Category: News

ELLISVILLE – Four Jones College graduates are currently participating in the undergraduate portion of the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program (MRPSP). The four students eligible to receive $30,000 per year in scholarships are Jones College May 2020 graduates, Layne Boykin of Waynesboro, and Jada and Jazmin King of Bay Springs and 2018 Jones graduate, Tyus Wilson of Bay Springs.

“It is no surprise at all that these outstanding Jones students were selected for the MS Rural Physicians Scholarship Program. I am downright elated that we will have them as professional health care providers because they will represent the best of what the Jones College student body and the state of Mississippi have to offer in service to our community,” said Jones College Science Division Chair, Eric Shows.

Created in 2007, MRPSP identifies college sophomores and juniors who demonstrate the necessary commitment and academic achievement to become competent, well-trained rural primary care physicians in our state. The program offers undergraduate academic enrichment and a clinical experience in a rural setting. Upon completion of all medical school admissions requirements, these students can use the scholarship at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine or William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Jazmin King said she is excited to start her medical journey at the University of Mississippi and then begin working in rural Mississippi. Pursuing a specialty in pediatrics or obstetrics/gynecology, King said she wants to give back to the community by offering free, health fairs to help students learn how to take care of themselves.

“I want to be part of the solution in fixing the healthcare issues we have in Mississippi. What better way to help fix the problems than by actually becoming a doctor and working in those underserved areas?” said Jazmin King.

The three recent Jones graduates have all been involved in multiple organizations and events serving their communities, while also maintaining excellent academic records, according to Shows.

“This scholarship selection is truly an extension and recognition of their initiative and work ethic,” said Shows.

MRPSP officials commend the consistent legislative support of the scholarship program which provides 61 medical students a total of $1,830,000 to support the education of MRPSP students this fall. In addition to the legislative support, three privately funded scholarships are also awarded from the Madison Charitable Foundation, the Selby and Richard McRae Foundation, and the Medical Assurance Company of Mississippi. Additional benefits include personalized mentoring from practicing rural physicians and academic support.

“These three young ladies made their decisions to pursue a rural medicine career before COVID-19 upended our daily lives, but I am incredibly thankful that they will be part of the next generation of professionals that we will have on the front lines of public health. The fact that they are products of a Jones College education should make us proud and remind everyone of the importance of supporting our community college system,” said Shows.

Upon completion of medical school, MRPSP scholars must enter a residency program in one of five primary care specialties: family medicine, general internal medicine, pediatrics, medicine-pediatrics, or obstetrics/gynecology. The MRPSP Scholar must provide four years of service in a clinic-based practice in an approved Mississippi community of 15,000 or fewer population located more than 20 miles from a medically served area. Boykin, who is currently at Mississippi State University said she is looking forward to returning to her hometown of Waynesboro, which has been designated as an underserved medical community.

“Growing up in Waynesboro, I am more than familiar with the love, care, trust, and hospitality that rural communities have to offer. Throughout my life, my community has encouraged, supported, and inspired me every step of the way. I would like to return to this community as a physician to give back as well as combat the need for rural physicians in Mississippi,” said Boykin. “I am also very appreciative of the guidance and assistance from Mr. Shows at Jones, who played a major role in this achievement and was very influential in my career choice.”

The MRPSP provides a means for rural Mississippi students to earn a seat in medical school, receive mentoring during the medical school application process, earn a $120,000 medical school scholarship in return for four years of service and learn the art of healing from practicing rural physicians.

Moselle native, and 2018 graduate of Jones College and 2020 graduate of the University of Mississippi, Katelynn McGowen, was recently awarded the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship valued at $30,000 per year for her medical training at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson at the annual scholarship ceremony. She was initially accepted into the MRPSP in 2018.

For more information, contact MRPSP Associate Director Steven Carter at 601-815-9022, jscarter@umc.edu or http://mrpsp.umc.edu.

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The Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program and the Mississippi Rural Dentists Scholarship Program were formed in an effort to increase the number of physicians and dentists serving the health-care needs of Mississippians in rural areas. Housed at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, and collaborating with its schools of medicine and dentistry and the College of Osteopathic Medicine at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, the programs use various outreach, mentoring and training methods to identify, support, educate and deploy new generations of health-care workers for Mississippi’s underserved populations. To learn more about either program, MRPSP.

Monday, September 14, 2020, 12:30 p.m.

All Jones College locations, including County Centers, will remain open Tuesday, September 15, until 4:00 p.m., at which time all Jones College classes will shift to a virtual online format. Classes will remain online through Wednesday, September 16. The dorms and dining hall on the main campus in Ellisville will remain open. Classes will resume the hybrid on-campus meeting options on Thursday, September 17.

Jones College campus operations will close at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 15. All services and offices will shift to a virtual, work-from-home format Wednesday, September 15, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Normal campus operations will resume Thursday, September 17.

The Prometric Testing Center, located within the Advanced Technology Center in Ellisville, will remain open for scheduled testing on Wednesday, September 16.

The college plans to resume all regular operations on Thursday, September 17, 2020.

The Jones College administration will continue to monitor Hurricane Sally and will share more information as it becomes available. Official updates will be provided via the Jones College website (www.jcjc.edu), official Jones College social media accounts, JC email, the college’s mass notification system, and local media outlets.

Jones College Wednesday, September 16, 2020, closures include:

Jones College Main Campus, Ellisville, MS

The Ronald Whitehead Advanced Technology Center, Ellisville, MS

Clarke County Center, Stonewall, MS

Greene County Center, Leaksville, MS

Jasper County Center, Bay Springs, MS

Wayne County Center, Waynesboro, MS

File photo from JC Radionian Student Newspaper 2018: Jones College student, Olivia Harrison gives blood at the JC blood drive. Photo by JC student photographer, Sydney Dickerson.

ELLISVILLE – Jones College is hosting a community-wide blood drive on Tuesday, September 22, and Wednesday, September 23, in the D.O. Thoms P.E. Building located along Augusta Street in Ellisville. Vitalant strongly encourages blood donors to make and keep appointments to give blood between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day. Scheduling appointments can be done on the website, www.bloodhero.com with the Sponsor Code: JC1. Appointments can also be made by contacting Jones College Blood Drive Coordinator and EMT instructor, Benji Sessums at 601-477-4704.

“It is very important that we have as many donors as possible at the upcoming blood drive at Jones College because donations are currently running short,” said Sessums. “Also, we have an exciting benefit for everyone who donates; they will receive the COVID 19 antibody screening. Individuals who have significant levels of antibodies will be contacted by the blood service and asked to schedule a time to give Plasma to treat patients with COVID 19.”

Following CDC guidelines regarding the prevention of the COVID 19 virus, all donors will be asked to wear masks and practice physical distance requirements to ensure the safest environment possible. Vitalant staff are also required to wear masks/face coverings and will have masks available for donors who do not have a mask of their own. However, if a donor is unable to wear a covering or mask, please plan on donating on a later date. Vitalant will need donations in the coming weeks and months.

“Additionally, we want donors to know their temperature will be taken at check-in. Those with temperatures higher than 99.5 will not be allowed to donate or remain at the site. We are setting up larger waiting areas with chairs six feet apart and providing individually packaged snacks and beverages. We are also limiting the number of people in the waiting areas to adhere to physical distancing guidelines,” said Sessums.

Donors arriving at Jones College are advised to wait for their appointments in their cars or other comfortable and convenient locations. Donors have the option to receive a phone call or text notification when it is time to donate when they make their appointment.

To view Vitalant’s current, up-to-date guidelines to support the health and safety of donors and staff, visit the Vitalant website, https://www.vitalant.org/COVID-FAQs or call Vitalant Donor Recruitment Representative, Sara Dyess at 601-602-5969.

ELLISVILLE – Jones College students have returned to campus for the traditional campus life experience, including face-to-face classes. The fall semester began August 10, with all University-Parallel (academic) courses being taught completely online through Friday, September 4, to help lessen the spread of COVID-19. While some career and technical students and some students taking medical courses cautiously met on campus for the last month, most students waited until after the Labor Day holiday to return to campus. Students entering campus are still required to check-in at one of the 21 Health Stations before going anywhere on campus, including dorm rooms. Most students like Greene County’s Joshua Cook said they don’t mind the extra level of protection.

“I have loved being back on campus! I’m so thankful Jones is taking every precaution to give us a safe and enjoyable school year!” said the sophomore business major from Leakesville.

Like Cook, sophomores, Caidyn Crowder of Ellisville, and McKay Lee Bray of Leakesville are happy to be back living on campus and taking face-to-face classes. They said their science labs and classes are better “in person” but they appreciated the extra efforts their instructors made ensuring they were successful in their virtual learning.

“I am really glad to be back in class, seeing my teachers,” said Bray. “Jones’ science instructors did a great job of handling and overcoming the additional challenges of providing lab experiences, safely. I also appreciate they were open to our suggestions and that is what I love about Jones! They really want you to succeed!”

The biology majors, Bray and Crowder said they also really enjoy taking early morning strolls on campus before their classes.

“This is a return to ‘normal’ for us, waking up on campus in our dorm room, enjoying a walk around the lake before classes. I’m really excited to be back!” said Crowder.

Classes requiring face-to-face instruction and hands-on training, are meeting in smaller groups and students are spaced six feet apart in classrooms. Check out the Jones College website at www.jcjc.edu for more information.

ELLISVILLE – The University of West Alabama is giving Jones College students extra incentives to become UWA Tigers upon completion of their associate degree at Jones. UWA’s new partnership with JC guarantees admission for Jones students who have a 2.0 GPA and 45 transferable credit hours or an associate degree from Jones College. Other perks include scholarships and one-on-one advisement for Jones students.

“We are offering very personalized advising before Jones students move to the University of West Alabama. They will know what courses to take, when and with whom. We want to make their transfer seamless, by taking a lot of pressure off students when they’re moving to a new location. In fact, we are incentivizing the transition by beefing up our academic scholarship for this kind of a partnership,” said UWA President, Dr. Ken Tucker.

Jones College students with a 3.0 GPA are now eligible for a renewable, $3,000 to 4,000 scholarship for up to four semesters. Additionally, these students qualify for a unique $2,000 Housing Scholarship for the first year. Tucker hopes the Housing Scholarship will encourage students to live on campus.

“We’re urging students to continue their education with financial support. Research shows the more education you get the more successful you will be and the more money you will make. It all leads to increased success throughout life,” said Tucker.

After the presidents signed the new Memorandum of Understanding, Jones College President, Dr. Jesse Smith gifted Dr. Tucker with a unique Scotsman Heirloom hammer made by Jones alumnus, Ben Napier, who stars with his wife and Jones alumna, Erin in the HGTV Hometown TV series. Smith said the hammer is symbolic of building relationships, which he looks forward to building a great relationship with the University of West Alabama.

“Offering pathways beyond Jones is very important for our students,” said Smith. “What UWA is willing to invest in our students, and what they’re doing is, opening their doors. It is a perfect, natural fit because they focus on a student-centered approach to education just like Jones. Our students will feel like they’re a part of something special at UWA and they’re being taken care of like they are at Jones.”

Career and Technical graduates of Jones College also have opportunities to segue into four-year technical degrees, like industrial maintenance and engineering technology. President Tucker said these programs are hands-on, application-oriented as opposed to just pure theory. He also noted UWA’s Nursing program will be expanding to include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree beginning in January.

“Jones students who qualify for these scholarships will be exempt from out of state tuition, for another financial incentive for them to afford college. Jones has such an excellent reputation and we want to encourage more Jones College students to come to UWA,” said Tucker.

For more information about the incentives for Jones College students contact Brenda K. Jones, the University of West Alabama Transfer Admissions Counselor-On Campus by calling her office at 205-652-5431 or cell phone at 205-651-2322 or by email at BJones@uwa.edu.