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ELLISVILLE- All nine of the Jones College students that competed in the Phi Beta Lambda business club’s State competition in Columbus, Mississippi, came home as winners.  These students placed first, second, or third in their competitive events which qualified them for national competition in June, in Salt Lake City, Utah. During the three-day conference, each student competed in two business-related events. The events ranged from accounting principles and entrepreneurship concepts to computer programming and network design.

“Five of the students will be going to the four-day national conference and competition in Salt Lake City,” said Jones College’s PBL Advisor, David Ray.  “This group is smaller than we normally take to nationals, but each of these five students has a lot of potential to place nationally.”

Jessica Berry of Bassfield earned first place honors in Cybersecurity and third place in Personal Finance. Sumrall’s Chandler Cooksey placed second in Impromptu Speaking.  Madison Magee of Petal placed second in Computer Concepts. The team of Chandler Cooksey and Madison Magee also took home second place in the Emerging Business Issues team competition.  Leakesville’s Alex Henderson took home second place in Contemporary Sports Issues and third place in Programming Concepts.  Jordan Hetrick of Hattiesburg landed in second place in Network Design and third place in Networking Concepts. Waynesboro’s Emily Crist received third place in Personal Finance and fourth place in Administrative Technology. Krutic Desai of Hattiesburg placed third in Management Concepts. Laurel native, Wali Haqq placed third in Computer Concepts and fourth in Programming Concepts.

Photos and story by Kelly Atwood, JC Publications Advisor

JACKSON – Several supporters of state community and junior colleges spoke at Capitol Day March 4, at the state capitol in Jackson to share why the two-year colleges should be funded fairly.

Mississippi Faculty Association for Community and Junior Colleges President Marilyn Ford said that for more than 10 years now, she’s been participating in Capitol Day to ask for additional funding for community colleges.

“While many personnel and teaching paradigms have changed too many unfortunate aspects such as funding have not changed,” Ford said. “Many of us teach overloads, despite the fact that we’ve already spent hours in the classroom teaching, advising, guiding over 100 students in addition to the committee obligations, sponsorships with clubs and organizations, not because we have so much time on our hands, but because we love what we do, despite quite frankly, we haven’t had state-supported raises in a number of years.”

The 15 state community colleges share seven cents of every educational dollar spent by the state of Mississippi, with the other 93 percent of that dollar being shared between universities and K-12. That means the seven cents of every educational dollar is divided among the 15 community colleges.

Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges representative and Holmes Community College President Dr. Jim Haffey explained that there’s been an emphasis this session and last session on a teacher pay raise for community colleges, but that there hasn’t been a significant one for the past 11 years. He pointed out that community college instructors are required to have the same master’s degrees and credentials as university professors.

“Based on this, most reasonable people would make the argument that community college instructors should make at least the average between a K-12 teacher and a university professor,” said Haffey. “However, Mississippi has not made that a priority. I urge our legislators to make it a priority and begin addressing the $9000 gap per instructor that exists between our community college instructors’ salaries and the mid-point salary in education.”

Community college alumnus, Dr. Anna Hailey-Sharpe and Michael Evans spoke about their experiences with attending a community college.

Sharpe, who grew up in a small farming community in rural Kemper County, attended a high school with a graduating class of 30 people. She chose to attend East Mississippi Community College to help provide a smooth transition between high school and university. Now a physician, Sharpe said attending EMCC was instrumental in developing skills she needed later in life, such as working with people from diverse backgrounds. She also created friendships with her instructors which continue to today.

Evans was given an internship opportunity while a student at PRCC that turned into his current job. Working for Kohler, he has zero college debt. He said his college instructors took him out of his comfort zone and empowered him with the tools and knowledge he needed to succeed. He said he believes that “community college is the number one way for young men and women to climb out of poverty in the state of Mississippi.”

The group shared statistics which reveal the importance of community colleges to the state and economy. Haffey said college graduates with an associate degree will earn $537,000 more over a 40-year career than those without associate degrees. In addition to the nearly 100,000 community college students in the state, an additional 100,000 attend workforce college classes.

“In recent years, community colleges were cut 11 percent,” said Haffey. “We were forced to close programs that were not cost-effective to operate with limited state funding. When we close these programs, Mississippians lose an opportunity to better their lives. Those cuts still have not been restored as of today.”

Pearl River Community College instructor and MFACJC VP/Pres elect David Collum pointed out the expectations the state has for community colleges.

“We’re asked to take students who are unsuccessful in K-12and bring them back in the educational fold,” said Collum. “We’re asked to take students and prepare them to transfer to prestigious universities. We’re asked to train students to enter the workforce and be the backbone of Mississippi’s economy.”

Collum said he knows students who came to PRCC to obtain their GED, then completed PRCC and went on to Harvard or Columbia University. He said for some students, the community college is their only option for higher education.

“There is no greater conduit out of poverty, out of generational poverty, than education and there is no one who gives greater access to education than community colleges with their open-door policy,” Collum said.

Collum said he believes there are still opportunities to help additional potential students by providing more options at the community college level.

“If we are going to expand options for the people of Mississippi, we must be properly funded,” said Collum. “Mississippi receives a $4 return on every dollar spent on Mississippi community colleges, and these colleges only receive 7 percent of the state’s educational budget. I believe it’s not only fiscally responsible to invest in community colleges, I believe it’s fiscally irresponsible not to.”

ELLISVILLE – When Jones College’s Fine Arts Department invited the Mississippi State University Wind Ensemble to perform recently, band members were also proud to welcome JC alumnus, Jorge Castillo. The Ellisville native and former Maroon Typhoon Drum Major is now a proud member of the MSU Famous Maroon Band and The Wind Ensemble. Performing for Jones College students, faculty and guests was special to Castillo because he was playing at “home.”

“It is so humbling to be in the MSU Wind Ensemble,” said Castillo. “I’m blessed with great instructors who are preparing me to work in music education. It has been great making the transition to Starkville.”

The May 2019 graduate is continuing his music education studies at Mississippi State University. However, returning to JC as a member of the 75-member premiere instrumental student ensemble at Mississippi State University reminded Castillo, who also graduated from South Jones High School, where his love for music thrived.

“Walking down the hallway at Jones as we arrived in the M.P. Bush Fine Arts Auditorium today was nostalgic. Lots of memories came flooding back! I miss Jones and everything I experienced here. I’m also ready for the next step as Mississippi State’s instructors are helping me hone my skills for my career.”

The Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Elva Kay Lance, the Director of Bands at Mississippi State, stopped at Jones for a performance before a concert at the annual American Bandmasters Association Convention on the Coast. Membership in the MSU Wind Ensemble is extended to the most advanced musicians by competitive audition, regardless of university major. This select group represents the musical student leadership of the band program and performs in both the Fall and Spring semesters. Members aspire to elevate individual and collective musicianship and strengthen performance skills.

ELLISVILLE – Jones College’s Math department along with the Mississippi Council of Teachers of Mathematics recently sponsored the district level MCTM Math Contest for Jr. High School students.  About 40 students from ten Pine Belt schools spent the morning working out various math problems to earn a spot at the state competition in April.

Northeast Jones’ Lauren Hunter took first place amongst eighth-graders with West Jones’ Ryan Logan earning second-place honors. Seventh-grader, Brad Garner from Mize won first place and Northeast Jones’ Ellison Latham won second place amongst the seventh graders competing. These students will continue competing on the state level on April 4, at Hinds Community College.

ELLISVILLE – The Magnolia Brass Band from the 41st Army Band based in Jackson, is touring the state on a mission to recruit more musicians, especially community college students. Two of the six members in the band, Spc. Brandon Broome of Sumrall and Sgt. Patrick Hand, currently a Gulfport resident, has ties to Jones College and are already enjoying the benefits of being a military band musician. Even though the Magnolia Brass Band, which is part of the Army National Guard, performs throughout the state, the nation and abroad, everyone adheres to the military’s physical and training requirements. The Brass Band only rehearses one weekend a month and spends two weeks a year in active training, like “regular” National guardsmen.

“Last summer we spent two weeks in Hawaii filling in for the active members of the band there,” shared Sgt. Joe Raymond, who is also the Wayne County School District’s Director of Bands. “We’re soldiers first and musicians full-time, but we’re not likely to be deployed.”

Among the benefits most appealing to Sgt. Raymond is the college education and student loan payoff program. This allowed him to work on his master’s degree without incurring any debt. Also interested in the college education program is Spc. Broome, who is currently a sophomore at Jones College and plays trombone for the Maroon Typhoon at JC. He and trumpeter, Sgt. Hand, who graduated from JC in 2011, proudly enjoys serving their country by performing.

“Five years ago, I was teaching music at the high school level and heard this band (the National Guard’s Magnolia Brass Band) play at a band directors’ clinic. I didn’t know the Army National Guard had bands and this could be an option for me,” said Sgt. Hand. “My wife is happy because as a member of the band I am least likely to be deployed and I like the fact I get to serve in the military and perform.”

After graduating from Jones College, Sgt. Hand continued his music education degree at USM where he studied under Dr. Patrick Richards, who is currently an assistant director of bands at Jones College. Sgt. Hand did his student teaching at South Jones High School in Ellisville, before becoming a band director at Oak Grove in 2013 and at West Harrison schools in 2014. Now, in addition to his military career, Sgt. Hand said he also has the privilege in his civilian career to build warships at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, as an electrician. However, returning to the Jones campus to perform with the Brass Band was a nostalgic experience; reminding him of where his musical career thrived.

“So many things have changed over nine years, and yet many things are the same,” said Sgt. Hand. “I feel like I’m home every time I return to Jones.”

The Army National Guard has several bands aspiring musicians can audition to join, including a full concert band, jazz band, rock band and marching band. Currently, the Wayne County School District’s Assistant Director of Bands, Spc. Sarah Nichols plays trumpet for the Magnolia Brass Band. However, she was a member of a couple of rock bands in the Hattiesburg area before learning she could return to performing classical and traditional music with the Army’s health benefits. After discovering the benefits of being a musician in the Army National Guard, Jones College freshman from Wayne County, Noah Schuman, said he is considering joining the Army’s Brass Band, like his High School band director, Sgt. Raymond.