Northeast Texas Community College held its ninth†annual McGraw-Hill Poster contest Friday, April 29. The event was held in the foyer of the Whatley Center for the Performing Arts and featured research by 20 of NTCC?s most decorated scholars. The contest has become an annual test of creative research in Northeast Texas, funded in part by the McGraw-Hill Corporation, and judged by friends of the college, and Honors Northeast.
In first place, winning $400 as well as a $175 McGraw-Hill gift certificate was Cassia Rose.† In the past two years, Rose has been featured in theatre and film productions as Bonnie Parker, Annelle in†Steel Magnolias,†the ?mother of Northeast Texas?-Harriet Potter Ames, and Texas Governor Ma Ferguson.† This time, the actress featured her extensively memorized work performed last spring in the NTCC StatPsych Honors Seminar on ?Fear Factors.? Her poster examined ways in which the presence of community and friendship allays and refocuses anxieties.†Cassia is the daughter of the Reverend David and Rachel Rose from Winnsboro.
The contest was open to any university, college or high school senior who wished to compete. NTCC Presidential Scholars monopolized the winners circle.† Elizabeth Griffin from Pittsburg came in second place ($300) with a poster on creativity in music. She argued that ?groundbreaking musical events? depend on composers who know enough to break the right compositional rules at the right time. She is the daughter of Dr. Steven and Joy Griffin.
In third place ($200), came Angelica Fuentes. She reported on research performed last summer in a special REU fellowship at Texas A&M Commerce on the†"Synthesis of Ammonium Ionic Liquid Supported Ligands and their Application in Michael Reaction."† Fuentes, the president of the BioChem student association on campus, was one of the fifteen students of the nation to win a coveted 2016 Guistwhite Award for academic achievements. She is the daughter of Jose and Angelica Fuentes of Mount Pleasant.
Finally Cailee Davidson came in fourth place ($100). She is the daughter of Caleb and Jami Davidson from Upshur County.† Her work was on Texas Governor Pappy O?Daniel.† She typified the unusually electable politician, O?Daniel, as a ?Fabulist? for an appeal that was based neither on reality or history, but on the stories he popularized as a singer, and radio personality.
"The college is indebted to its friends who have made nine poster contests possible, providing vantage points beyond those already provided by the faculty, and administrators,?†Dr. Andrew Yox, Director of Honors Northeast, said.
The following community supporters judged the contest:† From Mount Pleasant:†Frank Adams, Suzanne Boatner, Glenda Brogoitti; Lauren Fennimore, Judy Hamilton, Rev. Dr. Wayne Renning, and Dr. Jerry Wesson; From Hughes Springs: Wanda Cockrill, Andrea Cruz, Tyler Moore; From Pittsburg: Claudia Henderson, and NTCC Trustee Chuck Johns.
Celine Koch, of McGraw Hill?s corporate office in Iowa served as the pivotal contact in re-enabling this annual contest locally this year. Other students who participated in the contest included:†Steven Vaught of Daingerfield; Morgan Capps of Jefferson; Isaac Burris, William Jones, Kassandra Martinez, Presley McClendon, Ryan-Rose Mendoza, Melody Mott, and Hector Zuniga of Mount Pleasant; Jessica Velazquez of Mount Vernon; Emmalea Shaw of Omaha; Laney Jordan of Ore City; Tanner Jones, Gabriela and Genesis Quezada of Pittsburg; Alecia Spurlin of Winnsboro.
"Dr. Jerry Wesson, a former NTCC Vice President, and another long-term poster judge, Rev. Dr. Wayne Renning, remarked to me that this year?s students were especially compelling.† We are very thankful for the unique configuration of support for scholarship here, and for how this is being leveraged for other regional and national student awards,? Yox said.
For any questions about the poster contest or about Honors Northeast, contact Dr. Andrew Yox (434-8229) or†ayox@ntcc.edu.
The top three winners are pictured below: Elizabeth Griffin, Cassia Rose and Angelica Fuentes.†
