Bobcat Bulletin

e-Newsletter  bobcat  


       A publication of the JCJC Alumni Association & JCJC Foundation

                                    March 2016 - Vol 6, Issue 7
Web Services Links to Giving & Event Registration
In This Issue
In This Edition:

Registration & Summer Tuition Discount

Employee Service Recognition

Faculty & Staff Recognition

HEADWAE Recipients

JCJC Theater

HGTV Features Napier's

Alumni Accomplishments: Keven Jackson

Selah Weems-PTK Geico Master's Degree Scholar

Bobcat Basketball 

Calendar of Events

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Greetings Alumni and Friends!
  Wow is this year moving along rapidly. It seems like we just celebrated Christmas, and here we are in March. 
  We have already had a number of events with plenty more to come!
   March 22nd, we will have tailgating for baseball & softball at Community Bank Park. If you plan to attend, give us a call to make your reservation.  
  Friday, April 1st, will be our annual Alumni & Friends Golf Tournament at Laurel Country Club. As mentioned last month, we are going to a 4-man scramble and a 12:30 Tee-time. Lunch will also be provided prior to the start.  If you have not signed up, sign up soon!   Due to the enormous success of previous draw-downs, we are once again having a draw-down as a fundraiser for softball & soccer. The Bottling Company in downtown Hattiesburg will the site of the event held on Friday, May 13. We will get things started around 6. Tickets are $100 each. That will get you two entries into the event and one entry into the drawing for $10,000. Food and limited beverages will also be provided.  The band will be Lloyd Munn and the gang. I am sure we will have a blast so come on out and support the Bobcats!
  We continue to move forward with our Foundation campaign, Momentum. We had great results from the first mail out and have just sent out round 2. If you receive a letter, please give every consideration to making a donation to the JCJC Foundation, Inc. Your contribution to unrestricted funds will help support all those causes not otherwise covered by an endowment or support fund. 
 
Until next time......Go Bobcats!!

Charlie Garretson
Vice President of Advancement
Director of Alumni and Foundation




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Summer Tuition & Registration 

   If you are thinking about taking a college class this summer, JCJC is offering a "HOT" deal! Tuition has been cut again to $60 a credit hour.  Early registration for summer and fall classes begins March 16.  The first summer session begins May 30, for evening classes and May 31, for day classes. 
  Call the JCJC Office of Recruiting at 601-477-4116.


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Employee Service Recognition
  Sixty-three Jones County Junior College faculty and staff members were recently honored for their years of service to the college. Administrators and the JCJC Foundation treated everyone 
to a BBQ lunch and recognized employees at five year increments, beginning with those who have served at least five years.
  There were four employees (pictured above-right), Helena Gunnell, Milton Newell, Sr., Joey Davis and Joseph Herring who celebrated 30 years with JCJC.  
  Five JCJC employees were recognized for their 25 years of service: (pictured left) Estella Chapman, Mike Cole, Daniel Wooten and Caren Griffin.  (Regina Clark is not pictured.)
   Mary Abbey, Theresa Sanchez and Angela Parker each celebrated 20 years of service at JCJC. They are pictured below, right. (Henry Harvey and Erin Knight are not pictured among the 20 year recipients.)  
  Celebrating 15 years of employment at JCJC are pictured below: Carson Atwood, Ashley Hill, Winnie Walters, Paul Spell, Tara Dupree, Amy Hinton, Mary Boleware, Phyllis Shearer, Kelly Robinson, Wesley Dixon Jr., and Candace Weaver.  Not pictured are: Diasetta Nelson, Merry Beth Tigert, Michael Tisdale, Sonya Graves, Dana Knight,and Jacquelyn Canizaro.  
  JCJC employees celebrating 10 years of service include: Lucy Flowers, Lori Tally, Sara Buchanan, Kristen Register, Austin Smith, Debbie Buckley, Mary Kuhn, Renee' Russell, Kay Guiles, and Diane Love. Not pictured are: Rosa Conner, Mark Brown, Deborah Dearman, Kayla Hankins, and Jennifer Hinton.  













  For five years, Lauren Wade, Anthony Maddox, Michael Yarbrough, Stanley Livingston, Jamie Williams, Scott Sumrall, Karen Kirk, Mitch Dubose, Kandace Martin, David Coleman, Victoria Johnson and Eric Sumrall have called Jones their workplace.  Not pictured are: Susan Rayner, Ellis Doggett, Lisa Rittenhouse and Micah Moore. 
Faculty and Staff Recognition
   Sixteen Jones County Junior College faculty and staff members were also recently honored for their accomplishments in the workplace. The Appreciation Awards began in 2004 and focus on four individuals from three categories of employees: faculty, office staff and administrative support, and employees working in, maintenance, housekeeping, campus grounds and campus police. Each staff employee finalist was awarded a cash prize of $125 and the overall winner received $625. Faculty finalists each received a cash prize of $250 and the overall winner received $1,000.
  The Faculty Recognition Program was designed and funded by the JCJC Foundation, Inc., and the college, with the luncheon sponsored by the JCJC Student Government Association, the college and the JCJC Foundation. Finalists are selected and interviewed by the Faculty and Staff Recognition Program Selection Committee.
  The finalists for the faculty awards were (pictured above) : Terri Stringer has been teaching at JCJC for eight years in the health care assistant program.  Ginger Keeton has been teaching marketing management technology for more than 16 years with eight years at Jones. Dianne Johnson has taught Business & Office Technology at JCJC for 19 years out of her total 27 years of teaching.
 Dr. Judy Baker who has worked in the Associate Degree Nursing program for 13 1/2 years. The overall faculty winner was Nikki Johnson (pictured in the middle-above) as presented by Dr. Jesse Smith, JCJC President.  Nikki has been on the JCJC faculty for nine years and is a 1998 JCJC alumna.  The voice teacher also acts as musical theater producer and teaches the Theater Workshop class.  
 The Office Staff and Administrative Support nominees included: Sonya Davis from Student Affairs, Paula Harris in Fine Arts, JoAnna Newcomb in the Alumni & Foundation Office and Latasha Peters in Financial/Student Accounts.  Peters was awarded the overall award for being Employee of the Year, pictured with Charlie Garretson on the left.
In the maintenance, housekeeping, campus police and grounds 
departments, Ashley Adams (pictured on right) from the grounds department was recognized as the over all winner among department finalists: Officer David Coleman, Mary Ann Evans in housekeeping and Vicki Robinson in housekeeping. 
   The Leadership Award for Administrative Excellence was established two years ago to honor a mid-level administrator whose commitment to the profession has stood out 
among their peers. This year, Director of the Library and Media Services, Title IX Coordinator and PTK Advisor, Julie Atwood (pictured on the left) was bestowed that honor and a cash award, in part, for taking on her new "athletic" duties. 
  English instructor, John Burks (pictured below) was 
honored with the 
Barbara and Gary
Sauls Award for 
Excellence in Teaching Humanities. He received a $500 cash
award in recognition of his abilities as a Humanities instructor who exemplifies intellectual integrity in the classroom, encourages independent, analytical thinking skills, engenders a love for humanitarian pursuits and fosters a positive
for humanitarian pursuits and rapport with students.  
  SODEXHO cafeteria employee, Robert Blakely (pictured with Charlie Garretson on the left) was the recipient of a relatively new award: The SODEXHO Employee Award of Excellence for 2015.  He has worked in the college cafeteria for 36 years and is one of the company's longest serving employees.
HEADWAE Recipients
Congratulations  to JCJC Fine Arts faculty member, Meri Newell and JCJC student Faith Anderson for being selected as JCJC's 2015-16 Higher Education Appreciation Day, Working for Academic Excellence representatives.  They were honored in Jackson at a special luncheon with legislators. 
 To read more about this special honor, click on the link: HEADWAE.
JCJC Theater, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"
   While it may have been a while since you've been in a Spelling Bee, these JCJC students are inviting you to not only witness this funny musical Spelling Bee, but you could also be an actual participant. This year's musical theater production, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" is being directed by Rob Mulholland, with musical producer, JCJC fine arts instructor, Jennifer Hart, and Nikki Johnson assisting with producing duties.  
  The entertaining musical with four additional cast members from the audience, begins Friday and Saturday, March 18 & 19, at 7 p.m. in the JCJC M.P. Bush Fine Arts Auditorium.  Sunday's matinee begins at 2:30  p.m.  General admission is $10 and all high school and college students receiving free admission with a valid student I.D.  NOTE: The content of this musical is PG 13. Contact the JCJC Fine Arts Office for more information at 601-477-4094. 
  Lydia Myers and Stephen Jones (pictured left) are the "adults" co-hosting the annual spelling bee with a very competitive group of sixth graders eager to win the chance to go to the national spelling bee.  As expected, some parents will be close by coaching their children, making for some comical moments.

   Cast members include: (pictured above left to right in the first row) Jordan Sanders plays Carl, one of the dad's to Logaine Schwartsandgrubeniere, played by Katie Hovan; Gary Young plays Logaine's other dad, Dan; Carter Poister plays Leaf Coneybear; Haley Biglane plays Olive; Lydia Myers plays, Rona Peretti.  
  The second row characters/cast members are: Stephen Jones as Douglas Panch; Chip Cooley plays 2 roles-Jesus Christ and Chip Tolentino; Neva Catlett plays Marcy Park; David Walker is the "Comfort Counselor" Mitch Mahoney; Jonathan LaCourse plays William Barfee; Olive's parents are played by Coco Caldwell and Lamar Saddler. 
HGTV Feature Napier's "Home Town"
  It's a hit!!! Apparently America liked Ben and Erin Napier's new show on HGTV, "Home Town" after January's premiere that the do-it-yourself network has ordered 12 more episodes. 
  The two met on the JCJC campus in 2003 and transferred to Ole Miss after graduation, May 2005.  Their entrepreneurial spirit and creativity turned into a love of remodeling older homes for friends and now the nation gets to see how its done, "Southern style."
  HGTV describes the show on their website: "Erin and Ben Napier love their small hometown of Laurel, Mississippi, especially the old historical houses. Using found materials and old textiles; they're keeping the character of these classic homes, but giving them modern and affordable updates. From Erin's imaginative hand sketches to Ben's custom handiwork, this couple is bringing Laurel's homes back to life, and making sure their small town's future is as bright as its past.
    After earning her B.S. in Art degree, Erin began an online stationery business using vintage letterpress to create her product called, Lucky Luxe. The unique, "old fashioned" style attracted national attention with international "stars" and dignitaries becoming regular customers and friends.
 While Erin was developing her business with her husband Ben at her side, his creativity and woodworking skills were also being noticed.  His business, Scotsman Company features handcrafted wood work.   Together the couple have embarked on a new adventure that has impacted the national TV market, as well as Laurel.   The first episode pulled in an impressive 2.1 million viewers and "Home Town" landed in the 18th place among the top 100 TV shows watched on Sunday, January 23, 2016.  "Home Town" was also the second ranked HGTV program from that day, according to media sources.  
  Here are other links from national magazines like Country Living, Clarion Ledger and Hooked on Houses.  For more info about casting and pictures from the first show, click on the link: Erin and Ben-Home Town. 
Alumni Accomplishment-Keven Jackson 
 Congratulations  to JCJC 2015 Sports Hall of Fame recipient,
 Keven Jackson.  The current Dothan, Alabama High School football coach and former University of Alabama football player was part of the team featured in Sports Illustrated.  Jackson told his hometown newspaper, the Dothan Eagle he still has trouble believing he is considered one of the all-time great players in University of Alabama football history. 
  Jackson is listed in a commemorative issue released last month, according to the Dothan newspaper. Click the link to read more about this honor: Alabama Pride.
  At Jones, Jackson played linebacker for Coach Parker Dykes in 1993-94. He was one of five former athletes inducted into the 2015 Sports Hall of Fame. He reminisced about how his mother literally dropped him off in Ellisville and didn't return until the semester ended. While an admittedly difficult and transitional time for him as an 18 year old, Jackson said he gained a few new brothers and lifetime friends at JCJC.  
  Jackson began his football career at Northview High School in Dothan, Alabama.  At JCJC he was a freshman All-State player, named the team's Outstanding Linebacker and led the team in interceptions. 
  As a JCJC sophomore, he was named All-MACJC, All-Region 23 and All-American. Again, he was named the team's Outstanding Linebacker and led the team in interceptions. He played in the MACJC All-Star Game. During his career at JCJC, Jackson had 105 tackles, five interceptions and blocked two kicks. He also had a 3.1 GPA at JCJC. 
  After leaving JCJC, Jackson went to the University of Alabama, where he starred in 1995-96. As a junior, he was named first-team All-SEC and All-American as a safety. As a senior, he was first-team All-SEC and All-American, a Walter Camp All-American, Birmingham News All-SEC and UPI Coaches Poll All-American.
Against Georgia in 1995, Jackson had three interceptions - a school record - and was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week for that performance. 
  He was named a preseason All-American prior to the 1996 season and was runner-up player of the year in the league. He led the SEC in interceptions for two years and was the second all-time leader in interceptions at Alabama.
  Jackson played in the Senior Bowl and was a member of the All-Decade Team at Alabama. He was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Alabama and had a 3.2 GPA.
  Jackson played in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals and in the Arena Football League with the Tampa Bay Storm and Buffalo Destroyers. He is a member of the Red Elephant Club and A-Club at Alabama and has a foundation called Kids for Life. Jackson was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 2013.
Alumni Accomplishment-Selah Weems
  Congratulations  to Selah Weems, a JCJC 2013 graduate and former Phi 
Theta Kappa honor society officer. Selah was also one of two PTK Academic All-American nominees. Her collegiate efforts helped her earn recognition through PTK as a graduate student.  JCJC was recently notified that Selah was selected as a 2016 GEICO Pathway to Completion Master's Degree Scholar.  
  PTK Director of Scholarship Operations, Christin Grissom explains, "This is the (PTK) Society's first scholarship designed to provide Phi Theta Kappa alumni with financial resources to help defray educational expenses while enrolled in a graduate degree program. Selah was one of only two students selected for this prestigious award.
  As a Geico Pathway to Completion Master's Degree Scholar, Selah received a $2,500 scholarship.
Basketball
  Both Bobcat teams went into the MACJC tournament as the number two seeded teams. The men managed to win against Gulf Coast in double overtime by two points, 95-93 in the semi-finals. Ironically, the Bulldogs beat the Bobcats on their home turf in December, by two points. The Bobcats came back from Christmas break and beat the Bulldogs in the January 28 game in Ellisville, 89-71. Last Thursday, the Bobcats faced Southwest for the title and couldn't hold onto the lead in overtime. The Bobcats lost 94-83 to the Bears. Southwest will not be playing in the regional competition despite their win against JCJC. 
  JCJC men will be playing against Northwest in the quarterfinals Thursday, March 3, at the Regional tournament in Clinton. For more about the men's race to the national championship, click on the link: Men's Journey.
   While the Lady Bobcats fought to make it to the semi-finals, they could not knock the Itawamba Indians down on their home turf, losing 58-48 in the semi-finals.  The 19-6 Lady Bobcats will head to Clinton for the Region 23 Tournament for their first match-up on March 2, at Mississippi College. The Lady Bobcats are expected to play Baton Rouge Community College on Wednesday.  For more about the Lady Bobcats, click on the link: Lady Bobcats Basketball MACJC results.
Calendar of Events

Mark your calendars for these upcoming Events
   
 March 22nd, 2016
Tailgating for Baseball & Softball

April 1, 2016
Alumni Golf Tournament

May 13, 10 a.m.
Graduation


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

Wedding Announcements
Congratulations!!!
to the following JCJC alumni who recently married or are engaged:


*Lauren Bradley of Laurel and Reyn Clark of Waynesboro will be married March 5.  Both are JCJC graduates. 

*Cayla Yawn of Hattiesburg and Glynn Breland of Leakesville be married March 5. Breland is a JCJC graduate. 

(The above couples' wedding announcements were found in local newspapers. We would love to hear from everyone. Please email your news and announcements to jcjcalumniinfo@jcjc.edu) 



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 Remember When...   

(CORRECTED from Feb. edition)

    in 1947 when it was required for the boys to enter the Administration Building through the side door titled, "boys entrance" and girls were required to 
enter on the other side through the "girls entrance?" Also all of the male teachers and boys sat on one side of the auditorium and the girls and 
female teachers sat on the other side. 
Roll was taken and absences were turned in!

 

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Sincerely,

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