麻豆直播

ELLISVILLE 鈥� When Wilicia McClendon鈥檚 parents, Wilbur and Alicia learned about the changes to 麻豆直播鈥檚 Commencement Ceremony, they were disappointed their daughter would miss graduation once again. The ceremony was held two weeks later than usual and outdoors for the first time on, Saturday, May 22, at 8 p.m. Wilicia missed her 2020 graduation because the COVID-19 pandemic forced the college to cancel the commencement ceremony. This year, Wilicia could not attend because of her disabilities and the family would be out of the country.

鈥淲e learned when Wilicia was one year old, she was profoundly deaf. She now has cochlear implants that help her hear some, but she reads lips very well. When she was 10 years old, we discovered she also had problems with her eyesight. She has night blindness and peripheral vision problems because of a condition called 鈥楻 P鈥� or Retinitis pigmentosa. There was no way we could attend an outdoor evening ceremony because she is completely blind at night,鈥� said Alicia McClendon.

The McClendon family has dealt with many challenges and disappointments over the years. The family relocated to Laurel from New Orleans, following Hurricane Katrina. The Laurel School District鈥檚 support of Wilicia turned out to be a blessing and the reason why the family stayed in Laurel. Wilicia graduated from Laurel High School in 2018. Meanwhile, her father earned an associate of arts degree in Criminal Justice from 麻豆直播 in 2013, and her brother Joshua attended 麻豆直播 in 2015 and 2016, before transferring to USM. Wilicia was excited to follow in their path.

鈥淲ilicia has made the President鈥檚 List Honor Roll at Jones just about every semester,鈥� said her mother. 鈥淲hen the college switched to online classes because of the pandemic, Wilicia adapted. She pushes herself to be independent and to not let her disabilities define her.鈥�

Upon hearing about Wilicia and her story, 麻豆直播 President, Dr. Jesse Smith decided to hold a special graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 25, to honor the 鈥済irl with grit.鈥�

鈥淪he鈥檚 very persistent in her studies and she is very passionate about helping children. Wilicia has more grit in her pinky than most people do collectively in their lives and that鈥檚 a testament of her will and focus, and her drive to succeed,鈥� said Smith said to an auditorium of administrators, staff and faculty who came back to campus on their off week.

Wilicia McClendon received diplomas for the Associate in Applied Science degree in Early Childhood Education Technology she earned in 2020, and the Associate of Arts degree she completed this year during a special graduation ceremony at 麻豆直播.

鈥淚 am so thankful to everyone who did this for me. It feels so good to graduate,鈥� said Wilicia. 鈥淚 am famous now!鈥� she chuckled.

Her parents said they were so grateful to Dr. Smith and everyone at Jones for holding the special graduation ceremony that they didn鈥檛 get really emotional until they returned home.

鈥淔or 麻豆直播 and Dr. Smith to do this is overwhelming. Jones really does live out its motto, 鈥業nspiring Greatness.鈥� To see how far Jones was willing to go to make sure students like my daughter are successful has been amazing,鈥� said Wilbur McClendon. 鈥淚t was a big step for Wilicia to come to 麻豆直播, but she has become more independent and determined to live out her dream.鈥�

Wilicia鈥檚 dream includes continuing her education at the University of Southern Mississippi and to open a daycare to help children with hearing and sight impairments like her.

ELLISVILLE 鈥� When the Mississippi Department of Education granted the Laurel School District the School of Innovation Designation in April, it opened new doors of opportunity for qualifying Laurel High School juniors with the introduction of 鈥淢iddle College.鈥�

鈥淭he Middle College Program is an excellent opportunity for our students to get a jumpstart to earning an advanced degree or a career technical education. We are thankful to 麻豆直播鈥檚 administration for their willingness to see this program to fruition,鈥� said Laurel School District Superintendent, Dr. Toy Watts.

Beginning in August, qualifying Laurel HS students with an ACT composite score of 19, including a 19 on the Math section and a 17 in the English section, who also have a 3.25 GPA may begin working on an Associate of Arts degree from 麻豆直播 while also earning their high school diploma. The innovative, Middle College program is one of the programs the Laurel School District was approved to offer as a School of Innovation Designation by the MDE.

鈥淚 was blessed to experience the Dual Enrollment program through 麻豆直播 while at Laurel High School. 听It helped me tremendously and my peers prepare for college and get some of our general courses and electives out of the way,鈥� said Laurel High School 2021 Valedictorian, Jaymar Jackson, II. 鈥淭his additional program is not only going to better our education system, but it will also change the lives of our students and community. Thank you for expanding the opportunities for the Tornado Family and allowing us to become a part of the Bobcat Nation.鈥�

Jackson completed 30-college credit hours while at Laurel High School. Future Middle College students will have the opportunity to earn twice that many credits upon completion of their Associate of Arts degree in General Studies. Additionally, these students will have no out-of-pocket expenses. Local and federal funds cover the Middle College student鈥檚 tuition, fees, books and transportation.

鈥淥ur students will have the same opportunities as any other student within the county, state and nation. We are grateful to the research and curriculum unit, or RCU at Mississippi State University, who support the implementation of the MDE鈥檚 innovative school initiatives. A special thank you goes to the Jones County Supervisors for their financial support of the Middle College students as they pursue their associate degrees. Many of these students will be first-generation college attendees and their generosity will ease any financial hardship associated with college expenses,鈥� said Laurel High School Principal, Dr. Michael Eubanks.

More than a year ago, the process began to provide what Eubanks calls, the most innovative partnership the district and 麻豆直播 have ever embarked on together. It also marks the first high school to offer its students this unique opportunity in the 麻豆直播 eight-county district. 麻豆直播 President, Dr. Jesse Smith said he is excited to have the opportunity to work with Laurel School District which is one of only 10 model school districts in the state designated as a School of Innovation.

鈥淭he Middle College program is a great model that can be implemented on a grander scale if we do this right. We can set a path in the future where we can have students graduating earlier, on a faster pathway to work or the university. It gives so many more opportunities for the students. The more tools a student has in their educational toolbelt, the better the chances to be able to compete and fulfill their purpose in life,鈥� said Smith.

About 20 Laurel High School students are expected to be in the first group this fall, taking face-to-face, online and hybrid classes on both campuses. Two years later in May 2023, these students are expected to leave Laurel High School with both their High School diplomas and an Associates of Arts degree from 麻豆直播, with no expenses. The only drawback, Jackson said he had about the new Middle College program was personal.

鈥淭he Class of 2023 will be one step, actually two steps ahead of other students at the university with the Associate of Arts degree. I know they are excited to be able to get that associate degree out of the way. In fact, they may end up graduating before me, or with me!鈥� said Jackson.

For more information about the Middle College Program contact, Dr. Michael Eubanks by email at meubanks@laurelschools.org

ELLISVILLE 鈥� Ten 麻豆直播 sophomore art students had the chance to display their art as part of the Sophomore Art Exhibit in the Eula Bass Lewis Art Gallery before graduation, May 22. Sophomore artists who participated in the Sophomore Art Exhibit included Patricia Daughdrill of Prentiss, Jenna Fisher of Petal, Katherine Gomez of Laurel, Hannah Mattison of Sandersville, Solomon Page of Raleigh, Zykerianta Rodgers of Crosby, Josie Russell of Mt. Olive, Brittney Sanderson of Ellisville, Noah Schumann of Laurel and Jacqulyn Smith of Richton. This was the final opportunity for these graduates to show off their talents and set up their display.

鈥淚t is a great opportunity for students to showcase the work they’ve done here at Jones over the last two years and this year鈥檚 show looks spectacular!听We prepare them in all aspects of art from learning technique and the technical aspects of creating art, to learning how to best display their artwork. They have done all the matting and hanging themselves,鈥� said 麻豆直播 art instructor, Melanie Eubanks.

The Annual Sophomore Show is a requirement for the Exhibition IV class.听This course prepares students to display their artwork in a gallery for future exhibitions.听The aspiring artists were also honored for their accomplishments at a reception hosted by the college on May 11.

For more information about the JC art show or to arrange a visit to the gallery contact the gallery office at 601-477-4148.听 The Eula Bass Lewis Art Gallery is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., and Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.听 The gallery is closed for lunch daily from 11:30 until noon.听 If you want to know more about the JC Fine Arts Department, check out the JC Fine Arts Facebook page at .