Panola College
April 3, 2020 - The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association announced on Thursday, April 2, that Panola College was named as the Southern Region Rodeo of the Year.
“The season ended short, unfortunately, for Panola,” said Coach Jeff Collins. “We are taking two athletes to the college national finals rodeo – Logan Cook in the saddle bronc riding, and Clayton Lowry in team roping.”
Collins said being named Rodeo of the Year for the Southern Region is quite an honor. “It was voted on by all the NIRA students. Our team did an outstanding job of putting on the rodeo in September, and I am very proud of them for that, and for all their actions this season. I expect great things for next year,” he said.
NIRA Southern Region Rodeo had to cancel the final two rodeos of the season as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Standings for the year will be based on the Texas A&M Rodeo held earlier in the spring.
Panola College 2019-2020 Rodeo Team roster includes Cole Bailey, Marshall; Mckynzie Bush, Center; Trace Clark, Center; Michael Mathis Coley, Ringgold, Ga.; Logan Cook, Alto; Madison Davis, Carthage; Maison Davis, Kilgore; Skylar Dawson, Beckville; Michael Deshotels, Cleveland; Peter Fager, Peculiar, Mo.; Bradford Fisher, Liberty; Hannah Goings, Arlington, Ga.; Garrett Golliher, Stoutland, Mo.; Jadyn Gould, Lufkin; Evan Green, Lufkin; Blake Griffin, Center; Isaac Ingram, Basile, La.; Clayton Lowry, Wills Point; Katherine Mackenzie, Grand Prairie; Mackenzie Moore, Camdenton, Mo.; Abbie Muckelroy, Center; Macon Murphy, Keatchie, La.; Rowdy Murray, Marietta; Chance Pruitt, Jasper, Ark.; Emily Ramsey, Marshall; Chase Runfola, Gainesville, N.Y.; Seth Rustin, Nacogdoches; J.D. Spivey, Haslet; Tanzi Stafford, Gonzales; Abbie Suggs, Kirbyville; Daylon Swearingen, Piffard, N.Y.; Kalie Vaughn, Center; Rylee Vines, Lufkin; Samuel Wigans, Goldfield, Iowa; and Michael Womack, Bastrop, La.
April 2, 2020 - Panola College has announced a financial relief package available to assist students who have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Students who are enrolled in the spring 2020 semester or who are enrolling in the May, summer or fall 2020 terms are eligible to apply for assistance.
“The Panola College Foundation has voted to establish a fund that will provide one-time payments to students who need help with expenses to complete this semester,” said Jessica Pace, Director of Institutional Advancement. “Awards will range from $100 to $250, with a maximum award of $500.”
For detailed information and a link to the application form visit https://www.panola.edu/public-relations/covid19studentrelief.html.
Panola College staff members will review the applications and contact students to discuss their requests for assistance.
Expenses that may be covered by the relief fund include tuition, books and other essential academic expenses; transportation related to academic needs; food and hygiene items; utilities; medications and other costs related to medical care or safety needs.
“We want to eliminate some of the barriers to success that COVID-19 may have created for our students in their educational journey. The awards may be paid directly to vendors where the expenses are incurred, so students will need to submit supporting documents, such as invoices, receipts, unemployment letters or any documentation that directly applies to their request,” Pace said.
To qualify, the financial hardship must have resulted from COVID-19, the expense must have occurred after April 1, 2020, students must be enrolled for at least six semester credits, all other resources must have been considered and found to be insufficient or unavailable, and all questions on the application form must be complete and include supporting documentation. Applications will first be prioritized by students scheduled to graduate in the spring 2020. After this initial phase, awards will then focus on high priority area of studies (nursing, EMS, Health Sciences), students closest to graduation and the most compelling cases.
“The Panola College Foundation has been such an asset to Panola College, and we appreciate their swift action to set aside funds to help establish relief aid to help students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of students that we will be able to serve will depend on the funds available, and we invite friends and alumni to contribute to the effort. We are dealing with an unprecedented event, and we know many of our students and their families are suffering financial hardships right now,” Pace said.
Donations to the fund may be made through PayPal or credit card on the COVID-19 Student Relief webpage listed above. Funds not dispersed for COVID-19 relief will roll over to the Panola College “Feed the Need” and scholarship programs.
March 25, 2020 - The 2020-2021 Panola College scholarship application is now available through March 31. Visit www.panola.edu to apply. Scholarships are open to students attending Panola College during the 2020-2021 academic year.
Jessica Pace, Director of Institutional Advancement, encourages students to apply in order to take advantage of this opportunity. “Last year, Panola College awarded over 120 scholarships because of the generosity of our donors,” she said. “This year, we hope to be able to award even more.”
March 18, 2020 - As Panola College continues to monitor the outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus) the safety of our students, employees, and community remains our top priority. Therefore, Panola College will extend spring break for students Monday, March 23 to Sunday, March 29, 2020, to allow faculty and staff to prepare for providing classes and services online, and to follow the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines regarding social distancing. Courses will resume with online instruction beginning March 30th. Faculty and staff are working hard to try to ensure a seamless transition. To date, there have been no reported COVID-19 cases impacting our students, faculty or employees.
This means that students should not physically report to class in person; however, all students should continue to monitor their Panola College email and Canvas for additional updates from their instructor(s). At this time, Panola College states that all students will have the opportunity to complete this semesters course work.
Classes where the learning is hands-on (e.g., Welding), students will hear from their specific instructors about how the labs and hands-on components will be conducted with social distancing best practices in place.
All Panola College locations will be closed next week to students and visitors as faculty and staff work to transition courses. Offices will reopen with altered operations and limited staffing on March 30th. While the staff remains ready to assist students in person by appointment only, students are encouraged to conduct business via phone call, zoom meetings, and email. Items needed from the Panola College Store may be purchased online at www.panolacollegestore.com and can be shipped or picked up at the door. The fitness center will be closed for the being.
On-campus housing will reopen to students on March 22nd.. With most course instruction moving online, students will have the option to return to or to remain home for the remainder of the semester. All residences should contact Residence Life Coordinator, Katy Chance by email with their intent to return or check-out. The dining hall will continue to provide grab and go meals for residence hall students only, while Charlie’s Bistro will be closed for the remainder of the semester.
Due to the restrictions on event sizes, Panola College is also canceling all events including intercollegiate athletics, performances, student activities, on-campus community gatherings, and commencement in keeping with federal social distancing standards through May 10, 2020. May 2020 graduates will have the opportunity to participate in-person at the fall ceremony and diplomas will be sent via mail delivery to graduates.
Dr. Greg Powell, president of Panola College, recognizes how these changes and cancellations have created uncertainty and disappointment.
“We understand the impact of these decisions and we did not arrive at them lightly,” said Dr. Powell. “These decisions were made with careful thought and consideration of what is most important – the preservation of health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and the community. These are unprecedented times, but I am confident that we will get through this with the support of one another.”
Further updates will be made available online at www.panola.edu/public-relations/coronavirus, by email, and on Panola College official social media channels.
March 16, 2020 - Due to concerns surrounding COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and in accordance with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Panola College has decided to cancel all community events hosting groups larger than 50 people through April 15, 2020. This decision is made with our students, faculty, staff, and community in mind. Any determination to reschedule these events will be made at a later date.
These events include:
- Designer Purse Bingo - March 27
- Mock Interviews – March 30
- SRTC Open House & Spring Fling – March 31
- Jazz and Piper Show – April 2
- NJCAA athletic events through April 3
- Ballet Austin II – April 7
- College and Career Fair – April 8
Panola College administration is meeting later this week to make determinations in regards to the remainder of the semester. For more information regarding updates from Panola College, please visit www.panola.edu or follow our Facebook and Instagram channels.
SRTC students and community members enjoy the 2019 event
The Spring Fling and Open House has been postponed until a later date.
March 13, 2020 - Are you or someone you know ready for college but uncertain of where to begin? On March 31, 2020 Panola College - Shelby Regional Training Center (SRTC) will host an open house in conjunction with Spring Fling. The come-and-go event will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and is open to the public. Free BBQ sandwiches, chips, and drinks will be served.
“We are extremely excited to be hosting this event,” said Cancee Lester, Director of Shelby County Operations at SRTC. “We hope that it will not only be a great time, but will also be an informative event for the community and anyone interested in becoming a student at Panola College.”
The community will have the opportunity to tour the SRTC campus, learn and ask questions about the various academic and technical programs offered, and will be able to try out a few things for themselves. Panola College Admissions and Financial Aid Representatives will be available to help attendees fill out an application or answer any questions they may have about the process.
Panola College Cancels all Community Events
March 12, 2020 - Panola College will host a College and Career Fair from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, in the Charles C. Matthews Foundation Student Center.
Faculty members will be on hand to answer questions about Panola College’s career and technical programs including Associate Degree Nursing, Vocational Nursing, Medical Assisting, Health Information Technology, Medical Laboratory Technician, Emergency Medical Technician, Occupational Therapy Assisting, the School of Energy, Business, Cosmetology, and Computer Information Technology.
“We will have brochures with program and course information available, along with displays including simulation manikins for health sciences and cosmetology,” said Reanna Hart, Panola College Recruitment and Completion Coordinator. “We will also have microscopes, a virtual welder, programmable logic trainer, therapy and rehabilitation tools and other instructional items.”
Business and industries participating include Eastman Chemical, J-W Power Company, Allegiance Mobile Health, CHRISTUS EMS, Nacogdoches Medical Center, Rusk State Hospital, Archrock, and Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport. “These are the companies who have committed so far, and we expect that additional participants will sign up before April 8,” Hart said.
Students planning to transfer from Panola College to a university will be able to meet with representatives from Northwestern State University’s College of Nursing, East Texas Baptist University, Stephen F. Austin State University, and Texas A&M Commerce. Hart said she expects more universities to sign up before the event.
Current students, prospective students, and community members are invited to come to the College and Career Fair to learn more about Panola College programs and how they can lead to immediate employment opportunities or transfer to universities.
March 12, 2020 - A unique collection of Asian Art will be on display in the Fay Allison Gallery of the M.P. Baker Library beginning on Monday, March 23, 2020. The collected items are derived from several Asian countries including Korea, Japan, and China. These items have been generously donated to Panola College by Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln King. Featured items include a Korean Celadon dish from the Koryo Dynasty (918-1392) with a floral interior, a Korean pale Celadon dish from the Yi Dynasty (1392-1597), Japanese woodblock print of “Early Autumn at Itako” (Itako no Hatsuaki) by Kawase Hasui, a picture of a Japanese woodblock print scroll of five war scenes by Migita Toshihide, as well as a variety of other paintings, scrolls, and artifacts.
Mr. King taught history at Gary for 30 years. While serving there he initiated the Loblolly magazine, a local oral history project inspired by the “Foxfire Book”. It was first published in 1973 and ran until fall of 2003. After rearing the couple’s three sons, Mrs. King returned to college and completed her Associates, Bachelors, and Masters degrees. She then taught English for Panola College until her retirement in 2002. Lincoln and Mary Nell were well traveled and able to acquire many interesting collections. The Asian Art Collection on exhibit was collected by Mr. King while serving with the United States Army and stationed in Korea.
An opening reception will be held on Wednesday, March 25 at 2:00 p.m. in the Library. Friends and family of Mr. King are cordially invited to celebrate the exhibit with him and hear the stories associated with the collection. The exhibit is free and open to the public during the Library’s operating hours Monday – Thursday 7:30 am – 9:00 pm, Friday 7:30 am – 12:30 pm and Sunday 4-9pm. For additional information please call 903-693-2052 or email library@panola.edu.
Jasmine Getz is one of the Ballet Austin II dancers. (Photo credit: Anne Marie Bloodgood)
March 6, 2020 - Ballet Austin II will perform at Panola College at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 6, in the Q.M. Martin Auditorium. Supported by a grant from the B.F. and Mary Payne Fund for the Preservation of Texas Culture, the event is free and open to the public.
Ballet Austin II was established in 1999 as a second company and apprentice program for Ballet Austin and is endowed by Sarah and Ernest Butler through the Ballet Austin Foundation. Dancers are selected through a nationwide audition process. They perform with Ballet Austin, and also perform in Austin and around the State as a second company.
Since its inception, 109 graduates of Ballet Austin II and the Butler Fellowship Program have secured contracts with more than 42 companies across the nation. Dancers range in age from 18 to 23 and are employed for a 32-week season, based in Austin. Apprentices are contracted for up to two years, receiving artistic guidance, career management counseling, and job placement assistance. Through a partnership with St. Edward’s University, Ballet Austin II members are eligible to receive 24 college credit hours for their second company experience. Auditions for the summer intensive are held in winter and spring. For more information, email Eugene Alvarez or call 512-476-9151.
Ballet Austin has a rich history spanning six decades. From its home at the Butler Dance Education Center in downtown Austin, the company engages the community, dancers, and audiences alike with vibrant and ambitious performances. Visit balletaustin.org for more information.
“We are excited to bring Ballet Austin to Panola College,” said Daron McDaniel, committee chair and professor of speech at Panola College. “The event wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Foster Murphy, who established the B.F. and Mary Payne Fund for the Preservation of Texas Culture.”
March 4, 2020 - Panola College theatre students brought home 29 awards from the Texas Community College Speech and Theatre Association 2020 Playfest. Lone Star College in Kingwood hosted this year’s event. Panola College’s entry was “Dark of the Moon,” a drama set in the Appalachian Mountains in the 1930s.
Panola College students who won awards include: Dramaturgy - Caitlyn Jackson, High Island; Assistant Directing - Hannah Williams, Gary; Sound Design - Peyton Proffitt, Center; Hair Design - Bethany Crowe and Angel Kammer, Kennard; Costume Design – Fantasy - Sarah Owens, Mt. Enterprise; PR Design - Chailey Norton, Mt. Enterprise; Props - Catalina Zoyoquila, Mt. Enterprise; Costume Design - Laura Eddings, Broaddus and Abigail Parrish, Chireno; Lighting Design - Peyton Proffitt, Center and Zachery Zea, Rusk; Make-Up Design - Bethany Crowe and Angel Kammer, Kennard; Scenic Design - Peyton Proffitt, Center, Logan Vickers, Hemphill and Ashton Powell, Decatur; Lobby Display Pre-Show - Johnathan Hicks, Waskom, Christian Kotara, Spurger and Bethany Crowe, Kennard; Assistant Stage Management - Hannah Williams, Gary; and Superior in Stage Management - Maria Mejia, Mt. Enterprise.
Panola College students earning acting awards include: Keath Kibbey, Huntington - Audience Choice and Professor Choice; Ashton Powell, Decatur, Nicolas McCalister, Rusk, Hayes Green, Martinsville and Justin Gonzales, Emory - Respondents Award.
Eight community colleges participated in the Festival: Wharton, Lee, Blinn, Lone Star College -Kingwood, Houston Community College, Eastfield, Howard, and Panola.
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