Panola College
April 27, 2017 - On April 26, 2017, the Panola College Foundation held their final board meeting for the academic year where Brenda Giles, Chair of the Foundation, presented board members who had completed their term with a token of the Foundation’s appreciation. Board members serving their final term included Sandy Payne, Fannie Watson, and Matt Pool (not pictured).
“We appreciate the dedication, hard work, and generosity these board members have contributed to the Panola College Foundation over the past six years,” said Brenda Giles.
April 27, 2017 Carthage – Panola College sophomore Devyn Wilson, has signed is national letter of intent with Portland State University. The Brooklyn, New York native was a two-year starter for the Ponies. This past season he was the team’s leading scorer. He was also second team all-region and made the Region 14 all- tournament team.
Devyn was the first signee under Head Coach Grant McMillan. He was part of 50 wins, back-to-back regional championship game appearances, North Division conference champion, and a national tournament berth. “Devyn has been with us since day 1. The amount of growth we have seen from him has been unbelievable. He trusted in our vision and I am forever grateful. He deserves this moment.” Head Coach Grant McMillan stated.
Devyn joins teammates, Eric McGill, Tope Arikawe, Bryson Lockley, and KJ Byers who have already signed division one.
April 27, 2017 - Panola’s barrel racer Abby Phillips, of Marshall, TX, and saddle bronc rider Logan Cook, of Alto, TX, have both qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo to be held June 11-17, 2017 in Casper, Wyoming.
This past weekend the Rodeo Team traveled to Wharton for the 10th and final Southern Region rodeo of the regular season on Friday and Saturday.
Abby Phillips set the bar high with a flawless run early in the day on Friday with a 14.27 seconds run in barrels. The cowgirl came into the last rodeo in 4th position overall and had no choice but to win a top spot in the rodeo to fulfill her goal of being one of the top three in the Southern Region to qualify for the CNFR. The rest of the barrel racers one by one were unable to catch her until the rodeos final performance Saturday night. Abby was passed by one other girl and ended up with a 2nd place finish. Goal #1 achieved, Abby Phillips and her horse Fame moved to 2nd place in the final standings and is moving on to the C.N.F.R. Coach Collins said “I have no way of knowing how it will turn out, but I do know what Abby will give to make it happen. I trust Abby’s work ethic, her discipline, and her character so much and I am very excited to have such an amazing young athlete be a part of our program. I can’t say enough about this young lady and I am very excited for the CNFR.”
Remember this name, Logan Cook, because you will be hearing it a lot in the rodeo world. Logan, who had already secured a spot in the top three in the Saddlebronc Riding before the rodeo even started, posted a 64 point ride Friday night, good enough for 2nd place at the rodeo, and good enough for 2nd place in the final standings. “Logan is a very talented cowboy with lots of grit and ability. He is capable of winning a national title not only in saddle bronc but also in calf roping one day and will also compete for the All-Around Title. Logan has been a huge asset to this program and I am very excited about his future and his time here with us,” says Coach Collins. “Logan will no doubt be in the running for a national title this June, but we will be looking at the future and seeing a lot of this young cowboy.”
Two cowboys showed out in the Bareback Riding, Travis Chapman of Woodville, TX, and Ethan Andrepont, of DeRidder, LA. and helped the Panola Men’s team to 4th place finish at the Wharton Rodeo. Travis made a great ride and was able to score a 74 point ride for a 2nd place finish, while Ethan scored 64 points for a 6th place finish. Travis is a freshman with great potential and will be back next year. Ethan will be leaving us this year to try his hand at some pro rodeos.
The year-end standings for Panola College were very tight to the end, both men and women ended up in the fourth position. The top 2 teams on both the men and women’s side each move on to the College National Finals. Coach Collins said “We are a very young hard working team; we are up against some very tough four year schools. I look for these individuals to really rise to the occasion next year and carry a team of both men and women to the College Finals Rodeo. That’s one of our goals every year as a team, and I believe we have the athletes here that can do that.”
April 26, 2017 - The Panola College class of 2017 Associate Degree and Vocational Nursing students are set to graduate May 11th.
Vocational Nursing - (L to R) bottom Row: Caitlin Salter, Amanda Langston, Amy Pearson, Keaira Dixon, Tammy Beasley, Kristi Keith, Brooke Phillips, Megan Taylor, Corsica Barnes, Kimber Harris, Harley Duncan, Ixcel Aguilar, Kelly Allen, Latissa Winston, Claudia Johnson, Carison Taylor, Kriste Moreno, Haley Mejias, Tawana Abner, Shanice White, LaMonica Wheat, Kacey Stanley, Kevin Claiborne, Casey Price, Tequita Burns
Associate Degree Nursing – (L to R) top row: Lindsay Adams, Tedra Parker,Lacey Granger, Sarah Malone, Vicki Doerge, Brandy Graham, Jessica Smith, Allison Honeycutt, Kandace Edens, Kalishia Calhoun, Felicia Hargrove, Tiffany Alexander, Hannah Deal, Beverlyn Fields, Amy Myers, Shay Mullins, Yesenia Bazaldua, Pedro Farnsworth, Maria Almaguer, Amber Martin
April 26, 2017 - Congratulations to Panola College's Rodeo Coach for being selected the Southern Region Rodeo Coach of the Year!
This honor is selected by all the Southern Region Rodeo Coaches. Coach Collins is in his 3rd year at Panola College and has had team members advance to the CNFR each year. This year he had two individuals qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo to be held in Casper, Wyoming in June.
"It's a very humbling experience to be awarded this because there are many great coaches across the Southern Region that work everyday to help their students achieve success in the arena and out, says Coach Collins.
Submitted by Don Collins, Vice President of Student Services
April 25, 2017 Carthage – Panola College men’s basketball players Bryson Lockley and KJ Byers both signed division one over the weekend. “Both KJ and Bryson did all that we asked of them this past season. They bought in and had special years. They deserved to have this moment and all of this success” Head coach Grant McMillan mentioned.
Byers signed with Long Beach State, which participates in the Big West Conference. KJ finished the season averaging 7.6 points per game, recorded two double-doubles on the year and was second in the conference in blocked shots. Byers, the Charlotte, North Carolina native, transferred to Panola from Iowa Western Community College.
Lockley signed with Kennesaw State, which participates in the Big South Conference. Bryson averaged 4.6 points and 3.9 rebounds a game this past season while making 11 starts. He recorded 5 double-figure scoring games and recorded two double-digit rebounding games. Lockley, the Houston, Texas native, transferred to Panola after redshirting at Santa Clara last season.
The two big man join Eric McGill (Southern Illinois) and Tope Arikawe (North Texas) who will continue their career at division one universities. Panola finished the season 26-9 ranked 13th in the final media poll. According to head coach Grant McMillan, there will be more division one signees here in the near future.
April 24, 2017 - The Panola College Alumni Association is proud to announce the selection of Dr. Sherilyn Emberton as the 2017 Panola College Alumna of the Year. Dr. Emberton will be recognized by Dr. Berri O’Neal, Chair of the Panola College Alumni Association and recipient of the 2016 Alumna of the Year, at the spring commencement ceremony scheduled for Thursday, May 11, at 5pm in the Arthur Johnson Gymnasium.
Dr. Sherilyn Emberton attended Panola College from 1976 to 1978. During this time, she was an active member of the Panola College Pipers and the Cheer Squad.
When asked about her most memorable moments at Panola College, Dr. Emberton replied, “Overwhelmingly, it would have to be the privilege of attending during the years both the men's baseball team and women's basketball teams contending for national tourneys. Being a member of the cheer squad for both years, and getting to be a part of the campus spirit was so exciting! Go Ponies! Go Fillies!”
After graduating from Panola College, Emberton went on to earn a Doctor of Education degree in 1999 from Texas A&M University-Commerce and undergraduate study at Stephen F. Austin State University where she received a Bachelor of Science in education degree in 1979. She earned a Master of Education degree from the same institution in 1981.
Dr. Emberton, President of Huntington University, is a native Texan who was born in Irving, near Dallas. She began her presidency in June 2013 and has made a significant impact in her first three years, helping to launch HU’s first doctoral program in occupational therapy, the Haupert Institute for Agricultural Studies and the Institute for Leadership & Counseling.
Prior to accepting the presidency at Huntington, Emberton served as the provost and vice president for academic affairs at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, as well as serving in that same role at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee. Emberton began her career in Christian higher education at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, leading its new teacher education program. In 2005, she was named the associate vice president for academic affairs for the institution. She has also served as the Director of Applied Projects for the Texas State Technical Institute.
Currently, Emberton sits on the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s Governing Board, is part of the Regional Cities Initiative’s Steering Committee, and recently named to the board for the Northeast Indiana Chamber of Commerce. She is the Director of Higher Education for the US National Conference, United Brethren Church in Christ. In addition, she chairs the Lenawee Christian Ministries Board headquartered in Adrian, Michigan; is an executive committee member at-large of the Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) out of Indianapolis; is a board member on the Regional Chamber of Northeast Indiana, and serves on the Board for the Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana, Inc. In January, Dr. Emberton will join the board of the newly formed AgriNovus, which includes other executive leaders from the agribusiness community such as Dow Chemical, Whitshire Hamroc, Beck’s Seeds, Lilly, Inc. and Purdue University.
“Dr. Sherilyn Emberton has contributed back to higher education for decades, including serving in top administrative roles as the first female in several of those positions. She has made a mark on higher education and has exemplified excellence throughout her career,” says Dr. Berri O’Neal, PC Alumni Association Chair. “Emberton personifies the definition of a Panola College Alumna of the Year.”
Submitted by Donna Yates
April 19, 2017 - The Panola College Rodeo team will travel to Wharton County Jr. College for the final rodeo of the year for the 10 rodeo circuit of the Southern Region.
Freshman, Logan Cook, of Alto, TX has been riding high all circuit long and has solidified a spot in the Collegiate National Finals Rodeo to be held in June in Casper, Wyoming. With the top three qualifying in each event for the CNFR, Cook currently sits second in the saddle bronc competition with a comfortable lead over 3rd and 4th positions going into the last rodeo. Logan has also climbed in the ranks sitting 3rd in the Men's All Around. Sitting 2nd in saddle bronc and 7th in team roping, plus the all around hand has place and got points this year in calf roping as well as steer wrestling.
Teammates Abby Phillips and Taylor Gooch are sitting in the 4th spots in barrel racing and goat tying and are looking for a great weekend at Wharton in order to qualify for their first CNFR.
Good luck to each cowboy/cowgirl this weekend in Wharton!
Submitted by Don Clinton
April 19, 2017 - The Panola Baseball team remains in the NJCAA poll at #16 for the 6th straight week!
The Ponies currently have a 35-9 record on the year. This weekend's conference 3 game series will begin on Thursday, April 20 at home at 3 p.m. for a one 9 inning game. Then on Saturday, April 22 the Ponies will travel to Mt. Pleasant to take on Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC) Eagles in a double header beginning at 1 p.m.
Submitted by Don Clinton, VP of Student Services
April 19, 2017 - The 5'11 Sophomore added another accolade to her collection this past Friday, as Panola College gained another All-American.
On Friday April 14th, the All-American list was announced and Genesis Rivera, was named on the Honorable Mention List.
Rivera was also named 1st Team All-Region after helping lead her team to a 23-8 record and finishing 3rd in Region XIV. She led the Conference in field goal percentage at 52.4. This season, she played in 29 games, starting 19, and averaged 12.7 ppg and 5.3 rpg.
She is now the first Sophomore of her class to sign with her next school. Rivera will be playing at the NCAA Division 1 level with the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
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