Vol. 81, No. 13 Serving Kilgore College since 1936
February 9, 2018
Grant Worley / THE FLARE
International Club members take a break to admire the flags from various countries hanging in the hall of the Devall Student Center. Front row, from left, are: Bernice Donou, Ayu Arsani, Linh Dinh, Penny Vo and Thy Phung; Back row, from left, are: Jonathan Ncha, Jamie Hwang, Ribbal Khan, Moises Ela Nchama, Khassim Rahming, Hilena Mepinault, Ana Ouedraogo, and Konrad Kawnatra.
International students find their place at KC
Students adapt to America YASMINE WILSON Staff Writer
I
nternational students from all over the world come to America to expand their studies at colleges and universities that offer them many different academic paths. Many college students can relate to leaving their home, family and friends to pursue an academic experience, but international students have to adjust to a whole new life in a new country. International students have to adapt, as things in America are different from things in their culture, such as differences between how we communicate with one another, how we dress, the types of food we eat and more. While adjusting to a new culture can be exciting, it can also be difficult. The process can be overwhelming for international students but the International Student Club at KC finds successful ways to make the experience less challenging. International Specialist, Estonia Graves, assists the students in getting involved in activities around
campus, includes them in social gathering that helps them practice English and engages them in conducting volunteer work. “We set up an orientation and have a welcome party for the students, where the current international students and the new international students come together to meet each other and we try to assign mentors,” Graves said. “The International Student Club is comprised of domestic students as well as international students, which helps out a lot because the domestic students are able to be a better fit as a mentor for the international students.” The officers of the International Student Club assist Graves in keeping the group active and bringing everybody together. The International Student Club also has an end- of-the-year gathering to celebrate their accomplishments, Graves added, “It’s mainly about just coming together so the students don’t sit in their rooms bored, with them being new, it’s easy to just stay in their room and shy
away because this is a new environment for them. Some of them have family, some of them don’t have anybody, some of them I’m their family, so I try to keep them posted on things to do that are going on around campus and sometimes even outside of Kilgore College.” International students experience KC while also meeting people and making friends with other students from all around the world. Linh Dinh, freshman from Hanoi, Vietnam, has enjoyed her experience at KC. The International Student Club helped her get used to the campus when she first moved to Kilgore. “I’ve met so many people and it makes it feel like home even though home is on the other side of the world,” Linh said, “Adjusting to a new culture and environment wasn’t as hard as I was expecting, but the hardest part is living away from my parents. Having international friends on campus makes it easier on days I feel homesick. I could always refer to them as they are experiencing the same journey as I am.” See Students on Page 3
National Signing Day adds hopeful players Five Rangers move on, team signs 32 new recruits CHRIS WILLIAMS Staff Writer On Wednesday, five KC Rangers signed to play football at the next level. The first Wednesday in February is generally known as a day athletes make one of the most important decisions of their lives. Byron Robinson, from McKinney, signed to Abilene Christian University, Darius Doakes, from Houston, inked with Southeastern Louisiana University, Zac Newbell, also of Houston, signed with Henderson State University. Jalil Kirkpatrick, from Detroit, Michigan, signed to Indiana State University. Zacharius Nash-Kelley, of Austin, also signed with Henderson State University. These are the players The Flare had confirmed as of press time. Robinson was particularly excited about his opportunities. “It was a great feeling moving on. The process was always
believing in myself,” he said. “The things that made me successful was hard work and dedication, failure, adversity and prayer.” Doakes also had some input about his experience. “I felt humbled to finally sign. I was relieved because I know what I can do and now that I’m at this level I can finally shine.” Because of his size and his academics being in place prior to graduation, Doakes believes that it played a role in him being available for early offers. He also said the extra work put him in a good position to outwork everybody he competes with. The players moving on had some advice for athletes who are working to get to the next level. Robinson offered, “Keep praying, working hard and believing in yourself.” Doakes added, “To those guys trying to reach the D1 level, I’d say don’t let the distractions absorb you. Stay focused.”
NEW RECRUITS The KC Rangers added 32 new recruits to the team following National Signing Day. The signees came from all across Texas, stretching from East Texas communities, such as Longview and Gilmer, to the larger cities of Houston and Dallas. Along with the home-grown talent, KC also inked out-ofstate signees from Louisiana, Florida and Arkansas. Here are the latest prospects by name and high school: Jaylin Brown - Longview Lou’Von Coleman - Galena Park Northshore Damien Crawford - Shreveport, La. (Green Oaks) Jocorian Deal -Humble Summer Creek Trent Deshotel- Pearland Cedrion Golden -Hearne Jalan Harris - Haynesville, La. Zaquavina Heath - Gilmer
Braelon Hill - Friendswood Clear Brook Garrett Hopper - Keller Geovonte Howard - Ft. Bend Marshall Steven Hubbard Jr. - Aldine Davis Kenric Jackson - Shreveport, La (Green Oaks) Jordan Jacobs -Waco Midway Mose Jeffery - Longview Pine Tree Kejuwon Jones - Greenbrier, Ark. Kenden Jones - Humble Summer Creek Malcolm Kitt-Denton - Pearland Dawson Kevon Latulas - Nederland Devin Logan - Bradenton, Fla. (Southeast) Ryan Logan-Jones - Jasper Kendall Major - Beaumont West Brook Ryan Malbrough - Cecila, La. Fredrick Martin - Crowley Kelton Moss - Jonesboro, La. (Hodge) Quan Moten - Hearne Zacc Smith - Haltom Luke Stillwell - Denton Guyer Dashawn Williams - Houston Madison