Author: Teresa McCreery

ELLISVILLE-Three Jones College students earned honors at the Mississippi Community College Creative Writing Association’s annual competition and workshop hosted at Holmes Community College. The competition included seven categories: Poetry, Fiction, Drama, Creative Nonfiction, Literary Essay, Best Professionally-Printed Journal and Best In-House Journal. Community college students participating in the competition could earn scholarships and honors, like Rickey Cole of Ovett, Kara Lowe of Mize and River Cade Howell of Soso. Accounting major, Howell was selected as the first place winner in the Literary Essay category for his essay, “A Mother’s Manipulation.”

Jones College English instructor Tim Morris explained, “River’s work was so impressive to the English Chairman at Belhaven University that he offered River a $2,000 scholarship. He noted Howell’s exceptional use of grammar and punctuation.”

Also submitting a literary piece that judges noticed was Jones College’s Ricky Cole with his creative nonfiction entry, “Come on Jack, Let’s Go,” which took third place honors. In the Poetry division, Kara Lowe’s entry, “On What I Dream About,” earned an honorable mention award.

Judges of the competition included Dr. Don Hubele, English professor and chair of the Belhaven University English Department; Paula Lambert, literary and visionary artist and author; Phyllis W. Seawright, assistant professor of communication/theater at Mississippi College; Michael Farris Smith, award-winning author, and Marshall Ramsey, author, syndicated-cartoonist, radio/television host and editor-at-large for Mississippi Today.

For more information about this year’s MCCCWA contest and awards, contact MCCCWA President Dr. Andrew Kelly at akelly@holmescc.edu.

 

ELLISVILLE- Fourteen of the fifteen Jones College students that competed in the Phi Beta Lambda business honor society’s State competition in Columbus, Mississippi, came home, winners. They either placed first or second in their competitive events, qualifying them for the national competition in June, in San Antonio, Texas.

During the three-day conference, each student competed in two, business-related events. The events ranged from accounting principles and entrepreneurship concepts, to computer programming and network design.

“Thirteen of the students will be going to the four-day national conference and competition in San Antonio,” said Jones College’s PBL Advisor, David Ray.  “We’re looking forward to a strong showing at nationals this summer. This group has a lot of potential to place nationally.”

Tara Williamson of Mendenhall earned first place honors in both the Computer Applications and the Hospitality Management competitions. Colby Dorsey of Woodville earned first place honors in Computer Concepts. Ellisville’s Dylan Meeks earned first place in Sports Management & Marketing, and second place in the Contemporary Sports Issues category.  The team of Colby Dorsey, Trent Norris of Seminary and Grant Valverde of Enterprise earned second place in the Network Design team competition.  The team consisting of Owen Cote of Sumrall, Daniel Easley of Laurel, and Tyler Rouse of Lucedale took home first place in the Management Analysis & Decision Making team category and second place in the Financial Analysis & Decision Making team competition. Sumrall’s Kaleb Ashmore earned first place honors in the Programming Concepts competition and second place in the Computer Applications category.

 Columbia’s Alyssa Pearce took home second place in the Job Interview category and third place in the Marketing Analysis & Decision Making competition. Zachory Busby of Soso landed in second place in the Help Desk competition and third place in the Information Management category. Hattiesburg’s Stephen Grantham received second place for his efforts in the Programming Concepts competition. Finishing in third place were Trent Norris in the Help Desk competition and Melissa Hankins of Laurel in the Accounting competition. However, Hankins took top honors in the Entrepreneurship Concepts competition. Ellisville’s Emily Youngblood earned second place in the Macroeconomics competition and Byron Pittman of Ellisville earned fourth place in the Information Management category.

ELLISVILLE- Valedictorians and Salutatorians from 45 schools participated in this year’s celebration of the “Top of Class.” Jones College and WDAM-TV host the annual Top of Class recognition program.

WDAM-TV news personalities Nick Lilja and Quametra Wilborn awarded the area’s valedictorians and salutatorians with a certificate of achievement. The group of 100 high school students was honored with a day of entertainment, speakers and breakfast.

The WDAM-TV production crew videotaped the event to be featured during WDAM-Sunrise at 5:58 a.m., beginning May 6, through June 14, and on the WDAM-TV web page. WDAM-TV and Jones College are sponsors of this event to honor the academic achievements of the Pine Belt’s top students.

ELLISVILLE– During graduation practice, six Jones College sophomores were awarded Leadership, Athletic and Merit Gold Key Awards. These students were voted on by their peers for this special recognition.

The Merit Gold Key recipients are Emily Youngblood of Ellisville and Jared Woullard of Greene County. Woullard was also chosen by his peers to receive the Leadership Gold Key honor. Anna Catherine Hampton of Petal was also selected for the Leadership Gold Key award.

Softball player, Gracie McCleskey of Caledonia, and basketball player from Rayville, Louisiana, Ray Williams Jr., both earned the Athletic Gold Key Award.

Jones College sophomores eligible to receive the Academic Gold Key honor because of their 4.0 GPA prior to final exams will be recognized over the summer for their academic achievements.

ELLISVILLE – Jones College held its annual “Retirement Tea” for eleven employees retiring in May.  When combined, these employees provided 193 years of service to JC, with some having additional years of service working at other educational institutions.

The 2019 retirees include Betty, or “B.J.” Meche. She worked in various roles at the campus bookstore for the last 35 years. For the last 19 years, Rick Bedwell has taught business courses and has served as the division chair of the department.  Angela Cooley finishes 25 years of teaching math at Jones. Dianne Johnson has been teaching business office technology for the last 21 years. Two employees, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Mark Easley and former coach, and practical nursing secretary, Pat McMichael have served JC for 20 years each. Gloria Newell has served as the assistant culinary arts instructor for the past 16 years. The Financial Aid Office is saying its farewells to Mary Kuhn after working 13 years in that department. Nine years ago, Mickey Ciullo began working in the campus bookstore while Gerald Griffin has completed seven years in the transportation department. English instructor, Rhonda Farrior is retiring after teaching for six years at JC.