A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT
Northeast continues to grow and move forward in many areas. I want to share with you the exciting developments and priorities that lie ahead for our institution. Northeast continues to embrace the use of technology in instruction, enabling our students to gain a competitive edge in the modern workforce.
Over the years, we have witnessed the transformative power of technology in education. By incorporating tools like audiovisual and virtual reality (AV/VR) into our instructional methods, we aim to provide a more immersive and comprehensive learning experience. Through this endeavor, we strive to equip our graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in their chosen fields.
I am pleased to report that, for the most part, we have emerged from the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our operations are back to full capacity, and we have resumed normal activities on campus. However, we must remain vigilant and proactive in our response to the everevolving situation. While we hope that COVID-19 remains under control, we recognize the need to be prepared for any potential resurgence.
At Northeast, our commitment to graduating career and technical, as well as middle skilled workers, has never been stronger. These individuals play a crucial role in driving economic growth and meeting the demands of our everchanging job market. Therefore, we will continue to prioritize their education, providing them with the tools and training required to succeed in their chosen vocations.
While cultivating a strong workforce is paramount, we must not lose sight of the balance between our various academic programs. Our more advanced degrees and programs also hold great importance within our instructional process. It is through their rigorous curriculum and emphasis on research that we foster innovation and contribute to the body of knowledge in our respective fields.
Simultaneously, we recognize the value of holistic development. We aim to provide our students with the complete college experience, encompassing not just academic pursuits but also personal growth, extracurricular involvement, and community engagement. By nurturing wellrounded individuals, we empower them to become leaders and active participants in society.
To achieve these goals, we remain dedicated to the concept of workforce development. We will continue to forge meaningful partnerships with industry leaders, facilitating
internships, job placement, and networking opportunities for our students. Together, we can ensure that our graduates are well-prepared to meet the demands of an evolving workforce.
Northeast desires to provide the complete college experience to all our students. In order to continue toward that end, we must constantly strive to expand and excel. We must have a vision. Through our Grow Northeast and Moving Forward initiatives, we have developed just that.
Through our marketing and community relations efforts, we have raised our visibility, advanced our brand, and articulated a clearer message. A popular item is our weekly podcasts, marketing all areas of the college to students, the institution, and the community.
The offices of Public Information and Marketing/ Community Relations have worked together in order to utilize all aspects of social media to its fullest extent.
We covet your support as we constantly monitor and measure our progress as we continue to grow and move forward.
We could not be effective with everything we do if not for the support of the Board of Supervisors in each county. Northeast Mississippi Community College belongs to the citizens of Alcorn, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo, and Union counties. We must therefore devote our time and energies to assist these citizens.
Northeast is fortunate to have a tremendous Board of Trustees. This group is very supportive of our work and the Grow Northeast/Moving Forward vision. With their guidance and leadership, I can only envision Northeast becoming a greater and greater asset to northeast Mississippi.
Northeast has been very successful in past years primarily due to the passion, devotion and energy of all the employees of Northeast. We have a workforce that is second to none. They are the strength of this institution.
In conclusion, the future holds immense promise for Northeast as we embrace the advancements in technology, prioritize workforce development, and foster a comprehensive college experience. Our commitment to excellence in education remains unwavering, and we are confident that our graduates will go on to make significant contributions to their chosen fields and to society as a whole.
Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to the mission of Northeast. Together, we will continue to make a positive impact and shape the future.
Warm regards,
Ricky G. Ford
Dr. Ricky G. Ford President
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Moving Forward COLLEGE
Through the years Northeast Mississippi Community College has established a physical presence in each of the five counties (Alcorn, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union) in its district.
Recently, the college expanded its footprint in its home county with the purchase of the former Corinthian Furniture building at 2100 W. Chambers Drive in Booneville.
With the approximately 350,000 square foot facility on the 43 acre property, the college has designs on creating a career-technical education complex and conference center, and according to Northeast president Dr. Ricky G. Ford, the advantages of such a development far exceed that of additional classroom and lab space.
“We are very excited about this facility, but not only for the college in regard to increasing enrollment, but it enables us to create more opportunities for the people of northeast Mississippi to enhance their skills and for us to better contribute to economic development because with this building, we can also provide extensive, specific workforce training to area industry and help our economic developers recruit more industry to this area,” Ford said.
“In addition to these things, we want to increase our number of graduates to attack the lack of skilled workers in north Mississippi,” Ford continued. “We are concerned about the culture the way of life of the citizens of this area. We want to continue to enhance the culture and lead the way in making sure our people have good jobs so they can better provide for their families now and for generations to come.
College officials began exploring the possibility of purchasing this property and seeking funds to do so approximately three years ago and executive vice president Dr. Craig-Ellis Sasser said that’s when the vision for what could be done with the facility was born.
“Our plan is to combine workforce education and career technical education to provide more opportunities for our students, as well as the residents of northeast Mississippi,” Sasser explained.
“We will offer flexible training within time frames of four weeks up to two years. We’ll operate a conference center complete with a commercial-style kitchen where students in our culinary arts program will gain valuable experience by providing food services for all events held in the center.”
According to associate Vice President for careertechnical education education Jason Mattox, the college will eventually move over 20 CTE programs to the facility, which will allow the college to grow these programs, while providing adequate space for the development of new programs in the future.
Vice president of finance Chris Murphy said, at a cost of $7.2 million, the purchase represents a significant investment in career-technical education and workforce training in the entire region.
Currently, there is no firm timeline for the development of the facility, but vice president for workforce training and economic development Nadara Cole believes this is an exciting opportunity for the college.
“To me, this building exemplifies the word community in community college,” Cole said.
“It will enhance our ability to assist the unemployed and under employed to move toward a better career pathway. They may begin with short-term workforce training and learn the skills it takes to land a better job or be successful in a degree program.
“Because of the flexibility of the building, we will be able to design the labs exactly how we want them to be and years from now, this will be a center that can change to fit the needs of the community.”
Honors Institute
ARTICULATION AGREEMENT WITH USM
Administrators from Northeast Mississippi Community College (NEMCC) and the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) have signed an articulation agreement that guarantees students enrolled in the Northeast Honors Institute admission into the USM honors college upon graduation from Northeast.
This new agreement will join the existing articulation agreements the Honors Institute has with Mississippi State University, Mississippi University for Women, and the University of North Alabama. The agreement provides Northeast's honors students with a clear pathway to continue their honors education at any of these four-year universities and is a positive development that can help them achieve their academic goals.
"We are so excited to partner with USM and the Honors College to provide this transfer avenue and pathway for our students," said Morgan Ricks, co-director of the NEMCC Honors Institute.
"Both Northeast's and USM's
honors programs emphasize the importance of individualized education and academic scholarship. This relationship will be fruitful for NEMCC's honors students for years to come."
"The articulation agreement is a testament to the high level of academic achievement of Northeast's honors students and their potential for success in higher education," said Vice President of Instruction Michelle Baragona.
At Northeast, the goal is to provide honors students with the best opportunities to continue their academic pursuits.
"This agreement is a great example of our goals," said Northeast Mississippi Community College President Dr. Ricky G. Ford. "We are proud to partner with these prestigious universities to ensure our students have a clear path towards success in their chosen fields."
Both the NEMCC Honors Institute and the University of Southern Mississippi Honors College are committed to providing students with the best education possible. This new articulation agreement will help Northeast's honors students achieve their academic goals and contribute to their success in higher education.
NEMCC STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES CENTER Center
for Health & Mental Wellness
When he became Northeast Mississippi Community College (NEMCC) President in 2015, Dr. Ricky G. Ford had a vision to create an all-encompassing learning environment, affordable and close to home for its students.
A key piece of that vision became reality when President Ford signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Laurence L. Dennis, MD, to establish the NEMCC Health Services Center to be located at 202 North First Street, Booneville, MS.
President Ford, an avid runner, instituted a health and fitness initiative early in his tenure, believes that there is a direct correlation between student retention and performance with student access to quality healthcare especially for mental healthcare resources.
“Student
success means investing in a student’s life.”
- Dr. Ricky G. Ford, NEMCC President
“Student success means investing in a student’s life. The establishment of the NEMCC Health Services Center reflects my commitment to ensuring that every student at our great community college has access to quality healthcare - especially student access to their mental health resources.”
NEMCC’s partnership with Laurence L. Dennis, MD, a local physician, who has practiced medicine in Booneville for over 30 years is the culmination of a multi-year effort on both their parts to establish a unique community-driven partnership that benefits this generation and future generations of students.
“I am proud and privileged to have practiced medicine In this community for a generation. During that time my priority has been to protect and improve the health of this community,” said Dr. Dennis. He continued “Working with President Ford to create the NEMCC Student Health Center will work to achieve our mutual goal of keeping the NEMCC community healthy and engaged - to ensure they flourish physically and mentally.”
President Ford concluded “Having a clinical site this close to campus is a win for both the students and faculty of our health science programs,” Ford said. “Students in nursing, medical lab, radiology, our new digital sonography program will all benefit from this new facility.”
HEALTH SCIENCES DIVISION ADDS
NEW PROGRAM
Northeast’s sonography program offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to train students in the field of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. This program equips students with the necessary knowledge and skills to use high frequency sound waves to produce images of various organs, masses, fluid collections, and vascular structures within the human body. With a focus on patient care and interaction, the program emphasizes the importance of competent and highly skilled professionals in the integral healthcare system.
Throughout the 12-month, full-time program, students engage in sonography-specific courses and clinical rotations. The program is rigorous and requires fulltime commitment, making it suitable for those who can devote themselves entirely to their studies. Physical stamina is also emphasized, as sonographers are often on their feet for extended periods and may need to assist disabled patients.
Upon completion of the program, graduates are prepared for employment in hospitals or clinics as Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. They are proficient in producing diagnostic images and exams under the guidance of supervising physicians. The curriculum covers essential areas such as sonographic physics and instrumentation, abdominal, obstetric, and gynecologic procedures, as well as advanced sonographic techniques to prepare students for the national certifying board examination, the ARDMS registry exam.
Admission to the program requires meeting specific requirements, including a minimum ACT composite score of 19, graduation from a JRCERT Radiologic Technology Program, and possession of ARRT credentials. Prerequisite courses such as anatomy and physiology, math, English, and computer applications are also necessary. Application deadlines for the program are typically in mid-June.
Northeast’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography program provides students with a comprehensive education that combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience. By offering a well-rounded curriculum and preparing graduates for professional certification, the program equips students with the skills and qualifications necessary for successful careers in the field of diagnostic medical sonography.
NORTHEAST REPRESENTED IN THE GOVERNOR’S MANSION
Northeast president Dr. Ricky G. Ford and first lady LuAnne Ford got the honor of seeing the NEMCC ornament hanging at the Mississippi governor’s mansion on Wednesday, December 14. This year’s exhibit at the governor’s mansion is entitled “A Mississippi Hometown Christmas,” and houses decorations around the Magnolia State. Crossroads Pottery in Baldwyn made the ornament for the college. #movingforward
NEMCC PTK NAMED ONE OF THE TOP CHAPTERS IN THE NATION
Traditionally, Northeast Mississippi Community College’s Iota Zeta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa is as decorated a chapter as any in the country. This year is no different.
Having just returned from the annual International convention in Denver, Colorado., Northeast’s Iota Zeta chapter can once again claim “Top 100 Chapter” status, a Beta Alpha Award (top 10 percent of chapters three consecutive years) and Ninth Finalist for Most
Distinguished Chapter. The chapter was also recognized as having a Distinguished Honors in Action Project and Distinguished College Project.
“Once again, it has been proven that our PTK chapter is one of the elite chapters in the country,” Northeast president Dr. Ricky G. Ford said.
“These awards aren’t earned without countless hours of hard work and dedication by the members of our chapter as well as the team of advisers. We are extremely proud of everyone involved in PTK at Northeast. Our tradition of excellence is likely unmatched by any chapter in the country.”
On the regional level the Iota Zeta chapter was named the Most Distinguished Chapter in the Miss./ La. Region, the number one Reach Awards Chapter in the nation, was elected Northern District Representative for the Miss./La.
Region, second place, College Project, second place, Honors in Action and Theme 2 Award “Natural and Constructed Environments.”
Chapter president Phillip Henson of Booneville received the Golden Key Award. Jake Dunahue and Melissa Hart both of Kossuth were named Distinguished Officers.
Adviser Dr. Ray Harris garnered both the Miss./La. Horizon Award and the Continued Excellence Advisor Award. Robbie Coleman won the Paragon New Advisor Award and Northeast’s team of chapter advisors, which includes Harris, Coleman, Andrea Mathis, Morgan Ricks and Dr. Justin Treloar was recognized with a Distinguished Advisor Team Award.
Additionally, Joseph Guzman of Myrtle was named to the first team All-Miss. Academic Team (transfer category). Celia Luster of Corinth earned second team honors.
DIESEL POWER TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS IMPACT COMMUNITY
Northeast Mississippi Community College’s Diesel Power Technology program plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of the residents of Booneville and Prentiss County during times of need and emergencies.
Through preventive maintenance, major repair, and other services, the program has been supporting the City of Booneville Fire Department and Prentiss County Volunteer Fire Departments by working on their vehicles. This partnership provides hands-on learning opportunities for students, allowing them to apply the skills they learn in the classroom and gain a better understanding of the daily tasks they will be performing in their future careers.
Diesel technicians play a significant role in maintaining the functionality of emergency vehicles, such as fire trucks. Without the necessary repairs and maintenance, these vehicles would not be able to provide essential services to the public.
“Diesel repair is difficult work, but it’s work that must be done, and at the end of the day, technicians can say they played a part in making the world a safer place,” said Northeast President Dr. Ricky G. Ford.
Northeast’s Diesel Power Technology program provides students with the best opportunities to prepare for their future careers and contribute to the community’s well-being. It’s efforts in keeping the emergency vehicles running are a testament to the commitment to excellence.
As the saying goes, “Have you ever thought about what if I called the fire department and they couldn’t come because there was no one to fix the truck?” Thanks to Northeast’s Diesel Power Technology program, Booneville and Prentiss County residents can rest assured that they have a team of skilled technicians to support their emergency services.
NEMCC NAMED AN APPLE DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL FOR SECOND TERM IN A ROW
Northeast Mississippi Community College focuses on a student-first learning philosophy that allows the college, its employees and students to continually re-imagine education and personalize instruction to meet the needs of those that the college serves.
Due to its dedication to re-imagining the success of its students, Northeast has been named an Apple Distinguished School for a second term extending from 2022-2025 by Apple, Inc.
Northeast became just one of a handful of community colleges in the world when it was named an Apple Distinguished School in 2019 and joins even rarer company by repeating as an Apple Distinguished School for the second time in a row.
“It’s a huge honor,” said Northeast president Dr. Ricky G. Ford. “It’s exceedingly difficult to get named Apple Distinguished School for the second term in a row, but this indicates that we are taking instruction very seriously at Northeast. We are also taking seriously the condition that our students are in when they graduate from here and go to work because we understand that our students must be able to compete in a global workforce.”
Northeast focused its efforts on its technology initiative for its second Apple Distinguished School honor including lowering the cost of textbooks for students, saving students over $7 million, increased student success, increased student satisfaction and positive pandemic enrollment trends.
“Many years ago, we started on this journey with iPads and to partner with Apple,” said Northeast vice president of instruction Dr. Michelle Baragona. “We also started a process of bringing in Open Educational Resources for our students and the purpose of that was to make college relevant, equitable and affordable and that’s what we’ve been able to do with our Apple Distinguished School recognition.”
“
It’s not really about the devices; it’s more about how we’re using the devices in the context of teaching and learning. We really want to grow our students. We want to prepare our students for the workforce by staying on the cusp of technology with innovative ideas and strategies.
- Dr. Carlena Benjamin
Northeast Instructional Technology Specialist
Through its use of Open Educational Resources (OER), Northeast has been able to save its students more than $7 million through not only faculty grants but the Mississippi Z-degree program. For students majoring in General Studies at Northeast, the student will see reduced textbook costs during their time at the two-year community college.
Northeast’s adoption of OER has skyrocketed since 2018 when the college focused more on its technology initiative and in the Fall 2021 over 75 percent of classes at Northeast used OER.
Northeast has also seen its student success rates rise due to the increase of technology in the classroom with students succeeding 80 percent of the time instead of 72 percent just seven years ago. While the student success rate has increased, student satisfaction has as well. Students are more engaged
in the classroom and cite not only the decrease in course material cost but ownership in the class as reasons for their increased satisfaction.
By using more OER in the classroom, Northeast has also been able to decrease the average cost of a textbook to just over $20 per course across the academic spectrum. In Fall 2015, the average cost of a textbook at Northeast was $214 but over a sevenyear span, the college has steadily cut the cost of textbooks down to just $22 per textbook.
“It’s not really about the devices; it’s more about how we’re using the devices in the context of teaching and learning,” said Northeast instructional technology specialist Dr. Carlena Benjamin. “We really want to grow our students. We want to prepare our students for the workforce by staying on the cusp of technology with innovative ideas and strategies.”
Jeffrey Powell
NEMCC RENAMES TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE IN HONOR OF FOUNDER
Northeast Mississippi Community College has announced that the name of its annual summer technology conference has been changed to the Jeffrey Powell Mobile Learning Conference in honor of the conference’s late founder.
Powell, an Apple Distinguished Educator, and an enthusiastic advocate for technology in education, founded the Mobile Learning Conference in 2009 as a small, local workshop held on the Northeast Booneville and Northeast Corinth campuses.
“Realizing the importance of technology in the realm of instruction being the passion of Jeffrey Powell, we are pleased to name the Mobile Learning Conference -- The Jeffrey Powell Mobile Learning Conference,” said Northeast president Dr. Ricky G. Ford. “Jeffrey had a passion and vision for the infusion of technology into the instructional process, and this recognition only enhances that vision. We will continue to educate our educational partners, enhance the mission of Mobile Learning and honor Jeffrey as well.”
Since its inception, the Mobile Learning Conference has grown into a global event that connects educators from all over the world. The conference has become an invaluable resource for educators looking to integrate technology into their classrooms and enhance teaching and learning.
In recognition of Powell’s contributions to the conference and the field of
technology in education, Northeast has renamed the conference in his honor. The Jeffrey Powell Mobile Learning Conference will continue to serve as a platform for educators to share ideas, strategies, and best practices for using technology to improve teaching and learning.
“Mobile Learning is an important aspect of education in today’s digital age, and it’s crucial to have leaders like Jeffrey Powell who are passionate about exploring its potential to transform learning,” said Northeast vice president of instruction Dr. Michelle Baragona. “By naming the conference after him and continuing to support his vision, we are not only honoring his achievements but also inspiring others to follow in his footsteps and explore the possibilities of mobile learning in education.”
Mobile Learning
CONFERENCE EMBRACES
CHANGE, TRANSITIONS TO A FREE EVENT FOR EDUCATORS
In a shift to meet the growing demand for professional development and high-tech learning experiences in an already packed summer schedule, Northeast Mississippi Community College’s Jeffrey Powell Mobile Learning Conference organizers have made the decision to transition to a fully online format for this summer’s three-day conference.
Northeast’s Jeffrey Powell Mobile Learning Conference, which is known for its commitment to exploring how technology intersects with education, is now also free to educators across the globe thanks to corporate sponsors that have given the conference a platform to exchange highly immersive ideas and strategies that will not only affect higher education but K-12 education as well.
Conference organizers recognized the evolving preferences and needs of educators, not only in the tri-state area but around the world and with the demand for virtual learning skyrocketing during the global pandemic, Northeast stepped up to the challenge to offer its top-ranked technology conference to the masses.
Thanks to the support of corporate sponsors, the conference is also 100-percent free to all educators and due to the sponsor support, the conference has eliminated
any financial barriers, ensuring that educators from diverse backgrounds can benefit from the wealth of knowledge and expertise shared during the event.
During the 2020 Mobile Learning Conference at the height of the global pandemic, Northeast made its conference free to those who wanted to attend and drew in over 2,000 participants to the event.
Throughout the years, the conference has provided a platform for sharing innovative teaching strategies for keeping students energized in learning while fostering connections among educators across the work, who are expounding on the boundaries of what is possible with technology in the classroom.
Northeast’s 2023 Jeffrey Powell Mobile Learning Conference boasted an impressive lineup of
speakers, who are at the forefront of the educational technology revolution.
From renown experts in their respective fields to innovative K-12 and higher education practitioners, Northeast organizer Dr. Carlena Benjamin has gathered a diverse group of presenters for this year’s conferences. Attendees will have the opportunity to gain experience from presenters across the tristate area and the United States and gather insights from their experiences about the latest trends and developments in technologyenhanced teaching and learning.
By making the change to a virtual and free format for the 2023 Jeffrey Powell Mobile Learning Conference, Northeast aims to not only foster collaboration and inspire innovation but to help improve teaching and learning practices worldwide.
Northeast Mississippi Community College has long been known as a leader in education when it comes to supplying technology to its employees and students.
Northeast took a significant step in ensuring the success of its students in the workforce when the college partnered with EON Reality to bring augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (XR) to the classroom through a $15.9 million grant from the technology giant.
“Integrating augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed reality into the normal instructional process will create a tremendous advantage for our students,” said Northeast president Dr. Ricky G. Ford. “They will now have access to the content in a completely unique way. This will encourage our students to be more creative and knowledgeable of the materials, thus ensuring our students will have the ability to be competitive in their chosen workforce field.”
EON Reality’s grant becomes one of the highest and most significant technology grants Northeast Mississippi Community College has ever received and helps the college fully embrace its technology initiative.
Not only will the grant help Northeast employees make the metaverse available to their students in ultramodern ways, but it will help train employees and
students with the knowledge of the upcoming digital transformation.
EON Reality is a California-based organization that has established itself as one of the premier companies for preparing students for the growing AR/VR/XR marketplace and metaverse-based businesses, business practices and applications.
During the 2020 global coronavirus pandemic, Northeast transitioned all its classes to online learning in a few days while other institutions struggled with the virtual transition.
With the EON Reality grant, Northeast will expand its teachings through EON Reality’s advanced AR/VR knowledge transfer platform, which allows instructors to focus on higher levels of instruction instead of memorization. EON-XR’s platform will enable students to learn through analyzing, applying, evaluating and creating instead of memorizing information for a test.
“With this grant, we will be able to enhance our curriculum and create new opportunities for our students to learn and grow. We will be able to offer courses in augmented reality, virtual reality, and extended reality, which will enable our students to gain hands-on experience in these emerging technologies,” said Northeast vice president of instruction Dr. Michelle Baragona. “This will prepare them for the demands of the future workforce
and give them a competitive edge in their careers.”
EON Reality’s XR platform allows students to access over 20,000 lessons, 150 complete universitylevel courses and resources created by nearly 10,000 faculty and students across dozens of subjects. The XR platform holds nearly 120,000 assets and covers topics from architecture to engineering to lab sciences, advanced mathematics and fine arts like studio design and photography.
Not only will Northeast be preparing students for their time at any of its locations, but it will also be working with instructors to prepare virtual learners and workforce students for success at one of the nation’s premiere educational institutions.
Schools that have partnered with EON Reality in previous years have seen increased student recruitment as more technologysavvy students are engaged in the classrooms and make decisions on their futures based on the technology offered.
In addition to increased student recruitment, students become stakeholders in the classroom. Instead of remembering information for a test or quiz, students are engaged by learning to do, enabling students to learn faster, remember longer and make better decisions.
74thCommencement
Northeast Mississippi Community College celebrated the achievements of its diverse student body during commencement exercises on Thursday, May 11, Friday, May 12 and Monday, May 15 in the Bonner Arnold Coliseum on the Booneville campus.
Festivities kicked off on Thursday, May 11 with the celebration of the academic journey of Health Science and Career and Technical Education graduates in the legendary gymnasium as the ceremony as family, friends and Northeast employees all came together to honor the dedication and hard work put forth by the graduates.
Just a day later, the campus resonated with “Pomp and Circumstance,” again as university transfer students proudly walked across the stage. This event marked a transition for these students as they embark on the next chapter of their educational journeys, transferring their knowledge and experiences to further academic pursuits.
Adding a unique touch to the proceedings, on Monday, May 15, the members of Northeast’s softball team had a special graduation ceremony. These athletes had been engaged in the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) Region XXIII Tournament during the previous weekend, preventing them
from attending the main ceremonies on May 11 and May 12. This personalized ceremony in TigerTown allowed the softball team members to experience the joy of graduation in the company of their parents, celebrating not only their athletic achievements but also their academic accomplishments.
As the sun set on the weekend of celebrations, Monday, May 15, saw the conclusion of the graduation ceremonies with the Northeast HiSET/GED completion ceremony.
Nearly 150 individuals, who had embarked on a journey to obtain their high school equivalency, rejoiced in their accomplishments.
This event underlined Northeast Mississippi Community College’s commitment to providing educational opportunities to a diverse range of learners, regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances.
Various other ceremonies underscored the dedication of the institution to nurturing well-rounded individuals, whether they are pursuing careers in healthcare, technical fields, sports, or further academic pursuits.
As the graduates step into the world equipped with knowledge and determination, the legacy of Northeast continues to flourish.
SPRING SPORTS SHOWOUT
The spring sports for Northeast Mississippi Community College delivered record breaking seasons.
The Tiger baseball team tied the program record for most wins in a season with 33 and advanced to the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament for the first time since 2008.
The Tigers were able to host the first round of regionals for the second consecutive season against Jones College. Home field advantage paid off as the Tigers won games one and two to advance in the Region 23 Tournament.
During the regular season, the Tigers were able to knock off several ranked opponents, including top 10 opponents in No. 1 Pearl River, No. 5 Meridian and No. 7 Jones.
The Tiger softball team won a programbest 41 games and advanced to postseason play for the 20th time in 22 attempts. That included the best start in program history, a 21-0 start to the season.
It marked the first time the Tigers had won 30-plus games in back-to-back seasons since the 2003-04 seasons. Northeast also swept rival Itawamba on the road for the first time since 2006.
Coach Jody Long reached another milestone as he won his 450th career game as head coach with a game one victory against Mississippi Delta on April 25th.
Northeast was ranked or receiving votes in every regular season NJCAA Division II softball poll this season. The highest ranking for the Tigers came when they were ranked eighth.
The Tiger golf team qualified for the NJCAA Division II National Tournament for the first time as an entire team.
The Tigers punched their ticket to the national tournament with a third-place finish at the NJCAA Gulf District Tournament. John Daniel Deaton earned all-tournament honors by finishing in fourth place.
At the national tournament, the Tigers finished in 14th place. Codey Cleveland finished as the top individual golfer as he finished in a tie for 30th.
NORTHEAST SERVES UP VOLLEYBALL AS NEWEST ATHLETIC PROGRAM
One of the fastest growing sports in the Magnolia State is making its way to Northeast Mississippi Community College.
Northeast is starting a women’s volleyball program to its lineup of athletic offerings. The Tigers will officially begin head-to-head competition during the fall 2023 semester.
“We’re happy and looking forward to providing volleyball for studentathletes in our district and also the entire state of Mississippi,” said Northeast president Dr. Ricky Ford. “With so many K-12 schools adding volleyball, this will allow all those student-athletes a chance to continue their experience on to the collegiate level.”
The Tigers will be classified as a Division II affiliate of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Northeast will contend for berths to the national tournament inside the NJCAA’s Region 23 and Gulf District.
Northeast is one of only five members of the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) to sponsor volleyball. The sport is not sanctioned by the MACCC at this time.
Itawamba Community College, Northwest Mississippi Community College and Pearl River Community College have each fielded volleyball
teams for less than five years. Jones College recently announced its intentions to add the sport as well.
This increases the total number of athletic programs at Northeast to 11. It is the fourth addition in the last two academic years along with men’s and women’s tennis plus co-ed archery.
Northeast also proudly boasts successful baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, cheerleading, football, men’s golf and softball programs with first-class facilities for each sport.
Historic Bonner Arnold Coliseum will serve as the home venue of the Tigers. Volleyball lines and the sleeves for the nets were added to the main court during the summer of 2021.
The regular season for volleyball in the NJCAA begins in mid-August and concludes with region and district postseason tournaments that run from late October into early November.
Volleyball is increasing in popularity locally. All but one of the high schools in Northeast’s traditional five-county service area will offer the sport during the upcoming 2022-23 academic year.
In addition, in-district schools Alcorn Central, Belmont, New Albany and Walnut have either won or played for Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) state championships over the last three years.
PARADE OF BEAUTIES
TOP 5 BEAUTIES
Elise Bost
Lindsey Dickerson
Mary Houston Ivy
Cassidy Lowrey
MOST BEAUTIFUL
Jaycee Drew Janzen
HOMECOMING COURT
SOPHOMORE MAIDS
Madison Grace Bennett
Mary Houston Ivy
Lexie Bollinger
Ivy Loden
Lynsie Kate Burns
Jaycee Drew Janzen
SOPHOMORE ESCORTS
Tray Evins
Gabriel Medlin
Eli Murphy
Brock Seago
J Ross Scott
Owen Stowell
HOMECOMING QUEEN
Brianna Lowrey
QUEEN’S ESCORT
Hayden Donahue
FRESHMAN MAIDS
Lily Jeter
Lexie Cartwright
Alivia Buchanan
Madison Olivia Bennett
Shakira Shilds
FRESHMAN ESCORTS
Caleb Bonds
Jacob Cutshall
Jackson Mayer
Wes Phillips
Ralph Tyes
Anthony Woodall
CLASS FAVORITES
MR & MISS NEMCC
Hayden Donahue
Madison Grace Bennett
SOPHOMORES
Lexie Bollinger
Keb Brawner
Lynsie Kate Burns
John Daniel Deaton
Kimble Dillinger
Connor Eaton
Khi Holiday
Mary Houston Ivy
Jaycee Drew Janzen
Ivy Loren
Brianna Lowrey
Ben Mauney
Eli Murphy
Callie Smith
FRESHMEN
Jocelyn Ball
Ben Barrett
Thad Bell
Zach Brown
Lexie Cartwright
Elizabeth Ellis
Guy Gillespie
Lily Jeter
Kirklyn Johnson
Corey Stephenson
Gracie Storment
Ayunna Witherspoon
In one of the largest Northeast Regional Marching Band Championships in school history, Hoover (Ala.) High School bested 33 other high schools to claim the title of “Grand Champion” at the annual competition held on the campus of Northeast Mississippi Community College.
This year’s competition featured over 40 performances. The competition was broken into a Ratings portion and a Caption portion, with some bands choosing to compete in both sections.
Hoover’s win marked the first time since 2010 that a school from Alabama has taken the Grand Championship trophy back to the Yellowhammer State. In 2010, Athens (Ala.) captured the top prize.
“It was a great day for Northeast,” said Northeast director of bands Bryan Mitchell. “Not only did potential students get to participate in one of the largest band championships in school history but they got to experience our amazing campus and see what being a Tiger is all about.”
With over 34 bands competing, marching bands entered Tiger Stadium well before 9 a.m. and action culminated with an awards ceremony 13 hours later.
Hoover, under the direction of Ryan Fitchpatrick, Matthew Cierco, Jeff Fondren and Sallie White, claimed the Grand Champion trophy, which stands at over six feet tall.
Kossuth High School claimed the Classes 1A/2A/3A Sweepstakes trophy, while Hoover (Ala.) picked up the Sweepstakes award for Classes 4A/5A/6A.
During its championship-claiming performance, Hoover presented its 2022 marching show, “Metallic Treasures,” which included selections of Symphony 5 mvt. 4 (Machine) by William Bolcom, along with ‘In Bloom’ and ‘Tempered Steel.’
Under the direction of Brandon Harvell and Diane Cole, Kossuth captured the Classes 1A/2A/3A Sweepstakes award with its “Thor’s Hammer” show, including selections from Asgard,’ ‘Mjolnir,’ ‘Odin’ and ‘Battle of the Frost Giants.’
“This is an absolute win for Northeast,” Mitchell said. “We look forward to seeing all of these bands back in 2023 and making this event even bigger.”
During the Ratings portion of the event, high schools competed for judges’ ratings in Drum Major, Guard, Percussion, Majorettes, Dance/Drill for Band Ratings and Overall Band ratings. Bands were rated on a scale of 1-5 in the category, with the top score being a 1 for Superior ratings. Seventeen of the 34 bands competed in the event’s Ratings portion.
Place winners were named in each competition classes during the event’s Caption portion. Cherokee (Ala.) High School took top honors in Class 1A, while Middleton (Tenn.) High School placed second in the division.
In Class 2A, East Webster High School was the top school. Bruce High School finished second in the division and Calhoun City High School was third.
In Class 3A, Kossuth High School took top honors, Mantachie High School was second, and Nettleton High School was third.
In Class 4A, North Pontotoc was the top school, Ripley High School finished second in the division, and Hardin County (Tenn.) was third.
In Class 5A, Neshoba Central High School took top honors, Saltillo High School was second, and Lafayette High School was third.
In Class 6A, Hoover (Ala.) High School was the top school, while Oxford High School finished second.
OTHER AWARDS:
Best Drum Major
1A – Cherokee (Ala.)
2A – East Webster
3A – Kossuth
4A – South Pontotoc
5A – Saltillo
6A – Hoover (Ala.)
Best Guard
1A – Cherokee (Ala.)
2A – East Webster
3A – Mantachie
4A – South Pontotoc
5A – Neshoba Central
6A – Hoover (Ala.)
Best Percussion
1A – Cherokee (Ala.)
2A – East Webster
3A – Kossuth
4A – Ripley
5A – Lafayette
6A – Hoover (Ala.)
Best Majorettes
4A New Albany
Overall Outstanding Soloist
(and a full tuition scholarship to Northeast)
Flute soloist from New Hope High School
Overall Best Drum Major
Hoover (Ala.) (score of 94)
Overall Best Guard
Hoover (Ala.) (score of 171)
Overall Best Percussion
Hoover (Ala.) (score of 181)
Overall Best Majorettes
New Albany
Holiday Cheer SHOWBAND SPREADS
After the global COVID-19 pandemic stole the joy of Christmas from the Showband from Tigerland at Northeast Mississippi Community College in 2020, Northeast director of bands Bryan Mitchell has been determined to make sure that the 250-person marching band brings as much holiday cheer to the college’s five-county service area for the Christmas season.
In 2021, the Showband from Tigerland returned to the Christmas holiday parade route with a heart three times its normal size as the Northeast marching band participated in the City of Booneville’s Whoville in Booneville Christmas Parade, and now, the Showband from Tigerland is hitting the road once again with three Christmas parades on its holiday schedule.
Northeast’s Showband from Tigerland returned to the City of Corinth’s Christmas Parade for a Fairytale Christmas on Saturday, December 3.
Northeast continued its 2022 holiday parade schedule with the City of Ripley’s Superhero-themed Christmas parade on Tuesday, December 6, through downtown Ripley.
The Showband from Tigerland returned home to the City of Booneville’s Christmas Parade on Tuesday, December 13th and helped carry participants on a trip aboard the Polar Express as the marching band joined the parade route from the Booneville Church of Christ parking lot and followed the route down Second Street and into downtown Booneville for one of their longest trips of the season.
While the band only did three Christmas parades this year, Mitchell said that the Showband from Tigerland has plans to re-join parades in each of the college’s five-county service area of Alcorn, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo and Union counties in the future.
The Northeast Mississippi Community College Development Foundation, Inc., a non-profit corporation, has worked and will continue working to strengthen the college through its private fund raising efforts. The Foundation solicits and receives gifts to support students, faculty and administration for Northeast Mississippi Community College.
Lorie Mattox Division of Languages and Humanities
Austin Beasley CDA Director
Marianne Lancaster Division of Health Sciences
Sallye Bowlin Division of Social, Behavioral and Applied Sciences
Jonathan Shaw Division of Business and Engineering Technology
Tabitha McKay Educational Systems Specialist
Dr. George Nock Division of Mathematics and Sciences
Bryan Mitchell Division of Fine Arts
FY 2023
Total Revenues: $36,306,046
Net Revenues: $434,534
Net Revenues to Reserves as a precentage of Revenues: 1.2%
Expenditures: $35,871,512
Northeast Mississippi Community College embarks on its 75th anniversary during the 2023-2024 academic year.
Often referred to as the diamond jubilee, seventy-five (75) years symbolizes threequarters of a century of dedication to fostering academic growth, nurturing talents, and shaping the future of countless individuals.
Established in 1948, Northeast has stood as a beacon of learning, innovation, and opportunity, illuminating the lives of students from various walks of life.
For the northeastern Mississippi region, encompassing the counties of Alcorn, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo, and Union, Northeast has been transforming education since its founding.
As a two-year community college, it has not only provided an affordable and accessible pathway to higher education but has also served as a cornerstone for economic development, cultural enrichment, and community engagement.
Over the years, Northeast has become synonymous with empowerment, offering a diverse array of academic programs, vocational training, and continuing education opportunities tailored to the evolving needs of the local workforce.
In a region where educational opportunities were once limited, Northeast emerged as a catalyst for change, facilitating personal and professional growth that resonates far beyond the confines of its campus.
Graduates of Northeast have become leaders, innovators, and change-makers within their communities, contributing to the region’s growth and prosperity.
Northeast’s commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment has transcended generations, allowing individuals to rise above challenges and realize their full potential.
As Northeast embarks on its 75th anniversary celebrations, the college continues to exemplify its mission of empowering students to reach their aspirations.
Northeast’s diamond jubilee is not just a commemoration of the past but a testament to the enduring impact of education on individuals and communities. Northeast’s legacy shines brightly, reflecting the resilience, determination, and collective spirit of northeastern Mississippi.
As the college looks to the future, its commitment to excellence remains unwavering, promising to continue shaping lives and uplifting the region for generations to come.
