The Fort Scott Community College Livestock Judging Team will be hosting a Livestock Judging camp in June. The camp will help students with livestock evaluation and oral reasons skills. At the conclusion of the camp, students will be more comfortable in their presentations and should know current transitions and phrases.

The team is offering two sessions this summer. The beginners’ session will be a one-day camp on Tuesday, June 18 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. This session is geared towards younger kids that need a basic understanding of evaluation techniques. The cost for this camp is $45.

The second session will start on Wednesday, June 19 at 1:00 p.m. and will run until Friday, June 21 at 11:30 a.m. This camp is intended for students wanting to improve their oral reasons skills and terminology. The focus will be on format, presentation, voice, transitions, and phrases. Camper will stay for two nights in the Boileau Hall (dormitory) with meals included. The cost for this camp is $165.

For more information or to register call FSCC head livestock judging coach, Ryan Page at 620-223-2700, ext. 3290 or email at ryanp@fortscott.edu. The registration deadline for both sessions is June 1, 2013.

Nine residents from the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex (KJCC) in Topeka, KS received the first Environmental Water Technology credential at a ceremony at the facility on April 17.

The students were the first to complete the first phase of the water technology program, which was created from a new $1.5 million U.S. Department of Labor grant program that is implemented by Fort Scott Community College (FSCC). The outcome of the FSCC grant program is to prepare students for a career in water technology which includes jobs with municipal water and wastewater departments as well as industries that have small water plants to produce their goods and/or service.

These nine students earned seven college credits in Environmental Water Technology in the topic area of Wastewater Plant Operation. The classes apply toward an associate degree in Applied Science in Environmental Water Technology for any student who wishes to further their training through FSCC.

FSCC President Clayton Tatro gave the keynote address of the ceremony, with additional comments provided by KJCC Superintendent, Kyle Rohr, and FSCC Environmental Water Technology instructor, Bob Sample.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for Fort Scott Community College and these KJCC students,” said Tatro. “They are the first group of KJCC residents to achieve these college course credits and Environmental Water Technology credential.”

“I’ve been very impressed with the hard work and dedication the students have displayed in the class.” said Sample. “The students have developed valuable skills through classroom work including hands on activities that actually allowed them to perform the operations of a wastewater treatment facility in a controlled setting. I am truly excited about the future of this program, the students, and elevating the professionalism in this profession. ”

Fort Scott Community College will implement this program until December, 2014, and will provide four different Environmental Water Technology credentialing courses: Water Plant Operation, Wastewater Plant Operation, Water Plant Distribution System Operation & Maintenance, and Wastewater Collections System Operation & Maintenance. Each course prepares students to successfully pass a state licensing exam required by each state upon the completion of required on-the-job work experience.

“This is one of the first programs like this in any juvenile correctional facility in the nation,” said KJCC Superintendent Kyle Rohr. “This provides a great opportunity for the youth of our facility, and we are excited for what this partnership with FSCC will become.”

Fort Scott Community College announces that the2013 Outstanding Alumnus and Young Alumnus have been chosen to speak at graduation ceremonies. Dr. Christopher Smith was chosen as the 2013 Outstanding Alumnus and will speak at the graduation ceremony on Friday, May 17, at 12:00 p.m. David Muhammad, the 2013 Outstanding Young Alumnus, will address graduates at the 9:00 a.m. ceremony on May 17. All graduation ceremonies will be in the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center. This year’s recipients will be honored at a special reception on graduation day at 2:00 p.m. in the Meeting Rooms of the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center. Friends, family and fellow alumni are invited to attend.

David Muhammad was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He is the son of Celestine and Rudolph Muhammad and was raised in Overland Park, Kansas, with his younger brother Joseph and younger sister Amanda.

He attended Fort Scott Community College from 2003-2005. While at FSCC, he was a member of the Men’s basketball team, President’s Ambassadors, Homecoming King, and Outstanding Sophomore of the Year. After Fort Scott, David transferred to Emporia State University. At ESU, he remained active on campus as a President’s Ambassador, Black History Month Chair of Black Student Union, and President of Muslim Student Association.

After graduating, he began teaching in the Shawnee Mission School District where he is currently spending his fifth year of teaching at Shawnee Mission East High School as a US History and Economics teacher. In May 2012, he received his Masters in Education from Baker University.

Besides teaching, David is also a full time martial arts instructor at his father’s Kwanzaa Martial Arts Academy in Kansas City, Missouri. He currently travels across the country competing in national tournaments and recently earned his fifth degree black belt earning him the title “Master Instructor”. In his religious community, David is an active member at the Al-Inshirah Islamic Center in Kansas City, Missouri. David has also delved into humanitarian efforts, traveling to Uganda, East Africa, in 2010 to do service work at St. Mary Kevin orphanage.

David currently lives in Merriam, Kansas, with his wife Aisha Sharif.

Chris Smith moved to Fort Scott just prior to the beginning of his eighth-grade year. His parents, Cecil and Lois Smith, had been transferred for Cecil’s work. Chris and his four brothers: Scott, Ben, Brian, and Darren all graduated from Fort Scott High School. Chris was active in various high school athletics and student government; he graduated in 1970. He then attended FSCC from 1970-1971. He later transferred to Pittsburg State University and ultimately graduated with a B.A. and M.S. with majors in psychology from the University of Colorado. Dr. Smith completed his coursework for a doctorate in Human Development and Family Life in 1980 at the University of Kansas and then practiced for eight years as a clinical psychologist in Kansas. After many years of being interested in better understanding the impact of his work, he went back to the University of Kansas and completed a Ph.D. in Education.

Dr. Smith went on to work for 13 years at the University of Kansas in a variety of functions, including working in the fields of research and evaluation, early childhood, behavior supports, and developmental disabilities such as autism. In 2009, Dr. Smith accepted a position as Director of the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, one of the largest hospitals in the country specifically focused on children and youth with disabilities and special health care needs. He also serves as the Director of Scientific Inquiry for the Center for Leadership and Innovation at Kennedy Krieger as well as Assistant Professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University and Faculty on the Women’s and Children’s Health Policy Center at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Smith serves in an advisory and consultant capacity for a number of local, state, and national agencies and government departments.

Dr. Smith considers his greatest accomplishment being married to his wife, Patricia (Welch) Smith, for 40 years. They have four lovely daughters: Jennifer, Shannon, Chelsea, and Caitlin. He has enjoyed working with Habitat for Humanity to build affordable housing, and he still enjoys home projects as well as outdoor sports such as hiking and fly-fishing.

The Annual Commencement Ceremonies for Fort Scott Community College will be held Friday, May 17 at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m.

The 9:00 a.m. ceremony will include those receiving Certificates and Associate of Applied Science degrees. There are approximately 52 students who are eligible to partake in the 9:00 a.m. ceremony.

The 12:00 p.m. ceremony will include approximately 60 students receiving Associate of General Studies and Associate of Arts degrees.

The Associate of Science degrees will be awarded during the 4:00 p.m. ceremony. Around 64 students will receive their Associate of Science degrees and Associate of Applied Science in Nursing. This year’s Outstanding Sophomore, Kenneth “Pierce” Rienbolt will speak at the 4:00 p.m. ceremony.

In addition, there will be a special nurses pinning ceremony at 4:00 p.m. on May 16 and a GED graduation ceremony at 6:00 p.m. on May 15. All ceremonies will be held in the theatre of the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the FSCC campus.

Kenneth “Pierce” Rienbolt of Fort Scott, Kansas, was selected as Fort Scott Community College’s 2013 Outstanding Sophomore. To be considered for the award, applicants had to meet certain eligibility criteria. These included being a sophomore with at least 30 completed hours, a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5, full-time student status and be degree seeking. Six finalists were selected from 66 students who met the criteria. The finalist’s information was submitted to the faculty and staff at the college who made the final selection.

Rienbolt was selected for being an outstanding student and leader at FSCC. He did more than meet the general eligibility criteria; he has excelled in many areas at the college and has been involved in many clubs and organizations.

He was a member of the Men’s Basketball team and was a part of the FSCC Band. Rienbolt was named to the KJCCC All-Academic Team in 2011-2012 and was FSCC’s Homecoming King in the fall of 2012.

Rienbolt will speak during FSCC Commencement Ceremonies on May 17 at 4:00 p.m.