Linn-Benton Community College

Dave Becker was hired as the new dean of Linn-Benton Community College’s Business, Applied Technology and Industry division. The 57-year-old Becker, of Corvallis, has served as interim dean for the past six months, replacing outgoing dean Dan Lara. Becker has been a faculty member in LBCC’s Computer Systems department for the past 13 years. In addition, he served as Faculty Association President, Workload Task Force Co-Chair, and as advisor for LBCC’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Prior to coming to LBCC, Becker was an officer in the United States Marine Corps, where he worked with international governments, military organizations and humanitarian deployments. He retired as a lieutenant colonel after more than twenty years of service. Becker has bachelor's degree in business and a master's degree in computer science from Oregon State University.

The LBCC Benton Center Pottery Show and Sale will be held Friday, June 6 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the center ceramics studio, 757 NW Polk Avenue, Corvallis. LBCC ceramic instructors, students and volunteers will sell their raku, high fire, salt fire and wood fire pieces. A portion of all sales will be used to purchase studio equipment. For more information, contact the LBCC Benton Center at 541-757-8944.

“Fitness Boot Camp” will be held at the Linn-Benton Community College’s Benton Center starting June 23. This challenging workout helps improve overall fitness with a focus on strength, cardio endurance and agility in a fun and friendly environment. This 10-week class meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 6-6:50 a.m. at the LBCC Benton Center, 757 NW Polk Ave., Corvallis. Cost is $89. For more information, see the LBCC online schedule at www.linnbenton.edu or call the LBCC Benton Center at 541-757-8944.

Two levels of “Hatha Yoga” will be held at the Linn-Benton Community College’s Benton Center starting June 23. Hatha Yoga helps increase strength and flexibility while providing tools to calm your mind and soothe your spirit. Learn yoga poses that develop balance, proper breathing, and relaxation techniques. Hatha Yoga II includes more advanced poses. Hatha Yoga I meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 12-12:50 p.m. Hatha Yoga II meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 1-1:50 p.m. at the LBCC Benton Center, 757 NW Polk Ave., Corvallis. Cost is $58 per class. For more information, see the LBCC online schedule at www.linnbenton.edu or call the LBCC Benton Center at 541-757-8944.

“French for Travelers” language class will be held at the Linn-Benton Community College’s Benton Center. Learn the essentials of conversational French with an emphasis on the vocabulary most needed in tourist situations. Best for those with a little prior knowledge of the language, but prior study is not required to take this class. This four-week class will meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 10-11:50 a.m. starting June 23 at the LBCC Benton Center, 757 NW Polk Ave., Corvallis. Cost is $65. For more information, see the LBCC online schedule at www.linnbenton.edu or call the LBCC Benton Center at 541-757-8944.

The Parenting Success Network and Linn-Benton Community College has named Joy Keiser as Parenting Educator of the Year.   Keiser, of Corvallis, received the award during PSN’s Parenting Educator Breakfast held May 19 at Oregon State University. Keiser has provided parenting classes, parent-child classes and home visits for more than 30 years though LBCC, the Old Mill Center, and other organizations. She is known for her ability to develop relationships with clients that enable her to help parents learn ways to nurture children, develop confidence in their parental authority, and set safe boundaries for themselves and their children.  The Parenting Educator of the Year Award was established to honor educators during Oregon Parenting Education Week, which runs May 19-23. The Parenting Educator Breakfast honors parenting educators in the Linn-Benton region. Parenting educators are professionally trained in child development, family relationships, individual coaching and group...

The Linn-Benton Community College award-winning choirs will perform their spring concert  “Journey in Song!” Thursday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the LBCC Russell Tripp Performance Center, Takena Hall, 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW, Albany. Conducted by LBCC director of choral activities, Dr. James Reddan, the performance includes the Concert Choir, Re-Choired Element Chamber Choir, the Musical Theater/Opera Workshop, and the a cappella groups Blue Light Special and The Sirens. Penny Bazanele will accompany on piano.  The concert will feature an eclectic array of works spanning the choral repertoire including Johnny’s Gone for a Soldier (Boudreaux), How Can I Keep from Singing (Gilpin), Daemon irrepit callidus (Orban), The Coolin’ (Barber), Twa Tanbou (Guillaume), and much, much more!  The concert will feature student conductors Alyson Stewart and Kristen Laursen with the LBCC Concert Choir conducting Weep O Mine Eyes (Bennett) and Dravidian Dithyramb (Paranjoti).  LBCC vocal a ...

Former Linn-Benton Community College head baseball coach Greg Hawk will be inducted into the Northwest Athletic Association of Community College’s Hall of Fame May 29. NWAACC’s annual banquet honors Hall of Fame inductees, outstanding service awards, coaches and administrators and will be held at the Red Lion in Vancouver. Hawk will be inducted along with his 1988 championship baseball team. His baseball-coaching career earned him a 602 wins and 526 loses record, and he coached six southern region baseball titles and two NWAACC baseball conference titles, in 1988 and 1991. Hawk was named NWAACC Baseball Coach of the Year eight times, Rawlings National Coach of the Year twice, and will receive the ABCA Ethics in Coaching Award at the 2015 ABCA Convention Coach Hawk retired from LBCC in June 2013 after 30 years with the college, where he served as a faculty member of the Health and Human Performance department, as head baseball coach for 30 years, and, for two seasons, as head coach fo...

Dave Henderson was hired as the new vice president of Finance and Operations at Linn-Benton Community College effective May 1. Henderson has served as interim vice president, replacing outgoing vice president Jim Huckestein, who took a position at Clackamas Community College at the end of February. Henderson’s experience includes directing operations of three Oregon offices of U.S. Representative Greg Walden, directing the business services department of Marion County, and serving as the administrator for the Oregon State Capitol, leading its five support units. His has extensive leadership experience in facilities management, facility services, financial services, human resources and risk management. Henderson will be responsible for the college finance and budget, information technology, institutional research, facilities management, public safety and risk management, food services, bookstore and printing operations. Henderson has a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State Universit...

Automotive technician training for compressed natural gas light-duty vehicles will be offered at Linn-Benton Community College June 9, 10 and 11. Training is for industry technicians looking to continue their education. Class covers shop safety, installation regulations, CNG concepts, differences between otto, diesel and CNG combustion, as well as knowledge of components used in CNG vehicle systems. Learn about lean-burn technology and how to calculate air-fuel ratios for best vehicle performance, and the operation of the electronic control module, basic diagnostic techniques, trouble codes and procedures for natural gas conversion. Class will meet June 9, 10 and 11 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at LBCC’s Advanced Transportation Technology Center, 2000 West Oak St., in Lebanon. Cost is $795. Training is provided through LBCC in partnership with the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium. For more information or to register, contact the LBCC automotive center at 541- 259-5801.

Fuel system inspector training for compressed natural gas vehicles will be offered at Linn-Benton Community College June 12 and 13. Training is for industry technicians looking to continue their education. Class covers theory, equipment, safety, and good work practices as well as knowledge of components used in CNG vehicle systems. Learn how to recognize various failure models, preform required reporting procedures and safely handle CNG fuel systems. The class prepares you to take the CSA International Standardized Certification test to become a certified CNG Fuel System Inspector. Class will meet June 12 and 13 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at LBCC’s Advanced Transportation Technology Center, 2000 West Oak St., in Lebanon. Cost is $595. Training is provided through LBCC in partnership with the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium. For more information or to register, contact the LBCC automotive center at 541- 259-5801.

Celebrate choral music in the Willamette Valley at the 6th annual “Albany Sings!” choir concert Thursday, May 8 at 7 p.m. at the Linn County Expo Willamette Hall Event Center, 3700 Knox Butte Road, Albany. Approximately 350 singers from Calapooia, Memorial, and North Albany Middle Schools, West and South Albany High Schools, and the Linn-Benton Community College choirs will perform a plethora of choral works sure to knock your socks off! After individual performances, the ensembles will combine to perform Peze Kafe, a Haitian Folk Song with percussion and a full celebration of one of our favorite beans and drinks - coffee! Conducted by James Reddan, LBCC; Brett DeYoung, Calapooia Middle School and South Albany High School; Julie Buchert, Memorial Middle School; LeAnn Wind, North Albany Middle School; and Cate Caffarella, West Albany High School.   The concert is free and open to the public, no tickets required. Come out and celebrate music, singing, and the many award-winning ...

Kiera Lynn LBCC student Poet Laureate Kiera Lynn will hold a poetry reading as part of the Valley Writers Series Tuesday, May 13 at 3 p.m. at Linn-Benton Community College’s Library Reading Room, 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW, Albany. Originally from a little truck-stop town south of Denver, Lynn grew up with the great outdoors as her backdrop.  She headed to Washington, where she roughed it before landing on her feet in Corvallis and finding her niche with LBCC’s Poetry Club. Lynn plays ukulele and guitar in her band, Little Brother, and hopes to be a slam poet, motivational speaker, teacher, lifelong student, yogi, rockstar, published writer, dancer and revolutionary. The LBCC Valley Writers Series is free and open to the public. Sponsored by the LBCC English Department, the series exists to connect beginning writers with professional writers and to stimulate creative writing among area students, to enhance literary awareness in our community and to encourage Oregon writers. ...