January/February 2009 Coastal Bend College Volume 3, Number 3 Forum CBC January/February 2009 Coastal Bend College V olume 3, Number 3 Mark Valdez’s Great Egret graces cover of 2009 calendar More calendar photos inside... CBC programs in line with future job trends Page 4 Nursing graduates listed Page 6 Dental hygiene grad invents Platypus flosser Page 10
Find out what's going on at Coastal Bend College. Take a look at wildlife photos that showcase South Texas, find out how CBC trains for growing occupations and read about what inventor Laura Morgan, a CBC graduate, is doing for dental health.
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January/February 2009 Coastal Bend College Volume 3, Number 3
ForumCBCJanuary/February 2009 Coastal Bend College Volume 3, Number 3
Mark Valdez’s Great Egret graces cover of 2009 calendarMore calendar photos inside...
CBC Forum is a publication of Coastal Bend College, Office of Institutional Advancement, 3800 Charco Road, Beeville,
Texas. To receive a digital copy, send an email to Adrian Jackson at [email protected]. Coastal Bend College does not
discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, age or disability. For more information about Coastal Bend
College, visit the website at www.coastalbend.edu or call toll free (866) 722-2838.Coastal Bend College
Can you give me information about CBC’s mult-entry nursing program? Incoming students with no experience enter at the fi rst stage and work to become certifi ed nurses’ assistants. Upon completion, they can exit and go to work as a CNA or continue to study vocational nursing. CNAs and students who have completed the equivalent coursework enter the vocational
nursing portion of the program. Upon completion and passing the state licensing examination, student can either enter the workforce or continue at CBC for an associate’s degree without having to repeat courses. Students who complete the next level of coursework will graduate with a Associate’s Degree in Nursing and can go to work or transfer to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree. Another option is for students to enter the program as new freshmen and work continuously to complete an associate’s degree.
The school district used to offer GED prep classes, but they don’t anymore. Is this something I can do at the college? Yes. Adult Basic Education-Cooperative Program serves the school districts of Mathis, Ingleside, Taft, Sinton, George West and Beeville. It is housed at the Lott Canada Facility at 900 W. Corpus Christi St. in Beeville.
Why should I join a club? Coastal Bend College clubs are a great way to make friends and do good in the community. Clubs center on academic interests, hobbies and civic interests. Some clubs are chapter associations; others have
religious affi liations. Campus clubs give students opportunities to connect with others that share similar interests and help students begin to build professional networks that they can use throughout their lives.
Can I call my daughter’s professor when she has academic problems? No. A student’s academic progress is confi dential by federal law. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act protects the privacy of student education records, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
I want to transfer to a university after I earn my associate’s degree. What do I do? All academic courses at Coastal Bend College, and any public community or junior college, are fully transferable to any public institution in the country. Most colleges have articulation agreements with area universities that allow students to work on their bachelors degree plans while earning associates degrees. Students can arrange individual agreements with CBC counselors.
I am facing a fi nancial crisis. If I don’t get help, I’ll have to drop out of school. Can you help me? Yes. Coastal Bend College has emergency funds that are available to students in unexpected circumstance. Nora Morales, Director of Financial Aid, said that students faced with insurmountable expenses qualify for aid if they have a current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on fi le; meet eligibility criteria; are in good academic standing and have a demonstrated, emergency need. Applications are approved on a case-by-case basis and approval is contingent on the availability of funds. Information about Dreamkeepers Emergency Financial Aid Program is available at www.coastalbend.edu or through a CBC faculty member or counselor.
Coastal Bend College programs in line with future trends
For most people, when deciding upon a career, it’s important to choose something they like, something they’re good at, some-thing they are interested in and are excited about. But there are three little words that you might want to consider before jumping into any old career – Future Job Market. The job market is kind of like the stock market in that, just like the stock market tells you which companies are in high de-mand, the job market is all about what jobs are in high demand. Let’s face it – there aren’t too many ca-reer opportunities in the job market for un-derwater basket weaving (or things equally as unique). It’s probably not likely that you will land that “perfect job” in a fi eld as rare as that. So it’s important to take into consideration what kind of jobs are boom-
ing, which ones are growing fast and need people more and more every day to join the fi eld. So, to give you an idea of what kinds of fi elds are in high demand TODAY, here is a list from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statics: 1. Network systems and data
communications analysts Coastal Bend College offers an
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Computer Information Technology and a certifi cate in Networking Specialization.
2. Personal and home care aides CBC offers courses for those who
plan to take the Certifi ed Nurse Aide Examination.
3. Home health aides CBC offers courses for those who
plan to take the Certifi ed Nurse Aide Examination.
4. Computer software engineers, applications
Coastal Bend College offers an Associate of Applied Science Degrees and certifi cates in Computer Information Technology.
Check out the fastest growing occupations in the United States
Page 5 www.coastalbend.edu CBC Forum
Let’s face it -- there aren’t too many career opportunities in the job market for underwater basket weaving.
5. Veterinary technologists and technicians
6. Personal fi nancial advisers Coastal Bend College offers an
Associate of Applied Science Degree and two certifi cates in Accounting.
7. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance
Coastal Bend College offers a certifi cate in cosmetology. Courses prepare students to take the state examination for licensing.
8. Medical assistants Coastal Bend College offers Associate
of Applied Science Degrees and certifi cates in nursing, medical coding, radiologic technology and dental hygiene. CBC Continuing Education offers classes for phlebotomists, CNAs, home health care assistants, long term care activity directors and professional development.
9. Veterinarians
10. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors
11. Skin care specialists Coastal Bend College offers a
certifi cate in cosmetology. Courses prepare students to take the state examination for licensing.
12. Financial analysts
13. Social and human service assistants CBC offers courses in education and
criminal justice as part of a university-transfer, two-year Associate in Arts or Science Degree. Coastal Bend College offers Associate in Applied Sciences in Early Development and Education and Law Enforcement.
14. Gaming surveillance offi cers and gaming investigators
Coastal Bend College offers an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Computer Information Technology and a certifi cate in Web/ Game Design.
The following students earned Level I Certifi cates in Vocational Nursing. A pinning ceremony was held last month.
Brenda Alaniz, Alice Elizabeth A. Benavides, Alice Esmeralda Benavidez, KingsvilleEsmeralda Barrera, Alice Brittney Caillier, Alice Leanna Cantu, Alice
Vanessa R. Carrales, KingsvilleKelly Dagley, KingsvilleKayla Lynn Epperson, BeevilleKrystal D. Garcia, Alice Nicole Garcia, KingsvilleRaelynn Garza, BeevilleAdrienne M. Givens, KingsvilleFelicia-Ana V. Gonzalez, BeevilleHeather Ferrer, BeevilleLeila Gonzalez, Alice Leidy Longoria, KingsvilleDee Ann Martinez, KingsvilleJoan P. Martinez, Beeville Irma G. Pena, Alice Gabriela Prall, KingsvilleBarbara A. Quintana, Alice Inez Ramirez, Alice Peggy Rivers, BeevilleSamantha Saenz, KingsvilleMoses Salomon, KingsvilleDiane M. Sanchez, KingsvilleRosa I. Sanchez, BeevilleVeronica Irene Solano, AliceCassandra Tijerina, AliceJonathan J. Velasquez, KingsvilleRoxanne C. Villalon, KingsvilleEmily Kae Wolf, Beeville
Congratulations, nursing grads
Celebrate Inauguration Day
On January 20, watch the historic swearing-in of Barack Obama,
the 44th President of the United States of America in the SUB.
Viewing of live coverage begins at 8:30 a.m.
Cake and punch served in the SUB at 11 a.m.
Event sponsored by Student Government Assn.
Page 7 www.coastalbend.edu CBC ForumCOASTAL BEND PHOTOGRAPHY
Regional wildlife photo exhibit travels to Bee CountyThere’s a story behind every photograph, so imagine the lessons learned from the traveling Coastal Bend Wildlife Photo Exhibit which features 159 award-winning museum quality photos. The exhibit showcases 22 different classifi cations of birds, and numerous classes of native mammals, insects, arachnids, reptiles, amphibians and landscapes of the Coastal Bend.
The Wildlife Photo Exhibit is on display at Coastal Bend College – Beeville Campus in the Grady C. Hogue Learning Resource Center (Library). It is open to the public during regular operating hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays; and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays. The show will run until Jan. 30.
The traveling exhibit is funded in part by the City of Corpus Christi Arts and Cultural Commission and credits our proud sponsors from the 2007 Photo Contest. The exhibit travels throughout 14 counties of the Coastal Bend. To date, it has visited more than 100 venues including libraries, museums, banks, schools, art centers and the airport. By the end of its two year tour, the photos will be seen and appreciated by over 100,000 people spreading public awareness about wildlife conservation. In addition to photo contests and exhibits, the collection educates the community through wildlife photo books --Wildlife in Focus, and an school environmental education program,
Kritters 4 Kids.
Known as one of the Richest Wildlife Photo Contest in the world, the Coastal Bend Wildlife Photo Contest is one of the most unique and innovative programs in the state. Prize money, $90,000 dollars, is raised to recruit top nature photographers from around the world as well as provide an economic incentive to landowners. Contest administrators team photographers with Texas Coastal Bend Ranchers. Teams are given fi ve months to photograph. Three world-renowned judges select 159 winning photos out of more than 4,300 digital images submitted. Winning photographers and landowners share the prize money equally. In Texas, 94 percent of land is
privately owned, therefore it is that partnership that makes the photographs possible. Many times
it isn’t until the landowner sees his or her land through the lens of a photographer that they truly understand and appreciate their land and role they play in protecting it.
For more information about the exhibit or the next contest, contact Rhonda Camp at (361) 881-9316.
Simon Michael Art Gallery Exhibit ScheduleJanuary 22 -- Gallery Opening:
“Carole Greer & Jean Laman,
Professors of Art @ Texas State
University,” Closes February 19.
February 26 -- “CBC Visual
Arts Division High School Art
Competition,” Closes March 13.
Barnhart Workshop SeriesTo unite in the study of art in the
promotion of art activities of cultural
value. Open to all individuals
regardless of experience and/ or
education. Most workshops are free
of charge.
March 2-5 -- “China Painting” 9 a.m.-
4 p.m./Subject to be announced Artist-
in-Residence: Alzora Zaremba
March 12 -- “Glass Blowing”/Artist-
in-Residence: Jayne Duryea, CBC
Art Students & Guest Artists
Men’s Basketball Schedule
January 3 Lee College at CBC Beeville 6 p.m. 5 Weatherford College at CBC Beeville 2 p.m. 8 Cedar Valley College at Lancaster 7 p.m. 9 Brookhaven College at Farmers Branch 7 p.m. 10 North Lake College at Irving 2 p.m.College at Irake College at Irving 2lleg g 13 Schreiner University JV at CBC Beeville 7 p.m.ner University JV at CBeiner University JV at CBC Bniviner University JV at C 17 Southwest Texas Jr. College at CBC Beeville 2 p.m.uthwest Texas Jr. College at CButhwest Texas Jr. College at CBCThwest Texas Jr. Coll 24 Kingwood College at CBC Beeville 2 p.m.ingwood College at CBC BeevillKingwood College at CBC Beeville d wood College a 27 Victoria College at Victoria 7 p.m.Victoria College at Victoria Victoria College at Victoria CVictoria College at Victoria a Colleg 31 Our Lady of The Lake Univ. at San Antonio 1 p.m.Our Lady of The Lake Univ. at SanOur Lady of The Lake Univ. at San Ay Lady of The Lake Univ. a
Februaryryry 5 Southwest Texas Junior College at Uvalde 7 p.m.hwest Texas Junior College west Texas Junior College exawest Texas Junio 10 Victoria College at CBC Beeville 7 p.m.College at CBC BeeCollege at CBC Bee at 13 Our Lady of the Lake Univ. at CBC Beeville 6 p.m. 17 Schreiner University JV at Kerrville 7 p.m.
Coastal Bend College recognizes years of dedication by employees who will mark milestones between September 2008 and August 2009. The following employees are recognized for fi ve years of service to the college: Erica Castillo, Beeville; Christine Moreno, Beeville; Christi Morgan, Alice; Raul Rodriguez, Beeville; Valerie Rosas, Beeville; Eloise Ruiz, Alice; Melissa Soto, Beeville; and Yvonne Tamez, Kingsville. Coastal Bend College employees to be awarded for 10 years of service are Kevin Behr, Beeville; Kelly Craft, Beeville; Ernesto Lopez, Beeville; Margaret Rojas, Beeville; and Diego Sanchez, Kingsville. Employees with 15 years of service to the college are Noemi Aguilar, Beeville; Guadalupe
Ganceres, Beeville; Roberta Kreis, Beeville; Randy Lindeman, Beeville; and Rito Silva, Jr., Alice. Curt Villarreal, Beeville, will be recognized for his 16 years with the college. Those to be recognized for 20 years of service are Erlinda Alvarado, Beeville; Rudy Bentancud, Beeville; William Knighton, III, Beeville; and Kathlyn Patton, Beeville. Michael Kane, Beeville; and Ann Richmond, Beeville will be awarded for his 25 years of service. CBC employees with 30 years of service are Glenda Garza, Beeville; Rafaela Moreno, Beeville; Mary Alice Rivera, Beeville; Glynis Strause, Beeville; and Bobby Uzzell, Beeville.
Awards given to Coastal Bend College faculty, staff for longtime service
The future of the dental hygiene profession is in the hands of our young professionals who use their creativity to eliminate the barriers to achieving optimal oral health. Laura is an example of a clinician whose passion has driven her to solve the fl ossing problem for kids and adults with orthodontic appliances. I had the opportunity to talk with Laura recently to discover what being a dental hygienist means to her and how she has contributed to improving the oral health of many people.
Laura, what inspired you to become a dental hygienist?
Morgan: I’ve always known that I would choose a career helping others and was inspired by my own childhood dental hygienist. I remember her being so caring and genuinely concerned for my well-being. She had me chew disclosing tablets to show me areas of plaque and spent time showing me the proper brushing technique.
We’ve both lived and worked in Switzerland. Of course, I was there before you were born. To me the experience really shaped my life and my career. How did your Swiss experience affect you?
Morgan: There were both personal and professional infl uences. I was shy and reserved and the move to Switzerland proved to be a great way for me to learn how to be independent and gain confi dence in myself. Living on my own in another country was
a great learning experience and a wonderful opportunity to travel and learn about other cultures. I had 17 weeks of vacation, which I treasured and used to see not only Switzerland, but other nearby countries. Professionally, I worked in two dental practices that were quite different. One was progressive with the same preventive philosophy I have, but the other was more concerned with making patients happy at the expense of removing subgingival calculus. Seeing these differences confi rmed my commitment to prevention and oral health.
What prompted you to design a new fl ossing device?
Morgan: One of my goals as a pediatric dental hygienist is to use my knowledge and integrity with each and every patient. We see several orthodontic patients in our practice and I was noticing the prevalence of gingivitis and decalcifi cation amongst these individuals. Good oral hygiene is vital to successful orthodontic treatment, so when I asked patients if they were fl ossing on a regular basis, most said, “No, not at all.”
Most patients said they just couldn’t fi gure out how to fl oss with the threader. Others stated that fl ossing required too much time out of their busy schedules. Adapting dental fl oss through brackets and arch wires can be very diffi cult and time consuming, especially for the younger population. For this reason many adolescents
Invention Borne of Passion
Laura Morgan, RDH graduated from
Coastal Bend College in Beeville, Texas, in
2001. She loves her job in a pediatric practice
in Austin, Texas, and is excited and proud to
help her patients achieve better oral health. In a
career spanning only seven years, she has worked in a general practice, a pediatric
practice, two offi ces in Switzerland and has
invented and patented the Platypus fl ossing
device for use around orthodontic appliances. In a timed comparison, Laura showed that full
mouth fl ossing with the Platypus could be done in just one
minute compared to four minutes with a
traditional fl oss threader on a patient with full
orthodontic bands.
by Trisha E. O’Hehir, RDH, BS, Editorial Director, Hygienetown Magazine
Article originally appeared in Hygienetown, October 2008 [Volume 4, Issue 8] Copyright 2008, Hygienetown.com Inc. Used with permission of the publisher.
Page 11 www.coastalbend.edu CBC Forum
resist thorough cleaning around braces because of the lack of ease and time necessary to do so. Because of the lack of fl ossing, the gums were becoming more and more infl amed and moving closer to the brackets.
Their clinical conditions were only getting worse as the months went by. I also dealt with parents’ frustrations seeing the white spots and cavities after the braces were
removed. Puffy and infl amed tissue around the brackets during the whole orthodontic experience can only lead to demineralization and eventually caries lesions.
Why did you focus on a fl ossing device?
Morgan: Flossing is the best way to remove the bacterial plaque that accumulates between the tooth and gum. If plaque remains
in between teeth it eventually hardens and turns into calculus, which can only be removed by dental professionals. The longer this calculus remains on the teeth, the more the bacteria accumulate and build destructive colonies that eventually destroy the supporting structures.
What did you think would work to solve this problem?
Morgan: It seemed to me that a fl oss holder would work if it easily slipped under the arch wire to reach the interproximal, subgingival surfaces. I wanted something that made fl ossing easier for patients so they could do it every day and prevent the serious problems I was seeing. How long did you work on your idea?
Morgan: I worked on it about a year, before submitting the patent. To make the fi rst prototype, I used what we had in the offi ce, starting with a toothbrush and some orthodontic wire. First, I cut the bristles cut off the toothbrush. Then I used a burr to drill a very small hole on the very end of the handle. I heated orthodontic wire and put it into the hole and used pliers to bend the wire into a shape that would slide underneath the orthodontic arch wire.
and encouraged me along the way. I tested the prototypes with our patients, to get clinical feedback and refi ne the design.
Did you know any inventors before you became an inventor?
Morgan : Yes I do know another inventor who also lives in Austin, Dr. John Updyke, who invented
the White Oral Wonder (WOW) crown for anterior deciduous teeth. I asked for his advice about the patent process and getting my fl osser made. With his advice, I spoke with a patent attorney and submitted the necessary paperwork to apply for a patent. I had to do a patent search to be sure my idea wasn’t already patented and then I had to describe it in detail, including diagrams. Patents also require information about who will use the product, how they will use it and what the benefi ts are. The patent application I submitted was 25 pages long.
Did you consider manufacturing your fl osser in Texas?
Morgan: I did look into manufacturing after I received notifi cation and a confi rmation number on March 14, 2007, for a provisional patent. I spoke with a plastics manufacturer
in Austin and just to get started the price was $10,000. That was more than I could afford, so I began talking with different companies at the Texas Dental Meeting in May 2007, to see if anyone was interested. I was looking for just the right person who had the same passion for their work that I have for mine. That’s when I met Fred Van de Perre, owner of Paradise Dental Technologies in Missoula, Montana. His enthusiasm and compassion for the dental hygiene instruments he was manufacturing caught my attention right away.
Fred is a Townie who is very supportive of dental hygienists. What caught your eye at that particular meeting?
Morgan: Fred was showing the strength of his instruments by pounding them on the table to show they wouldn’t break and wanted others to give it a try! I immediately thought, “This guy knows what he is talking about and is obviously confi dent in the quality of his product.” His instruments are all made in the United States and 100 percent guaranteed. What other company offers that? So we arranged a meeting the following morning. I showed him my prototype and shared with him my vision for the Platypus.
Once you struck a deal with Fred and PDT, what happened next? Morgan: Between May and February 2008, when we launched the Platypus,
Continued on page 10
CBC dental hygiene grad gainsnational attention for Platypus fl osser
“Don’t give up your dental hygiene job!
During this process, I’ve invested $10,000 and my fi rst goal is to earn enough from my
licensing fee on the sale of Platypus fl ossers to
pay myself back.”
Page 13 www.coastalbend.edu CBC Forum
there were several details to work out. Manufacturing needed to be organized, which meant going from my crude prototype to the fi nal product.
This is quite exciting and should really improve the oral hygiene of those undergoing orthodontics. I’m sure other Townies would like to know, is this the way to get rich quick?
Morgan: My message to other hygienists with a product idea is don’t give up your dental hygiene job! During this process, I’ve invested $10,000 and my fi rst goal is to earn enough from my licensing fee on the sale of Platypus fl ossers to pay myself back that entire amount. After that, I’ll start counting a profi t. I love my job and working with kids and don’t plan to give it up any time soon.
I know you’ve been inspired by your patients, to fi nd a better way for them to maintain their oral health. Has anyone outside the dental offi ce inspired you?
Morgan: Another inspiration for me is my grandmother. She was pronounced terminally ill with a heart condition and given a poor prognosis. She was hooked up to machines in the hospital for a while. I noticed that the nurses were not brushing or fl ossing her teeth on a daily basis, which infuriated me
to no end! I thought “Don’t these nurses know that there is a strong correlation between periodontal disease and heart disease?”
The fact is that people with gum disease have a 25 percent greater risk of heart disease than those with healthy gums. When a patient suffers from gum disease, the cytokines and endotoxins responsible for the infl ammatory response are released into the blood stream. It has been proven that infl ammation in one area of the body can cause infl ammation in other areas of the body. Luckily, I was able to visit my grandmother on my lunch breaks and would fl oss and brush her teeth every day. I’m happy to report, she defi ed the prognosis of the doctors and is alive and kicking today!
Thank you Laura. You’re an inspiration to us all. You followed your passion and are making a difference with the Platypus, helping orthodontic patients effectively and easily fl oss to achieve good oral health. The Platypus is small enough to fi t in your back pocket, keep in the glove compartment in the car or in a nightstand in the bedroom, and it’s so easy to use.
Keep spreading the dental hygiene message of oral health and prevention. For more information, please visit www.pdtdental.com, or call 800-240-9895.
Coastal Bend College does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability.
CBC Spanish Club 9th Annual Excursion
To Monterrey, México Anyone can participate. The excursion is available to CBC students, staff,
families, friends and interested community members.
$248 includes: Double occupancy for 2 nights in Hotel Gran Ancira in downtown Monterrey, round-trip charter bus transportation from Beeville to Monterrey, excursions to Cola de Caballo, Paseo de Santa Lućia (Riverwalk), museums and other attractions. The price for a single occupancy is $308. The cost for a child, 12 or under, in a room with two adults is $175 per child. $50 deposit due by March 12; balance due by April 10, 2009.
Required for TravelU.S. Passport
OR Birth Certificate with State Sealand Photo Identification
Passports for land travel will be required after June 1, 2009.