Photo contributed
Thalia Jimenez, criminal justice major, reads to children during the backyard Bible study in Memphis, Tenn. that took place over spring break.
James Walls
Editor-in-Chief
Students tour across Paris
A group of students, faculty and staff from Crowder College toured Paris, France during spring break as an educational and cultural experience. The group, consisting of nine students and two chaperones, were required to put in an application during the fall 2013 semester, which would then be considered by a selection committee to see who would go.
“Each student had a selection of two places they wanted to see and why,” said William Lenz, a computer technician in IT that went as a chaperone on the trip.
Some of the places that the group toured included the Luxemburg Garden, the Palace of Versailles, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the catacombs. While there, they also took a boat ride as well as walking up the stairs to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
“It was definitely meant to be more than a vacation, and I think everyone there viewed it as more than that,” said Nina Beaver, communications division chair. “There’s so much historical and artistic history to Paris that it was in fact very educational.”
According to Whistler Rho, a computer network support major who also served as their interpreter on the trip, the group took part in many different activities.
“It was a great trip. We went to visit some museums, probably three of them … we [also] visited the Eiffel Tower, the Pantheon, and we visited Versailles, which was a great place; it was wonderful. There is this garden over there, it’s really huge and amazing,” said Rho.
While meant to be an educational and cultural experience, there is also more to the trips than simply learning.
“Having this opportunity is a great Crowder College offering, so I thought I would take this advantage to go to Paris and visit and have a good time and make some new friends,” said Rho, explaining one reason he went on the trip.
For those interested in attending an annual Paris trip, applications are usually sent out towards the end of the fall semesters.
Photo contributed
The Crowder group visited the Hotel des Invalides during their tour of Paris. From left to right: Liliana Ruiz, Tori Wood, Lindsay Sreaves, Whistler Rho, Samantha Burnett, Celina Hernandez, Lisha Reynolds, Nina Beaver, William Lenz, Alicia Caldwell and Colton Cutchens.
Group ministers on Memphis mission trip
Students and faculty with the Baptist Student Union (BSU) went on a mission trip to Memphis, Tenn. over Spring Break, taking part in the organization Street Reach which ministers to the people of the area through various activities.
“The goal of all of our mission trips is, number one, to share Jesus Christ with people we are going to minister to. That is the first and primary goal of everything we do at the BSU,” said Aaron Werner, youth leader at the BSU. “The second goal is to minister to our own students by putting them into situations where they can see more of the world, see how people live, and expose them to how other people live in other cities.”
While working with Street Reach, an organization run by Brinkley Heights Baptist Church in Memphis, they conducted a backyard Bible study every morning, cleaned up the area around the local church and even did laundry for some of the people of the area, among other things. For Werner, these activities helped make the trip a success.
“I believe whenever we can go on a trip and change the lives of the children we minister to, it is a success,” said Werner. “But also, when you change the lives of the students that go with us, and you change their future trajectory to where they see the needs of the people that they are ministering to and that in turn effects their major and how they view the world and how they want to continue to do things on their own in their own personal lives, then it’s a huge success.”
For Thalia Jimenez, a criminal justice major, working with the children on the trip was a learning experience for her.
“I feel like I was very ignorant to be able to just grow up in one place all my life and not know what’s around me,” said Jimenez. “And seeing those children and the way they live and those couple hours we were able to interact with them, just being able to see that their life is a lot harder than what mine was … and being able to grow a certain kind of love for that and for them and to see that no matter where you are God is always going to be there for you [was a learning experience].”
Agricultural students triumph at contest
The agricultural students were awarded with 16 plaques during the national contest in St. Cloud Minn. that took place during March 11-14.
From staff reports
Twenty-seven Crowder College Agriculture Students spent their spring break at the National Post-Secondary Agriculture Students (PAS) conference/contest in St. Cloud, Minnesota, March 11-14, 2014.
After 14 hours on the road, the students were ready to network and compete with over 600 fellow agriculture majors from colleges and universities from across the country. Crowder College was proudly represented, with 16 plaques awarded to the students.
Kylie Ehlers, Anderson, Mo., a freshman Pre-Veterinary major, was selected amongst a very qualified group of upperclassmen to serve as President-Elect for the national organization. Ehlers currently serves as Missouri’s PAS president.
“The Crowder Aggies represented the college with professionalism and class throughout the conference, and many of them were recognized for their achievements, but all of them are to be commended for their efforts,” emphasized Dr. Terry Halleran, agricultural instructor and advisor.
List of winners:
Career Planning Non-Ruminant
3rd place – Mekahlia Jones, Lebanon, Mo.
Natural Resources
2nd place – Josie McCorkle, Carl Junction, Mo.
Plant Systems
1st place – Megan Jones, Neosho, Mo.
3rd place – Zach Aldridge, Neosho, Mo.
Career Progress Agricultural Education Systems
1st place – Staci Garvin, Anderson, Mo.
2nd place – Jared Lipe, Seneca, Mo.
Ruminant Animal Systems
3rd place – Travis Hayworth, Washburn, Mo.
2nd place – Jessica Schad, Monett, Mo.
Employment Interview Nursery and Landscape Design
2nd place – Kay-Lynn Lippold, Rogersville, Mo.
Livestock Production
1st place – Victoria Giebler, Seneca, Mo.
Livestock Specialist
Beef Specialist Team
2nd place – Drew Henbest, Cassville, Mo.; Davis Benedict, Buffalo, Mo. and Victoria Giebler, Seneca, Mo.
Beef Specialist Individual
2nd place – Victoria Giebler, Seneca, Mo
Horticulture Specialist
Floriculture Specialist Team
2nd place – Staci Garvin and Kylie Ehlers, Anderson, Mo.
Leave a Reply