PANOLA COLLEGE CONDUCTS ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT 

On Friday, May 14, hundreds of family members, friends and well wishers met in the Arthur Johnson Gymnasium to witness Panola College’s 56^th annual commencement. 

At 8:00 pm, Dr. Gregory Powell, President of Panola College led a processional of board members, faculty, staff and students into the gymnasium to begin the exercise. 

Following an invocation by Professor Freddy Mason, Dr. Powell welcomed the assembled and then announced the Panola College Alumni Association Alumnus of the Year, Mr. A.B. “Sonny” Whitaker.  

Mr. Whitaker attended Panola College from 1953 to 1955.  He served as president of the student government at Panola and was active in many other student organizations and activities.  In recent years, Mr. Whitaker has shown his support by serving on the Alumni Association Board from 1995 to 2003.  Six of those years he served in the capacity of president.  Dr. Powell then introduced the commencement speaker for the evening, Mr. Larry Allen Accounting and Economics Professor. 

Professor Allen has held numerous leadership roles on campus including five years as an officer in the Panola Faculty Association including two years as President.   For the 2000 SACS accreditation visit, he was a member of the SACS Steering Committee and also Chair of the SACS Financial and Physical Resources Subcommittee.  Allen has been a part of the Lowery Award selection committee since 1995 and has just completed his fifth year as advisor of the Pi Beta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of two-year colleges. On April 1, 2005 he will also become President of the six thousand member Texas Community College Teachers Association, the largest organization of postsecondary educators in Texas. 

Professor Allen encouraged the students to maintain high standards and continue to strive for greatness. Whether they are preparing to continue their education or enter the work force, he reminded them that the education they received at Panola College was of the highest quality and would serve them well. 

Following the commencement address, Dr. Gregory Powell presented the Lawrence R. and Debbie H. Sharp Scholarship to Ms. Amber Nichole Burns. This scholarship is awarded annually to a graduate of Panola College. The endowed scholarship fund was established in memory of long-time Panola County educators, Lawrence R. and Debbie H. Sharp by their children: Elizabeth Sharp Robinson, Frances Ann Sharp Milton, James A. Sharp, Sidney A. Sharp, and Thomas H. Sharp. 

Professor Joe Butler, then awarded the Buddy Lowery Outstanding Athlete Award to Ms. Elizabeth Parker and Mr. Jerminey Bennett. This prestigious award is presented annually to a male and female athlete who exemplifies the highest standards in morals, scholarship and athletics.  

Following the Buddy Lowery Award presentation, Mr. Larry Allen presented Ms. Amber Nichole Burns the Phi Theta Kappa All-American Scholarship.  

After the awards ceremony, Dr. Lillian Cook, Dean of Instruction, certified that the graduating students had completed all work necessary to graduate from Panola College and Dr. Powell and Mr. William Goolsby, Board of Trustees Chairman, awarded diplomas to the students. 

Ms. Becky Gullette, Biology Professor then gave the benediction to end the ceremony.  

The 2004 Panola College Honor Graduates are as follows: 

Summa Cum Laude (cumulative GPA between 3.9 and 4.0)

Magna Cum Laude (cumulative GPA between 3.75 and 3.89)

Cum Laude (cumulative GPA between 3.5 and 3.74)