Author: Teresa McCreery

Photo: Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association’s Manager of Member Services, Leif Munkel (pictured in the front row, middle left) and Jones College President, Dr. Jesse Smith (front row, middle right), presented the “Big Check” to several of the 28 JC students receiving a scholarship from PRVEPA’s Roundup for Education Scholarship program and are pictured left to right, Gage Herring-Foxworth; Jaelynn Peak-Foxworth; (Leif Munkel) Thomas Bozeman-Foxworth; Clayton Cothern-Hattiesburg; Robert Johnson-Columbia; (Dr. Jesse Smith) Mae Miller-Sumrall and Adrienne Williamson-Sumrall.

ELLISVILLE – Twenty-eight Jones College students were able to continue their college education with tuition assistance from Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association’s “Round Up for Education” scholarship program.  A check for $14,000 collected from PRVEPA members who rounded up their bills each month was divided amongst the Jones College students to receive a $500 scholarship.

“It means a lot because it is extremely helpful to pay for books and school,” said Jones College freshman from Foxworth. “I’m grateful to everybody that gives to students such as me. Every penny counts for students because every little bit makes paying for college easier.”

The electro-mechanical technology major said this scholarship has inspired him to pay it forward. “When I start paying my electric bill, I want my money to go to students like me,” said Herring.

PRVEPA Manager of Members Services, Leif Munkel said 187 community college students throughout the PRVEPA’s 12-county service area have received a financial boost from the generosity of its members who have more than 51,000 meters this year. Since the Round Up for Education Scholarship program begin nine years ago by members who “round-up” their bills to the nearest dollar each month have helped 1,838 students earn college degrees through this scholarship. PRVEPA CEO/General Manager, Matthew Ware said education is vital to improving the future for all of us in south Mississippi and every little bit helps.

“Sometimes the smallest gestures, like donating 50 cents can make the biggest impact in our communities, said CEO/General Manager Matthew Ware. “While it may not seem like your spare change can do much, but when combined with the generosity of your fellow Pearl River Valley Electric members, you can help change the life of a fellow member and improve the quality of life in your communities. Working together is the cooperative way and that can make a big difference.”

The $500 scholarships are available to any participating PRVEPA members, as well as for their spouses or dependent children who are enrolled as freshmen enrolled at a community college in Mississippi. Jones College President, Dr. Jesse Smith believes this is a fantastic partnership between PRVEPA and its members and this is one of the best investments that a community can make.

“This scholarship program is very beneficial to our students at Jones College,” said Smith. “An education is a gateway to prosperity and a great life here in America. Every penny helps and this is certainly a great investment. We are very thankful to have the community’s support.”

To ensure the program continues to be viable in the future, ten percent of the annual funds collected are set aside in an endowed fund for future use and is overseen by the PineBelt Foundation. The remaining money was divided equally between the applicants. Scholarship recipients this year include 88 students attending Pearl River Community College, 45 students at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and 28 at Jones College. An additional 26 students are attending nine other state community colleges. Round Up for Education funds collected after August 1, go towards next year’s scholarships. Applications for 2022 scholarships are now available.

Jones College’s PRVEPA Scholarship Recipients 2021

 

Alfred Acosta, Hattiesburg-Lamar Christian HS

Jalasia  Akins, Columbia-East Marion HS

Jakob Anderson, Lumberton-Purvis HS

Sierrah Beasley, Foxworth-West Marion HS

Thomas Bozeman, Foxworth-West Marion HS

Raven  Breland, Purvis-Oak Grove HS

Jacqueline Clark, Hattiesburg-FCAHS

Clayton Cothern, Hattiesburg-Presbyterian Christian HS

Trevor  Courtney, Bassfield-Columbia Academy

Abigail Hennis, Hattiesburg-FCAHS

Gage Herring, Foxworth-West Marion HS

Laural Lynn Hunt, Perkinston-Sacred Heart HS

Robert Johnson, Columbia-Columbia Academy

Hadlee Johnson, Hattiesburg-Oak Grove HS

Le’Joun Lewis, Columbia-East Marion HS

Ryan Little, Sumrall-Sumrall  HS

William Lott, Hattiesburg-Sumrall HS

Cade Miller, Sumrall-Sumrall HS

Mae Miller, Sumrall-Oak Grove HS

Sara Morgan, Foxworth-West Marion HS

Jaelynn Peak, Foxworth-West Marion HS

Amy Polk, Columbia-West Marion HS

Dyani Weary, Columbia-East Marion HS

Hope Weathersby, Hattiesburg-Oak Grove HS

Hailey Webb, Purvis-Purvis HS

Blake Wilberding, Hattiesburg-Presbyterian Christian HS

Adrienne Williamson, Sumrall-Sumrall HS

Wallace Wood , Hattiesburg-Oak Grove HS

PHOTO: “A Jones College Christmas” event will feature a Christmas Tree Lighting on the Plaza and Christmas program similar to the pictured Christmas performance in 2018 featuring Jones College students from JC Voices, JC Jazz, Touch of Gold dance team, and cast members of the 2018 Christmas Show with toy donations for the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. Pictured in the center are the show’s hosts, Jingle (Landon Williams) and Bell (Coco Caldwell) along with Santa and his friends in the Jones College of Art, Music and Performance department along with a few of the toys collected to benefit the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program.

ELLISVILLE – Jones College is inviting the public to celebrate the Christmas Season with a special event called, “A Jones College Christmas” on Thursday, December 2. Beginning at 5:30 p.m. the Christmas Tree Lighting will take place outside on the C.L. Neill Student Center Plaza with Christmas carols and performances from small ensemble groups and the Maroon Typhoon Colorguard.

Immediately following the Tree Lighting, vocal and musical performances by the JC Concert Choir, JC Voices, JC Jazz Band, Touch of Gold Dancers, the Percussion Ensemble, and a couple of special guests, will begin at 6 p.m. in the M.P. Bush Fine Arts Auditorium. The audience will be guided through the evening’s musical performance called, “Snow Place Like Jones,” by two, young actresses from Ellisville. Maddie Brown is a seventh-grader and daughter of JC Visual Arts Division Chair, Mark Brown and Julia Graham is a fourth-grader and the daughter of Michelle Graham, the JC bands’ woodwinds instructor and adjunct band staff. The kids will take the audience on an adventure discovering the joys of family and fellowship in the Christmas-themed program produced by the Assistant Dean of Jones College School of Art, Music, and Performance, Bruce Smith.

“We’re very excited as a department to be able to celebrate Christmas with the community after not having any Christmas celebrations last year because of Covid-19 restrictions,” said Smith. “It’s a real collaborative effort with performing groups in the Jones College School of Art, Music, and Performance, including JC students in the Music Industry program who have produced special music for the theatrical portion of the program. These students are also assisting Stage Tec with special lighting and audio.”

The Christmas program, “Snow Place Like Jones” will feature an evening of beautiful Christmas favorites like, “Mary Did You Know?” “Breath of Heaven,” “The World of Christmas,” and a mash-up of David Bowie and Bing Crosby’s “Little Drummer Boy” and “Peace on Earth.”

Admission to this special music and Tree Lighting event, “A Jones College Christmas” is a new, unwrapped toy to be donated to the Salvation Army in an effort to bring a bit of Christmas cheer for kids in the Pine Belt.

“We want to stress the purpose of our Christmas production is to provide toys for children who normally may not have much of a Christmas. We hope our local angels will be able to give a Santa filled sled full of gifts with a little help from our audience,” said Smith.

Gift suggestions include toys, sports equipment, board games and plush animals. All the donations will be given to children in our area this Christmas.  Necessities and Christmas gifts are provided for disadvantaged children from infants to age 12, through the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program in Jones, Jasper, Wayne, Clarke, Smith and Simpson counties.

For more information, call the Jones College of Art, Music and Performance Office at 601-477-4203 or follow Jones College Art, Music and Performance Facebook Page and Twitter. For more information about the Angel Tree project, go to https://salvationarmyalm.org/

Members of JC Jazz

Dr. Ben Burge, Director 

Alto Sax

Ethan Robertson, Columbia

Brandon Murray, Laurel

Eboni McDonald, Laurel

Tenor Sax

Sophia Gordon, Seminary

Jamie Anderson, Sumrall

Chris Hartfield, Petal

Baritone Sax 

Sarah Beth McKellar, Vicksburg

Trombone

Brandon Broome, Sumrall

William Eaton, Oak Grove

Tootie Hunt, Wiggins

John Scott, Oak Grove

Trumpet

Tyler Broadway, Laurel

Reagan Thornton, Laurel

Angel Salas, Petal

Hunter Overstreet, Laurel

Rachel Hawkins, Pearl

Trinity Williams, Brooklyn/FCAHS

Summer Hughes, Enterprise

Rhythm

RJ Hughes, Laurel

Bonner Welch, Ellisville

Zack Gregore, Petal

Conner Smith, Mize

Jeremy Corley, Enterprise

Logan Whitehead, Sumrall

Members of JC Voices

Dr. Susan A. Smith, Conductor

Accompanist, Dr. Theresa Sanchez

Darcy Beech, Ellisville

Chicago Collins, Brookhaven

Savannah Greene, Sumrall

Madison Lanier, Laurel

Kambri Pippin, Laurel

Jalen Poindexter, Jackson

Mackenzie Lacy, Pass Christian

Anna Leigh Ragsdale, Magee

Jaylon Sims, Raleigh

Jacob Strickland, Ovett

Josiah Raine, Picayune

Emily Valentine, Taylorsville

Hanna Grace Wood, Laurel

Christmas Percussion Ensemble

Dr. Josh Frans, Director

Ema Hudson, Sandersville

Stevonta Mayfield, Waynesboro

Michael Arevalo, Pearl

Bonner Welch, Moselle

Michael DeCou, Jonesboro, LA

Logan Whitehead, Sumrall

Conner Smith, Mize

Christian Branch, St. Stevens, AL

Zach Gregore, Petal

Taikya Ducksworth, Taylorsville

Jordan Stianche, Petal

Tyler Nunn, Petal

Jeremy Corley, Meridian

Andrew Suttle, Petal

Chris Hartfield, Petal

Logan Evans, Laurel

Touch of Gold Dancers

Lora Davis, Director/Choreographer

Ivana Bishop of Waynesboro

Abbey Dodd of Petal

Morgan Breland of Ellisville

Erin Buckley of Gallman

Karlee Green of Laurel

MacKenzie Drinkard of Lucedale

Meg Matthews of Raleigh

Annalee Dumas of Petal

Madison Temple of Pearl

JC Concert Choir

Dr. Imguy Kang, Director

Dr. Victoria Johnson, Accompanist

 Soprano

Natalie Dewitt, Laurel *

Bayleigh Hill, Laurel

Charity Miller, Brooklyn

Bralynn Newell, Newton

Anna Pickering, Laurel

Abigail Thrash, Laurel

Madison Windham, Mize

Ashley Allee, Oak Grove

Victoria Ball, Laurel

Sabrina Turner, Vinegar Bend, AL

Rachel Carlino, Waynesboro

Mackenzie Golemon, Moselle

Gracee Green, Laurel

Amberlyn Holifield, Leakesville

Destiny Lewis, Laurel

Abby Nix, Ellisville

Laiklynn Roberts, Waynesboro

Darcy Beech, Ellisville

Savannah Greene, Sumrall

Abigail Smith, Richton

Trinity Williams, Brooklyn

Kamaya Hutton, Hattiesburg

Alto

Sarah Ables, Laurel **

Virginia Fortenberry, Lawrence County

Lily Hendrix, Sumrall

Samantha Bishop, Florence

Hannah Manning, Quitman

Mackenzie Lacy, Pass Christian

Kathryn Hyatt, Laurel

Hannah Johnson, Laurel

Madison Lanier, Laurel

Bailey Rowell, Wayne

Molly Waldrop, Laurel

Natalie Walker, Laurel

Hanna Wood, Laurel

Annaleigh Ragsdale, Magee

Jennalyn Purvis, Petal

Payton Voge, Laurel *

Morgan White, Laurel

Jaelynn Peak, Foxworth

La’Lexia Murrell, Laurel

Kristen Jordan, Laurel

Tenor

Jaylon Sims, Raleigh

Michael Decou, Chatham, LA

Petara Jo’i Jones, Hattiesburg **

Jalen Poindexter, Jackson *

Josiah Raine, Picayune

Elijah Gray, Heidelberg

Jacob Strickland, Ellisville

Lazarius Shelby, Laurel

Bonner Welch, Moselle

Tellas Smith, Laurel

Wesley Carmical, Ellisville

Bass

Judah Capers, Laurel

Vincent Brown, Moss Point

David Ishee, Laurel

Alejandro Jarillo, Laurel

Donovan Williams, Laurel

Cameron Beech, Laurel

Cameron Glenn, Ellisville

Colby Marsh, Petal

Samuel Rodgers, Petal

Jarrett Darden, Seminary

Xavier Porter, Laurel

Marcus Sims, Laurel

Isaiah Spradley, Laurel

Damarie Windham, Laurel

Rayshawn Gamblin, Waynesboro

Jonah Holland, Ellisville*

Conner Smith, Ellisville

Dylan Waters, Laurel

*Section Leader

**Director’s Assistant

 

 

 

 

 

ELLISVILLE – During Homecoming festivities at Jones College, the Rho Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Chapter International Honor Society announced the establishment of an Alumni Chapter of PTK. As part of the chapter’s College Project, led by sophomore JC student from Waynesboro, Ivana Bishop, The PTK Alumni Chapter will provide an opportunity for alumni of the honor society to be connected to current students and future students.

“The function of the PTK Alumni Chapter at Jones College is to encourage a sense of belonging to Jones for these graduates. We believe our alumni would want to be a part of this organization to reunite them with their peers, have their accomplishments recognized and to reestablish links between successful alumni and Jones College through communication and networking,” said Bishop.

Three advisors of the newly established PTK Alumni chapter group, Gwen Matuszewski of Raleigh, Matthew Harrison of Laurel and Je’Shaiah Stephens of Laurel, were recognized during the Alumni Luncheon at Homecoming in October. Gwen Matuszewski previously served as an advisor of the current PTK Chapter as a Jones College employee. Stephens and Harrison are recent graduates of Jones College and former PTK members and officers. For more information about the new, PTK Alumni chapter email, PTKAlumni@jcjc.edu

 

Picture Cutline  costumers 10-21:  The winners of the Costume Contest for JC students are pictured left to right; Jada Austin of Hattiesburg took second place. Jordan Grimes of Leakesville won first place. Aidan Church of Ellisville was the third-place winner.  Honorable Mention winners were Aryn Cox of Laurel; Brandy Patterson of  Ellisville; Braden Cupit of Ellisville and Emilee Heintz of Petal.

ELLISVILLE –Several hundred super-heroes, princesses and ghouls came out to have fun at the annual Jones College Treats in the Streets on the JC campus. Kids played games for treats in the booths set up by JC faculty and students as a way to give back to the community. Some children participated in the costume contests for babies through teens, with the winners of the creatively dressed kids receiving a variety of goodies and sweet prizes from the JC Office of Student Affairs.

College students who dressed the best received Bobcat Bucks for their efforts. Taking first place was Jordan Grimes from Leakesville as “Pebbles Flintstone.”  Jada Austin of Hattiesburg came in second place as “Sushi Roll” and Aidan Church of Ellisville as the “Scary Clown,” took third place.

JC students and winners in the Group category, Grimes, Samantha Dildine as BamBam, and Rashad Bullock and Keasia Andrews of Tylertown as the dinosaurs, were the Flintstones Characters. Also participating as honorable mention winners were Aryn Makayla Cox of Laurel as “Morticia Adams,” Brandy Patterson of Ellisville as “Mercy,” Braden Cupit of Ellisville as an Anime character and Emilee Heintz of Petal as, “Scary Fat Baby.”

Treats in the Streets is an annual, free, community event that is hosted by the Jones College Student Government Association.