Coahoma Community College - Coahoman Yearbook (Clarksdale, MS)

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fzeeddentb We would be more than presumptuous if we tried to tell you about the signifi- cant role that the junior college is taking in the educational scene today. You are aware of it. But we believe that this Annual will be of inestimable value to you as you make future plans for your life developments. Coahoma Junior College confronts stalwart foes as it attempts to keep its pro- gram consistent with society's changing needs. It must question accepted truths and values: deal with deep-seated prejudicesg stimulate the complacent and un- concernedg and nourish the will in man to search for a better way of life for him- self and his fellowman, Sensitivity to the needs of the student is a dominant concern of the college. In a very real sense the college is obligated to challenge each student and to moti- vate each person to serve his society. Coahoma Junior College, along with its com- munity, has to determine: fly which goals and purposes are requisite for educating young people for social usefulness: Q25 in which direction programs should be charted to meet the ever-increasing demands of our nationg and Q35 how facilities and per- sonnel can best be utilized for maximum service, These are large and difficult questionsg they challenge the American educational enterprise as well as responsi- ble citizens and government. It is not that these questions are necessarily new ones: the people are frustrated and frightened and the increased demands of our nation make them more vital - more urgently in need of solution - than at any other time in history. Education can meet the imperative and persistent challenge only through its agents - teachers. We make every effort to prepare the masses of students for the world of tomorrow, We cannot accept racial excuses for inferior performances. We develop in our institution a systematic academic program designed to raise the academic achievement level of every child up to the maximum of his own poten- tial. The efforts of Coahoma Junior College have always been directed to foresee in every student clarity, integrity, personal dignity and will and to develop these char- acteristics. These are necessary in order to make their contribution to a society desperately in need of stable moral guide-posts and, meaningful values and stand- ards. The sound base on which our educational program is built, the commitment which is ours to continue dynamic undertakings, and the outstanding contributions of Coahomans throughout the world - all attest to the worth of our endeavors. We look to the future with confidence in the institution's ability to serve our society with continuing effectiveness in the face of such challenges. President

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ADMINISTRATION FACULTY The theme Challenge gives much latitude for thought. lt is a word of broad usage that says many things when it is chal- lenged. One of the synonyms for challenge is defy. An educator himself is a challenge. By vir- tue of his title he has openly denounced ignorance, and taken a moral oath to combat illiter- acy whenever and wherever he finds it. The Staff presents the Defiant Ones: those who daily challenge the world to wit- ness a duel between learning and illiteracy - Our very efficient Administration and Faculty.

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22 1963 Sunday ' mi + lfatent-Teacher Association: ju :or college presidents and othe Associa supervisor o in Coalioma Coun Dr. McDaniel.. A large ing from of gifts rang to billfoltl teacher 2'GT'l'I l1f' 1 'mmm y, .'lilC2.l tl' 1 fllllllll 'llllllll mmm llllllll- ' ' t ul p I smut , lmuull l ll :un , iq. lhilln.-t ' 3. mum lllllllll. tum: ' l lmmnl li liltll y g1,,:it4ttil'p N ,tim Q3 ,X n .lm 'N llllu- ' V llmmil t umm ' ilhtmmn! l ,W .mm-' 'W' Sli' nu s gut l' Tfllllllllill p A lfllllllfflll 3 l IWIFH , ,Ill lfgillfl 1 l lmlllnl t l It 'm l COAHOMA S PRESIDENT HONORED v Formal appreciation for distin- guished services rendered to the cause of educational and community development was accorded Mr. Benjamin Franklin Mcl.aurin, President of Coahoma junior College. Educators from several states joined in a program honoring him for twenty-five years plus of service in Coahoma County, Mississippi. Dr. Vernon McDaniel of Austin, Texas and Executive Secretary of the Texas State Teachers Association, delivered the main address on the program, and he was introduced by Mrs. Lillian Rogers johnson, a member of the Board of Trustees of the ATA Others who commended Mr McLaurm for his fine services were Mr B L Hill State Super vtapr of Agricultur al High Schools if- a inte 5,5 .65 3 ian? Wag 21-3m,g'u Ei -at-:si .352 523.5-HE om' 555. S -'ft Q P50-twang eaiiggege f . 41-. and junior Collegesg Mr. Paul Rf, Hunter, County Superintendent of Educationg Mr. Walter Washington, President of the Mississippi Teachers Associationg Mr. W. A. Higgins, Deanof Students, jackson, State Clollegeg Mt. Howard Young, President Student Governmentg Miss Mary G. Whiteside, Academic Dean of CjCg and Mr. james McLaughlin Sr., represented the school's PTA. The band and chorus offioahom a presented several appropriate selections. Mr. McLaurin is an undergrad- uate of Alcorn A. St M. College and a graduate of Tuskegee Institute. He has done further study at New York University. He began his career in 1953 as a teacher of vocational agriculture at the Coahoma County Agri cultral High School Five years Home Administration and retumed .sn .. nty y the school: and representai of the college alumni, thq B mem trustees 0 behalf of sen by M. M ' Covington iiountyl MISS-, has a bachei Alcorn A. M. on 3-Esato B552 Pm: nglihpff . ' 'dit'-i'At to the county as a Farm-garden Food pr..,,.f-,qtrion Supervisor. Because of his passion for growth anti achic-vt-mt-nt, hc spent one yenf respectively at his Xlma Mater and lflorida Normal .ind lndustrialC.ollt-gcinSt. ,-Kugtistinc. lflorida. Four years after hc hccnmc Superintendcnt of fioahomzt Agri- cultural lligh School, the junior College Department was added and he has served as president of the college for the past fourteen years. Under his passionate lead- ership the enrollment has risen from 24 to .355 in l965, and 714 graduates have been awarded thc Associate in Artslicgrcc from the college. Not only has Mr. Nlcl.aurin suc- ceeded in strengthening and increasing the faculty and stall' hut hc has Hut cct'ttt:dinf-1tp,1nf':ng tlit-physical plant .infi in titty: ting - 1 'ftrifqti uk 'ns 'litif IH: mgt'-ls 1 '-'tillg anal ii't':'sc rwttiticgm htvfiy. filfllllkll' growili has llil-QQ!! place .ri 'hc high sthool -.t- timt now Zggie High ,tctfonv modatcs .lil Negro onth tml Coahoma ifounty outside the Clarksdale Separate District. ln their commendations, the speakers pointed out that the Mcl-aurin influence has extended to other phases of community life. It is quite evident in the field o christian leader ship where the honoree serves as a steward of Friendship A. M. E. Churchg in civic and charitable movements where he, on several occasions, has spearheaded financial drives in the interest of the Boy Scouts ofAme-ricaand the March ofDi mes: and in fraternal circles where he holds membership as an Omega, an Elk and a Mason. Further, it is evident in agricultural economy where he is actively engaged ir farming. The President and his wife, Sezzie Mae Mclsaurin, have two sons, Benjamin Fr anklin McLaurin jr., a graduate of Kansas State University where he is now working toward the masters' degree, anc ohnnie William McLaurtn a grad uate of Kansas University whc is now studying toward the masters Switzerland l aQ'N'll 'l L pg Y N . . l X in-ul-.Ii , . . . 1 thllliu - i ' ' J , . . . . . . . . i i. . - . i y X ' U y X ....--:E ' P . f 'F 2 . p , i ' - ' v ' later he Worked with the Farm degree as an Exchange Student ir