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Success^first graduates fromCowley's InterpreterTraining Program reflectTwo years ago, Cowley County Community College took a chance and started a programto train interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing.In May 1996, as the program produces its first graduates, one of the instructors and fivestudents took time to reflect on those two years."We all agree that we could do this for the next 10 years and still learn interpreting signlanguage and American Sign Language," said Debbie McCann of Wichita, one of four studentswho graduated May 4, 1996 from Cowley. "This program gave us a firm foundation for ASL.We have a better understanding of interpreter behavior and the different situations out there."McCann, Debbie Marlow of Derby, April Voeltz of Hutchinson, and Jeannine Schaffer of Haysville graduated May 4. Kristie Rogers of Wichita,the only other student who began the program two years ago, also has completed her requirements but won't finish her general course work until the1996-97 academic year.Instructor Kim Hungerford said many of the students who initially enrolled in the program had no signing skills, while a few knew the ABCs. Thedifferent levels presented a challenge for Hungerford and fellow Cowley instructor Tim Anderson."All the students were successful and all accomplished their goals and met the requirements," said Hungerford, who is deaf. "When they go out,it will require a lot of practice. They've always had just me and Tim. One style. It will be different when they get into one-on-one situations in the deafaommunity."Cowley's Interpreter Training Program is located at the Mulvane Center. It is the only program of its kind in central Kansas. Johnson CountyCommunity College has had a program in place for many years, and Anderson is a graduate. But the fact that Cowley started a programpersuaded many students to take classes closer to home.Voeltz said when she was younger she used to baby sit for a deaf girl. She also took a sign language class in high school that sparked herinterest.and "I have a deaf cousin went to all those family events for years" struggling to communicate, Schaffer said. "I didn't realize the differencebetween signing and interpreting."McCann said making sure both parties, hearing and non-hearing, were comfortable in any given situation took practice and patience."You don't want to mislead anyone or cause any misunderstanding," McCann said.Beginning in the fall of 1996, McCann and Schaffer were interpreting at Wichita State University in the classroom. Both said they want to doone-on-one interpreting and some free-lance interpreting."There is a language barrier everywhere," McCann said. "Banks, doctor's offices. In this area there is a greater demand than there are qualifiedinterpreters."Rogers said she was seeking a four-year degree in interpreter training. Hungerford said those opportunities are few and far between, butdiscussions are being held with some current four-year schools to offer a degree completion program."This experience at Cowley has been very enlightening," Rogers said. "It's more than just being able to sign with your hands. It's been achallenging, frustrating, and rewarding two years."Allthe students said being the guinea pigs of the programwill undoubtedly help Cowley develop it further."We see a lot of improvement with the first-year students,"Voeltz said. "In time this program will be real strong. It will bethere with Johnson County."All the students praised Hungerford and Anderson for thework they've done."They both are really skilled," Schaffer said. "It's beenwonderful working with them."All the students said the key to improving was practice."You have to keep practicing," Schaffer said. "Even duringispring break. You sit there and interpret the television. If you don'tuse it every day, you lose it."9Instructors, seated from left, Kim Hungerford and Tim Anderson. Graduates standing, from left, KristieRogers, April Voeltz, Jeannine Schaffer, Debra Marlow, and Debbie McCann.