Press Releases

PRCC officials claim first CTE Wildcat Showcase a success

April 24, 2026

Pearl River Community College’s first Career-Technical Education Wildcat Showcase was termed a success by school officials.

The event was held Thursday (April 23) in the Dr. Cecil Burt Special Events room at the Forrest County Campus.

“We had 76 students representing eight CTE programs who showcased 24 projects, which is a great accomplishment and something we can continue to build on,” said Dr. James Collum, Dean of Career and Technical Education.

Faculty and staff were on hand to judge projects.

A female student stands in front of a Pearl River Wildcats backdrop, smiling and holding a certificate for first place in the CTE Wildcat Showcase. — First place: Ataxia Telangiectasia: Pediatric Case Study on Louis-Bar Syndrome. Student: Meagan Obiol of Hattiesburg.

Three female students stand together in front of a Pearl River Wildcats backdrop, smiling and holding certificates for second place in the CTE Wildcat Showcase. — First place: Ataxia Telangiectasia: Pediatric Case Study on Louis-Bar Syndrome. Student: Meagan Obiol of Hattiesburg.

Said Collum, “Their feedback and engagement added real value to the experience and meant a great deal to our students. I want to thank the instructors for their hard work, preparation, and willingness to participate. The quality of the projects on display truly reflects the strength of your programs and your dedication to students.

Collum especially gave credit to Cassie Jackson, CTE Student Services Coordinator at the Forrest County Campus, for helping organize the event and keeping everything running smoothly.

“Her behind-the-scenes effort made a big difference,” said Collum.

Three male students stand together in front of a Pearl River Wildcats backdrop, smiling and holding certificates for first place in the CTE Wildcat Showcase. — Industrial Electronics capstone project – I.P.S.N. Oil pipeline monitoring system. Students from left: Fletcher Travis of Hattiesburg, John Snyder of Lumberton and Noah Prine of Petal.

Four male students stand in front of a Pearl River Wildcats backdrop, smiling and holding certificates for second place in the CTE Wildcat Showcase. — Industrial Electronics capstone project – I.P.S.N. Oil pipeline monitoring system. Students from left: Fletcher Travis of Hattiesburg, John Snyder of Lumberton and Noah Prine of Petal.

Dr. Jana Causey, Vice President for the Forrest County Campus, was genuinely impressed by the depth of knowledge and innovation demonstrated by our Career Technical student presentations.

“Serving as a judge was not only an honor, it was a learning experience,” said Dr. Causey. “Our students are not simply acquiring technical skills; they are developing the ability to communicate complex ideas, showcase applied research, and present real-world solutions with confidence.

“This process strengthens their programs and prepares them to contribute meaningfully to the workforce and their communities.”

Collum added that getting to see students interact with people from various campuses and departments, was amazing.

“Your dedication to students is what sets PRCC apart from other institutions,” he said.

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 Cullin Rogers.