WESSON – Name-calling – in a good way – and a program extensionwere the major topics of concern at the Copiah-Lincoln CommunityCollege board of trustees meeting Thursday.

Board members accepted a grant extension for the Upward Boundprogram in the amount of $29,159, effective December of 2011. Theone-month extension from the U.S. Department of Education was wellreceived by board members, who expect to see budget cuts in thefuture.

“There’s a good chance these funds will be needed,” said EugeneBates, chairman of the board.

The college has participated in the annual program for more than 20years.

Upward Bound provides fundamental support for high school studentspreparing for college. Support for students includes academicadvising, tutoring, mentoring, counseling and field trips.

“It’s really a way to expose students to a college environment,”said president Dr. Ronnie Nettles.

Students must meet certain criteria to be accepted into UpwardBound. There are different requirements for the program; someinclude being a first generation college student and havingfinancial need.

The board was also updated on the status of the new men’s dorm onthe Wesson Campus.

“I’m a little disappointed they’re not turning dirt over there,”said Nettles on the lack of production of the new dorm.

However, Nettles is still hoping to can have the dorm finished byAugust.

The new $3.2 million dorm will house 56 beds and will be home tohonors students.

The construction of the new men’s dorm will also help usherresidents out of Ellzey Hall. Board members are still uncertain ofwhat is to become of the building, which has not seen a majorrenovation since 1969.

“It’s not a modern dorm,” said Nettles.

Nettles said the next step for Ellzey is undetermined due to thelarge amount of money it would cost to either renovate the buildingor tear it down.

“It’s going to cost money,” Nettles said. “It’s not something thatgoes away.”

What the board is certain of is the name of the new building beingconstructed on the Natchez campus and the name of the basketballcourt in Mullen Gymnasium.

The building in Natchez will soon be known as the Howell C. GarnerInstructional Center after the college’s history of namingbuildings after former presidents.

Dr. Howell C. Garner was the college’s sixth president, servingfrom 1997 until his retirement in 2008 and boasted a career thatspanned three decades at Co-Lin.

Nettles hopes to dedicate the 24,000 square foot building by Marchof 2011.

The Wolves will soon be dribbling on Gwyn Young Court inside MullenGymnasium.

The basketball court will be named after athletic director and headcoach of the Lady Wolves basketball team, Gwyn Young.

Young has served as Co-Lin athletic director since 1989 and hasbeen the head coach of the women’s basketball team for 34years.

While commanding the hardwood floor, Young has compiled a record of748 wins and 222 losses, which ranks him as the NJCAAsecond-winningest active coach in the nation and the winningestwomen’s coach in the Mississippi Association of Community/JuniorColleges.

“He’s certainly deserving of that honor,” said Nettles.