Menu
New labs, new staff welcome MCC students
McCook Community College completes a major renovation in Barnett Hall while two new faculty members and a new coach begin their duties as the fall term of classes start today.
College officials gave Barnett Hall a $145,000 facelift and hired Kaitlin Guzzi to teach biology, Megan Friesen to teach English and Michelle Reiners to take over the women's volleyball and softball programs.
The chemistry and physical laboratories in the ground floor of Barnett Hall were gutted this summer and rebuilt with state-of-the art technology upgrades, new cabinetry, casework, sinks and high-efficiency fume hoods.
In addition, staff installed new 47-inch flat screen video equipment in the new chemistry and physics labs.
"Over the past six years there has not been a building on campus that we have not done some type of major remodeling or renovations," said Jon Burkey, MCC Director of Physical Resources.
The chemistry and physical science renovation included the elimination of several windows to allow for the increasing demand for state-of-the art storage.
Part of the upgrade in Barnett Hall involves adding improved technology to last-year's renovation of the two biology labs.
According to Area Senior Information Technician Dolyn Brown, white board touch screens were installed in the biology labs so instructors can project and operate their laptops from the white boards at the front of the classroom.
In addition to the lab upgrades, MCC staff renovated the restrooms and eliminated some of the windows for safety reasons. The elimination of some of the windows in Barnett Hall allows the college to better create storm shelters.
Other projects across campus include the renovation of four offices in Walsh-Brady Hall where new paint, carpet, furniture and lateral filing systems were added.
Burkey said this project replaced the original carpet installed when the Walsh-Brady was built in 1987. Five more offices are slated for updates in the future.
Across the campus new signs bring the college into a standard uniform numbering system used by all colleges. All first-floor rooms and offices now have numbers in the 100s and offices and rooms on the second floor have numbers in the 200s.
The restrooms in Brooks Hall were remodeled with the shower stalls extended to a semi-private drying area. Officials plan a new 35-by-50 concrete pad near Brooks Hall which will be used for an outdoor basketball court and can be used for activities like cookouts.
Burkey said the building with the fewest changes has been True Hall and the college has been fairly conservative about putting major money into updates in that building given that it would have a major change of function under the proposed Event Center at MCC.
NEW FACLUTY
Megan Friesen takes over the English faculty position vacated when Doug Joyce became Dean of Economic Development and Training at the MCC Center For Enterprise.
Friesen is from Wallace and has an undergraduate degree from Hastings College where she majored in English literature and minored in political science. She recently completed her master's degree in English literature from the University of Wyoming.
Kaitlin Guzzi is from Middletown, N.J., with an associate degree in biology from Brookdale Community College, a bachelor's in biological sciences from Rutgers University, and she received her master's in microbiology and molecular genetics from Rutgers University in June.
Michelle Reiners, was named MCC's new volleyball coach this summer and also accepted the vacant softball post. The MCC volleyball team opened play Friday at a tournament in North Platte, and the Indians picked up their first win for their new coach with a three-set win over Colby.
Bob Molcyk is MCC's new EMS-Accelerated program coordinator, will begin Sept. 2.
New student orientation began today at 9 a.m. and concludes with a barbeque today at 5 p.m. Officials have a whole slate of welcome week activities planned for the week including: cold treats Tuesday, college movie night Wednesday, a scavenger hunt and cookies on campus Wednesday, an all-campus picnic and MCC Business and Community Involvement Fair Thursday, and a dance.