POPLARVILLE – Pearl River Community College student Mickie Hill is breathing a little easier today after winning the 2017 PRCC Tuition Giveaway contest, a full year of free tuition.
Hill, 20, a sophomore, will attend the Poplarville campus this fall, and live in a dormitory. She attended the Forrest County Center in Hattiesburg last year as a freshman, where she was a member of the travel club, involved in BSU activities and worked in the Student Success Center as a tutor.
“I am really excited to get my tuition taken care of,” said Hill, a 2016 graduate of Forrest County AHS. “Switching campuses will be best for me from a personal standpoint. I can get more involved in study groups and, eventually, I want to get into Phi Theta Kappa.”
Hill says she plans to concentrate on juvenile justice activities and eventually transfer to the University of Southern Mississippi and major in criminal justice.
“I love kids,’ she said. “I want to help them, show them that they can do well, accomplish things, even if they have had a rocky past. When I was in high school, my last two years I was in classes called law enforcement-public safety. We learned about criminal justice and got to interact in the community. I also got FEMA certified so I can help out during disasters.”
Hill was selected as the winner of the sixth annual Tuition Giveaway contest, a promotion PRCC held in conjunction with Hattiesburg Coca-Cola United and radio stations SL-100 and Wild 106.3.
Live radio promotions, featuring free soft drinks and t-shirts, were held to advertise the contest in Hattiesburg, Oak Grove, Petal, Purvis, Sumrall, Columbia and Poplarville.
Contestants had to tell their story through online submissions.
“I have entered your tuition competition because I need more financial help to further my education at Pearl River,” Hill wrote. “My goal is to study in the criminal justice field because I have a strong passion and helping people that I encounter. I can say that I am responsible and a hard-working student…
“I seek more financial help because I have transferred locations from the Forrest County Campus to the main campus in Poplarville to stay on campus. This decision was to give my elderly grandparents a break from transporting me to and from campus along with that to give more access to the school study groups and other sources to help me further my education.”
Hill is the daughter of Sharon Dumas. She has a younger brother and older sister.
The Tuition Giveaway contest has grown in popularity each year.
“We had many student applicants who have had to overcome challenges and adversities,” said Chuck Abadie, public relations director at PRCC. “We have more and more submissions each year. Picking a winner was very difficult.”
Russ Hendley, on premise sales manager for Hattiesburg Coca-Cola United, said he was thrilled with Hill’s selection.
“The tradition continues. Hattiesburg Coca-Cola United congratulates Mickie Hill, this year's PRCC tuition give-a-way winner,” said Hendley. “Good luck as you continue your educational pursuits at PRCC. Thanks to all those who shared their stories with us and remember to always Share A Coke with a Wildcat and Family and Friends.”
POPLARVILLE – Sophomore student Mickie Hill of Hattiesburg is the recipient of the 2017 Tuition Giveaway contest at Pearl River Community College. The announcement was made Thursday afternoon (June 29) at the Ramey’s in Poplarville. Those on hand included from left: Austin White, Ramey’s store manager; Chuck Abadie, PRCC public relations director; 2016 Tuition Giveaway contest winner Raechel Zimmerman of Purvis, iHeart Radio’s Sherry Marengo and Devin “Big Daddy” Cole, Hill, Russ Henley, sales manager for Hattiesburg Coca-Cola, James Coward with Coca-Cola, Vickie Wilberding with iHeart Radio, and Brad Stephens and Earl Hayes with Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola and iHeart Radio were co-sponsors of the event.
