Submitted by Jill Temples
SMT Writer
United States - The First Freedom Student Competition- This is a first-semester national essay and video contest. It offers high-school students an opportunity to compete for $2,500 awards as they examine the history and current-day relevance of religious freedom, and then, by written essay or video production, present their evaluation. The competition is open to students in the United States and U.S. territories, and to American schools and American home-schooled students worldwide. Ninth grade through twelfth grade students are invited to participate.
The right to religious freedom is set forth in constitutional and international human-rights law. Today’s youth play an important role in upholding and strengthening this liberty; therefore, the First Freedom Student Competition has been developed to:
-Help high-school students better understand religious freedom - its history and current significance
-Encourage high-school students to explore their individual and civic rights to and responsibilities for religious freedom
-Engage high-school teachers and students in the study of American history and the First Amendment 
-Challenge high-school students to strengthen their analytic writing and media skills.
The online student registration deadline is Monday, November 18, 2013. The postmark deadline for mailing the entry and its accompanying materials is the following Monday, November 25, 2013.
The winners will be announced on Sunday, April 13, 2014 (Thomas Jefferson's Birthday)
For more information on this scholarship competition or to apply, visit:
Submitted by Jill Temples
SMT Writer
PBA Sally Beauty Scholarship- This scholarship is for high school graduates who are planning to be cosmetology majors and/or enter the cosmetology profession. This scholarship is worth $1000.00 and it must be used in the year 2014.
To apply for a $1000 Sally Beauty Scholarship complete and submit ALL application materials together. Be sure to include:
-Personal essay (no more than 250 words, typed) detailing what makes you a good candidate for this scholarship and how you would benefit from the scholarship.
-High school transcript or copy of diploma or GED certificate as proof of graduation.
-Two letters of reference.
The deadline for this scholarship is Friday, November 15th, 2013. There will be 7 scholarships awarded at $1,000.
To apply for this scholarship, visit: http://www.probeauty.org/docs/education/sally_2014_student_application_fillable.pdf
Submitted by
Dee Loflin SMT Manager/Writer
Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Senator Doug Libla received the Missouri Community College Association's Distinguished Legislator Award at a ceremony held in St. Louis today.
Libla serves Missouri's 25th Senate District, which includes Butler, Carter, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Shannon, and Stoddard counties. MCCA executive director Zora Mulligan says that Libla was selected to receive the award because of his willingness to stand up for community colleges in the Capitol. "Community college issues are front and center with Senator Libla. He cares deeply about our colleges -- and especially Three Rivers College -- but his real focus is on the communities and students our colleges serve. Senator Libla is truly a courageous leader, and we look forward to continuing to work with him during what we believe will be a very long career in the Capitol."
Three Rivers College president Dr. Devin Stephenson also praised Libla. "Senator Doug Libla is one of Three Rivers College's strongest advocates," said Stephenson. "Long before he was elected to public office, Senator Libla championed the work of his alma mater, Three Rivers College, through his generous philanthropy and volunteer service, and continues to promote community colleges in an exemplary manner as our state senator."
The Missouri Community College Association is a statewide organization through which Missouri’s community colleges work together to advance common agendas. MCCA provides advocacy, education, information, and networking opportunities in service of the state’s 5,700 community college faculty, staff, administrators, and trustees.
Shown in the photo are Dr. Devin Stephenson, President of Three Rivers College, Sen. Doug Libla, and Zora Mulligan, MCCA Executive Director.
Written by
Beth Farrah, SMT Writer
Essex, Missouri – This Friday, November 8th, the Richland High School will be hosting their annual Family Fun Night. The night will be filled with fun activities for students and kids of all ages to participate in, but there are also other fun things for adults, such as bingo and a silent auction. Family Fun Night is one of the biggest fundraising nights of the year for the high school classes, clubs, and organizations. The night will also consist of the annual Fall Pageant that will take place after the fun and games are over for the night.
Friday will be a busy day for all of the FCCLA members because they will be hosting the Rebel Café, which will serve food such as nachos, hotdogs, chili, and more out of the FACs room near the end of the front hallway. The FCCLA club and sponsors just returned from a leadership conference held at Tan Tar A Resort in Osage Beach and they are preparing for their next conference and upcoming fundraisers.
The senior class will be busy, busy, busy all night as they host three different events for their guests on Family Fun Night. The class will be putting on a silent auction with donations they have collected over the past few days, along with a big bingo event held in the cafeteria. There will also be an eighteen foot bouncy slide and a huge bouncy house for kids to play in. The junior class and other volunteers will also be painting faces in the back hallway throughout the night.
The cost of Family Fun Night this year is different from all the other years Richland has hosted this event. This year, the students and faculty are asking for one canned food item as you walk through the gate near the side entrance. The elementary, junior high, and high school students are currently collecting cans to help with their Backpack Program, a program that helps feed the less fortunate families in our community. The canned food drive just opened earlier this week and they are expecting a large turnout from this event, just like all the other times they have held food drives in previous years, so your canned food item will be going towards a great cause!
Family Fun Night will open the gates at 5:30pm and will close at 7:00pm. Right after the fun and games close down, the Fall Pageant will take place at 7:15pm. Winners of the silent auction items will be announced while the judges decide the winner of the pageant.
Written by
Dee Loflin SMT Manager/Writer
Dexter, Missouri - Drew Mason is the son of Ted and Brenda Mason.
Drew has participated in football and tennis all four years of high school and basketball his 9th grade year.
Drew is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and D-Unit Pep Club.
Drew is undecided of his future plans.
Congratulations senior Drew Mason. The Dexter community is extremely proud of you and your accomplishments.
