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Participants in Seminole State College’s GEAR UP summer camp pose for a group photo outside the Enoch Kelly Haney Center. More than 160 students from 12 area schools attended the two-week event, which included campus tours, STEM lessons, recreational activities and college-readiness workshops. Photo Provided

Participants in Seminole State College’s GEAR UP summer camp pose for a group photo outside the Enoch Kelly Haney Center. More than 160 students from 12 area schools attended the two-week event, which included campus tours, STEM lessons, recreational activities and college-readiness workshops. Photo Provided

SSC GEAR UP Hosts Summer Camps for Area Students

News Staff
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Seminole State College’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) welcomed more than 160 students from 12 partner schools to campus this summer for two weeks of educational camps.
Eja Collier, a Shawnee High School Visual Arts teacher, adds pencil sharpeners to her bag during the Pack the School event for teachers to stock up on school supplies, held at First United in Shawnee on Aug. 8. Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun

Eja Collier, a Shawnee High School Visual Arts teacher, adds pencil sharpeners to her bag during the Pack the School event for teachers to stock up on school supplies, held at First United in Shawnee on Aug. 8. Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun

Pack the School event helps local teachers

News Staff
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Shawnee, OK – August 12, 2025 — The annual Pack the School event once again united community partners, volunteers, and educators in a shared mission: ensuring teachers have the resources they need to start the school year strong.
Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun Kathy Gooding, Community Relations Coordinator for Oklahoma Complete Health, shows a coloring book to Alice McCathern, 4, of Little Axe, as Tenisha McCathern watches during the event at Shawnee Public Library on Aug. 9. There were about 10 booths with organizations handing out school supplies and free items, in addition to an OBI blood drive.

Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun Kathy Gooding, Community Relations Coordinator for Oklahoma Complete Health, shows a coloring book to Alice McCathern, 4, of Little Axe, as Tenisha McCathern watches during the event at Shawnee Public Library on Aug. 9. There were about 10 booths with organizations handing out school supplies and free items, in addition to an OBI blood drive.

'Making a Difference: School Prep for Success'

News Staff
Thursday, August 14, 2025
It's an egg-cellent time to exercise! The hallway in front of the gym is set up for roosting to coincide with the farming theme at TECC. Julie Talton, Countywide & Sun

It's an egg-cellent time to exercise! The hallway in front of the gym is set up for roosting to coincide with the farming theme at TECC. Julie Talton, Countywide & Sun

THS offers dual credit chemistry course

Julie Talton Julie@countywidenews.com
Thursday, August 14, 2025
A memorandum of understanding with Seminole State College that will allow qualified teachers at Tecumseh High School to teach concurrent enrollment courses at THS for dual credit was approved at the Aug. 11 Tecumseh School Board meeting.
Maud Superintendent Brad Hawkins addressed the Pottawatomie County Commissioners, requesting a new mower and new engine for grounds maintenance in the district. Hawkins said he was from the Maud/Ada area and returned home July 1 after accepting the position of Superintendent. Suzie Campbell, Countywide & Sun

Maud Superintendent Brad Hawkins addressed the Pottawatomie County Commissioners, requesting a new mower and new engine for grounds maintenance in the district. Hawkins said he was from the Maud/Ada area and returned home July 1 after accepting the position of Superintendent. Suzie Campbell, Countywide & Sun

County Buys Equipment

Suzie Campbell Suzie@countywidenews.com
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Multiple equipment purchases were approved during the Pottawatomie County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 12.Maud Public Schools' new Superintendent, Brad Hawkins, requested the use of education sales tax monies for the purchase of a new mower and a new engine.
Miss Oklahoma Tessa Dorrell shows a picture of her blue pageant dress to three six-year-olds - Sarah Sprague of Tecumseh, Kenya Lightsey of Shawnee and Sibyl Hays of McLoud - during story time on July 29. Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun

Miss Oklahoma Tessa Dorrell shows a picture of her blue pageant dress to three six-year-olds - Sarah Sprague of Tecumseh, Kenya Lightsey of Shawnee and Sibyl Hays of McLoud - during story time on July 29. Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun

Miss Oklahoma Reads for Story time at Shawnee Library

Natasha Dunagan Natasha@countywidenews.com
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Two former co-workers with very different jobs now led to Miss Oklahoma Tessa Dorrell reading to children during the afternoon storytime at Shawnee Public Library on July 29.
Pictured are The Shawnee Bridges Out of Poverty Board of Directors, including Emily Rothrock, Interim Executive Director, Patty Sue Wagstaff, Board President, and Tracy Meeuwsen, Senior Program Director- Data Analyst Avedis Foundation Photo Provided

Pictured are The Shawnee Bridges Out of Poverty Board of Directors, including Emily Rothrock, Interim Executive Director, Patty Sue Wagstaff, Board President, and Tracy Meeuwsen, Senior Program Director- Data Analyst Avedis Foundation Photo Provided

Shawnee Bridges Out of Poverty Receives Avedis Grant

News Staff
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Last week, the Avedis Foundation awarded a $20,000 Grant to Shawnee Bridges Out of Poverty to Support Getting Ahead Cohorts.