The Flare Issue 17 3 20 18

Vol. 81, No. 17 Serving Kilgore College since 1936

March 20, 2018

It’s not easy being

GREEN

For more about energy saving on our campus, see Page 8 Photo Illustration by Lucas Strough / THE FLARE

THE FLARE

PAGE 2 n TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2018

FACE IN THE CROWD

Derrick Zarnt

Hometown: Longview Age: 29 Major: Process Technology How did you decide on Process Technology? In middle school I started learning how things work, like clamps and how to grow gardens. The desire to constantly learn and understand seemed to come naturally.

Where do you plan on working after you graduate? I plan to move to Houston down around the Gulf and work offshore.

Andrea Jimenez / THE FLARE

What are your long term goals? I would like to own my

own business out in the middle of nowhere. My business would be to sell everything from hardware to furniture. I want to buy up all the land around it so people have to come to me to buy it and I can make a profit. People out in the country have money because they have nowhere to spend it.

What are your hobbies? I enjoy chess because of the strategy and the need for good sportsmanship. I also never get bored with dominoes and fishing.

Do you have a mentor?

Mr. Mosley, my eighth grade technology teacher. He opened my eyes to the process of putting things together to make it work.

I made a clock from scratch. My grandma still has it, I think.

If you could meet or eat dinner with anyone living or dead who would it be? My grandpa. He basically raised me until I was six.

I got my love of fishing from him.

I would love to just talk and enjoy the moment.

‘Remembrance’ resonates with student viewers CLAIRE FENG Staff Writer “Remembrance,” the art exhibition displayed in the Anne Dean Turk Fine Arts Gallery, marks Alexis Serio’s explorations in creating the concept of memory that resonates among viewers.

The exhibition includes Serio’s artworks from 2008 to present, with numerous framed watercolor paintings and graphite drawings, as well as large canvases painted with oils.

Serio, who is also a professor of Painting at University of Texas at Tyler, aimed to turn her artworks into a metaphor for memory.

“Recollections exist as purely conceived constructs of present-day experience, giving us a clear division between then and now,” Serio said.

“On the other hand, the

act of remembering readily informs our grasp of the now, thus making these distinctions unstable and fluid.”

To “make these distinctions unstable and fluid,” Serio utilized different painting techniques including soft rendering and a back-andforth build-up application.

Subtle, thin layers symbolize fleetingness while thick applications emphasize highlights within a period of time, forming the diminished division of time in a pictorial way.

The “Sunset Remembrances” series, consisting of five illustrations, built up by incomplete pieces, in particular depict the fragmentation of memories.

Although these paintings are reflections of Serio’s past, the blurring smudgedout edges are intended to

merge with the viewers’ memories and thus create a shared vision of remembrance - solid yet ephemeral - among them.

“The exchange between light and shadow, permanent and fleeting are exaggerated to present a space that at once may deny a sense of reasoning yet connect with a sensual reality for the viewer,” Serio said.

“My paintings are about the importance of memory in an individual’s lifetime.”

She envisioned her paintings reminding the viewers of a particular place they have seen before and cultivate their personal experiences of remembrance through the execution of illusion and abstraction. Visit www. alexisserioart.com for more information about Serio.

@ The Gallery Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday in the Anne Dean Turk Fine Arts Building.

Admission is free.

The fine arts faculty asks all students and patrons to cooperate to ensure everyone has a pleasant experience.

1. Do not lean on gallery walls.

2. Do not touch the art pieces.

3. No food or drink in the gallery hallway.

4. Do not lie on the furniture.

5. Do not disrupt classes and offices with loud voices.

6. Musical instruments should be played in classes and practice rooms, not in the gallery.

Whitney Ervin / THE FLARE

Kaili Carr, Mount Vernon freshman and Colton Colliflower, Kilgore sophomore, examine Alexis Serio’s artwork on exhibit at the Anne Dean Turk Fine Arts Gallery.

BSM breaks ground on new $1.3 million building LONNIE ROSS Assistant Editor

Lonnie Ross / THE FLARE

KC students turn over dirt at the new Baptist Student Ministry building site. From left are: Paxton Jones II, Ayu Arsani, Chris Warren, Jaymi Blakenship (director), Anastasia Reed, Brooke Harris, Troy Townsend, Sayaka Komoriya, and Troy Ezell.

By The Numbers

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n KC will host a student mixer on Friday, March 23 in the Devall Student Center Game Room and TV Room.

The event will be held from 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. There will be free pool and karaoke.

Extra police will be on patrol that evening as well.

n Registration for Summer and Fall semesters will begin on Monday, April 2, for current students only.

Students can register online through the MyKC web portal and are encouraged to enroll as soon as possible to ensure class availability.

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1

n Phi Theta Kappa will have an induction ceremony for new members at 6:30 p.m., Friday, March 23 in the Devall Student Center Ballroom.

Attendees need to be dressed in business casual attire and in the ballroom by 6 p.m. for a group photo. A number of university representatives will be in attendance.

n This year, Easter is on April Fools’ Day, for the first time since 1956. Easter has fallen on April Fools’ Day only four times. It will not happen again until 2029. In addition, campus will be closed for Good Friday on Friday, March 30. Good Friday is the sixth day of Holy Week for Christians and falls two days prior to Easter Sunday each year.

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The Baptist Student Ministry is getting ready to lay the foundation for its new building at its former site on Nolen Street. A ground-breaking service was held on Sunday, March 4, as KC students, leaders and community members gathered under a tent to bless the area and celebrate the prospect of a new building.

The program opened with a prayer by Dr. Charles Whiteside, a member of the building team, and longtime supporter of the BSM. “What an exciting time for Kilgore College and the community of Kilgore,” Whiteside said.

The building is being built by Mobbs Builders, a local company and regular supporter of the college. The former BSM building, which stood for 55 years, was torn down in January.

The new building is an upgrade in space from 4,500 square feet to over 10,000 square feet. Completion is estimated for October 2018, according to Jaymi

Blankenship, BSM director.

After the building team was introduced, the endowment program was explained.

The BSM’s new endowment wall will consist of bricks with donor’s names and favorite scriptures on them.

The bricks can be reserved for $100 up to $500 each.

Money raised will go into an endowment fund that ensures the ministry will keep going for many years.

The attendees wrote scriptures on cards to be sealed in the time capsule that will be buried upon the building’s completion.

Everyone gathered in a circle for prayer over the site and sang hymns.

“We’re going to lay a foundation of prayer and, actually physically, God’s word to be a part of this process,” Blankenship said.

“Whether or not we have a building, we still do ministry on this campus week-to-week, and we’re thankful to God for that.”

The BSM is now operating at 807 Houston Street with Tuesday lunches being served in the carpeted gym at Parks Fitness Center at 11 a.m.

THE FLARE

TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2018 n PAGE 3

Personality matters in career choices Plan your future career with KC’s online assessment

QUAN LE Staff Writer Insidehighered.com, states most students switch majors at one point during their time in college. Choosing a major is an important decision. However, knowing what major is suitable for a future career path is a daunting question for students, even sophomores.

Although changing majors is normal, college students should seriously consider what they are passionate about when choosing a major.

These are three basic tips from “On Course- Strategies for Creating Success in College and in Life” (Skip Downing), you can use to determine what major is the most fitting for your career.

1.

Understand your personality.

Your personality is significant. To find the right major, you should compare your personality to the job’s

characteristics and examine how different they are. If the differences are great, you should consider another major. For example, how could you be a kindergarten teacher if you are not patient with children? Or why would you want to be an accountant if you hate to work with numbers?

Picking a major that does not fit your personality will lead to struggles with your inner person. Be sure you feel comfortable with what you are studying.

“If you’re a man who wants to be a kindergarten teacher, don’t set a goal to be a lawyer. You don’t want to be on your deathbed someday and realize you have lived someone else’s life. Trust that you know better than anyone else what you want,” Downing said.

2. Know what you are interested in.

Not many people like to work in a field in which they are not interested, even

though it happens often.

Janet Lee, the author of “7 Telling Signs You are in the Wrong Career Field” said, “While most people begin their careers planning to give it their best each and every day, that can fall by the wayside if the wrong career is chosen.”

It is true that you will be more motivated when doing what you are passionate about. The job market is competitive. If you continue pursuing what you are not interested in, you cannot compete with people who were born for that.

3. Being realistic.

Although students have many dreams, being realistic is significant. You cannot just imagine a job for the future and pursue it without education and an aptitude for it.

Do not forget your ability is a necessary element when picking the right major.

However, it is not the most essential requirement. Stop

imagining and start doing some research about the major you are enrolling in.

Reality and expectations are usually different; therefore, be sure you understand what you are pursuing.

“You should consider if it is going to give you the money you need, and if there are jobs in the field in the area in which you want to live.

KC’s academic advisers are also available to help students work out some of these choices.

“Sometimes you find things that may be interesting and you are really good at, but

there are not many jobs in that area or the job is not paying a lot of money,” said Pam Gatton, Director of Counseling and Testing.

KC provides Career Assessment which helps students find a suitable field by answering 60 questions.

Go to Kilgore.edu and type “career assessment” in the search box. Then click in the second link, Career Resources, and hit the “visit career coach.”

Donna McFarland, KC Learning Framework instructor, recommends students answer the 60 questions instead of the

six questions in the Career Assessment. A link is also found at the bottom of the KC homepage. The Career Coach link is in the Student Services folder on the left.

The assessment helps figure out your personality and find a suitable field which fits you.

Furthermore, a Career Coach offers necessary information about majors.

Another site is bls.gov, run by the U.S. Department of Labor. This site provides comparisons of wages and ratios of employment by major in each state.

“While most people begin their careers planning to give it their best each and every day, that can fall by the wayside if the wrong career is chosen.”

- Janet Lee, the author of “7 Telling Signs You Are In The Wrong Career Field”

Tech companies offer jobs to KC students, grads KEATON SHELLEY Staff Writer Nearly a hundred students and professionals attended the annual Technical Job Fair at the Devall Student Center Ballroom on the KC campus on Tuesday, March 6.

Hustle and bustle was everywhere as representatives from 14 companies set up shop to recruit employees and discuss work opportunities with interested students. Many of the students who attended communicated with major technical companies including Halliburton Services, Eastman Chemical Company and SWEPCO. Heather Burke, the lead of the Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) recruitment program, was impressed with the fair.

“We’ve had a really good turnout so far today,” she said. “A lot of the company recruitment programs here are very strong.”

Burke, a graduate of the KC Process Technology program, said events like this are extremely helpful to students seeking employment.

“There’s a lot of positions to fill so we come to events like this to find people,” Burke said.

“For the student population, I think it helps them to see what’s out there and what kind of jobs are available. It also allows them to see what kind of companies are hiring.”

Burke’s message reached its target audience.

Wesley Simpson, Kilgore freshman, attended the fair and got a lot out of the experience.

“Each booth I’ve been to has been so helpful,” Simpson said. “I feel like I’ve definitely learned a lot about the different career paths I could take.”

Simpson was interested in a

Find the Ranger!

Locate the hidden icon of a Ranger inside an article or infographic (not in a photo or an ad), in this week’s issue of The Flare. Send us a private message to our Facebook or Twitter account (TheFlareOnline) and be entered into a drawing for $15 in Ranger Bucks to be used at campus establishments.

Lucas Strough / THE FLARE

Trey Clinkscales, a sales representative from Emerson Automation Solutions, discusses career opportunities with KC students at the annual Technical Job Fair on March 6. Nearly 100 people packed the Devall Student Center Ballroom to meet with potential employers during the Technical Job Fair. technology field as a student at Sabine High School, when he first began to think about a future job at Eastman Chemical in Longview.

“I still have a serious desire to work at a place like Eastman once I graduate, so when I saw (them) on the list of people at this fair and checked out their

booth, it was super interesting and informative,” Simpson said.

“Talking to people that are actually involved with the company and who are there to tell you all about it helps to clarify any questions or misconceptions you have about getting a job with them.”

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KCPD redirects traffic on streets around campus KCPD encourages drivers to look both ways as a few campus streets have been directionally rerouted over Spring Break.

Nolen Street is now a two-way traffic route running in front of Dodson Auditorium.

Oak Street, located beside the Applied Technology Center, is also open to two-way traffic. They are both right turns only on to U.S. Hwy 259.

Four-way stops have been installed at Broadway and Nolen Street, and at Laird

Street and Broadway Avenue. A No-Parking zone will be installed on the north curb of Laird Street adjacent to the student parking lot.

The changes to the direction of traffic were made to help alleviate traffic congestion and make travel more convenient. The addition of the four-way stops will control speed on Broadway and increase the locations of lawful pedestrian crossings. --KCPR

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Students: Reserve your Rangerette Revels ticket now SARAH REDFORD Copy Editor Student tickets for the Rangerettes annual REVELS production may be picked up beginning Thursday, March 22, at the Revels Box Office in the Rangerette Gymnasium or at the box office in the Dodson Auditorium an hour before the show they choose to attend.

Students with a current KC ID card may attend a Wednesday or Thursday or Friday night performance for free but must pick up a ticket in order to attend.

Students must show their current KC Student ID cards to get their free ticket. Tickets go on sale to the public beginning Wednesday, March 21.

REVELS is the annual twohour variety show produced by the Rangerettes, the prestigious 70-member dance-drill team at Kilgore College. The show features

solo and group dance numbers, singing and music.

This production is the highlight of the spring semester for the internationally known Rangerettes.

Rangerette Revels Box Office Location: The box office is located downstairs in the Rangerette Gymnasium at the south entrance. Box office hours are 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Monday thru Friday. The box office in the Dodson Auditorium lobby will open an hour before each show.

Showtime on Wednesday through Saturday nights, April 11-14, will be 7:30 p.m.

A Saturday matinee will begin at 1 p.m.

All performances will be in the Dodson Auditorium on the KC campus. Tickets are $25 each and seating is reserved. For telephone orders, call 903-983-8179 (with a credit card).

THE FLARE

PAGE 4 n TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2018

Lady Rangers fall short of Championship ALEC REYES Sports Editor

T

he KC Lady Rangers, after making a Cinderella run in last year’s Region XIV Tournament, were hungry once more for a shot at redemption to possibly claim the tournament title.

With experienced players from last season’s team, there were high hopes that the Lady Rangers would once again repeat and make a run to the championship.

Things started Wednesday night as KC, the No. 3 seed,

earned a 71-63 quarterfinal victory over sixth seed Blinn College Lady Bucs.

Although suffering a scare from the Lady Bucs within the last five minutes of the contest, Richelle Velez, the record breaking 3-point shooter, sunk in four 3-pointers to extend KC’s lead and run away with the win.

KC’s next challenge in the tournament was a date in the semifinals with the same team that beat them out last season and the defending tournament champion, Trinity Valley Community

College Lady Cardinals. In stunning fashion, the Lady Rangers knocked out the defending champs 64-55.

This ended a 17-game losing streak against the Hwy. 31 confernce rival. The victory punched the Lady Ranger’s tickets to the Region XIV Championship for the second straight season.

They faced the San Jacinto Lady Gators, a program one loss away from being discontinued.

In a mostly tight first quarter that saw seven lead changes, San Jacinto did not allow KC to lead again as

they drilled in two 3-pointers to gain a slight lead at the end of the 1st quarter.

Taking advantage of KC’s missed shots, the Lady Gators went on a 12-3 run which extended their lead 28-14 with two minutes remaining in the half. Thurmon, Hennessey Handy, and Alex Strawhorn reeled off six points all together to cut the Lady Ranger’s deficit to 10 as San Jac lead 30-20 at the end of the 1st half.

In an attempt to bring KC close, Thurmon, the Iowa State commit, scored four

points off of field goals with aid from a Danielle Meador 3-point shot that cut the deficit down to five points; but the Lady Gators still led 32-27. That was as close as the Lady Rangers came as San Jac drilled in three 3-pointers and took advantage of missed shots once more as they lead 50-38 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

Only getting as close as five points once more during the fourth quarter, the Lady Gators held on to win 6658. San Jacinto secured the Region XIV Championship, an automatic bid into

the Women’s National Tournament Lubbock and the program will see at least another game. Panola was selected as the other Region XIV squad to play in the National Tournament.

Despite a second straight loss in the Region XIV Final, the Lady Rangers brought home special accolades.

Thurmon was awarded Season MVP and, along with Meador, was selected to the Conference All-Tournament Team.

Lonnie Ross / THE FLARE

Lonnie Ross / THE FLARE

Kori Stroud / THE FLARE

Top: #33 Jade Thurmon, conference MVP, drives down the court against a Blinn College defender. Top right: #15 Richelle Velez finds her familiar 3-pointer range. Bottom right: #31 Patience Idoko drives to the basket during the championship game against San Jacinto.

Bottom left: #20 Danielle Meador, a top scorer, attempts a shot while fighting off a block. Fans react following a close call during the championship round.

Lonnie Ross / THE FLARE

Lonnie Ross / THE FLARE

Lady Ranger head coach Anna Nimz instructs players and interacts with referees during a tournament game.

Kori Stroud / THE FLARE

TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2018 n PAGE 5

THE FLARE

Cinderella run ends for the Rangers Rangers’ run ends in Region XIV championship at hands of rival Tyler Junior College 59-56 ALEC REYES Sports Editor As the No. 9 seed in the 2018 Region XIV Tournament, the KC Rangers were a team on a mission – a mission to prove to the conference they were not a pushover and belonged in the tournament. As KC played and made statements, it was as if David was defeating multiple Goliaths roundby-round, which ultimately lead to a Cinderella run.

KC tipped off the first round of the tournament on Tuesday by avenging a regular season sweep and defeating the eighth seed Bossier Parish Community College Cavaliers 62-58. It was third time’s the charm for the Rangers.

As a reward for their victory against the Cavs, the Rangers were selected to face off against the heavily favored No. 1 seed Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals. KC, playing the role of David, swung with all their might and knocked out Goliath, TVCC, in a stunning 81-73 quarterfinal victory Thursday. Similar to BPCC, KC avenged a regular season sweep, and third time was the charm once again for the Rangers.

KC’s next challenge was to face the third seed Blinn College Buccaneers in a high stakes semifinal game on Friday night. In a game in which both teams tied three times, KC pulled away from Blinn in a close 63-60 game and punched their ticket to the Region XIV Final for the first time since 2013. KC matched up with rival school and second seed Tyler Junior College Apaches.

Starting the game off like a bullet from a gun, Davon Newton, who finished with 8 points, brought KC out to an early 2-0 after scoring a layup with an assist from Chad Bowie. Also getting fouled, Newton completed

Lonnie Ross / THE FLARE

Ranger teammates, from left, Samory Gueye, Chad Bowie, Daytone Jennings, and Lansana Nwosu stand dejected after accepting the Region XIV Runner-Up plaque. a one-point shot on a free throw to bring KC’s lead to 3-0. Bowie, who lead KC with 18 points, extended the lead after sinking in two points to extend the Ranger’s lead to 5-0. This was the only time KC led in the contest as TJC bounced back and maintained a slightly comfortable 36-30 lead going into halftime.

After halftime, the Rangers came roaring back from behind and went on a 7-2 run with decisive points from Newton, Daytone Jennings,

and Demeire Brown which cut KC’s deficit to one point and trailed 38-37 with 14:54 left in the game. The Apaches answered back with two points, but then Malachi Davidson fouled as he drilled in a shot of his own. Attempting a onepoint free throw, Davidson tied the game up at 40-40 with 12 minutes left. After KC’s evident spark and with the score now deadlocked, TJC went on a run of their own with three straight NBA-style 3-pointers that

increased their lead to 49-40 with 10 minutes remaining.

Now in a race against time with a Region XIV title on the line, KC didn’t go away as Brown scored two. After a foul, TJC earned one point from two free throw attempts, extending their lead by eight points.

With only eight minutes remaining in the contest, KC needed a spark and was provided with one from players Bowie, Samory Gueye, and Darrian Grays.

All three scored a combined

seven points to cut the deficit back down to one as the Apaches still lead 51-50 with less than three minutes left. For the last few minutes of the game, KC and TJC, like boxers going back and forth in the last round of a fight, exchanged bucket after bucket as the crowd stood nervously on their feet.

With three seconds left and TJC leading 59-56, Bowie, after receiving the pass, attempted a last-second, desperate 3-point shot in

hopes of taking the game into overtime, but the ball fell short of the basket as the buzzer sounded and the game was over. TJC’s victory earned them an automatic trip to compete in the National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas. TVCC was also selected to partake in the tournament.

Despite the loss, KC brought back tournament superlatives as both Bowie and Brown were selected to the All-Tournament Team.

Top left: Daytone Jennings drives past a Tyler Junior College defender.

Top right: KC head coach Brian Hoberecht paces along the court while the crowd watches. Bottom right: Demeire Brown attempts a lay-up from behind the backboard.

Middle: Chad Bowie searches for a teammate in order to complete a pass.

Bottom left: Malachi Davidson jumps up for a wide open layup.

Lonnie Ross / THE FLARE

Lonnie Ross / THE FLARE

Lonnie Ross / THE FLARE

Kori Stroud / THE FLARE

Lonnie Ross / THE FLARE

PAGE 6 n TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2018

THE FLARE

THE FLARE

TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2018 n PAGE 7

YOUR VIEW

The Student Newspaper of Kilgore College Since 1936

What are some ideas that KC students can use to conserve energy on campus and at home?

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Photos by Catie Denfeld and Brooke Harris / THE FLARE

“Turn off the light when out of a room, don’t use unnecessary water when it’s not needed and walk when you don’t have to drive.”

Vol. 81 • No. 17

Executive Editor Lucas Strough Managing Editor Allison Taliaferro Assistant Editor Lonnie Ross Copy Editor Sarah Redford Features Editor Lisa Harris

Francoise Umugwaneza Longview sophomore

Sports Editor Alec Reyes Staff Writers Adriana Cisneros, Cassidy Daniel, Claire Feng, Tony Gore, Jamie Hwang, Quan Le, Nelda Milligan-Turner, Javier Orta, Keaton Shelley, Rahsaan Sheppard, Chris Williams, Yasmine Wilson Photographers Maria Cabrera, Whitney Ervin, Grace Garcia, Brooke Harris, Lonnie Ross, Keaton Shelley, Kori Stroud, Lucas Strough, Gabriel Wade, Mary Williams-Smith, Yasmine Wilson, Grant Worley

“We should start using motion-sensor lights in the buildings to save energy during the night when there is nobody in hallways and buildings.”

Huong Vo (Penny) Vietnam freshman

Photo Illustration by Whitney Ervin / THE FLARE

“Keep electrical items unplugged when not in use here at KC and at home.”

Vincent Sotelo O’Donnell freshman

W

“Students could spend more time outdoors and less time watching TV.” Felicia Ortega Longview sophomore

POWER Y UP Y

hether you believe that people impact carbon footprints and climate change or not, we all want to save money. By making smart choices about your energy usage at home, work and school, you may be able to save yourself a great deal of money while also doing something beneficial for the environment.

In many cases, the greatest portion of energy usage in buildings is dedicated to heating or, here in Texas, keeping the temperature cool. Per the most recent studies as of 2014, most energy use in homes, apartments and dorms are as follows: space heating (42 percent), followed by electronics, lighting and other appliances (30 percent), water heating (18 percent), air conditioning (6 percent), and refrigeration (5 percent).

We can all save money by doing a few things recommended by the EPA Footprint Calculator, [available at https://www3.epa.gov/carbonfootprint-calculator/.]

These include: turn up your

thermostat in the summer by 4 degrees. Turn down your thermostat on winter nights by 3 degrees. Replace incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient LED lights in your home or dorm room.

You can take more steps including purchasing blinds and drapes that help to regulate the temperature in your house or apartment.

If you own a home or live with your parents, there are many things you can do including changing out the windows or choosing a roof that will keep your home cooler or warmer depending on the season.

One family of three using the EPA Footprint Calculator found they can save $293.87 per year by following some of the above suggestions.

What can you do with an extra $300 per year for enjoyment rather than paying utility bills?

For a college student who is trying to cover the costs of tuition, rent, groceries and bills, an extra $300 per year can make a big impact.

That amount of money could cover the cost of some textbooks, part of

a meal plan or keep a commuting student’s gas tank full. When these changes are implemented on a larger scale, the savings can be even more significant.

In 2017, KC hired the McKinstry company to complete an energy audit of the campus. If KC makes recommended changes to the energy infrastructure on the campus, the result could be thousands of dollars of savings for the college. Those savings can then be passed on to students, many of whom are trying to figure out how to afford the cost of college after two years of tuition increases at KC. Although the KC administration has taken a big step by completing an energy audit, it is up to the student body to assist in this effort.

By making a few small changes around campus, such as using less energy in dorms and classrooms, creating less waste and keeping energy expenditures to a minimum, we may be able to help the college continue to provide an affordable educational experience.

Spring Break road trips better with family Spring Break means different things to different people. From going to tropical locales, to skiing, to lazing around on the couch and sunning in the back yard, we all have our own destination.

For me, it meant spending time with family in Austin and San Antonio.

The drive from White Oak to Austin on Friday was going quite well until I missed the turn in Hearne.

I was focused on finding a restroom and did not see Highway 79 make a right hand turn so when I got back on the road, I continued the way I was headed and did not realize I was on the wrong road for about 20 minutes. After making the correction, the drive into Austin continued without interruption.

We spent two nights in Austin at an Airbnb. It was great. For about the same

cost as a hotel room, we had a whole house, including a back yard. The kids had a ball on the trampoline.

SARAH REDFORD COPY EDITOR

Saturday saw us at the Alamo. The line was long so we did not go inside but went into the courtyard instead.

There were relics on display, including a doctor’s surgery tools and the grounds were landscaped in an authentic manner. The sense of history was alive and helped along with a space designated for a living history display with period artifacts and

reenactors.

After the Alamo, we took a tour of the area on a double decker bus. The architecture is unbelievable and the details, even on insignificant pieces like awning supports, are astounding.

After the bus tour, we headed over to the visitor’s center to acquire tickets for the duck boat tour.

The duck boats are amphibious and float in the lake. Everyone is given a “quacker” to blow at pedestrians and quack along with songs. Captain Bob, our host and driver, was funny and had a great spiel. My older grandson’s birthday had been a couple of days prior and the passengers sang “Happy Birthday” to him. Captain Bob let all the kids take a turn driving the duck boat before we headed to shore.

San Antonio was on the agenda starting Sunday

afternoon. We stocked the fridge and had an early night.

Monday morning found us at the River Walk and standing in line for a river tour. The tour took about 45 minutes and wound a couple of miles down the river. The tour guide was both knowledgeable and entertaining. There is an island in the river at one spot that is made of tree roots and stands as host for many weddings each year.

We were lucky enough to see a bride and her entourage walking away from the beautiful spot.

Tuesday was reserved for Sea World. We caught all the shows but it was too cold for Aquatica. The beluga whales were a sight to behold. Even though they are not what we typically think of when we think of whales, they are beautiful.

We also saw dolphins in the

same show.

Next in line was the sea lion show. My granddaughter was chosen out of the audience to interact with a trainer and one of the sea lions. She got to pet it and throw it some fish.

We went on to see the killer whales. That is an awesome performance with lots of jumps and tail splashing.

On Wednesday we made our way to the San Antonio Zoo. It was crowded but we were able to see all the attractions and animals and had a great time.

We ended our day with a mini-train ride.

The trip was a success and a great time was had by all.

We are already planning our 2019 Spring Break trip.

Where does not matter, as long as we are together.

Sarah Redford is a sophomore journalism major from White Oak.

Adviser Rachel Stallard Photography Adviser O Rufus Lovett

LETTERS THE FLARE welcomes any letter to the editor and encourages all readers to use this as a sounding board to express thoughts and opinions on current campus-related topics.

We also welcome news or feature ideas. Due to space limitations, letters should be as concise as possible and may still be edited for space.

Letters must be signed and include an address and telephone number so that we can verify their authenticity.

Letters should be delivered to the newsroom in CommunicationsAutomotive Building, Room 125, mailed to The Flare, 1100 Broadway, Kilgore TX 75662 or emailed to: kc_ flare@yahoo.com

DISCLAIMER THE FLARE is the student newspaper of Kilgore College and is published every Friday by the journalism department, except during examination periods and vacations. First copy is free, subsequent copies are available for 50 cents. THE FLARE is a member of the Texas Community College Journalism Association and the Texas Intercollegiate press Association.

All people holding editorial staff positions are Kilgore College journalism students.

Comments and views expressed in THE FLARE reflect the thoughts of the individual writers, and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or opinions of other students, staff members, faculty members, administrative officers or the Board of Trustees.

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THE FLARE

PAGE 8 n TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2018

KC SAVES

ENERGY

McKinstry’s performance-based service helps college find money LUCAS STROUGH Executive Editor

T

he partnership between KC and McKinstry will potentially lead to a large amount of financial savings while creating a safer and more attractive campus. In April 2017, McKinstry and KC agreed to a partnership which included an energy audit of the Longview and Kilgore campuses as the initial phase of an energy overhaul project.

After collecting information on changes which could generate savings for KC, McKinstry provided a plan that, along with input from the KC Board of Trustees, could create a more energy-efficient campus.

At last month’s board meeting, KC trustees voted to move

SAVING SOURCES: n Utility Savings • Electricity, Gas, Water n Avoided Repair costs - Parts and Contracted Labor -Emergency Repairs n Reduced Service Costs n Reduced Future Capital Expenditures n Retiring Capital Leases

forward with the improvement plan. While this does not finalize the plans for the project, it moves the process along in the planning stages.

The project will include a large number of changes, including switching all the lights on the KC campus to efficient LED bulbs, as well as upgrading the Masters Gym to prevent damage to pipes from humidity. The overall goal of this project is to reduce energy expenses at KC while also avoiding potentially expensive repairs in the future. By reducing expenses, the college administration will have an easier time balancing KC’s budget. The budget has been a major issue for the KC Board of Trustees for several years, and tuition rates have been raised for two years in a row to help balance the budget.

The plan will also include the installation of additional lights on areas of the campus that are quite dark at night. The additional lighting will help to enhance safety and comfort for students who utilize the campus during nighttime hours.

The entire cost of the project will be $18 million, which will be primarily funded by a loan from the State Energy Conservation Office. This is a 15-year loan that comes with a 1 percent interest rate. The repairs and installations of the energy overhaul project is expected to take 18 months and, after the initial costs of the projects are paid and the work is completed, the KC Board of Trustees can expect to see campus savings of more than $600,000 a year, according to McKinstry’s energy audit report.

SAVINGS CATEGORIES REDUCTION IN UTILITY EXPENDITURES O&M SAVINGS RETIRING BOND PAYMENT TOTAL ESTIMATED SAVINGS: AVAILABLE FUNDING

ESTIMATED SAVINGS $391,000 $75,000 $48,000

$7,710,000

$514,000 $10,280,000

“This audit and the resulting upgrades will not only help our college better utilize existing budget dollars, but will also provide a more comfortable and attractive learning environment for everyone at Kilgore College. We will be able to reallocate those existing funds in other ways that benefit our students – the heart of our campuses.” - Dr. Brenda Kays KC President

Learn from leaders and make a REAL newspaper

Photos by Kilgore College Journalism and Photography graduates Jamie Maldonado (right), and Jonathen Ruesch (below).

Summer Journalism Workshop AT KILGORE COLLEGE High School students and incoming freshmen have the opportunity to cover real stories, make real photographs and publish a real newspaper online and in print.

For details, write rstallard@kilgore.edu or call Rachel Stallard at 903-983-8194.