91猎奇

ELLISVILLE 鈥� Jones College students have returned to campus for the traditional campus life experience, including face-to-face classes. The fall semester began August 10, with all University-Parallel (academic) courses being taught completely online through Friday, September 4, to help lessen the spread of COVID-19. While some career and technical students and some students taking medical courses cautiously met on campus for the last month, most students waited until after the Labor Day holiday to return to campus. Students entering campus are still required to check-in at one of the 21 Health Stations before going anywhere on campus, including dorm rooms. Most students like Greene County鈥檚 Joshua Cook said they don鈥檛 mind the extra level of protection.

鈥淚 have loved being back on campus! I鈥檓 so thankful Jones is taking every precaution to give us a safe and enjoyable school year!鈥� said the sophomore business major from Leakesville.

Like Cook, sophomores, Caidyn Crowder of Ellisville, and McKay Lee Bray of Leakesville are happy to be back living on campus and taking face-to-face classes. They said their science labs and classes are better 鈥渋n person鈥� but they appreciated the extra efforts their instructors made ensuring they were successful in their virtual learning.

鈥淚 am really glad to be back in class, seeing my teachers,鈥� said Bray. 鈥淛ones鈥� science instructors did a great job of handling and overcoming the additional challenges of providing lab experiences, safely. I also appreciate they were open to our suggestions and that is what I love about Jones! They really want you to succeed!鈥�

The biology majors, Bray and Crowder said they also really enjoy taking early morning strolls on campus before their classes.

鈥淭his is a return to 鈥榥ormal鈥� for us, waking up on campus in our dorm room, enjoying a walk around the lake before classes. I鈥檓 really excited to be back!鈥� said Crowder.

Classes requiring face-to-face instruction and hands-on training, are meeting in smaller groups and students are spaced six feet apart in classrooms. Check out the Jones College website at www.jcjc.edu for more information.

ELLISVILLE 鈥� The University of West Alabama is giving Jones College students extra incentives to become UWA Tigers upon completion of their associate degree at Jones. UWA鈥檚 new partnership with JC guarantees admission for Jones students who have a 2.0 GPA and 45 transferable credit hours or an associate degree from Jones College. Other perks include scholarships and one-on-one advisement for Jones students.

鈥淲e are offering very personalized advising before Jones students move to the University of West Alabama. They will know what courses to take, when and with whom. We want to make their transfer seamless, by taking a lot of pressure off students when they鈥檙e moving to a new location. In fact, we are incentivizing the transition by beefing up our academic scholarship for this kind of a partnership,鈥� said UWA President, Dr. Ken Tucker.

Jones College students with a 3.0 GPA are now eligible for a renewable, $3,000 to 4,000 scholarship for up to four semesters. Additionally, these students qualify for a unique $2,000 Housing Scholarship for the first year. Tucker hopes the Housing Scholarship will encourage students to live on campus.

鈥淲e鈥檙e urging students to continue their education with financial support. Research shows the more education you get the more successful you will be and the more money you will make. It all leads to increased success throughout life,鈥� said Tucker.

After the presidents signed the new Memorandum of Understanding, Jones College President, Dr. Jesse Smith gifted Dr. Tucker with a unique Scotsman Heirloom hammer made by Jones alumnus, Ben Napier, who stars with his wife and Jones alumna, Erin in the HGTV Hometown TV series. Smith said the hammer is symbolic of building relationships, which he looks forward to building a great relationship with the University of West Alabama.

鈥淥ffering pathways beyond Jones is very important for our students,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淲hat UWA is willing to invest in our students, and what they鈥檙e doing is, opening their doors. It is a perfect, natural fit because they focus on a student-centered approach to education just like Jones. Our students will feel like they鈥檙e a part of something special at UWA and they鈥檙e being taken care of like they are at Jones.鈥�

Career and Technical graduates of Jones College also have opportunities to segue into four-year technical degrees, like industrial maintenance and engineering technology. President Tucker said these programs are hands-on, application-oriented as opposed to just pure theory. He also noted UWA鈥檚 Nursing program will be expanding to include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree beginning in January.

鈥淛ones students who qualify for these scholarships will be exempt from out of state tuition, for another financial incentive for them to afford college. Jones has such an excellent reputation and we want to encourage more Jones College students to come to UWA,鈥� said Tucker.

For more information about the incentives for Jones College students contact Brenda K. Jones, the University of West Alabama Transfer Admissions Counselor-On Campus by calling her office at 205-652-5431 or cell phone at 205-651-2322 or by email at BJones@uwa.edu.

ELLISVILLE 鈥揓ones College students who want to meet in person for classes will be able to do so come Tuesday, September 8. The hybrid format allows students to meet in small groups that rotate based on an instructor assigned meeting pattern. Students enrolled in fall 2020 classes should check their Canvas course shell for face-to-face small group meeting assignments. All Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs will continue in small group meeting patterns after the Labor Day holiday.

鈥淚t will be great to have students back on campus. However, we want to remind everyone, our efforts to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus will continue. Face coverings are required on campus along with physical distancing protocols and daily health checks,鈥� said Jones College President, Dr. Jesse Smith.

All Jones College students and employees are required to download 鈥淧ower Apps鈥� to complete their daily health checks. In addition to stopping at one of the 21-Health Stations across campus daily, including everyone meeting at the Jones College County Centers, temperature checks will be required for anyone accessing the campus in Fall 2020.

鈥淚t is encouraging to see our students are not giving up on their educational goals and are committed to completing their degrees. Our enrollment has remained level, with 4,893 students enrolled. That is down by only four-one-hundredths of a percentage point from last fall. Students are also taking about the same number of credit hours to stay on track for completing their degrees with 65,136 credit hours being taken by our students,鈥� said Executive Vice President, Finee’ Ruffin.

When the fall semester began on August 10, all University-Parallel (academic) courses at 91猎奇 were taught completely online because of the high rates of the Covid-19 virus in the Pine Belt reported by the state health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs. Smith said because the rate of infection has gone down because of everyone鈥檚 diligent efforts, more students will now be able to come to campus for face-to-face classes.

Jones College is also offering 8-week classes beginning October 19, in addition to 4-week classes beginning November 16. Apply online at www.jcjc.edu/apply.

For a list of campus health screening stations or how to download the required app, visit /fallreturn/.

ELLISVILLE – Soon after Laurel Police Chief, Tyrone Stewart鈥檚 passing in January of 2019, his family began the process to endow a scholarship at 91猎奇 in his memory. Even though Stewart never attended Jones, his family had many connections to the college. His wife, sister, nephew, nieces, and cousins attended Jones College. Tyrone鈥檚 daughter, Jasmine was dually enrolled at 91猎奇 and Northeast Jones High School. His brother Kim is currently a member of the Campus Police at 91猎奇 after serving on the Laurel Police force with Stewart. The family said they attended their niece, Sha鈥橩ira鈥檚 graduation at 91猎奇 and were impressed.

鈥淲e were amazed to see the tremendous growth and the number of graduates from the Laurel/Jones County area,鈥� said Stewart鈥檚 sister, Brenda Weathersby. 鈥淲e feel Jones College has and will continue to prepare students to be leaders, leaders who will do their part to make positive contributions in the world, and perhaps like Tyrone, make Laurel their home and contribute to the city鈥檚 growth and goals; to pay it forward.鈥�

After attending Alabama State University in 1994, Stewart returned to his hometown and worked for the Laurel Police Department for 22 years. Rising through the ranks, Stewart quickly went from patrolman to detective in three years. As Laurel Mayor in 1999, Susan Vincent promoted Stewart to Sergeant, then Lieutenant in 2002, and Captain in 2005. A year later, newly elected Mayor Melvin Mack promoted Stewart to Deputy Chief before promoting him to Interim Chief of the Laurel Police Department in 2011. The Laurel native and Northeast Jones graduate was officially appointed by Laurel Mayor, Johnny Magee in 2012, to Police Chief of the City Beautiful, which he faithfully served in that position for eight years.

鈥淗is dream was to see his children (Jasmine and Justin) and local children graduate from college, thrive, give back and become leaders. The Chief Tyrone Stewart Memorial Scholarship is being created in his honor to pay tribute to his memory and to keep his legacy alive,鈥� said his wife Catrina Stewart.

Laurel and Jones County public school students majoring in law-related fields such as criminal justice, law enforcement, forensic science, or law, will be eligible for the scholarship. Recipients will also be required to have a 2.5 GPA, participate in extra-curricular activities or sports, volunteer in the community, be of good character and possess leadership abilities. Initially, the family鈥檚 goal is to provide two, Jones College freshman each a $500 scholarship and one sophomore a $1,000 scholarship to use for tuition, books, supplies, room and/or board.

鈥淭yrone Stewart鈥檚 family understands the importance and the impact education has on an individual. As they work to establish, The Chief Tyrone Stewart Memorial Scholarship through the Jones County Junior College Foundation, Inc., this scholarship has the potential to benefit a lot of people in addition to the future scholarship recipients,鈥� said Executive Director of JCJC Foundation Inc., Joel Cain. 鈥淚n this case, the scholarship recipient could impact everyone living in the community where the recipients work to enforce the law. This is exactly what Chief Stewart spent a lifetime doing professionally. We are proud to assist the Stewart family in their efforts to inspire others to serve their communities in a similar role as Chief Stewart.鈥�

While rising through the ranks of the Laurel Police Department, Stewart was recognized by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies for his work in various roles of the department.听 He was praised by Federal Judge William Barbour for his role involving a double homicide/kidnapping and in 2006, Stewart鈥檚 work helped solve the 1985, murder case of seven-year-old, Cookie Dean. All the Laurel Mayors Stewart served under had nothing but praise for his work in the community, as well as his leadership.

鈥淗e knew how to deal with people, how to diffuse things. He was fair to everybody. He was a good man,鈥� former Mayor Melvin Mack told the Laurel Leader Call when asked to comment on Stewart鈥檚 passing.

In that same January 28, 2019, story by the Laurel Leader Call鈥檚 Sean Murphy, Mayor Magee also shared about Stewart.

鈥淗e always talked about growing up in the projects, then going on to get his college degree and going into a career in law enforcement鈥�.It doesn鈥檛 matter where you start, it鈥檚 where you wind up. He showed that example every day,鈥� said Magee.

Stewart would often say, 鈥淭o protect and serve. At the end of the day that is what it鈥檚 all about.鈥� Reportedly, when he was not in his office, he was out in the community checking on his staff, citizens, businesses and schools. Stewart would often stop by the schools unannounced to visit with students. Being of service to others was his life calling and his purpose.

鈥淗e was a new patrolman when I became mayor鈥�(and) he was already a leader finishing the Jackson Police Academy with the top award. Tyrone was my son and I was his second mom,鈥� said former Laurel Mayor, Susan Vincent at Stewart鈥檚 passing. 鈥淚 rode with him on the night shift many times. He was a proactive officer which wasn鈥檛 always popular鈥�. He was tough, diplomatic, funny and loving and was well respected in the community鈥�. Job well done, Tyrone.鈥�

Family members said Stewart believed everyone should do their part to leave a positive mark on the city and community. Hometown star and Jones alumnae, Erin Napier noted in her blog in January 2019, some of Stewart鈥檚 contributions. She lauded Stewart for holding toy drives for kids in need at Christmas and giving his personal cell phone number to everyone in town so, 鈥渢hey would always feel taken care of.鈥�

Stewart is also credited with beginning the LPD 鈥淔ill-A-Truck鈥� campaign to collect food and monetary donations for the Good Samaritan Food Pantry and he was nominated by the Justice Department as Chairman of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative.

鈥淲e hope the scholarship inspires a spirit of giving back and helping others in any way you can,鈥� said Weathersby. 鈥淲e also hope the scholarship relieves some of the financial concerns that a family or student might have and we hope students looking for a 鈥榮ervice or public servant鈥� career will choose a career in the study of law or criminal justice.鈥�

Stewart鈥檚 family has made strides to fully endow the Chief Tyrone Stewart Memorial Scholarship Fund to begin offering scholarships this fall at Jones but need help. Family members are inviting the public to send their tax-deductible contributions towards the endowment of the Chief Tyrone Stewart Memorial Scholarship Fund, to Jones County Junior College Foundation, Inc. at 900 South Court Street, Ellisville, Mississippi, 39437, or contributions can be made online at /alumni_foundation/giving-support/. Please designate donations to the Chief Tyrone Stewart Memorial Scholarship Fund. Should you have any questions, please contact Lee Graham in the JC Foundation Office at 601-477-4145.

ELLISVILLE 鈥� As health and education officials contemplate how to hold classes and have a fall sports season safely, the Jones College Bobcat Math League has also weighed the options. After careful consideration and consultation with JC administrators, BML Commissioner and Jones College math instructor, Dr. Jessica Bunch has announced the popular high school math competition will be postponed. Considering current events surrounding COVID-19 and in an effort to protect the health and safety of our high school students and JC college referees, the听Bobcat Math League will be suspending this year鈥檚 competition.

鈥淲e are sad to embark on a fall without a season of Bobcat Math League competition. We will miss seeing the rivalry and support our high schools, coaches and players have for one another.听We look forward to continuing the Bobcat Math League competition when it will be safe for everyone involved — hopefully, in the fall of 2021,鈥� said Commissioner Bunch.

Typically, about 20 high school teams travel to high schools throughout the Pine Belt with the goal of reaching the Bobcat Math League Finals in November. At this time, the Bobcat Math League competition is planning to return to competition during the fall of 2021.听The sports league style competition launched during the fall of 2012 from the original, one-day Math Bowl competition in 2008. Jones College is hopeful the math competition will be able to resume when conditions are safe.

For more听information, contact Dr. Jessica Bunch at听jessica.bunch@jcjc.edu听or 601-477-5422.

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