Chap Linksters Open 2011 Slate with Fourth Place Finish

Forrest Allen
Midland College Athletic Director


Richard Farmer

The MC golf team opened the fall semester with a fourth place tie at the 2011 High Country Shootout. The 54-hole event was played at the Links at Sierra Blanca in Ruidoso, NM (6757 yard, par 72). The Chaparrals joined eleven other teams in the event which was won by Western Texas College (Snyder, TX). Midland College finished in a tie for fourth place with Odessa College.


MC's Richie Farmer won medalist honors with a three-round score of 67-69-66--202 (-14), edging WTC's Matthew Whittaker who shot a three-round total of 203 (-13).


 

Sean Lawrie

Team Scores (Top Five Only):
1st: Western Texas College, 281-277-272--830 (-34)
2nd: South Mountain College (AZ), 276-277-284--837 (-27)
3rd: New Mexico Junior College, 272-284-283--839 (-25)
T4th: Midland College, 275-288-281--844 (-20)
T4th: Odessa College, 281-277-286--844 (-20)


Individual Scores (Top Five and Midland College Only):
1st: Richard Farmer, Midland College, 67-69-66--202 (-14)
2nd: Matthew Whittaker, Western Texas College, 69-69-65--203 (-13)
3rd: Richard James, New Mexico Junior College, 67-70-67--204 (-12)
4th: Julian Hilbertz, Western Texas College, 68-68-70--206 (-10)
T5th: Sean Lawrie, Midland College, 69-72-67--208 (-8)
T5th: Jamie Warman, Odessa College, 68-70-70--208 (-8)
T5th: Ben Seward, South Mountain College, 69-69-70--208 (-8)
T24th: Tyson Turnbow, Midland College, 69-75-72--216 (E)
T26th: Luke Richardson, Midland College, 70-72-76--218 (+2)
T39th: Blake Brorman, Midland College, 70-76-77--223 (+7)
T39th: Stephen Gage, Midland College, 77-76-70--223 (+7)


For Complete Scores: www.golfstat.com


Next Scheduled Tournament: 2011 Andrews Country Club Collegiate/Amateur Invitational (Andrews, TX) October 1st-3rd.

MC students offered sweet deal for classic whodunit

Tim Jebsen
MC Drama Instructor and MCT Executive Director

Midland Community Theatre (MCT) presents the Agatha Christie mystery AND THEN THERE WERE NONE. Based on the story "Ten Little Indians", this classic "whodunit" will play in Davis Theatre I at the Cole Theatre (2000 West Wadley) from September 30 - October 15. Performances of this mystery will take place on the following dates and times:

Friday and Saturday, September 30 and October 1 at 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, October 7-8 at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 9 at 2:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, October 14-15 at 8:00 p.m.

Midland College students can attend the show at no costs with a current and valid student ID. However, keep in mind that MC students can attend any MCT production (except fundraisers) at no cost with a current and valid student ID. This fact is often not known by the student population - spread the word to your students to come across the bridge and enjoy some free entertainment.

If you have questions about MCT or this special offer, please contact the MCT Box Office:

Hours: M-F from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
(432) 570-4111
boxoffice@mctmidland.org

Lecture Series to welcome Dr. Spencer Wells

The Davidson Distinguished Lecture Series at Midland College is pleased to present Dr. Spencer Wells - geneticist, anthropologist and Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society. Dr. Wells will speak Thursday, October 13, 7:30 p.m. at the Al G. Langford Chaparral Center.

Dr. Wells will speak on "The Human Journey: A Genetic Odyssey." Admission is FREE, and NO tickets are required

Spencer Wells is an Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society and Frank H. T. Rhodes Class of '56 professor at Cornell University. He leads the Genographic Project, collecting and analyzing hundreds of thousands of DNA samples from people around the world in order to decipher how our ancestors populated the planet. Wells received his Ph.D. in population genetics from Harvard University and conducted postdoctoral work at Stanford and Oxford. He has written three books, The Journey of Man, Deep Ancestry and Pandora's Seed, and has appeared in numerous documentary films on PBS and the National Geographic Channel.

"If Humanity has an Editor-in-Chief, his name is Spencer Wells."

- The Economist magazine

Wells' journey of discovery began at the University of Texas, where he enrolled at 16, majored in biology and graduated Phi Beta Kappa three years later. He then pursued his PhD at Harvard University and conducted postdoctoral training at Stanford University's School of Medicine with Luca Cavalli-Sforza, considered the "Father of anthropological genetics." Wells describes the rising rates of obesity and mental illness as the unintended consequences of a more sedentary culture in his books.

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Twice a year, the Davidson Distinguished Lecture Series, Midland College Foundation, Friends of the Series and Bank of America present speakers whose civic leadership, academic accomplishments and/or public achievements interest, enrich, and enlighten Midland students and citizens. These lectures are FREE to the public.

Midland College offers math mentoring — help with math homework for high school students

Rebecca Bell
Dean, Community Relations & Special Events

An on-going tutoring program in the Midland College Math Lab is available to help students in grades 7-12 with their math homework. Positive response from students in the program and their parents has continued the success of this program, now in its eleventh year.


Math Mentoring tutors are qualified and trained students in the Math program at Midland College. Most have tutoring experience. Dr. Margaret Wade, Midland College dean of math and science, began MC’s Math Mentoring program in 1999 in response to a need in the community for qualified math tutors. One of the early program tutors was Michael Dixon, who is now one of MC’s most popular math teachers.


The fall semester sessions of Math Mentoring are now in progress. Students in the 7th through 12th grades who are enrolled in Pre-Algrebra, Algebra I, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, Geometry or Calculus are eligible for the program.


Students enroll by the month for eight one-hour sessions at a cost of $128 per month. Meetings with their MC peer tutor are scheduled two times a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays, or Tuesdays and Thursdays for one hour on each day. These sessions take place from 6:00-7:00 p.m. or 7:00-8:00 p.m. All tutoring is done in the Math Lab, Room 124 of the F. Marie Hall Academic Building on the MC campus.


To ensure that students get the attention they need from their tutor, each tutoring session is limited to two students. The tutor works with each enrolled student individually.


For more information, contact Deborah Vandergriff, (432) 685-6837, or Alma Brannan, (432) 685-6802.

Lady Chap Volleyball prepares for busy schedule, MC Invitational Tournament

Forrest Allen
Midland College Athletic Director

After recording a key WJCAC match win at Odessa College, the MC Lady Chaps got some much-deserved rest heading into this week's, five matches in four days schedule. Midland College, 5-11 on the season and 2-0 in conference, will take on well-coached New Mexico Military Institute on Wednesday, September 28th @ 7:00 p.m. at the Al G. Langford Chaparral Center. NMMI is currently 16-12 overall and 1-1 in the WJCAC after their surprising, five-game loss to Frank Phillips College last week in Roswell, NM.


There is no question that the Lady Broncos will come in looking to exact a punishing loss on the Lady Chaps as NMMI was picked as the top team in the WJCAC this season. A Lady Chap win over NMMI would keep Midland College at the top of the conference standings. A loss would see MC tied with NMMI in the WJCAC race. The Lady Chaparrals are currently tied with Western Texas College for the conference lead each at 2-0.


Entering Wednesday's upcoming match versus NMMI, MC's statistical leaders are Dragana Cvoric with 3.3 kills per game, Haley Nichols 9.5 assists per game, Addison Zaya 3.6 digs per game, Sarah Sawyer 0.9 blocks per game and Breanna Ruble with 0.3 aces per game. NMMI statistical leaders are Pauline Von Dricklage 2.7 kills per game, Daniella Montoya 9.0 assists per game, Natalie Williamson 3.4 digs per game, Kailey Moorhead 0.8 blocks per game and Amber Miramontez 0.4 aces per game.


MC and NMMI have two common opponents this season, Frank Phillips College and Navarro College. MC is 1-0 versus FPC, NMMI is 1-1 versus FPC. Both MC and NMMI are 0-1 versus Navarro College.

Midland College Volleyball Invitational

September 30-October 1

Midland, TX

Following the NMMI match, the Lady Chaps will host the Midland College Invitational (Friday, September 30-Saturday, October 1). Teams expected to participate are Odessa College, Redlands Community College (OK) and St. Louis Community College (MO).


The MC Invitational schedule is as follows:

Friday, September 30, 2011
@ 1:00 p.m. Odessa College vs. Redlands Community College
@ 3:00 p.m. Redlands Community College vs. Midland College
@ 5:00 p.m. Odessa College vs. St. Louis Community College
@ 7:00 p.m. St. Louis Community College vs. Midland College


Saturday, October 1, 2011
@ 10:00 a.m. Redlands Community College vs. St. Louis Community College
@ 12:00 p.m. St. Louis Community College vs. Midland College
@ 2:00 p.m. Redlands Community College vs. Odessa College
@ 4:00 p.m. Odessa College vs. Midland College
@ 6:00 p.m. Second Annual MC Volleyball Alumnae Match

Hawass Lecture Canceled

Citing continued difficulties with the Egyptian government, Dr. Zahi Hawass has been forced to cancel his October 6 appearance in Midland, as part of the Davidson Distinguished Lecture Series at Midland College. Series organizers are working on a speaker to take Hawass’ place this fall. As soon as arrangements for a new speaker are finalized, information will be posted to the Midland College website ( www.midland.edu ) and the Midland College Foundation website ( www.midlandcollegefoundation.org )

Onstage at MC: High school orchestras to perform with internationally-acclaimed group

On Thursday evening, October 20, at 7:00 p.m., the Phyllis & Bob Cowan Performing Arts Series at Midland College will feature a visual and aural fusion of music, dance, theatre and song! The internationally renowned group Barrage performs contemporary world music with layered vocal arrangements and pulsating modern beats and rhythms. The young hip cast delivers the show with amazing energy and musical virtuosity. A special feature of the Midland performance will be the addition of two numbers — "Mountain Spring" and "Kumpania" — performed with orchestra students from Midland High School and Robert E. Lee High School.

Since its creation in Calgary, Canada, Barrage has been featured many times at events worldwide having played for many Presidents, Prime Ministers and Princes. Barrage has also had their television productions aired on several international TV networks including the PBS network in the United States, the BBC in the United Kingdom and CBC in Canada. The group has performed live shows throughout the world, and now Midlanders have an opportunity to view this amazing production.

Barrage was formed in 1996 by a group of five young performers and event managers who believed that artistic expressions can motivate, educate, cross cultural boundaries and still be fun. Their idealism and sheer hard-headed determination has kept their creative and entrepreneurial juices flowing through the years.

The group labels itself as a contemporary string ensemble composed of five violin players, one drum kit player, one guitar player and one bass player. The resulting performance is an impressive array of multi-instrumental and dancing talents. The performers are chosen during intensive audition calls that occur around the world. New performers must train for several months before they are able to step onto the stage as full members of the touring cast. Following a recent Barrage show in Los Angeles, the LA Daily News reported, “After an evening of performing jigs on rocket fuel, it’s no wonder that more than a few horsehairs snapped on their bows”

The Midland performance begins at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 20, in the Al G. Langford Chaparral Center on the MC campus. To obtain FREE tickets, visit www.midlandcollegefoundation.org or contact the Midland College Foundation at (432) 685-4526.

Lady Chap Volleyball to Play in Historic Match

Forrest Allen
Midland College Athletics Director

Be a part of history as the Midland College Lady Chap volleyball team travels to Odessa for a historic match with the Odessa College Lady Wranglers. Midland College (4-11, 1-0) will take on Odessa College (4-11, 0-1) on Wednesday, September 21st @ 7:00 p.m. at the Odessa College Sports Complex on the OC campus. The Odessa College team is playing in its inaugural season of competition.

This is the first-ever match between the two WJCAC programs and it promises to be a high-energy contest between two proud rival institutions. The match also offers fans a match-up between two first-year head coaches. Midland's Tammie Jimenez assumed the reigns of the program last December, while OC's Alana Rowland came to Odessa after serving as an assistant coach at Seward County Community College (KS) for several seasons.

The MC team features three Odessa products Sarah Sawyer (Odessa High School), Victoria Smith (Odessa High School) and Keli Key-Wilson (Midland Christian School). Other Permian Basin area products also dot the Lady Chap roster, including returning players Addison Zaya (Midland High School), Brittany Serrano (Marfa High School) and Trinity Walker (Wink High School). Area freshmen include, Haley Nichols (Midland Lee High School) and recent additions to the squad, Belle Feaster (Big Spring High School) and Samantha Sparkman (Crane High School).

Rounding out the team are Dragana Cvoric (Republic of Serbia), Breanna Ruble (Visalia, CA) and Lisette Walker (Mission, TX).

Offensively the Lady Chaps are led by freshman, outside hitter Cvoric who leads the team with 166 (3.3 per game) kills this season followed by fellow freshman middle blocker Smith with 120 kills (2.5 per game). Cvoric ranks No. 18 nationally in kills per game.

Midland College has seen solid production by its duo of first-year setters, Haley Nichols (417 assists, 9.5 per game) and Ruble (139 assists, 3.3 per game). Nichols ranks No. 16 in the NJCAA in assists per game.

Defensively the Lady Chaps have leaned on two sophomores, Zaya (203 digs, 4.8 per game) and Serrano (186 digs, 3.57 per game) as well as freshmen Key-Wilson (200 digs, 3.85 per game) and Cvoric(177, 3.5 per game). Zaya's 4.8 digs per game ranks her No. 18 nationally with Key-Wilson checking in at No. 43 in the national statistical rankings. Wink product, Walker leads the Lady Chaps in blocks with 23.5 on the season followed by Sawyer with 21.0 and Smith with 20.5 this season.

Presenting the Henry Chair of History

Midland College has established the Henry Chair of History with an endowed gift from the Jim and Paula Henry family. The gift honors MC Dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences Dr. Will Morris,” announced MC President, Dr. Steve Thomas on Tuesday, September 20.

As the Henry Chair of History, Dr. Morris will administer an annual West Texas Historical Conference and oversee the publication of the West Texas Journal of History consisting of conference proceedings and three papers. The papers will be scholarly treatments of historical topics or topics on the subject of teaching history written by faculty of West Texas and Eastern New Mexico community colleges. Each publication will include one paper written by MC faculty.

“Midland College has been a very important part of our family’s life since it was built,” says Jim Henry. “Paula graduated from Midland College and later taught as an adjunct instructor in the history department for 8 years. It was her association with Dr. Will Morris and her love of history that convinced her that she wanted to use her Master’s degree in history from Texas Tech to become an instructor at Midland College.”

Paula agrees saying, “It was a joy to teach in such a positive atmosphere. Jim and I enjoy seeing Midland College continue to grow. We enjoy all the cultural events, like the Davidson Distinguished Lecture Series and the Phyllis & Bob Cowan Performing Arts Series. The gift is our way of honoring Dr. Morris for his tireless efforts to keep the academic standards at MC first rate.”

President Thomas states, “The conference and the journal will showcase community college faculty and staff, and we appreciate the generosity of Paula and Jim Henry. Congratulations to Dr. Will Morris!”

Educators provide testimony to community colleges' impact

Mary Braselton
Director, Associate of Arts in Teaching Program
Midland College

On a trip to New Mexico in July, my husband and I were chatting with friends and enjoying the 65-degree temperature as only the New Mexican mountains can provide.

Somehow the conversation veered to education -- community college education to be exact. All six individuals in the group enthusiastically told about beginning their higher education careers at various community colleges, and all told uproarious stories about demanding instructors. My own story was about a certain Miss Vanderford who demanded "Miss Eubank, keep both feet on the floor and stop that nervous fidgeting!" And then she asked me to define rhetoric. While the stories were funny, all agreed that had it not been for those instructors, they never would have learned important lessons nor had certain future "breaks" in life.

The "dancing testimonial" came from a 35-year-old woman named Jackie. She told a poignant, yet typical story about her family and college. She said that while she was in high school in New Jersey, she worked part-time in retail. She also studied dance and dreamed of becoming a professional ballerina. Then, she graduated from high school and took a full-time job in retail leaving her dancing career behind. She said no one in her family ever talked about college for her or any of her siblings. "It was assumed that we would complete high school and then make lives for ourselves; we just knew that was what we would do."

She added that she knew a little about college but she thought there was some magic involved that others knew about and she didn't. That thought made her reluctant to try.

The good part of her story began with her statement "In spite of my ignorance, I enrolled in an English course and a physical education class in a local community college in New Jersey and found both courses to be challenging. On the first day of the dance class, however, the instructor asked me if I was a professional dancer. Of course, I had not been professional at anything except retail. It was she who told me that there was such a thing as a dance major at the university, and she could help me make the contacts. I credit that one teacher with opening up my future to a dream I thought was lost forever. I didn't even know there was such a thing as a dance major. There was something inside me that wanted to know more and to be more. It took a while, but I completed my dance degree at New York University, and had it not been for those challenging teachers who made me think I could succeed, I never would have gone on to the university much less completed my AA degree."

Jackie teaches and performs dance in the art district in Santa Fe, N.M., and is married to an internationally known artist.

Think of it -- all six of the professionals in this small group had begun their higher education at a community college. Four went on to attain master's degrees, and one, a doctorate. Some had been honors students and two had been like Jackie -- capable, willing, but in desperate need of a mentor.

By the way, I did learn to keep both feet on the floor and stop fidgeting -- at least for that semester.

Midland College, your college, is filled with mentors; one of them is yours.

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This column first appeared in the August 29, 29011 edition of the Midland Reporter-Telegram, and appears here, in its entirety, with the MRT's permission.