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Newspaper awards Holmes Best College, Best Place to Work, and Best Teacher
Holmes Community College was recently awarded Best College, Best Place to Work, and Holmes instructor Katrina Myricks was named Best Teacher in the 2015 Clarion Ledger Best of the Best contest. Holmes was also a finalist for Best Customer Service. The contest, which has also been called Mississippi's Official People's Choice Awards, began on July 25 and ended on Sept. 1.
"These awards are a reflection of our Holmes family: our students, staff, alumni, and friends," said President of Holmes Dr. Jim Haffey. "We truly are a 'community' college, and it is very touching to have a state-wide readership vote us as the best out of so many well-deserving colleges and businesses in Mississippi. Holmes has always been a part of my life; first, growing up the child of a non-traditional student, then as student myself, an alumni, a staff member, and now president. I know I've always felt like it is the best place to attend and work, and I thought maybe I was a little biased, but apparently a lot of other great Mississippians feel the same way. I am very proud that Katrina was recognized as well, for her decades of work educating and inspiring our students and others."
Katrina Myricks, named Best Teacher, is a business and office technology instructor and Phi Beta Lambda business society advisor on the Ridgeland Campus. She has taught at Holmes for 24 years, and in that time, has made quite an impact on her students and colleagues. In 2006, she was named Community College Business Educator of the Year by the Mississippi Business Education Association, and in 2014, the former Mrs. Mississippi USA was named one of the "Coolest People" by Mississippi Business Journal. Myricks attended the Goodman Campus of Holmes on a basketball scholarship before earning her bachelor's in business administration from Delta State University and her master's from Mississippi State University. She has also completed additional graduate studies at MSU and Jackson State University.
"I think one of the highest honors an instructor can receive is to be recognized by his/her students for the job he/she does," Myricks said. "I consider it an honor to walk into my classroom and help students achieve their dream of a college education and being successful in the world we live in. Just knowing that I have helped a student in his or her educational journey is truly reward enough. However, reading the paper this Sunday morning and seeing the Holmes advertisement was indeed a surprise and a great way to start the day with a smile on my face."
Ridgeland Campus Vice President Dr. Don Burnham also expressed his delight in learning Holmes was named the "best" in three categories of the statewide contest.
"I am excited that Holmes was selected as the Best College and Best Place to Work in the Clarion Ledger contest, and especially thrilled that Myricks was named Best Teacher," Dr. Burnham said. "This selection is a testimony about each of our employees who make Holmes the special place that it is. Whether it is instruction for students or maintaining clean and neat facilities, our people are truly the best at what they do."
Similarly, Grenada Campus Vice President Michelle Burney shared what a joy it was for Holmes to be recognized as the great institution she knows it to be.
"I am not surprised at all that Holmes Community College won Best College and Best Place to Work," Burney said. "It is very refreshing to wake up each morning and go to a job that I love. Holmes employees and students are the best and the brightest, and I believe what sets us apart even more is how we all work together as one big family."
As one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state, Holmes is celebrating 90 years of excellence this fall. In just 90 short years, more than 20,000 alumni have received an education and/or trained for the workforce at Holmes. The institution has grown from an agricultural junior college in Goodman into a multi-campus institution that offers the Associate of Arts degree, Associate of Applied Science degree, technical and career certificates, and workforce training. The college now offers more than 50 academic majors, approximately 30 professional programs, over 50 extracurricular activities, 10 athletic sports, and a variety of student support services across six locations.
Registration for the spring semester begins Nov. 2.
Holmes Community College. 90 years strong. Solid foundation. Bright future.
IN THE PHOTO: Katrina Myricks, the business and office technology instructor on the Holmes Community College Ridgeland Campus who was named Best Teacher in the 2015 Clarion Ledger contest. Holmes was also named Best College, Best Place to Work, and named a Finalist for Best Customer Service.
