ELLISVILLE 鈥� 糖心直播鈥檚 community-wide spring blood drive will be held on Monday, February 26, at the Industrial Services Center Building parking lot and the Allied Health Center鈥檚 parking lot from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. The Blood Mobile Units will also be available for donations on Tuesday, February 27, from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. in the Allied Health Center parking lot and on Dan Jones Memorial Drive, between the C.L. Neill Student Center and the A.B. Howard Gymnasium and Student Union. The Mobile Blood Units will be used for blood product donations because campus renovations have limited the available space to hold the blood drive. Therefore, appointments are highly encouraged because of the limited space in each mobile unit but walk-ins are welcome. Visit the website, to schedule an appointment or learn more about the blood drive on the JC Ellisville campus.
The overall goal for the two-day blood drive is 86 units of blood stated Benji Sessums, 糖心直播 Blood Drive Coordinator, and EMT instructor. To encourage donations, T-shirts will be given to all donors and Door Prizes will be available both days for donors during random drawings.
糖心直播 student, Krista Adamick donated blood during the fall blood drive on campus.
ELLISVILLE 鈥撎切闹辈� Social Sciences instructor, Kathryn Davis has been selected as the 糖心直播 2023-2024 Mississippi Humanities Teacher of the Year. She will be honored by the Mississippi Humanities Council and the college on Thursday, February 29, at 10 a.m. in the Home & Health Services Auditorium. The public is invited to see her free presentation, 鈥淭he Feature Film: A Cinematic Journey of Emerging Adulthood,鈥� before the MHC honors her and 29 other faculty members statewide in Jackson, on March 22.
鈥淭his presentation will focus on the theme of emerging adulthood as portrayed in cinema. These are students we see every day. They are in a transition period trying to figure out who they are and it鈥檚 big. They are exploring their career options, friends, their identity outside of what their parents have probably told them that they need to do, and social aspects. It鈥檚 a growing field in human growth and development right now,鈥� said Davis.
Initially, Davis planned to become a psychometrist. She got sidetracked while taking retired 糖心直播 psychology instructor, Randy Vinzant鈥檚 human growth and development and psychology classes as a dual-enrolled high school student. While at the University of Southern Mississippi earning her bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology, the university hired Davis as a recruiter in 2004. After she earned her degree in 2006, she was hired as a full-time admissions counselor in 2007 for USM. 鈥淧sychology鈥� sat 鈥渙n the shelf鈥� for several more years while Davis earned her master鈥檚 in education in College Student Personnel from USM in 2011.
鈥淚t鈥檚 all because of Vinzant鈥檚 class that I love psychology so much. I just didn鈥檛 know what I was going to do with it because I dabbled in testing and learning disabilities, but I wasn鈥檛 sure. Then, I just fell into recruiting,鈥� Davis shared.
After getting married, she left the USM recruiting department and helped launch the 糖心直播 Office of Recruitment with a group of other JC alumni in 2008. She went on to become the Student Success Center Advisement Specialist, Scholarship Coordinator, and Advisor to the Jones Ambassadors at JC. In 2012, Davis was named the Director of Recruitment, Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Liaison and Bobcat Advisor. With her second child on the way in 2016, Davis felt like it was a good time to make a career move and became an adjunct psychology instructor.
鈥淚 remember calling my husband Matthew saying, I got to go back to school. He was like, 鈥榃e have a newborn you know.鈥� Yes, we have a brand-new baby, but I signed up to get my additional hours because I already had my master鈥檚, but I had to go back and get my 18 hours in psychology to teach. So, I took classes at William Carey University,鈥� said Davis.
The 2004 糖心直播 graduate and Laurel native also credits retired Humanities Division Chair, Dr. Ronald Bishop for allowing her to see if switching from recruiting to becoming a psychology instructor in 2017, was truly where she wanted to be.
Dr. Ronald Bishop, retired JC instructor & Division Chair
鈥淚 knew right away that she would make a great teacher because of her exuberant personality, and she proved it was a correct decision,鈥� said Bishop. 鈥淪he taught part-time for several semesters and became an immediate favorite of students. When an opportunity for full-time employment arose, I was happy that she was able to make the move to that faculty position. She did a good job at everything that I asked her to do and was always cheerful and cooperative. It is teachers like Kathryn that students remember fondly. I鈥檓 very happy to see that she is this year鈥檚 Mississippi Humanities Council Teacher of the Year.鈥�
Likewise, after teaching full-time for seven years and working at 糖心直播 for 16 years, Davis said being selected as the MHC Humanities Teacher of the Year is a bit surreal.
鈥淚t’s a huge honor to be in that same category as what I feel are the greats, like Dr. Bishop, Wyatt Moulds, Cheryl Windham, Sarah Ishee, Dr. David Lowery, and Tim Morris. I am still in shock,鈥� shared Davis. 鈥淚 never thought I would be in a category like that. I just never thought I would. It鈥檚 just I know those faculty that taught me are the 鈥榞reats鈥� and to be in that category with them is an honor. It’s a huge honor.鈥�
Current JC Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Julie Atwood said Davis is such an asset to the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and to 糖心直播. Through her various roles at the college as a student, recruiter, dual credit coordinator, and instructor, she has always made students feel welcome and like family.
鈥淲e are very thankful for her willingness to help students reach their academic and career goals and are very excited to honor her as this year鈥檚 Humanities Teacher of the Year for 糖心直播,鈥� said Atwood.
In addition to teaching five to seven general psychology, human growth and development, and child psychology courses a semester, last fall Davis was asked to take on the new role of Advisement Coordinator by the Office of Instructional Affairs. Her background in recruiting and advisement allows her to work with all of the faculty and help streamline the admissions, business office, and financial aid process for faculty while assisting with questions and troubleshooting, as well as communicating changes in those processes.
Davis is also actively involved in her community, serving as the College and Career Sunday School teacher, Youth Committee member, and VBS teacher at First Baptist Church of Laurel, the Laurel Arts League Chairman of Day in the Park Arts and Crafts Vendors, Hospitality and Scholarships, and has served as President, 1st and 2nd Vice President and Chairman of the Passing of the Crown for the Laurel Junior Auxiliary.
ELLISVILLE 鈥� Two William Carey University and 糖心直播 graduate鈥檚 artwork is currently on display at the Eula Bass Lewis Art Gallery on the campus of 糖心直播 in Ellisville through February 19, 2024. Trinity Stewart of Ellisville recently shared her creative process with JC students and on Wednesday, February 14, at 1:30 p.m. in the Eula Bass Lewis Art Gallery, Janna Lewis of Stonewall will be giving her 鈥淎rt Talk,鈥� which is open to the public. Both students were selected as 鈥淓merging Artists鈥� in 2021, by the Hattiesburg Arts Council, and each artist has unique styles, according to their 糖心直播 Art instructor, Melanie Eubanks.
鈥淭rinity was always creating the most intricate pieces. She would build objects that included patterns and elaborate work which were usually difficult to piece together or display. Janna also worked on a different level of creativity, pushing herself to find unique ways to show off her art like using embroidery,鈥� said Eubanks.
Stewart explained to 糖心直播 art students during her recent Art Talk that functional art sells more often but she really enjoys working with intricate objects and trying different mediums and styles. Despite her dislike of creating large works of art, Stewart pieced together clay strips to form a large jug, then created bright butterflies to decorate the stoneware.
鈥淭his is what I tell students especially, give everything a try, different mediums, and styles. I guess my grandmother influenced me to explore art this way,鈥� said Stewart.
Visitors will have to look closely at some of her unique artwork. Using a six-centimeter pottery wheel, she created a diminutive display of stoneware cups, pots, and vases, which also included her grandfather鈥檚 chair. Additionally, Stewart used embroidery hoops as her canvas to display small stoneware toggles, floral fasteners, and moth medallions.
鈥淚 aim to portray these oddities or unique objects in a playful manner through an exploration of pattern, color, and surface texture,鈥� said Stewart. 鈥淢uch of my work derives inspiration from the often-overlooked obscurities within nature, incorporating an insect motif throughout.鈥�
Lewis鈥檚 artwork on display at 糖心直播 also combines embroidery and painting. Her specialty or favorite genre is landscape painting, however, the graphic designer uses her creativity in designing logos and graphic illustrations to incorporate landscape designs. On display at the Eula Bass Lewis Art Gallery, are her ocean scenes from Cozumel and the Gulf Coast.
鈥淚 wanted to have contemporary compositions with a traditional palette, like Fairfield Porter, but I use photography to begin the process. Using Adobe Illustrator, I can create a graphic illustration of a landscape scene and use graphic shapes to show off the design, creating a landscape. This process gives me full control over color and shape, illustrating the importance of leaving things out,鈥� said Lewis.
The unique graduate鈥檚 art show by Stewart and Lewis will be on display in the Eula Bass Lewis Art Gallery until February 20. For more information about upcoming JC art shows or to arrange a visit to the gallery call 601-477-8401. The Eula Bass Lewis Art Gallery is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., and by appointment only on Wednesdays. The gallery is closed during the holidays. To learn more about the 糖心直播 Art Department, /programs/finearts/ or the JC Art Department鈥檚 social media: Facebook page, and on Instagram .
ELLISVILLE 鈥� Magee native and current Hattiesburg resident, Chanel Evans is 鈥渘on-traditional鈥� in every sense. After graduating from Columbia High School in 2003 and a brief taste of college life, Evans decided to take a break from academia. She thrived in the restaurant world as a young adult with companies like Popeyes and the Krystal Company. In 2021, she decided to return to college majoring in Psychology at 糖心直播. She graduated in May 2023 with two academic degrees, in addition to earning four certifications and she is almost finished with another degree.
鈥淚鈥檓 a high performer; it just made sense to enroll in a second-degree plan,鈥� said Evans. 鈥淭his is for any student who felt discounted along their journey even if they鈥檝e experienced imposter syndrome and have overcome any amount of adversity. Not only are you not the sum of your adversity, but just on the other side of fear is everything you desire.鈥�
Evans is currently serving the Wendy鈥檚 Company as the Divisional Franchise Development Manager, by supporting the training of 400 restaurants in several states, through food safety, facilitating leadership and development workshops while also disseminating promotional product training sessions. After earning an associate degree in Psychology in 2023 from JC, she started her Bachelor of Arts in GST+: Diversity & Cultural Awareness with a minor in Criminal Justice at Southern New Hampshire University. In addition to juggling her job, she decided to return to classes at JC last fall to earn an associate of arts in general studies.
Chanel Evans (center) with her parents, Marvin Davis & Jeanette Davis.
鈥淯pon acceptance into Southern New Hampshire University, I learned that I could transfer 30 free credits towards the completion of my bachelor鈥檚 degree, granting me 90 transferable credits in total. My love of 糖心直播 and the Rho Sigma chapter of Phi Theta Kappa honor society alleviated the guesswork as to where I would complete the subsequent coursework.鈥�
In April of 2023, Evans earned one of two spots from JC to be selected to the PTK All-Mississippi Academic Team and was nominated for the All-USA Academic Team, after earning a 4.0 GPA with all, online courses and accumulating many hours volunteering and assisting PTK and 糖心直播. Her hard work earned her an invitation to be a PTK officer for the 2023-24 academic year.
鈥淎t our first meeting, she was one of the very first members to volunteer for all of our service projects,鈥� said Sarah Ishee, 糖心直播 Dean of Students and PTK Advisor. 鈥淎ll of our officers are wonderful, but she is so exceptional that everybody has really stepped up their game. She is that kind of a person, but she doesn鈥檛 realize that we all want to be better because of her. We genuinely see Chanel as a shining star. She makes us so proud with her message of love, working hard, and leadership!鈥�
PTK headquarters also discovered her story and how PTK helped in her pursuit of educational greatness. In September, Evans was featured in a blog by the International Honor Society, which shared her story about being an online student actively involved in PTK.
鈥淔or years, I merely existed. I was a shell of my former self, tethered to the remnants of a life that did not measure up to societal norms. To share my story on such an immense platform required a profound level of vulnerability on my part. Admittedly, the perfectionist in me felt great reluctance but the survivor within hoped that the challenges I have overcome would serve as inspiration for my greater community.鈥�
Chanel continues to share her story by actively helping others as the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society鈥檚, Honors in Action Director. Last semester, Evans led a group of PTK students, with the assistance of Construction & Residential Maintenance students, in the purchase and delivery of toys, through a grant she procured, to Ellisville鈥檚 Loving Mother鈥檚 Day Care & Preschool.
鈥淭he Honors in Action Project鈥檚 focus was to identify the limitations to and effects of play in children of poverty. The daycare center director was tasked with evaluating the quality of play amongst her students before and after the recreational toy donations. After which, the Honors in Action Project Team quantified the impact of the project by analyzing the survey鈥檚 data prior to the submission of their findings to PTK Headquarters,鈥� explained Evans.
A second component of the project involved Evans鈥� job. PTK introduced Wendy鈥檚 鈥淔rosty Key Tags鈥� to accomplish part of the project鈥檚 mission, which is to refine childhood disparities. The Frosty Key Tags enable the HIA Team to contribute to a local mission with a global impact because the Key Tags entitle the children of the daycare to one complimentary Jr. Frosty a day for the entire 2024 calendar year, at no cost. The 糖心直播 PTK chapter is also soliciting permission from the Jones County Board of Supervisors to adopt Roosevelt Park in Laurel, under Evans鈥� leadership.
鈥淚 am committed to being of service in any capacity bestowed upon me to the very best of my ability. Their decisions are sound, and I am honored to contribute to Phi Theta Kappa, 糖心直播, and our community!鈥�
Evans also shared, 鈥淭his leadership opportunity has been the stretch assignment that I never knew I needed, and I have never known this level of support! I now have the confidence to pursue my Ed. L.D. at the University of Southern Mississippi as a Golden Scholar following a master鈥檚 degree in organizational leadership and an Organizational Leadership Specialty Certificate from Harvard Business School. I begin grad school in May!鈥�
As Evans continues to drive her own 鈥渂rand鈥� to new heights, she is honoring the one person who inspired her to reach her dreams. Chanel recently established a 糖心直播 Foundation scholarship for a non-traditional 糖心直播 student to honor her brother Rashad, who is the catalyst for her returning to college and who passed away in 2020. The Rashad Evans Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually each year for $1,000.聽 Evans hopes to be able to add to the scholarship in the years to come.
JC Dean of Students & PTK advisor, Sarah Ishee (right) is pictured with Chanel Evans who is holding a picture frame of her brother Rashad Evans.
鈥淎s a PTK advisor, faculty member, and now in administration, I don鈥檛 think I鈥檝e ever known of another student who established a scholarship like Chanel,鈥� said Sarah Ishee. 鈥淲hen she told me she was doing this, I was like, well of course Chanel is going to honor her brother in such a lasting way and in a way that is going to help other students because she pays it forward.鈥�
The 糖心直播 Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for the Fall 2024/Spring 2025 academic year through the JC App. Applicants must be current 糖心直播 students, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.50, and be enrolled full-time for the upcoming academic year.
鈥淓ven when I am not here, Rashad鈥檚 legacy will thrive and that opportunity will continue to enable others to accomplish their goals,鈥� said Evans. 鈥淒onors are investing in the leaders of tomorrow, affording them boundless opportunities through their graciousness. This is just one way I can help.鈥�
ELLISVILLE 鈥� Employees of 糖心直播 and the City of Ellisville, along with friends and colleagues across the state are mourning the loss of Thomas Mack or 鈥淭im鈥� Waldrup who passed away Wednesday, January 31, 2024. The Louin, Mississippi native was active in athletics at Bay Springs High School before attending Jones County Junior College. He continued his education at Mississippi State University majoring in forestry. While fighting brush fires in California and working on pipelines throughout the United States to earn college funds, he switched careers to education. He earned his bachelor’s and master鈥檚 degrees in education from Delta State University, where he met his wife, Patricia of 54 years.
Waldrup taught at Bay St. Louis and Ruleville High School before landing a job at 糖心直播 in 1967. Over Waldrup鈥檚 34-year career at JCJC, he served the college as dean of men and vice president of Student Affairs. His wife Patricia also enjoyed a long career at JC as the cheerleading advisor and dean of women as Tim dedicated his life to shaping the lives of students through student government and other leadership opportunities.
鈥淢r. Waldrup had a profound impact on countless students including my wife, Jennifer, and me,鈥� said 糖心直播 President, Dr. Jesse Smith. 鈥淗e was a very wise and frugal leader. His wit and charisma made it easy for him to connect with others. Mr. Waldrup was loyal and kind. The JC community will miss him dearly.鈥�
Waldrup is credited with bringing recruiting efforts to new heights, which also brought record enrollment numbers during his career. He understood education was not confined to the classroom; it extends to the essence of a person.
锘�鈥淭im came to JC a few years before I came to teach computer technology in 1974,鈥� said Robert Landrum, retired Business Division Chair and Computer Information Systems Technology instructor. 鈥淲e became good friends because we hunted together at the same deer camp and worked together every day. When he became the dean of students a couple of years after that, his goal was to increase student enrollment in academic as well as all the Vocational and Technical programs. Tim was 鈥渂lind鈥� as to where students went on campus, he just wanted JC to increase in enrollment. He encouraged the instructors to invite private industry to the campus to visit their programs and he also encouraged faculty to let him know if we had something interesting or new so we could invite the news media to come visit our programs. He was a real marketer of all programs on campus.鈥�
Upon his retirement as the Ellisville Mayor, colleagues and friends spent a night 鈥渞oasting鈥� Tim Waldrup before he retired from public office in June 2017. Pictured left to right are, JC retired Presidents, Dr. Terrell Tisdale and Dr. Ronald Whitehead (seated), current JC President, Dr. Jesse Smith and his wife, Jennifer (standing), Martha Tisdale and Charlotte Whitehead (seated) and friends of Waldrup, Jennie and Robert Landrum.
JCJC graduate and retired journalism instructor, Rebecca Patrick assisted Waldrup with recruiting efforts for 10 years as the Director of Public Relations, before becoming the journalism instructor. Working in student affairs was never a dull moment with Waldrup, she explained.
鈥淗e was a prankster who loved a good joke, but he was all business at the same time,鈥� said Patrick. 鈥淚 learned a lot from Waldrup about how to work and have fun at the same time, how students and their growth were our main priority, and how a top-quality educational product will always attract top-quality students. He is an individual who, I believe, was uniquely called to be a servant of the people. Whether it was the thousands of students he assisted at Jones, or the citizens of Ellisville he served as mayor, Waldrup always worked to make lives better than they were. There is no possible way to put a number on how many lives he impacted during his lifetime.鈥�
As Mayor of Ellisville in 2011, Tim Waldrup (left) gives 糖心直播 Baseball Head Coach Christian Ostrander (right) the Key to the City after capturing the MACJC Championship.
After retiring from Jones in November 2001, Waldrup was elected mayor of Ellisville, becoming a public servant to his community. In this capacity, he continuously embodied unwavering dedication to the people of Ellisville. Serving 16 years as mayor allowed him to become president of the Mississippi Municipal League, thus improving his relationships and network and improving infrastructure and the quality of life for residents. In 2017, Waldrup retired for the last time, after 50 years of public service. Unfortunately, he was plagued by serious health issues until he succumbed to complications.
鈥淲aldrup鈥檚 influence extended beyond his professional accomplishments. He was a loving husband, a devoted father, and a doting grandfather,鈥� said his wife, Pat Waldrup. 鈥淗is family was his pride and joy, and he cherished every moment spent with us. Waldrup鈥檚 wisdom, guidance, and unconditional love will continue to resonate through the generations, leaving an indelible mark on his family鈥檚 lives.鈥�
Visitation will be at First Baptist Church of Laurel, on Saturday, February 3, 2024, from 12:30-2:30 pm. A memorial service will follow in the sanctuary at 2:30 pm. A private family burial service will follow. Pallbearers will be, Kaleb Robert Meeks (Grandson), Dylan Thomas Meeks (Grandson), Robert Landrum (Lifelong Friend), Dr. Ronald Whitehead (Professional/Close Friend), Donald Ray Barefoot (Nephew), and John Gentry (Nephew).
The Waldrup family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Tim Waldrup Leadership Scholarship at 糖心直播 or the building fund at First Baptist Church of Laurel or First Baptist Church of Ellisville.
