Andrew Blaydes makes dean's list at Midway University

One student from Midway landed a spot on Midway University’s dean’s list for the spring semester.

Andrew Blaydes met the two requirements of obtaining a semester grade-point average of a 3.6 or above and maintaining full-time status at the university.

The list includes 302 students, including five from Versailles: Miriam Gonzalez, Noel Montgomery, Sandy Pecina, Juan Perez and Kali Ratcliff.

Scott County had two from Stamping Ground, Elizabeth Hazlett and Cynthia Sexton, and 14 from Georgetown: Gracie Bowling, Brittany Brockman, Sydney Coffey, Rachel Cooper, Hayden Gregory, Jordan Hopkins, Allyson Ison, Kimberly Jager, Nyckoletta Martin, Kaitlyn Robinson, Jillian Saylor, Madeline Wasson, Terri Wilkerson and Natasha Williams.

Twenty students from Frankfort and 30 from Lexington made the list. It also included many students from out of state: 10 each from Indiana and Tennessee, five from Ohio, six from Texas, three from California and Colorado, two from Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, and one each from Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Maine, Missouri, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Nevada, New York, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Nine international students made the list. Those students included two from Colombia and one each from Sweden, Zambia, South Africa, United Kingdom, Peru, France and the Dominican Republic.

Council Member Logan Nance revises resolution endorsing resettlement of refugees in Kentucky

Midway City Council Member Logan Nance has revised the resolution he introduced to have the city endorse the resettlement of refugees in Kentucky. The action part of the resolution remains the same, but some of the "whereas" paragraphs giving the reasons for it have changed.

For example, the first paragraph of the original resolution said refugees "are forced to flee their country because they have a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group." The new version simply says they "are individuals forced to flee their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster."

The second paragraph, which refers to children, adds that "some [are] traveling alone, and none . . . can return home due to extreme vulnerability." A later passage that said some refugees are "torture survivors, people with severe medical conditions [and] LGBT individuals" no longer appears. Also deleted was a paragraph about few refugees allowed to come from certain countries, all but one with Muslim majorities.

The new resolution removes other material and adds information about the economic benefit of refugee resettlement and says "Refugees who resettle in Kentucky communities are a reliable, eager, legal labor force for employers and industry" and "offer determination, grit, perseverance, and a strong desire to succeed and build a better life for their families."

It also adds that refugees live in Woodford County, says "churches and community members in Midway have sponsored the resettlement of several refugee families in the area," and calls Midway "a welcoming community that celebrates diversity and inclusivity."

Nance explains his thinking in a piece submitted to the Messenger. The council is scheduled to consider the resolution Monday, May 6.

Nance explains why he is sponsoring resolution

By Logan Nance
Midway City Council member

On Monday, May 6, I will be reintroducing a resolution to the rest of the City Council. The crux of the resolution is the following:

“The City Council of Midway, Kentucky, declares its support for the resettlement of refugees no matter their religion, race, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity or country of origin in Kentucky and calls upon other Kentucky communities to join them in supporting a stronger national effort to resettle refugees around the world in need of a home.”

Logan Nance

This resolution, which I wrote, has the support of Kentucky Refugee Ministries (KRM), a local organization that coordinates refugee resettlement in central Kentucky and provides integration assistance services for them. KRM believes that such a resolution will go a long way in making refugees in the region feel more welcome and will allow Midway to publicly proclaim that we set the standard for what it means to be a welcoming community.

As a United States Army veteran I have seen up close and personal the plight of displaced persons who are forced to flee their homes to seek refuge because of war, natural disaster, and persecution. When I learned about similar resolutions that have been done in many other cities across the country, but never in Kentucky, I knew that it would be perfect for Midway. The resolution commits us to do nothing more than we are already doing. We have several churches and families in Midway that have sponsored the resettlement of refugees and we have refugee families who have joined churches in our community. Writing and introducing this resolution in Midway made all the sense in the world.

As I researched more about the data behind the refugee crisis I was surprised by several things. I had no idea that refugees granted resettlement in the United States are the most vetted individuals to come into our country. At a minimum it takes three years for numerous government agencies to perform the necessary background checks on refugees selected for resettlement, and often it can take longer than a decade. All through this process the refugees are forced to remain in the country to which they originally fled, often in camps with little access to food, water, and medical aid. I also had no idea that the average refugee pays the U.S government around $21,000 more in taxes than they ever receive through any kind of welfare payments, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research.

When the resolution was first introduced many people thanked the council for tackling such an important subject, and several people vocalized or wrote their objection to the resolution. Some of the objections I anticipated, while others I did not. A common objection I heard was simply misinformation. For some people they hear or see the word “refugee” and they think “illegal immigrant,” when in fact the two are complete opposites. Another objection was the inclusion of Amnesty International (AI) in the discussion, or the role Midway should play in tackling this topic.

I could never change everyone’s mind to come around to my way of thinking, and that's OK; there are some issues of which I could not be swayed to see differently. That being said, after the public forum on the resolution I took the time to think about some of the comments and rewrite the resolution to better fit Midway and without the assistance of AI. I support the work that AI does in support of refugees, and while I may not support everything they do or believe in, I can at least find good in their desire to help others. As far as Midway’s role in discussing a global issue like the refugee crisis, I believe that our communities’ importance can not be overstated. In times like these I believe that small-town America is more important than ever. Midway is the best community in the world, I truly believe that, and it is up to us to lead the way for the rest of the world by showing them how we treat each other.

The new resolution, which includes some new language, maintains the same "resolved" section as before. I am going to do my best to post the resolution around town so that people without social media can view it before we vote to adopt it, or not adopt it, on May 6.

This resolution was not my attempt to tackle some heavy partisan issue; it just seemed like the right thing to do. Several thousand refugees, predominantly from the Congo, have been resettled in the region, including Woodford County. 25.4 million refugees worldwide are in need of resettlement, according to the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees. Only about 1% of those refugees will ever be resettled.

The goal of this resolution was to educate citizens on refugees so that they can better understand their plight and if so moved find an organization like KRM or AI to volunteer with, and for Midway to lift its voice with other like-minded communities to call on a stronger national effort to resettle refugees around the world who are in need of a home.

Two local students make Midway University dean's list

By Midway Messenger staff
Two students from Midway landed spots on Midway University’s dean’s list for the fall semester.

Adriana Dennington and Kristina Thompson met the two requirements of obtaining a semester grade-point average of a 3.6 or above and maintaining full-time status at the university.

The list named 237 students, including eight from from Versailles: Hannah Brown, Sydney Buck, Savannah Carl, Sandy Pecina, Elizabeth Pecina, Juan Perez, Cortni Troublefield and Madison Turner.

Georgetown had 13 students on the list: Alexandria Allen, Emily Bailey, Gracie Bowling, Samantha Caudill, Samantha Chambers, David Coleman, Latavia Gadberry, Mary Hamner, Jacob Hawkins, Alexis Hoffman, Sarah Onderko, Kathryn Rios, Casidy Stoltz and Madeline Wasson.

Also making the list were 28 students from Lexington and 15 from Frankfort. The list also included many students from out of state: six from Tennessee, five from Ohio, four from Texas, three from Indiana, two each from California and Georgia, one each from Arizona, Idaho, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming; one each from Peru, South Africa and Spain; and 16 of the 24 Panamanian students who earned degrees in a special program.

Education minister of Panama speaks at Midway College commencement; 302 getting degrees

Panamanian Education Minister Marcela Paredes de Vásquez is the keynote speaker at Midway College's commencement ceremony today, beginning at 11 a.m. in the Graves Amphitheater. The event will be livestreamed at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/midway-college.

The minister, an engineer by trade, will speak about the importance of global education. Midway has partnered with the Panamanian government on several initiatives over the last two years, including a program that brought 26 undergraduate students upon their high-school graduation to participate in a college readiness program for nine months. These students have now matriculated into degree programs at the college.

Midway is also partnering with the Panamanian government program Panama Bilingue to provide professional development for Panamanian teachers to enhance their knowledge of pedagogical methodologies and to advance their English-speaking skills.

"It is a great honor for us to welcome Marcela Paredes de Vásquez to Midway College," said Dr. John P. Marsden, president of the school. "She is an incredibly accomplished, well-educated woman who I am sure will inspire our graduates to continue expanding their horizons and exploring the world."

This is the college's last graduating class before it changes its name to Midway University on July 1. The class has 302 graduates, including those who completed their degrees in December 2014 and at the end of the 2015 spring semester.

Midway College expands ties with Panama; course to send equine students there for part of spring semester

Midway College has another connection with Panama. Eight Midway College juniors will have the opportunity to spend part of the spring semester in the Central American country, as part of a new partnership with the University of Panama School of Veterinary Medicine and a Panamanian horse farm, financed by an anyonymous donor.

As part of a semester-long course, the students will observe and participate in activities related to breeding, foaling and the management of breeding stock at Cerro Punta Horse Farm, according to a press release from the college. That will give them "a foundation in collaborating with colleagues whose culture differs from their own, a vital skill in the international equine industry," the release said.

"This program will give the young women who participate an extraordinary opportunity to forge connections, absorb a new culture and gain experience that will set them apart as leaders in their chosen fields," Dr. John P. Marsden, president of the college, said in the release.

"The partnership was forged by Rosa Ponce-Sanabria, director of multicultural and international affairs at Midway, and the curriculum was developed by Midway's equine faculty under the leadership of Dr. Laura Armesto, the provost and vice president for academic affairs," the release said.

Midway's students will help care for horses, observe the veterinarian during routine evaluations, assist with routine neonatal examinations, and participate in routine post-partum care for mares," the release said. "Following their return to Midway, they will participate in discussions and lectures that will require them to apply their knowledge of equine breeding operations in Central Kentucky and Panama.

"In addition to intensive study of Panama's equine industry, students will be immersed in the language, history, culture and economy of the country and will reflect on these experiences with their campus community upon their return. This initiative correlates with the college's new strategic plan and puts important components together to address the specific goals of expanding study-away opportunities, establishing partnerships with international universities and colleges, and to further internationalize the campus community."

Midway College recently welcomed a group of Panamanian students in a college-readiness program.

Second group of students from Panama studying at college under agreement with Panamanian government

President John Marsden and his wife Margaret gave a welcoming
reception at their home, Pinkerton-Rouse Place, in March for the
second group of Panamanian students, 26 of them. (College photo)

By Bridget Slone

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications

A second group of students from Panama is studying at Midway College, under an agreement the college signed with a Panamanian government agency in December.

Under the agreement, the Panamanian government awarded scholarships, including tuition, room and board, for Panamanian students to study at the college, according to Ellen Gregory, the college’s vice president of marketing and communications.

The college said in a press release that it hosted Sonia de Luzcando, general director, and Itzel Hubbarb, chief international cooperation officer of Panama’s Institute for Training and Development of Human Resources, on campus for a tour, strategy meetings and an official signing ceremony.

The first Panamanians to arrive on campus under the partnership was a group of eight teachers and three school administrators, according to the college’s director of multicultural and international Affairs, Rosa Ponce-Sanabria.

“The teachers were on campus four weeks and the administrators for six weeks,” Ponce-Sanabria said. “They attended education courses with the help of an interpreter and have now returned to Panama to put their newly acquired skills into practice at their schools.”

The second group to arrive was students who are participating in a college readiness program, which began in March and goes through mid-December, Gregory said in an email.

The students previously attended a center funded by the Institute for Training and Development of Human Resources. Through this center, the institute provides room and board to students from rural 

areas who would otherwise not be able to regularly attend school, Gregory explained.

She said all the students were selected because of their strong academic background, and at this point 26 scholarships have been funded. “We anticipate this to be just the beginning of a long relationship going forward,” she said.