麻豆直播

ELLISVILLE – 麻豆直播 students effected by COVID-19 may be eligible for assistance thanks to a grant the Mississippi Community College Foundation received from the Woodward Hines Education Foundation. Qualifying students impacted during the pandemic may receive funds to help them stay on track towards graduation.

鈥淭hese are difficult times for students who are trying to adjust to the many personal and educational challenges brought on by COVID-19,鈥� said Dr. Ronnie Nettles, Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Foundation. 鈥淲e are delighted to partner with the Woodward Hines Education Foundation to help these students.鈥�

Jim McHale, WHEF President and CEO added, many of Mississippi鈥檚 college students are already vulnerable to unexpected financial hurdles.

鈥淲e viewed this as an emergent opportunity to provide immediate financial support to Mississippi鈥檚 two-year college students impacted by COVID-19, so they would not be forced to put their education on hold for financial reasons.鈥�

The grant has established student relief funds at all 15 Mississippi community colleges. Money can be used to help students with the costs associated with in-home internet access, fuel cards, credential fee stipends, to establish campus tablet or computer loan programs, or other costs that may be a barrier to college completion.

麻豆直播 and each of the state鈥檚 14 community colleges, received $20,000 each to help students in need. The grant money will be disbursed until the funds are depleted said, Charlie Garretson, 麻豆直播 VP of Advancement. He is especially excited to be able to help students who are also affected by the EF4 Tornadoes on Easter Sunday.

鈥淭his is a first come-first-serve-grant opportunity for 麻豆直播 students to receive financial assistance to help with college expenses,鈥� said Garretson. 鈥淎pplying for assistance on our JC webpage takes a few minutes with qualifying students receiving up to $500 for qualifying expenses.鈥�

Dr. Andrea Mayfield, Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Board praised the commitment to Mississippi鈥檚 community college students by the Woodward Hines Education Foundation. Over the years, the WHEF has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to financially support the state鈥檚 two-year college institutions.

鈥淐OVID-19 has impacted the lives of our students and their families in so many ways. This grant will help ease the stress so students can continue to focus on their education. I am grateful to Woodward Hinds Education Foundation for their support,鈥� said Mayfield.

麻豆直播 students are encouraged to apply for the Woodward Hines Education Foundation grant as soon as possible, using this link: /alumni_foundation/relief.php

About Woodward Hines Education Foundation:听The Woodward Hines Education Foundation (WHEF) is committed to helping more Mississippians obtain post-secondary credentials, college certifications, and degrees that lead to meaningful employment. Since its inception, WHEF has worked to increase college access and entry for young people in Mississippi and has expanded that work to support promising practices that lead to college persistence and completion. For more information, contact Communications and Impact Director Courtney Lange at mailto:clange@woodwardhines.org. 听听

About the Mississippi Community College Foundation:听Founded in 1986, the Mississippi Community College Foundation (MCCF) is committed to the advancement of the individual and collective missions of the fifteen Mississippi community and junior colleges and the Mississippi Community College Board.听 It strives to enhance the educational opportunities for the citizens of the State of Mississippi.听 To accomplish these goals, the MCCF seeks financial support to improve the colleges and better serve their students. For more information about the MCCF, visit . To learn more about the Mississippi Community College Board, visit

OpEd By Dr. Andrea Mayfield, Tom Downs, Dawn Erlandson

Community colleges in Mississippi and nationwide have responded quickly to the COVID-19 pandemic, making contributions to enhance capabilities of emergency responders and health care professionals.听 Two-year public colleges have the unique capability to re-skill the workforce as Mississippi and the nation prepare to return to productivity after the pandemic subsides.

Following the release of COVID-19 guidelines by state leaders, Mississippi community colleges took action to put safety first. The colleges transitioned face-to-face courses and workforce training classes to an online delivery format to ensure the learning and training process continued uninterrupted.听 To adhere to social distancing guidelines, the community colleges moved classes to an online platform, broke career and technical skills-based courses into multiple smaller groups of students to demonstrate skill-based competencies, closed dorms and cafeterias, and cancelled events to include fundraising activities.听 These changes resulted in significant additional costs incurred by the colleges.

On a statewide level, the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB) has worked diligently to coordinate information about COVID-19 on behalf of the Mississippi鈥檚 community colleges.听 The MCCB is zealously advocating for funding and assistance for these institutions to benefit their ongoing responses to the pandemic.

On a national level, the two principal national associations for community colleges 鈥� the American Association of Community Colleges and the Association of Community College Trustees 鈥� have made COVID-19 a top priority.听 They worked to secure critical funding to meet basic needs of at-risk students and to ensure the nation鈥檚 community colleges have resources to continue teaching and learning as much as possible remotely while confronting the many impacts of COVID-19 on faculty, staff and students.听 They are providing guidance to help colleges safely provide critical in-person, experiential instruction that cannot be done at home for future welders and nurses, among others.

Community college graduates in Mississippi and across the country are today鈥檚 essential workers 鈥� emergency medical technicians, truck drivers, law enforcement officers, respiratory therapists among many others. Community colleges have always welcomed students who are older, have families, attend part-time, and are in need of re-skilling.听 In this era of a global pandemic and high unemployment, they also offer traditional-aged college students the opportunity to earn college credits close to home at a very affordable price.

Prior to COVID-19, the U.S. Congress authorized new community college workforce programs.听 The following are among the sectors where community colleges are essential:

• Advanced manufacturing 鈥� Congress directed the Department of Defense to prioritize Manufacturing and Engineering Education Program funding for community colleges.

• Agribusiness 鈥� Congress prioritized Department of Agriculture appropriations for community college agribusiness programs.

• Automation and unmanned systems 鈥� Community colleges are establishing new programs in robotics, unmanned systems, and other emerging areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Recognizing these capabilities, Congress authorized a new Federal Aviation Administration program, 鈥淐ommunity and Technical College Centers of Excellence in Small Unmanned Aircraft System Technology Training,鈥� which was formally launched on April 30, 2020.听 Hinds Community College has been actively involved in this emerging program.

• Energy 鈥� Congress has prioritized appropriations for the Department of Energy to support community college energy-sector workforce training.

• Maritime 鈥� Community colleges train mariners as well as shoreside maritime workers for well-paying jobs moving commerce along the nation鈥檚 coasts and inland waterways. To elevate this role, Congress authorized a national community college workforce program, 鈥淒omestic Maritime Centers of Excellence,鈥� under the U.S. Maritime Administration鈥檚 jurisdiction.听 Hinds Community College and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College are involved in this new program.

• Advanced Technological Education (ATE) 鈥� The National Science Foundation鈥檚 ATE program funds community college education in high-technology fields that drive the economy. With the strong support of Mississippi鈥檚 community colleges, on May 13, 2020 United States Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced the Advanced Technological Manufacturing Act, to double the ATE program鈥檚 funding level.

Community colleges in Mississippi and across the country will be essential to America鈥檚 post-pandemic economic recovery.

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Dr. Andrea Mayfield is Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Board.听 Email: amayfield@mccb.edu

Tom Downs is a Washington, D.C. attorney and higher education consultant, and founder of the Community and Technical College Consortium.听 Email: tcdowns@downsgovaffairs.com

Dawn Erlandson is the national Board Chair of the Association of Community College Trustees.听 Email: dawnerlandson@gmail.com

ELLISVILLE – For the first time in Phi Theta Kappa鈥檚 history, the International Honor Society for two-year colleges held their annual conference, 鈥淧TK Catalyst 2020,鈥� virtually. Four 麻豆直播 representatives participated in the historical event and were inspired to continue helping their peers during the 鈥淟earn at Home鈥� phase of education. PTK co-advisor, Brittany (Weatherford) Barron and student officers, Araceli Figueroa-President of Laurel, James Denning-College Project Director of Petal, Shelby Welborn-Art and Media Director of Laurel and Alyssa Webb-Vice President of Service of D鈥橧berville virtually attended the conference in late April.

鈥淎lthough PTK Catalyst this year was not as expected, I definitely did not feel one bit uninspired; the guest speakers from the PTK Virtual Catalyst Convention were phenomenal and galvanizing!! Making history with PTK this year was one of the most exciting things during my quarantine season!! Proud to be a Phi Theta Kappan!鈥� said Figeroa.

Computer science major, James Denning was especially inspired by the speaker, Erica Dhawan who spoke on the importance of connectional intelligence. Highlighting key ideas like discovering our role in our community and helping our communities led Denning to combine his talents to help his peers.

鈥淗er words lit a fire in me and made me want to do what I could to help out people in any way I could. I created group chats for JC students to use to get help with homework or to help with certain concepts that were bothering them,鈥� said Denning.

Despite the fact not many took advantage of the opportunity, Denning said it forced him to look introspectively.

鈥淚 had to confront the fact that I have not been the best with socialization throughout my life. I don鈥檛 really have a way with words. This experience has made me want to do all I can to invest in myself and my people skills to help me and others feel more comfortable allowing me to invest in them and to help them as I can.鈥�

Also inspired by the virtual conference was first-year PTK co-advisor, Brittany (Weatherford) Barron. The radiologic technology instructor said, 鈥淚 am an advocate for networking, technology, and self-reflection in the classroom. After attending the event, I was inspired to increase the utilization of these methodologies through connectional intelligence exercises introduced by one of the international speakers. Most of all, I am elated that the officers were able to attend this virtual event and benefit from the experience.鈥�

At the International Conference, the Rho Sigma chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at 麻豆直播 ended the year with several chapter and individual honors. The 麻豆直播 chapter achieved a 5-star status, like in previous years and the chapter also attained the 鈥淩EACH鈥� chapter status for our membership acceptance rate again.

At the Regional Spring PTK Conference, 麻豆直播鈥檚 Honors in Action Project titled, 鈥淩ho Sigma Breaks the Stigma – The Plea for CTE,鈥� won second place in our theme category. In addition, PTK co-advisor, Eric Shows said he is especially proud that members reported more than 2000 hours of community service for this academic year.

Individually, Layne Boykin of Waynesboro was selected to Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society鈥檚 All-Mississippi Academic First Team and Jordan Butler of Ellisville was chosen for the All-Mississippi Academic Second Team. Career and Technical students in the Radiologic Technology program, Kelly Odom of Hattiesburg and Haley Bounds of Moselle were both nominated for the All-Mississippi Academic Second Team as Workforce Pathway honorees.

The four JC students competed with more than 1,800 nominations from each of the 15-community colleges. As part of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society鈥檚 annual academic and workforce competition, each student submitted an essay, answered discussion questions, and described their leadership roles and activities while in college.

The highest-scoring nominees from each of the 15 two-year colleges earned First Team All-Mississippi honors and $500 scholarships provided by the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges. All team members received special medallions, certificates, and printed resolutions from the Mississippi Legislature.

Photo of PTK Group, by JC student photographer for the Radionian newspaper, Allie Sanders

ELLISVILLE-麻豆直播鈥檚 Radiologic Technology 2020 graduate, Taylor Bryant of Mize, was recently named the Mississippi Radiological Society鈥檚 2020 Radiologic Technology Student of the Year for 麻豆直播. The 2016 Mize Attendance Center graduate received a $400 scholarship from the Mississippi Radiologic Society to continue her education.

鈥淚 am humbled to receive this scholarship,鈥� said Bryant. 鈥淢y plans include continuing my education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, thanks to the Mississippi Radiological Society. I could not have done it without my teachers motivating me. I am extremely thankful for 麻豆直播 and the two years in this competitive program. It has not been easy, but it has been worth it!鈥�

麻豆直播鈥檚 Radiography Program Clinical Coordinator and instructor, Brittany Weatherford Barron, M.H.S., R.T. (R)(M)(CT)(ARRT)听 said Bryant was selected for the scholarship because she was successful academically and she is of sound moral character, which are some of the requirements for the honor.

鈥淭aylor is goal-oriented and driven and she has distinguished herself scholastically with competitive grades while in the radiography program. Taylor is currently working at Hattiesburg Urgent Care with plans to further her education in ultrasonography and eventually become a travel technologist. She has demonstrated competence in radiologic procedures and patient care skills in the clinical setting,鈥� said Barron.

She added, Bryant is especially deserving of the Award and Scholarship because she has distinguished herself in the classroom. The radiography program faculty at 麻豆直播 said they are very proud of Bryant and are thankful for the Mississippi Radiological Society鈥檚 support of radiologic technology students.