THIS WEEKat Southern State Community College

November 30, 2009

IN THE NEWS

The next president of South-ern State Community College could be named this week, ac-cording to Jim Ward, chairman of the college’s board of trustees.

“If we can come to an agree-ment, we will hopefully make the announcement Friday,” Ward said at the close of an all-day event Monday which included meet-the-candidate receptions, follow-up interviews with the board of trustees, and tours of Central Campus in Hillsboro and South Campus in Fincastle.

Available to Southern State faculty and staff, the SSCC Presidential Candidates web page, http://www.sscc.edu/General_Information/Presidential.htm, includes all four finalists’ resumes, as well as a link to an online sur-vey. Employees are encouraged to go online and provide individual

impressions of each finalist. The deadline for completing the on-line survey is 12 noon Thursday, Dec. 3.

After reviewing feedback from Southern State employees, the trustees will meet in special session 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 4, on Central Campus.

“All four finalists have out-standing strengths,” said Ward. “It’s going to be a tough deci-sion on our part. We’re looking forward to reading the input from faculty and staff members who had an opportunity to interview the finalists today. No decision will be made until we’ve read through those comments.”

Narrowed from an initial pool of 63 candidates, 10 individuals were selected for interviews with the trustees in mid-October.

PRESIDENT/Cont’d on Page 2

Next SSCC president could be named this week

Holiday Heritage Festival & Sale this weekendThe Appalachian Gateway

Center will host the Holiday Heritage Festival & Sale 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, and the public is invited to attend. The center is located Southern State Community College’s South Campus, 12681 U. S. Route 62, Sardinia.

“The annual event is just one of the many ways the Appala-chian Gateway Center works to accomplish its mission of pro-moting and preserving the Ap-palachian culture,” said Amanda Lewis, event coordinator. “The Holiday Heritage Festival & Sale focuses on the Appalachian celebration of the holidays, com-plete with handmade crafts, food and music. It is both educational and fun for the entire family.”

Attendees can browse through booths stocked with candles, jewelry, afghans, soaps, lotions, ornaments, baskets,

wrought iron items, handmade dolls, floral arrangements, gift items and much more.

Music of the season will be performed by the Southern State Singers.

Santa’s Workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for chil-dren ages 4-12 accompanied by a parent. Southern State students

and volunteers will assist the children in making gifts for loved ones. Craft kits for children to purchase will be $1 and gift bags will be provided. Mrs. Claus will also be present to provide entertaining stories.

For more information, please call Lewis at 1-800-628-7722, ext. 3520.

Board of Trustees Special Meeting | 10 a.m. | Dec. 4| SSCC Central

“All four finalists have outstanding strengths. It’s going to be a tough decision on our part. We’re looking forward to reading the input from faculty and staff members who had an opportunity to interview the finalists today. No decision will be made until we’ve read through those comments.” --Jim Ward

SSCC IN THE HEADLINESHighland County Press:• Lady Patriots battle, fall

to OCU: Hannah Gobin scores 20 points in loss

• Patriots drop game to Trailblazers: Five SSCC players score in double digits

• College education a great equalizer

The Times-Gazette:• Southern State girls pre-

pare for new league• Lady Patriots drop confer-

ence opener• SSCC opens OCAC play

with loss

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Dec. 5| SSCC South, Appalachian Gateway Center

UPCOMING EVENTS

Robert Coomer Exhibit(Nature Photography)

8 a.m.-8 p.m. M-F8 a.m. - 5 p.m. SaturdaySept. 21 through Dec. 4

Learning Resource CenterSouth Campus, Fincastle

Sam Powell Retirement PartyAll Day, Thursday, Dec. 3

North Campus, Wilmington

Holiday Party6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 3Snow Hill Country Club

11093 State Route 73, Wilmington

Board of Trustees Special Meeting10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 4

Room 105, Training Resource CenterCentral Campus, Hillsboro

Holiday Heritage Festival & Sale10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5

Appalachian Gateway CenterSouth Campus, Fincastle

“Your Place” 30th Anniversary3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6

Edward K. Daniels AuditoriumCentral Campus, Hillsboro

Christmas Concert bySouthern State Singers

3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

Hillsboro

Respiratory Care Graduation2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12

Edward K. Daniels AuditoriumCentral Campus, Hillsboro

Holiday Concert bySouthern State Community Band

2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13Edward K. Daniels Auditorium

Central Campus, Hillsboro

IN THE NEWS

The membership of one of higher education’s most recognized honor societies, Phi Theta Kappa, was enhanced by the induction of several new members at a Nov. 20 ceremony.

Founded in 1918, Phi Theta Kappa honors academic achieve-ment in two-year colleges. To be considered for membership, a stu-dent needs to maintain a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average carrying at least 24 credit hours. The local chapter, Alpha Omicron Eta, is one of nearly 1,000 chapters in two-year colleges around the world. Membership in Phi Theta Kappa—like its parallel for four-year colleges, Phi Beta Kappa— in-creases scholarship opportunities, job opportunities and acceptance in university and college programs.

PTK officers include 2009-10 President Angel Souther, Vice President of Leadership Wotsa Klu, Vice President of Service Kari Singleton, Vice President of Scholarship Tarina Quraishi, Vice President of Fellowship Mindy Conklin and Secretary Amber Knisley. Candee Basford, Karen Davis and Lewis Snyder serve as advisors.

PTK honor society inducts new members for fall

FAYETTE CAMPUS: (l-r) Officer Mindy Conklin, Teri Wiseman, Misti Mossbarger, Cheyenne Neff, Julie Shaw, Cindy Brown, Stephanie Kingery, Jody Steele, Pam Everhart, Charlene Burlile, Gregory Taylor and Cara Vergamini.

GREENE COUNTY: Shaun Stollings (right) with Officer Angel Souther

CENTRAL CAMPUS: (l-r) Dotty Montine, Loren Wardlow, Robert Morrison, Lyn Talbott, Jes-sica Massie, Tiffany Burns, Tara Souders, Jonna Behrens, Dave Weaver, Joy Long, Danny Gillman, Savannah Call, Mychal Harmon, Dennis Irwin, Amber Mather, Tina Musser, Jodelle Stricklett, as well as officers Amber Knisley and Kari Singleton.

SOUTH CAMPUS: (l-r) Shelly Erkenbrecher, Patricia Wilder, Shana Jackson, Brandy Evans, Kathleen Moore, Linda Fox, Phillip Paeltz and Officer Tarina Quraishi.

Cont’d from Page 1Following the first interview

sessions, the board of trustees selected four finalists: Dr. Kevin S. Boys, Superintendent of the Loveland City School District in Loveland, Ohio; Dr. Jerry C. Collins, Director of Undergradu-

ate Studies at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla.; Dr. Lisa C. McWherter, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Tri County Technical College in Pendleton, S.C.; and Dr. Charles T. Terrell, Vice President of Workforce Development Services

and Lifelong Learning at Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, Va.

“In all honesty, the event today was excellent,” said Ward. “The four brought a lot more to the table at these interviews; the questions were more in depth. The

selection will be tough.”Current president Dr. Sherry

A. Stout has announced her plan to retire effective Dec. 31, 2009. Dr. Stout has served Southern State since its founding in 1975, most recently as the college’s fourth president.

Southern State employees encouraged to submit feedback on finalists

NORTH CAMPUS: (l-r) Alister McKenzie, Courtney Mason, Caitlin Davis, Jamie McGraw, Yvette Sharp, Officer Wotsu Klu, Karen Mc-Connaughey, Scarlett DiMario.

Retirement Partyfor Sam Powell Dec. 3

By TERRI LIMBERT | North Campus Director

Please join me in wishingSam Powell congratulations and best

wishes as he prepares to retire onDec. 31, 2009. We will host cake and cookies at North Campus on Dec. 3 all day. People can stop in and bring

greetings to Sam any time during the day. Sam looks forward to some well-deserved time off. He has a few hobbies so he plans to keep busy.

Best wishes to Sam in his retirement!