April 16, 2026
ECCC 2026 Hall of Fame Members from left: Brylee Jones, Nathan Bray, Adam Savell, Mikayla Holifield, Reagan Lowe, and Kade Shoemake
East Central Community College recognized student achievement across academic, career and technical, healthcare, fine arts, student life, athletics, and leadership areas during its 2026 Awards Day Ceremony held April 16 in Huff Auditorium.
The annual program honored students receiving departmental awards, scholarships, leadership recognitions, athletic honors, and special distinctions, including selection to the East Central Community College Student Hall of Fame.
“Awards Day is one of the most meaningful traditions we have at East Central because it allows us to recognize the hard work, leadership, and commitment our students have shown throughout the year,” said ECCC President Dr. Brent Gregory. “These students represent the very best of East Central, and we are proud of what they have accomplished both in and out of the classroom.”
Selection to the Student Hall of Fame is considered the highest honor a student can receive at East Central. Students chosen for the honor must demonstrate exemplary character, superior scholarship, worthy leadership, and contributions to the betterment of the college. This year’s Hall of Fame class included Nathan Bray of Morton, Mikayla Holifield of Lake, Brylee Jones of Walnut Grove, Reagan Lowe of Forest, Adam Savell of Lake, and Kade Shoemake of Ellisville.
Nathan Bray, a sports administration major from Morton, serves as Student Body Vice President, is a member of the Warrior Corps Student Ambassadors, serves on the Baptist Student Union council, leads a weekly Bible study, and works as a resident advisor in Newsome Hall. He also earned silver in SkillsUSA after completing work in the Electrical Program.
Mikayla Holifield, a pre-dental major from Lake, has served in student government as both Freshman Vice President and Sophomore Vice President. She has also been active in women’s basketball, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Phi Theta Kappa, and Warrior Corps Student Ambassadors, while also being selected by her peers as a homecoming maid both years and earning Dean’s List or President’s List honors each semester.
Brylee Jones, an elementary education major from Walnut Grove, serves as Student Body Association Treasurer, Baptist Student Union President and worship leader, Phi Theta Kappa President, and Warrior Corps Student Ambassador. She has received academic honors each semester and previously received the Dr. Margaret Mosal Memorial Scholarship for Leadership. She also joins her great-grandfather, William Joyner, as an ECCC Hall of Fame member.
Reagan Lowe, a pre-med major from Forest, serves as Vice President of the President’s Council and has been a Centralette for two years, including serving as captain this year. She is also active in Phi Theta Kappa, Diamond Darlings, and the ECCC Choir, and previously received the Harvey and Martha Wheeler Pre-Pharmacy/Pre-Med Scholarship.
Adam Savell, a business major from Lake, is active in the EC Choir, EC Listening Acapella group, Collegians, Phi Theta Kappa, and residential life, where he serves as a resident assistant and Resident Hall Council President on the President’s Council. He was also selected as a Freshman Class Favorite.
Kade Shoemake, a chemical engineering major from Ellisville, serves as Vice President of Leadership for Phi Theta Kappa, is on the leadership team for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and is a captain on the men’s soccer team. He has remained on the Dean’s List every semester during his time at East Central.
Click here for photos from Awards Day
Awards presented during the ceremony included:
Career Education
Cosmetology Award, Taylor Read of Meridian
Welding and Cutting “Taylor Cup,” Peyton Glass of Forest
Residential Carpentry Student Award, Zachary Savage of Union
Career Student of the Year, Gianna Esposito of Union
Technical Education
Charles E. Pennington Business Technology Award, Rylee Ingram of Union
Sara Carr Deaton Business Technology Award, Aly Milling of Union
O.L. Newell Drafting Award, Michael Zachary Berryhill of Union
Automotive Technology Award, Joshua Finley of Conehatta
Heating and Air Conditioning Technology Student Award, Dennis Knott II of Morton
Culinary Arts Technology Award, Amirrah Stricklin of Preston
Diesel Equipment Technology Award, Aubrey Mitchell of Lake
Early Childhood Education Technology Award, Connie Johnson of Newton
Electrical Technology Award, Tyler Perkins of Decatur
Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology Award, Tyson Pham of Louisville
Criminal Justice Technology Program Award, Ali Claire Hollingsworth of Forest
Collision Repair Technology Award, Joseph Griffin II of Decatur
Information Systems Technology Award, Alicia Valenzuela of Preston
Technical Student of the Year, Alicia Valenzuela of Preston
Healthcare Education
Outstanding Associate Degree Nursing Student of the Year, Stephanie Grantham of Morton
Excellence in Practical Nursing Student of the Year, Luke Rushing of Forest
Fine Arts
Robert G. Fick Memorial Scholarship, John Jones of Forest
Concert Choir Award, Calleigh Weems of Philadelphia
Humanities
Alatha Chaney English Award, Sarah Alice Fulton of Philadelphia
L.B. Simmons History Award, Anna Caitlin Cavanaugh of Morton
Sue Yarbrough Fulgham Speech Award, Hayden Bennett of Noxapater
Math and Computer Science
C++ Programming Top Male Award, Jamari McDonald of Newton
C++ Programming Top Female Award, Alicia Valenzuela of Preston
Sophomore Mathematics Award, Ethan Moore of Collinsville
W.A. Coursey Jr. Engineering Award, David Everidge Jr. of Decatur
Freshman Mathematics Award, Riley Ruple of Athens, Tennessee
S. Lebrun Hutchison Engineering Scholarship, Riley Ruple of Athens, Tennessee
J. Andy Miller Freshman Engineering Award, Mary Michael Druey of Yazoo City
Danny Ray Killens Engineering Award, Kade Shoemake of Ellisville
Leadership and Performance
Dr. Margaret Mosal Memorial Scholarship for Leadership, Maury Ann Walley of Forest
Thomas W. Thrash Memorial Scholarship, Kyra Bigby of Hickory
Dr. Shelby L. Harris Memorial Scholarship, Miranda Rigdon of Little Rock
J. Wallace Bedwell Business Award, Jack Bradberry of Humboldt, Tennessee
Myrtle R. Hutchison Elementary Education Scholarship, Mary Clara Sessums of Union
Alyne Simmons Recruitment Grant, Laura Pace of Conehatta
Opal McMullan Dickerson Elementary Education Award, Brylee Jones of Walnut Grove
Excellence in Creative Art Award, Darcy Lang of Chunky
Wall O’Sound Band Award, Patrick Clemmons of Decatur
Ruth Carr Vincent Academic Excellence in Non-Traditional Education Award, Erica Wysocki of Carthage
General William Patrick Wilson Memorial Scholarship, Davis Reynolds of Rose Hill
Lucille Wood Scholarship, Collier Mangum of Decatur
Science
Aaron R. Davis Memorial Scholarship, Brianna Cook of Chunky
Alford J. Deaton Physics Award, David Everidge Jr. of Decatur
Dr. Edwin Miller Medical Services Award, Bryan Bell of Lena
Frank Edwin and Nena Holt Leatherwood Scholarship, Addison Sykes of Decatur
Frank M. Cross Freshman Chemistry Award, Reese Eldridge of Decatur
Dr. Richard Fisher Organic Chemistry Award, Kade Shoemake of Ellisville
Student Life
EC Environmental Club Award, Madison Jones of Lake
Ann H. Burkes Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship, Reagan Hayes of Fulton
Jack B. Mayo Phi Theta Kappa Award, Kade Shoemake of Ellisville
Phi Theta Kappa President, Brylee Jones of Walnut Grove
Vice President of Fellowship, Jaci Willis of Philadelphia
Vice President of Scholarship, Millaray Quevedo of Morton
Vice President of Service, Ben Land of Union
Vice President of Leadership, Kade Shoemake of Ellisville
William S. Giffin Men’s Intramural Award, Connor Bennett of Louisville
Leon Eubanks KALJYC-Peers Leadership Scholarship, Maury Ann Walley of Forest
Student Body President, Ethan Moore of Collinsville
Student Body Vice President, Nathan Bray of Morton
Student Body Secretary, Katye Jones of Walnut Grove
Student Body Treasurer, Brylee Jones of Walnut Grove
Sophomore Class President, Lyric Lay of Forest
Sophomore Class Vice President, Mikayla Holifield of Lake
Sophomore Class Secretary, Carter Walsworth of Lena
Sophomore Class Treasurer, Layla Griffin of Lake
Freshman Class President, Reese Eldridge of Decatur
Freshman Class Vice President, Maury Ann Walley of Forest
Freshman Class Secretary, Emily Stewart of Carthage
Freshman Class Treasurer, Mitch Pucklitsch of Carthage
EC Gospel Choir Award, Kameren Greenwood of Carthage
Warrior Corps Student Ambassador Leadership Award, Samantha Boykin of Conehatta
Warrior Athletics
Andrew F. Webb Football Award, Prince Cottonham of Gulfport
Anthony Coleman Men’s Basketball Award, Javin Cooper of Jackson
Arno Vincent Award for Academic Excellence in Athletics, Kade Shoemake of Ellisville
Arno Vincent Award for Academic Excellence in Athletics, Ivanna De Gregorio of Venezuela
Earline Wood Memorial Award for Women’s Basketball, Allison Knight of Monticello
Homer F. Hunter Award for Athletic Managers, Michael Morrell of Picayune
Homer F. Hunter Award for Athletic Managers, Carter Walsworth of Lena
Howard Sessums Men’s Basketball Award, Will Brunini of Flora
Jamie Clark Memorial Baseball Award, Luke Schnoor of Pascagoula
Roy Pete Soccer Award, Brandon Grimaldo of Ellisville
Roy Pete Soccer Award, Sara Kate Blaine of Senatobia
Special Honors
Phi Theta Kappa All-Mississippi Academic Team, Ben Land of Union
Phi Theta Kappa All-Mississippi Academic Team, Stfanie Pascual of Chunky
Presidential Partnership Scholarship to Mississippi State University, Ben Land of Union
Presidential Partnership Scholarship to The University of Southern Mississippi, Adam Savell of Lake
Citizenship Award, Mitch Pucklitsch of Carthage
