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Northwest athletes recognized by NJCAA for academic success
Nine Northwest Mississippi Community College sophomore athletes were recognized for their work in the classroom during the 2009-10 season by being selected Academic All-American by the NJCAA.
The Lady Ranger basketball and softball squads were also rewarded for their efforts by being named finalists for NJCAA Academic Teams of the Year in their respective sports.
The Northwest women's basketball team tied for 14th in the country with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25, while the Lady Ranger softball squad tied for 21st with a GPA of 3.22.
A trio of Northwest softball players were listed as Academic All-Americans for maintaining a GPA of 3.60 to 3.79 for 45 semester hours. Two of those athletes received the NJCAA's highest honor of Distinguished Academic All-American by posting a GPA of 3.80 or better. They are pitcher/ infielder Laina Collier of Oxford and infielder Kristen Cooper of Southaven. Collier amassed a GPA of 3.99 as a business administration major, while Cooper had a GPA of 3.84 in pre-veterinary medicine.
Outfielder Leigh Tedford of Southaven totaled a GPA of 3.65 in nursing.
A pair of Lady Ranger basketball players were honored with Academic All-American merits– Shayla McKinney and Sabrina Townsend, both of Batesville. Forward McKinney, a business administration major, totaled a GPA of 3.73, while guard Townsend had a GPA of 3.60 in pre-occupational therapy.
Soccer standout Esaul Trujillo of Southaven and football star Denny Hansen of Olive Branch were both recognized as Distinguished Academic All-Americans. Trujillo compiled a GPA of 3.85 in business administration, while Hansen had a 3.80 in pre-medicine.
Rounding out the list is Adam Moore of Senatobia and Grant Goforth of Batesville who were both named Academic All-American. Moore, a member of the Ranger baseball team, amassed a GPA of 3.64 in pre-architecture, while golfer Goforth had a 3.71 in business administration.
NWCC inducts five new members to its
Sports Hall of Fame

Five former Northwest Mississippi Community College standout athletes were
inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame May 27 in the Haraway Center on the
Senatobia campus. They are (from left) Bill McCollins of Charleston, Lonny
Calicchio of Plantation, Fla., Johnny Ray of Olive Branch, Joel Posey of
Collierville, Tenn., and George "Max" Lee of Metairie, La.
Former Northwest great Howell
inducted into MACJC Sports Hall of Fame
Jamie W. Howell of Batesville was honored at an induction ceremony Tuesday, April 27 in Jackson when he was named to the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame.
Howell was a two-year, three-sport letterman in basketball, baseball and track at then Northwest Mississippi Junior College (1956-58). He was named All-State his sophomore year. He was captain and leading scorer in basketball in 1958, the same year he was named Best Offensive and Defensive player.
A
native of Pope, Howell received his B.S. and master’s degrees and completed
advanced study at Ole Miss where he began his career as a freshman basketball
coach. He served as head men’s basketball coach at Holmes Junior College and was
named principal and coach for both girls and boys at Ashland Attendance Center.
Howell was instrumental in coordinating the building of Magnolia Heights in
Senatobia where he coached basketball and served as headmaster from 1970 to
1976.
He was appointed as Motor Vehicle Comptroller for the State of Mississippi, a position he held until 1980. Other gubernatorial appointments include executive director of the Governor’s Office of Job Development and Training, chairman of the Governor’s Private Sector Services, Inc., and secretary of the Private Industry Council. He also served as director of the Vocational Training Program with the Batesville Job Corps Center.
Howell was inducted into the Northwest Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. He was a member of the Northwest Board of Trustees from 1980 through 1990. He was reappointed in 1999 and is a current member.
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Jamie W. Howell of Batesville (second from left) is the newest Northwest Mississippi Community College inductee in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame. Howell was inducted in a ceremony April 27 in Jackson. Joining him at the event are Athletic Director Donny Castle (left), Howell’s daughter Susan Cascio of Olive Branch, and Northwest President, Dr. Gary Lee Spears. (Photo by Brett Brown) |