“TOPGUN” Nick Laviano keynotes Jones College commencement
ELLISVILLE – The 2022 Jones College graduates will hear from Ellisville native and Navy “TOPGUN” Major Nick Laviano as the keynote speaker for the 94th Commencement Ceremony held on Friday, May 20, at 8 p.m. The ceremony will be held on the North Lawn of Jones Hall with plans to move the event to the A.B. Howard/Bobcat Gymnasium if there is inclement weather.
Seating will be first come first serve with about 660 students expected to participate in the ceremony. Graduates will receive either an Associate in Arts degree, Associate in Applied Science degree, a Technical Certificate, or a Career Certificate. To watch the ceremony live, check the website, http://www.jcjc.edu/ For questions specifically regarding the 2022 graduation ceremony, please contact Kacie Birdsong at 601-477-4137.
Major Nick Laviano is a graduate of South Jones High School. In 2003, he attended Jones County Junior College and earned his Associates Degree in 2005. In 2008, he received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Mississippi State University. Upon completion of his degree, he was accepted into the United States Navy Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as an Ensign in January 2009. In June of 2011, after pilot training at multiple bases around the country, Laviano was designated as a Naval Aviator. His first operational assignment was in Lemoore, California, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 86 (VFA-86) where he flew the FA-18E Super Hornet.
As his time at VFA-86 ended, he decided to pursue a lifelong dream and applied to the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN). He was selected to attend the course in May 2016 and received follow-on orders to remain at the school as an instructor. For three years, Major Laviano flew the FA-18C, FA-18E/F, and F-16A and trained students in advanced tactics for aerial combat. At the conclusion of his tour at TOPGUN, he was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 31 (VFA-31) in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In his role as the squadron’s Training Officer, he prepared pilots for a wide range of military missions. After his tour at VFA-31, he retired from active duty in the Navy and transitioned to the District of Columbia Air National Guard. Major Laviano is now assigned to the 121st Fighter Squadron where he flies the F-16C. He currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife Alicia and son Myles.
Jones College Associate Degree Nursing students inducted into Alpha Delta Nu
ELLISVILLE –Jones College sophomore associate degree nursing students, Lauryn Wheat-Petal; Jalyn Freeman-Waynesboro; Kayla White-State Line; Cassandra Warden-Purvis and Jenna Hillman-Richton were inducted into the Nursing Honor Society, Alpha Delta Nu. Requirements for induction into the Nursing Honor Society include having a “B” average in all nursing courses with no repeats, complete a capstone project prior to graduation and demonstrate conduct on campus and in clinical areas which reflect integrity and professionalism.
“These students are all well thought of at Jones and their knowledge and skills are also outstanding. They are caring individuals and we are proud of their success at Jones College, and in the nursing profession,” said Danielle Matthews, A.D. Nursing instructor and co-advisor for Alpha Delta Nu at Jones College.
Family, friends and students gathered for the induction ceremony to recognize the achievements of the five students. Twenty-eight Associate Degree Nursing students are expected to celebrate completing the program on Thursday, May 19, with a pinning ceremony at Jones College.
Jones College celebrates retiring 2022 employees
ELLISVILLE – Jones College held its annual “Retirement Tea” for six employees who are retiring this year. When combined, these six employees provided 119 years of service to JC, with some having additional years of service working at other professional/educational institutions.
This year’s retirees include Arlena Sullivan who has been teaching business/economics courses at Jones College for 28 years. Rochelle Dahmer has been teaching English at Jones College for 25 years. Diasetta Nelson has 23 years of service to the college in environmental safety. Diane Love has been working in the college Bookstore for 16 years. Lisa Purdum worked in eLearning and marketing for 15 years. Stan Livingston has served as Chief of the Campus Police for 12 years.
Picture Cutline 2022 retiree group: Six Jones College employees were honored at the annual Retirement Tea, celebrating their service to the college and retirement in 2022. Pictured seated left to right are Diane Love, Rochelle Dahmer and Arlena Sullivan. Pictured standing left to right are Lisa Purdum, Chief Stan Livingston, and Diasetta Nelson.
Shaping the Future of Data Science in Mississippi Creates an Innovative Higher Education Partnership
Written by Dr. Finée Ruffin, Chief Marketing Officer, Jones College
ELLISVILLE – The reality of a multi-year worldwide pandemic causes even the most robust businesses and industries to pause and consider the future of work. Jones College President, Dr. Jesse Smith, was no different. After facing numerous disruptions to business operations, he began to prepare his community college employees for the changing demands created by a new business environment.
At the same time, Dr. Mimmo Parisi, Senior Advisor for Data Science Development & Professor at Mississippi State University, was evaluating the greater need for a holistic digital transformation across the state of Mississippi. Dr. Parisi believes “that data is the center of our state, national, and world economics” and that “step one is establishing a baseline of data literacy across all levels of education and work.”
The advent of Big Data, simply defined as the exponential increase and availability of data in our world, demands members of the labor force possess literacy and competency in data science. Big data analytics helps organizations harness their data and use it to identify new opportunities and make reasonable decisions that create value for the institution.
Mississippi State University, Mississippi’s largest land grant institution, has made an educational investment in Mississippi’s digital literacy foundation by creating a twelve-hour Data Science Advanced Certification Program. This program was designed to catalyze digital transformation across the landscape of community college education in Mississippi. “Mississippi has one of the strongest community college systems in the nation, and the state will be uniquely positioned as a national leader in data science if this program is fully adopted across the entire Community College system,” shared Dr. David Shaw, Provost and Executive Vice President at Mississippi State University.
In pursuit of equipping Jones College students with data science literacy, Dr. Smith concluded that the college’s faculty must first be equipped with the expertise to integrate data science literacy concepts into their curriculum, regardless of school or department. Smith reasoned that an essential change in the mindset of the college’s employees and faculty would spread and instill the same mindset in graduates across campus.
The Data Science Advanced Certification Program was created as a partnership opportunity between Mississippi State University and the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges (MACC). By establishing a partnership with Mississippi’s community colleges, Mississippi communities can be assisted at the ground level, shared Dr. Parisi.
Mississippi State University, in conjunction with Jones College, introduced its pilot course in the Spring of 2022. A combination of 16 Jones College faculty and staff enrolled in the Introduction to Data Science Literacy Instruction course. The course was designed to teach community college faculty and staff an introductory understanding of data science and how to use it in (1) curriculum writing and (2) college workforce development efforts.
If you would like more information on the Data Science Advanced Certification Program, please contact Dr. Mimmo Parisi at m.parisi@msstate.edu or Dr. Jesse Smith at Jesse.smith@jcjc.edu.
Jones College Crowns Natalee Ainsworth “Most Beautiful”
ELLISVILLE – Jones College sophomore, Natalee Ainsworth of Laurel was
crowned “Most Beautiful 2022” at the annual Jones College Most Beautiful Pageant, held April 12, in the M.P. Bush Fine Arts Auditorium. JC’s “Most
Beautiful 2021,” Caidyn Crowder returned to bestow the crown upon this year’s winner. Ainsworth competed with 29 JC students vying for the title.
Earning the First Alternate honors was Summer Boyd of Laurel, with Keely Skellion of Ellisville receiving the Second Alternate title. Third Alternate went to Abney Pittman of Waynesboro and Fourth Alternate was Analee Dumas of Petal. Top Ten winners included Isabella Graham of Stringer, Karlee Green of Laurel, Mackenzie Goleman of Moselle, Madalyn Stringer of Laurel, Abigail Stauffer of Laurel, Ainsworth, Boyd, Skellion, Pittman and Dumas.
Other winners included Mary Kebodeaux of Richton who earned the title of “Miss Congeniality,” and Keely Skellion won the title of “Most Photogenic.” The audience chose Bralynn Newell of Newton to win the title of “Audience Choice.”
“I appreciate the JC ‘family’ for coming out to support their friends in the pageant, this year, which seemed more ‘normal’ since the pandemic kept a lot of people home last year,” said Journalism advisor, Kelly Atwood. “I’d also like to thank the Pageant Directors, Dr. Tessa Flowers and Bruce Smith because this event would be impossible without them. Also, I’d like to thank our emcee for the night, Renee Adcock, Jones OnStage for providing entertainment for the evening, Horticulture instructor Wendy Wilkerson and her students decorated the auditorium beautifully, and Patrick Trest provided technical support which helped make the night perfect. There were many more people behind the scenes who also played an important part in creating a beautiful event.”
The Most Beautiful Pageant is hosted by the Jones College Yearbook, The Lair.
