March 2024 Newsletter

Hey, Highlanders! Spring is here and the semester will be wrapping up before we know it! In this newsletter, we’ll share about some fun upcoming events on campus and in the community!

A little note: CREW is committed to improving the student experience by alleviating non-academic stressors you might face, and we’re constantly assessing how we can best serve the McLennan community. This semester is no exception! 

There are a number of ways you can connect with us and offer feedback or imagine creative partnerships. Subscribe to our Google calendar for real-time event updates and connect with us in person. Schedule an appointment to connect with one of the CREW staff members. Or email or call us at 254-299-8561 — any time!

Spotlight: On-Campus Resources

We love our friends over in Advising & Career Services, and they have lots of exciting things happening next month!

Career Fair

On Wednesday, April 10, stroll through the MAC building sometime between 9am – 12:30pm to explore possible career opportunities. Most employers are looking to hire students in any major, and they will hire students who are currently working on their degrees. Attendees will have a chance to win one of three vouchers for a service at the Highlander Salon & Spa generously provided by the MCC Cosmetology Department. Come and go as your schedule allows; you don’t need to be present the whole time.

Registration Rally

In the week of April 15th – 18th, we have a whole bunch of FUN opportunities (including Highlander Games) for you to win prizes…just for registering for classes! Registration is something you have to do anyway, so why not register during the rally and possibly win a prize! Bonus: You won’t have to worry about your courses filling up and this task won’t be hanging over your head all summer.

To learn more, head to the ACS website, hop in the Zoom waiting room, or schedule an appointment with a career coach!

Spotlight: Off-Campus Resources

While you’re setting up your schedule for the summer and fall, we want to encourage you to also look into scholarships! There are countless excellent scholarship options available from off-campus resources too! Here are a few we curated:

• Presidential or First Gen Scholars: offered by MCC for select students. Read more.
• Texas Workforce Commission: grants are available for students in eligible programs at MCC.  Read more.
• Greater Waco Chamber: residents of McLennan County might be eligible for certain scholarships.  Read more.
• Consider checking out your high school’s scholarship offerings, especially if you’re a dual credit student and still enrolled in high school!
• Scroll through some national scholarship databases as well, like collegescholarships.org or  scholarships.com

Also, reach out to the financial aid office at MCC! They’d be delighted to help you explore options.

Shout-out!

This month, we want to thank all the student volunteers who have helped with CREW operations—from stocking snack stations and Paulanne’s Pantry to loading cars at the Shepherd’s Heart mobile distributions to advocating about all the ways CREW can help other students. We couldn’t pull it off without the many many hands helping behind the scenes!

Self-Care Tip

Do you ever feel like you’re juggling so many balls and things are bound to drop or fall apart? So many things need to get done, and so many people need you to do all the things, and there’s just not enough time in the day to do it all. You really don’t want to let people down, but is there any way around it?

Here’s the hard truth: you WILL drop balls.

The trick is to figure out which balls are “glass” and will shatter when dropped and which balls are “plastic” or will rebound so you can pick them back up when you have more capacity.

Caring for kids is non-negotiable. But maybe you submit one paper a day late so you can study for the two exams also happening on the same day. Maybe you can even get an extension (picking up a dropped ball a few days later).

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to determine if a ball is plastic or glass:

1. Who else (besides me) will be affected by this dropped ball?
2. How will relationships be affected if I drop this ball?
3. Can I drop this ball for now and pick it up again later?
4. If I drop this ball, do I WANT to pick it up again?
5. If this ball shatters when dropped, is it possible to repair the damage later?
6. What other consequences will come from this ball being dropped?

Hopefully you’re feeling a little more at ease knowing that dropped balls are inevitable, and you have some control over the consequences. If you’re still really stuck figuring out what balls can be dropped, talk with a professor, mentor, advisor, or counselor; they’ll help you sort through your priorities.

Easy Recipe

I’ve been eating a lot of carbs and protein lately as I train for endurance events, so I’ve been on the hunt for delicious, hearty meals! This month, I’m sharing a quick skillet lasagna recipe! Minimal dishes and all the cozy vibes—what’s not to love??

Need any ingredients? Swing by Paulanne’s for some non-perishable goods, frozen meat, fresh fruit, cheese, and/or milk! There’s a good chance we’ll have most of the ingredients for this meal when you stop by to shop the pantry!

Skillet Lasagna (Budget Bytes)

Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 35 mins
Servings: 4

INGREDIENTS

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 lb. Italian sausage or ground beef
• 2 cloves garlic
• 24 oz. pasta sauce
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 9 lasagna noodles
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add the Italian sausage (or ground beef) and olive oil to a large deep skillet. Cook over medium heat until the sausage is cooked through.
2. Mince the garlic, add it to the skillet with the sausage, and continue to sauté over medium for one more minute.
3. Add the pasta sauce, Italian seasoning, and water to the skillet then stir to combine.
4. Break the lasagna noodles into one to two-inch pieces, then stir them into the sauce in the skillet.
5. Place a lid on the skillet, turn the heat up to medium-high, and allow the sauce to come up to a boil.
6. Once boiling, give the skillet a brief stir, replace the lid, then turn the heat down to medium-low. Let the noodles simmer in the sauce, stirring occasionally, until tender (about 15 minutes). If the sauce becomes too dry before the noodles are tender, add more water and continue to simmer.
7. While the noodles are simmering, stir together the ricotta, parmesan, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl.
8. Once the noodles have cooked, add the ricotta mixture on top of the noodles in small dollops. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella over top.
9. Place the skillet under your oven's broiler for a few minutes or just until the cheese is melted and slightly browned (make sure to use an oven-safe skillet, no lid). Or, place the lid on the skillet and continue to cook over medium-low heat until the cheese is melted. Serve hot and enjoy!

NUTRITION (per 1 serving)

Calories: 722 kcal | Carbohydrates: 60 g | Protein: 33 g | Fat: 39 g | Sodium: 1710 mg | Fiber 5 g

CREW This Month

 Thursday, 4/11, 3–4pm @ Parking Lot R || Shepherd’s Heart Food Distribution

Swing by Lot R for FREE food from Shepherd’s Heart! Free and open to anyone in the community!

Wednesday, 4/17, 11am – 2 pm || CREW @ Highlander Games

Thursday, 4/18, 11:30am – 1:30pm @ SLC || Third Thursday Thoroughfare

More events are available on the  CREW calendar! Be sure to save the calendar so you never miss an event!

View past newsletters.

*Composed by Emma Cartisano*