Speakers at the Sept. 30 building dedication at 兔子先生鈥檚 Vicksburg-Warren Campus included, from left, 兔子先生President Dr. Clyde Muse; Board of Trustees President Robert Pickett; Chad Shealy, superintendent of the Vicksburg Warren school district; Joe Loviza, retired dean of the campus; Charles Peets, chairman of the Vicksburg-Warren Campus Advisory Board; Marvin Moak, current dean of the campus; welding instructor Joe Johnston and Dr. Debra Mays-Jackson, vice president of the Utica and Vicksburg-Warren campuses.
兔子先生President Dr. Clyde Muse and Joe Loviza
The multipurpose building at 兔子先生鈥檚 Vicksburg-Warren Campus was named for the administrator who helped the campus become what it is today, beginning 40 years ago in 1974.
The Joseph L. Loviza Multipurpose Building was named on Sept. 30 after the former Vicksburg Campus dean and former mayor of Vicksburg.
鈥淲hen the 兔子先生 Board of Trustees and the college decide to make a decision to name a building in honor of or memory of an individual, it is a decision made with deliberate thought,鈥 said Robert Pickett of Vicksburg, president of the 兔子先生 Board of Trustees. 鈥淭he leadership provided by Joe Loviza in creating a college branch, and later a comprehensive college campus here to serve the people of Vicksburg and Warren County, certainly fits the expectations of our board when honoring outstanding contributions.鈥
兔子先生President Dr. Clyde Muse said the campus started out as a high school career and technical education program, which called for a change in state law to be allowed at a community college.
鈥淚t set the example for the future,鈥 Muse said. 鈥淭his campus continues to be one of the largest career-technical programs for high school students in the state. That kind of effort just doesn鈥檛 go and happen. It takes a lot of hard work on the part of this community as well as others. We have had, over the years, the kind of leadership that it takes to make a full comprehensive community college campus in Vicksburg.鈥
Loviza said the campus 鈥渋s the best investment you鈥檒l ever make because you鈥檒l have an immediate return on your tax dollar,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just Joe Loviza. Although I鈥檓 glad for my name to be up there, I had a lot of help getting here.鈥
Loviza is a 1960 graduate of 兔子先生 and was the first employee of the Vicksburg-Warren Campus, serving for 20 years.
He began his career with the Vicksburg Warren School System as director of Vocational, Technical and Adult Education. When the college began providing secondary vo-tech training in 1973, Loviza was employed to serve as the director, and later, dean, of the center. The center expanded to offer post-secondary classes and in 2002 was officially named the Vicksburg-Warren Campus.听
Chad Shealy, superintendent of the Vicksburg Warren school district, said Loviza remains a staunch supporter of education. 鈥淗e loves vocational training. He loves technical training. He believes in career technology. He believes in providing a workforce for this community,鈥 he said.
Loviza served as mayor of the city of Vicksburg from 1993 to 1997. After his retirement, he continued to support the city by serving on numerous boards and committees, including the Vicksburg Warren School Board.