I.C.C. Honors Top Scholars

FULTON, Miss. (Press Release) – Itawamba Community College’s top scholars will be honored during “An Evening of Celebration: Honoring Academic Excellence Across the Curriculum” at 6:30 p.m., Apr. 7, at the Fulton Campus in the W.O. Benjamin Fine Arts Center auditorium.

Both departmental and division awards will be presented.

The speaker will be Lou Remmers, retired physical therapist from Tupelo, who since 1985 has given both his time and resources to Itawamba Community College. He has served as a volunteer trainer for the football team, both at home games as well as on the road, and provided heat packs, stimulators, equipment and additional necessities for the Indians. A native of Pennsylvania, Remmers and his family moved to New Jersey when he was in the third grade. He graduated from high school, worked for the telephone company for a year and joined the Navy, which sent him to Gulfport, his first trip to Mississippi. While he was stationed on the coast, he met his wife, Linda, a native of Buckatunna in Wayne County, and they never left the state for good, although there was a brief stop in Louisiana. There was also a stint in Vietnam and a period during which he had volunteered to be trained as a Navy diver in San Diego, Calif. The Remmers married, lived in Jackson and he enrolled in two or three classes at Hinds Community College. He graduated from Southern Miss as well and was admitted to the second physical therapist class at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Following eight years at Magnolia Hospital in Corinth and three years in Alexandria, La., where he worked at Rapedes General Hospital, Remmers opened his private practice in Tupelo in 1986. In addition to being a clinical instructor for the PT programs at the University of Mississippi and the University of Arkansas, Remmers has served as a member of ICC’s advisory council for its physical therapist assistant program. Remmers is the author of “Reflections on Murky Water: My Vietnam Chronicle,” which he turned into a fundraiser for the effort to build a 60 percent replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall at Veterans Park in Tupelo.

Honorees include Aberdeen – Dustin Poss, Welding and Cutting Technology; Amory – Kenneth P. Bishop, Biology; Rachel M. Moffett, Criminal Justice; Jonathan Luke Renfro, Industrial Maintenance Technology; Connie Fowlkes, Occupational Therapy Assistant;Baldwyn – Dentravious Gates, Health, Physical Education and Recreation Division; Hana G. James, Psychology;   Belmont – Michael Adams, Associate Degree Nursing; Blue Springs – Michael Chunn, Physics; Mallory Mahon, English, All-USA Academic Team Second Team; Olivia Whittington, Art; Bruce – Laken Shankle, Health, Physical Education, Recreation; Calhoun City – William Shankle, Emergency Medical Services;  Columbus – Ali Evans, Radiologic Technology; Dumas – Alexis Windham, Sociology; Cynthia Davis, Occupational Therapy Assistant;   Ecru – Sam Ivy, Mathematics; Fulton – Mary Chandler Izard, Business Administration Division, Accounting, All-USA Academic Team Second Team; Megan Kesler, Modern Foreign Language; Shayla Peden, Journalism; Karter Porter, Computer Information Systems; Quayshun Shumpert, Fine Arts Division, Music; John Johnson, Computer Networking Technology;  Golden – Justin Borror, Computer Science Division; Guntown – Amanda Armas, Associate Degree Nursing;   Hamilton– Marcus Walker, Automotive Technology; Kristie Blair Permenter, Physical Therapist Assistant; Houlka – Shanetric Townsend, Political Science; Cory Brown, Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology;  Houston – Emmitt Dendy, Chemistry; Kimberly A. Randle, Economics; Mantachie – Nathan Wilburn, Heating and Air Conditioning Technology;   Marietta – Jeffrey C. Stephens, Natural Science Division; Mooreville – Kelton Kingsley, Natural Science Division; Danny Dill, Paralegal Technology; Andrew Green, Diesel Equipment Technology;   Myrtle – Austin Fitts, Public Speaking; Nettleton – Garrett Trautman, Mathematics Division; Glenda Patterson, Respiratory Care Technology;  Plantersville – Kenneth Chrome, Computer Science; Pontotoc – Karleigh Kimbrell, All-USA Academic Team, First Team and Coca-Cola Silver Scholar, Communications Division; Sonya Horn, Office Systems Technology;  Ripley – Duncan Shelton, Computer Programming Technology; Saltillo – Tyler Fields, Mathematics; Sam Farrar, Law Enforcement Technology; Jenifer Lesley, Health Information Technology;  Sherman – Kelly Ballard, All-USA Academic Team Second Team;Smithville – Angela Ard, Business and Marketing Management Technology; Justin Leveck, Forestry Technology;   Starkville – Alexandria Shea, Surgical Technology; Thaxton – Jordan Carwyle, Early Childhood Education Technology;  Tupelo – Jacob Hollis, Social Science Division; Alexis K. Soderstrom, History; Braxton Eaton, Computer Networking Technology; Kristina Danielle Hoing, Interpreter Training; Kyle Sapp, Collison Repair; Dan Turner, Electrical Technology; and  Vardaman – Danicqua Stephens, Theatre.

A reception of light refreshments will follow the ceremony. The public is invited to attend.