Reporter

Time Served. The Second Chance Scholarship Dinner will be held at the Center for Creativity on the Tulsa Community College Metro Campus, 909 S. Boston Ave., on Wednesday, July 27. The keynote speaker is Tulsa Shock's Marion Jones.

Since 2007, TCC has sent instructors to teach college-credit courses at Dick Conner Correctional Facility, where male offenders are housed, and Turley Correctional Center, where female offenders are housed.

Since TCC started the Corrections Education Program, more than 200 students have earned college credits, making TCC one of the top colleges in the state for offering classes in prisons. Funds raised will be used to provide scholarships for incarcerated offenders taking TCC courses.

In support of the Second Chance Scholarship, Jones will speak about her experience of serving six months in jail after she lied about using performance-enhancing drugs in the 2000 Olympics.

Sponsorships and individual tickets for the Second Chance Scholarship Dinner are now available for purchase. Visit tulsacc.edu/secondchance for more information.

For Birdies. The Tulsa SPCA hosts its 2nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament, "For Paws Sake," at the Emerald Falls Golf Club on Monday, July 25.

The tournament is a four-person scramble, 18-hole stroke play, with registration beginning at 7am and shotgun starting at 8:30am. Each player will receive breakfast, lunch, a goody bag, water and a golf cart during play. The Hole In One prize is a Nissan Altima sponsored by Jackie Cooper.

All proceeds benefit the Tulsa SPCA. The Tulsa SPCA is an animal rescue and adoption program that has served the Tulsa Metro area for almost 100 years. To secure a tee time or a sponsorship contact Brian Pingleton at 918-640-5690 or visit www.tulsaspca.org. The deadline is Friday, July 22.

Home Openers. A nonprofit exchange program is inviting local families to host international high school students for the 2011-2012 school year.

These students will integrate themselves into a local family with the goal of experiencing American culture as an American high school student does. In return, they will provide insight into their own culture for the sponsoring family.

STS Foundation has facilitated these relationships for over 25 years. The teenage students come from more than 30 countries and will attend local high schools. The students have their own spending money and insurance. Host families are responsible for meals, a separate place to sleep and a nurturing environment. STS Foundation will have a local coordinator that will supervise the student and support the family throughout the school year. Contact Mary Leonhardt at 480-970-6337 or info@stsfoundation.org for more information.

Tulsa Rowing Club Juniors

Row Your Boat. The Tulsa Rowing Club Juniors are looking for motivated and committed high school-aged athletes to join their competitive program. The program is offering two basic training camps each one week long in preparation for the 2011-12 season.

The first camp runs from Aug. 15-19 and the second camp runs from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2. The basic training session will take place in Catoosa, Okla., due to low river levels in the Arkansas River. Sessions will run Monday-Friday from 4:15pm-6:15pm.

Participants in the basic training will learn rowing technique, boat handling and safety aspects to the sport in preparation for competitive events this fall.

Basic training is $100. Interested participants can register for the training online at tulsajuniorsrowing.org.

Web Map. Tulsa County Assessor Ken Yazel announced that the assessor website launched last year has expanded to include additional capabilities. As of this week, plat filings for the last 10 years (2001-1010) are now available on the site at assessor.tulsacounty.org.

The online plat filings will aid developers, builders and everyday taxpayers to see areas of growth throughout the county. Being able to track area growth over the last decade may also be helpful in future projections for development in the county.

Life's Work. Tulsa Public Schools announced the selection of Dr. Keith Ballard into the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame (OEHF). Induction into the OEHF is one of the highest honors in Oklahoma education.

OEHF was founded in 1984 as a nonprofit organization through Phi Delta Kappa International to honor professionals who demonstrate a commitment to quality, public-supported education. Each year, OEHF board members convene to review inductee nominations received from across the state.

After beginning his educational career in 1972 as a teacher in Coweta Public Schools, Ballard moved to Oologah, Okla., in 1974 where he taught and served in several administrative positions including Superintendent from 1986 until 1992. Ballard then moved to Claremore where he served as Superintendent of Claremore Public Schools before assuming the position of executive director with the Oklahoma State School Boards Association (OSSBA) on Jan. 1, 2000. He assumed the position of superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools in October, 2008.

He will be honored during a formal ceremony and banquet Aug. 12 at Oklahoma City's Quail Creek Country Club. Additionally, his portrait will join other OEHF inductees' portraits on display at the Oliver Hodge Education Building on the campus of the state Capitol.

For additional information about Tulsa Public Schools, please visit tulsaschools.org.