Eleven new members have been inducted into Northwest Mississippi Community College’s Hall of Fame. They were introduced to the college's Board of Trustees at the regular meeting Feb. 12 on the Senatobia campus.

  "This is the highest honor a student can receive," said Dr. Gary Lee Spears, president, in his introduction of the students to the college Board. "These are the best of the best."

Hall of Fame inductees for 2009 include William J. Bell of Pope, Karessa Lynne Duran of Hernando, Cale Johnson of Senatobia, Lindsey Tiner of Senatobia, Daniel P. Waller of Batesville, Jamison L. White of Southaven, Cecilia Evans Bell of Olive Branch, Anne Elise Hertl of Hernando, Casey J. Turner of Olive Branch, Chase Buchanan of Water Valley, and Robert Wesley Henry of Oxford.

William Bell, a bio-chemistry major at the Senatobia campus, is a graduate of Madison Central High School. He is a member of the Northwest Chess Club, Science and Math Club, and Spanish Club. He is a member of the Baptist Student Union, and is an officer for Phi Theta Kappa. He is also a member of “Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges.”

Duran, an accountancy major at the Senatobia campus, is an officer in the Mu Alpha Theta Math Society. She is a member of Phi Beta Lambda, the Wesley Foundation, and is an officer for Phi Theta Kappa. She is vice-president of the College Young Republicans Club, and is a member of the Essence of Glitterati modeling squad.  She is a member of the Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, and was selected as Outstanding Accounting Student. Northwest selected Duran as Rotary Club Student of the Month, and she is also a tutor in the Student Support Services and Math Lab. She is also on the President’s List.

Johnson, a secondary education major at the Senatobia campus, is a graduate of Senatobia High School. He is president of the Mu Alpha Theta Math Society and is also a member of the Future Educators of America, the Northwest Singers, the Baptist Student Union, the Wesley Foundation, and the College Young Republicans Club. Johnson, who serves as a student recruiter, is the treasurer of the Student Executive Council and is on the President’s List.

Tiner, a pre-dental major at the Senatobia campus is a graduate of Independence High School. She is a member of the Northwest Chess Club, Science and Math Club, Spanish Club, and the Baptist Student Union.
She is president of Phi Theta Kappa, and is an officer of the Environmental Science Organization. She is a member of the Who’s Who.

Waller, an accountancy major at the Senatobia campus, is a graduate of South Panola High School. He is president of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia as well as the Ranger Band. He is a member of the Northwest Chess Club, Spanish Club, Student Executive Council, Student Disciplinary Committee, the Baptist Student Union, and the Wesley Foundation. He participates in the Northwest Marching, Concert, and Jazz Bands, and serves as drum major. Waller is a member of the Who’s Who and is on the President’s List.

White, a speech and theatre major at the Senatobia campus, is a graduate of Horn Lake High School. He is a member of Future Educators of America, the Northwest Entertainers, and is an officer of the Northwest Players. He has participated in several theatre productions and won a Northwest Mississippi Theatre Alliance Award, and also won the Irene Ryan Acting Award. He has been  selected as Rotary Club Student of the Month and is also on the President’s List.

Cecilia Bell, an office systems technology major at DeSoto Center, is a graduate of Olive Branch High School. She is president of Phi Theta Kappa and was selected twice as Outstanding Student in Office Systems Technology. She is also on the President’s List.

Hertl, a business administration major at the Desoto center, is a graduate of Magnolia Heights High School. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and is on the President’s List. She participated in the 2008 Northwest Beauty Review, the State Tennis League Competition, and was in the top 58 finalists in Kentucky on “American Idol” this year.

Turner, an aviation maintenance major at the Desoto Center, is a graduate of Houston High School. He was selected to Who’s Who and was also chosen as Outstanding Student in Aviation Maintenance. He is also on the President’s List.

Buchanan, a business administration major at the Lafayette-Yalobusha center, is a member of Phi Theta Kappa. He was chosen as Mr. NWCC at the Oxford campus. Buchanan was selected as Outstanding Student in Business Administration, and is a member of the Who’s Who. Buchanan works at Mechanics Bank as a teller.

Henry, a general college major at the Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center, is a graduate of Oxford High School. He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and was chosen as Outstanding Student. He was also a Who's Who honoree.

Before being introduced to the Board, each honoree had an opportunity to make remarks. "Northwest has been the perfect stepping stone for me," said Duran. All students thanked the Board for recognizing them for the honor. Theatre student White said he might not have had the chance to attend college much less have been such a successful student had it not been for the opportunities offered him at Northwest.

The 11 students will be showcased in the college yearbook, “The Rocketeer.”