{"id":92959,"date":"2023-04-24T16:37:06","date_gmt":"2023-04-24T21:37:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/news-and-events\/?p=92959"},"modified":"2023-04-24T16:37:06","modified_gmt":"2023-04-24T21:37:06","slug":"dsu-honors-retiring-employees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/news-and-events\/2023\/04\/dsu-honors-retiring-employees\/","title":{"rendered":"DSU Honors Retiring Employees"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=&#8221;in_container&#8221; full_screen_row_position=&#8221;middle&#8221; column_margin=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_tablet=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_phone=&#8221;default&#8221; scene_position=&#8221;center&#8221; text_color=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; row_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; row_border_radius_applies=&#8221;bg&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; shape_divider_position=&#8221;bottom&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221;][vc_column column_padding=&#8221;no-extra-padding&#8221; column_padding_tablet=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_phone=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_position=&#8221;all&#8221; column_element_spacing=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; background_hover_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; column_shadow=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; column_link_target=&#8221;_self&#8221; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; tablet_width_inherit=&#8221;default&#8221; tablet_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; phone_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; border_type=&#8221;simple&#8221; column_border_width=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>CLEVELAND, Miss.<\/strong> \u2014 Delta State University honored retiring employees and acknowledged those reaching service milestones with a ceremony and reception Friday, April 21 on the second floor of the H. L. Nowell Union.<\/p>\n<p>DSU Interim President E. E. Caston welcomed the attendees, saying, \u201cThis ceremony provides us with an opportunity to pay tribute to those who have devoted their career to our academic community. We honor those who have served Delta State faithfully for many years and exemplify the very best in service to our students, faculty and staff.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He then introduced Tricia Walker, Director and Professor Emeritus of the Delta Music Institute, who entertained the crowd with two songs. Following the performance, retiring Dean of the College of Business and Aviation Dr. Billy Moore spoke, reflecting on retirement.<\/p>\n<p>He said, \u201cI am humbled to have this opportunity to express my gratitude to those who have contributed so much to my life here at Delta State University. First of all, I am grateful to God, to my wife, Clara, our daughters, Andrea and Alicia, my family, and those I have worked very closely with, my College of Business and Aviation family and the entire Delta State University family.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Caston returned to the podium to present the service awards, recognizing DSU employees reaching milestones of 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of service. He then noted those retirees who had earned Emeritus status, before presenting gifts to each retiree. The ceremony adjourned to a reception with music provided by Dr. James Robinson.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Andy Novobilski, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs said, \u201cIt\u2019s possible to be happy and sad at the same time. Happy to see colleagues that you appreciate, respect and enjoy being able to move on to a phase in their life where they get to have a lot more enjoyment in some cases, and it\u2019s sad, because we are going to miss our colleagues.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Retirees:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Eric Blackwell,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Jimmie Blount,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Polly Cameron,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Melody Fortune,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ann Giger,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Darwaun Hayes,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Edna Jefferson,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Barbara Knight,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Beverly Moon,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Billy Moore,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">James Rutledge\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Service Awards<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">20 years:\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Benjamin Johnston,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Margaret McClain,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cetin Oguz,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Charles Smithhart\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">25 years:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">John Alvarez,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Karen Bell,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Lynn Byrd,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Polly Cameron,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Leslie Griffin,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Melissa Marshall,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Christy Riddle\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">30 years:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Joseph Bentley,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Darwaun Hayes,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Mike Kinnison,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Helen White\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">35 years:\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Barry Bays\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Special Recognition:\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Robin Acord<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row type=&#8221;in_container&#8221; 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