OCTC Humanities Enhancement Initiative
FAIN: CZ-50266-12
Owensboro Community and Technical College (Owensboro, KY 42303-1800)
Kaye Brown (Project Director: February 2011 to present)
Endowment to support humanities programming, including guest speakers, incorporating new uses of technology in the humanities, leveraging community partners, and theme-related activities in the community and at the college.
The OCTC Humanities Enhancement Initiative is designed to enhance and sustain quality humanities programming at Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC). Through the creation of an endowment dedicated to the humanities, OCTC will reach a stronger position to deepen and sustain our humanities programs, thus providing greater opportunity for students, faculty, and the community to think critically and see reality from a different cultural perspective. The proposed project builds upon the colleges current efforts to strengthen the humanities by providing additional cultural events and a larger forum for the humanities on campus, including the addition of outstanding speakers in the humanities; leveraging of community partners committed to the humanities; supporting dedicated faculty time and effort to develop advanced programming; and incorporating the use of technology in humanities programming in creative ways.
Media Coverage
Author visits OCTC: Award-winner Sherman Alexie showcases his novel (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Megan Harris
Publication: Owensboro Messenger and Inquirer
Date: 3/27/2012
Abstract: Brown people study each other. Reading is everything. Sherman Alexie has a really big head.
The award-winning author covered these topics and more to a packed auditorium Monday at Owensboro Community & Technical College. In comedic fashion, he told the backstory of "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," his largely autobiographical young adult novel published in 2007.
The character Rowdy, he said, has three daughters now and was fabricated from a blend of boyhood friends. Hydrocephalus should have killed him, but the feckless decisions of "that cousin" saved his life. The travel is hell, he said, but he visits the Spokane Indian Reservation in Washington where his parents often Skype him.
"Whatever you do, don't give your parents an iPhone," he told the crowd. His mother texts him, "I'm quilting," to which he bemusedly replies, "Cool."
Assistant Professor of English Kaye Brown and committee members selected the work for this semester's Common Reading Program, sponsoring
URL: http://http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/news/local/article_315691c5-6f56-5916-8ab5-4359163fa32a.html
Award-winning author Alexie at OCTC Monday (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Megan Harris
Publication: Owensboro Messenger and Inquirer
Date: 3/25/2012
Abstract: Sherman Alexie, author of "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," will lead students and staffers through a free reading at Owensboro Community & Technical College at 10 a.m. Monday in the humanities building inside Blandford Hall.
In his first young adult novel, Alexie introduces Junior, a freshman and aspiring cartoonist who is suspended from his high school on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Facing a tough life at home, Junior transfers to Reardan, an all-white school more than 20 miles away, where the only other Native American is the school mascot.
Alexie, himself born to the Spokane Tribe, based several of Junior's eccentricities on his own life.
When committee members chose the novel as the centerpiece for this year's Common Reading Program, they adopted a Native American theme as well, said Assistant Professor of English Kaye Brown.
While professors were not required to incorporate the work into their classes, Brown encouraged them to consider articles and other sour
URL: http://http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/news/local/article_434bc76d-6392-5152-b965-7fb05cbd3bc2.html
"OCTC Honors American Workers" (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Harris, Megan
Publication: Messenger Inquirer
Date: 11/4/2012
Abstract: Week of events at OCTChonors American workers
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer (KY) - Sunday, November 4, 2012
Readability: 11-12 grade level (Lexile: 1240L)
Author: Megan Harris ; Messenger-Inquirer
Owensboro Community & Technical College will host a series of visitors and panel discussions this week for the "Celebration of the American Worker," a culmination of this semester's Common Reading program.
"Manufacturing is so important in this area, so we wanted to engage students with local people knowledgeable about the labor unions and what it means to use their education," OCTC President James Klauber said. "Here, students will get the opportunity to learn what it means to go into contract negotiations and how those relationships work.
"There are a lot of basic issues here students may never have been exposed to."
George Henderson, quality manager at Unifirst, will host "Education and Blue Collar Jobs" from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Monday, followed by "Learning, Working, Help
Author Rick Bragg comes to Owensboro this week (Media Coverage)
Author(s): McDonough, Greta
Publication: Messenger Inquirer
Date: 9/5/2012
Abstract: Author Rick Bragg comes to Owensboro this week
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer (KY) - Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Readability: 6-7 grade level (Lexile: 960L)
There is that certain something about southern writers. We have cliches we are fond of using to describe them. We talk about their sense of place, their finely crafted characters, the particular prism through which they peer, this prism — or is it a lens? —- that grants them a kind of second sight to explore and explain the world.
Their world.
If you are southern yourself, perhaps your world.
You don't have to be southern to know that life is complicated and tough, and lovely and sad, joyful and ridiculous, and plain laugh out loud funny. You don't have to be southern to hold all these things in your hand at once, but it helps.
Owensboro is lucky to have one of the best southern writers out there in town Thursday. I should say, one of the best writers, period, but I started with this southern theme and now I have
Common Reading Features Bragg (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Harris, Megan
Publication: Messenger Inquirer
Date: 8/18/2012
Abstract: Common Reading features Bragg
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer (KY) - Saturday, August 18, 2012
Author: Megan Harris ; Messenger-Inquirer
Through the "Celebration of the American Worker," Pulitzer Prize-winning author Rick Bragg will join staff and students at 1 p.m. Sept. 6 in Owensboro Community & Technical College's Blandford Hall for an open discussion on the country's less appreciated "dirty jobs."
Common Reading committee members chose Bragg's novel "The Most They Ever Had" as the centerpiece for this year's campuswide program.
"We really want to get at the underlying theme here, about the economy and how people are feeling about losing their jobs," said Kaye Brown, assistant professor of English at OCTC . "I think the thing we're getting out of the book already is how valuable positions are that so often we don't even think about."
Brown was drawn, she said, to a sample Bragg penned about his brother in "The Most They Ever Had."
"He would be the one that if you
Klauber presents Constitution Day lecture at OCTC on Monday (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Local Brief
Publication: Messenger Inquirer
Date: 9/14/2012
Abstract: OCTC President, Dr. James Klauber delivered a speech on the Constitution and related the changes in the American workplace to the application of the Bill of Rights
URL: http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=14150F4D1DF9F340&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=13http://
Ag Talk to Consider Food Origins (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Megan Harris
Publication: Messenger Inquirer
Date: 1/30/2013
Abstract: Article about a joint presentation with the OCTC Common Reading and the Agriculture Technology Program highlighting the contributions to American agriculture from Mexico, Central, and South America
URL: http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=14428F1755D802B0&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=14http://
Common Reading lecture set for Monday (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Local Brief
Publication: Messenger Inquirer
Date: 2/23/2013
Abstract: Article about the OCTC Common Reading presentation on melding two cultures in a relationship. Program a joint venture of the Common Reading, Global Studies, and the Spanish program at OCTC
URL: http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=144A782CB0A77990&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=15http://
Free showing of La Cosecha at OCTC (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Local Brief
Publication: Messenger Inquirer
Date: 3/5/2013
Abstract: Article about the showing of La Cosecha, a film about migrant workers and their children
URL: http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=144DCA8C60ABEC10&p_docnum=2&p_queryname=16http://
Author Attracts Large Crowd (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Megan Harris
Publication: Messenger Inquirer
Date: 3/27/2013
Abstract: Article covering Reyna Grande's visit to OCTC
URL: http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=1454FF4C07353700&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=17http://
Associated Products
Cotton Mill at Canelton, Indiana (Exhibition)Title: Cotton Mill at Canelton, Indiana
Curator: Lena Joyal
Abstract: Borrowed a display from the Perry County Museum in Canelton, Indiana about the cotton mill located in the town from the mid 1850's. The building still stands today. Exhibit features products made in the mill, equipment used, and photos of workers and the mill property.
Year: 2012
How to Create a Campus-Wide Common Reading Program (Conference Paper/Presentation)Title: How to Create a Campus-Wide Common Reading Program
Author: Tonya Northenor, Donna Abell, and Kaye Brown
Abstract: Presentation to the Kentucky Library Associaton on the value of and tips to create a collaborative Common Reading Program
Date: 9/21/2012
Rick Bragg at OCTC (Radio/Audio Broadcast or Recording)Title: Rick Bragg at OCTC
Writer: Rick Bragg
Producer: OCTC TV
Abstract: Video Recording of Rick Bragg at OCTC on September 6, 2012
Date: 9/6/2012
Primary URL:
http://www.youtube.com/user/OCTCLibrary?feature=CAgQwRs%3D Format: Web
Reyna Grande at OCTC (Film/TV/Video Broadcast or Recording)Title: Reyna Grande at OCTC
Writer: Reyna Grande
Director: OCTC TV
Producer: OCTC TV
Abstract: Recording of Reyna Grande's visit to OCTC March 26, 2013
Year: 2013
Primary URL:
http://mms:\\legacy.owensboro.kctcs.edu\Reyna_GrandeFormat: Digital File