encounters encounters encounters - Owens Community College

Alumni Board
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Alumni Association Membership on the Increase
Let’s Make 2006 a Great Year!
We are planning fun activities and events for 2006!
With an Association membership, you will receive
event invitations and enjoy discounts on the associated
fees, and your children could be eligible for scholarship
opportunities. Join our more than 540 alums in
celebrating success at Owens.
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William R. Steele, Director
Principal, Director of Marketing and Design Spring Valley Architects, Inc.
Bill Steele is Principal and Director of Marketing and Design for Spring Valley Architects, Inc. in Maumee, Ohio. He directs
the company’s marketing and all building designs. Bill has 18 years experience as a Licensed Architect. A 1978 Northview
High School grad, he earned his associate’s degree from Owens Community College in 1981, majoring in architectural
technologies. In 1990, he earned a bachelor of architecture from the University of Arizona and then a master of architecture
degree with design communications. Bill is also a member of the National Council Architects Registration Board (NCARB).
He is on the Ottawa Hills Schools building committee, a member of the Oregon Economic Development Foundation and
the Wood County Economic Development Commission. Bill enjoys snow and water skiing, golfi ng, tennis and has recently
taken up motorcycle riding. He and his wife, Cynthia, have a son, Benjamin (8), and reside in Toledo.
“Owens allowed me the opportunity to explore my dream of becoming an architect. During the late 70s, Owens’ curriculum gave
me exposure to various technical aspects of my profession that helped my decision to continue higher education fi rst with a bachelor’s
degree and then with a master’s degree.”
Frank M. Weaver, Director
Sales Specialist, Millworking Lowe’s
Frank Weaver is a Sales Specialist in the Millworking Department at Lowe’s in Perrysburg, Ohio. His responsibilities include
anticipating and delivering exceptional customer service to Lowe’s commercial and residential customers. Frank enjoys
performing in community theater and played a leading role in the production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat.” Frank received an associate degree in business management from Owens Community College in 1999.
He enjoys playing baseball with the Toledo Mud Dogs at the Old Mud Hens Stadium and golfi ng. Frank and his wife,
Vikki, have two daughters, Megan Finnegan (19) and Tatyana Finnegan (11). He resides in Rossford.
“I started my college career at Owens when I was 40 years old. Even though it took me four years of attending classes four nights
a week while working full-time to obtain my associate degree, I graduated with honors. Owens afforded me an opportunity
of a lifetime.”
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2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 To Date
Owens Community College
Alumni Association Memberships
Alumni Association Membership Benefi ts:
Encounters Magazine
Membership to Student Health and
Activities Center (SHAC)
Use of Computer Labs and College Library
Invitation and discounts to all Alumni events
Opportunities to serve on planning committees
Reduced rental fees for use of College facilities
Discounts on performances at the Center for
Fine and Performing Arts
Alumni Legacy Endowed Scholarships for your children
Ozone email account
Job Search Services
Discounts on Owens Express spirit wear
Eligibility for Association leadership positions
Opportunities for spouse membership and benefi ts
Group discount on AAA Membership
Parking Permit
Membership
Application
on Page 15!
FacultySuccess
Owens Apple of the Month Award
Given to Russell Bodi and Charles Stewart
Dr. Russell Bodi
Charles Stewart
Congratulations to Owens’ Apple of the Month
Award winners, Dr. Russell Bodi, assistant professor
in the Communications/Humanities Department,
and Charles Stewart (’94), assistant professor of
Manufacturing Technologies.
Bodi, who teaches composition and literature classes,
was being recognized for his contributions resulting
in positive teaching and learning experiences at
Owens. An avid Shakespeare scholar, Bodi fulfi lled a
leadership role in helping bring the Ohio Shakespeare
Conference to Owens’ Toledo-area campus. Added
bonuses available to conference attendees, as well as to
the Owens community and the community at large,
were the performances of “Much Ado About Nothing,”
“Richard III” and “Return to the Forbidden Planet”
by the Shenandoah Blackfriars Stage Company in
Owens’ Center for Fine and Performing Arts made
possible by Bodi’s work with the CFPA staff, the
Shenandoah Blackfriars Stage Company and the Ohio
Shakespeare Conference. Bodi has plans to continue
providing his students with opportunities to explore
Shakespearean literature by teaching a class titled
Shakespeare in Performance.
In addition to his work with Shakespeare and as a
proponent of academic excellence, Bodi has been
Tom Deckelman
instrumental in the development of the Owens Honors
Program, having served on the Honors Committee
with distinction. He is an outstanding example of
faculty excellence at Owens.
Charles Stewart is dedicated to his students and
the Welding program. His involvement with
the industrial advisory committee recently led
to a special project with North Star BlueScope
Steel LLC in Delta, Ohio. Stewart was asked to design
and produce a wildlife sculpture as part of the plant’s
$3 million beautifi cation project. He directed faculty,
staff and students to complete the sculpture.
Stewart is an Owens graduate (known as Owens
Technical College at the time) and is an American
Welding Society (AWS) Certifi ed Welding Inspector.
The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision
Repair (I-CAR) also certifi ed him as an auto body
welder. In addition, Stewart is a member of the Epsilon
Pi Tau (EPT) Honorary Society and serves on several
local high school welding advisory committees. On
campus, he helps plan and organize the annual Lincoln
Motor Sports Welding Night held each April. He also
volunteers time each year to teach young children
from the local Girls Scouts of America an introductory
course on how to weld.
Owens Recognizes Faculty, Staff and Administration
For Excellence in Higher Education
Three Owens Community College employees have been chosen
by their peers to receive the fourth annual Exemplary Faculty,
Staff and Administrator awards for outstanding dedication and
service to higher education.
Recipients for the 2005-06 academic year are:
Tom Deckelman of Sylvania, professor of Marketing and
Sales (Exemplary Faculty Award)
Shane Trumbull of Bowling Green, help desk technician in
Information Technology Services (Exemplary Staff Award)
Deb Ciecka of Rossford, chair of Early Childhood and
Paraprofessional Education (Exemplary Administrator Award)
Shane Trumbull
Deb Ciecka
The Exemplary Faculty, Staff and Administrator Awards Program
was established in 2003 to honor employees who make signifi cant
contributions to enhance the College’s mission of providing quality
service and education. Recipients are nominated and selected by
their fellow Owens employees.
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