13 August 2009

Five MCC-Longview athletes and one Laker team have earned Academic All-American honors for the 2008-2009 academic year.

“Academic success is a priority for our players, our teams, and our coaches. We’re proud of what our athletes are achieving in the classroom and in their sport,” said John O’Connell, athletic director.

Allie Laber, volleyball, and Steven Propst, baseball, are members of the Distinguished Academic All-American team. Propst received the same honors in the 2007-2008 year.

To become a Distinguished Academic All-American, an athlete must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) between 3.8 and 4.0.

Baseball players Matt Bergin and Adam Randles were named to the Academic All-American team. Randles earned honors in the 2007-2008 year, as well.

Cross country runner Stephanie (Stevie) Katzer, Lee’s Summit, was honored on the Coaches Academic All-American Team. Athletes must demonstrate a cumulative GPA between 3.6 and 3.8 to be eligible to become an Academic All-American.

The 2008 Laker volleyball team is distinguished as an Academic All-American Team with a cumulative team GPA of 3.03.

“We’ve got good kids and we’re doing good things. Not one of these kids would be moving on to a four-year university if he or she weren’t a good student,” said O’Connell.

At least one MCC-Longview athlete has earned Academic All-American honors for seven consecutive years. In those years, a total of 19 Academic All-Americans have played for the Lakers.

The campus is home to baseball, women’s cross country, and women’s volleyball teams. For more information on Laker athletics, visit mcckc.edu.

Academic Achievement
Elizabeth Addison
Elizabeth Hall
Vita Maxwell
Katherine Ward
Lucy Barnett
Shiloh Holman
Steven Propst
Jeffery Welch
Melissa Clark
Jagatguru Khalsa
Andrew Schoenherr
Miranda White
Melanie Erickson
Katie Kimball
Tara Scott
Erin York
Daniel Gawedzinski

Honors Program
Matthew Bergin

Phi Theta Kappa Enhanced Membership
Christian Bauer
Dana Graydusek
Krystal Newman
Melissa Wagner
Melissa Clark
Hannah Stolberg
Guy Spragg
Traci Wiengand

All-Missouri Academic Team Members
Melissa Wagner
Hannah Stolberg

Outstanding Student in Math, Physics, or Engineering
Adam Randles

Crystal M. Field Award for Student Writing
Megan Reinsch

Outstanding Alumni Service
Wilhelmina Stewart

Debater of the Year
Natalie Reeves

Individual Events Speaker of the Year
Josh Greene

Outstanding Baseball Athlete
Cody Cobb, Nick Bumstead

Outstanding Cross Country Athlete
Stephanie Smiddy

Outstanding Volleyball Athlete
Nicollette Hartley

Outstanding Student in Automotive Technology
Guy Spragg

Outstanding Student Leader
Seth Alley

Outstanding Contribution to the College
Judy Rice
Timothy Schwope

Outstanding Contribution to a Special Interest Group
Melissa Wagner
Zoe Albright

Outstanding Student Advocate
Jacqueline King

President’s Citation
Joe and Doris Fuller

Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
Elliot Schimmel

Lakers dive toward another NJCAA Division II Championship (Sean Graham/The Current).

The Longview Lakers baseball team is in full swing as they prepare for the 2009 season. After an enviably successful season resulting in a trip to the National Championship tournament, the team hopes to continue the trend.

Of the 29-man roster, only six players return from last year and the team must call upon some new talent to fill the voids. Most would be apprehensive when faced with the task of replacing a 2007 championship roster, but the Lakers are confident in the new roles they will assume.

“Our goals are the same as always—we’re going to try and win another National Championship,” said head coach Clint Culbertson. “I think the advantage that we have this year is that we have a bunch of new guys that bring a new energy. There’s not a chance of becoming stale or resting on our laurels.”

Culbertson said he is convinced that this year’s group is highly capable of performing at or above the same level as their predecessors. He also feels that with such a young team, it will take time for them to mature into their game.

“Athletically, this might be the most athletic team we’ve had in the three years that I’ve been at Longview,” said Culbertson. “They’re just young and we’ll have to see how that talent plays out in a game.”

The handful of returning players who look to guide this young team down the same path they traveled last year will use their experience and understanding of what makes a championship team. They realize the potential to obtain another title.

“The only thing we lack is obviously experience, but as the season goes on, the young guys will get [more innings],” said sophomore relief pitcher Adam Randles. “They’re going to have to play and they’re going to have to mature over the course of the year.”

With an already refined program, the expectations are set high for those who are new to the team. The prestige that they are associated with is understood and many look forward to the challenge of competing at such high levels.

“I know that I’m going to learn more [things] from players that are good,” said freshman third baseman and outfielder Taylor Didier. “It’s actually a learning experience and I know that I’ll be improving.”

The roster adjustment is not the only challenge the team may face this year. The competition will also be new, due to a change made in postseason matchups. If the Lakers advance beyond the Missouri bracket, the team will no longer play Illinois teams, but instead compete with teams from Oklahoma.

“Last year Western Oklahoma put up some gaudy Nintendo-type numbers. They’d be some pretty good competition if it were that team,” said Culbertson. “Until you’ve played in [the post season] you really don’t appreciate it. If you prepare the right way, you practice the right way, and you plan on it, then you have a pretty good chance of being successful.”

The Lakers begin the season traveling to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M on Feb. 14.

Slideshow: Practice, Jan. 22, 2009.

Would it surprise you to know that you actually have a say in what goes on at Longview? Well, you do. According to Keet Kopecky, the faculty advisor for the Student Government Association, every student has the right to attend SGA meetings and put in their two cents worth.

The SGA functions as the liaison between the student body and the many other governance associations within the community college system. Their purpose is to insure that students have fair representation on important issues like budgeting, tuition costs and parking.

The SGA also works with the Student Life and Leadership office to plan special events on campus. They have organized a battle of the bands, a Mr. and Ms. Longview contest and pizza days.

Longview’s SGA started in 1969 and has the distinction of being the only SGA within the Metropolitan Community College system. That means that Longview students have a unique opportunity to get involved in how their campus is run.

The SGA’s influence goes further still. For the last four years, the SGA, has traveled to Jefferson City for the Missouri Community College Association conference, where they participate in mock trials. Last year’s president, Steven Person, proposed a bill for reduced health care costs for community college students. While many bills were submitted, Persons’ bill was one of only two passed and it is currently being considered by the MCCA as a possible submission to the Missouri House of Representatives.

The SGA may be working hard for the student body, but does the student body know it? Voter turnout last election, less than 20 percent of credit seeking students, would indicate that many students are unaware of the important role that the SGA plays in their academic lives.

“I know absolutely nothing about what they do, but I’m sure they are doing a splendid job,” said student Zack Winslow.
Kopecky reiterated that Winslow’s response is common among students because most of the SGA’s work goes on behind the scenes. “Students can’t always see the impact we make,” he said.

The SGA officers are President Austin Graham, Vice-President Stefanie Williams, Treasurer Adam Randles and Secretary Marissa Bartolotta. In addition to the officers, there are four senators who are elected in the fall each year.

Their work may be behind the scenes but they are still doing plenty of it, Graham said he spends at least an hour a day plus meetings working on campus issues. “It is great to make college better for the student body,” he said. Graham said he was involved in student government in high school and felt it was important to continue to represent and assist his fellow students.

“The best way to know what is going on is to get involved,” said Graham. Although it is too late run for SGA this year, Kopecky suggests that any student who is interested should begin attending meetings and activities. New officer elections will be held in the spring and having that experience will certainly pay off for anyone interested in running.

The SGA’s webpage is currently out of commission due to technical issues. They do have an office located on the first floor of the Campus Center, next door to the private dining room. Students will find a comment box there where they can leave a note regarding their concerns or requests. Graham did specify that if a student wants a reply they must include their contact information.

“It is important that the student body talk to us about their concerns so that we can address them. If students wanted to attend the meetings, that would be even better,” said Kopecky.