Rangerettes to receive Medal of Arts Award presentation Feb. 25 in Austin; other recipients include actor Jamie Foxx LEAH BRYCE Features Editor Adding to their ever-growing list of accomplishments, the Rangerettes will be awarded with the Texas Medal of Arts in the category of dance. This award is distributed biennially in several different categories like Film, Television and Literary Arts to Texas natives who have gone on to achieve
greatness in their particular fields. “I definitely feel honored. The Rangerettes have been around for 75 years and that is a big deal. A recognition this big is good for our reputation,” said Jordan Baird, Magnolia sophomore. The award was first given in 2001 and has been presented to many “big-name” recipients like Willie Nelson, Tommy Lee Jones, Laura Bush, ZZ Top and Texas Monthly. The Rangerettes will receive this award along with Jamie Foxx, the Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Rick Lowe and Chandra Wilson. “I know who Chandra Wilson is and I know people who attended Booker T.
Washington High School,” said Emily Diehl, Allen sophomore. The ceremony will be Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the end of their two-day celebration in Austin. This is the first time in Rangerette history that they will receive this award and the second time in the Texas Medal of Arts that the dance category will be received by a dance group, instead of a singular dancer. “It is very neat to know that I am a part of the team that is honored. I feel blessed to be a Rangerette,” Baird said. “It gives me a sense of honor and pride to know that my team is so well known and respected.” See MEDAL on Page 3
The Flare
A CLOSER LOOK WHO: The Kilgore College Rangerettes WHAT: Receiving the Texas Medal of Arts Award in the Dance Category at the Long Center for the Performing Arts in Austin WHEN: Wednesday, Feb 25 The Texas Cultural Trust has presented the Texas Medal of Arts award biennially for the past 8 years. The Trust has given awards to 83 Texans who have achieved success and promoted cultural diversity and awareness for the arts.
Friday, January 30, 2015 Vol. 78 No. 12 Serving Kilgore College since 1936
Community College Day gives voice to students
SECURITY UPGRADE COMPETITION
Student Ambassadors will meet with Texas legislators Feb. 2 KATHTRYN AGEE Executive Editor A few KC students have the opportunity to go directly to legislators to change things at KC for the better. Members of the Student Ambassadors will attend Community College Day on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at the Capitol in Austin. The event has been IF YOU GO held annually for Community the past decade. College Day It is hosted by the is slated for Texas Association of Tuesday Feb. 3 Community Colleges. at the Capitol in The TACC is a nonAustin. A rally profit organization is slated for that includes all 10 a.m. on the public community south steps of college districts in the Capitol. Texas. 1,500 community college supporters, including both students and administrative staff, will come and participate in the state government. Students have the opportunity to ask Texas representatives questions and tell their own stories about how community college has changed their lives. A rally will take place at 10 a.m. on the south steps of the Capitol. Legislators, student government representatives, and college leaders will speak. Group photos will then be taken. Attendees will then move into the capitol to see the House and Senate in session. This year, attendees are encouraged to use social media to update how the event is going throughout the day by using the hashtags #BetterBeginsHere, #txlege, and #CCDay2015. There will be selfies taken on the South Steps of the Capitol, and there will be a Selfie Station at lunch. The website suggests to take selfies with legislators, in the Senate and House galleries, and in the Capitol Rotunda. This is an opportunity for KC students to have a hands-on experience in the Texas government and learn what goes in the government on a day-to-day basis.
E’Lexus Hodge / THE FLARE
KCPD Chief Heath Cariker shows some of the spots where security cameras would be installed in the Communications/Automotive Building if KC wins Stanley Security’s “Together for Safer Schools” grant.
Security grant voting continues until Feb. 13 ‘Together for Safer Schools’ grant would provide $100,000 to KCPD DAVID MCCARTY Staff Writer KC is a finalist for Stanley Security’s “Together for Safer Schools” Grant Program, with the winning campus receiving $100,000 in Stanley Security products and services. “Security upgrades are much needed in order to keep our students, faculty and staff safe,” Heath Cariker, KCPD Chief said. His submission on why KC needed such a huge grant was accepted and the school was added into the program. Since KC is a finalist, the campus is competing with schools across the nation from Chicago to Bronxville, NY. “Our infrastructure is aging,” cited Cariker in his letter. “Funds to upgrade security features on campus have been hard to come by.” There are 350 on-campus residents who KCPD serves and protects. Voting is allowed once a day for each way of voting. The voting is open to students, faculty, administrators, parents, alumni and community members who are encourage to vote. With the grant, the campus police department will be able to update door locking systems and hardware, video security,
VOTING INFORMATION WHO: Stanley Security WHAT: The “Together for Safer Schools” Grant Program, designed to WHERE AND HOW: To vote, go to https:// stanleysaferschools.com/Vote/ID/kilgore or text kilgore to 334455. Vote on Twitter by tagging #Stanleysecurity and #kilgore. WHEN: Voting can be done daily until Feb. 13. Winners will be announced March 3. and residence hall security features. “Our Police department works hard to keep everyone safe, but we need the addition of proper hardware and technology to see that this is accomplished,” Cariker said. KC has remained in the Top 5 almost since voting began on Jan. 19. The contest will continue to run until Friday, Feb. 13. With three ways to vote, KC can quickly update with Stanley Security to help protect our family and friends on campus. Help keep our campus and community safe simply through a text or tweet.
Protest planned in response to police shooting in Longview KATHRYN AGEE Executive Editor Protests in support for and against the Longview Police Department have been scheduled for noon Saturday, Feb. 7, at 302 W. Cotton Street in Longview. The protests are in response to the shooting of 17-year-old Longview resident Kristiana Coignard. Her death has affected not just people in the East Texas area, but across the nation. Kristie Brian, Public InKRISTIANA formation Officer for the COIGNARD LPD, said. “We are currently monitoring activity across social media and watching what’s going to happen,” in regards to who and how many people will be in attendance. Coignard was shot four times by Longview police officers in the lobby of the Longview Police Department at about 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22. Her reasons for entering the See PROTEST on Page 3