Archives for June 2015

Clarendon College is the second best community college in the State of Texas, beating out 64 other institutions in a new ranking by Schools.com this month.

The survey ranked and scored community colleges on a 10-point scale, using data including the percentage of students enrolled in distance education, student-to-faculty ratio, cost of attendance, graduation rate, the number of transfer to four-year public college in Texas, and flexibility.

The recognition follows a 2010 survey by CNN/Money, which found Clarendon College was number one in the state in terms of student success.

“This validates what we’re doing,” said CC President Robert Riza. “We’re doing the things that make education accessible and available so students can continue down their paths.”

Dr. Riza credited the college employees who have the closest contact with the students as being the reason for CC’s success.

“It goes back to the faculty and staff who make these things happen,” Riza said. “We can make the plan, but they have to implement it, and they do.”

CC Board Chairman Jerry Woodard said the ranking by Schools.com reflects the effort of the college to serve students.

“This shows we’re making a difference in people’s lives,” he said.

The Schools.com article praises the College’s online course offerings and low student-to-faculty ratio, which is one of the lowest in the state.

Riza said 28 percent of Clarendon’s students take at least one online class and seven to ten percent of students take online classes only.

Riza also said Clarendon has a student-teacher ratio of 16 to one, its cost of attendance is very competitive, and CC’s graduation rate at 33.5 percent is one of the highest in the state for community colleges.

Galveston College, led by former CC president Myles Shelton, is ranked number one on the top 10 list, with Lone Star, Collin County, and Western Texas rounding out the top five schools.

To read the entire ranking, visit the Schools.com article at: http://bit.ly/1FyTm4R

 

Hedley ISD ag instructor Lon Adams was appointed to the Clarendon College Board of Regents during a called meeting Monday morning, June 22.

Regents met in closed session briefly before electing Adams to fill the unexpired term of the late Tex Selvidge.

“Lon comes with a tremendous background in education,” Board Chairman Jerry Woodard said. “His background, his community involvement, and his experience as an ex-student will enhance our board.”

Adams will be sworn-in at the board’s July. His term will expire next May.

In other college business, the Regents held their regular meeting last Thursday, June 18, in the Pampa ISD board room.

Among the items considered on the board’s short agenda, a contract with Interquest Canine Detection services was renewed, and a bid on tax delinquent property in Howardwick was accepted.

Regents approved a $5 per hour increase in tuition and adopted course fees as presented. President Robert Riza said the increases keep CC in line with other colleges and yet still below that of Vernon College and Frank Phillips in Borger.

The board ratified the employment of Michele Lockharts as an administrative assistant in Childress, Susan Russell as the associate dean of financial aid, and Gatlin Duncan as assistant rodeo coach and ranch horse coach. The resignation of Elena Valdez as the nursing administrative assistant was also acknowledged.

 

Renovations continue on two historic buildings in downtown Clarendon after the owner of the properties received assistance from the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation.

David Koehler of Dallas received the 19th and 20th awards, amounting to $2,000 each, under the CEDC’s Façade Grant Program for improvements to properties at 206 S. Kearney and 300 S. Kearney.

The first building, commonly known as the Poor Boy’s Antiques building or Greene Dry Goods building, was erected by pioneer merchant H.W. Taylor about the turn of the century. The building has been idle for many years, but Koehler has added a new deck to the front of the building and utilized the façade grant program to install a bead board soffit and replicate historic signage and decorative images on showcase windows.

Koehler’s representative, Vicki Munie, says she and Koehler want to put the building back as close to its original state as possible.

“This grant allowed us to install the bead board,” Munie said. “I’ve always liked history, and it is fun to work on this project.”

Munie will next be working on the floors of the showcases and doing some more exterior painting. She says the goal is to open the building back up as an antiques store.

Koehler’s second grant was for improvements to the 1927 Latson Building, more commonly known as the JAMZ building. Munie constructed or repaired windows and doors on the north face of the building, which stands at the corner of Third and Kearney.

The improvements greatly enhanced the building, but work still needs to be done to the east face of the building. Munie and Koehler are examining historic photos to determine how best to proceed on the property. No definite plans have been set for the building’s ultimate use.

Since the Façade Grant Program began in 2008, the CEDC has awarded $25,397.04 to property owners in downtown Clarendon. The Façade Grant Program provides 50-50 matching grants, up to a maximum of $2,000 per project, for improvements done to commercial storefronts.

The program grants awards to eligible properties located in the city’s entire Central Business District and on the US 287 corridor.

Projects eligible for consideration could be anything from a coat of paint to new signage to sidewalk improvements to a complete rehabilitation of a storefront. Property owners interested in Façade Grant funds must get approval before beginning their projects.

For more information about the Façade Grant Program or to apply for a grant, contact Jack King at 874-2421 or Roger Estlack at 874-2259.

 

The 138th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration coming up on July 2, 3, and 4 as organizers continue to get ready for the big event.

The Chamber of Commerce again reminds people that the biggest change for this year centers on the Herring Bank July Fourth Parade, which has been moved from its afternoon timeslot to 10 a.m. Line up for the parade will start at 9 a.m., and $850 in prize money is up for grabs for parade entrants.

The complete celebration schedule rundown is as follows.

The Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association will kick off the activities with a Junior Ranch Rodeo on Thursday night, July 2, at 7:30 at the COEA Arena followed by a dance at 9 p.m. featuring Chris Albracht as the deejay.

Clarendon merchants will have sales on Friday, and the Ten Commandments marker at the Courthouse will be dedicated that morning at 10 a.m. followed by the Depression Lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Downtown Crossties Ministry building. COEA’s Ranch Rodeo will start that night at 7:30 with No Dry County providing live music for the dance at 9:00.

Saturday, July 4, the Arts & Craft Fair on the square will start at 9 a.m. The Craft Fair is sponsored by the Donley County 4H, and booth space is $25. Booth space needs to be reserved by June 27 by calling 874-2141.

The Old Settlers Reunion and the Kids’ Bicycle & Tricycle Parade also begin at 9 a.m. The Kids’ Parade will line up and register at 8:30 at Keith Floyd’s shop at Third and Sully.

Line up for the Herring Bank Parade will also start at 9 a.m. on Sixth Street north of Prospect Park. At 10:00, the parade will then take its usual route – north on Kearney to Third Street, west on Third to Sully, south in front of the Courthouse, and then wind back to the ball parks.

The Herring Bank Parade features $850 in cash prizes with $200 available for the best float, $100 for the best car or truck entry, $100 for the best animal or riding unit, $100 for the best tractor or farm equipment entry, and $100 for the best “other” entry. From those first place winners, judges will select a Grand Prize winner who will receive an additional $250. Parade winners will be announced at 1 p.m.

Entry forms for the Kids’ Parade and the Herring Bank Parade are available in this week’s Enterprise. Forms are also available at the Clarendon Visitor Center at Mulkey Theatre and online at www.ClarendonEDC.org.

Ed Montana will be handling the parade and celebration announcing and will also be performing live music during the festivities on the square.

Following the parade, the Al Morrah Shrine Club will have its annual barbecue lunch at approximately 11 a.m. and will serve until the food is gone. Tickets will be $10 per plate. Tickets can be purchased on the Square or in advance at the Clarendon Visitor Center.

The Clarendon Lions Club has retired its cow patty bingo fundraiser and will instead have Bounce Houses and Water Slides at the Lions Hall from about 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A five-dollar wrist band will let kids bounce and slide to their hearts’ content all day.

The annual Henson’s Turtle Race will be held on 3 p.m. on Saturday. Registration is ongoing at Henson’s. Kids ages zero to 14 can enter the races free to win a cash prize. Adults and kids over 14 can enter the senior races for $5 with the winner getting half the pot and the other half going to charity.

The COEA’s Ranch Rodeo will close out the official celebration Saturday night at 7:30 with No Dry Country again headlining the dance at 9:00.

Box seating tickets are still available for all three nights of rodeo for $150. Contact Theresa Shelton for 654-2993 for information.

Also next weekend, the Be Brave Scholarship Fundraiser event will be held Sunday, July 5, at the Donley County Activity Center from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A ten-dollar admission charge will include a hamburger meal, entertainment, and kids’ bounce houses. Tickets available in advance at Every Nook & Cranny or at the door.

More celebration details will be printed as they become available. To add your event or activity to this listing, contact the Enterprise at 874-2259 or the Visitor Center at 874-2421.

 

Clarendon College has named 125 honor students for the spring 2015 semester this week.

Seventy-nine CC students were named to the President’s list. Each achieved a grade point average of 4.0 while completing at least 12 credit hours.

The students are listed by hometown:

Raylynn Cruz, Amarillo; Libby Kelley, Amarillo; Ashlea Callen, Amarillo; Penny Garman, Amarillo; Vicky Snelson, Amarillo; Jaci Black, Amarillo; Melisa Bowman, Amarillo; Aimee Diaz, Amarillo; Lindsy Donathan, Amarillo; Emily Espino, Amarillo; Kiayra Greer, Amarillo; Leigh Ann Hickmott, Amarillo; Cheyenne Kincanon, Amarillo; Tabitha Kincanon, Amarillo; Brieanne Meza, Amarillo; Amber Miller, Amarillo; Jason Paulk, Amarillo; Erica Pimentel, Amarillo; Bettima Schuster, Amarillo; Caleb Urbanczyk, Amarillo; Taren Lee, Amarillo; Briana Gardner, Amarillo; Cassidy Brumaghin, Bailey, Colo.; Cheyenne Luna, Canyon; Amanda Schaeffer, Childress; Savannah Topper, Clarendon; Jodie Lockeby, Clarendon; Robert M. Riza, Clarendon; Sabra Barnett, Clovis, New Mex.; Jose Flores, Friona; Megan Chambers, Gatesville; Paige Chambers, Gatesville; Taos Anderson, Gruver; Deborah Howard, Hedley; Camra Smith, Howardwick; Korynna Lara, Las Cruces, New Mex.; Allison Lafferty, Leander; Amanda Hicks, Lefors; Daisy Leon, Lovington, New Mex.; Bailey Chavez, Magdalena, New Mex.; Virginia Gutierrez, Matador; Samantha Albritton, McLean; April Ramsey, Mclean; Reese Clark, Morse; Colt Wetterman, Mountainair, New Mex.; Jessica Humphrey, Okeechobee, Florida; Misty Wilkerson, Paducah; Luis Cano, Pampa; Spencer Estes, Pampa; Allison Leigh, Pampa; Martin Maldonado, Pampa; Victor Perez, Pampa; Chad Russell, Pampa; Juan Salazar, Pampa; Robin Scott, Pampa; Luis Servin, Pampa; Melissa Watson, Pampa; Mario Armenta, Pampa; William Downs, Pampa; Steven Mitchell, Pampa; Iriscel Quezada, Pampa; Woodie Sons, Pampa; David Weller, Pampa; Elizabeth McLatchy, Pampa; Heidy Sanchez-Navarro, Pampa; Crystal Lewis, Pampa; Andrew Santacruz, Pampa; Jesus Santacruz, Pampa; Peyton May, Pampa; Phillip Detten, Panhandle; Marissa Wilcox, Perryton; Megan Kitch, Rolla, Kan.; Nicholas Kitch, Rollo, Kan.; Symantha Sandee, Seguin; Tiffany Martin, Seminole; Amy Hernandez, Tulia; Evonne Zuniga-Hernandez, Tulia; Kaitlan Perryman, White Deer; and Colby Rahm, Yuma, Colo.

Clarendon College named 46 students to the Dean’s List. Each achieved a grade point average of between 3.6 and 3.99 while completing at least 12 credit hours.

The students are listed by hometown:

Helen Morrow, Alpine; Henry Nighswonger, Alva, Okla.; Kobie Jordan, Amado, Ariz.; Whitney Lane, Amarillo; Misti Garcia, Amarillo; Rachel Heide, Apple Valley, Calif.; Kyla Baker, Borger; Pamela Ezzell, Borger; Sasha Jahay, Clarendon; Jacob Owens, Clarendon; Courtney Wilson, Clarendon; Brayden Hawkins, Cleburne; Hayden Bach, Cleburne; Michal Robertson, Garden Plain, Kan.; Esther Van Dijk, Hartley; Austin Adams, Hedley; Amy Alfeld, Houston; Ryata Daniel, La Luz, New Mex.; Reed Papay, Meade, Kan.; Jessie Smith, Miami; Courtney Wingate, Myakka City, Florida; Dominic Obunaka, Nairobi, Kenya; Sara Koepp, New Braunfels; Tracy Cain, Pampa; Maggie Hayes, Pampa; Skylar Estes, Pampa; Alejandro Salazar, Pampa; Viola Hoganson, Pampa; Chrystal Boling, Pampa; Kaycee Brown, Pampa; Casey Sark, Pampa; Rachael Whinery, Pampa; Zane Thomas, Perryton; Makenna Etie, Petersburg; Luka Jovicic, Pontpierre, Luxembourg; David Bell, Quail; Isela Sandoval, Rice; Haley Kinney, Santa Fe; Kiersten Scott, Scott City, Kan.; Dillon Hopkins, Seminole; Samantha Green, Shamrock; Penny Holdren, Snyder; Kenna Faulkenberry, Stephenville; Kyera Abram, Teague; Kyle Fitch, Waco; and Edward Ibarra, Waco.

 

A recent ranking by Schools.com lists Clarendon College as the #2 Community College in the state of Texas.

Sixty-six colleges were ranked and scored on a 10-point scale, using data including the percentage of students enrolled in distance education, student-to-faculty ratio, cost of attendance, graduation rate, the number of transfer to four-year public college in Texas, and flexibility.

“Obviously we are very excited and proud,” CC President Dr. Robert Riza said. “This just goes back to the hard work and dedication of our faculty and staff.”

The article praises the College’s online course offerings and low student-to-faculty ratio, which is one of the lowest in the state.

In addition, the College’s ranking by CNNMoney for best student success in Texas was also recognized.

Galveston College is ranked #1 on the top 10 list, with Lone Star, Collin County, and Western Texas rounding out the top 5 schools.

To read the entire ranking, visit the Schools.com article at this link: http://www.schools.com/articles/top-community-colleges-in-texas

– See more at: http://www.clarendoncollege.edu/Blog/CC-named-2-Best-Community-College-in-Texas-by-Schools-com/34#sthash.JX5KbwdI.dpuf