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Each year, Holmes Community College faculty and staff members select the winners for the prestigious Hall of Fame. This year, the Hall of Fame inductees from the Grenada Campus included: McKenzie Cummings of Grenada, Ashlee Hankins of Duck Hill, Hannah Olivia Lane of Duck Hill and Kennedy Norwood of Grenada.
McKenzie Cummings
Cummings, a psychology/speech pathology major, is a President’s List Scholar and member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society. Off campus, she is an active member of First Baptist Church Grenada where she serves in several capacities. Cummings teaches three-year-old preschoolers in Awana, volunteers in the nursery and teaches Vacation Bible School (VBS) every summer. She also enjoys singing in the church music ministry.
Cummings’ community outreach also extends to being a volunteer coach for a first-third grade girls’ Upward Basketball team. She teaches the girls basic basketball skills and, most importantly in this role, about God. In February of last year, she had the opportunity to lead a group of 10th and 11th grade girls in a Disciple Now weekend at Winona Baptist Church. In her free time, Cummings works at Sav-Mor Pharmacy and Gifts. Additionally, two days a week, she picks up a first grader after school, takes care of her needs and tutors her in all subjects. She babysits for other families in her community, as well.
Upon graduation from Holmes, Cummings is transferring to the University of Mississippi where she plans to earn a degree in speech pathology followed by a master’s degree. Her goal is to be able to work with children and/or stroke patients.
“I was honored to be nominated for Hall of Fame and being selected meant so much to me,” Cummings said. “I have loved my experience at Holmes Grenada and feel that it has prepared me for the next step in continuing my education.”
Ashlee Hankins
Hankins, an elementary education major, is a Dean’s List Scholar, Ambassador, Student Government Association (SGA) representative, Baptist Student Union (BSU) member and a work-study student for Campus Police. She is also Miss Holmes Community College for the Grenada Campus and was voted Class Favorite as a freshman. Hankins has served her community by serving as a judge for science and reading fairs at local schools, tutoring children in math and assisting the senior citizens in her hometown of Duck Hill with daily activities such as picking up groceries and medications.
Outside of Holmes, Hankins works part-time at Zaxby’s as a shift leader, which is a manager-in -training position. She works at least 30 hours a week on top of her 17-hour school week. After graduation from Holmes, she plans to attend The University of Mississippi (Grenada Campus) to earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She then plans to pursue a master’s in elementary education.
“I know that all my hard work at Holmes will pay off in the long run and I am blessed and honored to be in the nominated for Hall of Fame,” Hankins said.
Hannah Olivia Lane
Lane, who is studying dietetics and nutrition, is a President’s List scholar, President’s ACT Scholarship recipient and 2020 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship recipient. She is also active on campus as an Ambassador, vice president of leadership for Phi Theta Kappa, an SGA officer, member of BSU and Sophomore Class Favorite. Additionally, she served as a work-study for the Financial Aid/Business Office her freshman year.
Lane’s community involvement includes serving as a judge for the Grenada School District reading and science fairs, participating in a campus toy drive for St. Jude, hosting a school supply drive for Winona Elementary school, packaging and distributing provisions to food pantries across Mississippi during the COVID-19 pandemic and leading a campus food pantry through Phi Theta Kappa. Upon graduation from Holmes, she plans to transfer to Mississippi State University to pursue a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nutritional health science in hopes of becoming a registered dietician nutritionist.
Kennedy Norwood
Norwood, a kinesiology/exercise science major, is a President’s List Scholar, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant recipient as well as 100 Black Man Scholarship recipient. On campus, he is active as a member of Phi Theta Kappa and BSU. Norwood went with BSU to Beautiful Feet Ministry in Dallas Fort Worth, Texas, for six days during the 2020 spring semester. He helped serve the needy by serving food, providing clothing and teaching them about God. He also helped cut down their trees at the church. In addition, he participated in the Grenada Baptist District food and clothing drive in November of 2019.
After Holmes, Norwood plans to transfer to Mississippi State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology/exercise science. While at MSU, he plans to continue being active in BSU and earn more scholarships. His goal is to become a fitness coach and establish a career in exercise science.
For more information on Holmes Community College, visit www.holmescc.edu.
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