EGCC Students Win 1st Place for Innovative New Cell Phone App

A team of aspiring entrepreneurs from Eastern Gateway Community College won first place at the inaugural Shark Challenge for their innovative business idea.

Patterned off the popular television show, “The Shark Tank,” the event was a business plan pitch in which teams presented their ideas for 10 minutes then responded to judges’ questions.

EGCC’s winning team presented a unique cell phone app called My_Ohio_Job.com. The app uses the Strengthsfinder assessment used in EGCC’s Business Management Capstone course to help students identify career goals.

The team, coached by EGCC professor Dr. Timothy Glaid, consisted of students Zebadiah Butterfield, Marissa Phillips and Ryan Moore.

Dr. Ken Knox, interim vice-president of academic affairs, said the team is a great example of the fine students and faculty at EGCC.

The competition was held on April 5 and was sponsored by Ohio University Eastern and TechGrowth Ohio. The event drew teams from Ohio University Eastern, Ohio University Zanesville, Belmont College and EGCC.

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EGCC to Hold Annual ‘Computer Clinic’

Eastern Gateway Community College will hold its annual Computer Clinic on April 30.

The event is hosted by EGCC’s IT Club, which specializes in the diagnosis and repair of hardware and software problems. Services are open to students, faculty, staff and the public.

The event is for people who need their computer fixed; need help with their computer; have a computer that’s full of viruses and malicious malware; have a slow-running system; or have a computer running Windows 7, 8 or 10.

Participants who need their computers repaired are asked to bring their computer, charger and any software they have for their computer.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Founders Hall at the Jefferson County main campus. The services are free but the IT Club will be accepting donations.

More Information: EGCC Computer Clinic

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EGCC To Establish Athletics

“Eastern Gateway Community College sees athletics as a way to enhance the college and provide opportunities for students,” EGCC President Jimmie Bruce said. “Athletics have a way of uniting our community and providing a sense of pride in college.”

Administrators said intercollegiate competition is an important part of students’ overall educational experience because sports encourage personal development. Additionally, sports programs may attract more students and enhance pride throughout the community.

The national trend in community colleges is moving toward more intercollegiate athletics. EGCC intends to ultimately become a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association and the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference. EGCC’s concern is to be certified to compete the fall of 2017.

More information will be available during a press conference on March 30 at 2 p.m. The event will take place at Eastern Gateway’s Valley Center, 101 Federal Street, Room 330, Youngstown, Ohio, 44503.

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Zambito Slated as Guest Speaker For EGCC Dental Program

Eastern Gateway Community College will host Dr. Ricardo Zambito as a guest speaker on April 15.

Zambito will address students in the college’s Dental Assisting Program. He is slated to discuss innovative dental equipment, before and after patient cases, and student performance during the interview process.

In addition to his many accomplishments, his wide range of knowledge in the field has led him to perform lectures and demonstrations for other dentists across the nation. College administrators said his willingness to share his knowledge and experience will provide keen insight into the field for EGCC’s aspiring dental assistants.

Zambito is an avid promoter of the college’s dental program. He has been instrumental in spreading the word about EGCC’s program and has hired EGCC alumni to work with him. EGCC administrators said they’re excited to have Zambito come to the campus to teach dental assistants what it takes to succeed in the dentistry world.

He is a staff member at Wheeling Hospital and Ohio Valley Medical Center, as well as a consulting dentist at Bishop Hodges Continuous Care Center and Home of Good Shepherd. He has proven his excellence in the field through his extensive training and ability to perform various types of procedures. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the West Virginia University School of Dentistry and has since received additional certifications and training in the areas of laser dentistry, implants, CAD CAM Cerec dentistry and Botox.

Zambito is a member of the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce and holds several professional society memberships including the American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, Wheeling Dental Society and America’s Top Dentists.

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EGCC to Receive RAPIDS Award

As part of a regional effort to train oil and gas workers, Eastern Gateway Community College along with other education partners will receive a monetary award from Ohio’s RAPIDS Program.

The Ohio Department of Education will present $272,263 to EGCC, Belmont College, Washington State Community College and Zane State College tomorrow, March 22, with an event starting at 11 a.m. The four schools are the lead partners for the SE Ohio Oil & Gas Training Collaborative, which will provide a systematic approach to regional training for the energy industry.

Officials said the colleges’ service areas have seen significant growth related to the oil and gas industry in recent years. As a result, the demand for skilled workers in the region continues to exceed supply. College leaders, industry partners, and economic development agencies are working together to develop strategies that will address the needs of the industry and the training required to produce a skilled workforce.

RAPIDS – or Regionally Aligned Priorities in Delivering Skills – awards higher education institutions funds for education equipment, co-op programs and internship programs. The funds develop and support the institutions’ workforce development initiatives that focus on furthering economic growth.

Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor John Carey is scheduled to present the award to the colleges tomorrow at the Cambridge Campus of Zane State College. Carey is scheduled to arrive and tour the campus at 10 a.m., and the RAPIDS event will start at 11 a.m. Zane State College President Chad M. Brown is slated to speak first for about 10 minutes, then Carey will speak for 10-20 minutes. After their remarks, attendees will participate in a roundtable discussion. The media are invited to attend.

EGCC will purchase updated welding equipment for its Jefferson County campus to ensure that students are being trained in appropriate techniques for the oil and gas industry.

For more information about RAPIDS, visit www.ohiohighered.org/content/rapids_home.

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“GIVE Back. GO Forward.” to Honor Volunteers, Participants

The “GIVE back. GO forward.” program will honor college students who volunteer to earn free tuition and recognize participants who help make the incentive program a success.

Youngstown area community members who volunteer 100+ hours at one or more select volunteer organizations are able to earn one tuition waiver to either Eastern Gateway Community College or Youngstown State University.

Both schools each provide 50 new tuition waivers, with each tuition waiver good for three undergraduate credit hours at either institution.

The reception will celebrate the program’s first tuition waiver earned, current volunteers, volunteer organizations and the planning committee. Eastern Gateway Community College board member Sister Patricia McNicholas will represent EGCC at the event.

The reception will be held on March 24 at 10 a.m. at the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor, 151 W. Wood Street, Youngstown, Ohio, 44503. The media are invited to attend.

For more information about the Ohio Department of Higher Education’s GIVE back. GO forward., visit www.ohiohighered.org/GBGF.

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James Gasior sworn in as EGCC’s newest trustee

James M. Gasior was sworn in as Eastern Gateway Community College’s newest trustee during the Board of Trustees meeting held March 9. Gasior, of Mahoning County, was appointed by Ohio Gov. John Kasich on Jan. 25 for a term ending on Oct. 16, 2020.

Gasior is a certified public accountant and member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Ohio Society of CPAs. He is also a member of the Regional Chamber of Commerce, the RMA Northeast Ohio chapter and Youngstown State University’s Outreach Advisory Committee.

Gasior currently serves as president and CEO of Cortland Savings and Banking Corp., a company he joined in March 1990 as a general audit officer. He previously served as senior vice president, chief financial officer and secretary for Cortland Bancorp since 2005.

(Photo: James Gaisor is appointed as EGCC’s newest trustee. Gaisor was given the oath by James D. Miller, Associate Assistant Attorney General, Education Section of the Office of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine)

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Gene Haas Foundation Donates $10,000 to EGCC

The Gene Haas Foundation has donated $10,000 to Eastern Gateway Community College to continue to strengthen the machining program that the college has undertaken in the Mahoning Valley as part of its overall Energy and Engineering Initiatives.

Representatives of the foundation will present the check to EGCC on Friday, Feb. 26, at 10 a.m. The event will be held in the corridor at EGCC’s Valley Center, 101 East Federal Street, Youngstown, Ohio, 44503. A press conference will take place at that time, and administrators will answer questions from the media.

The grant money will support scholarship programs and the costs of National Institute of for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) credentialing. Officials said the scholarships will be given to current students or people who will be enrolled in a machining-based training program.

NIMS teamed up with the Gene Haas Foundation to create scholarship opportunities so schools can prepare more students for successful manufacturing careers. The scholarships help schools build high-quality technical programs by providing funding to support the implementation of industry-recognized credentials.

The Gene Haas Foundation was started in 1999 by Gene Haas, who is the owner of Haas Automation, Inc. The foundation supports children’s charities, organizations that feed the poor, grant scholarships for programs that help military veterans enrolls in programs, high school scholarships, community college scholarships, and special education programs that help build skills within the machining industry. To date, more than 1,200 charitable organizations and schools have received more than $38 million from the foundation.

For more information, please contact Sherri VanTassel, vice president for administrative services at EGCC.

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EGCC President Supports Governor’s Plans to Lower Cost of College Degrees

Ohio Gov. John Kasich released his 2016 Mid-Biennium Review on Tuesday, outlining new initiatives to reduce the cost of a college degree.

Eastern Gateway Community College President Jimmie Bruce said he fully supports the governor’s plan to make college more affordable. Bruce said lowering the cost of a higher education will help more people advance their education and, in turn, strengthen the state’s workforce.

“The reforms Governor Kasich proposed will help Ohioans earn a degree from the college or university of their choice and save them money. This is especially important for parents and working adults who want to further their careers,” Bruce said.

The governor’s proposal describes the important role community colleges play in the college affordability debate.

In response to Kasich’s proposal, Jack Hershey, president and CEO of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges, said, “During his time as governor, John Kasich has repeatedly asked community college and university presidents to work together on reforms that are in the best interest of Ohio’s students, parents, and working adults that are pursuing a college degree. These reforms proposed today shine the light on a pathway that has emerged under Governor Kasich that allows students to obtain a degree from their favorite university, while saving up to 80 percent off the traditional cost of attendance by completing as much of their coursework as possible at a community college. The ability for middle class families, single parents, and working adults to obtain a debt-free college degree is once again a reality in Ohio.”

The governor’s 2016 Mid-Biennium Review includes plans for: Strengthening paths to a low-cost degree, helping universities drive down their costs, addressing student debt, and offering low-tuition opportunities through the Midwest Student Exchange Program. More information about the 2016 Mid-Biennium Review can be found on the Fact Sheet.

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