Criminal Justice Students at SkillsUSA

Vol State Criminal Justice students recently took part in a SkillsUSA competition in Bell Buckle, TN. Events included crime scene investigation, traffic stops and more. Here's how our students placed:

1^st Place CSI Overall winner – Vol State (Allie Mullinax, Mikala Fairchild, Jamie Butler)

Top State Contestant for Criminal Justice Test – Derek Aken (Vol State)

1^st Place Criminal Justice Overall – Katelyn Gilliland (Vol State)

2^nd Place Criminal justice Overall – Derek Aken (Vol State)

Top State Contestant for Criminal Justice Practicum – Katelyn Gilliland (Vol State)

Read Across America

Vol State English and Education students recently participated in “Read Across America” activities. The event emphasizes the importance of early childhood literacy. Students collected more than 100 books to be donated to the Gallatin Childcare Center. Students also read to children at the Shalom Zone Head Start and the Gallatin Childcare Center to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday.

Vol State Police Officer Meets with President

Last week President Donald Trump visited with tornado victims across Middle Tennessee. He requested to meet and speak with Vol State Campus Police Officer Mike Phillips and family who tragically lost their home and 13-year-old daughter, Bridgett, during the March 3rd tornadoes. Officer Phillips has been with the Vol State Police Department for seven years and is a retired Tennessee Highway Patrolman. His wife Kim is a Deputy with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. Together, they have dedicated their lives to serving and protecting their communities. In the last several years, Mike and Kim have opened their home to foster children. In addition to meeting the President of the United States, Friday marked a very special occasion for the family as three of their children were formally adopted by Mike and Kim. In the above picture you can see the family with President Trump. From left to right: Rihanna (6), Kayla (26), Charles (9), Destiny (10), Kim, Mike and Ethan (16).

The Tennessean had a touching story that goes into more depth about the family tragedy. The Chattanooga Free Press had this photo of Mike and a memorial he created for Bridgett at the site of the tornado. The Tennessean reports that a private service with Bridgett's birth family is scheduled for Monday. She will be buried in Sparta, Tennessee. The Phillips family plans to hold a visitation at Sycamore Church of Christ in Cookeville from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday with a funeral to follow. 

The Vol State College Foundation has set up a tornado relief fund to help out students, employees, and their families. 100% of donations will go to those directly impacted. Please visit www.volstate.edu/foundation/giving to help out this family along with others in the Vol State community. Under the designation, select Tornado Relief.

Wide Open Spaces

We're collecting photos for use in Vol State 50th anniversary events. This one came in recently from Grady Eades via the city of Gallatin. It shows 31-E when the area was primarily farmland. The exact year is not known, but given the lack of Caudill Hall, it is thought to be 1971 or 1972. If you have Vol State photos that you think should be part of our 50th anniversary celebration, and you haven't already shared them with PR, please email them to us. We already did quite a bit of archiving of the photos in the Library for the 40th, and we have hundreds of photos from the last five decades. But you may have a hidden gem. We can also scanner if you have a physical copy you would like to bring by PR in Ramer 121.

New Drug Drop-Off Box at Vol State

 A new drug drop-off box, in partnership with the Sumner County Anti-Drug Coalition (SCADC), is now available at Vol State, one of the first such boxes on a college campus in Tennessee. It is located in the Campus Police Department lobby, on the first floor of the Wood Campus Center. Tiffany Zwart with the Vol State Student Engagement Office worked with Chief Angie Lawson on the project.

“Proper drug disposal can prevent individuals from potentially misusing medications that are not prescribed to them or have passed their expiration date,” said Meagan Griffith with SCADC. “While Sumner County has several drop boxes, being able to add one at Vol State gives residents another option, especially for busy college students who might not otherwise have the time to dispose of medications at another location.”

“This is a confidential drop,” said Vol State police chief, Angie Lawson. “We’re not going to ask any questions of anyone. Of course, if they have questions for us we will be happy to answer.”

Only prescription drugs are allowed at the drop box. Illegal drugs and syringes are not allowed. 

Ted Jones Relief Prints Exhibit at Vol State Gallery

Relief prints by Nashville artist Ted Jones will be on display at the Vol State Art Gallery in March. Jones works in a wide range of media, including copper relief repousse, painting, and wood sculpture. He is most famous for his relief prints which will be the focus of this exhibit. The artist’s complex images are often stories of deep community traditions, family, and faith.

“Art is not just a way of life, but life itself,” Jones said. “It is the correlation of my total experience, of which my art is the creative record. The studio is my chapel. The art form is my offering and prayer. Many images and thoughts depict universal man, his hopes, dreams, fears, suffering, and pain.”

Born in New Orleans, Jones earned a BFA from Xavier University. His graduate degrees are from Michigan State University and the University of Montana.  He is a retired professor at Tennessee State University and has also taught at Fisk University. Jones has a long list of exhibitions and his art is part of many public and private collections across the nation.

Relief Prints by Ted Jones will be on display until April 2 and is free and open to the public. The artist will hold a lecture about his work on Monday, March 23 at 11:30 a.m. The Vol State Art Gallery is located on the first floor of the Steinhauer-Rogan-Black (SRB) Humanities Building. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Vol State in the News

Vol State is partnering with Wilson County Schools on a new Collegiate Academy dual enrollment program. The Wilson Post has the story.

The KEY Lifelong Learning series for spring is coming up soon. Ms. Cheap, otherwise known as Mary Hance, gave it a mention in the Tennessean recently. Please help us get the word out to any retirees that you know...or really anyone interested in an inexpensive learning opportunity on Fridays this spring.