There were a pair of stories reported this past Saturday on events that show just how important the people of the Greater Valley Area consider a good education to be.

The first was the ribbon being cut at Springwood School’s new International House, which will be used to house the international students the school is courting.

The event saw a large crowd gather in celebration, where President of Springwood School Board of Education Tom Oswalt emphasized how international students who want to attend American universities have a better chance of doing so if they have graduated from a high school within the country.

Headmaster Rick Johnson also encouraged community involvement with the international students, including hosting them for weekends or inviting them to holiday events.

The other event involved the Lanett Fire and EMS Department, which hosted a hand-on class about sports-related injuries and medicine.

“The goal of the class was to introduce the Point [University] training staff to EMS providers in Lanett and West Point to share ideas, techniques and protocols each department follows,” said Lanett Fire & EMS Chief Johnny Allen.

With the upcoming football seasons for area high schools and colleges, the likelihood of this information coming in handy is high.

Allen added, “Not only will it be helpful during Point events, it will also help us review our plans for how we handle the athletic events at our local schools. One thing is clear. Lanett Fire & EMS, West Point Fire & EMS and the Point University training staff have a common goal – to provide the best care possible to the young men and women who participate in athletic events at all levels.”

What both of these stories show is that those in a position of authority are dedicated to providing a good education to both young and old.