WESSON – The future of Copiah-Lincoln Community College isstrong and it is poised to continue to be among those leading thestate in junior college academics, according to a pair of reportspresented to the college’s board of trustees Thursday night.

President Dr. Howell Garner Jr. received glowing marks in anannual audit of his performance by board members. The survey, inwhich board members anonymously answered a series of questionsabout Garner’s job performance, did not have one negative responseor comment.

“I think that says everything by itself,” said Board ChairmanEugene Bates. “I personally appreciate your diligence and yourefforts on behalf of Co-Lin.”

The board was also impressed by the results of the 2005-2006Institutional Effectiveness Indicators, which gauge the college’ssuccess in meeting the demands of the state’s major universitiesand business leaders.

Co-Lin graduates who went on to attend a major universityperformed as well as or better on cumulative grade point averageswhen they graduated from the major university as students whostarted their education at those major universities, according tothe report.

The report also showed Co-Lin’s average mean score incareer/technical programs was above the state’s average mean scorein 15 of 18 categories.

At least 80 percent of employers surveyed also indicatedsatisfaction with the job performance of Co-Lin career andtechnical students.

In other matters, board member Jack Burt, 87, of Copiah Countyretired after 18 years of service on the college board.

“He has been a most outstanding member of this board, and I’veenjoyed my time working with him,” Bates said.

The board also named the baseball press box in honor of DennisWhite for his dedication to the school’s athletic programs.

“He was a volunteer, not an employee,” said Melton King,chairman of the buildings and grounds committee. “He was reallyresponsible and very instrumental in getting that press boxbuilt.”

White worked with Coach Keith Case for 13 years before he becameill and died on Dec. 11, 2005, after a long battle with cancer,Garner said.

“Mr. White was a great asset to the Co-Lin baseball program inmany ways, including PA announcer, score keeper and statistician,”he said. “He also filmed football games during football season. Hewas an avid fan of the Co-Lin Wolves all year long, but hisfavorite sport was baseball. I feel it would be very appropriatefor the college to name the press box in his honor and in hismemory.”

The recommendation passed unanimously.