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WESSON – The Copiah-Lincoln Community College Alumni Association recently honored five outstanding faculty and staff members during the annual fall convocation on the Wesson Campus. The group will also be recognized during the alumni luncheon at Homecoming on Oct. 27.
Those honored from the Wesson campus were Melnee Berry, Brian Turnage, and Donna Bales, all of Brookhaven. Sharon Sanxton of Natchez was the Natchez Campus honoree, and Missy Orders of Mendenhall was recognized for the Simpson County Center.
Melnee Berry
Berry was honored as Outstanding Academic Instructor for the Wesson campus. She has been employed at Co-Lin since 2007, and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, a master’s degree from Reformed Theological Seminary, and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree from Nora Southeastern University. She is an instructor in the social science division, teaching psychology and sociology courses, and is a licensed professional counselor. She previously worked at Reformed Theological Seminary, and as a family and individual counselor in a local church. She has five children, Jacquelyn, Nathan, Jesse, Dannah, and Miriam, and five grandchildren.
Brian Turnage
Turnage was selected as Outstanding Career/Technical Instructor for the Wesson campus. He has been employed at Co-Lin since 2005. He is a graduate of Co-Lin, and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in Electronic Engineering. He is an instructor in the Electronics Technology department and is a National Center of Construction Education and Research and a C-Tech Communications-certified instructor. In his spare time, he freelances as a music and sound technician at various events and gatherings and is a member of Easthaven Baptist Church. He is married to Tricia Turnage and they have two children, Megan and Caleb.
Donna Bales
Bales was honored as Outstanding Staff member of the Year for the Wesson campus. She has been employed at Co-Lin since 2005 and serves as learning resources assistant in the Evelyn Oswalt Library. Bales is a recipient of the Howell Garner High Performance Award and participates in the Blue Cross Blue Shield employee wellness program at Co-Lin. Prior to Co-Lin, she worked as a library assistant at Mamie Martin Elementary School. She is an active member of Johnson Grove Church of Christ. She is married to Bruce Bales and has three adult children, Sarah Cain, Bethany Powell, and Joshua Bales, and four grandchildren, Wyatt, Myles, Bella Rae and Lucas.
Sharon Sanxton
Sanxton was selected as Outstanding Faculty/Staff Member for the Natchez campus. She has been employed at Co-Lin since 2011, and holds a bachelor’s degree from Alcorn State University and a master’s degree from Liberty University. She is the Director of Student Services at the Natchez campus and has previously worked as an Admissions Coordinator and Student Records Manager. She is a member of the Mississippi Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and was a recipient of the Co-Lin High Performance Award.
She attends Rose Hill #2 Baptist Church in Fayette and is an active member of the Parent Teacher Student Organization. She has one son, Eric.
Missy Orders
Orders was honored as outstanding faculty/staff member for the Simpson County Center. She has been employed at Co-Lin since 2005, and is a graduate of University of Southern Mississippi after attending both Co-Lin and Hinds Community College. She serves as the Secretary to the Vice President and previously taught at Simpson County Academy. She was Community Educator for Horizon Health Management, where she was recognized as the HHM Education Manager of the Year. She has also received the Howell Garner High Performance Award and the Trillium Yearbook dedication at Co-Lin. She attends Overflow Church in Magee. She is married to Tim Orders, and they have two children, Dane and Swayze, one grandchild, Chandler, and another one on the way.
