Category: Press Release

ELLISVILLE – Twenty-eight Associate Degree Nursing graduates left Jones College ready to continue to face the daily challenges nurses successfully handle minute by minute. College administrators and faculty noted, nurses are used to quickly adapting to “anything thrown their way.” Jones College Associate Degree Nursing Division Chair, Erin Knight, MSN, RN is especially proud of how these nursing graduates successfully navigated nursing courses and clinicals during a challenging year.

“We know that they will continue to adapt in the workplace like they did here in the classroom, in clinicals and through all of the changes with online learning during the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic,” said Knight. “You worked hard and sacrificed to earn a degree. You answer to a higher calling, and you dedicated your life to serving others. We are confident you will fulfill your dreams. I challenge you to dream big.”

Jones College President, Dr. Jesse Smith told the graduate’s family and friends in the audience that nursing education is the most important thing we do at Jones.

“Thank you for supporting these students and thank you for believing in us and what we do at Jones College,” said Smith. “We have high expectations, graduates, because you’re going to be there for people at their highest moments and for their lowest moments and we expect you to do the right thing, exceptionally well. I commend you and appreciate your grit accepting the challenge during a pandemic with a smile and at those times when you weren’t smiling.”

One graduate, Juliann Nelson of Petal, lost her “smile” on November 18, 2020, when she failed the mid-term in her final semester of the nursing program. She shared about the special lesson she learned on her journey from recovering from failure to graduating.

“I was defeated, and I labeled myself as a failure. I even questioned my ability to become a nurse. I felt like everything I had gone through the last few years of pursuing a life-long dream, was not enough,” said Nelson. “Instructors, thank you for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself. In four short months, I gained more than I ever imagined. What I thought was my biggest failure was my biggest lesson. Never let a failure define you.”

Class of 2021 President, Anthony Daniels of Hattiesburg, encouraged his nursing graduate “family” to continue to pursue more education and “be the best nurses” that they are.

“Continue to grow and change. I challenge you to learn. Get as much knowledge as you can. No question is a stupid question. Give it all you got and help those nursing students in clinicals. Help them through those experiences. Let them see you do IV’s and the cool things on the floor. I challenge you to go out and touch lives. Even on your worst days or your best days, care for those patients like they’re your own. Give them all you got!” said Daniels.

Several students earned special recognition during the A.D.N. Pinning Ceremony, including Daniels. He was given a Certificate of Achievement as the Nominee for the 2021 Outstanding Associate Degree Nursing Student by the Mississippi Chapter of the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing. Nelson was awarded with a life-time membership in the Mississippi Nurse Organization in recognition of her work with the Student Nurse Organization and the community.

Three students were honored for their perfect attendance during the five-semester program: Jemyla Fenton of Meridian, Taylor Magee of Collins and Juliann Nelson of Petal. The six students who were inducted into the Nursing Honor Society, Alpha Delta Nu, Jamie Boleware-Collins, Hannah Bynum-Mendenhall, Anthony Daniels-Hattiesburg, Alyssa Mobbs-Hattiesburg, Callie Shows-Ellisville and Jeshaiah Stephens-Ellisville were also recognized during the Pinning Ceremony.

Per tradition, students also participated in the Lighting of the Lamp ceremony as a symbol of the passing on of knowledge from nursing faculty to graduates. Knight reminded students that the nursing profession hallmark of the nursing practice is showing compassion for every patient.

“Never let your flame grow dim…. Work hard, never forget where you came from, and never stop worrying. You’re going to go out and make a difference wherever you are. You’re going to make a difference in someone’s life every day. We’re proud of your success and we look forward to hearing great things about you!” said Knight ending the ceremony by pinning each student with the nurses’ pin, a Maltese Cross.

ELLISVILLE – Three Jones College Radiologic Technology graduates received honors and scholarships at their completion ceremony recently. Lauren Williamson of Purvis earned both the 2021 Clinical Student of the Year and the Academic Student of the Year honors.

Earning the Mississippi Society of Radiologic Technologists Scholarship was Lauryn Jemison. The Lucedale resident earned a $400 scholarship to continue her education. The Mississippi Radiological Society Scholarship was awarded to Ashley Sumrall of Laurel. She was also named their Student of the Year.

The 12 Jones College Radiologic Technology graduates recognized South Central Regional Medical Center’s Ashley Bradford, R.T.(R) as the Clinical Instructor of the Year. Carrie Scarbrough, R.T.(R) was also honored as the Technologist of the Year at the ceremony.

ELLISVILLE– During graduation practice, six Jones College sophomores were awarded Leadership, Athletic and Merit Gold Key Awards. These students were voted on by their peers for this special recognition.

The Merit Gold Key recipients are Faith Houston of Laurel and Matthew Harrison of Laurel. Houston was also chosen by her peers to receive the Leadership Gold Key honor. Garrett Bradshaw of Raleigh was also selected for the Leadership Gold Key award. Cheerleader, Chloe Rigdon of Newton, and baseball player Kameron Partridge from Collinsville, earned the Athletic Gold Key Award.

Jones College sophomores eligible to receive the Academic Gold Key honor because of their 4.0 GPA prior to final exams will be recognized over the summer for their academic achievements.

ELLISVILLE – Jones College’s 93^rd Commencement Ceremony was held outdoors at 8 p.m. for the first time in the college’s history. The COVID-19 virus led to modifying a lot of events and activities over the last year. Jones College President, Dr. Jesse Smith shared with the crowd, including the approximate 720 graduates participating in the ceremony, that this graduation ceremony marked the first time some people have been back on campus since March 2020. Smith also “confessed” in his Presidential Message in the Commencement Program, that he didn’t understand the meaning of the words unprecedented, incomparable and unpredictable until he witnessed this season of hardship the college community experienced together.

“‘During my time of leadership, I have never seen the challenges, trials and circumstances that you graduates have faced in these past twelve months…. I have full confidence that the Jones College graduates of 2020 and 2021 have been rewarded with the spirit of perseverance, an invaluable garland that will forevermore be placed around your neck….”’said Smith.

Commencement speaker, retired U.S. Army Major General, Byron Bagby who is the managing partner of BMB Solutions, LLC, an independent consulting firm offering executive leadership development, coaching, and strategy development also commended the graduates. As a first-generation college graduate, Bagby said he understands the challenges that the 35 percent of Jones College students faced being the first in their families to go to college. He also challenged the audience to continue to make their family and friends proud by fulfilling three basic elements of life.

“Be a mentor. Be yourself and make a difference in the world. At this stage in your life, each one of you has a collection of experiences that are and will be beneficial to other people who have the same profession as you…. Look for opportunities to connect with other people. Reach out to them frequently. Share your lessons learned and life experiences,” said Bagby. “Thank you for what you will do for our world, our nation and for what you will do for your communities.”

About 70 of the Jones College graduates from the class of 2020 decided to participate in this year’s ceremony after last year’s graduation was canceled because of the Pandemic. Bay Springs 2020 graduates and twins, Jada and Jazmin King said they were eager to return to campus.

“My sister and I were very involved at Jones and we were very successful during our two years here,” said Jazmin, the 2019 Homecoming Queen and Mississippi Rural Physician Scholarship Program recipient. “We wanted to return to Jones for some closure and to say our goodbyes to our friends, faculty members and administrators who were so helpful to us over our two years here,” Jada added, who was voted Miss Jones College 2020 and a Mississippi Rural Physician Scholarship Program recipient.

Likewise, 2021 graduate and Student Government Association President, Dariyel Johnson said she was glad the Class of 2020 was invited to partake in graduation ceremonies.

“It hit me this week how many friends I’ve made here at Jones College and everything I’ve been able to accomplish as Freshman Class President and SGA President. Having the 2020 grads here, also gives me the chance to say goodbye to them too, as we leave this special place, together,” said Johnson, who also earned the title of Jones College Most Beautiful 2020. Johnson plans to continue her broadcast communication degree at the University of Mississippi and vie for the title of Miss Mississippi next month.

Oak Grove’s Slade Smith and Slade Hicks of Laurel, have Jones College to thank for their friendship. The two met early in their freshman year while playing intramural frisbee, because they share the same name.

“Ironically, our dads went to Laurel High School together,” said Slade Smith. “Jones gave me the room to grow because I didn’t know where I wanted to go to college to start my bio-chemistry degree. It’s going to be hard to leave this place.”

Slade Hicks who is majoring in electrical engineering added, “I’m glad we’ll get to still hang out at Mississippi State. We both are adventurous and enjoy playing intramural sports. We were on a lot of winning teams at Jones.”

The evening commencement ceremony on the lawn of Jones Hall provided a dynamic atmosphere to showcase the Jones Onstage and Concert Choir students and a firework show finale. Jones graduates received either, an Associate in Arts degree, Associate in Applied Science degree, a Technical Certificate, or a Career Certificate.

ELLISVILLE – When Wilicia McClendon’s parents, Wilbur and Alicia learned about the changes to Jones College’s Commencement Ceremony, they were disappointed their daughter would miss graduation once again. The ceremony was held two weeks later than usual and outdoors for the first time on, Saturday, May 22, at 8 p.m. Wilicia missed her 2020 graduation because the COVID-19 pandemic forced the college to cancel the commencement ceremony. This year, Wilicia could not attend because of her disabilities and the family would be out of the country.

“We learned when Wilicia was one year old, she was profoundly deaf. She now has cochlear implants that help her hear some, but she reads lips very well. When she was 10 years old, we discovered she also had problems with her eyesight. She has night blindness and peripheral vision problems because of a condition called ‘R P’ or Retinitis pigmentosa. There was no way we could attend an outdoor evening ceremony because she is completely blind at night,” said Alicia McClendon.

The McClendon family has dealt with many challenges and disappointments over the years. The family relocated to Laurel from New Orleans, following Hurricane Katrina. The Laurel School District’s support of Wilicia turned out to be a blessing and the reason why the family stayed in Laurel. Wilicia graduated from Laurel High School in 2018. Meanwhile, her father earned an associate of arts degree in Criminal Justice from Jones College in 2013, and her brother Joshua attended Jones College in 2015 and 2016, before transferring to USM. Wilicia was excited to follow in their path.

“Wilicia has made the President’s List Honor Roll at Jones just about every semester,” said her mother. “When the college switched to online classes because of the pandemic, Wilicia adapted. She pushes herself to be independent and to not let her disabilities define her.”

Upon hearing about Wilicia and her story, Jones College President, Dr. Jesse Smith decided to hold a special graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 25, to honor the “girl with grit.”

“She’s very persistent in her studies and she is very passionate about helping children. Wilicia has more grit in her pinky than most people do collectively in their lives and that’s a testament of her will and focus, and her drive to succeed,” said Smith said to an auditorium of administrators, staff and faculty who came back to campus on their off week.

Wilicia McClendon received diplomas for the Associate in Applied Science degree in Early Childhood Education Technology she earned in 2020, and the Associate of Arts degree she completed this year during a special graduation ceremony at Jones College.

“I am so thankful to everyone who did this for me. It feels so good to graduate,” said Wilicia. “I am famous now!” she chuckled.

Her parents said they were so grateful to Dr. Smith and everyone at Jones for holding the special graduation ceremony that they didn’t get really emotional until they returned home.

“For Jones College and Dr. Smith to do this is overwhelming. Jones really does live out its motto, ‘Inspiring Greatness.’ To see how far Jones was willing to go to make sure students like my daughter are successful has been amazing,” said Wilbur McClendon. “It was a big step for Wilicia to come to Jones College, but she has become more independent and determined to live out her dream.”

Wilicia’s dream includes continuing her education at the University of Southern Mississippi and to open a daycare to help children with hearing and sight impairments like her.