Sims attends MSU Program

RETIREE REFLECTIONS

A Q&A with recent CCC retirees as they reflect on years of dedicated and dutiful service at Tiger Nation!

WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT BEING AN EMPLOYEE OF CCC?

I will miss the daily interactions with my colleagues in the Addison Building. The daily interactions often resulted in new ideas, new initiatives or new processes to help our students. And when we weren’t working on anything in particular, we spent time getting to know each other on a personal level. I will miss these moments. I will also miss the sharing of information in our leadership meetings. Although these meetings were business related, we did find time to laugh. Dr. Towner always had a way of making you smile, even when you didn’t feel like smiling.

WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST COAHOMA EXPERIENCES?

I knew right away that CCC was the perfect fit for me. When I came to the campus in August of 1997, I was placed on several projects, which allowed me to put my talents to work. The Science and Math department accepted only our best, and everyone worked together to foster that spirit of excellence within our department. And I knew that this was where I was supposed to be!

COULD YOU RECOUNT ONE OR TWO HEARTWARMING MOMENTS THAT OCCURRED WHILE YOU WERE EMPLOYED AT CCC?

Working with students from every walk of life has been amazing! I would tell my students that I learn something every semester—as I should, because learning doesn’t stop when you become an instructor. Not all students learn the same way, but instructors have to reach all of them, no matter where they are. I am now more flexible and sensitive to each student because they all have different needs and require my assistance in different ways. LETHA RICHARDS

Educational Outreach 23 Years of Service

ROBERT CHAMBERS

Buildings & Grounds 14 Years of Service WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT BEING AN EMPLOYEE OF CCC?

I will miss the workers I work with, the students I met every day and the instructors I came to know. I had no problem with the administrators. I was allowed to do my job without anyone telling me what to do, and I enjoyed doing my job. When students wanted to quit the program, I would always encourage them to stay focused and not quit. I would always encourage the instructors to do their best while working with the students. Most of the students made it, to God be the glory!!!

HOW HAS YOUR SERVICE TO CCC WITH FELLOW COLLEAGUES HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU PERSONALLY?

My experience at CCC helped me spiritually and naturally. It caused me to strengthen my prayer life so that I would be able to encourage CCC staff and students.

RETIREE REFLECTIONS

EMILY GORDON, RN

Health Sciences 14 Years of Service HOW HAS YOUR SERVICE TO CCC STUDENTS WITH FELLOW COLLEAGUES HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU PERSONALLY?

I made many friends while at CCC. It made me very proud to work at Coahoma, and Dr. Towner was always very fair to all of us. Where else do you get a birthday card signed by him every year?

WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT BEING AN EMPLOYEE OF CCC?

The students. I so enjoyed seeing them do what they have always wanted to do, which was to become nurses. Also, I will miss seeing the growth of professionalism and the compassion they acquire during nursing school.

COULD YOU RECOUNT ONE OR TWO HEARTWARMING MOMENTS THAT OCCURRED WHILE YOU WERE EMPLOYED AT CCC?

We were given the opportunity to donate time to an employee whose child was sick so she could be off with him and still get a check. On the teaching side of things, I have many students who show their gratitude in some form. Many send me messages, especially on holidays, but recently, one student sent all of us a gift card for Nurses Week.

COULD YOU RECOUNT ONE OR TWO HEARTWARMING MOMENTS THAT OCCURRED WHILE YOU WERE EMPLOYED AT CCC?

On a few occasions, I noticed students who came to the library and who were seemingly not focused on their intended assignments—students who isolated themselves from others. I approached these students warmly and was able to make them feel more comfortable and confident. Sometimes, a caring person is all that is needed.

HOW HAS YOUR SERVICE TO CCC IMPACTED YOU PERSONALLY?

By being employed at this great institution, I have more than accomplished one of my greatest purposes in life. And that is having served students to the fullest of my capacity.

WHAT WILL YOU MISS ABOUT BEING AN EMPLOYEE OF CCC?

I will miss my social connection with the library staff and the entire CCC family and assisting students— especially nontraditional students—with navigating the internet and library research. I will truly miss taking the students’ IDs during fall and spring registration. Be reminded that behind every student’s picture is a glimpse of their personality and also another chance for me to communicate with them. My other memorable moments involve attending professional development workshops, which offered an opportunity for me to interact with librarians from other colleges throughout Mississippi. CCC has provided me with a vault of so many treasures! JOYCE PRYOR

Library Staff 41 Years of Service

WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT BEING AN EMPLOYEE OF CCC?

What I will miss the most as an employee of CCC is the anticipation of preparing for those early mornings, getting to work and wondering each morning who will be the first student of the day that I will meet to hear those four great words: “Good morning, Mrs. Hicks.” Those four words gave me life on some difficult days and empowered me as an instructor. I will miss seeing the eyes of my students light up the room when they finally master a task after days of repeated failed practices and the smile that quickly comes on their faces when I say, “I knew you could do it!”

I will also miss the family-oriented atmosphere of the CTE Division and the CCC faculty and staff.

COULD YOU RECOUNT ONE OR TWO HEARTWARMING MOMENTS THAT OCCURRED WHILE YOU WERE EMPLOYED AT CCC?

The most heartwarming moment for me was the time students were given an assignment to choose someone who they wanted to be. The students were to dress like the person, act like person and then share why they chose that person. There stood this one student before the class, dressed in a suit with eyeglasses on and giving a lot of information. When done, I asked the student who she was, and her reply was, “I am Mrs. Hicks.” I was thinking to myself that out of all the celebrities and icons in the world that a lot of the other students had chosen, there stood this young, optimistic student that said she wanted to be like me. My eyes filled with tears, and it was at that moment that I knew the gift of teaching. This student had rejuvenated and motivated me without even knowing. She empowered me even more to be the best example for each of them daily.

SHIRLEY FERGUSON-HICKS Cosmetology Instructor 27 Years of Service

Marlon works well under pressure. When I became aware “ of this program, my first thought was of Marlon as an applicant. “ SIMS SELECTED FOR MSU SUMMER CHEMICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH PROGRAM

Marlon Sims, a 2021 graduate of Coahoma Community College, was selected to participate in the Mississippi State University Research Experience for Undergraduates Program in Optoelectronic Materials. The competitive summer program selects students to work on a research project under the direction of a faculty mentor in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry.

The program took place between June 1 and August 6, 2021.

According to the program description, research on optoelectronic materials is increasingly growing as this research will allow the harvesting of energy from light with different wavelengths. Many challenges need to be overcome, including developing synthetic routes to obtain new materials, processing of these materials for real-life applications, and elucidating the theoretical underpinning that allows one to optimize the properties of these materials. Towards these goals, students had the opportunity to work in the research projects related to the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials, selfassembly and mechanical properties of soft materials, molecular modeling, molecular dynamics simulations, computational quantum chemistry.

Joharrison Rockett, Math instructor, has taught Sims during his entire time at Coahoma. When learning of Sim’s acceptance, Rockett commented, “Marlon is a person that is full of joy and ambition. He’s eager to learn new skills.” Rockett commented.

Sims has benefited from many helpful CCC faculty and staff members. Many have seen the potential and drive in the scholar.

“Marlon works well under pressure. When I became aware of this program, my first thought was of Marlon as an applicant,” added Dr. Stacy J. Jones, Chemistry and Physics instructor. “Mr. Sims has demonstrated himself as a strong independent think in my courses. Those skills are perfect for summer research opportunities.”

Students interested in applying to summer research opportunities should contact Dr. Stacy Jones, department chair – Math and Science, by email at sjones@coahomacc.edu.

ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND (HEERF I, II, III)

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act includes a Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) that provides more than $14 billion in emergency funding to higher education. Of those funds, more than $6 billion must go directly to students in the form of emergency financial aid grants (HEERF-student share) for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 crisis.