Enginee­ring students share scien­ce and fun

In a hands-on project, Clark College engineering students worked with students at the Washington School for the Deaf to demonstrate that science - and engineering - is really fun.

On Monday, Jan. 26 the Clark students met with the middle school students - 29 in all - to conduct an activity called "engineering lip balm." The students began with a review of emulsions, then shared the ingredients and process for creating lip balm. The middle school students were then able to measure their ingredients, warm them and pour them into a tube, creating their own lip balm.

One goal of the outreach was to inspire students to consider science and engineering studies and careers - and to show them that science is fun. Comments from the middle school students included, "I didn't really think it would work," and "Do you know how to make gum?"

"Clark students found the experience to be enlightening - unlike any outreach they had done before," said engineering professor Tina Barsotti. "They had to learn how to communicate with the students and picked up the signs they needed quickly, such as 'more' and 'two grams.'"

"In outreach we are trying to share with students that science, math and engineering are fun," noted Barsotti. "We are visiting several grade schools this quarter with science-related activities."

During fall quarter 2008, 32 students enrolled in Deena Bisig's Humanities 103: Popular Culture class - and many were surprised by what they learned.

While today's popular culture tends to focus on media, music, books and trends, the students studied popular culture as a collection of ideas or means that are popular, well-liked, or common and create the prevailing culture. "Most of them confessed at the beginning that they thought they would be studying celebrities like Britney Spears and Brad Pitt," said Bisig. "They very quickly realized that this course was not going to be anything like they had imagined."

Bisig had set up the class to utilize Service Learning and required the students to complete a four-part assignment focused on the Medical Teams International exhibit titled REAL. LIFE. - a multi-sensory exhibit that allows people to experience the effects of disaster, conflict and poverty, including a medical triage clinic at the New Orleans Convention Center following Hurricane Katrina, an Albanian refugee camp housing Kosovar refugees who fled from ethnic cleansing, and a Romanian placement center for orphans and abandoned children.

One student commented, "I think one of the [exhibits] that caused the most heartache for me was the Moldovan burn unit for children. It made my stomach churn to see how they were 'cared for.' It was good to see that after the exhibits, they showed what Medical Teams International has done to start making a difference in each of these places. It's like the hope at the end of a raw day."

The Popular Culture students were required to visit the exhibit and write a response essay regarding their experiences. The students were also required to "make a difference." The humanitarian efforts displayed in the exhibit, and which are often highlighted in the media, provided the students an impetus to become actively involved in a local humanitarian effort. Students brainstormed ways to get involved - both to provide assistance to the organization and relief to those who were suffering. Over an eight-week period, the Clark College students implemented their projects and gathered a donation that they presented to their chosen organization on the last night of class.

The donation included a monetary gift of $617.69; 12 hygiene kits; 120+ tubes of toothpaste, toothbrushes, and combs; 136 pieces of children's clothing; 80 rolls of toilet paper; seven educational kits; 16 packages of stickers; four boxes of stuffed animals and toys; one YouTube video; one Web site; one poster; one magazine; seven brochures distributed throughout the Portland Metro area; and 24 documented visits from friends and family of the students involved.

Finally, students were required to brainstorm and research a possible ninth exhibit for the Medical Teams International exhibit. They researched numerous other areas in the world that require humanitarian efforts; after researching their idea, they wrote a letter to Medical Teams International asking them to consider their idea for the ninth exhibit. On the final night of class, two representatives from Medical Teams International visited and listened to the students' presentations of their "make a difference" and ninth exhibit projects.

Medical Teams International's representatives presented $25 awards to Sarah Brooks for the best "make a difference" project and Katie Martin for the best ninth exhibit project idea. A $50 award was also presented to Tutrinh Dang for the best overall work. The awards were then used to contribute to a specific cause of each student's choice.

To view the YouTube video created by rietaliekno as part of the class assignment, visit Youtube.com and search for "pop culture awareness."

Two Clark legends loom large in dedication ceremonies

On February 11, Clark College honored two important people in its history-Claude "Skeet" O'Connell and Theodore "Ted" Farnsworth. Ribbon-cutting ceremonies were held at the O'Connell Sports Center (OSC) to rededicate the facility following a two-year renovation project and to dedicate the OSC's Ted Farnsworth Conference Room.

At age 93, Skeet O'Connell, accompanied by his wife Stellamae, cut the commemorative ribbon to rededicate the O'Connell Sports Center, named in his honor. Ted Farnsworth Jr. helped Clarissa Farnsworth with ribbon-cutting honors on behalf of her husband, Ted, who died in 2004. A reception was held following the ceremonies.

Claude "Skeet" O'Connell was the Clark College athletic director from 1946 until his retirement in 1977. He coached both baseball and basketball and guided the 1956 baseball team to a state championship. He returned to the college to coach golf until 1987 and has publicly joked that he "was not very good at retirement."

"Skeet led by example," said Ron Keil, a successful businessman and philanthropist who played for O'Connell on the basketball team and graduated from Clark in 1952. "He earned our respect; he didn't demand it. He was my role model for life, not just sports."

One day in the 1950s, Ted Farnsworth, a commercial fisherman and Clark alumnus, walked up to Skeet O'Connell on the basketball court asking if there was some way he could be of assistance to the team. "I didn't know the guy," said O'Connell, "but I told him I needed a scorekeeper. He became a dear friend."

That moment began nearly 50 years of service to the college. "Ted Farnsworth showed his love and spirit for the college and the community through his good works," noted Cecil Miller, a Clark athlete from the Class of 1955. "Ted had a heart of gold."

Denny Huston, interim athletic director and master of ceremonies for the event, noted that O'Connell and Farnsworth were mentors and positive role models throughout his years at Clark College, both in athletics and administration. "No one can ever repay the good works of these individuals," said Huston.

Family and friends were joined at the ceremonies by a standing-room-only crowd of Clark College faculty, staff and students - past and present.  "There is so much history in this room," said Lisa Gibert, Clark College Foundation president and CEO. "The contributions of Skeet and Ted to Clark College will always be remembered."  Speaking to members of the O'Connell and Farnsworth families, Gibert added, "Thank you for sharing them with us."

Clark College President Bob Knight spoke about the life skills that Clark student athletes acquired from O'Connell and Farnsworth. "Skeet understood that there was much more to sports than just playing a game," said Knight. "He knew students were learning time management, decision-making skills, problem solving, teamwork, fair play, and commitment."  Knight noted that Ted Farnsworth was "the best cheerleading squad in one person we have ever known. Because of his foresight, planning, and generosity, students will feel the benefits for years to come."

About the O'Connell Sports Center Renovation

The O'Connell Sports Center matching funds renovation project was submitted as part of the college's 2005-2007 capital budget request.  The project design got underway in January 2006. Construction began in March 2007. 

The project addressed inadequate space for physical education, faculty/staff offices, health instruction and athletics.  During the renovation, circulation space was improved in the lobby and on the second floor. An elevator was added to provide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access to the second floor. Title IX compliance was addressed by providing a team room for women athletes equal to the size of the men's team room. 

A total of approximately 3,200 square feet were renovated, and approximately 7,200 square feet were added. This included a classroom and a training room, two team rooms, several offices, a conference room (now the Ted Farnsworth Conference Room), utility/storage rooms, and enhanced public spaces. The new west entrance provides a welcoming environment and complements the look of other new buildings on Clark's main campus.

The $2.6 million project, which was designed by LSW Architects, was funded through a combination of state dollars, local capital and funding from the Clark College Foundation. Par-Tech Construction, Inc. served as General Contractor. Mike Moran was the Clark College Construction Project Manager.