Archive for category: Announcements

Big Stone Gap – Mountain Empire Community College will offer a variety of late starting classes for students this fall. Classes start throughout October and will run through December. Topics include Armed & Unarmed Security, Accounting, Office Administration, CPR & EMT training, Healthcare, Basic Pharmacy, Business Management, Medical Terminology, Multimedia Development, Legal Assisting and more. To view the full list of fall late start courses, visit www.mecc.edu/latestart. For more information, or to register, contact the MECC Office of Enrollment Services at 276.523.7474 or visit www.mecc.edu/apply.

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Big Stone Gap — Mountain Empire Community College’s Slemp Gallery will feature an exhibit by James Veenstra titled  “Trees, Tessellations, and Tests” now through October 29.

Veenstra says the “Trees” theme represents the idea that technology tends to isolate people. The “trees” in his 3D prints and woodcuts are a reaction to the cell phone/texting culture he sees as replacing face to face conversation, and interaction.  Ironically, Veenstra used technology to produce the works. The “Tessellation” theme focuses on pattern and abstraction. The “Tests” of the show consist of looped video displays of 3D animations. The common theme to these short clips is the flowing movements of dance.  

James Veenstra is an instructor at both Mountain Empire Community College and the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. He is a 1987 graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art LeRoy E. Hoffberger School of Painting. In addition to teaching painting, drawing, photography, animation, and computer graphics, Veenstra has been working to promote 3D printing as an artistic medium.

MECC’s Slemp Gallery is located in the Wampler Library in Robb Hall. The library is open is Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 276.523.2400 ext. 468.

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Gate City – Mountain Empire Community College is offering a host of music and instrument instruction courses this fall.

A variety of music classes, including new lower cost one-credit courses, will be offered at the Big Stone Gap campus as well as Gate City High School. The MECC campus offers day classes in beginning lead guitar. Night class offerings at the Big Stone Gap campus include beginning mandolin, beginning and intermediate guitar, three-finger banjo, blues guitar, and intermediate percussion, advanced percussion, and percussion ensemble.

Several evening courses in old-time music will be offered exclusively at Gate City High School including Old Time String Band and Beginning Upright Bass on Monday evenings from 6 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Online classes in Music Appreciation and the History of Jazz are also available.

For more information or to register, contact the MECC Workforce Development Center at 276.523.7464.

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Big Stone Gap – Interested in furthering your skill set in medical coding and health information management? MECC will hold a Health Records Coding and Clinical Documentation for Health Professionals Information Session on Tuesday, September 13 at 6 p.m. in the Goodloe Center, Phillips Taylor Hall. The eight-week, evening class will cover the following topics:  ICD10 – CM – Conventions and Guidelines for Coding and Reporting; Severity of illness, Evaluation and Management; ICD 10 PCS – Coding Guidelines for Procedures by body system; CPT – Includes the 17,000 code changes for 2017; Clinical Documentation Guidelines for Reimbursement. Tuition assistance may be available for qualified individuals interested in enrolling this fall at MECC. For more information on this degree program, call 276.523.2400 ext. 462.

Big Stone Gap – Mountain Empire Community College will host a meeting of the Wise County Historical Society in the Wampler Library at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 13.  The featured speaker will be acclaimed Civil War Historian and Author Randall Osborne who will speak about the Civil War in Wise County and Southeastern Kentucky. The public is invited to attend and learn more about becoming a member and volunteer of the Wise County Historical Society. For more information, contact Wanda Rose, Wise County Historical Society Treasurer, at 276.328.6569.

The Wise County Board of Supervisors and Mountain Empire Community College will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, August 11, 2016 at 3 p.m., in the Conference Room of the Wise County Courthouse, Room 223, to solicit public input on a proposed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) proposal to be submitted to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development for tuition assistance to aid individuals who do not qualify for financial aid, but wish to enroll in classes at Mountain Empire Community College to develop workforce skills needed by a new employer, Frontier Secure.

A draft CDBG proposal or a project fact sheet will be presented for comment along with information on projected beneficiaries, including the number of low- and moderate-income residents to benefit from the proposed project, and plans to minimize displacement.  Citizens will also be given an opportunity to comment on Wise County’s past use of CDBG funds.  A project fact sheet will also be available at Mountain Empire Community College (MECC), Big Stone Gap, VA.  For additional information, contact Donna Stanley at MECC, (276) 523-7493.

Complaints and grievances can be submitted in writing to Mr. Shannon Scott, Wise County Administrator, at the Wise County Courthouse, at P. O. Box 570, Wise, VA 24293, or by phone at (276) 328-2321 until the date of the hearing.

If you plan to attend and have any special needs requirements, please call the number listed above.

Big Stone Gap – Mountain Empire Community College will host a lecture by Dr. Robi Stark, CEO of Sensilize, an Israeli-based company using a sensor mounted on an drone. The technology has the potential to revolutionize coal mine reclamation efforts in the Appalachian Mountains.

Stark’s lecture is open to the public and will be held on Thursday, July 28 at 10 a.m. in Dalton Cantrell Hall. Congressman Morgan Griffith will also be present to discuss how drones can be used in land reclamation in the future. Dr. Stark will present his findings on the data collected from a drone flyer-over of reclaimed mine lands in Wise County.

“Mountain Empire Community College is pleased to be partnering with Virginia Tech’s Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership, Sensilize, and Hazon Solutions to commence this innovative and creative study of mine reclamation. Because of the ongoing support of the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, and the Wise County Industrial Development Authority, our region will be a leader in unmanned aerial systems applications,” said MECC President Scott Hamilton.

Representatives of Sensilize, Hazon Solutions, and the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership have been in Wise County this week conducting research and development efforts to enhance coal mine land reclamation by using multispectral sensors to measure the health of vegetation. Sensilize uses an autonomous octocopter outfitted with a sensor called ‘Robin Eye’ to fly over one thousand acres of mined real estate.

Mountain Empire Community College is playing a leading role in unmanned aerial system pilot education in Virginia.

For more information, contact the Mountain Empire Community College Office of Public Relations at 276.523.7480.

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Big Stone Gap — Mountain Empire Community College will offer off-campus enrollment, or Mobile Enroll, this summer at locations in Wise, Dickenson, Lee, and Scott County. Individuals interested in applying for admission to MECC in Fall 2016, obtaining financial aid, or who want to learn more about MECC’s programs are encouraged to visit the MECC Mobile Enroll van. On Monday, July 18, Mobile Enroll will be located at the Weber City Food City parking lot from 9 a.m. to noon. On Tuesday, July 19, Mobile Enroll will be at the Duffield Food Country parking lot from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and at the Pennington Gap Food City parking lot from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. On Friday, July 29, Mobile Enroll will be at the Sleep Inn Clintwood parking lot from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and at the Wise Food City parking lot from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. For more information on MECC’s Mobile Enroll, contact MECC Recruiter Todd Clendenon at 276.523.7434 or email tclendenon@mecc.edu.

Big Stone Gap – Mountain Empire Community College will offer a Concealed Weapons Permit course Saturday, August 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost for the course is $100. Pre-registration is required.  This class satisfies the requirements for a concealed weapons permit and will cover legal guidelines, safety issues, and hands-on instruction on the firing range.  Early registration is recommended as this class has limited spots available.  To register go to www.mecc.edu/workforce and complete the Non-Credit Registration form or contact Lori Dingus at 276.523.2400 Ext. 372 or ldingus@mecc.edu.

BIG STONE GAP, VA – Mountain Empire Community College Foundation, in partnership with Wellmont Health System, will hold its annual MECC – Wellmont Health System Golf Classic on Friday, August 5 at Cedar Hill Country Club in Jonesville, VA.

Proceeds from the event will provide scholarships for MECC students.  These scholarships will be awarded in memory of the late Shannon O. Evans, a golf pro at Cedar Hill Country Club for 30 years.

The entry fee is $75 per person or $300 per four person team, which includes breakfast, a mulligan package, goodie bag, range balls, cart fees, green fees, and a boxed lunch.

Registration for the Captain’s Choice tournament will begin at 8 a.m., with a shotgun start at 9:15 a.m. The tournament will feature two flights, putting and chipping contests, as well as, “Most Accurate Drive” and “Closest to the Pin” prizes. The hole-in-one prize on Hole # 5 is a 2016 Chevrolet Sonic sponsored by Freedom Chevrolet of Big Stone Gap.

Three levels of corporate sponsorships are available:  Bronze – $500; Silver – $1,000, and Gold – $1,500 and up. Bronze sponsors will receive a complimentary team and a hole sponsorship, Silver sponsors will receive two complimentary teams and a hole sponsorship, Gold sponsors will receive two complimentary teams, a hole sponsorship and an opportunity to speak at the event.

Hole sponsorships are available for a $50 fully tax-deductible gift to the MECC Foundation. Signs will be placed on the golf course recognizing all hole sponsors. Businesses or individuals needing information or wishing to be a corporate sponsor, sponsor a hole or team may call Brandi McAfee, Tournament Coordinator, at (276) 523-7466 or email at bmcafee@mecc.edu. Team registrations and sponsorships may also be submitted online at www.meccfoundation.org.

Big Stone Gap – A record number of local high school students have earned their college degree or certificate at Mountain Empire Community College before their high school graduation thanks to a growth in the MECC’s dual enrollment program.

A total of 44 high school students received a college credential from MECC in 2015-16. Six of those students — a twin brother and sister from John I. Burton High School and four students from Union High school — earned their Associate Degree in General Studies. Thirty-seven students graduated with a General Education Certificate, and one student received an EMS-Basic career studies certificate. 

House Bill 1184, signed by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell in April 2012, requires that each of Virginia’s Community Colleges and every local school division they serve develop agreements allowing high school students to complete an associate’s degree or a one-year general education certificate from a community college concurrent with a high school diploma.

The associate degree or general education certificate may also include credits earned through Advanced Placement (AP) as well as dual-enrollment if applicable. Since 2012, thousands of high school students across Virginia have earned college credentials, while a select few meet a higher challenge in earning their two-year degree.

What drives a high school student to complete both their high school education and college degree simultaneously?  Money, time, motivation, and parent support, according to these students.

Union senior Jon Hall noted that his parents encouraged him to complete his degree early. Hall, who will attend Virginia Tech this fall, will be able to enter college as a sophomore. That idea also appealed to fellow Union senior Beth Miller. “I liked the thought of having two years of my education already completed so that I will have more time in the future to either go to graduate school or to start my career at an earlier age.  The cost to get my associates degree in high school has been a fraction of the cost for a normal college student.  This appealed to me as it is a great option financially.”

Burton High School Senior Jazlyn Adams was motivated to set high goals for herself. Although she was heavily involved in sports, forensics, yearbook and other activities, she says, “I have always wanted to do different things and set high goals for myself. The biggest challenge I faced was learning to adapt to a college atmosphere and balancing my high school activities with a college course load.  To obtain this degree, I not only took dual enrollment classes, but took summer and night classes in addition to my high school courses, beginning my sophomore year.”

Jazlyn’s brother Tra, also juggled sports and activities. Choosing between high school and college activities was sometimes difficult. “College classes are much more strenuous and the addition of them to my already tough schedule made it very difficult.  I also did not want to miss out on enjoying high school and the clubs and activities that I had always enjoyed.”

Completing both a degree and high school diploma is not for every student, added Union Senior Alexis Stapleton. Although the work is challenging, the experience prepares students for the next step in their educational journey. “I would absolutely recommend this program to others. Not only does it give a student the opportunity to experience a truly unique experience, it also prepares the student for the rigors of a four-year university, and teaches them a set of skills needed as a real college student,” Stapleton said.

Local High School Students earning a credential at MECC in 2016 include:

• James Winston Adams III from John I. Burton High School- Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree in General Studies and Certificate in General Education
• Jazlyn Whitney Adams from John I. Burton High School- Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree in General Studies and Certificate in General Education
• Jonathan Lee Hall from Union High School- Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree in General Studies and Certificate in General Education
• Frances Elizabeth Miller from Union High School- Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree in General Studies and Certificate in General Education
• Gavin Bryce Spears from Union High School- Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree in General Studies and Certificate in General Education
• Alexis Brooke Stapleton from Union High School- Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree in General Studies and Certificate in General Education
• Eric Douglas Blankenship from Eastside High School- Certificate in General Education
• Noah Eli Bledsoe from Union High School- Certificate in General Education
• Thomas Andrew Cassell from John I. Burton High School- Certificate in General Education
• Tannor Blake Cates from John I. Burton High School- Certificate in General Education
• Tiffany L. Cole from John I. Burton High School- Certificate in General Education
• Nicolas Chase Collins from John I. Burton High School- Certificate in General Education
• Brandon Heath Combs from Union High School- Certificate in General Education
• Derrick Jean Cusano from Eastside High School- Certificate in General Education
• Dylan Blake Dockery from John I. Burton High School- Certificate in General Education
• Hannah Elizabeth Dysart from Union High School- Certificate in General Education
• Alecia Ann Estep from Union High School- Certificate in General Education
• Sean Aaron Ghammashi from Eastside High School- Certificate in General Education
• Matthew Hunter Gilliam from John I. Burton High School- Certificate in General Education
• David Clayton Goodman from Union High School- Certificate in General Education
• Kermit Lamar Hall III from Union High School- Certificate in General Education
• Taylor Gabrielle Hamilton from Union High School- Certificate in General Education
• Charisma Jobenna Hunter from John I. Burton High School- Certificate in General Education
• Faith Elizabeth Jackson from Eastside High School- Certificate in General Education
• Austin Blake Johnson from John I. Burton High School- Certificate in General Education
• Richard Patton Johnson II from Union High School- Certificate in General Education
• Chasity Amanda Kirk from Eastside High School- Certificate in General Education
• Karlee H. Lovelace from Union High School- Certificate in General Education
• Abigail Brooke McKinney from Union High School- Certificate in General Education
• Christopher John McKnight from Eastside High School- Certificate in General Education
• Dakota Lee Messer from John I. Burton High School- Certificate in General Education
• Marissa Dawn Mullins from John I. Burton High School- Certificate in General Education
• Alexandria Nicole Pridemore from Eastside High School- Certificate in General Education
• Wesley Allen Qualls from Union High School- Certificate in General Education
• Devon Markus Simon from Union High School- Certificate in General Education
• Peyton Stewart Stallard from John I. Burton High School- Career Studies Certificate in Emergency Medical Technician: Basic
• Samantha Elaine Sturgill from Union High School- Certificate in General Education
• Michael Jericho Taylor from John I. Burton High School- Certificate in General Education
• Emily M. Trent from John I. Burton High School- Certificate in General Education
• Kayla Rose Vicente from Union High School- Certificate in General Education
• Ken Kim-Long Vo from Union High School- Certificate in General Education
• Nathan A. Ward from John I. Burton- Certificate in General Education
• Evan McCaleb West from John I. Burton- Certificate in General Education
• Ciaran Michael Wheatley from Union High School- Certificate in General Education

For more information on dual enrollment opportunities for high school students, please contact your high school counselor, or MECC Dual Enrollment Coordinator John Bledsoe at 276.523.2400 ext. 307.

Photo Left to Right (Tim Cox): These Union High School students participated in the 2015-16 MECC dual enrollment cohort program.

Big Stone Gap — Police officers are trained to serve in multiple roles – as law enforcement personnel, counselors, and supervisors.

However, most law enforcement training programs do not devote the time to train officers on how to serve as effective leaders within their organization and community.

A decade ago, Mountain Empire Community College Professor Robert England and Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Academy Director Doug Cooley recognized the need to develop stronger leadership skills in new and veteran law enforcement officers.  The Southwest Virginia Professional Leadership Academy was born.

Since 2006, hundreds of law enforcement officers have graduated from the academy, a year-long program that meets twice a month involving selected police and corrections personnel from throughout the region. Officers earn 16 college credits from Mountain Empire Community College by completing the leadership curriculum and a detailed administrative project.

“Most officers have been through field training that covers the basic leadership skills needed in the field and at work,” said England. “Our goal with the leadership academy was to develop leadership skills at a whole new level, so that officers can find out about themselves, their personality and leadership profile. There is a lot of focus on personal and professional leadership, morals, ethics, motivation, and communication.”

Numerous academy graduates have attested to the positive changes they experienced after completing the program. Often, graduates have reorganized operations and changed the culture of their organization by implementing ideas gleaned from the experience. Academy participants are encouraged to examine their budgets, operation procedures, training programs, community engagement, and mentoring activities for possible improvements.

“Your way of thinking changes after going through this program,” said Dickenson County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Tammy Robinson. “You are able to re-analyze the processes in your organization and the decisions that you make.”

“I’ve used the program to help our department move forward. The academy has helped me see the potential of our organization and how we can interact better with our community and with each other,” added Bluefield, Va. Police Officer Justin McCully.

England noted that almost every law enforcement agency in Southwest Virginia has participated in the program during the last ten years, with Wise County Sheriff’s Office boasting over 25 graduates of the program. In addition to police forces, the program has expanded to include federal, state and local corrections employees as well.

“A criminal justice agency can only be as strong as its leadership,” added Cooley. “The Academy has afforded the leaders and rising leaders from our local agencies the opportunity to truly develop as professionals. Participating in this academy helps officers develop the skills that our communities expect from their top law enforcement executives.  It is critical in these challenging times in law enforcement that we continue to develop strong leaders.”

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Photo Left to right: Greg Vencil, Bristol City Sheriff’s Office; David Collins, Bristol Virginia Sheriff’s Office ; Chris Whitt, Bristol Virginia Sheriff’s Office;  Marty Berry, Washington County Sheriff’s Office; Ryan Phillips, Wise County Sheriff’s Office; DeWitt Cooper, Tazewell Police Department; Robert England, Mountain Empire Community College; Justin McCulley, Bluefield Police Department; Chris Kent, Wise Police Department; Tammy Robinson, Dickenson County Sheriff’s Office; Charles (Tody) Curry, Wise County Sheriff’s Office; Tim Carroll, Bluefield Police Department; Charles Foster, Wythe County Sheriff’s Office; and Kenneth Joyner, Appalachia Police Department.

Big Stone Gap – Mountain Empire Community College will offer two college credit courses in drone technology this summer. AVI-195 Introduction to Unmanned Aerial Systems will cover the principles of building, programming, and flying drones. Students will receive hands-on training in quadcopter design and construction as well as learn to fly both assisted and unassisted FPV (First Person View) quadcopters. The class will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8:45 p.m., June 7 to August 3. AVI-295 Unmanned Aerial Systems Control Stations provides the skills and knowledge to design, construct, and configure portable ground control stations for UAS operation, monitoring, and data acquisition. The course includes topics in software and hardware selection along with UAS Operator/Observer principles and techniques. The course will be held Thursdays evenings from 6 to 8:45 p.m., June 2 to August 3. To register, contact MECC’s Enrollment Service Office at 276.523.7474 or visit www.mecc.edu/apply.

MECC Recognizes Spring 2016 Phlebotomy Students

Big Stone Gap, VA — Mountain Empire Community College is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2016 Phlebotomy cohort. Students interested in completing this two-semester, 25 credit program are encouraged to apply online at www.mecc.edu/forms.  The deadline for applications is July 15, 2016. Students will begin class in August.

MECC is pleased to announce the following students are completing the requirements for a Career Studies Certificate in Phlebotomy. The Spring 2016 Phlebotomy cohort graduates are: L-R: Brianna Rose, Savannah Scalf, Stephanie Fultz, Jasmine Key, Rebecca Milam, Jordan Kelley, Kelsey Baker, Amber Graham, Ashton Steadman, Taylor Oakley, Brittany Jarrett, Alexis Casados, and Megan Clouse. Not pictured are Kendra Blevins and LaShalia Dorton.

For more information on MECC’s Phlebotomy program or other health science programs, contact Kim Dorton, Health Sciences Coordinator, at 276.523.7456 or by email at kdorton@mecc.edu.

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MECC Offers Concealed Weapons Class

Big Stone Gap – Mountain Empire Community College will offer a Concealed Weapons Permit course Saturday, June 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost for the course is $100. Pre-registration is required.  This class satisfies the requirements for a concealed weapons permit, and will cover legal guidelines, safety issues, and hands-on instruction on the firing range.  Early registration is recommended as this class has limited spots available.  To register go to www.mecc.edu/workforce and complete the Non-Credit Registration form or contact Beth Campbell at 276.523.2400 Ext. 225 or bcampbell@mecc.edu.

MECC Offers Basic First Aid & CPR

Big Stone Gap – Mountain Empire Community College’s Workforce Development Center will offer Basic First Aid & CPR training on Saturday, May 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Phillips Taylor Room 231. The fee for this course is $70. To register go to www.mecc.edu/workforce and complete the Non-Credit Registration form or contact Beth Campbell at 276.523.2400 Ext. 225 or bcampbell@mecc.edu.

The Mountain Empire Community College Foundation will induct Karen K. Hall into its Hall of Honor at the 2016 Spring Gala.

The 2016 gala, titled, “Heart of Gold” will be held on the Mountain Empire Community College campus Saturday, April 30, at 6 p.m. The evening will begin with a reception in the Slemp Commons of Phillips-Taylor Hall at 6 p.m., followed by a buffet dinner in the Goodloe Center at 6:45 p.m. A short recognition program will follow dinner. Musical entertainment will be provided by Michael Trigiani.

Hall of Honor Inductee, Karen K. Hall, will be recognized for her dedicated service to Mountain Empire Community College and to the community.  Proceeds from the event will establish the Karen K. Hall Student Success Fund. The primary use of this new fund will be to support the Great Expectations program at MECC, which helps current and former foster youth explore career possibilities, get enrolled, and complete college and financial aid applications. Great Expectations coaches also work with enrolled students to ensure their success in community college and beyond, connecting them as needed with tutors, scholarship opportunities, community resources, and other sources of support.

Tickets to the gala are $75 each and may be purchased by visiting www.meccfoundation.org, calling Jeri Bledsoe at (276) 523-2400, ext. 287, or by e-mailing her at jbledsoe@mecc.edu.

Donations to the Karen K. Hall Student Success Fund may be mailed to MECC Foundation, 3441 Mountain Empire Road, Big Stone Gap, VA, 24219. Please make checks payable to MECC Foundation and indicate in the memo section of your check “Karen K. Hall Student Success Fund”.

For more information on the event, or to purchase tickets, please visit the Mountain Empire Community College Foundation website at www.meccfoundation.org.

Big Stone Gap, VA — Mountain Empire Community College is excited to announce a new online search tool that assists students and community members in viewing available classes. Those interested in enrolling in for the summer and fall 2016 semester can now visit www.mecc.edu/class to view the list of classes available by subject, location, semester, catalog number, instructor and more. In addition, the class search features detailed information on class start and end times, prerequisites, and whether the class is filled or open for enrollment. The class search is also available on the MECC website main page, www.mecc.edu, under the “Schedule” heading. Registration for the summer 2016 and fall 2016 semesters begins Monday, April 4. To register for a class, new students must apply for admittance and returning students should log in to their MECC Online Student Information System account. For more information, contact info@mecc.edu or visit the MECC website at www.mecc.edu.

MECC’s Mountain Music School is a week-long event dedicated to the preservation and continuation of Appalachian music and culture. Students from age 10 and up learn to play an instrument of their choice, including beginning and advanced options in “old-time” fiddle, claw-hammer banjo, autoharp, guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, shape note singing, and dog house bass. In addition, a string-band class for intermediate/advanced musicians is offered for students who want to expand their skills in a group setting. A limited number of instruments are available to loan during the week.

 “We are excited to host the 12^th annual Mountain Empire Community College Mountain Music School and we look forward to a great week with students of all ages. Workshops, concerts, and many other activities are planned. We invite you to join us for a week or learning and fun,” said Sue Ella Boatright-Wells, MECC’s Dean of Workforce Development.

Registration for Mountain Music School is $150 for the week, which includes lunch each day, and a t-shirt. Classes are held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Scholarships are also available for students 18 years and younger.

To register for the 12^th Annual Mountain Music School, or to apply for a scholarship, please visit the Mountain Music School website at www.mountainmusicschool.org or call (276) 523-2400 ext. 225.

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Big Stone Gap, VA – Mountain Empire Community College will offer a series of free financial aid workshops in March, April, and May designed for high school, college, and adult students who plan to attend college during the 2018-2019 academic year. Workshops will be held on Tuesdays  at 2:15 p.m. in Godwin Hall Room 118

Each workshop will offer free, professional, one-on-one assistance completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Any student, including those who do not plan to attend MECC next year, is welcome to attend, as well as their parent(s). Pre-registration is required to attend a workshop session.

Participants should plan to bring the following items to the event:

• 2016 Federal Tax Return (including W-2, for you and your parents if a dependent)
• 2016 untaxed income
• Social Security numbers for you and your parents/spouse
• Dates of Birth
• Information on savings, investments, business and farm assets (for student and parents)

Save time and apply for an FSA ID in advance at http://studentaid.gov/fsaid.

If you need assistance with completing your FAFSA, please stop by the financial aid office during normal business hours and staff will be glad to assist you.

Big Stone Gap – Enrollment is now open for Mountain Empire Community College’s free Quick Start to College class. The class is designed for individuals who have considered college, but have hesitated to enroll. The class will be held on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons beginning March 15 to April 21, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. A second session will be held this on Thursday evenings, July 14 to August 11 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Quick Start allows students to earn college credit while learning the basics of attending MECC. Topics such as success skills and career options are covered. Students are also able to refresh their computer, math, and English skills with one-on-one assistance. To qualify, students must have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED). For more information on the Quick Start program, or to enroll, contact Beth Boggs, MECC Career and Transfer Counselor, at 276.523.7438 or by email at bboggs@mecc.edu. Visit the program website at www.mecc.edu/quickstart.

Big Stone Gap, VA — The MECC Foundation is pleased to announce the 40th annual John Fox, Jr. Literary Festival, featuring presentations by guest authors Robert Prather and Holly Goddard Jones, on Wednesday, March 16 at 10 a.m. in the Goodloe Center of Phillips-Taylor Hall. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

The MECC Foundation will also host the 29^th Annual Lonesome Pine Short Story Contest and the 12^th Annual Lonesome Pine Poetry Contest, in partnership with Lonesome Pine Arts & Crafts, Inc. Individuals interested in obtaining contest guidelines should contact the MECC Foundation Office at 276.523-7466. Contest rules are also available at www.meccfoundation.org. Short stories and poems in the adult, high school (grades 9 through 12), and middle school (grades 5 through 8) categories must be submitted to the MECC Foundation office by Monday, February 29th at 4:30 p.m. Contest winners will be announced during the Literary Festival on March 16, and cash prizes will be awarded.

Holly Goddard Jones’ first book, Girl Trouble, was published in 2009 by Harper Perennial. Stories from the collection were published in various journals and anthologies, including Best American Mystery Stories 2008, New Stories from the South 2007 and 2008, The Southern Review, Epoch, The Gettysburg Review, The Kenyon Review, Shenandoah, and The Hudson Review. ​The Next Time You See Me, Holly’s debut novel, was published in February 2013 by Touchstone, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.

Robert A. Prather and his wife reside near Garrett, Kentucky, where they own and operate a small business. Mr. Prather is author of The Strange Case of Jonathan Swift and the Real Long John Silver. As a project field editor, Robert Prather has worked with Acclaim Press developing county history books. In 2012, ​ Reader’s Favorite awarded it a Silver Medal for the Historical/Cultural category. The book has also received the prestigious Silver ADDY for its cover and overall design. In February of 2012, the book’s primary subject matter was presented on History Channel 2 on its popular series America’s Book of Secrets, the “Fort Knox” episode.

The John Fox, Jr. Festival will be followed by a reservation-only luncheon with the featured speakers at the John Fox, Jr. Museum in Big Stone Gap. Tickets for the luncheon are $23 per person and reservations can be made by calling the MECC Foundation office at 276.523-7466. For more information on the MECC Foundation, please visit our website at www.meccfoundation.org.

Big Stone Gap — The following students were recognized for academic honors in the fall 2015 semester. 

MERIT LIST

The following students have been named to the MECC Merit List for the fall 2015 semester.  Students are eligible for the Merit List if they have at least 12 credits and a GPA of 3.2 to 3.49 during the semester with no incompletes, re-enrolls, unsatisfactory or failing grades, and part-time students who have between 6-11 credits and a GPA of 3.2 or higher during the semester with no incompletes, re-enrolls, unsatisfactory or failing grades.

APPALACHIA:  Tristen Blair, Devin Bristol, Kaitlyn Collins, Megan Davidson, Martha Davis, John Honeycutt, Brandy Jones, Hope Phillips, Summer Seymore, Gayce Snyder, Robert Stidham, Ciaran Wheatley, and Tiffany Wingate.

ASHBURN:  Kevin Anderson.

BEE:  Kaillen Deel.

BEN HUR:  Hannah Coleman.

BIG STONE GAP: Ginger Baker, Hannah Blair, Derrick Clark, Emily Collins, Reagan Craft, Kimberly Day, Richard Dishner, Hunter Dorton, Trey Fannon, Candace Flanary, Jacob Fox, Deanna Gentry, Madison Gibson, Christen Gilley, Heather Gilley, Ashley Hampton, Daniel Hart, Kristy Hood-Pickell, Titus Houston, Makayla Hubbard, Cathy Johnson, Cody Jones, Jordan Kelley, Tanner Kennedy, Eddie Kilbourne, Cassidy Lane, Allison Lawson, Camryn Lowery, Sydney McKinney, Matthew Morelock, Haley Mullins, Jason Neeley, James Poff, Haley Pope, Judy Ray, Cary Schoolcraft, Samuel Shortt, Savannah Smith, Amy Stapleton, Jeffery Sykes, and James Wynn.

BIRCHLEAF:  Jessi Bellamy.

BLACKWATER:  Charley Carroll, Jessica Eldridge, Breanna Napier, and Goldie Sluss.

CASTLEWOOD:  Fayette Hayes, Natasha Mullins, Emily Slemp, Yolanda Slemp, and Courtney White.

CHURCH HILL:  Peyton Hickman and Shauna Sturgill.

CLINCHCO:  Eliza Peters.       

CLINTWOOD:  Steven Baker, Julie Boggs, Trevor Coleman, Christian Culbertson, Madison Davis, Whitney Davis, Ashley Farmer, Timothy Fryatt, Ivvy Gulley, John Hamilton, Chloe Hayes, Charles Hill, Roy Moore, Amanda Mullins, Chandler Mullins, Kayla Mullins, Sierra Mullins, Sydni Mullins, Katlyn Phillips, Camron Phipps, Geena Phipps, Tiffany Pigott, Tiara Rose, Mattie Stanley, Sabrina Stanley, Ryan Vaughan, and Montica Yates.           

COEBURN:  Tyler Adams, Ashley Arney, Laken Austin, Burley Ball, Emily Blankenship, Timothy Boyd, Isabella Branham, Austin Buchanan, Brianna Clark, Marcus Clark, McKenzie Clay, Rebecca Cochran, Whitney Ferguson, Amber Funk, Tyler Gardner, Charles Gibson, Megan Greear, Whitney Hale, Kaitlyn Hall, Hunter Helbert, Amanda Holland, Kaylee Jones, Nicolette Kecev, MaKayla Kennedy, Hannah Kilgore, Alyssa Lawson, Katherine Lawson, Zackaria Lundy, Kaylee Mahan, Hayley McCarty, Christopher Meade, Jody Meade, Marcus Meade, Chantry Powers, Alexander Pritchard, Rebecca Puckett, Allison Rose, Giles Sartin, Tobie Sexton, Tanya Shelton, Toni Stamper, and Haley Wright.

CUMBERLAD:  John Jones.

DANTE:  Taylor Rose and Gentry Shreve.

DRYDEN:  Haley Bryson, Lindsey Carroll, Brandon Dillman, Ramona Drescher, Heather Ely, Jesse Gilliam, Ashley Hall, Corey McNeil, Lindsay McNeil, Rebecca Milam, Angela Moore, Chailene Sanders, Alex Sexton, and Brandi White.

DUFFIELD:  Victoria  Addison, Dana  Barnette, Jordan  Bowen, Savanah  Bowen, James  Carlson, Melissa  Christian, Krista Collins, Jacob Dean, Amanda Dockery, Makayla Fields, Sarah Harris, Savanna Hass, Joshua Hubbard, Phillip Kerns, Michael Kilgore, Chelsie Lewis, Jonathan McNew, Jonathan McNew, Mysti Mullins, Brady Palmer, Luke Pennington, Anna Proctor, Anthony Ramey, Michael Rasnic, Victoria Sage, Amber Shupe, Lauren Tankersley, and Holly Williams.

DUNGANNON:  Stephanie Finch, Cole Maggard, Chrisy Perry, and Tyler Sims.     

EAST STONE GAP:  Marcia Broissa Smith.

EWING:  MaKayla Yeary.

1. BLACKMORE: Ryan Babb, Emily Estepp, Erica Gibson, Tristan Nash, Kaylee Payne, Alexander Qualls, Amy Sexton, Ashley Sexton, Courtney Smith, and Keila Vaughn.

GATE CITY:  Makenze Baker, Morgan Baker, Olivia Baker, John Barnes, Mickela Billings, Gage Blakely, Shane Boggs, Alyssa Clark, Lindsay Collins, Brittany Compton, Heather Crabtree, Jordan Cunningham, Austin Davis, Tanner Dingus, Kelsey Dockery, Cooper Garrett, Lindsey Harper, Destiny Hatfield, Thomas Henry, Brooklyn Hensley, Meagen Hood, Jordan Houseright, Martika Hutchinson, Hannah Kilgore, Krista Laney, Jessica Lawson, Quentin Mann, Matthew Martin, Jordon Matlock, Jonathan McDivitt, Andrea Murray, Ethan Penley, Cassie Ramey, Nina Rhoton, Channa Sanders, Savannah Scalf, Katherine Starnes, Kiera Starnes, Katelyn Thomas, Abby Wettack, Emily Williams, Lauren Williams, and Jessica Winters

HAYSI:  Collin Hillman, Geneva Pickering, Lisa Rife, Telena Turner, and Hayden Woods.

HILTONS:  Madison Clark, Jennifer Hensley, Nicole Hobbs, Wesley Hughes, and AKeyla White.

INDEPENDENCE:  Katy Richardson.

JONESVILLE:  Brian Allen, Kennedy Allen, Taylor Anderson, Ethan Cave, Megan Clouse, Steven Clouse, Tiffany Cody, Kenzie Crusenberry, Bridget Davis, Courtney Eldridge, Julia Eldridge, Jessee Fee, Stephanie Flinders, Emily Gurganus, Savannah Jarvis, Alana Jones, Katie McDonald, Kenzi McPherson, Kelsey Sexton, Alley Skidmore, Mary Van Cleave, and Morgan White.

KEOKEE:  Benjamin Collins and Rebecca Disney.

KINGSPORT: Brandon Baskette, Autumn Berry, Kristie Castle, Emily Charles, Christina Haun, Jonathan Hood, Cody Jessee, Brooke Lawson, Ezra McNutt, LeAnn Ramey, Heather Sigmon, and Josh Strong.      

KYLES FORD:  Sarah Mullins.

MCROBERTS:  Nicholas Williams.

NICKELSVILLE: Rebacca Barnett, Pamela Castle, Tyler Culbertson, Abagail Farmer, Whitney Hillman, Sylvia Isaacs, Jasmine McCloud, Linda Minnix, Savanna Phillips, Kasey Repass, and Jesse Stiner.

NORA:  Allyson Stanley.

NORTON:  Caitlin Absher, Victoria Adams, Clayton Baker, Rachel Bay, Melvyn Belcher, Breanna Bevins, Crystal Branham, Cheyenne Brown, Sheena Carroll, Tannor Cates, Amanda Chavarria, April Darnell, Isaac Davis, Reagan Elkins, Vallen Ellis, Brian Fields, Pierceton Hobbs, Tyler Howell, Charisma Hunter, Tyler Ingle, Cameron Jenkins, Jacob Jessee, Joshua Jessee, Ginger Joseph, Jonathan Lester, Shacodi Mays, Marye Minor, Nicole Mullins, Jennifer Oakes, Brittany Phelps, Virginia Phillips, Brian Potter, Tiffany Roberts, Stacy Robinson, Tammy Stanley, Christi Stidham, Sarah Sturgill, Christopher Sutton, Logan Sutton, Courtney Terry, Amanda Thacker, Carla Thompson, Emily Trent, David Underwood, Elizabeth Vanover, and Nathan Ward.

PENNINGTON GAP:  Justin Anderson-Woodard, Autumn Bishop, Tamra Brewer, Jessica Brock, Destiny Butler, Haley Fannon, Rachel Fee, Kristopher Goins, Craig Harvel, Katelyn Hurlock, Ashley Kegley, Kelly Long, Amanda Muncy, Jordan Robbins, Matthew Smith Corey Stewart, and Willie Turner.

POUND:  Destiney Barnett, Rebecca Blanton, Ashtin Brown, Isaac Deel, Alexis Dotson, Jesse Dye, Justin Elkins, Dallas Eskridge, Olivia Fast, Kendra Gilmore, Peter Holbrook, Candace Keith, Kayla McCoy, Lindsey McReynolds, Mariah Meade, Ethan Moore, Grayson Mullins, Hensel Mullins, Danielle Perkins, Kenneth Robinson, Brianna Rose, Kristen Sexton, Jessica Short, Dakota VanHuss, Dustin Vanover, and Jordan White.

ROGERSVILLE:  Orien Altman.

ROSE HILL:  Nicholas Hatfield, Stephanie Long, Jacob Patterson, Joshua Patterson, and Tyler Shuler.

1. CHARLES: Karisa Norman and Julie Witt.
2. PAUL: Emily Baker, Juanita Collins, Michael Grimes, Pamela Hall, Emily Richardson, and Joshua Sturgill.

TURDA, ROMANIA:  Vlad Undreiu.

VIRGINIA BEACH:  Abigail Demegillo.

WEBER CITY:  Tyler Fields, Laura Lawson, Nicholas Qualls, and Casey Wood.        

WILLIAMSBURG:  Timothy Minich.

WISE:  Bethany Adkins, Jennifer Bailey, Jordan Balthis, Christopher Basham, Victoria Bays, Melissa Beller, Adam Bowen, Ashley Broyles, Jacob Buchanan, Tabathia Cain, Jessica Caldwell, Carrie Cantrell, Andrea Church, Hannah Colley, Amiee Craft, Kenneth Crowson, Kelli Dingus, Ethan Elkins, Daniel England, Morgan Fleming, Nancy Gale, Thomas Gervais, Sophie Gonzalez-Prince, Angela Gorman, Amanda Hall, Frank Hall, Sharon Hall, Kaitlyn Hamilton, Christopher Heffner, Christa Holmes, Brittany Hopkins, Charles Huff, Rikki Hull, Matthew Kennedy, Bobby Kern, Sharon Kiser, Ashton Laney, Thomas Lawson, Brittany Lewis, Emily Livingston, Kelsey Marshall, Hannah Meade, Renee Morgan, Alexandria Mullins, Alyssa Mullins, Angelina Mullins, Ashley Mullins, Tre Mullins, Eryk Nayagam, Rebecca O’Quinn, Jason Oquinn, Felicia Powers, Grayson Proulex, Hayley Ramsey, Travis Roberts, Madison Robinson, Alexis Sexton, Emily Shell, Kelly Smith, Lily Snodgrass, Clinton Solomon, Heather Stevans, Kaitlyn Stratton, James Sturgill, Nicholas Sturgill, Dennis Trosper, Tyler Underwood, Jerry Vance, Victoria Villiard, Loretta Wampler, Victoria Wheatley, Emily Williams, Shelsey Willis, Patrick Withen, and Nasrin Yazdanpanah.

HONOR’S LIST

The following students have been named to the  MECC Honor’s List for the fall 2015 semester.  Students are eligible for the Honor’s List if they have at least 12 credits and a GPA of 3.5 to 3.79 during the semester with no incompletes, re-enrolls, unsatisfactory or failing grades.

APPALACHIA:  Kaylee Austin, Hannah Dysart, Alexis Gillenwater, Kenneth Joyner, Ethan Nunley, and Lila Robinson.

BIG STONE GAP:  Kelsey Baker, Stuart Barton, Laken Blair, Chelsea Caruso, Preston Chadwell, Raechel Clark, Cameron Collins, Kristi Coomer, Alecia Estep, Lori Fraley, Autumn Garrett, Jordan Gilly, David Goodman, Brandi Gordon, Kermit Hall, Cynthia Honeycutt, Chelsea Lawson, Jacob Lawson, Dylan Mabe, Casey McKee, Dakota Messer, Frances Miller, Sarah Potter, Tracie Powers, Wesley Qualls, Sakorra Rivera, Kellie Russell, Logan Schoolcraft, Hui Shi, Rebecca Shupe, Kandace Sturgill, Brandon Watts, and Danielle Winebarger.

BLACKWATER:  Opal Evans.

CASTLEWOOD:  James Light and Nancy Woods.      

CLINCHCO:  Chelsea Osborne.                      

CLINTWOOD:  Stephen Boggs, Logan Fletcher, Michelle Grozdanoff, Tristan Hayes, Samantha Johnson, Jessica Kincaid, Chelsea Mullins, Dakota Mullins, Kara Rose, Kayla Sauls, Jessica Stallard, Billy Stanley, Sheena Stanley, and Stephanie Stanley.        

COEBURN:  Patrick Bolling, Mariah Gillenwater, William Hunsaker, Faith Jackson, Richard Jones, Christy McCoy, Brianna Mullins, Michael Mullins, Hannah Perry, Dalton Sanders, Heather Stanley, Kari Stapleton, Herlin Vance, and Caitlyn Yates.

CUMBERLAND:  Stephanie Jones and Angela Kelly.

DRYDEN:  Christopher Bush, Joshua Crabtree, Denise Honeycutt, Richard Johnson, and Matthew Sturgill.           

DUFFIELD:  Matthew Edwards, Latasha Robinson, Rachel Stanley, and Jamie Wolford.

DUNGANNON:  Amanda Compton.

GATE CITY:  Roan Arrington, Crystal Austin, Candice Casados, Morgan Cox, Bradly Gibson, Jamie Gilbert, Jacob Hood, Alexandra Johnson, Kaden Kilgore, Abbigail Leonard, Tanner McMurray, and Steven Williams.

HAYSI:  Heather Jones and Berlin Justice.

HILTONS:  Trevor Lunsford, Nicholas Mann, and Taylor Pendleton.

JONESVILLE:  Bailee Chadwell, Jason Crabtree, Ashley Maness, and Danielle White.

KINGSPORT:  Kristen Bishop, Noah Bledsoe, Tyler Darnell, Christian Minnick, and Bryan Scott.

LEBANON:  Caitlyn Russell.

MCCLURE:  Dustin Whisenhunt.

NICKELSVILLE:  Kayla Boggs, Austin McCracken, and Brittany Peterson.

NORTON:  James Adams, Tony Boggs, Coty Brummette, Austin Johnson, Judi Mathieson, Jennifer Potter, Anthony Redman, Rachel Reece, Curt Rose, Jeffrey Ward, and Honey Wyatt.

PENNINGTON GAP:  Brenda Crider, Savannah Crider, Crystie Harber, Joshua Parks, Emma Poe, and Angelina Woodard.    

POUND:  Courtney Cantrell, Alexis Potter, Jacob Rutherford, Laurisa Stanley, Lauren Sturgill, and Courtney VanHuss.

RICHMOND:  Rosiemy Deleon.

ROSE HILL:  Abigail Grabeel and Addison Rouse.

1. PAUL: Ladonna Cantrell, Daniel Hartley, Brittany Hayes, and Christopher McKnight.

WEBER CITY:  Williams Bausell and Seth Rhoton.

WISE:  Michaela Bolling, Bradley Brooks, Anthony Collins, James Croley, William Darnell, Ashley Dotson, Tiffany Dutton, Ashlee Fletcher, Sabrina Fox, Brett Freeman, Amber Graham, Reagan Hamilton, Brittany Harvey, Michael Hill, Kayla Jessee, April Matthews, Keira Moore, Tristan Phipps, Rebecca Richardson, Chelsea Salyers, Eden Sturgill, Terrance Turner, and Jerrard Vance.

PRESIDENT’S LIST

The following students have been named to MECC’S President’s List for the fall 2015 semester.  Students are eligible for the President’s List if they have at least 12 credits and a GPA of 3.8 or higher during the semester with no incompletes, re-enrolls, unsatisfactory or failing grades.

APPALACHIA: Tamara Davidson, Jessica Joyner, Ernest Mabe, and Derrick Watkins.

BIG STONE GAP: Joshua Barnett, Jesse Blair, Madison Blanton, Cory Carlton, Derrick Cusano, James Day, Jeffrey Dickenson, Joshua Dingus, Jerry Elkins, Collin Fields, Melissa Fleenor, Joseph Freeman, Cody Gentry, Chad Harkleroad, Devon Hobbs, Whitney Kelly, Karlee Lovelace, Maeve McGonagill, Marglo Osborne, Dylan Richardson, Sara Shores, Emily Shuler, Laura Smith, Gavin Spears, Alexis Stapleton, Taylor Sturgill, Gabriel Vaughan, Ken Vo, Mark Wagner, and Evan West.    

BIRCHLEAF:  Ashley Kilgore.

CASTLEWOOD: Dylan Kincer.

CHURCH HILL:  Jessica Bowen and April Simpson.

CLINCHCO:  Hannah Boggs and Brandi Dotson.

CLINCHPORT:  Rebecca Lane.

CLINTWOOD:  Beverly Artrip, Teena Baker-Dunn, Sierra Hammons, Diana Mullins, Heather Raines, Rachel Ratley, Sarah Rose, Jessica Salyers, Jordan Skeen, and Crystal Stanley.

COEBURN:  Eric Blankenship, Linda Cochran, Kelly Holbrook, Jordan Lawson, Noah Mullins, Catherine Nixon, Emily Palmer, Brandon Perry, and Tyler Tibbs.

DRYDEN:  Amanda Boggs, Isaac Gamble, Brianna Southard, and Megan Stinson.

DUFFIELD:  Rufus Barnette, Katelyn Bishop, Daniel Dockery, LaShalia Dorton, Brandon Perry, Debbie Pyles-Dingus, Vivian Rogers, Monteia Sloan, and Nathaniel Willis.

EWING:  Scottie Hunley.

1. BLACKMORE: Brandon Hall and Carrie Shell.

GATE CITY: Zachary Cole, Sarah Davidson, Jennifer Evans, Alexander Garnett, Briana Gilbert, Amy Gillenwater, Caleb Gore, Jordan Graham, Kevin Herron, Christina Hunnicutt, Rachel Kilgore, Lydia Lane, Logan Lark, Hannah Musick, Avery Rhoton, Whitney Tipton, Ashley Vermillion, and Reece Williams.      

HILTONS: Emily Daily, Christopher Lewis, Hunter McDavid, Spencer Stockard, Abby Turner, and Cortney Wolfe.

JOHNSON CITY: Jonathan Harrigan.

JONESVILLE: Elizabeth Garrett, Abbigail Moore, and Rebecca Weston.     

KEOKEE: Alicia Shirks and Johnathan Stapleton.

KINGSPORT: Amber Kilgore and Bailey Stidham.     

LOYALL: William Baker.

MCCLURE: Kasey Fleming.

NICKELSVILLE: Jimmy Darnell, Anthony Slone, and Cindy White.    

NORTON: Jazlyn Adams, James Adkins, Robert Beauchamp, Vicki Culbertson, Dylan Dockery, Nathan Fields, Noah Fields, Cassandra Page, Jane Sandt, and Roneil Yu.

PENNINGTON GAP: Jamie Adair, Austin Bledsoe, Beverly Doss, Kelsey Ellis, Kayla Gilbert, Patricia Green, Jonathan Hall, Samantha Lewis, Maggie McCall, Tracy Reece, Robert Shuler, and Cieara Tolliver.          

POUND: Leslie Bentley, Heather Boggs, Barbara Coleman, Logan Johnson, Allison Mullins, Maria Powers, Rachel Sluss, and Kasee Sturgill.       

RICHMOND:  Charles Watts.

ROSE HILL:  Chasity Campbell, George Merriam, and Amelia Shelton.       

1. PAUL: Tara Holbrook, Jason Johnson, Chessie Molinary, and Taylor Salyers.

TAZEWELL:  Dalton Brown.

WEBER CITY:  Cathrine Rucker.        

WISE: Billy Carty, Tiffany Cole, Brandon Combs, Daniel Edwards, Leighann Hamilton, Emily Hjulstrom, Derek Holmes, Jeffrey Kilbourne, Jerald King, Corey Lawson, Rachel Livingston, Gregory Maggard, Erica Mullins, Emily Padgett, Ali Qureshi, Sydney Underwood, and Conner Wharton.

-MECC-

Big Stone Gap — Mountain Empire Community College will offer an online Principles of Real Estate course beginning in January. Persons interested in obtaining a certification to practice real estate in the State of Virginia should complete the class and take the state licensing exam. The course will run through May. For more information or to register, contact Sabrina Ward at sward@mecc.edu or by phone at 276.523.2400, ext. 224.

Big Stone Gap, VA – Mountain Empire Community College is pleased to announce that Dean of Workforce Services Sue Ella Boatright-Wells has been honored with the Virginia Community College System Chancellor’s Award in Community Service.

Boatright-Wells was nominated by MECC for the award in recognition of her 30+ years of leading the Home Craft Days Festival, as well as her role in establishing MECC’s Mountain Music School and the Junior Appalachia Musicians (JAM program).

The Home Craft Days Festival, held annually the third weekend in October, has served as an integral part of MECC’s longstanding commitment to promoting and preserving the rich musical and cultural heritage of Southwest Virginia. Established in 1972, the festival features more than 200 musicians and artisans from throughout Southwest Virginia, East Tennessee, and Eastern Kentucky and draws at least 10,000 visitors to the MECC campus.

Through her interactions with musicians throughout the region, Boatright-Wells established the MECC’s Mountain Music School in 2004.  Mountain Music School is a unique educational program that offers opportunities for students age ten and older to experience traditional Appalachian old-time music in a fun, enriching, and supportive environment. The school was created to address a growing concern that traditional mountain music was not being passed down to the youth of Southwest Virginia. Today, the school has grown to include more than 150 students of all ages, many of whom travel from throughout the country to participate. 

To further expand traditional music education in Southwest Virginia, Boatright-Wells worked with school divisions throughout the region to establish the Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) program.  The after-school program has allowed hundreds of students to learn the music, traditions, and heritage of our mountain culture.

“Sue Ella has served as the heart and soul of the Home Craft Days festival for more than 30 years,” said MECC’s Vice President of Academic and Student Services Vickie Ratliff. “Her community service efforts in her 31+ years at Mountain Empire Community College have touched hundreds of thousands of lives, keeping the culture and traditions of this region alive and growing.”

“I was thrilled to be honored for a cause that is near and dear to my heart,” added Boatright-Wells. “I believe promoting our cultural heritage is an important mission of our college and it is something that our community and youth benefit from.”

For more information on Sue Ella Boatright-Wells, or the VCCS Chancellor’s Award in Community Service, contact the MECC Office of Community Relations at 276.523.7480.