26 August Campbell, Montgomery receive MAACE Students of the Year awards August 26, 2024 By Thomas, Donna S. General 0 Itawamba Community College Adult Education graduates Cristal Campbell of Tremont and Rosalyn Montgomery of Plantersville have been selected as Students of the Year for 2023-24 by the Mississippi Association of Adult and Community Education. Montgomery, wife, mother, grandmother and family matriarch, passed her high school equivalency exam at the age of 68, less than a month after her birthday. She had to drop out of school at the age of 12 to care for her brothers and sisters while her parents worked. Over many years, she attended adult education classes, and she made a promise to her mother and herself that she would not give up, despite a medical condition that proves difficult for her to read for extended periods of time. “I wanted to complete something I started,” Montgomery said upon passing the high school equivalency test. “I wanted to be a role model and show people that if you put in the time and work, you will be victorious.” Her teacher and nominator for the award Shundria Whitfield said, “Not only did Mrs. Montgomery come to class daily, but she was also a caregiver to her ailing husband and brother. She was able to be mother, grandmother and friend to so many of the students who were in class with her. Many times, she was a pillar in time of need to her peers because they depended on her for words of encouragement, guidance and structure. In addition to her academic success, she embodies qualities of leadership, integrity and resilience that make her an outstanding candidate for this award. Her positive attitude, work ethic and dedication to self-improvement make her an exceptional role model for others to follow for years to come.” Montgomery and her husband, James, have three children, Tasharee, Lacrista and James Eric, and four grandchildren, Zion and Zoriah Barnes, Jaitlyn Kidd and Darius Morris. She volunteers at Small Beginnings Early Learning Center in Nettleton and participates in various activities at her church (Straight Gate Holiness Church in Nettleton). Montgomery plans to enroll in Itawamba Community College’s interior design class and start her own business. Campbell began working toward her high school equivalency diploma in 2020 as a referral from drug court. As she isn’t hesitant to share, Campbell’s life story has included a bad marriage, unfortunate peer associations, substance addiction and the loss of jobs, homes and relationships with friends and family. “It might help people who were in my situation to see that God can change your life after substance and spousal abuse and just not living right,” Campbell said. She struggled in the beginning with diminished ability to retain information, had some test failures and even dropped out of the program. However, with the help of church friends and through Bible studies, she realized that when she focused on one subject at a time with much repetition and immersion in that material, she was able to better retain information. Campbell reenrolled in 2022, just as newly appointed instructor and nominator, Amy Emerson, joined the class. Emerson said that when she walked into the first class, she was “as green as a gourd and a little nervous” at the prospect of teaching adults as opposed to traditional school-age students. Campbell was the first student she met, and her welcoming smile and joyful spirit made Emerson immediately feel at ease. Emerson described Campbell as a “mainstay of the class, not only learning, but helping others as well.” Soon, Campbell was ready to try testing again, and quickly began achieving excellent scores. The math test proved to be the most difficult and required Campbell to remember her “no quitting” mantra. “Finally, after extra tutoring, lots of prayer and much math repetition, Campbell destroyed the math beast in October 2023,” Emerson said. Campbell and her husband, Mitchell, attend the Open Door Worship Center in Fulton. In addition to always helping others, she leads a support group for women and distributes church invitation flyers. She enjoys visiting with her children (Phillip Rhyne/Tiffany and Jonathan/Krysta) and her grandchildren (Jackson, Kennedy, Sutton and Fallon). The awards were presented at the 2024 Mississippi Association of Adult and Community Education conference in late July in Flowood. Related Articles ICC art students receive six awards at state competition Itawamba Community College’s art students have received awards for work they submitted in the 2019 MC/JCAIA (state community college competition) hosted by Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson. They include Oscar Gonzalez of Ecru, second place in 2D design for “Phoenix,” first place in drawing for “Naomi” and second place in 3D design for “Golden Guitar;” Taylor Cash of Belmont, honorable mention in 2D design for “Ghostlight;” Tyler Griffin of Tupelo, honorable mention in 3D design for “Stale;” and Madelyn “Charlie” Weeks of Winfield, Ala., honorable mention in painting for “Blue Haze.” They will be honored at a reception and awards ceremony at Copiah-Lincoln Community College at noon, Mar. 22. Additional students whose work was selected to represent ICC include Theo Lyle of Amory; Ireland McDowell, Taylor Lentz, both of Fulton; Jasmine Raden of Tupelo; Lena Blanton of Comanche, Okla. and Nancy Garcia-Martinez of Pontotoc. ICC’s six awards were the second largest total among the 12 community college participants. The college with the most awards earned seven. In addition ... Itawamba Community College receives $100,000 and joins 41 other schools across the US as All Within My Hands' Metallica Scholars Initiative expands in year five Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands, continues its multimillion-dollar investment in critical workforce programs at community colleges nationwide. Among the schools, Itawamba Community College was selected from a competitive pool of applicants to receive $100,000 to transform the futures of students in the community. “It is a tremendous honor for Itawamba Community College to be selected as one of the recipients of the prestigious All Within My Hands grant, which will significantly impact our career education programs, providing funding for students to pursue a pathway and their best start,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “It is another indication of the success of the College and reinforcement of the mission that students and their success are our top priority.” The Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) was launched in 2019 by Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The workforce initiative marks its fifth year with an ambitious expansion into new curricula. MSI now directly supports 42 community colleges across 33 states, and by the end of this year, it will have helped ... Two ICC students receive Mississippi Automotive Manufacturers Association scholarships Two Itawamba Community College students were among the winners of Mississippi Automotive Manufacturers Association scholarships for 2022-23. Chad Bishop of Blue Springs and Joseph Harper of Baldwyn each received an award of $1,500 for one academic year to be used for educational expenses. Bishop, who is a sophomore at ICC majoring in robotics automation, has been a wastewater treatment plant operator at APMM in Guntown for the last 11 years. He is a certified treatment specialist and a hands-on practitioner with operational, analytical and maintenance proficiency across a full spectrum of wastewater systems and equipment. Bishop said that he is “excited for the opportunity to work as a maintenance team member in the automotive industry. With the hands-on training I am receiving, I will be more prepared to take on maintenance responsibilities at APMM when I finish. This degree will help me better support my family and reach higher occupational goals.” A sophomore at ICC, Harper is studying Industrial Maintenance and is in the Advanced Manufacturing Technician program at Toyota Mississippi. ... ICC's Patterson selected state MAACE Administrator of Year Linzy Patterson of Amory, director of adult education at Itawamba Community College, has been selected as the recipient of the 2021-22 Mississippi Association of Adult and Community Education Administrator of the Year award. In January 2018, Patterson joined ICC’s Adult Education department as an instructor at the Amory WIN Center, and in 2019-20, he was transferred to the Belden Center to serve as lead instructor. During this time, he was a member of the state SmartStart professional development committee as well as the TABE Frequently Asked Questions Manual committee. In August 2021, he was promoted to ICC’s director of adult education. Patterson began his professional career with the Amory School District in 2010, serving as a special education instructor along with assistant football, soccer and tennis coach. He was selected as Teacher of the Year for the 2014-15 school year. Patterson’s nominator for the award said, “Having come from a special education background, he is especially sensitive to the needs of those students. He has established connections with community groups, including the Regional ... ICC's Perry selected state MAACE Administrator of Year Audra L. Perry of Pontotoc, director of Adult Education at Itawamba Community College, has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Mississippi Association of Adult and Community Education Eloise Richardson Administrator of the Year award. Perry joined ICC’s Adult Education department as director in August 2022. She began her professional career in 2011 at Mississippi Delta Community College, serving as lead counselor, interim Dean of Career-Technical and Adult Education and director of Advising. She was selected to participate in the Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy and Mississippi Community College Policy Fellows Program. One of Perry’s nominators for the award said, “In a brief time, Mrs. Perry has found a way to bring change. She stepped into a role, and I know it has not always been easy for her, especially at a time when multiple positions had to be filled. She had the task of hiring new employees and bringing the team together as well as learning new responsibilities. She has successfully accomplished all those things. Often, when a person steps into a role where you combine old ... ICC's Precision Machining Technology students receive new toolboxes, courtesy of a generous Haas Foundation grant Students in Itawamba Community College’s Precision Machining Technology program have a new toolbox, courtesy of a generous grant by the Gene Haas Foundation. Among the items in the five-drawer steel tool roller cabinet are a micrometer set; caliper; steel rule; tape measure; adjustable wrench; hex key, drill bit and L-handle sets; hammer; sharpening stone and flat file. “We would like to thank the Gene Haas Foundation for their generous contribution and support of our program and for the difference the toolboxes will make not only in the success of our students but also when they graduate and enter the workforce,” said instructor Jerry Pettigrew. The students will be allowed to keep them as a gift from the Foundation. “In addition, we appreciate MSC Industrial Supply Co. for their assistance in putting together this starter toolbox for our students.” MSC is a leading North American distributor of a broad range of metalworking and maintenance, repair and operations products and services. Recipients include Caleb Johnson, Cole Nichols, Parker Rogers, all of Blue Springs; Tyrus ... Comments are closed.