Category: Press Release

ELLISVILLE –Jones College’s Greene County Center in Leakesville is adding new programs to its already growing number of programs offered to the region. Area healthcare clinics and hospitals have asked Greene County Center Dean, Alan Cook to offer the healthcare related programs like Healthcare Assistant (career pathway certificate), Medical Assistant (academic credit) and Phlebotomy (workforce) because of the increasing need for these skilled personnel.

“We actually started our first phlebotomy class in February and we’re trying to get the Certified Nurse Assistant and Medical Assistant programs started. We did offer an EMT class this semester, but we didn’t have enough people sign up, but we are offering the EMT program for the fall of 2024, and we hope to be able to offer the medical assistant program in the future. We’re also talking about a Licensed Practical Nurse to Registered Nurse Bridge program,” said Cook. “I would just love to see the healthcare programs we’re offering in Leakesville take off and serve our community because we have a hospital here and several clinics in Leakesville and the surrounding areas. There is a need.”

Greene County Center’s future healthcare programs currently offered include the phlebotomy course which is a seven-week workforce training program, eight hours a week with day and night class options available. Phlebotomists work in medical facilities including blood banks, like Vitalant, and labs like LabCorp. These professionals prepare individuals to collect blood specimens for clinical laboratories. During the course, students will learn legal and safety aspects of the healthcare industry, medical terminology and basic healthcare procedures preparing graduates for national certification. A phlebotomist’s salary ranges from $15-$23 an hour depending on place of employment.

The Health Care Assistant Program prepares the individual to assist the healthcare team under the direction of a health care professional. Graduates of the one semester program will be awarded the Certificate of Health Care Assistant. Students who complete the program may qualify for employment as Homemakers, Nurse Assistants, Long-term Care Aides, or Home Health Aides. This program combines classroom instruction with laboratory work and clinical practice. The curriculum emphasizes employability skills, job seeking skills, legal aspects of health care, safety in health care, communication and observation skills, medical terminology, and basic health care procedures. Included is basic life support (American Heart Association), body structure and function, human growth and development, and nutrition. Emphasis is placed on common diseases and disorders and skills required to care for the long-term care resident. Successful graduates can earn $15-$25 an hour depending on place of employment.

After completing the Medical Assistant for credit program, successful graduates can earn $13-$22 an hour depending on the place of employment. Cook hopes to be able to offer this program in the fall 2024.

For more information about Health Care Assistant, Medical Assistant or Phlebotomy programs contact the Jones College, Greene County Center by phone at 601-477-4238 or by emailing student navigator, Menyone Barrow at menyone.barrow@jcjc.edu or by visiting the website, https://www.jcjc.edu/workforce/locations/greene-campus/

ELLISVILLE – Four Jones College sophomore music students are inviting the public to hear their last solo performances before graduation.  Sophomores expected to perform are Leo Norman of Ellisville, Madeline Russell of Columbia, Jessica Manning of Quitman and Trinity Williams of Brooklyn.

On Monday, April 15, at 7 p.m. in the Foote Chapel, soprano, Madeline Russell will join tuba player, Leo Norman for their individual final performances. Dr. Theresa Sanchez will accompany both sophomores on piano for their performances. Dr. Susan Smith has been Russell’s instructor and Caleb Owenby has been Norman’s instructor.

The following Thursday, April 18, at 7 p.m. in the Foote Chapel, saxophonist Jessica Manning of Quitman will be joining Trinity Williams for their sophomore recitals. Dr. Theresa Sanchez will accompany Manning on piano and Dr. Victoria Johnson will be accompanying Williams. Dr. Ben Burge has been instructing Manning and Owenby has been William’s instructor at Jones College.  

The recitals are free and open to the public. These performances are a part of the sophomore music student’s degree requirements for Jones College. For more information about the JC music program or the sophomore recitals call the College of Arts, Music and Performance at 601-477-4203.

ELLISVILLE – Twenty years have passed since the Jones College spring dance team, “Gold Rush” has competed regionally, but they haven’t missed a beat! The 14-member dance team competed in the American All-Star Mardi Gras Classic held in New Orleans and took home first place in the Jazz and Game Day Categories. Additionally, they won the Overall Technique Award for their Game Day Routine.

“This is a very special group of dancers. They have worked very hard, and it has been a pleasure to coach them,” said Lora Davis, Jones College Dance Team Director. “Sometimes teams come along that capture your heart! I am beyond proud of Gold Rush and they’re representation of Jones College and the Maroon Typhoon! I am beyond proud of these dancers and overwhelmed by their intense work and dedication this semester!  Ben Burge, (Jones College Director of Bands) huge thanks to you for all you do to continue the success of this program!!”

Gold Rush team members are led by sophomore co-captains, Kelly Biglane-Ellisville and Taylor Garretson-Leakesville. The team is made up of Jones College students, Alex Grace Rogers-Copiah County; Sadie Jones-Taylorsville; Xoe Lockhart-Carriere; Mallory Anderson-Petal; Josie Young-Petal; Grace Frey-Petal; Kylee Hicks-Laurel; Isabella Hammond-Laurel; Kayla Hamil-Ellisville; Bailie Bishop-Laurel and Harleigh Fortenberry-Ellisville.

ELLISVILLE –Jones College art students received a “masterclass” from Jackson native and artist, Traci Stover, who spent the afternoon discussing how she developed her skills and what drawing means to her. The University of Southern Mississippi professor currently lives in Hattiesburg and was the featured artist showcasing her artwork at the Eula Bass Lewis Art Gallery at Jones College through March 22, 2024.

Stover is known for combining her love for gardening and jazz music, and allowing the music to influence how the lines are drawn in her sketches. Encouraging Jones College students to be freer with drawing, Stover explained, the power of a line in drawing is allowing it to just flow.

In April, Sophomore Art students will have their work on display for the last art show in the Eula Bass Lewis Art Gallery. The Annual Sophomore Art Exhibition will be open to the public beginning on Monday, April 1, through April 26.

For more information about upcoming JC art shows or to arrange a visit to the gallery call 601-477-8401. The Eula Bass Lewis Art Gallery is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., and by appointment only on Wednesdays. The gallery is closed during the holidays. To learn more about the Jones College Art Department, https://www.jcjc.edu/programs/finearts/ or the JC Art Department’s social media: Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/JCJCFineArts/ and on Instagram @artatjonescollege.

ELLISVILLE – In the Jones College Winterguard’s second year of existence, they are beginning the season on solid footing by winning “Bronze” or third place at the WGI Huntsville show in the Independent “A” classification, the last weekend of February. This was the team’s first regional competition of the season, but not the first competition. The Winterguard schedule started in Brandon, before the Huntsville regional competition. They competed in Biloxi and Flowood, and are now headed to San Antonio, Texas, before the season culminates in Jackson, for the state championships. 

“This is a moment of immense pride and accomplishment for our program and this achievement in Huntsville becomes even more significant as we stood closely behind two WGI Independent “A” class finalists, demonstrating the caliber of competition we faced as well marking our first national level achievement in this classification. Competing alongside such accomplished groups has been an inspiring experience, and our team’s ability to rise to the occasion is a testament to their hard work and commitment,” said Jones College Winterguard Director, Meredith Owen.

The program is entitled, “The Way it Was,” and features 17 Jones College students utilizing flags and other props. The team consist of, Campbrelle Bryant, Laurel; Ceilia Burkett, Florence; Paige Farve, Laurel; Arielle Grimaldo, Ellisville; Martha Hernandez, Ellisville; Alisha Hudson, Laurel; Jaynia Keyes, Hattiesburg; Gabi Lopez, Ridgeland; Kaylee McWilliams, Magee; Kaylee Moss, Ellisville; Charlee Norman, Ellisville; Adamaris Rivera, Laurel; Gynesis Rivers, Newton; Olivia Roberts, Ellisville; Layken Valentine, Ellisville; Emily Wicker, Magee and Braden Yarber, Ellisville. This team of freshmen and sophomore members competed against teams from Atlanta and Clarksville, Tennessee.

“We are so proud of these students!” said Jones College Director of Bands, Dr. Ben Burge. “They have represented Jones College on the national stage and earned Bronze in a tough line up. I am excited to see how they end up at the San Antonio show and in State Championships.”

As with each competition, team members will build upon the lessons learned from this competition to help fuel their determination to refine skills, enhance creativity, and strengthen their collaborative spirit. Owen said their program has demonstrated its potential, and she is confident that they are well-positioned for continued growth and success moving into the final two weeks of the competitive season.

“We will be traveling over spring break (March 11-15) to compete at WGI San Antonio before returning home to compete in the Mississippi Indoor Association Championships in Jackson, on March 24,” said Owen. “This group has been such troopers! We have overcome many obstacles from facility issues to even worse. They are overcomers and I am proud to be their coach.”

Members of the Jones College Winterguard

Campbrelle Bryant, Laurel

Ceilia Burkett, Florence

Paige Farve, Laurel

Arielle Grimaldo, Ellisville

Martha Hernandez, Ellisville

Alisha Hudson, Laurel

Jaynia Keyes, Hattiesburg

Gabi Lopez, Ridgeland

Kaylee McWilliams, Magee

Kaylee Moss, Ellisville

Charlee Norman, Ellisville

Adamaris Rivera, Laurel

Gynesis Rivers, Newton

Olivia Roberts, Ellisville

Layken Valentine, Ellisville

Emily Wicker, Magee

Braden Yarber, Ellisville