Roar Magazine Spring 2020

RoarMAGAZINE COAHOMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

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COAHOMACC.EDU

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF COAHOMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

SPRING 2020

COAHOMA: ENVISIONING THE NEXT 70 YEARS

SPRING 2020

CONTENTS P. 36

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From the President Coahoma Awarded Tobacco-Free Grant Workforce Development Center Revitalizes Economy in the MS Delta

11 SGA Pinning Ceremony 18 Wilcox Named Humanities Teacher of the Year 20 A Helping Hand 25 We Rank Highly 26 SkillsUSA Members Serve Community 30 A Tale of Two Homecomings 32 The Chosen One 40 Coahoma Awarded Distance Learning Grant 41 Rockett and Johnson Receive Headwae Honors 44 Tiger Notes - Students 46 Tiger Notes - Faculty & Staff 47 Tiger Notes - Alumni 49 Resting Tigers

ON THE COVER

Looking towards its next 70 years, Coahoma Community College dares to dream and makes plans to support the next generation of CCC Tigers. The institution outlines aspects of change in the areas of facilities, the formulation of diverse course offerings and building strong partnerships with industry.

12 SHE JUGGLES IT ALL CCC student Kaitleen Noah excels, while participating in multiple campus organizations.

14 THROUGH DIVINE PURPOSE

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Alumnus Rev. Dr. Jerry Young ‘72 continues a life of fulfilling service built upon a Coahoma foundation.

THE MAKINGS OF THE R.O.A.D TO SUCCESS Coahoma plans and executes its new quality enhancement plan.

28 THE BAND GOES MARCHING ON

The Marching Maroon Typhoon Grows in Size and Popularity.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

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very day, Coahoma Community College puts knowledge to work in the world and operates “On a Mission.” This is our College’s mantra, as it has been since our founding on the premise that education’s primary purpose is to enhance the ability—and strengthen the inclination—to serve humanity.

Coahoma is driven forward by our commitment to grow inclusion, spark innovation, and accelerate the impact where it is needed most. We have assembled the foremost educators, scholars, and practitioners to pioneer the impossible and confront the most pressing issues of our time.

Now, with the support of the Coahoma community, we are ready to launch the next phase of our future that will dramatically amplify our impact on the world. The College has a bright future and is poised to make great strides for our students, our employees, the local community, the state of Mississippi, and beyond. We are making progress on achieving the operational goals of growing enrollment, increasing graduation rates, and expanding student support services, along with establishing and strengthening partnerships with the community.

The College is a vibrant, diverse, student-centered learning community, guided by the vision and mission of our founders.

As an institution grounded in the educational empowerment, with application to career and technical studies, Coahoma prepares our graduates to be leaders of high integrity in their professions and communities. CCC alumni seek to heal those who suffer, teach those who search for knowledge, and provide innovative leadership in the business and nonprofit sectors. Our alumni are global citizens working diligently to be a positive, creative force in the region and the world.

Please join our efforts. On behalf of the Coahoma community, I invite you to participate in our educational, artistic, and athletic programs. Most importantly, I encourage you to interact with our students and support their growth and development.

Coahoma is a formidable force for good. Please join us in our noble endeavors. Together, we are Coahoma Community College.

Valmadge T. Towner, Ph.D. 5th President

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EDITOR’S MESSAGE THE FIRST WAS SO NICE, WE DECIDED TO DO IT

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Twice!

nitially, I planned on making ROAR Magazine an annual publication.

But because of the hugely positive response from the inaugural issue and an encouraging push from my president, here we are presenting the Spring 2020 edition.

Marriel C. Hardy, Editor Marriel serves as chief communications officer and branding identity within the Office of Communications and Marketing.

Hardy is an award-winning communications and marketing professional, with over ten years of experience in higher education marketing and communications.

In October 2019, ROAR Magazine made its debut, celebrating Coahoma’s 70th year of existence. The publication proved to be a powerful tool for telling our external partners and Tiger Family about all of the exceptional happenings here at Coahoma.

In the magazine, we highlighted the very best of Coahoma, sharing captivating stories of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

We’ve spent much time and energy developing this edition of ROAR Magazine, telling stories that we believe reflect what the College is truly all about. One of the first things I noticed about our campus community when I arrived over two years ago was how eager people were to share their Coahoma experiences.

Our campus is filled with smart, inspired students ready to take advantage of Coahoma’s breadth of offerings—both in the classroom and in the many extracurricular options of student life. Our dedicated faculty and staff dare and challenge our students to dream and make those visions into reality.

Coahoma is our community’s college, and we share our community’s values. Most Coahoma alums, and most Mississippi Delta residents, can identify with the eager

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ROAR Magazine

anticipation our students feel when they see the opportunities of innovation, diversity, and educational excellence that Coahoma offers.

This Spring 2020 edition echoes that tone but looks toward Coahoma’s bright future.

The institution is vibrantly growing, from students reaching their educational and career goals to the campus seeing the erection of new facilities, spaces, and programs.

I hope that you enjoy this edition of ROAR Magazine and welcome your critiques, suggestions, and feedback.

Coahoma forever,

Marriel C. Hardy, M.S. Chief Communications Officer & Branding Identity

LET’SGETSOCIAL Facebook: CCCTigers Twitter: @_TigerNation Instagram: @CCCTigers Youtube: CCCoahoma

Roar MAGAZINE CREDITS

SPRING 2020

SPRING 2020 ROAR CONTRIBUTORS ROAR Magazine is published by the Office of Communications and Marketing and shared with alumni, students, faculty, staff and other members of the Coahoma community.

It highlights the many achievements and advancements of the Coahoma Community College family.

President Valmadge T. Towner, Ph.D.

Ezra Howard ‘93

Editor Marriel C. Hardy, M.S. Lead Writer Melody Dixon Copy Editor BulletProof

WEB SERVICES

Editorial Staff LaShasa Griffin Dr. Willie Lockett Taneshia T. Turner Felicia Johnson Paul Panicca Dr. Chequitia Dixon Graphic Design Office of Communications & Marketing Staff Photography Austin Britt Trent Calvin Special Acknowledgements Rita Hanfor Yolanda Miller Margaret Dixon Durrell Design Group, PLLC

COMMUNICATIONS

Kerry Lee ‘12

From feel-good feature stories to instituional announcements, Melody keeps the campus community informed with all things Coahoma! She proves daily that the pen is mightier than the sword.

A passion for radio production, Coahoma, and the Clarksdale area keeps Kerry energized in elevating WCQC 91.3 FM. He hopes to bring a new of era of digital communication to the station’s listening area.

Let us know what you think!

We want to know what you think of this issue of ROAR Magazine. To share your opinions, email us at: announcements@coahomacc.edu.

NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT Coahoma Community College is an equal opportunity institution in accordance with civil rights and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or other factors prohibited by law in any of its educational programs, activities and employment opportunities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Michael Houston, Director of Human Resources/Coordinator for 504/ADA, Title IX Compliance Officer, Office #A100, Vivian M. Presley Administration Building, 3240 Friars Point Road, Clarksdale, Mississippi 38614, Phone: (662) 621-4853, email: mhouston@coahomacc.edu.

RADIO PRODUCTION

Vashon Jones

Coahoma Community College Office of Communications & Marketing 3240 Friars Point Rd. Clarksdale, MS 38614-9359

Website www.coahomacc.edu/communications

OFFICE SUPPORT

Organization is the name of the game for Sharon. She keeps things within the office moving like a well-oiled machine. Nothing is left behind when she is in charge of the task!

Melody Dixon ‘13

CORRESPONDENCE & ADDRESS CHANGES

Email announcements@coahomacc.edu

Sharon Butler ‘83

Offering insight and sound perspective, Ezra has continued to rise to the occasion, bringing his varied skillset to the forefront in support of the team.

SPORTS INFORMATION

When it comes to Coahoma Athletics, the Tigers could not have a bigger advocate than Vashon! He enjoys telling the CCC Athletic story and supports student-athletes.

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING The Coahoma Community College Office of Communications and Marketing, is a unit of the Office of the President that provides leadership and support to the College in the areas of strategic communications, media relations, publications, marketing, special events, graphic design, and photography. The office is the official and first source of news and information about the College. Its mission is to represent and promote the college and its faculty, students, and programs to a variety of constituents, including employees, alumni, the media, government officials, businesses, students and their families.

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he Coahoma Community College campus can breathe a little easier. The College received a $10,000 tobacco-free grant from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi.

The grant, a component of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation’s Healthy School Awards, recognizes and rewards public schools with health policies and programs that promote healthy eating, physical activity, staff wellness, tobacco-free lifestyles among students and staff, and parental and community involvement. The criteria for the award were based on state and national school health standards.

Karen Woods-Done, director of the Division of Student Engagement, is pleased with the recent award. She sees this as an opportunity to educate students on the dangers of smoking, continuing a tobacco initiative already in place.

“Unfortunately, with the upsurge of vaping, etc., and the increased findings on how secondary smoke effects nonsmokers, there is an even greater need for tobaccofree initiatives on campus,” said Woods-Done. “Our plans for the new funds include offering yoga and other ways that students can spend time rather than spending time smoking.”

According to Woods-Done, earlier in the Fall 2019 semester, BCBS invited the human resource departments and the VP/ dean of student affairs at all institutions of higher learning in the state to a workshop on its campus. They discussed

successful programs on campuses where tobacco-free initiatives were implemented. Additionally, the organization shared that it had available grant funds to aid campuses in increasing their current plans and begin to move the needle further.

“Several years ago, the College was a recipient of a grant from the Truth Initiative to begin the process to make our campus smoke-free. Making our campus smoke-free has been a focus of the College for the last three years,” WoodsDone added. “With this grant, a task force comprising all sectors of the campus was organized to continue to market and push the needle on making our campus a tobacco-free campus.”

The goal of these awards is to motivate Mississippi schools and colleges as they create and maintain healthy school environments. Healthy schools help students achieve full academic potential and support them in developing lifelong healthy behaviors. The Healthy School Awards will assist school leaders in their efforts in making their schools, and ultimately our state, a healthier place to live.

“Students will get involved in helping us to market our campus as tobacco-free via social media. Additionally, all programmatic activities will be for the entire student body as well as faculty and staff,” said Woods-Done.

For more information on Coahoma Community College’s tobacco-free initiatives, contact the Division of Student Engagement at 662-621-4155.

For more information about Coahoma’s Smoke/TobaccoFree Campus initiative, visit: www.coahomacc.edu/ smokefree

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IT’S ALL IN OUR MISSION.

The Workforce Development Center is committed to training for the future workforce. Working closely with the WIN Job Center and area businesses/industries, classes and curricula are developed to provide short-term training for individuals seeking to enter the workforce or upgrade their skills. The center keeps abreast of current labor market trends to offer training that will meet the workforce needs in the community, as well as providing a marketable skill for individuals.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER REVITALIZES ECONOMY IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA

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he foundation for a booming economy in the Mississippi Delta exists thanks to the efforts of hardworking business professionals and programs at Coahoma Community College.

The mission of Coahoma’s Workforce Development Center is to bridge the gap between education, economics, and industry training in the Delta region.

The Center has played a significant role in the formation of new industries, welcoming new businesses to the area, and training highly skilled students to succeed in the modern workforce.

Some of the new businesses that the Center has helped bring to the Delta are PeopleShores, a technology service provider based in the Silicon Valley, and Image Industries, a welding company based in Huntley, Illinois. The two companies are responsible for bringing a plethora of exciting employment opportunities for job seekers.

Steven Jossell, executive director for the Workforce Development Center, shed light on how Coahoma was able to attract these and other companies to the region.

“Both companies were allured by the many resources, talent, and, most importantly, human capital within the region,” said Jossell. “The Workforce Development Center is incumbent to assist these businesses and other potential prospects to foster growth, economic development, and prosperity.”

Assisting in the Delta’s surging economy is a giant step for the Center. Jossell is proud to be one of the individuals at the forefront of its success.

Steven Jossell, executive director Workforce Development Center

“Being granted the opportunity and privilege to serve in my capacity has provided me with a sense of euphoria.

It is a joy to serve as a catalyst and change agent for the betterment and enhancement in the quality of life for all area constituents ranging from individuals, businesses, and industries.”

To accomplish such an incredible feat, Jossell teamed up with Jon Levingston, executive director of the Economic Development Authority of Coahoma County. Levingston applauds Jossell for sharing his resources to better their community.

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CCC president Dr. Valmadge T. Towner, local officials, and various stakeholders gather for the ribbon-cuttng ceremony of Automation Anywhere Inc., as the company makes a new home in Clarksdale.

“It is my job to recruit new industries to our community and assist existing industries in developing and expanding their business,” said Levingston. “It would be impossible to accomplish these tasks without the cooperation and effort of the Workforce Development Center, which provides excellent workforce training opportunities to employers and employees. It is a pleasure to work with Mr. Jossell and his staff.”

With its exceptional training methods and qualified students, the Center’s value gives Levingston confidence in the hub’s contributions to the region in the future.

“Coahoma Community College is an institution that is essential to the well-being of the Clarksdale/Coahoma County community. It serves as an educational institution that provides people of all ages with excellent educational opportunities,” Levingston added. “Through the College’s Workforce Development Center, the College provides first-class training opportunities for employees of existing industries and training for employees of industries newly committed to our community. Knowing that the Center is capable of providing potential employers with great workforce training gives me the confidence necessary to recruit almost any kind of industry to Clarksdale.”

Proper overall training of the students also is a goal of the Center. Jossell emphasized that although teaching the students technical skills is essential, training them how to communicate, lead, and solve problems, among other abilities, enhances their chances of gaining employment.

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“It is critical to prepare individuals for the real world holistically,” Jossell noted. “As we embark upon this crusade to train and provide a pipeline of qualified individuals, due diligence is exercised to encompass not only technical skills but also soft skills. Coupled together, possessing these skills will increase the odds of productivity, safety, rewarding success, and retention for employers and employees.”

The Center has changed the lives of people looking for a chance to succeed in life. As Jossell reflects on his tenure at Coahoma, he appreciates being in a position to provide opportunities to those who may have lost hope in securing a career. Propelling others to new heights is his goal, and he encourages those who have found success to give back by uplifting others.

“It’s a feeling unlike any other because serving as a transformational proponent fills me with exuberance.

Often, individuals come to us feeling hopeless about life.

It is a personal sense of accomplishment to have a hand in changing the winds of adversity in their favor,” Jossell expressed. “For those who have become success stories in their respective fields, I challenge each of them to identify someone in similar situations and commit to serving as a mentor to foster hope, confidence, and success.”

For more information about Coahoma’s Workforce Development Center, call 662-627-9139, or visit the Center at 510 Sunbelt Dr., Clarksdale, MS 38614.

Pinning Ceremony Installs 2019-2020 SGA LEADERS

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New Student Leadership for the Coahoma Campus

ifteen members of the Coahoma Community College Student Government Association stepped into their new leadership roles at a pinning ceremony in the Fall 2019 semester.

The SGA serves as an advocating body that exudes the leadership abilities, intelligence, and qualities necessary to serve as representatives for students of the College. President Towner recited an oath that pledged the students into the student organization.

In a keynote address, Albert Bush, a 2007 graduate and former SGA president of CCC, advised the students to view their pins as shields that can only protect them under the condition

that they possess three qualities: the character of an SGA member, commitment and consistency.

Bush, who is a seventh-grade science teacher at Quitman County Middle School, told the inductees, “When I was pinned as the SGA president, I wasn’t afraid. I wasn’t nervous, but I was ready. It gave me that opportunity that I was looking for in high school.”

After noting that attending Coahoma changed his life, he referenced the movie “300” to draw a comparison between the shield that the 300 soldiers uniquely held to guard themselves and the inductees’ SGA pins.

“You must first have the character to

have the pin…how you walk, how you talk, how you treat people, how you receive people,” Bush said.

“Even in your time of frustration, you have to have the character to always be mindful of ‘I’m wearing the shield.’”

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STUDENTS ON A Mission

SHE

Juggles IT ALL! CCC student Kaitleen Noah excels, while participating in multiple campus organizations.

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or Clarksdale native Kaitleen Noah, staying busy on the Coahoma campus is a common part of student life. Between splitting her time as a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the Math and Science Symposium, Student Government Association, CCC Choir, and cheer squad, while maintaining stellar grades, Noah is quite the familiar face and achiever around Tiger Land.

As an added strengthener through her Coahoma journey, Noah brings with her a rich family legacy of Coahoma Tigers. Her mother and many of her family members attended the College. Coahoma made such an energetic and optimistic impact on their lives as students, Noah only thought it fitting that she continued the legacy just as they did or even more successfully.

“Each of these campus organizations has helped to mold me into a better student in their own unique ways. Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society pushed me to maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher,” said Noah. “It also allowed me the opportunity to volunteer in the community. I thoroughly enjoyed volunteering. I cherish these moments, and I will be forever thankful for them.”

“I chose Coahoma to start my college journey during my senior year in high school. Coahoma is a school that I have been acquainted with for many years throughout my life,” Noah explained. “My mother, along with many other of my family members, attended and work at Coahoma. I have been a part of many programs, camps, and organizations that Coahoma has provided during my years in middle school and high school. So, when it came time to choose a college that would elevate me as a student and as a young woman in my community, I chose Coahoma.”

Being a part of the Math and Science Symposium, an organization that she loves, has allowed Noah to seek different routes in the medical field. Through being a member of the CCC Choir, she was allowed to act on her passion for singing. Being in the choir gave her many memorable moments that she will forever cherish. All of these experiences have aided her in developing into a well-round Coahoma student.

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Noah sees her various activities and commitments as life elevators. Her many pursuits are preparing and molding her for what lies beyond the horizon. Each of these organizations has aided her development.

“I manage juggling my duties and responsibilities by focusing and prioritizing. I realized the words prioritize, focus, motivate, determine, etc., mean more than what I thought them to mean. The busier I became, these words began to seep deeper into my consciousness,” said Noah. “The words began to have a more powerful meaning. I reevaluate my mindset by prioritizing and focusing more on the intent of each task before me, although there have been times when I’ve had to overcome procrastination by intentionally embracing persistence.”

“Nevertheless, I pushed through. The practice of being intentional with all my actions has become my focus. In demonstrating my commitment to achieving my goals, I am maintaining a 3.9 GPA. Enlarging and embracing the overcomer within me is my daily goal. Many ask me, ‘How are you able to do it all?’ I owe it all to God for strength and momentum,” Noah added.

the best,” said Noah. “Coahoma is the place where you can sustainably cultivate your toolbox for success!”

Kaitleen has big plans to further her education and build upon the lessons learned here at Coahoma. The stellar Tiger has intentions of a blossoming medical career. She will take with her many fond memories of her time, “juggling it all.”

“I plan to attend The University of Mississippi after completing my degree here at Coahoma Community College while majoring in psychology with the concentration of pre-medicine,” said Noah. “After completing my undergraduate degree, I plan to attend medical school.”

Because of her faith, she is able to remain steadfast despite the hard times and the overwhelming juggles. She learned that persisting, through her discomfort, is her greatest attribute.

“Pressing forward, staying busy, and prioritizing cultivates my intellect, and it builds a durable foundation for my productivity,” said Noah. “I have a passion for effective modification. Even at times when I fall short, my passion remains strong. I do believe it is possible to spread yourself too thin.

However, I believe that if your passion lies deep within you, and if it is able to resonate sustainably, the work you do is much more fulfilling.”

Through her Coahoma experience, Noah believes that the College is an excellent place and starting point for future Tigers. From her many campus affiliations, interactions with the campus community, and many support services, she has found the institution to be a place where any student can succeed.

“To a student that is on the fence about attending Coahoma, I would tell them that Coahoma is the best place to begin your journey as a college student. Coahoma provides tools, opportunities, and mentors that last a lifetime,” Noah explained. “This may seem like the ordinary expectation for any institution; however, Coahoma upholds this duty effortlessly and efficiently.”

“Choose Coahoma, work your hardest, utilize all resources, apply for scholarships, seek understanding before taking action, ask questions, prioritize, join organizations, form relationships with teachers and advisors, and strive to be

“.Choose Coahoma...“ “After medical school, I will continue my education through residency. After residency, I plan to begin my career as a dermatologist. I would love to open up my own clinic right here in my hometown, Clarksdale, Mississippi. I believe that once I reach that stage in my life, my practice would be of great use right here in my community,” Noah explained.

“Then, I plan to further my practice in opening my very own medical mall. I have fallen in love with dermatology.”

“My plan for becoming a dermatologist is to work hard so that the process won’t be as stressful. Dermatology is a very competitive field. My main goal as of right now is to remain focused and aim for the top at all times. I believe that a welleducated African American dermatologist is needed for the African American community,” Noah added. “Health care has grown to be a heavy and well-appreciated passion of mine. I believe that if I work hard through undergrad, medical school, and then residency, I could be the most distinguished surgical dermatologist I can be.”

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ALUMNI ON A Mission

THROUGH

Divine

PURPOSE

Alumnus Rev. Dr. Jerry Young ‘72 continues a life of fulfilling service built upon a Coahoma foundation.

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden shakes hands with Pastor Dr. Jerry Young at New Hope Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi.

Photo by Brendan McDermid/Reuters.

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ittle did Dr. Jerry Young know as a youth growing up in Scott, Mississippi, that he would lead a life of service that would ultimately touch countless lives of the citizens of Mississippi and the Southern region.

student. Brooks made a call to CJC founder member Zee A. Barron to find a place for him at Coahoma. At that time, Barron informed Brooks that there was only one bed available on the entire campus and that bed would go on to be Young’s.

One of ten children born to Reverend E. L. and Elizabeth Young, Jerry was raised alongside a diverse group of siblings, seven brothers and two sisters.

“Mr. Brooks called Mrs. Zee Anderson Barron and said that he had one of his boys that needed to go to school, he doesn’t have any money, and I’m sending him up there, and I want you all to take care of him,” said Young. “I ended up going to Coahoma; that’s how I got there.”

An avid scholar and lifelong learner, Pastor Young attended Nugent Center High School in Bolivar County and went on to attain an Associate of Arts in Social Science from Coahoma Junior College, now Coahoma Community College, in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

Young initially had no intention of attending college at that particular moment and contemplated the idea of traveling to Chicago to find work in the steel mills. He did, however, have plans of studying law with hopes of a career in politics. But upon his high school principal Ray Brooks discovering that he had not enrolled in college, Jerry’s life would be forever changed.

Brooks, knowing that Young had boundless potential, decided that a life of labor would not be the path for the exceptional

“I don’t think that it goes without question that Coahoma was one of the best things that ever happened to me,” said Young.

“Mrs. Barron was involved with the Baptist National Convention and the state convention, and that was extraordinarily instrumental to my life while I was there.

Mr. Miller was president of the College at the time, Mr. Lee Gorman was the registrar and became very helpful.”

“There were teachers and instructors, just a number of people at the College who were absolutely impactful in my life, including the young man at the time who actually was in charge of the cafeteria. He was extremely helpful in preparing my food. I had to have it a particular way at that time.”

Young as a sophomore student at CJC in 1972.

While at Coahoma, Young met a lifelong friend, his best friend Lavern Kinard, who was a young preacher. Kinard happened to be Young’s roommate during his time on the Coahoma campus.

Like the relationship that Young grew with Kinard, Jerry found much peace and involvement not only on the Coahoma campus but in Clarksdale and the larger Delta region.

“I got to know a lot of people in Clarksdale.

I spent a lot of time there in churches. I got to know preachers and pastors that lived there,” said Young. “The whole experience there, at Coahoma, including getting to

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PASTOR YOUNG AND HIS WIFE OF 46 YEARS, HELEN.

know people like Aaron E. Henry, who was extremely important to me in terms of his civil rights work, was life-changing. I took a great deal away from all of those persons, but Mrs. Zee Anderson Barron undoubtedly was instrumental in my life.”

based convention to become a full-fledged denomination with full-time employees.

Young, along with a select few, was charged with chauffeuring Barron, as she did not drive. In doing so, Young was introduced to the National Baptist Convention. There, Young began the start of a flourishing life of service and involvement in ministry.

On February 1, 1980, Reverend Young began his administration as the seventh pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi. Reverend Young, a dynamic and expository preacher, led the church in tremendous growth and opportunity for ministry and outreach. Realizing such tremendous growth, with vision and foresight, Reverend Young led the church in purchasing a new facility located at 5202 Watkins Drive. The first worship service in the new facility was held in March 1981.

“I got my first assignment to teach in the youth department of the National Baptist Convention because of Mrs. Barron,” Young explained. “It was there that I was introduced to the national convention and worked there in the youth department and was promoted. Subsequently, I was able to teach at the National Congress. All this was directly related to the fact that I knew Mrs. Barron.”

“All of those experiences eventually led me to the presidency of the National Baptist Convention,” Young added.

Dr. Young was elected as the 18th president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. in September 2014, during the convention’s 134th Annual Session held in New Orleans, Louisiana. During his first tenure, with the assistance of Self-Help, the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Young started the deposit-raising campaign for the NBC, USA, Inc. Credit Union. The NBC, USA, Inc. partnered with Liberty Bank to issue the NBC, USA, Inc. Affinity Visa credit card. Dr. Young has also sought to restructure the meeting-

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Though Young has had numerous appointments and titles over the years, his work at the pastoral level is truly at his heart.

Since that time, New Hope has become a beacon of hope for the citizens of Jackson. Its services and outreach efforts have grown and have supported many through the most arduous of times.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the church’s Family Life Center was held in 1994. The church hired its first youth director, and the first graduation from the elementary school that had grown to serve students through sixth grade was held in May 1994. In 1997, the Family Life Center was completed and dedicated; the elementary division of New Hope Christian School moved into the FLC; the Christian education director became a full-time staff person, and the Comforting Ministry was established. Three young men were called to the ministry, and one was ordained.

“The truth of the matter is God has always

Connect!

given me an uneasiness with the status quo. God has given me the ability to envision,” said Young. “I cannot take any credit for that. I have always felt and believed that education was extraordinarily important.”

“I went to college against all odds because of my high school principal. Because I came out of a family of 10 prior to my finishing college, no one in my family had finished college at all,” said Young.

With so much behind him, Dr. Young looks to slow things down a bit. Serving on numerous boards and being a support to so many has been his life’s work, living a life of service that has inspired the masses and leaves a legacy for the next generation to stand firmly upon.

“If God allows me to just be faithful, reasonable, and healthy, I am looking down the road at a thing called retirement,” Young happily explained. “I don’t have any more mountains to climb. I just want to fulfill my responsibilities as pastor of New Hope Baptist Church and president of the National Baptist Convention and all those other things I’m involved in.”

“I would love to be a part-time professor to young pastors if God allows me,” Dr. Young added.

Instilling the values of faith, education, and love, Young and his wife Helen are the proud parents of two daughters, Dr. Jerlen (Matthew) Canada and Kelli Elizabeth (Benjamin) Hart. Adding to their life’s joy are their three granddaughters and two grandsons.

Keep us up-to-date, visit

coahomacc.edu/alumni

WILCOX NAMED

2020 HUMANITIES

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Ambrose University. She attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in conjunction with the Rush Presbyterian Medical School to receive her master’s in art therapy, a career field she worked in for 10 years. She earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting from the University of Mississippi, emphasizing in drawing, ceramics, and sculpture. Wilcox received K-12 and gifted education certifications from Mississippi College.

Wilcox, who also won the Humanities Teacher of the Year award in 2012, believes the humanities disciplines are a healing force.

She is delighted to be “resolving everything with education.”

Wilcox also grew up in Iowa, where her gift for composing art took flight with a high school teacher who taught college-level techniques and would give her extra homework.

“I was ready, and he knew it,” she said.

Wilcox has three adult children who, she says, have always understood her passion for the arts.

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ver since Chicago-born art instructor Rosalind Wilcox was a toddler, she has been drawn to tools of creativity, including paint and musical instruments. Despite having a form of blindness called Stargardt disease, she has been teaching the beloved crafts of the fine arts to Coahoma Community College students for 13 years.

“My earliest memories are from about two or three years old; I was always attracted to drawing and painting,” said Wilcox. “My mom made sure that I had not only crayons but watercolors, tempera paint. I would beg for big pieces of paper.”

The daughter of sharecroppers from Southeast Mississippi hopes to serve as an element of change.

“Nature was always huge to me. I could see really well up close, so everything was pulled in, and I was always drawing,” she added.

Wilcox holds a bachelor’s degree in art education from St.

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She says that winning the Humanities Teacher of the Year award this year means people are recognizing what she is doing. Along with the title, she also receives a cash award and tickets to the Mississippi Humanities Council Awards banquet, where she will gather with other recipients from Mississippi colleges.

Dr. Rolonda Brown, CCC dean of Academic Affairs, regards Wilcox as an amazing instructor and an art enthusiast.

“She is an excellent choice for the Humanities Teacher of the Year Award. Her classes are stimulating and exciting for her students. She is known for being a patient and attentive instructor who works very hard to bring out the best in her students. She is also a promoter and believer in the power of both the visual and performing arts,” said Brown.

Wilcox loves that CCC students, particularly those involved in music and art, don’t start out highly talented, but possess the desire to be excellent musicians and artists.

“We have to take that desire and turn it into a flame, and we have the perfect mix,” she added.

Wilcox encourages her students to control the narrative. She is always eager to have under her wing students who want to explore and experiment with art.

“I love meeting students who come to the table ready to learn,” she said. “I love it when they know that they don’t know, and they’re open to understanding not just techniques but the spiritual side of art as well.”

She enjoys photography, making jewelry, singing, songwriting, and playing guitar.

Having gained experience as a missionary, an inspirational biblical verse for her is, “Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring unto me, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”

Her professional presentation, which she will lecture on at her celebratory reception, is titled “Raising Consciousness through S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics): We are all connected.” The event will be held during the fall 2020 semester.

OUR LADY OF MONTSERRA T THE GOD PARTICLE METALLIC PAINT ON CANVAS WITH GOLD LEAF, C. 2020

BY ROSALIND WILCOX

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A HELPING HAND Mission AROUND CAMPUS

New Campus Nurse Hopes To Inspire

T

hey say the third time’s the charm.

For new campus nurse Karmesha Duke, it only took a second wind of courage to gain long-sought success in a long-admired career.

The Lambert, Mississippi, native and mom of three chose to continue her education at Northwest Mississippi Community College and had her heart set on becoming a nurse.

“I applied for the nursing program and had to take the entrance exam,” she said.

“I took the entrance exam in June 2004 and failed by two points; I was devastated.”

found out she was eight months pregnant. Duke then experienced a lifealtering shift.

“2008 was the start of a roller-coaster ride. I was a first-time mother to a beautiful baby girl whom I named Moleeka,” she recollected.

Duke received news that her daughter’s father had passed just hours before she turned two.

“Having to play the cards I had been dealt, that tragic event forced me to be ‘all that I could be’ as her only parent. I didn’t use that as a hindrance,” she explained.

Seeing the attempt as a total bummer, Duke refused to retest and made child development technology her path of study. Although graduating from Northwest with Phi Theta Kappa honors, she was not convinced it was her calling.

“I knew then I had to go extra hard to reach my goals and provide for my daughter and me. Trying to cope and deal with the reality of our current life, we needed a change in scenery, so we moved to Ohio in August 2010.”

“Still trying to find myself, in 2006, I enrolled in the Coahoma Community College Cosmetology program,” she said.

She completed the program and soon

Duke’s northeast migration linked her to a job opportunity in childhood education.

She started working at an early learning center, starting out as a teacher to

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toddlers and then school-aged children.

Duke eventually accepted a prominent position. Having gained the necessary experience, she was promoted to office manager and then became the director of the center.

A year after jumpstarting her career in early childhood education, she birthed her second child, Ethan.

Despite attaining success in the profession, a sense of emptiness and the yearning for a fulfilling career remained.

Duke truly believed her real purpose in life was to help maintain the health of others.

Things would soon come full circle.

“I decided to give nursing another try,” she said. “With a 3-month-old and a 4-year-old, I made the first decision that would change our lives for the better.”

Duke began the nursing program at Hondros College of Nursing. In December 2013, she completed the Licensed Practical Nurse program, an achievement that served as a beacon of hope.

“I felt I could finally see myself coming out of the valley. Oh, how wrong I was… to be here today and gone tomorrow,” she expressed, referring to another unfortunate occurrence that happened a year and a half later.

family as the campus nurse in September 2019, she worked as a charge nurse for the telemetry unit at the Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center.

There, her colleagues and the medical doctors named her Employee of the Year.

provision during her relocation to Ohio. Duke was fortunate to have a job lined up before moving.

“My son tragically lost his father,” she recollected. The fatal incident took her back to a very familiar point in her life. “My mind flashed back to five years before, and here I was again, at a standstill, not knowing what to do, or what the future held for myself and now two children,” she said.

“I must say 2017 was good to me,” she said. “After moving back to Mississippi, I reunited with my high school sweetheart and now husband, Patrick Duke.”

“Death had shown its face twice to try and break me and detour me from the destiny God had prepared for the future me,” she said.

Duke treasures growing up in the rural part of Lambert.

Of her childhood, she says, “I have always been a country girl. I grew up in the country with wideopen space to run and play.

Thinking back, I think my favorite part was making mud pies topped with fresh grass.”

The traumatic loss of another close friend threatened to trap her in a state of inertia, but she understood the power of resilience.

“I knew the responsibility of caring for two children on my own would be a great deal, so I wanted to make sure I was doing everything I could as a mother,” said Duke. “I started to pray two and three times a day, the same prayer, ‘Lord, I give my life totally to you; I’m lost. Lord, I need you more than ever. Order my steps.”

In March 2017, she received her degree in nursing from Hondros College of Nursing. After successfully taking a path that was initially beyond reach, she moved back home and became a licensed registered nurse.

Her trip back home drew her closer to the light at the end of the tunnel.

Before joining the Tiger

“Our lives had previously been full of ups and downs, twists and turns, but we have arrived, and God has blessed us to reach our Destiny,” she said of the union. “In March 2018, we gave birth to our baby girl, Destiny Grace.”

She has come to learn to cherish every moment spent with her family.

There is no such thing as a perfect parent, she says.

“When I feel that I’m failing as a parent, my children come right along with hugs, kisses, and I love yous to let me know that I’m at least doing an okay job,” she said.

As her kids grow, she hopes to instill in them the message that as a mother, she never gave up on them regardless of how difficult things got. “They were my motivation,” she added.

God would continuously remind her that he gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers.

She seeks to serve the institution well with trustworthiness and can offer advocacy.

She takes out time to engage with students/ patients and learn their plans, understanding the care she provides will assist in making those dreams possible. Overall, Duke views her role as a chance to further develop herself as a career woman while reaching a diverse generation.

ABOUT HEALTH SERVICES MISSION

The Coahoma Community College Health Center ‘s mission, through sound partnerships, is to provide quality health care services to all students, faculty, and staff of the Coahoma Community College campus community.

The center further strives to educate its populous on the importance of leading healthy lifestyles by providing a wide array of programs that will be beneficial academically, personally, and socially.

PARTNERSHIP

The Coahoma Community College Health Center shares a partnership with the Aaron E. Henry Community Health Center. A medical doctor is available upon referral. The Health Center also refers students to the Coahoma County Health Department and the Cooper/Pang Clinic if deemed necessary.

SERVICES

Assessment and Treatment of Minor Illness and Injury | Free Contraceptives | Free Over-the-counter Medications | General First Aid | Health Counseling | Referrals | Urine Pregnancy Test | Weight Checks | Blood Pressure Checks | Blood Glucose Monitoring | Wound Care

“I am at the service of the mighty Tigers. I’m just an office visit, call, or email away,” she added.

Amazingly, each verse of Psalm 23 precisely depicts an entire decade of her life.

Verse one, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want,” speaks of God’s consistent

coahomacc.edu 21

MAINTAINING THE Mission

THE MAKINGS OF THE R.O.A.D TO SUCCESS

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Coahoma plans and executes its new quality enhancement plan.

oahoma Community College is currently going through the process of reaffirmation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the governing body over many colleges in the Southern region.

The reaffirmation of accreditation by SACSCOC happens every decade.

serves as the QEP co-director. The QEP team is devised of faculty, staff, and students from all three educational divisions at CCC—Academics, Career and Technical, and Health Sciences.

The diversity of the 20-member team provides a broad spectrum of knowledge and experience to implement a QEP that achieves the goals of student engagement, success, and retention.

The College must focus on an area concerning student learning and student success and be able to implement a five-year Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) to show improvement in that area.

Once SACSCOC’s on-site visiting committee, scheduled for CCC in September 2020, approves the plan, its implementation requires the collection of data and documentation for the process and results of each of the five years, making CCC accountable for improving student learning and student success.

“The QEP process is very specific, yet SACSCOC allows each QEP college to make this process its own,” Duncan explained. “The college really completes a ‘self-study’ of itself and decides on an area that needs improvement, and then the team goes about trying to implement a five-year plan that will ensure success for students.”

The five-year QEP gets underway in 2021 and ends in 2026. “The people responsible for that QEP plan are a QEP team appointed

by CCC President Dr. Valmadge Towner. The group will research, investigate, collect data, and create a QEP that works to improve student engagement, student success, and student retention,” says Glynda Duncan, QEP director and former English instructor at CCC before retiring in 2018 to take on the QEP full time. Duncan was appointed by Dr. Rolonda Brown and approved by President Towner in fall 2017, when the QEP team was gathered.

Tony Brooks, respiratory therapy instructor for Health Sciences,

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In year one, fall 2017, the QEP canvassed our CCC stakeholders by distributing a questionnaire that had a broad range of questions asking people to determine strengths, weaknesses, and what could make CCC more successful for the student body. The QEP collected almost 600 electronic and face-to-face questionnaires, which were analyzed by Duncan and Brooks in order to provide the team with a list of topics to be reviewed and investigated.

In January 2018, the QEP director and co-director decided to chisel the 30-plus QEP membership to a smaller number with the same representation so the QEP process could go forward. “We really needed fewer people to do the same work,” said Brooks.

“The stress in year one is to select a topic on which to focus; all the research, data collection, questionnaires and surveys, and interviewing faculty provides lots of information, and the team has to decipher all of that to come up with the premier topic.”

From the results of the questionnaires, the QEP team focused on five prospective topics—Math, Writing, Mentoring, Student Coaching, and Advising. Also, in January 2018, a faculty survey was distributed to determine skills that students need to be successful at CCC and beyond and how to implement those skills to involve student engagement and student learning. Duncan and Brooks tallied the results of the survey.

A Kickoff Rally assembly was held in November 2019 for the entire student body, faculty, staff, and administration introducing the topic: ROAD to Success: Revitalizing Orientation and Advisement Development. Freebies with the topic logo were presented to the audience, including mousepads, armbands, backpacks, fanny packs, and pens. The Kickoff Rally assembly explained the QEP and introduced and explained the topic. The choir sang the theme song for the QEP Plan: “Ease on Down the Road ‘to Success,’” and the students were quizzed on the focus and the reason for the QEP.

After weeks of meetings, analyzing data, researching student success at other colleges, and reviewing other successful QEPs, the CCC team narrowed to one topic in which to implement the QEP five-year plan. The focus was Advisement. ROAD to Success: Revitalizing Orientation and Advisement Development.

The advisement protocol wants students to touch base face-to-face with a counselor at least once and the advisor for each student at least twice during the semester to ensure student engagement and learning. The orientation course will be taken by freshmen and reinforce all the steps of registration, financial aid, etc. as well as making students accountable for their own Student Career Plan and learning to engage with students, faculty, and administration.

“Our research led us to determine that the CCC advisement protocol is a good plan, but we need to refocus our efforts on implementing the Advisement Tool. Doing so will lead to more impact on student engagement, student success, and student retention,” said Duncan. “Advisement is the focus, but we are revising the orientation course as a tool to reach our objective of effective advisement.”

The QEP will track the results and ultimate success of first-year students and the actual collection of data. Tracking the results will involve training faculty in using myCCC as a way to track and take advising notes on all students. The CCC Ellucian team and QEP team have worked on online data collection to track advisement meetings, faculty advisors and student advisees, and updates on students’ progress.

The second year of the process saw team members delve deeper into the focus and ways to implement the five-year plan. The Professional Development subcommittee worked on a training schedule for faculty and counselors on the advisement tool. Also, faculty must be trained on how to teach the newly revised orientation course. The Budget subcommittee devised ways to purchase and support the work of the QEP during the three-year process and a budget to support the five-year plan. The Marketing and Branding subcommittee worked on branding items with the logo, putting the topic before the CCC student body as well as the faculty and administration. The Assessment subcommittee worked on student outcomes, measuring those outcomes and collection and analysis of data for the course that supports the advising protocol.

To ensure that the QEP team is following SACSCOC criteria, Margaret Dixon, the institutional effectiveness director at CCC, has provided QEP manuals, criteria, etc. to follow, and Dixon has been a mentor and advisor to the team. “Having been closely involved and active in the last two SACSCOC reviews and QEP efforts at CCC, I used my personal knowledge and the knowledge of those who had worked as QEP directors in the past for guidance,” explains Duncan.

In year two, the QEP team split in half to narrow the focus on the advisement development, headed by Brooks, and the orientation course revitalization, headed by Duncan. The work continued, and in May 2018, Duncan and Brooks addressed the CCC Curriculum Committee, getting permission to proceed with the Pilot Orientation Student Success course.

Duncan and Brooks attended the 2017 and 2018 SACSCOC Annual Conferences, Brooks attended the 2018 SACSCOC Summer Institute in San Antonio, Texas, and Duncan attended the 2019 SACSCOC Summer Institute in Dallas, Texas, and received invaluable knowledge leading to the progress of the QEP.

In year three, faculty were trained to teach the revitalized orientation course. Two pilot courses got underway in fall 2019 in a 15-week curriculum; in spring 2020, five face-to-face courses and three online courses were piloted in the new time frame of eight weeks with students meeting twice weekly (face-to-face). Another face-to-face pilot course will take place in the last eight weeks of the spring semester .

coahomacc.edu 23

The advisement protocol and the orientation course will be monitored and data collected and tracked for the First Time Ever in College student to see if these efforts are helping students become more engaged, more successful in each year, and eventually be retained until they graduate at CCC. The five-year plan ends in 2026; each of those five years sees an annual report with data, documentation, and a narrative on the success of each year sent to the SACSCOC. At the end of the fiveyear period, a 10-page report of the entire process, progress, data, and documentation will be sent.

Members of the CCC Choir perform, “Ease on Down the R.O.A.D to SUCCESS!” at the QEP Kickoff Rally. The group wowed the crowd with excellent song and dance.

The group received permission to move forward on the pilot program with the orientation course. Duncan’s Orientation Committee used the results of the survey to see where more attention needed to be placed in the course and created a “beefed up” curriculum for the course, which was approved by the Curriculum Committee.

Currently, in year three, the QEP team and the ATD Team have agreed and received permission to update the student catalog or actually provide an addendum that says all students must take the orientation course before acquiring 21 hours of enrollment; this ensures students will learn the skills necessary for them to be successful at CCC and in their careers by helping them successfully navigate CCC enrollment and find success after CCC. The goal is to improve student engagement, success, and retention.

Although all students are required to take orientation within their major course plans to graduate, the CCC focus group to be tracked by the QEP team is the First Time Ever in College students. This group has been recognized by the ATD team as a group needing more assistance and understanding of how college works in order to become successful as a student.

The five-year plan will assist CCC students in navigating the CCC campus and faculty in a way that allows them to be more engaged and more bonded to the CCC campus lifestyle, and they will learn many skills that will not only help them be successful in college but also after graduation. Students will be empowered to take charge of their studies, be responsible and accountable for their Student Career Plan while at CCC, and become more successful overall in all CCC courses. This empowerment will result in the students completing their college courses and graduating; thus, student retention will be achieved.

The five-year plan officially starts in 2021 and goes through 2026.

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Another QEP team will be created sometime in 2027 to start another three-year process for the next 10-year period of reaccreditation.

“Then entire process has been a long, arduous task for most of the QEP team members; we feel the stress of coming up with a successful plan to aid students and to be approved by SACSCOC,” the QEP director notes.

“I have learned a lot about myself and my colleagues in this QEP process,” said Duncan and added that it has been particularly enjoyable for her. “I think this process has allowed me to grow as an individual and relate to others in new ways. Also, the process allows one to learn about the behind-the-scenes scenarios, the power structure on campus, and the way things really get done at CCC.” Duncan took on the QEP director position in 2017, one year before her retirement, knowing that she would return for two more years to complete the process and her task. “I knew I needed the time retirement would afford me to lead the team, and I was glad to do it. I have been compensated for the three years, but as other QEP directors have told me, the salary is never enough for all the work that goes into it,” says Duncan, and she adds, “I am glad I took the job, but I will not do it again. I am retiring to enjoy my many efforts for CCC in the past 30-plus years. I have paid my dues,” she said with a laugh.

Duncan’s major take-away from the QEP process was to see, no matter how busy people are with their daily tasks and challenges, most always seem to get gone what is needed and expected of them. “I want to personally thank all CCC employees for what they do. Students are empowered by more than just instructors.

Counselors, maintenance people, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, janitors, etc. are all a part of the success of CCC,” said the QEP director.

FOLLOW AND TRACK OUR QEP INITIATIVE:

COAHOMACC.EDU/QEP

A Mission COMPLETE

SKILLSUSA MEMBERS SERVE LOCAL COMMUNIT Y

D

uring the fall semester, six members of the Coahoma Community College SkillsUSA student organization, along with the group’s coordinator, Shelia Sanders, broke away from their usual Wednesday routine to serve the local community as model champions at work. At the Care Station, they assisted owner Charles Estes and other aides with their duties.

“By volunteering, our students become responsible and respectful members of the SkillsUSA organization and in the community,” said Sanders. “It helps our SkillsUSA students to use their occupational and leadership skills in the community.”

Their acts of kindness included preparing several snack bags of popcorn and bundling up packaged foods that the Clarksdale soup kitchen gives out on Fridays. The team also took on the tasks of washing dishes, taking out the garbage, and lifting heavy pans.

They received a hands-on lesson in showing compassion and empathy toward others’ needs.

awareness and help them integrate into the local communities,” she added.

Estes, the owner of the meal center, has asked the students to return to aid in Thanksgiving preparations.

SkillsUSA seeks to offer students the chance to hone their skills in Career-Tech fields with educational programs. At in-state and national competitions, they are able to put those skills to the test.

The student members also get involved in community service projects and become more active on campus.

To learn more about SkillsUSA, contact advisor Sheila D. Sanders at (662)621-4192, or visit the SkillsUSA website at www.skillsusa. org.

The experience gave students a sense of purpose and involved them in teamwork, Sanders added.

Anne Clark, the dean of Career and Technical Education, says the service activity promoted personal, social, and intellectual development, as well as civic responsibility and career exploration.

“This project gives the students a sense of pride and identity,” Clark said. “The better the students feel about themselves, the more likely they are to have a positive view of life and future goals.”

“Community service projects develop students’ community

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CCC welding student Kontavious Drake assists Mr. Charles Estes gather supplies during the Care Station service visit.

THE BAND GOES

Marching On!

Marching Maroon Typhoon Grows in Size and Popularity.

T

he rise of the Marching Maroon Typhoon is upon us.

With its recognition from the National Show Band Association (NSBA) and a nomination to participate in The Honda Battle of the Bands in 2019, along with performing in The Krewe of Endymion Mardi Gras Parade for three consecutive years, Coahoma Community College’s band is setting a precedent for other junior college bands striving for more recognition.

“It is a great feeling knowing that we are making history and gaining notoriety,” said Christopher Jefferson, head band director. “We are the first community college show band to garner national attention and respect from the collegiate band community. So, it is safe to say, I love our success and plan to strive for more.”

Jefferson brings out the best in his talented musicians by giving

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them a message that promotes determination, high standards, and achieving greatness. His teachings resonate with his students, and it fuels their desire to reach extraordinary heights.

“We push, push, and push some more. The label ‘community college’ means nothing to us. We are a collegiate-level program, so we should sound like a collegiate-level program, no excuses.

We have no intention of stopping where we are. There is so much more to accomplish, and we’re going for it.”

Ascending to new levels requires the band to test their strength against notable bands from four-year institutions such as Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Texas Southern University, and Talladega College, to name a few. Fans and the band community have given the Typhoon praise for their ability, and Jefferson is pleased with their reactions.

“We have surpassed some four-year colleges already. Our sound makes our band special. It’s a big, mature, groovy, clean sound that surprises people when they hear us for the first time. Our sound easily stacks up against the sound of several universities. There is a surge of people in the band community who have expressed their interest in our sound over several four-year institutions. That’s an amazing feeling knowing that our hard work hasn’t been overlooked.”

The band’s success has also caught the attention of high school students, which has given the program a significant recruiting advantage.

“Increased exposure has done wonders for our recruiting.

Students reach out to us with plans of participating in our band, which was unheard of a few years ago. Students who could easily participate in other band programs in the nation seek out Coahoma because of what we’ve created. Emails, text messages, and phone calls with potential new band members or high school band directors looking for opportunities for their students are common occurrences.”

Jefferson’s efforts aren’t going unnoticed by the band members. They appreciate his dedication to making the band relevant. Jeremy Brown, a freshman music major who plays the trombone, applauds Jefferson for his commitment to revitalizing the program.

“Mr. Jefferson has turned this band into what it is today,” said Brown. “The exposure that the Marching Maroon Typhoon is receiving is great for recruitment purposes. I believe that more students will take an interest in attending Coahoma and joining the band due to all of our performances.”

The foundation has been set for the future, and Jefferson is confident his band will be the one that sits on the mountaintop.

“When the smoke clears, and more community college bands emerge, I want it to be clear who was the first and best to do it.

This is, and will be, the Coahoma Community College Marching Maroon Typhoon.”

Recruiting hasn’t always been the simplest task for Jefferson and his staff. He reflected on the days when he and his team hit the streets to find talent.

“In the beginning, my team and I had to pound the pavement to get more students. We visited schools, offered our expertise in working with high school groups, and attended band events wearing Coahoma apparel. When possible, we took our band to various events to showcase talent, and when the band couldn’t make it, we set up recruitment tables to keep our name in the mix. We made a conscious effort to find ways to make ourselves visible to directors and students. With the students we’ve recruited, we molded a product that now speaks for itself.”

In his three-year tenure as band director, Jefferson has turned around a program that didn’t have an identity upon his arrival.

Bringing his winning attitude onto campus has created a culture of success. He credits the heart and soul of the band, the students, for working hard and performing beyond expectations.

“Our band has a unique culture because we don’t have the history that other college bands have. We are creating our customs as we go. What we lack in program age, we make up for with grit and focus. We’re a tough group to cross paths with because every member of our band is ready to showcase their skills at every performance. We make every shot count.”

Get Involved! in campus life.

Visit coahomacc.edu/studentlife

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A TALE OF

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TWO HOMECOMINGS

oahoma Community College, your small-town “home away from home,” is known to host two grand scenes of immense enjoyment each year.

One of them ends with a “Coachellaesque” experience, while the other is consistently a celebrated daytime sporting event, whether the Tigers win or lose. One is a weeklong bash that has alumni, students, and Mississippi Deltans alike raving about its festivities.

The other is centered on honoring the most outstanding of former studentathletes and coaches, those selected for induction into the revamped Sports Hall of Fame.

If the two homecomings popped in your mind, you are right on the money. The weeklong football homecoming held in the fall is climaxed with a Saturday game and a coinciding tailgating experience.

The aforementioned Coachella-like experience is, of course, the Blues & Oldies Music Fest that follows the game.

Unlike many other HBCUs, the College also organizes a homecoming event each spring semester. This one-day Basketball Homecoming somehow exhibits the same liveliness as the homecoming festivities in the fall.

“Our primary focus is to create a warm,

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heartfelt, welcoming environment that would encourage our Hall of Fame inductees and their guests to become an integral part of the College’s mission, to connect the dots of our past to our present, which will optimally secure our future,” says Selina Reid, who plays a key role in making sure the day of Basketball Homecoming activities comes together smoothly.

Reid, the assistant athletic director and head athletic trainer, serves as chair of the Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee, spearheading the planning for the Hall of Fame Welcome Reception for honorees just before the basketball game, which includes a short induction ceremony for the honorees.

The indoor Homecoming held in late January is an upgrade from the other basketball games of the season. After the women’s game, Hall of Fame inductees and Mr. and Miss Basketball are formally acknowledged at half court. For the 2020 halftime entertainment, players in the men’s game made room for sassy choreography presented by the Seniors of Tate County, a show truly deserving of space on your phone’s camera roll.

“I am so humbly grateful to be afforded this opportunity to serve as the chair

of the Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee and to work with some very honorable and legendary individuals who have made remarkable contributions for decades to Coahoma Junior College/ Coahoma Community College athletic programs in various capacities,” Reid expressed.

The campus community gazed into the valiant irises of Mackey the Tiger to find that Coahoma was approaching its 70th anniversary. Thus, the 2019 fall homecoming was themed “70 Years: Through the Eyes of Tigers.” In line with the homecoming theme, departmental exhibits decorated for the traditional spirit display competition reflected timelines dating back to 1949, when the institution was founded.

To rewind a little further back to the events that have marked the start of the 2019 Homecoming Week activities continued on Day 2 with Natasha Towner being formally presented as the first lady of the College. Headpieces and delightful hats were perfectly propped for a customary tea party. School queens from the College’s five-county service area were honored with a token of appreciation from Lady Natasha, who thanked the ladies-only audience for continuing the institution’s legacy.

Just hours after the First Lady’s Tea, a highly anticipated gathering dubbed the Super Pep Rally offered a prelude to the Saturday game. At this event, the packed-out bleachers rev up the traditional countdown to the night’s firework presentation.

The following day caters solely to traditional students. The 2019 Maroon Madness Xperience had young adult students flocking to the stage of the Pinnacle for a lineup, including a lipsyncing aux cord battle between members of the Student Government Association. This led up to a guest performance by Memphis rap star Dee Mula.

“To show the access we have is very enthusiastic,” said Griffin.

Benefactors, friends, alumni, administrators, and personnel of the College get dapper for the fourth night of the fall homecoming. They substitute their everyday work wear for formal attire to assemble at the Presidential Gala, which is an evening of fine dining amid elegant décor. Ticket sales are collected as financial assistance for students.

Midnight Star, the headlining act for the 2019 gala, had attendees letting their

hair down as they performed throwback hits. The College also debuted its first issue of Roar Magazine at the event.

After embellished floats celebrating the institution’s 70th anniversary paraded through downtown Clarksdale on the morning of game day, Tiger fans gathered for tailgating—two more must-do homecoming traditions. Meanwhile, Maroon and White enthusiasts pack out the James E. Miller and root on Coahoma Football to the well-fused sounds of the Marching Maroon Typhoon.

Foundation members, and the planning committee to make the nostalgic time of year phenomenal. “After attending Homecoming Week events, we hope that alumni and current students feel a sense as to what makes Coahoma such an awesome home away from home,” said Griffin. “Also, we hope that they gain an understanding of why it is so essential to give back to the institution financially.”

The fall homecoming closes out with a hip-grooving blues fest. The 2019 fest featured Mound Bayou-born and Clarksdale-raised blues crooner O. B. Buchana. The blues fest usually awaits music lovers right outside the stadium toward the end of the football game.

By the end of Homecoming Week, energy is exhausted, and participants anticipate planning for the next CCC Homecoming.

Work pulled off behind the scenes makes the fall homecoming a success each year.

“It takes trying to schedule these events in a timely manner to make sure that all who want to attend can,” says Griffin.

She teams up with alumni, the CCC

coahomacc.edu 31

PEOPLE ON A Mission

THE CHOSEN

One!

W

ith a tenacious work ethic and a winning spirit all his own, Travis Macon has been selected to lead the Coahoma Football program. Macon’s experience at Northeast Mississippi Community College and Northwest Mississippi Community College, both perennial rivals of the Tigers, has prepared him to guide a group of hungry young men to the next level at Coahoma.

Macon’s journey to Coahoma began many years ago in Starkville, Mississippi, with his early beginnings in football. Macon was a productive football player at Starkville High School. He shined as the starting tight end for a team that won two consecutive MHSAA state championships in 1994 and 1995. Chuck Friend served as the head coach and became a significant influence in Macon’s life. He arrived at Starkville High in 1994 when Macon was a junior. The team would lose only two games in Macon’s first two seasons at Starkville. He ended his high school playing career there with a bang by winning 30 straight games.

“Coach Friend was a great coach,” said Macon. “A lot of things I do as a coach, I learned them from Coach Friend.”

After graduating. Macon first spent two years at Northeast Mississippi. Then, Ole Miss Head Coach David Cutcliffe came looking to make Macon a member of the Ole Miss Football program.

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Macon played his last two years at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). He was part of back-to-back bowl seasons bowl seasons and played with some of the greats at Ole Miss. Eli Manning (twotime Super Bowl champion), Terrence Metcalf (Chicago Bears), Charles Stackhouse, and Marcus Johnson were more than just his teammates. “Those guys took me under their wings and showed me the way,” said Macon. “Sometimes,

MACON TO LEAD TIGER FOOTBALL PROGRAM you get off track as a college student, but they showed me how to become a better man.”

After his playing career, Macon decided to get into coaching by returning to Northeast Mississippi in 2008. He started as a student assistant and moved his way up. He coached the offensive line then transitioned to the other side of the ball, working with the defensive line as defensive coordinator for five seasons.

The Tigers were nationally-ranked and made their first playoff appearance in six years in 2011.

“Northeast Mississippi will always be my first home. I have a lot of respect for the administration and staff over there.

It will be very emotional when we play them in Booneville. It will be a good party,” said Macon.

Macon sought to do some maturing.

During his time in Booneville, Mississippi, he married the love of his life, Deimara. The couple has three children: Haleih, Brian, and Ambrielle.

In 2014, Macon received a job opportunity at Northwest Mississippi. He coached the defensive line under Head Coach Jack Wright and Coach Benjy Parker.

The Rangers boasted the MACJC’s top scoring defense (19.5 points per game) and second-ranked total defense (302.3 yards per game) in 2017. That same year, Northwest had also achieved 93 tacklesfor-loss and 32 sacks a year after breaking a 24-year-old school record with 117 tackles-for-loss and 46 sacks.

his mentor. Wright was now the head coach of Mississippi Gulf Coast. Gulf Coast snagged the win in a 22-19 victory. Macon knew this was a unique experience going against his former boss.

On November 21, 2019, Macon arrived at Coahoma Community College, becoming its new head football coach.

Coahoma President Dr. Valmadge T. Towner is confident that Macon’s expertise and professionalism will bring transformative change to the Tiger football program. He believes Macon’s experience will help shape a new age in Coahoma athletics.

“He has a track record of success from the vantage point of being a supporter of head coaches. When you speak to his former supervisors, they speak highly of him,” said Towner. “He has been an integral part of helping teams win.”

Reggie Hankerson, CCC athletics director, is pleased to welcome Macon to Tiger Nation. He believes Macon’s vast experience in the MACJC will bring huge dividends to Tiger Football.

“It is a great joy and pleasure to welcome Coach Macon as the next head football coach of Coahoma Community College,” said Hankerson. “After the process of filtering through the many applicants, Coach Macon’s experience and the admiration from his peers proved that he is the right person to lead our program to the next level. We welcome his family, staff, and experience to our Tiger family.”

“Coach Wright showed the ability to turn around a football program. Coach Parker took me under his wings, taught me how to be a position coach and a head coach.

I was blessed to be taught by some good head coaches,” said Macon.

Macon has watched the CCC Football program progress, and now he wants to take it to a level of consistency. He wants CCC Football to compete for championships. The most important thing that Macon wants is for CCC to win big in the classroom and on the field.

Before Macon set out for Tiger Nation, Northwest faced Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in the 2019 MACJC State Championship, a matchup in which he had to compete against Coach Wright,

Macon has hit the ground running with his staff. Kareem Moore and Jeremy Patterson hope to improve Coahoma’s defense. William (Bo) Wallace, Pearce Price, Emmanuel McCray, and CJ Bailey seek to

give Coahoma’s offense a makeover.

“I hit the ground running by calling a bunch of coaches about this opportunity.

When you get assistant coaches with a whole lot of college and NFL experience, it helps you in recruiting. We are blessed to have this coaching staff,” said Macon.

Macon has longed for this moment. His dream was to become a head football coach. His introductory press conference was exciting but bittersweet because his mother, who passed away in April 2018, was not here to witness it. “I was thinking about my mom that day because she was the one who said I’m going to become a head coach. If she would have been there that day to see the success,” said Macon.

“It means so much for these players to play for me,” said Macon. “After they leave Coahoma, they can go to a fouryear institution and graduate with a degree. It’s time to take that next step with the CCC Football program. The players are going to understand that we are not going to accept losing. If they’ve got that in their mind, we will find a way to win the game. I think God was leading me to Coahoma. It’s all about timing, and everything started to fall into place. God has a place for me here at CCC, and I’m excited about that.”

coahomacc.edu 33

D OR S EY P L ACES S ECO ND AT

BRONNER BROTHERS HAIR SHOW

S

ince a very young age, Christopher Dorsey has had a love and talent for hair design. The Shaw native is a freshman here at Coahoma, and his skills recently garnered him a second-place award at the Bronner Brothers 2020 Hair Show in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dorsey is excited to have received such a coveted honor and credits the assistance of his instructors in him achieving this long-sought goal.

“I registered for the competition one week before the competition day!

I had to create a total look. I didn’t have any ideas in my head in the beginning,” said Dorsey. “Then, multiple ideas filled my head. My goal was to put all my ideas into one, and that’s exactly what I did! On the day of the competition, I was very nervous, but I knew that I had to suck it up and remember everything Ms. Hicks and Ms. Howard taught me.”

Shirley Ferguson-Hicks, cosmetology instructor, is proud of the accomplishment made by Dorsey. She says the win is huge for a first-time competitor.

“

“When I found out that the student placed, I was excited and proud as an instructor. I felt like it was my first win of my career,” said FergusonHicks. “I knew that he had prepared and worked very hard for the competition despite his nervousness as a first-time competitor.”

If you’re looking for a second family and you’re interested in cosmetology, I would recommend that you attend CCC.

According to Ferguson-Hicks, events like this are essential for CCC students because they offer diversity and external exposure to the cosmetology industry. Students can network with vendors about the newest products and possible employment with their companies.

Dorsey is no novice to the beauty industry. He says that the main reason he wanted to study cosmetology is that he’s been involved in hair styling for about four years. He has used his

craft to make money while continuing his education. He decided to step out on faith and pursue advanced skills, gaining formal training at Coahoma.

“My favorite part about attending Coahoma is interacting with the staff. They’re friendly, and they don’t mind helping you,” said Dorsey. “It feels like home at Coahoma.”

Dorsey’s ultimate goal after graduating from CCC is to further his education at Jackson State University, where he plans to major in English education.

“I still have plans to become an English teacher. In the process, I plan on opening up a beauty salon in my hometown, where I will do hair in my free time,” Dorsey added. “I will also have workers and assistants there to handle my needs when I’m not available to be at the salon. But the overall ultimate goal is to be blessed and successful.”

Dorsey believes that Coahoma Community College is a place where anyone eager to make positive choices can be successful. He recommends the institution to all who want to make positive life changes.

“If anyone is interested in joining the cosmetology program, I would highly recommend it. The instructors are very helpful, and they will make sure you know everything you need to know,” said Dorsey. “If you’re looking for a second family and you’re interested in cosmetology, I would recommend that you attend CCC.” The cosmetology program has plans to attend other competitions in the future, giving students the opportunity for more exposure.

For more information about the CCC cosmetology program, contact Shirley Ferguson-Hicks at 662-6214180 or sferguson@coahomacc.edu.

coahomacc.edu 35

“

THE Mission CONTINUES

COAHOMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE: ENVISIONING THE NEXT 70 YEARS AND BEYOND

I

n the first 70 years of Coahoma Community College, sustainability was paramount. The drive for service and the need to understand cause and effect ushered in decades of eureka moments in labs, classrooms, and in the minds of students and professors alike as relationships between things revealed themselves.

In 2019, Coahoma Community College celebrated its 70 years of existence. The year was full of commemorative events that paid homage to an institution that has had a long-standing mission of serving the Mississippi Delta region.

The college was birthed from Coahoma County Agricultural High School, which was established in 1924, becoming the first agricultural high school in Mississippi for Negroes under the existing “separate but equal” doctrine. The junior college curriculum was added in 1949, and the name of the institution was changed to Coahoma Junior College and Agricultural High School.

Since that time, Coahoma has grown.

Today, Coahoma acts as a cornerstone in higher education in the region. The institution enrolls a majority population of African Americans, as well as substantial numbers of low-income, firstgeneration, and nontraditional students, continuing to be of service to the underserved.

But what will the next 70 years bring? What can we learn from its past?

36 ROAR Magazine

During the first year of operation, Coahoma Junior College was supported entirely by county funds. In 1950, Coahoma Junior College became the first educational institution for Negroes to be included in Mississippi’s system of public junior colleges and to be eligible to share in funds appropriated by the Mississippi Legislature for the support of public junior colleges. Other counties also began to support the junior college, including Bolivar, Quitman, and Sunflower.

“When we consider the way that Coahoma began, it is extraordinary to see that Coahoma is still here 70 years later and to see how well it is doing, 70 years later,” said Towner. “You have so many HBCUs that started out during that time frame and before that are no longer in existence.”

Dr. Valmadge T. Towner, the current and fifth president of Coahoma, is charged with the oversight of the Clarksdale-based institution. He recalls how Coahoma was once known as the college that would never be, but despite insurmountable odds, the college still stands and flourishes.

“The sort of nonintimate language that was used by the state of Mississippi in legislation at that time suggested that the institution was not highly regarded,” said Towner. “Coahoma was developed initially with a very temporal mindset. So, in essence you have a college that was set up like a tent and now it’s a Taj Mahal.”

Artist rendering of the newly approved Student Services Building. The complex will house a variety of spaces and offices geared at addressing student needs.

Image provided by Durrell Design Group, PLLC

Over the years, Coahoma has grown exponentially. From expanded facilities to diverse and relevant course offerings, Coahoma is maintaining the vision of those intrepid dreamers of times past.

Towner is never shy about stating that it’s okay to dream and challenges his campus community to innovate on all levels. Coahoma is a far cry from its humble beginnings, but the work is still not done. There is a need, purpose, and mission that will continue into the future.

“Obviously, everyone dreams about facilities, but my dream in addition to that is to outreach digitally,” said Towner. “I would love for Coahoma to become like Arizona State University, Georgia State, those schools that have a physical presence but their digital presence rivals that of institutions like the University of Phoenix Online and so forth. We should be able to reach everyone in our five-county area, even if they don’t come to our campus.”

Currently, the institution is working to, indeed, increase its digital capacities. Many committees and subcommittees have been formed to evaluate the needs of both institutional departments and the needs of students and potential students. One area, in particular, is the college’s initiative to streamline the admissions and registration process. The hope is to remove as many barriers as possible, making a smoother flow in the process of its students.

In a day in age when all things digital is the name of the game, Coahoma keeps in mind that there are those students who want a

traditional college experience. So, a need does still exist in the areas of on-campus improvements and adornments. Towner keeps this notion in mind as he looks down the proverbial road toward the future.

“We would like to be able to have it where students we serve will not have to leave our area to have something nice. So, we want turf for baseball/softball, we want improved lighting, we want to have nice dorms and a variety of food services,” said Towner. “We want to be able to have state-of-the-art classrooms and great internet access. We want students who are in Lambert, Mississippi, to come right here and not have to go to other areas to have a campus that they feel good about and they can be proud of.”

The institution has been intentional in its pursuit of planning to grow and improve its campus and facilities. The conversations are commonplace in leadership and board meetings alike. There is an air of optimistic hope in the air, and that permeates throughout those who are proud to be of service to the college.

Towner also sees his institution playing a significant role in the revitalization of the Mississippi Delta region. For a number of years, the Delta landscape has been in a state of change. Industries have made moves out of the area, and with that so goes the people.

That’s why Towner is excited about the college’s growing outreach and workforce development initiatives. The various programs of the college aid the embattled area in enticing industry by provid-

coahomacc.edu 37

Artist rendering of proposed dormitory to be located on Coahoma’s main campus.

Image provided by Durrell Design Group, PLLC

ing a capable and competent workforce, as well as vital training programs that speak to the viability of the area.

“I think we should prepare our students, particularly those who are not from here, to connect with those companies and end up getting jobs with those companies and end up staying here,” Towner explained. “We are providing human resources to those companies, but also we need to learn from those companies. If you sit down and talk with companies like PeopleShores or Automation Anywhere, they have a lot of great ideas and insight that we need to parlay into our curriculums here on campus.”

“We have to continue to have a dialogue, and continue to be at the table with company reps, find out what they are doing and see how we can infuse that into our system. We can have our students already, while they are in school here, learning what some of these companies are doing,” Towner added.

Over the past two years, the Clarksdale area has seen a number of industries make their home only a stone’s throw from Coahoma.

Through the work of the local chamber of commerce, city and county officials, and because of the training/support services offered by Coahoma, the Delta region has seen an uptick of opportunities once thought long gone back and envisioned anew.

38 ROAR Magazine

Silicon Valley-based PeopleShores was one of the first to make a move to the area. The tech company provides digital transformation and business process management services such as robotics process automation, artificial intelligence machine learning, customer experience management, and image processing to large corporations. The company’s goal is to provide job opportunities with promising career paths to disconnected young adults and members of the community by developing, honing, and enhancing their professional skills and offering them gainful employment. The company partners with new and emerging technology companies, such as Automation Anywhere, to streamline business processes for its clients, which include FedEx and Microsoft.

“When we have a relationship with companies, they know when our students graduate. Those students can do one or two things.

They can go straight to work for those companies, or they can continue to go to school for a four-year degree, as well as still doing something with those companies,” Towner explained.

One thing is evident, and that is Coahoma’s commitment to serving as the starting point and refuge to those underserved persons only seeking an opportunity to better themselves and the lives of their families.

“That’s our specialty. We don’t mind getting our hands dirty, we

don’t mind bending our backs,” Towner proudly expressed. “I like to think that we still have the capacity to serve the high-end too, but that’s not our motif. We were created, in the beginning, 70 years ago, to educate black poor farm people.”

is obviously unpredictable, but if we use the insight of the sages of our beginnings, like McLaurin and others who helped put the college together, we will still move forward with just trying to offer a light and hope to people,” Towner added.

“So, obviously now, we have expanded beyond black, farmers, and poor, but that motif is still there. That inaugural mission is still there. It’s sort of a valedictory ritual that we still embrace to this day. That’s still what we do. The path that lies ahead for the college

One has to believe that over 70 years later, the institution’s founders are looking down on Coahoma with smiles on their faces, as CCC moves to its next phase, the next 70 years.

COAHOMA AWARDED NEARLY $200K

DISTANCE LEARNING GRANT

T

he U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Rural Development awarded grants totaling nearly $2 million to aid in distance learning initiatives throughout the State of Mississippi.

As part of the awards, Coahoma Community College (CCC) will receive a nearly $200,000 Rural Utilities Services (RUS) grant to install a distance learning system to connect the college to high schools in Coahoma, Tallahatchie, and Quitman counties.

In a press release from the offices of U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), the politicians welcomed the award of $1,980,417 to support distance learning programs across the entire state.

“These investments from the U.S. Depart-

ABOUT ELEARNING:

ment of Agriculture will help bring new learning technology to dozens of sites in Mississippi,” Wicker said. “With this support, thousands of students and job seekers will be able to access educational opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach.”

“Expanding the technological infrastructure to allow distance learning will create so many opportunities for rural Mississippians. Using universities, community colleges, schools, and USDA Extension Service offices allow greater outreach to the youth and adults alike,” said Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. “I applaud USDA Rural Development and the grant recipients for working together to make progress on these projects.”

Currently, distance learning or e-learning allows CCC to continue meeting the goals

of the institution by providing courses in a format that is flexible and convenient for learners. In addition, e-learning gives the college the ability to serve the community better by providing much-needed access.

Coahoma Community College President Dr. Valmadge T. Towner is thrilled with the receipt of the grant and sees this as an opportunity for CCC to expand its efforts beyond the institution’s gates.

“We are always looking for external funding to increase our capacity to offer educational services. I’m so happy that Ms. Letha Richards led the effort for the institution to seek out the funds with USDA,” said Towner. “We have to ensure that our off-campus students have the same resources as if they were on our main campus. This RUS grant will enable us to provide resources to those students who are in our dual enrollment courses via our high schools.”

Through eLearning (formerly Distance Learning), the barriers of time and travel have been removed. eLearning allows CCC to continue meeting the goals of the institution by providing courses in a format that is flexible and convenient. Additionally, eLearning gives CCC the ability to better serve the community. Whether the student is a non-traditional or a traditional day student, eLearning courses provide a more flexible schedule and accessibility to higher education opportunities.

40 ROAR Magazine

the newly secured funds will act as a springboard, building upon current initiatives and launching a new age for CCC Educational Outreach.

“This RUS grant will allow us to offer dual enrollment opportunities in the high schools, during the daytime. The students will have access to our full-time faculty, as well as opportunities for professional development,” said Richards. “We are hoping for this grant to be twofold to improve the learning activities that our students have on the college level.”

The proposed project will connect CCC to three rural end-user high schools via distance learning, providing access to STEM courses and content, career-focused programs leading to college credit and workforce certifications, and will enable rural students to obtain college credits before leaving high school, helping to offset the cost of college tuition, room and board after high school graduation.

The distance learning equipment that will be used in the project will be standards-based videoconferencing endpoints combined with digital peripherals such as interactive touch boards. The project also will provide infrastructure to support the video project and provide bridging and video traffic management, etc. These technologies will allow end-user sites to connect to CCC to share classes and content.

“This grant will enable students not to have to come to campus.

Students will have the same resources and educational experiences as students on our main campus,” Towner added.

Letha Richards, director of Educational Outreach, hopes that

ROCKETT AND JOHNSON RECEIVE

C

HEADWAE AWARDS

CC English instructor Robert L. Rockett and sophomore Aniya Johnson were recently selected HEADWAE (Higher Education Appreciation Day - Working for Academic Excellence) recipients.

to their community and to education at their institution.

Having taught at Coahoma Community College for nearly 20 years, Rockett, a native of Coahoma, Mississippi, continues facilitating both developmental and English Composition courses while also serving as mayor of Coahoma, Mississippi.

Rockett embarked on his teaching career at a high school in Shelby, Mississippi. His seventh and eighth-grade teacher Shirley Harris motivated him to pursue a teaching career. Additionally, his mom instilled education in him and his two sisters, who happen to be retired educators.

The HEADWAE program is a recognition instituted by the Mississippi Legislature for college-level achievers. This honor goes to a deserving instructor and a student with outstanding achievement in academia. The instructor selected is one who contributes

Of the recognition, Rockett says, “To be chosen, it shows that I have affected and made a difference in someone’s life.”

“She knew that education could get us where she couldn’t go,” he said.

A graduate of then Coahoma Agricultural High School and Coahoma Community

ROBERT ROCKET College, he has become known for trying to make learning fun and relatable in the classroom. He enjoys giving back to the community that invested in him.

coahomacc.edu 41

Rocket received his bachelor’s in English education from Alcorn State University and earned a master’s degree from Delta State University.

The former Coahoma, Mississippi, alderman had the privilege of teaching the HEADWAE student honoree, Aniya Johnson, who plans to become an attorney.

“Aniya is very intelligent, dedicated, and hard-working; she’d make a good lawyer,” Rockett said. “She’s very astute and always strives for her best.”

He believes that when one does good, like karma, it will inevitably return to them.

Aniya Johnson is a sophomore at Coahoma Community College. She hails from Jonestown, Mississippi. An alumna

of Coahoma Early College High School, Johnson has been taking college courses through dual enrollment since the 11th grade. She serves as the student outreach liaison for the Student Government Association and is a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society.

Other noteworthy achievements from high school include leading her graduating class as the valedictorian and serving as president of the Beta Club as well as Miss CECHS. Johnson considers her personality, high moral character, determination, and her willingness to work to be distinguishable qualities. She plans to pursue her career dream of becoming a lawyer and will continue her education at an HBCU to study political science.

“I like politics; I like to talk,” said Johnson.

“Then, I like to help people. So what better way to mix the three?”

Johnson is very honored and thankful that her teachers see her as a HEADWAE candidate. Having the support of her family, particularly God-fearing parents, who value education, has put her long-term goals within reach.

ANIYA JOHNSON

42 ROAR Magazine

“When you have parents who are strong in the Lord and strong in education, it’s kind

of hard for me to just throw up anything,” says Johnson. “All that I am and all that I hope to be will be because of God and my parents.”

With the help of an action-prompting line from Les Brown—“In every day, there are 1,440 minutes; that means we have 1,440 daily opportunities to make a positive impact,” she works toward an overarching goal of affecting the lives of others.

As far as the need for encouragement, Johnson realizes it is best to draw from her own well.

“People do motivate me, but I had to learn that I have to motivate myself because people aren’t going to be around all of the time. If you have motivation within yourself, it’s easier to go on and continue to do what you’re doing,” she added.

The HEADWAE Program annually honors two recipients from each of 34 schools in the Mississippi Association of Colleges and Universities (MAC), comprised of both public and private institutions, with an Appreciation Day. During this day, legislative officials reward the honorees with a tour of the State Capitol, a formal recognition and an awards luncheon program, compliments of Mississippi’s corporate community. Corporate groups, political groups, and other educators will gather together to celebrate the recipients.

coahomacc.edu 43

TIGER NOTES

YOUR DREAMS. YOUR SUCCESS. OUR MISSION. Students

Jordan O’Neal

Kieona Williams Biology major Kieona Williams was selected by the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars program (NCAS) to participate in an onsite experience held in the fall with employees of the Stennis Space Center at Meridian Community College. Students who scored high on a five-week online learning course received an invite to the onsite experience.

The program gave Williams and other students in STEM-related majors the opportunity to offer their ideas and suggestions for journeying humans to Mars.

Christopher Dorsey Though it was his first time competing, Dorsey was awarded second place for creating a ‘glam look’ at the 2020 Bronner Brothers International Beauty Hair Show in Atlanta, Georgia. A freshman from Shaw, Mississippi, he hopes his longtime passion for hair design will one day win him success in opening a beauty salon in his hometown of Shaw, Mississippi.

Jurnee McLaurin McLaurin, a native of Soso, Mississippi, was named to the 2019-2020 NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) All-State first team. She averaged 15.3 points per game.

O’Neal, a native of Mobile, Alabama, was named to the 2019-2020 NJCAA All-State second team and averaged 14.3 points per game.

Aerial Glasper Higher Purpose announced Glasper as its first intern last spring via social media.

The banking/finance major was tasked with bookkeeping and community event duties, and she also assists with Higher Purpose apparel. The Honors College and Phi Theta Kappa member serves as the Dancing Jewels captain of the Marching Maroon Typhoon band.

Joia Bonner Bonner, a business administration major, recently started a paid internship with Higher Purpose Co., a Mississippi-based nonprofit organization aiding entrepreneurs with business management. She helps with the company’s community events and bookkeeping. Bonner is a Phi Theta Kappa scholar and plans to complete her undergraduate study at Jackson State University.

SHARE YOUR NEWS! 44 ROAR Magazine

KEEP US UP-TO-DATE WITH ALL OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS: COAHOMACC.EDU/COMMUNICATIONS/SHARE-YOUR-NEWS

Four Choir Students Selected to Participate in the Mississippi AllState Collegiate Honor Choir Students Zipporah Ward, Kaitleen Noah, Orlandus Mason and Malakai Overstreet were chosen to join other students in showcasing their vocal ability in the Mississippi All-State Collegiate Honor Choir workshop and concert, which was scheduled to be held in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, March 25-26. These students were deemed the top music readers of the College’s choral program.

NASA Consortium Hands Scholarships to Six Students

The Mississippi Space Grant Consortium, a program funded

by NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, recently awarded $600 scholarships to students Terriyana Simmons, Denver Jamerson, XinXin Liu, Kaitleen Noah, Portia Trotter, and Madison Taylor for their exceptional academic performance. The Consortium is composed of scientists, engineers, teachers, and leaders who help unfold science and technology research. It exists to further students and faculty in science fields and encourages training of talented students, especially minorities and women, to produce professionals in the sciences.

Engage

in campus life.

Visit coahomacc.edu/studentlife

IMPORTANT 2020 ACADEMIC DATES AUGUST 3-4:

Registration / Dormitories Open

AUGUST 5:

Day and Evening Classes Begin

AUGUST 19:

Last Day to Register for Day and Evening Classes

SEPT. 7:

Labor Day Holiday

SEPT. 8:

Classes Resume

SEPT 30- OCT. 2:

Mid-Term Examinations for Day and Evening Classes

OCTOBER 9:

Mid-Term Grades Due

OCTOBER 16:

Last Day to Drop a Class Without Receiving a Grade and to remove incomplete “I” Grades from the Spring Semester/MSVCC (online) First 8-week Classes End

OCTOBER 19: MSVCC (online) Second 8-week

Classes Begin OCTOBER 30: Last Day to Officially Withdraw

from the Institution Receiving a

“W” Grade NOVEMBER 6: Last Day to Withdraw from

MSVCC (online) Full Semester

Class NOVEMBER 16-20: NOVEMBER 23-27:

STUDENT LIFE Coahoma offers a nurturing environment for learning. CCC has a wide array of activities that allow our students to develop socially and options for leadership growth and community involvement.

Final Examinations Thanksgiving Holidays

*Dates are subject to change. Please monitor your Coahoma email and view the Academic Calendar at coahomacc.edu/calendar.

coahomacc.edu 45

TIGER NOTES

YOUR DREAMS. YOUR SUCCESS. OUR MISSION. Faculty and Staff

Quality Matters Certifications

Geoffrey Latham

Geoffrey Latham presented at the 6th Annual Delta State University International Conference on Blues on October 4, 2019, in Cleveland, Mississippi.

Dr. Renee’ Hall On December 4, 2019, at the age of 60, Dr. Renee’ LaJune Hall received her doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from Walden University.

Marriel C. Hardy Marriel Hardy was named one of Delta Business Journal’s Top Minority Leaders of 2019 in its November magazine. For two and a half years, Hardy has led the College’s Office of Communications and Marketing.

A number of CCC faculty and staff members completed Quality Matters (QM) certifications in a variety of subject areas. The group’s goal was to increase proficiencies in their specific areas of expertise. Thus, further strengthening their impact on the Coahoma campus.

The group of participants included Dr. Barbara Boschert, Dr. Luke Howard, Joseph McKee, Elizabeth Melton, Jeremy Pittman, Letha Richards, and Cynthia Williams-Robertson. All of which completed QM’s flagship workshop on the QM Rubric and its use in reviewing the design of online and blended courses. In addition to learning about the QM Rubric and the course review process, the participants learned to apply the concept of alignment and draft helpful recommendations for course improvement.

WE’RE ON A

Research, Assessment, and Strategic Initiatives Kimberly Bee, director of Educational Talent Search, Tara Bell, assistant director of Research, Assessment, and Strategic Initiatives, and Kenneth Gooden, program coordinator of the Dating and Domestic Violence Prevention Program, attended the Excelling as a Manager or Supervisor. The event was sponsored

by SkillPath Inc. on March 26, 2019, in Memphis.

46 ROAR Magazine

Mission!

WE ARE COMMITTED TO PREPARING STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY TRANSFER AND/OR ENTERING A SKILLED WORKFORCE. THIS IS OUR CHARGE. THIS IS OUR MISSION.

Justin Johnson ‘16 Justin Johnson participated in the UMMC’s HELI program, changing his entire career plan. A biology major when he joined the program’s third cohort, he initially had his sights set on majoring in pre-med. After becoming familiar with the medical laboratory sciences profession through HELI, he found a new calling. A CCC and Alcorn State University graduate, Johnson is now in SHRP’s MLS program.

Sharon Myles ‘95

Sharon Myles has taken on the executive director role of Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity. She will lead the JCCEO, one of Alabama’s largest community action agencies with a budget of more than $30 million and 500 employees.

Dr. Willie Lockett ‘05 Dr. Willie Lockett, a graduate and current director of Coahoma’s Respiratory Care Program, has a new appointment as president of the University of Mississippi’s School of Health Related Professions Alumni Association.

PeopleShores Alums

Alumni Kevin Franklin ‘92 The City of Camden, Arkansas has a new Public Works Director in Kevin Franklin. He is a native of Monticello but has lived in Camden since 1995. He played basketball during his time at Coahoma.

Ezra Howard ‘93 Ezra Howard, a 1993 graduate, and director of Web Services, recently traveled to Kenya in South Africa. He, along with about ten other pastors and church leaders, went on a mission trip sponsored by World Vision, Inc. For five days, Howard stayed in the small, poverty-stricken town of Mutomo. He was afforded the opportunity to visit with the people in their churches, schools, and homes.

Dr. Kendricks Hooker ‘95

Dr. Kendricks D. Hooker joined Southwest Tennessee Community College as vice president of Academic Affairs.

Hooker will begin his new role in July 2020.

LaShasa Griffin ‘95 Griffin became the president of the Clarksdale-Marks Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She will begin her tenure in fall 2020.

PeopleShores is a for-profit business seeking to plant technology-based jobs in underserved communities throughout the country by employing the business practice of impact sourcing, which provides career development to the employees.

The company has changed the lives of four former students of Coahoma Community College for the better. J. W. Webster ‘07, Marquisha Lester ‘15, Sharlett Keaton ‘10, and Spencer George ‘16, ‘18 have adopted a new outlook on life. They are all bot developers on an RPA (Robotic Process Automation) team for PeopleShores.

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