FROM THE PRESIDENT
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n August 1864, during the American Civil War, a U.S. Naval Officer named David Glasgow Farragut directed his troops to invade the heavily protected Mobile Bay in Alabama, regardless of the dangers, by shouting, “*amn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” Specific accounts as to exactly what happened that day vary, and of course, we certainly do not endorse the expletive profanation in the word that was used. However, the determination and passion in Farragut’s directive are employable by us during these precariously dangerous times. Faced with the symbolic torpedoes of COVID-19, unprecedented demands for online learning, economic inflation, anxieties around vaccinations and boosters, the manifestation of the “Great Resignation,” and multiple variations of fear and universal unease, Coahoma Community College (CCC) has charged full speed ahead. At CCC, we only have two gears that are proverbial within the life of the institution. We are either in a moment of temporary pause, or we are moving Forward. All of CCC’s actions and pursuits fall within the realm of moving Forward regardless of a pandemic or so-called normal times. Instruction and learning have continued—Forward. Safety and the welfare of our students and staff have remained at premium levels—Forward. We have flourished as it pertains to recruiting and retaining students—Forward. We have responsibly served as thrifty stewards of funds allocated for CCC—Forward. We have continued and sustained partnerships with our high schools and community stakeholders—Forward. We have successfully completed and reaffirmed our accreditation compliance status—Forward. We have remained on schedule with numerous facilities projects in an effort to bring our master facilities plan into fruition—Forward. Students have continued to complete their education goals and graduate— Forward. Each of our athletic teams is winning at historic levels— Forward. Our music and choral programs have fortunate to flourish—Forward. Financial contributions and support for CCC have remained steady—Forward. Together, we can continue to move CCC Forward. Ironically, when CCC moves forward, our region as well as the state of Mississippi can move Forward too. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “If you can’t fly, then run; if you can’t run, then walk; if you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” May we continue to work together so that we can make CCC a place that moves everyone forward.
Valmadge T. Towner, Ph.D. 5th President
coahomacc.edu
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