While ΊωΒ«ΝήΚΣΖ΅'s spring and summer graduation ceremonies had to be cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns, that doesn't mean we aren't EXCEPTIONALLY proud of our graduates! To show that pride, we have put together Virtual Graduations for both our May and August classes.
Haley Bucsanyi, a student at ΊωΒ«ΝήΚΣΖ΅ in Texas, has been named the 2020 Dr. Mary Hood Texas Region Scholar and will receive a $1,500 scholarship.
Bucsanyi is a first-generation college student majoring in Biological Science. She volunteers with a local nonprofit cat rescue dedicated to helping the feline population. She also volunteers with the Daingerfield State Park Little Pines Friends. Last fall, she was selected to serve as a Texas State Parks and Wildlife Ambassador, and her career goal is to become a Texas State Park Biologist so that she can work to manage and conserve the native park ecosystems.
ΊωΒ«ΝήΚΣΖ΅ has made the decision to close the Whatley Center for the Performing Arts through the end of December.
"The health and safety of our patrons and community is our top priority and we feel that this is the right thing to do given the current circumstances with COVID-19," Carolyn Franks, Whatley Director, said. "The cancellation of our eagerly-anticipated events is very disappointing to both us and our patrons. We will look at putting together a reduced season in January and make a decision on spring shows later this fall."
Do you know someone who could benefit from free GED or ESL classes? The ΊωΒ«ΝήΚΣΖ΅ Adult Education Department offers both in a variety of convenient formats. In addition to traditional face-to-face classes at locations around the area, ΊωΒ«ΝήΚΣΖ΅ Adult Education also offers live remote and self-paced online options.
The Adult Education Department at ΊωΒ«ΝήΚΣΖ΅ is accepting new and returning students for its GED (General Educational Development) and ESL (English as a Second Language) programs. Those interested in participating in either of these free educational programs should call to make an appointment for registration.
What nurses call βCode Blueβ rings into the minds of attendants working the βcovid floorβ of the Titus Regional Medical Center. ΊωΒ«ΝήΚΣΖ΅ honors student, Maritza Quinones responds, putting on PPE (personal protective equipment) which includes a hair net, a surgical mask, an N-95 mask, a plastic face shield, two pairs of gloves, and foot covers. (Such βequipmentβ makes one very hot). A Certified Nursing Assistant planning one day to become an OB-GYN, Quinones has been working 40-60 hours a week during the summer at the hospital, and spending almost half that time in the COVID-19 ward.
Four students at ΊωΒ«ΝήΚΣΖ΅ were among the 207 Phi Theta Kappa members named as 2020 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholars and will each receive a $1,000 scholarship.
The ΊωΒ«ΝήΚΣΖ΅ students receiving this honor include Carolina Alcocer-Salas, of Chapel Hill, Hannah Barnes of Marietta, Jaidyn Thompson of Daingerfield, and Maritza Quinones of Mount Pleasant.
Four members of Alpha Mu Chi, ΊωΒ«ΝήΚΣΖ΅βs chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, won 4 of 13 prestigious Texas regional scholarships given out the weekend of the Texas Honors Institute. The Dr. Mary Hood Texas STAR Scholarships are available to members of Phi Theta Kappa throughout the state of Texas.
