POPLARVILLE – A Pearl River Community College sophomore will lead a state-wide organization of Mississippi’s top higher education students.
Sarah Spence of Carriere is the new president of the Mississippi Honors Conference Council.
As president, she will be heavily involved in planning the 2017 state conference at PRCC, which will be the first time the organization has met at a community college.
“I’m very excited and grateful for the opportunity,” said Spence, a molecular biology major and member of the PRCC Honors Institute.
The conference will include student academic presentations along with opportunities to socialize and network.
“Our school will present as well as other schools, probably a couple of groups from the Honors Institute,” she said.
Forrest County Center student Rachel Carraro of Hattiesburg will serve as state liasion officer. Jenna Lee of Carriere and Alex Cumbest of Hurley, Honors students in Poplarville, will be council delegates.
Conference planning will begin in September with a meeting at Jackson State University, said Dr. Stephen Black, Honors Institute director.
“Pearl River Community College Honors Institute will be the first community college in the state to host the Mississippi Honors Conference,” Black said. “It’s a combination of honors programs at both the universities and the community colleges.”
The 2016 conference was held in early April at Delta State University.
Hosting the conference will give PRCC’s students a chance to demonstrate the excellence of a community college program, Spence said.
“We can show we’re up to the level of the universities, can keep up with them,” she said.
Sarah Spence
