Summer 2022 Northwest Now

student spotlight

Meghan Harries Oxford | Sophomore PATHWAY THEATRE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP The Sledge Family Endowed Scholarship What has receiving a Foundation Scholarship meant to you?

“Being a recipient for a Foundation Scholarship helped me so much while being at Northwest. I was able to attend Northwest without paying a dime out of pocket for books and supplies for classes. Receiving a Foundation scholarship helped me focus more on my classes, instead of worrying about how much money I would have to spend on books."

Why you chose this pathway: “I chose Theatre because I’ve always had a passion for performing, and I really love being onstage or backstage. I enjoy every moment of it. My favorite production I’ve worked on at Northwest is ‘She Loves Me.’” What would you tell high school seniors about Northwest: “I want potential students to know Northwest is the start to many wonderful things that can truly happen to anyone. While here, I was inducted into the Hall of Fame and Phi Theta Kappa and Gamma Beta Phi for my grades. I never thought once that I was good enough to do and achieve so much, but the people here really push you toward many wonders and successes that are beyond belief. It’s just been a blessing to be here.”

Favorite memories here: “My last Choir and Entertainers concert, just being onstage with everybody one last time performing. Also the pep rally at the start of the Fall 2021 semester, which my friend and I helped host.”

Plans or goals for the future: “After I graduate, I’ll be working at William Carey University at Carey Dinner Theatre, and then I’ll be attending there in the fall to major in theatre and minor in music.

Eventually, I would love to either teach theatre or direct shows.”

Summer 2022 | Northwest Now

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president's reflections

W

hat an incredible year! As Northwest continues to fulfill its vision of transforming student lives, enriching our communities, and striving for excellence in our programs and services, growth and success continue to be visible and apparent in every area of the college.

We continue taking steps to place the needs of our students first, and as such, we will be adding a new Collegewide Advising and Retention Center, or “ARC,” for short, this upcoming year.

The ARC will assist our students by giving them a personal academic advisor to help them set and meet their educational goals.

Retention will be a primary focus of the ARC, where trained professionals will seek to help retain our incoming freshman students and then see them through to graduation.

We are focused on growing newly added programs like the Diesel Technology program in Batesville and the Surgical Technology and Utility Lineworker programs in DeSoto County. We are adding new programs this fall: a Cybersecurity program in DeSoto County and an LPN program in Water Valley.

The student's needs for new programs equate to campus needs for space. This year, the Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center, also referred to as The Oxford Center, will be receiving a new facility addition through state-appropriated funding for expanding health science programs and courses. The R.C. Pugh Library at The Senatobia Campus will soon begin a much-needed renovation. Too, Northwest received a grant from the US Economic Development Administration to construct a new workforce training facility on the DeSoto campus, which will begin construction this fall. Finally, funds were appropriated through the State for a new men’s residence hall on the Senatobia campus, where we are continually trying to manage and address our full waitlists.

The growth of the arts will continue to take center stage at the College in the coming months as construction on The Northwest Center for the Performing Arts will continue, with a completion date slated for the end of the year. This facility will be an exciting venue for our students with new music instruction, ensemble, and recording spaces. This fall, we will be making announcements for the 2023 inaugural season of artists who will perform, hold master classes with our students, and engage our community with their nationally recognized talent.

Growth and success in our athletic programs continue, with all sports making it to post-season play this last year. The Ranger Football and Cheer Teams earned back-to-back championships this past season. The Ranger Softball team finished a historic season by winning the NJCAA region 23 title and making the program’s first-ever appearance at the NJCAA Division II Softball Championship. Our tennis courts in Senatobia have been renovated in preparation for the reinstallation of the Northwest Men and Women’s Tennis teams, with play to begin this fall. Our Northwest Soccer and Softball teams will have a new home this fall with the completion of the Softball/Soccer Complex.

The Foundation’s endowment grew to over $14 million this past year, allowing the college to provide more scholarships to more students. The institution’s first-ever capital campaign has been widely successful in providing support for College programs and facilities.

As we turn the page on one fiscal year and begin a new year, we look forward to preparing for the Fall 2022 Semester and being able to see even more personal growth and success in our students.

Now, more than ever, it’s a great day to be a Ranger!

Vision Northwest Mississippi Community College transforms our students’ lives, enriches our communities, and strives for excellence in our educational programs and services.

Mission Northwest Mississippi Community College is an open-access, public, two-year institution primarily serving Benton, Calhoun, DeSoto, Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, and Yalobusha counties.

NWCC is a learning-centered community providing educational opportunities with quality instruction for students from all walks of life. Our college fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and student success. We strive for continuous improvement, with a standard of excellence in every area of the institution. Our college partners with businesses and industries that seek to grow the economy and the workforce, as well as partners with alumni, friends, and others. Engagement takes place in all communities that the college serves.

Values ACCOUNTABILITY INTEGRITY EXCELLENCE RESPECT SERVICE SUSTAINABILITY ACCESSIBILITY CREATIVITY LEADERSHIP

Dr. Michael J. Heindl

President, Northwest Mississippi Community College

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www.northwestms.edu

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NORTHWEST NAMES 16 STUDENTS TO HALL OF FAME Sixteen Northwest students have been formally inducted into the 2021-2022 Northwest Hall of Fame, the highest honor a student can achieve at the college.

The selection of Hall of Fame students is based on academic accomplishments and involvement in Northwest student life.

Hall of Fame nominations are submitted

by Northwest instructors and voted on by a committee. This year’s honorees were recognized at the Feb. 10 meeting of the college’s Board of Trustees.

Nine students are from the Senatobia Campus.

Nathan Dowling of Calhoun City is in the general college pathway. His student involvement includes Northwest Pathfinder, Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society, Northwest Players Club, Phi Theta Kappa, Wind Ensemble/Symphonic Winds, Entertainers, Steel Band, Chamber Choir, Men’s Choir, Ranger Marching Band, theatre productions, and Wesley Foundation.

Meghan Harries of Oxford is in the theatre pathway. Her student involvement and achievements include Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society, Northwest Players Club, Phi Theta Kappa, Entertainers, Women’s Choir, Chamber Choir, theatre productions, and Outstanding Student.

Savannah Robertson of Sardis is in

the elementary education pathway. Her student involvement includes Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society, Phi Theta Kappa, Wind Ensemble/Symphonic Winds, Steel Band, Women’s Choir, Ranger Marching Band, Woodwind Ensemble, and Baptist Student Union.

Elisa Ann Stocking of Olive Branch is in the speech and language pathway. Her student involvement and achievements include Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society, Phi Theta Kappa, Entertainers, Steel Band, Women’s Choir, Chamber Choir, and Rotary Club Student of the Month.

Tamia Dowell of Olive Branch is in the criminal justice pathway. Her student involvement includes Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society, Northwest TRIO, Steel Band, Ranger Marching Band, and Student Government Association officer.

Brianna Bridwell of Batesville is in the associate degree nursing pathway.

Her student involvement includes Student Nurses Association (SNA), Wind Ensemble/Symphonic Winds, Ranger Marching Band, Woodwind Ensemble, Alpha Delta Nu, and Phi Theta Kappa.

Emily Campbell of Byhalia is in the chemistry pathway. Her student involvement and accomplishments include Phi Theta Kappa, Bobo Hall Activities Council, Women’s Choir, Baptist Student

Union, and Senatobia Rotary Club Student of the Month.

Mary Landsgaard of Olive Branch is in the electrical engineering pathway. Her student involvement includes Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society, Phi Theta Kappa, Wind Ensemble/Symphonic Winds, Jazz Band, Steel Band, and Ranger Marching Band.

Matthew May of Hernando is in the civil engineering technology program. His student involvement and achievements include Mu Alpha Theta, Phi Theta Kappa, Baptist Student Union, and Senatobia Rotary Club Student of the Month.

Four students are from the DeSoto Campus.

Lindsay Frogge of Olive Branch is in the hotel and restaurant management technology program. Her student involvement includes serving as a member of DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America).

Donovan Jackson of Greenwood is in the funeral service technology program.

His student involvement and achievements include Phi Theta Kappa, Baptist Student Union and Outstanding Student.

Jeremy Wright of Olive Branch is in the kinesiology pathway. His student involvement includes Phi Theta Kappa.

Jackson Tidwell of Southaven is in the biology pathway. His student involvement includes Phi Theta Kappa and Baptist Student Union.

Three students are from the Oxford Campus.

Dominic Smith of Oxford is in the general college pathway.

Charlotte Sutton of Calhoun City is in the practical nursing program. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa.

Alaina Quarles of Oxford is in the business management technology program. She Northwest inducted 16 students into the 2021-22 Hall of Fame, including (first row, l to r) Elisa Ann Stocking, serves as the vice president of Tamia Dowell, Meghan Harries, Alaina Quarles, Lindsay Frogge, Savannah Robertson, Emily Campbell, Charlotte Phi Theta Kappa, Beta Eta Sutton, Brianna Bridwell, (second row) Matthew May, Donovan Jackson, Nathan Dowling, Dominic Smith, Jeremy Theta chapter.

Wright, Jackson Tidwell, and Mary Landsgaard. The students were honored by the Board of Trustees at their monthly meeting in February.

Summer 2022 | Northwest Now

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TINGLE NAMED HUMANITIES TEACHER OF THE YEAR History instructor Chris Tingle has been selected as a Mississippi Humanities Council (MHC) Teacher of the Year.

The Mississippi Humanities Council has been recognizing outstanding teachers at Mississippi’s colleges and universities since 1995. Tingle is among a group of recipients being honored statewide. He was nominated by Kristin Watson Davis, district director of Social Science Instruction at Northwest.

“Chris is one of the kindest individuals I know, and he carries that with him in the classroom and in advising students,” Davis said. “Students respond to his warm personality and enjoy being in his classroom, both on campus and online.”

As part of his MHC honor, Tingle gave a public lecture Feb. 22 in the Haraway Center on Northwest’s main campus.

The topic of his lecture was the Siege of Vicksburg, selected to honor Mississippi history as he is receiving a Mississippi award.

Tingle said he was both surprised and flattered when he heard the news, saying it feels great to be recognized.

“Teaching has always kind of come natural to me,” he said. “History was always something I gravitated toward, and I loved to talk about it. I was good at it, and it was a natural fit.”

His favorite class to teach, which he calls his “baby,” is World History, which was not offered prior to his arrival at the college.

He was given the opportunity to create the course and is the only instructor who teaches it. In particular, he enjoys the big picture aspect of the subject matter versus focusing solely on Western history.

In the classroom, Tingle said the aspects that are most important to him are putting students first, making sure they are getting what they need, and making sure they know he is there for them. His career is most rewarding when he is engaging with students in discussions.

“You see them start to make connections,” he said. “We have some really bright students here, and watching them figure things out is my favorite part.”

Originally from Meridian, he first enrolled at Meridian Community College out of high school before going on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Alabama and a master’s degree in American history and modern European history from the University of Southern Mississippi (USM). Law school was Tingle’s plan throughout his undergraduate career, but by his senior year, he found himself following in his teacher parents’ footsteps and pursuing a profession in education.

After completing his undergraduate degree, Tingle spent two years teaching at Meridian High School. With his master’s degree in hand, he taught for two years at USM’s Gulf Coast campus and has also taught as an adjunct professor at Mississippi State University and East Central Community College. He joined the faculty at Northwest in 2010 and has relished sharing his favorite subject with students in that time.

Tingle and his wife Monica, a special education teacher at Hernando Hills Elementary, reside in Hernando with their two children, Jack and Anna Caroline.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD WELCOMES NEW MEMBER Members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors met on April 12 for their semi-annual board meeting. The board welcomed new Quitman County Representative, Kimberly Bland Wells, Class of 1994. Pictured (L-R) Row 1: Jackie Myrick, president; Kimberly Bland Wells; Brenda Gray, Benton County representative; Anna Grace (Gracie) Perry, Advancement Services coordinator; Row 2: Bonnie Burkes, secretary/treasurer; Betty Kilgore, Representativeat-large; Linda Maynor, Yalobusha County representative; Patti Gordon, executive director of Institutional Advancement; Leeann Elrod, Advancement specialist; Row 3: Mary Bonds, faculty representative; Mike Boren, Tunica County representative; Robert Salmon, Tallahatchie County representative; Stephen Box, Calhoun County representative.

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GOFF HIRED TO LEAD CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Northwest is pleased to announce that the college has hired Kerry Goff as director of its new Center for the Performing Arts, currently on track to be completed by the fall of 2022.

Goff, originally from Fredericksburg, Texas, comes to Northwest after serving as a theatre instructor and department chair at his alma mater, McMurry University, in Abilene, Texas. He also served as the artistic and technical director for the McMurry Summer Theatre program.

“I am excited to have Kerry join our team,” said Jeff Horton, vice president for Administration and Finance. “He has higher education experience at a university as a faculty chair and has been a director of a performing arts theater.

He is a great guy who has already been hard at work planning and researching in preparation of the opening of the center.”

According to Goff, he was drawn to his new position because of the ability to be involved in a new venture “from the ground up.”

“With brand new facilities, it’s exciting to develop procedures and to develop a season of activity that brings people to campus and the community and impacts people’s lives; not just attendance-wise, but maybe youth camps in the summer that get people on stage,” he said. “My whole life has been very community oriented and trying to make an impact with what those venues can do for communities. ‘Enrich, inspire, educate,

entertain’; that’s my mantra.”

In his new role, Goff will be responsible for overall management on site, as well as scheduling and performance season selection.

“I’ve always had a knack for building programs, and this was the ultimate project for me,” he said. “The location is great because it’s close to a larger city, but in a small community. I love the smalltown feel.”

Goff holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre from McMurry University and a Master of Arts in theatre, with a focus in arts administration, from Rowan University.

While serving at McMurry, Goff taught an expansive course load of classes, teaching skills such as acting, directing, design, management, and stagecraft. In addition, he directed and designed a multitude of plays and musicals that featured students, alumni and the community at large. He also served on various university committees, including the Fine Arts Advisory Board, Student Appeals and Campus Oversight Committee.

Outside of teaching at McMurry, Goff was the theatre coordinator for Young Audiences of America (Abilene chapter), a theatre instructor for Big Country Home School Educators, UIL one-act play adjudicator, and periodically, a stagehand at the Historic Paramount Theatre in

Abilene. Goff is the founder and owner of Goff Theatrics, a production company that develops live theatrical presentations.

From 2010-2018, Goff served as artistic and technical director for the acclaimed Fredericksburg Theater Company and instructor for the Freddyburg Youth Theater, a youth theatre group founded by his wife Ashleigh.

Theatre and performing are family passions for the Goffs. Ashleigh Goff also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre, and has a sweeping background in theatre, including as a director and choreographer. The couple’s nine-yearold son Logan recently performed in the “Wizard of Oz” in Abilene, while the couple’s six-year-old daughter Emery takes dance classes.

Sign up today!

To receive advanced notice about season tickets, upcoming performances and other Center for the Performing Arts events sign up today at northwestms.edu/pac Summer 2022 | Northwest Now

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CAMPUS, COMMUNITY READY TO 'EAT MOR CHIKIN' “We are excited to offer this amenity to our students and Northwest is proud to announce a partnership with Chick-fil-A community,” said Jeff Horton, Northwest’s vice president for that will bring a new dining option for students to the Senatobia Administration and Finance. “Northwest couldn’t ask for a better campus.

Chick-fil-A, a popular national brand and one of the largest fast partner than Chick-fil-A to operate on our college campus.”

Renovations to part of the McLendon Center began in the food chains in America, operates 2,723 restaurants in 47 states. It Spring of 2022, with the licensed location to begin operations in will make a new home in the McLendon Center on the college’s the Spring 2023 semester. main campus.

“This is an incredible opportunity for Northwest Mississippi Community College,” said Northwest President, Dr. Michael Heindl. “Signing this partnership with Chick-fil-A aligns with our college mission, which is to ‘positively transform student lives, enrich the communities we serve and strive for excellence in every program and service.’”

The partnership is based on a long-term agreement with Aladdin Food Services, which also runs the college’s food services in the Haraway Center.

The college is also excited about bringing a new dining option to Tate County. The new full-service, 150seat restaurant will operate like any other Chick-Fil-A restaurant. It will remain open year-round, through college holidays, and will be closed on Sundays. Local residents and college students will be able to receive Northwest's mascot, Danger, welcomes the Chick-fil-A cow to the Senatobia Campus dine-in, take-out and, potentially, mobile delivery during the official announcement that a Chick-fil-A dining location will open inside the McLendon Center this Spring 2023. services.

HORTON EARNS BUSINESS AWARDS The Mississippi Business Journal (MBJ) has announced honorees in the publication’s Ninth Annual Leaders in Finance awards, including Vice President for Administration and Finance Jeff Horton.

MBJ announced Horton as one of 20 honorees receiving the award, which is given to recognize leaders who have shaped the finance, banking and CPA sectors in the state of Mississippi.

Leaders in Finance was first conceived in 2012, and the first program was launched in 2013. Nominations are received from highly-qualified professionals from large and small companies and firms around the state.

The nominations come from numerous sources, including peers, professional acquaintances and leaders in the finance community.

“We’re pleased to be able to recognize so many great top finance professionals 6

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with this program,” said Tami Jones, publisher of MBJ. “These individuals are at the top of their field in the financial sector, and certainly deserving of the honor.”

In October, Horton was also the recipient of the Bob Hasmiller Humanitarian Service Award at the Community College Business Officers (CCBO) conference, held in Nashville.

According to CCBO, the award is given to an individual who best exemplifies an exemplary service mindset. The recipient must display the core principles of humanitarianism, including: desiring to provide assistance without discrimination; ensuring respect for their fellow human beings; and promoting mutual understanding, cooperation and friendship.

“It’s such a nice honor to be recognized by the Mississippi Business Journal and CCBO,” Horton said. “The success of

Northwest’s Administration and Finance division is due to the leaders and team we have in the division. I am also very appreciative of the support we receive from our president, Dr. Michael Heindl.”

Horton has served the college in his current role for three years. He holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in accountancy from Mississippi State University. He has held a CPA license for 22 years.

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FIVE NAMED TO PTK ALL-MISSISSIPPI ACADEMIC TEAM

Five Northwest Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) students have been named to the PTK All-Mississippi Academic Team. The students were recognized at the April Board of Trustees meeting. Pictured: (front row, from left) Bonnie Griffis, Senatobia Campus, PTK adviser; Elisa Stocking, second team; Matthew “Brady” May, second team; Matthew Locke, second team; Jeremy Wright, first team; Presley Blann, second team and Patsy Gardner, DeSoto Center, PTK adviser.

(Back row, from left) Dr. Matthew Domas, vice president for Instruction; Dr. Michael Heindl, Northwest president; Dr. Don Jones, dean of Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center; Dr. Keith Reed, dean of DeSoto Center; Cory Uselton, Board of Trustees chairman and Matthew Johnson, Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center, PTK adviser.

Five Northwest students have been named to the 2022 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-Mississippi Community College Academic Team. They were awarded team medals and honored by the college’s Board of Trustees during their April meeting.

Elisa Stocking of Olive Branch, Matthew “Brady” May of Hernando, Matthew Locke of Oxford, Jeremy Wright of Olive Branch and Presley Blann of Hernando were all named to the team. Wright was named to the first team, and Stocking, May, Locke and Blann were all named second team honorees.

According to Kristin Davis, Northwest PTK adviser, AllMississippi Team honorees undergo a rigorous application process and are selected through a Northwest campus committee and a PTK national committee. The All-Mississippi teams are recognized as some of the most outstanding PTK students, and each recipient is awarded a scholarship to pursue their educational goals.

“These students work hard and have an outstanding academic record,” Davis said. “We are so proud that they have been recognized and represent Northwest.”

Stocking and May, both taking the general college pathway, attend the Senatobia campus. Wright and Blann, who also take general college classes, attend the DeSoto Center while Locke is in the business administration pathway at LafayetteYalobusha Technical Center.

PTK is an international scholastic and leadership honor society for two-year colleges. The All-USA Academic Team recognizes high-achieving college students who demonstrate academic excellence and intellectual rigor combined with leadership and service that extends their education beyond the classroom to benefit society. The program is sponsored by Cengage with additional support provided by the American Association of Community Colleges and Phi Theta Kappa.

Summer 2022 | Northwest Now

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RETIREES HONORED AT AWARDS CEREMONY Northwest Mississippi Community College honored its 2022 retirees during the Faculty and Staff Awards and Retirement Ceremony April 27 in the Haraway Center.

Northwest President Dr. Michael Heindl (far left) congratulates retirees (l to r) Patsy Gardner, CTE Support Services coordinator, DeSoto Center; Phyllis Johnson, dean of eLearning; Meg Ross, director of Student Development; Pat Nelson, systems administrator, library; Chuck Adams, network administrator; and Darlene Greenlee, assistant dean, Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center. Not pictured are Dennis Cobb, grounds worker, Roy Hunt, construction worker and Henry Pipkin, grounds worker.

Photo by Julie Bauer

FACULTY AND STAFF AWARDS 35 Years of Service

25 Years of Service

Receiving a silver tray for 35 years of service to the college is Amy Latham, who serves as director of Information Technology.

Photo by Julie Bauer

Receiving plaques for 25 years of service are (first row, l to r) Tina Carrington, D’Shaunta Sanford-Catchings; (second row) Jennifer Casey and Mark Carson.

Photo by Kamien Bell

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20 Years of Service

15 Years of Service

Receiving awards for 20 years of service are (first row, l to r) Nancy Watson, Monica Williams; (second row) Donna Harvey, Sandra Williams Moore, Julie Stokes; (third row) Joel Boyles, Jonathan Nichols, James Neal, Melissa Cannon and Wendy Davis. Not pictured is Dr. Carol Cleveland.

Photo by Kamien Bell

Receiving awards for 15 years of service are (first row, l to r) Ashley Chavis, Patrice Dover; (second row) Ed Carroll, Carla Townsend, Andy Ratliff and Angel Nickens. Not pictured are Marty Bolen, John Cooper, Gary Pagels, Tamara Pittman and Sarah Williams.

Photo by Kamien Bell

10 Years of Service

5 Years of Service

Receiving awards for 10 years of service are (first row) Rosie Johnson; (second row, l to r) Melodie Wheatley, Jessica McAlexander, Whitney Nickels; (third row) Al Taylor, Stacy Taylor and Lucia Nelson. Not pictured are Tamer Bahloul, Dr. Darrell Barnes, Ramona Brawner, Anthony Elion, Chrissi Hardison, Doris Jeter, Richard Long, Mollie Owens, Benjamin Plummer, Matt Sellers, Tracy Shawn and Dr. Padma Thimmaiah.

Photo by Kamien Bell

Receiving certificates for five years of service are (first row, l to r) Lisa Mizell, Jay Sarver, Heather Perryman, Missy Kelsay, Bernice Butts; (second row) Jennifer Corbin, Ashton Smith, Bobbie Presley, Elizabeth Kairit, Jennifer Williams, Lesia Cathey; (third row) William Tillman, Lashonda Pride, Roger Gayden, Christopher Anderson and Donnell Cox. Not pictured are Nathan Boyd, Jared Brownlee, Mae Burton, Natacia Davis, Maria Garcia, Kenneth Hodnette, Kevin Hopson, Marla Kennedy, Dr. Stephanie Mullins, Tiquita Roberston, Tony Smith and Jessie Wright.

Photo by Kamien Bell

Summer 2022 | Northwest Now

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2022

GRA DS The college celebrated its 110th Commencement Exercises on Friday, May 6 with three ceremonies recognizing graduates of the School of Health Sciences, Career-Technical Education and Academic Instruction. Northwest President, Dr. Michael Heindl, conferred 465 Associate of Arts degrees, 137 Associate of Applied Science degrees, 240 Career Certificates and 106 Technical Certificates during the spring exercises. Commencement speakers were Brian Hogan, CEO/administrator for Baptist Memorial Hospital DeSoto (health sciences ceremony) and Ryan Miller, executive director of AccelerateMS (afternoon ceremonies). Providing the invocation were graduates Alyssa Boyd, Nathan Okey and Nicholas Bobo.

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Scan to view highlights from Spring Graduation

Summer 2022 | Northwest Now

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ADULT EDUCATION

Graduation

Family and friends from across the community were invited on campus Monday, May 9 for drive-through Adult Education Spring Graduation Exercises held at the Haraway Center.

A total of 109 graduates participated in the ceremony and were granted their high school equivalency diploma. “We appreciate everyone who came to support and congratulate our graduates on their exciting night,” said Jennifer Williams, director of Adult Education. For more information on free test prep classes and other services offered by Adult Education, please visit www.northwestms. edu/programs/adult-education.

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CLASSES OF 1964-69 REUNITE AT SARDIS

Northwest classes of 1964-69 met together for a reunion on May 7 at Sardis Dam, with approximately 70 in attendance. Among the group was Charles Barton, who has recently been selected to be inducted into the 2022 Northwest Sports Hall of Fame.

Sue Grimes Davis, Brenda Carroll Greene, Sterling Withers, Brenda Perkins Glass

Charles Young, Laura Booth Pope, Victor Wyatt, Sterling Withers, Betty Poore Holland, Larry Erwin

Gerald Young, Victor Wyatt, Jerry Beach, Leighton Miller, Charles Barton

C.B. McLatchey, Johnny Cardwell, David Lauderdale, Victory Wyatt, Jerald Young, Jerry Beach, Charles Barton , Bob White, Mack Brown

Summer 2022 | Northwest Now

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FOUR GRADUATE FROM CTE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY Four Northwest employees were recently recognized as graduates of the 2022 Career-Technical Education Leadership Academy, hosted by the Mississippi Community College Board, during the April 25 meeting of the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges.

The year-long program provides CTE educators in administrative positions with practical and hands-on experience in developing leadership skills in a wide variety of areas, including communication, budgeting processes, ethics, legislation, and socioeconomic impacts.

Graduates of the academy include Dr. Barton Allen, program director, Physical Therapist Assistant program; Katie Broadway, employer partnership coordinator; Ebone Dukes, program director, Funeral Service Technology

and Debra Lenox, program director, meticulous organizational skills and a desire Respiratory Therapy. to identify needs prior to their conception.

“The faculty who attended the leadership Northwest is truly blessed to have these academy demonstrate attributes Dr. Heindl wonderful leaders teaching, inspiring, and always mentions as quality attributes— influencing our students.” hungry, humble and smart,” said Dr. Stephanie Mullins, dean of Northwest’s School of Health Sciences. “Debra excels in meeting program learning outcomes. Her passion is threaded throughout her being, and this leadership opportunity provided an additional source to nourish her growth.

Ebone has implemented many new learning activities for our funeral services students, and her Dr. Michael Heindl (center) congratulates (from left) Dr. influence has impacted the regional Barton Allen, Katie Broadway, Ebone Dukes and Debra Lenox on their completion of the 2022 CTE Leadership funeral service area. Dr. Allen has Academy. a calming leadership style with

WHEMN CONFERENCE: WHO DO YOU WANT TO ʻBEEʼ?

Dr. Michael Heindl (top right) welcomes Northwest employees in various positions around campus to the 2022 WHEMN Annual Conference, hosted by Northwest Feb. 17-18 in Oxford.

Northwest was host of the 2022 Women in Higher Education– Mississippi Network (WHEMN) Annual Conference for the first time when the two-day event was held last February at the Oxford Conference Center.

The theme for the conference was “Who Do You Want to Bee?” and featured sessions on health and wellness, success, positivity, and student focus. More than 200 women in higher education across the state attended, and during the luncheon Dr. Heindl presented the 2022 WHEMN Leadership Award to Dr. Sharon Freeman, associate vice president for Institutional Research and Effectiveness at Mississippi Valley State University.

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“The two-day conference was jam packed with interesting, innovative and inspiring sessions led by women who truly had something beneficial to say to each of us,” said Patti Gordon, Northwest executive director of Institutional Advancement and 2022-23 WHEMN state coordinator. “These women helped us to discover ways not only to improve as professionals, but also as individuals.”

WHEMN is dedicated to promoting and supporting women’s leadership in higher education, facilitating networking of women and enhancing the visibility of women administrators on Mississippi campuses.

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SPRING

FUN NORTHWEST STUDENTS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A WIDE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES IN THE SPRING SEMESTER Photos by Alyssa Peyton

FOOD TRUCK DAY

VALENTINES DANCE

SPRING FLING

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giving back

CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS TOUR COMPLEX The Investing Today, Impacting Tomorrow Capital Campaign co-chairs toured the almost completed Soccer/Softball Complex at a recent meeting on the Senatobia Campus. Co-chairs for the campaign are: Robert H. “Bob” Dunlap (honorary chair), Norris Faust, Dr. Michael R. Havens, and Niles Norris.

Leaving a LEGACY As part of the Investing Today, Impacting Tomorrow campaign, the Foundation Office will be contacting individuals concerning legacy gifts.

Supporters of Northwest can choose to leave specific assets, a stated amount or a certain percentage of their estate to Northwest. Legacy gifts help build financial support for future student scholarships, academic programs or capital initiatives. Life insurance policies can also be a gift by listing the Northwest Foundation as the beneficiary. The Foundation has established The Northwest Legacy Society, which recognizes individuals who have made commitments to Northwest through planned gifts. If we have written documentation of your planned gift, your name is included in our Legacy Society.

3 BENEFITS OF PLANNED GIVING FOR DONORS 1. Donors can create a legacy for themselves or their families.

2. Planned gifts may offer tax savings for donors or their heirs.

3. Planned giving donors can determine how their gifts are spent.

3 BENEFITS OF PLANNED GIVING FOR NORTHWEST 1. Planned gifts secure Northwests' organization’s future by providing a promise of future funding.

2. Leaving a legacy gift can inspire others to do the same, ensuring Northwest’s future growth and success.

3. A legacy gift allows your philanthropic generosity to continue for perpetuity, benefitting future generations of Northwest students.

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SAVE the DATE

NORTHWEST

MARCH 25, 2023 At the new Center for the Performing Arts!

The following special awards will be recognized: The Alumni Professional Achievement Award: Ann Hannaford Lamar

The Young Alumni Professional Achievement Award: Kent Hawkins

Outstanding Corporation Award: Northcentral Electric Cooperative

The Spirit of Northwest Award: Larry Hall

For sponsorship opportunities, tickets, or additional information, please contact Leeann Elrod at the Northwest Foundation lelrod@northwestms.edu | 662-560-1112 Summer 2022 | Northwest Now

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2022 - 2023

SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED

$635,450

WAS AWARDED IN FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 2022-23 ACADEMIC YEAR

640

TOTAL NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED FOR 2022-23 ACADEMIC YEAR

$596,500 AMOUNT OF ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED

The Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee met April 19 to award endowed and annual scholarships for the upcoming year.

A total of 640 scholarships were awarded—431 to new students and 209 to returning students. Annual scholarships totaling $38,950 were awarded, and endowed scholarship funds totaling $596,500 will be distributed to qualifying students from around the district. Scholarship recipients were recently on campus to sign their award letters and were given information about the scholarship they will be receiving.

Sponsored by BancorpSouth & Northcentral Electric Cooperative

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 CHEROKEE VALLEY GOLF CLUB OLIVE BRANCH

TEAM REGISTRATION FEES:

$400 ($100 per person) Choice of start times: 8 a.m. or 1 p.m.

Fee includes: Breakfast and Lunch Carts and On-Course Beverages Available for purchase are red tees, mulligans and raffle tickets

SPONSORSHIP LEVELS: Gold Sponsor: $1,500 Silver Sponsor: $1,000 Bronze Sponsor: $650 Hole Sponsor: $250

$38,950 AMOUNT OF ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED

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For more information on how to be a sponsor or register for the tournament, contact Leeann Elrod at 662-560-1112 or email lelrod@northwestms.edu

SAVE THE DATE HOMECOMING OCTOBER 20, 2022 ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR

Fred Carlisle

SPORTS HALL OF FAME HONOREES:

Charles Barton – Football (1964-66) Peter Jarjoura – Men’s/Women’s Soccer Coach (2002-12) Paul Bakke – Baseball (1984-86) Sara Lytle – Women’s Basketball (2014-16) Jessica Yelvington – Women’s Soccer (2004-05)

Golden Circle 1972

Honorees from the Class of 1972 will be receiving recognition for 50 years since attending Northwest. Golden Circle honorees will receive a brass medallion featuring elements of the college seal. The medallion is attached to a blue and red ribbon, representing the official school colors.

Please contact Leeann Elrod to reserve your spot!

662-560-1112 lelrod@northwestms.edu

Rangers

GIVING DAY

10.20.2022 HOMECOMING DAY

We invite all Rangers near and far to support the annual Rangers Giving Day, which will be on October 20 – Homecoming Day. What a great day to show your Ranger spirit by giving back to your alma mater!

Summer 2022 | Northwest Now

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new vision

Morris-Hilson

NETS FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR NORTHWEST Story By Dr. Andrew Dale

Lillian Morris-Hilson, the grant writer at Northwest, has always been interested in building others up. It all started with her parents, who were strongly involved in economic and community development. She watched as her parents invested in others and supported the communities where she was learning and growing. Later, this foundation

led to career choices which became incredibly fulfilling to her. Her father, a high school valedictorian, had a full ride to Stillman College but stayed home to take care of his ailing father after a stroke and enrolled in Northwest. Serving here is giving back to the community in which she lives and the institution that propelled her family forward.

DESOTO CENTER CTE - WORKFO

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Early on, as a Hospitality Management student at Ole Miss working in the Lyceum for the vice chancellor of Student Life, Morris-Hilson was encouraged to pursue a career in higher education, advice she would later heed. After graduation, she worked for Rosen Hotels and Resorts in Orlando. After the 2007 market crash, she learned that hospitality work was tenuous in a volatile market and returned home to begin work on her MBA at Belhaven University, where she first met Oxford Campus Dean, Dr. Don Jones.

Lillian’s first full-time job at giving back came with the Community Foundation for Northwest Mississippi. She got her first experience with grant writing there and enjoyed being able to engage and aid the community through programmatic support. She said, “I am very intrinsically motivated, so this work [grant writing] is a perfect fit for me.”

At Northwest, Lillian’s favorite project has been a $2.6 million supplemental award through the CARES Act that helped fund student emergency grants and pay off student balances. “This award was a leveraging opportunity to support our students by helping them break through financial barriers, encourage student success, and build retention for our campuses. What ORCE FACILITY is unique about this award is that it was very competitive and went to 20 institutions nationwide, of which less than half were community colleges.”

The most recent award Morris-Hilson authored is a $7 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, a historic grant both for Northwest and the EDA. Their average gift is approximately $2.5 million. The $7 million award will construct a new 42,000-square-foot multi-purpose workforce and career technology education center located on the DeSoto Center campus in Southaven.

The center will house instructional programs focused on workforce training and health sciences programs. Also, the new training facility will offer a standardized regional testing center and provide additional flexible space for the instruction and training of students. “Enriching our communities and furthering training opportunities in our region is the pinnacle of our institutional success,” said Dr. Michael Heindl, president of Northwest. “This facility will be game-changing for our institution and students.”

Lillian said that “this project was partly funded because the college was positioned to make the ask because of the work done before the grant submission process was opened.” She worked with Dr. Heindl and Vice President for Administration and Finance Jeff Horton to secure the matching funds needed in advance of the request.

Collectively, the total project cost will be nearly $13 million.

The project was funded by the support of the Economic Development Administration—$7 million, the State of Mississippi—$3 million, the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors—$1 million, and over $1.9 million of institutional funds.

“Achieving this level of funding from our federal, state, and local community partners will advance the college’s financial ability to maintain affordable and accessible education

new vision

“

Achieving this level of funding from our federal, state, and local community partners will advance the college’s financial ability to maintain affordable and accessible education opportunities for students. The efforts of our team will further the mission and goals of the college.”

– Jeff Horton

opportunities for students. The efforts of our team will further the mission and goals of the college,” stated Horton.

“It is always a pleasure to engage in our opportunities to further grow this institution and the strides we are taking to get there,” said Morris-Hilson. “I’d like to thank the Northwest administration for the leadership and vision for this project and the others we are working on. I have the pleasure of serving on a leadership team that reminds and encourages Patrick Lencioni’s three virtues: humble, hungry, and smart. We are very excited to implement this project for our students and our institution and further the impact and opportunities of this college for our community.”

“On behalf of the DeSoto County Economic Development Council, the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors, and the City of Southaven, we are thrilled that plans set out years ago will now come to fruition, providing a much-needed one-stop-shop for both training and employment for our business, health care, and industrial sectors. We are grateful to Northwest Mississippi Community College’s vision, EDA, and our congressional delegation for their generous support,” stated Jim Flanagan, president/CEO, DeSoto County Economic Development Council.

In 2018, Northwest adopted the strategic plan, “Achieving Success,” which focuses on four commitments: instructional success, institutional success, personal success, and community success. The proposed project will meet this four-tiered commitment and aid the institution, workforce, community, economy, and most importantly, students in Northwest's 11-county service area.

At Northwest, Lillian has managed nearly $70 million in grants for the college, with more to come. “Lillian is a talented member of our Administration and Finance team. Working with our financial, procurement, and construction team, they put together a great grant application and a plan to fulfill compliance and reporting requirements of the grants awarded to the college,” Horton said. “She has plans to potentially work toward a Ph.D. in an economic development-connected degree and is excited to continue grant writing.”

Lillian said, “Grant writing is a craft and a skill honed over time; Northwest and the other stops along my professional journey have allowed me to develop that craft, and I look forward to continued opportunities here to give back.”

Summer 2022 | Northwest Now

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COLLEGE CELEBRATES

$4 Million

Campaign Milestone New programs, facilities will benefit from corporate, private donations Story By Dr. Andrew Dale

Early in the spring 2022 semester, Northwest made its first-ever capital campaign public and celebrated reaching 88 percent, or more than $4 million, of the college’s ‘Investing Today, Impacting Tomorrow’ capital campaign goal.

Under the leadership of Northwest President, Dr. Michael Heindl, the college has been expanding opportunities for students by adding new programs,

facilities, and campuses to reach our 11-county service Students in athletics, performing arts and health sciences will benefit from the college's capital campaign. district better. Heindl said, “This campus the communities we serve, and strive for growth is driven by excellence in every program and service.” the new vision, new mission, and new The college launched the campaign in values of the institution, all crafted with October of 2020 to fund projects that will the community in mind, which is to help enable the college to meet the demands of positively transform student lives, enrich the community and the expectations of employers. As of May 2022, $4,055,800 in gifts and pledges has been raised toward the campaign goal of $4,560,000—leaving just $504,200 left to reach the projected goal.

“This campaign will help the college overcome financial barriers that might hinder us from expanding current programs and starting new programs,” said Jeff Horton, vice president for Administration and Finance. “One-time investments made by our donors will positively impact students living in this community for years to come.”

Northwest is moving to meet the demands of the community and the expectations of local employers. Projects funded through this capital campaign broaden the opportunities for our students to choose career paths that allow Northwest celebrated reaching 88 percent of the capital campaign goal in a public announcement them to earn sustainable incomes. The event Feb. 15 at the Haraway Center. On behalf of the Northwest Foundation Board of Directors, expanded workforce training programs Sterling Withers (third from left), board president, presented a check to Dr. Michael Heindl (far will enrich our communities by providing right) in the amount of $4,020,754. “Support for the campaign has been significant, and we are qualified employees to industries that have so thankful for the commitments and pledges thus far,” commented Withers. “We will continue to experienced hardships finding enough solicit donations for these very important projects until we reach our goal.” Also celebrating the qualified applicants to fill positions. milestone were (from left) Patti Gordon, executive director of Institutional Advancement; Norris Faust, Capital Campaign co-chair; Fred Carlisle, vice president, Foundation Board of Directors; and Further, we will create and maintain stateGary Kornegay, treasurer, Foundation Board of Directors. of-the-art, world-class facilities built with 22

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Work continues on The Concourse, a workforce training center located in Batesville.

the future in mind.

Patti Gordon, executive director of Institutional Advancement, expressed her gratitude for the campaign’s leadership.

“We are thankful for the support of our campaign co-chairs, Robert H. “Bob” Dunlap, Niles Norris, Norris Faust, and Dr. Michael R. Havens,” Gordon said.

“They have given their time and financial resources to make sure this campaign got off the ground and have been a tremendous influence in the success we have experienced so far.”

Northwest has been fortunate to receive funding from various public sources.

Private support for the campaign will enable the college to cross the finish line in regard to funding the planned projects. The campaign seeks funds to support six different areas, including a expanded aviation program, The Concourse in Batesville, DeSoto Campus – Multipurpose Instructional Workforce Training Center, Oxford Campus programs, the new Performing Arts Center, and the Soccer/Softball Complex.

The capital campaign will enable the College to overcome financial barriers that hinder program expansion, such as offering Associate Degree Nursing at Southaven.

Diesel Technology, which began last Fall, is one of the new programs to be offered at The Concourse.

For our expanded aviation program, Northwest seeks to meet the growing opportunity in the area for pilot training.

The aviation industry remains a significant contributor to job creation and economic development. Due to our proximity to the FedEx World Hub in Memphis, the airport, and other companies that need aviation graduates, Northwest is wellpositioned to train the next generation of pilots. Due to the equipment required, aviation has a high startup cost. The anticipated start date for this program is late 2023.

The transformation of the former Factory Outlet Facility in Batesville on I-55 into a workforce training center – called The Concourse – will provide 138,000 square feet of flexible and customizable training space. Classroom space, meeting rooms, and conference rooms will also be included. Our new Diesel Technology program began operating there this past year, and Northwest has received a $1 million grant from Accelerate Mississippi to double enrollment and teaching capacity there this fall. This space will allow Northwest to bring more exciting career-technical programs to the college in the near future.

Allied health is an essential part of health care that relies on administrative, support, therapeutic, and technological roles. Around 60 percent of the U.S. health care workforce is made up of allied health professionals. Northwest would Summer 2022 | Northwest Now

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The new Performing Arts Center is slated for completion early next year, and plans are already underway for annual performing arts season.

like to expand the number of health care program options in the district. Currently, Northwest only offers the Associate Degree Nursing program at its main campus in Senatobia. Further, Northwest would like to add new programs such as Dental Hygiene, Radiology Technology, Sonography, and Occupational Therapy Assistant to our offerings at the Oxford Campus.

Recently, Northwest was awarded a $7 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for a new multi-purpose instructional workforce center on the DeSoto Campus. The 40,000-square-foot facility with flexible training space on the current DeSoto Center Campus will focus on bridging the skills gaps in our region and equipping students and incumbent workers with the resources they need to get a job. It will concentrate on advanced manufacturing, logistics technology, and health care training by also expanding our Associate Degree Nursing program to DeSoto County.

Northwest’s Fine Arts Auditorium and associated teaching spaces have served the college well. However, the growth in our music ensembles and performing groups have outgrown the facilities’ capacity limits. Northwest is excited to open a new $32 million Performing Arts Center in January of 2023. This facility is not just an expansion of teaching space for our music and performing ensembles; it will also be a regional draw for performing arts lovers 24

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in northwest Mississippi. The college has complex. committed to bringing national artists This campaign, however, is not solely and performers to campus through a new about raising money to advance our annual performing arts season. programs and facilities. Campaigns create Northwest has not had an athletic excitement and raise awareness. ‘Investing complex for the sports of softball, women’s Today, Impacting Tomorrow’ offers a soccer, and men’s soccer. To provide for groundbreaking opportunity to share our these deserving student-athletes and meet story of who we are today and whom federal compliance guidelines on offering we aspire to be in the future. It will help an equal opportunity of sports for males us engage our alumni, build supporters, and females, Northwest is completing a and attract gifted students to campus. complex that includes locker rooms, a Northwest must be dynamic to stay team meeting room, and coaches’ offices relevant; our students have expectations of for softball and soccer. This facility will what higher education should provide, and house the Rangers’ and visitors’ locker we are striving to meet those expectations. rooms for women’s softball and soccer, men’s soccer, and coaches’ offices for each sport. A large team meeting room will double as a recruiting space and a game view room and a viewing porch on the second level are also included.

The new facility, located between the existing softball and soccer fields, will also include restrooms and concession options for fans attending A new facility for softball and soccer will provide much - needed space home events at the and equity for these sports.

NURSING ALUMNAE NAMED

Nurses of the Year Story & Photo By Natalie Ehrhardt

Northwest is proud to announce that Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) alumnae Katelin Bozeman and Elaine Karnes have both been named 2021 Emergency Nurse of the Year at Baptist Memorial Hospital – DeSoto in Southaven.

Bozeman, of Senatobia, and Karnes, of Southaven, tied for the honor during Emergency Nurses Week in 2021, with votes cast by their peers working in the hospital’s emergency room.

“We are overjoyed that Northwest nurses continue to rise above in their service at Baptist Memorial Hospital - DeSoto while delivering exceptional care to patients there,” said Lacey Gentry, director of Nursing Instruction. “Elaine and Katelin are wonderful examples of the high level of integrity, strong work ethic and compassionate care that is the expectation of all Northwest RN graduates. Thank you for making us even more proud. The future of nursing is bright with leaders like these at the bedside.”

A December 2018 graduate of Northwest’s ADN program, Bozeman went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the Mississippi University for Women. After graduation, she worked in cardiovascular stepdown at Baptist East in Memphis, but desiring a change of pace, eventually made the move to her current position in Southaven.

Describing her day-to-day life in the emergency room, Bozeman said not knowing what each day will bring keeps her job exciting, saying some days are fairly uneventful while others are long and difficult. Bozeman explained that the same can be said of each day’s emotional toll.

“The emotional aspect has been the most surprising part because there’s just no way to prepare for that, no matter how good the program you studied in was,” she said.

Despite her career’s challenges, her peers clearly see a professional excelling in her role. Bozeman said “shocked” is the only way she could describe her reaction upon hearing her co-workers had voted her one of her department’s top nurses.

“I’ve only been a nurse since 2019, so I was very surprised,” she said. “I didn’t have high expectations. When they said my name… little moments like that make it all worth it. Positive moments like that can do a lot for your week or even your year.”

Bozeman credits Northwest for preparing her well for the work she does, praising the size of the program, skills training and the knowledge and care of instructors and program leaders.

Karnes, a May 2019 graduate of the ADN program, has been employed with Baptist- DeSoto since the start of her nursing career. Her first career was in political market research, but she was inspired to move to a different field after spending a

Elaine Karnes and Katelin Bozeman

significant amount of time at Le Bonheur with her son, who has special needs.

She gravitated to the emergency room because, as she explains it, she thrives in chaos.

“It can be a sore throat or full cardiac arrest,” she said. “I’ve been put in many situations in my life before I was in the medical field where I had to make choices very quickly.”

Karnes said she particularly enjoys the “bedside” part of nursing.

“In the emergency department, you’re often seeing people on one of the worst days of their life so I try to be a positive in their day,” she said.

It is clear that her patients appreciate her bedside manner, as she was also awarded the patient-nominated Daisy Award in 2021. Additionally, she earned the Rising Star Nurse Excellence Award. Despite those accolades, she was still caught off guard when she was named an Emergency Nurse of the Year.

“I was surprised because we were nominated by our peers, the people that we work beside day-to-day,” she said. “I work with people who I think are amazing, so I was really humbled and honored that people thought so highly of me as their coworker.”

Before selecting Northwest as the place she wanted to study, Karnes said she consulted with nurses and doctors, who all raved about how well Northwest’s Nursing program prepares its students. After finishing school and starting her new career, she had to agree, explaining that while she was nervous, she also felt comfortable and confident in her knowledge and skills.

“I think without the Northwest experience, it would have been extremely intimidating, especially starting off in the ER,” she said.

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Devoted Champion: college, community lose faithful advocate Cushman lived a life of service as an educator and volunteer Story By Sybil Canon

G

ale Phillips Cushman transitioned from this life to heaven on April 19, 2022, at the age of 74. A staunch supporter of Northwest from the time that she attended as a student until the very moment of her passing, she will be sorely missed. She was a devoted Christian who served Senatobia First United Methodist Church; a dedicated wife to Milton, mother to Matthew (JoAnn) and Martin (Christy), and grandmother to Annie Kathryn and Virginia Grace; an innovative and compassionate educator; a passionate historian for all things Senatobia; and a tireless community volunteer.

At her memorial service, the Rev. Keith

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Keeton, pastor of Senatobia First United Methodist Church, said that “it will take 10 people to replace Gale at her church, 10 people to perform all of the volunteer activities with Senatobia Main Street, 10 people to complete her responsibilities on the Northwest Foundation Board of Directors, and 10 people to tend to all of the gardens to include her own and those at the library and throughout Senatobia’s downtown area – which means that 40 people would be needed to replace Gale, which ultimately means that she is irreplaceable.” Jamie Sowell, director of Senatobia Main Street, echoed that sentiment. “No matter what the project, Gale was the first to volunteer and the last

to leave. It is hard to imagine Senatobia without Gale Cushman,” she said.

Patti Gordon, Northwest executive director of Institutional Advancement, has worked with Cushman for several years. “As a member of the Northwest Foundation Board of Directors for many years, Gale served as president for two terms, and she has been a member of the Scholarship Selection Committee for the entire time she served on the board,” she said. “It is a responsibility that she took seriously, poring over the applicants each year to select just the right student who would benefit the most from the scholarship assistance. In fact, she was working on the selection process at the

time of her death, and Milton brought her notes to me. We were honored to award scholarships to the students that Gale selected for the 2022-23 school year.

Gale loved Northwest, and she served with passion and distinction.”

Cushman and her family, to include the late Mississippi Gov. William and Mrs. Elise Varner Winter, established a scholarship in memory of Cushman’s parents, The J.P. (Blue) and Virginia Varner Phillips Endowment.

A fourth-generation resident of Tate County, Cushman lived in the historic 1881 home where she grew up. She graduated from Senatobia High School, attended Northwest, and graduated from the University of Mississippi with a liberal arts degree in social studies. She taught at Senatobia High School for 18 years, making sure that when her students reached the age of 18, she would take them to register to vote. She received Master Teacher of Economics through Mississippi State University from the Mississippi Economic Council.

Her community and civic commitments included being the founding member and chair of the Senatobia Historic Preservation Commission, serving as president of the Senatobia Main Street Board, holding various offices to include president in the Cosmopolitan Club and Magnolia Garden Club, working on multiple downtown projects with the Tate County Master Gardeners, serving as treasurer and member of Tate County Heritage Museum, and working as Boy Scout Cubmaster and Eagle Scout coordinator and earning the District Award of Merit and Silver Beaver Award. For all of her community activities, Cushman was named “Tate County Citizen of the Year” in 2019. In concluding her memorial service, Keeton appropriately said, “Gale’s mission in life was to leave things better than you found them. She most assuredly did that and reflected God’s image and brought joy to everyone.”

Gale and her husband, Milton, attended the annual Foundation board Christmas party in 2019.

“

“No matter what the project, Gale was the first to volunteer and the last to leave. It is hard to imagine Senatobia without Gale Cushman.”

Gale faithfully attended the Foundation Scholarship Ceremony each year to sit and chat with recipients of the scholarship established in memory of her parents.

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THE

I

Legacy

t is, indeed, both a pleasure and an honor to announce new scholarship endowments, the beginning of a new legacy for those being honored by these scholarships and for the students who will be assisted for generations to come. The beauty of an endowment is that it will continue to help students for as long as this

college exists. It is also wonderful to think of how these students will use their education to make better lives for themselves, for their families and for the communities in which they will live. Thus, it is appropriate to name these pages, “The Legacy Continues,” because the effects of these extraordinary acts of generosity will last forever.

The Bill and Marthola Smith Allen Endowed Scholarship

What began as a whirlwind romance spanned 64 happy years and produced two daughters, Dr. Edith Allen Robinson and Ellen Allen Haraway (wife of former Northwest Bill and Marthola Smith Allen President, Dr. David Haraway); four grandchildren, Leigh Ellen Robinson Doddridge, Maggie Robinson Yacoubian, Lucia Haraway Nelson, and Dr. Neil Haraway; and 10 great-grandchildren.

After the couple married, they moved around based on Bill Allen’s construction jobs, finally settling in Olive Branch in 1959, when he became a partner in the Almac Construction Company. He was a successful businessman in the community for over 50 years, and as co-owner of Almac, built over 150 new homes in and around Olive Branch from 1970-1990.

Upon his retirement from the construction business, he served DeSoto County by supervising the construction of multiple new school facilities in the county, and did not fully retire until the age of 85.

Upon their arrival to town, Marthola Allen took a job as a secretary at their church, First Baptist of Olive Branch.

Later, a fellow church member hired her to be the secretary at a local insurance agency, which she ultimately purchased 14 years later, making her one of Olive Branch’s first female business owners. She owned and operated the

The family of the late Bill and Marthola Allen has established the Bill and Marthola Smith Allen Endowed Scholarship to honor the two pillars of the Olive Branch community.

Billy Gray “Bill” Allen was born in Cockrum in 1924 to parents William H. Allen and Edith Nora French Allen. He grew up in Cockrum, and graduated from Olive Branch High School in the spring of 1942.

Shortly after graduation, he joined the United States Army Air Corps, completing training at the Army Air Forces Gunnery School before being assigned to the 11-man crew of a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber. Stationed on the island of Guam in the North Pacific, Allen flew on numerous bombing missions over Japan during his tour of duty in World War II. He was honorably discharged in February 1946 in the rank of staff sergeant after receiving the U.S. Army Air Medal.

Marthola Smith Allen was born in Dresden, Tennessee, in 1931 to parents Hannibal Woolridge Smith and Ruth Mozelle Maupin. She was raised in Dresden, attending elementary and high school there. Upon graduation, she began nursing school in Memphis.

In 1949, while working for a construction company building the Weakley County Courthouse in Dresden, Bill Allen met his future wife. The couple dated for a few short weeks before he popped the question at the movies, and she said yes. The duo exited the theatre right away, and drove to Cockrum to be married.

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CONTINUES The value of the endowment is over $14 million.

Through the generosity of so many, the endowment continues to grow. As it grows, so does the realization of the hopes and dreams of our students as well as the legacy of the special people who are honored by these endowments.

—Patti Gordon

business for 17 years until she sold it upon retirement. The Payne-Haraway Insurance Agency continues to thrive in the Olive Branch community today.

The Allens were true pillars of the Olive Branch community, serving in many ways over the years.

Bill Allen was elected deacon at the couple’s church in 1959, and served as deacon emeritus there until his death in 2016. Other involvement included: serving on the city’s board of alderman; serving on the county’s board of supervisors; charter member of the Olive Branch Chamber of Commerce; membership in Olive Branch Rotary since its inception, earning the Paul Harris Fellow Award in 2013; charter member of the Olive Branch Country Club; and director of the Olive Branch Christmas Parade for 10 years, with he and his wife named co-grand marshals of the parade in 1998.

Marthola Allen, a person of strong faith who passed in 2013 at the age of 81, taught Sunday School at church for many years, and was an active participant in Bible Study Fellowship and Community

THE

Bible Study. She also served on three Pulpit Committees, and chaired one of those committees. In addition, she served on the church’s Building Committee for the construction of its Family Life Center.

Outside of church life, she was a founding member and the first president of the Olive Branch Chamber of Commerce. While serving as president, she led the effort to commission the writing of “The Town of Olive Branch”

by Dr. David Haraway in conjunction with the town’s bicentennial celebration in 1976. She was also a longtime member of both the Olive Twigs and the Parent Teacher Association, at one time serving as president of both organizations.

Additionally, she served on the board of the DeSoto County Museum for five years.

The couple made a highly impactful contribution to their beloved community when they were instrumental in starting the Olive Branch Volunteer Ambulance Service, for which they both earned EMT certifications and worked as volunteer first responders for 15 years. Their family enjoyed stories of exciting middle-of-thenight ambulance rides at every Sunday dinner, which was served by Marthola, described as a “fabulous” cook.

Both Bill and Marthola Allen have been inducted into the Olive Branch Hall of Fame for their extensive contributions over their lifetimes.

The family has many connections to Northwest. The Allens’ son-in-law, Dr. David Haraway, served for 20 years as the college’s seventh president. Additionally, the Allens’ daughter, Dr. Edith Allen Robinson, her husband, Lundy Robinson, and their two daughters, Leigh Ellen Robinson Doddridge and Maggie Robinson Yacoubian, graduated from Northwest. The Haraways’ son, Dr. Neil Haraway, graduated from Northwest and played baseball for the Rangers during his time as a student. The Haraways’ daughter, Lucia Haraway Nelson, has served as an art instructor at the college’s DeSoto campus for the past 10 years.

“It’s just always been a family place with a family atmosphere,” Nelson said.

“I feel like Northwest is in my blood. I cut my teeth on art in the art building (in Senatobia) when I was eight years old with Jac Young and Lane Tutor

and those guys. One thing I’ll say about all of our family is that the love for Northwest runs deep. We’re proud of our history with the college.”

The Bill and Marthola Smith Allen Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to a student from DeSoto County, with preference to those from Olive Branch, who is in Nursing or the EMT-Paramedic program. The medical field designation is in honor of Marthola Allen, who was a nursing student when she met her husband and was never able to finish her studies, as well as in recognition of the years of ambulance service the couple provided.

The Richard Howard Darby Endowed Scholarship The Richard Howard Darby Endowed Scholarship has been established at Northwest by Darby’s children, Leigh Ann Darby, Mary Paige Darby Huxford and Rebecca Darby Mitchell.

Richard Darby is a member of the college’s class of 1970. Raised in Sardis with sister Rita Darby Henley, he is the son of Richard Price Darby and Bobbie Nell (Thomas) Darby, who also have a scholarship in their names at Northwest.

Darby graduated from North Panola High School in 1968 and enrolled in the fall of 1968 at Northwest to study accounting, despite an admitted lack of interest and skill with numbers. He recalls Kitty Wait, then-head of the accounting program, kindly encouraging him to identify a different field of study at the end of his first semester. He chose history and was successful in his studies.

After earning his associate degree from the college in 1970, he enlisted in the Army National Guard and traveled to Fort Bragg for six months of training.

Legacy

CONTINUES

From there, he was transferred to Fort Knox in Kentucky before being assigned to the Company D 1st/108th in his hometown of Sardis. The school semester had already begun by the time he arrived back from Fort Knox, so he went to work for Chromcraft until he could enroll at Delta State University.

While at DSU, he earned a bachelor’s degree in history and took a teaching position at Horn Lake High School for two years, followed by four years at North Panola High School as assistant principal. Simultaneously, he was working to earn his master’s degree in school administration, serving Sardis as an alderman, attending Officer Candidate School with the National Guard, earning a diploma for branch certification and advanced branch certification, and completing Command and General Staff College with the 2nd Army.

In 1978, he was hired in Research and Development at Northwest. He worked under President Henry B. Koon for more than a decade. Darby describes the late President Koon as very ambitious, noting his extensive contributions to the college, including opening Northwest’s DeSoto, Oxford, Ashland, and Olive Branch locations.

Despite falling under Research and

Richard Howard Darby

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Development, Darby was a true jackof-all-trades on campus. He assisted with grant applications, worked with recruiting, and was even charged with keeping records on all the college’s cattle.

“Northwest had a big cattle operation at that time," Darby said.

“I’d actually get out there on a horse with my tie on and a clipboard.”

When the college purchased the land for the Olive Branch location, President Koon asked Darby to oversee renovations that were underway to get the site student ready. Welding and commercial truck driving were the first programs to find a home there, but it was the aviation program he was tasked with implementing that proved to be a challenge. Seeking approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to teach aviation mechanics was a rigorous process that had him personally on the hunt for each individual component of an airplane, 15 times over – enough for each student in the program. He worked connections and made a trip to an aircraft graveyard in Arizona, finally earning FAA approval for the program after an intensive year of work.

After President Koon’s abrupt passing, Darby decided he was ready for a change. By that time, he had risen to the rank of major in the National Guard. Passionate about his hometown of Sardis, he set his sights on running for mayor. He won the position, and his days were busy, serving the city full-time and the National Guard part-time.

In his three terms as mayor, he tackled big projects, including the overhaul of the city’s sewer system and the opening of the Sardis Lake Marina. Working with a small budget, Darby went after grant money, a skill he learned while employed at Northwest. The marina, in particular, is the project Darby is most proud of from his days leading the city. The monumental project took a total of 14 years to complete, requiring much back-and-forth with the Corps of Engineers to obtain the land for the city of Sardis, securing federal funds to get the marina put in, and raising millions of dollars for the required land studies. Interestingly, during one of those studies, a team of archeologists from 30

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the University of Mississippi discovered whale bones while searching the land for Native American burial sites.

During his years of mayoral service, Darby served as C troop commander for the 1st/108th over both New Albany and Pontotoc while moving through the ranks serving as major, S-3 over training and then squadron executive officer for the 1st/108th. From there, he was assigned to Camp McCain in Grenada to oversee armor maintenance as a lieutenant colonel. When he had accrued 28 years in the military, he was offered a severance package and told he could head home. Uninterested in retirement at that time, he instead served two years in the Army Reserves.

After serving two years in the Army Reserves, Darby desired to return to the Mississippi National Guard, where he was able to be reassigned to the Mississippi adjutant general’s office in Jackson. However, he soon received orders requesting his leadership as deputy commander at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg, and to Camp Shelby he reported for duty. Camp Shelby at that time was a major training facility for troops leaving for Iraq. Finally, in 2004, he retired from the military with a total of 34 years of service.

Now, Darby enjoys living life on 44 acres of family land just east of Batesville in Panola County. A lifelong hunter, he also enjoys fishing, and has fished once a week from May to October for the last 10 years.

Darby is honored by the scholarship established by his children. Having formerly assisted with recruiting for Northwest, he also recognizes the importance of financial assistance for students. As a result, preference for the Richard Howard Darby Endowed Scholarship will be given to students from Panola County and to those who are not able to receive assistance from public sources.

The Goodwin Family Endowed Scholarship

Everyone in the John B. Goodwin family remembers their time at Northwest Community College as “happy days”. For each, an educational pathway toward a successful career was initiated at Northwest.

John B. Goodwin, Sr., a 1951 graduate of Northwest, passed away in 1991. He regarded his years as a student at the college as “happy days”.

Considered a popular member of the student body, he earned accolades and was cheered on by fans as he led the Ranger football team to many victories as quarterback. He also enjoyed playing for the college’s baseball team.

He went on to enroll at the University of Mississippi before being drafted into the Army, where he was selected to be part of the first U.S. Army surfaceto-air missile training unit, based in Detroit. After his discharge, Goodwin was employed in managerial positions

Northwest provided “happy days” to the John B. Goodwin family.

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at several corporations in Memphis and Oklahoma City. When the opportunity arose for him to become a partner in the family farming business, he enthusiastically jumped in.

The pinnacle of Goodwin’s career was his successful cattle farm in Como, where he improved the land and increased the value of his stock. In 1992, he was posthumously awarded the Cattle Producer of the Year Award by the Tate County Cattlemen’s Association. His loved ones remember him as a happy, always loving man who expressed gratitude for his blessings often and openly.

During the ‘70’s, four members of the Goodwin family attended what was then Northwest Mississippi Junior College, including Marie Goodwin Coleman, Nancie Goodwin DeCourcy, Janet Goodwin Clark, and Johnny B. Goodwin, Jr. Marie Goodwin Coleman, wife of John Goodwin, Sr., graduated from Sardis High School in 1953, and decided in favor of marrying her handsome beau rather than heading off to college with friends. However, 15 years later, she became a student along with being a wife and mother.

She felt at home in the classroom setting, and with an ambition to become a teacher, she took pleasure in making good grades. During her time at Northwest, she was inducted into the national Who’s Who in American Junior Colleges listing. She went on to graduate from Ole Miss, and later earned a master’s degree in English.

Coleman became an English teacher at Senatobia High School in 1970, and also served on the boards of the Baddour Center and the Sycamore Arts Council. After retirement, she remained a proud Senatobian, remarried to John R. Coleman and enjoyed an expanding family.

Nancie Goodwin DeCourcy held an interest in the medical field from an early age. Upon enrolling at Northwest, she took several science courses before settling on the goal of earning a degree in medical records administration. The degree she ultimately obtained through the University of Mississippi Medical

Center has allowed DeCourcy to secure various managing, consulting and auditing positions within the field over the years. Now semi-retired, she works part-time for a Texas hospital system.

Reflecting on her Northwest days, DeCourcy recalls “happy days” as a member of the former performance group Dozen Plus Three and the Ranger cheerleading squad. Most of all, she treasures the friendships formed in Taylor Hall and Bobo Hall.

She and husband George reside in Dallas, Texas, and enjoy spending time with their two adult children, Mark and Melissa, who live nearby.

Janet Goodwin Clark felt called to work in dentistry since she was a child, taking note of how friendly and happy the office staff at her dentist’s office seemed to be. The first step in her journey toward a career as a dental hygienist was attending Northwest to gain the necessary foundation for entrance into the University of Mississippi’s dental hygiene program in Jackson.

“Each of my instructors was encouraging, and helped me to reach my goal of being accepted into the program,” Clark said.

At Northwest, she enjoyed performing with the Rangerettes and making lifelong friends. She recently retired after a successful 40-year career in dental hygiene in Senatobia.

She and husband Johnny have two adult children, Julie and Dan. Johnny B. Goodwin, Jr., like many young adults graduating from high school, considered his future, but had no definitive plans. Northwest presented an ideal choice for continuing his education with an academic scholarship available to him. During his time at Northwest, he enjoyed making new friends, attending sporting events and participating in the Engineering Club.

His initial plans were to become an architect, but later shifted to computer science after taking software programming classes at the college.

He went on to attend Ole Miss, where he built on his education and class credits from Northwest to earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science.

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His career in the technology field has included working for two tech startups, FileNet and Venetica. He currently works as a member of IBM’s Mergers and Acquisitions team.

Goodwin and his wife Ann reside in Charlotte, North Carolina, and have three adult children, Paige, Brad and AnnMarie.

The Goodwin family is passionate in expressing that Northwest has been good to and good for their family, providing them with many “happy days” and memories.

The Emmette and Evelyn Hale Memorial Endowed Scholarship

The Emmette and Evelyn Hale Memorial Endowed Scholarship has been lovingly established by the Senatobia couple’s sons, Buster, Steve, David, and Tim. Emmette Franklin Hale, Jr. passed away in 1989. Born to Emmette Hale, Sr. and Nannie May Hale in 1928, he was stricken with osteomyelitis in his early teens, with his parents given little hope that he would reach adulthood.

However, thanks to surgery and modern medicine, he was completely healed and went on to lead a very productive life.

Hale, raised in Senatobia, graduated from Tate County Agricultural High School in 1946. After a stint in the Merchant Marines, he returned home and attended what was then Northwest Junior College, followed by the University of Tennessee and William R. Moore School of Technology, where he studied drafting and design.

After completing his studies, he became associated with his father in the lumber business. He primarily spent his time designing and building custom-built homes. He married his wife in 1950, and the couple went on to welcome their four sons.

A group of Tate County leaders had observed the young businessman, and encouraged him to run for office. This kicked off a career of public service that would span 30 years. First elected to the Tate County Board of Supervisors in 1959, he went on to serve as president Summer 2022 | Northwest Now

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Emmette Hale

Evelyn Hale

of the board until the time of his passing. He was elected president of the Mississippi Association of Supervisors in 1968, presiding over all of the supervisors in the state of Mississippi.

Hale was a member of the Senatobia First Baptist Church, a Mason, charter member of the Senatobia Volunteer Fire Department, and president of the Rural Area Development Association. He was also a Rotarian, past director of Back Acres Country Club and the Senatobia Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the board of the Community Action Program for Tate and DeSoto counties.

He also represented Tate County on what was then the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Commission.

A golf enthusiast, Hale was a golf champion of Back Acres for four years.

A plaque in his memory can be found 32

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on the practice tee at the club, where he helped many young golfers perfect their swing. He also spent many years as a little league baseball coach, and is still remembered fondly by many of those who played on his teams. Because of his dedication to the youth of Tate County, the little league field on Gilmore Street in Senatobia was named Hale/Oakley Field, in honor of Hale and Bill Oakley.

In his later years, Hale raised cattle and enjoyed his six grandchildren.

Evelyn Savage Hale, born in 1930 to Raymond and Eula Scott Savage, passed away in 2019 at the age of 88. Raised in Hernando as the oldest girl in a close-knit family with seven siblings, she graduated from Hernando High School in 1948.

Upon marrying, she moved to Senatobia, which would be her home for 68 years. She was a homemaker, and as a longtime member of Senatobia First Baptist Church, she also taught children’s Sunday School for many years and was an active member of the WMU Flower’s Circle and the Grace Sunday School class. She and her fellow Sunday School class members polished the nails of residents living at the Senatobia Convalescent Center every Wednesday afternoon. In addition, she volunteered as a member of the church’s Homebound Ministry, delivering meals to homebound church members.

After the death of her husband, Hale stepped in and served the remainder of his term as a Tate County supervisor for District 4. She also worked with her sons in the family business, Hale Lumber Company. In her later years, her greatest joys were her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, whom she would often babysit, waiting with a bowl of chocolate ice cream and a hug when they arrived.

The Emmette and Evelyn Hale Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to a student from Tate County.

Recipients must maintain a GPA of 2.5 while enrolled at Northwest.

The Dr. Purnima R. Purohit Endowed Scholarship The Dr. Purnima R. Purohit Endowed Scholarship has been established

at Northwest by her husband, Dr. Ramesh Purohit, as a surprise gift in honor of her 80th birthday.

The Purohits, both retired doctors, served north Mississippi for many years. The scholarship will be awarded to students hailing from counties in which the couple practiced medicine, including DeSoto, Panola, Tate, and Yalobusha counties, who are entering the Associate Degree Nursing program.

Students receiving the scholarship must maintain a 2.5 GPA while enrolled as a full-time student.

Ramesh Purohit said he elected to establish the scholarship as not only a way to give back to the communities in which he and his wife long served and earned their living, but also as a way to help those pursuing nursing specifically.

“All these years, these nurses helped us a lot,” he said. “Doctors can’t practice unless the nurses are there. Hospitals cannot run without them. The nursing profession is more important for physicians than even the doctor’s profession.”

The Purohits have spent more than half of their lives in Mississippi, serving north Mississippi communities since 1976. Purnima Purohit was born in Mumbai, the southwestern Indian city formerly known as Bombay. When she was young, her physician father moved the family to Kenya, where Purohit grew up. As a child, she recalls her father often reading to her from medical journals, and her interest in medicine took root.

When it was time to attend college, there was only one school for pre-medical studies in Kenya. So, her father took his first leave from work in 18 years, and accompanied his daughter and two of her medical-minded high school classmates back to India, where their college options were plentiful. Purohit enrolled at Elphinstone College, a top school in Mumbai, and went on to attend medical school in central India. There, she met her husband when they both took part in one of the school’s drama productions.

When the couple had both completed their studies, they married and moved to London to further their education in their respective fields – he in surgery and she in obstetrics and gynecology.

They took their studies at separate

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Dr. Purnima R. & Dr. Ramesh Purohit

schools seriously, but met on weekends every few weeks to spend time together.

When the time came to graduate, they were unable to see a future in England due to a lack of available medical posts.

Ramesh Purohit took the American surgical exam, and the couple made the move from England to the States.

In their new home in Worcester, Massachusetts, the couple welcomed their two sons, Manish and Amish, three years apart. They were a busy family. Ramesh Purohit was on call 24/7 as a resident at a local hospital, and also took part in a twoyear vascular fellowship. Purnima Purohit performed research in reproductive endocrinology for infertility and other gynecological issues, and also took part in a two-year fellowship program.

“I really enjoyed that fellowship because to help somebody who’s not getting pregnant is a big achievement,” she said.

In 1976, following the completion of Ramesh Purohit’s residency, the couple followed friends to Mississippi, settling in Grenada. They remained there for a year and a half before packing up and moving to Batesville, where they opened their medical practice, Purohit and Purohit.

From that time until their retirement, they served the areas of Panola, Tate, Yalobusha, Grenada, and DeSoto counties.

“There was a time when the police would not stop my car when I was

going 90 miles per hour because they knew I was covering north Mississippi, and had an emergency” Purnima Purohit said.

With packed schedules and the kids enrolled at Memphis University School (MUS), the family heavily relied on their housekeeper, Elizabeth Blackburn, to transport the children and keep the household running smoothly. Though the boys are now all grown up, Blackburn remains with the Purohits 42 years after first being hired. The couple is emphatic that they could not have accomplished all they have accomplished without her, noting that she also cared for their nieces and nephews over the years and cared for Purnima Purohit’s mother in the years prior to her death.

Married for 56 years, the loving couple is devoted to their immediate and extended family, spending time together as often as possible. Their sons followed in their parents’ medicalminded footsteps. Manish Purohit is now a pediatric anaesthesiology who is triple boarded, with training in pediatrics, general anesthesiology and pediatric anaesthesiology. Amish Purohit is a UCLA-trained retina surgeon.

The Purohits have four grandchildren.

They enjoy traveling, and have visited most of the seven continents.

They also maintain an active social life. Purnima Purohit has enjoyed embroidery and making handicrafts since the age of eight, and also enjoys knitting, decorating, reading, gardening and music whenever time permits.

The couple resides in Hernando.

ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS An annual Scholarship can be established with a minimum gift of $1,000 per year for at least five years.

Be the Light Annual Scholarship

The Be the Light Foundation has established an annual scholarship

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at Northwest to provide assistance to African American students pursuing a career in allied health fields.

According to Founder Ashland Johnson, the Foundation’s name comes from Bible verse Matthew 5:14-16, which reads, in part: “You are the light of the world… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Johnson, a Senatobia native and Senatobia High School alumna, graduated from Northwest with an associate degree in general studies in 2015, followed by a bachelor’s degree from Ole Miss and a master’s degree from Jackson State. She started the Be the Light Foundation last year, and said the organization operates on four main pillars: scholarships, mentorship, education, and service.

According to Johnson, the first two pillars in particular come into play through the organization’s new scholarship with the college. The scholarship will be awarded to African American students who graduated from Senatobia High School and are pursuing an allied health profession through their studies at Northwest. Johnson, a speech-language pathologist, notes that she is a minority in her field, and hopes to empower more African American students to enter allied health fields.

In terms of mentoring, Johnson said her organization is dedicated to highlighting various allied health professions and partnering students with those working in those fields. As someone who benefitted greatly from her time at the college, Johnson is excited to give back to her alma mater.

“Looking back, Northwest really gave me that foundation, as far as the Summer 2022 | Northwest Now

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Carey & Tim Charlton

education I needed to continue and helping me decide what I wanted to do,” she said. “I want to encourage other students who are graduating high school to consider Northwest as a part of their educational journey.”

The Tim Charlton Industrial Maintenance Technology Annual Scholarship

The Tim Charlton Industrial Maintenance Technology Annual Scholarship has been lovingly established by Charlton’s wife, Carey Charlton, following his passing in January of 2022 at the age of 43.

Tim Charlton was born and raised in West Memphis, Arkansas. He was a graduate of Marion High School, where his future wife also attended.

After joining the Army in 2001, he spent time in Germany and Korea, and was part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was honorably discharged in 2007.

Though they went to school together and grew up down the street from one another, Charlton and his wife did not begin dating until they were in their 30s. The couple married in 2012, and celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary in September 2021. They made their home in the Memphis area, with Carey Charlton working as a respiratory therapist and Tim Charlton enjoying his work in industrial maintenance 34

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technology with Southwark Metal.

In 2019, the couple moved to Omaha, Nebraska, as Tim Charlton took on a promotion to maintenance manager with Southwark Metal’s Fremont, Nebraska, location. Passionate about the industrial maintenance technology field, he took pride in what he did and tried his best to help those around him.

“Tim never considered himself a teacher, but he did take a lot of pride in coaching his coworkers and crew members on how things needed to run,” his wife said. “He took people under his wing when they needed it.”

Charlton took an evening course at Northwest, but largely gained his career knowledge while serving in the Army. After his passing, Carey Charlton made the decision to create an annual scholarship in her husband’s memory, which will be awarded to a Northwest student in the Industrial Electronics Engineering Technology program.

“I want to help drive more people into this field; people who may be mechanically inclined and just need to finetune their abilities,” she said.

“I also want to memorialize him in a way that helps impact this industry that he really enjoyed being in.”

benefit students with ties to Veterans Affairs, health care and criminal justice.

First priority for the scholarship will be given to a Northwest Oxford Campus student who is employed by the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board, the spouse of an individual working for MVAB or the child of a parent employed by MVAB. If no such candidate is available, preference will be given to a student pursuing a career in health care or criminal justice.

The scholarship is in memory of David McElreath’s parents. Both his father and grandfather were military veterans, and McElreath retired from the Marine Corps in 2004. Since that time, he has worked as a criminal justice professor at his alma mater, the University of Mississippi, and maintained a very active role serving on the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board. His wife, Leisa McElreath, studied criminal justice at Ole Miss, and is currently a member of the state CrimeStoppers board.

The McElreaths, Oxford residents, are not Northwest alumni, but simply chose to give back where they thought it could make a difference.

“I’ve been fortunate,” he said. “If folks that are fortunate give back, then we’ll have another generation coming along behind us that should also feel fortunate, and maybe they’ll pay it forward,” he said.

Recipients of the Bon Hughes and Lillian McElreath Annual Scholarship must maintain a 2.0 GPA while enrolled at Northwest.

The Bon Hughes and Lillian McElreath Annual Scholarship

The Bon Hughes and Lillian McElreath Annual Scholarship has been established

by Dr. David and Leisa McElreath to

The McElreath Family

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MARC DUKES INDUCTED INTO MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE SPORTS HALL OF FAME Story By Brian Lentz Former Northwest men's basketball coach Marc Dukes was chosen to represent Northwest as this year's inductee into the Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame.

Dukes becomes the 19th selection from Northwest into the hall of fame since its inception in 2008. He is also the 11th Northwest coach to be inducted.

Prior to cementing his legacy in Senatobia, Dukes had coached for 13 seasons in the high school ranks, spending 11 of those years in Mississippi. Four of his teams were ranked in the top 10 in the state, with his 1985 team winning 36 games and finishing as the Class AAAA runner-up for one of his two state tournament appearances. He twice received Coach of the Year honors and was named the WDAM-TV Coach of the Year in 1985.

Although his tenure lasted just five seasons, Dukes put the Northwest men's basketball program on the map, guiding the Rangers to a pair of national

tournament appearances, two Region 23 titles, two MACJC championships and three division crowns. He received three MACJC Coach of the Year awards and totaled a 129-31 career record.

In 1995-96, he guided Northwest to a 30-win season and the program's first NJCAA National Tournament bid since 1980. Two years later, the Rangers finished 29-7 overall and made the program's only trip to the NJCAA Final Four.

Dukes left Northwest in 1998 to take an assistant position on Rod Barnes' coaching staff at Ole Miss, helping coach the Rebels to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including the program's only trip to the Sweet 16.He later returned to the coaching ranks at the high school level, taking the boys' basketball head coaching job at Magnolia Heights School in 2013. In his first two seasons, he guided the Chiefs to the MAIS Class AAA Division II state championship and posted a combined 60-15 overall record.

Following his retirement from Magnolia Heights after the 2016-17 season, Dukes has served as a basketball color analyst alongside David Kellum on the Ole Miss Radio Network. He was previously inducted into the Northwest Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.

RANGER FOOTBALL TEAM EARNS RINGS For the second consecutive season, members of the Northwest football team were awarded championship rings after the Rangers captured its second straight MACCC title. Northwest defeated Hinds, 56-21, in front of a packed crowd at Bobby Franklin Field in November, advancing to the inaugural NJCAA Division I Football Playoffs.

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SOFTBALL CLAIMS REGION 23 TITLE AND MAKES

First National Tournament Appearance Story By Brian Lentz Shattered records, new milestones and a Region 23 championship told the story of a historic season for the Northwest softball program.

Under the direction of third-year head coach Chelsea Bramlett and assistant coach Dustin Young, the Rangers finished 2022 with a 39-15 overall mark, the most victories ever recorded in a single season.

Northwest also captured its first-ever Region 23 title in May and advanced to the NJCAA Division II Softball Championship for the first time, finishing as one of the final four teams remaining in a 16-team national tournament field.

Northwest started the season unranked in the national NJCAA Division II rankings, but soon rose to No. 9 in the nation after a 7-1 start. The Rangers remained in the national polls throughout the season, fluctuating between No. 9 and No. 14, while collecting a 19-9 overall mark in conference play.

Perhaps one of the most memorable Northwest wins came on April 2 against fourth-ranked Jones College. Returning to Ranger Field on campus for the first time since the shortened 2020 season, Northwest battled through a 6-2 deficit to deliver an 11-8 win against the Bobcats, marking the Rangers’ first victory against Jones College since 2003 and snapping a 17-game losing skid to the Bobcats.

Northwest entered the postseason as the No. 5 seed in the MACCC Tournament and were shutout by Pearl River in the first game, quickly putting the Rangers against elimination and the end of their season. However, Northwest bounced back in a big way, defeating Mississippi Gulf Coast by a 10-0 final and scoring a 10-inning upset against Itawamba, 8-5, earning a bid into the next stage of the postseason, the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament.

Northwest opened up the region tournament with a 2-0 victory against eighth-ranked LSU Eunice, before 36

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scoring a 9-5 win against Northeast.

The Rangers then faced the Tigers again in the semifinals of the region tourney, earning a 6-3 win to lock up a bid into the NJCAA Division II Softball Championship tournament.

However, the Rangers were not satisfied with just a runner-up finish.

Needing to win one more game to claim the Region 23 title, Northwest had to face LSU Eunice once more. Trailing 2-0 after three innings, the Rangers put five on the board in the fourth and left the Bengals scoreless the rest of the way, earning the 9-2 win and securing the first region championship in program history.

As the only Mississippi team to make the NJCAA Division II Championship tournament field, the Rangers represented Northwest and the Magnolia State well. The Rangers opened things up with a 9-1 run-rule victory against

12th-seeded Jackson College (Mich.), before dropping a close 6-5 decision to Murray State College (Okla.). Facing elimination, the Rangers battled through the loser’s bracket to shut out Oakland (Mich.) and Kansas City, before dispatching LSU Eunice once again, 12-2.

However, the weight of playing five games in a two-day span unfortunately caught up to the Rangers in the semifinals. In a late-night battle on Saturday evening, Northwest fell 9-5 to seventh-seed Kirkwood (Iowa), bringing an emotional end to a fun, memorable season.

Northwest ended its season with an abundance of broken records and postseason accolades. Five players earned All-MACCC honors, led by first-teamers Laila Armstrong, Saige Koczka and McKaylee Polk, while Koczka and Polk

The Northwest softball team celebrates with the Region 23 championship trophy after a 9-2 victory against LSU Eunice on May 15. The win marked the program's first-ever region title and a trip to the NJCAA national tournament for the first time.

athletics also garnered All-Region 23 honors, along with freshman pitcher Gabby Dickerson.

Koczka also made the NJCAA Division II All-Tournament team, along with Caylee Comer and Molly Harris, while earning NFCA All-South Region honors with Armstrong and Polk.

Koczka, a native of Southaven, leaves Northwest as one of the program’s most decorated players, owning the Rangers’ career records in at-bats (350), runs scored (123), hits (161), doubles (37), triples (6), home runs (26), walks (43) and runs batted in (122).

Additionally, Dickerson shattered the single-season strikeout record with 239 and has already tallied the second-most strikeouts in a career. The Olive Branch native also collected a 26-9 record in the circle, good for the most victories by any

Northwest pitcher in a single season, while also earning eight shutouts and 18 complete games.

Other notable awards for Northwest included the NFCA-New Balance Golden Shoe Award to Laila Armstrong, after recording 47 stolen bases to lead the conference and finish fifth in the nation. Armstrong, an Olive Branch native, also shattered both the single-season and career records in stolen bases, finishing with 62 total.

Bramlett was also awarded the NJCAA Gulf A District Coach of the Year prior to the national tournament, marking her first coaching award since taking over the Northwest softball program prior to the 2020 season. Bramlett has recorded a 67-39 overall record during her three-year tenure, good for a .632 winning percentage.

Basketball teams reach postseason Story By Brian Lentz Northwest experienced more success on the court during the 2021-22 season.

Not only did both teams finish with winning records, the Rangers and Lady Rangers also made the playoffs, and both teams competed in the MACCC and NJCAA Region 23 tournaments.

Northwest finished 15-11 in women’s basketball, completing an 8-6 record against conference opponents. The Lady Rangers started the year at 3-0 and entered conference play with a 6-3 overall record, before recovering from a 3-4 start in the MACCC to win five straight.

One of those five victories came against East Central on Jan. 24. The Lady Rangers defeated the Lady Warriors 83-69 on Sophomore Night, highlighted by a historical performance from Kolten Blakeney. The Taylorsville native totaled 25 points and 24 rebounds, becoming the first Northwest women’s player to finish a game with 20 points and 20 rebounds since Tamaria Thomas on Nov. 13, 2017 (21 points, 23 rebounds vs. ASU Mid-South). Blakeney also tied the single-game record for rebounds, joining Chatica Hathaway's 24-rebound effort against Jackson State on Nov. 2, 1995 atop the record books.

Northwest was pitted against No. 22

Pearl River in the opening round of the MACCC Tournament, going up against the Lady Wildcats in front of a raucous crowd in Poplarville. Showing no fear, the Lady Rangers battled to a 70-68 overtime victory to upset the tournament’s top seed and solidify a slot in the Region 23 Playoffs. Despite the initial success, the Lady Rangers fell to Jones College and then dropped a close contest to Itawamba in the opening round of the region playoffs, concluding the season.

Sophomores Blakeney and Tierra Trotter earned All-MACCC accolades, with Trotter earning All-Region 23 honors as well. Both players signed to continue their respective careers at the four-year level, with Trotter inking with Division I program UTRGV (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) and Blakeney signing with William Carey University in Hattiesburg.

On the men’s side, the Rangers pushed to an 18-8 overall record and a 9-5 mark in conference play. Northwest opened the season on a 4-0 start that included a 109-62 victory against Faith Prep, finishing non-conference play with a 6-1 record. After falling to East Mississippi to open the MACCC portion of the schedule, the Rangers won

four straight, including a win against 10th-ranked Jones College. Northwest capped off the regular season with a four-game winning streak, including a gritty 99-92 victory in double overtime at Copiah-Lincoln.

Northwest dropped the opening game of the MACCC Tournament against East Mississippi, but took the opening game of the Region 23 Playoffs against Southwest Mississippi, 82-67.

The Rangers were then pitted against 16th-ranked Pearl River on the road, dropping a 63-44 loss to the eventual Region 23 champion.

Despite the loss, the Rangers’ 18-8 overall record marked the program’s best finish under coach Shane Oakley and the most wins in a single season since achieving a 22-4 record during the 201718 season.

Forward Isaiah Gaines earned All-MACCC honors and signed with Florida Atlantic University during the season, continuing a pipeline of Rangers at the Division I level, a list that includes Southland Conference Player of the Year Jitaurious Gordon (Nicholls State) and R.J. Duhart (Appalachian State/ Charleston Southern).

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Northwest Cheer repeats as UCA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS Story By Brian Lentz | Photos by Alyssa Peyton Less than a year removed from winning two national titles at the spring's UCA National Championship, the Northwest cheer squad is making more room in the trophy case after earning the Open Small Co-Ed national championship in Janury.

Northwest placed first in the semifinals with a raw score of 94.3, joining six other squads in advancing to the final round. Despite a raw score of 94.9 in the finals and three deductions, the Rangers once again placed atop the standings with a final event score of 91.9, beating out Drury University, Wilmington University, Coastal Alabama Community College, University of Southern Indiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

For third-year cheer coach Brandon Casey, this marks his third national title in as many years. Additionally, Northwest also competed in the Open Co-Ed Game Day competition, placing second in the semifinals and competing against a mix of Division I and small college programs. The Rangers advanced to the finals of that division and came away with a fourth-place finish and 94.43 points.

“It’s such a hard task to win at UCA College Nationals, but to repeat as back-to-back national champions is even more difficultˮ, Casey said afterwards.

“It was a challenge for us to only have nine returners from last year and to go up against universities that have fouryear students. We didn't let that be an excuse and we came out, performed a very difficult routine that put us on top of 12 other teams. We could not have done it without the support of our administration and we are beyond proud of our team's hard work.ˮ

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northwestms.edu

athletics

Baseball battles through challenges to reach postseason Story By Brian Lentz Although this season provided plenty of hurdles for coach Mark Carson and the Northwest baseball team, the Rangers recovered down the stretch and earned success in the postseason.

Northwest finished the year with a 26-24 overall record and found its footing in the month of April to go from 12th in the conference to ninth place and the final seed needed to qualify for the NJCAA Region 23 Playoffs.

Northwest entered the conference portion of its schedule with a 9-6 record and opened up MACCC competition with a 6-4 road win at No. 2 Pearl River, a team that went on to win the NJCAA Division II National Championship. The Rangers would later earn splits against Mississippi Gulf Coast, No. 7 Meridian, Northeast, and Jones College, before finally earning their first conference sweep on April 7 in a pair of run-rule wins against Coahoma.

From there, Northwest notched sweeps against Holmes, Mississippi Delta and Copiah-Lincoln to move the Rangers up through the conference standings. The Rangers dropped the first game of their regular season finale against Southwest Mississippi, but delivered a 14-4 victory in a critical second game, sneaking into the region playoffs.

Paired with second-place Meridian, a team that was also ranked No. 6 in the nation, Northwest fell 10-3 in Game 1, before rallying back for a 13-10 victory in Game 2. With a winner-take-all third game on the line, the Rangers rallied back from a 10-3 deficit in the fifth inning to tie the score at 10-10 and force extra innings.

With two outs and the bases loaded in the 10th inning, sophomore Wesley Lester delivered the play of the year for Northwest, blasting a grand slam over the wall in center field to give the Rangers the lead. Meridian would score one in the

bottom of the inning, but Southeastern Louisiana signee Connor Spencer shut down the Eagles to help Northwest secure the stunning upset and a slot in the Region 23 Tournament.

Although the Rangers’ Region 23 Tournament run was short-lived, coach Mark Carson’s squad ended the season on a positive note and completed the program’s 15th straight winning season.

The 2022 season also marked the 13th straight postseason appearance for the Rangers and the 27th straight season with 20 or more wins, a streak dating back to 1995. Carson also wrapped up his 17th season commanding the program, moving his all-time record to 479-315-2 (.603) and his conference record to 253-134 (.654).

Several Rangers also leave with their names etched in the program record books. One of those is sophomore catcher and MACCC Player of the Year Ryan Lee, who ranks fourth for most home runs in a single season with 16 total. He also finishes third in slugging percentage (.902), tied for fourth in runs scored (58), sixth in walks (35) and tied for ninth in

both runs batted in (52) and total bases (119).

Sophomore and UT Martin signee Caleb Hobson leaves with the third most stolen bases in program history, finishing with 33-for-35 on his attempts. He is tied for fifth in triples (4) and also ranks ninth for most runs scored in a single season (55), while also leaving Northwest tied for first in highest career fielding percentage (1.000).

Lester leaves Northwest after three years with his name scattered across the offensive record books. The Inverness native finishes tied for eighth in career home runs, joining Craig Dean (200708) and Kelton Hall (2019-21) with 20.

Lester's .737 slugging percentage is also good for sixth all-time.

Despite only playing one season at Northwest, Spencer tallied six saves, tied for sixth most in the career record books with Drew Griffin (2010-11). South Alabama commit Zach Willingham also ranks third in career shutouts (3), trailing only four from Joel Posey (2000-01) and five from Cody Reed (2012-13).

Photo by Gather Lacefield

Summer 2022 | Northwest Now

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memorials/honorariums

The Legacy of Memorial and Honorarium Gifts A great many of the gifts that are received by the Northwest Foundation are given to pay tribute to those who have profoundly impacted the lives of others—parents, siblings, teachers, sons and daughters. Some gifts are designated for permanently endowed scholarship funds, which means the gift “keeps on giving” forever.

The memorial and honorarium gifts listed were given between November 1, 2021 and April 30, 2022 in appreciation both to those who gave the gifts and to those who have lived extraordinary and inspirational lives.

If you wish to make a memorial or honorarium gift, please contact the Foundation Office at 662-560-1105.

MEMORIALS BILL AND MARTHOLA SMITH ALLEN

by Dr. and Mrs. David Haraway Mrs. Lucia Nelson

CARMEN BOSTICK

by Ms. Debbie Perkins

A.W. AND LANELLE BOUCHILLON

DANNY RAY COLE

by Mr. and Mrs. Dewayne Herrington Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hobbs Mr. Russell T. Johnson Pride Hyundai Dr. and Mrs. Gary Lee Spears Ms. Linda Webb

by Mr. and Mrs. Marty Allison Mrs. Beverly Gaddy Mrs. Patsy Hensley Mrs. Joyce Randall

by Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Applegate Mr. Richard C. Bouchillon Ms. Susan D. Jackson Ms. Susan Millette Mr. Charlie A. Randall Mr. and Mrs. Don Waller Mr. and Mrs. Bart Wise

DERRILL ARGO

FRED A. BRADLEY

by Ms. Debbie Perkins

by Ms. Shirley Bennett Crockett Church of Christ

MONTE ARGO

WENDY BRISCOE

J.C. COX

EARL BABB

JOE AND MARY LOUISE WYNNE BROADWAY

VIRGINIA COX

SAM AND RUTH ANN ALLISON

by Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Jones

by Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Jones

by Mr. Guy D. Shaw

JERRY BAKER

by Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Montgomery

CHARLIE BALDWIN

by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Judd

DIANE BIFFLE

by Ms. Toni Barden

DEBBIE MUSGROVE BILLINGSLEY

by Mr. and Mrs. Scott H. Billingsley

CAMERON BLOUNT

by Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Blount Dr. Matthew Domas Mr. Russell T. Johnson Dr. Don Jones Mrs. Marla Y. Kennedy Mr. and Mrs. Greg Mote Mr. and Mrs. Bill Selby Mrs. Linda Webb

ESTELLE BOBO

by Mr. and Mrs. Leon McCullouch

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northwestms.edu

by Mr. Dan Smith

by Mrs. Patsy Hensley Ms. Jean Nunnally

TOMMY AND PAULA TATUM BROWN

by Brown Insurance Agency

ROBBIE H. BUTTS

by Mr. and Mrs. Don K. Scipper

HOWARD AND EDNA CARPENTER

by Mr. and Mrs. Herman Coats

TOMMY CARPENTER

by Mr. and Mrs. Herman Coats

ROBERT L. CARTER

by Mr. and Mrs. William G. Yates

BELA J. AND RUBY BLACK CHAIN

by Dr. and Mrs. Buddy Chain Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Grant Hunter

ROYCE COBB

by Mr. Perrin Caldwell Jr.

CHARLES COSBY

by Mrs. Sandra Vaughn

JOE COSBY

by Mr. Jeffrey M. Scobey

by Mr. and Mrs. John Ungurait

BROWNIE CRAWFORD

by Mr. Darrell Crawford Reedy Acres Foundation

ALAN CROCKETT

by Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Gill Mr. and Mrs. Todd Latham Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Nickens Mr. Robin Robison

GERALD E. DAVIS

by Ms. Pamela Hall

JANE DAVIS

by Mr. Jerry Davis

PAMELA JOYCE DAY

by Mr. and Mrs. Bill Kitchens

LARRY E. DHORITY

by Ms. Patsy Gulbin

memorials/honorariums INEZ AND RAIFORD FANCHER

by Mr. and Mrs. Briggs Smith Mr. and Mrs. William G. Yates

WILLIAM D. FLY

by Mr. William S. Fly Mr. and Mrs. David Wages

EMMA "ERLINE" FORD

by Mr. N.C. Ferguson Jr.

C.W. AND VIRGINIA FULLER FRANKS

by Mrs. Patsy Hensley

CHARLES PERRY FRANKS

by Mrs. Patsy Hensley

PHILLIP GARDNER

by Mr. and Mrs. William Correro

PATRICIA GARRETT

by Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Johnson Ms. Debbie Perkins

AARON GERMAN

by Mr. and Mrs. George D. Lofton Mrs. Betty Salmon

JAMES P. GRAEBER

by Graeber Foundation

LEWIS GRAEBER

by Graeber Foundation

BILLIE B. GRAY

by Mrs. Mary Gray

JESSICA GRESHAM

by Ms. Linda S. Laine

EMMETTE AND EVELYN HALE

by Mr. and Mrs. Steve Hale

SHERMAN HARDIN

by Ms. Debbie Perkins

WILLIAM HICKEY

by Mrs. Pat Hickey Mrs. Sylvia Hickey Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Thompson

TOMMY HOGAN

by Mr. and Mrs. Ken Harris

RICHARD B. HONEYCUTT

by Mr. and Mrs. William Correro Mr. Eugene Honeycutt Mrs. Stacy Honeycutt Mr. Lawayne House Ms. Stacy Reeves Mr. Dan Smith Mr. and Mrs. Jason Stull Mr. and Mrs. Henry L. Till Ms. Judy E. Wilbanks Dr. Carolyn Wiley

MAC AND FLAVIA HUDDLESTON

by Mr. Steve Cummings

JOHN C. HUDSON

by Mr. Perrin Caldwell Jr.

KELLY W. HUDSON

by Mrs. Kim Holt

ROBERT HYDE

KITTY JENKINS

by Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Schwerdt

BERT JOHNSON

by Mr. and Mrs. Donald Amorosi Ms. Trudy Hall

CHARLES R. JOHNSON

by Mr. and Mrs. Donald Amorosi

CHARLOTTE JOHNSTON

by Mr. Marcus Perkins Mr. and Mrs. Greg Steinman

JASON JONES

by Mrs. Alyssa Algee Mrs. Lacey Gentry Ms. LeeLee Haraway

LORETTA JONES

by Mrs. Peggy Lovorn

by Mr. Sherman E. Austin Ms. Effie J. Boothe Ms. Willie Ola Brown Ms. Bettye J. Caldwell Ms. Thelma Cooper Mr. Terry Foster Mr. and Mrs. James Garner Dr. and Mrs. Joe L. Greene Mr. John Greene Mr. L.D. Hardy Reverend and Mrs. John Haynes Mr. and Mrs. Larry Henderson Ms. Daisy Herring Mr. and Mrs. Hosie Holmes Mrs. Cathryn Hyde Ms. Deborah James Mrs. Helen M. James Mrs. Helen Johnson Mrs. Lera H. Kinnard Mr. Gene Leland Reverend and Mrs. Rufus L. Lloyd Ms. Mary A. Love Mr. and Mrs. Allen McKinney Ms. Annie Jones Ray Ms. Lourine J. Robinson Mrs. Mildred Washington

WILLIAM A. JONES

DENT AND LINDA JACKSON

by Mr. and Mrs. Nat Troutt Jr.

by Ms. Janice Dunn

JAMES JACKSON

by Mr. Dennis Cobb

by Dr. Don Jones

FINIS N. AND VERA D. KELLY

by Ms. Dale K. Thompson

GEORGE MAURICE "RICEY" KERR

by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Tallo

JENNY KEY

by Mrs. Frances Jean Neely

HOLLY KOONCE

by Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Branan

PAUL LAWRENCE

by Mr. and Mrs. Paul R. Duncan Mrs. Barbara Lawrence

SADIE LAWRENCE

by Mr. Perrin Caldwell Jr.

ELIZABETH WYNNE LEWIS

by Mr. and Mrs. Chris McCall Ms. Jean Nunnally

JO ELLEN LOGAN

BARBRA W. MANNING

by Ms. Catherine Cashion Ms. Paula W. McGown

Summer 2022 | Northwest Now

41

memorials/honorariums DONALD MAPLES

BILL NELMS

RANDOLPH MARTIN

JEFFREY NICHOLS

by Dr. and Mrs. Robert L. Smith Jr.

by Mrs. Beth Johnston Dr. and Mrs. Ray Thweatt Ms. Katherine Pinter

PAUL MCCULLAR

MAXINE DUNN NICHOLS

KIM DAVIS ROBISON

PENNIE MCKINNEY

ROBERT NORRIS

WALTER AND WANDA F. RUBY

by Mr. and Mrs. Niles Norris

by Mr. Steve Cummings

by Mrs. Patsy Hensley

by Ms. Mary P. Chandler Mr. Jeffrey M. Scobey

by Mr. Zabe A. Davis IV

by Mr. Harold Nichols

by Mrs. Denise Vannucci

by Ms. Emmy Jarjoura

by Mr. and Mrs. Gary Brown Ms. Pamela Hall Ms. Sherri Ligon Mr. Walter Ruby

C.W. PARKER

ROBERT SANDERS

by Mr. N.C. Ferguson Jr.

by Dr. and Mrs. Steve Akre Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Livingston

DOT MITCHELL

W.P. PERKINS

FREDDIE AND BERTHA SANFORD

J.P. & VIRGINIA PHILLIPS

JAMES SAND

VICKI PHILLIPS

MAGGIE THOMPSON SCHRAMM

MILDRED MEACHAM

by Ms. Doris B. Still

NELLIE MILLER

by Ms. Sue Draper Lowe Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Gant Jr. Ms. Katy L. Garber

CHIEF BILL MOORE

by Mr. and Mrs. David Gibson Mrs. Becky Moore

MARY ALICE MOORMAN

by Mr. John David Randall

LEONARD MORRIS

by Mr. Sherman E. Austin Mrs. Catherine Ferguson Ms. Daisy Herring Mr. and Mrs. Leonard W. Morris Mrs. Lillian Morris‑Hilson

READ MORTON

by Mr. and Mrs. George D. Lofton

J.K. AND NORMA MOTE

by Mrs. Travis Billingsley Mr. and Mrs. Phil Mote

BAXTER H. MURPHREE

by Ms. Margaret Mark

MELODY MUSGROVE

by Mr. and Mrs. Scott H. Billingsley

FOMAN AND NITA MUSSELWHITE

by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas G. Lilly

by Mr. and Mrs. Niles Norris

ROBERT THOMAS AND NORMA SHUFORD RISER

JOHN S. ORRELL

by Mrs. Frances C. Perkins

by Mr. Milton Cushman

by Mr. and Mrs. Olen Earl Ms. Melissa Evans Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Parker

RAID PITTMAN

by Dr. Jeptha Clemens

SHERRYE POPE

by Mr. David S. Hall

SCOTT POTTS

northwestms.edu

by Dr. Everlyn S. Johnson

by Mr. and Mrs. William Correro

by Mrs. Sylvia Hickey

DERRICK SCOTT

by Mr. and Mrs. Bill Scott

BOBBY SHAHEEN

by Mr. Harold Terrell Mrs. Sandra Vaughn

TIM SHORTER

by Mr. and Mrs. Ken Harris Mrs. Marla Y. Kennedy

by Mrs. Lisa Barber Ms. Kathy Buchanan Mr. Matthew Johnson

STEPHEN AND GUY PURDY

ROSEMARY SIMMONS

MILDRED AND ROBERT REDDING

J.E. SPURLOCK

LAURA REED

JAMES L. (TREY) SYLVESTER

by Mr. and Mrs. Robbie Merrick Ms. Beverly Mulloy

by Mr. and Mrs. James Redding

by Mr. Clifton Reed

JOAN REID

by Mr. and Mrs. Forrest O. Lax

C.R. RIALS

by Mrs. Carolyn Rials

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by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Brown Mr. and Mrs. Paul Williams

by Mrs. Patsy Hensley Mr. and Mrs. Forrest O. Lax

by Mr. and Mrs. Joe Lucchesi

by Dr. Darrell Barnes Mr. Taylor D. and Dr. Bonnie Buntin

LAUREN ELIZABETH TALLO

by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Tallo

memorials/honorariums AMY DEMPSEY TIDWELL

by Mrs. Susan M. Dempsey Mr. Bill McCulley Mr. and Mrs. Keith Williams

WESLEY WILLIAMSON

SYBIL CANON

by Mr. Jeff Triplett Mrs. Rebecca Triplett

by Mr. and Mrs. Steve Delugach Easley Contractors Ms. Patricia Meek Mrs. Sadie Shannon Ms. Babette V. Lusk Mr. and Mrs. Garnett West Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Williamson

NAT TROUTT

WILLIAM WOOD

DON CLANTON

TOMMY WOODS

LARRY AND JO COLEMAN

GLENN TRIPLETT

by Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Montgomery Mr. and Mrs. McGehee Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Nat Troutt Jr.

GENE VANCLEVE

by Mr. Perrin Caldwell Jr.

FRED VANNUCCI

by Mr. Dan Smith

LOIS F. VEAZEY

by Mr. N.C. Ferguson Jr.

by Ms. Rebecca Beard Mrs. Barbara Treadway

ADELE WOOTEN

by Ms. Debbie Perkins

BEN AND ALMA WYNNE

by Mrs. Tamra S. Harris

by Mr. and Mrs. Chris McCall Ms. Jean Nunnally

W. L. AND LULA BROOKS WALLACE

CALVIN GROVER YOUNGBLOOD

by Ms. Ashlyn Sowell Mrs. Ida F. Wallace

ELEANOR WARREN

by Ms. Debbie Perkins

JUDY WEEKS

by Mrs. Peggy Youngblood

HONORARIUMS CHARLOTTE ALEXANDER

by Dr. Carolyn Wiley

by Mr. Taylor D. and Dr. Bonnie Buntin Graeber Foundation Dr. Gloria Kellum

SENATOR LYDIA AND MR. EMMETT CHASSANIOL

by Mr. Steve Cummings

by Mr. Dan Smith

by Mr. and Mrs. James Brett Curtis

DEWEY CONLEY

by Ms. Pamela Hall

JAMES CRAWFORD

by Mr. and Mrs. Gary Brown Ms. Pamela Hall

MIKE DOTTOREY

by Mr. Charles B. Adams Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lyles

LOGAN ELDRIDGE

by Ms. Katherine Laughlin

KEITH GODBOLD

by Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Todd Latham

WANDA BROWN

by Mr. and Ms. Albert Sewell

by Mr. Taylor D. and Dr. Bonnie Buntin Mrs. Elizabeth Burns Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Montgomery

JOEL WHITE

DR. BONNIE BUNTIN

SANDY GRISHAM

by Ms. Debbie Perkins

JAMES AND JEWEL WILBORN

by Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Gill

C. CHAD AND REBA WILLIAMS

by Mr. and Mrs. Larry Coleman Mr. and Mrs. James Brett Curtis Mr. and Mrs. Steve Sturgeon

SANDRA WILLIAMS

by Ms. Debbie Perkins

WESLEY AND ALICE WILLIAMS

by Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wood

MARTHA WILLIAMSON

by Mr. Steve Cummings

by Mrs. Elizabeth Burns Dr. Gloria Kellum Mr. and Mrs. Jim Patridge

ELIZABETH BURNS

by Mr. Michael Skrien

DABNEY J. HAMNER

by Mr. and Ms. Albert Sewell

by Mr. Taylor D. and Dr. Bonnie Buntin Mr. Tracey L. Burns

LINDA H. HARRIS

DR. JACK BUTTS

ROBERT E. HARRISON

by Dr. Michael Butts Mr. and Mrs. Don K. Scipper

DR. MICHAEL BUTTS

by Ms. Patsy Gardner Mr. and Mrs. Don K. Scipper Dr. Jean M. Shaw

by Mr. and Mrs. Cam Walker

by Ms. Pamela Hall

KATHY B. HEINDL

by Mr. Steve Cummings

MIKE HERRINGTON

by Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Cook

SYLVIA HICKEY

by Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Thompson

Summer 2022 | Northwest Now

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memorials/honorariums BRENDA G. HOLMES

DR. GLORIA KELLUM

AUDREY ROSS

CATHRYN HYDE

RICHIE E. LAWSON

MIKE ROWAN

by Ms. Patsy Gardner

by Mr. Sherman E. Austin Ms. Effie J. Boothe Ms. Willie Ola Brown Ms. Bettye J. Caldwell Ms. Thelma Cooper Mr. Terry Foster Mr. and Mrs. James Garner Dr. and Mrs. Joe L. Greene Mr. L.D. Hardy Reverend and Mrs. John Haynes Mr. and Mrs. Larry Henderson Ms. Daisy Herring Mr. and Mrs. Hosie Holmes Ms. Deborah James Mrs. Helen M. James Mrs. Helen Johnson Mrs. Lera H. Kinnard Mr. Gene Leland Reverend and Mrs. Rufus L. Lloyd Ms. Mary A. Love Mr. and Mrs. Allen McKinney Ms. Annie Jones Ray Mrs. Mildred Washington

JOE JOHNSON

by Ms. Trudy Hall Tri‑County Council Vietnam Era Veterans

by Mr. Taylor D. and Dr. Bonnie Buntin

by Mr. Taylor D. and Dr. Bonnie Buntin Mrs. Elizabeth Burns Mr. and Mrs. Roger L. Spillyards Dr. and Mrs. William H. West

BECKY LUTTRELL

by Mr. Adrian W. Luttrell

EARNESTINE C. MCCAIN

by Ms. Debbie Wesley

by Mr. and Mrs. James Brett Curtis

W. JEAN MOORE

by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Crouther

JONATHAN NICHOLS

by Dr. and Mrs. Robert L. Smith Jr.

NILES NORRIS

by Mrs. Helen Overstreet

by Mr. and Mrs. Keith Godbold

Always a Ranger 44

northwestms.edu

by Mr. and Mrs. Steve Robinson Jake Savage Ms. Tracy Hill

ASHTON SMITH

by Mr. and Mrs. Keith Godbold

SUESTER SOWELL

by Ms. Ashlyn Sowell

RACHEL STARNES

MARTHA MILLS

SUMMERS PORTER

by Mr. and Mrs. William Fite

by Mrs. Ida F. Wallace

STEVE AND MARYLEE STURGEON

by Mr. and Mrs. James Brett Curtis

KRISTIE WALDROP

by Mrs. Sandra Vaughn

CLAUDE AND LISA WILLIAMS

by Mr. and Mrs. James Brett Curtis

JANE W. WILLIAMSON

by Mr. and Mrs. Cam Walker

Lifetime members of the Northwest Alumni Association are among our most loyal alumni and friends. Will you commit to strengthening the Northwest alumni community?

Become a bigger part of Ranger Nation by becoming a Lifetime Member today!

Call 662-560-1112 or join online at www.northwestms.edu/alumni Couple Lifetime Membership: $250 Individual Lifetime Membership: $200