Page 1-First Issue February 2017

Helena College collaborates with Jim Darcy School to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year 

By Joy Y. Wiggins
Joy.Wiggins@mail.umhelena.edu

Jim Darcy students preparing to participate in a dragon parade through the halls

 of  Helena College.  (Photo by Karen Henderson)

     
     During the week of the Chinese New Year, Helena College hosted its First Annual Lunar New Year event which included students from Jim Darcy Elementary School.  This event included dragon parades, a martial arts demonstration, Chinese calligraphy, a lecture on Chinese History in Montana, an art project for the kids and a presentation on the Lunar New Year by our very own Amy Kong.

Jim Darcy students around the snack table getting Chinese

 snacks with the help of TRiO Club member Dereck Arnold. 

 (Photo by Karen Henderson)

     The week-long celebration started with a lecture on Chinese History in Montana given by Ellen Baumler from the Montana Historical Society.  On Thursday, January 26, the Airport campus was able to participate in the festivities with a Taste of China event with food provided by L&D Chinese Buffet. The following day, Friday, January 27, was the most elaborate part of the celebration and was held at the Donaldson campus.

     One hundred and forty Jim Darcy Elementary second and fourth graders participated in dragon parades through the halls of Helena College.  Other activities included a library station with Della Dubbe and Mary Ann George, an art project with Seth Roby, a Chinese calligraphy station with Rosie So, and a Mahjong demonstration with Greg Schneider.  A martial arts demonstration was provided by Nakagawa Martial Arts Academy following the presentation by Amy Kong.  

     The event was the brainstorm of Robyn Kiesling and Amy Kong and was made possible with the help of the rest of the Diversity Committee, Holter Museum of Art, Chinese calligraphers, Montana Historical Society, Nakagawa Martial Arts Academy, L&D Chinese Buffet, Jim Darcy Elementary School and Helena College student volunteers. The Diversity Committee plans to hold the Lunar New Year celebration every year and to also add an additional event in the fall semester possibly Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights.


     The dragons and other items used in the event were on loan from Amy Kong, Kim Haughee, and the Holter Museum of Art.  Kong’s parents sent 80% of the artifacts and decorations on display in the main hall from Hong Kong.  Early in January the entire school was decorated in some matter so everyone had time to enjoy the decorations.
     

Jim Darcy students enjoying an art project with Seth Roby (not pictured). (Photo by Karen Henderson)

  Helena College Career Fair

By Joy Y. Wiggins

Joy.Wiggins@mail.umhelena.edu

     The Helena College Career Fair was held on February 8, 2017 from 11am to 1:30pm on the Donaldson campus and featured numerous businesses about Helena.  The businesses included were A2Z Personnel, Family Outreach, Intralot, Montana Department of Administration, Montana Department of Justice, Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Montana Department of Revenue, Montana Lottery, Montana State Bar, the office of Congressman Ryan Zinke, the office of Senator Steve Daines, Shodair Children’s Hospital, Wellsfargo, Weststaff and Xerox.  The career fair was organized by Greg Thompson, Career Services Coordinator.