Author: Teresa McCreery

ELLISVILLE–Homecoming on the campus of Jones College in Ellisville is set for Saturday, October 20, with the theme, “Inspiring Bobcats through the Ages.”  Some special events and reunions are scheduled for Friday night, October 19.  Last month, JC students elected its 2018 Homecoming Court with the following ladies representing them during Homecoming festivities.

Queen: Haley Smith of Ellisville is majoring in biology with aspirations of becoming an orthodontist.  The Jones College sophomore is a member of the Bobcat Brigade, a student recruiting organization, and the Student Government Association. The South Jones High School graduate participated in the show choir and the Bravettes dance team. Her classmates elected her to Homecoming Queen, Most Beautiful and Miss Congeniality. She was also chosen to represent her hometown as Miss Hospitality of Ellisville. Smith graduated Magna Cum Laude from South Jones and she was honored to be in the South Jones High School Hall of Fame and a Mississippi Scholar. After completing her studies at Jones and William Carey University, Smith plans to further her education at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Veonica and Undrell Covington are her parents.

Escorting Smith will be Avery Millsap of Ellisville. The civil engineering major is a member of the Student Government Association. The South Jones graduate intends to further his education at Mississippi State University and start a business. Millsap’s parents are Alluna Millsap and Maurice Pruitt.

Student Body Maid: Kaitlyn Craig is your Student Body Maid. The Petal resident is majoring in public relations. She is a member of the Jones College tennis team and a member of the 2018 State Championship team, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Bobcat Brigade and the Lead Team Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. At Petal High School, she was the captain of the tennis team and she was a member of the National Honor Society.  The Honors Graduate was also elected as a Petal High School Homecoming Maid. Craig’s aspirations include being a publicist for a major company after earning her public relations degree at the University of Southern Mississippi. Her parents are Rob Craig and Christy Guthrie.

Escorting Craig is Jon-Mikal “Hunter” Dykes.  He is a Petal resident majoring in nursing. At JC, Dykes is a member of the baseball team and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  In high school, he was the captain of the baseball team winning multiple Pitcher of the Year awards and MVP honors. Dykes’ future plans include pursuing a baseball career, earning his bachelor’s degree and working as a pediatric nurse in the same hospital where he received cancer treatments. His parents are Joey and Sheila McMurry and Terry and Lucy Dykes.

Sophomore Maid: Vicksburg native, Mikayla Banks is a pre-dentistry major. Her JC activities include being a member of the Lady Bobcat Soccer team and the Student Government Association. While at Vicksburg High School, Banks was a member of the soccer and track teams, Key Club, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society and the National Honor Society.  Her future plans involve being accepted into Dental School and opening her own practice. Bank’s parents are Michael and Michelle Banks.

Banks’ escort is Rogers Wesley of Vicksburg.  The paramedicine major was active at Warren Central High School as a member of the Key Club, elected Vice President of the Student Council, and he earned the title of Mr. Warren Central High School.  Wesley hopes to become a registered nurse and paramedic after graduating from Jones.  His parents are Cedric Wesley and Beverly Taylor.

Sophomore Maid: Jessica Smith is a Seminary native majoring in nursing.  While in high school, she played softball and volleyball, earning 1st-Team All-District honors for all four years, and she was a Mississippi Scholar. Smith is proud to be a member of the Jones, 2018 NJCAA Softball National Championship team.  Her college plans include earning her Bachelors of Science in Nursing at the University of Mississippi Medical Center with the hope of becoming a nurse anesthetist. Greg and Jenny Smith are her parents.

Smith’s escort is Columbia resident, Charles Davis Thompson, who is an engineering major and is a student manager of the JC 2018 Softball National Championship team. The Columbia Academy graduate was a member of the football team and the 3A MAIS Baseball State Championship team.  He was elected as student body Vice President and graduated in the Top-10 of his class. Thompson’s future plans include graduating from the University of Mississippi with an engineering degree.  His parents are Chris and Andrea Thompson.

Freshman Maid: Kaitlyn Evans of Seminary is majoring in veterinary science.  At Seminary High School, Evans was selected by her classmates as the Wittiest and the student with the Most School Spirit.  Her Jones activities include being a member of the Agriculture Club.  Evans’ plans are to graduate from Mississippi State University with the goal of eventually being one of the top veterinarians in the state. Her parents are Robin and Corey Booth.

Escorting Evans is Javin Moore of Collins who is majoring in computer science. In high school, Moore played football and basketball for Seminary High School.  His future plans include graduating from Jones and eventually working at one of the leading software companies. Moore’s parents are Jerry Moore and Kenya Mead.

Freshman Maid:  Erin Perry of Petal is a psychology major at JC. The Petal High School graduate was a member of the Petal Show Choirs, Soundsations and Innovations. Perry graduated with honors and she was also involved with the Interact Club, Health Occupation Students of America and the National Honor Society. Her future plans include graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi with a master’s degree in child psychology. Robert and Ginger Perry are Erin’s parents.

Perry’s escort is Corey Davis of Petal. The general studies major graduated as a Mississippi Tech Master and Mississippi Scholar.  His future plans include graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi with a business administration degree. Rob and Becky Stephens are Corey’s parents.

The JCJC Homecoming court will also have represented as the flower girl, McClellan Cooley, the daughter of Jason and Joanna Cooley of Ellisville. The six-year-old is in first grade at South Jones Elementary School. Jonah Dunlap, the 2018 Homecoming Court crown bearer is a first grader at Oak Grove Primary School.  The six-year-old is the son of Joel and Jennifer Dunlap.  For details about Homecoming events and activities check out the News page on the Jones College website: http://www.jcjc.edu

ELLISVILLE – Since the inception of the Jones College Bobcat Math League, the format, teams or rules have changed in some way.  However, to find success, it appears mathletes are using Heisman Trophy winner, Super Bowl MVP, and former Dallas Cowboy quarterback, Roger Staubach’s quote to heart; “In any team sport, the best teams have consistency and chemistry.”  No one can doubt this week that Sacred Heart found its “groove” by applying Staubach’s wisdom as they continue to dominate the Technology Division and the cumulative point’s standings with 142. Also, little has changed in the division rankings, except in the Science Division where West Jones remains at the top of the heap despite having the week off.

The Mustangs of West Jones remain as division leaders because of the 44 cumulative points the team earned in the first week. Surprisingly, Northeast Jones tumbles down the division ranks to fourth place after a heated battle with the Laurel Tornadoes even though they have 73 cumulative points. In the Tornadoes’ first week of competition they “tore-up” the Tigers, 39-33 and land in second place in the division.  Presbyterian Christian keeps its third-place division ranking with 85 cumulative points after stomping on the Raleigh Lions, 45 to 13. Last week’s tie between PCS and Northeast Jones prevents both teams from moving up the division ranks regardless of points.

Sacred Heart’s, 65 to 12 pummeling of the Bulldogs of Perry Central, secures the Crusaders first place division ranking while the Bulldogs continue to search for a break in the competition in fourth place. The clash of the Academies turned into a “cat fight” between the Columbia Academy Cougars and the Wayne Academy Jaguars. With a three-point lead, the Cougars snatched the win away from the Jaguars, 36 to 33 with Columbia Academy remaining in second place in the Technology Division.

Engineering Division leaders, the Wayne County War Eagles earned the victory against the Quitman Panthers and end the week with the second most cumulative points with 136. The Panthers could only garner 15 points from the War Eagles as Wayne County decisively wins its match.  Heidelberg’s Oilers sprung a leak while hosting the Oak Grove Warriors, ending in a decisive win for the Warriors, 52 to 16.

Topping the list of the Most Outstanding Players is Sacred Heart’s Benjamin Dunn with a 75 percent accuracy average this week, after a three-way tie for first in the first week of competition. Second place MOP honors go to both Maxwell Dobbs of Laurel and Mathew Morgan of Presbyterian Christian with a 70 percent accuracy average.  Wayne County’s Joshua Curry’s 65 percent accuracy average earned him third place with four people tied for fifth place with a 60 percent average.

Next week, only four of the thirteen high schools will see action. West Jones will host Laurel and Raleigh hosts Northeast Jones as the other schools observe Fall Break. Even though there is a break in the action, each of the teams in the Science Division has the opportunity to distance themselves from the third-place PCS team by earning more points as the Bobcats enjoy the week off.

Results will be posted on the JC Bobcat Math League web page under “Division Standings/Schedules at: http://www.jcjc.edu/bobcatmathleague/ and scores in real time will be posted on the Bobcat Math League Facebook page: Bobcat Math League – Facebook. Weekly results can also be found in local media outlets.  For more information about the Bobcat Math League contact Dr. Jessica Bunch (JC Bobcat Math League Commissioner) at 601-477-5422 or email at jessica.bunch@jcjc.edu.

ELLISVILLE–Jones College’s Concert Choir was the only guest concert choir to perform at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Southern Invitational Choral Conference (SICC) held September 24, at the Hattiesburg campus. Additionally, the 105-member group was selected to be the featured choir for a teacher masterclass as part of the SICC events. The choir performed under the direction of the guest clinician, Dr. Andrew Last of Luther College for the instructor’s masterclass. Both opportunities are considered a prestigious honor according to JC’s Choral Director, Joel Dunlap.

“Being selected as the only guest choir to perform at the Southern Invitational Choral Conference in Hattiesburg was a great honor for our Concert Choir at Jones College and this was an honor we did not take lightly. Being a part of the concert showcase and performing for more than 800 college and high school students as well as music professionals from across the state was very humbling,” said Dunlap.

The JC Concert Choir performed James Mulholland’s composition, “Keramos” which translates to “The Potter’s Clay.”  This choral composition was originally commissioned by the USM Southern Chorale in 1997.

Assisting the choir as the group’s accompanist is JC’s fine arts faculty member, Dr. Victoria Johnson. For more information about the upcoming concert season contact the JC Fine Arts Department at 601-477-4094.

JCJC Concert Choir Members 2018

Sarah Acosta, Oak Grove

Dailen Allen, Liberty

Rebekah Allen, Magee

Zailen Allen, Liberty

Keara Altman, Quitman

Manuel Alvarado, Laurel

K.J. Andrews, Laurel

Curlexis Arrington, Waynesboro

Ella Barker, Hattiesburg

Daniel Ryan Beech, Chatom, AL

Madisyn Blackwell, Laurel

Michael Blanks, Ellisville

Madison Bolling, Petal

Heidi Boot, Ellisville

Layne Boykin, Waynesboro

Madison Brannon, Hattiesburg

William Briggs, Ocean Springs

Keon Cain, McComb

Coco Caldwell, Laurel

Patrick Callen, Laurel

Ka’Lisha Carter, Shubuta

Kassidy Chandler, Laurel

Krimel Chandler, Liberty

Madison Chatham, Laurel

Dylon Chisholm, Purvis

Courtlyn Clanton, Waynesboro

Ebony Cole, Laurel

J.D. Cole, Meridian

Erica Cooley, Waynesboro

Seth Dawson, Laurel

Hannah Dubin, Waynesboro

Antonio Ducksworth, Louin

Nathaniel Duke, Citronelle, AL

Reagan Dukes, Laurel

Lexie Floyd, Quitman

Christen Ford, Ellisville

Eliana Gaddy, Laurel

Nathaniel Gamblin, Waynesboro

Landra Gavin, Laurel

Cortland Goff, South Jones

Jase Golobay, Ellisville

Chance Gossett, Buckatunna

Gracie Green, Leakesville

Kayla Hannah, Star

Avery Harris, Laurel

Victor Harris, Laurel

Jacob Hathorn, Clinton

Khalil Herron, Laurel

Trey Hicks, Laurel

Haley Holifield, Laurel

Virginia Hosey, Laurel

Kaselyn Houston  Meridian

CJ Hunter, Laurel

Jamar James, Leroy, AL

Sydney James, Waynesboro

Kaitlin Jones, Purvis

Lacoby Keys, Ellisville

Reese Loper, Millry, AL

Kaylee Luckey, Mize

Cooper Mangum, Morton

Denise McAdoo, Bay Springs

Kamryn McGee, Hattiesburg

Anna-Claire McKellar, Vicksburg

Eli McMellon, Moselle

Hallie Meadows, Richton

Christian Millwood, Brandon

Destiny Minter, Ellisville

Eden Murphy, Petal

Chelsea Musgrove , Soso

Madison Newsom, Sumrall

Brooklyn Nicholson, Richton

Caleb Pearce, Ellisville

Olivia Pippin, Laurel

Taylor Pippin, Laurel

Zyion Pittman, Soso

Brianna Read, Laurel

Dawn Reulet, Taylorsville

Jacob Rogers, Ellisville

Mackenzie Rolison, Long Beach

Avyana Russell, Hattiesburg

Scarlett Sandifer, Laurel

Charlie Shattles, Moselle

Callie Shows, Ellisville

James Smith, Jr., Oak Grove

Jacob Strickland, Ovett

Natalie Sullivan, Hattiesburg

Roshunda Sumrall , Sandersville

Johnnie Tala, Seminary

Reagan Todd, Laurel

Kalley Tolbert, Laurel

Grace Toney, Long Beach

Corey Tribble, Leakesville

Deven Ulmer, Laure

Haylee Waite, Laurel

Kaitlyn Walley, Waynesboro

Katelyn Ware, Hattiesburg

Andrew Watkins, Quitman

Sarah Watson, Laurel

Rogers Wesley, Vicksburg

Alyssa White, Laurel

Derrick Williams, Laurel

Jared Woullard, Leakesville

Christian Wright, Lucedale

Sydnee Yates, Brandon

Emily Youngblood, Ellisville