Excellence in education

By Staff
May 18, 2002
The A.C. Johnson Civitan Scholar for the spring semester at Meridian Community College is Dawn J. Turnipseed of Meridian. The $325 per semester award is funded through The MCC Foundation. The local Meridian Civitan Clubs established the scholarship to honor Dr. Johnson, who was at one time governor of Mississippi District Civitan International.
Turnipseed, 37, is a sophomore in the University Transfer Program. She plans to pursue a bachelor's degree and become a teacher.
Erika L. Goodman, 21, of Meridian, is the Emily Louise McDonald Memorial Scholarship recipient for the spring and fall semesters at Meridian Community College. The $700 award is funded through The MCC Foundation.
A sophomore in the Associate Degree Nursing Program, Goodman is a member of the Organization of Student Nurses. She works part-time in the Telemetry Unit of a local hospital and enjoys volunteer activities. She plans to pursue a master's degree in nursing and hopes to become a nurse practitioner.
Brennan Rutledge of Meridian is the Bill and Gay Whitworth scholar for the spring semester at Meridian Community College. Mr. and Mrs. Whitworth fund the $500 per semester award through The MCC Foundation.
Rutledge, 19, is a sophomore in the University Transfer Program. His career goal is to become a physician. A dean's list scholar, he is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international scholastic and honorary society for two-year colleges. Rutledge works part-time and enjoys church youth group and community volunteer work.
Paige Harper of Meridian is the recipient of the D.P. and Ruby Self Scholarship for the spring semester at Meridian Community College. The $500 per semester award is funded through The MCC Foundation by an endowment established by Daniel P. Self Jr.
A freshman in the University Transfer Program, Harper is planning a career in the field of education. Her part-time job at a local preschool has piqued her interest in early childhood education. She is a member of the Baptist Student Union, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Vocational Industrial Clubs of America.
Two Meridian Community College students, a mother and son, have been chosen to receive Casteel Art Scholarships at Meridian Community College.
The $720 awards are funded through The MCC Foundation. Homer Casteel was an instructor and art department chairman at the college from 1956 until his death in 1972.
Shelba Strange, 44, is a freshman studying in the art program. She is a Master Gardner and is a member of the Student Art League. Strange recently received a first place award in photography at the MCC Student Art Show.
Her son, Anthony G. Inman, 22, is a sophomore majoring in fine arts. He is a member of the Student Art League and plans to earn a master's degree in fine arts. Inman received the first place award in ceramics and second place in Two Dimensional Design in MCC's student art show.
SCOOBA Mary M. Smith and Pam Moore, two East Mississippi Community College faculty members who teach on the Scooba campus, have been selected for inclusion in the seventh edition of "Who's Who Among American Teachers 2002."
Smith, special populations counselor at EMCC, has taught at the college for nine years. La Tasha A. Jones, a former student at EMCC, nominated Smith.
A resident of the Kipling community in Kemper County, Smith is married to Robert Smith, farm machinery instructor at West Lauderdale High School. She has two sons, Rob Smith, a teacher at West Point Vocational Center, and Jonathan Smith, a forestry research specialist with the BASF Corp.
Moore, English instructor and softball coach at EMCC, has taught and coached at the college for five years. Ame E. Robertson, a former student at EMCC, nominated Moore.
A resident of Scooba, Moore is married to Tommy Moore, football coach and assistant dean of students at EMCC.
Three Newton County Career and Technical Center students won first place this semester in the multimedia category of the State Future Business Leaders of America Competition held in Jackson.
The Business and Computer Technology students were: Jennifer Walley, Jody Blount and Courtney Averett.
The National FBLA Competition will be in Nashville, Tenn., June 29-July 3.
Other students from the school who attended the conference were: Char'Dae Knowlin, Jessie Pinson, Brad Walton, Justin Dean and Kevin Comans.