31 January ICC's Forestry program, Student Activities to celebrate Arbor Day with special Feb. 13 ceremony January 31, 2025 By Thomas, Donna S. General 0 Itawamba Community College’s Forestry Technology program and Student Activities will celebrate Arbor Day at 9 a.m., February 13, with a special ceremony on the Fulton Campus. The public is invited. “Thanks to the Mississippi Forestry Commission and Walton’s Greenhouse, three 15-gallon trees, including an Eastern Redbud, Chinese Fringetree and Sweet Bay Magnolia will be planted to replace those that have been removed because of weather damage or age,” said Emily Loden-Jones, Forestry Technology instructor. The event will be in front of a ceremonial tree of love, a large water oak in the courtyard area between the eLearning Building and Community Relations. Loden-Jones said that students, faculty, staff, alumni and Early Learning participants are invited to complete Valentine Day hearts including why they love ICC or if they met their sweethearts at the college, and they will be collected and hung on the tree. Those who attend from the community will have an opportunity to complete a heart onsite at the ceremony. “ICC is working toward achieving Tree Campus USA recognition with the Arbor Day Foundation,” Loden-Jones said. “A healthy tree canopy is the hallmark of a beautiful campus, and we are committed to restoring and strengthening ours after suffering losses from wind damage and drought in recent years. By taking these steps, we aim to create a safer, more sustainable environment where both nature and learning can thrive for generations to come. We are grateful for the guidance and support from the Mississippi Forestry Commission and the dedication of our Grounds Department as we move forward with this important initiative.” ICC’s Forestry Technology program prepares individuals in the management and production of forest resources. It includes instruction in woods and field skills, tree identification, timber measurement, logging and timber harvesting, forest preparation and regeneration, forest fire fighting, resource management, equipment operation and maintenance, recordkeeping, sales and purchasing operations and personnel supervision. Upon completion of the two-year curriculum, students are awarded an Associate of Applied Science degree in Forestry Technology. For more information on the event or the program, email ekloden@iccms.edu or call (662) 862-8147. Related Articles 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. 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The STEM Club connects students with an interest in STEM-related fields. Members have an opportunity to attend events with speakers from different fields, network with other students in similar fields of study, meet representatives from universities and local companies, discover and engage in new technologies and support ICC’s five-county district through community service. For more information, including membership for ICC students, email stemclub@iccms.edu. ICC formally opens newly-renovated Student Activities Center at the Fulton Campus Itawamba Community College reopened its Student Activities Center with a formal ribbon cutting ceremony, Aug. 14, at the Fulton Campus. “It is with great pride and excitement that we gather to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated Student Activities Center,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “Just as with our recent residence hall ribbon cuttings at Monroe and Sheffield Halls, this is not just a physical transformation but a renewal of our commitment to providing a vibrant and supportive campus environment for our students.” ICC’s approximately 13,000-square-foot Student Activities Center, which opened in 1961 and the oldest building on the Fulton Campus, has had numerous facelifts over the years, but this renovation touched every aspect of the building, including a completely redesigned interior to maximize open space for seating and the addition of a new covered space on the back to provide students a place to dine in the event of inclement weather. Allen said that the new space will be called “The Yard.” The outdoor furniture will arrive soon and be installed with outdoor TVs. “Our ... ICC celebrates Black History Month with Feb. 19 programs Dr. Katerria Grice of Tupelo, athletic academic adviser at Itawamba Community College, will be the featured speaker for a Unity Program in celebration of Black History Month, at 11:30 a.m., Feb. 19, at the Itawamba Community College Tupelo Campus in the Academic and Student Center, and at 6 p.m. in the W.O. Benjamin Fine Arts Center at the Fulton Campus. A native of Waynesboro, Grice earned the associate’s degree from Pearl River Community College, both the bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi and the master’s degree from the University of West Alabama. Grice is also the founder of Women of Excellence, ICC’s newest organization. It is dedicated to the empowerment and upliftment of minority women, equipping them with the tools to carry themselves professionally and prepare for the future. Under her leadership, the organization has grown and continues to expand, focusing on a culture of service, empowerment and community impact. She is an active member of both the Tupelo Women’s Club and King City Church in Tupelo. Grice, and her husband, Jarvey, are the ... ICC's Practical Nursing students receive pins, lamps during commencement ceremony Several area residents received their pins and lamps from Itawamba Community College’s Practical Nursing program at 6 p.m., Dec.7, at the Davis Event Center at the Fulton Campus. Graduates include Claudia C. Bounds, Kimberly H. Renfro, both of Amory; Rebecca D. Hopkins of Dumas; Cheyenne L. Cox, Stephanie N. Oliver, Carlee A. Samples, all of Guntown; Hope A. Wallace of Mantachie; Amanda G. Pannell, Erica E. Wood, both of New Albany; Amber N. Evans of Plantersville; Monica Grant of Pontotoc; Jennie M. Foster of Randolph; Jennifer L. Sykes of Ripley; Taylor E. Barnhill, Teran M. Barnitz, Summer R. Price and Ashton A. Swearingen, all of Tupelo. Practical Nursing is a one-year (three-semester) program. Upon completion, graduates receive a Certificate of Completion and are eligible to take the N-CLEX (national board examination) to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. Dr. Lisa Pearson of Amory is the program director. Instructors include Tammy Jones of Pontotoc; Lisa McNeese of Smithville and Patricia Robbins of Blue Springs. Metallica's All Within My Hands grant significantly impacts lives, futures of ICC students A $50,000 grant from Metallica’s All Within My Hands foundation is significantly impacting the lives and futures of more than 50 Itawamba Community College career education and health sciences students. They were selected based on an application process, which included information about the difference that receiving the scholarship will make in continuing their educational journey, according to Dylan Baldwin, dean of Career Education, who wrote the grant proposal. “This significant opportunity is making the difference in enabling many of the recipients to continue enrollment in their programs,” Baldwin noted. “Sometimes we don’t realize the struggles that students have to overcome to earn their ICC degrees to ensure a better future not only for themselves, but also in many instances, their families.” Among the student stories are, “My husband and I are struggling with money because of doctor bills…I am a 40-year-old veteran, 80 percent disabled trying to do something different with my life, something that’s not as physically hard labor as I’m used to…I am a 4.0 honor roll student, have maintained a 4.0 GPA since being in college ... Comments are closed.