3 NEWS

Nathan Wilson Editor In Chief

Oct. 14-27, 2013 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Secure your information with LastPass

Do you have a hard time remembering your computer passwords or creating a password secure enough to protect your information? Then look no further than LastPass, a computer password management system. LCC staff Scott Skowronek highlighted the benefits of LastPass during a monthly Tech Snippet in TLC 224 Oct. 2. I have a password for at least 85 different sites and services on the internet, Skowronek said. Now if you dont have a password management system, that means you probably cant physically remember 85 different login combinations. LastPass eliminates that problem by using a master password to remember a users credentials and automatically log them in at approved sites such as Facebook, Twitter or online banking sites. LastPass is free to download at lastpass.com for Windows, Mac and Linux. The mobile

use LastPass. According to Skowronek, the difficult part is importing all the credentials to LastPass. If LastPass sounds too complicated, there are other options for securing ones information and creating stronger passwords. There is no downside to going up to a maximum character length, Skowronek said. It just makes it harder for someone to guess your password. Skowronek recommended using as many characters as possible and using symbols when creating a password. Other tips for creating a secure password include using numbers in the middle of a password instead of at the beginning or the end. LastPass also features an opPhoto by Nathan Wilson LCC staff member Scott Skowronek uses an interactive board Oct. 2 to demonstrate the benefits of tion to generate a secure password using special characters, LastPass, a computer password management systems. numbers and lowercase and Users dont have to worry sites, Skowronek said. You uppercase letters. phone version (LastPass Preabout LastPass installing any can use this at bankofamerica. mium) costs $12 a year. All the decryption happens LastPass is compatible with In- pesky toolbars on their brows- com. You can use this with on the individuals computer ternet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, ers, and their information your credit union. Anywhere so the users information is where youre entering creden- never shared with the creators Google Chrome, Opera and Sa- wont be sold online. This works across web- tials and a password, you can of LastPass, he said. fari.

High schoolers get help

Chelsea Allen Freelance Writer LCCs High School Completion Diploma Initiative (HSCDI) Program has been in existence for eight years and always has room for more students. The program is designed to help students who are in need of completing high school and earning their diploma. Not only are the students earning high school credit but college credit as well. According to Kelli Hatfield, the director of HSCDI, there are 34 students currently enrolled in this falls program. We hope to expand the capacity of the program and get more students interested in enrolling for the program, Hatfield said. There are some requirements that need to be satisfied in order to be eligible for the program. For example, a student must be between the ages of 16 and 19 years old. One must also be enrolled or able to re-enroll in an Ingham or Eaton County High School. Lastly, one must have completed at least half of the required high school credits needed to graduate. According to Hatfield, HSCDI is cost-free for students. It provides books

Graphic courtesy of LCCs American Marketing Association

LCCs American Marketing Association will hold the seventh annual Etiquette Dinner in the Kellogg Center Wednesday, Nov. 20.

AMA promotes etiquette

Nathan Wilson Editor in Chief LCCs American Marketing Association (AMA) will present the seventh annual Business Etiquette Dinner in the Kellogg Center at Michigan State University Wednesday, Nov. 20. Taking place from 5 to 9 p.m., the event is designed to equip students with professional skills for dining etiquette and networking. The Etiquette Dinner is a chance for students to come and network with local businesses, said Zach Basler, the LCC-AMA vice president of professional development. Shelly Davis Mielock, the founder and president of Mieshel Image Consulting, will guide the students through a proper dining experience. According to LCC-AMA Vice President Brent Bos, the etiquette portion will be followed by a keynote speech by Jeffrey Benson, the CEO of Case Credit Union. (Benson) will be talking about success in general and how net-

working plays a large part in that, Bos said. You will need to purchase tickets ahead of time (for the event). We will not be selling them at the door. According to Bos, tickets will be available for $20 at the LCC Hole in the Hall on the first floor of the Gannon Building or at Case Credit Unions local branch. This year, were trying to emphasize the quality of the event, Bos said. This is an event that gets bigger and better every year. Its a hands-on etiquette dinner with zero stress. Its a chance to go in, learn how to network with individuals, and practice your etiquette dinner. Bos said reception for past Etiquette Dinners have been overwhelming and everyone enjoys the format. The success of the event speaks for itself, Basler said. Two years ago, we probably had 125 people come. Last year, we had 160 This year, weve booked the biggest room that theyve got in the Kellogg Center. Were hoping to have more than 200 attendees.

Photo by Suzanna Powers

Jasmine Ford, a student from LCCs High School Completion Diploma Initiative, works in class Sept. 25.

for the courses the students are taking and gives vouchers for attendance. The voucher includes earning money for food at Gibsons Bookstore as well as money for parking. An event called My Life. My Diploma will be held Friday, Oct. 18, which will provide more information about the program and what it consists of. The event will be held in Dart Auditorium at LCCs Main Campus from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will include a panel consisting of current and previous students from the program. There will be a video followed by lunch and a prize giveaway to those who attend the event. Informational meetings for spring 2014 enroll-

ment in HSDCI will run during the entire month of October. The next meeting will be held at the My Diploma. My Life event, following meetings on Wednesdays Oct. 23 from 1 to 2 p.m. and Oct. 30 from 4 to 5 p.m. This is a very small family atmosphere and we emphasize that more students get enrolled to earn their diploma while building an LCC transcript at the same time, Hatfield said. By the time they receive their diploma, they are halfway to an associates degree. For more information, visit www.lcc.edu/hsdci or call (517) 483-9707. To register for one of the sessions, visit www.lcc.edu/ getmydiploma