Clearmont Elementary School has been selected to receive a 2012 NCASCD Lighthouse School Award. The Lighthouse Award is presented annually to 5 schools that have furthered student achievement in innovative and creative ways and have nurtured a positive and supportive school and community climate. This year the North Carolina Association of Supervision and Curriculum .....
Local physicians and health professionals counter-attacked the tobacco industry with its 6th Annual “Tar Wars” presentations in the month of April. “Tar Wars,” a youth tobacco prevention program, targets 5th graders across the country and educates them about the short-term effects and image-based consequences of tobacco use.Tar Wars presenter Dr. Joseph Antinori said,
A team of Mayland Community College math students recently participated in the 18th annual Gainesville State College Math Tournament in Georgia. Students Brian Pham, Ryan Ray, Michael Letterman, and Nick Walker trained and competed in the event. Mayland instructors Larry Shook and David Pittman served as faculty support and traveled with the students to the tournament.
The Mayland Math Team competed with over 125 over community college students from the Southeast. The tournament consisted of math problems through the level of Calculus II. There were individual contests as well as team contests. The individual contest consisted of a timed, 40 question math test. The top competitors moved to the next round. The team completion had ten rounds of questions for the team to problem solve. Mayland’s team did not reach the medal rounds.
“These students spent a lot of time preparing for this tournament and learned a lot of math,” said MCC instructor Larry Shook. “ They had a great time and were great ambassadors for the college.”
Pictured are MCC students Nick Walker, Michael Letterman, and MCC instructor Larry Shook. On the back row from left to right are MCC instructor David Pittman, MCC students Brian Pham and Ryan Ray.
Bryan Sutton, raised in Buncombe County, has enjoyed a career of great success by any measure as a guitarist who has garnered multiple Grammy awards and recorded with the likes of Dolly Parton, Norah Jones and Doc Watson. Most notably, Sutton spent four years as a member of Ricky Skagg’s band, Kentucky Thunder, during a time when Skaggs reentered the bluegrass scene after a successful stint in mainstream country music.
On May 20, Sutton will come home to western North Carolina to perform in an event called Heritage Comes Home to benefit the Southern Appalachian Archives at Mars Hill College.
And – if that weren’t enough - he’s bringing a few friends.
· Jerry Douglas, one of the world’s most renowned Dobro players, is a 12-time Grammy Award winner, and was the Country Music Association’s “Musician of the Year” in 2002, 2005, & 2007;
· Tim O’Brien won a Grammy Award in 2005 for “Best Traditional Folk Album.” The International Bluegrass Music Association named him “Male Vocalist of the Year” in 1993 and 2006, and in 1990 named his band, Hot Rize, “Entertainer of the Year.”
· Casey Driessen is a Grammy-nominated fiddle player who has gained world-wide attention for his famous red shoes and signature energetic percussive fiddling style.
· Dennis Crouch is considered one of the nation’s foremost up-right bass players, recording and performing with Dolly Parton, Johnny and June Carter Cash, Emmy Lou Harris, Elvis Costello, Randy Travis, Steve Earl, and many others.
According to Laura Boosinger, Executive Director of the Madison County Arts Council, the collection of talent coming to one stage for Heritage Comes Home is something not to be missed.
“This show is a big deal,” she said. “These guys are some of the finest musicians in the business. They have all worked together in different musical combinations, but this will be a one-time collaboration of all these superstars. We are fortunate to have them at Mars Hill College.”
Heritage Comes Home is a fitting title for the show, Boosinger said, in that each of the musicians slated to appear has either family or professional connections to the western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee region. Each of the musicians can also trace their musical heritage to the work of Bascom Lamar Lunsford, whose life and work is the subject of many items preserved in the Southern Appalachian Archives.
“This region has the best home grown acoustic musicians in America and the reason is they had lots of opportunities to learn and to perform for and with others who love this music. They had those opportunities because of Bascom's insistence that mountain people be treated with respect and have pride in themselves. In a lot of ways, Bascom saved our mountain culture,” Boosinger said.
Heritage Comes Home will take place in Moore Auditorium on the campus of Mars Hill College, May 20, at 7 pm. General admission tickets are $30 each. Patron tickets, which include special seating and admission to a private reception with the performers, are $100 each. To purchase tickets, contact the Madison County Arts Council at 828-649-1301, or at info@madisoncountyarts.com. For more information about the event, contact Mars Hill College at 828/689-1571 or go online to www.mhc.edu/ramsey-center/heritage-comes-home.
Funds raised will benefit the Southern Appalachian Archives, which showcases the history and culture of traditional Appalachian music and folklore.
Pictured is Rotary President Bill Sweetser presenting certificates to Corrina Cruz and Katie Medford. On Thursday, April 19, the Rotary Club of Spruce Pine honored two Seniors of the Month from Mitchell High School. Grant Sparks, Counselor at MHS, introduced the two outstanding seniors , Katie Medford and Corinna Cruz.
That Katie Medford has a sense of humor was obvious from Mr. Sparks’ story of her recent answer to a question about inventions. She promptly responded, “sliced bread.” Her talents, she said, include running away from bees, eating and shopping. For her senior project she elected to shadow a funeral director and praised the professional coach who worked with her. Although she professed that she did not enjoy the project, she produced an outstanding account of the experience. Katie’s future plans include attending UNC-Asheville, majoring in history, and becoming a history teacher. She especially would like to teach United States history with an emphasis on military history and strategy. She looks forward to giving back to her community through teaching.
Corinna Cruz is a very busy young lady, holding down two jobs, while maintaining a grade average of 4.0 in her AP classes. She enjoys playing soccer, reading, music, and spending time with her family. For her senior project she investigated childhood nutrition with the local health center. She learned about the WIC program and prepared bilingual pamphlets, including recipes that were designed for to foster good nutrition for children. Corinna plans to attend Berea college in Kentucky and major in pediatric health. Her ultimate goal is to be a pediatrician.
Spruce Pine Rotarians are confident that Katie Medford and Corinna Cruz will excel in their chosen educational pursuits
On Thursday, April 19, tthe Rotary Club of Spruce Pine honored Brandon Birchfield as Teacher of the Month.Reid Duncan introduced Brandon Birchfield, who is Gouge Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year. Brandon has taught for eighteen years, teaching at Bowman Middle School before coming to Gouge two years ago. He currently teaches fourth grade mathematics. He attended Mayland Community College and then East Tennessee State University where he received a Master’s Degree in School Administration. His mother was also a teacher, who retired about the time his career began. Brandon has two sons, ages two and six, and values the time he spends with them. He enjoys teaching, especially when he can recognize that moment when a child makes that learning connection. He paid tribute to his co-workers for the support they give each other and for their genuine concern for students. Spruce Pine Rotarians applaud teachers like Brandon Birchfield for making a difference in the lives of students in Mitchell County.
Pictured is Rotary President Bill Sweetser presenting a certificate to Brandon Birchfield
“Always elevate the human element, in everything you do.” Author and speaker Anne Corpening Morrison Welsh said these words have had a lasting impact on her life since she first heard them used as the theme of a moving speech given by then-UN Secretary General U Thant at an international gathering of Friends (Quakers) in 1967........
All 58 of North Carolina’s community colleges met Thursday, April 19 to celebrate excellence in education during the third annual Excellence Event, “The Great Within the 58.” Mayland Community College Horticulture student Austin Elkins of Burnsville was one of the students honored during this event......
Eddie Ball, a resident of Mars Hill and an Information Technology Systems Technician with Mars Hill College, has received the I. Ruth Martin Award for Christian Service. The award was presented at the Mars Hill College Community Service Convocation April 10.
The award was established by I. Ruth Martin, Class of 1938, to be given to a Christian individual who has served faithfully without any spotlight recognition.
Ball was nominated for the award by Mars Hill College Public Services Coordinator Kristie Hollified, who praised Ball’s willingness to use his technical skills to help others. Hollifield’s nomination called attention to the fact that Ball often works after hours and goes beyond what is required of his job because of his concern for students and others on and off the Mars Hill College campus.
“Eddie goes above and beyond to assist students, faculty, staff and community. He always has an encouraging word for those who need his help,” Hollifield said. “Eddie will go out of his way to help students - even giving them his cell number - and telling them to call him at home if they need anything. Regularly he takes time to help members of the faculty and staff with their personal computers.”
In a world where computers are increasingly necessary for individuals to accomplish daily financial and personal tasks, Ball also uses his knowledge and skills to help numerous individuals and groups in the Mars Hill community without payment. He has volunteered his time to help the Mars Hill Fire Department, Madison High School, Mars Hill Elementary, Brush Creek Elementary, Hot Springs Elementary, North Buncombe Elementary, and Burnsville Elementary and Madison Youth League. In addition, he is a regular blood donor and participant in the annual Walk for a Cure in Madison County, a fundraiser for breast cancer research.
Ball is a member of California Creek Baptist Church in Mars Hill.
The children of Church Street Preschool spent February studying China and Japan through hands-on activities. They enjoyed dressing in kimonos and as a Chinese New Year’s dragon. During group time literature was chosen and read that introduced various aspects of the culture. In music class the students sang songs like Ame, Ame (Rain, Rain) and the Mountain Heritage High School music department lent Asian instruments such as gongs and temple blocks. Teachers transformed the loft area into a Japanese Tea Room, complete with low table, costumes, play sushi, tofu, Oriental dishes, chopsticks and menus. Since the ocean plays such an important role in Japan, the lower loft became the sea with marine life puppets and diving equipment. Art activities included experiences in Suminagashi (the Japanese art of marbling) and Nagashizuki (traditional practice of Japanese papermaking). The children played games such as Chinese jump rope, tangrams and origami (paper folding). They learned to read and write simple Chinese characters with the help of dice and a “magic” drawing board. The month culminated in an Oriental Feast where the students prepared and tasted an Asian meal while costumed and sitting on mats at low tables. The month of February was not only educational but enjoyable for all!
The teachers and children of Church Street Preschool are very grateful to the First Presbyterian Church for use of their fine facility. They would also like to thank the parents for the tremendous encouragement and support they give to the teachers. For more information about Church Street Preschool or to enroll your child, call 682-4979 during school hours or Barbara Babb at 682-668
Pictured from left to right are MCC instructor Elizabeth Baird Hardy, MCC President Dr. John Boyd, MCC Coordinator of Publications Beth Morris, and MCC Dean of the Arts and Sciences Program Beth Richardson-Mitchell. The first edition of Gateways, the new creative journal of Mayland Community College that celebrates the creative work of our communities....(details)
Mark and Sherry Stout will celebrate their 11th wedding anniversary on March 31, 2012. They met when both were attending 10th grade at Faith Christian School in Spruce Pine."It was a good school," Mark and Sherry agreed, "but we were drawn out of the classroom by the thoughts of getting a job and earning a steady paycheck." So, when they were sixteen, these two friends.........(click on headline for details)
Mayland Community College Human Services Technology student Evelyn Vondenhuevel shared research from a project she completed in the classroom at Mayland in an article written for a major Guatemalan newspaper elPeriodico. The class Vondenhuevel wrote the research paper for was Human Service Issues at Mayland. In that class, each student picks a current Human Service issue.......
A team of five students from Mars Hill College competed February 10 and 11 in the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities inaugural Ethics Bowl competition, “Ethics in the Workplace” at Meredith College. The competition featured teams from 14 private institutions across the state and gave students the opportunity to debate ethical situations relevant to the workforce. The NCICU Ethics Bowl is designed to provide an academic experience that increases student awareness about applying ethics in leadership, decision-making, interpersonal relationships and other issues in today’s society. Competing from Mars Hill College were: front row (l-r) Reba West, Michelle Payne, Christina Dalamangas, Meagan Green; and back row (l-r): Austin Wynn, Michael Pinkerton. Campus Coordinator was Dr. Barry Sharpe (back right), associate professor of political science.
Mayland Community College has started a new partnership called Career College. This is a partnership program between Basic Skills, Human Resources Development and Student Development geared for Occupational Course of Study (OCS) graduates or other appropriate adult .....
