April 23, 2025
The 2025 Awards Day for Hancock County and Poplarville Campuses was hosted in the Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts at Pearl River Community College on Monday, April 21. Faculty, staff, family, and friends joined together to celebrate student accomplishments while wishing them success in their future endeavors.
Executive Vice President for Student Services Dr. Jeff Long welcomed everyone to the ceremony. He thanked everyone in attendance for their role in helping the students succeed.
“This is a special day for many as we recognize the hard work of our faculty and students over the past academic year,” said Dr. Long. “Thank you for deciding to exhibit pride in what you do and representing the best of PRCC.”
The presentations began by recognizing the two students in the Iota Mu Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa named to the All-Mississippi Academic Team this year: Sahil Ajmera of Carriere and Naomi Williamson of Wiggins. Justin Friloux of Matthews, LA, and Gabrielle White of Wiggins were named to the All-Mississippi Workforce Team. Williamson was then singled out as a Jack Kent Cooke Semifinalist for PRCC.
Jaime Missimer, Assistant Director of Financial Aid, presented a University of Southern Mississippi Presidential Transfer Scholarship to Palmer Adam Jr. of Picayune from the Poplarville Campus and Abigail Long of Kiln from the Hancock County Campus.
The top students for each department across career technical education programs and main academic pathways were recognized.
Department of Business Technology
Business Management Technology: Stevie Strong of Petal
Medical Billing and Coding Technology: Katie Reid of Petal
Accounting Technology: Jamie Gaudry of Picayune
Department of Family & Consumer Sciences
Barbering: Roland O’Banner of Hattiesburg
Cosmetology: Holly Smith of Picayune
Early Childhood Technology: Carlie Briana Fitzgerald of Carriere
Department of Drafting, Construction & Transportation
Drafting & Design Technology: Eowyn Faith McConnell of Hattiesburg
Utility Lineman Technology: Samantha Shows of Picayune
Construction Equipment Operation: Nathan Hickman of Picayune
Landscape Management Technology: Brad Ambler of Hattiesburg
Department of Manufacturing Technology
Automation & Controls Technology: Austin Fluitt of Picayune
Electronics Technology: Julionna Clark of Hattiesburg, Dallas Collum of Carriere, Joshua Perez of Lumberton, and Jeffrey Silver of McNeill
Department of Fine Arts and Communication
Theatre: Ian Quinn of Picayune
Music: Byron Expose of Columbia
Public Speaking: Tycho Van Haaren
Art: Bailey Loper of of Brooklyn
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Criminal Justice: Naomi Williamson of Wiggins
Sociology: Joseph Grant of Carriere
Psychology: Lizzie Meeks of Ripley
Department of Marketing, Media, & Information Technology
Business Marketing & Management Technology: Trista Gray of Waveland
Computer Networking Technology: Joshua Broom of Lumberton
Film and Video Technology: Julien Harper of Picayune
Cyber Security Technology: Beaux Bellais of Carriere
Graphic Design Technology: Ariona Anderson of Hattiesburg, Delanie Dublin of Hattiesburg, and Josh Webster of Kiln
Department of Nursing Education
ADN Traditional Year 1: Holly Falls of Picayune
ADN Traditional Year 2: Halle Breland of Wiggins
LPN to ADN Day: Britany Pinac of Madisonville
LPN to ADN Evening: Erroll Bowser of Pass Christian
Department of Occupational Training
Automotive Technology: Joseph Gex of Kiln
Electrical Technology: Kaden LeBoeuf of Poplarville
Heating, AC & Refrigeration Technology: Colten Lofton of Petal
Welding Technology: Rylan Cuevas of Carriere
Department of Science, Mathematics, and Business
Accounting: Vanessa Gomez of Carriere
Biology: Emma Bruce of Hattiesburg
Business: Lucas Stringer of Columbia
Chemistry: Conner Allen of Poplarville
Physics: Kaycee Tanner of Lucedale
Mathematics: Brandon Brooks of Purvis
Engineering: Dat Nguyen of Purvis
Anatomy and Physiology: Cody Carter of Biloxi
Hancock Campus
Leadership: Lily Yanez of Bay St. Louis
Citizenship: Maisella Mims of Slidell, LA
History: Lily Yanez of Bay St. Louis
English: Lily Yanez of Bay St. Louis
Mathematics: Henry Hanlon of Kiln
Psychology: Mi’Yaira West of Gulfport
Sociology: Erminia Hernandez of Picayune
Welding Technology: Gregory Hinkkanen of Kiln
Unmanned Aerial Systems: Michael James Culpepper of Bogalusa, LA, and Ian Aponte of Carriere
Practical Nursing: Za’Ciyah Moton of Gulfport
Hydrography Technology: Grant Bowen of Carriere
Aviation Maintenance Technology: Sean Fallow of Picayune
Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation
Male Scholar Athlete: AJ Hansen of Mobile, AL
Female Scholar Athlete: Anna Kate Rounsaville of Gulfport
Wildcat Wellness: Meg Broom of Columbia, Madison Cortez of Picayune, and Braxton Hatten of Picayune
The Wildcat Way Award 2024-2025
Every year faculty members nominate students who best exemplify living out the “Wildcat Way.” They show the attributes of Pride, Respect, Class, and Character both in and out of the classroom.
Meg Broom of Columbia
Ashlynn Goss of Picayune
Chloe Ezell of Ocean Springs
Henry Hand of Petal
Kathlyn Hedgepeth of Picayune
Peyton Hoffmayer of Ocean Springs
Matt Will of Poplarville
Mark Will of Poplarville
For the latest news on Pearl River Community College, visit PRCC.edu and follow us on Twitter (@PRCC_Wildcats), Instagram (PRCCWILDCATS), Facebook (@PRCCMKTG), and TikTok (@prcc_wildcats).
Article and photography by Laura O’Neill.
