February 26, 2025
Pearl River Community College students made an impressive showing last week (Feb. 21) at the annual Mississippi Honors Conference, hosted at the Lowery Woodall Advanced Technology Center.
Students from four-year and two-year honors programs across the state came together to present original research; faculty from across the state volunteered to serve as judges.
Students researched various topics in science, math and the arts. Five universities and four community colleges were represented.
PRCC students Krystin Korbe of Sumrall and Madiha Karim of Purvis won first-place awards, Makayla Herberger of Purvis and Allyiah Johnston of Hattiesburg won second-place awards and Finn Smith of Hattiesburg won a third place.
Winners are eligible to go on to regional or national competitions associated with the National Collegiate Honors Council.
“Students earn invaluable experience and often go on to compete in regional and national competitions associated with the National Collegiate Honors Council,” said Dr. Ryan Ruckel, Dean of PRCC’s William Lewis Honors Institute, Forrest County Campus.
In Health Science Poster Presentation, Korbe won first place with the title: “Go on a walk: How can putting one foot in front of the other change your brain?’
Herberger won second in the category: “Compassionate Care.”
In the Humanities/Social Sciences Poster Presentation, Karin won first place with the title: “Utilizing passive airflow design elements to reduce the carbon footprint.”
Johnston won second place in the category: “Student mental health: Ways colleges can help.”
Smith won third place in the Stem Presentations. Her topic: “Tornadoes: How are Genesis and Geography Related?”
“They compete on their own track, the two years together and the four years together, but they share their research and meet each other,” said Dr. Ryan Ruckel, dean of the William Lewis Honors Institute at PRCC’s Forrest County campus. “It’s a great recruiting opportunity.”
According to Dr. Ruckel, the William Lewis Honors Institute at PRCC hosts a Spring Symposium at the Forrest County Campus to offer a friendly environment for students to present early versions of their work and then a Fall Symposium, hosted by the University of Southern Mississippi, which includes a competition, and then the top entries are invited to compete at the MHC in February each year.
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 Chuck Abadie. Photography by Kaylee Fortenberry.
