SEPTEMBER IS......
SEPTEMBER 10
Grandparent’s Day Vol 23, No. 5 • September 2023
News You Can Use
662-643-6842
read.newsflash@gmail.com
High-school injuries didn’t deter a Thrasher Biggersville HS graduate earns top spot as first female athletic director for CCC HS graduate’s pursuit of doctorate By Sabrina Bates When Xeneia Sorrell was a student at Thrasher High School of Booneville, Miss., she began to chart a life that involved athletics post high school. Two ACL injuries later, the first her junior year and the second in her senior year, her plans began to change. Her dreams of a future in college basketball was only altered and her focus shifted to one of healing as a pharmacist. "After high school, I decided to attend Mississippi State University where I graduated in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. I picked up many hobbies such as braiding hair, ceramics, and modeling all while completing my degree at MSU. I truly enjoyed every experience MSU gave me and every memory and friendship that was made! Hail State and Go Dawgs," Sorrell noted. After helping her mother work through medical conditions that involve medication, Sorrell was amazed that one tiny pill could cure ailments. Her curiosity peaked and she began her journey at Union University College of Pharmacy of Jackson, Tenn. Four years later, her hard work paid off and now her name has the title of doctor in front of it. Sorrell earned her doctorate in pharmacy in May, graduating with honors. She received the Bowl of Hygeia award, which is the most widely recognized international symbol for the pharmacy
Xeneia Sorrell
profession and considered one of the profession's most prestigious awards. The award is focused on the dedication to serve your community. "I believe this award suits me well because I love having the opportunity and ability to help my community by providing information and answering questions about their medications and other health concerns," Sorrell noted. Her path was not an easy one as thermodynamics and physics courses posed challenges. She didn't let those deter her from reachReturn Address: P.O. Box 1292 Corinth, MS 38835 ing her goal. Sorrell said she enjoys working with her hands and is interested in POSTAL PATRON finding out how different compounds are used to cresee SORRELL pg 4
Selina Reid
By Sabrina Bates Selina Reid is breaking glass ceilings in the world of athletics and education. As the first female athletic director for Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale, Miss., the road to getting there was one paved with determination, hard work and commitment. Reid has three degrees under her belt and nearly two decades of experience in the classroom. She said she knew in high school that she wanted to play a role in sports and physical fitness. She got her start in sports medicine, majoring in biology and chemistry at Blue Mountain College. Reid's minor was in physical education. She earned her first bachelor's degree from Blue Mountain where she received a four-year basketball scholarship. Then, her path took her to the University of Tennessee at Martin, where she sought her
second bachelor of science degree. Her concentration was in athletic training. Reid earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Human Performance. She didn't stop with two bachelor's degrees. Reid made the move to Delta State University where she picked up her master's degree in education with an emphasis in health, physical education and recreation. Reid believes that sports teaches essential life skills such as teamwork, self-discipline, servant leadership and how to deal with adversity. She had extensive involvement in sports in high school and throughout college and her coaches have been very instrumental in her growth mindset. She was a member of the basketball, track and softball teams in high school. Her interest in sports medicine stemmed from an injury and meeting an athletic trainer. That inspiration eventually led to working directly with coaches and athletes. When she is not dealing with the day to day operations of Coahoma Athletics, she can be found in the classroom. She teaches health, first aid, athletic training and introduction to health, physical education and recreation (HPER) classes on campus and online. After she earned her degrees, she started climbing ladders at various post-secondary institutions. In the early 2000s, she served as a preventative medicine research assistant at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tenn. She became a certified athletic trainer and ergonomic coordinator for the Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center in Clarksdale before moving to various positions at Coahoma Community College. At CCC, Reid started out as the first head athletic trainer in 2007 and then in 2010 she see REID pg 4