The conference is one of 19 Greenhand Motivational Conferences conducted by the State Officers of the Missouri FFA Association. The conference was sponsored by MFA Incorporated. The Greenhands who are first year FFA members and Dexter FFA chapter officers listened to presentations and skits presented by six of the Missouri State FFA officers. The six Missouri State FFA officers who presented the conference were (front row, from left) Zach Grossman, Missouri State FFA President , Brady James, Kelsey Forqueran, Kollen Chapman, Meagan Green, and Cody Jones.
Dexter Greenhands and Chapter Officer attending include (in back) Cheyenne Courter, Ben Dachs, Jessy Eads, Rian Stevenson, Shelby Edwards, Kaitlin Eaton, Venus Laing, Chelsey Massey, Kara Simmons, Sarah Jones, Nick McCollough, Cody Gibson, Dalton Rickel, Colton Averett, Cody Bolan, Christin Sitzes, Alex Neldon, Nicole Battles, Chance Jarrell, Erika McCoy, Kylie Scott, and Jackson Hubbard. (Photo provided by FFA Advisor Ronnie Shipman; thanks Mr. Shipman!)
Enrollment at the Three Rivers College Center at Dexter crossed the 300 mark this week.
“People are hearing about the college,” said center coordinator Bill Hampton. “It seems like everyone wants to further their education for the possibility of a better job and a better living.”
Enrollment has nearly tripled at the Dexter center since its opening in January of last year.
Spring 2012 registration continues at the Three Rivers main campus in Poplar Bluff and at all its full-service centers until Friday, Jan. 13.
“Last year, we had a very short time frame in which to notify people and potential students that we would be opening on time,” said Hampton. “Many students who were graduating from high school that May had already chosen to go to school somewhere else. The graduation of the 2011 class from the local high schools has really helped.”
Hampton reports, however, that not all students are traditional recent high school graduates.
“We’re seeing students from all walks of life,” said Hampton. “We’re seeing Dexter graduates as well as workers returning to the classroom to improve their job skills, and everything in between. We just registered a young man who has been serving with the Marines, and is back to brush up on math courses. He wants to start here, transfer and become an engineer. We have some who are taking college courses while still in high school. We have people in their 50s and 60s coming in to take computer classes. Our diesel mechanics class is almost completely full, and three women are taking that class. This is not gender-specific or limited by age or background.”
Other exciting news at the Dexter Center includes the completion of the new science lab. The fully equipped classroom will allow students to take college science classes, like biology, physics, and anatomy and physiology, closer to home. The lab will be ready in time for spring classes, which begin Jan. 17.
“This is top-notch,” said Dr. Wes Payne, Vice President for Learning at Three Rivers College. “This will absolutely make us all proud.”
Hampton reports16 students have enrolled in the popular green diesel mechanics program (unique to Dexter) for the spring. The intensive program accepts only 20 students, provides tools and costs thousands less than comparable diesel mechanics schools in Nashville and beyond.
Two new courses are being offered at the Dexter center for the Spring 2012 semester - Entrepreneurship on Tuesday evenings at 6:30, and Professional Selling on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hampton will teach the Professional Selling course.
“I’m looking forward to it, we have nine enrolled already,” said Hampton, who has over 35 years of experience in sales, ranging from work in insurance to TV advertisements. “The class will also feature several guest speakers: local salespeople who work in everything from cars to insurance. This will provide a more diverse, interactive learning experience and foster networking to build a more educated, connected community. People are interested in a better way of life, and they can get that at Three Rivers College.”
Link Of Interest
Photos Above - Top Photo: Three Rivers lab assistant and Dexter resident Samantha Gerecke tests out a microscope in the new lab at the college's Dexter center. On hand were (from left) center co-coordinator Ann Mathews, facilitator Jennifer Whitesell, Doug and Loretta Gerecke and student Haley Segel; Second photo: Students #300 and #301 at the Dexter center - Abby Cobb and Jason Kohlbaker of Dexter - registered for local classes on Tuesday. (Three Rivers Photos)
By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor
The youngsters in Shannon Putnam’s first grade class at Southwest Elementary School have been on interesting journey. The students are visiting different countries and studying how they celebrate New Years.
Their adventure has so far had the class “on the road” to the USA, Iran, Greece and Brazil.
This week the class will “visit” Russian, Austria, and Scotland.
In Brazil, they feasted on Rabanadas at midnight. In the South American country, the parents then dress and go to elegant balls and parties. In some places they dress all in white, carry candles to the sea and place them in the sand. They then throw gifts and flowers to the Queen of the Sea.
“For Iran we jumped over a ceremonial fire and had a party outside,” said Putnam. Monday, the group studied traditions in Japan. They feasted on Japanese tea and Mochi-rice cakes, Putnam said.
“We also made a Shimenawa to hang over the door to keep bad luck out during the new year. Each child made a fan to place on the braided rope,” teacher Putnam explained.
“Tomorrow: passports needed for Scotland.” She said excitedly of Tuesday’s activities.
Photo Above: First grade student Maddie Glaus enjoyed Rabadada while studying New Year's traditions in Brazil. (Photo by SMT reader & first grade educator Shannon Putnam. Thanks, Shannon!!)
CAPE GIRARDEAU – Southeast Missouri State University has named 2,592 students to its Dean’s List for academic achievement during the 2011 fall semester.
The Southeast Dean's List as provided by the University includes the following Stoddard County students:
Advance
Hannah M. Barr, Craig S. Bock, Audrey M. Camren, Judith A. Chapman Karen E. Holman, Blake A. Lingle, Alan D. Long, Miranda D. Nixon, Michelle L. Schrader, Katherine K. Touchette, Jake T. Tropf
Bell City
Nicholas P. Niemczyk
Bernie
Jeremy Algood, Jennifer K. Brown, Justin R. Curtis, Jessica D. Hughes, Jacie R. McGowan, Kevin D. Mickey, Gary D. Murphy, Lyndsey R. Stone
Bloomfield
Heather N. Chasteen, Austin C. Feathersto,n Skyla K. Franks, Judi D. Hampton, Dylan L. Slinkard, Matthew T. Tompkins, Stephen A. Willard
Brownwood
Emily R. Johns
Dexter
Christopher A. Berry, William Andrew Boone, Carla Bradley, Hunter A. Bruce, Berry J. Burge, Brauck A. Burge, Molly J. Burleson, Garrett M. Christian, Jeffrey A. Cox, Mallory D. Crow, April L. DeBerry, Rhonda M. Diebold, Dorothy Ellison, Macy A. Ellsworth, Lindsay M. Felker, Brittney Gant, Matt W. Gates, Rebecca D. Geuin, Christopher C. Graves, Betsy K. Griffin, Kody A. Hindman, Sara B. Holloway, Amelia M. Jibben, Jeffrey L. King, Kerri M. Lane, Jessica S. Lewin, Shelby C. Lintz, Jennifer S. Long, Marie D. Marquis, Matthew T. Miller, Benjamin D. Mills
Dudley
Jennifer E. Johns, Kendra N. Rinehart
Essex
BettyJo A. Hux, Reese W. Palmer, Ashley L. Watson
Puxico
David H. Crain Miranda J. Foster
Students named to the list earned at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and completed at least 12 degree credit hours during the fall semester.
POPLAR BLUFF - Prospective students still have time to register for spring classes at Three Rivers College.
Enrollment is open until Friday, Jan. 13, at the main campus in Poplar Bluff as well as all five full-service centers at Dexter, Malden, Kennett, Sikeston, and the Cape Girardeau Partnership for Higher Education.
Those interested in enrolling may browse available courses by visiting the college website and clicking Search for Classes. Current students may register online through the myTRCC system. Advisement offices are also open now for any current or future students wishing to discuss their college goals. For registration assistance or for an advisement appointment, contact the Welcome Center at (573) 840-9605.
“Our programs and class schedules are such that new students can start taking classes in the spring just as easily as they can in the fall,” said Vice President for Student Success Jason Hoseney. “I think sometimes students wait until fall semester to start their higher education with the misconception that the same classes aren’t available during the spring, and that’s just not true. Students can start on the path to getting their degree just as easily in January as they would in August.”
Hoseney also advises that new students needing financial aid begin the application process as soon as possible, as the priority deadline for processing spring financial aid has already passed. For more information on how to apply for financial assistance at Three Rivers, visit trcc.edu/financialaid.
Although classes don’t resume until Jan. 17, exciting student and campus activities are already underway. On Saturday, Jan. 7, the college will host a day of tournament basketball at the Black River Coliseum in downtown Poplar Bluff. Women’s high school basketball teams from Eminence, Senath, Clearwater, Scott City, Couch and Gosnell will face off from 11:30 until the evening hours, when the Three Rivers Raiders and Lady Raiders will play rival Mineral Area.
Tickets for this day of basketball are $5. Reserved seating for those with Raider season passes will be honored. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the college Business Office, Bookstore, and the Coliseum box office.
Move-In Day for the on-campus Rivers Ridge apartment complex is Wednesday, Jan. 11 from 9 until 4 pm. Room space is still available; please visit trcc.edu/campuslife for more details and to complete and print the on-campus housing application.
Links of Interest
Photo above: TRC president Dr. Devin Stephenson (right) and Dexter City Administrator Mark Stidham pose with Rocky Raider at the Dexter Center. (SMT File photo)
