2012 graduates in Itawamba Community College's five-county district are encouraged to apply for the County Guaranteed Tuition programs before the July 31 deadline.

Students in Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe and Pontotoc counties should meet several requirements, according to Bob Walker, ICC director of financial aid.

They include
Take the National American College Test (National ACT) by June 9.

Apply for Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) at www.mississippi.edu by July 31. Students can check on the status of their MTAG application by returning to the website.

Apply for ICC institutional scholarships at www.iccms.edu/forms by July 31.

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov by July 31.

Complete the County Guaranteed Tuition application by July 31. Applications are available and accepted between Jan. 1 and July 31 each year.

Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lee and Pontotoc graduates must enroll as a full-time student (at least 12 academic hours) at ICC for the fall semester following graduation from high school or after completing a military obligation if the individual enters the military immediately following high school graduation or after earning the GED certificate for all counties except for Lee County.

Monroe County applicants must enroll as a full-time student (at least 12 academic hours) at ICC for the fall semester following their application to the MCGTP. They are not required to be recent high school graduates or GED recipients. Applicants can only apply once, and eligibility is for four consecutive semesters. Once eligibility is lost, it cannot be regained.

Walker said that if the above requirements are met, eligibility will be determined by totaling the amount of aid received by other sources (Federal, state, institutional, etc.). If the cost of tuition has not been met, the county grant will be awarded up to the cost of tuition. Lee and Monroe County recipients will be awarded up to $1,400 per semester. Applicants whose awards do not exceed $1,400 per semester will then be awarded CGTP funds to cover the difference. Any amount over $1,000 for tuition must be used for textbooks in the ICC Bookstore. Student loans, work-study and MPACT are not included in the calculation. Recipients must pass a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester with a 2.0 GPA to continue eligibility.
Walker said that students who receive full academic scholarships to ICC should also apply for the county guaranteed tuition program. "If something happens after the fall semester and students are no longer eligible for academic scholarships in the spring, it's possible that they may receive county tuition assistance for the spring if they passed 12 hours with a 2.0 GPA if they applied by the July 31 deadline."

For more information, contact Walker at (662) 862-8223 or e-mail rdwalker@iccms.edu.

Itawamba Community College has received a $1,500 grant for its 2012 Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs® summer manufacturing camp from the Foundation of the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, Intl.

The Tek2Go-Manufacturing the Future camp will be from 8 a.m.-2 p.m., June 18-21, and 8 a.m.-noon, June 22, at the ICC Belden Center (3200 Adams Farm Road).

Applications for the advanced manufacturing camp are being accepted from 12-16-year-old boys and girls. Cost of the camp is $25, and scholarships are available.

The camp is sponsored by the Community Development Foundation, Hawkeye Industries and Itawamba Community College in partnership with Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs®.

For more information, contact Todd Beadles at (662) 842-4521.

Registration is under way for Computer Camp 2012 at the Itawamba Community College Fulton Campus.

The camp, which will be from 8:30 a.m.-noon, June 18-22, is for students in grades 4-8 (next school year).

Topics to be covered include Microsoft Windows 7, Imaging with Digital Photos, Word 2010, Excel 2010, Internet, OneNote 2010, Scanners and PowerPoint 2010.

Transportation will be provided from ICC-Tupelo to ICC-Fulton and return.

Applications may be submitted by mail, fax, email or phone. The cost is $80 for those who register by June 10 and $90 for late registrants. The fee includes needed supplies (flash drive, DVD and case, notebook, paper, pencils) and a camp T-shirt (if the final registration deadline is met). For more information or to submit an application, contact camp director Delores Tull, Itawamba Community College, 602 West Hill Street, Fulton, MS 38843, (662) 862-8138 (phone), (662) 862-8387 (fax) or email detull@iccms.edu.

Incoming freshmen at Itawamba Community College may now register online for this summer's orientation sessions, according to Larry Boggs, director of scholarships and recruiting.

Both morning (8-11:15 a.m.) and evening (1:30-4:45 p.m.) sessions are scheduled for June 12, 13 and 14 and July 10 and 11 at the Student Services Building at the Fulton Campus and June 15 and July 12 and 13 at the Advanced Education Center at the Tupelo Campus. Students may check in from 7-8 a.m. for the morning session and from 12:30-1:30 p.m. for the evening session.

The schedule includes small group sessions to engage students in the orientation and registration process. ID and yearbook photos will be made.

A special parent orientation session will cover topics of special interest to parents.

Students are reminded that they must have submitted an application for admission before registering for orientation, Boggs said. In addition, they should register for the orientation session at the campus where they plan to attend. "Students should register as soon as possible since there are a maximum number that can attend each session."

To register for the orientation session, students should access ICC's website at www.iccms.edu, click on Students and then the Freshman Orientation link.

For more information contact Boggs at (662) 862-8252 or email laboggs@iccms.edu.

Registration is under way for a short-term course in General Automotive Service Training, which will begin June 11, at the Itawamba Community College Tupelo Campus.

The class will meet through June 22 from 8 a.m.-noon.

The course includes training in general service on automobiles to provide knowledge and employment skills for those who want to increase their general knowledge of automobile care or those who are seeing employment in an automotive quick lube facility. ICC automotive technology instructors Brad Crowder and Ritchie Burton will teach the class.

The cost is $89.

To register or for more information, contact ICC continuing education specialist Becky Kelly at (662) 620-5240 or email rakelly@iccms.edu.

The high school equivalency (GED) test will be given at the Itawamba Community College Belden Center (3200 Adams Farm Road), June 6, 13, 16, 20 and 27, beginning at 7:30 a.m.

Prior to testing, all persons not enrolled in an Itawamba Community College-sponsored ABE/GED class will be required to participate in a preregistration/orientation session. Preregistration sessions will be held each Tuesday and Thursday from 1- 4 p.m. or from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Belden Center. Attendance at both of the sessions is required.

Applicants desiring to take the GED test must be 18 years of age and not enrolled in secondary school, and they must have an official withdrawal form from the last school attended. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds may be permitted to take the test if they meet certain criteria.

Persons will be admitted to testing upon successful completion of the preregistration/orientation session and presentation of valid government-issued picture identification card, such as a driver's license or passport. If the card does not include the applicant's Social Security number, a Social Security card will be required.

The GED has five sections including social studies, science, mathematics, language arts reading and language arts writing. An average score of 450 on each of the five tests and a minimum score of 410 on each of the five tests is necessary to receive the GED certificate. Fees are $15 for each of the five subject areas. Retest fees are also $15 per section.

The GED test is administered on a block schedule. All persons must register in advance to be eligible to test and pay their testing fees no later than Monday, 4 p.m. prior to a Wednesday or Saturday testing. Testing times begin with math at 7:30 a.m.

For more information, contact the ICC GED Department at (662) 620-5245.

Computer-based GED testing is now available at ICC. Persons interested in taking the computer-based GED test rather than the paper/pencil version should call (662) 620-5245 for more information.

The North Mississippi Medical Center Sports Medicine program in conjunction with Itawamba Community College will host an athletes' injury clinic for coaches focusing on critical factors in the care of athletes from 8 a.m.-3:15 p.m., June 5, at ICC-Belden.

The schedule includes such topics as emergency action plan, shoulder complex, concussions, nutrition and supplements, asthma, environmental conditions, basic first aid, neck injuries, spine boarding, ankle taping and suspected neck and spine injuries.

Cost is $15. Completers have the option of receiving .6 continuing education units.

For more information or to register, contact Becky Kelly at (662) 620-5240 or email rakelly@iccms.edu.

Itawamba Community College President Dr. David C. Cole of Fulton has been selected as a recipient of Phi Theta Kappa's prestigious Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction.

The award, which is named in honor of PTK's longest serving Board Chair and a founder and longtime president of Highline Community College in Washington, was presented recently during the society's Annual Convention in Nashville, Tenn. at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.

In January 1993, Cole became the fourth president of ICC after having served for nearly two decades as Superintendent of South Panola School District in Batesville.

He served as chair of the Mississippi Community College Presidents' Association during the passage of significant mid-level funding and Workforce Education initiatives. Through his leadership the College has launched an $8 million fundraising initiative, the largest capital campaign conducted by any community college in the state, to complete the funding for a $15.8 million Health Science Education Center, which is currently under construction at the Tupelo Campus.

He earned bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees from the University of Mississippi, where he was honored as the "Education Alumnus of the Year" in 1993.

Cole is active in civic, church and professional activities. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Community Development Foundation, Tupelo; United Way of Northeast Mississippi Board of Directors; and board member of the Mississippi Economic Council. Cole is also a member of the Fulton United Methodist Church.

Other community involvement and professional service include chair of the Mississippi Corridor Consortium board of directors and board of Manufacturing Extension Partnership. He has served as former co-chair of the Mississippi Appalachian Regional Commission.

He is married to the former Betty Darby of Batesville, and they have four children and six grandchildren.

The Tupelo Campus PTK Chapter nominated Cole for the award.

Registration is under way for summer and fall classes at Itawamba Community College. The only exception is that 2012 high school graduates must participate in orientation this summer before registering for fall classes. Online registration is now open for freshman orientation at www.iccms.edu.

First summer term day, full-term, after-work, weekend, evening and Internet classes begin May 29, and the second term day classes, June 28. Fall classes begin on Aug. 9.

Opportunities available include academic, career and technical (both two-year and certificate options), eLearning and workforce.

For more information, call the Fulton Campus at (662) 862-8000 or the Tupelo Campus at (662) 620-5000 or access ICC's website, www.iccms.edu.

Heather McCormick of Fulton, mathematics instructor at Itawamba Community College, has been selected to participate in the College Board's Annual AP Reading in Statistics.

Each June, AP teachers and college faculty members from around the world gather in the United States to evaluate and score the free-response sections of the AP Exams.

AP Readers are high school and college educators who represent many of the finest academic institutions in the world. The AP Reading is a unique forum in which an academic dialogue between high school and college educators is both fostered and encouraged. "The Reading draws upon the talents of some of the finest teachers and professors that the world has to offer," said Trevor Packer, senior vice president, AP and College Readiness at the College Board. "It fosters professionalism, allows for the exchange of ideas, and strengthens the commitment to students and to teaching. We are very grateful for the contributions of talented educators like Mrs. McCormick."

The Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) enables willing and academically prepared students to pursue college-level studies &45; with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement or both &45; while still in high school. Through AP courses in 34 subjects, each culminating in a rigorous exam, students learn to think critically, construct solid arguments, and see many sides of an issue &45; skills that prepare them for college and beyond. Research indicates that students who score a 3 or higher on an AP Exam typically experience greater academic success in college and are more likely to earn a college degree than non-AP students.

In 2011, more than 11,000 AP Readers evaluated more than 3.4 million AP Exams.
McCormick is also Phi Theta Kappa advisor at ICC, where she has served as both president and vice president of the Fulton campus Faculty Association. Her educational background includes the bachelor's degree in mathematics from Mississippi College and the master's degree, also in mathematics, from the University of Mississippi, where she served as a graduate assistant. McCormick's teaching experience also includes adjunct faculty at Hinds Community College, mathematics teacher at Clinton High School and mathematics instructor at Holmes Community College in Ridgeland where she was faculty advisor for the Ridgeland Campus College Ministry and Lamplighter representative. Her honors are Who's Who Among America's Teachers, Who's Who in America and Who's Who of American Women. At ICC, she has also been selected Lamplighter representative, NISOD Excellence Award winner, recipient of the Meritorious Achievement award and PTK Horizon Award. She is an active member of the First Baptist Church of Fulton where she participates in choir. She is married to Lionel McCormick.

The high school equivalency (GED) test will be given at the Itawamba Community College Belden Center (3200 Adams Farm Road), May 2, 9, 16, 23, 26 and 30, beginning at 7:30 a.m.

Prior to testing, all persons not enrolled in an Itawamba Community College-sponsored ABE/GED class will be required to participate in a preregistration/orientation session. Preregistration sessions will be held each Tuesday and Thursday from 1- 4 p.m. or from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Belden Center. Attendance at both of the sessions is required.

Applicants desiring to take the GED test must be 18 years of age and not enrolled in secondary school, and they must have an official withdrawal form from the last school attended. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds may be permitted to take the test if they meet certain criteria.

Persons will be admitted to testing upon successful completion of the preregistration/orientation session and presentation of valid government-issued picture identification card, such as a driver's license or passport. If the card does not include the applicant's Social Security number, a Social Security card will be required.

The GED has five sections including social studies, science, mathematics, language arts reading and language arts writing. An average score of 450 on each of the five tests and a minimum score of 410 on each of the five tests is necessary to receive the GED certificate. Fees are $15 for each of the five subject areas. Retest fees are also $15 per section.

The GED test is administered on a block schedule. All persons must register in advance to be eligible to test and pay their testing fees no later than Monday, 4 p.m. prior to a Wednesday or Saturday testing. Testing times begin with math at 7:30 a.m.

For more information, contact the ICC GED Department at (662) 620-5245.

Computer-based GED testing is now available at ICC. Persons interested in taking the computer-based GED test rather than the paper/pencil version should call (662) 620-5245 for more information.

Itawamba Community College's licensed practical nursing students, who competed at the group's recent convention, placed in every category.

They include Sarah Gaddy of Fulton and Courtney Howell of Hickory Flat, first place, poster contest team; Amanda Wideman of Amory, third place in prepared speech; Julia Magallon of Okolona, fourth place in prepared speech; Angela Bennett of Amory, first place in essay contest; Terri Dodds of Houston, second place in essay contest; Lacey Hand of Okolona, fourth place in essay contest; Nicole Sherwood of Blue Springs, first place in professional portfolio; Shani Fullbright of Pontotoc, second place in professional portfolio; and Amanda Wideman of Amory, Kimberly Melton of Mantachie and Eran Welsh of Tupelo, first place team in" gather your supplies contest."

Highlighting the critical importance of improving student success in America's community colleges, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program today named Itawamba Community College as one of the nation's 120 top community colleges, challenging it to compete for the $1 million fund for the 2013 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The Aspen Institute identified the 120 community colleges &45; 10 percent of all institutions &45; using a quantitative formula that assesses performance and improvement in four areas: graduation rates, degrees awarded, student retention rates and equity in student outcomes.

These colleges will now compete for the prestigious honor following a year-long research process into how well their students learn, complete degrees and get jobs with competitive wages after graduating. A full list of the 120 community colleges is available at www.AspenCCPrize.org. Prize winners will be announced in March 2013.

The inaugural Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence was awarded to the 70,000 &45;student Valencia College (Orlando, Fla.) in December 2011. It was the first broad national recognition of extraordinary accomplishments at individual community colleges.

Some seven million students &45; youth and adult learners &45; enroll in America's nearly 1,200 public and private community colleges every year.

"The success of our nation's community colleges is more important than ever before," said Aspen Institute College's Excellence Program Executive Director Josh Wyner, who announced the names of the 120 top community colleges at the annual convention of the American Association of Community Colleges in Orlando, Fla. "At a time when a college degree is essential to entering the middle class, community colleges like Itawamba Community College offer the most promising path to education and employment for literally millions of Americans. This competition spotlights excellence, and we encourage Itawamba Community College to apply for the nation's top community college prize to raise the bar for all community colleges to improve student achievement and better prepare the next generation for the job market after college."

ICC and 119 other community colleges will be winnowed to eight-to-10 finalists in September based on how much students learn, how many complete their programs on time and how well students do in the job market after graduating.

Itawamba Community College is now eligible to submit an application containing detailed data on these criteria. It must demonstrate that it delivers exceptional student results, uses data to drive decisions and continually improves over time.

The Aspen Institute will conduct site visits to each of the finalists in the fall. A distinguished prize jury co-chaired by John Engler, president of Business Roundtable, former Michigan Governor and former president of the National Association of Manufacturers and Richard Riley, former South Carolina Governor and U.S. Secretary of Education, will select a grand prize winner and four runners-up to be announced in March 2013.

"American employers have jobs open right now but lack enough skilled, educated workers to fill them," Engler said. "The job training programs at community colleges must play a central role in filling those gaps and preparing the American workforce. Community colleges' success will help determine whether and in what sectors America will continue to lead in the global economy."

While every community college faces challenges, particularly in today's economic climate, Secretary Riley underscored the importance of improving outcomes for community college students, the majority of whom are underrepresented minorities. "Many community colleges across this country are doing an excellent job of boosting student success, but we need to encourage all community colleges to achieve excellence. When students learn more, graduate or transfer to four-year institutions and get competitive-wage jobs after college, it helps everyone &45; students, employers and our nation's economy as a whole."

Itawamba Community College is partnering with East Central Community College in a pilot Community Colleges in Training Grant program.

Fifteen participants, who are enrolled in the first class at ICC-Belden, are working toward a Certified Production Technician designation offered by the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council. The credential is a nationally portable certificate that validates skill standards common to all progressive manufacturers, according to Denise Gillespie, Workforce Development and Training team leader.

The first two modules of the certification, Safety and Manufacturing Processes and Production, are the focus of the current class, which began this week.

"This class is allowing us to pilot two different concepts: training delivery through video conferencing and the idea of national credentials for production workers," Gillespie said.

Videoconferencing allows several colleges to share training resources. "Through video conference delivery, we don't have to have 10 students in one location to make a class," according to Gillespie. "We can have small classes at multiple locations, use one instructor and be able to deliver the training in a timely manner."

Manufacturing is one of the largest employment sectors in Mississippi, and advanced skill production workers are critical to the sustainability and growth of this sector, Gillespie said. "Through the MSSC's Certified Production Technician program, students can obtain a national credential through local sources. These portable, industry-recognized credentials will improve and validate the skills of Mississippi workers, which could also be of great value when recruiting new companies."

Instructors from East Central, which is the lead college, broadcast the same class, live, twice each week, on Tuesdays from 5-8 p.m. and Thursdays, from 2-5 p.m. Students may choose which day and time slot works best for them to participate in the eight-week class at ICC-Belden. Their final assessment test will be administered in Philadelphia, Miss.

Students receive complete sets of printed study materials, access to online instructional modules, access to practice tests and pre-paid vouchers for the assessment tests. Additional modules of the certification are Quality Practices and Measurement and Maintenance Awareness.

Currently participating in the class are employees of General Atomics, Toyota Boshoku, Lane Furniture and Tecumseh.

Dates for future classes are being discussed, Gillespie said.

Itawamba Community College recognized its top scholars during the annual honors ceremony, Apr. 10, at the Fulton Campus.

"An Evening of Celebration: Honoring Academic Excellence Across the Curriculum" featured the presentation of division and departmental awards as well as the recognition of PTK's All-Mississippi Academic Team representatives from ICC.

Award winners include

Calhoun City - Stephanie Johnson, respiratory care technology;

Chickasaw County - Katie L. Clark of Pontotoc, economics; and Alexandra Torres of Houston, communications division;

Corinth - Taylor Lewis, occupational therapy assistant;

Eupora - Christy Sudduth, journalism and All-USA second team;

Hernando - James L. Payne, business administration division;

Itawamba County - Matthew Moore of Fulton, fine arts division; Maverick E. Smith of Mantachie, psychology; Alisha Adair Melson of Golden, office systems technology; Holly Sherrer of Fulton, biology; Claire Wilson of Fulton, theatre; Shelby Randolph of Fulton, theatre; Brent A. Timms of Fulton, precision manufacturing and machining technology; Frederick C. Ungelbach of Mantachie, tool and die technology; Amber Haley Poteet of Marietta, surgical technology; Mark Hunt of Fulton, All-USA second team; and Bradley L. Bishop of Fulton, forestry technology.

Lee County - Dulce Herrera of Tupelo, criminal justice; Shanice L. Dykes of Tupelo, business and marketing management technology; Lisa Roberts of Belden, associate degree nursing; Michael Williams of Baldwyn, music; Arlana McKinney of Guntown, radiologic technology; Troy Johnson of Shannon, chemistry; Eran Welsh of Tupelo, practical nursing; Isreon T. Clark of Tupelo, computer networking technology; John Sudduth of Tupelo diesel equipment technology; Nicole L. Hood of Guntown, drafting and design technology; Randy W. Calvert of Mooreville, heating and air conditioning technology; and Patrick Ballard of Shannon, computer science and computer science division;

Marietta - Gordon Chance Rodgers, electrical technology;

Monroe County - Leslie Cagle of Amory, speech; Tina McCollum of Amory, health information technology; Anita Karen Carroll of Amory, All-USA first team and computer programming technology; Kimberly K. Johnson of Smithville, sociology; and Lachal Grant of Aberdeen, health, physical education and recreation division;

Pontotoc County - David Lantrip of Pontotoc, automotive technology; Cage Mills of Pontotoc, history; Emily M. Salmon of Pontotoc, mathematics; Katelyn Morgan of Pontotoc, interpreter training technology; Jacob A. Smithey of Pontotoc, mathematics; Caleb Walls of Pontotoc, natural science division; Connie N. Eldridge of Pontotoc, early childhood education technology; Chris P. Vanlandingham of Pontotoc, welding and cutting technology; Rebecca Hope Williams of Pontotoc, computer information systems; Kacy Mann of Pontotoc, art; Sarah McCharen of Thaxton, foreign language; Ricky D. Westmoreland of Pontotoc, collision repair technology; Candace Baker of Pontotoc, All-USA second team and Yazmin A. Rodriguez of Pontotoc, early childhood education technology;

Starkville - Paige Hill, EMT-paramedic.

Tishomingo County - Paula J. Yates of Tishomingo, health, physical education and recreation; and Jonathan Hendrix of Burnsville, physical therapist assistant;

Union County - Ryan M. Turney of New Albany, industrial maintenance; and Katelyn Sappington of New Albany, English.