News Releases

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Owens Express Welcoming Two Individuals, National Championship Team to Hall of Fame

Posted on January 13th, 2026

Owens Community College will add two individuals and a national champion volleyball team to the Express Hall of Fame during a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader on Saturday, January 31.

The newest members of the Express Hall of Fame are former volleyball coach Sonny Lewis, multi-sport standout Heather Sobbry and the 2019 Express volleyball team that won a NJCAA national title.

Lewis and Sobbry will be inducted during halftime of the men’s game and the volleyball team will be inducted at halftime of the women’s game. The men’s game is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. with the women’s game following at 1 p.m.

In between the two games, the Owens Community College Foundation will present the Jennifer Versey Copley Scholarship to two student-athletes to recognize their engagement in campus life within student organizations or athletics, Grace Toth and A’Leah Hodges, both members of the women’s basketball team. The scholarship was established in 2025 in honor of Jennifer Versey Copley, a member of the Express women’s basketball team in 1992-93.

Lewis coached the Express volleyball team from 2001 until his retirement in 2025. His teams went 870-240 overall (.771 winning percentage) while winning three NJCAA national titles in 2018, 2019 and 2021, while finishing in the top-4 three times during 12 national tournament appearances. Lewis led the Express to 19 Ohio Community College Athletic Conference titles, winning 96 percent of their 303 matches.

His 807 wins ranked second among active coaches at his retirement. He was named the OCCAC Coach of the Year 12 times and national coach of the year four times. He was inducted into the NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2022, and he was named to the NJCAA Coaches Legacy Award list in 2025.

Sobbry, who came to Owens from Milan, Michigan, was the first three-sport athlete in college history, starring in women’s basketball, volleyball and softball from 1997-1999. She was a member of three OCCAC championship teams and four teams that appeared in the NJCAA national tournament, including two third-place national finishes.

In women’s basketball, Sobbry helped lead the Express to two OCCAC titles and two NJCAA national tournament appearances with a combined 56-17 record. She averaged more than eight points and nearly four rebounds, three assists and two steals during her career, being named All-OCCAC as a freshman.

Sobbry guided the volleyball team to a 76-23 record over two seasons, including an OCCAC championship and two third-place finishes at the NJCAA Division III national tournament. The Express went an astounding 46-7 during her sophomore season.

Sobbry batted .416 during the softball program’s first season in 1999. She led the team with six triples along with 27 runs and nine RBIs in 77 at bats.

The 2019 Owens volleyball team was coming off the program’s first national title in 2018 and was ranked at the No. 1 team in the nation entering the season. The Express won their first seven matches of the season, and after their first loss, they reeled off another 16 straight wins.

The Express finished the season with a straight-set win over Columbus State in the national title match, giving them a 43-4 record, the fifth straight year of at least 40 wins for Owens. During the postseason, Owens only dropped one set in nine matches. They also won their fifth straight OCCAC title.

Individually, Kayla Bekier and Rebecca Brown were named to the Division III NJCAA All-Tournament team, and Tyriana Settles was named the tournament MVP and Division III Player of the Year. Settles, Bekier and Brown were all named to All-America teams as well. Settles, Brown, Bekier and Semira Neely were named All-OCCAC, and Lewis was named OCCAC Coach of the Year.

Brown finished the season with 1,648 assists and Settles had 640 kills, both of which led the nation.

Members of the 2019 volleyball team and their hometowns are: Arielle Snider (Sidney); Kayla Bekier (Northwood); Raelyn Hutchinson (Delta); Tyriana Settles (Fostoria); Olivia Materni (Sylvania); Semira Neely (Sylvania); Rebecca Brown (Maumee); McKinsey Finnen (Sylvania); Shyah Wheeler (Elida); Megan Dunne (Rossford); and Taylor Momany (Millbury). Along with Lewis as head coach, assistant coaches were Denny Caldwell, Kristen Gyori and Maddy Smyth.

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Owens Water Workforce Program Provides Competent, Educated Graduates for Immediate Jobs

Posted on September 4th, 2025

Over the last decade, the City of Toledo Division of Water Reclamation struggled to fill operator positions, so a group of institutions in northwest Ohio, including Owens Community College stepped in to solve that need.

During the 2024-25 academic year, Owens held three cohorts of its Water Workforce Program. In total, 64 students graduated from the program.

According to Tom Jasinski, Operator of Record for the City of Toledo Division of Water Reclamation, the Owens graduates came in well prepared and even more educated than the city could have expected.

“The Water Workforce students generally came in several steps ahead of an average new hire,” Jasinski said. “Having multiple motivated college students here is something new for us and will bode well as high level positions are filled in the future.

“The students have a background knowledge of many concepts that are not covered in detail in traditional Class 1 operator training programs, including safety, chemistry, microbiology and more.”

The Water Workforce training program was part of the Water Workforce Coalition, which included Owens, the City of Toledo and the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG). The coalition was funded by a $500,000 grant from the U.S. EPA.

Dr. Mary Kaczinski, professor of Science and Mathematics at Owens, said the vast majority of the grant money that came to Owens was used to offset tuitions costs and fees for students, making the program free to attend and complete.

Each cohort took place over one 16-week semester, with two eight-week sessions comprised of five classes each. The students were in class four days per week, with visits to facilities for hands-on education on Fridays. All total, students spent approximately 90 hours in either labs or facilities.

The students graduated to jobs that are stable with good pay and benefits, Kaczinski said. Of the 64 graduates, nearly 2/3 have passed the Class 1 exam and six more have passed the Class 2 exam. Almost half of the graduates are currently working a related career, with more currently interviewing for openings.

“Based on feedback, people who hired our students really like the quality of education and knowledge they receive,” Kaczinski said. “This is a great opportunity for people who want to get in this field to get into school, study hard and get going in the profession.”

Kaczinski was worried they wouldn’t have enough students to start the program because of conversations with directors of similar programs in other parts of Ohio. Thanks in part to a marketing campaign by TMACOG, they not only filled the first cohort but almost had the second one full by the time the first had started.

Water quality is also top-of-mind for many people in northwest Ohio, with memories of the 2014 water crisis and constant warnings about algal growth in Lake Erie. That familiarity also played a factor in the popularity of the program.

“Once the students start putting it together and talk to people currently employed in the industry, it’s a really important job around here, and it’s meaningful,” Kaczinski said. “Everybody in this area depends on Lake Erie or the Maumee River for drinking water. Everybody who is connected to a public sewer is discharging their treated water back into the river and lake, so if we want to keep living here and drinking the water and using it as we do, then it’s important that someone takes care of it.”

The program is currently on a pause at Owens; Kaczinski said the three cohorts saturated the market with graduates. When the program does resume, it will include improvements and tweaks from the first three cohorts, including new equipment to teach about pumps.

Jasinski said the program has greatly decreased overtime costs due to full-staffed operations sections. As a 2006 Owens graduate, he said working with the college was “natural and fulfilling.”

“It’s a great asset having properly trained people to step into the positions,” he said.

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Owens Dean Cathy Ford Retiring After 43 Years at College

Posted on July 22nd, 2025

Cathy Ford’s impact on Owens Community College and its School of Nursing and Health Professions has been considerable – and the same goes for the college’s significance in her life.

After 43 years as an employee at Owens, first as an adjunct clinical instructor then full-time faculty, department chair and finally dean, Ford will retire at the end of July.

“Throughout my career, I have been guided by a commitment to service — serving students, faculty, staff and the greater community. My decisions have always been rooted in creating opportunities, building effective teams and finding solutions that enhance student success, especially in difficult moments. I believe deeply that when we focus on helping others and working together with purpose, the impact can be lasting,” Ford said.

Ford’s time at Owens began before her employment; she started as a student at Owens in 1977 and completed her Associate of Applied Science degree in Radiography two years later. She also earned Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies and Master of Education degrees from the University of Toledo.

Owens didn’t only provide an education for Ford. On the first day of her first semester at Owens, she met her future husband, Jim, who is retiring as an adjunct instructor as well. Together, they raised three children and are now grandparents of six – soon to be seven – grandchildren.

During her first year at Owens, Ford also met the woman who would become her mentor, Linda Myers, the chair of the Radiography department. She said Myers “pushed me to accomplish things that I otherwise would not have attempted.” They still routinely meet for lunch.

Ford admitted her time as a student was not straightforward and cut-and-dry, crediting an advisor “who set me on my path at Owens.” She thinks that experience of struggling and working to overcome challenges helps her understand a wide range of students from various backgrounds and situations.

“Many have heard me say that Owens changed my life, and this is not an exaggeration,” Ford added.

In 1982, she returned to Owens as an adjunct clinical instructor. In August 2000, Ford became the chair of Medical Imaging. Fifteen years later, she was named the dean for the School of Nursing and Health Professions (SNHP).

Neither of those final two moves in her career were planned. Ford said it was the confidence in her abilities of those around her that gave her the desire to take on the new challenges.

While saying she’ll miss “dozens of people across the college who I have worked with closely,” she mentioned Owens vice president of academic affairs and provost Dr. Denise Smith, vice president of business affairs and chief financial officer Jeffery Ganues and college president Dr. Dione D. Somerville for their support and shared vision for the school.

Dr. Somerville emphasized Ford’s leadership and guidance as instrumental in the advances of the school and the opening of the Healthcare Education Center earlier this year.

“I am incredibly grateful for Cathy Ford’s leadership in our School of Nursing and Health Professions for more than 40 years. Under her guidance, Owens has remained at the front of educating the healthcare workforce in northwest Ohio, culminating in the opening of the new Healthcare Education Center. As a proud alumna of our Radiography program, her passion for Owens is unmatched. Her impact will be felt long after she leaves, and we wish her nothing but happiness in her retirement,” Dr. Somerville said.

Smith echoed those statements, saying, “Cathy has worked tirelessly to advance the School of Nursing and Health Professions to address the changing needs of the regional workforce. As an Owens grad, her understanding of the healthcare students has allowed her advocate for them and elevate the entire College. She has been instrumental in the move to interprofessional health education on our campus, both in the curriculum but also in the development and design of the new Healthcare Education Center.”

Along with many others, Suellen Barnum, chair of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Program, said Ford’s legacy at Owens will include the completion of the $31.3 million Healthcare Education Center, a renovation and expansion project that provided more than 86,500 square feet that provides students with expansive lab space and modern equipment to pursue healthcare careers.

Ford’s leadership provided a start for interprofessional education (IPE), which instills the importance of individuals from different disciplines working together as members of an effective healthcare team. The construction of the Healthcare Education Center united all Owens SNHP schools under one roof, making IPE an integral part of the education.

“Cathy was a leader who was always looking to the future,” said Christine Smith, Owens chair for Radiologic Technology. “She worked at continuous improvement to make everything better for students. This is very evident in the new facilities that she was the driving force behind. She was also the driving force behind Interprofessional Education. The SNHP students have benefitted from learning about each other’s profession from each other.”

An unequivocal advocate for the students, people across the college recognized her special attention to improving the student experience, including Owens dean of the School of Liberal Arts Michael Sander.

“As a fellow dean, I appreciated Cathy’s positive outlook and steady leadership. She brought an encouraging spirit to every conversation and worked hard to foster a collaborative, team-oriented culture within her school. Her student-centered mindset and dedication to academic excellence were qualities I admired as a colleague. Owens is a stronger place because of Cathy’s leadership,” Sander said.

Being an educator was always the goal for Ford. While she started in elementary education, an extensive test revealed a proclivity for radiography. Regardless of what she was teaching, Ford was doing what she was meant to do – educating and influencing class after class of leaders and professionals.

“To future educators and leaders, I offer this: Treat others with respect and kindness, and you will foster the best environments for learning and care,” Ford said. “Pause. Listen. Be flexible. Let the rules serve as a tool, not a barrier. Prioritize the needs of your students and never lose sight of the responsibility you carry in shaping their path.

“Say yes when you can. Meet people where they are. And build a future where compassion, collaboration and opportunity remain at the heart of everything we do.”

Ford’s plans for retirement include spending time with her loved ones while going places and doing things she’s never done before. Not surprisingly for anyone who has worked with Ford over the past 43 years, she said, “I will not sit still or watch time pass but seek joy and fulfillment in new ways. I hope to be exhausted.”

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Owens Graduate Selected for Emerging Leaders Program, Receives Grant to Offset Costs

Posted on July 9th, 2025

While she might already be a college graduate, Candace Summerskill knows her learning won’t stop just because she isn’t in a classroom. She’ll get to add to her knowledge base as an ultrasound technologist after she was selected for the Emerging Leaders Program at the Society for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) conference in September in Denver.

Summerskill graduated from Owens Community College in May with an associate degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS). She received the Exceptional Student Leadership recognition from the Owens Board of Trustees Student Life Committee.

Not only was she picked for the sixth cohort of the Emerging Leaders Program, she was a grant recipient as well. The grant recipients receive expenses paid for attendance and participation at the annual conference and other SDMS meetings; recognition in printed materials and social media by SDMS; and one year of SDMS membership.

Summerskill, who works at the Center for Reproductive Medicine at the University of Michigan, admitted she was shocked to be selected for the cohort and receive the grant.

“When you’re in the thick of life, schooling, clinicals, taking your boards and gearing up for graduation, it feels as though you’ll never make it out. Now being on the other side of it all, I feel like all of the hard work definitely paid off,” she said.

Julie Posey, chair of the Owens Sonography Department, said opportunities like this are incredibly valuable for recent graduates by going beyond what is taught in the classroom. Students receive real-world leadership experience while collaborating with industry leaders and mentors.

“This kind of experience accelerates their career development and gives them a strong sense of ownership in the profession,” Posey said. “By engaging directly with innovation and leadership in the field, they not only strengthen their clinical expertise but also build the confidence and vision needed to drive improvements in patient care for years to come.”

Summerskill is the third Owens student to be accepted into the Emerging Leaders Program and the second chosen as a grant recipient.

As a 38-year-old returning to school, Summerskill wasn’t sure how she would balance the demands of work, school and life, but going to Owens — a community college close to her home in Rossford — was “the best decision I could have made.”

“Having endless support and encouragement from my program director and DMS faculty helped tremendously,” Summerskill said. “They saw something in me from early on and continually pushed me to step outside my comfort zone, and I’m so thankful that they did. I appreciate every single one of them for their continued support throughout my time at Owens, and after, along with their generous nomination on my behalf for this incredible program.”

To learn more about Diagnostic Medical Sonography at Owens, please visit owens.edu/sonography.

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Oregon Road Film Series Announces Film Challenge Winners

Posted on May 23rd, 2025

Students, faculty and staff from around Owens Community College came together for a fifth straight year to participate in the Oregon Road Film Series (ORFS) Film Challenge, hosted by the Department of Humanities.

The Film Challenge had four awards: People’s Choice Award, a student team with the most votes earned by viewers; Best Film Award, a student film selected by a team of judges; Merritt Award, a student team award sponsored by former Owens student Kim Merritt, founder and creative director of Goodera, a creative copywriting firm; and new this year, the Final Cut Award, a faculty and staff team awarded by a team of judges.

The challenge has been hosted each fall and spring semester, beginning in 2021. Winners are recognized at the end of each academic year. Student participation is open to anyone, regardless of major or department.

“Creativity exists across all disciplines. The ORFS Film Challenge, and other similar events, give students from every program a chance to explore that side of themselves,” said Jen Hazel, event organizer and faculty fellow in Humanities.

“Every semester, we watch students from all areas of campus come together for this challenge, take on different roles, and quickly learn how to collaborate, adapt under pressure, and think creatively — essential skills all professionals need.”

This year’s award winners were:

People’s Choice Award — “How to Use a Frisbee,” by Love OCC Productions. Team members were Justin Wilson, Amelia Mathkour, Adam Keeler, Charles Caldwell-Pope, MaryClaire Crisp, Analicia Reyes, Alex Burkhardt, T.J. Jackson, Brandon Villolovos and Kyle Wasserman.

Best Film Award — “Foul Play,” by T.O. Studios. Team members were Jonee Jones, Jacob Roberts, Lucas Vogelpohl, Andres Trejo, James Johnson, Don Art, Dylan Simon, Dax Hires, Sydney Morelli and Sami Tack.

Final Cut Award — “Rent-A-Friend,” by Trifecta Production. Team members were Rob Thomas, Jen Hazel, Jeremy Meier and Casey Cook.

Merritt Award — “How to Use a Frisbee,” by Love OCC Production.

The Merritt Award was started as a way to give back to other creatives, with each winning team member receiving a cash prize. According to Hazel, receiving support from someone like Merritt and Goodera is “invaluable.”

“The support Kim has provided has allowed us to celebrate student achievements in creativity, collaboration and global citizenship, but more than that, Kim is an example our students can aspire to,” Hazel said. “She created her own brand and company, collaborated with world-renowned brands and built a successful career on a global stage. And yet, she still gives back to Owens.

“Kim’s story shows students what is possible and reminds them that with the skills and passions they develop here there is no limit.  Having Kim involved solidifies the strength of our community and the impact of an Owens education.”

For more information on the ORFS Film Challenge Awards and a list of past winners, please visit owens.edu/humanities/filmseries.

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Owens Alumna Crystal Smith Wins AAF Mosaic Award

Posted on May 21st, 2025

Crystal Smith, an Owens Community College alumna, recently received a Toledo American Advertising Federation 2025 Mosaic Award for the Most Promising Multicultural Student for her work on a podcast and student broadcast at the University of Toledo.

Smith said winning the award was a validation of her sacrifices and hard work.

“When I was talking to the director, she said, ‘Crystal, any time that you want to give up or you just don’t want to do this anymore, you need to look down at that award and keep going,’” Smith said. “It was like breaking stereotypes, breaking barriers.”

Smith is a single mom from Toledo who never thought she would go back to school. Thanks to insistence and support from her mom, Smith went back to school at Owens. She graduated with an associate degree in Political Science.

“I went to Owens and I’m like, ‘Oh, this is great, like I could do this,’” Smith said. “Owens was the stepping stone for all of this. It was just so easy to get in my classes. I can still be a stay-a-home mom because I did online a lot. Owens was just that factor, like, ‘Crystal, you can do this.’”

Smith was working in retail when she had her daughter. She realized she wanted to do more for herself and her child.

“I want her to be impressed and say, ‘Hey, that’s my mom,’” Smith said. “The only way to do that is to go to school.”

From filling out financial paperwork and the FAFSA to registering for classes, she said Owens made the process of going to school easy.

After graduating from Owens, Smith seamlessly transferred to UT, where she graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in media communications. She’s now working toward a master’s degree in strategic communication and social media from Bowling Green State University.

Through her now award-winning journey, Smith said she, “100 percent wouldn’t be where I’m at without Owens.”

“Everything I did in Owens transferred, so that gave me the headspace to just focus on my craft,” Smith said. “I did all the hard work, the online stuff at Owens and now I was just able to focus on what I wanted to do. I thank Owens a lot for that.”

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Owens Caterpillar Graduate James Henige Named All-Ohio Academic

Posted on May 13th, 2025

Owens graduate James Henige strived to do his best while studying in the college’s Caterpillar Dealer Service Technician Program.

Even so, he admits he was caught off guard when he was recognized as a member of the All-Ohio Academic Team by the Ohio Association of Community Colleges.

“I did not expect to receive such an honor,” Henige said. “Recognition at the state level validates the hard work that I put into my program, and I’m very humbled.”

Henige was a student in the Caterpillar Program, a two-year associate degree program designed to upgrade the technical competence and professionalism of entry-level Caterpillar dealership technician. The curriculum has been designed by Caterpillar and Owens.

As a senior in high school, Henige was one of 10 students in Michigan chosen for Caterpillar’s Think Big Program at Owens. He was sponsored by the dealership in Saginaw, where he had a full-time job as a Diesel Technician waiting for him after graduation.

The All-Ohio award comes with a $250 scholarship. Henige knows exactly where that money is heading.

“Diesel technicians are required to buy the majority of their own tools that are used on the job. As a student, we are given the opportunity to buy some of these tools at a significant discount so I have been prioritizing the most important tools and purchasing them through my student account. This $250 award will help me to pay them off,” he said.

Henige said he enjoyed his time at Owens, where an 8-week work experience was built into each semester of his two-year program. He said it was the “perfect fit for me.”

“I think (the work experience) was one of the best things about my program because it allowed me to earn spending money for the next semester,” he said. “Between this, the Think Big sponsorship, the various scholarships I was awarded and my parents’ contributions to my education, I was able to graduate 100 percent debt free. Starting my career without having something like that hanging over my head will allow me to focus on my career goals with a different perspective.”

For more information on the Caterpillar Think Big Program at Owens, please visit owens.edu/cat.

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Owens Alumni Hall of Fame Class Featured at Creative Expressions Arts Fundraising Event

Posted on April 8th, 2025

The community is invited to join Owens Community College alumni, faculty and staff for a special evening celebrating the arts at Creative Expressions as well as honoring the College’s second Alumni Hall of Fame class at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3 at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts.

Creative Expressions, the annual arts fundraiser, supports the endowed Artistic Award Funds for students pursuing a major in our technical arts programs. Nearly $41,000 has been awarded to students from the Artistic Performance Awards since 2014, with 296 students impacted.

This year’s event, entitled “Passport to the Arts” will showcase the arts through interactive and immersive stations where you can explore your artistic talent. The evening will also include a silent auction and hors d’oeuvres catered by Carolyn’s Catering.

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 2025 Alumni Hall of Fame class includes:

• Sharon D. Crawford, a 2006 early childhood education technology graduate who also earned an early child director’s certificate in 2004. Crawford has spent 12 years as a family support partner for Toledo Public Schools.
• Steven T. Flowers, a 2012 wide-area networking technology graduate, is a senior cloud solution architect at Microsoft. He is also the author of “Designing and Implementing Cloud-Native Applications Using Microsoft Azure Cosmos DB.”
• Diane T. Keil-Hipp, Ph.D., a 1988 applied business graduate who is the chief operations officer for Knight Insurance Group in Toledo.
• Linda S. Lear, a Class A CDL certificate earner in 2019, has been an instructor at Owens since 2023 while also earning her bachelor’s degree in social work; she is currently working towards her master’s in the same field.
• Brittany Moore, a 2006 dental hygiene graduate, has worked in pediatric dentistry since 2006 in northwest Ohio as well as an oral health screener for the Ohio Department of Health. She is an adjust faculty member at Owens.

Complete bios of the Alumni Hall of Fame class are available at owens.edu/alumni/awards.

Tickets, priced at $100 per couple and $65 for an individual ticket, include a commemorative art tile as a gift. Sponsorship packages as well as other commemorative items and permanent tiles on the mural wall are available for purchase as well.

Tickets are available online at owens.edu/cam/giving. Seating is limited.

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Owens Grad Finds Calling as Emergency Medical Technician

Posted on March 19th, 2025

Charles Peters spent a long time trying to find his purpose.

He worked at the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) for seven years. He thought about becoming a police officer. None of it felt right to the 37-year-old from Toledo.

“I just wanted to make a difference, but I wasn’t sure how to do that,” Peters said. “I’ve been trying to find that way.”

Peters was set to start studying to become a radio announcer in Cleveland, but the day before he was set to start, something told him to look at what Owens Community College had to offer. That’s how he found the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program.

“I knew it was going to be challenging, but if I wanted to find a purpose, I knew it would be tough,” Peters said. “I decided to jump right in. After one day of class, I fell in love with it.

“It gave me a humbling experience and a different outlook on life. Everyone runs away from trouble, but we have to run towards it.”

Last October, Peters did just that. While on a late-night grocery shopping trip with his wife, he heard yelling coming from the freezer aisle. When he went to check it out, he found a woman laying on the ground and two men arguing over who was going to give her CPR.

Peters jumped into action, first checking the woman’s breathing and pulse. He couldn’t find a pulse, so he started CPR.

“Everyone who goes through this training, you wonder, ‘What if I freeze?’ No, I just jumped in,” Peters said. “All I cared about was getting her breathing.”

Peters said he got tunnel vision and didn’t notice the Toledo Fire Department officers behind him with a gurney. Once he got a faint pulse, they took the woman to the hospital for further treatment.

He called the experience nerve-wracking—so much so that he couldn’t get to sleep until 3 a.m.—but he’s refused offers to reward him for his actions. He said it’s important for him to show his children that doing the right thing is always correct, with or without the prospect of an award.

“When that night happened, it reinforced the idea that this is what I’m supposed to do,” Peters said. “No matter how she got to that point, I was there. What happens if I wasn’t?

“I had the duty to act. I had to do something. She was able to go home.”

Matthew Phillips, the chair of Emergency Services Technology at Owens, celebrated Peters’ willingness to act and apply his training in a real-world application.

“We are incredibly proud of Charles, who heroically applied his classroom training to save a life in a local grocery store,” Phillips said. “His exceptional composure and effective CPR until EMS arrived highlight the critical skills he honed through dedication and hard work in Owens Community College’s EMT program.

“Known for his punctuality and willingness to assist peers, he exemplifies the commitment to emergency medical services that we strive to instill in all our students.”

After years of searching for his purpose, Peters is thankful he took a chance and enrolled at Owens. He credited the instructors with giving him all of the tools to succeed while making him comfortable and confident in an unfamiliar area.

“There are other schools or programs, but Owens feels like home to me,” Peters said. “It made me have a better outlook on what I can do as a person, to show my kids and family that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. Owens instills that into you.”

For more information on the Department of Emergency Services Technologies, please visit owens.edu/business.

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A Real Owens Love Story

Posted on February 13th, 2025

Many people have found a new start to their lives in the hallways and classrooms of Owens Community College, but few to the degree that Andrew and Lindsey Whitcomb did.

True, the education they both received as Owens graduates set them up for success in life, but perhaps more importantly, the beginning of their life together as husband and wife began in College Hall.

“It was so important in our relationship, if we wouldn’t have met at Owens, we wouldn’t be married, we wouldn’t have a son,” Andrew said.

The fact that either of them ended up at Owens in the first place is random. Neither are from the immediate area – Andrew is from St. Louis, and Lindsey is from Van Wert – and attending Owens wasn’t necessarily on their to-do list.

“I’m glad I chose Owens because who knows where I’d be,” Lindsey said.

Lindsey was first to come through Owens, as a student and worker in the Center for Campus and Community Connections. After graduating, she went to Bowling Green State University and studied abroad in England.

She never strayed too far from Owens, though, keeping tabs on new people at Owens through Facebook. One day, a new person popped up on Facebook, a student worker in the office who shared mutual friends.

Andrew didn’t immediately accept the friend request, but when Lindsey came back to Owens to work while in her final year at BGSU, he put two-and-two together.

“We would just hang out with our group of friends who were also in that office,” Andrew said. “We starting hanging out after work.”

Lindsay added, “And one thing led to another.”

Lindsey graduated from Owens in 2013 and Andrew in 2017. They began dating in March 2016, moved in together in November of that year, and they were married in 2019.

“When we first moved in together, we knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives with each other, so we focused really, really hard on some issues before any issues existed,” Andrew said. “I’d never been this intentional about being in love with someone until I was in this relationship. It’s effortless, but I want to make sure that every second of the rest of my life is with you.”

Not only did they spend the first year of their marriage hard at work, they were under the restrictions of the Covid pandemic. To make matters worse, their kitchen flooded during their honeymoon, meaning they needed to have that space gutted and replaced during the pandemic.

According to Lindsay, that experience made their relationship stronger. Andrew agreed, saying it helped them “navigate communication issues that we didn’t know were going to exist until you’re stuck in a house all day.”

Lindsey is now the assistant director for TRIO Student Support Services, a federally-funded program housed at Owens to help students attain an associate degree, certificate and/or transfer to a four-year university. Andrew is the operations manager for Seagate Food Bank in Toledo.

Last year, their family grew by one member when Owen was born in June 2024. And, yes, his name is an intentional callback to their beginnings here.

“It took us a really long time to pick a name,” Lindsey said. “We could not agree on anything. It was Owen and Bennett, but we wanted to see what he looked like. To us, he looks like an Owen.”

Lindsey and Andrew both agree they met some amazing people at Owens, but none more so than each other.

“Places are made out of the experiences and people you meet along the way, so Owens was such an important place to us; the moment that we decided to spend the rest of our lives together is because of Owens,” Andrew said. “It only makes sense that our son, the product of our relationship, is named Owen.”

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Owens Grad Living Her Dream as Emergency Medical Technician in Swanton

Posted on January 31st, 2025

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.

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Owens Adds National Championship Volleyball Team, 4 All-Americans, Soccer Coach to Express Hall of Fame

Posted on January 7th, 2025

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.

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Owens Aspire student, educator win state awards

Posted on September 20th, 2024

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

 

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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).

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Maumee Native Earns RN Degree, Becomes Third Generation Nurse

Posted on February 16th, 2023

The power of family can be very strong for people. They are there through all walks of life and provide direction. For Alyson Stanton, a Fall 2022 nursing graduate, her family inspired her to pursue a career in nursing and carry on the family legacy.

Stanton is now a third-generation nurse, following her grandmother, Shirley, a cardiac nurse at the old Riverside Hospital in Toledo and her mother, Cynthia, a postpartum and blood management nurse at ProMedica Toledo Hospital.

Stanton did not intent to become a nurse, but her life’s path changed in 2017 when her grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. “My mom and I didn’t want her to have to go into a facility so my mom and I decided it was time to take care of her full time. That’s when the passion for becoming a nurse came to me,” she said. Growing up, Stanton always said she would never become a nurse because she was surrounded by her mom and grandma talking about it constantly. When she realized the impact that nursing had on her family and keeping her grandmother at home until she died in July of that year, her perspective of the nursing field was forever changed.

She enrolled at Owens to become a nurse. During Stanton’s clinical rotation in obstetrics, she was able to do a clinical with her mother. “My mom was the reason I enrolled at Owens. She graduated in 2008 and had nothing but amazing things to say about her time and I knew it was the place for me,” she said.

The Maumee native has one daughter who has her own inspiration to get into the medical field. “Every few days I hear ‘I want to be a doctor when I grow up’ and I’m happy she wants to be in the medical field just like mom, grandma and great-grandma,” Stanton said.

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