91猎奇

Ellisville, MS – This year鈥檚 recipient of the Legacy Award is Jones College Alumnus J. Terrell Williams. The Legacy Award recognizes an Alumnus of Jones College who is fifty years post-graduation, has demonstrated continued support over the years, and has made consistent contributions to honoring the College.

J. Terrell Williams has built a career defined by innovation, entrepreneurship, an a commitment to lifelong learning, with roots tracing back to this education at Jones County Junior College

A 1965 graduate of Jones County Agricultural High School, Williams attended Jones County Junior College in 1966 and 1967 before beginning his career with Exxon in 1969. Specializing in offshore operations, particularly deep-water drilling and production, he advanced to become the first instructor of Exxon鈥檚 Subsea Well Control School, sharing his knowledge and expertise in a highly specialized and developing field. 

Following his career with Exxon, Williams pursued entrepreneurship, establishing his own company and expanding his expertise into engineering, drafting, equipment design, and manufacturing. His innovative work led to several patented inventions and contributions to the oil and gas industry. 

In 2010, Williams was called upon to share his expertise during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Serving as a consultant, he worked alongside congressional leaders and other stakeholders on efforts that contributed to the successful and permanent containment of the well.

Despite a career marked by professional accomplishments and innovation, Williams has remained grateful for the educational foundation he received at Jones. He credits mentors at Jones County Junior College with encouraging his curiosity and helping shape his approach to learning, problem solving, and professional growth.

Throughout his life, Williams has embraced a guiding principle: 鈥淓ducation is not a destination-it is a lifelong process.鈥� He believes earning a diploma or degree is not the conclusion of an education, but the beginning of a lifetime of discovery, growth, and opportunity. 

From his early days at Jones County Junior College to a career that has influenced advancements in offshore drilling and production, Williams鈥� journey reflects the lasting impact of education and the importance of remaining curious, embracing challenges, and continuing to learn. 

Ellisville, MS – This year鈥檚 recipients of the Achievement and Excellence Award are Justin Archer Burch and Sean McDonald. The Achievement and Excellence Award recognizes alumni of Jones College, forty years and under, who have demonstrated professional and personal success throughout the community.

Justin Burch

Justin Archer Burch is a nationally recognized economic and community development leader whose career has been dedicated to creating economic opportunities, strengthening rural communities, and bringing investment to the Mississippi Delta and communities throughout the American South.

Burch is the founder, president, and CEO of Delta Compass, a Greenville-based organization focused on economic and community development, philanthropy, and regional investment. Through his leadership, the organization works to strengthen rural communities by connecting workforce development, entrepreneurship, justice, and the arts with opportunities for economic growth and community revitalization. 

With more than 15 years of experience, Burch has held leadership positions with several prominent regional and national organizations. Before founding Delta Compass, he served as national economic development director for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, where his work supported communities across all 50 states and two U.S. territories. He previously served as director of programs for the Delta Regional Authority, overseeing economic development, infrastructure, workforce, and job creation initiatives throughout the eight-state Mississippi River Delta region. 

Earlier in his career, Burch served as head of community development for the Foundation for the Mid South, supporting efforts to reduce poverty and expand economic opportunities across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. 

Throughout his career, Burch has helped secure tens of millions of dollars in philanthropic and government investments while building partnerships among government agencies, businesses, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders. His work has supported initiatives ranging from workforce and small business development to infrastructure improvements, cultural preservation, and neighborhood revitalization. 

His leadership has earned recognition through several prestigious national programs. Burch is a Presidential Leadership Scholar, an initiative associated with the presidential centers of four former U.S. presidents. He was also selected among the first 100 Americans to participate in President Barack Obama鈥檚 leadership network and is a member of the Obama Foundation鈥檚 global leadership community. 

Additionally, Burch was named a 2025 Aspen Ideas Fellow and has participated in leadership development programs through the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. He has also served in leadership and advisory roles with the Southern Economic Development Council, Delta Philanthropic Forum, and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis鈥� Memphis Zone Community Development Advisory Council. 

Burch earned an Associate of Arts degree from Jones College before receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Mississippi and a Master of Social Science degree from Mississippi College. His continuing education includes professional studies through Harvard University, Indiana University, the University of Tennessee, and the National Development Council. 

Despite his work with national organizations and institutions, Burch remains deeply committed to the Mississippi Delta and the communities that shaped his career. His approach to economic development emphasizes the importance of preserving the history, culture, and identity of rural communities while creating opportunities for future generations. 

Through Delta Compass and his continued leadership, Burch works to demonstrate that economic growth and community preservation can go hand in hand, allowing rural communities to build stronger futures while celebrating the people and traditions that make them unique. 

Burch and his wife, Cameryn Miller Burch, are the proud parents of two children, Catherine Lawrence and Archer Henry. 

Sean McDonald

A 2012 graduate of Jones College鈥檚 Electrical Technology program, Sean McDonald has built a career rooted in his lifelong passion for agriculture and a commitment to serving his community. 

As a poultry and row crop farmer in Jones County, McDonald has earned recognition for his accomplishments in agriculture. In 2019, he received the Mississippi Farm Bureau Achievement Award and went on to be named one of the Top 10 finalists for the American Farm Bureau Achievement Award. 

Beyond his agricultural career, McDonald remains actively involved in his community. He and his family are members of the First Baptist Church of Ellisville, where he serves as a deacon. He also volunteers his time as a member of the Johnson Volunteer Fire Department, demonstrating his commitment to serving and supporting the community.

McDonald and his wife, Morgan, a 2011 Jones College graduate, are the proud parents of two children, Blake, 11, and Baylie, 8. 

Grateful for the opportunity to pursue his passion for agriculture while raising his family in the community he calls home, McDonald continues to make a positive impact in Jones County through his work, service, and dedication to others. 

Ellisville, MS – This year鈥檚 Rising Star Award recipient is Jones College Alumna Sabrina Sagers Brownlee. The Rising Star Award recognizes Jones College alumni who have demonstrated early career success and have achieved professional and personal success throughout the community.

A native of Biloxi, Mississippi, Sabrina Sagers Brownlee knew early on that she wanted to pursue a career in pharmacy. Her involvement with the Maroon Typhoon led her to Jones College, where she earned her Associate of Arts degree in 2017 before continuing her education at Samford University鈥檚 McWhorter School of Pharmacy in Birmingham, Alabama.

After earning her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2021, Brownlee returned to Mississippi to begin her career as an independent community pharmacist. Today, she and her business partner own three pharmacies along the Mississippi Gulf Coast: The Corner Drugstore in Long Beach, City Rexall Drugs in Picayune, and TD Caremeds LTC in Gulfport. 

While her work spans several areas of community pharmacy, Brownlee has developed a particular passion for long-term care. Through TD Caremeds LTC, she personally prepares medication adherence packaging for more than 100 residents of assisted living facilities along the Gulf Coast. For Brownlee, her work extends beyond providing medication. The relationships she has built with her patients have become one of the most rewarding aspects of her career, and she considers many of them an extension of her family. 

Outside of her professional responsibilities, Brownlee enjoys traveling, visiting Walt Disney World, exploring new restaurants, and spending time with family. She and her husband, Jason, reside in Biloxi with their five-month-old son, Rhys. 

Brownlee credits her parents, Sam and Cindy Sagers, for the sacrifices they made to support her educational and professional goals. She also remains grateful for the foundation established during her time at 91猎奇 and the opportunities that helped prepare her for success. 

From her days as a member of the Maroon Typhoon to becoming a pharmacy owner serving communities along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Brownlee鈥檚 journey reflects the lasting impact of a Jones College education and the opportunities that begin as a Bobcat.