A little competition motivates students at SCC's Weekend College

SYLVA - As Margie Koch, Director of the Weekend College at Southwestern Community College, walks into her office door, she is welcomed by the sounds of friendly bickering.

Koch smiles. Before seeing the two students, she can place them. Gwen Smith and Chris McMahan have been squabbling for a year now, and they have one more year to complete their private battle.

What is all the wrangling about? Grades. As Weekend College students, these two decided that the best way to stay motivated is to compete with one another for grades. They each have busy lives - McMahan works as a DMV officer, is married, and is going to school on his spare time - Friday and Saturdays. Smith's story is similar. She too, works a full-time job and fits college in on her free time. Together they push one another. Together they succeed.

"You'll never believe it Margie," Smith says excitedly as Koch enters her office door; tossing her briefcase, she smiles. This is just one part of her Weekend Director job that she loves--working with students. "What?" Koch asks quickly followed by a barrage of "Don't tell her" pleas from McMahan.

Ignoring him, she says: "Well, yesterday I was driving through Sylva when this truck pulled up next to me. There sat McMahan. He started yelling at me, 'You know Gwen, I am not sure about this Saturday all-day stuff.' Can you believe that?"

Koch laughed and looked in McMahan's direction, "You're almost there--I know it's hard to sacrifice your weekends. You can do it."

He agreed. "Besides, I can't let her win," he states.

Keeping one another motivated is important. Since they both are enrolled in the College Transfer program, they are both taking the exact same courses each semester. They compete on everything--tests, papers, overall course grades, and even answering questions in class discussions. This is the key to their success and the way they have found to stay centered, focused and successful.

"It works," Smith says. "We get papers back and look toward one another without hesitation. It's turned into a game."

They believe in doing whatever it takes to help each other through. A game has turned into the driving force behind their dedication, diligence and determination. After only a few short semesters, they will approach graduation and their game will be over.

As far as the final score, SCC 's Weekend College is making bets that they both win.

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