“Variations in Color” (Middletown Campus)

When: Feb. 18, 2008, at 11 a.m.

Where: William H. McCoy Special Events Center

“Race and the Justice System” (Middletown Campus)

When: Feb. 18, 2008, at 2 p.m.

Where: Room 140

“Race and the Justice System” (Middletown Campus)

When: Feb. 18, 2008, at 3:30 p.m.

Where: Room 140

“Race and the Justice System” (Middletown Campus)

When: Feb. 19, 2008, at 12:30 p.m.

Where: Room 140

“Black Poets” (Middletown Campus)

When: Feb. 29, 2008, at 9 a.m.

Where: Room 315

Admissions

Spring 2008 Graduation

Have you applied for spring 2008 graduation? The deadline for applying for spring 2008 is March 14, 2008. Applications are available in the Admissions and Records Office and online at http://www.lfcc.edu/Students/index.shtm. If you have any questions, contact the Admissions Office.

Scholarship Opportunities and Financial Aid

Scholarships available from the National Federation of the Blind

Are you a legally blind student trying to go to college? The National Federation of the Blind has various scholarships ranging from $3,000 to $12,000 for legally blind high school seniors and college students. Applications can be found at www.nfb.org/scholarships. To qualify, you must be legally blind, plan on attending a U.S. college or university as a full-time student for the 2008 scholastic year, and, if chosen, must participate in the NFB national convention and scheduled scholarship program activities. The deadline is March 31, 2008. Any questions should be directed to Anil Lewis, chairman, NFB Scholarship Committee at 404-371-1000 or Scholarships@nfb.org.

Lord Fairfax Community College Scholarship Opportunities

Lord Fairfax Community College (LFCC) offers financial assistance to full-time and part-time students in the form of scholarships, which are made possible by generous donors. The LFCC Financial Aid Office is currently accepting applications for financial assistance for the fall 2008 and spring 2009 semesters. To apply, please submit the entire online scholarship application packet by March 14, 2008 at 4 p.m.
If you need assistance completing the online scholarship application packet, please contact Athena Walker at 540-868-7089 or awalker@lfcc.edu.

Scholarships Available At LFCC

The LFCC Financial Aid Office is currently accepting applications for financial assistance for the fall 2008 and/or spring 2009 semesters.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2008, in order to apply for available scholarships, you must complete the online scholarship application packet that is available at www.lfcc.edu/scholarships.  The application deadline is March 14, 2008 at 4 p.m.
If you need assistance completing the online scholarship application, please contact Athena Walker at 540-868-7089 or awalker@lfcc.edu. 
For more information on other financial aid that is available, please visit our website at www.lfcc.edu/FinAid/Index.shtm.

Super Saturday!

On Saturday, Feb.16 at 10 a.m. the Financial Aid Department is hosting our annual Super Saturday event to assist students with filing financial aid. We will be starting with a workshop explaining the federal and state financial processes then will move on to completing the FAFSA on the Web. Students who have already participated in a workshop can begin filing the FAFSA at 10 a.m. In order to file the FAFSA, the student will need to bring their 2007 taxes and W-2’s, their parent’s 2007 taxes and W-2’s (if they do not meet independent student criteria), as well as any other financial papers they may have (i.e. business income, investment records, etc.). See http://www.lfcc.edu/News/Releases/Upload/release.asp

Four New Scholarships Available!

There are four new scholarships available at LFCC! AES Engineers is interested in offering a $500 scholarship to a deserving student, please go to www.aesengineers.com/scholarships.htm for more details. Alpha Delta Kappa is also offering a $500 scholarship to a deserving student; the student must be an education major and reside in Shenandoah County. VAFCE is offering the Mrs. Guy Roop Scholarship for a minimum of $1000 for a mature adult improving their education. The Virginia Credit Union is offering 25 scholarships up to $2,500 for tuition and fees, must be a member of the Virginia Credit Union to qualify. Applications for these scholarships can be found in the financial aid office at LFCC. If you have any questions, contact the financial aid office at 540-868-7130. 

LFCC Remembers Jeffrey A. Bamber

Jeffrey Alexander Bamber, age 19, of Stephens City, Virginia, died Monday, Feb. 4, 2008, in Frederick County, Virginia.

Jeffrey was born in 1988, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, the son of Jacqueline Kalina Bamber of Port Reading, New Jersey. He was a student at Lord Fairfax Community College. He was a graduate of Middlesex County Vocational High School, East Brunswick Campus. He was a former employee of Toys-R-Us and the Dollar Tree. He was of the Catholic faith.

Surviving in addition to his mother, are his sister, Andrea Wethern of Stephens City, and his brother, James Bamber, of Port Reading, New Jersey.

A funeral service will be conducted at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Port Reading, New Jersey, at a later date.

Local arrangements are being handled by Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel.

Career Resources

Spring Job Fairs - Getting ready!

It's time to begin getting prepared for the annual Spring Job Fairs that will be held at the Fauquier Campus on March 12, 2008, at the Middletown Campus on March 26, 2008 and at the Luray-Page County Center on March 19, 2008. So, what does it mean to "get prepared?"

1. Get your résumé ready. For help drafting it, go to http://www.vault.com/nr/ht_list.jsp?ht_type=8.
2. Want a career counselor to review your résumé for you? Just save as a word document and attach to an e-mail that you then send to mrutz@lfcc.edu or dcumbia@lfcc.edu.
3. Save the date(s) on your 2008 calendar.
4. Plan to dress to impress. You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.
5. Watch this e-newsletter for more tips in February.

Job Fair Tips

Want some personal help with making a good first impression and/or “working” a job fair?  Make an appointment with one of your Career Counselors, Marie Rutz (mrutz@lfcc.edu) or Doug Cumbia (dcumbia@lfcc.edu).

1. Review the list of employers scheduled to attend the Job Fair(s) online (www.lfcc.edu then Career Services then Job Fairs) and plan which you want to visit before you arrive.
2. Create a résumé specifically for each employer you want to visit, and have copies on nice paper ready to hand to each respective business representative.
3. Have something to write with and something to write on with you at the Job Fair.  You may want to take notes and/or collect business cards for a prompt follow-up after the Job Fair.
4. Follow-up soon after the Job Fair, like the next day!

Job Fairs

Want a job after graduation? Or a better job even before graduation?
Career Services at LFCC is presenting our annual Job Fairs at all three locations next semester. Hold the dates!

• Fauquier Campus – Wednesday, March 12, 2008
• Luray-Page County Center – Wednesday, March 19, 2008
• Middletown Campus – Wednesday, March 26, 2008

(In case of inclement weather, fairs will be held on the next day.)

Times:  11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Doug Cumbia, dcumbia@lfcc.edu or Marie Rutz, mrutz@lfcc.edu in Career Services.

Student Involvement Opportunities

Cover Artwork Contest

Spring 2009 Issue of Inquiry Journal

Open to All
Virginia Community College System Students

Submit by May 15, 2008

Inquiry invites community college students to submit their best artwork for possible publication on the front cover of the journal. Works may be photographs, drawings, paintings, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, and digital images.

Prize:  $250 and copies of the journal

Guidelines: 

• Artwork must be original, previously unpublished, and created by a student enrolled in a Virginia community college.
• A student may submit up to three images for consideration.
• Photographs, drawings, paintings, ceramics, sculpture, print making, and digital images are welcome.
• Images should be submitted in digital form by e-mail attachment.

The winning artwork will be selected by the journal’s editors, and the winning artist will be notified in July 2008.

Submissions of artwork should be sent as e-mail attachments to:

MaryGrace Paden
Managing Editor, Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges
Assistant Professor of English, John Tyler Community College,13101 Jefferson Davis Highway, Chester, VA 23831-5316, 804-706-5095, mpaden@jtcc.edu

Testing Center

Testing Center Closed

The Middletown Testing Center will be closed Tuesday, March 25, 2008, for National Board Testing from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Important Testing Center Dates!

TEAS testing is available for prospective nursing students. Please allow 3.5 hours for completion and a fee of $40 will be charged.

TEAS deadline is March 26, 2008.

HOBET testing has begun for prospective Surgical Technician and Dental Hygiene students. Please allow 3 hours for the completion and a fee of $30 will be charged.

HOBET deadline is Feb. 15, 2008.

Nursing Program

Nursing Program applications will be available beginning Feb. 1, 2008 for prospective LPN, ADN and transition students. Completed applications will be accepted Feb. 1, through March 28, 2008. In order to apply to the nursing programs, students must have completed the prerequisites listed in the catalog and meet the following requirements:

• Submit a completed application prior to March 28, 2008
• Request official copies of transcripts from high school and colleges attended
• Have a minimum GPA of 2.5 for the most recent two years of course work
• Complete the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) in the Testing Center by March 26, 2008

Additional information related to Nursing Programs is available in narrated PowerPoint presentations through the following link:
http://www.lfcc.edu/Academics/HealthProfessions/videos.html

Nursing Information Sessions

We will be offering information sessions to students who plan to apply for admissions to the Nursing Programs. The Nursing Application Information Sessions will be held on both campuses:

Fauquier Campus: 
March 5 at 5 p.m. in room 101

Middletown Campus:
March 11 at 5 p.m. in room 336

We will be offering general information sessions about all nursing programs for prospective nursing students on the following dates for the Middletown Campus:

Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. in the William H. McCoy Special Events Center
Feb. 19 at 5 p.m. in the William H. McCoy Special Events Center 
March 12 at 3 p.m. in room 208
March 25 at 4 p.m. in room 208
April 22 at 3 p.m. in the William H. McCoy Special Events Center

Surgical Technology Program

The following are needed to be enrolled in the Surgical Technology Program. Deadline for application is May 1, 2008.

1. Enroll at Lord Fairfax Community College
2. Enroll at Piedmont Virginia Community College
3. Fill out Surgical Technology application on the PVCC Web site
4. Have official copies of all transcripts, high school and college, sent to PVCC Surgical Technology Program; please verify that PVCC has received these.
5. Complete all placement test components at LFCC.
6. Complete all prerequisites.
7. Make appointment with Roxann Ricke or Claudia Mazurkiewicz to review any questions.
8. Deadline for application is May 1, 2008

9. What is a Surgical Technologist?

Surgical technologists are integral members of the surgical team who work closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, registered nurses, and other personnel delivering patient care before, during and after surgery. A surgical technologist may be called a “scrub,” “surgical technician” or “operating room technician.”

Before an operation, surgical technologists help prepare the operating room by setting up surgical instruments, equipment, sterile drapes, and sterile solutions. They assist in preparing patients for surgery including transporting patients to the operating room, positioning them on the operating table, and observing the patient’s vital signs. During surgery, the technologist passes instruments and other sterile supplies to the surgeons and surgical assistants. Surgical technologists help prepare, care for, and dispose of specimens taken for laboratory analysis and assist in applying dressings.

Career Opportunities

Employment of surgical technologists is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2010 as the volume of surgery increases. The number of surgical procedures is expected to rise as the population grows and ages. 

Although hospitals will continue as the primary employer of surgical technologists, much faster employment growth is expected in offices and clinics of physicians, including ambulatory surgical centers. Some technologists advance to first assistants, with additional training, and help with retracting, sponging, suturing, closing and treating wounds. 

Earning Potential

According to national statistics, salaries range from $34,000 to $54,000.

Curriculum

The Surgical Technology Program is provided through distance education as a joint venture with Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville, and in cooperation with area hospitals (including Winchester Medical Center and Fauquier Hospital). The LFCC Surgical Technology Program is an academically challenging program. Students are selected on the basis of established criteria. 

Fall semester courses are offered at the Middletown Campus, but with prior approval, students may take spring and summer semester Surgical Technology courses at the Fauquier Campus.

For specific program information, please contact the Division of Science and Health Professions at 540-868-7280.

Dental Hygiene Program

February is Children Dental Health Month

The Winchester Wellness Festival will be held Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008 at the Apple Valley Shopping Center. Lord Fairfax Dental Hygiene students will be doing oral cancer screening for the Senior Citizens. We have it from reliable sources that the Tooth Fairy will be seen through out the mall handing out oral health care information. The Dental Hygiene students will also be helping the Northwest component of the American Dental Hygiene Association to hand out toothbrushes and information regarding Oral Hygiene Care   On the same Saturday, the Harrisonburg Health Fair will be held at Thomas Harrison Middle School and three Lord Fairfax Dental Hygiene students will be helping from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Feb. 15, 2008 is the deadline for applicants into the Dental Hygiene Program. Please call 540-868-7182 for more information.