Inaugural Northwest Soiree Celebrates Community Members

by Julie Bauer and Sarah Smith

Senatobia, MS (03/28/2023) — The Northwest Mississippi Community College Foundation honored outstanding community leaders at the inaugural Northwest Soiree, held on Saturday, March 25 at the Heindl Center for the Performing Arts on the Senatobia campus. The event headliner was Mississippi native and Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives.

The event began at 6 p.m. with a social hour including hors d'oeuvres, beverages, and a silent auction. The awards presentation followed at 7 p.m. when new community award recipients who have contributed to the legacy of excellence at Northwest were recognized for outstanding service. Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives took the stage at 8 p.m.

Award winners include former Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Ann Hannaford Lamar, who received the Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Lamar was appointed to the Mississippi Supreme Court by former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. She was the third woman to serve on the Mississippi Supreme Court. After attending Northwest, she continued her education by attending Delta State University, afterwards getting her law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law and would practice in Senatobia with her husband at Lamar & Lamar.

Nurse practitioner Kent Hawkins received the Young Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Hawkins graduated with honors from Northwest in 2009. After his time at Northwest, he went on to study at the University of Memphis. In 2018, he started working at the Baddour Center in Senatobia, medically managing adults with developmental delays. Later that year, he returned to Senatobia full time and began practicing at Bagwell Medical Clinic. In 2022, he left Bagwell Medical and joined Highland Hills in Senatobia to open Senatobia Medical Associates, a primary care/rural health clinic located within the hospital, where he currently practices.

Former Marshall County Administrator Larry Hall received the Spirit of Northwest Award. Hall, a Northwest graduate of 1970, studied at the University of Mississippi before entering a career in public service. Hall was the highest-ranking non-elected official in Marshall County, holding dual positions of county administrator and road manager from 1993 to 2021. In that capacity, he made significant strides to improve infrastructure, advance economic development and enhance the quality of life and desirability of Marshall County. From keeping county roads and bridges operational to investing in workforce education and maintaining county buildings and grounds, Hall's often behind-the-scenes contributions to Marshall County were many.

Northcentral Electric Cooperative, the rural cooperative serving DeSoto, Marshall, Lafayette, and Tate counties, received the Outstanding Corporation Award. Northcentral was instrumental in helping Northwest launch the utility line worker program by assisting with curriculum and outfitting a top-quality training facility in Olive Branch. In addition, they can be seen at area schools, career fairs, and community events teaching electrical safety and promoting careers in the utility industry.

Presenting sponsor of the Northwest Soiree was Mini Systems, Inc. based in Como.

"We are so grateful that Mini Systems, Inc. stepped up to be our presenting sponsor for our inaugural event!" said Patti Gordon, executive director of Institutional Advancement at the college. "We are thankful for caring individuals like the Crutcher family, who help move forward the vision of the college."

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Award recipients with Dr. Michael Heindl, President of Northwest, and Patti Gordon, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, at the Northwest Soiree Saturday evening. Left to right, Dr. Heindl, Kent Hawkins, Ann Hannaford Lamar, Kevin Doddridge CEO of Northcentral, Larry Hall, and Patti Gordon. Photo by Brian Lentz.

Northwest Mississippi Community College

Inaugural Northwest Soiree Celebrates Community Members

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Northwest Mississippi Community College

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