Social media posts from Jones College
Ready to Serve: Jones College Health Sciences Graduates Celebrate Summer Success
Ellisville, MS – For dozens of Jones College students, summer 2026 marked more than the completion of a program. It marked the beginning of a new chapter – one built through long hours, hands-on training, determination, and, for many, sacrifices made both inside and outside of the classroom.
Students from several programs within the Jones College School of Health Sciences celebrated graduation and pinning ceremonies this summer, including Pharmacy Technology, Cosmetology, Practical Nursing, and Emergency Medical Technology/Paramedic programs. From future nurses, paramedics, and pharmacy technicians to cosmetology professionals, graduates are now prepared to take the skills they developed at Jones into communities across Mississippi and beyond.
Paramedic Graduates Achieve 100 Percent Certification Pass Rate
For Jones College’s paramedic graduates, success came almost immediately after their pinning ceremony.
Within just 24 hours of being pinned, 100 percent of the graduating Paramedic class had passed the required certification examination, meaning every graduate became a certified paramedic within a day of completing the program.
Among those celebrating the milestone was Brooke Moore, whose journey through Jones College’s Emergency Medical Services programs began with EMT in 2022 and continued through Advanced EMT and Paramedic training. After previously completing the Paramedic program but struggling to pass the certification exam, Moore returned to Jones determined to reach her goal. In 2026, she completed the program again and joined her classmates in achieving the historic 100 percent pass rate.
The accomplishment reflects both the preparation provided through Jones College’s Emergency Medical Technology program and the commitment of students entering a profession where knowledge, quick decision-making and the ability to remain calm under pressure can directly impact lives.
Summer 2026 Paramedic graduates were:
Kelli Allen – Jones County
Phillip Boyd – Jones County
Hunter Emfinger – Covington County
Leah Green – Jasper County
Dustin Lucas – Copiah County
Holly Norris – Greene County
Ashtin Parnell – Jones County
Stefani Pickering – Jones County
Practical Nursing Graduates Celebrate the Finish Line
For students completing Jones College’s Practical Nursing program, reaching graduation often represents an accomplishment shared by an entire family.
This summer, Jones celebrated Practical Nursing graduates through two pinning ceremonies – one for students at the Ellisville campus and one for students at the Jasper County Learning Center campus.
The fast-paced and academically demanding program requires significant commitment, but many students complete it while carrying responsibilities that extend well beyond the classroom. Some are single parents or care for other dependents, and many work while attending school to support themselves and their families.
Balancing those responsibilities with classes, clinical experiences, studying, and exams makes reaching the pinning ceremony especially meaningful.
During each ceremony, students were also recognized with individual awards. At the Jasper County pinning ceremony, Cera Thompson received the Florence Nightingale Award, Shantoni Jones received the Academic Award, and Raven Walker received the Rising Star Award.
Jasper County Practical Nursing graduates were:
Alexis House-Walker – Jasper County
Jacey Mangrum – Smith County
Shantoni Jones – Jasper County
Lily Null – Lauderdale County
Alexus Jones – Jasper County
Raven Walker – Newton County
Asheala Horne – Smith County
Craylan Chapman – Clarke County
Dakota Blakeney – Smith County
Anna Lee Guy – Smith County
Cera Jones Thompson – Jasper County
Nick Hillman – Smith County
Laura McKinley – Jasper County
At the Ellisville pinning ceremony, Holly Miles received the Florence Nightingale Award, Sarah Kelly received the Academic Award, and Zaida Morales received the Rising Star Award.
Bailey Sims – Forrest County
Brandon Pack – Covington County
Breazae Redwood – Smith County
Byesha Williamson – Wayne County
Cquarria Lynn – Wayne County
Gracie Bates – Perry County
Hailey Graves – Jones County
Holly Miles – Mahoning County (Ohio)
Jasmine Dampier – Pike County
Jennie Wilson Lee – Jones County
Jhai’Maiya Young – Scott County
Jkylon Lawrence – Perry County
Keila Escamilla – Jones County
Keoshia McNair – Smith County
Malaika Lowe – Harrison County
Markel Parker – Wayne County
Mea Cooley – Wayne County
Rolexis George – Wayne County
Roselyn Roshell Williams – Smith County
Sabrina Rena Barnett – Jasper County
Samantha McAfee-Williams – Simpson County
Sarah Nicole Kelly – Lowndes County
Shaniya Tyriel Evans – Wayne County
Vanteshia Preston – Lawrence County
Zaida Morales – Jones County
Alexis Rayne Hendry – Jasper County
Madison Nikole Worrell – Simpson County
Abigayle Grace Marek – Forrest County
Claire Carpenter – Lamar County
Ty’Kerria Feazell – Smith County
Kelsey Graves – Smith County
Patience Pettis – Lamar County
Pharmacy Technology Graduates Ready to Serve
Eight students also completed Jones College’s Pharmacy Technology program this summer, preparing them for careers that place them alongside pharmacists and other healthcare professionals in serving patients and helping ensure medications are prepared and distributed safely.
The Summer 2026 Pharmacy Technology graduates were:
Kelsey Butler – Smith County
Emma Fulcher – Jones County
Asia Jones – Jasper County
Kylan Kinsey – Forrest County
Kassidy Shirley – Wayne County
Brianna Wade – Jones County
Tykeivia Watts – Clarke County
Kristiona Williams – Jones County
Cosmetology Graduates Turn Skills into Careers
Twenty students completed Jones College’s Cosmetology program this summer, including Katelyn Horn of Smith County, who was recognized as Top of the Class.
Through classroom instruction and hands-on experience, Cosmetology students develop technical and professional skills that prepare them to pursue careers in an industry centered on creativity, client care, and personal service.
Summer 2026 Cosmetology graduates were:
Katelyn Horn – Smith County
Damaris DeJesus – Jones County
Katie Dunn – Rankin County
Johana Gabriel – Covington County
Macy Herrington – Lamar County
Briuna Keys – Jones County
Hannah Latham – Jones County
Audrey Maggard – Jones County
Emoree McNeil – Harrison County
Sarah McCree – Wayne County
Kaylee Newman – Wayne County
Sophia Paule’ – Shelby County (Tennessee)
Johanna Blaire Pope – Covington County
Kathryn Randazzo – Pearl River County
Tiyanequa Rigsby – Perry County
Gracie Roberts – George County
Shelby Robertson, Sr. – Jones County
Kennedy Williams – Jasper County
Raven T’Lyiah Wolfe – Covington County
Kansas Young – Walthall County
While their programs and career paths may look different, Jones College’s summer health sciences graduates share something in common: each reached a milestone that required commitment, persistence, and a willingness to keep moving forward.
For some, graduation means beginning a first career. For others, it represents a new opportunity, a career change,ge or the chance to provide greater stability for their families. And for many, the people waiting in the audience at their pinning or graduation ceremony were part of the journey, too.
The skills these graduates gained at Jones will now travel with them into hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, emergency response agencies, salons, and communities throughout the region.
Their time at Jones may have just been a stop along the way, but summer 2026 proved just how far that road can lead.
One Desk, Thousands of Conversations: The Impact of LaTrece Evans
Ellisville, MS – For LaTrece Evans, the heart of Jones College has always been its students.
On any given day, it isn’t unusual to find students gathered around Evans’ desk in the Jones College Administration Building. Some arrive with questions, while others need help solving a problem. And some simply stop by just to talk.
No matter the reason, Evans wants them to leave knowing one thing: they matter.
“I want them, whenever they come in, to make sure they were heard,”, Evans said. “They were made to feel important, and I guess that they just matter, because you don’t always get that everywhere.”
Her ability to connect with students comes, in part, from knowing what it feels like to need a little reassurance herself.
Evans didn’t follow the traditional path to college. At 46, she returned to the classroom at Jones as a nontraditional student, admittedly terrified about starting over. She was navigating real-life responsibilities and challenges while also wondering whether she could still succeed academically.
She quickly proved to herself that she could.
Evans remembers comparing grades with her then 17-year-old son after their first semester. When he proudly announced his 3.97 GPA, she celebrated his accomplishment before revealing one of her own.
“Mom is so proud,” she recalled telling him. “But Mama got a 4.0!”
Behind the humor was an accomplishment that meant much more than a number.
“I think that’s what I’m most proud of, is that I was finally able to overcome the, ‘Oh my goodness, I can’t do this’,” Evans said. “I am going to do it, and I’m going to do it well.”
The experience now allows Evans to recognize the same uncertainty in students who come through her door. Some are fresh out of high school and learning to navigate college for the first time, while others are returning years later, wondering whether they waited too long. Some have strong support systems waiting for them at home, while others may be trying to figure out everything on their own.
Evans wants all of them to know there is a place for them at Jones.
“Your road doesn’t have to be the same as others,” she said. “It’s just never too late. If it’s truly a dream, then one day it’s obtainable.”
And for anyone convinced they are simply too old or that their opportunity has passed, Evans has an even shorter answer.
“The devil is a lie,” she said.
Her own experience as a student ultimately inspired the kind of employee she wanted to become.
“My experience was so great that it just inspired me to make sure that I wanted to give the same, no matter if it was the traditional student coming out or the nontraditional student,” Evans said. “I wanted to make sure every student that came through there got that same experience and knew that they were cared for.”
Sometimes that care means answering a simple question about a student ID and making sure the student leaves with answers to questions they didn’t even know they had. Other times, the need is much greater.
Evans has helped connect students with scholarships when finances threatened to end their semester. She has helped students struggling in class find the support they needed to keep going. She has connected students with counseling, jobs, and opportunities to become involved on campus.
She has even encountered students facing homelessness and stepped in to help them find stability while they continued their education.
For Evans, those moments are what define a successful day.
“That’s the success – literally knowing that I helped somebody through their day,” she said. “Regardless if it’s getting them in counseling, if it’s getting them a scholarship, if it’s getting them in Bobcat Brigade or just getting them a job.”
Her commitment to others has not gone unnoticed. From beginning her Jones journey as a student to later being named Jones College Employee of the Year, Evans has experienced firsthand how one decision to keep moving forward can lead somewhere she never expected.
But when asked what makes her want to continue showing up and giving so much of herself to Jones, her answer has little to do with awards or recognition.
“The students,” Evans said. “It is 1,000 percent the students.”
For the student who walks onto campus confident and ready, Evans is there to cheer them on. For the student who arrives unsure, overwhelmed or afraid to ask for help, she is there for them, too.
Because Evans knows firsthand that everyone’s road looks a little different. And while all roads may lead to Jones, it’s people like Evans who help students believe in where their road can take them next.
Summer Term Dean’s List Honor Roll Announced
Ellisville, MS – Jones College has announced the 2026 Summer Semester honor roll scholars. Full-time students with 15 hours or more and who maintain the following grade-point averages will make the honor roll: President’s List–4.0; Dean’s List–3.99-3.5: Faculty List–3.49-3.0.
| Tykeivia Roshia Watts | Clarke |
| Lindsay Brooke Graves | Covington |
| Elizabeth Carol Pittman | Covington |
| Aaron Dakota Clingan | Forrest |
| Kenya Renee Frison | Forrest |
| Malcolm Carter Collett | Forrest |
| Calup Ryan Williams | Greene |
| Gatlin Reese Brewer | Greene |
| Preston Sims | Jasper |
| Aysia Olana Beason-dantzler | Jasper |
| Angel Shaniya Horne | Jasper |
| Sunny F. Fountain | Jones |
| Kayla Rae Patterson | Jones |
| Henry Acevedo Rosas | Jones |
| Micah Lee Davenport | Jones |
| Emma K. Fulcher | Jones |
| Allen Jadavius Jones | Jones |
| David Keith Jones | Jones |
| Malik Lonnie Marsh | Jones |
| Justin Blake McBride | Jones |
| Sonny D. Murry | Jones |
| Brianna M. Rozek | Jones |
| James Matthew Temple | Jones |
| Kristiona Lynn Williams | Jones |
| Breanna Danielle Estes | Lamar |
| Darell Elbert Shows | Lamar |
| Macey N. Steed | Lamar |
| Ronald Shorts | Lamar |
| Hayden Kalani Isabel | Lamar |
| Lowell Ray Chatham | Lauderdale |
| Mousa Bak Diabagate | Lauderdale |
| Cole Markel Dupree | Neshoba |
| Paul Ignatius James | Perry |
| Lariza M. Hernandez | Simpson |
| Shandyn Terrell | Smith |
| Caden Jamari Bester | Smith |
| Kelsey Rose Butler | Smith |
| Alex Devon Ulmer | Smith |
| Timora Reshaye Wilbert | Washington |
| Yvonne Michelle Prince | Wayne |
| Jennifer Lee Malone | Wayne |
| Kassidy A. Shirley | Wayne |
Summer Term Faculty List Honor Roll Announced
ELLISVILLE – Jones College has announced the 2026 Summer Semester honor roll scholars. Full-time students with 15 hours or more and who maintain the following grade-point averages will make the honor roll: President’s List–4.0; Dean’s List–3.99-3.5: Faculty List–3.49-3.0.
| Full Name | County |
| Kedarrien Deonte Houston | Clarke |
| Kirsten Akasha House | Clarke |
| Sydney Anais Ducksworth | Covington |
| Ty’kerria K. Feazell | Covington |
| Krista Sharee Adamick | Forrest |
| Kendrick Lashun Goston | Forrest |
| Bailey Madison Hatton | Forrest |
| Kylan Rae Kinsey | Forrest |
| Holly Miles | Forrest |
| Trevor Wayne Powell | Forrest |
| Conner Cole Smith | Forrest |
| Dawson Magee Turner | Greene |
| Brandon Charles Wash | Greene |
| Maverick Sheen Johnson | Harrison |
| Tamariyah A. Washington | Jackson |
| Presley Elizabeth Arender | Jasper |
| Hannah Dove Campbell | Jasper |
| Tianna Dyson | Jasper |
| Alexis House Walker | Jasper |
| Asia Alayah Deneice Jones | Jasper |
| Shantoni O. Jones | Jasper |
| Eriana T. Buckley | Jasper |
| Brady Shane Hudson | Jasper |
| Landon King McCallum | Jasper |
| Cera Ashleigh Thompson | Jasper |
| Gracyn Lee Sistrunk | Jefferson Davis |
| Alexis Rayne Hendry | Jones |
| Lexie B. Jones | Jones |
| Karli Arin Youngberg | Jones |
| Camryn Mclaurin Aylesworth | Jones |
| Henry Joseph Brabham | Jones |
| Juan Carlos Cruz Adan | Jones |
| John Englade | Jones |
| Noah Dylan Jefcoat | Jones |
| Zimbria Trenae McCurtis | Jones |
| Zaida Fabiola Morales Reynoso | Jones |
| Azeria Marnea Page | Jones |
| Tanner Kirk Richardson | Jones |
| Kenji Vera | Jones |
| Jhaimaiya Denise Young | Jones |
| Destiny Adams | Jones |
| Kevonia Marie Harrison | Jones |
| Landon Bradley Pool | Jones |
| Kevin Vaneric Daniel Knight | Jones |
| Jakeebah Elizabeth Whitlock | Jones |
| Abigayle Grace Marek | Lamar |
| Keoshia McNair | Lamar |
| Henry Nolan Painter | Lamar |
| Ireanna Rimiyah Trotter | Lamar |
| Vanteshia Shina Preston | Lamar |
| Claire Marie Carpenter | Lamar |
| Erika Delaine Dotson | Lauderdale |
| Kaden Luke Chipley | Leake |
| Rajua Amari Averett | Lee |
| Janiyah Nicole Brown | Madison |
| Ranisha Lynteshia Gutter | Marion |
| Raven Walker | Newton |
| Brendli J. Bolton | Perry |
| Sadie L. Freeman | Perry |
| Kayden Earl Griffin | Perry |
| Jonnetta Shaquita Moore | Perry |
| Larry L. Moody | Perry |
| Madison Nikole Worrell | Simpson |
| Griffin Alexander Aderhold | Simpson |
| Dakota Jade Blakeney | Smith |
| Kaydnse Ja’Niya Breland | Wayne |
| Austin Ciecle Cochran | Wayne |
| Rolexis Myesha George | Wayne |
| Cquarria M. Lynn | Wayne |
| Elijah Read Weafer | Wayne |
| Kemya Alese Wesley | Wayne |
| Haidyn Leigh Williams | Wayne |
JONES COLLEGE CLEAR BAG POLICY
Effective for Athletic Events
To enhance the safety and security of students, employees, guests, and visitors, Jones College will implement a Clear Bag Policy for athletic events held on campus.
The policy is designed to provide a safer environment for everyone attending Jones College events while helping streamline the entry process.
PERMITTED ITEMS
Guests may bring the following items into designated Jones College events:
- Clear bags no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″
- One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags (Ziploc-style)
- Small clutch or wristlet no larger than 4.5″ x 5.5″
- Diaper bags, stroller bags, and medically necessary bags (may be subject to inspection)
- Blankets and quilts carried separately or folded over the arm (may be subject to inspection)
- Stadium seats and folding chairs, when permitted for the event (may be subject to inspection)
PROHIBITED ITEMS
The following items will not be permitted:
- Regular purses, backpacks, and other non-clear or opaque bags larger than the approved clutch size
- Containers or bottles
- Tobacco products, alcohol, illegal drugs, or weapons of any kind
- Any additional items prohibited by Jones College policy or applicable law
BAG INSPECTION & EVENT SECURITY
All permitted bags and items are subject to inspection upon entry. Guests who arrive with a prohibited bag or item may be asked to return the item to their vehicle before entering the event.
Additional security measures may be implemented for certain events as necessary. Event-specific guidelines will be communicated in advance when possible.
Jones College reserves the right to prohibit any item that may pose a safety concern or interfere with the enjoyment of an event.
