{"id":6846,"date":"2026-05-26T13:34:50","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T19:34:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/?p=6846"},"modified":"2026-05-26T13:34:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T19:34:50","slug":"jones-college-celebrates-the-largest-class-of-a-d-nurse-grads","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/news\/jones-college-celebrates-the-largest-class-of-a-d-nurse-grads\/","title":{"rendered":"Â鶹ֱ²¥ celebrates the largest class of A.D. Nurse grads"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mike Cummings, A.D.N. program director<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

ELLISVILLE \u2013 The largest graduating class in the history of the Associate Degree Nursing program at Â鶹ֱ²¥ celebrated more than academic achievement during the college\u2019s Spring 2026 Pinning and Lamp Lighting Ceremony. For many graduates, the day represented perseverance, faith, family support and dreams fulfilled after years of sacrifice. Sixty nursing graduates crossed the stage during the ceremony, marking a milestone for the program and the surrounding healthcare community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis group you see on stage is a special one,\u201d said Mike Cummings, program director of the Associate Degree Nursing program. \u201cBesides, they have worked together in creating knowledge that helped them become our largest graduating class.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Cummings said the growing number of graduates comes at a critical time for healthcare providers across the region.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Dr. Jesse Smith, President<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cWe know there\u2019s a need out there for nurses and these students are ready to meet that need,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Â鶹ֱ²¥ President, Dr. Jesse Smith praised the graduates and faculty for meeting the increasing demand for healthcare professionals while also highlighting the broader impact nurses have on families and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is not one program that will return a higher investment on the community than an associate degree nursing student,\u201d Smith told the audience. \u201cA nurse is more than just somebody who takes care of you. They are a vital economic engine for life, health and wealth in our state.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith also credited the expansion of the program and the college\u2019s health simulation center for helping Â鶹ֱ²¥ produce its largest graduating class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe made a commitment,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThe legislature said they would support us if we doubled the output of nurses, and here we are today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Abby Shows, Class President addresses the class at the Pinning Ceremony<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For class president Abby Shows of Richton, the ceremony reflected the close bond formed among classmates during the demanding five semester program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe closeness this group has is something that I will always cherish,\u201d Shows said during her remarks. \u201cThe friendship nursing school has brought me is nothing short of irreplaceable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shows thanked classmates for supporting one another through long clinical days, stressful exams and personal struggles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn a world full of people that say when you go to nursing school, be careful and watch your back because you\u2019re going to be on your own, we never had to because we had each other\u2019s,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Brinna Moss and Lyndi Pryor<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Among the graduates celebrating together were mother and daughter Lyndi Pryor and Brinna Moss of Laurel. Forty-one-year-old Pryor has worked as a licensed practical nurse for 10 years and said becoming a registered nurse had been a long-term goal. After narrowly missing completion of another RN program by two-tenths of a point, she enrolled in Â鶹ֱ²¥\u2019s bridge program, unexpectedly alongside her daughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am graduating with my daughter and that means the world to me,\u201d Pryor said. \u201cWe have both leaned on each other. She\u2019s given me strength and I\u2019ve given her strength and we\u2019ve helped each other get through it together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pryor described the moment as the culmination of more than a decade of hard work and perseverance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeing an RN has been my goal for a while, so being able to share this moment with my daughter has meant a lot to me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pryor\u2019s 21-year-old daughter, Brinna Moss, said faith carried her through the challenges of nursing school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would definitely say the Lord has gotten me here today,\u201d Moss said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a tough road over the last two years, but it\u2019s definitely been worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She admitted balancing her own studies while worrying about her mother added another emotional layer to the experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wanted her to pass with me because that\u2019s a very big deal,\u201d Moss said. \u201cThere\u2019s been a lot of tears and excitement. It\u2019s a special moment to be able to do this with her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Kaylyn Walters (center) of Moselle, celebrates earning her A.D. Nursing degree with her mother, Deanna Cluff (left end), her father, Craig Cluff (right middle), her husband, Ethan Walters (right end) and her 5-month-old baby, Kay whom she\u2019s holding and her 4 year old daughter, with Hallie (front center).<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Kaylyn Walters of Moselle also returned to school after years of working as a licensed practical nurse in an OB-GYN clinic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI knew that I could do more,\u201d Walters said. \u201cToday is important to me and I\u2019m just thankful that the Lord gave me the opportunity to be here today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walters said the support of her family helped her persevere through the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHaving them here means the world to me. I couldn\u2019t have done it without them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another family connection highlighted during the ceremony involved sisters Sidney Walters of Hattiesburg and Hannah Brady of Madison.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Sidney Walters and Hannah Brady<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Sidney Walters has been working as an R.N. for more than two years after graduating from Â鶹ֱ²¥. Watching her younger sister complete the program was emotional because Brady had supported her through nursing school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe lived with me while I was in nursing school and was very supportive,\u201d Sidney Walters said. \u201cI\u2019m so proud of her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brady, who previously earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in elementary education before feeling called into healthcare, said seeing her sister\u2019s passion for nursing inspired her career change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just saw how much she loved it and how much of a vessel she was,\u201d Brady said. \u201cI feel the Lord calling me, so I\u2019m going to be obedient, and now I\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brady said sharing the milestone with her sisters made the day even more meaningful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne thing that unites us is our relationship with Christ,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s so special to be able to share this with my sister.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Abbie Trejo Madrigal pinned by Mike Cummings<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

During the ceremony, graduates recited the Florence Nightingale Pledge before receiving the traditional Maltese Cross nursing pin, symbolizing their entrance into the profession and their permanent place in the Â鶹ֱ²¥ nursing family. Cummings said the graduates overcame not only the rigors of nursing school, but also the challenges of everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey have all the challenges of life going on,\u201d Cummings said. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t stop while they\u2019re in nursing school. They\u2019re dealing with all of that plus the rigors of the nursing curriculum.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite those demands, many graduates already have jobs lined up in hospitals and clinics across Mississippi, helping address the growing nursing shortage throughout the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Â鶹ֱ²¥ Associate Degree Nursing graduates 2026<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Samantha Abbey, Stringer<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Sierra Ardis, Waynesboro<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Hailey Barnes, Moselle<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Hope Barnes, Laurel<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Quindalyn Barnett, Taylorsville<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Carley Beasley, Buckatunna<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Sierrah Beasley, Foxworth<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Alissa Moulder Beatty, Pachuta<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Kinsey Bellinger, Petal<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Christy Boe, Moselle<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  11. Chloe Boyles, Forrest<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  12. Hannah Brady, Madison<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  13. Makenzie Buchanan, Laurel<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  14. Madelynn Buckley, Ellisville<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  15. Joseph Clark, Laurel<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  16. Caylen Corley, Richton<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  17. Deborah Craig, Hattiesburg<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  18. Jessica Deare, Sumrall<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  19. Halie Dunn, Collins<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  20. Britton Dunnam, Richton<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  21. CariAna McLeod Erkhart, Lucedale<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  22. Harleigh Fortenberry, Moselle<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  23. Cameron Gentry, Prentiss<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  24. Starlett Gilmore, Byram<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  25. Camdyn Goddard, Soso<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  26. Elijah Gray, Heidelberg<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  27. Allexus Hall, Lumberton<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  28. Karli Hall, Mt Olive<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  29. Makayla Halton, Louin<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  30. Breanna Walley Harris, Richton<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  31. Jacob Harris, Raleigh<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  32. Peyton Williams Holifield, Laurel<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  33. Brianna Williams Loftin, Waynesboro<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  34. Anna Lott, Pulaski<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  35. Abigail (Abbie) Trejo Madrigal, Moselle<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  36. Samantha McGowan, Laurel<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  37. Shelby McLain, Waynesboro<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  38. Brittany Minchew, Bay Springs<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  39. Taylor Minter, Ellisville<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  40. Brinna Moss, Laurel<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  41. Wayne (Allen) Nitsche, Collins<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  42. Gracie Parker, Bay Springs<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  43. Daniel Patterson, Moselle<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  44. Alyssa Humphrey Poirier, Petal<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  45. Lyndi Pryor, Laurel<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  46. Sommer Ramsey, Laurel<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  47. Kasia Rankin, Waynesboro<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  48. Lenzi Roney, Laurel<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  49. Knija Russell, Waynesboro<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  50. Abby Shows, Richton<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  51. Chloe Smith, Sumrall<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  52. Jennifer Spears, Ellisville<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  53. Annalee Stringer, Seminary<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  54. Kastyn Daughdrill Sullivan, Richton<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  55. Kailee Thompson\/Burge, Columbia<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  56. Lainey Wallace, Mt Olive<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  57. Isabella Walters, Ellisville<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  58. Kaylyn Walters, Moselle<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  59. Felicity West\/English, Stringer<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  60. Audrey Whitehead, Hattiesburg<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    ELLISVILLE \u2013 The largest graduating class in the history of the Associate Degree Nursing program at Â鶹ֱ²¥ celebrated more than academic achievement during the college\u2019s Spring 2026 Pinning and Lamp Lighting Ceremony. For many graduates, the day represented perseverance, faith, family support and dreams fulfilled after years of sacrifice. Sixty nursing graduates crossed the … <\/p>\n

    Continue reading “Â鶹ֱ²¥ celebrates the largest class of A.D. Nurse grads”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6847,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6846"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6846"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6846\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6858,"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6846\/revisions\/6858"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6847"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6846"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6846"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}