2018-2019 President's Report

President’s Message

On June 18, 1928, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean as a passenger aboard a Fokker tri-motor aircraft that was piloted by Wilmer Stultz and Louis Gordon. That same year, the Legislature of the State of Mississippi adopted the first basic laws for the organization and operation of Mississippi public junior colleges and East Central Junior College opened its doors to a freshman class of 20 students for the first regular session in September. For over 90 years now, our institution has been meeting the postsecondary educational and training needs of our citizens through the efforts of many dedicated and compassionate faculty and staff, of which I am proud to be part. In 2013, in an effort to build upon the successes of our past, the Board of Trustees of East Central Community College (ECCC) adopted 2020 Vision as the College’s roadmap for the future. Academic year 2018-2019 marked the

sixth year of implementation of our 2020 Vision strategic plan with an emphasis on our institution’s commitment to Student Success, Teaching & Learning, Community Partnerships, Resource Planning & Development, and Communication. Over those six years, ECCC has been fortunate—through the hard work of our campus community and with the valued support of our alumni and friends—to implement many of the initiatives originally outlined in the plan and those that have arisen as we anticipated and responded to the changing needs of those we serve. The success of 2020 Vision has made us a stronger and more effective community college in many ways, but most importantly in our ability to provide the best education possible for the citizens of our five-county district, and beyond. On the pages that follow are brief snapshots of the results of our College successfully implementing the action plans and initiatives of 2020 Vision over the past fiscal year. I hope you will take a few moments to see all that we have accomplished together. I will conclude by sharing that one of my favorite movies has to be Facing the Giants . There were many scenes in that movie that made a tremendous impact on me, but there was one in particular. The scene involved Mr. Bridges and Coach Taylor. Mr. Bridges entered Coach Taylor’s office to encourage him to remain with the football team and “bloom where he was planted.” As Mr. Bridges left, Coach Taylor followed and in the hallway admitted his frustration with not seeing God move on the campus of the school. In response, Mr. Bridges told Coach Taylor a story about two farmers who desperately needed rain. He said that both farmers prayed for rain, but only one farmer went out and prepared his fields to receive it. Then Mr. Bridges asked, “Which one do you think trusted God to send the rain?” to which Coach Taylor replied, “The one who prepared his fields for it.” Mr. Bridges then posed a most poignant question, “Coach Taylor, which one are you?” and then said, “Coach, God will send the rain when He’s ready. You need to prepare your field to receive it.” In many ways, we have been, we are, and we will be doing just that—preparing our fields for rain. As always, thank you for your continued support of our community college as we “prepare our fields for rain.” We look forward to cooperatively charting the course of ECCC beyond the year 2020. I don’t know the future, but I know the One who does and I trust Him that it will be a bright one for our College. It’s a GREAT day to be a Warrior!

Dr. Billy Stewart President

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