FSCC planning Community Appreciation Day next week

Over the decades, the town has shown support for Fort Scott Community College, and for the past three years, the school has reciprocated by hosting Community Appreciation Day.

This year's event is scheduled for noon to 2 p.m. on the campus at 21087 S. Horton. Most of the activities will take place near the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center and parking lot. The only thing not taking place in that area is a construction trades exhibit at the former National Guard Armory, now owned by the college.

"This year, we decided to centralize things," FSCC Director of Public Relations Kathleen Hinrichs said.

The occasion offers a variety of activities for children, classes for adults, displays, free food, prize giveaways and entertainment.

A new children's activity will be horse carriage rides that will take passengers around the lake on the college campus to the Fort Lincoln Schoolhouse, located near the college, and back to the fine arts center. The old one-room schoolhouse will be open as well, Hinrichs said.

"We're thanking the community for their support," Hinrichs said. "It's about bringing people on campus, letting them see our facilities, visit our instructors and see what we have to offer. It's also a way to show them the benefit we provide for the community."

Hinrichs said about 400 people attended last year's appreciation day and the committee has planned enough food for 600 this year.

"The event doubled in size the second year," she said. "We feel the longer we do this, that more people want to come back next year."

This year's schedule of events begins with the giveaway of 200 FSCC T-shirts.

Throughout the day, attendees can enjoy free hot dogs, chips and cookies and visit a display area featuring trucks from the Fort Scott Fire Department, a Mercy Health Center ambulance and a FSCC Truck Driving School truck.

Participants will also be able to buy a chance to win an outdoor item. The FSCC Construction Trades program has donated a wooden picnic table, birdbath, tree ring, stepping stones, and a concrete table and bench set. Donations are suggested at $1 for three tickets.

Kids will have a chance to enjoy an inflatable bouncy house, balloons, face painting, horse rides on equines provided by the FSCC horse judging team and athletic camps. Other events include a wheel-thrown pottery demonstration provided by FSCC art students, a performance by the FSCC jazz band, a construction trades display, and others.

Classes and activities scheduled to begin at noon include Storybook Time and Crafts, a class on crime scene investigation techniques and a presentation by the FSCC forensics and debate team.

The day is scheduled to end with a big finale when FSCC Physics Instructor Elie Riachi hosts a rocket demonstration and launch.

In 2009, FSCC officials designated Community Appreciation Day to take place in April each year as part of the college's participation in National Community College Month, which is in April. National Community College Month recognizes the role the nation's community colleges play in providing broad access to higher education at affordable prices.

In the event of rain, some activities will be canceled but most others will be moved inside the fine arts center, Hinrichs said.

For more information, call FSCC at (620) 223-2700.