President's Report >> Inspiring Students

2008 President's Report

Students Place First at Skills USA Competition

First row, left to right, Melinda Jett, Sarah-Jane Thaxton, Kelly Sawyer; middle row, left to right, Zach Howard, Brad Ellzey, Keisha Delk, Kody Sasser, Kimberly Singley; back row, l-r, William Clack, Jonathan Moore, Roderick Hollins, James Green, and Sarah Robinson.

Eleven Jones students brought back first place medals in the annual Skills USA state competition.

First place winners include Brad Ellzey of Ellisville for the Automotive Service Technology competition, Roderick Hollins of Vicksburg for Food and Beverage Service, Sarah-Jane Thaxton of Laurel for the Job Interview competition, and for the Opening and Closing competition, students Keisha Delk of Hattiesburg, Sarah Robinson of Laurel, Kody Sasser of Laurel, Melinda Jett of Hattiesburg, Kelly Sawyer of Hattiesburg, Jonathan Moore of Hattiesburg, Joel Clack of Pearl, and Kimberly Singley of Hattiesburg.

Jones also brought home second and third place awards. The second place winner was James Green of Petal for Commercial Baking, and the third place winner was Zachary Howard of Petal for Culinary Arts.

The opening and closing competition entails the correct way to carry on a meeting using appropriate parliamentary procedures. Special populations instructor Jane Jones oversaw the students as they prepared for the competition. This was the first time four career-technical programs were represented in this competition. The female students who participated are all from cosmetology while Moore is a heating and air conditioning major, Clack a machine shop major, and Sasser an electrical technology major.

“These students were outstanding and represented JCJC very well,” said Jones. “They were very professional, and they are enthusiastic about representing JCJC at the national level.”