Jones College alumna begins new dance opportunity with Arena Football League

ELLISVILLE – She’s a “High Stepping” Golden Girl from the land of the Laurel Tornadoes and the Jones College Bobcats. While many 30-year-olds tend to settle down and raise their children, Chiquillia Walker-McMellon with three children, hasn’t stopped dancing yet! She is the new Dance Coordinator for the “Golden Goddesses,” the dance team for the Arena Football League’s newest team based in Philadelphia Mississippi, the Magnolia State Spartans. Last year, Chiquillia danced for the Mississippi Raiders’ Dance Team, the Silver Belles and served as Dance Coordinator for that team, too.

“Initially after the pandemic, I was feeling stuck in my job as a teacher and losing my artistry. I literally saw the sign up on Facebook and decided this might be fun to try to see if I still had that performance spark in me,” said Chiquillia.

After submitting a dance video audition, she landed an interview. She not only made the team, but they also offered her the Dance Coordinator position for the Silver Belles.

“When I got in the room and answered questions, they loved my personality and energy and offered me the Dance Coordinator position. As Dance Coordinator, I handled all the affairs for the dance team, from uniforms to choreography, publicity appearances, interviews and pretty much all the behind the scenes work for the team. I also danced with the team to continue living out my dream of continuing to perform and enjoy the art of dance,” said Chiquillia.

The AFL season begins in April and runs through July. Most of the games are played on Saturdays and the dance team often travels with the team.  However, after one year as dance coordinator for the Silver Belles, Walker-McMellon thought she was done dancing professionally.

“I thought I was going to dance with the Silver Belles for a year and just check it off my bucket list but after I gave it up and focused on life changes, I was approached by the Spartans. They offered me another shot at the Arena Football scene again. The first-year dancing again brought back a lot of inspiration in my life and reminded me that I am very capable of doing anything I put my mind to. It is very exciting and I’m able to expand choreography and artistic expression to an older age group versus my day-to-day school aged children,” said Walker-McMellon.

Some of the 30-year old’s spirit and athleticism may be partially inherited. Her mother, Sules Walker graduated from JCJC in 1993 and was a star basketball player for the Lady Bobcats.

“My mom is a 2-time MVP, 2-time All-State, 2-time All-Region and JUCO All-Star,” said Walker-McMellon.

Chiquillia Walker-McMellon, Nique Cherry, Sules Walker and Chikaylla Walker

In fact, Sules had the rare opportunity to coach her two younger daughters’ basketball at Laurel High School before they came to Jones. Chikaylla Walker (JCJC 2015) and Nique Cherry (JCJC 2018) were just as tough and successful as their mother. Unfortunately, Chikaylla’s ACL injury ended her basketball career while in high school.

“Nique followed in my mom’s footsteps. At JCJC, Nique’s stats include 41 Double Doubles, she was 3rd in the nation in rebounding, and she was a 5-time MAC Player of the Week,” said Chiquillia.

Even though Chiquillia didn’t play basketball, she was her sister’s biggest cheerleader at all the basketball games. She also followed in her mother’s footsteps by working in education. After graduating from Laurel High School in 2008, Walker-McMellon joined the 2008-2010 Jones College Touch of Gold and Gold Rush dance teams. She earned her bachelor’s degree in dance education and psychology from The University of Southern Mississippi in 2014 and has been teaching some form of dance fitness ever since.

“I love dance because it is the only way of communication that makes perfect sense to me. It allows me to express myself in a positive outlet no matter the emotion. I enjoy teaching others to use movement to create a safe haven for growth and confidence. My motto is to be bold, be confident, and be you. Create your own movement,” said Walker-McMellon.

For the last seven years, Walker-McMellon has been working for the Laurel School District in a couple of different roles. At Oak Park Elementary School in Laurel, Chiquillia is the Arts Infusion teacher. She has also been the dance sponsor and choreographer at Laurel High School for the last five years. She and her husband, Brandon McMellon are newlyweds with three children, 8-year-old Ari Johnikin, 4-year-old Eli Johnikin and 4-year-old Italie McMellon.

Jones College sophomore earns MCCAIA Art awards

ELLISVILLE – Five Jones College sophomore art students earned recognition from the Mississippi Community College Art Instructor Association’s annual art competition and show. Carly McInnis from Mize earned first place honors in the 3D category and an Honorable Mention for her drawing entry, “Untitled.” The sophomore graphic design major said this was the first time she entered an art show.

Mississippi Community College Art Instructor Association president and Jones College art instructor, Melanie Eubanks, (pictured left) holds the artwork of Jones College sophomore from Mize, Carly McInnis who won first place honors in the 3D category and an Honorable Mention for her drawing entry, “Untitled.”

“This is the first time I’ve ever entered anything in an art show, this is the first show! I was very shocked (to learn I won in the 3D category) because there were so many other pieces that were good. It was for the experience, even if I didn’t win anything,” said McInnis.

Her unnamed 3D art figure, her mother calls, “Squidward” was created using sand, cardboard, and mod podge. While time consuming, McInnis says it was fun creating her 3D art project.

“I have really come to love abstract art, 3D art. The project was to cover it in something that didn’t make it look like the cardboard used to create the figure. I thought sand would be cool because it would look rocky, and people would wonder how did that stay up? Mark Brown, my teacher told me to finish it and put it in the show and see what happens. I finished the weekend before entries were due.”

McInnis’s “big” goal is to work for Disney animation after graduating in May from Jones and finishing her degree at USM.

Other winners from Jones College include Bryanna Davidson of Laurel’s “Teeth” drawing which earned 3rd place. Honorable Mention accolades were bestowed to Laurel’s Aryn Cox, for her drawing, “The Backyard,” and Hattiesburg’s Rebekah Lawless’ drawing, “Untitled 2”.   In the 2D art category, Heidelberg’s Quinton Chapman received an Honorable Mention for his work, “Untitled.”

Southwest Mississippi Community College sophomore, Darryn Coney, holds the pencil drawing of his Aunt Bessie which earned him “Best in Show” honors at the MCCAIA Art Show and Competition held at Jones College.“Untitled.”

Best of Show went to Southwest Mississippi Community College sophomore, Darryn Coney for his pencil drawing, “Bessie.” More than 170 pieces of art were submitted for MCCAIA’s competition and art show which was on display in the Eula Bass Lewis Art Gallery on the Jones College campus in Ellisville in March.

MCCAIA Awards by Category

Best in Show

Darryn Coney, Bessie, SMCC

Painting/Mixed Media:

1st: Mandy Zhang, Brick #2, Holmes Ridgeland

2nd: Theresa Ho, Nightscape, Holmes Ridgeland

3rd: Mia Cossin, Cooper Dyes His Hair, ICC

HM: Theresa Ho, Bricked, Holmes Ridgeland

Why Hewitt, Cupcake, NWCC

Drawing:

1st: Kaitlin Stegall, Plum Tea, ICC

2nd: Jamiah Smith, Decoy, Hinds/Raymond

3rd: Bryanna Davidson, Teeth, Jones

HM: Carly McInnis, Untitled, Jones

Aryn Cox, The Backyard, Jones

Peyton Barr, Self-Portrait, NWCC

Colton Miller, Converse Desktop, Co-Lin

Rebekah Lawless, Untitled 2, Jones

Megan Jeter, Self-Portrait, NWCC

Ella Bowen, Paper Bag, EMCC Golden Triangle

Kaitlin Stegall, Caleb’s Sunset, ICC

2D Design:

1st: Peyton Barr, Gas Masks/Emphasis, NWCC

2nd: Peyton Barr, Balance, NWCC

3rd: Olivia Reed, Self-Portrait, MGCCC

HM: Megan Jeter, Untitled, NWCC

Mia Coggin, Eye, Eye, Captive, ICC

Colton Miller, Local/Expressive Color, Co-Lin

Erin Gullet, Globes on Table, Hinds

Catherine Milford, Void, Holmes

Quinton Chapman, Untitled, Jones

Inya Kirkland, Excitement, Hinds/Raymond

3D Design:

1st: Carly McInnis, Untitled, Jones

2nd: Peyton Barr, Surveillance System, NWCC

3rd: Alissa Ladner, Linear Design Project, Co-Lin

HM: Elliana Parker, Patterned Gogh, ICC

Hailey Hardy, Bumpy Ride, East Central CC

Digital/Computer Art:

1st: Brian Lummus, November Prince, Meridian

2nd: Colton Miller, The Great Daltoni, Co-Lin

3rd: Viskiyya Muhammad, Viskiyya, Meridian

HM: Gabby Ladd, Social Medusa, Co-Lin

Photography:

1st: Nicolas Boerema, Spake Motion, Hinds

2nd: Anwar Alhanshaly, Peace and Quiet, Hinds

3rd: Nicolas Boerema, Revelry, Hinds

HM: Nicolas Boerema, Heaven Wave, Hinds

Anwar Alhanshaly, Antique Boutique, Hinds

Printmaking:

1st: Colton Miller, Oscar, Co-Lin

2nd: Honor Brown, Grammy, EMCC Golden Triangle

3rd: Ella Bowen, Honey, EMCC Golden Triangle

HM: Sarah Banes, Butterflies, EMCC Golden Triangle

Ceramics:

1st: Gabby Ladd, Chaos and Serenity, Co-Lin

2nd: Morgan Rogillio, Crystal Turquoise Bowl, Hinds/Raymond

3rd: Katherine Witsberger, Like Blades of Grass Returning, Hinds

HM: Drew Winter, Brainstorm, Hinds