2010

WEEKOF __ ~----~Y·_, _I_t ______

wo named ECCC HEADWAE Honorees special to the star

College Leadership Academy for 2009-10. Covich joined the ECCC faculty in 2007 after previously serving as an adjunct instructor for ECCC and Meridian Community College. She formerly worked in public relations for the Mitchell Com– panies in Meridian and earlier served ·as a producer and researcher for the Center for Public Television in Tuscaloosa, Ala. ABay Springs native. Covich is a 2001 honors grad– uate of Heidelberg Academy, where she participated in bas– ketball and was a member of the show choir, girls' sextet and honor society. She was chosen Jasper County Junior Miss in 2001. She continued her educa– tion at Mississippi State Uni– versity and received a bach– elor's degree in communication with an emphasis in broadcasting and public relations ln 2005. While attending MSU, Covich was a member of the Diamond Girls, Kappa Delta sorority, Public Relations Association of Mis– sissippi (PRAM) and Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). She received a master's degree in telecommunication and film from the University of Alabama in 2006. She is currently working on a doctorate in speech commu– nication at the University of Southern Mississippi. Covich serves as a volun– teer for the Mississippi Hugh O'Brian Leadership program and is a member of the Missis– sippi Communication Associa– tion and Meridian Young Pro- fessionals. ~ She is married to Sean Covich, sports information director and men's golf coach

Speech instructor Kate Keenan Covich of Rose Hill and sophomore pre-medicine major Jordan Gunn of Forest were recently selected to rep– resent East Central Commu– nity College in Decatur at the 23rd Annual HEADWAE pro– gram scheduled Feb. 24 in Jackson. The HEADWAE (Higher Education Day: Working Toward Academic Excellence) program is sponsored by the Mississippi Legislature, sup– ported by the corporate com– munity and is coordinated by the Mississippi Association of Colleges and Universities. The lieutenant governor serves as chair of HEADWAE, which each year honors outstanding faculty members and students from each participating member institution of the Mississippi Association of Colleges and Universities. Activities for the special day include special recognition of the honorees at the State Capitol followed by an awards luncheon at the Jackson Con– vention Center in downtown Jackson. In addition, a booklet will be published featuring photographs and biographical sketches of each award recip– ient. In addition to her teaching duties, Covich is serving her second year as co-adviser for Theta Xi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. She also serves as vice president of the ECCCAdmin– istration, Faculty and Staff Association. In addition, she was one of two ECCC faculty members selected to partici– pate in the inaugural class of the Mississippi Community

Kate Keenan Covich

JordanGunn

at Meridian Community Col– lege. They are active mem– bers of First Christian Church of Meridian, where Kate also sings in the choir. She is the daughter ofJohn and Sandy Keenan of Rose Hill. Gunn has maintained a per– fect 4.0 grade point average while serving leadership roles in various college activi– ties. He is president of the con– cert choir and residence hall advisers and co-president of the Warrior Corps, a select group of students that assists in recruiting and other campus activities. He also serves as vice president of fellowsh ip for Theta Xi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa.In addition, he is an active member of the Baptist Student Union, serving as council member and Bible study leader. He is also a former member of the Praise Band. Gunn was presented the Aaron R. Davis Memorial Scholarship and the General PatrickWilson Memorial Scholarship during the Col– lege's Awards Day activities in 2009. He was recently named to "Who's Who Among Students in American Com– munity and Junior Colleges" and selected a sophomore

class favorite.

Gunn is a 2008 honors graduate of Lake High School, where he was class valedictorian and recipient of numerous academic awards. He was also a four-year let– termen and award-winner in baseball and held leadership roles in various clubs and organizations. In addition, he was named to The National Society of High School Scholars, National Technical Honor Society and "Who's Who Among American High School Students." Gunn also excelled as a student at the Forest-Scott County Career and Tech– nology Center. He won honors in HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) competition, including a fourth-place award in medical terminology at the state contest. He was also named Allied Health I Outstanding Student in 2007 and Allied Health II Out– standing Student in 2008. He received several schol– arships to attend ECCC, including the Presidential Scholarship, Valedictorian Scholarship, Concert Choir Scholarship, ACT Scholarship and Bank of Forest Scholar– ship. Gunn's parents are David and Elizabeth Gunn of Forest.