Hunter Safety Class August 2 in Sterling

A Hunter Safety Class will be held August 2 at 1pm at NJC's Beede Hamil Hall. This class is for ages 9 and up. The class will also be held August 9 and will include home study and internet classes. You must attend all classes to receive a hunter safety certificate. Attendees are asked to not bring firearms or ammunition to the class. For more information contact Spencer at 521-0973 or 580-3413.

Adult, Child, Infant CPR, AED and First Aid classes July 12 in Sterling

***Courtesy of Northeastern Junior College Facebook Page***

Adult, Child, Infant CPR, AED and First Aid classes will be held Saturday, July 12 at Knowles Hall Room 319 at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling. The class runs from 9am-5pm. The course is designed for individuals who are teachers, daycare workers and medical assistants, preparing participants to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults, infants and children. Participants will learn how to perform CPR and operate an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). To register or for more information email tracy.yahn@njc.edu or call 970-521-6708

NJC Hosa Hog Roast May 3

NJC Hosa (Health Occupations Students of America) group is having a Hog Roast May 3rd from 5:30- 7:00pm. Tickets are on sale at the NJC Bookstore. Tickets are $10 for adult, and $8 for children. The event will be located at the NJC Ballroom. It is a fundraiser for the 8 students going to nationals.

Northeastern announces B2C grant recipients

***Press Release***

11 small business owners participating in 2014 contest

Using funds generously given by the El Pomar Foundation, Northeastern Junior College’s small business management program is once again overseeing another round of Business To College (B2C) training, designed to help strength area communities and develop business leaders. Eleven area businesses have been selected to participate in this latest round of coursework and competition which began last week.

Participating entrepreneurs, all people who had to apply to and be selected for the program, each receive up to six free credits of college business training; receive an iPod and internet access during the duration of the training and in the end, get to keep the iPad; get to establish a solid business plan to use as a roadmap for their enterprise; and get an opportunity to compete for some portion of $25,000 in award money.

The 2014 participants include: Jamie Bauder-Knox (Sterling) owner of Bow-Wow Barn; Sara Firme, of Haxtun, owner of Elements; Susan Fuller of Sterling, owner of Wishes in the Wind Studio; Jessica Gales of Haxtun who owns and operates an accounting service; Lora Grippin of Sterling who is exploring a Preschool enterprise; Crystal Kobert of Sterling who owns Crystal inYour Kitchen; Josh Lambrecht of Sterling who has Unique Audio DJ Services; Kathy Littler who owns Colorado Popcorn, Sara Motz of Sterling with a Love is Sweet Bakery enterprise; Lacey New of Haxtun who owns and operates High Plains Spice Company with her husband B.J. and Rebecah Propst of Sterling who owns Multiplicity In Action, a virtual assistant/internet marketing company.

Now in its third year, the 11 participating entrepreneurs, all representing either established, new or planned start-up businesses, will use what they learn in the program to create and present a business plan to a panel of judges at the end of the training. El Pomar also provides help with the judging portion of the contest.

According to Cyndi Vandenbark, director of distance learning and small business management coordinator for NJC, who will oversee the classes, the training she provides will cover all facets of operating a business and represent all the same areas the businesses would eventually be judged on as they compete for the prize money.

The training will run from now until May 26^th with the competition being held on May 27^th and 28^th.

NJC to host international student panel April 9

***Press Release***

Students from a variety of foreign countries will be talking about their homelands and their customs during an international panel discussion to take place on Wednesday, April 9^th at 6 p.m. The event will be held  in the Tennant Art Gallery inside the Hays Student Center. This annual discussion, sponsored by the  Math and Science Club  and the college’s diversity committee, provides an opportunity for current students to interact with their foreign counterparts and to ask questions regarding their cultures and viewpoints on various subjects and ideas. In the past, panel members have talked at length about food, politics, education systems and even taught dance steps.

Countries represented this year will include Ghana, Brazil, Kuwait and Uganda . Students from Hawaii have also been invited to participate as they have some unique customs to share from their island cultures.

The panel discussion is a facilitated question and answer session, moderated this year by  Dr. Shelby Nichols and Niqa Hatch who is a resident assistant in Dowis Hall. The public may attend this panel discussion. The events tend to draw a good student crowd, so those who want to participate should show up early for best seating.

NJC announces date for Spring 2014 Star Party

***Press Release***

The science department at Northeastern Junior College announces that the annual  Spring 2014 NJC Star Party will be held at North Sterling State Park on Saturday, April 26^th, weather permitting. The event takes place at the west end of Chimney View campground starting at dusk (about 7:45 p.m.)  While the star party is free, passes ($7.00) are required on all vehicles entering the park, so everyone is encouraged to car pool to the event if at all possible.

According to Professor Dave Coles, who organizes and oversees the star parties, there should be really nice views of Jupiter and Mars right after dark and those who stay late will be able to view Saturn. Coles teaches astronomy for the college and is an avid star gazer.  In the past, some have stayed as late as 10 p.m.to find the best viewing in the night sky. Dress warm as the nights still get cool and there is often a breeze coming off of the reservoir into the campground area after dark.  Everyone is welcome to attend this star party. Families with children are encouraged to participate.

Please check the sky before you drive. If it’s more than 60 percent overcast (cloudy), the party will be canceled.

NJC oyster fry on April 24th

***Press Release***

The Secondary Auto Technology program at Northeastern Junior College will hold its annual Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry on Thursday, April 24^th from  5:30-8:00 p.m.  The event will be held at the vocational building on the college’s North Campus, located off Pioneer Road at 350 Hagen Street.  This is an annual event that raises funds for this group of high school students who are taking automotive classes through NJC.  Money generated is mostly used to help pay for fuel to race a car this student group maintains and competes with during the summer at some of the area tracks.

Adult tickets are $10.00 and children 10 years old and under are $3.00 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at the door or from any auto tech student. If you’d like to buy your tickets in advance, contact Richard Moon, instructor for the program at (970)521-6691.

NJC Campus visitation day on April 11th

***Press Release***

Northeastern Junior College will hold its third and final Discovery Day for this school year on Friday, April 11^th. This is a day when many prospective students and their parents are on campus to visit with the academic areas, tour campus and interact with current students. The events are coordinated by the college’s admission and recruitment office and official hosts for the event are the current Ambassador Team members. Guest enjoy a complimentary lunch in the college’s cafeteria.

While many students from the immediate area surrounding Sterling tend to feel like they are very familiar with the campus, many local families who attend a Discovery Day are pleasantly surprised at all the new information they learn about the college’s academics and residential life activities. Students may attend without a parent, but parents and grandparents often attend as well.  Any high school students who have shown an interest in attending Northeastern have received an invitation to this visitation day by mail, however, even if a student is just now thinking about college, they are encouraged to attend.

Students who wish to register for the April 11^th event should go to www.njc.edu and click on the Discovery Days button on the homepage and follow the link to sign up. You may also call (970) 521-7000to register.  An agenda for the day is posted at this same web link.

A Discovery Day is free of charge. These scheduled visitation dates typically draw between 65 and 120 prospective students and parents from throughout Colorado and neighboring states. 

Fall 2014 registration dates announced by NJC

***Press Release***

Registration for Fall 2014 classes at Northeastern opens to the general public on Monday, April 28^th. The college has announced its fall registration dates and is inviting new students who plan to enroll to book a time to be on campus and get their academic advising and class schedule in place.

The first registration day will be Friday, April 25^th. This is a date typically reserved for Logan County residents although anyone may sign up for this first public offering of classes.

Other registration dates happening this summer include: Wednesday, May 21, Friday, May 30, Monday, June 9, Saturday, June 21, Friday, July 18^th and Monday, August 4^th.  You’ll note that there is only oneSaturday date offered during the summer, however this date is available for those students who indicate they cannot come during a weekday for various reasons.  The registration process begins at 8:30 a.m. on each of these dates.

During a registration date, students meet with an academic advisor and set up their class schedule. They also have an opportunity to verify their housing plans if necessary and get updates on the status of their financial aid. Students who need to take the Accuplacer test are offered an opportunity to do this as well.  There is a math refresher course available online if a student chooses to brush up on math before taking their Accuplacer test which determines what level of classes you are able to take at the college level.  Call the admission office and ask for details regarding the online math refresher course.

Colorado High School students are asked to bring their ICAP from high school with them to their advising session.

College tours are offered on registration days for those who haven’t yet seen the campus.

Students need to register for a specific registration day prior to showing up on campus. Registration should be done at the following website:  http: www.njc.edu/register

Ross earns annual NJC Star Performer award

***Press Release***

College professor making a big mark on liberal arts department

By Barbara Baker

What do you get when you combine a writer of children’s books, a tried and true Texan, a guitarist, two masters degrees, and a Ph.D?   Well, you barely scratch the surface of Dr. Kent Ross, one of the newer members of the liberal arts faculty at Northeastern Junior College. However, you also begin identifying the college’s Star Performer of the Year.

Each year the faculty association at Northeastern selects a fairly new member as its Star Performer. These candidates have been at the college less than five years and are showing outstanding potential to be especially good teachers. This year’s award goes to Dr. Ross who teaches English Composition, Creative Writing, Ethnic Literature, Intro to Literature, Modern Humanities, as well as a few other new classes. Now in his third year at Northeastern, Dr. Ross has become an integral part of the liberal arts department on campus and has also been a significant contributor on several key committees that serve the entire campus.

“Kent has quietly made his mark at NJC,” notes his nominator for the award. “His classes are popular, current and novel.  He has developed innovative and engaging ways to address literature and mythology and students flock to these classes.  His English classes are fun, unique and very current.  He is constantly researching a new idea and then applying it in the classroom.  He is organized and responsive to student needs. “

Enough said? Hardly.

The colleagues in his department and across campus go on to praise him for willingly tackling the development redesign of classes in that area, and doing it with great insight, significant research, and background work, as well as a positive energy.  His nominator concludes by saying that Kent is active:“He’s stepping up for various committees and really getting involved despite a serious teaching load.” It is the new teachers that choose to get involved that usually find the best fit at Northeastern.

Now in his third year at Northeastern, Ross has served on the Arts Committee, the Calendar Committee, the Technology Committee, and most significantly the Developmental Ed transition committee. He will be serving on the  state wide committee to re-write the parameters of English 121 this year and he is piloting the Studio 121 course in which remedial students are accelerated into English 121 with a support lab.

The son of a college professor, Ross has always had a love for teaching. Before coming to Northeastern, he taught five years at the college level and before that he was in a position that allowed him to work with young people and do teaching and speaking. He previously taught in Nebraska and he has lived in Arkansas, Texas, and Calgary, Canada. “I once taught school for two months in Samara, Russia—it’s kind of near where they had the winter Olympics this year,” Ross said. “The train trip over the Russian steppes and forests from Moscow was spectacular,” he adds, noting that while on this teaching assignment he was nursing a broken leg which minimized how much he could explore the scenery on foot.

With a bachelor of science degree in education, two masters degrees, and the completion of his Ph.D. in English Literature and Composition last spring, Ross is definitely committed to gathering, deciphering, and imparting knowledge to others. He started a new class, World Mythology, last spring which has become a big hit. Another class, Intro to Literature Focusing on Fantasy and Science Fiction has also been well-received. He aspires to offer a film course once it has been approved at the state level and is guaranteed transfer (GT) rated. “I really enjoy ideas and knowledge,” Ross tells us. “I get a kick out of imparting that to young people. I hope they can see my enthusiasm for stories and writing.” 

It’s a passion he’s had for a long time. “As a child I used to organize kids into games and carnivals. As a teen I started coaching sports. I served many years as a youth worker running camps and was known as Mr. Games for my fun presentations. So I have always liked working with young people and teaching has been a natural progression.”

Growing up with an educator in the house, Ross has been involved in education all his life and for a variety of age groups. He has even written several children’s books, one of them illustrated by Ted Rand. Rand was considered Seattle’s dean of children’s books having created artwork for more than 75 well-received projects prior to his death in 2005.

Even in his short collegiate teaching career, Dr. Kent Ross has kept up with changes in education aggressively. The challenges, he says, remain one and the same. “I’m disturbed by the fact that so many young people lack the desire to read and so many of them have not read much.” He has personally embraced the technology that young people so depend on and is incorporating it into his teaching formats. “Digital resources and the changes they bring are striking. This year my students are reading all online texts and annotating them in Microsoft Word using the full resources of the Web—so far it seems to be working great. But that is a big change from marking a paper book. This will change even more next year with the iPads at NJC.”

When he’s not in the classroom teaching, Dr. Ross says that he enjoys reading and writing and traveling, having recently spent time in Vancouver and San Diego. He likes to walk and plays sports and just recently tried disc golf and found it quite fun.

Regarding Northeastern, like many of his colleagues, he says it is the friendly, easy-going atmosphere and the attitude of caring for the students that he appreciates the most. He currently finds himself being one of two faculty sponsors for the colleges New Voices student group. New Voices is an annual art and literary magazine composed of work done by students that is published each year on campus in the spring. His hands are full working with the students to collect, critique, and choose the written and art entries for this year’s book. This is the 51^st year for New Voices to be produced. Many on campus and in the community look forward to receiving a copy of it each year. For Ross, it is just one more way he can be involved with students and their activities.

Ross says that for him, the bottom line in teaching is to “enjoy the students and remember they are all individuals with special talents and hidden abilities.” 

Vair receives NJC Faculty of the Year Award

***Press Release***

Math teacher keeps both students and colleagues intrigued

By Barbara Baker

If you tether a unicorn to the edge of a circular pond full of sparkling pink jello with a radius of  “a”  by a rope length of “ka” (0 < k < 2 ).  What is the grazing area of the unicorn?  And no, unicorns will not eat sparkling pink jello. You do the math.

This paraphrased version of the old goat calculus problem is the type of question a student in Mike Vair’s class just might find on a test. Since 1994 Mike Vair has been challenging students at Northeastern Junior College with these kind of brain teasers in one form or another. Those that love math eat up these equations and knock out answers relatively quick. Those who struggle in math find a teacher very eager to meet with them in the math lab later in the day to resolve the problem. For his mathematical prowess, great classroom persona, and willingness to go above and beyond when it comes to helping students succeed at math, Vair has been selected as the recipient of this year’s Faculty of the Year Award.

A Colorado native born in Fort Collins and raised at Ault on a dairy farm, Vair has a way of connecting with just about anyone at any level. While in college he did some tutoring of students, but didn’t really think about teaching as a career. In 1988 he had an opportunity to travel to Fiji with the Peace Corps specifically with the idea of teaching math. Liking the idea of seeing some more of the world, he accepted the assignment.  He had a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Fort Lewis College and that qualified him to teach the islanders. He was assigned to Ba Methodist High School and spent the next two years teaching them math and other life skills of sorts.

Vair realized that he enjoyed teaching and upon returning to the states, decided to enroll at Colorado State University to complete a master’s degree, with the plan being to pursue teaching math at a community college. “I admit it, I didn’t want to have to deal with parents, so the college level was where I wanted to be,” he said. He got a master’s degree  from CSU in 1993 and one year later, was hired at Northeastern. Since 1994 he’s been an instructor and professor of mathematics, primarily teaching the tougher classes in physics and calculus, but also being available to any student needing any kind of help with math. 

In the years leading up to his teaching career, Vair worked at a variety of jobs including the family dairy farm, as a professional house painter, for the forest service, at a hog farm, and at a nursery green house. These were all jobs that kept him busy, helped pay the bills and allowed him to exercise a strong work ethic. A work ethic he continues to personally exercise and also expects from students when it comes to the classroom.

When asked what appeals the most to him about teaching, he jokingly says, “June, July and August,” indicating he likes his summers off. “I teach because I love instructing students and helping them achieve their goals and achieve their full potential,” he clarifies.

His colleagues talk fondly about Vair, although everyone on campus knows he’s not afraid to stir the pot, especially when he feels passionate about something.

“Mike is like a whirling dervish,” is how one of the several that nominated him for this award described him. “This man teaches an incredible load, spends untold hours working with students in the math lab, is available to students like no other and has tackled some really big issues these past semesters.  He ‘took on’ the math side of the developmental education redesign with a frenzy that was absolutely needed for us to get moving and start transitioning.  He simplified a very complicated situation into something that works for NJC.  He has provided innovative and deep level ideas about how this transition will work, pushed his ideas, and carried them forward to administration and C&I.  More recently, he has put his energies into a calendar redesign.  In his usual way, Mike has taken the status quo and turned it upside down so that it can be re-examined from a new perspective. Mike pushes us all to do better like he does his students, who are great fans of his by the way.”  Vair stays connected with high school teachers who instruct dual credit classes at their sites,  ensuring that they are teaching these math classes at the same level as they are taught on campus.  He has implemented a common final and reviews all syllabi. 

Vair, who is often described as, ‘you know, that math guy in Phillips Whyman Hall who looks like Willie Nelson,’  says that much of his personal philosophy and teaching style goes back to what some of his mentors taught him. “My mentors were teachers who challenged me and the status quo,” he recalls. “They ranged from the high school teacher who always answered a question with another question--very frustrating since they did not answer the question but made me think-- then I answered it.  The college instructors who demanded more than I thought I was capable of doing. The professors who taught fast and demanded full attention, they made me into a better individual.”

Since 1994, Vair has seen many changes happen in education, some of them have really made teaching math challenging. “Especially today, students need to prioritize education over social media and other distractions because math requires totally focused attention.,” he said. “ I am seeing many students who have grown up with the helicopter parents who took care of their problems clear through high school. Now, these students are lacking in the skill set they need to deal with difficult situations be that hard classes, personnel issues with roommates, confidence issues,” he continues. “Alternatively, I am probably just getting old and cranky!”

Vair observes how teaching math has really changed in the last 20 years . “Students have access to a wide variety of instructional materials like graphing calculators, cell phones, the world wide web and the availability of tutorials online. “But, it all still comes down to the student wanting to learn and utilizing their abilities and resources,” Vair said.

A devoted grandpa and a knife maker in his spare time who also loves motorcycles, gardening, hiking and family time, Vair does what he can to make learning interesting. “Students do not like being told how to be a better student, but if I tell a story with a message learned from my life experience then they can learn from that,” he said, “Or, they may just laugh at my mistakes.”

Vair, who has three children, two still in college, enjoys this age group.  “I ask the students that I interact with here to be intelligent, demand excellence,  inspire,  use humor, grow hair, and to develop their thought processes,” he said, perhaps joking about the grow hair part. “They also know that hell hath no fury like a mad math teacher,” he laughs, adding, “I demand a lot out of my students and they know this from day one. Most of the students in my classes are aspiring to do some of the more difficult careers such as engineering where math has to be a priority. I get them ready for whatever might come at them later at the university and beyond.”

A fan of Doctor Who, Vair says that it has been the faculty and staff at Northeastern that have made the last 20 years most enjoyable. “They make this place really special,” he said.

In addition to teaching math, Vair has been one of the leaders of NJC seasonal hiking trips to Utah and other locations. He and David Coles have coordinated some great outings for students, teaching outdoor leadership and specialized geography classes.

Vair, accompanied by his wife, Ana, joined Northeastern’s  College President Jay Lee in Denver earlier this year for a special luncheon held by the Colorado Community College System office which honored faculty of the year from all 13 colleges statewide.

NJC auto show happens this weekend

***Press Release***

Darrien Allison to reign as queen of the event

By Barbara Baker

Members of the Northeastern Junior College Auto Techs Club have been busy for weeks now pulling together the annual Auto Show which will take place this weekend, April 5 and 6 at the college’s North Campus. The entries have been collected, the shop is being cleaned out and ready for move-in and the queen has been crowned.

This year’s royalty honors go Darrien Allison, a freshmen elementary education major from Flagler, CO who was chosen by the club to wear this year’s sash and crown. Allison, who says her only other experience as a queen was being a prom queen, is excited about her role in this year’s event. She will be at the show to greet the crowd and will be helping hand out trophies on Sunday at 3 p.m. during the awards presentation.

“I’m really excited about just seeing the people who come to the event,” Allison said. “My grandpa who lives in Arizona has always done some of this kind of thing, taking old cars and restoring them and showing them at shows. I am just amazed at how beautiful they are and how detailed the craftsmanship is to make them back how they were.”  This year’s queen, who prefers to just be called “D”, was encouraged by some of the Auto Techs Club members to apply to be the queen this year.  Since coming to Northeastern, she’s been active in the theatre department’s improve group and she has a role in this weekend’s college play, Almost, Maine which will be performed on April 4, 5 and 6^th at the Dorothy J. Corsberg Theatre in E.S. French Hall.  She was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Chapter honor society on campus this past Sunday evening. D plans to continue her education at University of Northern Colorado when she is done at Northeastern.

The Auto Show will open at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning and will continue until 9 p.m., reopening again on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. and closing at 3 p.m. with an awards presentation at 3 on Sunday.  Cost of the event is $3 for adults and $1 for children age 12 and under.

This year’s show, which happens at 318 Hagen Street on the college’s North Campus will also feature a model car show and a toy show which is being put on by the college’s Diesel Power Club. The Diesel Power Club will also be running concessions at the dual shows. Unlike past year’s, this year the students sought out some sponsors for the event. S and S Auto, Wolf Auto and EB Autos all put some resources toward the event and are helping finance this long-running event.  

Spectators should expect to see some beautiful vintage cars as well as some brand new models. There will be classics, street rods, hot rods. Every year there tends to be something that hasn't been on display before. Those who attend are asked to vote for the car they think should win and a People’s Choice Award is presented at the end of the event.

An NJC baseball game will be taking place on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons when the Plainsmen take on Otero Junior College. Plainsman Park where the field is located is adjacent to the automotive technology building where the auto show happens.  With play productions taking place on the main campus at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings, April 4 and 5^th and a matinee at 3 p.m. on Sunday and the auto show and baseball happening out on Pioneer Road, there’s no reason why you shouldn't come in contact with Northeastern and its students sometime this weekend during all of these events that are open to the public.

"Break All The Rules...And Close More Sales" March 19 in Sterling

"Break All The Rules...And Close More Sales" will be held March 19 from 11:30am-1:30pm at the Hays Student Center on the campus of Northeastern Junior College in Sterling. The free seminar will teach you how to get past no-money, no-budget, or frozen-budget objections, how to distinguish between the serious prospects and the time wasting think-it-overs, how to establish ground rules for effective sales meetings, how to make a no-pressure presentation, and how to develop a sales system that has your prospects asking you to close the sale. If you can't make it in person you can also watch via live webinar. For more information or to register visit www.logancountysbdc.com or call 970-352-3661.

NJC celebrating 20th Hoops Homecoming Feb 22

***Press Release***

The 20th Annual Hoops Homecoming event will take place at Northeastern Junior College this Saturday, February 22. The college’s alumni association invites everyone to come back to  campus and enjoy a day in Sterling. Advertisements for this year’s event have gone out far and wide.

While the evening ballgames—this year against huge rival Western Nebraska Community College--are the largest events to take place, there are several other offerings available. At 9 a.m., the college rodeo team hosts an open jackpot rodeo at the Logan County Fairgrounds. The day begins with exhibition barrel racing, followed by competitive barrel racing, calf roping, break away roping, goat tying and team roping, in this order, throughout the day. Activities will be held in the indoor arena and admission is free.  At 12 noon, the Northeastern Plainsman baseball team takes on Western Nebraska Cougars of Scottsbluff at Plainsman Park, located on Pioneer Road at the north campus site.

A special, by invitation only luncheon will honor the 2014 alumni award winners at the Plainsman Grill at Northeastern 18 golf course. Those being honored this year include: Russ and Cindy Johnson, Don and Peggy Brown, Jerome Davis, Don Fender, Gary Harms, B.J. Langdon, Chuck Podraza, Darrel Parker and Jolene Rinaldo.

At 2:30 in the afternoon, the Heritage Center will be open for viewing in the Hays Student Center on the second floor.  The NJC Bookstore will also be open from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The games will begin at 4 p.m. when the Plainswomen take on Western Nebraska. The men will follow with a game at 6 p.m. The 2014 alumni award winners will be introduced at center court during half time of the men’s game. Two special awards will be presented from the athletic department including the Andi Whitlock Heart Award presented during half time of the women’s game. It will be given to one or more of the current women’s basketball sophomore team members and the Lowell Roumph Annual Sportsmanship Award which goes to a community member who has shown exceptional support to the athletics at Northeastern will be awarded during the men’s game.  It is also the last home game on the year and so Sophomore Night activities for the men and women’s players will also be happening at the start of the game. A full night of fun is planned at Northeastern. The NJC men’s team was recently ranked 5^th in the nation in the NJCAA standings. NJC’s men are currently sitting in the top spot to win the bid to host the 2014 Region IX NJCAA Tournament which would take place March 1-5^th. 

Alumni may enter the door prize drawings and may participate in the nice reception that is always held during Hoops Homecoming up in the balcony area of the event center. The Hoops Homecoming events are open to everyone, with the exception of the awards luncheon. Card carrying members of Alumni Association are admitted free to the ballgames. Other adults pay $6 at the door while senior citizens and non-NJC students pay $5. The Associated Student Government will be handing out Plainsman Pete rally towels to the first several hundred in the door that evening.

NJC Rodeo Jackpot Feb 22 in Sterling

The Northeastern Junior College Rodeo Team will host its annual rodeo jackpot on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014 at the Logan County Fairgrounds in Sterling. This event is co-sanctioned by the Women’s Rodeo Association and the Colorado Calf Ropers Association.

Action begins at 9 a.m. with an exhibition barrel race for a $5 entry fee, followed at 10 a.m. by an Open 4-D Barrel Race with an entry fee of $45 per entry.

Open calf-roping will begin at 11 a.m. with a two and a short go run for $100. High school students or over age 50 will get one half second off per calf.

Women, men over age 50, and boys age 13 and under can compete in open Breakaway – 2 and a short for $100 entry fee. Breakaway will be the first event to get underway after noon.

Open Goat Tying – 2 and  a short for $60, will run sometime after 2 p.m. and open team roping, 2 and a short for $50 per man (enter 4 times) will start at approximately 2 p.m. In the open team roping, expected to start at 3 p.m., there will be a 12 Handicapped—(12 Straight time), 4 head-progressive, one second off per number, $50/man (enter 5 times).

All entries must be paid in cash only. In the event of inclement weather or bad roads, contestants traveling here should call before they haul. Contact the NJC rodeo coaches at these numbers, Brian Cullen 970-554-1444  or  Taya McAdow 720-839-5085

February 22 is also the 20^th Annual Hoops Homecoming for Northeastern Junior College. Alumni are encouraged to be in town and watch the jackpot and then stay around to watch the basketball ballgames at the Bank of Colorado Event Center. The women will play at 4  p.m., followed by the men at 6 p.m. The opponent will be Western Nebraska Community College. The NJC men’s team is currently ranked 5^th in the nation.  The NJC Men’s Baseball Team will also be taking on WNCC’s team at Plainsman Park during the day with games at 12 noon and 3 p.m.

Man Arrested At NJC With BB Gun

***Press Release***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On February 6, 2014, at approximately 10:27 PM, Sterling Police Officers arrived on scene at Herboldsheimer Hall on the Northeastern Junior College Campus in reference to a report of a male in the building with a gun, or possibly a BB gun.

Upon arrival, officers immediately obtained all the information available in order to quickly locate the suspect. Officers began a search for the suspect and an order to “lock down” the campus was administered. During the systematic search by Officers, to include dorm rooms, additional information was obtained as to a more specific location of the suspect.

At approximately 10:41 PM, officers located the suspect in a dorm room. The suspect was identified as John Solomon, 19 years of age of Sterling.

Mr. Solomon did have in his possession a BB gun modeled to look like a real handgun and was taken into custody without incident.  

The investigation determined Mr. Solomon is not a student and has no association with NJC. He was also not known to those whose dorm room he was located in. Additional security sweeps of all the dorm buildings were conducted out of an abundance of caution to ensure the safety of all students and staff. The investigation indicated there were no other suspects or any additional threats and the “lock down” order was lifted. No students or any other individual was harmed during the incident.

Mr. Solomon is being held at the Logan County Jail on No Bond pending advisement for the following charges:

• 18-3-206(1)(a)-Felony Menacing-Class 5 Felony
• 18-9-109(6)(a)-Interference with Staff, Faculty, or Students of Educational

              Institutions- Class 1 Misdemeanor

• 18-13-122-Illegal Possession or Consumption of Alcohol by an underage

              person- Class 2 Petty Offense

NJC seeking past cheerleaders for homecoming event

***Press Release***

Northeastern Junior College will celebrate its 20^th annual Hoops Homecoming on Saturday, February 22 and some fun events are being planned. The current cheerleading squad at the college is inviting all past cheerleaders and pom pom girls to return to campus for the Homecoming festivities which will include performing at halftime during the ballgames against Western Nebraska Community College. The NJC women will play at 4 p.m. and the men will play at 6 p.m.

According to Kristine Rodine, sponsor of the NJC cheer team this year and herself a former cheerleader at Northeastern, past cheerleaders will be asked to attend a meeting on February 15^th to learn a routine and go over cheers. Realizing that some cheerleaders may live far away and cannot make two trips to Sterling, other arrangements for involvement at Homecoming can be made.  To find out more about this reunion of sorts, contact Rodine by email at plainsmenpoms@gmail.com or call her at 970-580-7721.

This year’s Hoops Homecoming will once again include the nice reception for alumni and their families in the mezzanine area of Jackson and Edwards Arena at the Bank of Colorado Event Center, sponsored by the Alumni Association. Alumni award recipients will be recognized and door prizes will be awarded.  The Northeastern teams have done well this year, especially the men’s team who is 19-2 at the time of this writing. The men play several pivotal games between in early February. Wins will clinch Northeastern’s ability to host the Region IX NJCAA Tournament which brings a great deal of basketball action and an economic influx to Logan County in early March. 

Watch for more news about Hoops Homecoming between now and February 22^nd.   

NJC announces 12 new and returning employees

***Press Release***

At its Spring Semester Faculty and Staff In-Service held last week, Northeastern Junior College introduced 11 new employees. While most of them are entirely new to the campus, a few are individuals who were recently reassigned, or who were previously employed and have returned to be part of the Northeastern family once again. New faculty and staff are formally introduced only twice a year, at the beginning of fall in-service in August and at the January spring in-service.

Adam Kunkel, originally from Las Vegas and a former Northeastern Plainsman baseball player has joined the admissions team as a recruiter and admissions coordinator. Kelly Kuntz has come on board as an administrative assistant in the student services division.

Another former Northeastern athlete, Silke Hunker, a basketball player from Germany, who was an academic standout and transferred on to South Dakota School of Mines, is now the lead instructor for the college’s developmental math program. Carlye Armstrong has joined Northeastern as the new science specialist/lab coordinator. Wendy Merrigan is a new nursing instructor for that program.

Ian Storey, who previously worked in the liberal arts department several years ago, has returned to campus to teach philosophy and English. Katie Egging is a new adjunct faculty member for the theatre department. Bruce Heggen is a new adjunct faculty member for liberal arts, also teaching English classes. Ben Murray has been named an assistant director to the college’s Fire Academy and an Adjunct Faculty for Fire Science.

Lila Hernandez, who previously worked in the Bank of Colorado Event Center has returned to that building part-time as an administrative assistant for athletics and health education. Joe Campo, also a former Plainsman baseball player from Las Vegas, who has been an assistant baseball coach for Northeastern since August of 2012, now in his third season, has also taken on the role of residence hall director.

Jesse Gore, who has worked a long time for Sodexo, the contractor that provides food service to Northeastern Junior College, has taken on the role of head chef and manager of the Plainsman Grill.

GED classes begin at NJC on Feb. 10

***Press Release***

Mandatory orientation Feb. 6^th on campus

As of January 1, 2014, the rules regarding the GED completion process changed significantly. To help those who desire to complete a GED this year, the college will begin offering a new round of GED classes in early February. A class orientation session to explain the new GED parameters will be held on Thursday, February 6^th at the Adult Family Education Program’s (AFEP) center on campus. This class orientation will be at 4 p.m. and it is mandatory for someone doing the GED at NJC. The following day, February 7^th, from 9 to 12 p.m., students who are seeking the GED will be asked to do some testing to evaluate where they are at academically. This testing will take place on campus as well. Details regarding the testing will be explained during the Wednesday orientation session. GED classes will follow the orientation session and testing. They will be held on Mondays through Thursdays between 9 a.m. and 12 noon and again between 2:15 and 5 p.m. beginning February 10^th.   The orientation session and classes will take place at the AFEP center on campus which is at the corner of Sydney Avenue and Landrum Lane across from the cosmetology building.

The AFEP  at Northeastern Junior College offers a variety of programming for adult learners. Many of these programs have a family emphasis and involve several generations of the same family. Classes held include pre-GED and GED instruction in reading, writing, math, science and social studies, as well as practice GED test sessions; college entrance assistance and transition classes, basic computer skills, workplace skills and college readiness classes, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Some classes offer childcare in the building at the same time they are taking place.

To get more information about this GED class orientation, or other Adult and Family classes, call Leslie Helfer at  970-521-6761. 

Hunter Safety Class Feb 8 in Sterling

A Hunter Safety Class will be held February 8 at 1pm at NJC's Beede Hamil Hall in Sterling. The class is for those 9 years and older. Class will also be held February 22 at 1pm and will include home study and internet classes. You must attend all classes to receive a hunter safety certificate. Attendees are asked to NOT bring firearms or ammunition to the class. For more information call Spencer at 521-0973 or 580-3413.