Summer 2019 Northwest Now

N ORTHWEST M ISSISSIPPI C OMMUNITY C OLLEGE F OUNDATION

Northwest

P.O. Drawer 7015 • 4975 Highway 51 North Senatobia, MS 38668

NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Now

SUMMER 2019

Parting Save thhee Date!

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Don’t miss these upcoming events—mark your calendar today!

Oct. 4 and 5 • Northwest Farm Highway 4 West, Senatobia

2019 Homecoming Oct. 10 • Senatobia campus

for additional details, see page 20

for additional details, see page 23

Leaving Her Legacy Longtime Foundation director retires INSIDE: Hall of Fame • helping through giving • spring sports • retirees

Now

Northwest Summer 2019

A publication of Northwest Mississippi Community College President Dr. Michael J. Heindl Vice President for Administration & Finance Jeff Horton Vice President for Student Services/Chief of Staff Dan Smith Vice President for Academic Instruction & College Parallel Programs Dr. Matthew Domas Vice President for Workforce Solutions & Career-Technical Education Dr. David Campbell Chairman, Northwest Board of Trustees Dr. Adam Pugh Northwest Foundation Executive Director of Institutional Advancement/Associate Editor Patti Gordon • pgordon@northwestms.edu Institutional Advancement Specialist Marla Kennedy • mkennedy@northwestms.edu Accounting Coordinator & Administrative Assistant Stephanie Cook • stcook@northwestms.edu Communications Director of Communications/Editor Julie R. Bauer • jrbauer@northwestms.edu Assistant Director of Communications/ Public Information/Graphic Designer LaJuan Tallo • ltallo@northwestms.edu Assistant Director of Communications/ Marketing and Digital Media KayLeigh Mitchell • kmccool@northwestms.edu Graphic Designer Jennifer Corbin • jcorbin@northwestms.edu Coordinator for Sports Information Brian Lentz • blentz@northwestms.edu

For address changes, please contact Alumni Affairs at (662) 560-1112.

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

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.

contents features

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Patti Gordon

Any structure must have a strong foundation. The cornerstones anchor the foundation.

For some reason the cornerstones that I chose to begin with I never changed.

—John Wooden

spreading the message Northwest’s SGA president speaks at Capitol Day.

cover story: leaving her legacy Longtime Northwest Foundation director retires.

helping through giving Water Valley couple instrumental in establishment of eight Foundation endowments.

dedicated service Employees recognized for years of service to the college during annual awards ceremony.

ranger excellence Former national champ QB Minshew drafted by Jacksonville Jaguars.

departments 1 2 3 14 24 37

Building a Foundation for the Future

student snapshot/james bruno president’s reflections/dr. michael heindl alumni president’s notes/mike boren around campus the legacy continues the sporting life building a foundation for the future/patti gordon

On the cover: Sybil Canon, who has headed up the Northwest Foundation for 22 years, retired from the college in December.

Photo by Julie Bauer

Northwest already has a strong Foundation. (pun intended!)

For this, I give credit to the leadership of Sybil Canon and Dolores Wooten, who led the Foundation and the Office of Alumni Affairs for over 20 years. I am grateful to both Sybil and Dolores for allowing me to join their team and experience first hand the rewarding work of this office. It was at a pivotal point in my life that I came to Northwest, and through the training, mentoring, and experience that I received from them both, I felt confident enough to accept the leadership role President Heindl offered to me.

The leadership transition brought a name change, the Office of Institutional Advancement, which, in Dr. Heindl’s words, “is more reflective of today’s higher education/business nomenclature.” The Office of Institutional Advancement still encompasses the Foundation and the Office of Alumni Affairs. We still seek those who will give generously of their resources to help our students and provide state-of-the-art amenities on our campuses. We also work to create a Ranger community of supporters through alumni of Northwest, through faculty and staff, through community businesses, through a network of volunteers that help with fundraising and other events, and through our students, who will, themselves, become alumni of this great place we call Northwest!

I have the distinct pleasure of working with our two governing boards, the Foundation board and the Alumni board, who never cease to amaze me with their dedication and love for Northwest. I consider it a privilege to work with both of these fine groups, who exemplify the cornerstones of our foundation: integrity, commitment, compassion, and innovation.

I feel extremely fortunate to have Marla Davenport Kennedy and Stephanie Cook joining me in raising money and creating this vibrant Ranger community. They have accepted greater and more challenging responsibilities in our office and have met these challenges with foresight and dedication. Marla is our advancement specialist and is beginning her third year in our office. With a major in psychology, she has an exceptional talent in relating to our students as she supervises their scholarship awards. Marla, a native of Senatobia and a Northwest alumna from the ‘80s era, is ideal in coordinating our events as she has that true Ranger spirit.

Stephanie joined our team in January as accounting coordinator/administrative assistant. She, as well, is an alumna of Northwest and completed her accounting degree at The University of Mississippi DeSoto Center.

Stephanie displays innovative thinking and has made great strides with our accounting operations. In terms of tenure, we are a young team, but together we bring a plethora of talents, which represent the cornerstones that anchor our foundation.

Together, with our Ranger community, we will continue to build on the foundation of a college that began 92 years ago.

The Northwest Office of Institutional Advancement team is (l-r) Through the cornerstones of integrity, commitment, Marla Kennedy, Institutional Advancement Specialist, Patti Gordon, executive director and Stephanie Cook, accounting compassion, and innovation, we will help our students coordinator/administrative assistant. build a foundation for their future. The mission of Photo by LaJuan Tallo changing students’ lives...that will never change.

student snapshot James Bruno Abbeville • Sophomore Program: Exercise Science Scholarship: The Dr. Michael Butts Endowment What does it mean to you to have this scholarship?

It means a lot because it helps me out significantly paying for books and classes.

You are a student at Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center in Oxford. Can you talk about your experiences as a student there?

It has been great! Very laid back, and you get one-on-one time with your instructors. They actually want their students to be successful in their classes and to be successful in their future endeavors.

Are there any instructors or people that have been particularly helpful to you during your time at Northwest?

Instructor Josh Guest and Dr. Michael Butts have been influential throughout my community college experience. They have both recognized great potential in me when I could not see it in myself.

You are studying Exercise Science—what are your plans once you leave Northwest?

I plan to transfer to Ole Miss in the spring of 2020 and plan on being either a physical therapist or opening up my own gym after I finish college.

What would you like for people to know about Northwest and your experience here?

Photo by Julie Bauer

I think that for me looking back on my time here it has been great because they prepared me to go to a university and helped me get my general classes out of the way. When I graduated from high school, I was like most students—I wanted to go to a university. I am glad I came to Northwest first, because it helped me mature as a person and grow as a student. I now know what to expect from the university.

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president’s reflections As Northwest’s 2019 instructional year has ended, I want to thank you for a wonderful and memorable first year! I absolutely cannot believe that a year has passed since we began serving the fine students of Northwest together! Jennifer, the boys, and I have appreciated your warm welcome, and we have appreciated the kind words, support, thoughts, and prayers this year. We know, now more clearly than ever, how special a place Northwest is, and we look forward to serving for many years to come.

We were excited about our commencement exercises that took place May 17. This day was one of the best days of the entire year, and I was excited to be sharing it with our faculty and staff, our graduates, and their friends and families.

This year’s commencement speaker was the Honorable Ann Hannaford Lamar. Ann, as many of you know, is an alumna of the college, is a former Mississippi Supreme Court justice, and serves as a board member of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning. She is an outstanding person and friend to Northwest, and her remarks were both timely and inspiring.

Northwest recently administered a survey in collaboration with ModernThink LLC, an independent management consulting firm focused on workplace quality in higher education. This is part of the program entitled, “Great Colleges to Work For.” We had very impressive participation in the survey. Overall, we garnered a response rate of 63%, which included a 100% response rate among administration, an 82% response rate among instructors, and an 81% response rate among exempt professional staff. These rates indicate a strong response rate for a survey of this nature.

As you might expect, some of our many strengths were confirmed. In an abbreviated format, these findings included: • Greater job satisfaction than similar degree-granting institutions; • Greater recognition of innovative and high-quality teaching than similar degree-granting institutions; • Better benefits and support of work/life balance than similar degree-granting institutions; • Better safety, security, and overall facility adequacy and appropriateness than similar degree-granting institutions; • Greater numbers of faculty/staff to achieve established goals than similar degree-granting institutions; • A greater understanding of how our jobs contribute to the institution’s mission than similar degree-granting institutions; • Better supervisory relationships than similar degree-granting institutions. This includes knowledge of expectations, feedback, and consistency/fairness; • Clearer direction by senior leadership, greater experience necessary for success, more interest in overall well-being of faculty and staff, better communication, and more modeling of institutional values than similar degree-granting institutions; and • More collaboration between faculty, administration, and staff working together to ensure success than similar degree-granting institutions.

Also, we learned that employee engagement is strong and that there is a high degree of optimism about our college.

Additionally, the college underwent its annual Services Survey for 2019. We are an institutional culture that values continuous improvement—better today than yesterday, and better tomorrow than we are today—and I would like to share with you some key findings from the survey: • The Administration, Physical Plant, and eLearning categories received higher marks than they received last year.

• Overall, the rankings were strong, with each of the seven categories receiving scores in the 4.00 range, out of a 5.00.

• The highest score (4.51) was in the Fiscal Affairs section and read as follows: “The Personnel Office offers adequate support for insurance and tax forms.”

In both surveys, employees have a general feeling of a bright future ahead for Northwest.

Additionally, in the coming weeks the College will be set to roll out its new Strategic Plan 2019-2022, its new Mission, Vision, and Values, and a new Facilities Master Plan. Thanks to our Northwest Foundation leaders, faithful donors, and ardent alumni for your input into these plans.

We have accomplished much this year, and I look forward to an even greater year ahead!

Thank you for your commitment in working to help change students’ lives!

Go Rangers!

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Dr. Michael Heindl

alumni president’s notes Mike Boren Greetings from your Northwest Alumni Association! I am honored to serve as the Alumni Association president and on the Foundation Board of Directors.

I am proud to say that back in 1972, Northwest set me on a path to a promising future.

The foundation that Northwest built for me in the beginning is why I contribute to the Northwest Foundation today.

It is why I play in and sponsor the annual scholarship golf tournament. It is why I encourage all Northwest alums to join the Alumni Association and give back to the college that gave us our start.

The Alumni Board of Directors has recently reviewed the Alumni Association dues. To become a Lifetime Member of the Alumni Association, dues are $200 per alumnus/$250 per couple. Annual membership dues are $30 per alumnus/$50 per couple.

Lifetime Members receive the following: • Choice of NWCC golf shirt or blanket • Welcome gift of NWCC swag • 20% bookstore discount • Free admission to regularseason sporting events* • Free admission to all Fine Arts events* • Northwest Library benefits • Cafeteria access (at regular meal cost) • Lifetime subscription to Northwest Now • Personalized membership card * Benefits of annual membership Please join me in supporting our alma mater by becoming a lifetime member today!

You may contact the Alumni Office at 662-560-1112 for more information.

Once a Ranger, always a Ranger!

around campus Eighteen students receive college’s highest honor Eighteen Northwest students have been inducted into the 2018 -2019 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. 14 Board of Trustees meeting on the Senatobia campus.

Ten students are from the Senatobia campus.

James Budrow of Senatobia is studying biological engineering at Northwest. During his time at Northwest, he was a member of the Baptist Student Union, Ranger Book Club, Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) and Mu Alpha Theta, a mathematics honor society.

His honors include Outstanding Student for biology in 2018 and the Vice President’s and President’s Lists. He is a recipient of the Paul W. Lawrence, Jr. Endowment.

He plans to transfer to Mississippi State University to complete his degree.

Music education student Carly Coleman of Batesville’s honors include PTK and President’s List. She is the first chair trumpet of the Northwest Wind Ensemble, trumpet section leader of the Northwest Ranger Marching Band and the recipient of the Garnett B. West, Sr. Endowment. Coleman plans to transfer to the University of Mississippi to pursue a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music education.

Shelby Finley of Olive Branch is studying music performance/education. She is a member of PTK, the Northwest Singers, Chamber Choir, Entertainers, and the Northwest Band. She was the Outstanding Student for her pathway.

Her honors include the Vice President’s and President’s Lists. She is the recipient of the Sherman Hardin Memorial Endowment. She plans to pursue a master’s degree or doctorate in Music Performance.

Brynden Foster of Senatobia is taking general college classes and studying commercial voice on the Senatobia campus. He is a member of the Northwest Singers, Entertainers and

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Northwest President, Dr. Michael Heindl (front row, far left) congratulates Hall of Fame honorees (front row, l-r) from the DeSoto Center, Dante Baker of Southaven, Stephanie Cole of Senatobia, Jamie Edwards of Holly Springs and Devin Rayborn of Southaven and from the Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center, Ji’Barrick Hervey of Oxford, Alexandria Claire Johnson of Southaven, Kelsey Plummer of Water Valley and Josh Wood of Brandon.

Back row (l-r) from the Senatobia campus are James Budrow of Senatobia, Carly Coleman of Batesville, Shelby Finley of Olive Branch, Brynden Foster of Senatobia, Victoria Newton of Nesbit, Jonathan Jones of Charleston, Brenden Riedlinger and Katie Stone, both of Southaven, Annah Catherine Storey of Senatobia and Daniel Robey of Dexter, Missouri.

Photo by Julie Bauer Chamber Choir, and serves as section leader for the Singers and Chamber Choir. He is the drum major of the Northwest Ranger Marching Band and is a member of the Northwest Jazz Ensemble. Foster is the recipient of the Thomas W. O‘Briant Endowment. Foster plans to transfer to Belmont University to pursue a degree in commercial music.

Former Ranger linebacker Jonathan Jones of Charleston graduated from Northwest in December and has transferred to the University of Southern Mississippi where he hopes to continue his football career. He is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology/exercise science. While at Northwest, he was a member of the Northwest Players Club, PTK and the 2017-18 MACJC AllAcademic Team, and was named MACJC Defensive Player of the Week. Jones’ honors include Vice President’s and President’s Lists.

Victoria Newton of Nesbit is studying theatre at Northwest. Newton is a member of PTK, president of the Northwest Players Club, and a member of the

Northwest Singers and the Entertainers.

She has been on both the Vice President’s and President’s Lists and is the recipient of the Jo Ellen Logan Endowment. Newton was also named as the Outstanding Student for Theatre.

Newton has appeared in and worked on several theatre productions at Northwest. Newton plans to transfer to Mississippi State University and obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with a minor in broadcast journalism.

Music education student Brenden Riedlinger of Southaven is a member of PTK and performs in several instrumental groups at Northwest including The Northwest Ranger Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble and Steel Band. Riedlinger has served as instrumentalist for the Northwest Entertainers and the Singers, and in two theatre productions. He was named the Outstanding Student for music education, and is the recipient of the Pete and Pauline Harris Endowment.

His honors include the Vice President’s Hall of Fame page 31

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around campus HEADWAE honorees attend annual program Northwest recently announced its 2019 HEADWAE honorees. The HEADWAE student is sophomore William Joshua Wood, who attends Northwest's Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center (LYTC), and the HEADWAE faculty member is Elizabeth Harvey, mathematics instructor at LYTC. HEADWAE stands for "Higher Education Appreciation Day-Working for Academic Excellence."

The award was established by Mississippi Legislative Resolution No.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 acaNorthwest President, Dr. Michael Heindl (left) congratulated Northwest’s demic excellence.

2019 HEADWAE recipients Joshua Wood, a sophomore from Brandon Wood and Harvey were honored at the 32nd annustudying accountancy at the Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center (LYTC) al HEADWAE program in Jackson on Feb. 26. and Elizabeth Harvey, LYTC mathematics instructor, at the Northwest Wood, who is a sophomore studying accountancy Board of Trustees meeting on March 21.

Photo by Julie Bauer at LYTC, is a graduate of Brandon High School. He is After earning an associate degree from Northwest, Wood president of the Beta Eta Theta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa plans to attend a four-year university and pursue a bachelor's (PTK) on his campus and is a member of Gamma Beta Phi, a degree in accountancy and an MBA. He would like to become national honor and service society on the Oxford campus.

Wood is a recipient of a Presidential scholarship and the Jack an investment banker in the future.

Harvey has been an instructor at Northwest for 23 years.

Butts Endowment. He is the son of Will and Wendy Wood of Brandon, and has a brother, Jackson and a sister, Cassidy.

HEADWAE, page 31 ➤

Foundation receives donations for annual scholarships

Left photo (l-r) Northwest President, Dr. Michael Heindl and Patti Gordon, executive director of Institutional Advancement accept a donation from Bill Buckley, president, Northeast Region, who is also a former Northwest baseball player; James Maxie, loan officer; and Ritchie Hampton, market president, for the annual BancorpSouth Share the Future scholarships, in which two students are awarded full-tuition scholarships. BancorpSouth has given $236,703 to the Foundation over the past 20 years. Right photo (l-r) the Foundation also accepted a $5,000 donation from Dr. James Smith (second from right) for the Instructor Bobby King and Dr. James Smith Annual Scholarship. The scholarship will award five $1,000 scholarships to students studying biology, chemistry and other sciences. Gordon, King (second from left), and Dr. Heindl accepted the donation from Dr. Smith.

Photos by LaJuan Tallo

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around campus Cushman named Tate EDF Citizen of the Year; Hale honored as Educator of the Year

Former Northwest Foundation Board President, Gale Cushman (left photo) was named “Citizen of the Year” at the 21st annual Tate County Economic Development Foundation Banquet on Feb. 26. Presenting the award is Thomas Givens, EDF board member. Also during the event, Jennifer Hale, mathematics instructor at Northwest (right photo) was named “Educator of the Year.” Congratulating Massey is Jennifer Casey (left), Northwest WIOA manager and EDF member.

Photos by Brett Brown and LaJuan Tallo

Alumni Association board meets to plan activities

The Northwest Alumni Association Board of Directors met recently to discuss plans for its upcoming year. Seated (l-r) are Bonnie Burkes, secretary-treasurer; Brenda Holmes, Lafayette County; Jackie Myrick, vice president; Marvelene McCullar, at-large representative and Betty Kilgore, Quitman County. Standing (l-r) are Patti Gordon, executive director, Office of Institutional Advancement (OIA); Carson Embrey, student representative; Jeff Horn, Tunica County; Don Randolph, Marshall County; Paul McCullar, Tate County; Mike Boren, president; Steve Box, Calhoun County; Robert Salmon, Tallahatchie County; Stephanie Cook, accounting coordinator, OIA and Marla Kennedy, advancement specialist, OIA. Not pictured, Celeste Wilson, DeSoto County.

Photo by LaJuan Tallo

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around campus Board officers named; legislators welcomed to campus

Left photo, Northwest President, Dr. Michael Heindl (left) congratulates newly re-elected board officers Dr. Adam Pugh (center), chairman, Lafayette County, and Cory Uselton (right), vice chairman, DeSoto County at the Jan. 10 meeting of the Board of Trustees.

Not pictured is Dr. Daryl Scoggin, secretary, Tate County. Right photo, Dr. Heindl greets (l-r) Mississippi Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and state legislators, Rep. Trey Lamar and Senator Neil Whaley, following the Feb. 1 Senatobia Rotary Club meeting on campus. Reeves was the keynote speaker at the meeting.

Photos by Julie Bauer and LaJuan Tallo

College holds listening sessions to develop new Strategic Plan

Northwest held Strategic Planning Listening Sessions on each of the three campuses to gather the public’s input for the college’s strategic plan, to be implemented in the 2019-2020 school year. Meetings were held at the Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center (top left), the DeSoto Center (bottom left) and on the Senatobia campus.

Photos by LaJuan Tallo and Julie Bauer

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around campus Foundation board members recognized at May meeting

Patti Gordon, executive director of Institutional Advancement (far left) and Dr. Michael Heindl recognized members of the Northwest Foundation board at their May meeting. Pictured (l-r) are outgoing president Gale Cushman, new member Debbie Perkins and incoming president Kevin Doddridge.

Photo submitted

Northwest SGA president speaks at Capitol Day

Student Government Association President Adam Conner of Southaven speaks to the media about his experience as a community college student during a press conference at Capitol Day, sponsored by the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges Feb. 27. Leaders, students and staff of the state’s community colleges called for adequate funding support during the legislative session.

Photo by Julie Bauer

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around campus PTK All-Mississippi academic team recognized

Phi Theta Kappa students were honored on April 10 for being named to the Phi Theta Kappa All-Mississippi Academic Team.

Pictured front row (l to r) are Jerryl Boxx, DeSoto Center, second team; Talexis Williams, DeSoto Center, first team; Dana Wong, DeSoto Center, second team; Elizabeth Hopper, Senatobia campus, second team; Mallory Bledsoe, Senatobia campus, second team and Aisalyn Bean, Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center (LYTC), second team. Second row (l-r) are Harvey Hill and Patsy Gardner, DeSoto Center advisers; Dr. Keith Reed, dean of DeSoto Center; Elizabeth Harvey and Matthew Johnson, LYTC advisers, Lauren Wilkenson, LYTC, second team; Madelyn Welch, LYTC, second team; Kierra Smith, LYTC, first team; Victoria Penny, Kristin Watson and Bonnie Griffis, Senatobia advisers and Dr. Michael Heindl, president of Northwest.

Photo by Amy Gazzo, Southwest Mississippi Community College

Riley remembered at retiree ceremony Northwest President, Dr. Michael Heindl, (left) presented a plaque from the Northwest Foundation recently during the Faculty and Staff Awards Ceremony at the David M. Haraway Center on the Senatobia campus to (l-r) Phyllis Young and Lolette Rhea in memory of their brother, Leonard Riley, a longtime employee of Northwest. Riley worked in Food Service and the Physical Plant during his 34 years as a Northwest employee. Riley retired in December 2018, and died in February of this year.

Photo by LaJuan Tallo (See pages 28-29 for Retiree and Service Awards)

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cover story

Sybil Canon presents student panelists at the 2018 Scholarship Ceremony.

Photo by LaJuan Tallo

Leaving her legacy: Canon retires after 22 years

By LaJuan Tallo

Sybil Canon has a simple philosophy about fundraising. “Fundraising is never about one person. One person cannot do it. It is about building relationships, and having time to build those relationships,” Canon says emphatically. And in her time at Northwest, build relationships she did.

Canon retired as associate vice president of Development and Special Projects in December 2018 after 22

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years of service to the college. Under her leadership, the Northwest Foundation has accrued more than $10 million in the endowment for student scholarships and, in addition, has awarded more than $5 million in scholarships since 1996.

When you talk with her one-on-one or hear her speak in public, she doesn’t focus on how much the Foundation has raised for scholarships in the past. She tells the stories of the people the

Foundation has helped and is helping through those scholarships. Canon recognizes the value and importance of telling the story of how the money she is asking for is going to be used. “If you don’t have an effective story to tell, you are spitting in the wind,” she says. “And Northwest has one of the greatest stories there is to tell.” continued on next page

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Women, where she graduated cum laude. She continued her studies in English at Mississippi State University, and earned a Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Personnel with advanced graduate studies in English from the University of Mississippi, where she was a member of Phi Kappa Phi. “My first year here at Northwest, we awarded 30 scholarships. I wanted to meet with each of the students, and I was absolutely blown away by some of the ‘walking wounded’ stories I heard from our students. I knew immediately why I was here. These students have a need, and Northwest is meeting those needs. Northwest changes lives,” Canon said.

The stories that Canon has been able to tell have taken The Reynolds family. Seated on floor is Canon’s brother, Joe. her down various paths in her fundraising efforts. She credStanding (l-r) are Canon, her sister Charlotte, brother Tommy, moth- its the people she has worked with on the Foundation er Jewel and father, Gene. Kneeling are brothers David and Eugene. boards of directors as a vital part of that. “I think that they have been the best non-profit board in all of my years of She is also straight forward when she asks people for service.

To be able to go to a potential donor and tell them money, she says. “I have made it a practice that I will never that every member of your board of directors contributes to ask them for money unless I tell the donors that is what I am the Foundation coming for,” Canon says. But she is persistent also. She has adapted two Bible verses into her own fundraising philosophy. is phenomeCanon “One is ‘you have not because you ask not’,” Canon said. She nal,” said. recounts the story in the book of Luke where the man keeps Canon says asking his friend for bread. “I believe he finally rises and gives one example of him the bread because of his ‘importunity’ or as some vera board memsions say, ‘shameless audacity,’” Canon says, laughing. “There ber who really is a thin line between being persistent and obnoxious, and I try went above very hard not to cross that line.”

She also understands that sometimes the answer will and beyond is inevitably be ‘no’ and she does not take that personally, but the late State she will ask at least five times before she considers it a hard Representative ‘no,’ she said. “I am not afraid to be persistent and ask for a Leonard Morris of Batesville. specific amount,” she added. who In building those relationships in fundraising, Canon has Morris, himself was an learned that it takes time. “I was very fortunate in that Steve alumnus of McClellan (former vice president of Fiscal Affairs), who hired N o r t h w e s t, me, understood that. Not every finance person does,” Canon began actively said.

Canon emphasizes that after a gift is given, the party is by seeking donors the no means over. “After a gift is given, it is so important to thank for Foundation in that donor and that the donor feels appreciated, whether it is D e c e m b e r $10 or $10,000. It is extremely important,” Canon said. The before he was Foundation has made it a practice to make sure every donor to take his seat feels appreciated, she said.

A native of Iuka, Canon came to Northwest in 1996 from on the board of Canon and Dolores Wooten worked together for in more than 35 years at the Baddour Center and at the Memphis Union Mission where she was director of directors Northwest.

Development from 1994-1996. She spent 16 years as direc- January.

Photo by LaJuan Tallo It was Morris tor of Development and Public Relations at the Baddour Center in Senatobia from 1978-1994. Prior to her work in who introduced development and fundraising, Canon taught high school Canon to both BancorpSouth President Aubrey Patterson and English at North Forrest High School and Blair High School in Bobby Dunlap, CEO of Dunlap and Kyle in Batesville.

BancorpSouth has two endowments at Northwest and Dunlap, Hattiesburg.

Canon graduated with highest honors from Iuka High who was already supporting Northwest athletics, has given half School. She earned her Associate of Arts, graduating magna a million dollars in scholarship money to the Foundation and cum laude from Wood Junior College in Mathiston and earned is one of the presenting sponsors of the college’s annual her Bachelor of Arts in English from Mississippi University for Ranger Bluegrass Festival. “All I ever did with Mr. Dunlap was

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just to tell the story. Leonard opened the door to that,” Canon said.

Another board member who played an interesting part in Canon’s career was the late Otey Sherman, who just happened to be renowned actor Morgan Freeman’s Mississippi banker. Canon told a story during a board meeting about a Northwest student from Charleston who had cystic fibrosis, and whose mother would drive him to school and wait while he took classes and then drive him home every day. The young man passed away before he finished his time at Northwest, Canon said.

“Otey went back to Charleston and told Morgan Freeman that story. That is the reason Morgan gave the Foundation a half a million dollars through his foundation,” Canon said. She said that Freeman visited the campus and even sat with scholarship recipients at the bank in Charleston, talking to each one individually to learn their stories. “We used Morgan’s money as matching money so it became $1 million. We give Morgan a ‘book of gratitude’ each year with photos and thank you notes from each student he is helping with his money. He reads that book cover to cover, I am told,” Canon said.

Yet another board member was Henry Graeber who introduced Canon to his brothers, Lewis and John. Her annual visits with Lewis were highlights. “Lewis was the epitome of a Renaissance man and Southern gentleman, who served bravely in World War II, and who returned to his beloved Mississippi to make it a better place. How I loved those conversations, and he passed that beautiful legacy to his family. It has been such a blessing to Northwest and to me personally to experience the kindness and generosity of Bill and Clark Graeber and the entire Graeber family.”

One of the Foundation’s fundraising efforts that constituted a pioneer effort in fundraising was a partnership with The University of Mississippi, which was called “The 2 + 2 Scholarship Initiative.”

“We had help from an outstanding advisory committee made up of Northwest and Ole Miss alums, and staff from Ole Miss. Dr. Gloria Kellum, former vice chancellor for University Relations; Dr. Bonnie Buntin, former dean of University of Mississippi-DeSoto, and I would make calls together to ask both Ole Miss and Northwest alums to help Northwest and Ole Miss students attending the DeSoto campus. We raised well over a million dollars and continue to add to it through the BancorpSouth/Northcentral EPA 2 + 2 Scholarship Golf Tournament, founded by Mike and Debra Herrington. It was a pioneer effort in that a four-year university and a two-year college worked together to raise the funds and then shared the proceeds. As far as I know, it had never been done and has not been done since,” Canon said.

She credits the Herringtons for their longtime support

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through the 2+2 Scholarship Golf Tournament, which benefits both Northwest and Ole Miss students, but also Kevin Doddridge, who is the current Foundation board president, and CEO of Northcentral EPA. “I cannot ever recall asking Kevin for something and having him refuse me,” Canon said.

Canon learned the value of giving from her mother, who died when she was 15 years old. “My mother was a sweet, giving person and she taught that to me,” Canon said. Canon was the fifth of six children, and her father had passed away when she was seven. “We didn’t have a lot, but my mother would share what we did have. My mother was a wonderful cook, and she would share meals with those who had lost loved ones or who were ill,” Canon said. She also learned from the people in the small community of Iuka, who were so responsive to her family in the time of their tragedy. “I can relate to some of these students’ struggles,” Canon says quietly.

During her years at the Foundation and even before, she worked alongside Dolores Wooten, with whom she shares a wonderful friendship. “Dolores and I worked together for more than 35 years, with 15 years together at The Baddour Center and the remainder at Northwest. If you remember the TV program, “MASH”, there was a character named “Radar.” That is what Dolores was. She anticipated what I was going to do, say, or ask before I opened my mouth.

She worked tirelessly for our students and was an integral part in the success that we had, both at The Baddour Center and at Northwest,” Canon said.

Canon knows that the Foundation could not have grown or have been successful without the people who work at Northwest and are the backbone of the college. “Without the extraordinary jobs they do as teachers, groundskeepers, food services staff, Physical Plant staff, coaches, support staff and administrators, it would be impossible to raise money for Northwest. It is such an ‘easy sell’ that people want to give us money, and I am eternally grateful for each of them,” Canon said, “I appreciate so much the support of Dr. Gary Lee Spears when he was president and his wife, Marilyn. They were generous donors, and they believed in the work of the Foundation.”

Even though she is retired from the Foundation, she has high hopes for the future of it. “I believe with all my heart that the best is yet to come for the Northwest Foundation. Patti Gordon is the consummate professional, but more importantly, she loves people and she loves Northwest. She is being guided by Dr. Michael Heindl, a president who is dynamic and energetic and who has experience in fundraising. They are a dynamic team, and I am looking forward to sitting on the sideCanon page 31

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Tommy & Liz Reynolds: changing lives through giving

Tommy and Liz Reynolds read over thank you letters from the recipients of all of the scholarships they have been a part of.

Photo by LaJuan Tallo Academy award winning actor Denzel Washington once said, “At the end of the day it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished… it’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.”

Those words come to life once you know the story of two special people, Tommy and Liz Reynolds of Water Valley.

The Reynoldses have established and endowed eight Northwest Mississippi Community College Foundation scholarships and contributed significantly to two others. They have done this, not to uplift themselves, but to memorialize people who have played a vital role and been influential in their own lives and the lives of others in their community. The best benefit, as both will tell you, is that in doing so, they get to create a legacy that will help future generations of students.

Tommy Reynolds has served the people of District 33 (Grenada, Tallahatchie and Yalobusha counties) on the Mississippi House of Representatives since 1980, and continues to do so today. He grew up in Charleston and studied at the University of Mississippi, where he also attended law school. He has a law practice in Charleston and served on

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the Northwest Foundation Board of Directors for several years.

Liz Fedric Reynolds also grew up in Charleston. She attended Northwest her freshman year before transferring to Ole Miss where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She worked in Hawaii and Tulsa before returning to Mississippi. Liz retired after teaching 25 years in the Mississippi public schools system. Today, Liz is owner and CEO of Seven Oaks Funeral Home in Water Valley and recently opened Fountain Square, an events center, which is also located in Water Valley.

The Reynoldses are the parents of two sons Upton, a property manager in Oxford, and Daniel, a CPA. They have one grandson, Benjamin. Both of their sons attended Northwest, and both earned degrees from the University of Mississippi, Daniel in Accounting, and Upton in Computer Science Engineering.

Tommy has a daughter, Rebecca, by his first wife, Rae Marie, who passed away when Rebecca was five weeks old.

Rebecca studied social work at the University of Southern Mississippi and is a senior care professional. Tommy and Liz were married in 1985.

Every scholarship that the Reynoldses have been involved with has a story that is important to their own lives. They have selected people to memorialize through

an endowment, and each of these people were an influence to them in one way or another.

The Rev. Upton Reynolds Endowment is named in honor of Tommy’s father, who was a teacher, pastor and guidance counselor.

Tommy says his father helped a lot of people during his lifetime. “He encouraged people to pursue higher education, and encouraged a lot of people to go to Northwest. I thought that this was a good way to remember him,” Tommy said.

The Mary Elizabeth Houston Fedric Endowment honors Liz’s beloved mother, who was a teacher of English and Latin. According to Liz, she always encouraged young people and one of her students, Dr. Ed Meek, retired journalism professor from Ole Miss, told Mrs. Fedric that he would not be going to college because he could not afford it. As Liz said, “My mother would not take no for an answer.” She told Meek that he was college material, realizing that he had great potential.

Meek said he would never have gone to college had it not been for Mrs. Fedric.

“She was so loved by her students. They would come back by our house with their college papers for my mother to check for them. She was a wonderful educator, but also a sweet, godly mother,” Liz said.

The Parthenia Dunbar Blackmon Endowment—Mrs. Blackmon was a teacher in Charleston, according to Tommy. He describes her as “a really sweet person, but a tough teacher.”

Blackmon taught both before and after integration, according to Tommy. She was a great teacher that her students loved, and one who took an interest in her students. “I’ve heard stories of her taking her students to her house and feeding them.

She was just a wonderful person,” Tommy said.

The Brownlow (Brownie) Jackson Crawford Endowment—Tommy and Liz joined special friends of Crawford, especially, Arnold Carothers and Larry Hart, to fund this endowment. Crawford was what Liz described as a “precious man.” She worked for him as a poultry broker for two

www.northwestms.edu

years. Both describe Crawford as a giving cipal of Water Valley Elementary School Agent for Tallahatchie County and Steve community man who was a great story- and later became superintendent of Cummings served as County Agent in teller. “He started out with humble begin- Water Valley School District. Higdon is Yalobusha County. “These two folks nings, and became quite successful, but now retired, and serves on the Northwest worked wonderfully with young people, he never forgot his roots. He would give Board of Trustees. “I had expected to getting them involved in all aspects of 4money anonymously, but everybody in take a two-year break from teaching, and H. They had different styles, but were town would guess it was each very effective at what they Brownie,” Liz said. She did. They were both good commurecounted a story about nity people,” Tommy said.

Crawford “recycling” Christmas The William O. Hickey cards he had received by Endowment—In addition to genscratching out the sender’s erous contributions by the signature, writing ‘Merry Reynolds, this scholarship was Christmas, Brownie and Dorris funded by individual members of (his wife)’ on them and sendthe Northwest Board of Trustees, ing them to someone else. of which Hickey was a member at “Everybody was hoping they the time of his death, and by would get one of Brownie’s many friends in Hickey’s homecards,” Liz said laughing. town of Charleston, in an effort Following the establishment of led by the late Otey Sherman. He this scholarship, Crawford’s Tommy and Liz Reynolds (far left) pose with Sherri and was an institution in Charleston wife and other family members Sammy Higdon, Dr. Gary Lee Spears, president emeritus of and was always involved in all have generously contributed to Northwest and Dot Hickey, former Foundation board member aspects of community and public increase this endowment so and donor to recognize Higdon’s endowment. service. He was a student of that several scholarships are Photo by Julie Bauer Tommy’s dad. “He was a big supawarded each year from this porter of Northwest, and played one endowment. one year in, Sammy called me and asked football at Northwest,” Tommy said.

The C.W. Parker Endowment— me to come back,” Liz said. He hired her Because of Tommy and Liz Reynolds, Tommy describes Parker as “an institu- to teach Environmental and Spatial 119 scholarships valuing $75,685 have tion in Charleston.” He was an agriculture Technology. “I had to learn how to teach been awarded, according to Patti Gordon, and vocational teacher who taught there that, and I worked as hard for him as I executive director of Institutional for 40 years or so. “I went to church with had for Melvin. He was a wonderful edu- Advancement at Northwest. The current him for years. He was a photographer who cator and a great friend,” she said. value of the endowments from which worked for the Commercial Appeal in The Deward and Pauline scholarships will continue to be awarded Memphis. He would send them photos Bloodworth Endowment—Tommy and is $168,848. “We are so grateful that and my dad would write the stories that his brother Eddie were nine and seven, Tommy and Liz have established these went with them,” Tommy said. He said respectively, when their father died. endowments.

Parker was very active in the Lion’s Club Deward Bloodworth took them under his In addition to their gifts, the as well. wing. He would pick them up after school Foundation receives generous gifts from The Melvin and Cecil Ford every day and bring them to his farm family members and friends of those honEndowment—Melvin Ford was the princi- where he taught them to raise cattle. He ored by these endowments. Thus, their pal of Water Valley Elementary School would pay them for their work and teach example of giving has encouraged many who hired Liz as a teacher. “He gave me them to save their money so that they others to join with them so that these my second teaching job. I had worked in could purchase livestock of their own, endowments now far exceed the initial a pretty rough school in Hinds County, which they did. They would raise the cow investment, meaning that more students and then gone to graduate school that they purchased and then sell it. can receive scholarship assistance. We because I wanted to not go through that Deward became a father figure to the are most appreciative to Tommy and Liz experience again,” Liz said. She said they Reynolds brothers, and the entire and to each person who has helped these connected over both being from Bloodworth family were very kind to these endowments to grow,” said Gordon.

Tallahatchie County and that she always young boys. “We did farm work for him.

“What a rich and lasting legacy Tommy loved him for giving her that job. “I worked He was a wonderful person who taught and Liz Reynolds have given to Northwest as hard as I could for him,” Liz added. life lessons to Eddie and me. His wife and our students. The people they have They wanted to remember Melvin and his Pauline was a really great elementary honored through these scholarships are wife Cecil, who was also a well-loved school teacher. They were tremendous most deserving of this tribute, and their teacher in Water Valley. people,” Tommy said. names will be remembered through the The Sammy Higdon Endowment— The Venable-Cummings Endowment— Liz also worked for Higdon, who was prin- Martha Joe Venable served as County Reynolds page 31 ➤

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The Legacy Continues

Legacy

the

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 Kimberly Webb Hollis New Beginnings Endowment The Kimberly Webb Hollis New Beginnings Endowment was established at Northwest in December 2018 by her husband, Dr. Marshall Hollis, in celebration of their recent marriage which represents a new beginning and a new chapter in their lives.

This is the third scholarship endowment established by Dr. Hollis, one being in his honor, The Dr. Marshall Hollis Endowment, and the other in honor of his sister-in-law, The Linda McGonagill Hollis Endowment.

Patti Gordon, executive director of the Office of Institutional Advancement, is excited over this new endowment. “I have known Kim for many years, and this scholarship is an absolutely perfect gift for her. How kind and insightful of Dr. Hollis to give a wedding gift that honors his wife for generations to come and helps students pursue the same career of nursing that Kim has practiced for so many years,” Gordon said.

Born in Portsmouth, Ohio, Kimberly spent the next 36 years of her life in Las Vegas, and three years in Santa Ana, California, after which her life began in Senatobia. Her marriage to William Charles Webb ended in his

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continues

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.

The current value of the endowment is $11.5 million.

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

$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.

—Patti Gordon

Mississippi State Department of Health where she served as public health nurse for 11 years until her retirement in 2018.

Throughout her adult life, Kimberly’s faith has been the sustaining and guiding force in her life.

Her membership at First Baptist Kimberly Webb Hollis and Dr. Marshall Hollis Church of Senatobia providdeath in 2016.

The greatest blessings of her mar- ed her and her children with a place of riage include her three children, comfort and service. She sang in the Stephanie Webb Wiley, Peter Webb, choir, and she has continued that servand Christopher Webb, and one step- ice at her new church, First Baptist daughter, Gia D’errico. Added to those Church in Ripley (Mississippi).

About her faith, Kimberly is quick to blessings are her three grandchildren.

She engaged in college studies in credit God’s grace to overcoming any art and in Hotel and Restaurant challenges that she has faced in her Management Technology until she life, “This scholarship is such a beautifound the passion she had been look- ful gift from my husband and not only ing for in a career, that of nursing. At represents a way to help nursing stuthe age of 50, she earned her associ- dents with scholarship assistance, but it also represents a new beginning in ate degree in nursing from Northwest.

She worked as a registered nurse at God’s plan for my life. Through every Baptist Memorial Hospital before step, in every valley, on every mountainaccepting a position with the top, I have always sensed God’s steady

www.northwestms.edu

The Northwest Mathematics Department Endowments For 42 years Anita Stratton Wilborn Graham, known to her Northwest students as Mrs. Wilborn, set the standard for teaching excellence in the area of mathematics at Northwest. During that era, she educated many students who are now engineers, scientists, pharmacists, doctors, lawyers, and teachers.

Several of her former calculus students have subsequently taught calculus at Northwest. In addition, she mentored and encouraged her fellow faculty members. These students and co-workers cherish the memories, care, support, and example that Graham shared through a life of integrity and honor. In 2013, the faculty of the Mathematics Division of Northwest endowed a scholarship in Graham’s honor and is awarded to students pursuing either a mathematics or pre-engineering career pathway.

www.northwestms.edu

Following her death in September 2018 at the age of 82, it was learned that she continued her devotion to helping students through a generous estate gift to the Northwest Foundation for the purpose of adding to the Anita Strattorn Wilborn Graham Endowment and establishing three scholarships in honor of her former colleagues, Wayne

mathematics faculty. “We are sincerely grateful for the actions of Mrs. Graham and these instructors. The combination of this extraordinary estate gift and the funds from the Mathematics Department totals $58,000, all of which will be placed in these permanent endowments. Of course, this means that students will receive scholarships from these endowments for as long as this college exists and that Mr. Ferguson, Ms. Alexander, and Mrs. Harris will also be honored through the lives of these students,” Gordon said.

The Wayne Ferguson Endowment

Anita Stratton Wilborn Graham

Ferguson, current director of Mathematics Instruction, Charlotte Alexander, the first and former division director of Mathematics, and Linda Lewis Hogan Harris, former computer science instructor and chairman of computer studies.

It is significant and touching to remember that Graham taught Ferguson, Alexander and Harris when these three were Northwest students.

They later became colleagues as all three became Northwest instructors.

Their final and dearest relationship was that of friends.

The mathematics faculty members voted to add funds to the Graham estate gift to completely endow The Wayne Ferguson Endowment, The Charlotte Alexander Tate County Endowment, and The Linda Lewis Hogan Harris Endowment. These additional funds were taken from the math Foundation account established by the Mathematics Division at the onset of Northwest’s first Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), the focus being to enhance student learning in mathematics.

Patti Gordon appreciates the kind generosity of both Graham and the

The younger son of Larry and Mary Hall Ferguson, Wayne Ferguson grew up in Senatobia, attending Senatobia City Schools through the 12th grade. He was valedictorian of his senior class and was elected to the Senatobia High School Hall of Fame. Ferguson attended Northwest for two years, majoring in mathematics, where he was named Outstanding Math Student and also elected to the college’s Hall of Fame.

He then enrolled at the University of Mississippi, graduating with a B.S. in mathematics, followed just over a year later with a master’s degree in mathematics. As an undergraduate, Ferguson was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and he received an award for outstanding academic achievement while working on his master’s degree.

Ferguson says that he was blessed to have many exceptional instructors who inspired in him a love for learning and a lifelong fondness for the learning environment.

While attending Northwest, he took many of Graham’s mathematics classes, including trigonometry, the calculus sequence, and differential equations. He also took two years of chemistry under the instruction of Jo Adams Cross. Both of these instructors increased his desire to learn more about mathematics and the sciences. When Ferguson started teaching at Northwest in 1986, he worked with Cross and Graham, and he became even closer to them. Out of respect and fondness for these dedicated instructors, Ferguson dedicated a chair in the renovated Northwest auditorium in their honor.

Ferguson taught mathematics on the Senatobia campus from 19862001, the last 11 of those years serving as department chairman. In August 2001, he transferred to the Southaven campus to teach math and to serve as

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The Legacy Continues

hand and sweet presence.”

Dr. Hollis has been a champion of Boy Scouts of America and has won countless awards and contributed innumerable hours of service and generous gifts to this organization.

He was excited about enlisting Kimberly’s skills as a nurse in this wonderful organization. “Kimberly is now a member of BSA, and she has completed the training courses necessary to attend camp in June and the World Scout Jamboree in West Virginia this summer where she will be working on the medical staff as a registered nurse.” Dr. Hollis is a pharmacist, and the couple will provide medical services to hundreds of scouts from all over the world.

Dr. Michael Heindl, president of Northwest, sees this endowment as truly unique. “In all of my years in community college administration, I cannot remember a single time when an endowment was begun as a wedding gift. Dr. Hollis certainly came up with a gift that is both unique and eternal, and I am appreciative to him, and I am excited for Kim as they begin this new life together with an honor that will be helping students for generations to come,” Heindl said.

The scholarship will be awarded to students who are second-year students in the Associate Degree Nursing program.

The Legacy Continues

the coordinator of mathematics at the DeSoto Center. On August 1, 2018, Ferguson returned to the Senatobia campus as director of Mathematics Instruction.

Ferguson’s early years teaching at Northwest included many moments of joy and inspiration. Some of the fun and entertaining times were provided

by Graham, who never let her high standards decrease while she enjoyed fun times with colleagues. Many afternoons in the Physical Science Building were spent enjoying a special camaraderie.

For the past 16 years, Ferguson has enjoyed being involved in service at Church of the Holy Communion, Episcopal, in Memphis. He continues to enjoy reading, attending theatrical events, and traveling to the American Southwest. He also treasures time spent with his nephew Lee and with Lee’s family.

The scholarship will be awarded to students pursuing either the engineering, mathematics, or pharmacy pathway. Should there not be a qualified applicant in these pathways, then the scholarship should be awarded to a student pursuing any pathway in natural sciences.

Northwest’s mathematics instructors have all contributed toward these endowments. L-r, Elizabeth Harvey, Jennifer Jones, Melissa Cannon, Shelley Miller, Susan Leake, Kristie Duncan Waldrop, Randall Warren, Jennifer Hale, Marcus Perkins, Wayne Ferguson, Thomas Koslowski, Harold McKinnon, Wendy Davis, Joshua Guest, Greg Earnest, Dr. Udo Umoh, Brad Farrow, and Kris Katterjohn.

Photo by Marla Kennedy

someone who made a profound difference in her life. “Anita was my teacher, my colleague, and my friend. I am The Charlotte Alexander Tate extremely touched that she would proCounty Endowment vide this estate gift to Northwest to This is the second endowed scholarhelp students and that she would be ship established in honor of Charlotte specific in her instructions to include Alexander. The first one was estabme along with Wayne and Linda to be lished in 2018, and the complete story honored with a scholarship endowment. of Alexander’s life was highlighted in the previous edition of Northwest Now To then have my mathematics col(Fall 2018). She describes Graham as leagues provide additional funds truly leaves me overwhelmed with gratitude,” Alexander said.

Alexander was encouraged by Graham to apply for a position at Northwest in 1989.

She became the first division director of Mathematics in 2010 and served in that position until her retirement Northwest mathematics instructors (l to r) Charlotte Alexander in June 2018. (retired divison director), Wayne Ferguson, director of The scholarMathematics Instruction and Linda Hogan Harris (retired) have ship will be each been honored with endowments. Photo by Marla Kennedy awarded to stu-

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dents who are residents of Tate County and who maintain a 2.5 grade point average at Northwest.

The Linda Lewis Hogan Harris Endowment Linda Lewis Hogan Harris grew up in Sledge, the youngest daughter of Harry and Cornelia Lewis. She attended Sledge High School, where she was an honor student, Beta Club member, and Hall of Fame recipient. Harris was a member of the band, cheerleading squad, basketball team, and track team.

After completing high school, she attended Northwest for two years and quickly fell in love with the college that would later become an integral part of her life. She remembered with sincere appreciation the many caring faculty who taught and inspired her, two of whom were Anita Wilborn Graham and Bob King. Who would have ever guessed that years later she would be working alongside them in a profession she cherished?

After graduating from Northwest, Harris completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees with honors at the University of Mississippi. She taught in the Tate County Schools, Senatobia City Schools, and DeSoto County

www.northwestms.edu

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The Legacy Continues

Schools for nine and a half years before an unwavering commitment to the peo- great honor to be remembered by forreturning to college again to earn a ple she loved. I feel very blessed to be mer students.”

Ken and Linda Harris will always degree in computer programming from included in the group of people loved by Anita, and I’m honored to be remem- remember with sincere gratitude their State Technical Institute at Memphis.

At STIM, she graduated with a 4.0 bered by Anita with a gift as precious as former teacher and dear friend, GPA and embarked on a new career a scholarship named for me at the col- Graham. They both are thankful that journey dealing with computer program- lege because Northwest positively Graham was a major part of their lives, and they will carry her positive life lesming. Later she also completed gradu- impacted both Anita’s life and mine.” sons in their hearts as long as ate computer science coursethey live. work at the University of The Linda Lewis Hogan Memphis, Delta State Harris Endowed Scholarship University, and Mississippi will be awarded to a student in State University. In 1984, the computer science or comHarris was offered a full-time puter information systems teaching position at pathway or to a student who Northwest. She taught computhas chosen a math or a scier programming and software ence-related pathway at application classes at Northwest.

Northwest from 1984 through Dr. Michael Heindl, presi2005, serving as chairman of dent of Northwest, is deeply Computer Studies for the last appreciative for all of the giving 15 years that she worked at that these endowments repreNorthwest. sent. “An estate gift is such a Because of a family memcompliment to our college. ber’s serious illness, Harris Mrs. Graham, who had already took an early retirement and made a lasting and incredible taught online computer classPatti Gordon, executive director of Institutional contribution to Northwest in es from home for six additionAdvancement at Northwest (left) and Dr. Josh Filtz, assis- her classroom, was devoted to al years, ending in 2012. tant dean of DeSoto Center (right) accepted a donation to this college so much that she Harris remarked, “Retiring the Northwest Foundation from Martha Rushing, president made careful and thoughtful from Northwest was one of and CEO of SecurTrust Federal Credit Union in Southaven plans to continue helping the most difficult decisions (center).

Photo submitted Northwest. None of us knew I’ve ever made. I loved my she had done this. I wish we years teaching at Northwest, had known so that we could and I knew that I was truly blessed to work in one of the best comOver the past 28 years, Harris has have recognized her for her generosity. munity colleges in the country.” Harris personally seen the significance of Then, to add to the generosity, the has also expressed gratitude for the scholarships at Northwest. Harris’s first mathematics faculty members provided city of Senatobia where she has lived husband, who died at a young age more funds from the math Foundation for more than 40 years. Senatobia has than 30 years ago, was honored by his account established during the impleconsistently supported a strong educa- co-workers at Chromcraft with a schol- mentation of the QEP. I am completely tional system and has made quality arship at Northwest in his name. The elated by these acts of giving,” Heindl education a priority.

Thomas W. Hogan Endowed said.

Harris feels extremely proud to have Scholarship has impacted for many The SecurTrust Annual a scholarship named for her, which was years the lives of recipients who were established by her dear friend and men- studying computer science or computer Scholarship tor, Anita Wilborn Graham. Additional information systems at Northwest.

Patti Gordon and Dr. Josh Filtz, funds were added to this scholarship by Harris was honored that she was includthe Department of Mathematics at ed in determining the criteria for recipi- assistant dean of DeSoto Center, accepted a donation to the Northwest Northwest, and Harris is sincerely grate- ents of this scholarship. ful to Director Wayne Ferguson and his Harris is now married to Ken Harris, Foundation from Martha Rushing, presifaculty for their support of this scholar- who also was a former student of dent and CEO of SecurTrust Federal ship.

Graham’s. Ken has retired from over 30 Credit Union in Southaven.

Harris’s close friendship with years of teaching. During his tenure, he According to Gordon, there will be Graham lasted for more than 25 years, positively impacted the lives of many two $500 annual scholarships awarded and Graham continued to teach Harris students. Harris commented, “One of to Tate, Marshall or DeSoto County stuin so many important ways through that the greatest privileges of living in a dents. Gordon explained that the stufriendship. Graham’s strength, integrity, small community in which we both have dents will receive $250 per semester. honesty, and compassion were evident taught for many years is being greeted “These scholarships will be given to one to anyone who knew her and, especial- by former students who remember us student who attends Northwest on the ly, to Harris, who was also her neighbor. and express gratitude for the differ- Senatobia campus and one who Harris said, “Anita always demonstrated ences we’ve made in their lives. What a

The Legacy Continues

attends at DeSoto Center. These students should be studying accounting, business or banking and finance,” Gordon explained.

“We are so thankful for SecurTrust, their continued support of Northwest, and especially their willingness to provide educational opportunities for our students. Mrs. Rushing and her staff are always eager to sponsor events and donate gifts, and the establishment of this scholarship further validates their commitment to our community, our institution, and our students,” Filtz said.

Education and a master’s degree in Counseling from the University of Mississippi. She is currently a counselor at Southaven High School.

Wesley graduated from Northwest and continued his education at the

The Jane Waldrop Williamson Endowment The Jane Waldrop Williamson Endowment was established at Northwest by her husband, Wayne, and their children, Shannon and Wesley, to honor Jane’s lifelong career as an educator and to express appreciation for her loving dedication to her family.

A native of Memphis, Jane grew up under the loving guidance of her parents, Doyle and Lexie Waldrop. She is a third generation teacher following in the path of her grandmother, Mary Shannon Waldrop, and her father.

Her sister, Cathy Doyle, is a former elementary teacher, and currently is the librarian at White Station High School in Memphis.

After graduating from Memphis Preparatory School, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Education from the University of Mississippi in 1979.

She began her career in education at Northwest in 1979 as a Business Technology instructor. While teaching, she earned a Master of Education in Business Education from the University of Memphis in 1983. At the University of Memphis, she earned membership in the Beta Xi Chapter of Delta Pi Epsilon, a national graduate honorary society committed to the professional development of educators in business.

It was in high school that she met her husband of 39 years, Wayne. As he has pursued his successful business career, currently being the managing partner of Easley Contractors for the greater Memphis area, Jane has been a constant source of encouragement while being a devoted mother to Shannon and Wesley. Shannon earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary

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Jane Waldrop Williamson

University of Southern Mississippi, where he was an honor student, earning a bachelor’s degree in theater performance. He is currently teaching English as a second language online and directing and acting in local community theater.

During her 35-year career at Northwest, she taught accounting, machine transcription, microcomputer applications and word processing.

During the span of her career, technology took giant leaps. During her early years, she was teaching students how to use mimeograph machines then the DOS operating system, and at the end of her career, she was teaching students advanced computer applications.

Jane was a member of the National Business Education Association and was chosen as the Northwest representative to the Lamplighter Conference in 2011. Lamplighter is a program begun in 1990 by the Mississippi Community College Academic Deans Association to honor excellence in teaching. She was also named to Who’s Who Among American Teachers.

Jane’s fondest memories of her Northwest career are the colleagues that she had the privilege to work with each day. They were the ones who served as mentors to her during her teaching career. The faculty, staff, and administration of Northwest were all

instrumental in making her years of teaching a rewarding career.

Jane retired from Northwest in 2014 and will always be grateful to her Northwest family. “I experienced the death of my mother and the birth of my daughter on the same day. Later, my son, Wesley, had to undergo three heart surgeries. The people at Northwest surrounded my family with love and support,” she said.

During her retirement, Jane assists Wayne in his business, enjoys crocheting and reading, attends Bible Study and works in the women’s ministry at her church, takes piano lessons, and keeps in touch with her Northwest friends.

The scholarship will be awarded to students pursuing one of the following career pathways: education, CareerTechnical business, or theatre. The final preference for the scholarship is any Career-Technical pathway.

The Charles Richard Winters, Sr. Endowment The Charles Richard Winters, Sr. Endowment has been established by Dr. John and Mrs. Amanda Winters of Ames, Iowa, in loving memory of John’s father, Charles Richard Winters, Sr., to celebrate his entrepreneurial spirit and passion for learning. Winters died in February of 2012.

Winters impressed upon his family the values of education, a strong work ethic and a positive attitude, all of which created a legacy of entrepreneurship to be passed down for generations.

Born on October 9, 1958 in Memphis, Winters was a 1976 graduate of Central High School.

He managed convenience stores for all of his adult life. At the appropriate time, he used his many years of experience to follow his dream of opening his own convenience store, which he did in partnership with his two young adult sons, Charles Richard Winters, Jr. and John Virgil Winters.

For many years, Winters was also an independent, contracted auditor for other convenience stores, a job he handled while managing his own store.

Throughout his career in the MidSouth region, he met many people over the years. This was what he loved the most about the job. He was great at connecting with people, remembering their names and stories, and loved

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nothing more than good conversation with his customers, employees and coworkers, all of whom he considered friends.

He was a proud family man, community member, and business owner who strongly emphasized the importance of education to his children.

Winters was married for 30 years to the former Cathy Ann Newsom of Horn Lake. He and Cathy raised three children in Horn Lake: Charles Richard Winters, Jr. of Middleton, Tennessee; John Virgil Winters of Ames, Iowa and Jessica Faye Winters of Horn Lake. They have seven grandchildren now, and, though he was only able to meet two of them before his passing, he was an incredibly happy and involved grandparent and would undoubtedly be proud of and overjoyed with all seven of his grandchildren: Landon Eric Crawford, Abigale Faith Holley, Jeremy Wayne Holley, Emma Faye Logan, Abraham Wyatt Winters, Amelia Marie Winters and Joy Ann Dell Winters.

Winters always told his children to work hard. From the time they were very young, they accompanied their dad to work early in the morning before the start of their school day. He showed them the ins and outs of the business during those times, sparking an interest in business ownership and impressing upon them a strong work ethic. He also told his children to take their education seriously, and he, especially, hoped for,

encouraged, and supported their becoming first-generation college graduates.

Once his children began attending college, he decided to further his own education by attending evening classes at Northwest while operating his many business ventures.

Winters enjoyed the challenge of college courses and maintained a remarkable grade point average during his college studies.

He loved his family first and foremost, but also loved humor, trivia, couch naps, fried chicken and sports of all kinds.

Winters was passionate about youth sports, coaching a generation of community youth in baseball and basketball for approximately 20 years, volunteering his time through Horn Lake Parks and Recreation and other Memphis/north Mississippi area leagues. He also served for many years as a referee for various youth sports.

The bed of his pickup truck was always loaded with cases of sports drinks, buckets of sunflower seeds, and drawstring bags of basketballs or bags of bats and batting helmets, depending on the season.

Dr. Michael Heindl is appreciative to Dr. and Mrs. John Winters for continuing the tremendous legacy of John’s father.

“There is no way to adequately meas-

John and Charles R. Winters, Sr. ure the impact that Charles Richard Winters, Sr., made on his family, his business associates, his customers, and the young people that he coached in youth sports. Northwest is honored to have a scholarship that bears this distinctive name and to tell his story to students at Northwest for generations to come,” Heindl said.

This scholarship will be awarded to non-traditional students pursuing careers in the fields of business and/or social sciences and who have demonstrated a financial need.

Ruth Ann Doddridge Allison died on March 22, 2019.

Her husband of 72 years, Sam Allison, a longtime member of the Ruth Ann Allison Northwest Board of Trustees, predeceased her. She and Sam co-founded Allison Farms in 1969. Ruth served faithfully as a member at Crenshaw United Methodist Church and was a trustee of the First Regional Library System.

However, it was her family to whom she devoted her life. Her husband, her six children, her eight grandchildren, her 15 great-grandchildren, and her great-great grandchild were loved, encouraged, and guided by this lady of faith, strength, wisdom, and compassion. One daughter,

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Patricia, pre-deceased her parents. The other children, Joyce, Diane, Ellen, Marty, and James endowed a scholarship at Northwest in honor of their parents, The Samuel M. and Ruth Ann Allison Endowment.

Louis Johnson Blanchard, the 2000 Northwest Alumnus of the Year and a longtime member of the Northwest Foundation Board of Directors, died on May 4 after a courageous battle with nonHodgkin’s lymphoma. A native of Senatobia, Blanchard earned an Associate of Arts from Northwest before receiving his bachelor’s degree in business administration and master’s degree in accounting from the University of Mississippi. He distinguished himself in World War II, providing meteorological support for both the European (Germany) and Pacific war fronts. He later received numerous honors from Southern

A r k a n s a s University (SAU), where he taught from 1956 until his retirement in 1998, and served as chairman of the Department Louis Blanchard of Accounting.

After retirement, he was interim president while a presidential search was being conducted. In 2017, SAU honored Blanchard and his wife, Martha, by naming the SAU Business Building Blanchard Hall. The Blanchards endowed three scholarships at Northwest, The Louis Johnson and Martha Jones Blanchard Endowment, The Carl H. and Mattie Sue Johnson Blanchard Endowment, and the Jack Osborne Blanchard Endowment.

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The Legacy Continues

In Memoriam

NW celebrates 103rd Commencement

Northwest President, Dr. Michael Heindl, greets Commencement speaker Ann Hannaford Lamar before the ceremony begins.

Lamar is a member of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees, a retired Mississippi Supreme Court justice, and a Northwest alumna.

Approximately 800 graduates received diplomas in two exercises on Friday, May 17 in Howard Coliseum. Phi Theta Kappa President Mallory Bledsoe of Southaven (left photo) received her Associate of Arts during the morning ceremony, while Moises Bravo of Senatobia (right photo) received an Associate of Applied Science during the afternoon exercises.

Photos by LaJuan Tallo and Julie Bauer

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Jones named dean of Northwest’s Oxford Center school juniors who enroll in the Scholastic In January 2019, Dr. Michael Heindl Institute will take a minimum of 15 college announced the appointment of Dr. Don hours per semester and will be full- time Jones as the new dean of LafayetteNorthwest students while still in high school.

Yalobusha Technical Center in Oxford.

Upon high school graduation, the student would Jones joined the Northwest family in midearn both a high school diploma from Oxford March.

High School and an associate degree from “Dr. Jones has extensive higher educaNorthwest. tion experience in teaching and providing Before Jones began working in higher educaleadership in student services, enrollment tion, he spent several years in sales, marketing, management and campus administration. I and management. Jones served in the Army am excited about Dr. Jones joining our National Guard and is currently a staff officer in Northwest family,” Heindl said in his the Mississippi State Guard. He is a Rotarian announcement of Jones’ hiring. and was a recipient of the Southeast Shelby Prior to his appointment at Northwest, County Rotary Community Heroes Award. He is Jones served as director of Recruitment a member of the Horn Lake Lion’s Club, the Phi and Admissions at Tulane University’s Delta Kappa Educational Fraternity, Golden School of Professional Advancement Dr. Don Jones Key, the State Guard Association of the U.S., (SoPA) campuses in New Orleans and and the Southern Association of Student online. He worked for Belhaven University for several years as enrollment manager, director of Financial Aid Administrators. He has been the recipient of sevEnrollment and Student Services, and as assistant vice presi- eral service awards for his community involvement and military dent of Adult, Graduate and Online Enrollment and Student service.

His teaching experience includes learning strategies for Services where he oversaw seven campuses in five states.

Jones is excited about his new position at Northwest. “I feel adults, business administration, and educational leadership like people are beginning to see the value of the community for Belhaven University. He also taught biblical studies and college and the community partner that we are. Coming to liturgical studies coursework for ministry students in his dioNorthwest is an opportunity for me to be a part of that,” Jones cese.

Jones graduated from Horn Lake High School and earned a said.

With respect to the Oxford campus, Jones has hopes to Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from expand program offerings, especially the Career-Technical pro- Bethel University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. grams. “We are maximizing the use of our facilities and staff. He received an Educational Specialist in Community College Career-Technical programs are especially poignant to me Teaching from Arkansas State University (ASU) and went on to because they allow students to start their careers quickly in earn his Doctorate of Education from ASU. He also holds areas that excite them. They can fast-track their careers and degrees in biblical studies and liturgical worship that prepared him for chaplaincy and pastoral work. He has one daughter move on with their lives,” Jones said.

Another initiative that Jones is excited about is Northwest’s (Mary Victoria) who will be a student at Northwest beginning in middle college program, the Scholastic Institute. This program fall 2019, and is “Uncle Don” to Chris and Jennifer Evans of —LaJuan Tallo is being piloted with Oxford High School in fall 2019. High Horn Lake.

Office of Early College Programs created for dual enrollment needs One of the fastest-growing trends in higher education is dual enrollment (DE) for high school students in college classes.

Northwest has seen its own DE program more than double in size since 2015, and today DE students comprise over 22 percent of the college’s population.

In August 2018, President Dr. Michael Heindl recognized that the college needed to do more for its growing DE student population, and decided to implement a new department at Northwest to meet this need, the Office of Early College Programs (OECP).

To head up the new department, Heindl called upon then-dean of DeSoto

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Center, Dr. Jeremy Isome.

As district dean of OECP, Isome works closely with Dr. Suzanne Strehle, coordinator of Dual Enrollment and Stacy Stewart, OECP administrative assistant to coordinate and facilitate Northwest’s early college program across its 11-county district.

One of the big projects OECP is working on currently is their middle college program, called Scholastic Institute.

Juniors in high school who enroll in the program would be able to take a minimum of 15 college hours per semester.

They would not take high school classes and would be full-time Northwest students while in high school. Upon high school graduation, the student would

earn both an associate degree and a high school diploma.

Isome and his staff are responsible for getting DE students admitted, registered and advised while making sure that DE students get the same level of instruction and service that other Northwest students get.

They also have to comply with the requirements of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC), the accrediting agency for community colleges.

For more information on the OECP, contact them at dual@northwestms.edu or call the office at 662.562.3235.

—LaJuan Tallo

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A Time to Remember Baseball event reunites generations of players Northwest’s All-Star Baseball Reunion was held on March 22 in the Haraway Center on the Senatobia campus.

The event featured legendary Northwest baseball coaches Jim Miles and Donny Castle, along with several former players.

“We were glad to be able to recognize and reminisce with a pair of legendary Northwest coaches,” Northwest Head Baseball Coach Mark Carson said. “They both have made a big impact and meant a lot to many young men over the years.”

The event began with a mixer where generations of Rangers talked, laughed, and remembered the good ol’ days.

Afterward, stories were shared by former players and Miles and Castle were presented with framed jerseys they wore during their time as coaches at Northwest. Coach Miles was also

given a framed collage of photos from Jim Miles Field.

Miles and Castle are among the all-time winningest coaches in Northwest baseball history, with Miles owning the career record of 556 victories over a 21-year span. A former Northwest baseball athlete from 1961-63, Miles took the reigns of the Ranger baseball program in 1976 after a sevenyear Major League Baseball career.

After joining Miles as assistant coach in 1979, Castle immediately followed Miles as head coach in 1998. Castle led the Rangers until 2005, guiding Northwest to 271 victories. A 10-year veteran of professional baseball, Castle played for the Washington Senators, Texas Rangers, and New York Yankees.

Both men are members of the Northwest Sports Hall of Fame and the MACJC Sports Hall of Fame.

—Brian Lentz

Assistant Baseball Coach Bill Selby (left) greets former players Johnny Ray (‘86-’87) and Brian “Goose” Geeslin (‘87-’88) during the mixer (top left) and visited with Michael Deaton before the ceremony (above).

Coach Selby presents Coach Castle with his framed jersey to honor his years in coaching at Northwest. (above right) Former Ranger Brian Stewart (above center) shares a story with the crowd.

Coach Jim Miles (left) shares a laugh with John Bakke. (lower left)

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Northwest Now

Photos by Brian Lentz

Classes of 1964-69 hold reunion picnic at Sardis

The Northwest classes of 1964-1969 held a reunion picnic at John Kyle State Park on May 4. Fun and fellowship were on the agenda for the day, with lots of laughter and memories shared about their days at Northwest. For more information on this alumni group or to start a group for your own class, contact Patti Gordon at 662-5601103 or email pgordon@northwestms.edu.

Homecoming 2019 Activities HOMECOMING DAY: THURSDAY, OCT. 10, 2019 Homecoming Carnival – Times to be announced Ag Field – Open to the Public Alumnus of the Year/Sports Hall of Fame Reception – 3 p.m.

Haraway Center – Hosted by Northwest Alumni Association Homecoming BBQ – 4-6 p.m. service Haraway Center – Call Alumni Office @ 662-560-1112 for tickets Homecoming Pre-game Festivities – 6:30 p.m.

Bobby Franklin Field Rangers vs. Coahoma Tigers – 7 p.m. kickoff Bobby Franklin Field Homecoming Court and Queen Presentation – Halftime Bobby Franklin Field * Tentative schedule

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2019 HONOREES: Alumnus of the Year: Don Clanton Sports Hall of Fame: Cecil Williams, basketball 1966-68 Rhonda “KK” Mikes *, basketball, 1981-82 Tommy Robinson, soccer, 2002-03 Ricky Blake, football, 1988-89 Eddie Blake, football, 1989-90 Jason Rogan, basketball, 2001-02

*awarded posthumously

Summer 2019

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the sporting life

Atkins inducted into MCC Sports Hall of Fame Joined by family, friends and past Northwest inductees, former Lady Ranger basketball great Larenda Shantell Atkins was inducted into the Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame at the Clyde Muse Center of Hinds Community College.

Atkins became Northwest's first female and 16th all-time inductee to be enshrined into the Sports Hall of Fame.

One of the most decorated women's basketball players to ever put on a Lady Ranger uniform, Atkins played the 199394 and 1994-95 seasons under Hall of Famer Don Edwards.

Atkins helped Northwest to a combined 44-13 record (18-6 in the MACJC) and a state and north division championship as a sophomore. She led the Lady Rangers in scoring in each of her two seasons at 12.0 and 16.7 points per game.

Her name still ranks in the Top 10 at Northwest in 15 different statistical categories for a career, including first alltime in assists (491) and steals (328), second in 3-point field goal percentage (.367), third in field goal percentage (.529), fifth in free throw percentage (.648), sixth in field Former Ranger basketball great Shantell Atkins (right) was inducted goals made (306) and seventh in career scoring with 820 into the Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame on points.

April 24. Atkins is Northwest’s first female inductee. Congratulating The most notable statistic on Atkins was on Dec. 8, Atkins is Northwest President, Dr. Michael Heindl.

1994, when she recorded the school's first-ever quadruplePhoto by Steve Diffey/Holmes CC double against Mississippi Delta in a 91-52 win. Atkins scored 22 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, made 10 steals and dished out 10 assists. She went on to collect several more ly resides in her hometown of Earle, Ark., where she works as a branch office manager for Edward Jones. She has three chilquadruple-doubles during the 1994-95 season. dren, ranging in ages 17 to 22.

—Kevin Maloney Atkins continued playing at LeMoyne-Owen College before ending her basketball career to become a mother. She current-

Rowan notches 400th career victory in split at SW Tenn.

Northwest head softball coach and MACJC Hall of Famer Mike Rowan registered his milestone 400th career victory during a home split against Southwest Tennessee on April 10.

The Rangers dropped the first game of the twinbill 8-4, despite sparking a fourth inning rally thanks to a sac fly from Madison Crosby and an RBI-single from Briley Terry, bringing the Rangers within 6-4.

Northwest would get Rowan to the coveted milestone in the nightcap however, thanks to a solid pitching outing from Delta Claire Newman and Sarah Johnson and a 6-0 lead through the first three innings of work. The Rangers did the most damage in the bottom of the second inning, scoring four runs off an RBIsingle from Crosby, a two-run double from Newman and another on the same play due to an error in right field.

Rowan, now 404-249-1 all-time, currently ranks third in MACJC history behind Mississippi Gulf Coast’s Kenneth Long (584) and Meridian's Robert Eakins (526).

—Kevin Maloney/Brian Lentz

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Northwest Now

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the sporting life

Rodeo earns highest finish in Northwest event Even in sports, there’s no place like home. For the Northwest rodeo teams, that adage proved to be true in the college’s annual host event April 25-27, as the Rangers capped off the 2018-19 Ozark Region slate with their highest results of the season.

Among the men’s teams, the Rangers finished fourth overall as the Northwest women notched a seventh place result. The Ranger men compiled a total of 240 points, finishing behind overall winner UT Martin and runners-up Missouri Valley College and East Mississippi.

Northwest was paced in men’s competition behind a pair of solid outings from Brennan and Brandon Tomlinson in team roping. The Tomlinson twosome finished in second place, capturing 30 points in the first round and 40 in the second for an average of 50 and a final total of 120 points. The duo placed just behind the 180 points compiled by Hunter Crofford (UWA) and Morgan Mills (EMCC).

Mallory Williamson provided the lone highlight for the women's team with a sixth-place finish in the barrel racing event. The West Point native finished with a first round time of 14.12 and a second round time of 14.17, good for an average of 28.29 and 25 total points.

For the season, Northwest finished seventh overall in the Ozark Region men’s standings with a total of 570 points. The Ranger women placed 10th in the region with a season-ending total of 258.33 points.

—Brian Lentz

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Olive Branch www.northwestms.edu

Included in fee: breakfast (morning flight), lunch, dinner, carts, on-course beverages Also available: red tees, mulligans, raffle tickets

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For more information on becoming a sponsor or to register for the tournament, contact Kacy Dixon at 662-342-4765, Patti Gordon at 662-560-1112 or Debra Herrington at 901-831-1134.

Summer 2019

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the sporting life

Ranger softball players receive honors Northwest infielder Delta Claire Newman and pitcher Lacey Coats have been named to the 2019 All-MACJC softball team, the league announced on May 31.

Both freshmen, Newman received first team All-MACJC honors as Coats collected a second team nod.

Earning the start in 35 of the team's 43 games, Newman led the Rangers with a .349 batting average, 12 doubles, two home runs and 17 RBIs. In addition to a .977 fielding percentage at first base, the Eupora native also saw some time in the circle, making eight appearances and two starts in 14 innings of work.

Becoming the team's primary starting pitcher as the season progressed, Coats had a strong freshman campaign and finished 7-11 with a team-best 3.06 ERA, along with 87 strikeouts and 42 walks. The Hernando product also made her presence felt at the plate, batting .409 with six RBIs despite only seeing 22 at bats. —Brian Lentz Delta Claire Newman and Lacey Coats

2019 Ranger Softball Awards Coats

Terry

Newman

Johnson

Politte

Most Valuable Pitcher Lacey Coats, freshman, Hernando, pitcher Heart of a Champion Briley Terry, sophomore, Decatur, Ala., catcher Slugger Award Delta Claire Newman, freshman, Eupora, pitcher Scholar Athlete Award Sarah Johnson, sophomore, Bateville, pitcher/infielder Golden Glove Award Maddy Politte, sophomore Southaven, infielder

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Northwest Now

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the sporting life

Baseball concludes stellar season with No. 9 final NJCAA ranking Carson earns 400th career win After advancing to its 27th NJCAA Regional and posting a third straight 30win season, Northwest (33-14) ends the year ranked ninth in the final NJCAA Division II Baseball Poll.

Unranked in the preseason, the Rangers won 23 of their first 29 games, defeated five nationally-ranked teams during the year and finished 20-3 at home.

Northwest won eight of its first nine games this season, picking up non-conference sweeps against Calhoun, Southwest Tennessee and Columbia State. Entering the MACJC portion of the schedule at 10-3 overall, the Rangers endured a sweep at the hands of thenNo. 4 Jones before sweeping Northeast, East Mississippi, Southwest Mississippi, Holmes, 18th-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast and Coahoma to improve to 12-3 in conference play.

Split decisions on the road against top 10 opponents in Hinds, Itawamba and Meridian knocked the Rangers down to 15-6 in conference play, but sweeps against Mississippi Delta and East Central kept Northwest alive at second place in the MACJC standings. However, a regular season-ending sweep at No. 5 Pearl River would drop the Rangers to a No. 3 seed ahead of the Region 23 Playoffs.

Hosting 7th-seeded Northeast in a best-of-three series, Northwest used a seven-run second inning to take a 9-5 victory in Game 1. Battling inclement weather over the following few days, the Rangers surrendered 10 runs after a five-hour delay in Game 2 and fell 14-3, before responding back with a 9-1 win in Game 3 to take the series.

Northwest jumped out to early leads in both Region 23 Tournament

matchups against top-ranked LSU Eunice and No. 6 Pearl River, but wound up dropping both games by a pair of 7-5 and 12-11 finals, ending the Rangers’ postseason run (both opponents would later meet for the region championship with Pearl River advancing to the NJCAA World Series after defeating LSU Eunice).

Head coach Mark Carson guided the Rangers to 20 conference wins in backto-back seasons for the first time in program history. He also picked up his 400th career victory on March 29 after sweeping Southwest Mississippi, as he remains in second all-time in career coaching victories behind 556 from Jim Miles.

Northwest hit .295 as a team, paced by sophomore Ben Van Cleve (.375, 13 2B, 14 HR, 47 RBIs), and slugged 55 home runs which ranked 11th in the country.

As a pitching staff, the Rangers had a collective 4.05 ERA and set a new single-season school record in team strikeouts (379) and opponent batting average (.241).

Northwest loses 10 sophomores off this year's team, with five of those inking with Division I programs in Van Cleve and Hayden Leatherwood (Ole Miss), Tanner Leggett (Mississippi State), Tanner Booth (Murray State) and Reed Harding (Memphis).

Additionally, two Rangers were selected in the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft, as freshman left-hander Dalton Fowler was taken by the New York Mets in the 27th round while former Northwest right-hander and current Mississippi State pitcher Peyton Plumlee was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 31st round, bringing the all-time total to 20 draft selections from Northwest and the eighth draft pick in the last seven years. —Brian Lentz

The Rangers celebrate after a home run during a victory at Itawamba Community College.

Photo by Lee Adams

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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 May 1 in the Haraway Center.

2019 retirees—Pictured front row (lr) are LaJuan Tallo, assistant director, Communications; Sybil Canon, associate vice president of Development and Special Projects; Carol Peterson, administrative assistant to the President; Rhonda Still, CTE Support Services coordinator and Theresa Massie, loan officer, Financial Aid. Back row, (l-r) Richie Lawson, vice president for Education; Terry Potts, supervisor, Moving and Events; Don “Bubba” Skelton, head men’s basketball coach and Lincoln Cobb, Physical Plant.

Photo by KayLeigh Mitchell

45 YEARS—Northwest President, Dr. Michael Heindl congratulates Jacqueline Collinsworth, history instructor, for 45 years of service to the college. The Northwest Foundation presented Collinsworth with a new laptop.

Photo by Julie Bauer 35 YEARS—Dr. Heindl congratulates Dale Davis, director of Humanities Instruction, for 35 years of service to the college.

The Northwest Foundation presented Davis with an engraved silver platter. (above right) Photo by Julie Bauer 30 YEARS— Pictured (l-r) are Charisse Reed and Dianne Scott, nursing instructors and Carol Peterson, administrative assistant to the President. (right) Photo by LaJuan Tallo

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

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www.northwestms.edu

25 YEARS—Pictured (l-r) John Ungurait, director of Bands; Dr. Sherry Lusk, English instructor; Robert Foster, health, physical education and recreation instructor and Annie Lee Jackson, food service. Not pictured, Charlie Aaron, psychology instructor, DeSoto Center and Photo by LaJuan Tallo Glennie Leverson, housekeeping.

20 YEARS—Pictured (l-r) are Sylvia Ann Walton, housekeeping; Suzanne Brown, assistant director of Financial Aid; Pam Wooten, facility use coordinator of Haraway Center and Sandra Garrett, food service.

Photo by LaJuan Tallo

15 YEARS—Pictured front row (l-r) Ardina Wilson, residence hall supervisor; Allison Eoff, secretary, Athletics; Corneil Copeland, secretary, Business Office; Patsy Gardner, CTE Support Services coordinator, DeSoto Center; Theresa Massie, loan officer, Financial Aid and Kim Perkins, secretary, Recruiting. Second row (l-r) Amanda Wilson, psychology instructor; Mary Bonds, biology instructor; Beth Dickerson, business and office technology instructor and Pearl McGlothian, administrative assistant, DeSoto Center.

Top row (l-r) Scott Oakley, receivers coach; David Lambert, construction worker and Lawayne House, art chair. Photo by KayLeigh Mitchell

10 YEARS—Front row (l-r) Jennifer Paige Smith, bookstore, DeSoto Center; Connie Smith, food service; Ruth Dunlap, accounts payable clerk and Dr. Tim Flake, speech instructor, Oxford Center. Second row (l-r) Patricia Woods, housekeeping; LaJuan Tallo, assistant director of Communications; Paula Lipford, residence hall supervisor and Sadie Shannon, speech and theatre chair. Third row (l-r) Arlene Pittman, housekeeping; Jennifer Lance, paramedic instructor; Suzanne Geeslin, coordinator of Housing Operations and Dr. Tonyalle Rush, director of Career Center.

Top row, Stephan McDavid, paralegal technology instructor; Scott Swanson, campus police; Douglas Freeze, assistant director, Workforce Development and Frank Cleveland, information systems technology Photo by KayLeigh Mitchell instructor.

5 YEARS—Front row (l-r) are Sandra Atkins, housekeeping; Candis Walker, director, Student Development Center, DeSoto Center; Dr. Suzanne Strehle, coordinator of Dual Enrollment; Karin Randolph, nursing instructor and Walter Ruby, industrial electronics engineering technology instructor.

Second row (l-r) are Kimberley Poland, biology instructor; Shelley Miller, mathematics instructor, Brittani Aiken, I2S Navigator, WIN Job Center; Pam Llana, nursing instructor; Debra Lenox, respiratory therapy instructor, DeSoto Center and Anthony Harvey, grounds worker. Top row (l-r), Jake Long, athletic academic coordinator; Scotty Bulliner, electrician; Alyssa Algee, technical director, Fine Arts; Stanley Joe Isom, cabinet maker and Photo by KayLeigh Mitchell Jeffrey Barham, construction worker.

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Summer 2019

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Jacksonville Jaguars draft former Ranger quarterback Gardner Minshew in 6th round Gardner Minshew's path to the National Football League is something out of a story book.

The former Northwest standout and national championshipwinning quarterback carved his own meandering path to the NFL that started as a walk-on at Troy in the spring of 2015 and culminated on April 20 when his name was called.

"I'm fired up, man," Minshew said after the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him in the sixth round. "All I needed was a chance. When I was a little kid—if you had told me I was getting picked in the NFL Draft, whether it was the first pick or the last pick—it's such a blessing, man. It's such an honor, just to get the opportunity."

Minshew is the 21st former Ranger to be selected in the NFL Draft and first-ever quarterback in school history.

Minshew completed 468 of 662 passes for 4,776 yards and 38 touchdowns against nine interceptions this past season for Washington State. He won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation's top senior or fourth-year quarterback and finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

The Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year and one of the nation's most efficient quarterbacks last season, Minshew led WSU to a program-record 11 wins, capped by a victory over Iowa State in the Alamo Bowl.

Prior to Washington State, Minshew played the 2016-17 seasons at East Carolina and started his career on the field as a Ranger in 2015.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Brandon product was named an NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention, NJCAA All-Region 23 and First Team All-MACJC after throwing for 3,288 yards (third in a single-season) and 28 touchdowns and completing 61 percent of his passes (223 of 367). He led the MACJC and was second in the NJCAA in passing yards and attempts, fourth in completions, fifth in touchdown passes and seventh in passing yards/game.

Minshew showed out in the Rangers' 66-13 thumping of 2nd-ranked Rochester in the NJCAA national championship game, completing 23-of-30 passes for a career-high 421 yards and five touchdowns en route to Mississippi Bowl Committee Player of the Year honors. All told, Minshew guided the Rangers to an unprecedented six wins over nationally-ranked teams during the year and 11-1 record.

Prior to his successful stint with Northwest, Minshew was also a top name in the Mississippi high school ranks at Brandon. As a senior, he helped the Bulldogs to a 12-2 overall record and completed 243 passes for 3,541 yards and 31 touchdowns. He ended his time at Brandon as one of the metro area's most successful quarterbacks with 11,222 career passing yards and 105 total touchdowns.

—Kevin Maloney

Congratulations Gardner!

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➢

Hall of Fame from page 3

and President’s Lists. He plans to transfer to the University of Memphis to complete his education degree.

Katie Stone is an Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) student from Southaven.

Stone is a member of PTK, where she serves as vice president, Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society, and president of the Northwest Student Nurses Association. She served as vice president of her Freshman I and II classes.

She was a member of the Baptist Student Union and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and of the Northwest Ranger Marching Band and Concert Band.

Stone’s honors include President’s List and she is the recipient of the Pennie Pullen McKinney Endowment. Stone plans to obtain her master’s degree in nursing and become a teacher.

Annah Catherine Storey, is an ADN student from Senatobia. She is a member of PTK, Alpha Delta Nu and is the treasurer and fundraising chair of the Northwest Student Nursing Association.

She is the recipient of the Marcus L. and Sue Cook Burks Endowment and was on the President’s List. Storey plans to transfer to Delta State University’s online RN-BSN program and plans to eventually acquire a MSN. Daniel Robey of Dexter, Missouri is a graduate of Dexter Senior High School and is studying John Deere Technology.

He is a member of PTK and is a recipient of the John Deere Annual Scholarship.

Robey began working for Greenway Equipment who sponsored him as a student in the John Deere Technology program at Northwest. He enjoys his job and plans to continue after graduation.

Four Hall of Fame students come from the DeSoto Center.

Dante Baker of Southaven graduated from the Hotel and Restaurant Management Technology program in December. While at DeSoto Center he was a member of DECA. He hopes to pursue a career in the hospitality industry where he can make the world a better place.

Northwest DeSoto Center student Stephanie Cole of Senatobia is studying dental hygiene. She is a member of PTK, where she serves as historian and reporter. Cole plans to transfer to the dental hygiene program at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center.

Jamie Edwards is a member of PTK

www.northwestms.edu

and the DeSoto Center Book Club. Her honors include President’s List. She plans to continue her education at The University of Mississippi at DeSoto Center.

Biology student Devin Rayborn of Olive Branch is a graduate of Olive Branch High School. Rayborn is a member of PTK whose honors include the President’s List. He plans to transfer to the University of Memphis and then attend medical school at the University of Tennessee to study dermatology.

One of the four students representing the Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center (LYTC) is Ji’Barrick Hervey of Oxford. He graduated from Northwest in December. While at Northwest, Hervey studied paralegal technology. His honors included the Vice President’s and President’s List. He plans to study law at the University of Mississippi.

Alexandra Claire Johnson of Southaven is studying dental hygiene at LYTC. She is a member of PTK and served as secretary of Gamma Beta Phi National Honor Society. Johnson is an Outstanding Student in biology. Her honors include President’s List. She is the recipient of the Attorney Robert Thomas and Norma Shuford Riser Endowment.

She plans to transfer to the dental hygiene program at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center.

Kelsey Plummer of Water Valley is studying general college at LYTC. She a member of PTK. Honors include Vice President’s and President’s Lists. She plans to study journalism at the University of Mississippi.

Josh Wood of Brandon is studying accounting at Northwest. Wood was recently named Northwest’s HEADWAE student and is president of PTK and a member of Gamma Beta Phi. He is a recipient of the Jack Butts Endowment and a Presidential Scholarship. He has been on the President’s List. He plans to transfer to the University of Mississippi to study accountancy.

—LaJuan Tallo

➢HEADWAE from page 4 She earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees in mathematics from the University of Mississippi. A native of Benton, she is a PTK sponsor on the Oxford campus, and has been selected as a Lamplighter, which honors excellence in teaching at Mississippi community colleges. She also received the Journey Award for

Excellence in PTK Membership Recruitment.

Harvey is a member of First Baptist Church in Oxford. She and her husband Brian are the parents of three sons, Will, John and Michael.

—LaJuan Tallo

➢ Canon from page 11 line and cheering them on to amazing victories for Northwest,” Canon said.

Canon and her husband Al are members of First Baptist Church in Southaven, where Al serves as minister of Music and Sybil teaches the Hope Sunday School Class. They have a blended family that includes three daughters and five grandchildren. Their family is Jennifer Roberts Jenkins (Jared) and granddaughter Noelle of Fairfield, Connecticut; Emily Roberts Wilson (Jeff) and granddaughter Mattie and grandson William of Raleigh, North Carolina and Amber Canon Gilluly (Greg) and grandson Jake and granddaughter Isla, of —LaJuan Tallo Savannah, Georgia.

➢Reynolds from page 13 students who are receiving their scholarships. One noteworthy point is that not one of these scholarship endowments bears the name of Tommy and Liz Reynolds. Instead, they have selflessly chosen to honor others who have made an impact on their lives and on the lives of many others. While they were reluctant to allow us to honor them with this article, it is only fitting to do so,” said Dr. Michael Heindl, president of Northwest.

If you ask Tommy and Liz Reynolds why they chose the people they did and why they gave their money to memorialize those people through Foundation scholarships, the answer is profound, yet simple. “Every one of them helped a lot of people and have impacted our lives. It just seemed like the right thing to do,” Tommy said.

Note: Since this article was written, the Reynoldses have added an additional endowment to honor Butler and Dahlia McLeod from Water Valley. A reception will be held in their honor this summer with pictures and information to follow in the next issue of Northwest Now. —LaJuan Tallo

Summer 2019

31

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, 2018, and May 31, 2019, 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) 560-1112.

MEMORIALS Sam & Ruth Ann Allison

by Mr. Marty Allison Mrs. Ellen Allison Anderson Mr. and Mrs. Bill Brown Mr. Perrin Caldwell Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Al Canon Mr. James A. Chamberlin Mr. and Mrs. Milton Cushman Mrs. Patricia B. Dhority Mr. and Mrs. Steve Edwards Mrs. Beverly Gaddy Mr. and Mrs. William Gafford Mr. Ferrell Lunceford Mr. and Mrs. Ray McAlevy Ms. Debbie Perkins Ms. Joyce Randall Mr. and Mrs. Frank P. Sims Dr. Patsy Sledge Dr. and Mrs. Gary L. Spears Mr. and Mrs. David H. Tannehill Charlie Baldwin

by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Judd Kelly R. Ballard

by Mrs. Mary E. Purdy Hugh Basinger

by Burleigh Consulting Group, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Al Canon Mr. N.C. (Tom) Ferguson Jr. Diane Biffle

by Ms. Toni Barden Mrs. Julie Bauer Mrs. Pam Briscoe Dr. Denise Bynum Ms. Lacey Gentry Ms. Charisse Reed Mr. and Mrs. Keith Williams Debbie Musgrove Billingsley

by Mr. Perrin Caldwell Jr. Judge and Mrs. George Carlson Mr. Richie E. Lawson Mr. Jeremy Lucas Mrs. Ruby Lucas Mr. and Mrs. Howard Patterson Mr. and Mrs. John Reed

32

Northwest Now

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Rogers The Bag Connection, LLC Ms. Kristie Waldrop Louis Blanchard

by Mr. and Mrs. Al Canon Mr. Gerald Regal Cameron Blount

by Mrs. Aime Anderson Mr. and Mrs. Don Clanton Mr. and Mrs. William Correro Dr. Matthew Domas Mr. Wayne Ferguson Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Hawkins Mrs. Jere Herrington Mrs. Marla Y. Kennedy Mr. Kevin Maloney Mrs. Becky Moore Mr. and Mrs. Greg Mote Mr. and Mrs. Bill Selby Mr. Dan Smith Mrs. Lela S. Stennett Dr. Amy Stewart Ms. Alisa June Turner Mr. Michael Weldy Ross Boatright

by Mrs. Sandra Roy Estelle Bobo

by Mr. and Mrs. Leon McCullouch A.W. & LaNelle Bouchillon

by Mr. and Mrs. Barry Bouchillon Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Bouchillon Mr. and Mrs. Don Waller

David Bryan

by Mr. Robert Drewery Tommy Burkley

by Ms. Sylvia Hickey Robbie H. Butts

by Mr. Joe Elliott Dr. and Mrs. Deck Stone Michael Byrd

by Mr. Richard W. Cheely Mr. James E. McGehee Jr. Mr. and Mrs. John Morgan Officers & Staff of A. C. Gas Service, Inc. Pentahope Farms Ms. Michelle Spence Ms. Sandra L. Watson Richard E. Byrd

by Mr. Richard W. Cheely Mr. James E. McGehee Jr. Mr. and Mrs. John Morgan Officers & Staff of A. C. Gas Service, Inc. Pentahope Farms Ms. Michelle Spence Ms. Sandra L. Watson Taylor Campbell

by Mr. Steve Cummings Howard & Edna Carpenter

by Mr. and Mrs. Randy Chesney Mr. and Mrs. Herman Coats Tommy Carpenter

by Mr. and Mrs. Randy Chesney Mr. and Mrs. Herman Coats

Ron Bradley

by Mrs. Mary E. Purdy

Bela J. & Ruby Black Chain

by Dr. and Mrs. Buddy Chain Jr.

Albert Broadway

by Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Poff

Betty Chance

by Dr. and Mrs. Ronald R. Chance

Joe & Mary Louise Wynne Broadway

by Mr. and Mrs. Marc Montville Ms. Jean Nunnally

Rita C. Chance

by Dr. and Mrs. Ronald R. Chance

Tony Chance

by Dr. and Mrs. Ronald R. Chance Gerald Chatham Jr.

by Mr. and Mrs. Al Canon Mr. N.C. (Tom) Ferguson Jr. Dr. Patsy Sledge Regina Clark

by Dr. Darrell Barnes Mr. Richie E. Lawson Mr. John David Randall Dr. Amy Stewart Dr. and Mrs. Larry Sylvester Richard Clark

by Mrs. Johnette Wofford Marilyn Clement

by Mr. Steve Cummings Brownie Crawford

by Mr. Darrell Crawford Alan Crockett

by Mrs. Anne B. Crockett Mr. and Mrs. Frank Givens Mr. and Mrs. William Irby Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Nickens Ronnie Crouch

by Mr. Charles W. Crouch Ardis Davis

by Mr. Steve Cummings Carlton Davis

by Ms. Judy C. Marshall Clay Davis

by Ms. Judy C. Marshall Thurman Davis

by Ms. Judy C. Marshall Pamela Joyce Day

by Dr. Lela Hale Ms. Beverly Thompson

www.northwestms.edu

honorariums/memorials Frances Marie Dean

by Mrs. Linda Fite Larry E. Dhority

by Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Dhority Mrs. Patricia B. Dhority Ms. Rachel Dhority Tommy Doddridge

by Mr. and Mrs. Al Canon Evelyn Jann Dulany

by Judge and Mrs. George Carlson Inez Fancher

by Mr. and Mrs. Briggs Smith Raiford Fancher

by Mr. and Mrs. Briggs Smith Anthony Farese

by Mr. and Mrs. Bob Earwood Mrs. Margie Farese Mr. and Mrs. Steven Farese, Sr. Mr. Jimmy H. Hobson

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Rogers Ms. Kristie Waldrop Billie B. Gray

by Mrs. Mary Gray John Greer

by Mr. and Mrs. William Correro Jessica Gresham

by Mr. John Laine Gerald Griffin

by Ms. Dianna C. Holloway Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lothridge Joyce Halfacre

by Dr. and Mrs. Larry Sylvester Judge Leon Hannaford

by Lamar & Hannaford, P. A. Robert "Bob" W. Hice

by Mrs. Mary E. Purdy

Paul Ferguson

by Mr. and Mrs. Al Canon Dr. Patsy Sledge

William Hickey

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

David L. Fieldor

by Ms. Sylvia Hickey

Griffen Hodges

by Ms. Sylvia Hickey

Robert Flemons

by Mrs. Johnette Wofford

Tommy Hogan

by Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Burkes Mr. and Mrs. Ken Harris

Dr. John & Mrs. Jessie Flowers

by Mr. and Mrs. Richard D. Bennett Mrs. Mary Gray Mrs. Patsy Nelson Brian & Dale Galloway

by Mrs. Johnette Wofford Aaron German

by Mr. and Mrs. George D. Lofton Mrs. Betty Salmon G.T. Goodson

by Mrs. Johnette Wofford James P. Graeber

by The Graeber Foundation Lewis Graeber

by The Graeber Foundation Anita Stratton Wilborn Graham

by Mr. Wayne Ferguson Mr. Jimmy H. Hobson

www.northwestms.edu

Jimmie D. Holland

by Mr. Steve Cummings Lucille T. Hollister

by Dr. Denise Bynum Carl and Charlene Hyde

by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Givens Robert Hyde

by Mr. Milton Austin Mr. Sherman E. Austin Mr. Alfonzo Battle Jr. Ms. Barbara Bledsoe Ms. Effie J. Boothe Ms. Bettye J. Caldwell Mr. and Mrs. Roy L. Cole Mr. Terry Foster Mr. and Mrs. James Garner Mr. L. D. Hardy Mr. and Mrs. Larry 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 Mrs. Lera H. Kinnard Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt Kitchens Mr. Gene Leland Rev. and Mrs. Rufus L. Lloyd Ms. Mary A. Love Mr. and Mrs. Allen McKinney Mr. and Mrs. Walter Nash Ms. Dorothy L. Rash Ms. Annie L. Ray Ms. Annie L. Rice Ms. Lourine J. Robinson Ms. Linda Sisson Mrs. Mildred Washington Dent & Linda Jackson

by Ms. Patricia A. Ellis Mr. Richie E. Lawson Mr. Harold Noe Ms. Holly A. Piner Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Rogers Ms. Theresa Rowell Dr. Patsy Sledge James Jackson

by Mr. Dennis Cobb

Northwest Nursing Division Ms. Mary Reeves Mr. Dan Smith Dr. Amy Stewart Ms. Alisa June Turner Mr. and Mrs. Donald Young Donald Key

by Mr. Ronnie J. Ballard Mr. and Mrs. Peter Brown Ms. Ann Darby Mr. and Mrs. Don Davis Ms. Pamela Edmondson Ms. Jimmie J. Eidson Mr. and Mrs. James Goble Mrs. Joy Henderson Mr. and Mrs. Edmond Henson Ms. Betty Holland Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Jones Mr. and Mrs. Billy W. Key Dr. Susan Avery Mitchell Mrs. Frances Jean Rowland Neely Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Redding Mr. and Mrs. Jack L. Robison Ms. Debby Rutledge Mr. and Mrs. Tom Stiffler Mr. and Mrs. Forrest W. Stringfellow Mr. and Mrs. William Ralph West

Kitty Jenkins

by Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Schwerdt

Khalid Khouri

by Mr. Bud Donahou

Bert Johnson

by Dr. Robert H. Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Donald Amorosi

Holly Koonce

by Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Branan Ms. Rosemary Hippensteel

Charles R. Johnson

by Mr. and Mrs. Donald Amorosi

Marcia Kreunen

by Mr. and Mrs. Kim Kreunen

Charlotte Johnston

by Dr. and Mrs. Marvin Lishman Mr. Marcus Perkins Mr. and Mrs. Greg Steinman Dr. Amy Stewart

Mary Catherine Kromis

by Mr. Steve Cummings Paul W. Lawrence, Jr.

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

Don Johnston

by Dr. and Mrs. Marvin Lishman Mr. Marcus Perkins Mr. and Mrs. Greg Steinman Dr. Amy Stewart

Elizabeth Wynne Lewis

by Mr. Pat Lewis Mr. and Mrs. Chris McCall Mr. and Mrs. Marc Montville Ms. Jean Nunnally

Jason Jones

by Ms. Alyssa Algee Ms. Lacey Gentry Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Johnson Mr. J. D. Jones Mr. Jerry Jones Mr. Richie E. Lawson

Jimmie Lee Lunn, Jr.

by Mr. Steve Cummings Dexter Magers

by Mr. and Mrs. James Brett Curtis

Summer 2019

33

honorariums/memorials Wilbur & Martha Mastin

by Mr. and Mrs. Robert King

Foman & Nita Musselwhite

by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas G. Lilly

Mr. and Mrs. Robbie Merrick Mrs. Mary E. Purdy

Terry McClure

by Mr. Steve Cummings

Wendy K. Myers

by Mr. N.C. (Tom) Ferguson Jr.

Mildred & Robert Redding

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

Jimmy McClain

by Mr. Steve Cummings

Sarah Naugher

by Mr. Steve Cummings

Pennie McKinney

by Ms. Linda P. Byars Ms. Mary P. Chandler

Bill Nelms

by Mr. Zabron A. Davis IV

John Meacham

by Ms. Cele Carothers Ms. C. Rebecca Meacham Sandra Kay Merrill

by Mr. and Mrs. Dreher Harris Edna Wright Miles

by Ms. Annie L. Rice Dr. and Mrs. Deck Stone Dot Mitchell

by Mr. Edmund Gant Ms. Katy L. Garber Mrs. Sue Lowe Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Mitchell

by Betty Mitchell Cossar Chief Bill Moore

by Mrs. Sara W. Atwood Mr. Derrick Brauer Mr. Zabron A. Davis IV Mr. Jeremy Denley Mr. Destin Johnson Mrs. Becky Moore Mr. Bill Rines Mr. Joe Stanford Mr. and Mrs. Scott Swanson Mr. Jonathan Wilson June V. Moore

by Ms. Jean Steadham Ms. Anita Young Kirk & Carole Moore

by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Givens Leonard Morris

by Mr. Sherman E. Austin Mrs. Catherine Ferguson Ms. Daisy Herring J. K. and Norma Mote

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

by Ms. Peggy M. Mark

34

Northwest Now

Barbara Newman

by Mr. Steve Cummings Jeffrey Nichols

by Mrs. Elizabeth Dickerson Mr. Wayne Ferguson Ms. Glynda Hall Mr. and Mrs. Todd Latham Mr. and Mrs. Morris Thompson Maxine Dunn D. Nichols

by Mr. Harold Nichols C.W. Parker

by Dr. and Mrs. Steve Akre Dorothy B. Patridge

by Mr. and Mrs. Al Canon Mr. Richie E. Lawson W.P. Perkins

by Mrs. Frances C. Perkins J.P. & Virginia Phillips

by Mr. and Mrs. Milton Cushman The Honorable Gov. and Mrs. William Winter Dr. Anne Worth Joan Pierce

by Hernando High School Class of 1956 Ms. Alene W. Rider Raiford Pittman

by Dr. Jeptha Clemens Scott Potts

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

Noah C. Reeves

by Mr. N.C. (Tom) Ferguson Jr. C.R. Rials

by Mrs. Carolyn Rials Augustinus Rinaldy

by Dr. Darrell Barnes Norma Shuford Riser

by Ms. Katherine Pinter Dr. and Mrs. Ray Thweatt Robert Thomas & Norma Shuford Riser

by Mrs. Elizabeth Johnston Kenneth (Cat) Robbins

by Dr. Kenny Robbins Fred Rowland

by Mrs. Frances Jean Rowland Neely Tommy Rowland

by Mrs. Frances Jean Rowland Neely Lowell Salmon

by Mr. and Mrs. George D. Lofton Robert Sanders

by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Brown Mr. Jerry Clark Freddie and Bertha Sanford

by Dr. Everlyn S. Johnson Tim Shorter

by Mrs. Lisa Barber Ms. Kathy Buchanan Mr. Joe Elliott Mr. Matthew Johnson Ms. Suzette Logan Clifton & Jessie Sipley

by Mr. John Henry Van Hoesen

Guy Purdy

by Mrs. Vickie M. Bradley Mr. and Mrs. Robbie Merrick Mrs. Mary E. Purdy

Beverly Skipper

by Ms. Josephine Bailey Ms. Debra Rankin

Stephen Purdy

by Mrs. Vickie M. Bradley

Margaret Sowell

by Mrs. Sandra Tipton

Andrew Spraberry

by Mr. and Mrs. Randy Chesney J.E. Spurlock

by Mr. and Mrs. Joe Lucchesi Joe W. Standard

by Ms. Sylvia Hickey Marlin Stanford

by Mrs. Carolyn Stanford Kent Deck Stone

by Dr. and Mrs. Deck Stone James L. (Trey) Sylvester

by Dr. Darrell Barnes Mr. Taylor D. and Dr. Bonnie Buntin Dr. Betsy P. Campany Ms. Cathy P. Foley Mrs. Mary Powell Dr. and Mrs. Larry Sylvester Lauren Elizabeth Tallo

by Ms. Sondra Holliday Mr. Joseph Scott Ms. Cynthia Stanley Mr. and Mrs. Richard Tallo Charles Taylor

by Mrs. Ella Wilson Jim Tesar

by Ms. Earline Cocke Larry Townes

by Mr. Steve Cummings Glenn Triplett

by Mr. Jeff Triplett Nat Troutt

by Dr. and Mrs. Marvin Lishman Abby Tuck

by Mr. Steve Cummings Elise Veazey

by Mr. and Mrs. Joe West Gary Veazey

by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Givens John Garrett (Spec) & Elise Cocke Veazey

by Mr. and Mrs. Joe West Lois F. Veazey

by Mrs. Tamra S. Harris Mr. and Mrs. David Sartin Mr. Charles Veazey

www.northwestms.edu

honorariums/memorials C.B. & Marjorie Walker

by Mr. and Mrs. Ken Dossett Mr. and Mrs. Greg Freeman Mr. and Mrs. Gary Walker W.L. & Lula Brooks Wallace

by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Starnes Mrs. Ida F. Wallace Mr. William L. Wallace

Mr. and Mrs. Terry Potts Mr. Johnny Rybolt, Steam King Drew Young

by Hinds Chapel United Methodist Church Ms. Jean Steadham Mrs. Anita Young

HONORARIUMS John S. Warner

by Mrs. Johnette Wofford William White

by Mr. N.C. (Tom) Ferguson Jr. Gail Wilborn

by Mr. Wayne Ferguson Ella L. Wilbourn

by Dr. Carol Cleveland Ms. Patricia Miller C. Chad & Reba Williams

by Mr. and Mrs. Larry Coleman Mr. and Mrs. James Brett Curtis Ms. Ruby Ellen Magers Mr. and Mrs. Steve Sturgeon

Charlie Aaron

by Mr. and Mrs. Keith Godbold Charlotte Alexander

by Kristie Waldrop Northwest Department of Mathematics Charlie, Tracey, & Reece Anderson

by Mr. Steve Cummings Dr. Marilyn Bateman

by Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Walter T. Scott

Robert L. Williams

by Stephen, Jennifer, and Laura Lea Williams

D. James Blackwood

by Mr. Joey Brunson

Snooky Williams

by Mr. Steve Cummings

Martha Blanchard

by Mr. Gerald Regel

Wesley & Alice Williams

by Mr. George Williams

Mr. & Mrs. Larry Brewer

by Mr. Steve Cummings

Virginia Murphree Willis

by Ms. Peggy M. Mark Bobby Winstead

by Mr. Steve Cummings Charles Richard Winters

by Dr. and Mrs. John Winters Mary Cole Wiseman

by Mr. N.C. (Tom) Ferguson Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Paul Wooten Ben & Alma Wynne

by Mr. and Mrs. Chris McCall Mr. and Mrs. Marc Montville Ms. Jean Nunnally Larry Yates

by Ms. Natonya L. Harris Panola Paper Company

www.northwestms.edu

Dr. Bonnie Buntin

by Mrs. Elizabeth Burns Mr. and Mrs. Al Canon Mr. and Mrs. Keith Godbold Mr. Jerry and Dr. Gloria Kellum Mr. Richie E. Lawson Mr. and Mrs. Jim Patridge Elizabeth Burns

by Mr. Taylor D. and Dr. Bonnie Buntin Mr. Tracey L. Burns Mr. Lynn Fly Mr. and Mrs. Keith Godbold Bubba & Lisa Buse

by Mr. Steve Cummings

Dr. Jack Butts

by Mr. Joe Elliott Dr. and Mrs. Deck Stone Dr. Michael Butts

by Ms. Darlene Greenlee Mrs. Elizabeth Harvey Dr. Jean M. Shaw Dr. and Mrs. Deck Stone Diane Byars

by Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Thompson Dr. David Campbell

by Mr. David Hargett Sybil Canon

by Mr. Marty Allison Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Barrett Mr. and Mrs. Don J. Blair Mr. and Mrs. Louis Blanchard Mr. and Mrs. Mike Boren Mr. and Mrs. Barry Bouchillon Mr. Barry Bridgforth Mr. Taylor D. and Dr. Bonnie Buntin Mr. Al Canon Mr. Fred Carlisle The Honorable and Mrs. Gerald Chatham Mr. Don Clanton Mr. Harvey Cook Mr. Steve Cummings Mr. and Mrs. Milton Cushman Mr. Drew DePriest Mrs. Patricia B. Dhority Mr. and Mrs. James Dunn Mrs. Amber Gilluly Dr. Lela Hale Mr. and Mrs. Steve Hale Dr. and Mrs. Michael J. Heindl Mr. and Mrs. Mike Herrington Mr. and Mrs. Grant Hunter Mrs. Jennifer Jenkins Dr. Stephen Joe Dr. Gloria Kellum Mr. J. Gary Kornegay Ms. Roberta Mayfield The Honorable Judge and Mrs. Jimmy McClure Mr. Harold Nichols Dr. Patsy Sledge

Mr. and Mrs. Briggs Smith Mr. Dan Smith Dr. and Mrs. Gary L. Spears Mr. Charles Veazey Mrs. Emily Wilson Mr. and Mrs. Sterling Withers Mr. Tommy Woods Domenick Carlini, IV

by Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Tharp Shirley Clanton

by Mr. Don Clanton Earline Cocke

by Mr. and Mrs. Perry Arrington Mr. Don Clanton Dr. Ray Cox

by Dr. Darrell Barnes Sara Crow

by Mr. Steve Cummings Mary Dean Cummings

by Mr. Steve Cummings Mr. & Mrs. Lee Darnell

by Mrs. Mary Gray Nathan Barrett Dhority

by Ms. Rachel Dhority Mike Dottorey

by Mr. Charles B. Adams Dr. Matthew Domas Mr. and Mrs. Keith Godbold Mrs. Jere Herrington Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Kyzar Mr. Richie E. Lawson Mr. Frank Lyles Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Rule Mrs. Betty Spence Wayne Ferguson

by Northwest Department of Mathematics Keith Godbold

by Mr. Taylor D. and Dr. Bonnie Buntin Mrs. Elizabeth Burns Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Johnson Dr. and Mrs. Marvin Lishman

Summer 2019

35

honorariums/memorials Mrs. Bob Gray (Holly)

by Mrs. Mary Gray Sandy Grisham

by Mr. Roger Alberson III Mr. Bud Donahou Ms. Susanne VanDyke Dr. and Mrs. Jason Walton Betsy, Gabbi, & Brother Grubbs

by Mr. Steve Cummings Dr. David Haraway

by Mr. and Mrs. Keith Godbold Pat Hickey

by Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Thompson Sylvia Hickey

by Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Thompson Walter Hickey

by Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Thompson Linda Hogan Harris

by Northwest Department of Mathematics Dr. Jerry Hollis

by Dr. Darrell Barnes Mr. Bud Donahou Brenda G. Holmes

by Mr. Joe Elliott Brenda Hood

by Mr. Scott Stinson Cathryn Hyde

by Mr. Milton Austin Mr. Sherman E. Austin Mr. Alfonzo Battle Jr. Ms. Barbara Bledsoe Ms. Effie J. Boothe Ms. Bettye J. Caldwell Mr. and Mrs. Roy L. Cole Mr. Terry Foster Mr. and Mrs. James Garner Mr. L. D. Hardy Mr. and Mrs. and Mrs. Larry Henderson Ms. Daisy Herring Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hobbs

36

Northwest Now

Mr. and Mrs. Hosie Holmes Ms. Deborah James Mrs. Helen M. James Ms. Jacqueline James Mrs. Lera H. Kinnard Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt Kitchens Mr. Gene Leland Reverend and Mrs. Rufus L. Lloyd Ms. Mary A. Love Mr. and Mrs. Allen McKinney Mr. and Mrs. Walter Nash Ms. Dorothy L. Rash Ms. Annie L. Ray Ms. Annie L. Rice Ms. Lourine J. Robinson Ms. Linda Sisson Mrs. Mildred Washington Nancy & Matt Jones

by Mrs. Sue Lowe Dr. Gloria Kellum

by Mr. Taylor D. and Dr. Bonnie Buntin Bobby King

by Dr. and Mrs. Robert L. Smith Jr. Dr. James E. Smith Richie E. Lawson

by Dr. Darrell Barnes Mr. Taylor D. and Dr. Bonnie Buntin Mrs. Elizabeth Burns Christ United Methodist Church Mr. Lynn Fly Mr. and Mrs. Keith Godbold Mr. Dan Smith Mr. and Mrs. Roger L. Spillyards Mr. and Mrs. Jay Turner Dr. and Mrs. William H. West Evelyn Hayes Lee

by Mr. George Max Lee Jr. George Max Lee

by Mr. George Max Lee Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Aaron Lewis

by Mrs. Mary Gray

Dr. William Longest

by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Givens Ruby Ellen Magers

by Mr. and Mrs. James Brett Curtis Beverly Massey

by Mrs. Sue Lowe Tom & Jane Murphy

by Raymond, Ellen, and Maggie Glosson Stephen, Jennifer, and Laura Lea Williams Jerry & Betsy Nichols

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

by Mrs. Elizabeth Dickerson Mr. Wayne Ferguson Ms. Glynda Hall Mr. and Mrs. Todd Latham Northwest Faculty & Administration

by Dr. Greta Coger Mary E. Purdy

by Mrs. Vickie M. Bradley Jayne River

by Mr. Joe Elliott Ms. Steffi Larson Mr. and Mrs. Keith River Joan Rose

by Mr. Don Clanton Dr. Amy Stewart Audrey Ross

by Mrs. Linda Fite

Mrs. Carol Peterson Harry & Rachel Starnes & Family

by Mrs. Ida F. Wallace Dr. Ray & Norma Thweatt

by Mrs. Elizabeth Johnston Ms. Katherine Pinter Joel & Katie Varner

by Mr. and Mrs. Milton Cushman Charles Veazey

by The Graeber Foundation Dr. Vance & Mrs. Jo Ann Watson

by Mr. Steve Cummings Mary Ellen Williams

by Stephen, Jennifer, and Laura Lea Williams Sarah Williams

by Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Thompson Jane W. Williamson

by Ms. Earline Cocke Dr. Amy Stewart The Hon. Gov. William Winter

by Mr. and Mrs. Milton Cushman Dolores Wooten

by Mr. and Mrs. Louis Blanchard Sonia Young

by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Givens Dr. Kenny Robbins

Dr. Gary Lee Spears

by Dr. Darrell Barnes Mr. Taylor D. and Dr. Bonnie Buntin Mr. and Mrs. Al Canon Mr. Lynn Fly Mr. and Mrs. Keith Godbold Marilyn Spears

by Mr. Taylor D. and Dr. Bonnie Buntin Mr. and Mrs. Keith Godbold

www.northwestms.edu

Now

Northwest Summer 2019

A publication of Northwest Mississippi Community College President Dr. Michael J. Heindl Vice President for Administration & Finance Jeff Horton Vice President for Student Services/Chief of Staff Dan Smith Vice President for Academic Instruction & College Parallel Programs Dr. Matthew Domas Vice President for Workforce Solutions & Career-Technical Education Dr. David Campbell Chairman, Northwest Board of Trustees Dr. Adam Pugh Northwest Foundation Executive Director of Institutional Advancement/Associate Editor Patti Gordon • pgordon@northwestms.edu Institutional Advancement Specialist Marla Kennedy • mkennedy@northwestms.edu Accounting Coordinator & Administrative Assistant Stephanie Cook • stcook@northwestms.edu Communications Director of Communications/Editor Julie R. Bauer • jrbauer@northwestms.edu Assistant Director of Communications/ Public Information/Graphic Designer LaJuan Tallo • ltallo@northwestms.edu Assistant Director of Communications/ Marketing and Digital Media KayLeigh Mitchell • kmccool@northwestms.edu Graphic Designer Jennifer Corbin • jcorbin@northwestms.edu Coordinator for Sports Information Brian Lentz • blentz@northwestms.edu

For address changes, please contact Alumni Affairs at (662) 560-1112.

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

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.

contents features

7 9 12 28 30

Patti Gordon

Any structure must have a strong foundation. The cornerstones anchor the foundation.

For some reason the cornerstones that I chose to begin with I never changed.

—John Wooden

spreading the message Northwest’s SGA president speaks at Capitol Day.

cover story: leaving her legacy Longtime Northwest Foundation director retires.

helping through giving Water Valley couple instrumental in establishment of eight Foundation endowments.

dedicated service Employees recognized for years of service to the college during annual awards ceremony.

ranger excellence Former national champ QB Minshew drafted by Jacksonville Jaguars.

departments 1 2 3 14 24 37

Building a Foundation for the Future

student snapshot/james bruno president’s reflections/dr. michael heindl alumni president’s notes/mike boren around campus the legacy continues the sporting life building a foundation for the future/patti gordon

On the cover: Sybil Canon, who has headed up the Northwest Foundation for 22 years, retired from the college in December.

Photo by Julie Bauer

Northwest already has a strong Foundation. (pun intended!)

For this, I give credit to the leadership of Sybil Canon and Dolores Wooten, who led the Foundation and the Office of Alumni Affairs for over 20 years. I am grateful to both Sybil and Dolores for allowing me to join their team and experience first hand the rewarding work of this office. It was at a pivotal point in my life that I came to Northwest, and through the training, mentoring, and experience that I received from them both, I felt confident enough to accept the leadership role President Heindl offered to me.

The leadership transition brought a name change, the Office of Institutional Advancement, which, in Dr. Heindl’s words, “is more reflective of today’s higher education/business nomenclature.” The Office of Institutional Advancement still encompasses the Foundation and the Office of Alumni Affairs. We still seek those who will give generously of their resources to help our students and provide state-of-the-art amenities on our campuses. We also work to create a Ranger community of supporters through alumni of Northwest, through faculty and staff, through community businesses, through a network of volunteers that help with fundraising and other events, and through our students, who will, themselves, become alumni of this great place we call Northwest!

I have the distinct pleasure of working with our two governing boards, the Foundation board and the Alumni board, who never cease to amaze me with their dedication and love for Northwest. I consider it a privilege to work with both of these fine groups, who exemplify the cornerstones of our foundation: integrity, commitment, compassion, and innovation.

I feel extremely fortunate to have Marla Davenport Kennedy and Stephanie Cook joining me in raising money and creating this vibrant Ranger community. They have accepted greater and more challenging responsibilities in our office and have met these challenges with foresight and dedication. Marla is our advancement specialist and is beginning her third year in our office. With a major in psychology, she has an exceptional talent in relating to our students as she supervises their scholarship awards. Marla, a native of Senatobia and a Northwest alumna from the ‘80s era, is ideal in coordinating our events as she has that true Ranger spirit.

Stephanie joined our team in January as accounting coordinator/administrative assistant. She, as well, is an alumna of Northwest and completed her accounting degree at The University of Mississippi DeSoto Center.

Stephanie displays innovative thinking and has made great strides with our accounting operations. In terms of tenure, we are a young team, but together we bring a plethora of talents, which represent the cornerstones that anchor our foundation.

Together, with our Ranger community, we will continue to build on the foundation of a college that began 92 years ago.

The Northwest Office of Institutional Advancement team is (l-r) Through the cornerstones of integrity, commitment, Marla Kennedy, Institutional Advancement Specialist, Patti Gordon, executive director and Stephanie Cook, accounting compassion, and innovation, we will help our students coordinator/administrative assistant. build a foundation for their future. The mission of Photo by LaJuan Tallo changing students’ lives...that will never change.

N ORTHWEST M ISSISSIPPI C OMMUNITY C OLLEGE F OUNDATION

Northwest

P.O. Drawer 7015 • 4975 Highway 51 North Senatobia, MS 38668

NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Now

SUMMER 2019

Parting Save thhee Date!

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Don’t miss these upcoming events—mark your calendar today!

Oct. 4 and 5 • Northwest Farm Highway 4 West, Senatobia

2019 Homecoming Oct. 10 • Senatobia campus

for additional details, see page 20

for additional details, see page 23

Leaving Her Legacy Longtime Foundation director retires INSIDE: Hall of Fame • helping through giving • spring sports • retirees