It’s that time of year again where we honor our Greyhounds at graduation. These students worked so hard this year and finally get to either close a chapter on their lives, or sequel into the next. We have over 300 students graduating this year in different fields of study. Each student has either completed a certificate, an Associate’s in Arts, Applied Sciences, Science, or General Studies. The FSCC family is super proud of every single one of these students and cannot wait to see what they do next! There will be two separate ceremonies:
Associate’s of Applied Science and Certificates
May 17th @ 9:00am
Associate’s of Science, Art, and General Studies
May 17th @ 12:00pm
We will also be holding a reception for the Outstanding Alumni in between graduations in the Gordon Parks Museum. Please join us in honoring our graduates and our alumni!
“Students First, Community Always”
Congratulations Class of 2019!!
To see a complete list of graduates, please click HERE
Pittsburg, Kansas – Students from the Southeast Kansas Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC) recently competed in the prestigious Kansas SkillsUSA Competition in Hutchinson, Kansas. The local CTEC team was comprised of students from Fort Scott Community College, as well as several local high schools.
Seventeen students competed in three categories: HVAC (5 students), Masonry (5 students) and Carpentry (7 students). Seven students earned medals, with other students placing in the top 10 of their category. Three of the seven students that medaled also qualified for the National SkillsUSA competition to be held this summer in Louisville, KY.
Students that earned medals are as follows:
College Carpentry: Nathan Kaufman – Fort Scott Community College – 1st Place – National Qualifier
High School Carpentry: Wil Jameson – Frontenac High School – 1st Place – National Qualifier
High School HVAC – MacKenzie Hensley – Frontenac High School – 3rd Place
College Masonry: Allen Blackburn – Fort Scott Community College – 2nd Place
High School Masonry: Mason Jameson – Frontenac High School – 1st Place – National Qualifier
High School Masonry: Matthew Pike – Girard High School – 2nd Place
High School Masonry: Zach Troth – Frontenac High School – 3rd Place
Kris Mengarelli, CTEC executive director, said, “We are very proud of our students’ work ethic and the way they represented CTEC, Fort Scott Community College and our high schools. We’re especially proud of those that medaled and the three students that will be competing at the national competition in June.” Mengarelli added, “Fort Scott Community College has great instructors in Kim Coates (Carpentry), Chris Sterrett (HVAC) and Nacoma Oehme (Masonry). They do an outstanding job of preparing our students for the competition.”
Fort Scott Community College will conduct its annual Adult Basic Education/General Equivalency Diploma graduation at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 15 in the auditorium of the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the FSCC campus, 2108 S. Horton St. The ceremony is for students who have completed the GED program this past year.
“The event attracts many graduates, their families, and friends,” said Adult Basic Education faculty member Aubrey Duft. “It represents a great milestone in the students’ lives, which affects the community for years to come.”
A reception will immediately follow the graduation.
Karen Cook has had nearly a 30 year career in elementary education, during which time she was nominated as Teacher of the Year. Prior to teaching, Cook worked for Western Insurance as a Computer Programmer and Program Analyst.
Mrs. Cook is an alumna of Fort Scott High School and was the co-Salutatorian her graduating year. She earned her associate of arts in general studies from Fort Scott Community College in 1973 and was the co-Valedictorian that same year. After graduating from FSCC, Cook married and started a family with her husband, Garry Cook. They have two children, Trisha Whitehead and Christopher Cook. After eleven years, Cook chose to return to school in pursuit of a teaching degree. In May 1986, Karen Cook completed her goal by graduating Summa Cum Laude from Pittsburg State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education.
Mrs. Cook is heavily involved in community service by being a Mother Advisor for the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, serving on the KNEA Scholarship Committee, membership in the Order of Eastern Star, with which she has held numerous offices including Worthy Matron, and participation in St. John’s United Methodist Church as the Sunday School Superintendent and Lay Leader
Ellen Fairchild (right)
2019 Outstanding Young Alumna
Ellen Fairchild is currently the Director of Nursing for Assisted Living at Fort Scott Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America. A native of Fort Scott, Fairchild has previously worked as a wound care nurse, a medical/surgical nurse, and a pediatric nurse at Via Christi and Mercy Hospitals. She has earned many awards and accolades for her energetic and compassionate approach to nursing.
Mrs. Fairchild earned her associate of science in nursing (RN) degree in 2015. During her time at FSCC, she participated in many campus activities or organizations such as choir, orchestra, Student Nurse Organization as Recording Secretary, and Phi Theta Kappa as Chapter Vice-President and Delegate to International Convention then the following year Chapter President. Her initiative on campus earned her the Phi Theta Kappa Professionalism Scholarship in 2014 and the Student Nurse Organization Professionalism Award in 2013 and 2015.
Mrs. Fairchild and her husband, Lane, reside in Fort Scott with their three children, Levi, Aiden, and Lizzy.
Ty Covey (center)
2019 Outstanding Sophomore
Ty Covey is this year’s Outstanding Sophomore and is very deserving of that honor. As a Uniontown native, Ty has been making an impact academically and in other people’s lives. Ty has had many honors over the years including numerous honors while in high school and even more at his time at Fort Scott Community College (FSCC). During his time as a Greyhound, Ty has been an Ellis Foundation Scholar, R.E. French Family Educational Foundation Scholar, FSCC Endowment Scholar, Kansas All-Academic Team, Phi Theta Kappa Semi-Finalist Scholar, 2nd High Point Individual at Cowley Co. “Snow Bowl” competition. and has maintained a 4.0 GPA for four semesters!
Ty has been very active on and off campus during his time at FSCC. He has been a very active member in Phi Theta Kappa, Greyhound Student Council, FSCC Quiz Bowl (Captain), and FSCC Band and Choir. Ty has also been work-study and on the Board for the Gordon Parks Museum, Ellis Foundation Mentor, volunteered at the National Cemetery, and active in his faith through the Frist Missionary Baptist Churhc in Uniontown.
After graduating from FSCC, Ty plans to transfer to Pittsburg State University where he has already received five scholarships including Transfer Scholar Leadership Program, Viola M. Hutcherson Scholarship, Academic Achievement Award, Alumni Legacy License Plate Scholarship, and Phi Theta Kappa Recognition Award.
“I have been a positive role model at FSCC. I’ve been engaged in the classroom, around campus, and in the community. As a soon to be FSCC Alumni, I will do my best to continue to represent the Greyhounds”.-Ty Covey
Fort Scott Community College has done away with extra fees for online classes! You can now take courses online for the same price as taking it in the classroom.
By taking classes online, it allows you more flexibility with your time and less money out of pocket.
You can earn an Associates Degree in Science, Arts, or General Studies right from the comfort of your home.
Scholarships are available for online students as well. You can check that out by clicking HERE.
To see a full list of classes offered online, click HERE.
If you have any questions or are ready to join the Greyhound pack, contact Advising at 620.223.2700 ext. 3630 or come on by!
Cost of Classes
Kansas Resident
Tuition
Fees
Total
Bourbon County
$47.00**
$55.00
$102.00
High School/Concurrent (outside of Bourbon County)
FORT SCOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Minutes of the Board of Trustees Training March 25, 2019
PRESENT: John Bartelsmeyer, Bernita Hill, Liz Meyer, and Robert Nelson
ALSO PRESENT: Alysia Johnston, President, Juley McDaniel, Board Clerk, faculty, staff, and community members.
Chairman John Bartelsmeyer called the meeting to order at 5:35 pm. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR: Chairman Bartelsmeyer reported that FSCC has processed $4,644,126.69 in federal financial aid for the academic year, 51.8% of which was dispersed directly to students.
HOUNDS OF THE WEEK UPDATE: Head football coach Kale Pick summarized the football program’s Hounds of the Week program that encourages academic success of team members. Coaches do academic checks and recognize four players each week to students who are excelling in academic representation of the team.
CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Nelson, seconded by Hill, and carried by unanimous vote to move item E (Approval of Gordon Parks Museum Foundation by-laws) to the Action Items section of the agenda and replace item E of the consent agenda with Approval to Proceed with the Culinary Arts Certificate Program. A motion was made by Meyer, seconded by Hill, and carried by unanimous vote to approve the Consent Agenda as revised.
ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS:
Adam Borth and Russ Souza reviewed details of FSCC’s retention project. They and their committee have spent a year gathering data about why students stay at FSCC and why students leave FSCC. The data has revealed some patterns and provided insight that the committee is eager to address. They will be introducing a pilot Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) in English in the fall, including the cost of the Hawkes software in the course fees, and revising the late enrollment period, offer pro-active tutoring, and revamp the college orientation class, all in hopes of addressing the barriers to student retention. The next step in the project is to develop a strategic initiative.
A motion was made by Nelson, seconded by Hill, and carried by unanimous vote to approve the presented tuition and fee schedule for academic year 2019/2020, including additional fees provided the night of the meeting.
A motion was made by Hill, seconded by Meyer, and carried by unanimous vote to approve the base bid of $877,000 from Crossland Construction to complete the addition to Burris Hall.
A motion was made by Hill, seconded by Meyer, and carried by unanimous vote to appoint Jim Fewins to fill the Board vacancy.
A motion was made by Nelson, seconded by Hill, and carried by unanimous vote to approve the Gordon Parks Foundation By-Laws as revised. The phrase “Board of Trustees” shall be replaced with “Gordon Parks Museum Foundation Board every place it appears in Article III, IV, and V, and in the last sentence of Article II.
REPORTS:
ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES: The Board reviewed and heard reports from Miami County Campus, Student Services, Finance and Operations, and the President.
Robert Nelson provided highlights and the pamphlet from the Phi Theta Kappa Luncheon held on March 7 in Topeka. He said the group heard a great speaker and a student speaker. FSCC had three students from main campus and three students from Miami County campus that were honored.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Trustees, a motion to adjourn was made at 6:44 p.m. by Nelson, seconded by Hill, and carried by unanimous vote.
Chairman Clerk
To see the agenda and other documents sent with the monthly trustees packet click below:
Before dropping the final curtain on the school year, Fort Scott Community College presents “Loose Ends,” a night of five student- and guest-directed one-act plays (and two monologues) designed to make the audience laugh, cry, think, curse or all of the above.
There is no admission charge for the event, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. May 2-3 in the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center.
“This gives us one last opportunity to showcase our student performers, technicians and directors,” said Allen Twitchell, FSCC theater instructor. “It puts a nice bow on our season.”
The plays, in tentative order of performance, are:
“Easy Credit,” written by Samuel M. Post and directed by Clayton Whitson, FSCC speech instructor. The cast includes Wendy Monahan, a junior at Fort Scott High School; Massiel Ordonez, freshman from Panama City, Panama; and Amy Walker, sophomore from Fort Scott.
“Piece of Your Heart,” written and directed by Katelynn Coe, sophomore from LaCygne. The cast features Jasper Dunn, sophomore from Whitehall, Wis.; Kaitlyn Hanks, freshman from Redfield; Meaghan Hay, freshman from Fort Scott; and Ordonez.
“Hands of Fate,” written by D.M. Larson and directed by Mickey Donahue, sophomore from Fort Scott. The cast includes Aiden Ballinger, freshman from Pleasanton; Dunn; Monahan; and Marcus Robinson, freshman from Paola.
“Last Day of Camp,” written by Jeffrey Sweet and directed by Twitchell. The cast features Ka’Si Gates, sophomore from Bronson; Hanks; and Robinson.
“Teacher Boot Camp,” written by Adam Sharp and directed by Gates. The cast includes Ballinger; Coe; Hay; and Walker.
In addition to the short plays, Royalty Mercer, a freshman from Lithonia, Ga., will perform two monologues.
Assisting with the technical aspects of the production is Michael Woodward, a freshman from Fulton.
Some plays contain mild profanity and mature themes.
Alysia Johntson announced the Centennial Celebration of Fort Scott Community College at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee Thursday at the college gym.
The school is oldest continually operating community college in Kansas and will celebrate one hundred years of existence September 20 and 21, Johnston told the coffee attendees.
Fort Scott Community College President Alysia Johnston.
“Fort Scott Community College started in Fort Scott High School in 1919,” Johnston told the coffee attendees.
That move allowed students who wanted to start college, but not have to go out of the community, to attend college, said Mert Barrows, a member of the Centennial Committee.
The college moved to the present site on South Horton Street in 1967, Johnston said.
“Today we provide online degrees and also have one of the best occupational areas around,” Johnston said.
“I was a student here for the 50th anniversary (of the college),” Harold Hicks, Centennial Committee Chairman, said.
“This college has a special place in my heart,” Hicks said. “Several members of the committee are graduates and much of our success in life, the seeds were planted here.”
To celebrate the centennial, there is a banquet and tailgate party planned for the community.
The celebration will kick off Friday evening, September 20, with a banquet for graduates, employees, and their families, according to a press release from FSCC. Saturday afternoon, Sept. 21, will feature a tailgate party at the stadium for all members of the community and conclude with the Homecoming game at 7 p.m.
Other activities planned include the burial of a time capsule, a series of featured articles in the newspaper, display cases around the campus, cake celebration, a video depicting campus activities, and appearances at local fairs and other community events, and other activities in the works, according to the press release.
Fort Scott Community College (then Fort Scott Junior College) was voted into existence on November 8, 1918, in a city-wide election. Rees Hughes, principal at Fort Scott High School, administered the newly formed college with fully qualified teachers to teach a program of consisting of foreign languages, English, mathematics, and science that would be identical to that offered by the University of Kansas, according to the press release.
According to a Fort Scott Tribune article published in April 1918, “By establishing the two years of college work in Fort Scott, it offers an unusual opportunity for students in Fort Scott and Bourbon County and adjacent counties to secure two years of normal school or college work while near home. The work done in the Fort Scott Junior College will be fully accredited at any of the colleges, normal schools or universities of the state,” according to the press release.
Centennial Committee members: Hicks, Barrows, Carolyn Sinn, Valetta Cannon, Bernita Hill, Robert Nelson, Bob Cable, Lori Cable, Rhonda Bailey, Ellen Fairchild, Leslie Damien, Karri Johnson, Marcel Normand and Kassie Feugate-Cate.
Contact person for the Centennial Committee is Harold W. Hicks, [email protected], Fort Scott Community College, 2108 South Horton, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. Tel: 620.223.2700 X3150
