April 2016 E-Newsletter
May 2016  Co-Lin Alumni Association & Foundation E-Newsletter
Foundation Hall of Fame Inducts Six

The Copiah-Lincoln Community College Foundation inducted six new members into its Hall of Fame at a major donor appreciation dinner held March 5 at the Thames Center on the college’s Wesson Campus. Those inducted were the American Legion Abner W. Cooper Memorial Post 27 of Monticello, the Co-Lin Band and Colette Alumni Chapter, the Co-Lin Centurions History Club, Dr. and Mrs. Roy Daughdrill of Wesson, Dolores Hadskey of Baton Rouge, and Dr. and Mrs. Ronnie Nettles of Wesson. READ MORE
Foundation Announces New Executive Director

Copiah-Lincoln Community College and the Co-Lin Foundation are pleased to announce the hiring of D.J. Preiss of Hattiesburg as executive director of the Foundation/Alumni Affairs. 

Preiss has previously served as a development officer at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he was responsible for research and cultivating major gift donors on behalf of the University. His other recent work experience includes two years as a sales manager for Howard Technology and seven years as coordinator of recruitment for the University of Southern Mississippi. He received a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and a master’s degree in counseling and personnel services from Southern Miss. READ MORE 
Retired instructors establish four new scholarships
 Former instructors Jim and Martha Lightsey of Wesson recently made a significant gift to the Copiah-Lincoln Community College Foundation, establishing two new endowed scholarships and new student leadership and faculty development endowments at Co-Lin.

The newly established Jim and Martha Lightsey Immigrant Student Scholarship is designed to assist students born to immigrants who reside in Mississippi and are faced with financial hardship. A second endowed scholarship named after the Lightseys will be awarded to two students annually, one or both education majors. The Lightseys have also designated funds to support student leadership scholarships and faculty development scholarships for full-time teaching faculty members pursuing professional development opportunities. 

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Sisters establish scholarship 

Co-Lin employees and sisters, Pam Jones Reid and Susie Jones Patrick recently endowed the Tommie and Mary Ellen Jones Memorial Scholarship with the Co-Lin Foundation in memory of their parents. The scholarship will be awarded in the fall of 2017 to a freshman or sophomore Co-Lin student who is a graduate of Brookhaven High School and has a 2.5 or better grade point average.

Reid serves as a humanities instructor and division chair, and Patrick serves as college navigator. Reid will retire this month after 25 years of service at the college.

Pictured from left: Reid, Co-Lin president Dr. Ronnie Nettles, and Patrick.
Co-Lin Alum Starring in Reality Show 
Scholarship Fund established in memory of late student  

John Henry Berry ('84) wears many hats as the mayor of D’Lo, but recently has added starring in a reality television show to his list of skills.

Berry and his family recently appeared in the pilot episode of “Small Town, Big Mayor,” on UPTV network. The show is about Berry’s life as the mayor of D’Lo, and his 95-point plan to revitalize the struggling small town. READ MORE
Co-Lin freshman Nealey Brown passed away in an automobile accident March 4. Brown was a December graduate of Brookhaven High School and was pursuing a major in psychology at Co-Lin. She will be missed by her Co-Lin instructors and friends. Memorials may be made to the Co-Lin Foundation, designated to the Nealey Brown Scholarship Fund, at P.O. Box 649, Wesson, MS 39191 or www.colin.edu/alumni.    
Wolfpack alum joins Saints
The New Orleans Saints have signed defensive tackle Nick Fairley to a one-year contract, the team recently announced.

A native of Mobile, Alabama, Fairley played for the Wolfpack in the 2007-2008 season before transferring to Auburn, where he was a member of a BCS National Championship team and won the Lombardi award. Fairley was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He has also played for the St. Louis Rams, where he was ranked as their No. 6 pass rusher among defensive lineman. The 28-year-old has been a plus pass rusher in each of his five NFL seasons.  

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR ALUMNI AWARDS
Deadline to nominate for Sports Hall of Fame and Band/Colette Alumni awards is July 1. Alumni of the Year nominations deadline is Aug. 1. Download nomination forms here:

See the Grand Canyon with Co-Lin Alumni in 2017!
Our 2017 summer alumni trip features seven days touring gorgeous Southwest National Parks. We'll fly from New Orleans to Las Vegas, and spend an evening in Vegas before visiting national parks in Utah and  Arizona. Seven day trip cost is approximately $2500. Deposit of $200 due by Nov. 1. For more information, contact Angela Furr at 601.643.8498 or email [email protected].