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ICC to offer online Google Career Certificates through Continuing Education

Itawamba Community College is expanding its workforce training portfolio by launching a suite of online career certificate programs through its Continuing Education division, offered in partnership with Google. ICC now offers the following Google Career Certificates: Google IT Support, Google Cybersecurity Certificate, Google Data Analytics, Google Project Management, Google UX Design and Google Digital Marketing and E-Commerce. “These certificates are a practical on-ramp into high-demand careers,” said Josh Gammill, director of continuing education and career services at ICC. “They allow individuals to gain marketable skills quickly, on their own schedule, and without the time or financial commitment of a traditional degree program.” The certificate opportunities are designed to provide job-ready training in high-demand fields in under six months, with no prior experience required. They are widely recognized by employers and have gained popularity for their flexibility, affordability and relevance in today’s workforce. All programs are 100 percent online and self-paced, making them accessible to working adults, career switchers, and individuals seeking to upskill or reskill. The curriculum is developed by Google experts and emphasizes practical, hands-on experience aligned with real-world job expectations in ...

ICC’s Morgan to Present “Swiftly Romantic: The Parallel Lives of Clara Schumann and Taylor Swift” Feb. 3

Itawamba Community College will host a public presentation by Dr. Anna Morgan titled “Swiftly Romantic: The Parallel Lives of Clara Schumann and Taylor Swift” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, in the W.O. Benjamin Fine Arts Center on the ICC Fulton Campus. The event is free and open to the public. Morgan’s presentation examines the surprising parallels between 19th-century pianist and composer Clara Schumann and modern singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. Though separated by more than a century, both women reshaped expectations for composers and performers in their respective eras. Morgan is the 2026 recipient of Itawamba Community College’s Mississippi Humanities Teacher Award. Morgan will be recognized at the Mississippi Humanities Council Public Humanities Awards Ceremony on March 20, 2026, in Jackson. The annual event honors exceptional faculty in traditional humanities disciplines across Mississippi’s colleges and universities.  

ICC Opens 2026 Gallery Season With “Soul Red Wawa” by Artist Lilian You

Itawamba Community College opened its 2026 exhibition season with Soul Red Wawa, a cut-paper and mixed media installation by Tupelo artist Lilian You. The exhibition will be on view through Wednesday, Feb. 11, in the W.O. Benjamin Fine Arts Gallery on the Fulton Campus. The term “wawa” in Chinese culture refers to a doll or figurine rooted in folk art traditions. When created through paper-cut techniques, wawas are commonly used in traditional ceremonies as symbols of good fortune, happiness and prosperity. Drawing from these cultural origins, Soul Red Wawa explores the place of tradition within a technology- and meme-driven modern world. Through hundreds of red paper-cut wawas, You examines the merging of culture and ritual, art and contemporary themes, inviting viewers to consider how inherited traditions evolve and persist in present-day life. Born in northern China, You has lived, taught and worked across China, Japan and the United States. Her artistic practice integrates traditional Chinese folk art, embodied experience and contemporary installation. Her work centers on themes of women, the body, memory, trauma and spiritual restoration, expressed through paper-cut installations, spatial interventions and cross-media ...

Masha Laney of Nettleton named ICC William Winter Scholar for 2026

Masha Laney of Nettleton, a history instructor at Itawamba Community College, has been selected as the college’s William Winter Scholar for 2026. Laney will be among educators from across the state recognized at the 37th Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration, scheduled for February 26-28. Laney has served as a history instructor at ICC since fall 2022, bringing nearly three decades of classroom experience to the college. Prior to joining ICC, she taught at Amory High School for 24 years, where she earned a reputation for academic rigor, student engagement and exceptional outcomes in history instruction. Her professional recognitions include National Board Certification in social studies from 2006-2016 and again from 2016-2026, multiple selections as Amory High School Teacher of the Year and Amory School District Teacher of the Year, and designation as Mississippi’s Outstanding Teacher of American History by the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 2019, her students achieved the highest proficiency scores on the U.S. History state assessment. In addition to her classroom work, Laney has contributed at the state level, serving on the Mississippi Teacher Council from 2017-2022 and collaborating ...

ICC Health Sciences Programs Fuel Regional Workforce, Applications Now Open

As one of North Mississippi’s most reliable economic engines, Itawamba Community College continues to strengthen the region’s workforce by producing highly trained graduates in some of the most in-demand health care fields in the state. Applications are now being accepted for 11 health science programs that begin in August 2026 at ICC. These programs are designed to meet critical workforce needs while providing students with a direct pathway to stable, meaningful careers. Available programs include Associate Degree Nursing, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, EMS Paramedic, Health Information Technology, Practical Nursing (August class), Occupational Therapy Assistant Technology, Physical Therapist Assistant Technology, Public Health Technology, Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Care Technology and Surgical Technology. “These programs are not only academically rigorous, they are workforce driven,” said Tonya Vaughn, Dean of Health Science Instruction at ICC. “Our graduates are stepping into hospitals, clinics and health systems across the region ready to contribute on day one. That level of preparation matters to employers, to patients and to the long-term health of our communities.” The application deadline is May 1. For more information about program requirements, visit ICC’s website at www.iccms.edu or ...

ICC Pathways Programs Open Doors to High-Demand Careers

For individuals ready to move quickly from the classroom to a career, Itawamba Community College is offering a slate of Pathways workforce training programs beginning in January 2026 at the ICC Belden Center, located at 3200 Adams Farm Road. Programs and schedules include: Food Management Certification will be held Jan. 12–Feb. 6, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The program provides essential skills for the restaurant and hospitality industry, including ServSafe® Food Manager and Alcohol Certification, menu planning and preparation, participation in catered events, résumé and interview preparation, and front- and back-of-the-house operations. Certified Nursing Assistant runs Jan. 12–April 1 on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5–9 p.m. The program prepares participants to take the Certified Nursing Assistant exam. Graduates may find employment in nursing homes, medical centers, home health agencies and clinics. Medical Administrative Assistant will be offered Jan. 12–April 8 on Mondays from 5–9 p.m., with additional online assignments. The program focuses on administrative and clerical skills needed in medical offices and prepares students to pursue Certified Medical Administrative Assistant certification through the National Healthcareer Association. Certified Medical Assistant will meet Jan. 12–May 14 on ...

ICC reflects on 2025 successes, sets course for continued impact in 2026

As 2025 comes to a close, Itawamba Community College is reflecting on a year defined by progress, recognition and collective effort while looking ahead to continued success in 2026. During the year, ICC was named a Top 200 institution in the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, placing the college among the nation’s community colleges recognized for strong student outcomes. ICC was also selected as a Bellwether Award finalist, a national distinction that highlights innovative, effective programs that drive student success and workforce impact. “These honors affirm the quality of work happening every day at ICC,” said Dr. Jay Allen, ICC president. “They are not the result of a single initiative or individual. They reflect a collegewide commitment to doing the right work, the right way, for our students and communities.” The current academic year is guided by ICC’s year-long charge, The Power of One, a theme that emphasizes the idea that meaningful progress is built through shared responsibility. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to recognize how individual contributions come together to create a larger picture of success, one that no single ...

A season of giving with lasting impact: ICC students find support at Tupelo ACE Hardware

For students training for careers in the skilled trades, the path forward often begins with grit, long hours and a growing list of tools they must purchase before they ever clock in on the job. This season of giving, one Tupelo business is stepping in to make that journey a little more attainable. Tupelo ACE Hardware is putting practical support directly into the hands of students enrolled in Career and Technical Education and Workforce training programs at Itawamba Community College. Through the generosity of owner George Booth, ICC students pursuing skilled trade careers are now eligible for varying discounts on tools purchased at the Tupelo ACE Hardware store on McCullough Boulevard. The effort began when Booth offered a discount on a tool needed by a student in an ICC Workforce class. Recognizing the ongoing need, he expanded the offer to support students across multiple trade programs, easing the financial burden that often accompanies hands-on training. To receive the discount, students present a tool discount letter provided by ACE Hardware. An ICC instructor verifies the student’s enrollment in an eligible CTE or ...

ICC releases Fall 2025 President’s List and Dean’s List

Officials at Itawamba Community College have released the honors list for the 2025 fall semester. “These students have set the standard for academic excellence,” said Dr. Jay Allen, ICC president. “Recognition on the President’s or Dean’s List reflects sustained focus and commitment, and their success strengthens both our college and the communities we serve.” Named to the President’s list, which includes those students with a 3.8-4.0 grade point average were Aberdeen: Haidey Dawn Blevins, Zoey Duenaz, Karmelo Rashad Gunn, Ashley N. Holloway, Karry Elizabeth Linley, Sierra B. Lochala, Olivia A. Neal, Victoria Lynne Noe, Joshua K. Schrock, Gracyn H. Seydler, Alexis Taylor, Zoe Alexa Valsamakis, Gracie Linett West; Ackerman: Cara E. Henson, Amory: Jordan Isaac Allred, Michael Bennett, Aggie Elizabeth Boykin, Ella K. Browning, Jacob Carson, Zora Grace Dillard, Brody C. Duncan, Dakota M. Harlow, Annabelle L. Holman, Erin E. Jackson, Matthew Blaine Johnson, Bridgett Jones, Landon R. Jones, William Jackson Jones, Emma M. Keeton, Bailey Kaye Knight, Dakotah Brianna Mackey, Lexie Olivia May, Walker P. McDaniel, Jessie Carol McHenry, Aseanti McIntosh, Brandy Nichole Morris, Conner Nevins, Brooklyn G. Owen, Marley Rowland, Robert B. ...

ICC Food Management Certification class set to begin Jan. 12 at Belden Center

Registration is underway for a Food Management Certification class that will begin January 12 at the Itawamba Community College Belden Center. The class will meet weekdays from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. through February 6. Highlights of the hands-on course include both ServSafe® Food Manager and Alcohol Certification, menu planning/preparation, assistance/participation in the execution of catered events, résumé/interview skills and both front- and back-of-the-house operations. Tuition assistance could be available for those who qualify. For more information or to register, call (662) 407-1505 or email pathways@iccms.edu.