The Three Rivers College board of trustees reorganized on Wednesday before discussing positive developments in enrollment and campus events.
Edie Dilbeck was named temporary secretary and Dr. Wesley Payne was temporary chairman for the duration of the reorganization. The new order of trustees is Eric Shalk, chairman; Darren Garrison, vice chairman; Dr. Tim Hager, secretary; Dr. Amber Richardson, treasurer; Gary Featherston, member; and Chris Williams, member.
Payne opened the president’s report by remarking on what those present already noticed: his head was shaved to celebrate TRC’s rise in enrollment. The public haircut was inspired by a bet he made with staff last year, when enrollment was 12.5% below what was necessary to break even when outgoing students left. This semester enrollment is 4.8% above that line.
Given the circumstances, Payne considered losing some hair a victory.
“In the end, we are up on enrollment, (it was a) college-wide effort on that,” he said.
Raffle tickets to benefit the TRC Student Food Pantry were also sold at the event.
Next up, professor of English and Spelling Bee coordinator Mark Sanders gave a rundown of the college’s annual Spelling Bee on March 25. Sixth-grade student Colby Armes of St. Joseph Catholic School in Farmington was named regional champion after correctly spelling “acuity.” His next step is a full-ride trip to Washington, D.C. for Scripps National Spelling Bee on Memorial Day weekend.
TRC has been a sponsor of the national bee since 2010, and the trips for winners and their families are funded through the college’s budget and local sponsors.
“We are grateful to all of the sponsors, as well as the continued financial, facilities and logistical support of everyone here at Three Rivers College,” Sanders said.
He noted Armes is the younger brother of three-time TRC spelling bee champ Brayden Armes, “So that family is well familiar with the competition.”
The second place winner was eighth-grader Jenna Ramsey of Potosi, followed by fourth-grader Owen Allbritton of Poplar Bluff.
Music professors Cindy and Buddy White gave a rundown of the MSHSAA Music Festival, which took place over the last week of March and brought in 1,084 students from across the region. Directing a handful of those students was Bloomfield High School choir director Haydn Hull, a TRC alumnus.
“He is a graduate of Three Rivers College general education degree, he was in our choirs and then he came back and he got an electrical certificate,” Cindy White said. “His dream job was always to go back and become the choir director at his alma mater, Bloomfield High School. He’s doing that without a four-year degree.”
He is teaching while finishing a music degree through Central Methodist University, she explained.
The Whites know of three other TRC grads following the same path of teaching on provisional certification while completing their degrees. They occupy schools in Clearwater, Malden and Richland.
“The vast majority of music teachers in Southeast Missouri are former students of Cindy and Buddy White, and without the program that they run, we would not have the music programs that our K-12 systems enjoy,” Payne noted.
Director of Academic Services Gail Tinsley reported 18 universities sent representatives to the College Transfer Fair on March 28, including TRC’s partners Southeast Missouri State, LaGrange College and Central Methodist University.
Academic advisor and E-sports coach Alex Jameson added the Job Fair and Career Expo on April 13 had the best attendance numbers yet, with 180 registered participants and 61 vendors.
“This is a very positive number as far as employers are concerned,” Jameson said.
He described the event as a “good mix” of regional students and community members.
“I wish we could have seen some more of our own students there, but we did see a lot of students. The community of Malden actually brought their own bus and showed up with 27 of their students to participate. And then we saw a good portion of the actual community come in to participate as well,” he said.