Fall Convention Sept. 28-30 ...see page 2
THE HILLTOP
Volume 64, Issue 1
Mars Hill, North Carolina
Friday, September 21,1990
Student Support Services
Ready for Third Year
Lisa Ramsey
Staff Writer
Tensions ran high this summer as the
Student Support Services’ staff awaited
the notification for the renewal of the
program grant. SSS programs are
federaiiy funded, therefore they must be
approved by Congress and the Depart
ment of Education every three years.
Mars Hili’s SSS grant application was
one of over seven hundred in the nation
submitted during the fall of 1989. Ms.
Barbara McKinney, program director,
was notified in late July of the grant ap
proval.
"We knew that we had a solid grant
application, and we knew that what we
have done through the program for the
last two years works," Ms. McKinney
said. "Our students are getting assis
tance and they are being successful.
However, competition is stiff and the
grant readers are thorough. There was
always the outside chance that the grant
wouid not be approved for this year."
Student Support Services has a lot
to offer. It helps students succeed by
providing the needed guidance and
toois they may lack. These services are
availabieinawarm, friendiy atmosphere
in which students can feel comfortable.
Upon entering the SSS offices, stu
dents may immediately lose some of the
anxiety that they feel. Comfortable
chairs give them a place to relax while
I waiting for a tutoring session, counsel
ing, or other service offered by SSS. The
reception area is decorated with signs
of the season, and the bulletin board
keeps students informed of the various
events on campus. Staff members often
chat with students about areas of con
cern around MHC that might affect
them. SSS staff members are always
willing to help students sort through
problems they encounter throughout
I the year.
Student Support Services was not al
Training Sessions Offered
The Library wiil give special training sessions on the new computer databases at
I the foliowing times:
Periodical Abstracts (general): Thursday, Sept. 27 at 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 5:00 p.m.
ERIC (education): Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 11 at 10:00 a.m.
Students interested in one of these training sessions should come and sign up
I beforehand at the reference desk of the Library.
See accompanying story, page 6.
Circle K Gets Downright Dirty
with Mud Volleyball
ways a part of the MHC community. The
program began with a grant given to
MHC in the faii of 1988. Services avaii-
able with no charge to eligible students
include academic, personal, and career
counseling; individuai peer tutoring;
weekly help sessions for Math 107 and
111, Biology 101, and English 111;
monthiy workshops on topics such as
handiing test anxiety and communicat
ing with faculty; graduate school advis
ing; and assistance in fiiiing out job
applications and preparing resumes. A
computer and printer are aiso available
to assist students in preparing papers.
With aii the services SSS provides,
does the program work? Student Sup
port Services closed its 1989-90
academic year with 178 MHC students
enrolied in the program. One hundred
and thirty of these students ended the
year with a cumulative GPA of at least
2.0, with thirty-nine of these earning at
least 3.0. Seventy-five percent of the
program students received tutoring last
year, and sixty-nine percent of these
passed the tutored course(s) with a C or
better. Seventy student tutors gave their
time and talents to help make these suc
cesses possible. Ms. McKinney states
that she and her staff take oniy partial
credit for the success of the Student
Support Services program. Without
strong administrative support, excelient
cooperation from the faculty, and the
dedication of the program tutors, a great
deal of what is accomplished would not
be possible.
Students who need help should
apply to the program. The process takes
only minutes. Students interested in
working as tutors should see Lisa
Wachtman, coordinator of the tutoring
program. Student Support Services is
located on the first floor of Marshbanks
Hall. Office hours are 8:00 to 5:00 Mon-
Beatriz Melendez
Staff Writer
Mud volieybail may be dirty job, but
Circle K was proud to do it. The mud vol-
leybail tournament was held on Satur
day, September 7 from 9:00 am to 2:00
pm. All proceeds from the tournament
will be divided between four charities.
"The tournament was a real suc
cess," said Circle K president Becky
Walisa. "We were amazed with the turn
out. The idea came up when school
started, but the only weekend we could
hold the tournament was the following
weekend. Peopie said we’d never puil it
off in a week, but we managed to sign
up ten teams. We even elected a Mud
King and Queen: Chris Gibson and
Ender Nezbitt. And the Mud Volleyball
II111II
Club members are hoping to double
their membership. A large turn out of
sixty-eight at the first Circle K meeting of
the year was very encouraging.
"This year, we’re going to try to do
more social things within the dub, and
we are looking forward to new mem
bers," said Becky Walisa. "For me. Circle
K is a way to put my Christianity into ac
tion. It’s a way to serve others and serve
Christ at the same time. You see results
with Circle K."
Basically, Circle K is an internationai
community-oriented service organiza
tion sponsored by the Kiwanis Club.
However, some members-to-be see
more than that.
The future site of the new college cafeteria was put to good use as volunteers
battled it out in the mud for charity on September 7.
Tournament Championship of 1990
belongs to the Melrose Mudcats."
The mud volleyball tournament is not
the only event that Circle K has taken up
in the name of charity. The organization
has adopted a highway, become in
volved in Terrific Kids, visited Madison
Manor, walked in a Walk-a-thon for Mul
tiple Sclerosis, collected canned foods
for the needy, adopted the Lifeline or
ganization, assisted with the Big
Brothers/Big Sisters organization, led a
church clean-up, and aided in campus
activities.
Circle K’s twenty active members are
headed up by President, Becky Waiisa;
Vice President, Pam Stewart; Secretary,
Kelly Green; Treasurer, Penny Brown;
and Lieutenant Governor, David Smith.
"Circle K is an opportunity to meet
people, help others, and get in touch
with your Christianity. It’s a way of
making a difference for the better," said
up-coming member Kelly Reverse.
Sometimes Circle K can be a dirty job,
as in the mud volleyball tournament, but
somebody’s gotta do it. The officers are
hoping that somebody is you!
Circle K meets every other Monday
at 5 p.m. in the Gold Room (upstairs) in
the cafeteria. The next meeting wiil be
Oct. 1. The organization does at least
one community service project per
week; club members are required to
participate in two projects per month.
Annual dues are $19, and this amount
inciudes both internationai and district
fees.