By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–At this morning’s opening ceremony and ribbon-cutting for the Dyersburg State Henry County Center in Paris, Henry County Mayor John Penn Ridgeway said the college “is going to be a great partner” for Henry County. “They’ve already done so much in so little time.”
Dyersburg State officially began classes at the Central Services building and they will be adding an EMT training program in October.
“Everything we’ve asked them to do, they’ve done and gone beyond,” Ridgeway said. “They’re some of the finest folks and they want to work with Henry County.”
A large crowd was on hand for the ceremony, at which Dyersburg President Dr. Scott Cook said, “There are a lot of exciting things happening involving Henry County. We’ve worked hard to upgrade and modernize the classrooms. We’re hoping that a student in Henry County can come here now and graduate with an Associates’ degree in two years.”
Dr. Cook said, “We’ve already invested a significant amount in this facility and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
Paris-Henry County Chamber Director Rachel Steedly said, “What an exciting day this is. Dyersburg State wants to be in this community and be a part of the community. I can’t wait to see what opportunities they will bring us in Henry County.”
Henry County High School dual enrollment students have already started attending classes at the Dyersburg Henry County Center.
Dyersburg State offers general education courses that will transfer to 4-year colleges and universities as well as workforce-ready technical programs that include the Healthcare Technician Program and many workforce development training opportunities such as Advanced Manufacturing, Critical Care Refresher, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), FANUC Robotics, and many more. In addition, students will be able to earn their Associate of Arts (A.A.) and/or an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree at the Henry County Center. Dyersburg State Community College (DSCC) Henry County Center (HCC) offers in-person, online, and Zoom classes, which allow students to have flexible class schedules to accommodate the demands of work and family obligations.
President Scott Cook said, “Dyersburg State Community College is excited to serve Paris and the greater Henry County area at our Henry County Center. Whether you want to obtain workforce training, technical education, or a transfer degree, the student-focused faculty and staff of Dyersburg State are here to help you find your path and earn a high-quality education that fits your goals and needs.”
For more information, contact Dr. Amanda Walker, Vice President of External Affairs, at 731-286-3346 or Shannon Mayo, Director of the Henry County Center, at 731-407-9617 or smmayo@dscc.edu.
Photo: Dyersburg State President Dr. Scott Cook and Henry County Mayor John Penn Ridgeway in middle, cutting the ribbon this morning. Photo by Shannon McFarlin.