Kalispell, Mont.—Back by popular demand, the third annual Kalispell Mini Maker Faire is scheduled for February 27, 2016 at Flathead Valley Community College. Sponsored by FVCC and ImagineIF Libraries, Kalispell Mini Maker Faire is a gathering of tech enthusiasts, do-it-yourselfers, hobbyists, engineers, scientists and artists of all ages. All of these makers come to Maker Faire to show what they have made and share what they have learned through interactive exhibits, hands-on demonstrations and informative presentations.

Kalispell Mini Maker Faire is now accepting applications from makers who would like to exhibit their work at the event. There is no charge to be an exhibitor. The application form is online at www.kalispellminimakerfaire.com and must be submitted electronically by 5 p.m. on February 15, 2016. Preference will be given to makers who can teach a skill through a hands-on activity and/or demonstrate a unique skill or craft.

The original Maker Faire event was held in San Mateo, Calif., in 2005. In just seven years, the San Mateo Maker Faire grew to feature more than 800 makers with nearly 110,000 people in attendance. Community-driven Mini Maker Faires are now being produced around the world. The Kalispell Mini Maker Faire is independently organized and operated under license from Maker Media, Inc.

For more information about the Kalispell Mini Maker Faire, visit www.kalispellminimakerfaire.com or contact Jill Seigmund at (406) 756-3834.

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The Flathead Valley Community College Service Learning and AmeriCorps office is seeking volunteers for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to assist qualified community members with the preparations of their tax returns.

Volunteers will be provided with free training to become Internal Revenue Service- certified tax preparers and will help with tax preparation at least once a week beginning in February and ending April 15. Tax preparation will be supervised and will take place on the FVCC campus. No prior experience is required.

For more information or to sign up to volunteer, contact FVCC Service Learning Coordinator Wendy Jeschke at 756-3908 or Carin McClain at 406-324-7459 or carin@mcun.coop, or visit www.montanafreefile.org.

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At its December 21 meeting, the Flathead Valley Community College Board of Trustees approved moving forward with the development and construction of student housing on the FVCC Kalispell campus. The development is estimated to house approximately 100 beds with a goal of completion by fall semester 2017.

“During the past several years, our students and the community continued to express interest in on-campus student housing,” said FVCC president Jane Karas.  “We have thoroughly evaluated the need and determined that this will expand opportunities for our students and benefit our community.”

Karas added that the development will provide new opportunities for students to access safe and affordable housing on campus. The units will be financially self-sustaining and will not impact local taxpayers.

“Our Board has reached the point where it makes sense and we are ready to move forward with housing on campus,” said FVCC Board of Trustees Chairperson Shannon Lund. “This is a very exciting time for our college and our students.”

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Flathead Valley Community College’s Art Department invites the public to “Africa Calling: The Dream,” a multi-media presentation by photographer Douglass Dye on January 15.

A retired chemistry teacher from Columbia Falls High School and a freelance photographer, Dye has been taking photos for more than 40 years, and his images have been published in magazines, books, postcards and online publications. He completed an African safari in May, 2015. He has compiled a fast-paced hour-long slide show consisting of more than 700 images from his adventure, which took him to South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia.

Free and open to the public, the event will take place at 7 p.m. in the large community meeting room inside the Arts and Technology building on campus. For more information, contact Dye at 752-5852.

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FVCC Associate Professor of Biology Ruth Wrightsman accepts Enhancement Grant award from FVCC Foundation Board member Diane Morton.

The Foundation at Flathead Valley Community College recently announced awards totaling $48,520 to FVCC faculty and staff for innovative projects that shift learning experiences and for student travel to national and regional conferences for competitions and to present research.

Thanks to one of these grants, students from the electrical technology, agriculture and heavy equipment operator programs will collaborate on a solar energy installation project this spring that will ultimately reduce the college’s electricity bill.

Electrical technology students will design and install a photovoltaic system that captures solar energy and converts it to electricity for the Agriculture building on campus. Heavy equipment operator students will perform the project’s excavation services, and agriculture students will assist with laying conduit pipe for the wiring.

“This project will allow all students involved to gain valuable hands-on experience,” said FVCC Director of Career and Technical Education Pete Wade. “Photovoltaics is a growing industry in Montana, and this project will better prepare our students to work with the latest technology in this field.”

Now in its 11th year, the Foundation’s Enhancement Grant program has provided seed money for successful programs including The Culinary Institute of Montana’s Chef’s Table program and The Scholars program at FVCC.  It continues to provide resources for new and entrepreneurial initiatives through proceeds from Festival of Flavors fundraising events.  All the grants are made possible by the generosity of the businesses, organizations and individuals who support Foundation events and make donations to programs.

Enhancement Grants were also awarded for the following projects:

“Project Sandbox – Exploring Topography through Augmented Reality”
Under the direction of FVCC Associate Professor of Natural Resources Tim Eichner, students will build an augmented reality sandbox that will allow students and the public to interact with a miniature landscape and create topographical models to be scanned into a computer. This technology will improve students’ knowledge about digital elevation models and geomorphological processes.

“Cyanobacteria in the Glaciers of Glacier National Park”
Under the direction of FVCC Associate Professor of Biology Ruth Wrightsman, biotechnology students will conduct original research using molecular methods to characterize blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) from Glacier National Park. Students will report the results of their findings to Glacier National Park biologists.  Results will also be entered into a searchable database for research projects conducted in national parks.

“MCTM Regional Math Contest”
Under the direction of FVCC Associate Professor of Math Laura VanDeKop, the college will host the regional MCTM Math Contest for local high school students this spring, providing the facility and coordinating test proctoring for students.

“Outdoor Salt”
Under the direction of FVCC Associate Professor of Art David Regan, ceramics students will build an outdoor kiln utilizing special bricks that allow for salt firing, a process that produces beautiful atmospheric results.  Occupational trades students will construct the frame of the kiln.

“Makerspace Kit”
Makerspace kits are being used to engage K-12 students in critical thinking exercises while feeding the inner spirit of those who enjoy making and learning. Under the direction of FVCC Associate Professor of Computer Applications Dawn Rauscher, instructional technology students will learn how to use this emerging technology, create lesson plans centered on the kit’s tools and implement the lessons in local K-12 classrooms around the Flathead Valley.

“EduFactor”
The Center for Manufacturing Advancement at FVCC will subscribe to the online educational resource EduFactor and share relevant curriculum and materials with occupational trades instructors at local high schools.

“Tablet Computers for Paramedic Students”
Under the direction of FVCC Associate Professor of Paramedicine and Emergency Management Kris Long, paramedicine students will have access to iPad Air tablets to document their skills and patient contacts in real time at the clinical site.

“Strange Snow”
The FVCC Theatre Department will produce “Strange Snow” by Stephan Metcalf in February, a three-person cast featuring well-known local actors Nick and Rebecca Spear. Proceeds from the production will be dedicated to providing scholarships to students.

In addition to grants for innovative projects, travel grants were approved for students in early childhood education, biology, biotechnology, chemistry and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

For more information on Enhancement Grants or the FVCC Foundation, contact Colleen Unterreiner at colleenu@fvcc.edu or 756-3914.

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Kalispell, Mont. – Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC) was one of five colleges in the nation selected to receive a grant from the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund’s SENA (Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje) Tech Challenge 2015. The award was announced by Vice President Joe Biden at a White House reception in December.

The goal of 100,000 Strong in the Americas is to increase the number of U.S. students studying in the Western Hemisphere to 100,000 and the number of Western Hemisphere students studying in the United States to 100,000 by the year 2020. The initiative is aimed at enhancing hemispheric competitiveness, increasing prosperity and preparing a more globally competent workforce.

FVCC received $40,000 from the SENA Tech Challenge 2015 to support a study abroad and student exchange program with a technical college in Manizales, Colombia. FVCC and the SENA Centro de Automatización Industrial have strong advanced manufacturing and renewable energy programs and will collaborate to blend these two disciplines into a project with meaningful outcomes for students from both institutions.

SENA is a Colombian public institution that provides free vocational and technical training to around nine million Colombians annually. It is Colombia’s largest public institution, with 117 industry-specific training centers located throughout the country.

“This grant affords FVCC the opportunity to create the first student exchange program with a post-secondary institution in Latin America, and the first study abroad opportunity designed specifically for FVCC’s large occupational trades cohort,” said FVCC Director of International Student Services Gerda Reeb.

A group of FVCC students and instructors will travel to Manizales, Colombia in July and spend two weeks learning about the country’s advancements in the development and use of wind energy in the agriculture industry. In September, FVCC will welcome a group of Colombian students and instructors to Kalispell, where they will spend two weeks participating in classes, cultural tours and community activities centered on renewable resources.

“This partnership will infuse a global education component to FVCC’s occupational trades program,” said Reeb. “Global competencies are sought-after skills in today’s economy. FVCC is preparing its students to join the ranks of a globally competent workforce and gain access to job or business opportunities that require intercultural skillsets.”

The 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund is a public-private collaboration of the White House, U.S. Department of State, Partners of the Americas and NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Since its creation in 2014, 100,000 Strong in the Americas has awarded 70 Innovation Fund grants to 153 higher education institution teams from 19 countries in the Western Hemisphere.

For more information, visit www.fvcc.edu or contact Gerda Reeb at (406)756-3889.

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Flathead Valley Community College’s Lincoln County Campus (LCC) will host College Goal Montana, a program that provides students who want to attend college and their families the opportunity to obtain assistance in applying for financial aid. The event will take place January 20 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Lincoln County Campus in Libby. Appointments are not required.

Free and open to the public, College Goal Montana is dedicated to guiding college-bound students and their families through the paperwork required to apply for financial assistance. Financial aid officers and other qualified professionals will be present to ensure students receive assistance in understanding and completing the necessary paperwork to receive financial aid, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

“About $150 billion in federal grants, loans and work-study funds is available each year, and that doesn’t include the state and institutional aid that is out there,” said Rhonda Safford, College Goal Montana statewide coordinator. “Financial aid professionals in Montana will tell you that the return on the investment of taking half an hour or 45 minutes to complete the FAFSA is worth it.”

In order to complete the FAFSA, students and their families who attend College Goal Montana will need to provide:  Federal Student Aid identification numbers, which can be obtained at fsaid.ed.gov (students and at least one parent will need identification numbers if the student is under the age of 24); Social Security numbers (for students and parents); 2015 federal income tax returns (or 2014 federal income tax returns if 2015 returns are not completed); W-2 forms, tribal income or other aid information such as TANF, child support or other benefits; and additional asset information including money market funds, stocks and other investments.

The priority FAFSA filing date for Montana schools is March 1, with the exception of the University of Montana and Missoula College, which have a priority filing date of February 15. Students attending out-of-state schools should contact the school directly for priority dates.

For FAFSA tips and reminders, text “FAFSAHelp” to 41411. For more information about College Goal Montana, contact Deb Huisentruit at (406)293-2721.

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The Board of Trustees of Flathead Valley Community College is accepting letters of application to fill a vacant trustee position due to a resignation. The successful applicant will serve on the Board until May 2016, and may thereafter run for election to the Board to serve the remainder of the current term. Subsequent terms will be for a three year period.

Letters may be addressed to the President’s Office, Flathead Valley Community College, 777 Grandview Drive, Kalispell, MT 59901. Letters will be accepted through January 27, from individuals currently living within the boundaries of Bigfork, Columbia Falls or Whitefish High School Districts.

Interested applicants will be asked to appear before the Board of Trustees for an interview. Interviews will be conducted at a Special Board meeting February 1.

The Board of Trustees reserves the right to reject any or all applicants.

Interested parties may contact Monica Settles, Clerk of the District, at 756-3801.

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Flathead Valley Community College ceramics students will display their contemporary twists on the 2,200-year-old Chinese Terracotta Army in an art exhibition beginning January 20.

The Terracotta Army is a collection of sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. More than 9,000 clay sculptures of soldiers, chariots and horses were buried with the emperor between 210 and 209 B.C. The sculptures were discovered in 1974 by local farmers in the Shaanxi province in northwest China.

FVCC ceramics students were tasked with making contemporary warrior or hero figures using the Terracotta Army as an inspiration.

Free and open to the public, the show will be on display through February 11 in the student art gallery in the lower level of the Arts and Technology building on campus. For more information, contact FVCC Assistant Professor of Ceramics David Regan at 756-3993.

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Participants in last year’s FVCC Senior Institute musical theatre class perform for fellow students on the final day of the program.

Registration for Flathead Valley Community College’s 22nd annual Senior Institute opens February 2 at 8 a.m. Designed for seniors ages 65 years and older, the program promotes lifelong learning and allows seniors to learn new information, develop and enhance skills, connect with other seniors and stay active during the winter months.

Seniors can enroll in one of the program’s 19 courses that cover topics ranging from the arts to science. The cost to enroll varies with each class. The program will meet every Friday beginning February 19 and concluding March 25. Students are treated to a complimentary lunch buffet and special program each Friday from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.  Classes follow lunch from 1 to 2:50 p.m. 

Several new classes have been added to the roster this year, including Drawing for Seniors taught by Richie Carter and Navigating with GPS and Google Maps taught by FVCC Associate Professor of Natural Resources Christina Relyea. Also new this year is U.S. Economy: Where are We Going? taught by FVCC Vice President of Instruction and Student Services Brad Eldredge. Renowned artisan and FVCC Assistant Professor of Jewelry Doug Harling will teach Beginning Jewelry.

Favorites such as Creative Writing with best-selling author Kathy Dunnehoff and Glacier National Park with Sharon Randolph are in this year’s line-up, and Senior Passport to the World will be taught by a group of four global travelers. FVCC International Student Services Director Gerda Reeb and FVCC Assistant Professor of Sociology Ami Mezahav are joined this year by visiting Fulbright Scholars Qingfeng Zi of China and Anderson Viana de Carvalho Junior of Brazil. The four instructors will share personal and professional perspectives from their experiences in Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America.

Classes fill on a first-come, first-served basis. Students may register in person at the FVCC Registration Office in Blake Hall on the college’s Kalispell campus, or registration forms can be mailed to the college. Mail-in registration forms with complete course descriptions and enrollment fees can be obtained by calling 756-3813 or by visiting www.fvcc.edu/seniorinstitute.

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