Panola College
December 18, 2024 - Panola College has received a $279,280 Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) grant, aimed at advancing four key health science programs. The funding will enable the College to offer specialized training and develop Occupational Skills Awards in remote patient monitoring. The grant, awarded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, will benefit students and the community by providing essential skills and improving patient care in East Texas.
Through a collaborative partnership with UT Health East Texas Home Health, the grant will facilitate the placement of remote monitoring equipment into the homes of East Texas Residents. Students in health science programs will gain hands-on experience with the equipment, emphasizing practical skills and real-world applications, empowering them to make a meaningful impact in their communities.
The grant will support four health science programs at the College, including Associate Degree Nursing, Health Information Technology, Medical Assisting, and Occupational Therapy Assisting. The training will equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to serve underserved residents in our communities, addressing healthcare disparities caused by limited access to equitable care.
“I am incredibly thankful for the interprofessional partnerships between our health science programs, UT Health East Texas Home Health, and the financial support from the TRUE grant award,” said Julie Green, chair of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program. “This program exemplifies the transformative power of collaboration, combining education with community connections to foster a healthier future for East Texas residents.”
The grant was coauthored by Green and Natalie Oswalt, dean of career and technical programs.
In addition to gaining valuable experience, students in these programs will earn Occupational Skills Awards, which are recognized as stand-alone credentials and also integrated into existing award programs. These credentials provide essential skills and address the growing demand for specialized healthcare professionals.
“We are confident that this program will not only elevate the quality of care provided by its graduates but will also help to meet the growing demand for specialized healthcare professionals in our region,” said Dr. Mike Little, joint venture president of UT Health East Texas Home Health. “We also believe this will significantly contribute to addressing the skills gap and preparing a new generation of healthcare professionals.”
For more information about Panola College’s health science programs, visit panola.edu/healthsciences.
December 9, 2024 - Panola College celebrated the renaming of the Gregory S. Powell Science Center with a special dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony on December 3, honoring Dr. Gregory Powell and his remarkable 24-year tenure as the College’s 10th president.
“Today, we honor a leader who has profoundly shaped the College’s legacy,” said Dr. Jessica Pace, president of Panola College. “Under Dr. Gregory Powell’s exceptional leadership since 2000, the College flourished, doubling its enrollment, awarding more than 10,500 degrees and certificates, and earning 12 consecutive years of national recognition as a ‘Great College to Work For.’”
The Board of Trustees voted unanimously on August 26 to rename the building in honor of Dr. Powell’s dedication and service. Prior to his retirement, the Board also honored Dr. Powell with the title President Emeritus.
During the ceremony, remarks were made by Dr. Pace and Reece DeWoody, representing Texas Senator Bryan Hughes, who presented Dr. Powell with a special gift. Ray Wilson, representing U.S. Congressman Nathaniel Moran, was also in attendance. The ribbon was cut by Dr. Powell, surrounded by his family, Board members, Dr. Pace, faculty, staff, and community members.
The Gregory S. Powell Science Center will serve as a lasting tribute to Dr. Powell’s visionary leadership and commitment to the College and its students.
December 9, 2024 - Panola College regular registration is currently in progress for the WINTER term through December 11th and the SPRING term through January 14th. It is definitely not too late to start your college journey!
Not sure where to start? We welcome your visit to our office at 678 Roughrider Drive Monday-Wednesday 7:30-5:30. A friendly advisor will take the time to discuss various pathways that may interest you and help you with the steps to get started toward your goals.
Panola College is an Equal Opportunity Institution that provides educational and employment opportunities on the basis of merit and without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, or genetic information.
November 22, 2024 - Panola College and UT Tyler signed a co-enrollment agreement on November 19, 2024, creating a seamless pathway for students to earn their associate and bachelor’s degrees at the same time. This initiative will provide significant cost savings, personalized advising, and access to exceptional academic resources from both institutions.
“This agreement will allow our students to enroll simultaneously at both Panola College and UT Tyler, enabling them to work toward their bachelor’s degree while they are completing their associate degree here at Panola,” said Dr. Jessica Pace, Panola College President. “Not only does this ease their transition from Panola to UT Tyler, but it also provides them a smoother and more accessible pathway to a four-year degree.”
With pathways already established between the two institutions in Engineering, Human Resource Development, Pre-Pharmacy, Psychology, and many more in development, this collaboration opens exciting opportunities for students to achieve their academic and career goals.
Furthermore, any UT Tyler-required in-person courses, such as those in the Engineering program that require hands-on experiences will be held at the Longview campus, ensuring greater accessibility for students from Panola, Harrison, Marion, and Shelby counties.
From left: Dr. Julie V. Philley, UT Tyler President and Dr. Jessica Pace, Panola College President
“We are extremely excited about this special partnership with UT Tyler,” said Dr. Rebecca Morris, Dean of Academic Transfer at Panola College. “This innovative collaboration will empower students with the education, resources, and support they need to excel.”
Visit uttyler.edu/co-enrollment/panola-college to learn more about the Panola College and UT Tyler partnership.
October 29, 2024 - Panola College was honored to participate in the re-grand opening of the newly remodeled Center Walmart store, where a $1,000 Community Grant was presented to the College by Store Manager Jeff Martin and People Partner LaKeith Cotton. This generous grant will support career exploration and scholarships for students in Shelby County.
Walmart has a strong history of supporting Panola College, previously funding scholarships, Chromebooks for student checkout, backpacks, school supplies, student engagement activities, and children’s summer camps. The continued partnership exemplifies Walmart’s commitment to fostering education and community development in Shelby County.
“We are incredibly grateful for Walmart’s ongoing support,” said Cancee Lester, Director of Shelby County Operations. “This grant will make a significant impact on our students and their future opportunities.”
October 18, 2024 - The Gas Compressor Association (GCA) donated $14,700 to Panola College’s School of Energy on October 11, 2024. The donation was presented by Mark Davis of J-W Power Company on behalf of the GCA at the new Matthews Foundation Energy Building on the Carthage campus.
“The School of Energy would not be where it is today without the support of industry partners like the GCA,” said Daniel Hall, Chair of the School of Energy. “Our collaboration with the GCA has a direct impact on our students through job opportunities with member companies, involvement on our advisory board, and generous annual donations that help fund scholarships and lab equipment.”
Hall was joined by Jessica Pace, Panola College president, Dr. Billy Adams, Vice President of Instruction, Natalie Oswalt, Dean of Career and Technical Programs, Joanna Huckabee, Director of Institutional Advancement, and Whitney McBee, Director of Workforce and Continuing Education.
“We are extremely grateful for the continued support from the GCA,” added Hall. “This generous donation will play a major role in preparing students for successful careers in the energy industry.”
October 11, 2024 - Panola College is excited to announce a new articulation agreement with Texas A&M University-Texarkana, designed to provide our students with clear pathways to continue their education and earn bachelor’s degrees in business administration and elementary education. This new partnership reflects Panola College’s commitment to creating seamless transfer opportunities for our graduates and offering additional educational benefits to our faculty and staff.
The agreement allows Panola College graduates in Business Administration and Elementary Education (EC-6) to transition smoothly to Texas A&M-Texarkana, where they can continue their studies in a variety of business concentrations, including accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, management, marketing, sports management, and supply chain management.
Scholarship Opportunities for Transfer Students
Through this partnership, Panola College students transferring to Texas A&M-Texarkana will be eligible for special transfer scholarships, such as:
- Golden Eagle Transfer Scholarship: $3,000 per year, or $4,000 per year for students who qualify for and enroll in the Honors College.
- Maroon Eagle Transfer Scholarship: $2,000 per year, or $3,000 per year for Honors College students.
Benefits for Panola College Employees
In addition to benefiting our students, this partnership also provides full-time Panola College employees with significant tuition discounts for courses at Texas A&M-Texarkana. Employees can take advantage of reduced tuition costs on coursework ranging from micro-credentials to doctoral degrees. New employees enrolling at Texas A&M-Texarkana may also qualify for the First Flight Scholarship, which covers tuition for their first course.
“Lifelong learning is a core value at Panola College, and we are thrilled to expand educational opportunities for both our students and employees,” said Panola College President Dr. Jessica Pace. “This agreement not only helps our graduates seamlessly transition to Texas A&M-Texarkana to complete their bachelor’s degrees but also supports our faculty and staff in pursuing their own professional development. We look forward to the positive impact this partnership will have on our college community.”
October 10, 2024 - Panola College will hold its 11th annual Veterans Day Dinner on November 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Frances B. Ross Ballroom at the Charles C. Matthews Foundation Student Center. This event is free for any East Texas service member and one guest.
Coordinating the event are two Panola College service organizations: The Green Jackets, who serve the College and community as goodwill ambassadors, and the Student Government Association. The event is sponsored by the Green Jackets and SGA, along with area individuals, organizations, and businesses.
Individuals who wish to honor a Veteran may purchase a Flag of Honor for $25. The 3’x5’ flag will be mounted on a 6’ pole and placed at Panola College on West Panola Street from October 28 to November 15. Each flag will include a sign with the Veteran’s name, branch of service, and a personal message from the donor.
Information about additional sponsorships may be found by visiting panola.edu/veteransday. Funds raised from sponsorships will be used to fund this year’s Veterans Day Dinner, benefit the Panola County Texas Veterans Relief Fund, and fund future Panola College Veterans events.
Veterans and their guests must make a reservation for the Veterans Day Dinner by November 8 at 12:30 p.m. To reserve, contact Katie Ferris at 903-693-2094, email kferris@panola.edu, or complete the online form at panola.edu/veteransday.
October 9, 2024 - The Betty and Roy Erickson Charitable Fund generously donated $6,411 to the Panola College nursing program, which will be used to acquire additional resources and equipment for nursing education. This funding will enable the purchase of two IV pumps as well as two male and female catheterization trainer sets.
"We are grateful to the Betty and Roy Erickson grant for their generous support in funding the purchase of this equipment," said Annissa Jackson, chair of the nursing program at Panola College. "This will enable us to create realistic scenarios for practice, better preparing our nurses for their future roles in the field."
This equipment will serve 110 associate degree nursing students on the Carthage campus and 30 to 40 vocational nursing students at the Center location each year. With a total of four IV pumps, the program can run simulations in all four simulation rooms simultaneously. Additionally, the increased number of catheterization trainers provides the necessary equipment to efficiently assess and check off a larger number of students in a timely manner.
“This grant will allow us to enhance our nursing programs by purchasing additional equipment,” said Becky Walker, Associate Degree Nursing professor and simulation coordinator. “Hands-on training is crucial for improving student outcomes and will greatly enrich their educational experience at Panola College.”
September 19, 2024 - The road to the College National Finals Rodeo begins here, with the Panola College Rodeo. Hosted by the Panola College rodeo team at the Bar None Cowboy Church arena in Tatum, this two-day event will take place Friday, September 27, and Saturday, September 28, with slack starting at 10am and evening performances at 7pm.
Admission is free for all fans, making it a great opportunity to enjoy thrilling rodeo action and support our talented student-athletes.
Coach Jeff Collins, now in his tenth year at Panola College, is optimistic about the team's chances of qualifying for the College National Finals in June and hopes to add to their six national championships.
Panola College participates in the Southern Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association along with Texas A&M University, McNeese State University, Sam Houston State University, Louisiana Tech University, Texas A&M Commerce, Southwest Texas Junior College, Hill College, Northeast Texas Community College, Wharton County Junior College, and Trinity Valley Community College.
Panola College extends its heartfelt gratitude to all sponsors, with special recognition to our corporate sponsor, Panola Pipe and Salvage, for their support.
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