Northwest Mississippi Community College kicked off a yearlong celebration marking its 100th anniversary with a ceremony Tuesday on its Senatobia campus.
The Centennial Kickoff Celebration included the dedication of a historical marker, the unveiling of a portrait honoring Dean James P. McCormick, and remarks from state and college leaders.
“The centennial is more than a celebration of Northwest’s history. It is a celebration of the people who built this institution and the communities we have been privileged to serve,” NWCC President Dr. Michael Heindl said. “As we honor our first 100 years, we are also looking forward with great excitement and purpose to the opportunities ahead.”
September has been designated “Kick-Off Emphasis Month” for the Centennial Celebration. The month began Sept. 3 with a Centennial Throwback Football Game against Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
Other September events include the Rural Community College Alliance Conference Sept. 16-18 and a home football game against Mississippi Delta Community College on Sept. 17. The college also plans to begin a monthly centennial speaker series in the R.C. Pugh Library, with programs expected to take place the first Tuesday of each month.
NWCC is also launching the Centennial Circle, a fundraising initiative through the Northwest Mississippi Community College Foundation. The initiative seeks 100 donors to contribute or pledge $10,000 each in recognition of the college’s 100th anniversary. The goal is to raise at least $1 million for the college’s highest priorities.
Donors may make a one-time gift or fulfill a pledge over an established period. Contributions may also be made in honor or memory of someone who has played a role in NWCC’s history.
October will be designated “Homecoming and Athletics Emphasis Month.” The college’s Oct. 1 homecoming game against Coahoma Community College will include alumni activities, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony planned for the Northwest Athletic Hall of Fame.
NWCC also plans for a groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 8 for a new Agricultural Technology facility at the college farm. Additional home football games are scheduled for Oct. 15 against Itawamba Community College and Oct. 22 against Southwest Mississippi Community College.
November will feature events highlighting NWCC’s campuses and institutional leadership, including a Fine Arts Building ribbon-cutting Nov. 5, Veterans Day observances Nov. 11, and centennial receptions at the DeSoto Center and Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center in Oxford.
NWCC will host “100 Years of Thanksgiving: Celebrating the Past and Highlighting the Future” on Nov. 17. The program will include a conversation with former NWCC administrators and leaders about the college’s growth, impact, and future.
December will conclude the fall schedule with “Centennial Graduation and Centennial Christmas Emphasis Month.” Commencement will feature Centennial-themed stoles, tassels, and diploma covers, while the college also plans to participate in community Christmas parades and hold a Centennial Christmas Open House.
Groundbreaking ceremonies for a Centennial Bell and Clock Tower and the Northwest Chapel are scheduled for Dec. 10.
Additional centennial events are planned for 2027, with monthly themes focusing on academics and health sciences, career-technical education and workforce development, athletics, and the arts. The centennial year is scheduled to conclude in May with a special graduation ceremony.
More event dates and details will be announced as plans are finalized.