Panola College
July 10, 2018 - Panola College and Timpson ISD are graduating high school students with their Associate’s Degree, core complete, and with technical certifications. President Dr. Powell, Dean Oswalt, Vice President Don Clinton and Dr. Mid Johnson Superintendent of Timpson ISD were on campus to congratulate the Seniors of Timpson High School. The success students at Timpson are incurring would not be possible without the partnership we have with Panola College.
Timpson ISD (TISD), through its Collegiate Center offers to pay tuition, books, and fees for students to earn an Associate’s Degree or gain college credit for courses that will earn students a certificate or license in the vocational and technical fields. The number of students taking dual credit college classes through Timpson ISD has more than tripled in the past 2 years.
In many cases, taking dual credit classes is the only way many students will be able to afford college. In addition to having the cost of tuition, fees, and books paid for by the school district, students can also save on cost because they are living at home and do not pay fuel cost or dormitory housing expenses.
Many of our Timpson ISD students did not think they had the ability to pass a college class, but after being successful in their first college class, they are inspired to continue towards their goal of earning their Associate’s Degree and eventually their Bachelor’s Degree. Helping our students to complete a college degree or earn a vocational technical certification will not only benefit our students and their future families, but will also benefit the community by enabling them to be tax payers and contributing members of society.
Timpson ISD currently has over half of its high school student body taking dual credit college classes that lead toward an Associate’s Degree or certification/licensing program.
After graduation, students will have the opportunity to continue taking classes at the Timpson Collegiate Center. Although the district will not pay tuition, books, and fees after students graduate, the district will provide a place in town for former students to take college classes that work into a Bachelor’s Degree. This will allow former students to save on fuel and housing cost and continue their educational goals.
Timpson ISD had a passing rate of 92% of students who took college classes during the Fall 2018 semester. This high 92% passing rate of students was possible because a monitor is assigned to each room where students take classes. The monitors ensure that students are focused and are on task. Monitors also teach students study skills, test taking skills, and arrange for them to get tutoring from fellow high school teachers, if needed. Mrs. Tina Samford and Mr. Vernett Richardson have years of experience here at Timpson ISD working with dual credit students.
The staff members at Timpson ISD are committed to ensuring that every student who graduates from Timpson High School can exit THS High School doors with something more than a high school diploma. The Timpson community passed a $9,000,000 million dollar bond to build the Timpson Collegiate Center and we are currently on track for move into the new facility in August/September of 2018.
The Collegiate Center excitement and ongoing program success is reaching out into the surrounding communities. Timpson has also had an increase in districts’ enrollment, adding students who have transferred into Timpson ISD to further their education, students who truly care about getting an education. Research shows that if a student takes at least one dual credit class while in high school it doubles their chances for successfully graduating.
Timpson ISD is striving to also implement another exciting program: “Grow Your Own Teachers.” The Grow Your Own program main focus is to recruit teachers. The Grow Your Own Teachers program will allow staff members and student to gain either a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree and become the next generation of educators.
The parents of the Timpson ISD community have continued to support, guide, and stand side by side the students to keep them encouraged throughout this amazing transition period. The Timpson ISD teachers and staff are committed to making a difference in lives of our students.
July 9, 2018 - Panola College/Shelby College Center is offering Zumba® Gold. This class takes the Zumba formula and modifies the moves and pacing to suit the needs of the older participant. The class will meet Monday and Wednesday: July 16 – August 22, from 9:30 am – 10:30 am, at the Shelby College Center. The cost of the class is $45, and pre-registration is required. For more information and to register, contact Shelby College Center at 936-598-9543 or email: tmccann@panola.edu.
(L to R) Harley Wilson and Nat Lankford with a check for the Charlie Woods Memorial Scholarship to the Panola College Foundation.
June 29, 2018 - On Wednesday, June 27, 2018 Harley Wilson and Nat Lankford presented the Panola College Foundation with a check for $13,501.39 towards the Charlie Woods Memorial Scholarship.
The Charlie Woods Memorial Scholarship was established six years ago by his friends and family to help sophomore students enrolling in Panola College’s petroleum technology program. Scholarship funds are raised through an annual raffle and the Charlie Woods Memorial Fishing Tournament held each year on Toledo Bend in May.
Charlie Woods graduated from Carthage High School in 1972. He attended Panola College before entering a Ranch Management Program at Texas Christian University. Following graduation Charlie worked most of his life in the oilfield.
Charlie was an avid fisherman. His love of the sport began at an early age when he fished with his “Papaw” Spurlock. Charlie fished the FLW Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League where he won first place in one of the tournaments on the Texas Tournament Trail. He also took first place in the Texas Oilman’s Tournament and the Louisiana Oilman’s Tournament. He and Harley Wilson also won a boat at the Toledo Bend Classic tournament. Charlie was also a member of the Carthage Bass Fishing League. He particularly loved the fishing trips with his friends to Lake Falcon in South Texas on the Texas – Mexico border. His plans were to eventually travel to Brazil to fish for Peacock Bass.
(L to R) Jim Payne, Ray Schieffer, Richard Ballenger, Robert Underwood, Vern Reeder, and David Bush (Not pictured) John Conway
June 20, 2018 - On Tuesday, June 19, the Charles C. Matthews Foundation met at Panola College to view the new Yamaha AvantGrand piano the Foundation had recently donated to the College. The Yamaha AvantGrand piano will reside in the Frances B. Ross Ballroom located in the Charles C. Matthews Foundation Student Center. This state-of-the-art electric piano utilizes innovative technology to produce a grand piano performance at any volume. The addition of the piano will allow for the Panola College music department to host additional concerts in the ballroom, and since the piano does not require tuning, the piano can be moved throughout the Student Center to be used at a variety of functions.
The elegant piano was just one of three generous donations the College received from the Charles C. Matthews Foundation this summer. The School of Energy received funding to purchase the program’s first piece of robotic technology, a KUKA Robotics KORE welding machine. This robot is a hands-on education robot that will be utilized in programmable logic and welding courses. Students will learn how to use the equipment as a robotic tack or track welder with the addition of a Miller wire welding machine to complete the weld. The robot is also capable of being programmed to sketch with the use of a dry erase marker.
The Charles C. Matthews Foundation also established the Charles C. Matthews Foundation Endowed Scholarship to help support a growing financial need students face in noncredit workforce and continuing education programs that offer certification. One of the main obstacles the 1,301 workforce and continuing education students faced this past year when enrolling in their courses was the lack of financial aid resources. Even though these programs offer an almost instant return for students to earn a wage, it is often difficult for students to obtain the upfront cost of their education.
Students in a workforce program are not eligible for federal financial aid and have minimum opportunities for obtaining a loan to complete their education. With the new endowed scholarship made available by the Charles C. Matthews Foundation, Panola College workforce and continuing education students have the opportunity to be awarded up to 50% of the total cost of their program. This scholarship will help students gain marketable skills and certifications that they otherwise may not have the financial resources to complete. Programs that will benefit from this new scholarship will include certified nurse aide, dental assistant, EKG technician, medication aide, pharmacy technician, phlebotomy, truck driving, welding, and real estate.
“The Charles C. Matthews Foundation has been a wonderful benefactor to Panola College and to our community,” said Dr. Greg Powell, President of Panola College. “We value their continued support and strive to be good stewards of their generosity.”
(From left) Hannah Black, Dr. Barbara Cordell, Ivan Cuellar, Chelsey Smith, and Denise Armstead
June 20, 2018 - Recently, four ADN nursing students travelled from Panola College with their instructor, Dr. Barbara Cordell to southern Belize, Central America to participate in a college course in Transcultural Nursing. The students chosen were: Denise Armstead, from Lufkin, who graduated in May from the LVN-ADN Transition track, Hannah Taylor Black, of Beckville and Chelsey Smith of DeBerry, who have completed Level III of the program, and Ivan Cuellar, of Henderson, who has completed Level II. They joined a team of 50 other doctors, nurses, students, and helpers to provide medical care to remote Mayan villages.
After arriving in Belize City, the group drove many hours to reach the small town of Punta Gorda. From there, the group divided into four teams and visited a total of sixteen villages in four days to attend to over 2000 patients. Several of the teams had to hike for one to three hours to reach their assigned village. “The students were wonderful at providing nursing assessments and treatments in challenging conditions,” said Professor Cordell. “We worked in a very hot environment without electricity, running water, or much of the technology we’re used to in the United States. The students learned to rely on basic observation skills and culturally sensitive communications and education.”
The larger group based out of Nacogdoches has been traveling on this mission trip for thirty-one years. The goal is to provide care to remote villagers who might not otherwise receive any medical care at all. Basic pain medications, antibiotics, and vitamins are provided as well as minor treatments such as wound care, splinting, and even occasional stitches for a severe cut.
Hannah said of her experience, “The patients taught each of us a lesson in humility and gratefulness. A piece of my heart will forever remain in four remote villages of southern Belize”.
Hannah Black and Denise Armstead teaching through a translator
Chelsey Smith assessing a patient with guidance from Dr. Cordell
Ivan Cuellar educating a patient
Chair of ADN and VN Nursing programs, Annissa Jackson, RN, discusses the nursing programs at Panola College with the Man Enough for Health Sciences participants.
Panola College Hosts First Male-focused Event
June 13, 2018 Carthage, TX - How do you get males interested in a health science career such as nursing or occupational therapy assisting? You do what Panola College did and present a one-day, interactive, engaging event for male students from area school districts.
After receiving funds from a grant to increase non-traditional participation in career and technical programs, like those in health sciences, leadership from within the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Panola College planned and presented the first annual Man Enough for Health Sciences event on May 3, 2018. This event was attended by approximately 50 males in grades 8-12 from Carthage, Garrison, Gary, Jefferson, Marshall, and Waskom.
One of the key purposes of the event was to reduce the stigma often associated with males who work in health science careers. Males make excellent health care providers. Like their female counterparts, males who work in these careers want to help others and often say that they are drawn to fields like nursing because of the excitement they get saving lives.
Students who attended the event learned about careers in nursing, occupational therapy, medical lab technologies, and medical assisting from males who work in each of those fields. During roundtable discussions, students were able to talk to the guest speakers and other men who currently work in one of the careers presented. Several of the guest speakers and roundtable presenters were current Panola College professors, alumni, and current students. During the hamburger luncheon, students learned from Kelly Reed-Hirsch, Dean of Health Sciences, about Panola College, dual credit courses, and what they can do to prepare for admission into the health science programs like Nursing or Occupational Therapy Assisting.
Before the end of the day, students had toured the award-winning Health and Natural Sciences building, viewed simulations, and were able to participate in a variety of hands-on activities. Students used words like “unexplainably amazing” and “awesome” to describe the event, and 85% stated that they thought more positively about careers in health sciences than they did before the event.
Participants learn from Panola College faculty and current ADN students during roundtable discussion time.
Careers in health sciences are well-respected fields with a wide variety of employment opportunities. But considering the 9:1 ratio of females-to-males in the field of nursing alone, there is a need to provide male students a chance to explore these careers early. Careers in health sciences are reliable, well-paying, and provide the satisfaction of being able to provide for your family that some careers may not without many years of education and experience. Panola College offers seven programs in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences that provide students with marketable skills that local employers want in their employees. For programs like the Vocational Nursing and Medical Assisting, a student can complete the one-year program and earn a certificate that prepares them to receive licensure to practice in those fields. Programs like Associate Degree Nursing, which leads to becoming a Registered Nurse, and Occupational Therapy Assisting require two years to complete before earning a college degree.
Districts that did not get to participate will have another chance during the upcoming school year. Businesses interested in becoming a sponsor for the next Man Enough for Health Sciences event, please contact Dean Reed-Hirsch at Panola College.
June 8, 2018 - Panola College/Shelby College Center is offering Summer Glam Camp, June 19th from 9am until 3pm, for girls 7 to 13. The camp will consist of a day of pampering with our Cosmetology Department which will include makeovers and more. Lunch will be included. The cost of the class is $55 and pre-registration is required. For more information, contact Shelby College Center at 936-598-9543 or email tmccann@panola.edu.
June 4, 2018 - The Panola Ponies' Baseball Camp kicks off the first week of Summer Athletic Camps that are being hosted by Panola College. The Baseball Camp is Monday - Wednesday of this week with 40 kids enjoying the camp. The rest of the summer camp schedule includes:
- June 11-13 ~ Mini Fillies Volleyball Camp ($60) 3rd – 5th grades, 9:00am - 11:30am
- June 11-13 ~ Fillies Advanced Camp ($115) 6th –12th grades, 1:00pm - 5:00pm
- June 20-22 ~ Fillies Youth Basketball Camp ($50) 2nd – 5th grades, 8:00am - 12:00pm
- June 20-22 ~ Fillies Elite Basketball Camp ($50) 6th – 9th grades, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
- July 23-25 ~ Ponies Youth Basketball Camp ($60) 4th – 8th grades, 9:00am - 12:00pm
- July 23-25 ~ Ponies Elite Basketball Camp ($60) 9th – 12th grades, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
To register for the camps you can click on the following link http://bit.ly/pccamps2018. For additional information go to panolaathletics.com, or contact Athletic Secretary, Kaycee McKnight at 903-693-2048 or email at kmcknight@panola.edu
May 30, 2018 - The M.P. Baker Library of Panola College will feature “100 Books to Read in a Lifetime” from June 2, 2018-August 1, 2018. The list of books is comprised of recommendations from three prominent sources.
The first is Goodreads, the world’s largest free site for readers and book recommendations since 2007. The second is the title list suggested by Amazon’s book editors. The third is the suggested list of titles provided by local readers here in Panola County. Interactive components allow visitor feedback and offers suggestions for reading material.
Featured in the exhibit is a compilation of 20th century classics, novels, adult fiction, nonfiction, children’s and young adult books that span multiple genres. Join us in discovering what others are reading and have found significant enough to suggest the selections to others.
The exhibit is free and open to the public during the Library’s operating hours Monday – Thursday 7:30 am – 5:00 pm and Friday 7:30 am – 12:30 pm. For additional information please call 903-693-2052 or email sherri.baker@panola.edu
May 24, 2018 - Panola College is proud to announce the names of those students named to the President’s List for the spring 2018 semester. To qualify a student must complete a minimum of 12 semester hours with a grade point average between 3.8 and 4.0. Only courses applying toward an associate degree or certificate are included in the computation.
Louisiana
Elizabeth, Offer, Bethany
Misty, Raborn, Converse
Erin, Ryder, Converse
New York
Marlon, Taylor, Mount Vernon
Texas
Sheli, Caserta, Beckville
Lacey, Dean, Beckville
Edward, Morrison, Beckville
Michael, Awotula, Carthage
Madison, Buck, Carthage
Cooper, Clinton, Carthage
Kaylee, Hull, Carthage
Kirstyn, Jacks, Carthage
Israel, Keshinro, Carthage
Shelby, Kite, Carthage
Kelsey, Lake, Carthage
John, Langford, Carthage
Tucker, Merritt, Carthage
Mallory, Nichols, Carthage
Agbolade, Ogunfuwa, Carthage
Osamudiamen, Oriakhi, Carthage
Amanda, Pierce, Carthage
Hannah, Roberson, Carthage
Dustin, Bennett, Center
Hayden, Bolton, Center
Ryan, Florence, Center
Josh, Havins, Center
Mayra, Hernandez, Center
Kase, Hooper, Center
Mariana, Mendoza, Center
Nicklaus, Powell, Center
Jazmin, Uriostegui, Center
Jennifer, Watson, Center
Ashley, Yarbrough, Center
Christina, Sherrod, Chireno
Christian, Boulware, Corinth
Savana, Hanaway, Deberry
Lyle, Hibbitts, Farmersville
Ashlyn, Edge, Garrison
William, Edwards, Garrison
Shane, Iversen, Garrison
Kirsten, Mayfield, Garrison
Raven, Coppedge, Gary
Shelby, Martin, Gary
Samantha, Mayfield, Gary
Clista, Thomas, Greenville
Kassidee, Cox, Hallsville
Layla, Morales, Henderson
Kelli, Wood, Joaquin
Veronica, Aguirre, Longview
Katie, Alexander, Longview
Shaquoia, Finley, Lufkin
Dominique, Espinoza, Marshall
Hicela, Santana, Marshall
Kaycee, Bailey, Marshall
Erica, Booth, Marshall
Terri, Fyffe, Marshall
Logan, Berlof, McKinney
Staci, Marble, Nacogdoches
Savannah, Mcgee, Nacogdoches
Daniel, Parris, Nacogdoches
Nicole, Weaver, Nacogdoches
Kristen, Cosby, Nacogdoches
Jeremy, Culver, Nacogdoches
Peyton, Barrett, Nacogdoches
Jamie, Johnson, Nacogdoches
Martha, Brown, Pineland
Whiteny, Kenani, Pittsburg
Maelbi, Calderon, Seagoville
Taylor, Sturgis, Shelbyville
Kinley, Pepper, Tatum
Hope, Faulkner, Tenaha
Emmalee, Tomaszewski, Tenaha
John, Carrington, Timpson
Samuel, Perry, Timpson
Rocio, Venegas, Timpson
Nigeria
Eniola, Sogbesan
Toluwani, Ayodele, Lagos
Victor, Chinaka, Lagos
Boluwatife, Babalola, Lagos
Belarus
Maryia, Adashchyk
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