Category: Press Release

ELLISVILLE –Jones College’s psychology instructor, Stephanie Green has been selected as the Jones College 2019-2020 Mississippi Humanities Teacher of the Year.  She will be honored by the Mississippi Humanities Council and the college on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. in the M.P. Bush Fine Arts Auditorium.  The public is invited to see Green’s presentation, “Happiness Without Prozac,” which will discuss the keys to happiness.

“Everyone wants the keys to happiness. We read self-help books, attend counseling and take medications trying to find the secret to a happy life.  This presentation will examine the factors involved in happiness and discuss the similarities of the happiest people in the world,” said Green.

The Laurel resident has been teaching Psychology and Human Growth & Development classes at Jones for 22 years. Previously, she worked in Nashville, Tennessee as a mental health therapist for four years working with teenagers in a psychiatric setting. However, Green said she loves teaching more than anything else. Her Social Science Division Chair, Dr. Ronald Bishop said her students benefit greatly from her wisdom and love for her profession.

“Stephanie Green is a phenomenal and beloved teacher. She truly has students at heart, and that shows in how students respond to her.  She is a friend to all, especially dogs.  She is conscientious and devoted to making the world a better place through education. She is a natural choice for Humanities Teacher of the Year, and the award is much deserved,” said Bishop.

The Mississippi Humanities Council will recognize Green as JC’s Mississippi Humanities Teacher of the Year during this special presentation in Ellisville, and again in Jackson at a banquet where she will receive a cash award and a plaque.

“I am extremely grateful and honored to receive this award. I remember being a Jones student and learning so much in my psychology classes. It is humbling to now be recognized as a teacher at the school I loved as an 18-year-old. I still feel that same pride and can’t believe I get to do this as a job. I love this school and the people I work with. They are not just colleagues but truly some of my best friends,” said Green.

Other honors Green has received include being recognized in 2019 as one of five JC faculty members nominated for the Faculty of the Year Award. In 2015, she was honored as the Social Science Teacher of the Year and in 2011, she was selected as a Jones College “Lamplighter.”

The 1989 Jones graduate earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Rehabilitation Services and her Master of Science Degree in Counseling Psychology from USM where she graduated with Honors. She is also a National Board-Certified Counselor.  Additionally, Green did extra graduate coursework in psychology at William Carey University in 2001 and at Delta State University in 2012.

She serves the Laurel community as a board member for the Laurel Animal Rescue League and is the Fundraising/Event Coordinator for the Dixie Golf Association. At Jones, Green is a Philosophy Club Co-Sponsor, an advisor for the freshman life skills course, Psychology of Personal Adjustment and she is a member of the Academic Probation Committee. She has served as the Sophomore Breakfast Committee and as a Class Homecoming Float Sponsor.

ELLISVILLE – Jones College’s newspaper staff won the General Excellence award, as well as a total of 31 awards at the annual Student Better Newspaper Contest, held with the O.C. McDavid Journalism Summit at the Hilton Jackson Feb. 7. This is the 12^th consecutive year the Radionian student newspaper has earned the top award in the state.

First-place awards were given to Jordan Butler and Baylee Walter for best editorials; Bailey Morris for best feature story; Rayia Bilello for best sports photo; Karmen Davidson for best news photo; Heidi Boot for best news story; Jordan Butler for best general interest column and for best cartoon; Dylan Jones for best sports news; and best graphic, best front page and best investigative package. Hannah Chaffee had a clean sweep with first, second and third place in sports features.

Second-place awards were given to Bailey Morris for best feature photo and best general news photo; Tori Ellis, best general news story; Dylan Jones, best sports news story and best sports column; Michael Blanks, best general interest column; Rayia Bilello, best sports photo; best advertisement; best layout and design, best cartoon and best investigative news package.

Third place awards were given to Tori Ellis, best general news story; Olivia Ward, best sports news story; Karmen Davidson, best general news photo; Bailey Morris, best website; best advertisement category and best graphic category.

Last March, the college’s newspaper, the Radionian, won first place in the two-year newspaper category at the annual national College Media Association David Adams Apple Awards. The newspaper will compete again this March.

The newspaper is taking applications for next fall. Students interested in joining should contact advisor Kelly Atwood at Kelly.atwood@jcjc.edu.

ELLISVILLE – Jones College’s Office of Student Affairs will be hosting its annual Black History Leadership Program on Thursday, February 27, at 10:15 a.m. until 11:15 a.m. in the Home & Health Auditorium on the Ellisville campus. The public is invited to attend this free event to hear a performance by members of the JC Concert Choir directed by Dr. Joel Dunlap and the keynote speaker, Dr. Angel Brutus, who serves as the Director of Counseling and Sport Psychology and is a member of Mississippi State University’s Sports Medicine and Performance team.  She will speak on the event theme, “Transform for a Purpose.”

“I believe Dr. Brutus has the experience and expertise to help our campus community ‘Transform for a Purpose’ as we all strive to become the best version of ourselves,” said event coordinator & Jones College’s Assistant to the President for Leadership Training, Dr. Samuel Jones. “I believe Black History is all about learning from the past, envisioning a better future and implementing those triggering insights in the present as we live our lives as students and employees at Jones College.  In order to make the world a better place, it’s important to start with ourselves.”

Dr. Brutus provides clinical and performance enhancement services to address MSU’s sports culture. Her training includes Licensed Professional Counseling, Certified Rehabilitation Counseling and Sport-Performance Psychology. She serves as co-chair for the Association for Applied Sport Psychology’s (AASP) Nominations Leadership and Development Committee, Former Co-coordinator for the Association’s Race & Ethnicity in Sports Special Interest Group (SIG) – member of additional SIGs (Women in Sport, Eating Disorders in Sport, Adaptive Sport & Physical Activity) and she is an active member of other committees within the Association (Ethics and Community Outreach). Dr. Brutus recently secured designation as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC®) as recognized by AASP. She is also a member of the American Counseling Association as well as the American Psychological Association, where she currently serves as junior program chair for Division 47 and secretary for Section 2 – Performance Psychology.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with her three daughters, husband and mother, engage as a community volunteer with philanthropic organizations targeting at-risk youth and mentoring students interested in pursuing careers in the helping profession.

ELLISVILLE – The University of South Alabama’s “Pathway USA” partnership with Jones College has established more ways for Jones students to earn a bachelor’s degree. South Alabama President, Dr. Tony Waldrop said the partnership benefits everyone involved but most importantly, we’re expanding access to four-year degree options for the residents of South Mississippi and South Alabama.

“Pathway USA will enable more Jones College students to receive a degree from the University of South Alabama and provide these students with an earlier involvement in USA activities,” said Dr. Waldrop. “South Alabama has educated generations of Mississippians who are making positive impacts on their communities. We’re very excited to build on that success by bringing Jones College into our Pathway USA family.”

To ensure the direct admissions process is a smooth transition for Jones students, a University of South Alabama advisor will be assigned immediately upon signing up for the Pathway USA program. Additionally, USA officials announced a financial incentive to help ensure Jones students earn a bachelor’s degree at South Alabama.

“Students who sign up for the Pathway program will receive a South Alabama Pathway ID that will allow them to access resources at the University of South Alabama like athletic events and library privileges…. For those students with a 2.75 GPA at Jones, you’ll qualify for an academic scholarship at the University of South Alabama and they will guarantee in-state tuition,” said Dr. David Johnson, USA Provost and Sr V.P. for Academic Affairs.

The Pathway USA agreement also gives applicants to the USA who are not admitted, the option of enrolling at Jones College. If a Jones College student transfers without an associate degree, they will be eligible for the Reverse Transfer program allowing Jones students to receive an associate degree in the future. Additionally, Jones College graduates of the Associate Degree of Nursing program are eligible for additional perks as a result of the University of South Alabama’s College of Nursing’s first collaborative agreement with a community college, under the new Pathway USA partnership.

“When you get into your 4th and 5th semester of the (A.D.N.) program, you are eligible to take one course online at South Alabama while you’re completing your coursework in that 4th semester. In the 5th semester, you are eligible to take two courses (online). You will then have completed 12 credit hours of the baccalaureate degree prior to completing your associate degree. When you complete your associate degree, including the 59 credit hours of prerequisite coursework and you have completed and passed the NCLEX and are board-certified, you can complete the bachelors of nursing program at USA in one semester,” said Dean of the College of Nursing at the University of South Alabama, Dr. Heather Hall.

For second semester JC Associate Degree Nursing student, William Russell from Columbia, the early acceptance program for Jones graduates in the A.D.N. program, is very appealing. With aspirations of becoming a nurse practitioner, Russell will have to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nursing. He said being able to complete most of his bachelor’s degree in nursing online while at Jones is the most rewarding benefit because USA’s new agreement will enable him to realize his dream much sooner.

“This partnership not only decreases my time in school, but it also offers a more affordable route. This opportunity is much cheaper than any other institution in Mississippi. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I hope to participate in it in the future!” said Russell.

Jones College Director of Nursing, Erin Knight is encouraged these opportunities offered at the USA will encourage more nursing graduates to earn bachelor’s degrees and more.  Dr. Jesse Smith, Jones College President encouraged Jones College’s nursing students to take action towards their destiny.

“The opportunity given to you today, in addition to the opportunities Jones offers you are really going to make a profound difference not only in your lives, but it will also make our communities better. We’re going to be able to provide better health care. Take advantage of this tremendous opportunity, students,” said Dr. Smith.

For more information about the Pathway USA program, Jones College students can contact Rachel Jefcoat in the Enrollment Management office by calling 601-477-5446 or email, rachel.jefcoat@jcjc.edu. Also, persons wanting additional information on Pathway USA or the College of Nursing Early Admission Program are urged to contact USA’s Office of Admissions at 251-460-7834 or email, Recruitment@SouthAlabama.edu.

About the University of South Alabama: The University of South Alabama is a global teaching and research university that provides more than 14,000 students with an exceptional education in business, the liberal arts, education, engineering, computing, the sciences and healthcare. USA’s commitment to student success includes small class sizes and hands-on research opportunities in more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs offered through nine academic colleges and schools. South also provides advanced and innovative healthcare through USA Health. For more information, visit the University of South Alabama website, www.SouthAlabama.edu.

ELLISVILLE – Jones College’s faculty and student representatives for Higher Education Appreciation Day, Working for Academic Excellence are being honored for their self-determination and drive to push the “technological” envelope. Electro-mechanical instructor, Cody Robertson of Ellisville and his best student, Donavan Hinton of Petal were selected to represent the college in Jackson for a special day of recognition. They will join 70 outstanding students and faculty members from 34 Mississippi public and private universities and community colleges in Jackson to receive special recognition from the Mississippi Legislature on March 2, at the 33rd annual HEADWAE event as a reward for their excellence in education.

“I’m incredibly honored. The administration and my peers here at Jones have been so generous to give me room to help bring Jones to new levels and to be recognized for that is unbelievable. I’m extremely appreciative. I’m incredibly grateful and I don’t take it for granted,” said Robertson.

Through pancreatic cancer and a surgical attempt to literally save his life and reverse its devastating effects, Robertson rose like a Phoenix with a new purpose. He dismissed a career in education until he returned to Jones to major in industrial electronics technology.  His experience in computer networking combined with his love of wiring things opened new doors of opportunity for him with a new career.

“I told my mom (Sharla Mann) I would never be a teacher because I saw some things she had to deal with. But I knew I loved electronics and I wanted to be like my mom, so I taught the computer classes for workforce college at Jones,” said Robertson. “There’s a moment when you’re teaching someone and that light bulb kicks on; It’s addictive.”

His drive to succeed was insatiable. Realizing he needed to beef up his robotics and programming skills to apply for his retiring college electronics instructor’s job, Robertson taught himself by finding an old Mitsubishi robot and fixing it. Much to his amazement, the now 25-year-old landed his dream job teaching electro-mechanical technology.

“Through his own initiative, Cody has become the Jones expert in Virtual Reality, a tool being used more to enhance the educational experience. Higher education is transforming, requiring forward-thinking faculty like Cody Robertson for institutions to remain relevant in the future,” said Rick Youngblood, JC Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Academic Officer.

Robertson explained, “Being able to incorporate Virtual Reality in Career & Technical Education, along with workforce training and academia is unique. We are one of the few colleges to do this in the U.S. There are few colleges offering VR for video gaming development and even fewer educational institutions attempt to use VR within the sphere of industrial training.”

Robertson’s most “challenging” student is the Jones student representative for HEADWAE, Donavan Hinton.

“Donavan is one of the best students I’ve ever met. I haven’t been here long, but Donavan is one of the reasons why I have to be on the ball. He’s going to ask questions. He’s going to ask every aspect of what we’re discussing that day. If there’s any chance I might be blind-sided, it will be by Donavan. That’s OK because that’s what keeps teachers good, people like Donavan. He is an absolute pleasure to work with,” said Robertson.

While working a full-time job at Green Bay Converting in Hattiesburg, Hinton is also a full-time student, majoring in electro-mechanical technology. The 27-year old’s immediate goal is to be an industrial electrician, pursue a management position and eventually earn a bachelor’s degree in business management. He shared, being selected for the HEADWAE honor seems unreal.

“I never thought anything like this would happen to me. I’m just a regular working guy. I try to stay humble,” said Hinton. “This (honor) is inspiring to me and it could be for others who, like me, might have made some bad decisions as a teenager, but with hard work and dedication, turned their life around. My family never gave up on me; that’s why I really take this to heart,” said Hinton.

After earning his GED and a welding certificate at Jones in 2011, Hinton worked for two local companies. Layoffs at those Hattiesburg companies and working for the railroad throughout the country, inspired him to pursue another line of work and return to Petal. While working as a machine operator at Green Bay Converting, an opportunity in electrical and mechanical maintenance came open.

“Anything that breaks down, I am the only guy there to fix it. I was getting a little bit of knowledge on the job, but I didn’t have a good grasp on the electrical side, which inspired me to come to Jones. I work the swing shift but my maintenance manager, Don Graham, and the company work with me where I can get off early if needed. They pushed me and encouraged me to come back to school,” said Hinton.

Initially, Hinton signed up for the one-year career certificate program, but he decided to push for the three-year, A.A.S. degree and maintained a 3.9 GPA. Now, the honoree is making plans for graduation in May and a future with his fiancé, Taylor McKenzie.

“I strive to be the best I can be. On my job, I would have to ask the electrician questions all the time to try to learn from him, which I still do, but I wanted to know if for myself,” Hinton explained.

After making the President’s List on the Honor Roll and the Letter “J” academic honor, Robertson’s most “challenging” student said he is confident the next step in his career is becoming the maintenance manager or general manager.

“The faculty at Jones are willing to bend over backward to help you succeed,” said Hinton. “They may not be able to teach everything in two or three years, especially in my field because it’s always changing. However, they teach us how to find the information when we need it.”