Competing against top schools from across the country, the Sterling College debate team ousted state and private schools to earn the title of fourth in Debate Sweepstakes at the National Forensics Association Lincoln-Douglas Debate National Tournament at Ohio University April 21. Five students contributed to the point total, earning a place in Sterling College and national debate history: Gage Brookman of Hutchinson, Kansas; Cody Campbell of Buckeye, Arizona; Bryce Harner of Hutchinson, Kansas; Brandon Hoesli of Salina, Kansas; and Darren Kootz-Eades of Great Bend, Kansas.

United States Senator Jerry Moran will hold a town hall meeting on Friday, May 1, from 2:15-3:15 p.m. in Cooper Hall on the campus of Sterling College. The meeting will be held on the third floor in Heritage Hall and discuss critical issues facing Kansas and the nation, particularly focusing on the work he does in Washington D.C.

Science faculty, students and professionals from across the state met in Pittsburg, Kansas, for the 147th Annual Meeting of the Kansas Academy of Science to hear the latest research from local colleges and universities. Sterling College was represented by three students, Rachel Grafel, Hannah Kelley and Matthew Schmidt, as well as Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Wai-Foong Hong, who presented research on increasing planting yields during drought conditions. All three presentations included research conducted in 2014.

As the academic year wraps up at Sterling College, students in Play Directing will produce the annual one-act plays. Running May 1-2 at 8 p.m. in Culbertson Auditorium, both nights of performances will be the same. The public is invited to attend this free event.

This year’s directors include Demi Brummer of Hutchinson, Kansas; Elijah Klein of Valley Center, Kansas; Suz Melton of Smithville, Missouri; Kaitlin Nachtigal of Hutchinson, Kansas; and Kayla Van Nover of Wichita, Kansas.

A unique opportunity to hear John Jacobson, a firearms examiner from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, will take place on Friday, April 24, at 7 p.m. in Heritage Hall of Cooper Hall on the campus of Sterling College. He has over 25 years of experience in law enforcement, several of those spent in forensics. The public is invited to hear his Friday evening presentation, “A Case Study: Accident or Murder? You Decide.”

The Sterling College Concert Choir, Chorale and Highland Singers will hold their final concert of the season on Sunday, May 3, at 3 p.m. at the Sterling First United Methodist Church. The Masterworks Concert will feature the compositional work of Dr. Brad Nix with three additional works featuring a vocal performance by Dr. Laura Bateman.