Hernando Rotary Club

03/17/2026

We were honored to welcome Roxanne McIngvale with the Hernando/Nesbit Interfaith Council on Poverty as the guest of Sean Blankenship at our recent Rotary meeting.

The Interfaith Council on Poverty is a dedicated 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving the Hernando and Nesbit communities, partnering with 15 local churches to support families in need. Through their food pantry, Dress-a-Child program, and holiday assistance initiatives, they provide essential resources like food, clothing, and school supplies to low-income residents.

Located on McIngvale Road, the organization continues to make a meaningful impact by serving those right here in our community. Eligibility is based on residency in Hernando/Nesbit and a simple screening process.

We are grateful for the work Roxanne, and the Interfaith Council do each day to uplift and care for others. 💙

03/11/2026

‼️Reminder: Deadline is April 1, 2026! Seniors, don’t miss out on this fantastic scholarship opportunity‼️

John Leonard Vaiden Memorial Scholarship Application

Recipients of the scholarship must be Hernando residents, either high-school seniors or prospective college students who have never applied for the scholarship before. For an application, follow this link to the Hernando Rotary Scholarship and click details.

https://cfnm.org/scholarships/

03/09/2026

🎉 Congratulations to our Student and Teacher of the Month! 🎉

The Hernando Rotary Club proudly recognizes Jordan Van Every and Mrs. Holly Neel as our Student and Teacher of the Month for January! 🌟

👏 Join us in congratulating the both of them for their hard work, dedication, and positive impact in our community!

03/04/2026

The Hernando Rotary Club recently welcomed Sophie Hathaway of Delta Directions, guest of Will Brown, for an informative and impactful presentation.

Sophie shared insights into the Delta Directions Healthy Hub Initiative, a collaborative effort designed to strengthen food pantries by expanding access to health-related foods and services. The initiative includes a four-month educational series focused on food policy, client choice, and wellness, developed in response to local pantries’ requests for more resources and guidance.

The program also works to increase the role of food providers in connecting clients with health resources and supporting individuals managing chronic conditions.

A Harvard Law School Mississippi Delta Legal Fellow based at the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi, Sophie brings a strong background in public and global health. Originally from a rural farming community in Massachusetts, she is passionate about improving health outcomes in the Delta region.

She also highlighted the work of the Delta Directions Consortium, a network of nonprofit, philanthropic, and academic partners focused on health and economic advancement in the Mississippi and Arkansas Delta.

Thank you, Sophie, for sharing your meaningful work and dedication to building healthier communities!

02/26/2026

Help us welcome our newest member, Stacye Trout! 🎉

Stacye serves as the Development Director for the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi, bringing a wealth of experience and a passion for community impact.

The Hernando Rotary Club is proud to have her on board, and we look forward to the great things ahead. Welcome, Stacye!

02/26/2026

🎉 Congratulations to our Student and Teacher of the Month! 🎉

The Hernando Rotary Club proudly recognizes Maggie McGraw and Laurie Walton as our Student and Teacher of the Month for January! 🌟

👏 Join us in congratulating the both of them for their hard work, dedication, and positive impact in our community!

02/23/2026

The Hernando Rotary Club recently welcomed an engaging and informative presentation from Bailey Cary, DeSoto County Law Librarian and proud Hernando native.

Bailey shared her educational journey through Millsaps College, University of North Texas, and the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, along with her passion for criminal law. She also highlighted her strong Rotary roots, inspired by her grandmother, Barbara Jepson, a longtime Rotarian.

Members learned about the remarkable growth of the DeSoto County Law Library—from its early days as a small closet-sized room on Panola Street to today’s expanded, well-equipped research center. Bailey recognized the foundational work of Bill Ballard, who emphasized that legal research “is not complicated… but it’s not simple,” and acknowledged the generous contribution of Bill and Mary Lee Brown and her family in loaning their law book collection for public use.

Today, the library maintains strong state and federal resources and supports patrons—primarily those pursuing civil matters—with materials tailored to Mississippi law and local court requirements.

Thank you, Bailey, for an insightful presentation and for your dedication to expanding access to legal resources in our community!

02/20/2026

John Leonard Vaiden Memorial Scholarship Application

Recipients of the scholarship must be Hernando residents, either high-school seniors or prospective college students who have never applied for the scholarship before. For an application, follow this link to the Hernando Rotary Scholarship and click details.

https://cfnm.org/scholarships/

02/16/2026

Come join us! We'd be honored to have You!

02/06/2026

🌱 Hernando Rotary Welcomed Michael Lee 🌱

We were honored to welcome Mr. Michael Lee of the DeSoto County Agri-Education Center as our guest speaker back before Winter Storm Fern.

Rooted in the heart of DeSoto County, the Agri-Education Center is a unique, multi-use facility built on more than 200 acres and dedicated to promoting agricultural education, community involvement, and outdoor recreation. With indoor and outdoor arenas, equestrian trails, walking paths, and flexible event spaces, it truly is a one-of-a-kind destination for learning and connection.

This incredible project reflects the vision of the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors and their long-standing commitment to preserving green space and supporting agriculture for future generations.

From livestock shows and 4-H events to workshops and outdoor activities, the Center brings our community together around shared values of education, sustainability, and pride.

Thank you, Michael, for sharing this inspiring project with us! 💙💛

01/19/2026

🔵 Hernando Rotary Program Highlight 🔵

Hernando Rotary recently welcomed the Honorable Celeste Wilson, who shared insight into her distinguished legal career. Judge Wilson has served as a DeSoto County Court Judge since 2009 and was appointed to the circuit court by Governor Phil Bryant in 2017, succeeding Bobby Chamberlin following his election to the Mississippi Supreme Court.

Governor Bryant praised Judge Wilson’s extensive experience as both a prosecutor and county judge, noting it will serve her well on the circuit bench. Judge Wilson, a Southaven resident, expressed her gratitude for the trust placed in her as she steps into this important role.

As circuit judge, Judge Wilson oversees criminal cases across a five-county region including DeSoto, Panola, Tallahatchie, Tate, and Yalobusha Counties. Her career includes serving as a district attorney in the 17th District from 2002–2008, followed by her tenure as county judge, where she presided over cases involving delinquency, neglect, abuse, domestic violence, as well as select civil and appeals cases.

Judge Wilson also emphasized the importance of jury duty, encouraging citizens to participate when called, as it is a vital part of our justice system.

Thank you, Judge Wilson, for your service and for sharing your time and insight with Hernando Rotary! ⚖️👏

01/14/2026

Last week, Hernando Rotary enjoyed an informative presentation from Amy Gabbert, Customer Service Manager with Entergy. Amy has been with Entergy for 10 years and is currently based in Senatobia, previously serving the Southaven area.

Amy shared how Entergy operates with a strong system of shared values that guide its service to customers, employees, communities, and stakeholders. These values serve as the foundation of Entergy’s workplace culture and daily operations.

Entergy serves 20 municipalities from Hernando to Clarksdale, along with 15 large managed accounts, including ABB and Northwest Mississippi Community College. As a Fortune 500 utility with more than 100 years of service, Entergy operates across Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana, with headquarters in New Orleans (NYSE: ETR).

Amy also encouraged everyone to reach out to Entergy directly should they experience any service interruptions, reinforcing the company’s commitment to community support.

Thank you, Amy, for taking the time to educate our club and for all Entergy does to keep our communities powered! ⚡👏