Shelby County Today

March 24, 2024 - The Panola College Board of Trustees has voted unanimously to name Dr. Jessica Pace as the sole finalist to become the 11th President and first female to lead Panola College. Dr. Pace embodies the values of excellence, integrity, and innovation, and her visionary leadership, coupled with her deep-rooted ties to the community, makes her uniquely qualified to lead the College to a future of continued growth and excellence.

“We are very proud to select Dr. Jessica Pace as the next President of Panola College,” said William Goolsby, Board of Trustees Chair. “The Board looks forward to welcoming Dr. Pace into her new role and is confident that her leadership will inspire excellence throughout the institution.”

Dr. Pace is a Carthage native who attended Panola College after graduating from Carthage High School. She holds a Doctorate in Learning and Organizational Change from Baylor University, a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management from the University of North Texas, and a Bachelor of Science in Merchandising, also from the University of North Texas. Additionally, she is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).

As Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Panola College since 2014, Dr. Pace spearheaded initiatives that significantly impacted the College's growth and success. In that position, she was responsible for the Panola College Foundation, marketing, public relations, alumni, scholarships, special events, grant opportunities, and other special projects. Under her leadership, the College's endowment total surged from $3.6 million to an impressive $12 million, a testament to her strategic fundraising skills and stewardship. She was also instrumental in increasing the annual number of student scholarships from 80 to more than 600.

Notably, Dr. Pace led the fundraising efforts and implementation of groundbreaking programs such as the Panola College Promise Program, Emergency Aid Program, and emergency scholarships, which have provided invaluable support to students. Her adept management of donor relations and fundraising efforts resulted in over $5 million raised within a four-year period, fostering a culture of philanthropy and support for the College. Moreover, she developed the largest sponsor-related fundraiser, Designer Purse Bingo, that has hosted a sellout crowd over the past 12 events.

In addition to her role as Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Dr. Pace has served as an adjunct faculty member since 2011, teaching classes for both transfer and technical. Prior to her tenure in Advancement, Dr. Pace held various positions including Panola College Store Manager and Tech Prep Coordinator.

Dr. Pace's professional achievements are complemented by her extensive involvement in professional organizations and community service activities. She has served in leadership roles in national, state, and regional associations, including the Texas Association of Community College Foundations and the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network. Locally, she is a member of the Carthage Rotary Club and serves as a Chamber of Commerce Ambassador. Additionally, she worked with the City of Carthage to design and raise funds for an all-inclusive, intergenerational park for the community, which won the 2022 Texas Municipal League Excellence Award.

Dr. Pace lives in Carthage with her husband, Michael Pace, and their two children, Sarina and Sawyer.

“As I step into the role of President, I am both honored and humbled by the opportunity to lead Panola College forward, and feel fortunate to follow in the footsteps of Dr. Greg Powell and build upon his remarkable legacy,” said Dr. Pace. “My career has been marked by a steadfast focus on student success, working to remove barriers for students and ensure their achievement. I am extremely excited to continue serving our community and navigating the ever-changing landscape of higher education, ensuring that the College remains at the forefront of innovation and excellence.”

Under state law and Board policy, the Board must wait 21 days before officially appointing Pace to the position. The Board will officially offer the position to Dr. Pace at the April 29, 2024, Board meeting.

The Board would like to thank the college community for its continued support throughout the search process. Additionally, the Board would like to thank the Executive Search Committee for its exceptional work and effort. The Committee, which was chaired by Kevin Smith, included Dr. Kevin Rutherford, Daron McDaniel, Annissa Jackson, Alan Howard, Denise Welch, Whitney McBee, Jody Harris, Kaycee McKnight, Toni Biggs, and Lyle Harriman, a representative from Student Government Association. Dr. Greg Powell and Jeremy Dorman served as ex officio members.

February 20, 2024 - Panola College was awarded $249,930 through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s TRUE grant program, supporting the development of an Occupational Skills Award in Industrial Communications and Measurement along with the installation of an immersive interactive technology lab for cutting edge training.

The technology will bring industry sites into the classroom for a more effective and versatile experience, equipping students with more skills in various applications of theory than ever. Industry partners will be able to share real time, in the field, scenarios with trainees to immerse them into the setting for a real-world experience.

“This new credit-bearing credential can be stand alone, earned in one semester, or added onto any credential currently offered at the College for upskilling and marketability,” said Natalie Oswalt, Dean of Arts, Sciences, and Technology at Panola College. “It will be offered in a hybrid modality, with the immersive lab portion being face-to-face and other materials presented online.”

The TRUE grant program was established to support the creation, expansion, or redesign of workforce education and training programs that are in high-demand

January 30, 2024 - Panola College is proud to announce the students named to the Dean’s Lists for the Fall 2023 semester.

To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must complete the semester with a GPA between 3.5 and 3.79 with a minimum of 12 semester credit hours. Only courses applying toward an associate degree or certificate are included in the computation.

The Fall 2023 Dean’s List is as follows:

Shelby County Students

Allison Adamcryk, Center
Daniela Angel, Center
Jason Arcibar, Center
Kelly Bridges, Center
Shelby Choate, Center
Ashlyn Creech, Center
Avery Faulkner, Center
Oscar Galvan, Center
Norma Gomez, Center
Osvaldo Guevara, Center
Jarely Hernandez, Center
Chandler Jones, Center
Macey McSwain, Center
Isai Morales, Center
Mariah Nash, Center
Whittany Payne, Center
Alexia Pineda, Center
Victor Romo, Center
Nadia Suaste, Center
Victoria Warren, Center
William Wyatt, Center

Kaylea Neal, Joaquin

Clayton Dean, Shelbyville
Brylee Scarborough, Shelbyville

Jennifer Diaz-Pacheco, Tenaha
Brianna Rivera, Tenaha

Keira Curtis, Timpson
Ashton Raines, Timpson
Holly Shrell, Timpson

Students from Other Areas

Luca Pastor, Amsterdam
Raphael Smeenk, Amsterdam

Alyssa Hicks, Avinger

Amber Harris, Beckville
Savanah Johns, Beckville
Dalton Millican, Beckville
Kacy Navarrette, Beckville
Hector Rivera, Beckville

Corbin Arwine, Carthage
Dulce Castro Carthage
Rayanne Cumbie, Carthage
Barbara Dyke, Carthage
Amber Earl, Carthage
Alayna Fehner, Carthage
Hayden Harrison, Carthage
Jarnai Hill, Carthage
David Hunter, Carthage
Kiley Hutto, Carthage
Katherine Lloyd, Carthage
Brookelyn Malone, Carthage
Jessye Massey, Carthage
Noah McMillan, Carthage
Jayden Mojica, Carthage
Alec Molloy, Carthage
Emilee Cherokee Patton, Carthage
Rebekah Powell, Carthage
Jackson Shearin, Carthage
Hannah Solis, Carthage
Kendal Tinkle, Carthage
Jaquelyn Travis, Carthage
Brannon Turner, Carthage
Tiffanie Wiggins, Carthage

Garrett Butenschoen, DeBerry
McKinna Chamness, DeBerry
Alexander Gonzalez, DeBerry
Todd Register, DeBerry
Bailey Smith, DeBerry
Mercedes Tridle, DeBerry

Taylor Garrett, Diana

Reagan Harrison, Eagle, Colo.

Mariela Molina, Farmersville

Carson Langford, Fort Worth

Connor Cassano, Frisco

Presleigh Chapman, Garrison
Trinity Davis-Hahn, Garrison

Danielle Harrison, Gary
Destiny Shepard, Gary
Summer Stuart, Gary

Elizabeth Webb, Grandview

Vanessa Conley, Hallsville
Julia Smith, Hallsville

Hannah Adams, Harleton

Hailey Allison, Henderson
Ashten Sanders, Henderson
Harley Smith, Henderson

Leanna Garrett, Karnack

Polycarp Michira, Keroka

Ariana Grimes, Kilgore
Matthew Huey, Kilgore

Aidan Welsh, Lake Charles, La.

Melissa Monroy, Logansport, La.

Kynlie Hooper, Longview
Vechata Huon, Longview
Jorden Writt, Longview

Nathan Love, Magnolia

Alexa Acosta, Marshall
Vanessa Barron, Marshall
Joshua Beasley, Marshall
Luis Estrada, Marshall
Savannah Foster, Marshall
Jakayla Lilly, Marshall
Brendan Loveless, Marshall
Chantal McCulloh, Marshall
Dayana Mendoza, Marshall
Estrella Montes, Marshall
Morgan Perkins, Marshall
Lauren Pritchard, Marshall
Kyla Shipwash, Marshall
Wesley Vasquez, Marshall
Kyara Vazquez, Marshall
Madalyn Warren, Marshall

Kelton Maxfield, Meridian, Idaho

Preston Shawhart, Mount Enterprise

Tianna Bolton, Nacogdoches
Mariaha Gentry, Nacogdoches
Cheyann Hobson, Nacogdoches
Cynthia Hood, Nacogdoches
Aliceann Kressin, Nacogdoches
Claudia Martinez, Nacogdoches
Jazmine Muro, Nacogdoches
Rodrick Payne, Nacogdoches

Olivia Bush, Port Arthur

Thomas Reinholt, Port Neches

Camila Pereira, Santa Cruz

Daniel Chukwusili, Shomolu

Maelena Thompson, Shreveport, La.

Lily Luna, Tatum

Pepper White, Waskom

Board Secretary Richard Thomas accepts his 30-year service award.

December 12, 2023 - Panola College honored 19 faculty and staff members, who represented a collective 215 years of service to the College, with awards at an annual holiday luncheon on December 12.

Christina Oldham accepts her 20-year service award.

“It is with great pride that we recognize the anniversaries of our faculty and staff,” said Dr. Gregory Powell, Panola College President. “At this important milestone, we express our sincere appreciation for their dedication. We strongly believe that each individual employee has the opportunity to add great value to Panola College.”

Mark Dickerson, Kasi Broussard, Jason Cook, Trellis McCann, and Laura Vance accept their 15-year service awards. Denise Welch, who has also served 15 years, is not pictured.

Board Secretary Richard Thomas was recognized for 30 years of service with the College; Christina Oldham was recognized for 20 years; Trellis McCann, Denise Welch, Kasi Broussard, Jason Cook, Mark Dickerson, and Laura Vance for 15 years; Kimberly Bishop, Bobbie Smith, Kelley Hammond, and Misty Coleman for 10 years; and Alan Howard, Angie Musgrove, Yvette Royal, Dr. Sherlynn Hall, Chasity Klingler, Larry Wade, Jr., and Carol Brightwell for five years.

 Kimberly Bishop, Misty Coleman, Kelley Hammond, and Bobbie Smith accept their 10-year service awards.

Carol Brightwell, Dr. Sherlynn Hall, Alan Howard, Chasity Klingler, and Angie Musgrove accept their 5-year service awards. Yvette Royal and Larry Wade, Jr., who have also served 5 years, are not pictured.