Northwest announces HEADWAE honorees

Northwest announces HEADWAE honorees
Written by LaJuan Tallo
Monday, 28 January 2013 21:12
Northwest Mississippi Community College recently announced its 2013 HEADWAE honorees.
Sophomore drafting and design engineering technology major Charles Sellers of Holly Springs
was selected as the HEADWAE student, and drafting and design engineering technology
instructor Tim Chavez of Hernando was selected as this year's HEADWAE faculty honoree.
HEADWAE stands for “Higher Education Appreciation Day-Working for Academic Excellence.”
The award was established by the Mississippi Legislative Resolution #88 in 1987 to annually
honor academically talented students and faculty members of Mississippi’s higher education
institutions who have made outstanding contributions in promoting academic excellence.
Chavez and Sellers will be honored at the 26th annual HEADWAE program in Jackson on Feb.
26.
Sellers graduated from H.W. Byers High School in Holly Springs in 2010. During his freshman
year at Northwest, he placed second in the state SkillsUSA in architectural drafting, and was on
the Dean’s List, with a 3.5 GPA. Sellers was honored January 2013 Senatobia Rotary Student
of the Month.
“Charles Sellers has become a regular fixture in the drafting and design engineering technology
program. He dedicates an uncommon amount of his personal time to learn and apply himself to
benefit his studies and personal advancement. He will represent Northwest for a second year in
this year’s state SkillsUSA Architectural championship where he placed second in the previous
year. He will graduate in May and have several options to advance in his career choice,”
Chavez said of his student.
He also grabbed the second place spot in the first “Northwest Idol” contest last year. Sellers is
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Northwest announces HEADWAE honorees
Written by LaJuan Tallo
Monday, 28 January 2013 21:12
active in his church, playing guitar, bass, drums and piano. He was a member of his church’s
youth group and also played baseball with his church’s team. Sellers loves to draw and has a
piece featured in the National Bird Dog Museum. He received two certificates from the Gumtree
Museum of Art for his work. “I work for Lowe’s as a customer service associate and I am
currently engaged in the management program offered at Lowe’s. After graduation, I plan to
return to Northwest to earn a degree in civil engineering technology. My ultimate goal is to
become a real estate developer for Lowe’s,” Sellers said.
Chavez is in his 11th year as an instructor at Northwest.
In addition to teaching courses in drafting and design, Chavez serves as Northwest’s SkillsUSA
Chapter Advisor and regional event coordinator and has served the school’s capital
improvements committee and the student disciplinary committee, where he has served as
chairman.
Chavez is an alumnus of Northwest, earning his associate degree in computer drafting and
design technology in 1998. At Northwest, Chavez was on the president’s and dean’s lists, and
was the Outstanding Student in Drafting and Design. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in
industrial engineering Technology from Southern Illinois University and a master’s in higher
education leadership from The University of Mississippi. He is a member of the Society of
Manufacturing Engineers and has received the Certified Mechanical Drafter and Certified
Architectural Drafter certifications through the American Drafting and Design Association.
Chavez served in the United States Marine Corps in Air Traffic Operations as a controller,
certified instructor and supervisor. He and his wife Christy are the parents of two girls and two
boys. “I am overwhelmed with the honor and privilege of being recognized and selected to
represent the faculty of Northwest in the 26th annual HEADWAE program. I am grateful for the
confidence and faith bestowed on me as all our faculty are deserving of this recognition,”
Chavez said.
The drafting and design engineering technology program at Northwest is designed to provide
specialized occupational instruction in all phases of drafting technology. Students who complete
this degree will be qualified in such fields as general drafting/CAD operations, industrial facilities
planning, machine design, building construction, architectural design and mapping. For more
information, contact the Career-Technical office at 662-562-3361 or visit www.northwestms.edu.
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Northwest announces HEADWAE honorees
Written by LaJuan Tallo
Monday, 28 January 2013 21:12
Pictured: Sophomore drafting and design engineering major Charles Sellers of Holly Springs,
(left) and drafting and design engineering technology instructor Tim Chavez of Hernando have
been selected to represent Northwest Mississippi Community College as this year’s HEADWAE
(Higher Education Appreciation Day-Working for Academic Excellence) student and faculty
honorees. The two will be honored at a program in Jackson on Feb. 26. (Photo by LaJuan Tallo)
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