16 September ICC to honor five during Alumni awards presentation at Homecoming, Oct. 17 September 16, 2024 By Thomas, Donna S. General 0 Itawamba Community College will honor its 2024 Alumnus of the Year, Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, Distinguished Service and Young Alumnus of the Year award recipients during Homecoming activities, Oct. 17, at the Fulton Campus. They include Dr. Lance Evans of New Albany, Alumnus of the Year; Jonathan Van Every of Nashville, Tenn. and Dr. David Rather of Tupelo, Athletic Hall of Fame; Johnny Crane of Fulton, Distinguished Service; and Jamey Logan of Tupelo, Young Alumnus of the Year. A 1998 graduate of ICC, Evans became Mississippi’s State Superintendent of Education, July 1. His educational background also includes the bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University; master’s degree from the University of Mississippi; and educational specialist and doctoral degrees from Delta State University. He played football at ICC, where he was selected to Who’s Who Among American Junior Colleges. Over the past 23 years, he has served as Superintendent of Schools for the New Albany School District and in other roles as teacher, coach, assistant principal and both elementary and high school principal. His leadership skills have earned several recognitions, including 2023 Mississippi Superintendent of the Year and 2015 Mississippi Principal of the Year. Evans has also served on the boards of the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents, Mississippi Association of School Administrators and the Governing Board for the American Association of School Administrators. He is also a member of the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs. He and his wife, Brandy, have two children, Katie and Landon. Van Every earned the associate’s degree from ICC and the bachelor’s degree from Southern Miss, both with honors. At ICC, he had a career batting average of 375 with 32 home runs over two seasons and was named NJCAA All-American. His statistics include 54 games played and 145 at-bats, fifth in the nation with 32 of 33 stolen bases, fifth on the team with 56 hits, 35th in the nation with 42 RBI, fifth in the nation with 17 home runs and 36th in the nation with a team leading .386 average. He was selected in the 29th round of the 2000 Major League Draft by the Cleveland Indians and subsequently played for the Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Nationals. Since 2021, he has been employed in pool distribution. He is married to Morgan Van Every. ICC’s and MACJC’s first golf coach, Rather led the Indians for 26 seasons (1990-2016), during which he had eight MACJC All-State players, nine NJCAA National Tournament participants and one NJCAA All-American (Alex Rowland). Employed at ICC beginning in 1978, Rather served as director of Special Education and the Workforce Development program until 2015. He earned the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, all from the University of Mississippi. His previous work history included Marshall Academy in Holly Springs and Three Rivers Planning and Development District. Since his retirement, he has also taught continuing education classes for ICC. Rather and his wife, Jane, are the parents of Alexis Rather, who is assistant golf coach at Louisiana State University, and Kate Killough, pre-K director for Alcorn and Prentiss counties, who is married to Chris Killough, and two grandchildren, Miller and McCleary. Crane, cofounder of FL Crane and Sons, and his family have served as role models for Northeast Mississippi for many years. His generosity and support include significant financial contributions along with personal commitments as well as the devotion of countless hours to the success of charities, churches, schools and civic organizations throughout the region. A living testament to their generosity and love for the College is located on the site of the “old” football field, the Crane Pavilion, which was established and formally dedicated in 2010. He was a member of the ICC Foundation Board from 2004-20. Crane’s honors include ICDC Business Person of the Year, Boy Scouts Yocona Silver Beaver Award, ICC Alumnus of the Year, Good Citizen Award, McLean Award for Philanthropy, Mississippi Associated Building Contractors Hall of Fame, Construction Man of the Year and President. Additionally, on his long list of community involvement are ICDC president, Port Commission, Leadership Itawamba, Harden House, Boy Scouts, Private Industry Council for Job Training Partnership Act and significant support of ICC and Mississippi State University in his contributions to their facilities, scholarships and educational programs. He and his wife, Bessie Lynn, have three children, Chip (Jenny) Crane, Jacqueline (Kenny) Petre and Dixie (Kirk) Presley; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Logan, who is marketing director for TAG Truck Center, earned the associate’s degree from ICC in 2011 and the bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University. His previous work experience includes digital content manager for BancorpSouth and vice president (marketing content director) for Renasant Bank. At ICC, he was a member of the leadership team and praise band for the Wesley Foundation, praise band for the Baptist Student Union, marching band drum line and Phi Theta Kappa. Logan’s honors include Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal Top 40 Under 40 (finalist three years), Mississippi Business Journal Top 50 Under 40, City of Tupelo Quality of Life committee member, Kiwanis Club of Tupelo board member and Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association marketing committee chairman and executive board member. He and his wife, Laura Kay, are the parents of one daughter, Willow Logan, 3. The award recipients will be honored during a special ceremony at 4 p.m. at the Davis Event Center and presented during the ICC/Holmes pregame activities, which begin at 6:30 p.m. For more information, email maupton@iccms.edu or call (662) 862-8035. Related Articles ICC to honor five during Homecoming, Oct. 5 Itawamba Community College will honor its 2023 Alumnus of the Year, Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, Distinguished Service and Young Alumnus of the Year award recipients during Homecoming activities, Oct. 5, at the Fulton Campus. They include Ret. Col. Sheldon Morris of Oxford, Alumnus of the Year; Anthony Brock of North Little Rock, Ark. and David Schumaker of Jacksonville, Ala., Athletic Hall of Fame; Donna Thomas of New Albany, Distinguished Service award; and Mari-leen (Linkie) Marais of Fort, Lauderdale, Fla., Young Alumnus of the Year award. Morris, who is the executive vice president for programs at Delta Health Alliance, completed 22 years of honorable service as the Military Deputy Director for the Army Profession and Leadership. He began his career in the 3rd Brigade, 1st calvary Division at Fort Hood, Tex. A 1997 graduate of ICC, he earned the bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi and the master’s degree from the U.S. Army’s Command General and Staff College. His activities at ICC included wide receiver for the football team (statistician during his ... ICC to honor four with Alumni awards during Homecoming activities, Oct. 6 Itawamba Community College will honor its 2022 Alumnus of the Year, Distinguished Service award recipient and Athletic Hall of Fame inductees during Homecoming activities, Oct. 6, at the Fulton Campus. They include Dr. C.K. “Dick” White of Tupelo, Alumnus of the Year; Miss. Rep. Donnie Bell of Fulton, ICC Distinguished Service award; and David Duke of Clinton and Marty Cooper of Fulton, Athletic Hall of Fame. White, who is a native of Fulton, graduated from Itawamba Agricultural High School and from 1969-71 attended IJC where he was a member of the baseball team. In 2020, he retired as chief medical officer of the North Mississippi Medical Center. From 2018-20, he also served as interim chief quality and safety medical officer for North Mississippi Health Services, and since 2016, executive board member of Connected Care Partners CIN. He has an extensive list of honors and awards, including NMMC Surgeon of the Year and Itawamba Agricultural High School Alumnus of the Year. White is a member of numerous professional associations and serves on the boards of several community organizations. They include ... ICC to honor Kline, Hill, Nanney during Homecoming, Oct. 18 Itawamba Community College will honor Alumnus of the Year Tommy Kline of Fulton and Athletic Hall of Fame inductees Ron Hill of Ponte Vedra, Fla. and Mike Nanney Sr. of Fulton, during Homecoming activities, Oct. 18, at the Fulton Campus. They will be recognized at an award ceremony at 4 p.m. tentatively scheduled for the Davis Event Center lobby as well as prior to the ICC vs. Southwest football game which begins at 6:30 p.m. at Eaton Field. Aberdeen native Kline, the owner of Kline Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. which he founded in 1978, attended IJC on an athletic scholarship and played football for coaches Dudley Miller and Ben Jones. He earned a business degree at the Fulton Campus, and later he commuted two nights a week from Aberdeen for 18 months to complete the heating and air conditioning program. Kline serves on the local board of BancorpSouth, as chairman of the Mississippi State Board of Contractors, past chairman of the Mississippi Associated Builders and Contractors and board member of the Mississippi ... ICC to honor military, first responders and healthcare professionals during All-American Heroes night, Oct. 13 Both past and current members of the armed forces, first responders and healthcare professionals will be honored during Itawamba Community College’s All-American Heroes Night, Oct. 13, at Lambert Stadium/Eaton Field at the Fulton Campus during ICC’s football game with Hinds Community College, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Special activities will include a salute during halftime featuring ICC’s All-American Band. Honorary captains, who will participate in the coin toss and be recognized during pregame beginning at 6 p.m., will be U.S. Rep. Trent Kelly of Saltillo, who has spent 36 years in the Mississippi Army National Guard as a Combat Engineer and is currently serving as a Major General; North Mississippi EMS Authority Co-Director Al Wright of Tupelo, who also is an adjunct faculty member for ICC’s EMS Basic program; and North Mississippi Medical Center Safety Specialist Thomas Walker of Tupelo, retired Fire Chief for the City of Tupelo. Admission is free to all past and current armed forces members and healthcare professionals, first responders and their families. For more information on the event, contact Michael Upton at maupton@iccms.edu or ... ICC Homecoming to feature presentation of Alumni awards, Homecoming Court Itawamba Community College will celebrate Homecoming 2024 on Oct. 17 at the Fulton Campus beginning with a 4 p.m. ceremony at the Davis Event Center. The event will honor the Alumnus of the Year, Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, Young Alumnus of the Year and Distinguished Service award recipients. They include Dr. Lance Evans of New Albany, Alumnus of the Year; Dr. David Rather of Tupelo and Jonathan Van Every of Nashville, Tenn., Athletic Hall of Fame; Jamey Logan of Tupelo, Young Alumnus of the Year; and Johnny Crane of Fulton, Distinguished Service. They will also be recognized during pregame ceremonies beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Eaton Field. ICC’s Homecoming Court will be presented at halftime of the ICC/Holmes football game, which starts at 7 p.m. They include Queen Jasmier Coleman of Pontotoc; King Tanner McCord of Pontotoc; Fulton Campus Sophomore Maids Ashanti Doss of Nettleton and Brandi Deloach of Caledonia; Tupelo Campus Sophomore Maids Gracie Corley of Ecru and Shelby Tigner of Tupelo; Fulton Campus Freshman Maids Shakira Kelton of Golden and Emma Carolyne Wright of Amory; ... Area high school students win awards during ICC's National Day on Writing Several area high school students are among the winners in Itawamba Community College’s annual National Day on Writing celebration. They include Amory High School – Gloria Grace Beasley, third, painting, “Dance with Me;” Jacob Kyle, honorable mention, poetry, “Phrases;” Li’Metrius Vasser, honorable mention, poetry, “Momma I Finally Made It;” Madeline Martin, honorable mention, poetry, “Fake Poems;” Pontotoc High School – Alexia Hunter, honorable mention, drawing, “No Escape: Aiden’s Story;” Andy Jones, honorable mention, essay, “The Day the World Burned;” Bailey Jones, third, poetry, “Mother Nature;” Brittany Stephens, honorable mention, short story, “Life Lesson;” Chloe Mabus, honorable mention, poetry, “When It Comes;” Cole Norris, first, short story, “The Mysterious Stranger;” Danielle Carter, third, short story, “One Step Behind;” Jaleesha Dandridge, second, short story, “Going Up Head First;” Jaslyn Hopkins, second, essay, “Precious Child;” Jayde Richardson, third, poetry, “Black and Blue;” Jenelle Hankins, second, drawing, “The Charge of Chargers;” Jeridiane Ray, honorable mention, painting, “Nature’s Paradox;” Lauren Trimble, first, essay, “A Heartbreak in Flames;” Madeline Pounders, third, essay, “Tupelo Twister;” Makayla Boyd, honorable mention, drawing, “Ardent ... 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