Wet walk on 1st day of classes at Jones College
ELLISVILLE – The rainfall Monday created a wet walk for Jones College students on the first day of fall semester classes. While many students brought umbrellas and rain ponchos, some choose to embrace the elements. Inside Jones Hall, the Alumni and Foundation Office passed out lemonade to brighten students’ first day of classes while also assisting students looking for their classes.
Jones College’s Maroon Typhoon dancers & colorguard living their “dream” season
ELLISVILLE – Just like our dreams don’t become reality without work, the Jones College Maroon Typhoon Touch of Gold dancers and colorguard are working hard on their “dream” season. The half-time performance centers around the dream theme with songs like “Enter Sandman” and “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” with more brass and woodwind instruments on the field compared to recent years. Sophomore Touch of Gold captains, Riley Gavin and Holly James of Ellisville, realize with fewer dancers on the field, they will be more noticeable.
“We may have a smaller group, but we will continue the tradition of putting on a great show,” said Gavin. “We are hoping to make this an extra special season because this will probably be my last year of dance in college.”
Colorguard captains, Annabelle Bryant and Gina Dossett, both of Ellisville, and Lauryn Jemison of George County are also adjusting to a smaller group to work with this season. Twenty-four flags will be twirling under the direction of these experienced ladies.
“We’ve been together at South Jones for several years,” said Dossett. “We know what to expect from each other and we work well together.”
Bryant added, “We’re excited to continue the marching season at Jones because we have a really neat show. It’s very colorful.”
Director of Bands, Dr. Ben Burge said he is proud to have these accomplished leaders and performers in the band.
“Student leaders in the band program are integral to the success of our organization. We are very proud of these young ladies. They all bring a wealth of experience and talent to their respective groups and have represented Jones College in a variety of ways on campus while serving in the band program.”
Fans will have to wait until the first home football game to get a preview of the “Dreams” show, Thursday, September 12, at 7 p.m. when the Bobcats face Hinds. The band will be performing at, A Night with the Bobcats event on Tuesday, August 27, at the Student Center Plaza. Jones College athletes will host a “meet and greet” from 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. with games and other events available for fans. At 7:30 p.m., the Maroon Typhoon will perform with the cheerleaders and the soccer and football teams will be introduced.
Jones College names Richardson as Clarke County Center Director
ELLISVILLE – Jones College President, Dr. Jesse Smith and Dean of Workforce College, Jennifer Griffith named JC graduate, Reggie Richardson as the new, Clarke County Center Director in Stonewall. The former Center Director, Jody Buchanan left to work at Mississippi State University.
“I am very excited to be the Clarke County Director because I grew up in Stonewall and I would love to be able to help all of Clarke County as much as possible,” said Richardson. “Growing up there was great! We had an awesome nucleus of people who really cared about the well-being of us kids.”
The former baseball coach and entrepreneur graduated from Enterprise High School in 1995 and came to Jones College on a baseball scholarship, while also earning his associate’s degree. William Carey University recruited Richardson to play baseball for the Crusaders where he earned his bachelor’s degree. Before beginning his coaching career, Richardson played one year of independent baseball in the Texas-Louisiana League.
He began his coaching career at Jones in 2000, helping to recruit the state championship team in 2002. Richardson spent the next year coaching at Southeast Lauderdale High School before earning his master’s degree from the University of West Alabama, while also coaching at East Central Community College. Richardson spent the next couple of years coaching at Pearl River Community College before returning to JC in 2007 to coach through the 2011 season. During this time, Richardson help build the Bobcat baseball team which laid the foundation for a long winning history, and nationally ranked team. In the 2011 season, the Bobcats were the national runner-up in the NJCAA Division 2 World Series.
In addition to coaching, Richardson and his wife, Blair who is a dental hygienist, saw a need in the community and built The Teepee Childcare and Pre-School Center in Ellisville in 2012. He managed the facility for three years before returning to his coaching career at William Carey University and helped the Crusaders to a third-place finish in the NAIA World Series in 2017.
“His experience in education and business management along with his love for Clarke County make him an excellent choice to be the new Clarke County Center Director. His passion for educating others and his desire for economic development will be a huge asset to Jones College and Clarke County,” said Griffith.
Richardson said he realizes the county is still recovering from the closing of Burlington Industries in Stonewall. He hopes to help in that process as the Center Director.
“There are still great people who live in Clarke County who want to be more involved in the development of a thriving community. I hope to be able to help with improving the economic situation as Director of the Center. Additionally, I want to rekindle old friendships and make a lot of new friends while continuing the mission of education.”
The Richardson’s have two children, Cole who is 13 and Jillian who is 10. For more information about classes at the Clarke County Center call the Center at 601-659-0622 or email Reggie Richardson at reggie.richardson@jcjc.edu.
Jones College’s Maroon Typhoon drum majors “dream” about the season
ELLISVILLE – A new wave of Maroon Typhoon student leaders will take the field this year at Jones College. Two freshmen drum majors, Danielle Beech of Ellisville and Graeme Forrest of Richton will lead the 200-member marching band into a new era of musical style.
“The audience will notice we’ll have more instruments, especially brass on the field, and fewer dancers and color guard,” said Director of Bands, Dr. Ben Burge. “This is also the first time in a long time that we have had just two drum majors, but they are very capable. They are such power-houses.”
Both drum majors are bringing different experiences to the field as they begin their music careers at Jones. Beech spent the last three years leading the large, Band of Braves at South Jones High School. Meanwhile, Forrest was the drum major for just one year of the smaller Richton Rebels’ marching band. They are both ready and thrilled to ride the “Maroon Typhoon” wave of excitement as they near the end of the first week of Band Camp in their new leadership positions.
“I’m more excited than anything but I’m also a little nervous because Jones is a lot bigger program to oversee. However, I’ve wanted to be a part of a larger marching band for so long,” said Forrest who is a music education major. “Danielle is used to this big group and I’m not.”
Beech’s marching band experience is extensive and includes competing and winning numerous trophies at South Jones. Additionally, she was part of the South Jones High School Indoor Marching Team that won its first-ever, Winter Guard International Scholastic Open World Championship in Dayton, Ohio last spring. While Beech may not be very nervous about being a drum major at Jones, she is concerned about juggling her classes and getting good grades to ensure a spot in the nursing program. Burge assured both drum majors, they will have help carrying out their duties.
“Band kids are the best whether they are a part of a 15-member or 215-member band. All we ask is for them to bring any concerns they have to us and we’ll help them make this a positive experience,” said Burge. “As a part of the direction team leaders, drum majors and band directors work together to make the band the best it can be.”
Fans will have to wait until the first home football game to get a preview of the “Dreams” show, Thursday, September 12, at 7 p.m. when the Bobcats face Hinds. The band will be performing at, A Night with the Bobcats event on Tuesday, August 27, at the Student Center Plaza. Jones College athletes will host a “meet and greet” from 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. with games and other events available for fans. At 7:30 p.m., the Maroon Typhoon will perform with the cheerleaders and the soccer and football teams will be introduced.
Jones College names Alan Cook as Greene County Center Director
ELLISVILLE – Jones College President, Dr. Jesse Smith and Dean of Workforce College, Jennifer Griffith named JC graduate, Alan Cook as the new, Greene County Center Director in Leakesville. The former Center Director, Richard Fleming retired July 1, and the Center’s Navigator and dual enrollment coordinator, Menyone Barrow has been the interim director.
“I look forward to opening doors and creating opportunities for all of our local students as the new Greene County Center Director. It is my hope to serve as a bridge between our local school districts and Jones College in an effort to build a strong bond benefitting our students for years to come, regardless of whether they are focused on academics or career and technical education,” said Cook.
Cook graduated from Greene County High School in 2001 and worked in various commercial, residential and industrial construction jobs. From 2008 until 2017, he worked for Universal Services in Leakesville and earned a general studies degree at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in 2003. Two years ago, Cook returned to Jones College to earn his Associate of Applied Science degree in Electrical Technology and has spent the last year as an instructor at MGCCC’s George County Center.
“His industry background and teaching experience at a sister college make him a unique find and a perfect fit for the Greene County Center’s Director position,” said Griffith. “Alan will also be the instructor of the Electrical Technology program that will open in fall 2020 at the Greene County Center.”
Being close to home with family is a benefit Cook said he is enjoying as the new Greene County Center Director. Additionally, he is looking forward to being involved with local school activities and seeing students succeed.
For more information about the Greene County Center’s class offerings in Adult Education, Career and Technical and college credit courses, contact Menyone Barrow at 601-394-4421 or 601-477-4238 or email her at menyone.barrow@jcjc.edu.