https://caspercollege.cvlcollections.org/files/original/078d8e3a60054a5c2e01e29ebcfd6def.pdf 86fd8f4d4b2530e03ddd68ed1f35305a PDF Text Text October 1, 2021 Casper College’s Student Voice Since 1945 10 days in the same square Residence hall students manage quarantine Abigail Landwehr Chinook Writer The first week at a new school can be rough. Finding out halfway through that you’ll be stuck in your room for ten days can make it even harder. Less than a week after Casper College’s fall semester began, Taytm Jespersen, a first year nursing student at CC, found out that she was exposed to the COVID-19 virus. Shortly after experiencing symptoms similar to a common head cold, Jespersen called into CC’s health center to get tested for the virus a few days later. “This Delta variant is hitting your age… and that's a little bit scary,” Tracy Hasely, the director of student health at CC said. “When it's hitting you young, healthy people and knocking you down for a bit, that's kind of a scary thing.” As of the beginning of the 20212022 school year, CC is offering free COVID-19 testing for students and faculty on campus on the second floor of the Union building. Halsey is one of the healthcare professionals that administers the tests. Currently in use by the health center are Cue’s COVID 19 diagnostic tests, implemented after less than a month’s use of rapid testing. According to Halsey, the original rapid tests gave unreliable results for asymptomatic patients carrying the virus. Halsey dispensed over 60 tests in the first two weeks following the new COVID-19 tests’ enactment. The test itself screens a self-collected sample from the individual that is then inserted as a cartridge into a small reader for assessment. The system returns results in 20 minutes. Within the timeframe, Halsey alerted Jesperson of her positive COVID-19 result, much like Jespersen said she suspected, After a resident hall student, like Jespersen, tests positive for the COVID-19 virus, an email is sent to the individual outlining rules, information and other advice for isolation. “During isolation, you must remain in your room with your door shut,” the instructions read. “You may not go to class, report to work, go shopping, use the laundry room… these protocols are designed to help keep you and others safe.” The instructions offer to work with students to move them to a separate area for isolation or into a different room with another COVID positive student. If the positive student is in a single occupancy room or their roommate also tests positive, makes plans to stay elsewhere, or is vaccinated, the positive student can stay in their own room. In Jespersen’s case, her roommate tested negative for the virus on multiple occasions and arranged to stay elsewhere. As a result, Jespersen had the room to herself and ten days of isolation ahead of her. “Basically everything on HBO Max and Netflix got watched,” Jespersen said. “It's gonna sound really weird, but I also looked out the window and watched people just walk around. I'm like, you guys are so lucky.” Jespersen said that at first isolation felt fine. Most of her classes are already online, and her in-person classes sent minimal instructions. She said having a break from class and not seeing people seemed relaxing to her in the beginning. The college helped to take care of most necessities including laundry, trash and grocery delivery. The school brought food up to her dorm from the cafeteria daily and left the meals in a Styrofoam box in front of her door. It wasn’t exactly gourmet eating Jespersen said, but she just felt grateful to have it. Abigail Landwehr/Chinook Taytm Jespersen, a first year CC student, works on her laptop while sitting in her dorm room. Jespersen spent the majority of her time on devices during her ten days of quarantine. “Then towards the end, it got pretty tough… I mean you’re alone,” Jespersen said. “There was no one available just to sit there and talk to me on the phone for hours... you can only go so many days without talking to someone face-to-face before you start losing it.” Her first day out of isolation, Jespersen said that she completely deep cleaned her dorm room and then immediately went off campus to for a coffee. That weekend, she traveled about five hours to see her family in Nebraska, and while she said her brothers didn’t give much of an initial reaction to her return, her family seemed happy to see her. She added that her mom wanted her to come back for the upcoming weekend too. While Jespersen’s ten days of isolation passed, COVID-19 cases continue to rise within the area. More and more Residence Hall students are at risk for getting quarantined or isolated in their dorm rooms for their own ten day spell. “Fortunately, it’s temporary,” Hasely said. “Some are not the best situations, but we want to keep everyone safe and healthy.” If students are exposed to the COVID-19 virus or experience any symptoms, they can get tested for the virus without an appointment, just as long as the student brings a valid I.D. and wears a mask. “Helpful Tips for the Student During Quarantine” is available under the Health and Wellness page on the Casper College website, but Jespersen shared her own advice for other students in isolation. “Take care of yourself,” Jespersen added. “Make sure you reach out for help if you really need it because it does get depressing sitting in the same square.” Campus Ventures club at Casper College Audrey Axtell Chinook Writer Campus Ventures, a nondenominational youth group, is gearing up for a supercharged year at Casper College with Wednesday night meetings, game nights, and fun activities to encourage student involvement. Campus Ventures seeks to serve as a place for students to relax, unwind, and reconnect to religion with other students. This organization includes groups on six campuses in Wyoming, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Campus Ventures stresses creating an open and inviting atmosphere for all students. Dave Weeks, the Campus Ventures director at CC, organizes all activities and meetings for the group. Weeks spoke to the topic of students searching to build relationships through religion. “In such turbulent times, I find students saying ‘I need an anchor,’ and Faith has always been an anchor in cultures,” said Weeks. The faculty and staff for the organization encourage students to make friends and build relationships through religious connections and emotional reflection. Campus Ventures strives to create a safe place for students to make friends, explore religion, and strengthen their Faith. The group is non-denominational, and open to students and community members from all walks of life. Like most other clubs and activities, the pandemic affected Campus Ventures and the interaction members were allowed to have. Weeks talked through the effects of COVID-19 on the organization at CC, including how reaching new members became a concern. “COVID hurt us pretty badly. ``When the [lockdown] first hit, we had a number of seniors leaving the program, and it was hard to get to know new members through the masks,” said Weeks. The pandemic forced rescheduled or cancelled meetings when members fell sick, and the group sought creative ways to maintain activities. Campus Ventures implemented social distancing rules most of the time, which made it difficult for members to get to know each other as a friend group. Gathering new involvement in the program proved even more challenging when new members couldn’t interact with one another as normal. This year, Campus Ventures is back in full swing, with activities designed to get students involved and build friendships. Emily Jane, a second semester student in the nursing program, joined Campus Ventures as an active member in the Spring of 2021. She commented on her reasoning for joining and how the club impacted her. — See Campus Ventures, Page 4 Terrific Learning Coaches recognized at CC Rachelle Trujillo Chinook Writer Photo Courtesy of PTK Advisors From left to right, Kellee Schuerman, a CC student, poses with Eric Atkins, a Terrific Learning Coach, and CC students Leslie LeClair and Helen Brown. While there are many awards available on campus no accolade is more honorable in the eyes of a faculty member than one of student recognition. The Terrific Learning Coach award, or simply TLC, is a student-based award in which students can nominate any staff member on campus that deeply impacted their education or life as a whole. The award is put on through Phi Theta Kappa, and its members vote on monthly finalists, as well as a winner for the entire year. “Any student at Casper College may nominate someone for the TLC of the month”, PTK advisor Jared Bowden said. “Our PTK members at Casper College then vote on the nominees with a winner announced at the end of every month. The monthly winners are then voted on at the end of the year by our PTK members for a TLC of the Year winner.” TLC is an award unique to Casper College and the school’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter. The award provides an opportunity for students to say thank you to any staff member that made a profound difference. “Employees do not get a lot of recognition during the course of a school year, so the TLC award is the time to be able to say that the hard work was appreciated,” Bowden added. Last year’s TLC winner of the year, Eric Atkins, is a Spanish instructor whose students speak highly of him. Atkins won TLC of the month in February of 2021, but he said winning for the entire year came as “a total shock, but [he felt] genuinely honored to win”. “When they announced this one, I really was blown away just because it’s a student based award. When a student has something to say about what you do, and to any extent appreciates or values what happens in your classroom... that’s what we’re here for,” Atkins said. Atkins went on to speak about what sets the award apart from others on campus. “To have that sort of recognition from the people whose lives I’m trying to influence is about as good as anything,” said Atkins. There is no one given characteristic of a TLC. A TLC could have “helped a student get back on track when life has thrown them curveballs, or simply cared when it felt the world was against the student,” Bowden added in closing. Nominations can mean a great deal to faculty, so keep an eye out for those making a difference. To submit a TLC nomination, check your CC email at the start of the month and fill out a quick form to give some well-earned recognition to a Terrific Learning Coach that impacted your career here at Casper College. �Page 2 October 1, 2021 CHINOOK Chinook Stance Divine's Intervention: Trekking through the semester “ Greetings and Welcome to the Fall 2021 semester! Whether this is your first semester at Casper College, or you are a returning student, I want to encourage you to make your time here as enriching as possible. Casper College is a comprehensive community college, and that means we not only have a wide array of academic offerings, but also have athletic teams, academic competition teams, a wide array of student activities, as well as community opportunities for education and enrichment. I believe as you move through life you will find some of the people you met in college turn out to be life-long friends. This is not only true for those students living on campus, but is also true for all of our students. So my message today is to make sure you get involved. Investigate student clubs, go to an athletic game, attend the different activities on campus, and just be sure to check out as many new opportunities as possible. I believe you will find a significant portion of people enter college with an idea of what they want to pursue as a career, but then along the way find their real passion, often due to unexpected encounters or experiences. In short, be sure to explore everything the college has to offer, and please don’t be shy to try something new! I believe you will find a significant portion of people enter college with an idea of what they want to pursue as a career, but then along the way find their real passion, often due to unexpected encounters or experiences. Chinook staff members Rachelle Trujillo (left), Isabella Coronado (center) and Abby Landwehr (right) work on a video for the Casper College Foundation to promote the T-Bird Trek. Trujillo, Coronado, and Landwehr are in the process of making a 30-second video that will be broadcast on local television and a 2-minute video for the foundation as part of their Basic Video Production class assignment. The 30-second video is to promote the T-bird Trek for next year and the 2-minute video is to show all of the events that took place this year. The Chinook staff encourages Casper College students to explore your passions and build your portfolio before entering the job market -- set yourself apart! Kaley Pieper Join our staff this spring! According to Kaley Practice interviewing & writing Take photos & design Learn sales & advertising Explore social media & promotion The Chinook is a one credit class, titled Independent Publications. Milk alternatives are gaining in popularity every day. And while there are benefits to many milk alternatives, should they actually be advertised as milk? As defined by the Oxford dictionary, milk is a white, — Darren Divine, Ph.D., Casper College President Milk does a body good nutrient-rich fluid produced by the mammary glands of female mammals. By this definition, milk alternatives are not actually milk at all. Advertising drinks such as soy, almond, oat, coconut, rice, and cashew as “milk” is false advertising, and misleading to the average consumer. Advertising those drinks as milk could confuse consumers into thinking the products are dairy alternatives that will provide the same positive aspects as dairy. Dairy products are a convenient source of bone-strengthening nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, potassium. These nutrients ensure proper bone er pap s w e College’s Casper ok N nline o n i O ChStudent Now Voice Since 1945 growth and development in children, increase bone density, and help adults maintain bone mass. Most alternatives to milk don’t offer calcium, potassium, and vitamin D, and the alternatives don’t help grow strong bones and teeth. Almost every year since 1975, Americans have consumed less cow milk than the year before, often because they believe plant-based drinks are healthier, kinder to animals, or more environmentally friendly. This is simply not the case. For example, almonds are a very water-intensive crop, and almonds often have an adverse effect on the surrounding environment. Coconut milk does have few negative impacts on the environment, and many coconut pickers from poor countries are put through hazardous working conditions and only paid $1 per day! Lower consumer demand for cow milk and generally lower prices paid to farmers for milk have forced many to leave the dairy business. Milk still does a body good, and consumers should not be misled into believing otherwise. So do your body, the environment, and dairy farmers a favor and drink more milk! www.caspercollege.edu/ chinook Contact our faculty advisor Bri Weigel for more information brianne.weigel@caspercollege.edu Check Out The Digital Learning Center Have you heard of MyCCMoodle? It’s the online space where grades and syllabi Students: live ... among other resources your instructor might share. The DLC makes sure you’re geared up to successfully navigate the online portion of your courses. What we can do for you: Don’t wait! 1. MyCCMoodle — including how to submit assignments, participate in forums, etc. Get your questions 2. Zoom – become a pro Zoomer and feel confident attending a Zoom class meeting answered now. 3. Google Suite — Google Docs, Drive, GMail, etc. 4. Online tutoring — Sometimes we all need a shoulder to lean on and NetTutor has the perfect one! A MyCCMoodle app is 5. Quite place to study - Crack open your books. Draw on our walls. Use our coming soon! computers. Eat our snacks. Negwuy! Teresa Millan Camille Cockrell Mike McLemore Drop by Liesinger Hall, room 132 or contact us at 307-268-3882 or dlc@caspercollege.edu. Dave Siemens Tyler Sanner �October 1, 2021 Page 3 CHINOOK Lady T-Birds faring well in second season Brendan Saunders Chinook Writer Halfway through the season, the Casper College Lady T-Birds look to take midseason form as the conference is up for grabs and the schedule takes its toughest turn. The Lady T-Birds are currently 6-3 overall and 2-1 in the conference. With six of the last seven games of the season coming against conference opponents. Coach Ammon Bennet has nothing but confidence in his team, as they hit the tough patch in the schedule. “We are currently first right now and the next four of the teams are regional teams.” Bennet said. Bennet sees growth in his team every game and still thinks they haven’t played the best soccer yet. “At the beginning of the year we played good, but we made little mistakes,” Bennet said. The returning sophomores are making a big impact this year as they look to make that mid-season run. Much of the success the team is showing this season comes from the Lady T-Birds the work in the offseason. Sophomores Valeria Hernandez and Kylie Spangler credited their success on the field working out in front of coaches in the off-season and returning home to work with former mentors. They also participate in summer leagues in order to maintain game reps in the off-season. The game that Spangler is circling on the calendar to finish up the year is the game against rival Laramie County Community College. Spangler said “We played them once and it was close, and they are our rival.” Hernandez said her biggest game of her career came against North Eastern with the stats to back it- she saved 2 goals in the win. The expectations to finish the season for both women are simple-win regionals. “Our communication has been improving,” said Hernandez. Spangler added that the teams’ work is not done, especially as they head into the second half of the season. “We need to work hard to finish the season to win regionals and nationals,” Spangler said. The Lady T-Birds put in the work in the off-season and on the field, which is evident in their play this season. The team is scheduled to take on Otero College on the September 24th to start out the tough conference play. With this tough schedule the team needs CC fan support. Brendan Saunders/Chinook Above Brielle Valentine surveys the field for an open teamate against Trinidad State College. Left Valeria Hernandez passes to Grace Conner against Trinidad State College. CC Volleyball team splits season so far in 2021 Baylee Darling/Chinook Above, Milena Franzini jumps to hit the ball. To the left, (from left to right) Breana Hamilton, Hailey Lattin, Taryn Holt, Milena Franzini, Giulia Santuari watch the match. Baylee Darling/Chinook Raelee Samio serves to Western Nebraska Community College. The team lost 3-1 on September 21st. 6 week group starting October 14, 2021 Join the Oil City Ag Club Thursdays, 12-1pm Eating and body image issues are a common struggle among college students. Help with the lamb and pig sale Union Building Room 202 Participate in community service You are not alone. Make new friends Discuss trending agriculture topics Test your competitive side Join a support group that will teach you five powerful competencies to help you develop resources and a renewed energy to take care of your body. Reclaim Health • Practice Intuitive Self-Care• Cultivate Self-Love • Declare your Own Authentic Beauty • Build Community Join us for good food and fun Contact faculty advisor Heath Hornecker hhornecker@caspercollege.edu WA 111 �Page 4 October 1, 2021 CHINOOK Campus Ventures................................ “I’ve been going to Campus Ventures since January. My sister-in-law came here, and so did some of my friends from Wheatland. I just thought it sounded like a really good place,” said Jane. Campus Ventures hosts a weekly bible study every Wednesday night, usually followed by fun activities such as campfires. Members also meet up throughout the week for swing dances, game nights, sporting events, and even go on youth group retreats together. While Campus Ventures started at the University of Wyoming, the group’s involvement at CC dates back 27 years. Casper Ventures then established groups at Northwest College, Black Hills State University, Sheridan College, and Colorado School of Mines. Membership varies depending on the school. Casper currently sees 20 to 35 students and community members attending various activities throughout the school year. Campus Ventures is an organization created continued from page 1 for students to explore religion, talk about their experiences, and engage in fellowship. Members connect to one another and listen to each other's dreams, goals, and thoughts in order to create a space of self-reflection. Many students use the time to unwind and express their emotions. Jane commented on the place this organization holds in her own life. “This is my social time for the week. It’s definitely stress relief. I look forward to this every week. It’s a great way to make friends,” said Jane. Campus Ventures is open to anyone that wants to attend their meetings or activities, for students looking for a community, those exploring religion, or those strengthening their beliefs. Students that participate in Campus Ventures at CC tend to have a sense of family, home, and belonging. Members encourage each other to strengthen Photo Courtesy of PTK Advisors their personal beliefs, enjoy the fellowship of From left to right, Kylecia Marler, Barbie Harrison, Meghan Keegan, Peter Tenney, Luke Woodward, Wendy Trembath pose for a photo on a group camping trip. other students, and take in all CC has to offer. CC's Nursing Program adapts to COVID-19 Paige Noble Chinook Writer Starting in the spring of 2020 nursing students here at Casper College quickly readjusted their program. After the initial onset of the COVID-19, CC students suspended their clinical studies for the safety of themselves, the patients and the employees of the hospitals. Students are now diligently working to get back to the normal curriculum as safely as possible. During the spring of 2021 infection rates started to slow down, but due to the new Delta variant students are revisiting some extra safety precautions. Initially, students who were enrolled in the program were unaware if they would be able to proceed with their studies due to uncertainty about how long things would be at a standstill. Marge Christiansen, The Director of Nursing for Casper College, elaborated on the effects of the pandemic and provided insight into how COVID-19 impacted the nursing program. Photo Courtesy of Lauren Gates “There was one semester Lauren Gates, a student in the Nursing Progam at CC, shared when everything was shut a photo with the Chinook. She is working to complete her down and we had to comdegree in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. pletely go online. Otherwise we've been able to have been able to complete most of our clinicals. Last semester we were able to complete all of them.” said Christiansen. Due to the safety precautions put in place, many students are able to receive the vaccine to help ensure their safety and the safety of others throughout their clinicals. Although many students are currently exempt from getting the vaccine, many speculate that vaccination could easily become a mandate, changing their reality. Christiansen stressed the nursing department is taking the pandemic very seriously with students and faculty working to protect everyone they can. Christiansen said the hospitals in the area have not expressed hesitation about allowing students into healthcare facilities. “The hospitals are happy we are there helping,” Christiansen said. After the 2021 fall semester began, the students from the program continued their clinicals with specific facilities. However, the facilities require the vaccination, so those who have not yet received the shots filed for an exemption to be able to continue their studies with CC due to the facility requirements. “Some of them don’t want to get the vaccine. It's part of health care. If you work at facilities, who knows about the next week or so, there might be a mandate. Then it might change even more.” Christiansen said in regards to the students that chose to recieve or not receive the vaccine. Lauren Gates, a current nursing student at CC, spoke about the changes students underwent through the pandemic. “We were at the beginning of the change, so we had to come in and wear masks. We had to wear N95’s in hospitals. I think the biggest thing is our clinicals most of the time you start in long-term care. We went straight to the floors of the hospitals because that was the only place that would take us,” explained Gates Regardless, Gates said the COVID-19 pandemic did provide a unique learning environment. Gates said the nursing students were very hands-on during such a trying time. “It was a big change for Livestock Judging: us because it was also really fun and a great experience,” said Gates on the ability to be hands-on during the madness of the COVID_19 pandemic. Unfortunately for the students, since going straight to hospitals, they lost out on the ability to work in a senior care facility and instead went farther into their clinicals than planned. “Once you skip over the long-term care clinical you don’t really get to go back to that,” said Gates. “You also lose out on learning that.” While in the nursing program at CC, students must complete the clinicals, which means students have easily upwards of 12 hour days after their class work is through in the mornings. Throughout the pandemic, students quickly made up for lost time with the long hours that many endured to complete their time at CC. While the pandemic brought many changes to the college’s nursing program, students utilized those changes to their advantage and gained as much hands-on experience as possible, preparing them for the next step in their education. They are ready to adapt. WRITING CENTER Recruitment, Relationship, Retention Photo Courtesy of Jeremy Burkett Students practice their Livestock Judging skills during the 20202021 academic year. The Writing Center at Casper College is here to help our students and members of the community. Brainstorm possible paper topics Create a resume Craft a scholarship essay And so much more! Visit us in Strausner Hall, room 215 or visit the Writing Center Moodle site for additional resources and appointment scheduling! Contact: 307-268-2610 wco@caspercollege.edu Cameron Magee Chinook Writer The Casper College Livestock Judging Team boasts a combination of rich history and winning tradition. Since the 1980’s, the Livestock Judging Team judged across the country and earned many accolades. While awards and trophies are a plus, success in judging starts with three simple components for the competitive team: Recruitment, Relationships and Retention. Dr. Jeremy Burkett, Head Livestock Judging Coach, said good people are an absolute must when looking to recruit and bring new faces to the Casper area. “We look for people who are responsible, have a work ethic that allows them to learn and improve, and they must be coachable. Without coachable students the program would see limited improvement and success,” said Burkett. Recruitments to both this year's freshman and sophomore teams hail from 10 different states and Canada. “With students from as far west as Georgia, as far east as Oregon and as north as Manitoba, Canada we see a variety of talent that allows us to put on the finishing touches,” said Burkett. The most unique part of livestock judging that allows for easy recruitment is that it’s an extension of what most students are learning in the classroom. Burkett said students take learned knowledge and apply that outside of the classroom and lab setting. Every good team needs trust and a bond that is hard to break, and according to several judging students, such attributes ring very true for the CC team. Judging students spend every Tuesday and Thursday practicing from 1 – 5 p.m., Friday practice takes place from 1-4 p.m. and most weekends the team is on the road applying what they learned the previous week. The judging team consistently shows up to learn and promote the industry. “The judging team teaches us how to evaluate livestock and stand up for our opinions, but I think the most important thing it gives us is the lifelong relationships with amazing people,” said Libby Twitchell, a Livestock Judging Team member from Montana. Twitchell went on to say that students see their teammates at their best and worst and it gives them the perfect opportunity to work harder and be the best versions of themselves. The community college feel and agriculture based school makes an environment that is hard to match. Every professor hopes students leave with more knowledge than what they started, and livestock judging isn’t any different. Dr. Burkett and assistant judging coach Colby Hales create an environment in which information they provide is easy to retain. Whether they have extended office hours or go beyond the weekly practice they are striving to ensure every member of the team receives an equal chance to succeed. Twitchell said she believes her great educators have helped her reach the next step. CC’s Livestock Judging program works hard to equip judging students with the basic knowledge and materials to take the next step to a university and continue their career. Many students are recruited to the next level where they attend either prestigious land-grant colleges to judge or agriculture based programs. �October 1, 2021 Page 5 CHINOOK About the education department Isabella Coronado Chinook Writer Education is a large part of the student environment at Casper College, and COVID-19 impacted education with both positive and negative outcomes. Schools also often struggle to find enough people that want to become teachers, said Renee Griffith, department chair and education instructor at Casper College. Three people sat down with the Chinook to talk about how COVID-19 influenced their education and why they chose to pursue education as a career. A native of Nebraska, Griffith, attended school close to home at the University of Wyoming with a major in education. Griffith spoke to why she chose education. “I had some very inspiring teachers throughout my high school experiences. I also wanted to become an educator that I somewhat didn’t have throughout K-12,” said Griffith. “I wanted to make an impact with children and students, but I also knew my content well and was passionate about what I was teaching.” Current students in the education department described similar reasons for choosing a career in education. Emma Jay from Hulett, Wyo. is currently studying elementary education with an endorsement in early childhood education. Even though she graduated from CC in 2021 with an associates in agriculture, Jay continued at the college to study early childhood education. She said she wants to teach first grade in small-town Wyoming. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Jay and her classmates are dealing with the changes impacting the college and department. She said most schools now have more technology than before in case school moves remote again, but she also talked about the social aspect of the whole situation. She said, “From a social aspect, kids did not get that social interaction, which is a huge development mentally.” At a young age, the social aspect of education is very important because the school environment starts teaching children how to interact with one another early in life. Jay continued talking about how isolated remote learning could be really hard for teachers as well because teaching from home requires more planning. Damen Brewer is also currently an education major at CC. Brewer is from Powell, Wyo. but grew up close to CC in Bar Nunn. Currently his major is math and math secondary education, as he hopes to become a high school math teacher. Brewer anticipates he will graduate from CC after this semester and then he plans to graduate from UW in 2023 with his Bachelor's degree. When asked why he chose to major in education, Brewer said he wants to show kids that math isn’t as bad as they think. He said wants to be able to help people, whether that is in math or just in their personal lives. Brewer too was impacted by COVID19, but he decided to look on the bright side. Just like Jay, he talked about how technology became a big part of the way teachers assign work and how work is being turned in. Brewer believes that turning in assignments online became more prominent than before. Despite the challenges of COVID-19 and others those in education face, Griffith, Jay, and Brewer look towards with future with optimism. In 10 years, Griffith said she sees herself retired with a long time career in education. She said she still wants to keep in touch with the topic of education and the research in the field. Most of all, Griffith said she hopes to be making an impact with her grandchildren. Jay said she sees herself married with two to three kids of her own, teaching in Wyoming. She said she hopes to working on a master’s degree with a stable home and a stable job. Brewer said he sees Photo Courtesy of Emma Jay himself married with kids and working Emma Jay is a practicum student at Cottonwood Elementary at Kelly Walsh High School as a math where she posed for a photo in a kindergarten room. teacher. Students return to find success Anna Miller Chinook Contributor Many nontraditional student attend Casper College and the University of Wyoming at Casper. Returning to college is a major decision for students that stepped away from college for any length of time. The National Center for Education Statistics defines nontraditional students as students who delayed enrollment into postsecondary education. Some students are only attending part time, working full time jobs, support dependents other than a spouse, or juggle life as single parents. People decide to return to school for many reasons, some of which include: wanting to learn something new, a will to start or change their careers, or a need to gain specific skills in their field. Regardless, when students do decide to return to higher education, they typically go in with a plan. Olivia Cole, an International Studies major at UW-Casper, decided to return to school because she ‘wasn’t doing much’ while working a part time job at the ice arena. She decided to pick a major that interested her and fueled her desire to help the world and people across the globe. “My parents did not go to college, or even graduate high school. I always wanted to go to college,” Cole said. “I love other cultures and helping people, so that’s how I chose my major,” Cole, originally from Florida, earned a scholarship in the seventh grade that would pay for two years at any Florida community college and two years at a Florida university. However, Cole had a baby and was only able to use her scholarship for one semester. “I knew I would go back eventually. I didn’t think I could pay for it,” Cole said. “I had eight years to think.” There are a wide variety of scholarships and grants available to non-traditional students. The Hawthorn Foundation Scholarship and the Pell Grant are two that are available for non-traditional students, according to the Casper College website. The Pell Grant helped Cole pay for her education, awarding her over $3,000 per semester. On top of that, she also earned many merit-based scholarships for her grades while attending CC. Pell Grant recipients can receive up to six years of funding while enrolled. Despite the benefit of postsecondary education, many adults express reluctance to return to school for many reasons, including time to go to class, the cost, and attending class with younger students, according to educationcorner. com. The the U.S. Department of Education reports that students 25 years and older make up 40 percent of all students enrolled in college. Returning to school provided its fair share of challenges for Natalie Plumlee, a communications major at CC in her first semester back in school. “I did not like the idea of coming back since I did not have a good experience the first time (at CC),” said Plumlee. “My husband helped me (get enrolled), and I was a college student who wasn’t ready but was enrolled,” It’s intimidating being an older student among a new generation. Plumlee said she always carries around her student ID because she is nervous someone is going to question why she is on campus. Moodle and the new technology that comes with education in a digital age proved daunting for Plumlee. Fortunately, her daughter, who is also a student here at CC, helps Plumlee navigate such challenges. The struggle for most nontraditional students is that they have families. Both Cole and Plumlee have home responsibilities and families to care for in between school. They both agreed that there isn’t enough time in the day. “Being in college is like having a full-time job. It’s been a lot and I don’t have enough help,” said Cole. Despite these challenges and fears, students persevere. Cole is a recent graduate of CC with her international studies degree and is in her first semester at UW CC. Cole said she wants to obtain her bachelor’s degree and hopes to work with the state government. Plumlee is two-thirds of the way done with her communications degree. She wants to obtain her bachelor’s degree in library science and will transfer to a university that offers that degree program upon graduation from CC. Think you might have ADHD or have an ADHD diagnosis? Check out our new group! ADHD & ME THIS IS A 4-WEEK, WORKSHOP STYLE GROUP DESIGNED TO PROVIDE BOTH SUPPORT AND EDUCATION RELATED TO MANAGING ADHD. WE WILL BREAK DOWN WHAT ADHD IS, HOW IT'S DIAGNOSED, SKILLS TO "WORK WITH YOUR BRAIN", RESOURCES, STIGMA, AND CONCERNS OF GROUP MEMBERS. O OC CT TO OB BE ER R 4 4T TH H,, 1 11 1T TH H,, 1 18 8T TH H,, & & 2 25 5T TH H ** M MO ON ND DA AY YS S A AT T 1 12 2:: 0 00 0 P PM M** Casper College Wellness Center (UU 202) DISCLAIMER: THIS GROUP IS MEANT FOR SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND RESOURCES ONLY. WE ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A FORMAL DIAGNOSIS, THOUGH WILL OFFER REFERRALS IF NEEDED. �Page 6 October 1, 2021 CHINOOK The 2021 T-Bird Trek brings hundreds of runners together The 2021 T-Bird Trek brought together 272 participants. The first place finishers of the four races include... Steven Armstrong with a 1:25:41 in the Downhill Half Marathon, Amber Thielbar with a 1:36:26 in the Lookout Point Half Marathon, Cameron Ially with a 40:05 in the 10k, and Jackson Catchpole with a 20:23 in the 5k. Congratulations to the winners and to all other competitors who participated in the 2021 T-bird Trek!! To the left, Rosemarie Heisey approaches an aid station as she competes in the Downhill half marathon. Erin Geldien/Chinook Erin Geldien/Chinook Sean Cometto competes in the Downhill Half Marathon. Cidne Skavdahl is pictured running the 10k. Erin Geldien/Chinook Erin Geldien/Chinook David Kubichek wipes away sweat during his 10k run. Erin Geldien/Chinook United States Veterans, Caleb Lindsay (left) and Shawn Moore (right), walk the 5k together carrying both the Wyoming and National flags. Erin Geldien/Chinook Aimee Sherman and her two kiddos nearing the home stretch of the 5k. Erin Geldien/Chinook Alex Biggs and her daughter super-powering through the 5k. �October 1, 2021 Page 7 CHINOOK College's music department open to all Kaley Pieper Chinook Writer The music department at Casper College assembles several choirs and offers voice lessons, both of which are open to students of all majors and musical abilities! Music can provide an outlet for students to relax and de-stress. According to Dr. Zachary Vreeman, the choral instructor at CC, one of the benefits of being involved in the choir are the friendships and close bonds formed between students in the choir. Vreeman spoke about the relaxed, fun environment in the music department. He encouraged students of all skill sets and majors to consider joining CC’s choir family. Vreeman said, “I don’t want the music department to be a ‘mystery’ department that is secluded from the rest of campus.” To make the choir more accessible, ensemble practices are now held in the evening to make so students not majoring in music can attend practices and be involved. One of the non-music major students in the choir is Katie Baumstarck, a freshman at CC. Baumstarck is majoring in kinesiology and health promotion. Baumstarck participates in two choir ensembles and also takes personal voice lessons to help her improve her individual skills. She encouraged anyone that is interested to join an ensemble. “I absolutely love the music program so far, and actually want to join another ensemble!” said Baumstarck. Baumstarck also encouraged students not involved in the music program to attend concerts or other events held on campus. On Friday, October 1, the Fall Collage concert will be held at 7:00 p.m., and the concert is free to all students. The 7th annual Christmas concert is planned for December 1. The holiday concert is a favorite among choir members. Students interested in joining the choir can take part in a Monday evening choir that is open to all. There are also auditions for other choirs, including a jazz choir. For less confident singers looking to improve, the music department also offers private voice lessons. If interested, contact Vreeman via email at zvreeman@caspercollege.edu. Photo Courtesy of music department The Casper College choir performed together in Wheeler Concert Hall before the pandemic limited such gatherings. Dr. Zachary Vreeman, choral instructor at CC, encourages anyone interested in singing to join CC's choir family. CC's Speech and Debate Team starts season strong The forensics team recently competed in the 2021 Trapper Rendezvous at Northwest College in Powell, Wyo. The team won the tournament with many individual awards too. According to Doug Hall, head coach and communication instructor, results from the tournament are as follows: Brax Sambrano: Prose (2nd) Impromptu (5th) Alex Walters: Impromptu (4th), IDPA (2nd) Stephanie Barella: IDPA (semis) Extemp (sems) Impromptu (Champion) Markie Whitney: IPDA (quarters) DUO (2nd) Shelby Davis IPDA (quarters) Impromptu (sems) DUO (2nd) Emma Kellick: IPDA (Sems) Prose (3rd) Impromptu (6th) Jayden Roccaforte: Prose (Champion) POI (2nd) DUO (Champion) Emma Rudell: DUO (Champion) Pearl: Poetry (Champion) Ext (Sems) Curtis Winfrey: Ext (6th) Ally Morris: Drama (3rd) Locations/Hours Tobin Dining Hall : Mon—Fri Breakfast 7am—9am Continental 10am—11am Full Lunch 11am—1pm Grill/Salad 1pm—2pm Sat—Sun Brunch 11:30am—1:30pm Everyday Dinner 4:45pm—6:45pm SubConnection : Mon—Thurs 7am—6pm Fri 7am—3pm Leisinger Doornbos Lounge and Note Cards are available in all service areas if you would like to write a personal message for our staff. GW 3rd Floor: Mon—Thurs 7:30am—2pm Fri 7:30am—1pm Convenience to fit your schedule Your meal plan can be utilized for a Breakfast or Lunch Combo Meal at SubConnection, Doornbos Lounge and Gateway 3rd Floor locations until 2pm Monday thru Friday! � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Chinook Student Newspaper Online Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 2019-2026 Type The nature or genre of the resource Text; image Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Casper College Chinook Student Staff Language A language of the resource ENG Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Chinook Student Newspaper, CCA 08.i.2023.01 WyCaC US. Casper College Archives and Special Collections. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CCA 08.iii.2023.01_Chinook_Digital Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Online Chinook Newspaper 2021-10 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <div class="element-text five columns omega"> <p><span><a href="https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a></span></p> </div> Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 2021-10 Description An account of the resource This is a copy of the online Chinook Newspaper from October 2021. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text; image Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Casper College Chinook Student Staff Language A language of the resource ENG Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Chinook Student Newspaper, CCA 08.i.2023.01 WyCaC US. Casper College Archives and Special Collections. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CCA_08.i.2023.01_2021-10 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF