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Tri-C Receives $750,000 Gift From PNC

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has received $750,000 from PNC Bank and the PNC Foundation to help fund comprehensive educational and job preparedness programs designed to help low- to moderate-income students achieve better results in the classroom and the workplace. The funding will help strengthen and support three key student initiatives over three years.Student Resources for Economic Recovery: PNC’s funding will help to establish critical wraparound services for... Read More

Tri-C Hires Todd Kitchen as Eastern Campus President

After completing a nationwide search, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has announced the hiring of Todd Kitchen, Ed.D, as the new president of its Eastern Campus.He comes to Tri-C with more than 20 years of experience in higher education, the last 10 spent as vice president of student services at Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC), a college serving more than 15,000 students in and around the city of Bentonville.Kitchen, who met Tri-C students, faculty and staff in a... Read More

Tri-C’s Women in Transition Program Offers Fall Courses

The Women in Transition program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) is hosting online and on-site fall courses to empower women in their pursuit of education, training and a career.Six-week sessions begin on the following dates at the times and locations listed:Online classesOct. 25 – Dec. 1 | Monday through Wednesday | 10 a.m. – noonOct. 26 – Dec. 2 | Tuesday through Thursday | 6-8 p.m.On-site classesOct. 26 – Dec. 2 | Tuesday through... Read More

Tri-C President Alex Johnson Announces Upcoming Retirement

After nearly a decade of leadership, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) President Alex Johnson is announcing his retirement, effective June 30, 2022. Tri-C students, faculty and staff were informed of Johnson’s decision in a virtual town hall meeting Oct.13.“This is a difficult decision because I love Tri-C, believe wholeheartedly in its mission and have had the privilege of working alongside so many amazing people in the eight years I’ve led the... Read More

A.I.M by Kyle Abraham Returns to Northeast Ohio

A.I.M by Kyle Abraham returns to Northeast Ohio next month, performing An Untitled Love, Abraham's newest work co-presented by Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) and DANCECleveland.The New York City-based dance troupe takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6 in the Mimi Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square. The program is part of the 2021-2022 Tri-C Performing Arts season and DANCECleveland’s 65th anniversary season.Comprising the catalog of Grammy Award-winning R&B... Read More

Tri-C Hires Collegewide Athletics Director

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) today announced that Anthony (Tony) Cipollone will join the College as executive director, Athletics, Wellness and Recreation on Oct. 18. He will reestablish the College’s athletics program, which has been suspended since fall 2020 due to the pandemic. His immediate focus will be on student-athlete recruitment for the 2022-2023 academic year, when athletics will resume at the College. Tri-C is part of the Ohio Community College Athletic... Read More

Mike DeWine Visits Tri-C for MTC Tour

During a Tuesday stop in Cleveland, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine toured the Manufacturing Technology Center (MTC) on the Metropolitan Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).The MTC served as a setting to emphasize the need for more training opportunities that connect residents of distressed communities with industries seeking to fill talent gaps.“Something Tri-C does very, very well is working with the private business sector to allow people at different points in their... Read More

Tri-C Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Ron Mottl Field

Since its opening in 1991, Ron Mottl Field has been the home stadium for the Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) baseball team. Located in the northeast corner of the College’s Western Campus in Parma, the field has seen many wins and memories over the years.A group of College and community leaders gathered at the field Sept. 28 to commemorate its 30th anniversary and celebrate its importance — not only to Triceratops baseball, but to Parma, surrounding... Read More

Ohio To Work Expands Statewide

After its Cleveland launch a year ago, the Ohio To Work Campaign is expanding throughout the state, with regional launches in Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo and the Mahoning Valley.The initiative has steadily grown over the past year, with the addition of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) as a training partner in July. Led by JobsOhio in partnership with MAGNET, Ohio To Work helps residents in each region with career resources and support.Participants can access career... Read More

YTA Highlighted As Successful Pathway Model

STEM fields — those with a focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics — remain some of the most talent-hungry industries in the job market, with a consistently high need for qualified workers.For nearly 20 years, the Youth Technology Academy (YTA) at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has worked to address that talent gap by introducing students in several area school districts — most notably, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District... Read More

COVID-19 Vaccines Available to Tri-C Students

Students at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) are encouraged to “get the shot” during a series of COVID-19 vaccination clinics in September. The vaccines, offered through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center, are available on a walk-in basis. Students receiving their first shot will have $10 added to their Stomp Card, valid for food and other purchases at Tri-C’s food service and bookstore sites. Upon receiving their second shot,... Read More

Autumn Blaze 5K Returns Virtually for 2021

For the second year in a row, the Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) Autumn Blaze 5K will take place virtually, with participants having eight days to complete the race on their own at any location.Runners and walkers can hit the road, track or treadmill any time between Oct. 24 and 31.Proceeds from the seventh annual Autumn Blaze will benefit Greater Cleveland Community Shares, the United Negro College Fund and United Way of Greater Cleveland. Tri-C launched the event in 2015 as... Read More

Tri-C Receives Ninth Consecutive HEED Award

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has received a 2021 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.This is Tri-C’s ninth consecutive year receiving the award, which recognizes U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.“We are very proud to be a HEED Award recipient again,”... Read More

Tri-C’s Participation in 10KSB Pilot Program Receives Coverage

On Monday, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) became one of a select group of colleges and universities around the country to participate in the pilot for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) Fellows program.The program aims to facilitate hands-on internship opportunities that create career pathways for community college students while addressing the growing skills gap facing small businesses. As one of five schools leading the way, Tri-C has caught the attention of... Read More

“Future Vikings” Partnership Increases Bachelor’s Degree Access

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) and Cleveland State University have teamed up to create an even more streamlined process to earning a bachelor’s degree.The Future Vikings program brings the institutions’ transfer partnerships together under a single umbrella program, allowing for a smoother transition from earning an associate degree at Tri-C to earning a bachelor’s degree at Cleveland State.A CSU release this week notes the program’s... Read More

Tri-C Among 2021 ‘Great Colleges to Work For’

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has been named one of the top workplaces among higher education institutions nationwide, as one of 76 two-year institutions named a “Great College to Work For” by ModernThink LLC. Tri-C went above and beyond, as one of 12 two-year schools to achieve “honor roll” status, and one of just a pair of two-year schools to receive high marks in all 10 award categories: Job satisfaction and support Compensation... Read More

Mandel Foundation Grant Establishes Youth Humanities Academy

The board of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation has approved a five-year grant of up to $1,440,577 to establish and initially support the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Youth Humanities Academy at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).The academy will offer high schoolers entering their junior and senior years an opportunity to broaden their humanities education during a nine-week summer session. Students will explore material in subjects including art, religion, literature... Read More

Tri-C Named Finalist for 2021 Best of Tech Awards

Cuyahoga Community College’s (Tri-C®) Information Technology Services (ITS) department has been hard at work throughout the pandemic. Operating largely behind the scenes, ITS has been essential to the College’s ability to transition to an all-remote work and school environment last year and back to on-site work and classes this summer and fall.Now, the department gets to take a long-deserved turn in the spotlight as a finalist for Tech Team of the Year in the... Read More

Tri-C Receives 15th NorthCoast 99 Award

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has once again been recognized as one of Northeast Ohio’s top places to work, winning its 15th NorthCoast 99 award.Tri-C also won a special category award for employee engagement and talent development. This is the second time in three years the College has won a special category award.The annual awards, presented by ERC, recognize companies with HR practices that drive results, provide competitive advantages and allow businesses to... Read More

COVID-19 Vaccines Available Sept. 7-8 at Tri-C Campuses

Tri-C students are encouraged to “get the shot” during a series of vaccination clinics in September, when two-dose COVID-19 vaccines will be administered at Tri-C’s campuses. The vaccines, offered through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center, are available on a walk-in basis.Students receiving their first shot will have $10 added to their Stomp Card (student ID), valid for food and other purchases at Tri-C’s food service and bookstore sites.... Read More

Tri-C Debt Forgiveness Programs Aim to Re-enroll Students

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has announced the debut of the Tri-C College Comeback program, a new initiative with the goal of forgiving student debt and encouraging students to return to Tri-C and complete their degrees and certificates.This program pairs with the College’s existing Student Debt Forgiveness program to provide two debt forgiveness options: one for students who stopped attending Tri-C prior to the COVID-19 outbreak last March and another for those who... Read More

Tri-C Provides Training for One of “Hottest Careers”

With an estimated shortage of 80,000 drivers, commercial driver’s license industries — including long-haul truckers, local truck drivers and bus drivers — represent one of the country’s most in-demand career fields.The Transportation Innovation Center at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) is among the institutions training the next generation of drivers to take the wheel on all kinds of large vehicles. A recent Fox 8 segment focused on the... Read More

Tri-C Taking Steps to Support Mental Health

The worldview on mental health is changing. Previously dismissed or stigmatized, the importance of mental health and wellness has been brought to the forefront in recent years.Celebrity athletes such as tennis player Naomi Osaka, gymnast Simone Biles and Cleveland Cavaliers basketball player Kevin Love have opened up about their own struggles with mental and emotional health, advancing the discussion further.That discussion has spread to include colleges and universities, where students often... Read More

Jazz Talk Tent Schedule Announced for JazzFest

Each year, Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland hosts enlightening conversations and interviews with artists on topics relevant to the jazz world. The dialogue will continue at the 42nd annual festival, presented by KeyBank Sept. 11-12 at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights.Conversations will take place throughout the festival in the Jazz Talk Tent, featuring artists, radio hosts, a producer, a writer and a historian.“Because we take our educational mission seriously, these offerings are important... Read More

Workforce Training Course Offered Through Tri-C Access Centers

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) is offering a free Workforce Success course this fall to expand community access to education and job training.The course sharpens skills necessary to succeed in the workplace while introducing participants to the College and its resources. It is part of the ongoing Tri-C Access Centers initiative. Courses are available online or in person, as follows:Tuesdays, Sept. 14 – Nov. 2, noon to 1:30 p.m., OnlineWednesdays, Sept. 15 –... Read More

New Alex Johnson Book Examines Transformation

The past year has served as a stark reminder that organizational leaders will face change and must adapt to it. However, the need to lead effectively in a time of change is not limited to major crises like a global pandemic. It is a constant for all leaders.In his new book, Capturing Change: Creating Systems of Transformation Through Continuous Improvement, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) President Alex Johnson looks at commonly held beliefs regarding change management, exposing... Read More

Tri-C Receives $600,000 Grant from Bank of America

Bank of America has announced a four-year, $600,000 partnership with Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) to help scale and support the college’s Adult Diploma Program, which focuses on career exploration, essential workplace skills and job placement. The Adult Diploma Program prepares graduates for in-demand careers such as administration, health care, food services and more. This grant is also part of the bank’s newly expanded $1.25 billion, five-year commitment... Read More

Western Campus President Discusses New Role

For nearly 30 years, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has been part of Lisa Williams’ life.The new Western Campus president is a 1994 graduate who began working for Tri-C a year later, serving in a variety of roles until leaving for Terra State Community College in Fremont, Ohio, in 2009.She returned to the College in 2014 and became Eastern Campus president in 2019. Her move back to Parma’s Western Campus — where she previously served as assistant... Read More

Tri-C Court Reporting Instructor Receives National Honor

Laurie Moniz, an instructor in the Captioning and Court Reporting program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®), has been recognized by her peers as an exceptional educator.Moniz, of Aurora, was named 2021 Educator of the Year by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), receiving the organization's CASE Award of Excellence during its annual conference and expo, held July 29 to Aug. 1 in Las Vegas.The award honors educators who demonstrate achievement, leadership and... Read More

Mandel Scholars Partner With Habitat for Humanity

In the coming years, when you see a Habitat for Humanity project in the works around Cleveland, there is a good chance that students at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) will have had a hand in it. Not hammering nails or sawing boards, but planning the project. Last year, Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity partnered with students from Tri-C’s Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy to identify Cleveland neighborhoods most in need of their services. For six... Read More

Tri-C President on Making Greater Cleveland Even Greater

As we continue to battle back from the COVID-19 pandemic, Greater Cleveland and the larger Northeast Ohio community face a recovery effort closely tied to issues already facing the region pre-pandemic: expanding the economy, addressing poverty and inequality, and improving access to education.Cleveland Magazine recently interviewed a cross-section of local leaders, including Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) president Alex Johnson, to get potential solutions to many of the issues... Read More

JazzFest Announces Lineup Change for Sept. 12

Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland, presented by KeyBank, has announced a lineup change for its 42nd annual festival, Sept. 11-12 at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights.Due to travel restrictions between the U.S. and Europe caused by the COVID-19 Delta variant, Banda Magda’s performance has been canceled. Jazz vocalist Catherine Russell will move to the 8 p.m. time slot Sunday, Sept. 12, while Sunday’s 6:30 p.m. concert will now feature Harp vs Harp: Edmar Castaneda and Grégoire... Read More

Advisory Committee and Community Champion Awards Announced

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has announced its 2021 Advisory Committee and Community Champion award recipients.Two Tri-C advisory committees were honored for their service over the past year. Each includes members from a wide range of professions throughout Northeast Ohio who utilize their expertise to aid the College’s mission. These include:The Business Advisory Committee led by Robin Williams, Business Administration program manager, and Pam Grant, associate dean... Read More

Tri-C’s Mobile Unit an Example of Innovative Manufacturing Training

The manufacturing talent gap has been an ongoing nationwide issue for more than a decade, holding the entire sector back from reaching its full potential.In a recent Industry Week column, co-authors Ethan Karp and Jessica Borza note that half a million factory jobs remain unfilled despite U.S. manufacturing activity hitting a 37-year high this spring. In Northeast Ohio, 8,000 manufacturing jobs remain open — a deficit that, if filled, could add $5 billion annually to the local... Read More

Registration Open for New Session of Tri-C Encore 55+

Registration for Encore 55+ Learning at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) is now open for new sessions of on-campus and online courses this fall.Beginning in September, Encore Campus Fridays will return in a limited capacity at the Eastern, Western and Westshore campuses. The first four-week session begins Sept. 3, followed by sessions starting Oct. 8 and Nov. 5 (no class Nov. 26). Each class is 50 minutes, and will take place at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.Encore On-the-Go virtual... Read More

Tri-C Announces 2021 Alumni Award Recipients

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has presented Alumni Awards to Terri S. Pope, Ariane Kirkpatrick and Harry Quiñones for their contributions to the College and community since attending Tri-C.The awards were announced Thursday during an Advisory Committee and Community Champions event.Tri-C Alumni Awards recognize alumni for their professional accomplishments and service to Northeast Ohio and the College. Honorees were selected from community nominations.Pope and... Read More

Tri-C Receives Funding from American Rescue Plan

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has announced it has received $41,645,625 in stimulus money from the higher education fund of the American Rescue Plan Act.The money is part of an estimated $1.1 billion in funding earmarked for Ohio colleges and universities, about a quarter of which will go to schools in Northeast Ohio. In the region, Tri-C is receiving the second-highest amount of money, behind Kent State University.A little more than half of the money – about $21.5... Read More

Tri-C, Esperanza Helping to Rebuild Lives

Cuyahoga Community College’s (Tri-C®) Access Centers, launched in partnership with community organizations several years ago, aim to bring life-changing educational opportunities to residents of Northeast Ohio who might not otherwise have them. One of them is located at Esperanza Inc., at the corner of W. 25th St. and Clark Ave. in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood. Esperanza seeks to improve the lives of people in Cleveland’s Hispanic population... Read More

Westshore Student Named Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar

Benjamin Mitchell, a student at the Westshore Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®), has been selected as a 2021 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar. The honor, which is accompanied by a $1,000 scholarship, helps new members of Phi Theta Kappa defray educational expenses. Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholars are selected based on scholastic achievement, community service and leadership potential. Mitchell, 19, of Lakewood, was one of 207 scholars selected from a pool of... Read More

JazzFest All-Stars Featured on ‘Applause Performances’

With Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland less than two months away, regional attention is starting to return to local jazz music.Four local jazz musicians with longtime ties to JazzFest performed together and chatted about their experiences in the music world during a recent edition of WCPN/ideastream’s Applause Performances.Trumpeter Dominick Farinacci, drummer Jerome Jennings, guitarist Dan Wilson and bassist Christian McBride participated in the hourlong livestream, recorded at the Idea... Read More

Tri-C Announces Leadership Changes and Promotions

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has announced a variety of leadership changes affecting Collegewide positions as well as positions at the Eastern, Western and Westshore campuses.The following changes will take effect Aug. 2:Western Campus: Lisa Williams will assume the role of campus president following the retirement of current president Donna Imhoff. Williams has served as president of Tri-C’s Eastern Campus since 2019. She has been employed by the College in a... Read More

Tri-C Taking Steps to Reconnect With Students

The pandemic story of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) is similar to that of many colleges across the country, with double-digit enrollment declines over the past year as many students opted to suspend their education due to personal hardship.A recent article in The Guardian looks at the widespread impact of the pandemic on community colleges and the steps Tri-C and others are taking to reverse the trend of students stopping their educational pursuits.Karen Miller,... Read More

Explore Career Training Opportunities at Tri-C

Learn more about how Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) can help you train for in-demand careers during Career Exploration Week, a virtual open house taking place July 19-22. Each hourlong presentation will highlight a different career field: Monday at 6 p.m.: Information Technology Tuesday at noon: Public Safety Tuesday at 6 p.m.: STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Wednesday at 6 p.m.: Hospitality Thursday at noon: Health Careers Thursday at noon:... Read More

Tri-C Joins Liberal Arts Transfer Pathway Consortium

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) is one of 24 Ohio colleges and universities participating in the new Ohio Consortium for Transfer Pathways to the Liberal Arts.Established by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC), the project will provide transfer pathways to baccalaureate degrees in English, psychology and biology for community college students. The consortium consists of 14 four-year colleges and universities and 10... Read More

Tri-C JazzFest Accepting Vendor Applications

The 42nd annual Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland, presented by KeyBank, is accepting applications from artists, restaurants and food purveyors, local businesses, churches, civic and service groups and other nonprofits to participate as vendors in the popular festival.Applications will be accepted online at tri-c.edu/jazzfestvendorregistration through Monday, Aug. 16. Vendor quantity is limited this year due to space restrictions.All beverage sales are handled exclusively by the venue’s... Read More

Tri-C Joins Ohio To Work Initiative

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has joined the Ohio To Work initiative to provide skill development opportunities for Ohio’s workforce.Led by JobsOhio in partnership with MAGNET, Ohio To Work helps Cuyahoga County residents impacted by the pandemic, connecting them to career resources and support. Participants can access career coaching and support services, skills assessments and training programs in health care, manufacturing and IT.“Ohio To Work focuses on... Read More

Megan O’Bryan Featured on Cover of ‘Phenomenal Woman’

Megan O’Bryan has never lost sight of her mission to serve the Northeast Ohio community.Currently serving as president of the Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) Foundation and as vice president of development for the College, O’Bryan has maintained a careerlong focus on assisting organizations that better the lives of community members — whether they are in need, going through a personal crisis or seeking education as a path to a better life.Her life... Read More

Workforce Connect Partnership Meets Growing Demand

To meet the growing demand for skilled workers in the health care field, many small and midsized colleges are working to form partnerships with regional health care providers.The Workforce Connect Healthcare Sector Partnership, led by Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®), is one such collaboration.In a recent Higher Ed Dive article examining the trend of collaborative efforts to train and place new health care workers, the publication spoke with Sue Krejci, executive director of the... Read More

New Metro Food Pantry is Feeding Bodies and Minds

For many, the path to success in the classroom starts at the kitchen table.Students who deal with hunger and food insecurity are less likely to perform well in their studies, complete a degree and attain employment in their chosen career.But over the past year, the Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) Foundation has teamed with Char and Chuck Fowler to combat this problem. The result is The Pantry: A Tri-C Connect Initiative. The new facility is located at the Metropolitan Campus.The... Read More

Tri-C Foundation Retains Leadership Team

The Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) Foundation announced its 2021-2022 leadership team during its annual meeting.Louis G. Joseph, president and CEO of The Brewer-Garrett Company, was reappointed chairperson. He has served as a Foundation director since 2001 and received the Foundation’s Heath Oliver Distinguished Director Award in 2017 for exemplary service to the College. He became chairperson in June 2020. Other Foundation board officer appointments include vice... Read More

Tri-C VP Selected for 2022 Leadership Cleveland Class

JaNice Marshall, vice president of access and community connections at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®), is one of 66 local leaders selected for Leadership Cleveland’s Class of 2022.The cohort will participate in the intensive 10-month program, beginning this fall, which challenges members to analyze and act on important community issues impacting the Greater Cleveland area.Participants were selected through a competitive application process. The program will begin in... Read More

Tri-C Students Win Seven All-Ohio Journalism Awards

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) students brought home seven All-Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards during this year’s virtual awards ceremony, held June 24.The awards, presented by the Press Club of Cleveland, honor both college and professional journalists for achievement in a wide range of disciplines, including print and broadcast reporting, photography and illustration.This year’s Tri-C award winners are:Jazmin Johnson, who won four awards. Johnson swept... Read More

Jim Funai is Seeding the Future at Tri-C

Jim Funai has a confession to make.“I’m afraid of humans,” he said. “I’m much more comfortable talking to plants.”This isn’t surprising, given Funai’s extensive background in the green industry. It all started at 15, when he worked at an apple orchard owned by his high school track coach. After earning a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from The Ohio State University, he began working as a landscape... Read More

Tri-C’s Women in Transition Program Offers Online Summer Sessions

CLEVELAND — The Women in Transition program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) is hosting on-site and online summer classes to empower women in their pursuit of education, training and a career.A six-week session begins July 20, with online classes held Tuesday through Thursday, 6-8 p.m. More sessions will take place on-site at local Access Centers. Two will run at Olivet Housing and Community Development Corporation: Monday through Wednesday, 1-3 p.m., beginning July... Read More

COVID-19 Vaccines Available at Eastern Campus

CLEVELAND — The two-dose Pfizer vaccine will be offered Tuesday, June 29, to those age 12 and up at the Eastern Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) through a partnership with CVS Pharmacy. Appointments are available between noon and 4 p.m. Walk-ins are also welcome. No vaccines will be administered after 3:45 p.m. Individuals should arrive early, as walk-ins are first-come, first-served. Those 18 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.Vaccines are... Read More

Making a Difference: Howard Lewis Honored for Work With Tri-C Foundation

CLEVELAND — The Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) Foundation recently presented its 2021 Chairperson’s Award to Howard L. Lewis for his dedicated service to the organization and its student-focused mission. The award honors individuals for significant and difference-making work with the Foundation. “Howard has enthusiastically stepped into the Development Committee Chair role this year and continues to grow as a persuasive voice in our... Read More

Tri-C Recognizes Juneteenth as a National Holiday

On June 18, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) President Alex Johnson recognized the creation of Juneteenth National Independence Day as a federal holiday.The holiday, signed into law by U.S. President Joe Biden June 17, was the culmination of a bipartisan effort. The first official observance is Saturday.“We applaud the bipartisan effort from our elected leaders, giving Juneteenth the recognition it deserves,” Johnson said Friday. “It marks a crucial... Read More

New Tri-C Times Highlights 2021 Grads

The Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) Class of 2021 has completed a year unlike any other. Despite pandemic restrictions, several thousand dedicated students remained focused on their goals and earned their degrees.The Summer 2021 issue of Tri-C Times magazine takes a look a few of their stories. You’ll read about an aspiring actress who learned a new way to perform at Tri-C; a nursing student who was inspired to join the medical field by his grandmother; a... Read More

Tri-C JazzFest Seeking Festival Volunteers

Help Cleveland’s hottest music festival hit all the right notes by volunteering this summer during the 42nd annual Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland, presented by KeyBank.Applications will be accepted online at tri-c.edu/jazzfest/get-involved through Monday, July 26. The online form asks for basic information to align the skills of the individual with the tasks at hand.Volunteer responsibilities include everything from distributing materials and working backstage to assisting with guest... Read More

Dameyonna Willis Empowers Girls Through QUEENIAM

Sometimes, our greatest inspiration comes from our toughest trials.It was August 2016 when Dameyonna Willis brought her 5-month-old daughter, Kylee, to Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. Over the preceding months, the infant had begun experiencing a series of worsening symptoms, including heavy breathing and an inability to feed properly.Doctors quickly determined the cause — congestive heart failure — and scheduled Kylee for surgery.“Her chest was... Read More

Tri-C Foundation Honors Kathy O’Neill

The Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) Foundation Board of Directors awarded its 2021 Heath Oliver Distinguished Director Award to Katherine T. O’Neill in appreciation of her exemplary service to the College and its students.O’Neill has been a director since July 2001 and has served in leadership roles as a member of the Executive Committee since 2002 and Foundation Secretary since 2010. She joined the Committee on Directors in 2003 and has served as Chair of the... Read More

Tri-C Students Are "Gaming the System"

As an undergrad, Bill Whetsel was a web developer who never turned down a job. Even if he had no idea what he would be doing, the journey was part of the challenge and fun.Now Whetsel, an assistant professor in Visual Communication and Design at Cuyahoga Community College, brings that same sense of curiosity and enthusiasm to the College’s Game Design certificate program. For students pursuing this credential, curiosity is a must.“In our program, a successful student is... Read More

New Food Pantry Opens at Metro Campus

CLEVELAND — Students in need of food assistance and other basic necessities have a new destination at the Metropolitan Campus of Tri-C.The Pantry: A Tri-C Connect Initiative was dedicated June 10 in a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Tri-C and community leaders.Made possible by a $1,020,000 gift from Char and Chuck Fowler, The Pantry — located in the south concourse adjacent to the Metro Campus Center — will provide eligible students with up to 15 pounds of... Read More

Tri-C to Host Ohio Adaptive Learning Summit

Learn more about the use of adaptive learning technology at the 2021 Ohio Adaptive Learning Summit, June 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.The virtual summit is hosted by Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) on behalf of Achieving the Dream, the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, and Every Learner Everywhere, a network of 12 partner organizations that collaborate with higher education institutions to improve student outcomes through innovative teaching strategies, including... Read More

10KSB Salutes Graduates at Outdoor Ceremony

This spring, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has returned to honoring its graduates with much-deserved in-person ceremonies, after a year of virtual observances. The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) program is no exception.In a June 7 ceremony, the College celebrated the achievements of 46 members of the 10KSB Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 cohorts.As with the College’s main commencement ceremonies June 9, the 10KSB ceremony was held outdoors. The Aut-O-Rama... Read More

Festival Passes on Sale for Tri-C JazzFest

Passes are now on sale for the full lineup of shows at this year’s 42nd annual Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland, presented by KeyBank.Passes, sold by day, are available through ticketmaster.com or by calling 216-371-3000. Reserved passes are tiered, available for $50, $65, $75 and $100. Lawn seating is $35.The two-day outdoor festival features 10 acts in Cain Park’s covered Evans Amphitheater, with a lineup that celebrates the roots of jazz and the forward-thinkers in the genre... Read More

The Art of the Matter

Julie Marie Wetzel of Westfield Township will graduate summa cum laude from Cuyahoga Community College this month with an Associate of Arts degree focused in art therapy. The 20-year-old, who will be the student speaker at commencement June 9, began attending Tri-C in fall 2019 after graduating from high school and the Medina County Career Center the previous spring.Although Wetzel started out in criminal justice, after one semester she began to feel it wasn’t the right field for... Read More

Tri-C Commencement Celebrates Nearly 2,200 Spring Graduates

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) will celebrate the academic achievements of nearly 2,200 petitioning graduates during its Spring Commencement on Wednesday, June 9.After holding all commencement ceremonies virtually in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this spring’s ceremonies will be held in person at Byers Field at Robert M. Boulton Stadium in Parma. Graduates will be honored at a pair of ceremonies scheduled for noon and 4 p.m. A virtual recognition ceremony will... Read More

Tri-C Famous: Sara Fuller

#TriCFamous is a bimonthly feature that introduces readers to the people who make the College work while providing a sneak peek into their lives off campus.Sara Fuller joined Tri-C in spring 2014 as an adjunct instructor and later became an assistant professor of English at the College’s Westshore Campus. She also serves as faculty development coordinator for the campus. Learn more about Sara — including why you might occasionally hear her scream during a virtual meeting... Read More

Returning to College After Time Off

College enrollment took a nationwide hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some students were deterred by financial hardship, while others were unable to take classes in an all-online format. Many were from low-income households.But as the nation begins to recover, many students who declined to continue college over the past year are starting to return. Colleges and universities, including Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®), anticipate climbing enrollment numbers in the second half of... Read More

A Life Reimagined

Ludmila “Lucy” Zaharieva moved to the United States from Bulgaria in 2005 alongside her husband and teenage daughter. Unemployed and unable to speak English, Zaharieva focused on reimagining life in her new country.Times change. The 51-year-old will graduate from Tri-C this spring with an Associate of Applied Business degree in interior design. But this non-traditional student didn’t always know she wanted to be a designer.“I started classes at Tri-C... Read More

Cleveland Scholar House Receives National Coverage

A recent Inside Higher Ed article highlighted the forthcoming Cleveland Scholar House as an example of how colleges and universities are reinvigorating their efforts to address housing insecurity among their students.The apartment complex, to be built across Community College Avenue from the Metropolitan Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®), will provide housing for single Tri-C and Cleveland State University students with minor children.In addition to housing within walking... Read More

The Right Move

Calling himself a “lateral career-move student,” Benedek “Bence” Toth, 29, admitted, “I would’ve never in a billion years pictured myself working in medicine. It never really interested me throughout college the first time.”That first time resulted in a bachelor’s degree in marketing from John Carroll University in 2014, which led to work at a window installation company, as a beer specialist for... Read More

A Promise Kept

Mechelee Torres’ life changed forever when Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico in September 2017. With no electricity on the island, she was unable to continue working or taking classes at her university. A month later, she moved to Cleveland so she could continue her education.“When I came to the United States, my English was not very good, so I enrolled in English as a Second Language classes at Tri-C,” Torres said.Shortly after the start of her first... Read More

Unexpected Outcomes

Coming to Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) was a triage decision for Amya “Mya” McCain. She didn’t plan to attend Tri-C, but she needed to improve her GPA before going to a four-year school.So, Tri-C it was — but her journey took her to unexpected places.“I ended up being happily surprised with my Tri-C experience, especially being a Mandel Scholar. I had a really, really good experience at Tri-C,” she said.Now with... Read More

Finding Her Voice

Laura Stasik, who turned 59 in April, has always had jobs — secretary, data entry, restaurant work — but she’s never had what she would call a career.“I spent most of my life saying I don’t know what I what to be when I grow up,” she said.Now a soon-to-be graduate of the Captioning and Court Reporting program at Cuyahoga Community College’s Western Campus, Stasik is ready to change that. She recently accepted a job at... Read More

A Family Calling

Growing up listening to his grandma recount her experiences as an ICU and travel nurse working in Florida, Alabama and other states inclined Anthony Pugh toward medicine, but it was only upon her death in 2016 that he realized nursing was truly his calling.“I kind of wanted to be a nurse while she was alive, but then when she died I was like, ‘Oh, now I really want to be a nurse,’” recalled the 22-year-old from East Sparta in Stark County.Pugh... Read More

Access Centers to Hold Health Careers Information Sessions

Learn more about health careers programs and services offered by Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) Access Centers during a series of virtual information sessions this summer. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with Access Center team members who can answer questions regarding health careers education, job training and other opportunities available through the centers. Free virtual sessions will take place at noon on the following dates: Wednesday, July... Read More

Tri-C, Notre Dame College Partner for Police Training

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) and Notre Dame College in South Euclid have announced a partnership that will allow students to pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice alongside Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) certification.The partnership, formally announced June 1, combines the resources of both schools, providing the most comprehensive education in Ohio for those looking to enter the law enforcement field.Notre Dame College has an established... Read More

Grit and Faith Pay Off for Tri-C Grad

Eva Kelley has tackled a lot of things, including motherhood, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certification and stints in both the Army and the Air Force. Soon, she’ll add an associate degree from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®)to the list.The Euclid resident and mother of four will graduate with honors this spring.Kelley joined the U.S. Army in 1987 and the U.S. Air Force in 2001. She speaks highly of her experiences in each branch, which afforded her the opportunity to... Read More

Changing Course

Jameelah Johnson’s calendar is full.During the day, the 48-year-old works full time at Lorain County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services. She also runs her own insurance and financial services company. On top of that, she’s the executive director of Multi-Generational Youth Outreach, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit she founded in 2013 that works to alleviate poverty among homeless and neglected kids and young adults ages 12 to 21. She even manages to work out four days a week.But that... Read More

Lineup Announced for Tri-C JazzFest

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has announced an eclectic lineup of artists performing at the 42nd annual Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland, presented by KeyBank.The two-day outdoor festival features 10 acts in Cain Park’s covered Evans Amphitheater, with a lineup that celebrates both the roots of jazz and the forward-thinkers in the genre today.“We wanted to celebrate the fact that we all made it through a difficult year by presenting a fun and diverse... Read More

Setting the Stage

“I want to be an actress.” That’s not typically the response you get when you ask someone what they want to do for a living. For Kaleny Balfour, the answer was a no-brainer. “I always really enjoyed performing,” Balfour said. “My first performance was in eighth grade.” Born and raised in Cleveland, Balfour was no stranger to Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®). She graduated from high school in 2018, took a year... Read More

Tri-C at Forefront of Reimagining Access

Though society is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, its impacts are still far-reaching and have caused leaders in many fields to reassess their processes and policies. Education is one such area.In a recent Inside Higher Ed column, Karen A. Stout takes a look a number of colleges around the country — including Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) — that have started rethinking how they approach educational access in light of the pandemic and the economic... Read More

Tri-C Vice Presidents Named Women of Excellence

Two Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) vice presidents were named YWCA Women of Professional Excellence during a livestream event Thursday evening.The YWCA Greater Cleveland honored Tri-C’s vice president of communications, Jenny Febbo, and vice president and general counsel, Renee Richard, as part of its 45th annual Women of Achievement Awards Celebration.The hourlong event, broadcast by WKYC, can be viewed here.Febbo, who joined Tri-C in 2018, oversees the Integrated... Read More

President Biden Visits Tri-C, Tours Metro Campus MTC

U.S. President Joe Biden traveled to Cleveland May 27 to visit Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®), where he was scheduled to make his last campaign stop in March 2020 before COVID-19 shut down the nation.During his approximately three-hour visit to the Metropolitan Campus, Biden toured the Manufacturing Technology Center (MTC), where Tri-C and local representatives including College President Alex Johnson, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, and U.S. Representatives Marcy Kaptur and Tim... Read More

Kyra Wells ‘Greeting’ a Bright Future

For as long as she can remember, Kyra Wells has been interested in design.“When I was 10, I created flyers for my dad’s job,” she said. “I was fascinated with drawing and painting. I just didn’t think you could make a career out of it.”Years later, she did exactly that. In January 2021, Wells, a graduate of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) became the new creative marketing designer at American Greetings, beating out more... Read More

Cleveland Scholar House Planned Near Metro Campus

CHN Housing Partners and the United Way of Greater Cleveland have jointly announced a plan to build the Cleveland Scholar House, a service-enriched apartment building for single college-student parents and their minor children.Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has been a core partner in the Cleveland Scholar House effort, along with the Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority, Cleveland State University and Step Forward. The project will be funded through the Low-Income Housing... Read More

Access Centers Offer Online Workforce Training

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) is offering an online Workforce Success course this summer to expand community access to education and job training.The course is designed to sharpen skills necessary to succeed in the workplace while introducing participants to the College and its resources. It is part of the ongoing Tri-C Access Centers initiative. The session begins June 16.Participants will earn college credit; identify and boost employable skills; get help with career... Read More

Tri-C, Cuyahoga County Public Library Announce Partnership

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) students have Cuyahoga County Public Library resources at their fingertips through a new partnership between the institutions.The new program allows Tri-C students to opt in for a library card, providing access to CCPL’s sizeable collection of books, magazines, movies, music and more. The card can be used digitally or at the system’s 27 branches.The collaboration will connect Tri-C students to free educational materials to... Read More

Irie Jamaican Kitchen Opens Third Location

Omar McKay is bringing the specialties of his native Jamaica to another part of Northeast Ohio.The 2011 graduate of the Culinary Arts program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) opened a third Irie Jamaican Kitchen location Tuesday — this time in Akron’s Highland Square neighborhood at 837 W. Market St.McKay opened his first restaurant, Irie Patties, at Richmond Town Square in 2013. After a few menu tweaks, he moved, opening the first Irie Jamaican Kitchen... Read More

Tri-C Foundation Holds 2021 Presidential Scholarship Luncheon

The Right Honourable Theresa May, former prime minister of the United Kingdom, reflected on the challenges and rewards of leadership, as she helped the Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) Foundation raise scholarship funds for students during its Presidential Scholarship Luncheon.The Foundation’s 2021 Presidential Scholarship Luncheon raised critical funds to help Tri-C students with financial needs pursue higher education and achieve their academic goals.May served as... Read More

Tri-C Alum Ben Wallace a Hall of Famer

From Cleveland’s Community College Avenue to Springfield, Massachusetts, Ben Wallace is one of sports’ greatest underdog stories.This September, the Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) basketball alum will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, following an announcement May 16.He is part of a 2021 class that also includes NBA greats Paul Pierce, Chris Bosh, Toni Kukoc and Chris Webber; longtime NBA coach Rick Adelman;... Read More

Tri-C JazzFest 2021 Live From Cain Park

Music enthusiasts can once again experience Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland live and in-person this year. The 42nd annual festival, presented by KeyBank and in partnership with Cain Park, will return Sept. 11 and 12 at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights.The 2020 edition of JazzFest took place online due to COVID-19 restrictions.This year’s two-day outdoor festival will feature a variety of national acts performing under the covered Evans Amphitheater.“We wanted to ensure the safest... Read More

Tri-C Announces $1 Million Gift from Medical Mutual

Medical Mutual has pledged a $1 million gift to the Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) Foundation to address the immediate needs of Tri-C students.The gift, announced May 13 during the Foundation’s virtual 2021 Presidential Scholarship Luncheon, will help support a three-part initiative. The funding will be used to establish the Medical Mutual Workforce Training Endowed Scholarship, the Medical Mutual Student Response Endowment Fund and support the expansion of the Western... Read More

Completing a Tri-C Degree Overseas

Andrew Pavell is proof that when you are determined enough, even thousands of miles can’t stand in the way of your goals.The Brunswick Hills firefighter and U.S. Air Force reservist is now also a registered nurse, having completed his Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) degree while deployed in Afghanistan this spring.It was Pavell’s second deployment. He began in Tri-C’s nursing program after coming back from his first deployment. When the second came... Read More

Tri-C Celebrates Minority Scholar Achievements

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) celebrated the academic achievements of dozens of minority students during the 31st annual Frances M. Franklin Scholarship and Protégé Luncheon on May 7.The College awarded nearly $50,000 in scholarships during the virtual event, which was sponsored by Tri-C’s Black American Council.Tri-C scholarship recipients, by category, included:Excellence Award (4.0-3.5 GPA): Ajhasia Dumas, Terrie Jackson, Tyriq Murray, Judith... Read More

Reflecting With the Family of George Floyd

Through his death last spring, George Floyd became an international symbol of the human cost of systemic racism and violence against Black people and other minority groups.But Floyd was more than that. To his aunt, Angela Harrelson, and uncle, Selwyn Jones, he was Perry (his middle name) — a “fun-loving kid who smiled all the time.”Harrelson and Jones took part in a May 6 virtual discussion sponsored by the Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) Stand for... Read More

Tri-C Named Among Best Online Community Colleges

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has garnered another award for its online learning programs.The College has been listed among Intelligent’s best online community colleges for 2021.Placing 14th overall in a lineup of 59 ranked colleges, Tri-C was also named the most affordable college on the list. Tri-C continues to offer the lowest tuition rate in Ohio while offering more than 1,000 credit courses each semester in more than 200 career and technical programs that lead to... Read More

Access Centers to Hold Information Sessions

Learn more about programs and services offered by Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) Access Centers during a series of virtual information sessions in May and June. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with Access Center team members, who can answer questions regarding education, job training and other opportunities available through the centers. Free virtual sessions will take place: Tuesday, May 18, at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 19, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, at 11... Read More

Tri-C Postpones Athletics Until Fall 2022

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) is postponing all Triceratops interscholastic athletic programs until fall 2022.The decision was reached after careful consideration of the estimated timeline for achieving widespread immunity to COVID-19, as athletic programs require student-athletes and coaches to remain in close proximity to one another for extended periods of time Tri-C is among several Ohio Community College Athletic Conference schools to suspend its athletic programs... Read More

Women in Transition Offers Online Summer Sessions

The Women in Transition program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) is launching summer sessions of online classes to empower women in their pursuit of education, training and a career.Six-week sessions begin June 1 and July 20, with online classes held three days a week. One course runs 10 a.m. to noon Monday through Wednesday starting June 1; two others run Tuesday through Thursday, with morning classes (June 1 start) and evening classes (July 20 start).Interested participants... Read More

Teal and Green: Tri-C’s Commitment to Sustainable Construction

Teal is the top color at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®), but green is quickly making its own presence felt.Tri-C’s recent wave of new construction highlights its commitment to “green” building — a commitment that has shaped campus planning for well over a decade. The College now has eight structures with LEED certifications, a globally recognized symbol for sustainability achievement. Another is in the review process.The new buildings... Read More

Stomp Card Wins National Award

Whenever Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) students whip out their Stomp Cards, they will be displaying the best-designed ID card in the nation.That’s according to the National Association of Campus Card Users (NACCU), the members of which recently awarded Tri-C’s student ID card the top prize in the organization’s card design competition, held during the annual NACCU conference in April.Tri-C was among three Ohio schools in the competition. Bowling... Read More

Tri-C’s Janice Willier Named to All-Ohio Academic Team

Janice Willier of Louisiana was one of a dozen students from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) named to the All-Ohio Community College Academic Team, which comprises top students at the state’s two-year schools. The All-Ohio Academic Team recognizes student excellence in academics, leadership and community service. Seventy-three students from across the state were selected for this year’s team on the basis of their outstanding records. Tri-C had more students... Read More

Tri-C’s Isabel Ruiz-Flint Named to All-Ohio Academic Team

Isabel Ruiz-Flint of Solon was one of a dozen students from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) named to the All-Ohio Community College Academic Team, which comprises top students at the state’s two-year schools. The All-Ohio Academic Team recognizes student excellence in academics, leadership and community service. Seventy-three students from across the state were selected for this year’s team on the basis of their outstanding records. Tri-C had more students... Read More

Parma Police Restarting Citizens Academy

The Parma Police Department plans to restart its Citizens Police Academy this spring, with sessions beginning May 11. Some classes will take place at the KeyBank Public Safety Training Center, located at the Western Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).Two of Parma’s citizen academies were canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The spring session begins May 11 and lasts for 10 weeks, with sessions taking place each Tuesday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at either... Read More

COVID-19 Vaccines at Metro, Eastern Campus

The two-dose Moderna vaccine (age 18+) will be offered Tuesday, May 4, at the Metropolitan Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) and Thursday, May 6 at the Eastern Campus, through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center.Appointments are required between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome from 2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. No vaccines will be administered after 3:45 p.m. Individuals should arrive early, as walk-ins are first-come, first-served.Vaccines are available to area... Read More

Tri-C’s Tavia Pearson Named to All-Ohio Academic Team

Tavia Pearson of Cleveland was one of a dozen students from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) named to the All-Ohio Community College Academic Team, which comprises top students at the state’s two-year schools. The All-Ohio Academic Team recognizes student excellence in academics, leadership and community service. Seventy-three students from across the state were selected for this year’s team on the basis of their outstanding records. Tri-C had more students... Read More

Tri-C’s Catherine Parchem Named to All-Ohio Academic Team

Catherine Parchem of Westlake was one of a dozen students from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) named to the All-Ohio Community College Academic Team, which comprises top students at the state’s two-year schools.The All-Ohio Academic Team recognizes student excellence in academics, leadership and community service. Seventy-three students from across the state were selected for this year’s team on the basis of their outstanding records.Tri-C had more students... Read More

Tri-C Nursing Student Working to Persevere

Though she is enduring an ongoing series of challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) nursing student Miranda Webb is still eyeing a May graduation date.Kent State University’s Black Squirrel Radio recently featured Webb’s pandemic story. Already balancing work, school and raising her young daughter, her family was dealt a major blow when her husband was let go from his job.While the couple fought to receive her... Read More

Tri-C’s Stellah Ottichilo Named to All-Ohio Academic Team

Stellah Ottichilo of Cleveland was one of a dozen students from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) named to the All-Ohio Community College Academic Team, which comprises top students at the state’s two-year schools.The All-Ohio Academic Team recognizes student excellence in academics, leadership and community service. Seventy-three students from across the state were selected for this year’s team on the basis of their outstanding records.Tri-C had more students... Read More

Tri-C Black American Council Celebrates Achievement of Minority Scholars

Celebrate the academic achievement of minority scholars at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) during the 31st annual Frances M. Franklin Scholarship and Protégé Luncheon on Friday, May 7.  The virtual program will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nearly $50,000 in scholarships will be awarded during the event, sponsored by Tri-C’s Black American Council.  Entrepreneuer Ethan Holmes headlines the event as keynote speaker. The... Read More

Tri-C’s Nicole Kaib Named to All-Ohio Academic Team

Nicole Kaib of North Royalton was one of a dozen students from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) named to the All-Ohio Community College Academic Team, which comprises top students at the state’s two-year schools.  The All-Ohio Academic Team recognizes student excellence in academics, leadership and community service. Seventy-three students from across the state were selected for this year’s team on the basis of their outstanding... Read More

Tri-C’s Jameelah Johnson Named to All-Ohio Academic Team

Jameelah Johnson of Cleveland was one of a dozen students from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) named to the All-Ohio Community College Academic Team, which comprises top students at the state’s two-year schools.  The All-Ohio Academic Team recognizes student excellence in academics, leadership and community service. Seventy-three students from across the state were selected for this year’s team on the basis of their outstanding... Read More

Tri-C’s Charese Harrison Named to All-Ohio Academic Team

Charese Harrison of Maple Heights was one of a dozen students from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) named to the All-Ohio Community College Academic Team, which comprises top students at the state’s two-year schools.  The All-Ohio Academic Team recognizes student excellence in academics, leadership and community service. Seventy-three students from across the state were selected for this year’s team on the basis of their outstanding... Read More

Tri-C Saluted as a Military Spouse Friendly School

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has again been named a Military Spouse Friendly® School for its commitment to serving those married to active duty service members and veterans.  Tri-C received the honor for the fourth consecutive year from VIQTORY, a veteran-owned organization that connects the military community to education and employment opportunities in civilian life.  Nearly 200 schools across the nation earned the designation. They were... Read More

Tri-C’s Lindsay Gunn Named to All-Ohio Academic Team

Lindsay Gunn of Bay Village was one of a dozen students from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) named to the All-Ohio Community College Academic Team, which comprises top students at the state’s two-year schools.  The All-Ohio Academic Team recognizes student excellence in academics, leadership and community service. Seventy-three students from across the state were selected for this year’s team on the basis of their outstanding... Read More

Celebration Time: Tri-C Schedules Spring Commencement

Times have been set for a pair of in-person Spring 2021 Commencement ceremonies honoring the latest graduates from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  The 90-minute outdoor celebrations will begin at noon and 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 9, at Byers Field at Robert. M Boulton Stadium in Parma. These will be the College’s first in-person commencement ceremonies since December 2019 and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Two ceremonies will take place, each... Read More

Tri-C Selected for National Project Building Job Pipelines

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) is one of four institutions selected for an Achieving the Dream project aimed at strengthening the crucial role community colleges play as connectors between education and employment.  The two-year initiative will establish Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) that bring together community college faculty, workforce development professionals, community-based organizations, high school educators and employers.  This effort... Read More

Tri-C’s Kylie Cianciolo Named to All-Ohio Academic Team

Kylie Cianciolo of Fairview Park was one of a dozen students from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) named to the All-Ohio Community College Academic Team, which comprises top students at the state’s two-year schools.  The All-Ohio Academic Team recognizes student excellence in academics, leadership and community service. Seventy-three students from across the state were selected for this year’s team on the basis of their outstanding... Read More

Tri-C’s Geri Bakushi Named to All-Ohio Academic Team

Geri Bakushi of Lakewood was one of a dozen students from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) named to the All-Ohio Community College Academic Team, which comprises top students at the state’s two-year schools.  The All-Ohio Academic Team recognizes student excellence in academics, leadership and community service. Seventy-three students from across the state were selected for this year’s team on the basis of their outstanding records.  Tri-C... Read More

State Scholarship Dollars Aim to Expand STEM Workforce

State higher education leaders are applauding a Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) proposal tied to an initiative to boost Ohio’s workforce in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).  Department of Higher Education Chancellor Randy Gardner told Crain’s Cleveland Business that he was excited about Tri-C’s plans for the latest allocation of Choose Ohio First dollars. The program seeks to build collaborations between higher... Read More

A Dozen Tri-C Students Named to All-Ohio Academic Team

Twelve students from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) were named to the All-Ohio Community College Academic Team, which comprises top students at the state’s two-year schools.  The All-Ohio Academic Team recognizes student excellence in academics, leadership and community service. Seventy-three students from across the state were selected for this year’s team on the basis of their outstanding records.  Tri-C had more students named All-Ohio... Read More

Tri-C’s Sara Alnaasan Named to All-Ohio Academic Team

Sara Alnaasan of North Olmsted was one of a dozen students from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) named to the All-Ohio Community College Academic Team, which comprises top students at the state’s two-year schools.  The All-Ohio Academic Team recognizes student excellence in academics, leadership and community service. Seventy-three students from across the state were selected for this year’s team on the basis of their outstanding... Read More

How Leadership Guided Tri-C Through Uncertain Times

The League for Innovation in the Community College is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to catalyzing the community college movement. To share best practices, it often asks community college leaders to offer examples from their institutions.  The organization recently published an essay from Lindsay English, vice president of learning and engagement at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®), about how strong leadership principles guided Tri-C during... Read More

COVID-19 Testing at Metro Campus on April 19

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered Monday, April 19, at the Metropolitan Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center.  The free testing begins at 11 a.m. No testing will be done after 2 p.m. It is recommended that individuals arrive at least an hour before the site closes. Testing is completed on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary. The testing service is available to area residents... Read More

Scientific Discovery: Program Helps Tri-C Students Launch STEM Careers

Kevin Jaworski spends his days poring over lab work and analyzing data as he completes his master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. Hours disappear writing up research and preparing presentations. It’s the life of someone building a future in the sciences — and it couldn’t be further from where the 43-year-old stood just a few years ago. At that time, he was trying to make it as a musician. His talents on the guitar brought concert... Read More

Empowering Words: Tri-C Student Earns ‘Poet Laureate’ Title

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) student Ella Hanley utilizes words as an art form — and she has the title to prove it.  Achievement Centers for Children (ACC) recently honored Hanley with a poet laureate designation in recognition of her skills. The 18-year-old, who has Down syndrome, has been visiting the center for speech therapy for most of her life.  Hanley began writing poetry after a speech language pathologist at the ACC recommended it as an... Read More

Tri-C’s Hip-Hop Homecoming Goes Virtual

Relive past high-energy performances and learn from a music industry innovator during a virtual edition of the annual Hip-Hop Homecoming presented by Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  Hip-hop producer and jazz drummer Karriem Riggins headlines the free online event, which begins at 7 p.m. Friday, April 23. Hip-Hop Homecoming: KARRIEM of the Crop will stream through Tri-C’s Facebook and YouTube channels.  Riggins will share stories about his career,... Read More

Tri-C to Host Conversation With Members of George Floyd’s Family

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) will host a conversation with members of George Floyd’s family that examines his legacy and the racial justice movement that grew from his death.  The free virtual program — “The Legacy of George Floyd” — will take place via livestream from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, May 6. Visit tri-c.edu/georgefloyd to register for the program.  Angela Harrelson and Selwyn Jones, aunt and uncle... Read More

COVID-19 Testing at Metro Campus on April 12

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered Monday, April 12, at the Metropolitan Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center.  The free testing begins at 11 a.m. No testing will be done after 2 p.m. It is recommended that individuals arrive at least an hour before the site closes. Testing is completed on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary. The testing service is available to area residents... Read More

Daughter of Tri-C Administrator Remembers Her Roots

What do you do when the Oprah Winfrey Network says it’s interested in your life story?Monti Becker Kelly is one of the few people who has needed an answer to that question.A high-ranking professional in the technology and customer experience industry, Becker Kelly is one of the most successful Black women in Charlotte, North Carolina. The senior vice president at [24]7.ai — an artificial intelligence software and service provider for businesses — is passionate... Read More

10KSB Helps Pietra Foster Grow Child Care Business

Pietra Foster always knew she had a good business model. But the owner of Wickliffe Academy and Collinwood Academy day care centers knew if she wanted to take her business to another level, she needed to sharpen her leadership skills.That’s why she enrolled in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).“I have a friend who went through 10KSB, and she recommended it to me,” said Foster, the... Read More

Tri-C JazzFest Hosts Panel Discussion on Film Showcased at CIFF

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) will premiere a video discussion focused on the Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland-supported TOPOWA! Never Give Up at the Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF).  The post-film discussion panel includes American jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and others involved in TOPOWA! Never Give Up. The documentary shares the life-changing work of Brass for Africa, a nonprofit that brings brass music to disadvantaged African children.  The... Read More

‘Tri-C Classical Piano Series’ Presents Variations of Bach

French-American jazz pianist Dan Tepfer will perform his interpretation of Johann Sebastian Bach’s renowned Goldberg Variations during the Tri-C Performing Arts Classical Piano Series presented by Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  The free virtual concert begins at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 18. Visit tri-c.edu/performingarts on April 18 to view the recital, which was prerecorded in the auditorium at Tri-C Metropolitan Campus.  Tepfer earned global acclaim... Read More

Brain Power: Tri-C Biology Professor Beth Vaidya

A neural computer operates within our skulls, accumulating information that drives daily decision-making. The brain powers success and achievement — but it can also open doors to darker places. The workings of this complex command center have captivated Beth Vaidya since childhood. It led her into the field of neuroscience, spurred research projects and resulted in a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Today, that desire to search inside the brain for... Read More

Alex Johnson on Messaging and Cultural Literacy

In his latest column for Smart Business Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) President Alex Johnson examines the impact of consistent messaging from leadership and how an organization can mold its culture around that messaging.Johnson calls consistent messaging “one of the most powerful tools a leader can possess,” allowing the leader to present, in just a few words, what the organization is striving for, how it can be accomplished and how each person is... Read More

L.A. Gallery Features Work of Tri-C Photography Instructor

The latest exhibit at a California gallery that showcases boundary-pushing artists features the unconventional work of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) photography instructor Joseph Minek.  Chemistry and Light brings together the work of Minek and another artist, Chuck Kelton, who practice versions of camera-free photography. The show runs through May 8 at the Von Lintel Gallery in Los Angeles.  The artists eschewed the fundamental conventions of both... Read More

COVID-19 Testing at Metro Campus on April 5

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered Monday, April 5, at the Metropolitan Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center.  The free testing begins at 11 a.m. No testing will be done after 2 p.m. It is recommended that individuals arrive at least an hour before the site closes. Testing is completed on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary. The testing service is available to area residents... Read More

Tri-C Hospitality Students Host ‘From Earth to Table’ Virtual Cooking Class

Celebrate Earth Day by cooking a locally focused farm-to-table dinner through a virtual class organized by Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) culinary and event planning students.  The online event will take place from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 22. Work along with students as they prepare an appetizer and entrée that pair perfectly with wine varietals selected by the event planning and banquet management classes.  Cost is $20, which will go toward a... Read More

Tri-C Announces In-Person Spring Commencement

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) will honor its Spring 2021 graduates on Wednesday, June 9, with in-person commencement ceremonies at Byers Field at Robert. M Boulton Stadium in Parma.  Tri-C President Alex Johnson shared the news with the campus community today. The outdoor celebration will be the College’s first in-person commencement since December 2019 and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Two ceremonies will take place, with each limited to... Read More

A Healthy Job Market

Health care is hiring in Northeast Ohio … and we’re not talking a few jobs here and there. Tens of thousands of positions need to be filled over the next few years, according to employment studies.  So where will hospitals and medical centers find these workers? That’s a question being answered by the Workforce Connect Healthcare Sector Partnership and Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  The partnership brings together the... Read More

Tri-C Graduate’s Store Opens for Business

At first, Harry Quiñones thought he wanted to run his own architectural company. Then he thought he wanted to run his own construction business.But the 2019 Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) graduate soon discovered the core appeal wasn’t construction or architecture — it was entrepreneurship.His dream of becoming a business owner recently became reality with the opening of 787 Market & Café at 6105 Memphis Ave. in Cleveland’s Old... Read More

Hacking for Good: Tri-C Student Unlocks Plan Focused on Cybersecurity Careers

Samuel Paredes is fascinated by what humans can do with technology. It’s why the native of Ipiales, a city in southern Colombia, moved to the United States to study computers and IT systems.  “I’ve always been interested in every aspect of technology,” Paredes said. “Building it, repairing it, finding flaws and problems in systems and fixing them.”  Paredes, a 19-year-old resident of Cleveland’s Old... Read More

Tri-C Students Shine at National Landscape Competition

The 2021 National Collegiate Landscape Competition proved once again that some of the industry’s top rising talent attends Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  Tri-C’s Andrew White finished second overall in the virtual competition, which attracted hundreds of students from 34 horticulture and landscape programs at two- and four-year schools across the country.  The competition challenged students in 21 events that require the expertise needed... Read More

Lemons and Lemonade: Finding Opportunity at Tri-C During the Pandemic

The Petros Family Student Relief Fund debuted at Cuyahoga Community College        (Tri-C®) last summer to help students overcome financial hardships and continue their studies during the COVID-19 outbreak.  It has provided emergency aid and tuition assistance to nearly 150 students, including Rawle G. Cummings. In the following essay, which was published in the Spring 2021 issue of Tri-C... Read More

COVID-19 Testing at Metro Campus on March 29

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered Monday, March 29, at the Metropolitan Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center.  The free testing begins at 11 a.m. No testing will be done after 2 p.m. It is recommended that individuals arrive at least an hour before the site closes. Testing is completed on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary. The testing service is available to area residents... Read More

Drone Use by Law Enforcement Continues to Fly High

One of the newest tools in law enforcement works from above on a flight path drawn up with guidance from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  Clayton Harris, who oversees the College’s Public Safety Center of Excellence, chaired an Ohio advisory group that developed a model policy and best practices for the use of drones by first responders.  The 2016 group recommended using drones for tasks such as search and rescue missions,... Read More

Outdoor Writing Resume Continues to Grow for Tri-C Professor

Readers flocked to the first National Geographic story written by Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) professor Andrew Pegman.  His online article about introducing children to migratory bird watching landed tens of thousands of social media likes over the past few weeks. The story offers tips on getting kids outside and engaged with nature. (Click here to read the story.)  Pegman is an English professor at Tri-C and an award-winning outdoor writer whose stories... Read More

Fox 8's Wayne Dawson Built His Career From a Tri-C Experience

Cleveland is Wayne Dawson’s world.  For 42 years — all at WJW Fox 8 — Dawson has covered events that have shaped our lives and dictated our region’s future. His career has spanned five Cleveland mayors, eight Ohio governors and eight U.S. Presidents.  Dawson was there for the highest of highs, perched above the Cavaliers’ championship parade in 2016, and the lowest of lows, reporting on the Browns’ move to... Read More

Tri-C Film Student Takes Second in Online Festival

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) film student Marissa Roesch made an award-winning directorial debut at The Exposure Film Fest.  Her five-minute film, “My Body is My Home,” took second place in the inaugural online film festival. Roesch wrote and directed the film in the fall as her final project in a class exploring the short film genre and techniques.  “My Body is My Home” offers an emotional glimpse into a transgender... Read More

Newest Edition of ‘Tri-C Times’ Focuses on STEM

Future job outlooks illustrate the importance of STEM. Employment in occupations related to STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — are projected to increase by 8% by 2029.  That’s why STEM, in many ways, is regarded as the focus of our nation’s economic future.  The Spring 2021 issue of Tri-C Times magazine highlights how Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) is working to stay at the forefront of... Read More

Tri-C Famous: Steve Leidich

#TriCFamous is a bimonthly feature that introduces readers to the people who make the College work while providing a sneak peek into their lives off campus.  Steve Leidich has been a biology professor at Tri-C’s Eastern Campus since 2001. With so many years in the classroom, you expect him to know a thing or two about science — but it turns out he knows a thing or two about many different subjects. You might even call him a Renaissance man. Learn more about Steve... Read More

Tri-C’s Corporate College Helps Bay Village Schools Launch Diversity Program

Bay Village School District recently celebrated its first group of graduates from a diversity and inclusion training program developed by Corporate College®, a division of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  Fifteen teachers and district staff members — including Superintendent Jodie Hausmann — earned Diversity Champion certificates after completing the district’s inaugural program session. They were recognized at a school board... Read More

Downtown Cleveland Alliance Elects Tri-C President to Board

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) President Alex Johnson has joined Downtown Cleveland Alliance in its work to create a vibrant city center and position Cleveland for success.  The nonprofit organization recently elected Johnson as an ex officio member of its board of directors. His appointment bolsters the College’s partnership with the economic development group. Johnson has served as Tri-C president since 2013.  “Downtown Cleveland... Read More

COVID-19 Testing at Metro Campus on March 22

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered Monday, March 22, at the Metropolitan Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center.  The free testing begins at 11 a.m. No testing will be done after 2 p.m. It is recommended that individuals arrive at least an hour before the site closes. Testing is completed on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary. The testing service is available to area residents... Read More

Tri-C’s Black and Brown Male Summit Explores Academic Success Rates

The inaugural Black and Brown Male Summit at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) aims to address lagging academic success rates for African American and Latino men.  The free virtual event will take place from 10-11:30 a.m. Thursday, April 8. The session will introduce participants to role models and programs geared toward helping men of color achieve in high school and college.  Visit tri-c.edu/virtualmalesummit to be part of the summit, titled “All... Read More

Positive Image: Tri-C Honored for Magazine, Photography Work

The National Council for Marketing and Public Relations awarded Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) two 2020 Paragon Awards, which recognize excellence in communications at two-year colleges.  The national honors for the College’s Integrated Communications department included: A Silver Award in the magazine category for the Summer 2020 edition of Tri-C Times, which focused on efforts by the College, its students and alumni to help Northeast Ohio during the... Read More

Tri-C Student Named Ohio’s 2021 New Century Transfer Scholar

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) student Geri Bakushi has been named Ohio’s 2021 New Century Transfer Scholar, joining a select group of academic achievers and leaders from across the nation.  More than 2,000 community college students were nominated for the scholarship award, with one honoree named per state. Judges considered grades, leadership, activities and how students extend their intellectual talents beyond the classroom.  New Century Transfer... Read More

Tri-C’s Isabel Ruiz-Flint Honored as National Coca-Cola Scholar

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) student Isabel Ruiz-Flint has been named a 2021 Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar, joining a select group of academic high achievers from across the nation.  Ruiz-Flint, a senior at Solon High School, graduated from Tri-C in December with a flawless 4.0 GPA and an Associate of Arts degree. She attended Tri-C through the state’s College Credit Plus dual enrollment program.  Her grades earned her membership in Phi... Read More

Tri-C’s Kylie Cianciolo Named a National Coca-Cola Scholar

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) student Kylie Cianciolo has been named a 2021 Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholar, joining a select group of students from across the nation.  Cianciolo is set to graduate from Tri-C in May with two degrees — an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Science. She was named Westshore Campus Student of the Year in 2020.  She also served as a student ambassador at the campus, worked as an intern and completed the... Read More

Tri-C’s Charese Harrison Named a National Coca-Cola Scholar

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) student Charese Harrison has been named a 2021 Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholar, joining a select group of students from across the nation.  Harrison has been studying recording arts at Tri-C and is set to graduate in May with an Associate of Arts degree. She is part of the College’s Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy.  Her grades earned her membership in Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and she has... Read More

Triple Success: Three Tri-C Students Named National Coca-Cola Scholars

Three Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) students have been named 2021 Coca-Cola Academic Team Scholars, joining a select group of academic high achievers from across the nation.  Kylie Cianciolo and Charese Harrison earned Silver Scholar honors, while Isabel Ruiz-Flint was recognized as a Bronze Scholar. All are members of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society chapters at Tri-C campuses.  The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Academic Team program by... Read More

Tri-C Holds Inaugural Women’s Summit

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) will celebrate Women’s History Month with a free virtual summit designed to inspire, motivate and empower women in their daily lives.  The inaugural Tri-C Women’s Summit will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, March 26. Registration is required at tri-c.edu/WomensSummit. Links to the online sessions will be emailed to registrants the week of the event.  Conference sessions will focus on a variety of... Read More

COVID-19 Testing at Metro Campus on March 15

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered Monday, March 15, at the Metropolitan Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center.  The free testing begins at 11 a.m. No testing will be done after 2 p.m. It is recommended that individuals arrive at least an hour before the site closes. Testing is completed on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary. The testing service is available to area residents... Read More

Tri-C’s Western Campus STEM Center Earns LEED Gold Certification

More than 4,500 plants grow on “living walls” inside the Western Campus STEM Center at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®), establishing roots for yet another honor from the U.S. Green Building Council.  The STEM Center recently received LEED® Gold certification from the organization. This is Tri-C’s eighth building with a LEED designation, a nationally recognized benchmark for green design, construction and... Read More

A Cut Above: Tri-C Horticulture Student Wins STIHL Scholarship

Winning the national STIHL Inc. Landscape Industry Scholarship will allow horticulture student Beth Whipple to cut into her tuition payments at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) Foundation recently announced Whipple as the recipient of the $2,500 scholarship. She will be recognized later this month during a virtual conference.  Whipple, of Mentor, began taking classes at Tri-C in 2016. She is working... Read More

Tri-C Alum Is Cleveland Heights’ Featured Artist

Though it’s been 27 years, Cynde Hujarski is still building on what she learned while earning an associate degree in interior design and business from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) in 1994.After a decade working in commercial and residential spaces, the Cleveland-area artist turned her focus to jewelry in 2006. She now owns and operates Cynde H. Designs, creating earrings, necklaces and other adornments, often using recycled materials in the process. She is... Read More

New Tri-C Tuition Rate Begins in Summer 2021

The tuition rate at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) will increase by $5 per credit hour beginning with the Summer 2021 session.  The College’s new cost per credit hour — $119.54 for Cuyahoga County residents — remains the lowest in Ohio. This is only the College’s second tuition modification since 2014. The most recent adjustment came in 2018.  The College’s Board of Trustees approved the adjustment in 2020 but... Read More

Tri-C Repeats on National ‘Voter Friendly Campus’ Award

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) again earned national status as a “Voter Friendly Campus” in recognition of its efforts to help students participate in the political process.  Overall, 231 campuses in 37 states and Washington, D.C. were recognized for their work to develop a culture of democratic engagement. Tri-C also received the two-year honor in 2019.  The program asks campuses to promote voter registration and voting to students as an... Read More

Tri-C Famous: Brigitte Matchett

#TriCFamous is a bimonthly feature that introduces readers to the people who make the College work while providing a sneak peek into their lives off campus.  Brigitte Matchett is administrative assistant to the Tri-C Western Campus president. She joined the College’s Health Careers department in 2018 before assuming her current role where, among other duties, she has the important task of managing the campus budget. But Brigitte is not only good with numbers —... Read More

‘Tri-C Classical Piano Series’ Explores New Aspects of Classic Works

Savor the “crystalline playing and charismatic persona” of German concert pianist Caroline Oltmanns during the Tri-C Performing Arts Classical Piano Series presented by Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  A free virtual concert featuring Oltmanns begins at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 21. The acclaimed musician will explore new aspects of works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Claude Debussy, Friedrich Gulda and James Wilding.  Visit tri-c.edu/performingarts... Read More

Next Session of Online Tri-C Encore 55+ Courses Begins March 16

Encore 55+ Learning at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) will begin a new six-week session of online courses March 16 to enrich the minds and lives of those aged 55 and older.  Encore On-the-Go features 50-minute virtual classes that meet once a week, with offerings on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Class options are available at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. each day.  Courses cover a wide variety of subjects, including finance, fitness, history, literature,... Read More

Tri-C’s Women in Transition Program Offers Online Spring Sessions

The Women in Transition program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) is launching spring sessions of online classes to empower women in their pursuit of education, training and a career.  The six-week program begins the last week of March, with online classes held three days a week. One course option runs 10 a.m. to noon Monday through Wednesday; two others run Tuesday through Thursday, with morning (10 a.m. – noon) and evening (6-8 p.m.) classes... Read More

Tri-C Student Named to All-USA Academic Team

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) student Geri Bakushi is among 20 students named to the All-USA Academic Team for achievement in the classroom and leadership on campus.  More than 2,000 students across the country were nominated for the award, regarded as one of the top honors available for community college scholars.  Bakushi, of Lakewood, expects to graduate from Tri-C this summer with an Associate of Science degree. The international student from Albania has... Read More

Cleveland Band’s Rock Album Trilogy Offers Tri-C Connections

Two graduates from the Recording Arts and Technology (RAT) program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) power the sound of Rusted Hearts, a Cleveland band that just released the final album in a planned musical trilogy.  Singer-guitarist Patrick Farmer and drummer Nate Gliebe earned Associate of Applied Science degrees from the College before coming together in Rusted Hearts. The band’s growing discography reflects their recording and music production training... Read More

COVID-19 Testing at Metro Campus on March 8

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered Monday, March 8, at the Metropolitan Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center.  The free testing begins at 11 a.m. No testing will be done after 2 p.m. It is recommended that individuals arrive at least an hour before the site closes. Testing is completed on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary. The testing service is available to area residents... Read More

Honors Grow for Tri-C Horticulture Student

Scholarship awards keep sprouting on the resume of horticulture student Layla Lang of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association recently awarded Lang a $2,000 scholarship to continue her studies in soil science. The Olmsted Township resident expects to graduate from Tri-C in May and transfer to Purdue University.  She was among seven 2021 honorees from the association’s Phil Kozel Memorial Scholarship Program.... Read More

Tri-C Dean to Chair Urban League of Greater Cleveland Board

The Urban League of Greater Cleveland will continue building a more equitable community with leadership from Janice Taylor-Heard, dean of academic affairs at the Western Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  Taylor-Heard has been selected to chair the organization’s board of trustees, according to a story posted by The Real Deal Press. She was appointed during the Urban League’s Feb. 25 meeting.  The Urban League works to... Read More

In Memory: Scholarship Drive Honors Police Academy Associate Commander

Erwin Eberhardt’s guiding influence on Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) Police Academy cadets will continue even after the associate commander’s sudden death last month.  A 2018 Police Academy graduate ­Taylor Kozlowski launched a fundraising drive to create scholarships in memory of Eberhardt. As of March 1, nearly $5,000 has been raised via donations and T-shirt sales.  Money raised will go to the Cuyahoga Community College... Read More

Better for Veterans: Tri-C Earns 12th Consecutive ‘Military Friendly’ Designation

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has earned its 12th consecutive Military Friendly® School designation in recognition of its commitment to serving veterans and active military students, as well as their families.  Tri-C was designated as a Top 10 school in the large community college category for the fourth consecutive year in the ratings. Institutions were evaluated in areas such as student retention, graduation rates and job placement.  More than... Read More

Tri-C Students Named Semifinalists for National Scholarship Program

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation selected a pair of Tri-C students as semifinalists in a highly competitive scholarship program designed to help community college scholars continue their education at top institutions.  Kylie Cianciolo of Fairview Park and Mayle Sobieski of Lakewood are among more than 400 students from across the nation recognized as 2021 Cooke Transfer Scholar semifinalists. The honorees emerged from a pool of more than 1,500 applicants from nearly 400... Read More

Tri-C’s William Gary Named to National Industry Recovery Panel

A national panel shaping economic recovery initiatives in the health care industry includes William Gary, executive vice president of the Workforce Community and Economic Development division at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  Gary is among 15 workforce leaders across the country named to the Health Care Industry Recovery Panel, which was seated to advise U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration and Congressional leaders.  The health care panel is... Read More

Tri-C Hosts Three Days of COVID-19 Testing Week of March 1

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered three days next week at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) campuses through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center.  Free testing will take place at Metropolitan Campus in Cleveland on Monday, March 1, and Wednesday, March 3. Testing will also be offered at Westshore Campus in Westlake on Thursday, March 4.  Testing begins at 11 a.m. each day. No testing will be done after 2 p.m. It is recommended that... Read More

Tri-C Professor Named President of Ohio Landscape Association Board

Connections between Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) and the Ohio Landscape Association grew this year.  The organization’s 2021 board president is Jim Funai, an assistant professor in Tri-C’s Plant Science and Landscape Technology program. Funai is a licensed arborist who began teaching at the College in 2009 after 15 years in the green industry.  The timing of his term seems perfect: The association is in the midst of launching a workforce... Read More

Panelists at Tri-C Event Explore Racism’s Influence on Health Care

The connection between racism and health care is a daily — and sometimes deadly —  reality for people of color in America.  That was the sentiment shared during a Feb. 24 panel discussion hosted by Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) and its Stand for Racial Justice alliance. More than 600 viewers logged in to the virtual program.  “The Color of Health: Examining Racism as a Public Health Crisis” explored how... Read More

Tri-C Student Lands at U.S. Figure Skating Championships

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) student Eva Pate keeps her talent on ice.  Pate and her ice dance partner, Logan Bye, finished seventh at the 2021 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The national competition recently took place at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The 20-year-old is studying small business management at the College and balancing classes with her training with Team USA.  Pate started skating at age 5 while attending a Girl Scout... Read More

Tri-C’s Jeffrey Tuma Recognized with National Faculty Award

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) will present one of its 2021 Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty awards to the late Jeffrey Tuma, an assistant professor of philosophy at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  The honor recognizes individuals who make a difference in the classroom and go beyond what is required to ensure that students find academic achievement. Tuma is among 23 recipients from classrooms across the... Read More

Tri-C Training Programs Offer Entry Into In-Demand Health Care Field

Employment opportunities in the health care industry brought Reham Shoman to Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  Shoman enrolled in the College’s one-year Sterile Processing and Distribution Technology program last fall to enter the field. Sterile processing technicians are in demand by Northeast Ohio hospitals and medical centers. A recent report by Jade Jarvis of News 5 Cleveland highlighted job openings in the region’s health care sector. The... Read More

Spectrum News Highlights Tri-C, RTA Job Training Partnership

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) helped put Patricia Myles in the driver’s seat for a new career with the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority.  An expanded job training partnership between Tri-C and RTA allowed Myles to transition into the transportation field after working in banking and insurance. The new program began this month.  Myles recently shared her story with Spectrum News 1 reporter Rodneya Ross. She said the promise of an RTA job... Read More

Online Workforce Training Course Offered Through Tri-C Access Centers

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) is offering an online Workforce Success course this spring to expand community access to education and job training during the COVID-19 outbreak.  The course is designed to sharpen skills necessary to succeed in the workplace while providing an introduction to the College and its resources. It is part of the ongoing Tri-C Access Center initiative. The session begins March 17.  Participants will: Earn college credit Identify... Read More

Tri-C President Alex Johnson to Chair Achieving the Dream Board

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) President Alex Johnson is taking a lead role in national efforts to close equity gaps and accelerate student success as the new chair of the Achieving the Dream (ATD) board of directors.  ATD leads a network of more than 300 community colleges committed to helping students — particularly low-income students and students of color — meet their academic, career and personal goals.  The nonprofit organization... Read More

Tri-C Hosts Three Days of COVID-19 Testing Week of Feb. 22

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered three days next week at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) campuses through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center.  Free testing will take place at Metropolitan Campus in Cleveland on Monday, Feb. 22, and Wednesday, Feb. 24. Testing will also be offered at Western Campus in Parma on Thursday, Feb. 25.  Testing begins at 11 a.m. each day. No testing will be done after 2 p.m. It is recommended that individuals... Read More

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Recognizes Tri-C Chapters

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society chapters at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) campuses have earned recognition for their efforts to bring the life-changing benefits and opportunities of membership to students.  Each has been designated by PTK as a 2021 REACH Rewards Chapter. The designation means that at least 15% of students academically eligible to join PTK become members.  The organization announced the honored chapters Feb. 17.  “We... Read More

National Honor Flows to Tri-C Horticulture Student

Peyton Musgrave often wandered through her wooded backyard to the banks of the Olentangy River while growing up in Columbus. She loved the sights, the sounds and the connection to nature.  Today, that same landscape is vastly different than the one she remembers — and that reality now powers her studies at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  Musgrave enrolled in Tri-C’s Plant Science and Landscape Technology program last summer. The National... Read More

Citizens Police Academy: Learning About Law Enforcement at Tri-C

The Parma Heights Police Department is offering its residents a behind-the-scenes look at law enforcement and the work of police officers with help from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  The city’s second Citizens Police Academy begins March 24 at the KeyBank Public Safety Training Center on Tri-C’s Western Campus. Classes will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Wednesday for 11 weeks.  The program covers topics such as patrol... Read More

Road to Success Bring Guatemalan Immigrant to Tri-C

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) provided automotive technician Williams Hernandez with the tools to succeed in the United States after he left Guatemala three years ago in search of new opportunities. Hernandez spent a year advancing through Tri-C’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program after moving to Cleveland. He found support along the way from the College’s Hispanic Council. After polishing his English speaking skills, Hernandez enrolled in the... Read More

Cuban Hip-Hop Artist Finds Sound Through Tri-C Connections

A new song from Cuban hip-hop artist Elkarnal Decuba found its groove with musical and recording talent at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  Tri-C’s Jackie Warren and David Kennedy teamed to add piano to the tracks that Decuba rapped over for “Que Bonito Es el Amor.” The Havana-based artist released the song via music video on Feb. 14.  The Cuban-Cleveland connection grew from cultural exchange visits Warren took to the island... Read More

Fox 8 Features Tri-C Students During Black History Month Celebration

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) students responded when Fox 8 asked local scholars to honor Black History Month by sharing stories of inspirational figures in their lives.  The station has been airing and posting short student videos in February as part of its Black History Month celebration. Two Tri-C students have been featured during the series. They are: Nicholas Johnson of Cleveland, who is nearing an Associate of Science degree at the College. Click here to... Read More

The Cost of Living Under a ‘Great’ President

Living during the time of a “great” American president isn’t an optimal situation, according to Christopher E. Kinsella, a history professor at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  Presidents celebrated as great leaders earned their accolades by guiding the nation through some of its darkest hours, Kinsella wrote in an op-ed essay posted by the Akron Beacon Journal.  In the essay, which was posted on Presidents Day, he outlined the... Read More

Tri-C Student Named to National Advisory Board Focused on Student Voting

A Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) student will continue his nationally recognized work on election participation with the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition.  Sebastian Canales has been selected to serve on the 2021 Advisory Board for the coalition, a nonpartisan network dedicated to increasing college student voter participation in the United States.  The 15-member board includes students and faculty members from campuses across the country. They will... Read More

Tri-C Hosts Three Days of COVID-19 Testing Week of Feb. 15

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered three days next week at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) campuses through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center.  Free testing will take place at Metropolitan Campus in Cleveland on Monday, Feb. 15, and Wednesday, Feb. 17. Testing will also be offered at Corporate College® East in Warrensville Heights on Thursday, Feb. 18.  Testing begins at 11 a.m. each day. No testing will be done after 2 p.m. It... Read More

‘A Little Bit of Love’ for Tri-C Students

The music video for “A Little Bit of Love” proves that creativity hasn’t gone into quarantine at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) during the COVID-19 pandemic.  As classes shifted online to slow the spread of the virus, professors like Miriam Bennett discovered innovative ways to educate students from a distance while providing a rich experience.  The film and media arts instructor connected her cinematography class with Nashville... Read More

Former Tri-C Student Leads Super Bowl Flyover

The pilot leading last weekend’s Super Bowl bomber flyover began her career ascent at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  U.S. Air Force Capt. Sarah Kociuba attended Tri-C full time during her senior year at North Royalton High School. She later transferred to the University of Dayton, where she took classes through the Air Force ROTC program and graduated in 2012.  On Sunday, as the last note of the national anthem reverberated through Raymond James... Read More

Encore Providing Online Education for Seniors

It’s no secret that most education has moved online in the past year.  Though online learning poses its own set of challenges relative to classroom learning, it also vastly expands access to lessons and material in a wide range of subjects, allowing students to learn from the comfort of their homes.  That includes seniors.  Encore 55+ at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) is one of the programs that has adapted to the new world of online... Read More

Tri-C President Alex Johnson Encourages COVID-19 Vaccination

The process took only seconds, but that was enough time for Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) President Alex Johnson to protect his family, friends and community — as well as himself — from COVID-19.  Johnson recently received his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Care Alliance Health Center in Cleveland. He became eligible Feb. 1.  A video posted to the College’s YouTube channel shares Johnson’s quick and painless... Read More

Tri-C Educator Honored for Work in Central Neighborhood

Tatiana Wells arrived at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) knowing how to make a difference in the lives of those around her.  The Cleveland Central Promise Neighborhood recently honored Wells with its Servant Leadership Award. The accolade recognizes her work as the Promise Early Learning Navigator for families in the east side neighborhood.  Wells joined Tri-C in December as director of the College’s Teacher Education program. Before that, she spent... Read More

New Scholarship Fund Honors Life of Professor Jeffrey Tuma

A new scholarship fund at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) honors the legacy of the late Jeffrey Tuma, an assistant professor of philosophy who brightened the lives of Tri-C students for nearly three decades.  Tuma’s work to help students will continue through the newly created Jeffrey Tuma Student Emergency Fund. The Cuyahoga Community College Foundation established the fund after his death in January.  The College has also dedicated its campus... Read More

Tri-C Famous: Marquita Rockamore

#TriCFamous is a bimonthly feature that introduces readers to the people who make the College work while providing a sneak peek into their lives off campus.  Marquita Rockamore is the director of Health Industry Solutions at Tri-C’s Corporate College®. She has been involved in workforce development for 20 years — nine of them with the College’s Workforce, Community and Economic Development division. She loves helping businesses develop... Read More

The Color of Health: Race, Racism and Public Policy in America

Learn why racism is being recognized as a public health crisis during a virtual panel discussion hosted by Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) and its Stand for Racial Justice alliance.  The free program — “The Color of Health: Race, Racism and Public Policy in America” — will take place via livestream from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24.  The conversation will explore how systemic racism impacts “health... Read More

‘Tri-C Classical Piano Series’ Honors Black History Month

Celebrate Black History Month through the artistry of American jazz pianist Aaron Diehl during the Tri-C Performing Arts Classical Piano Series presented by Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  The free virtual concert begins at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21. Diehl’s performance will honor the musical legacies of famous Black composers such as Fats Waller, Willie “The Lion” Smith, Mary Lou Williams, John Lewis and William Grant... Read More

Tri-C Receives Two Grants From National Endowment for the Arts

The National Endowment for the Arts this week announced a pair of grants totaling $35,000 to support music and dance projects by Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) in 2021.  The Grants for Art Projects (GAP) awards to the Cuyahoga Community College Foundation were included in the NEA’s first major funding announcement for next year. The federal agency approved more than $27.5 million in grants for organizations across the nation.  Supported projects... Read More

Tri-C Professors Build Online Teaching Skills

Fifteen Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) professors are honing their online teaching skills through a specialized course offered by the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE).  They are among more than 150 faculty members from Ohio community colleges participating in the Effective Online Teaching Practices course. The program began in January and runs through summer.  The course is designed to help faculty learn and implement equity-promoting,... Read More

Tri-C Hosts Three Days of COVID-19 Testing Week of Feb. 8

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered three days next week at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) campuses through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center.  Free testing will take place at Metropolitan Campus in Cleveland on Monday, Feb. 8; Wednesday, Feb. 10; and Thursday, Feb. 11. Metro Campus is located at 2900 Community College Ave. in Cleveland.  Testing begins at 11 a.m. each day. No testing will be done after 2 p.m. It is recommended that... Read More

Law Enforcement Use of Drones Is Taking Off

The sky is the limit when it comes to law enforcement use of drone technology, according to Clayton Harris, dean of public safety at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  Harris recently spoke with WKYC Channel 3 on the benefits drones offer first responders. His comments were included in a story on the Akron Police Department announcing plans to purchase a drone to help investigators safely view crime scenes and traffic crashes.  “If you can use... Read More

Tri-C Grad Helping Nurses Fight Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a growing crisis on a local, national and worldwide level. In the United States, it is the second-fastest-growing crime after drug dealing. Ohio is in the uppermost third of active criminal human trafficking cases in federal courts, ranking 14th among the 50 states.What you might not know is that health care workers are among those best positioned to help fight it.That’s the message 2007 Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) nursing graduate Kelly Cloonan... Read More

Tri-C’s Westshore Campus Earns Second LEED Certification

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) earned a LEED® Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for the new Liberal Arts and Technology building at Westshore Campus.  LEED certification is a nationally recognized benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. This is the College’s seventh building with a LEED designation.  Westshore’s Health Careers and Sciences building... Read More

Tri-C Scholar Coach Crowning Queens in Quarantine

Cleveland is the site of a royal coronation — many of them, actually. And it’s all thanks to Dameyonna Willis, a coach in the Say Yes Scholar Program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  Willis’ desire to motivate and empower young people extends beyond her job at Tri-C. She is also the founder of the nonprofit organization QUEENIAM, which teaches young Cleveland-area girls how to boost their confidence and self-image to become... Read More

Tri-C Presents ‘NewNow 2021’ Virtual Art Exhibit

The work of 63 regional artists will be showcased in NewNow 2021, a virtual art exhibition presented by Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) and Artists Archives of the Western Reserve.  NewNow 2021 will be on view Feb. 18 through April 17 at artistsarchives.org. Much of the work chosen for the competitive exhibition speaks to the upheaval of the previous year and the tumultuous energy propelling society forward.  The exhibition was juried by Cat Sheridan, curator... Read More

Tri-C Partners on Livestreamed Dance Performance From NYC

Gain a greater understanding of the human experience through dance and storytelling by Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE during a performance livestreamed from The Joyce Theater in New York City.  The virtual event begins at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18. It is presented by Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®), DANCECleveland, The Joyce Theater Foundation and Northrop at the University of Minnesota.  The program will include some of EVIDENCE’s most iconic pieces,... Read More

Tri-C, RTA Partner to Create New Job Hub Training Program

A job hub bringing Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) programming to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will help the agency recruit new employees, upskill current workers and enhance leadership teams.  The training partnership aims to increase workforce sustainability in the transportation industry while creating employment pipelines that lead residents toward RTA jobs with family-sustaining wages. Programming will begin in... Read More

Tri-C Hosts Three Days of COVID-19 Testing Week of Feb. 1

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered three days next week at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) campuses through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center.  Free testing will take place at Metropolitan Campus in Cleveland on Monday, Feb. 1, and Wednesday, Feb. 3. Testing will also be offered at Westshore Campus in Westlake on Thursday, Feb. 4.  Testing begins at 11 a.m. each day. No testing will be done after 2 p.m. It is recommended that individuals... Read More

Higher Ed Conference Puts Focus on Tri-C Police Training Course

A specialized law enforcement training program created by Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) following last summer’s social unrest received national attention this week during a higher education conference.  Tri-C President Alex Johnson discussed the program during the opening session of the two-day Workforce Development Institute presented by the American Association of Community Colleges.  He outlined the College’s partnership with Cuyahoga... Read More

Announcement Regarding Tri-C Employee Salaries in FY21

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) President Alex Johnson emailed the following message to faculty and staff on Jan. 28 regarding action by the Board of Trustees regarding salaries during the current fiscal year. Dear Colleagues: Beginning in spring 2020, the College took a number of steps to offset an anticipated $25M budget shortfall due to COVID-19. This included the deferral of FY21 cost-of-living and merit increases, as well as tiered salary reductions for some employees. In... Read More

‘The Cleveland 500’ Recognizes Tri-C Leaders as Influencers in the City

Two of The Cleveland 500 — a collection of civic leaders, doers, visionaries and idea generators — help shape the city’s future through their roles at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  Tri-C President Alex Johnson and Cuyahoga Community College Foundation President Megan O’Bryan stand among the list of forward-thinking influencers created by Cleveland Magazine. The Cleveland 500 is featured in the February issue of Community... Read More

‘Great Grocery Giveaway’ Brings Hundreds to Tri-C Western Campus

Halle Slaughter works two jobs to help make ends meet — and still, the single mother says it’s a struggle at times. She worries about simple things like whether there’s enough food in the pantry.  That’s why she joined the line of cars streaming onto the Western Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) for the “Great Grocery Giveaway.”  More than 900 boxes of food and supplies were distributed to... Read More

Ohio Arts Council Honors Two Tri-C Professors

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) art professors Stephanie Craig and Andrea LeBlond have earned 2021 Individual Excellence Awards from the Ohio Arts Council.  The award recognizes an artist’s body of work and how it exemplifies a specific discipline while advancing the larger artistic community. Craig and LeBlond were both recognized in the craft category.  The Tri-C professors are among 75 honorees across the state selected through an open panel... Read More

Tri-C a Strong Example of Bridging Credit, Noncredit Programs

For a number of years, community colleges have consistently seen growth in their noncredit, short-term certificate programs. They’re an appealing option for many students, allowing a quicker path to employment.They’re also “stackable.” Students can earn a series of related credentials in a relatively short period of time, increasing their value to current or potential employers.But colleges that merely offer stackable certificates without a clear path... Read More

Tri-C Among Colleges Selected to Lead Equity Transfer Initiative

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) joins a select group of institutions across the country powering the Equity Transfer Initiative, a program designed to increase bachelor’s degree attainment for underrepresented populations.  Three dozen colleges and universities in 13 states are taking part in the project. The national effort seeks to increase transfer rates between two-year and four-year schools for African American, Hispanic and first-generation... Read More

COVID-19 Testing at Western Campus on Jan. 28

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered Thursday, Jan. 28, at the Western Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center.  Testing begins at 11 a.m. Individuals seeking tests must be in line by 2 p.m. Testing will be done on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary. The testing service is available to Tri-C students, faculty and staff, as well as community residents. The program offers testing... Read More

Tri-C Hosting Grocery Giveaway With Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging

More than 900 boxes of food and supplies will be distributed to families during a “Great Grocery Giveaway” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, at the Western Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  The event — sponsored by the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging (WRAAA) — is part of a larger effort to fill food security gaps in the community.  Each box includes approximately $60 worth of groceries and... Read More

Tri-C Grad Named Berea Fire Chief

A career journey that began with classes at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has taken Terry Ledwell to the Berea Fire Department’s top spot.  Ledwell was sworn in as the city’s fire chief during a Jan. 15 ceremony. He joined the department two decades ago after completing his firefighter, paramedic and emergency medical technician training at the College.  The new position follows his rise in the ranks within the department, where he most... Read More

Tri-C Ranked Among Nation’s Best Community Colleges

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has been recognized as one of the nation’s “Best Community Colleges” by Intelligent.com.  Tri-C ranked fifth in Intelligent.com’s list of top two-year schools across the country and earned the top spot in the northeast region. Evaluations were based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation and post-graduate employment.  Nearly 200 community colleges were reviewed after an initial... Read More

Grant Secures Training Equipment for Tri-C’s Sterile Processing Program

A $50,000 grant helped Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) acquire a critical piece of training equipment for the Sterile Processing and Distribution Technology program.  The gift will go toward purchasing an autoclave, or steam sterilizer. The machine decontaminates items using pressurized steam and is a standard piece of equipment in sterile processing departments in health care facilities.  The College program’s previous autoclave was inoperable and... Read More

Tri-C Hosting ‘Super Saturday’ Enrollment Event on Jan. 30

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) will host a Super Saturday enrollment event at five sites Jan. 30 to help students register for spring classes and apply for financial aid.  The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The session offers an opportunity to meet with academic counselors and visit enrollment and financial aid offices to solidify a class schedule for spring semester.  Participating locations include: Brunswick University Center, 3605 Center... Read More

Tri-C’s Simulated Scenario Village Earns LEED Certification

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) earned a LEED® certification from the United States Green Building Council for the administrative center at Simulated Scenario Village, a training complex for first responders.  LEED certification is a nationally recognized benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. This is the College’s sixth building with a LEED designation.  “Tri-C holds itself to a... Read More

COVID-19 Testing at Corporate College East on Jan. 21

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered Thursday, Jan. 21, at Corporate College® East through a partnership between Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) and Care Alliance Health Center.  Testing begins at 11 a.m. Individuals seeking tests must be in line by 2 p.m. Testing will be done on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary. The testing service is available to Tri-C students, faculty and staff, as well as community residents. The... Read More

Tri-C Students Receive Scholarships at Dr. King Observance

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by awarding scholarships to a dozen students during the College’s 44th annual birthday observance of the civil rights leader.  The scholarships from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Scholarship Fund recognize academic excellence and community service by Tri-C students who graduated from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District or other Cuyahoga County schools.  The 2020... Read More

Future Leaders Dreaming Forward: CSU, Tri-C Students Honor Dr. King

Students from Cleveland State University and Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) will honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the “Future Leaders Dreaming Forward” event on Tuesday, Jan. 19. The commemoration begins at 8:30 a.m. and can be viewed at tri-c.edu/dreamingforward. This is the 30th year the institutions have partnered to celebrate Dr. King’s vision and encourage students to actualize their own dreams.  Opening remarks will be... Read More

Tri-C Announces ‘Stand for Racial Justice’ High School Essay Contest Winners

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) recently asked Northeast Ohio teens to weigh in on a question that society often struggles to answer: What is racism, and what should we do about it?  Their answers offer optimism for the future while illuminating a path toward a more inclusive community.  “Our goal in sponsoring this essay contest was to advance the public conversation on racism by inviting students to think deeply about what it is and how best to... Read More

‘Stand for Racial Justice’ High School Essay Contest Winner: Aparna Srikanth

Cuyahoga Community College recently asked Northeast Ohio teens to weigh in on a question society often struggles to answer: What is racism, and what should we do about it? Nearly 200 students answered. The following essay by Aparna Srikanth of Solon was the third-place winner in the sophomore-freshmen group. She is a student at Solon High School. The fanfare of epiphany doesn’t suddenly crash, like a star to earth, without reason. It approaches silently. Building tension with... Read More

‘Stand for Racial Justice’ High School Essay Contest Winner: Elisa Unangst

Cuyahoga Community College recently asked Northeast Ohio teens to weigh in on a question society often struggles to answer: What is racism, and what should we do about it? Nearly 200 students answered. The following essay by Elisa Unangst of Twinsburg was the second-place winner in the sophomore-freshmen group. She is a student at Twinsburg High School. Officer! Please do not shoot. Please don’t sh — Bodies crusted in crimson. Time is passing and people are too. Nearby... Read More

‘Stand for Racial Justice’ High School Essay Contest Winner: Ethan Khorana

Cuyahoga Community College recently asked Northeast Ohio teens to weigh in on a question society often struggles to answer: What is racism, and what should we do about it? Nearly 200 students answered. The following essay by Ethan Khorana of Shaker Heights was the first-place winner in the sophomore-freshmen group. He is a student at Mastery School of Hawken. Above the shining city on the hill floats a cloud of darkness called racism. Racism has been ingrained in the depths of American... Read More

‘Stand for Racial Justice’ High School Essay Contest Winner: Ava Parikh

Cuyahoga Community College recently asked Northeast Ohio teens to weigh in on a question society often struggles to answer: What is racism, and what should we do about it? Nearly 200 students answered. The following essay by Ava Parikh of Solon was the third-place winner in the senior-junior group. She is a student at Solon High School. Racism is a marching system of slights, prejudices, biases, inequities, ignorance and violence. It is an instrument designed by human hands meant to justify... Read More

‘Stand for Racial Justice’ High School Essay Contest Winner: Miles Watts

Cuyahoga Community College recently asked Northeast Ohio teens to weigh in on a question society often struggles to answer: What is racism, and what should we do about it? Nearly 200 students answered. The following essay by Miles Watts of Lakewood was the second-place winner in the senior-junior group. He is a student at Lakewood High School. Racism isn’t just one thing, it is a combination of philosophies. When broken down racism is inequality, an imbalance of opportunities.... Read More

‘Stand for Racial Justice’ High School Essay Contest Winner: Wendy Wu

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) recently asked Northeast Ohio teens to weigh in on a question society often struggles to answer: What is racism, and what should we do about it? Nearly 200 students answered. The following essay by Wendy Wu of Solon was the first-place winner in the senior-junior group. She is a student at Solon High School. At the age of 11, I should be the kid who stares blankly into a distant object with a silly yet innocent gaze while licking the sweet... Read More

Help Tri-C Students and ‘Chase the Flavor’ With Chef Eric Wells

Learn to make chicken and andouille sausage gumbo with Chef Eric Wells during a virtual cooking experience benefiting hospitality management students at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  The “Chase the Flavor” online event begins at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29. The live demonstration from one of Cleveland’s top culinary talents will stream via Zoom.  Registered participants will receive an email with an ingredient list on Monday, Jan.... Read More

Tri-C Access Centers Offer Online Workforce Training Course

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) is offering a free online Workforce Success course this spring to expand community access to education and job training during the COVID-19 outbreak.  The course is designed to sharpen skills necessary to succeed in the workplace while providing an introduction to the College and its resources. It is part of the ongoing Tri-C Access Center initiative. The session begins Feb. 3.  Participants will: Earn college... Read More

Tri-C Awarded State Grant to Mentor At-Risk Teens

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) and four partnering institutions have received an OhioCorps Pilot Grant to develop a mentorship program that guides at-risk teens toward academic achievement and degrees.  The Ohio Department of Higher Education awarded $345,000 for the two-year pilot project. The consortium of schools includes Tri-C, the University of Akron, Lakeland Community College, Lorain County Community College and Stark State College.  The focus... Read More

Tri-C President Alex Johnson on Developing Leadership Skills

In his continuing series of Smart Business Cleveland columns, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) President Alex Johnson has written about the characteristics and skills necessary to be a transformative leader.His most recent column, published last week, focuses on three skills in particular that a transformative leader should develop and master: a commanding demeanor, collaboration and consultation, and advocacy.Leaders with a commanding demeanor are intentional about projecting... Read More

‘Tri-C Performing Arts’ Presents: Antonio Pompa-Baldi and Emanuela Friscioni

Husband-and-wife duo Antonio Pompa-Baldi and Emanuela Friscioni will premiere an Italian composer’s latest work this month during the Tri-C Performing Arts Classical Piano Series presented by Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  Luca Moscardi’s Suite, Op.13 will be played for the first time during a virtual recital at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24. The concert will also feature music from famed composers Franz Schubert and Claude... Read More

COVID-19 Testing at Metro Campus on Jan. 14

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered Thursday, Jan. 14, at the Metropolitan Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center.  Testing begins at 11 a.m. Individuals seeking tests must be in line by 2 p.m. Testing will be done on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary. The testing service is available to Tri-C students, faculty and staff, as well as community residents. The program offers... Read More

Tri-C Health and Wellness Coaching Program Gains National Board Approval

The National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching recently bestowed its seal of approval upon the Sport and Exercise Studies program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  The designation allows Tri-C students who complete a specialized course to sit for the organization’s professional certification exam. Tri-C and The Ohio State University offer the only NBHWC-approved college programs in the state.  Health and wellness coaches work with individuals... Read More

Why CEOs Should Understand Cybersecurity

Just about every company uses the internet to conduct business in some form. Whether you’re storing critical data on cloud servers or simply marketing your services via your website and social media, every company is online to some degree. And with that presence come cybersecurity risks.CEOs and their C-suite colleagues are likely aware that online security threats exist, but in a recent Smart Business Cleveland article, Charles Dull said the need to stay current and speak to... Read More

Tri-C Professor Highlighted by Her Alma Mater

McDaniel College in Maryland turned its alumni spotlight toward Northeast Ohio with a profile on C. Jean Mosley Hall, a professor of American Sign Language at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  Hall graduated from McDaniel in 1976 with a master’s degree in deaf education, a step in a journey that eventually led to the front of Tri-C classrooms. She has been at Tri-C since 1999.  In the McDaniel alumni profile, Hall talked about building bonds with her... Read More

Tri-C Famous: Andrew Bajda

Andrew Bajda is an assistant professor of business at Tri-C’s Metropolitan Campus. As lead faculty for the College’s Small Business Management program, he also serves as faculty advisor for ThRIve — a student group that promotes entrepreneurship with a focus on impacting the local community. His 2017 book, Captured in Liberation, details his family’s escape from Poland in 1939 and his father’s quest to join Anders’... Read More

Tri-C President Alex Johnson Named to Crain’s ‘Power 150’ List

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) President Alex Johnson stands among the civic leaders moving Northeast Ohio forward as the region enters 2021, according to Crain’s Cleveland Business.  The publication installed Johnson on its Power 150 list, which highlights business, civic and political leaders shaping Greater Cleveland. Honorees were listed in the Crain’s 2021 Book of Lists. (A subscription is required to view the issue.)  Johnson has... Read More

Building College Enrollment to Better the Community

Crain’s Cleveland Business recently published the following essay from Tri-C President Alex Johnson examining how enrollment at the College is critical to the region’s future. The column appeared in the Dec. 21 edition.  Fall 2020 enrollment data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows COVID-19’s impact on community colleges. Across the nation, the total student population at community colleges dropped by 9.4%.  Nearly... Read More

Bringing Music to the Masses

It’s been almost a year since the lights went out on the performing arts industry.  From Blossom Music Center to Broadway, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacted a massive toll in the form of canceled concerts and shows. It has forced performers to practice at home and perform via video stream.  The impact of social distancing is magnified when you’re a part of an ensemble like the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, the 110-member vocal component of the... Read More

Tri-C Grad Feeds Her Dreams Despite Pandemic

Struggle was a nearly universal theme in the restaurant space last year. The news was inundated with stories of restaurants, bars and food trucks scaling back operations or closing altogether.  But scattered among those bleak headlines were stories of hope. Nicole Ortiz is one of them. In August, the 2016 graduate of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) opened her first restaurant business, a food truck called “Crave,” in Holyoke,... Read More

COVID-19 Testing at Westshore Campus on Jan. 7

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered Thursday, Jan. 7, at the Westshore Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center.  Testing begins at 11 a.m. Individuals seeking tests must be in line by 2 p.m. Testing will be done on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary. The testing service is available to Tri-C students, faculty and staff, as well as community residents. The program offers testing... Read More

Tri-C Offers ‘Super Saturday’ Enrollment Events

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) will host a pair of Super Saturday enrollment events at five sites in January to help students register for spring classes and apply for financial aid.  The Super Saturday events will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 16 and Jan. 30. The sessions offer opportunities to meet with academic counselors and visit enrollment and financial aid offices to solidify a class schedule for spring semester.  Participating locations... Read More

Tri-C Metro Campus Hosts Two Days of COVID-19 Testing Week of Dec. 21

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered two days next week at the Metropolitan Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center.  Free testing will take place at the campus Monday, Dec. 21, and Wednesday, Dec. 23. Testing begins at 11 a.m. each day and will be done on a first-come, first-served basis. Individuals seeking tests must be in line by 2 p.m. No appointment is necessary.  The testing service is... Read More

Tri-C Hosts Virtual Dr. King Celebration on Jan. 17

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) will host a virtual celebration for its annual birthday observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., continuing a tradition that began in 1977.  The 44th annual celebration begins at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17. The online remembrance will feature an assortment of musical performances as well as scholarship presentations and student speeches honoring the civil rights leader.  Visit www.tri-c.edu/MLK2021 to register for the free... Read More

2021 State of the College: Determined to Make a Difference

The following “State of the College” essay by Tri-C President Alex Johnson served as the cover story for the fall 2020 edition of Tri-C Times magazine.  Challenges defined the past year. Uncertainties gripped the calendar seemingly from the first days of 2020 until we turned the page into December.  A global pandemic left its deadly mark while shattering the norms of daily life. Unemployment numbers surged to record levels in a lurching economy. An... Read More

Tri-C Foundation’s Megan O’Bryan on Thanking Donors

Gratitude is a common theme during the holidays — even more so now as we bid farewell to one of the most challenging years we’ve ever experienced.  But as we thank family, friends, first responders, medical professionals and all those who have helped us persevere throughout 2020, Megan O’Bryan says nonprofits should add donors to their thank-you list this holiday season.  The president of the Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®)... Read More

Tri-C JazzFest and Jazz at Lincoln Center Collaborate to Honor Clifford Brown

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) today announced a collaboration between Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland and Jazz at Lincoln Center to celebrate the 90th birthday of late jazz trumpeter Clifford Brown.  Clifford Brown at 90: Brownie Speaks will be streamed on the Tri-C JazzFest Facebook page and other social media sites at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6. The hourlong concert is free, but donations are encouraged.  The pre-recorded performance recognizes the artistry and... Read More

Brunswick University Center: A Decade of Service to the Community

The Brunswick University Center at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2021.  More than just a place to pursue an education, the center has become an integral part of the Medina County community over the past decade. More than 12,500 students have taken courses at BUC since it opened in 2011.  The center offers a convenient educational option for residents in Medina County and southern Cuyahoga County communities. Students... Read More

Alumni List Grows for Tri-C’s Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program

Twenty-six entrepreneurs from Northeast Ohio and beyond recently took a step toward greater business success by completing the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  Small-business operators who previously graduated from the program have outperformed the broader economy while exceeding national and local averages in revenue growth and job creation.  With the most recent graduating class, the 10,000 Small Businesses... Read More

A Sense of Direction

Jason Caruso is the student speaker for the Fall 2020 virtual commencement at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®). When he delivers his speech to more than 4,600 graduates, his words about goal-setting, dreams and perseverance will come from personal experience: a 27-year life that has already been full of tremendous highs and lows.  Caruso, of Lakewood, has been a model student since enrolling at Tri-C in fall 2018. He’s been a member of the Honors Program and... Read More

Ahead of Pace: Earning a College Degree Before a High School Diploma

Graduating from college before high school? Eighty-one teens attending Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) made that seemingly out-of-order statement a reality in 2020.  Each student earned an associate degree or certificate from Tri-C this year through Ohio’s College Credit Plus program. The dual enrollment system allows students to earn college credits while meeting high school graduation requirements.  The following College Credit Plus students,... Read More

Team NEO Report: In-Demand Occupations Remain Critical During Pandemic

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®), leader of the Workforce Connect Healthcare Sector Partnership (WCHSP), and Team NEO have released Team NEO’s December 2020 Quarterly Economic Review, about the state of job postings during the pandemic, with a focus on health care needs and opportunities in Northeast Ohio.  Team NEO’s data for occupations during the eight-month timeframe of March 1 through October 31, 2020, reveal the following... Read More

A Successful Year: Tri-C Fall Commencement Celebrates 4,700+ Graduates

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) will celebrate the academic achievements of more than 4,700 petitioning graduates during a virtual Fall Commencement ceremony at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17.  The online celebration will honor Tri-C’s Class of 2020 from spring, summer and fall semesters.  The graduate total — which is near record highs — reflects the ongoing impact of College programs and initiatives designed to keep students on the... Read More

An Upward Climb

When a professor literally told Lauren Anderson and her classmates at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) to “go climb a tree” as part of an arboriculture course, she was more than a little hesitant.  “I have a fear of heights, so the idea was terrifying to me,” she said. “I had every intention of not doing it. But after learning more, taking baby steps, I finally did it. I climbed that tree.”  That... Read More

New Country, New Beginning

Three and a half years ago, Valeria Mantuano moved to Cleveland from Ecuador with her family. She was in her mid-20s, didn’t know anyone, had no college education and spoke barely a word of English.  Today, the 29-year-old Brook Park resident is bilingual, has friends from around the world and is an aspiring human resources professional.  Her progress is due to her own hard work and the support she found at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®), where she... Read More

The Importance of Beginnings

Monroe Kennedy III earned a Ph.D. on his way to becoming an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Stanford University. Earlier this year, he reverse transferred college credits to complete the Associate of Science degree he began working toward at Tri-C in 2006.  In the following essay, which was published in the fall 2020 edition of Tri-C Times magazine, Kennedy explains why he felt the need to finish what he started more than a decade ago.  Beginnings are... Read More

Tri-C Hosts Four Days of COVID-19 Testing Week of Dec. 14

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered four days next week at two Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) campuses through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center.  Free testing will take place at Metropolitan Campus in Cleveland on Monday, Dec. 14; Wednesday, Dec. 16; and Friday, Dec. 18. Testing will be offered at Westshore Campus in Westlake on Thursday, Dec. 17.  Testing begins at 11 a.m. each day. Individuals seeking tests must be in line by 2 p.m.... Read More

Moving From Art to the ER

Jillian Dennison clocked into the Cleveland Clinic as an administrative assistant for the past four years. The job gave her a front row seat to watch the life-changing work done by nurses at the hospital.  Now, she’s set to join them on the front lines of health care after graduating from the Nursing Center of Excellence at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  Dennison is set to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing from Tri-C this... Read More

Tri-C’s Alex Johnson, AACC Leaders Offer Insights to Biden Transition Team

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) President Alex Johnson joined other higher education leaders in meeting with President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team to discuss priorities for two-year schools and their students.  Representatives from the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) held three sessions with Biden’s team. Johnson is the immediate past chair of the AACC, the primary advocacy organization for the nation’s community... Read More

Finding a Career, Fulfilling a Dream

Good things come to those who wait. Good things also come to those who are willing to put in the work.  Mario Anderson Jr. is proof of both. The 29-year-old Cleveland resident has faced a number of twists and turns on his path to an associate degree in media and journalism studies from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®), which he will earn this month. However, he has stayed the course and is now one step closer to his dream of a career in broadcast... Read More

Calculated Risk Equals Success

Daliah Kassim’s final grade in college algebra stood out for all the wrong reasons following her first semester at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).  She finished the Fall 2018 course with a D. For a student with a history of academic success, the grade felt more than a little jarring. “I had never really struggled in a class before,” Kassim said.  To be fair, though, the 14-year-old had only completed eighth grade up to that... Read More

Finishing on a High Note

Music has been a part of Jamie Vitullo’s life since grade school. The Youngstown-area native has been drumming since he was nine and playing in bands since high school.  But it wasn’t until he entered the Recording Arts and Technology (RAT) program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) that he started to seriously consider a music-related career.  “My brother was in the RAT program about four or five years before me,”... Read More

Tri-C Famous: Lisa Friel

#TriCFamous is a bimonthly feature that introduces readers to the people who make the College work while providing a sneak peek into their lives off campus.  Lisa Friel is an assistant professor of English as a Second Language at Tri-C’s Westshore Campus. She particularly enjoys teaching writing, and she helps student share their work with a wider audience as an editor for the College’s annual ESL Voices publication. In addition to teaching, she organizes... Read More

Tri-C Encore 55+ Opens Registration for Upcoming Sessions of Online Courses

Encore 55+ Learning at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has opened registration for new sessions of online courses as the College works to maintain community programs amidst the COVID-19 outbreak.  Encore On-the-Go features virtual sessions three times a week to enrich the minds and lives of those aged 55 and older. The first six-week session begins Jan. 26, followed by sessions starting March 16 and May 4.  The 50-minute classes meet once a week on either... Read More

Working Out a Career Path

Twelve years ago, Porsche Mercer enrolled at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®). That version of her lacked focus and direction.  The 2020 version does not.  The 32-year-old Cleveland resident will graduate from Tri-C this month with an Associate of Applied Science degree in a major — sport and exercise studies — that now powers her career ambitions.  “I can do this until I’m 100, because I love it,” she... Read More

Finishing the Job

Phil Salem built a career in auto dealership service centers. A combination of hard work, determination and a lot of luck boosted him into a director’s office. “Nothing came easy,” Salem said.  In looking back, he realized a decision made almost two decades ago contributed to that long and rough road. So Salem did what he’s trained to do: He fixed it.  The 40-year-old returned to Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) this year... Read More

Drawn to Tri-C

Calvin Brown drew up a perfect storyline during his time at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®). For a future film animator, that seems fitting.  The 20-year-old is set to graduate from the College in December with an Associate of Arts degree. His next scene is being sketched out for 2021 at Cleveland State University’s School of Film and Media Arts.  It has been a feel-good script … and Tri-C served as the plot twist.  Brown waited... Read More

‘Mentoring Monday’ Event Offers a Tri-C Connection

Jody Wheaton of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) will be among dozens of mentors participating in an upcoming virtual program for Northeast Ohio women looking to build their careers.  Mentoring Monday will take place from noon to 2 p.m. Feb. 22. The event, now in its second year, was created to help local professional women network and learn from one another.  Wheaton serves in a leadership position at Tri-C’s Corporate College®, where she is... Read More

Tri-C Hosts Four Days of COVID-19 Testing Week of Dec. 7

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered four days next week at two Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) campuses through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center.  Free testing will take place at Metropolitan Campus in Cleveland on Monday, Dec. 7; Wednesday, Dec. 9; and Friday, Dec. 11. Testing will be offered at Western Campus in Parma on Thursday, Dec. 10.  Testing begins at 11 a.m. each day. Individuals seeking tests must be in line by 2 p.m. Testing... Read More

A Long Road Toward Independence

Balqis Al-Shafei moved nearly 7,000 miles from her homeland of Qatar to enroll at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) nearly three years ago. She arrived in Cleveland alone and on her own at age 18.  The experience tested her both in the classroom and in life — and it’s safe to say that she passed on both counts. Al-Shafei is set to graduate from Tri-C this month with an Associate of Arts degree.  “There have been many moments where I... Read More

Tri-C’s Sue Krejci on the Health Care Talent Pipeline

Throughout Northeast Ohio, there was already a growing need for new health care workers prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. But over the past nine months, the need has become urgent.  COVID-19 has stretched the capacity of many health care systems to the limit, making talent acquisition a top priority.  Sue Krejci, executive director of the Workforce Connect Healthcare Sector Partnership at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®), recently spoke with Smart Business... Read More

Taking a Chance on a New Career

Deciding to change careers in your 50s tak