February 4, 2019

Table of Contents


Coming Events

Retention Team's 'Meet and Greet' Workshop Is Feb. 5
Spread the word to students! The Center for Retention and Completion presents its Spring 2019 "Meet and Greet" workshop on Tuesday, Feb. 5 in the WWC cafeteria from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Success coaches will be celebrating the start of the spring semester and answering students' questions in a fun and engaging lunch gathering. We invite them to meet with representatives from many departments, including MercerOnline, Financial Aid, Veterans Services, Library, Testing Center, Registrar, Career and Transfer, University Center at Mercer, and more. We look forward to seeing everyone!!!

MCCC's Rainbow Alliance Hosts Open Forum Feb. 5
Please join MCCC's Rainbow Alliance for an open forum with Garden State Equality on the status of the queer community in New Jersey and the nation on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at noon in SC 104.  Pizza will be served.

All Invited to Trenton's Chinese New Year's Celebration Feb. 5
The City of Trenton will celebrate Chinese New Year on Tuesday, Feb. 5 with a street fair along South Warren Street between East State and Lafayette Streets beginning at 4 p.m. This is the year of the pig, which symbolizes wealth and fortune. Vendors will have booths along the street with food, games, performances, and more. Restaurants along South Warren will be offering unique Chinese fusion dishes, and the street will be lined with lanterns and other decorations. A children's dragon parade is also expected. The event is free and open to all. For vendor or sponsorship information, please email Andrew Fenwick at afenwick@trentonnj.org.

Conversation with Gallery Exhibit Artists Is Feb. 6 at noon
On Wednesday, Feb. 6 at noon in CM110, the WWC Gallery is hosting "A Conversation with the Artists."  All five artists whose work is represented in the "Saturdated Geometry" exhibition will be in attendance. They are: Robert Erickson, Ryan Sarah Murphy, Alex Paik, Richard Tinkler, and Andrew Zimmerman. The artists will hold an open forum, welcoming comments and questions from the audience.  All are encouraged to attend. Some professors have assigned this artist talk as an alternate subject for a paper required for their respective courses.

Reception for WWC Exhibit ‘Saturated Geometry’ Is Feb. 6, 5 to 7:30 pm
Following the talks at noon, the college community and members of the public are invited to the opening reception for "Saturated Geometry" on Feb. 6 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. (The exhibit is on display at the WWC Gallery through March 7.) According to Lucas Kelly, the show’s curator, the works of these artists offer their interpretations of formal geometric abstraction and color. Read more here.

Health Professions Info Session Feb. 6
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 Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 5 p.m. in MS172. Additional information sessions will be held on Thursday, Feb. 28 at noon in KC240 on the James Kerney Campus; 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.

Tax Prep Assistance Begins Feb. 6
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, from Feb. 6 to April 10 in SC 104, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (No session during Spring Break.) To learn more, see the flyer here.

'Influences of Androids in Film' Is MCCC Lecture Topic Feb. 7
From Blade Runner to Westworld, the portrayal and social influences of human-like robots – or androids – will be the topic of a lecture entitled “The Android Archetype: From Metropolis to Westworld.” The talk will be presented by Dr. William Indick, professor of Psychology at William Paterson University, on Thursday, Feb. 7 at noon in CM109. Read more here.

Holocaust Center Announces Spring Events, Starting with Panel Feb. 7
February events at the Mercer County Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Education Center begin Thursday, Feb. 7 with a student roundtable discussion entitled “Are Walls Immoral?” On Feb. 14, the center will show the film “Only a Number,” produced by local filmmaker Steve Besserman, whose parents survived the Holocaust. A student roundtable on “Capitalism: Rooted in Democracy or Fascism?” follows on Feb. 19, followed by special guest Al Hepner, a Holocaust survivor who will discuss "Avrumele: Recollections of a Hidden Child" on Feb. 28. See the full spring schedule here.

Fashion Program to Present to Celebrate Personal Style Feb. 8
As part of the college's celebration of Black History Month, the Fashion Program and Fashion Club will present a runway show featuring their own creations and student models on Friday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. The show, whose theme is "Who Am I?", takes place at Trenton Hall. Questions? Contact Professor Kay at lindsayk@mccc.edu. See the full list of Black History Month activities here.

Witty and Poignant ‘Love Letters’ Comes to Kelsey Feb. 8 to 10
There’s a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year and it happens on stage at Kelsey Theatre! Join M&M Stage Productions as they present “Love Letters,” A.R. Gurney’s 1988 Pulitzer Prize-nominated play, for one weekend only. Dates and show times are Friday, Feb. 8 and Saturday, Feb. 9 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, February 10 at 2 p.m. Read more here.

Sierra Club Lecture to Focus on Sea Level Rise Feb. 13
The Sierra Club of NJ – Central Group presents its first lecture of the semester on Wednesday, Feb. 13 in SC 104 in the Student Center. Dr. Kenneth Miller, Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Rutgers University, will present “Climate Change or Sea Level Rise, Should I Sell my Shore House?” The event begins with pizza at 6 p.m., followed by the program at 6:30 p.m. Dr. Miller has his Ph.D. from MIT’s Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program in Oceanography and specializes in the oceanography of the North Atlantic. RSVP to Kipatthesierraclub@gmail.com. Staff and students welcome! (A small donation for the pizza gladly accepted.)

'Four Weddings and an Elvis' at Kelsey Theatre Feb. 15 to 24
A Las Vegas wedding chapel is about to host some rather unusual couples, along with "The King" himself. The Yardley Players present the unforgettable "Four Weddings and an Elvis." It's laugh-out-loud funny -- and a little romantic too! Read more here.

'Rapunzel' Lets Her Hair Down at Kelsey Theatre Feb. 23
The timeless, tangled tale of "Rapunzel" is coming to Kelsey Theatre. The award-winning Kaleidoscope Theatre presents a magically fun musical adaptation of the famous fairytale Saturday, Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Read more here.

Current News

Entrepreneurial Master Class Prepares Students for Life After College
The second year of MCCC's Entrepreneurial Master Class continued to help students build their toolkits by offering a holistic understanding of the business world. Organized by the Division of Innovation, Online Education and Student Success under the direction of Dr. Alexandra Salas, the workshop took students from inspiration to action, as they learned how to present themselves and their ideas to a group. The classes were led by Simon Nynens, NJIT Vice President of Business Incubation and Executive Director of Commercialization, who volunteered his time. Read more here.

Alumna Savannah Dziepak Continues to Seek Solutions in Science
Since her graduation from MCCC in 2016 with an A..S. in Biology, Savannah Dziepak continues to seek out opportunities in the lab -- both at her transfer school, William Paterson University, and in a prestigious summer program at Rutgers University. She says she loves the scientific process -- identifying and investigating a problem and finding solutions and notes, "I learned how to learn at Mercer." Read more here.

Men's Basketball Bonds Over Basketball and More During D.C. Trip
The men’s basketball team took a trip to Washington, D.C., on the weekend of Dec. 22. Organized by Head Coach Howard Levy, the Vikings stayed overnight in the nation’s capital, where they saw some sites, met some good people and, yes, played some basketball! Read more here.

Student Sara Displays Her Artistry on Television
In the span of a year, Education major Sara Stoy went from watching television to being on it. The 21-year-old was one of 14 people to participate on “American Beauty Star,” which airs on the Lifetime Network. Contestants, armed with beauty supplies, a few hours and a model, are tasked with creating fashionable, show-stopping makeup looks that adhere to the show’s themes. Read more about Sara's television experience and her educational goals here.

Reminders

Exercise Classes for Spring: Exercise classes for the spring semester begin the week of Feb. 4. Yoga is held on Mondays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in PE 225 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.

Mercer in the News This Week

Trenton Times (njtimes.com)

Theater: PinnWorth Productions' "Zorro! The Musical" at West Windsor's Kelsey Theatre

Trentonian

Mercer County Community College celebrates Black History Month with slate of events (L.A. Parker column)

Mercer County Police Academy graduates 59 new officers, including 12 for Trenton

Broadway World

FOUR WEDDINGS AND AN ELVIS Plays Kelsey Feb. 15 To 24

Community News Service

James Pugliese returns home for win-win situation

Trenton galleries kickoff February with new art exhibits

Trenton Daily

MCCC to Celebrate Black History Month with Films, Fashion and Performances

WPG Talk Radio (104.1 FM)

MERCER COUNTY COLLEGE, STOCKTON ANNOUNCE DUAL ADMISSION TRANSFER AGREEMENT


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