From the President WELCOME
Northeast continues to grow and improve in many areas. As we try to maintain the academic excellence that has been established, we must continually be at the forefront of technology. The world we live in demands this expertise from our graduates. Getting our students successfully through college and into the workforce is our top priority. Sometimes we fail to understand that this is a shared responsibility. Developing community partners is of the utmost importance in providing unlimited possibilities for Northeast graduates. We rely on our tremendous faculty to provide top quality and up-to-date instruction. Northeast graduates will graduate with the knowledge and expertise to meet the challenging demands of today’s workforce.
We have an emphasis being placed on graduating career-technical and middle-skilled workers now more than ever before, but we cannot forget the careers that require a more advanced degree. Professions such as education, doctors, lawyers, and engineers, just to name a few, are all important. We must maintain a stable and balanced job market.
Workforce development continues to be a priority for Northeast. We must continue to be a partner and key player in economic development. As we form partnerships with various members of our communities, we continue to be committed to the enhancement of the quality of life to all citizens of Northeast Mississippi. Toward this end, Northeast now has centers located in each of our five supporting counties. These centers will provide the citizens of each county easy access to all services available. One of our goals is to provide an AA degree for local citizens without being required to travel a long distance.
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 initiative, we have developed just that.
Northeast invested in our marketing and communications department this past year.
We employed Mr. Will Kollmeyer to lead this effort. We have experienced a positive result with higher visibility not only in the state but nationally as well.
Through our marketing and community relations efforts, we have raised our visibility, advanced our brand, and articulated a clear message. A popular item is our weekly podcasts, marketing all areas of the college to students, the institution, and the community.
The office of Public Information and Marketing/Community Relations have worked together to utilize all aspects of social media to its fullest extent.
We covet your support as we constantly monitor and measure our progress in each one of our Grow Northeast foundation areas.
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.
In recent days, Northeast has certainly been challenged financially. State appropriations are gradually decreasing and we must now maintain a level of excellence with fewer dollars from the State of Mississippi. We are currently responsible for securing more than sixty percent of our yearly budget from locally generated funds. We have now become a state-assisted institution rather than a state-supported institution.
Northeast is fortunate to have a tremendous Board of Trustees. This group is very supportive of our work and the Grow Northeast 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.
I invite you to investigate all the possibilities that are available at Northeast. Please visit anytime. Join us as we Grow Northeast!
Sincerely,
Ricky G. Ford President, Northeast
Mississippi Community College
PLANNING & RESEARCH
STUDENT ENROLLMENT AND TRENDS
FISCAL YEAR 2018 REVENUES
FISCAL YEAR 2018 EXPENDITURES
& SCIENCES
Consisting of 23 faculty members the Division of Mathematics and Sciences features instruction in mathematics, natural sciences, computer science and agriculture. Members of the division seek to continually use updated information, techniques and resources in their respective areas to provide the best possible preparation to students for careers in current and future disciplines.
During the past year, five faculty members sponsored/co-sponsored five on-campus clubs/organizations in addition to their normal teaching and student advising responsibilities. To keep abreast of their respective disciplines, faculty currently hold active memberships in 45 professional organizations and took part in various related conferences at the local, state and regional levels. As well as holding memberships in these organizations,
members of this division also made presentations, held offices, and/or served on committees/boards in 20 of these organizations. Faculty members collectively participated in over 600 hours of professional development courses, workshops, and in-service training sessions during this year.
Two biology instructors continued working on a project, Healthy Schools, in conjunction with the Mississippi Department of Education and local k-12 schools in our district.
In the spring the division hosted the Junior High Mathematics Tournament and the High School Mathematics and Science Competition. These competitions involve students from the local schools in the five-county service district. In addition, faculty members assisted with other competitions held by other divisions on our campus.
The division continued to offer online and
hybrid courses as staff allowed. Equipment and software was purchased as budget allowed, keeping the division up-to-date in it’s teaching practices and delivery methods. Six courses in the division used OER textbooks, thereby providing books at no cost to the student. Three additional faculty members were awarded grants and began working on OER materials for next school year.
As can be evidenced by the dedicated work and participation in a broad spectrum of professional activities, the entire Division of Mathematics and Sciences continued to strive for and achieved excellence in teaching methods, techniques, and in the areas of professional and personal growth. Faculty are not only great contributors to their respective teaching fields and division but also to their communities.
Comprised of the disciplines of English; literature; modern foreign languages; communications; philosophy; public speaking; and religious studies, the Division of Languages and Humanities includes the 13 full-time English instructors; three full-time speech instructors; and an academic division head. All instructors have at least a master’s degree in their teaching areas and three have Ph.Ds.
Housed in Anderson Hall, this division served many of the total population of students. In addition to regular instructional duties, each instructor acted as an advisor to students majoring in general studies, liberal arts; communicative disorders; English; English Education; modern foreign language; and communications. Frequent reviews of goals and objectives and methods of instruction in each course provided the best possible learning experience for the body of students served in this division.
A state curriculum review is done on a consistent basis and articulation with senior institutions, other community colleges, and business and industry is fundamental in updating syllabi for programs of study.
Qualified, experienced instructors who stay
current in their fields and understand the purpose of the community college are great assets to students who matriculate through this division.
All instructors received certificates for Apple training conducted throughout the spring semester by colleagues, who were trained as trainers. Two instructors completed two Quality Matters eLearning certification courses, which are designed to improve the evaluation process of online course. To provide current research and defray college expenses, some instructors have submitted proposals and received additional Open Educational Resource (OER) grants to establish free, quality e-texts for Beginning English; Elementary Spanish I; and American Literature I and II. The division added Composition Companion I for English Composition I students with borderline ACT English sub-scores of 15 & 16.
The division supported involvement in state, national and international organizations and publication in academic journals. Janis Patterson, Academic Division Head, presented at Mississippi Association of Developmental Education (MADE) and the Two Year College English Association (TYCAM) conference in Raymond, Mississippi. She also presented at the Two-Year
College Association Southeastern (TYCA-SE) conference in Louisville, Kentucky. Dr. Deborah Kehoe presented a paper on Thomas Merton’s poetry at the 2017 General Meeting of the International Thomas Merton Society at St. Bonaventure University in Buffalo, New York and completed her first year as co-editor of the scholarly journal The Merton Annual.
Instructors participated in professional development to expose students to the best instructional research and teaching practices so that they can excel. Several students received accolades within the division. Creative writing students Hannah Butler placed first in fiction and Barry Strickland placed second in drama in the Mississippi Community College Creative Writing Association (MCCCWA) annual contest. Lindsey Lauderdale, Sara Tomlinson, and Carmen Smith received Academic Excellence Awards. Baleigh Johnson attained the Most Outstanding Student Award. Lauderdale was also elected to the Northeast Hall of Fame.
Instructors in the Division of Languages and Humanities continued to work tirelessly to provide quality instruction; act as advisors, and offer remediation to fulfill our general purpose.
BUSINESS & ENGINEERING
Offering degrees and certificates intended to provide students with the technical abilities needed to be competitive in today’s job market, Northeast’s division of Business and Engineering Technology features programs of study designed to address the needs of highgrowth industries and help close the skills gap. Courses are directly related to the high demand skills needed to gain employment in current or emerging occupations. The curricula are under constant review and evaluation by local advisory committees and by state mandated program standards and measures.
Twenty-six highly trained instructors teach in the fields of Automotive Mechanics and Service Technology, Civil Engineering Technology, Collision Repair Technology, Construction Engineering Technology, Drafting, Design and 3D Modeling Technology, Diesel Power Technology, Electrical Technology, Heating and Air Conditioning Technology, Industrial Maintenance Technology, Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology, Accounting Technology, Business and Marketing Management Technology, Culinary Arts Technology, Early Childhood Education Technology, Medical Office Technology, Hospitality Management Technology,
Information Systems Technology, Microcomputer Technology, Administrative Office Technology, and Paralegal Technology.
The Business and Engineering Technology Division is constantly evolving and improving to ensure the demands of both students and area industry are met.
The Information Systems Technology program has become nationally recognized as a premier training program. Through a partnership with Apple, the curriculum has been customized to ensure its’ relevance to today’s industry standards. Last year saw the development of three areas of focus within Information Systems Technology: Cyber Defense, iOS App Development, and Systems Administration.
The Diesel Power Technology Program implemented courses that included training in high-tech diagnostic software. This provided students with the skills necessary to diagnose engines from a variety of semi-truck manufacturers. The program is currently the only program in the state that is providing this OEM-specific training.
Participation in the annual Spring Job Fair increased to include 70 guest employers with nearly 500 students and community members in attendance.
The Business and Engineering Technology Division hosted area high school vocational-technical students for tours of CTE programs.
Advisory committee meetings, where each instructor met with industry professionals to review program curricula and make changes as needed, were held.
A Tech Fair (HEADS event) for district high school students was held. Approximately 50 businesses and industries set up displays and showcased career opportunities to students. Several programs hosted technical competitions in which students participated in technical related events.
Faculty received the following degrees and certifications: Jeff Melson - M.Ed. in Educational Leadership in Administration and Supervision from Delta State University; Ray Gaillard – Mobile Crane Inspector and Operator Certification; Mason Smith – National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) Master Trainer Certification; Derek DeVaughn – NCCER Craft Trainer Certification; Nick Jackson - CompTIA IT Operations Specialist, Comp TIA Project+, CIW Site Development Associate and Jennifer Newell – Pre-Professional Certification (Pre-PAC) in Early Childhood Education; Carrie Cobb – MCCB Career and Technical Leadership Academy.
Northeast’s Division of Health Sciences offers seven programs that prepare graduates for careers in health science. Graduates of six programs earn an associate of applied science degrees; these are Associate Degree Nursing; Dental Hygiene Technology, Medical Assisting Technology, Medical Laboratory Technology, Radiologic Technology, and Respiratory Care Technology. A certificate is earned by graduates of the Practical Nursing Education Program. The Medical Assisting Technology program also offers a certificate option. Each program in the division is accredited by national and/or state accrediting commissions or boards.
With one academic head, who serves as administrator and faculty member, all programs in the division have a program director who also serves as a faculty member. There are currently 31 fulltime faculty who provide classroom instruction, serve as academic advisors and sponsor many different student organizations.
Two Associate Degree Nursing faculty members recently attended the Simulation User Network
(SUN) Conference in San Antonio, Texas. The Associate degree nursing program along with the other health science disciplines will engage in and begin multi-disciplinary simulation this upcoming fall. Additionally, a health science advisor will be employed to assist with the health-related advisees. Respiratory Care Technology instructors served as officers for the Mississippi State Society of Respiratory Care. John Shelburne currently serves as the Junior Delegate and Beverly Prince serves as treasurer.
Dental Hygiene Technology and Associate Degree Nursing jointly participated in the annual community service project entitled, “Sealant and Health Screening Day.” The Dental Hygiene Technology instructors attended the annual MidSouth Dental Hygiene Educator’s Conference in Greenwood, Mississippi. Dental Hygienist, Tiffany Lindsey and Dental Hygiene administrative assistant Robin South, attended the MacPractice Conference in Lincoln, Nebraska in April of 2018 to expand the use of this software in the dental clinic.
A 10-year renewal of accreditation was awarded to the Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program from the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NACCLES) in March of 2018. MLT Instructors attended the Clinical Lab Educators Conference (CLEC) in Houston, Texas in February 2018. In addition, the program reported 100 percent job placement for their recent graduates.
With an accreditation site visit secured for September 2019, the Medical Assisting Technology program continued to offer both the certification option as well as the Associate of Applied Sciences degree option.
Each May, August, and December, the Practical Nursing program celebrates a class of completers. The job placement rate for this past year was reported to be 100 percent.
Eight years of continued accreditation was awarded to the Radiologic Technology program by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) for a period of eight years in November of 2017.
HEALTH SCIENCES
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Avital part of Northeast is Continuing Education.
Last year the Commercial Truck Driving-Class A program completed the first year of training with six classes of 240 hours each. Fourty-seven students completed and were employed.
Northeast’s Law Enforcement Training Academy completed its twelfth class in December 2017, using the new 305-hour curriculum
with nine graduates.
In June, the fourth annual ROAR Healthy Camp for Kids was held. The camp included a focus on the nutritional benefits of drinking water and eating fruits. One day was spent in the new Health and Nutrition Center providing kitchen safety, silverware etiquette, and healthy quick and easy lunch items. It also included fitness training with fitness center director Robert Walker and weather safety and knowledge pro-
vided by WTVA meteorologist John Dolusic.
For the tenth consecutive year, the Mobile Learning Conference was held June 11-13, 2018 on the Northeast at Corinth campus. The conference celebrated the anniversary with a number of returning guest speakers coming back to share information which included The Art of Story Telling with Rebecca Stockley, Dr. Theresa Cullen, Dr. Michael Mills, and multiple Apple Distinguished Educators.
Northeast Libraries are committed to supporting the college’s instructional programs, to meeting the leisure reading needs of students, faculty, and community members, and to growing the role of librarians in the library, on the campus, and in the local communities. Last year, librarians at Booneville and Corinth continued their efforts to achieve those goals.
In efforts to support Northeast’s commitment to keeping abreast of technology and student needs, the library purchased a proxy server to provide students a single-sign-on experience, retiring the need for unique passwords for each of the databases made available to them. In addition, the library purchased access to Opposing Viewpoints, an outstanding database for all research needs, but of special use for assignments required in English
Composition II and Public Speaking classes. Two librarians joined other Mississippi community college librarians in serving one hour a week throughout the year to man QuestionPoint 24/7 Reference. This joint effort helps provide access to a librarian 24 hours a day, seven days a week to our State’s community college students.
To promote the library profession and encourage students to view the library as a great place to study and find leisure reading materials, the library celebrated National Library Week with an adult spelling bee. First place winner received $50 and a “bee” trophy; second place received a “bee” trophy. The spelling bee was open to students, faculty and administration. There was a good attendance for the Bee, which proved to be both educational and entertaining.
As a part of the Library’s commitment to serv-
ing the college’s five-county area, the Eula Dees Library hosted the 41st Annual Area Librarians’ Workshop—an annual professional development opportunity for area librarians. Fifty librarians attended, including public librarians (17), school librarians (27), retired librarians (1), and Northeast librarians (5.)
Librarians also took strides to grow professionally and be of service to the larger college family. Three staff participated in the Mississippi Book Festival, gaining the opportunity to attend excellent workshops presented by Mississippi authors. In service to the larger college family, librarians participated in Northeast Now, judged science fairs, FBLA, and TSA, worked at the Northeast Band Competition, worked the ticket booth at a football game, and served on many different campus committees.
EULA DEES LIBRARY
FINE ARTS N
ortheast music, theatre and art students and faculty were busy with many creative activities during 2017-18.
The Art Gallery had 1,010 visitors to view artwork by Judy Tucci and Maria Hughes, photography by Jeff Coffin, and pottery by adjunct art instructor, Michael Ashley last year. The Annual High School Art Competition was held in March and the year culminated with the Annual Northeast Student Art Competition. Northeast art students entered nine works in the Community College State Student Show, which was hosted by Hinds Community College. Samantha Campbell won an Honorable Mention in 2-D Design for her work Cube It. The Art Department hosted a screen printing demonstration by Master Grafix of Tupelo. Art instructor Jenna Donegan received the Northeast Development Foundation’s TOP award for the Division of Fine Arts. She was also asked to juror 2018 Annual Student Show at Mississippi University for Women. While judging, she was offered a solo exhibition in 2018-2019. The Northeast Art Club took a spring field trip to Nashville to visit the Parthenon, the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, and Cheekwood Estate and Gardens.
Theater director Christopher Schager led productions of four one-act plays: Believin’ by Sharon Cooper, Work by Catherine Castellani, You’re Hired by Donna Latam and Here Comes the Drone by Pat McLaughlin during the fall semester. During the spring semester, the theatre and vocal music departments collaborated to present a Musical Theatre Cabaret in February. Additionally, Schager was named Northeast’s Humanities Teacher of the Year and presented the lecture/ demonstration, Improv: More than Just Games in October.
Led by first-year vocal instructor, Claire Leeke, the Northeast choirs performed with the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra at their annual Christmas concert in December. The Chamber Choir participated in the Community College State Choral Festival in Meridian in February and presented a program in April for the Corinth Music Club. The choir also presented a spring concert on campus in April. Members of the choir performed the National Anthem at both graduation ceremonies. The Northeast Tiger Band performed at all home football games and numerous Christmas parades in the district in the fall of 2017. It also hosted
the annual Northeast Regional Marching Contest which featured 15 high school bands. Additionally, the band performed an exhibition at the Crossroads Marching Band Competition in Corinth. In February, the Tiger Band hosted the Northeast Mississippi Band Directors Association High School and Junior High School Honor Band Clinic.
The Tiger Band also hosted the seventh annual Northeast Mississippi Indoor Championships in March and presented a “Tiger Band Showcase” in April, highlighting the band and all of the auxiliary groups. Dr. Amy Langley led the Winter Guard to a bronze medal in the MIA State Championships after competing in several other state competitions. Led by Jason Beghtol, the Northeast Jazz Band hosted a clinic and concert with the Jermaine Morgan Band in March. Additionally, they performed at the Tallahatchie River Jazz Festival in New Albany.
Northeast Campus Country, directed by Chris Dunn, presented four Showtime performances on campus and numerous other performances both on and off campus during the school year. The group was also featured on the “Kay Bain Show” on WTVA television station.
Created in 2014 as part of a division realignment, the Division of Social, Behavioral and Applied Sciences at Northeast includes 16 University Parallel programs and the disciplines of (social and behavioral sciences) Economics; Geography; History; Political Science; Psychology; and Sociology, (applied sciences) Accounting; Athletic Training; Business Administration; Criminal Justice; Elementary Education; Exercise Science; Family and Consumer Science; Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Lecture Courses (HPR); Social Studies Education; Social Work; and Special Education.
Approximately 6,500 students took classes in the division, which includes 14 full-time faculty members and a division head. Each semester, the division also uses approximately 14 adjunct faculty. All instructors have a minimum of a Master’s degree. Four full-time instructors have doctorate degrees. Each full-time division member provided academic advising to students.
Excellence in the classroom is the division’s primary goal. Within the past five years, each discipline in the division has participated in a state curriculum review, which includes articulation with
senior institutions and other community colleges to update course descriptions, syllabi and programs of study. The division itself underwent a Curriculum Review in the fall of 2015, leading to the implementation of several curriculum changes and course updates.
Classes are characterized by innovative pedagogy, including field trips, instructor-created podcasts and videos, interactive learning exercises, a computer-based research course, guest speakers, and raising a virtual child. Increasingly, instructors used iPads to enhance learning. In Fall 2016, the division began moving towards open source materials, first with Principles of Macroeconomics. The next year, instructors adopted open source textbooks for Principles of Microeconomics, US History I and II, General Psychology, and Introduction to Sociology. Responding to the need to reduce textbook costs for students, seven instructors received grants to develop additional open source materials. By 201819, a majority of the division’s students will use free course materials.
Division instructors took advantage of many professional development opportunities. The entire division trained to better integrate iPads
into classroom instruction. Two instructors also completed Quality Matters courses, designed to improve online courses. Instructors participated in professional development specific to their fields, such as an accounting and tax workshop, an economics conference sponsored by the Federal Reserve Board, and history and political science professional meetings. Another instructor examined contemporary race issues through the MLK50 symposium in Memphis.
Division classrooms and offices are located in Patterson and Gordon Halls. Patterson includes a computer lab that is used primarily as an enhanced study area for students. Classrooms are equipped with appropriate audio-visual equipment, including Apple TVs. Each Patterson classroom received new projectors and screens in the spring of 2018 designed to improve audio-visuals for students.
Faculty members’ commitment to quality education and advising for Northeast students was apparent by their continually updating teaching methods and participation in professional development. By offering a number of courses that are a part of the core curriculum, the division impacts the lives and academic development of most Northeast students.
WORKFORCE TRAINING
Workforce Training and Economic Development encompasses the following areas: (1) workforce training (Customized Training) to provide training and incentive funds to area businesses, industries, and emergency/medical services, (2) Workforce Investment Opportunity Act (WIOA)/WIN Job Centers to assist adult and dislocated workers in attaining new and additional skills and locating employment, (3) Adult Education (AE) /High School Equivalency (HSE) training and testing, as well as basic skills training in pre-employment, English as a second language, etc., and (4) continuing education to provide workshops and classes for personal and professional enrichment, community service, and licensure recertification.
Northeast serves as the “One Stop Operator” for two WIN Job centers in our area: Corinth and New Albany. The WIN Job Centers are designed to provide job seekers, employers, and students a convenient way to access a variety of services in one location. Our Corinth one stop is categorized as a comprehensive center and the New Albany location in now staffed five days a week.
Northeast’s Division of Workforce Training and Economic Development provides training as well as funding assistance to offset the training cost incurred by area businesses and industries. The funding for the training is provided annually through the enactment of the Mississippi Workforce and Education Act of 1994. The Division of Workforce Training and Economic Development has managed 60 state-funded workforce projects (grants), as well as training projects funded through other funding sources. During the fiscal year 2018 7,968 individuals received 166,763 contact hours of training. The total budget for training in the five-county area reached in excess of $1.2 million.
The Northeast WIOA staff provided services for over 400 participants and administered approximately $100,000 for student training programs. WIOA administered on-the-job training dollars for
Total Number of Students Served in Adult Education: 1,281
Total Number of High School Equivalency Completions: 205
Total Number of Smart Start Credentials: 392
Total Number of Smart Start Completions: 205
Incentives to Success Non-Credit Pathway Certificates (CNA, Commercial Truck Driving, EMT): 30 certificates
Incentives to Success Credit Pathway Completions: 10 completions
OPAC Examinees: 422
OPAC Subject Area Certifications: 2,032 (duplicated # as students can attempt more than one exam)
CRC: 1,099
IC3 Certifications: 9
WIOA/C2C Work Ethics Certificate: 94
Work Experience Participants: 41
CPR Certifications: 38
Challenge Exams for College Credit: 20
Dual Enrolled in college through Mi-BEST: 19
Prentiss, Tippah, Alcorn & Union counties providing over $370,000 in assistance to 10 employers to offset the cost of training. We have three employers (eight participants) that we are working with to provide internships and we have three more potential employers that we are working with to finalize
by the end of the fiscal year. WIOA assisted in providing access to services for upwards of 100,000 clients and students through the Northeast at Corinth one-stop center. The additional programs which were added this year were welding (New Albany) and CDL training (Booneville), as well as the existing training for Smart Start/Mi-Best, C2C, industrial maintenance and medical and medical/ business office assisting programs, were fully utilized this year. The WIOA staff also helped coordinate the governor’s job fair, provided multiple training classes designed to improve participant job readiness skills and hosted workshops to help students improve skills, such as resume writing and job interview skills.
Last year the Commercial Truck Driving-Class A program completed the first year of training with six classes of 240 hours each. Fourty-seven students graduated and were employed. Each student had full-time employment at the time of graduation. Certifications earned through continuing education programs were: 72 ServSafe, 51 certified nurse aides, 47 CDL-Class A, 22 dental assistants, 21 EMT-Basic and nine part-time law enforcement officers.
The Adult Education program offers opportunities that will enhance the skills and abilities of individuals preparing for the workforce or preparing for additional educational opportunities. To be competitive in today’s work environment, individuals must prepare themselves in the areas of math, reading, writing, communication, teamwork, and computer skills. The Adult Education (AE) programs – adult education & basic skills, career pathways, Counseling to Career (C2C), Incentives to Success (I2S) and Mississippi Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (Mi-BEST) – provide the needed assistance in developing these skills and abilities for individuals to move effectively into diverse work settings. These skills are taught through the Smart Start classes and the Adult Education classes.
The Northeast Mississippi Community College athletic department once again thrived during the institution’s 69th year of intercollegiate competition.
Three of Northeast’s five competitive sports programs earned national rankings while four teams participated in the postseason during the 2017-18 academic year.
The women’s basketball squad headlined that group as Coach Brenda Mayes captured the first major title of her tenure at Northeast, the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division championship.
It was the 17th all-time divisional crown for the tradition-rich Lady Tiger program and the first since Mayes’ mentor, current Northeast president Ricky Ford, won his final such championship in 2007.
Four Lady Tigers were recognized with MACJC All-State honors, including Aundrea Adams, Cherelle Jones, Dayzsha Rogan and Adallice Young. Adams, who was also a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Region 23 selection, signed to continue her career at the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams reached the semifinal round of the MACJC State Tournament at Northwest Mississippi Community College and the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament at Mississippi College’s A.E. Wood Coliseum.
Cord Wright’s Tigers appeared in the NJCAA’s rankings in some form during a majority of the campaign. Their highest spot in the poll was No. 21 before finishing as one of the top 30 teams in the country.
Two Northeast standouts received MACJC All-State status in freshman Denzel McDuffey and sophomore Bryce Smith. Smith inked with Valdosta State (Ga.) University while Bryant Givens and Darius Williams also signed scholarships with Columbus State (Ga.) University and Talladega (Ala.) College, respectively.
Veteran coach Jody Long led the softball team to the MACJC State Playoffs for the 16th time in its 18 seasons of fast-pitch competition. The Tigers were also ranked upwards of No. 17 by the NJCAA throughout the campaign.
Freshman Caleigh Wallace etched her name into Northeast’s record books by shattering the program marks for most home runs (16) and RBIs (46) in a single season.
She became the 20th player in school history to collect All-American prestige and the first to do so from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) since Callie Weaver in 2008.
The baseball club returned to the postseason following a three-year hiatus and took eventual NJCAA Region 23 runner-up Meridian Community College to three games in its opening round series.
Tucker Childers, who became the first Tiger
to compete for the NJCAA National Team and advanced his career to Mississippi State University, followed in Wallace’s footsteps by breaking baseball’s all-time home run mark for a season with 13.
Childers was a NJCAA All-Region 23 pick while Connar Boyer, Colt Chrestman, Jake Christa, Cooper Cox and Tyler Samaniego were all tabbed as MACJC All-State recipients.
Joining Childers by advancing to four-year schools were Chrestman (University of North Alabama), Parker Haberstroh (Mississippi College), Matthew Sneed (Delta State University) and Jacob Wilcher (Freed-Hardeman [Tenn.] University).
The football program garnered its highest preseason ranking ever from the NJCAA at No. 9 before early injuries derailed what was another promising year under the direction of headman Greg Davis.
Defensive lineman J.T. Loving and linebacker
Juwan Taylor secured first-team MACJC All-State laurels while second-team honorees included punter Beau Lee and linebacker Sam Williams.
Chasity Moore completed her third season as coach of the cheerleading squad, which continued to provide constant support for the Northeast football and basketball teams.
Twenty-nine student-athletes represented Northeast as MACJC Academic All-State award winners while 15 young men and women accepted NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Awards.
ATHLETICS YEAR IN
SCHOLARSHIPS
PROGRAM SUPPORT
FINE ARTS/ATHLETICS
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
TOTAL DIRECT SUPPORT
$1,222,000
FISCAL YEAR 2017 DIRECT SUPPORT TO NEMCC
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
$235,000
FINE ARTS/ ATHLETICS
$229,000
PROGRAM SUPPORT
$294,000
SCHOLARSHIPS
$464,000
EMPLOYEES RECEIVE FOUNDATION GRANT
Northeast Mississippi Community College Development Foundation Board of Directors allocated $15,000 for Employee Enhancement grants during 2017. These funds are fully funded through the contributions of the Northeast employees.
The Members of the 2018 EEF Steering Committee are Will Bowlin (Committee Member), Angie Mason (Committee Chairperson), Justin Treloar (Committee Member), Bonnie Bell (Committee Member), Melody Shinn (Committee Member), and Carlena Benjamin (Committee Member). Pictured with the members of the committee is Foundation Executive Director Patrick Eaton and Northeast Mississippi Community College President Ricky Ford.
2017 T.I.P/T.O.P. AWARDEES
Because of the continued dedication and commitment to Northeast, the Northeast Development Foundation created the T.I.P/T.O.P. Awards. The T.I.P. Awards program is designed to recognize “Tremendous Individual Performance” for non-administrative staff members of Northeast Mississippi Community College. The T.O.P. award is given to one outstanding faculty member from each of the academic divisions who show innovative teaching methods.
Pictured at the T.I.P/T.O.P. presentation are (l-r) Foundation Executive Director Patrick Eaton, Justin Treloar (Division of Humanities and Languages), Shelia Gann, Brad Holley, Will Bowlin (Division of Social, Behavioral and Applied Sciences), Rocky Hughes (Division of Mathematics & Sciences), Donna Hill (Division of Health Sciences), and NEMCC President Ricky Ford. Not pictured is T.O.P. award winner Jenna Fincher (Division of Fine Arts).
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
T. Jack Ramsey Chairman Tenure of Service:1983 Tishomingo County Banker
John O. Cunningham Secretary Tenure of Service: 1995 Prentiss County Businessman
Vance Witt Vice-Chairman Tenure of Service:2001 Union County Businessman
Ken Basil Tenure of Service: 2007 Union County Superintendent of Education
Randle Downs Tenure of Service: 2012 Prentiss County Superintendent of Education
John Anderson Tenure of Service: 2016 Alcorn County Educator
Christie Holly Tenure of Service: 2014 Tishomingo County Superintendent of Education
Kathy Shappley Tenure of Service: 2016 Tippah County Retired Educator
Douglas Jackson Tenure of Service:1995 Tippah County Retired Educator
Tracie Langston Tenure of Service: 2004 Prentiss County Businesswoman
Sam McCoy Tenure of Service: 1988 Prentiss County Businessman
Larry Mitchell Tenure of Service: 2016 Alcorn County Superintendent of Education
Craig Pharr Tenure of Service: 2015 Prentiss County Businessman
Luzene Triplett Tenure of Service: 2002 Prentiss County Retired Educator
Rodney McBryde Tenure of Service: 2016 Tippah County Businessman