Evanston, Illinois - Alexis Smith, a 2015 graduate of Dexter High School, has been selected as one of this year's National Merit Scholarship recipients.  Smith is the daughter of Gabe and Brooke Smith of Dexter and will pursue a career in medicine.

National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners are chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding finalists in 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Winners are the finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.  The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state's percentage of the nation's graduating high school seniors.

The scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the finalists and their high schools: the academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the Finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.

By the conclusion of this year's competition, about 7,600 academic champions will have won National Merit Scholarships worth approximately $34 million.

Essex, Missouri - Kyle Carter of Richland R-I Jr/Sr High School has been named the Missouri Journalism Education Association's Rising Star award winner.

For the past two years, Kyle Carter has been teaching business and advising the yearbook. In his short time as an adviser, Carter has done big things for the program. An accomplished photographer himself (a Mississippi Press association award winner with photos published in USA Today and Sports Illustrated to name a few), his students have been recognized with a number of awards for their photography under his guidance.

Carter explains his greatest enjoyment in his role this way: “I LOVE taking someone who is a self-professed ‘good photographer’ and starting them on the Three Things We Can Control lesson. This lesson both opens their eyes to the possibilities of different styles of photography and helps them understand their own personal style better."

"I also LOVE advising, especially onsite work. Sitting with another shooter and picking their brain about what they could have done differently or why they used a f/4.5 on a double play instead of f/3.5. I enjoy helping them understand as much as they can about the assignment they are shooting as well as the camera principles. I enjoy seeing the satisfaction in the students’ face when they get their first really good photo - are published on the front page of the paper for the first time or even the gleam of pride in their eyes after they’ve won their first award. Most of my students come to me with the world’s preconceived notion of what a photo should look like - I teach them how to break down a photograph into their individual pieces (f/stop, shutter speed, ISO, etc.) and then advise them on how to make their art work even better than the previous photo they’ve seen.”

He was nominated by one of his students, Parker Miller. A junior in his first year on the yearbook staff. In his short time as a staff member, Parker Miller is a Gold Key winner from Quill and Scroll, an MJEA Photo of the Year Finalist and a member of the 2015 MJEA All-State Journalism Team.

The Richland Director of Music and Bands, Amber Dulley,  said, “Our current yearbook and journalism program is only in its second year, and has made unprecedented advances in student involvement, student skill level, use of technology, and quality of product."

The Missouri Journalism Education Association is the largest state scholastic journalism organization formed to help protect and enhance scholastic journalism in Missouri. MJEA works to provide outreach and support to advisers and journalism programs across the state. MJEA supports free and responsible scholastic journalism by providing resources and educational opportunities, by promoting professionalism, by encouraging and rewarding student excellence and teacher achievement, and by fostering an atmosphere which encompasses diversity yet builds unity.

Poplar Bluff, Missouri – About 50 members of the Poplar Bluff High School Beta Club chose to help the Historic Depot Restoration Corporation tear out a floor in order to complete their volunteer hours.

Each student is required by the student organization to volunteer and donate hours each semester.

The Iron Mountain Depot is the home of the local Amtrak Station and was once a thriving train depot.  Recent revitalization projects have enhanced the beauty and brought recognition to the old depot.

Photo submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Poplar Bluff School District.

Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Three Rivers College and Murray State University have finalized an articulation agreement that will allow students in Three Rivers’ Agriculture program to seamlessly transfer to several of the degree programs in Murray State’s Hutson School of Agriculture.

“We’re very proud of this agreement and the bachelor’s degree completion opportunities that it will open up for our students,” said Dr. Brenda Russell, Dean of Career Education and Workforce Development at Three Rivers College. “This agreement will make it much easier for our students to continue their education with Murray State’s excellent Agriculture programs.”

The agreement allows students who complete an Associate of Arts Degree in Agriculture at Three Rivers to transfer their college credits into one of seven agriculture bachelor’s degree programs at Murray State. This allows students to complete their Freshman and Sophomore years close to home and at a cost savings, then transfer to Murray State to complete their Junior and Senior years.

Murray State programs specified in the transfer agreement are Agriculture Education, Agricultural Systems Technology, Agriscience Technology, Agribusiness, Agronomy, Animal/Equine Science, and Horticulture.

The process of working out the articulation agreement started in 2013 with meetings between educators from Three Rivers and Murray State. Spearheading the agreement process for Three Rivers was Agriculture Instructor Joyce Rehkop.

Registration is currently open for Summer and Fall classes at Three Rivers College, including courses in the Associate of Arts in Agriculture program. For more information on agriculture courses and other Career Education classes at Three Rivers, or on how to register for classes at Three Rivers, visit trcc.edu or call the Welcome Center at 573-840-9605.

Three Rivers College is committed to contributing to the quality of life in Southeast Missouri with quality, affordable higher education opportunities and community services that support and encourage the economic, civic, and cultural vitality of the region. For more information about college and workforce programs and upcoming events, visit trcc.edu.

Fayette, Missouri – Central Methodist University has announced its graduating Class of 2015, according to President Roger Drake.  Over 700 students participated in Commencement exercises in Fayette, Park Hills, Sedalia, and St. Louis.

Matthew Pulley of Bloomfield has graduated from CMU in the Online Program with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Marie Marquis of Bloomfield has graduated from CMU in Poplar Bluff with a Bachelor of Accountancy.

Teryl Smith of Dexter graduated with a Bachelor of Accountancy from CMU in Poplar Bluff.

“CMU graduates include students from its main campus in Fayette, branch sites across the state, or from its online programs,,” Drake said.

Since its founding in 1854, CMU has evolved into a university that confers masters, bachelors and associates degrees through programming on its main campus in Fayette and through extension sites located across Missouri and online.