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TVCC Named Top College Third Straight Year

By Jayson Larson/TVCC Public Information

Being recognized as one of the best never gets old.

For the third consecutive year, the Washington, D.C.-based Aspen Institute has named Trinity Valley Community College as one of the top 150 community colleges in the nation. The distinction makes TVCC eligible to compete for the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence and $1 million in prize funds.

Ten finalists will be named this fall. Prize winners will be announced in early 2015.

TVCC was selected from a national pool of more than 1,000 public two-year colleges.

“Trinity Valley Community College and its faculty and staff are accustomed to achieving and maintaining excellence. This is once again validated by the recognition of being one of the top community colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute,” TVCC President Dr. Glendon Forgey said. “After earning this honor the past two years, TVCC faculty and staff continue to work diligently and with great commitment to ensure that the college is among the best in the nation and that the college provides the resources necessary to make our students successful.”

The prize, awarded every two years, is the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America’s community colleges. It recognizes institutions for exceptional student outcomes in four areas: student learning, certificate and degree completion, employment and earnings, and high levels of access and success for minority and low-income students.

The Aspen Institute identified the top 150 community colleges through an assessment of institutional performance, improvement and equity on student retention and completion measures.

Nearly half of America’s college students attend community college, with more than 7 million students – youth and adult learners – working towards certificates and degrees in these institutions across the country.

“Community colleges have tremendous power to change lives, and their success will increasingly define our nation’s economic strength and the potential for social mobility for every American,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “This competition is designed to spotlight the excellent work being done in the most effective community colleges, those that best help students obtain meaningful, high-quality education and training for competitive-wage jobs after college. We hope it will raise the bar and provide a roadmap for community colleges nationwide.”

The 2013 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence was awarded to co-winners Santa Barbara City College (California) and Walla Walla Community College (Washington). Valencia College (Florida) was the inaugural Prize winner in 2011.

For more information and for a complete list of the 150 community colleges, visit AspenPrize.org.

Local case before U.S. Supreme Court today

A case involving a Henderson County man was set to be heard by the United States Supreme Court today.

At issue in the case is restitution to victims of child pornography.

In January 2009, Doyle Randall Paroline of Brownsboro pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison. Paroline admitted to having more than 150 images of child pornography. It is important to understand that difference between child pornography and regular pornography though. Websites like Nu-Bay.com – Teen Porn provide legal content that should not be bunched in child pornography.

According to the Reuters News Service: “The legal question is how much Paroline is required to pay in restitution under the 1994 Mandatory Restitution for Sexual Exploitation of Children Act. Amy said Paroline is liable for the full amount of her injury – such as counseling and loss of future income – while Paroline said he should only be liable for his individual role. Amy has claimed $3.4 million.” I bet he now wishes he’d of just clicked a porn7.xxx web link and viewed a legal adult porn website it’s a lot cheaper than $3.4 million that’s for sure.

A federal court initially denied Amy’s claim for restitution, but the appeals court approved full restitution. Paroline has appealed that decision to the Supreme Court.

AMWA v ATHENS .. The Process Continues

((For background on this issue and a list of links to previous stories, click here.))

The next steps in the Athens Municipal Water Authority (AMWA) v City of Athens dispute took place Tuesday night during a City Council meeting, and although HCN was unable to attend, I did catch up with Athens Mayor Jerry Don Vaught this morning.

The meeting was essentially for the council to respond to AMWA’s petition, which was presented to the city earlier this month. According to state law, the City had two available options for responding to the petition.

1. The council could have repealed the ordinance to dissolve the AMWA.

2. The council could place the question of the AMWA’s existence in front of the voters.

The Athens City Council went with the second option, voting to place the issue on the ballot in the May general election.

Vaught said no one on the council was for repealing the ordinance — in fact the idea never even received a motion — because council members still believe dissolving the AMWA is the right move.

Lovato Named 2013 Collegiate Coach Of Year

TVCC press release

Trinity Valley Community College head women’s basketball coach Elena Lovato has been named the 2013 Collegiate Coach of the Year by the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame.

Lovato will be presented the award on Sunday, Feb. 23 at the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame Banquet. Due to a scheduling conflict, she will be represented by her parents , Ernesto and Frances Lovato.

In her first full year at the helm of the Lady Cardinals in the 2012-13 season, Lovato, a native of Albuquerque, NM, guided TVCC to the NJCAA championship, which capped a 36-1 season (36-0 on the court). The title was the second straight for the Lady Cardinals and seventh overall.

Lovato is in her second tenure at TVCC. She served as an assistant coach in the 2009-10 season, serving as interim head coach the last 11 games. She was 9-2 and led the Lady Cardinals to a Region XIV Tournament championship and national tournament berth.

She spent the 2010-11 season as head coach at Grayson County Community College, leading the Lady Vikings to a 32-4 record and fifth-place finish at the national tournament.

After spending the 2011-12 season as an assistant coach at the University of Nebraska –Omaha, she returned to TVCC.

Lovato and the Lady Cardinals are currently ranked No. 1 nationally with an 18-1 record. She is 95-8 as a head coach (63-4 at TVCC) going into Wednesday night’s game at home against San Jacinto.

Before arriving at TVCC for her first tenure, she was an assistant at the University of Houston on Joe Curl’s staff in 2008-09. Prior to Houston, Lovato spent one season as a graduate assistant at Pittsburg State, in Pittsburg, Kan.

In addition to her experience at the collegiate level, Lovato also has coached at the high school level, serving as the head junior varsity and assistant varsity coach at Buffalo High School in Buffalo, Mo. While coaching at BHS, she also spent one year as a physical education teacher at Buffalo Prairie Middle School, earning 2007 Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year honors.

She also has coached and taught at Menaul High School in her hometown of Albuquerque, where she served as interim head girls’ basketball coach as well as assistant boys’ coach.

Lovato also has an experience in sales, after working from December 2003 to March 2006 in private business.

As a player, Lovato started her collegiate career at West Texas A&M, where she played for two seasons (1997-99) before transferring to Missouri Southern State to play her final two seasons, earning team captain and MIAA Newcomer of the Year honors in 1999-2000.

Following her collegiate career, she played in the Puerto Rican Women’s Pro Basketball League for two years. In 2001, she earned First-Team All-League honors, averaging 23 points and 10 rebounds per game. In 2002, she averaged 18 points and eight rebounds per game. In 2002, she also played for the Chicago Blaze of the National Women’s Basketball League (NWBL).

Lovato received her bachelor’s degree in university studies from Missouri Southern State in May 2005 and graduated from Pittsburg State with her master’s degree in physical education in May 2008.

Around Malakoff: Time For Local Recipes

By Loretta Humble/Around the Town

I don’t have much to tell you this week. Been kind of under the weather and staying home. I did run off to Nacogdoches this weekend, but all I did was shop for bargains. And I got some good ones. I doubt you want to hear about that. But if you do and you see me in something new now you can ask me how much I paid for it. I love bragging about my bargains.

One thing I’ve been saving for a time when I couldn’t think of anything to write is Amy Dowell’s Cornbread Salad recipe. Darla Allen asked for it and I got it, then lost it. Actually, I’ve already posted it online and Darla probably already has got it, but it is a great recipe and it will fill up some space, so here it is.

Amy’s Cornbread Salad
2 pkg. Mexican cornbread (any kind)
2 cans pinto beans (drained)
2 cans whole kernel corn (drained)
1 green pepper (chopped)
3 tomatoes (chopped)
6-8 green onions (chopped)
TOPPING
2 pkg ranch dressing mix
2 c sour cream
2 c mayonnaise
2 c cheddar cheese (shredded)
VERY TOP
1 pkg bacon bits

1.Prepare cornbread as directed on package, cool.
2.Stir together ranch dressing mix, sour cream and mayonnaise until blended; set aside.
3.Combine chopped tomatoes, bell peppers and onions. Toss gently.
4.Open corn and pinto beans, drain, mix together.
5.Crumble the cornbread into a large rectangle dish (or large bowl.)
6.Pour half the beans and corn mixture on the crumbled cornbread and spread evenly.
7.Pour half the greens and tomato misture on top of the beans and corn mixture and spread evenly.
8.Sprinkle half the shredded cheese on top of this and then repeat these layers.
9.Top with the topping mixture and sprinkle bacon bits on very top.

This won a prize at the Cornbread Festival, and it tasted great. I’m personally too lazy to make it. Ever since I learned about the wonders of crockpot cooking, all I want to do is throw some stuff in there and expect supper to come out a few hours later.

Well, one recipe didn’t fill up quite enough space, so here is another great. Amy, who gave us the cornbread salad recipe, is one of our super nurses at Cedar Lake Home Health and Hospice. The following one is from Lari Smiley, our administrator. Both Amy and Lari have been with us for years and years, though they don’t look like they are old enough to have been here that long, cause they are both cute as they can be.

Lari brought these to work right before Christmas. They are wonderful! She said her 7–year old son Brian made these. She said it was a lot of fun to watch.

Lari and Brian’s Oreo Cookie Balls

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
36 OREO Cookies, finely crushed (about 3 cups)
4 pkg. (4 oz. each) BAKER’S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, broken into pieces, melted

MIX cream cheese and cookie crumbs until blended.
SHAPE into 48 (1-inch) balls. Freeze 10 min. Dip balls in melted chocolate; place in single layer in shallow waxed paper-lined pan.
REFRIGERATE 1 hour or until firm.
I hope some of you will try one or both of these recipes. And if they make more than you can eat, bring them by Cedar Lake Home Health and Hospice and we’ll help you finish them off.
I might have something a little more interesting to tell you next week.