The Copiah-Lincoln Community College Alumni Association will recognize Charles Nelson as the 2026 Alumnus of the Year and Jessica Senter as the 2026 Young Alumna of the Year during Homecoming festivities on Thursday, Oct. 8.
The two honorees will be recognized during the Alumni Awards Reception at 3:15 p.m. in the Thames Center on the Wesson Campus.
Charles Nelson – Alumnus of the Year
A native of Monticello, Mississippi, Nelson began his college journey at Co-Lin on a two-year basketball scholarship while studying pre-engineering. He later transferred to Louisiana State University, where he earned his engineering degree and began a 55-year career in the construction industry. Nelson also served for 14 years with the Army National Guard’s 106th Engineering Battalion.
Nelson began his career as a field engineer with H.A. Lott Inc., spending 34 years with the company and eventually serving as president from 1986–1995. He later joined Gilbane Building Company as a senior project executive, helping lead major construction and renovation projects across seven states.
Throughout his career, Nelson became known not only for the projects he built, but also for his commitment to mentorship and service. He served as president of AGC Houston in 1993 and was later named an Honorary Lifetime Member. He also spent 12 years coaching youth football and baseball and served as chairman of deacons at Tallowood Baptist Church.
Nelson and his wife, Ladonn, married in 1965 and have two children and two grandchildren.
Jessica Senter – Young Alumna of the Year
Senter was an active member of the Co-Lin campus community, serving as a Colette, Trailblazer and member of Phi Beta Lambda. She was also selected to represent her class on the Homecoming Court.
After Co-Lin, Senter transferred to Mississippi State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. She later earned her master’s degree from Belhaven University and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration.
Senter serves as Director of Outreach and Engagement for the Children’s Foundation of Mississippi, where she works with organizations across the state to improve the lives of children and families. She is also a member of Leadership Greater Jackson’s 38th cohort and serves on the board of the Copiah-Lincoln Band and Colette Alumni Association.
Senter credits her time at Co-Lin with building the confidence, relationships and foundation that have shaped her career and commitment to serving others. She and her husband, Devonte, live in Jackson with their dog, Onyx.
Nelson and Senter will be honored alongside Co-Lin’s 2026 Hall of Fame recipients during the Alumni Awards Reception. Homecoming festivities will continue throughout the afternoon before the Co-Lin Wolf Pack hosts East Central at 6:30 p.m. in Stone Stadium.