Another school year has commenced

Well, here we go again. It’s September, which means that school has started. Everyone is back in class, including the students at Clarendon College. I’m glad that school is back in session. The world seems to be a better place when our young people are in school, excitedly expanding the vistas of their minds. At least, that’s how I visualize how things ought to be. In reality, they may also be expanding other, less sterling, aspects of their minds. However, a well-balanced, if somewhat mischievous mind is much better than an ignorant, rigid mind.

Once again, Clarendon is inundated with hundreds of college students, pockets flush with cash, or, at the very least, mom and dad’s credit cards. Clarendon College remains the primary economic engine that drives prosperity in Donley County and the surrounding area. It is very difficult to underestimate the importance of Clarendon College to our commonweal. In short, Clarendon College contributes millions of dollars into our economy. Unless the lake fills up soon, it will be difficult to for any other economic engine to drive more prosperity to our area. Let’s not forget that.

Our new college president, Dr. Robert Riza, has now had a few months to get his exciting new programs up and running. He has consistently been a visible and contributing part of our community, and I’m grateful that he has chosen to be an active participant in our town. The bus is departing into the future and we all need to be aboard.

We are lucky that Dr. Riza and his bride made the choice to join our community, and we should do all we can to support them, along with his vital mission at Clarendon College. Dr. Riza’s bride, Cobette, it should be noted, has also chosen to become an active part of our community. She teaches third grade at Clarendon Elementary School. We are blessed to have them both.

As part of the return to school team-building festivities, yesterday the Lady Bulldogs softball team played the faculty/staff in an exhibition game. On a beautiful, sunny day perfectly suited to watching America’s pastime, much trash talking – primarily from the faculty and staff – was not an unexpected part of the festivities, mostly in the form of threatening poor grades should the young women prevail in the game. Being good sports, while remaining cognizant of their grade point averages, the Lady Bulldogs considerately allowed the older folks to win. Never mind that the faculty/staff fielded something like 51 outfielders (as a concession to their lessening mobility – primarily due to old age and gravity).

Most impressive were the two new coaches of the Lady Bulldogs softball team. Head coach Amanda Fefel and her amazing assistant coach, Shanna Smith, wowed both players and faculty/staff. Coach Fefel once pitched in Division I college, and it showed. She threw serious heat pretty much the entire game, schooling her new players on the principal that it’s about pitching, pitching, and more pitching. Not to be outdone, her assistant, Coach Smith, hit with power and average, driving a rope over the left-center field fence, staking the faculty/staff to a lead which they never relinquished. I’m not sure where Coach Smith played, but she moves with the grace and speed of a world-class athlete. Coach Smith owned the left side of the infield while playing short-stop, and she can still flat out play!

Even Tex Buckhaults, Clarendon College’s stylish vice president (attired in his white African safari hat) showed glimpses of glories long past, snagging – cat-like, a hot liner to third base, reminiscent of the great Brooks Robinson. Alas, being a bit long of tooth, his throw to second base fluttered wounded-duck-like into right field. However, little damage resulted from his errant throw and the faculty/staff easily outdistanced their young opponents, once again proving the old adage that “old age and treachery always beats youth and skill.” It helps, too, to have a couple of ringers like coaches Fefel and Smith.

Everyone seems to have had a great time, and the stands were surprisingly full of frisky college students, along with the spouses and significant others of the faculty/staff, including Ranger – the beautiful young boxer that belongs to Coach and Ms. Devin McIntosh.

This year, as in years past, Clarendon College will add much that is good and precious to our lives. It’s my hope that we recognize the incredible value they add to our community, and do all we can to support Clarendon College. It truly is the Athens of the Panhandle. We need to count our blessings that rain down from the Hill.