https://caspercollege.cvlcollections.org/files/original/064000d9e89a38140558fcddb5a1de73.pdf 21d36775568fbd6db5cc1b898b996556 PDF Text Text December 1, 2023 Casper College’s Student Voice Since 1945 Dancers flash mob the cafeteria Lucy Jane Crimm/Chinook Jodi Jones' dance ensemble class takes over the cafeteria on Wednesday at noon in a flash mob. Bri Weigel's survey of media production class collaborated with the dancers to do video, photography, commentary and live coverage of the event. Honoring heroes: Veterans day at CC Carlos Fandal III Chinook Writer Veterans Day stands as a tribute to the brave men and women who wore the uniform of the United States Armed Forces, selflessly dedicating themselves to the defense of our nation and the preservation of the freedoms we hold dear. Casper College has many veterans amongst its student population. Veterans bring a unique blend of experience and dedication to the campus ranging from majors in agriculture to computer programming and everything in between. Caleb Lindsay is one CC student who served their country and brought that experience to CC’s campus. He is one of many with a career as a soldier, but his experience in the service remains very unique. “I was a cavalry scout. So I did reconnaissance on the battlefield, kind of painting a picture of it for the battlefield commander. Realistically, I spent a lot of time mopping floors and looking at broken trucks,” Lindsay said with a chuckle. Lindsay did much more than that, however, and traveled the world doing so. “I did some Pacific pathways -- rotations to different Pacific countries to train with their militaries. After I got out, I went into private military contracting and went to Afghanistan for many years.” As another Veterans Day comes and goes, it’s important to remember why the holiday is so important. It’s a day of honor to those who selflessly served the nation. To a veteran, the day has a very different meaning however. Lindsay shared his thoughts about the holiday's significance. “Veterans Day is my opportunity to give back to my brothers and sisters. For me, it's about giving back to them and honoring their services, and for people who didn't serve to also give that opportunity.” Lindsay said, before furthering his thoughts on the holiday. “I mentioned I was mopping floors, but realistically, I was ready at a moment's notice to go anywhere in the world to defend the freedoms that we enjoy here. It's an opportunity for ourselves, for us to give honor to our brothers and sisters as well as people to give respect to us for what we sacrifice” Lindsay said. More and more citizens are molded into veterans every day, with the recent events in Ukraine. For those unaware, roughly a year ago, the Russian army invaded the country of Ukraine. In a precautionary response, the U.S. Army has deployed thousands of troops in surrounding countries. One such citizen turned veteran, Sergeant Nathaniel Seth Jordan, is a Casper native who joined the Armed Forces after attending and graduating from Natrona County High School. He works in the IT department at Fort Campbell, in Kentucky. Despite being excited to explore a new hemisphere, his time in Europe quickly turned sour. Sergeant Jordan shared his story with the Chinook following his deployment to the potential front lines near Bucharest, Romania. “We were put in these tents where there is no ventilation, and when a sickness started, there wasn't a single person — See Veterans Page 3 Caleb Lindsay, one of many CC veterans, speaks at the CC Veteran's Ball. Submittted Photo Jenny Johnson: The glue of a pro-rodeo family Photo Courtesy of Jodie Baxendale Kellan, Kress, Jenny, Jhett, and Carson Johnson pose for a family photo. Jenny teaches in the education department at Casper College, and her husband, Jhett, is the college's head rodeo coach. Jenny's two older sons rodeoed for CC on one Jhett's former teams. Kassadee Lym Chinook Writer Anticipation fills the atmosphere with the screams of an eager crowd as rodeo cowboys give their all to compete for their chance to win the world at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. However, amidst the excitement of the arena, an anxious mother of three young cowboys wishes her husband to return with ten fingers intact and the world title in his grasp. Jenny Johnson is the wife that stood behind the five-time NFR Qualifier and NFR World Champion, Jhett Johnson. She also raised the 2021 College National Finals Rodeo Team Roping duo and Gold Medal Winners at the Days of ‘47 Rodeo, Kellan and Carson Johnson. She is the glue that holds a pro-rodeo family together. Jenny spent her childhood riding her horse to a one-room schoolhouse near Sturgis, S.D. 4-H projects and time on her family's ranch filled her younger years. Both experiences are integral pieces of her childhood that she hopes to instill in her three cowboys. Time in the saddle paid off for Jenny, and she earned a scholarship to rodeo at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, Kan. After competing there Jenny finished her bachelor's degree in elementary education with a minor in early childhood at the Oklahoma Panhandle State University. On the college rodeo trail, Jenny crossed paths with her now husband, Jhett Johnson. As a couple, the two-faced adversity. Jenny became the foundation that kept her family stable, whether supporting her sons and husband to chase their dreams or holding her family together during tough times. When Jhett and Jenny were only engaged, they received the news that Jhett had been diagnosed with testicular cancer. Jenny explained that faith kept her going. She said, “We pray a lot. You have to because there are some things that are just out of your control.” Fortunately, the couple moved forward. They had three children: Kellan, Carson, and Kress. Faith and a strong network of support held Jenny’s family together. While Jhett worked to achieve his dreams of becoming a world champion, Jenny played a crucial role in running everything seamlessly in Casper. Her two older boys, Kellan and Carson, explained that their mom took the thankless job of caring for everything at home, from driving them to late-night basketball practices to hauling horses. Jenny looked to what she explained as her, “teaching family” for support. While teaching, raising young children, and supporting her husband on his dream trail, Jenny completed her master's program and national board, twice. “She’s a go-getter,” Kellan said of his mom. Burnout never crossed — See Johnson Page 3 �Page 2 Chinook Stance Divine's Intervention: Get involved! Join extracurriculars Bernadette Pieper Blurbs with Bernadette As I sit here and write this piece and reflect on my college experience, there are some things that I would have changed in my first year of college. One of the biggest things I would have changed is getting more involved in activities or clubs on campus. I wanted to get the college experience first so I did not get really involved in anything on campus until the second semester. Being involved can help students in many different ways. Casper College provides us as students with so many activities, clubs, organizations, and events for students to take part in. The college offers at least 30 clubs or organizations. There are events like game nights, bingo nights, watch parties, intramural sports, and other events for us to participate in. There are times that clubs and organizations will host some kind of event to get more students involved and to treat us to something fun. Being involved can help us meet new people, make new friends, reduce stress, and help our bodies mentally and physically. Joining campus activities helped me learn time management and other life skills -- and to be December 1, 2023 CHINOOK honest it can help build our resumes. According to a 2023 Gitnux article about college students in extracurricular activities, “Students in extracurricular activities are 12.6% more likely to graduate compared to nonparticipants.” Getting involved can help us grow and learn so much. It can also help us as students to do better in school. Some activities, clubs, or organizations are not for everyone, but we just have to try to get out of our shells and be involved. It is not going to hurt us to try something new. A lot of the activities require little to no commitment or time before participating. I have found from being in some clubs, organizations, and going out to some events that it is a decompressor and helps me to just take a moment to refresh myself before going to do homework or study for a test. I think that being involved in extracurricular activities helps me practice so many skills. I honestly recommend that every student join a club, organization, or intramural sport. At the very least, attend an event. Some clubs and organizations were established from majors or classes that students take. Other clubs and organizations were established to have more entertaining events on campus. If you are interested in any clubs, organizations, or other activities I suggest visiting with friends and professors, as well as taking note of the posters that are hung up around campus. A lot of information is sent out via email too. Let’s try something new! Get involved and be active. “ As we wind down the fall semester and rush head-long into the holiday season, I want to discuss two important and related topics: life balance and emotional health. Balancing the ever-changing demands of everyday life is challenging enough, but such balance can be even more precarious during the hustle and bustle of the holidays. As such, I ask you to take extra care over the winter break and embrace the holiday season, spend time with your friends and family, and engage in any activity that brings you peace and happiness. It is all too easy to become fixated on a single aspect of our lives, and thus unintentionally neglect other, equally important, aspects. So please, over the holidays, be sure to keep things in balance, and don’t neglect any one aspect of your life, especially your personal space and time alone. Along that same thought process, you likely know the holidays can be especially challenging for those who struggle with increased anxiety or depression brought about by the seasonal focus on happiness, family, finances, et Whether this scenario describes you personally, or you have a friend or loved one who faces with some of these challenges, please take extra care to watch for signs of emotional distress both in yourself and in those around you. There are many resources at the College, the county, and the state to help anyone having a tough time. Also know you can reach out anytime to any member of our staff and we will put you in touch with trained professionals who can help you or a loved one sort things out and get back to a healthier and happier emotional state. Best wishes for a peaceful and wonderful holiday season… It is all too easy to become fixated on a single aspect of our lives, and thus unintentionally neglect other, equally important, aspects. — Darren Divine, Ph.D., Casper College President A lit conference that didn’t put me to sleep Casper College held its 37th annual literary conference earlier this month, specifically from November 7th - through the 9th. The chosen theme for this year was the “wilderness.” Given the title of this column, it would be reasonable to surmise that I only attended out of scholastic obligation, and you would be correct in that assumption. Despite my preconceived notions though, I enjoyed the workshop that I sat through. I didn’t even open my energy drink. The presentation I observed was put on by Christine Peterson. Peterson is a journalist that’s written about the environment and outdoor recreation for over a decade. She has written about grizzly bears, wolves, elk, insects and more recently: chronic wasting disease. She started at the Casper Star Tribune, but she’s currently working fulltime freelance. She has some impressive publishing credits under her belt, too. Namely National Geographic, which is where my interest piqued. I’m both a photographer and a journalism student, so I was interested in what she had to say. I’ve always wondered how people go about submitting to major publishers, and how the pay involved with that even works. Did you know that freelance writers are often paid in cents per word? I didn’t, and now I feel like a bit of a chump writing this for free. Anyway, she also showed us a few pieces of writing from her own body of work and from some other journalists. It was an exercise in creative writing essentially, and there was a fair amount of discussion between members of the audience about what worked for them and what didn’t. Particularly regarding chronic wasting disease. Words like viscous or moist have a certain connotation after all, and this is seen plainly in the way you just reacted to reading the word “moist.” Overall, the discussions that Peterson fostered were fun to observe. There were writers from several backgrounds who had traveled from all over to attend the conference. Poets, fiction writers, and wannabe journalists like me. Plenty of perspectives on display. I won’t lie to you and say that I’d have attended this regard- Geoff Miller Mid Level Geoff less of a teacher’s instructions, but what I will say is that I’m looking forward to something like this next year. www.caspercollegechinook.com Taking online or hybrid courses? Students: We make sure you are able to access online learning resources needed to learn in your classes. We will also help you learn to utilize the digital tools available to you for all your classwork. Examples of items we can help with: 1. MyCCMoodle — including how to submit assignments, participate in forums, etc. 2. ZOOM – help you learn to access and use Zoom for your remote course meetings and collaborations 3. Google Suite — Google Docs, Drive, GMail, etc. 4. Accessing Office 365 .- such as MS Word and PowerPoint 5. Online tutoring — How and where to get extra help as you need it, using NetTutor. Plus a lot more! Contact us. Don’t wait! Get your Questions answered now. Teresa Pat Mike Tyler For help or more information stop by Liesinger Hall, room 132 or contact us at 307-268-3882, dlc@caspercollege.edu, and av@caspercollege.edu. Dave Camille �December 1, 2023 Page 3 CHINOOK Veterans................................................. that didn't get it. They didn't really treat the sicknesses either because it was usually a flu. So, you know, if you get sick, they kind of just give you some ibuprofen,” Jordan said. Camp conditions worsened as time went on. “Some depression came because you don’t see any- thing but the camp fences. I couldn’t really see the outside world because we were literally in a Romanian base camp inside of a camp, our American camp was inside of a Romanian camp. So when you look outside of the fence, you just see another camp. There were people in close quarters -- some people couldn't handle it and would start just taking it out on each other,” Seth said. Seth’s unit waited patiently at the read in case of the worstcase scenario. His said his unit was directly on the other side of the line drawn in the sand by the United States. If Russia had crossed the line, he and his unit would be up to bat against the force of the Russian Army. “It was really scary because where we were wasn't really tactical. If the war had escalated, we would have been hit by missiles. We wouldn’t even have had a chance to fight, which was really scary to think about. We would have died continued from page 1 without even having a chance. Thinking about the fact that, if things were to escalate, we would be just immediately toast. What would we be, a martyr? I had those kinds of thoughts, but they don't do anything for the good of getting the job done,” Seth said. The legacy of the nation's Johnson................................................... Jenny's mind. She said, “I never was looking over the fence wishing for something different or more material things. I had a job and it was to raise my boys, keep everything going at home, and teach third graders.” Although it was not always easy, Jenny explained she never kept challenging aspects of her life from her children. She believes that your kids need to watch you overcome obstacles. “I think it's important for your children to see you struggle and how you overcome it. Because they're going to be able to take those skills and say, oh yeah, they overcame that. They can accomplish anything,” Jenny said. Her philosophy must have proved helpful because her boys are not strangers to success. Jenny instilled the value of family into her sons, and Kellan and Carson explained that because of their mom, family drove them to achieve their goals. Carson, Jenny’s middle son, said, “Everything we did, we did as a family.” The boys grew to rely on each other. Kellan, the oldest, said, “She (Jenny) was always big on your brother is who you always have to fall back on…we’re in each others' corner no matter where life takes us.” Jenny helped create a bond that allowed Kellan and Carson to go on and win the 2021 CNFR, amongst other accomplishments. However, Jenny is also proud of the role model her older boys created for her youngest son. She said, “I was gifted with really great children… and Kress had the opportunity to have wonderful role models.” Jenny was able to raise those role models by focusing on creating gracious winners. Although her husband was unarguably successful, he too shared his time of not making the spotlight. Jenny said her boys and others witnessed their father, Jhett, make it to the NFR, but they did veterans goes far beyond the designated date of remembrance. Veterans like Lindsay, and Jordan shaped the course of history and continue to change the fabric of society. As the day comes and goes, appreciate the cost of freedom and remember the meaning of Veterans Day. continued from page 1 not always understand the failures that formed such success. She said, “They didn't see the 1992 to 2005 and all the things in between.” Jenny supported her husband through the failures that led to winning. But when big wins were found, Jenny was the first to yell. Kellan and Carson explained that when they won the CNFR together, Jenny's reaction matched when their dad, Jhett, won the world. Carson said, “She was screaming, yelling. She was proud to see us do it together really.” Her oldest son Kellan said, “She cries, yells, hoops, and hollers. She’s always on our team.” With Jenny’s support, both boys continue to team rope together today as part of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). Not only does Jenny play a pivotal role in her family’s team, but she also contributes to the success of the Casper College Rodeo Team. Alongside her husband, now CC’s head rodeo coach, Jenny works to create an atmosphere where rodeo athletes have the opportunity to succeed in the classroom, in the arena, and in life. Jhett and Jenny Johnson are the team that supports CC Rodeo. “If you come to Casper College you’ve got my dad and my mom. That’s just like having a family away from home,” Kellan said. The CC team is not the only ones that benefit from having Jenny on their side. Her boys also recognize the blessing that is their mom. Kellan said, "She showed us everything outside of rodeo -- that life’s bigger than rodeo.” Jenny’s behind-the-scenes support drove the success of her three cowboys, Kellan, Carson, and Kress, and her world-champion husband, Jhett. Submitted Photo As Kellan said, “I love my mom and I Jenny and Jhett Johnson posed for a photo while out for a ride. Jenny grew up riding and wouldn’t trade her for nobody.” earned a rodeo scholarship to college. AI in classrooms is sparking conversation Yaasmiyn Hickman Chinook Writer A new age of teaching and learning is approaching with the use of artificial intelligence in classrooms. Students and teachers are beginning to use these new tools to potentially add advantages to the curriculum. However, with new positives come negatives that are set to disrupt the main focus, such as concerns about academic credibility and lack of creativity in the school system. What can AI do to change the lives of students? John Bailey wrote an article called ‘AI in Education,’ written in 2023. In the article, he said, “AI’s ability to conduct human-like conversations opens up possibilities for adaptive tutoring or instructional assistants that can help explain difficult concepts to students.” The Chinook explored the topic at CC. Kathryn Morgan, an assistant at Casper College’s Writing Center, shared her thoughts. “There are chatbots that act as an extension of your search engine, acting as an online secretary to help you get everything in order on your technological device," Morgan said. " The con is letting it take away a person’s ability to think, as well as real human interaction.” According to a 2023 article by the Brookings Institution titled ‘Should schools ban or integrate generative AI in the classroom, “schools that ban AI deny students and teachers the potential opportunities to leverage the technology for instruction and lesson development.” This form of learning could benefit different learning styles. Morgan expressed her thoughts on the ongoing developments surrounding AI in classrooms. “There are parts of it that are extremely helpful, but it could lead to threatening specific types of job markets, ” Morgan said. “For example, there's AI that has been designed for tutoring, like in math, English, and even in computer science. I think as a tutoring tool it can be good but not the same as human interaction learning. It's designed to help break down things into easier language. However, the danger in that is students will use the generator to get the answer.” With the rapid usage of AI/ ChatGPT, students have expressed a sense of relief in their workload. The AI tool is capable of writing papers, solving math problems, and generating ideas. Students look at this strategy as a skeleton key for the ongoing semesters. Veronica Sulzman a sophomore at CC talked about the importance of education and obtaining a degree. “I used to go to the Writing Center all the time, and they really help. However, in my current English class, the requirement is that we have to use AI to help generate ideas and formats for our papers,” Sulzman said. “It (AI) helps with general education classes too because you need those classes as a refresher for later on in life. The other day I was telling my daughter that English isn’t a needed subject. But people need to know the proper basic rules of writing emails or papers properly. AI helps you understand the different formats faster. “ The main concern with AI is that students will use the tool to cheat in their classes, which could cause a generation of students to disregard the material. Morgan spoke about the issue. She said, “One of the things that is being recommended for teachers to do is basing their papers on in-person human experience.” AI is looked at as both a tool and a threat to students and teachers. The challenges it brings aren't solved easily, but continue to spark curiosity in schools all over the country. �Page 4 CHINOOK December 1, 2023 The Shining Light that is Valerie Innella Maiers Yaasmiyn Hickman/Chinook Valerie Innella Maiers, Visual Arts Instructor is photographed in the Tobin Visual Art Center. She personally selects artwork that goes into the Strausner building at Casper College. Yaasmiyn Hickman Chinook Writer Valerie Innella Maiers, PH.D., has experienced a very cultured life. She is a visual arts instructor at Casper College. She lives a life full of opportunities and culture. Coming from Central New Jersey, she felt that teaching was a part of her calling. Taking a break from working full time at art galleries, Innella Maiers applied to teach at Casper College to pursue her love for art and teaching. Innella Maiers said, “I've always been interested in art. I did study art history but didn't expect to teach full-time. I moved to Texas and they offered me the opportunity to teach an introduction to art class, which I really enjoyed. Then I went back to school to get my doctorate in Art Education. Now I get to both teach and work in art galleries.” Teaching wasn't even a part of her initial life plan. An out one-time experience stimulated an interest that wasn’t there before. Bringing the need to do it again, and eventually turning it into a career. Innella Maiers found joy in teaching students about her passion. Innella Maiers shared some of the things she enjoys about teaching. “Teaching is something that came to me unexpectedly. Learning about the different types of kids and what they want to do with their degrees is a refreshing chapter that I look forward to every day,” said Innella Maiers. Coming from a highly populated state, Innella Maiers said she loves everything Casper, Wyo. offers. The flat lands are different from the city life in New Jersey, yet she never fails to find hidden gems of joy. “I love to visit family back in New Jersey and visit New York, but in Wyoming, you're surrounded by this beautiful landscape,” Innella Maiers said. There's less traffic and more opportunities to go hiking. Especially since fall is here and there are turkeys and deer right outside the art building.” Maiers is active in the community by directing the Casper College Humanities Festival each year. The festival is an event that explores disciplines from social and physical sciences, humanities, and fine arts. She is also very involved in The Casper College Foundation of Fine Art Collection. Where art pieces are selected to be furnished into buildings all over Casper, Wyoming, including CC. "The Humanities festival mainly focuses on humanities, but we touch on other areas. There are speakers from political science or related to agriculture,” said Innella Maiers. “All the visual art on campus is a part of The Casper College Foundation Fine Art Collection.” Innella Maiers explained that she is often moving art or loaning art to museum expeditions. She said some of the artworks are from past students, but most of the collection is from artists across the United States. There was so much accomplishment, as she spoke of all the art she handles. Innella Maiers radiates a bright and comfortable presence. She spoke full of content happiness, especially when talking about her travels. Europe is a continent that is filled with classic and popular art. “I teach travel courses, as well and this past summer I taught a class about the Georgian era of Scottish art and architecture in Edinburgh, Scotland for the University of Wyoming. Then for three weeks, we were in London England to gather art information and incorporate it into future classes,” Innella Maiers explained. Innella Maiers said she was part of a fellowship with the University of Wyoming faculty in Jerusalem, Israel this past January. She said she got to see the earliest churches and modern/ contemporary art. For CC I've taken students to places like Spain, Morocco, and Budapest. Students who major in art classes at CC take at least one of Innella Maiers’ classes. Freshman Moriah Jones spoke about her experience with Innella Maiers. “I love Valerie. She is the sweetest, most interesting person I've ever met. Whenever I have questions or need clarification, she always approaches the situation with care. I never feel lost or angry after our interactions. Valerie has a subtle sweetness about her,” Jones said. Flash Mob! WRITING CENTER The Writing Center at Casper College is here to help our students and members of the community. Brainstorm possible paper topics Craft an essay Gain writing strategies 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 LucyJane Crimm/Chinook Casper College dancers Bella Garro and Nate Skoglund performed in a flash mob in the cafeteria on campus. Garro and Skoglund are taking Jodi Jones' esemble dance class this fall. �December 1, 2023 Page 5 CHINOOK Unexpected leap to journalism Lane Johnson Chinook Writer In August of 2022 Garrett Grochowski moved into the dorms of the University of Wyoming in Laramie and prepared to pursue his degree in anthropology. The Friday before classes started, Grochowski decided he didn’t want to be in Laramie or study anthropology because of many things going on in his life, mainly his dad getting very sick. Acting on a whim that weekend, Grochowski decided to apply at Casper College before things got going at UW, and he moved back home to Casper. “I got registered for all my classes and then went to that first class like an hour later,” Grochowski said. Grochowski knew that he no longer wanted to do anthropology and wanted to instead get into journalism because he knew he enjoyed writing. He said he felt very fortunate when accepted at CC because of how quickly he changed his mind at UW. “I dropped my classes at UW before I came back,” he said. “So if I didn’t get into Casper College, I would have been out a semester.” Grochowski grew up in Casper and felt like returning was the best option for him with many family issues going on at home. He also believed that he grew up and matured slower than his peers. “I feel more mature. I feel like an adult actually,” Grochowski said about coming home. “I was able to be there with my dad when he passed away. And I’m happy -- And I don’t think I’d be as happy, and I’d have a lot more regrets.” He said that coming to CC was a great experience because of the small atmosphere and things are more “intimate” with the teachers and peers. Grochowsk said CC helped him know that he wanted to be a journalist. He added he isn’t sure that even the same journalism degree track at UW would have led him down the same path. “It’s kinda crazy how when you start college, the expectation is like just pick something, and then get a degree in that and then it’ll be the rest of your life… If I was into [communication at UW]… I wouldn’t be as sure as I am now without the experience I got in Casper.” Grochowski added that his teachers were great at CC and really helped him know that he loves journalism. He believes that Communication Instructor Bri Weigel was a huge part of his experience at CC, and she was a mentor for him to get into doing the things that he loves. “She’s been great because she’s helped me find things outside of CC that have vastly helped me… She’s genuine, and she’s like a friend,” Grochowski said. “She doesn’t treat you like you’re a student there to take her class. She’s trying to build you into the person you’re trying to be.” Grochowski shared high praise for Weigel and is thankful that she still reaches out to him to give him more opportunities to learn. He said he wouldn’t have worked at Oil City News if it wasn’t for her, and he is happy that she still makes him feel as though he is a part of CC even after he left. “She set the foundation for the writer that I am today,” said Grochowski. Grochowski and his good friend Marc Sanford worked at Oil City News over the summer and both said they gained extensive knowledge from the experience. Sanford talked about their time at Oil City News and explained that Grochowski went above and beyond. “We were only supposed to work 20 hours a week. He probably worked 40. He put in so much work for that company,” Sanford said. Grochowski made an impact in just three months of working for Oil City News. His peers at CC know about him and he definitely left a mark on the community according to Sanford. “It shows that he is a pretty special dude -- that he was able to make that much of an impact,” Sanford said. Grochowski and Sanford are now roommates at The University of Wyoming, and Grochowski is very grateful for his opportunity to be a student at Casper College. Grochowski believes that his time at CC set up his future and allowed him to get back on track in his life. He built the foundation for his future, and Photo Courtesy of Ben Winckler Photography it goes back to that last second Garrett Grochowski, a former CC student, posed for a photo. decision to return home for a Grochowski found his love for journalism when he made the year. last-minute decision to attend college in his hometown. Building the future on the foundation of the past Geoff Cooper/Chinook Darrin Miller, welding instructer at CC, is pictured in the welding shop on campus. Geoff Cooper Chinook Writer Inflation and cost of living are two commonly discussed concepts, and they only ever seem to be going in one direction very quickly – a direction and a pace that wage growth is unable to match. The days of buying a new part to replace the old or the broken will soon be over, but there is still hope in the form of teachers like Darin Miller, one of the welding instructors here at Casper College. Miller’s early life on a farm in Torrington, Wyo echoes our world’s current predicament. “We couldn’t afford new stuff,” said Miller. “We had to fix the old stuff, and I think now we’re starting to see that again. In the last three or four years, and even before that, it turned into a throwaway world. And now with shipping lanes how they are and everything on back order it’s starting to be like it was before. People are going to have to learn how to rebuild stuff again.” Miller doesn’t necessarily see this as all bad because there’s a fair amount of merit in making do with what you have and being self-sufficient. Growing up on a farm with old equipment and irrigation that’s done by hand takes a bit of ingenuity after all, and it’s what set him on the path to where he is now. “I think one time, the planter broke, and dad welded on it three times,” Miller said. “He didn’t know what he was doing, and I dang sure didn’t know what I was doing, but he started throwing stuff so I asked if I could take a crack at it.” After successfully fixing the planter, Miller said he became the farms resident handyman. This knack for fixing and rebuilding equipment led to a degree in diesel technology and in welding from Eastern Wyoming College. He was always fascinated with seeing how things tick and reverse engineering them with the goal of “building a better wheel.” Unfortunately, he got out of welding school in 1986, during an oil bust. “You couldn’t buy a job welding, even here in Casper,” Miller said. Miller got married the same year and needed a way to pay the bills. He enlisted in the US Army shortly thereafter and was stationed in Ft Hood, Texas. He later attended a Reserve Officer Training Corp program and commissioned as an officer before becoming the commander of the maintenance unit in Guernsey, Wyo. Leadership in the Army tends to involve a lot of meetings, logistics and paperwork, so whenever Miller needed a break from that he would go down to the shop and help the enlisted. “I tell you what, it was a lot of work, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” Miller said. Despite being in a leadership position for many years in Guernsey and completing his military service as a Major (Promotable), Miller said he never really saw himself as a teacher. It was a friend of his dad’s, who worked for the job service here in Casper, that got Miller to apply for the job here at CC. Right around that same time, Miller was working on a welding job down in Torrington. He was hired because the guy before him almost died on the project. He said teaching sounded better by comparison, so he’s been doing it ever since. In addition to welding, Miller saw to the development of the auto body shop and a fabrication shop at the college. Students rebuild classic cars and learn how to reverse engineer and produce older machine parts that aren’t made anymore. Miller also takes the students to assist in the Platte River Cleanup with the goal of giving back to the community and teaching team building. Between the military and teaching, Miller said that his proudest accomplishment is his students and the success they find in the welding program. Students like Marvin Aragon, whom Miller hired to teach with him after he went through CC’s program. “I taught him how to weld once. I know I don’t have to do it again,” Miller said. Aragon graduated in 2016 and went back to his hometown of Lander for a few months. He didn’t find any work, but luckily for him, Miller reached out to let him know there was a job at Pepper Tank here in Casper. He worked there up until a couple of years ago when Miller called him again and asked if he wanted to come teach at the college. “I had my concerns. I had my doubts, but he talked me out of them,” Aragon said. Like Miller, Aragon never saw himself teaching, but he’s glad he took the leap. For Aragon, working with Miller is a blast. He loves coming to work and seeing a new group of students every year. Despite being a teacher himself, he still learns a lot from Miller. “I don’t think I could ever get tired of working with him. He’s the best teacher I’ve ever had,” Aragon said. The two became friends when Aragon stopped by to visit during his time at Pepper Tank, and he said that other students come back from time to time to get advice from Miller or bounce ideas off of him. Despite having an old school teaching style, he said Miller is very approachable, and he believes the way Miller is running the program really works for their students. Welding, to Aragon, is foundational to society. Just about everything you see, every building you enter, needed a welder at some point. It’s just a matter of finding the people who want to do the work and training them. Both Owen Nielson and Zane Neville started in the welding program this semester. Nielson plans to go to work on an oil pipeline, and Neville plans to work in structural welding. Like Aragon, they describe Miller as old school. “He doesn’t go around the truth. He tells you what you need to do and how to figure it out,” Nielson said. Both students said they appreciate his old school attitude because they think it’s preparing them for the real-world in welding. They described welding as an old school profession, one that won’t treat them like glass. At the same time, they also described Miller as an open book. Someone they feel comfortable coming back to for advice. “He allows you to give your best shot,” Neville said. “I don’t think it’s ever good enough for him though. He wants you to keep getting better and better and better, which I think is needed in a teacher.” Miller has been teaching for over thirty years, and though his military days are far behind him, he believes that the patience and leadership qualities he learned in the Army are a large part of his success in teaching. The three attributes of a leader, and subsequently a teacher, according to the Army, are character, presence and intellect. All three of these attributes are clearly seen through the descriptions given by Miller’s students – students who are now more prepared for a world that can’t just throw things away. Partnering to better serve the deaf community Geoff Cooper/Chinook In partnership with Serve Wyoming - Student Learning Initiative, Emergency Medical Students and American Sign Language students at Casper College worked together to learn more about deafness. The training involved local deaf community members in simulation activities where the EMS students interacted and cared for deaf patients. The simulation activities help prepare up-and-coming first responders for caring for this patient demographic. Above and to the right: Tia Iedema, Kaela Lundstrom, and Dawson Butler practice sign language with instructor Gail Schenfisch. To the left, Raghuram Prasad, Kevin Tomphson, and Dawson Butler work with a deaf volunteer. �Page 6 December 1, 2023 CHINOOK Fall sports recap Photo and content courtesy of the Casper College Public Relations Department The men's soccer team celebrates at a September game against Western Nebraska Community College. The men's soccer team finished at 10-7-7. The team won the Region IX Northwest Plains District Championship beating Otero College. The final score was T, 1-1. Because they were the Region IX winners, they went on to the 2023 NJCAA D1 Men't Soccer Chapionship in Wichita, Kan. In the national tournament, the T-Birds entered pool play with two other teams. If there was a team in the group that could beat the other two opponents, then that team moved in to tournament play. In the first game against Arizona Western College, the T-Birds lost 1-0. The next game was against Louisiana State University-Eunice. The T-Birds won that match 2-1. However, Arizona Western College also beat Otero, so AWC moved on. Photo and content courtesy of the Casper College Public Relations Department Licia Echevarria serves the ball at a September game against Gillette College. The women's volleyball team ended a great season with a 30-14 record overall. The team had a 4-1 record in the Region IX Tournament, taking first in the B bracket. The showing earned them a trip to the 2023 NJCAA D1 Volleyball Championship in Hutchinson, Kan. The Lady T-Birds lost their first match to Miami Dade College and went to the consolation round where they beat Blinn College and New Mexico Junior College. In the game to determine ninth place, they lost to Indian Hills Community College and placed 10th in the tournament and in the country. This is the highest the volleyball team has ever placed in the national tournament. Photo and content courtesy of the Casper College Public Relations Department Michelle Cave kicks to score in a September game against Laramie County Community College. The women's soccer team finished at 13-2-2. The team made it to the semi finals in the Region IX Northwest Plains District Championship but lost to Otero when the game ended 0-0 in regular time, and Otero beat them in double overtime. Join our staff this spring! Practice interviewing & writing Take photos & design Learn sales & advertising Explore social media & promotion The Chinook is a one credit class titled Independent Publications. Contact our faculty advisor Bri Weigel for more information at brianne.weigel@caspercollege.edu �December 1, 2023 Page 7 CHINOOK Beyond the cap and gown: Behind the scenes of graduation Submitted Photo Casper College 2023 graduates celebrated at commencement after being presented with their degrees. LucyJane Crimm Chinook Writer Every college student looks forward to commencement day, but what goes on behind the scenes for graduation? Who ensures that each student completes the right credits and fills out the proper forms? Who makes sure each student is getting the information they need? And what happens if they don't receive it? It’s a more complicated process than students may think. Casper College’s Registrar Linda Nichols stressed the difference between gradua- tion and commencement. She said graduation is the official process of completing the program and receiving the degree, while commencement is the celebration that happens after graduation. CC ‘s 2023 graduates need to note important upcoming dates- - April 1 is the deadline for students to apply for graduation, Feb. 24 - April 14 is the window for students to order their cap and gown, and commencement practice and ceremony is May 12. All the departments at the college play a role in graduation and commencement, but a lot of the process starts in the records department. “Students see MyCCInfo and we [staff] have the administrative side of it that we use to process [degree evaluations],” Nichols said. “When we run a degree audit, it looks a lot like the progress that students see… But sometimes there's unique pieces in there that are different for degrees, and we can’t make it show properly. So there’s sometimes manual edits or updates that we need to do.” The records department handles the forms for graduation and commencement. The process starts when students fill out their first degree evaluation, typically in their third semester, to make sure they are taking the correct classes, fulfilling requirements and planning appropriately. Then in the last semester of college, students need to fill out the graduation application. Once that form is sent to records, the students are once again run through the degree evaluation process before the degree is posted. The degree evaluation process happens a third time when final grades are posted to ensure they have everything they need. “Those are electronic forms, so the student logs in to submit those forms and then it comes to us electronically… it comes to us in an electronic queue, so then we go through and process those. Then we send them back to students electronically,” Nichols explained. Any forms that need to be filled out can be found on the Casper College website in the records section. Graduation and commencement information and deadlines can be found on this page. If students have questions about graduation, they can email the records department. “When it gets to the end of the semester and we’re ready to start checking grades and posting, the name of the game is like Santa making a list and checking it twice- - and three times and four times. Just going through and making sure everyone is on the list and they’re registered for what they need to be,” Nichols said. Walking across the stage and finally getting that diploma at commencement is a very exciting moment for most students, and the CC public relations department also plays a big part in making commencement run smoothly. From photos, to livestreams and even just hyping students up, the public relations department wears many hats. “We view [commencement] as a celebration of students and their achievements. We really want them to be celebrated that day, so we try to do things that assist with that,” Director of public relations Christopher Lorenzen said. “Usually, we put together the commencement program, we get it all together and produce it. We do the livestream of the events and some photography. We do the news releases about it, and then after we send out dean’s lists and presidents lists to local papers. We do social media posts to celebrate it. There’s just all kinds of little things- - we’re even helping design the diploma cover.” PR’s most important role on the day of commencement is the livestream they do of the ceremony. Commencement takes place in the Ford Wyoming Center and PR streams the footage and audio live onto the CC YouTube channel for family members and friends who are unable to attend. “I think the live stream is really important to all the families that can’t make it to commencement, especially for our international graduates,” Lorenzen added. As is the way of life, not everything will always go according to plan. Every year around graduation and commencement, some problems arise. One of the biggest problems is making sure the students are receiving emails with information and completing the forms they need to. “Unfortunately every semester we get to the end of the semester and a student kind of shows up out of nowhere saying ‘Hey I’m graduating!’ Really? Because you never told us. We always do our best at accommodating when students miss deadlines,” Nichols said. Some of the challenges the PR department faces come with their biggest role, the commencement livestream. “The biggest challenge is putting on the live broadcast of the event,” Lorenzen said. “It takes a lot of us. It takes a whole department to support it. We’ve got it down, but there's always something that happens that you don't anticipate. From a bad HDMI cable to a camera that goes out, or even the internet configuration.” Students play a big role in graduation and commencement going smoothly. Nichols said that students can make a big difference just by checking and reading emails in a timely fashion and by paying attention to deadlines and communicating with advisors. The biggest factor in a successful graduation process is communication. Dr. Divine’s journey to president of the college Bernadette Pieper Chinook Writer Submitted Photo Casper College President Dr. Darren Divine posed for a photo in the Gateway Building. Submitted Photo Dr. Divine addressed the audience at the 2023 Casper College Commencement ceremony. He started his career as a professor before becoming the faculty senate chair followed by associate vice president to vice president of academic affairs. Now he is president of Casper College. As if that were not enough, he also mastered being a husband, chocolatier, and competitive pistol shooter. Darren Divine, Ph.D., began his journey as the president of the college in the summer of 2015. Before coming to CC, he worked as a professor and then vice president at the College of Southern Nevada and at the University at Las Vegas. Divine said he never thought he would be the president of a college, but he references a quote that helped him along the way. He shares the quote with students, crediting a professor from one of the colleges where he worked. “Discovery is recognizing something you didn’t know existed,” Divine quoted. He majored in biology before starting his career. His love for biology stemmed from his father because he was a fisheries biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. His career has helped him along his journey to become president. “I would not trade it for anything. The reason that I got into this was because of the students. I wanted to teach. It's no different now,” said Divine. “At the end of the day, the answer is well that is part of my job, but that’s not the important part…My pleasure, my honor, my joy is to celebrate students and support students.” Some of Divine’s goals for the college are to keep up with the changing needs in life in order to meet student needs. “If I could impart anything to anybody, it is to remind them that everything we do is for students. Literally, there is not a job on campus that isn’t here for students,” said Divine. Others have seen that Divine is there for the students and that is what helps CC to bring in more students. “One of the things that is very clear when you meet Dr. Divine is that he is passionately committed to the college. He believes the student comes first and focuses on the student’s needs and where our decisions are made in daily work,” said Christopher Lorenzen, director of public relations at CC. Lorenzen and Divine both talked about how Divine loves to support students. Divine traveled over 1,000 miles to watch the men’s Soccer team at Regionals, the volleyball team at Regionals, and the music concert with the Dean Morgan Middle School. Divine talked about how he is always heartbroken if he cannot make it to an event that involves CC students. He said he really wanted to make it to the Nationals to watch the soccer team and volleyball team but he could not. “I got to put my big boy pants on,” Divine said, as he has other obligations as president. When Lorenzen started his job at CC, he noticed how Divine does so much for the college and the students. “I was blown away by the positive perception that the college has. You can really see how Darren and the trustees lead the college. Their passion is for the students,” said Lorenzen. Aside from serving as president of the college, Divine is a chocolatier in his spare time. He found a passion for it after learning about chocolate from his father at an early age. He remembers every Christmas his dad would make chocolate pretzels and more. There was just one day out of the blue when he started to do the pretzels and more with chocolate when he was working at the college in Las Vegas. Divine said that when he and his wife lived in Las Vegas, she took him to a cake and chocolate shop where he met the owner. The shop’s owner helped him with his passion for chocolate. Since then, Divine perfected his work as a chocolatier. He occasionally offers a class for others to learn, giving him the opportunity to share one of his passions and still be a teacher. Lorenzen stated, “He likes to master it. He significantly enjoys his work. You can see by all of the things that he is involved in.” Lorenzen talked about how Divine is passionate about his hobbies, and works hard to master his crafts, like being a chocolatier and a competitive pistol shooter. Divine also participates in many pistol shooting competitions. He is a ranger too, meaning he helps with setting up for competitions. Divine said that since working as president, he has not had much time to shoot or to go hunting. He talked about how he hopes to get back to doing it more often, but he has been doing his job as president first. He really enjoys his pistol shooting competitions and all of his other hobbies. Divine is there for his students and employees. When he talks with students or employees about their experiences here at CC or things brought to his attention he tells them this: Divine said he tells this to students and others, “A phrase I always use, ‘Achieve your goals and realize your dreams.’” www.caspercollegechinook.com �Page 8 December 1, 2023 CHINOOK The art of connection Nina Bivens Chinook Writer Picture a stage in a theater where one side of the stage belongs to the music department and the other the theater department. Such a place exists at a community college in Scottsbluff, Neb. Almost 28 years ago, two individuals worked together on opposite ends of the stage, but they never met for five years. It wasn’t until Terry Rogers, the coach for the theater program at the time, reached out to Cindy, a piano instructor. He wanted her help with the upcoming school play, specifically to take the role as a rehearsal pianist with ridiculous hours and a paycheck of only $200. Wanting to provide for her family and take on a new adventure, Cindy said yes, igniting one of the most successful love stories to grace Casper, Wyo. Loving husband and Casper College Communication Instructor Terry Rogers grew up in an environment where there wasn’t a lot of money, but his needs were met and he was highly involved. However, Cindy Rogers, private piano instructor and loving wife grew up as an only child with parents that loved each other unconditionally, setting a great foundation for what a marriage or relationship should look like. Both Terry and Cindy were previously divorced. Fortunately, the splits created an opportunity for Terry and Cindy to cross paths. Cindy said, “We both remember what the first marriage was like. We both had a very hard first marriage, so we both know how bad it can be. So we both really think of each other first. Love is more than a feeling -- it's a commitment.” One of the most unique qualities about Terry and Cindy’s relationship is how they inspire each other. “In some ways, we are very much alike, and in some ways we are very different,” Terry said. “I'm inspired by her ability to trust in her heart and always, always see the best in people. I wish I could be like that.” Because of their experiences, Terry and Cindy came together and created a solid footing. Cindy spoke to Terry’s strengths. “He (Terry) is so steady and calm,” she said. “He is the steady line of the relationship -- that's how my mom and dad were too. He makes this place so safe for us and for me.” This shared inspiration has allowed the couple to be together for almost 28 years with their anniversary coming up this month. Terry shared what advice he would give to others wanting to have a stronger relationship like his with Cindy. “Being open, honest and transparent gives us the ability to have real conversations. It's like a positive cycle that keeps feeding in on itself,” Terry said. Cindy shared the same sentiment. “There is an openness towards one another -- trust, a willingness to be kind to one another regardless of what we feel in the moment,” Cindy said. “There is a commitment not to be rude or disrespectful. We agree that certain behaviors aren’t okay because we have respect for one another.” Terry explained that there is a space between two people when they hug each other, and it is called the inside space. Terry said that “We talk about keeping inside on the inside and the outside on the outside, and the outside always wants to get on the inside and that pushes you apart.” Overall, both Terry and Cindy believe that focusing on their relationship and keeping other factors out of it is the center of creating a healthy Submitted Photo Communication Instructor Terry Rogers and his wife Cindy stopped for a photo while out on an adventure together. The couple will celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary this year. environment in a relationship that can last a lifetime. In the end, this relationship works because of the effort to have trust, honesty, and communication between them. As Cindy puts it, “It’s a sacred thing to us. It’s a relationship like no other.” Casper College's 'It's a Wonderful Life' LucyJane Crimm/Chinook From left, Kyler Rabourn, Nathan Skoglund and Kirsten King read their lines off on stage. The play was a radio adaptation of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” so the actors focused on voice acting and setting the scene of a radio station. LucyJane Crimm/Chinook Abigail Larsen brings a water pitcher to the other actors on stage. Larsen played the role of an assistant at the radio station. LucyJane Crimm/Chinook Ambrosia Johnson, who plays Mary Hatch Bailey, stands at the microphone as she performs her lines. Pictured here are the foley artistse in charge of sound effects using props. LucyJane Crimm/Chinook �December 1, 2023 Page 9 CHINOOK About Us Discover the educational opportunities at UW Casper, the exclusive branch campus of the University of Wyoming. At UW Casper, we are dedicated to serving site-bound students, whether you're following a traditional path or pursuing education on your terms. Our diverse range of bachelor's and master's degree programs are offered through both asynchronous and traditional delivery methods, catering to your unique learning style. Plus, we're proud to offer a variety of scholarships to make higher education a valuable and accessible experience for every student. Join us in shaping your future at UW Casper, where excellence in education meets your needs. Bachelor Degrees Master’s Degrees Master of Social Workadvanced standing and standard programs available Master of Counseling- school counseling and mental counseling available Organizational Leadership Biology Communication Psychology Medical Laboratory Sciences Elementary Education Social Work Zoology Sociology Secondary Science Education Criminal Justice General Studies Career & Technical Education Make an appointment with an advisor today! 307-268-2713 Union/University Building #435 uwyo.edu/uwcasper/ � 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 2023-12 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. 2023-12 Description An account of the resource This is a copy of the online Chinook Newspaper from December 2023. 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_2023-12 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF