Mack and Nelda Taylor of Mount Pleasant (pictured left) recently presented a $500 donation to the Campaign for the Whatley Center for the Performing Arts. Receiving the gift on behalf of the Northeast Texas Community College Foundation (right) are Nita May, NTCC Director of Development, and Dr. Jonathan McCullough, NTCC Vice President for Advancement. The gift was matched through Merck, the company from which Mrs. Taylor is retired. For more information about the Campaign for the Whatley, or to learn more about employer-matched giving, contact McCullough at 903-434-8115.

Northeast Texas Community College will be closed on Thursday, July 4 in observance of the Independence Day holiday. Offices will resume regular business hours on Friday, July 5, which are from 8 a.m. to noon. In case of an emergency on campus during the closure, please contact security at 903-563-1417.

The beginning of summer in east Texas never sneaks up on us and this year certainly has made that statement true.† Before the first official day of summer we saw record heat and the wave of grasshoppers descend on the Northeast Texas Community College garden.

There are several things you can try to prevent total annihilation of your vegetable plants. The first is Garlic Spray. The smell of the stuff will repel grasshoppers and send them packing. There is also Nosema Locustae. It is a natural microbe that can be used as a bait for grasshoppers.

By Dr. Brad Johnson,†NTCC President

It seems like every day there is a new story on how our higher education system is going to hell in the proverbial hand basket. While rising tuition costs and the student loan debt crisis certainly paint a negative picture of higher education in the publics' mind, these issues do not tell the whole story.

Across the United States, there are plenty of community and technical colleges working hard to provide students with innovative training in high-demand fields at very reasonable costs.

Last Tuesday evening, the Northeast Texas Community College Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Jerry Webster, Market President for Pilgrim Bank in Pittsburg, to Place I of the board of trustees. Board President Dr. Dan McCauley commented on Mr. Webster's commitment to community service and his active interest in the college over the past years. McCauley said the board looks forward to working with Mr. Webster on important issues facing NTCC at this time.†Mr. Webster's appointment is for the next year of the unexpired seat vacated by the retirement of long-time board member, Jerry Massey.

Jerry Massey, an 18-year member of the Northeast Texas Community College Board of Trustees, announced his retirement from the board effective June 24^th, 2013.† †Mr. Massey cited his upcoming move out of the college district as the reason for his resignation.† The College will hold a reception honoring him for his service early in the fall term.† The Board of Trustees will consider the vacancy at the next regular meeting of the Board, June 25^th.

• Read more about Three NTCC rodeo athletes finish in top 20 at CNFR

James Rogers of Pittsburg was recently honored at Phi Theta Kappa's (PTK) 2013 Annual Convention in San Jose, CA. He was one of only 26 members nationwide to receive the PTK Alumni Award of Appreciation.†Rogers graduated from Northeast Texas Community College in May 2012. He was nominated for the Alumni Award of Appreciation by NTCC's Alpha Mu Chi chapter. This award is reserved for alumni members who demonstrated outstanding support to the organization. Rogers is currently studying computer science at Texas A&M University-Commerce.