BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Students, Fans, Alumni,
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
On behalf of Northeast Mississippi Community College, welcome to the greatest institution in the United States!
Here at NEMCC, we have a tradition in all sports of exhibiting not only a championship atmosphere, but one of class, integrity, and professionalism. We are proud of the student/athletes that have chosen to attend Northeast. We are thankful each of you have chosen to attend this athletic event.
While our students are here, our goal is to provide opportunities of personal growth through cutting edge instruction in the classroom and athletic programs. Northeast recognizes that its primary commitment is to the education of our student-athlete.
Our vision is to develop one of the premier athletic programs in the nation. To that end, the completion of our Baseball/Softball complex was certainly a step in the right direction. In addition, the beginning of our Game, Set, Match capital giving campaign for our state of the art tennis complex shows our continued commitment to excellence.
Recently Northeast was recognized as an Apple Distinguished School. Receiving this coveted honor exhibits to the world our commitment to cutting edge technology within our instructional process.
I hope you will have time prior to or after this athletic event to walk or drive around our campus and get a small glance at what we have to offer. You are welcome to visit anytime with our students, faculty, and staff.
We are happy to have each of you as part of the Northeast family. Please feel free to contact me should the need ever arise. As you leave campus after this event, we wish you the very best and safe travels.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ricky G. Ford, Northeast Mississippi Community College President
TIGER FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF
ATHLETIC SUPPORT STAFF
Homecoming
Northeast Mississippi Community College has announced its 2024 Homecoming Court.
Booneville’s Isabel Grace Williford will serve as this year’s Homecoming Queen.
Williford, alongside her fellow homecoming maids, were officially introduced at a pep rally earlier today. They will be presented to the crowd at halftime of the Northeast Tigers’ homecoming football game against East Mississippi Community College.
Joining Williford on the 2024 Homecoming Court are twelve maids, including six freshmen and six sophomores.
Freshman maids selected for this honor include Madison Henderson of Corinth, Maria Jenkins of Booneville, Emsley Murphy of Booneville, Eva Null of Walnut, Kayleigh Smith of Booneville, and Anna Slack of New Site.
Representing the sophomore class are Christina Graham of Myrtle, Erin Mattox of Booneville, Sadie Perriman of Corinth, Addie Trulove of Kossuth, Bailey Wilbanks of Kossuth, and Gabby Bell of Pontotoc.
Serving as queen Williford’s escort is John Farris Owings of Corinth, who accompanied her during the court’s debut at today’s pep rally and will do so during homecoming festivities tonight.
Members of the 2024 Northeast Mississippi Community College Homecoming court includes (front row l-r) Maria Jenkins of Booneville, Sadie Perriman of Corinth, Gabby Bell of Pontotoc, 2024 Homecoming Queen Isabel Grace Williford of Booneville, Emsley Murphy of Booneville, Christina Graham of Myrtle and Erin Mattox of Booneville along with (back row l-r) Addie Trulove of Kossuth, Bailey Wilbanks of Kossuth, Madison Henderson of Corinth, Anna Slack of New Site, Eva Null of Walnut and Kayleigh Smith of Booneville
Queen Isabel Grace Williford COVER PHOTO:
2024 NORTHEAST FOOTBALL ROSTER
Greg Davis (10th year - Texas Christian University)
Campbell (1st year - Universityof Arkasas)
Cannon (2nd year - Delta State University)
Cedric Shell (7th year - Alcorn State University)
Upshaw (1st year - Southern Arkansas University)
Rotenberry (4th year - Mississippi College)
(10th year- Mississippi State University)
Farris (10th year- University of North Alabama)
Tupelo, Miss. Shannon
(3rd year - University of North Alabama)
Indianola, Miss St. Joseph
Grenada, Miss. Grenada
(12th year - University of Mississippi)
(4th year - Mississippi State University)
(1st year -
2024 EAST MISSISSIPPI FOOTBALL ROSTER
34 Martrell Wilbourn
35 Makel Jones
Vancleave
MS Lafayette
Sophomore 6-1 215 Hattiesburg, MS Hattiesburg
36 Jackson Bunyard K/P Freshman
38 Hayden Houpt K/P
5-11
Freshman 5-10 215 Meridian, MS West Lauderdale
Madison, MS Germantown 39 Hunter Moore
44 Shawn Pickering II DL Freshman 6-3 230 Brandon, MS Brandon
45 LaDonya Adams RB Freshman 5-9 165 Meridian, MS Clarkdale
46 Demario Harrell LB Freshman 6-1 225 Tylertown, MS Tylertown
50 Roscoe Tucker OL Sophomore 6-5 325 Meridian, MS Meridian
51 Mike Wallace Jr. OL Freshman 6-4 305 Fulton, MS Itawamba Agricultural
52 Rosco Malloy DL Sophomore 6-1 290 Anniston, AL Anniston 54 Bryson Kelly OL Sophomore 6-3 330
75
78
92
96
97
NEMCC NAMES MIKE LESTER 2024 ALUMNI
HALL OF FAME
INDUCTEE
Mike Lester of Booneville was recently named the 2024 inductee in Northeast Mississippi Community College’s Alumni Hall of Fame.
Lester’s exceptional contributions to the college and the surrounding community have solidified his place among Northeast’s most notable graduates.
A graduate of the Booneville High School class of 1978, Lester earned an associate of arts degree at Northeast in 1980. He was a member of the 1978-79 Tiger basketball team and Phi Theta Kappa. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Mississippi.
Since then, he has been a steadfast supporter of the college throughout his professional career. He was instrumental in the founding of the Northeast Sports Hall of Fame and has consistently donated to the Northeast Development Foundation for 22 years.
“Mike Lester is a shining example of the kind of alumnus we strive to produce at Northeast,” said Patrick Eaton Vice President of Institutional Advancement & Executive Director of Northeast Mississippi Community College Development Foundation and Alumni Association. “His dedication to both the college and the community is truly inspiring. We are honored to recognize him with this prestigious award.”
In 1988 Lester established Eastside Automotive, a wholesale automotive electronics and auto parts business. He and wife Cindy have two sons, Justin and Brent. Together, they have five grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren.
A devout member of Oak Hill Baptist Church, Lester has served as a deacon, been active in youth ministry and jail ministry, and is a dedicated member of the Gideon International ministry.
Beyond his educational, professional and spiritual pursuits, Lester is an active Northeast alumnus and a longtime promoter of all college endeavors. His induction into the Alumni Hall of Fame is a well-deserved recognition of his significant contributions to the college and the community.
SIXTEENTH CLASS OF NEMCC SPORTS HALL OF FAME FEATURES FOUR DECORATED ATHLETES
CRAIG LAUDERDALE (MEN’S GOLF, 1991, 2004-11)
Craig Lauderdale represented Northeast Mississippi Community College by himself at the 1990 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III golf tournament in Arizona. He was recognized as an NJCAA All-American after finishing in 14th place overall with a four-day total of 321.
His award-winning season resulted in the decision by legendary Northeast athletic director W.B. “Bill” Ward to sponsor an entire team one year later. The men’s golf program is now in its 28th season of existence.
Lauderdale has been around for each of Northeast’s major milestones. He is the longest tenured head coach in program history and also served as a volunteer assistant during the 2020-21 campaign when his son, Austin, and the Tigers captured the conference crown.
Lauderdale started his eight-year stretch as leader of the Tigers in 2004. He guided Northeast to back-toback NJCAA Region 23 championships and subsequent berths to the Division III nationals from 2007-08.
Lauderdale has more than 400 combined victories and six divison titles between his boys and girls high school basketball teams at Jumpertown and Saltillo. He was the 2007 NJCAA Region 23 Coach of the Year at Northeast.
BRUSE LOYD (FOOTBALL, 1980-82)
Bruse Loyd’s original arrival in the fall of 1980 after graduating from Alcorn Central High School coincided with what is still one of the most successful seasons in modern-day program history. The Tigers won nine consecutive games on the way to achieving a number one national ranking for the first time ever.
Loyd’s job as an offensive lineman was to protect quarterback Mike Steenson and open up holes for AllAmerican running back Anthony Norman. He performed his duties well as Norman set the school record for rushing touchdowns in a single season with 12.
The list of firsts that Loyd and the Tigers accomplished that year also includes the inaugural north half championship, perfect division record and home state playoff contest. Northeast finished with final ratings of seventh from the J.C. Gridwire publication and 12th by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
Loyd transferred to Delta State University at the conclusion of his freshman campaign. However, he eventually accepted an offer to return to Northeast from legendary head coach W.B. “Bill” Ward after taking a redshirt while with the Statesmen in 1981.
The decision to rejoin the Tigers paid off for Loyd, who chose Rice (Texas) University inside the nowdefunct Southwest Conference (SWC) as his final destination on the gridiron. He was a two-year starter for the Owls that earned all-newcomer honors in 1983.
WILL ROBERTSON (BASEBALL, 2012-13)
Will Robertson earned all-conference honors during each of his years with the Tigers. His efforts helped Northeast capture its first Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division title in more than two decades.
The Tigers also won 30-plus games for just the third time in program history and advanced to the MACJC Tournament following a play-in series with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College during Robertson’s sophomore campaign.
Robertson at one point led all National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II members in RBIs. He finished the season in the top 10 countrywide in both RBIs with 55 and on-base percentage at .531.
Robertson completed his decorated on-field career at tradition-rich Delta State University. He was a finalist for the prestigious C Spire Ferriss Trophy and Perfect Game USA’s Josh Willingham Award, which was presented to the most valuable player (MVP) inside the NCAA’s Division II.
Robertson also obtained All-American accolades from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).
ANTOINE WILKERSON (MEN’S BASKETBALL, 1996-98)
Antoine Wilkerson is one of only five freshmen in program history to secure All-American recognition from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). The Atlanta, Ga., native averaged a double-double that year with 21.9 points and 11.1 rebounds.
Wilkerson turned things up another notch at the beginning of the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division schedule. He scored 20 or more points in 13 of the Tigers’ final 14 regular season matchups.
His efforts helped the Tigers capture the 1998 MACJC North Division championship and return to Mississippi College’s A.E. Wood Coliseum for regionals. Northeast went 39-17 overall with Wilkerson in the starting lineup for head coach Mike Lewis.
Wilkerson totaled more than 1,000 points in a black-and-gold uniform. His averages across 57 appearances at Northeast are 18 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, 1.7 steals, 1.3 blocks and 29.8 minutes.
Wilkerson earned a scholarship to Gardner-Webb (N.C.) University after his prosperous tenure at Northeast. He was selected to the All-South Atlantic Conference (SAC) second-team following the 1998-99 campaign.
