Bobcat Bulletin

e-Newsletter  bobcat  


       A publication of the JCJC Alumni Association & JCJC Foundation

                                     February 2014 - Vol 4, Issue 6
Web Services Links to Giving & Event Registration
In This Issue
An Evening with Sean Payton

Alumni Accomplishment-Jody Babineaux

HEADWAE

Poultry Grant

Charity Girls Donation

Basketball Tailgating

Basketball Update

Baseball & Softball Start Season

Calendar of Events

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Quick Links
Hello! Alumni and Friends,  
Here's what's happening at Jones!   

Enrollment is UP!
4,182 students
are taking classes this spring.

Laurel's Casey Donald (left) checked in at registration to begin spring semester classes.


 
Hundreds of students lined up outside of JCJC's Academic Support Building to register for classes that began Monday, January 13, 2014.




JCJC business instructor, Dusty Holifield (left) gives non-traditional student, Herman Dungan of Prentiss some course options for the banking and finance major.



An Evening with Coach Sean Payton
YOU are invited
to spend the evening with

Saints Head Coach, Sean Payton

Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Lake Terrace Convention Center
Hattiesburg, MS
For more information click on the link: JCJC hosts Sean Payton or call the JCJC Foundation Inc., Office at 601-477-4145
Alumni Accomplishment-Jody Babineaux

  Congratulations!!  to Jody Babineaux for receiving the Dr. Martin Luther 

King Jr. Celebration Committee's Educator of the Year Award.

Jody Babineaux (middle) received the "Educator of the Year Award" from Thaddeus Edmonson (right), president of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee and Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman, Rickey Cole.  
  The 2006 JCJC graduate received the honor at the "Salute to Greatness Banquet" in January.  The Lake Charles La., native teaches sixth through eighth grade at Laurel's Alternative School.   After serving in the military, Babineaux returned to Laurel in 2010 and taught GED night classes at the Pine Belt Adult Education Center.  

  "I want to be a light for those who need their 'candles lit.'  I'm teaching kids that were overlooked or those who are in need of something more but I hope I'm showing them the importance of an education," said the two-time combat Iraqi War Veteran.  

  Last Fall Babineaux received the "Troops to Teachers" Award and last summer he was named the Mississippi Semi-Pro Baseball Coach of the Year for his work with the Laurel Black Cats.    

  Lt. Babineaux currently also serves as the 647th transportation company executive officer at Laurel's U.S. Army Reserve headquarters.  He served in the Mississippi National Guard until 2010.  While in the Guard, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and was deployed to Iraq. While serving as Platoon Leader, he led a mission where his convoy was attacked with an IED.  He was awarded the combat action badge and was later transferred to Mosul, Iraq, serving as a contracting and project manager.  

  He initially served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2000-2004 and was stationed in Iraq for the first attack in 2003 before coming to Ellisville.  Babineaux earned his B.S. degree from USM in sports administration and coaching education, with a minor in military science (ROTC).  He recently graduated from William Carey University with his masters of arts in secondary education.   

HEADWAE

 Congratulations!!!

  to Dr. Patti Smith, JCJC English instructor and JCJC sophomore and English major, Hannah Pruitt for being the HEADWAE or Higher    Education
Appreciation Day, Working for Academic Excellence recipients.  The college chooses two rep-

 

representatives to join the state's best at a special luncheon at the capitol.  

  Pruitt, (pictured on the right) is an Ellisville native, a member of PTK and serves as the PTK Director of Project Submissions for the JCJC chapter, Rho Sigma.

Pruitt maintains a 4.0 GPA while also serving as a member of the steering committee for "Officium," Jones' new council for service.  

   Dr. Smith has taught at JCJC for 12 years, starting her career in education in 1991. She is the college's QEP or Quality Enhancement Plan director, the lead evaluator for Seminole State College's QEP for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, a Common Core Assessment Evaluator for Bias and Sensitivity for the Mississippi Department of Education, a member of the State Literacy Team, a consultant for WestEd Strategic Literacy Intitiative, and a member of the Community College Literacy Research Group.

Poultry Grant

     Once again the JCJC Agriculture Science Department has made the "grade."  Instructor, Tim Ishee's Poultry Science program was awarded a $1,500 grant from the Mississippi Poultry Association and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. 

The JCJC Agriculture Science Dept.'s Tim Ishee (miiddle right) accepts a donation from the MS Poultry Association & Board member of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, Bob Billlingsley (middle left).  Also pictured are JCJC president, Dr. Jesse Smith (left) and President of the MS Poultry Association,  Mark Leggett.

  The donation will be used to recruit students into the poultry science program at JCJC.  Ishee states this program is typically the only Jr./Community College to be awarded a grant by these organizations.   

   This school year Ishee is teaching his largest freshmen class ever, with more than 50 quality students.
Charity Girls Donation

   JCJC A.D. Nursing Division Chair, Dr. Donna Scoggin recently received a rare  

The book, "The 'Charity Girls' of South Mississippi Charity Hospital of Laurel, Mississippi" was donated to JCJC A.D. Nursing Division Chair, Dr. Donna Scoggin (left) by one of the "Charity Girls," Dot Cole.

donation by some familiar faces. The former nurses of Laurel's Charity Hospital or "Charity

Girls," donated a book detailing the history, stories, events and life experiences of these dedicated nurses and the relationship they had with JCJC.  Many of the nurses started at JCJC and the relationship continued with the establishment of a JCJC Foundation Scholarship by the "Charity Girls" to aid A.D. nursing and LPN students.  

   The hospital opened in 1919 and closed its doors in 1989.  Dot Cole is a member of the South Mississippi Charity Hospital Nurses Alumni Association, and another member of the CHNAA, Barbara Smith Powell compiled and edited the information to publish the book. 

Bobcat Club Tailgating-Cat Fight

    The Bobcat Club will be tailgating on Monday, February 17, at 5 p.m. in the Taco Bell/Grill area next to the A.B. Howard Basketball Gym (Old Game room).

  The cost is $5 for food and fellowship before the annual "Cat Fight".  JCJC will host the Pearl River CC Wildcats for this last home game.  Sophomores will also be recognized for their incredible efforts this season.  

  Call Joanna Newcomb at 601-477-4145 to reserve your spot!   

Basketball Update

  basketball-basket.jpg   The men's basketball team's winning ways were halted Saturday in a make-up game with the Southwest Community College Bears.  The 11th ranked Bobcats trailed at the half by just two points but the Bears pulled ahead to win 92-83.  The men beat Southwest in their first meeting in December, 116-65.  

  The lady Bobcats were also defeated in their match-up with the Bears. They led early in the first half but the Southwest team pressed onto a half time score of 32-17, keeping the Bobcats at bay. Unfortunately, the Ladies couldn't pull ahead and were defeated a second time by the Bears.   

  For the full story by Shawn Wansley click on the link: Bears Beat Bobcats 

Baseball & Softball Start Season

   The weather was nice for the Lady Bobcat's Softball Media Day but the snow and sleet has postponed the Men's Media Day until this week.   

  Both seasons begin Friday, February 7th. The Lady Bobcats host Holmes CC while the Men are on the road facing the University of West Alabama.  A third Championship ring is in sight for the ladies, according to Head Coach Chris Robinson whose two-time defending MACJC champion Lady Bobcats are ranked No. 15 in the NJCAA Division II preseason poll.  Shawn Wansley's story has all the details at this link:Softball Team Ranked 15th     

 

  Schedules for both teams can be found in the left column, near the top of this newsletter.  

Calendar of Events
   

Mark your Calendars for these upcoming Events

 

February 11, 2014 
Black History Program-Major Gen. Augustus Collins 

February 17, 2014
Bobcat Club Tailgating 

March 18, 2014 
An Evening with Sean Payton, Saints Head Coach
Lake Terrace Convention Center

March 28, 2014
Alumni Golf Tournament
 Dixie Golf Club-Laurel

May 16, 2014  
Graduation

 For more information call the office at 601-477-4145 or email: [email protected] 
 

 

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"The way to succeed is to double your failure rate. Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently." 
- Henry Ford   
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 Remember When...  

  in 1995 when the Lady Bobcat Softball team coached by Gwen Magee brought home the State Title?  They were invited to the Nationals in Georgia.  

 

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Sincerely,

JoAnna Newcomb 
JCJC Alumni Coordinator 
 
The Bobcat Bulletin is produced and written by the JCJC Marketing Team.