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‘Small things in a great way’ Local donors meet at MLK breakfast to discuss scholarships to dual credit students LUCAS STROUGH Staff Writer
O Rufus Lovett / THE FLARE
Mikaila Williams, Kilgore High School dual credit student, shares with potential donors the difference earning almost a year’s worth of college credit has made toward her college future.
In recognition of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., students, educators and local donors met in the Devall Student Center Ballroom on Friday, January 12, to celebrate the creation of a new scholarship for dual credit students. Dr. King was a lifelong supporter of education and, to honor that commitment, the MLK, Jr. Dual Credit Scholarship will provide high school students with the resources they need to move on to post-secondary education. Dr. Brenda Kays, KC President, opened the ceremony by reading from a letter written by US Senator John Cornyn in honor of King. “Let us all strive to be men and women of action, striving to effect positive change,” Kays read.
Kays said students who earned KC credits while still in high school were tracked with a statewide database. This research revealed that 22 percent of those students never attended a college or university. The goal of this scholarship, as stated by Kays, is to connect students who cannot afford college tuition with financial resources. D’Wayne Shaw, KC’s Technical Dual Credit Coordinator, spoke on behalf of Terry Booker, head Dual Credit Coordinator, about the history of KC’s dual credit program. Regarding the beginning of the program, Shaw said, “At that time, we had about 25 to 30 dual credit students per year. We were missing out on a lot of great students at that time.” KC began to expand its outreach
and add more students to its dual credit program. 1,700 dual credit students attended KC in 2017, according to Booker’s speech. This was helped in part by action from the Texas state government. “In 2008, the Texas legislature did a great thing, you don’t hear that very often,” Shaw said. “The Texas legislature required all Texas high schools to offer 12 hours of college classes by the fall of 2008.” Several students then took the stage to talk about their personal experiences with dual credit programs. Ethan Robinson, a Leverett’s Chapel senior, said, “They teach us skills that will help us to be successful in college. These courses provide a bit of a safety net for our transition from high school to college classes.” See MLK on Page 3
Vol. 81, No. 11 Serving Kilgore College since 1936
January 16, 2018
Stick to the status ‘Quoe’ Nursing student hooked on a hobby, designs patterns for Red Heart ALLISON TALIAFERRO Staff Writer
W
ith a 7:30 p.m. bed time, a 5:30 a.m. alarm, and a crochet habit that leads him to keep hooks at his bedside, one might be surprised that nursing student Quayln Stark is 20 years old. Stark is aware of his peculiarity, and defends it well. “Because I’m actually a 65-year old woman. I need my energy,” Stark said. Stark has been crocheting since he was a freshman in high school and within the last two years said he found a forever hobby in the craft of crocheting. If I want to try a new pattern I’ll get inspiration from somewhere, rather it be in film, or fashion. I usually make my own patterns and write them out,” Stark said. Out of the numerous patterns Stark has designed over
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the years, no pattern has made more of an impact than his first. “My first ever written pattern is the dust and ashes cable scarf, that is available on Etsy and quoeshop.com,” Stark said. Stark, an Overton sophomore, came to KC because of its regional nursing program. “KC has a great nursing program, and since I knew I wanted to get into nursing I thought KC would be a great fit for me,” Stark said. Stark does other things besides crocheting, reading, and sleeping. He also has a podcast on Youtube called The Quoe Podcasts. “I cover my crochet patterns, what I’ve been working on, I give book recommendations, and talk about things going on my daily life on my podcast,” he said. Stark’s Etsy store is full of products and growing even larger. “I am in the works with a lot of new
patterns that will be up very soon. I am going to stock up a lot more beanies and I’m working on merchandise for Quoe shop, because a lot of people want t-shirts,” he said. The crocheter draws inspiration from many things around him including books he reads on old Celtic weaving and knot styles. These help him with the scarves he crochets. He is also inspired by color. Stark’s crocheting has led him to many accomplishments, including being the youngest crochet pattern designer to work with the biggest yarn company in the country. “Right now I am working with Red Heart,” Stark said. Stark uses crocheting as a creative outlet. “For me, crocheting is a great way to relax and feel fulfilled creatively,” Stark said.
Grace Garcia / THE FLARE
Quayln Stark shows off his hooking skills. You can buy his products on Etsy.com or Quoeshop.com.
YOUR VIEW
What are you going to learn in 2018?
Dina Robinson / THE FLARE
New programming language.
“Designs for video games, movies and cars. And new designs for houses.”
“Go on vacation during Spring Break to a beach. Finish classes. Good GPA.”
“Jump out of a plane!”
“Play piano.”
Dustin Hill Hudson sophomore
Dervares Haten Longview freshman
Anna Reyes Kilgore sophomore
James Key Longview freshman
Saddam Mevo-Cotomou Benin sophomore