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LAST DAY TO DROP Friday Nov. 14 is the last day to drop with “W.” For more information read the story on Page 2 and our editorial on Page 7.
Art instructor carves notch as Piper nom. Leah Bryce Staff Writer For the past 54 years KC has nominated instructors for the Minnie Stevens Piper award. This award is a statewide award encompassing every university and college to nominate a professor to represent them. Art instructor, Carolyn FoxHearne, hopes to achieve the honor of being the seventh KC instructor to win the award. “Well I absolutely was bowled over when I found out I was nominated,” Fox-Hearne said. “I did not expect it because that puts me in the company of
some really amazing teachers. I am honored to be in their company, because I really respect each and every one of them and I was shocked to be added to them.” An avid world traveller, FoxHearne uses the information and experiences she gains in her art classes. She attributes her nomination to her travels and dedication to her students. “I love what I do. I am an artist and you can see by my website (foxhearne.com) that I do several different types of art,” Fox-Hearne said. “People See AWARD on Page 3
Michael Brown / THE FLARE
Carolyn Fox-Hearne is KC’s 54th nomination for the statewide award. She is also the recipient of KC’s Beason Award.
The Flare
Monday, November 7, 2014 Vol. 78 No. 9 Serving Kilgore College since 1936
Hometown
hero
Army veteran’s new mission to help others Tiffany GriGG Staff Writer
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ach year we recognize our veterans’ sacrifices on Nov. 11. Various establishments express their thanks through discounts and free services to those who served. For those that survived the possibility of losing their lives in defense of the country, the question begging to be asked is: What about the rest of the year? “Veterans Day is only once a year but I’m wondering about the other 364 days,” said Meshell Horton, U.S. Army National Guard specialist and KC freshman. “For example, [here at KC] we don’t have any sort of veterans group so I’m talking to different deans to try and get one started.” Being a disabled veteran, Horton seeks to boost appreciation for veterans of all services. During her 11-year military career, Horton served two tours in Iraq: one in August 2006 and one in December 2008. Upon her return from the second tour in 2009, Horton experienced mood swings and other issues and was finally diagnosed in 2010 with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. “Being a veteran is humbling because a lot of people never came home and I’ve lost some friends along the away,” Horton said. “Right now I’m trying to break the stigma that PTSD is only associated with
[firefights]. It can be triggered by different things because everyone has their own story.” Along with overcoming the PTSD stigma, Horton seeks to break the stereotypical perception of what a veteran looks like. “When I was a little kid, I thought veterans were only old people but the truth is anyone who has served is a veteran when they leave the service,” Horton said. “Today I have people ask me “You’re a veteran? …But you’re not old! Even though at 29 years old, with 11 years of service, I’ve seen and done a lot that some of the older veterans hadn’t.” Horton plans to use her education to help our local veterans get the help they need. “I’m finishing my core classes [at KC] so I can transfer to UT Tyler to [get a degree] in small business operations to one day open up a small veterans integration home in Longview.” Horton enrolled at KC, which was recently named a military-friendly school for the fourth year in a row, with her sister, who is also a veteran. “My sister Janelle Mathis and I joined [the Army] together in June 2003 and we wanted to use our school benefits,” Horton said. “She found that KC was the closest and I find KC to be military-friendly because I know many other veterans here See HERO on Page 4 E’Lexus Hodge / THE FLARE
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