BRIEFLY

ACCSS to hold information session at Blinn College in Schulenburg Those interested in learning about the Sam Houston State University College of Education EdAide program are invited to attend an information session that will be held at Blinn College – Schulenburg Campus (100 Ranger Dr.) in room 120 on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 5 p.m.

The SHSU EdAide Program Coordinator, Suzanne Kitts, will be available to share information and answer any questions prospective candidates may have.

There is no question that the quality of our teachers impacts students well beyond their academic growth. Teachers are strongly linked to significant increases in high school graduation rates, college completion and salary earnings.

Texas teachers also impact their students’ physical, social and emotional health. Unfortunately, far too many teachers have left the profession in recent years.

The Alliance for College & Career Student Success (ACCSS) in South Central Texas will be hosting an information session on an alternative teacher certification program offered by Sam Houston State University College of Education. Candidates must be core complete, have an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher, have a flexible and supportive administrator, and must be employed as an instructional aide by a school district.

Their experience as an instructional classroom aide should be for at least one year in the last five years. The EdAide program can be completed in two years, and there are many options for financial support. This program is designed specifically for paraprofessionals. New cohorts begin each semester and 100% of the classes are taught online, at night, or on the weekend. By logging 540 teaching hours, student teaching will be waived!

The EdAide Program allows individuals to complete their bachelor’s degree and get certified to teach while remaining a full-time paraprofessional. There are also options for people who have a bachelor’s degree and would like to become certified or who are interested in getting a master’s degree in education while becoming credentialed to teach.

The ACCSS program works to ensure that every student, regardless of background, has access to the opportunities needed to thrive in the pursuit of their educational and career aspirations by providing academic and career resources, guidance, and comprehensive support essential for students to attain post-secondary credits or workforce career credentials.

For more information on ACCSS please visit their website, www.myaccss.net, or their Facebook page @ ACCSS5. To learn more about the EdAide program and this information session please contact the ACCSS Director, Susie Shank, at 979-743-5239.

Free Seed Library open in new location The Sprout to Share Free Seed Library relocated to the Colorado County AgriLife Extension Office at 316 Spring St #106 in Columbus.

The new hours will be Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Join the public Facebook group to watch for occasional Saturday hours and events fb.com/ groups/sprouttoshare.

The library, a project of Bluebonnet Master Gardeners of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, is full of seeds, ready for spring planting. It is open to anyone from Austin, Colorado, Fayette, Lavaca or Wharton counties. No library card or any official documentation is needed.

Seed borrowers are encouraged to grow their seeds and enjoy the produce, sharing it with family and friends, then saving seeds from a small part of the produce to return to the library for the community’s future gardening needs.

Want to be a seed library volunteer? Drop by the seed library to sign up. Contact Wanda Anglin at 713 628 6545 or wanda.anglin@hotmail.

com.

Navidad Valley CattleWomen Scholarship applications due March 7 The Navidad Valley CattleWomen (NVCW) are seeking applicants for their 2025 scholarships for students graduating from high school. Due to the generous support of the community of the NVCW 5K Ranch Run in August, numerous recipients will be awarded a scholarship.

Since 2005, NVCW has awarded over $100,000 to high school seniors from Fayette, Colorado and Lavaca counties.

A completed NVCW scholarship application must be submitted along with a self-written essay about the individual submitting, any agricultural influences and goals, involvement in the beef industry and their goals in life.

Applicants must submit a copy of their transcript through mid-term of their senior year that includes their rank and GPA. The winning applicant(s) will be paid a one-time award to be used toward tuition or other education-related expenses. Payment of scholarships will be made when the NVCW has received proof of enrollment at an accredited college, university or technical school. Completing and downloading the application should all be done from the CattleWomen website, www.nvcw.org. Completed applications must be postmarked no later than Friday, March 7 and should be mailed to Kay Gibson at 2321 Schulze Road in Muldoon, 78949.

The Navidad Valley CattleWomen, a local chapter of the Texas Cattlewomen, is a non-profit organization that supports and promotes the beef industry. The Navidad Valley local works to support local youth with scholarships and provide quality information on the industry and how to incorporate beef into a healthy diet.

Additionally, they work to support the community with targeted outreach projects that include a beefy twist. For more information on the Navidad Valley CattleWomen please visit www. nvcw.org or contact Caitlin Hoeft at 361-772-2119.

Trinity Church of Weimar seeking applications for the Elaine Dahse Feldcamp Scholarship Scholarship applications for the Elaine Dahse Feldcamp Memorial Scholarship are now available at Columbus, Rice Consolidated and Weimar High School. This is the 5th year of the scholarship that has been endowed by Larry Feldcamp, the husband of the late Elaine Dahse Feldcamp, endowed this scholarship in 2020 and will be managed by Trinity Church in New Bielau.

Elaine Dahse was born and raised in Weimar and is a graduate of Weimar High School. She graduated as the Valedictorian of the class of 1955. She graduated from the University of Texas, with high honors and went on to teach English at Texas City High School. She married Larry Feldcamp in 1964. Larry practiced law in Houston with the Law firm of Baker & Botts until 2000, when they retired in Bellingham, Washington.

Larry and his sons have graciously endowed a scholarship in Elaine’s memory for a period of 10 years. This scholarship will award two four-year scholarships and two two-year college or technical school scholarship to each of the High School’s in Colorado County.

This scholarship will be paid out over a four-year and two-year period, respectively. This fund will award scholarships over a ten-year period. Each fouryear scholarship is for the amount of $10,000 and the two-year scholarship is for $5,000. That will be a total of $30,000 for each of the High Schools each year. The Feldcamp Family has entrusted Trinity Church in New Bielau to distribute these funds.

Historical ly, Elaine’s family has been affiliated with the Church over many years. The five-member scholarship committee has been formed by Trinity Church and represents each community represented by the high school where these awards will be made. The scholarship committee is as follows:

• Mariette Bellamy – Scholarship Chairperson

• Shirley Darville – Financial • Kathy Salguero – Columbus Representative

• Michael Lanier – Rice Consolidated Representative • Charles Bittner – Weimar Representative If you are interested in applying for this scholarship, please see your High School Counselor for an application. The completed scholarship application is due no later than Friday, March 21 to the scholarship chairperson.