The Northeast Texas Community College Continuing Education Department is offering two great new classes this summer. Introduction to Drone Technology is a four-day course for ages 10-16. It is designed to teach students how to safely operate drones and will focus on operating them within the rules and regulations of the FAA. Topics will include basic operation and maintenance, programming and flying skills. The class will be held July 30 through August 2 from 8 a.m. to noon on the main NTCC campus. Drones and other equipment are provided in class.

Northeast Texas Community College recently received a check for $53,000 in scholarships from the U.S. Department of Education. Nita May (left), NTCC Director of Development, and Dr. Jonathan McCullough, NTCC Executive Vice President for Advancement are pictured receiving the gift. This grant was awarded as matching funds for gifts received for the NTCC Work Scholarship Program. Around 100 donors have given more than $85,000 this year to support the innovative program that allows students to work in the summer to prepay for their college education.

Submitted by Dr. Andrew Yox, Honors Director

For their performance in challenging honors seminars at NTCC in relation to their peers, two Presidential Scholars have recently won $100 checks.† Texas Heritage National Bank Scholar, Cassidy Watkins, who graduated this past May, was the sophomore who took all three honors seminars at NTCC, and ended with the highest GPA.† Matthew Chambers won his award as an honors freshman, ranking number one in the Stat-Psych Honors Seminar taught this past spring by Dr. Karyn Skaar and Dr. Paula Wilhite.

The Northeast Texas Community College Continuing Education department recently held a pinning ceremony for graduates from the Pharmacy Technician program.†The eight-month certificate program consists of lecture, lab and internship training for students to become Community Pharmacy Technicians in a retail pharmacy environment.†In addition to accepting adult students, the program is offered through dual credit with some area high schools.†It emphasizes the practical application of pharmacy mathematics, pharmaceutical terminology, drug packaging and labeling, dosage preparation, inventory systems

Former Lieutenant Governor Bill Ratliff was honored last week at the Northeast Texas Consortium of Colleges and Universities (NetNet) summer conference held on the Northeast Texas Community College Campus. Ratliff was recognized for being a driving catalyst in the formation of the consortium in the 1990s while serving on the Texas Legislature. NetNet is the collaborative effort of 13 higher education institutions to bring state-of-the-art technology and a wide range of instruction to 50 rural Northeast Texas counties.

By Nubia Sanchez, The Eagle newspaper staff

Northeast Texas Community College students and faculty members recently traveled to Washington D.C. as a part of the NTCC Travel Study Course program.

Rosalie Chambers recently gave $500 to the Work Scholarship Program at Northeast Texas Community College. The gift was made in honor of Dr. William and Kathy Chambers. Chambers (center) is pictured presenting the check to Nita May (left) NTCC Director of Development and Dr. Jonathan McCullough, NTCC Executive Vice President for Advancement. To learn more about the†Work†Scholarship†Program, contact McCullough at 903-434-8115 or give online today at†www.ntcc.edu/give.

Jennifer Harland,†Manager of External Affairs for AEP SWEPCO†(center), recently made a $1,000 contribution to The Northeast Texas Community College Work Scholarship Program. Dr. Kevin Rose (left), NTCC Vice President for Instruction and Dr. Ron Clinton (right), NTCC President, accepted the gift on behalf of the NTCC Foundation. The funds will be used to sponsor a student enrolled in the program this summer.

Northeast Texas Community College recently received formal notification that its Funeral Service program has been granted a three-year accreditation with the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE). This makes NTCC one of only five funeral service education programs in the state of Texas. †Students who graduate from the program with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Funeral Services are eligible to sit for certification exams in both funeral directing and embalming.

Scott Wesson recently gave $10,000 to create the Jerry Wesson Honors Scholarship at Northeast Texas Community College. †The scholarship is in the honor of Scott?s father, Dr. Jerry Wesson, for his legacy in higher education. When the college opened, he was an original member of the college?s administrative staff as the first Dean of Student Services. † Later, he served as Vice President of Student Services for many years. The perpetual scholarship will benefit students participating in the Honor's Northeast program at NTCC. †Dr. Wesson (right) is pictured above with Dr.