LBCC strives for perfection

A mass of wires, gears, electronics and computer equipment pack a workroom in the Service Center on the north side of the Albany campus. From this chaos has emerged a robot that LBCC students are hoping will measure up to the best that students from around the world can create.

The LBCC ROV Club will join dozens of other teams from around the globe June 26-28 at the international Underwater Robotics Competition. Modeling its ROV after an industrially designed vehicle known as Nereus, the team has spent this school year building  a brand-new robot from scratch.

LBCC ROV crew 

“We wanted everything new this year, and we didn’t use a single piece from the old one. We even built a new arm,” said Jonas Cervantes, chief executive officer of the LBCC ROV Club.

Nereus is the ROV that reached the Challenger Deep in Mariana Trench, the deepest point in the sea. During the college competition, the student-built ROV’s will need to accomplish similar missions underwater.

On May 25, the LBCC ROV team passed the tech test in the first round to advance to the final competition in Alpena, Mich. This is the fifth time that LBCC’s team has reached the finals.

The final competition includes three missions: pick up an underwater object, drive into an underwater tunnel to pick up the object, and measure a shipwreck with the fewest number of errors.

Instead of using PVC (polyvinyl chloride) as a major material, the team used aluminum because it’s stronger, lighter, and more flexible. This creates less construction work to combine separate body parts. Overall, the ROV weighs 22 pounds.

The only PVC part of the ROV is the agar sampler. This is to serve scientific research purposes. When the ROV dives down with force to the waterbed, the PVC tube can suck in the bedding material and bring samples back for research.

Students try to combine the rest of the
 pieces 

To save money and reduce weight, the six motors used to power the ROV were printed on campus with a 3D printer. The connector sleeves are silicon tubes found in craft stores and are completely waterproof. The silicon tubes are also dense and stretchy. This leaves no space for water, and the electrical wire connectors are less likely to leak.

“I found them in a craft store, and they work perfectly on the connectors. So why not?” said team member Krissy Kellogg.

During the testing process, the team realized the wires on the side have a big tension force. This was because all wires needed to be tied together to connect with the power source on the surface. To reduce the stiffness and directional force, the team simply reorganized the wires with a tether. The air inside also created more buoyancy.

Each student on the team has different responsibilities. For example, Devon Goode worked on the power brick, Stephen Gibbel wrote the programing, Shane Licari and Max Flansberg constructed the measuring tape case and adjusted the camera angles, and Kellogg, the chief financial officer, manages the team’s financial account.

Licari pointed at Flansberg and said “We all work on different things, but we help each other out too. Like Max right now, he’s trying to create more buoyancy on the wire by adding these ropes.”

Although everyone contributes differently, the team collaborates during meetings and lunch get-togethers to discuss the problems and ensure deadlines are met.

“Although we started with 50 students, I’d like to say we have 12 active members. This is an insane amount of work, but totally worth it,” said Cervantes.


At a glance:

Advisor: Greg Mulder
CEO: Jonas Cervantes cervantesjonas1@gmail.com
Scheduled meeting: Wed in room 105 in Madrone Hall

Sherpa: more than just a guide

On April 18 the Mt. Everest avalanche took 16 Sherpa lives; 13 bodies were found and three are still missing.

The next morning’s news included no names, no ages, no backgrounds, no stories. It simply referred to them as the Sherpa people.

Sherpa is an ethnicity. Their ancestors immigrated from eastern Tibet hundreds of years ago. The name Sherpa means “people from the east.” They are well-known for their mountaineering skills and tolerance to high altitudes. When Mt. Everest opened up to explorers they took the opportunity to make

Courtesy: Magnus Manske

money as guides.

With many difficulties Sherpa people already face while living in a third-world country such as Nepal, guiding tourists and climbers on Mt. Everest does not make their lives any easier.

They make a living with this job, but they do more than that. Not only the physical work, but the trust and family-like relationships they build with climbers.

“They work with us, alongside us, and for us. They are just some of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my life. I got to know a lot of them pretty well, and they became family members,” said Ben Jones, a senior guide from Alpine Ascents, in a documentary called “Everest Avalanche Tragedy” on the Discovery Channel.

Foreign climbers don’t often meet their Sherpa guides until they arrive at the base camp. Everest Base camp is 5,364 meters (17,598 feet) above sea level. According to Discovery, this base camp is higher than any mountain in Europe, but the camp is only two-thirds of the way to the peak. Due to the fact that the base camp is built on a glacier the ice constantly shifts. This requires the Sherpa people to rebuild the base camp every year.

On top of rocky glaciers, the Sherpas shovel away pointy rocks to flatten the space needed to set up tents and lay out equipment.

Once building is complete, the base camp looks like a miniature facility. The Sherpa guides continue working their magic, bonding and making people feel like home by brewing hot tea and cooking traditional food. Before climbing the highest mountain on Earth, the Sherpas take time to have the Puja ceremony.

The Rongphu Monastery, with Mt. Everest in the background
Courtesy: Csearl

A Puja ceremony is performed to ask the mountain gods for permission and blessings. The Sherpa people believe the mountain gods reside in the mountain and no one should step onto the mountain
before pursuing them.

The goal of the expedition on April 18 was to make sure Joby Ogwyn reached Everest’s highest peak before flying down in his wingsuit. However, to climb higher, they first have to pass the Khumbu Icefall.

Khumbu Icefall is another glacier-structured area at the bottom of the mountain. Above this area ice is more stable, but at Khumbu ice is constantly moving. The Sherpas who climb up first to this area are called the icefall doctors. Their job is to find the route and set the ladders and ropes. Due to the glacier’s instability they have to redo this every year. Other Sherpas who set up and maintain camps along the upper route carry heavy gear on their backs. They climb through the Khumbu Icefall at least 20 times before they notify the foreign climbers the route is ready.

Every year Sherpas die during such expeditions. This year 32 Sherpas from Joby’s expedition were on the mountain when the avalanche hit. Only half of them survived. It’s unfortunate that the Sherpas have to make their living doing this dangerous job, and even more unfortunate,their stories are neglected
in mainstream medias.

Foreign climbers pay more than $100,000 for expeditions to summit Everest but climbing Sherpas make only $5,000 a year. Other Sherpas who occupy non-climbing positions make even less.

“Without them, men like me will never be able to get up there,” Joby Ogwyn noted in the same
Discovery Channel documentary.

History chronicles the exploits of Edmund Hillary, Jim Whittaker, Willi Unsoeld and Tom Hornbein and other mountaineers, but the heroic deeds of the Sherpas and their names are nowhere to be seen.

To help the Sherpa community:

Donation site: www.sherpafund.bigcartel.com

Sherpa Education Fund: www.sherpaedfund.org

For more info: www.facebook.com/pages/2014-Mount-Everest-avalanche/268151980025149#

From passion to inspiration, Diana Wheat is living her dream at LBCC

After teaching in Colorado for seven years, a family decision was made to move to Oregon. Diana Wheat has been teaching biology at LBCC for 10 years.

Wheat grew up in a rural area in Kansas. Her family was affected during the farming crisis three decades ago. Some of her teachers were not comfortable enough to teach evolution, and going to college wasn't required to develop a career.

Living in a community stifled by scientific opportunities, nothing in her past pointed towards a career as a biologist, but one class and a brief discussion of a female scientist was enough to enlighten her. Today, Wheat still reveres Rachel Carson.

“I won’t say that I was following her footsteps, but I was very influenced by her writings,” said Wheat.

Wheat is the department chair and a biology faculty member at Linn-Benton Community College.

“I loved the land, but it’s nothing like the Northwest. This is such a diverse area compared to where I lived,” Wheat joked.

Wheat enjoys spending time outside every day and being surrounded by nature. This helped her to build the connection with the natural world.

Where she grew up, people didn't generally accept theories such as evolution and natural selection. Not many teachers talked about them at school during her growing up years because a few people got into trouble for teaching evolution.

However, teachers' reluctance and avoiding the subject made Wheat more curious. “I wanted to know what’s the controversy about. I wanted to understand more about the different perspectives.”

The more questions she asked, the more she realized the disconnection between people around her and nature. Studying about change became fascinating to Wheat. This initiation led her interests to issue-based biology studies.

Wheat could not help but dig deeper to see the science behind the scenes. She still believes it’s important to understand what’s really happening under the surface.

As a teacher, Wheat taught classes that were issue-based, and students loved learning that way.

“Because it’s almost like philosophy and ethical influence rather than just hard science,” she said.

Not every class affords opportunities for Wheat to teach that way.When she can, she engages students with issues along with scientific facts.

"I thought her class was difficult but I know she designed it to prepare me better for the future," said student Daniel Elliott.

She tries in her teaching approach to gather students’ attention with a phenomenon and let students ask for more.

“It’s not always important to tell people what to think, rather, it’s to give them a question so they learn how to think. That’s my mission of being a teacher,” said Wheat.

Wheat earned her bachelor’s degree in biology. The curriculum emphasized systematic and ecology. She worked for a museum but soon she realized the museum work was too quiet and not enough excitement for a young biologist. The insufficient funding was also part of the reason why she couldn't continue the job.

Wheat went back to school and earned her master’s degree in environmental science and specifically in eco-toxicology, the study of how toxins and poisons affect the environment. 

“It was part of a brand new master's degree program at the University of Kansas. I was one of the five people who applied for the program that year,” said Wheat. her interest included eco-toxicology or 

She was not afraid to step into the new genre.

Reflecting back to the age of 13, Wheat learned about Rachel Carson, who wrote the book “Silent Spring” and warned the world that the way humans poison the environment will result a future with no birds but a silent spring.

Following a similar path, Wheat wanted to be like Carson, a female scientist that can make a difference with what she believes.

Wheat was proud to receive her first job offer within the first year after graduation. She started working at a water quality laboratory as a microbiologist.

“It was not a glamorous job,” Wheat laughed, “It was a job to have a salary.”

The company was not happy about a research result she obtained about zebra mussels. They are now known as an invasive species from the Black Sea. Wheat warned the company that not a single chemical they were making could kill the zebra mussels, but the company thought she was wrong.

In the early '90s, it spread out in the country, and upset many ecosystems. Zebra mussels were then proved to be an invasive species that had high resistance.

After working in the company for one and half years, the company cut the lab and reduced Wheat's job. 

“Eventually, fate held my hands because it was a good beginning for my next journey,” Wheat said. 

With the money she saved, she decided to make the most out of the worst.

She went to Africa and explored like a real scientist.

It was not easy to travel in a place like Africa at the time, especially as a single woman. Wheat chose to go to Kenya because it was one of the safer countries. However, when she thought she could do something bigger on that continent, KWS (Kenyans Wildlife Services) stopped hiring. The director of KWS was Richard Leakey, the son of the famous scientist Louis Leakey. Because of a plane accident, Richard Leakey was sent back to a U.K. hospital. Wheat already had two interviews for the program, but no decisions could be made without the director.

Life didn't close all the doors. When the program manager noticed Wheat had museum work background, he suggested Wheat an opportunity to work at the NMK (National Museum of Kenya).

“Because of working for the NMK, I was put on to work on a project about biodiversity. It was a perfect project,” said Wheat.

The project was sponsored by the United Nations. So Wheat became a paid intern for $40 per month,
Roughly the same amount paid to Kenyan scientists at the time.

She wasn't a rich scientist, but the money was enough for her to safari to other areas in Africa.

The year in Africa taught Wheat not only biodiversity, but also valuable life lessons. Wheat decided to be a teacher to share her knowledge and experiences. She spent two years to complete her teaching certificate, and found her first teaching job at Littleton High School followed by the University of Colorado in Denver. 

“There were hardships and disappointments, but I kept going forward and never turned my back to biology. I hope through education, I can be a source of inspiration.”

Additional Info:

Instructor website: http://cf.linnbenton.edu/mathsci/bio/wheatd/web.cfm?pgID=2118
Office: WOH 207
Phone: 541-917-4772

The Lure of Nail Polish

Think of the movie "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Ever imagine a nail polish version of that? A nail color that creates a wonderland, like floating on a coral-colored stream. 

For those moonstruck about nail polishes, prepare to compare. Not necessarily nail art, like crazy flowery drawings on fake nails, but simple nail colors that coat thin, brittle nails and brighten a mood.

Essie nail polish has been around since 1981 but in recent years the company has become well-known. The unique color range and packaging gives the impression that the company is targeting a niche market at first, but it doesn’t seem necessary anymore since Essie successfully transformed the brand into a leading trend. 

Summer is right around the corner. Essie updated its color wheel with six bright colors: urban jungle; fierce, no fear; roarrrrange; strut your stuff; ruffles and feathers; and haute in the heat. Although "urban jungle" and "fierce, no fear" are two neutral colors, they match perfectly with the colorful summer wardrobe.  

Essie's color spectrum feeds anyone's color fantasy. When they are lined in color order, it's hard to resist not buying them. The appealing image draws out the inside artists of people. 

The most unforgettable ones are the creamy and fresh colors. No matter what is placed next to them, Essie stands out and attracts attention. It’s so unique that consumers shouldn't hesitate before they are sold out.

When you apply Essie it’s like putting icing over a cake and smoothing it out with a spatula. The quirky colors even remind you of food, like a piece of green tea mille crepe.  

Besides color, the packaging is another key. The bottles are small, glassy, and simple. While most other nail polishes have black handles, Essie uses white and turns messy applications into a neat fantasy. with no distraction, the packaging helped to display the nail polish elegantly.

The bottles are engraved with Essie's brand name and the bottle is slightly shorter than others. The cubic body adds cuteness to it. Together, it’s a fresh image that Essie created to emerge from other big brands. 

Anitateee posted on MakeupAlley, a makeup review site "The only polish I buy. I've noticed now after trying various brands that Essie polish is the best for me."

Beauty blogger, makeup artist and YouTuber Michelle Phan wrote on her blog about her favorite pastel polishes from Essie "My favorite shades are by Essie and even though they probably remind some people of a baby's nursery-I love them on my nails!"

Think about mascara, acne treatment, or tampons. One that works for you may not work for others. To me, nail polish is of a personal preference. Essie nail polishes are as cheap as other drug store brands but offer so much more.

Good color range makes you want to buy them, but good qualities encourage you to repurchase.

As a nail polish brand, the color variety is a must. However, the texture, consistency, long-lasting, chipping, and pigmentation are also elements that customers consider. Essie is top-notch in all these areas. Paint one coat of any Essie nail polish and top it off with some “good to go” drying coat, this will lasts at least two weeks without chipping. Because of the formula, one coat will do the job for pigmentation. Unless you want a darker shade, paint two coasts before applying the drying coat.

Since color is what Essie is known for, the company doesn’t carry other types of texture and brush. For beginners, it’s better to use a wider brush for a smoother application. Sally Hansen, for example, produces different kinds of brushes depends on the texture of nail polish. For those who are new to paint your own nails, Sally Hansen may be a better choice. It is also cheaper than Essie.

Recently, Essie caught lots of media attention. During the 71st annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 12, Cate Blanchett was wearing Essie’s nail color in “au naturel” to match her black lacey dress on red carpet. Also for fashion week in Feb, designer Alexander Wang chose “sand tropez” and “mademoiselle” from Essie to go along with his new clothing design.

Although Essie has gained much more press attention from magazines, fashions shows, beauty awards, and celebrities than other brands, it’s not the most outstanding in Earth-friendly advocates compare to ZOYA.

For 2014 Earth Day, ZOYA started the healthy nail polish movement. Besides producing toxin-free nail polishes, ZOYA enhances the concept by exchanging nail polishes. From the 22 to 28 of this month, you can purchase ZOYA nail polishes with 50 percent off. In return, you send back your old and out of style nail polishes. The company disposes these unwanted bottles in an eco-friendly manner.

At a glance:

Essie
What: Trendy brand of nail polish
Price range: $8-$10 per 0.5-ounce bottle
Where to buy: Major drugstores and Essie boutiques
Founder: Essie Weingarten
Parent company: Four years ago purchased by L'Oreal
Website: Essie.com

Flipped-class for nursing students

Set up with round tables in the Fireside Room, students were divided into four sub-groups for a flipped class experience.

On Monday, April. 14, the nursing program at LBCC had a taste of the flipped classroom, a new form of teaching where students come to class prepared and practice their knowledge with more hands-on work.

The subject was addictions and substance abuse. After a brief overview in the beginning, each group received different parts of class material.

The first group worked on scoring the dosage of drug with the CIWA system; the second group practiced acupuncture with Tawnya Dailey L. AC from Lebanon; the third group, learned about motivational interviewing to encourage patients once they are ready to change their behavior; and the fourth group, impaire with health-treating professional James Conway, MFT from Lake Oswego, studied the process when treating patients with addictions.

The instructor was no longer teaching and students were no longer taking notes. The classroom turned into a conversation-styled convention.

Unlike the old-fashion lecturing, students were able to share and communicate ideas with each other. When they meet difficulties, the instructor and professionals were there to answer their questions.

Sherrilyn Sytsma, faculty at LBCC nursing program, was surprised of students’ reactions. “I think it worked well to have people engage more. This is a powerful learning process since nursing is all about applying your knowledge and skills,” said Sytsma.   

However, the anonymous feedbacks from students showed a mixture of opinions.

“I enjoyed the day. It was eye opening and helped me understand that addiction is not a choice that people make and that it can happen to anyone. ”

“I feel like there was not enough time to reach great depth with any one subject, but I have a better overall understanding of treatments and assessments regarding addiction and addicts. ”

This new concept of learning provided opportunities for students to collaborate and had better understandings of book theories through practical work. In addition, it is important to preview before hand. The in-class work requires students to know the material well so that students will not feel lost during the process.

Sytsma thought this is a great way of extending the skill lab style into lectures, “Our skill lab within our curriculum is kind of like the flipped class philosophy. Students need to come to class prepared and they practice with instructions.” She always mentioned there will always be students learn better or worse in unconventional classes. So it’s good to have a mixed style of classes where they can learn in either way without lifting anyone out.

Students compete for nursing spots at LBCC

In recent years, the increasing applicants caused more competition to apply nursing program at LBCC. Many of them are strong candidates and it's difficult to distinguish them based on GPA. Experiences play the second important role for those who urge to get in.

Photo from LBCC web

Wendy Wong, who got in the program on the first time she applied, described her application process as exciting and patient. “I retook one anatomy physiology, and I volunteered for a few years within the community to strengthen my knowledge and skills. I worked as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistants) and I have my previous bachelor. On top of all these, I was excited to apply LBCC nursing program. Even though I was wait-listed, I waited patiently and eventually I got in,” she said.  

Wait list means a second chance. The admission takes a further step to consider the qualifications of wait-listed  applicants. This time, there were nine students in line and they were all accepted in the end. However, each year is different. In 2012, the program only accepted one wait-listed student.

“It is a very competitive program. When I applied LBCC, I didn’t get in the first year. My GPA wasn’t super high. So I decided to retake two of the three anatomy and physiology courses. Then I was more competitive, and got in the second time I applied,” said Eliza gar Side, a transferred student from Utah.

In addition to the high GPA requirements, LBCC nursing program also requires CNA (Certified Nursing Assistants) for admission. CNA defines people who are eligible to help licensed nurses in nursing care.

“Nursing is not an easy job," Wong said. "A lot of other programs don’t require this, and many students regret and struggle when they realize nursing is not what they want later on.”

Wong pointed out that the CNA acts as a filter so the rest of students stay for the right reasons, not just for money. Also, students who survived the CNA exam are more likely to be a nurse with their persistence. Competition also creates a more mature group of students, she said.

LBCC nursing program has the same high standards and quality like other colleges, but it costs much less.

Photo from LBCC web

There are three roads when students are approaching to be a registered nurse. A three-year diploma, a three-year associate degree, and a four-year baccalaureate degree. Graduates who accomplish any of the three programs are qualified to take the NCLEX, the National Council Licensure Examination.

LBCC nursing program is for students to earn an associate degree, but instead of three years, it is designed as a two-year associate degree program. This saves student time and it saves money.

“Our program is very competitive and intense, but this will prepare students for real jobs once they graduate,” said Sheryl Oakes Caddy, the department Chair of Nursing Program at LBCC. Caddy was proud to show the stats: the national rate of passing NCLEX dropped to 84 percent during 2011 to 2013, but the rate at LBCC increased to 94.61 percent.

LBCC nursing program has an articulation agreement with Linfield School of Nursing. This allows students to pursue Bachelor degrees or Masters of Science degrees with less transition difficulties.

For those who are looking for nursing jobs, Amanda Morris who work for the HR department of Samaritan Health Services advised “Start applying right away when you see an opportunity posted. Make sure your application is complete, and includes information relevant to the nursing position such as clinical experiences, certifications, or relevant courses you have taken above and beyond what is required for your program.”

Morris also suggested including work history that is not necessarily related to nursing. “Even though it may not be directly related, employers want to see what kind of work you have done and what other skills you may bring to the work space.”

At a glance:

LBCC Nursing Program
Website: www.linnbenton.edu/nursing

Admission: admissions@linnbenton.edu
Phone: 541-917-4811
Fax: 541-917-4868
Tuition: $65,000-$7,500
Application forms: https://www.linnbenton.edu/go/admission-forms-and-applications

The LBCC 5th Annual Unity Celebration

Decked out with roof lights and sophisticated food arranged on the white cloth, and joined by an audience in button-down shirts and dresses, LBCC's Diversity and Achievement Center turned into a formal award-presenting locale.

On Wednesday, Feb. 26, the DAC held the 5th Annual Unity Celebration. The celebration included establishment of the Gary Westford Community Connection Award. It also featured presentation of the Analee Fuentes Award and poetry performances.

After a quick intro given by Javier Cervantes, director of Diversity and Community Engagement, he invited Dana Emerson to open the ceremony by introducing the Gary Wesford Community Connection Award.

“About everywhere you go on campus, it has Gary’s work in it,” said Emerson, who teaches communication at LBCC. “He doesn’t give because he has to, he gave because he wants to.”

Wesford hugs Emerson after her kind introduction

Emerson then listed some outstanding art projects Wesford has done on LBCC campus in Albany, such as the art displays in North Santiam Hall and other buildings.

The Westford Community Connection Award was established not only for his contribution and effort to our community, but also to inspire others in achieving more diverse and creative community connections.

“One good thing about being old is that I’m here to see changes,” joked Westford, a retired art faculty member. He encouraged students in the audience. “You are in great hands at LBCC.”

The second award was The Analee Fuentes Award. It was established in 2013, and is to honor students, staff, and faculty who have supported and dedicated their efforts to diversity and social justice.

This year, Jordan Hagle, president of Gay Straight Alliance won the student award. Christine Baker, who works with international students at the Admission and Registration office, won the staff award. And the faculty award honored Fred Stuewe and Dean Dowless, who teach welding and fabrication.

A group photo was taken with all the nominees, and Baker finally let the tears go from her watery eyes.

Baker held the award in front of her chest and wiped the tears. “I still can’t believe this just happened," she said. "I can’t believe they picked me.”

Also nominated for the award were: Spike Keenan, Sandra Shinkle, Christy Stevens, Isabela Mackey, James Reddan, and Nancy Tanberg.

Tim Black recites his poetry during the Unity Celebration

In addition to the awards, Tim Black and the LBCC Poetry Club drew the audiences into their poetry performances.

Black, a communication professor and advisor for the Gay Straight Alliance at LBCC, interpreted diversity and social justice through his poems. His powerful delivery included words such as “negro” and references to sex. Black worried about the strong language used at such a formal event. However, Cervantes was very open and responded, “Any language is appropriate.”

Six student members from the LBCC Poetry Club recited a series of poems about the blues. In order, each individual read a poem, followed by guitar music. The club members transformed their poetry into a mini concert.