What’s Happening at GCC

Stay up to date on the latest activities at GCC!

Jane Fischer: Presenter At the 2015 Creativity Conference

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Screen Shot 2015-03-30 at 10.20.26 PMWe are excited to have Jane Fischer, Creative Change Facilitator with Improv Connections, as one of the presenters at the 2015 Creativity Conference. Jane has always drawn on three things: a love for humor and performing, embracing imagination and ideas, and the desire to help others.

After 20 years of experience and leadership in health & human services, she knows that a creative approach to challenges and change is vital, as are a sense of humor and positive intent! In 2002, she co-founded The Unexpected Guests Improv Comedy Group. She went on to launch Improv Connections, offering applied improvisation, creative problem solving, humor, and play as personal and organizational development tools. Jane has also served as Director of SBI Health Education at the University at Buffalo since 2006. She holds an MA in Health Arts and Sciences from Goddard College and a Graduate Certificate in Creativity and Change Leadership from Buffalo State College.

At the Conference, Jane will be presenting a workshop that applies creativity to your personal life. From attending her workshop you will experience the principles and practices of improvisation, discover the connections between improvisation and creative thinking/action, and you will walk away with the skill of knowing how to identify how, when, and why to use improve-based activities in your creative process!

This blog was contributed by Business Administration Student Chelsey Breuilly.

Peter Cumbo: Keynote Speaker at the 2015 Creativity Conference

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Untitled.jpgWe are thrilled to announce that the keynote speaker for the 2015 Creativity Conference will be Peter Cumbo, the Owner and President of Cumbo, Inc.

Peter is an award-winning producer, director, and editor. He has produced and directed commercial videos on location throughout North America and around the world, creating work for broadcast, digital distribution, and live events. Peter has done work for the iconic brand New Era Cap and some of the work that he has done for them was recognized on March 7, 2015 when Cumbo, Inc. won four Silver Addy Awards.

In addition to his work in media, Peter offers his expertise as an organizational consultant offering strategic advice, training and practical leadership to business. As a consultant, Peter’s goal is to create and sustain transformative moments, those in which the participants experience encouragement, inspiration, and improvement resulting in lasting change. Take a look at one of the video productions Cumbo, inc. was awarded for and don’t miss the opportunity to hear about the true power of creative thinking!

This blog was contributed by Business Administration Student Chelsey Breuilly.

GCC Creativity Conference

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Leonardo Da Vinci and creativity go hand-in-hand. Often when someone hears the name Da Vinci the first thing that comes to mind is his art, however he was much more than a brilliant painter. Leonardo Da Vinci was a scientist, an inventor, and a person who created things far beyond his time. It seems only suitable that the Creativity Conference at GCC falls on April 15th, Da Vinci’s Birthday.  There will be a Leonardo Da Vinci display set up in the library and cake will be served in honor of Da Vinci and the celebration of creativity!

This blog was contributed by Chelsey Breuilly.

“Steeling” The Method

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The atmosphere in the technology building lecture hall at Genesee Community College was buzzing with anticipation on Wednesday February 25th. The marketing and social media expert, as well as best selling author, David Steel brought in an extremely attentive audience that far exceeded the number of seats in the house. It seemed that people were eager to hear what Mr. Steel would be preaching: how to best use social media and marketing to truly benefit the user.

David Steel is the chief viral officer of Sneeze.it, a digital marketing agency, a division of The Steel Method. He is also the author of “The Care and Feeding of Highly Aggressive Sales People” and “Sneeze It–Don’t Just Say It Spray It.” His presentations have captivated audiences from New York to Nairobi, and most recently Russia.

Best selling author and marketing expert David Steel with GCC students Ariana Sneed and Ami Cornell

Best selling author and marketing expert David Steel with GCC students Ariana Sneed and Ami Cornell

I, along with fellow Fashion Merchandising student Ariana Sneed, had the pleasure of hosting Mr. Steel during his visit to Genesee Community College. Upon giving David Steel a short tour around campus we discovered that our school offered amenities that we may often take for granted. For one, David was left in awe of how clean our facilities were and complimented our maintenance staff many times throughout his visit. He also took notice of how friendly all of the faculty members of GCC were.

As far as keynote speakers go, David Steel comes highly recommended, and for good reason. He has a charismatic quality about him that is so genuine and intense that his audiences don’t just listen, they are hypnotized. He presents his audience members with the cold hard facts, and gives them the tools to achieve success by manipulating the seemingly rigid confines of social media and marketing.

One key aspect of David Steel’s presentation that seemed to resonate with the audience overall was idea that “Facebook is a marketer’s dream.” Businesses are able to use tools that Facebook has provided in order to find out their customer’s demographics through inputing their customer’s emails into the Facebook search bar. Mr. Steel even made reference to student and entrepreneur, Abby Wilcox’s budding cupcake business based out of Cooperstown, NY known as Coopcakes. He suggested that she could use this specific type of tool to market certain cupcake flavors to specific customers.

David Steel with President Sunser

David Steel with President Sunser

Perhaps the most influential statement I took away from David Steel’s presentation was, “the person who controls the conversation is the person who asks the questions.” I know for certain that everyone who has had the chance to hear Mr. Steel speak now knows how to ask the questions.

-Ami Cornell

BRI~JHN

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A Fashion Show, an event at which collections of newly designed clothing are modeled for an audience. “Fata Morgana,” the theme for this year ‘s 34th Annual fashion show at Genesee Community College, is set for April 25th, 2015. As a fashion Design Student, I will take part in the vogue show presenting my own scene. This will be my second year participating in the event; last year I was a model in another design student’s scene. Last year’s show was such an engaging experience for me that I decided to create a vision for my own exclusive line.

This year I will produce my own scene entitled, “BRI~JHN,” which is a collaboration of my name, “Brittany,” and my little sister’s name, “Jhnae”. My little sister also served as an inspiration for my ideas; her personality is a mix of cool and unique and she has a style similar to the Olsen Twins, Rita Ora, and the fashions of the 1970’s era. The concept of my scene is Bohemian Baja, which includes garments with flowy elements, fringe, and loose fitting clothing with spunk. The fabrics that will be featured in my scene are lace, cotton, and jacquard, which are the top picks for the looks I’m going for in my show. The color palette I will be using will feature neutral tones with a pop of color. An example of this would be a navy blue garment with a hot pink accessory to give it a unique quality.

The image I want my audience to capture from my collection is “Dress Out Loud,” which is freedom of clothing, colors, and being true to you. I hope to have a successful show with my Design team. My goal is to show the world what “Beebe” has to offer, a fresh unique sense of self, and style.

This blog was contributed by Fashion Design Student Brittany Breedlove.

Fata Morgana

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With the fall semester coming to fruition, and the spring semester in our midst, planning for the annual fashion show has begun. This April, the annual fashion show at Genesee Community College will ring in its 34th year, and is expected to be the largest show yet! With that in mind, the Fashion students of GCC have curated a theme that will surely leave their audiences inspired. This year’s show will be entitled Fata Morgana. A Fata Morgana is defined as a rapidly changing and complex form of superior mirage/optical phenomenon that is seen in the narrow band right above the horizon.They determined Fata Morgana to be an excellent choice of theming for this year’s fashion show due to its timely mention in an issue of Women’s Wear Daily and the large presence of desert themes within the Spring 2015 clothing collections. The fashion students then related the idea of Fata Morgana to the cultural diversification of the widespread desert environments within the w10940620_10205918014689147_6156977377827682419_norld, and a fashion show like no other was born. Fata Morgana, the 34th annual fashion show at Genesee Community College will occur Saturday, April 25th, 2015. Explore the hashtag #GCC34FM to stay up-to-date on all things Fata Morgana!

If you’re interested in modeling in the Fata Morgana fashion show, tryouts will occur Wednesday, February 4th in T102 from 12-3 PM and Thursday, February 5th in the Forum from 12:30-2:00 PM.

If modeling isn’t really your “thing” and you wish to contribute your skills to/attend the annual fashion show at GCC please contact Ami Cornell at acornel4@my.genesee.edu or Ariana Sneed at asneed@my.genesee.edu.

-Ami Cornell

New Spanish Class for Health Professionals to be Offered in the Spring

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A basic class of medical vocabulary in Spanish will be brought to the school next semester. SPA 111, Introduction to Spanish for Health Professionals started and taught by Mrs. Kimber this is planned to begin in the Spring 2015 semester.

This program is designed to aid those entering into a medical field that will be in contact with Spanish speakers, that are becoming more common with the rise of the Spanish-speaking population. Mrs. Kimber stated “ The Spanish-speaking population of Western New York is growing.” However, since there are Vet Tech students at this school, there will be a focus on animal anatomy as well but is not the main goal of the course.

This course will be an elective aimed at the medical field here at the college. This course can be used to supplement a degree in Spanish translation, or a medical field equally. As an elective, this course does not require previous Spanish language experience.

The class is intended to run like an introductory Spanish class, focused on class work rather than online assignments. Class would be more focused on pronunciation rather than on conjugations and grammar; in due part to the human element of dealing with other Spanish speakers. The class itself will be split between room C303 and the foreign language lab in class hours. “After taking this course will you be a proficient Spanish speaker? No, but you will be able to give basic commands.” Mrs. Kimber states.

This offers a new opportunity to GCC students, as a fusion between classes, that provides the chance for students to gain people skills they might need to survive in their chosen field. When asked why Mrs. Kimber created this course she replied with, “ The best part of a foreign language is allowing people to advocate for themselves.” The course could be recommended to any would like an extra edge in their nursing career, or who want more capable public speaking skills. Mrs. Kimber states “ If it goes well, then there will be a second level.”

To learn more about Spanish for Health Professionals and even more new classes that will be offered beginning in Spring 2015, please visit our website. 

World Kindness Day at GCC

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64367_10152876277993103_7104776448007432459_nWorld Kindness Day was November 13th and the GCC RAKtivists were out in full force to celebrate. The event provided holiday cards for students to sign and send out to troops that are deployed. Cathy Costello was able to deliver the holiday cards to the local American Leigion. Students were encouraged to spin the “Wheel of Kindness” where they were given a good deed to complete.

Many people flocked to the event because Genesee County Animal Shelter brought 2 adoptable dogs and one adoptable cat. The RAKtivists were able to raise about $288 for the Genesee and Orleans County animal shelters and faculty and students donated around 175lbs of dog and cat food. The RAKtivists sold roses until about 2PM, afterwards Abby Wilcox and Cathrine Kelkenberg took the leftover roses and placed them on random cars. They hoped to brighten people’s day on a very cold and rainy/snowy day. 

10734264_10152876283543103_2419562408594155853_nThe RAKtivists will be gearing up for the second annual Random Acts of Kindness Week that will take place in February. If you would like to participate in the Random Acts of Kindness Week as a member of the RAKtivists, then like their Facebook page to see when the next meetings are or contact the GCC RAKtivists’ advisor, Lauren Paisley.

Boo Ball, a Night of Fright Around the Corner.

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It’s the time of year where you don old costumes, pull out the excess rolls of toilet paper (to clean up parties), and lament the absence of the great pumpkin. Wax hands hasn’t stolen the creepiest thing for this month at GCC. Of course I’m speaking about Boo Ball. Now you can’t go around pranking anyone, so you may ask where are the scares. The scary thing is that you’ll actually help someone if you party at this event. The price of admission, and yes there is one, will cost you a dollar or one canned good. They send the food to the homeless here in the area, where I assume there are not as many awesome Harry Potter themed parties.

The theme of this year’s Boo Ball is in fact Harry Potter. Yes, you too can release your repressed inner nerd in this costume based eve of frivolity, which will leave some of us in tears, for better or for worse. Despite whatever dissension you think I follow I’ll set the record straight; I think it’s gonna be awesome, and this is with fandoms likes, and background aside. There are only a few of these dances in the near distant future, and for the overall year the amount is slimmer still. If you want the chance to participate then I personally invite you as a member of CAB supporting this thing.

If I have peaked your interest then allow me to sate your voracious mind, and the questions I know are bubbling in your brain. This event will have more than just dancing planned, we’ll have food for the hungry, the college students, and potions for the venturous. But we have more than just food and drink. Attend and you will learn that the college village members have been assigned a house corresponding to the their residency, oh, and there will be games. If you fancy yourself a dueler, a match may clear your head; if perhaps you have some Felix Felecis, and desire a chance to sport your luck, then partaking in the scavenger hunt is in order. However, even I can’t tell what fate awaits the winning house, and only time will tell the victors prize; and it surely awaits in candy, and glory.

For those who don’t want to pay then maybe some work will do the trick. The event could use volunteers to make this thing stand out, and of course you’d meet the men and women behind the scenes. Everyone at CAB has a heart of gold, and the price to pay, of time and effort, you’re rewarded with a company of those with the heart to hold all these college events, and the skill to organize them. If you can donate and volunteer you would be a hero in my eyes, and I am sure those you’d help would too.

The games and fright is on ghosts and ghouls, and I would be delighted to see any of you there that fateful night, to sit a spell, or show your dance moves. This event will be fun, and from what I know there will be enough sweets to satisfy your palate; you’ll gain your dollars worth of entry: that, I guarantee. Have some fun, share some laughs, and enjoy the Harry Potter themed madness. Halloween comes only once a year, so I always make the best of it. I hope to see you at the Boo Ball on Thursday, October 30th from 8-12pm.

Friends Don’t Let Friends-Date Friends

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Rhonda Parker has been making films since she was 17 years old, but much of her life is invested in a full-length feature she’s just completed as part of an Honors Program project at Genesee Community College. The movie, “Friends Don’t Let Friends – Date Friends” will debut at a VIP dinner and a movie night at the Bald Eagle Bistro, 1033 S. Lakeland Beach Rd. in Kendall on Friday, November 7, 2014 at 7 pm. Seating is limited to 50. Presale tickets are $25 and, if there’s room, $30 at the door. Tickets are available on the movie’s website, www.friendsdontletfriendsdatefriends.com, at which you can also view a trailer of the romantic comedy.

Parker is a paralegal and communications/media arts student at GCC. She expects to graduate in December 2014. Besides being an Honors Program student, she’s been a blogger for the College and also won an essay contest sponsored by The Historical Society of the New York Courts, about which Professor Charles Scruggs said “Her acerbic wit, frequently on display in class, is used to good effect in her written work.”

That wit is evident in “Friends…” which Parker describes as a “highly fictionalized account of actual events.” The main character, played by former GCC student Amelia Favata of Canandaigua, is a version of Parker herself. “It’s a very timeless story based on people I hung out with in my youth. It’s been in my head for 20 years. I started writing it 15 years ago and have revised it several times. Seven years ago it went through a peer review on [Francis Ford Coppola’s] Zoetrope.com.” So far, test audiences have enjoyed it. “One friend said of the film ‘I had forgotten…that’s what it feels like to fall in love.’”

Though Parker has written and produced a number of short films, and appeared as a “Walmart mom” in a commercial, this is the first time she held auditions for a movie. “It broke my heart to turn people away,” she said. Several current and former GCC students appear in the film. They shot the film over seven weekends at locations in and around Parker’s hometown of Albion. Because it is an Honors Program project, she was able to utilize equipment from GCC including camera, tripod, and lights.

Her husband, Mark Parker, completed editing the film at their home with Sony Vegas Pro software. “He’s the editor and I’m the editor-in-chief,” Parker explains. “He’s the doer, and I’m the thinker.”

Parker has been thinking a lot about how to get the word out about her film. “My goal is to have everyone in America see this movie,” she said. Beyond the dinner and a movie debut, she has lined up a number of additional screenings.

GCC Video/Telecommunications Director Barry Chow, with whom Parker completed an independent study, is sponsoring a show in the Stuart Steiner Theatre at GCC on Sunday, November 9, 2014 at 2:45 pm with a reception to follow. General admission is $8; students and seniors, $6.

The Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival will show the film at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014 at the Eastern Hills Cinema in Williamsville. Several other screenings are planned in Medina, Amherst, and Batavia. Check the film’s facebook page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/558510764281947/.

The Honors Program at GCC encourages independent, creative, and interdisciplinary study through academic work of depth, originality, and quality. Parker is more than pleased with her Honors experience and the film overall. “It’s like watching your dreams come true right in front of your eyes,” she said. She hopes the film’s success leads to more moviemaking for her. “That’s exactly what I want to do. I have a lot of scripts in my head.”