Music Students Perform in Ireland

Vol State students are taking their talents international this spring as part of travel-study programs. Music students just got back from Ireland where they performed in all sorts of venues across the country. The trip was hosted by the staff and administration of the National Guarda College. This facility is the training location for the Guarda, the world famous Irish National Police Force.

We'll have much more on this exciting trip coming up soon!

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Volstate Student/Professional Wrestler

Vol State student Phillip Dixon is an independent professional wrestler. Here is a personal interview as well as footage from one of his matches.

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Passion: Her Driving Force

Passion comes in various forms, and for Vol State student Lydia Yau, this is in the field of Human Services.

“It is like social work. Human Services is a big umbrella,” said Yau.

Yau is recently divorced and is a single mother of two. “My children are age 21 and 15,” she said. Both of her children live at home with her.

Speaking with Yau was a breath of fresh air, and her focus and drive is impeccable. “I have to work really hard to keep my GPA up so that I can get scholarships. After going through life, I really understand the importance of an education; I soak it up like a sponge,” she said.

Yau grew up in Malaysia and went to a missionary school. “I had monks and nuns that taught me,” she said.

“My goal is to become an international social worker. I have been active and volunteering for the past 30 years; in church, the community, and schools. I’ve volunteered in Malaysia, Singapore, and Nashville. I love children and have been in children’s ministry,” Yau said.

“I never realized that volunteering was social work. I do it with a passion. I love people and I genuinely want to help people,” said Yau.

Yau and I talked a little about Nicholas Kristof’s book “Half the Sky" which focuses on the oppression of women worldwide.

Yau had the opportunity to see him speak when he came to Vol State as well. “This second chance at an education is all the more valuable to me because I have seen the other end of the spectrum,” she said. She went on to say that she has seen those going through hard times not only in Malaysia and Singapore, but also in Nashville, Tenn.

Yau is a member of Phi Theta Kappa which is an honors program for students with an above average GPA. Yau currently has a 4.0.

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A Bit of Dutch History

Travel study trips have an academic focus. Currently Vol State students are in the Netherlands studying Dutch and international law. However, there is plenty of time for students to immerse themselves in the history and culture of the country. Loretta Calvert, the coordinator of the paralegal studies program, shows a bit of what her students have been seeing:

My students at the Escher Museum which was the winter palace of the queen. Escher is a famous Dutch graphic artist who lived from 1898 to 1972. The art of M. C. Escher is by itself extremely impressive; however, the lighting above proved to be a wonderful surprise. In every room, there were chandeliers designed by Hans van Bentem from Rotterdam.

http://sharing.theflip.com/session/676815084c2f6a3a0f20999ba8e36d51/video/11504837

The Knights' Hall is used for meetings and conferences. and a special ceremony on Princes' Day. The opening of the Dutch Parliament occurs the third Tuesday in September. The queen arrives by a golden coach with footmen and delivers her speech from the throne shown in the video.

http://sharing.theflip.com/session/c65fe0a290191d7a97d4024dbf52a68f/video/11505110

We had a really active discussion with our guide about Dutch history, diplomatic relations, and the current crisis in the Dutch government. The Dutch involvement in assisting the U.S. and other countries in Afghanistan was the reason that the Dutch government recently failed and will have to hold new elections in September for the legislature.

-Loretta Calvert
Paralegal Studies

Study Break

Spring break is in full swing this week for Vol State students.

For some this means taking advantage of the extra time and forming study groups. In addition to working and catching up on some rest, this is how I’m spending my week.

As a current Vol State student myself, I think study groups can be very beneficial. It gives students a way to meet outside of the classroom in an environment that isn’t as intimidating as a classroom setting, with the possibility of making friends in the process of learning. Here is what a few other students have to say about study groups.

“I think it is important. The best way to learn something is to teach it, and it is easier to teach your peers than it is your teacher. It is intimidating if you teach your teacher,” said Journalism student Jamie Barto about study groups.

“If done properly it addresses all of the learning modalities because you are speaking, listening, teaching, etc,” said student Gary Parker.

Some may wonder why students would study over spring break. “It’s either this. Don’t study over spring break and fail, or study and pass,” Barto said. “I’m a non-traditional student. I look at school as a job. It’s my on the job training; I treat it as a job,” Parker added.

Julie Stewart said, “I think it is important to get the perspective from other people. I would say that reaching out to other people is the most important.”

My experience in a study group has been positive so far, and I would suggest at least trying it. The way I see it is I have to study anyway, why not do it in a group?

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Vol State Students Visit the Netherlands

A visit to another country is a way to gain a new perspective. That's certainly the case for Vol State Paralegal Studies students this week. They're in the Netherlands studying Dutch and international law. Here is a report from Program Coordinator Loretta Calvert:

Some students are studying Intellectual Property issues here in the Netherlands such as what treaties impact copyright protected images and the licensing of trademark products which are imported to the U.S. Other students are looking at the laws dealing with prostitution and the tolerance of drug use. Does legalization minimize other crimes?

Yesterday, the group visited the Peace Palace with is part of the UN. The Peace Palace houses several international tribunals including the International Court of Justice. The Peace Palace was created primarily out of a donation from American Andrew Carnegie. Other countries donated items such as marble from Italy, stained glass from England, paintings from France, vases from China, statutes from Argentina.

One of the most exciting visits we did yesterday was to visit the International Criminal Court in the Hague where the trial of a war criminal is happening. We saw the portion of the case dealing with the defendant's argument. A witness for the defense now claims that the ICC investigators pushed him to testify about the enlisting of children in the military and were drunk the first time they met.

-Loretta Calvert, J.D.
Paralegal Program Coordinator

This is just one of several trips our students are taking this year. We have another group in Ireland as we speak, and they have an entirely different emphasis. More on that soon.

TCCAA Region VII tournament results

Vol State men and women’s basketball teams fought hard this weekend in the TCCAA regional tournament in Columbia.

The Lady Pioneers defeated Dyersburg State on Friday. They lost in the championship on Sunday 62-48 to Walters State.

The Pioneer men beat Motlow State on Thursday. They made their stand on Saturday versus Southwest Tennessee in a semifinal game. They lost that match up 100-81.

Congratulations to both teams.

Go Pioneers!