2017 brought many changes both on and around Temple College. Here are some of the highlights from the year.
-
After completing its first-ever market research project in fall 2016, Temple College decided to redesign its logo to make it more appealing to prospective students. The new logo was introduced in August.
- Campus Carry takes effect
On Aug. 1, Temple College implemented a Campus Carry policy, along with all the other community colleges in Texas.
Avenue U, just north of campus, now connects to Scott & White Medical Center – Temple.
- Construction and demolition projects
Construction and demolition projects surrounded the campus much of the year. In January, the Texas Department of Transportation began a project to construct a new signalized interchange at the intersection of 1st Street and Loop 363. In August, the city of Temple completed a project to extend Avenue U from the Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Center to Scott & White Medical Center – Temple. Both projects led to road detours around campus.
In February, the college began demolishing the buildings on an adjacent property it had purchased in 2016 known as the Bandy property. On campus, additional renovations began on the Instructional Services Center.
-
In April, the Temple College Dental Hygiene program received the 2017 Award of Excellence from the Texas Association of College Technical Educators. The program was recognized for its high licensure rates and high placement rates, as well as its commitment to community outreach.
- Associate Degree Nursing program reaccredited
Temple College’s Associate Degree Nursing program, which will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2018, was reaccredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). In fall 2017, program director Tracey Cooper was named the new Executive Director of Nursing.
- Career counseling center opens
In October, Temple College began offering a new service for its students – career counseling. The counseling is available both in person and online.
- Graduates ace licensure exams
2017 graduates from four Temple College health professions programs (Dental Hygiene, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Emergency Medical Services, and Surgical Technology) had 100 percent pass rates on their licensure exams. Students completing the Police Academy program sponsored by Temple College and the Temple Police Department also had 100 percent pass rates on their state exams.
- Faculty members receive awards
Several faculty members received awards in 2017. Dr. Bill Cornelius, who has led Temple College’s Respiratory Care program since 1982,received the 2017 Claudia and W.T. Barnhart Teacher of the Year Award, and faculty members Shelly Buuck, Robb Cabaniss, Dr. William Cornelius, Dr. Gail Cox and Dr. Christopher Krejci received Excellence Awards from the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD).
- Students earn recognition
Temple College students earned a variety of recognition in 2017:
- A total of 138 students were inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa honor society – 63 in April and 75 in November. Nineteen students were inducted into Psi Beta, the psychology honor society.
- Two Temple College students − Darnell Wilson and David Johnson − were named to the 2017 All-Texas Academic Team.
- Thirteen students from Temple College were selected for All-State music ensembles that performed at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in San Antonio. Six students were selected for the Texas Two-Year College All-State Choir, four students were selected for the All-State Symphonic Band, and three students were selected for the TCCBDA All-State Jazz Ensemble.
- Temple College student Benito Costilla was one of two students selected to receive the most prestigious scholarship offered by Texas A&M University – Central Texas: The Warrior Corps Merit Scholarship.
- Athletes receive honors, scholarships
Temple College student-athletes received recognition from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and other organizations in 2017:
- Three members of the men’s basketball team (J.R. Adams, Kaelin Jackson and Max Portmann) were named to the All-Conference First Team. On the women’s side, Mikayla Blunt and Alex Harris were named to the All-Conference First Team.
- First-year volleyball player Mikaela Sako was named Newcomer of the Year for NJCAA Region 5 North.
- Eighteen students received Academic Student-Athlete Awards from the NJCAA for the 2016-2017 academic year.
- First-year student J. Limon was one of 12 incoming college freshmen who received scholarships from Major League Baseball as part of its Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program.