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Justin Blowers jblowers@southeastsun.com 

Feb 13, 2019

http://www.southeastsun.com/home/article_00c76734-2f9b-11e9-8761-b3ec3ebc21a9.html

Ensemble Mélange held a music workshop for students at Enterprise State Community College on Jan. 17.

The New York based sextet performed later that night at Enterprise High School as part of a concert organized by the Coffee County Arts Alliance and Center Drugs Home & Health, and decided to stop by ESCC to perform and talk to students.

“The group began in 2010 and the idea was basically, ‘Why can’t concerts be more fun?’” clarinetist Moran Katz said. “’Why can’t we look at our audience, talk to our audience, see what they want, have them ask us questions and break that wall?’ Also, for us, since most of our concerts we know what we’re going to play, it’s not necessarily bad, but it is predictable. Here, we have a concept where we show up as prepared as we can be but we have no idea what we’re about to play.”

During workshop each member would tell the audience a little bit about as life as a musician and how they became part of the group. After that, the audience would vote on two different compositions to see which could be played.

This was a slightly different take on the “menu” that the ensemble uses during their performances where picked audience members are allowed to choose any piece off the “menu.”

At the end of the performances, the group asked the audience members to introduce themselves and tell what they wanted their careers to be. The different members provided career advice to every member they could before opening up the floor for questions.

Ensemble Mélange’s soprano vocalist Ariadne Grief said that she hopes the workshop will help motivate students to start on their own dreams.

“It seems like a lot of people were worried that—as they said—they’re somewhere rural so they can’t get started on something if they have big or medium dreams,” Grief said. “I really just hope people will take action and start things themselves. All of our institutions that we care about and that we think are big and important were all started as a dream by somebody, somewhere. I just hope it felt possible after this.”

Justin Blowers jblowers@southeastsun.com

Feb 6, 2019

http://www.southeastsun.com/home/article_cd7673f2-2a1d-11e9-900b-9f7afcfa81b4.html

Enterprise State Community College held its club day on Jan. 15. Many of ESCC’s clubs filled the student center, recruiting new members with each passing student.

“We want our students to be involved and club day is a way to let them know there are areas to be involved in—especially our new students who maybe haven’t found their friend group,” said ESCC Coordinator of Special Events Jennifer Olson. “It’s a great day to come and socialize and get to know people and what ESCC has to offer.”

Justin Blowers jblowers@southeastsun.com

Feb 6, 2019

http://www.southeastsun.com/home/article_7f1dbf00-2a1b-11e9-8325-8fad2502036a.html

Enterprise State Community College announced that free tutoring and advising sessions are being offered in the library.

“We’re expanding our mission to provide services to students, who, in the past, were not able to receive these types of services in the form of tutoring and advising, which are critical,” ESCC President Matt Rodgers said. “I think it’s critical that we serve our students but also provide the support they need to be successful.”

The decision to provide these services and space for them was made in November of 2018 and the services are already available for students to use in the library.

Rodgers said that the amount of work everyone put in to have Boll Weevil Central ready has been gratifying.

“It’s the right thing to do for our students, but from my perspective to see 15 or 20 of our faculty and students come together to move furniture and move books in a short amount of time is really rewarding; it shows that we’re working as a team and putting our students first,” Rodgers said.

The space, called Boll Weevil Central in the library, will eventually be renovated to include new study rooms as well as more chairs and tables.

ESCC English Instructor DaNean Pound is heading the tutoring portion of the Boll Weevil Circle and said she’s excited to see this dream of hers finally come true.

“I’ve been a huge advocate for this for many years and just to see it come to fruition and to see how excited students are makes my heart warm,” Pound said.

Boll Weevil Central currently has three professional tutors and four peer tutors, which can help students in subjects such as math, English, music, chemistry, etc., according to Pound.

ESCC Director of Counselling and Student Success Dr. Felisha Ford heads up the advising portion of Boll Weevil Central, which also includes transfer and career assistance. She said that the program is a long-time coming.

“I am elated,” Ford said. “This is a program that we have desired—as an institution—to provide for our students for quite some time. I am excited to see it take shape.”

The school has hired two part-time success coaches to help students.

“They (the success coaches) are going to be assigned certain groups who we want to make sure are armed with the best information to help them decide whether they want to transfer to a four-year institution before completing their degree or complete their degree here,” Ford said.

She made sure to stress that the advising is not just for students who are looking to transfer.

“Our success advisors are also going to target students who may be at academic risk—those who have declining GPAs, run into financial aid problems, those sort of things—and use the proactive advising model,” Ford said. “We’re going to identify the individual needs of those students and create a success plan for them and help them to work that plan until they graduate or transfer.”

Any student wishing to use any of these services just needs to go to the library, where they will be directed to Boll Weevil Central.

Although there isn’t a set date for the final renovations to be done, work has already started with the final goal of making Boll Weevil Circle a one-stop shop for student needs.

Justin Blowers jblowers@southeastsun.com 

Feb 6, 2019

http://www.southeastsun.com/daleville/article_eeb3ddc2-2a20-11e9-928c-ef02eb1cd1a1.html

Special to The Sun 

Jan 30, 2019

http://www.southeastsun.com/home/article_9a315bf6-24b4-11e9-bf83-63c5ca26a06a.html

Macie Sarah Holsonback was crowned the Enterprise State Community College homecoming queen during the Men’s Boll Weevil game against Bishop State Community College.

Holsonback, who is from Westville, Fla., represented the Student Support Services Advisory Board and is an active member of the advisory board CMI: Revive and the ESCC Power Performers.

She enjoys working as a student and dance instructor, playing with her nieces and skeet shooting with friends.

Holsonback led the homecoming court of 10 ESCC students picked by the student body including: Stacy Louise Brand, Deja Craig, Holsonback, Bailey Kennington, Alyssa Kyles, Fantasia Miller, Heather Strickland, Alaura Sutherland, Taylor Jordan and Alex Watson.

The Boll Weevils went on to win 81-77 against Bishop State with the Lady Weevils losing 82-77.

The beginning of the week was filled with homecoming activities and competitions.

Student Support Services won the banner competition held on Jan. 22 and Dava Foster won the faculty dip-off on Jan. 23.

The morning before the homecoming game, the faculty beat the students in the faculty/staff vs students basketball game 33-28.

Justin Blowers jblowers@southeastsun.com

Jan 30, 2019

http://www.southeastsun.com/home/article_7ae4922c-24af-11e9-83fd-ff8bd5c0788d.html

Enterprise State Community College has a new recruiting team that refer to themselves as the “Triple Threat.”

ESCC Recruiter Adonis Bozeman, Alabama Aviation College Recruiter and Career Coach Jenna Strickland and ESCC Career Coach Emily Harrelson make up the team who have recently spent most of their time on the road recently.

“The three of us work really well together,” said Strickland. “We’ve spent the past week and half on the road meeting our guidance counselors and introducing Adonis (Bozeman) and Emily (Harrelson). I think we’re a great team.”

Harrelson said she believes every team member brings something to the table that compliments the other members. For Harrelson she said it’s her experience in social work.

“My undergrad and master’s are both in social work so that includes patience such as working one-on-one with students with the career coach aspect,” Harrelson said. “With ninth through 12^th graders it’s able to get them college ready such as being able to see students succeed as individuals, which betters the community as a whole.”

Bozeman said his prior experience as a recruiter brings something new to the ESCC team.

“I feel like being that I came from a four-year institution with Auburn University Montgomery, I incorporate a lot of those ideas and new flavors and transition those to a two-year university,” Bozeman said. “It’s always exciting and fun to do that.”

Strickland says her love for the community and experience at the University of Alabama help her bring some unique strategies to the table.

“I have such a love for this community and this area,” Strickland said. “I did get to recruit as a student recruiter at the University of Alabama for the football team so I’m kind of using some of Coach Saban’s tactics to recruit new students.”

She said the team’s own college experiences will also help with their goal.

“All of us were in college pretty recently, I mean we’re all still pretty young,” Strickland said. “I think having a fresh experience and being able to say, ‘Hey, I did this but let me tell you how it can be easier for you,’ brings something to the table for these students.”

The team said that their goal is not only to help ESCC grow, but also help the community grow.

“We’re a community college so we just want to better the community as a whole, not just Enterprise itself but all the surrounding areas,” Harrelson said.

One of the ways they do this is by targeting non-traditional students, according to Harrelson.

Strickland said not many people know that students 60 and over receive free tuition, and only have to pay for books and fees.

“If someone is sitting at home and they need something to do, come take a computer or a drawing class,” Strickland said. “I had an older gentleman ask me, ‘Hey, I really want to learn how to use Powerpoint, can the college teach me that?’ Absolutely. If you’re sitting at home and thinking, ‘I just want to learn how to use my computer,’ we can help you with that.”

She said that the college is focused on the needs of the community.

“We’re starting to really see what our community needs and serve that to our community,” Strickland said. “If people have an idea, let us hear it. We want to hear what you think we need because we’re a community college and a community college serves the community.”

Michelle Mann Sun Staff Writer

Jan 23, 2019

http://www.southeastsun.com/opinion/michelle_mann/article_62c932be-1f29-11e9-b04d-e7457fb8f51d.html

One of the great things about being in media is the opportunity to learn so much about so many great things in our community.

Journalists are charged with reporting events as they happen—just the facts. (A charge, admittedly, that some journalists take more seriously than others but that is another story for another day.)

There are some events, however, that I have the opportunity to cover that warrant more than “just the facts” and the new “Coffee with a Veteran” event is one of them.

Attending the first early morning “Coffee with a Veteran” at Enterprise State Community College, I was impressed.

Attending the second such event, I was even more impressed.

“We are privileged to serve those who have served,” is the way that ESCC President Matt Rodgers welcomed the veterans, family members and veteran service providers to each of the two events so far.

The plan is to hold the free veteran-focused event on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 a.m. The next one will be held at the ESCC Aviation College Campus in Ozark.

We are blessed that there are many veterans support organizations in our area and ESCC is an active member of that list.

A new student organization comprised of military veteran students and a Veterans Resource Center are among the veteran-focused ESCC programs designed to facilitate camaraderie with fellow veterans facing the same challenges.

Many veterans—regardless of their years of service—never have had a job other than the military or they never had to apply for a job. Many are aware that they have earned educational benefits but are not sure how to actually obtain those benefits.

For those combat-tested veterans who served their country—and for those of us who love them—it is no secret that finding a job in the civilian world can be frustrating. There is sometimes a perception barrier between “boots on the ground” military experience and what civilian employers say they are seeking.

With thousands of combat-tested veterans returning stateside to unemployment or underemployment, ESCC is making a difference in our corner of South Alabama putting their money where their mouth is by providing resources to assist veterans with finding educational opportunities so they can be competitive in the job market.

Kudos to the men and women at ESCC who are going the extra mile to make the words “serving those who serve” more than a motto.

By Josh Boutwell sports@southeastsun.com

http://www.southeastsun.com/sports/article_05811770-1f24-11e9-8f01-f32dfbbe8360.html

Jan 23, 2019

Last week Encore Sports Medicine hosted the inaugural Junior College Area Media Day featuring coaches and players from the baseball/softball programs at Enterprise State Community College, Wallace Community College and Lurleen B. Wallace Community College.

Joining ESCC baseball coach Bubba Frichter was sophomore Grant Akridge, while sophomore Emily Cronk joined softball coach Traci Harrison.

Both Harrison and Frichter are entering their third seasons at the helm at ESCC and both share the same goals for the season.

“We wouldn’t be doing this job if we didn’t all want to achieve the ultimate goal, which is winning a national championship,” Frichter said. “All of us want to be playing in Grand Junction next year, so that goes without saying. If that’s not my ultimate goal I need to find another job.”

Harrison concurred with Frichter’s assessment.

“Our goal is to get to Utah and make it to the national championship,” Harrison said. “That’s everyone’s goal in JUCO softball. Every day we talk about making the top four in our conference, so we can make it back to Alabaster for the state tournament and then hopefully be in the top two to make it to Utah.”

Frichter returns eight sophomores from last season’s team with two additional sophomore transfers along with 19 incoming freshmen.

Sophomores include Enterprise natives Cole Smith and Parker Warren along with former all-state New Brockton pitcher Noah McDaniel and Elba’s Grant Akridge.

Another familiar face is transfer Clay Kelly, who was an all-state football player and baseball player at New Brockton before starting his college baseball career at Gulf Coast State College in Florida last season.

“I know chemistry is something that gets beat to death (in sports) but I think our chemistry has been great so far,” Frichter said. “The returning sophomore’s leadership has been phenomenal. It’s always interesting to watch kids develop from freshman to sophomore year.

“Most of these kids are used to playing 20 games in high school and then they get here and get to that point in the season with 25 more games to go, and the sophomores have to take over and lead.”

Akridge – a former all-state football player and baseball player at Elba High School – will be expected to be one of those leaders this season.

“The freshmen came in and we didn’t know anyone but we all clicked right away,” Akridge said. “The chemistry has been great and everyone is looking forward to the season and seeing what we can do.”

Akridge was ESCC’s leading batter last season with seven homeruns, 35 RBI, a .333 batting average and.576 slugging average.

The Boll Weevils return a solid pitching staff, which includes McDaniel and Ozark native Wells Deloney.

In his freshman season, Deloney struck out 63 batters with a 3.77 ERA in 59 2/3 innings pitched.

The Lady Boll Weevils, on the other hand, will be returning just a handful of players from last season’s team.

“We’re going into our third season here and we accomplished a lot of our goals last season, but we brought in almost a whole new team this year,” Harrison said. “We’re super excited about this team and on the first day of practice we laid it all out to the freshmen that they are what will make our program. We talk about it all the time. This group of freshmen will make our program in the long run.”

The Lady Boll Weevils return just six sophomores from last season’s team with 13 incoming freshmen and a sophomore transfer.

“We’re very confident in this team,” Harrison said. “We come to practice every day and they know my expectations and everyone is on board.”

Sophomore Emily Cronk – a former Enterprise High softball star – will be called on this season to help lead the younger players.

“This is my last season here at ESCC and I want to help get the best out of our girls,” Cronk said. “I want to be able to pull it out of all of them, so we can be the best that we can possible be. It’s our jobs to come out and bust our tails and get to where we need to go.”

The Boll Weevils begin the season on Feb. 8 against Andrews College from Ozark’s Eagle Stadium, while the Lady Boll Weevils will play in the NJCAA Lead Off Classic in Clearwater, Fla. on Jan. 25.

By Michelle Mann mmann@southeastsun.com

Jan 23, 2019

“You have served our country and now it is time for us to serve you.”

With those words Enterprise State Community College President Matt Rodgers welcomed those attending the second Coffee with a Veteran breakfast meeting held Jan. 15 on the college campus in Enterprise

“We have so many programs for our veterans and their families and it’s our job to communicate what those programs are,” Rodgers said as he explained the purpose of the veteran-focused information event held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 a.m.

Retired Army Col. Chaplain Sonny Moore was keynote speaker at the event and he had high praise for Rodgers. “He hit the ground running,” Moore told those attending the veteran-focused event. “Matt, you’ve done so well and I’m so proud of you. You really have taken this school to another level.”

Reaching “another level” was also the theme of Moore’s address to the military veterans. “Y’all understand the meaning of ‘Chain of Command,’” he said. “And that starts with our Maker and Redeemer, the one who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundation of the earth.

“I owe Him everything,” Moore said. “He created me for a purpose—to make a difference. That’s a daily prayer, I pray. ‘God help me to make a difference.’”

Moore said that when he began his military career that ultimately spanned more than three decades he had only one goal. “I wanted to be the best chaplain in the Army. I wanted to love the soldiers and their families and take care of them. That was the only goal I had

“To be the best I could be and to make a difference,” was his focus Moore said, outlining four “stake poles” in his life.

“The first is ‘Be Yourself,’” Moore said. “You are unique, you are special. God has a plan for you to make a difference like no body else.”

The second “stake pole,” Moore said is to remain positive. “A positive attitude will go a long way. A smile goes a long way.”

The third is to be mindful of others, Moore said. “Somebody around you needs love and encouragement,” he said. “We’ve got to love one another and encourage one another. People are going through some tough stuff. We need the encouragement of each other.”

The fourth “stake pole” Moore said is goals. “Be going somewhere. Have some goals financially and educationally,” he explained. “You never get too old to stop learning.

“Have some goals spiritually,” Moore advised. “Some things you don’t get a redo on.

“You can’t take a word back, you can’t get back wasted opportunities, you can’t get time back,” Moore stressed. “So I pray that you have made that big choice that we follow Him who said, ‘I am the way the truth and the life.’”

“We are privileged to serve those who have served us,” is how Rodgers described his thoughts to those attending the event held in the campus multipurpose room in the student center. “And I can’t think of a better place to do it than right here at the doorstep of Fort Rucker.”

ESCC Veterans’ Affairs and Student Financial Aide Coordinator Stephen Adcock agreed. “We are really excited about some of the things that we have on our plate for veterans for next year,” he said, citing a new student organization comprised of military veteran students and a Veterans Resource Center set to open in the Spring. “It will provide a place, an opportunity for our veteran students to connect with each other,” he said. “It is for like-minded individuals who are facing some of the same issues, some of the same challenges.”

“We are here for you. you are special to us,” Rodgers told the veterans. “You have a home here. You are important to us.”

Justin Blowers jblowers@southeastsun.com

Jan 16, 2019