{"id":4084,"date":"2023-07-26T14:31:21","date_gmt":"2023-07-26T20:31:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/?p=4084"},"modified":"2023-07-26T15:33:28","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T21:33:28","slug":"jones-colleges-high-school-equivalency-grads-challenged-to-keep-going","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/news\/jones-colleges-high-school-equivalency-grads-challenged-to-keep-going\/","title":{"rendered":"糖心直播\u2019s High School Equivalency grads challenged to \u201ckeep going\u201d<\/strong><\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ELLISVILLE \u2013 The more than 120 students from 糖心直播\u2019s High School Equivalency program were challenged by graduation keynote speaker and Mississippi Community College Board Professional Development Specialist, Brandi Ratliff, to keep going past this \u201cmoment\u201d in their lives and pursue excellence in everything. After dropping out of high school in Grenada at the age of 17, Ratliff explained she earned her HSE diploma in hopes of finding better opportunities to position her for success. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Brandi Ratliff<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cI felt a strong calling towards education. I wanted other people to have the opportunities that I didn\u2019t know that I had,\u201d explained Ratliff who is currently earning her doctorate degree. \u201cYou have unlimited opportunities in front of you no matter what happens, no matter what path you take when you leave here. I hope you know this is only a \u2018moment\u2019 right now. The moment continues in everything you do hereafter, and in every life you impact hereafter. Sitting here today, you have already proven it can be done\u2026. My encouragement for you today is that I hope you\u2019ll keep going and I want to say, I\u2019m so proud of you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the graduates, 49-year-old Jeffry Nichols of Quitman could relate to Ratliff\u2019s desire to find more and better opportunities. He decided in February, after recovering from a year long battle with cancer, to get his High School Equivalency when his 19-year-old daughter, Kathryn decided to get her HSE. She was homeschooled and a little nervous about attending classes alone, yet she dreamed of becoming an author. With a little encouragement from his wife, Cindy, the two came to classes at the Clarke County Center in Stonewall. Soon after, a friendly competition ensued as they learned their scores were similar.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Ava, Reba, Kathryn and Jeffry Nichols and his mother, Nelda McDonald<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cI actually stayed with something and achieved the goal of getting the HSE and I did much better than I expected to,\u201d said Jeffry. \u201cIt\u2019s kind of a competition, not heated but a friendly competition seeing if I could score well. Once we took the first test, we were pretty close so I thought if I put a little more effort into it, I could get closer to her score. Then, she did better. Kathryn finished with one point better, a 91. She inspired me and I helped with her nerves being in a classroom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Nichols also decided to walk across the stage at the HSE commencement ceremony and celebrate their accomplishments together, with family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was really happy to get to share that moment together, walk together and receive our diplomas on the same day,\u201d said Kathryn Nichols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both HSE graduates also earned academic scholarships, with Kathryn earning an Academic Distinction Scholarship and Jeffry earned an Academic Achievement Scholarship. The two also have plans to return to 糖心直播 in the fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI knew the academic side wasn\u2019t really for me, the technical side is what I\u2019m hoping to do, like the electrical program, residential construction or electro-mechanical technology all interest me. I have done some residential carpentry, so I\u2019m also interested in the HVAC program and doing a little welding,\u201d said Jeffry.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Gwen Matuszewski & Ember Mixon with Sabrina Young at the podium<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

County Supervisors from each of the eight counties in 糖心直播\u2019s district, awarded an academic scholarship to the highest High School Equivalency test scorer in each of the counties, that will be attending 糖心直播 in the fall. The full tuition scholarship for two semesters was awarded to Covington County\u2019s Kaleb Harrell, Clarke County\u2019s Ember Mixon, Greene County\u2019s Eliza Holder, Smith County\u2019s Sandra Page and Wayne County\u2019s Tyler Freeman. Perry County\u2019s Kylie Atwood and Jones County\u2019s Carmen Pearson also earned the Rising Excellence Scholarship, while Jasper County\u2019s Alex Davis earned the Academic Achievement Scholarship. Additionally, Mixon was awarded the HSE Overall High Scorer Scholarship of an additional $500 presented by the 糖心直播 Foundation Director of External Funding, Sabrina Young.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cComing to Jones was a simple choice because I earned so many scholarships and it is a great place for an education. I love all the teachers. They make it enjoyable to learn and be inspired,\u201d said Mixon. \u201cI was homeschooled and my older sibling, Tabitha Lee Mixon also earned her HSE diploma and came to Jones so I figured if she could do it, so can I!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Dr. Jesse Smith<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Mixon also earned a Presidential Excellence Scholarship with her high ACT score, which translates to $13,000 over four semesters at 糖心直播 for her to earn a nursing degree. Director of Integrated Pathways at 糖心直播, Wendy Evans told the large audience at the commencement ceremony that this group of graduates has earned more than $100,000 in scholarships. An additional eight students earned ACT scholarships after the ceremony. 糖心直播 President, Dr. Jesse Smith proud of the HSE\u2019s accomplishments, concluded the evening with a few rousing words of encouragement for the new graduates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLook around the hallways at these Championship banners in the Bobcat Gym. We have so many we had to store them. There\u2019s a word on there that tells you what you are, and I don\u2019t want you to forget it. That word is \u2018Champion.\u2019 Don\u2019t forget it. You are a champion today. It is awesome to share this experience with you today. I leave you with the words of Tina Turner, you are simply the best!! You are the best!!!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HSE Scholars                        Scholarships<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ember Mixon, Stonewall        Presidential Excellence, Clarke County HSE Scholarship, Overall HSE Scholarship<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kaleb Harrell, Seminary        Covington County HSE Scholarship<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eliza Holder, Neely               Academic Achievement, Greene County HSE Scholarship<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Davis, Bay Springs        Academic Achievement, Jasper County HSE Scholarship<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carmen Pearson, Laurel         Rising Excellence, Jones County HSE Scholarship<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kylie Atwood, Richton           Rising Excellence, Perry County HSE Scholarship<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sandra Page, Raleigh             Smith County HSE Scholarship<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tyler Freeman, Waynesboro  Wayne County HSE Scholarship<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kathryn Nichols, Quitman     Academic Distinction<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caitlyn Myers, Petal               Academic Distinction<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noah Shows, Stonewall          Academic Distinction<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isman Brady, Laurel               Academic Achievement<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emily Daigle, Seminary         Academic Achievement<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lillian Hall, Moselle              Academic Achievement<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graysen Irvin, Laurel         Academic Achievement<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tristin Johnson, Laurel         Academic Achievement<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nicolas Kelly, Laurel             Academic Distinction<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Madison Newcomb, Soso       Academic Achievement<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeffry Nichols, Quitman         Academic Achievement<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morgan Welch, Ellisville       Academic Achievement<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kaden Dunagin, Ellisville                  Rising Excellence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keila Escamilla, Laurel                      Rising Excellence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Micah Holifield, Ellisville                  Rising Excellence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kaleb Harrell, Seminary                     Rising Excellence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mylee Pitts, Louin                             Rising Excellence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zoey McAndrews, Bay Springs         Rising Excellence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Memory Smith, Waynesboro             Rising Excellence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wynstin Strite, Bay Springs               Rising Excellence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jonathan Westbrook, Taylorsville      Rising Excellence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

糖心直播 High School Equivalency Graduates 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Name                                City                                              <\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kylie Cheyenne Atwood, Richton                                         <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breanna Charlene Beatty, Leakesville                                              <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Courtney A Booth, Laurel                                         <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Judith J.B.H. Borboa Hernandez, Laurel                                          <\/p>\n\n\n\n

David Eugean Bourgeois, Laurel                                          <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna Grace Boykin, New Hebron                                        <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kimberly Lane Bradley, Leakesville                                    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isman Joshua Brady, Laurel                                      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alyson Jolene Brownlee, Moselle                                        <\/p>\n\n\n\n

V Buquoi, Laurel                                           <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carley Elizabeth Cleaver, Buckatunna                                             <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tyler Lee Cleaver, Laurel                                         <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dalton Paul Cochran, Ellisville                                             <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabe Hayden Cooke, Ellisville                                             <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amil Ranita Cooley, Laurel                                      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brendan Zane Cosper , Bay Springs                                     <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lillie Sabrina Coxwell, Leakesville              <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caleb Crownover, Ovett                                            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emily Grace Daigle, Seminary                                              <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hunter Ray Daniels, Raleigh                                     <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Micah Lee Davenport, Laurel                                   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Camden Davis, Bay Springs                                         <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bryleigh Lakin Dueitt, Neely                                    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kaden Dale Dunagin, Ellisville                                             <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jessica Hanna Ezell, Seminary                                              <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Lauren Ezell, Seminary                                             <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tyler Garrett Freeman, Waynesboro                                     <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robyn La’Tora Gaines, Shubuta                                           <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kiana LaQuavier Gavin, Laurel                                            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gage Michael Graham, Seminary                                         <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ramsay Lee Grimes, Leakesville                                         <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lillian Marie Hall, Moselle                                       <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kaleb Michael Harrell, Seminary                                          <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Callie Mackenzie Hawkins, Raleigh                                     <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Auderyana Elaine Haynes, Mize                                           <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Judith Hernandez, Laurel<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paris Alyssa Hicks, Ovett                                          <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sasha Noel Hogue, Laurel                                         <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eliza Michelle Holder, Neely                                    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blain Allen Holifield, Ellisville                                            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ansleigh Brooke Holifield, Stonewall                                              <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kanyen Leighana Hutchinson, Laurel                                               <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wilson Kar Ishee, Bay Springs                                              <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braxton Kirk Johnson, Ellisville                                           <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abigail Alizabeth Kelley, Laurel                                          <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stephen Dakota King, Enterprise                                          <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ardarrin Lavon Kirksey, Shubuta                                         <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christopher David Laznovsky, Laurel                                              <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Madlyn Marie Lee, Collins                                       <\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Michael Limerick, Laurel                                             <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kimberly Anne Malone, Richton                                          <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Becca Elizabeth Martin, Laurel                                             <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zoey Kylan McAndrews, Bay Springs                                              <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cambrie Nicole Mckean, Ellisville                                       <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hanna Jo Miles, Lucedale                                         <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ember Genesis Mixon, Stonewall                                         <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hayden Mackell Moulds, Lucedale                                      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caitlyn Grace Myers, Petal                                       <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Madison Paige Newcomb, Soso                                            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kathryn Elizabeth Nichols, Quitman                                    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeffry Franklin Nichols, Quitman                                          <\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Robert Nicholson, Laurel                                              <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leedarius Shondricus Rapheal Owens, Waynesboro                                    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carmen Pilar Pearson, Laurel                                   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalee Bree Peebles, Meridian                                            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mariah Marsha Pierce, Paulding                                            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mylee Morgan Pitts, Louin                                       <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cameron Joseph Poolson, Taylorsville                                             <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Olivia Jordan Samaniego, Ellisville                                      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chloe Saul, Hattiesburg                                            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alleyson Elaina Sellers, Waynesboro                                               <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noah Thomas Shows, Stonewall                                          <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Memory Paige Smith, Waynesboro                                       <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chance Jacob Smith, Seminary                                             <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lakyn Alexis Soto, Ellisville                                    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wynstin Paul Strite, Bay Springs                                          <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essie Lynn Susano, Bay Springs                                           <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preston Thomas Sykes, Louin                                               <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hanna Caroline Tilford, Laurel                                             <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Micah Joseph Van Etten, Laurel                                           <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabriela Vargas, Laurel                                            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dylan James Claude Vincent, Moselle                                             <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hank Anthony Walker , Louin                                   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morgan Raine Welch, Ellisville                                            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jonathan David Westbrook, Taylorsville                                          <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shannon Elizabeth Wheat, Meridian                                     <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jackson Wayne Williams, Seminary                                     <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Khloe Williams, Soso                                                <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charles Stanley Williamson, Louin                                      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phillip Trey Windham, Ellisville                  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ELLISVILLE \u2013 The more than 120 students from 糖心直播\u2019s High School Equivalency program were challenged by graduation keynote speaker and Mississippi Community College Board Professional Development Specialist, Brandi Ratliff, to keep going past this \u201cmoment\u201d in their lives and pursue excellence in everything. After dropping out of high school in Grenada at the age … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “糖心直播\u2019s High School Equivalency grads challenged to \u201ckeep going\u201d<\/strong><\/strong>“<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4085,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4084"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4084"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4084\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4105,"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4084\/revisions\/4105"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4085"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4084"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4084"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4084"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}