2 June Boggs leaves legacy at ICC June 2, 2021 By Thomas, Donna S. General 0 W.E. Boggs’ career in education spanned more than 40 years, a great majority of them at Itawamba Community College, where he filled many roles. Itawamba Community College and the field of education lost one its best supporters when he died at Sanctuary Hospice Monday. Since 1971, he was counselor at the Tupelo Campus; IAHS principal (the college and high school were once together); dean of student affairs; instructor; coordinator of bookstores, food service and alumni affairs; coordinator of public relations, high school-college relations and chair of the social science division; administrative assistant to the president; interim dean of academic instruction, vice president of instructional services and interim president. He retired May 31, 2001, but his legacy lives on not only through the lives he touched over the years, but also through the Boggs Humanities Building at the Fulton Campus, which in 2005 was named for him and his wife, Gwen, an instructor in the Social Science Department for many years. A native of Prentiss County and a graduate of Marietta High School, Boggs earned the associate’s degree from Northeast Mississippi Community College, where he was a basketball standout, and both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mississippi State University. He served in the Mississippi Army National Guard for two years. His other positions in education include social studies instructor and basketball coach at New Site High School and principal at Shaw, Belmont, Okolona and Amory. For many years, he was active in church and community organizations, including founder and co-leader of Leadership Itawamba. He enjoyed spending time with his family, including his wife; son, Brad; and daughter, Ginger, and their families; building houses for himself and others and maintaining an immaculate lawn. In 2001, Boggs received the Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award through Phi Theta Kappa, which is presented to retiring college administrators for exemplary services rendered to the organization during the course of their academic career. His nominator said, “While at Itawamba, President Boggs has been a friend, counselor and adviser to both students and school personnel. In his years of service, he has been a devoted advocate of the students, encouraging their participation in all types of activities. Whether his occupational title was as an instructor, principal, coach or administrator, he unselfishly and successfully served students as an adviser and friend.” “We mourn the loss of Mr. Boggs, a dedicated leader who made many positive impacts personally and professionally throughout his life,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “ICC is a better place for the compassion, intelligence and vision he contributed throughout his career. We remain grateful for his devoted career to being an adviser and friend to all he met along his journey. His legacy will live on at ICC and his investment in the College he loved so dearly will continue to produce the best in his honor.” Related Articles ICC to honor Carrie Ball-Williamson, Nanci Gray for legacy Award-winning Itawamba Community College women’s basketball coaches Carrie Ball-Williamson of Pontotoc and Nanci Gray of Tupelo will be honored for their legacy during homecoming activities at the Fulton Campus beginning at 3 p.m., Oct. 6. The Fitness Center will be named the Carrie Ball-Williamson Recreational Center at 3 p.m., and the court of the Davis Event Center, for Gray during the Alumni awards which will be presented beginning at 4 p.m. A reception for all honorees will be in the DEC lobby between events. Ball-Williamson, who retired in June, became ICC’s athletic director in 2002, after serving in various roles since 1993, including director of student activities and both head women’s softball and basketball coach. Her honors include ICC Adviser of the Year, Trailblazer of the Year, MACJC Coach of the Year (three times), NJCAA Loyalty Award and inductee into both the ICC and MACJC Athletic Hall of Fame. She also served as the National Junior College Athletic Association Region XXIII assistant director. From 1993-2006, Ball-Williamson’s coaching record included two North Division championships. Her softball teams won three North ... ICC's PTK Upsilon Sigma Chapter receives grant for Honors in Action project Itawamba Community College’s Upsilon Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa has received a grant to enhance its 2021 Honors in Action project. Phi Theta Kappa and the Mellon Foundation teamed up to fund the grants. According to Susan Edwards, associate vice president of honors programming and undergraduate research for PTK, the award was based on the chapter’s “strong application. “We are proud of the work you do at your college and in your community with your participation in a robust Honors in Action project.” The project focuses on the fluctuation of natural constructed environments and how an intentional interaction can affect our legacy, according to Robin Lowe of Amory, contact adviser for the Upsilon Sigma Chapter. The research question is “How can we promote ecotourism both locally and globally to leave a legacy for future generations?” Lowe said that the project will focus specifically on discovery of the effects of ecotourism both on campus and in the college community. “Our intended goals are to promote our natural resource areas on (the Fulton) ... 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 ... BELDEN MOCK DRILL Itawamba Community College will conduct a mock active shooter drill at the Itawamba Community College Belden Center (3200 Adams Farm Rd.) from 8 a.m.-noon, Jan. 4. “This will be a test of our emergency preparedness procedures,” said Dr. Brad Boggs, interim vice president of student services. “The normal operation of the facility will not be disrupted.” The event, which is only a training exercise, will take from 3-4 hours and will occur on the south side of the Belden Center, Boggs said. “This will provide local law enforcement, emergency responders and the College an opportunity to work together in the event of an incident. We want to ensure that all members of the staff understand their responsibilities as we strengthen our effort to maintain a safe campus environment and that the public is aware that this is only a drill.” ICC to conduct mock safety training exercises at Fulton, Tupelo Itawamba Community College will conduct mock safety training exercises in coordination with local law enforcement agencies at both the Fulton and Tupelo campuses, Feb. 18. The Fulton Campus event will be from 8-11:30 a.m. at the Boggs Humanities Building, and the Tupelo Campus drill from 12:30-3 p.m. at the Student Support Center. “This will be a test of our emergency preparedness procedures at these locations just as we did recently at the ICC Belden Center,” said Dr. Brad Boggs, dean of students. “The normal operation of the facilities will not be disrupted since classes won’t meet on Feb. 18 due to Presidents’ Day.” The event is only a training exercise which will involve the majority of ICC’s faculty and staff at all locations. “This will provide local law enforcement, emergency responders and the College an opportunity to work together in the event of an incident. We want to ensure that all members of the staff understand their responsibilities as we strengthen our effort to maintain a safe campus environment and that the public is aware that this is ... Sigma Kappa Delta inducts fall members Several Itawamba Community College students have been inducted into Sigma Kappa Delta for the 2021 fall semester. They include Connor Monaghan, Jonathan Schrock, both of Aberdeen; Anthony Cantrell, Leah Hood, Sarah Webb, all of Amory; Olivia Letson, Harleigh Roberts, both of Baldwyn; Jarrius Casey of Batesville; Braylen Miller, Josiah Sowell, both of Belden; Christina Hernandez of Blue Mountain; McKenzie Patterson, Kadina Pollard, both of Corinth; Skylar Stokes of Ecru; Bri’Ana Davidson of Eupora; Ava Armstrong, Quinn Bennett, Ashton Bryan, Alyssa Farley, Mason Fisher, Megan Leech, Emma Logan, Andrea Montgomery, Reagan O’Neal, Skylar Timms, Olivia Tutor, all of Fulton; Stephanie Crandell, Kella O’Brian, both of Golden; Laney Billingsley, Kennedy Cates, Erin Dunn, all of Guntown; Kirsty MacGregor of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England; Jaden Cousin of Houlka; Anna Boggs, Lauren Boggs, Rachel Carter, Olivia Johnson, all of Mantachie; Seth Guin of Marietta; August Hankins, Teraney Lansdell, both of Mooreville; Jennifer Speck of Myrtle; Emily Weeks, Niesha Hodges, Kyra King, Jonathan Morales, all of Nettleton; Nelson Finley, Kimberly Graham, Kaitlin Horne, Alexis Kent, Christopher Prestage, all ... Comments are closed.