ICC Mourns the Passing of Longtime Communications Director Donna Thomas Itawamba Community College is mourning the loss of one of its most devoted and influential team members, Donna Thomas of New Albany, who dedicated more than 55 years of service to the college and touched countless lives through her professional excellence, mentorship and quiet acts of kindness. Thomas, who began her ICC career on January 15, 1970, faithfully served six of the college’s seven presidents, building a legacy that spanned generations. Over her distinguished tenure she held numerous leadership positions including adult basic education newspaper editor, continuing education director, director of publications, director of media relations and most recently director of communications. She also served as a journalism instructor, mentoring students through her advisement of The Chieftain, ICC’s student newspaper, and The Mirror, the college yearbook, both of which earned multiple top awards from the Mississippi Press Association and the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi (CPRAM). Her influence extended well beyond the classroom and the campus. Thomas was an active member for more than 30 years in both the CPRAM and the Mississippi Community College Alumni and Advancement Association, serving ... November 13, 2025 By Camp, Tyler W General 0 Comment Read More >>
“My Watercolor Journey: From There to Here” by Feixue Yang Concludes ICC’s Fall Gallery Season The final exhibition in Itawamba Community College’s W.O. Benjamin Fine Arts Center Gallery for the Fall 2025 semester showcases the delicate artistry of Madison-based watercolor painter Feixue Yang. Her show, “My Watercolor Journey: From There to Here,” features a collection of landscape and portrait paintings that blend Eastern aesthetics with Western impressionistic techniques. The exhibition will be on display November 11 through December 3, with an artist’s reception at 1 p.m. on December 3. Yang’s watercolor work is known for its serene yet expressive quality, capturing moments of stillness and emotion through the interplay of light and color. A self-taught artist, Yang draws inspiration from both her surroundings in Mississippi and her deep emotional connection to her hometown in China. “Watercolor is my language,” Yang said. “It reminds me to embrace imperfection—because beauty often appears in unexpected places. My hope is that my work invites viewers to slow down and rediscover the poetry of ordinary life—to see not just with the eyes, but with the heart.” Yang’s award-winning plein air paintings have earned her recognition across Mississippi. She received second and third ... November 12, 2025 By Camp, Tyler W General 0 Comment Read More >>
Virtual Construction Lab Opens at ICC with Eutaw Construction Donation Itawamba Community College celebrated the ribbon cutting of its new Virtual Construction Lab, located in the John Crubaugh Education Building on the Fulton Campus, with local construction partners, industry leaders, students and ICC leadership in attendance on Tuesday, November 11. The innovative lab will serve students in the Construction Management Technology program, offering immersive, hands-on learning experiences that mirror real-world conditions even when weather or other factors limit access to traditional jobsites. The space features a Caterpillar Excavation Simulator, generously donated by Eutaw Construction, along with Oculus virtual reality headsets and Interplay learning software that provide cutting-edge training opportunities for students. “This new lab is a prime example of how ICC continues to advance workforce education in ways that meet both student and industry needs,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “By combining traditional skills with emerging technology, we’re preparing students for the future of construction management and helping meet the demand for skilled professionals across our region.” Scott Emison, program director for Construction Management Technology, said the addition of the Virtual Construction Lab marks a significant step forward for the program. ... November 12, 2025 By Camp, Tyler W General 0 Comment Read More >>
ICC to Host Annual Emerging Scholars Luncheon for High School Seniors Itawamba Community College will host its annual Emerging Scholars Luncheon on Thursday, November 13, on the Fulton Campus, providing an exclusive opportunity for high school seniors with an ACT score of 24 or higher to explore ICC’s honors-level academic and involvement opportunities. Designed for exceptional students eager to challenge themselves academically and grow as leaders, the Emerging Scholars Luncheon offers a firsthand look at ICC’s Honors College, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the wide range of academic pathways available. The event will feature presentations on ICC’s Honors College and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, roundtable discussions with faculty from the College’s ten schools of academics and a student leader panel highlighting ways to balance academic excellence and campus involvement. Participants will also enjoy lunch, campus tours and the opportunity to hear from guest speaker and ICC alumnus Hayden Plunkett, a physician assistant in orthopedic surgery at Mississippi Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center in Tupelo. Plunkett, an Amory native and former ICC Student Government Association president, continued his leadership journey at Mississippi State University before earning a master's degree in physician assistant ... November 10, 2025 By Camp, Tyler W Career Center, General 0 Comment Read More >>
Itawamba Community College to Host Chickasaw Nation Cultural Events on November 5 Itawamba Community College will host a pair of cultural events featuring representatives of the Chickasaw Nation on both its Fulton and Tupelo campuses on November 5. The events, which are open to the public, are designed to provide students and community members with an opportunity to engage with and learn about Chickasaw culture, language and history. On the Tupelo Campus, the Chickasaw Nation will host a Language Learning Table from 12:30-1:30 p.m. followed by a traditional Chickasaw story presentation at 1:30 p.m. The events will take place in the cafeteria of the Academic and Student Center. At the same time, on the Fulton Campus, attendees can visit a Cultural Learning Table beginning at 12:30 p.m., followed by a presentation at 1:30 p.m. by local author and historian Mitch Caver in the Fulton Campus Library. Caver, a retired Branch Director with the Mississippi Department of Transportation, has dedicated much of his post-retirement work to researching and preserving Chickasaw history. Trusted by local communities, he has played an instrumental role in discovering historic Chickasaw sites and artifacts across Mississippi. His collaboration with the Chickasaw Nation has ... October 30, 2025 By Camp, Tyler W General 0 Comment Read More >>
ICC Student Samira Brewer Named 2025–2026 Mississippi Automotive Manufacturers Association Toyota Scholar Itawamba Community College sophomore Samira Brewer has been selected as one of the 2025–2026 Mississippi Automotive Manufacturers Association (MAMA) Scholarship recipients, earning designation as a Toyota Scholar for her outstanding academic performance and commitment to innovation in the automotive manufacturing industry. Brewer, a robotics and automation major from Pontotoc, is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and has been recognized on both the Dean’s and President’s Lists at ICC. In April 2025, she received the student award of distinction for Robotics and Automation Technology at ICC. She currently serves as an automation controls intern at Southern Automation and Controls, applying her classroom learning in real-world, industry-relevant settings. A former production line worker at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Brewer said her experience on the floor inspired her to return to college and pursue a technical degree. “For three years, I worked diligently on the production line at Toyota … motivated by my curiosity and desire for a greater challenge, I chose to return to school and pursue a degree in robotics and automation,” Brewer said in her essay. “As I continue my ... October 30, 2025 By Camp, Tyler W Career Center, General 0 Comment Read More >>
For the Eighth Time, ICC Recognized Nationally by Aspen Institute as a Top U.S. Community College The Aspen Institute has named Itawamba Community College as one of the 200 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s premier recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges. The 200 colleges were selected based on their student outcomes data, including retention, completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment rates. Started in 2010, this is the ninth cycle of the Aspen Prize. ICC is one of only four Mississippi community colleges selected this year, and the smallest of the four, to be named as eligible to compete for this prestigious recognition. “Being named among the top 200 community colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute is both an honor and a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff and students,” said Dr. Jay Allen, president of Itawamba Community College. “This recognition affirms the excellence of our work and affords us the opportunity to compete for the Aspen Prize, one of the highest distinctions in higher education. It’s a reflection of who we are at ICC: a community committed to student success ... October 29, 2025 By Camp, Tyler W General 0 Comment Read More >>
ICC to Host Encore Dinner & Demo Featuring Namaste Due to the overwhelming response to its October Dinner & Demo series, Itawamba Community College will host an encore edition of the popular event on Nov. 19 at 5:30 p.m., featuring Namaste restaurant and Chef Sam. The menu for the evening will include fried spinach with feta as the appetizer. Entrée selections will feature papri chaat, lamb korma, butter chicken and bhindi, followed by gulab jamun for dessert. “The new partnership with Namaste had an overwhelming response in October, and we wanted to not only accommodate guests who weren’t able to purchase tickets for the sold-out event, but also those who enjoyed the experience so much they wanted to attend again,” said Christy Scheuer, director of ICC’s Food Management Certification program. “We’re thrilled to offer an encore edition featuring Chef Sam and Namaste to give everyone another chance to enjoy this incredible dining experience.” Limited seating is available. The cost is $55 per person or $100 per couple. For more information or to make reservations, call (662) 407-1500 or email continuingeducation@iccms.edu. The Dinner & Demo series is part of ICC’s commitment to lifelong learning and ... October 28, 2025 By Camp, Tyler W Career Center, General 0 Comment Read More >>
Steele, Kinard selected for Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy Itawamba Community College’s Rachel Steele of Fulton and Dr. Ira Lindsay Kinard of Houston have been selected as participants in the 2025-26 Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy. Steele, who has been a member of the ICC family since 2019, serves as the director of Admissions and registrar. Her previous roles at ICC include instructional support services coordinator and academic mentor. Steele earned the Master of Science degree in College Student Personnel from Arkansas Tech University in 2013 and the Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Studies from Central Baptist College in 2011. Her honors include ICC Leadership Development Institute (2024-25). She and her husband, Jake, have two children and are active members of Grace Bible Church of Fulton. Dr. Kinard, a mathematics instructor at ICC, began her tenure at the College in 2008. Her previous service includes advisor for the Beta Tau Sigma chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She earned the Doctor of Philosophy degree from Mississippi State University in 2018, the Master of Education degree from the University of Mississippi in 2008, the Bachelor of Arts in Education ... October 27, 2025 By Camp, Tyler W General 0 Comment Read More >>
Humanities Club at ICC to Host “Career Curveballs” Featuring Chase Parham and Jeff Roberson The Humanities Club at Itawamba Community College will host a special event, Career Curveballs: Chase Parham and Jeff Roberson, October 28 on the Fulton campus for ICC students. Parham, an ICC alumnus, works for 247Sports/CBS Sports and is co-owner of MPW Digital, Mississippi’s most downloaded podcast network. During his time at ICC, he served as Chieftain sports editor and was recognized with the 2004 Journalism Department Award. He is also the author of Resilient Rebels: Ole Miss Baseball’s Remarkable Path to a National Title and co-author of Stories From Ole Miss Baseball, which includes a foreword by Archie Manning. Parham and his co-author, Jeff Roberson, will share insights on their career paths, daily job responsibilities and experiences in sports media. This student-focused session aims to offer practical advice and a real-world perspective for those interested in journalism, broadcasting and communications-related careers. The event will also be recorded for Parham’s podcast, and he will host a book signing afterward for Stories From Ole Miss Baseball. For more information about upcoming campus events, visit www.iccms.edu/events. October 27, 2025 By Camp, Tyler W General 0 Comment Read More >>