24 April Chris Cox recipient of faculty award April 24, 2017 By Thomas, Donna S. General 0 Itawamba Community College mathematics instructor Chris Cox of Tupelo is the beneficiary of a new award for an outstanding faculty member, thanks to the generosity of John and Beth Cleveland, Fulton natives, who now reside in Kingwood, Tex. The award was presented to Cox Tuesday night during the College’s An Evening of Celebration: Honoring Academic Excellence Across the Curriculum at the Fulton Campus. Criteria for selection for the John and Beth Cleveland Excellence in Education Outstanding Faculty award include full-time faculty; outstanding teaching, coaching, guidance; and unselfish dedication to students and the College. Additional criteria may include publications, grant writing; club and student activities involvement; contributions to the College through committees, special projects, volunteerism, etc.; service to the community as a representative of the College and art exhibitions, concerts and public performances. Cox has been a mathematics instructor at ICC since August 2011. Previously he was a teacher and baseball coach at New Albany High School. At ICC he is the sponsor of the Future Educators Association and is coordinator for the District Junior High Mathematics Competition. Also, he has worked with ICC and the Fulton Church of Christ to establish a Campus Ministry program. His other activities include deacon over adult education at the West Main Church of Christ. An alumnus of ICC, Cox earned both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Mississippi. In addition, he has 12 additional hours in graduate level mathematics. He will begin the doctoral degree program in community college leadership at Morgan State University this fall. The award is a result of the Cleveland’s second endowment to the ICC Foundation. The first was for the John and Beth Cleveland Endowed Scholarship, which provides half-tuition assistance for a full-time student majoring in a math, science or engineering field of study. Both attended ICC, where they participated in intercollegiate athletics and pursued majors in the fields of engineering and math and science education. John graduated from Itawamba Agricultural High School and attended ICC on a basketball scholarship. He is a cum laude graduate of the University of Mississippi with a degree in civil engineering. For more than 25 years, he has been employed by ExxonMobil, and he serves as an Ole Miss campus recruiter. He is married to the former Beth Reed, who attended ICC. She is a 1978 graduate of Ole Miss with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education. Beth’s career includes math and science teacher, private tutor, homemaker and volunteer. The Clevelands have three daughters, Megan, Courtney and Kellie Reed. “ICC is extremely grateful to John and Beth Cleveland and their family for this significant endowment, which will enable the College to recognize an outstanding instructor each year,” said President Mike Eaton. “ICC’s instructors work tirelessly to ensure that our students have the best education possible. So many of our teachers provide a lifelong connection with our students.” Related Articles ICC Associate Degree Nursing faculty, students win state awards Itawamba Community College’s faculty and students won prestigious awards at the Mississippi Organization for Associate Degree Nursing conference recently in Biloxi. ICC’s students won the College Bowl, which consisted of correct responses to NCLEX-RN questions, over opponent teams from nine other community Colleges. Members include Tiree Jones of Aberdeen, Alexis Derrick of Ecru, Kaci Wood of Mantachie and Alexis Koonce of Saltillo. Of the three faculty awards presented this year, ICC brought home two. Anna Lewis of Mantachie won the Professional Development Award, which was established by the MOADN Board of Directors to support the professional development efforts of associate degree nurse educators. Criteria include employment by an accredited ADN program in Mississippi, membership in MOADN either as an individual or program member and willingness to present the professional development activity at the next annual convention. She will be reimbursed for up to $1,000 for certification as a certified nurse educator. Lauren Murphree of Bruce won the Innovative Faculty Award for the Escape Room that she developed for Fundamentals content as an active learning ... ICC's Sumerel selected PTK Distinguished College Administrator Award recipient Dr. Michelle Sumerel of Mooreville, vice president of instructional services at Itawamba Community College, has been selected as a recipient of the Distinguished College Administrator award presented by Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Sumerel is one of 28 college administrators who will be recognized during PTK Catalyst 2022, the society’s annual convention in Denver, Colo., Apr. 7-9. Sumerel has been vice president of Instructional Services at Itawamba Community College since Jan. 4, 2016, but a member of the ICC family since 2006. She has served as lead online instructor for sociology and criminal justice, director for the Law Enforcement Technology program, eLearning coordinator and dean of eLearning Instruction. Her educational background includes the bachelor’s degree from the University of North Alabama and the master’s and doctorate degrees from Mississippi State University. Sumerel is a member of several professional and civic organizations and is the recipient of multiple awards and recognitions. She is the author of two publications and presenter of numerous papers at conferences and meetings across the state, region and south. She is the mother of one son, Tyler. ... ICC faculty present at MCA conference; Stevenson wins top award Two Itawamba Community College faculty members were included as presenters for the Mississippi Communication Association meeting held recently at Mississippi College. Presenters of Great Ideas for Teaching Students (G.I.F.T.S.) and their topics were Dr. Laurie McBride of Fulton, speech and theatre instructor, “It’s Not Just a Shoebox: Using Operation Christmas Child in Public Speaking Class” and Jessi Stevenson, also of Fulton, speech instructor, “GUESSturing to Improve Visual Delivery.” Their audiences included communication scholars from colleges such as the University of Alabama, University of Arkansas and Mississippi State University. At the conclusion of the conference, Stevenson, who will serve as the communication liaison for MCA for 2023-24, received the Top G.I.F.T.S. Presentation Award for her “creative proposal and presentation.” Stevenson uses her G.I.F.T.S. presentation in her classroom each semester, according to Fine Arts Department chair Dr. Cass Patrick. “Students break into teams and play the group game, Guesstures, which is similar to Charades, during her lecture on proper techniques for mastering positive delivery and engaging with an audience. She uses ... ICC students among recipients of 2021 Creative Writing awards Three students at Itawamba Community College were among the winners in the 2021 Mississippi Community College Creative Writers Association competition. They include Valerie Murrell of Mooreville, first place in creative nonfiction for “Blessed Beyond Belief;” Charlie Wright of Randolph, first place in drama for “East Of Damnation: Chapter 1;” and Morgan Wilson of Tupelo, third place in short fiction for “A Trait Very Much Admirable.” Wright also won a first place award last year. The competition included poetry, short story, essay (creative nonfiction), literary essay, dramatic writing and college literary magazine. The awards were presented Apr. 23 during a virtual ceremony originating at the Pearl River Forest County Center in Hattiesburg. ICC's Chris Stevenson selected Mississippi Community College Faculty Association vice president Chris Stevenson of Fulton, Social Science Division Chair and history instructor at Itawamba Community College, has been selected as vice president of the Mississippi State Community College Faculty Association for 2021-23. A native of Guntown, Stevenson has been employed at ICC since 2010. He earned the associate’s degree from ICC, bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University and the master’s degree from the University of Mississippi. He has additional graduate hours from Ole Miss and Delta State University. He is married to Bruce native Jessi Stevenson, and they have two children, Rourke and Riley. As vice president, Stevenson’s role includes support of current state president Brandi Pickett, and he will automatically become president at the conclusion of his two-year term. Stevenson said he plans to emphasize the value and the quality of instruction that originates in the community college classroom to state leaders as well as all residents of Mississippi. ICC selects Anna Britt-Begnaud as Humanities Council award recipient Communications Division Chair and instructor Anna Britt-Begnaud has been selected as Itawamba Community College’s Mississippi Humanities Council honoree. She will present “When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemon Meringue Pie: Success in Less Than Ideal Circumstances” at 6 p.m., Jan. 15, 2019, in the W.O. Benjamin Fine Arts Center auditorium at the Fulton Campus. Britt-Begnaud joined the ICC staff in 2010 as academic adviser and English instructor. Beginning in 2011, she served as director of the Writing Centers until July 2015 when she was named to her current position. Her educational background includes the bachelor’s degree from Lipscomb University and the master’s degree from the University of Alabama. She serves as co-chair of the Honors Council and member of the College Council, curriculum, hybrid courses, instructional policies and planning and assessment committees at ICC; All-Mississippi Scholarship nominator; member of the UM Transitioning to College Writing planning committee; sponsor for ICC’s National Day on Writing Celebration and Competition and the Book Club and adviser for Omicron Zeta, ICC’s chapter of Sigma Kappa Delta, the ... Comments are closed.