A rose to Columbus-Lowndes Public Library and its Autism Resource Center for Saturday’s Family Fair, a virtual event which brought together a wide range of organizations that serve those with special cognitive/behavioral needs for whom the pandemic has proven to be a unique challenge. With many of the in-person programs geared toward children and adults suffering from learning/behavioral disabilities having been canceled because of the pandemic, Saturday’s fair helped families find virtual connections for those services. Without the in-person programs that are often the most effective therapies, organizations have adapted their programs to deliver virtual services. Saturday’s fair was an effort to inform families of what these programs have to offer. We applaud the library for being a great facilitator between these organizations and those in need of their services.
A rose to all those who participated in Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service events. While many of the MLK Day events were either canceled or converted to virtual offerings, the tradition of honoring Dr. King’s memory through community service continued in the Golden Triangle. In Starkville and West Point, volunteers collected and distributed food packages and hot meals, restocked food pantries that serve the poor and distributed PPEs and cleaning supplies to child care centers. We are pleased to note that while the pandemic may have altered many of the MLK Day traditions, it did not stop the good works that are a tribute to King’s memory. We thank all those who donated their time and money to make sure the work continued.
A rose to Mississippi School for Math and Science for its plans for a four-week Zoom series, along with a virtual math tournament beginning in February. With many math competitions and math fairs being canceled because of the pandemic, MSMS has developed a way to provide these opportunities virtually to students in Grades 9-12 throughout the state. This year, MSMS students and faculty are hosting the free, math-themed Zoom series, Math AllStars, at 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 3, 10, 17 and 24. Students can register individually, or teachers can register their entire class for this enrichment experience. To learn more, visit www.themsms.org/programscamps/math-superstars. The MSMS Chapter of Mu Alpha is hosting its first virtual math tournament in lieu of the annual Math Tournament at the Trotter Convention Center from Feb. 22-26. Students can participate individually or as a team. To learn more, visit www.themsms.org/programs-camps/mu-alphatheta-tournament.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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