Summer 2015 Northwest Now

Northwest

N ORTHWEST M ISSISSIPPI C OMMUNITY C OLLEGE F OUNDATION P.O. Drawer 7015 • 4975 Highway 51 North Senatobia, MS 38668 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Now

SPRING 2015

Parting

shot Mike Dottorey greets Director of Recruiting Jere Herrington (left) and Student Development Center Director Meg Ross during his retirement reception June 3. Dottorey divided his time at the college between the two departments, serving as both Disability Support Services coordinator in the SDC as well as a recruiter for the Recruiting Office. Dottorey retired in June after 35 years at Northwest.

Photo by LaJuan Tallo

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION Please visit the Northwest website at www.northwestms.edu/affirmativeaction to view the College’s Notice of Non-Discrimination, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action.

Coming Home Alumnus returns to state as head of Jackson Prep INSIDE: Hall of Fame • HEADWAE • spring sports • 2015 retirees

Northwest

Now

Spring 2015

A publication of Northwest Mississippi Community College President Dr. Gary Lee Spears Vice President for Finance Gary Mosley Vice President for Student Services/Chief of Staff Dan Smith Vice President for Education Richie Lawson Vice President/Registrar Larry Simpson Chairman, Northwest Board of Trustees Milton Kuykendall Northwest Foundation Associate Vice President of Development & Special Projects/Associate Editor Sybil R. Canon • srcanon@northwestms.edu Director of Alumni Affairs & Development Operations Dolores Wooten • dbwooten@northwestms.edu Communications Director of Communications/Editor Sarah Sapp • ssapp@northwestms.edu Assistant Director of Communications/ Graphic Designer Julie R. Bauer • jrbauer@northwestms.edu Communications Assistant LaJuan Tallo • ltallo@northwestms.edu Coordinator for Sports Information Kevin Maloney • kmaloney@northwestms.edu Editorial Office Northwest Now NWCC Box 7039 • 4975 Hwy. 51 N. Senatobia, MS 38668 Phone: (662) 562-3276 • Fax: (662) 562-3499 www.northwestms.edu For address changes, please contact Alumni Affairs at (662) 560-1105.

Northwest Now is published bi-annually as a joint effort of the Northwest Foundation and the Office of Communications.

Winner of the 2007 & 2009 Grand Award, Print Media category

College Public Relations Association of Mississippi

contents features

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top educator

DeSoto Center instructor Ricky Stevens named one of the top 20 cardio tech instructors by online blog.

capitol honors Six students honored by the state Legislature as Phi Theta Kappa All-Mississippi Academic Team.

cover story: home again Alumnus Dr. Jason Walton returns to his beloved home state on a mission to better young lives.

a place in history Two-sport athlete Max Lee joins state’s elite as new member of MACJC Sports Hall of Fame.

a small gesture Former yearbook editor given life-changing opportunities through small gestures of instructors.

departments 1 2 3 14 21 33

student snapshot/tiffanee merritt president’s reflections/dr. gary lee spears alumni president’s notes/mike boren around campus the legacy continues the sporting life from the heart of northwest/sybil canon alumni news/dolores wooten

On the cover: Dr. Jason Walton, a 1994 alumnus, has returned to his home state after being selected as Head of School at Jackson Prep last July.

Photo by Hubert Worley/Jackson Prep

from the

heart of Northwest

Sybil R. Canon It is at this time of year that I begin writing letters to all of the scholarship sponsors giving them information about the upcoming recipients of the scholarships they have established. It is a huge undertaking since, thankfully, we have almost 600 students this year who are receiving scholarships. It is also a time of reflection for me as I look at those who have been honored with scholarship endowments.

There is an expression that is sometimes over-used and one that I just can’t completely agree with—“turning tragedy into triumph.” Perhaps, it would be better to say “bringing some triumph to a tragic situation.” I say that because we have a number of scholarships that are named after young people who have left this world much too early, and, even though the scholarship endowment brings help and happiness to those who receive it, the tragedy of a life cut short is still there.

Some of those that come to mind are The Lauren Elizabeth Tallo Endowment, The Holli Pond Day Endowment, The Ethan Eric Bayless Endowment, The Matt Gregory Endowment, and many others.

Lauren Elizabeth Tallo died in a car accident on Mother’s Day, just a week before her high school graduation. Lauren’s mother, LaJuan Tallo, always takes a special interest in the recipients of her daughter’s scholarship. She writes a blog called “Wounded Faithful” in which she tries to help others who have faced the daunting challenge of dealing with such a loss. Indeed, the tragedy is still there, but she finds a way to achieve some measure of victory over it.

Holli Pond Day had graduated from Northwest’s nursing program, had married the man of her dreams, and was expecting their first child. Then, the tragedy came, and she died. Her family and friends were devastated, but they almost immediately wanted to memorialize this precious young woman with a scholarship for a nursing student at Northwest. Is it still a tragedy? Yes, it is, but those who love Holli can know that, forever, Holli’s name will be remembered and a nursing student will be helped.

Ethan Eric Bayless was only two when he was senselessly killed by a drunk driver. Long before the scholarship was established, his parents, Jason and Ginger, began speaking to school groups and, through a program called DETER in DeSoto County, began explaining to persons arrested for driving under the influence the awful things that can happen when someone chooses to drive while intoxicated. Ethan’s scholarship is another way to remember this child, but the tragedy still exists. It is not erased, just perhaps made a little easier to bear.

Matt Gregory was a typical Delta boy who loved hunting and fishing. He was also a crop duster, and he loved it. However, an accident took his life.

His uncle, Steve McClellan, was working at Northwest at the time, and he established this scholarship, with help from family and colleagues. He emailed me recently after receiving his letter with these comments: “I just wish there was a way for each of the students who are receiving his scholarship to know Matt, who is hopefully smiling knowing he is helping these students every year. He was definitely someone who would ‘Pay it Forward.’”

For all of our sponsors, please know that every student who receives a scholarship is given information about the person for whom the scholarship is named. It is vital that each student understands that these names are important. We cannot dispel the tragedy, but we can rejoice in the triumph from the “heart of Northwest”!

alumni news Dolores Wooten This issue, I want to share some photos from an alumni reunion that took place May 2 at John W. Kyle State Park in Sardis. Alums from the years 1965-69 gathered for a picnic lunch and fellowship. It was a beautiful day for reconnecting with old friends, meeting new ones, reminiscing about the great days at Northwest and learning about what others had been doing in the days since.

Plans are already underway for another reunion. If you attended Northwest between 1965 and 1969, please join the Facebook group Northwest Mississippi (Junior) Community College (1965-1969) or email drsaveryfl@aol.com for information on future reunions.

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student snapshot Tiffanee Merritt

Coldwater • Sophomore Major: Nursing Scholarship: The Sarah Garner Ainsworth Endowment What does getting a Foundation Scholarship mean to you?

Receiving a Foundation Scholarship is a blessing for me. It means a lot because not only is it helping me with college, it is helping me fulfill my goal of becoming a nurse.

Which instructors/people have been particularly helpful in your experience at Northwest?

All of my instructors have inspired me in different ways. Mrs. Monica Williams, Mrs. Charisse Reed, Mrs. Pam Briscoe, Mrs. Lacey Gentry, Mr. Robin Robison, Mrs. Amy Stewart, Mr. Richard Swinney and many more have been very supportive of me and motivated me to continue to strive for success. The entire Nursing Division has been very welcoming to me, and they are always willing to help.

What inspired you to choose your major?

My grandmother really inspired me to pursue nursing. She was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2009, and I was one of her primary caregivers until she passed away last year. I watched how hard her nurses worked to comfort her and decided early on that I wanted to be a part of nursing. It is a truly amazing feeling to be able to help people in their time of need and make a difference in people’s lives.

Describe your experience being selected a first-team honoree on the All-Mississippi Academic Team.

I was truly honored to be recognized because I felt like all my hard work had paid off. I am very delighted with my accomplishment, and I desire to continue to achieve excellence.

What would you like for people to know about Northwest?

There are great opportunities available at Northwest. There are many resources such as Student Support Services and the math lab that offer free tutoring in various courses. I want to encourage students to take advantage of these resources to help them achieve their goals.

Photo by Julie Bauer

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Finishing my RN-DNP degree at Delta State University and working as a pre-natal nurse.

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president’s reflections Another great year at Northwest culminating in three graduation ceremonies! While we had more than 740 graduates to participate in the ceremonies, we had an additional 400 students who have qualified to receive their associate degrees from Northwest. This is a dramatic increase over the previous year, and it is certainly a record number for this college.

At Northwest, we award an Associate of Arts degree in academic programs; an Associate of Applied Science degree in technical programs to include computer programming, graphic design, precision manufacturing and machining, agricultural technology, and others; and Certificates for one-year programs in such areas as welding, cosmetology, basic EMT, etc. I had the privilege of speaking to our graduates and their friends and families who came to be a part of their moment of accomplishment. I wanted to share with you some of what I shared with them about the importance of a community college degree.

First of all, I explained to the graduates that they had earned a diploma which would serve as a permanent testament to their hard work and dedication. In a world filled with temporary things, the diploma can never be taken from them, it will not lose its value, and it will be a part of their lives forever.

My second point was to relate U.S. Department of Labor statistics that show that a community college graduate earns more money than someone with only a high school degree and that the chances for actually getting a job are greater as well.

Finally, I provided them with examples of people who had begun their educational journeys here at Northwest and who had accomplished phenomenal things with their lives. I referred to these as “an elite army of professionals.” We are so pleased with the reputation of excellence that Northwest has, and a degree from Northwest really means something. The entrance of our graduates into this army of professionals is not only good for the students, but good for all those who will benefit from their knowledge and training. I am convinced that our students leave Northwest and truly make a difference in the communities in which they live and work.

It has, indeed, been a great year! I look forward to the fall semester when we, as always at Northwest, see our faculty and staff institute new and innovative programs for our students, programs to make them eligible for a changing world of employment. I hope you share my pride in this fine college that stays on the cutting edge of instruction and technology and remains relevant to today's students.

It is a great day to be a Ranger!

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Northwest Now

Dr. Gary Lee Spears

alumni president’s notes Mike Boren It is hard to believe that Northwest’s DeSoto Center just celebrated its 40th anniversary. It seems like just yesterday the college was offering just a few evening classes in Southaven at the old Alodex building, what is now Southaven’s City Hall.

In August 1995, a new $7.3 million facility was completed on Church Road—on land that was donated by the W.E. Ross family— where students could take the first two years of a fouryear degree or career-technical classes to go straight into the growing DeSoto County workforce.

It amazes me that students can earn their associate degree and walk right across the hall to Ole Miss-DeSoto and complete their bachelor’s degree. The University of Mississippi even offers some master’s programs there. This partnership is a huge asset to the taxpayers of DeSoto County and the MidSouth.

Northwest recently hosted a reunion for former faculty and alumni at DeSoto Center to celebrate the 40th anniversary milestone. Everyone enjoyed a delicious catfish dinner and entertainment from the Northwest Steel Drum Band.

Above all, we enjoyed each other.

After watching former faculty have a chance to catch up and alumni come back to where it all started, it struck me that what students remember most about DeSoto Center is the relationships with faculty. When you’re all in one building, you become a tight knit family. The lifelong bonds among friends and their devotion to Northwest were so obvious; it is no wonder the center has grown its enrollment to as high as 3,401 students.

around campus Ten inducted into college’s 2015 Hall of Fame Ten Northwest students were inducted into the 2014 -2015 Northwest Hall of Fame, the highest honor a Northwest student can attain based upon their academic prowess and involvement in student life at the college. The group was honored at the Feb. 12 Board of Trustees meeting on the Senatobia campus.

Holly Newman of Olive Branch, who is studying engineering, graduated from Olive Branch High School. While at Northwest, Newman was a member of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), Mu Alpha Theta Math Society, and the Lady Ranger soccer team. Her honors include Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, All-State and Northwest Soccer Player of the Month and Mu Alpha Theta secretary. She received the Alice Runge and Walter Carter Endowed Scholarship.

Michael “Chip” Malone of Lake Cormorant is studying theatre and is a graduate of Lake Cormorant High School. While at Northwest, he was a part of the Northwest Concert, Jazz and Marching Bands; the Northwest Players; the Northwest tennis team and the Baptist Student Union (BSU). Malone was honored as an Outstanding Student and Who’s Who. He has received awards for theatre from the Northwest Mississippi Theater Alliance and was a recipient of the Irene Ryan Acting Award.

Ashley Simon of Senatobia is a graduate of Senatobia High School and is studying theatre. While at Northwest, Simon was a member of PTK, Who’s Who and student recruiters. Simon was also a member of the Northwest Concert and Marching Bands and the Northwest Players. She was an active member of BSU and received the Irene Ryan Acting Award. She received the Mary Frances Jaudon Woolfolk Endowed Scholarship.

Summer Steakley of Olive Branch is a nursing student. She graduated from Magnolia Heights School. Steakley was a member of the Student Nurses

www.northwestms.edu

Northwest President, Dr. Gary Lee Spears (far left) congratulates (front row, left to right) Ashley Simon, Amelia Bailey, Dalton Hurt, Holly Newman, (second row, left to right) Chip Malone, Matthew Morris, Summer Cooper and Barbara Arbuckle for their induction into the 2014-2015 Northwest Hall of Fame. Not pictured are Courtney Robinson and Summer Steakley.

Photo by Julie Bauer Association, BSU and Ranger softball team. Her honors include PTK, Who’s Who and the Homecoming Court.

Dalton Hurt of Hernando is studying elementary education and graduated from Lewisburg High School. At Northwest, she was a member of PTK and BSU and was president of the Northwest Education Association. She was honored as Who’s Who, Outstanding Student and Senatobia Rotary Club Student of the Month. She received the North Mississippi Education Consortium Endowed Scholarship.

Amelia Belle Bailey of Pope is studying music education. While at Northwest, Bailey was a member of PTK, Mu Alpha Theta, the Northwest Marching and Concert Bands, the Northwest Singers, BSU Worship Band and the Northwest Education Association. Bailey is a graduate of South Panola High School.

Three Hall of Fame students come from the DeSoto Center.

Matthew Morris, who is studying vet-

erinary medicine, is from Olive Branch and graduated from Center Hill High School. While at Northwest, he was a member of the Spanish Club and PTK. Courtney J. Robinson, who is studying secondary education, is from Hernando and graduated from Hernando High School. While at Northwest, Robinson was a member of PTK. Respiratory Therapy student Summer Cooper of Hernando graduated from Hernando High School. While at Northwest, she was a member of the Respiratory Therapy Society.

Representing the LafayetteYalobusha Technical Center is Barbara Arbuckle, a nursing student from Oxford.

Arbuckle graduated from Lafayette High School. She was a member of PTK and Gamma Beta Phi at Northwest. Arbuckle was admitted to the Northwest Nursing program while dual enrolled in The University of Mississippi B.S.N. program.

—LaJuan Tallo

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around campus Oxford student, instructor are HEADWAE honorees Northwest recently announced its 2015 HEADWAE honorees. The HEADWAE student is sophomore Keenan Lane Arntson, and HEADWAE faculty member Renee Young O’Neill is an English instructor at the Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center in Oxford, where Arntson is also a student.

HEADWAE stands for “Higher Education Appreciation Day-Working for Academic Excellence.” The award was established by the Mississippi Legislative Resolution #88 in 1987 to annually honor academically talented students and faculty members of Mississippi’s higher education institutions who have made outstanding contributions in promoting academic excellence.

Arntson and O’Neill were honored at the 28th annual HEADWAE program in Jackson on Feb. 17.

Northwest President, Dr. Gary Lee Spears (center) congratulates Keenan Arntson is the daughter of Janel and Bryan Lane Arnston (left) and Renee Young O’Neill on their selection as 2015 Arntson of Oxford and graduated from Oxford HEADWAE student and faculty honorees during the Board of Trustees meetHigh School. She is studying psychology and ing in March.

Photo by Sarah Sapp exercise science at Northwest. She is president of the Oxford Center chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and of Gamma Beta Phi. Arntson plans to become a sports her Master of Education in English from Delta State University in 1989. She is a member of the Two-Year College English psychologist and physical trainer.

O’Neill has been teaching at Northwest for 11 years. She Association of Mississippi (TYCAM). She and her husband Mike graduated cum laude with her Bachelor of Arts in English and and their children Lucas and Griffin live in Oxford.

—LaJuan Tallo History from The University of Mississippi in 1988, and earned

Leishman selected as Educator of the Year Northwest English Instructor Beth Leishman (left) was named Tate County Educator of the Year at the 17th annual Tate County Economic Development Foundation (TCEDF) banquet on March 2. Leishman, who has taught English and literature classes for the college, worked as an adjunct instructor before becoming a full-time instructor in 2006. She has also led ACT workshops for the Division of Continuing Education and has taught online courses for the eLearning Division since 2008. She is currently serving as interim eLearning coordinator for the Division of Languages and Communications. Congratulating Leishman is Julie Correro, division director of Education at Northwest and TCEDF board member.

Photo by LaJuan Tallo

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Northwest Now

www.northwestms.edu

around campus Stevens named top 20 cardio tech instructor Cardiovascular Technology certification and professional Instructor Ricky Stevens was experience. Stevens was included recently named one of the “20 with instructors from Texas, Top Cardiovascular Technology Georgia, North Carolina, Instructors” on the Medical Tennessee, Oregon, Washington, Technology Schools blog.

Virginia, Florida, Minnesota, South Stevens has been an instructor Carolina, South Dakota, Ohio, at DeSoto Center since November North Dakota and Oklahoma.

2006. He has a BSN from Delta “We are very excited to learn State University and a master’s that Rick has been named one of degree in history from The the Top 20 Cardiovascular University of Mississippi. He has Technology Instructors. He is very held several certifications throughknowledgeable in his field and out his career including emerdoes an excellent job of passing gency room, intensive care, operhis expertise on to his students,” ating room and trauma. He was an Jeremy Isome, dean of DeSoto advanced cardiac life support Center said. instructor for many years.

Outside of his professional job, “My job is really easy because I Stevens is a BMI-affiliated songhave such motivated students. writer and a voting member of the They come in the door wanting to Engineers and Producers wing of Ricky Stevens learn something new every day. the National Academy of Recording The students I get want to be Arts and Sciences (NARAS), which here, and they push me to give them the tools they need to means he gets to vote in the Grammy Awards each year. He be successful. Since 2007 we’ve been able to place about 85 just completed two terms of office on the board of the Blues percent of our graduates in the field. I think that’s really Foundation, and is a member of the Internet Committee of the because we start with good people and just help them get bet- Grand Lodge of Mississippi Free and Accepted Masons. ter,” Stevens said.

Stevens said he was very surprised to learn he had been According to the blog, the top 20 were selected on the fol- chosen. “All I do is show up and try to stamp out a little bit of lowing criteria: professionalism, commitment to education and ignorance every day. My motivation is purely selfish. When the desire to help students succeed by looking at time on the job, day comes that I need a heart catheterization, I want to look up and say, ‘Thank God it’s one of my students’ instead of ‘Oh God, it’s one of my students,’” Stevens said.

The Cardiovascular Technology program at Northwest is designed to train students through didactic, laboratory and clinical experiences for a career in invasive and non-invasive cardiology. After completion, an invasive cardiovascular technologist can work in a number of different areas in a hospital or physician’s office.

The Medical Technology Schools blog post can be found at www.medicaltechnologyschools.com/cardiovascular-technologist/top-cardio-tech-instructors.

—LaJuan Tallo Stevens shows students how to thread a heart catheter during lab.

Photo by Julie Bauer

www.northwestms.edu

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around campus Academic ‘pathways’ ensure smooth transfer It might seem unconventional for community college advisers to ask new students, “What four-year college degree are you interested in?” but that is exactly the direction Northwest administrators are taking.

Students who graduate from Northwest on an academic pathway will still receive the same Associate of Arts they have always received at the institution. Rather than adopting a “major,” students will follow the curriculum leading to the bachelor’s degree at the four-year college of their choice. A student will follow the academic pathway for the first two years of the four-year degree they are pursuing.

“We are sharpening our focus on successful transfer and graduation. From our research of other community colleges’ graduation and transfer rates, we know that shifting to this approach is the best,” said Richie Lawson, vice president for Education. “From day one, we want our Academic Education students to think about what bachelor’s degree they want to pursue.”

The college has reduced the number of requisite semester hours to receive an associate degree to 35 in core classes and 25 in electives related to the student’s chosen academic pathway. If stu-

Academic Education has been revamped to sharpen the college’s focus on successful graduation and transfer to a four-year institution. Students will be able to seek guidance from instructors while following an academic pathway in their field of interest. Robin Robison (right), division director of Natural Sciences, advises a student on her academic pathway.

Photo by LaJuan Tallo dents successfully complete their 60 hours of college-level courses with Northwest and graduate, all of their classes will transfer to the school of their choice.

The core curriculum includes six semester hours of English composition, nine semester hours of humanities/fine

Welding students craft bench for ECET Five-year-old Emma Watson, a student in the college’s Child Enrichment Center, enjoys sitting on the new bench built by students in the Welding and Cutting program for the Early Childhood Education Technology program. The bench, which will be used for inside play activities, was constructed and painted by Rachel Bayless of Oxford, Hunter Shirley of Batesville, and Matthew Treglown of Southaven under the guidance of Rodney Steele, instructor.

Photo by Kristin Watson

arts, six semester hours of social/behavioral science, six semester hours of natural sciences, three semester hours of mathematics and three semester hours of basic computer skills.

“Faculty advisers will guide students with curriculum choices and career goals,” said Dr. Matthew Domas, associate vice president for Education. “We will list advisers by pathway concentration in the course catalog and website, so students can seek guidance from instructors in their area of interest. For instance, we will list all liberal arts instructors, speech and theatre instructors and math instructors together. That way, students can easily find a person who can counsel them in their desired educational and career path.”

Students who need developmental courses to prepare for their chosen pathway will have to take courses in preparation for their 60 hours for transfer.

—Sarah Sapp

www.northwestms.edu

around campus Culinary team takes second, third at competition What do catfish, sweet potatoes, cabbage and grits have in common? They were all ingredients in the mystery basket at the Culinary Competition for Collegiate DECA members held on Feb. 3, where Northwest students studying Hotel and Restaurant Management Technology placed second and third against teams from across the state.

All participants reported to the Landers Center in Southaven at 9 a.m. when they were told what protein they would be required to use to make one meal for a family-style restaurant. First Choice Catering of Horn Lake provided all ingredients in the basket. The selling price of the meal could be no more than $15.

The competitors prepared dishes for four individuals. While competitors could come armed with their knife bags, seasonings and ingredients were all found on-site. Four teams worked at each station at the same time in one-hour shifts with beginning times 15 minutes apart.

Times were randomly assigned at the event.

Kay Mistilis, program instructor and DECA adviser, cheered on the black team—Anny Nen, Ashley Williams and Chianna Jackson, all of Southaven, and the white team—Rondlynn Lucas and Zane Downing, both of Southaven, and Matthew McMinn of Hernando as they presented their plates to the judges.

The black team presented an andouille sausage stuffing and grit cake Napoleon topped with cornmeal-dusted,

Student chefs from the Hotel and Restaurant Management Technology program relax before the Collegiate DECA Culinary Competition in the Landers Center’s kitchen.

Pictured here left to right are: Katherine Mistilis, instructor/adviser; Anny Nen, Rondlynn Lucas and Ashley Williams, all of Southaven; Matthew McMinn of Hernando and Chianna Jackson and Zane Downing, both of Southaven. Photo by Sarah Sapp deep fried catfish and served with a twist of lemon. The white team presented an andouille sausage and rice stuffed catfish roulade, flash fried then baked to temperature.

Judges evaluated the students based on nine criteria: culinary preparation skills; cooking technique; sanitation and cleaning; teamwork, communication and sharing of space with other team; kitchen timing, efficiency and ingredient utilization; presentation of dish; taste of dish; written recipe and how it was followed and overall impression of culinary team. At the end of the competition, the black team came in second and the white team came in third overall.

“I was pleased beyond words. I was so excited,” said Mistilis. “I The culinary class is known for its delicious creations, like this dish served during the annual Spring Luncheon. Photo by Julie Bauer

watched them work hard, and they were very intense in doing everything right.

They spent extra hours in the lab preparing. We started with one recipe, and changed it three or four times. They received such nice compliments from the judges.”

Hotel and Restaurant Management Technology at DeSoto Center in Southaven is perfect for those who have always dreamed of working with chefs, planning a catered business meeting or managing a hotel property.

This program provides specialized instruction in all phases of hotel and restaurant management, and laboratory classes and externships at local establishments supplement coursework.

Courses specify a business approach but also include instruction in culinary principles and technique, facility operations and security management.

—Sarah Sapp

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around campus PTK All-Mississippi team recognized by legislature Northwest students Tiffanee Merritt of Coldwater, Cody Abel of Southaven, Emily Reedy of Horn Lake, Dameon Cunningham of Batesville, Ashleigh Hoffman of Oxford and Daniel Sing of Independence were honored on March 25 by the Mississippi Legislature for being named to the Phi Theta Kappa AllMississippi Academic Team.

During the All-Mississippi Academic Team Recognition Luncheon held at the Jackson Convention Center the students were individually recognized for their academic accomplishments, and were presented with a legislative resolution and certificate.

Merritt, who is a nursing major on the Senatobia campus, was recognized as an AllMississippi first team honoree. All-Mississippi second team honorees from the DeSoto Center were Abel, who is studying engineering and Reedy, who is studying communicative disorders. From the Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center, second team honorees were Cunningham and Hoffman, who both study social work. The second team honoree from the Senatobia campus was Daniel Sing, who is a nursing (BSN) student.

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Northwest Phi Theta Kappa students were honored on March 25 by the Mississippi Legislature for being named to the Phi Theta Kappa All-Mississippi Academic Team. Pictured on the Capitol steps are front row, left to right, Elizabeth Harvey, Judy Barham, advisers and Emily Reedy of Horn Lake, AllMississippi second team honoree. Second row, left to right, Patsy Gardner, adviser; Ashleigh Hoffman of Oxford, All-Mississippi second team honoree; Tiffanee Merritt of Coldwater, All-Mississippi first team honoree; Cody Abel, of Southaven, and Dameon Cunningham of Batesville, both All-Mississippi second team honorees. Top row, left to right, Carroll Huebner, adviser, Richie Lawson, vice president for Education, Larry Simpson, vice president, registrar and Fisher Fleming and Dr. Kim Hamilton-Wims, advisers.

Photo by LaJuan Tallo

Journalists attend conference, win multiple writing awards The Ranger Rocket newspaper staff traveled to Jackson to attend the O.C. McDavid Journalism Conference on March 26 at the Mississippi Craft Center.

There were 70 collegiate journalists who attended the event.

Leonard Van Slyke, attorney for the Mississippi Center for Freedom of Information, was the first speaker of the event. Van Slyke touched on the rules of media law.

After Van Slyke spoke, a panel of journalists participated in a discussion about the demands of journalism and the current state of the field. The panel consisted of David Gustafson, the publisher of The Lamar Times and The Petal News; Therese Apel, reporter for the Clarion-Ledger and Josh Mlot, sports editor for The Lamar Times and The Petal News.

After the speakers concluded, the Better Newspaper Contest Student Division winners were announced. In total, the Ranger Journalists page 29

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Northwest Now

Staff members of the Ranger Rocket took home awards in the annual Better Newspaper Contest Student Division March 26 at the O.C. McDavid Journalism Conference.

Students who attended include (first row, l to r) Samantha Whittle, Lauren Benton, editor, Kenn Falkner, sports section editor, Larry Mason, (second row) Paige Grady, Corey McKinney and Rudy Armstrong. Photo by Carroll Huebner

www.northwestms.edu

around campus Six to join university cheerleading squads Recently, six Ranger cheerleaders learned that they had been selected to cheer on university cheerleading squads. For Northwest Cheer Sponsor Liesl Mote, it was the culmination of a great year for her squad.

Northwest cheerleaders John Cotton and Robert Hewettle, both of Lambert were selected to cheer for the University of Southern Mississippi cheerleading squad. Shelby Ines of Kennewick, Washington and Leah Smith of Hernando are headed to cheer at the University of Memphis. Lee Williams of Lambert will be cheering at The University of Mississippi, and Breanna Bess of Grenada will be cheering at Delta State University. “I’m really excited to be cheering on the university level, and I am so happy that Northwest prepared me for that,” Bess said.

According to Mote, in the past three years, Northwest has sent 10 students to Division I schools and four students to Division II schools.

Mote came to Northwest five years ago as intramural coordinator and cheer sponsor. She quickly made it her goal to prepare her students to move on to the university level if they so desired. “I feel like this is what collegiate cheerleading is about. They are basically the ambassadors of the college, and this is representative of what we want our Northwest cheerleaders to be. I’m a Northwest fan, so I like having a squad that represents what I think Northwest should represent,” Mote said.

Mote emphasizes to those who are selected cheerleaders that they are student-athletes, just as those who play any of the sports at the college. “I remind them that the first word is student, and that a lot of responsibility comes with the title student-athlete, and they need to behave accordingly,” Mote said.

Tryouts are held in early May, and once the squad is selected, they will attend a summer camp. The squad

www.northwestms.edu

Six Northwest cheerleaders have been selected for university-level squads, including (front row, l to r) John Cotton of Lambert, University of Southern Mississippi; Shelby Ines of Kennewick, Washington, University of Memphis; Lee Williams of Lambert, The University of Mississippi and Leah Smith of Hernando, University of Memphis; (back row, l to r) Robert Hewettle of Lambert, University of Southern Mississippi and Breanna Bess of Grenada, Delta State University.

Photo by LaJuan Tallo works out, conditions and works on tumbling, stunts and pyramids. During that time, they are tested on Northwest’s cheers, which she expects them basically to learn on their own. “If they have been cheering in high school, they know the motions, and should be able to learn these cheers,” Mote said. Mote explained that there are only about 10 cheers. “This is a very collegiate way to do it. If you go to a Division I school, you will notice that they do repeating cheers, so that the crowd can learn all of them,” Mote said.

Mote’s primary focus is more on conditioning, stunting and taking those stunts from the high school level to the collegiate level. “Some come in and have already been in competitive cheer, so they already know some of these stunts. There is a big difference in the

collegiate skill level and what they are allowed to do in high school by the Universal Cheerleaders Association,” Mote said. During the school year, they practice 12-15 hours a week.

The Northwest Ranger Cheerleaders perform at all football games and all home basketball games and travel to bowl and tournament games. They sponsor all of the “Meet the Rangers” events, and appear at Northwest’s “Go West” recruiting event.

Mote sums up her philosophy and focus simply. “We want them to look like a college cheer team. My philosophy is that if someone wants to move up to the next level, we are going to do everything we can to prepare them for that,” Mote said.

—LaJuan Tallo

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around campus Williamson first to reach Kennedy Center semis Eleven students from Northwest’s theatre program attended the Region 4 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) in Albany, Georgia Feb. 3-7. During the festival, Northwest competed against community college, university and graduate students from Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, southern Virginia, Tennessee and Mississippi.

Northwest student Wesley Williamson of Olive Branch, who was nominated for his work in Northwest’s productions of “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” and “The Miss Firecracker Contest,” became the first Northwest student to ever advance to the semi-finals of the Irene Ryan Acting Auditions.

Northwest was also the only community college out of at least 50 colleges and universities to advance to the semi-finals.

Theatre instructor Sadie Shannon explained that winners of the auditions earn scholarships. Northwest took four teams of two students each to the competition. The teams are composed of a nominated student and a partner, who act out a timed scene. “The students were given their scenes before Christmas break and had to memorize them before they came back. We rehearsed them about three times per week and

Brasher & Williamson timed the scenes, because points will be deducted if they go over the time,” Shannon said. She explained that the festival consists of various competitions and workshops that the students attend in their area of interest.

Other students nominated for the Irene Ryan Acting award were Heather Pate of Greenwood for “Picasso at the Lapin Agile,” Ashley Simon of Senatobia for “Story Theatre” and Jenna Taylor of Walls for “The Miss Firecracker Contest.” Williamson’s acting partner was Aaron Brasher of Como.

Charlotte Malone of Lake Cormorant served as acting partner for Pate and Taylor. Chip Malone of Lake Cormorant was acting partner for Simon.

Hannah Herring of Horn Lake was nominated for her talents in stage management.

Herring was accepted into the Stage Management Fellowship and stage managed an event at the festival, Shannon said.

Herring has served as stage manager for several productions during her time as a student at Northwest.

“I am so proud of all of our students. It is very validating to me as a teacher to know that I am picking the right material for them, and that at this high level of competition they are moving forward. I feel like we are doing what we are supposed to do in our program,” Shannon said.

—LaJuan Tallo

Masons honor 100th year of cornerstone On May 11, members of the Ebenezer Masonic Lodge presented Northwest President, Dr. Gary Lee Spears (center) with a commemorative plaque in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of Tate County Agricultural High School, which later became Northwest. The cornerstone was laid by Grand Master Jesse M. Brooks, as was customary at the time.

Presenting the plaque are (from left) college employees Brian Hale, Bradley Thompson, student Luke Padget, and Ricky Stevens.

Photo by Sarah Sapp

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around campus Foundation board welcomes new members Gale Cushman of Senatobia was named president of the Northwest Foundation Board of Directors during its quarterly meeting on Feb. 19. Cushman previously served as vice president during the tenure of past president James Dunn of Tunica. Kevin Doddridge of Olive Branch was elected to serve as vice president.

"Mr. Dunn has been such a wonderful president for the Foundation Board of Directors. I am confident that same excellent leadership will continue with Mrs. Cushman," said Sybil Canon, associate vice president of Development and Special Projects.

The board also welcomed three new members: Fred Carlisle of Holly Springs and Cindy Hale and Chuck Jackson of Senatobia.

Members of the board are elected to threeyear terms.

Also at the meeting, Canon reported to the board that the value of the endowment, as of Feb. 17, was $9,056,554. Canon said that in addition to these funds, the Board page 29

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Newly-elected Foundation Board of Directors President Gale Cushman of Senatobia (left) and Associate Vice President of Development and Special Projects Sybil Canon (right) welcome new members Fred Carlisle of Holly Springs, Cindy Hale of Senatobia and Chuck Jackson of Senatobia to the board during their Feb. 19 meeting. Members of the board are elected to three-year terms.

Photo by Julie Bauer

In Memoriam: Mary Alice Moorman Mary Alice Moorman was a faithful member of the college’s Board of Trustees for 27 years until her death at the age of 89 on June 9. She served on the Building Committee, the Farm Committee, the Personnel Committee and the Educational Program Review during her tenure on the board.

Northwest President, Dr. Gary Lee Spears, stated that the entire board was saddened by this news. “Miss Moorman rarely missed a board meeting, a committee meeting, or a trustees conference. She took her responsibility as a board member very seriously, and she was committed to the students and this college. All of us who have Mary Alice had the privilege of working with her over the years will miss her keen intellect and her wise counsel. To be honest, we will miss everything about Miss Moorman. She was a wonderful lady.”

Born Dec. 11, 1925 to the late Albert T. and Ruth Wilbourn Moorman in Oakville, Tennessee, Moorman served Yalobusha County for over 42 years, first as a teacher at Jeff Davis School

in Water Valley. She served in Coffeeville as a teacher and girls’ basketball coach, later as assistant principal, and, finally, as the Yalobusha County superintendent of Education. She was an active member of the Cattleman’s Association and the Yalobusha County Forestry Association, and she was an avid supporter of Pine Valley Fire Department. She was a faithful and active member in all aspects of service at Bethel Baptist Church in Water Valley.

Moorman is survived by her sister, Ann M. Haynes of Batesville, five nieces and nephews, seven great nephews, one greatgreat nephew and a host of other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents, she Moorman was preceded in death by her sister, Tommie Juanita Simpson and two brothers, Fred Earl Moorman and Thomas A. Moorman.

The family has established The Mary Alice Moorman Endowed Scholarship Fund. Those interested in contributing to this fund may send contributions to NWCC Foundation, 4975 Hwy. 51 N., Senatobia, MS 38668.

cover story

Jackson Prep Head of School Dr. Jason Walton discusses a military re-enactment with 10th grader Jennings Duncan during history class. Photo by Hubert Worley/Jackson Prep

Walton returns to make a difference in state education

By LaJuan Tallo

Northwest alumnus and Mississippi native Dr. Jason Walton is back on the path where he started. Walton returned to his beloved home state last July when he took the position of Head of School at the prestigious Jackson Preparatory School.

Jackson Prep, as it is known, is an independent, co-educational, and college preparatory day school enrolling 810 students in grades six through 12. It is located on a 74-acre campus east of Jackson and is the largest independent secondary

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school in the state of Mississippi. In coming to Jackson Prep, Walton returned to K12, his first love in education.

Walton considers himself a Northwest “legacy.” His parents, John William and Joanne McClure Walton met at the college.

Both continued their studies at Delta State University and became long-time Mississippi educators. Born in Biloxi, he lived in Greenwood until he was in seventh grade, when his family relocated to Hernando. During his senior year, he began

weighing options, and decided that Northwest was the best option for him. He knew about his parents’ positive experiences at Northwest, and his high school sweetheart, who he later married, and several friends were also coming. “The idea of going far away didn’t appeal to me. I think so many people get an opportunity to go far away, and they ignore very good options that are close by. Northwest was a great place for me to start,” Walton said.

He attended Northwest from 1992-

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Walton (right) and fellow Northwest students Denny Smith and Shelly Watts enjoyed the music and fellowship at the cookout held on the front lawn on the main campus Homecoming Day in 1992.

Staff Photo

1994, earning his Associate of Arts. While at Northwest, Walton was a member of the Hall of Fame, the highest honor a student can achieve. He was an Outstanding Student in Pre-Law, Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges, Phi Theta Kappa, a student recruiter, active in the Baptist Student Union, served on the Ranger Rocket staff and was editor of the college’s literary magazine, the Northwest Review.

“It was a good experience for me. I think you get better as a writer just by writing. Northwest, true to form, just provides those opportunities for people who are maybe thinking that is something they can do. It is kind of a safe place where you can try your hand at it. It was an early confidence builder for me, I feel like,” Walton said.

Walton says he “caught the bug” that made him want to be an educator at Northwest. He credits his instructors for instilling the love of education in him, and has stayed in touch with some of them even to this day. “They were teachers first. What makes them and community colleges special is that they just poured themselves into the lives of their students through good instruction. It’s all about helping you achieve mastery in a particular content area. You can really tell when teaching is a priority. I had the good fortune at Northwest of having several really good teachers,” Walton said.

He remembers Sandy Grisham, who taught sociology, as one who left a great impression on him. “She was amazing, and I took every class I could from her,” Walton said. He remembers Grisham taking his Social Problems class to the Veterans Hospital to visit with recently returned soldiers and her sharing her experiences as a Fulbright Scholar who had visited Pakistan. “She really did everything that an educator is supposed to do. I think the job of colleges is to show you that the world is a little bigger than your ideas about it. She opened

my eyes to so much and ignited in me a curiosity that still fuels me today,” he said.

Walton credits English instructors Sturgis Monteith and Dr. Robert Bunce for developing in him a love for writing and English. “Sturgis Monteith was an amazing teacher who made very dense pieces of literature very accessible to us, just by his sheer teaching talent. Robert Bunce was very good and patient with me and helped me understand how to revise my writing through multiple drafts so that I would end up with a polished product that I could really feel happy about and pleased with,” Walton said. He also remembered his French instructor, Constance Gallant fondly. “She helped me through four semesters of French,” he laughed.

After leaving Northwest, Walton earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in educational leadership at The University of Mississippi. Walton taught English, served as Student Council adviser, coached tennis and became the first girls’ soccer coach at Hernando High School during four years there. He became the fourth consecutive generation in his family to teach in Mississippi.

He earned a doctorate in education leadership and policy studies from Vanderbilt University and served as associate editor of the Peabody Journal of Education before taking a position as assistant director for the Tennessee Office of Education Accountability, which provides non-partisan, objective analysis of education policy issues for many state agencies, as well as the general public. While serving the state of Tennessee, Walton was recruited to serve as director of Strategic Initiatives at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida.

While at Lynn, Walton worked to establish a strategic plan for the university. In 2006, at the age of 30, he became the chief of staff and staff liaison to the board of trustees. During this time, Walton had the idea to try to attract a presidential debate to Lynn University, and even though 40 well-known Walton page 29

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Dr. Walton speaks with students Quincy Anderson (center) and Jack Myers during a class break.

Photo by Hubert Worley/Jackson Prep

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The Legacy Continues

Legacy

the

continues

It 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 Northwest Foundation was fortunate to have a matching gifts program from 1997 through 2013. While the program is no longer in place, we want to continue to express appreciation to those who provided these funds to help our scholarship endowment grow at such a rapid pace. At the end of October, the value of the endowment was $8,729,350.

Morgan Freeman, the acclaimed actor and producer of national and international fame, was the largest benefactor of the matching gifts program, providing $515,000. In addition, we received a generous gift from the Estate of Clarence Thomas Hill, Jr., in the amount of

The Jimmy Neal Andrews Endowment

man and an esteemed public servant,” Allen said.

Andrews was a loyal servant to his community. For many years he was an essential asset to the Olive Branch Jaycees.

He coached boys’ baseball and girls’ softball, worked fields, umpired, and did whatever was needed. He was on the Board of Directors for both the Olive Branch Jaycees and the Olive Branch Sports Association.

He served on the Board of Directors of Northcentral Electric Power Association and was an active member of Maples Memorial United Methodist Church.

Perhaps his greatest role in life was that of a devoted husband to his wife Barbara, and a dedicated father to his daughters, Lisa Selph, Julie Niblett and Beth Chumney, all of Olive Branch; Kellie Thompson of Chattanooga, Tennessee and Audrey Green of Weir, and his sons, Neal Andrews of

The Jimmy Neal Andrews Endowment was established by M.C. Herrington Distributor, Inc., Northcentral Electric Power Association, and a host of family, friends, and business associates to honor the memory of this beloved citizen of Olive Branch. Andrews died at the age of 75 in January of this year.

Andrews was devoted to his alma mater, Olive Branch High School. He had the distinction of missing only one day of school in the entire 12 years of school attendance. He was a founding member and supporter of the Olive Branch Letterman Club and a proud supporter and fan of all sports played at Olive Branch High School.

He spent more than 40 years as general manager at M.C. Herrington Distributor, Inc. Carol Herrington Allen, the daughter of M.C. Herrington is one of the leaders in establishing this scholarship. “Jimmy Neal was a loyal employee and a dear friend of our family. The loss of this man to our company, our family, and this community creates a huge void that simply cannot be filled. He is, in every sense of the word, a true gentle-

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$180,000.

Other matching gifts sponsors included Horseshoe Casino and Hotel, the Youth Progress Association, Sycamore Bank, Gateway Tire, Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Williams-Sonoma, Inc., Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, ThyssenKrupp Elevator, and Schulz Xtruded Products.

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.

—Sybil Canon

Jimmy Neal Andrews Abbeville, Paul Andrews of Moscow, Tennessee and Ricky Wynn of Holly Springs. He dearly loved his 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The scholarship will be awarded to a

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The DeSoto Shrine Club Endowment

The Indomitable Spirit Scholarship The Indomitable Spirit Scholarship has been established by Kitt and Dietrich Brand of Alberta, Canada. The scholarship will be awarded to a DeSoto Center student, who has declared with Special Populations, and who has a 3.0 grade point average. The scholarship will be available to part-time students as well as full-time students. “This scholarship was first suggested to us by a Northwest DeSoto Center graduate who wants to remain anonymous, but who truly inspired it,” Kitt said.

Kitt, who was coordinator for Special Populations at the DeSoto Center from 2003 until her retirement in 2011, and her husband Dietrich both feel strongly about the scholarship.

“This represents those students who may not be able to be full-time students, because life has handed them some kind of horrible surprise, either enduring or temporary, but they keep going. It’s the opposite of the ‘my dog ate my homework’ kind of student. It is the ‘nothing’s going to keep me down’ kind of student,” Kitt said.

Kitt said that candidates for the scholarship would be identified by the DeSoto Center’s Special Populations staff, and those recommendations would then be sent to the Foundation Scholarship Committee to be awarded.

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Both Kitt and Dietrich have spent their lives helping others. Dietrich is a provincial judge, who sits in three courts primarily and fills in for other judges when needed. Before coming to Northwest, Kitt worked with the migrant program for Tate County Schools and with Workforce as a part of the “Schools to Careers” grant. Both are active Rotarians and also will work with a group who is trying to get food and computers to native children in northern Canada. The two support the Cure Alzheimer’s program.

Several years ago, Kitt, her daughter and son-in-law, and members of the Respiratory Therapy program at DeSoto Center established the Samantha Hayward Ross Endowment in memory of her three-day-old granddaughter, who died from respiratory issues.

Kitt hopes that the recipients of the scholarship will be called “The Indomitables.” She even plans to have a pin designed to be given to each recipient. “I want them to be able to remember that spirit when they are having a bad day. These students don’t focus on the negative aspects of their lives. They just keep going,” Kitt said.

The first Indomitable Spirit scholarship will be awarded for the 2015-2016 school year.

The Baxter Murphree and Virginia Willis Endowment The Baxter H. Murphree and Virginia Murphree Willis Endowed Scholarship was established by Murphree’s daughters, Peggy Murphree Mark and Patricia Murphree Gleason.

The Legacy Continues

DeSoto County high school graduate with preference given to a student with proven academic potential and who has maintained excellent attendance.

Recently, members of the DeSoto Shrine Club made a donation of $9,350 to their Foundation scholarship. This donation brings the total of the endowment to $30,000. On hand to receive the donation from Shrine Club President Jason Francis, (center left) were Sybil Canon, Northwest’s associate vice president of Development and Special Projects (center) and Barry Bouchillon, member of the Northwest Foundation Board of Directors (center right).

Kitt and Dietrich Brand

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The Legacy Continues

The Oxford Center Practical Nursing Endowment

Baxter H. Murphree and Virginia Murphree Willis Murphree died in 1987. He was a native of Senatobia and attended Northwest in the early 1940s. He received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy where he graduated in 1945 with the class of 1946. He served on active duty in World War II and was recalled during the Korean War. After retiring from the Navy he stayed in the Washington area where he met Dorothy Wolfe Niedfeldt of Washington, District of Columbia, at George Washington University. They were married in 1948. Murphree went into the insurance business and enjoyed a 34-year career with the Prudential Insurance Company of America. He retired on May 17, 1982.

He was the father of Patricia Murphree Gleason of Vienna, Virginia, Peggy Murphree Mark of Damascus, Maryland and Priscilla Murphree Oates of Plano, Texas and the grandfather of Bailey and Ross Mark, Mark and Emily Gleason, and Hannah Oates.

Murphree’s sister, Virginia Murphree Willis was a lifelong resident of Senatobia. She studied at Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Memphis.

She became a registered nurse and went on to work for Methodist Hospital.

Willis married John R. “Bobby” Willis June 17, 1956. She continued her work in the health care profession holding positions of surgical nurse at Methodist Hospital, school nurse at Tate County Schools, DRG coordinator and later the director of Nursing at the Senatobia Community Hospital. She also worked with Dr. A.M. (Mac) Adams of Senatobia.

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The Oxford Center Practical Nursing Endowment was established anonymously by a student who completed the Practical Nursing program on the Oxford campus.

This student is a non-traditional student, and, because it had been many years since she had been in school, she found the program to be a bit challenging. That is when she experienced the compassion for students that is so much a part of Northwest, especially, on the Oxford campus.

Dr. Jack Butts, longtime dean of the Oxford campus, remembers how this student’s instructors reached out to this student. “Quite honestly, we provided this particular student the same care and attention we provide all of our students. However, she was really grateful for our help,” he said.

In preparation for the state board examination, Dr. Michael Butts, science instructor, tutored the student, “This student was anxious about taking the exam. In working with her, it was obvious that she knew the material that would be on the test. All I did was to encourage her to have the confidence to succeed, and she did.”

For a period of time after retiring from health care, Mrs. Willis and her husband ran “Willis’s Auction” in Crockett.

The auctions provided Saturday evening entertainment, an opportunity for people to recycle items they no longer needed, and a chance to visit with friends and neighbors. Willis died in 2010.

Although Murphree made his home in Takoma Park, Maryland after leaving for the Naval Academy, he and his family made trips almost annually to Senatobia to visit family. His parents, Baxter C. and Eleanor Murphree, had a farmhouse on RR #2, where for many years the homes of Thomas and Alice Murphree and children Fay and Patti Sue, Joe and Judy Murphree and children Chris and Greg and Virginia and Bobby Willis surrounded the Murphree homestead. The annual visits included great times with Aunt Willia Jean Lawson Martin and cousins, Jean and Charles.

“This opportunity to contribute to Northwest in memory of our father Baxter H. Murphree, while establishing this scholarship in the School of Nursing in memory of our Aunt Virginia Murphree Willis, is a perfect way to celebrate the lives of these two special people,” said Murphree’s daughter, The Oxford Center Practical Nursing Endowment will be used to assist students enrolled in the Practical Peggy Mark.

Nursing program on the Oxford campus.

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The Delores Sanders Stewart Endowment The Delores Sanders Stewart Endowed Scholarship has been established in her memory by her husband, Walter, and children Suzanne Brown, Bobby Stewart and Brian Stewart; her sister-in-law, JoAnn Lott; her sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Paul Williams and their families. The scholarship was established to recognize Stewart for her life of service to her family, friends and community. Stewart died at age 72 on Jan. 28, 2013 after a brief illness.

Stewart was born on Nov. 7, 1940 in

Dr. Ellen Williams

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Independence to David and Mary Lois Sanders. She graduated from Independence High School in April 1958. She attended Northwest and worked after school in the Tate County superintendent of education’s office.

She began her years of service at Independence High School in June 1959. During her years at Independence High, she worked as secretary, bookkeeper, nurse and in many other capacities. Over her career, she was employed at every Tate County school except one. She retired from Tate County Schools in 1998.

She and Walter were married for 53 years. They enjoyed 14 years of retirement together. Stewart enjoyed sitting on her porch, drinking her morning coffee and watching the school buses pass by. She loved to garden and prided herself on growing vegetables for her family and sharing them with friends and neighbors. She enjoyed canning and freezing the things she grew and was known for her pickles, relishes, jams, jellies and preserves. She also loved to cook.

Her husband thought she was the best cook in the county and bragged on her often.

Stewart’s three granddaughters, Katie, Madelynn and Macy, were the loves of her life. They affectionately called her “Granny” and have fond memories of learning to cook with her, and putting in their special orders for their favorite dishes when they came to visit.

The Delores Sanders Stewart Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to a student from Tate County Schools who is planning to study education at Northwest.

Delores Sanders Stewart

The Dr. Ellen Williams Endowment The Division of Nursing has established a scholarship honoring Dr. Ellen Williams, who served as division dean from 2008 to 2014.

Williams taught at Northwest from 1990 until 2014. Her vast work experience includes nursing in several local hospitals and owning and managing a home medical equipment company.

She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from The University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences College of Nursing.

Williams has received numerous honors including Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities; the Scholarly Writing Award, Mississippi Nurses Foundation; the Dean’s Scholarship for Outstanding Ph.D. Student for 2007-2008 at University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) and Mississippi Business Journal Outstanding Businessperson in 1988.

Williams is a two-time recipient of the Renee Reeb Research Award for Excellence in Qualitative Research in 2008 and 2011.

She is currently a member of the

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The Legacy Continues

After completing the program and passing the state board exam, the student brought a large sum of money to Dr. Jack Butts with the instructions to use it to help other practical nursing students. She explained that she could not have made it through the program without help, and this was her way to give back and help others.

Sybil Canon stated, “We are simply overwhelmed by the generosity of this student. I do not know her name, but I hope that she will read this article and know how very grateful we are.”

The scholarship will be awarded to Practical Nursing students who are enrolled on the Oxford campus. The first scholarship will be awarded for the 2016-17 academic year.

The ThyssenKrupp Scholarship

The Legacy Continues

Dr. Gary Lee Spears (left), president of Northwest recently welcomed Terri Moore, human resources manager of ThyssenKrupp Elevator Manufacturing, to the Northwest Foundation Office. Moore brought the news that ThyssenKrupp will be awarding a $1,000 scholarship for the 2015-16 academic year. “We are pleased to add Northwest to the list of community colleges and universities where we will be providing scholarships to the children of ThyssenKrupp employees,” Moore said. ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas is the largest producer of elevators in the Americas, with more than 13,500 employees and more than 200 branch and service locations.

Mississippi Education Redesign Committee, the Regional Health Council and is an appointed member of the Mississippi State Board of Health.

She is a member of the Mississippi Nurses Association, the Southern Nursing Research Society and the Beta Theta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, the International Honor Society of Nursing.

Under her leadership at Northwest, Williams was instrumental in establishing a partnership with UMMC for the RN-MSN program. Williams helped

implement the LPN to RN Transition program and coordinated the Shoot for the Heart fundraiser for the Nursing Division. She was instrumental in the planning and design of the college’s new state-of-theart nursing facility, and helped secure a grant for the nursing simulation laboratory.

“It was under Dr. Williams’ tenure as dean of the Nursing Division that the immensely successful fundraiser, Shoot for the Heart, was initiated in partnership with Keith Wilson of Olive Branch and the Community Foundation of

Northwest Mississippi. Thus, it is most appropriate that the nursing faculty, under the leadership of Dr. Denise Bynum, director, made the decision to endow this scholarship with funds from this event. Dr. Williams continued the standards of excellence that were begun by former director, Vicki Hale, and she built on those standards to create a nursing program that is second to none,” said Sybil Canon.

While specific criteria have not been established, the scholarship will be awarded to a student enrolled in the nursing program.

The Dr. Ellen Williams Endowed Scholarship was recently established by the Nursing Division, and the announcement was made at the Nursing Graduate Luncheon held on April 27. Williams was dean of the Nursing Division from 2008 to 2014, and taught at Northwest from 1990 to 2014. Congratulating Dr. Williams (center) are Nursing Division Director Dr. Denise Bynum (center left); Associate Vice President of Development and Special Projects Sybil Canon (center right) and nursing instructors (first row, from left) Deanna Wooddy, Catina Mathena, Mandy Deshotels, Pam Briscoe, Charisse Reed, Pam Llana, Dianne Scott, Lacey Gentry, Stacie Pegues, (second row l to r) Lisa Vincent, Stephanie Stevens, Olivia Russom, Monica Williams; administrative assistant Leslie Legendre; instructors Toni Blair, Cindy Springer, Stephanie Kennedy, Allison Pugh, Toni Barden, Stacy Taylor and Karin Randolph.

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Wallaces increase endowment with charitable trust In 1982, Hugh M. Wallace and his sister, Ruth W. Wallace, established a scholarship at Northwest to honor their parents, William Lynn and Lula Brooks Wallace, natives of Tate County. When the Foundation Office began hosting a scholarship recognition ceremony in 1997, Hugh's brother, Rev. William Lynn (Bill) Wallace, Jr. and his wife, Ida, attended that first ceremony and were faithful to attend for many years until health issues prevented their attending. Bill and Ida established a charitable lead trust which provided annual contributions to the scholarship. At Bill’s death in November of 2014, the remainder of the trust was given to the Foundation for the Wallace Endowment. A total of $18,600 was received from the charitable lead trust, and Bill and Ida and other family members contributed an additional $14,460 over the years.

Bill was born in the Wakefield Community of Tate County on Oct. 21, 1921, the fourth of five sons born to William Lynn Wallace, Sr. and Lula Lee Brooks Wallace. The other sons were Brooks, James, Mack and Luke. Bill grew up on a farm in Tate County and graduated from Independence High School.

He attended the University of Mississippi and received a B.A. from Lambuth College in Jackson, Tennessee, and a B.D. from Vanderbilt Divinity School.

Following graduation, he served as associate minister of West End Methodist Church in Nashville.

While at Vanderbilt, Bill met Ida Fitzpatrick from Sumner County in middle Tennessee at a sub-district MYF meeting. Ida was one of the presiding officers and was seated onstage. She bent over to pick something up from under her chair, and Bill declared, “she had the straightest part in her hair that I had ever seen.”

They married in 1950 and returned to north Mississippi to begin a career in ministry. The first Sunday of the new appointment Bill and Ida arrived a little early, and they were the only ones there.

Ida spied some mistletoe high in a tree and persuaded Bill to shimmy up the

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tree and pick it for her.

No one was around, so he thought he could accomplish this quickly.

While he climbed, the members drove up and caught Bill in the tree. When the administrative board chairman introduced Bill to the congregation, he said, “My understanding is our new pastor is a Vanderbilt graduate, but when I arrived he looked more like a possum up a tree.”

During his ministry Bill served several churches, including the Holcomb charge, once a month preached at the Depot in Avalon to an interdenominational gathering, Tutwiler–Rome, Greenwood St. John’s, Booneville First, Cleveland First, West Point First, Senatobia–Hunter’s Chapel, Amory First, and was twice appointed superintendent of the New Albany District. Bill retired and then served as a retired supply pastor for nine years in the East Prentiss Parish (Mt. Nebo, Marietta, and Siloam). He also enjoyed filling in for several months at Bethlehem Church in Union County. A delightful opportunity came when Bill was invited to be acting pastor at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church for four years.

Bill’s ancestors were Presbyterians from South Carolina, so he felt he had come “full-circle.” Through the years Bill was invited to many revivals in which he preached or led the singing, or did both.

Ida has been by his side carefully and joyously documenting everything through the lens of her camera. She is an avid amateur photographer and enjoyed taking wedding pictures. She recorded many changes through the years. Ida is also a gracious hostess. She planned

Bill and Ida Wallace and skillfully executed many Christmas open houses and dinners at the parsonages throughout their ministry together.

Bill and Ida have two children, Rachel and Will. Rachel resides in Livingston, Tennessee, with her husband Harry, and Will lives in New Albany. Harry and Rachel have two children, Dr. Luke (Dr. Julie O’Neal) Starnes and Stacie (Ben) Phillips and two grandchildren, Abram Phillips and Lucy Starnes.

Before Bill attended Vanderbilt he worked for a time at Cold Press Mill in Memphis. One day he was helping a customer and trying to encourage her to set up a monthly account instead of paying weekly. She gave him a piece of advice that became his personal code for the rest of his life. She pointedly told him, “Say less than you know, own more than you show, pay as you go, and praise God from whom all blessings flow! And don’t you forget it!”

Bill and Ida were married for more than 64 years when Bill died in 2014.

Ida currently resides in New Albany.

Summer 2015

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DeSoto Center celebrates 40th anniversary DeSoto Center instructors and staff joined alumni, former administrators and retirees in a fish fry on the front lawn of the Southaven campus to celebrate DeSoto Center’s 40th anniversary May 5. The college’s Steel Drum Band entertained the crowd as old friends gathered to laugh and reminisce. The event was sponsored by the Northwest Foundation.

DeSoto Center opened in 1975 at the site of the former Alodex building on Northwest Drive in Southaven, now Southaven City Hall. Twenty years later, the campus moved to its present site off Church Road. Academic pathways and Career-Technical programs are offered at the center, in addition to the 2+2 partnership with the University of Mississippi.

Familiar faces attending the event included retirees (l to r) Keith Godbold (DeSoto Center dean), Dr. David M. Haraway (president), Elizabeth Burns (DeSoto Center assistant dean) and (second from right) Dr. Bonnie Buntin (University of Mississippi DeSoto Center dean), who visited with current Vice President for Education Richie Lawson (third from right) and DeSoto Center Dean Jeremy Isome (far right). (top) Jami Thorsen of Horn Lake (right), a 2003 alumna and her daughter Jennifer enjoyed the fish fry. (center left) Retired English instructor Charles Ingram and his wife, Karin chat with former colleagues. (center right) Administrative assistant Pearl McGlothian greets retired Evening School Director Ed Beach. (above left) Northwest Board of Trustees members (l to r) David Hargett, Jamie Howell and Dorothy Wilbourn enjoy the catfish dinner. (left) Photos by LaJuan Tallo/Julie Bauer

20

The college’s Steel Drum Band entertained the crowd with lively music. (above)

the sporting life

Dual-sport athlete Lee joins state Hall of Fame Former Northwest two-sport athlete G. Max Lee was inducted into the Mississippi Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame on April 28.

The eighth annual induction ceremony was held at the Muse Center on the Rankin County campus of Hinds Community College, with close to 300 in attendance.

A native of Sardis, Lee was a two-sport athlete at Northwest during the 1959-61 seasons, earning two letters in both football and baseball for the Rangers. He was inducted into the Northwest Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

Lee was offered a football scholarship in the spring of 1959 by head coach Jimmy Jobe and played two seasons.

With Lee as quarterback for the 1960 Rangers, his sophomore season, the team finished the year with seven consecutive wins and won the school’s first state championship (cochamps) at 8-2 overall. In that same year he was named allstate and a Mississippi Junior College All-Star.

Lee played the 1960-61 baseball seasons for head coaches Billy Oakley and Jack Adams, seeing time on the mound and in the outfield.

While at Northwest, Lee served as class president his freshman and sophomore year, president of Phi Theta Kappa his sophomore year and was a member of the Student Council.

After leaving Northwest, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Mississippi State University in 1964 and served in the Naval Air Reserves from 1965-1971.

He was employed with Louisiana Power and Light—later becoming Entergy Corporation—in New Orleans from 1964 until his retirement in 1999.

—Kevin Maloney

Northwest Vice President/Registrar Larry Simpson (right), congratulates G. Max Lee on his induction into the Mississippi Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame last April.

Photo by Steve Diffey/Holmes CC

Two place in final Ozark Region standings Northwest rodeo has a longstanding tradition of bringing competitive college rodeo action to the MidSouth. This season, two participants led the Ranger rodeo program in the Ozark Region standings.

Sophomore Kindyl Scruggs (Southaven) finished in a tie for sixth in the Ozark Region final barrel racing standings with 350 points. Scruggs has been a mainstay in the barrel racing standings and has previously competed in the 2013 College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming.

Freshman Tray Watkins (Bolivar, Tennessee) finished in the top 15 bull riding standings, wrapping up the 2014-15 season at ninth overall with 110 points.

As a team, Northwest placed in a total of six events, with the men earning a season-high sixth place finish at Three Rivers (Missouri) in early October. The women also earned two sixth place finishes at Southern Arkansas and Cossatot Community College (Arkansas).

Both teams finished the season at 10th overall in the Ozark Region. Northwest rodeo is led by first-year coach Shelli Benton.

—Brian Lentz

www.northwestms.edu

Summer 2015

21

the sporting life

Baseball finishes at No. 16 Postseason appearances have become a common theme for the Northwest Ranger baseball program. The 2015 season was no different.

The Rangers posted a 33-17 overall record, a 19-9 MACJC record, and a runner-up finish in the state tournament.

Northwest also finished the year ranked at 16th overall in the NJCAA Division II poll, the team’s highest-ranked finish since 2002. Under the leadership of 10th-year head coach Mark Carson, the team also made an appearance in the Region 23 tournament for the third time in five seasons and reached the 30-win mark for the fourth time in five seasons and the ninth time since 2000.

Northwest began the season with a preseason ranking of 20th by Collegiate Baseball, before splitting a pair of doubleheaders against Southwest Tennessee and Arkansas Baptist to open the season.

The Rangers then won eight out of their next 10 contests, including doubleheader sweeps against MACJC opponents Pearl River and Coahoma.

After earning a split against eighthranked Jones County and two wins against Dyersburg State and Jackson State, the Rangers embarked on a 12-

game winning streak, the longest win streak since a 13-game stretch in 2001.

The streak included doubleheader sweeps against Gulf Coast, CopiahLincoln, Mississippi Delta and Northeast, scoring a combined total of 96 runs in those 12 games.

Northwest closed the regular season with wins at No. 14 East Mississippi and No. 20 Meridian, while splitting a doubleheader against Holmes. The Rangers opened the MACJC playoffs with a series sweep against Jones County and defeated EMCC twice in the state tournament, before falling to top-ranked Hinds in the state championship. From there, the Rangers began play in the Region 23 tournament, again defeating EMCC, before falling to LSU-Eunice and Hinds to end the season.

Six Rangers were named MACJC AllState, including first team selections Dalton Dulin and Clay Casey. The pair also earned NJCAA All-Region 23, and Dulin was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 17th round of the MLB draft. Second team selections were third baseman Stuart Chick, shortstop LeeMarcus Boyd, and pitchers Colin Liles and Colt Smith.

—Brian Lentz

In his only season in a Ranger uniform, Dalton Dulin hit .354 with 17 doubles, three home runs and 25 RBIs, while setting a new school record for stolen bases with 46. Dulin was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 17th round of the 2015 MLB draft.

Photo by Mitch Deaver/Pearl River CC

Tennis teams make strides After returning last season from a near-decade hiatus, the Northwest Ranger tennis program continues to make strides after wrapping up its second full season as a sanctioned sport.

The men’s team finished 2015 with a 5-2 overall record, while the women put together a 3-4 mark. While neither team cracked the ITA National Rankings this season, there were still plenty of highlights on both sides.

Both programs opened the season at 2-0 after earning home victories against Northeast and Holmes. From there, both programs rebounded from losses at East Central by defeating Northeast and earning season sweeps against the Tigers. The women dropped the final three matches of the regular season, while the men swept Hinds and fell to 19th-ranked Itawamba.

Both teams capped off the season in the MACJC championships, earning seventh place finishes on both sides. The women’s team finished with three singles victories, while also earning two wins in the doubles bracket. Meanwhile, the men’s team also picked up three singles victories.

The Northwest tennis program is led by third-year head coach Troy Howell and all home matches are played at the Ranger Outdoor Complex (“The ROC”) on the Senatobia campus.

—Brian Lentz

www.northwestms.edu

the sporting life

Softball makes eighth postseason appearance Despite a season-ending series loss to Pearl River in the MACJC state playoffs, the 2015 season proved to be yet another successful year for the Northwest Ranger softball team.

In coach Mike Rowan’s 12th season at the helm, the Rangers finished 27-10 overall, while earning their third MACJC North Division championship with a record of 195. As a result, the Rangers made the postseason for the eighth time since Rowan took over as head coach in 2004.

Northwest opened the season MACJC All-State selection Jessica Holliday went 10-2 with a 1.77 ERA this season. Holliday will continue her softball career as a walk-on at Delta State University.

Photo by Jordan Hall

with two doubleheader splits on the road at Southwest Mississippi and Hinds, before earning four doubleheader sweeps against East Mississippi, Williams Baptist, Holmes and Mississippi Delta. The Rangers then won seven of their next 10 contests, including two doubleheader sweeps against Coahoma and splits against Itawamba, EMCC and Northeast.

The Rangers would close out the regular season by winning six of their last eight contests, including two doubleheader sweeps against ICC and Mississippi Delta.

Northwest would split with Northeast in the regular season finale to earn the division title.

After falling to Pearl River to open the MACJC first round playoff Softball page 29

➤

Golfers solid in tourney play After losing its top two golfers weeks before the 2015 season teed off, Northwest managed three Top 5 finishes on a six-match slate.

Northwest’s best outing of the season was at Dancing Rabbit in Philadelphia March 23-24, carding a two-day score of 624 to place fourth. The Rangers were led by sophomore Trey Wilkinson for a second straight tournament as he finished in a T-8th with a 75-76.

Three weeks earlier, Wilkinson tied a career-low round of 75 at Eagle Ridge in Raymond to lead Northwest to a fifth place finish at the Hinds/Co-Lin Invitational.

Despite leading its own tournament—the Northwest Invitational April 6-7— by two strokes after the first day, the Rangers stumbled the final 18 holes to finish in a tie for fifth at Wedgewood/Back Acres.

Northwest closed out the season on April 19 at the MACJC State Championship in Columbus, improving by 16 strokes over the final day to card a seventh place finish with a 604.

Freshman Alex Taylor led all Rangers on the season with a 77.2 scoring average in 12 rounds, followed by sophomore Hayes Carr (77.6), T. Wilkinson (78.9), sophomore Alan Larson (79.3), freshman Scott Hensley (80.6) and freshman Walker Wilkinson (84.8).

Northwest has sent at least one golfer to the NJCAA National Tournament in 10 of the previous 15 seasons and will look to bounce back in 2016.

—Kevin Maloney

www.northwestms.edu

Freshman Alex Taylor led all Rangers on the season with a 77.2 scoring average in 12 rounds.

Photo by Kevin Maloney

Summer 2015

23

Leaving Their Mark Instructors offer yearbook editor life-changing opportunities

By LaJuan Tallo

The great college basketball coach John Wooden once said, “Seek opportunities to show you care. The smallest gestures often make the biggest difference.”

For Northwest alumnus James Greer, a small gesture by one of his instructors made a huge difference in the course his life would take.

When Greer came to Northwest in 1989, he was not really sure what he wanted to do with his life. He was an English major, and one of his instructors introduced him to Dr. Ann Whitten, who was then director of Public Relations and the journalism instructor. Dr. Whitten and her staff were responsible for overseeing the college’s newspaper and yearbook. Greer volunteered for the yearbook his freshman year and was asked to be editor during his sophomore year. He became editor of the 1991 Rocketeer, which featured the theme “We Leave Our Mark.”

“Dr. Whitten took a risk on me,” Greer said. He remembered that a lot of work was involved in producing the yearbook at that time. “Everything was paper-based. I remember the layout process on those big sheets and cropping photos to fit. It was a lot of fun.” He remembered how hard everyone worked on the yearbook and credited Nancy Patterson, who was then assistant director of Public Relations for

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Northwest Now

Former Rocketeer editor James Greer credits the personal attention and opportunities given to him by his Northwest instructors for leading him down a path of success at Millsaps College and now as a personal financial officer. her hard work. “We owe Nancy Patterson a lot. She worked hard on keeping us on track,” Greer said.

Dr. Whitten’s influence over Greer did not end with his participation in yearbook.

Whitten became a mentor to him, and saw something in him that he did not know was there. “Dr. Whitten changed my life. She picked up on something that I didn’t see.

She encouraged me to read works that challenged me and to develop myself culturally,” Greer said. At the time, Greer was in the Air Force ROTC headed to either The University of Mississippi or The University of Southern Mississippi. Greer had applied for a scholarship to Southern Miss, but somehow his paperwork was lost. At around the same time, Dr. Whitten asked him to take a trip to Millsaps College, a private liberal arts college in Jackson. His other instructors, Dr. Carson Holloman and Dr. Lucie Bridgforth encouraged him to go.

Greer said he thought that he would never get in or have enough money even if he did. He spent the day there with Dr. Whitten meeting people and walking around the campus. “The next thing I knew, I had a pretty significant scholarship and I was on my way to Millsaps the next year,” Greer said. He feels like that day with Dr. Whitten set him on the right path.

At Northwest, Greer was a member of the Northwest Hall of Fame, which is the highest honor a Northwest student can receive. He was also the Outstanding Student in Sociology and Spanish, was a member of the Northwest Student Senate, Phi Theta Kappa, Student Government and was named a member of Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges. “When I got out of high school, I had pretty decent grades, but I did not know where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do. I was afraid when I started college

www.northwestms.edu

Greer’s mentor, Northwest Public Relations Director Dr. Ann Whitten, edits a piece of his writing during a yearbook work session in 1991. that I was not going to do well. What I learned at Northwest was that I had ‘human beings’ as teachers who talked to me like I was an adult. It was my responsibility to do well, but if I showed an interest, they were going to help me do well,” Greer said.

At Millsaps, he changed his major to European Studies, which involved a lot of one-on-one coursework. He studied two main disciplines while there: Literature and European Accounting. With his degree, he had all of the English classes, but also a number of business and accounting classes. He got interviews with accounting firms after graduation, but ended up working in Norwalk, Connecticut with a consulting firm for a year, and then moved on to work for Time Warner Cable in television finance.

After several years he took one year off to work for a Congressional representative in Connecticut, and then returned to television finance, working for Showtime Networks.

Greer received his MBA from Fordham University in New York and also became a CPA. He worked for the firm of Ernst and Young for a couple of years in their Real Estate Group. He had become close to the retired chairman of Lord and Taylor, and after he left Ernst and Young he started his own firm, and this chairman became one

of his first clients. He ended up with six or seven wealthy clients, helping them with estate planning, tax work, bill paying, real estate and financial advising, which he describes as being a “personal CFO.” He was working toward obtaining a certificate to become a Registered Investment Advisor and merge with another firm when another opportunity came about. A close friend started working for a very prominent family in California, and Greer was asked to come and work for them as well. Greer explained that many wealthy families will hire people to work for them exclusively in sort of a “single family office.” Greer now acts as the chief financial person for this family, but is unable to disclose who they are.

He visited the Senatobia campus in September, and was surprised by how the campus had grown. “I can still recognize it, but it has been modernized and it looks great. It looks like a diverse and modern college campus,” Greer said.

Patterson, who is now retired from her tenure as director of Public Relations,

remembers working with Greer when he was a student. “Jimmy was a great yearbook editor. Because he was actively involved in student life, he was able to bring the whole Northwest experience to his book. He was a pleasure to work with,” Patterson said.

He sums up his experiences at Northwest easily, noting that had it not been for teachers who took an outside interest in him, he probably would not have gone to Millsaps and down the path that he ended up taking. “Northwest was a good experience. It was a lot different than I would have expected, and that experience has served me very well. It was a great foundation. It got me where I am today,” Greer said.

As a sophomore at Northwest, Greer was named to the Hall of Fame and was Outstanding Student in both Spanish and Sociology.

www.northwestms.edu

Summer 2015

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Retirees honored at service awards ceremony The Northwest Foundation honored retiring employees during its annual Faculty and Staff Awards Ceremony and Reception April 29 in the Haraway Center. Retirees for 2015 include (front row, l to r) Lisa Vincent, nursing instructor; Ruby Lee, food service; Sandy Meurrier, Health-care Data Technology instructor; Kay Robinson, Adult Basic Education instructor; (second row) Whit Perry, Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology instructor; Dr. Alice Camp, Early Childhood Education Technology instructor; Guy Purdy, director, Adult Basic Education; Mike Dottorey, counselor/recruiter and Disability Support Services officer and Cheryl Rice, Graphic Design Technology instructor. Not pictured are Dr. Sandra Banham, English instructor, James Creecy, Industrial Electronics Engineering Technology instructor and Marshall Lea Creecy, residence hall supervisor.

Photos by LaJuan Tallo

Service Awards 40 YEARS— History instructor Jackie Collinsworth was honored with a wooden rocking chair featuring the Northwest seal for 40 years of service. (right) 35 YEARS— Physical Plant Director Mike Robison (left) and Mike Dottorey, counselor/ recruiter and Disability Support Services officer were honored for 35 years of service. The two received engraved silver trays for their years of service. (far right)

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Northwest Now

30 YEARS— DeSoto Center maintenance technician Keith Dennis (left), computer operator/programmer Karen Adair and Career-Tech secretary Delores Jennings received crystal bowls for 30 years of service.

Not pictured is Dale Davis. (right)

www.northwestms.edu

25 YEARS— (l to r) Leonard Riley, Charlotte Alexander, Dianne Scott and Lisa Vincent. Not pictured are Dr. Robert Bunce and Penny Potts. (left) 20 YEARS— (l to r) John Ungurait, Dr. Chuck Strong, Guy Purdy, Bert Foster, Cheryl Rice, Annie Lee Jackson and Ruby Dandridge.

Not pictured are Charlie Aaron, Glennie Mae Leverson and Deborah Wilbourn. (below left) 15 YEARS— (l to r) Rob Smith, Shane Louwerens, Rhonda Still, Suzanne Brown, Diane Todd and Richard Walley. Not pictured are Lincoln Cobb and Gladys Wheatley. (below)

10 YEARS— (l to r) Rose Mitchell, Angie Stuart, Lizzie McClinton, Ardina Wilson, David Kellum, Sharon Self, Beth Dickerson, Kim Perkins, Jerry Clements, James Neal, Mary Bonds, Allison Eoff and Theresa Massie. Not pictured are Lawayne House, David Lambert, Laura Legge, Scott Oakley, Sherrye Pattridge, Philistine Tate and Stacy Stewart. (left) 5 YEARS— (l to r) Laquita Smith-Parker, Scott Swanson, Tonyalle Rush, Pam Simpson, Corine Newsom, Amy Massey, Leslie Legendre, Frank Cleveland, Vikki Barefoot, Erika Stanford, Suzanne Geeslin, Connie Smith, Michael Carson, Paula Lipford, Alane Tentoni, Donnell Golden, Ellis Brown, Jerry Cathey, Dr. Timothy Flake, Richard Swinney, Scott Mounger, Sadie Shannon and Patricia Woods. Not pictured are Abby Embrey, Wilfred Mayfield, Deborah Burnside, Stephan McDavid, Jennifer Smith and Erica Lane. (below left)

Retirement and service awards are provided by Benefit Concepts and the Northwest Foundation

www.northwestms.edu

Summer 2015

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Four-man teams participate in annual tourney Northwest’s annual Foundation Golf Tournament was held May 7 at Back Acres Country Club in Senatobia. The four-man scramble featured 16 teams competing in championship and tournament flights.

Clockwise from right: Taking first place in the championship flight were (l to r) Harvey Cook of Memphis, Dwayne Barmer of Batesville, Greg Vaughn of Oxford and Jeremy Aldridge of Batesville. Second place winners were Lee Spencer and Hayes Carr, both of Senatobia and Justin Crockett and Mark Lispcomb, both of Como. Receiving third place were Bobby Shipp, Will Worsham and Paul Savage of Batesville and Parke Pepper of Senatobia.

First place winners in the tournament flight were Steve White of Hernando and Mark Boyd, T.A. Wooten and Greg Pegram, all of Senatobia. Taking second place were Bubba Skelton, Matt Sellers, Mike Rowan and Brandon Rowan, all of Senatobia. Placing third were Trey Pritchard of Marks, Hogan Lovelace of Robinsonville, Richard Golden of Memphis and Mike Boren of Tunica.

Winning the Closest to the Pin contest were James Ennis of Hernando and Harvey Cook of Memphis. First, second and third place teams received Pro Shop gift cards. Closest to the Pin winners received gift certificates to Windy City Grille. The winner of the Putting Contest was Wayne Irby of Oxford.

Photos by LaJuan Tallo & Julie Bauer

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Northwest Now

www.northwestms.edu

➢

PTK from page 8

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant; State Sen. Terry Burton, vice chairman of the universities and colleges committee; Dr. Eric Clark, executive director of the Mississippi Community College Board and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Executive Director, Dr. Rod Risley served as distinguished speakers at the recognition luncheon.

Northwest President, Dr. Gary Lee Spears, played a special role in this year’s ceremony by serving as chairman of the event’s steering committee for the fifth year in a row.

Each two-year college in Mississippi may nominate two students per campus to the All-Mississippi Academic Team.

Nominations are based on outstanding academic performance and service to the college and community.

—LaJuan Tallo

➢

Journalists from page 8

Rocket staff received 13 awards out of 20 categories and competed against community college newspapers such as Jones County Junior College’s The Radionian, East Central Community College’s The Tom-Tom and Southwest Mississippi Community College’s The Pine-Burr.

Rudy Armstrong of Calhoun City received second place for best sports news story, “Former Ranger football players.”

Corey McKinney of Wesson received second place for best sports feature story with “Sports podcast now available.”

Larry Mason of Southaven received second place in best feature story with “Benton finds that hard work pays off in school.” Kreneice Reid of Water Valley won third place in best general news photo with “Miss Firecracker,” and third place in best spot news photo with “Zumba craze on campus.”

Other winners were Gabrielle Williams of Southaven, who received second place in best spot news photo with “Students partake in Homecoming Carnival with Velcro wall.”

Kenn Falkner of Holly Springs received second place in best sports photo with “Men’s Soccer.” Editor Lauren Benton of Olive Branch received first place in best spot news photo with “Miss Firecracker auditions held,” second place in editorials and third place in best feature photo with “Campus police making presence on campus.”

The Ranger Rocket staff as a whole received first place in best graphic with “Clearance is key,” second place in best website and second place in general excellence.

—Lauren Benton

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Board from page 11

Foundation has awarded $3,121,315 in scholarships since 1997.

“The scholarship funds, added to the funds that have been raised for special projects such as the piano for the Fine Arts Auditorium, championship rings for the football team, the Northwest Singers trip to New York, textbook assistance, and other projects, plus the current value of the endowment, would create a total well over $13 million that has been generated through the generosity of countless donors and the sound fiscal management of the endowment,” Canon said.

—LaJuan Tallo

www.northwestms.edu

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Walton from page 13

institutions applied, Lynn was chosen to host the last of three presidential debates in 2012. “I was actually inspired by the transformative impact the 2008 debate had at Ole Miss. I think it recast and reframed the way a lot of people viewed Ole Miss,” Walton said. He added that he could actually trace his love of debates back to Northwest, when he and Grisham put together a candidate’s debate after long-time Mississippi congressman Jamie Whitten retired.

“It was an election year in Mississippi, and he came to me asking if I thought we could put on a debate for the candidates at Northwest. ‘Of course,’ I said, and then got out of his way. He did the rest. That was the beginning of his ‘debate organizing’ career, the most recent of which was the 2012 Lynn University final Presidential Debate. He certainly has risen to whatever occasion presented itself to him,” Grisham said.

Walton sums up his thoughts about what a good educator is very simply. “I believe educators of consequence are lifelong learners,” Walton said. He says that is what he strives to be. He believes that having the great instructors he had at Northwest set him on the path he is on today. “I know that if I had gone straight to a four-year setting, I don’t think I would have had the good start that I had at Northwest,” he said.

“When Jason walked in the door on the first day of classes, I knew he was going places. He is a bright fellow with an easy smile, who made friends quickly, took leadership roles without hesitation and excelled at whatever he tackled. Yet he always remained humble, and never got the ‘big head.’

Northwest means a great deal to him, as it did to his mother and father who both attended our college. He cares deeply about his home state of Mississippi, and has returned not only to raise his children here, but to be an extraordinary educational leader in Jackson, and to work to improve the quality of life for all those who live here. Jason is a true son of the South, one we can be proud to call our own,” Grisham said.

Walton and his wife, the former Laurie Bearden, an educator and Northwest alumna, are the parents of Caroline and John. They are active in First Baptist Church of Jackson.

Walton is also a dedicated Rotarian.

➢

Softball from page 23

series, the Rangers rallied back for a 3-1 Game 2 victory against the Wildcats. However, a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to the Wildcats in Game 3 ended the Rangers’ postseason stay.

A total of seven Rangers received MACJC postseason honors, as freshman catcher Brittany Rochelle and sophomore pitchers Jessica Holliday and Kiley Dunagan were named to the MACJC All-State team. Dunagan and Rochelle also received selections to the All-North Division team, along with freshman third baseman Erin Claire Stegall, sophomore outfielder Kendall Alford and sophomore designated player Micalah Beall. Freshman outfielder Hanna Hunter also was named to the north division second team.

—Brian Lentz

Summer 2015

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honorariums/memorials

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 the men and women 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 Nov. 1, 2014, and May 31, 2015, 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) 560-1103.

MEMORIALS Sam Allison

by Mr. Marty Allison Mrs. Ellen A. Anderson Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Britt Mrs. Beverly Gaddy Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Montgomery Jimmy Neal Andrews

by Mrs. Sybil Canon Mr. and Mrs. William T. Dawson Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Dye M.C. Herrington, Incorporated Mr. Cleavy Hoover Ms. Julie Niblett Northcentral MS Electric Power Association Olive Branch Football Lettermans Club Mr. Scott Phillips Eugenia Arnold

by Dr. and Mrs. Johnny Still, Jr. Charlie Baldwin, Jr.

by Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Baird BankPlus Ms. Josephine Barkley Mr. Dennis Brunson Mrs. Sybil Canon Mr. Tim Clements Mrs. Beverly Coker Mr. and Mrs. Randall Crawford Mr. and Mrs. Claude Crump, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Duncan Mr. Joey Dylla Mr. and Mrs. Larry Engledow Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Hare Mr. and Mrs. Peter Jarjoura Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Judd Ms. Cindy Lantrip Mr. and Mrs. Rodney A. Leist Mr. Mike Mears Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Medling NWCC Athletic Department NWCC Soccer Team Mr. and Mrs. Guy Purdy Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Robbins Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Rochelle Mr. and Mrs. Mike Sawyer Mr. and Mrs. Walter T. Scott

Ina Claire Boyd

by Mr. Whit Perry

Benjamin Hayes Dickinson

by Ms. Sylvia Hickey

Carson Holloman

by Mr. Blaine Baggett

Ron Bradley

by Mr. and Mrs. Guy Purdy

Robert Dodson

by Mrs. Mildred Perry

Kole Briscoe

by Mrs. Cheryl Rooker

Raiford L. & Inez C. Fancher

by Mr. Arthur Finkelberg Mr. and Mrs. Briggs Smith

Kelly Wayne Hudson

by Ms. Sharon Hudson Mrs. June McCulley Ms. Donna Sanders

Allison Britt

by Mr. Marty Allison Mary Broadway

by Mr. Joe Broadway Mr. and Mrs. Philips McCarty Ms. Jean Nunnally Cecil Burford

by Mrs. Sybil Canon Mr. and Mrs. William Correro Robbie H. Butts

by Mr. Joe Elliott Mrs. June McCulley Michael Byrd

by Ms. Sandra Watson Perrin Caldwell

by Youth Progress Association, Inc. Howard & Edna Carpenter

by Mr. and Mrs. Herman Coats Bela J. & Ruby Black Chain

by Dr. and Mrs. Buddy Chain, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Grant Hunter Rita Carol Chance

by Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Chance

Judge Anthony T. Farese

by Mr. and Mrs. Earwood Mrs. Margie Farese Mr. and Mrs. Steven Farese, Sr. Norris Faust

by Mr. Norris Faust, Jr. Charlotte Ferguson

by Mrs. Anne B. Crockett Martha Fite

by Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Still, Jr. Aaron German

by Ms. Dorothy Bryce Mr. and Mrs. Read Morton Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Salmon James P. Graeber Lewis Graeber

by The Graeber Foundation Jessica Gresham

by Ms. Linda S. Laine Charles Gurley Paula Gurley

by Ms. Mary Minor

Robert Hyde

by Mr. Sherman Austin Mr. Alfonzo Battle, Jr. Ms. Effie J. Boothe Ms. Bettye J. Caldwell Mr. and Mrs. Roy Cole Mr. and Mrs. James Garner Mr. Lionel Henderson Ms. Daisy Herring Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hobbs Mr. and Mrs. Hosie Holmes Mrs. Cathryn Hyde Ms. Deborah James Mrs. Helen M. James Ms. Jacqueline James Mr. Gene Leland Ms. Mary A. Love Ms. Stella Pearson Ms. Annie L. Rice Ms. Lourine J. Robinson Mrs. Mildred Washington James Jackson

by Mr. Dennis Cobb Bert Johnson

by Mr. and Mrs. Milton Allen Mr. and Mrs. Bill Bacon Dr. Robert H. Johnson

David Childers

by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Paul Wooten

Russell Hadskey

by Mrs. Jean Hadskey Mr. and Mrs. Todd Latham

Charlotte Johnston

by Mr. Wayne Ferguson Mr. Marcus Perkins Mr. and Mrs. Greg Steinman Mrs. Amy Stewart

Dot Childress

by Northcentral MS Electric Power Assocation

Maury & Jane Haraway

by Ms. Julie Niblett

Finis N. & Vera D. Kelly

by Ms. Dale K. Thompson

Pete & Pauline Harris

by Ms. Joan Pierce Dr. and Mrs. Walter Wicker Mr. and Mrs. Dean Wright

Ava Jewel Keough

by Mr. and Mrs. Guy Purdy

Joe Cosby

by J.K. and Tammy Smith Charles Croft

by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Paul Wooten

Khalid Khouri

by Mr. Bud Donahou

Eva Daniels

by Mr. and Mrs. William Correro

Jimmy L. Herndon

by Mr. Hugh Basinger Mr. Dale Graham Mr. Bill Russell

Holli Pond Day

by Mr. Zabron Davis, IV Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Pilgrim

Leslie, Paula, & Hal Herring

by Mrs. Jenna Graves Ms. Mimi Herring

Paul Lawrence

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

Kenneth Bloodworth

by Mr. and Mrs. Briggs Smith

Pamela Joyce Day

by Ms. Lela Hale Ms. Beverly Thompson

Maxine F. Lay

by Ms. Sylvia Hickey

Estelle Bobo

by Mr. and Mrs. Leon McCullouch

Charles & Elizabeth Dean

by Mrs. Delores Jennings

William O. Hickey

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

A.W. & LaNelle Bouchillon

by Ms. Adrian Wise Mr. and Mrs. Bart Wise

Frances Marie Dean

by Mrs. Linda Fite

Joe Beckum

by Mrs. Jean Beckum Mr. and Mrs. Al Canon Mr. Don Clanton Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Paul Wooten Carl & Mattie Blanchard Jack & Betty Blanchard

by Mr. and Mrs. Louis Blanchard

30

Northwest Now

Rich Defenbaugh

by Ms. Sylvia Hickey

Tommy Hogan

by Mr. and Mrs. Ken Harris Mrs. Penny Potts Allen Holliday

by Mrs. Macelle Holliday

Holly Koonce

by Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Branan Mr. and Mrs. John McCrary

Harvey Lee

by Mr. Hugh Basinger Mr. Dale Graham Mr. and Mrs. Sturgis Monteith Mr. Bill Russell Ms. Celeste Wilson Tom Leishman

by Mr. and Mrs. Sturgis Monteith

honorariums/memorials Senatobia Rotary Club Elizabeth Wynne Lewis

by Mr. and Mrs. Derrill Argo Mr. and Mrs. John Baur Mr. and Mrs. Jim Black Mr. and Mrs. Don J. Blair Mr. and Mrs. Boyce Bradford Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Branan Mrs. Kitt Brand Mr. Joe Broadway Cannon Wright Blount Cook and Bolton–Merrill Lynch Mr. and Mrs. Don Corey Cosmopolitan Club–Senatobia Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Ellett Mrs. Kathryn Gabbert Mr. and Mrs. John Germain Mr. and Mrs. Jim Giusti Mr. and Mrs. Sonny Grantham Mrs. Mary Sue Hankins Ms. Joanna G. Hansbrough Ms. Dana B. Hudson Paul, Nelda and Mallory Johnson Ms. Alice F. Lishman Ms. Joyce Margulies Ms. Roberta Mayfield Mr. and Mrs. Chis McCall Mr. and Mrs. Randy McCall Mr. and Mrs. Philips McCarty Mrs. Mariglyn N. Meacham Memphis Guild of Handloom Weavers Ms. Gay Moss Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Nelligan Ms. Jean Nunnally Ms. Denise B. Pecht Chris Peterson Mr. and Mrs. Willis Pope Mr. and Mrs. Kenny Puryear Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Rogers Mrs. Mary Singer Mrs. Carolyn Stanford Ms. Sarah Trotter Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Wilson Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Wood Mary Elizabeth Walker Lewis

by Mr. and Mrs. Al Canon Ms. Gloria J. Darby Mr. and Mrs. Ken Dossett Mr. Bob Gray, Jr. Mrs. Mary Gray Mr. and Mrs. Clay Moore Robert Lightsey

by Mr. and Mrs. Bob Burkes Mr. and Mrs. William Correro Bill Lipscomb

by Mr. and Mrs. Mark Lipscomb James Maness

by Mr. and Mrs. Guy Purdy Angelé McClure

by Mr. Jim McClure Pennie McKinney

by Ms. Toni Barden Mrs. Toni Blair Mrs. Pam Briscoe John Meacham

by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Carothers Ms. Anita Moffatt The Taylor Railey Family Mr. and Mrs. Briggs Smith Sandra Kay Merrill

by Mr. and Mrs. Dreher Harris Chief Bill Moore

by Mr. and Mrs. George H. Land Mrs. Becky Moore Clen Moore

by Mr. and Mrs. Al Canon Mrs. Mariglyn N. Meacham Mr. and Mrs. Julian E. Smith

Kirk Moore

by Youth Progress Assocation

Jerry W. Riley

by Mr. Tom Ferguson

Dr. Larry Sylvester Mr. and Mrs. Richard Tallo

Leonard Morris

by Mr. Gary Anderson Mr. Sherman E. Austin Mrs. Catherine Ferguson Mr. and Mrs. Leonard W. Morris

Dr. Augustinus Rinaldy

by Dr. Darrell Barnes Dr. Larry Sylvester

Lauren Elizabeth Tallo

by Ms. Sondra Holliday Mr. Michael McDuffie Mr. and Mrs. Richard Tallo

J.K. & Norma Mote

by Mr. and Mrs. Phil Mote Baxter H. Murphree

by Ms. Peggy Mark Foman & Nita Musselwhite

by Mr. Thomas Lilly Jeffrey Nichols

by Mrs. Elizabeth Dickerson Mr. and Mrs. Morris Thompson Maxine Dunn Nichols

by Mrs. Cynthia Nichols Mr. and Mrs. Harold Nichols

Norma Shuford Riser

by Ms. Katherine Pinter Ms. Elizabeth Johnston

Ross & Lucile Robison

by Mr. and Mrs. Mike Robison

Charles Taylor

by Mrs. Julia Austin Mr. and Mrs. Frank Canada Mrs. Sybil Canon Ms. Winna Ree Cunningham Ms. Gloria J. Darby Mrs. Jean Hadskey Mr. and Mrs. Walter McKellar Mrs. Marilyn N. Meacham Mr. and Mrs. Martin Michael Mr. and Mrs. George Yow

Loletta Rogers

by Ms. Sylvia Hickey

Robert Tharp

by Ms. Sylvia Hickey

Samantha Hayward Ross

by Mrs. Kitt Brand

Nat Troutt

by Mrs. Lucile Troutt Youth Progress Association

B. Joan Robertson

by Mr. Floyd Robertson Tony Roberson

by Mr. Kevin Wulff

Stephen Nichols

by Mrs. Cynthia Nichols

Berneice Roy

by Chip and Sandie McLaughlin

John S. (Sonny) Orrell

by Mr. Carson Hughes

Shirley Ann Ryan

by Mr. and Mrs. Guy Purdy

C.W. Parker

by Dr. and Mrs. Steve Akre Mrs. Dorothy Moore Parker

Robert Sanders

by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Brown Mr. Jerry Clark

Jess “Jim” James Patridge

by Mrs. Kitt Brand

Freddie & Bertha Sanford

by Dr. Everlyn S. Johnson

Arthur Pearson

by Ms. Stella Pearson

Jewel L. Segars

by Dr. and Mrs. Gary Lee Spears

W.B. & Polly Perkins

by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Givens

C.D. Shorter

by Chip and Sandie McLaughlin

Mr. William P. (Bill) Perkins

by Mrs. Frances Perkins

Tim Shorter

by Ms. Kathy Buchanan Mr. Joe Elliott Ms. Darlene Greenlee Mr. and Mrs. Scott Holmes Mr. Matthew Johnson Ms. Suzette Logan Chip and Sandie McLaughlin Ms. Lisa Russell

Michael Clyde Perry

by Mr. Whit Perry J.P. (Blue) & Virginia Varner Phillips

by Joel and Katie Varner Ms. Eleanor Winter The Hon. Governor and Mrs. William Winter John Mark Pickett

by Ms. Suzanne Speed Scott Potts

by Mr. Don Clanton Mr. and Mrs. Frank Givens Mr. and Mrs. Ken Harris Dr. and Mrs. Gary Lee Spears Stephen Purdy

by Mrs. Vickie M. Bradley Mr. and Mrs. Clifton Dandridge Mr. John Harrison Ms. Kay Robinson Marie Ann Ray

by Mr. and Mrs. Guy Purdy Priscilla W. Red

by Mrs. Sybil Canon Ms. Melody Carter Mr. and Mrs. Keith Godbold Lamar & Hannaford, P.A. Ms. Roberta Mayfield Mrs. Frances C. Perkins Mr. and Mrs. Greg Steinman Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Paul Wooten Mildred & Robert Redding

by Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Redding Mr. and Mrs. James Redding

Susan Tutor

by Mr. and Mrs. William Correro

Nickolas J. Siciliano

by Mr. and Mrs. Jack Siciliano

Jerry Veazey

by Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP Mr. Perrin Caldwell, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Thurman Caldwell Mrs. Sybil Canon Ms. Bonnie M. Chambliss Mr. and Mrs. York Craig Ms. Gloria J. Darby Eutaw Construction Company Mr. and Mrs. Frank Givens Mr. and Mrs. Paul Goolsby Mr. Coleman Graham Mr. and Mrs. John Green Mr. David S. Hall Ms. Anne C. Keenan Crossgates Baptist Church Life Group Ms. Robert Mayfield Ms. Frances McCain Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Meiners Dr. and Mrs. Don Mitchell Mr. William R. Nation Ms. Faye Price Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Ross Mrs. Betsy Veazey Mrs. Cookie Williams

Clifton & Jessie Sipley

by Mr. John Henry VanHoesen Mr. and Mrs. Robert VanHoesen

Lois F. Veazey

by Ms. Yvonne Ashley Mr. Charles Veazey

Thomas Smith

by Ms. Tricia Wideman

James Edd Waldrup

by Mr. and Mrs. William Correro

J.E. Spurlock

by Mr. and Mrs. Terry Williamson

C.B. & Marjorie Walker

by Mr. and Mrs. Ken Dossett Mr. and Mrs. Gary Walker

Marlin Stanford

by Mrs. Carolyn Stanford John Paul Staten

by Ms. Sylvia Hickey Delores Sanders Stewart

by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Brown Mrs. Sybil Canon Ms. Jo Ann Lott Mr. and Mrs. Fred T. Ogg Mr. Brian Stewart Mr. Walter Stewart Mr. Walter Stewart, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Williams James L. (Trey) Sylvester

by Dr. Darrell Barnes Mrs. Kitt Brand Mr. Taylor D. and Dr. Bonnie Buntin Ms. Sondra Holliday Mr. Michael S. McDuffie

Reverend W.L. (Bill) Wallace

by Mrs. Sybil Canon Jeff and Sandy Cotterman First United Methodist Church– Wesley Class Ms. Bonnie Fitzpatrick Ms. Lucille Fitzpatrick Don and Martha Kay Hunter Lost Tribe Christian Life Group Gerald and Reba Maynard Gene and Maura Medley Dr. and Mrs. Clifton Randle Randy and Katie Randle Mr. and Mrs. Harry T. Smith Louise Smith Mr. and Mrs. Harry Starnes Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Starnes Dr. and Mrs. Wayne Starnes Mrs. Ida Wallace Mr. William L. Wallace

31

honorariums/memorials James & Jewel Wilborn

by Ms. Patsy Wilborn Bob Willfling

by Ms. Sylvia Hickey C. Chad Williams

by Mr. and Mrs. Brett Curtis Ms. Ruby E. Magers Mr. and Mrs. Steve Sturgeon Marjorie Williams

by Mrs. Delores Delatorre Sarah Williams

by Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Thompson Wesley & Alice Williams

by Mr. George Williams Virginia Murphree Willis

by Ms. Peggy Mark Ben & Alma Wynne

by Mr. Joe Broadway Ms. Jean Nunnally Drew Young

by Hinds Chapel United Methodist Church Seniors Horn Lake United Methodist Women Ms. Jean Steadham Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Young Stella K. Young

by Mr. Mack Young HONORARIUMS Charlie Aaron

by Mr. and Mrs. Keith Godbold Ruth Ann Allison

by Mr. Marty Allison Mrs. Ellen A. Anderson Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Britt Mrs. Beverly Gaddy Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Montgomery Jerry Baker

by Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Montgomery Dr. Marilyn Bateman

by Mrs. Pam Briscoe Mrs. Elizabeth Harvey Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Walter T. Scott Bill & Becky Beavers

by Mr. and Mrs. Guy Purdy Dr. Gordon Bigelow

by Mr. Larry Anderson Joe Bracken

by Mr. and Mrs. Terry Williamson Albert Broadway

by Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Poff Mrs. Donna Sularin Joe Broadway

by Ms. Jean Nunnally Dr. Bonnie Buntin

by Mrs. Kitt Brand Mr. and Mrs. Al Canon Mr. and Mrs. Keith Godbold Mrs. Donna T. Hall Mr. Jerry and Dr. Gloria Kellum Mr. and Mrs. Jim Patridge Elizabeth H. Burns

by Mrs. Kitt Brand Mr. Taylor D. and Dr. Bonnie Buntin Mr. Tracey L. Burns Mr. and Mrs. Keith Godbold Mr. DeLoy J. Lawson Mr. Richie Lawson

32

Northwest Now

Dr. Jack Butts

by Mr. Joe Elliott Mrs. June McCulley Chuck & Diane Byars

by Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Thompson Al Canon

by Ms. Roberta Mayfield Sybil Canon

by Mr. Taylor D. and Dr. Bonnie Buntin Mr. Jerry and Dr. Gloria Kellum Dr. Buddy Chain

by Mr. and Mrs. Grant Hunter Shirley Clanton

by Mr. Don Clanton

Mrs. Helen M. James Ms. Jacqueline James Mr. Gene Leland Ms. Mary A. Love Ms. Stella Pearson Ms. Annie L. Rice Ms. Lourine J. Robinson Mrs. Mildred Washington

Guy Purdy

by Mrs. Vickie M. Bradley

Col. Charles R. Johnson

by Mr. and Mrs. Milton Allen Mr. and Mrs. Bill Bacon

Jayne River

by Mr. Joe Elliott Mr. Keith River

Tony & Susan Kaufman

by Mr. and Mrs. Guy Purdy

Mike Robison

by Ms. Joan Pierce

Dr. Gloria D. Kellum

by Mr. and Mrs. Al Canon

Senatobia High School Softball Team & Coach Tammy Young

by Ms. Patti Gordon

Earline Cocke

by Mr. and Mrs. Perry Arrington Ms. Glynda Hall Ms. Joan Rose Mrs. Amy Stewart

Richie Lawson

by Dr. Darrell Barnes Mr. Taylor D. and Dr. Bonnie Buntin Mr. and Mrs. Keith Godbold Mr. DeLoy J. Lawson Mr. and Mrs. Roger L. Spillyards Mr. and Mrs. Jay Turner

Larry Coleman

by Mr. and Mrs. Brett Curtis

George M. (Max) Lee

by Mrs. Jennifer Poulin

Milton & Gale Cushman

by The Hon. Governor and Mrs. William Winter

Pat Lewis

by Mr. Joe Broadway Ms. Jean Nunnally

Jess Hayes Dickinson

by Ms. Sylvia Hickey

Donna Lucchesi

by Mr. and Mrs. Terry Williamson

Ken & Gail Dossett

by Mr. and Mrs. Gary Walker

Zada Malouf

by Ms. Joan Pierce

Mike Dottorey

by Dr. Michael Butts Mrs. Sybil Canon Mrs. Jere Herrington Mrs. Brenda Holmes Mrs. Sandra McCrary Mrs. Amy Stewart Dr. Chuck Strong Mrs. MaryLee Sturgeon

Ashley, Benjamin and Caleb McCall

by Mr. Joe Broadway Ms. Jean Nunnally

Keith Godbold

by Mr. Taylor D. and Dr. Bonnie Buntin Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Johnson Mrs. Dawn Stevens Anita S. Graham

by Mr. Wayne Ferguson Sandy Grisham

by Mr. Bud Donahou Ms. Susanne VanDyke Doc Harris Wayne Harris

by Ms. Joan Pierce Pat Hickey

by Ms. Sylvia Hickey Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Thompson Dr. Jerry Hollis

by Dr. Darrell Barnes Dr. Carol Cleveland Mr. Bud Donahou Brenda Holmes

by Mr. Joe Elliott Cathryn M. Hyde

by Mr. Sherman Austin Mr. Alfonzo Battle, Jr. Ms. Effie J. Boothe Ms. Bettye J. Caldwell Mr. and Mrs. Roy Cole Mr. and Mrs. James Garner Mr. Lionel Henderson Ms. Daisy Herring Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hobbs Mr. and Mrs. Hosie Holmes Ms. Deborah James

Mike & Jeannie Ray

by Mr. and Mrs. Guy Purdy James Redding

by Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Reddinig

Carolyn Shumake

by Mr. and Mrs. Grant Hunter Betty Smith

by Dr. Robert Smith, Jr. Dr. Gary Lee Spears

by Mr. Taylor D. and Dr. Bonnie Buntin Mr. and Mrs. Larry Simpson Sycamore Bank Marilyn R. Spears

by Mrs. Carol Peterson MaryLee Sturgeon

by Mr. and Mrs. Brett Curtis Ms. Ruby E. Magers Rosemary Lauren Tallo

by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Tallo Jim & Margaret Tanner

by Mr. and Mrs. Guy Purdy

Robbie & Margie Merrick

by Mr. and Mrs. Guy Purdy

Katie Beth & Chance Thweatt

by Mr. Joe Broadway Ms. Jean Nunnally

Patricia Miller

by Dr. Carol Cleveland

Norman Thweatt

by Mrs. Elizabeth Johnston

John Mills

by Mr. and Mrs. Brett Curtis

Glenn Triplett

by Ms. Patsy Wilborn

Schell Ann & Julia Wynne Montville

by Mr. Joe Broadway Ms. Jean Nunnally

Joel & Katie Varner

by Mr. and Mrs. Milton Cushman

Elizabeth Morris

by Dr. and Mrs. James Robertson, Sr. Read & Teresa Morton

by Mr. and Lowell Salmon Gary Mosley

by Sycamore Bank Andy & Mary Kathryn Nichols

by Mr. and Mrs. Harold Nichols Jerry Nichols

by Dr. and Mrs. Jeff Ginn Mr. and Mrs. Morris Thompson Jonathan Nichols

by Mrs. Elizabeth Dickerson Mr. and Mrs. Morris Thompson Phelan Nichols Sammy Nichols

by Mr. and Mrs. Harold Nichols

Elwin & Mary Ann Walker

by Mr. and Mrs. Gary Walker Claude Williams

by Mr. and Mrs. Brett Curtis Minnie Williams

by Mrs. Aime Anderson Mrs. Charlotte Cooke Mrs. Suzanne Geeslin Mrs. Becky Moore Mr. Dan Smith Ms. Ardina Wilson W. Ed Williams

by Mrs. Delores Delatorre Jane W. Williamson

by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Givens Elise V. Winter

by Mr. and Mrs. Milton Cushman Dolores Wooten

by Mr. and Mrs. Al Canon

Jean Nunnally

by Mr. Joe Broadway Joan Pierce

by Dr. and Mrs. Walter Wicker

www.northwestms.edu

Northwest

Now

Spring 2015

A publication of Northwest Mississippi Community College President Dr. Gary Lee Spears Vice President for Finance Gary Mosley Vice President for Student Services/Chief of Staff Dan Smith Vice President for Education Richie Lawson Vice President/Registrar Larry Simpson Chairman, Northwest Board of Trustees Milton Kuykendall Northwest Foundation Associate Vice President of Development & Special Projects/Associate Editor Sybil R. Canon • srcanon@northwestms.edu Director of Alumni Affairs & Development Operations Dolores Wooten • dbwooten@northwestms.edu Communications Director of Communications/Editor Sarah Sapp • ssapp@northwestms.edu Assistant Director of Communications/ Graphic Designer Julie R. Bauer • jrbauer@northwestms.edu Communications Assistant LaJuan Tallo • ltallo@northwestms.edu Coordinator for Sports Information Kevin Maloney • kmaloney@northwestms.edu Editorial Office Northwest Now NWCC Box 7039 • 4975 Hwy. 51 N. Senatobia, MS 38668 Phone: (662) 562-3276 • Fax: (662) 562-3499 www.northwestms.edu For address changes, please contact Alumni Affairs at (662) 560-1105.

Northwest Now is published bi-annually as a joint effort of the Northwest Foundation and the Office of Communications.

Winner of the 2007 & 2009 Grand Award, Print Media category

College Public Relations Association of Mississippi

contents features

5 8 12 21 24

top educator

DeSoto Center instructor Ricky Stevens named one of the top 20 cardio tech instructors by online blog.

capitol honors Six students honored by the state Legislature as Phi Theta Kappa All-Mississippi Academic Team.

cover story: home again Alumnus Dr. Jason Walton returns to his beloved home state on a mission to better young lives.

a place in history Two-sport athlete Max Lee joins state’s elite as new member of MACJC Sports Hall of Fame.

a small gesture Former yearbook editor given life-changing opportunities through small gestures of instructors.

departments 1 2 3 14 21 33

student snapshot/tiffanee merritt president’s reflections/dr. gary lee spears alumni president’s notes/mike boren around campus the legacy continues the sporting life from the heart of northwest/sybil canon alumni news/dolores wooten

On the cover: Dr. Jason Walton, a 1994 alumnus, has returned to his home state after being selected as Head of School at Jackson Prep last July.

Photo by Hubert Worley/Jackson Prep

from the

heart of Northwest

Sybil R. Canon It is at this time of year that I begin writing letters to all of the scholarship sponsors giving them information about the upcoming recipients of the scholarships they have established. It is a huge undertaking since, thankfully, we have almost 600 students this year who are receiving scholarships. It is also a time of reflection for me as I look at those who have been honored with scholarship endowments.

There is an expression that is sometimes over-used and one that I just can’t completely agree with—“turning tragedy into triumph.” Perhaps, it would be better to say “bringing some triumph to a tragic situation.” I say that because we have a number of scholarships that are named after young people who have left this world much too early, and, even though the scholarship endowment brings help and happiness to those who receive it, the tragedy of a life cut short is still there.

Some of those that come to mind are The Lauren Elizabeth Tallo Endowment, The Holli Pond Day Endowment, The Ethan Eric Bayless Endowment, The Matt Gregory Endowment, and many others.

Lauren Elizabeth Tallo died in a car accident on Mother’s Day, just a week before her high school graduation. Lauren’s mother, LaJuan Tallo, always takes a special interest in the recipients of her daughter’s scholarship. She writes a blog called “Wounded Faithful” in which she tries to help others who have faced the daunting challenge of dealing with such a loss. Indeed, the tragedy is still there, but she finds a way to achieve some measure of victory over it.

Holli Pond Day had graduated from Northwest’s nursing program, had married the man of her dreams, and was expecting their first child. Then, the tragedy came, and she died. Her family and friends were devastated, but they almost immediately wanted to memorialize this precious young woman with a scholarship for a nursing student at Northwest. Is it still a tragedy? Yes, it is, but those who love Holli can know that, forever, Holli’s name will be remembered and a nursing student will be helped.

Ethan Eric Bayless was only two when he was senselessly killed by a drunk driver. Long before the scholarship was established, his parents, Jason and Ginger, began speaking to school groups and, through a program called DETER in DeSoto County, began explaining to persons arrested for driving under the influence the awful things that can happen when someone chooses to drive while intoxicated. Ethan’s scholarship is another way to remember this child, but the tragedy still exists. It is not erased, just perhaps made a little easier to bear.

Matt Gregory was a typical Delta boy who loved hunting and fishing. He was also a crop duster, and he loved it. However, an accident took his life.

His uncle, Steve McClellan, was working at Northwest at the time, and he established this scholarship, with help from family and colleagues. He emailed me recently after receiving his letter with these comments: “I just wish there was a way for each of the students who are receiving his scholarship to know Matt, who is hopefully smiling knowing he is helping these students every year. He was definitely someone who would ‘Pay it Forward.’”

For all of our sponsors, please know that every student who receives a scholarship is given information about the person for whom the scholarship is named. It is vital that each student understands that these names are important. We cannot dispel the tragedy, but we can rejoice in the triumph from the “heart of Northwest”!

alumni news Dolores Wooten This issue, I want to share some photos from an alumni reunion that took place May 2 at John W. Kyle State Park in Sardis. Alums from the years 1965-69 gathered for a picnic lunch and fellowship. It was a beautiful day for reconnecting with old friends, meeting new ones, reminiscing about the great days at Northwest and learning about what others had been doing in the days since.

Plans are already underway for another reunion. If you attended Northwest between 1965 and 1969, please join the Facebook group Northwest Mississippi (Junior) Community College (1965-1969) or email drsaveryfl@aol.com for information on future reunions.

1965

1966

1967

Northwest

N ORTHWEST M ISSISSIPPI C OMMUNITY C OLLEGE F OUNDATION P.O. Drawer 7015 • 4975 Highway 51 North Senatobia, MS 38668 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Now

SPRING 2015

Parting

shot Mike Dottorey greets Director of Recruiting Jere Herrington (left) and Student Development Center Director Meg Ross during his retirement reception June 3. Dottorey divided his time at the college between the two departments, serving as both Disability Support Services coordinator in the SDC as well as a recruiter for the Recruiting Office. Dottorey retired in June after 35 years at Northwest.

Photo by LaJuan Tallo

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION Please visit the Northwest website at www.northwestms.edu/affirmativeaction to view the College’s Notice of Non-Discrimination, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action.

Coming Home Alumnus returns to state as head of Jackson Prep INSIDE: Hall of Fame • HEADWAE • spring sports • 2015 retirees