The announcement this week that Cordella Smith has been named director at the Batesville Job Corps Center marks a milestone for the community. Smith is first native Panolian to have been selected for the post.

Congratulations are in order for Smith and for Minact, Inc. which recognized the potential within their local ranks and groomed her as she proved herself in one position after another since she helped to welcome the first students to the facility in 1981.

Those of who have enjoyed interaction with Cordella Smith in the various capacities in which she has served at the Batesville center join other friends and family in feeling vicarious pride at her selection, but perhaps none moreso than her mother, Reba Shegog.

Smith becomes the sixth director since the center’s founding. She will follow  Dean Kindle who Minact is moving to the Hubert Humphrey Job Corps Center. Kindle leaves the Batesville post after having served as deputy center director and center director.

During his watch, the Batesville center has climbed steadily in its monthly rankings among all U. S. Job Corps Centers. He will be returning home, but while he made Batesville home he enriched our lives with his participation in his church and community and with his friendship. We wish him well, and the community is also invited to wish him well at a reception Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. at the center.

You will also have an opportunity to offer personal congratulations to the new director of this vital community institution.

During its history we have watched as the Batesville Job Corps Center has helped mold students into citizens who have learned to give back to their community — whether it be our community or another community several states away. Cordella Smith is uniquely qualified to lead BJCC as it continues to mold, influence and prepare young people.