Tapping to the rhythm

Since he was 4 years old, Christopher Erk knew he was going to become a dancer.

Erk, who teaches Tap Dance I at Sinclair Community College, said once he began tapping, he never wanted to do anything else.

“When I was 10, I knew I wanted to (tap dance) professionally,” Erk said.

Erk is finishing up his first tap class at Sinclair. He said teaching tap to other just made sense.

“I have 12 years of experience and I moved to a city where I have no network at all,” he said. “So I just tapped into whatever resource I had. It all kind of fell into place.”

After years of training and lessons, Erk dropped out of high school and traveled the world after joining a professional tapping tour called Tap Dogs. Erk said after he spent five years with Tap Dogs, he lived in New York City for six years as a tap choreographer and instructor.

“I did everything from choreographing shows for large corporations to choreographing presidential inaugurations,” he said. “Living in New York gave me a taste of everything I could. I was teaching lot, so I developed a joy and a knack for teaching.”

So how did Erk end up at Sinclair? Erk said his girlfriend is originally from Oakwood.

“She got a job in the city, got injured, and ended up having to come home,” he said. “This was the best place for her to heal.”

Erk said he earned his GED in Connecticut and is now a full-time student at Sinclair. Along with teaching at the college, Erk teaches at Wright State University and a few local dance studios. Erk also owns his own tap dancing company, the Tap Factor.

“It’s a place for anyone who is interested to come together … cultural exchange, community outreach, music appreciation and self-appreciation are some of the things we do,” he said.

Erk spent some his afternoon on March 2 in the tunnel that connects the parking garage to Building 3 and 4. Erk tapped while students walked to and from the parking garage in an attempt to drive interest in his class. Erk said his idea at Sinclair is to strongly promote tap dancing and get the recreational dancers involved in the class.

“If you’ve ever wanted to tap dance or thought you could tap dance, the class is good for everybody,” Erk said. “The way that I teach it provides the foundation … It’s easier than you think. It’s just a matter of learning the ABCs.”

Erk said students not sure about the class could check out his Youtube channel at youtube.com/themoneyfoot or e-mail him at christopher.erk@my.sinclair.edu.

Check out a video of the winter class on our YouTube channel here.

Spring offers variety of classes

Lifeguard Training

(PED 232)

Taught by veteran lifeguard Nila Peavy, this class teaches students the skills and knowledge needed to prevent and respond to aquatic emergencies.

Graduates of this course earn lifeguard training, first aid and CPR/AED certificates necessary to become professional lifeguards.

Peavy said any student more than 15 years old is eligible to register, but to stay in the class past the first day with the eligibility to still earn the certificates, students must pass two tests. The first test is an endurance test where students swim 300 yards continuously, while the second test is a break test, where students swim 20 yards, dive seven to 10 feet to retrieve a 10 pound object and then swim back 20 yards with the object.

Peavy said students who don’t pass the tests can stay in the class for fun, but cannot obtain certificates.

“The class is demanding, but it’s a good opportunity for Sinclair students,” Peavy said. “Summer pools will be opening and hiring soon after the class is over so the demand is there.”

Peavy said lifeguards that work at Sinclair earn around $11 per hour.

The three credit hour class is offered on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Rasta and Reggae

(AFR 297)

Listed as a three credit hour African American Studies class, Rasta and Reggae provides an introduction to Caribbean culture and touches on Rastafarian philosophy and music that influences the region.

The course is taught by Sinclair Adjunct Professor Ivy Chevers. Chevers lived in Jamaica for 18 years as a member of the Peace Corp.

“It’s a wonderful country, but when students get into the class they realize it’s not all beaches and white sand,” Chevers said. “They get an honest evaluation of Jamaica.”

Chevers said the class also covers Jamaican culture, religion, the maroons, slavery and resistance. Chevers said the class was first opened for registration in winter quarter.

“Most of the history is focused on Jamaica. The students in the class are having a great time and have learned a lot,” she said.

The class is offered on Tuesdays and Thursday between 2 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.

Comics and Culture

(SOC 117-50)

Comics and Culture Instructor Craig This said the goal of this class is twofold: the first is to help students come away with a better understanding of comic books and graphic novels, as well as their history and place in popular culture, while the second goal to help students understand the role of popular culture and how it influences them.

“Students see how American values, religion, violence, images of women and racial/ethnic groups in the United States are played out in comic books,” This said via e-mail. “Consequently, comic books and graphic novels not only reflect the values and norms of the society around them but also help influence and lead to discussion about comic books and graphic novels.”

This said besides studying and analyzing comics, students will also read scholarly articles about comic books, as well as watch cartoons and movies because he said that’s where most Americans first experience comic book characters.

Comics and Culture is offered on Wednesdays from 7:00 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

Psychological Experience of Film

(PSY 297)

This psychology class dives into the perception of film and the experience using the exploration of psychological themes. Dr. Lea Ann Lucas leads the class that plans to cover popular and historical films.

“Students have the opportunity to experience how films shape our popular psychological culture through their accuracy of portrayal of psychological issues,” Lucas said in an e-mail. “The course is for anyone who enjoys good discussion and films as well as psychology, art and culture.”

Lucas hopes students will be more critical of what is seen in movies when the course is finished. Lucas said her area of expertise is clinical cross-cultural psychology.

“I love films and how they reveal fact or fiction in our own lives,” she said.

The class is offered on Mondays and Wednesdays between 2 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.

Sinclair baseball loses weekend

The Sinclair Tartan Pride baseball team didn’t open its 2010 season in ideal fashion.

After traveling to Georgia for two doubleheaders in two days against Young Harris College on Feb. 27 and 28, the Tartan Pride returned home with a 1-3 record.

In the opening game, Sinclair fell behind 3-0 after two innings until the Tartan Pride chipped away at the lead. Sinclair tied the game at 3 on a sacrifice fly by Zach Stewart. Young Harris, though, ended the opener on a Greg Bowder RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning. Pitcher Austin Pressly (0-1) was given the loss.

Later that day, the Tartan Pride responded in the back-half of the doubleheader with a 5-2 victory over Young Harris. Pitcher Zach Botjer (1-0) tossed 5.1 innings giving up four hits, two earned runs and striking out six batters.

Sinclair jumped to a 5-0 lead after three innings and never were threatened by Young Harris. Catcher Justin Marrero went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Designated hitter Corey Throckmortan and outfielder Byron Johann collected two RBIs each.

The following day didn’t go so well for the Tartan Pride. Young Harris swept Sinclair with 10-0 and 6-2 victories. The strong Tartan Pride offense was held to 10 runs in four games.

In Sinclair’s 10-0 loss, pitcher Erik Lamka (0-1) was knocked around in 1.2 innings, allowing four hits, three walks and five earned runs. Young Harris pitcher Jake Montgomery threw six shutout innins to earn the win.

Errors seemed to be Sinclair’s downfall in game two. The Tartan Pride committed four errors while pitcher Jeremiah Kerns (0-1) took the loss in the 6-2 stumble.

Preble County off to promising start

Janet Schmitt has goals for Sinclair Community College’s Preble County Learning Center (PCLC), and it all starts with the location.

“My goal is for the Center to become an integral part of Preble County,” said Schmitt, the manager of the PCLC.

As it stands now, the PCLC offers only entry-level courses, but the PCLC is partnering with Eaton High School to provide more educational opportunities for their students, according to Schmitt.

Schmitt said the focus of the PCLC is on the students.

“If their goal is to get a bachelor’s degree, we want to help them get started,” said Schmitt. “Our goal is to really continue to grow here in Preble County. If a student just wants to take one class, we want to help them with that.”

Schmitt said she understands that flexibility is a major part of Sinclair’s allure and that’s a driving reason behind the partnership with Eaton.

“We’ll be having chemistry here at the center for lectures, and then using Eaton High School in the evening for the lab facility,” said Schmitt. “I think one of the things that’s really noteworthy here is the amount of community support.”

Schmitt, who received a Master’s of Business Administration from Murray State University, said she has always worked in higher education and helped open the PCLC in August. With the help of the Preble County Youth Foundation, Sinclair was able to add another satellite campus.

“We had about a month to get ready for fall quarter,” said Schmitt. “Ask everybody here, that was a fun month.”

Despite what the PCLC offers, there are differences between it and the other satellite campuses.

“We don’t have a free-standing bookstore, but we do assist students in ordering books online and books can be delivered here,” said Schmitt.

Jared Markland, a student at the PCLC, does not mind the limited-resources that the satellite campus may have. Markland prefers using them “because of not having to deal with all the chaos of the Dayton campus.”

The PCLC launched in the fall with 275 students, a figure that Schmitt said made Sinclair “exceedingly happy.” The winter figures have fallen, but this did not come as a surprise, said Schmitt.

“I really want us to be able to help the traditional college student, but also the un-traditional college student, the people hit hard by the economy,” said Schmitt. “I want us to be a support for them.”

Sinclair baseball looks to take next step

Sinclair baseball coach Steve Dintaman is never afraid to make bold predictions. As the third-year coach looks ahead, he said the 2010 roster is the best in Sinclair’s storied history.

After finishing with a 36-12 mark, the Pride finished one game short of the NJCAA World Series and runners-up in the Region 12 Championship game last spring.

“This is the deepest and the best team we’ve ever had,” Dintaman said. “The talent level is as good as it has ever been. There are so many strengths that outweigh our negatives.”

Plenty of pitching

Sinclair boasts an abundance of depth on the mound with the return of Jake Robinson, Erik Lamka, Zach Botjer and Jordan Russell. Russell set a school record with nine saves, while Robinson, Lamka and Botjer combined to go 16-3 as starters.

Dintaman said Sinclair welcomed plenty of talent to its staff for the upcoming season.

University of Cincinnati transfer and potential MLB draft pick Justin Schultheiss will head the rotation. Behind Schultheiss, Dintaman plans to keep the rotation open for competition between newcomer Austin Pressly (drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 23rd round of the 2009 MLB Draft), Botjer, Lamka and Robinson.

Offense-heavy

Though Sinclair returns only two offensive starters, Dintaman said the Pride shouldn’t see a decline in offensive production, especially with the move to Athletes in Action in Xenia.

“This team could break all of Sinclair’s offensive records,” he said. “(Athletes in Action) is a very hitter-friendly field.”

Sophomore outfielder Clay Ragland looks to continue to set the pace for the Pride as an explosive leadoff hitter. Ragland collected 26 stolen bases in 34 starts, while hitting .291 with an on-base percentage of .410.

Robinson, who is vying for a spot in the starting rotation, also spends time in the field. The sophomore hit .341 in 2010.

Dintaman spoke highly of catcher Justin Marrero, who the coach said is the most talented player he has ever coached.

“He has all the tools — speed, hit for power, hit for average, defense and arm,” Dintaman said. “(Marrero) has it all.”

Dintaman said Marrero was the best shortstop in Ohio in 2008 and is quickly adjusting to the catcher position.

New goals

Dintaman said his team’s main weakness from last year involved academics.

“We’re focusing on academics even more now,” he said. “If they miss a class, they miss a game. It was something that had to be done.”

Dintaman said he’s looking forward to the season-opener and believes the team is very capable of clinching the college’s first NJCAA World Series berth.

“Our goals have been set since last year’s team lost,” he said. “We want to go to the World Series and we want to compete for the national championship. And we’re very, very capable of doing that.”

DCI student makes strides to change his life

As a Sinclair Community College student, William Beyer never thought he would be in the position he now finds himself in.

That position, Beyer described, isn’t his status as an inmate at the Dayton Correctional Institute (DCI). And it isn’t how the 43-year-old is nearing the end of his third term in prison.

Beyer is a successful student in Sinclair’s Advanced Job Training Programs. The program teams with DCI and the Montgomery Education Pre-Release Center (MEPC) to assist prisoners in gaining an education while incarcerated.

DCI is a medium-security prison that holds close to 500 inmates and was built in 1987, according to Vivian Covington, DCI’s Correctional Warden’s Assistant and Public Information Officer.

Belinda McBeth, the assistant coordinator for Sinclair’s Advance Job Training program at DCI and the MEPRC, has worked with inmates since 1998. McBeth, a Sinclair graduate, helps inmates at both sites fully experience a college-like atmosphere.

“I am the eyes, ears and legs of Sinclair since they can’t come,” she said. “Whatever they need, I provide for them.”

McBeth said associate’s degrees are not earned in the Advance Job Training program. Instead, certificates are earned in areas like engineering or construction.

“Of course, the deterrent is not there, so our students at the prison make very good grades,” McBeth said. “It’s a boost for them because the majority of them say if they didn’t wind up in prison, they would have ended up dead and never getting an education.”

Beyer said he feels like a new person because of how education has transformed his thinking. Beyer was first introduced to the prison system in 1990. When Beyer entered prison a third time in 2007 at the London Correctional Institute, something inside of him clicked.

“This time around when I came in, I finally got in contact with my mom,” Beyer said. “We didn’t talk for 15 years. I established a relationship back with her and she kept encouraging me to get enrolled in school while I was at London. So, I tried and tried and never got into (the program).”

Beyer wasn’t sure what was holding him out of London’s program, but he said something was blocking his way.

“I finally came to Dayton and got in,” he said, “and I’ve loved it ever since.”

McBeth said Beyer came into the program with “fake confidence,” and since then he has blossomed into an outstanding student.

“He’s always trying to excel in everything he does,” she said. “What I like most is he’s willing to help others.”

Early troubles

When Beyer dropped out of Oak Hills High School in 1983 at the age of 17, he was sure school wasn’t for him. Beyer attributes his difficulties with education to a lack of effort, motivation and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Beyer said he never had a reason to get his education, even during his first two incarcerations. When he began his third term, Beyer said depression set in and he realized he couldn’t rely on laying tile anymore.

“Something just clicked,” he said. “I ain’t getting any younger. I got maybe 20 years of work left in me. Without college now a days, you’re limited on what you can do.”

Beyer said he laid tile for 15 years, but now his entire goal is to eventually work for himself.

“The classes I’m taking here are going to help me become a more independent businessman,” he said. “I can’t lay tile forever … This isn’t life. I don’t like it here. I’m 43 years old. What do I got to look forward to if I keep doing this?”

Time in the classroom

In 1995, Beyer earned his GED at 28 years old. During his time at DCI, Beyer has completed three quarters and 35 credit hours. Beyer is working toward receiving an associate degree in Construction Management Technology from Sinclair.

Beyer is enrolled in 15 credit hours this quarter.

Beyer was one of 11 students at DCI who made Sinclair’s Fall Dean’s List. Beyer has made the Dean’s List in two of his three quarters.

“I never thought I’d see my name in the paper,” he said. “My dad said he had never seen my name in the paper unless it was for something bad. I’m proud of myself. I didn’t think I could do college.”

Covington said the institution’s educational program is beneficial to inmates seeking change.

“It’s a huge impact to those inmates looking to improve their lives,” Covington said.

Finding connections

While at DCI, Beyer got involved in a program that lets inmates help raise rescued dogs. Paco, a greyhound, has lived with Beyer in his cell for the past three months.

Beyer said he wants to start his own non-profit organization called Food for Paws. His goal is to provide food for hungry dogs.

“At Christmas time, people were waiting in line for food. What about the animals?”

Beyer said. “I want to do something where I can help somebody else.”

Beyer said his mom has played a huge part in how his life is being turned around and she has become a very important figure. Beyer said family problems had a lot to do with why he didn’t contact his mom for 15 years.

“Instead of her worrying about me, I took myself out of the equation,” he said. “I took myself away from them. My mom and sister would look on the Internet to see if I was in jail. If I was in jail, they knew I was safe.”

Looking forward

On July 17, Beyer will be given his release from DCI. He said he plans to move to Cincinnati to live with his mom and stepfather while he gets acclimated to society again.

“It’s really positive that (Beyer’s mom) is becoming such an important part of his life,” McBeth said. “I think now he has his life on track.”

Beyer said nothing is going to stop him from commuting to Sinclair and enrolling for fall classes to finish what he started. He said he might also take classes at the Courseview Center in Mason or online.

“I never finished anything in my life,” he said. “I want to finish Sinclair. Without Sinclair giving me this chance to finish school, I would have never got into it.”

Next Page »