Don’t lose your mind Tips to keeping your sanity while in college and how to avoid being over stressed.
Christmas concert
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dy d a D Big
Big Daddy Weaves their way into Liberal.
January 25 2012
Super Bowl Sunday
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Stats, facts, and snacks for the biggest football game of the year. — Page 6
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Year 43, No. 6
Students learn the truth about financial aid the hard way Hei dy Mol i na Editor
Courtesy photo/Robert Sanchez
SCCC student David Carrillo stands with one of the skids provided by surrounding natural gas compression companies. Carrillo is one of 10 students in the program.
New program launches at technical school Robert S anchez Crusader staff Natural Gas Compression Technology, which joins Corrosion Tech and process technology as one of three newest and unique programs at Seward, begins fresh with 10 students this spring. The program is one of only three Natural Gas Compression programs in the United States, with the other two located at Oklahoma State University and San Juan College in New Mexico. The program has been developed in cooperation with regional gas production, transport and service companies; this will assure that the students will receive the best possible training available. Instructor Ron Garber, who is in his second year as an instructor at Seward, first started off in the military. After completing his service, he worked at Stewart and Stevenson, an oil and gas company in Houston, Texas, as a service manager, and has been working in the field ever since. According to Garber, techni-
cians can start making from $18 to $22 per hour, depending on which direction they go. The course begins in the spring and ends in the fall, which includes a paid internship during the summer. The program has acquired many engines and compressors due to donations of surrounding companies, allowing the students to do some hands on training. “This is one of the best programs offered at the technical school, and is one of the highest paying as well,” Garber said. Last year Garber had eight students, and all of them are now work in the field. David Carrillo, who is a student taking the program, has received an industrial grant provided by local companies, which will pay for all of his tuition and books. “Take this program,” Carrillo said. “It’s a good program, it’s a good career, put yourself to it, take a year, and they will get you a job.” The job market for this program is constantly growing, and they are in much need of highly trained technicians.
Financial aid is a big help for most college students hoping to attain a higher education. Financial aid for a college student can come from federal aid work study programs and federal Pell grants, to local scholarships or tuition grants. Students that choose to attend Seward County Community College have the opportunity to apply for a tuition grant. Students can fill out the tuition grant and a scholarship application. “Everyone has the opportunity to fill out a scholarship application,” Jessica Luallen, financial aid officer said. Scholarship applications are reviewed in the spring and through the first of the fall semester. Financial aid is awarded to students based on different criteria. One key factor that is looked during the process of review is the academic performance of the student. Financial aid is broken down into different levels of scholarships. One of the levels is academics. “As far as academics, that can range from anywhere to $1,000 down to $600 a year,” Luallen said. These scholarships are awarded to students based on their grade point average. Some students believe that after a scholarship has been awarded, it cannot be taken away. That is not correct. A scholarship can be taken away if a student does not meet other requirements that went along with the money awarded to them. The financial aid offices is notified by the registrar’s office when grades have been posted so that financial aid can check the progress for that semester. That is when a student’s GPA is checked and also how many credit hours the student is passing. “You have to pass at least 12 hours,” Luallen said. The tuition grant awarded to students attending Seward has a special requirement that students seem to overlook.
“With a tuition grant, we check to make sure that they are involved in a club or organization,” Luallen said. Every semester, students lose their tuition grant because they did not join a club or became part of an organization on campus. According to Luallen, there has been a trend in communication whether it be via letter or email that students simply do not read the information provided for them. All the students who are awarded a scholarship have to go through the Mycampus portal to accept the financial aid. “All the requirements for each of the scholarships are listed on there as they go through the process of accepting it,” Luallen said. The money that is awarded to students is budgeted by The Foundation Board according to the needs of the different programs that are on campus and how many people they have in the club, team or organization. “We present that to their budgetary so it can be presented to the board,” Luallen said. Last year the college awarded just over $530,00 in financial aid. According to Luallen, it does seem like there are more students enrolled at Seward who are applying for the financial aid. This means that the financial aid priority deadline is enforced more than it had been before. Many students were used to getting the financial aid even though they did not meet the priority deadline. “I think there were a lot of people that were used to getting it every year, but there are more people applying and applying earlier,” Luallen said. Alejandra Gonzalez, freshman, was a student who turned in her scholarship application after the deadline. “I went to talk to the financial office and they told me I missed the deadline,” Gonzalez said. “ I was told I would be put on a waiting list.”
Average Yearly College Costs for Tuition, Room, and Board United States
Public 4-year
Private 4-year
Public 2-year
In-state Total Tuition Room Board Total Tuition Room Board Tuition Only $12,285
$5,703
$3,777
$3,433 $29,925 $21,185
$4,702
$4,036
$1,848
Kansas
Public 4-year
Private 4-year
Public 2-year
In-state Total Tuition Room Board Total Tuition Room Board Tuition Only
News notes JOB WORKSHOP- Assistance with building a resume, mock interviews, and one-on-one help with preparing for an interview will be done tonight, Jan. 25, at 5 p.m. in the SCCC library, sponsored by SIFE SOUTHWEST REGIONAL JOB FAIR will take place Thursday, Jan. 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Seward County Activity Center. The Liberal Chamber of Commerce, the High Plains Daily Leader & Times, Seward County Broadcasting Company, SCCC/ATS and local businesses have collaborated to make this event possible. Booths will be set up, and it wil be a great opportunity for students, those unemployed, and local businesses alike. TELOLITH 2011 received First Place/Special Merit from ASPA. COREY WILKINS was recognized by two contest officials for having given the best “Reasons” in sets, and attained 8th high individual overall in the Carload Judging Contest at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo.
$9,738
$3,967
$2,757
$3,015 $21,927 $15,765
$2,707
$3,453
$2,050
Presorted Standard US Postage PAID Liberal, KS Permit NO.114
Liberal, Kansas
Homecoming Week 2012
Monday, February 6 Funny Tees Student Union 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Tuesday, February 7 Free Donuts Saints Bookstore 7:45 a.m. Totally Tattoos Student Union 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Wednesday, February 8
Brian Imbus – Mentalist and Hypnotist Show Theater 8 p.m.
Thursday, February 9 Dodge Ball League KickOff Gym at 7:30 p.m. (Must pre-register in SU118 by Friday, Feb. 3)
Friday, February 10
Texas Hold ‘Em Tourn. Student Union 7:30 p.m. $1000 in prizes Pre-register in SU118 by Friday, February 3rd
Saturday, February 11
Saints Basketball vs Pratt Women’s @ 6 p.m. Men’s @ 8 p.m. Homecoming Ceremony Following Lady Saints game
Crusader graphic/Levi Adams
Information taken from U.S. Department of Education
People’s Choice Awards boost confidence S andy Al faro Crusader staff Seward County Community College/Visual Arts Program hosted the People’s Choice Awards once again this winter. “The People’s Choice Award has been taking place for approximately 15 years now,” said art instructor Susan Copas. The awards take place each semester. Students enrolled in art courses get the opportunity to enter any of their artwork that was worked on throughout the semester into the art exhibition. Students enter their work into three different art categories: two dimensional, three dimensional and photography. People from around our community come out and vote for their favorite piece. Voting is open to everybody not just the student body and/or faculty. Yesli Rios, Octavio Rodriguez, and Jordan Long were the three winners this fall semester.
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I am very proud of myself. Three-dimensional art is my favorite type of art. Winning this made me feel very accomplished in the 3D art field. —Yesli Ochoa
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SENIOR SHOOTOUT- Feb. 4, the annual scholarship shootout will be in the Green House at 5 p.m. Seniors can shoot for scholarships, enjoy refreshments, and receive a T-shirt for participating.
Crusader photo/Jose Medrano
Octavio Rodriguez was the People’s Choice Award winner for twodimensional art.
I was really insecure about my painting skills in comparison to my drawing skills throughout the entire semester, and this one showed that all the time alone spent studying for it and hard work paid off. —Octavio Rodriguez
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CAFETERIA- Steak night dates are Feb. 2 and Feb. 16. AUDITIONS for “Once on this Island” by Flaherty and Ahrens, will be Feb. 1, in the Showcase Theatre, at 6 p.m. All ages welcome, and no need for prior preparation. Show dates will be March 29-31. COLLEGE GOAL SUNDAY helps students and parents fill out FAFSA forms, on Feb. 12 from 2 - 4 p.m.
Crusader photo/Ivan Gaytan
“The Light Triangle” by Yesli Ochoa was the People’s Choice Award winner for three-dimensional art.
Crusader photo/Jose Medrano
Jordan Long was the People’s Choice Award winner for photography for the fall semester.