Dr. Gregory Powell, President of Panola College, thanks State Senator, Kevin Eltife for his recent purchase of a paver that will be incorporated into a “Walkway of Honor located adjacent to the M. P. Baker Library. Located on the Carthage campus, the Library is currently undergoing an extensive expansion and renovation. Construction is scheduled to be completed by the middle of 2009. Panola College is establishing the Walkway of Honor to pay tribute to alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the College. Information about the Walkway of Honor is available online at www.panola.edu or by calling 903-693-2029.

On May 27, 2008, Panola College received a very generous gift from Mr. John Burton. Given in memory of his wife, Billie Jean, the funds were applied to the general scholarship fund and will be used to provide financial assistance to students hoping to attend Panola College.

Mr. John Burton and Dr. Gregory Powell

To recognize the gift, Mr. Van Patterson, Director of Institutional Advancement proposed renaming the College’s history classroom to honor the Burtons. Dr. Gregory Powell, President of Panola College, and the Board of Trustees agreed and at their last Board meeting voted to rename room A-104 in the administration building the “John and Billie Jean Burton Classroom.”

A plaque was recently affixed to the entrance to room A-104 that reads, “This classroom is dedicated to John and Billie Jean Burton. The Burtons were married on September 6, 1947. During their 54 years of marriage they raised a family, traveled extensively, and touched the lives of many in our community. John worked for the Sun Energy Company for 32 years in areas that varied from drilling to production. Billie Jean loved learning, especially history, and dedicated 42 years to teaching 5th and 6th grade students. The Burtons’ generosity is only exceeded by the kindness they have shown to others.”

Register Today at Panola College - August 4, 2008
Submitted by Van Patterson

Panola College is currently conducting registration for the fall 2008 semester. Students can register online at www.panola.edu, or call 903-693-2038 to schedule an appointment with an advisor. Academic advisors are available at the main campus to discuss specific program requirements or provide assistance with the registration process from 7:30 am until 5:00 pm M-TH and 7:30 am to 12:30 pm on Friday.

Advisors will also be available when Panola College holds registration at the Shelby Regional Training Center in Center, TX on August 25 from 2-6 pm, and at the Marshall College Center on August 26 from 2-6 pm.

Panola College is a comprehensive public community college serving the citizens of Harrison, Marion, Panola, and Shelby counties. Founded in 1947, Panola College has a rich tradition of helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.

Panola College offers courses through its main campus in Carthage and at centers in Marshall and Center, Texas. Panola College is also a leader in offering distance learning courses via the Internet and since 2003, has been listed by the Center for Digital Education as one of the top 10 tech-savvy community colleges in the nation.

Students can choose from a variety of technical programs that provide quick employment and career enhancement opportunities, or they can pursue a two-year associate degree and academic courses for transfer to a four-year university. An associate degree from Panola College is equivalent to the first two years of a four-year degree but at a fraction of the cost charged by State and private universities. Graduates transfer to a wide range of four-year institutions that include Texas A&M, the University of Texas at Tyler, East Texas Baptist University, Stephen F. Austin State University, LSU and many others.

For additional information about Panola College go online to www.panola.edu or call 903-693-2000. For students concerned about the increasing cost of gasoline, don’t forget to ask about room availability in the College residence halls when you call.

Panola Offering Petroleum Landman School - July 28, 2008
Submitted by Dr. Joe F. Shannon, Dean of Instruction

Panola College in Center, Texas, will host a Petroleum Landman School at the Shelby Regional Training Center (SRTC) for those interested in the occupation. The classes for Landman Basic I will be held on August 12, 14, 19, 21, and 26 from 5:30-9:00 p.m. Landman Basic II classes will be held on August 28 and September 2, 4, 9, and11 at SRTC from 5:30-9:00 p.m. Cost is $275 per class per person, and space is limited.

Some of the topics to be included in the courses are definition of the Landman, principles of land ownership, legal descriptions, instruments affecting real property, preparing reports, leasehold reports, AAPL Code of Ethics and AAPL Standard of Practices. Other pertinent topics will also be explained by the instructor, Kevin R. Bowden, of Jeter and Associates.

For more information or to enroll, call Shelby Regional Training Center at 936-591-9075.

Landman Basic I- Class: August 12, 14, 19, 21, & 26

Landman Basic II- Class: August 28, September 2, 4, 9, 11

Time: 5:30-9:00 pm.

Location: Shelby Regional Training Center , Center, Texas

Cost: $275.00 (per class)—

LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE

Meet the instructor: Mr. Kevin R. Bowden is the Crew Chief, Landman of Jeter and Associates in Shelby County, Texas .

Topics include:

• Who Needs a Landman
• Defining the Landman
• Concepts of Land Ownership
• Texas and Louisiana Land Legal Descriptions
• Instruments Affecting Real Property
• Chaining Title
• Probate and Heirship Issues
• Preparing Title Reports
• Current Addresses & Finding Heirs
• Leasehold Reports
• Your Trip to the Courthouse
• Before You Leave the Courthouse
• AAPL Code of Ethics
• AAPL Standard of Practices

PTRT 1000-102 – Landman Basic II – 16 hours

Topics include:

• Understanding Oil and Gas Leases
• Introduction to Well Spacing
• Well Ownership Research
• Working Interest vs. Net Revenue Interest
• Due Diligence
• Regulatory Considerations
• AAPL Code of Ethics
• AAPL Standard of Practices

To Register: Call (936) 591-9075

Brownings Support Library Project - July 18, 2008

Dr. Gregory Powell stands with James and Jayne Browning in front of the, soon to be expanded and renovated, M. P. Baker Library. The Brownings recently purchased a granite paver that will be incorporated into a “Walkway of Honor” adjacent to the Library. Panola College is establishing the Walkway of Honor to pay tribute to alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the College. Information about the Walkway of Honor is available online at www.panola.edu or by calling 903-693-2029.

Panola College Announces New Director of Choirs - July 16, 2008
Submitted by Van Patterson

Dr. John M. Petzet is the new Director of Choirs and Instructor of Vocal Music at Panola College. John has taught at the University of Texas at Tyler and Lincoln University. He received his Masters and Doctorate in Choral Conducting from the University of Kansas and Texas Tech University respectively. John is a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he taught middle school and high school for five years. John has conducted multiple choral/orchestral works, including the Durufle Requiem, Bach Cantata 37, Vivaldi Gloria, Pachelbel Magnificat in C, Schubert’s Masses in C and G, and Mozart’s Mass in F.

Upcoming events for Panola vocal ensembles include the State Fair, Christmas in Carthage, and a Constitution Day Ceremony to be performed on campus, Wednesday, September 17th at 1pm in the Ballroom.

Students who would like to participate in the vocal music program should contact Dr. Petzet at 903-693-2061. Scholarships are still available for students who qualify.

The Panola College Video Game Club conducted its first Video Game Development Camp for Kids in June. The game camp, held in the computer science department’s new Video Game Development Lab launched in January, was led by club members Lynn Kinchloe and Arden Stone. The new lab, housed in the Gullette Technology Building, includes game development hardware and software along with Xbox 360, wii, and PS3 game consoles and a 37 inch flat screen monitor. Students learned to create maze and platform games, game level designs, and to make modifications to Xbox 360 games such as Halo 3. More game development classes are planned for adults and children in the coming school year. For more information contact Dr. Bob Wilkins at 903-693-2057 or email at bwilkins@panola.edu .

Photo: Left to right: Matt Sanford, Cameron Martin, Chloe Powell, J.J. Johnson, Jacob Cook, Johnathan Wilson, Arden Stone (instructor), Trenton Morris, Nathan Bueche, Dr. Bob Wilkins. In front: Lynn Kinchloe (Video Game Club president)

Panola College Foundation Establishes Endowment - June 26, 2008
Submitted by Van Patterson

At its April meeting the Panola College Foundation reached a milestone by voting unanimously to establish the Panola College Foundation Endowment. It also agreed that one of the long-term goals of the Foundation will be to grow this endowment so that it can be used in the future to assist the College in meeting its most pressing needs.

This year in addition to establishing the Foundation Endowment with an initial investment of $31,000, the Foundation has assisted the College by funding several scholarships, providing a $3,125 grant to the fine arts department and a $12,500 grant to the health sciences division.

Members of the 2007-2008 Foundation Board include Mrs. Carol Vincent, Chair, Mr. Philip Pool, Vice-Chair, Mr. Tate Barber, Treasurer, Mrs. Jean Bunyard, Mrs. Brenda Giles, Mr. Dave Gorrie, Mrs. Margie Hopkins, Mr. David Murphy, Mrs. Phoebe Sue Perlman, Mr. Bobby Phillips, Dr. Andy Nutt, Mrs. Patricia Smith, Mrs. Fannie Watson, Mr. Cliff Todd, and Mr. Kevin Smith. Dr. Gregory Powell, President of Panola College, Mr. Steve Williams, Vice President of Finance and Business Services, and Mr. Van Patterson, Director of Institutional Advancement, also serve as ex-officio members of the Board.

“The Foundation is able to support the College because of the generosity of the citizens in the communities we serve,” said Mrs. Carol Vincent. “I am grateful to all those who have donated their time and financial support to the Foundation. Much of our funding has come from members of the Foundation Board, friends of the College, and the generosity of those who participated in one or more of the Foundation’s fundraisers.”

Mr. Van Patterson, added, “Additional funding has been given by donors who chose to designate the Panola College Foundation as a beneficiary in their wills. Designating the Foundation as a beneficiary is a relatively simple process that requires no upfront monetary gift to the institution.”

“Another option available to donors is to utilize a planned giving strategy. Proper planning can help donors reduce their tax burden, provide for their heirs, and still provide a gift to the College. Planned giving is more complicated than designating the Foundation as a beneficiary in one’s will and requires the expertise of a tax professional,” said Patterson.