OulooktOakton Community College Vol. 7, No. 1, 2009

Oakton Community College

1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016

Ray Hartstein Campus7701 N. Lincoln Avenue, Skokie, IL 60077

Copyright 2009

Published by the Office of College Advancement847.635.1672.

Carlee Drummer, Executive Editorcdrummer@oakton.edu

Bill Paige, Editorbpaige@oakton.edu

Nancy Nash, Graphic Designernnash@oakton.edu

Steve Repsys, Feature Writersrepsys@oakton.edu

Rita Patricia Veron, Contributing Writerrveron@oakton.edu

Margaret B. Lee, President

Board of Trustees

Joan W. DiLeonardi, Chair

George G. Alexopoulos, Vice Chair

Ann E. Tennes, Secretary

William R. Jackson, Jr.

Jeffrey H. Rosen

William Stafford

Jody Wadhwa

Jonathan Friedman, Student Trustee

Founded in 1969, Oakton Community College (District 535) includes Maine, Evanston, New Trier,Niles, and Northfield Townships and serves the residents of Des Plaines, Evanston, Glencoe,Glenview, Golf, Kenilworth, Lincolnwood, MortonGrove, Niles, Northbrook, Northfield, Park Ridge,Skokie, Wilmette, and Winnetka.

Visit us at www.oakton.edu

Cover: Hawaiian music aficionado Earl Essig of NaMele Aloha surrounds himself with other high-spiritedOakton student club members (from left) AsmaaShafiq of Oakton Helping Others; Neha Shazadah ofULTRA; Monika Makurath of Doctor Clown; andShakeeb Aijaz of the Cricket Club.

Opposite page: Mina (Laura Murad) falls victim to theinsatiable vampire (Nino Tolj) in the Performing Arts atOakton production of Ted Tiller’s Count Dracula.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going—or so it is said.

OK, we’re tough. Where do we go, exactly? And how do we get there,

especially on a path crowded with people just like us who are headed in

the same direction? Several scenarios are detailed in this seventh issue

of Outlook. Many return to the classroom when jobs evaporate. This

group may seek to reinvent themselves through the acquisition of new

knowledge and skills, or simply weather the financial storm in an

environment that nurtures understanding. Others may consider how to

change their personal situation by reaching out to those with greater

needs—and fewer resources. Yet another response is to simply dream,

to think “out of the box,” and pursue opportunities that are impervious

to the litany of doomsday headlines. Each course of action is viable and

valuable. Each response is necessary and important. If we are to learn

by example, let all of our examples be this exemplary.

—The Editors

OulooktOakton Community College Vol. 7, No. 1, 2009

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Reboot: Getting a Foot in the DoorThe news traveled far and wide whenOakton first announced “Reboot,” aprogram that provided free tuition tounemployed local residents. Threestudents discuss their reasons for taking advantage of this unique jobtraining effort.

Shred AmericaWhat started as “an impossible journey”—riding from Chicago’sMillennium Park to New York City on skateboards—turned into a life-changing road trip and documentary starring two young filmmakers andthe friends they made along the way.

Quirky QlubsGrab a cricket bat, ukulele, or colorfulclown nose if you want to experiencecollege life to the fullest. These fivestudent organizations provide plentyof off-the-wall fun.

This Virtual LifeSocial media may be a popular conversational buzzword, but noteveryone believes that Web 2.0 innovations such as Facebook andYouTube offer the best learning tools.Is higher ed making enough room for “tweets” and other new technologies?

A Reason to Smile:3,700 ToothbrushesBright smiles are on the horizon inGualán, Guatemala, thanks to anupcoming mission trip by DawnKuerschner, associate professor of nursing, whose cargo includes3,700 of toothbrushes collected byPhi Theta Kappa.

Breaking RecordsWomen’s basketball star Angie Riegerand Rich Bolinder, head coach, bothadded luster to the Raiders’ 2008-2009 campaign. As Rieger tried tostake her claim as the College’s all-time leading scorer, Bolinder reacheda professional milestone of his own.

Another LookFrom personal finance to the globalrecession, money seems to mattermore than ever. Accounting guru Jay Cohen breaks down the currenteconomic imbroglio.

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AFTER A CAREER SETBACK,starting over can feel like a shock. Butfor some, going back to college can turnsetbacks into opportunities, opening upnew possibilities and jolting careers back to life.

Hilario Mutuc was 41 years old whenhis computer support position was outsourced and he was laid off from hisjob. He wasn’t interested in launchinginto a new field. Besides, his mainstrength lay in the field in which he wasalready working. Years past earning hisbachelor’s degree, the time seemed rightto update his skills.

“If you want to be in this field, youhave to keep learning,” he says. Hejumped at the chance to do just thatwhen his wife, a nursing student atOakton, told him about the College’s“Reboot” program, which in early 2009provided free tuition for five career pro-grams to in-district residents who hadlost their full-time jobs in the past year.

For Mutuc, the A+ ComputerDiagnostic Specialist program offeredpossible certification following rigorousexams. A+ certification would let poten-tial employers know he had “the rightstuff”—the specific diagnostic skillsneeded for the job.

Mutuc understands that students bringdifferent levels of experience to thecourse. “We compare notes at break,” he

says. For those with less of a computerbackground, he advises patience and theability to learn from mistakes. “Youdon’t learn overnight,” he adds. “Youhave to practice. You have to be on thejob to encounter all the problems.”

Still, he was surprised by the intensityof the program. One lab project was tobuild a computer from scratch. “The firsttime, you’re scared to do it yourself. Butonce you go through it in class you real-ize it is something you can actually do.”

In April, Mutuc’s job at the help deskwas reinstated. “I was ecstatic,” he says.He returned to his previous employerwith new confidence and an updatedskill set. “I’m better equipped now to beeffective on the help desk.” He intendsto take the exam for certification and infall register for Oakton’s ProjectManagement Program.

Unlike Mutuc, Carmencita Ruiz-Panagahad no formal computer training beforeentering Reboot’s A+ program. Yearsearlier, she’d earned a bachelor’s degreein education and taught for a year in thePhilippines—long enough to realize thatteaching wasn’t for her. After coming tothe U.S. she worked as an insurancecompany administrative assistant formore than 20 years before being down-sized. Then, after two years at anotherinsurance company, she was downsizedagain at age 56.

Reboot:

“If you want to be in this

Getting a Footin the Door

For more information aboutOakton’s Reboot fall courses,go to www.oakton.edu/wia.

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Carnencita Ruiz-Panaga receives assistance frominstructor Angelo Gero in Computer Peripherals class.

Ruiz-Panaga knew she “had to find ajob that was better, or at least one thatwas stable.” Trained computer workerswere said to be in high demand. Andwith four computers at home, she wasfrustrated by the high cost of repairs. “Ifsomebody has to come to your home,it’s $175 an hour. Forget it!”

She enrolled in the A+ diagnosticprogram to learn how to repair computers.The course work was quite challenging,considering her age and minimal computer experience. Younger studentswho’d grown up around computerslearned faster but were willing to help.They showed her how to read circuitboard schematics which used to leaveher stumped. She studied hard and founddifferent ways of learning. “Not everyonehas the same brain,” she says.

With a help desk job possibly in herfuture, Ruiz-Panaga remains focused onexpanding her skills. “I like learning!” shesays. There’s an immediate reward, too.

“Whenever I needed help on the computer, I would ask my nieces ornephew,” she says. “Now I can handlemy own software problems and hard-ware upgrades.”

Twenty-four years ago, Susan Banachgraduated with a bachelor’s degree inbroadcast journalism. After working as a radio reporter, she switched toadvertising and programming sales. Onher last job she traveled around thecountry selling weather content to TVstations. She had a cool job.

Then in her late 40s, she was downsized.

While looking for a new position inenvironmental sales, Banach enrolled inReboot’s Green Marketing Program. Shewas surprised to find so many otherBaby Boomer students who’d also hadcool jobs in the same boat.

“We’re all facing the same challenges,trying to find new ways to make ourselvesmore marketable,” Banach says. “We’reprofessionals. We know how to go theextra mile.”

With so many students in the sameage bracket, the instructor adjusted thecourse to help them better market them-selves. She also arranged opportunitiesfor networking with people in the industry,and alerted fellow students to upcomingjob fairs and green seminars and events.

The environmental industry is stillsprouting dynamically. “It’s not yetdetermined which companies are trulysustainable,” Banach says. “In someways, it’s the wild West.” Policies varywidely, not just among companies butacross regional and state lines, she notes.

Banach’s next move will be to furtherher education in environmental manage-ment. One arm of green marketingextends towards corporate communica-tions, the other towards science. Shemay decide to pursue elements of both.

“Ideally, I’d like to work for an ethical company that’s truly seriousabout being sustainable and moving

forward,” she says. “I’m looking for acompany that’s serious about the kind ofcarbon footprint it’s making in the world.”

Meanwhile, the Green Marketing Program has changed how Banachapproaches her search. “Oakton’sinstructors do prepare people to look for a job. It’s not only about branding an entity but also about branding themselves.”

What’s next? Employment traininghas now taken center stage at communitycolleges across the country, thanks tomillions of dollars in “stimulus” fundsapproved by the Obama Administration.In fact, funds provided through theWorkforce Investment Act and AmericanRecovery and Reinvestment Act may beused to earn degrees and certificates inmore than 60 different programs, fromBasic Early Childhood Education, FireScience Technology, and e-Business, toCNC Operations and Programming,Pharmacy Technician, and Transportation,Warehousing, and Logistics Management.

“The response to our original ‘Reboot’program was so immediate and positivethat we must remain focused on findinginnovative ways to provide training,”says Margaret Lee, president of Oakton.“The funding provided by the President’sstimulus plan greatly expands the optionsfor those who are unemployed.”

field, you have to keep learning.”–Hilario Mutuc

Hilario Mutuc updates his skills through Oakton’s A+Computer Diagnostic Specialist program.

COMING SOON to a theater near you: Shred America, the story oftwo young filmmakers who one day decided to ride their skateboardsfrom Chicago’s Millennium Park to Times Square in New York City.

Spoiler alert! Arthur Swidzinski and Mike Kosciesza completedtheir fantastic journey in 35 days on a modest, self-financed budgetof $10,000, and in the process learned valuable lessons about humannature, the geography of the eastern third of the United States—and themselves.

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“One morning early on, Johnny B(WLUP-FM morning personalityJonathan Brandmeier) called, and it wasraining really hard in Valparaiso, Indiana.So he says, ‘Oh, there’s a few raindropson the window?’ and starts to taunt us.Then a whole bunch of listeners called into rip us. So we thought, ‘OK, we’llshow them,’ and went out and got com-pletely soaked. That was our worst day.We only made 15 miles.”

Typically, the group averaged twice thatdistance, often dodging law enforcementofficials who communicated with oneanother to more efficiently prevent theteam from illegally traversing major high-ways. On their best day the group put 60miles between their starting and endingpoints. They rode all but six of the 35days spent on the road, dividing responsi-bilities as democratically as possible.

“This was a really good experience interms of learning who you can work withand how to delegate tasks,” Swidzinskisays. “We rode at least eight hours everyday, and everyone took turns behind thecamera, so nobody would be left out. Ifwe saw something cool, we’d just pullout the cameras and start shooting.”

To their surprise, the team found itsbiggest problem had little to do eitherwith transportation or the technologyinvolved in making a documentary film.

It was the shoes.Inspired by Tracy Fulce, assistant

professor of marketing, Swidzinski suc-cessfully elicited donations from a numberof sponsors, including IPATH Footwear,Zoo York, Skate One, and Essa Clothing.Shipments were delayed, however, and thegroup was forced to purchase replace-ments at discount stores along the way.

“The soles of our shoes got completelywasted every two days riding throughthe Appalachian Mountains,” he says.

By the end of the trip, after the grouparrived in Times Square to bask in thewarm glow of accomplishment (to saynothing of a posh hotel stay provided byABC’s Good Morning America), thefilmmakers had collected approximately90 hours of footage from which toextract their planned 90-minute film.

“The main goal now is to finish edit-ing and enter Shred America in a fewfilm festivals,” says Swidzinski, whoalready has his sights set on another filmproject, possibly in Europe or Japan. “Infact, we plan to just give it away to any-one who wants to see it. If it goes viral,there will be demand. We’ll be in goodshape if every library in the United Statesbuys a copy to satisfy that demand.”

“Originally, the movie was going toonly be about us,” admits Swidzinski, anOakton alumnus currently working tocomplete his film studies at ColumbiaCollege Chicago. “But in the end, it wastough to bring friends along to help andthen tell them they couldn’t be part ofthe whole project.”

Joining Swidzinski and Koscieszawere James Lagen, whom the long-timefriends knew from Maine East HighSchool and Oakton, and Tony Michal, agraduate of Maine South and Columbia.Instead of riding skateboards, Lagen andMichal pedaled bicycles pulling yellowbaby trailers filled with food, water,clothing, sleeping bags, pillows, and thecrew’s film production equipment,including two Canon XH A1 high defini-tion camcorders. The travelers split theirfive weeks on the road between sleepingcomfortably in hotels and “couch surf-ing,” and camping out under the stars.

“So many people helped us out,” saysSwidzinski, rail thin and exuding animpatient creative energy. “We met lotsof people like ‘Trucker John’ and hisfamily. They gave us food, built a camp-fire in their backyard, and took us on ahistorical tour of their town.

“That was kind of the ‘social experi-ment’ part of the trip,” he adds. “Somepeople didn’t believe us when we toldthem what we were doing. Other peoplegot angry, because they thought we werelying to them.”

The group also suffered a few lecturesabout the perils of not wearing helmets.

“Street skaters don’t consider helmetsvery cool,” Swidzinski sheepishly admits.“Kinda dumb, yeah, but really, therearen’t that many head injuries. That’s justthe culture.”

The Shred America team set off fromMillennium Park on June 2, 2008. At thetime, their idea seemed outrageous, out-landish, and, for a variety of reasons, outof the question. They quickly gainedexposure to the fickle dynamic thatinevitably festers in the chasm betweenmedia support and public response.

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From left: James Lagen, Mike Kosciesza, and ArthurSwidzinski.

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MORE THAN 4,000 YEARS AGO, theancient Egyptian scholar Ptahhotep firstexpressed a version of the well-knownproverb, All work and no play makesJack a dull boy. The meaning of thisphrase is simple enough: without timeoff from work, a person becomes bored—and boring. These quirky clubs certainly keep that from happening inthe busy academic life of students.

Chirping about cricketWith more than 20 million participants,

cricket ranks second only to soccer as themost popular sport in the world. Whilenot particularly well known in the U.S.,cricket is extremely popular in England,Australia, New Zealand, India, and manyCaribbean countries. The internationalsport fits perfectly well into Oakton’sdiverse culture.

“The majority of our members arefrom India, Pakistan, and other Asiancountries, and are quite familiar with the sport,” says advisor Krunal Patel, acredentials analyst for Registration andRecords. “However, the objective of thegroup is to get students involved in anactivity and learn a sport they may nothave heard of before.”

The Cricket Club started as a student

organizationnearly threeyears ago and forthe last year hasenjoyed status asan intramuralsport. The clubmeets weekly forthree hoursthroughout theyear, allowingstudents to learnthe nuances ofthe game.Although thereare differentvariations of

cricket, the basic concept is similar tobaseball. Teams bat in successiveinnings and attempt to score runs, whilethe opposing team fields and attempts to bring an end to the batting team’sinnings. Each team bats an equal numberof innings, and the team with the mostruns wins.

“Having cricket become an intramuralsport gives more structure for studentswho want to play the sport every week,”says Patel. “Our goal is to have 15 to 20regular members and eventually playagainst other colleges.”

Tiny bubblesMusic is a familiar and popular part

of Hawaiian culture. From its earliestchants and polyrhythmic drumbeats,island music today combines traditionaland luau styles with a variety of genres,including hapa-haole (Hawaiian melodywith English lyrics), kolohe (naughty orteasing hula), chalangalang,and jawaiian.

Earl Essig enjoys shar-ing “the old-style Hawaiianmusic—soft, sweet, andmelodious.” For the pastfive years he has done justthat as director of Na MeleAloha, the Hawaiian MusicEnsemble.

“It’s simple,” says Essig, “We just enjoy Hawaiianmusic together. TheHawaiian people are sogenerous when I travelthere that I want to bringthe aloha spirit to others.”

Essig took his firstukulele lesson in Molokai more than twodecades ago. Annual visits allow him to maintain status as a member of the Na Kapuna Serenaders and Dancers inLahaina.

Na Mele Aloha performs at specialevents and for regular audiences at twopopular Des Plaines restaurants, TikiTerrace and Cheeseburger in Paradise.

Essig founded Na Mele Aloha withJudy Maritato, a singer and classicallytrained cellist who, like Essig, tookclasses at Oakton with MichaelAdamczyk. The now retired guitarinstructor generously agreed to be thegroup’s first advisor.

In fall 2007, Na Mele Aloha joinedwith the Hawaii Club of NorthwesternUniversity to honor the U.S. Army’s442nd Regimental Combat Team, a unitof Japanese American volunteers, mostlyfrom the Hawaiian Islands, who foughtin Europe during World War II. This traditional “Makahiki,” a celebration ofspiritual and cultural renewal, was rec-ognized by students as the OutstandingEvent of the Year.

yQQ irklubsu

Shakeeb Aijaz

Earl Essig

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Big shoes, big heartMembers of the Doctor Clown Club

don’t actually dress in makeup and clown costumes, but they do show up at hospitals wearing colorful aprons andclown noses and entertain patients bytelling jokes.

Formed in 2009, the Doctor ClownClub brings hope and joy to patientsusing the healing power of laughter. Its eight active members already havevisited dozens of children patients atAdvocate Lutheran General Hospital inPark Ridge.

“We don’t limit ourselves by seeingchildren with just one type of illness,”says founder Monika Makurath, a fresh-man chemistry student. “We get moreconfidence with each patient we see. In the future, we plan on visiting other hospitals and adding card tricks and puppet shows.”

Makurath finds inspiration in thework of Dr. Hunter “Patch” Adams,director of the Gesundheit Institute andsubject of the 1998 Robin Williams film,

Patch Adams. The club is

advised by part-time facultymember MarvinBornschlegl, whois a licensed professionalcounselor. Whilethe group members enjoyinteracting withpatients, thereare certain protocols theymust followbefore visits.

“To volunteer you have to go througha training and orientation program on howto interact with patients,” Makurath says.

While the Doctor Clown Club is currently geared to youngsters, theorganization also plans on entertainingadult patients down the road.

“We want to spread laughter to asmany people as we can,” says Makurath.“A smile may be a little thing, but it is

very powerful. It’s nice to be able tobring a smile to someone’s face.”

Helping handsWhile many

student clubsinclude volunteeropportunities andfundraising intheir activities,Asmaa Shafiqwanted to start an organizationdevoted solely tocharitable works.As a result, shecreated OaktonHelping Others in February 2008.

“It was kind of crazy,” she says. “I petitioned to create a club and justfour days later we were holding our firstactivity.” For its inaugural event, OHOsold “goodie bags” and baked treats toraise money on Valentine’s Day.

With help from advisor PrincessEscudero, student activities assistant,OHO organizes at least two fundraisingevents and two service projects eachmonth. All fundraising activities benefita designated nonprofit organization.

In its first year, the group raisednearly $600 for Partners in Health, whichsupports the construction of hospitals inThird World countries. In 2009, the clubraised funds for The AfghanistanOrphanage Project, which is attemptingto build an orphanage in the Khalakhandistrict located near war-torn Kabul.

While OHO’s fundraising efforts sofar have benefited people in another partof the world, the club donates a substan-tial amount of time helping people in itsown community. Members participate incharitable events through groups likeMisericordia and Target, and volunteer at soup kitchens, nursing homes, andcommunity festivals.

“We have received so many apprecia-tive responses for our work,” saysShafiq. “It feels good to know we aremaking a difference in people’s lives.”

Alternative techULTRA is perhaps Oakton’s most

mysterious student club. In fact, mem-bers occasionally change the meaning of the club’s acronym, always “keeping‘technology’ as our middle name,”according to advisor Jeff Moro, seniorsystems administrator. “We do like toplay with technology.”

While currently known as theUniversal Laboratory for TechnicalResource Alternatives, previous incarna-tions of the group’s name have includedthe names of Unix and Linux, specificcomputer operating systems. Don’t thinkfor a moment, however, that memberskeep their eyes glued to a video screen.ULTRA’s current major project involvesthe hands-on installation of solar panelson the rooftops at both the Des Plainesand Skokie campuses.

Originally designed tocollect information thatcould guide future decisionsabout the viability of con-verting a portion of theCollege’s electricity use tosolar energy, the project’sdirection took a differentturn when a suspected software bug produced conflicting results.

“Since our product is data, we want the infor-mation to be as solid as it can be,” says Moro. “Ourstudents apparently uncov-ered a bit of confusionbetween the manufacturer’s programmersand documentation people. We’re tryingto work with them to correct the prob-lem, but for now they seem unwilling toadmit anything is wrong.”

Future ULTRA endeavors mayinvolve artificial intelligence, DVR technology, and producing heat usingparabolic reflectors. Members may ormay not be completely serious aboutproducing a “rock concerto for orchestraand supercomputer” and the ThereminMarching Band, two additional projectsfound on the club’s Web page.

Monika Makurath

Asmaa Shafiq

Neha Shazadah

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developers, “newbies” may still balk atthe steep learning curve. “Individualized,investigative study can take a bit longer,”admits Hegg, “but we are seeing muchbetter retention in students who learnthis way.”

And the social media beat goes on.Oakton’s official Facebook page is justone of several affiliated with theCollege. Other pages are administeredby the Center for Promoting STEM,

Internship Program, TheaterLeague, TRiO, and even Desis atOakton. More than 500 individualscurrently identify with the Oakton“network” on Facebook, and several hundred people subscribe(or “follow”) @OaktonCollege onTwitter, many of them suburbanlibrary and media professionalsseeking updates on Collegeevents.

While online relationships mayevolve over time to include per-sonal encounters, even strong pro-ponents are quick to acknowledge

social media’s solipsistic traits.“I have Facebook friends whom I

haven’t seen in months, but when itcomes to making plans with them theyjust never seem to get offline,” saysMeredith, a fine arts student fromGlenview. “I try and get them out oftheir house but it doesn’t tend to workvery well. Some days I wonder if the‘old-fashioned way’ of getting to knowsomeone really is the best way.”

For now, university and college professors must continue to define andrefine their use of these new technologies,if only to remain competitive. For betteror worse, the “consumer” still drivesmany decisions made by businesses andinstitutions alike.

“There’s room for all of it, providedthere is a successful blend,” says Carr.“My experience is that some distancelearning courses serve their purpose, butmay not always offer the best deliverymethod. Yet, with Kaplan and theUniversity of Phoenix in the market-place, we have to offer classes like that,or we’re cutting ourselves off.”

WHILE SHE ADMITS to spendingabout two hours daily keeping in touchwith friends and family on Facebook,Trevorspace (a social media site orientedto young GLBT adults), and other Websites, “Jamie” (not her real name) tries tosteer clear of the “drama” that manypeople bring to their online interactions.

“I do have friends who spend way toomuch time with social media,” says the21-year-old Oakton student, who countsapproximately 200 virtualfriends. “I tend to avoid thembecause they do not live in the reality of life. They alsoneglect their responsibilities,like going to class. Also, somepeople try to glorify eventsthat may or may not havetaken place, so it’s harder tofilter the data.”

Indeed, people can’t seemto stop talking about the cultural implications of“social media,” the Web 2.0phenomenon that allows people all over the world toeasily connect with each other online ina variety of environments. The media“cloud” bursts with voices claiming tounderstand the complex implications of people being able to post countless stories, photos, and videos; bookmarkarticles of interest; and sharing comments on personal blogs as well asFacebook, Myspace, YouTube, Flickr,Digg, del.icio.us, and, of course, Twitter.

So, who has the upper hand? Earlyadopters who embrace every so-called“advance” in technology, or those whoprefer tested methods to fads and fashion?

“Technology can be a great tool toconvey concepts and information,” saysGene Carr, professor of earth science. “Anice animation can show in two minuteswhat can’t be explained in 20 minutes.

“But there is a wave of younger students who have trouble focusing formore than five minutes,” he adds.“That’s a result of technology, and somefaculty members are frustrated atattempts by those students to change our methods of instruction to what they

perceive is the best way to learn.“In my opinion, technology divorces

students from the human element inteaching,” says Carr. “There is value inmeeting face to face with students.Those meetings can provide clues as towhat a student might need—other thanthe answer to a question. It’s easier to e-mail an excuse for not coming to classthan it is to explain your reason to theteacher in person.”

Flesh yields to the avatar—a cartoon-like alter ego—in Second Life, the 3D virtual environment where users socialize, study, and create using voiceand text chat. As she “flies” her avatar toa tree house where students gather fordistance learning classes, Pamela Hegg,professor of computer information sys-tems, enthusiastically explains the color-ful world’s educational applications.

“You can take a group students, whothemselves are at any physical locationthey choose to be, into so many engag-ing worlds,” says Hegg, who recentlyvisited Portland, Ore., in person toaccept the Instructional TechnologyCouncil’s Outstanding e-LearningFaculty Award. “History professors canwalk through the streets of Paris in the1800s. Art students can explore theVatican collection in Rome.”

Even though Oakton’s Second Lifecompound (including one building thatclosely resembles the Art, Science, andTechnology Pavilion in Skokie) is beingconstructed with the help of experienced

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education and offers medical, dental, and optical care for the less fortunate insurrounding areas of the capital city ofTegucigalpa. This year the group is traveling to a new location—Gualán,Guatemala. Located 100 miles fromGuatemala City, Gualán consists of resi-dents in need of humanitarian services.

A typical medical mission lasts 10days, each one starting with an earlywake-up call and two-minute shower—ifwater is available. After loading medicalequipment on a bus, the group travels anhour to nearby villages to see as manypatients as possible.

“It’s amazing how the word spreads,”she says. “Before we even get to our des-tination there are people already lined up.It’s not unusual for people to walk up tosix hours just to get to a medical mission.”

While Kuerschner has some basicunderstanding of Spanish, translators arenecessary on the trips.

“The translators are trained in medicalSpanish,” she says. “There’s a big differ-ence between the Spanish you learn inschool and the Spanish being used bythe natives.”

During their trips, Kuerschner andher associates also are guarded 24 hoursa day by Central American troops.

“It’s for our protection,” she explains.“Most people automatically assumeAmericans are rich. We also carry med-

ications and supplies that some peoplemight try to steal. The guards keep sucha low profile that we often forget we’rebeing watched.”

Volunteers face many rules aboutwhat they can take along on a trip.Because of flight restrictions, each participant may bring a trunk weighingno more than 75 pounds for medicalpurposes. Eye glasses, combs, vitamins,antibiotics, parasite syrup, and aspirinare the most common supplies carried.

Individuals who come to the medicalmissions must choose between receivingmedical, optical, or dental services dueto limited supplies and time constraints.

“Sometimes we’ll teach parents how totreat diaper rashes for their babies,” saysKuerschner. “Other times it’s somethingas simple as teaching them the importanceof wearing hats to protect themselvesagainst the sun and staying well hydrated.”

Kuerschner considers her missionwork both a personal and global learningexperience.

“After my first trip, I was surprised howcontent people are with such a simple life,”she says. “It made me realize that weoften take things for granted and it trulycentered me on what’s important in life.

“It’s very common that a parent willask one of us serving on a medical mission to take a child back to Americawith us,” she says. “Parents are willingto give up their children because theythink by doing so they will be offeringthem a better life.”

When she returns from a medicalmission, Kuerschner shares her experi-ence with students.

“So many people think that nursesjust work in clinics or hospitals,” shesays. “By telling my students about mytrips, I’m helping them to explore otheravenues and inspiring them to think differently about nursing.”

DAWN KUERSCHNER makes manysacrifices to deliver medical supplies tothe poor in Central America. In additionto traveling more than 1,800 miles andraising thousands of dollars for travelexpenses, she must endure a lack of running water, the risk of parasites, andbeing under 24-hour surveillance.

In the end, the associate professor ofnursing says the smiles on the faces ofpeople she helps makes it worthwhile.

“It’s priceless seeing the expressionon the children’s faces after we demon-strate basic hygiene techniques, such ashow to rid themselves of lice,”Kuerschner says. “After we wash andstyle their hair, we’ll take photos of thechildren with instant cameras. When wegive them the pictures, you would havethought we had given them gold—that’show excited they are.”

Kuerschner received support for aplanned trip from Oakton’s Phi ThetaKappa chapter. The international honorsociety spearheaded a campaign to col-lect toothbrushes for the medical mis-sion. PTK members sold toothbrushesfor 50 cents in a two-day drive entitled,“Give Them a Reason to Smile.” Forevery toothbrush purchased, the chapterdonated one to Kuerschner’s mission.The chapter collected 3,700 toothbrushes,more than double its goal of 1,500.

“It was a shock to see how manytoothbrushes we collected,” says TheresaBashiri, president of PTK. The chapteralso purchased 1,200 combs forKuerschner to take on her next journey.

Kuerschner has been on four medicalmissions to Honduras with members ofTrinity Lutheran Church in Roselle since2003. Her group provides basic hygiene

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Smile:3,700ToothbrushesReason to

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RecordsIT SHOULD COME AS no surprise thatcoaching staffs at every level—perhapseven more so than their players—keep aclose eye on individual statistics. A vir-tual “cone of silence,” however,enveloped Oakton’s athletic departmentnear the end of the 2008-2009 season assophomore guard Angie Rieger closed inon the College’s all-time scoring record.

“It’s like when a pitcher is throwing ano-hitter,” says Richard Varyu, assistantwomen’s basketball coach. “You don’twant to say anything to jinx it. We wereall rooting for Angie, but at the same timedidn’t want anything to foil her effort.”

Rieger broke the record February 26,2009, with six seconds remaining in ahome contest against Prairie StateCollege. She leaves Oakton with 900career points, surpassing NataliaJedlinska, who scored 888 points for the Raiders from 1999 to 2001.

“At first I thought there was no way Iwould ever be able to break the scoringrecord,” says Reiger, who played basket-ball at Maine South High School.“However, once I started getting closerto it, I wanted it more and more.Breaking the record shows that once youset your mind on something, you canaccomplish it.”

A competitive spirit flows throughRieger’s veins, and she harnessed thatenergy time and again in her two yearsplaying for the Raiders. Growing up thethird oldest of six children, Rieger oftenwould race her two brothers and threesisters to see who could be first up thestairs of the family home.

“Those were really serious competi-tions,” she recalls. “Everyone wanted towin and it wasn’t unusual for one of mysiblings to try to pull me down or knockme over to get to the top first.

“In the swimming pool we’ll set upmarkers and hold contests to see who

can travel the farthest holding theirbreath underwater,” she adds. “And Iplay one-on-one basketball with myyounger sister. I always want to beat herand I hate losing.”

That intensity has served Rieger well,according to her coaches.

“Her energy level stirred the pot forus this season,” says Rich Bolinder, headcoach. “Players like Angie don’t comearound too often. With her determinationand competitive spirit, she has providedleadership on and off the court. Angierepresented our program with class overthe last two seasons and as a result, shehas earned the respect of players andcoaches in our region. She gave our program everything that she could andthat’s all you can ask of a player.”

For the 2008-2009 season, Riegeraveraged 16.4 points per game and ledthe team in steals and three-point baskets. Her season-high 28 points camein a November contest against HarperCollege. Her post-season accoladesincluded being named to the IllinoisSkyway Collegiate Conference FirstTeam and the NJCAA Region IVDivision II All-Region First Team.

Playing college level basketball, however, was something that took someadjustment for Rieger. She started play-ing in grammar school and continuedwith the same teammates throughoutjunior high and high school.

“Prior to Oakton, I had the sameteammates for eight years,” she says.“Here, I was starting over. By my secondyear, it became easier as I knew what toexpect and it helped that a lot of the sameplayers from my freshman year returned.”

Bolinder and wife Lisa, assistantwomen’s basketball coach, followedRieger’s career at Maine South andknew there was something special about her.

Breaking

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“We could see she had great shootingform and could get to the basket andscore,” says Lisa Bolinder. “We wereconfident when she came to Oakton shecould shine and become a scoring threat.”

As Oakton’s second leading scorerthis past season, opponents wouldemploy a variety of methods to preventRieger from getting to the hoop, includ-ing psychological tactics. Opposingcoaches often would announce to theirplayers—right in front of Rieger—thatshe couldn’t use her left hand. Rieger isright-handed, but used that as motivationto prove them wrong and adjusted herstyle of play.

“Teams wouldn’t let me go to myright so I had to work hard on learninghow to shoot with my left,” she says.

“She made the most of her opportu-nity,” says Rich Bolinder. “There’s sucha big difference between the high schooland college game. There is no shot clockin high school. The shot clock was madefor Angie. She likes to run, create shots,and play with a sense of urgency.”

Standing still is something Rieger has trouble doing. She was a two-sportathlete at Maine South, also playing soccer for four years. When Riegerwants to visit a friend, she’ll often runinstead of drive. She also enjoys beingaround younger athletes and spends timeas a referee for youth basketball and soccer leagues. Her other athleticendeavors include basketball camps andcoaching soccer teams for her siblings.

“I like teaching kids what I know,”she says. “It’s fun coaching and seeingthem improve.”

Rieger earned her associate’s degreein May and is entertaining offers toattend North Central College, CarthageCollege, Dominican University, JudsonUniversity, or Elmhurst College. Hercareer plans definitely include somethingrelated to physical education.

“I’d like to be a health or physicaleducation teacher,” she says. “I’ve beenaround athletics all my life and it issomething I really enjoy. I wouldn’tknow what to do if athletics weren’t partof my life.”

Women’s basketball coachRich Bolinder achieved his500th career win as a headcoach February 10, 2009,when his Raiders defeatedElgin Community College 59-43. His 500 victoriesinclude wins at the highschool and college level.

“I’m very fortunate,” says Bolinder, who recently completed his 21st campaign(and 284 wins) on the hardwood at Oakton. “A lot of the credit goes to themany talented players I’vecoached over the years.”

Bolinder, who holds hismaster’s degree in secondaryeducation from National-Louis University and abachelor’s degree in healthand physical education fromIllinois State, started hiscoaching career in the late1970s at Crown High Schoolin Carpentersville (nowDundee-Crown High School).He also has served as a headcoach at the National College of Education, Mundelein College, and ElginAcademy.

While admitting that 500 victories constitutes a prestigious milestone,Bolinder insists there is more to coaching than just winning and losing.

“As a coach, you tend to remember the close games you lost, rather thanthe close games you won,” he says. “Now I understand losses better. You haveto learn from your losses quickly and prepare your team for the next game.

“I love teaching and making a difference in people’s lives,” he adds. “Themost fun for me is staying in touch with players. I hope they remember that I was fair and that I was more than just a coach. I try to be a mentor and asounding board, to help them with life situations outside of basketball.”

With 30 years of coaching under his belt, Bolinder also has come to betterunderstand the yin and yang of his own personality.

“To me, coaching is a way to release energy,” he says. “Off the court, I’mpretty laid back. But during practices and for the two hours I’m coaching agame, there’s nothing else to worry about. During that time, I’m just focusedon basketball.

“I still remember my first victory,” he says, as if to prove the point. “It camein 1977 during my debut as a head coach. We beat Round Lake High School 28-24. Since it was my first win, I had nothing else to compare it with. Fivehundred wins was the farthest thing from my mind. But now that I have 500,I’d like to get to 1,000.”

Oakton has earned one Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference title (1994) and reached the semifinals in 10 NJCAA Region IV Tournaments under Bolinder.Most recently, the Raiders celebrated their first 20-win season in College history after the 2008-2009 campaign.

500 and Counting

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WHEN THE U.S. jobless rate soared toits highest level in more than 25 years, at the same time the stock market hit itslowest point since the mid-1990s, peoplenaturally sought a scapegoat. Fingerswere pointed at the government, thestockbrokers, and the economists.

Just don’t blame accountants, imploresJay Cohen (“Winning Attitudes,” Outlook,Vol. 6, No. 1).

“Accountants are not in the businessof predicting the future,” says Cohen,professor and chair of accounting, andwinner of the 2009 Outstanding FacultyMember Award from theIllinois Community CollegeTrustee Association. “We’reonly expected to know whatis most likely to happenbased on the past.”

Unlike previous financialcrises, including the Enron/Arthur Andersen scandal earlier this decade, Cohensays accountants share littleblame in the current eco-nomic downturn. Rather thanpredict a market’s rise and fall, he says,accountants make their assessmentsbased on market value and historicaltrends. And while the housing industryand those who profited from its inflatedvalues are at the center of the collapse,few expected the trend of rising homevalues to decline, he says.

“In accounting terms, the mortgage isthe receivable in this scenario, and thatwent bad,” says Cohen. “An entire WallStreet community was built aroundmortgages, and when mortgages failed,so did everything else.”

For nearly a decade, home buyerstook advantage of low interest rates andeasy credit to buy homes they otherwise

might not be able to afford, Cohenexplains. As interest rates and life situa-tions changed, many borrowers failed tomeet their monthly payments. At thesame time, many high-risk lenderssought to protect against their subprimeloans through AIG, Lehman Brothers,and other insurers. When borrowersdefaulted on their mortgage payments,banks looked to insurance companies to even the costs. However, these corporations already had divided thosemortgages into several pieces to sell toinvestors through the stock market.

When the banks needed cash fromtheir insurance policies, AIG and other companies were unable to make payments because their actual cash wastied up in the market. This caused banksto lose money, stock values to drop,credit confidence to crash, and a declinein the entire market.

None of this, of course, explains why those in positions of power—the economists, financial analysts, stock-brokers, and yes, accountants—failed towarn the general public about inflatedhousing prices and wobbly loans.

“Why blow the whistle?” says Cohen.“If buyers are willing to pay a givenprice, then the price is still considered

reasonable and the market works theway it should.”

If a specific scandal or definedmoment had triggered the current morass,perhaps the financial crisis pill would beeasier to swallow. But the Sarbanes-OxleyAct and other laws and regulations thatresulted from the Enron/Arthur Andersenscandal, have forced CEOs and CFOs tobe more conscientious than ever regard-ing fiduciary practices. Accountants, too,are held to a higher standard than in the past.

“The burden of responsibility isalways there for accountants,”says instructor Jody Padar.“Ethics always has been taughtin our classrooms.”

To emphasize the importanceof socially responsible account-ing, Padar requires students inher income tax accounting classto participate in Ladder Up, anonprofit organization that provides tax return services tounderprivileged families.

“Our clients fall within a certain income level, usually around thepoverty line,” Padar explains. “Studentsknow they are using their knowledge tohelp make a difference in someone else’slife.”

Students gain experience by workingin a professional setting where they learnto think on their feet through exposure to a variety of situations. The bottomline is that accounting jobs are plentiful,says Padar, as long as students are wellprepared.

Cohen agrees with that forecast.“Accountants have a relatively safe

place in this market,” he says. “As current circumstances have shown us,everyone needs an accountant.”

LookAnother

Jiang DynastyFor most Western audiences, viewing the complex ink brush paintings of

Shanghai-born artist Qigu Jiang “is like reading a poem in translation,”

according to James Elkins, his colleague at the School of the Art

Institute of Chicago. “You might get an idea of the subject of the poem,

but you will not sense the subtle and intricate reverberations of the

words.” Indeed, Jiang’s exhibition at the Koehnline Museum of Art,

Figures, presented a group of small and large works that bridge the

gap between 3,000 years of Chinese tradition and the post-Renaissance

history of Western figurative painting. Upon the exhibition’s closing.

Jiang generously donated After Michelangelo #4, a 2007 nude rendered

on handmade rice paper, to Oakton’s permanent art collection. Xie xie!