By Dr. Alexus Hunter | Oct 23, 2025
(Clarksdale, Mississippi) – Coahoma Community College is pleased to announce the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Fall 2025 Induction Ceremony, scheduled for Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in the Safe House on the Coahoma Community College campus. The event will celebrate academic excellence and leadership among Coahoma’s outstanding students.
This year’s ceremony will feature The Honorable Mayor Orlando W. Paden of Clarksdale, Mississippi, as the guest speaker. A lifelong public servant, educator, and advocate for the Mississippi Delta, Mayor Paden brings an inspiring message of service, perseverance, and leadership to the induction.
Mayor Paden is a proud alumnus of Coahoma Community College, where he earned an Associate of Arts degree in Social Science Education and was recognized in Who’s Who Among Community College Students. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Alcorn State University, graduating as both a Dean’s and President’s Scholar.
Before being elected Mayor of Clarksdale, Paden served in the Mississippi House of Representatives, representing District 26, which includes Coahoma and Bolivar Counties. During his tenure, he contributed to several key committees, including Agriculture, Public Health and Human Services, Tourism, Transportation, and Youth and Family Affairs.
With a professional background in higher education, Mayor Paden spent nearly a decade at Coahoma Community College, serving as Student Employment/JLD Coordinator and Career Services and Placement Manager, where he helped guide students toward academic and career success.
Among his many accolades, Mayor Paden received the Aaron Shirley Distinguished Indigent Care Award for Outstanding Accomplishments in Healthcare and Community Services (2021), recognizing his deep commitment to public service and community betterment.
The Phi Theta Kappa Induction Ceremony honors students who have demonstrated excellence in scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship. PTK membership represents one of the highest academic honors a student can achieve at a community college.
Coahoma Community College invites students, faculty, staff, and the community to attend and celebrate this significant milestone with our inductees.
