麻豆直播

ELLISVILLE 鈥� 麻豆直播 is inviting the public to join students, faculty and staff and participate in the annual Spring Blood Drive with Vitalant on Monday, February 23, in the Mobile Unit at the Industrial Services Center from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. The blood drive will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 24 and 25, inside the new Dr. Robert C. Robbins Hospital Simulation Center, located behind the Allied Health Center Building from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

鈥淕iving blood is one of the simplest ways to give back, and one of the most powerful. In less than an hour, you can change someone鈥檚 life and walk away knowing you made a real difference. I encourage everyone to step up, be counted, and feel what it means to serve your community,鈥� said Dean, School of Health Sciences, Dr. Benji Sessums, Ph.D., NR-P.  鈥淲hen you give blood, you are not just filling a need, you are answering a call to serve. That kind of giving stays with you long after the donation is done.鈥�

Donors will be eligible to win door prizes, goodies, and gift cards. To pre-register, make an appointment at or call 877-25-VITAL. Use the blood drive code: JC1. Additionally, Vitalant is offering a $15 gift card if donors use the code, GIVELOVE-2026-V when scheduling an appointment.

鈥淕iving blood is a small act with a lasting impact. It is a chance to show up for your community and leave knowing you did something that truly mattered,鈥� said Sessums.   

The overall goal for the three-days is 90 units of blood stated Sessums.

ELLISVILLE 鈥� 麻豆直播 art students and those interested in the creation of art enjoyed a special demonstration by two artists, Jeff Brown and Benjie Heu in the Eula Bass Lewis Art Gallery on campus. The art instructors鈥� collection of ceramic sculptures and stonework pottery has been on display at the Eula Bass Lewis Art Gallery for the last month. Students learned how Heu builds his unique characters out of clay and molds the parts together before adding intricate designs, bringing his creatures to life. Heu is a Professor of Art and Ceramics and has been teaching since 2005 at Southeast Missouri State University, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. His ceramic figures are creatively sculpted and then colored with illustrations using multiple techniques.

Also demonstrating his pottery skills was Jeff Brown who has been teaching art for more than 30 years, beginning at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. He has been an Associate Professor of Art at Nicholls State University in Thibodeaux, Louisiana for the last 23 years. Additionally, Brown also codirects the Ameen Art Gallery and is co-advisor for the University Ceramics Club. He showed students how he manipulates the clay on the pottery wheel to create his large pieces of work.  

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 through 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 .

ELLISVILLE 鈥� 麻豆直播 Geography and History instructor Dr. Caleb Smith was honored as the Mississippi Humanities Teacher of the Year by the Mississippi Humanities Council (MHC) which recognizes excellence in humanities instruction across the state. Smith was honored for this accomplishment during a campus presentation where he delivered a lecture titled, 鈥淗ow the School of Popular Culture Unites, Divides and Shapes Our Perceptions.鈥� The presentation examined how film, television, music, and digital media influence understanding, identity, and historical memory. He will join 29 other faculty members statewide in Jackson, on March 20 at the MHC鈥檚 annual banquet honoring the state鈥檚 Humanities Teacher of the Year recipients. 

鈥淧opular culture is often the first exposure people have to history, geography, or social issues,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淢ovies, television shows, and social media shape how students think long before they ever walk into a classroom.鈥�

During his presentation, Smith explained how popular culture can create shared experiences that bring people together, while also reinforcing stereotypes, spreading misinformation, or deepening divisions. Using examples ranging from classic films to viral Internet trends, Smith encouraged students to question what they consume and remain open to learning beyond first impressions.

鈥淚 see students come in with ideas about history shaped by movies or television,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淭hose depictions aren鈥檛 always accurate, but they give us a starting point for meaningful conversations.鈥�

Rachel Lott, the MHC Communications Manager, said Smith exemplifies the mission of the council to promote thoughtful engagement with the humanities.

鈥淓ach year, the Mississippi Humanities Council honors educators who demonstrate the vital role the humanities play in creating informed and engaged citizens,鈥� Lott said. 鈥淒r. Smith鈥檚 passion, creativity, and ability to connect with students make him a standout educator, as well as this year鈥檚 recipient as Humanities Teacher of the Year at 麻豆直播.鈥�

As part of the award, Smith received a cash prize and will be recognized alongside other honorees from colleges and universities statewide during a ceremony in Jackson this spring. Smith said the recognition reflects the collaborative environment at 麻豆直播.

鈥淭his honor means a lot to me because there are so many incredible educators here,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淚 work with some of the best people, and I鈥檓 grateful for the support of the administration, faculty, and staff. I鈥檓 living the dream and doing exactly what I wanted to do since I was 13 years old.鈥�

Smith advised the audience to be more aware of how our culture shapes us and how it鈥檚 always changing. He encouraged the audience to learn and change with the culture, but he also cautioned that cultural influences are not always positive.

鈥淭he humanities help us understand who we are and where we come from,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淚f we鈥檙e willing to stay curious and teachable, culture doesn鈥檛 just shape us, we can help shape it too. The biggest takeaway from this is that we should not just let the world around us dictate what we should do or how we should feel. Each individual should determine their own path and beliefs. You can always change the world around you.鈥�

Smith has taught at 麻豆直播 since 2008, beginning his career in Adult Education before joining the School of Humanities and Social Sciences in 2020. He holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Mississippi State University and both a master鈥檚 degree and doctorate from The University of Southern Mississippi. His academic work focuses on cultural geography and history, with an emphasis on the American South.

Beyond the classroom, Smith serves as president of the 麻豆直播 Faculty Staff Association and advises the college鈥檚 Phi Theta Kappa chapter. He is also active in community outreach, frequently presenting historical lectures to local schools and organizations, including several presentations at the Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Division of the Association of American Geographers.

ELLISVILLE 鈥� Creatively sculpted and painted figures are on display amongst large stoneware creations at 麻豆直播s鈥� Eula Bass Lewis Art Gallery until February 5. The featured artists, Jeff Brown and Benjie Heu鈥檚 exhibit show off their contrasting styles of designs and form using various techniques. On the last day of the exhibit, Brown and Heu will be giving a demonstration and discussion about their methods of ceramic sculpting in the ceramics lab, room 119 of the Visual Arts Building, at 8:15 a.m., followed by an 鈥淎rt Talk鈥� in the Gallery at 11 a.m.

鈥淲e are excited to have both of these artists share their talents with the community, but I think our students will greatly benefit from their knowledge about pottery, ceramics and pushing the design limits,鈥� said 麻豆直播 art instructor, Melanie Eubanks.

For more than 30 years, Jeff Brown has been teaching art, beginning at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee to his current position as an Associate Professor of Art at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana for the last 23 years. Teaching all levels of ceramics and art appreciation, Brown also codirects the Ameen Art Gallery and is co-advisor for the University Ceramics Club.

鈥淥ver the years, I have been exploring many different forms in clay both functional and non-functional. Most recently, I have been exploring hand built sculptural forms, which dominates this collection of works. Whichever format that I may be working in, there are similarities in how I go about constructing the work and my inspiration to the form and surface,鈥� said Brown. 鈥淚 often work intuitively, as a majority of the work is done in pieces and assembled to complete the forms. This is a magical moment when I see the form come alive during the assembling process.鈥�

Professor of Art and Ceramics, Benjie Heu has been teaching since 2005 at Southeast Missouri State University, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. His ceramic figures are creatively sculpted, colored with illustrations using multiple techniques.

鈥淚 employ simple but richly textured surfaces to transform easily relatable and yet often overlooked anxieties of everyday life, the frailty of our bodies, the specter of chemical dependency, religious uncertainty, family dynamics, into figures or obstacles to be faced by the viewer. The most outlandish adventures are accounted for with an eye fixed on the bare essentials. Battles against time, against the obstacles that prevent the fulfillment of desire, or the repossession of something cherished but lost are themes that provoke me,鈥� Heu explained. 鈥淩evealing truth and humor in the face of horror and the seemingly absurd is my answer.鈥�

Heu鈥檚 sculptures on display at 麻豆直播 force the viewer to look at the many details woven into the faces and figures, because of the unusual designs, contrasted by the more large and simpler designs of Brown鈥檚 artwork.  

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 through 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 .

ELLISVILLE 鈥撀槎怪辈� Geography and History instructor, Dr. Caleb Smith has been selected as the 麻豆直播 2025-2026 Mississippi Humanities Teacher of the Year. He will be honored by the Mississippi Humanities Council and the college on Wednesday, January 28, at 10 a.m. in the Home & Health Services Auditorium. The public is invited to see his free presentation, 鈥淗ow the School of Pop Culture Unites, Divides and Informs,鈥� before the MHC honors him and 29 other faculty members statewide in Jackson, on March 20. 聽

鈥淭his honor means a lot to me because, to be included with some of the legendary instructors who have graced this campus (Cheryl Windham, Wyatt Moulds, Stacy Ruth, and Tim Morris) is really an honor,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淭here have been and are a lot of great faculty here at Jones. To win this award means that the work I have put into my discipline and the support provided by my dean and co-workers is not in vain. I work with some of the best people. I feel inspired to be selected out of this group.鈥�

Smith began his teaching career at East Webster High School in 2002 teaching Modern U.S. History and Geography before becoming an adjunct professor at William Carey University. He began his career at 麻豆直播 in 2008 as the Adult Education Coordinator, and teaching General Education Development courses. He was named the Mississippi Association of Adult and Community Educators Teacher of the Year in 2012, and his photography skills earned him the 2020 Southeastern Geographer Cover Photo Winner for 鈥淯nstated Flag,鈥� at the Southeastern Division of the Association of American Geographers. Dr. Smith joined the Humanities and Social Science Division in 2020 and has garnered the Favorite Teacher Award for the graduating classes of 2023 and 2024. His presentation, he said, combines his love of geography and American history, while also being a witness to Jones County鈥檚 historical transformation.

鈥淚 see students who bring knowledge of specific events or places to the class they saw on social media or a movie. These sources, a movie or TV show can be a first look at a topic. I even find myself citing specific movies and TV shows in the class like, 鈥楾he Wizard of Oz,鈥� 鈥楪one with the Wind,鈥� and 鈥楩orrest Gump.鈥� These images, videos, and brief presentations shape their perceptions and give students some background knowledge regarding the topic. Many times, the information is good and useful, but there are times that they are misled,鈥� said Smith.

The Jones County resident also has the unique perspective of watching how the influence of a couple of creative home renovators can have on a sleepy small town.

鈥淚 have watched Laurel transform from a sleepy sawmill town to a tourist destination, because of 鈥楬ome Town.鈥� The show has brought tourists to the city, allowing it to grow, and even encouraging my neighbors to move from Alaska to Mississippi. It was surreal this summer to be on a cruise to Alaska and talk with an employee of the ship about Laurel because she saw it on TV.鈥�

Besides enjoying his family and volunteering as a Tee-Ball Coach for the Jones County Recreational League or presenting various topics at the Southeastern Division of the Association of American Geographers, Smith advises the Rho Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society at JC and he is serving on the Mississippi/Louisiana Region Advisory Board. Additionally, he is serving as the President of the 麻豆直播 Faculty Staff Association, and he was the State Representative of Mississippi for the Southeastern Division of the Association of American Geographers in 2023-2025. Smith has shared his knowledge in numerous publications and presentations throughout the southeast over his more than 20 years of experience in the field.