Making it Happen

Local author and former Southwestern College Professional Studies learner, Lynn Pettigrew Norris, had recently published a book titled “Whippoorwill: A Journey Through Loss.” The book was pre-released on January 21, 2010 and will be released on the national market on March 22, 2010. Norris is donating proceeds from the book to Lighthouse Library, a project of ECCRC.

The book shares a family’s journey through the decade following losing a daughter and sister to a tragic auto accident. The book also covers other losses in life such as loss of health and loss of a job. It features other families who have faced severe struggles in life.

Jennifer Nicole Norris had visited the family farm near Dexter, Kansas on her last weekend of life. That weekend was special in many ways. Her sister was up for Homecoming Queen at Dexter High School’s Football game that Friday, her grandmother’s church, Hicks Chapel was holding its Homecoming dinner and program that Sunday, and a wedding shopping trip to Wichita was taken that Saturday by the family to complete plans for her approaching wedding and then Jennifer headed back to K-State after a church service that Sunday evening with her family at the Dexter Baptist Church.

After an accident in Geary County, she was transported from Geary County Hospital where she was later taken by Medi-Vac plane to St. Francis Trauma Center in Wichita where she later died. The book shares journal entries and other thoughts about that time. Norris says she hopes that the book will help other families who have lost a family member as there were few books at that time that provided much comfort or help.

Photos of the project are featured on the ECCRC website and at the author’s blog at: http://www.freewebs.com/shipwreckwriter-lynnpettigrewnorris

Norris holds a Secondary Language Arts teaching license, a BA degree from Southwestern College through their Education program, a BS degree from East Carolina University in Communication, and a Graduate Certificate in Educational Technology/Curriculum and Instruction from Wichita State University. She also holds an AA degree from Cowley College. She started several education programs and served as the Education Specialist for the Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas after developing and implementing that branch for their association. She is presently working as a Social Service Coordinator and serves as the Director of ECCRC and Lighthouse Library. Our congratulations go out to Lynn on this fantastic achievement!

Meet our New Staff

Amy Andrews
Education Admissions Counselor, Wichita East

Amy holds a bachelor of arts degree from Newman University. She has held positions which have required her to hone her project management, computer, event planning, communication, customer service and team building skills. Amy has worked in a variety of industries in a range of positions (e.g., External Operations/Office Manager, Senior Project Manager) which dovetail nicely with our position. Welcome aboard Amy!

Features:

• Making it Happen

• Meet our New Staff

SC Trivia

How many SCPS education learners are listed as “Teachers of Promise”? Find out at http://www.southwesterncollege.org/news/

P.S.

All May and August 2010 graduates must complete the Application for Degree and submit it to the Registrar’s office by April 1st. The application for degree is located here.

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