Education | Sedalia Democrat

Cindy L. Birdwell, a Business Teacher, FBLA High School and Middle School Adviser, Yearbook Adviser, and Senior Class Sponsor at Otterville R-VI was recognized at the annual Spring Banquet of the Central Region Teachers Association. Central Region of the Missouri State Teachers Association includes more than ninety public school districts. Cindy L. Birdwell was honored as the Central Region Secondary Educator of the Year by fellow teachers.

PHOTO: Otterville's Birdwell named Central Region Secondary Educator of the Year

5/14/25

Smithton’s McNeeley receives WILS Empowerment Scholarship

West-Central Independent Living Solutions (WILS) is proud to announce Malena McNeeley, a graduating senior from Smithton High School, as the 2025 recipient of the WILS Empowerment Scholarship. The … more

5/14/25

Instructor of the Year Danielle Brooks (left) and Staff Member of the Year Leah Mullen (right).

SFCC announces Instructor, Adjunct and Staff of the Year awards

State Fair Community College recently continued a long-standing tradition by announcing the recipients of the 2025 Instructor, Staff and Adjunct of the Year awards. Students nominated candidates for … more

5/13/25

Spring 2025 Commencement Speaker, Kyle Weymuth

Kyle Weymuth named speaker for SFCC Commencement

State Fair Community College will hold its spring commencement at 6 p.m. May 16 at the Mathewson Exhibition Center on the Missouri State Fairgrounds, 2503 W. 16th St. The ceremony will honor students … more

5/13/25

On Monday, May 4, Kim Rimel, State Fair Community College Greenhouse manager, posed for a photo in the greenhouse. Rimel will retire after 14 years on May 20.

SFCC Greenhouse Manager Kim Rimel to retire

After almost a decade and a half, the familiar face of State Fair Community College's Greenhouse Manager, Kim Rimel, will hang up her trowel as she plans to retire on May 20. Rimel, … more

By Faith Bemiss-McKinney, faithb@sedaliademocrat.com | 5/12/25

Smith-Cotton High senior Christopher Gilman receives the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award from S-C Assistant Band Director Whitney Stumborg, left, and Band Director Andrew Fischer during the Spring Band Concert on May 6 in the Heckart Performing Arts Center.

PHOTOS: 3 S-C musicians receive top awards

5/12/25

Second grade teacher Ali Burkholder says she loves teaching at Heber Hunt and enjoys the feeling when a student understands difficult concepts.

Heber Hunt’s Ali Burkholder loves the second grade life

Ali Burkholder teaches second grade at Heber Hunt Elementary and seems to be content. “I love the second graders I've taught for seven years and I've taught second grade all seven … more

By Chris Howell, chrish@sedaliademocrat.com | 5/5/25

On Jan. 18, 2019, artist and State Fair Community College Art Department Head Don Luper works on a metal sculpture project at his Sedalia home. The large-scale sculpture lights up with a golden glow as Luper welds a portion of it in his studio. Luper created the sculpture with almost 500 pounds of wire.

SFCC's Don Luper to retire

Longtime art instructor and department head Don Luper of State Fair Community College will bid the college goodbye on Friday, May 16, when he retires after more than three decades. Luper, … more

By Faith Bemiss-McKinney, faithb@sedaliademocrat.com | 5/5/25

Smith-Cotton senior linebacker Parker Brown, right, who earned the 2024-25 Mark Johnson Academic Achievement Scholarship, recently met with Coach Johnson in the Smith-Cotton High gymnasium, where the scholarship plaque is displayed.

Brown receives Johnson family scholarship

Smith-Cotton High School senior Parker Brown is the 2024-25 recipient of the Mark Johnson Academic Achievement Scholarship. Brown was a starter at linebacker for the S-C football team and an Academic … more

5/5/25

Courtesy of Sedalia School District 200.Six Smith-Cotton High School seniors on Tuesday, April 29, accepted academic scholarships to perform in vocal music groups at State Fair Community College. Seated, from left, are Marcuis Lamar, Cole Wendt, Harrison Ray, Abigail Dake, Cesia Argueta and Bailee Spencer; back, from left, Smith-Cotton Principal Wade Norton, S-C Vocal Music Director Avery Mather, SFCC Associate Dean Dr. Cara Barth-Fagan, SFCC Music Director Dr. Chris Kindle and Sedalia 200 Activities Director Kyle Middleton.

6 S-C seniors accept vocal music scholarships to SFCC

Six Smith-Cotton High School seniors on Tuesday, April 29, accepted academic scholarships to perform in vocal music groups at State Fair Community College. Cesia Argueta, Abigail Dake, Marcuis … more

5/5/25

Members of the West Central Missouri Vintage Auto Club, SFCC automotive instructors, and scholarship recipients, James Carson Jr. and Brittani Plumlee, gather in the newly constructed agriculture and mechanics building during the scholarship check presentation.

Carson, Hatfield receive West Central Missouri Vintage Auto Club Scholarships

The West Central Missouri Vintage Auto Club has awarded $500 scholarships to two State Fair Community College (SFCC) students, recognizing their dedication to automotive studies. James Carson … more

5/5/25

Smith-Cotton High School FCCLA students from left Wyatt Gooch, Jake Windle, and Micai Clark were selected to attend the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) National Leadership Conference in July in Orlando, Florida. Windle also received a National Leadership Conference Scholarship of $2,500.

Three S-C students selected to attend the National FCCLA Conference

Smith-Cotton High School freshman Jake Windle has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) National Leadership Conference (NLC) … more

By Faith Bemiss-McKinney, faithb@sedaliademocrat.com | 5/1/25

From left: Dr. Brent Bates (SFCC president), Kyle Herrick, Kyle Weymuth, Steve Ellebracht (SFCC Foundation Board president), Karen Ellebracht and Mary Treuner (Foundation executive director) during a check presentation inside the lobby of the new Steve and Karen Ellebracht Agriculture and Mechanics Building.

SFCC names new Agriculture and Mechanics Building in honor of Steve and Karen Ellebracht

State Fair Community College (SFCC) has announced its newest facility will be named, Steve and Karen Ellebracht Agriculture and Mechanics. The naming honors the generous contributions of Steve … more

5/1/25

The Green Ridge FFA Soils Judging Team placed 1st in the State out of 48 teams. They were recognized at the 97th State FFA Convention on Friday, April 25th. Team members are: Kate Berry who placed 2nd out of 189 individuals, Brayden Wells placed 4th, Miley Hayes finished 26th and Josiah Donaldson ranked 31st. This team travels to El Reno, Oklahoma this week to compete at Nationals. Pictured from left to right are Josiah Donaldson, Miley Hayes, Kate Berry, Brayden Wells and Laura Cooley, FFA Advisor.

PHOTOS: Green Ridge FFA wins two state titles

4/28/25

Chance McMullin, now the associate pastor at First Christian Church, is happy to have moved back to Sedalia after pastoring in the Lake of the Ozarks area for four years. McMullin will give the message for the Smith-Cotton High School Baccalaureate on Sunday, May 4.

Minister Chance McMullin to speak at S-C Baccalaureate

A young minister and pastor has returned to Sedalia and First Christian Church, where he and his family are ministering to others. Chance McMullin, a 2014 Smith-Cotton graduate, is coming … more

By Faith Bemiss-McKinney, faithb@sedaliademocrat.com | 4/28/25

Team SCREAM Captain Morgan Withers, left, discusses match strategy with robot drive team members Parker Brown, center, and Jordan Hoover during the FIRST Robotics World Championship on Saturday, April 19, in Houston.

Team SCREAM's season closes at world championships

At the end of qualifying matches Friday night at the FIRST Robotics World Championships in Houston, Team SCREAM Head Coach Michael Wright said it would take “a great plan and some luck” … more

4/21/25

Fourteen students were selected for the 2025 Who’s Who at UCM honor. Not pictured is Aka'Ne Tinsley.

Sedalia student named to 2025 Who’s Who at UCM

Recognized for their academic excellence and strong community involvement, University of Central Missouri (UCM) seniors Marie Hall and Alyssa Robertson are the recipients of the 2025 Charno Award, … more

4/17/25

SFCC students Sunny Morris and Emma Keith tend plants at the college greenhouse at the Potter Ewing building, 3201 West 16th St, Thursday in preparation for next week’s Spring Plant Sale.

State Fair Community College gets ready for Spring Plant Sale

Students Emma Keith, Sunny Morris and Timothy Garrigus were busily tending plants inside the State Fair Community College greenhouse for the Spring Plant Sale on Thursday, April 17 at the Potter … more

By Chris Howell, chrish@sedaliademocrat.com | 4/17/25

On Tuesday, April 15, Chick-fil-A announced it awarded Smith-Cotton senior Jeffthan Glaster a $25,000 scholarship. He was one of 12 recipients nationwide to receive this honor. The scholarship will allow Glaster, a third-generation Mexican immigrant, to become an orthopedic surgeon through the University of Missouri-Kansas City's B.A./M.D. Program.

S-C's Jeffthan Glaster to attend Missouri Fine Arts Academy

Smith-Cotton High School senior Jeffthan Glaster has been selected to attend the Missouri Fine Arts Academy June 1-14 at Missouri State University in Springfield in the vocal and orchestral … more

By Faith Bemiss-McKinney, fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com | 4/17/25

Chad Alexander Williams, a 1993 graduate of Smith-Cotton High School, will be inducted into the S-C Hall of Fame on May 1. Williams, a creative director/producer who began his career as a choreographer, is seen in a March 2025 photo with Mickey at Disneyland on the 10th anniversary of his company, HEART OF AMERICA (HOA). Photo courtesy of Chad Williams

Chad Williams to be inducted into S-C Hall of Fame

Former Sedalian and 1993 Smith-Cotton High School graduate Chad Alexander Williams will be inducted into the S-C Hall of Fame at 6:30 p.m. May 1 during the Spring Vocal Music Concert. more

By Faith Bemiss-McKinney faithb@sedaliademocrat.com | 4/14/25