Copiah-Lincoln Community College has announced that four outstanding high school seniors have been selected to receive the L. Frank Pitts Scholarship. Recipients include Joshua D. Boone of Crosby, Charles Michael Herring of Brookhaven, Taylor G. Nelson of Bogue Chitto, and Brandon Nettles of Wesson.

"We are excited to award these prestigious scholarships to these outstanding students," said Copiah-Lincoln President Dr. Ronnie Nettles. "We know that their leadership skills will be an asset to our student body and look forward to them attending Copiah-Lincoln this fall."

Joshua Boone is a graduate of Franklin County High School where he served as Band Captain and Beta Club Class Representative. He was a member of the Academic Team, Band, Beta Club, 4-H Club, and FCCLA. Boone was selected National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist, Mississippi Governor's School, National Society of High School Scholars, SATP Star, and Mr. FCHS Band.

His community service activities include volunteering with the Salvation Army.

Charles Michael Herring is a graduate of Loyd Star High School where he was a member of the National Beta Club, Loyd Star Hornet Band, and the academic team. An honor roll student, Herring was selected Best in Class Hornet Band and Junior Class President.

He has performed community service with the Loyd Star Softball Program and with the Loyd Star Volunteer Fire Department.

Taylor Nelson is a graduate of Parklane Academy where she served as Student Council Treasurer and Class Officer. Nelson was a member of the yearbook staff, academic team, FBLA, First Priority, FCA, Young Republicans, softball team, and Senior Beta.

She has received highest average awards in English, algebra, world history and desktop publishing and High a Certificates in bio-medical research and biology. As a member of the Lady Pioneer softball team, Nelson was selected All-District, Most Valuable Defensive Player, Most Valuable Offensive Player, MAIS All-Star and MAIS All-State Tournament Team. She was also named HOBY Ambassador and was Homecoming Maid as a junior.

Nelson's community activities include MS Tour for a Cure, Vacation Bible School, Brookhaven Animal Hospital and Hands of Praise Evangelism.

Brandon Nettles is a graduate of Wesson High School where he served as Vice President of the National Honor Society. He was a member of the tennis, baseball, and soccer teams, academic team and National Honor Society.

Nettles was selected to the Hall of Fame, Who's Who Most Intelligent, Duke University Talent Identification Program, and County District Attorney at Mississippi Boy's State. He was named the Copiah County Courier's Player of the Week in soccer and tennis, The Daily Leader's Scholar Athlete, Nettles was District Champion in Singles and Runner-Up in the State Tennis Finals as a junior and All-District and Best Offensive Player in soccer. A Superintendent's Honor Roll student, he received numerous academic awards in math, science, English, and history.

Nettles is an active member of St. Francis Catholic Church serving as an Alter Server and Lector and has performed community service with his church and at Wesson High School.

Criteria for the scholarship includes a minimum ACT score of 25 and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. The recipient(s) must live in the Co-Lin's seven county district and be an incoming freshman on the college's Wesson Campus.
After completion of the application process, a special scholarship committee screened all of the applicants and a committee appointed by Co-Lin President Dr. Ronnie Nettles interviewed the candidates.

The late L. Frank Pitts of Dallas, Texas, was a 1931 graduate of Copiah-Lincoln Community College. He established an endowed scholarship fund at the college with a gift of $250,000 to the Copiah-Lincoln Foundation. He was an independent oil and natural gas producer for more than 60 years.

Pitts established an endowed scholarship for faculty development in 2003 with a $250,000 donation to the Foundation. He was a leader in a wide-range of oil industry associations and activities in Texas and was recognized as a spokesman for the energy industry across the country. Pitts was also acknowledged as a pioneer in geological research. He was named a Distinguished Alumni of Co-Lin in 2003, selected Alumnus of the Year in 1973 and was inducted into the Foundation's Hall of Fame in 1994.

L. Frank Pitts Scholarship recipients include seated from left, Joshua Boone of Crosby, Taylor Nelson of Bogue Chitto; standing from left, Co-Lin Foundation Board Member Kenny Goza, Brandon Nettles of Wesson, and Co-Lin President Dr. Ronnie Nettles. Not pictured is Charles Michael Herring of Brookhaven. 

Rusty Sprague, a junior at Brookhaven High School and Technical Center, is excited about his automotive service technology class that is helping him reach his ultimate career goal of becoming a respected technician. Before he finishes high school, Sprague will have earned a semester of college credit from Copiah-Lincoln Community College and will be able to sign ASE after his name to indicate he has earned national credentials by passing the Automotive Service of Excellence examination.

 “My goal is to become an auto or diesel mechanic, and this class in high school is making it possible for me to earn college and high school credit at the same time for free.” When he goes to college, as Sprague enthusiastically expressed, “I’ll be ready to take more advanced classes at the Copiah-Lincoln campus and will have already earned a semester of college credit. So, I will pay for three semesters of college instead of four.”

 The dual-credit course is a result of a partnership between Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Brookhaven Technical Center, and the Mississippi Department of Education’s Office of Career and Technical Education program. This is the first year the Brookhaven School District has offered dual-credit through its automotive technology class, giving students the opportunity to earn both high school and college credit in a single course. As Brookhaven’s career and technical education director Jackie Martin explained, offering opportunities for dual credit is one way that the district and state are working together to foster student engagement and achievement through CTE.

 “This dual-credit partnership is possible because Lisa Karmacharya, our superintendent; Gail Baldwin, the dean of CTE at Copiah-Lincoln; along with Jean Massey, the state’s associate superintendent of CTE education; and Mike Mulvihill, bureau director for the state’s Office of CTE, were all willing to sit down and workout the details like course coding, student identification, course and instructor payment, and credit transfers,” explained Martin. “As a result of their hard work and collaboration, this is the first year that our students are taking the national ASE test instead of the state MS-CPAS2 assessment that measures student achievement.”

Automotive centers across the nation recognize the ASE Blue Seal of Excellence achievement. Therefore, acquiring the national ASE certification in high school means that Sprague will graduate with a diploma and a stackable credential that immediately makes him more marketable in the workplace.

 “Business and industry have all been practically begging for better technicians because they have a responsibility to the public to have a mechanic that can perform the duties correctly the first time,” said Blake Oberschmidt, instructor for Copiah-Lincoln automotive technology program. “We’re giving these [students] a jumpstart on their careers and instead of two years of experience, they’re going to get four.”

 Oberschmidt teaches the class during the morning block at the Brookhaven Technical Center. During the first semester, students can earn seven college-credit hours, and if they enroll in the second semester, they can earn up to a total of 16 credit hours – the equivalent of taking one semester of classes at the community college.

 “From the beginning, Co-Lin and Brookhaven School District have worked with local business and industry leaders, obtaining feedback and support from the automotive industry. These leaders are eager for skilled employees at every level of their operations,” offered Gail Baldwin, dean of career, technical and workforce education at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. “Students enrolled in this dual-credit automotive program will obtain classroom and laboratory experience that may also lead to summer work experience while reinforcing academic skills. As students are better prepared with academic and technical skills along with a stronger work ethic, Mississippi and America’s workforce will benefit.”

 According to a “Dual Credit and Exam-Based Courses in U.S. Public High Schools: 2010-11,” study conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics, Sprague and Dawson are two of 600,000 students in the nation pursuing dual credit through CTE-college partnerships. And like many of their college counterparts, Sprague and Dawson carry college-student credentials, including student IDs, giving them access to the college library, bookstore, computer labs, free athletic and art events on the Co-Lin campus, and in the future, they hope to the job of their choice.

 Connecting core academics with CTE at McKellar Technology Center

 Melanie Ford teaches Health Science I and II at the McKellar Technology Center in Columbus. She is the first CTE teacher ever to earn the Columbus Municipal School District’s Teacher of the Year Award. Ford earned this recognition because she and Laurie Davis, McKellar’s CTE counselor, worked together to develop a course they call Medical Technologies III that bridges the educational gap between high school and college.

 “We realized during their sophomore and junior years, our students were taking the two levels of classes that teach the basics of health sciences, but during their senior year, we didn’t have an advanced class to help them continue their forward progress into a job or a college health profession program,” explained Ford. “Veterinary school, nursing school, physical therapy, and radiologic technology programs have high entrance standards, yet our seniors were missing a whole year where they could take advantage of making themselves more competitive.”

Ford witnessed disappointment after disappointment when students earned low ACT scores that denied them entrance into a college program. After conducting and reading student surveys to learn what course the students really wanted to take during their senior year, Ford created the Medical Technology III health professions class with three components to help place students in a job or a college health-science program. The first component is aimed at improving ACT scores.

“We help them raise their ACT scores. Even if they decide they don’t want to pursue health education after high school, a higher ACT score would help them no matter their major,” offered Ford. “We conduct ACT remediation, where the students practice with online ACT test software that provides diagnostics of areas where improvement is needed. Then we have subject-area teachers help them sharpen their skills. We give pre- and posttests, and some of these students have improved their ACT scores by seven points.”

 The second component of the course is a dual-credit program. The students will earn credit for college-level Anatomy and Physiology I & II, which means Ford, a CTE instructor, is going above and beyond the call of duty facilitating and being a mentor to the students in the Medical Technology III class because the curriculum is core, academic-based rather than CTE-focused. Nonetheless, it was Ford and Davis, the CTE teacher and counselor, who collaborated with the district and with East Mississippi Community College to offer Anatomy and Physiology I and II classes online, giving their high school students the chance to earn dual credit. Ford, also a registered nurse, stays late and facilitates the two-hour class in the afternoons at the McKellar Center.

“If you are going into the healthcare field, you have to have Anatomy and Physiology I and II. We thought what better way to bridge the gap between high school and college academics then to offer our students a chance to take these college classes for free here at the high school,” said Ford. 

“We have 12 seniors enrolled, and all want to pursue some form of health science after high school,” said Davis. “Most of our students come from families of extreme poverty, so many of them cannot afford the transportation, books, or online fees to take a college course. In fact, many of their role models and parents have never set foot in a college classroom or even on a campus, so they have no resources to help them navigate through the college experience, let alone the entrance requirements. This program gives them the opportunity and a person they can rely on to help them become college and/or career ready.”

 Senior Taylor Woods is enrolled in the A&P II online class. She and her 11 classmates gave up their senior privilege of early release from school to take this Medical Technologies III class each afternoon.

 “I have plans to become a physical therapist. My parents never went to college. I’ll be a first-generation college student and college graduate. I never dreamed of going to college before this class. I didn’t think I could do it, but with Ms. Ford’s encouragement and help of raising my ACT scores and then showing me I could earn college credit after completing my first A&P class, I found out I could handle college.”

 For many students like Woods, the soaring cost of college has put a postsecondary education out of reach. Woods said the free college credits she is earning now while in high school will help her pay for college, along with the third component of the class, earning a Certified Nursing Assistant license. The pre-requisites of completing the health science I and II courses and labs combined with the med-tech III class and lab components qualify the students to earn a CNA license. The national certification will give her an edge over other job candidates in the labor market. This stackable credential also will help Woods find a job that will help pay for her associate degree, provide valuable on-the-job experience, and she can use it as a stepping stone to continue her education, if she chooses, at a four-year institution.  

 “East Mississippi Community College has been great in helping us set up this agreement and online class to meet all of our students’ needs. This is our first year, and last semester all 12 of my seniors in the class earned an A or a B average for the A&P I course. We’re on track to do the same for the level-two class,” said Ford. “These students are learning good study habits and time management and technology skills. I think they realize that when they go to college, they are on their own, and so they are learning all they can now to set themselves up for a successful future.”

 The student online registration, tuition, lab fees, books, and CNA certifications are paid for by the Columbus Municipal School District. EMCC provides the online access and instructor for the A&P dual-credit classes at no cost to the district or students.

Brookhaven and Columbus School Districts’ academic and CTE educators are working together to blend strong academic courses with demanding, high-tech CTE classes with the goal of linking them to real-world experiences and to relevant, valuable college credit and career preparation. Soon, experts predict the school systems that put students’ needs first, will be the ones who are successfully closing the work-skills gap, reducing remediation costs for both school districts and employers and, most importantly, preparing our next generation for the demands of a new economy.

 For more information about how to build a dual-credit, CTE-focused program at your school, please contact Jean Massey at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or Mike Mulvihill at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Four outstanding high school seniors have been selected as 2013-2014 recipients of Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s prestigious Taylor Presidential Scholarships. Recipients include Sarah Claire Armstrong of Gallman, Taylor Ann Beasley of Wesson, Alisia Alexandra Williams of Brookhaven, and Ryan Thomas Williams of New Hebron.

The $6,000 scholarship, established by the late Fred and Jewett Taylor of Oxford, are presented annually to students planning to attend Copiah-Lincoln’s Wesson Campus, Natchez Campus or Simpson County Center.

“We are excited to award this prestigious scholarship to these four outstanding students,” said Copiah-Lincoln President Dr. Ronnie Nettles. “We know that their leadership skills will be an asset to our student body and look forward to them attending Copiah-Lincoln this fall.”

Sarah Claire Armstrong

            Sarah Claire Armstrong is a senior at Copiah Academy. She serves as senior class president, Senior Beta president, Mu Alpha Theta president, annual editor, student council photographer, Crown Club of Crystal Springs publicity chairman, and varsity football and basketball stat girl. Armstrong is a member of the Student Council, Art Club, and varsity basketball team.

A Headmaster’s List student, Armstrong was chosen to attend the APEX Leadership Conference, Who’s Who Friendliest and Best Personality and received the Best Defensive Player Award.

Some of her community service activities include Trails and Trikes, Horses for Handicapped, Rockin Railroad Festival volunteer, Mississippi Toughest Kids, and Keep Copiah County Beautiful.

Taylor Ann Beasley

Taylor Beasley is a senior at Wesson Attendance Center where she serves as Senior Class President, Vice President of the National Honor Society, and Co-Captain of the Varsity Cheerleaders. Beasley is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Tennis Team. She is also the statistician of the Varsity Baseball Team.

An honor roll student, Beasley was selected to the Hall of Fame, Miss Wesson High School, and Class Favorite. She is an assistant dance teacher at Nena Smith School of Dance.

Her community service activities include volunteering with the Wesson Baptist Church Youth, National Honor Society, Cystic Fibrosis 5K Walk, and Pee-Wee Cheerleading.

Alisia A. Williams

Alisia Williams is a senior at Brookhaven High School where she serves as secretary of the National Honor Society and Senior Class treasurer. She is a Diamond Girl, Cheerleader and member of the Marching Band/Color Guard, Academic Team, Homecoming Production, Delta Gems, and Crown Club of Brookhaven.

An honor roll student, Williams was selected a Senior Maid, BHS Belle, and Brookhaven Lions Club Student of the Month.

Her community service work includes working with St. James Missionary Baptist Church, Boys and Girls Club of Brookhaven, O Foundation, and Dan Brown Annual Banquet.

Ryan Williams

Ryan Williams is s senior at Lawrence County High School where he ranks in the top five percent of his class. He is a member of the National Technical Honor Society, National Society for High School Scholars, Health Occupation Students of America, Mu Alpha Theta, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Beta Club, Student Council, and Prom Committee. Williams has been featured in the United States Achievement Academy Annual and the Young Poets Speak Out book. He won first place in the State HOSA Competition and advanced to the national competition.

Williams has performed volunteer work on church mission trips, Vacation Bible School, New Hebron Jr. High Booster Club, and First Priority.

Over 40 applicants submitted a typed letter of application, official high school or college transcripts, resume, and three letters of recommendation that were evaluated by a special scholarship committee. A select committee conducted interviews of several finalists.

Criteria used in the selection process included high school and/or college grade point average, ACT / SAT score, difficulty level of courses taken in high school, financial need, high school interscholastic activities, community service activities, honors, awards, recognitions, special talents or abilities, and a 750-word essay.

 “The Taylor’s were so generous to Co-Lin, we are so appreciative to them for allowing us to offer these scholarships to deserving students,” said Nettles.

The Taylor Presidential Scholarships have been established by a $1 million endowment through the Copiah-Lincoln Community College Foundation by the late

Charles Fred Taylor and his wife, Jewett. Taylor was a 1926 graduate of Copiah-Lincoln Agricultural High School.

A native of Gallman, Taylor was an outstanding athlete in football, basketball, and baseball and was inducted into Copiah-Lincoln’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989.

He attended Mississippi State University in 1927 and transferred to Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, where he received a B.A. in economics in 1931. While there, he lettered in football and basketball. For three years following college graduation (1931-1934), he was a high school principal and football and basketball coach in Providence, Kentucky.

Taylor, a member of the Masonic Lodge, was inducted into the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum Hall of Fame in October 1984. He was the recipient of numerous agricultural, soil and water conservation awards over the years. He was selected Citizen of the Year for the Oxford-Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. In 1998, Taylor and his wife, Jewett, were inducted into Copiah-Lincoln’s Foundation Hall of Fame. Taylor was selected Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Alumnus of the Year in 2000.

He was a life insurance general agent in Evansville and Kokomo, Indiana, from 1934-1958, at which time he retired to operate their 600-acre registered cattle farm in Oxford, which he and his wife, Jewett purchased in 1950. They restored an 1842 antebellum home, Sunset Hill, in 1958, where they resided until Mr. Taylor’s death.

Taylor’s other accomplishments include serving as commissioner for the Lafayette County Soil and Water Conservation for 19 years, Director of the State SWCD Commissioners for 12 years, past president of the Mississippi Cattleman’s Association, director of the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce, member of the state board of directors for the Mississippi Affiliate American Heart Association, a member of the Transylvania University alumni board, a member of the Board of Directors of First National Bank in Oxford, and a member of the Executive Board of the Mississippi Cattleman’s Association.

The Taylors have given three of the largest gifts the Copiah-Lincoln Foundation has ever received. These gifts have enabled the college to complete the Fred and Jewett Taylor Chapel in 1998, to enhance the technology at The Billy B. Thames Conference Center in 2000, and the establishment of the Taylor Presidential Scholarships in 2004.

Taylor was honored as one of Copiah-Lincoln’s distinguished alumni leaders in October 2003. 

Taylor Scholarship recipients include seated from left, Sarah Claire Armstrong of Gallman, Taylor Beasley of Wesson; standing from left, Co-Lin Foundation Board Member Johnnie Carlisle, Ryan Williams of New Hebron, and Co-Lin President Dr. Ronnie Nettles. Not pictured is Alisia A. Williams of Brookhaven. 

Nine members of the Phi Beta Lambda Chapter on the Natchez Campus recently received 13 awards at the State Leadership Conference.

Award winners include front row from left, Shondranika Blanton, fourth place – Desktop Publishing; Treniqua Washington, fourth place – Desktop Publishing; Sierra Woodfork first place – Information Management; Inger Frye, first place – Future Business Educator and second place – Business Presentation; back row from left, Vanessa Tillman, third place – Sales Presentation; Mary Sims, first place – Business Ethics and third place – Word Processing; Brian Ensminger, first place – Public Speaking and second place – Business Presentation; Anita Wood, second place – Marketing Concepts; Loretta Tyler, first place – Business Ethics and third place – Client Service.

Six students will have the opportunity to travel to Anaheim, Ca., for the National Leadership Conference in June.