Panola College
September 13, 2023 - Panola College is still one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to the Great Colleges to Work For program.
The results, released in a special insert of The Chronicle of Higher Education, are based on a survey of 194 colleges and universities. In all, 72 of those institutions achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition for specific best practices and policies. Results are reported for small, medium, and large institutions, with Panola College included among the small universities with 500 to 2,999 students.
Panola College won honors in all 10 categories this year – a first for the College:
Job Satisfaction & Support;
Compensation & Benefits;
Professional Development;
Mission & Pride;
Supervisor/Department Chair Effectiveness;
Confidence in Senior Leadership;
Faculty & Staff Well-being;
Shared Governance;
Faculty Experience;
Diversity, Inclusion, & Belonging.
Panola College was also named to the Great Colleges Honor Roll, a status granted to only 42 colleges each year who are highlighted most across the recognition categories.
“Being recognized in this way for 12 consecutive years is a very satisfying affirmation of Panola College, but our real goal is not recognition – it’s being a community that values the needs and contributions of everyone,” said Dr. Greg Powell, Panola College president. “I am extremely proud of the Board of Trustees, the faculty, staff, and all of our students.”
The survey results are based on a two-part assessment process: an institution questionnaire that captures employment data and workplace policies from each institution, and a survey administered to faculty, administrators, and professional support staff. The primary factor in deciding whether an institution received recognition was the employee feedback.
The Great Colleges to Work For program is one of the largest and most respected workplace-recognition programs in the country. For more information and to view all current and previously recognized institutions, visit the Great Colleges program website at GreatCollegesProgram.com and GreatCollegesList.com.
ModernThink, a strategic human capital consulting firm, administered the survey and analyzed the results.
September 8, 2023 - Panola College theatre will present “Greater Tuna” by Joe Sears, Jaston Williams, and Ed Howard as its annual dinner theatre production on Friday and Saturday, September 22 and 23, and as a dessert matinee on Sunday, September 24.
“Greater Tuna” is a comedy about the third smallest town Texas, Tuna, where its citizens are loyal to the local radio station, the Lion’s Club is too liberal, and Patsy Cline never dies.
“We are very excited about this show, and would love for everyone to come enjoy an evening of dinner, laughs, and theatre,” said Kim Funderburk, director of theatre at Panola College.
Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 6:30 p.m. for the Friday and Saturday performances. Dessert will be served and the show will begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday. All performances will take place in the Elizabeth R. Hedges Studio Theatre.
Performances are by reservation only and space is limited. To reserve tickets, visit panola.booktix.net. Tickets are on sale now through September 15.
August 24, 2023 - The faculty and staff of Panola College welcomed students back to our Shelby County locations at SRTC and SCC on Wednesday, August 23. There are welcome activities planned all week for students to enjoy and learn about resources that are available to them as Panola College students.
If you have been thinking of attending college and aren’t sure where to start call us today at 936-591-9075 as late registration ends on August 29, 2023.
August 18, 2023 - The Panola College Foundation awarded 25 faculty and staff grants, totaling $89,566, to support a variety of programs and areas at Panola College this year.
The grants allow employees at Panola College to pursue high-quality, imaginative, and innovative improvement of student success, professional development opportunities, and minor program enhancements such as equipment and supply purchases.
Toni Biggs, the 2023-2024 chair of the Panola College Foundation, announced the recipients of the grants at a faculty and staff meeting on Wednesday, August 16, at the College.
“In today’s dynamic educational landscape, where change is the only constant, looking for new ways to help students reach their educational goals is imperative,” said Biggs. “The Foundation applauds your unwavering commitment to nurturing student success.”
The 2023-2024 grants include funding for the following:
- Carol Brightwell: Eight Adult and 12 Infant Training Manikins for CPR
- Amanda Clements: Two Traveling Exhibits and Two Displays with Lights for the Allison Gallery
- Don Clinton: Recumbent, Elliptical, and Upright Bike for the Fitness Center
- Rebecca Courtney: New Shelving and Storage for Increased Organization and Backstock
- Dwayne Ferguson: 15 Microsoft Office Specialist Exam Vouchers
- Wendy Green: 10 Certified Nurse Aide Handwash Training Kits
- Haylie Handley, Amanda Clements, and Kathy Watlington: Museum Field Trip for Fall and Spring
- Dwaine Hubbard: Four Shure SM 58 Microphones
- Chelsea Hudson: 16 Athlete Stools with Panola Logo
- Karen King and Kim Funderburk: Professional Light Board for Q.M. Auditorium
- Cancee Lester: Five Laptops for the SRTC Laptop Cart
- Rebecca Morris and Kathy Watlington: Field trip to the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum and the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
- Rebecca Morris, Kathy Watlington, and Roberta Collinsworth: Provides 30 Google Certified Educator Certifications for AAT students
- Jessica Pace, Amber Wilcots, Denise Welch, and Whitney McBee: AwardSpring Scholarship Software
- Michael Pace: HVAC Tools and Supplies
- Michael Pace: Pipe-cutting and Threading Machine
- Kevin Rutherford and Laura Wood: Sarcomere Model that Shows the Contraction of the Muscle Fiber
- Kevin Rutherford, Julie Green, and Dale Saenz: Student Engagement Equipment
- Bobbie Smith: Student Reception Chairs
- Bobbie Smith: 51 Anti-fatigue Mats for Center and Carthage
- Monica Thompson: Book Covering System
- Laura Wood: Two Smart TVs for Collaboration Stations
- Laura Wood: Four Video Sound Bars for Classrooms
- Laura Wood and Kevin Rutherford: Biology Lab Counters
- Jaynellen Wylie: Two 24" Monitors and Adjustable Instructor Desk
Pictured from top to bottom, left to right: Joseph Kuligoski, Matthew Benoit, Aaron Williams, Jeff Murray, Jamesha Hodge, Mary Hilliard, Jared Reynolds, Kimberley Funderburk, Casie Risinger, Ideria Garrett, Dr. Angela Lucas, Lisa Underwood, Elizabeth Hobbs, and Ashley Parker
August 15, 2023 - Panola College is proud to announce 14 new hires for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Matthew Benoit – Police Officer
Kimberley Funderburk – Professor, Theatre
Ideria Garrett – Professor, Vocational Nursing
Mary Hilliard – College Store Clerk
Elizabeth Hobbs – Professor, Associate Degree Nursing
Jamesha Hodge – College Store Clerk
Joseph Kuligoski – Head Coach, Men’s Basketball
Dr. Angela Lucas – Professor, Psychology
Jeff Murray – Maintenance Technician
Ashley Parker – Coordinator, Certified Nurse Aide and Patient Care Technician
Jared Reynolds – Professor, Economics
Casie Risinger – Professor, Associate Degree Nursing
Lisa Underwood – Instructor, Vocational Nursing
Aaron Williams – Student Life Coordinator
August 15, 2023 - Panola College, at our Shelby College location in Center, is offering two Certified Nurse Aide classes for our Fall semester. We will offer day and evening classes. We have Grant, Scholarship and Self-Pay opportunities available. For more information and to register, contact the Shelby College Center at 936-598-9543 or email: tmccann@panola.edu.
July 20, 2023 - Panola College, at our Carthage and Marshall locations will be offering Patient Care Technician classes for Fall semester. We have Grant, Scholarship and Self-Pay opportunities available. For more information and to register, contact Panola College Workforce and Continuing Education at 903-693-1198/936-598-9543 or email: ashley.parker@panola.edu.
June 16, 2023 - All Panola college locations will be closed today, Friday, June 16, due to weather related issues.
Jessica Pace, Vice President of Institutional Advancement
June 7, 2023 - H-E-B Grocery Company donated $5,000 to the Emergency Aid program at Panola College on Monday, June 5. Greg Powell, Panola College president, and seven representatives from the emergency aid team were on site at the local H-E-B in Carthage to thank the corporation for its generous support.
The Emergency Aid program was established at the College in 2021 through a grant from the Greater Texas Foundation. The goal of the program is to assist students who experience an unexpected emergency that could prevent them from completing their education.
“Since establishing the Emergency Aid program, we have been able to provide assistance to over 300 students,” said Amber Wilcots, advancement coordinator at Panola College. “Because of the support from H-E-B, we will be able to make a positive impact on even more students during the upcoming semester.”
The program receives hundreds of requests each year requesting assistance for gas, medical needs, food, clothing, and transportation issues. Students are able to submit a request once every semester. Each application undergoes a case-by-case review, and the program's support enables an impressive 80 to 90 percent of students to overcome these obstacles and successfully pursue their education.
“For over 115 years, H-E-B has contributed to worthy causes, and we continue to support our community as strongly as ever,” said Anna Bryant from H-E-B’s public affairs team. “It is our sincere hope that our support will help make the Emergency Aid program a success.”
Additional information about the Emergency Aid program may be found online at panola.edu/resources.
June 2, 2023 — Stephen F. Austin State University has partnered with Panola College to offer the Panola Pathway with SFA, which will allow students to expand on their associate degree to eventually earn a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from SFA.
The program, slated to begin its inaugural courses this summer, is pending approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
In this unique distance-learning education program, students who earned an Associate of Arts in teaching from Panola College will enroll in SFA courses taught online or on the Panola campus to eventually earn a BSIS from SFA. This program will also prepare students to sit for the Texas teaching certification exams.
“It’s important to create pathways toward teacher certification that remove barriers for students,” said Dr. Jannah Nerren, chair of SFA’s Department of Education Studies. “There is a nationwide teacher shortage that creates an urgency for bolstering the teacher pipeline. We believe in the power of a university-prepared teacher and want to work with our community college partners to provide pathways that produce high-quality teachers while understanding and creatively overcoming some of the barriers students face.
Though primarily online, the program will offer at least one face-to-face course per semester on the Panola Collage campus beginning fall 2023. Students will choose between two concentrations — early childhood through grade 6 or 4-8 middle-level education. Students will also have six different areas of content focus to choose from, including core subjects EC-6; core subjects 4-8; English, language arts and reading 4-8; math 4-8; science 4-8; and social studies 4-8.
“Students will have the advantage of a distance education program with face-to-face support in their home area,” Nerren said. “There are many community college and university partnerships, but this one is unique in that SFA classes and certification testing support will be offered on the Panola College campus.”
Throughout the program, students will be exposed to field-based experiences and complete field hours, which are hours spent in Texas prekindergarten through 12th grade classrooms to provide hands-on, authentic experience with teaching.
Interested students will need to apply to SFA through the Apply to SFA page. Then, they will be prompted to send an email to Dr. Susan Reily, associate professor and program coordinator, at reilys@sfasu.edu indicating the certification path they are interested in pursuing and request additional information about applying for the Panola Pathway to SFA program. Once completed, candidates can begin enrolling now in summer 2023 online courses.
For more information, visit gosfa.com/panolapathway or contact Dr. Elizabeth Gound, assistant professor and program advisor, at goundeliza@sfasu.edu.
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