April 23, 2026
The 2026 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 Tuesday, April 21. Faculty, staff, family, and friends joined together to celebrate student accomplishments while wishing them success in their future endeavors.
Vice President for Poplarville Campus Dr. Jeff Long welcomed everyone to the ceremony. He thanked everyone in attendance for their role in helping the students succeed.
“For those of you that are here, you represent the absolute best in each one of these programs, and in each one of these classes,” said Dr. Long. “That meant that you took the time and effort to be the very best version of yourself. For that, we thank you.”
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: Emily Copeland and Hope Wheat, both from Hattiesburg. Emily Carter of Columbia and Cierra Knighten of Hammond, La., were named to the All-Mississippi Workforce Team.
Chief of Staff Patrick Ochs presented University of Southern Mississippi Presidential Transfer Scholarships to Joseph “Bo” Ashley of Purvis, Joshua Jordan of Mount Olive, and Delaney Watkins of Carriere from the Poplarville Campus. Nicolas Rogers of Purvis was awarded the Mississippi State University Presidential Partnership Scholarship.
The top students for each department across career technical education programs and main academic pathways were recognized. Many of the faculty members presenting the awards shared why each person was chosen.
Department of Business Technology
Business Management Technology: Megan Baham of Picayune
Medical Billing and Coding Technology: Kristy Saitta of Carriere
Accounting Technology: Marty Stringer of Hattiesburg
Department of Family & Consumer Sciences
Barbering: JStasia Young of Quitman
Early Childhood Technology: Cyleah G. Sanders of Hattiesburg
Department of Drafting, Construction & Transportation
Drafting & Design Technology: Jacob Howell of Purvis
Utility Lineman Technology: Josiah Colwell of Gulfport and Owen Simmons of Columbia
Department of Manufacturing Technology
Automation & Controls Technology: Joshua Thomas Comeaux of Picayune, Paige Anne Easterling of Kiln, Jonathan C. Kite of Poplarville, Hayden L. Peterson of Saucier, Michael Williamson of Hattiesburg, and Kraig Royce Ysais of Lumberton
Department of Fine Arts and Communication
Speech: Emily Ferrell of Poplarville
Theatre: Kennedy Clavo of Carriere
Art: Kaylee Fricke of Bay St. Louis
Music/Instrumental: McKenzie Dillard of Poplarville
Music/Vocal: Anna Grace Culbreth of Vossburg
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
English-Comp I: Samuel Wilkins of Columbia
English-Comp II: Rodsheica Powell of Hattiesburg
History: Joshua Reid of Lumberton
Sociology: Beaudalaire Kerr of Hattiesburg
Psychology: Morgan Alexander of Bay St. Louis
Department of Marketing, Media, & Information Technology
Business Marketing & Management Technology: Presley Herrin of Carriere
Computer Networking Technology: Timothy Popwell of Richton
Film and Video Technology: Austin Crawford of Columbia
Cyber Security Technology: Cason Strickland of Lumberton
Department of Nursing Education
ADN Traditional Year 1: Holly Seal of Angie, La.
ADN Traditional Year 2: Rainey Smith of Perkinston
LPN to ADN Day: Kirsten Barber of Franklinton, La.
Department of Science, Mathematics, and Business
Accounting: Cody Foster of Purvis
Biology: Emmalee Funk of Picayune
Business: Savannah Hunt of Poplarville
Chemistry: Emma Bruce of Hattiesburg
Physics: Kollin Marske or Bay St. Louis
Mathematics: Austin “Dallas” Humphries of Picayune
Engineering: Elijah Powell of Carriere
Anatomy and Physiology: Madelyn Keen of Columbia
Hancock Campus
Leadership: Carolina Velasco Garcia of Picayune
Citizenship: Kaleb Malley of Carriere
Biology: Brianna Bodin of Diamondhead
English: Ashley Harriel of Poplarville
Mathematics: LeRon Harris of Gulfport
Sociology: Lily Yanex of Bay St. Louis
Welding Technology: Reginald Paul Byrd of Picayune
Unmanned Aerial Systems: Charles Gilbert of Picayune
Industrial Electronics: Jamie Lumpkin of Picayune
Manufacturing Maintenance: Cameron Herring of Picayune
Hydrography Technology: Ashton Hogue of Bay St. Louis
Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation
Male Scholar Athlete: Arthur Crosby of Ocean Springs
Female Scholar Athlete: Ana-Grace Garcia of Baton Rouge, La.
Athletic Training Award: Kynnedy Tolbert Hall of Pascagoula, Seth Thomas of Jackson, and Zaniyah Hogan of Pascagoula.
The Wildcat Way Award 2025-2026
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.
Natalie Eaves of Louisville
Emily Ferrell of Poplarville
Jackson Hood of Madison
Jeffrey Hopgood of Diamondhead
Eddie Johnson of Petal
Allen Pearce of Purvis
Gatlin Pitts of Fairhope, Al.
Elijah Powell of Carriere
Nicholas Rogers of Purvis
Molly Varnado of Carriere
Avery Wheat of Gonzales, La.
Jordyn Wilks of Independence, La.
For the latest news on Pearl River Community College, visit PRCC.edu and follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter (@PRCC_Wildcats), Instagram (PRCCWILDCATS), Facebook (@PRCCMKTG),and TikTok (@prcc_wildcats).
Article by Laura O’Neill. Photography by Patrick Peerboom.
