Northwest names 15 students to 2017 -2018 Hall of Fame

Senatobia, MS (02/13/2018) — Fifteen Northwest Mississippi Community College students have been inducted into the 2017 -2018 Northwest Hall of Fame, the highest honor a Northwest student can attain based upon their academic prowess and involvement in student life at the college. The group was honored at the Feb. 8 Board of Trustees meeting on the Senatobia campus.

Eight Hall of Fame students are from the Senatobia campus.

Kendall Kimberlin of Olive Branch is studying elementary education at Northwest. She is a graduate of DeSoto Central High School. During her time at Northwest, she was a member of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the Baptist Student Union, Northwest Education Association and Student Government. Her honors include Senatobia Rotary Club Student of the Month and Outstanding Student. She is the recipient of the Thomas P., Jr. and Carolyn P. Poff Endowment. She was recently elected Miss NWCC, Senatobia campus. Kimberlin plans to further her education at Mississippi State University and become a teacher.

Northwest nursing student Jordan Redd of Senatobia is a graduate of Senatobia High School. He is a member of PTK, the Student Nurses Association and the Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society. He is also an Outstanding Student. He is the recipient of the Frances Marie Dean Endowment. He hopes to further his education and become a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

Kendall Akerson of Hernando is studying Criminal Justice at Northwest. A graduate of Hernando High School, Akerson is a member of the Ranger softball team. She was the NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete, Distinguished Academic All-MACJC selection and NJCAA All-Academic Second Team. Akerson was recognized in Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and as Senatobia Rotary Club Student of the Month and is a member of PTK. She is the recipient of the Robert Dodson Fallen Hero Endowment. She plans to become a criminal analyst for the FBI.

Ethan Baker of Senatobia studies music education on the Senatobia campus. A graduate of Senatobia High School, Baker is a member of PTK, the jazz, concert and marching bands, and has taken part in theatre productions at Northwest. He is an Outstanding Student. His goal is to become a high school band director and ultimately teach in higher education.

Brian Fox of Oxford is studying civil engineering at Northwest. He is a graduate of Water Valley High School. Fox is a member of PTK, Mu Alpha Theta Math Society and the concert and marching bands. He is also an Outstanding Student. He is the recipient of the Mary Elizabeth Houston Fedric Endowment. Fox hopes to become a structural engineer.

Abraham Alvarez, a native of Valles City, Mexico who currently lives in Enid, is studying Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology at Northwest. Alvarez is a member of PTK , the recipient of the Toyota - Haley Barbour Annual Scholarship and an Outstanding Student. Alvarez would like to further his education and become a computer numerical controller and/or a coordinated measuring machine programmer.

Preslie Anne Cowley of Cleveland is studying speech and theatre at Northwest. A graduate of Cleveland High School, Cowley is a member of PTK, the Northwest Singers and Entertainers and of the Northwest Players Club. She has been honored as an Outstanding Student, a member of the Honor Choir and also with an Irene Ryan Acting Award. Cowley is the recipient of the Clifton and Jessie Sipley Endowment. She hopes to continue her education at Mississippi State University and teach at the secondary level in Fine Arts.

Jacob Vogelsang of Hernando is studying speech and theatre. He is a graduate of Hernando High School and a member of PTK, the Northwest Players Club, the Northwest Singers and Entertainers and the Baptist Student Union. He was named Senatobia Rotary Club Student of the Month and received the Irene Ryan Acting Award. Vogelsang hopes to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre, with the goal of becoming a professional performer.

Four Hall of Fame students come from the DeSoto Center.

Gregory Sean Laird of Olive Branch is studying kinesiology at Northwest DeSoto Center. A graduate of Southaven High School, Laird is the vice president of PTK. He is the recipient of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7531 Endowment. Laird hopes to earn a degree in exercise science at the University of Mississippi and ultimately complete a physical therapy program to work with rehabilitating war veterans.

Northwest DeSoto Center student Autumn Rose Watson of Hernando is studying biology. She is a graduate of Hernando High School and is a member of PTK. She hopes to obtain a degree and career in equine therapy, dentistry and/or training.

Kori Chanel Brenn of Southaven is a graduate of Southaven High School. She is studying business and marketing management technology at Northwest. She is a member of PTK and DECA and is the recipient of the Elizabeth Hilliard Burns Endowment. She was recently elected Miss NWCC for the DeSoto Center. She would like to attend the University of Memphis and pursue a bachelor's degree in graphic design.

Destin Renea Beach of Olive Branch is studying social work at the DeSoto Center. She is a graduate of Lewisburg High School and is a member of PTK. She would like to pursue a bachelor's degree in Christian ministry from Liberty University and hopes to open a shelter for victims of abuse.

Representing the Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center is Daniel I. Locke of Oxford, who is studying physical therapy at Northwest. Locke, a homeschooled student in high school, is the president of PTK on his campus and a member of Gamma Beta Phi National Honor Society. He is the recipient of the Tommy Brown Endowment and an Outstanding Student. He would like to become a physical therapist.

Also from the Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center is Kaitlyn Moore of Oxford. Moore is a graduate of Oxford High School taking general college classes. She is a member of PTK and Gamma Beta Phi National Honor Society, and has been on the President's List while at Northwest. She hopes to attend the University of Mississippi and pursue a degree relating to child care or business administration.

Sydney Claire Osbarn of Oxford is studying communicative disorders at the Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center. Osbarn is a graduate of Lafayette High School. She is a member of PTK and Gamma Beta Phi National Honor Society, and has been on the President's List while at Northwest. She is also a member of the Mississippi All State Academic Team. She hopes to attend the University of Mississippi and obtain a master's degree to become a licensed speech-language pathologist.

Pictured: Northwest Mississippi Community College President, Dr. Gary Lee Spears (far left) congratulates (front row, l-r) Kendall Kimberlin of Olive Branch; Kendall Akerson of Hernando; Destin Beach of Olive Branch; Autumn Watson of Hernando; Kori Brenn of Southaven and Sydney Osbarn of Oxford. Second row, l-r, Abraham Alvarez of Enid; Jordan Redd and Ethan Baker, both of Senatobia; Brian Fox of Oxford; Gregory Laird of Olive Branch; Daniel Locke and Kaitlyn Moore, both of Oxford. Not pictured, Preslie Cowley of Cleveland and Jacob Vogelsang of Hernando. (Photo by Julie Bauer)