Panola College
March 5, 2026 - Panola College theatre earned top honors at the 2026 Texas Community College Speech and Theatre Association (TCCSTA) Play Festival, securing an impressive 39 awards for its productions of The Boys Next Door and …from Hardscrabble.
Hosted on the Panola College campus February 25 to 28, the Festival welcomed six community colleges from across Texas. Performances were held in the Q.M. Martin Auditorium and the Elizabeth R. Hedges Studio Theatre.
Panola College received 38 individual awards along with the prestigious Overall Excellence Award for the production of …from Hardscrabble.
Excellence in Technical Design Director’s/Professor’s Choice
Kayla Bell – Excellence in Dramaturgy, The Boys Next Door
Avery Caldwell – Excellence in Lighting Design, The Boys Next Door
Shane Hand – Excellence in Stage Management, The Boys Next Door
Daniel Hoover – Excellence in Dramaturgy, The Boys Next Door
Jewel Humberson – Excellence in Stage Management, The Boys Next Door
Superior in Technical Design Director’s/Professor’s Choice
Tessa Braden – Superior in Dramaturgy, …from Hardscrabble
Jewel Humberson – Superior in Hair / Make-up Design, …from Hardscrabble
Laiken Steward – Superior in Sound Design, …from Hardscrabble
Kayla Bell – Superior in Prop Design, …from Hardscrabble
Naomi Gilcrease – Superior in Costume Design, …from Hardscrabble
LeeAnna Milam – Superior in Prop Design, …from Hardscrabble
Excellent in Technical Design Respondent’s Choice
Tessa Braden – Excellent in Costume Design, The Boys Next Door
Naomi Gilcrease – Excellent in Costume Design, The Boys Next Door
Benjamin Clay – Excellent in Scenic Design, The Boys Next Door
Justin Wilkerson – Excellent in Scenic Design, The Boys Next Door
Superior in Technical Design Respondent’s Choice
James Burgess – Superior in Scenic Design, …from Hardscrabble
Jesse Goodman – Superior in Sound Design, …from Hardscrabble
Eddie Harris, II – Superior in Scenic Design, …from Hardscrabble
Steven Hollomond – Superior in Sound Design, …from Hardscrabble
Laiken Steward – Superior in Sound Design, …from Hardscrabble
Justin Wilkerson – Superior in Scenic Design, …from Hardscrabble
Audience Choice in Acting
Justin Wilkerson, The Boys Next Door and …from Hardscrabble
Director’s/Professor’s Choice in Acting
Ethan Miles, The Boys Next Door
Justin Wilkerson, …from Hardscrabble
Excellent in Acting Respondent’s Choice
James Burgess, …from Hardscrabble
Eddie Harris, II, The Boys Next Door
June LaGrone, The Boys Next Door and …from Hardscrabble
Ethan Miles, …from Hardscrabble
Superior in Acting Respondent’s Choice
Ethan Miles, The Boys Next Door
Kaylin Miller, …from Hardscrabble
Justin Wilkerson, The Boys Next Door and …from Hardscrabble
Memorial or Named Awards
LeeAnna Milam – Special Merritt Award, The Boys Next Door and …from Hardscrabble
Kaylin Miller – Bill Morton Award for Outstanding Acting, …from Hardscrabble
Justin Wilkerson – Greg Schneider Award for Best Technical Excellence and John Charles Corley Award for Best Technical Presentation, …from Hardscrabble
The Company – For the Production: Excellent and Respondents, …from Hardscrabble
February 19, 2026 - The Panola College Esports program is officially off to a winning start. After launching the new program last fall, the College entered its first regulated competition on February 10 and earned its first official victory.
Causen Perrette led the charge in Super Smash Bros., competing against an opponent from Ellsworth Community College in Iowa. “The Esports program has helped me rediscover my love for gaming, so I am very happy to have won my first set,” said Perrette.
The Esports program was established to empower students through teamwork, communication, leadership, and critical thinking. While competition is a key component, the program’s mission extends beyond gaming. Students gain valuable life and career skills including strategic planning, collaboration under pressure, problem-solving, and digital communication.
“Seeing how Causen and the rest of our Smash team have been improving, I can say fullheartedly that I am very excited to see how we progress in the future,” said Wesley Kemp, Esports Coach at Panola College.
Participants have the opportunity to represent the College in structured, regulated tournaments governed by the National Junior College Athletic Association Esports (NJCAAE), the national governing body for two-year college Esports programs. Through NJCAAE competition, student-athletes engage in organized league play that mirrors traditional collegiate athletics in structure and standards.
As the program continues its inaugural season, Panola College looks forward to building on its early success and expanding opportunities for students to compete at a high level.
Panola College will host a Preview Day on Saturday, February 21, beginning at 1pm on its Carthage campus. The event is designed for prospective students and anyone interested in learning more about becoming a Panola College student.
Preview Day offers attendees the opportunity to explore campus, discover academic programs and pathways, and experience what life at the College is really like. The event will include a brief admissions presentation, campus tours tailored to students’ fields of interest, and a department fair where prospective students can meet with professors and College representatives. An application station will be available for those ready to apply, along with a financial aid table to assist with questions and next steps.
“Preview Day is an exciting opportunity for students and families to see firsthand what Panola College has to offer,” said Don Clinton, Vice President of Student Services. “We encourage anyone who is considering Panola College to come out, explore our campus, meet our faculty and staff, and see why Panola College is a great place to start or continue their educational journey.”
Preview Day will take place alongside several other campus events, allowing visitors to experience the vibrant campus atmosphere. The Panola College Ponies and Fillies basketball teams will play home games at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. in the Arthur Johnson Gymnasium.
In addition, the Panola College Theatre Department will present two productions on February 21. The Boys Next Door will be performed at 11am in the Q.M. Martin Auditorium, followed by from Hardscrabble at 3pm in the Elizabeth R. Hedges Studio Theatre.
Those interested in attending Preview Day may sign up now through February 19 by completing the online registration form at bit.ly/3ZP50vD.
For more information about Preview Day, email Jamie Reed, Director of Admissions, at jamie.reed@panola.edu.
January 28, 2026 - Panola College will resume all operations, including classes, tomorrow, Thursday, January 29 at 9am.
January 27, 2026 - All Panola College campuses will remain closed tomorrow, Wednesday, January 28.
January 26, 2026 - Out of an abundance of caution for the safety of faculty, staff, and students, all Panola College campuses will be closed tomorrow, January 27, and all classes will move to a virtual format.
January 25, 2026 - Due to inclement weather, Panola College will close all locations on Monday, January 26.
The College will continue to monitor conditions and provide an update regarding Tuesday as soon as possible.
January 23, 2026 - Panola College is closely monitoring weather forecasts due to the potential for inclement weather in our area. The safety of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors remains our top priority. Any decisions regarding delayed openings or campus closures will be made with careful consideration and communicated as early as possible.
Official updates will be shared through the Panola College website and our official social media channels. If no announcement is made, the College will operate on its normal schedule. We encourage everyone to stay informed, monitor local weather conditions, and check official Panola College communication channels for the latest information.
Pictured from left to right: Desiree Nitzschke, A’Breisha Ware, Wesley Kemp, and Sherry Cheever.
January 14, 2026 - Panola College is pleased to announce four new hires for the Spring 2026 semester. These additions and advancements reflect the College’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence, student success, and institutional growth.
The College is excited to welcome the following new hires:
- Sherry Cheever – ADN Clinical Professor
- Wesley Kemp – Esports Coach
- Desiree Nitzschke – Secretary to the Dean of Career and Technical Programs
- A’Breisha Ware – Health Science Specialist
January 12, 2026 - The Panola College Alumni Association is now accepting nominations for its 2026 Alumni of the Year award. Nominations may be submitted online through February 4, 2026, by visiting panola.edu/alumni.
The Alumni of the Year award is presented annually during the spring semester, recognizing alumni who have enhanced the reputation of the College by distinguishing themselves in their careers and have made significant contributions to their community through professional service, public service, and civic activities.
To be eligible, nominees must be a Panola College alumnus, demonstrate qualities that inspire pride among faculty, staff, students, and fellow alumni, and be able to attend the May 2026 commencement ceremony, where the award will be presented.
A complete list of nomination criteria and additional details can be found on the Panola College alumni webpage.
For questions or more information, contact the Office of Institutional Advancement by calling 903-693-2029 or emailing alumni@panola.edu.
January 10, 2026 - Panola College is proud to announce the students named to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2025 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 2025 Dean’s List is as follows:
Shelby County Students
Center - Angel Alvarado, Christian Caporali, Roberto Diaz, Chasity Fountain, Madalin Henry, Luis Hernandez Ramirez, Kedrin Hinson, Christina Lopez, Madolyn Lout, Joshua Mejia, Kasandra Moreno, Tiara Sampson, Briseyda Solis, Alexis Truitt, and Angel Valdez
Joaquin - Kyleigh Avery, Molly Bushiey, Kristina Ford, Mary Hilliard, and Paloma Salvador
Shelbyville - Armando Caporali and Cailyn McArthur
Tenaha - Lillie Bone, Diana Flores, Bre'unna Gregory, Korneilia Hill, Madison Lee, Josiah Menefee, Katherine Parmer, and Leslie Posadas
Timpson - Emily Bennett, Peyton Bilyeu, Jackson Campbell, Madeline Cassell, Luis Castillo Jr., Grant Gregory, Madison Grigsby, Laura Jones, Maliah Norris, Aiden Otis, Laura Pledger, Tristan Ramsey, Larry Rios, Jalia Scourton, Sean White, and Khloe Williams
Ankara - Elif Bilgin
Beckville - Hailey Billingsley, Karsyn Coleman, Devany Gonzalez, Israel Phillips Jr., Oscar Rivera, Landon Smith, and Aidan Sokol
Belize - Blessed Omamurhe
Branch, La. - Sarigh Mitchell
Carthage - Markeisha Allison, Gabrieal Barnes, Alyssa Billiott, Cason Bishop, Jorden Bonds, Ayden Brown, Alexandria Cremeans, Brianna Gray, Ava Hopper, Kilee Johnson, Gabriella Laney, Isaac Larson, Caroline Lawrence, Felix Maldonado, Ryan Martin, Kaden McAlister, Miller McCurdy, Mauricio Medrano, Isabella Miller, Abigail Monroe, Mya Nelson, Breanna Pinkerton, Caden Ross, Anna Runnels, Billie Teets, Rylan Welch, and Landon Williams
Chagrin Falls, Ohio - James Cerha
Coboconk - William Grainger
Conroe - Misty Cader
DeBerry - Zarionne Glenn, Michelle Gonzalez, Lauren Light, Kennon Pruiett, Kendal Ray, and Shamari Smith
Diana - Karlee Youmans
Drummondville - Felix Gosselin
Garrison - Travis Barton, Coleman Bruister, Allie Cook, and Madison Dawson
Hemphill - Trenton Neal
Henderson - Laura Casey and Roston Reid
Houston - Haley Precella
Jefferson - Maia Cooper and Tachala Pauley
Kingwood - Brian Schumacher
Laneville - Michel Almazan and Benjamin Clay
Logansport, La. - Jessica Britt, Madeline Castillo, and Roper Smith
Long Branch - Casey Powers and Hannah Segers
Longview - Deyonna Daniels, Daniela Gomez, and Giovanni Lopez
Mansfield, La. - Labrea Jones
Marshall - Makenzi Ansley, Wendy Baez, Robynn Closure, Sierra Darthard, Anna Estes, Lexie Everett, Leslie Goheen, Jennifer Guerrero, Harleigh Jackson, Becky Jimenez, Emma Keeling, Brendan Loveless, Estrella Montes, Maci Morris, Megan Newton, Daniel Silva Jr., Aracely Vega-Gonzalez, and Matney May
Montgomery - Preston Lynch
Mount Enterprise - Mary Ashmore
Nacogdoches - Amy Hall
Nieuw-Vennep - Just Van Den Ouweelen
Palestine - Shamiya Black
Richmond - George McMillan
Saint George - Akinde Redhead
San Augustine - Keeara Borders, Jaya Clifton, and Diego Covarrubias
San Zenone - Carlotta Bizzotto
Shreveport, La. - Kendall Dykes, Cierra Marroquin, and Audrey Tisby
Stonewall, La. - Rileigh Falls and Emma Lane
Tatum - Cason Dodson, Brody Downs, LeeAnna Milam, and Junior Nunez Jr.
Upper Marlboro, Md. - Tamilore Sofola
Waskom - Collier Head, Katelyn Hearon, Emily Nealy, and Jewel Sanders
Wilsonville, Ala. - Maddilyn Silva
Woodville - Shane Hand
Yenagoa Bayelsa - Gloria Tony
January 10, 2026 - Panola College is proud to announce the students named to the President’s List for the Fall 2025 semester.
To qualify for the President’s List, students must complete the semester with a GPA between 3.8 and 4.0 with a minimum of 12 semester credit hours. Only courses applying toward an associate degree or certificate are included in the computation.
The Fall 2025 President’s List is as follows:
Shelby County Students
Center - Lena Amburn, Shyann Barbee, Austin Clark, Lucero Espinosa, Angelica Garcia, Klaryssa Gutierrez, Gavin Hudson, Jenna Hughes, Tori Jordan, Katelynn King, Liela Klein, Monique Love, Kaylin Miller, Garcia Moreno, Alexandra Olalde, Dulce Sandiego, Addison Slocum, Elizabeth Spruiell, Carla Stanley, Nguyen Tran, and Hudsyn Wulf
Joaquin - Jackson Griffin, Haleigh Lynch, Ashley Mares, and Joyce Permenter
Shelbyville - Cheyenne Berlin, Rhett Haggard, Alana Jamison, Olivia Orear, and Ruiz Ortiz
Tenaha - Britney Barona, Efrain Hernandez, Erick Lopez-Luna, Michael Parmer, Yelitza Perez, Fatima Romero, Devonta Williams, and Ciro Sandoval
Timpson - Seth Duke, Jack Hall, Jasmin Rojas, Jaterris Taylor, Caroline Timmons, and Sierra Wolford
Albany, Ga. - Korey Fortson
Alvin - Andrew Martin
Archdale, N.C. - Shila Williams
Arp - Abigail Bishop
Avinger - Alyssa Hicks
Beckville - Jackson Biggs, Madison Boelter, Maggie Davidson, Micah Dragoo, Rebekah Dragoo, Dulce Ibarra, Lexi Ladymon, Mariana Salgado, Anna Seaman, Kellen Weaver, and Chloe Williams
Bronson - Alexandrea Powell
Carthage - Eden Andrews, Greyson Arwine, Colin Bates, Kenlie Bishop, Allison Bitter, Hollie Buell, Coleman Bullock, Micaelah Burns, Wendy Campos, Kaylee Chase, Caroline Cockerham, Christina Cockerham, Jayce Davis, Taylor Dixon, Meira Dodda, Evan Dunn, Joshua Dunn, Koray Erdogan, Daniela Farias, Caylee Faulkner, Ty Gauntt, Jarnai Hill, Martha Iniguez, Miller Ivy, Dakota Johnson, Caroline LaGrone, Nathan Lenox, Benicio Leons, Olivia Lipsey, Ahlyss McDaniel, Cota Medrano, Casie Montagne, Ronette Moore, America Olvera, Kooper Pace, Jadyn Parks, Austin Powell, Madelynn Pugh, Lizett Rodriguez, Ava Shull, Addison Shumate, Jackquelyn Sigala, Matthew Smith, Marshall Sparks, Stormi Tutt, Colton Vickery, Alyssa Walker, and James Zimmerman
Converse, La. - Alexis Austin and Maci Morgan
DeBerry - Shelly Avery, Shaniya Johnson, Lexi Keeling Sherrod, Kyrstin Mercer, Ashley Wolfe, and Jennifer Yates
Douglas, Ga. - Mailey Sinclair
Fresno - Alannah Nerocker
Frierson, La. - Kimberly McKinney
Garrison - Britney Black, Ryan Chhim, and Latonya Christopher
Gary - Joel Mitchell and James Shaub
Gilmer - Dana Hernandez
Grand Cane, La. - Zoe Worthington
Greenville - Suzan Ceylan
Hallsville - Mysti Mullinnex
Henderson - Hope Lynn, Lainee Self, and Rylie Whalen
Houston - Caden Wellmann
Huntington - Chloe Marquardt
Jefferson - Kalina Jeffley, Payten Kimble, Karen Montuerto, Michael Phillips, and Richard Snelgrove
Karnack - Jennifer Smith
Laneville - Jacey Ross
Lipan - Micah Wallace
Long Branch - Cooper Walters
Longview - Tori Feuchtenberger
Mansfield, La. - Micheal Johnson
Marshall - Sabrina Anderson, Chance Bolin, Jaleah Brazzell, Alondra Carbajal, Jake Dodd, Maria Lopez, Landaverde Martinez, Randy Moore II, Nhyomi Neal, Cristal Pena, Natalie Peralta, Nathaly Tinoco, and Robert Simpson
McKinney - Hudson Boring
Mirabel - Justin Anctil
Nacogdoches - Travis Burkhalter, Kinsey Fults, Keaton Lout, Evie Moran, Emory Muckleroy, Karsyn Renfro, Emily Self, and Elyssa Welch
Okotoks - Preston Tocheniuk
Overton - Tanya Gonzalez
Richardson - Breeanna Wilson
San Augustine - River Williford
Shreveport, La. - Bella Bickham
Stonewall, La. - Makayla Panther
Stonewall, La. - Aaliyah Yates
Tatum - Jamie Warden
Texarkana - Shenithra Evans
Upper Marlboro, Md. - Tofunmi Sofola and Tunmise Sofola
Waskom - Tanisha Gordon and Kacie Richmond
Zavalla - Madelyne Nunn
December 17, 2025 - The Gas Compressor Association (GCA) presented a $19,800 donation to the Panola College School of Energy during a special career day event on campus. Mark Davis with JW Power, representing the GCA, delivered the check on behalf of the association.
This contribution is a strategic investment in our students, supporting scholarships and strengthening the hands-on equipment inside training labs. The GCA’s commitment helps ensure the College’s programs remain aligned with industry expectations, and their network of partners continues to expand opportunities for students.
“We value the relationships the GCA has helped us cultivate and truly appreciate their continued leadership in workforce development,” said Daniel Hall, School of Energy Chair. “Their partnership remains instrumental to the growth and success of the Panola College School of Energy.”
For more information about the Panola College School of Energy and its programs, please visit www.panola.edu/energy.
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