Panola College
July 18, 2017 - The Panola College Workforce and Continuing Education division is offering a Driver’s Education Course on the Carthage campus beginning Tuesday, September 5, 2017 and ending October 2, 2017. The class will meet Monday through Thursday from 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Preregistration is required. For more information, contact the Continuing Education office at 903-693-2067 or email ce@panola.edu.
Submitted by Donna Yates
July 17, 2017 - On July 13, Center High School seniors descended on Panola College to experience Camp College 2017. Camp College is a camp between Center High School and Panola College that gives their students the opportunity to learn about and prepare for their college career.
Twenty-three students lived in campus housing for a night, ate in the Panola dining hall and learned about student activities and organizations. Panola College gave tours of the campus and talked about different programs of study available. Students also learned about the admissions process, financial aid and scholarship opportunities, library services and eLearning.
Center High School held additional sessions for students about essay writing, resume writing and overall preparation for college needed during their senior year. Panola College has worked with Center High School since 2014 to offer this unique experience to their incoming seniors.
July 17, 2017 - Panola College has once again been named a great college to work for, according to a new survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education, a top trade publication for colleges and universities. Panola College has held this honor for six consecutive years.
The results, released today in The Chronicle’s tenth annual report on The Academic Workplace, are based on a survey of 232 colleges and universities.
Only 79 of the institutions that applied for the program achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition. Results are reported for small, medium, and large institutions, with Panola College included among the small universities with 2,999 students or fewer.
Panola College was also placed on the Honor Roll as a stand out college in its size category for winning honors in 10 categories this year. These categories included: Collaborative Governance; Compensation & Benefits; Confidence in Senior Leadership; Facilities, Workspace & Security; Job Satisfaction; Professional/Career Development Programs; Respect and Appreciation; Supervisor/Department Chair Relationship; Teaching Environment (Faculty Only); Work/Life Balance.
“Panola College is honored to receive this recognition again for the sixth consecutive year,” said Dr. Greg Powell, President of Panola College. “To continue to receive this award is a direct reflection of our remarkable Board of Trustees, the faculty, staff, and administration.”
“Ten years in, the Great Colleges to Work For distinction is well-known by academic jobseekers as a sign that an institution’s employees are valued and given opportunities for growth even when they face financial constraints,” said Liz McMillen, editor of The Chronicle. “Any college or university that’s on the list is showing that they emphasize one of their most valuable assets: their faculty and staff.”
The survey results are based on a two-part assessment process: an institutional audit that captured demographics and workplace policies, and a survey administered to faculty, administrators, and professional support staff. The primary factor in deciding whether an institution received recognition was the employee feedback.
To administer the survey and analyze the results, The Chronicle worked with ModernThink LLC, a strategic human capital consulting firm that has conducted numerous “Best Places to Work” programs, surveying hundreds of thousands of employees nationwide.
“It’s easier to be a great workplace during good times, but it’s when times are tough that the commitment to workplace quality really gets tested,” said Richard K. Boyer, principal and managing partner, ModernThink LLC. “And those institutions that measure up during times of economic hardship reinforce their already strong cultures and put even more distance between them and their peer institutions for whom they compete for talent.”
Great Colleges to Work For is one of the largest and most comprehensive workplace study in higher education.
About The Chronicle of Higher Education:
The Chronicle of Higher Education is dedicated to serving the higher-education community with insights, understanding, and intellectual engagement. Academic leaders and professionals from around the world trust The Chronicle’s analysis and in-depth exploration to make informed decisions.
About ModernThink LLC:
As a research and consulting leader in workplace issues, ModernThink has supported a wide variety of “Best Place to Work” initiatives. Through these programs, the firm has gained substantial survey and industry expertise, including specific insight into higher education. ModernThink knows what it takes to build a great place to work and shares that know-how with its clients. The ModernThink team of organizational development experts is dedicated to helping colleges follow through and capitalize on feedback from employees and benchmark data from peers to drive meaningful change at their institutions. Learn more at http://www.modernthink.com.
July 6, 2017 - The Panola College Workforce and Continuing Education division is offering a Massage Therapy program, on the Carthage campus, beginning Monday, August 28, 2017. The class will meet Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Preregistration is required. For more information, contact the Continuing Education office at 903-693-2067 or email ce@panola.edu.
June 29, 2017 - Panola College has announced the appointment of Dr. Billy Adams as Vice President of Instruction. Dr. Adams will assume the position on July 5, 2017.
“We are delighted to have Dr. Adams join our team,” said Dr. Greg Powell, President of Panola College. “Adams has extensive leadership experience in the areas within higher education instruction and will be a great benefit to Panola College.”
The Vice President of Instruction promotes academic excellence by providing innovative and dynamic leadership to support faculty in academic, scholarship, and service activities. The position works closely with the President and Deans/Directors to establish institutional priorities, formulate policies, develop strategic plans, and strengthen partnerships with business and industry, government, and other institutions. Additionally, the Vice President oversees library services, academic assessment, and non-credit classes.
Dr. Billy “Bubba” Adams graduated with his Associate of Science degree from Cisco College, his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master of Business Administration from Regis University and his Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership from Tarleton State University.
Adams worked in the natural gas industry for twenty years until 2001 when he began his career in higher education at Ranger College. During his sixteen years at Ranger College, he has served in various positions including, the Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Research, Director of Distance Education, Director of Dual Enrollment, Dean of Instruction and most recently, Vice President of Instruction.
Adams will tell you that his family is what he treasures most; he celebrates 35 years of marriage this year with his wife, Tammy. They have two children; a daughter Lauren Adams-Dickerson in Abilene, Texas, and a son Tyler who is at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas.
“I look forward to working with the great faculty and staff to continue the tradition of delivering a quality education to the students of Panola College and being a part of the community, working together in servant leadership,” stated Adams.
June 26, 2017 - Panola College is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Kelly Reed-Hirsch as the Dean of Health Sciences, who will assume the position on July 1, 2017.
The Dean of Health Sciences provides organizational leadership and support to the health science programs at all Panola College campuses. Ms. Reed-Hirsch will be responsible for developing and maintaining high quality programs, academic policy, learning and instruction, data collection, reporting, and organizational relationships, among other high priorities.
Kelly Reed-Hirsch graduated from Texas A&M University in 1992 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Health Education and worked as a Health Educator at both the state and local levels. She also taught Health Science Technology at a high school near Corpus Christi, Texas. Later, she received her Master of Public Health degree from the University of Texas – School of Public Health. In 2000, Ms. Reed-Hirsch joined Harris County Public Health in Houston where she worked for almost twenty years as a Public Health Program Manager.
“For two decades, I have worked with school districts to help ensure that a generation of students had opportunities to be safe, healthy, and ready to learn,” stated Ms. Reed-Hirsch. “I am eager to bring my knowledge of and passion for health to Panola College students as they become our next generation of health care providers.”
Kelly and her husband Michael, along with their young son, Reed, are looking forward to their move to Beckville, joining the Panola College family, and being active within the community. They enjoy spending time with family, collecting antiques, and traveling.
“With her previous leadership roles and her extensive background in the health science field, we are confident that Ms. Kelly Reed-Hirsch will be an outstanding leader for Panola College in the coming years,” stated Dr. Greg Powell, President of Panola College.
June 21, 2017 - 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 paticipant. The class will meet Monday and Wednesday: July 10 - August 16, from 9:30am to 10:30am, 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
Submitted by Trellis McCann
June 16, 2017 - On the thirtieth anniversary of Project Belize (www.projectbelize.org) six nurses connected through Panola College were reunited. When Barbara Cordell began taking Panola College nursing students on the medical mission trip in 2000, one of the students that year was Bobby Yarborough. Several years after he graduated, he came back to teach at Panola College for a few years and then moved to Emergency nursing, but has continued to participate in Project Belize many times over the years.
This year, Reyna Avila from the LVN-RN Transition program at Panola College participated in the Project Belize course on Transcultural Nursing. This marks the twenty-second year Dr. Cordell has been going on the medical mission, and her seventeenth year to offer the course to nursing students through the college.
The other three nurses came initially as students as well and now return when able to volunteer their time and skill as nurses to the project. This year the six nurses joined other nurses, doctors, and volunteers to provide medical care to over 1,500 Mayan Indians in the remote jungles of Belize. This is often the only care these villagers receive in a year. All volunteers pay their own way and all donations are used for medicines and supplies.
June 12, 2017 - Panola College announces the appointment of a new member of its Board of Trustees, Brooke Lipsey, to replace longtime board member, Mrs. Evelyn Sharp who recently resigned.
“Our newest Board member embodies the spirit of community and brings talent, expertise and energy to the table,” said Dr. Greg Powell, President of Panola College. “We are fortunate to have the level of experience and leadership in place on our Board, and we couldn’t be more pleased with this appointment.”
Brooke Lipsey is a Carthage native and a 1999 graduate of Carthage high School. She began her collegiate career at Panola College before transferring to Stephen F. Austin State University where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Finance in 2002.
While attending SFA, Lipsey began her career at BancorpSouth and later transferred to their Marshall Branch. She also worked as an accountant for Robinson and Williams, CPAs. Currently, she works for the Panola County Auditor’s office as 2nd assistant auditor and has been the bookkeeper for Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral home since 2005.
Brooke and her husband, Stuart Lipsey, have two children, Olivia, age 9, and Travis, age 7. Her family are active members at the First United Methodist Church, where she enjoys teaching Sunday school, LOGOS, and directing Vacation Bible School.
“I am extremely honored and excited to have the opportunity to serve on the Board of Trustees for Panola College, an institution that our community is so blessed to have. I am grateful for Mrs. Evelyn Sharp’s many years of service and contributions to the College. I truly have big shoes to fill,” stated Lipsey.
The Panola College Board of Trustees are: Chair, William Goolsby; Vice-Chair, Hal Palmer; Secretary, Glendell Chadwick; Brooke Lipsey; Bobby Phillips; Kevin Smith; and Richard Thomas.
June 12, 2017 - Panola College Volleyball is proud to announce that all five sophomores from the history-making 2016 Fillies Volleyball team will continue both their education and playing careers at 4-year universities in the fall. Ana Oliveira, Rachel Henderson and Victoria Baptista each signed a National Letter of Intent in April, while Morgan Currie committed in May and Cyrani Butler finalized her decision this week.
Ana Oliveira will be continuing her playing career at NCAA Division II Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri. Oliveira became only the second 1st Team All-American in Panola Volleyball history after being named Conference Player of the Year her sophomore season, and SBU Head Coach Caira Dortch is eagerly awaiting the elite level talent and experience Oliveira will bring to the Bearcats program this fall.
Rachel Henderson will travel to the East Coast to attend NCAA Division I Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. Henderson was a 1st Team All-Conference performer and emotional leader for the Fillies this past season, and will be depended on to bring that same fire and passion to the TSU Tigers where she will compete under the direction of Head Coach Donika Sutton.
Victoria Baptista, a 2nd team All-Conference selection and the 2016 Region XIV Tournament MVP, will be attending Liberty University, a NCAA Division I school and program in Lynchburg,Virginia. There, she will be expected to emerge quickly as a versatile leader who is able to contribute both offensively and defensively for the Lady Flames under the direction of Head Coach Shane Pinder.
Morgan Currie didn't have to travel far to make her decision, committing to attend Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana. Due to an unfortunate knee injury suffered late this past spring, Currie will take a medical redshirt her first year before resuming her playing career as a Lady Techster in fall 2018. The former Region XIV-North Libero of the Year as a freshman at Panola and 2nd Team All-Conference honoree as a sophomore will undoubtedly make her presence known quickly with a year to train under her belt before she is anticipated to earn a significant role under Head Coach Adriano de Souza.
Cyrani Butler rounds out this year's sophomore class with her decision to attend the academically- prestigious Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama. In her two years at PC, Cyrani provided valuable depth in the defensive position and was a critical piece of the leadership puzzle for this year's national tournament run. Head Coach Janay Yancey anticipates gaining Butler's contagious energy and work ethic in the Golden Tiger's gym this fall during her first year at the helm.
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