POPLAR BLUFF, MO – Three Rivers College president Dr. Devin Stephenson has been invited to serve as a commissioner with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).

AACC Commissions advise the Board of Directors on issues that “reflect key aspects of the Association’s work on behalf of its member colleges.” Stephenson has been asked to serve on the Commission of Communications and Marketing.

“This appointment gives Three Rivers a voice at the table as AACC markets the value of community colleges,” said Stephenson. “Nothing could be more advantageous to students than to know the quality and cost of higher education delivered by community colleges.”

Stephenson’s term as an AACC advisor began on July 1, and will last three years. The next Commission meeting will be held in Washington, D.C., November 9-10.

“This is a very exciting time for community colleges,” said AACC Board Chair Myrtle Dorsey. “Service as a commissioner can benefit not only your national Association, but also your fellow institutions.” In the invitation letter, Doresy praised Stephenson’s commitment and leadership.

“Selected to be a Commissioner is a great honor,” said Stephenson. “This is a very good appointment and one that Three Rivers should benefit from.”

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) is the primary advocacy organization for the nation's community colleges. The association represents almost 1,200 two-year, associate degree–granting institutions and more than 12 million students.

JONESBORO, Ark. – A number of area students have been named to the Chancellor’s and Dean’s Lists for the spring 2011 semester at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

The two lists recognize undergraduate students who achieved the highest grade point averages while enrolled in 12 or more credit hours of study. The Chancellor’s List includes students who earned a grade point average of 3.80 to 4.0. The Dean’s List includes students with a grade point of 3.6 to 3.79.

Chance Holden, Dexter, Chancellor’s List; Whitney Hyten, Dexter, Chancellor’s List; Timothy Moore, Dexter, Chancellor’s List; Sarah Phillips, Dexter, Chancellor’s List; Amanda Pixley, Dexter, Chancellor’s List; Jennifer Thorntown, Gatewood, Chancellor’s List; and Grant Cagle, Bernie, Chancellor’s List.

By Annabeth Miiler,
ShowMe Times Editor

A Dexter native has received an educational grant from an international women’s organization.

Tommie Love was recently awarded a $3,000 scholarship from P.E.O. Sisterhood, local chapter CP. Love is the daughter of Tom and Carmen Love of Dexter. She currently lives in St. Louis. She is just six weeks away from completing her bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN) degree from Chamberlain College of Nursing in St. Louis.

Love received the scholarship award at the local group’s meeting on Thursday.

Love has long had a servant’s heart – working as a doula and coaching women through childbirth and working with other programs in the St. Louis region. A mother with two children, she started this educational path toward a nursing degree as a “nontraditional” student.

“I started five years ago,” she said. “I was working and went to school part-time. I went to Meramec Community College to get all my sciences in. I was a psychology major first time around, and I only had to take biology for science. I’m so old my biology had expired!”

Love said that after a long hiatus from classes, some classes like biology need to be taken a second time around. And so she started at St. Louis Community College at Meramec and took advantage of the community college’s lower tuition. She attended Meramec part-time for three years, and has been attending Chamberlain full time for a little over two years.

“And I graduate in six weeks – I am so excited,” she said enthusiastically. She said the award from P.E.O. will help pay for that final semester.

P.E.O. ((Philanthropic Educational Organization) was founded on January 21, 1869, by seven students at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. One of the organization’s primary missions is promoting educational opportunities for women. In fact, the P.E.O. Sisterhood proudly sponsors no less than six international philanthropies, including ownership of Cottey College in Nevada, Mo.

A SMT News Report

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. – A long-awaited and much-needed Physical Therapist Assistant program will soon be offered at Three Rivers College.

The pilot semester of the new program, which has been created in conjunction with Linn State Technical College, will begin this fall. Through this partnership, students take general education courses from Three Rivers for the first year, and then take the PTA coursework delivered by Linn Tech in Poplar Bluff the second year.

“We have several students who have been preparing to enter this program for over a year,” said Kim Shackleford, division chair for Health and Human Services at Three Rivers. “Students have to have all of their general education classes finished, including the necessary health and medical pre-requisites.”

Those required general education courses include anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, psychology and more. Admission requirements also include satisfactory ACT scores and/or proven success in college coursework, an essay, recommendations, and 40 hours of physical therapy observation in two different locations.

Current students interested in entering the PTA program this fall should contact the offices of Nursing and Allied Health (573-840-9680) as soon as possible to make sure they meet all deadlines and requirements.

According to Marlene Medin, department chair for the PTA program at Linn State, the program will accept between eight and 10 Three Rivers students for the fall 2011 semester.

“Once we get up to speed, we hope to be able to accept 12 to 14 students,” said Medin. “This model allows students to finish all general education courses at Three Rivers, and then apply to Linn State to begin the PTA coursework at Poplar Bluff in the fall.”

“Indicators point to continued growth in the field of physical therapy for the foreseeable future,” said Medin. “I think the baby boomers will continue to age and need more and more physical therapy to stay active.”

Medin also added that the number of physical therapist assistants in Missouri is not enough to meet the demand, and the biggest need is in Southeast Missouri.

“Gov. Nixon encouraged higher education institutions to collaborate to meet this need,” said Medin. “Basically, he told us to do it, and here we are.”

This collaboration between Three Rivers and Linn State is made possible through the Missouri Health Professions Consortium, which includes four other community colleges and the Missouri University School of Health Professions.

Representatives from Three Rivers College and Linn State met recently to finalize the plans for the PTA program collaboration. Participating were (from left) Three Rivers Vice President for Learning Dr. Wes Payne; Kim Shackleford,division chair for Health and Human Services; Marlene Medin, Linn State; KD Berrey Linn State ]; and Three Rivers Vice President for Student Success Jason Hoseney.(TRC Photo)

POPLAR BLUFF, MO – The Patrons of the Arts Society of Three Rivers College has announced its 2011-2012 season of performances, which will include children’s shows, popular music, Shakespeare and more.

“Our focus on additional children’s shows this year is due to the success of ‘The Nutcracker’ last year,” said Dr. Wes Payne, Vice President for Learning, who organized this season’s lineup. “We feel it’s very important to bring the fine arts to a new generation and get them hooked on things like live theatre, dance, and music.”

The 2011-2012 lineup includes:

Bach to the Future - 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 3
Babaloo Music And Fun</> - two shows at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 24
Chinese Acrobats - 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 14
Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol - 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3.
The Elves and the Shoemaker - 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 11
Puss and Boots - 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21
Othello - 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 21 Give ‘Em Hell, Harry! - 7 p.m., Saturday, March 10
The Sword and the Stone - 3 and 7 p.m., Saturday, March 31
Moscow Festival Ballet - April 30

All shows will be performed at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center on the Three Rivers campus. Tickets are only $10 each, and seating is general admission. Tickets can be purchased online in advance at the new Patrons of the Arts webpage at trcc.edu/tinnin.

Tickets will also be available at the following Poplar Bluff locations two weeks before each performance: the Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce, and the Business/Financial Services office at Three Rivers. Tickets will also be sold at the door, as available.

Season tickets for the 2011-2012 Patrons’ series will be sold for a limited time at $85 each. Season ticket holders may attend all 10 shows for this price, a 15% discount. To purchase, or for information on how to join the Patrons of the Arts Society, please contact the Office of the Vice President for Learning at (573) 840-9689. Season tickets will also be sold at the door on Sept. 3 before the “Bach to the Future” performance.