September 25, 2025
Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker’s message to students at Pearl River Community College’s Honors Lecture Series at the Forrest County Campus Wednesday was simple and straight forward: Let these years at PRCC be more than about more than just your GPA, your exams and your degrees.
“All of those things are important, but beyond that let these years be about making bold choices, about saying yes when it is scary, and about raising your hands when no one else does.”
The Dr. William Lewis Honors Institute at the FCC hosted Mayor Barker for its Fall Talk event. Sophomore Honors Institute student Diego Sosa Vazquez of Oak Grove introduced the Mayor.
“Right now, you are living in what I call the early chapters of your lives,” Barker said. “The years you spend here at PRCC, whether you are just starting or preparing for the next pages, your journey will always return here. These are the hinges between who you are now and what you be becoming. You are the arthur of your life.
“Like any great stories, you are going to have chapters filled with highs and lows. Days of celebrations and moments of setbacks. You will have victories and then also have challenges. The good and the bad, those are shaping you into someone stronger to move on with your life.”
Pearl River has been able to develop a strong partnership with Mayor Barker, who has long recognized our dedication to serving our community with excellence, speed, and innovation, according to Dr. Ryan Ruckel, Dean, William Lewis Honors Institute, FCC.
“He loves talking with students and came prepared with the just the right kind of encouragement and advice that we all need to hear. Meeting successful people like Toby Barker creates opportunities for our students to imagine their own paths toward service and success,” said Dr. Ruckel.
Barker, who spent 10 years in the Mississippi Legislature where he built a reputation as a problem solver, was the youngest legislator elected in Mississippi and the first elected in his generation.
He began his speech praising the man for who the PRCC Honors Institute was named, calling him a giant among educators.
“Dr. Lewis was not only a transformative leader in education in Mississippi, but he was a giant. His impact reached out farther than the walls of PRCC,” said Barker. “While I was at the capital, his kindness and demeaner were evident as was his belief in academic excellence.
“Today, you will not just carry his name, you will continue his legacy.”
He told a capacity crowd of faculty, staff and middle college students that the PRCC instructors will help shape their lives.
Dr. Jana Causey, Vice President for Forrest County Campus, welcomed Mayor Barker and his message.
“He reminded our students that their time at Pearl River Community College is more than just classes and grades – it’s the opening chapters of their own story,” she said.
“He encouraged them to see both the victories and the challenges ahead as part of a greater journey, and to embrace the unique role they play as authors of their own lives. It was an inspiring message about reflection, perseverance, and the importance of seizing opportunities as they prepare for the next steps in their education and beyond.”
Future Honors Institute dates to remember:
1)Oct. 21 – PRCC Forrest-Lamar Alumni Association Fish Fry
2)Nov. 3 – PTK Induction: Beta Tau Gamma Chapter
3)Nov. 13 – Annual Veterans’ Day Commemoration
4)Nov. 18 – Honors Research Symposium: USM
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 Chuck Abadie. Photography by Kaylee Fortenberry.
