July 30, 2026
Pearl River Community College recognized 84 Practical Nursing graduates during a pinning ceremony Monday, July 27, at the Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts, filling the venue to standing room only. The afternoon celebration honored the graduates’ dedication and the hard work they invested in over the past year.
Dr. Melissa Bryant, Director of Practical Nursing Education and Instructor of Practical Nursing, greeted the graduates, their families, and friends on behalf of the administration, faculty, and staff.
Recordings of each student’s dedication card were played as they received their pin from Dr. Bryant. The messages expressed gratitude to those who helped them reach the finish line.
The invocation was led by Forrest County Campus student Tyler Trigg. Poplarville Campus student Faith Flowers led newly pinned students in reciting the Practical Nurse’s Pledge. Forrest County Campus student Decoffeatte Parks provided the closing benediction.
Practical Nursing students are listed by campus, with hometowns in parentheses.
Forrest County Campus: Maressa Ball (Prentiss), Shah Belton (Petal), Alayla Blackston (Hattiesburg), Samia Booth (Hattiesburg), Tanzania Caldwell (Laurel), Cynthia Cannon (Hattiesburg), Somiaya Carpenter (Laurel), Abigail Carter (Gulfport), Tracie Carter (Crossett, Ark.), Inesha Champion (Gautier), Monesha Chaney (Magee), Tamina Croom (Annona, Texas), Kennede Eshun (Prentiss), Sierra Green (Hattiesburg), Nilah Goode (Hattiesburg), Measha Griffith (Mendenhall), Ursula Harvey (Biloxi), Chandra Haynes (Hattiesburg), Chilibra Hodges (Mt. Olive), Christacia James (Wesson), Kalazia Jones (Mt. Olive), Kerri Kemp (Hazelhurst), Vanessa Keyes (Taylorsville), Jasmine Lewis (Laurel), Angelina Madlock (Jackson), Tristin Massey (Moselle), Victoria McGill (Taylorsville), Rebecca McNeese (Bassfield), Kamryn Moffett (Collins), Madison Myers (Mize), Ashanti Neal (Columbia), Chelsea Newell (Laurel), Chartaviaunc Odom (Shubuta), Mya Overstreet (Hattiesburg), Decoffeatte Parks (Hattiesburg), Shantel Rich (Columbia), Erica Roberts (Hattiesburg), Shanice Robinson (Hattiesburg), Dezerae Rodgers (Gloster), Shernaze Ross (Collins), Alexis Scott (Petal), Alexsis Simmons (McComb), Allison Smith (Petal), Kadaizja Smith (Tylertown), Myneka Stubbs (Bassfield), Trinity Sullivan (New Augusta), Gabrielle Thompson (Hattiesburg), Amanda Tisdale (Runnelstown), Cammy Tolbert (Petal), Jeniya Toney (Picayune), Tyler Trigg (Petal), Linda Watson (Mt. Olive), Jasmine Wells (Mendenhall), Shakeria Whigham (Heidelberg), Myya Williams (Prentiss), Tayra Williams (Hattiesburg), and Shontia Woodward (Prentiss).
Poplarville Campus: Sanchez Adams (Hattiesburg), Kami Burlette (Picayune), McKayla Chambliss (Lumberton), Ariana Craft (Hattiesburg), Gabriela El Abed (Slidell, La.), Faith Flowers (Ocean Springs), Elaundra Hartfield (Wiggins), Kazaria Husband (Oak Grove), Allie Jacobs (Slidell, La.), Lakeitha Mack (Jayess), Lacortia McFarland (Shubuta), Kristen Montgomery (Jackson), Yalaijah Moses (Columbia), Kealey Necaise (Kiln), Kae Leigh Netto (Poplarville), Christany Norris (New Orleans, La.), Shontia Pacley (Waynesboro), Tierrany Ray (Purvis), Ashley Russell (Perkinston), Ashlynn Smith (Meridian), Laura Sones (Poplarville), Tristen Taylor (Richton), Cierra Trotter (Picayune), NakiAsia Wilson (Prentiss), and Toni Yanni (Picayune).
LPN Program Options and How to Apply
The Practical Nursing program is available for full-time students during the day at the Forrest County and Poplarville Campuses. An evening and weekend option is available at all three campuses (Forrest County, Hancock, and Poplarville). Full-time students complete the program in three semesters (one year) while part-time students take five semesters to finish.
Prospective students must first meet all PRCC admission requirements before completing the Practical Nursing application. Applicants must also complete the TEAS test through ATI Testing. The deadline to apply to any option is March 1.
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 Laura O’Neill. Photography by Patrick Peerboom.
