ShowMe Times Editor
Eric Billingsley is a happy young man these days.
The young Billingsley, of Dexter, is a student at the new Three Rivers College center in Dexter. He’s studying in the new “green diesel” program offered by Three Rivers at the local center, and he feels has selected a course of study that is “just right” for him and for his future.
And these days, he’s thankful, too, because Billingsley is the recipient of a new scholarship for local students from the Stoddard County Farm Bureau.
Local Farm Bureau President Edwina Woolard of Puxico and Billingsley met recently at the college center, where he was presented with his scholarship from the local organization.
“This is the first scholarship for us to award to Three Rivers,” Woolard said. She said scholarship recipients must pursue a degree program that has something related to agriculture or rural life.
The Three Rivers green diesel program trains students to repair and maintain vehicles that operate on both diesel and green diesel. Three Rivers offers the new unique green diesel-training program at the Dexter campus, which opened in January 2011.
Photo Above: The Stoddard County Farm Bureau has awarded Eric Billingsley a scholarhsip to attend Three Rivers College and study green diesel technology. On hand for the presentation of the scholarship award were (from left) Ann Matthews of Three Rivers College Center at Dexter, Stoddard County Farm Bureau President Edwina Woolard, Billingsley, his mother LaRhonda Billingsley, and TRC Center Director Bill Hampton. (SMT photo by Annabeth Miller)
This is the second year in a row that ASU has achieved Tier I status and it provides additional objective evidence of institutional quality and value beyond that associated with the regional accreditation and twenty specialized accreditations earned and held by ASU.
“The entire campus community should feel justifiably proud of this signal accomplishment,” Interim Chancellor Dan Howard commented. Higher undergraduate admission standards, improved retention rates, increased graduation rates, and larger numbers of alumni donors all contributed to this success.
Howard went on to underscore the centrality of faculty in helping to achieve this ranking by their commitment to the success of students and the special bonds forged between faculty and students that help students survive and thrive at ASU and to become successful alumni who remain connected and supportive of their alma mater.
He also stated that the warmth, friendliness and competency of the staff complement the efforts of the faculty, which helps to attract well-qualified students to ASU and to encourage students to persist through graduation.
POPLAR BLUFF - Center Stage, the new college/community theater group at Three Rivers College, will host open auditions for its next production, “The Nerd,” from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, in the Tinnin Fine Arts Center auditorium.
Those auditioning will be asked to read from the script. Casting will be open to students, college employees and community members. There are four parts available for men, two for women and one role for a boy age 8-10.
“The Nerd”, a comedy by Larry Shue, was produced on Broadway in 1987 starring Mark Hamill and Robert Joy. The play tells the story of a young architect who feels obligated to befriend a former fellow solider, the obnoxious nerd of the title.
The Center Stage production at Three Rivers will be performed Nov. 11-13, under the direction of Tim Thompson. Initial rehearsals are scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
