Table Of Content

Table of 2 College Resumes Normal Operations DOLLAB 7 New Foundation, Alumni Leadership Contents ~ lllSI 12 Humanities Teacher of Year 4 14 With YQM. In Mind 18 Shields Returns Home 21 All-Mississippi Academic Team 24 Varsity Tennis Courts Named 30 Campus Enhancements 34 Spence to Lead CTE 36-37 Board of Trustees/ College Leadership fi www.facebook.com/EastCentralCC .,,. @ECCC_MS Li keel,_ Find us on Linkedln at n IJ.LI East Central Community College. A Message From the President To say beginning my first college presidency during a global pandemic was what I had envisioned would be a tremendous understatement. Becoming president of this outstanding institution and my alma mater is the pinnacle of my career and a lifelong dream come true. It was something I prepared for my entire career. But I also assumed it would come at a much less pivotal time in our history. Navigating the COVID-19 pandemic was new to all of us, but I believe East Central Community College handled it extremely well. The Fall 2021 semester at East Central marked a full return to normal operations at the college for the first time since March 2020. From campus enhancements to a 10-Year Reaffirmation of Accreditation visit by SACSCOC to numerous student achievements to a restructuring of our enrollment management operations to the opening of a new band hall, the past year was one of transition, growth, and success. We even rolled out a new- yet somewhat historic- tagline in January 2022. You will read about all of these accomplishments and more on the pages that follow. I'm extremely proud of our students, our faculty and staff, our alumni and supporters, and our local communities for their diligence in ensuring East Central Community College came out of this pivotal time in our history stronger and more prepared for the future. We remain the college With .Yill.l. In Mind. Or. Brent Gregory President rE1SL Cenlrnl Community College ttwy/m ECCC Resumes Normal Operations in Fall 2021 East Central Community College returned to normal operations beginning with the Fall 2021 Semester, including the return to a full schedule of traditional in-person classes, open facilities, enhanced student engagement opportunities, and full capacity at on-campus events. The move marked a return to pre-C0VID-19 operations for the first time since early in the Spring 2020 semester when the college closed its campus to students and visitors at the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, with classes transitioning to online and alternative delivery formats for the remainder of the spring and summer semesters. ECCC continued to provide enhanced sanitation of classrooms and common areas, as well as increasing the already abundant amount of hand sanitizing stations in all areas of campus. The college also offered free vaccination clinics in conjunction with Rush Health Systems and vaccinallon incentives for students and employees in an effort to boost the vaccination rate of the campus community. 2 Overnight Campus Access Changes ECCC made several changes to limit the amount of off-campus vehicle traffic moving through campus overnight to further enhance overall safety and security. Access gates were installed at both ends of the portion of 10th Street that runs through the center of campus. Access gates were also installed at the north end of Warrior Drive at the campus entrance from Highway 15 and on the south end of North 7th Street near one of the two campus entrances from Broad Street. The gates are closed from approximately 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly and on extended school holidays. The only entrance to campus during those times is off Broad Street at North 6th Avenue. HEERF Fund Distribution to Students Over six academic terms, the college distributed more than $6 million in federal COVID-19 pandemic relief funds directly to students. The funding came from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, or HEERF, stimulus packages passed by Congress as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide some relief from the economic fallout related to the COVID·19 pandemic. ,l 2021-22 Student Body Officers These sophomore students were selected to serve as officers of the East Central Community College Student Body Association for the 2021-22 school year. They are (from left) Maggie Kirk of Louisville, a pre nursing major, SBA Treasurer; Alex Weir of Hickory, an athletic training major, SBA Secretary; Gianna Esposito of Union, a business administration major, SBA Vice President; and Kenay'zha Germany of Union, a sophomore pre-medicine major, SBA President. Dollars & Sense Quality Enhancement Plan Following a two-year collaborative process involving the entire campus community, ECCC chose a financial literacy initiative known as Dollars & Sense as its Quality Enhancement Plan topic as it prepared for 10-Year DOLLAB Reaffirmation of Accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. INSI ~ Beginning in Fall 2021, the college began offering practical and applicable financial-oriented content to first-time college students through the freshman orientation course LLS 1312 Warrior Path to Success with credits counting toward graduation. The college's on-site visit by the SACSCOC accreditation team was over three days In September. 4 ·"" ,. ;~. '~- - IAN KENNEDY, Bus1NESS AoM1N1STRA 110N MAJOR 1<JU With In Mind Men's Golf Returns The ECCC Men's Golf Team returned to action in Fall 2021 for individuals," said ECCC President Dr. Brent Gregory. "East Central the first time in nearly three years, giving the college a total of 10 has a tradition of producing competitive teams and we look men's and women's varsity sports teams. forward to great days ahead with our golf program." The program was suspended in November of 2017, but play The storied tradition of East Central's golf team goes back decades continued through the spring of 2018 as the Warriors traveled as the program was originally started in the late 1970s by Joe to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Golf Clark, who coached the team for 30 years. Joe's son, Chris Clark, Championships at Glen Lakes Golf Club in Foley, Ala., where the has been named head coach of the program. He led the team from team finished in 12th place. The trip was East Central's first-ever 2011-2018, prior to the program being suspended, and earned appearance in the event. Mississippi Association of Coaches Community College Golf Co Coach of the Year in that final season. He is assisted by physical "We are excited to bring this program back as it will provide education instructor and former Lady Warrior softball coach Scott students yet another way to participate in athletics and grow as Hill. 6 6 The Alumni House Ei\51' CENTR\L New Foundation, Alumni Leadership Two alumna with nearly 50 years of experience working at ECCC were chosen to lead the college's major gifts fundraising and alumni relations efforts. Dr. Stacey Hollingsworth (left) is the new Executive Director of the Foundation. Maria Mcleod will oversee the college's Alumni Association as part of her expanded duties in the Office of Public Information. Hollingsworth transferred to the position from her duties as the college's Director of Admissions and Records. She reports directly to the president and coordinates daily operations as well as the fundraising efforts of the Cast Central Community College Foundation. Inc. Mel C'OCI, whO h,1o.; <;()rvnc1 A<; n,;c:;l•,t,int to tl1r vice president for public information for the past 24 years, will .,,I( now 1111.-1 t 111, Ah1111111 /\• 1.it1m1 ,,,, n,11 t 01 h1•1 u ~pons11Jlht1<•s as Director or External Relations. 7 Outstanding Alumni Honored East Central recognized four outst11nl1I111o( 11lunrnI during its 2021. Homecoming celebration in October. Jerald Everett of Clinton (center). a Hickory native and retired human resources consultant with the Social Security Administration. and Louisville native Paula Simmons Waggoner of Starkville (left), a retired missionary. were recognized as Alumnus and Alumna of the Year. respectively. Everett was a member of the Class of 1.964 and Waggoner the Class of 1971. Former Warrior football players James Mitchell (right), a Hickory native wl10 resides in Nashville and serves as chaplain for the NFL's Tennessee Titans, and Ronnie Parker. a Decatur native who now resides in Haymarket. Va .. and is a fitness and personal training consultant. were the Athletic Hall of Fame inductees. Mitchell was a member of the Class of 1981 and Parker the Class of 1982. The four alumni were honored at a reception in Brackeen-Wood Gym and then again during the pre-game ceremonies of the annual Homecoming game that followed in Bailey Stadium. Homecoming Queen Sophomore elementary education major Kiersten Selman (second from left) of Madison was crowned Homecoming Queen during ceremonies October 14 at Bailey Stadium. Selman received her crown from President Dr. Brent Gregory (left) during halftime of the Warriors' game vs. Copiah-Lincoln Community College. Serving as Miss Selman's escort was Austin Lee (third from left) of Madison. At right is 2020 queen Courtney Gill of Carthage who presented the new queen with a bouquet of roses. 8