January 29 2013
rusader www.crusadernews.com
Year 44, No. 6
Presorted Standard US Postage PAID Liberal, KS Permit NO.114
Liberal, Kansas
Crusader photo/Jose Medrano
Sam Rucker is now the instructor and livestock coach at SCCC/ATS.
Pancake Day — Page 8
Alumni fills livestock coaching spot Crusader photo/Jose Medrano
Homecoming king Genesis Enriquez and queen Blanca Richard were crowned Saturday between the Lady Saints and Saints basketball games. Enriquez represented Student Government Association and Richard represented the Hispanic-American Leadership Organization.
Senate bill allows high school seniors to graduate with collegiate certificate
Meeting Kaheem Ransom
Jose Medrano Editor
— Page 7
People’s Choice Awards — Page 2
High school students are now able to take courses at Seward County Community College/ Area Technical with no cost, due to Kansas Senate Bill 155. Classes in agriculture, allied health, computer information systems and vocational education are available for students to take tuition free. Kansas SB 155 was signed into to law early last summer in order to prepare high school students for the work force. High students can attended a college and earn a certificate or education that would allow them to get a job right out of school. “Getting a certificate allows students to have something to fall back on later on in their college career,” said Director of Outreach Sherry Farrell. Currently only Liberal High School seniors are enrolled at SCCC/ATS through the senate bill. High school students who are currently enrolled in the courses must have been pre-approved for enrollment by the
high school’s counselors and have their own means of transportation. Courses such as medical terminology, greenhouse operations, introduction to web design and vocational welding are offered to high students. High schools receive $1,000 per student that graduates with credentials or through a certification program, according to Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s office. The classes currently offered under SB 155 do not require high school students to take any placement test or ACT test requirements. Credit hours earned by the students are treated like ordinary college credit hours. “This the first semester the college is doing anything like this,” Farrell said. “We’re going to be working out the bugs and making sure the program runs effectively.” Class sizes are limited, but students can take different classes throughout the semester due to the length and time schedules classes. Most of the classes take place Monday through Friday during 8 a.m. to 9:20 a.m.
Under the law, students do not have to pay tuition since it is paid by the state, and the high school is providing the books required for their courses. Although the high school students under
SB 155 are taking courses on campus, they do not have access to Wellness Center facilities or events like on-campus or concurrent students do. Comparison of education levels, salaries and unemployment $29,848
$121,212
s rie 2.40% la a S 2.50%
3.60% 4.90% 6.90%
$41,288
14.10%
$102,648
Unemplo yment Levels
$46,228 9.40%
6.60% $84,448
$49,920
8.70% $52,988
$71,552 The graph displays the different levels of education, mean salary and level of unemployment. Students who graduate with an associates degree or certification make significantly more than high school graduates. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2012
Crusader infographic/ Jose Medrano High School dropout High School Grad College Dropout Technical Career Associates Degree Bachelor’s Degree Master’s Degree Doctoral Degree Professional Degree
Cel esti na Padi l l a Crusader staff A new instructor and coach is at Seward County Community College/Area Technical School, although he previously walked the campus as a student. Seward graduate Sam Rucker returns to campus after being hired as the agriculture instructor and livestock judging coach. “It's just the way I remembered everything,” Rucker said. It has been nearly four years since his graduation from Seward County Community College in May of 2009. While at SCCC/ATS, Rucker was himself an active member of the livestock judging team. Rucker initially found out about the job opportunity through Brett Crow, the former agriculture instructor at the college. Crow called him to tell him about the job opening and ask if he was interested. Crow resigned at the end of the fall 2012 semester because he was offered a position at Mississippi State University. He accepted the position as livestock judging coach for the university and has been living there since Christmas break. Rucker's interest and prior experience in such competitions were part of the reason why he took the job. "I've always enjoyed livestock judging, and I’m excited to coach." As for any particular goals he would like to attain as the new instructor, he is focused on keeping the program moving forward with the same competitive strive of its past.
GRADUATION STATISTICS Gr ad ua tio n
Ra te
Tr an sfe r-O ut Ra te
Re Fu te ll-t nt im io n e Ra te
Re Pa te rt-t nt im io n e Ra te
0
10
20
Percent
Crusader photo/Julia Frey
30
Enactus members Sarahi Miramontes, Aspen Hight and Vanessa Medrano serve breakfast for students at SCCC/ATS. Enactus sells coffee, breakfast burritos, juice, donuts, muffins and other breakfast items.
40
Enactus serves breakfast for students
50
Jul i a Frey Crusader staff
60
70
Key SCCC/ATS Other peer institutions
The above statistics are collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. The statistics are between Seward County Community College/Area Technical School and local peer institutions from 2011. IPEDS compared the graduation and transferout rates and full-time and part-time retention rates between SCCC/ATS and peer institutions. Crusader infographic/Tonya Loewen
The new year brought some new changes at the college. Although the club Enactus (formerly called SIFE) has existed for many years at this college, they decided to serve up a new project this semester. Enactus is a business club at the Seward County Community College/ Area Technical School and promote entrepreneurship. This semester they are launching a new marketing venture to offer daily breakfasts in front of the library for those who do not
have enough time to eat something before arriving in the academic building for classes. Breakfast is very important for students in order to study effectively. The brain just needs the energy, and it’s not smart to start the day without breakfast. Therefore, hungry student are welcome to choose from the Enactus menu of breakfast burritos, muffins or donates. The club also offers coffee and a variety of juices. The times that the club serves breakfast are from 7:45 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and from 7:45 a.m.
to 9:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In addition, this project will stay for the entire semester. The advisers of Enactus are Bert Luallen and Lisa Kennedy, and both are also teaching business classes. The members of the club said they wanted to provide a good service for the students, learn some business skills and raise some money for the club. Students who sleep in late no longer have to worry about missing out on breakfast, thanks to the Enactus food service.