Education Digest 3/11

Mesa Theater donated to Clovis Community College

Thanks to the generosity of Lyle Walker, Kenneth Broad, Julian Bivins, and the Estate of Violet (Vi) Petty, the Mesa Theater has been donated to Clovis Community College. The theater will be named the Norman and Vi Petty Performing Arts Center and will be used as a venue for the Clovis Community College Cultural Arts Series as well as a classroom for the college’s theater, fine arts and music programs.

Originally a movie theater, the building was renovated as a recording studio by Norman and Vi Petty in the late 1960s. Such artists as Leann Rhimes and the Fireballs recorded in the historic studio.

“We wish to thank Mr. Walker, Mr. Broad, Bivins and the Violet Petty Estate for the donation of this wonderful facility to CCC,” said CCC President Beverlee McClure. “This will allow us to continue providing quality cultural arts events to the community as well as providing a place for students to get a feel of performing in a larger venue.”

Local students win science awards at engineering fair

Several local students won awards at the 44th Southeastern New Mexico Regional Science and Engineering Fair held at Eastern New Mexico University on Saturday.

Ricky Burns, a sophomore at Texico High School placed first in the zoology category and was awarded a trip to compete at an international fair in Portland, Ore., in May.

Other winners include:

• Tara DeWitt, sixth grade, Mesa Elementary — microbiology.

• Shay Anderson, sixth grade, Texico Junior High — microbiology.

• Patrick Burns, sophomore, Texico High School — zoology.

• Johnny Creasy, sixth grade, Highland Elementary — chemistry.

• Dahlia Moore, sixth grade, Mesa Elementary — earth and science.

• Ricky Burns, sophomore, Texico High School — zoology

• Wayne Anderson, teacher, Texico High School

• Chyanne Avila and Renee Ganfert, sixth-grade, Cameo Elementary — team environment

• Jordan Bower, sixth-grade, Lockwood Elementary — behavioral

• Katy Tucker, sophomore, Texico High School — medicine and health.

• Tanya Watson, sixth-grade, Sandia Elementary — medicine and health.

• Audra Broown, Freshman, home school, Portales —Physics

• Jake Bonner and Sunny Lin, eighth grade, Portales Junior High — team microbiology

• Laura DeBusk, teacher, Portales Junior High

Texas Tech University raising tuition for fall 2004 semester

LUBBOCK — Texas Tech University System Board of Regents has raised institutional tuition $20 per credit hour for the fall 2004 semester.

The increase was approved on Feb. 27, and as a result institutional tuition will increase from $56 per credit hour to $76 per credit hour. For a student taking 15 credit hours per semester, this increase will amount to about $300 per semester in institutional tuition.

“We understand that this tuition hike is placing more of the burden of funding higher education on our students and their families; however, we have no other choice if we are to continue to offer the same high quality education to our students,” said Jon Whitmore, Ph.D., president of Texas Tech University.

Part of the increase will go to hire new faculty to meet the demands of growing enrollment. More staff also will be hired in positions that directly affect student services in such areas as financial aid.

A large portion of the tuition hike will be set aside for scholarships and financial aid for students, student business services and advising, school officials said.

Education Digest is compiled by CNJ staff writer Ryan Lengerich. He may be contacted at 763-3431, extension 313, or by e-mail:

[email protected]