by Kelly Atwood, JC Newspaper & Yearbook Advisor
ELLISVILLE – For the fourth year in a row, the Jones College yearbook, the Lair, has won the Gallery of Excellence Award from Walsworth yearbooks. This exclusive award is given to Walsworth-published yearbooks that have been deemed of the highest caliber from across the nation. Less than 5% of the 5000 schools’ yearbooks that Walsworth publishes are included in the Gallery of Excellence, which features superior examples of coverage, design, photography and copy, and are included in the annual Walsworth publication titled “Possibilities.”
Jones College student publications advisor and journalism instructor, Kelly Atwood, credits the yearbook’s success due to the long hours and dedication that students put into the class.
“Only a fellow yearbook advisor or their families can truly understand just how much work and time goes into a yearbook,” said Atwood. “The annual is only as good as its students and its advisor, and I’m proud to say that I have some outstanding students every year who have helped us succeed to the point that receiving an award for being in the top 5% of yearbooks across the nation is now almost expected.”
The Jones College 2024-2025 yearbook staff included designer Kati Barnard of Mount Olive, writer Chloe Benson of Pulaski, writer Memory Bowen of Mount Olive, copy editor Caitlynn Brady of Laurel, photographer Carlee Carter of Hattiesburg, design editor Angel Deforge of Wiggins, sports photographer Andie Freeman of Petal, photographer Juan Flores of Prentiss, Gaby Moncivais of Laurel, photographer Anna Haden of Laurel, photographer Abbie Grace Herring of Rolling Fork, photographer Hope Houston of Laurel, photography editor Sami Jordan of Ocean Springs, photographer Dannah Knighton of Canton, photographer Trinity Mangum of Florence, writer Pamela Marroquin of Laurel, photographer Reagan McLeod of Waynesboro, writer Kylie Nolan of Laurel, and photographer Ella Thomas of Ellisville.
Atwood is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2025 semester for the yearbook, college newspaper and student broadcast. Scholarships are available for qualifying students. For more information, contact her at Kelly.atwood@jcjc.edu
PHOTO OF JONES COLLEGE Yearbook 2024 staff BY KELLY ATWOOD, Jones College yearbook advisor
The Jones College yearbook staff has earned the exclusive Walsworth Gallery of Excellence Award for four years in a row. Staff members pictured are, front row, left to right, Dannah Knighton of Canton, Carlee Carter of Hattiesburg and Trinity Mangum of Florence; second row, Memory Bowen of Mount Olive, Andie Freeman of Petal, Reagan McLeod of Waynesboro, Ella Thomas of Ellisville, Caitlynn Brady of Laurel, Juan Flores of Prentiss, Angel Deforge of Wiggins, Sami Jordan of Ocean Springs, Hope Houston of Laurel, Gaby Moncivais of Laurel, and Anna Haden of Laurel.