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 (left)

2019 Outstanding Alumna

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