Ā鶹ֱ²„’s āChristmas with the Artsā &Ā SalvationĀ ArmyĀ Toy Drive provide bonus gifts
ELLISVILLE ā For more than 13 years Ā鶹ֱ²„ās Christmas with the Arts patrons have generously provided hundreds of new toys for the Salvation Army Toy Drive and this yearās donations will provide an extra bonus for recipients. Thanks to the generous support of the community, Salvation Army Captain Keisha McMullin said these gifts will ensure everyone has a few bonus gifts this year.
āWe have 150 Angel Tree families with 390 children receiving at least three gifts. Ā鶹ֱ²„ās toy drive always ensures we have enough to fill the gap but this year, these donations will allow us to give a little bonus to the kids because everyone was adopted this year!ā McMullin shared excitedly.
This year, the toy donations allowed patrons a discount on the price of a ticket to see the annual Ā鶹ֱ²„ Christmas program featuring the Concert Choir, Jones OnStage, JC Jazz Band, the Touch of Gold dance team and the small vocal groups Selah and Nova Voce. Additionally, two students, Isaac and Titus Crouch joined piano instructors, Dr. Victoria Johnson and Dr. Theresa Sanchez for piano quartet on four Steinway Grand Pianos.
Salvation Army representatives said they appreciate Ā鶹ֱ²„, faculty, staff, students and the community members who donate toys. Thereās more to smile about when we distribute these toys.
āThis is my favorite program of all because I was an Angel Tree recipient, and I know personally how special is to receive from this program,ā said McMillian. āNow, Iām helping to ensure others have something to smile about on Christmas morning. We are so thankful for what the college and community do to help every year with this program. We love doing the āmost goodā for the community, which serves as a blessing to so many people because of the generosity of others.ā
The new unwrapped toys will be distributed on Monday, December 22, to the families who signed up for the program, who have children needing a little Christmas joy. Necessities and Christmas gifts are provided for disadvantaged children from infants to age 12, through the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program in Jones, Jasper, Wayne, Clarke, Smith and Simpson counties. For more information about the Angel Tree project, go to
For more information, call the Ā鶹ֱ²„ of Art, Music and Performance Office at 601-477-4203 or follow Ā鶹ֱ²„ Art, Music and Performance Facebook Page and āXā or Twitter.
JC students learn about the business of art
ELLISVILLE ā Ā鶹ֱ²„ sophomore Art majors heard from William Carey University graduates and current art instructors, Tim Kinard and Elizabeth Owen about their careers and the business of art. The couplesā recent show, āBound by Fireā featured ceramic sculptures at the Eula Bass Lewis Art Gallery on the Ā鶹ֱ²„ campus. Even though the couple share a studio at their home and primarily work with ceramics, the end results are very different.
āMy work is more colorful and whimsical,ā said Owens. āI grew up at my grandmotherās house where she had floral couches, little knick knacks, and colorful quilts which inspired my work.ā
Her husbandās work is quite the opposite, and yet they inspire each otherās work at times. Owens shared with the JC students that adding bases to some of her sculptures was inspired by one of her husbandās sculptures. Kinard said some of his wifeās techniques inspired him to improve his work too.
āMy sculptures are usually very earthy and traditional with a twist,ā said Tim Kinard. āI like making my own clay which tends to be darker to better show off the colors. I also tend to add a face to my pieces or add unusual or unexpected forms in my sculptures.ā
The couple shared with students that they had to initially focus on functional-ware or pottery like mugs and bowls before they could really create pieces of art that could not be mass produced. Their art business had to be able to pay the bills before they could really focus on their current artwork.
Owens currently teaches at Itawamba Community College, and her husband Tim Kinard teaches at Northeast Mississippi Community College. Their artwork was on display in November at Ā鶹ֱ²„. 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 Ā鶹ֱ²„ Art Department, /programs/finearts/ or the JC Art Departmentās social media: Facebook page, and on Instagram .
Ā鶹ֱ²„ celebrates āChristmas with the Artsā & Salvation Army Toy Drive Ā
ELLISVILLE ā Ā鶹ֱ²„ās School of Art, Music and Performance and the Salvation Army invite the public to join its celebration of āChristmas with the Artsā on Thursday, December 4, at 7 p.m. in the M.P. Bush Fine Arts Auditorium. Reserved tickets are available for $10 (upper section) & $15 (premium seats) through the reservation website, /tickets/
āReserve your seats now because we do expect the show to be sold out,ā said Dean of the School of Art, Music and Performance, Bruce Smith. āWe are working with the Salvation Army as a toy drop off site for this event. When purchasing tickets if you use the promotional code ‘TOYDRIVE’ all one word, you will receive 50 percent off your entire order. We encourage everyone to use this code and bring a new unwrapped toy to the event to donate and help make someoneās Christmas extra special.ā
This yearās program will begin with a pre-show sing-along with caroling in the lobby when the doors open at 6:30 p.m. Guests can sing with the Steinway Spirio Piano playing Christmas classics leading up to showtime. All of the Ā鶹ֱ²„ music and performing groups will kick-off the holiday season with various traditional and modern selections celebrating the birth of Christ. The members of the Jones OnStage show choir, the JC Jazz band and Touch of Gold dancers will be performing before the Concert Choir, a new vocal ensemble, Nova Voci and an a cappella group, Selah take the stage.
āAlso, we are turning the spotlight on two Touch of Gold members, Allie Robinson of Ellisville and Ellie Claire Napier of Ocean Springs, who will perform a lyrical style dance to a live performance by JC student vocalist, Daniel Baldwin of Magee, singing āT³ó²¹²Ō°ģ“Ś³Ü±ōā by Josh Groban,ā said Smith. āThen, for the first time at JC, we will have four Steinway grand pianos fill the stage with JC piano instructors, Dr. Theresa Sanchez and Dr. Victoria Johnson performing with JC student, Isaac Crouch of Ellisville and recent JC graduate, Titus Crouch who will perform a piano quartet, duets and solos.ā
Additionally, Christmas with the Arts will feature a collaborative piece with 22 bell ringers consisting of members of Jones OnStage, joined by the percussion ensemble. JC guitar faculty, Dr. Michael Boyd and a couple of JC student flutists, along with JC graduate, Caidyn Crowder of Ellisville will round out the show before a special surprise finale.
āEven though a new toy is not required for admission to the Christmas performance at Ā鶹ֱ²„, the Salvation Army toy drive is an excellent opportunity for our students and community to give back at a time when itās really critical,ā said Smith.
Gift suggestions include toys, sports equipment, board games, and plush animals. All the donations will be given to children in the area this Christmas. Necessities and Christmas gifts are provided for disadvantaged children from infants to age 12, through the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program in Jones, Jasper, Wayne, Clarke, Smith and Simpson counties.
For more information, call the Ā鶹ֱ²„ School of Art, Music and Performance Office at 601-477-4203 or follow Ā鶹ֱ²„ās Art, Music and Performance Facebook Page and X formerly Twitter. For more information about the Angel Tree project, go to
PRVEPA awards 28 JC students Round Up for Education Scholarships
ELLISVILLE – More than 2,500 students have been helped with their college education over the last 13 years with Pearl River Valley Electricās Round Up for Education Scholarship program. This year, 28 Ā鶹ֱ²„ students are amongst the 178 students who will each receive a total of $800 in scholarship funds, distributed in two installments, $400 for the fall semester and $400 for the spring semester, thanks to the generosity of PRVEPA members.
āOur members make this program possible,ā said CEO/General Manager Matthew Ware. āBy coming together and giving just a little each month, they are opening doors of opportunity for students who might not otherwise have this kind of support.ā
In the programās history, 2,532 students have received scholarships because of the Pearl River Valley Electricās members who voluntarily round their bills up to the nearest dollar each month. Scholarships are available to PRVEPA members in its 12-county service area who participate in the program, as well as their spouses or dependent children who are enrolled as freshmen this fall. Students receive scholarships to help them begin the first year of their college journey. JC freshmen, Seth Mastin and Donald Parhm Jr., both of Hattiesburg said this scholarship is especially helpful.
āEvery little bit helps because this is the only scholarship I know I am receiving,ā said both Mastin and Parhm Jr.
Scholarship recipients this year include 102 students attending Pearl River Community College, 34 students at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, 28 at Ā鶹ֱ²„, and 14 students enrolled at four other state community colleges. Overall, students came from 24 different high schools and home school programs.
āItās amazing to see how spare change can create such a powerful impact,ā Ware added. āWhen thousands of members work together, their generosity not only changes individual lives but also strengthens the entire community. That spirit of cooperation is what makes this program so special.ā
Pearl River Valley Electric is a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative that distributes electricity to more than 53,000 members in 12-counties in central and south Mississippi. It is headquartered in Columbia and has offices in Hattiesburg, Purvis, and Wiggins. JC scholarship recipients like Rae Grantham of Sumrall are grateful for the assistance.
āIād like to thank everyone who contributed their change for the extra help in our journeys to earn an education and be successful in the community,ā said Grantham whose brother Joshua is also receiving a scholarship and is taking classes at Ā鶹ֱ²„. āEvery little bit helps our family and us, reach our educational goals.ā
Round Up for Education funds collected after August 1 go toward next yearās scholarships. Applications for 2026 scholarships will be available beginning this month.
Ā鶹ֱ²„ās Annah Bryce-Clark crowned āMost Beautifulā
ELLISVILLE ā Ā鶹ֱ²„ freshman from Sand Hill, Annah Bryce-Clark was crowned Most Beautiful at the Ā鶹ֱ²„ Most Beautiful Pageant held November 7, in the M.P. Bush Fine Arts Auditorium. Thirty-eight contestants vied for the title this year.
The Top Five winners included Harleigh Fortenberry of Moselle, Mallory Matthews of Raleigh, Annah Bryce-Clark of Sand Hill, Abby Trejo of Moselle, and Alli Morgan of Seminary.
The ladies making up the group of Top Ten winners were Johnna Jones of Mt. Olive, Samantha Mosley of Laurel, Saylor Sullivan of Taylorsville, Harleigh Fortenberry of Moselle, Mallory Matthews of Raleigh, Annah Bryce-Clark of Sand Hill, Abby Trejo of Moselle, Alli Morgan of Seminary, Andrea Castro of Moselle, and Elisa Cook of Meridian. Additionally, Moselleās Haley Fortenberry won the Most Photogenic award, and Ragen Smith, also of Moselle won the Peopleās Choice award.
The Most Beautiful pageant is sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs with the Jones OnStage show choir providing entertainment for the evening.