By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

April is Community College Month across America, and the Stoddard County Commission official marked the significance of the month, proclaiming it as Community College Month in the county.

County Commissioner Greg Mathis signed the proclamation at the new Three Rivers Center in Dexter. On hand for the proclamation signing was Vice President For Learning, Dr. Wesley Payne as well as Center Coordinator Bill Hampton and assistant Ann Matthews and Dexter Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Janet Coleman.

The proclamation notes that Three Rivers has more than 3,700 students enrolled in face-to-face, online and interactive television courses each semester throughout the region. In addition to the main campus in Poplar Bluff and the new center in Dexter, the college has centers in Malden, Sikeston, Kennett and Cape Girardeau.

Three Rivers has a 45-year history of proving educational opportunities to people in a 15-county region of Southeast Missouri, including Stoddard County. The college’s service region reaches from Cape Girardeau county to the Pemiscot and Dunklin counties and west to Carter, Ripley and Wayne counties.

The American Association of Community Colleges has established April as Community College Month to raise awareness about the ever-growing importance of two-year institutions across the nation. Three Rivers is one of 12 Missouri community colleges, and the designated provider of two-year degrees for the Southeast Missouri region.

Photo Above: Stoddard County Commissioner Greg Mathis signs the proclamation designating the month of April as Community College Month in Stoddard County. The proclamation signing was hand at the new Three Rivers College Center in Dexter. On hand for the signing were (standing, from left) Center Assistant Coordinator Ann Matthews, college Vice President For Learning Dr. Wesley Payne, Center Coordinator Bill Hampton, and Dexter Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Janet Coleman.