18 November ICC Named Bellwether Award Finalist for First Time November 18, 2025 By Camp, Tyler W General 0 Itawamba Community College has been named one of 30 finalists nationwide to compete for the prestigious Bellwether Award at the 32nd Annual Community College Futures Assembly (CCFA). This marks the first time ICC has been selected as a finalist for the nationally recognized honor, which celebrates outstanding and innovative programs in U.S. community colleges. The Bellwether Award highlights excellence across three categories: Instructional Programs and Services – recognizing programs that foster student success and teaching innovation. Workforce Development – highlighting strategic partnerships between colleges and workforce entities that address regional labor market needs. Planning, Governance and Finance – celebrating creative approaches to planning, management and resource optimization. “We broke last year’s record with a total of 114 submissions from 91 community colleges across 30 states,” said Dr. Rose Martinez, director of the Bellwether College Consortium. “The large number of competitive entries reflects the impactful work community colleges are doing nationwide—and the academic and economic boost they provide to their local communities. The consortium looks forward to hosting the 2026 Community College Futures Assembly and recognizing three top colleges with the Bellwether Award.” A Bellwether Finalist represents a community college program that earned one of the highest scores in the first round of the national competition and has been invited to present in the final round. Finalists were announced on November 3. “The Bellwether Award is one of the most distinguished recognitions in higher education, and being selected as a finalist speaks volumes about the innovative spirit and commitment to excellence that define Itawamba Community College,” said Dr. Jay Allen, ICC President. “This is the first time ICC has been selected to compete for this honor, and it reflects the remarkable work our team is doing specifically in instructional support and services.” The Bellwether College Consortium issued a call for nominations in summer 2025, and finalists representing 20 states and 29 community colleges were chosen from a highly competitive pool of submissions. Finalist institutions will present to a jury of anonymous judges, community college practitioners and CEOs, demonstrating how their programs address critical issues facing community colleges nationwide. Event co-sponsors include the Association of Community College Trustees, National Council of Instructional Administrators, National Council for State Directors of Community Colleges, National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship and the National Council for Continuing Education and Training. The national competition will be held February 22–24, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas, where three colleges will be named Bellwether Award recipients. The Community College Futures Assembly serves as an independent national forum for innovators to collaborate and share solutions to the most pressing challenges in higher education. For more information, visit the Bellwether College Consortium at www.bellwethercollegeconsortium.com or email rmartinez1702@alamo.edu. Related Articles ICC's CR staff receives record number of CPRAM awards Several Itawamba Community College staff members received awards from the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi, which were presented during a recent virtual conference. The 21 awards were the most in the Community Relations Department’s history. They include C.J. Adams of Fulton, first place in View Book for “2020 ICC Recruiting Lookbook;” first place in Admissions and Recruitment Piece for “ICC Recruiting Trifold;” first place in Television Spots for “ICC SkillUp Commercial;” third place in Television Spots for “ICC Tomorrow Commercial;” first place in Radio Spot for “SkillUP Radio Commercial;” third place in Radio Spot for “Start on Time, Finish Early:” first place in Public Relations Campaign for “A New Look for a New Decade: A New Identity for ICC;” second place in Public Relations Campaign for “Navigating the Pandemic: The First Six Months;” grand award in the junior division in Electronic Media for “ICC SkillUP commercial;” second place in Advertisements for “ICC Veterans Day Ad;” Lee Adams of Fulton, first place in Single Piece artwork – Sports for “2020 ICC Football Poster;” second place in Single Piece Artwork – Sports ... ICC hosts MCCAI State Community College Art Competition for first time since 2016 The work of several Mississippi community colleges is currently on display at Itawamba Community College’s W.O. Benjamin Fine Arts Center gallery at the Fulton Campus. ICC is hosting the annual MCCAIA State Community College Art Competition for the first time since 2016. Participants include Copiah-Lincoln, East Mississippi-Golden Triangle, East Mississippi-Scooba, Hinds-Raymond, Holmes-Ridgeland, ICC, Jones, Mississippi Gulf Coast, Northeast, Northwest-Senatobia and Southwest. Award winners from ICC include Dalton Brandon of Dennis, honorable mention, Ceramics, “The Smiths Dream;” Isaiah Pannell of Pontotoc, second, 2D Design, “Self-Portrait Triptych;” Noah Sartin of Saltillo, second, Painting, “Shadowlands;” Christopher Smith of Shannon, honorable mention, Computer and Graphic Art, “Untitled;” Sydney Ladd of Tupelo, first, 3D Design, “Mouse Attack;” honorable mention, 3D Design, “Guitar;” third, 2D Design, “Contamination;” and Bryan Martinez of Tupelo, honorable mention, Computer and Graphic Art. Additional ICC participants are Raheim Blanchard of Aberdeen; Kylie Long of Eldridge, Ala.; Reja Anderson of Eupora; Emily Tibbs of Fulton; Ekkaleo Quartey of Jackson; James Lesley, Rebekah Sheffield, both of Mantachie; Josie Warren of Pontotoc; Bryan Martinez of Saltillo; Callie Beasley of Tremont; and Sarah Hippensteel ... ICC launches partnership with TimelyMD to connect faculty, staff, students with mental and physical health resources Itawamba Community College has launched a partnership with TimelyMD to connect full-time faculty and currently-enrolled students to the support and resources in both mental and physical health they need to succeed. TimelyCare provides on-demand 24/7 service that offers virtual health and well-being to currently-enrolled students and full-time faculty and staff for free, according to Dr. Brad Boggs, vice president of Student Services, including mental and emotional support, health literacy guidance and crisis management by masters-level behavioral health professionals. “It also provides a dedicated phone line for full-time faculty and staff to reach the TimelyCare team for guidance and support in cases of student distress.” Those covered may choose the visit modality that works best for them - video, phone or video chat. The simple, flexible scheduling enables students to choose their provider, day and time as well as cancel a visit and select the next available time that works best for them. Also, students can choose to add a parent, translator or even an adviser to the conversation. According to TimelyMD, “A modern virtual care platform starts with the technology that ... ICC's Community Relations team wins more than 30 CPRAM awards Itawamba Community College’s Community Relations team received a total of more than 30 awards from the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi, which were presented during a recent conference in Bay St. Louis. They include C.J. Adams of Fulton – third place, Photograph, for “New Semester Excitement;” first place, Television Spots, for “2023 ICC Super Bowl Commercial;” third place, Radio Spots, for “Fall Preview Day;” first place, Television Program, for “Skilled to Work;” second place, Multi-Media Presentation, for “2023 Orientation Presentation;” second place, New Media, for “Fireworks CRM;” first place, New Media, for “Inside ICC;” third place, Social Media – Non-Sports, for “Itawamba Community College Nat’l Smarties Day;” third place, Social Media – Sports, for “LetsGoICC YouTube Shorts; second place, Sports Promo/Hype Video, for “2024 ICC Volleyball Schedule Release;” first place, Creative Partners, for “I See A Leader Partnership;” Lee Adams of Fulton – second place, Digital Art/Photo Illustration, for “2023 ICC Softball Poster;” third place, Sports Photograph, for “Diving Catch;” second place, Sports Photograph, for “Boom;” first place, Sports Photograph, for “Strike;” third place, Television Program, for “ICC ... ICC alumnus Jason Dickinson returns to become Campus Police Chief 28 years after he first enrolled as a student Itawamba Community College alumnus Jason Dickinson of Mantachie has returned to his alma mater to become Campus Police Chief 28 years after he first enrolled as a student. On July 1, Dickinson started his new job after spending 23 years working patrol and investigating. Dickinson said he applied because he wants to make a difference in the young lives of the students. Although he has never worked in the college environment, he wants to help or keep them on the right path and explain to them what a bad decision can bring. Dickinson earned two associate’s degrees from ICC, one in agribusiness and the other, in Law Enforcement Technology. “My first stint as a student was in 1993, and it was an adjustment straight out of a small high school. The best part was I met my wife of 25 years now in music appreciation class.” Dickinson’s second time as a student begin in 2015, when he enrolled to obtain a law enforcement degree. He was working full-time as an investigator with the Itawamba County Sheriff’s ... ICC selected among 25 semifinalists nationwide for prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence Today, Itawamba Community College was selected among the 25 semifinalists for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, a milestone in the award selection process. ICC and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College were the only public two-year institutions in the state to be selected for this prestigious honor. The $1 million Aspen Prize is the nation’s signature recognition of community colleges that are achieving high, improving and equitable outcomes for students. In years past, only 10 finalists have been named, and this change is designed to highlight the increased number of colleges across the country doing excellent work, according to the announcement from the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “Being selected as a semifinalist from among eligible community colleges across the nation is not only an honor, but it is monumental for ICC to be chosen among the top two-year institutions across America to continue to compete for the significant Aspen Prize,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “It is another indication of the success of the ... Comments are closed.