The Independence Community College’s Rural Outreach Education (ROE) Team spent the morning with middle and high school students from Southeast High School, hosting an engaging and interactive program focused on building relationships, respect, and community.
The ROE Team sponsored guest speaker Bill Cordes, who led a 2.5-hour, high-energy presentation designed to help students develop lifelong skills in communication, connection, and collaboration. The program began with rapport-building activities before moving onto the gym floor, where students participated in hands-on experiences that emphasized teamwork and mutual respect.
The interactive format kept students actively involved throughout the session, creating a positive and memorable learning environment. Teachers were also encouraged to participate alongside students, giving them a firsthand look at the experience and allowing them to join in the final group activity of the day.
“Our goal is to help students build strong relationships and understand the importance of community,” said Tamara Blaes, Director of Rural Outreach Education at ICC. “Programs like this give students the tools to communicate, respect one another, and grow both personally and academically. We’re grateful to work with schools like Southeast High School to bring meaningful experiences to their students.”
Independence Community College’s Rural Outreach Education Team continues to partner with schools across Southeast Kansas to provide impactful programming that supports student success both in and out of the classroom.