14 February ICC's Sumerel selected PTK Distinguished College Administrator Award recipient February 14, 2022 By Thomas, Donna S. General 0 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. The award recognizes college administrators working directly with student leaders to solve problems on campus and in their communities. They have also taken an active interest in supporting high-achieving students and developing student leaders. “These college administrators are beloved on campus – they know students by name and by circumstance,” said PTK President and CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner. “Their nomination is evidence of the gratitude their PTK students feel for supporting them and students like them – even during the most difficult times.” Honorees were selected from among thousands of college administrators eligible to receive the award. Sumerel was nominated by ICC’s Upsilon Sigma Chapter. Related Articles Itawamba Community College receives $100,000 and joins 41 other schools across the US as All Within My Hands' Metallica Scholars Initiative expands in year five Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands, continues its multimillion-dollar investment in critical workforce programs at community colleges nationwide. Among the schools, Itawamba Community College was selected from a competitive pool of applicants to receive $100,000 to transform the futures of students in the community. “It is a tremendous honor for Itawamba Community College to be selected as one of the recipients of the prestigious All Within My Hands grant, which will significantly impact our career education programs, providing funding for students to pursue a pathway and their best start,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “It is another indication of the success of the College and reinforcement of the mission that students and their success are our top priority.” The Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) was launched in 2019 by Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The workforce initiative marks its fifth year with an ambitious expansion into new curricula. MSI now directly supports 42 community colleges across 33 states, and by the end of this year, it will have helped ... ICC's Perry selected state MAACE Administrator of Year Audra L. Perry of Pontotoc, director of Adult Education at Itawamba Community College, has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Mississippi Association of Adult and Community Education Eloise Richardson Administrator of the Year award. Perry joined ICC’s Adult Education department as director in August 2022. She began her professional career in 2011 at Mississippi Delta Community College, serving as lead counselor, interim Dean of Career-Technical and Adult Education and director of Advising. She was selected to participate in the Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy and Mississippi Community College Policy Fellows Program. One of Perry’s nominators for the award said, “In a brief time, Mrs. Perry has found a way to bring change. She stepped into a role, and I know it has not always been easy for her, especially at a time when multiple positions had to be filled. She had the task of hiring new employees and bringing the team together as well as learning new responsibilities. She has successfully accomplished all those things. Often, when a person steps into a role where you combine old ... ICC's Patterson selected state MAACE Administrator of Year Linzy Patterson of Amory, director of adult education at Itawamba Community College, has been selected as the recipient of the 2021-22 Mississippi Association of Adult and Community Education Administrator of the Year award. In January 2018, Patterson joined ICC’s Adult Education department as an instructor at the Amory WIN Center, and in 2019-20, he was transferred to the Belden Center to serve as lead instructor. During this time, he was a member of the state SmartStart professional development committee as well as the TABE Frequently Asked Questions Manual committee. In August 2021, he was promoted to ICC’s director of adult education. Patterson began his professional career with the Amory School District in 2010, serving as a special education instructor along with assistant football, soccer and tennis coach. He was selected as Teacher of the Year for the 2014-15 school year. Patterson’s nominator for the award said, “Having come from a special education background, he is especially sensitive to the needs of those students. He has established connections with community groups, including the Regional ... ICC's Salinas awarded prestigious Community College Transfer Scholarship Diana Salinas, Itawamba Community College sophomore, is one of 72 recipients of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s prestigious Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The highly competitive national scholarship will provide Salinas with up to $40,000 a year to complete her bachelor’s degree. Salinas is majoring in computer science at ICC, where she is vice president of the Student Government Association, president of the Computer Science Club, Diamond Girl, member of the Honors College and vice president of leadership and regional reporter for Phi Theta Kappa. Her honors include Hall of Fame, Dean’s and President’s lists, SGA Scholarship, Dean’s Scholarship, All-Mississippi Academic Second Team, NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars, Delta Scholar, Tennessee Valley Authority Scholarship and Lyceum Scholarship from the University of Mississippi, where she will transfer. Her community and church activities are translating, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and tutoring. She is the daughter of Gabriela Cortes and Santos Vazquez. “We know how much exponentially harder this past year has been on students. It’s an honor to award this group of individuals as they have achieved so much both in the classroom and in their ... ICC's Bowers to receive PTK Distinguished Adviser Award Jenny Bowers of Tupelo, English instructor and Phi Theta Kappa adviser for the Beta Tau Sigma chapter at the Itawamba Community College Tupelo Campus, has been selected as the recipient of a Hallmark Distinguished Adviser Award from the honor society. The award, which can be received only once, is presented to advisers with at least four or more years of service as of January 10, 2024. She will receive the award during the organization’s annual convention, PTK Catalyst, in Orlando, Fla., Apr. 4-6. Bowers joined the ICC faculty in 2002 as an adjunct instructor and became full-time in 2011. Also, she has served as Writing Center consultant and director. She earned both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mississippi State University. Her PTK awards and honors include the 2024 Outstanding Adviser and Horizon Award Adviser, PTK Mississippi/Louisiana Regional Advisory Board for 2023-25, Five Star Adviser, Bennie Warren Outstanding Adviser for the MS/LA Region (two years) and the Horizon Award for New Advisers. Additional honors include William Winter Scholar for 2022 and National Merit Finalist. Bowers is a member ... ICC's Salinas selected as one of only two recipients of TVA Scholarship Itawamba Community College sophomore Diana Salinas of Golden has been recognized as a 2021 Tennessee Valley Authority Scholar and will receive a $2,250 scholarship. The selection was based on the score earned in Phi Theta Kappa’s Fall Scholarship competition, and Salinas is one of only two students selected for the award. The scholarship is designed to provide Mississippi Phi Theta Kappa members majoring in a STEM-related field with financial resources to help defray educational expenses while enrolled at a four-year college pursuing a bachelor’s degree. The students were selected based on academic, achievement, leadership, campus and community service and faculty assessments. Salinas is majoring in computer science at ICC, where she is vice president of the Student Government Association, president of the Computer Science Club, Diamond Girl, member of the Honors College and vice president of leadership and regional reporter for Phi Theta Kappa. Her honors include Hall of Fame, Dean’s and President’s lists, SGA Scholarship, Dean’s Scholarship, All-Mississippi Academic Second Team, NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars, Delta Scholar, Tennessee Valley Authority Scholarship and Lyceum Scholarship from the ... Comments are closed.