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KC Risk Management makes the million mark WHITNEY ERVIN Staff Writer A $100,000 contribution to KC’s Risk Management Institute brought the total donated by Texas Mutual Insurance Company to $1 million over the last 10 years. The funds will provide support to workplace safety courses for community employers, workers and the general public. Jeremy Hansen, the manager of regional safety services at Texas Mutual presented the $100,000
Tina Marie Reed / THE FLARE
grant check to Dr. Brenda Kays, KC president, during a ceremony held last week in the Stewart H. McLaurin Administration Building. “I’m glad I got to jump in,” Hansen said of his first check presentation. “I understand it’s been a long running partnership that Texas Mutual has had with Kilgore College. It’s really a mutually beneficial partnership and opportunity for us to provide training to bigger groups who we wouldn’t normally be able to access.” He added the company sometimes uses KC to train their own employees.
Jeremy Hansen, regional manager at Texas Mutual Insurance Company, presents KC Risk Management Institute with a check for $100k to help fund safety courses.
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“When we send our safety folks out to be with the company, they are really only able to see one company every time,” Hansen said. “But helping to find a program like this, we are able to make it so that our clients or policyholders have access to safety training classes that could have 50 people in them. You could have 30 different companies being trained all at once. “It makes it easier for companies to take a more proactive approach to workforce safety,” he said. “It makes a big difference. A lot more people can See CHECK, on Page 3
Friday, February 17, 2017 Vol. 80 No. 14 Serving Kilgore College since 1936
Nursing student, Blaise Wingo, is a regular performer at the Rainbow Members Club in Longview. His stage name has been Gemini Alexander Brooks for the last 17 years.
Timothy Stuckey / THE FLARE
Don’t be a DRAG just be a QUEEN Living The Dream: Part two of a series
Nursing student dazzles the East Texas night life TIMOTHY STUCKEY Staff Writer
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n class he is Blaise Wingo: a Longview freshman working diligently for his Certified Nursing Assistant certificate with the long term goal of becoming a Licensed Vocational Nurse. On stage however, he is “Gemini Alexander Brooks,” an award-winning drag queen. Raised in a single parent household by his mother, Pamela Gordon, a former KC student and Rangerette, Wingo was first introduced to drag performance at the age of 16 after sneaking into Decisions, an alternative bar, and watching a show.
“I was drawn in by the performance and theatrics of drag,” Wingo said. His first performance was for a contest and Wingo was given $40 to find a dress and wig; with the winner being allowed to perform on Sunday with an experienced drag queen. “I went in and got the most ridiculous outfit and had to borrow someone’s hair,” Wingo said. “It was a fun experience. I won that night and that’s kind of where it started.” He was taken in as a “drag daughter” by Ricky Lund, a 25-year veteran of drag performance who went by the stage name “Brittany Brooks.” The concept and practice of “drag daughters” is common in the drag community. A more experienced performer See QUEEN, on Page 3
Timothy Stuckey / THE FLARE
Wingo places his makeup on the counter to plan out his look.
Enrollment increases seven percent in one year MEAGHAN MORTON Executive Editor Numbers rose in the Registrar’s Office as enrollment increased seven percent from the 2016 Spring Semester. This semester the registrar reported 5,354 for unofficial enrollment on the 12th class day. Last spring, 5,006 students were enrolled
in KC classes. “We’re extremely pleased with our enrollment numbers this semester,” said Dr. Brenda Kays, KC president. “I attribute the increase to the progressive vision of our board of trustees and a lot of hard work by our faculty, staff and administrators.” Out of the increase, 15.2 percent of the
increase was due to dual credit students, or students taking college courses while in high school. This spring there are 1,484 high school students enrolled at KC. Last year 1,288 high school students were enrolled. According to the Longview News-Journal, in the 2015-16 academic year, KC had to make budget cuts in certain areas of the college due to lack of state funding, local tax revenue
and enrollment. KC’s focus continues to be on student success. “Our hope is that this increase is also indicative of a growing number of students recognizing the necessity of post-secondary education to attain a degree and enter the workforce earning a family-supporting wage,” Kays said.