CAPE GIRARDEAU - For the fourth straight year, Southeast Missouri State University is one of the best colleges and universities in the Midwest, according to The Princeton Review.

The education services company, widely known for its test prep programs and college and graduate school guides, included Southeast as one of 153 institutions it profiled in its "Best in the Midwest" section of its website feature, "2012 Best Colleges: Region by Region," posted earlier this month on the company's website.

“We are pleased to once again be recognized as one of the “Best in the Midwest” by the Princeton Review,” said Kenneth W. Dobbins, president of Southeast. “Our University’s outstanding faculty, academic programs and accreditations make us ‘The University of First Choice,’ and we are proud to be recognized as one of the best by Princeton Review."

Robert Franek, Princeton Review senior vice president and publisher, said the Princeton Review chose the 'regional best' colleges “mainly for their excellent academic programs. From several hundred schools in each region, we winnowed our list based on institutional data we collected directly from the schools, our visits to schools over the years, and the opinions of our staff, plus college counselors and advisors whose recommendations we invite. We also take into account what students at the schools reported to us. Only schools that permit us to independently survey their students are eligible to be considered for our regional 'best' lists."

For this project, The Princeton Review asks students attending the schools to rate their own schools on several issues -- from the accessibility of their professors to quality of the campus food -- and answer questions about themselves, their fellow students, and their campus life. Comments from surveyed students are quoted in the school profiles on The Princeton Review site. The profiles also have a "Survey Says" list that reveals topics about which students surveyed at the school were in highest agreement.

The schools in The Princeton Review’s "2012 Best Colleges: Region by Region" website section are also rated in six categories by The Princeton Review. The ratings, which appear on the school profiles, are scores on a scale of 60 to 99. The Princeton Review tallied these scores based on institutional data it obtained from the colleges in 2010-2011 and/or student survey data. The rating score categories include: Academics, Admissions Selectivity, Financial Aid, Fire Safety, Quality of Life, and Green.

The Princeton Review does not rank the 629 colleges in its "2012 Best Colleges: Region by Region" list hierarchically or by region or in various categories. Rather, the Princeton Review surveys students, asking them to rate their own schools on several issues – their school’s academics, administration, campus life, student body and themselves.

A SMT News Report

Thursday was a lucky day for Veronica Hampton!

It was Veronica's name that was drawn Thursday as the winner of the new Toshiba laptop computer from the T.S. Hill Middle School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).

Presenting Veronica with the new laptop (photo left) is Amy Worley, president of the Middle School PTO. The PTO has been selling tickets for a drawing for the laptop, and the drawing was held at the conclusion of the middle school pep rally Thursday afternoon.

Veronica is a sixth grade student at the middle school and is the daughter of Kim and Charles Hampton.

The pep rally featured the 8th grade band and flag corps, the 7th and 8th grade cheerleaders and the introduction of the football team.

The middle school Bearcats take on the Sikeston Bulldogs in home football action Thursday evening at Charles Bland Stadium.

SPRINGFIELD - Each semester, students at Missouri State University who attain academic excellence are named to the dean’s list. For undergraduate students, criteria include enrollment in at least 6 credit hours during the summer semester and at least a 3.50 grade point average (on a 4.00 scale).

Stoddard County students who earned Deans List honors for the Summer 2011 semester include

• Eric J. Windham of Dexter
• Brittany N. Lewis of Essex

Missouri State University in Springfield was founded in 1905. The main campus is in Springfield with an enrollment of more than 23,000 students.

POPLAR BLUFF - The Patrons of the Arts Society at Three Rivers College is still accepting new members for its 2011-2012 season.

New members can join for as little as $100, and the cost is tax-deductible, according to the Three Rivers news bureau. All members receive mention of their name or company name in show programs, and an invitation to the private wine and cheese reception held at the end of each season. Those giving at the Patron’s level ($1,000 or above) receive two season tickets, in addition to the regular benefits.

• The different membership levels are:
• Member: $100 or more
• Supporter: $500 or more
• Patron: $1,000 or more
• Sponsor: $3,500 or more
• Benefactor: $5,000 or more
• Distinguished Benefactor: $10,000 or more
• Lifetime Distinguished Benefactor: $100,000 or more

Members of the society contribute significantly to bringing special music, art, drama, dance, literature, lecture and film to the community through Three Rivers College.

For more information about joining the Patrons of the Arts Society, call 573-840-9527.

Members of the Patrons of the Arts membership committee met at The Bread Company on Wednesday. Pictured from the left are: Dr. Amber Richardson, Cindy Boyers, Nancy Mayer, Dr. Wes Payne, Tim Thompson, Judy Anderson, Laura Dowd, Kathy Sanders and Mary Libla.

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Photo Above: Members of the Patrons of the Arts membership committee met at The Bread Company recently. Attending were (from left) Dr. Amber Richardson, Cindy Boyers, Nancy Mayer, Dr. Wes Payne, Tim Thompson, Judy Anderson, Laura Dowd, Kathy Sanders and Mary Libla.

It was an almost perfect night to be a Bearcat football fan!

Not too hot, not too cold. It was the first game of the season. The band marched and played with pride. The cheerleaders encouraged and helped keep school spirit high. The fans were ready for some F-O-O-T-B-A-L-L!

Friday evening there was a special sense of excitement as the football Bearcats took to the field at Charles Bland Stadium, ran through the columns of the Marching Bearcat Band, and smashed through the banner held by the cheerleaders. It was going to be a great night for Bearcat fans!

And, indeed, it was a great night. The Bearcats delivered a great season opener, defeating the Dragons from Ste. Genevieve 28-6. The band had a great halftime show, featuring the music of the group Chicago, and the students showed their pride and enthusiasm in the stands.

Following the Bearcat’s victory, the DHS students had the annual Back to School Dance in the high school cafeteria.

(The only thing to mare an almost perfect night … the pesky mosquitoes!)

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