Author: Teresa McCreery

ELLISVILLE – Hundreds of Jones County Junior College alumni and friends gathered recently for Jones College’s Homecoming Alumni Luncheon which honored several alumni for various accomplishments. During that event, the Alumni Association of Phi Theta Kappa’s International Honor Society, Rho Sigma Chapter presented the PTK Alumnus of the Year Award to 1990 JCJC graduate, Mary Boleware. She is only the second person to receive the honor from the newly formed Alumni Chapter of PTK at Jones College.

“To be chosen as the Jones College PTK Honor Alumnus for 2024 was quite the surprise!” said Boleware. “I am humbled to have been chosen from among so many deserving candidates.” 

She was presented the award by fellow faculty members, Caleb Smith and Mark Brown who also serve as PTK Advisors. They explained that Boleware has not only been an active member of PTK as a student, but she has also been involved with hundreds of JC student’s journeys throughout the 24 years she has been teaching Engineering Mechanics-Statistics and Physics to engineering majors.

“It was unanimous that the honoree for 2024 would be beloved Physics Instructor, and former Rho Sigma Member, Ms. Mary Boleware,” shared Brown. “Ms. Boleware has meant so much to countless aspiring engineering students, as she not only nurtures them, but challenges them as well. Anyone that has been under her instruction can have confidence that they are greatly prepared to meet the continued challenge of engineering.”

As a student at Jones in 1988-1990, Boleware was an active member of PTK.  She continued to serve in the honor society in leadership positions after transferring to the University of Southern Mississippi.

“I remained active with the PTK Alumni Chapter at USM and served as chapter president in 1991-1992.  It was an honor to attend three PTK National Conventions (San Francisco 1990, Chicago 1991, Washington DC 1992). Wonderful connections and lifelong memories were made,” Boleware shared.

While working on her master’s degree in physics at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, Boleware was an adjunct physics instructor at William Carey College from 1993 until 1999. Additionally, in 1995 she began teaching at Forrest County Agricultural High School as the Physics, Math and Technology instructor until 2000, when she joined the faculty at Jones College.

As a faculty member at JC, Boleware served the School of Science and Engineering as the Academic Advisor and Recruiting representative and has served as the Student Engineering Society Faculty Advisor. Furthermore, she has served on the Insurance, Homecoming Alumni Brunch, and the Student Hall of Fame Selection committees. Currently, Boleware serves as a member of the Alumni & Foundation Board, and she is the Alumni Association Vice President.

Her many honors include being the JCJC Foundation Faculty of the Year recipient for 2006 and 2022, the 2013 HEADWAE (Higher Education Appreciation Day, Working for Academic Excellence) faculty recipient and receiving the Shelby Price Award for Excellence in Teaching of Science Award.

As an active member of Venture Church in Hattiesburg, Boleware has served on the Lead Pastor Search Team, Nomination Committee, Guest Services, and is a Preschool volunteer and House Church Host. Mary is married to Garland Boleware, and they have two sons, Hunter and Tanner and his wife, Ashlyn.  

ELLISVILLE – Jones College sophomore, Owen Massey was one of only 14 community college and university students statewide who recently received a Mississippi Automotive Manufacturers Association (MAMA) scholarship this year. He will receive $1,500 as a two-year college recipient after meeting eligibility requirements like having a 3.0 GPA or higher, providing a résumé, letters of recommendations and a written essay on his interest in the automotive manufacturing industry. Additionally, 2023 JC graduate Eli Chancellor, of Petal earned a $2,500 MAMA University Scholarship.

“I am beyond proud of Eli Chancellor and Owen Massey for being chosen as recipients of the Mississippi Automotive Manufacturers Association (MAMA) scholarships,” said Mary Boleware who taught both students physics and is the advisor for engineering students at Jones College.  “Eli is a recent transfer to Mississippi State University, and he is majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Owen is currently a sophomore Electrical Engineering Student at Jones who was awarded one of the Community College Scholarships. Both are incredible young men, and I can’t wait to see the great things they will do as engineers in our area. It has been amazing to be part of their academic journey.” 

Seminary resident Owen Massey was the 2022 Presbyterian Christian High School valedictorian. Besides majoring in electrical engineering, he is minoring in English and math at JC. While at PCHS, he earned numerous awards in English, math, Spanish, science and geography and was a member of the Junior & Senior Beta Club. Additionally, Massey was a member of the Spanish Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta, and he served as a Steven Palazzo Youth Council Member, Mississippi State Agriculture Council Delegate and MAIS State Chess Champion. Currently, Massey is a member of the Jones College Rho Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and a member of the Charles Pickering Honors Institute. Massey can also be found volunteering at the Salvation Army, Edwards Street Food Pantry and Thrift Store, Sanford Baptist Church Food Pantry and as an ambassador at Hattiesburg Health and Rehab Nursing Home.  

Chancellor has worked at Cooperative Energy and at Twin Lakes Camp and Conference Center. At Jones College, he served as president of the JC Student Engineering Society, a member of Phi Theta Kappa and Chancellor was inducted into the JC Student Hall of Fame. As a member of the Boy Scouts, Chancellor earned the highest rank of Eagle Scout.

“Eli made quite the lasting impression on me after just a few meetings,” shared Boleware. “For 24 years, I have taught calculus-based physics. With Calculus 1 as a prerequisite, by default I have some of the brightest students that enroll in classes on our campus. Eli is among the top five percent of my students in all these years. Among his peers, his critical thinking, technical writing and verbal expression of engineering related concepts are advanced. I have no doubt that he will be a great asset to an engineering team as a member and as a leader.”

MAMA scholarships support community college and university students interested in pursuing a career in the automotive manufacturing industry. This year’s scholarships were awarded to technical and engineering-related majors as well as non-traditional majors, that can be applied within the automotive industry. MAMA has supported the growth of strong a workforce essential to the health of all industries in the state since its inception in 2006.

ELLISVILLE – Jones College will hold its annual Most Beautiful Pageant on Friday, November 8, at 7 p.m. in the M.B. Bush Fine Arts Auditorium. Forty contestants will vie for the titles of Most Beautiful, Top 10, Top 5, Best Essay, and Most Photogenic. There will also be a People’s Choice award for the contestant with the most votes from the audience. Each vote costs $1. General admission is $10 with JC students’ tickets costing $5. Tickets can be purchased with reserved seating at www.jcjc.edu/tickets For more information, contact Emily Flessner at 601-477-4030.

ELLISVILLE – Of the 10 honored alumni during Jones College’s Alumni Recognition Program, sponsored by Howard Industries and held during Homecoming celebrations on October 19, 2024, two alumni were named “Rising Stars.” Included in the distinguished group of alumni achieving great success were Hans Van Houton of Moselle and Sawyer M. Taylor of Laurel.

“It gives us great honor and pleasure to recognize these remarkable achievements and success across a diverse array of fields as they embody the values and the excellence that Jones College represents. It contributes to a lasting legacy for future generations,” said Jones College President, Dr. Jesse Smith. “The Rising Star recipients are Jones College alumni who have demonstrated early success in their careers, and they’re already embedded in their community and beginning to move things forward.”

Hans Van Houten, a native of Moselle, is a full-time aircraft mechanic with the 172nd Airlift Wing of the Mississippi Air National Guard in Flowood. His passion for mechanics began at a young age while working on cars, trucks, and motorcycles with his father. This early exposure led him to pursue a career in the mechanical field.

“I started out in the automotive machine shop program in 2010, under Robert Smith, and I really enjoyed that program. We took apart engines and inspected them, measured them and machined them and then put them back together and restored them. I finished that program and then I went over to the automotive technology program under Larry Looney, Barry Bradshaw and Brad Ellzey. We learned all about cars, the ins and outs of engines, transmissions, chassis, brakes, electrical- just about everything. I really learned a lot in that program and that kind of fueled my passion for mechanic work,” said Van Houten.

During his time at Jones, he also worked in a variety of mechanic roles, including positions at a local motorcycle shop, on civilian aircraft at the Hattiesburg airport, and he even worked on commercial fishing boats in Alaska. His diverse experience fueled his interest in aviation and the military. After graduating, Van Houten joined the Mississippi Air National Guard to gain expertise in jet engine aircraft and to fulfill his desire to travel the world. His dedication to his craft and his military service has earned him recognition as one of Jones College’s Rising Stars.

“Everyone that I’ve looked up to in the past here at Jones and through work experiences has really shaped me in my career,” shared Van Houten. “I’d like to say thanks to my father who got me into mechanic work starting out, and I would like to say thanks to Barry Bradshaw for getting me into aviation and Mr. Larry Looney, he was a great example of a of a professional and a mechanic.”

Rising Star, Sawyer Taylor is a native of Laurel, is a 2014 graduate of Jones College, where he earned an Associate of Arts degree. While at Jones, he was honored with an athletic scholarship to play golf and helped recruit prospective students and educate them about JC as a member of the Bobcat Brigade.

“When I first came to Jones, Kayla Bradley Farris had me taking students around campus, which was an extremely good experience. I was able to talk in front of people and communicate my Jones story. So, Bobcat Brigade was a huge, huge thing for me. I played on the golf team here for two years and met the most amazing, lifelong friends that I can call back on today,” shared Taylor.

He went on to further his studies at Mississippi State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agri-Business with minors in Economics and Business Administration. Taylor began his professional career at Community Bank, where he now serves as the Market President for the Jones County Division.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be able to accept this award, to know that people have noticed what I’ve done since I’ve left Jones. It just it means the world to me that somebody could call and say, hey, we want to honor you for being an alumnus of JCJC,” said Taylor. “Also, I would like to thank my parents, number one, for allowing me to come here and to pursue a career. Tim Ishee was another one that I would like to thank. He got me onto the career path with Agri-business. There’s so much that you can do with that type of a business degree. I would also like to thank Ed Smith for giving me the scholarship to play golf here, and Dr. Jesse Smith for always being there for everybody.”

Jones College’s Alumni recognition program honored 10 alumni, including “Rising Stars,” Hans Van Houten of Moselle and Sawyer Taylor of Laurel during Homecoming celebrations. Additionally, two alumni, John Reynolds Clark, a native of Waynesboro and current Ellisville resident and Dr. Benjamin P. Stevens of Laurel each received the “Achievement and Excellence Award.” Three Jones College alumni, Dr. Jeffrey E. Carter of Laurel and current New Orleans resident, and Ben and Erin Napier of Laurel were honored as “Outstanding Alumni of the Year.” Dr. Larry Guthrie, a native of Bullock County, Alabama and current Watkinsville, Georgia, was recognized as the “Legacy Award” recipient and Michael and Katye Howard of Ellisville received the Distinguished Service Award.

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Jones County Junior College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Jones County Junior College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 3033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Statement of Non-Discrimination and ADA Statement: Jones County Junior College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability in its programs, activities, or employment practices. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries and grievances regarding the non-discrimination policy: The (ADA/ Section 504) Wendy Evans, ADA Coordinator, Terrell Tisdale Library, phone 601-477-2673; email ADACoordinator@jcjc.edu and Title IX Coordinator, Brittany Weatherford-Barron, Hutcheson Hubbard Administration Building, phone 601-477-4127; email brittany.weatherford@jcjc.edu. Jones County Junior College, 900 South Court Street, Ellisville, MS 39437.

ELLISVILLE – Two Jones College alumni were honored with the “Achievement and Excellence” Award during the Alumni Recognition Program, sponsored by Howard Industries and held during Homecoming celebrations on October 19, 2024. Formerly of Waynesboro and current Ellisville resident, Dr. John Reynolds Clark and Dr. Benjamin P. Stevens of Laurel were recognized as graduates of Jones College who are under the age of 40 and are recognized for their professional achievements and their positive community impact. Jones College President, Dr. Jesse Smith explained these two have established their careers and they are quickly rising to the top of their professions.

“I was honored and shocked at the same time, especially when I got my invitation in the mail and saw who else was being honored. I’m just super grateful that I get to do this and represent Jones in this fashion. I’m super humble and very grateful for this opportunity,” said Clark.

The current Director of Sports Medicine and Sports Rehabilitation at Wayne General Hospital in Waynesboro graduated from Jones in 2014 with an associate in applied science degree and continued at William Carey University, earning his bachelor of science degree in biology with a concentration in pre-physical therapy in 2016. After finishing his doctorate in physical therapy in 2019 from WCU, Clark completed a sports physical therapy internship in Birmingham, Alabama at Lemak Health Sports Medicine and has been practicing sports physical therapy ever since.

He became a Board-Certified Specialist of Sports Physical therapy after passing the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties board exam for sports physical therapy in June 2022. Throughout his practice, he has provided sports physical therapy services for many professional athletes from organizations including the Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, and Chicago White Sox. He has also worked with many athletes from NCAA division 1, NJCAA, and high schools for a variety of injuries and post-operative care.

After beginning his career at Hattiesburg Clinic and then South Central Regional Medical Center, Dr. Clark serves clinically as a board-certified sports physical therapy specialist as the Director of Sports Medicine and Sports Rehabilitation at Wayne General Hospital in Waynesboro and provides game coverage for local schools in addition to his administrative duties.

“I’ve had many high school students and even young college students shadowing me for clinical rotations and I would advise, as I’ve always advised everybody, you might want to start your college journey at Jones especially if you’re not sure what path you want to take,” shared Clark. “Jones is the perfect start because the quality of education you get here is as close to a university education as you’re going to get. The classes are difficult but they’re smaller, so you’re one-on-one with the professors here and it’s just a great place to get your college career started. I loved my time here. I met my wife (Lauren) for the first time at my first football game and now we’ve been married for eight years, and we have a three-year-old son. She was supportive all the way through my journey. I don’t think I would be where I am without my wife. I’m just so thankful that I met her here.”

Former Jones College football quarterback and now physician, Dr. Benjamin P. Stevens is also being recognized for his achievements. Excelling on and off the football field, the 2013 JC graduate was a member of the Hall of Fame and graduated Summa Cum Laude while earning his biological sciences degree from Mississippi State University. Over the next four years, Stevens attended the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson for medical school. He was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Medical Honor Society and finished in the top 10 of his class. He then completed a five-year Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and recently joined his father, Dr. Rusty Stevens, in practice at the Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgical Clinic in Laurel.

“I was planning to major in pre-med so that was one of the things that the football coaches had to sell me on-the academics here at Jones,” said Stevens. “I met with all the science teachers and had a good feeling about it, and I had a great experience. All of my prerequisites for the MCAT I took here and yes, I thought it was a great education, and I felt very prepared moving on too.”

Stevens added that he also learned how to manage his time better as a college athlete. Balancing sports and his classes helped him “grow up.”

“The transition was great because I feel like the teachers here truly cared about their students,” said Stevens. “I’m thankful for all the teachers and coaches I had here, but the two teachers that really impacted me the most were Austin Smith who taught biology and microbiology, and then Mary Boleware was my physics teacher. The teachers care and they really invest in you which I felt like that was the biggest difference.”

Ben is married to LeighAnn Stevens, who is also a JC graduate, and they have two children, Ann Townsend, and Henry.

Jones College’s Alumni recognition program honored 10 alumni, including “Rising Stars,” Hans Van Houten of Moselle and Sawyer Taylor of Laurel during Homecoming celebrations. Additionally, two alumni, John Reynolds Clark, a native of Waynesboro and current Ellisville resident and Dr. Benjamin P. Stevens of Laurel each received the “Achievement and Excellence Award.” Three Jones College alumni, Dr. Jeffrey E. Carter of Laurel and current New Orleans resident, and Ben and Erin Napier of Laurel were honored as “Outstanding Alumni of the Year.” Dr. Larry Guthrie, a native of Bullock County, Alabama and current Watkinsville, Georgia, was recognized as the “Legacy Award” recipient and Michael and Katye Howard of Ellisville received the Distinguished Service Award.