Phil Hardwick

Recently I had the opportunity to facilitate a discussion with a group of 27 high school counselors about college counseling. The issue was framed as "How do we help low income/ underserved students reach college and be successful there?" There were many inspiring and enlightening examples, as well as a sharing of some of the barriers faced by the counselors. At the end of the day the following options emerged as ways of dealing with the issue: - focus on parents and their roles/responsibilities/needs; - instill more college information in the high school curricula; - more ACT test prep; and - provide more information about the benefits of going to college.

District 31 Senator Terry Burton of Newton, has been recognized as Mississippi's "Champion of Aging" by the Southeastern Association of Area Agencies on Aging. The association honored Burton recently at their annual conference in Louisville, Ky. Burton was chosen for his "initiatives, dedication, courage and determination," to better the lives of Mississippi's senior citizens through authoring legislation like Senate Bill 2416 during the 2008 Session, which defined adult foster care facilities and set standards that required informal operators of senior care facilities to meet licensing standards to continue operating. The five-term Republican senator who represents District 31, comprised of Lauderdale, Newton and Scott counties, has authored numerous other items of legislation to educate and protect senior citizens and to enhance punishment of those who would exploit, neglect or abuse vulnerable adults. Other than authoring laws that created the Lea