Arkansas Northeastern College Opens New Center for Allied Technologies

Arkansas Northeastern College's new Center for Allied Technologies will officially open its doors at its Grand Opening on Friday, August 17, 2018, just in time for the start of classes for the Fall Semester. A public open house is scheduled from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM at the new facility.

Construction on ANC’s Center for Allied Technologies  began in April 2017, and the 90,000 square foot center will be opened Friday. This new center will actually decrease the College’s overall facilities by 30,000 square feet by consolidating the Burdette Center, Harry L. Crisp Center, and the ACME Center—with an estimated costs savings for the College of approximately $100,000 a year in maintenance.  The Center for Allied Technologies features the headquarters for the College’s customized training force—The Solutions Group, including general purpose classrooms, electrical classroom & lab, mechanical classroom/lab, safety classroom/lab, HVACR classroom & lab, computer classroom, and large multi-purpose room. Additionally, a world-class welding laboratory will be available for students. ANC Technical Center students from area high schools will also be served on the ANC Main Campus by classroom & lab facilities for Aviation Technologies, Construction, Criminal Justice, Industrial Technologies, Medical Professions, and Welding.  The design incorporates a computer lab specifically for the ANC Technical Center.

Also featured is an aviation complex, combination non-destructive testing (NDT) & composites laboratory, and general purpose classrooms to fully accommodate ANC’s Federal Aviation Administration— certified Aviation Maintenance Program.  Other related facilities include an aircraft apron, paint booth, tool room and compass rose.

 The building design features a two-story-height aviation room, welding laboratory, and glass entrance tower to add to the building’s distinctiveness and appeal.

The Center is home to the newly created Arkansas Steel Academy (a partnership with the SMSgroup of Germany) and is scheduled to begin operations in 2019. By partnering with SMS, the Arkansas Northeastern College has become a satellite training hub for North America as a cost effective way to gain knowledge of cutting edge techniques in steelmaking and processing. The agreement between ANC and SMS group will allow companies to save the costs of overseas travel by providing a North American option for the renowned TECademy training.

The ANC Center for Allied Technologies impressively mixes hi-tech and industrial components into an educational delivery mode. The cost to complete this facility was approximately $14,400,000 including architectural and engineering fees. The new Center is supported by $1,805,000 of private donations. Three distinctive features at the main entrance are a 52-foot vestibule tower, an entrance garden honoring the late John Correnti, and an international flag court featuring national flags representing over two dozen corporate and private donors supporting the construction costs of the Center, including Japan, Argentina, Germany, Canada, and, of course, the United States of America.

ANC Community Relations Hosted Fun Day at Word of Truth Global Ministries

Arkansas Northeastern College's Community Relations Department hosted a community Fun Day on April 28, 2018, at the Word of Truth Global Ministries where they were welcomed by Bishop Sunny and Tonya Osagie. This was one of several "Fun Days" held by the College as a recruitment opportunity but also as a community appreciation day. Three lucky winners went home with new bicycles while another won a game console.  

There were almost 150 people present for the event which included lots of good food, games, and ANC personnel sharing information about the College and the programs and services it has to offer. The Opportunity Bus was on hand to promote the initiative which provides free rides to and from ANC through the help of a 50% matching grant through the Arkansas Department of Human Services (ADHS) using United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) SNAP E & T (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education & Training) funds. The Opportunity Bus operates a daily bus route through designated neighborhoods to bring students to ANC for education and training.  The service is free but requires advance registration. Service is available for all ANC students, including those engaged in non-credit workforce training and adult education programs. SNAP recipients receive first priority to comply with the Arkansas Department for Human Services matching grant that helps support the program .  Interested persons may call 870-780-1205 for further information.    

The next Fun Day is scheduled for Saturday, June 9, 2018 at the Living Word Cathedral C.O.G.I.C./ Pastor Archie Thomas at 503 West Semmes Osceola, from 10:00 am - 1:00pm.

Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, Inc. Donates $25,000 Toward New ANC Center for Allied Technologies

Photo (L to R) Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, Inc. board member Neil Burge, President/CEO Brad Harrison, and board member David Wildy, present ANC President Dr. James Shemwell with a check for $25,000 to be used toward the construction of Arkansas Northeastern College's Center for Allied Technologies.

April 26, 2018 – Arkansas Northeastern College’s Center for Allied Technologies project received another boost from local business as representatives of the Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, Inc. presented a check for $25,000 to ANC President Dr. James Shemwell today.

“As we come to the final stages of construction on our new Center for Allied Technologies, we are so very pleased to have the Mississippi County Electric Cooperative donate toward the project. The fact that the College itself is not a customer of the MCEC utility company, shows how important they view the economic development work we are doing here for the citizens of this area. MCEC recognizes the value of education and has long been a supporter of educational initiatives in this county,” stated Shemwell.

For their donation to the new facility, MCEC will have naming rights to a general classroom.  

Construction of ANC Center for Allied Technologies began this spring and is scheduled to be completed in time for Fall classes in August 2018. The facility will provide students with more opportunities to learn in an atmosphere that will simulate real world work environments, where spaces and equipment are designed with the curriculum in mind. This facility will be a focal point for not only the campus, but the community as the 90,000 square foot building will boast beautiful architectural lines with the highest technological advances incorporated into the plans. 

MCEC has been a longtime supporter of Arkansas Northeastern College. “We are so very appreciative to have the support of companies like the Mississippi County Electric Cooperative,” said Shemwell, citing a long relationship with the company that includes years of support to ANC Foundation events.

The Center for Allied Technologies, to be located on the ANC Main Campus, will actually decrease the College’s overall facilities by 30,000 square feet by consolidating the Burdette Center, Harry L. Crisp Center, and the Aircraft Metals and Engineering (ACME) Center—with an estimated costs savings for the College of approximately $100,000 a year in maintenance.  This new facility will feature a headquarters for the College’s customized training force—The Solutions Group, including general purpose classrooms, electrical classroom & lab, mechanical classroom/lab, safety classroom/lab, heating, ventilation and air conditioning classroom & laboratory, computer classroom, and large multi-purpose room. Additionally, a world-class welding laboratory will be available for students.

Technical-Secondary Center students from area high schools also will be served by this facility through classroom & laboratories for advanced manufacturing, welding, criminal justice, education, and construction/carpentry.  The design incorporates a computer lab for the Technical-Secondary Center. Also featured is an aircraft hangar/lab, combination non-destructive testing (NDT) & composites laboratory, and general purpose classrooms to fully accommodate ANC’s Federal Aviation Administration—certified Aviation Maintenance Program.

ANC at the Arkansas SkillsUSA Competition

(L-R) Justin Lee, Malory Ennis, and David Carney

April 20, 2018 – The Arkansas Northeastern College Technical Center at Burdette took 15 high school competitors to the Arkansas SkillsUSA State Competitions last week in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  ANC Tech Center’s Crime Scene Investigation Team consisting of Justin Lee of Armorel School District, and David Carney and Malory Ennis of Rivercrest School District placed 2nd in the CSI Competition, and Miss Abby Barnett of East Poinsett County High School placed 2nd in the First Aid & CPR Competition.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student excel, and is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. The ANC Technical Center offers Skills memberships to all of its students, and encourages Club involvement, even sending students to the National competition in years past.

For more information about the ANC Technical Center, please visit www.anc.edu/technicalcenter/ or call 870-763-1468.

(L-R) Justin Lee, David Carney, and Malory Ennis

Abby Barnett

ANC TRiO Goes to Washington

Pictured L to R: Tonya Harris, ANC Director of TRiO Educational Opportunity Center and Educational Talent Search and Brooke Siegler, ETS Advisor, meet in Washington DC to promote the importance of the TRiO programs.

March 12-14, 2018 Arkansas Northeastern College TRIO personnel Tonya Harris, Director ETS/EOC, and Brooke Siegler, ETS Education Advisor, attended the 34^th Annual Seminar on Relations with the U.S. Department of Education (DOED) and the 38^th Annual Policy Seminar with the Council for Opportunity in Education.

On March 12, the DOED Seminar provided informative sessions, panel discussions, and guest speakers from the DOED sessions included meetings with DOED Program Officers, an Insider’s View of the U.S. DOED, Using Data to Improve TRIO Programs, and Creating Policy and Procedure Manuals.  The highlight of the seminar was an update from Linda Byrd-Johnson, Senior Director Student Service U.S. DOED.

TRIO programs were established in the 1960s during President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. TRIO is a set of seven federally-funded college opportunity programs that motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds in their pursuit of a college degree. These programs serve 24,000 students in Arkansas and nearly 800,000 nationwide.

The initial budget proposal to congress put the TRiO programs at risk for elimination. On March 14, TRIO students, alumni, and professionals from all across the country headed to the Capitol to advocate for continued funding of these student focused TRIO service programs. Tonya Harris and Brooke Siegler joined the Arkansas TRIO delegation in Washington and met with all six Congressional offices to discuss concerns with the changes to program funding and shared student stories.

On March 23, President Trump signed the $1.3 trillion omnibus appropriations bill into law. This bill guarantees a $60 million funding increase for TRIO programs for a total appropriation of $1.01 billion – the highest funding in the history of TRIO.

Arkansas Northeastern College (ANC) is home to three TRIO programs that collectively serve a total of 2,340 students and adults. These three programs are: Educational Talent Search, Educational Opportunity Centers, and Student Support Services.  Educational Talent Search (ETS) is a pre-college program that provides academic, career, and financial counseling to its participants, grades 6-12, and encourages them to graduate from high school and to continue on and complete their postsecondary education.  The ANC ETS program serves 14 school districts in Mississippi and Poinsett Counties in Arkansas and Pemiscot County in Missouri. The Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) program provides counseling and information on college admissions, financial aid, and financial literacy to qualified adult who want to enter or continue their postsecondary education. The ANC EOC program serves adults in Mississippi, Greene, and Poinsett Counties in Arkansas and Dunklin and Pemiscot Counties in Missouri. Student Support Services (SSS) provides opportunities to academic development, assist students with basic college requirement, and motivates students to complete their postsecondary education. The ANC SSS program provides services to students who are enrolled at Arkansas Northeastern College.

Brooke Siegler noted that “It is always interesting working with a new Administration, because you have to figure out where you fit in as a priority for them. These meetings were a great way to raise awareness for TRIO and the great things this program does for our students. We actually brought our Arkansas 2018 annual report to our meetings, so we were able to show each Congressman how many students are served and how much money TRIO brings to their district. We are lucky to have representatives in Washington that see the value in and support these TRIO programs.”

New Scholarship Announced

Members of the R.B. Harrison High School Class of 1968 met with ANC President Dr. James Shemwell on Wednesday to present a $500 check to the ANC Foundation for the establishment of the R.B. Harrison High School Class of 1968 Scholarship. (L-R) Dr. Anes Abraham, Linda Frost, ANC President Dr. James Shemwell, and Billy Young.

Members of the R.B. Harrison High School Class of 1968 met with Arkansas Northeastern College President Dr. James Shemwell on Wednesday, February 14, 2018, to present the ANC Foundation with a check for $500 to establish a new scholarship.  The class is preparing for its 50th class reunion this coming May.  Reunion organizers Linda Gamble Frost and Gloria Clay Sewell have helped to spearhead the event and, as a part of this milestone, worked with class members to provide the R.B. Harrison High School Class of 1968 Scholarship.  The scholarship, $250 each fall and spring semester starting this August (2018), will be available to an ANC student from the Blytheville area who plans to major in the field of education.

Students interested in applying for this scholarship, or any ANC Foundation scholarship, can contact the ANC Financial Aid Office for an application or by going online to download one at www.anc.edu/foundation/scholarships.htm.

This is a one time scholarship.

Mississippi County Recognized as ACT Certified Work Ready Community

ACT - Regional Manager/Workforce Initiatives - Work Ready Communities Cheri Tune (left) joins Governor Asa Hutchinson in presenting Mississippi County Judge Dr. Terri Brassfield (center) a plaque of recognition for the county's accomplishment of earning the first ACT Certified Work Ready Community distinction in Arkansas.

Governor Asa Hutchinson was on the campus of the Arkansas Northeastern College, Wednesday, January 31, 2018, to present County Judge Dr. Terri Brassfield with an award recognizing Mississippi County as Arkansas’ first ACT Work Ready Community. The certification, previously announced by the East Arkansas Planning and Development Commission, supports Mississippi County in economic development and industry recruitment, and bolsters existing industry by linking workforce development to education and employers’ needs.

To become certified, a county must achieve benchmarks in three areas of performance: high school graduation rate, number of National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) credentials attained in the county, and number of employers recognizing NCRC. Tenaris, Southworth Products, Viskase Companies Inc., and Big River Steel LLC are just a few of the companies in Mississippi County who supported the CWRC effort.

Governor Hutchinson praised the work taking place in Mississippi County toward workforce development. His remarks were appropriately made inside the Arkansas Northeastern College’s Center for Allied Technologies currently under construction. As a leader in the state for workforce training, ANC and its customized training arm, the Solutions Group, will house its training operation in the new state-of-the-art facility which is expected to open in August of this year.

“Having this certification will allow us to fill gaps in job skills and offer needed and appropriate training throughout our service area. This will promote economic development in the community. The initiative includes workforce goals and provides businesses the training they need to build and grow their operations in Mississippi County,” said Clif Chitwood, President of the Great River Economic Development Foundation.

Mississippi County gave special thanks to Chairman Chris Masingill, of the Delta Regional Authority, for his support and funding of this initiative. EAPDD’s 12-county region-wide certification effort is supported through a grant from the Delta Regional Authority.

"The achievement of the Certified Work Ready Community status for Mississippi County is evidence of the collaborative efforts of local partners, and the ability of our local workforce. The diversity among the certification team to partner education (secondary and post-secondary) with business and industry, economic development, and local Department of Workforce Services has served to further enhance the County’s success.” stated Gene Bennett, Vice President for Workforce Development at Arkansas Northeastern College.

CWRC is a voluntary initiative guided by key community leaders – local elected officials, economic development teams, business leaders, chambers of commerce, educators, and workforce development agencies. At the core of the ACT Work Ready Communities initiative is the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate™ (ACT NCRC®). Since January 2006, more than 2.75 million Americans have earned an ACT NCRC®. This national, portable credential includes three essential workplace skill categories: applied math, reading for information, and locating information. The NCRC credential is administered in Mississippi County by ANC with multiple agencies providing referrals.

"Mississippi County is proud to be certified the first ACT Work Ready County in Arkansas. This can be accredited to a strong local ACT Work Ready Partnership which is spearheaded by Arkansas Northeastern College and Mississippi County Economic Development. Other core team partners include EAPDD, the Blytheville Department of Workforce Services, and two manufacturers, DENSO, and Tenaris. We will continue to work together informing our businesses about the NCRC; and educating students, along with all levels of employees of how the NCRC can assist them in obtaining promotions. A quality workforce will lead to a better quality of life for all, in Mississippi County, Arkansas. This would have not been possible without the DRA and EAPDD bringing this initiative to East Arkansas.” stated Tamika Jenkins, Project Coordinator for Mississippi County Economic Development. 

ANC Partners with SMS Group to Create Arkansas Steelmaking Academy

Photo (L to R):  Arkansas Northeastern College President Dr. James Shemwell joins Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and Doug Dunworth, President and CEO of SMS Group United States operations on stage Wednesday, January 31st, at an event to formalize the signing of an agreement between the College and the German SMS Group to create the Arkansas Steelmaking Academy which will allow ANC to become its North American training hub.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018. Doug Dunworth, President and CEO of SMS Group’s North American operations, met with Arkansas Northeastern College president Dr. James Shemwell and his staff today to finalize an agreement creating the Arkansas Steelmaking Academy (ASA). The partnership announcement was made during a visit to ANC by Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson.

SMS group prides itself on being a leading partner in the world of metals not only in North America but throughout the world. As a family-owned business headquartered in Germany, quality and innovation are staples of its work through the development of individual and modular solutions – whether it is the design of a new plant, modernizations, digitalization, or life-cycle services. SMS’s largest market is steel production. The company provides world-class new equipment and actively supports operations by devising solutions throughout the process from melting and casting to rolling and finishing. With SMS servicing clients such as Nucor Steel, Big River Steel, Tenaris, and TMK-IPSCO locally as well as many other manufacturers across the country, it made sense for the company to consider a proposal by ANC to offer North American-based training centrally located in Arkansas.

“Heretofore, the state-of-the art steel technology training offered through the SMS TECademy has only been available in Germany,” said Shemwell. “By partnering with SMS, the Arkansas Northeastern College can become a satellite training hub for North America as a cost effective way to gain knowledge of cutting edge techniques in steelmaking and processing.” The agreement between ANC and SMS group will allow companies to save the costs of overseas travel by providing a local option for the renowned TECademy training.

Dunworth echoes Dr. Shemwell’s sentiments “We are both pleased and excited about this partnership between ANC and SMS group.  Not only will this help our customer base in North America but the ASA can be a launching point in training the future generations of steelworkers with knowledge in the latest technology in steelmaking and processing.”  

The Arkansas Steelmaking Academy will be housed in the College’s 90,000 square foot Center for Allied Technologies currently under construction. By utilizing the new facility, the ASA will be located in a world-class complex featuring technologically-equipped seminar classrooms and hands-on training laboratories for steel technology.  The Center for Allied Technology is slated to open in August with ASA offerings anticipated to begin in 2019. Arkansas Northeastern College is currently one of very few colleges in the nation offering Steel Industry Technology programs and the only one in the state.

Shemwell noted, “We were proud to have Governor Hutchinson, a champion for economic development in Arkansas, present for today’s unveiling of ASA. The agreement with our SMS colleagues announced today will advance ANC’s capacity as providers of steel technology training to the next level, a global level.”