July 31, 2009

News from

Weekly updates from National's 25 communities in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and Indiana.

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National College Communities

Bartlett, TN
Bluefield, VA
Bristol, TN
Charlottesville, VA
Cincinnati, OH
Columbus, OH
Danville, KY
Danville, VA
Dayton, OH
Florence, KY
Harrisonburg, VA
Indianapolis, IN
Knoxville, TN
Lexington, KY
Louisville, KY
Lynchburg, VA
Martinsville, VA
Madison, TN
Memphis, TN
Nashville, TN
Pikeville, KY
Richmond, KY
Roanoke Valley, VA
Stow, OH
Youngstown, OH

SPOTLIGHT ON SUCCESS

Local Mom Changes Career Path

Brandy Farley is the first in her family to get a degree.

She graduated in 2004 from the Roanoke Valley Campus with an associate degree in business administration-management and she is now enrolled in the bachelor’s program.

Brandy is raising a family with four children. Making the decision to go to college was not an easy one but, she said, “After a couple of lower paying jobs, I decided I needed more.”

After researching several area colleges, she chose National because of the available night courses: “The hours accommodated more of a family home setting than most colleges.”

While attending classes in the evening, Brandy works as a daytime supervisor for Hunting Hills Country Club. She supervises club room duties and prepares the banquet hall for weddings and special events. She previously owned a catering company and would like to one day get back into that industry again on a larger scale.

It has been a challenge for Brandy to juggle a full-time job, school, homework, and the demanding schedule of four active children. But she is pleased with her experience at National:  “The bachelor’s program has been a good challenge.” Moreover, Brandy said she has learned things in the bachelor’s program that would have greatly assisted her catering company including efficient accounting procedures and the use of business software.

It is important to Brandy to set an example for her children about the value of an education. She didn’t want to send the message, “Don’t [go to college] because I didn’t do it.” Instead, she wanted to be able to say, “Do it because I did it.” Her oldest daughter, a rising high school senior, already has her sights on a couple universities and is planning for a career in physical therapy.

Brandy’s goals for the future are to earn a master of business administration at National and open a banquet facility in the Roanoke/Salem area that will accommodate a large number of guests.

Your FRIENDS, FAMILY, CO-WORKERS, and NEIGHBORS are ALL invited to visit National College and learn more about our IN-DEMAND CAREER FOCUSED programs. If you know someone who may be interested CLICK HERE!

ROANOKE VALLEY

MBA Students “Know2Grow”

National College MBA students recently had a chance to put their business knowledge to work for a local charitable organization. The Board of Directors of the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank approached Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), a non-profit organization dedicated to educating entrepreneurs, for assistance in developing a series of training modules for basic life skills for Food Bank clients. SCORE, in turn, asked National College for assistance from students in the MBA program. 

MBA students accepted the challenge and worked two and a half terms to develop a user friendly learning program, titled “Know2Grow.” The group formally presented their 13-part learning module system to representatives of SCORE and the Food Bank. They explained that the program is an internet-based system that affords users an opportunity to better examine financial issues, work-related matters, and personal ideals. The modules offer tutorials, case studies, and “Just for Fun” sections.

In association with SCORE and the Food Bank, MBA students will coordinate efforts to bring these modules to area food bank clients; thus furthering their understanding of critical issues such as: credit, budgets, safety, environmental concerns, and other issues.

In addition to the modules, students designed a website to showcase the modules and to serve as a blog and newsletter site for the food bank. The students learned a great deal about project management and the community from working on the project. As Trushit Patel said, “The project gave me insight into how to take what I learned in the classroom and apply it in the real world.”

Officials from both SCORE and the Second Harvest Food Bank were extremely pleased with the outstanding quality and usefulness of the modules developed and commented how the program will positively benefit marginalized individuals and families in the Roanoke Valley for many years to come.

Pictured above are the students behind “Know2Grow” (l to r) Kate Etuk, Craig Eisenbrown, Chantell Powell, Peggy Randall, Trushit Patel, and MBA Department Chair Dr. Annette Chamberlin.

KNOXVILLE

Group Projects

On July 11th, students in Instructor Angela Jones’ Advanced CPT Coding class presented group projects to their classmates and other instructors. Students were given the task of grading their peers on presentation, effort, and appearance. The group projects helped students learn and adapt to different personalities and professional situations to prepare them for the work place. The goal of the project was to help students learn the topic they were discussing; learn how to work together as a team; and practice meeting deadlines. The presentation topics ranged from breast augmentation to pacemakers. Angela was very pleased with the outcome of each group presentation.

STOW

Hands-On HIT Experience

Autum Woodring (pictured sitting) wanted a career in the medical field.  After she examined National’s health care programs, she enrolled in the health information technology (HIT) program at the Stow Campus. She is currently working as an extern at Bath Manor Special Care Center in Akron, Ohio and is grateful for the opportunity to get hands-on experience. “I am thankful for everything I am learning here; it is helping me to get a better understanding of how to utilize what I have learned in the classroom.”

Bath Manor is benefitting from Autum’s externship as well. Autum’s supervisor Sybil Wenzel (standing), said that Autum has been a big help to her and the company:  “We have a skilled unit and discharge is non-stop. When she comes here, it frees me up so I can put my attention on other areas.” Sybil explained that Autum is not only thinning out charts but she is also helping with setting up admission charts, and closing out and auditing among other activities.

Autum is planning to do a second externship with Bath Manor where she will focus on coding, reimbursement, utilization review, and quality improvement as well as supervisory skills.

MADISON

Tennessee’s Highest Honor

On July 22nd, student Garry Thomas presented Madison Campus Director William Patrick Patterson with Tennessee's highest honor, a Senate Joint Resolution (SJR). To receive such an honor, a person must be nominated and unanimously approved by a committee. The nomination is then researched and sponsors from both the Senate and the House take it to the floor, and again, it must be unanimously approved.

After being researched, the sponsors, Senator Rusty Crowe and Representative Mathew Hill, took it to the floor. A copy of SJR 484 will remain forever in the Tennessee State Library for future generations along with commendations of such notable Tennesseans as Presidents James K. Polk and Andrew Jackson, Congressman David Crockett, and General Sam Houston. This honor is a public display of how the recipient truly made a difference in Tennessee. The Madison Campus is proud to have Patrick as part of their team.

INDIANAPOLIS

Career Jumpstart

Johnathan Manning graduated from the Indianapolis campus in May with a pharmacy technician diploma and is now working as a pharmacy technician for the Super Target in Fishers, Indiana. After completing his externship at this Target pharmacy, the pharmacist was so impressed that he offered Jonathan a full-time position. Having been there for only a couple of months, he is already training new pharmacy technicians.

Johnathan’s wife, Shantal Manning, is also a National College graduate. Shantal graduated with Johnathan in May with an associate degree in the medical assisting program. She has also found success in her new career as a traveling medical assistant.

BARTLETT

Student Activities

On Wednesday, July 22nd, the Bartlett Campus Student Activities Council (SAC) sponsored a blood drive. A Lifeblood bloodmobile was on campus to take blood donations from many willing students, instructors, and staff members. Medical Office Specialist student Nicole Lumley (right) was one of those who graciously gave, saying “I donated blood today because I wanted to help save lives.” According to Leslie Poole of Lifeblood, each donation can save up to four lives. In addition, Dr. Robert Burnett’s Pharmacology II class went aboard the bloodmobile to learn more about blood donation including the procedure for drawing blood.



SAC also sponsored a Kid’s Safety Day on Saturday, July 25th. Representatives from the Bartlett Police Department and Bartlett Fire Department offered safety tips to children of our students. ID kits that included materials to take fingerprints were available for parents to take home in case of an emergency. Business Administration student Georgia Haynes said her children (left) were excited about doing the kits, and “I knew that these would be helpful, if something ever happened.”

CINCINNATI

A “Mad Businessman” Presentation

Entrepreneur Delano White recently visited the Cincinnati Campus and delivered a 2-week seminar for students in the business programs. Delano is an author and business consultant. He shares the secrets of his success as an entrepreneur in his book Diary of a Mad Businessman which recaps journal entries from his diary as he pursued his dream to start his business. The book was transformed from a diary into a study guide for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Through the use of this book, Delano facilitated a workshop for students. Participants found the workshop engaging, challenging, and insightful. They explored every aspect of starting a new business including relationship building with business partners and contractors.

Delano expresses his passion for doing these seminars as his way of giving back to the community. He has linked the importance of education and instruction to the gift of vision, perseverance, and embracing the fundaments of teachings that come through business administration and management.

Community Resource Coordinator Vanessa Mabry is pictured with guest speaker Delano White.

PIKEVILLE

New Phlebotomist in Two Terms

Pikeville graduate Lauren Slone was recently hired by Highlands Regional Medical Center in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, which is where she completed her externship. Lauren graduated from the phlebotomy program in May this year and was hired directly after.

Her new job offers her a better salary than where she was working before in addition to health insurance and benefits. “I feel like my experience at National helped me get hired,” said Lauren.

Lauren was able to earn her diploma in just two terms. A combination of hands-on training in class and firsthand experience gained during her externship left Lauren well prepared to enter the workforce.

When Lauren started school she was working two jobs and had no experience in the medical field. Now she is working in an exciting new field with better pay and benefits. Lauren sets a fine example for all students.

DANVILLE, KENTUCKY

Guest Speaker Discusses Medical Terminology

Anne Antle, a certified medial assistant (CMA) of 12 years, recently visited the Danville Campus and spoke with students in Instructor Janet Hansford’s Terminology of Body Systems class. Anne is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in health care. She is currently employed by Central Internal Medicine at Dr. Brenda Coleman’s office. The topics discussed were career opportunities in the medical field and how medical terminology impacts her day to day activities and her client care. Anne spoke about her happiness in her field of employment and stressed how much enjoyment she takes from her work. She encouraged students to stick with it and assured them that they too would find that enjoyment in helping others.

Instructor Janet Hansford is pictured with student Danielle White and guest speaker Anne Antle.

In compliance with regulations of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, in Tennessee National College is National College of Business and Technology. All references to "National" or "National College" within this email refer to "National College of Business and Technology" in the state of Tennessee.