Three Rivers College trustees reviewed recent academic, charitable and athletic events during a quick meeting on Oct. 19.
Gail Tinsley, director of Academic Services, gave a review of the College Transfer Fair on Sept. 28.
“We had 16 universities here, and we had over 50 students and recruiters who came by. And it was a bonus, we had a preview day for high schools that day, so we had another 90 to 100 high school students,” said Tinsley.
TRC has transfer agreements with most of the universities represented at the fair.
“It was a good opportunity for our Three Rivers students to meet with those universities and talk to them about the opportunities they have to transfer, and scholarships, and those kinds of things,” she added.
Dr. Wesley Payne, the college president, reviewed the No One Walks Alone Suicide Prevention Walk. It was hosted by the Mental Health Awareness Coalition through the Butler County Resource Council on Sept. 24 and was successful in “building some awareness,” Payne said, even though it was rained out.
“We had everything set up...It just barely got started and then it got rained out,” he summarized.
Attendance at the College Rodeo continued to climb this year, according to Coach Chad Phipps. The rodeo was held Oct. 13-15.
“We haven’t got all the total numbers yet, but (there were) just over 5000 at the gate, which is 10% up from last year and it’s growing every year,” Phipps said.
He noted that TRC’s team did not perform well because the school is “in a rebuilding year” and one player was out with a broken jaw. Despite this, and conflicting events in Sikeston, he regarded this year’s rodeo as a net positive.
“Michelle (Reynolds) has talked to the Chamber of Commerce and they are going to try to keep any and all other events off the board next year that day because they all enjoy the rodeo so much and they want to see it be successful.”
His goal is to someday see 500-750 people per night.
Athletic Director and coach Brian Bess had plenty of positive things to say about Raider Madness, which kicked off the month of October with three-point shoot-outs, dunk contests and three-minute scrimmages.
“We actually had a really good crowd, and especially for midnight,” Bess said.
CFO Charlotte Eubank reported finances were where the board expected them to be. So far funds from federal, state and general funds have gone towards campus improvements, fleet vehicles and projects for the academic resource commons.