Joseph H.S.) got the 1,000th assist of her career.
“It was definitely something I was aiming for, it’s good to have goals,” White said. “When I saw that I had 600 last year, I thought it was possible (to get 1,000) this season. … I just go out and play, hope for the best.”
White ended last week with 541 digs, an average of nearly six per set. Lewis called White the “back bone” of the team.
Hahn leads the team with 416 assists, to along with 148 digs. The Owens program is obviously a well-oiled machine, and Hahn gave credit for her success to the abilities of her teammates.
“It shows how good our program works together,” Hahn said. “It wouldn’t be possible without Lilly digging the ball or my hitters putting it away. It shows how good of a school we are at volleyball.”
The Express are going for their third straight Ohio Community College Athletic Conference title. They’re currently tied with Lorain County Community College atop the standings at 7-1. They split their two meetings this year, with both schools winning their home matches.
Owens’ next home match, on Tuesday against Lakeland, is the annual Pack The SHAC event. Students and the community are encouraged the attend the event. Pizza will be available for students beginning at 6:30 p.m.
To learn more about the Owens volleyball team, visit owensexpress.com/sports/wvball.
Former Owens President Daniel H. Brown Dies 
Posted on October 7th, 2024

Former Owens President Daniel H. Brown poses with the Board of Trustees during a lunch in 2018. President Brown passed away on Wednesday, October 2.
Daniel H. Brown, the Owens Community College president who would headline a Mount Rushmore of the college’s most prominent leaders, died Wednesday, October 2. He was 89. His obituary is posted here.
Brown was named the third president of Owens in August 1984, following Jacob See. He retired in June 2001 and was succeeded by Christa Adams.

Former Owens President Daniel H. Brown
Brown was a visionary who advanced the College’s technology programs through partnerships and new construction and enhanced the arts and sciences programs for expanded access, leading Owens to become a comprehensive state community college.
He was known for arriving early and staying late as well as for being hands-on with building projects and student initiatives. He wanted to ensure Owens helped students succeed and met workforce training needs.
“President Brown and his wife, Nancy, attended the grand opening of our Dana Center in 2021. They were so kind to me and were interested about the new advanced manufacturing training center,” Owens President Dr. Dione D. Somerville said. “We are saddened to learn of his passing and extend our condolences to his family.
“President Brown leaves behind a profound and lasting legacy at Owens Community College. We will always be grateful for his vision, his commitment and his impact,” Somerville said.
Brown began working at Owens in 1966, one year after the college opened as Penta Technical College, and held a variety of roles before becoming president. He was the dean of the Owens Lima Campus, which is now Rhodes State College, as well as vice president of student services and assistant to the president.
Owens was a tight-knit community under President Brown with Brown knowing all employees by their first name, according to Pat Jezak, special assistant to Dr. Somerville who’s worked at Owens for 35 years.
Owens grew exponentially during the Brown presidency, expanding to the east side of Oregon Road on the Toledo-area Campus, adding the Findlay-area Campus and increasing headcount enrollment.

Former Owens President Daniel H. Brown speaks during an event at the College.
On the Toledo-area Campus, land on the east side of Oregon Road was acquired and five buildings were built under his leadership. The last of the five to open was the Student Health and Activities Center, moving the home of Owens Express athletics from Alumni Hall to the new, modern facility.
Brown shifted financial support to help Owens Express teams grow and succeed. Men’s basketball was a staple at the beginning of his presidency. Women’s basketball, volleyball, men’s soccer and softball were added in the 1990s.
Brown was inducted in the Owens Express Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.
“Dan Brown was the biggest fan of the Owens Express,” said Jim Welling, the former men’s basketball coach who is enshrined in the NJCAA and Owens athletics halls of fame. “He attended every game that he could. He made sure we had the resources we needed to succeed. He knew the players. He knew the players’ families.
“He always came through for what we needed in athletics. He was a tireless worker. He was not only a great administrator; he was great friend. He will be missed by everyone who knew him,” Welling added.
Also on the east side of campus, the new Industrial/Engineering Technologies Building and Transportation Technologies Center housed partnerships that Brown helped establish, including with corporations such as John Deere, General Motors, Ford Motor Company and Caterpillar Inc. Students enjoyed pathways to new careers with these companies. The Owens automotive program was named the nation’s best in 1994.
Also in 1994, Brown was instrumental in helping transition Owens from a technical college to a comprehensive community college, which expanded the curriculum so that students could earn the first two years of a bachelor’s degree and then transfer to 4-year institutions. Owens changed its name from Owens Technical College to Owens Community College at that time.
The original Findlay-area Campus, located at the corner of Cory and Davis streets in downtown Findlay, was established, expanding the Owens footprint south along the I-75 corridor.
Brown’s tenure spanned headcount enrollment growth from a few hundred students in his first year of employment to approximately 4,500 in the first year of his presidency to 17,000 at his retirement.
Owens even lowered tuition in Brown’s penultimate academic year, leading to front-page media coverage and editorial praise.
Adding to his lasting legacy, President Brown endowed a scholarship at his retirement. It has supported more than 60 students all told, according to records. Open to all students, the scholarship gives preference to School of Nursing and Health Professions students.
“President Brown was the type of leader who you wanted to follow. You liked working with him,” said Ronald A. McMaster, a member of the Owens Community College Foundation board who served on the Owens Board of Trustees from 1993-2018. “He was confident, decisive and driven. If you want to talk about a legacy, President Brown was instrumental in building the foundation of what Owens Community College is today.”
Owens Plays Vital Role in Training Workforce for Skilled Manufacturing 
Posted on October 4th, 2024

Owens Community College student Sandra Glosch uses one of the robotics at the College’s Department of Skilled Trades in the Dana Center.
Ohio is firmly positioned as one of the nation’s leaders in manufacturing jobs and producing manufactured goods, and Owens Community College is a vital piece of that equation, training the next generation of the workforce that will continue that growth.
“Owens Community College plays a critical role in preparing individuals for the workforce by offering hands-on training and industry-relevant education in advanced manufacturing, transportation technologies and skilled trades,” said Baqer Jaber Aljabr, Owens assistant dean for Advanced Manufacturing, Skilled Trades and Transportation.
“Our state-of-the-art facilities, including the Dana Center, provide cutting-edge technologies that give our students an unmatched advantage. Coupled with our industry-leading faculty and strong partnerships with local employers, we ensure our students are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and support needed to meet the growing demands of manufacturing sectors in northwest Ohio and beyond. Manufacturing leaders trust the quality of education our students receive, knowing they are ready to tackle real-world challenges from day one.”
Friday, October 4 is Manufacturing Day, which recognizes manufacturing industry members and careers which help communities thrive.
Ohio ranks third in the nation with more than 687,000 manufacturing jobs, and it produces more than $134 billion annually in manufactured goods.
The state ranks first nationally for glass, plastics and rubber product manufacturing employment and second in paper manufacturing, primary metal manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, and electrical equipment, appliance and component manufacturing employment.
“In Ohio, we build, we create, and we produce items that make people’s lives better, all across the country,” Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said in a press release. “Ohio is a great place to do business, and our thriving manufacturing sector is a big part of the growth we are continuing to see in our state’s economy. Manufacturing is fueling success in our businesses and growth in our communities.”
At Owens, the Department of Advanced Manufacturing offers a variety of degree programs and certificates: associate degrees in Applied Engineering Technology, CAD Technology and Electrical/Electronics Engineering Technology, and certificates in CAD, Manufacturing Foundations, Semiconductor Technician and Water Treatment Professions.
Owens also offers associate degrees and certificates in its Department of Skilled Trades and Department of Transportation Technologies.
The Dana Center at Owens is a $9.6 million, 59,000-square foot facility dedicated to advanced manufacturing training on the Owens Toledo-area Campus. Students receive highly technical and integrated training in a modernized setting. The Dana Center includes technical labs, classrooms and faculty offices.
“We are proud to educate and train the next generation of skilled manufacturing employees in northwest Ohio and beyond. With the variety of programs we offer and the incredible training space we have at Owens, our students enter the workforce ready to make a difference and become the leaders of tomorrow. Owens graduates regularly rank among the best and brightest in the skilled manufacturing sector,” said Charlene Page, executive director for Owens Workforce and Economic Development.
For more information on the Department of Advanced Manufacturing, Department of Skilled Trades and Department of Transportation Technologies, visit owens.edu/stem.
English Corner Celebrates 12 Years of Helping Non-Native Speakers at Owens 
Posted on October 2nd, 2024
For 12 years, the volunteers with the Owens Community College English Corner program have helped non-native speakers become more comfortable with the language and culture in America.
The program is in addition to the college’s English For Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes. In English Corner, individuals practice their English skills in a relaxed, low-stress environment. They meet weekly in Heritage Hall.

It’s that environment that keeps Kanann Bou Kanaan, originally of Lebanon, coming back to the group.
“When I started to study English, this was a very good group,” he said. “I still need some practice. When you’re here, it feels more like friends who help you get ahead. It’s more like visiting with friends and not a class.”
Bou Kanaan, who lives in northwest Ohio, also speaks Arabic, French, Italian and Spanish.
For Betsy White, a long time English Corner volunteer, she’s surprised how many professionals come from other countries and are looking to improve their English before getting a job. She also remarked about how spouses and families have come to northwest Ohio because of a job transfer.
“It’s a joy to watch them bravely open their mouths the first time,” White said. “It turns out they really do know a lot, so we try to give them a safe space where we encourage them and won’t laugh at them, make them feel like they can do this.”
White started with the English Corner program in 2006 at University of Toledo. During a recent English Corner visit, she was joined by volunteers Keith Lewis, who started in 2016, and Annette Clark, who started the program at Owens in 2012.
“It’s so satisfying for me to sit across from someone who doesn’t speak English very well and encourage them to talk, to help them with communication, and then you come back and see the progression,” Clark said. “You feel like you’re helping somebody.”
One of the topics that kept popping up with the volunteers was the bravery of the individuals who left their home behind to come to a new country.
“They’re brave, and I respect that,” Lewis said. “It’s one of the reasons I want to come here and encourage them. They’re doing a crazy thing.”
For White, it boils down to the Golden Rule, treating people as she would like to be treated herself.
“If I was in a different country, would I want someone to help me? Yes,” White said.
The educational opportunity isn’t just a one-way street in English Corner, either. The volunteers all spoke about how interesting it is to learn about the cultures in other countries and even some of the misconceptions the students have about American life and culture.
It doesn’t happen often, but Clark has taken a few of the students on trips outside of the Owens campus, to locations like the Toledo Museum of Art, the Toledo Botanical Gardens and a piano concert.
“It’s just as much of an education for us,” Clark said. “We often discuss what it’s like in their home country versus here. The cultural exchange is fascinating. We have all these different cultures.”
To learn more about the ESOL classes at Owens, please visit owens.edu/esol-classes.
Owens Hosting Early Childhood Forum on Friday, Oct. 4 
Posted on October 1st, 2024
Owens Community College is proud to host the 7th Annual Early Childhood Forum from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, October 4 at Veterans Hall on the Toledo-area Campus.
The Lucas County Family Council Early Childhood Coordinating Committee is presenting the forum on foundations of infant and early childhood mental health. More than 140 early childhood professionals from around the area are expected the attend the event.
The morning’s keynote speaker is Rachel Shields, a master trainer and director of prevention programming at Children’s Resource Center. The topic of her presentation is Foundations in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health.
The afternoon features a mental health resource panel that includes Kristi Hannan, of Lucas County Family Council; Lee Ann Cox, of Unison Health; Leslie LeFevre, of Zepf Center; Andrea Schuele, of Ohio Guidestone; Lindsay Stomer, of Harbor Behavioral Health; and Shields.
The forum is hosted by the Owens Department of Teacher Education and Human Services. For more information, please visit owens.edu/teachereducation.
Owens Adjunct Instructor and Sister Talk About Working on Self-Published Mystery Series 
Posted on September 30th, 2024
Keri and Lea Kovacsiss have written multiple articles and books in their academic spheres, but the sisters have also recognized the importance creating and writing for the pure joy of it. That’s at least part of where and why their three-book Seven Hills Mystery Series was created.

“You have to have something joyful and not have your entire life revolve around work,” Keri said.
The sisters held a presentation and talk about the second book in the series, “The Magician,” at Owens Toledo-area Campus.
Keri is an adjunct instructor in the Owens Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Lea is a forensic psychologist who works with the Ohio State Highway Patrol as the executive coordinator with the Member’s Assistance Team.
Lea, who works with law enforcement officers who are in need of mental health services due to circumstances with their profession, said it’s important for individuals to remember to flex their creative muscle.
“You can become hyper focused on work and the job and everything else, and that’s not healthy,” she said. “I tell people every day at work they need to have hobbies, and I need to practice what I preach. Just for the joy of it and the art of it is important in itself.”
They started the process of writing the books in 2017 and released the first book in the series, “Just Beneath the Surface,” in 2022. “The Magician” was released in July 2024. Both books are available on Amazon.
The stories center around the three Culpepper sisters in the small town of Seven Hills, Massachusetts. A murder in the town pulls the three sisters into the mystery, while also casting doubts about their involvement in the disappearance of their father.
Both of the Kovacsiss sisters used parts of their real-life expertise to inform and craft the book. Lea was adamant about a proper and realistic portrayal of law enforcement in the books.
“It’s so bizarre, but I have a lot of working knowledge of homicides and police procedure,” Lea said. “Now obviously, we take some liberties with things, but it’s important to me to not have a cop that cuts corners. I don’t like that portrayal. It’s not super fantastical, there’s some reality in there.”
Keri relied upon her academic background in sociology to help accurately portray the sisters and the issues they face in society.
“We depict what we might conceptualize as a marginalized community in the book,” Keri said. “There are a group of women throughout the ages practicing witchcraft, and our book goes back to earlier America and talks about the stigma with that.
“That’s where more of my expertise comes in, talking about these differing power dynamics between the police and this marginalized group.”
While both have worked independently and with other academics, the Seven Hills Mystery project was certainly special because of their bond as sisters.
“This was a special project, it just feels different,” Lea said. “The academic projects I work on has felt like work. This didn’t feel like work.”
Owens Women’s Soccer Program Off to Blazing Hot Start 
Posted on September 27th, 2024
After finishing last season with one win, no one was quite sure what to expect out of the Owens women’s soccer team this year – not even the players or coaches.
The Express have exceeded all expectations, though, passing the midway mark of their regular season with a 6-0-1 record after Wednesday’s 5-1 win over visiting Lake Michigan College.
“Nobody expects much from a team that won one game last year, but it’s nice, we’re the underdogs,” Express freshman Ella Demaline said. “Everyone comes in thinking they’re going to blow us out of the water, but we always compete. We’re definitely proving ourselves to everyone.”
They’ve used a mix of fun and teamwork to become a force on the soccer pitch. The Express opened the season with a 7-0 win over University of Northwestern Ohio, a 1-0 win at Grand Rapids Community College and an 8-0 win at Lakeland Community College.
“We get down to business and get the work done, but there is a lot of smiling and laughter,” Express coach Megan Rutherford said. “We’re not afraid to have fun while we win soccer games. I think that’s the way it should be.”
Owens has scored 27 goals this season while allowing four, an average of 3.85 to 0.57 per game.
Demaline, from Delta High School, leads the team with eight goals and 18 points. She’s scored two goals in three games, against UNOH, Lakeland and Lake Michigan, and she’s been held without a point in only one game.
That’s quite a season for a player who wasn’t planning to play soccer after she graduated from high school. Along with two former Delta teammates who are also at Owens – Teagan Postlewait and Grace Munger – Demaline decided to go out for the team.
“We decided to give it a try so we have no regrets,” said Demaline, who is studying Early Childhood Education. “I’m happy to say, there have definitely been no regrets. It’s been super fun.”
It’s a similar story for freshman goalkeeper Layla McGinnis, who wasn’t interested in playing soccer after Woodmore High School. However, when Rutherford was a coach at Eastwood High School, she matched up against McGinnis multiple times as the two schools were members of the Northern Buckeye Conference, and the coach knew the talent she had walking around the Owens Toledo-area Campus.
When Rutherford reached out for a meeting, McGinnis wasn’t even sure she wanted to talk. Now, she’s definitely glad that she did.
“Coach Megan convinced me to play. She said we had a really good lineup this year, and obviously we do,” McGinnis said. “She watched me grow up through high school. I played her at least twice each season. She said, ‘I know how good of a keeper you are. This team could really use you.’
“When we started winning games, when we started clicking, I thought that was really cool. These girls are all great. It’s a lot of fun.”
The Express are glad, too. McGinnis has started all seven games, allowing four goals with 27 saves and a .871 save percentage.
Rutherford had originally signed on to be an assistant coach at Owens under Zane Polack. When he took a position closer to home, though, he encouraged Rutherford to go for the job.
She brought plenty of credentials to the sidelines. In 12 seasons as a high school coach, Rutherford had a 157-52-21 record at Eastwood and Lake. The Eagles won four conference titles and advanced to the Ohio High School Athletic Association regional tournament four times in her 11 seasons.
“I’m always up for a new challenge,” Rutherford said. “For women’s soccer in this area, I think this program needs to be successful. There is a lot of talent in this area. Just to have somewhere that’s less of a financial burden on them to play and then launch from here, I thought it was important to bring that back to the status it once had.”
Demaline and McGinnis aren’t the only local players on the Express roster. Of the 18 players, all of them went to high school within a 35-mile radius of the Owens Toledo-area Campus.
Not only does playing locally mean more to the players, Rutherford said it’s helped her with recruiting.
“When I’ve had recruits in to watch our games, they will always mention our crowd,” Rutherford said. “They’re surprised there are so many people here. Well, when you recruit locally, you can bring a lot of fans in.
“We’re trying to create that experience you get in high school where students come out, families come out, you get the crowds. You get that home field. I think the recruits like that, it’s kind of like high school but at a higher level.”
After playing two straight on the road, the Express are scheduled to close out the regular season with a pair of home matches, on October 9 against Lakeland Community College and October 12 against Kellogg Community College.
To find out more information on the Express women’s soccer team, visit owensexpress.com/sports/wsoc.
Owens Early Childhood Education Technology Program Earns Reaccreditation 
Posted on September 26th, 2024

Michelle Arbogast
The Owens Community College Department of Teacher Education and Human Services has received a seven-year Accreditation for its Early Childhood Education Technology program through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Owens was the first institution in the state to receive NAEYC accreditation more than 20 years ago, and it is still one of only three in Ohio to have the designation. Across the United States and Canada, Owens has one of 214 accredited programs.
“We’re pretty proud of that,” said Michelle Arbogast, chair for Teacher Education and Human Services. “Their standards are tough. They look at everything from your college president to your curriculum to your admissions, your faculty, your support services. It’s very thorough.
“It’s validated all of the hard work and preparation, that we know our students are prepared when they leave here.”
In addition to the associate degree in Early Childhood Education Technology, the Department of Teacher Education and Human Services offers degrees in Community & Family Service, Education Transfer Concentration and Social Work Transfer Pathway, and certificates in Advanced Instructional Technology and Design and Foundations in Instructional Technology and Design. It also has an ASL Interpreter Preparation program.
In addition, the YWCA of Northwest Ohio and Owens have a partnership allowing students in the YWCA program to transition into the Owens Early Childhood Education program. Upon completion of the CDA certification, students can receive up to five credit hours of college credit toward their Early Childhood Education associate degree.
According to a news release from NAEYC, the accreditation “serves as a mechanism for ensuring a consistent and high level of program quality.” The organization sets “national standards for programs that prepare early childhood teachers of children from birth through age 8.”
To retain accreditation, programs must demonstrate that they: meet NAEYC’s standards; respond to the unique needs of their degree candidates and communities; provide intentional learning experiences to allow their degree candidates to obtain the knowledge and skills to be effective; and continually assess and reflect on their degree candidates’ performance.
While the Owens program is reaccredited through 2029, there are annual and biannual reports it must submit to NAEYC.
Arbogast said the bulk of the work came down to her and fellow Teacher Education and Human Services faculty, professor Mindyay from the Findlay-area Campus and adjunct instructors Kimberley Fisher, Belinda Costin and Nehama Miller.
However, she said the process involved the entire team.
“It took a little bit of everybody, from the president to our faculty and secretary and staff,” Arbogast said.
Arbogast said NAEYC commended the Owens team for how thoroughly it reviewed its program. The first report they submitted was 118 pages.
“It’s such an introspective on your program that you not only look at where you are now but what is the vision for the program going forward,” Arbogast said. “It validated the things we do well, our team and the support system we have at Owens.”
For more information on the Owens Department of Teacher Education and Human Services, please visit owens.edu/teachereducation.
Owens announces hiring of new Dean for STEM 
Posted on September 25th, 2024

Dr. Dan Burklo
Owens Community College is proud to announce the hiring of Dr. Dan Burklo as the new Dean for Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Burklo oversees the departments of Advanced Manufacturing, Computer and Information Systems, Life and Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Skilled Trades and Transportation Technologies.
“I am thrilled to be a part of the Owens team where the welcoming atmosphere is focused on learners, and the desire to meet students where they are and serve them is very clear,” Burklo said. “It is exciting to support our region’s ever-growing demand for STEM graduates, and all the opportunities this provides for our students seeking the STEM career paths.”
Burklo holds a Ph.D. in Leadership in Higher Education from Capella University. His dissertation investigated what motivates youth in Ohio to seek higher education in engineering fields. He also has a Master of Science in Engineering from the University of Toledo, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Purdue University.
In addition to holding various engineering positions in the automotive sector, Buklo has taught multiple courses in engineering technologies as well as developing certificate and associate degree programs. He previously served as dean and vice president for Academics at other institutions of higher learning.
“Dan’s background in engineering will allow us to continue to move forward in high demand areas in our region,” said Denise Smith, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs. “He has faculty and administrative experience as well as practice in the field of engineering. We are excited to have someone with such a depth and breadth of knowledge in STEM.”
Burklo has served as the chair for the Ohio Engineering Technology Educators Association as well as being involved in Ohio Guaranteed Transfer Pathways, Transfer Assurance Guidelines and Prior Learning Assessment at the state level. He was also a graduate of the inaugural cohort of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges Leadership Academy.
For more information about the STEM programs and degrees, go to owens.edu/stem.
Owens Foundation Golf Classic Raises Record Amount to Support Healthcare Education Center 
Posted on September 24th, 2024
The 22nd Annual Owens Foundation Golf Classic presented by Toledo Building Services raised a record total of $85,950.22 at the event in September. The proceeds will be used to support the new Healthcare Education Center at Owens Community College.
The 2024 total is an increase of more than $12,000 from the previous year.
“We are so thankful for the companies and individuals who sponsored and golfed in our outing this year. It was a beautiful day, and we are incredibly appreciative of the support we received through this year’s golf classic,” said Kelle Pack, vice president of the Owens Institutional Advancement Office and executive director of the Owens Community College Foundation. “The proceeds from this year’s event will be used to fund equipment purchases in our new Healthcare Education Center (HEC).
“The HEC, which will be completely open for classes in January 2025, will provide students with state-of-the-art simulation areas to practice interprofessional education and training as they pursue careers serving the public in healthcare. We are excited to support the need for healthcare workers across our region by providing world-class training in our new nursing and health professions education center.”
The Golf Classic, which was played at Belmont Country Club, has generated more than $1 million since its inception.
The 23rd Annual Golf Classic is scheduled for Monday, September 15, 2025, at Belmont Country Club.
The Owens Community College Foundation has provided more than $8 million in support for student scholarships and program and capital assistance since 2002. The Owens Foundation has $8.1 million in endowed funds and scholarships. Visit www.owens.edu/foundation to learn more about how to support Owens Community College.
Owens Department of Public Safety Participating in “Operation Clear Track” on Sept. 24 
Posted on September 23rd, 2024
The Owens Community College Department of Public Safety will join with Operation Lifesaver and Amtrak, along with local, state, federal and railroad law enforcement departments across the country, to participate in “Operation Clear Track” on Tuesday, September 24.
“Operation Clear Track” raises awareness and shares rail safety education directly with the community during “See Tracks? Think Train Week,” which runs Sept. 23-29. The event is the largest single law enforcement railroad safety operation in the U.S.
During “Operation Clear Track,” agency law enforcement personnel will be stationed at targeted railroad grade crossings and other locations handing out railroad safety cards to motorists and pedestrians and issuing warnings and citations to violators. The goal is to reduce pedestrian and driver injuries and fatalities around railroad tracks through increased public awareness.
Officers from the Owens Department of Public Safety will be at the Oregon Road and Tracy Road railroad crossings from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Owens Aspire student, educator win state awards 
Posted on September 20th, 2024

Millicent Carrick

Duaa MustafaAli
An educator and former student in the Owens Aspire Program for adult learners each received awards from the Ohio Department of Higher Education during Ohio Adult Education Week.
Duaa MustafaAli, an instructor in the English for Speakers of Other Languages program, was named the Outstanding Educator of the Year for the northwest district. She was one of six winners across the state.
Millicent Carrick, who recently passed all components of the GED test and earned her High School Equivalency credential, was named the Outstanding Student of the Year for the northwest district. Carrick was one of five statewide winners.
“We are thrilled to know that, in our region, both the Outstanding Educator and Outstanding Student came from the Owens program,” said Heath Huber, director of the Aspire Program. “Many nominations from all over the state were submitted, each celebrating the efforts of students and staff alike in improving the quality of life for Ohio residents through adult basic education and workforce preparation.”
Adult Education Week was started in 2022. The Ohio Department of Higher Education and the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce have used the week to celebrate educators and students of Ohio’s adult education system.
MustafaAli, who has been at Owens for more than five years, said her award is a reflection not only of her efforts but those of the entire Aspire program, saying it’s “a recognition of how much we all invest in our students’ success.”
“My inspiration comes from seeing those ‘light bulb moments’ when learners realize, ‘Hey, I can do this!’ I’m motivated by the thrill of helping people unlock their potential,” she added. “Witnessing their growth and resilience pushes me to work harder to support them in achieving their goals.”
According to Huber, Carrick, of Toledo, showed strength in overcoming challenges along her way, showing skill and perseverance.
MustafaAli and Carrick will be recognized during the Ohio Association for Adult and Continuing Education Award Luncheon on Friday, October 25, in Dublin.
To learn more about the Owens Aspire College and Career Readiness Center, please visit owens.edu/ccr.
Occupational Therapy Assistant Students Spread Word About Backpack Safety Awareness 
Posted on September 18th, 2024
It might seem like a simple thing, but how you wear your backpack and how heavy it is can have a lasting impact on your health.
Students from the Owens Community College Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program were around the Toledo-area Campus on Tuesday, helping students and staff understand the importance of backpack awareness.
“Within the first five weeks of the semester, we’ve really focused in on what ‘occupation’ means, which is a meaningful and purposeful daily life activity, something that brings purpose and meaning to someone’s life,” OTA student Rachel Bond said. “Meaningful and purposeful activities on campus is carrying your backpack around to classes, which will help you succeed in the future.”
Some quick tips include wearing both straps on your shoulders; having the backpack sit in the middle of your back; packing the heaviest items in the back and progressively packing lighter items; and making sure the backpack weighs no more than 10 percent of your body weight.

Improper wearing of a backpack can lead to compressed and pinched nerves, leading to tingling and numbness, as well as headaches from straining neck muscles, rounded or sloped shoulders, and pain in the back and rib cage.
“It’s about the safety of everyone and making sure we’re taking care of our bodies,” Bond said. “A big thing we focus on with our OTA program is the meaningfulness and purposefulness of daily activities, which includes wearing a backpack to classes.”
Occupational Therapy Assistant students had tables set up in the Healthcare Education Center entryway, the Student Health and Activities Center food court, and near the library and Fireside Grill entrances in College Hall.
The students offered to weigh backpacks and give tips on how to properly wear them to reduce strain on the body. They also had games and candy for anyone who came up to their tables.
“It’s neat to show people how something as simple as wearing a backpack can cause pain,” OTA student Leah Babkiewicz said. “Being a student, you need to carry all your necessities and not allow that to affect your everyday life by having what you need and making it the correct weight.”
Babkiewicz admitted some of the people they approached were skeptical of backpack awareness at first but after the students explained how it affects people, they gained an understanding of proper backpack wearing and packing practices.
The tables also gave the Occupational Therapy Assistant students a chance to talk about their program. They found many misconceptions about what they do, and they were happy to educate people on what Occupational Therapy is.
“We want to open their eyes to different possibilities and views as well,” Bond said. “Some people don’t even know what OTA is. Once you give them an understanding of what we do, it gives them awareness of what our job is and how it applies to everyday people.”
Babkiewicz said these experiences help prepare the Occupational Therapy Assistant students for life after completing their two-year program and what situations will be presented in the professional world.
Being out in the Owens community also gave the students valuable experience in applying what they’ve learning in the classroom to real world situations while dealing with individuals.
“The program is very hands-on, doing a lot of demonstrations,” Bond said. “We don’t just want to go off reading the book, we want to see how it really affects people and their everyday living.”
To learn more about the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Owens, please visit owens.edu/ota.
Owens Department of Criminal Justice Receives Retired Patrol Vehicles for Training 
Posted on September 17th, 2024
The Owens Community College Department of Criminal Justice recently received a donation of two retired Ohio Highway Patrol vehicles for use in its training Ohio Peace Officer Training Academies.
The donation comes courtesy of Ohio State Representative Haraz Ghanbari.
“I am deeply grateful to The Ohio State Highway Patrol for their generous donation of two former patrol vehicles to the Owens Community College Police Academy,” Rep. Ghanbari said. “This contribution greatly enhances the training capabilities at Owens and supports their mission to prepare future law enforcement professionals. I look forward seeing these future officers out in our communities.”
According to Mark King, the manager of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in the Department of Criminal Justice, at least half of his current fleet of training vehicles are getting aged with high miles.
With the high cost of vehicles, he cannot go out and purchase new ones every year. This donation allows him to rotate some of the older vehicles out of rotation.

“We don’t use them a lot, but when we do, the use is intense,” King said. “We rely upon these types of donations because the equipment for a public safety program is expensive.
“We can continue our basic driving program, which we do for our basic training academy, and we can offer advanced driving courses as well.”
King said he feels “pretty lucky” to receive the donation from Rep. Ghanbari, who King admits has a much larger reach then he does.
In addition to the Ghanbari donation, other public officials and representatives have been on site to tour the Center for Emergency Preparedness. Having those types of individuals on campus is critical, according to King.
“We need people like that to help us get the exposure so our programs become well known,” King said. “Our academies are some of the top open-enrollment academies in the state, but if people don’t know that it doesn’t help us that much.
“We’re a state agency, we don’t receive a lot of funding streams, so we have to rely on things like this to help us. Representative Ghanbari can touch thousands of people.”
The Center for Emergency Preparedness is one of six Close to Home regional advanced training programs in Ohio, through the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission. It also rents out space to outside agencies, such as Homeland Security, Toledo Police, Toledo Fire and Rescue, and the FBI.
Part of the training is putting students through the paces on Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy road courses on the Owens campus.
“Pursuit driving is very dangerous,” King said. “We know what they need to be safe on the street, especially during a high-speed chase.”
Having these new vehicles helps ensure Owens can turn out qualified individuals who are prepared to handle what the situations dictates.
“To me, good training can prevent or mitigate bad things that happen in policing,” King said. “Is it 100 percent? No, the human condition is too dynamic. It has been proven that good training can reduce or mitigate a lot of those really bad errors we see in policing, for the safety of our officers and community members.”
To learn more about the Owens Center for Emergency Preparedness, visit owens.edu/cep.
To learn more about the Department of Criminal Justice, visit owens.edu/business.
CDL Instructor Credits Owens with New Beginnings 
Posted on September 12th, 2024
The CDL program at Owens Community College has a saying: “We don’t run away from our problems; we steer toward them.”
That’s true both when trying to master a maneuver, like straight-line backing, or as CDL instructor Linda Lear has proven, in life.
Lear came to Owens as a CDL student 2019, looking to start a new, better life. As Lear said, her back was against the wall because of personal problems, and she knew she had to do something.
“I always liked to travel and drive, so I decided to go to Owens,” Lear said. “There were always barriers trying to hold me back or stop me from obtaining my CDL. Once I had shut the door and put everything behind me and just focused on one thing, I obtained my license.”
Owens helped Lear break through those barriers. She gave special credit to Owens CDL instructor and training manager Harley Curavo.
“My teacher, Harley, spent that extra one-on-one time with me that I needed,” Lear said. “I couldn’t do anything. Him taking that extra time gave me the push to obtain my license.”
She spent the next two years on the road as a driver. At first, she thought she would be the only female in the trucking industry. However, it didn’t take long for her to see that she was wrong – there are many women who work in the trucking industry. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of female truck drivers has doubled in the past 20 years. Females now comprise 8 percent of the truck driving population.
A chance encounter with Curavo and his encouragement for Lear to become an instructor led to the next chapter in her life.
Lear has now spent two years as an instructor at Owens. Helping students overcome their challenges and barriers motivates her as an instructor.
“I was in their shoes, I was struggling with some things,” Lear said. “I show them things I was struggling with and what helped me to overcome it. Once I show them different things, students are able to grasp the concept. That’s what makes me feel good, when the students are able to understand.”
Lear said her biggest responsibility is safety, both for the student and the other motorists on the road.
She doesn’t have to do it alone, though. The friendly, family atmosphere at Owens and supporting each other as people is what sets the CDL program apart from others in the area.
“Every one of those other programs works as a team, but we’re not just a team here at Owens, we’re more like a family,” Lear said. “We help lift one another; we help inspire. You never know what someone is going through.”
Job security and the overall atmosphere are what Lear uses to sell potential students on the idea of obtaining their CDL at Owens and entering the trucking industry.
“We’re essential. Everything in the world has to touch a truck. I don’t care if it comes on a boat or plane, everything has to touch a truck,” she said.
“You’re always going to have a job. There’s always stability.”
To learn more about the CDL program at Owens, please visit owens.edu/workforce_cs/cdl.
For more information on the Workforce and Community Services programs at Owens, please visit owens.edu/workforce_cs.
Students Welcome Student Lounge’s Makeover 
Posted on September 11th, 2024
The redesigned Student Lounge at Owens Community College held its official grand opening on Tuesday.
Located in College Hall, across from the Testing Center, the lounge now has board games, a video game console, air hockey and foosball. The Office of Student Life offered coffee and snacks for students during the grand opening.
The idea for an inclusive and fun spot for students to hang out formally started at the end of the 2023-24 academic calendar. According to Owens dean of Student Life Dr. Carrie Heller, though, it started much earlier than that.
“I walked by that lounge every day for a year, and I was really astonished with how beautiful the space is, but there were never any students in it,” Heller said. “This building is essentially the student union; it has all the components. Instead of a student having an hour-and-a-half in between classes and sitting by themselves in Heritage Hall or across the street, they can come over to the Lounge. We wanted to give the students a location where they potentially could make friends.”

The space was remodeled during the College Hall renovations in 2018. When Heller approached Facilities Services, she was thankful they were open to the idea of converting the space.
Funds were drawn from Student Activities and the Student Ambassadors to help purchase new items.
Already, Heller has seen the lounge bring students together.
“It’s been nice to see students grab their lunch then have it over there,” Heller said. “You have to create those spaces and engagement opportunities for students. They’ll take advantage of it once they see it.”
Angeline Olguin-Munoz and Justin Richardson were among the students who took advantage of the grand opening on Tuesday, but it wasn’t their first visit to the lounge.
“We just like to relax here, do our homework,” Olguin-Munoz said. “We started seeing the games here, so we started coming more. It’s just fun, like a little break. … You see your peers from different classes here. It’s really social.”
The social aspect and allowing students to create a community was important to Heller. James Zeller, the coordinator in Student Life, said the lounge gives students an opportunity to drop their mask and be authentic.
According to Richardson, the lounge has done all of that.
“You can kind of take a step back, you don’t have to be focused all of the time,” Richardson said. “You can actually have fun with people.”
For more information on Student Life and Student Activities, please visit owens.edu/studentlife.
You can find a calendar of events at owens.edu/events.
Owens Fall 2024 Enrollment Increases 5.6 Percent with Influx of New Students 
Posted on September 10th, 2024
Strengthened by increases in new student enrollment, Owens Community College’s overall enrollment grew 5.6 percent for Fall Semester 2024. A total of 7,155 students were enrolled at Owens at the 14th day enrollment census headcount date. The Fall 2023 total was 6,778.
New students increased by more than 17 percent and totaled 1,669 compared to 1,419 for Fall 2023. New non-traditional learners increased by 43.3 percent (625 students compared to 436), while the population totals for new transfer students increased 7.4 percent (408 students compared to 380) and new direct from high school students increased 5.5 percent (636 students compared to 603).
New student growth follows the trend from the 2023-2024 academic year when new student enrollment increased 4.4 percent compared to the 2022-2023 academic year (2,172 students compared to 2,081 students).
“It’s exciting to see so many new students enrolling at Owens,” said Dr. Blake Renner, Owens vice president of enrollment management and student affairs. “The new student enrollment growth will help stabilize enrollment overall at Owens. New students will transition and become continuing students as they pursue their degrees or seek university transfer. This is what we want to see both for the college and for the students.”
Earlier this year, Renner completed a reorganization of the Student Affairs division to better assist new and continuing students. “We are better positioned to help our students reach their goals and are now aligned with best practices nationally in higher education,” Renner said. “We are structured to support students. We have created a consistent student experience from the point of initial interest all the way to graduation.”
An enrollment census occurs each semester on the 14th day after classes begin, which was Monday, August 19 for Fall 2024. Owens will continue to enroll students throughout the semester for classes that begin at different starting dates.
Fall Fest Brings Owens Students Together for Fun, Community-Building 
Posted on September 5th, 2024
Featuring a rock-climbing wall from Metroparks Toledo, informational tables from campus clubs and activities and a long line for lunch from a food truck, the Owens Community College Toledo-area campus held its Fall Fest event on Wednesday afternoon.
“The whole point was to get students to learn about the organizations we have, be able to make new friends, meet up with friends they might have made in class, and just have fun,” said Dr. Carrie Heller, Owens dean for Student Life. “We want to make students feel like this is a place they belong.”
More than 225 students attended the event.
Students received a limited number of Fall Fest T-shirts, free water and a free lunch from the Falafel King food truck.
A five-story tall climbing wall was also set up in the parking lot outside Heritage Hall.

“We knew if we put something big up, like a climbing wall, people would see it and say, ‘What’s going on over there?’ And it worked,” Heller said.
Owens radiology student Addie Kern was there to answer questions at the program’s table, but she also took time enjoy the event. She even talked herself into climbing the wall, pushing the buzzer at the top to signal she completed the climb.
“I was shaking at first,” Kern said. “When I got up there, I was like, ‘Do not look down or else I won’t be able to press that buzzer’ I told myself to keep going. It got the adrenaline going.
“The guys who were working it were really nice. They were talking about it, and I was like, ‘If they can do it, I can do it,’ and it was amazing.”
Back at the table, Kern said the event offered a chance to answer questions and clear up misconceptions other students might have about the radiography program.
For Ashe Cluckey with the Gamers Club, having a table at Fall Fest allowed her to avoid any awkward introductions while talking to people about the club.
“A lot of people walked by, and we’ve had some people stop and talk to us about playing on Switch or PlayStation,” Ashe said. “Everyone has been super nice.
“It’s nice because I would never think to walk up to someone and say, ‘Hey, do you like to play games? Do you want to join our game club?’ Here, they walk up and see that it’s a game club.”
It was also a great opportunity to simply connect with other Owens students, Kern said.
That’s exactly the point Heller was going for. As a commuter campus, she knows it can be hard for students to feel a sense of community. She’s determined to change that.
“If you build it, they will come,” Heller said. “You have to do events while students are on campus already; we’re not going to have events at night. You do things when students have time between classes or when they’re on the way out the door, you have to make it so students are able to walk past it.”
Fall Fest also was held at the Findlay-area Campus on August 28.
For more information on Student Life at Owens Community College, visit owens.edu/studentlife.
For a calendar of events of activities and events, visit owens.edu/events.
Owens Adjunct Instructor Receives Sonography Grant 
Posted on September 3rd, 2024
Kelly Hartzell, an Owens Community College adjunct instructor in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, has been awarded a $250 grant from the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography Foundation.
Hartzell was nominated by Julie Posey, chair of the Owens Sonography Department, and recent Sonography graduate Halle Delos Reyes.

The applications for the grant were reviewed and anonymously scored by a panel of Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography Foundation Board of Directors. The grant recognizes outstanding instructors and promotes awareness of the need for clinical instructors.
The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography will recognize Hartzell and other grant recipients at their annual conference, in their Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography and on social media.
The Owens Department of Sonography has three Associate of Applied Science programs, Cardiac Sonography, Diagnostic Medical Sonography Technology and Vascular Sonography.
For more information about School of Nursing and Health Professionals program and degrees, go to owens.edu/snhp.
The BIG Read Kicks Off with Talk About Deaf Community 
Posted on August 30th, 2024
This year’s The BIG Read program at Owens Community College got underway on Thursday by challenging students and staff to recognize and overcome their own implicit biases.
A talk called ‘Confronting Biases’ was held in College Hall, presented by Dr. Kristin Price, a professor of Psychology at Owens. After Price, Kim Musser-Quist, an American Sign Language instructor, joined the program remotely from Chicago to answer questions.
One of the central ideas in Price’s presentation was accepting and uncovering your implicit biases along with a willingness to question and challenge your beliefs. She said society overvalues certainty whereas uncertainty is a more common feeling.
Price also said to not try to be perfect, but instead just try to do better.
“It goes back to the idea that people might not be seeking it out because they don’t know or recognize or they might be defensive of their biases,” Dr. Price said. “When we open it up to, ‘This is not a problem. This is something we all have,’ and just examining it is an important step forward.”

This year’s book for The BIG Read is “True Biz,” by Sara Novic. The book centers around three deaf characters and the challenges and opportunities they face in life.
The topic was chosen based upon student surveys. Jen Hazel, co-chair of The BIG Read and professor of English, felt the topic was appropriate for Owens, which has an ASL program that helps students study to be interpreters.
“The idea behind The BIG Read is to look at a perspective that is different than your own,” Hazel said. “We have to have someone come in and say, ‘Here’s what it means when we have biases and prejudice. Here’s how we can overcome them.’ Then we have someone come in from that community to give an opportunity to have dialogue.”
Starting The BIG Read series off with a talk about biases and introducing someone from that community makes the issue real for students and staff. It allows them to learn something about that community and have a dialogue around it, Hazel said.
Musser-Quist spoke of her experiences as a member of the deaf community, from the struggles with her own parents, who never learned sign language, and the isolation she felt early in her life to how people educating themselves can break down barriers.
Hazel also hopes exposing students to learning outside of the classroom makes continual learning throughout life normal and accepted.
“Students having an opportunity to come and see this gives them exposure to see that learning overlaps in different ways, it goes through everything that we do,” Hazel said. “They need to understand learning doesn’t just happen in school. It happens over and over again when we’re adults. Learning happens all the time, it’s all around us.
“It is the hope that they will (continue to attend The BIG Read discussions). I can tell there were a couple of students who were charged up from being here.”
To learn more about The BIG Read, follow this link.
Express Volleyball Hosts Owens Invitational This Weekend 
Posted on August 29th, 2024
The Owens Express volleyball team will host its annual Owens Invitational on Friday, August 30, Saturday, August 31, and Sunday, September 1 at the Student Health and Activities Center.
The Express will host Oakland Community College at 11:45 a.m. and Delta College at 3:15 p.m. Friday. They will host Richard Bland College at 10:45 a.m. and Sandhills Community College at 4 p.m. Saturday. Owens closes out the invitational against St. Johns River State College at 11:45 a.m. Sunday.
Owens enters the invitational with a 1-2 record. The Express are coached by Sonny Lewis, who is in his 24th season coaching with a 727-212 record.
The three-time national champion Owens volleyball team made it to the National Junior College Athletic Association national semifinals last season, finishing fourth. The Express finished the season with a 19-12 record.
Returning for this year’s team are three All-Americans in Lindsey Koenig (Marion Local H.S./Minster) and Michaela Hahn (Fremont St. Joseph H.S./Fremont), who were named to the NJCAA All-American team, and Lilly White, who was named to the Volleyballmag.com All-American team.
Owens Staff Members Participating in Leadership Programs 
Posted on August 28th, 2024
Three Owens Community College staff members have been accepted into two recognized leadership programs.
Owens Community College staff members Marcos Gomez and Amanda Kiefer are among the participants in the newest cohort of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges Leadership Academy. Ashley Jackson has been accepted into the Leadership Toledo Signature Program cohort.

Amanda Kiefer

Ashley Jackson

Marcos Gomez
“We are excited to support Ashley, Amanda and Marcos in their leadership development,” said Leslie Erwin, Owens vice president of Human Resources. “We want to develop leaders at all levels in order to make Owens a stronger institution that continues to serve the needs of our students and the community.”
Now in its fifth cohort, the OACC Leadership Academy annually gathers faculty and staff for a year of training, exchanging ideas and immersion in promoting student success.
Kiefer is the assistant chair of Nursing, Clinical Operations, at Owens. She also recently served as the interim chair of the Nursing Department at Owens for a year.
Kiefer has experience working as a Registered Nurse at ProMedica Flower Hospital in Sylvania and Toledo Hospital. She spent more than five years as a Mental Health Professional at Flower Hospital as well.
She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toledo and a Bachelor of Registered Nursing from Bowling Green State University. She also received an Associate degree in Registered Nursing from Owens. Kiefer is currently working on her Master’s degree in Nursing Education, with an expected graduation date in December 2024.
Gomez is the director of Student Services at Owens, where he oversees Academic Advising, Student Financial Services and International Student Services. Before taking that position in April 2024, Gomez was the director of Student Financial Services, assistant director of Admissions and community advocate for Student Financial Services at Owens.
Gomez received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toledo and his Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University.
The OACC created the academy in 2019 to reverse management turnover by strengthening internal advancement pipelines within the state’s 23 community colleges. Michigan, New York and Texas are among the states replicating Ohio’s initiative.
The goal of the Leadership Toledo program is transforming highly motivated individuals into leaders who help the Toledo area.
Jackson is the Owens manager of Recruitment in Admissions. Prior to arriving at Owens in December 2023, she worked at Saint Xavier University in Chicago, Lourdes University in Sylvania and Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri.
Jackson received her Bachelor of Science in Business from Urbana University and her Master of Arts in Leadership from Lindenwood University.
Perrysburg Rotary Awards Grant Helping Owens Students in Need 
Posted on August 27th, 2024
A Fall 2023 survey concluded more than one-quarter of Owens Community College students ran out of money six or more times last year while nearly half of the students reported being food insecure.
Those stark numbers make the work of the college’s Center for Campus and Community Connections so vital to the success of our students.
In June, Owens received a $1,000 grant from the Perrysburg Rotary Club for the Center, with $250 allocated to the Harvest Food Pantry and Garden, $250 going to purchase laundry detergent and hygiene products and $500 going into the Emergency Fund.
“Every single one of those dollars is going directly into a resource for a student,” said Krista Kiessling, director of Campus and Community Connections. “If that’s a box of laundry detergent that is a student’s dealbreaker that week, we’re able to stabilize that family.
“We want to keep sending the message that if you’re struggling, we’re here, we care, and we want to help make sure you’re accessing everything you can to succeed at Owens.”
The food pantry, located in College Hall on the Toledo-area Campus and in Room 115DD in the Education Center on the Findlay-area Campus, opened in 2012 as the first pantry located at a college or university in Ohio. It provides free food resources and personal hygiene items to Owens students while classes are in session.
“Non-perishable food items are pretty easy for us to get our hands on, but cleaning supplies, hygiene items, laundry soap, that can be a little more difficult,” Kiessling said. “For us to have this money to reach out to a wholesale provider and purchase that for our students is tremendously helpful.”
Additionally, the Center operates a Career Closest and Free Store in College Hall. Students can acquire clothing items for interviews, job fairs or class presentations.
The Student Emergency Assistance Fund is housed in the Owens Foundation and gives students an opportunity to offset unforeseen expenses, such as vehicle repairs, rent increase or overdue utility bills. The application is online, and students can apply for up to $500 annually.
Kiessling said the Center will connect students with outside resources and social services as well.
“Our Center is kind of like the social service hub for campus,” Kiessling said. “We build relationships with the students so they know they can come forward before all heck breaks loose.”
The Center for Campus and Community Connections is located in College Hall 151. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. by appointment. The department’s resources are available to students on both Owens campus locations.
For more information, visit owens.edu/connection.
Owens Men’s Soccer Plays First Game in Nine Years on Wednesday, August 28 
Posted on August 26th, 2024
Owens Community College will officially welcome back its men’s soccer program when the Express host Lorain County Community College at 2 p.m. Wednesday, August 28.
The Owens men’s soccer program last competed in the fall of 2015.
The Express are led by Owens alum and former Express player Nate Baer. He coached for 10 years in the high school ranks, including at Ottawa Hills High School. He compiled a 149-47-15 record with 10 league championships, 11 sectional titles and six district titles.
There are 18 players on the Express roster, with 15 of them coming from high schools in northwest Ohio.
Learn more about the Owens men’s soccer team by visiting owensexpress.com.
Owens Names Bill Taylor Dean for Business, Hospitality Management & Public Safety 
Posted on August 22nd, 2024
Bringing many years of guiding programs in a wide variety of disciplines and fields, Bill Taylor has been hired as the new Owens Community College Dean for Business, Hospitality Management and Public Safety.
Taylor started at Owens in February 2024.
“Bill brings more than 30 years of experience in academics and has had oversight of multiple areas in that time,” said Denise Smith, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs. “His depth and breadth of experience make him ideal to lead a school with a such a vast array of disciplines.”

Bill Taylor
Taylor came to Owens with a long, extensive career in higher education, most recently serving as the vice president of Academic Affairs and chief academic officer of Terra State Community College in Fremont.
Prior to his five years in that position, Taylor held a variety of positions at Terra State, including as dean for Business and Public Service Technologies and as a professor of Economics and Political Science.
While at Terra State, Taylor implemented a new Nursing curriculum in 2021, created the college’s Career Readiness course in 2020, led the creation of the Health Information Technology program in 2004, and fostered partnerships with other local academic institutions, including Heidelberg and Tiffin universities.
He has also been active with service projects and organizations. Taylor has served on various groups with the Ohio Association of Community Colleges. He founded the Terra State Community College Women’s Leadership Forum in 2014.
Taylor is also a member of the Sandusky County Chamber of Commerce and Great Lakes Clean Hydrogen Consortium.
Taylor received his Master of Education from Bowling Green State University and his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Ohio Wesleyan University.
In his current position with Owens, Taylor leads an eclectic group of departments, programs and certificates. The departments of Business Technologies, Criminal Justice, Emergency Service Technologies, Fire Science and Food, Nutrition and Hospitality are under his umbrella.
For more information on the School of Business, Hospitality Management and Public Safety, please visit owens.edu/business.
Owens Faculty and Staff Welcome Students for Fall Semester 
Posted on August 21st, 2024

Baher Hanna is now in his 38th year teaching at Owens Community College.
Monday was the start of the fall semester at Owens Community College, and students weren’t the only ones excited and anxious to be back on campus.
For faculty and staff members at Owens, it’s been a long, quiet summer.
It was an especially exciting day for students and faculty in the Owens School of Nursing and Health Professions, which held its first classes in the new $31.3 million Healthcare Education Center where students are focused on learning interprofessional education and patient-centered care.
Owens employees took time out of their busy Monday to reflect on their experiences and how to best set up their students for success.
HEALTHCARE EDUCATION CENTER WELCOMES STUDENTS FOR FIRST TIME
There were plenty of firsts across the two Owens Community College campuses on Monday, including a brand-new facility for the School of Nursing and Health Professions.

Cathy Ford
Students and faculty in various programs, including Sonography, Dental Hygiene, Health Information Technology and Magnetic Resonance Imaging, held classes in the Healthcare Education Center. Cathy Ford dean for the School of Nursing and Health Professions, was just as excited to be in the new space as her students are.
“Students are amazed at these spaces,” Ford said. “I just came in from the front entry and students were having a conversation about how to get around the building and what they’ll see. … Students are really just lighting up.”
Ford has been the dean since 2015, but her history at Owens goes back many more years. She started as a student in Radiologic Technology in 1982. Aside from attending University of Toledo for her bachelor and master degrees, she’s been at Owens ever since.
The start of the new school year has always been a special date on her calendar.
“The first day of fall semester is just like New Years, it’s a fresh start,” Ford said. “It’s very exciting for me. It’s the beginning, it’s the onset of the entire academic year.”
“It’s their first time,” Ford said of the students. “Everything to us that seems so average and normal and day-to-day, for them can be very new and very different. … It’s always remembering that it’s new to students and they need our guidance and understanding to get a strong start.”
BRINGING LESSONS FROM THE PAST TO THE PRESENT
Baher Hanna remembers his days as an undergraduate student at the University of Cairo in Egypt, then as a graduate student in Cairo and University of Toledo. During the first days of classes as a math professor at Owens, he tries to be the type of teacher he needed as a student.
“I try to remember how I felt as a student and I try to look for what I preferred to see as a teacher or faculty member and mimic that,” Hanna said. “Of course, you learn as you go. You try to make it as smooth as possible.”
Hanna, who has been at Owens for 38 years, said one of his first priorities as a student was to know who was teaching the course, more so even than the subject matter that was being taught.
“I was always looking to who was teaching the course more than what I was learning,” Hanna said. “The way a professor or graduate student who was teaching the course presented themselves extended to how they presented the material.
“I would go through the textbook and say, ‘Yes, I think I can handle this.’ I just wanted to make sure me and the professor were on the same page.”
While Hanna will go out of his way to make sure his students are on the same page as him, he also said there is a level of responsibility the students must meet as well.
“It’s important to remind the student that this is serious business,” Hanna said. “I used to coach soccer for my kids’ teams. It’s the same thing – I know it’s fun, and math and science can be fun, but it won’t be fun until you take it seriously. It’s going to be fun, you’re going to learn stuff, but you have to meet your end of the bargain.”
STUDENTS AND SOME STAFF ARE IN THE SAME BOAT
While working a welcome table and walking the halls of Founders Hall on the Toledo-area Campus on Monday, Ann Sergent found herself in the same situation as many of the students.

Ann Sergent
The assistant dean for the School of Liberal Arts, Sergent has been on the job for five months. She admitted to still trying to figure out where everything is on campus.
“It’s important to let them know it’s OK if they don’t know,” Sergent said. “I was telling students, ‘This is my fifth month. I still don’t know where everything is, but I will do my best to help you.’
“It’s helpful for students to know that faculty and staff feel the same way. We’re all nervous, too, and some of us are still figuring things out because we’re still new.”
Her memories of the first day of her freshman year at Ohio Northern University included trying to hide the campus map for fear someone might judge the new kid. By the time she was a junior and had transferred to Bowling Green State University, she didn’t care anymore and proudly held the map right out in front of her.
Sergent saw the tail end of the spring semester after starting at Owens in early April, so for most of her five months on campus, there have been few students, faculty and staff. Having life come back to campus is exciting for Sergent.
“I love seeing the students back on campus, the faculty back on campus, the excitement of having everybody here,” Sergent said. “Even though I’ve been in education for years, there’s still a little nervousness, a little excitement. A little bit the same as the students.”
WELCOME TO OWENS

Bob Connour
Bob Connour has been with Owens for 25 years. The professor of science on the Findlay-area Campus said he always opens the first day of classes by welcoming his students to the Owens family.
“On that first day, you try to relieve any nerves and let them know we’re all here together,” Connour said. “We’re here for the students and to teach them, to help them get an education.”
As a faculty member in Findlay, Connour said the smaller size of the campus is an advantage. It’s easier for the students since everyone is in the same building.
Whether in Findlay or Toledo, though, it’s important for the students to know their success is the top priority.
“When dealing with new students, the most important thing is they need to know that we’re here for them,” Connour said. “They need to know that the people who work at Owens are on their side. We’re here for them to be successful. That’s what we say, ‘Your Success Starts Here.’”
WRAP-AROUND SERVICES SUPPORT THE STUDENTS
The support Owens students receive doesn’t end at the classroom. With the Center for Campus and Community Connection and other resources available, Owens goes above and beyond for student success.

Reti Shutina
On the first two days of classes, welcome tables were set around the Findlay-area and Toledo-area campuses to help answer student questions and point them in the right direction. It’s just another example of the pride Owens takes in wrap-around services for students, according to Reti Shutina, the interim chair for the Business department.
“Students feel supported, cared for and comfortable in their choice to attend Owens,” she said. “As they continue in their academic journey with us, they will feel the support of the faculty, academic and financial advisors, tutoring services, counseling services, career services and so much more.”
Shutina completed her bachelor degree in her native Albania. Even in a different country, the feelings of nerves and anticipation are universal. One of the best ways to ease those feelings is to ensure the students know they are welcomed and supported.
This marks Shutina’s 10-year anniversary at Owens. Through those years, she said the feeling of excitement with students returning to campus remains the same.
“This is a very exciting time for us to see students return to campus,” Shutina said. “We miss them. The summer is rather quiet, so we really look forward to having students back on campus. They bring in good vibes and make the campus come alive.”
Owens Terhune Gallery Exhibits Local, Award-Winning Artist 
Posted on August 20th, 2024

The Walter E. Terhune Gallery will feature an exhibit by award-winning local artist Julia LaBay.
The Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery in the Owens Community College Center for Fine and Performing Arts is hosting a solo show by award-winning local artist Julia LaBay.
The exhibit open with a reception from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, August 22 and continues through October 18. Hours of the Walter E. Terhune Gallery are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. The gallery is open by appointment only on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
LaBay is a 3D technical assistant and instructor in the University of Toledo Department of Art. She is also the Curator for the Blair Museum of Lithophanes. She was most recently awarded an Artist in Residency at Imagination Station during the summer of 2024.
For more information on the exhibit, please visit owens.edu/fpa/cfpa/julialabay.
President Somerville Highlights College Successes, Presents Top Teaching Award 
Posted on August 12th, 2024
2024 Owens Community College State of the College Address
Dr. Dione D. Somerville began her fourth academic year as president on Monday, August 12 by sharing highlights of the Owens Community College strategic plan for faculty, staff and community guests, including Ohio Association of Community Colleges president and CEO Avi Zaffini.
She also recognized this year’s Presidential Teaching Award recipient, professor of English Cory Hoover, who leads the innovative Open Educational Resources (OER) program which has helped save students more than $2 million the past three academic years. She began teaching at Owens in Fall Semester 2000. A recipient of the TRIO Champion Award (2021), Hoover has been active at Owens, including helping launch the Center for Teaching and Innovation, developing numerous presentations, workshops and events and serving as a lead Honors Program advisor (2012-2021).
The address was held twice, at the Findlay-area Campus in the morning and again on the Toledo-area Campus in hybrid format in the afternoon.
Since taking over the Owens presidency in June 2021, Somerville has prioritized engaging community leaders. More than three dozen community leaders attended the two presentations.
Zaffini began his tenure leading the state’s 23 community colleges in mid-July. Speaking briefly at both presentations, he said Ohio community colleges continue to adapt and collaborate in varied partnerships to meet Ohio’s workforce needs.
Somerville focused her Owens address on the strategic plan adopted in 2023.
“Last year, in the first year of our plan, we worked to put a framework in place that would enable our success moving forward,” Somerville said. “We are kicking off our second year and looking forward to continued momentum.”
She utilized the plan’s six objectives to showcase what the academic year will feature, including:
- Building a community of belonging
- The year-long, college-wide Big Read program features author Sara Novic’s book, “True Biz”
- Men’s soccer returns to Owens Express sports, led by former Express player and Owens alumni Nate Baer
- The Center for Campus and Community Connections continues to be a model for serving students’ basic needs, at institutions in Ohio and beyond
- Expanding partnerships
- Owens is positioned to provide relevant education and training as the only community college partner in the Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium’s new $31.3 million Glass Centre of Excellence project
- The Water Workforce Coalition, a collaborative effort with TMACOG and the City of Toledo, continues with a second cohort of students this semester
- Jill of All Trades returns in October during National Manufacturing Month with a goal of tripling the exposure to the trades for young people in the community
- Developing an agile framework
- The president applauded the faculty’s engagement to an initial assessment workshop created as a follow up to the Higher Learning Commission’s mid-cycle review site visit last October
- The first cohort of the new cardiac sonography associate degree is full in anticipation of meeting local labor demands
- Trellis Strategies is studying the transportation challenges of college students as a follow up to the City of Toledo feasibility study
- In Findlay and throughout Hancock County, Trellis Strategies is beginning a study focused on enrollment patterns and future enrollment opportunities for the Findlay-area Campus
- Deepening employee engagement
- The president’s leadership team welcomed new Human Resources vice president, Dr. Leslie Erwin over the summer. She will lead employee engagement opportunities.
- Led by the Owens Foundation and a committee of alumni, the College’s inaugural Alumni Hall of Fame class was announced last spring.
- Ensuring a sustainable organization
- The president outlined the fiscal year 2025 budget and noted a few additional funding resources supplementing state capital funds, including the state’s community investment funding and grants
- Phase 1 of the $31.3 million Healthcare Education Center will open for Fall Semester. After Phase 2 is completed next spring, a grand opening will be staged in March 2025.
- Telling our story
- More than a half-million people have attended Owens for credit since the College opened in 1965, according to college research
- Since the 2013-14 school year, 37 percent of Owens students have transferred to and graduated from a four-year college or university
- The College’s 60th anniversary will be celebrated during the 2025-26 academic year
Owens Culinary Arts Program Earns Top Review, Reaccredited for 7 Years 
Posted on August 9th, 2024

Chef Amy Morford works with Culinary Arts student Sabrina Myers.

Culinary Arts program director Robert Wagner.
The Owens Community College Culinary Arts Program has received a seven-year Accreditation with an Exemplary identifier from the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission.
The Culinary Arts Program has an associate degree plus two short-term certificates, including one in Baking and Pastry.
The Exemplary identifier symbolizes the highest education standards recognized by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission. Owens is one of eight accredited Culinary Arts Programs in Ohio, and one of only three to receive the Exemplary identifier. This program is also the only accredited Culinary Arts Program within a 75-mile radius in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.
The Culinary Arts Program is led by Robert Wagner, program director. Chef Amy Morford is an assistant professor.
“We are grateful to the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation accrediting commission for affirming the work our dedicated faculty and staff are doing preparing students to succeed as professionals,” said Denise Smith, vice president of Academic Affairs and Provost. “I want to especially congratulate Bob, Amy, Steve Williams and all the Culinary Arts faculty and staff for their tireless work on the accreditation renewal.”
Smith also credited Nathan Lute, the culinary operations and labs manager, for his work during the Accreditation tour.
According to Wagner, Chef Amy creates an engaging and challenging environment in the classroom, replicating industry scenarios. She challenges her students’ skills to work at a fast pace while multitasking, both routine conditions in culinary work.
Students are assigned up to three different baked items and at least one accompaniment on most days. Chef Amy helps with troubleshooting, correcting recipes and improving time management and critical thinking.
“Chef Amy maintains a student-centric approach to teaching,” Wagner said. “She’s a vital part to the success of the Food Nutrition & Hospitality Department as a whole.
“In the beginning, these high standards seem daunting; however, students appreciate the level of difficulty that motivated their learning and retention of the techniques presented,” he said.
Students in the Culinary Arts program complete management, nutrition and menu design courses and fundamental, intermediate and advanced culinary skills. Students receive hands-on experience during the co-operative work experience and the student-run restaurant, the Terrace View Cafe.
Upon graduation, students are eligible to receive the Certified Culinarian credential from the American Culinary Federation. Graduates find job opportunities as Chefs and Sous Chefs, Supervisors of Food Preparation Workers, Food Service Managers, Chefs in Healthcare Facilities and as Private Chefs.
Outside of the classroom, Chef Amy is the Program Coordinator with an open-door policy for her students. She also reestablished the Culinary Arts Association student group.
“Chef Amy’s commitment to Owens and our department, and most importantly our students reflect our dedication to provide students with the highest levels of training and preparation, allowing them to be successful professionals in all areas of the food service and hospitality industry,” Wagner said.
For more information about the Culinary Arts program and degrees, go to owens.edu/business.
Owens Expands Partnership With Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio to Better Serve Workforce Needs 
Posted on August 6th, 2024
Owens Community College and Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio are partnering to provide enhanced training options for people seeking to improve their workforce training opportunities.
Through a new customized website, individuals working with Goodwill will have access to learning experiences at Owens that connect directly to job success. The training courses are possible thanks to both organizations’ premium partner status with ed2go, a national network of online courses taught by experts from a variety of fields.
Expert navigators at Goodwill will work directly with community members to find learning experiences tailored to their individual goals. Courses range from employability through customer service, conversational Spanish, business writing and leadership skills, to specific occupational preparation like interior designer, sign language interpreter and maintenance technician. More new courses are added regularly.
All courses are available entirely online, self-paced and available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week to meet the needs of busy adults juggling family and job responsibilities. As Goodwill navigators and individuals arrive at specific educational goals, Owens will enroll them and support their journey to completion.
“Owens Community College is excited to work with Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio and expand access to education that benefits the local workforce and area employers,” said Charlene Page, executive director of Workforce and Economic Development at Owens. “The need for a highly-skilled workforce is clear to everyone. We are always looking to improve higher education access for adult learners and help them acquire the skills they need.”
Owens and Goodwill have a history of collaborating with a focus on workforce development.
“The opportunity to lift up members of our community by working closely with Owens is a natural fit for Goodwill’s Job Connection Centers, where we believe in the power of work,” said David Takats, chief mission officer at Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio. “Working helps eliminate barriers and provides opportunities to improve peoples’ lives.”
For more information about the ed2go classes, visit www.owens.edu/goodwill.
Contact:
Owens Community College
Andy Woodard
Strategic Marketing and Communications
(567) 661-7149
Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio
David Takats
Chief Mission Officer
(419) 255-0070 Ext. 3201
Owens Offers Student Registration Event with Expanded Hours, Opportunity to Win Scholarship 
Posted on August 1st, 2024
Event: Owens Community College One Day Registration
When: Monday, August 5 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where: Owens Community College
Toledo-area Campus
Admissions Office in College Hall
30335 Oregon Road, Perrysburg 43551
What: With Fall Semester 2024 classes beginning Monday, August 19, Owens Community College is offering an expanded-hours One Day Registration. The event includes admissions application assistance, academic and financial services advising, placement testing, orientation and registration for classes.
$1,500 Scholarship Details: For degree-seeking students only. Participants must attend One Day Registration and register for Fall Semester 2024 classes at One Day Registration to be eligible to win. All details are posted on the event website.
More info or pre-registration: owens.edu/onedayreg
Owens Begins Utilizing VR Technology for Law Enforcement Training 
Posted on July 18th, 2024

Instructor Dennis Cole demonstrates VR technology

VR Goggles
Law enforcement officers training at Owens Community College’s Center for Emergency Preparedness will benefit from new virtual reality (VR) goggles provided by the Ohio Attorney General’s office.
The Meta Quest 3 VR goggle headsets are the latest technology upgrade in scenario-based training for Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) cadets and current officers seeking continuing education.
The training is accompanied by six videos filmed with 360-degree cameras, enabling the cadets and officers to feel like they are part of the action. The scenario-based videos cover mental health, domestic violence, school violence, the teen brain, suicide prevention and irate families. They last 8-12 minutes each and serve as standalone topics.
“Training helps officers better understand and respond to situations as they occur and the new VR goggles will only enhance decision-making and problem-solving,” said Mark King, manager of OPOTA training at Owens. “Training is vital for officer success. Officers continue to train throughout their careers to ensure their safety, their partner’s safety and the safety of the community they serve.”
Owens’ instructors spent two days learning how to utilize the VR goggles.
OPOTA was founded at Owens in 1970 in cooperation with the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission (OPOTC) and certified by the Ohio Attorney General’s office. In 2022, Owens was named a Close to Home regional advanced training site for current law enforcement professionals. More than 80 agencies in northwest Ohio also form the Law Enforcement Consortium and utilize 600 continuing education training hours annually.
The VR goggles will provide a low-cost, standardized training foundation for all officers in Ohio, according to the Attorney General’s office.
The training videos were produced by Ohio State University and Ohio University in cooperation with the Athens Police Department and Athens County Sheriff’s Office. The Attorney General’s office is already producing more scenario videos, tentatively scheduled for completion in summer 2025.
“Our cadets pass their state certification at nearly 100 percent right now,” King said. “This new technology will only enhance their training and further prepare them for when they are on the job.”
Owens Wins Lumina Foundation’s Instagram Challenge, $50,000 Award 
Posted on July 17th, 2024
Owens Community College has been selected as one of seven winners in Lumina Foundation’s mini-grant opportunity and first Instagram challenge, resulting in a $50,000 award to enhance digital outreach and marketing efforts.
Lumina Foundation received more than 100 entries from public, accredited two-year institutions nationwide.
Joining Owens as winners were:
- Ohlone College, CA
- Ocean County College, NJ
- Community College of Beaver County, PA
- State University of New York (SUNY) Niagara, NY
- Chaffey College, CA
- Jefferson State Community College, AL
The Owens’ Instagram reel was created and produced by the college’s Strategic Marketing and Communications office. Watch it here.
“We are thankful to Lumina Foundation for recognizing the quality and engaging work our office does on social media interacting with our students,” said Tasha Hussain Black, Owens vice president of strategic initiatives, marketing and communications. “Our goal is to increase access to high-quality educational opportunities for the nearly 190,000 people aged 25 or older living in key parts of the City of Toledo who have attained a high school diploma or some college but who do not have a college degree. The $50,000 will help us connect with this market.”
Through the grant, Lumina wants community colleges to share stories and highlight the diverse and profound impact of a community college education.
“For the past two years, Lumina has engaged in a national conversation about understanding and strengthening community college brands,” said Mary Laphen Pope, Lumina’s strategy officer for participation. “While discussions often focus on challenges such as enrollment declines, success stories about community colleges and their students are rarely highlighted. We aim to change that.
“We were excited to offer this mini-grant opportunity and are so impressed by all the outstanding video reels we received. We hope this initiative will help shift the narrative around community colleges and all that they offer,” added Laphen Pope.
For more information about the mini-grant, visit Lumina’s Challenge Page.
About Owens Community College
Owens Community College has served Northwest Ohio since 1965 as an accredited two-year, state-assisted institution of higher education with an open-door admission policy. Through intentional, adaptive and empowering education, Owens offers more than 160 academic programs to be the first choice for students, employers and the community. As a conduit to changing lives for the better, Owens creates pathways for success. For more information, visit www.owens.edu.
Owens Community College Contact
Andy Woodard
Assistant Director, Strategic Marketing and Communications
andrew_woodard@owens.edu
About Lumina Foundation
Lumina Foundation is an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. We envision higher learning that is easy to navigate, addresses racial injustice, and meets the nation’s talent needs through a broad range of credentials. We are working toward a system that prepares people for informed citizenship and success in a global economy.
Lumina Foundation Contact
Kate Snedeker
Communications Consultant
ksnedeker@luminafoundation.org
Owens Findlay-area Campus Dean Among 2024 Ohio Leadership Academy Graduates 
Posted on July 15th, 2024

Dean Brad Wood
Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus Dean Brad Wood was among the 35 graduates in the most recent Ohio Leadership Academy for Student Success class.
The academy, sponsored by the Ohio Association of Community Colleges, annually gathers faculty and staff for a year of training, exchanging ideas and immersion in promoting student success.
The OACC created the academy in 2019 to reverse management turnover by strengthening internal advancement pipelines within the state’s 23 community colleges. Michigan, New York and Texas are among the states replicating Ohio’s initiative.
“The past year has provided a meaningful and positive professional development experience with colleagues from around the state,” Wood said. “We shared practical experiences that can be adapted to our daily work. We all want our students to succeed and achieve their higher education goals.”
Wood was named to his current position in January 2023 after previously serving as chair of the Owens Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program in the School of Nursing and Health Professions, where he worked for seven years.
A community college graduate, Wood earned his associate degree in PTA from St. Petersburg College. He graduated from Nova Southeastern University with his bachelor’s in Health Science and master’s in Teaching and Learning. He serves on the State of Ohio Physical Therapy Association advisory board. He is a national commissioner for CAPTE Commission of Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education and president of the Northwest Ohio Clinical Coordinator Consortium.
Wood is the seventh Owens employee to complete the academy cohort since 2020-21.
The academy is an outreach of work done by the OACC’s Success Center for Community Colleges. Created in 2012, the center focuses on helping Ohio’s two-year colleges marshal resources to better direct students’ education by aligning their academic choices with the careers they hope to undertake. The academy was funded by several national organizations, ensuring that colleges had minimal expenses to participate.
The OACC represents the presidents and trustees of the state’s 23 public two-year institutions that work to advance community colleges through policy advocacy and professional development.
Win Owens Scholarship Worth up to $1,500 by Attending July 15 Registration Event 
Posted on July 12th, 2024
Event: Owens Community College One Day Registration
When: Monday, July 15 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Owens Community College
Toledo-area Campus
Admissions Office in College Hall
30335 Oregon Road, Perrysburg 43551
What: One Day Registration offers admissions application assistance, academic and financial services advising, placement testing, orientation and registration for classes. Fall Semester 2024 classes begin Monday, August 19.
Scholarship Details: For degree-seeking students only. Participants must attend One Day Registration and register for Fall Semester 2024 classes at One Day Registration to win.
More info or pre-registration: owens.edu/onedayreg
Owens Key Partner in $31.3 Million Glass Innovation Hub 
Posted on July 11th, 2024
Owens Community College is positioned to provide relevant education and training as the only community college partner in the new $31.3 million Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub project focused on enhancing the region as a global leader in glass science, engineering, technology and production.
Funded by the State of Ohio and announced by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, the consortium aligns with Owens’ mission of working with regional employers and serving their talent development needs.
“We look forward to working with regional industry leaders, local universities, economic development leaders, startup companies and all levels of the regional workforce to help reaffirm the region’s status as the Glass Capital through short-term training, associate degrees and transfer,” Owens President Dr. Dione D. Somerville said.
Owens features a successful history of partnering with business and industry to close the skills gap and produce job-ready talent, especially production workers in the advanced manufacturing sector. By being nimble and agile in the workforce space, Owens will support the consortium’s goal of developing a qualified workforce pool at all industry levels, including production associates and STEM professionals.
Owens drives efficiency, production and the bottom line in customized training working with more than 100 regional businesses. Many of these strategic partnerships occur with small to medium advanced manufacturing companies. Owens faculty provide training either at the company location or on campus, which includes modern facilities such as the Dana Advanced Manufacturing Training Center.
The Owens School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) offers 24 associate degrees and 31 certificates; three degrees and three certificates are focused on advanced manufacturing.
At its inception many years ago, Owens began working with the consortium and continues to provide leadership with Dr. Denise Smith, Owens Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, serving on the consortium’s board of directors. Owens also has representation on the workforce and education sub-committees.
The consortium is beginning work on its initiatives, which are expected to create 1,600 jobs and a $284 million economic impact over the next seven years.
Besides Owens, the consortium partners include:
- Associated General Contractors of Northwest Ohio
- Bowling Green State University
- Cherry Street Mission Ministries
- City of Toledo
- ConnecToledo
- Dana Inc.
- First Solar
- JumpStart Inc.
- Local 500 of Toledo
- Libbey
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation Toledo
- Lucas County, Ohio
- Owens Corning
- O-I Glass, Inc.
- Pilkington
- Regional Growth Partnership
- Toledo Public Schools
- Toledo Region Chamber of Commerce
- Wood County, Ohio
- University of Toledo
Owens Police Chief Named to National Board 
Posted on July 1st, 2024

Chief Harrison
Owens Community College’s Steven Harrison was appointed to the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) Board of Directors as a Director-at-Large for a one-year term at the organization’s annual conference in New Orleans last week.
The Owens Police Chief and Director of Public Safety since 2019, Harrison has been active with the largest professional association devoted to excellence in campus public safety and law enforcement. He previously served as co-chair for the IACLEA 2-year institutions committee and on the membership committee.
IACLEA members are police chiefs, public safety directors, law enforcement officers and security personnel at higher education institutions responsible for protecting millions of students worldwide.
“IACLEA membership has been invaluable to me, as I transitioned from municipal law enforcement to campus law enforcement and public safety,” he said.
Before his appointment at Owens, Harrison worked for the Northwood Police Department for nine years and then the Toledo Police Department for 17 years. While at TPD, his assignments included field operations, vice-narcotics, internal affairs and investigations. After retiring in 2018 as a Sergeant in the Crimes Against Persons division, he accepted a position for one year with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, as Chief of Police at Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital Police Department.
A 1991 graduate of the Owens Police Academy, he holds a bachelor’s degree from Tiffin University and master’s degree from Boston University. An adjunct instructor at the Owens Police Academy and Toledo Police Academy, Harrison is a Certified Master Trainer with the Homeland Security Department’s National Threat Evaluation and Reporting Program Office.
Harrison served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps. before beginning his law enforcement career.
Owens Awarded NJCAA Sport Opportunity Grant to Assist with Formation of Men’s Soccer Program 
Posted on June 21st, 2024
Owens Community College is continuing to grow the Owens Express athletic program by reintroducing men’s soccer for the 2024 season with the assistance of the NJCAA Sport Opportunity Grant. Through the NJCAA Foundation, Owens will receive a $2,000 grant.
Owens originally fielded a men’s soccer team from 1998-2015.
“Through the NJCAA Sport Opportunity Grant, the NJCAA Foundation is creating opportunities for member colleges to expand and develop sports offerings,” said Brian Luckett, NJCAA Foundation executive director. “Athletics at the two-year level continue to grow and progress, resulting in student-athletes being afforded more significant development opportunities athletically and academically.”
During its previous seasons, the Owens Express men’s soccer team advanced to the NJCAA Region 12 tournament 14 times, winning the 2005 championship. The Express won its first conference championship in 2012.
Nate Baer, an Owens Express player in the 2006 and 2007 seasons, has been hired as the Express men’s soccer head coach. Baer was a highly successful high school and club coach. He received recognition for his coaching achievements, including the 2019 National Federal of State High Schools Coach of the Year honor, considered the highest award for a high school coach.
“We are grateful that we are receiving the Sport Opportunity Grant from the NJCAA Foundation,” Owens athletic director Shelley Whitaker said. “We are excited that men’s soccer returns to Owens this fall. Coach Baer has done an excellent job with recruiting. We cannot wait for the first home game.”
“We look forward to competing on the field while creating a pathway for additional opportunities at 4-year institutions,” Baer said. “I’m excited to restore the Owens Express men’s soccer tradition.”
For more information on Owens Community College athletics, visit owensexpress.com.
About NJCAA Foundation
The mission of the NJCAA Foundation is to enhance the NJCAA national organization, student-athletes, member colleges and local communities through financial support, scholarships, program initiatives and community service.
About OWENS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Owens Community College has served Northwest Ohio since 1965 as an accredited two-year, state-assisted institution of higher education with an open-door admission policy. Through intentional, adaptive and empowering education, Owens offers more than 160 academic programs to be the first choice for students, employers and the community. As a conduit to changing lives for the better, Owens creates pathways for success. For more information, visit www.owens.edu.
Owens Names Erwin to Lead Human Resources 
Posted on June 12th, 2024
With a background and experience well-suited for the role, Leslie Erwin, Ed.D., has been hired as Owens Community College’s vice president of Human Resources. She will join the Executive Leadership Team reporting to Owens President Dr. Dione D. Somerville.

Leslie Erwin
Erwin has served in key roles in higher education for more than 15 years including human resources, compliance, Title IX, diversity, equity and inclusion, student affairs and academic programming and accreditation. Her 10 years of human resources experience spans private industry, union environments and, most recently, education. She also has nine years of senior leadership experience.
Dr. Erwin comes to Owens from Heidelberg University, where she served as chief human resource officer since August 2021. She previously held multiple roles over 12 years at Mercy College of Ohio, finishing her tenure as director of compliance and risk management as well as Title IX coordinator. Dr. Erwin also has held management roles at Chrysler and DaimlerChrysler.
“Human resources and higher education are two of Dr. Erwin’s greatest passions,” Dr. Somerville said. “She is the right leader to guide our strategic objective of deepening employee engagement. Dr. Erwin understands that people are Owens’ most critical asset and that is integral to us achieving our vision and the objectives of our strategic plan.”
Dr. Erwin attained her doctorate of education in higher education administration in 2022 from Northcentral University, taking a one-year break from these studies to earn a graduate certificate in higher education compliance in 2018 from the University of Toledo College of Law. Her qualitative research focused on Title IX policy implementation, specifically with the faculty experience. She also holds a master of arts in organizational management from Spring Arbor University and a bachelor of science degree in psychology with a minor in sociology from Ohio State University.
She currently serves on the Board for the Association of College and University Policy Administrators (ACUPA). Her professional interests include civil rights and equity, policy administration, compliance, labor relations and employee engagement and retention.
Owens Healthcare Programs Award 51 Certifications 
Posted on June 11th, 2024
A total of 51 students in the School of Nursing and Health Professions completed their short-term certifications and received recognition at an on-campus ceremony.
Medical Coding had 13 completers, followed by Dental Assisting and Sterile Processing with 12 apiece. The ceremony also featured students from the Certified Personal Trainer (8) and Medical Assisting (6) programs.
“We are so proud of these students for their hard work and commitment to their education,” said Cathy Ford, dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions. “They are now ready to begin their new professions.”
Each healthcare program named outstanding students:
- Certified Personal Trainer: Cortasha Richardson, Luckey
- Dental Assisting: Megan Wise, Monroeville
- Medical Assisting: Jose Zanzon Jr., Rossford
- Medical Coding: Kristen Endicott, Wayne
- Sterile Processing: Elle Howell, Rossford and Claire Ulrich, Toledo
The School of Nursing and Health Professions will move to the new $31.3 million Healthcare Education Center in the 2024-25 academic year. The new facility will partially open for Fall 2024 and will be completed for the start of Spring 2025.
For more information about School of Nursing and Health Professions degrees and certifications, visit www.owens.edu/snhp.
Owens Legislative Day Informs Elected Officials, Includes College Tour 
Posted on June 10th, 2024
A dozen elected officials or their representatives learned about the many education and training solutions Owens Community College provides the region during a tour of the Toledo-area Campus on Monday, June 10. The tour included three diverse locations in the Center for Campus and Community Connections, the new $31.3 million Healthcare Education Center and the Center for Emergency Preparedness.
Led by Owens President Dr. Dione D. Somerville, her presentation highlighted several recent developments at Owens, including the letter of intent signed in February 2024 for a new microsite partnering with Toledo Public Schools and the University of Toledo at Scott Park in the City of Toledo.
A year-long feasibility study, conducted by Trellis Strategies, revealed nearly 190,000 adults ages 25 and older, specifically in the City of Toledo, have attained a high school diploma or some college, but no degree.
Somerville said the microsite, when opened, will increase student access, enhance adult student flexibility, promote collaboration with existing partners and, most importantly, address workforce needs supporting local economic development. Owens continues to consider additional microsite locations.
“Owens is the triple crown powerhouse of this region,” Somerville said. “First, our mission is to serve the workforce needs of this region by being nimble and agile. Second, we are a critical part of the educational attainment of northwest Ohio based on the many ways students complete their education at Owens. And third, we are built to immediately respond to the needs of returning learners.
“For all of our students, you need to look at the level of support provided by our wraparound services to understand why we are so passionate about what we do,” she added.
The tour commenced in the Center for Campus and Community Connections, an office focused on student resource stability initiatives that served nearly 1,600 students from its food pantry in the 2023-2024 academic year. The Owens Food Pantry was the first one established at an Ohio community college and functions as a model for other institutions.
Owens is supporting the hunger-free campus bill to establish the Hunger-free Campus Grant Program and designation and to make an appropriation. House Bill 590 is in review.
“Trellis showed that our student barriers include child care, transportation and the lack of immediate cash or credit,” Somerville said. “Our staff works to help resolve barriers that exist so that students can engage in education.”
A focal point for students and staff over the past year, the north end of the new Healthcare Education Center will open for half of the School of Nursing and Health Professions programs in Fall 2024. The entire center is on schedule to be completed and opened for classes by Spring 2025.
Offering 22 degrees and certificates across 11 healthcare disciplines, Owens averages more than 400 healthcare graduates annually, including 230 nurses.
In 2009, the Center for Emergency Preparedness was the crown jewel of campus buildings for public safety training. The center prepares new first responders for duty and also provides existing public and private safety professionals with advanced continuing education and “train the trainer” education opportunities.
Bolstered by realistic, scenario-based training props and equipment, the center is the home for the State of Ohio’s Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission Close to Home regional advanced training program as well as Toledo Police Academy and Toledo Fire Academy.
With training occurring daily, the Center for Emergency Preparedness will require significant investments for upgrades in the near future to meet the next generation of first responder training needs, the elected officials and representatives were told. Much of the original training equipment was donated when the center opened and is aging due to excessive use.
Owens Hosts Open House Monday, June 10 
Posted on June 7th, 2024
What
Owens Community College Open House
When
Monday, June 10
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where
Owens Community College
Toledo-area Campus
Veterans Hall Events Center (Room 201)
363 Depot Road
Perrysburg, OH 43551
More Information about the Open House
The admissions application fee will be waived for students who attend Open House and fill out the application at the event. Admissions staff will be available to help prospective students complete the admissions application!
Speak with faculty and staff about academic majors
- Attend a FAFSA workshop and learn more about paying for college
- Take a campus tour
- Attend a selective health admissions information session
- Learn about support services including academic advising, tutoring, TRIO and more
- Check out student clubs, organizations and activities
Website
Customize your visit in advance or learn more at owens.edu/openhouse
Owens Celebrates Original Nursing Leader’s 90th Birthday 
Posted on June 5th, 2024
More than 30 Owens faculty, staff and retirees celebrated the 90th birthday of Dr. Peggy Bensman, who helped start the nursing program and served as the first Nursing department chair.
The surprise party was orchestrated by Kathy Brubaker, the former dean of the Owens Findlay-area Campus, with the assistance of the Owens Community College Foundation staff. Bensman resides approximately one hour south of Findlay in her native Minster. Before the pandemic, she regularly drove north along I-75 and gathered with Owens retirees to catch up. Brubaker arranged a birthday luncheon with former Owens colleagues and then made the surprise stop on the Findlay-area Campus for cake.
Dr. Bensman served the Owens community from 1968-92. She was promoted from Nursing department chair to dean of Health Technologies and vice president of Academic Affairs before retiring. The top Nursing student receives the Peggy Bensman Award at Commencement.
She attended Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati for her bachelor’s degree, Xavier University for her master’s degree and Bowling Green for her doctoral degree.
50 Owens ASPIRE Students to Graduate 
Posted on May 30th, 2024

A total of 50 students from the Owens ASPIRE program will graduate at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 30 in a ceremony at Veterans Hall 201. The students will receive their high school equivalency (HSE) certification.
“We are so proud of this year’s students and their dedication to earn a high school equivalency certification,” said Heath Huber, Owens ASPIRE director. “Data informs us that these individuals will now have the opportunity for increased earning potential and advanced employment as well as access for additional educational attainment.”
The ceremony will feature a keynote address from Derayna Webb, wellness coordinator from Mom’s House Toledo. Millicent Carrick, Tivon Pressley and Valencia Rios-Duren, all of Toledo, also will share their stories with fellow graduates.
Owens Faculty Receive Promotions, Tenure 
Posted on May 14th, 2024
The Owens Board of Trustees approved rank promotions for seven faculty members and granted tenure to three faculty members at its May meeting.
Drew Grover from the Caterpillar/diesel department was promoted to professor.
Eileen Alexander, nursing, Julie Posey, sonography, and Suellen Barnum, MRI, were promoted to associate professor. Kathryn Callahan, MRI, Louise Weller, nursing and Makenzie Zesing, sonography, were promoted to assistant professor.
Zesing along with Susan Nichols, assistant professor in dental hygiene, and Mike Welty, instructor in skilled trades/electrical, received tenure.
“Our faculty are committed to student success,” said Dr. Denise Smith, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Owens. “We are proud of these new promoted and tenured faculty, and I congratulate them. We look forward to their continued success in the classroom.”
Owens Receives ODHE Ohio Reach Postsecondary Designation 
Posted on May 13th, 2024
Owens Community College will expand its ongoing efforts of supporting foster care-connected students through its Ohio Reach Postsecondary Designation, the Ohio Department of Higher Education announced.
Criteria for receiving the Ohio Reach Postsecondary Designation, recommended by the Ohio Reach Coalition with input from alumni of care through the Ohio Youth Action Board, included:
- A designated campus liaison
- Champions in various campus departments
- The ability to connect students to resources (basic needs, food, housing)
- Community-building opportunities for students
- Targeted outreach to students, and efforts made to identify and support them
- Expanding the eligibility of on-campus services
- Staff training on working with alumni of foster care
- Succession/transition planning
- Data collection
- Mentorship
Owens was one of 12 colleges to receive the designation.
“This designation and grant of $2,500 will allow us to continue the work that already takes place in the Center for Campus and Community Connections,” said Krista Kiessling, the center’s director. “We will provide specialized training to our team to support this student population and utilize our connection mentors for peer support. We also will be collaborating as a student services team to allow foster care alumni to self-identify and receive as many resources as possible to support their success at Owens.”
Owens students who are foster care alumni are encouraged to contact the Center for Campus and Community Connections by visiting www.owens.edu/connection.
Owens Community College Hosts Annual Spring Plant Sale 
Posted on May 7th, 2024
The Owens Community College Landscape and Turfgrass Management Club is hosting the Annual Spring Plant Sale from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 8. The sale is held in the greenhouse outside the Math/Science Center (7315 Championship Dr., Perrysburg, OH 43551).
All plants available for purchase were grown by students in the Greenhouse Management class and will include more than 50 varieties of 4.5-inch potted Proven Winner annuals as well as a variety of perennials, vegetables and succulents. There will also be a few pre-made combination planters ready for Mother’s Day.
Prices will vary. Proceeds from the plant sale will help in supporting the Owens Landscape and Turfgrass Management Club.
Owens Offers New Cardiac Sonography Program to Meet Workforce Demands 
Posted on May 6th, 2024

With healthcare careers continuing to specialize, Owens Community College has received approval to begin a cardiac sonography associate degree program to meet workforce demands. Applications for the first cohort of 10 students will be accepted through May 15 with classes starting June 10.
Cardiac sonography is a diagnostic procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to produce dynamic visual images of the heart, according to Julie Posey, program director. A sonographer’s scope of practice includes operating imaging equipment, identifying normal and abnormal imaging results, preparing patients for procedures and reviewing patient medical history, she added.
“We know from working with the local hospitals, there is an immediate need for cardiac sonographers,” Posey said. “We are excited to add cardiac sonography to our department that also includes diagnostic medical sonography and vascular sonography.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, entry-level graduates working full time can expect to earn a minimum of $63,000. The job outlook through 2032 will increase 10 percent, which is faster than average.
Sonography classes will move to the new $31.3 million healthcare education center on the east side of campus beginning Fall Semester 2024. The center will feature improved lab space and modern equipment for all healthcare students.
For more information, visit www.owens.edu/cardiac-sonography.
Water Workforce Coalition Graduates First Cohort May 9 
Posted on May 6th, 2024
Tyler Strow listed job security among his reasons for returning to Owens Community College to pursue the new Water Treatment Professions Certificate.
“Water is not going away. Everyone is going to need water,” said the 2011 Owens graduate said.
“These jobs are in the public sector. My parents also worked in the public sector – my mom was a teacher; my dad worked for ODOT,” he added.
The Pemberville resident is one of 21 students who will earn the first Water Treatment Professions Certificate from Owens after completing the 16-week training program. Justin Strause of Toledo, a member of the cohort, will be among the speakers at the completion celebration scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, May 9 at Heritage Hall room 123.
Owens is part of the Water Workforce Coalition, which was formed thanks to a $500,000 grant from the U.S. EPA. TMACOG and the City of Toledo also form the coalition, which is responding to northwest Ohio’s anticipated shortages of 41 percent for drinking water operators and 44 percent for wastewater operators due to retirements by 2028.
Amy Klei, chief, Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, Ohio EPA, will deliver the keynote address at the completion celebration. Dr. Dione D. Somerville, Owens president, Sandy Spang, executive director of TMACOG, and Andy McClure, commissioner of plant operations for the City of Toledo, will speak as well.
The class consisted of enthusiastic, hard-working and motivated students, according to Dr. Mary Kaczinski, Owens professor of environmental science and lead instructor for the certificate program. To date, eight of the Owens students have taken and passed their EPA certification, making them ready for employment as a Class I drinking water or wastewater operator.
Strow, 35, not only passed his Class 1 certification but he also is registered to take his Class 2 certification as well. He earned an associate degree in CAD previously at Owens.
“I had such a great experience the first time I attended Owens, I knew I had to go back and try the water certificate program,” he said. “I may not have been in the right field the first time working at a desk. I can see myself in more of a hands-on job like this one. I’m super confident about the work I will be doing once I get a job.”
The second of three Water Workforce Coalition cohorts will begin in August. To learn more, visit https://waterworksforyou.org/.
Owens Community College to Award 522 Associate Degrees at Spring Commencement Ceremonies 
Posted on May 2nd, 2024
Owens Community College will award 522 associate degrees at the 58th Spring Commencement ceremonies in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Theatre on the Toledo-area Campus in Perrysburg.
Owens will hold five ceremonies on Thursday, May 9 and Friday, May 10 with three ceremonies for the School of Nursing and Health Professions. Owens continues to support the region’s workforce demands as it builds a new $31.3 million state-of-the-area healthcare education center scheduled to open in the 2024-25 academic year.
Nursing graduation and pinning will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 9. Health professions will split their 10 associate degrees evenly on Friday with ceremonies held at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 10 will begin at 9 a.m. for the School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and continue at 12 p.m. for the School of Liberal Arts and the School of Business, Hospitality Management and Public Safety.
The five ceremonies will include 192 students with honors and 29 outstanding academic program graduates. All will be recognized at their respective ceremonies. A total of 56 graduates competed their programs on the Owens Findlay-area Campus.
The School of Liberal Arts will also award an honorary Visual Communication Technology degree to Tyler Twining, who died in April 2023. His family will receive the degree posthumously.
Tickets are required to attend any of the ceremonies.
For more information about Owens Commencement, visit www.owens.edu/commencement/.
Owens Early Learning Center Receives $10,000 Grant from Handbags That Help Women’s Giving Circle 
Posted on April 29th, 2024

The 5-Star quality-rated Owens Community College Early Learning Center will feature new equipment benefiting the children it serves thanks to a $10,000 Handbags that Help Women’s Giving Circle grant from the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation.
The grant, presented to Owens Community College and three other organizations at a ceremony at Findlay Country Club, will lead a multi-year effort to upgrade the center’s play facilities, funding the purchase of an indoor climber and outdoor activity set.
The Owens Community College Foundation facilitated the grant application.
“We are forever grateful to the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation for this generous gift that will benefit so many developing, young children in the community,” said Kelle Pack, Owens Community College Foundation executive director and vice president for institutional advancement.
“The project was selected because of its impact on building strong families in the community,” Pack added. “The Handbags that Help Women’s Giving Circle award referenced the Early Learning Center’s innovative programming and developmentally appropriate curriculums as well as the opportunity for professional developmental and career opportunities for students from Owens and the University of Findlay working at the center. These young people serve as role models and advocates for quality early childhood education.”
Located at 3200 Bright Road on the Owens Findlay-area Campus, the Early Learning Center opened in 2006 as a service to families in Findlay and the surrounding community, offering year-round education for toddlers through children age 5 as well as a summer program for school-age children to up age 11.
Step Up to Quality recognizes early care and education programs that exceed quality benchmarks over and above Ohio’s licensing standards. The Owens Early Learning Center is the only Ohio Department of Job and Family Services 5-Star quality rated child care center or early learning center in Hancock County based on criteria including the teacher-to-children ratio per classroom, teacher training, the enrolled child’s early education experience and the enrolled child’s focus on continuous improvement.
Hosted by the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, Handbags That Help is a women’s giving circle dedicated to building strong families and increasing philanthropy in Hancock County. The organization collectively funds significant grants to charitable projects and programs in the community. The giving circle has awarded $726,322 since it began in 2008.
More information about the Early Learning Center is available at www.owens.edu/childcare.
To support future phases of the project, contact www.owens.edu/foundation.
About the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation
The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for all in the community. Established in 1992 as the result of an estate gift from L. Dale Dorney, The Community Foundation has granted more than $85 million to fund projects to support our community. Visit community-foundation.com or call (419) 425-1100 to learn more about how the Foundation is making a lasting community impact.
About OWENS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Owens Community College has served Northwest Ohio since 1965 as an accredited two-year, state-assisted institution of higher education with an open-door admission policy. Through intentional, adaptive and empowering education, Owens offers more than 160 academic programs to be the first choice for students, employers and the community. As a conduit to changing lives for the better, Owens creates pathways for success. For more information, visit www.owens.edu.
Owens Community College Celebrates First Graduating Class of Animation Students 
Posted on April 29th, 2024
As commencement approaches, Owens Community College will celebrate a first-time group of graduates in the Animation major. Before they cross the stage, these five students will host the first Animation Screening Night at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 1 in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Theatre.
The screening night will feature work from the five graduating students as well as work from current students in the introductory courses. The students are led by Casey Cook, assistant professor of Animation & Visual Communication Technology.
“This program is already a great addition to Owens and I’m excited to see what future animation majors have to offer,” said Dylan Mahaney, a member of the inaugural Animation graduating class. He also said he feels honored to be in the first class of graduates and to be able to set the standard for future students.
The five students will return to the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Theatre on Friday, May 10 at 12 p.m. for the commencement ceremony.
To learn more about the Animation program, visit owens.edu/fpa/programs/.
Owens Healthcare Programs Focus on Interprofessional Education at Annual Assistive Technology Fair 
Posted on April 25th, 2024
Location: Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 7270 Biniker Road, Perrysburg, OH 43551
When: Friday, April 26
Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Details: Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities and Owens Community College are partnering to provide a day full of fun and education regarding assistive technology and remote supports.
Owens School of Nursing and Health Professions students will complete an Interprofessional Education (IPE) activity as they continue to prepare for patient-centered care careers. IPE occurs when healthcare students from different disciplines collaborate to improve a patient’s health outcomes.
Nearly 30 community organizations will staff tables.
Industry professionals will offer presentations regarding assistive technology.
This event is free and open to the public.
Owens Dental Hygiene Instructor Buchanan Receives National Faculty Award 
Posted on April 24th, 2024

Nicole Buchanan
Owens Community College Dental Hygiene Instructor Nicole Buchanan has been recognized by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) as a 2024 Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty recipient.
Awarded to select faculty who make a difference in community college classrooms across the country, this highly competitive national designation honors faculty active in their students’ lives and in their colleges’ activities to ensure student success.
A total of 36 faculty received the national honor named for former AACC President and CEO Dale P. Parnell. Buchanan is the fourth Owens faculty member to receive the AACC accolade, joining Sara Burke, Jen Hazel and Sarah Long.
A 2013 Owens graduate from the dental hygiene program, Buchanan was hired as an Owens adjunct faculty member in 2014 and progressed to dental assisting coordinator 2018. She was hired as a full-time instructor in dental assisting 2021 before moving to her current position this academic year.
“Professor Buchanan has shown herself to be an outstanding faculty member who believes deeply in service to her students,” Owens President Dr. Dione D. Somerville said. “Her passion embodies several values that drive our work each day including being transformational, empowering and intentional.
“Professor Buchanan recognizes that challenges to learning differ for each student and tailors her instruction accordingly,” she added. “Specifically, she takes steps to understand her students’ individual needs and implements a strategy that places students in the strongest position to succeed. By starting with concern and proactive support, she witnessed student engagement and overall performance levels rise.”
In addition to the Parnell Award, Buchanan received the Owens School of Nursing and Health Professions Teaching Excellence Award after the 2022-2023 academic year.
“I love teaching at the college that gave me my career,” Buchanan said. “I love working with students and find it deeply rewarding. I am lucky to be doing what I am passionate about.”
Besides her position at Owens, the Elmore resident works for dental practices in Perrysburg and Toledo. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University (2014) and master’s in public health from the Northwest Ohio Consortium for Public Health (2018).
Owens Community College STEM Job Fair 
Posted on April 24th, 2024
When: 3 – 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 30
Where: Heritage Hall Room 123
310 2nd Street
Perrysburg, OH
What: Join us for a STEM job fair. Talk with employers in the following fields about their available job opportunities
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Computer Information Systems
- Life and Natural Sciences
- Skilled Trades and Transportation
For more information, email peter_kowal@owens.edu.
This event is open to Owens students, alumni and the community and is hosted by Owens Career & Transfer Services and the School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Owens Community College Hosts BIG Read Author Toni Jensen on April 25 
Posted on April 23rd, 2024
Owens Community College is excited to host Toni Jensen to discuss her critically-acclaimed book “Carry: A Memoir of Survival on Stolen Land,” the 2023-24 BIG Read Selection. Throughout the academic year, faculty, staff, students and the community have participated in activities, discussions and programs related to the book.
Toni Jensen’s Carry is a memoir-in-essays about gun violence, land and Indigenous women’s lives. It was named a New York Times Editors’ Choice Book. Jensen is Métis, meaning she is of European and Indigenous ancestry and is one of three recognized Aboriginal peoples in Canada.
WHO: Author Toni Jensen
WHAT: The BIG Read Presents: Toni Jensen
WHERE: CFPA Theatre (10 a.m.), Toledo-area Campus; and Education Center 111 (3:30 p.m.), Findlay-area Campus
LINK: https://owens-edu.zoom.us/j/87415144045 (10 a.m. only)
For more on Owens Community College’s BIG Read, visit owens.edu/humanities/read/
I-75/CR 99 Interchange Improvements Slated Near Findlay-area Campus 
Posted on April 17th, 2024
Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) officials informed a capacity crowd of more than 130 people at the Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus about fulfilling a 7-year vision to improve the I-75/County Road 99 interchange.
The 3-year project will begin this spring and culminate in 2026, when the diverging diamond interchange will be completed to better accommodate existing and future traffic along Hancock County’s busy northern corridor, ODOT officials said.
The project will include road enhancements along County Road 99 extending from County Road 140 to the west and the Lowe’s Distribution Center to the east; Lowe’s is about one-half mile from the Owens campus.
The interchange is located 3 miles west of the Owens campus.
“When it’s completed, you will clearly see the benefit it has on the traveling public,” Michael Butler, ODOT’s project engineer, told the audience of business owners, government officials and other interested parties, including representatives from Blanchard Valley Health System.
ODOT officials organized the public meeting with Owens Findlay-area Campus Dean Brad Wood, who was in attendance along with a handful of other Owens employees. Butler and ODOT’s Rob White spent time reviewing the project schedule, how a diverging diamond interchange (DDI) works and the interchange’s benefits, which include increased capacity, efficiency and safety.
Chuck Bills, the former Owens Board of Trustee member who is president and CEO of Findlay’s Tall Timbers Ohio Logistics, was among the audience members to ask questions.
Tim Mayle, the executive director for the Center to Advance Manufacturing, a unique partnership created by Owens, the University of Findlay and Bowling Green State University, also addressed the audience as a member of ODOT’s Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC). The council approves the development and construction of major ODOT projects such as I-75/County Road 99 exchange.
He said to look at the project through the lens of enhancing safety, providing more traffic capacity and increasing the investment for businesses after completion.
“This is important to the county,” Mayle said.
For more information, visit ODOT’s project site: https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/projects/projects/102375
Owens Expands Healthcare Offerings in Findlay with New CPR Class 
Posted on April 15th, 2024
Owens Community College is expanding its healthcare offerings on the Findlay-area Campus with a new American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers CPR class.
The first 4-hour class will be offered Thursday, April 25 in the Education Center at 3200 Bright Road, Findlay. Classes will be offered on an ongoing basis.
The class covers adult, child and infant CPR and is designed for healthcare professionals, daycare providers and others requiring CPR training. The hands-on class includes training with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Students who successfully complete the class will earn a 2-year certification.
The Owens Community College Foundation funded the purchase of $3,300 in the new equipment for the CPR classroom on the Findlay-area Campus.
The CPR class costs $85 and includes the book. To register, visit www.owens.edu/workandplay and click on the CPR link, or call (567) 661-7357.
Owens Inaugural Alumni Hall of Fame Class Featured at Creative Expressions Arts Fundraising Event 
Posted on April 4th, 2024
The community is invited to join Owens Community College alumni, faculty and staff for a special evening celebrating 20 years of the arts as well as the college’s inaugural Alumni Hall of Fame class at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20 at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts.
Creative Expressions, the annual arts fundraiser, supports the endowed Artistic Award Funds for students pursuing a career in the Fine and Performing Arts. The 2023-2024 academic year marks 20 years since the Center for Fine and Performing Arts opened in August 2003 for the 2003-2004 academic year.
Sponsored by the Owens Community College Foundation, the Alumni Hall of Fame awards will be presented to outstanding Owens alumni who have excelled personally and professionally, making a continued and significant difference in their community on a local, state, national or international level. The Alumni Hall of Fame class includes:
- David W. Seeger, Ed.D., a 1980 marketing and sales graduate who was the president and CEO of Great Lakes Credit Union, Inc. for 27 years. He is an adjunct faculty member at Owens.
- Melanie L. Dunn, a 2011 commercial art graduate who works at Madhouse, one of the leading advertising agencies in Toledo. She also owns her own freelance design agency, Cuttlefish Graphics.
- Glenn E. Houck Jr., a 2004 radiography graduate who is the director of radiology clinical operations at Michigan Health. He is a U.S. Army veteran.
- Lesa M. Swimmer, a 1996 associate of arts graduate who started on campus as a student worker and tutor and 30 years later remains at Owens as a highly-respected instructor teaching math, biology, chemistry and physical sciences.
- Sarah R. Heldmann, a 2014 occupational therapy assistant graduate who works at Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities while serving in local, state and national leadership positions related to her work as an occupational therapy assistant.
Complete bios of the inaugural Alumni Hall of Fame class are available at owens.edu/alumni/awards.
Beginning at 5:30 p.m., the semi-formal event includes dinner and artwork auction as well as the Alumni Hall of Fame presentation before concluding with the student theatre production of “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812.”
Renowned artist Ray King of Philadelphia, who created and installed the “Owens Rings” sculpture hanging in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Rotunda for the August 2003 opening, is scheduled to attend.
Tickets, priced at $150 per couple and $100 for an individual ticket, include a commemorative gift, an individualized, handcrafted art piece of glass from the Toledo Museum of Art inspired by the “Owens Rings.”
Tickets are available online at www.owens.edu/fpa/giving. Seating is limited.
Owens Names Page New Workforce and Economic Development Leader 
Posted on April 2nd, 2024

Charlene Page
An executive leader with nearly two decades of experience in economic and business development, Charlene Page has been hired as Executive Director, Workforce and Economic Development at Owens Community College, pending board approval. Page will serve on the Executive Leadership Team and report to Owens President Dr. Dione D. Somerville.
Page joined Owens in November 2023 as the Senior Advisor to the President for Workforce and Economic Development Partnerships. In this role she worked closely with the Workforce department as well as community partners to increase engagement opportunities.
“Charlene has a proven track record with nearly two decades of experience in economic development,” Somerville said. “She believes in collaboration and the power of partnerships to improve the lives of members in our community through education and career opportunities. Charlene’s experiences as a strategic leader make her a valuable addition to the Executive Leadership Team, Owens and the region as a whole.”
Prior to her role at Owens, Page held the position of Regional Talent Manager for JobsOhio and the Regional Growth Partnership, where she developed employee recruitment and training plans to support regional economic development projects.
She also worked as an International Business Development Representative for Oakland County, Michigan specializing in assisting multinational companies grow their operations in the U.S. She brings extensive experience in sales and organizational development to her role here at Owens.
Page earned a bachelor’s degree in Management and Organizational Development from Spring Arbor University and holds certifications as an Economic Development Finance Professional and Certified Global Business Professional. She also currently serves on the Owens Community College Foundation Board.
Owens-Tiffin To Sign New DragonNext Agreement Benefiting Students 
Posted on April 2nd, 2024
Owens Community College and Tiffin University are expanding their ongoing relationship through the DragonNext expedited degree completion program.
When: 2 p.m. Thursday, April 4
Where: Owens Community College Student Services Center, College Hall
30335 Oregon Rd.
Perrysburg, OH 43551
How it Works
All applicants with a minimum of 12 transferrable credits are able to apply for DragonNext admission. Participants must be accepted by both Owens and Tiffin. Participants save both time and money through the credit transferal process. With DragonNext, admitted students are guaranteed the option to transfer up to 60 credits from an associate degree toward the completion of a four-year degree at TU. On-campus participants are eligible for merit scholarships of $16,000 annually, and online students may receive a tuition discount of $150 per credit hour. Relevant students may also be eligible for transfer scholarships upon completion of an associate degree.
Owens Community College Trustee Members Named to Leadership Positions 
Posted on March 27th, 2024

Mary Beth Hammond

Dr. Srinivas K. Hejeebu
Owens Community College has elected Mary Beth Hammond of Findlay as chair and Srinivas K. Hejeebu, M.D. of Sylvania as vice chair of the college’s Board of Trustees. They will serve one-year terms following a vote by the board.
Appointed to the board in 2013, Hammond has been a key leader for the board, having previously led the board in 2020, 2021 and 2022. She also served as vice chair in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2023.
Hammond is retired following more than 30 years of working in the banking industry, where she specialized as a private banker. She supports multiple non-profit organizations and is a past president of the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce.
Also appointed to the Owens board in 2013, Dr. Hejeebu is a professor of medicine at the University of Toledo and an internist at the Medical Center.
The Owens board is comprised of nine community leaders from Lucas, Wood and Hancock Counties who are appointed by the Governor of Ohio for six-year terms. With the October 2023 appoints of Travis Reiff of Bowling Green and Mike Bridenbaker of Monclova, Owens has a full board for the first time in 2021.
The board also includes Matthew McAlear of Perrysburg, Sherina Ohanian of Perrysburg, Richard Rowe Jr. of Findlay, Rita Russell of Toledo and Diana (Dee) Talmage of Ottawa Hills.
For more information about the Owens Community College board of trustees, visit https://www.owens.edu/trustees/.
Owens Community College School of Business Job Fair 
Posted on March 21st, 2024
The School of Business is hosting a job fair. Students will have the opportunity to connect with local employers for full-time jobs or to change careers to align with their major. Students who are undecided or looking to gain professional experience through part-time work or an internship are also welcome to attend.
When: 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 27
Where: Heritage Hall 123
310 2nd Street
Perrysburg, OH 43551
For more information, visit owens.edu/businessjobfair
Owens Express Baseball Team Hosts Doubleheader at Fifth Third Field April 19 
Posted on March 18th, 2024
The Owens Express Baseball team will celebrate 4-1-9 day in the heart of downtown Toledo at Fifth Third Field. The team, led by head coach John Parisho, will return to the home of the Toledo Mud Hens for a doubleheader against the Community Christian College Lions on Friday, April 19 beginning at 4:30 p.m.
This will be the third year the Express have played at Fifth Third Field. “The team looks forward to this doubleheader all season,” said Parisho. The Express are undefeated while playing in downtown Toledo. “We are ready to keep that winning streak alive before making another postseason run,” added Parisho.
Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for kids ages 6-17 as well as Senior/Military tickets. Owens Community College and Community Christian College will be able to unlock free tickets using the promo code “express”. Students may present their student ID at the box office as well.
Purchase tickets HERE.
For more information about the Owens Express, visit www.owensexpress.com.
Owens School of Nursing and Health Professions Expo Day 
Posted on March 18th, 2024
When: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Friday, March 22
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
Where: Admissions Office (College Hall 138)
490 D Street
Perrysburg, OH 43551
What: Prospective students are invited to Owens Community College to:
- Learn more about health programs offered at Owens
- Tour modern lab facilities
- Meet faculty and staff
- Learn more about the Admissions process and selective health review
Faculty and staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide first-hand knowledge. Lunch will be provided.
For more information, please call (567) 661-7777.
Visit owens.edu/visit to learn more.
Owens Admissions Rep Among Gun Violence Survivors Discussion Panelists 
Posted on March 1st, 2024

Janice Hall
A woman is shot dead by her current or former partner every 16 hours, according to data provided by the Brady national gun violence prevention organization.
“I got that dreadful call on my sister’s birthday,” said Owens Community College Admissions Representative Janice Hall, referring to November 7, 2021, when her son’s partner, Natasha Carlisle, was part of a double homicide in Toledo.
Carlisle and her best friend, Laura Luckey, were killed by Donte Gilmer, who was Luckey’s former partner. Gilmer was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
A lifelong Toledo resident, Hall will take part in a gun violence panel discussion at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 6 in College Hall room 100. Sponsored by the BIG Read, the event is free and open to the public.
Hall described gun violence in America as “a club that no one wants to belong to, but it’s starting to get a large membership.”
She said losing Carlisle created multiple gaps for her family.
Her son, Jermaine Byrd, and Carlisle had a daughter, Tashayla, who celebrated her 18th birthday a week before her mother’s death. Hall also noted Byrd and Carlisle had been working on getting back together, which is why Hall said she still calls Carlisle her “daughter-in-law”.
“For my son, his half-brother was killed just a year before. It’s all of this inner-city living,” Hall said. “I hate for it to happen to anyone. If it’s not me, it’s somebody I know that it’s happened to. It’s such a shame. It’s destroying lives – just like drugs.”
The panel also includes:
- Malcolm Cunningham, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, City of Toledo
- Brysen Davis, Violence Interrupter with Save Our Community
- Judy Harbaugh, local leader for Moms Demand Action
- Sherin Henley, a gun violence survivor
- Rebecca Facey, Toledo City Prosecutor
- Mary Kruger, a gun violence survivor
Owens Community College Hosts College & Career Preview Night 
Posted on February 28th, 2024
High school students and their parents, as well as prospective students of all ages, are invited to meet with representatives from colleges, universities, industries and the military at the area’s premier college night event from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 6 in the Student Health and Activities Center (7315 Championship Dr., Perrysburg, OH 43551).
The U.S. Department of Education has made sweeping changes to the FAFSA starting with the 2024-25. Student Financial Services Director Marcos Gomez will host a presentation highlighting the changes and will walk through the new format to help answer questions from students and parents.
The evening will feature presentations on additional financial aid and in-demand jobs such as healthcare.
More details and a list of representatives attending are available at www.owens.edu/collegenight.
Owens Community College Partners with UToledo, TPS for Educational Opportunities Benefiting City of Toledo Residents 
Posted on February 27th, 2024
Leaders from Owens Community College, the University of Toledo and Toledo Public Schools signed a letter of intent Tuesday opening doors for educational opportunities for City of Toledo residents at Scott Park.
In front of a large crowd at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Owens announced the results of the year-long feasibility study assessing the need for a physical Owens presence in the City of Toledo.
Conducted by Trellis Strategies, the study summarized these findings:
- A need for a physical presence in the City of Toledo
- Increased partnerships are necessary to prepare tomorrow’s workforce
- Large education attainment gaps exist in the City of Toledo
“Our goal is to increase access to high-quality educational opportunities in the City of Toledo that benefit the northwest Ohio region,” Owens President Dr. Dione D. Somerville said. “With partners at Scott Park, we can build a foundation to address the needs for today’s students and workforce development.”
Bryan Ashton of Trellis Strategies presented the feasibility study research summary, which identified nearly 190,000 people aged 25 or older in key parts of the City of Toledo with only a high school degree or some college. Nearly 75 percent of the City of Toledo’s residents who are high school graduates did not enroll in college at graduation. Today that translates to more than half of the City of Toledo’s residents age 25-plus, or 55 percent, being college-ready.
“The University of Toledo is proud to strengthen our long-standing partnerships with Owens Community College and Toledo Public Schools in our shared commitment to ensuring all members of our community have an opportunity to achieve their educational and career goals,” said UToledo President Gregory Postel. “By working together, we can help close the educational attainment gap in Toledo to celebrate both individual successes of earning a college degree and also the community benefit of strengthening the workforce and economic prosperity of our region.”
“This new initiative with Owens Community College and the University of Toledo allows TPS to continue providing new and exciting educational opportunities for our students,” said Dr. Romules Durant, CEO/Superintendent of Toledo Public Schools. “We are excited that the future of the Scott Park Campus includes not only TPS students but adult learners who are ready to expand their education as they plan for their future.”
With the completed letter of intent signing, the educational leaders will now collaborate on what programming will be offered at Scott Park as well as a start date. No timeline has been established.
Kristi Clouse, JobsOhio, Senior Managing Director, Talent and Rosalyn Clemens, City of Toledo, Housing and Community Development Director also participated in the announcement. JobsOhio shared with Trellis Strategies its research related to workforce development for the advanced manufacturing sector in northwest Ohio. The City of Toledo provided financial support for the study.
Trellis Strategies is a non-profit, Texas-based higher education research firm with expertise in program evaluation and workforce outcomes, and identifying transportation barriers and enrollment deserts.
“We are thankful for the support and partnerships we have with the University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, the City of Toledo, JobsOhio and Trellis Strategies,” Somerville said. “We look forward to fulfilling our mission and providing quality higher education access at Scott Park.”
Details about the feasibility study and the Scott Park location will be added to https://www.owens.edu/feasibility/.
Owens Community College, Partners to Announce Feasibility Study Results 
Posted on February 26th, 2024
Owens Community College and its partners will announce the results of a year-long feasibility study assessing the need for a physical Owens presence in the City of Toledo. As the lead partner in the initiative, Owens will share the data-informed approach about the study’s conclusions and next steps regarding any potential location and programming.
Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Owens Community College, Perrysburg, OH (GPS address: 7270 Biniker Drive, Perrysburg)
Scheduled Speakers
- Dr. Dione D. Somerville, Owens Community College President
- Kristi Clouse, JobsOhio, Senior Managing Director, Talent
- Rosalyn Clemens, City of Toledo, Housing and Community Development Director
- Bryan Ashton, Trellis Strategies, Managing Director
- Dr. Gregory Postel, University of Toledo, President
- Dr. Romules Durant, Toledo Public Schools, CEO/Superintendent
Presentation/Interviews
The presentation is expected to last about 60 minutes. Interviews will be deferred until after the presentation.
Inspiring Stories Highlight National TRIO Day Celebration 
Posted on February 26th, 2024
The first time Stanley Knox attended Owens Community College, TRIO programs did not exist.
“It’s great that there are so many extra resources and how the staff are so welcoming,” the social media influencer certificate major said after participating in a panel with TRIO students from other colleges as Owens hosted the sixth annual National TRIO Day Celebration at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, TRIO programs are educational opportunity outreach programs designed to motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The National TRIO Day Celebration was a collaborative event of the 11 northwest Ohio TRIO programs from Owens Community College, Bowling Green State University, Lourdes University, Northwest State Community College and the University of Toledo.
These programs are the catalyst for educational post-secondary attainment for first-generation and low-income individuals in the area.
Knox, a first-generation college student who already earned a music business certificate from Owens 10 years ago, told the TRIO audience he was “sharing his heart.” In answering an audience question, he said it was in the past year, just turning 40 a week ago, that he began to master time management.
“I come from YouTube University. I know I’m a hustler and I can’t sit still,” he said. “(To get an education) you have to make up your mind you’re going to stop and do the work.”
Knox is part of the TRIO Student Support Services program.
More than 100 students and TRIO leaders attended the celebration, which began with the keynote presentation from Dr. Jessica R. McClain, Visiting Research Scientist at Indiana University. She spoke about resiliency and thriving by sharing her life story, which was inspired by the untimely passing of her father, Rev. Steve R. McClain.
Owens President Dr. Dione D. Somerville also addressed the TRIO students, along with Northwest State President Dr. Todd Hernandez and State Rep. Michele Grim, State Rep. Josh Williams and Austin Serna, congressional assistant for U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur.
Williams shared his story of transitioning from a homeless high school dropout who considered suicide to attorney, college professor and elected official.
The closing speaker was a TRIO alum, BGSU graduate Myles Johnson, who started his entrepreneurship journey by selling cookies in the Atlanta airport at age 13. He talked about college challenges as well as building relationships on his way to returning to his teen-age home of Lansing, Michigan and winning the Ingham County Commissioner election at age 25.
Between speakers, the students participated in a service project, packing more than 100 bags of donated health and hygiene items for each college to donate to its respective food pantry or student resource office for student use.
“Today has been very positive and inspiring,” said Lisa Robinson after helping pack the bags. She’s a 56-year-old Army veteran from Toledo who’s part of the Owens Veterans Upward Bound TRIO program. “I heard about resilience. I really liked how the first speaker talked about education.”
The event was led by Brandon Gaddy, Owens TRIO programs director, and a committee of representatives from the TRIO programs at the other colleges and universities. It was the third time Owens hosted the National TRIO Day celebration.
Owens Community College Hosts 6th Annual Northwest Ohio TRIO Day Celebration 
Posted on February 20th, 2024
About National TRIO Day
The National TRIO Day Celebration is a collaborative event of the Northwest Ohio TRIO programs including Owens Community College, Bowling Green State University, Lourdes University, Northwest State Community College and the University of Toledo.
When
Saturday, February 24, 2024
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- 9:15 a.m.—Doors Open
- 10 a.m. – Opening/Welcome
- 10:30 a.m. – Keynote Speaker (Sponsored by: TRIO Educational Opportunity Center)
- Dr. Jessica R. McClain, Visiting Research Scientist Center for Research on Learning and Technology, Wright School of Education at Indiana University. Dr. McClain’s research interest center around creating equitable approaches to teaching and learning in STEM education.
- 11:15 a.m. – Service Project
- 12:15 p.m. — Lunch
- 12:45 p.m. – Breakout Session
- 1:15 p.m. – Closing Speaker / Evaluations (Sponsored by: TRIO Educational Opportunity Center)
- Myles Johnson, Ingham County Commissioner, Lansing, MI; Bowling Green State University TRIO Alum
- 2 p.m. – Departures
Where
Center for Fine and Performing Arts
7270 Biniker Drive, Perrysburg
Theme
Resilience: Thriving through Transition
Attending
Approximately 100-150 people
Leaders from the participating colleges and universities
TRIO students
Elected officials
Ohio Arts Council Awards Grant for Owens Community College Artist in Residence Program 
Posted on February 12th, 2024
The exterior of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts at Owens Community College will get a new artistic addition thanks to a grant from the Ohio Arts Council in the amount of $4,137.
Annette Fink, an artist who has lived in the Toledo area for 35 years, will lead the project as the Artist in Residence in the summer of 2024. She will create a weather-resistant sculptural mural out of ceramics as well as teach classes to students, faculty, staff and the community.
A permanent sculpture expressing the artistic culture of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts will be installed.
The grant requires a one-to-one match. The Ohio Arts Council funds will be used to support the artist for the supplies and materials for ceramic classes for the artist as well as a stipend. It will also help cover the artist’s labor and time designing and building the mural.
Since 2021, the Walter E. Terhune Gallery in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts has welcomed a local artist to be the “Artist in Residence.” Fink will be the fourth Artist in Residence since the program’s inception.
To learn more about the Artist in Residence program, visit www.owens.edu/terhune.
Owens Community College Receives Mental Health Grant 
Posted on February 7th, 2024
Owens Community College has been awarded $164,782 by the Ohio Department of Higher Education for mental health support funding. The grant will be distributed over two years.
The funds will go to achieving four goals: promoting the training and development of master’s level counselors in training, providing professional development opportunities, promoting health and wellness as well as continued services such as walk-in appointments, individual and group counseling, mental health screenings, workshops, and programming related to a wide variety of personal growth and mental health issues.
“Our process was highly collaborative and very intentional with input from many departments,” said Vickie Heck, director of counseling services at Owens. “It’s significant to see this level of support from Governor DeWine’s office. It reinforces that we are part of a bigger community as a public college in Ohio that really understands and supports mental health.”
Owens Community College Counseling Services offers consultation, mental health assessment, crisis support, outreach and linkage to community resources. The services are available at no charge to all students enrolled in six or more credit hours.
Heck hopes the grant will elevate the support provided to the community at Owens. “This support allows us to continue to think broadly and creatively about how to best serve our students. We want to continue with Owens Community College’s directive that mental health be prioritized in such a way that everyone across campus feels sufficiently informed and empowered to talk about it,” said Heck.
To learn more about Counseling Services at Owens, visit owens.edu/counseling.
Passages Juried Art Show Opening Reception 
Posted on January 31st, 2024
Local high school artists will have their work displayed and judged at Owens Community College’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts Rotunda for the third annual “Passages” High School Juried Art Show. The opening reception and award ceremony will be from 6 – 8 p.m. Friday, February 2.
Students from 11 area schools including Bedford, Fremont Ross, Liberty Center, Otsego, Penta Career Center, Perrysburg, Pike-Delta-York, St. John’s, St. Ursula, Tiffin Columbian and Whitmer submitted artwork in the categories of animation/video, commercial art, fine art (2D & 3D) and photography.
In its three-year history, the art show has nearly doubled in size. “The first year, we had 100 art pieces submitted and five schools participating,” said Shelby Stoots, Manager of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts. “For year 3, almost 200 art pieces were submitted and we now have 11 participating schools.”
The Visual Arts faculty at Owens will jury the exhibit and prizes will be awarded. The merit prize will be presented to an overall first, second and third-place winner. Each award can be used toward tuition at Owens Community College.
The art will be on display through Friday, March 29.
Girl Scouts of Western Ohio STEAM Day 
Posted on January 29th, 2024
Saturday, February 3, 2024
Owens Community College, Findlay-area Campus
3200 Bright Road, Findlay
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
More than 150 area Girl Scouts (grades K-12), their leaders and caregivers will participate in STEAM Day, where they will take part in hands-on activities related to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM).
Girl Scouts will rotate through stations with Owens faculty, including:
- Biology (dissecting cow eyes, seeing a virtual cadaver)
- Mechanics (program robotic arms, play with hydraulics)
- Nursing (use stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs)
- Welding (virtual welding)
- Physical Therapy (strength and mobility exercises)
Schedule
- 10 a.m. – Registration/Welcome at the Community Education and Wellness Center
- 10:15 a.m. – The groups will begin rotating through stations in the Community Education and Wellness Center and Education Center. Rotations will occur every 25 minutes.
- There is a 30-minute lunch break at 11:45 a.m.
- 1:45 p.m. – Wrap up
The day’s activities are designed to help Girl Scouts think both analytically and creatively. A majority of girls who attend events like this report being more confident in their science and math abilities after participating—an important impact on their future education and careers. (Women comprise about half of today’s workforce, but only 34% of the STEM workforce.)
The event is sponsored by Girl Scouts of Western Ohio and Marathon, in partnership with Owens Community College.
Media opportunities:
- Video/photos of hands-on activities
- Interviews with Girl Scouts, leaders, parents, staff
On-site contacts
Girl Scouts: Becky Sarantou, 419.356.9018
Owens Community College: Andy Woodard, 419.308.2065
We Are Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit gswo.org, or follow Girl Scouts of Western Ohio on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
About OWENS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Owens Community College has served Northwest Ohio since 1965 as an accredited two-year, state-assisted institution of higher education with an open-door admission policy. Through intentional, adaptive and empowering education, Owens offers more than 160 academic programs to be the first choice for students, employers and the community. As a conduit to changing lives for the better, Owens creates pathways for success. For more information, visit www.owens.edu.
Kids Access to Dental Care Day 
Posted on January 25th, 2024
The Owens Community College Dental Hygiene Clinic is hosting a Kids Access to Dental Care Day. Dental decay is one of the biggest unmet health needs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 in 4 children aged 2-11 have untreated cavities.
Owens Community College’s goal is to increase the access to care in children to teach them healthy dental hygiene habits to prevent further decay and address any current decay present.
When: 8 – 11 a.m. Monday, January 29 and 1 – 3 p.m. Tuesday, January 30
Where: Health Technologies 209, Dental Hygiene Clinic
320 1st Street
Perrysburg, OH 43551
What: Free dental services for children ages 6 months to 18 years old. Limited spots are available and appointments are required. Owens Community College Dental Hygiene Department provides free dental care such as dental cleanings, X-rays, sealants and fluoride.
Call (567) 661-7294 to make an appointment.
Win Owens Scholarship Worth up to $500 by Attending January 4 Registration Event 
Posted on January 2nd, 2024
Event: Owens Community College One Day Registration
When: Thursday, January 4 from 2-7 p.m.
Where: Owens Community College Toledo-area Campus, Admissions Office in College Hall
30335 Oregon Road, Perrysburg 43551
What: One Day Registration offers admissions application assistance, academic and financial services advising, placement testing, orientation and registration for classes. Spring Semester 2024 classes begin the week of January 15.
Scholarship Details: Owens Community College will offer 10 $500 last dollar scholarships to students who attend the event. Participants must attend the event and be registered students of Owens Community College in order to win.
More info or pre-registration: www.owens.edu/onedayreg
Owens Express Name Men’s Soccer Coach 
Posted on December 19th, 2023
Owens Express Athletics has tapped former Express player and former local high school coach Nate Baer to lead the restart of men’s soccer. Baer played for the Express men’s soccer team, led by Art Johnson in the fall of 2006 and 2007. He brings a wealth of experience and success having previously served as head coach for two prominent high school soccer programs in both Mason and Ottawa Hills high school.
“As an alumnus, Coach Baer understands the integral pieces of a successful program and the important balance of athletics and academics. He has the experience as a player and a coach to help lead this team as we re-establish men’s soccer in our sports offerings,” said Shelley Whitaker, Express Athletic Director.
Baer will be tasked with restarting the men’s program that last competed in the fall of 2015.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be chosen to lead the restart of Owens Community College men’s soccer program. First off, I would like to thank the athletic administration,” said Baer.
Owens holds a significant place in Baer’s journey as a student-athlete, person and now coach. “I look forward to the connection, opportunities and impact Owens men’s soccer will bring to the northwest Ohio soccer community,” Baer said. The program will provide a platform to compete at the next level while creating a pathway for additional opportunities at 4-year institutions. “I am excited to pave the way and restore the tradition of competing at both the regional and national levels,” he added.
Most recently, Baer spent three years as head coach at Mason High School achieving a record of 37-13-9 including a league record of 22-3-2 while earning two conference titles, three sectional titles and two district titles. His 2021 & 2022 finished as the No. 1 team in the city (Cincinnati).
Prior to coaching at Mason, he served as head coach at Ottawa Hills High School for eight seasons. Under his leadership, the Green Bears compiled a record of 112-34-6 including a league record of 58-2 while winning eight league titles, eight sectional titles, four district titles, two regional titles and making one state final appearance. He earned what is considered the highest award high school soccer coaches can receive when he received the 2019 National Federation of State High Schools Coach of the Year. The NFHS award resulted from Baer having been named Ohio soccer coach of the year for 2018 by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Baer has been named the league Coach of the Year from 2013-2021 between both high school programs. His coaching licenses include: USSF National E License, USSF National D License, Futsal Level 3/4, and TOVO methodology. Baer has also gained experience via the youth club soccer platform with Toledo Celtics, Pacesetter Soccer Club and Ohio Elite Soccer Academy.
After his time at Owens, Baer went on to captain the Lake Erie College men’s soccer team while earning a bachelor’s degree in Marketing. He currently is the founder and principal consultant of a Data Analytics Consulting Startup.
Baer resides in Perrysburg with his wife, Sam and daughters, Quinn, Brinnly, Rian and Logan.
For recruiting information, email nathan_baer@owens.edu
Owens Community College to Award 343 Associate Degrees at 43rd Fall Commencement ceremonies 
Posted on December 12th, 2023
Owens Community College will award 343 associate degrees Friday, December 15 at the 43rd Fall Commencement ceremonies at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Theatre on the Toledo-area Campus in Perrysburg.
A total of 39 students from the Findlay-area Campus will join the 304 Toledo-area Campus graduates for the Commencement ceremonies scheduled at 9 a.m. for the School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; 12 p.m. for the School of Business, Hospitality Management and Public Safety, School of Liberal Arts and the Health Professions graduates from the School of Nursing and Health Professions; and 3 p.m. for the nursing graduation and pinning.
The graduating class features 88 students graduating with honors (3.5 grade-point average and above) as well as outstanding academic program graduates. All will be recognized at the ceremony.
This year’s Outstanding Graduates are:
- Outstanding Graduate in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics: Kevin Ganues, Landscape and Turfgrass Management, LaSalle, MI
- Outstanding Graduate in Business Technology: Alex Nyers, Business Transfer Pathway, Oregon
- Gerald Bazer Outstanding Arts and Sciences Graduate: Stephanie Logsdon, Education Transfer Concentration, Wharton
- Food, Nutrition and Hospitality Outstanding Graduate: Sabrina Myers, Culinary Arts, Sandusky
- Outstanding Social Work Graduate: Amber Lopez, Social Work Transfer Pathway, Toledo
- Peggy Bensman Award: Leah Swope, Registered Nurse, McComb
- Barbara Rood Student Choice Award: Veneta Blankenship, Registered Nurse, Sofia, Bulgaria
- Barbara Rood Student Choice Award: Danielle Eiting, Registered Nurse, Findlay
- Barbara Rood Student Choice Award: Haley Ansman, Registered Nurse, Toledo
- Barbara Rood Student Choice Award: Lila Common, Registered Nurse, Swanton
The Commencement ceremonies are ticketed events. For more information, please visit www.owens.edu/commencement.
Win Owens Scholarship Worth up to $1,000 by Attending December 11 Registration Event 
Posted on December 8th, 2023
Event: Owens Community College One Day Registration
When: Monday, December 11 from 2-7 p.m.
Where: Owens Community College Toledo-area Campus, Admissions Office in College Hall
30335 Oregon Road, Perrysburg 43551
What: One Day Registration offers admissions application assistance, academic and financial services advising, placement testing, orientation and registration for classes. Spring Semester 2024 classes begin the week of January 15.
Scholarship Details: Owens Community College will offer three $1,000 last dollar scholarships to students who attend the event. Participants must attend the event and be registered students of Owens Community College in order to win.
More info or pre-registration: www.owens.edu/onedayreg
About OWENS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Owens Community College has served Northwest Ohio since 1965 as an accredited two-year, state-assisted institution of higher education with an open-door admission policy. Through intentional, adaptive and empowering education, Owens offers more than 160 academic programs to be the first choice for students, employers and the community. As a conduit to changing lives for the better, Owens creates pathways for success. For more information, visit www.owens.edu.
Owens Community College to Host Nation’s First Jill of All Trades 
Posted on December 7th, 2023
Owens Community College is excited to be selected as the first institution in the United States to host Jill of All Trades on Wednesday, December 13 beginning at 8 a.m. in Veterans Hall on the Toledo-area Campus.
Established in 2014 in Canada, Jill of All Trades™ has been providing hands-on experiences to young women in grades 9-12 to introduce them to the possibilities of a career in skilled trades including advanced manufacturing and transportation. The day-long event aims to inspire these women by providing a safe and engaging learning environment through workshops led by industry and college mentors.
“We are looking forward to engaging young women by creating an awareness of the vast possibilities of a skilled trades career; providing experiences through hands on workshops at Owens Community College and opportunities to network with local employers and industry partners during the event through display booths and industry mentors in workshops,” said Rosie Hessian, Director of Jill of All Trades.
This program’s goal is to help address the skilled trades workforce needs of the future. By introducing young women non-traditional trades and apprenticeships, this collaborative endeavor will allow Owens along with its partners to send a consistent message to young women, increase college enrollment in trades and apprenticeships, retain skilled trades workers, grow capacity and address gender diversity.
“With Owens situated along the I-75 corridor, we are in a unique position to be a driving force for the economy for our region through skilled trades,” said Dr. Dan Kelley, Dean of the School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics at Owens. “These students will see why Owens is a leader in advanced manufacturing preparedness and how much of an impact this day could have on their future.”
This year, Owens is partnering with Penta Career Center to host its students for various workshops and mentorship opportunities.
In addition to the students from Penta Career Center, Owens will welcome elected officials and representatives from Buckeye Broadband, the event’s presenting sponsor, along with other sponsors: First Solar, Owens Corning, Advanced Technologies Consultants, Taylor Automotive Group, Barnes, First Energy, Magna, Enbridge and Mechanical Contractors Association of Northwest Ohio.
For the full schedule, visit https://www.owens.edu/jillofalltrades/.
Owens Community College Receives Commercial Truck Driver Student Aid Awards 
Posted on December 5th, 2023
Owens Community College has been awarded a total of $130,758 to help students seeking to earn a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). The Toledo-area Campus was awarded $98,754 and the new addition of the program to the Findlay-area Campus was awarded $32,004. The money is part of $2.54 million from the Ohio Department of Education distributed to 35 institutions to help fuel this high-demand career.
The financial aid will be provided to in-state students who complete the program and agree to live and work in Ohio for at least one year upon earning their CDL. “Northwest Ohio is a major hub for commerce for our country and the CDL drivers are heartbeat of it all,” said Quinton Roberts, Dean of Workforce and Community Services at Owens. “With this award to Owens, we will be able to boost the economy in our region and continue to train more CDL drivers for this in-demand occupation.”
This financial aid will be distributed to students as a 50% grant, and 50% loan, that will be forgiven upon the graduate working for an Ohio transportation company within a year following their graduation from our CDL program.
For more information on the Truck Driving program at Owens, visit www.owens.edu/cdl.
Owens Community College Invests $31.3 Million to Meet Region’s Growing Healthcare Needs 
Posted on November 16th, 2023
The Center for Fine and Performing Arts rotunda was filled with healthcare students who posed for group photos. They captured the memories but more importantly, they arrived early to be part of the next historic occasion at Owens Community College.
Owens broke ground Thursday, November 16 on a $31.3 million healthcare education center that will support the region’s labor demands by providing highly-skilled healthcare professionals from the School of Nursing and Health Professions.
The renovation and expansion of two buildings on the east side of the Toledo-area Campus will allow for enrollment growth, provide double the lab space and ensure students are working on state-of-the-art equipment.
In all, nearly 200 community members, faculty, staff and students attended the ceremonial groundbreaking, featuring a presentation at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts theatre and then photos with hard hats and shovels in neatly piled black dirt at the nearby construction site.
Among those in attendance were State Rep. Haraz Ghanbari, Tim Schneider, a representative from the office of U.S. Senator JD Vance, and David Wirt, district director of the Office of Congressman Robert Latta.
“We have been educating tomorrow’s nurses and healthcare professionals for more than 50 years,” Owens President Dr. Dione D. Somerville said, “and with this renovation and expansion, Owens will remain at the forefront for students’ healthcare education before our graduates begin caring for patients in hospitals and other medical facilities.”
With an expected completion date of 2025, the center will feature 65,250 in renovated space and 21,300 in new additions to the footprint, providing students with more than 86,500 of square footage as they pursue in-demand careers in healthcare.
The School of Nursing and Health Professions enrolled 1,845 students for Fall 2023, including 1,733 on the Toledo-area Campus, in Dental Hygiene, Health Information, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Medical Assisting, Nursing, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physical Therapist Assistant, Radiography, Sonography and Surgical. Exercise Science, which also is part of the school, moved its offices and labs to the Student Health and Activities Center this year.
Student leaders representing the 11 departments participated in the groundbreaking ceremony.
“It’s exciting that we will have a primary location to accommodate our interprofessional education approach, which ensures healthcare graduates are well-trained to practice collaboratively and provide patient-centered care to members of the community,” said Cathy Ford, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions. “Our new and expanded center will feature dedicated spaces to create these collaborations.”
Moody’s Investors Service assigned Owens Community College an A2 underlying and Aa2 enhanced rating for a $25 million bond. The bond is the first in the college’s history, signaling the college’s financial stability. The capital project including renovations, improvements and equipment purchases is estimated at $31.3 million, using bond proceeds, state and local funds.
Owens Community College has served Northwest Ohio since 1965 as an accredited two-year, state-assisted institution of higher education with an open-door admission policy. Through intentional, adaptive and empowering education, Owens offers more than 160 academic programs to be the first choice for students, employers and the community. As a conduit to changing lives for the better, Owens creates pathways for success. For more information, visit www.owens.edu.
Owens Community College Breaking Ground on $31.3 million Healthcare Education Center 
Posted on November 14th, 2023
Media Advisory
Owens Community College will support the region’s labor demands by providing highly-skilled healthcare professionals from a new $31.3 million nursing and health professions education center. A formal ceremony and ceremonial groundbreaking will mark the construction of the renovated and expanded facility.
Formal ceremony and ceremony groundbreaking
10 a.m. Thursday, November 16
- Presentation in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts mainstage theatre
- Groundbreaking photo opportunities near the construction site to follow
- Students from the different healthcare departments will participate
Theme
The heart for future healthcare professionals
About the School of Nursing and Health Professions
The School of Nursing and Health Professions enrolled 1,845 students for Fall 2023, including 1,733 on the Toledo-area Campus in three buildings (Heritage Hall, Health Technologies Hall and Bicentennial Hall).
Upon completion in 2025, healthcare students will study in the new center, located on the east side of the Toledo-area Campus in the buildings formerly known as the Library and Audio/Visual Classroom Center. The square footage will feature 65,250 in renovated square footage and 21,300 in new additions to the footprint, providing students with more than 86,500 of square footage as they pursue rewarding careers in healthcare.
The new center will house the following 10 departments:
- Dental Hygiene
- Health Information
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Medical Assisting
- Nursing
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Physical Therapist Assistant
- Radiography
- Sonography
- Surgical
Exercise Science, which also is part of the school, moved its offices and labs to the Student Health and Activities Center this year.
Owens’ approach of interprofessional education (IPE) ensures healthcare graduates are well-trained to practice collaboratively and provide patient-centered care to members of the community. The new center will feature simulation areas for students to practice the IPE curriculum.
Scope of Project
Moody’s Investors Service assigned Owens Community College an A2 underlying and Aa2 enhanced rating for a $25 million bond. The bond is the first in the college’s history, signaling the college’s financial stability. The capital project including renovations, improvements and equipment purchases is estimated at $31.3 million, using bond proceeds, state and local funds.
Website
www.owens.edu/healthcareeducationcenter
Owens One Day Registration Event 
Posted on November 9th, 2023
Owens Community College is hosting a one day registration event Monday, November 13 at the Toledo-area campus. At One Day Reg, prospective students can get the help needed to start their road to success. Admissions representatives and academic advisors will be available to navigate enrollment steps.
When: 2 – 7 p.m. Monday, November 13
Where: Owens Community College Toledo-area Campus
30335 Oregon Rd.
Perrysburg, OH 43551
For more information, visit www.owens.edu/admissions/onedayreg/.
Men’s Soccer to Return to Owens Community College 
Posted on November 1st, 2023
Owens Community College will expand its intercollegiate sports offerings for the 2024-25 academic year by bringing back the men’s soccer program.
Men’s soccer was introduced at Owens in the 1998 and continued play through the 2015 season. At the end of the 2016 academic year, Owens made the difficult decision to close the men’s soccer program along with women’s soccer and men’s golf programs in a cost-savings measure. The baseball and softball programs also were suspended that year.
Baseball and softball returned in the 2018-19 academic year and women’s soccer resumed play this academic year.
During its previous seasons, the Owens Express men’s soccer team made the NJCAA Region XII tournament 14 times, winning the championship in the 2005-06 season. The Express won its first conference championship in 2012-13.
“We have been able to reintroduce women’s soccer, baseball and softball with success and are excited to offer men’s soccer again for the Express,” said Shelley Whitaker, Athletic Director at Owens Community College.
The head coach position will be posted this month.
For more information about Owens Community College athletics, please visit owensexpress.com.
Owens School of Nursing and Health Professions Expo Day 
Posted on October 30th, 2023
When: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Friday, November 3
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
Where: Admissions Office (College Hall 138)
490 D Street
Perrysburg, OH 43551
What: Prospective students are invited to Owens Community College to:
- Learn more about health programs offered at Owens
- Tour various labs
- Meet faculty and staff
- Learn more about the Admissions process and selective health review
Faculty and staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide first-hand knowledge. Lunch will be provided.
For more information, please call (567) 661-7777.
Visit owens.edu/visit/snhp-expo/ to learn more.
Owens Community College Awarded Nearly $330,000 in Talent Ready Grants for FY24 
Posted on October 25th, 2023
Owens Community College has been awarded $329,363 in Talent Ready Grants. The grants, previously called short-term certificate grants, will help students who have financial aid need to take a credit or non-credit short-term certificate program.
The programs eligible for the grant are in-demand jobs in the medical, advanced manufacturing and first responder fields including Sterile Processing, Tool and Die/Mold Maker, Commercial Truck Driving and Robotics.
“Students can receive up to $2,000 toward the cost of a certificate and can take up to three certificates total,” said Heidi Altomare, Director of Grants at Owens Community College. A short-term certificate requires less than 30 credit hours or 900 non-credit hours.
Students must be financial aid eligible and an Ohio resident.
“We believe Talent Ready Grants are just one of a series of budget line items that can strengthen Ohio’s education and workforce training efforts, particularly at community colleges,” said Randy Gardner, Chancellor of the Department of Higher Education.
In 2022, the Ohio Department of Higher Education invested nearly $190,000 in Owens Community College to create the Short-Term Certificate Grant Program.
For more information on the Talent Ready Grants at Owens Community College, visit owens.edu/tuitionaid and click on Grants.
STEM Job Fair 
Posted on October 23rd, 2023
When: 3 – 6 p.m. Thursday, October 26
Where: Heritage Hall Room 123
310 2nd Street
Perrysburg, OH
What: Join us for a STEM job fair. Talk with employers in the following fields about their available job opportunities
- Applied Engineering
- Automotive
- CAD
- Computer Programming Technology
- Environmental Science
- Information Systems Technology
- Welding
For more information, email peter_kowal@owens.edu.
This event is open to Owens students, alumni and the community and is hosted by Owens Career & Transfer Services and the School of STEM.
The College Tour Watch Party 
Posted on October 18th, 2023
Join Owens Community College for an on-campus premiere of The College Tour from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Monday, October 23 in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Theatre, 7270 Biniker Dr., Perrysburg, OH 43551. The Findlay-area Campus will host a watch party from 12 – 1 p.m. Thursday, November 2 in Education Center 111, 3200 Bright Rd., Findlay, OH 45840.
We are rolling out the red carpet for nine students and one dean who share their stories of life-changing experiences. From performing arts to athletics to hands-on and unique learning experiences, these featured students show why Owens is a powerhouse community college and the top choice for students in the region.
The students and dean featured in the episode are:
- Al Mitchell – Belonging, Registered Nurse
- Hayley St. John – Athletics, Criminal Justice
- Caleb Prince – Hands-on Learning, Caterpillar Dealer Service Technician
- Quinton Roberts – Advanced Manufacturing Training
- Skyler Vogelsong – Findlay-area Campus, Registered Nurse
- Joe Smith – School and Life Balance, Broadcast Media Technology
- Lucas Wisuri – Career Readiness, John Deere Tech
- Tyler Bender – Opportunity, Physical Therapist Assistant
- Sabrina Myers – Unique Programs, Culinary Arts
- Adrian Smith – Academic Resources and Support, Dental Hygiene
The College Tour is an award-winning series of 30-minute episodes featuring colleges and universities from across the United States. Each episode takes a deeper dive into what student life is like on the respective campus through the eyes of the students. The award-winning TV series looks at academics, career-readiness, student life, sports, activities and more.
Owens Community College is the first community college in Ohio to be featured on The College Tour.
The red carpet experience would not be complete without movie theater popcorn for the big event!
CDL Training Program Expands to Findlay-area Campus 
Posted on October 5th, 2023
Owens Community College is expanding its CDL Training Program to the Findlay-area Campus. The first class will be offered October 27-January 27.
The classes will be Saturday – Sunday with no classes November 11-12, November 25-26 or December 23-31. The first two weeks will also have class on Friday.
“For quite some time, we have been approached about adding this program to the Findlay-area Campus,” said Carla Benarth, Manager of the Truck Driving Program. “The area feels they would benefit from this offering because of the industrial area and farm population.”
In this short-term training program, students will be taught by licensed instructors through 160 course hours – 40 in the classroom and 120 hours of hands-on training on the road.
This course will provide students with the skills needed to become a professional CDL Class A truck driver.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Ohio ranks fourth in the nation with the highest employment level in heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers. In northwest Ohio, drivers earn an average salary of $54,170, nearly $5,000 above the national average.
The deadline to register is October 20.
For more information, visit www.owens.edu/workforce_cs/.
Community Members, Prospective New Students Invited to Owens Community College Open House Monday, October 9 
Posted on October 2nd, 2023
Owens Community College invites prospective students and the community to its annual Open House from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday, October 9. Attendees will be able to explore academic programs, talk with faculty and staff about program offerings and learn more about support services.
“Owens is excited to welcome prospective students to visit our campus. Whether they are straight out of high school or a few years older and returning to school, we are ready to show why Owens is the best choice for their future,” said Erin Kramer, Director of Admissions. “We are excited to show the region everything Owens has to offer and how their success starts here.”
Owens Community College offers more than 160 programs ranging from business to healthcare to fine and performing arts to advanced manufacturing and trades.
At Open House, prospective students will be able to complete the Admissions application, learn about financial aid and payment options as well as learn more about student life on the Toledo-area Campus. “We want prospective students to see how inclusive, transformational, empowering and fun the Owens community is and why they should want to be a part of it,” said Kramer.
The Open House will be located in Veterans Hall 201 on the Toledo-area Campus.
Campus tours will also be offered. More details are available at owens.edu/openhouse.
Owens Foundation Golf Classic Raises Record Total of More Than $79,000 
Posted on September 28th, 2023

Phil Rudolph Jr. of Rudolph Libbe Group and the former chair of the Owens Community College Foundation putts during the 21st annual Owens Foundation Golf Classic. From left are playing partner Tim Mayle of the Center to Advance Manufacturing, Owens Community College President Dr. Dione D. Somerville, Owens Foundation President and Board of Trustees member Dee Talmage, and Greg Silloway of Waterford Bank.
The 21st Annual Owens Foundation Golf Classic presented by Hylant raised a record total of $79,235 in August and the proceeds will continue to support Owens Community College students, faculty and programming.
The Golf Classic, which was played in August at Belmont Country Club, has generated more than $900,000 since its inception.
“We sincerely appreciate the local sponsors as well as the individuals, businesses and organizations for contributing to the success of the event and future of Owens Community College and our students,” said Kelle Pack, Vice President of the Owens Advancement Office and Executive Director of the Owens Community College Foundation.
“It was a great day weather-wise and the Belmont Country Club staff were gracious hosts. We look forward to another great event next year,” Pack said.
The 22nd annual fundraiser is scheduled for Monday, September 16, 2024, also at Belmont Country Club.
The Owens Community College Foundation has provided nearly $8 million in support for student scholarships and program and capital assistance since 2002. The Owens Foundation has $6.5 million in endowed funds and scholarships. Visit www.owens.edu/foundation to learn more about how to support Owens Community College.
Kids Access to Dental Care Day 
Posted on September 26th, 2023
The Owens Community College Dental Hygiene Clinic is hosting a Kids Access to Dental Care Day. Dental decay is one of the biggest unmet health needs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 in 4 children aged 2-11 have untreated cavities.
Owens Community College’s goal is to increase the access to care in children to teach them healthy dental hygiene habits to prevent further decay and address any current decay present.
When: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday, October 2
Where: Health Technologies 209, Dental Hygiene Clinic
320 1st Street
Perrysburg, OH 43551
What: Free dental services for children ages 6 months to 18 years old. Limited spots are available and appointments are required. Owens Community College Dental Hygiene Department provides free dental care such as dental cleanings, x-rays, sealants and fluoride.
Call (567)661-7294 to make an appointment.
Owens Community College Celebrates 40 Years Serving Findlay 
Posted on September 22nd, 2023
Owens Community College was full of excitement as the community joined students, faculty and staff to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Findlay-area Campus on September 21.
The celebration flourished as hundreds of students participated in Fall Fest, an annual welcome back festival with free food, friendship and this year, a celebratory mural painting that will be hung on campus marking 40 years of education and service.
More than 60 key stakeholders attended a community celebration luncheon including Board of Trustee members Mary Beth Hammond and Rich Rowe, Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn, Director of Findlay-Hancock Economic Development Dan Sheaffer and University of Findlay President Dr. Katherine Fell.
As the celebration began, representatives for three elected officials, U.S. Representative Bob Latta, U.S. Senator JD Vance and Ohio Treasurer and Findlay native Robert Sprague, presented proclamations to Owens President Dr. Dione D. Somerville.
Dietsch Brothers Fine Chocolates, a staple in the Findlay community, created commemorative chocolate bars that were distributed at the community event.
The day was also a welcome for potential new students who explored the Findlay-area Campus at an open house. Prospective students were able to take a tour, talk with faculty and staff and apply to Owens.
Shop Owens, the college’s online retail store, also set up tables for attendees to purchase apparel in person, including the limited edition 40th anniversary T-shirt which was the biggest seller of the day. Proceeds of the 40th anniversary T-shirt sale will benefit Findlay-area Campus projects.
In 1983, Owens Community College planted its roots in downtown Findlay near the University of Findlay. In 2005, the College expanded and relocated to the northeast side of the city to its current location on Bright Road. In its 40 years, more than 5,000 students have graduated from the Findlay-area Campus.
To learn more about the Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus, visit owens.edu/findlay.
Training and jobs are available in public utility operations, September 25 event highlights free education and rewarding careers 
Posted on September 19th, 2023
Anyone searching for a rewarding career can learn about a new program offering free education and employment connections in drinking water and wastewater operations during an event at Owens Community College at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25.
The Water Workforce Coalition is a regional initiative led by Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG), Owens Community College, the City of Toledo and public utility partners throughout the region. Learn more about the program at www.waterworksforyou.org
There is a growing need for qualified utility operators throughout northwest Ohio. A new 16-week certificate program at Owens beginning in January will prepare students to pass licensing exams and be ready for rewarding employment in the water and wastewater industry, with tuition paid for by grant funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Anyone 18 or older with a high school diploma or a state-issued GED qualifies for this Water Treatment Professions Certificate program, which will enroll 24 students per semester. Students will be expected to attend in-person classes at Owens’ Toledo-area Campus from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Students also will need to be available to attend on-the-job training at water or wastewater plants on Fridays.
At the September 25 event in Veterans Hall 201, anyone who might be interested can learn about the admissions process, hear about classes, and see the wide array of student support services offered by Owens and community partners. Attendees will hear from current utility employees about jobs in their field and will have the opportunity to sign up for in-person tours of drinking water and wastewater plants.
A second event will be offered on November 8, but registration for this program is limited, and those who complete all enrollment requirements will be accepted into the program first.
This program will follow Owens’ established enrollment procedures. If applications exceed the number of seats available, interested individuals will be placed on a wait list and will be prioritized for future sessions or open seats.
“Our partnership in the Water Workforce Coalition is a perfect example of our commitment to connecting business and industry and providing accessible, high-quality education and training,” said Dr. Dione D. Somerville, Owens Community College president. “We are excited to begin to fast track students to new opportunities in public water and wastewater starting in January.”
Owens Community College, Partners Provide Update on Toledo Location Feasibility Study 
Posted on September 8th, 2023
A Texas-based research company provided an update Friday on the assessment studying if Owens Community College should add a physical presence in the City of Toledo.
Bryan Ashton, chief strategy and growth officer of Trellis Company, reviewed the assessment’s methodology and eventual deliverables for a group of more than 50 key stakeholders who attended in person plus a virtual audience.
The study will include enrollment trends and enrollment deserts as well as transportation and location analysis. The final report is expected to be completed before the end of the calendar year.
Ashton highlighted two data points that have surfaced in initial research:
- Key parts of the Owens service district include nearly 190,000 people aged 25 and over that only have a high school degree or some college (American Community survey)
- More than 60 percent of individuals in the region do not have a postsecondary degree
“This study is rooted in our new strategic plan as we try to model agility based on a thorough understanding of ever-changing student needs. We are eager to learn Trellis’ findings and make data-informed decisions about a possible Toledo location,” Owens president Dr. Dione D. Somerville said. “We are thankful for the partnership and support of the City of Toledo and JobsOhio for this study.”
Toledo City Council approved funding part of the study June 27.
“Education is a foundational building block and by making education accessible it can and will impact and transform a community,” said Brandon Sehlhorst, the City of Toledo director for the Department of Economic Development. “We would welcome an Owens location within the City of Toledo and what it would signal to the community.”
Trellis Company is a higher education research firm with expertise in program evaluation and workforce outcomes, identifying transportation barriers and enrollment deserts. JobsOhio is conducting research related to workforce development for the advanced manufacturing sector in northwest Ohio. The results will supply integral information to help inform this study.
“By supporting Owens Community College, we are ensuring that the research efforts focused on workforce development are not duplicated. The people who comprise Ohio’s workforce are the state’s most vital resource,” said Kristina Clouse, JobsOhio senior managing director, talent.
Owens Community College Students Benefit from Community Organization’s Laptops Donation 
Posted on August 29th, 2023

Brian Simmons, Kelle Pack, Breon Hicks, Marcus Whitmore, Zyan Belcher, Krista Kiessling, Dominic Bracey, Ty Fries

Brian Simmons, Dominic Bracey

Ty Fries, Breon Hicks, Krista Kiessling, Marcus Whitmore
Owens Community College students will have greater access to their classwork thanks to AIM Ecycling, LLC’s donation of 50 laptops for the 2023-24 academic year.
Valued at a total of $5,000, the refurbished Dell and Lenovo laptops will be distributed by the Owens Center for Campus and Community Connections to students who are recommended to the center’s staff based on need.
“We are excited to partner with Owens Community College and provide students with access and connectivity to their studies as they create a pathway to their future,” said Brian Simmons, AIM Ecycling, LLC director of operations.
Kelle Pack, Owens vice president of advancement and the executive director of the Owens Community College Foundation, thanked Simmons and members of the AIM Ecycling team during the donation drop-off.
“Thanks to AIM Ecycling’s generosity, we know that putting a laptop in the hands of our students who do not already have a laptop not only provides access but it also sets them up for success as they pursue their educational goals,” Pack said.
AIM Ecycling, LLC provides full-service electronics recycling and is R2 compliant, the leading standard for electronics recycling. The Toledo-based company collects and processes computers, printers, servers, network equipment and personal electronics. Learn more at www.aimecycling.com
The Owens Community College Foundation has provided nearly $8 million in support for student scholarships and program and capital assistance since 2002. The Owens Foundation has $6.5 million in endowed funds. Visit www.owens.edu/foundation to support Owens Community College Foundation initiatives.
President Somerville Highlights College Plan, Presents Top Teaching Award 
Posted on August 21st, 2023

Dr. Sara Burke receives Presidential Teaching Award
Dr. Dione D. Somerville began her third academic year as president on Monday, August 21 by highlighting the strategic objectives of the new 5-year Owens Community College strategic plan for faculty, staff and community guests, including Ohio Association of Community Colleges (OACC) President and CEO Jack Hershey.
She also recognized this year’s Presidential Teaching Award recipient, assistant professor Sara Burke, PT, DPT, who is now chair of the Physical Therapist Assistant program. The Findlay resident was one of 42 faculty honored by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) on the Dale P Parnell Distinguished Faculty list earlier this year. She began her Owens career in 2008 as an adjunct faculty member, became a full-time instructor in 2016 and rose to her current rank 2021.
The address was held twice, at the Findlay-area Campus in the morning and again on the Toledo-area Campus in the afternoon.
Since taking over the Owens presidency in June 2021, Dr. Somerville has made it a priority to engage community leaders. More than three dozen community leaders attended two presentations.
Hershey has spent the past 10 years leading the OACC, which oversees the state’s 23 community colleges. He spoke on both campuses about the state budget.
Dr. Somerville focused her Owens address on the strategic plan, which was adopted in May by the Owens board of trustees.
“The plan is authentic to who we are,” she said. “The plan will drive us forward starting this academic year and help ensure success for our students, for our employees and for the communities we serve.”
Her speech utilized the plan’s six objectives to showcase what the 2023-24 academic year will feature. A few highlights included:
- Building a community of belonging – Owens will host the 34th annual Diamante Awards, a collaborative event with nearby 4-year universities.
- Expanding partnerships – Owens supports the Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium’s Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program application.
- Developing an agile framework – Owens launched Workday as its enterprise resource planning software system to better serve employees and students.
- Deepening employee engagement – The College Forum will continue and provide open dialogue on college-wide matters for faculty and staff with Dr. Somerville and the leadership team.
- Ensuring a sustainable organization – Dr. Somerville highlighted enrollment, following the increased Summer 2023 enrollment and continued enrollment momentum for Fall 2023 with classes beginning August 28; the 14th day enrollment report will be available September 12.
- Telling our story – The Findlay-area Campus will celebrate its 40th anniversary serving the greater Hancock County community, including hosting a special event September 21 for community leaders as well as an open house for new students.
Owens Nursing Program Graduates 9 from PN Certificate Program 
Posted on August 17th, 2023


Owens Community College awarded nine students their certifications from the Practical Nurse program Tuesday during a ceremony at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts theatre.
These Owens graduates will take their NCLEX-PN examination and upon completion begin working in local healthcare facilities as licensed practical nurses.
“This class is strong in their skills and ready to take care of patients as LPNs,” said Irene Jones, assistant dean of the Owens nursing program.
Besides the Practical Nurse Certificate, the Owens Department of Nursing also offers the Registered Nurse Program, the LPN/Associate Degree Nursing Progression Program and the Nurse Assistant Training/Home Health Aide Certificate.
Owens Community College President’s State of the College Address 
Posted on August 16th, 2023
What
President Dione D. Somerville will address faculty, staff, invited community members and the news media on the State of the College. She will highlight the newly adopted 5-year strategic plan and what to expect in the 2023-24 academic year.
Featured Guest Speaker
Jack Hershey, President and CEO, Ohio Association of Community Colleges
When
Findlay-area Campus
9-10 a.m.
Education Center 111
3200 Bright Road, Findlay
Toledo-area Campus
2-3 p.m.
Center for Fine and Performing Arts Theatre
7270 Biniker Drive, Perrysburg
Owens STEM school reorganizes, expands to benefit student success 
Posted on August 15th, 2023
When Owens Community College opened in 1965, half of its associate degrees had a STEM focus. Today, Owens continues to build on that foundation, recognizing some of the most in-demand careers are in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. Effective this academic year, Owens has reorganized and expanded its School of STEM to better serve students.
Entering his second academic year as the dean in the School of STEM, Dr. Daniel Kelley has worked to organize the School of STEM to reflect the industry needs of the present and future. This important reorganization will include the addition of two new assistant deans and will be reinforced by the hiring of additional full-time faculty members (starting with Cybersecurity, Robotics, Diesel) who will help shape the school’s future in the northwest Ohio marketplace.
All told, two departments, five associate degree programs and seven career certificates were either moved, reorganized or renamed as part of the STEM organizational improvement.
The Department of Advanced Manufacturing is one that has been newly renamed.
“There is a major push at the national and state levels to bring manufacturing home from overseas and this has already resulted in companies bringing large projects to Ohio – take Intel for example,” Kelley said. “The increase in technical and skilled jobs in Ohio must be supported by a trained workforce. Owens Community College will continue to be a major contributor to the education and training of those who will start careers in new and existing jobs in science and technology fields as well as jobs that will evolve or are yet to come.”
In the Department of Computer Information Systems, students will benefit from renovated network and security labs that feature new computer equipment. The total investment for this upgrade was more than $250,000. The labs and faculty additions will support the new Cyber Security associate degree that launches this year as well.
According to a 2023 National Science Foundation report, STEM workers had median wage and salary earnings of about $64,000, which is 60 percent more than non-STEM workers. Many STEM careers include a basis in mathematics and computers.
“We are seeing enrollment growth in Computer Information Systems as well as Advanced Manufacturing, Transportation Technologies and the Skilled Trades,” Kelley said. “We have a lot of great partnerships with corporations such as John Deere, Caterpillar and General Motors through sponsored programs, as well as many other local employers through internships and apprenticeships. We are strengthening our relationships with many high schools and career centers who are making investments and improvements in STEM education so that their students have a clear pathway to Owens for a higher education.
“The jobs of tomorrow are in STEM fields and those jobs will continue to drive the economy of Ohio,” he added.
STEM has a presence at both Owens campus locations, including parts of six buildings on the Toledo-area Campus.
For more information about STEM careers, visit www.owens.edu/stem.
Owens One Day Registration Event 
Posted on August 11th, 2023
The Fall 2023 semester begins Monday, August 28 at Owens Community College and it’s not too late to register. At One Day Reg, prospective students can get the help needed to start their road to success. Admissions representatives and academic advisors will be available to navigate enrollment steps.
Three bookstore gift cards will be given away in the amounts of $500, $300 and $100. Participants must attend the event and be registered students of Owens Community College in order to win. Winners will be notified one week after the event by phone. The Office of Financial Aid will include the receipt of any gift card or prize as a financial aid resource.
Students can also register just for orientation if needed.
When: 2 – 8 p.m. Monday, August 14
Where: Owens Community College Toledo-area Campus
30335 Oregon Rd.
Perrysburg, OH 43551
For more information, visit www.owens.edu/admissions/onedayreg/.
Owens Community College Receives Nearly $200,000 in ODE Perkins Grants for FY24 
Posted on August 8th, 2023
Owens Community College annually receives Perkins Grants to improve the quality of higher education received by students. For the 2023-24 academic year, more than half of the Ohio Department of Education’s $197,980 grant total will benefit the college’s School of Nursing and Health Professions.
Owens received six grants totaling more than $116,000 in areas supporting improvements for nursing and health professions’ career training:
- $34,329 for computerized medication cards and IV pumps
- $32,367 for dental equipment
- $31,495 for a physiologic vascular testing system
- $9,330 for simulated stethoscopes
- $8,503 for a fetus ultrasound phantom trainer
- $444 for lower extremity semi-disarticulated models
Other Perkins Grants included:
- $24,700 for faculty and staff professional development
- $23,000 for LinkedIn Learning subscription
- $10,542 for Police Academy firearms mobile targeting system
- $8,207 for Center for Teaching and Learning presentations
- $6,055 in Broadcast Media for a content creation project designed for a preschool audience, helping these young students learn colors, numbers and letters as well as diversify language, such as Spanish and sign language
- $5,743 for updates to the curriculum and audio mixing technology supporting Music Business and Broadcast Media
The College Tour Media Opportunity 
Posted on July 31st, 2023
Owens Community College is Ohio’s first community college featured on “The College Tour” series that airs on 28 streaming services including Amazon Prime Video. Filming is happening on the Toledo-area Campus through Friday, August 4.
The College Tour is a series of 30-minute episodes featuring colleges and universities from across the United States. Each episode takes a deeper dive into what student life is like on the respective campus through the eyes of the students. The award-winning TV series, hosted by Alex Boylan, looks at academics, career-readiness, student life, sports, activities and more.
Join Alex and Owens representatives for an interview opportunity about how Owens was chosen and the impact it will have on the College and the community.
Time: 11 a.m.
Date: Thursday, August 3
Location: Owens Community College Outside College Hall and Administration Hall
RSVP: allison_hendricks2@owens.edu
About Alex: After winning CBS’s Amazing Race at 23 years old, Alex has gone on to have an amazing career both in front and behind the camera.
Above all else, Alex is an adventurer, traveler, and storyteller. He has filmed in nearly every state in America and over 60 countries around the world.
He hosted the #1 food series on PBS At The Chef’s Table and the #1 animal series on PBS Animal Attractions, was CBS’s ‘National Ambassador’ for two summers on the ‘CBS Buzz Tour’, hosted over 100 segments for Travel Channel, was Rachael Ray’s sidekick hosting ‘Rach to the Rescue’ for her syndicated talk show and circumnavigated the world without a penny in his pocket as the star of ‘Around The World For Free’…amongst many more.
Veterans Tour and Information Session 
Posted on July 25th, 2023
Every academic year, Owens Community College proudly serves more than 500 student veterans and military-affiliated students. The College was named an inaugural Collegiate Purple Star Award recipient in 2022 by the State of Ohio.
Veterans and their family members are invited to come to the Toledo-area Campus for a tour and information session to explore higher education opportunities using VA benefits.
When: 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 26
Where: Veterans Hall
363 Depot Rd.
Perrysburg, OH 43551
What: Speak with representatives about using VA benefits, tour the Toledo-area Campus, learn about academic programs at Owens Community College
For more information, visit owens.edu/visit/veterans.
Owens Welding Cohort Graduation 
Posted on July 20th, 2023

Owens Instructor Brent Myers (left) and Owens Director of Business and Program Development Robert Bass (right) flank welding graduates Marshawn Murphy, Adonis Kynard, Brett Fitzpatrick, Lauren Wood and Dylan Wood.
A total of 13 students earned their Owens Community College welding certificate of completion Friday, July 21 at Cherry Street Mission Ministries. The Owens cohort began the 4-month training program at the Monroe Street location in March.
Since 2019, Owens has partnered with Cherry Street Mission Ministries and provided access to Toledo residents interested in short-term welding training. Zachary Miller, an Owens instructor for the current cohort, earned his certificate in an Owens cohort at Cherry Street in 2020. Besides teaching, he is employed as a welder for Bullard Company and operates his own business, Exact Welds.
Of the 13 students graduating, three already have been hired by local companies.
“Welders are always in demand,” said Quinton Roberts, dean of the Owens Workforce Office, which oversees the welding program at Cherry Street Mission Ministries. “If you can weld, recruiters will come looking for you.”
Another welding cohort will be offered at Cherry Street Mission Ministries in the fall, but a start date has yet to be set.
Owens Community College Aspire Program Recognizes 46 Graduates 
Posted on June 14th, 2023
Owens Community College culminated the state of Ohio’s Adult Education Week with its annual graduation ceremony Friday, June 16. A total of 46 students received their High School Equivalency (HSE) degree, CDA to Associate in Early Childhood Education and Advanced English for Speakers of Other Languages.
Traditionally a May event, this year’s ceremony was moved to coincide with the state’s weeklong celebration of adult education. The Owens Aspire program offers free classes on campus and at many sites along the I-75 corridor, from Toledo to Findlay.
“We are so proud of our graduates,” Owens Aspire program director Heath Huber said. “These graduates are now better positioned to become employed or seek higher education. They understand the importance of being a lifelong learner. The graduation ceremony is a special day not only for these students but also their family members who helped them every step of the way.”
Owens Grad, Toledo Fire and Rescue Chief Allison Armstrong Receives 2023 OACC Distinguished Alumnus Award 
Posted on June 8th, 2023

COLUMBUS – The Ohio Association of Community Colleges (OACC) on Thursday named Toledo Fire and Rescue Chief Allison Armstrong as its annual Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient. The 2004 Owens Community College graduate was honored during the OACC’s Annual Conference in Columbus.
Armstrong knew from the time she was a young girl she wanted to be a firefighter and was appointed to the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department in July 2000. She rose through the ranks and became Battalion Chief in September 2019. She was the first woman named Chief in the city’s history in 2022.
After earning her associate degree in nursing from Owens, she earned a bachelor’s in nursing from Mercy College and master’s in health information from the University of Cincinnati.
“Chief Armstrong is a leader in public service who is dedicated to the people on the front lines,” Owens Community College President Dr. Dione D. Somerville wrote in her nomination letter for Chief Armstrong. “We at Owens Community College are proud of our distinguished alumnae and feel she is an exemplary role model of an Ohio community college graduate and public servant.”
The OACC Distinguished Alumnus Award is presented annually to a deserving alumnus from one of Ohio’s 23 community colleges who has demonstrated a passionate level of commitment to the local community and higher education.
Since first being presented in 1995, numerous individuals who embody the core principles of this award have been recognized for their ongoing efforts to advance the mission of community colleges. These recipients are very passionate about their work and give generously of both their time and resources.
Owens Board of Trustee member Mary Beth Hammond of Findlay was a finalist for the Maureen C. Grady Award for Special Achievement presented by the OACC. She has served on the Owens board since 2013, including stints as vice chair (2017-2019) and board chair (2020-2022).
Owens Community College partners with UToledo for Paralegal Transfer Program 
Posted on June 7th, 2023
Owens Community College and the University of Toledo are expanding their partnership with the paralegal transfer program. This program will allow students to earn their associate degree at Owens and seamlessly transfer to UToledo to pursue their bachelor’s degrees in paralegal studies.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook shows a growth of 14 percent, much faster than the national average for other careers.
Nearly 46,000 openings for paralegals are projected each year in the next decade. Many of those openings will result from those exiting the labor force, such as retirement. “In addition to pending retirements, paralegals are being utilized in the field with more substantial responsibilities than ever before,” said Libby King, Business Technologies Chair at Owens Community College.
“The industry need for paralegals means a variety of career path opportunities, job stability and higher than average salaries,” she added. The average salary for a paralegal is $56,230, as of May 2021.
The Paralegal Transfer Concentration at Owens is intended to provide students with the first two years of a baccalaureate degree in paralegal studies. Students in this program intend to transfer to a four-year program upon graduation. Two required courses in the paralegal transfer concentration will be taken at UToledo either in person or online and students must co-enroll at the University of Toledo.
“This is a game changer for students who want to cost-effectively and efficiently complete their education and enter the workforce,” King said.
Once students graduate from Owens Community College with an associate degree, they will be a part of UToledo’s American Bar Association approved program. In this program, which has been ranked one of the 25 best bachelors’ in paralegal degree programs, students will be fully submersed in law.
UToledo is one of the only programs in the nation with its own teaching courtroom. In this courtroom, students will not only have access to state-of-the-art technology, but there is also an advocacy mock trial class and a mock trial team. In the criminal forensics and trial practice course, students from both the paralegal studies and criminal justice programs are placed on prosecution and defense teams where they are assigned crime scene investigators, paralegals and attorneys.
Owens Community College has partnered with the University of Toledo for the Rocket Express program since 2017.
For more information on the Paralegal Transfer Concentration, visit owens.edu/business.
Artist in Residence Opening Reception 
Posted on June 5th, 2023
Join us for a reception for this year’s Artist in Residence, Ellen Loeffler-Kalinoski, at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 8 in the Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery.
“Windows to the World: Photographs by Ellen Loeffler-Kalinoski” will take you on a visual journey through several destinations Loeffler-Kalinoski finds most inspiring. “I love light…being in it, photographing and painting it and the incredible ways natural light transforms our world and the people and scenes touched by it,” she said. In this exhibit, viewers will see her design background influence and how important shadow are light are in the process. When she studied abroad in Italy, that’s where she fell in love with architectural details, “I combine those details with natural and organic elements to create a pleasing juxtaposition of man and nature, especially in the many views of windows and doorways,” Loeffler-Kalinsoki added.
The exhibit will be open through Friday, August 4.
The College Tour to Share Owens Story on Multiple Streaming Services 
Posted on May 31st, 2023
Owens Community College will be Ohio’s first community college featured on “The College Tour” series that airs on 28 streaming services including Amazon Prime Video. A casting call for students is on-going with filming scheduled for this summer.
“It’s exciting for our students, faculty and staff to be the first Ohio community college on the College Tour. The show’s producers will go behind the scenes to show all that Owens has to offer,” Tasha Hussain Black, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Marketing and Communications, said.
The College Tour is a series of 30-minute episodes featuring colleges and universities from across the United States. Each episode takes a deeper dive into what life is like on the respective campus. The show, hosted by Alex Boylan, looks at academics, housing, sports, actives and much more.
“In our newly adopted strategic plan we identified the objective of telling the Owens story and by partnering with the College Tour, we will be able to share the dynamic student experience with not only the northwest Ohio region, but also the entire world,” she added.
The College Tour will be at campus locations filming July 31-August 4.
The episode will be available for viewing at the end of the year.
Visit thecollegetour.com to learn more.
Owens Community College Awarded NJCAA Grant to Assist with Formation of Women’s Soccer Program 
Posted on May 19th, 2023
Owens Community College is continuing to grow the Owens Express athletic program by reintroducing women’s soccer for the 2023 season with the assistance of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Sport Opportunity Grant. Through the NJCAA Foundation, Owens will receive a grant of $2,000. Owens originally fielded a women’s soccer program from 2011-2015.
“Two-year collegiate sports provide student-athletes with the opportunity to further both their athletic and academic careers,” said Brian Luckett, NJCAA Foundation Executive Director. “The NJCAA Sport Opportunity Grant affords the NJCAA Foundation a pathway to continue supporting student-athletes and the member colleges who provide them with these incredible opportunities while also promoting continued growth and development throughout the organization.”
Zane Polack, a former Express men’s soccer player, has been hired as the head coach.
“We are now in a position to add another sport and women’s soccer is the ideal choice,” said athletic director Shelley Whitaker. “With Coach Polack on board, we are excited to identify the first recruiting class and look forward to games next fall.”
With support from the NJCAA and NJCAA Foundation, Owens offers students in the area another option not only on the field, but in the classroom. “I am honored to have the opportunity to empower players while they navigate their own career path,” said Polack.
Owens Community College proudly offers more than 70 programs and continues to make advances in education to foster success for the next generation of employees in careers from healthcare to skilled trades and more.
Polack, a Bowling Green native, is celebrating not only his head coaching position, but also a homecoming. He played for the Express men’s soccer team in 2007 and 2008. He has coaching experience at the youth, collegiate and professional levels.
“Owens will provide an opportunity for local players to continue playing after high school and also provide a bridge for players who have aspirations to play at a four-year university,” Polack said. “I want to restore the program to compete at a regional and national level.”
For more information on Owens Community College athletics, please visit owensexpress.com.
About NJCAA Foundation
The mission of the NJCAA Foundation is to enhance the NJCAA national organization, student-athletes, member colleges and local communities through financial support, scholarships, program initiatives and community service.
Owens Community College Hosts Caterpillar ThinkBIG Global Conference May 22-25 
Posted on May 17th, 2023
Nearly 100 Caterpillar representatives, dealerships and college educators and administrators will visit Owens Community College May 22-25 for the Caterpillar ThinkBIG Global Conference.
Owens planned to host the biennial conference in 2020, but the event was postponed that year and in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Owens last hosted the conference in 2006.
“We are proud that we have been training highly skilled Caterpillar technicians in this exclusive program since 2001 here at Owens,” said Sherri Johnson, chair of the Owens Transportation Technologies academic department. “We value the local relationships we have developed with MacAllister Machinery, Michigan CAT and Ohio CAT. With the conference returning, everyone is look forward to seeing each other as well as enjoying a week of education and an exchange of best practices.”
Besides locations within the United States, attendees are scheduled to attend from Canada and South America.
Owens is home to one of 11 Caterpillar ThinkBIG programs nationally. A total of 13 students will graduate from the Owens Caterpillar ThinkBIG program at Friday’s Commencement ceremonies.
Owens Community College to Award 533 Associate Degrees at Spring Commencement ceremonies 
Posted on May 15th, 2023
Bolstered by more than 250 healthcare graduates, Owens Community College will award 533 associate degrees at the 57th Spring Commencement ceremonies May 19 at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Theatre on the Toledo-area Campus in Perrysburg.
The School of Nursing and Health Professions account for 255 of the graduating class.
A total of 41 students from the Findlay-area Campus will join the Toledo-area Campus graduates for the Commencement ceremonies scheduled at 9 a.m. for the School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; 12 p.m. for the School of Business, Hospitality Management and Public Safety and School of Liberal Arts; 3 p.m. for the School of Nursing and Health Professions (non-nursing); and 6 p.m. for the School of Nursing and Health Professions (nursing graduates including Nurse Pinning).
The graduating class features 196 students graduating with honors (3.5 grade-point average and above) as well as 21 outstanding academic program graduates. All will be recognized at the ceremonies.
The School of Nursing and Health Professions will also award an honorary registered nursing degree to Charvon C. Thomas, who died as a result of a car accident in July 2022. Her family will receive the degree posthumously.
Tickets are required to attend any of the ceremonies.
For more information about Owens Commencement, visit www.owens.edu/commencement.
Owens Community College Offers Motorcycle Training Courses 
Posted on May 3rd, 2023
May is National Motorcycle Safety Month. In 2022, the Ohio State Highway Patrol reported 4,096 crashes involving motorcycles, a 3 percent increase from 2021. As the weather warms, Owens Community College wants to make sure motorcyclists are safe on the road through the proper training.
The College’s Workforce and Community Services is offering Motorcycle Safety Training courses until mid-October. Although seats are limited and classes fill, space may be available on a standby basis.
No experience is necessary to take the course. The only requirement is a valid two-wheel temporary instruction permit identification card at the beginning of the class.
In the training, students will be required to complete four hours in the classroom and then 12 hours of riding, all on the Owens Community College Toledo-area Campus. Motorcycles are provided during the course and students are required to provide all their own gear.
Once successfully completed, students earn a 60-day BMV skill test waiver for a motorcycle endorsement.
The cost to participate is $50.
For additional information, contact the College’s Workforce and Community Services at (567) 661-7357.
To register, visit motorcycle.safety.gov and specify Wood County. Owens Community College is one of the few Motorcycle Ohio safety training sites in northwest Ohio.
Summer Camps for Kids at Owens Community College 
Posted on May 2nd, 2023
Summer is right around the corner and Owens Community College Workforce and Community Services is inviting kids as young as three years old to participate in summer camp.
Kids ages 3-7 are invited to STEMulating Young Minds: Engineering Camp. In this camp, kids will build bridges, towers and learn the basic concepts of engineering. When the camp is over, students will get a take-home kit, certificate and shirt.
Satisfy your sweet tooth and stimulate your brain with Candy STEM Camp. This camp, for kids ages 7- 12, uses candy as tools. Participants will paint, create mazes and build structures and more all with candy in a camp that’s sure to be a real “treat.”
Camps run Monday through Thursday throughout the summer. Costs vary by camp.
There are also camps and classes for people of all ages continuously being added.
For more information, visit www.owens.edu/workforce_cs/workandplay.php.
College Hosts BIG Read Author Stephanie Foo on April 27 
Posted on April 25th, 2023
Owens Community College is excited to host Stephanie Foo to discuss her book, “What My Bones Know”, the 2022-23 BIG Read Selection. Foo’s discussions, both in-person and virtual, will wrap up a year of activities, discussions and programs surrounding her book.
Foo’s book explores the science and psychology behind Complex PTSD through the lens of her own personal narrative. “What My Bones Know” is a book Foo herself said she wished she had when she was first diagnosed with Complex PTSD. In 2022, Foo’s book was named “One of the Best Books of the Year (so far)” by Amazon, named on the NPR “Books We Love” list and was one of Apple’s best 20 audiobooks for the year.
“This year’s BIG Read emphasizes that we must be intentional in giving one another grace,” said Dr. Dione D. Somerville, president of Owens Community College. “We never know what someone is dealing with or has gone through, so it’s important that we nurture a sense of belonging. Stephanie’s story is very moving and it has impacted how I hope we respond to each other as a community here at Owens.”
WHO: Author Stephanie Foo
WHAT: The Big Read Presents: Stephanie Foo
WHEN: Thursday, April 27
WHERE: CFPA Theatre (10 a.m.), Toledo-area Campus; and Education Center 111 (3:30 p.m.), Findlay-area campus
LINK: https://owens-edu.zoom.us/j/81484989384#success (10 a.m. only)
For more on Owens Community College’s Big Read, visit owens.edu/humanities/read.
Owens Community College Reintroduces Women’s Soccer for 2023 Season 
Posted on April 24th, 2023
Owens Community College is continuing to grow the Owens Express athletic program by reintroducing women’s soccer for the 2023 season. Zane Polack has been hired as the head coach and is actively recruiting to build the roster.
The original women’s soccer team debuted as a club sport in 2009 and played its first varsity season in 2011. The 2013 and 2014 teams advanced to back-to-back NJCAA national tournaments, compiled a combined 31-7-4 record and achieved a No. 10 national ranking in the coaches’ poll.
Bolstered by high caliber players from club and high school soccer, Owens women’s soccer was highly competitive and gaining momentum.
In 2016, the College made the difficult decision to close the women’s soccer program along with men’s soccer and men’s golf programs in a cost-savings measure. The baseball and softball programs also were suspended that year.
“We brought back baseball and softball in 2019 before losing a year in 2020 due to COVID-19. As the pandemic was coming to an end, we were able to bring those sports back to build the number of programs we offered our student-athletes,” Owens Express athletic director Shelley Whitaker said. “We are now in a position to add another sport and women’s soccer is the ideal choice. With Coach Polack on board, we are excited to identify the first recruiting class and look forward to games next fall.”
Polack, a Bowling Green native, is celebrating not only his head coaching position, but also a homecoming. He played for the Express men’s soccer team in 2007 and 2008. He then transferred and play at Gannon University. He also played professionally for the Detroit Waza Flo in the Major Arena Soccer League from 2011-2015.
He has coaching experience at the youth, collegiate and professional levels.
“Owens will provide an opportunity for local players to continue playing after high school and also provide a bridge for players who have aspirations to play at a four-year university,” Polack said. “I am honored to have the opportunity to empower players while they navigate their own career path. I want to restore the program to compete at a regional and national level.”
Polack lives in metro Detroit with his wife and four children.
Tryouts will be at 4 p.m. Friday, May 5 and Friday, May 19 at the Express Soccer Field on the Toledo-area Campus.
For more information on Owens Community College athletics, please visit owensexpress.com.
Owens Healthcare Students Focus on Interprofessional Education 
Posted on April 20th, 2023
Owens Community College’s School of Nursing and Health Professions created an interprofessional education department post-pandemic to streamline the instruction its students began receiving last decade.
Interprofessional education, or IPE, occurs when students from different academic disciplines collaborate and improve health outcomes, according to the World Health Organization.
Owens was the only community college to attend the national IPE conference in 2018 and with a faculty-led department remains at the forefront of healthcare education in northwest Ohio.
The instruction continues for second-year Owens healthcare students from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday, April 21 when Owens partners with the Wood County Board of Development Disabilities to host the Assistive Technology Fair at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, located at 7270 Biniker Drive on the Toledo-area Campus.
The free event is open to the public and will focus on education, including a series of guest speakers scheduled in the mainstage theatre.
Owens students from different academic disciplines will collaborate throughout the day to increase their knowledge and appreciation of working in a diverse healthcare setting.
“The benefits of participating in a practical IPE exercise at the Assistive Technology Fair are a reinforcement of clinical rotations where collaboration and communication result in the best outcome for patients,” said Cathy Ford, dean in the Owens School of Nursing and Health Professions. “This is what modern healthcare looks like. Our students are prepared when they graduate and begin working in hospitals or the appropriate healthcare setting.”
The Owens IPE department is led by faculty members, Dr. Sara Burke, Julie Lohse, Susan Nichols, Christine Smith and Louise Weller.
Owens Express Baseball Team Hosts Doubleheader at Fifth Third Field April 18 
Posted on April 4th, 2023
The Owens Express baseball team, led by head coach John Parisho, is returning to Fifth Third Field in downtown Toledo for an exciting doubleheader in preparation for the postseason. The Express will take on the Marian University’s Ancilla College Chargers on Tuesday, April 18 beginning at 5 p.m.
“The team is excited to return to Fifth Third Field and play in such a great environment,” said Parisho. “They are counting down the days to take the field and showcase their talents to their friends, family and the community.”
For many baseball players, they dream of playing in a big stadium under the lights and the Express are ready to do that again at Field Third Field, their home away from home, for the third consecutive season. The Express played the Bryant & Stratton Bobcats last year and won both games 5-0 and 8-7 respectively. “Last year’s games were a big success for the Express and we are very excited to be hosting the team again,” said Troy Hammersmith, Manager of Special Events for the Toledo Mud Hens.
Before first pitch, rising country music star Eric Burgett will sing the National Anthem.
Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for kids ages 6-17 as well as Senior/Military tickets. Owens Community College and Marion University’s Ancilla College will be able to unlock free tickets using the promo code provided on their respective campuses. Students may present their student ID at the box office as well.
Purchase tickets HERE
For more information about the Owens Express, visit www.owensexpress.com.
Owens Community College Celebrates Dr. Sara Burke for National Faculty Award 
Posted on April 3rd, 2023

Dr. Sara Burke
Owens Community College Assistant Professor Sara Burke, PT, DPT has been recognized by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) on the 2023 Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty list. Awarded to select individuals who make a difference in community college classrooms across the country, this highly competitive national designation honors faculty who are active in their students’ lives and in their colleges’ activities to ensure student success.
A total of 42 faculty received the honor named for former AACC President and CEO Dale P. Parnell. Qualities of the honored faculty include:
- Demonstrate passion for the students and the classroom
- Show willingness to support students, inside and outside of the classroom
- Participate in college committees
- Go above and beyond what is required to ensure that students are successful in their academic endeavors
“Dr. Burke has incredible passion for students and for teaching. Her dedication provides the opportunity for a transformational educational experience for her students,” Owens President Dr. Dione D. Somerville said. “She is a student and practitioner of teaching excellence and is intentional about ensuring an effective student experience.
“She elevates the performance of those around her,” Dr. Somerville added. “She embodies the Owens mission by creating pathways for students. She is not only inspiring her students but her colleagues, and in doing so, she is distinguished by establishing an Owens legacy of success.”
The AACC will recognize the 2023 recipients at its national conference in Denver on Tuesday, April 4.
“I love working at Owens and being able to make a difference. It’s all about the Owens students and their accomplishments,” Dr. Burke said. “That’s why I’m excited to go to work every day. I’m humbled to be recognized for doing what I love. I’m grateful to the AACC for selecting me and for everyone at Owens, including Dr. Somerville, the faculty and staff and our students.”
Owens faculty members Jen Hazel, English professor, and Sarah Long, mathematics associate professor, received the Parnell honor in 2022 and 2021.
“We are so proud of all of our faculty – and the national faculty recognition for Sara, Jen and Sarah these past three years highlights what our students already know, that we have some of the best and brightest faculty members in the country,” Dr. Somerville said.
Dr. Burke began her Owens career in 2008 as an adjunct faculty member in the science department. She began teaching in the physical therapist assistant (PTA) program as an instructor in 2016 and rose to her current rank of assistant professor in 2021.
In 2018, Dr. Burke joined the interprofessional leadership team, which assists in the creation and delivery of School of Nursing and Health Professions events as well as facilitates and obtains data collection during the events for future publication of findings and results. She successfully completed the virtual 2021 IPEC Interprofessional Leadership Development Program. She also completed the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) Course in Effective Online Teaching Practices co-endorsed by the American Council on Education (ACE).
She received the College’s School of Nursing and Health Professions Teaching Excellence Award in 2022.
This year, she took over the leadership of the Owens PTA program.
A licensed physical therapist who resides in Findlay, she served as the northwest district chair of the Ohio Physical Therapist Assistant Program from 2020-21. Dr. Burke earned her doctorate in physical therapy at the University of Findlay and bachelor’s degree in science at Ohio State University-Lima Campus.