Student Council begins Operation Safety Net
by Terry Day
When Southeast Community College's current Cumberland campus Student Council was seated, one of the first things on the agenda was the question, "How can we, as a council, best serve the students who elected us?"
This question led to discussions which produced a number of good ideas, one of which that has the potential to not only serve the students and the school but to bring the communities in the school's service area into a closer relationship with Southeast. This program is called Operation Safety Net.
Operation Safety Net, or OSN, is a scholarship program designed to help those students who, for one reason or another, "fall through the cracks"of other financial aid programs. Brian Taylor, chairperson of the committee responsible for the operation of OSN, was interviewed recently about the program.
Q. What exactly does OSN do?
B.T. As originally hoped, the scholarship offers assistance to individuals who cannot qualify for financial aid, yet also are not eligible for other scholarships. The purpose of this program is to assist mainly coal miners and their families with the purchase of tuition, books, fees, and other expenses associated with attending college.
Q. Where does the money come from for OSN?
B.T. We encourage the community to provide the donations. This is accomplished through fund raisers as well as individual donations. Donations can be made by contacting the Admissions Office on the Cumberland campus.
Q. How can those who would like to help do so?
B.T. Our biggest obstacle, due to limited resources, is getting the word out, not only for donations, but also to provide more assistance. Recently, we granted our first scholarship to an adult learner attending the Southeast Cumberland campus. We hope to assist other students as well in the near future.
Q. What hopes do you have for OSN's future?
B.T. In the short term, I would hope, when each new council is elected, that the baton is passed with the same enthusiasm this program was started with. Long term, I would hope that this same enthusiasm is flared in the community as the community realizes this is a positive tool toward bringing itself to independency. As a result, I would hope that every individual, in Harlan and the surrounding counties, would be given the opportunity to receive a college education should that be his or her desire.
Q. Where does one get more information?
B.T. First, students apply for any financial aid that they may qualify for, and then, if that effort proves fruitless, contact Cookie Baker or me at phone ext. 2108.
Q. Any other comments?
B.T. Helping our local students by donating to our scholarship will in turn benefit our community through instilling a sense of debt to the community, encouraging students to repay the community with their talents.
By Crystal Corum
The Student Government Association at SECC's Bell County campus is playing an active role in several projects for the spring semester.
The SGA officers recently held the highly-successful Spring Fling and Barbecue. The event, which attracted over hundreds of students and faculty, was held on Thursday, April 2.
The SGA is also planning to assist Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Robyn Saragas in other events and is active in the Service-Learning program involving an essay contest for middle schoolers in the tri-state area.
According to SGA president and sophomore class secretary Chastity Brooks, the student government is always active in both the school and the community and this semester will be no different. The SGA "is here for anyone who needs our help," she said.
The SGA officers for the spring semester were also elected at their first meeting earlier this semester. The newly-elected officers are: Brooks, president; Earl Hardaker, vice-president; Ginger Howard, secretary; and Travis Bailey, treasurer.
The Bell County campus students also recently elected the officers to represent their class. The sophomore class representatives are: Bailey, president; Hardaker, vice-president; Brooks, secretary; and James Blevins, treasurer.
The freshman class, meanwhile, are represented by Justin Blevins, president; Howard, vice-president; Jamie Capps, secretary; and Vance Michael, treasurer.
Mr. Joe Marcum is SGA's faculty advisor.
By Crystal Corum
There is a new champion at SECC/Kentucky Tech's Bell County campus.
Phi Beta Lambda, which is popularly known as Business Club, has recently captured 12 awards in a statewide competition held in Louisville. It is the most awards ever won by the local PBL chapter since 1981.
The club members competed in the statewide PBL Leadership Conference on March 26-28, winning 12 awards in various areas of competition such as parliamentary procedure. According to the PBL contestants, their hard work and preparation for the competition paid off. The state winners will compete in the upcoming national conference.
The PBL officers are: Tina Chansler, President; Sandy McNew, Vice-president; Tammie Johnson, Treasurer; Cathy Taylor, Secretary; Sharon Smith, Parliamentarian; Jackie Jones, Chaplain; Mary Crawford, Representative; and Donna Clark, Historian. The PBL faculty advisors are Rebecca Miller, Don Webb, Chuck Hill and Jamie Vaught.
The club, which is open to anyone interested in business, seeks to promote the skills of students who wish to have a career in the business field.
Phi Theta Kappa members enjoy active year in '97/98
The Xi Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa has had a progressive year at Southeast Community College.
Marlisa Austin, faculty advisor, is pleased with this year's student involvement, saying, "We are going through a building process as far as increasing member involvement and activity."
Austin hopes to continue this building process on all three SECC campuses.
"I want to work more with the members on the Bell County and Whitesburg campuses, especially. I hope to get more faculty and/or staff involved with those sites for next year so that we can increase our visibility to the campus and community,"
In October, PTK members attended the Kentucky Honors Institute and Leadership Conference at Jefferson Community College in Louisville.
In November, some members of the SECC group attended the United Nations Day celebration at the Capitol in Frankfort, which focused on the rights of the child and the issue of banning landmine use and production.
In December, PTK sponsored a reception for children involved in the Angel Tree program in Cumberland. Also that month, 23 new members were inducted in a candlelight ceremony at the Cumberland campus.
This semester, members attended the PTK Regional Conference at Ashland community College, where the SECC chapter was recognized as a "1 Star Chapter." This commendation recognizes the chapter's attainment of specific goals in the Society's Five Star Chapter Development Program. The SECC group will receive international recognition for this honor in the 1998 Awards Tabloid to be distributed at the international convention in Nashville.
On May 7, the chapter will induct 18 new members in a ceremony on the Cumberland campus. The group will also participate in two community activities, and a web page is in the planning stages.
Austin said that she would like to thank everyone involved with PTK this year.
"We are making great strides,"she said. "I hope that it will continue."