鶹ֱ

鶹ֱ hopes to meet Spring Blood Drive goals amidst critical needs

ELLISVILLE – After two days into the Spring Blood Drive at 鶹ֱ, Vitalant representatives are thankful and concerned. Typically, the first day of donations exceeds goals but donations are coming in slow. The community is invited to the 鶹ֱ campus to donate on the last day of the three-day blood drive on Thursday, February 27. The Mobile Unit will be collecting donations between the C.L. Neill Student Center, and the Student Union from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Donors are welcome to walk in and donate or make an appointment on the Vitalant website,

鶹ֱ sophomore from Petal, Madalyn Gatlin (left) decided to donate “doubles” as phlebotomist Jaylin Bouie (right) checks on her progress.

JC Blood Drive Coordinator, Emergency Technology-Paramedic Program Director and Healthcare Simulation Center Director, Benji Sessums, Ph.D. NR-P, reports that about 50 units were collected over the last two days. Forty more units are needed to meet the goal.

“Vitalant is in a critical need for blood currently. While I am grateful we’ve surpassed the half-way point of our goal, I hope we can have a big turnout on the last day because the JC blood drive helps provide a critical resource to sick and injured people throughout the state. JC students, faculty and staff step up every year to do our best to meet the needs of our state and our community and we hope the community will join us in meeting the blood supply needs.”

鶹ֱ alumnus, Jayden Jones joined his girlfriend to help alleviate the critical need for blood donations during the annual spring blood drive at 鶹ֱ.

To encourage donations, all donors will receive a $10 e-gift card, in addition to other door prizes including $50 bookstore gift certificates, restaurant gift cards, and more, during random drawings for donors.

鶹ֱ’s enrollment growth ranks #1 in the state

ELLISVILLE – 鶹ֱ ranks first in the state in enrollment growth amongst the 15 Community Colleges for the Spring 2025 semester according to the Mississippi Community College Board’s semester report. Jones welcomed an additional 520 students over Spring 2024 and generated 4,136 more semester credit hours, marking the most significant increase in both headcount and credit hours in recent history.

“This record-breaking growth, with the largest student body since Spring 2011, and the highest credit hour generation since the onset of COVID in Spring 2020, demonstrates our resilience and our ability to adapt to the evolving educational landscape,” said Dr. Finée Ruffin, Executive Vice President at 鶹ֱ. “Our commitment to providing quality education has resonated with students and the community, as evidenced by these historic gains.”

Several other factors are being attributed to the unprecedented surge in enrollment, including a strategic effort to remove barriers which prevent students from being successful and finding resources to reach their goals.

“鶹ֱ’s enrollment growth reflects our strategic efforts to strengthen student support and create clear pathways to success. This year, we thoughtfully restructured tuition to lower costs and provided early estimated Pell Grant amounts, giving students confidence that college is within reach,” said 鶹ֱ VP of Enrollment Management, Amanda McLeod, LCSW. “Moving forward, we will continue to innovate and expand initiatives like our One Step program, which offers a free class to full-time working individuals. Our goal is to make education accessible to everyone, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to succeed.” 

鶹ֱ students filled up Stephanie Johnson’s psychology class for the first day of the spring semester and her last semester before retiring.  

The growing trend in enrollment began last fall at 鶹ֱ. College officials point to the institution’s academic rigor, with 80 career and technical programs and appealing collegiate environment as additional forces driving the upward trend. The remarkable enrollment and credit hour increases at 鶹ֱ mirrors a broader statewide trend. Among Mississippi’s community colleges, students are taking more semester credit hours which has reached levels not seen since before the COVID pandemic.

鶹ֱ students pictured left to right, Caleb Mosley of Soso, Sam Hall of Petal, Carrie Williams of Petal, Elliot Sholtz of Gulfport and Zoey Broome of Laurel enjoy catching up before spring semester classes begin in the newly remodeled Student Union.

“At 鶹ֱ, we are excited to build on this momentum, ensuring that our students receive the highest quality education and support as they pursue their academic and professional goals,” said Ruffin. “We look forward to continuing this growth and making a lasting impact on our community and the broader educational landscape.”

Jones County Junior College (鶹ֱ) is an open door, two-year institution granting Associate in Arts (AA) degrees, Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degrees, Career and Technical certificates, Adult Education credentials, and Workforce credentials. JC inspires greatness by providing higher education programs and support services consistent with the ideals of a democratic society in order to meet the higher education needs of the communities of interest through postsecondary programming, workforce and economic development, and community development. 

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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’s 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 following persons have been designated to handle inquiries and grievances regarding the non-discrimination policy: The (ADA/ Section 504) Wendy Evans, ADA Coordinator, Terrell Tisdale Library, phone 601-477-2673; email ADACoordinator@jcjc.edu and Title IX Coordinator, Brittany Weatherford-Barron, Hutcheson Hubbard Administration Building, phone 601-477-4127; email brittany.weatherford@jcjc.edu. Jones County Junior College, 900 South Court Street, Ellisville, MS 39437.

鶹ֱ hosts MCTM Jr. H.S. Math Competition

ELLISVILLE – 鶹ֱ’s Math department along with the Mississippi Council of Teachers of Mathematics recently sponsored the district level MCTM Math Contest for Jr. High School students. Thirty-six students from nine Pine Belt area schools spent the morning working out various math problems to earn a spot at the state competition. The following winners of the regional competition will meet at the Mississippi School for Math and Science in Columbus, on April 12, to compete on a state level.

Raleigh seventh grader Jaylon Hosey took first place with Northeast Jones’ Presten Graham earning second-place honors. Eighth-grader Jackson Harper from Stringer won first place and Tyson Breazeale from Seminary achieved second place. All of the participants received a certificate and the top two finishers in each grade from each school received a calculator from Texas Instruments.

 鶹ֱ recently sponsored the Mississippi Council of Teachers of Mathematics district Jr. High School Math contest.  Winners are pictured left to right with 7th grader Presten Graham of Northeast Jones placing 2nd and Raleigh’s Jaylon Hosey taking the top spot. First place honors amongst the 8th grade competitors went to Jackson Harper of Stringer with Tyson Breazeale from Seminary earning 2nd.

鶹ֱ’s Practical Nursing Programs are accepting applications

ELLISVILLE – With nurses continuing to be in demand, more options for training are available at 鶹ֱ. The Practical Nursing program is offered at the main campus with full-time day class, and part-time night class times available. The Jasper County Center in Bay Springs offers a full-time day class and the Wayne County Center in Waynesboro, offers a part-time day class. Part-time classes start this summer at the main campus in Ellisville & at the Wayne County Center.

The entrance requirements for the practical nursing program include meeting admission requirements for 鶹ֱ, have a minimum ACT composite score of 16 (12 if taken before 1989), 14 on English, Math, and Reading subscores, ATI TEAS Test composite score of 50 or greater, a minimum GPA of 2.0 on previous college work and the student must be at least 18 years old on program entrance. Click on the JC Practical Nursing program website for full details and requirements. 

The part-time application deadline for the Summer 2025 Class at the Wayne County Center and for the night class program in Ellisville is Monday, March 3, 2025. The full-time program application deadline for the August 2025 Class at the main campus and at the Jasper County Center is April 1st, 2025.

Applications and all documents (ACT score, transcripts, TEAS test score) need to be delivered to the Practical Nursing Office in Ellisville, located in the Home and Health Center, or it may be emailed to the practical nursing email at, PracticalNursing@jcjc.edu.  Students with any questions or concerns can email, or call, 601-477-4101 for assistance. For further information about the 鶹ֱ Practical Nursing program, including a description about the program and requirements for prospective students check out the website, /programs/practicalnursing/

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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’s 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 following persons have been designated to handle inquiries and grievances regarding the non-discrimination policy: The (ADA/ Section 504) Wendy Evans, ADA Coordinator, Terrell Tisdale Library, phone 601-477-2673; email ADACoordinator@jcjc.edu and Title IX Coordinator, Brittany Weatherford-Barron, Hutcheson Hubbard Administration Building, phone 601-477-4127; email brittany.weatherford@jcjc.edu. Jones County Junior College, 900 South Court Street, Ellisville, MS 39437.

鶹ֱ hosts annual Spring Blood Drive

ELLISVILLE – 鶹ֱ’s annual Spring Blood Drive will be held Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, February 24, 25, and 27, at 鶹ֱ. On Monday, the Mobile Unit will be parked outside of the Industrial Services Building from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. On Tuesday, Vitalant will have a Mobile Unit collecting donations in front of the Student Union from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. and on Thursday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The public, as well as the JC community is invited to participate by making an appointment on the Vitalant website,

Vitalant phlebotomists, Antoine Bolton (back left) and Buddy Murphy (middle) assist 鶹ֱ students like Cooper Norris (right) who donated blood during the annual Fall Blood Drive at 鶹ֱ.

“Last year, 鶹ֱ earned recognition as one of the top institutions in Mississippi for blood donations. This was a remarkable achievement, and I believe we can surpass it this year with support. To do so, we need to coordinate efforts, encourage students, faculty, and staff to participate, and lead by example,” said JC Blood Drive Coordinator, Emergency Technology-Paramedic Program Director and Healthcare Simulation Center Director, Benji Sessums, Ph.D. NR-P. “The JC blood drive helps provide a critical resource to sick and injured people throughout the state and the JC students, faculty and staff step up every year to do our best to meet the needs of our state and our community. I couldn’t be prouder of what Jones does through this one community service opportunity.”

The overall goal for the three-days is 90 units of blood stated Sessums. To encourage donations, all donors will receive a $10 e-gift card, in addition to other door prizes including $50 bookstore gift certificates, restaurant gift cards, and more, during random drawings for donors.