TRiO Talent Search Hosts "March Madness"

MCC s TRiO Talent Search Hosts March Madness

With college basketball tournament season in full swing, Madisonville Community College (MCC) played host to over 200 TRiO Talent Search Middle School students for a day of fun and learning. March Madness 2013 brought 6th-8th grade students from Crittenden, Hopkins and Muhlenberg counties to campus to hear from MCC personnel about the world of possibilities available to people who earn a college degree. Middle schools represented were Browning Springs, James Madison, South Hopkins, West Hopkins School, Muhlenberg North, Muhlenberg South, and Crittenden County.

Upon arrival at MCC, students were divided into teams and given gear in their teams colors that they could proudly wear around campus. From there, they set off to the first of three sessions to learn about subjects such as how the college financial aid process works, what a radiographer does, how foreign language opens doors to careers at home and abroad, the way math factors into many different career fields (even sports), and what a career in biology or ecology could mean for them. Instructors included: Sharie Davis and Stacie Gary (Bracket Probability); Katrina Florea (Origami); Patricia Fouse and Dianne Jernigan (Clase de Espanola Baloncesto Locura de Marzo); MCC Radiography Students Penny Berry, Helen Diuguid, and Stacey Ferrell (X-ray Vision); Casey Johnson (Money Madness); Octavia Lawrence (College/University ~ PREZI); Lisa Miller (Breathe Your Best); Dr. Mike Shifflett and Dr. Aseem Talukdar (The Night Sky); Pam Smith (Environmental Study/Biology Careers); Randy Wolfe and Tom Hughes (Mining Simulation). Each team had a different journey!

After teams completed their sessions, they joined their competitors to share lunchtime as a group, mingling among other schools and meeting new friends. Each team had a Guide (many of whom were current or former Talent Search participants) who led them from place to place and awarded points for things such as asking good questions, being respectful, and playing to win. Each guide was also on the lookout for his or her team MVP. At the end of the day, after they had calculated teams point totals, Talent Search staff presented trophies and medals to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams. First place went to James Madison Middle School s black team, second place went to West Hopkins navy blue team, and the third place winner was Browning Springs tan team.

Each team had a MVP that received special recognition along with a Murray State University t-shirt. All Talent Search students conducted themselves with maturity and showed great willingness to learn. It was a March Madness to remember!

For more information about services provided by the federally funded TRiO Talent Search program, please contact Anna Leasure, Director; Wes Ausenbaugh, J Nora Anderson, Corey Downey, Advisors; or Marcia Evans, Administrative Advisor. Offices are located in the John H. Gray Building on the MCC North Campus.