Bobcat Bulletin

e-Newsletter  bobcat  


       A publication of the JCJC Alumni Association & JCJC Foundation

                                    January 2016 - Vol 6, Issue 5
Web Services Links to Giving & Event Registration
In This Issue

Frances Thomas Funeral Arrangements

PTK Academic All-State Representatives

JCJC Student Earns MS Nurses Foundation Scholarship 

Practical Nursing Graduates

Bobcat Club Tailgating

Calendar of Events

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Greetings Alumni and Friends!
  We trust that you had a great Christmas and are off to a good start in 2016! We have hit the ground running as we enter the new semester and have a lot of plans. So I will get right into telling you about these things.
 Our Foundation "Momentum" campaign is doing well. Contributions continue to come in. Many gave before year-end, but many still are giving. It's never a bad time to support Jones!  
  We will have our basketball tailgating on Thursday, January 28th. As usual, we will set things up in the The Union on the end opposite the grill and Taco Bell.  Things will get started around 4 so join us for food and fellowship, then cheer to Bobcats on to victory as we take on Gulf Coast. 
  Before we dismissed for Christmas, the Bobcat statue that so many of you contributed to, arrived. We are holding it in storage until we do a "soft" unveiling. We will keep you posted on that. 
  Mark your calendars for April 1st, as that is the date for the annual Alumni & Friends Golf Tournament. The event will again be held at the Laurel Country Club. We will change things up a bit by having lunch, then teeing of around 12:30. We are also going to a 4-person format as opposed to 3. So get your team together and plan to play. We will be sending out more info in weeks to come.
  In addition, we are planning several fundraisers for Softball (likely on Feb 20th), as well as Baseball and Football (dates to be determined). As many of you know we have a lot of excitement on campus with new coaches in several sports. We look forward to working with these coaches to support those teams.
  Last but not least, we plan to have another fishing tournament fundraiser. The fall event, Inshore Slam, was a huge success. Many that participated asked for a redfish challenge. We plan on doing something in May or June.  We also plan on keeping the fall event, but this is in addition to. We will keep you posted on those plans.
  In the meantime, we hope that you will come to campus and visit when you can. Please be sure to stop by our office on the 3rd floor of Jones Hall.
 
Until we meet again. Go Bobcats!

Charlie Garretson
Vice President of Advancement
Director of Alumni and Foundation

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Classes Begin Monday, January 11, 2016
Frances Thomas
   The Bobcat Family was sad to learn of the passing of Frances Robinson Thomas this week.  Visitation and services for the nearly 95-year old will be held at Memory Chapel on Saturday, January 9, beginning at 10 a.m. with services to follow at 11 a.m.  Burial will be a Hickory Grove Cemetery with Dr. Randy Turner officiating. 
  Mrs. Thomas spent most of her time at JCJC in various capacities. The Waynesboro native was a 1941 JCJC graduate and lived in the "Thomas House."  She earned her Bachelor's degree from MSU and her Master's degree from USM.  She married Elwood Thomas after they met while in classes at MSU.
  She began her 40-year career as an educator teaching at Flora High School, Jackson Business College in Laurel and Shady Grove High School before joining the JCJC faculty in 1955.  She served as a business education instructor until 1973 when she was promoted to Business Education Division Chair.  Twice during her 28-years teaching at Jones, she was named the Mississippi Junior College Teacher of the Year. 
  She continued to provide support and leadership for JCJC as a lifetime member of the Alumni Association, as secretary/treasurer of the Alumni Association and as a member of the JCJC Foundation Board of Directors. She remained a member emeritus of the JCJC Foundation Board of Directors after serving out her terms.  Other honors include being named an Honor Alumna in 2003 and the Homecoming Parade Marshall in 2010.
  Her involvement in Jones County included numerous professional groups, such as serving Laurel's Altrusa Club as President and VP, she was a member of the Board of Directors for the Laurel YWCA and she was a 50-year member of the First Baptist Church of Laurel.

(Mrs. Thomas is pictured on her 90th surprise birthday party hosted by the JCJC Foundation, family and friends.  She always wanted to ride in a limo and that wish was granted! Photo by: Teresa McCreery)
 PTK Academic All-State 

   Six Jones County Junior College sophomores were recently nominated for Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society's New Century Scholars/All-State American Team honors.  The nominees are pictured left to right: Adam Wigley, majoring in nursing from New Augusta; Ethan Davis, an English major from Laurel; Natalie Beth Seales, an English major from Hattiesburg; Kiana McFadden, a physics and environmental law major from Waynesboro; Aubrey Parker, majoring in nursing from Laurel; and Brianna Woodward, a biochemistry major from Ovett. McFadden and Seales were chosen from the six to go on to compete for state titles and national honors.
  These students were nominated by faculty members and then selected by the JCJC Scholarship Committee. Some of the requirements to earn a spot in this prestigious group include maintaining a 3.5 to 4.0 GPA, taking challenging academic courses, completing a minimum of 36 hours, volunteering their service in their communities and college, and doing well in an interview with the Scholarship Committee.  
 To read the story click on the link: PTK Academic All-State Representatives
JCJC Student Earns MS Nurses Foundation Scholarship
   Jones County Junior College associate degree nursing student, Krystal Brown was recently awarded the Mississippi Nurses Foundation Scholarship.  The non-traditional student from Petal was honored with the surprise in front of her student peers by Mississippi Nurses Foundation Executive Director, Rosalyn Smith-Howard.  Brown said the $1,000 scholarship will be a big financial relief with college expenses. 

"Being a nurse has always been a dream of mine since I was child," said the mother of two girls aged 22 and 19.  "This is a big blessing from God! I can't thank the Mississippi Nurses Foundation enough."

Brown had worked in Laurel as an L.P.N. for 12 years before deciding to come back to school to become an R.N. 
Practical Nursing Graduates
 










   


   Thirty JCJC students from the Practical Nursing Program participated in the annual Pinning Ceremony upon graduation. These graduates celebrated with family members after the December ceremony. Program director, Lori Tally said these graduates have great job prospects.  
   Click on the link to read the story and see the list of new graduates: Practical Nursing Graduates
Bobcat Club Tailgating

 
Calendar of Events

Mark your calendars for these upcoming Events
   
January 28, 2016
Bobcat Club Tailgating

April 1, 2016
Alumni Golf Tournament


For more information call the Alumni Office at 601-477-4145 or email: jcjcalumniinfo@gmail.com 

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 Remember When...   

in 2000 when the Howard Sports Complex 

was established and included the Bobcat Football Stadium/Sim Cooley Field, Bobcat Field House, Tennis Complex, Baseball and Softball stadiums and a pavilion for meetings and events?  

 

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Sincerely,

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