March 8, 2024
Seven students from Pearl River Community College have been named to the Phi Theta Kappa All-Mississippi Academic Team for 2023-24. They will be recognized at a banquet held on April 10, 2024.
Students selected from the Iota Mu chapter on the Poplarville campus are Allison Gobuzzi of Picayune and Devyn Lee of Carriere, as well as career-technical student Angelina Palisi of Diamondhead.
Students selected from the Beta Tau Gamma chapter, located at the Forrest County Campus in Hattiesburg, are sophomores Reagan Anderson of Purvis and Abbilyn Jones of Sumrall, and career-technical students Makayla Lee of Columbia and Haley Montgomery of Sumrall.
Team placement will be presented at the banquet.
IOTA MU CHAPTER MEMBERS
Gobuzzi is majoring in criminal justice and plans to transfer to the University of Mississippi for legal studies. She aspires to attend law school to continue her journey of becoming a criminal defense attorney.
She currently serves as President of both the Dr. Williams Honors Institute and Iota Mu Chapter.
“I am grateful for being nominated for the All-Mississippi Academic Team,” said Gobuzzi. “This is a fine result that my hard work and determination has been recognized. I will continue to work with the highest level of dedication to meet my own goals as well as be an example to others in the process.”
Lee plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising with a minor in Marketing at Mississippi State University.
She is a member of the Dr. Williams Honors Institute, serves as the Hallmark Officer of Leadership of Iota Mu Chapter, is President and Founder of PRCC’s first-ever textile club, Connecting Threads, and is the Lead Costume Designer for the institution’s theatre department.
“I was thrilled when I found out I was nominated,” said Lee. “I put a lot of pride and passion into what I do, so I appreciate that my PTK advisors believed in me and considered me deserving of this honor. The accomplishment of being named All-Mississippi Academic Team of 2024 will open many doors for me to pursue my dreams and create something significant!”
Palisi is in the Associate Degree of Nursing program and plans to study sonography before entering the healthcare workforce.
“I am thankful for being selected because it is an honor to be recognized as such a candidate,” said Palisi. “I have worked very hard in every class to get to where I am, and I am so grateful to be recognized and selected.”
“We are so proud to select these students as members of the All-MS Academic Team,” said PTK Advisor Dr. Whitney Chambers. “All members have proved themselves to be hard-working members both in and outside of the classroom. Each student is deserving of this recognition. ”
BETA TAU GAMMA CHAPTER MEMBERS
Anderson’s major is Art and Humanities. She currently serves as Vice President for PTK chapter engagement and is also a regional officer for the Mississippi-Louisiana PTK region.
“This award honestly feels amazing,” said Anderson. “The opportunities I have been given at PRCC are something I will cherish forever. It excites me to be a part of this honors society where it feels like family.”
Anderson, 20, plans to attend William Carey University.
Jones’ major is Psychology. She currently serves as student government vice president, Beta Tau Gamma President and a member of the Honors’ Council.
“It is an honor to receive this award, and I am so happy that I was given this opportunity,” said Jones. “Getting this award is proof of hard work paying off and it is truly rewarding.”
Jones, 19, plans to attend the University of Southern Mississippi to study Psychology and marketing.
Lee, 18, is a freshman in the Radiologic Technology program. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and plans to work as a radiologic tech.
“I am beyond honored to receive this award and recognition,” said Lee. “I never thought I would be chosen, but I am so grateful. This really motivates me to keep pushing to give my best performance to my course work and my radiology program at all times.”
What excites Lee about being a student at PRCC is the amount of activities that are offered. “There are so many opportunities for students to join programs and go into the workforce after two years,” she said. “Everyone at PRCC wants to see you succeed and grow to your best potential.”
Montgomery, 21, is a sophomore in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. She is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa and plans to work as a diagnostic medical sonographer.
“I feel honored to be nominated for this award,” said Montgomery. “I am really excited to be recognized alongside all of the other hard working and dedicated students that were nominated.”
Dr. Terri Ruckel, Beta Tau Gamma advisor, says the students on the PRCC All-Mississippi Academic Team are outstanding from every perspective. “They are diligent, dedicated to serving our college and our community, and they always present themselves as Wildcats with pride, respect, class, and character,” said Dr. Ruckel. “I have been honored to work with them.”
For the latest news on Pearl River Community College, visit PRCC.edu and follow us on Twitter (@PRCC_Wildcats), Instagram (PRCCWILDCATS), and Facebook (@PRCCMKTG).
Article by Chuck Abadie and Laura O’Neill. Photography by Jacob Cochran, Kaitlyn Jones, and River Roderick.
