Panola College
May 22, 2023 - Panola College is proud to announce the students named to the President’s and Dean’s Lists for the Spring 2023 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 Spring 2023 President’s List is as follows:
(Shelby County Home Towns)
Center - Breanna Castillo, Oderay Figueroa, Luis Gonzalez, Hope Gorkhali, Adrianna Hines, David Howard, Dean Lester, Monica Olalde, Taylor Ramirez, Rosalinda Rojas, Katie Smith, Nadia Suaste, Savannah Tinsley, Jayden Wiggins
Joaquin - Nicole Cox, Kelley Fountain, Marissa Johnson
Shelbyville - Myla Wagstaff
Tenaha - Eduardo Flores, Angel Garcia, Kaleb Oswalt
Timpson - Marisol Benitez, Jerrad Bush, Kaylee Cox, Toni Milford, Pacey Rhodes, Jasmin Rojas
(Other Area Home Towns)
Allen - Caleb Chacon
Allentown, Pa - Luis Beato
Alto - Cassie Wallace
Amarillo - Tai Phetluangsy
Amsterdam - Luca Pastor
Beckville - Linzhi Hailey, Payton Jones, Darin Livingston, Karissa McDowell, Daniel Moore
Bernardo Do Campo - Lauanna Pino
Bossier City - Odunayo Olurotimi
Campinas - Araujo Hoffmann
Carthage - Barbara Adams, Casidi Boyd, Abigail Cawthon, Shirley Cox, Cammie Davis, Michael Delaney, Jose Deluna, Chukwudalu Egbejiogu, Hayden Harrison, April Kruger, Zachary La Grone, Makhai Lewis, Cara Liles, Candace Luker, Jayden Mojica, Leah Morales, Austin Morgan, Chloe Overman, Gabrielle Perez, Ruth Rodriguez, Shirley Rougely, Zane Schumacher, Jackson Shearin, Sawyer Smith, Hannah Solis, Lawrence Thompson, Samuel Watson, Kassidy Weatherford, Bailey Williford
Chicago - Tania Allen
College Station - Kyle Collins
Colmesneil - Scott Eddins
DeBerry - Jackson Illingworth, Lindsay Griffin, Aaliyah Roberson
Garrison - Peyton Chancellor, Kloe Stokes
Gary - Justin Courtney, Ty Ransom, Summer Stuart, Alyssa Travis
Grandview - Elizabeth Webb
Hallsville - Vanessa Conley, Shiloh Smith
Harleton - Zachary Busby
Hemphill - Rebecca Motes
Henderson - Tayton Best, Aubrey Klingler
Humacao, Pr - Edgardo Martinez
Idorodu - Chimeremeze Anumiheoma
Iota, La - Avery Young
Jefferson - Michelle Wagner
Karnak - Bibiana Agundiz
Lagos - Timileyin Sofola
Logansport, La - Sara Arbuckle
Long Branch - Katie Ash
Longview - Elijah Jackson, Allison Kemp, Wesley Kemp, Ashton Quintero
Magnolia - Nathan Love
Many La. - Lyric Scott
Marshall - Estephanie Cardenas, Brooke Davis, Kimberly Grimaldo-Cardenas, Jakayla Lilly, Chantal McCulloh, Eric McCulloh, Xamanda Ortiz, Lauren Pritchard, Addison Putnam, Caitlyn Theron, Mara Vernon
Mount Enterprise - Loida Cantu, Preston Shawhart
Nacogdoches - Mariaha Gentry, Chizoba Okpo
New Braunfels - Mary Hilliard, New Braunfels
Oakwood - Matt Keepers, Oakwood
Ota - Monica Uba
Pineland - Jessica Motes, Cassie Smith
Port Harcourt - Gertrude Bulus
Portland - Andrea Rosenbaum
Richardson - Frances Ezegrim
Stillwater, Minn. - Gionna Carr
Tatum - Aidan Anthony, Meagan Brown, Baylea Densman, Anna Koch, Chantea Moore, Gerardo Salgado
Tyler - Peter Werth
Vidor - Killian Mclaughlin
Vlaardingen - Raydley Legito
Waskom - Michelle Braden, Aubrey Connell, Markus Gonzalez
Izabely Benjamin Da Silva
May 4, 2023 - The Texas Success Center has selected Panola College’s Natalie Oswalt and Daron McDaniel to participate in the Leadership Academy for Student Success, a development program designed to provide mid-level community college faculty and staff with the critical skills and knowledge to improve student outcomes.
Oswalt, dean of arts, sciences, and technology, and McDaniel, professor and chair of humanities, communications, and fine arts will connect with other Texas Success Center fellows through project development and round table discussions, allowing them to learn in order to advance the student success agenda.
“Dean Oswalt and Professor McDaniel are very deserving of their selection to participate in the inaugural class of the Leadership Academy for Student Success,” said Dr. Greg Powell, Panola College president. “They are already leaders at the College, and this academy will give them the opportunity to share and learn from other successful participants from other Texas community colleges.”
Texas joins two other states in the project and will lead two cohorts of practitioners through the year-long curriculum. The first cohort is comprised of 40 faculty and staff from 22 community colleges.
“The Texas Leadership Academy is a crucial investment in the future of Texas as it prepares community college leaders with the tools and knowledge they need to enhance student success and support workforce development across the state,” added Dr. Cynthia Ferrell, executive director of the Texas Success Center.
April 24, 2023 - The Panola College Welding Technology department hosted a high school welding competition on April 20 at Shelby Regional Training Center in Center, Texas.
“Our goal in hosting this competition is for high school students to become better involved in welding technology,” said Clint Cassell, instructor of welding technology at Panola College. “It’s a great opportunity for students to compete against other students their age and to improve on the skills that are essential in the welding field.”
Joe Perez of Tenaha received first place, Talon Ammons of Many, La. received second place, Hayden Rolfe of Shelbyville received third place, Payton Lyons of Shelbyville received fourth place, and Corey Barnes of Timpson received fifth place.
Perez and Ammons both received scholarships to Panola College for placing first and second in the competition.
April 20, 2023 - Panola College and the Department of Workforce and Continuing Education will offer a variety of camps this summer for kids ages 5 and up. The camps will begin June 5 and take place throughout the months of June and July.
“We are very excited about the camps that will be offered this summer at Panola College,” said Whitney McBee, director of the department of workforce and continuing education. “We have several camps scheduled and we know that there is something for everyone to enjoy.”
The camps that will be offered are:
- Baseball Camp – June 5th to 7th
- Girls Basketball Camp – June 5th to 7th
- Glam Camp – June 8th
- Culinary & Crafts Camp (Center campus) – June 12th to 14th
- Anatomy Science Camp (Center campus) – June 12th to 14th
- Volleyball Camp – June 12th to 14th
- Super Smash Bros Tournament – June 12th to 15th
- Paint with Kate – June 16th
- Boys Basketball Camp – June 20th to 22nd
- Camp 911 – June 20th
- Bakeology – June 21st to 23rd
- Art Adventure – June 26th to 29th
- Bakeology – June 26th to 28th
- Paint with Kate – July 7th
- Camp Broadway – July 10th to 14th
- Fit Kids – July 10th to 12th
- Crafty Kids – July 17th to 19th
- Mad Scientists – July 17th to 19th
- Photography Camp – July 17th to 20th
- Music with Drew – July 24th to 28th
- Camp Ukulele – July 24th to 28th
- Kids in the Kitchen – July 24th to 26th
- Camp Discovery: CSI – July 31st to August 1st
Links to register – along with dates, times, age requirements, and costs – may be found at panola.edu/community. Contact the Department of Workforce and Continuing Education with any additional questions at 903-693-2067 or ce@panola.edu.
April 12, 2023 - The M.P. Baker Library of Panola College will host “Panola’s Picassos,” a showcase of art by area high school students, April 3 through 28 in the Fay Allison Gallery.
“I am very excited about this new exhibit and welcoming high school students to participate in it,” said Amanda Clements, professor of fine arts at Panola College. “This is a great chance for young artists in the area to be recognized for their work by our incredible community.”
Schools participating in the showcase include Carthage, Elysian Fields, Timpson, and Panola Early College High School, as well as a home school.
The exhibit is free and open to the public during the Library’s normal operating hours, Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A reception will be held April 27 from 4 to 6 p.m., and will include a brief awards presentation. For more information, contact the Library by calling 903-693-2052 or emailing library@panola.edu.
April 11, 2023 - The Panola College Alumni Association is proud to announce Leon Carter as its Alumnus of the Year and Amber Lee as its Young Alumna of the Year. This year is the first time the Association has selected two recipients, with both Carter and Lee scheduled to speak at the May 4 commencement ceremonies.
Leon Carter is the principal attorney at the law firm Carter Arnett PLLC in Dallas. He focuses his practice on a range of legal matters, including anti-SLAPP litigation, antitrust litigation, business litigation, complex commercial law, construction law, copyright and trademark law, governmental liability, serious personal injury and wrongful death, patent law, and first amendment and media litigation.
Carter attended Panola College in 1977 before transferring to East Texas Baptist University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in history and pre-law. He studied law at Texas Southern University and obtained his Juris Doctor in 1986. He is licensed to practice in Texas and before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas. Carter was a Dallas County assistant district attorney and an assistant attorney general for the Texas state after law school.
“I vividly remember the first history class I took with Professor Bill O’Neal. He was the first person who made history alive and real to me,” recalled Carter. “The enjoyment that I got from that first history class with him made learning fun which increased my desire to learn even more, which led me to further my education by attending law school.”
Actively associated with the legal community, Carter is a fellow at the American College of Trial Lawyers and is on its State Committee. He is a fellow at the Litigation Counsel of America, the International Society of Barristers, and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He functions as an associate at the American Board of Trial Advocates and serves on its Executive Committee. He was also recognized as the Dallas Bar Association’s Trial Lawyer of the Year.
Additionally, Carter has memberships in the Honorable T. John Ward American Inn of Court, Honorable Barbara M.G. Lynn American Inn of Court, State Bar of Texas, Dallas Bar Association, Dallas Bar Foundation, Collin County Bar Association, Harrison County Bar Association, and is a member of the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. His other accolades and recognition include being ranked in litigation by Chambers USA and being named to the list of The Best Lawyers in America. He has received an AV* Preeminent peer-review rating through Martindale-Hubbell and is listed on the Top 500 Lawyers in the United States by Lawdragon.
“Across so many years, Leon has left his mark on the legal profession,” said Dr. Phil, the television personality and author. “He has left his mark in the courtroom, he has left his mark in the firm, he has left his mark on the community. He is someone that makes every lawyer joke obsolete because he is just the kind of person you want in your life and representing your profession.”
Amber Lee grew up in Carthage and first attended Panola College from 2006 to 2009. She later returned in 2018 to pursue an Associate Degree in Nursing and graduated in 2020. Currently, she is a staff registered nurse at UT Health Carthage.
“My favorite memory from attending Panola College was the staff,” said Lee. “I always felt comfortable to go to my instructors for anything I needed, even if it was just a pat on the back, a boost to my self-confidence, to pick my brain on certain study topics, or to talk me through a mini meltdown. Panola has staff who care, and I will always be so appreciative for their help along the way.”
Lee loves the challenges that each day working as a registered nurse brings, and she strives to give each of her patients the best care possible while meeting their needs. “I strive to go the extra mile because you never know what that extra gesture will mean to someone or how it might affect their life,” added Lee.
Lee and her husband, Jason, together have six children. She credits them, along with her husband and grandparents, as a support system while working on completing her degree. She plans to continue her education, and has already begun to study for her Certified Emergency Nurse certification and hopes to begin a program for family nurse practitioners in the future.
Dr. Berri O’Neal, Panola College Alumni Association chair, will honor Carter and Lee with individual awards on May 4, 2023, at the spring commencement ceremonies.
April 6, 2023 - The Panola College Foundation hosted its annual Designer Purse Bingo fundraising event on Friday, March 31, at the Carthage Civic Center, attracting approximately 600 guests and raising a record $75,403 for student scholarships and program grants.
“This fundraising event helps ensure that we are able to increase the number of scholarships and grants that the Foundation provides to students each year,” said Jessica Pace, Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Panola College. “It is always great to see the community come out and support students, all while having a good time.”
Brian Naples, Professor of Government at Panola College, entertained the audience as the emcee, thanking the sponsors and calling out anticipated bingo numbers throughout the evening.
The event sponsor for the evening was Jacobe Bros. Construction, and each guest took home a tote bag provided by Young Energy Services. Sanford & Sons Lawncare and Irrigation sponsored centerpieces for each table, which were available to purchase following the event. Farmers State Bank sponsored cups, Razor Services sponsored drink buckets, Horne Rota Moos sponsored napkins, and Pippen Motor Company and Rural Water Services sponsored koozies. Hal’s AC and Electrical sponsored popcorn for everyone at the event. A signature drink was available for purchase brought to guests by Simply Beautiful Salon, and wine was available by Cyclone Rentals. Sodexo sponsored charcuterie boxes for each guest and Hospitality Health ER offered a dessert bar.
First State Bank & DPT Services sponsored the bonus games for the event, which allowed guests the chance to carry home a Louis Vuitton and Christian Louboutin bag.
Bingo purses included 24 different designs, with games sponsored by Brannon Motors, Carthage Economic Development Corporation, Carthage Furniture, Carthage Hardwoods, Citizens Banks, Edwards Jones by Vicky Hudson in Center, Texas, Elliot Dodge of Carthage, Farmers State Bank, Martin Marietta, O’Neal Crew, VeraBank, and Winkler Place. The purses won included brands such as Coach, Consuela, Kate Spade, and Michael Kors, with Bear Creek Smokehouse donating numerous Consuela bags.
A popular raffle gave guests the opportunity to win a variety of prizes, including designer purses, took place during the middle of the event. Raffle sponsors included Circle H BBQ, DNC Facility Services, Farmers State Bank, GENPAK, Hope Community Medicine, Smith Energy Services, Strong Services, Triple H. Compliance/Panola Pipe & Salvage, and UT Health East Texas. Additional raffle prizes were donated by Republic National Distributing Company.
“The Panola College Foundation would like to thank each person who attended the event, including each of the sponsors,” added Pace. “Designer Purse Bingo would not be possible without the volunteers who spent hours preparing and setting up the event.”
In 2024, Designer Purse Bingo will be held at the Carthage Civic Center on March 29.
March 22, 2023 - Panola College students (including dual credit) and employees are invited to the Rio Theatre March 25 to enjoy a special showing of Shazam. The box office will open at 1:30pm and the movie will begin at 2pm. Students and employees must show their Panola ID and will receive admission, small popcorn, and soda for $11.
Panola guests are welcome at regular pricing. The First 100 With A Panola College ID Will Get Admission, Small Soda, And Small Popcorn For Free! If you are a Panola student and don't have a Panola ID, call Shelby Regional Training Center at 936-591-9075 and make an appointment to get your ID made so you can join us to watch Shazam at the Rio!
February 28, 2023 - The Panola College drama department excelled last week at the 2023 Texas Community College Speech and Theatre Association (TCCSTA) Playfest, with every member being recognized for their work on The 4th Graders Present An Unnamed Love-Suicide. The cast and crew took home over 20 awards, and the production won the Trophy for Production Excellence.
The student, followed by the city they are from and the name of the award(s) received, are listed below.
Technical Awards:
Kady Matthews, Union Grove - Excellence in Stage Management, Excellence in Scenic Design
Dawson Windham, Shelbyville - Excellence in Stage Management, Excellence in Scenic Design
Estrella Villanueva, Orange - Excellence in Properties Design
Dylan Essery, Carthage - Excellence in Sound Design
Donovan Williams, Gary - Excellence in Lighting Design
Evelyn Boles, Mt. Enterprise - Excellence in Hair and Make-Up
Chelsey Caldwell, Mt. Enterprise - Excellence in Hair and Make-Up
Tameka Alexander, Centerville - Excellence in Special Hair Design
Haven Heiman, Center - Excellence in Costume Design
Andrea Rosenbaum, Portland - Superior in Dramaturgy, Superior in Program and Lobby Display, Top Scorer Finalist for the John C. Corley Technical Awards
Respondents Technical Awards:
Haven Heiman, Center - Excellence in Costume Design
Dylan Essery, Carthage - Excellence in Original Music Composition
Acting Awards:
Scott Eddins, Colmesneil - Audience Favorite, Professor's Choice, Respondent's Choice Superior, Bill Morton Acting Challenge Plaque
Taylor Alexander, Longbranch - Respondent's Choice Excellence
February 15, 2023 - Panola College/Shelby College Center is offering Zumba® Gold and Beginning Yoga. The next classes begin February 27th - April 12th, Monday and Wednesdays (Zumba - 4:15 - 5:15pm and Yoga - 5:20 - 6:20pm.) Cost of each class is $60 and pre-registration is required. Reserve you spot today! For more information, contact Shelby College Center at 936-598-9543 or email: tmccann@panola.edu.
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