2021FallWarrior

Waggoner Shocked and Honored to Be Selected Alumna of the Year

the marching band and the bass drum in the pep rallies.” Waggoner would go on to study at Millsaps College in Jackson, which she said was an easy transition after her experiences at East Central. She was a member of the Millsaps Troubadours and later sang with the Lee Scott Sing- ers while living in Birmingham, Ala. She began her professional life as a correspondent bank officer, then cus- tomer service manager for a data pro- cessing company. That was followed by her service as a permanent placement specialist in the employment industry, and then as salesperson with Xerox Corporation, both in Birmingham. She then spent 18 years as missions office administrator at Briarwood Presbyte- rian Church in Birmingham. “That investment at Briarwood was my heartbeat, and included coordina-

Paula Simmons Waggoner, a member of the East Central Community Col- lege class of 1971, was recently named Alumna of the Year at ECCC. She said she was shocked and absolutely hon- ored to be selected. “I will always treasure this honor. As a Winston County girl whose dad and aunts and uncles went to ECCC, I don’t remember that another choice to begin college was even on the table. There was a deep love and respect for ECCC that I inherited, appreciated, and shared.” Jerry Nance, a Winston County na- tive and member of the ECCC Board of Trustees nominated Waggoner for the award and speaks very highly of her character and accomplishments. “Paula Simmons Waggoner is not known for wealth or fame, but that’s ok with her for she never sought great

tion of annual conferences with hundreds of overseas staff. Hearing their rich, almost unbelievable stories of God’s direction and life- changing power all over the world changed my life. A logical but still unexpected transition led to an overseas missions venture for 14 years after which marriage in 2012 brought me back to Mississippi,” she said. When asked about her career highlights, she said, “Being involved in an over-

wealth or fame. What she did do, was to choose the road less traveled. After leaving EC, Mill- saps and Mississippi State, she followed the Lord’s call and spread His story and His love by serving in Japan, South Af- rica, and most recently in the Middle East. She is a woman of faith, courage, compassion, and conviction. Paula is and always will be not only an am- bassador for God, but also an ambassador for EC.” Waggoner said as a child, she, her mother, and brothers

under ECCC instructor Marian Thorn- ton, a great influence on her life. “Mrs. Marian Thornton taught piano for many years and encouraged and influenced countless students,” Wag- goner said. “She gently instructed and wisely counseled me through some of the choices of those years. She helped keep me grounded. I wanted to be like her.” During this time, there were no piano scholarships so Waggoner quali- fied for a music scholarship by partici- pating in the band. She said of the experience, “Saxo- phone and I were brand new friends and never really got along well; how- ever, I did get to play the cymbals in “ ” As a Winston County girl whose dad and aunts and uncles went to ECCC, I don’t remember that another choice to begin college was even on the table. There was a deep love and respect for ECCC that I inherited, appreciated, and shared.

seas ministry has been an unexpected privilege. A verse from Habakkuk was a recurrent theme during those years. ‘Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.’” Waggoner said connecting with peo- ple in a culture so very different from her own was a stretching and reward- ing experience unlike any other. “Coming from our culture of right versus wrong and entering a vastly dif- ferent culture of honor versus shame

heard story after story from her father, Paul Simmons, about his escapades as a student at East Central. “He thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of college life, and was counseled by Mr. Frank Cross that it was time to choose between pre-med and extracur- ricular activities. Mr. ECJC chose extra- curricular activities and agriculture and never regretted it.” Waggoner herself was a top student at the college and at the conclusion of her sophomore year was selected for the ECCC Student Hall of Fame, the highest honor a student can receive. She not only excelled academically, but was a piano student who studied

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ALUMNI NEWS

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