April 29, 2024
The Forrest County Campus of Pearl River Community College presented annual awards to top students in Career-Technical Education and Academic ceremonies on April 25.
Students, faculty, staff, family and friends joined together in celebrating the success of these students while wishing them success in their future endeavors.
Dr. Jana Causey, Vice President for Forrest County Campus, Allied Health and Nursing Programs, welcomed everyone to each ceremony.
“Students, remember the Wildcat Way – Price, Respect, Class and Character when you leave us,” she said.
PRCC President Dr. Adam Breerwood told the groups that this was “A day of celebration. You are the best of the best. You have put yourself in position to succeed at the next level.”
Dr. Breerwood presented the USM Presidential Scholarship Award to Jalisa Myers of Petal.
The Wildcat Way Award was presented to Brooke Blanks of Hattiesburg. 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.
Presentations went to two students in Phi Theta Kappa named to the All-Mississippi Academic Team. They were Raegan Anderson of Purvis and Abbilyn Jones of Sumrall.
Emily Smith of Petal received the Phi Theta Kappa Golden Key Award.
Students recognized as Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise were Anderson, Abbey Ford of Purvis, Jones, Emily Smith and Sydney Smith of Hattiesburg. Anderson also received the Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholar Award.
Makayla Lee of Columbia and Haley Montgomery of Sumrall were named to the All-Mississippi Workforce team.
Benny Russ, Maintenance Supervisor at the FCC, received the Above and Beyond Award.
Members of the Beta Tau Gamma chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, along with the Honors College graduates, were recognized.
Career-Technical Education awards went to:
Advanced EMT-Paramedic: Brittany Pipkins of Richton.
Associate Degree Nursing (Day): Carl Michael of Sumrall.
Associate Degree Nursing (Night): Bailey Walters of Purvis.
Biomedical Equipment Repair: Anthony Garner of Hattiesburg.
Commercial and Residential Construction: Justin Ardrey of Hattiesburg.
Computer Coding Technology: Carleith Smith of Ocean Springs.
Court Reporting: Abigail Crump of Pontotoc.
Dental Assisting Technology: Hannah Lower of Purvis.
Dental Hygiene Technology: Alex Chauffe of Slidell, La.
Diagnostic Medical Sonography: Haley Montgomery of Sumrall.
HVAC and Refrigeration Technology: Mark Holland of Hattiesburg.
Industrial Electronics Technology: Kobe Lee of Hattiesburg.
Massage Therapy: LaSondra Duncan of Hattiesburg.
Medical Laboratory Technology: Cody Knuth of Hattiesburg.
Occupational Therapy Assistant: Michelle Lisa Riels of Seminary.
Physical Therapist Assistant: Carly Rosser of Richton.
Practical Nursing Day: Jasmine Reed of Richton.
Practical Nursing Night: Cody Garner of Richton.
Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology: Westin Shaw of Poplarville.
Radiologic Technology: Kailee Spiers of Picayune.
Respiratory Care Technology: Emma Patterson of Moselle.
Welding and Cutting Technology Day: Timothy Gage Gipson of Purvis.
Welding and Cutting Technology Night: Derek Rich of Hattiesburg.
Academic Awards went to:
Accounting: Jayden Hibbets of Sumrall.
Biological Sciences: Caitlin Thornhill of Foxworth.
Chemistry: Faith Wakefield of Carnes.
Communications: Anna Catherine Clark of Brooklyn.
Computer science: Tatum Gipson of Purvis.
English: Raniya Johnson of Hattiesburg.
Fine Arts: William Phelps of Hattiesburg.
History: William Kelly of Hattiesburg.
Mathematics: Tatum Gipson of Purvis.
Philosophy/religion: Jayden Alivia Hibbets of Sumrall.
Psychology: Tatum Gipson of Purvis.
Sociology: Chloe Busby of Oak Grove.
Spanish: Nicholas Cruz of Hattiesburg.
Writing: Kaycee Tanner of Lucedale.
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 River Roderick.
