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PEARL – Kathy M. Smith, of Brandon, a retiring English instructor for nine years at ��������’s Rankin Campus, has been selected as Faculty Member of the Year by students in the Honors program and the Alpha Omicron Omega chapter of Phi Theta Kappa honor society.

Kathy M. Smith, left, and Joy Rhoads (��������/April Garon)

Smith said the honor is a humbling one and credits the students themselves for her being able to pursue her passion.

“Through the years when anyone has asked me what I teach, my first response is students,” Smith said. “Sometimes I teach them grammar, sometimes literature, sometimes composition, but my joy has always been working with young people in the classroom setting.”

Joy Rhoads, coordinator of the Honors program at Rankin, said the students chose Smith for her energy and passion for the job.

“Kathy Smith is a valued colleague who has always been gracious and willing to go the extra mile for the campus, her department and our students,” Rhoads said. “No one has worked harder to foster student success than Kathy. I was delighted when our chapter selected Ms. Kathy Smith as Rankin Faculty Member of the Year.”