special to the star



East Mississippi Community College has recognized academic excellence and leadership at Awards Day ceremonies held at its Scooba and Golden Triangle campuses. Scooba campus awards were presented April 7 and Golden Triangle campus awards were presented April 13.

EMCC President Dr. Rick Young praised this year’s honorees in his opening remarks.

“You’re here today because you’re successful. Look around you. You’re looking at the future leaders of our communities, our state and our nation – but success does not come without sacrifice,” Young said.

“In the words of Earl Nightingale, a motivational speaker whose words have been important in my life, ‘Successful people do what unsuccessful people won’t.’ You’ve got what it takes to be successful. I thank you for your efforts and I thank your parents, teachers and counselors, who are working to make a difference in your lives.”



Academic and

Career-Technical Awards



Award winners in academic and career-technical areas at EMCC’s Scooba and Golden Triangle campuses included:

• Art: Heather Boatner of New Albany, Scooba; Magdelina Vechorik of Starkville, Golden Triangle

• Automation and Control: Lemario Wilson of Columbus, Golden Triangle

• Automotive: Latoya Brown of Starkville, Golden Triangle

• Automotive Technology: Steven Howell of Starkville, Golden Triangle

• Banking and Finance Technology: Brenda Roberson of Pheba, Golden Triangle

• Biology: Dillon Ott of Aberdeen, Golden Triangle

• Business and Office Technology: Nicholas Becton of Philadelphia, Scooba; • Deionne Lenoir of West Point, Golden Triangle

• Business Marketing Management: Rebecca Cantrell of Hamilton, Golden Triangle

• Calculus: Liene Britt of Starkville, Golden Triangle

• Chemistry: Liene Britt of Starkville, Golden Triangle

• College Algebra: Paige Peterson of Louisville, Scooba

• Communication: Liene Britt of Starkville, Golden Triangle

• Computer Science: Brian Fridley of Columbus, Golden Triangle

• Cosmetology: Ashlie McEwen of Columbus, Golden Triangle

• Drafting and Design: John Poss of Starkville, Golden Triangle

• Economics: Kristy Handley of Steens, Golden Triangle; Michael Brock of Caledonia, Golden Triangle

• Educational Psychology: Valeria Coleman of Starkville, Golden Triangle

• Electrical Technology: James Moore of Weir, Golden Triangle

• Electronic Technology: Craig Clemmons of Columbus, Golden Triangle

• English Composition: Gidget Griffin of DeKalb, Scooba; Tyra James of Columbus, Scooba; Katie Rose Higginbotham of Starkville, Scooba; Matthew Witbeck of Starkville, Scooba; Sydney McKnight of Ackerman, Golden Triangle

• English Literature: Candace Fuller of Preston, Scooba

• Forestry Technology: Eric Long of Philadelphia, Scooba; John Taylor Dean of Meridian, Scooba

• Funeral Service Technology: Shayron Carr of Houston, Scooba

• Health Care Assistant: Rebecca Joiner of Macon, Scooba

• History: John C. Richardson of Columbus, Golden Triangle

• Honors English Composition: Jesse Murrell of Columbus, Golden Triangle

• Hotel/Restaurant Management: Jenny Finch of Caledonia, Golden Triangle

• Industrial Electricity: Andrew Hobson of French Camp, Golden Triangle

• Journalism: Devin Strong of West Point, Golden Triangle

• Lineman: Willie Gillespie of Scooba, Scooba

• Literature: Grace Elizabeth Layton of Columbus, Golden Triangle

• Local Area Networking: Jared Woodall of Columbus, Golden Triangle

• Machine Tool Technology: Cory Shows of Columbus, Golden Triangle; Sedrick Lee of Columbus, Golden Triangle

• Microbiology: Audrey Lynn Culpepper of Caledonia, Golden Triangle

• Music: Faith Henley of West Point, Golden Triangle

• Non-Calculus: Allie E. House of Columbus, Golden Triangle

• Ophthalmic Technology: Mahogany Clemons of Philadelphia, Scooba

• Organic Chemistry: Tyrone Shaw of Starkville, Golden Triangle

• Paramedic: Francisco Ybarra of Columbus, Golden Triangle

• Practical Nursing: Eulanda Sparks of Columbus, Golden Triangle

• Psychology: April Jones of West Point, Golden Triangle

• Public Speaking: Gabriel Poe of Pheba, Scooba; Shannon Syfrett of Macon; Scooba

• Social Science: Jesse Conner of Shuqualak, Scooba

• Sociology: Mary Elizabeth Vaden of Columbus, Golden Triangle

• Spanish I: James Parker Stewart of Starkville, Golden Triangle

• Spanish II: Lacey J’Nae Davis of Starkville, Golden Triangle

• Syzygy literary magazine Art Award: Arianna Griffin of Columbus, first place; Pierce Young of Columbus, second place; Catherine Faello of Columbus, third place

• Syzygy literary magazine Poetry Award: Olivia Bouder of Crawford, first and second place; Jennifer Fox of Calhoun City, third place

• Syzygy literary magazine Photography Award: Pierce Young of Columbus, first, second and third place

• Syzygy literary magazine Short Fiction Award: John Michael Burns of Starkville, first place

• Syzygy literary magazine Short Nonfiction Award: Shadow Cox of Weir

• Trigonometry: Andrew Watkins of Meridian, Scooba

• Welding Fabrication: Jonathan Morrison of Carrollton, Golden Triangle

Welding Technology: Michael Montgomery of Caledonia, Scooba; James Sanders of Aberdeen, Golden Triangle

• “What Matters Most” Award: Johnny Jerrell McCallum of DeKalb



Leadership Awards



EMCC also recognized students who stepped up to leadership roles over the course of the year.

• Phi Theta Kappa, Scooba: Josie Matthews of Meridian, president; Sara Havard of Meridian, secretary; Ashley Martin of Columbus, vice president of scholarship; William McClain of West Point, vice president of leadership; and Jessica Stokes of Brooksville, vice president of service.

• Student Government Association, Scooba: Lanquan Ivy of West Point, president; Jessica Stokes of Brooksville, vice president; Sara Havard of Meridian, treasurer; Josie Matthews of Meridian, sophomore representative; Lacy Mangrum of Sarah, sophomore representative; Konrad Davis of Columbus, freshman representative; Anthony Butler of DeKalb, freshman representative.

• Student Government Association, Golden Triangle: Leigh Green of Columbus; Brenda Roberson of Phoebe; Markez Quinn of West Point, president; Haley Howard of Columbus, vice president; Mary Kathryn Tinton of Columbus; Cassandra Holmes, secretary/treasurer; Talia Montgomery of Phoebe; Kareem Davis of Columbus; Tommie Moore of Brooksville; Clay Fisackerly of Houston; Kathryn Long of Mathiston; Tavares Turner of Columbus; Elliott Anderson of Starkville; Deionne Lenoir of West Point; Drashinda Riley, and Robert Triplett of Columbus.

• Outstanding Service as Ambassador, Scooba: Zachary Marro of Shuqualak; Luke Moore of Scooba.

• Outstanding Service as Ambassador, Golden Triangle: Alana Champion of Pheba; Haley Howard of Columbus; Markez Quinn of West Point; Kathryn Long of Mathiston.

• Outstanding Sophomore, Columbus Air Force Base: Jessica Rogers of Columbus; Caitlin Copeland of Columbus.

• Student Practical Nursing Association, Golden Triangle: Eulanda Sparks of Columbus, president; Greg Deans of Mantee, vice president; Stacy McDonald of Starkville, photographer; Marion Koch of Starkville, photographer.

• Who’s Who Among American Community College Students, Scooba: Josie Matthews of Meridian; Bradley Edmonds of Scooba; William McClain of West Point; Miari Franklin of Starkville; Jessica Romanowski of Franklin, Wis.; Joseph Rush of DeKalb; Cody Brownlee of Nettleton; Larry Bourrage of DeKalb; Kayla Brown of Meridian; Jessica Stokes of Brooksville; Dantra Grace of DeKalb; Jessica Vick of Bailey; Brittany Dooley of Macon; Miranda Minor of Columbus; Charlie Fall of Stringer; Alex Mayfield of Scooba; Thea Bankhead of Brooksville; Jeremy Keys of Collins; Gertrica Harris of Columbus; Ashley Martin of Columbus; Ashley Silas of Columbus; Heather Boatner of New Albany; Lacy Mangrum of Sarah; Tamarie Phillips of Starkville; Chris Fitzgerald of Meridian; Joseph Alexander of Meridian; Sara Havard of Meridian; and Jesse Conner of Shuqualak.

• Who’s Who Among American Community College Students, Golden Triangle: Jeremichael Bonner; Cedric Brownlee of Woodland; Rickale Clark of Starkville; Curtis Clemmons; Rachel Fitzgerald of Starkville; Beth Mitchener of Macon; Tommie Moore of Brooksville; Anthony Nelson of Columbus; Patricia Ponds of Prairie; Stephen Schrader of Columbus; Hollie Thomas of Philadelphia; Justin Walker of Macon; Timmy Beford of Starkville; Wes Blondin of Ackerman; David Broom Jr. of Mathiston; Debora Brown of Starkville; Deborah Brown of West Point; Faleicha Bryant of Columbus; Dorine Deason of Columbus; Constance Ewing of West Point; Anastesia Green; Kelli Ann Griffin; Deionne Lenoir of West Point; Kathryn Long of Mathiston; Shamillah Mitchell of Brooksville; Carrie Ring of Columbus; Brenda Roberson of Pheba; Trey Robinson; Kimberlee Smith of Sturgis; Monique Tice of Starkville; Keyannia Jefferson; Heather Vizgard of Caledonia; Brad Clark; Debra Key of Columbus; Delores Badie; Jasmine Baker of Columbus; and Phyllis Bennett.