2025_NWNow_PresidentsReport_Fall

VISION

Northwest Mississippi Community College transforms our students’ lives, enriches our communities, and strives for excellence in our educational programs and services.

MISSION

Northwest Mississippi Community College is an open-access, public, two-year institution primarily serving Benton, Calhoun, DeSoto, Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, and Yalobusha counties. NWCC is a learning-centered community providing educational opportunities with quality instruction for students from all walks of life. Our college fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and student success. We strive for continuous improvement, with a standard of excellence in every area of the institution. Our college partners with businesses and industries that seek to grow the economy and the workforce, as well as partners with alumni, friends, and others. Engagement takes place in all communities that the college serves.

Positivity

Creativity

Leadership

president's reflections

Dear Northwest Family,

In this President’s Report edition of Northwest Now, I am pleased to report that exciting momentum continues for our great institution! We have had long-held, strong, and cherished traditions of excellence in instruction, excellence in the arts, and excellence in athletics at Northwest, and that tradition continues into our 99th year of existence as a community college.

We have had many successes over the last year, and some of those successes are highlighted below:

• The English Department published a literary magazine, titled Passage.

• At the Mississippi Community College Art Instructors Annual State Art Competition, we won nine awards which were more awards than any other community college.

• In Instrumental Music we hosted over 300 students in the I-55 Honors Band.

• In Vocal Music, the Ranger Chorale was selected to participate and sing in the New England Symphonic Ensemble at New York’s Carnegie Hall.

• In Health Sciences, we started a new RN program in DeSoto County and relocated the Practical Nursing program to the new Ranger Center. We also saw growth in the Practical Nursing program, the Surgical Technology program, and the EMT/Paramedic program with more opportunity to increase and strengthen clinical opportunities for the future for our programs, and we are working on more focused ways to redirect students who may not have been accepted into specific programs they originally applied for, yet may be eligible for other programs.

• The PN NCLEX pass rates have been outstanding – the Oxford and Senatobia students have had a three-year 100% pass rate, and the PN retention rate has increased to 31% across all seven programs collegewide.

• The Registered Nurse student retention rate has increased by 20%.

• In Career-Technical Education, the college received over $3 million in external funding to be able to assist in purchasing equipment for new programs. A new commercial electrical program began this fall at the DeSoto Campus, a welding program at the Concourse in Batesville started, and expanded training in the Industrial Automation program took place there as well.

• In Marshall County, the Workforce Solutions team will begin what is called an Aim Up Lab to create recruiting opportunities for advanced manufacturing programs and to serve as a regional training hub to attract high wage jobs.

• Overall in CTE, there has been a 43% enrollment increase since 2019.

• In Academic Instruction, we launched and transitioned to a new, streamlined general college degree option which provides a clearer pathway for students.

• We developed a new course in Math, MAT1314, to improve student learning outcomes in preparation for successful completion of College Algebra.

• All three PTK chapters at Senatobia, DeSoto, and Oxford received five-star status for the year.

• Ten faculty members completed the ACUE professional development training credential this year, bringing the total to 63 full-time faculty.

• We strengthened faculty orientation for new full-time and adjunct faculty, and more training opportunities for faculty will be rolled out this year.

• In Athletics, Women’s Soccer became national champions, Football won conference and regional titles, in Volleyball the team garnered the inaugural conference title, Softball had a historic year with a 40-win season and many individual and team records for the books, and Women’s and Men’s Tennis and Women’s Golf went to the national tournament and finished 13th, 16th, and 15th respectively. A few of our rodeo student athletes went once again to the College National Finals Rodeo. Women’s Soccer and Football had the highest GPAs in the nation, and five teams were conference academic teams of the year: Softball, Women’s Soccer, Men’s Tennis, Women’s Golf, and Football – more than any college in Mississippi!

• National Champions in Cheer – COED Game Day

• Back to Back National Champions in Cheer – All Girl Traditional

• Back to Back National Champions in Dance – Hip Hop

• Twelve semesters of positive, consecutive enrollment growth with a 64% retention rate up from 58%.

• Awarded 1,923 degrees

• Completed over 150 housing and residential programs for students in our residence halls

• On the Administration and Finance side of Northwest, the college continues to have financial stability and financial strength while still being able to provide raises for employees and to be able to reinvest in the college in new programs, new faculty positions, and new equipment.

• The college recently completed another successful financial audit.

• The R. C. Pugh Library renovation will be completed in the fall semester 2025.

• The Fine Arts/Theatre project is underway and should be completed next year.

• A new Athletic Performance Facility is under construction and will be completed at the end of the 2025 calendar year.

• We had a successful fifth year SACSCOC accreditation review a few years ago, and in 2026 we will be having our 10th year review.

• And…there is more to come…

It is a great time to be a Ranger! Thank you for your support in helping us transform student lives, enrich our communities, and strive for excellence in our educational programs and services!

Go Rangers!

Dr. Michael J. Heindl President, Northwest Mississippi Community College

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Dr. Matthew Domas Vice President of Instruction

Dr. Craig Lafferty Dean of Health Sciences

Angel Nickens Dean of eLearning

Patti Gordon Executive Director of Institutional Advancement

Dr. Keith Reed Dean of DeSoto Center

Dr. Tonyalle Rush Vice President of Student Services and Enrollment Management

Dr. Andrew Dale Associate Vice President of Community Relations

Kristin Davis Associate Vice President of Academic Instruction

Dwayne Casey Associate Vice President of Workforce Solutions & Career Technical Education

Jeff Horton Vice President of Administration and Finance

2024-2025 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

President

Dr. Michael J. Heindl

Chairman Cory Uselton DeSoto County

Vice Chairman Jerry Barrett Tate County

Secretary Aleé Dixon Tate County

Board Attorney

John T. Lamar Jr. Tate County

Jamie Anderson Tallahatchie County

Dr. Rachell Anderson Tunica County

Steve Bostick Benton County

Jean Ann Casey Calhoun County

Angie Crawford Quitman County

Steve Cummings Yalobusha County

Jay Foster Lafayette County

2024-2025 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Diana Grist Benton County

Sylvia Hickey Tallahatchie County

Sammy Higdon Yalobusha County

Brenda Hopson Quitman County

Dr. Lisa Langford Calhoun County

Sturgis Monteith DeSoto County

Mike Moore Lafayette County

Russell Pennington Marshall County

Dr. Del Phillips Panola County

Dr. Carrie Skelton Marshall County

Dorothy Wilbourn Panola County

INSTRUCTIONAL

The business of the college is quality instruction and student learning across multiple delivery platforms. Excellence in instruction increases the potential for student success.

“With the addition of three new programs, Industrial Automation and Controls Engineering Technology, Marketing Management Technology, and Commercial Truck Driving, The Concourse continues to grow. The College as a whole is also experiencing growth in academic instruction.”

– Dr. Matthew Domas

The microcredential known as ACUE (Association of College and University Educators) continues at Northwest to equip faculty with new tools to help them as they teach new generations of students. Over the time that ACUE has been offered, there have been 63 faculty members who have completed the program with many faculty still in the midst of the program.

Ninety-nine percent of Northwest faculty found ACUE engaging and relevant to their work according to an ACUE report.

Melissa Cannon, a Northwest mathematics instructor who has been teaching more than 20 years, said that she found ACUE to be the most beneficial development tool she’s ever used.

“The best way I can reflect upon my ACUE experience is to compare it to parenting,” said Cannon. “As a parent, I have learned that I cannot help my son in every aspect of his life because there are things that he will face and opportunities that he will have that my mind would never even consider. That is how I feel about ACUE. As an older teacher, there are things that my older mind could not even begin to create on my own in this

ACUE UPDATE

Story by Sarah Smith

new technological age; however, after I am introduced to the concepts, I realize how great that would benefit my students.”

Cannon said that the ACUE program gave her a growth mindset, and now she’s always looking for small ideas that can make a big impact with her students and in their success. Despite everchanging classes, she is constantly looking for opportunities to grow; ACUE was just a part of that, but a part that left a lasting impact.

Some of these small things can include what Social Sciences Instructor Chris Twilley describe as an “aha” moment. For him, that moment came when he was working on assigning a paper. He said that oftentimes there’s things like the works cited page which students typically do incorrectly, so instead of just assigning one big assignment, he breaks it down in order to better help students succeed.

These small adaptations can fill out a class in a way that’s not so overwhelming for students such as Leelee Haraway’s favorite tool, the “skeletal outline.”

“The outline basically follows the progression of content from the course, providing labeled prompts for each section or each crucial concept students need

to learn and remember,” said Haraway. “At first glance, these outlines may not seem that necessary or helpful because the information included is minimal and duplicates the progression of materials in the course or textbook, but they provide a structure to guide the learner, immediately resolving the question, ‘Am I on the right track?’ because the parameters of the track have been provided through the outline form.”

Haraway compared the situation to pavement markings on the road;they create parameters to know where the lines on the road are. They let you know the road is about to run out and keep you safely on the road.

In order to implement this tool, Haraway said she used it in her online writing courses to guide students through the process of planning their responses. She said she also plans on using these to develop her American Literature courses too.

The small changes that have made monumental differences for students are paving the way for big successes. This helps Northwest faculty strive for excellence in their instruction of all college students.

CTE GROWTH

Northwest Mississippi Community College’s workforce team has been hard at work, building a new program to help train and sustain jobs in Mississippi with AimUP Labs which stands for Advancements in Manufacturing Upskilling Program.

The program location will be hosted in the Marshall County Workforce Training Center in Byhalia. Other locations of the program include East Mississippi Community College, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and Northeast Mississippi Community College.

This initiative is a statewide goal to transform Mississippi’s workforce into a leader in robotics, data analytics, and high-tech manufacturing. How it will work is by offering lab experiences that train people on collaborative robots (cobots), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) which are robots designed for automated material that will help with internal logistics, additive manufacturing, and smart manufacturing systems.

This program will deliver opportunities to everyday people needing job specific training in product, processes and operational fundamentals. This will particularly help with the Amplify Cell Technologies, high school students, incumbent workers and underserved populations.

It will be a training hub for manufacturers, K12 students and educators, and allow students to get real world experience in a career field that they seek to explore.

GE AEROSPACE & FOUNDATION AWARD $2.3M

Northwest Mississippi Community College has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the GE Aerospace Foundation to support Workforce Solutions and Career-Technical Education efforts in the manufacturing industry at the college’s Batesville campus at the Concourse. The funds will be used to provide new equipment for students in Northwest’s Welding and Cutting program that will grow from 50 to 75 students when the program opens at the Concourse this fall. The program is currently located on the Senatobia campus only.

“We are incredibly grateful to the GE Aerospace Foundation for this generous $100,000 grant, which will directly impact the lives of approximately 75 students preparing for high-demand careers in manufacturing,” said Dwayne Casey, associate vice president of Workforce Solutions and Career-Technical Education. “This investment in new equipment for our Welding and Cutting program not only strengthens our workforce development efforts, it empowers our students to gain hands-on experience that leads to real-world success.”

In addition to their contribution to the college, GE Aerospace continues to make investments into its manufacturing site in Batesville, recently announcing $11 million for 2025. According to a statement from GE Aerospace, upgrades include an industrial oven to produce ceramic matrix composite parts, high-precision machines and inspection technology to maintain quality as the site increases production of components in narrow-body and widebody aircraft engines, along with military fighter jet and helicopter engines. Improvements will also be made to the facility’s utilities.

GE Aerospace and its Foundation donated $2.3 million last year to a range of organizations to help build a larger skilled manufacturing workforce and create job opportunities across the United States and globally. A Morning Consult | GE Aerospace survey of 1,000 U.S. workers across all US manufacturing industries found that skills development is needed to support newer workers and viewed as a key to worker success and retention.

“Providing training opportunities and reducing barriers for workers to gain skills are key to the future of the aerospace industry,” said Christian Meisner, GE Aerospace chief human resource officer and GE Aerospace Foundation chair. “But we cannot do this urgent work alone. It will take partners like the ones GE Aerospace and the GE Foundation are awarding, and we look forward to expanding on this work to support workers and the broader industry at this critical time.”

The donations from GE Aerospace and its Foundation will help partners establish new programs, expand existing ones, add flexibility, and reduce costs for individuals seeking manufacturing skills. These initiatives will support an additional 4,000 manufacturing workers.

“Providing training opportunities and reducing barriers for workers to gain skills are key to the future of the aerospace industry,” said Christian Meisner, GE Aerospace chief human resource officer and GE Aerospace Foundation chair. “But we cannot do this urgent work alone. It will take partners like the ones GE Aerospace and the GE Foundation are awarding, and we look forward to expanding on this work to support workers and the broader industry at this critical time.”

The donations from GE Aerospace and its Foundation will help partners establish new programs, expand existing ones, add flexibility, and reduce costs for individuals seeking manufacturing skills. These initiatives will support an additional 4,000 manufacturing workers.

Students in the robotics classroom at the Batesville Concourse. Photo by Carly Fox

FOUR NORTHWEST THEATRE STUDENTS WIN ALLIE AWARDS

Story by Sarah Smith

Four Northwest Mississippi Community College students won Allie Awards for their outstanding theatre work during the 22nd Annual Allie Awards Ceremony held on Friday, Feb. 7.

The Northwest Mississippi Theatre Alliance, which hosts the Allie Awards, comprises several local theatres including DeSoto Family Theatre in Southaven, The Warehouse in Olive Branch, Kudzu Playhouse in Hernando, Panola Playhouse in Sardis, and Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia.

The Northwest students who received this honor include:

General theatre student Kaileigh Kellum, a sophomore from Calhoun City, who won Best Props in the Community Theatre Division for her work on the fall 2024 show “Boeing Boeing.” This play followed serial bachelor and American journalist Bernard Lawrence with his mishaps handling three girlfriends who are all stewardesses. Kellum was in charge of props for the department’s spring production of “Little Shop of Horrors”.

During her time working with props, she’s enjoyed the process of learning how to communicate and effectively get things done. Kellum said an important thing she’s learned is that there’s never too many lists, and keeping in contact with the director is always a good idea.

“I enjoyed getting to work with a bunch of new people,” said Kellum. “I really enjoyed the organizational part of finding, sorting, and making sure that we had all the props we needed and the working backstage during the show was fun – it made me feel important. It was also fun being in charge of the ‘drinks’ onstage – it made me feel a little like a bartender.”

Noah Barnette, a freshman on the musical theatre pathway from Southaven, won Best Supporting Actor in a Male Role in the Community Theatre Division for playing Krogstad in “A Doll’s House.” This play was written by Henrik Ibsen about a disgruntled housewife unsatisfied

Northwest Mississippi Community College Allie Award winning students (L-R) Sophomore Anna Landrum, Freshman Noah Barnett, Freshman Jackson Dale, and Sophomore Kaileigh Kellum.

with domesticity which results in her leaving her family to pursue a new life. Barnette has been involved in theatre all through high school and was part of “Little Shop of Horrors” as a featured ensemble member.

Freshman pre-med student, Jackson Dale of Southaven, won Best Leading Actor in a Male Role in the Community Theatre Division for his role as Torvald in “A Doll’s House.” Torvald is the protagonist’s overbearing husband. He was involved in theatre throughout his time at DeSoto Central High School and played the role of Orin Scivello, the dentist, in the upcoming spring musical, “Little Shop of Horrors.”

Sophomore musical theatre student Anna Denton Landrum of Hernando, is the recipient of the Cindy Lipscomb Legacy Award for her excellence, dedication and leadership in theatre. Landrum has been a part of every production at Northwest since her first semester. She was one of the stewardesses in “Boeing Boeing” and portrayed the protagonist, Nora Helmer, in “A Doll’s House.” She was in charge of hair and make-up for “Little Shop of

Horrors” last spring.

Aside from theatre, Landrum was named as an Outstanding Student for theatre, was on the President’s List, is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and Gamma Beta Phi, was selected to the Hall of Fame, was a Rotary Student of the Month, is a member of the Northwest Student Government Association (SGA), and is president of the Northwest Players Club.

“It reassured me that I’ve made a significant impact,” said Landrum. “I didn’t receive recognition for a specific role or show, but kind of an overall recognition. Mrs. Lipscomb made a big impact on the theatre community, and it’s good to know that I have a little bit of that impact too.”

For Northwest theatre faculty, Alyssa Algee and Kayla Manzolillo, these accomplishments are something to be proud of. They commend the hard work and dedication of these students as they strive to reach their potential. “Our students put in an incredible amount of work and rarely complain or ask for help,” said Algee. “They deserve every accolade.”

Photo by Sarah Smith

Welcomes back Employees to Campus NORTHWEST CONVOCATION

Story By Sarah Smith | Photos by Carly Fox

Northwest held its annual faculty and staff convocation on August 11, 2025 in the Heindl Center for the Performing Arts. This year the event focused on all the gains the college has made, reiterated successes, and reminded attendees of the college’s vision for the future.

During the event, faculty and staff were treated with breakfast and refreshments as well as giveaways from local sponsors. Employees were asked to have their official headshot taken in the lobby before heading into the theater for sessions. Following lunch, faculty gathered for their respective departmental meetings.

Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, Patti Gordon, reminded the college family of the Northwest W.A.Y. which seeks to show appreciation and serve as a reminder for how to serve others. The Northwest W.A.Y. follows these core principles; positive attitude and enthusiasm, professionalism and integrity, respect and empathy, responsiveness and reliability, and collaboration and teamwork.

Northwest President, Dr. Michael J. Heindl gave updates about the college and reiterated the college’s mission, vision and values, encouraging employees to live out the values of the college everyday and telling employees what is coming up.

Northwest President, Dr. Michael Heindl welcomes everyone to the 2025 Employee

Above: Garrett McDonald (third from left), general manager of Principle Toyota in Hernando, and members of his team present Dr. Heindl with the first place trophy for the “Dunk Your Boss” Contest held over the summer to benefit Palmer Home for Children. DeSoto Center Dean, Dr. Keith Reed and assistant deans Dr. Parker Jones and Dr. Don Jones also participated in the event with Dr. Heindl.

Right: Northwest Cheerleaders welcome back employees to campus.

Top:

Convocation.

Above: Dr. Michael Heindl (left) and Jeff Horton (second from left) with Northwest Employees of the Month throughout the year: (L-R) Kim Steinman, Ruth Dunlap, Cathy Moore,Stanley Isom, Stephanie Bolton, Carla Malone, Jenny Hurt, Stevie McGee, Rebecca Allen, Gracie Perry, Chris Twilley, and Director of Human Resources Erika Stanford.

Dr. Heindl congratulates Head Volleyball Coach Allison Burchyett on winning the running category of the Ranger Wellness Challenge with 361 total miles.

The Ranger Pep Band fires up the crowd to kick off the 2025 Convocation.

Dr. Heindl (far left) and Vice President of Instruction Dr. Matthew Domas (far right) recognize 10 instructors who recently completed the ACUE microcredential course, which equips faculty with new teaching tools for the technology age.

Two Long Time Employees Awarded with President’s Customer Service Award

Northwest Mississippi Community College’s 2025 President’s Customer Service Award recipients are Kim Steinman of Senatobia, staff recipient, and Celia Barham of Senatobia, faculty recipient.

This award celebrates the accomplishments and contributions of staff and faculty who go above and beyond for their fellow employees, students, and community members. Recipients of this award are nominated by Northwest staff and faculty who recognize all their hard work. The final decision is made by a committee who selects based on their merits and nominations.

Steinman, who started working at the college in 2003, quickly found her way around campus before landing in eLearning nearly 20 years ago where she’s been working ever since, first as a receptionist before moving into bigger roles and now specializing in Canvas, the

Story By Sarah Smith | Photos by Carly Fox

college’s online learning platform. She has been honored in numerous ways for her contributions including Northwest’s Employee of the Month.

“I was both surprised and deeply honored to receive this award, as it was something I never expected,” said Steinman. “It is incredibly rewarding to know that my efforts are appreciated and recognized by my peers and the administration. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my former supervisor, Phyllis Johnson, for taking a chance on me all those years ago, and to Angel Nickens, dean of eLearning, for having the confidence in me to serve in my current role.”

Barham, who started her teaching career at Northwest in 2022, helped establish the Surgical Technology program at the DeSoto campus. In 2013, she received her Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology, and then her career certificate for practical nursing

in 2016. Barham said she’s always loved Northwest because of its ability to be a “one-stop shop” for a variety of career paths. She said after graduating with her degree, she told her dad she knew she wanted to teach but it wasn’t feasible as a brand-new grad, so she went to work as a surgical technician. Years later, the opportunity presented itself to her and she couldn’t wait to take it.

Outside of work, Barham enjoys spending time with her five-year-old daughter, Jacie Jo, and her sisters, Whitney Nickels and Jodie Brownlee, who Barham said are her best friends. She also enjoys making them try her new baked goods using her beloved sourdough starter, “Doughlene.”

She said she always reminds her students by having it displayed on the whiteboard, Romans 8:28 which says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

C.J. Barham was awarded the 2025 President’s Customer Service award for faculty service. She is the lead surgical technology instructor at the DeSoto campus. Photo by Carly Fox

Kim Steinman accepts the 2025 President’s Customer Service award for staff service from Dr. Heindl. Steinman works as a technology specialist in eLearning.

Photo by Carly Fox

Paula Geeter Receives SANDY GRISHAM EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD

Story By Sarah Smith | Photos by Carly Fox

Northwest Mississippi Community College DeSoto Center’s Lead Practical Nursing Instructor Paula Geeter received the Sandy Grisham Excellence in Teaching Award at the college’s Convocation held on Aug. 11 in the Heindl Center on the Senatobia campus.

This award is given to those who show outstanding excellence in their teaching and a dedication to the profession. This honor is the highest teaching award given at Northwest, and is meant to celebrate their hard work. The award is named after Sandy Grisham, who was a long-standing social science educator at the college. Previously this award was reserved for social science instructors only, but in the past few years has been open to all instructors at the college.

“This was truly an honor, and I want to show my appreciation to my Northwest family for recognizing my work and honoring my dedication to nursing education,” Geeter said. “My parents taught me that you never know who is watching you, so act accordingly and give flowers to people while they are still alive. I remember my parents saying to be mindful of how my actions reflect on me as an individual. People judge us not just by what we say, but by how we carry ourselves in public. Acting accordingly isn’t about performing a false version of yourself—it’s about showing up as your best self, with awareness and respect for the moment.”

Selfless in and out of the classroom, Geeter has a deep empathy for others as students and patients. She dedicates much of her time to taking care of her mother who suffers from dementia. She said that she enjoys time meditating alone and observing the world around her.

Geeter started teaching over 20 years ago, starting first in 2001 at the TCAT Memphis, and at that point she’d been a nurse for five years. She said she had a lot to learn at that point and was still learning all the ropes. She said even now, she’s still learning as she’s continuing her education by getting her doctorate in

nursing practice with a concentration in nursing education at the University of Arkansas Jonesboro.

She found inspiration to become a nurse and an educator through life and her mentors, including Northwest DeSoto’s Tamara Pittman-Johnson.

“I admire her tenacity in educating practical nursing students,” Geeter said. “I am so thankful we crossed paths when I was working at Baptist Memorial Hospital – DeSoto many moons ago.”

Learning from her past, she said she’d tell anyone considering nursing to embrace every moment in life, learn to be patient with yourself and others, and give grace to those around you including yourself. She said that she always strives to learn more, especially in the everchanging health care system.

Geeter received a Bachelor of Science

in natural science from LeMoyneOwen College in Memphis in 1992, then attended the University of Tennessee Health Sciences College of Nursing in 1994 and received a Bachelor of Science in nursing within four semesters in 1996. Afterward she attended Central Michigan University where she got her Master of Science in administration with a concentration in human resource management. She earned her second master’s degree in nursing administration from the University of Alabama Huntsville. In 2022, she received her Academic Clinical Nurse Educator Certification (CNEcl®) through the National League of Nursing, which recognizes excellence in clinical nursing education within an academic setting.

Northwest Mississippi Community College Sandy Grisham Excellence in Teaching Award recipient, Paula Geeter (center), is congratulated by Northwest President, Dr. Michael J. Heindl (left), and Vice President of Instruction, Dr. Matthew Domas (right) during Convocation.

Photo by Carly Fox

INSTITUTIONAL

A strong institution, in terms of its infrastructure, its people, its financial resources, its culture, and its reputation, provides the optimal environment for the success of our students.

“Northwest provides an unmatched learning environment by investing in state of the art facilities, innovative instructional equipment, technology and our employees. We offer a safe and welcoming environment for students to learn and for our team to come to work, where we transform students’ lives.”

– Jeff Horton

RIBBON CUT AT NORTHWEST RANGER CENTER AT DESOTO

Story by Sarah Smith

Northwest celebrated the opening of the Ranger Center, the college’s newest building at the DeSoto Center which boasts 42,000-square feet of instructional space, conference meeting areas, and study spaces, as well as the Church Road entrance to the college on Tuesday, June 26.

The new entrance allows for greater visibility and accessibility from one of Southaven’s major roads and is a direct path to the newest facility, the Ranger Center.

This new space allows for growth of various programs that support a vibrant and growing workforce in Mississippi. This further aids Northwest’s strategic plan “Achieving Success” which focuses on the four tenants of instructional success, institutional success, personal success, and community success.

Primarily, it houses an in-demand Registered Nursing (RN) program where it had previously never been offered. This will also serve as a regional testing center with 31 stations (including ADA accessible testing), and three flexible classrooms with 96 seats.

This new center also provides new workforce training, CareerTechnical Education (CTE) programs, professional testing and community engagement initiatives opportunities.

This project was funded by the Economic Development Administration which gave $7 million, the State of Mississippi which awarded $3 million, and the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors which gave $1 million.

“Achieving this level of funding allows for the college to further its mission and values to continuously improve, transform students’ lives, enrich our communities, and strive for excellence,” said Jeff Horton, Northwest’s vice president of Administration and Finance.

“Our teams who have worked tirelessly have once again proven their commitment to excellence. In particular, the teams who worked on this include our Northwest Construction Management team and Information Technology team, as well as our external teams Allen & Hoshall, Inc., and Murphy & Sons Construction.”

The progress this means for not only the college, but also for the community which it seeks to serve, cannot be overstated.

“This facility is a dream realized – not only for our college but for our entire community,” said Dr. Michael J. Heindl, president of Northwest. “The Ranger Center offers flexibility, innovation, and access. It’s a modern educational hub where students will gain the skills they need to succeed, and it’s happening right here in DeSoto County.”

DeSoto County representative on the Northwest Board of Trustees, Sturgis Monteith, reflected on the impact of this new facility saying that only a couple years ago he and his father-in-law were at the groundbreaking, and now Monteith has stepped into the role that once was filled by his father-in-law. At this event, they celebrated the gateway that this entrance and building represent not only into the college, but into the future.

“Facilities like this one, open doors to careers, confidence and community success,” said Kell Smith, executive director of the Mississippi Community College Board.

Classes for the center’s Associate Degree Nursing program began last spring and continue this fall, and new CTE programs including Commercial/Residential Electrical are planned for future semesters. The center is also home to the Practical Nursing program at DeSoto.

Ranger Center

Photo by Dr. Andrew Dale, associate vice president of Community Relations

NORTHWEST WELCOMES HOME

NEW AND OLD RANGERS TO THE CASTLE BASEBALL FACILITY

Story by Sarah Smith | Photos by Carly Fox

Northwest administration, Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and more came together on August 14 to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the Castle Baseball Complex.

Board of Trustees Chair, Cory Uselton, welcomed everyone to campus and to the new facility.

This complex is a groundbreaking new development for the campus and the athletes which practice every day toward being the best they can. This building is named after former baseball coach and athletic director, Donny Castle.

At the event, Castle was in attendance with his wife Ruthie, and their daughters Krista Ritzmann and Stacy Mueller and their families.

Castle worked at Northwest for 19 years as assistant coach before taking over as head coach for 8 years, and also served as athletic director. Castle has received numerous accolades over the years including being inducted into the Northwest Sports Hall of Fame in 2004 and in 2007 the Mississippi Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame. While coaching Northwest, he had 271 wins as head coach, and in 2000 led the baseball team to the MACJC Championship.

Dr. Heindl speaks to guests during the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Castle Baseball Complex.

Baseball students and guests tour the brand new locker room during the ribbon cutting ceremony. Northwest employees were responsible for the design and installation of lockers and graphics seen in the building.

Pictured are the legendary Coach Donny Castle and family members in front of the newly completed and named Donny Castle Baseball Complex.

NWCC MARCOM TAKES HOME STATE AND DISTRICT AWARDS

Story by Julie Bauer & Sarah Smith

Northwest Marketing and Strategic Communications Office took home 16 awards on May 20, 2025, at the annual CPRAM (College Public Relations Association of Mississippi) conference which was hosted by Mississippi State University in Starkville, and they won five awards at the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) District 2 Conference in Lexington, Kentucky, on Oct. 10 at their annual Medallion Awards dinner.

“I am thrilled to see the marketing and communications team at Northwest recognized with these awards,” said Dr. Andrew Dale, associate vice president of Community Relations. “Their growth over the past few years is clearly reflected in the quality of their work. It’s an honor to be a part of a team of such dedicated professionals who approach every project with care and personal investment.”

Northwest Mississippi Community College Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing back row (L-R) Matthew Mixson, Jennifer Corbin, Dr. Andrew Dale, Brian Lentz, Kevin Pitts; front row (L-R) Julie Bauer, Brian Oakley, Sarah Ashley Smith, and Carly Fox.

At NCMPR the team took first place in the social media post (image or graphic) category, as assistant director of social media and strategic communications Carly Fox won gold for her “I’ve had the time of my life” Instagram post.

In the social media page category, Fox, communications specialist Sarah Smith, video coordinator and digital media specialist Matthew Mixson, and student interns Ava Rodgers and Tenel Walker won silver for the college’s Instagram account. In the promotional video—short form category, Mixson won silver for his 2023 Football Hype video. Northwest’s graphic designer, Jennifer Corbin, received silver for her work on the Find Your Path Viewbook.

At CPRAM, this year marked a particularly accomplished year, landing 16 awards.

“I am incredibly proud of the creative team at Northwest for the recognition they have received at CPRAM and for the outstanding work they do every day to help the citizens of our region see, hear, and understand all that’s happening at Northwest Mississippi Community College,” said Northwest President, Dr. Michael J. Heindl.

During the dinner, Northwest was honored for winning multiple awards, including one of the coveted Grand Awards in Mixed Media and won first in Wildcard Mixed Media. Northwest’s winning entry was “The Northwest W.A.Y.”, which is a service initiative for employees to embody the Northwest “W.A.Y. (we appreciate you!).”

In first place in the print media advertisements category, Corbin won for her “Find Your Path” advertisement. Smith took home first place in the mixed media feature writing category for her piece “Always a Ranger: Ebonē Dukes.” Smith also won first place in the mixed media fine arts photograph category for the “Boeing Boeing photo series.” In the mixed media portraits category, Fox took home first for her graduate portrait series

of Brandon Taylor and McGheyla Patton. In first place for the mixed media sports photograph category, Sports Media Specialist Brian Oakley won for his work titled “One Week in Casper.” Fox and Smith won first for their creative work “Head in the Clouds” in the new media electronic category.

For second place in the wildcard print category, Corbin won for her “Diesel Technology Box Truck” entry. In second place for the student life photography category, Smith won for her “Luau at the ROC – photo series.” Fox and Smith placed second for their work on the Northwest Instagram account in the digital media social media account category.

The comms team took home third in brochures for their work on the Northwest DeSoto Campus viewbook. Designed by Pitts and Corbin, with photo contributions from Fox and Smith, and other contributions by Northwest DeSoto Center Dean, Dr. Keith Reed, Northwest DeSoto Center Assistant Dean, Dr. Parker Jones, and Northwest’s Associate Vice President of Community Relations, Dr. Andrew Dale. Pitts won third for his work on the “Boeing Boeing Theatre Poster” in the single piece of artwork category with contributions from Northwest Mississippi Community College Fine Arts Theatre Instructor Kayla Manzolillo. In wildcard mixed media, Pitts, Smith and Fox struck third again for their work on the “Howdy Rangers Micro-Social Campaign.” Mixson won third for his work on the non-sports promo hype video for “V-Day Ball Hype Video” which showcased students getting ready for the annual SGA spring dance. Mixson and Fox also won third for their work in General Video for their entry “2024 Welcome Week.”

Northwest is also excited to announce that Dr. Dale will serve as CPRAM president for the next year. Dr. Dale will help organize and host the event next year. Re-elected to their positions are Fox and Smith who will for a second year serve as the awards co-chairs on the CPRAM Board of Directors.

Photo by Carly Fox

NWCC ANNOUNCES 12 SEMESTERS OF CONTINUED ENROLLMENT GROWTH

Story by Dr. Andrew Dale

As Northwest celebrates its 99th anniversary, the institution is marking another historic milestone: record-breaking enrollment growth that positions Northwest among the leaders in higher education across Mississippi. Preliminary headcount numbers for Fall 2025 stand at 8,250 students, representing a 26.5% increase over the past four years and a 5.4% increase over last fall.

“Northwest is in one of the best enrollment positions we’ve seen in more than a decade,” said Dr. Michael J. Heindl, president of Northwest. “This growth is not only a sign of recovery from the pandemic, but it’s proof that our programs, partnerships, and facilities are meeting the real needs of students and employers across our region. It’s a fitting way to celebrate 99 years of excellence and to look forward to our centennial with momentum and purpose.”

Sustained Growth and Statewide Leadership

Northwest is leading the state in enrollment growth since Fall 2021, adding 1,729 students across all campuses—an increase unmatched by any other Mississippi community college. This surge has been supported by strategic investments in advising and retention, helping students persist in their studies and complete their goals. The result is not only higher headcount, but stronger outcomes for students and the communities Northwest serves.

“We are excited to be celebrating 12 semesters of continuous enrollment growth at Northwest,” said Dr. Tonyalle Rush, vice president of Student Services and Enrollment Management. “I am thankful for Dr. Heindl’s leadership and the work of all our offices and staff members who have contributed to making this enrollment goal a reality.”

Northwest’s increase from 6,521 students in 2021 to 8,250 in 2025 reflects the most significant overall enrollment growth in the state. With this surge, Northwest stands as the fastest-growing large community college in Mississippi.

Student Opportunities and Campus Strengths

This momentum is fueled by Northwest’s blend of academic excellence, athletic excellence, arts excellence, workforce innovation, and vibrant student life. With more than 90 academic and career-technical pathways, students can pursue university transfer, health sciences, advanced manufacturing, and more. New facilities—including the Ranger Center in DeSoto County and The Concourse in Batesville—have expanded access to cutting-edge programs in nursing, industrial automation, and workforce training.

Northwest also offers a thriving student experience. Nationally— ranked athletic programs-including the 2024 Women’s Soccer National Championship and multiple national cheer and dance titles—combined with investments in residence halls and the performing arts, create a community where students flourish academically, socially, and personally.

A Legacy of Impact

As the college turns 99, Northwest reflects on its history while preparing for the future. Founded in 1926, Northwest has transformed the lives of generations of students and continues to drive progress for the region. The college looks to enter its centennial year, beginning Sept. 8, 2026, with record enrollment, new facilities, and a proven role as a leader in Mississippi’s community college system.

“Our students don’t just come here for a degree—they come here to be part of a community,” Heindl said. “That sense of belonging, combined with world-class instruction and facilities, is what drives our continued growth. As we prepare for 100 years of service, Northwest’s future has never been brighter.”

Founded in 1926, Northwest serves more than 11 counties through campuses in Senatobia, Southaven, Oxford, Batesville, Olive Branch, Ashland, and Water Valley. Offering more—90 academic and career-technical pathways, Northwest prepares students for university transfer, workforce success, and personal growth. Northwest’s enrollment is comprised of over 97% in-state students.

College officials are celebrating 12 consecutive semesters of enrollment growth at its seven district campuses, including the Concourse in Batesville.

Photo by Sarah Smith

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN CELEBRATION

Story by Sarah Smith

The Capital Campaign Celebration on June 5, 2025, marked not only the end of a phase, but a celebration of the lasting greatness this campaign induced. The event was held in the Haraway Center, where a permanent display is up to remind people of the success of this campaign. The names of donors are proudly displayed in honor of their support that has helped build or restore parts of the college including building new facilities, expanding programs, and helping plan for the future that wouldn’t have been possible without the support of these donors.

A capital campaign is a nonprofit fundraising campaign to raise a set amount of money set aside to tackle large projects such as renovations, new buildings, or new equipment meant to help transform the institution.

The total gifts donated were $9,813,298. Patti Gordon, executive director of Institutional Advancement, said that not only has this started actively changing lives, but work like this impacts every tomorrow that the college has.

Some lifechanging possibilities that came from it include the first million dollar gift the college has ever been given, contributed by Dunlap and Kyle. Company founder Bobby Dunlap. himself, served as an honorary co-chair of the campaign.

This campaign wouldn’t have been possible without the support of alumni, friends of the college, employees, and individual donors with a vested interest in the support of the college.

“Every check written, every payroll deduction made, every estate plan that included Northwest – it all mattered,” said Gordon. “You didn’t just give money. You helped to build and continue the momentum over these last five years.”

Looking toward the future, college administrators hope to continue the momentum of growth. This first capital campaign is just ringing in the years of growth that are to come. The college hopes to continue to build systems that last well beyond the current students, staff and faculty, expanding deep into the future.

Left: Celebrating the final total for donations to the Capital Campaign are (l to r) Norris Faust, campaign co-chair; Niles Norris, campaign co-chair and Foundation board vice president; Fred Carlisle, Foundation board president emeritus and Patti

Top: Guests view the donor wall of all who made the Capital Campaign successful.

Above: Retired educator and legislator Jerry Darnell (center) visits with guests at the reception celebrating the completion of the Capital Campaign.

Gordon.

Photos by Carly Fox

Northwest Breaks Ground on Athletic Performance Facility

Story by Dr. Andrew Dale

Northwest Mississippi Community College celebrated the groundbreaking of its new Athletic Performance Facility in December 2024, a project leaders called a “game changer” for athletics and student life.

Board of Trustees Chairman Cory Uselton praised the initiative as a major step forward. “This will not only help us recruit athletes but also ensure they perform at the highest level once they arrive at Northwest,” Uselton said.

Northwest President, Dr. Michael J. Heindl outlined the $14 million project, designed by Eley Guild Hardy Architects and managed by Innovative Construction Management. Completion is expected in Spring 2026. The facility will include a 70-yard covered turf practice field, 10,965-square foot training space for female athletes, and a 4,500-square foot practice area for Northwest’s national championship cheer and dance teams, along with coaches offices, locker rooms, and meeting space.

“This is a momentous occasion,” Heindl said. “Our college is about transforming student lives, enriching communities, and striving for excellence—and this facility is a perfect example.”

Vice President for Instruction, Dr. Matthew Domas said the facility’s reach extends far beyond football. “It will enhance practice opportunities for soccer, baseball, and softball, and provide dedicated space for female athletes. No other community college in the state will have a facility like this,” he said.

Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management Dr. Tonyalle Rush added that the space will also serve the broader campus. “Student activities and employee events can now be held in a safe, covered space, no matter the weather,” Rush said.

Middle: Digging the moment: Dr. Heindl turns a groundbreaking into a moment worth riffing on with his special edition Athletic Performance Facility air guitar.

Bottom: Dr. Tonyalle Rush delivers remarks during the ceremony. Photos

Executive Council Members are pictured at the ground breaking: Dr. Matthew Domas, Dr. Keith Reed, Kristin Davis, Jeff Horton, Dr. Andrew Dale, Dr. Michael Heindl, Dr. Tonyalle Rush, Dwayne Casey, Patti Gordon, Angel Nickens.

Photo by Carly Fox

by Carly Fox

Budget for Current Operations

$7,600,576 Local Appropriations

$2,845,000 State Grants and Contracts

$30,263,762 State Appropriations

TOTAL REVENUE

$67,705,980

$150,000 Investment Income $873,600 Other Sources

$140,000 Private Grants & Contracts

$48,000 Federal Grants & Contracts

$25,785,042 Tuition & Fees

$4,292,229 Student Aid

$630,000 Uncollectable Charges

$11,659,065 Physical Plant

$9,379,894 Student Services

$1,631,589 Instructional Support

TOTAL EXPENDITURES

$67,705,980

$27,227,886 Instruction

$12,885,317 Institutional Support

PERSONAL

The main focus of the institution is students’ personal success, from entry to graduation to their next step beyond college.

“We are committed to fostering an environment that is not only student-ready but goes above and beyond to be welcoming and supportive. Our goal is to create a community where every student feels valued, inspired, and equipped to excel. We understand that education is not limited to the classroom, which is why we are dedicated to providing innovative, outstanding student services and an array of student clubs and organizations as well as activities. We focus on serving our students holistically and supporting our vision of transforming students’ lives.”

– Dr. Tonyalle Rush

3rd Annual Employee Appreciation Day

Northwest held its third annual Employee Appreciation Day on May 2, 2025. The event featured fun, friends, and lots of healthy competition with a dodgeball tournament, trivia throw down, and karaoke competition. Northwest employees got the opportunity to relax with fellow employees from all campuses in one place, the Howard Coliseum for a day of fun.

Story by Sarah Smith | Photos by Carly Fox & Sarah Smith

SCAN TO RE-LIVE THE EVENT

NORTHWEST’S JEFF TRIPLETT SELECTED AS 2025 MOODY INSTITUTE FELLOW

Northwest Mississippi Community College’s Jeff Triplett, director of Entertainment Industry Studies was selected to be a 2025 Moody Institute Fellow. As part of this, he received a $500 award check.

This award money will be spent working on his proposed goal. His plan is to use this to further his course knowledge particularly with a software called “Pro Tools” by Avid. This industry-standard software requires a lot of knowledge, and this allows Triplett the opportunity to understand this and help students get hands-on experience.

“I was both honored and humbled,” said Triplett. “Receiving a grant to further my course knowledge and improve instruction is a game changer, particularly for the course that this training applies to, which is Computer Recording II. I will be completing a 19-hour online training that specifically applies to the software I teach in Computer Recording II, which is called Pro Tools, as well as including system-

Story by Sarah Smith

specific training for the Pro Tools Ultimate HDX System we have in the recording studio.”

The Moody Institute Trust Fund (MITF) was established in 1990 in memory of Dr. George V. Moody who served as the first executive director of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges (SBCJC). The fund serves to fund enrichment experiences for faculty members employed by Mississippi community colleges.

“Mr. Triplett is an excellent instructor and is very deserving of this recognition,” said Dr. Matthew Domas, vice president of Instruction and SACSCOC liaison.

Triplett, who is a 1987 Northwest alum received, a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1990, and a master’s degree in music education from Delta State University in 2000.

Triplett has been on both sides of being a Ranger. As a student, he was involved in the Ranger Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Choir and the

Entertainers. He also played in a variety of student ensembles while pursuing his bachelor’s and master’s degree. Now on the faculty side for 17 years, he has served assistant director of Bands, district director of Fine Arts Instruction, and now coordinator for Entertainment Industry Studies.

2025 LEADERSHIP FORUM

Leadership Forum 2025 has zeroed in on the goals of the next few years with progress focused on the future. This year’s Leadership Retreat was on July 25 at the college’s new building the Ranger Center on the DeSoto campus.

This group meets on a monthly schedule to improve their leadership skills, maintain communication with Executive Council and discuss issues facing the college as well as ideas of how to improve the future. The Forum was established by Dr. Heindl to facilitate these values amongst the leaders of the college so they can bring those values back to their teams and to the students. This Forum provides an opportunity for Dr. Heindl to communicate with teams across campus and allow teams across campus to have all voices heard.

Director of Entertainment Industry Studies, Jeff Triplett Photo by Carly Fox

2025-2026 Northwest Leadership Forum

Photo by Carly Fox

Gordon Completes Mississippi Community College Policy Fellowship Program

Patti Gordon, executive director of Institutional Advancement at Northwest, has recently completed the prestigious Mississippi Community College Policy Fellowship Program (MCCPFP). Gordon, a respected higher education administrator and fundraiser, was nominated by Northwest President Dr. Michael J. Heindl to represent the college in the year-long program. As executive director, she leads efforts to engage alumni, expand donor support, and advance institutional priorities through scholarships, fundraising, and major initiatives. Most notably, she was responsible for completing Northwest’s first-ever capital campaign— an institutional milestone that has significantly expanded resources for students, faculty, and facilities.

The MCCPFP is sponsored by the Mississippi Community College Board in partnership with Washington, D.C.-based AdvocacyBuild. Since its inception in 2012, the program has produced more than 120 alumni and is designed to strengthen leadership, policy understanding, and advocacy skills within Mississippi’s community college system. Each year, two participants from each of the state’s 15 public community colleges are nominated by their presidents. The fellowship is designed to help community college leaders better understand the communities they serve and become stronger advocates for the programs their institutions promote across their districts. Local, state, and national policymaking agencies are central to the learning process, helping participants learn how best to support and advance community colleges through effective policy engagement. Gordon said of her experience, “I really enjoyed my time in the Policy Fellowship Program. It was a great learning experience about advocating for issues that are important to our Mississippi community colleges.”

The program culminated with a

Story by Dr. Andrew Dale

capstone visit to Washington, D.C., where Gordon and her cohort met with members of Mississippi’s Congressional delegation and representatives from the Association of Community College Trustees to advocate for key higher education priorities. Dr. Andrew Dale, Northwest’s associate vice president for Community Relations and a 2016 graduate of the program, praised Gordon’s participation: “I am thankful that Tyson Elbert of AdvocacyBuild continues to invest in the community college leaders of Mississippi, and I believe that Northwest employees like Patti Gordon become stronger leaders through this year-long fellowship. Their work can only make Mississippi better.”

Originally from Cleveland, Mississippi, Gordon is a 1988 graduate of Delta State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and served

as secretary of Kappa Delta Sorority. She completed her Master of Business Administration in 2018, also from Delta State. Before joining Northwest, she had a successful early career in sales and marketing with State Farm Insurance. Gordon joined Northwest in 2015 as scholarship coordinator in the Foundation Office. She later became alumni director and, in 2019, was named executive director of Institutional Advancement, overseeing the Foundation and Alumni Association. She is a graduate of the Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy and currently serves as vice president of the Senatobia Rotary Club. Gordon is a member of Looxahoma Church of Christ and has lived in Senatobia for 36 years. She is the proud mother of two daughters, Lacey (Ryan) and Abbey and has one granddaughter Avery.

Patti Gordon is congratulated on her completion of the MCCPFP by (l to r) Dr. Ed Davis, co-director, Policy Fellowship Program; Kell Smith, executive director, Mississippi Community College Board; and Tyson Elbert, co-director, Policy Fellowship Program and executive director, AdvocacyBuild LLC.

NORTHWEST EMPLOYEES JOIN THE TATE COUNTY BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS COUNCIL

Story by Julie Bauer

Three Northwest employees have become members of a new organization created by the Tate County Economic Development Council that focuses on growth and community involvement for area business professionals. The Business Professionals Council, formerly known as the Young Professionals Council, held a kick-off event in January to introduce the new group to the business community and to solicit new members.

“The Business Professionals Council is positioned to play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of leaders in Tate County,” said Anna Cardona, Tate County EDF executive director. “By bringing together professionals from diverse industries and career stages, the council creates a collaborative environment where ideas, mentorship, and leadership can thrive. Its impact will be seen in how it cultivates a stronger, more connected business community—one that is prepared to meet challenges, drive innovation, and support sustainable growth across the county. This group is not just investing in professional development; it’s helping to build the future of Tate County from the inside out.”

New members from the college include Assistant Director of Recruiting Jenny Hurt, Advancement Services Coordinator Gracie Perry, and Communications Specialist Sarah Smith.

“Being a part of the BPC gives me an opportunity to grow, serve and connect,” said Hurt. “Personally, it provides me the opportunity to invest in myself while also giving back to the community that supports me, my Northwest family. As a member, I’m surrounded by like-minded peers who are driven, motivated and passionate about Tate County. It inspires me to step out of my comfort zone, to take initiative and grow as a leader.”

The group meets monthly with a focus on five areas: networking that fosters strategic relationships with business leaders; professional growth through workshops and leadership training; leadership opportunities through speaking, mentoring, and participating in community impact projects; recruitment and talent retention to cultivate the next generation of business professionals; and access to decision makers through participation in policy and advocacy forums with local and regional leaders. Members can also attend the annual Business Professionals Summit, a regional event where attendees can learn and collaborate with peers across the Mid-South.

“Serving on the BPC has been such a great experience for me so far! It’s helped me connect with

other local professionals that I might not have met otherwise, and I’ve learned a lot about what goes into supporting growth and development in our community,” said Perry. “It’s also pushed me to be more involved and aware of how I can use my own skills to make a difference locally, which has been both inspiring and motivating in my professional life.”

Smith, a Marshall County native who joined the Northwest family in 2023, sees the organization as a way to get to know the business leaders in Tate County as well as get involved in her new community. “The BPC is an amazing opportunity to give back to the community and stay plugged into what leaders are doing around the county, not just in Senatobia,” she said. “As someone who isn’t originally from the area, it can be daunting to network with fellow professionals, but this council allows me to contribute and learn from other professionals in unique fields that I might not have otherwise had the opportunity to meet or interact with. I’m thankful to get this opportunity and look forward to the impact it will make for Tate County.”

Northwest employees at a Tate County EDF mixer held at the Hideout Speakeasy in downtown Senatobia, (L-R) Sarah Smith, Gracie Perry, and Jenny Hurt.

RANGERS EARN TITLE RINGS

DANCE

The Northwest dance team celebrated a national championship of their own during their ring ceremony on May 23. The squad participated in the 2025 UCA/UDA College Nationals for the third time this year and brought home their second consecutive gold medal in the Open Hip-Hop finals, marking the program’s second national championship in program history.

FOOTBALL

The Northwest football team celebrated their most recent MACCC championship with a ring ceremony on May 23. The Rangers finished the regular season with a record of 9-1 before earning a 33-31 win over Gulf Coast in the conference semi-finals and a 34-7 win over East Central in the championship game. It was the first conference title for the Rangers since the 2021 season.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

The Ranger women’s soccer team celebrated their firstever national championship with a ring ceremony on May 23 after winning the NJCAA title over Johnson County. The Rangers also received rings for their NJCAA Region 23 championship. Northwest completed an undefeated season going 22-0 on the way to the title.

CHEER

Members of the Ranger Cheerleaders pose with both their gold medals and their new rings during a ring ceremony on May 23. The squad celebrated winning the national title in the Open Co-Ed Game Day for the first time and Open All-Girl Traditional the second straight season at the 2025 UCA/UDA College Nationals, held last January.

NORTHWEST ATHLETIC SUCCESS WORTH SHOUTING ABOUT

Story by Brian Lentz

RANGERS CONTINUE EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM AND ON THE FIELD

There was a lot to celebrate from Northwest athletics with major accomplishments in both academics and championships.

In the classroom, five Northwest teams were awarded by the league for having the highest team GPAs in their respective sports. Softball (3.86), women’s soccer (3.79), men’s tennis (3.76), women’s golf (3.57), and football (3.26) were each recognized for their achievements. Additionally, women’s tennis (3.81), baseball (3.59), men’s golf (3.45), volleyball (3.39), men’s soccer (3.35), and women’s basketball (3.03) were recognized for having team GPAs above 3.00.

In addition to that, 168 student-athletes were named to academic award lists for the 2024-25 year by the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference. These student athletes were named to either Distinguished Academic All-MACCC with a 3.8 to 4.0 GPA or Academic All-MACCC for a 3.25 to 3.79. This includes 40 student-athletes who finished with a 4.0 GPA.

NWCC teams saw plenty of recognition nationally as well. Northwest Football Head Coach Benjy Parker’s team claimed a back-to-back title as NJCAA Football Academic Team of the Year with a 3.25 GPA. This is the third time that Parker’s squad has topped the national academic standings. The program earned the top spot in 2023-24 and was awarded its first title in 2021-22.

Women’s soccer shared the title of NJCAA Women’s Soccer Academic Team of the Year with Utah State University Eastern with their 3.79 GPA. It was the second time the Rangers have been at the top of the list and add to the growing list of success for Head Coach James Beattie.

Two other teams who finished in the top five nationally were women’s tennis who were second in the nation with a 3.82 GPA, softball who were third with a 3.86 GPA, and men’s tennis who finished top five with a 3.76 GPA.

Additionally, 116 Northwest student-athletes received individual All-Academic honors from the NJCAA, with 39 earning NJCAA All-Academic First Team nods. To be eligible, student-athletes had to achieve an overall GPA of 3.60 or higher for the 2024-25 academic year.

DAKOTA SMITH AND WILL COLLIER FINISH TOP TEN AT CNFR

A pair of Northwest Rangers made their presence known in Casper, Wyoming over the summer at the College National Finals Rodeo, finishing in the top 10 of their respective events in college rodeo’s premier event.

Steer wrestler Will Collier entered the final performance with a chance to take home the title, but he came up unlucky in his final run, finishing ninth in the nation with a time of 14.4 seconds on three head.

In bull riding, Dakota Smith made it back to the finals as well and finished eighth in the nation with his only ride of the week earning him a score of 83.5.

The team finished 24th in the nation with a final score of 182.5, which was an impressive accomplishment given there were only three point earners for the Rangers at the finals. It marks back-to-back years that the Rangers have had top 25 finishes at the finals.

VOLLEYBALL WINS INAUGURAL MACCC TITLE, PLAYERS RECEIVE HONORS

Last fall, the Ranger volleyball team won the inaugural MACCC Regular Season Championship with a 24-8 record, going 8-2 in conference play before falling in the Region 23 championship game to Jones College.

Five players from that team were named to the All-MACCC team including sophomore outside hitter Rachel Stegall who was chosen for First Team All-MACCC honors. Stegall was

Dakota Smith rides Stetson in the CNFR finals.

Photo by Brian Oakley

also named to the All-Region 23 team. Freshman outside hitter Maddie Smith, redshirt sophomore middle blocker Kaya Coleman and sophomore setter Layla Dyer all earned second team accolades. Sophomore opposite hitter Anna Lott was named an Honorable Mention.

MARK CARSON PASSES JIM MILES IN CAREER WINS AT NORTHWEST

Head Baseball Coach Mark Carson put his name at the top of the Ranger record books this past spring when he picked up his 557th career win against Mississippi Delta, passing Northwest Sports and Mississippi Community & Junior College Hall of Famer Jim Miles who was the head coach from 1976-97.

In a pregame ceremony, Carson was presented with a commemorative bat from Miles (his former coach), as well as Northwest President, Dr. Michael J. Heindl, former Head Baseball Coach Donny Castle and Northwest Athletic Director Jake Gordon.

BEATTIE CONTINUES TO LEAVE LEGACY WITH WOMEN’S SOCCER

It was a banner year for Northwest Women’s Soccer Coach James Beattie who earned a personal milestone on October 17, 2024, as he became the program’s all-time winningest coach with a 9-1 victory at East Mississippi. His 70th career win surpassed previous wins leader Peter Jarjoura (2002-12), and Beattie now owns a career record of 85-13-4 (.867), with a conference record of 38-8-3 (.826).

The Rangers also captured their first national title with a 22-0 season which netted Beattie his second straight NJCAA Region 23 Coach of the Year honor while taking home the NJCAA Coach of the Tournament honor for the national championship.

Under his tutelage, three Rangers were named to the NJCAA National Championship All-Tournament team with Emma Jensen leading the way as both the Tournament and Offensive MVP and Reagan Tucker taking home the Defensive MVP. Mari Julia Delgado was also named to the All-Tournament Team.

Jensen added an MACCC Women’s Soccer Player of the Year to her growing list of accolades, becoming the first NWCC student-athlete to earn that honor in the program’s history. She was also named an NJCAA First Team All-American along with goalkeeper Anna Kathryn Harrell and defender Tucker. Harrell became the Rangers first two-time NJCAA All-American after also earning first team honors as a freshman in 2023.

The Ranger volleyball team huddles during regular season play.

Photo by Brian Oakley

Northwest President, Dr. Michael Heindl (left) joins former head baseball coaches Jim Miles (center) and Donny Castle and Athletic Director of Jake Gordon (right) in congratulating Mark Carson on becoming the college's all-time winningest coach. Photo by Carly Fox

Head Women’s Soccer Coach James Beattie (left) is congratulated on the team’s national championship by Gov. Tate Reeves (center) and Dr. Heindl during a visit to the Governor’s Mansion in March.

Photo by Sarah Smith

RANGER FOOTBALL WRAPS UP SEASON WITH MACCC CHAMPIONSHIP

Northwest added to their championship pedigree with a 10-2 season and a trip to the NJCAA national semifinals for the third time in the last four years. This included an MACCC championship with a 34-7 victory over seventh ranked East Central for the program’s 12th conference title.

Head Coach Benjy Parker was named the MACCC North Division Coach of the Year. Under Parker’s guidance, Northwest captured its 20th MACCC North Division title this season. This is the fourth Coach of the Year award for Parker and the first since the 2021 season. He previously earned MACJC North Division Coach of the Year in 2017 and garnered MACCC Coach of the Year accolades in 2020. Parker was also awarded NJCAA Region 23 Coach of the Year in the 2021 campaign.

The team also had four players named to the NJCAA All-American team. Sophomore running back D’mariun Perteet, sophomore offensive lineman LaParka Langston and sophomore defensive back Fredd Adams finished as first team honorees, while sophomore defensive lineman D.J. Burgess earned honorable mention recognition. Burgess is the only repeat NJCAA All-American selection, after also garnering honorable mention recognition as a freshman.

The Rangers have now had 129 AllAmericans throughout the program’s history including 23 under Parker.

BOBBY FRANKLIN NAMED TO INAUGURAL CLASS OF NJCAA COACHES LEGACY AWARD

Northwest legend Bobby Ray Franklin was recognized posthumously by the National Junior College Athletics Association with the Coaches Legacy Award due to his success as the head coach of the Rangers from 1981 - 2004. His son, Ray Franklin, and Northwest President, Dr. Michael J. Heindl, attended the ceremony to receive the award on behalf of the Franklin family and Northwest.

In order to be eligible for the award as a football coach, the nominee must have eclipsed the 200-win mark as a head coach in the NJCAA. Only six football coaches in NJCAA history have reached that mark, and each was recognized in the inaugural class. The Rangers never posted a losing season in Franklin’s tenure as head coach from 1981 to 2004, winning national titles in 1982 and 1992, appearing in six bowl games and going 202-56-6 during that span.

The Ranger football team celebrates being back on top of the MACCC after taking down East Central in the championship game 34-7.

Photo by Sarah Smith

Ray Franklin, son of the late Bobby Ray Franklin, and Dr. Michael J. Heindl accept the Coaches Legacy Award on behalf of Coach Franklin’s family and the Northwest community.

Heindl Hosts

COMMUNITY

The college will be perceived as relevant when we work passionately as a team to produce quality outcomes that enrich our communities. Relationships are the catalyst for informing the college of educational content and skills needed within the region.

“Community success is driven by the college’s ability to collaborate with local industries, school districts, and counties, providing programs vital to economic development, creating pathways for student achievement, and fostering partnerships for future growth.”

– Dr. Andrew Dale

NORTHWEST POLLINATOR FIELD CONTINUES BLOOMING

Story by Sarah Smith | Photos by Sarah Smith & Carly Fox

Northwest Mississippi Community College’s Pollinator Field has been going strong now for three years, starting as a part of the Refuge Lawn project to encourage pollinator populations including bees, wasps, butterflies, moths and other insects that help in the essential process of pollinating.

Since the first seedlings, Northwest’s Horticulturist Len Lawhon said he and his team have learned a lot about the nature of these flowers, their life cycle and when they start returning back to their more wildflower state. But due to the popularity of the flower patch, they’ve added another stripe as well as planting some trees in surrounding areas.

Lawhon said that these fields are not only beautiful, but actually save the college money by cutting back landscape costs by 50 percent on those areas.

Lawhon explained that being able to witness the changes and see which species of flowers tend to dominate over others, in the case of Northwest’s pollinator

field, the cosmos zinnias tend to overwhelmingly excel in the fields.

These fields also serve as a great learning opportunity for student workers, like Baylee Williams of Memphis, Tenn., who is one of seven students on Lawhon’s team, who plans on becoming a horticulturist.

Williams will also be working on designing future landscape designs for the college.

Williams talked about the positive influence that flowers have on people and in turn, that people have on the flowers.

“Picking flowers is good for the plant,” said Williams.

Williams noted that when people pick flowers, it tends to help with the cultivation and life span. Zinnias live and die fairly fast, but as people pick them it allows for new growth to take place.

In addition to foot traffic in and around the flower patches, another lesson they learned for cultivation is aerating the soil by using a turf aerator.

This field has not only created a beautiful place for campus dwellers to visit to pick flowers, take photographs or have a picnic, but has allowed the Northwest horticulture team opportunities for outreach about these fields including an upcoming Master Gardeners state conference.

At this conference, Lawhon and his team will discuss gardening sustainably, continuing to support wildlife that supports gardens, and other interesting tidbits they’ve learned through this process.

In addition to their communications with Master Gardeners, they have a partnership with Mississippi State University. They keep in touch to share updates about projects and learn from everyone’s experiences as the refuge lawn project grows.

HEINDL CENTER EVENTS

THE SPECTACULAR FALL AND SPRING SEASONS AT THE HEINDL CENTER HAVE BROUGHT IN A VARIETY OF TALENT FROM COMEDIANS TO COUNTRY SINGERS.

Photos by Jennifer Corbin, Dr. Andrew Dale, Carly Fox, Brian Lentz, Matthew Mixson, Kevin Pitts, and Sarah Smith

Lee Greenwood

Jeff Foxworthy Gary LeVox

Donny Edwards Rumpelstilskin Temptations

Vienna Boys Choir Tower of Power Shrek

The Commodores

The Beach Boys

Priscilla Presley

Treasure Island

Brian Reagan

Lee Brice

The Addams Family

Mean Girls

Celtic Women

ROTARY CLEAN-UP DAY

Northwest students, staff and faculty all did their part on May 3, 2025, to clean up the streets of Senatobia. From across campus, over 100 students involved in everything from athletics, Pathfinders, Student Housing and more came out to help alongside college administrators including Dr. Michael J. Heindl.

Dr. Brant Kairit, Rotarian and event organizer, helps put on this event every year living up to the Rotary’s motto, “service above self.” This event helps the Senatobia Rotary club embody that very motto, encouraging others to understand its meaning.

This year, hundreds bags of trash were removed from city streets and keep Senatobia beautiful. Schools across the county, not just Northwest, participated in this “bigger than us” event. They

Story by Sarah Smith

started the day with donuts and chocolate milk at First Baptist Church of Senatobia’s gym before dividing up into groups to divide and conquer.

Dr. Andrew Dale, associate vice president of Community Relations and former president of Senatobia Rotary club, spoke highly of all those involved but especially Dr. Kairit who contributes so much to his community noting that Dr. Kairit is an “exceptional leader.”

Senatobia’s Rotary Clean Up Day has been a tradition now for over 20 years. Starting in 2002, Dr. Kairit approached the Senatobia Rotary Club Board of Directors with the intention of living up to the Rotary’s motto, “service over self.”

Dr. Kairit said this event is about serving the citizens of the town, and since its inception it has grown tremendously.

“It truly takes a village, and there

are so many in the community who contribute each year to make this event possible,” said Dr. Kairit. “From the police department and Sherriff’s Office making sure traffic is slowed down in the areas we are cleaning to First Baptist Church opening their Family Life Center for us, to the fire department always helping with providing ice for the cases and cases of drinks for the volunteers, to the City of Senatobia public works department making certain the garbage trucks are ready to pick up, everyone willingly does what they can to make our community a better place and offers their support of this day.”

It also allows people from all ages and backgrounds to come together. Dr. Kairit said that although there’s not a date picked for next year yet, he’s excited to see what the next year brings.

THEATRE WORKSHOPS BRING HAMILTON

Story by Sarah Smith

Students in the Theatre Department got the chance to learn from touring professionals this past year when the department hosted workshops featuring actors from the national productions of “Moulin Rouge!” and “Hamilton”.

Northwest Mississippi Community College Theater Department works with local entities to bring world class opportunities to Northwest classrooms. This year that was working with professionals on the touring productions of “Moulin Rouge!” and “Hamiliton.”

In November 2024, there was a dance workshop featuring AK Naderer from the national touring production of “Moulin Rouge!” Fifteen Northwest students participated gaining new skills throughout the process while networking with industry professionals.

Then in the Spring of 2025, they held their “Hamiliton”

acting workshop with Justin Sargent from the touring production. Around 15-20 students were in attendance at this workshop where they refined their acting skills. During these workshops, they have the opportunity to have a Q&A with working actors and dancers in their fields. Alyssa Algee, theatre instructor, said that this is possibly the most beneficial part of the workshop. Hearing advice from professionals in the industry in which they seek to work is invaluable to not only refining theater skills, but the essential business skills that build their careers in the first place.

Photo by Alyssa Algee

SUMMER camps SUMMER camps

Story by Sarah Smith | Photos by Carly Fox

Northwest offered multiple summer camps in 2025 from S.T.A.R.T. (science, technology, art, recreation and tools).

“The idea to bring an educational kids camp back to NWCC came from a discussion during the Leadership Forum,” explained Anne Marie Ross, Early Childhood Development instructor. “It had been several years since an educational camp was held on campus, and there were many people that wanted camp to be offered again.”

Ross said that she always remembers camps fondly when she was young, and so she was excited to help develop a summer camp. She said she knew she wanted a camp that was educational, with a taste of exploring their interests.

“As someone who adored camp programs of all varieties as a young person and as someone who has 20 plus years experience in directing early childhood programs I was excited to work toward developing a summer camp for young people,” said Ross.

For this year’s S.T.A.R.T., many campers came to return since the first S.T.A.R.T. camp for their final year. As the camp ages and new campers come in, they’re excited for the growth and new opportunities it will bring each year.

As for other summer camps, the college hosted various athletic camps including dance, cheer and basketball that allowed for greater community involvement and exposure. It also is a great opportunity for little Rangers to be exposed to the Northwest campus, athletics and get involved in the community starting young.

LEADERSHIP CONNECTIONS

ATTORNEY GENERAL LYNN FITCH

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch with Dr. Michael Heindl during a recent visit to the Senatobia Campus. Attorney General Fitch hosted a One Pill Can Kill event, drawing hundreds of Northwest students to learn about the dangers of opioid abuse.

SENATOR CINDY HYDE-SMITH

The Tate County Council of Governments visits with Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith in her Washington, D.C. office earlier this year as the group advocates for federal help with local projects. Pictured: Dr. Andrew Dale, NWCC; Demetrius Garrett, Senatobia alderman; Alee’ Dixon, Tate County Schools superintendent and member of the Northwest Board of Trustees; Jenny Miller, CEO Highland Hills Medical Center; Sen Hyde-Smith; Anna Cardona, executive director of Tate County EDF; Tony Sandridge, Tate County Board of Supervisors; and Dr. Michael Heindl, Northwest President.

NORTHWEST VISITS THE AACC IN WASHINGTON D.C.

Dr. Michael Heindl who is a Board Member for the American Association for Community Colleges, is pictured with Dr. Martha Parham, senior vice president of Public Relations at AACC, and Dr. Andrew Dale, AVP for Community Relations at Northwest, during the fall 2024 AACC Commission, Committee, and Board Meetings in Washington D.C.

SENATOR TRENT KELLY

Dr. Michael Heindl and Dr. Andrew Dale meet with U.S. Representative Trent Kelly in his Washington, D.C. office to provide an update on thse college. Rep. Kelly has represented Mississippi’s 1st Congressional District since 2015.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS ARE PART OF THE COLLEGE'S VISION TO ENRICH OUR COMMUNITIES. EVENTS SUCH AS THE OXFORD PRINCESS PARTY, COOKIES WITH SANTA, AND THE SPOOKTACULAR AMONG OTHERS ARE WAYS FOR US TO GIVE BACK.

SPOOKTACULAR

Photos by Julie Bauer, Carly Fox, Kevin Pitts and Sarah Smith

FOOD TRUCK DAY

COOKIES WITH SANTA

MARKETING OUTREACH

SOCIAL MEDIA: 2024-2025 YEAR IN COMPARISON TO 2023-2024

TOTAL AUDIENCE (FOLLOWERS) 10.1% INCREASE

TOTAL IMPRESSIONS (POST VIEWS) 23.5% INCREASE

TOTAL ENGAGEMENTS (INTERACTIONS) 15.6% INCREASE

VIDEO VIEWS 20.9% INCREASE

Find Your

PATH

PATH

FIND YOUR PATH CAMPAIGN

Marketing assets have included recruiting publications and ads in various forms of static and digital media.

RANGER HOUR

The Ranger Hour, sponsored by Bank First, airs every Thursday morning from 9-10 a.m. on SuperTalk North Mississippi (93.7 FM).

NORTHW EST WEDNESDAYS

Tune in to Northwest Wednesdays on Bluff City Life! Bluff City Life airs Wednesdays on WMC Action News 5 with host Gina Neely!