Category: Press Release

ELLISVILLE- Jones College was thrilled to be able to host WDAM-TV’s annual Top of Class 2021 recognition program with a live event, after canceling the 2020 celebration because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tradition of honoring the Valedictorians and Salutatorians from 45 high schools in the Pine Belt had never been canceled in the 22-year history of Jones College hosting the event, prior to last year. This year, the Top of Class 2021 event was held in two sessions for health and safety purposes.

“This group of seniors has dealt with so much because of the pandemic. Jones College was excited to be able to partner with WDAM-TV to honor the Top of Class 2021 with this special event and recognition program with everyone able to safely gather together,” said Jones College President, Dr. Jesse Smith.

Students heard from Miss Hospitality Mississippi, McKay Lee Bray who is a sophomore at Jones College, WDAM-TV General Manager & V.P., Tim Walker and Jones College President, Dr. Jesse Smith. Each student was recognized and received a special, Top of Class Certificate of Achievement, commemorative T-Shirt and participated in a modified version of the traditional, Hat Toss.

Highlights from the event, along with the academic achievements of the Pine Belt’s Top of Class 2021 will be seen daily on WDAM-TV beginning on Monday, May 17. The Valedictorian and Salutatorians from two high schools will be featured in a one-minute segment at 5:58 a.m. before WDAM 7 Sunrise Morning News program, through June 18, 2021. Additionally, the Top of the Class videos can be found on the WDAM-TV web page https://www.wdam.com/topofclass/

ELLISVILLE – Jones College has invited graduates from last year to join this year’s graduating class of 2021 to partake in commencement exercises on Saturday, May 22, at 8 p.m. on the north lawn of Jones Hall. About 715 students are expected to participate in the ceremony and will receive either, an Associate in Arts degree, Associate in Applied Science degree, a Technical Certificate or a Career Certificate.

This year’s Commencement Address will be from retired Major General, Byron Bagby who is the managing partner of BMB Solutions, LLC, which is an independent consulting firm. The agency provides services in executive leadership development and coaching, and strategy development.

Bagby served in the U.S. Army as Commandant of Joint Forces Staff College; Chief Operating Officer of the Office of Military Cooperation in Cairo, Egypt, managing security cooperation programs valued at $1.3 billion annually; and as the Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Army, in Europe, directing all the activities of more than 1,000 people in 30 locations, in nine countries. His duties included being at the Pentagon on the Joint Staff and Department of the Army Staff.

Bagby is a certified True Growth Leadership facilitator and a certified Authentic Leadership Development Coach through the Chambers Bay Institute and has coached more than 400 leaders to live a life of significance. He currently serves on the Advisory Board for Ryan Consulting Group (as Chair); on the Board of Directors of Management Support Technology, Inc.; and the Boards of Trustees of William Woods College and Columbia Southern University. From 2012-17, he served on the Board of Trustees of Westminster College (MO).

General Bagby has earned many decorations and honors, including two Army Distinguished Service Medals; the Ranger Tab; the Master Parachutist Badge; the Westminster College Lifetime Alumni Achievement Award; and has been inducted into the Fulton Public Schools Hall of Fame. He is a life member of The Veterans of Foreign Wars and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

He earned his B.A. in Economics from Westminster College and his M.Ed. in Adult Education from UNC-Chapel Hill. Bagby and his wife, Monique Hale Bagby have two adult children and live in Alexandria, VA.

To comply with health and safety guidelines, each Jones College graduate will be allocated four tickets for their guests to attend the graduation ceremony in person. The graduation ceremony will also be live-streamed on the Jones College web page, http://www.jcjc.edu/   Additionally, parking will be limited with assigned spaces reserved for each graduate. For more information about graduation at Jones College check the website: https://www.jcjc.edu/graduation/index.php#CommencementSection and for questions specifically regarding the 2021 graduation ceremony, please contact Kacie Birdsong at 601-477-4137.

Graduates & Degree Information

Spring 2021 – 676 Students Applied for Graduation

Fall 2020 – 345 Degrees Awarded

Summer 2020 – 252 Degrees Awarded

Spring 2020 – 910 Degrees Awarded amongst the 751 students who applied for graduation.

Fall 2019 – 362 Degrees Awarded

Summer 2019 – 179 Degrees Awarded

ELLISVILLE – Three ladies beat out the competition to lead Jones College’s Maroon Typhoon Marching Band next fall. Freshman, Emma Burge of Oak Grove, will be joined by incoming freshmen, Cambry Holifield of Laurel and incoming sophomore, Genna Ramey of Leroy, Alabama, to lead the nearly 200-member organization.

Director of Bands, Dr. Ben Burge explained the three were selected after a competitive audition that included demonstrations, a lengthy interview and a presentation of their field conducting and showmanship.

“These three young ladies displayed the confidence, strength and leadership skills that we are looking for in a drum major. I am eager for them to begin their duties and I look forward to them helping the Maroon Typhoon come out of the year of Covid-19. I believe these drum majors will play a huge part in creating a very special fall on campus,” said Burge.

Leading the group, is Dr. Burge’s daughter, Emma who spent last year as the newest drum major at Jones College. However, she also has experience in the leadership role as the drum major at Oak Grove High School for two years before coming to Jones College.

“I am so excited to be drum major of the Maroon Typhoon for my second year. I am eager to play a part in bringing ‘normal’ back and for all of campus to spring back to life!” said Burge, who is a Music Industry major.

While trying to decide on a major, Holifield is certain of her abilities as a leader of the band. She has been a drum major at Northeast Jones High School for the last three years.

“I am so grateful for this honor and I can’t wait to get started!” said Holifield.

Leroy High School’s Ramey said she is looking forward to coming to Jones College to continue being a part of the music program while majoring in Health Information.

“I’m really thrilled about being a drum major for the Maroon Typhoon this coming fall! Our normal schedule was cut in half last fall, so I’m really excited about our fine arts and athletics having the chance to show off their talents and hard work this fall,” said Ramey.

For more information about the Jones College Band Program contact, Dr. Ben Burge at 601-477-4095 or by email, ben.burge@jcjc.edu.

ELLISVILLE – Jones College sophomore from Ellisville, Caidyn Crowder was crowned Most Beautiful at the annual Jones College Most Beautiful Pageant, held April 20, in the Fine Arts Auditorium. The biology major was crowned by JC sophomore and 2020 Most Beautiful, Dariyel Johnson of Leakesville. JonesOnstage provided entertainment, and Allyson Knotts emceed the event.

The pageant’s regularly scheduled fall event was postponed due to COVID-19. As vaccinations continue and COVID-19 cases drop, the college began adding spring events, including the pageant. Thirteen ladies participated in this year’s event sponsored by the college yearbook staff.

“Our number of pageant contestants may have been fewer this year due to the pandemic, but it was no less beautiful,” said Kelly Atwood, Lair yearbook advisor. “I have so many people to thank for such a wonderful night: Dr. Tessa Flowers for planning and directing the event, Bruce Smith and Dr. Jennifer Bruton for their work with Jones OnStage, Wendy Wilkerson for the greenery, Patrick Trest for technical support, and all the behind-the-scenes employees who helped make the night perfect.”

A Top Six were chosen this year, which included Crowder, Keely Skellion of Ellisville, Rylee Brabham of Waynesboro, First alternate-Lydia Ruth Odom of Bay Springs, Second alternate-Brinley Bullock of Laurel and Third alternate Karsyn Ulmer of Laurel.

Three additional ladies were also awarded special recognition, including Most Photogenic, Kyra Lampley; Miss Congeniality, Josarah Slover; and Best Essay, Brinley Bullock.

ELLISVILLE–Civil rights activist, James Meredith and U.S. Federal Judge Charles Pickering shared their harrowing stories in their efforts to break the color barrier in education and challenge the Ku Klux Klan in the 1960s with members of the public and students from Jones College’s Honors Institute, which is named in Pickering’s honor. The discussion about racial issues was focused on the Honors Institute’s theme, “To Our Future: A New Day for Mississippi.”

Before reflecting on solutions, Pickering paused the discussion to explain just how courageous Meredith was in his attempts to integrate the then, all-white University of Mississippi in 1962. In the segregated society of the 1950s, Pickering said blacks had to overcome inferior schools, limited employment options, and brutality if they stepped out of line.

“Without question, Mr. Meredith was and is a hero of the Civil Rights Movement,” said Pickering. “He had to know when he enrolled at Ole Miss that the last black man (Clyde Kennard) who tried to integrate an institute of higher learning in Mississippi went to the penitentiary, so it took a lot of courage to be willing to do what he did.”

Meredith told the audience it took him more than 50 years to write his speech sharing his thoughts about religion and law, government and society, and a brief history about slavery in the United States. The almost 88-year-old Kosciusko native continued, “It really didn’t take that long to write but it took that long to have the courage to say it…. The first six words, in the last section of my speech, came from my first history professor at Ole Miss. He’s the one that said, ‘slavery has existed as long as mankind.’”

Meredith also noted Pickering’s battle with the KKK was not because of his race. Segregationists were at war with anyone who wanted to integrate society.

“The people who wanted to keep their way of life (segregation) were no nicer to white folks who violated their way of life than they were to any blacks getting out of line. Some of those threats were about Judge Pickering and others,” said Meredith.

As the new, Jones County prosecuting attorney in 1962, Pickering was thrust into the race war when he said he couldn’t ignore the brutality and numerous criminal actions of the KKK, including the Imperial Wizard of the White Knights, Sam Bowers. He successfully prosecuted Bowers for the murder of the three civil rights workers in Neshoba County and the fire-bombing of Vernon Dahmer’s home in Forrest County which led to Dahmer’s death.

“Today, it is very difficult to imagine such horror and depravity but in the 1960s it was reality. In this type of environment, it took courage for blacks to assert their rights. It took courage for Mr. Meredith because he could lose his job or his life,” said Pickering.

Meredith said despite the challenges of the past, he is optimistic Mississippi will lead the world in race relations.

“Mississippi has made every policy on the Black/White race issue in America. After slavery, the big Mississippi plantation owners and the Wall Street financiers conspired to keep the blacks in the cotton fields by preventing them from relocating to northern or western states,” said Meredith who also earned a law degree from Columbia University. “The Constitution of 1890 established a dual system of criminal justice-one for the whites and one for blacks. America needs a new policy. Mississippi can supply this new reality. I believe that Mississippi will.”

The real problem facing the nation Meredith concluded was more than just race. He referred to what he called the “upper south” or in Minnesota, where Derek Chauvin is on trial for the death of George Floyd.

“I’ve known for a long time that the upper south is where the real problem in America is…and it’s not just a racial problem either. It’s a religious problem and I think the rich/poor issue is the biggest issue,” said Meredith.

Focusing on what he calls his new mission from God, Meredith is actively establishing a Bible Society reading group in every county of the state, encouraging families to read the Bible from cover to cover. Pickering also shared, religion and practicing the “Golden Rule” would help solve our racial problems.

“If we treated everyone without regard for the color of their skin, whether it’s red, white, black, or yellow, if we treated them like we wanted to be treated with respect, that will go a long way to make Mississippi a better place. Jesus made it very plain when talking about the Good Samaritan, our neighbor is everybody we come in contact with that we can help,” said Pickering.

Additionally, Pickering encouraged the audience to know history to help avoid making mistakes in the future. Citing a Roper Organization Report on public opinion, Pickering said the study on seniors in 51 of the most prestigious universities in the U.S. failed basic history, including identifying the three separate branches of government.

“We cannot be intelligent voters and citizens if we don’t know history,” said Pickering. He also added his disapproval about fighting the establishment of the new, Mississippi State flag. “Quit fighting battles that have been futile or lost; that just doesn’t help us. The effort to change the flag back is a misguided effort, looking at the past and not the future of our children.”

Jones College sophomore from Petal, Kyra Lampley said she appreciates what Meredith and Pickering have accomplished. However, while progress has been made, she still faces racial discrimination.

“I feel that everyone should be educated on racial discrimination starting at an early age. The earlier we instill how to treat people, the less likely they will grow up and participate in racial discrimination. Parents should educate their children on racial discrimination and tolerance. Children copy what they see their parents do,” Lampley said.

Forums like the one hosted by Jones College, freshman Alexis Blakeney of Laurel said, are helpful in understanding complex issues.

“Forums improve people’s understanding of current and historical issues. This forum educated more people about the struggles to overcome racial discrimination, hearing first-hand about the courageous efforts of Mr. Meredith and Judge Pickering. I am grateful to be able to attend these forums to educate myself more on the issues,” said Blakeney.

For more information about Jones College’s Charles Pickering Honors Institute, check out the webpage, https://www.jcjc.edu/honors/