Susan Chakiris Busby鈥檚 colorful artwork on display at 麻豆直播
ELLISVILLE 鈥揟he colorful and uniquely created artwork of Susan Chakiris Busby will be on display at the Eula Bass Lewis Art Gallery on the Ellisville campus of 麻豆直播 until September 18, 2025. Her paintings 鈥減op鈥� off the wall with color because of a unique style of painting and materials used to create a dimensional image.
鈥淚 have painted in watercolors and acrylic for many years and recently began exploring the medium of cold wax and oil, both on birch panel and yupo paper in a semi realistic and impressionist style.鈥� said Busby. 鈥淭his medium allows for the layering of colors and texture whether painting in the style of impressionism or abstraction. The cold wax and oil paint method is not defined by subject matter but by experimentation, texture and layers of paint. Cold wax medium is a mixture of natural beeswax, Gamsol and Danmar resin mixed with oil paint to achieve a buttery quality usually applied with a soft silicone bowl scraper or silicon brushes.鈥�
The former Jones County art instructor and adjunct professor at the University of Southern Mississippi is a native of Pennsylvania and lived in Tempe, Arizona for several years before meeting her husband and moving to rural Mississippi. While in Arizona, the former photographer taught dark room photography at Phoenix Arts and Crafts Center, freelanced as a photographer for modeling agencies in Phoenix and worked as an assistant to a commercial photographer. She attended art classes at Arizona State University and completed her Bachelors and Master鈥檚 degrees in Art in the late 1980鈥檚 at the University of Southern Mississippi with degrees in Fine Art and Art Education.
鈥淢y vision for my paintings comes from 45 years of living a rural life in the woods which has entailed growing food, herbs and flowers and raising children and farm animals. I have also spent many years exploring the marshes and waterways of South Mississippi along the beautiful Gulf Coast and sailing to our beautiful barrier islands. My art originates from paying attention to the natural world of light, reflections, shadows, textures and colors that surround us in nature. I translate what I see in the three-dimensional world onto a two-dimensional surface focusing on a more impressionistic style,鈥� said Busby.
Her life鈥檚 journey has earned her several awards and accomplishments with the latest being accepted as a member of the Mississippi Art Colony and being awarded the Becky Feder Award for Artistic Achievement. Busby has also been accepted as a member in the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington D.C. and she was accepted as a participant in the Meridian Museum of Art Annual Juried Competition for the past two years. Her work has been in the Lucile Parker Gallery and is currently a part of the Mississippi Art Colony Traveling Show. She is a board member of the Hattiesburg Arts Council and a member of the Lauren Rogers Art Museum, the Ohr O鈥橩eefe Museum and the Mississippi Museum of Art.
For more information about upcoming JC art shows or to arrange a visit to the gallery call, 601-477-8401. The Eula Bass Lewis Art Gallery is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., and by appointment only on Fridays. The gallery is closed during the holidays. To learn more about the 麻豆直播 Art Department, /programs/finearts/ or the JC Art Department鈥檚 social media: Facebook page, and on Instagram .
Summer Semester Honor Roll at 麻豆直播 Announced
ELLISVILLE – 麻豆直播 has announced the 2025 Summer Semester honor roll scholars. Full-time students with 15 hours or more and who maintain the following grade-point averages will make the honor roll: President鈥檚 List–4.0; Dean鈥檚 List–3.99-3.5: Faculty List–3.49-3.0.
President鈥檚 Honor Roll
Covington Collins: Jonathan Kennedy Portillo.
Forrest Hattiesburg: Ashley Helena Hobson.
Greene Leakesville: Michael Chase Brewer and Brayden Anthony Miller.
Greene McLain: Mitchell Terrell Brown.
Hinds Jackson: Shantal Shavelle McLaughlin.
Jasper Louin: Quinteshia Zykeria Jones.
Jones Ellisville: Ashley Cheyenne Breazeale, Joshua Lee Crosby and Jonathan Ryan Hayes.
Jones Hattiesburg: Mckenzie Grace Walker.
Jones Laurel: Bryce Ann Burrell, Makayla R McCreary, Kandalyn Molloy and Brittany Danielle Perry.
Jones Moselle: Robin Delk McGinnis.
Jones Ovett: Ramsus Emmanuel Sauls.
Jones Soso: Diontre Te Smith.
Lamar Hattiesburg: Eric Benjamin Dean.
Lamar Purvis: Amy Marie Waters.
Madison Canton: Dannah A Knighton.
Perry Beaumont: Braden C Talley and Jeremiah Omarion Turner.
Scott Morton: Lillie Faith Bradshaw.
Smith Louin: Matthew Tyler McNeil.
Smith Magee: Criston Abbagail Little.
Smith Raleigh: Crystal Lynn McNeil.
Sunflower Indianola: Carien Rena Anderson.
Tallahatchie Charleston: Jayla Symone Bullock.
Wayne Waynesboro: Bethany Danielle Beard and Braden Gage Millican.
Dean鈥檚 List Honor Roll
Alcorn Corinth: Spence Maddox Coffman.
Covington Seminary: William Garrett Adcox, Autumn Grace Bullock, Triston Nicole Lowery and Isaac Riley McQueen.
Forrest Hattiesburg: Michael Dwight Brown and David M Smith.聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽
Greene Leakesville: Ian Mackenzie Stowers.
Greene Neely: Keaton Trais Byrd and Kemper Grant Williams.
Greene Richton: Addison Tate McLain.
Greene State Line: Layla Grace McIlwain.
Hancock Kiln: Naomi Renae Nelson.
Harrison Gulfport: Ashton Casey Przepierski.
Jones Ellisville: Jimmy Lee Brownlee, Charity Davis Busby, Alexandria Sanville Ruth, Shaquille Markee Shelwood and Hope Caroline Smith.
Jones Laurel: Rogel Moran Avendano, Jaylen Malik Evans, Sujan Ghimire, Case Dempse McMullen and Kynlee Elizabeth Smith.聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽
Jones Seminary: Gaden Lakoda Butler.
Jones Soso: Charles Williams.
Lamar Hattiesburg: Valeria Espinoza and Mario Rashan Henderson.
Lamar Sumrall: Gregory Thomas Bounds Landon James Robertson.
Lowndes Columbus: Clarice Lashay Richardson.
Neshoba Philadelphia: Ahmarion Dashaun Ragsdale.
Perry Richton: Ella Grace Smith.
Smith Louin: Kristopher Doyle Moss.
Smith Mount Olive: Javan R Hand.
Wayne Waynesboro: Ethan Michael Clark and Luke McRae Hudson.
Faculty List Honor Roll
Clarke Shubuta: Zyon McKenzie.
Clay Laurel: Juan Fredrick Nelson.
Covington Collins: Vinkodious Lovetagious Hilton.
Covington Mount Olive: LaKenneth Dywan Fairley.
Covington Seminary: Devan Scott Blancett and Leah Michelle Englett.
DeSoto Olive Branch: Keynasia G Porter.
Forrest Hattiesburg: Ahmya Kianna Bacot, Zack Dalton Horner, Karlmecia Lakyla Jones, Kristopher A Lee, Jamia Monae McCord and Jeakayla Tineria Wright.
Forrest Petal: Sarah Emily Ball, Kaylie S Derrick, Kadien Cierra Guy, Morgan Alisa Newsome, Grayson Cole Sanford, Allyson Paige Strahan, Jennifer Rene Waltere and Xandria Alexis Weatherton.
Greene Lucedale: Brody Osten Bradley.
Greene Richton: Kevin Bryce Walley.
Greene State Line: Brennan Carson Beard and Jerneshia Moneshe Turner.
Harrison Gulfport: Brooklyn Nichole Holton and Brittney Latrease Zeigler.
Hinds Jackson: Jermiah A Cross.
Jasper Bay Springs: Madalynn Grace Owens.
Jasper Heidelberg: Kamya J Graves and Mark Danielle Terrell.
Jasper Louin: Maylazia S Hardy and Kelli B Thornton.
Jasper Vossburg: Karli Chandler Whisenhant.
Jefferson Davis Prentiss: Kivionna M Johnson.
Jones Ellisville: Lekenya Nyasia Arrington, Tonancy Carranza, Bryson Jay Ford, Heather Marie Howell, Kayla Rae Patterson and Karli Arin Youngberg.
Jones Laurel: Brian Michael Blackledge, Sydney M Burchfield, Jakendis Atarius Jones, Reagen Miles Parker, Addison Marie Ray, Anjelena Takedra Lashell Sanson, Ashley Dungan Walters, Ethan Paul Walters, Jamie Elizabeth Watkins and John Gabriel Wheeler.
Jones Moselle: Jaquan Marquell Bean and Diego Alonso Rangel Martinez.
Jones Sandersville: Zoe Victoria Clingon.
Jones Soso: David Lane Landrum, Lanie J Shows and David James Tisdale.
Lamar Hattiesburg: Brandon Burkley Averett, Dylan A Johnson and Rashad R Prince.
Lamar Purvis: Meagan Rachel Lumpkin.
Lamar Sumrall: James Brody Courtney.
Pike McComb: Yasmine Aiyana Lee.
Rankin Brandon: Emma K King and Hannah M Martin.
Rankin Florence: Deamberleye E Rankin.
Scott Morton: Ghenessy Lopez Vicente.
Simpson Magee: Keanna Janay Walker.
Smith Mize: John Amory Darden.
Wayne Buckatunna: Phillip Chadwick McLaughlin.
Wayne Shubuta: Quaneshia LaShae Cooley.
Wayne State Line: Devin Jamal Miller.
Wayne Sumrall: Hanna Brazell.
Wayne Waynesboro: Jacob W Colling, Lashaun Tyrion Evans, Chrisquisa Monkhia Matthews and Knija E Russell.
Wilkinson Woodville: Shatyre Mona Hunter.
麻豆直播 students return to campus
ELLISVILLE 鈥� Returning to the 麻豆直播 campus in Ellisville this fall has been super exciting for many students. Sophomores, Emily Davis of Laurel, and Caroline Whittington of Sumrall are especially thrilled about the opportunity to have a class together for the first time.
鈥淲e鈥檙e suitemates, living on campus and we鈥檙e really excited about going to Comp 1 this morning,鈥� said Davis who is majoring in Elementary Education. Whittington, a communications major, explained. 鈥淭his is the first class we have together and we鈥檙e super happy about it.鈥�
Also returning to campus was Maloree Walters of Seminary, however this is the first time the sophomore is able to walk to classes instead of driving from her home. Never-the-less, the nineteen-year-old Walters knew arranging the traditional first day of class photo tradition may be more challenging.
鈥淲hen my mom reminded me to take a selfie for my first day of school picture before I go to class, I asked her, 鈥楥an you come give me a hug and take the picture?鈥� My mom is my best friend and it means a lot to her, well both of us.鈥�
After taking a few pictures with Maloree posed in front of Anderson Hall before heading off to class, Mrs. Walters wiped some tears, hugged her daughter and sent her off to begin her sophomore year of college.
鈥淪he鈥檚 my baby, and only daughter,鈥� explained Danielle Walters, who is a 1997 JC graduate and owns The Haven hair salon in Ellisville. 鈥淚 have always taken pictures of my kids on their first day of school. My 23-year-old son is taking Electromechanical Technology classes on campus and graduates this year, and I have a 26-year-old son too. They are all near and dear to my heart.鈥�
Not wasting any time to make new friends in a new environment, 20-year-old Jacarrio 鈥淩io鈥� Anderson of Macon became friends with a classmate he just met, JC freshmen, Zay Owen and his girlfriend Kemya Wesley of Waynesboro. As they escorted Wesley to her nursing class, Anderson said he wanted to get more experience in the Commercial Construction Technology program at JC even though he just earned his Associate鈥檚 degree at another college close to home.
鈥淢y cousin and I own a construction company, Bankhead and Sons, and I do some side work on my own. I want to fine tune my skills here because I鈥檒l learn a little of everything. One day, I hope to build houses on site,鈥� said Anderson.
There are a few new courses for anyone still wanting to enroll, like the new, face-to-face course, Drugs and Society which is part of the Criminal Justice program and the Farm and Ranch Management program. Registration continues for traditional classes through Friday, August 22. Online courses begin on Monday, August 25, with registration continuing through August 29. For more information about 麻豆直播, click on the website, /.
麻豆直播鈥檚 Typhoon Marching Band features Earth Wind and Fire
ELLISVILLE 鈥� The 101-member Typhoon Marching Band at 麻豆直播 has spent the last two weeks of Band Camp preparing their halftime show titled, 鈥淓lements of Groove: A Typhoon Tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire.鈥� The Typhoon will present its traditional pre-game show consisting of the JC Fight Song Fanfares, the National Anthem and a musical presentation by The Touch of Gold dancers The band ends the show with the fan favorite, JC Jam cheer and Hey Song.
鈥淎s Director of Bands, I am excited to continue the legacy of the Typhoon Marching Band as we enter a new school year at 麻豆直播,鈥� said Tamiko Bridges who took the reins in May. She has been a music educator for 25 years in the private, elementary, middle, high school and collegiate sectors. Most recently, she has been the Director of Bands/Fine Arts & Electives Department Chair at Laurel School District from 2002-2010, and 2018 until May, 2025. She added, 鈥淥ur 2025 Field Show celebrates the music of an era that deeply resonates with our alumni and community.鈥�
Some classic tunes the band will be performing include, In the Stone, Let鈥檚 Groove Tonight, Boogie Wonderland, After the Love is Gone, and September. Bridges said this heartfelt homage to the past is also inspiring to a new generation.
鈥淥ur mission is simple. Be the best band, produce the best sound and inspire the best students to continue the legacy at the best institution, 麻豆直播!鈥� Bridges declared.
Joining Bridges is Assistant Director of Bands and brass instructor, Kyle Matthees and Dr. Jared Potter who is also the percussion instructor. As a trumpet player, Matthees鈥� experience includes symphonic, chamber, and commercial music, with performances at the International Trumpet Guild Conference, the National Trumpet Competition, and with ensembles such as the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Potter, a native of Kosciusko, Mississippi, holds both a Doctor of Musical Arts and a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from the University of Florida. While at UF, he served as the instructor of records for the Percussion Skills course, assisted with the UF Percussion Ensemble and Steel Band, and directed the Florida Drumline. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education from Mississippi State University, where he studied with Jason Baker.
Another new addition to the band staff is Glade Elementary School music teacher and JC adjunct music instructor and Colorguard Director, Lindsey Langley. With 15 years of experience in public education, Langley has taught music to students from pre-kindergarten through high school seniors, inspiring a love for the arts across all age groups. She has served as a band director and colorguard instructor, leading multiple Colorguard and Winterguard teams to state championships.
鈥淚 am excited to foster creativity and skill in our students. At Jones I will be bringing my passion for performance, teamwork, and excellence to the collegiate level,鈥� said Langley. Her academic achievements include a Bachelor鈥檚 degree in Music Education from the University of Mississippi, a Master鈥檚 degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from William Carey University.
The Touch of Gold dance team is led by Lora Davis who begins her 36th year as choreographer of the group of talented ladies.
鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled to be a part of continuing and building the tradition of the Touch of Gold dance team. This year, I have a small but energetic team, bringing lots of enthusiasm and hard work,鈥� said Davis. 鈥淭hey are also excited to be a part of the Typhoon, sharing in the tradition that several of their mothers and sisters shared as alumni.鈥�
Leading the students on the field are returning Drum Majors, Chaz Welborn of Ellisville and Elisa Cook of Meridian who are both excited to begin the marching band season.
鈥淚 think what the audience will love most about this show is the extravagant sound coming from our players鈥� horns,鈥� said Cook. 鈥淭he combination of Mrs. Bridges discipline, quality, and leadership with Dr. Potter鈥檚 encouragement and Mr. Matthees organization, and all of their experience makes for an amazing and enjoyable opportunity to share our talents with the public.鈥�
New to the JC team of drum majors is freshman, Laney Ingram of Raleigh who has loads of experience and enthusiasm. The band鈥檚 first appearance on the field will be on Thursday, September 11, for the first home football game and Hall of Fame Night. The Bobcat football team will play against the Mississippi Gulf Coast Bulldogs in Bobcat Stadium/Sim Cooley Field at 7 p.m.
For more information about the Maroon Typhoon contact Tamiko Bridges by email at tamiko.bridges@jcjc.edu or the Art, Music and Performance website, /programs/finearts/ For more information about JC athletics and the home football schedule featuring the Maroon Typhoon鈥檚 performances click on the JC Athletics website at
麻豆直播 Typhoon Marching Band Roster 2025
Name City High School County Instrument
James Davis Enterprise Enterprise HS Clarke Alto Sax
Braxton Magee Collins Collins HS Covington Alto Sax
Joanna Fernandez-Pavon Moselle South Jones HS Jones Alto Sax
Stacy Villaseca Laurel Northeast Jones Jones Alto Sax
Tristan Allen聽聽 聽聽聽聽聽聽 Louin聽 聽聽 Raleigh HS聽聽聽聽聽 聽聽聽 聽聽聽 Smith聽 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Alto Sax
Linsey Ingram聽聽聽 Morton Raleigh HS 聽聽聽聽Smith 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Alto Sax
Edwin James Bay Springs Raleigh HS Smith Alto Sax
Aaron Mealey State Line Wayne County HS Wayne Alto Sax
Abigail Graham Beaumont Perry Central HS Perry Bari Sax
Mykala Goodman Byram Terry HS Hinds Baritone
Sidney Patterson Seminary South Jones HS Jones Baritone
Halle Craven Ellisville South Jones HS Jones Baritone
Leia Espey Enterprise Enterprise HS Clarke Clarinet
Maria Gomez Collins Collins HS Covington Clarinet
Tanesha Magee Collins Collins HS Covington Clarinet
Jennifer Portillo Collins Collins HS Covington Clarinet
Zahmiya Estes Lucedale George County HS George Clarinet
Anivea Thigpen Bay Springs Bay Springs HS Jasper Clarinet
Seth Barlow Ellisville South Jones HS Jones Clarinet
Mary Christian Ellzey Seminary South Jones HS Jones Clarinet
Taylor Kitchens Seminary South Jones HS Jones Clarinet
Kamiyah May Laurel Northeast Jones HS Jones Clarinet
Zipporah McCurdy Heidelberg Northeast Jones HS Jones Clarinet
John David Myers Ellisville South Jones HS Jones Clarinet
Edna Perez Ambrocio Morton Morton HS Scott Clarinet
Lariza Hernandez Harrisville Mendenhall HS Simpson Clarinet
Elizabeth Thomas Moselle South Jones HS Jones Clarinet/Bass
Johnna Jones Mt. Olive Simpson Academy Covington Dance
Cambrey Hill Laurel West Jones Jones Dance
Allee Green Laurel West Jones HS Jones Dance
Ellie Claire Napier Ellisville Ocean Springs HS Jones Dance
Allie Robinson Ellisville South Jones HS Jones Dance
Jena Lowery Mize Mize HS Smith Dance
Mallory Matthews Raleigh Raleigh HS Smith Dance
Heidi Ainsworth Waynesboro Wayne County HS Wayne Dance
Chaz Welborn Ellisville Northeast Jones Jones Drum Major
Elisa Cook Meridian Clarkdale HS Lauderdale Drum Major
Laney Ingram Morton Raleigh HS Smith Drum Major
Jennifer Pineda Collins Collins Covington Flute
Kyndall Gunderson Petal Petal HS Forrest Flute
A鈥橫iracle Blackwell Prentiss Jeff Davis County HS Jeff Davis Flute
Janette Hernandez Laurel Northeast Jones HS Jones Flute
Angela Martinez Ellisville South Jones HS Jones Flute
Karen Mendoza Alba Ellisville South Jones HS Jones Flute
Elizabet Ramirez Pham Laurel Northeast Jones HS Jones Flute
Adria Stephenson Soso West Jones HS Jones Flute
Maggie Bennett Sumral Sumrall HS Lamar Flute
Emily Ponce Morton Morton HS Scott Flute
Hannah Smith Newton, Texas Flute
Lillian Johnson Petal Petal HS Forrest Guard
Jazmyne Bryant Laurel Northeast Jones HS Jones Guard
Martha Hernandez Ellisville Northeast Jones HS Jones Guard
Lucy Channell Pearl Pearl HS Rankin Guard
Leah Devenport Florence Florence HS Rankin Guard
Madison Knighten Florence Florence HS Rankin Guard
Lynathia Spann Florence Florence HS Rankin Guard
Sadee Wallace Harrisville Mendenhall HS Simpson Guard
Jarlyn Jordan Waynesboro Wayne County HS Wayne Guard
La’Keiya Stokes Waynesboro HSE Wayne Guard
Danielle Williams Waynesboro Wayne County HS Wayne Guard
Gracie Speed Collins Collins HS Covington Manager
Marquise Winters Hattiesburg Hattiesburg HS Forrest Manager
Rhe鈥橭nna Bridges Ellisville Homeschool Jones Manager
Alex Mixon Moselle South Jones HS Jones Manager
Kira Alexander Monticello Lawrence County HS Lawrence Manager
Gracelyn Knight Monticello Lawrence County HS Lawrence Manager
Ghenessy Lopez Morton Morton HS Scott Manager
Meghan Torrano Morton Morton HS Scott Manager
Laura Jane Moss Grenada Grenada HS Grenada Mellophone
Dawson Ellard Ellisville Northeast Jones HS Jones Mellophone
Cayden Pope Columbia Columbia HS Marion Mellophone
Aidan Chisolm Mize Mize HS Smith Mellophone
Zachary Hand Petal Mize HS Smith Mellophone
Dani Patricia Mitchell Seminary Seminary HS Covington Mellophone
Conner Perkin s Petal Petal HS Forrest Percus/Bass Guitar
Hayden Michael Enterprise Enterprise HS Clarke Percussion
Rhyder Mckee Collins Collins HS Covington Percussion
De鈥橝ngelo McLaurin Collins Collins HS Covington Percussion
Samuel Hall Petal Petal HS Forrest Percussion
Dallas Peacock Laurel Stringer HS Jasper Percussion
Granville Arrington Sandersville Northeast Jones HS Jones Percussion
Tristan Patterson Ovett South Jones HS Jones Percussion
Kayden Dozier Laurel Northeast Jones HS Jones Percussion
Demarion McCullum Ellisville South Jones HS Jones Percussion
Nancy Tucker Laurel Northeast Jones HS Jones Percussion
Mariah Smith Richton Richton HS Perry Percussion
Logan Cockrell Harrisville Mendenhall HS Simpson Percussion
Victor Payton Waynesboro Wayne County HS Wayne Perc/Drum Set
David Parish Ellisville South Jones HS Jones Tenor Sax
Ethan Patterson Moselle South Jones HS Jones Trombone
Sydnee Tisdale Ellisville South Jones Jones Trombone
Christian Dobbs Laurel West Jones HS Jones Trombone
Mark Dukes Trussville, AL Hewitt Trussville HS Trombone
Jesse Smith Quitman Enterprise HS Clarke Trumpet
Anarria Mangrum Mt. Olive Collins HS Covington Trumpet
Sara Thompson Petal Petal HS Forrest Trumpet
Landen Upton Hattiesburg Petal HS Forrest Trumpet
Calli Parker Raleigh Raleigh HS Smith Trumpet
Patrick Soetaert State Line Wayne County HS Wayne Trumpet
James Blackmon Quitman Quitman HS Clarke Tuba
Jaylon Williams Prentiss Jeff Davis County HS Jeff Davis Tuba
Jacey Posey Ellisville South Jones HS Jones Tuba
麻豆直播鈥檚 All-Mississippi Academic Team named
ELLISVILLE 鈥� Two 麻豆直播 students earned individual honors through the International Honor Society for two-year colleges, Phi Theta Kappa. Sophomore History major, Hope Houston of Laurel was selected to Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society鈥檚 All-Mississippi Academic First Team. Child Development and Family Sciences major from Oak Grove, Baleigh Patton was selected for Second Team honors.
鈥淗ope is an incredibly focused and thoughtful student. She has personal and professional interests that span from health care to history, and being named to the MS All-Academic team is a true testament to her intellectual curiosity and work ethic,鈥� said PTK Advisor and Dean of Science and Technology, Eric Shows. 鈥淏aleigh is the most uplifting PTK officer in my recent memory. I always look forward to working with her because of her compassion, her humor, and her approach to life. Her selection to the MS All-Academic Team is a wonderful recognition of her commitment to personal and professional success that will benefit our community.鈥�
As a 麻豆直播 student, Houston has been actively volunteering in her community in various ways. She is a dedicated volunteer for the Laurel Veteran鈥檚 Memorial Museum and the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. She has been selected to the Leadership Academy for the National WWII Museum, and she has been invited to do an internship for Documentary First, with the Normandy Academy through the National WWII Museum for the last two summers. Additionally, the Laurel native has been a member of the Charles Pickering Honors Institute, 麻豆直播 Concert Choir, JC Voices, and a photographer for the yearbook. She was selected as a member of the Hall of Fame, and she has served as the Phi Theta Kappa VP of Scholarship. Houston鈥檚 future plans include double majoring in history and business management at the University of Southern Mississippi.
鈥淚 am incredibly thankful and humbled by this honor. Academics have always been extremely hard for me. I have dyslexia and bad vision which is not a good combination when it comes to learning!鈥� shared Houston. 鈥淚鈥檝e always had to work twice as hard to understand concepts. The Lord has taught me to rely on Him for all my strength, and I have learned the value of hard work.鈥�
Twenty-year-old Baleigh Patton has helped her community in numerous ways, including as a Governance Board Member of I.M.A.G.E. for Teens, she volunteers for Hope鈥檚 Collective Food Pantry and she volunteers for Life Church鈥檚 Children鈥檚 department and Media Team. At JC, she served as the Phi Theta Kappa VP of Service, has sung in the choir and has been a member of the Charles Pickering Honors Institute. She plans to earn her bachelor鈥檚 degree in Elementary Education at the University of Southern Mississippi before pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in Educational Research. Her goal is to research and find ways to fight illiteracy in America.
鈥淎s a non-traditional and working student, I felt disconnected from my peers, and in a way, PTK filled that disconnect. To be acknowledged by an organization that gave me a sense of purpose, connection to my campus, leadership experience and lifelong relationships leaves me without words to express my fullest gratitude,鈥� said Patton.
Both students were additionally honored as members of the Distinguished Officer Team from Phi Theta Kappa at both the Regional and International Conferences. For the All-Mississippi Academic Team, Houston and Patton competed with more than 1,800 nominations from each of the 15-community colleges in Mississippi. 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.
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Jones County Junior College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Jones County Junior College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 3033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC鈥檚 website ().
Statement of Non-Discrimination and ADA Statement: Jones County Junior College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability in its programs, activities, or employment practices. The (ADA/ Section 504) ADA Coordinator, Student Affairs, phone 601-477-2673, and (Title IX) Title IX Coordinator, Hutcheson Hubbard Administration Building, phone 601-477-4127, have been designated to handle inquiries and grievances regarding the non-discrimination policies. Jones County Junior College, 900 South Court Street, Ellisville, MS 39437.