MERIDIAN — special to the star



    Speech instructor Kate Keenan Covich of Rose Hill and sophomore pre-medicine major Jordan Gunn of Forest were recently selected to represent East Central Community College in Decatur at the 23rd Annual HEADWAE program scheduled Feb. 24 in Jackson.

     The HEADWAE (Higher Education Day: Working Toward Academic Excellence) program is sponsored by the Mississippi Legislature, supported by the corporate community and is coordinated by the Mississippi Association of Colleges and Universities. The lieutenant governor serves as chair of HEADWAE, which each year honors outstanding faculty members and students from each participating member institution of the Mississippi Association of Colleges and Universities.

     Activities for the special day include special recognition of the honorees at the State Capitol followed by an awards luncheon at the Jackson Convention Center in downtown Jackson. In addition, a booklet will be published featuring photographs and biographical sketches of each award recipient.

     In addition to her teaching duties, Covich is serving her second year as co-adviser for Theta Xi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges.

     She also serves as vice president of the ECCC Administration, Faculty and Staff Association. In addition, she was one of two ECCC faculty members selected to participate in the inaugural class of the Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy for 2009-10.

     Covich joined the ECCC faculty in 2007 after previously serving as an adjunct instructor for ECCC and Meridian Community College. She formerly worked in public relations for the Mitchell Companies in Meridian and earlier served as a producer and researcher for the Center for Public Television in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

     A Bay Springs native, Covich is a 2001 honors graduate of Heidelberg Academy, where she participated in basketball and was a member of the show choir, girls’ sextet and honor society.

     She was chosen Jasper County Junior Miss in 2001.

     She continued her education at Mississippi State University and received a bachelor’s degree in communication with an emphasis in broadcasting and public relations in 2005. While attending MSU, Covich was a member of the Diamond Girls, Kappa Delta sorority, Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM) and Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).

She received a master’s degree in telecommunication and film from the University of Alabama in 2006.

     She is currently working on a doctorate in speech communication at the University of Southern Mississippi.

     Covich serves as a volunteer for the Mississippi Hugh O’Brian Leadership program and is a member of the Mississippi Communication Association and Meridian Young Professionals.

     She is married to Sean Covich, sports information director and men’s golf coach at Meridian Community College. They are active members of First Christian Church of Meridian, where Kate also sings in the choir.

     She is the daughter of John and Sandy Keenan of Rose Hill.

     Gunn has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average while serving leadership roles in various college activities.

     He is president of the concert choir and residence hall advisers and co-president of the Warrior Corps, a select group of students that assists in recruiting and other campus activities.

     He also serves as vice president of fellowship for Theta Xi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa.In addition, he is an active member of the Baptist Student Union, serving as council member and Bible study leader. He is also a former member of the Praise Band.

     Gunn was presented the Aaron R. Davis Memorial Scholarship and the General Patrick Wilson Memorial Scholarship during the College’s Awards Day activities in 2009. He was recently named to "Who’s Who Among Students in American Community and Junior Colleges" and selected a sophomore class favorite.

     Gunn is a 2008 honors graduate of Lake High School, where he was class valedictorian and recipient of numerous academic awards. He was also a four-year lettermen and award-winner in baseball and held leadership roles in various clubs and organizations. In addition, he was named to The National Society of High School Scholars, National Technical Honor Society and "Who’s Who Among American High School Students."

     Gunn also excelled as a student at the Forest-Scott County Career and Technology Center. He won honors in HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) competition, including a fourth-place award in medical terminology at the state contest. He was also named Allied Health I Outstanding Student in 2007 and Allied Health II Outstanding Student in 2008.

     He received several scholarships to attend ECCC, including the Presidential Scholarship, Valedictorian Scholarship, Concert Choir Scholarship, ACT Scholarship and Bank of Forest Scholarship.

     Gunn's parents are David and Elizabeth Gunn of Forest.