Rocketeer 2020-2021

2021·10.7 MB·English

by  Northwest Mississippi Community College

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Campus Highlights .........................................................................2-9
Covid on Campus .......................................................................................................3
Paragon Award ..........................................................................................................4
Achieving the Dream ...............................................................................................5
Football Champions...................................................................................................6
Cheer Champions ......................................................................................................7
CARES Act ....................................................................................................................8
New Buildings on Campus ......................................................................................9
Clubs .................................................................................................10-15
Phi Theta Kappa Officers ........................................................................................11
Pathfinders ..................................................................................................................11
Ranger Book Club ....................................................................................................12 Rocketeer
Student Government Association ........................................................................12
TRIO ............................................................................................................................13
SMACS ........................................................................................................................13 A publication of Northwest Mississippi
Community College
OXFORD
Cosmetology ............................................................................................................14 President
Gamma Phi Beta .......................................................................................................14 DR. MICHAEL J. HEINDL
Phi Theta Kappa ......................................................................................................15
Vice President of Instruction
Surgical Tech .............................................................................................................15
DR. MATTHEW DOMAS
Fine Arts .........................................................................................16-19 Vice President of Administration and Finance
JEFF HORTON
Choirs ..........................................................................................................................17
Entertainers ................................................................................................................17 Associate Vice President of Student Services
Theatre Performances ............................................................................................18 and Enrollment Management
DR. TONYALLE RUSH
Marching Band ..........................................................................................................19
Chief of Staff
Athletics ..........................................................................................20-37 DAN SMITH
Football .......................................................................................................................21
Chairman, Northwest Board of Trustees
Cheerleaders ............................................................................................................22 DR. ADAM PUGH
Men's Soccer ............................................................................................................23
Women's Soccer ......................................................................................................24 MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Men's Basketball ......................................................................................................25
Director of Marketing & Strategic Communications
Women's Basketball................................................................................................26 /Editor
Baseball ....................................................................................................................27 KAYLEIGH MCCOOL MITCHELL
Softball .......................................................................................................................28 [email protected]
Volleyball ...................................................................................................................29
Assistant Director of Marketing & Strategic
Rodeo .........................................................................................................................30 Communications for Digital Media
Sport Statistics ..........................................................................................................31 ALYSSA PEYTON PIRANI • apeyton@northwestms.
edu
Awards and Events ......................................................................38-45
Graphic Designer
Beauty Review .........................................................................................................39 JENNIFER CORBIN • [email protected]
Homecoming ............................................................................................................40
Communications Specialist
Spring Fling ...............................................................................................................42
NATALIE EHRHARDT • [email protected]
Phi Theta Kappa Academic Team .......................................................................42
Hall of Fame ..............................................................................................................43 Coordinator for Sports Information
Mr. & Mrs. NWCC .....................................................................................................44 BRIAN LENTZ • [email protected]
Graduation ................................................................................................................45
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Faculty & Staff .............................................................................46-63 Please visit the Northwest website at
www.northwestms.edu/affirmativeaction to view the
President ...................................................................................................................47 College’s Notice of Non-Discrimination, Equal Opportunity
Board of Trustees ....................................................................................................48 and Affirmative Action.
Executive Council ....................................................................................................50
Administration ...........................................................................................................51
Professional Staff .....................................................................................................52
Faculty ........................................................................................................................54
General Staff .............................................................................................................60
The Rocketeer 1
CAMPUS
HIGHLIGHTS
2 Fall 2020 | Spring 2021
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS

COVID

ON CAMPUS

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stations across campus, required masks to be worn in all campus buildings and adopted a

daily health check-in system. Additionally, the fall semester came to an early close before

Thanksgiving to avoid much of flu season. Despite the changes, the Northwest community
came together, forged ahead and completed another successful year!
FALL 2020
The Rocketeer 3
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS
Heindl honored with Paragon Award
This spring, the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) named Northwest Mississippi
Community College President, Dr. Michael Heindl as a recipient of the Paragon Award
for New Presidents.
More than 500 college presidents nationwide were eligible for the award, with PTK
selecting only 22 to receive the honor. The Paragon Award is given to new college
presidents who have shown strong support of student success by recognizing academic
achievement, leadership and service among high-achieving students at their college.
Recipients were nominated for the award by the students on their campus.
“As a former PTK member years ago when I was a community college student, I could
not have dreamed that one day I would be receiving this honor as a community college
president,” Heindl said. “Phi Theta Kappa does a tremendous job of serving some of the
best and brightest students nationally and internationally, and I am deeply appreciative
of being able to receive this honor in support of student success at Northwest.”
Presidents receiving the 2021 award were especially celebrated for the honor due to
the particularly challenging year college leaders have navigated that included racial and
political unrest and a global pandemic.
PTK recognized this year’s 22 honorees during PTK Catalyst 2021, the Society’s
annual convention, broadcast live from Orlando, Fla., April 8-10.
Phi Theta Kappa recognizes the academic achievements of students at associate
degree-granting colleges and helps them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society
is made up of more than 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 nations,
with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges.
Jones, Wiley complete Leadership Academy training
In the spring semester, Dr. Parker Jones, assistant dean at the DeSoto Center, and Dr. Carolyn Wiley, associate vice president of
Academic Instruction and Institutional Effectiveness, both completed a year-long training with the Mississippi Community College
Leadership Academy (MCCLA). The MCCLA is conducted by the Mississippi Community College Foundation in partnership with
Mississippi State University. Throughout the training, participants work on projects and engage in sessions with community college
presidents concerning current leadership issues, among other requirements.
4 Fall 2020 | Spring 2021
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS
Northwest among first cohort in
Achieving the Dream initiative
In February, Northwest was proud to be announced as being students, particularly as part of our equity work,” said Dr. Monica
among the first cohort of seven colleges nationwide in Achieving Parrish Trent, ATD’s Vice President for Network Engagement.
the Dream’s (ATD) new Building Resiliency in Rural Communities Funders of this important initiative are also looking forward to
for the Future of Work initiative. supporting these colleges as they begin their work.
The initiative aims to increase equitable student success “As we work to ensure equitable access to the education
by strengthening rural colleges’ capacity to prepare students and training necessary to succeed in jobs driving the future,
for careers in today’s economy. The initiative is funded by community colleges are key to reaching people in rural areas,”
the Cognizant U.S. Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., The said Kristen Titus, Executive Director, Cognizant U.S. Foundation.
Community Focus Fund at the Chicago Community Foundation, “We are proud to support ATD and this initiative as colleges build
Walmart.org, and Ascendium Education Group. the capacity to fulfill a critical role in our country’s economic
“Rural community colleges have long served as drivers of their recovery and in providing everyone with opportunities for
communities’ economic and civic vitality, playing a critical role economic mobility.”
in ensuring social and economic mobility,” said ATD president “Equitable access to skills and real-world work experience
and CEO Dr. Karen A. Stout. “As Achieving the Dream works is key to connecting students to good jobs, regardless of their
to support our colleges in fostering diverse and equitable ZIP code,” said Monique Baptiste, Vice President of Global
campuses, we are mindful of the importance of building a Philanthropy, JPMorgan Chase. “As part of JPMorgan Chase’s
network that reflects the diversity of institutions across our efforts to advance racial equity and prepare people for the
country. This initiative adds to ATD’s experience working with future of work, we’re committed to driving an inclusive economic
other rural colleges in our network as well as the nation’s tribal recovery, including strengthening community college programs
colleges and universities, offering new learning opportunities and connecting students to the skills needed to succeed in
around the role of rural community colleges as workforce and today’s workforce.”
economic development engines.” “Rural community colleges are well equipped to provide
Building Resiliency in Rural Communities for the Future of Work upskilling opportunities for the rapidly changing workforce in
will increase rural colleges’ capacity to succeed with whole- their areas,” said Julie Gehrki, vice president of philanthropy for
college reform efforts, provide students with the workforce skills Walmart.org. “Walmart’s investment will enable Achieving the
needed in today and tomorrow’s economy, and connect students Dream to accelerate their work with these colleges, and we’re
with careers in the digital economy that pay family-sustaining thrilled to support their effort.”
wages. In addition, participating institutions’ reform efforts will “We recognize that rural community colleges are anchors in
include providing academic and personal supports and narrowing their communities, providing opportunities for learners, employers
equity gaps. and the local economy,” said Amy Kerwin, vice president –
“We at Northwest Mississippi Community College are honored education philanthropy at Ascendium Education Group. “We’re
to be joining this first Building Resiliency in Rural Communities for pleased to support this cohort as they exchange ideas on how to
the Future of Work cohort,” said Northwest President, Dr. Michael initiate large-scale institutional change to prepare and increase
J. Heindl. “We know that the vision of Northwest, ‘Transforming the number of rural learners from low-income backgrounds that
students’ lives, enriching our communities and striving for graduate and enter the workforce.”
excellence in our educational programs and services,’ fits In January, members of the cohort participated in a Learning
perfectly with Achieving the Dream goals of increasing capacity Launch Kickoff Institute to onboard to the program and to ATD.
with whole-college reform efforts. These efforts include skills for On Tuesday, Feb. 16, the cohort was featured virtually at a
students that are needed for today’s and tomorrow’s workforce Spotlight Session as part of DREAM 2021. Additionally, there will
and the opportunity to connect more students with careers in the be a Rural Convening this summer, as well as ongoing coaching
digital economy that will pay family-sustaining wages.” and capacity building for the colleges through ATD.
The other six colleges that have joined this initial cohort, and Achieving the Dream (ATD) leads a growing network of
the ATD Network, include: more than 300 community colleges committed to helping their
• Berkshire Community College – Pittsfield, MA students, particularly low-income students and students of color,
• Clovis Community College – Clovis, NM achieve their goals for academic success, personal growth,
• Columbia-Greene Community College – Hudson, NY and economic opportunity. ATD is making progress in closing
• Halifax Community College – Weldon, NC equity gaps and accelerating student success through a unique
• Louisiana State University-Eunice – Eunice, LA change process that builds each college’s institutional capacities
• Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College – in seven essential areas. ATD, along with nearly 75 experienced
Cumberland, KY coaches and advisors, works closely with Network colleges in 45
“Achieving the Dream is thrilled to work with these colleges states and the District of Columbia to reach more than 4 million
to build a deeper understanding across higher education — and community college students.
among policy and funding communities for how rural colleges Learn more about Building Resiliency in Rural Communities for
and their partners can promote the economic mobility of the Future of Work at achievingthedream.org.
The Rocketeer 5
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS
How the ‘West won.’
After five years of waiting, the championship drought finally came After the game, the Rangers were presented with another MACCC
to an end for Northwest football in December 2020. Coach of the Year award for Parker and the MACCC Championship
With a 40-13 victory at Mississippi Gulf Coast, the Rangers trophy. Also, in a move that was announced just days before the
brought home, not one, but two trophies for winning MACCC and contest, Northwest was also awarded with the National Community
National Community College Football Championship titles, granting College Football Championship trophy, which will go down as a
Northwest its fourth national championship and its 10th conference national title for the fall season.
title. The Rangers also snapped the Bulldogs' 21-game winning Both honors are the first for Parker since taking over as head
streak that dated back to the 2018 season. coach in 2016. Parker previously helped Northwest to a national
"It feels great," Northwest coach Benjy Parker said. "Everybody championship in 2015 as the Rangers' defensive coordinator.
in our league had ups and downs with COVID-19, but our entire Northwest concluded the 2020 season at 6-0 overall, marking the
conference deserves a pat on the back for battling and making it program's first undefeated season since 2000 (10-0) and only the
through the season. I'm just proud of our team for getting this win." fourth all-time.
6 Fall 2020 | Spring 2021
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS
Northwest cheer earns
two championships at
College Nationals
After a near 20-year absence, Northwest Mississippi Community College's
cheerleading program made a triumphant return to the UCA and UDA College
Nationals this week, earning a pair of national championships.
Under the direction of second-year coach Brandon Casey, Northwest competed in
two categories, Game Day Cheer & Mascot and Open Cheer. In the Open Co-Ed Game
Day division of the cheer and mascot category, Northwest earned a performance
score of 94.9 in the semifinals and a 95.6 in the championship finals, finishing above
Drury University and a pair of Division I programs, Northwestern State and Grand
Canyon University.
In the Open Cheer category, Northwest rallied from a third-place finish in the Open
Small Co-Ed semifinals to earn an 86.5 performance score in the finals, finishing ahead
of Trine University and Coastal Alabama Community College.
"This was such an amazing opportunity for us," Casey said. "We are beyond blessed
to have such a great support system from the college. Our athletes worked so hard all
year long cheering on the Rangers and getting to represent Northwest by earning a
pair of championships on the national stage is a huge honor."
The Rocketeer 7
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS
Health Sciences hosts CARES show and tell
In February, the School of Health Sciences held an impressive With the 2020-2021 schoolyear looking a little different due to
“show and tell” event to demonstrate how the school has the COVID-19 pandemic, Mullins said she wondered at the start
benefited from CARES Act funding. whether students would be nervous to enter health care. However,
Through $1,599,743 in funding provided through the she said students are more excited than ever to serve others.
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the “Our motto at the School of Health Sciences is that you serve
School of Health Sciences was able to purchase equipment that is one to serve all,” she said. “As faculty, we serve one student, and
elevating students’ skills training experiences. that student is going to serve a patient. We’re going to multiply
“It has impacted our programs across all of our 11 districts,” said across the state, and hopefully have a real impact on health care in
Dr. Stephanie Mullins, dean of the School of Health Sciences.
the state of Mississippi in helping to improve patient care.”
“This money has opened up opportunities for our students to
learn in so many new ways, and provided more of that hands-on
training that is so desperately needed in health care facilities.”
According to Mullins, much of the equipment is typically found
at four-year universities, but not typically available to community
colleges.
“It has gotten students excited about health care, and faculty so
excited about teaching,” Mullins said.
Some of the equipment that faculty and students are most
excited about includes simulation mannequins, a 3-D, touchscreen
imaging table and electronic medical records.
“The mannequins are awesome in the way that when clinical
sites shut down and we weren’t able to get our students into
some of these facilities, the simulation mannequins provided our
students with these hands-on opportunities,” Mullins said. “We
have a birthing mannequin, and we can practice prenatal care,
labor and delivery and even a baby-after-birth simulation.”
The 3-D anatomy table is not only being utilized by students in
the School of Health Sciences, but is also available to all science
programs. Additionally, with the days of paper patient charts
behind us, students are using newly purchased electronic medical
records to get students into the practice before they actually
begin their careers.
8 Fall 2020 | Spring 2021