NEMCC Staffer Lands National Honor

BOONEVILLE, Miss.–  Washington D.C. – D. Patrick Eaton, VP of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the Development Foundation & Alumni Association was honored at the Council for Resource Development 49 th Annual Conference October 29 in Washington D.C. for being named the Nation’s Best Community College Fundraiser of the Year, 2015.

The CRD Campus Impact Awards recognize the efforts of individuals or teams that have made a significant positive impact on a community college and/or the students it serves. Award criteria is based off of successful advocacy, writing grants, donor solicitation, college administration and developing business partnerships.  CRD is nation-wide organization and has membership of over a 1000 community colleges across the United States of America.

“This award was only made possible because of the generosity of numerous individuals and organizations.  I am so grateful and blessed to be a part of Northeast MS Community College and have the opportunity to serve our outstanding students.”

Eaton earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Mississippi State University and a MBA from Columbia Southern University.  He is also a graduate of the Institute for Organization Management (IOM) program at the University of Georgia.

Rotary International recognized Eaton as a Paul Harris Fellow award recipient.  He also was named one of Mississippi’s Top 40 under 40 Business professionals by the Mississippi Business Journal.  He has been internationally recognized three times by the CFRE organization for satisfying all the requirements to be declared a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). In 2012, Eaton was  awarded  Administrator of the Year – by the North MS Association of Educational Office Professionals.

Employed at Northeast since 2000, Eaton currently serves as Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the Northeast MS Community College Development Foundation and Alumni Association.  He is a member of the President’s Cabinet and the college’s administrative council.  He has directed numerous Major Gift Capital Campaigns, which utilized over 300 volunteers that raised over $17 million for Northeast.  During his tenure scholarships given to students grew from $10,000 a year to over $300,000 a year.

Over the past 20 years, serving as executive director and CEO, Eaton had the opportunity to be involved in the start-up of two different non-profit development organizations that produced approximately $35 million.  He has also provided assistance in “re-energizing” many others.

Eaton volunteers his time by serving on numerous community, regional and state development boards and committees.  He has served a two-year appointment on the Council for Resource Development National Board of Directors in Washington D.C.  He is an active member of East Booneville Baptist Church where he teaches Sunday School and is Chairman of the Finance committee.  He also enjoys spending time with his family, deer hunting and water-skiing.