Pearl River Community College hosted its annual Awards Day ceremony on Tuesday in the Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts. Students, faculty, staff, family and friends joined together in celebrating the accomplishments of these students while wishing them success in their future endeavors.
Vice President for Poplarville Campus and Student Services Jeff Long welcomed everyone to the ceremony. He thanked everyone in attendance for their role in helping the students succeed.
“We have set out to be the best community college in the country,” said Long. “Where that starts is with our faculty. We have the best faculty in the country, and then you look at some of our facilities like the Brownstone, and you see a trend.
“With all the changes in the past years, including a move to HyFlex and online classes, students have persevered alongside our faculty. Congratulations for being the top in everything you do and thank you for representing Pearl River Community College the way you have.”
The presentations began with recognizing the two students in the Iota Mu Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa named to the All-Mississippi Academic Team this year, Lauren-Anne Lagasse of Waveland and Kellie Watts of Picayune. Watts was also recognized as a Phi Theta Kappa 2023 Coca-Cola Silver Scholar.
Jaime Missimer, Assistant Director of Financial Aid, presented a University of Southern Mississippi Presidential Transfer Scholarship to Sierra Greene of Sumrall and the Mississippi State University Presidential Transfer Scholarship to Grant Holladay of Kiln.
Each department representing career technical education programs and main academic pathways presented a “Student of the Year” award to the top student. The nursing department presented several different awards for specific areas of nursing instruction.
Traci Spence, a former PRCC employee and current Drafting & Design Technology student, is already putting her new program skills into practice to design and draft two homes and one business.
“Being chosen for this award was a sweet surprise,” said Spence. “I enjoy being part of the program, love the challenge it offers, and look forward to the opportunities this program gives me as I continue to grow in the field. I am also thankful to have great instructors who are always willing to share their expertise.”
Department of First-Year Experience
Learning and Life Skills: Isabel Shivers of Columbia
Department of Business Technology
Business Management Technology: Michelle Tuggle of Picayune
Medical Billing and Coding Technology: Rosa Gonzalez of Foxworth
Department of Family & Consumer Sciences
Barbering: Maurice Jones of Poplarville
Cosmetology: Nakiyra Davis of Gautier and Camryn Fore of Perkinston
Early Childhood Technology: Shamikka Hayes of Hattiesburg
Department of Drafting & Instructional Technology
Automation & Controls Technology: Karl Pichon of Slidell, LA
Drafting & Design Technology: Traci Spence of Carriere
Electronics Technology: Robert Taylor of Carriere
Department of Fine Arts and Communication
Theatre: Destiny Cooley of Hattiesburg
Music Vocal: Brooke Vasquez of Picayune
Music Instrumental: Eli Wright of Picayune
Public Speaking: Allyson Davis of Sumrall
Art: Emioluwa Akinyokunbo of Columbia
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Criminal Justice: Kaitlin Bennett of Picayune
English: Tessa Bullock of Picayune
History: Andrew Baeuerle of Magee
Sociology: Joshua Montes of Carriere and Paige Ramond of of Bay St. Louis
Department of Marketing, Media, & Information Technology
Business Marketing & Management Technology: Kalyn Pullens of Poplarville
Computer Networking Technology: Logan Newton of Carriere
Film and Video Technology: Facia Mundy of Hattiesburg
Department of Nursing Education
Dosage Calculations for Nursing: Jaidyn Durning of Poplarville
Fundamentals of Nursing: Taylor Beech of Wiggins
Medical/Surgical Nursing I: Leanna Elchos of Hattiesburg
LPN to ADN Day: Chance Granger of Bogalusa, LA
LPN to ADN Night: Brittani Dozier of Hattiesburg
Women’s Health & Newborn Nursing: Makayla Verdin of Picayune
Nursing Care of Children: Abbie Graham of Hattiesburg
Mental Health: Lindsay Walker of Hattiesburg
Medical/Surgical Nursing II: Lila Ramsey of Petal
Practical Nursing: Amanda Powe of Carriere
Department of Occupational Training
Automotive Technology: Terence Smith of Picayune
Electrical Technology: Timothy Moore of Kiln
Heating, AC & Refrigeration Technology: Gage Loyd of Franklinton, LA
Welding Technology: Carshell Thompson of Biloxi
Department of Science, Mathematics, and Business
Accounting: Morgan Meekins of Townsend, DE
Biology: Joshua Montes of Carriere
Business: Seth Ladner of Poplarville
Chemistry: John Searles of Kiln
Physics: Cameron Corr of Bay St. Louis
Mathematics: Dominic O’Neill of Poplarville
Engineering: John Searles of Kiln
Anatomy and Physiology: Stacy Christopher of Diamondhead
Hancock Campus
Leadership: Breanna Parham of Diamondhead
Citizenship: Devon Rosado of Waveland
History: Charles Genin of Diamondhead
Mathematics: Jaylin Hodgins of Diamondhead
Sociology: Alexis Steele of Pearlington
Welding Technology: Ryan Mitchell of Carriere
Unmanned Aerial Systems: Anthony Gallodoro of Carriere
Practical Nursing: Lauren LaFontaine of Bay St. Louis
Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation
Male Scholar Athlete: Gabe Broadus of Wilmer, AL
Female Scholar Athlete: Dallyn Nance of Louisville
Wildcat Wellness: Alexa Burge of Purvis and Jesse Cortez of Picayune
The Wildcat Way Award 2022-2023
Every year faculty 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.
Grant Holladay of Kiln
Blake Hooks of Petal
Caleb Thornton of Sumrall
Halle Traylor of Belden
Carson Ward of Luin
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 by Laura O’Neill. Photography by Jacob Cochran.
