In Brief: March 2024

Traci Elaine Lee, a Collin College Theatre Alumna, will appear in a brand-new Broadway production of “The Great Gatsby” starting this month. She was a cast member of another Broadway show, “Shucked.”

Dr. Catherine Pfent, director of Veterinary Technology, gave two presentations at the annual conference for The Education and Conservation Society of Macropodidae in February. Macropodidae are some marsupials which include kangaroos, wallabies, tree-kangaroos, wallaroos, pademelons, quokkas, and several other groups. The meeting was attended by owners, breeders, zookeepers, and veterinarians. Her presentations were, “The Golden Macropod Years” covering end of life concerns such as modifications to help geriatric animals, recognizing pain, and how to decide when it’s time to euthanize, and “The Importance of Post-Mortem Examinations in Macropod Health and Research,” which covered how veterinary pathologists recognize disease outbreaks when owners and zoos submit their animals for autopsy.

Thirty-four students successfully completed Professional Truck Driving/CDL Training offered through Continuing Education. The students were funded through a Department of Transportation grant for veterans, veterans’ spouses/children, and the underserved population. Not only did the grant help students become licensed CDL holders, but it also contributed to an increase in the pool of well-qualified CDL drivers. For more information about the Professional Truck Driving Training at Collin, visit: Professional Truck Driving / CDL (collin.edu).

The Technical Campus hosted the local North Texas chapter of the American Welding Society (AWS) on Feb. 27, welcoming current AWS national President Michael Krupnicki.

On March 1 The Welding Department held third annual Future Farmers of America (FFA) welding competition alongside Joseph Molina and Anna ISD. The competition drew more than 100 students from dozens of local high school FFA chapters including Allen, Anna, Celina, Frisco, Farmersville, Princeton, Prosper and more. The Celina team won the first-place prize. The top three teams will move onto state. 

Plano Campus hosted Science Under the Stars on March 22, a first-of-its-kind event that encourages students of all ages to learn more about the science around them. The event included hands-on demonstrations, a stage show, music, and food.

Daphne Babcock, dean of Academic Affairs and Workforce Programs at Wylie Campus, was featured in the February/March issue of The Wylie Connections magazine. She was profiled as the chair of the Wylie Chamber Board with a portion of the story dedicated to her love of bird watching and photography The theme of this issue was side hobbies or side hustles. Bird photography has been a passion for Babcock for many years.

Ninety-seven Vocational Nursing learners participated in a community learning service event at The Samaritan Inn in March. The learners attended a seminar on homelessness, where they learned about the services offered and how they can contribute as nursing learners. The learners toured the facility in McKinney and completed an orientation session that would allow them to begin volunteering at the facility. Several of the learners have already assisted with food preparation, clothing distribution, and assessing client needs.

Polysomnography Director Amber Allen was spotlighted in the January/February issue of Sleep World Magazine regarding the start of her term as Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists President. See the article on page 26 at this link.

Dr. John Williams, McKinney Campus History professor, has been invited to the Oxford Summer Institute. This institute is an intensive two-week workshop at St. Catherine’s College, University of Oxford, to help shape the future of academia. Instructors are vetted and invited based on merit. This workshop, led by international scholars and academics, seeks to be at the forefront of critical discussions on antisemitism by mapping, decoding, and combating issues related to the explosion of global antisemitism. Those attending this Institute are deemed scholars in residence and are charged with using this experience to gain insights and knowledge related to combating contemporary antisemitism, bringing what they learn back to their campuses, and sharing this experience with their colleagues.

The Plano Campus Makerspace held an open house on Feb. 29. Approximately 50 students, faculty, and staff visited the space to learn about makerspace services and to see the new layout which will allow students to engage in various hands-on activities such as 3D design and printing. 

Reina Williams, executive director of the Plano Campus Library, has been nominated to Texas Tech University’s chapter of The National Society of Leadership and Success as a Presidential member for having a GPA of 3.3 or above, academic accomplishments, and leadership potential.   

The Celina ISD Dual Credit Patient Care Technician Clinical class hosted its first wellness clinic on the Celina Campus in March. The 12^th grade students provided a variety of wellness checks for patrons, including vital signs, blood sugar levels, and EKGs. The patrons of the event included 39 college students, seven faculty/staff, and five community members. The event provided students the opportunity to practice their skills in addition to communication and patient interaction. Clinical Instructor Jennifer Davis planned and orchestrated this great event with the support of the Celina Campus leadership.

Thank you to everyone who helped with the February filming for the Amazon Prime show “The College Tour.” The video crew spent three days gathering student, faculty, and staff interviews, along with b-roll of multiple campuses. Look for Collin College’s episode later this year.

Interior Design Professor Debi Fuller was profiled in the Fall 2023 issue of Allen ISD SOAR magazine for her class’s work creating digital floor plans for the district’s conference centers. The project provided her students with real-world experience through field visits and working with clients. Read the story on page 21 of the SOAR magazine here.

The Construction Management Department recently received a $10,000 check to fund scholarships. The donation was made at the Dallas Builders Association (DBA) Professional Women in Building (PWB) monthly meeting.

The Plano Police Department hosted 24 students and faculty from the Collin College Criminal Justice program. The students were given a tour of the department and learned about the different units that comprise the force. Department personnel were also on-hand to provide information about the criminal investigations, forensics, detention, public safety officers, and crime analysis units, as well as the department’s newly redesigned Real Time Information Center.

Collin College athletes and coaches are making an impact in the classroom and on the court. The women’s basketball team brought home a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region V Championship, the first in Collin College history. The win punched the Lady Cougars’ ticket back to the NJCAA National Tournament, where they will play their first game on March 28. The men’s basketball team closed out a great 2023-24 season. The Cougars earned a North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference (NTJCAC) championship for the first time since 2008-09 and posted a 24-7 overall record. Beyond the team accomplishments, the players also earned the following individual honors. See this article for a full list of student athlete honors.