David Cole 20130703

Retirement section honoring ICC’s Dr. David Cole

A supplement to the Daily Journal and Itawamba County Times Wednesday, July 3, 2013

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A celebration of achievement

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CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENT

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2013

DAILY JOURNAL I ITAWAMBA COUNTY TIMES

Vision, plan, support leave a legacy of accomplishments

BY PATSY R. BRUMFIELD DAILY JOURNAL

F

COURTESY PHOTO I ICC

Cole speaks with a group of students in 2001.

Dr. David C. Cole came to ICC in January 1993 as its fourth president after nearly two decades as superintendent of South Panola School District in his Batesville hometown.

He’d been an assistant superintendent, federal projects director, journalism and history teacher, and even spent one year as a reporter for the Clarksdale Press Register and the Daily Journal.

He met his wife, the former Betty Darby, while the two were South Panola teachers.

Their plans are to return to Batesville in retirement and enjoy time with their four children and nine grandchildren.

Rep. Steve Holland of

Plantersville, a longtime Cole friend and political ally, said the retirement decision was simple:“The man has a God-given instinct about life, and it was just time.”

GROWTH PLAN

When Cole arrived, the ICC campus was a sparse place with outdated facilities in dire need of being replaced. His first task: to build a modern science building.

That’s where the tremendous multi-campus growth plan began.

The previous leaders were good enough to a point, Davis said. But Cole was different.

COURTESY PHOTO I ICC

Cole in 1997.

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE

Relocation of Itawamba Agricultural High School to Highway 25 South

Renovation of former high school building and conversion to the Social Science Building

Gerber Garment Technology donated a methods time management system to the Tupelo campus

The Tupelo campus inaugurated the Tech-Prep Consortium, another effort to provide students with workplace skills and competencies

In December, the state’s first totally interactive communications network, the Community College Network, was installed

Opening of a 25-computer English writing lab

IBM’s Computer Integrated Manufacturing line was installed at the Tupelo campus as part of the Northeast Mississippi Regional Advanced Technology Training Institute

To acclimate students to the college environment, ICC offered summer orientation sessions for incoming freshmen as part of a massive effort to retain students

1995

January 4 – Dr. David C. Cole became the fourth president of Itawamba Community College

1994

1993

A LOOK AT 20 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP AT ICC ICC was among seven community colleges from around the nation that earned a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education through its cooperative demonstration program in manufacturing technologies

Your Contributions Were Many Congratulations on your retirement, Dr. David Cole. You are an inspiration to us all.

Since 1993 Dr. David Cole has been an educational spark plug, creating new opportunities and igniting interest in higher education in Northeast Mississippi and across the state. His charisma, dedication to education and relentless energy have taken Itawamba Community College to new heights. Plus, his innovative concepts have made ICC and its related partners in workforce development and training an essential element in the economic and industrial development of Northeast Mississippi.

Best wishes on the next chapter of your life.

bancorpsouth.com

NYSE: BXS

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ULTON – Sunday, David Cole left 20 years at the helm of Itawamba Community College – once a small provincial school, known primarily for its unusual Indian name.

With Cole and his carefully groomed leadership team, ICC is nationally recognized for academic excellence and professional second chances for an under-educated regional workforce.

Cole, 65, announced his retirement plans earlier this year, much to the surprise of almost everyone but his inner circle. Longtime colleague Mike Eaton will succeed him.

Still, it’s difficult for others who know him to envision his departure at the pinnacle of his life’s work.

“He had a vision,” said longtime friend and ally Windle “Buster” Davis. The impressive ICC Davis Event Center honors him and his twin brother, Kindle “Bud.” Speaking at his Ford dealership just a stone’s throw from the Fulton campus, Buster Davis said he feels a deep loss at Cole’s departure after so many years working together for ICC. “Some people never accomplish their plans,” Davis said, “but David had a plan and he got others to help him accomplish it.”

CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENT

DAILY JOURNAL I ITAWAMBA COUNTY TIMES

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2013

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Variety of technological improvements done, including the installation of a new computer system for recordkeeping as well as a fiberoptic network that provided Internet and email access for both employees and students

Programs including total production maintenance technology and microcomputer servicing technology, microcomputer specialist technology and a Job Training Partnership Act commercial truck driving program began at the Tupelo campus

Dr. David Cole on a fine achievement!

Thank you for your unwavering support of ICC and your dedication to providing quality education to all students!

1309 Adams St. Fulton, MS 662-862-3060

here for a job,” Davis said, “but he told me, ‘You take it for three years and teach us how to do it.’”

That was 17 years ago and Davis is still at it.

PARTNERSHIPS

Cole is lesser known publicly for establishing the Mississippi Corridor Consortium, a partnership of ICC and three other north Mississippi community colleges to bring together resources in the region’s 16 counties.

The Consortium uses limited financial resources to leverage larger sums to expand education and workforce training programs.

Notably, the Consortium acquired a $1.2 million grant to establish the Advanced Manufacturing Center to upgrade the regional workforce’s automo-

Opening of the Natural Science Building

Opening of a 30,000square-foot Physical Plant/Print Shop

tive manufacturing skills, which became a key deal-maker in Toyota’s decision to build its new plant in Northeast Mississippi.

Dr. Clyde Muse, 35 years and counting as president of Hinds Community College in central Mississippi, knows a thing or two about Cole.

They began their friendship when each was a K-12 superintendent – Cole at South Panola and Muse in Meridian.

“He has one of the sharpest minds when it comes to issues affecting people and politics,” Muse said.

One of Cole’s greatest accomplishments, Muse said, is the establishment of adult education programs throughout his community college district – Itawamba, Monroe, Lee, Ponto-

Science Annex on the Fulton campus was converted to house the Speech and Theatre Department

Congratulations, Dr. Cole, on a job well done. We appreciate your role in education workforce development and your commitment to local businesses.

- The staff of Fulton Rehabilitation Services

The emergency medical technician/pa ramedic program opened on the Fulton campus

toc and Chickasaw counties.

“This is unique,” Muse observed, “especially over such a wide area. I’ve often said it’s the best adult GED program in the state.”

The Hinds CC chief also said Cole deserves credit for developing an easily understood concept to fund community college salaries at “mid-point” between K-12 and senior colleges, as well as per-student support at “mid-level.”

Universally accepted by the Legislature, the goals have yet to be fully funded.

Cole may be an empire builder, but his friends insist it is an empire for others: He’s a people builder.

Martin and CREATE FoundaCONTINUED NEXT PAGE

ICC’s Web page went online, improving access to information about the college

ICC’s student identification cards were barcoded for the first time, enabling students to pay for meals in the cafeteria and Student Activities Center as well as for services provided by the Learning Resource Center and the bookstore

Congratulations,

Dr. David

Cole

Our best wishes and gratitude to a successful college president and a strong community leader!

REHAB SERVICES

1110 S. Adams St. Fulton, MS 862-4104

www.FultonRehabServices.com

Congratulations on your retirement, Dr. David Cole!

Thanks for your many years working for the betterment of our area and best to you in your retirement!

Hwy. 178 East Tremont, MS

508 S. Spring Street, Fulton, MS 662-862-2172

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about Cole. “He’s got his fingers on whoever can make it happen.”

Cole is well-known for his ability to cajole legislators into financial support for community colleges statewide.

Another example, Davis noted, is when Cole asked him to organize a concert series to bring the public to ICC. “He came to me and said, ‘They tell me you can help me get it done,’” Davis recalled.

Since then, ICC’s concert series has raised thousands of dollars to directly support Regional Rehabilitation in Tupelo, which provides treatment and counseling free to the region’s residents.

Cole asked Davis to develop the concert series and then show ICC how to run it.

“I told him I didn’t come up

1997

A mall area in the center of the Fulton campus on the site of the old football field is constructed

THOMAS WELLS | DAILY JOURNAL

Cole takes a moment to talk with students on ICC’s Fulton campus.

COURTESY PHOTO I ICC Cole is known for taking a personal interest in students, including esCole reads to children in ICC’s child development program in 2003. tablishing his own scholarship fund.

1996

Mid-1990s

First, he set out to know the people and became part of the community. Many a Saturday, he’d don a sports shirt and shake hands with customers in Davis’ dealership.

“He wanted people to know he respected and appreciated them,” Davis noted.

Under Cole’s leadership, ICC grew from a relatively unremarkable presence in Fulton to sprawling campuses in Tupelo and Belden, and enrollment of more than 14,000 students with workforce training opportunities for more than 50,000 adults annually.

Today, ICC’s enrollment is 50 percent higher than when Cole came to town.

All its campuses are modern and boast new facilities for a wide range of disciplines, including the showplace Davis Event Center and a $15.8 million Health Science Education Center under construction in Tupelo.

It also boasts the largest distance learning program in the state.

Cole believed in building coalitions – he looked for key people in the community to help him further ICC. He also broadened the college’s staff with new people and their new experiences.

“He saw people’s talents and let them do their jobs,” Davis added.

Ripley banker Bobby Martin knows Davis’ words to be true.

“He’s a manipulator, but in a good way,” Martin observed

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CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENT

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2013

DAILY JOURNAL I ITAWAMBA COUNTY TIMES

FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Administrative separation of Itawamba Agricultural High School and Itawamba Community College began

Crane Pavilion opened

THOMAS WELLS | DAILY JOURNAL

The Career Expo at Itawamba Community College brings in students from across Northeast Mississippi. into a relationship with the community college.

Campus buildings total 74 compared with 58 in 2003 and their value grew from $57 million to $163 million.

Last October, Cole’s national colleagues through the Association of Community College Trustees recognized him with the Southern Region’s Chief Executive Officer Award.

In 2012, ICC was selected one of the nation’s top 120 community colleges.

Davis and others wonder how

For the first time, ICC’s vocationaltechnical students who completed their programs of study were tested as part of the statewide Mississippi Career Planning and Assessment System

ICC became a cooperating member of a consortium with Jones County Junior College which received a $1.08 million grant from the National Science Foundation for the establishment of Technology Partnership for Computer Network Training

a 24/6 man – that’s giving up one day for church – can just stop complete devotion to a cause for retirement.

They speculate he’s got a plan for that, too, and it’s only partially devoted to spending more time with his family.

“He’s going to be a greeter at Walmart during the day and at night at Holland Funeral Directors,” joked Rep. Steve Holland, the latter’s owner.

The colorfully talking legislator said of Cole, “Probably more than any other human being I’ve met

– and I’ve met a lot of them – he attacks every day with the gusto of a hound dog.”

Hinds’ CC’s Muse said “I don’t know what he plans to do, but it’s not his forte to sit around and read a book all day.

“He’s still got too much to offer – he’ll keep serving the people.”

ICC was among the top five of Mississippi’s 15 public community colleges in enrollment

The 63,000square-foot Student Services Building opened on the Fulton campus

The Tupelo campus began offering a “degree with a guarantee”

1998

tion’s Juanita Floyd praise Cole’s scholarship program, which has helped nearly 200 students since it was established in 2004.

Floyd said the fund has raised nearly $200,000 for young and old, whom Cole felt needed financial help to get a better education.

“He’s made a big difference,” Martin said.

While some of Cole’s impact on Fulton and ICC is obvious, it’s the smaller, more personal ways he’s made a difference, they say.

After 2011’s devastating tornadoes, Cole personally delivered a generator to help victims. He sent ICC staff to assist with Gulf Coast recovery from Hurricane Katrina.

“I heard about one student who didn’t have any money to go to the dentist,” Martin recalled.

“Here’s Dr. Cole, who comes to the rescue and finds the money to help that young man get his teeth fixed.

“That’s what he does, quietly.”

Martin also termed Cole a “great 10-for-1 man.”

“If you ever ask him for one favor, he’ll ask you for 10,” the Ripley banker said with humor and respect. “I’d like to see his file for the people he calls when he wants something.”

Martin said that’s how his relationship began with Cole, as they traded favors across the years for the region’s economic and educational improvement.

He and others praise Cole for expanding ICC’s influence into Tupelo and then to Belden, bringing thousands more people

FAMILY TIME

Muse has it right, sort of.

Frankly, Cole says his idea of retirement includes service to others but he admits his wife and family have spent much too

In late 1998 and early 1999, the old cafeteria, maintenance building and print shop were demolished

much time without him through the years.

“I don’t have any other educational employment I want to go into,” he said late last week as he drove home from legislative lobbying in Jackson.

His voice sounded like he’s looking forward to leaving the changed political scene of Jackson and focusing on something with a more immediate impact.

“First off,” he admitted, “I plan to spend quality time with the next generation of my family.

“I want to instill in them the best of David Cole and try to hide the worst side, those warts and all.”

He said he believes, as the author Robert Greenleaf wrote, that a person’s most productive years are after retirement when he or she can work on their avocation – for servant leadership and good works.

Cole reflected on the strong will and character of his mother, who reared seven children on their South Panola County farm.

He said he was “less fortunate” than his siblings because he was the youngest.

“My mother was going to mold me into the image she wanted me to be, and she is what instilled in me any of the virtues I might have,” he said.

Logistically, sharing himself with the next generations may be more challenging than first thought, with grandchildren from Fulton to Nashville.

“I think I see some kind of RV in my future,” he laughed.

ICC students received online access to journals and abstracted titles as part of the statewide MAGNOLIA project

patsy.brumfield@journalinc.com

ICC offered its first college class via the Internet, English composition

Congratulations & Best Wishes on Your Retirement,

Dr. David

Cole

Waterfront Restaurant 635 Joe Wheeler Brown Rd. Fulton, MS

862-2315

CONGRATULATIONS TO DR. DAVID C. COLE A Mover and a Shaker

We would like to thank Betty and Dr. David Cole for their love and support of Fulton United Methodist Church.

God bless.

ICC celebrated its 50th anniversary

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CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENT

DAILY JOURNAL I ITAWAMBA COUNTY TIMES

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2013

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COURTESY PHOTO I ICC

Cole speaks with community college students during the Capitol Day event.

Cole accepts a $2-million donation from the Gilmore Foundation to help fund the school’s Health Science Education Center.

‘I can’t believe how much of my life has been influenced by this man ... in a good way. There is no one I know in the educational field who loves community college more than Dr. Cole. There’s nothing this man can't do and hasn’t done to help people. I think Northeast Mississippi is always going to be touched by the work David Cole has done day in and day out. Every living soul in the region owes a debt of gratitude to the vision of David Cole.’

Brandon Presley

ICC implemented a basic mentoring program for new faculty and staff

TIS upgraded ICC’s inhouse department software to bring together information on housing, transcripts, grades and alumni

ICC realigned its administrative structure to better utilize the experience of existing senior-level leadership; Deans became vice presidents

ICC won the John C. and Earnestine McCall Halbrook Award for the institution that had shown the greatest improvement over the previous year in the percentage of students graduating

Fulton Campus was wired for direct telephone lines to personnel; residence halls began to offer Internet access and students received free local telephone and cable TV service

2000

The walking track opened

COURTESY PHOTO I ICC

Late 1990s

The fall 1998 enrollment jumped to 2,219 day students, the highest total since 1986

1999

Public Service Commissioner, Northern District

Ultrasound Technology program opened

President’s home was demolished

The 80,000-square-foot Advanced Education Center opened on the Tupelo campus, a partnership of ICC, the University of Mississippi and Mississippi University for Women

Congratulations, Dr. David Cole.

Thank you Dr. Cole !

We salute you on enhancing our educational system and for your many years of service to our community.

We appreciate your contributions to our field of education, and wish you well in your next adventures.

Congratulations on your retirement!

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Coahoma Community College Clarksdale, Mississippi www.coahomacc.edu

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THOMAS WELLS | DAILY JOURNAL

Cole, left, and Vice President of Adminstration Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi David Copenhaver sign a Consortium between four community colleges in north Mississippi and Toyota to develop an Advanced Manufacturing Technician Program.

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CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENT

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2013

DAILY JOURNAL I ITAWAMBA COUNTY TIMES

Tupelo presence grows under Cole

BY CHRIS KIEFFER

TUPELO – Itawamba Community College greatly expanded its Lee County footprint during David Cole’s presidency.

By the time he retired last month, ICC had amassed 200 acres of land and 500,000 square feet of instructional space over two campuses in the Tupelo area – one in east Tupelo and the other in Belden.

“People want to look at ICC as a Fulton-based college, but when you have 200 acres on two campuses with 500,000 square feet, you are pretty much also a Lee County- and Tupelo-based campus,” he said.

It wasn’t always that way.

Early in his tenure, Cole began to develop a vision for expanding the college’s Tupelo campus, which opened in 1964, to offer vocational and technical courses. That was still its sole use when Cole started in 1993.

“The vision with Tupelo was the population center, and Tupelo was the place where we could be of the absolute most service to people who were commuting and trying to get knowledge and skills to use on the next level,” he said.

Today, students can still take vocational courses in Tupelo, but

COURTESY PHOTO I ICC

Cole briefs Mississippi legislators at the ICC Belden Center.

Cole returned to the college as president in July 2001

Fall registration on Web began

New home for the president completed

eCommerce Technology program began, the state’s first

IT'S BEEN 20 GREAT YEARS! HOLMES COMMUNITY COLLEGE WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE

DR. DAVID COLE FOR HIS 20 YEARS AS ITAWAMBA COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S PRESIDENT.

Construction began on Chickasaw Hall

ICC started branding with new logos

Mueller Industries and Ferguson Enterprises make significant contributions to ICC’s Foundation

NMMC donated $200,000 to ICC to help alleviate nursing/other allied health personnel shortages

2003

In January, the ICC Board of Trustees granted Cole a leave of absence to become chief of staff for Gov. Ronnie Musgrove

2002

The largest band in ICC’s history formed

2001

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE

Renovation of former Ole MissTupelo Building combined student services into one location

Congratulations on your retirement, Dr. Cole!

We salute your leadership!

The employees of

www.holmescc.edu Holmes Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, or age in its educational programs and activities, employment, or admissions. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries and grievances regarding non-discrimination, compliance policies, and procedures for the College: Compliance Officer, 662-472-9429. Written inquiries may be emailed to: compliance@holmescc.edu or sent to: Compliance Officer, Holmes Community College, 412 West Ridgeland Avenue, Ridgeland, MS 39157.

A tip of the cap to you.

from your friends at

©-JPC-2013

Tupelo Coca-Cola Bottling Works

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DAILY JOURNAL

HISTORY

When Congress funded the Vocational Education Act in 1963, it paved a path for ICC to move into Tupelo and fill a need of training more skilled employees for the workforce.

The city and county governments and the Community Development Foundation worked hard to cooperatively support the expansion, said Larry Otis, who served as the first director of ICC’s Tupelo campus.

Early classes were spread

Chickasaw Hall is dedicated

Construction began on Boggs Humanities Building

ICC began offering academic day classes at the Tupelo campus

Street adjacent to the Student Services Building is converted to a pedestrian walkway

Plans unveiled for $15 million Events Center

an associate’s degree and bachelor’s degree and master’s degree,” Cole said. “It has allowed people to work, raise families, stay at home and get an advanced degree.”

Also helpful was a change in the state’s funding formula during the late ‘90s that allowed the campus to receive full funding – instead of half – for classes provided outside of the Fulton campus.

“One of the things that brought the college forward was when the Tupelo campus was turned into a comprehensive campus,” said new ICC President Mike Eaton.

Added Tice, “People who come to the Tupelo campus are either in the workforce or they are trying to get in the workforce with a two-year degree. That is what this campus does.”

The Belden campus, meanwhile, came when the college’s enrollment was surging during a time of high unemployment and when there was a great need to help Toyota train its new employees. It was funded by federal stimulus dollars, as well as money from the automaker.

Eaton said the campus has been a “home run” for the college.

“I think the Belden campus is not just valuable to the college, but it has become an integral part to the economic development strategy for the region,” said James Williams, ICC vicepresident of economic and community services. chris.kieffer@journalinc.com

Phase 2 of Fulton campus improvement plan scheduled to begin in the summer with street closures

2005

they also can take almost any other class that is offered in Fulton, with the exception of a few sciences. The campus houses about 1,200 students during the day and 1,800 at night, slightly less than the Fulton campus’ 2,400. It attracts both adult learners who work in Tupelo and commuters who prefer to remain closer to home than drive to Fulton.

The campus also has the Advanced Education Center, where both the University of Mississippi and Mississippi University for Women offer classes. The health science building will open this fall and cluster all eight health programs in one place.

Meanwhile, ICC opened its Belden campus in 2009 to house Adult Basic Education, continuing education, WIA and the Win Job Center. It also has space for Toyota and other companies to provide training.

“It is a one-stop employment center,” Cole said.

throughout the city, Otis said.

Business education classes were on the second and third floors of the city-county building near the railroad tracks off Green Street, and a machine shop and welding program were located in the community warehouses near the current location of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. An auto mechanic program was placed near a car dealership.

Classes were moved to the current campus in 1966, and from that point, the campuses’ history was rather subdued.

Tony Tice, who helps lead the Tupelo campus today as ICC’s dean of career and technical instruction, said it was still being used exclusively for vocational classes when he came to the school in 1998.

Its dramatic growth has occurred during the past 15 years.

“David Cole has probably been one of the most significant factors in the community college’s growth that I can see,” Otis said.

Two big factors fueled the Tupelo campus’ growth.

In 1994, Cole began advocating for a regional education park on the Tupelo campus with a hub that could be shared by multiple institutions. With the support of House Speaker Tim Ford, the project received $11.5 million in bond money, with the community and ICC funding an extra $2 million.

The Advanced Education Center opened in 2000.

“The partnership has allowed people to stay at home and get

2004

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2013

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COURTESY PHOTO I ICC

Cole visits with Masafumi Hamaguchi, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi.

Students voted online in January in the Mr. and Miss ICC election for the first time in the history of ICC

QEP topic approved

ICANLEARN mathematics learning system begins

Theater building is demolished

Purvis Center is dedicated to the memory of Sen. Perrin Purvis on May 24

Spring semester – classes began in Boggs Humanities Building, which was dedicated on April 20

Congratulations,

Dr. Cole

From the Faculty, Staff and Students of

Blue Mountain College

www.nemcc.edu

Thank you for your dedicated service to Northeast Mississippi

Dr. David Cole

7

Congratulations, Dr. David Cole Thanks for your years of hard work and dedication!

Best wishes for an awesome retirement!

Riley Building Building Supplies, Supplies, Inc. Inc. Riley 501 West Main St., Fulton 862-3149

3544 Hwy. 371S., Mantachie 282-4233

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CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENT

DAILY JOURNAL I ITAWAMBA COUNTY TIMES

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CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENT

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DAILY JOURNAL I ITAWAMBA COUNTY TIMES

‘If you’re driving down the road, look out the window and see a turtle sitting on the top of a fence post, you can be sure he had plenty of help getting up there. Dr. Cole had plenty of help getting to where he is today. He came up in one of the ruralist places in one of the ruralist towns in one of the ruralist counties in one of the ruralist states. In other words, he came up country.’

Randy Kelly

COURTESY PHOTO I ICC

Construction on the Davis Event Center scheduled to begin in the summer 2005

Mississippi Corridor Consortium is organized – ICC, Northeast, East Mississippi – Northwest later joined

2006

Cole, left, visits with ICC’s third president, Dr. W.O. Benjamin, in 1993.

ICC President David Cole led the MACJC Presidents’ Association

ICC Fitness Center opened in October

Cole presents Mike Eaton with a plaque commemorating his induction into the Itawamba Community College Athletic Hall of Fame.

ICC hosted first Connection Day to ease the transition to college for adult learners

2007

COURTESY PHOTO I ICC

Gilmore Foundation – Monroe County Tuition Guarantee program announced – to begin in the fall of 2008

ICC implemented the Early Alert Referral System in September

Davis Event Center opened March 9

SACS onsite visit – deemed successful

COURTESY PHOTO I ICC

Cole presents an associate’s degree to Anna Dill during a commencement ceremony at the Davis Event Center.

ICC collaborated with CDF and Mississippi State University on a special furniture industry project

ICC shared in $1.9 million Department of Labor grant to help bridge the gap between demand and supply in the allied health workforce in Northeast Mississippi

Shuttle service between the Fulton and Tupelo campuses began in September

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Executive Director, Three Rivers Planning and Development Council

2008

Cole stands with former ICC coaches Buster, left, and Bud Davis.

COURTESY PHOTO I ICC

COURTESY PHOTO I ICC

Cole browses the school bookstore’s collection with a group of students, circa 2002.

Construction of the bell towerbegan

Enrollment in the fall – up 15.7 percent

ICC became wireless

ICCBelden opened

October – Behavior Intervention implemented

January – ICC became tobacco-fre e at all locations

ICC offered ARROW term options for the first time in the fall

Dedication of Eaton Field

Advising Center opened

Revised MWF schedules implemented

ICC celebrated 60th anniversary in the fall

ICC received a $100,000 Hazard Mitigation grant

ICC conducted open house for Hazard Mitigation review

Mr. and Mrs. Don A. Baker

12.65 percent increase in enrollment in the fall

Student Success Centers opened

Belden open house and ribbon cutting, Dec. 1

- - -

(Trustee 1987-2009)

wish to congratulate

Lee CountyMarchbanks Helping Hand tuition guarantee beginning with the class of 2009

No tuition or fee increase in the fall

New JOBS4U program at ICCBelden

New options for refunds with ICC Choice Card through HigherOne

August Itawamb a Hall opened

ICC offered new major in precision manufacturing and machining

T h a n k Yo u

for your contributions to our community

Spring schedule available on the Web only

Writing Centers opened on both campuses as well as online

Dr. David C. Cole and Miss Betty upon his retirement as President of

Itawamba Community College We would like to say Thank You for two decades of dedication to our school.

B & B CONCRETE CO., INC. SERVING NORTH MISSISSIPPI

130 N. Industrial Road • Tupelo • (662) 842-6312

Congratulations, Dr. Cole, on your upcoming retirement!

We appreciate your service and leadership within our 2+2 partnership at the Tupelo Advanced Education Center.

Your work has helped thousands of Northeast Mississippians complete college degrees close to home — what a wonderful legacy!

Thank you for your dedication, Your friends at The University of Mississippi

A meeting of the minds: Dr. Cole with UM-Tupelo Dean Jim Pate and UM Chief of Staff to the Chancellor Emeritus Andy Mullins

Fall – Graduation….It Matters! campaign began

Gilmore Foundation 2+2 Monroe County Guaranteed Tuition Program Public University Option (March)

- - -

Transportation department construction

ICC Foundation started Walk of Memories

eLearning degree options include criminal justice, microcomputer technology and office systems technology

Mock training evaluated ICC disaster plan at the Tupelo campus

Fall – Student Success Centers opened

2011

ICC implemented ICC ALERT

2009

ICC began recycling

2010

Writing Centers opened in February

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2013

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In July, successful Fulton campus disaster drill earned A rating from Homeland Security

Mississippi Corridor Consortium receives $2.7 million Career Accelerated Pathways grant from the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant program

Groundbreaking for Health Science Education Center at the Tupelo campus

ICC launched $8 million capital campaign for the Health Science Education Center

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CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENT

DAILY JOURNAL I ITAWAMBA COUNTY TIMES

From July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011, 1,355 ICC students received degrees or certificates, a 53.80 percent increase over FY10, the highest percentage increase in graduation rates among all 15 two-year institutions in Mississippi

In October, Cole was selected the Southern Region CEO of 2012 by the American Association of Community College Trustees

2013

CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENT

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2013

In the fall of 2011, Dedication of the Thomas E. Childs Jr. Gallery of Distinction and the J.A. Thrash Avenue

In September, ICC attained four-star status from The Institute of Sustainability

Cole announced his retirement in January, effective June 30, and Mike Eaton was selected to become the College’s sixth president on July 1

ICC was selected as a center for pilot online GED testing

In the fall of 2012, ICC implemented the Preparing and Advancing for College Experience (PACE) program, mandatory for 2012 high school graduates entering in the fall

In February, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi donated six Corollas to the automotive technology program

Caterpillar donated an engine to the ICC diesel technology program

ICC implemented the PACE program during the fall semester

ICC was named one of the nation’s top 120 community colleges by the Aspen Institute

In April, Cole received the prestigious Shirley B. Gordon Award of distinction from Phi Theta Kappa

ICC earned six stars from The Institute of Sustainability, the first college to earn that status

Vision.

In October, ICC sponsored the first Military Appreciation Night

DAILY JOURNAL I ITAWAMBA COUNTY TIMES

Tupelo Police Department donated car to ICC

ICC was among four centers for pilot online GED testing

In the spring of 2012, Renasant Bank donated the building formerly occupied by Fulton Skateland. Plans were to convert it to an indoor practice facility

NortheastMississippi’s CommunityFoundation

Tenacity.

Cole received the prestigious American Association of Community College Trustees Southern Region CEO of 2012 award

ICC’s first Hazard Mitigation plan to improve disaster preparedness was approved; final review on April 26

The College’s summer orientation sessions were restructured, and either online or onsite participation was mandatory for all 2012 high school graduates who entered ICC in the fall

Dr. David Cole, ICC president

CREATE

Focus.

ICC dedicated the Roy Cresap Baseball Field and the Johnson-Partlow Tennis Courts on March 30

‘Remember: When you have a little extra money, give it to your local community college.’

On May 4, Cole received the Mississippi Leadership Award during the Mississippi Trailblazers awards ceremony

www.createfoundation.com eatefoundation.com

ICC partnered with The Institute of Sustainability and in early 2013 became the first six-star college

Dr. David Cole JESCO and our employees thank you for the many construction opportunities during your administration and we wish you the best in retirement.

JESCO, Inc. Construction

202 S. Spring St., Fulton • 862-3121

Thanks for all your prestigious leadership during the years you have served at ICC!

Congratulations to Dr. David Cole for sticking to these principles of leadership. He consistently took the road less traveled. Thanks for making a meaningful difference for your students and the community and

Congratulations on your retirement, Dr. David Cole!

for your long and exceptional service on the MEC Board of Governors.

Franks, Franks & Jarrell, P.A. Certified Public Accountants

106 South Clifton Street, Fulton, MS 38843 662-862-4967

www.mec.ms

Congratulations Dr. Cole!

SENIOR INSURANCE S O L U T I O N S

Congratulations Congratulations On Your Retirement, and

Thank You

from The Board of Directors, Staff and Clients – for Your 17 Years of Support of

REGIONAL REHAB CENTER

Dr. Cole, you have made the world a better place!

615 PEGRAM DRIVE • TUPELO • 842-1891

on Your Retirement as President of ICC and

Thanks

for the Many Contributions You Have Made to the Success of Fulton and the Surrounding Areas!

WILLIAMS TRANSFER & STORAGE

www.movingsystems.com/williams 621 EAST PRESIDENT STREET • TUPELO, MS

(662) 842-4836

email: storagew@bellsouth.net

Call Becky and Randy Byrd today for a free quote.

We’ve been helping seniors save money for 32 Years!

Medicare Supplements Final Expense Plans Dental, Vision and Hearing Coverage Featuring a FREE Part D annual review.

Making sure you get the most from your health care dollar - today, and for years to come.

(662) 419-2752

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