Stamper-Brown
earns Ph.D. from University of South Carolina
Georgia
Ann Stamper-Brown was awarded a Ph.D. degree in clinical psychology
from the University of South Carolina in August. Her dissertation
focused on evaluating the efficiency of college alcohol interventions.
Previously, she has worked at the Veterans Administration Hospital
in Cincinnati, NorthKey Community Care in Covington, and at
Morris Village in Columbia, SC. Her professional areas of specialization
are in substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Stamper-Brown also earned a master’s degree in clinical
psychology from the University of South Carolina in 2002. She
graduated summa cum laude from Transylvania University in 1999,
and from Russell High School in 1995.
Stamper-Brown is married to Dr. Alexander Brown, and now resides
in Cincinnati. She is the daughter of former Owen Countians
Ernie and Georgia Stamper of Lexington, and the granddaughter
of Geraldine Hudson Green of New Columbus and Lexington. She
is also the granddaughter of the late Delmer Dexter Green, and
the late Forest and Roberta Stamper, all lifelong residents
of Owen County.
Art
and writing contest to kickoff in next few weeks
By
Paul Veech, District Conservationist
The 2006 Conservation Art and Writing Contest will begin soon,
with tabloids for each participant being delivered to participating
schools. The sponsors of the contest remain the same as last
year, with local conservation districts partnering with The
Courier Journal and Kentucky Farm Bureau to provide information,
prizes and recognition for students.
Topics rotate to cover a broad range of natural resource issues,
with this year’s topic being “Kentucky Soil –
It’s Worth Protecting.” Many natural resource-related
agencies combine forces, along with the Department of Education
to present material that is aligned with the Kentucky Education
Reform Act Core Content, primarily in the area of science. Numerous
resources for students are cited in the tabloid, as well as
the rules and entry form for the contest, which needs to be
attached to each entry.
Being a district conservationist, this topic is very near and
dear to me. From an early age, I realized soil was a very important
natural resource. Through a lifetime of learning, it has become
clear just how vital soil is to our very existence. On a world
scale, we can see historical evidence that some very prominent
civilizations have faltered because they took the soil for granted.
America is quite young as a developed nation and enjoys the
prosperity of the most productive agriculture in the world.
Stewardship of this resource by farmers today has never been
better, and equipment and technology continues to improve, making
it possible to sustain healthy soil and produce a safe and abundant
food supply.
Soil is a renewable, dynamic resource like air and water. Unlike
these basic resources, soil is formed very slowly, mostly from
weathering rock and decomposing plant material. We still have
the same air and water we have always had, but they change form
and can be cleaned by natural forces as well as man. Soil often
dirties our water and is closely connected to air through plants
and the changing forms of air and water. Water mixes with air
in the form of vapor, which makes our replenishing rains as
well as a force that causes soil erosion, adding to pollution
in an ever-changing cycle that is both beneficial and harmful
to our dynamic environment. Soil in this region is formed very
slowly, but can be lost rapidly as with recent heavy rains.
Soil blankets the rock it was formed from and plants, both living
and dead, protect and form the soil in a delicate balancing
act.
As you wade into the contest material from the perspective of
parent, teacher or student, try not to be overwhelmed by its
complexity, but rather embrace the simplicity of the need to
conserve this very important resource. Sometimes the simplest
idea is responsible for an outstanding contest entry. The most
difficult thing to do would be to put everything learned into
one written or drawn piece of work. Instead, I usually encourage
students to narrow or specialize their ideas into a workable
concept. So much variability exists in a topic like protecting
our soil. We look forward to seeing some unique entries, possibly
having another state winner; it’s been a long time since
Alecia Gamm won the state contest and made Owen County very
proud.
Four
earn GEDs since start
of school year
The
new school year has just begun and already four Owen County
citizens have received their GED. According to Veronica Gayle,
director for Adult Education, the stage is set for another year
of success in assisting motivated adults to accomplish their
dreams.
Every day new students come to the learning center to find out
more about getting enrolled in the GED program. Gayle said that
the current trends in employment make it critical that people
earn their GED.
Most companies require at least a high school diploma or GED
to be considered for employment.
For this reason many people who have always been able to get
a job because they are a good worker now find themselves between
a rock and a hard place.
Many of the students who come to the learning center have been
out of school for years and were afraid they could not do the
work.
Gayle said, “We evaluate each person individually and
design a program to meet their specific needs. Sometimes we
study in small groups but usually it is a very one-on-one kind
of instruction. That seems to set some people more at ease.”
Fannie Osborne has been an instructor at the Adult Learning
Center for 15 years. She said, “One of my greatest joys
is seeing a person change their life by taking this one simple
step. It is so easy to make excuses and run in fear. But the
people who have the courage to make that call or come into the
center want something more for themselves and their family,
so they do what it takes. I could tell you so many stories of
people who are different because of that little piece of paper
called a diploma. It is exciting to see lives changed.”
The next GED testing for Owen County will be Oct. 19. The phone
number for the adult learning center is 484-0405, and the hours
are Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Wednesday 8 a.m.
to 3 p.m.
The services provided are adult basic education and GED preparation,
ESL (English as a Second Language), job readiness skills, family
education and literacy. Beginning computer classes and reading
classes are also offered. Instructors are Veronica Gayle, director;
Fannie Osborne, instructor and family advocate; and Julie Egel,
English as a Second Language instructor. Joyce Robinson is the
data clerk.
