Author: Teresa McCreery

ELLISVILLE-It’s been a banner year for Jones College’s Shivum Desai of Hattiesburg who has been recognized for several academic honors.  The Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, Rho Sigma chapter president at Jones has been selected as one of four, Gold Scholars on the Coca-Cola 2019 Academic Team.  This national scholarship program recognizes 150 community/junior college students annually with scholarships totaling nearly $200,000.  Desai was selected based on his score in the All-USA Academic Team competition among more than 2,000 applicants. Students are scored on several factors including academic rigor, demonstration of leadership and service, campus and community engagement, student assessments and overall scholastic application.

“Earning these awards and being recognized is a dream come true. Because I am new to this country, I always thought it would be difficult to be like previous students who have achieved great honors. However, humbling myself and exposing myself to different environments has allowed me to become successful,” said Desai. “My parents, Sanjay and Karuna Desai, are my main motivation and are the reason why I work hard to reach my goals. They have always supported me on all of my endeavors and have given me everything I need.”

Desai was formally recognized at the PTK Annual Convention with a Gold Medallion and a check for $1,500 for fall tuition. Additionally, Desai was selected to PTK’s All-Mississippi Academic First Team which also awarded him with a medallion and $500.  Earlier in the academic year, the former native of England and Oak Grove High School graduate was named as Jones College’s HEADWAE student representative and Tullos Scholar. The future invasive cardiologist will continue his education at the University of Mississippi as a prestigious, Lyceum Scholar.

ELLISVILLE- Three Jones College students were nominated for the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s All-Mississippi Academic Team with two students earning first-team honors. Shivum Desai of Hattiesburg and Caleb Brownlee of Moselle were named to the All-Mississippi Academic First Team. Jared Woullard of Leakesville was named to the All-Mississippi Academic Second Team and has earned the Presidential Scholarship to major in engineering at Mississippi State University.

“This entire process has been an incredible learning experience for me personally. I’m humbled by those who nominated me at Jones and I’m also very grateful to PTK for providing incredible opportunities for students statewide,” said Woullard.

These students competed with more than 1,800 nominations from each of the 15-community colleges. As part of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society’s annual academic and workforce competition, each student submitted an essay, answered discussion questions, and described their leadership roles and activities while in college. Nominees were evaluated on effective writing skills, the academic rigor of their majors and their leadership impact at their colleges.

“This award is not about what you know or who you know. This award is about how others know you and your work on campus,” said president and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa, Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner at the recognition luncheon.

Being a member of the All- Mississippi Academic Team also takes hard work, Mississippi Community College Board’s Executive Director, Dr. Andrea Mayfield acknowledged. She encouraged the student leaders to help pave a successful future in their home state.

“Community College’s produce leaders. There are opportunities for self and others, as well as opportunities to shape Mississippi’s future. Mississippi is counting on your leadership and your success to make a difference here in Mississippi. There’s nothing more exciting than working with people who are making a difference.”

First Team honoree, Shivum Desai said he is grateful for the leadership opportunities through PTK. He has served as the president of Jones College’s Rho Sigma chapter of PTK and has volunteered for fundraising campaigns and campus activities. He also maintained a 4.0 GPA while juggling his many responsibilities in his biological sciences major to become a cardiologist. Along with his academic duties, Desai works as the assistant manager at Baskin-Robbins in Hattiesburg and he volunteers in area hospitals. His hard work has been honored with accolades like being named to the Coca-Cola Gold Academic Team, HEADWAE student representative at Jones, in addition to being named a Tullos Scholar and a Hall of Fame and Letter “J” Academic Achievement Award recipient. Additionally, Desai will be attending the University of Mississippi as a Lyceum Scholar. The former native of England said he owes much of his success to PTK.

“Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) has been the most influential organization I have ever joined. PTK, in my heart, is much more than the four hallmarks. Instead, the honor society is my third parent! The organization allowed me to open myself up and truly challenge my abilities, both inside and outside the classroom. Personally, the organization has allowed me to get out there and interact with all sorts of people and it has made me become more adaptable to different environments.  Professionally, the organization has allowed me to become well rounded socially and academically. Without PTK, my achievements would not be possible,” said Desai.

Caleb Brownlee earned All- Mississippi First Team honors for Workforce Pathway students. The electrical technology major volunteers with Rain Down Ministries and has served in the mission fields of South America and Romania, as well as in several Midwest and southern states. While helping on his family farm in Wayne County, Brownlee also maintains a job assisting an electrician. Academically at Jones, he earned the Letter “J” Academic Achievement Award.

“It was an honor being selected to represent Jones College’s career and technical programs through PTK’s Workforce & Transfer Pathway Scholars program. I’m currently working with an electrical contractor and will continue working with him until bigger and better opportunities are offered,” said Brownlee.

The highest scoring nominees from each of the 15 two-year colleges earned First Team All- Mississippi honors and $500 scholarships provided by the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges. All team members received special medallions, certificates and printed resolutions from the Mississippi Legislature.

ELLISVILLE- Seventeen Jones College students came home with top honors at the SkillsUSA state competition Jackson in April.  However, only the 11, first-place winners will leave for Louisville, Kentucky for the National SkillsUSA competition in June.

“JC SkillsUSA team is extremely excited to travel to Louisville, Kentucky this year with our first place state winners. The competitors are focused and believe they have the skills to represent Mississippi and Jones College in their respective competitions. They demonstrate a level of professionalism that we’ve tried to cultivate over the years. We are excited to afford them the opportunity to showcase their talents,” said Jones College SkillsUSA advisor, Ryan Hearn.

Jones College students, C.J. Hoodless of Ellisville, Preston Hammonds of Leakesville and Lakelin Smith of Lucedale managed to keep a winning streak alive by capturing first place in the Engineering Design and Technology category. The category was introduced last year at SkillsUSA with Jones students winning with the invention of a manual trash-compactor for the garbage can. As avid musicians, this year’s team was inspired to create a guitar strap and stand and they proved once again, Jones students are the team to beat in this newly introduced competition category.

“We’re very proud our invention performed well,” said mechanical engineering major, Hammonds. He credits his Greene County High School teacher, Deborah Neel for helping him find his career path.

“We spent a lot of time preparing for this competition and coming up with something anyone could relate to and appreciate,” said Hoodless, a CAD Engineering Technology major.

Smith, who is also majoring in CAD Engineering Technology, praised his instructor, Karen Kirk for preparing him for this type of competition.

“Jones helped us learn skills on an advanced level to compete confidently. Our invention had to pass inspection with industry leaders.”

This team has been preparing for their competition since early January. While Hearn is very pleased with the win, he was impressed by the team’s score.

“Besides winning first place at state, the team also must garner 70 percent or above of the judges’ scores to attend nationals. This year’s team performed very well, receiving almost 80 percent,” said Hearn.

The guitar strap and stand is made of three-inch wide by four-inch squares, printed on a 3D printer and linked together to a piece of nylon and leather strap bindings to attach to the guitar. To switch from a strap to a stand, an aluminum rod is inserted through the squares and is attached to the base stand, which was also made from the 3D printer.

“We are improving on our invention and will further develop the idea with the hopes of producing a better quality strap and stand for mass production. We’ve already secured a ‘poor man’s patent,’” said Hammonds. “Also, the squares can be customized with logos and colors. We also designed the strap to make it easy to add or remove the links.”

Freshman, Savannah Holifield of Soso said she is looking forward to returning to the National SkillsUSA competition. She took first place honors in the Promotional Bulletin Board state competition as a sophomore and junior at West Jones High School.  Returning to national competition as a college student is even more exciting to Holifield.

“This will be my third year at the National SkillsUSA competition. Even though I have experience competing on the national level, I’m a little nervous because this is the first time I’m competing in a drafting and design skill group,” said the first place state winner in the Architectural Drafting category.

She further explained, judging takes place throughout the entire week of competition, regardless of whether you are actively competing, or at a workshop.

“The way you present yourself, even when you’re not competing, reflects on the college. Judges take all of that into consideration.  Your character and how you present yourself could influence your score. Your first and the last impression can have a big influence on earning scholarships too,” said Holifield.

Also headed to the national competition are civil engineering technology majors and first place winners in the Quiz Bowl competition, Steve Lambert of Miller, Missouri, Colton McLeod of Richton, Levi McLain of Waynesboro, Dylan Butler of Ellisville and Mayson Norton of Mobile, Alabama. Freshman, Daniel Patterson of Sumrall, and Joseph Blake Pryor of Laurel, also earned first place honors in Automotive and Extemporaneous Speaking, respectively.

Jones College students earning second place in the State SkillsUSA competition were Cameron Sullivan of Laurel in the Job Skill Demonstration Open competition; Tanner Bryant of Ellisville in the CNC Technician category; Jose Garcia of Hattiesburg in the CNC Milling competition; Logan Pippen of Ellisville in the CNC Turning/Lathe category and Adam Backstrom of Richton in the Sheet Metal competition. Jacob Ledet of Laurel came home with third place honors at the SkillsUSA State competition in the Technical Drafting competition.

The SkillsUSA National Competition will be held June 24 through 28, where Hearn said hundreds of student competitors are getting real-world experience and recognition for their skills.

ELLISVILLE- Jones College radiologic technology graduate from Heidelberg, Malik Rashad Porter received a $400 scholarship from the Mississippi Radiological Society. Porter’s scholarship was based on the MRS’ requirements for recipients which include having a high academic achievement, being of sound moral character and having a financial need.

“Malik was an outstanding student while in the program and I know he will be an asset to the imaging profession. I appreciate the Mississippi Radiological Society for providing this opportunity for Radiologic Technology students in the state of Mississippi,” said Jones College’s Radiography Program Director, Mandy Pearson, M. S. R. T. (R).

Porter was also honored to be voted as the “Clinical Student of the Year” by the staff at the colleges’ six, clinical affiliates. The part-time radiologic technologist is currently employed at South Central Regional Medical Center in Laurel and at Magee General Hospital.  Porter plans to continue his education to complete a Bachelors of Radiological Sciences through the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Photo by Megan Clark