Coming Events

Black History Month Events Conclude This Week

MCCC’s Black History Month events conclude this week. A Black History Month Trivia Game Show comes to the West Windsor Campus cafeteria on Tuesday, Feb. 26, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. On Thursday, Feb. 28, the Closing Ceremony will be held in JKC’s Kerney Hall, starting at noon. Food will be served. Also on Feb. 28, the blockbuster movie “Black Panther” will be shown at the West Windsor Campus in LA229 at 3 p.m. and in JKC’s Kerney Hall at 5 p.m. See the full list of Black History Month activities here.

Tamara Torres' 'La Feminista' Lecture Rescheduled for Feb. 27

Has feminism become more of a trend than a movement? The lecture by Latina artist Tamara Torres entitled “La Feminista: Soy Yo? (The Feminist, Am I?)” has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 27 in CM108 at noon.Torres, a Trenton-based photographer, painter, and performance artist, will discuss what feminism is for different cultures and generations of women, as well as her upcoming photo and video exhibit opening Feb. 28 at the JKC Gallery. Read more here.

Holocaust Survivor to Share His Story Feb. 28

On Thursday, Feb. 28 at noon, Holocaust survivor Al Hepner will present "Avrumele: Recollections of a Hidden Child. The center is located next to the bookstore on the second floor of the Student Center. See the full spring schedule here.

'La Feminista: Soy Yo?' Opens at JKCG Gallery Feb. 28; Reception Is March 6

"La Feminista: Soy Yo?", a photograpy and video installation by Trenton artist Tamara Torres, comes to the JKC Gallery Feb. 28 to April 4. A reception and artist talk take place March 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. Torres explores the concept of feminism across cultures and generations. Read more here.

Horticulture Program Creates 'Urban Oasis' for Phila. Flower Show March 2 to 10

The MCCC Horticulture Program will once again participate in the prestigious Philadelphia Flower Show from March 2 to 10 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The program begins its set-up this week. The theme of the show is "Flower Power" and the MCCC display is "A Rooftop Garden Oasis." According to Horticutlure Professor Amy Ricco, there are many plants that thrive in containers -- perfect for city dwellers without much outdoor space. Read more here.

Monday Dinners at Student Restaurant Start March 4

MCCC's HRIM Program will present fine dining at three student restaurants this spring. Monday night dinners will be served at The Viking Café, beginning March 4 and continuing through April 29. (The restaurant is closed Mar. 18 for Spring Break.) Seating is from 6:15 to 7 p.m. in ES111. Tickets can be purchased online here. Tickets for faculty and staff are just $10. Other restaurants this semester include The International Café, serving Monday lunches from Mar. 25 to May 13, and the Food Prep II class, serving Wednesday lunches. (Dates and menus to be announced.) Tickets for those two restaurants will be on sale soon.

All Invited to Celebrate Women's History Month with 'Balanced Woman' March 5

In commemoration of Women's History Month, the Student Life and Leadership Office invites all to "The Balanced Woman" on Tuesday, March 5. Tracey Ulshafer, of One Yoga Center, will offer tips about living a balanced life, addressing mind, body, spirit! Ulshafer includes her observations in a new book; the first 40 attendees will receive a free copy free. Lunch will be catered by Dolce and Clemente in Robbinsville. For more information, stop by SC111 or call ext. 3435. See the flyer here.

MCCC-NJBIA Conference Is March 6

Register now for the MCCC-New Jersey Business and Industry Association seminar entitled "Building New Jersey's Future Workforce by Leveraging Public-Private Partnerships." The event will explore the synergies between business and higher education, and how public-private partnerships can help build a skilled workforce ready for 21st-century jobs. It will be held Wednesday, March 6, from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Conference Center. There is a $25 charge for MCCC employees. For more information and to register, click here. See the flyer here. MCCC employees can also register by emailing events@njbia.com or calling 800-499-4419 ext. 1.

Pulitzer Prize Winning Historian to Speak on Civil War, Reconstruction March 7

Columbia University historian Dr. Eric Foner will present a lecture entitled “The Second Founding: How the Civil War and Reconstruction Remade the Constitution” on Thursday, Mar. 7 at noon in CM107. His talk is part of the Spring 2019 Distinguished Lecture Series and is free and open to the public. Read more here.

Another Chance to Audition for MCCC Dance Concert March 7

The Mercer Dance Ensemble will hold open auditions for “The Edge of Dance,” choreographed by MCCC faculty members Rebecca Brodowski, Jody Gazenbeek-Person, Jennifer Gladney, and Jill Molinaro. Auditions take place Thursday, Mar. 7 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in PE225 and are open to dancers 16 and up.Wear clothing that shows the lines of the body. (If you do not have dance clothing, wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely.)  Please bring a picture and résumé with you. This contemporary dance concert takes place at Kelsey Theatre Saturday, May 11 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 12 at 2 p.m. Questions? Email gazenbej@mccc.edu.

'Peter and the Starcatcher' Comes to Kelsey Theatre March 8 to 17

Ever wonder how Peter Pan and the Lost Boys ended up in Never-Neverland? The truth shall be revealed in "Peter and the Starcatcher," to be presented by The Pennington Players Mar. 8 to 17. Read more here.

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Current News

Scholarship Portal Now Open

Share with students! The MCCC Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for new, continuing, and graduating students. NEW scholarships have been added this year. The application deadlines are March 28 for graduating students and JKC scholarship awards, and May 31 for fall scholarship awards. More information about the AwardSpring application process is available here; the application web address is www.mccc.edu/apply4awards. See the brochure for current students here and for high school students here.

Wisdom Through the Ages: MCCC Celebrates Black History Across Generations

In addition to a variety of film showings and performances, MCCC celebrated Black history earlier this month with an open forum about the evolution of Black culture. Students, faculty and staff gathered for the panel discussion “Wisdom through the Ages” on Feb. 12, organized and moderated by Lucia Brown-Joseph, the college’s Bursar. “The goal was to have people from every generation come and talk about what’s culturally relevant,” Brown-Joseph said. The panel incorporated voices that spanned the last eight decades.Read more here.

Honors Science Research Projects Yield Positive Results for Students

Three Mercer science students decided not to take a break during Winter Break. Instead, they completed Honors Research projects at Genesis Biotechnology Group. They learned a whole lot -- about how their academic learning applies in a real world lab and about their own future directions. They presented their findings before classmates and staff on Feb. 18. Read more here.

Students Game for Online Classes Can Start with a Game!

Student orientation for online classes has gotten a little more fun. MercerOnline's Noel Quiles designed “Online Learning Adventure,” a browser game that provides an overview of online education as a supplement to in-person or online orientation sessions. The game takes students on an ruins-filled adventure. Read more here. Play the game here.

Men's Basketball Team Heads for Post-Season Semifinal Contest Against Lackawanna

The talented, determined men's basketball team heads to the Region 19 Tournament this weekend for the first time since 2015. The Vikings ended the regular season with a 19-9 record and a 12-2 record in the region. They are the no. 2 seed and will take on no.-3 seeded Lackawanna College on March 2 on Lackawanna's home court. Both of the Vikings' previous match-ups against the Falcons were close, so a good game is expected. Go, Vikings!

NEW: Training and Development Calendar on M-Link

From Monise Princilus, Executive Director of Human Resources and Compliance: As part of our Strategic Plan, the college committed to investing in organizational and professional effectiveness, and we are continually looking for ways to maximize our internal resources to bring you opportunities for training and development. A new Training and Development Calendar has been created. To view, click here.  If you see any course that interests you, please register. More courses will be added as they become available. If you have questions or concerns, we welcome your feedback: https://mlink.mccc.edu/hr_training.shtml.

Silent Auction Donations Requested for Spring Scholarship Fundraiser

This spring, MCCC Foundation’s will host the Spring Into Student Success! Fundraising Gala, with all proceeds directly benefiting student scholarships. This year’s event will be held on Friday evening, April 5 at Stone Terrace in Hamilton. A big part of this event’s excitement is the silent auction. Last year we were able to double the proceeds, creating our most successful silent auction yet! This is due in part from the generosity of our community, and with your help, we can do more. Please help continue this momentum by contributing a silent auction item(s). Our most requested items include wine and spirits, gift cards from local merchants, and interesting experiences. For more information and to view our silent auction guidelines, visit www.mccc.edu/siss. Questions? Contact Madison Storcella at storcelm@mccc.edu.

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Reminders

Feb. 28: Health Professions Info Session. Current and prospective students interested in learning about health profession degree programs, requirements, employment opportunities, career paths, the application process, and more can do so at an information session on Thursday, Feb. 28 at noon in KC240 on the James Kerney Campus. Additional sessions will be held Wednesday, March 27, noon, MS172; and Thursday, April 11, 5 p.m., MS172. Questions? Contact Cindy Matyas at ext. 3596 or by email at matyasc@mccc.edu.

Through March 7: 'Saturated Geometry' at the WWC Gallery.The Gallery at MCCC will showcase works by five artists in its group exhibit "Saturated Geometry" through Thursday, March 7. The works of these artists offer their interpretations of formal geometric abstraction and color. Read more here.

March 24: Dedication of Robert Pugh Fitness Center. The dedication of the Robert L. Pugh Fitness Center has been rescheduled for Sunday, March 24 , at 12:30 p.m. in the PE Building. The center is being refurbished and renamed in honor of Bob's 45 years of service and dedication to MCCC. To date, $50,000 has been raised for the project. To RSVP, email Patti Richards at richardp@mccc.edu. 

April 5: Foundation Hosts 'Spring Into Student Success' Fundraiser. Break out the straw fedora, white sport coat, or the floral print dress and get ready for “A Night in Old Havana,” the theme for this year’s MCCC Foundation scholarship fundraiser, “Spring Into Student Success.” Now in its 30th year, “Spring Into Student Success” will be held on Friday, April 5, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at The Stone Terrace, 2275 Kuser Road in Hamilton. All proceeds will support student scholarships. Mark your calendars! Read more here.

Through April 10: Tax Prep Assistance. MCCC, in cooperation with United Way of Greater Mercer County and the IRS Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, will offer free tax return preparation on Wednesdays through April 10 in SC104, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (No session during Spring Break.) To learn more, see the flyer here.

Winter Edition of Viking Magazine Now Available The winter isssue of MCCC's Viking magazine is now available in print and online. The cover story features our Radio students, who have been creating commercials for the airwaves as part of Professor Mitch Canter's Audio Production class. Other highlights include special events this fall, student milestones, academic features, sports news and more. Print copies have been distributed in public areas around both campuses and are also available in the Public Relations office (AD114). Or, read the interactive version online here.

Through Summer: Camp Registration Underway. From June 17 through Aug. 16, MCCC will once again open its West Windsor Campus to children and teens ages 6 to 17. Registration is currently under way for a diverse list of camp and workshop offerings designed to pique the interests of just about every child. Read more here.

Exercise Classes for Spring: Exercise classes for the spring semester have begun. Yoga is held on Mondays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in PE225 and on Wednesdays, from noon to 1 p.m. in the gym. Zumba classes are on Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m. in the gym. Presented by Student Life and Leadership, classes are free and open to both students and staff. No classes will be held during Spring Break.

Continue to Spread the Word about Free Tuition Through New State Program (CCOG). As active ambassadors for MCCC, all employees are asked to continue to spread the word to family and friends about the state's new Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG). Also consider passing this information along to churches and community organizations for their newsletters, announcements, and information racks. Hard copies of the flyer are available in the AD Executive Suite, at the Information Desk at the JKC Student Commons, and at the Admissions and Financial Aid suites in the Student Center. Or, copies can be printed by clicking here. More information about CCOG is available by calling (609) 570-3795, e-mailing admiss@mccc.edu, or by visiting http://www.mccc.edu/free.

Annual Report Available Online. The 2017-18 college and Foundation Annual Report is available online. This "turn-page" edition is an easy, clickable read that includes feature stories on eight graduates of the Class of 2018. The theme: "WE ARE MERCER!" Check it out here.

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Mercer in the News This Week

Trentonian

Mercer County Executive Hughes makes high-profile appointments, wants freeholder consent

Mercer CC men's lacrosse poised for first game in program history

Behind 1,000-point scorer Donovon Guess, Mercer CC men's basketball making push toward region playoffs

NJ.com

Shelly Dearden steps down after record-breaking three decade coaching career

Broadway World

PETER AND THE STARCATCHER Comes to MCCC's Kelsey Theatre

RAPUNZEL Comes to Kelsey Theatre, Today

CentralJersey.com

Loose Ends 2/22: Memory of a shining light brings hope to Princeton

TapInto.net

Morristown Resident and CCM Vice President Dr. Bette Simmons Honored with National Excellence Award

The Tower (Kean University)

GOVERNOR MURPHY PILOTS TUITION-FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN NJ

Trenton Daily

HIGH SCHOOL ENTREPRENEUR BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL INVESTING CONFERENCE

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Submit Your News and Calendar Items

The M-Newsletter is published by MCCC's Public Relations office, AD114. Staff members: Jim Gardner, ext. 3736, or Wendy Humphrey, ext. 3729. More here about the services of the Public Relations Office.

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