Panola College held a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the new Health and Natural Sciences building on August 31, 2015. Panola County Chamber of Commerce, Panola College Board of Trustees and community members gathered to enjoy refreshments and tour the new state-of-the-art facilities. Among the community members gathered to celebrate Panola College’s newest facility was Max LeCompte, Executive Director of the Coordinating and Development Corporation, Lynn Vincent, Mayor of Carthage, and Bill O’Neal, Texas State Historian.

The College’s enrollment has almost doubled in the last 15 years to over 2,700 students. The added space and technology brought by the 64,000 square feet Health and Natural Sciences building will be a valuable resource to Panola College. The new building includes a tiered lecture hall, classrooms, science laboratories, computer labs, research rooms, study rooms, and offices. Laboratories include space for Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA), Associate Degree Nursing (ADN), Vocational Nursing (LVN), and Emergency Medical Technician, Medical Assistant, Medical Lab, and Health Information Technology. There are also several simulation labs that include an ambulance, hospital rooms, and are equipped with state-of-the-art mannequins that can be programmed to give birth, have a heart attack, or any numerous other medical situations.  Students will also have access to a conference room, reception area, vending machines, and restrooms on both floors.

“This project came from a strategic planning meeting from the Board of Trustees, who saw fit to call a bond election that was held in May of 2013. Eighty-four percent of those who voted approved the $35 million dollar bond. We have several projects through the bond and this is the largest one,” said Dr. Greg Powell, Panola College President. “We are grateful to the voters and taxpayers of Panola County. This would not have been possible without their 35 million dollar investment in Panola College.”