SWAN RECEIVES DISTINGUISHED LEGISLATOR AWARD FROM MISSOURI COMMUNITY COLLEGE ASSOCIATION

Contact: Ann Brand

Interim MCCA Executive Director

(314) 856-2632 (mobile)

(573) 634-8787 (office)

ann.brand@mccatoday.org

SWAN RECEIVES DISTINGUISHED LEGISLATOR AWARD

FROM MISSOURI COMMUNITY COLLEGE ASSOCIATION

Branson, Missouri -- Friday, November 7. The Missouri Community College Association presented Rep. Kathy Swan (R-Cape Girardeau) with the association's Distinguished Legislator Award at a ceremony in Branson today. The award was given in recognition of Swan's strong support of Three Rivers College and of community colleges around the state.

Dr. Wes Payne, president of Three Rivers College, says that Swan is "an ardent advocate of education and has brought her experience as a member of the Coordinating Board for Higher Education to the halls of the Capitol in support of the goals of education." Payne adds, "Kathy has been a steadfast ally and is always willing to assist Three Rivers."

Swan represents Cape Girardeau and part of Cape Girardeau County (District 147) in the Missouri House of Representatives. She is president of JCS Wireless, a small wireless communications company with offices in Cape Girardeau and Perryville in Missouri and Chester, Il. Swan was elected to the General Assembly in November 2012. She previously held elected office in organizations, including the Cape Girardeau Board of Education, Cape Girardeau City Council, and Missouri Republican Party. She served over nine years on the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education, initially appointed by Gov. Holden and reappointed by Governors Blunt and Nixon.

This year marked MCCA's fiftieth annual convention. Association members celebrated the milestone by hosting several former community college leaders at the convention, including Dr. Norman Myers, founding president of Ozarks Technical Community College; Dr. Don Shook, founding president of East Central College, St. Charles Community College, and St. Charles Community College; and Dr. Jim Kellerman, former MCCA executive director.

The Missouri Community College Association is a statewide organization through which Missouri's community colleges work together to advance common agendas. MCCA provides advocacy, education, information, and networking opportunities in service of the state's 5,700 community college faculty, staff, administrators, and trustees.

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