friday takeout
March 1, 2019
CUPPA JOE | straight up news.
- Alex Ruroden, a 2018 Crestwood High School graduate and Opportunity Scholarship recipient, found the right career direction in Automotive Technology at the Calmar campus ... news
- Recent Telegraph Herald article on cosmetology training requirements gains national traction in US News and World Report. Interview with our own Marilee Mai featured! ... link
- Flexibility, convenience and cost savings! New video on social media shares benefits of Z-Degree for students ... link
- Note to Readers: To access past issues of Friday Takeout, click on the drop down menu at the top right of the Google Site labeled "Archive." Click on the "Home" button, also located at top right, to view the current week's issue.
WEEKLY FEATURE | good to know.
Dyersville Commercial Reporter in the Driver's Seat: Research for Upcoming Story on New VR Simulator
Catrina Bruns, a reporter for the Dyersville Commercial, took a hands-on approach to research a story about the new self-propelled sprayer virtual reality (VR) driving simulator for agricultural safety. The simulator was developed in partnership between Design Mill Inc. (DMI) in Dubuque, the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS) at Peosta and Northeast Iowa Community College. Bruns (pictured, at right, with Alex Schuster, DMI interactive software developer) visited the company’s Dubuque location to experience the new simulator in action.
Using real tractor hardware, the virtual reality experience simulates the operator’s visibility while operating a 70’ to 110’ sprayer boom, as well as simulate boom arm physics motions and controls from a seated position in the simulator. This provides practical training before operating expensive and potentially dangerous equipment.
“We met with NICC President Liang Chee Wee in early 2018, and he asked if our team had ever designed a simulator for agricultural safety use. We hadn’t, and decided that this would be a very interesting project to take on,” explained Nathan Greiner, P.E., president and chief technology officer for DMI.
Bruns’ story will appear in the Today’s Farming section, published and printed in the Eastern Iowa Shopping News on March 26.
APPETIZER | something for your appetite.
Students Gain Insights into their Future Careers!
Students will gain career success insights from the very best next week, at the Leaders Luncheon on Tuesday, March 5, in Calmar and the Business Career Fair at Peosta on Wednesday, March 6. The Leaders Luncheon features seven speakers who will tell their career stories and share their strategies on beginning in a profession and staying competitive in the job market. The luncheon includes a free lunch and a presentation on dining etiquette practices. At Peosta, the Business Career Fair will showcase 17 Dubuque-area companies sharing information about employment opportunities. The fair is tailored to all Accounting, Business Specialist, Computer Analyst, Finance and Marketing Management students.
Faculty and staff, remind students to register through the Career Services office to attend these great events!
BIG FISH | be amazed.
Staci Kuboushek
Business and Community Solutions Operations Program Manager | Calmar
What is something you love to do that doesn't fit with how others see you?
I enjoy photography, taking pictures and editing them. I do a lot of practice on my four children.
What is something you have done that would surprise others who never knew?
In college at Iowa State, I spent two summers overseas with a program called Camp Adventure. It’s a program based out of University of Northern Iowa, but has training sites at colleges all over the United States. We put on a summer day camp for US military children on military bases in countries around the world. My first summer I was in Seoul, Korea and my second summer I was in Kitzingen, Germany. I met college students from all over the United States and was able to travel on the weekends.
In Korea I went up to the DMZ zone between North and South Korea – kind of scary. I was able to go to a World Cup soccer game and watch the US team; Korea was hosting that year. Seoul is a huge city; so much to see, especially for a small town Iowa farm girl. While in Germany, I spent weekends in Austria, Venice, Paris, Amsterdam and toured all over Germany. I even met up with a foreign exchange student who lived with my Dad, when he was in high school. I knew the student, throughout the years, when he came back to visit my Dad.
Do you have any particularly strong loyalties to consumer brands (i.e., Ford vs. Chevy, Coke vs. Pepsi, etc.)?
Dawn dish soap and Miracle Whip. Off brands just don’t cut it.
What is your greatest achievement and how has it shaped you?
Graduating from Iowa State University with a B.S. degree in Child and Family Services. In high school someone mentioned to me that I wouldn’t survive at a four-year college. I think that was in the back of my mind the whole time. You can do anything if you really want it enough. And I’m a huge Iowa State fan as well, so that was an added bonus.
What is the most memorable moment you recall from your college or high school experience?
While living in the dorm, a girl I worked with was in charge of her floor fundraiser and was doing a date auction. They auctioned off guys from their brother floor. Needless to say, I bought a guy and then he had to take me out for dinner! I made a great friend out of the deal, and I still keep in contact with him.
If you have input on a upcoming feature, Big Fish, something to celebrate or a suggestion, email us at news@nicc.edu!