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Crowder College Constitution Day

  • September 10, 2026

    For Immediate Release
    Office of Public Information
    Crowder College

    RE: Crowder College Constitution Day

    Neosho, MO     – The Social Science Division will host the annual Constitution Day event
    at Crowder College Neosho on September 17th from 12:15pm-1pm inside the Fireside
    Room, located in the Student Center. Crowder College Neosho is located at 601 Laclede
    Ave., Neosho, MO 64850.

    Constitution Day is a time to recognize the September 17th, 1787 signing of the United
    States Constitution and its significance in history and modern times. It’s a dedicated time
    to encourage students to think about the US Constitution’s role in American society, the
    roles and responsibilities of each government branch as well as amendments.

    This year, Constitution Day at Crowder will feature an additional local flair, as presenters
    will explore the McDonald County Secessionist movement and look at how it raised
    important constitutional questions, and how it can be applied to our world today.

    The League of Women Voters of the Greater Joplin Area will also be on-site to provide a
    presentation to guests. To learn more about Constitution Day, visit U.S. Department of
    Education website.

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    For more information about the Crowder event, please contact the Office of Public
    Information at 417.455.5540, or CindyBrown@Crowder.edu | KateScott@Crowder.edu

  • NEOSHO, MO – The U.S. Department of Education recently announced continued funding for Crowder College TRIO programs: Talent Search and Educational Opportunity Center (EOC).  These programs provide educational access, college readiness, and workforce development services to 2,287 participants annually across southwest Missouri.  


    “We are thrilled the Department of Education continued funding for our TRIO programs,” said Dr. Chett Daniel, Crowder College President. “This was a competitive application year and continued funding speaks to the incredible impact of our programs as well as the quality of our staff leading them. TRIO works! These programs strengthen rural communities in our region and provide critical support to help students and adults overcome barriers and achieve their educational and career goals.”

    The Educational Opportunity Center was awarded $284,745 annually to serve 1,017 adult participants in Barry, Barton, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, and Vernon counties. The program provides individualized assistance with high school equivalency completion, college admissions, financial aid applications, career and workforce pathway exploration, apprenticeships, industry-recognized credentials, digital literacy, financial literacy, and workforce technology skills, including the use of artificial intelligence tools in the workplace. 

    In addition, Crowder College received funding in the amounts of $346,164 and $288, 470 annually for two Talent Search programs that will serve a combined 1,270 students in grades 6-12 in the region. Talent Search currently serves the following school districts: Neosho, Seneca,
    McDonald County, Wheaton, SWR-5, East Newton, Cassville, Pierce City, Monett, and Exeter.

    Through Talent Search, students receive year-round academic and college readiness support, including individual advising, academic success workshops, college campus visits, career exploration activities, workforce development experiences, educational enrichment opportunities, financial literacy education, and counseling services designed to increase high school graduation and postsecondary enrollment rates. 

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  • Neosho, MO – Crowder College Social Sciences division once again is presenting its History Symposium series for the 2026-27 academic year. These events are free and open to the public.

    The symposiums begin September 3, 6pm, in Wright Conference Center, located inside the Arnold Farber Hall, 601 Laclede Ave., Neosho, MO.

    The first in the series is titled “War Pigeon! Missouri’s role in the training of pigeons and pigeoneers in WWII” and will be presented by Lieutenant Colonel Tim Scherrer. Come explore the fascinating history of the U.S. Army Pigeon Corps and its training program at Camp Crowder in Neosho.

    Scherrer is a native of Quincy, Illinois. He received his B.A. and M.A. in History from Truman State University where he was also a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Army ROTC program.

    Funding for the symposiums was made possible by the Missouri Humanities Council.

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  • Neosho, MO – Crowder College Board of Trustees voted to name Scott Wade, Board of Trustee member for Newton County Monday, August 17. Wade is filling the remaining term of Diane Andris, who served on the Board for 30 years.

    Wade is owner and chief executive officer of Certified Express Inc., Huntington Woods Logistics, Freedom Truck and Trailer Sales, Patriot Fleet Maintenance, Double Star Holdings and Federal Investments. He is a longtime member of the Neosho community and previously served on the Crowder College Foundation Board from 2013 to 2021, serving as president the last five years.

    “I care deeply about Crowder College and its continued success,” stated Wade.  “It’s a privilege to follow in the footsteps of Diane Andris. I look forward to continuing her legacy of service to the college, its students, and our community.”

    “We had four great candidates for Diane’s seat on the Board, stated Andy Wood”, Board Chair. “Every one of them embodied servant-leadership and would be great board members.  Scott’s history of involvement with Crowder is what stood out.  I have known Scott my entire life.  Scott has demonstrated servant-leadership in what he and Chris have given back to the community.  Scott will be a fantastic addition to our Board.”

    Wade will serve until the next election, which will be April 2027.

    Scott and his wife, Chris live in Neosho, Missouri. They have three boys and nine grandchildren.

    Scott Wade

  • August 7, 2026

    For Immediate Release
    Office of Public Information
    Crowder College

    RE: Crowder Theatre to hold auditions for “Mean Girls” the musical

    Neosho, MO – Crowder College Theatre Director, Annie Smith, announced open auditions will be held for the production of Mean Girls, The Musical. Book by Tina Fey, music by Jeff Richmond, and lyrics by Nell Benjamin.

    The production will feature a large cast of teen and adult roles. Auditions will be held in the Elsie Plaster Community Center as follows:

    • August 18, 4-6pm
    • August 19, 2-4pm
    • Callbacks (if needed): August 20, 4-6pm

    Anyone age 16 plus should prepare to sing 16 bars, approximately 1 minute, of a song that demonstrates vocal skills.  You must provide your own accompaniment. A cold reading from the script is required for all auditionees. A short dance movement will be taught during auditions for actors to perform.

    The performance will be October 23 and 24, 7pm nightly, October 25, 2pm.

    For more information, please contact: AnnieSmith@Crowder.edu

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  • August 3, 2026

    For Immediate Release
    Office of Public Information
    Crowder College

    RE: Crowder College 14th Annual Roughrider Rodeo Aug. 14 & 15

    Neosho, MO – The 14th Annual Crowder College Roughrider Rodeo will be held August 14 and 15, 608 Field Avenue, Neosho. Gates open at 6pm with the rodeo starting at 7:30pm. Title sponsor for this year’s rodeo is River Bend Casino and Hotel, Wyandotte Nation Tribe of Oklahoma.

    Mutton Busting will be held at 7pm, prior to the start of the rodeo. This year, registration will open for Mutton Busting, Monday, August 10, 8am. Space is limited to 20 contestants each night. To register go to: https://www.crowder.edu/about-crowder/mutton-busting/

    Tickets are available in advance: $12-adults, $8-children ages 6-12; 5 and under are free; and may be purchased at Crowder College Bookstore, First Community Bank locations, and Eric Norris-State Farm Insurance. Commemorative t-shirts are also available for $16 (additional $6 for 2XL) at the Bookstore and will be available at the rodeo. Purchase tickets online: www.CrowderBookstore.com

    Tickets may be purchased at the gate for an additional $2 each. This event is a scholarship fundraiser for student in the agriculture program.

    For the second year, TK Pro Rodeo will manage all the rodeo stock and contestants. TK Pro Rodeo produces sanctioned professional rodeos and bull riding across the country and is based out of Jay, OK. The Roughrider Scholarship Rodeo is an IPRA/ACRA sanctioned event drawing cowboys and cowgirls from the region to participate.

    Top rodeo contestants will compete in nine different events which is ACRA/IPRA sanctioned. Local vendors and concessions will also be available. This event is sponsored in part by River Bend Casino and Hotel, Wyandotte, OK as well as many local sponsors.

    Veterans who are currently serving or who have served are invited to attend either night as a guest of the Crowder Aggies. Please present your military ID at the gate.

    For more information, please call 417.455.5720.

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  • July 29, 2026

    For Immediate Release
    Office of Public Information
    Crowder College

    RE: Roughrider Athletes & Teams Receive NJCAA All-Academic Awards

    Neosho, MO – Crowder College – The 2025-2026 NJCAA All-American individual academic awards and the team awards are in for the year, highlighting the success of the Roughriders off-the field and in the classroom.

    There were 56 student-athletes who received NJCAA All-American individual academic awards with GPAs in the ranges of 3.60 – 4.0.

    This year’s average student-athlete GPA is 3.13 on a 4.0 scale. The top nine team’s GPAs are as follows:

    • Basketball (W): 3.65
    • Softball: 3.57
    • Track & Field Outdoor (W): 3.27
    • Esports: 3.23
    • Baseball: 3.20
    • Golf (M): 3.13
    • Track & Field Indoor (W): 3.13
    • Cross Country (W): 3.09
    • Track & Field Outdoor (M): 3.00

    “As Athletic Director, I’m incredibly proud of our Roughrider student-athletes for setting the standard in the classroom during the 2025–2026 school year,” stated Brandi Arthur, Crowder College Athletic Director. “Their outstanding GPA reflects a true commitment to excellence, discipline, and representing our program the right way every single day.”

    Crowder College participates in Division I National Junior College Athletic Association sports as follows: Baseball, Basketball (W), Softball, Soccer (M/W), Cross Country (M/W), Long-Distance Track (M/W), Golf (M/W), and Esports (co-ed).

    Links to Lists:

    Academic Teams
    Academic Individuals

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    For more information, please contact the Office of Public Information at 417.455.5540, or CindyBrown@Crowder.edu | KateScott@Crowder.edu.

  • July 28, 2026

    For Immediate Release
    Crowder College
    Office of Public Information

    Neosho, MO – Crowder College has been recognized on USA TODAY’s list of America’s Top Vocational Schools 2026. The complete list of institutions earning recognition was announced on July 23rd, 2026, and can currently be viewed on the USA TODAY’s website.

    The ranking of the best schools offering vocational training via undergraduate certificate or diploma is based on an analysis of five Key Performance Indicators. The five dimensions evaluated during our research were: Graduation Rate, Graduate Salary, Years to Pay Off Net Price, Social Mobility, and Diversity. Data on the schools’ performance was collected through publicly available sources like IPEDS and College Scorecard. All schools were benchmarked against one another using the final score. Based on the results of the study, Crowder College has been recognized as one of America’s Top Vocational Schools 2026. This recognition serves to reinforce the institution’s steadfast commitment to excellence in hands-on education, career readiness, and workforce development.

    Crowder College works closely with industry partners to ensure their curriculum meets the current workforce demands. This alignment allows students to graduate with relevant, high-demand skills that translate directly into employment opportunities, often without the burden of long-term student debt. For more information about programs, enrollment, and career pathways, visit www.Crowder.edu

    Statista publishes hundreds of worldwide industry rankings and company listings with high-profile media partners. This research and analysis service is based on the success of statista.com, the leading data and business intelligence portal that provides statistics, relevant business data, and various market and consumer studies and surveys.

    “The continued growth of our career and technical education programs demonstrates that students are looking for affordable, relevant pathways to rewarding careers,” said Dr. Chett Daniel, President of Crowder College. “As the workforce is rapidly evolving, community colleges play a unique role by offering both high-quality academic degrees and hands-on technical training. We appreciate this recognition from USA Today because it reinforces an important message: Crowder College is both the region’s local community college and its affordable trade school, helping students build successful futures close to home.”

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  • Crowder College has joined The Higher Education Male Achievement Collaborative (HEMAC), a national initiative focused on improving outcomes for men in higher education.

    HEMAC, a program of the American Institute for Boys & Men (AIBM), connects colleges and universities committed to increasing enrollment, retention, and completion rates among male students.

    “Across the country, male participation in higher education has dropped to just 34%, continuing a decades-long decline,” states Dr. Chett Daniel, president of Crowder College. “This is not just an enrollment issue, it’s a workforce and community issue. As Crowder shapes our next strategic plan, we are committed to doing a better job of centering the voices of those we serve.”

    A team of Crowder faculty and staff will participate in virtual and in-person workshops, collaborating with peer institutions to share research, strategies, and best practices. The effort aims not only to address declining male enrollment, but also to better understand the broader social and well-being challenges facing men in higher education.

    As Crowder is preparing to implement its next strategic plan, the college has worked to identify gaps in engagement and tailor support services for specific groups such as young adult male students, adult female students, and traditional age (Generation Z) college students. The HEMAC partnership will assist the college in finding new ways to engage young men in the region.

    For more information about the collaborative, visit: https://www.menincollege.org/

  • – A unique, workforce-focused partnership between Crowder College and the MoDOT SW District General Services Team took the spotlight at the Missouri State Capitol on Tuesday of this week when they received the 2025 Governor’s Award for Quality and Productivity (GAQP).

    The partnership was created to fill a need of transportation and diesel industry shortages, rising repair costs and other factors while also helping students gain hands-on, real-world experiences and potential careers. That’s where Crowder College Technical Education instructor Clarence Brewer (Diesel Technology) and Ben Strong with MoDOT have worked to bridge that gap, addressing both the needs of MoDOT and Crowder students eager to learn. Ben Strong knows first-hand the importance of partnerships like this one, as he used to be the high school CTEC Diesel Technology instructor and is an alumnus of the college program. He has been a spearhead in the creation of this partnership.

    There were 14 nominations submitted from six state agencies for the 2025 Governor’s Award for Quality and Productivity and the Crowder College collaboration was awarded in the innovation category.

    “The partnership between Crowder College and MoDOT represents the kind of innovative workforce collaboration that creates a valuable impact. Our Diesel Technology students gain hands-on experience by diagnosing and repairing real fleet equipment under the guidance of expert faculty, while MoDOT benefits from quality repairs and a direct connection to a pipeline of highly skilled technicians,” said Melissa Smith, Director of Post-Secondary Career and Technical Education, Crowder College. “These authentic learning opportunities bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace, preparing students to meet the demands of today’s transportation and diesel industries while strengthening Missouri’s workforce.”

    Within the last 3 years, the Diesel Technology program at Crowder College has repaired over 30 pieces of MoDOT equipment, saved the state more than $50,000 in labor costs, lowered repair times and facilitated internships and careers for these students with MoDOT.