Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Hello and welcome to The McKeon�s Top 10 list. My name is Rick Casey and I am here
to take you through this historical journey of Dr. Tom McKeon�s top 10 greatest hits
as president of Tulsa Community College.
Before we start our climb to Dr. Tom�s number 1 hit, let�s recap these rockin� 33 years
of Tom�s career.
With a career so robust as Dr. Tom�s, it was hard to narrow his list of achievements
to just 10 items, but a panel of judges identified these items as his 10 greatest hits. Starting
the counting down of McKeon�s Top 10 List let�s start with his first milestone achievement
as president:
It�s no surprise the Concurrent Enrollment/ACE Program went certified gold; after all, it
allows high school students to attend college early and all they have to cover are the fees
and books. Not only did enrollment skyrocket after ACE was implemented, but was a big hit
statewide when then-Governor Brad Henry implemented TCC�s program as the statewide model.
In that same year Dr. Tom introduced a motto that truly harmonized the college in a way
never before.
Just as The Beatles sang Come Together so did Dr. Tom with the introduction of the One
College movement. While the four campuses always operated under the TCC brand, it was
this refocus that truly led to a stellar four-part harmony.
The American rock group Starship may have Built this City on Rock and Roll, but Dr.
Tom realized George Harrison had it right when he said �it�s gonna take money, a
whole lotta spending money, it�s gonna take plenty of money, to do it right� With his
mind set on TCC he set out to increase the TCC�s Foundation coffers and raise a lot
of money to build new buildings and support programs on the College�s campuses.
Whether you�re Takin� it to the Streets or to a neighborhood, TCC�s Community Campuses
and Education Outreach Center make it easier for everyone to attend college. By going where
the people are TCC has helped remove education barriers and have become ingrained into the
community. Possible song - Sly and the Family Stone � Everyday People or You�ve got
a Friend by James Taylor
Oklahoma may not be home to Folsom Prison, but TCC�s work in corrections education
is equally as legendary as the Folsom Prison Blues. TCC�s corrections education program
has awarded nearly 300 certificates and degrees to students who are incarcerated. Not only
are inmates equipped with the tools and knowledge to turn their life around, the 4.9 percent
recidivism rate beats the state�s average of over 20 percent. That�s enough to make
any Jailhouse Rock.
2007�s Tulsa Achieves debut achieved superstardom and the College was certified platinum by
the more than 10,000 students who have utilized TCC�s free College tuition program. The
success of Tulsa Achieves doesn�t just help TCC, it helps the greater community as Tulsa
Achieves students have volunteered more than 315,000 hours to area nonprofit organizations.
If you dream of a having college degree, TCC can make it happen. At least that�s the
premise behind TCC�s involvement with Achieving the Dream. This program examined policies,
procedures and course content with the goal of better college success for students. By
removing barriers and adding programs designed to help students succeed, student success
is no longer a dream, but is now a reality.
Bowie and Jagger, Aerosmith and Run-DMC, Page and Plant, great things can happen when artist
collaborate� and that is exactly what TCC�s Center for Creativity does. By providing a
state-of-the-art facility for creative education, this artist�s hub brings the people to the
street and the street to the people. This building revolutionized TCC�s Metro Campus
and is an iconic addition to the downtown landscape.
�We're takin care of business� by helping you start yours. TCC's entrepreneurship programs
provide the knowledge and mentorship to help startup businesses succeed. Dr. Tom knows
the importance of �Workin for a Livin� and realized the �9-5� isn�t for everyone.
The StartUp Cup and Launch programs provide the tools for startup companies to go off
the charts.
We didn't start the fire, but we sure know how to put one out. This hot number on McKeon's
Top 10 list provides state-of-the-art education and training to our students and area fire
departments. TCC's partnership with the City of Tulsa will come in handy if you ever walk
into a burning ring of fire.
Well that concludes The McKeon�s 10 Greatest Hits. Thank you for tuning in to this special
presentation. And Dr. Tom, as you embark on your Farewell Tour, remember what Cher said
on hers, �It�s an artist�s dream to have a career where you are continually drawing
new people in, while hopefully keeping your longtime fans happy.�