ICC selects Hall of Fame for 2023-24

Twelve Itawamba Community College sophomores have been selected as members of the prestigious Hall of Fame for 2023-24.

            They include Jolie Anna Bishop, Ally Thompson, both of Amory; Addison Pletzke of Clinton; Jordan Allen of Jackson; Whitt Willis of Madison; Michaela Heitger of Mooreville; Lucy Vaughn of Nettleton; Lexie Kent of New Albany; Sara Francis Kitchens of Pontotoc; William Gibson, Gabrielle Pearce, both of Tupelo; and Aubrey Eaton of Woodland.

            At ICC, Allen is a member of the women’s soccer team, STEM Club, Trading Post, Phi Theta Kappa and Honors College; ’23 Orientation Leader; Instructional Support Leader and Chemistry II tutor for NASA (Mississippi Space Grant Consortium). Her other activities include assistance in the nursery and sing in the choir at New Jerusalem Church in Jackson. She will transfer to Mississippi College where she plans to major in biology/pre-medicine with a minor in communication. She is the daughter of Althea Allen.

            Bishop’s activities have included All-American Band; Color Guard captain; Indian Delegation president; Social Media Ambassador; Student Government Association secretary, Orientation Leader; and member of Phi Theta Kappa, Sigma Kappa Delta, Student Activities Board, ICC Trading Post team, Wesley Foundation (Lead Team and Praise Band) and Baptist Student Union (Praise Band). She was also selected as Sophomore Homecoming Maid. Bishop, who is majoring in Allied Health, plans to apply for ICC programs in that area. Her other activities are Amory Food Pantry and Nettleton Crosspointe Church, where she participates in the Praise Band. She is the daughter of Chad and Mary Bishop.

            Eaton is a member of ICC’s Indian Delegation (vice president), Honors College, Sigma Kappa Delta, Educators Rising, Fashion Tribe, Social Media Ambassadors, Political Science Club and Phi Theta Kappa; Instructional Support Leader; Orientation Leader; BSU Lead Team; Trading Post executive chair; and Chickasaw County Representative for the Student Government Association. Her honors are 2023 Homecoming Court Sophomore Maid and Dean’s List for two semesters. Eaton plans to transfer to the University of Mississippi to complete the bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and work toward the master’s degree and dyslexia certification. She is an active member of Arbor Grove Baptist Church where she serves on the mission committee. Her parents are Steve and Terri Eaton.

            Gibson’s activities at ICC have included president of Phi Theta Kappa, vice president and Itawamba County representative for the Student Government Association, Orientation Leader and member of Sigma Kappa Delta. He was also runner up for Mr. ICC. He also attends The Orchard. Gibson plans to transfer to Mississippi State University where he will continue his major in Accounting and International Business. He is the son of Karen Gibson and Billy Gibson.

            At ICC, Heitger is a member of the Advanced Manufacturing Technician program at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi, where she hopes to be employed. She is majoring in Industrial Maintenance Technology. Her honors include both President’s and Deans’ Lists. She is children’s pastor at Brush Arbor Church, director of the Acting Academy program and member of the Mooreville-Eggville Volunteer Fire Department. She is the daughter of Lorrie Heitger and Tim Heitger.

            Kent, who is majoring in Radiologic Technology, works at the North Mississippi Medical Center Tupelo as an intern in that field. Among her ICC activities are women’s tennis team, Phi Theta Kappa and Sigma Kappa Delta honor societies, and her honors have included 2021 ICC sophomore Homecoming maid, 2021 Most Beautiful Pageant first alternate and 2021 and 2023 fall President’s List. Kent was the 2022 Miss New Albany Hospitality and placed in the top 10 at the state pageant. She is an active member of Hillcrest Baptist Church where she volunteers for Tim Tebow’s Night to Shine. Kent plans to pursue completion of a degree in Nuclear Medicine Technology following completion of the Radiologic Technology program. She is the daughter of Jonathan and Amanda Kent.

            Kitchens, who is majoring in Associate Degree Nursing, is president of Alpha Delta Nu, Nursing class representative and a member of Phi Theta Kappa. Her honors include President’s and Dean’s lists, recipient of the Dr. Joseph F. Dzikielewski Memorial Nursing Foundation Scholarship and the Advancing Mississippi’s Healthcare Workforce Bower Foundation award. Kitchens is also a member of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. She plans to earn the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Mississippi University for Women and work in the critical care unit at North Mississippi Medical Center. She is the daughter of April Kitchens.

            Pearce is majoring in Construction Management, and she plans to be a project manager. Her other activities include the Tupelo First Baptist Church and an internship with Century. She is the daughter of Tim Pearce, Johnna Pearce and the late Angelia Steele Pearce.

             At ICC, Pletzke’s activities have included Phi Theta Kappa member and officer, Baptist Student Union Lead Team, Student Activities Board, Honors College, women’s soccer, Orientation Leader and Fashion Tribe. Her honors are President’s list, Deans’ list, ACT Scholarship and AT&T Endowment Foundation Scholarship. Pletzke attends the First Baptist Church in Clinton, where she worked and taught at DiscipleNow and Vacation Bible School. She plans to transfer to Mississippi College where she will major in pre-Occupational Therapy, earn the bachelor’s degree and begin the Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Her parents are Angie Pletzke and Michael Pletzke.

            Thompson is majoring in Exercise Science at ICC, where she is vice president of leadership for Phi Theta Kappa, Orientation Leader, Instructional Support team member, Fashion Tribe executive, Trading Post executive and a member of the Honors College and Indian Delegation. She attends Zion Assembly Church in Amory, where she is involved in worship and teaching Sunday school. She plans to transfer to Mississippi State University where she will pursue an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology and continue work toward a graduate degree in Physical Therapy at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She is the daughter of Mandy and Allen Thompson.

            At ICC, Vaughn is president of both the Tupelo Campus Student Government Association and Indian Delegation. Her honors include sophomore homecoming maid. A Hospital Administration major, Vaughn plans to transfer to Mississippi State University to major in Hospital/Business Administration. She is the daughter of Micheal and Jessica Vaughn.

            At ICC, Willis, who is a graduate of Amory High School, is president of the Student Government Association and a member of the Academic Calendar, Financial Aid and Curriculum committees and Student Activities Board; Orientation Leader, Food Pantry Representative, Natural Science Instructional Support Tutor; and a member of the STEM Club, PEAK Club, Humanities Club, Honors College, Phi Theta Kappa and Sigma Kappa Delta and former Student Activities student worker. His honors include Mr. ICC 2024, President’s List (fall 2022-fall 2023) and Academic Hall of Fame. Willis volunteers at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and for the Jackson Free Clinic. He plans to transfer to Mississippi State University to earn a degree in microbiology and to enter medical school to prepare for a career as a Family Medicine Physician. He is the son of Walt and Susan Willis.