THE MAKING OF AN AGGIE

Panola College sophomore Nichole Burns plans to be sporting a new maroon wardrobe next year and shouting, “Gig em Aggies” at football games in College Station.  Nichole has always wanted to attend Texas A&M, and for her the road to Aggie land went right through Panola College.  

Since enrolling at Panola in the fall of 2002, Burns has taken advantage of every opportunity. She is President of the College’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter and the Green Jackets, a service organization that serves as goodwill ambassadors for the College. She is also Vice President of Panola’s Circle K International chapter; an organization devoted to involving college and university students in campus and community service. She was nominated to the US All Academic Team, named to the Texas All State Academic Team, and was recognized as a national outstanding campus leader by Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges. In the spring of 2003, she received the U.S. Achievement Academy All-American Scholar Collegiate Award and is on the President’s list with a 4.0 grade point average.   

“Nichole is very conscientious, ambitious, and mature beyond her years,” said Dr, Charles Taylor, Professor of Government and History at Panola College. “She has been a true blessing to Panola College. After leaving here she will only have to complete 46 hours to receive a bachelors degree.” 

In June, Burns will transfer to Texas A&M University where she plans to major in History and Political Science. When asked about how many of her classes would transfer, she replied, “A&M will accept all 82 hours.   Earlier on, I contacted the counseling department at the university to ask which classes would transfer. With the information they provided to me, I planned accordingly and took classes I knew A&M would accept.”  

Burns graduated from Gary High School in 2002 as class Valedictorian. She is the daughter of Sidney and Connie Burns and the granddaughter of C.R. (Buster) Burns and the late Grace Dean Burns, Janey Young and the late Leon Young. Sidney and Connie Burns are both Panola College alumni and are pleased with their daughter’s decision to attend Panola College.