Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Three Rivers College filled the Black River Coliseum to celebrate the institution’s newest graduating class on Friday, May 19. Approximately 590 students in Three Rivers’ degree and certificate programs were eligible to walk across the stage during Friday’s ceremony.
Stan Berry, a Three Rivers alumnus, Army veteran, and editor at the Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff, gave the keynote address to the Class of 2017. In his speech, Berry spoke to the necessity of strength and determination in life, a lesson that he credited to his mother.
“She’d send us trooping off to school with a warm breakfast in our bellies, and then she’d go to the garment factory to spend eight hours doing piecework on a sewing machine,” said Berry. “I don’t know where she got the strength.”
Eric Schalk, Chair of the Three Rivers College Board of Trustees, and Dr. Wesley Payne, President of Three Rivers College, also spoke at the event. The Three Rivers College Choir, directed by Sherry Mitchell, performed an arrangement of “In My Life” by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
“Education is the key to better lives for students, for their families, and for the communities from which they come,” said Schalk. “Remember: you are the future, and it looks to be a bright one.”
The college honored several outstanding graduates at the ceremony, and recognized its many first-generation, non-traditional, veteran, and multi-generation graduates. Among the individual graduates spotlighted were:
· Misty-Love Lopez, a New York City native and first-generation graduate, who has been deeply involved in campus life at Three Rivers, including serving as an Academic Coach in the ACHIEVE program and President of the Student Government Association.
· Yvone White, a non-traditional student who enrolled at Three Rivers at the age of 72, over 60 years after dropping out of school in eighth grade to help support his family.
· The Coleman and Heaton families, a set of multi-generation graduates. Shelby Coleman; her husband, Cody; her brothers, Casey Heaton and Michael Heaton; and her sister-in-law, Rhonda Heaton, all graduated this year with degrees in Education.
· Robert Wake, a veteran graduate and Purple Heart recipient who came to Three Rivers after overcoming a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. Wake is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa academic honor society, served as President of the Student Veterans Association, and received the Mo-Kan-Ne TRiO Achiever award for his participation in Three Rivers’ ACHIEVE program.
This year marks the 49th anniversary of the college’s first commencement ceremony since its founding in 1966. Since then, Three Rivers has served over 100,000 students from its degree, transfer, and career-technical programs. Registration is currently open for Fall classes at Three Rivers. To learn more about registering for classes at Three Rivers, call the Welcome Center at 573-840-9605 or visit trcc.edu.
Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Mackenzie Moore has been awarded the $1,000 Poplar Bluff Public School Foundation scholarship.
Moore has completed 59 credits at Three Rivers College while attending high school through the College Now program. She has plans to enroll in Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, where she will study elementary education with a focus on middle school language arts. Upon completing her master’s, she hopes to secure a teaching job in Poplar Bluff, “giving back to the community that gave so much to me,” she said.
The foundation scholarship has been awarded to Poplar Bluff High School students, past graduates or present-day, since 2001. The foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to furthering the educational opportunities of its students and promoting innovation in the classroom.
Pictured: Foundation president Dr. Amber Richardson awards PBHS senior Mackenzie Moore a teaching scholarship on Wednesday, April 26.
Photos and article submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Director, Poplar Bluff R-I School District
Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Poplar Bluff High School senior Hamiz Mirza was among 15 select students to receive the Missouri Award for Outstanding Achievement in Citizenship on Monday, April 17, in Jefferson City.
The annual state honor—based on academic achievement, participation in extracurricular activities and service to the community—was established in 1989 as a provision under Senate Bill 198. Mirza will also be recognized on the American Bar Association’s Civics and Law Honor Roll.
“A lot of kids can ace government class, but it’s another thing to go out into the community and change lives,” said Mirza’s AP government teacher Mitch Davis during a special recognition Thursday, April 20, at the school board meeting.
Davis and R-I Superintendent Scott Dill presented Mirza with resolutions from the Missouri House of Representatives and Senate signed by Speaker Todd Richardson and Sen. Doug Libla, respectively.
Mirza, who has been accepted at St. Louis University, received straight A’s in several advanced social studies classes throughout his high school career, during which he served as captain of the speech and debate team, placing first last year in a district contest. This school year he helped found the Politics Club, a non-partisan student organization that meets weekly, and was responsible for hosting a watch party attended by over 100 students on presidential election night.
“I would argue he has been successful in changing the dialogue in our school from hyperpartisan to more of a reflective, collegial atmosphere where it is now ‘cool’ to hear the other side’s views about the role and scope of government in our everyday lives,” wrote Davis on Mirza’s nomination form, which was also signed by PBHS Principal Mike Kiehne.
Perhaps even more meaningful, as Davis indicated to the Board of Education, Mirza volunteered over 200 hours to Smiles of Hope Dental Clinic, a nonprofit operation that began with one philanthropist making monthly clinical visits to a church. The clinic grew within several years to acquire about a dozen licensed dentists, treating more than 2,000 people and extracting over 6,000 teeth, for little to no cost to the patient.
Mirza was further inspired to spend 50 hours of his own, teaching proper dental care to children at churches and schools. He also volunteered 120 hours at the United Gospel Rescue Mission, along with splitting another 100 hours between hospital work and teaching swimming.
“While witnessing single mothers struggling to feed their children, a health care system that has failed many, and a country that is more divided and partisan than ever, it is easy to allow pessimism to leak into one’s own life,” wrote Mirza in a qualifying essay about citizenship. He went on to state: “As citizens of a representative democracy, the burden of ensuring our government is running properly doesn’t just lie with the people working in Washington – it relies on the work and involvement of everyday citizens who vote and raise awareness for what they believe is right.”
Pictured are PBHS instructor Mitch Davis (left) and R-I Superintendent Scott Dill (right) present Hamiz Mirza with official resolutions for his model citizenry during the school board meeting.
Photo and article submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Director, Poplar Bluff R-I School District
Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter School Board met in a Special Board Meeting on May 26, 2017 at 8:00 a.m. Below are the minutes from today's meeting.
Call to Order/Roll Call/Pledge The Board President announced the meeting is to begin, ascertains the attendance status of all board members with all members being present. He then leads in the saying of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Old Business:
There was no old business to discuss.
New Business:
A. There was no new business to discuss.
Discussion Items:
A. Updates to MSBA Policies and Administrative Procedures ADF,
ADF-AP1 and EF-AP1 were discussed with the board.
In Closed Session:
1. The board accepted the resignations/retirements of the following:
Lori Murphy, ACE Teacher
Kaylee Hessling, 5th Grade Teacher
2. The board employed Alexis Rauls as a 5th grade teacher for the 2017-2018 school year.
3. Discussion of administrative personnel.
Items presented to the board for informational purposes for future meetings or for discussion include: None at this time
Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter High School Class of 2017 earned more than 1.3 million dollars in scholarships. If each student completes their two or four year degree they will have utilized $1, 357, 889 in scholarship monies.
Below is the complete list of students and their scholarships as of graduation day.
HARLEY ALLEN
Southeast Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship 750
Southeast Missouri State University Regent's Scholarship 23916
MO Girls State Residence Life Leadership Award 1000
A+ Scholarship 4000
HAILEY ANDERSON
A+ Scholarship 4000
MCKENZIE ANTHONY
Southeast MO State University. Residence Life Leadership Scholarship 1000
A+ Scholarship 4000
KELLY ASH
A+ Scholarship 4000
WESTON AVERY
SEMO Electric Co-op Scholarship 750
Dexter Kiwanis Club Scholarship 1000
Dexter Lions Club Scholarship 1500
Heartland Ag Scholarship 2000
Bank of Advance Scholarship 1000
SEMO Cattlemen's Assoc. Scholarship 500
Dexter Elk's Scholarship 500
A+ Scholarship 4000
JACKSON BABB
Three Rivers Music Scholarship 5520
Dexter Housing Authority Scholarship
ABIGAIL BATES
Southeast MO State University Residence Life Scholarship 4000
A+ Scholarship 4000
CALEB BESS
Regina Duckworth Memorial Scholarship 1000
Dexter Elk's Club Scholarship 500
Dexter Eagle's Ladies Auxiliary Scholarship 500
A+ Scholarship 4000
JUSTIN BESS
A+ Scholarship 4000
CALEB BLUNT
Dexter Lion's Club Scholarship 1000
Southeast Missouri State University Regents Scholarship 32000
A+ Scholarship 4000
WILL BREHMER
Murray State Provost Scholarship 27388
Heartland Ag Scholarship 2000
Dexter Elk's Scholarship 500
John Bryant Ag Scholarship 500
Arvella Totten Scholarship 500
Jason Stidham Memorial Scholarship 250
KAYLEE CAREY
Crowley Ridge Athletic Scholarship 2325
A+ Scholarship 4000
KATIE COLEMAN
A+ Scholarship 4000
JARED COOKSON
Dexter Elks Scholarship 500
HALEY CORNETT
Southeast Missouri State University Scholarship 8000
Southeast MO State University. Residence Life Leadership Award 4000
Stoddard County Development Foundation Scholarship 500
A+ Scholarship 4000
CARLY DEAN
Southeast Missouri State University Scholarship 8000
CHARLES FORTNER
Dexter Junior League Bowling Award 500
TARYN FORTNER
Southeast Missouri State University Scholarship 8000
Montgomery Family Foundation Scholarship 4000
A+ Scholarship 4000
MEGAN FOSTER
A+ Scholarship 4000
GEORGE FROST
A+ Scholarship 4000
ANDREW GARNER
MO State Promise Scholarship. 1500
1st Christian Church-Rotha Wilson Scholarship. 500
A+ Scholarship 4000
CIDNEY GATHINGS
Bridge to Success Award
Residence Life Award
BRITTANY GIBSON
A+ Scholarship 4000
BRIANNA GOURLEY
Vocational Rehabilitation Award
A+ Scholarship 4000
MACY GRAVES
Heartland Ag Scholarship 2000
A-State Pride 24000
Montgomery Family Foundation Scholarship 2000
A+ Scholarship 4000
VERONICA HAMPTON
A+ Scholarship 4000
JACOB HARRIS
SEMO Electric Co-op Scholarship 750
Missouri State University Scholarship 24000
MO Bright Flight Scholarship 10000
Dexter Beta Club Scholarship 500
Ruth Covington Scholarship 500
HANNAH HAYNES
A+ Scholarship 4000
JOHNNA HINKLIN
Three Rivers College Music Scholarship 5520
A+ Scholarship 4000
PEYTON HOLCOMB
A+ Scholarship 4000
BETHANY HYTEN
Jerry & Laverne Waddle Scholarship 500
Sheriff Jim Elliott Memorial Scholarship 4000
BEC/Ambassador's Scholarship 4000
A+ Scholarship 4000
JASON JARRELL
SEMO Electric Co-op Scholarship 750
Evangel University Academic Scholarship 15500
Evangel University Baseball Scholarship
MSHSAA Award of Excellence
A+ Scholarship 4000
EMILY JOHNS
Monsanto Scholarship 1000
Stoddard County Fair Board Scholarship 1500
UMKC Conservatory of Music Scholarship 26000
Dexter Faculty Scholarship 500
A+ Scholarship 4000
LACEY MARIE JOHNSON
A+ Scholarship 4000
GARRETT KEATHLEY
Three Rivers College Incentive Scholarship 7680
KELSEY KENDRICK
MO Bright Flight Scholarship 10000
MO State University. Board of Governor's Scholarship 20000
JACLYN KIGER
Pat Brickhaus Memorial Scholarship 250
Dexter CTA Education Scholarship 500
A+ Scholarship 4000
GARRETT LARAMORE
A+ Scholarship 4000
TAYLIN LEIJA
Southeast MO State University. Bridge to Success Scholarship 300
JANIE LINDSEY
Southeast Missouri State University Regents Scholarship 24000
James Harold Pallus Biology Scholarship 4000
Dexter Altrusa Club Scholarship 500
Dexter Booster Club Scholarship 500
ABIGAIL MANGUM
Three Rivers College Music Scholarship 5520
Rotary Interact Scholarship 500
MO Bright Flight Scholarship 2500
Dexter Rotary Club 1000
ETHAN MARTINEZ
MO State Promise Scholarship 2500
ALEXIS MAY
Shelter Insurance Scholarship 2000
Beta Sigma Phi Scholarship 500
Dexter Elks Scholarship 500
Stoddard County Farm Bureau Scholarship 250
American Red Cross Scholarship 500
Ruth Covington Scholarship 500
Virgie G. Wilson Memorial Scholarship 2500
Rotary Interact Scholarship 500
Dexter Rotary Club 1000
Dexter Booster Club Scholarship 500
Dexter Eagle's Ladies Auxiliary Scholarship 500
A+ Scholarship 4000
TYLER MAYFIELD
A+ Scholarship 4000
ANGEL MAZE
Three Rivers College Incentive Scholarship 7680
A+ Scholarship 4000
MADISON MCCONNELL
Audrey C. Fralick Memorial Scholarship 2000
A+ Scholarship 4000
CODY MCFADDIN
John W. Brehmer Ag Scholarship 500
Jamie Sifford Memorial Scholarship 500
A+ Scholarship 4000
MELISSA MCKUIN
A+ Scholarship 4000
REAGAN MILLER
U.S. Naval Academy Scholarship 40,0000
1st Christian Church Rotha Wilson Scholarship 500
A+ Scholarship 4,000
SARAH MILLER
Southeast MO State University Vocal Talent Scholarship 6,000
Southeast MO State University Residence Life Scholarship 4,000
Dexter Rotary Club Scholarship 1,000
Rotary Interact Scholarship 500
Belmont Leadership Scholarship 1,500
A+ Scholarship 4,000
ANTHONY MOORE
A+ Scholarship 4,000
CHEYENNE MOSBY
Dexter Faculty Scholarship 500
A+ Scholarship 4,000
EMILY MOUSER
St. Louis University Dean's Scholarship 72,000
St. Louis University Enhanced Merit Scholarship 8,000
Stoddard County Fair Board Scholarship 1,000
SEMO Electric Scholarship 750
Heartland Ag Scholarship 2,000
Dexter Lions Scholarship 1,500
John Bryant Ag Scholarship 500
John W. Brehmer Ag Scholarship 1,000
Arvella Totten Scholarship 500
Danzil & Pauline Dowdy Family Scholarship 1,000
A+ Scholarship 4000
CHELSEA MULLINS
St. Louis College of Pharmacy Academic Scholarship 21,000
KAYLEA MURDOCK
A+ Scholarship 4,000
EMILY PAGE
A-State Pride Scholarship 29,280
A+ Scholarship 4,000
BLAKE PALMER
Three Rivers College Cheerleading Scholarship 2,000
HUNTER PARROTT
MO State Troopers Assoc Scholarship 100
A+ Scholarship 4,000
NATALEE PEDROZA
Missouri State University Inclusive Excellence Award 8,000
CAROLINE PENBERTHY
Dexter Elks Scholarship 500
A+ Scholarship 4,000
ZACHARY POTTS
Dexter Elks Scholarship 500
Sacred Heart Catholic Church Scholarship 500
Montgomery Family Foundation Scholarship 500
A+ Scholarship 4,000
CAROLINE POWERS
Virgie G. Wilson Memorial Scholarship 2,500
Kastner Memorial Scholarship 200
Southeast MO State University Residence Life Scholarship 4,000
Southeast MO State University Vocal & Performing Arts Scholarship 6,000
Southeast MO State University - University Scholarship 8,000
Columbia College Academic Scholarship 40,000
ZACHARY PROPST
Dexter Junior League Bowling Award 500
TANNER RICKMAN
A+ Scholarship 4,000
DANIEL ROBEY
A+ Scholarship 4,000
SYDNEY ROGERS
A+ Scholarship 4,000
BRYCE SIMMONS
A+ Scholarship 4,000
OLIVIA SITZES
Audrey C. Fralick Memorial Scholarship 2,000
A+ Scholarship 4,000
BRANDON STONE
Southeast Missouri State University. Lifetime Leadership Award 4,000
MYCA SUTTON
University of MO Chancellor's Award 26,000
MO Bright Flight Scholarship 12,500
Show-Me Scholars Award 1,500
A+ Scholarship 4,000
ANDREW TEEL
Three Rivers College Music Scholarship 5,520
A+ Scholarship 4,000
ALYSSA TEETS
Jack & Elsie Smarr Scholarship 690
Karen Pippens Memorial Scholarship 500
A+ Scholarship 4,000
KIRSTEN TEFFERTILLER
Montgomery Family Foundation Scholarship 12,000
A+ Scholarship 4,000
MCKINNA TIDWELL
A+ Scholarship 4,000
MACY URHAHN
SEMO Athletic Conference Scholarship 250
Sacred Heart Catholic Church Scholarship 500
Montgomery Family Foundation Scholarship 1,000
A+ Scholarship 4,000
LILLIAN WHITEHEAD
A+ Scholarship 4,000
BRIANNA WRIGHT
Southeast Missouri State University Regent's Scholarship 48,000
A+ Scholarship 4,000
ASHLYNN WYMAN
Dexter Kiwanis Club Scholarship 1,000
Dexter Lions Club Scholarship 1,000
Heartland Ag Scholarship 2,000
MO Assoc. of Insurance Companies Scholarship 1,000
Missouri State University Dean's Scholarship 1,500
Missouri Girl's State Scholarship 1,000
Missouri State University Residence Life Scholarship 1,000
Missouri State University -University Scholarship 2,000
John W. Brehmer Ag Scholarship 1,000
MSHSAA Award of Excellence
A+ Scholarship 4,000
TOTAL SCHOLARSHIPS $1,357,889
