CAPE GIRARDEAU – Southeast Missouri State University will welcome students for the start of the 2011-2012 academic year with a weekend of activities Aug. 18-20.

“I am so excited about the events we have planned for all of our students during Opening Week 2011,” said Theresa Haug-Belvin, director of Student Transitions. “I am confident they will assist our new students with their transition to our campus community.”

First-year students who want to unpack early can do so on Aug. 18 during the Early-Bird Move-In. Early-Bird check-in is scheduled for 6-8 a.m. in the Student Recreation Center-North. Regularly scheduled first-year check-in is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., also in the Student-Recreation Center-North.

Events on Aug. 19 begin with a Welcome Convocation at 10 a.m. in the Show Me Center. New students will be welcomed by Kenneth W. Dobbins, president of Southeast Missouri State University, Harry Rediger, mayor of Cape Girardeau, and Patrick Vining, Student Government president, and will receive information about Opening Week activities.

New students can connect with members of the Southeast faculty, staff and experienced student leaders during Southeast 101 sessions at 10:45 a.m. at various campus locations. Interactive activities are planned that will provide further information about the campus, and lunch will be served.

College meetings are scheduled for 2-4 p.m. at various locations that will give students the opportunity to hear from the deans of their colleges and interact with faculty members from their departments. Shuttles will be available to take students back to the Show Me Center parking lot at the conclusion of the meetings.

Honors students and students interested in learning more about the Jane Stephens Honors Program are invited to meet their colleagues in the honors community from 3-6 p.m. at the Honors House, located at 603 N. Henderson. Snacks and refreshments will be available.

The annual Great Ice Cream Pig Out is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center-North. This all-you-can-eat University tradition features ice cream served by Southeast students and administrators followed by a juggling performance.

On Aug. 20, activities begin with a First STEP enrollment program from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the University Center. The activity is for first-year students who have not yet attended an orientation session and enrolled in their fall semester courses.

Opening Week leaders will give campus tours at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. by the fountain in front of Kent Library. It is recommended that students bring their class schedules, so they can learn where their classes are located.

The Academic Support Center will host an academic and student support session at 3:30 p.m. in the University Center Program Lounge that will provide information to Academic Enhancement Program students and first-generation college students.

A second Honors Open House is scheduled from 4-7 p.m. The Honors House has desktop and laptop computers, Wi-Fi access, television, stereo and a full kitchen for the use of honors students as they study or relax.

The Student Activities Council welcomes new and returning students to campus with a free viewing of “Soul Surfer” and free popcorn at 7 p.m. in Rose Theatre.

Students are encouraged to indulge in relaxation while attending the annual Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Welcome Back Picnic from 4-6 p.m. Aug. 21 at the Show Me Center. Activities, giveaways and food will be available, and the Cat’s Pajamas Vocal Band will perform live at the event. The picnic is sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Chartwells Educational Dining Services. Entertainment at the picnic is sponsored by the Student Activities Council.

More than a dozen ShowMe State colleges and universities are listed among the nation’s top 650 institutions of higher learning by Forbes Magazine.

The magazine says its list reflects the quality of the school’s teaching, career prospects, graduation rates and low levels of debt, which measures student debt loads and default rates. The number of alumni who go on to win prestigious scholarships and fellowships, such as Marshall and Fulbright and Rhodes, is also factored into the equation.

Washington University in St. Louis was ranked highest among Missouri colleges and universities at 113. The flagship campus of the University of Missouri system - University of Missouri at Columbia - came in 386, while the University of Missouri-Kansas City ranked at 603, Missouri State at 605 and the University of Missouri – St. Louis at 629.

Forbes ranks Williams College, a private school in western Massachusetts number one. Annual costs at Williams College runs to $55,000, yet the magazine notes the school has one of the highest four-year graduation rates and its students routinely win national awards and are rewarded with high paying careers.

Missouri institutions in the Forbes ranking include:

• Washington University in St. Louis (#113)
• College of the Ozarks, Pt. Lookout (#191)
• William Jewell, Liberty (#233)
• Westminster College, Fulton (#248)
• Rockhurst University, Kansas City (#250)
• St. Louis University, St. Louis (#326)
• University of Missouri – Columbia (#386)
• Truman State University, Kirksville (#431)
• Maryville University, St. Louis (#484)
• Webster University, St. Louis (#486)
• Drury University, Springfield (#573)
• University of Missouri - Kansas City (#603)
• Missouri State University, Springfield (#605)
• University of Missouri - St. Louis (#629)

They marched out onto the field with their heads held high, marching smartly to a simple cadence, and proud of their accomplishments after a work-filled week.

The Marching Bearcat Band unveiled the 2011 field show to parents and friends on Friday evening after a week of hard work and dedication during the annual before-school band camp.

Freshmen to mighty seniors, they held their heads high, instruments with pride and performed the newly learned music and marching maneuvers.

“It’s been a successful week,” said DHS band instructor Scott Rybolt. “They worked hard all week.”

Pride was seen in the smiles of the parents and in the determination on the field by the students.

This year’s Marching Bearcats field show will feature of the music of the rock group Chicago – including hits like “25 or 6 to 4,” and “Does Anyone Really Know What Time It is.”

The band will take the field for the first time at the home opener when the Bearcats go against St. Genevieve on Friday, Aug. 26 at Charles Bland Stadium.

Drum majors for the 2011-2012 season include Joseph Greer, Kendra Stevenson and Lauren Dudley. Directors are Scott Rybolt and Jim Wade.

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Registration for classes at Three Rivers College continues through August 12 for the fall semester, which begins August 15.

Classes started for Three Rivers College on Monday, Aug. 15 and the college’s center in Dexter is a beehive of activity in preparation for the fall semester.

Crews were on hand Thursday to stripe the new college parking lot in preparation for a large number of students at the new education center.

Students needing information on classes at Three Rivers are advised to contact the college’s Welcome Center at 573-840-9605 or, toll-free, 877-879-8722 or visit trcc.edu, where visitors can find checklists for enrolling and applying for financial aid, search for classes, and view the college catalog and program offerings

. Classes begin Monday Aug. 15 and and Aug. 19 is the last day to drop a fall semester class with 100 percent credit is Aug. 19.

The Three Rivers Center at Dexter is located at 515 West Market; the center’s telephone number is 573-614-1081.

As the wheels of education begin to turn for the Dexter Public Schools, the First Christian Church and Montgomery Bank sponsored a Teachers appreciation Luncheon for all employees, teachers and administrators at the Dexter R-11 School District.

A large number of volunteers from the church were on hand to help coordinate the BBQ meal complete with the trimmings and desert. The event started at 11 a.m., and continued until 1 p..m. Thursday afternoon.

Montgomery Bank was on hand to help with the event to assist with the serving the large crowd of over 135 people. Lindsay Emillo, Dana Adams, Scott Nelson and Kyle Christian offered up a chance to win two school supply baskets.

Winners of the Montgomery Bank school baskets were April Aldridge and Chasity McLaughlin. The baskets were filled with those little extras that make a classroom a little more fun and the teachers just a little more special. Each basket was valued at more than $100.

"We had someone attend from every part of our school district," commented Dana Adams of Montgomery Bank. "And we are very pleased that all three our top administrators were there in support of the school staff ... Dr. Flowers, Dr. Alsup and Dr. Sharp."
The entire district was represented from coaches, to janitorial staff, to bus drivers as well as the teachers who are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the their kids for the 2011-2012 school year.

This was an incredible undertaking during the workday when many of the Christian Church members are busy working at their jobs. The volunteers came from many sections of the Church with CWF Ladies group and the Evening Shade Ladies group providing the side dishes, the Christian Men's group providing the meat and preparation and the CYF Youth group lead by Tim Holder provided the serving for the event.

"It's always easy when you have good people that simply want to help to make an event work," said Gary Williams.

This is the simple joys of living in a small community and taking great pride in the school system that makes it all worthwhile.

Photos Above: #1 - Teacher Kara Lummukka registered for prizes offered by Montgomery Bank at the teacher luncheon on Thursday. Helping with registration were Lindsay Emillo and Dana Adams of Montgomery Bank. #2 - Lindsay and Dana talked to school district staff as their arrive for the luncheon. #3 - Members of the Christian Youth Fellowship were on hand to help serve at the luncheon. (SMT Photos by Annabeth Miller)