2010

~ ('.. t

~ ECCC Alumna of the Year Completes Outstanding Military Career From press reports keynote speaker and did an excellent job, Central student, friendships that I still Kennedy noted

receive their health– care locally and are case managed by the staff of the CBHCO. This prevents the sol– diers from having to remain at an active duty medical facility for long periods of t . " nne. Kennedy returned to Camp Shelby in 2007, where she served as Officer in Charge of Medical Soldier Readi– ness Processing. "I managed a staff of 35 who medically and dentally prepare the troops for deployment. We conducted screen– ings, administered blood tests and vac– cines, provided optom– etry checks, hearing exams, dental exams and· case managed medical issues identi– fied during the screen– ings. Some 50,000 sol– diers are processed through Camp Shelby annually. Kennedy recently retrred from the mili– tary as Brigadier Gen– eral after having served almost 27 years. She is a member of the Mississippi Public Health Association, the National Guard Associ– ation of the United (..l~_r+,., .. "~A thP~Associa-

the maintain and obtain changes that hnvc an education as well. I taken place. consider myself lucky "When I was here you t o h ave been sur– could only miss two rounded by good, hard– classes per semeste r working people and without an excuse. I good, Christian par– think that is an excel- ents, as well as great lent idea because it educators. The late puts boundaries out Brigadier General there. We had an 8 Denver Brackeen, who p.m. curfew in the was Dean of Students evenings, except for.. at ECCC when I was date night, which was· there, was a great one night per week nnd influence on my life allowed you to stay out and is the main reason until 10:30 p.m. . I joined the military. "Girls had to wear "I was also fQrtunate dresses or skirts, no to have had the oppor– pants. When we would tunity to go back for a go to physical educa- second career. A lot of tion classes we would people don't ever have have to wear a raincoat that opportunity." over our shorts. Kennedy currently Kennedy espccmlly resides in Louisville in enjoyed participating the home of her late in sports as a stud(mt. parents, James Ernest "I considered myHelf and Polly Strait an athlete. A tennis Kennedy. She works team was started while part-time as a regis– I was a student at gnst tered nurse at Nux– Central. Those of us ubee General Hospital who made the lt~arn in Macon . traveled to games wi th In her free time, the baseball team. I Kennedy stays very really enjoyed th~tl I involved with her faro– also enjoyNl playing ily, which includes her intramurals." two sisters, Ina Eaves Sh£· didn't know he.r nnd Pauln Parker, roommate hcforc dnss- both of Louisville. She es stnrted, hut: $uid all:!o has two nieces they hcr.amn fnst and two nephews and fricncis.. -- . --~-- seven gr~at-nieces ann

without having a single note or a moment's Kennedy said the pri- mary responsibility of her position as Deputy State Surgeon was to assure that the troops maintained medical readiness to mobilize and deploy. She was serving this role full- time in Jackson when preparation."

Brig. Gen. Amelia

Kennedy, Ret.,

of

~ Louisville, who was L recently named Alum- ~ na of the Year at East • Central Community College, has traveled to places throughout the degrees from four dif- ferent colleges, but she said some of the best times of her life were spent on the Decatur world and holds

.

, Hurricane

Katrina

campus.

and an

struck in 2005

~mencan,

Kennedy, who will bP Kennedy sa1d. "I spent 48 days honored Oct. 2, 2010, . Career stoi_>s have active duty after Hurri– during Homecoming mcluded a stint as a cane Katrina, function– activities said of the charge nurse and IV ing as the Officer in recognition, "It is nurse forth~ VA Med- Charge of the Medical indeed an honor and a 1cal Center m Jackson Treatment Facility at privilege." . from 1~88 t_? 1992 and Gulfport. This was a "I have always tried a ra~wlog.ICal nurse humbling experience to relay to my soldiers and mfect10n co~t;r~l that I would have and others what an nurse at St. DomiDlc s hated to miss but it excellent idea it is to go Hospital from 1993 to was still quite difficult. n·om high school to a 1996. There was no water, junior college. It is a Kennedy returned to ice, electricity or bath- much easier transition. the State Health room facilities for two It is small enough that Depart~ent . _and weeks. It made one one is able to know worke~ m epldennolo- appreciate everything everyone and make gy until20~1 when she we take for granted," lifelong friends and a began duties as the she said. community college pro- Deputy State. S~~eo~ She and her unit sup– vides a good basic edu- for the . MlSSlSSlPP 1 ported some 10,000 cation." Army l':'at~onal Guard. plus guardgmen from After completing her At this ~1me, she wa_s all over the U.S. who associate's degree at also servmg ~s _Presl~ came to help with the East Central, Kennedy dent _of 'the Miss1SSl~P 1 cleanup efforts. continued her educa- Pubhc Health Assoc1a- '"I was able to ride in lion at Mississippi tion and was Chairman a helicopter over Rix State University and of the 2001 Ann.ll4'!l ~"··-~=-- _.:_ (.•,... d, Mio.