A “Jones College Christmas” and Tree Lighting event to help Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program
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
Jones College’s PTK Honor Society establishes Alumni Chapter
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
Jones College costume contest winners
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 fro
m 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.
Jones College’s Resource and Referral Center open to the public
ELLISVILLE-After nearly two years of waiting because of COVID-19 restrictions, the Resource and Referral Center at Jones College officially opened to serve the community. The ribbon-cutting and Open House celebration allowed daycare providers and community members to see everything the new Center offers for childcare professionals to family members and college students.
“I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time,” said Gina Carr, Director of the
Resource and Referral Center at Jones College. “We are thrilled to finally be able to share with the community these much-needed resources. Having the Resource and Referral Center on the campus of Jones College brings awareness to the importance of high-quality early childcare and education in our community.”
The mission of the Resource and Referral Center Network is to provide technical assistance, professional development, including a lending library for childcare providers and families, to support a nurturing learning environment in the home and the classroom. Ultimately, the goal is to promote healthy growth and learning for all children.
“So much happens in a young child’s brain early on. It is so critical that we capitalize on those formable years and that is what this new Center is about. In a perfect world, every kid entering kindergarten would be prepared socially and educationally, but sadly that’s not true. So, that is what this center is about, preparing kids both socially and educationally,” said Jones College Executive Vice President, Chief Academic and Financial Officer, Rick Youngblood.
The Center offers free resources, like books, toys, and educational materials
including math and math manipulatives, science and STEM kits, language and literacy kits, curriculum enhancement materials, resource books for parenting and curriculum development and dramatic play items. Also, the Ellison Die Cut machine and lamination services are available for early childcare providers, elementary education students, parents, grandparents, and community members. By offering these resources and services free of charge, it allows providers the opportunity to invest back into their programs. Partnering with families and the community creates stronger families and a stronger community. The Resource and Referral Center also offers technical assistance for directors and classroom teachers and hosts training workshops for families and childcare providers.
“We work in conjunction with a different college throughout the state of
Mississippi and come together monthly for training and professional development. We are one large network of resource and referral centers that functions together,” said Carr.
The materials provided in the Center are developmentally appropriate and are available to residents in Clarke, Covington, Greene, Jasper, Jones, Smith and Wayne Counties. Additionally, the new Center offers students in Jones College’s Early Childhood Education Technology program a wealth of resources to enhance not only their educational journey but also their student teaching experience, free of charge.
In addition, the ‘R & R’ Center provides a one-stop-shop for families and childcare providers, which includes assisting families to find and choose childcare settings that meet their children’s needs. Sensory sensitive toys and resources which parents can try out for two weeks to ensure their child benefits from that toy or resource are also available.
“We do believe that what we’re doing here is very special. Everything matters. What we are doing here is focused on education and our community,” said Jones College President, Dr. Jesse Smith.
Resource and Referral Center Networks are part of a federal law, required in all 50 states and are funded with federal dollars through the Mississippi Department of Human Services Division of Early Childhood Care and Development. Jones College’s Center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. except when Jones College is closed for holidays. For more information about the JC Resource and Referral Center, call 601-477-4139 or email at, eca@jcjc.edu
Jones College presents, “Madrigals & More” at Laurel’s First-Trinity Presbyterian Church
ELLISVILLE –Jones College’s Fine Arts Department invites the public to enjoy an evening of Renaissance music with the JC music department at its annual “Madrigals and More” concert, free of charge. The various small ensembles of JC students and faculty will be performing at First-Trinity Presbyterian Church in Laurel, on Tuesday, October 26, at 7 p.m. This special event spotlights a diverse group of performers, from student ensembles and solos to faculty solos, and faculty-student collaborations, featuring music from composers such as Claudio Monteverdi, Francesco Landini and Johann Sebastian Bach, to John Dowland, Thomas Morley, Domenico Cimarosa, and Georg Philipp Telemann, to name a few.
Concert hosts, JC Voices, under the direction of Dr. Susan A. Smith will perform a variety of selections from the Renaissance period. Additionally, various small vocal groups and solos will be featured throughout the evening including a performance by Assistant Director of Bands and percussion instructor, Dr. Josh Frans. He will add a new dimension to the evening with his performance of the fourth movement of J.S. Bach’s, Sonata No. 1 in G minor for marimba.
Dr. Michael Boyd, JC guitar instructor, will accompany JC students, Chicago Collins of Brookhaven and MacKenzie Lacy of Pass Christian as they sing the beautiful duet, Pur ti miro from Monteverdi’s LIncoronazione di Poppea.
Also accompanying JC Voices on two instrumental and vocal selections will be Assistant Band Director and flute instructor Dr. Lindsey Keay, and piano instructor, Dr. Theresa Sanchez, and Drs. Boyd and Frans. JC students, Emily Valentine of Taylorsville and Hanna Grace Wood of Laurel will perform the stunning Antonio Caldara duet, Benedictus Deus, accompanied by Dr. Sanchez on organ. Darcy Beech of Ellisville, Savannah Greene of Sumrall, and Jalen Poindexter of Jackson will sing the very complex and intriguing trio, Whither Away So Fast, by Thomas Morley.
The trumpet ensemble, conducted by JC’s new, brass and music instructor, Caleb Owenby, will play a stately fanfare on the newly purchased, “Herald Trumpets.” The audience will also hear performances by Dr. Sanchez and Dr. Boyd, on somewhat rare instruments like the harpsichord and the lute. Additionally, the Flute Choir, Saxophone Ensemble and Brass Ensemble will perform a variety of early music selections, led by instrumental conductors and the Director of Bands, Dr. Ben Burge, Dr. Keay, and Owenby.
Faculty members Drs. Keay, Sanchez, and Boyd will each play solo selections, continuing a long tradition of collaborative performances hosted by JC Voices and Dr. Susan A. Smith. The concert will be narrated by JC voice instructor, Gregory Wascoe.
For more information about “Madrigals and More,” or to find out how to support JC Voices call 601-477-4203.
2021 Members of the Chamber Choir and Madrigal Singers
Conductor, Dr. Susan A. Smith
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
