糖心直播

ELLISVILLE 鈥� At the 96^th Commencement Ceremony at 糖心直播, in addition to the nearly 600 糖心直播 graduates celebrating the completion of their Associate in Arts degree, Associate in Applied Science degree, Technical Certificate or Career Certificate, eight Laurel High School students in the second class of the new Middle College Program at Laurel High School earned both their high school diploma and an associate degree from 糖心直播. These students, Sayuri Majae Barnes, De鈥橨a Dashawna Baskin, Brianna Evans, Justin Keys, Lamiya Janae Ross, Kena Monique Smith (also JC Hall of Fame) Nia Soul Stephens, and Krishna M Wright, finished their high school requirements simultaneously while attending college courses to complete a two-year degree.

鈥淚鈥檓 very excited and honored today to also be recognized in the 糖心直播 Hall of Fame,鈥� said Middle College and 糖心直播 graduate, Kena Smith of Laurel. 鈥淚 missed a few things in high school, but it has been worth it to earn both degrees simultaneously.鈥�

Graduates, and the thousands of family and friends attending the outdoor ceremony heard an inspiring message from keynote speaker, Stan Buckley that simply challenged graduates to, 鈥渟pend their lives doing something that matters.鈥�  The Founder and Executive Director of But God Ministries in Jackson shared a story about Christian singer, Amy Grant鈥檚 mother encouraging her daughter to sing something that 鈥渕atters.鈥� Buckley said he realized after hearing that story, that he is not a cat. He only has 鈥渙ne shot鈥� at life and he didn鈥檛 want to regret anything.

鈥淢y biggest fear is living to be an old man lying on my deathbed and wondering, what if I had gone for it? I plead with you today, do something worthwhile. Make a difference in this world. Make sure your only goal in life is not simply to accumulate things and then die. There鈥檚 more to life than that,鈥� said the former attorney and senior pastor.

In 2011, when Buckley established But God Ministries, it was on the heels of a devastating earthquake in Haiti which killed 200,000 people and a million people were left homeless. The ministry established a community on an island where nurse practitioner, Tony West operated the medical clinic and served thousands as Jesus would.

鈥淢othes, fathers and children were all blessed by Tony鈥檚 love, his compassion and his care while hurting or frustrated or completely exhausted. Tony shared God鈥檚 love again and again. Tony West was a man who used his education. He wasn鈥檛 a preacher. He was a man who used his education, his training, and his skills as an R.N. and later as a nurse practitioner, to do something that matters. Thanks to Tony and many more, just like him, our efforts in Haiti have resulted in countless changed lives,鈥� shared Buckley.

He concluded his speech with a story about a 糖心直播 student athlete, Joshua Brown who should also be celebrating commencement but was wrongly accused of a crime and did not finish his courses on time. The JC football player is free today because Buckley and a team of people realized they needed to do the right thing and get involved.

鈥淲hat I saw was wrong because what I saw was unfair and unjust. I could no longer see what was happening and do nothing,鈥� Buckley explained. 鈥淵ou see, there comes a time in your life graduates, when you can no longer stand idly by and watch corruption and incompetence and callousness. There comes a time when you have to stand up for what is right. So, graduates go for it. Take a risk. You never know how God might use you in your education here at 糖心直播 to do something extraordinary. The possibilities are endless if you鈥檙e willing to exercise a little faith and courage.  Remember as Amy Grant鈥檚 mother would say, spend your life doing something that matters.鈥�

Some 糖心直播 graduates thanked the teachers that pushed them toward excellence and out of their comfort zone, like Natalie Graves of Laurel. The art major took on the role of College Project Director for Phi Theta Kappa, which earned the Most Distinguished College Project in Regional competition and a Top 10 award internationally.

鈥淢r. Brown definitely gave me a big push here at Jones,鈥� said Graves. 鈥淎t first, I didn鈥檛 really want to join PTK Honor Society, but he really pushed me, and it鈥檚 opened up a lot of doors for me. I received recognition as an artist and a student as a result.鈥�

Earning Academic Gold Key honors, Jaylynn Conner is one of five graduating sophomores to be selected as a Tullos Scholar, Hall of Fame, and she earned one of three, College Public Relations Association of Mississippi Scholarships. The Waynesboro native finished a stellar two years as a Senior Editor of the yearbook and Editor of the student newspaper and was a Bobcat Broadcast anchor and reporter, as well as a member of the Charles Pickering Honors Institute. She said she is ready to continue her journalism career at the University of Mississippi and will miss being a Bobcat.

鈥淚鈥檓 a first-generation graduate and I鈥檓 graduating with honors. This means the world to me to be able to have this opportunity,鈥� said Conner. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know what to expect but I was met with so much love and attention by my professors, staff and even the president of 糖心直播. It鈥檚 kind of sad to be leaving this great place.鈥�

Also, a first-generation college graduate, Pablo Lopez of Waynesboro is most grateful for all the connections he鈥檚 made at 糖心直播.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a wonderful two years of meeting lots of great people,鈥� said Lopez. 鈥淚鈥檓 very excited to go to MSU because Jones gave me an excellent beginning which is in part because of all my professors and the staff at Jones. They played a huge role in my success, and I want to give them the recognition they deserve.鈥�

ELLISVILLE 鈥� Four 糖心直播 students were selected by their peers for the special recognition to be named Gold Key recipients. Two students, Kadin Johnston of Waynesboro and Aliyah Watts of Sandy Hook swept both the Merit/Honor Gold Key and the Leadership Gold Key awards. Johnston is majoring in physical therapy and has served as the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society President, and he is a member of the Charles Pickering Honors Institute and SGA. Watts is majoring in Psychology and was elected as Homecoming Queen by her peers. She was also selected to the PTK Academic All-MS 1^st Team honors and serves as V. P. of Fellowship and V.P. of the Student Government Association, and she was a member of the Charles Pickering Honors Institute. Both students were selected as Tullos Scholars which is awarded to only five students total from the graduating class.

The female Athletic Gold Key honors went to Lady Bobcat Soccer midfielder and JC鈥檚 first-ever NJCAA First Team All-American, Rylie Davis of Lucedale who is studying business. Men鈥檚 golf team member and engineering major, Ty Herrington of Heidelberg received the men鈥檚 Athletic Gold Key honors.

糖心直播 sophomores receiving the Academic Gold Key honor because of their 4.0 GPA are, Harleigh Abernathy of Flowood, Dylan Bryant of Raleigh, Jaylynn Conner of Waynesboro, Dawson Kervin of Laurel, Aaron Mason of Raleigh, Nathan Prestage of Morton and Blyne Turner of Laurel.

ELLISVILLE 鈥� Seven, new utility linemen, Pacen Odom of Richton, Brady Graham of Waynesboro, DeAnthony Barnes-Jones of Laurel, Baylor Williams of Stateline, Donquerious Feazell of Collins, Gabriel Roberts of Columbia, and Jaden McCree of Laurel, are ready to join the workforce following the Utility Lineman Showcase and graduation ceremony held recently at 糖心直播鈥檚 Wayne County Center in Waynesboro. After 16 weeks of classroom and hands-on training, these students have earned several credentials including, Utility Lineman, Commercial Driving License, OSHA, NCCER-Core, Forklift/heavy equipment and CPR. 聽Utility Lineman instructor, Mark Patrick explained after students earn their CDL the initial seven weeks, the last nine weeks are spent on classroom instruction with 12 tests they have to pass and then lineman training includes three weeks on the poles. At the Lineman Showcase, these students climbed the poles and demonstrated their technical skills at four different stations in front of friends, family and prospective employers.

鈥淭his 16-week program gives them the basics to work on a line crew. Historically, we have had companies like Mississippi Power and other companies hiring them before they finish. This spring, a downturn in the economy has slowed the hiring demand, but our students have several credentials which makes them employable in different areas, in addition to working as a utility lineman,鈥� said Patrick.

The next Workforce Lineman Academy begins in May, and the Academic Utility Lineman Academy program begins in August. Check the website, for more information.