Nevada students tour Parks Center

Nevada High School students Mitch Pent and Rene Tabor take a look at plans for the proposed new 3,000-square-foot Gordon Parks Center for Culture and Diversity that will be housed inside the new Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center which is currently being built on the Fort Scott Community College campus. A group of NHS students toured the existing Gordon Parks Center and other parts of the FSCC campus on Feb. 28. Submitted photo

A group of Nevada High School students recently traveled over the border to visit Fort Scott Community College.

The group consisted of more than 30 NHS students -- primarily seniors -- and was organized by NHS English teacher Julie Holland. The tour, which took place Feb. 28, began with a visit to the Gordon Parks Center of Culture and Diversity where Jill Warford, the executive director of the center, spoke to students about Parks' lasting legacy.

The students were able to explore Parks' works that are displayed in the center and were also able to view detailed plans for the new Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center at FSCC that will house the new 3,000-square-foot Gordon Parks Center. The fine arts center is currently under construction with a planned completion date of April 2009.

The NHS students also had a chance to tour the FSCC campus with the college's Ambassadors. After the tours, they had an opportunity to hear a presentation from FSCC Occupational Recruiter Judy Meister. She gave a presentation on the different occupational programs that are available to students who are interested in attending FSCC.

Other FSCC officials who were present during the tour were FSCC President Clayton Tatro, FSCC Admissions Director Mert Barrows, and FSCC Admissions Representative Janet Beene.