Gene Haas Foundation grant provides scholarships for Jones College students
ELLISVILLE – A $10,000 grant from the Gene Haas Foundation has provided each of the five Jones College precision manufacturing and machining student-recipients with a one-thousand dollar tuition scholarship. Receiving the scholarships are Tanner Bryant of Laurel, Jason Williams of Laurel, Christian Daniel of Prentiss, Emmett Searles of Hattiesburg and Troy Leiva, Jr. of Gloster. Jones College’s precision manufacturing and machining instructor, Chase Elmore said the recipients are all outstanding students in the program.
“Each student who applied through the Jones College Foundation had to submit a resume’ to be considered for the scholarship,” said Elmore. “Besides scholarships, some of the grant money will also be used to provide credential testing fees for qualifying students.”
Freshman, Troy Leiva, Jr. said he was thrilled to receive this scholarship.
“It will take care of paying the rest of my tuition so I can complete this program. I am very happy about that!”
This is the second year the Gene Haas Foundation has donated to the program since the partnership began in 2017, providing many opportunities for Jones College students.
“The Gene Haas Foundation along with Haas and Machine Tools LLC has contributed greatly to the program. They have also provided new equipment for us to use in the lab which also serves as Haas’ showroom for business customers and for the company’s ‘Demo Day.’ They also provide maintenance for these high-tech machines and opportunities for our students to meet some of the industry leaders who purchase the machines,” said Elmore.
He added he is optimistic about continuing to receive funds/grants from the Haas Foundation for the precision manufacturing and machining program at Jones and encourages students to take advantage of an incredible opportunity to learn a valuable skill that can also offer tuition assistance for qualifying students. Elmore said job placement in the machining and manufacturing industry is usually at 100-percent. The workforce needs young men and women to lead this nation to provide better manufacturing nationwide.
“We are grateful at Jones to be able to provide an opportunity to train students where there is demand for our graduates. Our partnership with Haas has also allowed us to take our training even further by providing Jones students with experience and training on the newest technology furnished by Haas,” said Elmore.
Jones College students learn how to succeed from Thomas Jackson
ELLISVILLE – While discussing his road to success as an artist, Thomas Jackson shared he was a musician first. Becoming an artist was a nice surprise for the Hattiesburg resident whose original career plans didn’t go as planned. The Tupelo native said he couldn’t see how art would fit into his career after leaving the graphic design program at USM.
“I didn’t pay attention to teachers because I thought I was the best artist partly because I have been drawing all my life. When I got to USM in 1998, I quit the art career because I didn’t think the teachers knew what they were doing, and focused on my music,” said Jackson. “Oh, how I wished I would’ve listened to them! Classical drawing has helped me with other types of art.”
The guest artist’s work has been on display at Jones College’s Eula Bass Lewis art gallery on the Ellisville campus during the month of October. He shared with students during his “Art Talk” his art was literally discovered by accident. The musician’s artwork became popular because of a friend and Facebook.
“I did an oil pastel drawing of a comic book character for a friend and posted it on Facebook. People started asking me if I could do other characters and it went from there. So I’ve been a part-time professional artist for about five years, doing mostly comic book related stuff, after a twenty-year break,” said Jackson.
He encouraged Jones students to develop a style that will stand out among artists. Working with oil pastels, Jackson discovered he can work in layers, cutting out patterns in the paint and making the portrait more interesting. However, he was intimidated initially, trying to make “art” for a living because he felt everyone was “light-years” ahead of him technically.
“I may not be as good technically, but stylistically I can make it. I stand out. I experiment with my subject, like one day I over exaggerated the hair on Wonder Woman. I try things all the time,” said Jackson.
His unique style is especially appealing to Jones student, Ali Wittneber. The Gulfport sophomore is especially interested in Jackson’s comic book style art.
“It’s refreshing to see an actual artist that is doing comic book and fantasy paintings and not the classical art.”
Caleb Broadhead, a sophomore from Sandersville also likes the comic book art and noted he could see signs of classical drawing in Jackson’s characters.
“It’s his own style and he’s making a living at it. I’m inspired by that. His work is not so far out, or over the top. It’s inspiring,” said Broadhead. “Comic book art involves a lot of fine lines and it takes patience and talent. It’s interesting.”
Besides sharing stylistic tips as an artist, Jackson also offered business advice. While social media helped Jackson’s art career take off, he cautioned students to always be professional on social media and in public.
“People need to perceive you as an artist. Don’t complain on social media or act anything but professional. Use social media as a vehicle to show your art. You don’t have to wait either. You can show your work now,” encouraged Jackson.
For more information about the JC art show contact the gallery at 601-477-4148 or visit the gallery which is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., and Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The gallery is closed for lunch daily from 11:30 until noon. If you want to know more about the JCJC Fine Arts Department check out the JCJC Fine Arts Facebook page at JCJCFineArts.
PRVEPA’s “Round Up for Education” awards 50 scholarships to JC students
ELLISVILLE – Since the inception of the, “Round Up for Education” Scholarship program through Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association, more than 1,250 students in the region received scholarships to a Mississippi Community/Junior College. This year, a total of 250 students from throughout the PRVEPA’s 12-county service area received a $725 scholarship, including 50 Jones College students. These freshmen college students are benefitting from the electric service provider’s Association member-consumers who round up their bills to fund the scholarships.
“Members working together to achieve a common goal is a unique hallmark of cooperative organizations, and I am proud of the positive response we’ve received on this effort,” said PRVEPA General Manager, Randy Wallace. “We believe education is vital to improving the future for all of us in south Mississippi, and the Round Up program was designed to encourage more young people to further their education.”
Jones nursing major, Katelyn Toney said she’s very grateful for the scholarship. With divorced parents, receiving a financial boost from PRVEPA’s members is a huge relief.
“It helps a lot with paying tuition and books. I also work at a pharmacy in Purvis but these scholarships take a little pressure off of my family and me.”
The generosity of the thousands of members who voluntarily pay a few cents more on their electric bill has conceivably changed the lives of more than one-thousand students over the years like Tanner Boleware. He is a graduate of Presbyterian Christian High School who has plans to be a civil engineer and transfer to Mississippi State after graduating from Jones College. He is also working to help pay for college and said his parents are thrilled to have scholarships to help financially.
“Every little bit helps!” said Boleware. “We appreciate everyone who participates in this scholarship program to help college students reach their goals.”
Over the last six years, 261-JC students received a financial boost from the support of the 49,000 meters served by PRVEPA. When the program was established in 2012, PRVEPA Manager of Members Services, Kurt Brautigam said they really hoped it would be beneficial and have some success. However, it turned out to be even better than they expected. Money collected for the scholarship program is deposited in an account overseen by the Greater Pine Belt Community Foundation. Ten percent of each year’s funds are set aside in an endowed fund for future use. The remaining money is divided equally between the number of eligible applicants. The only requirement to receive a PRVEPA scholarship is to be a current participating association member in the Round Up program. All of the scholarship funds collected after August 1, each year go towards the next year’s scholarships. Applications for 2019 scholarships are available now.
2018 Community College Scholars Program (250 Students)
Community Colleges Students
Pearl River 144
Jones 50
Gulf Coast 46
Southwest 3
Co-Lin 2
Northwest MS 1
Coahoma 1
Meridian 1
Holmes 1
Northeast MS 1
Jones College costume contest winners
ELLISVILLE – The nice weather brought out about one-thousand princesses, superheroes, goblins and ghouls to have fun at the annual Jones College Treats in the Streets on the JC campus. Hundreds of kids participated in the costume contests for babies and teens, with the winners of the creatively dressed kids receiving a variety of goodies and sweet prizes from the JCJC Office of Student Affairs.
College students who dressed the best were also given cash prizes for their efforts. Winning the first place prize was Lexus Jackson of Laurel dressed as DJ Marshmallow. The second place winners were the Cheetah Girls played by Baili Meadows of Richton; Mackenzie Jordan of Laurel; Sydney Whigham of Millry, Alabama and Kate Broom of Laurel. The third place winner was Jordan Cochran of Lucedale as “The Last Air Bender.”
Treats in the Streets is an annual, free, community event that is hosted by the JCJC Student Government Association and the city of Ellisville.
Jones College dedicates Legacy Trees to four legends
ELLISVILLE – Four community legends and founders of Jones College, Harry Bush of Laurel, Julius “Judy” King of Heidelberg, Judge Charles W. Pickering of Hebron and Vic West of Wayne County and Laurel were recently selected to be honored during a Legacy Tree dedication ceremony. Located in the heart of campus, a live oak tree and bronze plaque with a summary about each person will serve as a lasting legacy for each individual. Jones College President, Dr. Jesse Smith explained recognizing these men with a live oak tree, which can live a millennial or two, is very appropriate.
“We thought it only fitting to put these ‘Legacy Trees’ in this ring of honor (in front of Jones Hall) to recognize graduates and people involved with the college; those who built the foundation of the college and everything that has been accomplished and for the foundation for the future. These people were selected for their service,” said Dr. Smith. “It is a testament to the men who came from humble backgrounds, who took their education and made something significant in their communities and made the world a better place.”
In memory, a Legacy Tree was dedicated to Harry Bush who was born in Magee and passed away in 2014. He graduated from Gardiner High School and attended Jones County Junior College before graduating from Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in construction management. He served his country in the Army from 1954 to 1956 and shortly after leaving the Army, Bush married Jeanne Cain and they had three children.
He joined his father’s construction business in 1962 and expanded the company’s interests. While actively working in the family business, he established the Mississippi Asphalt Pavement Association and served as president and board member before he was inducted as a Life member in 1996.
At Jones, Bush provided leadership for JCJC as a Foundation Board of Directors, chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee, chairman of the Audit Committee and a “tireless” fundraiser. Utilizing his business experience and education, Bush assisted in the establishment of the construction materials course and provided materials for the course.
The 2006 JCJC Honor Alumnus was also active in the community, playing an integral part in the organization of the Economic Development Association of Jones County in 1982. Ten years later, he would be elected to the EDA Hall of Fame.
At the Legacy Tree dedication, Bush’s daughter, Linda Bush Burdine said JCJC has always been a part of her life and she especially appreciates this unique memorial for her father.
“We are deeply grateful for this honor. We thank you for the effort you’ve taken to honor dad and the other honorees,” said Burdine. “(Harry) knew that education is truly the key to success and he knew an educated workforce was the key to a vibrant and healthy economy; that’s what he wanted for Jones County and why he loved Jones County Junior College so much.”
In 2016, “Judy” King’s earthly life of serving his country, community, JCJC and his family came to an end. A man of humble living in the Jasper County town of Heidelberg, he graduated from high school in 1940 and JCJC two years later. Following his graduation from the University of Mississippi in 1943, he graduated as an ensign from the U.S. Naval Midshipman’s School at Notre Dame University and served in the South Pacific during World War II. In 1955, he returned to Laurel where he worked in the automotive, real estate, and oil and gas industries. Soon after, he married Marion Louise King and they had two daughters.
King is credited with fostering education in Mississippi by serving as president of the University of Mississippi White House Selection for Fellowships. He was also a member of the transition team for the Reagan White House and a member of the state GOP executive committee. As a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Laurel, King served as the Property Acquisition Committee Chairman.
Among his contributions to Jones, Judy chaired the JCJC Foundation Board and co-chaired the Reaching New Heights major gifts campaign. He was selected as the Honor Alumnus of JCJC in 2001. Also, the King family provided seed money for the construction of the King Chemistry Center on campus.
King served the community as the Jones County EDA president, a board member of the United Way of Jones County, President of the Laurel Jaycees, Jones County’s American Red Cross and the Laurel Country Club. His daughter, Kendall Waggoner said she is grateful the college has chosen to memorialize her father.
“He loved JC and he was so proud of the time he spent here,” said Waggoner. “He was proud of Jones County and being a Mississippian, and so thankful to be a part of the Foundation here. He was so excited about all that was accomplished. Thank you so much for honoring him in such a special way.”
Laurel entrepreneur, Vic West graduated from Jones County Agricultural High School in May of 1942. He served his country in the Navy from 1943 until 1946. He was later called to serve fourteen months of active duty in the Naval Reserve during the Korean Conflict.
In 1946, Vic married his wife, Louise Parrish and they became parents of four sons. He went to work with Southern Bell Telephone Company after serving in the Navy. In 1967, he became a franchisee of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Additionally, he and his wife and sons opened one KFC restaurant in Laurel and eventually expanded to open multiple KFC restaurants along with Rally’s Hamburgers in the region and Vic’s Biscuits in Laurel.
The West’s established an endowment to support the JCJC Foundation and in addition, endowed the Vic and Lou West Scholarship to provide for needy students. He also served as a member of the JCJC Foundation Board of Directors and held lifetime memberships to the JCAHS and the JCJC Alumni Associations. In 1996, Vic West was selected as an Honor Alumnus of JCJC. Twenty years after that honor, West passed away.
“When you think of all of the honorees, you think of the ‘Greatest Generation.’ They served in World War II, came back to their homes and impacted their communities, like my father,” said Bill West.
While Judge, Charles Pickering may not have served in the military, he battled in other ways. After earning his Bachelor of Laws in 1961 from the University of Mississippi School of Law as first in his class, he established a law practice in Laurel. The 1957 JCJC graduate and president of both the freshmen and sophomore classes, entered into Jones County politics. He served locally as city prosecutor, county prosecutor, municipal court judge and state senator before President George H.W. Bush appointed Pickering to a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi in 1990. Pickering received a recess appointment from President George W. Bush in January 2004 to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, retiring at the end of the year.
Meanwhile, he practiced law for the Blackstone Legal Fellowship and was on the board of directors for the Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal advocacy organization. Pickering also published books about the politics of judicial confirmation and the judiciary in jeopardy.
He served as the former president of the Mississippi Baptist Convention and for the William Carey University Board of Trustees. Pickering was also the chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party and on the board of the Foundation for the Civil Rights Museum in Mississippi. Additionally, Pickering serves on the board of Mission Mississippi, Wildlife Mississippi and Magnolia State Bank. While serving First Baptist Church of Laurel for more than 50 years, Pickering has taught Sunday school and is a Gideon.
JCJC has honored Charles and his wife, Margaret as Honored Alumni in 2000. Several years ago, the judge was instrumental in establishing and raising scholarship funds for the Charles Pickering Honors Institute at Jones. The eighty-one-year-old also has the distinguished honor of being the first generation honor graduate at Jones County Junior College in 1957.
“I am deeply honored and humbled by this recognition, first because I have such great respect for the other three being recognized…. But I am more honored because of Jones County Junior College. JCJC has been a part of both our lives; my wife’s parents were both part of the college administration when we were students here. I drove the bus for two years while in school and that $35 a month paid for my first two years of higher education. It was an economical education and it was also a good education….Also, by staying here, I had an opportunity to convince Margaret I was a better choice than the other boyfriend!” Judge Pickering explained.
During the retired Judge Charles Pickering’s Legacy Tree dedication, Dr. Smith
shared all of the honoree’s names are embedded in the fabric of the college and the country. However, Judge Pickering also influenced him personally.
“This graduate has been an oak tree for our community for quite a long time. Judge Charles Pickering Sr., this is a dedication not only to you, our community, state, and our country but also for me personally, because of the influence you’ve had on my life and our family. This is what Jones College is all about and we thank you for your legacy.”
The first Legacy Tree was dedicated in memory to Ellisville’s Dick Anderson in 2016, after decades of leading and serving his family and his community. For more information about the Legacy Trees, contact the Alumni and Foundation Office at 601-477-4049.
